bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The variant red coat colour phenotype of Holstein cattle maps to BTA27
Authors: Dreger D. L. , Schmutz S. M. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryThe variant red phenotype in Holstein cattle is indistinguishable from the traditional e/e recessive red phenotype caused by a mutation in melanocortin 1 receptor, but is inherited as a dominant trait in relation to black. Co‐segregation analysis in four half‐sib families segregating for variant red was conducted, excluding melanocortin 1 receptor, agouti signalling protein, attractin and melatonin receptor 1A as causative genes. However, variant red co‐segregated with markers in a region of BTA27 that includes beta‐defensin 103 (DEFB103). Two newly identified microsatellites and 5 SNPs 5′ of DEFB103 were used for linkage mapping in four segregating families (LOD = 3.26). One haplotype was inherited in VR cattle in a 6‐generation pedigree.
Immune dysregulation and dyserythropoiesis in the myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Alfinito Fiorella , Sica Michela , Luciano Luigiana , Pepa Roberta Della , Palladino Carmela , Ferrara Idalucia , Giani Umberto , Ruggiero Giuseppina , Terrazzano Giuseppe 
Published: September 2009

SummaryThe myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal disorders characterised by ineffective haematopoiesis with high risk of leukaemia progression. The relevance of immune‐dysregulation for emergence, dominance and progression of dysplastic clones has been suggested, but valuable criteria to obtain insight into these connections are lacking. This study showed significant increase of CD8 lymphocytes and mature B cells in the bone marrow (BM) compared to peripheral blood (PB) of low risk MDS patients. Different BM levels of Regulatory T cells (Treg) identified two sub‐groups in these patients; only the sub‐group with lower Treg percentage showed BM recruitment of CD8 lymphocytes. Different levels of CD54 on BM CD8 cells revealed two sub‐groups of Intermediate‐1 (Int‐1) patients. The sub‐group with higher CD54 expression on BM CD8 showed high levels of this molecule also on CD4 cells. BM recruitment of CD8 lymphocytes in the low risk group and/or the presence of high CD54 expression on BM CD8 in Int‐1 patients were associated with more pronounced dyserythropoiesis and erythropoietin treatment. Our data shed light on the involvement of immune‐mediated mechanisms in Low and Int‐1 risk MDS patients and suggest that BM versus PB levels of immune effectors could represent useful criteria for a more homogeneous grouping of MDS patients.
Platelet vascular endothelial growth factor is a useful predictor for prognosis in Kawasaki syndrome
Authors: Ueno Kentaro , Nomura Yuichi , Hashiguchi Teruto , Masuda Kiminori , Morita Yasuko , Hazeki Daisuke , Eguchi Taisuke , Maruyama Ikuro , Kawano Yoshifumi 
Published: September 2009

SummaryKawasaki syndrome (KS) is an acute febrile vasculitis of childhood. Coronary artery abnormalities (CAA) are a significant problem in KS patients. High dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is effective for reducing the occurrence of CAA. Clinical and histopathological findings suggest that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in CAA. In circulating blood, newly activated platelets are the major source of VEGF, which is released in large amounts in vascular inflammation. The present study analysed 80 KS patients (69 IVIG responders and 11 IVIG non‐responders) and evaluated the role of platelet VEGF in KS vasculitis. Serum VEGF and platelet VEGF levels were significantly higher in KS patients than controls (P < 0·001). Platelet VEGF reflected the reactivity of IVIG treatment and was decreased in responders (P < 0·001), but remained increased in non‐responders (P = 0·01). Platelet VEGF levels, but not serum VEGF levels, before IVIG were significantly correlated with the maximum CAA z‐score (r = 0·524, P = 0·02). Our findings demonstrate that platelet VEGF may reflect the severity of vasculitis related to the pathological development of CAA in KS. Platelet VEGF may be an important feature of KS pathophysiology.
