bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pantoea ananatis: an unconventional plant pathogen
Authors: COUTINHO TERESA A. , VENTER STEPHANUS N. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARY Pantoea ananatis causes disease symptoms in a wide range of economically important agricultural crops and forest tree species worldwide. It is regarded as an emerging pathogen based on the increasing number of reports of diseases occurring on previously unrecorded hosts in different parts of the world. Its unconventional nature lies in the fact that, unlike the majority of plant pathogenic microbes, P. ananatis is capable of infecting humans and occurs in diverse ecological niches, such as part of a bacterial community contaminating aviation jet fuel tanks and contributing to growth promotion in potato and pepper.Taxonomy: Bacteria; Gammaproteobacteria; family Enterobacteriaceae; genus Pantoea.Microbiological properties: Gram‐negative; facultatively anaerobic; most strains are motile and produce a yellow pigment in culture; indole positive.Biology: Pantoea ananatis is a common epiphyte; it also occurs endophytically in hosts where it has been reported to cause disease symptoms and in hosts where no such symptoms have been described. Some strains are ice‐nucleating, a feature which has been used as a biological control mechanism against some insect pests of agricultural crops and by the food industry.Disease symptoms: Pantoea ananatis infects both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. The symptoms are diverse depending on the host infected, and include leaf blotches and spots, die‐back, and stalk, fruit and bulb rot.Biological control agent: Pantoea ananatis has both antifungal and antibacterial properties. These characteristics have the potential of being exploited by biological control specialists.
Associations of the variation in the porcine myogenin gene with muscle fibre characteristics, lean meat production and meat quality traits
Authors: Kim J.M. , Choi B.D. , Kim B.C. , Park S.S. , Hong K.C. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryPig breeding is aimed at improving lean meat production ability as well as meat quality, and muscle fibre characteristics may be important for enhancing these traits. Therefore, new molecular markers have been demanded for selecting lean meat production ability and meat quality in live animals. Myogenin belongs to the MyoD gene family, and is a candidate gene responsible for muscle fibre characteristics. We identified a new single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) site in the 5′ upstream region of the myogenin gene (nucleotides C and T). A total of 252 pigs of three breeds were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism using BspCNI. Additionally, they were genotyped for the previously detected MspI site in the 3′‐flanking region (alleles A and B). The CCBB diplotype had the highest frequency over breeds, followed by TCBB and CCAB. The other diplotypes were not found in studied pigs. Association analysis performed for the markers found that the TCBB diplotype has desirable effects on the total number of fibres (p < 0.002), fibre cross‐sectional area (p < 0.06), and loin eye area (p < 0.001) than the other diplotypes. Moreover, the diplotype had the highest muscle pH value (p < 0.07) and all meat quality traits were near the upper limit of the normal range as a reddish pink, firm and non‐exudative (RFN) pork. Therefore, we suggest that selection for the myogenin diplotypes could improve total muscle fibre number, size and lean meat production ability with good meat quality.
Reproduction of the intertidal barnacle Balanus glandula along an estuarine gradient
Authors: Berger Michael S. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe barnacle Balanus glandula is predominantly an open coast species in the Northeast Pacific. However, B. glandula densely inhabits estuaries where environmental conditions such as salinity and temperature drastically differ from the open coast. The increased variability of environmental conditions within an estuary can potentially affect spatial patterns of reproduction in B. glandula. I examined gonad maturity, reproductive periodicity and fecundity, and then calculated reproductive output in B. glandula populations distributed along an estuarine gradient. Results indicated that reproductive output of this intertidal barnacle decreased four times over a spatial scale of kilometers, as a transition occurred from a marine to a freshwater habitat along an estuarine gradient. Additionally, a higher proportion of the population had well‐developed gonads in the oceanic end of the estuary compared to the riverine end. These results indicate how reproductive pattern can significantly vary over a spatial scale of kilometers, resulting in site‐specific contributions of offspring to the larval pool.
