bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Political Ecology of Soil and Species Conservation in a ‘Big Australia’
Authors: KIRKPATRICK J.B. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractIs the ‘Big Australia’ vision of a populous, prosperous Australian nation in 2050 compatible with the maintenance of productive soils and/or the maintenance of native species? This paper considers the implications of current tendencies in soil and species conservation and suggests some ways to avoid the more negative of them. Current land use in Australia is mining the soils on slopes. It seems likely that deposits of rock phosphate will be close to depletion by 2050, making fertilisers that are essential for industrial agriculture very expensive. Petroleum, which is converted into most of the food traded globally, seems also likely to be near depletion and expensive. The prospective substitution of coal for oil promises interesting changes to the global earth‐atmosphere system. Nevertheless, under an optimistic business as usual scenario, Australia probably could feed 36 million people in 2050, but not necessarily for very much longer. Thus, a ‘Big Australia’ in 2050 could be a way station on the road to a human population crash. The conservation of Australian native species has been hindered by frequent changes in all of funding, bureaucratic structure and scientific dogma. The political and social processes that support a growth economy encourage such short term thinking. A transition to long term thinking will be necessary if support systems for humans and other species are to be maintained.
Process modification of a wire‐welding plant for efficient sulphate removal
Authors: Duranoğlu Dilek , Kadιrgan Neset , Üstün Beyza 
Published: April 2011

AbstractSulphate removal by chemical precipitation from the wastewater of a wire‐welding facility was investigated. Sulphate was precipitated by using limestone and a small amount of lime. Firstly, the relationship between the ionic strength of wastewater and sulphate removal efficiency was established. A kinetic study of sulphate precipitation was also conducted. Finally, modification of plating process was proposed to achieve the highest sulphate removal. According to the suggested modification, the sulphate concentration of final discharge could be down to 425 mg/L. Hence, if wire‐welding facilities modify their systems so that the wastewater is treated at the highest level of sulphate contents, the removal efficiency will be the highest, i.e. lesser amounts of sulphate will be discharged into sewage systems.
Comparison and Characterization of the Antioxidant Potential of 3 Wild Grapes―Vitis thunbergii, V. flexuosa, and V. kelungeusis
Authors: Tung Yu‐Tang , Cheng Kai‐Chung , Ho Shang‐Tse , Chen Yong‐Long , Wu Tung‐Lin , Hung Ke‐Chang , Wu Jyh‐Horng 
Published: April 2011

