bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential Regulation and Posttranslational Processing of the Class II Hydrophobin Genes from the Biocontrol FungusHypocrea atroviridis
Authors: Mikus Marianna , Hatvani Lóránt , Neuhof Torsten , Komoń-Zelazowska Monika , Dieckmann Ralf , Schwecke Torsten , Druzhinina Irina S. , von Döhren Hans , Kubicek Christian P. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTHydrophobins are small extracellular proteins, unique to and ubiquitous in filamentous fungi, which mediate interactions between the fungus and environment. The mycoparasitic fungusHypocrea atroviridishas recently been shown to possess 10 different class II hydrophobin genes, which is a much higher number than that of any other ascomycete investigated so far. In order to learn the potential advantage of this hydrophobin multiplicity for the fungus, we have investigated their expression patterns under different physiological conditions (e.g., vegetative growth), various conditions inducing sporulation (light, carbon starvation, and mechanical injury-induced stress), and confrontation with potential hosts for mycoparasitism. The results show that the 10 hydrophobins display different patterns of response to these conditions: one hydrophobin (encoded byhfb-2b) is constitutively induced under all conditions, whereas other hydrophobins were formed only under conditions of carbon starvation (encoded byhfb-1candhfb-6c) or light plus carbon starvation (encoded byhfb-2c, hfb-6a, andhfb-6b). The hydrophobins encoded byhfb-1bandhfb-5awere primarily formed during vegetative growth and under mechanical injury-provoked stress.hfb-22awas not expressed under any conditions and is likely a pseudogene. None of the 10 genes showed a specific expression pattern during mycoparasitic interaction. Most, but not all, of the expression patterns under the three different conditions of sporulation were dependent on one or both of the two blue-light regulator proteins BLR1 and BLR2, as shown by the use of respective loss-of-function mutants. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry of mycelial solvent extracts provided sets of molecular ions corresponding to HFB-1b, HFB-2a, HFB-2b, and HFB-5a in their oxidized and processed forms. These in silico-deduced sequences of the hydrophobins indicate cleavages at known signal peptide sites as well as additional N- and C-terminal processing. Mass peaks observed during confrontation with plant-pathogenic fungi indicate further proteolytic attack on the hydrophobins. Our study illustrates both divergent and redundant functions of the 10 hydrophobins ofH. atroviridis.
Engineering of 2,3-Butanediol Dehydrogenase To Reduce Acetoin Formation by Glycerol-Overproducing, Low-AlcoholSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Ehsani Maryam , Fernández Maria R. , Biosca Josep A. , Julien Anne , Dequin Sylvie 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTEngineeredSaccharomyces cerevisiaestrains overexpressingGPD1, which codes for glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and lacking the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase Ald6 display large-scale diversion of the carbon flux from ethanol toward glycerol without accumulating acetate. AlthoughGPD1 ald6strains have great potential for reducing the ethanol contents in wines, one major side effect is the accumulation of acetoin, having a negative sensory impact on wine. Acetoin is reduced to 2,3-butanediol by the NADH-dependent 2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase Bdh1. In order to investigate the influence of potential factors limiting this reaction, we overexpressedBDH1, coding for native NADH-dependent Bdh1, and the engineered geneBDH1221,222,223, coding for an NADPH-dependent Bdh1 enzyme with the amino acid changes 221 EIA 223 to 221 SRS 223, in a glycerol-overproducing wine yeast. We have shown that both the amount of Bdh1 and the NADH availability limit the 2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase reaction. During wine fermentation, however, the major limiting factor was the level of synthesis of Bdh1. Consistent with this finding, the overproduction of native or engineered Bdh1 made it possible to redirect 85 to 90% of the accumulated acetoin into 2,3-butanediol, a compound with neutral sensory characteristics. In addition, the production of diacetyl, a compound causing off-flavor in alcoholic beverages, whose production is increased in glycerol-overproducing yeast cells, was decreased by half. The production of higher alcohols and esters, which was slightly decreased or unchanged inGPD1 ald6cells compared to that in the control cells, was not further modified inBDH1cells. Overall, rerouting carbons toward glycerol and 2,3-butanediol represents a new milestone in the engineering of a low-alcohol yeast with desirable organoleptic features, permitting the decrease of the ethanol contents in wines by up to 3°.
Hollow-Fiber Membrane Chamber as a Device for In Situ Environmental Cultivation
Authors: Aoi Yoshiteru , Kinoshita Tomoyuki , Hata Toru , Ohta Hiroaki , Obokata Haruko , Tsuneda Satoshi 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT
A hollow-fiber membrane chamber (HFMC) was developed as an in situ cultivation device for environmental microorganisms. The HFMC system consists of 48 to 96 pieces of porous hollow-fiber membrane connected with injectors. The system allows rapid exchange of chemical compounds, thereby simulating a natural environment. Comparative analysis through the cultivation of three types of environmental samples was performed using this newly designed device and a conventional agar-based petri dish. The results show that the ratios of novel phylotypes in isolates, species-level diversities, and cultivabilities in HFMC-based cultivation are higher than those in an agar-based petri dish for all three samples, suggesting that the new in situ cultivation device is effective for cultivation of various environmental microorganisms.
Phosphate-Responsive Promoter of a
Pichia pastoris
Sodium Phosphate Symporter
Authors: Ahn Jungoh , Hong Jiyeon , Park Myongsoo , Lee Hyeokweon , Lee Eungyo , Kim Chunsuk , Lee Joohwan , Choi Eui-sung , Jung Joon-ki , Lee Hongweon 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT

To develop a functional phosphate-regulated promoter in
Pichia pastoris
, a phosphate-responsive gene,
PHO89
, which encodes a putative sodium (Na
+
)-coupled phosphate symporter, was isolated. Sequencing analyses revealed a 1,731-bp open reading frame encoding a 576-amino-acid polypeptide with 12 putative transmembrane domains. The properties of the
PHO89
promoter (

P
PHO89

) were investigated using a bacterial lipase gene as a reporter in 5-liter jar fermentation experiments.

P
PHO89

was tightly regulated by phosphate and was highly activated when the cells were grown in a phosphate-limited external environment. Compared to translation elongation factor 1α and the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter,

P
PHO89

exhibited strong transcriptional activity with higher specific productivity (amount of lipase produced/cell/h). Furthermore, a cost-effective and simple

P
PHO89

-based fermentation process was developed for industrial application. These results demonstrate the potential for efficient use of

P
PHO89

for controlled production of recombinant proteins in
P. pastoris
.
An Adenosine Kinase Exists inXanthomonas campestrisPathovar campestris and Is Involved in Extracellular Polysaccharide Production, Cell Motility, and Virulence
Authors: Lu Guang-Tao , Tang Yong-Qin , Li Cai-Yue , Li Rui-Fang , An Shi-Qi , Feng Jia-Xun , He Yong-Qiang , Jiang Bo-Le , Tang Dong-Jie , Tang Ji-Liang 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTAdenosine kinase (ADK) is a purine salvage enzyme and a typical housekeeping enzyme in eukaryotes which catalyzes the phosphorylation of adenosine to form AMP. Since prokaryotes synthesize purines de novo and no endogenous ADK activity is detectable inEscherichia coli, ADK has long been considered to be rare in bacteria. To date, only two prokaryotes, both of which are gram-positive bacteria, have been reported to contain ADK. Here we report that the gram-negative bacteriumXanthomonas campestrispathovar campestris, the causal agent of black rot of crucifers, possesses a gene (designatedadkXcc) encoding an ADK (named ADKXcc), and we demonstrate genetically that the ADKXccis involved in extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production, cell motility, and pathogenicity ofX. campestrispv. campestris.adkXccwas overexpressed as a His6-tagged protein inE. coli, and the purified His6-tagged protein exhibited ADK activity. Mutation ofadkXccdid not affect bacterial growth in rich and minimal media but led to an accumulation of intracellular adenosine and diminutions of intracellular ADK activity and ATP level, as well as EPS. TheadkXccmutant displayed significant reductions in bacterial growth and virulence in the host plant.
23S rRNA Nucleotides in the Peptidyl Transferase Center Are Essential for Tryptophanase Operon Induction
Authors: Yang Rui , Cruz-Vera Luis R. , Yanofsky Charles 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT

Distinct features of the ribosomal peptide exit tunnel are known to be essential for recognition of specific amino acids of a nascent peptidyl-tRNA. Thus, a tryptophan residue at position 12 of the peptidyl-tRNA TnaC-tRNA
Pro
leads to the creation of a free tryptophan binding site within the ribosome at which bound tryptophan inhibits normal ribosome functions. The ribosomal processes that are inhibited are hydrolysis of TnaC-tRNA
Pro
by release factor 2 and peptidyl transfer of TnaC of TnaC-tRNA
Pro
to puromycin. These events are normally performed in the ribosomal peptidyl transferase center. In the present study, changes of 23S rRNA nucleotides in the 2585 region of the peptidyl transferase center, G2583A and U2584C, were observed to reduce maximum induction of
tna
operon expression by tryptophan in vivo without affecting the concentration of tryptophan necessary to obtain 50% induction. The growth rate of strains with ribosomes with either of these changes was not altered appreciably. In vitro analyses with mutant ribosomes with these changes showed that tryptophan was not as efficient in protecting TnaC-tRNA
Pro
from puromycin action as wild-type ribosomes. However, added tryptophan did prevent sparsomycin action as it normally does with wild-type ribosomes. These findings suggest that these two mutational changes act by reducing the ability of ribosome-bound tryptophan to inhibit peptidyl transferase activity rather than by reducing the ability of the ribosome to bind tryptophan. Thus, the present study identifies specific nucleotides within the ribosomal peptidyl transferase center that appear to be essential for effective tryptophan induction of
tna
operon expression.
French hospital nurses’ opinion about euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: a national phone survey
Authors: Bendiane M K , Bouhnik A-D , Galinier A , Favre R , Obadia Y , Peretti-Watel P 
Published: March 2009

Background:Hospital nurses are frequently the first care givers to receive a patient’s request for euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (PAS). In France, there is no consensus over which medical practices should be considered euthanasia, and this lack of consensus blurred the debate about euthanasia and PAS legalisation. This study aimed to investigate French hospital nurses’ opinions towards both legalisations, including personal conceptions of euthanasia and working conditions and organisation.Methods:A phone survey conducted among a random national sample of 1502 French hospital nurses. We studied factors associated with opinions towards euthanasia and PAS, including contextual factors related to hospital units with random-effects logistic models.Results:Overall, 48% of nurses supported legalisation of euthanasia and 29%, of PAS. Religiosity, training in pallative care/pain management and feeling competent in end-of-life care were negatively correlated with support for legalisation of both euthanasia and PAS, while nurses working at night were more prone to support legalisation of both. The support for legalisation of euthanasia and PAS was also weaker in pain treatment/palliative care and intensive care units, and it was stronger in units not benefiting from interventions of charity/religious workers and in units with more nurses.Conclusions:Many French hospital nurses uphold the legalisation of euthanasia and PAS, but these nurses may be the least likely to perform what proponents of legalisation call “good” euthanasia. Improving professional knowledge of palliative care could improve the management of end-of-life situations and help to clarify the debate over euthanasia.
Modern renal transplantation: present challenges and future prospects
Authors: Galliford J , Game D S 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
Renal transplantation offers patients with end stage renal failure improved survival and quality of life compared with dialysis. Although more transplants are being performed in the UK and elsewhere, the size of the renal transplant waiting list is increasing at a faster rate. Live donor transplantation between antibody compatible and incompatible pairs is one of the short term solutions to this; it may also be a sensible long term strategy since it affords better outcomes. Following successful transplantation, balancing the chronic and often deleterious effects of immunosuppression with chronic immune damage poses the key clinical challenge for transplant physicians today. Research efforts worldwide are focused towards immunological tolerance of transplanted organs with two main questions: first, how can we induce tolerance; and second, how can we test that it is operational? Immunosuppressive protocols vary greatly between transplant units, which may be reflected in differing patient and allograft survival.
Omega-3 fatty acids: a comprehensive review of their role in health and disease
Authors: Yashodhara B M , Umakanth S , Pappachan J M , Bhat S K , Kamath R , Choo B H 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
Omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FAs) are essential fatty acids with diverse biological effects in human health and disease. Reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is a well-established benefit of their intake. Dietary supplementation may also benefit patients with dyslipidaemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, obesity, inflammatory diseases, neurological/ neuropsychiatric disorders and eye diseases. Consumption of ω-3 FAs during pregnancy reduces the risk of premature birth and improves intellectual development of the fetus. Fish, fish oils and some vegetable oils are rich sources of ω-3 FAs. According to the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition guidelines (2004), a healthy adult should consume a minimum of two portions of fish a week to obtain the health benefit. This review outlines the health implications, dietary sources, deficiency states and recommended allowances of ω-3 FAs in relation to human nutrition.
Suffering into Truth: Constructing the Patriarchal Sacred
Authors: Condren Mary 
Published: March 2009

