bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Manganese efficiency and maganese‐uptake kinetics of raya (Brassica juncea), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and oat (Avena sativa) grown in nutrient solution and soil
Authors: Hassan Sayyari‐Zahan Mohammad , Singh Sadana Upkar , Steingrobe Bernd , Claassen Norbert 
Published: April 2009

AbstractManganese (Mn) deficiency is reported worldwide and often decreases crop yield. However, plant species differ in their susceptibility to Mn deficiency. Poaceae are often inefficient, whereas Brassicaceae seem to be efficient in Mn uptake. The objective of this paper was to determine the relevance of Mn‐uptake kinetics, root‐system size, and Mn mobilization for differences in Mn efficiency of wheat, oat, and raya. To determine Mn‐uptake kinetics, wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. PBW 343), raya (Brassica juncea L. cv. RLM 619), and oat (Avena sativa L. cv. Aragon) were grown in a growth chamber together in complete nutrient solution having an average Mn concentration of 90, 180, 360, 910, and 2270 nmol L–1. For determining Mn efficiency of the three species in soil, the plants were grown for 22 d in pots filled with 3 kg of a loamy soil low in Mn availability (pH (CaCl2) 7.4; DTPA‐extractable Mn: 3.5 mg (kg soil)–1). The soil was fertilized with 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 mmol Mn (kg soil)–1 resulting in Mn soil‐solution concentrations ranging from 40 to 90 nmol L–1, hence lower than in the solution experiment. In order to determine Mn soil‐solution concentration close to the root surface, the root length density was increased by growing two plants of raya and four plants of wheat in only 250 mL soil columns for 25 d. In solution culture at high concentrations, raya showed a higher Mn uptake compared to wheat and oat. However, at low Mn supply, all three species were comparably Mn‐efficient, i.e., plant growth was similar, and also the uptake was similar. In soil, the highest yield was achieved for raya in the unfertilized treatment whereas the Poaceae needed at least a fertilization of 1 mmol Mn (kg soil)–1. The Poaceae showed a yield reduction of about 40% in the unfertilized treatment. Manganese concentration in the shoot dry weight was always higher in raya than in wheat or oat. This was due to a higher Mn uptake whereas relative shoot‐growth rate and root‐to‐shoot ratio were similar among the species. The higher Mn uptake of raya in soil was in contradiction to the comparable Mn‐uptake kinetics of the three crops at low Mn concentration in solution. This points to plant differences in their ability to affect Mn availability in the rhizosphere. In the bulk soil, all the crops decreased Mn solution concentration, but this effect was somewhat less for raya. But in the rhizosphere, raya increased Mn soil‐solution concentration significantly to 58 nmol L–1, as compared to 37 nmol L–1 of the unplanted control soil. In contrast, wheat showed a Mn solution concentration of 25 nmol L–1 which was not significantly different from the control. The results indicate that differences in Mn efficiency among the crops studied are related to their ability to affect the solubility of Mn in the rhizosphere.
The dynamics of gene products fluctuation during bovine pre‐hatching development
Authors: Gilbert Isabelle , Scantland Sara , Sylvestre Eve‐Lyne , Gravel Catherine , Laflamme Isabelle , Sirard Marc‐André , Robert Claude 
Published: April 2009

AbstractEarly embryonic development, spanning fertilization to blastocyst hatching, is a very dynamic developmental window that is characterized, especially in large mammals, by a period of transcriptional incompetence that ends during the maternal to embryonic transition (MET). Prior to the MET, the first cell cycles are supported by stored RNA and proteins pools accumulated during oogenesis. Therefore, RNA and protein content are different between developmental stages. It is also known that the stability of the stored mRNA and the mechanisms for translation recruitment are partly controlled by the length of the poly(A) tail. To date, little is known about RNA and protein content fluctuations during the pre‐hatching period. In this report we present measurements of total RNA, mRNA, poly(A) bearing mRNA and protein contents, as well as estimations of the proportions of both mRNA fractions to total RNA contents within these developmental stages. We found that while the ontogenic profiles of the different transcript contents were expected, their amounts were considerably lower than the reported values. Additionally, low 28S rRNA abundance and a tendency for diminishing protein content prior to the MET, suggest a limited potential for ribosomal turnover and translation. We consider the overall fluctuations in RNA and protein contents to be reference points that are essential for downstream interpretation of gene expression data across stages whether it be through candidates or high throughput approaches. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 762–772, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dual crosslinked pH‐ and temperature‐sensitive hydrogel beads for intestine‐targeted controlled release
Authors: Ma Liwei , Liu Mingzhu , Liu Hongliang , Chen Jun , Gao Chunmei , Cui Dapeng 
Published: April 2009

