bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CYP76M7 Is an ent-Cassadiene C11α-Hydroxylase Defining a Second Multifunctional Diterpenoid Biosynthetic Gene Cluster in Rice
Authors: Swaminathan Sivakumar , Morrone Dana , Wang Qiang , Fulton D. Bruce , Peters Reuben J. 
Published: October 2009

Abstract
Biosynthetic gene clusters are common in microbial organisms, but rare in plants, raising questions regarding the evolutionary forces that drive their assembly in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we characterize the biochemical function of a rice (Oryza sativa) cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, CYP76M7, which seems to act in the production of antifungal phytocassanes and defines a second diterpenoid biosynthetic gene cluster in rice. This cluster is uniquely multifunctional, containing enzymatic genes involved in the production of two distinct sets of phytoalexins, the antifungal phytocassanes and antibacterial oryzalides/oryzadiones, with the corresponding genes being subject to distinct transcriptional regulation. The lack of uniform coregulation of the genes within this multifunctional cluster suggests that this was not a primary driving force in its assembly. However, the cluster is dedicated to specialized metabolism, as all genes in the cluster are involved in phytoalexin metabolism. We hypothesize that this dedication to specialized metabolism led to the assembly of the corresponding biosynthetic gene cluster. Consistent with this hypothesis, molecular phylogenetic comparison demonstrates that the two rice diterpenoid biosynthetic gene clusters have undergone independent elaboration to their present-day forms, indicating continued evolutionary pressure for coclustering of enzymatic genes encoding components of related biosynthetic pathways.
The phylogenetic relationships of the charismatic poster frogs, Phyllomedusinae (Anura, Hylidae)
Authors: Faivovich Julián , Haddad Célio F. B. , Baêta Délio , Jungfer Karl‐Heinz , Álvares Guilherme F. R. , Brandão Reuber A. , Sheil Christopher , Barrientos Lucas S. , Barrio‐Amorós César L. , Cruz Carlos A. G. , Wheeler Ward C. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe leaf or monkey frogs of the hylid subfamily Phyllomedusinae are a unique group of charismatic anurans. We present a molecular phylogenetic analysis that includes 45 of the 60 species of phyllomedusines using up to 12 genes and intervening tRNAs. The aims were to gain a better understanding of the phylogenetic position ofPhrynomedusa, test the monophyly and explore the relationships among several putative lineages (Hylomantis, theH. buckleyiGroup,Phasmahyla, the four species groups ofPhyllomedusa, and the species ofPhyllomedusathat remain unassigned to any group), and to examine the implications of our phylogeny for the evolution of several characters in phyllomedusines. The analyses resulted in a well‐supported phylogenetic hypothesis that provides a historical framework for a discussion of the evolution of characters associated with reproductive biology, gliding behaviour, the physiology of waterproofing, and bioactive peptides. Implications include an earlier origin for eggless capsules than for leaf‐folding behaviour during amplexus, two independent origins of gliding, and an earlier origin of reduction in evaporative water loss than uricotelism, which is a result that originally was predicted on the basis of physiology alone. Furthermore, our results support the prediction that bioactive peptides from different peptide families are to be expected in all species of Phyllomedusinae.Hylomantis(as recently redefined) is shown to be paraphyletic and the synonymy ofAgalychnisis revised to remedy this problem by including bothHylomantisandPachymedusa. © The Willi Hennig Society 2009.
