bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The chloroplast transformation toolbox: selectable markers and marker removal
Authors: Day Anil , Goldschmidt‐Clermont Michel 
Published: March 2011

SummaryPlastid transformation is widely used in basic research and for biotechnological applications. Initially developed in Chlamydomonas and tobacco, it is now feasible in a broad range of species. Selection of transgenic lines where all copies of the polyploid plastid genome are transformed requires efficient markers. A number of traits have been used for selection such as photoautotrophy, resistance to antibiotics and tolerance to herbicides or to other metabolic inhibitors. Restoration of photosynthesis is an effective primary selection method in Chlamydomonas but can only serve as a screening tool in flowering plants. The most successful and widely used markers are derived from bacterial genes that inactivate antibiotics, such asaadAthat confers resistance to spectinomycin and streptomycin. For many applications, the presence of a selectable marker that confers antibiotic resistance is not desirable. Efficient marker removal methods are a major attraction of the plastid engineering tool kit. They exploit the homologous recombination and segregation pathways acting on chloroplast genomes and are based on direct repeats, transient co‐integration or co‐transformation and segregation of trait and marker genes. Foreign site‐specific recombinases and their target sites provide an alternative and effective method for removing marker genes from plastids.
Bio‐available zinc in rice seeds is increased by activation tagging of nicotianamine synthase
Authors: Lee Sichul , Persson Daniel P. , Hansen Thomas H. , Husted Søren , Schjoerring Jan K. , Kim You‐Sun , Jeon Un Sil , Kim Yoon‐Keun , Kakei Yusuke , Masuda Hiroshi , Nishizawa Naoko K. , An Gynheung 
Published: March 2011

SummaryWe generated rice lines with increased content of nicotianamine (NA), a key ligand for metal transport and homeostasis. This was accomplished by activation tagging of rice nicotianamine synthase 2 (OsNAS2). Enhanced expression of the gene resulted in elevated NA levels, greater Zn accumulations and improved plant tolerance to a Zn deficiency. Expression of Zn‐uptake genes and those for the biosynthesis of phytosiderophores (PS) were increased in transgenic plants. This suggests that the higher amount of NA led to greater exudation of PS from the roots, as well as stimulated Zn uptake, translocation and seed‐loading. In the endosperm, the OsNAS2 activation‐tagged line contained up to 20‐fold more NA and 2.7‐fold more zinc. Liquid chromatography combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry revealed that the total content of zinc complexed with NA and 2′‐deoxymugineic acid was increased 16‐fold. Mice fed with OsNAS2‐D1 seeds recovered more rapidly from a zinc deficiency than did control mice receiving WT seeds. These results demonstrate that the level of bio‐available zinc in rice grains can be enhanced significantly by activation tagging of OsNAS2.
Prenatal cigarette exposure and infant learning stimulation as predictors of cognitive control in childhood
Authors: Mezzacappa Enrico , Buckner John C. , Earls Felton 
Published: March 2011

AbstractPrenatal exposures to neurotoxins and postnatal parenting practices have been shown to independently predict variations in the cognitive development and emotional‐behavioral well‐being of infants and children. We examined the independent contributions of prenatal cigarette exposure and infant learning stimulation, as well as their inter‐relationships in predicting variations in the proficiency of executive attention, a core element of cognitive control and self‐regulation. Participants were an ethnic‐racially, socio‐economically diverse sample of 249 children followed from birth in the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods. We obtained histories of prenatal exposure to alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs, and we assessed socio‐economic status and learning stimulation during a home visit when the participants were infants. In childhood we utilized the Attention Networks Test to assess the proficiency of executive attention during two home visits, one year apart. Accounting for age, SES, prenatal alcohol exposure, and baseline performance, we found that prenatal cigarette exposure impaired the speed of executive attention. Infant learning stimulation mitigated these effects, and predicted better accuracy of executive attention as well, suggestive of both protective and health promoting effects. Effect sizes for these relations, whether examined independently or by their inter‐relationships, were comparable to if not greater in magnitude than the effects of age on speed and accuracy, highlighting the importance of these very early experiences in shaping the proficiency of self‐regulation. Since executive attention is central to cognitive control and self‐regulation, previously described relations between prenatal cigarette exposure, parenting practices, and some forms of childhood psychopathology may be contingent on how early learning stimulation contributes to the proficiency of executive attention through direct and indirect effects. Furthermore, considering the prolonged developmental trajectory of executive attention, interventions to support provision of learning stimulation may mitigate poor outcomes for some at‐risk children by promoting development of more proficient executive attention.
Monetary Policy Delegation and Transparency of Policy Targets: A Positive Analysis
Authors: Hielscher Kai 
Published: March 2011

