bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Utility of computer simulations in landscape genetics
Authors: EPPERSON BRYAN K. , MCRAE BRAD H. , SCRIBNER KIM , CUSHMAN SAMUEL A. , ROSENBERG MICHAEL S. , FORTIN MARIE‐JOSÉE , JAMES PATRICK M. A. , MURPHY MELANIE , MANEL STÉPHANIE , LEGENDRE PIERRE , DALE MARK R. T. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractPopulation genetics theory is primarily based on mathematical models in which spatial complexity and temporal variability are largely ignored. In contrast, the field of landscape genetics expressly focuses on how population genetic processes are affected by complex spatial and temporal environmental heterogeneity. It is spatially explicit and relates patterns to processes by combining complex and realistic life histories, behaviours, landscape features and genetic data. Central to landscape genetics is the connection of spatial patterns of genetic variation to the usually highly stochastic space–time processes that create them over both historical and contemporary time periods. The field should benefit from a shift to computer simulation approaches, which enable incorporation of demographic and environmental stochasticity. A key role of simulations is to show how demographic processes such as dispersal or reproduction interact with landscape features to affect probability of site occupancy, population size, and gene flow, which in turn determine spatial genetic structure. Simulations could also be used to compare various statistical methods and determine which have correct type I error or the highest statistical power to correctly identify spatio‐temporal and environmental effects. Simulations may also help in evaluating how specific spatial metrics may be used to project future genetic trends. This article summarizes some of the fundamental aspects of spatial–temporal population genetic processes. It discusses the potential use of simulations to determine how various spatial metrics can be rigorously employed to identify features of interest, including contrasting locus‐specific spatial patterns due to micro‐scale environmental selection.
FasR, a novel class of transcriptional regulator, governs the activation of fatty acid biosynthesis genes in Streptomyces coelicolor
Authors: Arabolaza Ana , D'Angelo Matilde , Comba Santiago , Gramajo Hugo 
Published: July 2010

SummaryMembrane lipid homeostasis is essential for bacterial survival and adaptation to different environments. The regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis is therefore crucial for maintaining the correct composition and biophysical properties of cell membranes. This regulation implicates a biochemical control of key enzymes and a transcriptional regulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism. In Streptomyces coelicolor we found that control of lipid homeostasis is accomplished, at least in part, through the transcriptional regulation of fatty acid biosynthetic genes. A novel transcription factor, FasR (SCO2386), controls expression of fabDHPF operon and lies immediately upstream of fabD, in a cluster of genes that is highly conserved within actinomycetes. Disruption of fasR resulted in a mutant strain, with severe growth defects and a delay in the timing of morphological and physiological differentiation. Expression of fab genes was downregulated in the fasR mutant, indicating a role for this transcription factor as an activator. Consequently, the mutant showed a significant drop in fatty acid synthase activity and triacylglyceride accumulation. FasR binds specifically to a DNA sequence containing fabDHPF promoter region, both in vivo and in vitro. These data provide the first example of positive regulation of genes encoding core proteins of saturated fatty acid synthase complex.
Modulation of amoebic hepatic abscess by the parasympathetic system
Authors: MUÑOZ‐ORTEGA M. , QUINTANAR‐STEPHANO A. , GARCÍA LORENZANA M. , CAMPOS‐ESPARZA M. R. , SILVA‐BRIANO M. , ADABACHE‐ORTÍZ A. , CAMPOS‐RODRÍGUEZ R. , RODRÍGUEZ M. G. , VENTURA‐JUÁREZ J. 
Published: July 2010

