bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential protection against MPTP or methamphetamine toxicity in dopamine neurons by deletion of ppN/OFQ expression
Authors: Brown Jeffrey M. , Gouty Shawn , Iyer Varsha , Rosenberger John , Cox Brian M. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractNociceptin (N/OFQ) is an endogenous neuropeptide that plays a role in the behavioral deficits associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). The purpose of the present study was to characterize the protective effects of prepro (pp)N/OFQ gene deletion against two dopamine toxins, MPTP and methamphetamine (METH). Results demonstrate that ppN/OFQ gene deletion attenuates the loss of both the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐positive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and loss of TH and vesicular monoamine transporter‐2 (VMAT) immunoreactivity in the caudate putamen (CPu) of MPTP‐treated mice. This protection was unaffected by age or gender, although, when loss of TH exceeded 90% in 5–6 month‐old mice, the protective effect was greatly diminished. In contrast, METH administration preferentially damaged dopaminergic terminals in the CPu with little effect on dopamine neurons in the SNpc, an effect not reversed by ppN/OFQ gene deletion. To determine if N/OFQ and MPP+ act directly and synergistically on dopamine neurons, differentiated SH‐SY5Y cells were incubated with N/OFQ and/or MPP+. N/OFQ did not increase MPP+‐mediated cell loss, suggesting an indirect action of N/OFQ. These studies demonstrate that inhibition of the endogenous N/OFQ system may represent a new therapeutic target for prevention of neuronal loss associated with PD.
Effects of endogenous β‐amyloid overproduction on tau phosphorylation in cell culture
Authors: Wang Ze‐Fen , Li Hong‐Lian , Li Xia‐Chun , Zhang Qi , Tian Qing , Wang Qun , Xu Huaxi , Wang Jian‐Zhi 
Published: June 2006

