bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Breeding perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) for turf usage: an assessment of genetic improvements in cultivars released in Europe, 1974–2004
Authors: Sampoux J. P. , Baudouin P. , Bayle B. , Béguier V. , Bourdon P. , Chosson J. F. , de Bruijn K. , Deneufbourg F. , Galbrun C. , Ghesquière M. , Noël D. , Tharel B. , Viguié A. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAn assessment of genetic improvement in turf‐type perennial ryegrass was performed at a network of six locations. A comparison was made of the turf performances of five natural populations, five forage‐type cultivars used for turf seeding until the 1980s and 31 turf‐type cultivars released from 1974 to 2004. Populations and cultivars were also compared in two spaced‐plant experiments and in two seed‐yield trials. Trait regressions on registration year of turf‐type cultivars showed that breeding had been highly successful in improving the turf aesthetic merit (from +8·8 to +12·5% per decade according to seasons), wear tolerance (+5·4% per decade) and crown‐rust resistance (+8·9% per decade) and in lessening the turf height increase rate (−0·43 mm day−1 per decade). Turf winter greenness had been marginally improved, whereas summer greenness and seed yield had not been significantly changed. A multivariate analysis provided evidence that turf density and fineness played a major role in the visual assessment of turf aesthetic merit and that wear tolerance was closely associated with turf density. Conflicting trait associations may have precluded improvements in turf ground‐cover 3 months after sowing, turf winter greenness and turf persistency.
Perceived HIV symptom manageability: synthesis of a new use for a known concept
Authors: Fierz Katharina , Nicca Dunja , Spirig Rebecca 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAimTo report the synthesis of the concept of perceived symptom manageability.BackgroundCommon symptom assessment parameters fail to address concerns about the impact of symptoms on everyday life, overall functioning, or threats to individuals living with the human immunodeficiency virus. We claim that the concept of ‘perceived symptom manageability’ integrates these important dimensions of the patients' experience of their symptoms.Data sourcesOnline databases, thesauri, and dictionaries were accessed in January 2012. A free search was performed scanning the PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases for entries from 2001–2011 using ‘manageability’ in the title or abstract as a search term.DesignText‐based analysis.Review methodsWe followed the steps delineated by Walker and Avant for concept synthesis. Uses of the concept ‘manageability’ were identified and listed, meaningful usage clusters were generated, and a preliminary working definition was created.ResultsSocial resources and individual interpretation were relevant in view of managing a difficult situation, thus positioning ‘manageability’ in a social and interpretational context that exceeded objective control. We preliminarily defined perceived symptom manageability as ‘the extent of the perceived ability to bring social and personal resources into play to successfully deal with or control symptoms, despite difficulties’.ConclusionWe believe that our working definition represents a promising start to understand and address the manageability problems that individual patients face regarding particular symptoms and may serve as a basis to identify not only symptoms but also areas of intervention that are of most concern to individual patients.
What works: a realist evaluation case study of intermediaries in infection control practice
Authors: Williams Lynne , Burton Christopher , Rycroft‐Malone Jo 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAimTo report a study of an intermediary programme in infection control practice in one hospital in the UK.BackgroundPromoting best evidence in everyday practice is a constant problem in infection control. Intermediaries can influence the transfer and use of evidence in health care, but there remains a lack of evidence and theory about the specific actions and change processes, which can be successful in improving infection control practices.DesignAn in‐depth mixed methods case study.MethodsThe study was undertaken in 2011. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling and included frontline staff, managers and nurses in intermediary roles in infection control.ResultsFor frontline staff, intermediary presence triggered a modification in behaviour. Different reactions were noted from the intermediaries' high level of physical presence in clinical areas, the facilitative approaches they used to give feedback and the specific teaching strategies they employed to meet frontline staff needs. The specific intermediary actions uncovered in this study were contingent on the prevailing systems for performance management, organisational commitment and efforts in clinical areas to foster a collegiate environment.ConclusionsThe study provides theoretical threads of how intermediaries can be successful in promoting evidence use under certain contextual conditions. Further testing of the specific intermediary mechanisms uncovered in this study will contribute to understanding different approaches that work in infection control in embedding evidence in practice.
