bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Manipulation of Strawberry Fruit Softening by Antisense Expression of a Pectate Lyase Gene
Authors: Jiménez-Bermúdez Silvia , Redondo-Nevado José , Muñoz-Blanco Juan , Caballero José L. , López-Aranda José M. , Valpuesta Victoriano , Pliego-Alfaro Fernando , Quesada Miguel A. , Mercado José A. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa, Duch., cv Chandler) is a soft fruit with a short postharvest life, mainly due to a rapid lost of firm texture. To control the strawberry fruit softening, we obtained transgenic plants that incorporate an antisense sequence of a strawberry pectate lyase gene under the control of the 35S promoter. Forty-one independent transgenic lines (Apel lines) were obtained, propagated in the greenhouse for agronomical analysis, and compared with control plants, non-transformed plants, and transgenic lines transformed with the pGUSINT plasmid. Total yield was significantly reduced in 33 of the 41 Apel lines. At the stage of full ripen, no differences in color, size, shape, and weight were observed between Apel and control fruit. However, in most of the Apel lines, ripened fruits were significantly firmer than controls. Six Apel lines were selected for further analysis. In all these lines, the pectate lyase gene expression in ripened fruit was 30% lower than in control, being totally suppressed in three of them. Cell wall material isolated from ripened Apel fruit showed a lower degree of in vitro swelling and a lower amount of ionically bound pectins than control fruit. An analysis of firmness at three different stages of fruit development (green, white, and red) showed that the highest reduction of softening in Apel fruit occurred during the transition from the white to the red stage. The postharvest softening of Apel fruit was also diminished. Our results indicate that pectate lyase gene is an excellent candidate for biotechnological improvement of fruit softening in strawberry.
Selenium Assimilation and Volatilization from Selenocyanate-Treated Indian Mustard and Muskgrass
Authors: de Souza Mark P. , Pickering Ingrid J. , Walla Michael , Terry Norman 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Selenocyanate (SeCN−) is a major contaminant in the effluents from some oil refineries, power plants, and in mine drainage water. In this study, we determined the potential of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) and muskgrass (a macroalga,Chara canescens) for SeCN− phytoremediation in upland and wetland situations, respectively. The tolerance of Indian mustard to toxic levels of SeCN− was similar to or higher than other toxic forms of Se. Indian mustard treated with 20 μm SeCN− removed 30% (w/v) of the Se supplied in 5 d, accumulating 554 and 86 μg of Se g−1 dry weight in roots and shoots, respectively. Under similar conditions, muskgrass removed approximately 9% (w/v) of the Se supplied as SeCN− and accumulated 27 μg of Se g−1 dry weight. A biochemical pathway for SeCN− degradation was proposed for Indian mustard. Indian mustard and muskgrass efficiently degraded SeCN− as none of the Se accumulated by either organism remained in this form. Indian mustard accumulated predominantly organic Se, whereas muskgrass contained Se mainly as selenite and organic Se forms. Indian mustard produced volatile Se from SeCN− in the form of less toxic dimethylselenide. Se volatilization by Indian mustard accounted for only 0.7% (w/v) of the SeCN− removed, likely because the biochemical steps in the production of dimethylselenide from organic Se were rate limiting. Indian mustard is promising for the phytoremediation of SeCN−-contaminated soil and water because of its remarkable abilities to phytoextract SeCN−and degrade all the accumulated SeCN− to other Se forms.
Functional Analysis of Tomato Pti4 in Arabidopsis,
Authors: Wu Keqiang , Tian Lining , Hollingworth Jamie , Brown Daniel C.W. , Miki Brian 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Pti4 is a tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) transcription factor that belongs to the ERF (ethylene-responsive element binding factor) family of proteins. It interacts with the Pto kinase in tomato, which confers resistance to the Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato pathogen that causes bacterial speck disease. To study the function of Pti4, transgenic Arabidopsis plants were generated that expressed tomatoPti4 driven by the strong constitutive promoters, cauliflower mosaic virus 35S and tCUP. Global gene expression analysis by Affimetric GeneChip indicated that expression of Pti4 in transgenic Arabidopsis plants induced the expression of GCC box-containing PR genes. We also demonstrated that Pti4 enhanced GCC box-mediated transcription of a reporter gene. The data suggests that tomato Pti4 could act as a transcriptional activator to regulate expression of GCC box-containing genes. Furthermore, we show that the expression of tomatoPti4 in transgenic Arabidopsis plants produced a phenotype similar to that seen in plants treated with ethylene, thus providing evidence that the Pti4 gene is involved in the regulation of a subset of ethylene-responsive genes containing the GCC box.
