bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multigene Sequence Analysis of Aster Yellows Phytoplasma Associated with Primrose Yellows
Authors: Fránová Jana , Přibylová Jaroslava , Koloniuk Igor , Podrábská Kateřina , Špak Josef 
Published: August 2015

AbstractPrimula acaulis (L.) Hill. plants showing stunting, leaf‐yellowing and virescence were first discovered in the Czech Republic. Polymerase chain reactions with subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses and sequencing enabled classification of the detected phytoplasmas into the aster yellows group, ribosomal subgroup 16SrI‐B, tufI‐B, rpI‐B, groELIB‐III and SecY‐IB subgroups. Phylogeny of the 16S rRNA gene sequences as well as sequence analysis of several chromosomal regions, such as the 16S‐23S ribosomal operon, ribosomal proteins, spc ribosomal protein operon, genes for elongation factor EF‐Tu, molecular chaperonin large subunit GroEL, immunodominant membrane protein, ribosome recycling factor, urydilate kinase, ATP‐ and Zn2+‐dependent proteases not only confirmed its affiliation with the ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ species but also enabled its detailed molecular characterization. The less researched regions of phytoplasma genome (amp, adk, hflB, pyrH‐frr genes) could be valuable as additional markers for phytoplasma through differentiation especially within the 16SrI‐B ribosomal subgroup.
Melatonin protects porcine oocyte in vitro maturation from heat stress
Authors: Li Yu , Zhang ZhenZhen , He ChangJiu , Zhu KuanFeng , Xu ZhiYuan , Ma Teng , Tao JingLi , Liu GuoShi 
Published: August 2015

AbstractMelatonin is a pleiotropic molecule which plays an important role in animal reproductive activities. Because of the increased global warming, the impact of heat stress (HS) on stockbreeding has become an inevitable issue to be solved. To investigate the potential effects of melatonin on the in vitro maturation of porcine oocyte under the HS, a HS model for porcine oocyte maturation has been used in this study and the different concentrations of melatonin (10−6–10−9 m) were also tested for their protective effects on oocytes. The polar body rate, the index of the nuclear maturation of the oocytes, and the cleavage rate as well as the blastocyst rate were measured to evaluate the developmental competence of the oocytes after parthenogenetic activation (PA). The results showed that HS [in vitro maturation (IVM) 20–24 hr, 42°C] significantly reduced the polar body rate of oocytes and the blastocyte rate of porcine PA embryos, while melatonin (10−7 m) application not only improved polar body rate and blastocyte rate, but also preserved the normal levels of steroid hormone which is disrupted by HS. The presence of melatonin (10−7 m) during the oocyte maturation under the HS reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, enhanced glutathione (GSH) production, inhibited cell apoptosis, and increased the gene expressions of SIRT1, AKT2, and Polg2. Importantly, the endogenously occurring melatonin of cumulus–oocyte complexes was significantly induced by HS. The results indicated that melatonin application effectively protected the oocytes from HS. These observations warranted the further studies in vivo regarding to improve the reproductive activities of animals under the global warming environment.
Reduced silent information regulator 1 signaling exacerbates myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury in type 2 diabetic rats and the protective effect of melatonin
Authors: Yu Liming , Liang Hongliang , Dong Xiaochao , Zhao Guolong , Jin Zhenxiao , Zhai Mengen , Yang Yang , Chen Wensheng , Liu Jincheng , Yi Wei , Yang Jian , Yi Dinghua , Duan Weixun , Yu Shiqiang 
Published: August 2015

AbstractDiabetes mellitus (DM) increases myocardial oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Melatonin confers cardioprotective effect by suppressing oxidative damage. However, the effect and mechanism of melatonin on myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (MI/R) injury in type 2 diabetic state are still unknown. In this study, we developed high‐fat diet‐fed streptozotocin (HFD‐STZ) rat, a well‐known type 2 diabetic model, to evaluate the effect of melatonin on MI/R injury with a focus on silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) signaling, oxidative stress, and PERK/eIF2α/ATF4‐mediated ER stress. HFD‐STZ treated rats were exposed to melatonin treatment in the presence or the absence of sirtinol (a SIRT1 inhibitor) and subjected to MI/R surgery. Compared with nondiabetic animals, type 2 diabetic rats exhibited significantly decreased myocardial SIRT1 signaling, increased apoptosis, enhanced oxidative stress, and ER stress. Additionally, further reduced SIRT1 signaling, aggravated oxidative damage, and ER stress were found in diabetic animals subjected to MI/R surgery. Melatonin markedly reduced MI/R injury by improving cardiac functional recovery and decreasing myocardial apoptosis in type 2 diabetic animals. Melatonin treatment up‐regulated SIRT1 expression, reduced oxidative damage, and suppressed PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signaling. However, these effects were all attenuated by SIRT1 inhibition. Melatonin also protected high glucose/high fat cultured H9C2 cardiomyocytes against simulated ischemia–reperfusion injury‐induced ER stress by activating SIRT1 signaling while SIRT1 siRNA blunted this action. Taken together, our study demonstrates that reduced cardiac SIRT1 signaling in type 2 diabetic state aggravates MI/R injury. Melatonin ameliorates reperfusion‐induced oxidative stress and ER stress via activation of SIRT1 signaling, thus reducing MI/R damage and improving cardiac function.
