bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of evodiamine and rutaecarpine on the secretion of corticosterone by Zona fasciculata‐reticularis cells in male rats
Authors: Yu Po‐Ling , Chao Hsu‐Li , Wang Shyi‐Wu , Wang Paulus S. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractEvodiamine (EVO) and rutaecarpine (RUT) are two bioactive alkaloid isolated from Chinese herb named Wu–Chu–Yu. Previous studies have shown that EVO and RUT possess thermoregulation, vascular regulation, anti‐allergic, anti‐nociceptive and anti‐inflammatory activities. The mechanisms of EVO and RUT effect on steroidogenesis are not clear. The goal of this study was to characterize the mechanism by which EVO and RUT affect corticosterone production in rat zona fasciculata‐reticularis (ZFR) cells. ZFR cells were isolated from adrenal glands of male rats and incubated with adrenalcorticotropin (ACTH, 10−9 M), forskolin (an adenylyl cyclase activator, 10−5 M), 8‐bromo‐adenosine 3′:5′‐cyclic monophosphate (8‐Br‐cAMP, a permeable cAMP analog, 10−4 M), or steroidogenic precursors including 25‐hydroxycholesterol, pregnenolone, progesterone, and deoxycorticosterone, 10−5 M each, in the presence or absence of EVO and RUT respectively (0–10−3 M) at 37°C for 1 h. The concentrations of corticosterone, pregnenolone and progesterone in the media were measured by radioimmunoassay. After administration of ZFR cells with EVO or RUT (10−4 M) for 60 and 120 min, Western blot analysis was employed to explore the influence of EVO and RUT on the expression of cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). EVO and RUT reduced both basal and ACTH‐, forskolin‐, as well as 8‐Br‐cAMP‐stimulated corticosterone production in rat ZFR cells. The enhanced corticosterone production caused by the administration of four steroidogenic precursors was decreased following EVO or RUT challenge. These results suggest that EVO and RUT inhibit corticosterone production in rat ZFR cells via a mechanism involving: (1) a decreased activity of cAMP‐related pathways; (2) a decreased activity of the steroidogenic enzymes, that is, 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β‐HSD) and 11β‐hydroxylase (P450c11), during steroidogenesis; and (3) an inhibition of StAR protein expression. J. Cell. Biochem. 108: 469–475, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A role for SSRP1 in recombination‐mediated DNA damage response
Authors: Kumari Anuradha , Mazina Olga M. , Shinde Ujwal , Mazin Alexander V. , Lu Hua 
Published: July 2009

AbstractA possible role for structure‐specific recognition protein 1 (SSRP1) in replication‐associated repair processes has previously been suggested based on its interaction with several DNA repair factors and the replication defects observed in SSRP1 mutants. In this study, we investigated the potential role of SSRP1 in association with DNA repair mediated by homologous recombination (HR), one of the pathways involved in repairing replication‐associated DNA damage, in mammalian cells. Surprisingly, over‐expression of SSRP1 reduced the number of hprt+ recombinants generated via HR both spontaneously and upon hydroxyurea (HU) treatment, whereas knockdown of SSRP1 resulted in an increase of HR events in response to DNA double‐strand break formation. In correlation, we found that the depletion of SSRP1 in HU‐treated human cells elevated the number of Rad51 and H2AX foci, while over‐expression of the wild‐type SSRP1 markedly reduced HU‐induced Rad51 foci formation. We also found that SSRP1 physically interacts with a key HR repair protein, Rad54 both in vitro and in vivo. Further, branch migration studies demonstrated that SSRP1 inhibits Rad54‐promoted branch migration of Holliday junctions in vitro. Taken together, our data suggest a functional role for SSRP1 in spontaneous and replication‐associated DNA damage response by suppressing avoidable HR repair events. J. Cell. Biochem. 108: 508–518, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rapamycin impairs trabecular bone acquisition from high‐dose but not low‐dose intermittent parathyroid hormone treatment