Survey of laxative use by adults with self‐defined constipation in South America and Asia: a comparison of six countries
Authors: WALD A. , Mueller‐LISSNER S. , KAMM M. A. , HINKEL U. , RICHTER E. , SCHUIJT C. , MANDEL K. G. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryBackground  In contrast to the US and Europe, prevalence and laxative use for self‐defined constipation among adults was previously reported to be unassociated with age among adults in South Korea and Brazil.Aim  To determine whether observations in South Korea and Brazil are reflective of other Asian and South American countries.Methods  A total of 8100 adults from Argentina, Colombia, Indonesia and China completed a questionnaire identical to that previously used in South Korea and Brazil.Results  Prevalence of constipation was similar to that reported for Brazil and South Korea and was 2.17‐fold (95% CI: 1.71–2.64) higher amongst women than amongst men. Prevalence increased with age amongst all adults in Argentina and China and only among men in Colombia and Brazil. With the exception of Indonesia, the majority of those with constipation had symptoms at least once weekly, and for ≤3 years. Less than one‐third of adults reported using laxatives to treat constipation. Laxative use was not associated with gender and increased with age in Argentina and Colombia.Conclusions  No clear geographical or cultural tendencies were observed in the prevalence of constipation and laxative use among the South American and Asian countries studied in this survey. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 31, 274–284
Interaction effect among maternal environment, maternal investment and progeny genotype on life history traits inCallosobruchus chinensis
Authors: Yanagi Shin‐ichi , Tuda Midori 
Published: October 2009

Summary1. Transgenerational effects, genetic or non‐genetic, affect population dynamics and the evolution of life‐history traits. Besides genetic components, the size of gametes (eggs and seeds), simultaneously a parental and progeny character, can mediate environmental condition experienced by a parent. In both animals and arthropods, mothers are known to reduce their egg mass depending on their malcondition.2. Progeny may also modify their life history traits to increase their own fitness when constrained by maternal investment, which may eventually nullify transgenerational effects on population dynamics and evolution. Such fitness modification by the progeny under new environmental conditions requires phenotypic plasticity interacting with egg mass. We hypothesize that different selective environments should produce inter‐population genetic diversification of the response to maternal investment on each egg, which would be detected as a paternal genotype × environment × previous (i.e. maternal) environment (G × E × preE) interaction in progeny fitness.3. To evaluate the contribution of maternal non‐genetic resource and the genetic component separately, we used an inbred‐isofemale‐line approach to eliminate the influence of the genetic correlation between egg mass and other life history traits, in the adzuki bean beetle,Callosobruchus chinensis. The females were reared at either high or low densities to generate variability in egg resources. To test the additive or interactive effect of genotype, non‐genetic egg resources, and maternal environment on the life history traits of the progeny, they were crossed with males from laboratory and wild strains that had been subjected to different levels of population density.4. The G × E × preE interaction effect was detected on the correlation structure between egg mass and development time: In the offspring of mothers reared at low density, the negative correlation between egg mass and development time was higher with lab strain fathers, whereas in the offspring of mothers reared at high density, the negative correlation was higher with the wild strain fathers.5. Our results indicate a genetic difference in the response of development time but not of adult mass to environmental variation in egg mass. Such density‐dependent enhancement of maternal effects may destabilize population dynamics and accelerate evolution.
Avifauna response to hurricanes: regional changes in community similarity
Authors: RITTENHOUSE CHADWICK D. , PIDGEON ANNA M. , ALBRIGHT THOMAS P. , CULBERT PATRICK D. , CLAYTON MURRAY K. , FLATHER CURTIS H. , HUANG CHENGQUAN , MASEK JEFFREY G. , RADELOFF VOLKER C. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractGlobal climate models predict increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme climatic events such as hurricanes, which may abruptly alter ecological processes in forests and thus affect avian diversity. Developing appropriate conservation measures necessitates identifying patterns of avifauna response to hurricanes. We sought to answer two questions: (1) does avian diversity, measured as community similarity, abundance, and species richness, change in areas affected by hurricane compared with unaffected areas, and (2) what factors are associated with the change(s) in avian diversity? We used North American Breeding Bird Survey data, hurricane track information, and a time series of Landsat images in a repeated measures framework to answer these questions. Our results show a decrease in community similarity in the first posthurricane breeding season for all species as a group, and for species that nest in the midstory and canopy. We also found significant effects of hurricanes on abundance for species that breed in urban and woodland habitats, but not on the richness of any guild. In total, hurricanes produced regional changes in community similarity largely without significant loss of richness or overall avian abundance. We identified several potential mechanisms for these changes in avian diversity, including hurricane‐induced changes in forest habitat and the use of refugia by birds displaced from hurricane‐damaged forests. The prospect of increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes is not likely to invoke a conservation crisis for birds provided we maintain sufficient forest habitat so that avifauna can respond to hurricanes by shifting to areas of suitable habitat.