Aspirin inhibits hepatitis C virus entry by downregulating claudin‐1
Authors: Yin P. , Zhang L. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryAspirin has previously been reported to inhibit hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. The aim of this study was to investigate whether aspirin is involved in blocking HCV entry. We found that aspirin inhibits the entry of HCVpp and infectious HCV. The level of claudin‐1, an HCV receptor, is reduced by aspirin. Our results extend the anti‐HCV effect of aspirin to the HCV entry step and further reinforce the anti‐HCV role of aspirin.
Disposition of Extended Release Levetiracetam in Normal Healthy Dogs After Single Oral Dosing
Authors: Beasley M.J. , Boothe D.M. 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundLevetiracetam is an anticonvulsant used for control of canine epilepsy. An extended release preparation should improve dosing convenience.ObjectivesTo determine the disposition of extended release levetiracetam in normal dogs after single dosing.AnimalsPharmacokinetic study: 16 healthy, adult dogs.MethodsUsing a partially randomized crossover study, levetiracetam (30 mg/kg) was administered intravenously (IV) and orally (PO) as extended release preparation with or without food. Blood was collected for 24 hours (IV) or 36 hours (PO). Serum levetiracetam was quantitated by immunoassay and data were subjected to noncompartmental analysis.ResultsPharmacokinetic parameters for fasted versus fed animals, respectively, were (mean ± SEM): Cmax = 26.6 ± 2.38 and 30.7 ± 2.88 μ/mL, Tmax = 204.3 ± 18.9 and 393.8 ± 36.6 minutes, t1/2 = 4.95 ± 0.55 and 4.48 ± 0.48 hours, MRT = 9.8 ± 0.72 and 10 ± 0.64 hours, MAT = 4.7 ± 0.38 and 5.6 ± 0.67 hours, and F = 1.04 ± 0.04 and 1.26 ± 0.07%. Significant differences were limited to Tmax (longer) and F (greater) in fed compared to fasted animals. Serum levetiracetam concentration remained above 5 μ/mL for approximately 20 hours in both fasted and fed animals.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceExtended release levetiracetam (30 mg/kg q12h), with or without food, should maintain concentrations above the recommended minimum human therapeutic concentration.
Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Aerobic Isolates from Respiratory Samples of Young New Zealand Horses
Authors: Toombs‐Ruane L.J. , Riley C.B. , Kendall A.T. , Bolwell C.F. , Benschop J. , Rosanowski S.M. 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundDecreased efficacy of antimicrobials and increased prevalence of multidrug resistance (MDR) is of concern worldwide.ObjectivesTo describe and analyze bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibilities from respiratory samples submitted from young horses (4 weeks to 3 years old).AnimalsSamples from 289 horses were submitted to a commercial laboratory.MethodsA retrospective database search of submissions made to a New Zealand veterinary laboratory between April 2004 and July 2014. The results of in vitro susceptibility testing by Kirby‐Bauer disc diffusion were described and tabulated for the major bacterial species isolated. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was used to describe the clustering of MDR isolates and selected demographic variables.ResultsOverall, 774 bacterial isolates were cultured from 237 horses, the majority of these isolates were gram‐positive (67.6%; 95% CI 64.3–70.9%). Streptococcus spp. were the most common genus of bacteria isolated and were 40.1% (95% CI 36.6–43.5%) of the isolates cultured. Susceptibility of Streptococcus spp. to penicillin, gentamicin, and ceftiofur was >85%. Overall, gram‐negative susceptibility to ceftiofur, tetracycline, and TMPS was <75%. MDR was defined as resistance to 3 or more antimicrobials, and was found in 39.2% of horses (93/237; 95% CI 33.0–45.5%).Conclusions and clinical importanceCulture and susceptibility results have highlighted that MDR is an emerging problem for young horses in New Zealand (NZ), where a bacterial respiratory infection is suspected. This should be considered when prescribing antimicrobials, and emphasizes the need for submission of samples for culture and susceptibility.
