bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Toll‐like receptors and immune regulation: their direct and indirect modulation on regulatory CD4+ CD25+ T cells
Authors: Liu Guangwei , Zhao Yong 
Published: September 2007

SummaryRegulatory CD4+ CD25+ T (Treg) cells with the ability to suppress host immune responses against self‐ or non‐self antigens play important roles in the processes of autoimmunity, transplant rejection, infectious diseases and cancers. The proper regulation of CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells is thus critical for optimal immune responses. Toll‐like receptor (TLR)‐mediated recognition of specific structures of invading pathogens initiates innate as well as adaptive immune responses via antigen‐presenting cells (APCs). Interestingly, new evidence suggests that TLR signalling may directly or indirectly regulate the immunosuppressive function of CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells in immune responses. TLR signalling may shift the balance between CD4+ T‐helper cells and Treg cells, and subsequently influence the outcome of the immune response. This immunomodulation pathway may therefore have potential applications in the treatment of graft rejection, autoimmune diseases, infection diseases and cancers.
Effect of warm‐rearing and heat acclimation on pituitary‐gonadal axis in male rats
Authors: Kurowicka B. , Gajewska A. , Amarowicz R. , Kotwica G. 
Published: September 2007

SummaryPlasma gonadotrophic and testicular hormones concentrations in both immature and adult male rats exposed to 34 °C of ambient temperature were determined. In vitro steroidogenic ability of interstitial cells from experimental rats was also studied. Four groups of rats (n = 45) were used. Warm‐reared (WR) males were housed in 34 °C and control‐reared rats in 20 °C from birth to adulthood. The other groups were acclimated to 34 °C [warm‐acclimated (WA) group] or 20 °C [deacclimated (DA) group] as adults. Decreased body weight and testis weight (p < 0.05) was found in heat‐exposed groups, but relative testis weight was unchanged in WA and increased (p < 0.05) in WR and DA males. Plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration increased in WA and DA males. Increased (p < 0.05) follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin plasma levels were found in DA and WR groups respectively. WA males had decreased testosterone (T) and WR rats androstenedione (A4) plasma concentration (p < 0.05). Interstitial cells (43% of them were Leydig cells by 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity) from heat‐exposed males secreted less (p < 0.05) T compared with the control group when incubated without LH (basal conditions). Androstenedione secretion decreased (p < 0.05) in WA rats. Secretion of estradiol‐17β (E2) was higher in WR and lower in DA cells under basal conditions. Weaker responsiveness to LH was observed in WR cells. Androgen synthesis from pregnenolone by interstitial cells increased (p < 0.05) in the WA group. We concluded that heat exposure of neonatal and adult male rats caused different pituitary‐testicular axis adjustments. It seemed that long‐term heat exposure of neonatal rats is less deleterious concerning the activity of pituitary‐testicular axis than heat acclimation of adults.
Subfertility among parents of men diagnosed with testicular cancer
Authors: Aschim Elin L. , Haugen Trine B. , Tretli Steinar , Grotmol Tom 
Published: September 2007