Transgenic Production of Epoxy Fatty Acids by Expression of a Cytochrome P450 Enzyme from Euphorbia lagascaeSeed
Authors: Cahoon Edgar B. , Ripp Kevin G. , Hall Sarah E. , McGonigle Brian 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Seed oils of a number of Asteraceae and Euphorbiaceae species are enriched in 12-epoxyoctadeca-cis-9-enoic acid (vernolic acid), an unusual 18-carbon Δ12-epoxy fatty acid with potential industrial value. It has been previously demonstrated that the epoxy group of vernolic acid is synthesized by the activity of a Δ12-oleic acid desaturase-like enzyme in seeds of the Asteraceae Crepis palaestina and Vernonia galamensis. In contrast, results from metabolic studies have suggested the involvement of a cytochrome P450 enzyme in vernolic acid synthesis in seeds of the Euphorbiaceae species Euphorbia lagascae. To clarify the biosynthetic origin of vernolic acid in E. lagascae seed, an expressed sequence tag analysis was conducted. Among 1,006 randomly sequenced cDNAs from developingE. lagascae seeds, two identical expressed sequence tags were identified that encode a cytochrome P450 enzyme classified as CYP726A1. Consistent with the seed-specific occurrence of vernolic acid in E. lagascae, mRNA corresponding to theCYP726A1 gene was abundant in developing seeds, but was not detected in leaves. In addition, expression of the E. lagascae CYP726A1 cDNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was accompanied by production of vernolic acid in cultures supplied with linoleic acid and an epoxy fatty acid tentatively identified as 12-epoxyoctadeca-9,15-dienoic acid (12-epoxy-18:2Δ9,15) in cultures supplied with α-linolenic acid. Consistent with this, expression of CYP726A1 in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) callus or somatic soybean (Glycine max) embryos resulted in the accumulation of vernolic acid and 12-epoxy-18:2Δ9,15. Overall, these results conclusively demonstrate that Asteraceae species and the Euphorbiaceae E. lagascae have evolved structurally unrelated enzymes to generate the Δ12-epoxy group of vernolic acid.
Activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases is involved in the induction of interferon β gene in macrophages infected with Orientia tsutsugamushi
Authors: Koo Jung‐Eun , Yun Ji‐Hyun , Lee Keun‐Hwa , Hyun Jin‐Won , Kang Hee‐Kyoung , Jang Won‐Jong , Park Kyung‐Hee , Koh Young‐Sang 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTWe investigated the role of MAPK in IFN‐β gene expression in macrophages after infection with Orientia tsutsugamushi. ERK1/2 became phosphorylated in Orientia‐stimulated macrophages. Selective inhibition of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK could all significantly reduce Orientia‐stimulated IFN‐β mRNA expression. Orientia inactivation by heat abolished IFN‐β mRNA induction only, whereas cytochalasin D treatment completely blocked both IFN‐β and chemokine expression, suggesting requirement of cellular internalization by viable bacteria for IFN‐β gene induction. In conclusion, our data indicate that MAPK pathways are required to induce maximal IFN‐β gene expression in macrophages during Orientia infection.
Patients’ experience of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: baseline health‐related quality of life results from the LRF CLL4 trial
Authors: Else Monica , Smith Alastair G. , Cocks Kim , Richards Sue M. , Crofts Shirley , Wade Rachel , Catovsky Daniel ,   on behalf of the UK NCRI CLL Trials Group
Published: November 2008

SummaryWe examined the effects of active untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ‐C30) at randomisation into the Leukaemia Research Fund CLL4 trial. Patients were scored 0–100 within each of 15 domains. A difference between groups of ≥10 points was deemed clinically significant (asterisked * below). 431 valid baseline questionnaires were returned. Compared with population norms, patients had impaired HRQoL in 13/15 domains. The greatest differences were in fatigue*, sleep disturbance*, role functioning and global HRQoL. Fatigue was reported by 81% of patients, compared with the next most common symptoms: sleep disturbance (56%) and dyspnoea (49%). There was no association between spleen, liver or lymph node enlargement, or lymphocytosis and any HRQoL domain. Older age (≥70 years) was associated with poorer physical functioning (P < 0·001) but fewer financial difficulties (P < 0·001*). Impairment of HRQoL at baseline was most apparent in stage A‐progressive patients with B‐symptoms and stage C patients with haemoglobin <120 g/l: compared with all others, these patients had poorer physical, role and social functioning, more fatigue and dyspnoea and poorer global HRQoL (all P ≤ 0·001*). These findings support the recommendation to begin treatment when patients experience symptomatic disease, to improve HRQoL.