Serum Surfactant Protein D and Haptoglobin as Potential Biomarkers for Inflammatory Airway Disease in Horses
Authors: Bullone M. , de Lagarde M. , Vargas A. , Lavoie J.‐P. 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundThe identification of serum biomarkers of lung inflammation would facilitate the diagnosis of inflammatory airway disease (IAD) in horses.HypothesisHorses withIADhave higher serum concentrations of markers of inflammation compared to controls.AnimalsTwelve horses withIADand 10 control horses.MethodsThis was a prospective case–control study. Blood andBALFwere collected from horses withIADand controls. Serum concentration of surfactant protein D (SP‐D), haptoglobin, serum amyloid A (SAA) and of the soluble form of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (sTREM‐1) was measured using commercialELISAtests.ResultsHorses withIADhad higher serum concentration (log‐transformed values) ofSP‐D (mean ± SD: 1.773 ± 0.51), haptoglobin (6.657 ± 0.202) andSAA(0.128 ± 0.396) compared to controls (0.942 ± 0.226, 6.38 ± 0.22, −0.398 ± 0.319, respectively;P < .01 for all). Furthermore, the concentrations ofSP‐D and haptoglobin combined allowed differentiating the 2 groups (IAD: 8.43 ± 0.564, controls: 7.322 ± 0.249,P < .0001) with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% when a cut‐off of 7.70 (log value) was employed.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceSurfactant protein D and haptoglobin serum concentrations could be a diagnostic aid inIAD. Further studies are necessary to establish the specificity of our findings before they can be applied in everyday practice.
Escape behaviour in shore crabs: constraints of body size and available shelter
Authors: Bateman P. W. , Fleming P. A. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe escape behaviour of organisms that retreat to shelter to avoid predators is influenced by availability and quality (e.g. appropriate size) of shelters. We examined escape behaviour (flight initiation distance, distance fled to shelter) of the crabLeptograpsus variegatus, relative to shelter size and distribution on a shoreline with multiple shelters and on a shoreline with limited shelter. Larger crabs tended to be nearer to larger shelters than smaller crabs and fled sooner and further than smaller crabs. Larger crabs often fled past the nearest shelters if they were too small. Group size increased at the site with fewer shelters, but this did not influence flight behaviour. We conclude that the availability of shelters and body size influences escape behaviour of these crabs.
The Fuzzy Project Scheduling Problem with Minimal Generalized Precedence Relations
Authors: Ponz‐Tienda José Luis , Pellicer Eugenio , Benlloch‐Marco Javier , Andrés‐Romano Carlos 
Published: August 2015

AbstractIn scheduling, estimations are affected by the imprecision of limited information on future events, and the reduction in the number and level of detail of activities. Overlapping of processes and activities requires the study of their continuity, along with analysis of the risks associated with imprecision. In this line, this article proposes a fuzzy heuristic model for the Project Scheduling Problem with flows and minimal feeding, time and work Generalized Precedence Relations with a realistic approach to overlapping, in which the continuity of processes and activities is allowed in a discretionary way. This fuzzy algorithm handles the balance of process flows, and computes the optimal fragmentation of tasks, avoiding the interruption of the critical path and reverse criticality. The goodness of this approach is tested on several problems found in the literature; furthermore, an example of a 15‐story building was used to compare the better performance of the algorithm implemented in Visual Basic for Applications (Excel) over that same example input in Primavera© P6 Professional V8.2.0, using five different scenarios.
