bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The illustrated life cycle ofMicrobotryumon the host plantSilene latifolia
Authors: Schäfer Angela Maria , Kemler Martin , Bauer Robert , Begerow Dominik 
Published: October 2010

The plant-parasitic genus Microbotryum (Pucciniomycotina) has been used as a model for various biological studies, but fundamental aspects of its life history have not been documented in detail. The smut fungus is characterized by a dimorphic life cycle with a haploid saprophytic yeast-like stage and a dikaryotic plant-parasitic stage, which bears the teliospores as dispersal agents. In this study, seedlings and flowers of Silene latifolia Poir. (Caryophyllaceae) were inoculated with teliospores or sporidial cells of Microbotryum lychnidis-dioicae (DC. ex Liro) G. Deml & Oberw. and the germination of teliospores, the infection process, and the proliferation in the host tissue were documented in vivo using light and electron microscopy. Although germination of the teliospore is crucial for the establishment of Microbotryum, basidium development is variable under natural conditions. In flowers, where the amount of nutrients is thought to be high, the fungus propagates as sporidia, and mating of compatible cells takes place only when flowers are withering and nutrients are decreasing. On cotyledons (i.e., nutrient-depleted conditions), conjugation occurs shortly after teliospore germination, often via intrapromycelial mating. After formation of an infectious hypha with an appressorium, the invasion of the host occurs by direct penetration of the epidermis. While the growth in the plant is typically intercellular, long distance proliferation seems mediated through xylem tracheary elements. At the beginning of the vegetation period, fungal cells were found between meristematic shoot host cells, indicating a dormant phase inside the plant. By using different microscopy techniques, many life stages of Microbotryum are illustrated for the first time, thereby allowing new interpretations of laboratory data.
Large effective population size and temporal genetic stability in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence
Authors: Therkildsen Nina Overgaard , Nielsen Einar Eg , Swain Douglas P. , Pedersen Jes Søe 
Published: October 2010

Worldwide, many commercial fish stocks have experienced dramatic declines due to overfishing. Such fisheries-induced population reductions could potentially erode the genetic diversity of marine fish populations. Based on analyses of DNA extracted from archived and contemporary samples, this paper compares the genetic variability at nine microsatellite loci in a Canadian population of Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ) over 80 years, spanning from before the fishery intensified to now when the population is at historically low abundance. Extensively validated genetic data from the temporally spaced samples were used to estimate the effective population size. Over the period, we observed no loss of either heterozygosity or allelic diversity. Several of the estimation methods applied could not distinguish the effective population size from infinity, and the lower 95% confidence limit on estimates was generally >500, suggesting that the effective population size is probably considerably larger than this. Hence, it appears that the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence cod stock has maintained genetic variability to sustain future evolution despite a dramatic population decline.
Coptotermes gestroi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Brazil: possible origins inferred by mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II gene sequences
Authors: Martins C. , Fontes L. R. , Bueno O. C. , Martins V. G. 
Published: October 2010

The Asian subterranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi , originally from northeast India through Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Indonesian archipelago, is a major termite pest introduced in several countries around the world, including Brazil. We sequenced the mitochondrial COII gene from individuals representing 23 populations. Phylogenetic analysis of COII gene sequences from this and other studies resulted in two main groups: (1) populations of Cleveland (USA) and four populations of Malaysia and (2) populations of Brazil, four populations of Malaysia, and one population from each of Thailand, Puerto Rico, and Key West (USA). Three new localities are reported here, considerably enlarging the distribution of C. gestroi in Brazil: Campo Grande (state of Mato Grosso do Sul), Itajaí (state of Santa Catarina), and Porto Alegre (state of Rio Grande do Sul).
Construction of a Coix BAC library and isolation of the 22 kDa α-coixin gene cluster
Authors: Meng Xiangzong , Huang Binbin , Zhou Liangliang , He Yunxia , Chen Qi , Yuan Yiwei , Xu Zhengkai , Song Rentao 
Published: October 2010