Western practices and theories of the sacred have been ritually performed and culturally elaborated mostly by male theorists who ignored the historical exclusion of women from sacral arenas. Shaped by male morphologies, their practices and descriptions quickly became prescriptions for theological rectitude and/or healthy social functioning. Women's exclusion appears to have been essential rather than epiphenomenal to the political and ecclesiastical structures established. Through the lens of Sigmund Freud, in this article I will attempt to analyse why the question as to how the Western sacred has been achieved, defined, and elaborated is inherently antithetical to the future of the earth and of women. I will argue that Freud's focus on repression rather than nurture enables the Western sacred to forge gender dichotomies and legitimize those forms of religious and political mentalities that now carry lethal capacities. For that reason, we need to de-construct its most dangerous capacities, challenge the toxic stories, develop spiritual and disciplinary practices that nurture human creativity, foster independent thinking, and radically address the acute gendered imbalance that currently pervades the religious and political social imaginary. I argue that a feminist call for mere equality within existing theological or political frameworks fails to do justice to the issues at stake. I will then point briefly to some alternative approaches to the sacred mentioned above in the work of philosopher and psychoanalyst, Luce Irigaray; anthropologist, Peggy Reeves Sanday; Jungian analyst, Marion Woodman, and artist, psychoanalyst and theorist, Bracha Lichtenberg Ettinger.
Diabetes NetPLAY: A physical activity website and linked email counselling randomized intervention for individuals with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Liebreich Tanis , Plotnikoff Ronald C , Courneya Kerry S , Boulé Normand 
Published: March 2009

Abstract

Background -
This pilot study evaluated the feasibility (recruitment, retention, adherence and satisfaction) and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week website and email-linked counselling intervention on physical activity behaviour change in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Methods -
A total of 49 individuals with type 2 diabetes (59% female, average age 54.1 years) were randomized to the Diabetes NetPLAY intervention or control condition. The intervention condition received information grounded in the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), personalized weekly emails, an on-line logbook and message board. Key outcomes included physical activity behaviour and related cognition changes. The control condition was provided links to the Canadian Diabetes Association's Clinical Practice Guidelines for Physical Activity and Canada's Guide to Physical Activity.

Results -
Intervention participants indicated high levels of satisfaction for this mode of delivery and study results demonstrated the feasibility of web-based mediums for the delivery of physical activity information in this population. The intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in total vigorous and moderate minutes of physical activity (p = 0.05) compared to the control group over the 12-week study. Among the SCT variables, behavioural capacity, showed a significant increase (p < 0.001) among intervention participants.