Abstract:  This study considers a laboratory examination of the antioxidant performance of methanolic extracts from the leaves and stems of 3 common wild grapes (Vitis thunbergii, V. flexuosa, and V. kelungeusis) by various in vitro methods. It also seeks to identify the specific antioxidant constituent. Results revealed that, of these specimens, stem extracts of V. thunbergii exhibited good 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radical‐scavenging and superoxide radical‐scavenging performance and ferrous ion‐chelating ability, as well as the highest total phenolic content (179.5 mg of GAE/g). The principal antioxidant, (+)‐lyoniresinol‐2a‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside, was isolated from the stem extracts of V. thunbergii and identified. Removal of this compound from the extracts caused an approximate 2‐ to 5‐fold decrease in antioxidant performance. This showed that (+)‐lyoniresinol‐2a‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside is the primary antioxidant in wild grapes. Results also indicated that the antioxidant performance of (+)‐lyoniresinol‐2a‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside was stronger than its lignan aglycone, (+)‐lyoniresinol.Practical Application:  Of the 3 common wild grapes―Vitis thunbergii, V. flexuosa, and V. kelungeusis, the extracts or phytochemicals, derived from the V. thunbergii stems have excellent antioxidant properties, so they have great potential as a basis for natural health products that seek to prevent diseases caused by the overproduction of radicals.
Photodynamic Therapy with Pc 4 Induces Apoptosis of Candida albicans
Authors: Lam Minh , Jou Paul C. , Lattif Ali A. , Lee Yoojin , Malbasa Christi L. , Mukherjee Pranab K. , Oleinick Nancy L. , Ghannoum Mahmoud A. , Cooper Kevin D. , Baron Elma D. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe high prevalence of drug resistance necessitates the development of novel antifungal agents against infections caused by opportunistic fungal pathogens, such as Candida albicans. Elucidation of apoptosis in yeast‐like fungi may provide a basis for future therapies. In mammalian cells, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been demonstrated to generate reactive oxygen species, leading to immediate oxidative modifications of biological molecules and resulting in apoptotic cell death. In this report, we assess the in vitro cytotoxicity and mechanism of PDT, using the photosensitizer Pc 4, in planktonic C. albicans. Confocal image analysis confirmed that Pc 4 localizes to cytosolic organelles, including mitochondria. A colony formation assay showed that 1.0 μm Pc 4 followed by light at 2.0 J cm−2 reduced cell survival by 4 logs. XTT (2,3‐bis[2‐methoxy‐4‐nitro‐5‐sulfophenyl]‐2H‐tetrazolium‐5‐carboxyanilide) assay revealed that Pc 4‐PDT impaired fungal metabolic activity, which was confirmed using the FUN‐1 (2‐chloro‐4‐[2,3‐dihydro‐3‐methyl‐(benzo‐1,3‐thiazol‐2‐yl)‐methylidene]‐1‐phenylquinolinium iodide) fluorescence probe. Furthermore, we observed changes in nuclear morphology characteristic of apoptosis, which were substantiated by increased externalization of phosphatidylserine and DNA fragmentation following Pc 4‐PDT. These data indicate that Pc 4‐PDT can induce apoptosis in C. albicans. Therefore, a better understanding of the process will be helpful, as PDT may become a useful treatment option for candidiasis.
Description of microsatellite markers and genotyping performances using feathers and buccal swabs for the Ivory gull (Pagophila eburnea)
Authors: YANNIC GLENN , SERMIER ROBERTO , AEBISCHER ADRIAN , GAVRILO MARIA V. , GILG OLIVIER , MILJETEIG CECILIE , SABARD BRIGITTE , STRØM HALLVARD , POUIVÉ EMMANUELLE , BROQUET T. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractWe report 22 new polymorphic microsatellites for the Ivory gull (Pagophila eburnea), and we describe how they can be efficiently co‐amplified using multiplexed polymerase chain reactions. In addition, we report DNA concentration, amplification success, rates of genotyping errors and the number of genotyping repetitions required to obtain reliable data with three types of noninvasive or nondestructive samples: shed feathers collected in colonies, feathers plucked from living individuals and buccal swabs. In two populations from Greenland (n = 21) and Russia (Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago, n = 21), the number of alleles per locus varied between 2 and 17, and expected heterozygosity per population ranged from 0.18 to 0.92. Twenty of the markers conformed to Hardy–Weinberg and linkage equilibrium expectations. Most markers were easily amplified and highly reliable when analysed from buccal swabs and plucked feathers, showing that buccal swabbing is a very efficient approach allowing good quality DNA retrieval. Although DNA amplification success using single shed feathers was generally high, the genotypes obtained from this type of samples were prone to error and thus need to be amplified several times. The set of microsatellite markers described here together with multiplex amplification conditions and genotyping error rates will be useful for population genetic studies of the Ivory gull.
Efficient screening of transgenic plant lines for ecological research
Authors: GASE KLAUS , WEINHOLD ARNE , BOZOROV TOHIR , SCHUCK STEFAN , BALDWIN IAN T. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractPlants stably transformed to manipulate the expression of genes mediating ecological performance have profoundly altered research in plant ecology. Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation remains the most effective method of creating plants harbouring a limited number of transgene integrations of low complexity. For ecological/physiological research, the following requirements must be met: (i) the regenerated plants should have the same ploidy level as the corresponding wild‐type plant and (ii) contain a single transgene copy in a homozygous state; (iii) the T‐DNA must be completely inserted without vector backbone sequence and all its elements functional; and (iv) the integration should not change the phenotype of the plant by interrupting chromosomal genes or by mutations occurring during the regeneration procedure. The screening process to obtain transformed plants that meet the above criteria is costly and time‐consuming, and an optimized screening procedure is presented. We developed a flow chart that optimizes the screening process to efficiently select transformed plants for ecological research. It consists of segregational analyses, which select transgenic T1 and T2 generation plants with single T‐DNA copies that are homozygous. Indispensable molecular genetic tests (flow cytometry, diagnostic PCRs and Southern blotting) are performed at the earliest and most effective times in the screening process. qPCR to quantify changes in transcript accumulation to confirm gene silencing or overexpression is the last step in the selection process. Because we routinely transform the wild tobacco, Nicotiana attenuata, with constructs that silence or ectopically overexpress ecologically relevant genes, the proposed protocol is supported by examples from this system.
Accounting for non‐independent detection when estimating abundance of organisms with a Bayesian approach
Authors: Martin Julien , Royle J. Andrew , Mackenzie Darryl I. , Edwards Holly H. , Kéry Marc , Gardner Beth 
Published: April 2011

