bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tomato leaf curl Kerala virus (ToLCKeV) AC3 protein forms a higher order oligomer and enhances ATPase activity of replication initiator protein (Rep/AC1)
Authors: Pasumarthy Kalyan K , Choudhury Nirupam R , Mukherjee Sunil K 
Published: June 2010

Abstract

Background
Geminiviruses are emerging plant viruses that infect a wide variety of vegetable crops, ornamental plants and cereal crops. They undergo recombination during co-infections by different species of geminiviruses and give rise to more virulent species. Antiviral strategies targeting a broad range of viruses necessitate a detailed understanding of the basic biology of the viruses. ToLCKeV, a virus prevalent in the tomato crop of Kerala state of India and a member of genus Begomovirus has been used as a model system in this study.

Results
AC3 is a geminiviral protein conserved across all the begomoviral species and is postulated to enhance viral DNA replication. In this work we have successfully expressed and purified the AC3 fusion proteins from E. coli. We demonstrated the higher order oligomerization of AC3 using sucrose gradient ultra-centrifugation and gel-filtration experiments. In addition we also established that ToLCKeV AC3 protein interacted with cognate AC1 protein and enhanced the AC1-mediated ATPase activity in vitro.

Conclusions
Highly hydrophobic viral protein AC3 can be purified as a fusion protein with either MBP or GST. The purification method of AC3 protein improves scope for the biochemical characterization of the viral protein. The enhancement of AC1-mediated ATPase activity might lead to increased viral DNA replication.
Improved xylose and arabinose utilization by an industrial recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain using evolutionary engineering
Authors: Garcia Sanchez Rosa , Karhumaa Kaisa , Fonseca César , Sànchez Nogué Violeta , Almeida João RM , Larsson Christer U , Bengtsson Oskar , Bettiga Maurizio , Hahn-Hägerdal Bärbel , Gorwa-Grauslund Marie F 
Published: June 2010

Abstract

Background
Cost-effective fermentation of lignocellulosic hydrolysate to ethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires efficient mixed sugar utilization. Notably, the rate and yield of xylose and arabinose co-fermentation to ethanol must be enhanced.

Results
Evolutionary engineering was used to improve the simultaneous conversion of xylose and arabinose to ethanol in a recombinant industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain carrying the heterologous genes for xylose and arabinose utilization pathways integrated in the genome. The evolved strain TMB3130 displayed an increased consumption rate of xylose and arabinose under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Improved anaerobic ethanol production was achieved at the expense of xylitol and glycerol but arabinose was almost stoichiometrically converted to arabitol. Further characterization of the strain indicated that the selection pressure during prolonged continuous culture in xylose and arabinose medium resulted in the improved transport of xylose and arabinose as well as increased levels of the enzymes from the introduced fungal xylose pathway. No mutation was found in any of the genes from the pentose converting pathways.

Conclusion
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that characterizes the molecular mechanisms for improved mixed-pentose utilization obtained by evolutionary engineering of a recombinant S. cerevisiae strain. Increased transport of pentoses and increased activities of xylose converting enzymes contributed to the improved phenotype.
Characterization of the Taenia spp HDP2 sequence and development of a novel PCR-based assay for discrimination of Taenia saginata from Taenia asiatica
Authors: González Luis M , Bailo Begoña , Ferrer Elizabeth , García Maria D Fernandez , Harrison Leslie JS , Parkhouse Michael RE , McManus Donald P , Gárate Teresa 
Published: June 2010

