bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development and Evaluation of an English Language Measure of Detection of Word-Final Plurality Markers: The University of Western Ontario Plurals Test
Authors: Glista Danielle , Scollie Susan 
Published: May 2012

Purpose
This article describes the development and evaluation of The University of Western Ontario (UWO) Plurals Test, which is an English language measure of detection of the word-final fricative cue for plurality.

Method
Normative data are provided for 26 listeners with normal hearing and 24 listeners with hearing impairment (children and adults), as are evaluations of the acoustical properties of the stimuli, the test’s test–retest reliability, and the test’s sensitivity to changes in hearing aid signal processing (e.g., nonlinear frequency compression).

Results
Results indicate reliable, repeated outcome measurement at the level of the individual. When compared to a global measure of real-world listening preference, the UWO Plurals Test was found to be somewhat sensitive to the effects of changes in hearing aid signal processing.

Conclusion
Findings suggest potential use of the UWO Plurals Test to evaluate aided and unaided ability of listeners between the ages of 6 and 81 years to detect the word-final fricatives /s/ and /z/ as they occur in English plural nouns.
Spawning Behavior of Mountain Whitefish and Co‐occurrence of Myxobolus cerebralis in the Blackfoot River Basin, Montana
Authors: Pierce Ron , Davidson Mike , Podner Craig 
Published: May 2012

AbstractTo assess the exposure of Blackfoot River mountain whitefish Prosopium williamsoni to the exotic parasite Myxobolus cerebralis, the cause of salmonid whirling disease, we investigated the spawning behavior of 49 adult mountain whitefish and their overlap with M. cerebralis within the Blackfoot River basin, Montana. A majority of the mountain whitefish radio‐tagged in the Blackfoot River migrated upstream (range, 0.1–79.0 km) to spawning sites located primarily in the main stem of the Blackfoot River. Spawning ranged from 31 October in the lower river to 9 November in the upper river and occurred across a range of substrate and channel types. Despite later spawning in the upper river, eggs hatched earlier under the warming influence of groundwater inflows. Here, a majority of wild mountain whitefish fry (65%) tested positive for M. cerebralis infection during the immediate posthatch period of mid‐April. Conversely, mountain whitefish fry from the lower river, downstream of the groundwater influence, showed no detectable infection. June exposure trials using surrogate rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in nine tributaries supporting mountain whitefish showed M. cerebralis infection rates ranging from 0% to 100% as well as a pattern of high triactinomyxon (TAM) exposure throughout the main‐stem Blackfoot River. For mountain whitefish, the co‐occurrence with M. cerebralis varied spatially across the basin and temporally within the main‐stem Blackfoot River at the most vulnerable early life stages. This variability appears to buffer age‐0 mountain whitefish from infectious conditions across large areas of the basin. However, continuous TAM release from groundwater‐influenced environments coinciding with mountain whitefish hatch and early rearing may impose pathogenic conditions on mountain whitefish in the upper Blackfoot River.
Temperature and Maternal Effects on Hatch Rate and Length at Hatch of Hybrid Bass (White Bass × Striped Bass) Larvae
Authors: Lochmann S E , Goodwin K J , Racey C L 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Broodstock selection is an approach that could improve aspects of hybrid bass (white bass Morone chrysops × striped bass M. saxatilis) production. We examined incubation temperature and maternal effects on modal period of incubation (h), hatch rate, and length at hatch. Gametes from three to four white bass dams and one striped bass sire were used to produce hybrids each week for 4 weeks. Eggs from each dam were incubated at 14, 16, 18, and 20°C. The period of incubation, hatch rate, and length at hatch were determined for larvae from each dam × temperature combination. The relationship between incubation period and incubation temperature was exponential, and warmer temperatures resulted in progressively shorter incubation periods and less-variable hatching duration (i.e., the period from first hatch to last hatch). The effects of incubation temperature and dam explained approximately equal amounts of the variability in length at hatch. Dam weight did not explain a significant amount of variability in modal incubation period, hatch rate, or average length at hatch. Selection for increases in length at hatch could offer improvements to the hybrid bass industry by improving survival in ponds or by eliminating the need for rotifers at first feeding in tanks. The benefits of producing larvae that are larger at hatch should be compared with the effort and cost of a breeding program that selects for length at hatch.
Heart rate achieved or beta‐blocker dose in patients with chronic heart failure: which is the better target?
Authors: Cullington Damien , Goode Kevin M. , Clark Andrew L. , Cleland John G.F. 
Published: May 2012

