bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seipin differentially regulates lipogenesis and adipogenesis through a conserved core sequence and an evolutionarily acquired C-terminus
Authors: Yang Wulin , Thein Shermaine , Guo Xiangxiang , Xu Feng , Venkatesh Byrappa , Sugii Shigeki , Radda George K. , Han Weiping 
Published: March 2013

Homozygous mutations in BSCL2 (Berardinelli–Seip congenital lipodystrophy)/seipin cause CGL2 (congenital generalized lipodystrophy type 2). Recent data suggest that seipin regulates LD (lipid droplet) dynamics and adipocyte differentiation, but whether these roles are mechanistically linked remains unclear. To understand how seipin regulates these processes, we investigated the evolutionary changes of seipin orthologues, and studied individual domains in regulating lipid accumulation in non-adipocytes and adipocytes. Mammalian seipins comprise at least two distinct functional domains, a conserved core sequence and an evolutionarily acquired C-terminus. Despite its requirement for adipocyte formation, seipin overexpression inhibited oleate-induced LD formation and accumulation in nonadipocytes, which was mediated by the core sequence. In contrast, seipin overexpression did not inhibit LD accumulation during adipocyte differentiation or the adipogenic process in 3T3-L1 cells. However, adipogenesis and LD accumulation were impaired in 3T3-L1 cells expressing a seipin mutant lacking the C-terminus. Furthermore, expression of the same mutant without the C-terminus failed to rescue the adipogenic defects in seipin-knockdown cells, demonstrating the importance of the C-terminus for seipin's function in adipocyte development. We propose that seipin is involved in lipid homoeostasis by restricting lipogenesis and LD accumulation in non-adipocytes, while promoting adipogenesis to accommodate excess energy storage.
The Effect of Drag from the Galactic Hot Halo on the Magellanic Stream and Leading Arm
Authors: Diaz Jonathan , Bekki Kenji 
Published: March 2013

AbstractWe study the effect of drag induced by the Galactic hot halo on the two neutral hydrogen (HI) cloud complexes associated with the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds: the Magellanic Stream (MS) and the Leading Arm (LA). In particular, we adopt the numerical models of previous studies and re-simulate the tidal formation of the MS and LA with the inclusion of a drag term. We find that the drag has three effects which, although model-dependent, may bring the tidal formation scenario into better agreement with observations: correcting the LA kinematics, reproducing the MS column density gradient, and enhancing the formation of MS bifurcation. We furthermore propose a two-stage mechanism by which the bifurcation forms. In general, the inclusion of drag has a variety of both positive and negative effects on the global properties of the MS and LA, including their on-sky positions, kinematics, radial distances, and column densities. We also provide an argument which suggests that ram-pressure stripping and tidal stripping are mutually exclusive candidates for the formation of the MS and LA.
Escape Gaps as a Management Strategy for Reducing Bycatch in Net-Covered Traps for the Giant Mud Crab Scylla serrata
Authors: Rotherham Douglas , Johnson Daniel D. , Macbeth William G. , Gray Charles A. 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