Authors: Niziolek P.J. , Murthy S. , Ellis S.N. , Sukhija K.B. , Hornberger T.A. , Turner C.H. , Robling A.G. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe osteo‐anabolic effects of intermittent parathyroid hormone (PTH) treatment require insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) signaling through the IGF‐I receptor. A major downstream target of the IGF‐I receptor (via Akt) is the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a kinase involved in protein synthesis. We investigated whether the bone‐building effects of intermittent PTH require functional mTOR signaling. Mice were treated with daily PTH 1–34 (0, 10, 30, or 90 µg/kg) for 6 weeks in the presence or absence of rapamycin, a selective inhibitor of mTOR. We found that all PTH doses were effective in enhancing bone mass, whether rapamycin was present or not. Rapamycin had little to no effect on the anabolic response at low (10 µg) PTH doses, small effects in a minority of anabolic measures at moderate doses (30 µg), but the anabolic effects of high‐dose PTH (90 µg) were consistently and significantly suppressed by rapamycin (∼4–36% reduction). Serum levels of Trap5b, a marker of resorption, were significantly enhanced by rapamycin, but these effects were observed whether PTH was absent or present. Our data suggest that intermittent PTH, particularly at lower doses, is effective in building bone mass in the presence of rapamycin. However, the full anabolic effects of higher doses of PTH are significantly suppressed by rapamycin, suggesting that PTH might normally activate additional pathways (including mTOR) for its enhanced high‐dose anabolic effects. Clinical doses of intermittent PTH could be an effective treatment for maintaining or increasing bone mass among patients taking rapamycin analogs for unrelated health issues. J. Cell. Physiol. 221: 579–585, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Is there a role for thyroid hormone on spermatogenesis?
Authors: Wagner Marcia Santos , Wajner Simone Magagnin , Maia Ana Luiza 
Published: July 2009

AbstractAppropriate level of thyroid hormone is essential for normal development and metabolism in most vertebrate tissues and altered thyroid status impacts adversely on them. For many years the testis was regarded as a thyroid hormone unresponsive organ, but consistent evidence accumulated in the past two decades has definitively changed this classical view. Currently, the concept that thyroid hormone plays a critical role in testis development, in rats and other vertebrate species, is clearly established. Although the effects of thyroid hormone on Sertoli and Leydig cells in the immature testis are well described, its role on the adult organ remains controversial. In this review, we summarize and discuss the recent development on the thyroid hormone effects in immature and adult testes. Particularly, we have attempted to address the role of thyroid hormone in the regulation of spermatogenesis, emphasizing recent data that suggest its involvement in germ cells differentiation and survival. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The relationship of heart function to temperature in Drosophila melanogaster and its heritability
Authors: Jennings Tricia , Ringo John , Dowse Harold 
Published: July 2009

AbstractWe measured heart rate and rhythmicity (regularity) of heartbeat in Drosophila melanogaster at five different temperatures (20, 25, 30, 35, and 37°C) for a Florida population and estimated the narrow‐sense heritability of both traits. Heritability of heart rate ranged from 0.17 to 0.24, but was statistically significant only at 20° (h2=0.24) and at 30° (h2=0.23). The heritability of heartbeat rhythmicity ranged from –0.034 to 0.11, and was not significant at any temperature. Heart rate increased linearly with increasing temperature; the temperature‐dependence of heart rate was itself heritable (h2=0.29). Heart rhythmicity varied curvilinearly and was well‐represented by a parabolic function, peaking at about 27° which suggests a temperature optimum. The regularity of the heartbeat did not covary with heart rate except at 20°. Neither heart rate nor regularity covaried with the change in heart rate with temperature. For this population of D. melanogaster, we conclude that there is substantial genetic variation for the mechanism whereby the cardiac pacemaker reacts to changes in temperature, but not for the cardiac pacemaker's rhythmicity. The small values of h2 for temperature‐specific heart rate and heartbeat rhythmicity suggest that these traits have been subjected to natural selection. J. Exp. Zool. 311A: 689–696, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The anterior midgut of larval yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti): effects of amino acids, dicarboxylic acids, and glucose on the transepithelial voltage and strong luminal alkalinization