Biotic attrition from tropical forests correcting for truncated temperature niches
Authors: FEELEY KENNETH J. , SILMAN MILES R. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractSpecies migration in response to warming temperatures is expected to lead to ‘biotic attrition,’ or loss of local diversity, in areas where the number of species emigrating or going locally extinct exceeds the number immigrating. Biotic attrition is predicted be especially severe in the low‐lying hot tropics since elevated temperatures may surpass the observed tolerances of most extant species. It is possible, however, that the estimated temperature niches of many species are inaccurate and truncated with respect to their true tolerances due to the absence of hotter areas under current global climate. If so, these species will be capable of persisting in some areas where future temperatures exceed current temperatures, reducing rates of biotic attrition. Here, we use natural history collections data to estimate the realized thermal niches of > 2000 plant species from the tropical forests of South America. In accord with the truncation hypothesis, we find that the thermal niches of species from hot lowland areas are several degrees narrower than the thermal niches of species from cooler areas. We estimate rates of biotic attrition for South American tropical forests due to temperature increases ranging from 1 to 5 °C, and under two niche assumptions. The first is that the observed thermal niches truly reflect the plant's tolerances and that the reduction in niche breadth is due to increased specialization. The second is that lowland species have the same mean thermal niche breadth as nonlowland and nonequatorial species. The differences between these two models are dramatic. For example, using observed thermal niches we predict an almost complete loss of plant diversity in most South American tropical forests due to a 5 °C temperature increase, but correcting for possible niche truncation we estimate that most forests will retain > 50–70% of their current species richness. The different predictions highlight the importance of using fundamental vs. realized niches in predicting the responses of species to global climate change.
Ten years of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide alters soil nitrogen transformations in a sheep‐grazed pasture
Authors: RÜTTING TOBIAS , CLOUGH TIM J. , MÜLLER CHRISTOPH , LIEFFERING MARK , NEWTON PAUL C. D. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe increasing concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is expected to lead to enhanced competition between plants and microorganisms for the available nitrogen (N) in soil. Here, we present novel results from a 15N tracing study conducted with a sheep‐grazed pasture soil that had been under 10 years of CO2 enrichment. Our study aimed to investigate changes in process‐specific gross N transformations in a soil previously exposed to an elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) concentration and to examine indicators for the occurrence of progressive nitrogen limitation (PNL). Our results show that the mineralization–immobilization turnover (MIT) was enhanced under eCO2, which was driven by the mineralization of recalcitrant organic N. The retention of N in the grassland was enhanced by increased dissimilatory NO3− reduction to NH4+ (DNRA) and decreased NH4+ oxidation. Our results indicate that heterotrophic processes become more important under eCO2. We conclude that higher MIT of recalcitrant organic N and enhanced N retention are mechanisms that may alleviate PNL in grazed temperate grassland.
Predicting spatial and temporal patterns of bud‐burst and spring frost risk in north‐west Europe: the implications of local adaptation to climate
Authors: BENNIE JONATHAN , KUBIN EERO , WILTSHIRE ANDREW , HUNTLEY BRIAN , BAXTER ROBERT 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe timing of spring bud‐burst and leaf development in temperate, boreal and Arctic trees and shrubs fluctuates from year to year, depending on meteorological conditions. Over several generations, the sensitivity of bud‐burst to meteorological conditions is subject to selection pressure. The timing of spring bud‐burst is considered to be under opposing evolutionary pressures; earlier bud‐burst increases the available growing season (capacity adaptation) but later bud‐burst decreases the risk of frost damage to actively growing parts (survival adaptation). The optimum trade‐off between these two forms of adaptation may be considered an evolutionarily stable strategy that maximizes the long‐term ecological fitness of a phenotype under a given climate. Rapid changes in climate, as predicted for this century, are likely to exceed the rate at which trees and shrubs can adapt through evolution or migration. Therefore the response of spring phenology will depend not only on future climatic conditions but also on the limits imposed by adaptation to current and historical climate. Using a dataset of bud‐burst dates from twenty‐nine sites in Finland for downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.), we parameterize a simple thermal time bud‐burst model in which the critical temperature threshold for bud‐burst is a function of recent historical climatic conditions and reflects a trade‐off between capacity and survival adaptation. We validate this approach with independent data from eight independent sites outside Finland, and use the parameterized model to predict the response of bud‐burst to future climate scenarios in north‐west Europe. Current strategies for budburst are predicted to be suboptimal for future climates, with bud‐burst generally occurring earlier than the optimal strategy. Nevertheless, exposure to frost risk is predicted to decrease slightly and the growing season is predicted to increase considerably across most of the region. However, in high‐altitude maritime regions exposure to frost risk following bud‐burst is predicted to increase.