AimsTo investigate whether the mortality of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is more strongly related to beta‐blocker dose or to heart rate. It is known that beta‐blockers reduce mortality in patients with CHF and LVSD, but the primary mechanism of action is uncertain.Methods and resultsPatients with an ejection fraction ≤40%, who were in sinus rhythm both at an initial (visit 1) and at a 4‐month clinic review (visit 2), were followed for a maximum of 36 months. The relationships between heart rate, beta‐blocker dose, and survival in a multivariable model were examined. Of 654 eligible patients, 381 (58%) were started on beta‐blockers prior to the initial visit, increasing to 537 (82%) by visit 2. During follow‐up, 142 (22%) patients died. Neither resting heart rate nor beta‐blocker dose at visit 1 predicted mortality (P = 0.09 and P = 0.99), but resting heart rate at visit 2 did (P = 0.02). Beta‐blocker use at visit 2 was associated with better outcome (P = 0.03) but with little variation in outcome according to dose. Patients with a heart rate of 58–64 b.p.m. at visit 2 had the best prognosis.ConclusionsThe use of beta‐blockers and resting heart rate at visit 2 both independently indicated prognosis, but beta‐blocker dose did not. Beta‐blockers may reduce mortality by several mechanisms; one that may be specific to blockade of adrenergic receptors and another related to heart rate reduction. Achieving a target heart rate range may be an appropriate therapeutic goal for patients with CHF.
Effect of Harvest Moisture Content on Selected Yellow Dent Corn: Dry‐Grind Fermentation Characteristics and DDGS Composition
Authors: Huang Haibo , Liu Wei , Singh Vijay , Danao Mary‐Grace C. , Eckhoff Steven R. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTEfficiently utilizing the nongrain portion of the corn plant as ruminant food and the grain for ethanol will allow the optimization of both food and fuel production. Corn and corn stover could be more effectively used if they were harvested earlier before dry down. Corn harvested at different moisture contents (MCs) may exhibit different processing characteristics for the ethanol industry, because of differences in physical and chemical properties. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of corn harvest MC on dry‐grind fermentation characteristics and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) composition. Pioneer hybrid 32D78 was harvested at seven different dates from August 21 to November 23, 2009, with harvest MCs ranging from 73 to 21% (wb). The corn samples with different harvest MCs were evaluated by a conventional dry‐grind process. Final ethanol concentration from the corn with harvest MC of 54% (kernel dent stage) was 17.9% (v/v), which was significantly higher (0.5–1.2 percentage points) than the mature corn with lower harvest MCs (P < 0.05). Ethanol conversion efficiencies for the corn with harvest MCs of 73 and 54% (wb) were 98.5 and 93.2%, respectively, whereas ethanol conversion efficiencies for the corn with lower harvest MCs were significantly lower (P < 0.05), ranging between 83.2 and 88.3%. For DDGS composition, with corn harvest MC decreasing from 73 to 21% (wb), the residual starch concentration increased from 7.7 to 15.2%, the crude protein concentration decreased from 29.4 to 24.9%, and the neutral detergent fiber concentration decreased from 26.6 to 20.6%.
Gastrointestinal symptoms before and during menses in women with IBD