SummaryIt is well known that men with testicular cancer also have reduced fertility before diagnosis. It is unclear, however, whether their parents also have reduced fertility. We performed a population‐based record linkage study comparing parental fertility among 3711 testicular cancer cases and 371 100 control males. The cases were diagnosed from 1961 to 2001, and the data were analysed by logistic regression. Included indicators of parental fertility were number of children, rate of unlike‐sex twins as a proxy for dizygotic twinning rate, and proportion of boys. The number of children was reduced across increasing sibship size among both mothers [odds ratio (OR) = 0.95, p(trend) = 0.003] and fathers [OR = 0.97, p(trend) = 0.057] of subjects with testicular cancer. The proportion of unlike‐sex twins was also reduced among their mothers [(OR = 0.56, p = 0.049 (adjusted for year of birth)] and fathers [(OR = 0.56, p = 0.049 (adjusted for year of birth)]. The results were only marginally changed when also adjusting for respective parental age. Our study indicates that parents of testicular cancer cases have reduced fertility. This suggests that genetic factors are important in the association between testicular cancer and reduced fertility.
Evolutionary and biogeographical patterns within the smelt genusHypomesusin the North Pacific Ocean
Authors: Ilves Katriina L. , Taylor Eric B. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractAim We address questions about trans‐Pacific distributions of marine organisms and the North Pacific Ocean as a centre of marine biodiversity through a phylogenetic and biogeographical study of a pan‐Pacific genus of Northern Hemisphere smelts (Hypomesus, Pisces: Osmeridae).Location North Pacific Ocean.Methods Relationships of the five species ofHypomesusfrom throughout the North Pacific were reconstructed through maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of sequence data from two mitochondrial (cytb, 16S) and three nuclear (ITS2, S71, RAG1) gene regions of five to 25 individuals per species, totalling 3588 characters. The resulting phylogenies were used to test hypotheses of species relationships and geographical origins using both dispersal‐based and maximum likelihood methods for inferring ancestral areas (lagrange). Cytbsequence divergence and a Bayesian approach (beast) were used to estimate the timeframe ofHypomesusevolution, which was compared with work on similarly distributed taxa.Results Hypothesized trans‐Pacific Ocean relationships based on lateral line scale counts were not supported by the phylogeny, suggesting parallel evolution of this phenotype, although we found one such relationship between the westernH. japonicusand the two eastern Pacific species (H. pretiosusandH. transpacificus). Dispersalist approaches rejected an early proposal of a double‐compression vicariant mechanism as well as an eastern Pacific origin. Results from thelagrangeanalysis suggested a more widespread ancestor, although also supporting a role for the western Pacific. Divergence estimates suggested that most splits between species occurred in the mid‐Miocene, and the most recent speciation event, between the eastern Pacific species, occurred in the Pliocene to early Pleistocene.Main conclusions Our molecular data indicate that the character historically used to define relationships withinHypomesus, lateral line scale count, does not reflect ancestry within the genus. Biogeographical reconstructions suggest an important role for the western North Pacific in the diversification ofHypomesus. While uncertainty remains over the date of origin for this genus, estimates place the divergences during periods of climatic cooling that have been important in generating diversity in a number of similarly distributed organisms. Additional comparative data will provide further insight into the relative importance of the western region in generating diversity in the North Pacific Ocean.
Effect of water on germination of Plasmopara viticola oospores
Authors: Rossi V. , Caffi T. 
Published: September 2007

The effect of moisture in grape leaf litter holding overwintering Plasmopara viticola oospores was investigated. Oospores were incubated under different regimes of water activity (aW 0·991 to 0·123) for 2 to 15 days and their ability to germinate and cause infection was determined using a sensitive leaf disk assay. Reduction of aW caused a significant shift in the infection dynamics, with maximum effect when aW ≤ 0·56. Dynamics of aW in the leaf litter under natural conditions were estimated from moisture data using a Chen‐Clayton equation. Daily patterns of leaf litter moisture (M in % weight) were determined in non rainy periods between mid February and mid June, while the Chen‐Clayton equation was calculated using data of aW and M measured in both sorption and desorption conditions, at different temperatures. Water activity was highest at 08·00 hours, decreased progressively until 14·00 hours, and then increased. Water activity was favourable for oospores to develop in about 25% of the measurements, all made between 18·00 hours and 08·00 hours. A close relationship was found between vapour pressure deficit (VPD in hPa) and aW of the leaf litter, so that when VPD is lower than 2·13 hPa there is sufficient water for oospores to develop. Results showed that leaf litter moisture due to water from the atmosphere makes oospore development possible during non rainy periods.
First cosmic ray exposure dating (in situ produced 10Be) of the late pleistocene and holocene glaciation in the Nanhutashan Mountains (Taiwan)
Authors: Carcaillet J. , Siame L. L. , Chu H.‐T. , Bourlès D. L. , Lu W.‐C. , Angelier J. , Dussouillez P. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractIn Taiwan, efficient climate‐driven strong erosion processes are the leading cause for low preservation of geomorphic landforms. Despite the absence of present‐day glaciers, glacial relicts have been reported in high altitude areas. These scarce landforms provide opportunities for reconstructing the timing of the last deglaciation in a region where glacial history is poorly documented. We have collected boulders and striated bedrocks in the Nanhutashan area and calculated surface exposure ages based on in‐situ produced 10Be concentrations. The oldest glacial remains, dated at 11.1 ± 3.3 ka, correspond to the last glacial advance. The Holocene is characterized by a continuous retreat of the ice‐cap until at least 7.2 ± 1.0 ka. Our results are in agreement with a scenario where changes of monsoon regimes lead to a strong reduction of the winter monsoon during the early Holocene, causing a decrease of snow supply and disequilibrium of the hydrological budget.
Structure of earthquake occurrence in space, time and magnitude
Authors: Corral Álvaro 
Published: September 2007