Production and oxidation of methane in a boreal mire after a decade of increased temperature and nitrogen and sulfur deposition
Authors: ERIKSSON TOBIAS , ÖQUIST MATS G. , NILSSON MATS B. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractNatural wetlands are the single largest source of atmospheric methane (CH4). Both a changed climate and deposition of anthropogenic nitrogen and sulfur can alter the production and oxidation of CH4 respectively and thereby also CH4 exchange. We used a long‐term (12 years) factorial field experiment in a boreal oligotrophic mire to evaluate the effects of greenhouse cover and addition of ammonium nitrate and sodium sulfate on the production and oxidation of CH4 by applying laboratory incubations of samples from five depths in the mire. The rates of CH4 production were measured without amendments and after the addition of either glucose or sulfate. Twelve years of increased nitrogen deposition has changed the mire from a Sphagnum‐dominated plant community to one dominated by sedges and dwarf shrubs. The deposition of nitrogen to the field plots caused increased production of CH4 in incubations without amendments (34%), and also after amendments with glucose (40%) or sulfate (42%). This indicates increased substrate availability (without amendments) but also a greater abundance of methanogens (glucose amendment). The greenhouse cover caused a decrease in CH4 production in incubations without amendments (34%), after glucose amendment (20%) and after sulfate amendment (31%). These responses indicate decreased substrate availability (without amendment) accompanied by the reduced abundance of methanogens (glucose amendment). The field application of sulfur had no effect on CH4 production at the depth where maximal CH4 production occurred. Closer to the mire surface, however, the rate of CH4 production was significantly reduced by 32–45%. These results suggest that the deposition of sulfate has altered the vertical distribution of methanogens and sulfate‐reducing bacteria. The oxidation of CH4 was not significantly affected by any of the long‐term field treatments.
Sugar sweet springtails: on the transcriptional response ofFolsomia candida(Collembola) to desiccation stress
Authors: Timmermans M. J. T. N. , Roelofs D. , Nota B. , Ylstra B. , Holmstrup M. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractSeveral species of Collembola survive stressful desiccating conditions by absorbing water vapour from the environment. To obtain insight into the transcriptomic responses underlying this ‘water vapour absorption’ mechanism we subjectedFolsomia candida(Collembola) to transcriptome profiling. We show that ecologically relevant desiccation stress leads to strong time‐dependent transcriptomic changes. Exposure ofF. candidato 98.2% relative humidity over an interval of 174 h resulted in a high number of gene transcripts being differentially expressed (up to 41%;P‐value < 0.05). Additional Gene Ontology analyses suggest that carbohydrate transport, sugar catabolism and cuticle maintenance are biological processes involved in combating desiccation. However, many additional pathways seem to be affected; additional experiments are needed to elucidate which responses are primarily linked to desiccation resistance.
A context‐aware ubiquitous learning environment for language listening and speaking
Authors: Liu T.‐Y. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThis paper reported the results of a study that aimed to construct a sensor and handheld augmented reality (AR)‐supported ubiquitous learning (u‐learning) environment called the Handheld English Language Learning Organization (HELLO), which is geared towards enhancing students' language learning. The HELLO integrates sensors, AR, ubiquitous computing and information technologies. It is composed of two subsystems: an English learning management system and a u‐learning tool. In order to evaluate the effects of the proposed learning environment on the learning performance of students, a case study on English learning was conducted on a school campus. The participants included high school teachers and students. A learning course entitled ‘My Campus’ was conducted in the class; it included three activities, namely ‘Campus Environment’, ‘Campus Life’ and ‘Campus Story’. The evaluation results showed that the proposed HELLO and the learning activities could improve the students' English listening and speaking skills.