Conclusion -
Web-based interventions for individuals with type 2 diabetes are feasible and show promise for improving positive physical activity outcomes.
Mandibular gland secretions of meliponine worker bees: further evidence for their role in interspecific and intraspecific defence and aggression and against their role in food source signalling
Authors: Schorkopf Dirk Louis P. , Hrncir Michael , Mateus Sidnei , Zucchi Ronaldo , Schmidt Veronika M. , Barth Friedrich G. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYLike ants and termites some species of stingless bees (Meliponini), which are very important pollinators in the tropics, use pheromone trails to communicate the location of a food source. We present data on the communicative role of mandibular gland secretions of Meliponini that resolve a recent controversy about their importance in the laying of such trails. Volatile constituents of the mandibular glands have been erroneously thought both to elicit aggressive/defensive behaviour and to signal food source location. We studied Trigona spinipes and Scaptotrigona aff. depilis (`postica'), two sympatric species to which this hypothesis was applied. Using extracts of carefully dissected glands instead of crude cephalic extracts we analysed the substances contained in the mandibular glands of worker bees. Major components of the extracts were 2-heptanol (both species), nonanal (T. spinipes), benzaldehyde and 2-tridecanone(S. aff. depilis). The effect of mandibular gland extracts and of individual components thereof on the behaviour of worker bees near their nest and at highly profitable food sources was consistent. Independent of the amount of mandibular gland extract applied, the bees overwhelmingly reacted with defensive behaviour and were never attracted to feeders scented with mandibular gland extract or any of the synthetic chemicals tested. Both bee species are capable of using mandibular gland secretions for intra- and interspecific communication of defence and aggression and share 2-heptanol as a major pheromone compound. While confirming the role of the mandibular glands in nest defence, our experiments provide strong evidence against their role in food source signalling.
Biosonar adjustments to target range of echolocating bottlenose dolphins(Tursiopssp.) in the wild
Authors: Jensen F. H. , Bejder L. , Wahlberg M. , Madsen P. T. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYToothed whales use echolocation to locate and track prey. Most knowledge of toothed whale echolocation stems from studies on trained animals, and little is known about how toothed whales regulate and use their biosonar systems in the wild. Recent research suggests that an automatic gain control mechanism in delphinid biosonars adjusts the biosonar output to the one-way transmission loss to the target, possibly a consequence of pneumatic restrictions in how fast the sound generator can be actuated and still maintain high outputs. This study examines the relationships between target range (R), click intervals,and source levels of wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) by recording regular (non-buzz) echolocation clicks with a linear hydrophone array. Dolphins clicked faster with decreasing distance to the array,reflecting a decreasing delay between the outgoing echolocation click and the returning array echo. However, for interclick intervals longer than 30–40 ms, source levels were not limited by the repetition rate. Thus,pneumatic constraints in the sound-production apparatus cannot account for source level adjustments to range as a possible automatic gain control mechanism for target ranges longer than a few body lengths of the dolphin. Source level estimates drop with reducing range between the echolocating dolphins and the target as a function of 17 log(R). This may indicate either(1) an active form of time-varying gain in the biosonar independent of click intervals or (2) a bias in array recordings towards a 20 log(R) relationship for apparent source levels introduced by a threshold on received click levels included in the analysis.
Laboratory-GISAXS Measurements of Block Copolymer Films with Highly Ordered and Normally Oriented Nanocylinders
Authors: Komura Motonori , Watanabe Kazuhito , Iyoda Tomokazu , Yamada Takeshi , Yoshida Hirohisa , Iwasaki Yoshio 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
Highly ordered microphase separated films with hexagonally arranged nanocylinders yielded distinct scattering peaks even in laboratory grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering measurements. Hierarchical structures with perpendicularly oriented nanocylinders and parallel aligned liquid crystalline layers sustaining highly ordered nanostructures were revealed.