Soil organic carbon stock change due to land use activity along the agricultural frontier of the southwestern Amazon, Brazil, between 1970 and 2002
Authors: MAIA STOÉCIO M. F. , OGLE STEPHEN M. , CERRI CARLOS E. P. , CERRI CARLOS C. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe southwestern portion of the Brazilian Amazon arguably represents the largest agricultural frontier in the world, and within this region the states of Rondônia and Mato Grosso have about 24% and 32% of their respective areas under agricultural management, which is almost half of the total area deforested in the Brazilian Amazon biome. Consequently, it is assumed that deforestation in this region has caused substantial loss of soil organic carbon (SOC). In this study, the changes in SOC stocks due to the land use change and management in the southwestern Amazon were estimated for two time periods from 1970–1985 and 1985–2002. An uncertainty analysis was also conducted using a Monte Carlo approach. The results showed that mineral soils converted to agricultural management lost a total of 5.37 and 3.74 Tg C yr−1 between 1970–1985 and 1985–2002, respectively, along the Brazilian Agricultural Frontier in the states of Mato Grosso and Rondônia. Uncertainties in these estimates were ±37.3% and ±38.6% during the first and second time periods, respectively. The largest sources of uncertainty were associated with reference carbon (C) stocks, expert knowledge surveys about grassland condition, and the management factors for nominal and degraded grasslands. These results showed that land use change and management created a net loss of C from soils, however, the change in SOC stocks decreased substantially from the first to the second time period due to the increase in land under no‐tillage.
Eutrophication and macroalgal blooms in temperate and tropical coastal waters: nutrient enrichment experiments with Ulva spp.
Authors: TEICHBERG MIRTA , FOX SOPHIA E. , OLSEN YLVA S. , VALIELA IVAN , MARTINETTO PAULINA , IRIBARNE OSCAR , MUTO ELIZABETI YURIKO , PETTI MONICA A. V. , CORBISIER THAÏS N. , SOTO‐JIMÉNEZ MARTÍN , PÁEZ‐OSUNA FEDERICO , CASTRO PAULA , FREITAS HELENA , ZITELLI ANDREINA , CARDINALETTI MASSIMO , TAGLIAPIETRA DAVIDE 
Published: October 2009

AbstractReceiving coastal waters and estuaries are among the most nutrient‐enriched environments on earth, and one of the symptoms of the resulting eutrophication is the proliferation of opportunistic, fast‐growing marine seaweeds. Here, we used a widespread macroalga often involved in blooms, Ulva spp., to investigate how supply of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), the two main potential growth‐limiting nutrients, influence macroalgal growth in temperate and tropical coastal waters ranging from low‐ to high‐nutrient supplies. We carried out N and P enrichment field experiments on Ulva spp. in seven coastal systems, with one of these systems represented by three different subestuaries, for a total of nine sites. We showed that rate of growth of Ulva spp. was directly correlated to annual dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations, where growth increased with increasing DIN concentration. Internal N pools of macroalgal fronds were also linked to increased DIN supply, and algal growth rates were tightly coupled to these internal N pools. The increases in DIN appeared to be related to greater inputs of wastewater to these coastal waters as indicated by high δ15N signatures of the algae as DIN increased. N and P enrichment experiments showed that rate of macroalgal growth was controlled by supply of DIN where ambient DIN concentrations were low, and by P where DIN concentrations were higher, regardless of latitude or geographic setting. These results suggest that understanding the basis for macroalgal blooms, and management of these harmful phenomena, will require information as to nutrient sources, and actions to reduce supply of N and P in coastal waters concerned.