In response to experimental evidence and anecdotal concern about bycatch in the net-covered traps used increasingly by recreational and commercial fishers to target giant mud crabs Scylla serrata in New South Wales, Australia, experiments were done to examine the utility of escape gaps in reducing the bycatch of Yellowfin Bream Acanthopagrus australis (also known as Surf Bream) and undersized giant mud crabs. In each of two rivers, 10 different treatments comprising four different sizes of rectangular, horizontal escape gaps (85 × 45 mm, 85 × 55 mm, 95 × 45 mm, and 95 × 55 mm) and a control (no escape gaps) applied to both two-entrance and four-entrance traps were tested separately during the day and night. Traps fitted with escape gaps reduced the mean numbers of Yellowfin Bream and undersized giant mud crabs by 53–78% and 58–84%, respectively. Despite some inconsistent results, the effect of escape gaps was statistically significant in four of the seven analyses. There were, however, no significant differences in the mean numbers of Yellowfin Bream and undersized giant mud crabs among the different sizes of escape gap. By contrast, the largest escape gap treatment (i.e., 95 × 55 mm) reduced the mean number of legal-size giant mud crabs by 35–41%, which was significant in one of four analyses. Moreover, size-selectivity analyses indicated that the largest escape gap also allowed a comparatively greater proportion of undersized mud crabs to escape. Our findings show that implementing an 85-mm × 55-mm escape gap could substantially reduce bycatch without affecting catches of the target organism. Further reductions in catches of undersized giant mud crabs is possible with the 95-mm × 55-mm treatment, but at the cost of some reduction in the catch target.
Received August 19, 2011; accepted December 11, 2012
Spawning Substrate Size, Shape, and Siltation Influence Walleye Egg Retention
Authors: Crane Derek P. , Farrell John M. 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
We compared Walleye Sander vitreus egg retention among varying rock treatments placed in a hydraulic flume to test the influence of spawning substrate shape and size on egg retention and the influence of substrate siltation on egg adhesiveness. Egg loss from suboptimal spawning substrates has been hypothesized as a substantial source of mortality during the incubation period. To investigate the influence of substrate size and shape on Walleye egg retention, known numbers of Walleye eggs were pipetted onto rock substrate in a hydraulic flume and exposed to flowing water conditions. Eggs scoured from the substrate during each trial were collected and enumerated. Egg retention was higher in angular crushed limestone than in round glacial till and greater in coarse gravel than in larger size-classes, under all water velocity regimes. Angular coarse gravel had the highest egg retention rate (mean ± SD, 66.9 ± 3.7%), and round very coarse gravel had the lowest egg retention rate (47.0 ± 3.1%) of all the rock size and shape treatments. Substrate siltation significantly influenced egg adhesion. Clean rocks had a mean ± SD egg retention of 35.9 ± 36.6%, whereas fine-sediment-covered rocks did not retain any eggs throughout the course of the experiment. Differences in substrate size, shape, and siltation between Walleye spawning sites may contribute to variation in egg retention rates. Using angular gravel during the creation of Walleye spawning habitat and maintaining clean spawning substrates (through scouring effects and habitat restoration) may decrease mortality associated with egg entrainment and redistribution.
Received June 13, 2012; accepted December 12, 2012
First Report of Brown Rot Caused by Monilinia fructicola on Apple in Italy
Authors: Martini C. , Spadoni A. , Mari M. 
Published: March 2013