AbstractDistributions of time between consecutive earthquakes verify an approximately universal scaling law for stationary seismicity. The shape of these distributions is shown to arise as a mixture of one distribution for short‐distance events and an exponential distribution for far‐off events, the distinction from short and long distances being relative to the size of the region studied. The distributions of consecutive distances show a double power law decay and verify an approximate scaling law which guarantees the simultaneous fulfillment of the scaling laws for time. The interplay between space and time can be seen as well by looking at the distribution of distances for a fixed time separation. These results suggest that seismicity can be understood as a series of intertwined independent continuous‐time random walks, with power law‐distributed waiting times and Lévy‐flight jumps. However, a simple model based on these ideas does not capture the invariance of seismicity under renormalization.
Particle shape evolution in natural carbonate granular wear material
Authors: Storti Fabrizio , Balsamo Fabrizio , Salvini Francesco 
Published: September 2007

AbstractA fundamental yet still unresolved puzzle provided by cataclasis is whether particle size reduction mostly progresses through time by the same fragmentation mechanism or not. Available field, laboratory and numerical modelling results on the evolution of cataclastic rocks are still controversial. The evidence that cataclastic rocks exert a primary control on the frictional strength, stability, seismic velocity and permeability properties of fault zones encourages further research on cataclasis. Here, we report data on particle shape from natural cataclastic rocks in poorly layered carbonates in the Apulian foreland of the Southern Apennines of Italy. Particle shape analyses show that particle angularity decreases with increasing size and, for a given size class, it decreases with increasing fractal dimension of the particle size distribution. These results offer support to the temporally and spatially variable nature of rock comminution.
The calcium sensor CBL10 mediates salt tolerance by regulating ion homeostasis in Arabidopsis
Authors: Kim Beom‐Gi , Waadt Rainer , Cheong Yong Hwa , Pandey Girdhar K. , Dominguez‐Solis Jose R. , Schültke Stefanie , Lee Sung Chul , Kudla Jörg , Luan Sheng 
Published: September 2007

SummaryCalcium serves as a critical messenger in many adaptation and developmental processes. Cellular calcium signals are detected and transmitted by sensor molecules such as calcium‐binding proteins. In plants, the calcineurin B‐like protein (CBL) family represents a unique group of calcium sensors and plays a key role in decoding calcium transients by specifically interacting with and regulating a family of protein kinases (CIPKs). We report here that the CBL protein CBL10 functions as a crucial regulator of salt tolerance in Arabidopsis. Cbl10 mutant plants exhibited significant growth defects and showed hypersensitive cell death in leaf tissues under high‐salt conditions. Interestingly, the Na+ content of the cbl10 mutant, unlike other salt‐sensitive mutants identified thus far, was significantly lower than in the wild type under either normal or high‐salt conditions, suggesting that CBL10 mediates a novel Ca2+‐signaling pathway for salt tolerance. Indeed, the CBL10 protein physically interacts with the salt‐tolerance factor CIPK24 (SOS2), and the CBL10–CIPK24 (SOS2) complex is associated with the vacuolar compartments that are responsible for salt storage and detoxification in plant cells. These findings suggest that CBL10 and CIPK24 (SOS2) constitute a novel salt‐tolerance pathway that regulates the sequestration/compartmentalization of Na+ in plant cells. Because CIPK24 (SOS2) also interacts with CBL4 (SOS3) and regulates salt export across the plasma membrane, our study identifies CIPK24 (SOS2) as a multi‐functional protein kinase that regulates different aspects of salt tolerance by interacting with distinct CBL calcium sensors.
Cross‐talk between gibberellin and auxin in development of Populus wood: gibberellin stimulates polar auxin transport and has a common transcriptome with auxin
Authors: Björklund Simon , Antti Henrik , Uddestrand Ida , Moritz Thomas , Sundberg Björn 
Published: September 2007