SummaryThe neuro‐immune network, in which the vagus nerve is involved, provides feedback between its afferent branches for signalling central nervous system from sites of injury through cytokines and its efferent branches, which release acetylcholine, an anti‐inflammatory neurotransmitter. For gain insight into the parasympathetic mechanisms participating in the inflammatory response in the liver, we studied the effects of a vagotomy on the innate immune response in hamsters with amoebic liver abscess. At 7 days post‐infection, compared to the control, liver parasympathectomy resulted in a larger abscess size, a greater production of collagen fibres, fewer trophozoites, increased serum levels of IL‐10 and IFN‐γ and increased numbers of IL‐10 and IFN‐γ‐positive cells in situ, with no change in the number of macrophages and NK cells. Data indicate that the vagotomy disrupted the inflammatory response, causing an increase in the response against infection, then could favour the innervation of the liver by the sympathetic nervous system and would then take the control of the immune response by stimulating the conversion of macrophages to epithelioid cells; and through increased IL‐10 production would induce the hepatic stellar cells to become myofibroblast collagen producer cells, thus forming a barrier of collagen and blocking trophozoite migration.
Elevated CO2 shifts the focus of tobacco plant defences from cucumber mosaic virus to the green peach aphid
Authors: FU XUE , YE LEFU , KANG LE , GE FENG 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTElevation in CO2 concentration broadly impacts plant physiological characteristics, which influences herbivores and biotrophic pathogens, which in turn regulate the plant defensive response. In this study, responses of tobacco plants to stress in the form of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), or cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), or both aphid and CMV combined were investigated in open‐top chambers under ambient and elevated CO2 concentrations. We measured aboveground biomass and foliar chlorophyll, nitrogen, non‐structural carbohydrates, soluble protein, total amino acid and nicotine content in tobacco plants and also measured aphid population dynamics, body weight, honeydew production and anti‐oxidative enzyme activities in individual aphids. Plants produced more secondary metabolites for defence in both CO2 treatments when treated with aphid and CMV combined than with either alone. Aphid density significantly increased on CMV‐infected tobacco plants (relative to uninfected plants) under ambient CO2 but not under elevated CO2. This suggests that plant defences against virus and aphid would be more efficient under elevated CO2. Plant defence appears to shift from plant virus to aphid under increasing CO2 levels, which highlights the potential influences of multiple biotic stressors on plants under elevated CO2.
Flower development in the passion fruit Passiflora edulis requires a photoperiod‐induced systemic graft‐transmissible signal
Authors: NAVE NAHUM , KATZ EHUD , CHAYUT NOAM , GAZIT SHMUEL , SAMACH ALON 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTDifferent organisms use gradual seasonal changes in photoperiod to correctly time diverse developmental processes, such as transition to flowering in plants. Florigen is a systemic signal formed in leaves exposed to specific environmental cues, mainly photoperiodic, and capable of triggering flower induction in several species. Here we show that in Passiflora edulis, a perennial climbing vine, flower initiation occurs throughout the year; however, without long photoperiods, flower primordia show arrested growth and differentiation at an early stage. Our results support the existence of a positive, systemic, graft‐transmissible signal, produced in mature leaves under LDs, that is required for normal flower development beyond sepal formation. Our results also suggest that Gibberellin acts to inhibit flower development. We provide evidence for genetic variation in the response to short photoperiods. A genotype capable of forming developed flowers under short photoperiods produces a positive graft transmissible signal allowing normal flower development under short days in a cultivar which normally aborts flower development under these conditions. We believe these findings contribute towards discovering the chemical nature of this interesting mobile signal involved in flower development.
Variability of the L‐Histidine decarboxylase gene in allergic rhinitis
Authors: Gervasini G. , Agúndez J. A. G. , García‐Menaya J. , Martínez C. , Cordobés C. , Ayuso P. , Cornejo J. A. , Blanca M. , García‐Martín E. 
Published: July 2010