Monilinia fructicola (G. Wint.) Honey, the causal agent of brown rot, is one of the most important fungal pathogens of stone fruit but may also affect pome fruits. The pathogen is common in North America, Oceania, South America, and Asia. It is a quarantined pathogen in Europe (3), but was recently detected in apple from the Czech Republic, Germany, and Serbia (1,2,4). In January 2012, during a survey for fungal postharvest pathogens, stored apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) belonging to the cultivars Gala and Pink Lady showing brown rot symptoms were observed in the Emilia Romagna region, Italy. Typical decay spots were circular and brown, tending toward black. Decayed tissues remained firm, and numerous grayish pustules containing spores appeared on rotted areas. The pathogen was isolated on V8 juice agar and culture plates were incubated at 25°C in darkness for 5 days. A conidial suspension was spread on malt extract agar and single spores were selected. The colonies were morphologically identified as M. fructigena. Two colonies developing a gray mass of spores in concentric rings with the reverse side black were further studied by molecular tools. The colony margins were even and the conidia were one-celled, limoniform, hyaline, and 12.1 to 17.4 × 8.4 to 11.2 μm. The ribosomal ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region was PCR-amplified from genomic DNA obtained from mycelium using primers ITS1 and ITS4. A BLAST search in GenBank revealed the highest similarity (99%) to M. fructicola sequences (GenBank Accession Nos. HQ893748.1 and FJ515894.1). Pathogenicity was confirmed using surface-sterilized mature ‘Gala’ apples, wounded with a sterile needle, and inoculated with an isolate conidial suspension (103 spores/ml). A 20 μl droplet was placed in the wound; control fruits received sterile water without conidia. After 5 days of incubation at 20°C in plastic containers with high humidity, typical symptoms of brown rot developed on inoculated fruits, while control fruits remained symptomless. The fungus isolated from inoculated fruit exhibited the same morphological and molecular features shown by the original isolates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the fungus M. fructicola on apple in Italy. Further studies are necessary to determine geographic distribution, prevalence and economic importance of this quarantine organism in Italy. References: (1) J. Duchoslavovà et al. Plant Dis.91:907, 2007. (2) A. Grabke et al. Plant Dis. 95:772, 2011. (3) OEPP/EPPO. EPPO A2 list of pests recommended for regulation as quarantine pests. Version 2010-09. Retrieved from http://www.eppo.int/QUARANTINE/listA2.htm , 2010. (4) M. Vasic et al. Plant Dis. 96:456, 2012.
In Vivo Visualizations of Drought-Induced Embolism Spread in Vitis vinifera
Authors: Brodersen Craig Robert , McElrone Andrew Joseph , Choat Brendan , Lee Eric Franklin , Shackel Kenneth Andrew , Matthews Mark Allen 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
Long-distance water transport through plant xylem is vulnerable to hydraulic dysfunction during periods of increased tension on the xylem sap, often coinciding with drought. While the effects of local and systemic embolism on plant water transport and physiology are well documented, the spatial patterns of embolism formation and spread are not well understood. Using a recently developed nondestructive diagnostic imaging tool, high-resolution x-ray computed tomography, we documented the dynamics of drought-induced embolism in grapevine (Vitis vinifera) plants in vivo, producing the first three-dimensional, high-resolution, time-lapse observations of embolism spread. Embolisms formed first in the vessels surrounding the pith at stem water potentials of approximately –1.2 megapascals in drought experiments. As stem water potential decreased, embolisms spread radially toward the epidermis within sectored vessel groupings via intervessel connections and conductive xylem relays, and infrequently (16 of 629 total connections) through lateral connections into adjacent vessel sectors. Theoretical loss of conductivity calculated from the high-resolution x-ray computed tomography images showed good agreement with previously published nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and hydraulic conductivity experiments also using grapevine. Overall, these data support a growing body of evidence that xylem organization is critically important to the isolation of drought-induced embolism spread and confirm that air seeding through the pit membranes is the principle mechanism of embolism spread.
Assignment tests, telemetry and tag‐recapture data converge to identify natal origins of leatherback turtles foraging in Atlantic Canadian waters
Authors: Stewart Kelly R. , James Michael C. , Roden Suzanne , Dutton Peter H. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryInvestigating migratory connectivity between breeding and foraging areas is critical to effective management and conservation of highly mobile marine taxa, particularly threatened, endangered, or economically important species that cross through regional, national and international boundaries.The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea, Vandelli 1761) is one such transboundary species that spends time at breeding areas at low latitudes in the northwest Atlantic during spring and summer. From there, they migrate widely throughout the North Atlantic, but many show fidelity to one region off eastern Canada, where critical foraging habitat has been proposed. Our goal was to identify nesting beach origins for turtles foraging here.Using genetics, we identified natal beaches for 288 turtles that were live‐captured off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. Turtles were sampled (skin or blood) and genotyped using 17 polymorphic microsatellite markers. Results from three assignment testing programs (ONCOR, GeneClass2 and Structure) were compared. Our nesting population reference data set included 1417 individuals from nine Atlantic nesting assemblages. A supplementary data set for 83 foraging turtles traced to nesting beaches using flipper tags and/orPITtags (n = 72), or inferred from satellite telemetry (n = 11), enabled ground‐truthing of the assignments.We first assigned turtles using only genetic information and then used the supplementary recapture information to verify assignments.ONCORperformed best, assigning 64 of the 83 recaptured turtles to natal beaches (77·1%). Turtles assigned to Trinidad (164), French Guiana (72), Costa Rica (44), St. Croix (7), and Florida (1) reflect the relative size of those nesting populations, although none of the turtles were assigned to four other potential source nesting assemblages.Our results demonstrate the utility of genetic approaches for determining source populations of foraging marine animals and include the first identification of natal rookeries of male leatherbacks, identified through satellite telemetry and verified with genetics. This work highlights the importance of long‐term monitoring and tagging programmes in nesting and high‐use foraging areas. Moreover, it provides a scientific basis for evaluating stock‐specific effects of fisheries on migratory marine species, thus identifying where coordinated international recovery efforts may be most effective.
Effect of In Vitro Digestion on Free α‐Dicarbonyl Compounds in Balsamic Vinegars
Authors: Papetti Adele , Mascherpa Dora , Marrubini Giorgio , Gazzani Gabriella 
Published: March 2013