AbstractAlzheimer's disease is characterized by β‐amyloid (Aβ) overproduction and tau hyperphosphorylation. Recent studies have shown that synthetic Aβ promotes tau phosphorylation in vitro. However, whether endogenously overproduced Aβ promotes tau phosphorylation and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we used mouse neuroblastoma N2a stably expressing wild‐type amyloid precursor protein (APPwt) or the Swedish mutant APP (APPswe) to determine the alterations of phosphorylated tau and the related protein kinases. We found that phosphorylation of tau at paired helical filament (PHF)‐1, pSer396 and pThr231 epitopes was significantly increased in cells transfected with APPwt and APPswe, which produced higher levels of Aβ than cells transfected with vector or amyloid precursor‐like protein 1. The activity of glycogen synthase kinase‐3 (GSK‐3) was up‐regulated with a concomitant reduction in the inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK‐3 at its N‐terminal Ser9 residue. In contrast, the activity of cyclin‐dependent kinase‐5 (CDK‐5) and protein kinase C (PKC) was down‐regulated. Inhibition of GSK‐3 by LiCl, but not inhibition of CDK‐5 by roscovitine, arrested Aβ secretion and tau phosphorylation. Inhibition of PKC by GF‐109203X activated GSK‐3, whereas activation of PKC by phorbol‐12,13‐dibutyrate inhibited GSK‐3. These results suggest that endogenously overproduced Aβ induces increased tau phosphorylation through activation of GSK‐3, and that inactivation of PKC is at least one of the mechanisms involved in GSK‐3 activation.
Characterization of microsatellite loci in silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), and cross‐amplification in other cyprinid species
Authors: GHEYAS A. A. , CAIRNEY M. , GILMOUR A. E. , SATTAR M. A. , DAS T. K. , McANDREW B. J. , PENMAN D. J. , TAGGART J. B. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractCaptive populations of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), a major aquaculture species in Asia, would undoubtedly benefit from genetic monitoring and improvement programs. We report the isolation and preliminary characterization of 16 microsatellite loci derived from both conventional and microsatellite‐enriched libraries. Inheritance studies confirmed the allelic nature of observed polymorphisms at all loci, while identifying null alleles at two loci. These loci, having varying degrees of polymorphism, should provide useful markers for applied genetic studies. A high degree of cross‐amplification among 10 other cyprinid species suggests that these loci may have more widespread utility.
Isolation and characterization of 149 novel microsatellite DNA markers for striped bass, Morone saxatilis, and cross‐species amplification in white bass, Morone chrysops, and their hybrid
Authors: COUCH C. R. , GARBER A. F. , REXROAD C. E. , ABRAMS J. M. , STANNARD J. A. , WESTERMAN M. E. , SULLIVAN C. V. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractTo support detailed genetic analysis of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and white bass (Morone chrysops), we isolated 153 microsatellite loci from repeat‐enriched striped bass DNA libraries. Of these, 147 markers amplified in striped bass (average 4.7 alleles per locus) and 133 in white bass (average 2.2 alleles per locus). One hundred twenty‐two markers amplified in their hybrid. Development of new microsatellite markers will facilitate evaluations of genetic structure in wild populations and will support pedigree analysis and linkage mapping for selective breeding.
Microsatellite DNA markers for assessing phylogeographic and population structure in Preble's meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius preblei) and cross‐amplification among neighbouring taxa
Authors: KING TIM L. , EACKLES MICHAEL S. , YOUNG COLLEEN C. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractWe document the isolation and characterization of 14 tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA markers in Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei). The identified markers displayed moderate levels of allelic diversity (averaging 4.9 alleles per locus) and heterozygosity (averaging 55.1%). Genotypic and allelic frequencies in a collection of 30 individuals conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium expectations and indicated no linkage disequilibrium. High levels of cross‐amplification (95% overall) among neighbouring subspecies and two congeners (Zapus princeps and Zapus trinotatus) were observed. Multilocus genotypes resulting from these markers appear to provide ample genetic diversity for studies assessing individual‐ and population–level ecological interactions within Z. h. preblei and evolutionary relationships among neighbouring subspecies (Z. h. campestris, Z. h. intermedius, Z. h. pallidus and Z. h. luteus).
Newly developed polymorphic microsatellite markers in Job's tears (Coix lacryma‐jobi L.)
Authors: MA KYUNG‐HO , KIM KWANG‐HO , DIXIT ANUPAM , YU JAE‐WOONG , CHUNG JONG‐WOOK , LEE JEONG‐HEUI , CHO EUN‐GI , KIM TAE SAN , PARK YONG‐JIN 
Published: June 2006

AbstractA microsatellite‐enriched library of Job's tears (Coix lacryma‐jobi L. var. Ma‐yuen Stapf) was constructed using a modified biotin–streptavidin capture method. After screening, 17 polymorphic microsatellites were used for diversity analysis among 30 Job's tears accessions. The number of alleles ranged from one to five alleles per locus with an average of 2.8 alleles. Expected heterozygosity (HE) and polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0 to 0.676 and from 0 to 0.666, respectively. The newly developed microsatellite markers are expected to be very valuable tools for evaluation of genetic diversity among large germplasm collection of Job's tears present in our Korean Gene Bank.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in the sea hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus L., Malvaceae) and related hibiscus species
Authors: TAKAYAMA KOJI , KAJITA TADASHI , MURATA JIN , TATEISHI YOICHI 
Published: June 2006