Paternally derived immune priming for offspring in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum
Authors: Roth Olivia , Joop Gerrit , Eggert Hendrik , Hilbert Jonas , Daniel Jens , Schmid‐Hempel Paul , Kurtz Joachim 
Published: October 2009

Summary 1. Parasitized females in mammals, fish and birds can enhance the immune defence of their offspring by transferring specific antibodies for the embryo. Likewise, social insect mothers transfer immunity despite the fact that invertebrates lack antibodies. 2. Female trans‐generational immune priming is consistent with parental investment theory, because mothers invest more into rearing their offspring than fathers. However, when immune priming is not directly linked to parental care, as is often the case in insects that abandon their eggs after oviposition, both sexes might benefit from protecting their offspring. 3. Using the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, we show that after parental exposure to heat‐killed bacteria, trans‐generational immune priming occurs through fathers as well as mothers. 4. This novel finding challenges the traditional view that males provide only genes to their offspring in species without paternal care, and raises the possibility of a division of tasks with respect to immune protection between parents.
Are the Northern Andes a species pump for Neotropical birds? Phylogenetics and biogeography of a clade of Neotropical tanagers (Aves: Thraupini)
Authors: Sedano Raul E. , Burns Kevin J. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractAim  We used mitochondrial DNA sequence data to reconstruct the phylogeny of a large clade of tanagers (Aves: Thraupini). We used the phylogeny of this Neotropical bird group to identify areas of vicariance, reconstruct ancestral zoogeographical areas and elevational distributions, and to investigate the correspondence of geological events to speciation events.Location  The species investigated are found in 18 of the 22 zoogeographical regions of South America, Central America and the Caribbean islands; therefore, we were able to use the phylogeny to address the biogeographical history of the entire region.Methods  Molecular sequence data were gathered from two mitochondrial markers (cytochrome b and ND2) and analysed using Bayesian and maximum‐likelihood approaches. Dispersal–vicariance analysis (DIVA) was used to reconstruct zoogeographical areas and elevational distributions. A Bayesian framework was also used to address changes in elevation during the evolutionary history of the group.Results  Our phylogeny was similar to previous tanager phylogenies constructed using fewer species; however, we identified three genera that are not monophyletic and uncovered high levels of sequence divergence within some species. DIVA identified early diverging nodes as having a Northern Andean distribution, and the most recent common ancestor of the species included in this study occurred at high elevations. Most speciation events occurred either within highland areas or within lowland areas, with few exchanges occurring between the highlands and lowlands. The Northern Andes has been a source for lineages in other regions, with more dispersals out of this area relative to dispersals into this area. Most of the dispersals out of the Northern Andes were dispersals into the Central Andes; however, a few key dispersal events were identified out of the Andes and into other zoogeographical regions.Main conclusions  The timing of diversification of these tanagers correlates well with the main uplift of the Northern Andes, with the highest rate of speciation occurring during this timeframe. Central American tanagers included in this study originated from South American lineages, and the timing of their dispersal into Central America coincides with or post‐dates the completion of the Panamanian isthmus.
Image‐based 3D reconstruction using helical nanobelts for localized rotations
Authors: KRATOCHVIL B.E. , DONG L.X. , ZHANG L. , NELSON B.J. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryA variety of different methods exist for gathering three‐dimensional information for micro‐ and nanoscale objects. Tilting of samples in a scanning electron microscope provides a non‐destructive way of generating these data. Traditionally, the reconstruction of this image data is performed by stereo photogrammetric methods that compare features from two or three frames. We propose the application of techniques from the structure‐from‐motion community as being efficient, high‐precision alternatives to stereo methods, which allows for automated utilization of a large number of sampled images. We propose the use of nanobelts to generate localized rotational motions. Using this method alleviates the demand of high‐precision actuators, allows 360° rotations, and provides a useful tool for micro‐ and nanomanipulation.
Leptin: Back and Forward
Authors: Mercer Julian 
Published: October 2009

SummaryThe discovery of leptin resulted in a gear change in obesity research. Exploiting its therapeutic potential has proved to be a long game, although encouraging progress is now being made with leptin monotherapy in conditions of relative deficiency, and with combination therapy against common obesity. Leptin’s role in early brain development constitutes an exciting area for mechanistic study with potential therapeutic implications.