Abstract
A previously described Taenia saginata HDP2 DNA sequence, a 4-kb polymorphic fragment, was previously used as the basis for developing PCR diagnostic protocols for the species-specific discrimination of T. saginata from T. solium and for the differentiation of T. saginata from T. asiatica. The latter was shown subsequently to lack the required specificity, so we undertook genetic studies of the HDP2 sequence from T. saginata and T. asiatica to determine why, and to develop a novel HDP2-PCR protocol for the simultaneous unambiguous identification of human taeniids. Sequencing and further analysis of the HDP2 DNA fragments of 19 Asiatic isolates of T. saginata and T. asiatica indicated that the HDP2 sequences of both species exhibited clear genomic variability, due to polymorphic variable fragments, that could correspond to the non-transcribed region of ribosomal DNA. This newly observed polymorphism allowed us to develop a novel, reproducible and reliable HDP2-PCR protocol which permitted the simultaneous discrimination of all T. saginata and T. asiatica isolates examined. This species-specific identification was based on, and facilitated by, the clear size difference in amplicon profiles generated: fragments of 1300 bp, 600 bp and 300 bp were produced for T. asiatica, amplicons of 1300 bp and 300 bp being obtained for T. saginata. Control T. solium samples produced one amplicon of 600 bp with the HDP2-PCR protocol. The assay has the potential to prove useful as a diagnostic tool in areas such as South East Asia where T. saginata, T. asiatica and T. solium coexist.
Geranylgeranyltransferase I is essential for dendritic development of cerebellar Purkinje cells
Authors: Wu Kong-Yan , Zhou Xiu-Ping , Luo Zhen-Ge 
Published: June 2010

Abstract

Background
During cerebellar development, Purkinje cells (PCs) form the most elaborate dendritic trees among neurons in the brain, but the mechanism regulating PC arborization remains largely unknown. Geranylgeranyltransferase I (GGT) is a prenyltransferase that is responsible for lipid modification of several signaling proteins, such as Rho family small GTPase Rac1, which has been shown to be involved in neuronal morphogenesis. Here we show that GGT plays an important role in dendritic development of PCs.

Results
We found that GGT was abundantly expressed in the developing rat cerebellum, in particular molecular layer (ML), the region enriched with PC dendrites. Inhibition or down-regulation of GGT using small interference RNA (siRNA) inhibited dendritic development of PCs. In contrast, up-regulation of GGT promoted dendritic arborization of PCs. Furthermore, neuronal depolarization induced by high K+ or treatment with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promoted membrane association of Rac1 and dendritic development of PCs in cultured cerebellar slices. The effect of BDNF or high K+ was inhibited by inhibition or down-regulation of GGT.

Conclusion
Our results indicate that GGT plays an important role in Purkinje cell development, and suggest a novel role of GGT in neuronal morphogenesis in vivo.
Looking through the ‘window of opportunity’: is there a new paradigm of podiatry care on the horizon in earlyrheumatoid arthritis?
Authors: Woodburn James , Hennessy Kym , Steultjens Martijn PM , McInnes Iain B , Turner Deborah E 
Published: June 2010

AbstractOver the past decade there have been significant advances in the clinical understanding and care of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Major paradigm changes include earlier disease detection and introduction of therapy, and ‘tight control’ of follow‐up driven by regular measurement of disease activity parameters. The advent of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and other biologic therapies have further revolutionised care. Low disease state and remission with prevention of joint damage and irreversible disability are achievable therapeutic goals. Consequently new opportunities exist for all health professionals to contribute towards these advances. For podiatrists relevant issues range from greater awareness of current concepts including early referral guidelines through to the application of specialist skills to manage localised, residual disease activity and associated functional impairments. Here we describe a new paradigm of podiatry care in early RA. This is driven by current evidence that indicates that even in low disease activity states destruction of foot joints may be progressive and associated with accumulating disability. The paradigm parallels the medical model comprising early detection, targeted therapy, a new concept of tight control of foot arthritis, and disease monitoring.‘Podiatrists are experts on foot disorders: both patients and rheumatologists can profit from the involvement of a podiatrist’‐ Korda and Balint, 2004 [1].
Progesterone reverses the mesenchymal phenotypes of basal phenotype breast cancer cells via a membrane progesterone receptor mediated pathway
Authors: Zuo Lian , Li Wei , You Shaojin 
Published: June 2010