Comparison of the fatigue behaviour of two different forms of PMMA
Authors: HOEY D. , TAYLOR D. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTThis study investigates the fatigue behaviour of two forms of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA): pure PMMA in the form of acrylic glass and PMMA‐based bone cement. Acrylic glass demonstrated superior fatigue strength compared to hand‐mixed porous bone cement but was significantly weaker than pore‐free bone cement. The greater fatigue strength of bone cement in comparison to acrylic glass was attributed to its composite‐like microstructure, containing pre‐polymerized beads which are absent in the amorphous structure of acrylic glass. In tests conducted on notched specimens, the porous bone cement demonstrated superior fatigue strength to acrylic glass. The results could be predicted using the theory of critical distances, with errors no larger than 14%. This approach allowed us to show that, although porosity had a negative influence on the fatigue strength of the plain specimens in comparison to acrylic glass, the presence of porosity had no effect when the samples contained a notch or a hole. This finding is interesting when considering the effort put into removing porosity from bone cement during surgical operations, where it is used in situations where there are sharp stress concentrations in the form of protruding bone and the design features of artificial implants.
Do aggressive funds reallocate their portfolios aggressively?
Authors: Chiang Kevin C. H. , Zhou Xiyu (Thomas) 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThis study examines pairs of asset allocation mutual funds that are controlled for all informational attributes, except for the level of risk aversion. Standard mean‐variance models of portfolio choice suggest that the percentage rebalancing of common stocks in aggressive funds would be the same as that in conservative funds. However, this study finds the rebalancing of common stocks in aggressive funds to be disproportionally less intense.
The locative‐applicative in Eleme1
Authors: Bond Oliver 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe Eleme locative‐applicative = is a non‐canonical applicative that demonstrates morphosyntactic properties commonly associated with clitics. It is employed in one of two functions: (i) to indicate an increase in the transitivity of a clause and (typically) to introduce an otherwise oblique function as a core argument of a base verb, or (ii) to indicate the presence of an atypical verbal complement. It is usually found in constructions containing a verb stem that expresses location, directed motion or transfer, but also functions as an obligatory component of the Eleme progressive construction. While locative and comitative expressions are common source‐constructions for progressives in Niger‐Congo languages, Eleme is apparently unique within the literature in that it includes an applicative with comitative function that must be enclitic to a verb of location to express progressive aspect.
Effect of inhibitors of mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase on α1B‐adrenoceptor phosphorylation
Authors: Alcántara‐Hernández R. , Adolfo García‐Sáinz J. 
Published: March 2009

Summary1 Mitogen‐activated protein kinases mediate hormone/neurotransmitter action on proliferation and differentiation and participate in receptor regulation. The effect of inhibitors of mitogen‐activated kinase kinase (MEK) on α1B‐adrenoceptor phosphorylation state and function was studied using different cell lines. It was observed that at nanomolar concentrations the MEK inhibitors, PD98059 (2′‐amino‐3′‐methoxyflavone) and UO126 [1,4‐(diamino‐2,3‐dicyano/1,4‐bis‐(2‐aminophenylthio)‐butadiene], increased α1B‐adrenoceptor phosphorylation and diminished the functional response of this receptor to noradrenaline. These agents did not alter the action of lysophosphatidic acid.2 Staurosporine (IC50 ≈ 0.8 nm) (a general protein kinase inhibitor) and bis‐indolyl‐maleimide I (IC50 ≈ 200 nm) (a selective protein kinase C inhibitor) inhibited PD98059‐induced α1B‐adrenoceptor phosphorylation. In contrast, neither wortmannin (phosphoinositide 3‐kinase inhibitor) nor genistein (protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor) had any effect. The data suggest the possibility that MEK might exert control on the activity of the enzymes that regulate receptor phosphorylation, such as G‐protein‐coupled receptor kinases, protein kinase C or serine/threonine protein phosphatases.3 Coimmunoprecipitation studies showed a constant association of total extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) with α1B‐adrenoceptors. Association of phospho‐ERK 1/2 to α1B‐adrenoceptors increased not only in response to agonist but also in response to agents that increase α1B‐adrenoceptor and ERK1/2 phosphorylation [such as endothelin‐1, phorbol 12‐myristate‐13‐acetate (PMA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF)]; not surprisingly, PD98059 decreased this effect.4 Our data show that blockade of MEK activity results in increased α1B‐adrenoceptor phosphorylation, diminished adrenoceptor function and perturbation of receptor–ERK1/2 interaction.
