bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transfer of new dwarfing genes from the weed species Avena fatua into cultivated oat A. byzantina
Authors: Morikawa T. , Sumiya M. , Kuriyama S. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractNew sources of dwarfing genes were identified from accessions of Avena fatua in Japan and Korea. The dwarfing genes were transferred from backcrossed and self‐pollinated relatives to the cultivated oat ‘Kanota’. In the cultivated form, the dominant dwarfing gene Dw8 showed a relatively lower transmission rate than recessive, semi‐dominant and nondwarfing genes and was characterized by a distinct link with wild gene cluster. This was also supported by the high transmission rate of wild specific SSR alleles. Four dwarf inbred lines (L153, L169a, L169b and L812) were identified as involving a single recessive dwarfing gene(s). The recessive dwarfing genes that showed normal and stable transmission rates in BC1F3 were first reported in hexaploid oats. The L169 segregated two different recessive dwarf lines in BC1, which were selected as semi‐ (L169a) and extreme‐ (L169b) dwarf lines. The L169a was a good genotype with a high grain yield. L288 is a semi‐dwarf line conditioned by a semi‐dominant dwarfing gene, with a unilateral panicle, large florets and good grain quality due to strong resistance to lodging. L342 had a short peduncle, making the panicle compact, and its phenotype was similar to the dwarfness controlled by Dw7, but the dwarfing genes were different.
Feminism, Gender, and Women's Peace Activism
Authors: El‐Bushra Judy 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTUnited Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on ‘Women, peace and security’, passed in 2000, reflects a recent growth in women's peace activism. Women's resistance to violence is widely believed to be a mobilizing factor in both local and international peace movements. This provokes questions around essentialism and violence of concern to feminists: are men inherently territorial and aggressive, and women naturally nurturing and peaceable? Or is the behaviour of both conditioned by particular local configurations of social relations of power? This contribution reviews these questions in the light of the experiences of women's peace organizations. It concludes that essentializing women's roles as wives, mothers and nurses discourages their inclusion as active decision makers in political arenas, as well as overshadowing the needs of other disadvantaged groups. Rather than seeing war as the violation of women by men, we should recognize that men and women are each differently violated by war.
Product Market Integration and Union Collusion
Authors: Strozzi Chiara 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis paper investigates the effects of product market integration on the incentives and scope for union collusion across borders. In the absence of binding agreements, the impact of this process on the unions’ willingness to collude depends both on the degree of product market integration and on the degree of substitutability among traded goods. Where trade barriers across countries are relatively low, implicit cross‐border collusion among unions is more difficult the more integrated are product markets and the less substitutable are traded goods.
Foreign Direct Investment Outflows and Business‐cycle Fluctuations*
Authors: Wang Miao , Wong M. C. Sunny 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis paper investigates business‐cycle effects for a country’s foreign direct investment (FDI) outflows. Ordinary least squares and panel regressions show that volatility in economic growth has a negative and significant impact on FDI outflows. Furthermore, we find different types of shocks have asymmetric impacts on FDI outflows. In other words, fluctuations of the same magnitude in a boom and a recession have different effects on FDI outflows. This relationship is more evident in OECD countries. We also include exchange rate volatility, lagged business‐cycle measure, and control for potential endogeneity problems as robustness checks. Our findings are robust across different specifications.
Trade, Wage Gaps, and Specific Human Capital Accumulation*
Authors: Van Long Ngo , Riezman Raymond , Soubeyran Antoine 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe develop a new framework for the analysis of the impact of trade liberalization on the wage structure and on welfare. Our model focuses on the decision of workers to accumulate firm‐specific skills, by “on‐the‐job” training, knowing that this means their future wages will have to be negotiated, and that the outcome of negotiation will depend on the profitability prospect of firms operating in a new trading environment. We show that trade liberalization may reduce the welfare of a developing country because of its adverse effect on skill accumulation. We also explore the effects of trade liberalization on the wage gap between skilled and unskilled workers.
Modifying the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation measure for use with people who have a learning disability
Authors: Marshall Keith , Willoughby‐Booth Simon 
Published: February 2007

Accessible summaryThis article looks at a simplified version of a widely used assessment tool called Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation – Outcome Measure (CORE‐OM).