Novel archaeal plasmid pAH1 and its interactions with the lipothrixvirus AFV1
Authors: Basta Tamara , Smyth John , Forterre Patrick , Prangishvili David , Peng Xu 
Published: November 2008

SummaryAt present very little is known about interactions between extrachromosomal genetic elements in Archaea. Here we describe an Acidianus strain which carries naturally a novel 28 kb conjugative plasmid‐like element, pAH1, and also serves as a laboratory host for lipothrixvirus AFV1. In an attempt to establish a system for studying plasmid–virus interactions we characterized the genome of pAH1 which closely resembles those of the Sulfolobus conjugative plasmids pARN3 and pARN4. pAH1 integrates site specifically into, and excises from, the host chromosome indicating a dynamic interaction with the latter. Although nucleotide sequence comparisons revealed extensive intergenomic exchange during the evolution of archaeal conjugative plasmids, pAH1 was shown to be stably maintained suggesting that the host system is suitable for studying plasmid–virus interactions. AFV1 infection and propagation leads to a loss of the circular form of pAH1 and this effect correlates positively with the increase in the intracellular quantity of AFV1 DNA. We infer that the virus inhibits plasmid replication since no pAH1 degradation was observed. This mechanism of archaeal viral inhibition of plasmid propagation is not observed in bacteria where relevant bacteriophages either are dependent on a conjugative plasmid for successful infection or are excluded by a resident plasmid.
Facies architecture and depositional processes of the Holocene–Recent accretionary forced regressive Skagen spit system, Denmark
Authors: NIELSEN LARS HENRIK , JOHANNESSEN PETER NIELS 
Published: November 2008

AbstractSpit systems are seldom recognized in the pre‐Quaternary sedimentary record compared to their common occurrence along present‐day coasts and in Quaternary successions. This lack of recognition may partly be due to the lack of widely accepted depositional models describing the facies characteristics of spit systems and their subaqueous platforms in particular. The Skagen spit system is a large active system that began to form 7150 yr bp and from 5500 bp to Recent times it has prograded 4 m year−1 and accumulated 3·5 × 109 m3 of sand. The spit system provides a unique opportunity for establishing a well‐constrained depositional model because uplift and erosion have made large windows into the preserved facies, while active spit‐forming processes can be examined at the young prograding end of the same system. The depositional model presented here thus builds on excellent outcrops, surface morphology, a well‐defined palaeogeography and detailed C14 age control supplemented with observations from continuous well cores and profiles obtained by ground‐penetrating radar and transient electromagnetic surveys. The factors that have governed the development of the spit system, such as relative sea‐level change, wave and current climate, tidal range, sediment transport and depositional rates are also well‐understood. The sedimentary facies of the spit system are grouped into four principal units consisting from below of thick storm sand beds, dune and bar‐trough deposits, beach deposits and peat beds. These four units form a coarsening and shallowing upward sand‐dominated succession, up to 32 m thick, which overlies offshore silt with a transition zone and is topped by a diastem overlain by young aeolian dune sand. The sedimentary structures and depositional processes are described in detail and integrated into a depositional model, which is compared to other spit systems and linear shoreface models.
