bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Seabuckthorn Leaf Extract on Microbiological Quality of Raw Chicken during Extended Periods of Storage
Authors: Dhanze Himani , Khurana S.K. , Mane B.G. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractSeabuckthorn, a magical herb, is well known for its various valuable properties and is found in abundance in the Himalayan region of Leh districts (Jammu and Kashmir) and Lahaul and Spiti districts (Himachal Pradesh) of India. In the present study, the effect of three different concentrations (1, 2 and 3%) of aqueous extract of seabuckthorn leaves was observed on sensory and microbiological quality of chicken legs at days 0, 1, 3, 5 and 7. No significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed for sensory attributes in the control and treated groups; however, scores were higher for the treated groups compared with the control group. All three concentrations of aqueous extract of seabuckthorn leaves lowered the (P < 0.05) standard plate count (SPC), psychrophilic count (PC), coliform count (CC), and yeast and mold count (YMC) significantly on chicken leg as compared with the control. The 3% seabuckthorn leaf extract treatment resulted in significant (P < 0.05) lowering of SPC, PC, CC and YMC through 7 days. The results of this study revealed the antibacterial and antifungal properties for the seabuckthorn leaf extract. The study also suggested the possibility of using seabuckthorn leaf extract as a decontaminant and preservative for fresh chicken meat.Practical ApplicationsThe results of the present study indicate the possibility of using seabuckthorn leaf extract as a decontaminant and/or preservative for fresh meat through overall reduction of microbial loads to extend the shelf life without any adverse effect on the sensory quality.
Blueschist‐facies metapelites from the Malpica–Tui Unit (NW Iberian Massif): phase equilibria modelling and H2O and Fe2O3 influence in high‐pressure assemblages
Authors: LÓPEZ‐CARMONA A. , PITRA P. , ABATI J. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe Malpica–Tui Unit (Galicia, NW Spain) records eclogite‐ and blueschist‐facies metamorphism during the onset of the Variscan orogeny in Europe. Petrological analysis involving pseudosections calculated using thermocalc shows that the Upper Sheet of this unit, the Ceán Schists, recorded a three‐stage metamorphic evolution involving (i) Early subduction‐related medium‐pressure/low‐temperature metamorphism (M1) constrained at ∼350–380 °C, 12–14 kbar, which is only recorded in the basal part (lower metapelites, LM) of the Ceán Schists. (ii) Subduction‐related blueschist facies prograde metamorphism (M2) going from ∼19 kbar, 420 °C to 21 kbar, 460 °C in the LM, and from 16 kbar 430 °C to 21–22 kbar, 520 °C in the structurally upper metapelites (UM). (iii) Exhumation‐related metamorphism (M3) is characterized by a decompression to 8–10 kbar, 470–490 °C in the LM. This decompression is also recorded in the UM, but it was not possible to estimate precise P–T conditions. The calculations indicate that (i) the prograde evolution in subduction zones may occur in fluid‐undersaturated conditions due to the crystallization of lawsonite, even in metapelitic rocks. This significantly influences phase equilibria and hence the P–T estimates. (ii) The proportion of ferric iron also has a strong influence on phase equilibria, even in metapelites. However, the analysed values of Fe2O3 may not reflect the oxidation state during the main metamorphic evolution and are probably easily modified by superficial alteration even in apparently fresh samples. The use of P–T–X(Fe2O3) pseudosections together with petrographic observations is then necessary to estimate the real oxidation state of the rocks and correctly evaluate the P–T conditions.
Retracted: Expression of angiotensin II and its receptors in cyclosporine‐induced gingival overgrowth
Authors: Subramani T. , Senthilkumar K. , Periasamy S. , Rao S. 