Ubiquitin‐specific protease 24 negatively regulates abscisic acid signalling in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Zhao Jinfeng , Zhou Huapeng , Zhang Ming , Gao Yanan , Li Long , Gao Ying , Li Ming , Yang Yuhong , Guo Yan , Li Xueyong 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAbscisic acid (ABA) is an important plant hormone integrating environmental stress and plant growth. Protein ubiquitination and deubiquitination are reversible processes catalysed by E3 ubiquitin ligase and deubiquitinating enzyme, respectively. Lots of E3 ubiquitin ligase and transcriptional factors modified by ubiquitination were reported to modulate ABA signalling. However, no deubiquitinating enzyme has been identified that functions in ABA signalling until now. Here, we isolated an ABA overly sensitive mutant, ubp24, in which the gene encoding ubiquitin‐specific protease 24 (UBP24, At4g30890) was disrupted by a T‐DNA insertion. The ubp24 mutant was hypersensitive to ABA and salt stress in both post‐germinative growth and seedling growth. However, stomata closure in the ubp24 mutant was less sensitive to ABA, and the ubp24 mutant showed drought sensitivity. UBP24 possessed deubiquitinating enzyme activity, and the activity was essential for UBP24 function. Additionally, UBP24 formed homodimer in vivo. UBP24 was genetically upstream of ABI2, and the phosphatase activity of protein phosphatase 2C was decreased in the ubp24 mutant compared with the wild type in the presence of ABA. These results uncover an important regulatory role for the ubiquitin‐specific protease in response to ABA and salt stress in plant.
Phenylphenalenones protect banana plants from infection by Mycosphaerella fijiensis and are deactivated by metabolic conversion
Authors: Hidalgo William , Chandran Jima N. , Menezes Riya C. , Otálvaro Felipe , Schneider Bernd 
Published: August 2015

AbstractPhenylphenalenones, polycyclic aromatic natural products from some monocotyledonous plants, are known as phytoalexins in banana (Musa spp.). In this study, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)‐based metabolomics along with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to explore the chemical responses of the susceptible ‘Williams’ and the resistant ‘Khai Thong Ruang’ Musa varieties to the ascomycete fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis, the agent of the black leaf Sigatoka disease. Principal component analysis discriminated strongly between infected and non‐infected plant tissue, mainly because of specialized metabolism induced in response to the fungus. Phenylphenalenones are among the major induced compounds, and the resistance level of the plants was correlated with the progress of the disease. However, a virulent strain of M. fijiensis was able to overcome plant resistance by converting phenylphenalenones to sulfate conjugates. Here, we report the first metabolic detoxification of fungitoxic phenylphenalenones to evade the chemical defence of Musa plants.
Students' unchanging smoking habits in urban and rural areas in the last 15 years
Authors: Akca Gulfer , Guner Sukru Nail , Akca Unal , Kilic Mehtap , Sancak Recep , Ozturk Fadil 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackgroundSmoking is the main preventable public health problem particularly for youth worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of smoking habits among students at secondary and high schools, and to compare the findings with those of a study conducted 15 years ago in the same area.MethodsIn this cross‐sectional study 6212 students (51.2% female; 48.8% male) were selected randomly from rural and urban areas in Samsun. All students completed a face‐to‐face questionnaire.ResultsThe overall prevalence of smoking was 13.0% (male students, 18.1%; female students, 8.2%). The mean starting age of smoking was 14.1 ± 1.5 years. Prevalence of smoking was 15.7% in urban areas and 8.1% in rural areas. The most important factors for starting smoking were social group and families. Compared with a study conducted 15 years previously in the same area for male students, smoking prevalence was increased in rural, but decreased in urban areas.ConclusionsSmoking prevalence in students in Samsun was similar to that in a study conducted 15 years previously. It is important to use anti‐smoking campaigns directly targeted at teenager and they should be fully informed of the harmful effects of smoking.
Aesthetic Adjectives: Experimental Semantics and Context‐Sensitivity
Authors: Liao Shen‐yi , Meskin Aaron 
Published: August 2015

One aim of this essay is to contribute to understanding aesthetic communication—the process by which agents aim to convey thoughts and transmit knowledge about aesthetic matters to others. Our focus will be on the use of aesthetic adjectives in aesthetic communication. Although theorists working on the semantics of adjectives have developed sophisticated theories about gradable adjectives, they have tended to avoid studying aesthetic adjectives—the class of adjectives that play a central role in expressing aesthetic evaluations (e.g., ‘beautiful’, ‘ugly’, ‘elegant’). And despite the wealth of attention paid to aesthetic adjectives by philosophical aestheticians, they have paid little attention to contemporary linguistic theories of adjectives. We take our work to be a first step in remedying these lacunae. In this paper, we present four experiments that examine one aspect of how aesthetic adjectives ordinarily function: the context‐sensitivity of their application standards. Our results present a prima facie empirical challenge to a common distinction between relative and absolute gradable adjectives because aesthetic adjectives are found to behave differently from both. Our results thus also constitute a prima facie vindication of some philosophical aestheticians’ contention that aesthetic adjectives constitute a particularly interesting segment of natural language, even if the boundaries of this segment might turn out to be different from what they had in mind.