To cite this article: Gervasini G, Agúndez JAG, García‐Menaya J, Martínez C, Cordobés C, Ayuso P, Cornejo JA, Blanca M, García‐Martín E. Variability of the L‐Histidine decarboxylase gene in allergic rhinitis. Allergy 2010; 65: 1576–1584.AbstractBackground:  Nonsynonymous polymorphisms in genes coding for histamine‐metabolizing enzymes, diamine oxidase and histamine N‐methyltransferase are related to the risk of developing allergic diseases. The role of polymorphisms in the histidine decarboxylase gene remains unexplored. The objective of this study is to identify novel polymorphisms in the human histidine decarboxylase gene and to analyse the clinical association of nonsynonymous polymorphisms with rhinitis.Methods:  We performed a single‐strand conformational polymorphism analysis of the histidine decarboxylase gene sequence. The presence of two nonsynonymous polymorphisms Thr31Met (rs17740607) and Glu644Asp (rs2073440) was analysed in 442 unrelated patients with allergic rhinitis, 233 of whom also had asthma, and in 486 healthy subjects.Results:  We observed three novel polymorphisms designated as ss50402829, ss50402830 and ss50402831‐(rs17740607) with allele frequencies = 0.005, 0.208 and 0.073, respectively. Statistically significant differences were observed for the histidine decarboxylase Glu644Asp (rs2073440) polymorphism, with OR (95% CI) values for homozygous carriers of the Glu644 allele equal to 3.12 (1.75–5.56, P < 0.00005) for all patients, 3.38 (1.54–7.44, P = 0.002) for patients with rhinitis alone, and 2.92 (1.43–5.95), P = 0.003 for patients with rhinitis + asthma, when compared with healthy controls. A significant Glu644 gene–dose effect was observed for overall patients (P = 0.0001), for patients with rhinitis alone (P = 0.005) and for patients with rhinitis + asthma (P = 0.010).Conclusions:  The HDC allele Glu644 in homozygosity increases the risk of developing rhinitis in the studied population. This adds to increasing evidence supporting a prominent role of genetic variations related to histamine homeostasis in the risk to develop allergic diseases.
Don't change that (calcium) channel: mutations in the same calcium channel gene can cause multiple distinct phenotypes
Authors: Sawkins JN 
Published: July 2010

Scapuloperoneal spinal muscular atrophy and CMT2C are allelic disorders caused by alterations in TRPV4Deng et al. (2010)Nature Genetics 42(2):165–169Mutations in TRPV4 cause Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 2CLandouré et al. (2010)Nature Genetics 42(2):170–174Alterations in the ankyrin domain of TRPV4 cause congenital distal SMA, scapuloperoneal SMA and HMSN2CAuer‐Grumbach et al. (2010)Nature Genetics 42(2):160–164
Hippocampus development and function: role of epigenetic factors and implications for cognitive disease
Authors: Lagali PS , Corcoran CP , Picketts DJ 
Published: July 2010

Lagali PS, Corcoran CP, Picketts DJ. Hippocampus development and function: role of epigenetic factors and implications for cognitive disease.The hippocampus is a primary region of the brain controlling the formation of memories and learned behaviours. The ability to learn or form a memory requires a neuron to translate a transient signal into gene expression changes that have a long‐lasting effect on synapse activity and connectivity. Numerous studies over the past decade have detailed changes in epigenetic modifications under various learning paradigms to support a role for chromatin remodelling in these processes. Moreover, the identification of mutations in epigenetic regulators as the cause of mental retardation or intellectual disability (MR/ID) disorders further strengthens their importance to learning and memory. Animal models for many of these disorders are emerging and advancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms linking epigenetic regulation and cognitive function. Here, we review how chromatin remodelling proteins implicated in MR/ID contribute to the development of the hippocampus and memory formation.
Attitude toward xenotransplantation of patients prior and after human organ transplantation
Authors: Stadlbauer V. , Stiegler P. , Müller S. , Schweiger M. , Sereingg M. , Tscheliessnigg K.H. , Freidl W. 
Published: July 2010