Cytochrome P450 metabolites of arachidonic acid play a role in the enhanced cardiac dysfunction in diabetic rats following ischaemic reperfusion injury
Authors: Yousif M. H. M. , Benter I. F. , Roman R. J. 
Published: March 2009

Summary 1 This study examined the contribution of cytochrome P450 metabolites of arachidonic acid in mediating ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R)‐induced cardiac dysfunction in normal and diabetic rats. 2 We first compared the metabolism of arachidonic acid in microsomes prepared from the hearts of control rats and rats treated with streptozotocin (55 mg kg−1) to induce diabetes. The production of dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) were similar in microsomes prepared from the hearts of control and diabetic rats, but the production of 20‐hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20‐HETE) was two‐fold higher in diabetic hearts than in control animals. 3 We then compared the change in left ventricular pressure (Pmax), left ventricular end‐diastolic pressure, coronary flow and coronary vascular resistance in isolated perfused hearts obtained from control and diabetic animals after 40 min of global ischaemia (I) followed by 30 min of reperfusion (R). The decline in cardiac function was three‐ to five‐fold greater in the hearts obtained from diabetic vs. control animals. 4 Pretreatment of the hearts with N‐hydroxy‐N′‐(4‐butyl‐2‐methyl‐phenyl)‐formamidine (HET0016, 1 μm), a selective inhibitor of the synthesis of 20‐HETE, for 30 min before I/R resulted in significant improvement in the recovery of cardiac function in the hearts obtained from diabetic but not in control rats. Perfusion with an inhibitor of soluble epoxide hydrolase, 1‐cyclohexyl‐3‐dodecyl urea (CDU), before I/R improved the recovery of cardiac function in hearts obtained from both control and diabetic animals. Perfusion with both HET0016 and CDU resulted in significantly better recovery of cardiac function of diabetic hearts following I/R than that seen using either drug alone. Pretreatment of the hearts with glibenclamide (1 μm), an inhibitor of ATP‐sensitive potassium channels, attenuated the cardioprotective effects of both CDU and HET0016. 5 This is the first study to suggest that acute blockade of the formation of 20‐HETE and/or reduced inactivation of EETs could be an important strategy to reduce cardiac dysfunction following I/R events in diabetes.
Ethanol‐Induced Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase: Role of Dopamine D1 Receptors
Authors: Ibba Federico , Vinci Stefania , Spiga Saturnino , Peana Alessandra T. , Assaretti Anna R. , Spina Liliana , Longoni Rosanna , Acquas Elio 
Published: March 2009

Background:  Addictive drugs activate extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) in brain regions critically involved in their affective and motivational properties. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the ethanol‐induced activation of ERK in the nucleus accumbens (Acb) and in the extended amygdala [bed nucleus of the stria terminalis lateralis (BSTL) and central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA)] and to highlight the role of dopamine (DA) D1 receptors in these effects.Methods:  Ethanol (0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg) was administered by gavage and ERK phosphorylation was determined in the nucleus Acb (shell and core), BSTL, and CeA by immunohistochemistry. The DA D1 receptor antagonist, SCH 39166 (SCH) (50 μg/kg), was administered 10 minutes before ethanol (1 g/kg).Results:  Quantitative microscopic examination showed that ethanol, dose‐dependently increased phospho‐ERK immunoreactivity (optical and neuronal densities) in the shell and core of nucleus Acb, BSTL, and CeA. Pretreatment with SCH fully prevented the increases elicited by ethanol (1 g/kg) in all brain regions studied.Conclusions:  The results of this study indicate that ethanol, similar to other addictive drugs, activates ERK in nucleus Acb and extended amygdala via a DA D1 receptor‐mediated mechanism. Overall, these results suggest that the D1 receptors/ERK pathway may play a critical role in the motivational properties of ethanol.