Published: October 2012

Background and ObjectivesThe renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is considered as a hormonal circulatory system involved in maintaining blood pressure, electrolyte and fluid homeostasis. RAS components can be synthesized in local tissues and are found to play a role in gingival overgrowth. The drug‐induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) is a fibrotic condition, which is associated with multiple factors, including inflammation and adverse drug effects such as cyclosporine A. This study was directed forward to the identification of the angiotensinogen, angiotensin II (Ang II) and its receptors AT1/AT2 expression in DIGO tissues and cyclosporine‐treated human gingival fibroblast cells.Material and MethodsGingival samples were obtained from patients with cyclosporine‐induced gingival overgrowth, chronic periodontitis and normal healthy subjects. The total RNA was isolated and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction was performed for angiotensinogen, Ang II and AT1/AT2 receptor. Ang II protein was estimated from tissue by enzyme immunoassay. The expression of Ang II and its receptors were also examined in gingival fibroblast cells treated with cyclosporine.ResultsAng II mRNA and protein expression was significantly higher in patients with DIGO than in patients with periodontitis and healthy subjects. The AT1 mRNA was expressed more than AT2 in all examined tissues. In gingival fibroblasts, Ang II and AT1 expressions were increased with cyclosporine incorporation compared to controls.ConclusionThese results suggest that cyclosporine can modulate local expression of RAS components such as angiotensinogen, Ang II and its receptors in gingival tissues and gingival fibroblast cells.
Effects of cranberry components on human aggressive periodontitis gingival fibroblasts
Authors: Tipton D. A. , Babu J. P. , Dabbous M. Kh. 
Published: October 2012

Background and ObjectiveAggressive periodontitis (AgP) causes rapid periodontal breakdown involving AgP gingival fibroblast production of cytokines [i.e. interleukin (IL)‐6, a bone metabolism regulator], and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐3. Lipopolysaccharide upregulates fibroblast IL‐6 and MMP‐3, via transcription factors (i.e. NF‐κB). Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) inhibits lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated macrophage and normal gingival fibroblast activities, but little is known of its effects on AgP fibroblasts. Objectives of this study are to use AgP fibroblasts, to determine cytotoxicity of cranberry components or periodontopathogen (Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis) lipopolysaccharide ± cranberry components, and effects of cranberry components on lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated NF‐κB activation and IL‐6 and MMP‐3 production.Material and MethodsAgP fibroblasts were incubated ≤ 6 d with high molecular weight non‐dialyzable material (NDM) (derived from cranberry juice (1–500 μg/mL) or lipopolysaccharide (1 μg/mL) ± NDM. Membrane damage and viability were assessed by enzyme activity released into cell supernatants and activity of a mitochondrial enzyme, respectively. Secreted IL‐6 and MMP‐3 were measured by ELISA. NF‐κB p65 was measured via binding to an oligonucleotide containing the NF‐κB consensus site. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Scheffe's F procedure for post hoc comparisons.ResultsShort‐term exposure to NDM, or lipopolysaccharide ± NDM caused no membrane damage. NDM (≤ 100 μg/mL) or lipopolysaccharide ± NDM had no effect on viability ≤ 7 d exposure. NDM (50 μg/mL) inhibited lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated p65 (P ≤ 0.003) and constitutive or lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated MMP‐3 (P ≤ 0.02). NDM increased AgP fibroblast constitutive or lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated IL‐6 (P ≤ 0.0001), but inhibited normal human gingival fibroblast IL‐6 (P ≤ 0.01).ConclusionLack of toxicity of low NDM concentrations, and its inhibition of NF‐κB and MMP‐3, suggest that cranberry components may regulate AgP fibroblast inflammatory responses. Distinct effects of NDM on AgP and gingival fibroblast production of IL‐6 (which can have both positive and negative effects on bone metabolism) may reflect phenotypic differences in IL‐6 regulation in the two cell types.