Spatial genetic structure in continuous and fragmented populations of Pinus pinaster Aiton
Authors: DE‐LUCAS A. I. , GONZÁLEZ‐MARTÍNEZ S. C. , VENDRAMIN G. G. , HIDALGO E. , HEUERTZ M. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractHabitat fragmentation, i.e., the reduction of populations into small isolated remnants, is expected to increase spatial genetic structure (SGS) in plant populations through nonrandom mating, lower population densities and potential aggregation of reproductive individuals. We investigated the effects of population size reduction and genetic isolation on SGS in maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton) using a combined experimental and simulation approach. Maritime pine is a wind‐pollinated conifer which has a scattered distribution in the Iberian Peninsula as a result of forest fires and habitat fragmentation. Five highly polymorphic nuclear microsatellites were genotyped in a total of 394 individuals from two population pairs from the Iberian Peninsula, formed by one continuous and one fragmented population each. In agreement with predictions, SGS was significant and stronger in fragments (Sp = 0.020 and Sp = 0.026) than in continuous populations, where significant SGS was detected for one population only (Sp = 0.010). Simulations suggested that under fat‐tailed dispersal, small population size is a stronger determinant of SGS than genetic isolation, while under normal dispersal, genetic isolation has a stronger effect. SGS was always stronger in real populations than in simulations, except if unrealistically narrow dispersal and/or high variance of reproductive success were modelled (even when accounting for potential overestimation of SGS in real populations as a result of short‐distance sampling). This suggests that factors such as nonrandom mating or selection not considered in the simulations were additionally operating on SGS in Iberian maritime pine populations.
Genetic and biochemical analysis of the serine/threonine protein kinases PknA, PknB, PknG and PknL of Corynebacterium glutamicum: evidence for non‐essentiality and for phosphorylation of OdhI and FtsZ by multiple kinases
Authors: Schultz Christian , Niebisch Axel , Schwaiger Astrid , Viets Ulrike , Metzger Sabine , Bramkamp Marc , Bott Michael 
Published: September 2009

SummaryWe previously showed that the 2‐oxoglutarate dehydrogenase inhibitor protein OdhI of Corynebacterium glutamicum is phosphorylated by PknG at Thr14, but that also additional serine/threonine protein kinases (STPKs) can phosphorylate OdhI. To identify these, a set of three single (ΔpknA, ΔpknB, ΔpknL), five double (ΔpknAG, ΔpknAL, ΔpknBG, ΔpknBL, ΔpknLG) and two triple deletion mutants (ΔpknALG, ΔpknBLG) were constructed. The existence of these mutants shows that PknA, PknB, PknG and PknL are not essential in C. glutamicum. Analysis of the OdhI phosphorylation status in the mutant strains revealed that all four STPKs can contribute to OdhI phosphorylation, with PknG being the most important one. Only mutants in which pknG was deleted showed a strong growth inhibition on agar plates containing glutamine as carbon and nitrogen source. Thr14 and Thr15 of OdhI were shown to be phosphorylated in vivo, either individually or simultaneously, and evidence for up to two additional phosphorylation sites was obtained. Dephosphorylation of OdhI was shown to be catalysed by the phospho‐Ser/Thr protein phosphatase Ppp. Besides OdhI, the cell division protein FtsZ was identified as substrate of PknA, PknB and PknL and of the phosphatase Ppp, suggesting a role of these proteins in cell division.