Prolactin Signalling in the Mouse Hypothalamus is Primarily Mediated by Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription Factor 5b but not 5a
Authors: Yip S. H. , Eguchi R. , Grattan D. R. , Bunn S. J. 
Published: July 2012

Prolactin acts at multiple targets throughout the body, including the mammary gland, heart, liver, muscle and brain. Upon binding to its receptors, prolactin signals through the phosphorylation and thus activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5). There are two very similar STAT5 isoforms, termed STAT5a and STAT5b, which are selectively activated by prolactin in specific tissues. Various brain regions, including the hypothalamus, are prolactin responsive, although the STAT5 isoform involved in these actions is unknown. Immunohistochemical and western blot analysis were used to determine the expression and activation of STAT5a and STAT5b throughout the hypothalamus in adult wild‐type and STAT5b‐deficient mice. Both groups were pretreated with bromocriptine to suppress endogenous prolactin levels followed by the administration of ovine prolactin (10 mg/kg) for 45 min. STAT5a and STAT5b were expressed throughout the hypothalamus of wild‐type mice. As expected, only STAT5a was detected in STAT5b‐deficient mice, although, unexpectedly, there was a marked reduction in its expression compared to wild‐type mice. When stimulated with prolactin, phosphorylated STAT5 was observed in the hypothalamus of wild‐type but not STAT5b‐deficient mice. By contrast, phosphorylated STAT5 was detected in mammary gland epithelial cells and adipocytes of STAT5b‐deficient animals. Thus, although STAT5a was still expressed in the STAT5b‐deficient mice, it was not phosphorylated in the hypothalamus in response to prolactin. These observations indicate that STAT5b but not STAT5a is the primary mediator of the action of prolactin in the hypothalamus. Despite the similarity between the two STAT5 isoforms, STAT5a was unable to compensate for the absence of STAT5b, suggesting that each isoform exhibits a unique biological activity.
Migration distance rather than migration rate explains genetic diversity in human patrilocal groups
Authors: MARKS SARAH J. , LEVY HILA , MARTINEZ‐CADENAS CONRADO , MONTINARO FRANCESCO , CAPELLI CRISTIAN 
Published: July 2012

AbstractIn patrilocal groups, females preferentially move to join their mate’s paternal relatives. The gender‐biased gene flow generated by this cultural practice is expected to affect genetic diversity across human populations. Greater female than male migration is predicted to result in a larger decrease in between‐group differentiation for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) than for the non‐recombining part of the Y chromosome (NRY). We address the question of how patrilocality affects the distribution of genetic variation in human populations controlling for confounding factors such as ethno‐linguistic heterogeneity and geographic distance which possibly explain the contradictory results observed in previous studies. By combining genetic and bio‐demographic data from Lesotho and Spain, we show that preferential female migration over short distances appears to minimize the impact of a generally higher female migration rate in patrilocal communities, suggesting patrilocality might influence genetic variation only at short ranges.
Rapid genetic assimilation of native wall lizard populations (Podarcis muralis) through extensive hybridization with introduced lineages
Authors: SCHULTE ULRICH , VEITH MICHAEL , HOCHKIRCH AXEL 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis) has established more than 150 non‐native populations in Central Europe, stemming from eight geographically distinct evolutionary lineages. While the majority of these introduced populations are found outside the native range, some of these populations also exist at the northern range margin in southwestern Germany. To (i) infer the level of hybridization in contact zones of alien and native lineages; and (ii) compare the genetic diversity among purebred introduced, native and hybrid populations, we used a combination of maternally inherited markers (mtDNA: cytb) and Mendelian markers (microsatellites). Our results suggest a rapid genetic assimilation of native populations by strong introgression from introduced lineages. Discordant patterns of mtDNA and nDNA variation within hybrid populations may be explained by directed mate choice of females towards males of alien lineages. In contrast to previous studies, we found a nonlinear relationship between genetic diversity and admixture level. The genetic diversity of hybrid populations was substantially higher than in introduced and native populations belonging to a single lineage, but rapidly reaching a plateau of high genetic diversity at an admixture level of two. However, even introduced populations with low founder sizes and from one source population retained moderate levels of genetic diversity and no evidence for a genetic bottleneck was found. The extent of introgression and the dominance of alien haplotypes in mixed populations indicate that introductions of non‐native lineages represent a serious threat to the genetic integrity of native populations due to the rapid creation of hybrid swarms.