Authors: Bernstein M. T. , Graff L. A. , Targownik L. E. , Downing K. , Shafer L. A. , Rawsthorne P. , Bernstein C. N. , Avery L. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryBackgroundIt is believed that women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have heightened symptoms around their menses. However, there is little information regarding normative changes and which symptoms emerge in relation to menses.AimTo determine the relationship between gastrointestinal and other symptoms and menses in a population‐based cohort of women with IBD vs. healthy women.MethodsWomen enrolled in the University of Manitoba IBD Research Registry who were between 18 and 65 years were mailed a survey. A control group of adult women were recruited through out‐patient gynaecology clinics. Participants were asked to consider their menstrual periods in the recent several months and report on symptoms 1–5 days prior to and during the days of their menses.ResultsThere were 151 premenopausal women with Crohn's disease (CD), 87 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 156 premenopausal controls. Mean age of menses onset was similar in all three cohorts and the percentage in each group with regular menstrual periods was similar. Premenstrually, abdominal pain was less commonly reported in UC (36.8%) than CD (51%, P = 0.034) and controls (57.6%, P = 0.002). Premenstrually, and during menses diarrhoea was more commonly reported in CD (47.7% and 59.6% respectively) than UC (26.4% P = 0.001 and 42.5%, P = 0.01 respectively) and controls (24.4%, P < 0.0001 and 28.2%, P < 0.0001 respectively). Premenstrually, women with CD (46%) vs. UC (26%) were more likely to report worsening of their IBD symptoms (P = 0.0007), but there was no difference between CD (47%) and UC (39%) for reporting worsening during menses (P = 0.24).ConclusionsCompared to healthy women, women with IBD had similar symptom experiences premenstrually, except that those with CD were more likely to have increased diarrhoea premenstrually. During menses, women with CD or UC were more likely to experience diarrhoea than healthy controls.
Determining the influence of fibre post light transmission on polymerization depth and viscoelastic behaviour of dual‐cured resin cement
Authors: Dogar A. , Altintas S. C. , Kavlak S. , Guner A. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractAimTo evaluate the effect of quartz‐fibre posts on the depth of polymerization of a dual‐cure resin cement using Raman spectroscopy and to determine the physical properties of the polymerized cement using a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA).MethodologyTwenty‐five fibre and 25 CrNi posts were used to evaluate depth of polymerization. Posts were cemented with dual‐cure resin into root canals formed from silicone moulds, without using bonding or etching agents. After polymerization, resin layers on each sample were removed using a curette and cut into three equal parts (apical, middle and coronal). All resin specimens for every third were gathered and crushed. Resin powder samples were analysed using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis and Raman spectroscopy for each third.ResultsThe numerical data revealed that the thermal transitions of the materials took place at higher temperatures from the apical to the coronal sections in both groups. C=C double bond intensity was lower in fibre post‐resin cement samples when compared to their intensity in metal post‐resin cement samples.ConclusionDual‐cured resin cements had more rigid properties and better polymerization for fibre posts when compared with metal posts. Polymerization quantity was affected by position in the canal.
Development of extruded snacks using soy, sorghum, millet and rice blend – A response surface methodology approach
Authors: Seth Dibyakanta , Rajamanickam Gopirajah 
Published: May 2012