Stadlbauer V, Stiegler P, Müller S, Schweiger M, Sereingg M, Tscheliessnigg KH, Freidl W. Attitude toward xenotransplantation of patients prior and after human organ transplantation. Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 495–503. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract: Xenotransplantation is a potential strategy to overcome the shortage of human donor organs. As this technique has a major medical and psychological impact on patients and their family and friends, the attitude of patients currently waiting for organ transplantation is important. Therefore, we conducted a survey on the attitude toward xenotransplantation of patients on the waiting list and already transplanted patients. Patients received detailed information before being asked to fill in the questionnaire. We found that 65% would accept xenotransplantation, irrespective of gender, education level or if the patients were on the waiting list or already transplanted. The most common concern was transmission of diseases or genetic material, followed by psychological concerns and ethical issues. More patients had a positive attitude toward accepting cell or tissue transplantation when compared to whole organs. Pig pancreas islet cell transplantation is generally well accepted, patients with diabetes mellitus show even higher acceptance rates than patients without diabetes. In conclusion, xenotransplantation seems to be well accepted in patients who are potential future candidates for organ transplantation. Informing patients about the current status of research tended to decrease acceptance rates slightly.
Differential effects of sevoflurane and propofol anesthesia on left ventricular–arterial coupling in dogs
Authors: DERYCK Y. L. J. M. , FONCK K. , DE BAERDEMAEKER L. , NAEIJE R. , BRIMIOULLE S. 
Published: July 2010

Background:General anesthetics interfere with arterial and ventricular mechanical properties, often altering left ventricular–arterial (LVA) coupling. We hypothesized that sevoflurane and propofol alter LVA coupling by different effects on arterial and ventricular properties.Methods:Experiments were conducted in six anesthetized open‐chest dogs for the measurement of left ventricular pressure and aortic pressure and flow. Measurements were performed during anesthesia with 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 minimum alveolar concentration sevoflurane and 12, 24 and 36 mg/kg/h propofol. LVA coupling was assessed as the ratio of ventricular end‐systolic elastance (Ees, measuring ventricular contractility) to effective arterial elastance (Ea, measuring ventricular afterload). The steady component of afterload, arterial tone, was assessed by systemic vascular resistance and arterial pressure–flow curves. The pulsatile component of afterload was assessed by aortic impedance and compliance.Results:Sevoflurane decreased aortic pressure and cardiac output more than propofol. Sevoflurane reduced arterial tone, increased arterial stiffness and did not affect wave reflections. It increasedEa, decreasedEesand reduced LVA coupling. Propofol reduced arterial tone, did not affect arterial stiffness and decreased wave reflections. It did not affectEa,Eesor LVA coupling.Conclusions:Sevoflurane increased ventricular afterload and decreased ventricular performance, thereby altering LVA coupling. Propofol did not affect ventricular afterload or ventricular performance, thereby preserving LVA coupling. Thus, propofol preserves LVA coupling in dogs better, and might be a better choice for patients with compromised left ventricular function.
Orexigenic effect of cocaine‐ and amphetamine‐regulated transcript (CART) after injection into hypothalamic nuclei in streptozotocin‐diabetic rats
Authors: Hou Jun , Zheng De‐Zhi , Zhou Ji‐Yin , Zhou Shi‐Wen 
Published: July 2010

Summary1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the orexigenic effect of cocaine‐ and amphetamine‐regulated transcript (CART) peptide on feeding regulation following its injection into discrete nuclei of the hypothalamus.2. Male Sprague‐Dawley diabetic rats were injected with 0.06 or 0.2 nmol CART (55–102) or an equal volume of saline into various hypothalamic areas and food intake was then measured 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h after injection. Changes in hypothalamic CART mRNA expression in response to dietary intervention (2 weeks feeding of a high‐fat diet) were assessed using quantitative real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Possible interactions between neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti‐related protein (AGRP), α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (MSH) and corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) were evaluated in an in vitro hypothalamic explant system. Neuropeptide immunoreactivities (IR) were detertmined using radioimmunassays (RIAs).3. At 0.2 nmol, CART (55–102) significantly increased feeding in fasted diabetic rats after injection into the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus and arcuate nucleus (ARC). Injection of 0.2 nmol CART (55–102) into the ARC of satiated diabetic rats also increased food intake that was similar in both magnitude and time‐course to the response seen in fasted diabetic rats. Food intake in diabetic rats on a high‐fat diet was clearly increased after injection of 0.2 nmol CART (55–102) into the ARC, as was CART mRNA expression. Incubation of hypothalamic explants with 0.4, 4 and 40 nmol/L CART (55–102) for 45 min significantly increased NPY IR, whereas exposure of explants to 4 nmol/L CART (55–102) increaesd AGRP IR and CRH IR. None of the concentrations of CART (55–102) tested had any effect on α‐MSH IR.4. Together, these data provide further evidence that hypothalamic CART has an orexigenic effect, which, in the ARC, may stimulate the release of hypothalamic orexigenic neuropeptides.
Pathology of combined hepatocellular‐cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Yeh Matthew M 
Published: July 2010