Authors: Izeirovski Sejmir , Moffett Stacia B. , Moffett David F. , Onken Horst 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIsolated anterior midguts of larval Aedes aegypti were bathed in aerated mosquito saline containing serotonin (0.2 µmol L−1) and perfused with NaCl (100 mmol L−1). The lumen negative transepithelial voltage (Vte) was measured and luminal alkalinization was determined through the color change of luminal m‐cresol purple from yellow to purple after luminal perfusion stops. Addition of 10 mmol L−1 amino acids (arginine, glutamine, histidine or proline) or dicarboxylic acids (malate or succinate) to the luminal perfusate resulted in more negative Vte values, whereas addition of glucose was without effect. In the presence of TRIS chloride as luminal perfusate, addition of nutrients did not change Vte. These results are consistent with Na+‐dependent absorption of amino acids and dicarboxylic acids. Effects of serotonin withdrawal indicated that nutrient absorption is stimulated by this hormone. Strong luminal alkalinization was observed with mosquito saline containing serotonin on the hemolymph‐side and 100 mmol L−1 NaCl in the lumen, indicating that alkalinization does not depend on luminal nutrients. Omission of glucose or dicarboxylic acids from the hemolymph‐side solution had no effect on luminal alkalinization, whereas omission of amino acids significantly decelerated it. Re‐addition of amino acids restored alkalinization, suggesting the involvement of amino acid metabolism in luminal alkalinization. J. Exp. Zool. 311A: 719–726, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A preliminary analysis of gene pleiotropy estimated from protein sequences
Authors: Su Zhixi , Zeng Yanwu , Gu Xun 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBiologists have long recognized the importance of gene pleiotropy, that is, single genes affect multiple traits, which is one of the most commonly observed attributes of genes. Yet the extent of gene pleiotropy has been seriously under‐explored. Theoretically, Fisher's model assumed a universal pleiotropy, that is, a mutation can potentially affect all phenotypic traits. On the other hand, experimental assays of a gene usually showed a few distinct phenotypes. Our recent work provides a new approach by estimating the degree of pleiotropy effectively from the phylogenetic sequence analysis. In this article, we estimated the effective gene pleiotropy for 321 vertebrate genes, and found that a gene typically affects 6–7 molecular phenotypes that correspond to the components of organismal fitness, respectively. The positive correlation of gene pleiotropy with the number of Gene Ontology biological processes, as well as the expression broadness provides a biological basis for the sequence‐based estimation of gene pleiotropy. On the other hand, the degree of gene pleiotropy has been restricted to a digital number of molecular phenotypes, indicating that some cautions are needed for theoretical analysis of gene pleiotropy based on the assumption of universal pleiotropy. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 314B:115–122, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The role of regulatory fit in visionary leadership
Authors: Stam Daan Alexander , van Knippenberg Daan , Wisse Barbara 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIt is generally argued that leader visions motivate followers by focusing on reaching desirable end‐states. However, it has also been suggested that visions may motivate followers by focusing on avoiding undesirable situations. In this paper we investigate the effects of appeals that focus on preventing an undesirable situation (i.e., prevention‐appeals) as well as appeals that focus on promoting a desirable situation (i.e., promotion‐appeals). We argue that the effectiveness of promotion‐ and prevention‐appeals is contingent on follower regulatory focus. In two experiments we show that prevention‐appeals lead to better performance than promotion‐appeals for more prevention‐focused followers, while the reverse is true for more promotion‐focused followers. We find this pattern for a dispositional measure of follower regulatory focus (Study 1) as well as for a manipulation of follower regulatory focus (Study 2). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does participative leadership enhance work performance by inducing empowerment or trust? The differential effects on managerial and non‐managerial subordinates
Authors: Huang Xu , Iun Joyce , Liu Aili , Gong Yaping 
Published: July 2009

AbstractWe examined whether participative leadership behavior is associated with improved work performance through a motivational process or an exchange‐based process. Based on data collected from 527 employees from a Fortune 500 company, we found that the link between superiors' participative leadership behaviors and subordinates' task performance and organizational citizenship behavior toward organizations (OCBO) was mediated by psychological empowerment (motivational mediator) for managerial subordinates. Yet, for non‐managerial subordinates such as supporting and front‐line employees, the impact of participative leadership on task performance and OCBO was mediated by trust‐in‐supervisor (exchange‐based mediator). Implications for theories and practices are discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative analysis of the long‐term variability of winter surface temperature in the Black and Aegean Seas during 1982–2004 associated with the large‐scale atmospheric forcing