Prevalence of, and predictors of, bile acid malabsorption in outpatients with chronic diarrhea
Authors: Gracie D. J. , Kane J. S. , Mumtaz S. , Scarsbrook A. F. , Chowdhury F. U. , Ford A. C. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackground  Many physicians do not consider the diagnosis of bile acid malabsorption in patients with chronic diarrhea, or do not have access to testing. We examined yield of 23‐seleno‐25‐homo‐tauro‐cholic acid (SeHCAT) scanning in chronic diarrhea patients, and attempted to identify predictors of a positive test.Methods  Consecutive patients with chronic diarrhea undergoing SeHCAT scan over a 7‐year period were identified retrospectively. Bile acid malabsorption was defined as present at a retention of <15%. Medical records were reviewed to obtain information regarding proposed risk factors. Gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded, and patients were classified as having diarrhea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS‐D) if they reported abdominal pain or discomfort. Independent risk factors were assessed using multivariate logistic regression, and odds ratios (ORs) with 99% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.Key Results  Of 373 patients, 190 (50.9%) had bile acid malabsorption. Previous cholecystectomy (OR 2.51; 99% CI 1.10–5.77), terminal ileal resection or right hemicolectomy for Crohn’s disease (OR 12.4; 99% CI 2.42–63.8), and terminal ileal resection or right hemicolectomy for other reasons (OR 7.94; 99% CI 1.02–61.6) were associated with its presence. Seventy‐seven patients had IBS‐D, and 21 (27.3%) tested positive. There were 168 patients with no risk factors for a positive SeHCAT scan, other than chronic diarrhea, and 63 (37.5%) had bile acid malabsorption.Conclusions & Inferences  Bile acid malabsorption was present in 50% of patients undergoing SeHCAT scanning. Almost 40% of those without risk factors had evidence of bile acid malabsorption, and in those meeting criteria for IBS‐D prevalence was almost 30%.
The Arabidopsis B‐type response regulator 18 homomerizes and positively regulates cytokinin responses
Authors: Veerabagu Manikandan , Elgass Kirstin , Kirchler Tobias , Huppenberger Peter , Harter Klaus , Chaban Christina , Mira‐Rodado Virtudes 
Published: July 2012

SummaryIn higher plants, the two‐component system (TCS) is a signaling mechanism based on a His‐to‐Asp phosphorelay. The Arabidopsis TCS involves three different types of proteins, namely the histidine kinases (AHKs), the histidine phosphotransfer proteins (AHPs) and the response regulators (ARRs). The ARRs comprise three different families, namely A, B and C types, according to their protein structure. While some members of the B‐type family of ARRs have been studied extensively and reported to act as DNA‐binding transcriptional regulators, very limited information is available for other B‐type ARRs such as ARR18. In this study, we characterize in detail the molecular and functional properties of ARR18. ARR18 acts as a transcriptional regulator in plant cells and forms homodimers in planta as shown by FRET–FLIM studies. As demonstrated by mutational analysis, the aspartate at position 70 (D70) in the receiver domain of ARR18 acts as crucial phosphorylation site. The modification of D70 affects the response regulator’s ability to homodimerize and to activate its target genes. Furthermore, physiological investigations of Arabidopsis lines ectopically expressing ARR18 introduce ARR18 as a new member within the cytokinin‐regulated response pathway regulating root elongation.