Improving the prediction of plant species distribution and community composition by adding edaphic to topo‐climatic variables
Authors: Dubuis Anne , Giovanettina Sara , Pellissier Loïc , Pottier Julien , Vittoz Pascal , Guisan Antoine 
Published: October 2012

AbstractQuestionsSoil properties have been widely shown to influence plant growth and distribution. However, the degree to which edaphic variables can improve models based on topo‐climatic variables is still unclear. In this study, we tested the roles of seven edaphic variables, namely (1) pH; (2) the content of nitrogen and of (3) phosphorus; (4) silt; (5) sand; (6) clay and (7) carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio, as predictors of species distribution models in an edaphically heterogeneous landscape. We also tested how the respective influence of these variables in the models is linked to different ecological and functional species characteristics.LocationThe Western Alps, Switzerland.MethodsWith four different modelling techniques, we built models for 115 plant species using topo‐climatic variables alone and then topo‐climatic variables plus each of the seven edaphic variables, one at a time. We evaluated the contribution of each edaphic variable by assessing the change in predictive power of the model. In a second step, we evaluated the importance of the two edaphic variables that yielded the largest increase in predictive power in one final set of models for each species. Third, we explored the change in predictive power and the importance of variables across plant functional groups. Finally, we assessed the influence of the edaphic predictors on the prediction of community composition by stacking the models for all species and comparing the predicted communities with the observed community.ResultsAmong the set of edaphic variables studied, pH and nitrogen content showed the highest contributions to improvement of the predictive power of the models, as well as the predictions of community composition. When considering all topo‐climatic and edaphic variables together, pH was the second most important variable after degree‐days. The changes in model results caused by edaphic predictors were dependent on species characteristics. The predictions for the species that have a low specific leaf area, and acidophilic preferences, tolerating low soil pH and high humus content, showed the largest improvement by the addition of pH and nitrogen in the model.ConclusionspH was an important predictor variable for explaining species distribution and community composition of the mountain plants considered in our study. pH allowed more precise predictions for acidophilic species. This variable should not be neglected in the construction of species distribution models in areas with contrasting edaphic conditions.
Temporal changes in abundance–occupancy relationships within and between communities after disturbance
Authors: Guedo Digit D. , Lamb Eric G. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractQuestionsA positive relationship between abundance and occupancy of species (AOR) is commonly observed in ecological communities, but the mechanisms driving this pattern are elusive. Succession after disturbance is an important factor structuring many plant communities, yet little is known about how and if this may shape AORs, and if AORs change over time within and between plant communities. Do AORs change through time as a plant community recovers from disturbance? Do patterns in AOR differ between plant communities?LocationPrince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada.MethodsChanges in AOR were evaluated through time following prescribed burning of fescue grassland and adjacent forest transition plant communities invaded by Populus tremuloides Michx. using a 35‐yr data set. Species presence data were used as a frequency measure of abundance and mean species cover was used as a relative measure for abundance. Species data used for the abundance and occupancy measures were collected in permanent sampling plots prior to burning in 1975, and after burning in 1983, 1995 and 2010.ResultsChanges in grassland AORs based on the frequency were shown through time since disturbance, as an increase in abundance relative to occupancy occurred in 1983 and 2010. There was no significant change in grassland AORs when the relative abundance data were used. The forest transition AOR based on frequency showed the 1983 post‐burn AOR had lower abundance relative to occupancy, while the relative abundance measure showed the pre‐burn 1975 AOR had lower abundance relative to occupancy. The removal of litter, changes in soil resources and increase in trembling aspen suckering after fire may have caused changes to plant community structure after burning, explaining differing AOR patterns in the grassland and forest transition plant communities.ConclusionsAlthough exact mechanisms behind the observed changes in AOR are hard to determine, the phenomenon of change within and between communities over time since disturbance has not previously been documented. The observed differences in AOR between frequency and relative abundance indicate that measures of abundance should be chosen cautiously. Post‐disturbance succession should be considered as a mechanism influencing AORs in communities impacted by disturbance.
CC genotype donors for the interleukin‐28B single nucleotide polymorphism are associated with better outcomes in hepatitis C after liver transplant
Authors: Firpi Roberto J. , Dong Huijia , Clark Virginia C. , Soldevila‐Pico Consuelo , Morelli Giuseppe , Cabrera Roniel , Norkina Oxana , Shuster Jonathan J. , Nelson David R. , Liu Chen 
Published: October 2012

AbstractBackground/AimsInterleukin‐28B (IL‐28B) polymorphism is the strongest pretreatment predictor of viral clearance in the hepatitis C (HCV) population. Donor and recipient IL‐28B genomic background may play an important role in post‐transplant HCV recurrence. We sought to examine the role of IL‐28B polymorphisms of donor and recipients in liver transplant patients with recurrent HCV and its impact on the response to interferon‐based therapy.MethodsThe cohort study consisted of 135 adult liver transplant patients who received interferon‐based therapy for recurrent HCV between 1996 and 2005 at the University of Florida. IL‐28B single nucleotide polymorphism (rs. 12979860) was characterized using liver tissue from all donors and recipients.ResultsThe CC genotype was observed in approximately 30% of donors and recipients. Sustained viral response (SVR) to HCV therapy was 100% if both recipient and donor were CC genotype, while the SVR was only 25% if neither donor nor recipient had a CC genotype. (Recipient, P = 0.025, Donor, P < 0.001). Recipients and donors with CC genotype had less fibrosis than recipients with genotypes CT and TT, but the difference was not statistically significant. IL‐28B genotype did not seem to play a role in the overall survival in these patients.ConclusionIn conclusion, recipient and donor CC genotype is associated with a better treatment response to interferon‐based therapy after liver transplant. Our study suggests that using CC genotype donor livers for HCV patients may improve the overall clinical outcome after liver transplantation.