Ankyloglossia in Dogs: A Morphological and Immunohistochemical Study
Authors: Karahan S. , ÇInar Kul B. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryAnkyloglossia is a congenital anomaly of the tongue that is usually characterized by a short and thick lingual frenulum. The genetic mutations such as in TBox genes and other foetal mechanism have still been under investigation as possible causes of ankyloglossia. This study describes morphology of anklyoglossia phenotype found in members of two closely bred Kangal dog families. Morphology of ankyloglossia and immunohistochemical localization of αB‐crystallin, an anti‐apoptotic protein, in the frenulum tissue collected during frenectomy was described. Grossly, the lingual frenulum was observed as it extended up to the tip or near the tip of the tongue. The tip of the tongue was often notched and appeared in ‘W’ shape. No other craniofacial anomalies were associated with ankyloglossia. Histologically, the frenulum tissue was covered by stratified squamous epithelia of variable thickness. Skeletal muscle fibres were often scattered in the vicinity of collagen fibres of the lamina propria. αB‐crystallin was immunolocalized exclusively in skeletal muscle fibres. In conclusion, ankyloglossia in the dog generally occurs as a sole anomaly. The presence of αB‐crystallin immunoreactivity exclusively in skeletal muscle fibres suggests that there may be a connection between occurrences of ankyloglossia in the dog and a delay or interference with apoptosis of the skeletal fibres in the frenulum tissue.
Gross Anatomy of the Female Genital Organs of the Domestic Donkey (Equus asinusLinné, 1758)
Authors: Renner‐Martin T. F. P. , Forstenpointner G. , Weissengruber G. E. , Eberhardt L. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryAlthough donkeys play an important role as companion or pack and draught animals, theriogenological studies and anatomical data on the genital organs of the jenny are sparse. To provide anatomical descriptions and morphometric data, the organa genitalia feminina, their arteries and the ligamentum latum uteri of 10 adult but maiden jennies were examined by means of gross anatomical and morphometric techniques. In comparison with anatomical data of horses obtained from literature the genital organs of jennies appear to be more voluminous in relation to the body mass and the position of the ovaries is slightly further cranial than in mares. In asses, the ovaries contain large follicles reaching a diameter of up to 40 mm. The mesosalpinx is much wider than in the horse forming a considerably spacious bursa ovarica. The asinine ligamentum teres uteri reveals a very prominent cranial end, the ‘appendix’. Tortuous mucosal folds occur in the wall of the jenny’s cervical channel. The vascularization of the female genital organs of asses is very similar to that of horses. One of the examined specimens reveals a large mucosal fold dividing the cranial part of the vagina into a left and right compartment.
Prenatal Development of the Human Epicardiac Ganglia
Authors: Saburkina I. , Pauziene N. , Pauza D. H. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryThe aim of this study was to determine the developmental anatomy of intrinsic cardiac ganglia with respect to epicardiac ganglionated nerve plexus in the human fetuses at different gestation stages. Twenty fetal hearts were investigated applying a technique of histochemistry for acetylcholinesterase to visualize the epicardiac neural ganglionated plexus with its subsequent examinations on total (non‐sectioned) hearts. Most epicardiac ganglia embodied multilayered neurons and were oval in shape, but some ganglia involved neurons lying in one layer or had the irregular appearance because of their extensions along inter‐ganglionic nerves. The mean ganglion area of fetuses at gestation stages of 15–40 weeks was 0.03 ± 0.008 mm2. The largest epicardiac ganglia, reaching in area 0.4 mm2, were concentrated on the dorsal surface of both atria. The particular fused or “dual” ganglia were identified at the gestation stages of 23–40 weeks, but they composed only 2.3 ± 0.7% of all found epicardiac ganglia. A direct positive correlation was determined between the fetal age and the ganglion area (mm2) as well as between the fetal age and the number of inter‐ganglionic nerves. The revealed appearance of epicardiac ganglia in the human fetuses at 15–40 weeks of gestation confirms their prenatal development and presumable intrinsic remodelling.
Ovarian Structure in Mice Lines Selected for Weight
Authors: Bernardi S. F. , Brogliatti G. , Oyarzabal M. I. 
Published: November 2008

SummarySelection for body weight at 49 day of age (s and h, downward selected lines; s′ and h′, upward selected lines) affected reproductive traits in CF1 mice lines. The objective of this study was to compare ovarian structures in females of these lines, as well as in unselected controls (Line t). The number of ovarian follicles (N), follicle diameter (FD), number of corpora lutea (CL), litter size (LS), and body weight (W), were recorded. There were significant differences among lines for N, FD, CL, LS and W; means values for the lines with the greatest difference for post‐pubertal females were: Ns = 19.3 and Ns′ = 32.7; FDh′ = 161.7 and FDs′ = 178.2; CLh = 10.3 and CLs′ = 21.9; LSs = 6.0 and LSh′ = 11.1; Wh = 18.9 and Ws′ = 32.4. There were also differences between positive lines; Line s′ had a higher proportion of large follicles in pre‐pubertal females, a greater capacity to convert these follicles into CL, but a lower capacity to maintain embryos until term than Line h′. For negative lines, Line h apparently had a reduced incidence of embryonic loss when compared with Line s. In conclusion, selection for body weight modified ovarian structure, as well as reproductive efficiency.