AbstractNovel drug‐loaded hydrogel beads for intestine‐targeted controlled release were developed by using pH‐ and temperature‐sensitive carboxymethyl chitosan‐graft‐poly(N,N‐diethylacrylamide) (CMCTS‐g‐PDEA) hydrogel as carriers and vitamin B2 (VB2) as a model drug. The hydrogel beads were prepared based on Ca2+ ionic crosslinking in acidic solution and formed dual crosslinked network structure. The structure of hydrogel and morphology of drug‐loaded beads were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study about swelling characteristics of hydrogel beads indicated that the beads had obvious pH‐ and temperature‐sensitivity. In vitro release studies of drug‐loaded beads were carried out in pH 1.2 HCl buffer solution and pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution at 37°C, respectively. The results indicated that the dual crosslinked method could effectively control the drug release rate under gastrointestinal tract (GIT) conditions, which was superior to traditional single crosslinked beads. In addition, the effects of grafting percentage, pH value, and temperature on the release behavior of the VB2 were investigated. The drug release mechanism of CMCTS‐g‐PDEA drug‐loaded beads was analyzed by Peppa's potential equation. According to this study, the dual crosslinked hydrogel beads based on CMCTS‐g‐PDEA could serve as suitable candidate for drug site‐specific carrier in intestine. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proteomic and selected metabolite analysis of grape berry tissues under well‐watered and water‐deficit stress conditions
Authors: Grimplet Jérôme , Wheatley Matthew D. , Jouira Hatem Ben , Deluc Laurent G. , Cramer Grant R. , Cushman John C. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractIn order to investigate the unique contribution of individual wine grape (Vitis vinifera) berry tissues and water‐deficit to wine quality traits, a survey of tissue‐specific differences in protein and selected metabolites was conducted using pericarp (skin and pulp) and seeds of berries from vines grown under well‐watered and water‐deficit stress conditions. Of 1047 proteins surveyed from pericarp by 2‐D PAGE, 90 identified proteins showed differential expression between the skin and pulp. Of 695 proteins surveyed from seed tissue, 163 were identified and revealed that the seed and pericarp proteomes were nearly completely distinct from one another. Water‐deficit stress altered the abundance of approximately 7% of pericarp proteins, but had little effect on seed protein expression. Comparison of protein and available mRNA expression patterns showed that 32% pericarp and 69% seed proteins exhibited similar quantitative expression patterns indicating that protein accumulation patterns are strongly influenced by post‐transcriptional processes. About half of the 32 metabolites surveyed showed tissue‐specific differences in abundance with water‐deficit stress affecting the accumulation of seven of these compounds. These results provide novel insights into the likely tissue‐specific origins and the influence of water‐deficit stress on the accumulation of key flavor and aroma compounds in wine.
Proteome mapping of the Drosophila melanogaster male reproductive system
Authors: Takemori Nobuaki , Yamamoto Masa‐Toshi 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is an excellent model organism for studying insect reproductive biology. Although the gene expression profiles of both male and female reproductive organs have been studied in detail, their proteomic profiles and functional characteristics largely remained to be clarified. In this study, we conducted proteome mapping of the male internal reproductive organs using 2‐DE. We identified a total of 440 protein components from gels of the male reproductive organs (testis, seminal vesicle, accessory gland, ejaculatory duct, and ejaculatory bulb). A number of proteins associated with odorant/pheromone‐binding, lipid metabolism, proteolysis, and antioxidation were expressed tissue specifically in the male reproductive system. Based on our proteomic data set, we constructed reference proteome maps of the reproductive organs, which will provide valuable information toward a comprehensive understanding of Drosophila reproduction.
Automatic guidance of a four‐wheel‐steering mobile robot for accurate field operations
Authors: Cariou Christophe , Lenain Roland , Thuilot Benoit , Berducat Michel 
Published: April 2009