AbstractWe investigated the influence of an in vitro simulated digestion process on the content of the free α‐dicarbonyl compounds most frequently found in food. A Glyoxal (GO), methylglyoxal (MGO), and diacetyl (DA) aqueous standard mixture and 2 brands of balsamic vinegar were analyzed before and after exposure to digestive enzymes. A strong matrix effect required adoption of validated RP‐HPLC‐DAD standard addition methods. The results showed that the digestive enzymes markedly alter the concentrations of the exogenous free α‐dicarbonyl compounds ingested with food; the extent of such changes varied with the α‐dicarbonyl compound itself and the diet components, which determined important but different food matrix effects also during digestion. The data also indicate that digestion can reduce the bioavailability of the toxic α‐dicarbonyl compounds ingested with food. However, no firm conclusions can be drawn about a putative positive influence of digestion on the toxic potential of dietary α‐dicarbonyl compounds, because their reaction in the presence of digestive enzymes likely gives rise to advanced glycation end products, which are involved in the development of chronic diseases.
Antimicrobial Effects of Allyl Isothiocyanate and Modified Atmosphere on Pseduomonas Aeruginosa in Fresh Catfish Fillet under Abuse Temperatures
Authors: Pang Yu‐Hsin , Sheen Shiowshuh , Zhou Siyuan , Liu Linshu , Yam Kit L. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe effects of allyl isothiocyanate (AIT; 18 and 36 μg/L) in vapor phase, modified atmosphere (MA; 49% CO2, 0.5% O2, and 50.5% N2), and their combinations on the growth behavior of Pseduomonas aeruginosa in fresh catfish fillet at different abuse temperatures (8, 15, and 20 °C) were evaluated in this study. Lag phase, maximum growth rate, and shelf life were used as parameters to analyze the antimicrobial effects. Both gaseous AIT and MA alone inhibited the growth potential of P. aeruginosa effectively, prolonging the shelf life by 1.5 to 3.4 times compared to the control at abuse temperatures between 8 and 20 °C. The synergistic effect was observed at 8 °C, extending the shelf life of fresh catfish by more than 6.5 times (≥ 550 h). In addition, the maximum growth rate decreased with decreasing storage temperature, but it was not significantly influenced by the addition of AIT or MA. Hence, the combination of AIT and MA may be used as an effective antimicrobial system to reduce the microbial risks due to temperature abuse and to improve the shelf life of fresh catfish fillet. The proper combination of AIT and MA may be further optimized for industrial applications.
All India Survey for Analyses of Colors in Sweets and Savories: Exposure Risk in Indian Population
Authors: Dixit Sumita , Khanna Subhash K. , Das Mukul 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIn the present study, an attempt has been made to understand the exposure assessment of food colors through 2 major groups, sweets and savories, at a national level so as to evolve a scientific yardstick to fix levels of colors in commodities based on technological and safety requirement. A vast majority of colored food commodities (83.6%) were found to employ permitted colors and confirmed a marked decline in the trend of use of nonpermitted colors (NPCs). Of the 4 zones of India, East zone showed the maximum adulteration (80.3%) both by exceeding the prescribed limits of permitted colors (72.3%) and the use of NPCs (28.7%). Tartrazine was the most popular color among the permitted list, which ranged from 12.5 to 1091 mg/kg. Rhodamine B was the most prevalent dye in the NPCs group. On the basis of average consumption of food commodities and average levels of detected colors, the intake of Sunset Yellow FCF saturates the acceptable daily intake limit to a maximum of 47.8% in children, which is a cause of concern. The uniform maximum permissible limit of synthetic colors at 100 mg/kg under the Indian rules thus needs to be reviewed and should rather be governed by the technological necessity and the consumption profiles of food commodities so that the vulnerable population should not unnecessary be exposed to excessive amounts of synthetic colors to pose health risks.
Development and Characterization of an Edible Composite Film Based on Chitosan and Virgin Coconut Oil with Improved Moisture Sorption Properties
Authors: Binsi P.K. , Ravishankar C.N. , Srinivasa Gopal T.K. 
Published: March 2013