Adding adefovir vs. switching to entecavir for lamivudine‐resistant chronic hepatitis B (ACE study): a 2‐year follow‐up randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yim Hyung Joon , Seo Yeon Seok , Yoon Eileen L. , Kim Chang Wook , Lee Chang Don , Park Sang Hoon , Lee Myung Seok , Park Choong Kee , Chae Hee Bok , Kim Moon Young , Baik Soon Koo , Kim Yun Soo , Kim Ju Hyun , Lee Jung Il , Lee Jin Woo , Hong Sun Pyo , Um Soon Ho 
Published: October 2012

AbstractBackgroundManagement of lamivudine‐resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains challenging, as inappropriate choice of treatment may cause multidrug resistance. Until now, randomized trials directly comparing adding adefovir and switching to entecavir monotherapy have not been reported.AimsThis multicentre prospective randomized study was designed to compare the efficacy of these two strategies.MethodsTwo hundred and nineteen lamivudine‐resistant CHB patients were randomized to either adefovir–lamivudine combination group or entecavir monotherapy group (n = 110 vs. 109), and followed up for 24 months.ResultsOne hundred and eighty patients completed this study. At month 24, virological response rate [hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA <60 IU/ml] was higher in the adefovir–lamivudine combination group compared with entecavir group (56.7% vs. 40%, P = 0.025), although biochemical and serological response rates were not significantly different. Genotypic resistance (9.2% vs. 24.6%, P = 0.005) and combined viral breakthrough (2.0% vs. 17.6%, P < 0.001) were more frequent in the entecavir group.However, by subgroup analysis, virological response rates were not significantly different between the two therapies in HBeAg‐positive patients (44.9% vs. 35.7%, P = 0.268) or in patients with high baseline HBV DNA (≥7 log IU/ml) (40.7% vs. 31.3%, P = 0.320) at month 24.ConclusionThis study showed that adefovir–lamivudine combination provides significantly higher antiviral efficacy and the lower resistance rate compared with the entecavir monotherapy in the management of lamivudine‐resistant CHB. However, it had limited efficacy in HBeAg‐positive patients or in patients with high baseline HBV DNA.
Transcriptome‐wide polymorphisms of red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) reveal patterns of gene flow and local adaptation
Authors: De Wit Pierre , Palumbi Stephen R. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractGlobal climate change is projected to accelerate during the next century, altering oceanic patterns in temperature, pH and oxygen concentrations. Documenting patterns of genetic adaptation to these variables in locations that currently experience geographic variation in them is an important tool in understanding the potential for natural selection to allow populations to adapt as climate change proceeds. We sequenced the mantle transcriptome of 39 red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) individuals from three regions (Monterey Bay, Sonoma, north of Cape Mendocino) distinct in temperature, aragonite saturation, exposure to hypoxia and disease pressure along the California coast. Among 1.17 × 106 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) identified in this study (1.37% of the transcriptome), 21 579 could be genotyped for all individuals. A principal components analysis concluded that the vast majority of SNPs show no population structure from Monterey, California to the Oregon border, in corroboration with several previous studies. In contrast, an FST outlier analysis indicated 691 SNPs as exhibiting significantly higher than expected differentiation (experiment‐wide P < 0.05). From these, it was possible to identify 163 genes through BLAST annotation, 34 of which contained more than one outlier SNP. A large number of these genes are involved in biomineralization, energy metabolism, heat‐, disease‐ or hypoxia‐tolerance. These genes are candidate loci for spatial adaptation to geographic variation that is likely to increase in the future.