Authors: Kazmin Alexander S. , Zatsepin Andrei G. , Kontoyiannis Harilaos 
Published: July 2009

AbstractSatellite and reanalysis data for the period 1982–2004 were used to study the long‐term variability of the winter‐mean sea surface temperature (SST) in the Black and Aegean Seas and its connection with the major atmospheric forcing: surface air temperature (SAT), surface wind and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and East Atlantic‐West Russia (EAWR) teleconnection patterns. In spite of some differences, the general tendencies of SST variability in both basins are similar. The major climatic event (i.e. SST decreases below the climatic mean followed by the sharp increase of SST, occurred during the period 1986–1999) and its connection with the atmospheric forcing are evident both in the Black and Aegean Seas. During the investigated period, the south‐western wind regime occurred over the Black Sea and the north‐eastern wind regime over the Aegean. It is shown that the variability of the meridional component of the surface wind (which provides the most of the atmospheric heat transport into the basins) is well correlated with the large‐scale atmospheric patterns (NAO and EAWR). The major difference is that in the Black Sea the NAO intensification/weakening results in the weakening/strengthening of the southern wind, whereas in the Aegean Sea EAWR/NAO intensification/weakening produce strengthening/weakening of the northern wind. The long‐term variability of the SST is well correlated with the variability of the SAT, which in turn is highly correlated with the meridional component of the surface wind. However, a remarkable feature is that in the Black Sea an increase/decrease of the SAT is associated with the strengthening/weakening of the southern wind. On the contrary, in the Aegean Sea, an increase/decrease of the SAT is associated with the weakening/strengthening of the northern wind. The simple basic scheme of influence of the large‐scale atmospheric forcing on the long‐term SST variability during the positive NAO and EAWR phase is proposed. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Plant‐compositional effects on surface runoff and sediment yield in subalpine grassland
Authors: Merz Andreas , Alewell Christine , Hiltbrunner Erika , Bänninger Dominik 
Published: July 2009

AbstractSoil erosion such as sheet erosion is frequently encountered in subalpine grassland in the Urseren Valley (Swiss Central Alps). Erosion damages have increased enormously in this region during the last 50 y, most likely due to changes in land‐use practices and due to the impact of climatic changes. In order to estimate the effect of vegetation characteristics on surface runoff and sediment loss, we irrigated 22 pasture plots of 1 m2 during 1 h at an intense rain rate of 50 mm h–1 in two field campaigns using a portable rain simulator. The rain‐simulation plots differed in plant composition (herb versus grass dominance) and land‐use intensity but not in plant cover (>90%) nor in soil conditions. Prior to the second rain‐simulation campaign, aboveground vegetation was clipped in order to simulate intense grazing. The generated surface runoffs, sediment loss, relative water retention in the aboveground vegetation, and changes in soil moisture were quantified. Runoff coefficient varied between 0.1% and 25%, and sediment loss ranged between 0 and 0.053 g m–2. Thus, high infiltration rates and full vegetation cover resulted in very low erosion rates even under such extreme rain events. Surface runoff did not differ significantly between herb‐ and grass‐dominated plots. However, clipping had a notable effect on surface runoff in the test plots under different land‐use intensity. In plots without or with intensive use, surface runoff decreased after clipping whereas in extensively used plots, surface runoff increased after the clipping. This opposite effect was mainly explained by higher necromass and litter presence at the extensively used plots after the clipping treatment. The results obtained here contribute to a better understanding of the importance of vegetation characteristics on surface‐runoff formation, thus, on soil‐erosion control. Overall, we delineate vegetation parameters to be crucial in soil‐erosion control which are directly modified by the land‐use management.