Summary1. Binomial mixture models use repeated count data to estimate abundance. They are becoming increasingly popular because they provide a simple and cost‐effective way to account for imperfect detection. However, these models assume that individuals are detected independently of each other. This assumption may often be violated in the field. For instance, manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) may surface in turbid water (i.e. become available for detection during aerial surveys) in a correlated manner (i.e. in groups). However, correlated behaviour, affecting the non‐independence of individual detections, may also be relevant in other systems (e.g. correlated patterns of singing in birds and amphibians).2. We extend binomial mixture models to account for correlated behaviour and therefore to account for non‐independent detection of individuals. We simulated correlated behaviour using beta‐binomial random variables. Our approach can be used to simultaneously estimate abundance, detection probability and a correlation parameter.3. Fitting binomial mixture models to data that followed a beta‐binomial distribution resulted in an overestimation of abundance even for moderate levels of correlation. In contrast, the beta‐binomial mixture model performed considerably better in our simulation scenarios. We also present a goodness‐of‐fit procedure to evaluate the fit of beta‐binomial mixture models.4. We illustrate our approach by fitting both binomial and beta‐binomial mixture models to aerial survey data of manatees in Florida. We found that the binomial mixture model did not fit the data, whereas there was no evidence of lack of fit for the beta‐binomial mixture model. This example helps illustrate the importance of using simulations and assessing goodness‐of‐fit when analysing ecological data with N‐mixture models. Indeed, both the simulations and the goodness‐of‐fit procedure highlighted the limitations of the standard binomial mixture model for aerial manatee surveys.5. Overestimation of abundance by binomial mixture models owing to non‐independent detections is problematic for ecological studies, but also for conservation. For example, in the case of endangered species, it could lead to inappropriate management decisions, such as downlisting. These issues will be increasingly relevant as more ecologists apply flexible N‐mixture models to ecological data.
Gaudin subalgebras and stable rational curves
Authors: Aguirre Leonardo , Felder Giovanni , Veselov Alexander P. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractGaudin subalgebras are abelian Lie subalgebras of maximal dimension spanned by generators of the Kohno–Drinfeld Lie algebra $\Xmathfrak {t}_{\hspace *{.3pt}n}$. We show that Gaudin subalgebras form a variety isomorphic to the moduli space $\bar M_{0,n+1}$ of stable curves of genus zero with n+1 marked points. In particular, this gives an embedding of $\bar M_{0,n+1}$ in a Grassmannian of (n−1)-planes in an n(n−1)/2-dimensional space. We show that the sheaf of Gaudin subalgebras over $\bar M_{0,n+1}$ is isomorphic to a sheaf of twisted first-order differential operators. For each representation of the Kohno–Drinfeld Lie algebra with fixed central character, we obtain a sheaf of commutative algebras whose spectrum is a coisotropic subscheme of a twisted version of the logarithmic cotangent bundle of $\bar M_{0,n+1}$.
Characterization of Metallo-β-Lactamase VIM-27, an A57S Mutant of VIM-1 Associated with Klebsiella pneumoniae ST147
Authors: Papagiannitsis C. C. , Kotsakis S. D. , Petinaki E. , Vatopoulos A. C. , Tzelepi E. , Miriagou V. , Tzouvelekis L. S. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT

VIM-27 metallo-β-lactamase, an Ala
57
→ Ser variant of VIM-1, was identified in three
Klebsiella pneumoniae
isolates belonging to sequence type 147.
bla
VIM-27
was part of a class 1 integron carried by non-self-transferable plasmids. Kinetic parameters and MIC determinations indicated that VIM-27 hydrolyzed most β-lactams, especially imipenem and cefoxitin, less effectively than VIM-1.
Horizontal Transfer of the OXA-24 Carbapenemase Gene via Outer Membrane Vesicles: a New Mechanism of Dissemination of Carbapenem Resistance Genes in Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Rumbo Carlos , Fernández-Moreira Esteban , Merino María , Poza Margarita , Mendez Jose Antonio , Soares Nelson C. , Mosquera Alejandro , Chaves Fernando , Bou Germán 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT

The resistance of
Acinetobacter baumannii
strains to carbapenems is a worrying problem in hospital settings. The main mechanism of carbapenem resistance is the expression of β-lactamases (metalloenzymes or class D enzymes). The mechanisms of the dissemination of these genes among
A. baumannii
strains are not fully understood. In this study we used two carbapenem-resistant clinical strains of
A. baumannii
(AbH12O-A2 and AbH12O-CU3) expressing the plasmid-borne
bla
OXA-24
gene (plasmids pMMA2 and pMMCU3, respectively) to demonstrate that
A. baumannii
releases outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) during
in vitro
growth. The use of hybridization studies enabled us to show that these OMVs harbored the
bla
OXA-24
gene. The incubation of these OMVs with the carbapenem-susceptible
A. baumannii
ATCC 17978 host strain yielded full resistance to carbapenems. The presence of the original plasmids harboring the
bla
OXA-24
gene was detected in strain ATCC 17978 after the transformation of OMVs. New OMVs harboring
bla
OXA-24
were released by
A. baumannii
ATCC 17978 after it was transformed with the original OMV-mediated plasmids, indicating the universality of the process. We present the first experimental evidence that clinical isolates of
A. baumannii
may release OMVs as a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer whereby carbapenem resistance genes are delivered to surrounding
A. baumannii
bacterial isolates.
Dissemination of Multiple Drug Resistance Genes by Class 1 Integrons in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates from Four Countries: a Comparative Study
Authors: Roy Chowdhury Piklu , Ingold Ana , Vanegas Natasha , Martínez Elena , Merlino John , Merkier Andrea Karina , Castro Mercedes , González Rocha Gerardo , Borthagaray Graciela , Centrón Daniela , Bello Toledo Helia , Márquez Carolina M. , Stokes H. W. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT

A comparative genetic analysis of 42 clinical
Klebsiella pneumoniae
isolates, resistant to two or more antibiotics belonging to the broad-spectrum β-lactam group, sourced from Sydney, Australia, and three South American countries is presented. The study focuses on the genetic contexts of class 1 integrons, mobilizable genetic elements best known for their role in the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance among Gram-negative pathogens. It was found that the class 1 integrons in this cohort were located in a number of different genetic contexts with clear regional differences. In Sydney, IS
26
-associated Tn
21-
like transposons on IncL/M plasmids contribute greatly to the dispersal of integron-associated
m
ultiple-
d
rug-
r
esistant (MDR) loci. In contrast, in the South American countries, Tn
1696-
like transposons on an IncA/C plasmid(s) appeared to be disseminating a characteristic MDR region. A range of mobile genetic elements is clearly being recruited by clinically important mobile class 1 integrons, and these elements appear to be becoming more common with time. This in turn is driving the evolution of complex and laterally mobile MDR units and may further complicate antibiotic therapy.
Effects of Fluconazole, Amphotericin B, and Caspofungin on Candida albicans Biofilms under Conditions of Flow and on Biofilm Dispersion
Authors: Uppuluri Priya , Srinivasan Anand , Ramasubramanian Anand , Lopez-Ribot Jose L. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT

We have examined the effect of continuous perfusion with antifungals on
Candida albicans
biofilms under conditions of flow, closely mimicking physiological conditions encountered within patients. Biofilms displayed high levels of resistance to fluconazole, and this antifungal exerted minor effects on dispersion levels. Amphotericin B proved effective in reducing viability of cells within the biofilms and dispersion, but only at high concentrations. Under flow conditions, caspofungin exhibited potent activity against biofilms and drastically reduced biofilm dispersion.
Molecular Mechanism of Renal Tubular Secretion of the Antimalarial Drug Chloroquine
Authors: Müller Fabian , König Jörg , Glaeser Hartmut , Schmidt Ingrid , Zolk Oliver , Fromm Martin F. , Maas Renke 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT

The antimalarial drug chloroquine is eliminated to a significant extent by renal tubular secretion. The molecular mechanism of renal chloroquine secretion remains unknown. We hypothesized that organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2) and multidrug and toxin extrusion protein 1 (MATE1), localized in the basolateral and luminal membranes of proximal tubule cells, respectively, are involved in chloroquine transport. The interaction of chloroquine with both transporters was investigated using single-transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293)-MATE1 cells in uptake experiments and single-transfected Madin-Darby canine kidney II (MDCK)-OCT2 and MDCK-MATE1 cells as well as double-transfected MDCK-OCT2-MATE1 cells grown as polarized monolayers on transwell filters. In HEK293-MATE1 cells, chloroquine competitively inhibited MATE1-mediated metformin uptake (

K
i

= 2.8 μM). Cellular accumulation of chloroquine was significantly lower (
P
< 0.001) and transcellular chloroquine transport was significantly increased (
P
< 0.001) in MDCK-MATE1 and MDCK-OCT2-MATE1 cells compared to vector control cells after basal addition of chloroquine (0.1 to 10 μM). In contrast, no difference in cellular accumulation or transcellular transport of chloroquine was observed between MDCK-OCT2 and vector control cells. In line with an oppositely directed proton gradient acting as a driving force for MATE1, basal-to-apical transport of chloroquine by MDCK-OCT2-MATE1 cells increased with decreasing apical pH from 7.8 to 6.0. Transcellular transport of chloroquine by MDCK-OCT2-MATE1 cells was inhibited by cimetidine, trimethoprim, and amitriptyline. Our data demonstrate that chloroquine is a substrate and potent competitive inhibitor of MATE1, whereas OCT2 seems to play no role in chloroquine uptake. Concomitantly administered MATE1 inhibitors are likely to modify the renal secretion of chloroquine.
Contribution of Lethal Toxin and Edema Toxin to the Pathogenesis of Anthrax Meningitis
Authors: Ebrahimi Celia M. , Sheen Tamsin R. , Renken Christian W. , Gottlieb Roberta A. , Doran Kelly S. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT

Bacillus anthracis
is a Gram-positive spore-forming bacterium that causes anthrax disease in humans and animals. Systemic infection is characterized by septicemia, toxemia, and meningitis, the main neurological complication associated with high mortality. We have shown previously that
B. anthracis
Sterne is capable of blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, establishing the classic signs of meningitis, and that infection is dependent on the expression of both major anthrax toxins, lethal toxin (LT) and edema toxin (ET). Here we further investigate the contribution of the individual toxins to BBB disruption using isogenic toxin mutants deficient in lethal factor, ΔLF, and edema factor, ΔEF. Acute infection with
B. anthracis
Sterne and the ΔLF mutant resulted in disruption of human brain microvascular endothelial cell (hBMEC) monolayer integrity and tight junction protein zona occludens-1, while the result for cells infected with the ΔEF mutant was similar to that for the noninfected control. A significant decrease in bacterial invasion of BBB endothelium
in vitro
was observed during infection with the ΔLF strain, suggesting a prominent role for LT in promoting BBB interaction. Further, treatment of hBMECs with purified LT or chemicals that mimic LT action on host signaling pathways rescued the hypoinvasive phenotype of the ΔLF mutant and resulted in increased bacterial uptake. We also observed that toxin expression reduced bacterial intracellular survival by inducing the bulk degradative autophagy pathway in host cells. Finally, in a murine model of anthrax meningitis, mice infected with the ΔLF mutant exhibited no mortality, brain bacterial load, or evidence of meningitis compared to mice infected with the parental or ΔEF strains.