Coix lacryma-jobi L. (Coix) is a close relative of maize and is considered a valuable genetic resource for crop improvement. Here we report the construction of the first Coix bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library using accession PI 324059. This BAC library contains about 230 400 clones with an average insert size of 113 kb, has low organellar DNA contamination, and provides 16.3-fold coverage of the genome. The library was stored in 12 × 96 pools that could be screened with a PCR protocol. Library screening was performed for the 22 kDa α-coixin gene family. A total of 57 positive pools were identified, and single clones were isolated from 19 of these pools. Based on DNA fingerprinting and Southern blot analysis, these 19 BAC clones form a single contig of about 340 kb in length, indicating that the 22 kDa α-coixin genes occur in a cluster. These results demonstrated the suitability of this BAC library for gene isolation and comparative genomics studies of the Coix genome.
Mapping of quantitative trait loci for fire blight resistance in the apple cultivars ‘Florina’ and ‘Nova Easygro’
Authors: Le Roux P.-M. F. , Khan M. A. , Broggini G. A.L. , Duffy B. , Gessler C. , Patocchi A. 
Published: October 2010

Fire blight is a devastating bacterial disease of rosaceous plants. Its damage to apple production is a major concern, since no existing control option has proven to be completely effective. Some commercial apple varieties, such as ‘Florina’ and ‘Nova Easygro’, exhibit a consistent level of resistance to fire blight. In this study, we used an F1progeny of ‘Florina’ × ‘Nova Easygro’ to build parental genetic maps and identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to fire blight resistance. Linkage maps were constructed using a set of microsatellites and enriched with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. In parallel, progeny plants were artificially inoculated with Erwinia amylovora strain CFBP 1430 in a quarantine glasshouse. Shoot length measured 7 days after inoculation (DAI) and lesion length measured 7 and 14 DAI were used to calculate the lesion length as a percentage of the shoot length (PLL1 and PLL2, respectively). Percent lesion length data were log10-transformed (log10(PLL)) and used to perform the Kruskal–Wallis test, interval mapping (IM), and multiple QTL mapping (MQM). Two significant fire blight resistance QTLs were detected in ‘Florina’. One QTL was mapped on linkage group 10 by IM and MQM; it explained 17.9% and 15.3% of the phenotypic variation by MQM with log10(PLL1) and log10(PLL2) data, respectively. A second QTL was identified on linkage group 5 by MQM with log10(PLL2) data; it explained 10.1% of the phenotypic variation. Genotyping the plants of ‘Florina’ pedigree with the microsatellites flanking the QTLs showed that the QTLs on linkage groups 5 and 10 were inherited from ‘Jonathan’ and ‘Starking’ (a ‘Red Delicious’ sport mutation), respectively. Other putative QTLs (defined as QTLs with LOD scores above the chromosomal threshold and below the genome-wide threshold) were detected by IM on linkage groups 5 and 9 of ‘Nova Easygro’.
Trends in matrix metalloproteinase research from 1986–2007: a bibliometric study
Authors: Robert Claude , Wilson Concepción S. , Gaudy Jean-François , Hornebeck William , Arreto Charles-Daniel 
Published: October 2010

Using the SCI-expanded database, this study provides a quantitative description of the development of the research involving matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) over a period of 20 years. From 1986 to 2007 the scientific literature related to MMP increased sevenfold (397 papers in 1986–1987 and 2834 in 2006–2007). The number of countries participating in MMP-related research doubled during this period (33 in 1986–1987 to 67 in 2006–2007), and the USA continually remained the leader. Several industrialized nations (Japan, Germany, UK, Canada, and France) also continuously played important roles, with some emerging Asian countries joining the top 10 most productive countries in 2006–2007: China (ranked 5th), South Korea (6th), and Taiwan (10th). The MMP-related literature was distributed among a continuously growing number of journals (188 in 1986–1987, 527 in 1996–1997, and 913 in 2006–2007) and The Journal of Biological Chemistry remained the most prolific throughout the entire period. The development of the research involving MMPs during the past two decades was also characterized by a progressive transfer of interest from basic research to clinical medicine; cell biology and pharmacology were important routes of investigation generally pursued by researchers. Journals dedicated to oncology have progressively risen to the top 8 most prolific journals during the 20 year period analyzed.
Keratinolytic activity from new recombinant fusant AYA2000, derived from endophyticMicromonosporastrains
Authors: El-Bondkly Ahmed M. , El-Gendy Mervat M.A. 
Published: October 2010