The main reason for carrying out this piece of research was to help people with a learning disability understand a simplified version of CORE‐OM, and help them tell people how distressed they were feeling.
People with learning disabilities helped us test out the measure in different ways to see if it worked properly.
We found one particular way worked really well, but we will have to check this out with more people to make sure.
The people we tested found the simplified CORE‐OM very helpful; they also made some suggestions on how to make it better. We are enthusiastic about developing this, so other people with a learning disability can use the measure in the future.

SummaryThere are few reliable self‐report measures suitable for people with a learning disability in reporting psychological distress. This study examines the modification of the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation – Outcome Measure (CORE‐OM), exploring its reliability, using two different presentation styles. One style included a sequencing task then use of a visual histogram scale to facilitate rating; the other prompted participants to indicate presence or absence of symptoms before using the histogram. The study was conducted on a small sample of people with mental health problems who have a mild learning disability. The modified CORE‐OM was found to have an excellent test–retest correlation with the group who completed the sequencing task, then the histogram scale, but the other group produced less favourable results. The preliminary results are encouraging, highlighting the need to conduct a larger study after further modifications of the measure.
Responses of mosquitoes and German cockroaches to ultrasound emitted from a random ultrasonic generating device
Authors: Ahmad Aqeel , Subramanyam Bhadriraju , Zurek Ludek 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe repellency of ultrasound to females of two species of mosquitoes, Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say and Anopheles gambiae Giles (Diptera: Culicidae), and male and female German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattodea: Blattellidae), was evaluated under laboratory conditions using a random ultrasonic device developed at Kansas State University. This device produces ultrasound in the 20–100 kHz frequency range and random sound patterns at any frequency range. Under the particular settings described in the paper, this ultrasonic device produced sound pressure levels from 91 to 101, 91 to 102, and 90 to 100 dB at the top, bottom, and side panels of the test chamber, respectively (0 dB = 20 micropascals). Sound pressure levels recorded at the center of the top, bottom, and side panels were higher than those recorded at the panel edges. Ultrasound from the random ultrasonic device failed to repel mosquitoes and German cockroaches at the different frequency ranges evaluated. Our results confirm previous findings with commercial devices producing constant sound patterns that ultrasound in general is not a promising tool for repelling mosquitoes and cockroaches.
Tails of the unexpected: palatal medial edge epithelium is no more specialized than other embryonic epithelium
Authors: Brown NL , Sandy JR 
Published: February 2007

Structured AbstractAuthors –  Brown NL, Sandy JRObjective –  To determine whether palatal medial edge epithelium (MEE) is specialized in its ability to disappear compared with other embryonic, non‐palatal, epithelium.Subjects –  Embryonic tissues harvested from CD1 mice.Methods –  Organs were cultured in 2 ml of DMEM/F12 supplemented with 300 μg/ml l‐glutamine and 1% penicillin/streptomycin. Organs were cultured under various conditions including opposing other organs and opposing an inert material for a period of 6 days. Tissues were then processed for histological examination.Results –  MEE of shelves opposing nothing persisted, whereas MEE of shelves contacting another shelf disappeared. When a tail was placed against a palatal shelf the MEE disappeared, as did the epithelium from the tail, resulting in fusion between the shelf and tail. Furthermore, when palatal shelves were placed against an inert material the MEE disappeared, suggesting pressure alone is a sufficient stimulus to initiate disappearance of the MEE, and that the interaction between the two palatal shelves is not a prerequisite for the disappearance of MEE. Moreover, when two embryonic tails were cultured in close apposition they fused, as did paired limbs. Non‐palatal epithelia also disappeared after contact with inert materials. Epithelial disappearance began within 24 h of contact, but there was an age limit.Conclusion –  These findings suggest that embryonic epithelium from non‐specific sites around the body has the ability to disappear with mechanical contact resulting in fusion of tissues. MEE may not be as specialized as once thought.
Patch testing in children – recommendations of the German Contact Dermatitis Research Group (DKG)
Authors: Worm Margitta , Aberer Werner , Agathos Monika , Becker Detlef , Brasch Jochen , Fuchs Thomas , Hillen Uwe , Höger Peter , Mahler Vera , Schnuch Axel , Szliska Christiane 
Published: February 2007