SummaryBoth indole acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellins (GAs) stimulate cell and organ growth. We have examined GA/IAA cross‐talk in cambial growth of hybrid aspen (Populus tremula×tremuloides). Decapitated trees were fed with IAA and GA, alone and in combination. Endogenous hormone levels after feeding were measured, by mass spectrometry, in the stem tissues below the point of application. These stem tissues with defined hormone balances were also used for global transcriptome analysis, and the abundance of selected transcripts was measured by real‐time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction. By feeding isotope‐labeled IAA, we demonstrated that GA increases auxin levels in the stem by stimulating polar auxin transport. This finding adds a new dimension to the concept that the endogenous GA/IAA balance in plants is determined by cross‐talk between the two hormones. We also show that GA has a common transcriptome with auxin, including many transcripts related to cell growth. This finding provides molecular support to physiological experiments demonstrating that either hormone can induce growth if the other hormone is absent/deficient because of mutations or experimental treatments. It also highlights the potential for extensive cross‐talk between GA‐ and auxin‐induced responses in vegetative growth of the intact plant. The role of endogenous IAA and GA in wood development is discussed.
Identification of a plastid intercistronic expression element (IEE) facilitating the expression of stable translatable monocistronic mRNAs from operons
Authors: Zhou Fei , Karcher Daniel , Bock Ralph 
Published: September 2007

SummaryMost plastid genes are part of operons and expressed as polycistronic mRNAs. Many primary polycistronic transcripts undergo post‐transcriptional processing in monocistronic or oligocistronic units. At least some polycistronic transcripts are not translatable, and endonucleolytic processing may therefore be a prerequisite for translation to occur. As the requirements for intercistronic mRNA processing into stable monocistronic transcript are not well understood, we have sought to define minimum sequence elements that trigger processing and thus are capable of generating stable translatable monocistronic mRNAs. We describe here the in vivo identification of a small intercistronic expression element that mediates intercistronic cleavage into stable monocistronic transcripts. Separation of foreign genes by this element facilitates transgene stacking in operons, and thus will help to expand the range of applications of transplastomic technology.
Malassezia slooffiae‐associated dermatitis in a goat
Authors: Uzal Francisco A. , Paulson Deborah , Eigenheer Andrea L. , Walker Richard L. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractAn adult male Pygmy goat with a history of losing hair and declining body condition was euthanized, and a complete diagnostic work‐up was performed. The animal showed diffuse alopecia on the dorsal and lateral sides of thorax and abdomen, proximal legs, neck and face. Histology revealed diffuse orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, epidermal hyperplasia and perivascular dermatitis. Broad‐based budding yeasts and hyphae were visible in the keratin layer. Malassezia slooffiae was identified in the skin by polymerase chain reaction amplification of part of the large subunit rRNA gene using broad‐range fungal primers and DNA sequencing. This is the first report of M. slooffiae‐associated dermatitis in goats.
In vivo long‐term effects of retinoic acid exposure in utero on induced hyperplastic epidermal foci in murine skin
Authors: García‐Fernández Rosa A. , Pérez‐Martínez Claudia , Espinosa‐Álvarez Javier , García‐Iglesias Maria J. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractAdult Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice, after prenatal exposure to retinoic acid (RA), were treated with a standard two‐stage skin carcinogenesis regime to characterize hyperplastic epidermal foci that precede the appearance of cutaneous papillomas, and to investigate the in vivo long‐term action of RA on adult mouse skin treated with DMBA (7,12 dimethyl benz[a]anthracene) and TPA (12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol 13‐acetate). The results demonstrate that RA administered to pregnant mice had a long‐term inhibitory action on the cell differentiation and development of hyperplastic lesions occurring prior to cancer on the adult skin of their offspring as well as a stimulatory effect on cell proliferation of these hyperplastic lesions.
Proliferative and necrotizing otitis externa in four cats
Authors: Mauldin Elizabeth A. , Ness Timothy A. , Goldschmidt Michael H 
Published: September 2007