Two different endophytic strains, ESRAA1997 and ALAA2000, were isolated from the Egyptian herbal plant Anastatica hierochuntica . The 2 strains produced alkaline serine protease and were identified based on their phenotypic and chemotypic characteristics as different strains of Micromonospora spp. Both strains grew and produced keratinase, using different keratinous waste substances as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. In our study, the activity and properties of keratinase enzymes of the wild strains ESRAA1997 and ALAA2000 were altered by genetic recombination through protoplast fusion between them, leading to a potent keratinolytic fusant Micromonospora strain AYA2000 with improved properties (activity, stability, specificity, and tolerance to inhibitors). Using a mixture of yeast extract, peptone, and malt extract as a supplement to the bovine hair medium increased keratinase production by 48%, and addition of 1% glucose suppressed enzyme production by Micromonospora strain AYA2000. The enzyme was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and DEAE–cellulose chromatography followed by gel filtration. The molecular weight, estimated using SDS–PAGE, was 39 kDa. The enzyme exhibited remarkable activity towards all keratinous wastes used and could also adapt to a broad range of pH and temperatures, with optima at pH 11 and 60 °C. The enzyme was not influenced by chelating reagents, metal ions, or alcohols. These properties make AYA2000 keratinase an ideal candidate for biotechnological application.
Maximum growth potential in loblolly pine: results from a 47-year-old spacing study in Hawaii
Authors: Samuelson Lisa J. , Eberhardt Thomas L. , Butnor John R. , Stokes Tom A. , Johnsen Kurt H. 
Published: October 2010

Growth, allocation to woody root biomass, wood properties, leaf physiology, and shoot morphology were examined in a 47-year-old loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) density trial located in Maui, Hawaii, to determine if stands continued to carry the high density, basal area, and volume reported at younger ages and to identify potential factors controlling expression of maximum growth potential. Basal area and volume were similar among spacings (square: 1.8, 2.4, 3.0, and 3.7 m) and averaged 93 m2·ha–1 and 1076 m3·ha–1, respectively, and were double the maxima reported for loblolly pine in its native range. Spacing had a significant influence on density, quadratic mean diameter, and height. Ring-specific gravity and percent latewood were similar among spacing treatments but values were high compared to mainland stands. Leaf light-saturated net photosynthesis, dark respiration, stomatal conductance, and quantum yield were comparable with values reported for loblolly pine in its native range. Foliar calcium concentrations, specific leaf area, and flush number were high in the Hawaii study. Higher carrying capacity in Hawaii may be related to a more favorable climate conducive to year-round leaf carbon gain, high nutrient availability, increased flushing, and less allocation to belowground mass.
Nitrate stimulates root suckering in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Authors: Landhäusser Simon M. , Wan Xianchong , Lieffers Victor J. , Chow Pak S. 
Published: October 2010