AbstractMicrosatellite loci were isolated from the sea hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus L., Malvaceae), a pantropical plant with sea‐drifted seeds. This study describes six dinucleotide microsatellite loci for which the primers produced clear and polymorphic amplification patterns with different levels of variability (between three and nine alleles). Six markers were amplified in four other species of hibiscus, greatly increasing the utility of these markers.
Highly polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite loci for the eastern Canary Island lizard, Gallotia atlantica
Authors: BLOOR P. , DE LAGUNA I. H.‐B. , KEMP S. J. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractWe describe 10 polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite loci from the eastern Canary Island lacertid lizard, Gallotia atlantica. Loci were isolated from a partial genomic library that had been enriched for AAAG repeat sequence. All loci were highly polymorphic (eight alleles or more) with observed heterozygosities from 0.75 to 1.00. At least four loci were successfully amplified and polymorphic in the Gran Canarian lacertid, Gallotia stehlini. These loci will be used to examine correlations between patterns of gene flow and recent volcanism on the island of Lanzarote.
Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci from the pink bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)
Authors: LIU YU‐DI , WU KONG‐MING , GUO YU‐YUAN 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThirteen polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed from an enriched partial genomic library for the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), one of the most important cotton pests in the world. The total number of alleles ranged from two to 12 for a sample of 50 individuals and the expected heterozygosity at these loci ranged from 0.042 to 0.830. Although the presence of null alleles in some loci is suspected, these polymorphic markers are likely to provide useful tools for the population genetic studies of this species.
Nested clade analysis statistics
Authors: POSADA DAVID , CRANDALL KEITH A. , TEMPLETON ALAN R. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractNested clade analysis (NCA) is a flexible and powerful method to study the phylogeography of species and populations, implemented in the software geodis. Despite the popularity of this method, an explicit description of the exact equations used to compute the NCA statistics has never been published. Given the importance of the methodology and increased interest in exactly how it works, here we describe the exact equations implemented in the program geodis for the calculation of these statistics.
Development of SSR primers using ISSR–PCR in Diospyros kaki Thunb.
Authors: GUO D. L. , LUO Z. R. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractNine polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers were developed in Japanese persimmon using inter‐SSR (ISSR) suppression polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These primers were tested on 30 individuals from Japan and China. The number of alleles per locus ranged from five to 20. Expected and observed heterozygosities at each locus ranged from 0.42 to 0.77 and from 0.27 to 0.59, respectively. The SSR primers developed herein could be applied to cultivar identification, estimation of genetic diversity and divergence in Diospyros spp.
Two multiplex sets of eight and five microsatellite markers for the European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalisHübner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)
Authors: DALECKY AMBROISE , BOGDANOWICZ STEVEN M. , DOPMAN ERIK B. , BOURGUET DENIS , HARRISON RICHARD G. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractPrimer sequence and polymorphism data are presented for 13 microsatellite loci isolated from the European corn borer moth,Ostrinia nubilalis, as part of a project to construct a linkage map for the two pheromone strains. Experimental conditions are described for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) multiplexing, which allows genotyping in two electrophoresis runs of eight and five markers each. In a sample of 27 individuals coming from one European locality, the number of alleles per locus ranged from one to 12, and gene diversity from 0 to 0.859. Seven loci showed a deficit of heterozygotes. Eleven loci cross‐amplify in the relatedOstrinia furnacalis.
From Prague to Baghdad: Lustration Systems and their Political Effects
Authors: David Roman 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThis article provides a preliminary evaluation of the de-Baathification policy that has been adopted by the occupying forces in Iraq. In order to do this evaluation, the article examines the logic behind major lustration laws approved in East European countries between 1990 and 2003 and assesses their political effects. It introduces the concept of ‘lustration systems’ and provides their classification into either ‘exclusive’, ‘inclusive’, ‘reconciliatory’ or ‘mixed’ systems. It recommends a ‘reconciliatory’ system for the new Iraqi administration as an alternative to the ‘mixed’ system previously pursued by the Coalition authorities in Iraq.
European Union Accession Dynamics and Democratization in Central and Eastern Europe: Past and Future Perspectives
Authors: Pridham Geoffrey 
Published: June 2006

AbstractEU influence in encouraging and promoting democratic consolidation in Central and Eastern Europe has been extensive, though in a wide rather than deep sense. But, as shown by the enlargement process up to 2004, accession dynamics are the crucial force driving governments in the region to meet the EU's political conditionality. Despite the latter's deficiencies, it has by and large contributed towards democratic consolidation in the new member states notwithstanding some negative aspects of accession. The clear lesson for further enlargement in post-Communist Europe is that EU pressure and promise over integration will be decisive in new candidate states, even though their capacity to achieve the political conditions is more problematic. It follows too that any lessening of EU commitment is likely to undermine democratization efforts there.
Captives No Longer, but Servants Still? Contract Parliamentarism and the New Minority Governance in Sweden and New Zealand
Authors: Bale Tim , Bergman Torbjörn 
Published: June 2006