AbstractIntroductionBasal phenotype breast cancers (BPBC) are often associated with apparent epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). The role of progesterone (P4) in regulating EMT of BPBC has not been reported.MethodsThe EMT relevant biology was investigatedin vitrousing human BPBC cell models (MDA-MB468 and MDA-MB231) with P4, PR agonist (RU486), and PR antagonist (R5020) treatments. The essential role of membrane progesterone receptor α (mPRα) in the P4-regulated EMT was demonstrated by knocking down the endogenous gene and/or stably transfecting exogenous mPRα gene in the BPBC cell models.ResultsThe expression of snail and down-stream EMT proteins such as occludin, fibronectin, and E-cadherin was significantly regulated by P4 incubation, which was accompanied by cell morphological reversion from mesenchymal to epithelial phenotypes. In searching for the cell mediator of P4' action in the MDA-MB468 (MB468) cells, it was found that mPRα but not the nuclear PR has an essential role in the P4 mediated EMT inhibition. Knocking down the expression of mPRα with specific siRNA blocked the P4's effects on expression of the EMT proteins. In another BPBC cell line - MDA-MB231 (MB231), which is mPRα negative by Western blotting, P4 treatment did not alter cell proliferation and EMT protein expressions. Introduction of the exogenous mPRα cDNA into these cells caused cell proliferation, but not EMT, to become responsive to P4 treatment. In further studies, it was found that activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway is necessary for the P4-induced EMT reversion. To define the potential inter-mediate steps between mPRα and PI3K, we demonstrated that mPRα, caveolin-1 (Cav-1), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are colocalized in the membrane of caveolar vesicle and the P4-repressed EMT in MB468 cells can be blocked by EGFR inhibitor (AG1478) and PI3K inhibitor (wortmannin).ConclusionsOur data suggest that the signaling cascade of P4 induced mesenchymal repression is mediated through mPRα and other caveolae bound signaling molecules namely Cav-1, EGFR, and PI3K. This novel finding may have great impact on fully understanding the pathogenesis of BPBC and provide an essential clue for developing a targeted therapeutic strategy for treatment of BPBC.
Pulse-pressure variation and hemodynamic response in patients with elevated pulmonary artery pressure: a clinical study
Authors: Wyler von Ballmoos Moritz , Takala Jukka , Roeck Margareta , Porta Francesca , Tueller David , Ganter Christoph C , Schröder Ralph , Bracht Hendrik , Baenziger Bertram , Jakob Stephan M 
Published: June 2010

Abstract
Introduction
Pulse-pressure variation (PPV) due to increased right ventricular afterload and dysfunction may misleadingly suggest volume responsiveness. We aimed to assess prediction of volume responsiveness with PPV in patients with increased pulmonary artery pressure.

Methods
Fifteen cardiac surgery patients with a history of increased pulmonary artery pressure (mean pressure, 27 ± 5 mm Hg (mean ± SD) before fluid challenges) and seven septic shock patients (mean pulmonary artery pressure, 33 ± 10 mm Hg) were challenged with 200 ml hydroxyethyl starch boli ordered on clinical indication. PPV, right ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and end-diastolic volume (EDV), stroke volume (SV), and intravascular pressures were measured before and after volume challenges.

Results
Of 69 fluid challenges, 19 (28%) increased SV > 10%. PPV did not predict volume responsiveness (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.555; P = 0.485). PPV was ≥13% before 46 (67%) fluid challenges, and SV increased in 13 (28%). Right ventricular EF decreased in none of the fluid challenges, resulting in increased SV, and in 44% of those in which SV did not increase (P = 0.0003). EDV increased in 28% of fluid challenges, resulting in increased SV, and in 44% of those in which SV did not increase (P = 0.272).

Conclusions
Both early after cardiac surgery and in septic shock, patients with increased pulmonary artery pressure respond poorly to fluid administration. Under these conditions, PPV cannot be used to predict fluid responsiveness. The frequent reduction in right ventricular EF when SV did not increase suggests that right ventricular dysfunction contributed to the poor response to fluids.
IL-15 has innate anti-tumor activity independent of NK and CD8 T cells
Authors: Davies Elizabeth , Reid Sarah , Medina Maria Fe , Lichty Brian , Ashkar Ali A 
Published: June 2010