In a greenhouse experiment, we tested whether the initiation, density, and growth of trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) root suckers are related to postdisturbance soil nutrient availability. After decapitation of functional 2-year-old aspen root systems, nutrient solutions adjusted for various concentrations and forms of mineral N, different concentrations of Ca2+, K+, or PO43–, and different pH were applied to the roots and their suckering response was assessed after 35 days. Root systems treated with NO3– at concentrations of 1.5 and 7.5 mmol/L produced nearly double the sucker density compared with an unfertilized control, while fertilizing with N in the form of NH4+ did not affect sucker numbers, regardless of concentrations. The best growth of suckers was achieved with a mixture of 15 mmol/L NO3– + NH4+whereas the lowest growth was observed with 15 mmol/L NH4+. Neither Ca2+, K+, and PO43– nor the pH tested in this study impacted sucker density or growth. This has implications for understanding the impacts of disturbance on forest succession and the subsequent regeneration of aspen stands. The results suggest that the amount of nitrification, depending on the type and severity of disturbances, will influence the regeneration density of aspen.
In vitro myometrial inhibition by the partitioned aqueous fraction ofAnthocleista djalonensisleaves
Authors: Bafor Enitome Evi , Okunrobo Lucky Osaro 
Published: October 2010

This study investigated the effect on the uterus of the aqueous fraction of the partitioned methanol crude extract of the leaves of Anthocleista djalonensis (AD) and the possible mechanism of AD activity. AD inhibited the concentration–response curves induced by oxytocin and CaCl2on the rat uterus in vitro and significantly reduced the EC50in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.05). A similar effect was observed with salbutamol and verapamil on the concentration–response curves obtained for oxytocin and CaCl2. The inhibitory effect of AD was not attenuated in the presence of propranolol. AD, salbutamol, and verapamil also produced a concentration-dependent relaxation on K+-induced sustained uterine contraction. In Ca2+-free medium, AD and salbutamol similarly inhibited oxytocin-induced contraction, but verapamil failed to produce this effect. The present results suggest that AD, being a mixture of phytochemicals, probably exerts inhibitory activity on in vitro uterine contractions of the nonpregnant, diethylstilboestrol-treated rat by multiple mechanisms that do not involve interaction with β-adrenergic receptors and do not solely depend on inhibition of calcium influx.
Effects of proanthocyanidins from grape seed on treatment of recurrent ulcerative colitis in rats
Authors: Wang Yan-Hong , Yang Xiao-Lai , Wang Li , Cui Ming-Xia , Cai Yong-Qing , Li Xiao-Li , Wu Yong-Jie 
Published: October 2010

The aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of proanthocyanidins from grape seed (GSPE) in the treatment of recurrent ulcerative colitis (UC) in rats. To induce recurrent colitis, rats were instilled with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) (80 mg/kg) into the colon through the cannula in the first induced phase, and then the rats were instilled a second time with TNBS (30 mg/kg) into the colon on the sixteenth day after the first induction UC. Rats were intragastrically administered GSPE (200 mg/kg) per day for 7 days after twice-induced colitis by TNBS. Sulfasalazine at 500 mg/kg was used as a positive control drug. Rats were killed 7 days after GSPE treatment. The colonic injury and inflammation were assessed by macroscopic and macroscopic damage scores, colon weight/length ratio (mg/cm), and myeloperoxidase activity. Then, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activities, and the levels of malonyldialdehyde, glutathione, and nitric oxide in serum and colonic tissues were measured. Compared with the recurrent UC group, GSPE treatment facilitated recovery of pathologic changes in the colon after induction of recurrent colitis, as demonstrated by reduced colonic weight/length ratio and macroscopic and microscopic damage scores. The myeloperoxidase and iNOS activities with malonyldialdehyde and nitric oxide levels in serum and colon tissues of colitis rats were significantly decreased in the GSPE group compared with those in the recurrent UC group. In addition, GSPE treatment was associated with notably increased superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activities, and glutathione levels of colon tissues and serum of rats. GSPE exerted a protective effect on recurrent colitis in rats by modifying the inflammatory response, inhibiting inflammatory cell infiltration and antioxidation damage, promoting damaged tissue repair to improve colonic oxidative stress, and inhibiting colonic iNOS activity to reduce the production of nitric oxide.
Scaffolds in tissue engineering of blood vessels
Authors: Pankajakshan Divya , Agrawal Devendra K. 
Published: October 2010