SummaryAllergic contact dermatitis occurs frequently in children. Patch testing is needed to identify the responsible allergens and should be performed in children. We recommend a panel of 12 contact allergens as a standard series in children from 6–12 years. Four additional contact allergens should be tested in case of a positive history or suggestive clinical picture. For patch testing in children, the allergens should be applied for 24 hours and the readings should be performed at 48 and 72 hours. Standardized patch testing makes it possible to systematically investigate allergic contact dermatitis and identify relevant allergens in children.
Perceptual Changes in the Anterior Maxilla after Placement of Endosseous Implants
Authors: Jacobs Reinhilde , Wu Chen‐Han , Goossens Kitty , Van Loven Karen , van Steenberghe Daniel 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT Background: The innervation of skin and oral mucosa plays a major physiologic role in exteroception. It is also of interest clinically, as illustrated by sensory changes after neurosurgical procedures. Purpose: The goal of this study was to assess the perception of mechanical stimuli applied to the anterior maxilla in denture wearers and subjects rehabilitated with osseointegrated implants compared with that in subjects with a natural dentition. Materials and Methods: Five groups of subjects were selected and tested in the maxillary region only. Test groups included patients with a complete denture, an implant‐supported fixed prosthesis (full or partial), or a single‐tooth replacement. Light‐touch sensation and two‐point discrimination were performed on the buccal side of the alveolar mucosa and vibrotactile function was determined for natural teeth, full dentures, or implant‐supported prostheses. Results: For light‐touch sensation, no significant differences could be found between the groups. For two‐point discrimination, full‐denture patients showed higher threshold levels than the other groups. The threshold levels for vibrotactile function were higher in both full dentures and implant‐supported prostheses compared with natural dentitions. Conclusion: Natural dentitions offer superior vibrotactile function compared to any other dental status. Full dentures often show a stronger deterioration of the (vibro)tactile function compared with implant‐supported prostheses.
Biologic and Mechanical Stability of Single‐Tooth Implants:4‐ to 7‐Year Follow‐up
Authors: Norton Michael R. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT Background: Single‐tooth implants have been reported to achieve a high level of surgical and prosthetic success. However, close inspection of the literature reveals a paucity of data on the follow‐up of single‐tooth implants in function for 5 years or more. Since unsplinted implants may be considered to be subject to greater functional stresses, there is a need to report on the long‐term biologic and mechanical integrity of such implant‐supported restorations. Purpose: To report on the long‐term follow‐up of single‐tooth implants, restored and in function for 4 to 7 years. Materials and Methods: Twenty‐seven Astra Tech single‐tooth implants were subject to a clinical audit to evaluate implant and prosthetic success as well as response of both hard and soft tissues over a 1‐ to 4‐year follow‐up. This current report presents data on the biologic and mechanical integrity of 23 of these single‐tooth implants, which have been in function for up to 7 years (mean, 63 mo). Data are provided with respect to implant survival, maintenance of marginal bone levels, soft‐tissue health, and the recording of any adverse events, including prosthetic complications. Results: Only 14 implants in 13 patients were available for review, with no failures for this group of implants. One patient from the original group, who was lost to follow‐up, was known to have suffered an implant failure. Furthermore, in accordance with established criteria, the remaining 13 implants that are not included in this report must at this time also be considered as potential failures. As such, the best‐case scenario would be a 95.6% success rate for the 23 implants included in this review and the worst‐case scenario would be a 60.8% success rate. Mean marginal bone loss measured 0.49 mm mesially and 0.76 mm distally, with a frequency of bone loss of 50%. Soft tissues were clinically healthy. There were few adverse events, with only one case of abutment screw loosening, detected at the 6‐year review. In addition, crown decementation was recorded three times in two patients. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the Astra Tech single‐tooth implant can achieve long‐term biologic and mechanical stability when used to restore single missing teeth, over the long‐term.
Shift from Acetoclastic to H
2
-Dependent Methanogenesis in a West Siberian Peat Bog at Low pH Values and Isolation of an Acidophilic
Methanobacterium
Strain
Authors: Kotsyurbenko O. R. , Friedrich M. W. , Simankova M. V. , Nozhevnikova A. N. , Golyshin P. N. , Timmis K. N. , Conrad R. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT

Methane production and archaeal community composition were studied in samples from an acidic peat bog incubated at different temperatures and pH values. H
2
-dependent methanogenesis increased strongly at the lowest pH, 3.8, and
Methanobacteriaceae
became important except for
Methanomicrobiaceae
and
Methanosarcinaceae
. An acidophilic and psychrotolerant
Methanobacterium
sp. was isolated using H
2
-plus-CO
2
-supplemented medium at pH 4.5.
Time-Resolved Determination of the CcpA Regulon of
Lactococcus lactis
subsp.
cremoris
MG1363
Authors: Zomer Aldert L. , Buist Girbe , Larsen Rasmus , Kok Jan , Kuipers Oscar P. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT

Carbon catabolite control protein A (CcpA) is the main regulator involved in carbon catabolite repression in gram-positive bacteria. Time series gene expression analyses of
Lactococcus lactis
MG1363 and
L. lactis
MG1363Δ
ccpA
using DNA microarrays were used to define the CcpA regulon of
L. lactis
. Based on a comparison of the transcriptome data with putative CcpA binding motifs (
cre
sites) in promoter sequences in the genome of
L. lactis
, 82 direct targets of CcpA were predicted. The main differences in time-dependent expression of CcpA-regulated genes were differences between the exponential and transition growth phases. Large effects were observed for carbon and nitrogen metabolic genes in the exponential growth phase. Effects on nucleotide metabolism genes were observed primarily in the transition phase. Analysis of the positions of putative
cre
sites revealed that there is a link between either repression or activation and the location of the
cre
site within the promoter region. Activation was observed when putative
cre
sites were located upstream of the hexameric −35 sequence at an average position of −56.5 or further upstream with decrements of 10.5 bp. Repression was observed when the
cre
site was located in or downstream of putative −35 and −10 sequences. The highest level of repression was observed when the
cre
site was present at a defined side of the DNA helix relative to the canonical −10 sequence. Gel retardation experiments, Northern blotting, and enzyme assays showed that CcpA represses its own expression and activates the expression of the divergently oriented prolidase-encoding
pepQ
gene, which constitutes a link between regulation of carbon metabolism and regulation of nitrogen metabolism.
CovR Activation of the Dipeptide Permease Promoter (PdppA) in Group A Streptococcus
Authors: Gusa Asiya A. , Froehlich Barbara J. , Desai Devak , Stringer Virginia , Scott June R. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTCovR, the two-component response regulator ofStreptococcus pyogenes(group A streptococcus [GAS]) directly or indirectly represses about 15% of the genome, including genes encoding many virulence factors and itself. Transcriptome analyses also showed that some genes are activated by CovR. We asked whether the regulation by CovR of one of these genes,dppA, the first gene in an operon encoding a dipeptide permease, is direct or indirect. Direct regulation by CovR was suggested by the presence of five CovR consensus binding sequences (CBs) near the putative promoter. In this study, we identified the 5′ end of thedppAtranscript synthesized in vivo and showed that the start ofdppAtranscription in vitro is the same. We found that CovR binds specifically to thedppApromoter region (PdppA) in vitro with an affinity similar to that at which it binds to other CovR-regulated promoters. Disruption of any of the five CBs by a substitution of GG for TT inhibited CovR binding to that site in vitro, and binding at two of the CBs appeared cooperative. In vivo, CovR activation of transcription was not affected by individual mutations of any of the four CBs that we could study. This suggests that the binding sites are redundant in vivo. In vitro, CovR did not activate transcription from PdppAin experiments using purified GAS RNA polymerase and either linear or supercoiled DNA template. Therefore, we propose that in vivo, CovR may interfere with the binding of a repressor of PdppA.
Group B Streptococcal Pilus Proteins Contribute to Adherence to and Invasion of Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells
Authors: Maisey Heather C. , Hensler Mary , Nizet Victor , Doran Kelly S. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT

Surface filamentous structures known as pili have been discovered recently in the gram-positive streptococcal pathogens that cause invasive disease in humans, including group B
Streptococcus
(GBS). We show that two GBS proteins involved in pilus formation, encoded by
pilA
and
pilB
, also facilitate the interaction of this important agent of central nervous system infection with endothelial cells of the human blood-brain barrier.
Competence-Dependent Bacteriocin Production by
Streptococcus gordonii
DL1 (Challis)
Authors: Heng Nicholas C. K. , Tagg John R. , Tompkins Geoffrey R. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT

The production of streptocins STH
1
and STH
2
by
Streptococcus gordonii
DL1 (Challis) is directly controlled by the competence regulon, which requires intact
comR
and
comAB
loci. The streptocin (
sth
) locus comprises two functional genes,
sthA
and
sthB
. Whereas STH
1
activity requires
sthA
alone, STH
2
activity depends on both genes.
The Gene Cluster for Agmatine Catabolism ofEnterococcus faecalis: Study of Recombinant Putrescine Transcarbamylase and Agmatine Deiminase and a Snapshot of Agmatine Deiminase Catalyzing Its Reaction
Authors: Llácer José L. , Polo Luis Mariano , Tavárez Sandra , Alarcón Benito , Hilario Rebeca , Rubio Vicente 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTEnterococcus faecalismakes ATP from agmatine in three steps catalyzed by agmatine deiminase (AgDI), putrescine transcarbamylase (PTC), and carbamate kinase (CK). An antiporter exchanges putrescine for agmatine. We have cloned theE. faecalisef0732 and ef0734 genes of the reported gene cluster for agmatine catabolism, overexpressed them inEscherichia coli, purified the products, characterized them functionally as PTC and AgDI, and crystallized and X-ray diffracted them. The 1.65-Å-resolution structure of AgDI forming a covalent adduct with an agmatine-derived amidine reactional intermediate is described. We provide definitive identification of the gene cluster for agmatine catabolism and confirm that ornithine is a genuine but poor PTC substrate, suggesting that PTC (found here to be trimeric) evolved from ornithine transcarbamylase.N-(Phosphonoacetyl)-putrescine was prepared and shown to strongly (Ki= 10 nM) and selectively inhibit PTC and to improve PTC crystallization. We find thatE. faecalisAgDI, which is committed to ATP generation, closely resembles the AgDIs involved in making polyamines, suggesting the recruitment of a polyamine-synthesizing AgDI into the AgDI pathway. The arginine deiminase (ADI) pathway of arginine catabolism probably supplied the genes for PTC and CK but not those for the agmatine/putrescine antiporter, and thus the AgDI and ADI pathways are not related by a single “en bloc” duplication event. The AgDI crystal structure reveals a tetramer with a five-blade propeller subunit fold, proves that AgDI closely resembles ADI despite a lack of sequence identity, and explains substrate affinity, selectivity, and Cys357-mediated-covalent catalysis. A three-tongued agmatine-triggered gating opens or blocks access to the active center.