Abstract
IL-15 can have innate anti-tumor activity independent of NK and CD8+ T cells and the common gamma chain receptor.
The innate immune system is crucial for host defense and immunosurveillance against pathogens and tumor cells. IL-15 is a pleiotropic cytokine with important effects on cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems. The NK cell- and CD8+ T cell-mediated functions of IL-15 against tumor cells have been well documented. However, it has not been established whether IL-15 has innate anti-tumor functions independent of these cells. Here, we explored the innate anti-tumor potential of IL-15 using a B16F10 melanoma tumor model. IL-15tg mice exhibited significantly more resistance to tumor growth and metastasis compared to B6 mice, and to IL-15−/− mice, which exhibited increased susceptibility to B16F10 challenge. In vivo depletion of NK cells and CD8+ T cells abrogated the innate resistance to B16F10 cells in B6 but not in IL-15tg mice. In addition, lung macrophages from IL-15tg mice produced significantly higher levels of NO and IL-12 compared with macrophages from B6 or IL-15−/− mice. To examine whether IL-15 has innate anti-tumor activity independent of NK cells and CD8+ T cells, we developed Ad-Op-hIL-15; this resulted in significantly higher levels of biologically active hIL-15. Delivery of Ad-Op-hIL-15 into RAG-2−/−/γc−/− mice significantly suppressed tumor burden in the lungs compared with the control adenovirus vector. Our results show that IL-15 can have innate anti-tumor activity independent of NK cells and CD8+ T cells and the common γcR.
Oxygen limitation and thermal tolerance in two terrestrial arthropod species
Authors: Stevens Meagan M. , Jackson Sue , Bester Susan A. , Terblanche John S. , Chown Steven L. 
Published: June 2010

SUMMARYRecent studies of marine invertebrates and fish have suggested that lower and upper critical temperatures (CTmin and CTmax) are coupled by a common mechanism: oxygen and capacity limitation of thermal tolerance (OCLT). Using thermolimit respirometry, we tested the predictions of this theory for terrestrial arthropods by measuring maxima and minima for both critical temperatures and metabolic rate in two arthropods, the isopod Porcellio scaber and the beetle Tenebrio molitor, at 40%, 21%, 10% and 2.5% ambient O2. Critical temperatures were identified as particular points on both activity and traces in four ways. In the first two instances, we identified the inflection points in regressions of absolute difference sum (ADS) residuals calculated for activity (aADS) and (VI), respectively. In the third, we visually identified the lowest point before the post-mortal peak in CO2 release (PMV). Finally, we pinpointed the sudden drop in at death, where fell outside the 95% confidence intervals of the 5 min period immediately preceding the drop-off (CI). Minimum and maximum metabolic rates were determined using CO2 traces, and the temperatures corresponding to these identified as TMetMin and TMetMax. For both species, ambient oxygen concentration did not influence CTmin, minimum metabolic rate, or TMetMin. By contrast, severe hypoxia (2.5% O2) caused a 6.9°C decline in activity-based CTmax for T. molitor and a 10.6°C decline for P. scaber, relative to normoxia (21% O2). The magnitude of this decrease differed between methods used to estimated critical thermal limits, highlighting the need for a standard method to determine these endpoints during thermolimit respirometry. Maximum metabolic rate also declined with decreasing ambient oxygen in both species. The combination of increasing metabolic rate and oxygen limitation affected upper thermal limits in these arthropods only in severe hypoxia (2.5% O2). In both species, CTmin and CTmax responded differently to oxygen limitation, suggesting that this is not a common mechanism coupling upper and lower limits in terrestrial arthropods.
Effect of laboratory acclimation on the variation of reproduction-related characters in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Houot Benjamin , Svetec Nicolas , Godoy-Herrera Raùl , Ferveur Jean-François 
Published: June 2010