AbstractRecent years have seen the institutionalization of minority governance in Sweden and New Zealand. Large, historic social democratic labour parties enjoy comparative security of tenure thanks to smaller, newer parties with whom they have signed long-term, detailed support agreements covering both policy and process. This trend toward ‘contract parliamentarism’ owes much to party-system dynamics, but also to the accretion of experience, to cultural norms and to institutional constraints – all of which, along with electoral contingency, explain why the trend has gone slightly further in one polity than in the other. While the trend seems to favour the left in general, its implications for the support or ‘servant’ parties, and – more normatively – for democracy itself, may be less favourable.
Being a Man
Authors: Carver Terrell 
Published: June 2006

AbstractMasculine identity confers advantages over the feminine ‘other’, but works differently and in a twofold way. ‘Man’ as the generic representation of ‘the human’ is only apparently de-gendered or gender-neutral. It is in fact gendered masculine and defined within heteronormativity and homophobia. However, there are also overtly gendered roles for men, though these are characteristically represented in selective and flattering ways. Men therefore have little need for an ‘identity politics’ to work against an oppressive norm. Rather they are positioned against each other within competitive hierarchies, which are co-defined with the values and structures of militarism and capitalism.
Flappers and Factory Lads: Youth and Youth Culture in Interwar Britain
Authors: Todd Selina 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe interwar years witnessed a transition in the experience, representation, and treatment of youth. While David Fowler identifies an interwar explosion of a commercialised youth culture, other historians suggest that young people’s lifestyles were fractured by class. More affluent young people were in full‐time education, but the majority of children entered the labour market at the age of fourteen. Young wage‐earners shouldered economic responsibility but increasingly experienced personal affluence as employment opportunities expanded. This influenced the proliferation of dance halls and cinemas and shaped political interest in young people. Gender as well as class affected lifestyles: parents allowed sons more freedom, but young women’s employment opportunities expanded significantly, enabling them to become important leisure consumers. Poverty prevented the emergence of a uniform, commercialised youth culture before the Second World War, but socially, and sometimes politically, young people expressed collective interests and concerns, albeit shaped by social class.
Plot size and maize productivity in Zambia: is there an inverse relationship?
Authors: Kimhi Ayal 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThis article examines the relationship between maize productivity and plot size in Zambia. It offers a unique empirical approach. First, it focuses on maize, which is the major crop on small and medium size farms in Zambia, but also accounts for the endogenous determination of the size of the plot devoted to maize. Previous studies have used total farm size or harvested area. Second, it corrects for selectivity in maize cultivation. Third, it controls for differences in land quality and weather conditions across districts. Finally, it offers a structural interpretation of the above framework by modeling farm decisions as a sequential, two‐stage process, in which land is first allocated to the different crops based on the information set of the farmers at the time of planting, and the yield is affected by subsequent application of inputs, the quantities of which may depend on additional information that is revealed after planting. We use this recursive structure and the differences in the information sets over time to identify the model.The results show that the endogeneity of plot size is very important in this analysis. When considering plot size as an exogenous explanatory variable, we find a monotonic positive relationship between the yield of maize and plot size, indicating that economies of scale are dominant throughout the plot size distribution. However, when we correct for the endogeneity of plot size, we find that the inverse relationship dominates the economies of scale in all plots up to 3 ha, which constitute 86% of our sample. These results suggest that market imperfections should be targeted by any policy aimed at increasing maize productivity in Zambia.
A real options analysis of coffee planting in Vietnam
Authors: Luong Quoc V. , Tauer Loren W. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractVietnam grew from an insignificant to the world's second largest coffee producer during the 1990s. To understand this growth, this article examines Vietnamese coffee growers' investment decisions using real options theory. The study finds that producers, with variable costs of 19 cents/lb and total cost of 29.3 cents/lb, would enter coffee production at a coffee price of 47 cents/lb and exit at a coffee price of 14 cents/lb. Most Vietnamese growers appear to be sufficiently efficient to continue producing coffee even at relatively depressed price levels.
The political economy of farmland ownership regulations and land prices
Authors: Ferguson Shon , Furtan Hartley , Carlberg Jared 
Published: June 2006