SummaryResponse surface methodology (RSM) based on a five‐level‐three‐factor central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was employed for optimisation of formulation for production of a soy‐fortified millet‐based extruded snack. Effects of amount of ingredients such as ragi (40–50%), sorghum (10–20%) and soy (5–15%) on the physical properties like bulk density, expansion ratio, water absorption index and water solubility index of snacks were investigated. Significant regression models that explained the effects of different percentages of ragi, sorghum and soy on all response variables were determined. The coefficients of determination, R2, of all the response variables were higher than 0.90. Based on the given criteria for optimisation, the basic formulation for production of millet‐based extruded snack with desired sensory quality was obtained by incorporating with 42.03% ragi, 14.95% sorghum, 12.97% soy and 30% rice.
Fluorescence lifetime imaging – techniques and applications
Authors: BECKER W. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryFluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) uses the fact that the fluorescence lifetime of a fluorophore depends on its molecular environment but not on its concentration. Molecular effects in a sample can therefore be investigated independently of the variable, and usually unknown concentration of the fluorophore. There is a variety of technical solutions of lifetime imaging in microscopy. The technical part of this paper focuses on time‐domain FLIM by multidimensional time‐correlated single photon counting, time‐domain FLIM by gated image intensifiers, frequency‐domain FLIM by gain‐modulated image intensifiers, and frequency‐domain FLIM by gain‐modulated photomultipliers. The application part describes the most frequent FLIM applications: Measurement of molecular environment parameters, protein‐interaction measurements by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), and measurements of the metabolic state of cells and tissue via their autofluorescence. Measurements of local environment parameters are based on lifetime changes induced by fluorescence quenching or conformation changes of the fluorophores. The advantage over intensity‐based measurements is that no special ratiometric fluorophores are needed. Therefore, a much wider selection of fluorescence markers can be used, and a wider range of cell parameters is accessible. FLIM‐FRET measures the change in the decay function of the FRET donor on interaction with an acceptor. FLIM‐based FRET measurement does not have to cope with problems like donor bleedthrough or directly excited acceptor fluorescence. This relaxes the requirements to the absorption and emission spectra of the donors and acceptors used. Moreover, FLIM‐FRET measurements are able to distinguish interacting and noninteracting fractions of the donor, and thus obtain independent information about distances and interacting and noninteracting protein fractions. This is information not accessible by steady‐state FRET techniques. Autofluorescence FLIM exploits changes in the decay parameters of endogenous fluorophores with the metabolic state of the cells or the tissue. By resolving changes in the binding, conformation, and composition of biologically relevant compounds FLIM delivers information not accessible by steady‐state fluorescence techniques.
Conservation in a cup of water: estimating biodiversity and population abundance from environmental DNA
Authors: LODGE DAVID M. , TURNER CAMERON R. , JERDE CHRISTOPHER L. , BARNES MATTHEW A. , CHADDERTON LINDSAY , EGAN SCOTT P. , FEDER JEFFREY L. , MAHON ANDREW R. , PFRENDER MICHAEL E. 
Published: May 2012