Green Niche Market Development
Authors: Andrews Clinton , DeVault David 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThis article introduces a multiagent simulation framework for investigating the emergence of niche markets for environmentally innovative products. It clarifies how consumer preferences, business strategy, and government policy interact during market development. The framework allows investigation of the effects of uncertainty and agents’ corresponding coping strategies. We describe the model, illustrate how it works when applied to the case of hybrid cars, and analyze results spanning several policy cases and a range of scenarios that make different assumptions about the heterogeneity of agents. Heterogeneity within each agent class strongly influences aggregate outcomes. Innovative firms can create green products in response to or in anticipation of government regulation, but true green niche markets do not emerge unless there are also green consumers. Niche markets do not go mainstream unless scale economies drive costs down to parity with conventional products. Preferred environmental innovation policies change with heterogeneity assumptions.
Detection of Undiagnosed Diabetes and Prediabetic States in High‐risk Emergency Department Patients
Authors: Charfen Michelle A. , Ipp Eli , Kaji Amy H. , Saleh Tawny , Qazi Mohammed F. , Lewis Roger J. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground:  Diabetes is often not diagnosed until complications appear, and one‐third of those with diabetes may be undiagnosed. Prediabetes and diabetes are conditions in which early detection would be appropriate, because the duration of hyperglycemia is a predictor of adverse outcomes, and there are effective interventions to prevent disease progression and to reduce complications.Objectives:  The objectives were to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and prediabetes in emergency department (ED) patients with an elevated random glucose or risk factors for diabetes but without previously diagnosed diabetes and to identify which at‐risk ED patients should be considered for referral for confirmatory diagnostic testing.Methods:  This two‐part study was composed of a prospective 2‐year cohort study, and a 1‐week cross‐sectional survey substudy, set in an urban ED in Los Angeles County, California. A convenience sample was enrolled of 528 ED patients without previously diagnosed diabetes with either 1) a random serum glucose ≥ 140 mg/dL regardless of the time of last food intake or a random serum glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL if more than 2 hours since last food intake or 2) at least two predefined diabetes risk factors. Measurements included presence of diabetes risk factors, ED glucose, cortisol, insulin and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and 2‐hour oral glucose tolerance test results, administered at 6‐week follow‐up.Results:  Glycemic status was confirmed at follow‐up in 256 (48%) of the 528 patients. Twenty‐seven (11%) were found to have diabetes, 141 (55%) had prediabetes, and 88 (34%) had normal results. Age, ED glucose, HbA1c, cortisol, and random serum glucose ≥ 140 mg/dL were associated with both diabetes and prediabetes on univariate analysis. A random serum glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL after 2 hours of fasting was associated with diabetes but not prediabetes; ED cortisol, insulin, age ≥ 45 years, race, and calculated body mass index (BMI) were associated with prediabetes but not diabetes. In multivariable models, among factors measurable in the ED, the only independent predictor of diabetes was ED glucose, while ED glucose, age ≥ 45 years, and symptoms of polyuria and polydipsia were independent predictors of prediabetes. All at‐risk subjects with a random ED blood glucose > 155 mg/dL had either prediabetes or diabetes on follow‐up testing.Conclusions:  A substantial fraction of this urban ED study population was at risk for undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes, and among the at‐risk patients referred for follow‐up, the majority demonstrated diabetes or prediabetes. Notably, all patients with two risk factors and a random serum glucose > 155 mg/dL were later diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes. Consideration should be given to referring ED patients with risk factors and a random glucose > 155 mg/dL for follow‐up testing.
Differential cytokine activity and morphology during wound healing in the neonatal and adult rat skin
Authors: Wagner W. , Wehrmann M. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractWound‐healing mechanisms change during transition from prenatal to postnatal stage. Cytokines are known to play a key role in this process. The current study investigated the differential cytokine activity and healing morphology during healing of incisional skin wounds in rats of the ages neonatal (p0), 3 days old (p3) and adult, after six different healing times (2 hrs to 30 days). All seven tested cytokines (Transforming Growth Factor (TGF) α, TGFβ1, −β2 and −β3, IGF 1, Platelet Derived Growth Factor A (PDGF A), basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) exhibited higher expression in the adult wounds than at the ages p0 and p3. Expression typically peaked between 12 hrs and 3 days post‐wounding, and was not detectable any more at days 10 and 30. The neonate specimen showed more rapid re‐epithelialization, far less inflammation and scarring, and larger restitution of original tissue architecture than their adult counterparts, resembling a prenatal healing pattern. The results may encourage the use of neonatal rat skin as a wound‐healing model for further studies, instead of the more complicated prenatal animal models. Secondly, the data may recommend inhibition of PDGF A, basic FGF or TGF‐β1 as therapeutic targets in efforts to optimize wound healing in the adult organism.