AbstractProliferative and necrotizing feline otitis externa is a rare disorder of unknown aetiology. This condition was diagnosed by skin biopsy in three adult domestic shorthair cats (3–5 years old) and one kitten (6 months old). The affected cats had large tan to dark brown‐black coalescing plaques covering the concave surface of the pinnae and external ear canals. Friable material from the plaques and a thick exudate occluded the ear canals. The cats had a secondary bacterial and/or yeast otitis. Prior to the histopathological diagnosis, all cats received numerous otic preparations as well as oral antibiotics and corticosteroids without resolution. Histologically, all cases had strikingly similar changes; acanthosis with pronounced hair follicle outer root sheath hyperplasia and neutrophilic luminal folliculitis, follicular keratosis and individually necrotic keratinocytes in the outer root sheath of hair follicles. One case was documented via skin biopsy to have persisted for 4 years. The adult cats were treated with topical 0.1% tacrolimus and all showed marked improvement although one cat was lost to follow up. The lesions completely resolved with topical tacrolimus alone in one cat and topical tacrolimus in addition to oral prednisolone in another cat.
Cutaneous reactive histiocytosis in dogs: a retrospective evaluation of 32 cases
Authors: Palmeiro Brian S. , Morris Daniel O. , Goldschmidt Michael H. , Mauldin Elizabeth A. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractThirty‐two cases of canine cutaneous histiocytosis were retrospectively evaluated. Median age at onset was 4 years. Lesions included nodules and plaques affecting the head/face, trunk and limbs, and erythema, swelling and depigmentation of the nasal planum/nares. Systemic involvement was not ruled out in all cases. All dogs had complete resolution of dermatological lesions after initial treatment (median 45 days). Initial treatment included prednisone +/– antibiotics (12 of 32 dogs), prednisone and tetracycline/niacinamide (four of 32), prednisone and azathioprine (three of 32), tetracycline/niacinamide +/– vitamin E/essential fatty acids (six of 32), antibiotics +/– antihistamines (three of 32), cyclosporine and ketoconazole (one of 32), topical therapy (two of 32), and no treatment (one of 32). Seventeen dogs received maintenance therapy which consisted of tetracycline/niacinamide +/– vitamin E/essential fatty acids (12 of 17), cyclosporine/ketoconazole (two to three times a week) (two of 17), azathioprine daily (one of 17), prednisone/azathioprine (two times a week) (one of 17), and prednisone daily (one of 17). Median follow up was 25 months. Nine dogs had a recurrence of cutaneous histiocytosis (median days to recurrence 130 days), with seven of nine having more than one recurrence. At study completion, six dogs were deceased (no lesions at the time of death) and 26 of 32 were alive with no lesions. Ten of 26 dogs were on maintenance treatment (eight tetracycline/niacinamide, one azathioprine, one vitamin E). Previous dermatological disease and season had no detectable influence on recurrence. Recurrence was significantly more likely in dogs with nasal planum/nares lesions than dogs without these lesions. Tetracycline/niacinamide was an effective treatment option for dogs in this study population.
Development of an owner‐assessed scale to measure the severity of pruritus in dogs
Authors: Hill P. B. , Lau P. , Rybnicek J. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractAssessment of pruritus is critical in dermatological history taking, both for initial diagnosis and for monitoring treatment. Various methods of assessing pruritus in the dog have been described but none have been validated. In this study, four different pruritus scales were initially assessed: a 0–5 numerical scale; a scale containing six categories of pruritic behaviours; a scale with six basic descriptors of severity; and a visual analogue scale with severity descriptions at either end. One hundred and sixteen owners were asked to grade their dog's pruritus with each of the four scales given to them in a randomized order, and asked which they thought was easiest to use, which was most accurate in assessing their dog's pruritus level, and which two scales they would combine to make a superior scale. Pruritus scores from different scales were highly correlated with each other, but scores were significantly higher with the severity and numerical scales compared to the behaviour scale. Based on the clients’ responses, a new scale was developed that combined features of the behaviour and severity‐based scales with the visual analogue scale. When tested on 166 different owners, 98% thought it was easy to use and accurate in assessing their dog's pruritus level. In 44 dogs, independent scores obtained by two owners were highly correlated (R = 0.8; P < 0.0001), confirming the scale's repeatability. The new scale proved to be an easy and repeatable method for owners to determine the severity of pruritus in their dog.