Parafoveal processing in reading Chinese sentences: Evidence from event‐related brain potentials
Authors: Li Nan , Niefind Florian , Wang Suiping , Sommer Werner , Dimigen Olaf 
Published: August 2015

AbstractNatural reading involves the preprocessing of upcoming words, resulting in shorter fixations on words visible in the parafovea during preceding fixations. While this preview benefit is established in behavior, its brain‐electric correlates have only recently been investigated. Using fixation‐related potentials, an attenuation of the occipitotemporal N1 component for words that were parafoveally visible during preceding fixations has been demonstrated. In contrast, another study, using an RSVP paradigm with parafoveal flanker words, observed no such general preview benefit in ERPs, but instead reported N400 effects triggered by semantically incongruous parafoveal words. To follow up on these discrepant findings and to extend them to a nonalphabetic writing system, we conducted two ERP experiments with Chinese readers using the RSVP‐with‐flankers paradigm and rigorous fixation control via eye tracking. We replicate robust parafoveal N400 semantic congruency effects in Chinese participants. Additionally, we found that, once a word was directly looked at, words after a valid preview elicited a smaller N1 and a weaker N400 than those after an invalid preview. Results underline the importance of considering parafoveal vision in ERP studies on reading.
Understanding Employee Turnover in the Public Sector: Insights from Research on Teacher Mobility
Authors: Grissom Jason A. , Viano Samantha L. , Selin Jennifer L. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractEmployee turnover is a key area for public administration research, but one about which there is much still to be learned. Insights from an extensive body of research on employee turnover in a specific area of the public sector—public education—contributes to the understanding of employee mobility in public organizations more generally. The authors present a conceptual framework for understanding employee turnover that is grounded in economic theories of labor supply and demand, which have formed the foundation of many studies of teacher turnover. The main findings of this body of work are documented, noting connections to the literature on public employee turnover, lessons that can be learned, and potential new areas for empirical inquiry for scholars of turnover in the public sector.
Using multiple online databases to help identify microRNAs regulating the airway epithelial cell response to a virus‐like stimulus
Authors: Herbert Cristan , Sebesfi Michelle , Zeng Qing‐Xiang , Oliver Brian G , Foster Paul S , Kumar Rakesh K 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackground and objectiveExacerbations of allergic asthma are often triggered by respiratory viral infections. We have previously shown that in a T‐helper type 2 (Th2)‐biased cytokine environment, mouse and human airway epithelial cells (AEC) exhibit increased expression of pro‐inflammatory and anti‐viral genes in response to synthetic double‐stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA), a virus‐like stimulus. This implies coordinated regulation of gene expression, suggesting possible involvement of microRNA. To investigate this, we developed a novel approach to identifying candidate microRNA using online databases, then confirmed their expression by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR).MethodsUsing a list of genes of interest, defined on the basis of the previous study as being up‐regulated in a Th2 environment, we searched mouse and human microRNA databases for possible regulatory microRNA, and selected 10 candidates that were conserved across species or predicted by more than one human database. Expression of these microRNA was tested by qRT‐PCR, in primary human AEC pre‐treated with Th2 cytokines and exposed to dsRNA.ResultsExpression of hsa‐miR‐139‐5p, miR‐423‐5p and miR‐542‐3p was significantly decreased in Th2 pre‐treated AEC, and miR‐135a‐5p exhibited a trend towards decreased expression. Further database searches confirmed that these microRNA regulated additional pro‐inflammatory and anti‐viral response genes for which expression had previously been shown to be up‐regulated, confirming the validity of this approach.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates the value of using multiple online databases to identify candidate regulatory microRNA and provides the first evidence that in an allergic environment, microRNA may be important in altering the pro‐inflammatory and anti‐viral responses of human AEC during exacerbations of asthma.