AbstractAs world population growth requires an increasing level of farm production at the same time that environmental preservation is a priority, the development of new agricultural tools and methods is required. In this framework, the development of robotic devices can provide an attractive solution, particularly in the field of autonomous vehicles. Accurate automatic guidance of mobile robots in farming constitutes a challenging problem for researchers, mainly due to the low grip conditions usually found in such a context. From assisted‐steering systems to agricultural robotics, numerous control algorithms have been studied to achieve high‐precision path tracking and have reached an accuracy within ±10 cm, whatever the ground configuration and the path to be followed. However, most existing approaches consider classical two‐wheel‐steering vehicles. Unfortunately, by using such a steering system, only the lateral deviation with respect to the path to be followed can be satisfactorily controlled. Indeed, the heading of the vehicle remains dependent on the grip conditions, and crabwise motions, for example, are systematically observed on a slippery slope, leading to inaccurate field operations. To tackle this drawback, a four‐wheel‐steering (4WS) mobile robot is considered, enabling servo of both lateral and angular deviations with respect to a desired trajectory. The path tracking control is designed using an extended kinematic representation, allowing account to be taken online of wheel skidding, while a backstepping approach permits management of the 4WS structure. The result is an approach taking advantage of both rear and front steering actuations to fully compensate for sliding effects during path tracking. Moreover, a predictive algorithm is developed in order to address delays induced by steering actuators, compensating for transient overshoots in curves. Experimental results demonstrate that despite sliding phenomena, the mobile robot is able to automatically and accurately achieve a desired path, with lateral and angular errors, respectively, within ±10 cm and ±2 deg, whatever its shape and whatever the terrain conditions. This constitutes a promising result in efforts to define efficient tools with which to tackle tomorrow's agriculture challenge. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Surgical Diseases of the Womb According to Aetius of Amida (6th Century a.d.)
Authors: Lazaris Dimitrios P. , Laskaratos Faidon J. , Lascaratos Gerassimos J. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackgroundIn the interest of presenting historical background for modern‐day medicine and surgery, the authors comment on the concepts of the eminent Byzantine physician Aetius of Amida (sixth century a.d.) in surgical treatment of diseases of the womb.Study designThe 16th book of Aetius’ work Tetrabiblus, in the original Greek language, a treatise on gynecology and obstetrics of his era, was investigated. Comparison was then made of the relative knowledge among ancient and Byzantine physicians.DiscussionAetius analytically describes many surgical diseases of the womb (prolapse, abscesses, phimosis, atresia, hemorrhoids, stones, thymos, chaps) and gives a detailed symptomatology and conservative and surgical treatment. His work followed Hippocratic, Roman, and early Byzantine physicians, especially Soranus, the “Father of ancient gynecology and obstetrics” and influenced later physicians of his era and beyond.ConclusionsAetius of Amida gives significant information about surgical approaches to diseases of the womb, the most detailed of any medical writer of his epoch. His descriptions, following the Hippocratic and mainly the Hellenistic and Roman traditions, influenced Islamic and European medicine, and through them the rest of the world, constituting the roots of the specialty of gynecology.
Prospective, sequential, longitudinal study of coagulation changes during pregnancy in Chinese women
Authors: Liu Xing‐hui , Jiang Yong‐mei , Shi Hua , Yue Xin‐ai , Wang Yue‐fang , Yang Hui 
Published: April 2009

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate changes and establish reference values for coagulation variables during normal pregnancy and after delivery in Chinese women.MethodsA prospective, sequential, longitudinal study with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria was performed with 232 Chinese women.ResultsProthrombin time, international normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time ratio were shorter, and platelet count decreased gradually during pregnancy, with no change in mean platelet volume; conversely, plasma concentration of both fibrinogen and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation product increased. All these variables were normalized during the postpartum. Reference values by gestational week were established for platelet count, fibrinogen concentration, and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation product concentration.ConclusionsThese reference values may be used in the health assessment of pregnant women with a similar socioeconomic and ethnic background.
Two Distinct MUS81-EME1 Complexes from Arabidopsis Process Holliday Junctions
Authors: Geuting Verena , Kobbe Daniela , Hartung Frank , Dürr Jasmin , Focke Manfred , Puchta Holger 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe MUS81 endonuclease complex has been shown to play an important role in the repair of stalled or blocked replication forks and in the processing of meiotic recombination intermediates from yeast to humans. This endonuclease is composed of two subunits, MUS81 and EME1. Surprisingly, unlike other organisms, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) has two EME1 homologs encoded in its genome. AtEME1A and AtEME1B show 63% identity on the protein level. We were able to demonstrate that, after expression in Escherichia coli, each EME1 protein can assemble with the unique AtMUS81 to form a functional endonuclease. Both complexes, AtMUS81-AtEME1A and AtMUS81-AtEME1B, are not only able to cleave 3′-flap structures and nicked Holliday junctions (HJs) but also, with reduced efficiency, intact HJs. While the complexes have the same cleavage patterns with both nicked DNA substrates, slight differences in the processing of intact HJs can be detected. Our results are in line with an involvement of both MUS81-EME1 endonuclease complexes in DNA recombination and repair processes in Arabidopsis.
Biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and food webs in fresh waters: assembling the jigsaw puzzle
Authors: WOODWARD GUY 
Published: April 2009