Effective control of Epstein–Barr virus infection following pediatric liver transplantation by monitoring of viral DNA load and lymphocyte surface markers
Authors: Imadome Ken‐Ichi , Fukuda Akinari , Kawano Fuyuko , Imai Yumi , Ichikawa Sayumi , Mochizuki Masashi , Shigeta Takanobu , Kakiuchi Toshihiko , Sakamoto Seisuke , Kasahara Mureo , Fujiwara Shigeyoshi 
Published: July 2012

Imadome K‐I, Fukuda A, Kawano F, Imai Y, Ichikawa S, Mochizuki M, Shigeta T, Kakiuchi T, Sakamoto S, Kasahara M, Fujiwara S. Effective control of Epstein–Barr virus infection following pediatric liver transplantation by monitoring of viral DNA load and lymphocyte surface markers.Abstract: EBV‐associated PTLD is a serious complication of liver transplantation. We performed periodical molecular EBV monitoring in 140 consecutive pediatric patients who had living‐related liver transplantation in the National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo. Sixty‐three of the 140 patients showed elevation of EBV DNA level to >102 copies/μg DNA and were further examined immunologically by flow cytometry, and the dose of tacrolimus and/or cyclosporine A was adjusted according to the results. The decrease in CD4/CD8 ratio and the increase in the number of HLA‐DR+CD8+ cells were observed in parallel with the decrease in EBV DNA load and in the number of CD19+CD23+ cells following the reduction in immunosuppressive drugs. Analysis with HLA tetramers in a patient demonstrated a dramatic increase in the number of CD8+ T cells specific to the EBV latent protein LMP2 accompanying the decline of EBV DNA load, suggesting that T cells of this specificity were actually involved in the control of EBV infection. No clinically apparent PTLD has developed in the 140 recipients, suggesting that our program of EBV control by molecular EBV monitoring coupled with lymphocyte phenotype analyses is effective in controlling EBV infection in pediatric liver transplant recipients.
Complex patterns of local adaptation in heat tolerance  in Drosophila simulans from eastern Australia
Authors: van Heerwaarden B. , Lee R. F. H. , Wegener B. , Weeks A. R. , Sgró C. M. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractLatitudinal clines are considered a powerful means of investigating evolutionary responses to climatic selection in nature. However, most clinal studies of climatic adaptation in Drosophila have involved species that contain cosmopolitan inversion polymorphisms that show clinal patterns themselves, making it difficult to determine whether the traits or inversions are under selection. Further, although climatic selection is unlikely to act on only one life stage in metamorphic organisms, a few studies have examined clinal patterns across life stages. Finally, clinal patterns of heat tolerance may also depend on the assay used. To unravel these potentially confounding effects on clinal patterns of thermal tolerance, we examined adult and larval heat tolerance traits in populations of Drosophila simulans from eastern Australia using static and dynamic (ramping 0.06 °C min−1) assays. We also used microsatellites markers to clarify whether demographic factors or selection are responsible for population differentiation along clines. Significant cubic clinal patterns were observed for adult static basal, hardened and dynamic heat knockdown time and static basal heat survival in larvae. In contrast, static, hardened larval heat survival increased linearly with latitude whereas no clinal association was found for larval ramping survival. Significant associations between adult and larval traits and climatic variables, and low population differentiation at microsatellite loci, suggest a role for climatic selection, rather than demographic processes, in generating these clinal patterns. Our results suggest that adaptation to thermal stress may be species and life‐stage specific, complicating our efforts to understand the evolutionary responses to selection for increasing thermotolerance.
The Role of Climatic Factors in the Expression of an Intrasexual Signal in the Paper Wasp Polistes dominulus
Authors: Green Jonathan P. , Rose Charles , Field Jeremy 
Published: July 2012

AbstractWithin a species, variation in the use of sexual signals is observed between different populations. For intersexual traits, differences in the environmental conditions experienced by populations can play an important role in driving variation in male ornaments and female preferences. However, little is known about the factors maintaining variation in intrasexual traits used in competition. In this study, we investigate the role of climatic conditions in maintaining variation in the expression of an intrasexual signal in the paper wasp Polistes dominulus. The results of an experiment in which pupae were housed under different temperature and humidity conditions revealed a strong effect of temperature during pupal development on the expression of the signal. Furthermore, a comparison of survival and body weight between wasps reared at different temperatures indicates that signal expression exhibits phenotypic plasticity in response to developmental temperature. The effect of temperature on signal expression is consistent with patterns of signal expression observed across populations in the wild and suggests that climatic conditions may act to constrain signal expression in some populations but not in others, driving variation in signal use within P. dominulus. Environmental conditions may therefore be important in defining the scope for intrasexual signalling in animal populations and, in doing so, may play a role in maintaining variation in intrasexual traits in the face of sexual selection.