AbstractWe show that, in a two-stage model of monetary policy with stochastic policy targets and asymmetric information, the transparency regime chosen by the central bank does never coincide with the regime preferred by society. Independent of society’s endogenous choice of delegation, the central bank reveals its inflation target and conceals its output target. In contrast, society would prefer either transparency or opacity of both targets. As a conclusion, the choice of the transparency regime should be part of the optimal delegation solution.
Neuronal glycoprotein M6a induces filopodia formation via association with cholesterol‐rich lipid rafts
Authors: Scorticati Camila , Formoso Karina , Frasch Alberto C. 
Published: March 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 521–531.AbstractA neuronal integral membrane glycoprotein M6a has been suggested to be involved in a number of biological processes, including neuronal remodeling and differentiation, trafficking of mu‐opioid receptors, and Ca2+ transportation. Moreover, pathological situations such as chronic stress in animals and depression in humans have been associated with alterations in M6a sequence and expression. The mechanism of action of M6a is essentially unknown. In this work, we analyze the relevance of M6a distribution in plasma membrane, namely its lipid microdomain targeting, for its biological function in filopodia formation. We demonstrate that M6a is localized in membrane microdomains compatible with lipid rafts in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Removal of cholesterol from neuronal membranes with methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin decreases M6a‐induced filopodia formation, an effect that is reversed by the addition of cholesterol. Inhibition of Src kinases and MAPK prevents filopodia formation in M6a‐over‐expressing neurons. Src‐deficient SYF cells over‐expressing M6a fail to promote filopodia formation. Taken together, our findings reveal that the association of M6a with lipid rafts is important for its role in filopodia formation and Src and MAPK kinases participate in M6a signal propagation.
Monitoring of tube‐nesting bees and wasps with bamboo tube nest traps of different types in two types of forests in temperate Japan
Authors: MATSUMOTO Kazuma , MAKINO Shun'ichi 
Published: March 2011