AbstractCombined hepatocellular‐cholangiocarcinoma is a rare primary neoplasm in the liver. It has gained increasing recognition recently, which in part may be due to more extensive sampling of the explants and surgical resection specimens, the diagnostic challenges encountered in the clinical practice, and the yet to be determined clinical outcome, but partly may be attributed to its intriguing histogenesis/cells of origin. This review aims to update combined hepatocellular‐cholangiocarcinoma with an emphasis on the pathological diagnosis, including the differential diagnosis and its diagnostic pitfalls, the possible cell of origin of this neoplasm, and its clinical outcome.
Parents' perspectives to childhood fever: Comparison of culturally diverse populations
Authors: Erkek Nilgun , Senel Saliha , Sahin Murat , Ozgur Ozlem , Karacan Candemir 
Published: July 2010

Aim:  To reveal the perceptions, knowledge and practices of our parents regarding children's fever and to discuss the differences between other populations.Methods:  Parents of 200 febrile children aged 0–16 years were interviewed between October and November 2007 in the Pediatric Emergency Department at Dr Sami Ulus Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital. Questions about socio‐demographical data, children's previous history about fever, parental beliefs and practices concerning fever were asked.Results:  Of the parents, 56.5% stated that fever could be determined by touching the forehead. Of the parents, 43.5% determined children's fever by using thermometer. Only 27.5% of parents knew the correct temperature for fever. Mercury‐in‐glass thermometer was the preferred one to measure children's fever. The preferred route of measuring temperature was the axillary site. Maternal educational level was significantly associated with knowledge on correct definition of fever and proper use of thermometer (P < 0.05) in accordance with the literature. If fever was untreated, of the parents, 84% believed febrile convulsions occur and 10.5% believed brain damage occur if fever was untreated. Parental age, parental educational status, parental knowledge about fever, median number of children in family and children's previous febrile convulsion history did not significantly effect parents' interventions and beliefs about fever (P > 0.05), corroborating the findings of studies from different populations.Conclusion:  Parental education about ‘fever in childhood’ in our population may positively effect parental knowledge and approach to fever. However, parental education may not be effective in removing parental fear of fever in our population.
Health service delivery for newly arrived refugee children: A framework for good practice
Authors: Woodland Lisa , Burgner David , Paxton Georgia , Zwi Karen 
Published: July 2010

Aim:  To propose a framework for good practice to promote improved access, equity and quality of care in service delivery for newly arrived refugee children.Methods:  Development of a framework based on national and international literature and current service models in Australian paediatric refugee health.Results:  Ten elements of a framework for good practice were identified: comprehensive health screening; coordination of initial and ongoing health care; integration of physical, developmental and psychological health care; consumer participation; culturally and linguistically appropriate service provision; inter‐sectoral collaboration; accessible and affordable services and treatments; data collection and evaluation to inform evidence‐based practice; capacity building and sustainability; and advocacy.Conclusions:  High‐quality care can be achieved through a range of service models. The elements identified provide a framework for evaluating current services and for planning future service development. The framework for good practice can be applied to facilitate improvements in refugee health care and to reduce the gap between health needs and currently available services.