Abstract An edible composite film was prepared from an emulsion system based on chitosan and virgin coconut oil (VCO). The effect of incorporation of VCO was evaluated at various concentrations and the optimum concentration was chosen based on resultant changes in the properties of the film. Addition of VCO in film forming solution resulted in increase in film thickness and marginal reduction in film transparency. Compatibility of VCO with chitosan was better at lower concentration of VCO as indicated by the microstructure of composite film in scanning electron micrographs. Phase separation was evident at higher level of oil incorporation and the optimal oil/chitosan ratio was determined to be at 0.5 to 1 mL/g chitosan. Furthermore, chemical interaction took place between VCO and chitosan as revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data. Even though control chitosan films exhibited superior gas barrier properties, composite film with optimum VCO concentration revealed better mechanical and moisture sorption properties.
The impact of modelling choices in the predictive performance of richness maps derived from species‐distribution models: guidelines to build better diversity models
Authors: Benito Blas M. , Cayuela Luis , Albuquerque Fabio S. 
Published: March 2013

Summary

The stacking of species‐distribution models (S‐SDMs) is receiving attention by conservation researchers because this approach is capable of simultaneously predicting species richness and composition. However, the steps required to build S‐SDMs implies at least two choices that influence its predictive performance which have not been extensively assessed: the selection of the modelling algorithm and the application of a threshold to transform the species‐distribution models into binary maps to be added together to build the final S‐SDM. Our goal was to provide guidelines concerning the best combinations of modelling algorithms and thresholds with which to build more accurate S‐SDMs.
We generated 380 S‐SDMs of 1224 tree species in Mesoamerica by combining 19 distribution modelling methods with 20 different thresholds using presence‐only data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. We compared the predicted richness and composition with inventory data obtained from the BIOTREE‐NET forest plot database. We designed two indicators of predictive performance that were based on the diversity factors used to measure species turnover: a (shared species between the observed and predicted compositions), b and c (the exclusive species of the predicted and observed compositions respectively) and compared them with the Sorensen and Beta‐Simpson turnover measures.
Our proposed indexes and the Sorensen index proved suitable as indicators of predictive performance for S‐SDMs, whereas the Beta‐Simpson turnover measure presented issues that would prevent its application to evaluate S‐SDMs.
Some modelling methods – especially machine learning and ensemble model forecasting methods performed significantly better than others in minimizing the error in predicted richness and composition. Our results also points out that restrictive thresholds (with high omission errors) lead to more accurate S‐SDMs in terms of species richness and composition. Here, we demonstrate that particular combinations of modelling methods and thresholds provide results with higher predictive performance.
These results provide clear modelling guidelines that will help S‐SDM modellers to select the appropriate combination of modelling methods and thresholds to build more accurate S‐SDMs, and therefore will have a positive impact on the quality of the diversity models used to assist conservation planning.
The role of NO in the posterior hypothalamus in amygdala‐generated pressor responses in conscious rats
Authors: Özyurt Bayraktar H. , Yananlı H. , Terzioğlu B. , Oktay Ş. , Kaleli M. , Gören M. Z. 
Published: March 2013

Summary

The nitrergic system modulates cardiovascular functions of the central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) and the posterior hypothalamus (PH) which are involved in the central regulation of the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of nitric oxide (NO) in the PH in eliciting cardiovascular responses produced through electrical stimulation (ES) of the CeA. Rats were implanted with a stimulation electrode and a parenchymal cannula system into the CeA and a parenchymal cannula or a microdialysis probe into the PH. The next day, the femoral artery was cannulated for haemodynamic measurement. The CeA was electrically stimulated to produce cardiovascular response. The nitric oxide synthetase inhibitor, NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME; 400 nmol/100 nl) or artificial cerebrospinal fluid were injected into the PH or the CeA before the ES of the CeA. The dialysates were collected from the PH to determine the L‐citrulline and the L‐glutamic acid levels.
L‐NAME injection into the CeA but not to the PH suppressed the increases in the mean arterial pressure produced by the ES of the CeA significantly; however, heart rate was not affected by L‐NAME injection into either the PH or the CeA. L‐citrulline and L‐glutamic acid levels in the PH were shown to be increased by the ES of the CeA.
NO is involved between the PH and the CeA which has a considerable role in the central regulation of the cardiovascular system.