SUMMARY
The natural variation of sex-specific characters between populations can favor their behavioral isolation, eventually leading to the formation of new species. Marked variations for male courtship, mating and the production of sex pheromones – three complex characters potentially inducing sexual isolation – were found between Drosophila melanogaster populations of various origins acclimated for many generations in research laboratories. However, the natural variation of these three characters between natural populations and their evolution after long-term acclimation in the laboratory remains unknown. We measured many traits involved in these characters in six stocks initiated with distinct populations sampled in a restricted geographic area. Several sex-specific traits varied between stocks freshly brought back to the laboratory. After 100 generations spent in the laboratory without any experimental selection, traits varied in a strain-dependent manner. This variation was not related to a reduction of their variance except for copulation duration. This indicates that reproduction-related characters can diverge between neighboring D. melanogaster populations, and differently adapt to stable laboratory conditions.
Hydrodynamic determination of the moving direction of an artificial fin by a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina)
Authors: Wieskotten S. , Dehnhardt G. , Mauck B. , Miersch L. , Hanke W. 
Published: June 2010

SUMMARY
Harbour seals can use their vibrissal system to detect and follow hydrodynamic trails left by moving objects. In this study we determined the maximum time after which a harbour seal could indicate the moving direction of an artificial fish tail and analysed the hydrodynamic parameters allowing the discrimination. Hydrodynamic trails were generated using a fin-like paddle moving from left to right or from right to left in the calm water of an experimental box. The blindfolded seal was able to recognise the direction of the paddle movement when the hydrodynamic trail was up to 35 s old. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) revealed that the seal might have perceived and used two different hydrodynamic parameters to determine the moving direction of the fin-like paddle. The structure and spatial arrangement of the vortices in the hydrodynamic trail and high water velocities between two counter-rotating vortices are characteristic of the movement direction and are within the sensory range of the seal.
The effects of turbulent eddies on the stability and critical swimming speed of creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus)
Authors: Tritico H. M. , Cotel A. J. 
Published: June 2010

SUMMARYThe effect of turbulent eddy diameter, vorticity and orientation on the 2 min critical swimming speed and stability of creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) is reported. Turbulent eddies were visualized and their properties were quantified using particle image velocimetry (PIV). Flow fields with an increasing range in eddy diameter were created by inserting cylinder arrays upstream from the swimming test section. Eddy vorticity increased with increasing velocity. Two orientations of eddies, eddies spinning about a vertical axis and eddies spinning about a horizontal (wall-to-wall) axis, were investigated. Stability challenges were not observed until the largest (95th percentile) eddy diameters reached 76% of the fish body total length. Under these conditions fish were observed to spin in an orientation consistent with the rotational axis of the large eddies and translate downstream. These losses in postural control were termed ‘spills’. Spills were 230% more frequent and lasted 24% longer in turbulent flow fields dominated by horizontal eddies than by vertical eddies of the same diameter. The onset of spills coincided with a 10% and 22% reduction in critical swimming speed in turbulent flows dominated by large vertical and horizontal eddies, respectively. These observations confirm predictions by Pavlov et al., Cada and Odeh, Lupandin, and Liao that the eddy diameter, vorticity and orientation play an important role in the swimming capacity of fishes.
The Building Blocks of Supply Chain Management
Authors: Drake Matthew J. , Mawhinney John R. 
Published: June 2010

Supply chain management is one of the most complex business disciplines, comprising activities and interactions within and between many of the traditional functional areas of a firm and their channel partners. No longer can a company place its entire focus on its own operations because long-term success is becoming increasingly dependent on actions and decisions of upstream and downstream firms in the supply chain. Organizations that effectively collaborate with their supply chain partners position themselves for success in 21st-century markets. In order to prepare our students to make decisions in this complex environment, educators in operations research and management science must introduce students to the important interactions which are essential to effective supply chain management. We have developed a classroom supply chain simulation incorporating Lego™ bricks to highlight the flow of materials, products, and information through the channel. Students assume the responsibilities of various supply chain functions and must work together to provide finished products according to a production schedule and a rush customer order. The exercise was designed for an undergraduate introductory course in supply chain management, transportation and logistics, or management science in a business or industrial engineering school. It reinforces lectures and discussions about the different functional areas of the supply chain and serves to energize students about the remainder of their curriculum in the field. The follow-up assignments included with the simulation allow students to execute the major steps of the production planning process within the familiar context of the company used in the simulation exercise.