Soil‐phosphorus distribution and availability as affected by greenhouse subsurface irrigation
Authors: Wang Yaosheng , Zhang Yulong 
Published: July 2009

AbstractVertical distribution and plant availability of soil P under subsurface irrigation were investigated in a 5‐year tomato‐grown‐greenhouse experiment. Irrigation was applied when soil water condition reached the predefined maximum allowable depletion (MAD) for different treatments, e.g., –10 kPa, –16 kPa, –25 kPa, –40 kPa, and –63 kPa. Results show that P distribution with soil depth was significantly affected by irrigation schedules. The general trend is that concentrations of soil total P and inorganic P were greater in topsoil than in subsoil, whereas the concentrations of soil organic P were larger at the depths of 0–10 cm, 30–40 cm, and 40–60 cm than at other soil depths. Comparison of different irrigation schedules indicates that more soil organic P was retained in the soils under the MAD of –25 kPa, –40 kPa, and –63 kPa, implying that irrigation of relatively low frequency and large water quantity of each irrigation event favored the accumulation of organic P in soils. In addition, we found that the concentrations of plant‐available P decreased with soil depth and were largest under the MAD of –16 kPa and –25 kPa. This result suggests that irrigation of relatively high frequency and low water quantity of each irrigation event led to greater P availability for plant uptake. Overall, this study suggests that the transformation and plant availability of soil P can be manipulated, to some degree, by soil‐water management. Maximum allowable depletion controlled between –16 kPa and –25 kPa could result in high availability of soil P in clay‐textured soils.
Experimental and theoretical investigation of the apomorphine Raman spectrum
Authors: Lucotti A. , Casella M. , Tommasini M. , Gramatica F. , Di Fabrizio E. , Zerbi G. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractApomorphine (aporphine‐10,11‐diol, CA Registry Number 58004) is a non‐narcotic derivative of morphine discovered in 1869 by Mattheisen1 and it is a well‐known potent short‐acting dopamine agonist at D1 and D2 dopamine receptors, typically used in the treatment of patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). To identify the unknown vibrational spectrum of this compound, apomorphine bare salt and its commercial drug formulation (Apofin) were examined by means of Raman spectroscopy. In the Raman spectrum of apomorphine (both bare salt and commercial drug), two strong characteristic signals were found, which were assigned with the help of first‐principles calculations: the band at 1589 cm−1 (assigned to the stretching mode of the B aromatic ring coupled with CH in‐plane bending) and the band at 1302 cm−1 (assigned to O‐H in‐plane bending and CH2 twisting and wagging vibrations). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid separation of three glucosylated resveratrol analogues from the invasive plant Polygonum cuspidatum by high‐speed countercurrent chromatography
Authors: Fan Peihong , Marston Andrew , Hay Anne‐Emmanuelle , Hostettmann Kurt 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThree glucosylated resveratrol analogues (piceid, piceatannol glucoside, resveratroloside) were successfully isolated from the crude MeOH extract of the invasive plant species Polygonum cuspidatum by semi‐preparative high‐speed countercurrent chromatography with a two‐phase solvent system composed of cyclohexane‐ethyl acetate‐methanol‐water (1:5:1:5, v/v/v/v). Piceid (23 mg), resveratroloside (17 mg), piceatannol glucoside (15 mg) of purities over 80% were isolated from 500 mg crude MeOH extract in one step. Subsequent passage over a SPE column was used to quickly bring their purities to over 90%. The purities were determined by HPLC analysis and their structures were elucidated by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR), HMBC, ESI‐MS and HR‐MS.
Robustness of the co‐ion transfer ratio in capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Erny Guillaume L. , Esteves Valdemar I. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIn CE, indirect detection mode often exhibits a lower precision than its direct counterpart. Although various explanations have already been advanced, in this work, we aimed to investigate if this is due, in part, to problems of robustness of the co‐ion transfer ratio (TR), thus being inherent to this particular detection scheme. This was investigated using simulation software that allows an accurate control of various parameters and validated using acetic acid as a test compound. It was conclusively demonstrated that the TR could vary by more than 6% when the concentration of one of the ions in the BGE was changed by as few as 1%. The presence of a system peak seems to be particularly damaging as it has been shown that the TR of peaks whose mobilities differ by more than 0.5×10–8 m2 V–1 s–1 from one of the system peaks, still have a relatively low robustness.