Molybdenum and tungsten in Campylobacter jejuni: their physiological role and identification of separate transporters regulated by a single ModE‐like protein
Authors: Taveirne Michael E. , Sikes Michael L. , Olson Jonathan W. 
Published: October 2009

Summary Campylobacter jejuni is an important human pathogen that causes millions of cases of food‐borne enteritis each year. The C. jejuni respiratory chain is highly branched and contains at least four enzymes predicted to contain a metal binding pterin (MPT), with the metal being either molybdenum or tungsten. Also predicted are two separate transport systems, one for molybdenum encoded by modABC and a second for tungsten encoded by tupABC. Both transport systems were mutated and the activities of the four predicted MPT‐containing enzymes were assayed in the presence of molybdenum and tungsten in wild‐type and mod and tup backgrounds. Results indicate that mod is primarily a molybdenum transporter that can also transport tungsten, while tup is a tungsten‐specific transporter. The MPT‐containing enzymes nitrate reductase, sulphite oxidase, and SN oxide reductase are strict molybdoenzymes while formate dehydrogenase prefers tungsten. A ModE‐like protein regulates both transporters, repressing mod in the presence of both molybdenum and tungsten and tup only in the presence of tungsten. Like other ModE proteins, the C. jejuni ModE binds DNA through a helix–turn–helix DNA binding domain, but unlike other members of the ModE family it does not have a metal binding domain.
Genetic polymorphisms and haplotype structures of HSPA5 gene in the Han population of Southern China
Authors: Zhu X. , Cheng J. , Zhao J , Chen L. , Hou S. , Zhao G. , Lan F. , Wang W. , Kung H. , He M. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe heat shock 70 kDa protein 5 (HSPA5) gene is known to be involved in stress‐associated diseases. In this study, the promoter, exons, 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR), and subtotal introns of the HSPA5 gene were sequenced in a sub‐population of 161 healthy Han Chinese. Nine single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) including a new one (‐86bp T > A from the estimated translation start site) were found and 15 haplotypes (frequencies > 1%) were inferred. Polymorphisms rs391957 and rs11355458 were completely linked in our population (r 2 = 1.00). Using this information, fellow scientists may be able to decrease the number of SNPs to be genotyped in future disease case‐control studies.
Fine mapping of the CELIAC2 locus on chromosome 5q31‐q33 in the Finnish and Hungarian populations
Authors: Koskinen L. L. E. , Einarsdottir E. , Korponay‐Szabo I. R. , Kurppa K. , Kaukinen K. , Sistonen P. , Pocsai Z. , Széles G. , Ádány R. , Mäki M. , Kere J. , Saavalainen P. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractCeliac disease is a chronic inflammation of the small intestine, arising in genetically predisposed individuals as a result of ingestion of dietary gluten. The only confirmed and functionally characterised genetic risk factors for celiac disease are the DQ2 or DQ8 heterodimers at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II locus (CELIAC1). These genes are necessary but alone not sufficient for disease onset. Genome‐wide linkage scans have suggested chromosome 5q31‐q33 (CELIAC2) as an important risk locus for celiac disease. This region has also been associated to other inflammatory disorders, although as yet, no clear gene associations have been found. In the current study, 11 celiac disease candidate loci were screened for genetic linkage in the Hungarian population. As the CELIAC2 locus showed the strongest evidence for linkage, this locus was selected for follow‐up. Seventeen candidate genes were selected from the CELIAC2 locus, and genotyped using 48 haplotype tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in large Finnish and Hungarian family materials. A subset of these, 40 tagging SNPs in 15 genes, were genotyped in an independent set of Finnish and Hungarian cases and controls. We confirmed linkage of this region with celiac disease and report strong linkage in both the Finnish and Hungarian populations. The association analysis showed modest associations throughout the whole region. These association findings were not replicated in the case–control datasets. Our study strongly supports the role of the CELIAC2 locus in celiac disease, but it also highlights the need for a more powerful study design in the region, to locate the true disease risk variants.