AbstractTube‐nesting bees and wasps were collected with bamboo tube nest traps in a cherry blossom forest and an old secondary forest in Tama Forest Science Garden in the western suburbs of Tokyo. Curtain type traps, in which bamboo tubes were vertically arranged, attracted more bees and wasps to nests than bundle type traps, in which bamboo tubes were bundled haphazardly. The attractiveness of small tubes was similar between small tube traps, which were only composed of small tubes (about 4 mm in diameter), and size mixture traps, which set small tubes together with larger tubes, indicating that the presence of the larger species did not affect the nesting of small species. In the cherry forest, which was characterized by the sparse distribution of deciduous cherry trees with a thin canopy layer and rich growth of weeds, Megachilidae, Colletidae, Sphecidae and Eumenidae were common. In the shady secondary forest, where evergreen trees (Abies firma Sieb. et Zucc., Quercus glauca Thunb.) and shrubs (Aucuba japonica Thunb., Eurya japonica Thunb., Camellia japonica L.) were prevalent, Pompilidae was abundant. Among five species of Crabronidae recorded in this study, four were collected mostly in the cherry forest, whereas the most abundant, Trypoxylon malaisei Gussakovskij, was also common in the secondary forest. Likewise, Auplopus carbonarius (Scopoli) (Pompilidae) was common in the secondary forest and not rare in the cherry forest. These results suggest that the tube‐nesting bees and wasps can be a good bioindicator for monitoring environment.
The effects of Mg‐ion implantation and sandblasting on Porphyromonas gingivalis attachment
Authors: Kim Mee Lee , Jeong Chang Mo , Jeon Young Chan , Byon EungSun , Jeong YongSoo , Cho Lee‐Ra 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of titanium surface treatment on Porphyromonas gingivalis bacterial attachment.
Materials and methods: Titanium disks of 15 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness (n=40) were subjected to mechanical grinding, or sandblasting. Magnesium (Mg) ions were implanted onto the titanium surface using a plasma source ion implantation method. The structure, chemistry, and surface morphologies of the titanium surfaces were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. Surface roughness was measured using a laser profilometer. Half of the titanium disks in each group were dipped in saliva for 24 h. All of the titanium specimens were rinsed with distilled water. A P. gingivalis strain was cultured in anaerobic conditions at 37°C for 72 h, and all titanium specimens were dipped in the bacterial suspension at 37°C for 24 h. Specimens were examined at × 3000 magnification using a SEM. The number of bacteria in each of 10 separate fields was determined by directly counting the number of bacterial colonies that adhered to each specimen. The mean values were calculated afterward. The resulting data were analyzed to assess the significance of observed differences based on the method of the surface treatment, ion implantation, and saliva dipping.
Results: The amount of P. gingivalis attached to the sandblasted specimens was greater than that on the ground specimens (P<0.001). Moreover, surfaces with Mg‐ion implantation had more attachments than nonimplanted surfaces (P<0.001). Saliva dipping acted synergistically with surface roughness and chemical composition of the specimens.
Conclusions: Chemically modified surface increase the attachment of a major periodontopathic bacterium, P. gingivalis.
To cite this article: Kim ML, Jeong CM, Jeon YC, Byon ES, Jeong YS, Cho LR. The effects of Mg‐ion implantation and sandblasting on Porphyromonas gingivalis attachment. Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 23, 2012; 245–252.  doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2010.02138.x
Characteristics and dimensions of the Schneiderian membrane: a radiographic analysis using cone beam computed tomography in patients referred for dental implant surgery in the posterior maxilla
Authors: Janner Simone F. M. , Caversaccio Marco D. , Dubach Patrick , Sendi Pedram , Buser Daniel , Bornstein Michael M. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractObjectives: To determine the dimensions of the Schneiderian membrane using limited cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in individuals referred for dental implant surgery, and to determine factors influencing the mucosal thickness.Material and methods: The study included 143 consecutive patients referred for dental implant placement in the posterior maxilla. A total of 168 CBCT images were taken using a limited field of view of 4 × 4 cm, 6 × 6 cm, or 8 × 8 cm. Reformatted coronal CBCT slices were analyzed with regard to the thickness and characteristics of the Schneiderian membrane in nine standardized points of reference. Factors such as age, gender, or status of the remaining dentition that could influence the dimensions of the Schneiderian membrane were evaluated using univariate and multivariate linear regression models.Results: The thickness of the Schneiderian membrane exhibited a wide range, with a minimum value of 0.16 mm and a maximum value of 34.61 mm. The highest mean values, ranging from 2.16 to 3.11 mm, were found for the mucosa located in the mid‐sagittal regions of the maxillary sinus. The most frequent mucosal findings diagnosed were flat thickenings of the Schneiderian membrane (62 positive findings, 37%). For the multivariate linear regression model, only gender had a statistically significant influence on the mean overall and mid‐sagittal thickness of the sinus mucosa.Conclusion: There is great interindividual variability in the thickness of the Schneiderian membrane. Gender seems to be the most important parameter influencing mucosal thickness in asymptomatic patients. Future studies are needed to assess the therapeutic and prognostic consequences of mucosal alterations in the maxillary sinus.To cite this article:
Janner SFM, Caversaccio MD, Dubach P, Sendi P, Buser D, Bornstein MM. Characteristics and dimensions of the Schneiderian membrane: a radiographic analysis using cone beam computed tomography in patients referred for dental implant surgery in the posterior maxilla. Clin. Oral Impl. Res. xx, 2011; 000–000. doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2010.02140.x
Breastfeeding practices of Cameroonian mothers determined by dietary recall since birth and the dose‐to‐the‐mother deuterium‐oxide turnover technique
Authors: Medoua Gabriel Nama , Sajo Nana Estelle C. , Ndzana Anne Christine A. , Makamto Caroline S. , Etame Lucien S. , Rikong Honorine A. , Oyono Jean Louis E. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractExclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of infant's life is a public health recommendation and important factor for the promotion of optimal growth, health and behavioural development of each child. The accuracy of the mothers' self‐reported past infant‐feeding events was examined and compared with the isotopic dilution technique. Breastfeeding practices were assessed in a sample of 44 Cameroonian mother–infant pairs using dietary recall since birth. Intakes of breast milk and non‐breast milk water were measured in the same sample using the dose‐to‐the‐mother deuterium‐oxide turnover technique and compared with questionnaire. Results showed that mothers' self‐reported behaviour overestimates the exclusive breastfeeding rate. Seventy‐five per cent of the mothers who claimed to be exclusively breastfeeding were found to be predominantly or partially breastfeeding by the dose‐to‐the‐mother deuterium‐oxide turnover technique. Only 11% of the infants were exclusively breastfed, and the breast milk output was not significantly affected (P ≤ 0.05) by the mother's body composition. Mean intakes of breast milk and non‐breast milk water were 701 mL day−1 and 268 mL day−1, respectively. Introduction of non‐breast milk foods is associated with a reduction in the level of breast milk intake, but the difference in breast milk intake was not significant between exclusively and predominantly breastfed infants. In conclusion, the dose‐to‐the‐mother deuterium‐oxide turnover technique can be applied to validate the mother's reports of infant‐feeding practices, but non‐breast milk water intake by breastfeeding category still needs to be normalized.
Simple clinical targets associated with a high level of patient satisfaction with their pain management
Authors: Jao Kathy , McD Taylor David , Taylor Simone E , Khan Munad , Chae John 
Published: March 2011