Paralogous antirepressors acting on the master regulator for biofilm formation in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Chai Yunrong , Kolter Roberto , Losick Richard 
Published: September 2009

SummaryMatrix production during biofilm formation by Bacillus subtilis is governed by a gene control circuit at the heart of which are three dedicated regulatory proteins, the antirepressor SinI, the repressor SinR and the downstream regulator SlrR. Matrix production is triggered by the synthesis of SinI, which binds to and inactivates SinR, thereby derepressing genes for matrix production as well as the gene for SlrR. Recently, two additional regulators of matrix genes were identified: SlrA, which was reported to be an activator of SlrR, and YwcC, a repressor of SlrA synthesis (Kobayashi, 2008). We present evidence indicating that SlrA, which is a paralogue of SinI, is like SinI, an antirepressor that binds to, and inactivates, SinR. We also show that SlrA does not activate SlrR for expression of matrix genes. Instead, SlrR binds to, and inhibits the activity of, SlrA. Thus, the YwcC‐SlrA‐SinR‐SlrR pathway is a negative feedback loop in which SlrA indirectly stimulates the synthesis of SlrR, and SlrR, in turn, inhibits the activity of SlrA. Finally, we report that under standard laboratory conditions SlrA makes only a small contribution to the expression of genes for matrix production. We propose that in response to an unknown signal recognized by the YwcC repressor, SlrA transiently boosts matrix production.
Lactobacillus reuteri ingestion and IKCa channel blockade have similar effects on rat colon motility and myenteric neurones
Authors: Wang B. , Mao Y.‐k. , Diorio C. , Wang L. , Huizinga J. D. , Bienenstock J. , Kunze W. 
Published: September 2009

Abstract  Background  We have previously shown that ingestion of Lactobacillus reuteri may modulate colonic enteric neuron activity but with unknown effects on colon motility. The aim of the present report was to elucidate the neuronal mechanisms of action of the probiotic by comparing the effects on motility of L. reuteri ingestion with blockade of a specific ionic current in enteric neurons.Methods  We have used intraluminal pressure recordings from ex vivo rat colon segments and whole cell patch clamp recordings from neurons of rat longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus preparations to investigate the effects of L. reuteri and TRAM‐34 on colon motility and neurophysiology. The effects of daily feeding of 109L. reuteri bacteria or acute application of TRAM‐34 on threshold fluid filling pressure or pulse pressure was measured.Key Results  Lactobacillus reuteri increased intraluminal fluid filling pressure thresholds for evoking pressure pulses by 51% from 0.47 ± 0.17 hPa; the probiotic also decreased the pulse pressure amplitudes, but not frequency, by 18% from 3.91 ± 0.52 hPa. The intermediate conductance calcium‐dependent potassium (IKCa) channel blocker TRAM‐34 (3 μmol L−1) increased filling threshold pressure by 43% from 0.52 ± 0.22 hPa and reduced pulse pressure amplitude by 40% from 2.63 ± 1.11 hPa; contraction frequency was unaltered. TRAM‐34 (3 μmol L−1) reduced membrane polarization, leak conductance and the slow afterhyperpolarization current in 16/16 myenteric rat colon AH cells but 19/19 S cells were unaffected.Conclusions & Inferences  The present results are consistent with L. reuteri enhancing tonic inhibition of colon contractile activity by acting via the IKCa channel current in AH cells.
A bioinformatics approach to ascertaining the rarity of HLA alleles
Authors: Middleton D. , Gonzalez F. , Fernandez‐Vina M. , Tiercy J.‐M. , Marsh S. G. E. , Aubrey M. , Bicalho M. G. , Canossi A. , Carter V. , Cate S. , Guerini F. R. , Loiseau P. , Martinetti M. , Moraes M. E. , Morales V. , Perasaari J. , Setterholm M. , Sprague M. , Tavoularis S. , Torres M. , Vidal S. , Witt C. , Wohlwend G. , Yang K. L. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractA project of the 15th International Histocompatibility Workshop examined the rarity of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles. A section was constructed in the website, www.allelefrequencies.net to contain this data from different sources. A mechanism to search the data was implemented for use by any individual.