Tissue engineering of small diameter (<5 mm) blood vessels is a promising approach for developing viable alternatives to autologous vascular grafts. It involves in vitro seeding of cells onto a scaffold on which the cells attach, proliferate, and differentiate while secreting the components of extracellular matrix that are required for creating the tissue. The scaffold should provide the initial requisite mechanical strength to withstand in vivo hemodynamic forces until vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts reinforce the extracellular matrix of the vessel wall. Hence, the choice of scaffold is crucial for providing guidance cues to the cells to behave in the required manner to produce tissues and organs of the desired shape and size. Several types of scaffolds have been used for the reconstruction of blood vessels. They can be broadly classified as biological scaffolds, decellularized matrices, and polymeric biodegradable scaffolds. This review focuses on the different types of scaffolds that have been designed, developed, and tested for tissue engineering of blood vessels, including use of stem cells in vascular tissue engineering.
Coping with human disturbance: spatial and temporal tactics of the brown bear (Ursus arctos)
Authors: Martin Jodie , Basille Mathieu , Van Moorter Bram , Kindberg Jonas , Allainé Dominique , Swenson Jon E. 
Published: October 2010

In human-dominated landscapes, species with large spatial requirements, such as large carnivores, have to deal with human infrastructure and activities within their home ranges. This is the case for the brown bear ( Ursus arctos L., 1758) in Scandinavia, which is colonizing more human-dominated landscapes, leading inevitably to an overlap between their home ranges and anthropogenic structures. In this study, we investigated fine-scale habitat selection by brown bears to examine how they deal with this potential disturbance. Using Global Positioning System (GPS) data, we studied (i) habitat selection of female brown bears within their home range and (ii) the influence of diurnal variation in human disturbance on fine-scale habitat use. As expected, females selected habitats within their home range that provided abundant food resources and minimized human-caused disturbance. In addition, our temporal analysis of habitat selection revealed an avoidance of disturbed areas and a selection of slopes by bears during periods of highest human activities, i.e., during daylight hours. We clearly demonstrate the importance of considering the fluctuations in human activity when studying habitat selection, especially at fine spatial scales. Failing to do so may considerably reduce the power to detect important fine-scale habitat-selection behaviors.
An investigation of yolk-protein localization in the testes of the starfish Pisaster ochraceus
Authors: Reunov Arkadiy A. , Crawford Bruce J. , Reunova Yulia A. 
Published: October 2010

The distribution of the yolk epitope, PY4F8, was studied in the testes of the starfish Pisaster ochraceus (Brandt, 1835). Western blots have revealed that testes only show one 180 kDa band, whereas ovaries exhibit four PY4F8 bands at 90, 110, 120, and 180 kDa. This finding suggests that male yolk is less complex than female yolk. It was shown that PY4F8-positive material abounds in the hemal sinus of testes. Moreover, this epitope was found in the basal lamina, in the lumen of the testes, and in the cytoplasm of auxiliary and spermatogenic cells. It is likely that a hemal testis barrier is absent in P. ochraceus, and this lack allows direct penetration of nutrition to sustain metabolism of both spermatogenic and auxiliary cells. Morphologically, this penetration is possible through the gaps between adjacent auxiliary cell bases. Yolk granules containing the PY4F8 epitope are located in spermatogonia and spermatocytes, but not in spermatids and sperm. Therefore, yolk may play an important role in early spermatogenesis, but it does not participate at the final stage of sperm formation.
Weak Convergence Theorems for a Countable Family of Strict Pseudocontractions in Banach Spaces
Authors: Cholamjiak Prasit , Suantai Suthep 
Published: October 2010

AbstractWe investigate the convergence of Mann-type iterative scheme for a countable family of strict pseudocontractions in a uniformly convex Banach space with the Fréchet differentiable norm. Our results improve and extend the results obtained by Marino-Xu, Zhou, Osilike-Udomene, Zhang-Guo and the corresponding results. We also point out that the condition given by Chidume-Shahzad (2010) is not satisfied in a real Hilbert space. We show that their results still are true under a new condition.