AbstractIntroduction: We aimed to determine factors that are significantly associated with a high level of patient satisfaction with their pain management.Methods: We undertook an observational study in a large metropolitan ED. Adult patients with a triage pain score of ≥4 (0–10 scale) were enrolled. Data collected included demographics, presenting complaint, pain scores every 30 min, whether nurse‐initiated analgesia was administered, the nature of the pain relief administered, time to first dose of analgesia, elements of staff communication and whether ‘adequate analgesia’ was provided (defined as a decrease in pain score to <4 and a decrease from the triage pain score of ≥2). The primary end‐point, determined at follow up within 48 h, was the level of satisfaction with pain management (6‐point scale: very unsatisfied–very satisfied).Results: One hundred and sixty‐seven (82.7%) of 202 enrolled patients were followed up – mean (SD) age 46.4 (18.3) years, 75 (44.9%) men. Eighty‐one (48.5%) patients were very satisfied with their pain management. Only two clinical variables were significantly associated with a high level of satisfaction: receipt of ‘adequate analgesia’ (as defined) and specific communication regarding pain management. Forty‐four (58.7%) versus 37 (40.2%) patients who did/did not receive ‘adequate analgesia’, respectively, were very satisfied (difference 18.5%, 95% CI 2.3–34.7, P= 0.027). Seventy‐seven (53.9%) and four (16.7%) patients who were/were not advised by ED staff that their pain management was important, respectively, were very satisfied (difference 37.2%, 95% CI 17.7–56.6, P= 0.002).Conclusions: Our ‘adequate analgesia’ definition might provide a useful clinical target, which, combined with adequate communication, might help maximize patient satisfaction.
Botanicals for the prevention and treatment of cutaneous melanoma
Authors: Syed Deeba N. , Mukhtar Hasan 
Published: March 2011

SummaryCutaneous melanoma, a cancer of melanocytes, when detected at later stages is arguably one of the most lethal cancers and the cause of more years of lost life than any other cancer among young adults. There is no standard therapy for advanced‐stage melanoma and the median survival time for patients with metastatic melanoma is <1 yr. An urgent need for novel strategies against melanoma has directed research towards the development of new chemotherapeutic and biologic agents that can target the tumor by several different mechanisms. Recently, several dietary agents are being investigated for their role in the prevention and treatment of various forms of cancer and may represent the future modality of the treatment. Here, we have reviewed emerging data on botanicals that are showing promise for their potential inhibitory effect against cutaneous melanoma.
Calvin Cycle Flux, Pathway Constraints, and Substrate Oxidation State Together Determine the H
2
Biofuel Yield in Photoheterotrophic Bacteria
Authors: McKinlay James B. , Harwood Caroline S. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACT

Hydrogen gas (H
2
) is a possible future transportation fuel that can be produced by anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria via nitrogenase. The electrons for H
2
are usually derived from organic compounds. Thus, one would expect more H
2
to be produced when anoxygenic phototrophs are supplied with increasingly reduced (electron-rich) organic compounds. However, the H
2
yield does not always differ according to the substrate oxidation state. To understand other factors that influence the H
2
yield, we determined metabolic fluxes in
Rhodopseudomonas palustris
grown on
13
C-labeled fumarate, succinate, acetate, and butyrate (in order from most oxidized to most reduced). The flux maps revealed that the H
2
yield was influenced by two main factors in addition to substrate oxidation state. The first factor was the route that a substrate took to biosynthetic precursors. For example, succinate took a different route to acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) than acetate. As a result,
R. palustris
generated similar amounts of reducing equivalents and similar amounts of H
2
from both succinate and acetate, even though succinate is more oxidized than acetate. The second factor affecting the H
2
yield was the amount of Calvin cycle flux competing for electrons. When nitrogenase was active, electrons were diverted away from the Calvin cycle towards H
2
, but to various extents, depending on the substrate. When Calvin cycle flux was blocked, the H
2
yield increased during growth on all substrates. In general, this increase in H
2
yield could be predicted from the initial Calvin cycle flux.

IMPORTANCE
Photoheterotrophic bacteria, like
Rhodopseudomonas palustris
, obtain energy from light and carbon from organic compounds during anaerobic growth. Cells can naturally produce the biofuel H
2
as a way of disposing of excess electrons. Unexpectedly, feeding cells organic compounds with more electrons does not necessarily result in more H
2
. Despite repeated observations over the last 40 years, the reasons for this discrepancy have remained unclear. In this paper, we identified two metabolic factors that influence the H
2
yield, (i) the route taken to make biosynthetic precursors and (ii) the amount of CO
2
-fixing Calvin cycle flux that competes against H
2
production for electrons. We show that the H
2
yield can be improved on all substrates by using a strain that is incapable of Calvin cycle flux. We also contributed quantitative knowledge to the long-standing question of why photoheterotrophs must produce H
2
or fix CO
2
even on relatively oxidized substrates.
Compliance with physical activity guidelines in rural, black South Africans in the Limpopo Province: an energy expenditure approach
Authors: Cook Ian , Alberts Marianne , Lambert Estelle V 
Published: March 2011

ObjectiveThe authors used an energy expenditure–based approach to determine the non-compliance and compliance with public health physical activity (PA) guidelines in rural, black South Africans.MethodsThe authors analysed 7-day objectively measured PA data (NL-2000 pedometer) in 508 females and 267 males. Compliance was defined for the American College of Sports Medicine guideline (ACSM: ≥7.5 to <21 kcal/kg/week and ≥1.5 kcal/kg/day for ≥5 days/week) and the Institute of Medicine guideline (IOM: ≥21 kcal/kg/week and ≥3 kcal/kg/day for 7 days/week).ResultsThe age- and sex-adjusted prevalence for non-compliance, ACSM compliance and IOM compliance in the sample was 7.8%, 55.0% and 37.2%, respectively. Complying with IOM guidelines required substantially more ambulation (14 522 steps/day) than ACSM guidelines (10 837 steps/day) and non-compliance (6420 steps/day) (p<0.0001). Approximately 95% of IOM-compliant subjects and 51% of ACSM-compliant subjects achieved ≥10 000 steps/day on 4–7 days. Compliance with IOM or ACSM guideline was associated with an 87% (p<0.0001) and a 49% (p=0.0647) reduced risk of obesity, respectively. Partial and full IOM compliance was associated with a significantly reduced risk of obesity (OR=0.58 to 0.16, p<0.04).ConclusionsThe 10 000 steps/day guideline concurs with the ACSM guideline, whereas IOM compliance required higher ambulation levels. Compared with ACSM compliance, IOM compliance was associated with a lower risk of obesity.