Summary1. Dramatic advances have been made recently in the study of biodiversity–ecosystem functioning (B‐EF) relations and food web ecology. These fields are now starting to converge, and this fusion has the potential to improve our understanding of how environmental stressors modulate ecosystem processes and the supply of ‘goods and services’.2. Food web structure and dynamics can exert particularly strong influences on B‐EF relations in fresh waters, as consumer–resource interactions (e.g. trophic cascades) are often more important than horizontal interactions within trophic levels. For instance, many freshwater food webs are size structured, with large organisms tending to occupy the higher trophic levels and often exerting powerful effects on ecosystem processes. However, because they are also vulnerable to perturbations, non‐random losses of these large taxa can alter both food web structure and ecosystem functioning profoundly.3. Recently, the focus of food web research has shifted away from exploring patterns, towards developing an understanding of processes (e.g. quantifying fluxes of individuals, biomass, energy, nutrients) and how the two interact. Many of the best‐characterized food webs are from fresh waters, and these ecosystems are now being used to address some of the shortcomings of earlier B‐EF studies. I have identified several key gaps in our current knowledge and highlighted potentially fruitful avenues of future B‐EF and food web research.4. A major challenge for this newly emerging research is to place it within a unified theoretical framework. The application of metabolic theory and ecological stoichiometry may help to achieve this goal by considering biological systems within the constraints imposed upon them by physical and chemical laws.
IT project managers' construction of successful project management practice: a repertory grid investigation
Authors: Napier Nannette P. , Keil Mark , Tan Felix B. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractAlthough effective project management is critical to the success of information technology (IT) projects, little empirical research has investigated skill requirements for IT project managers (PMs). This study addressed this gap by asking 19 practicing IT PMs to describe the skills that successful IT PMs exhibit. A semi‐structured interview method known as the repertory grid (RepGrid) technique was used to elicit these skills. Nine skill categories emerged: client management, communication, general management, leadership, personal integrity, planning and control, problem solving, systems development and team development. Our study complements existing research by providing a richer understanding of several skills that were narrowly defined (client management, planning and control, and problem solving) and by introducing two new skill categories that had not been previously discussed (personal integrity and team development). Analysis of the individual RepGrids revealed four distinct ways in which study participants combined skill categories to form archetypes of effective IT PMs. We describe these four IT PM archetypes – General Manager, Problem Solver, Client Representative and Balanced Manager – and discuss how this knowledge can be useful for practitioners, researchers and educators. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research.
Arabidopsis ROF1 (FKBP62) modulates thermotolerance by interacting with HSP90.1 and affecting the accumulation of HsfA2‐regulated sHSPs
Authors: Meiri David , Breiman Adina 
Published: April 2009

SummaryArabidopsis ROF1 (AtFKBP62) is a peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerase and a member of the FKBP (FK506 binding protein) family. ROF1 expression is induced by heat stress and developmentally regulated. In this study, we show that ROF1 binds heat shock proteins HSP90.1 via its tetratricopeptide repeat domain, and localizes in the cytoplasm under normal conditions. Exposure to heat stress induces nuclear localization of the ROF1–HSP90.1 complex, which is dependent upon the presence of the transcription factor HsfA2, which interacts with HSP90.1 but not with ROF1. Nuclear localization of ROF1 was not detected in Arabidopsis HSP90.1 and HsfA2 knockout mutants. The rof1 knockout plants exhibited collapse when 24–48 h passed between acclimation at 37°C and exposure to 45°C. Transgenic ROF1 over‐expressors showed better survival in response to exposure to 45°C than wild‐type plants did. In rof1 knockout mutants, the level of expression of small HSPs regulated by HsfA2 was dramatically reduced after exposure to 37°C and recovery for 24–48 h, and correlates well with the mutant phenotype. We suggest a role for ROF1 in prolongation of thermotolerance by sustaining the levels of small HSPs that are essential for survival at high temperatures.
Animal trade and non‐indigenous species introduction: the world‐wide spread of squirrels
Authors: Bertolino Sandro 
Published: April 2009

AbstractAim  In this study, a dataset on world‐wide squirrel introductions has been used to locate the relative pathways and to determine the factors correlated with species establishment.Location  The world.Methods  The analysis includes a chronological table of introductions, a biogeographical analysis and an assessment of the likelihood of establishment according to species, propagule pressure, area of origin and characteristics of the recipient area.Results  The main vector of such introductions was the intentional importation of live animals. Introductions increased in developed countries and proportionately to the volume of imported mammals. Moreover, areas characterized by higher numbers of native squirrels were more invaded. Squirrels were often introduced deliberately and only to a smaller extent escaped from captivity. The likelihood of their establishment increased proportionately to the number of animals released and decreased proportionately to the increase of the latitudinal distance between the recipient area and the native range of the species. The likelihood that the release of one pair of either Sciurus or Callosciurus species would establish a new population was higher than 50%.Main conclusion  Squirrels proved to be successful invaders and their importation should be restricted so as to prevent further introductions.