Effect of mitogen‐activated protein kinases on chemokine synthesis induced by substance P in mouse pancreatic acinar cells
Authors: Ramnath Raina Devi , Sun Jia , Adhikari Sharmila , Bhatia Madhav 
Published: March 2009

AbstractSubstance P, acting via its neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1 R), plays an important role in mediating a variety of inflammatory processes. Its interaction with chemokines is known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. In pancreatic acinar cells, substance P stimulates the release of NFκB‐driven chemokines. However, the signal transduction pathways by which substance P‐NK1 R interaction induces chemokine production are still unclear. To that end, we went on to examine the participation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in substance P‐induced synthesis of pro‐inflammatory chemokines, monocyte chemoanractant protein‐1 (MCP‐I), macrophage inflammatory protein‐lα (MIP‐lα) and macrophage inflammatory protein‐2 (MIP‐2), in pancreatic acini. In this study, we observed a time‐dependent activation of ERK1/2, c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK), NFκB and activator protein‐1 (AP‐1) when pancreatic acini were stimulated with substance P. Moreover, substance P‐induced ERK 1/2, JNK, NFκB and AP‐1 activation as well as chemokine synthesis were blocked by pre‐treatment with either extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1) inhibitor or JNK inhibitor. In addition, substance P‐induced activation of ERK 112, JNK, NFκB and AP‐1‐driven chemokine production were attenuated by CP96345, a selective NK1 R antagonist, in pancreatic acinar cells. Taken together, these results suggest that substance P‐NK1 R induced chemokine production depends on the activation of MAPKs‐mediated NFκB and AP‐1 signalling pathways in mouse pancreatic acini.
Neurons produce FGF2 and VEGF and secrete them at least in part by shedding extracellular vesicles
Authors: Schiera Gabriella , Proia Patrizia , Alberti Chiara , Mineo Marco , Savettieri Giovanni , Di Liegro Italia 
Published: March 2009

AbstractWe previously found that neurons are able to affect the ability of brain capillary endothelial cells to form in vitro a monolayer with properties resembling the blood‐brain barrier. We then looked, by immunofluorescence and western analysis, for factors, produced by neurons, with the potential to influence growth and differentiation of endothelial cells. In the present paper, we report that neurons produce both vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor 2, two well‐known angiogenic factors. More interestingly, we gained evidence that both factors are released by neurons, at least in part, by shedding of extracellular vesicles, that contain β1 integrin, a membrane protein already known to be part of extracellular vesicles released by tumour cells. Shedding of extracellular vesicles by neurons was also confirmed by scanner electron microscopy.
Cell biology and clinical promise of G‐CSF: immunomodulation and neuroprotection
Authors: Xiao Bao‐Guo , Lu Chuan‐Zhen , Link Hans 
Published: March 2009

Introduction
The immunomodulation of G‐CSF in adaptive immunity
The neuroprotection of G‐CSF in cerebral ischemia and neurodegeneration
G‐CSF‐Bridge between immunomodulation and neuroprotection
Weighing G‐CSF in immunomodulation and neuroprotection
Conclusion and perspectives

AbstractIn the light of the enthusiasm to use of recombinant human granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) for immunomodulation and neuroprotection, it should be remembered that the current knowledge is based on a century of laborious research. G‐CSF is a pleiotropic cytokine playing a major role as regulator of haematopoiesis. Although the precise mechanisms of G‐CSF are not known, there is growing evidence supporting the notion that G‐CSF also exerts profound immunoregulatory effect in adaptive immunity and has a neuroprotective role in both cerebral ischemia and neurodegeneration. Here, we describe the immunomodulation and the neuroprotection that can be achieved with G‐CSF, and summarize possible mechanisms of G‐CSF as a potential therapeutic agent in autoimmune diseases and neurological disorders. Our understanding of these novel sites of action of G‐CSF has opened therapeutic avenues for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and neurological disorders, and has translated the beneficial effects of G‐CSF from basic experiments to clinical patients.