Three mantras often guide species and ecosystem management: (i) for preventing invasions by harmful species, ‘early detection and rapid response’; (ii) for conserving imperilled native species, ‘protection of biodiversity hotspots’; and (iii) for assessing biosecurity risk, ‘an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure.’ However, these and other management goals are elusive when traditional sampling tools (e.g. netting, traps, electrofishing, visual surveys) have poor detection limits, are too slow or are not feasible. One visionary solution is to use an organism’s DNA in the environment (eDNA), rather than the organism itself, as the target of detection. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Thomsen et al. (2012) provide new evidence demonstrating the feasibility of this approach, showing that eDNA is an accurate indicator of the presence of an impressively diverse set of six aquatic or amphibious taxa including invertebrates, amphibians, a fish and a mammal in a wide range of freshwater habitats. They are also the first to demonstrate that the abundance of eDNA, as measured by qPCR, correlates positively with population abundance estimated with traditional tools. Finally, Thomsen et al. (2012) demonstrate that next‐generation sequencing of eDNA can quantify species richness. Overall, Thomsen et al. (2012) provide a revolutionary roadmap for using eDNA for detection of species, estimates of relative abundance and quantification of biodiversity.
Natural variation in GL1 and its effects on trichome density in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: BLOOMER R. H. , JUENGER T. E. , SYMONDS V. V. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe ultimate understanding of how biological diversity arises, is maintained, and lost depends on identifying the genes responsible. Although a good deal has been discovered about gene function over the past few decades, far less is understood about gene effects, that is, how natural variation in a gene contributes to natural variation in phenotypes. Trichome density in Arabidopsis thaliana is an ideal trait for studies of natural molecular and phenotypic variation, as trichome initiation is genetically well‐characterized and trichome density is highly variable in and among natural populations. Here, we show that variation at GLABRA1 (GL1), an R2R3 MYB transcription factor gene, which has a role in trichome initiation, has qualitative and likely quantitative effects on trichome density in natural accessions of A. thaliana. Specifically, we characterize four independent loss‐of‐function alleles for GL1, each of which yields a glabrous phenotype. Further, we find that a pattern of common polymorphisms confined to the GL1 locus is associated with quantitative variation for trichome density. While mutations resulting in a glabrous phenotype are primarily coding changes, the pattern resulting in quantitative variation spans both coding and regulatory regions. These data show that GL1 is an important source of trichome density variation within A. thaliana and, along with recent reports, suggest that the TTG1 epidermal cell fate pathway generally may be the key molecular genetic source of natural trichome density variation and an important model for the study of molecular evolution.
Control of glutamate homeostasis in Bacillus subtilis: a complex interplay between ammonium assimilation, glutamate biosynthesis and degradation
Authors: Gunka Katrin , Commichau Fabian M. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryGlutamate, the major amino group donor in anabolism, is synthesized by the combined action of the glutamine synthetase (GS) and the glutamate synthase (GOGAT) in Bacillus subtilis. The glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) exclusively degrades glutamate. GS and GDH are both trigger enzymes, active in nitrogen metabolism and in controlling gene expression. Feedback‐inhibited GS (FBI‐GS) controls DNA‐binding activities of two transcription factors, the repressor GlnR and TnrA, the global regulator of nitrogen metabolism. FBI‐GS binds to and activates GlnR. This protein complex inhibits GS formation and thus glutamine synthesis. Moreover, FBI‐GS inhibits DNA‐binding activity of TnrA. Glutamate biosynthesis, the reaction linking carbon with nitrogen metabolism, is controlled by GDH. Together with glutamate GDH inhibits GltC, the transcription factor that activates expression of the GOGAT genes. Thus, GS and GDH control glutamine and glutamate synthesis, respectively, depending on the nitrogen status of the cell. B. subtilis lacking a functional GDH show a severe growth defect. Interestingly, the growth defect is suppressed by the rapid activation of an inactive GDH. Thus, maintenance of glutamate homeostasis is crucial for cellular vitality. This review covers the recent work on the complex control of glutamine and glutamate metabolism in the Gram‐positive model organism B. subtilis.
Light‐induced alteration of c‐di‐GMP level controls motility of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Authors: Savakis Philipp , De Causmaecker Sven , Angerer Veronika , Ruppert Ulrike , Anders Katrin , Essen Lars‐Oliver , Wilde Annegret 
Published: May 2012

SummaryCph2 from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is a hybrid photoreceptor that comprises an N‐terminal module for red/far‐red light reception and a C‐terminal module switching between a blue‐ and a green‐receptive state. This unusual photoreceptor exerts complex, light quality‐dependent control of the motility of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 cells by inhibiting phototaxis towards blue light. Cph2 perceives blue light by its third GAF domain that bears all characteristics of a cyanobacteriochrome (CBCR) including photoconversion between green‐ and blue‐absorbing states as well as formation of a bilin species simultaneously tethered to two cysteines, C994 and C1022. Upon blue light illumination the CBCR domain activates the subsequent C‐terminal GGDEF domain, which catalyses formation of the second messenger c‐di‐GMP. Accordingly, expression of the CBCR‐GGDEF module in Δcph2 mutant cells restores the blue light‐dependent inhibition of motility. Additional expression of the N‐terminal Cph2 fragment harbouring a red/far‐red interconverting phytochrome fused to a c‐di‐GMP degrading EAL domain restores the complex behaviour of the intact Cph2 photosensor. c‐di‐GMP was shown to regulate flagellar and pili‐based motility in several bacteria. Here we provide the first evidence that this universal bacterial second messenger is directly involved in the light‐dependent regulation of cyanobacterial phototaxis.