Effect of hCG Treatment on the Oestrous and Ovulation Responses to FSH in Prepubertal Gilts
Authors: Manjarin R , Dominguez JC , Castro MJ , Sprecher DJ , Cassar G , Friendship RM , Kirkwood RN 
Published: November 2008

ContentsTo ensure sufficient numbers of pregnant females, particularly at hotter times of the year, hormonal induction of gilt oestrus may be necessary. However, the gilt oestrus and ovulation responses to gonadotrophin treatment have often proven unpredictable. The objective of this study was to examine possible reasons for this unpredictability. Prepubertal gilts (approximately 150 days of age, n = 63) were assigned to one of three treatments: injection of 300 IU hCG (n = 15); pre‐treatment with 100 mg FSH in polyvinylpyrrolidinone administered as 2 × 50 mg injections 24 h apart, followed by 600 IU eCG at 24 h after the second FSH injection (n = 23); or FSH pre‐treatment as above followed by 300 IU hCG at 24 h after the second FSH injection (n = 25). To facilitate oestrus detection, gilts were exposed to a mature boar for 15 min daily for 7 days. Blood samples were obtained on the day of eCG or hCG injection and again 10 days later and gilt ovulation responses determined based on elevated progesterone concentrations. The oestrus responses by 7 days were 6.7%, 17.5% and 64.0% for gilts treated with hCG, FSH + eCG and FSH + hCG, respectively (p < 0.001). The oestrous gilt receiving hCG alone and one oestrous FSH + hCG gilt did not ovulate, all other oestrous gilts ovulated. A further two anoestrous FSH + eCG‐treated gilts ovulated. These data suggest that FSH pre‐treatment facilitated the development of ovarian follicles to the point where they became responsive to hCG, but had little effect on the response to eCG.
Acute BRSV Infection in Young AI Bulls: Effect on Sperm Quality
Authors: Alm K , Koskinen E , Vahtiala S , Andersson M 
Published: November 2008

ContentsBovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) infection is an important part of the calf pneumonia complex, occasionally affecting even adult cattle. However, the pathogenicity of BRSV in animals older than 6 months is often neglected. Finland is free of many contagious diseases in farm animals, and this gives a good opportunity to study the effects of specific pathogens on bovine reproduction. This report describes the deteriorating effects of BRSV epizootics on sperm morphology and fertility of young dairy bulls (n = 79) at a bull station. More than half of the young bulls had a clinical respiratory disease caused by BRSV during their quarantine when they were 6 months old. Four of seven subsequent quarantine groups were affected. Six months later, when these seropositive bulls (n = 54) came into semen production, they had poorer sperm morphology, and the proportion of normal spermatozoa was 74.1% in BRSV‐seropositive animals compared with 81.2% in seronegative bulls (n = 25) (p = 0.035). Field fertility was also slightly affected, the 60‐day non‐return rates were 75.2% and 76.8% for BRSV seropositive and seronegative bulls respectively (p = 0.014). Potential reasons for lowered sperm quality are discussed here.
Effect of Entrepreneurial Behaviour on Researchers' Knowledge Production: Evidence from Canadian Universities
Authors: Rherrad Imad 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe article studies the differences in knowledge production between academic researchers. In this perspective, it attempts at first to answer the following question: what factors explain differences in knowledge production between Canadian researchers in natural sciences and engineering? After a presentation of some of the empirical evidence related to this first question, a distinction between two types of academic institutions, entrepreneurial versus non‐entrepreneurial universities, is introduced. Drawing from this distinction, four empirical models are suggested to test differences in knowledge production between entrepreneurial and non‐entrepreneurial researchers. The results show, first, that funding, time devoted to teaching activities, research team and individual attributes have a similar but differentiated impact on knowledge production of entrepreneurial and non‐entrepreneurial researchers. Second, there are some unbalanced effects of the variables co‐operation, time devoted to research activities, academic fields and university size on the knowledge production of Canadian researchers on natural science and engineering.