Do Brooding Pythons Recognize their Clutches? Investigating External Cues for Offspring Recognition in the Children's Python, Antaresia childreni
Authors: Brashears Jake , DeNardo Dale F. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractParental care provides substantial benefits to offspring but exacts a high cost to parents, necessitating the evolution of offspring recognition systems when the risk of misdirected care is high. In species that nest, parents can use cues associated with the offspring (direct offspring recognition) or the nest (indirect offspring recognition) to reduce the risk of misdirected care. Pythons have complex parental care, but a low risk of misdirected care. Thus, we hypothesized that female Children's pythons (Antaresia childreni) use indirect cues to induce and maintain brooding behavior. To test this, we used a series of five clutch manipulations to test the importance of various external brooding cues. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found that female A. childreni are heavily internally motivated to brood, needing only minimal external cues to induce and maintain egg‐brooding behavior. Females were no more likely to brood their own clutch in the original nest as they were to brood a clutch from a conspecific, a pseudoclutch made from only the shells of a conspecific, or their clutch in a novel nest. The only scenario where brooding was reduced, but even then not eliminated, was when the natural clutch was replaced with similarly sized stones. These results suggest that egg recognition in pythons is similar to that of solitary‐nesting birds, which have similar nesting dynamics.
Persistence of the entomoparasitic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora in maize fields
Authors: Pilz C. , Toepfer S. , Knuth P. , Strimitzer T. , Heimbach U. , Grabenweger G. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe entomoparasitic nematode (EPN) Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) is a promising candidate for the biological control of larvae of the maize pest Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). An easily applicable and economically feasible method is the inundative release of EPNs together with sowing of maize in spring. At that time, however, D. v. virgifera eggs are still diapausing and larval hatch will only start about four to 6 weeks after EPN application, depending on climatic conditions. Efficacy of the nematode application against the targeted pest species therefore depends on the ability of the biocontrol agent to persist in the pest's environment, at least until emergence of the first larvae. To address this key issue, 18 field trials were carried out at six locations in Germany, Austria and Hungary between 2010 and 2011. Fields differed in their soil type and in the presence or absence of a host. Nematodes were either applied as fluid stream (suspended in water) or as microgranules (without water) into the soil during the sowing process. Persistence of the nematodes was determined by examining soil samples, using larvae of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) as a bait. Results showed that EPNs, either applied as a suspension or as microgranules, were able to persist in the soil of all field sites. EPNs could be detected for at least 6 weeks in the soil. Persistence levels were higher in sandy soil types than in clay or silty soils. The applied EPN formulation had no effect on the persistence level of EPNs in the soil, and the presence or absence of the host insects had a minor effect. It can be concluded that EPNs applied with sowing of maize persist long enough to potentially control the later hatching larvae of the maize pest D. v. virgifera.
A PCR‐based method for discriminating between high molecular weight glutenin subunits Bx7 and Bx7* in Triticum aestivum L.
Authors: Espí Araceli , Giraldo Patricia , Rodriguez‐Quijano Marta , Carrillo José M. 
Published: July 2012

With 1 figure and 1 tableAbstractThe correct assignment of high molecular weight glutenin subunit variants is a key task in wheat breeding for quality. However, traditional analysis by protein electrophoresis is sometimes difficult and not very precise. This work describes a novel DNA marker for accurate discrimination between the Glu‐B1 locus subunits Bx7 and Bx7*. An analysis of 142 bread wheat varieties from different countries identified a considerable number of misclassified genotypes that could lead to incorrect conclusions in studies of the relationship between glutenin composition and wheat quality.