A free lunch? No cost for acquiring defensive plant pyrrolizidine alkaloids in a specialist arctiid moth (Utetheisa ornatrix)
Authors: Cogni Rodrigo , Trigo José R. , Futuyma Douglas J. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractMany herbivorous insects sequester defensive chemicals from their host plants. We tested sequestration fitness costs in the specialist moth Utetheisa ornatrix (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). We added pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) to an artificial diet at different concentrations. Of all the larval and adult fitness components measured, only development time was negatively affected by PA concentration. These results were repeated under stressful laboratory conditions. On the other hand, the amount of PAs sequestered greatly increased with the diet PA concentration. Absence of a detectable negative effect does not necessarily imply a lack of costs if all individuals express the biochemical machinery of detoxification and sequestration constitutively. Therefore, we used qPCR to show that expression of the gene used to detoxify PAs, pyrrolizidine‐alkaloid‐N‐oxygenase (pno), increased 41‐fold in our highest PA treatment. Nevertheless, fitness components were affected only slightly or not at all, suggesting that sequestration in this species does not incur a strong cost. The apparent lack of costs has important implications for our understanding of the evolution of ecological interactions; for example, it implies that selection by specialist herbivores may decrease the levels of certain chemical defences in plant populations.
Streptokinase variants from Streptococcus pyogenes isolates display altered plasminogen activation characteristics – implications for pathogenesis
Authors: Cook Simon M. , Skora Amanda , Gillen Christine M. , Walker Mark J. , McArthur Jason D. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryStreptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus, GAS) secretes streptokinase, a potent plasminogen activating protein. Among GAS isolates, streptokinase gene sequences (ska) are polymorphic and can be grouped into two distinct sequence clusters (termed cluster type‐1 and cluster type‐2) with cluster type‐2 being further divided into sub‐clusters type‐2a and type‐2b. In this study, far‐UV circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated that purified streptokinase variants of each type displayed similar secondary structure. Type‐2b streptokinase variants could not generate an active site in Glu‐plasminogen through non‐proteolytic mechanisms while all other variants had this capability. Furthermore, when compared with other streptokinase variants, type‐2b variants displayed a 29‐ to 35‐fold reduction in affinity for Glu‐plasminogen. All SK variants could activate Glu‐plasminogen when an activator complex was preformed with plasmin; however, type‐2b and type‐1 complexes were inhibited by α2‐antiplasmin. Exchanging skatype‐2a in the M1T1 GAS strain 5448 with skatype‐2b caused a reduction in virulence while exchanging skatype‐2a with skatype‐1 into 5448 produced an increase in virulence when using a mouse model of invasive disease. These findings suggest that streptokinase variants produced by GAS isolates utilize distinct plasminogen activation pathways, which directly affects the pathogenesis of this organism.
The fungal α‐aminoadipate pathway for lysine biosynthesis requires two enzymes of the aconitase family for the isomerization of homocitrate to homoisocitrate
Authors: Fazius Felicitas , Shelest Ekaterina , Gebhardt Peter , Brock Matthias 
Published: October 2012

SummaryFungi produce α‐aminoadipate, a precursor for penicillin and lysine via the α‐aminoadipate pathway. Despite the biotechnological importance of this pathway, the essential isomerization of homocitrate via homoaconitate to homoisocitrate has hardly been studied. Therefore, we analysed the role of homoaconitases and aconitases in this isomerization. Although we confirmed an essential contribution of homoaconitases from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus fumigatus, these enzymes only catalysed the interconversion between homoaconitate and homoisocitrate. In contrast, aconitases from fungi and the thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus converted homocitrate to homoaconitate. Additionally, a single aconitase appears essential for energy metabolism, glutamate and lysine biosynthesis in respirating filamentous fungi, but not in the fermenting yeast S. cerevisiae that possesses two contributing aconitases. While yeast Aco1p is essential for the citric acid cycle and, thus, for glutamate synthesis, Aco2p specifically and exclusively contributes to lysine biosynthesis. In contrast, Aco2p homologues present in filamentous fungi were transcribed, but enzymatically inactive, revealed no altered phenotype when deleted and did not complement yeast aconitase mutants. From these results we conclude that the essential requirement of filamentous fungi for respiration versus the preference of yeasts for fermentation may have directed the evolution of aconitases contributing to energy metabolism and lysine biosynthesis.