AbstractOne of the most ubiquitous forms of agricultural regulation is a restriction on farmland ownership. One Canadian example of a farmland ownership restriction is The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act (FSA), passed in 1974. The purpose of this article is to explain, using a political economy framework, why the FSA was implemented and to estimate the effect of the FSA on Saskatchewan farmland values. A Present Value (PV) model is used to estimate the relationship between land values, rents, and the regulation. The Hausman endogeneity test reveals that the regulation variable is endogenous with the land price. The sign of the regulation variable is negative, which fits with the theory, i.e., the more stringent the regulation the lower the land value. We estimate that the regulation lowered Saskatchewan farmland prices by an average of 4 to 34 US$/acre, depending on whether ordinary least squares (OLS) or two‐stage least squares (TSLS) is employed in the estimation, over the period of 1974–2001.
Is agriculture the engine of growth?
Authors: Tiffin Richard , Irz Xavier 
Published: June 2006

AbstractWe seek to address formally the question raised by Gardner (2003) in his Elmhirst lecture as to the direction of causality between agricultural value added per worker and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. Using the Granger causality test in the panel data analyzed by Gardner for 85 countries, we find overwhelming evidence that supports the conclusion that agricultural value added is the causal variable in developing countries, while the direction of causality in developed countries is unclear. We also examine further the use of the Granger causality test in integrated data and provide evidence that the performance of the test can be increased in small samples through the use of the bootstrap.
Multidimensional goals of beef and dairy producers: an inter‐industry comparison
Authors: Basarir Aydin , Gillespie Jeffrey M. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe relative importance of seven goals were elicited for Louisiana beef and dairy producers using the fuzzy pair‐wise comparison method. Beef producers were more concerned with maintaining and conserving land, while dairy producers were more concerned with financial goals such as maximizing profit and avoiding years of loss or low profit.
Ninety percent success in palatal implants loaded 1 week after placement: a clinical evaluation by resonance frequency analysis
Authors: Crismani Adriano Giacomo , Bernhart Thomas , Schwarz Kerstin , Čelar Aleš Gaetano , Bantleon Hans‐Peter , Watzek Georg 
Published: June 2006

AbstractPurpose: To investigate the behaviour of early loaded palatal implants when observed with resonance frequency analysis (RFA).Subject, material and methods: Twenty patients (seven males and 13 females, mean age 26.4 years) received one palatal implant each (length: 4 mm, diameter: 3.3 mm; Orthosystem®) for maximum orthodontic anchorage. The implants' stability was observed by RFA. Measurements were carried out at the time of surgery, after first orthodontic loading and subsequently once a week over a period of 12 weeks.Results: Two palatal implants were lost. The other 18 remained stable. The average period from insertion to first loading was 6.7±0.8 days. The mean orthodontic force applied was 272.2±73.2 cN. The implant stability quotient (ISQ) value at the time of surgery averaged 69.4±3.9. The mean ISQ value 6.7 days after insertion was 69.8±3.6. Twelve weeks post‐surgery the mean ISQ value was 69.8±3.5. A statistically significant decrease in stability was observed after 2 and 3 weeks post‐surgery (P=0.005 and 0.04).Conclusion: The behaviour of early loaded palatal implants showed an initial decrease of the ISQ values. From 6 weeks post‐surgery onward the ISQ values increased. Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest that the healing time of palatal implants reported in the literature (12 weeks) should be discussed. An orthodontic loading of palatal implants 6 weeks post‐surgery with a force up to 400 cN seems to be justified. Yet further investigations are necessary to evaluate the behaviour of early loaded palatal implants considering observation periods of over 12 weeks.