bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hypochlorous acid scavenging properties of local mediterranean plant foods
Authors: Schaffer Sebastian , Eckert Gunter P. , Müller Walter E. , Llorach Rafael , Rivera Diego , Grande Simona , Galli Claudio , Visioli Francesco 
Published: November 2006

AbstractOxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, which are low in the Mediterranean area possibly due to a high dietary proportion of plant food. Ethanolic extracts were prepared from more than 120 Mediterranean edible plants collected in remote areas (which maintain their tradional diet) and their antioxidant potential was studied. Extracts derived from Agaricus campestris, Cyana cardunculus, Thymus pulegioides, and Vicia faba were subjected to further analysis in this study. The extracts' potential to scavenge the DPPH radical (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl), as well as their antioxidant capacity, was comparable to the those obtained for standard antioxidants (e.g., quercetin, Trolox), Myeloperoxidase (MPO) catalyzes the production of the highly chlorinating and oxidizing agent HOCl, which reacts with the LDL apoprotein moiety, leading to the derivatization of its aminoacidic residues. Coincubation with extracts significantly prevented HOCl‐induced modification of the LDL residue tryptophan, whereas higher concentrations were required to retard lysine damage. Moreover, the extracts inhibited MPO‐catalyzed guaiacol oxidation in a concentration‐dependent manner in a cell‐free assay but, in contrast, did not affect MPO activity in isolated human neutrophils. MPO is also known to facilitate nitric dioxide oxidation. The formation of 3‐nitrotyrosine was significantly lower in bovine endothelial aortic cells incubated with C. cardunculus or T. pulegioides. In synthesis, our study shows that local Mediterranean plant foods prevent HOCI toxicity in vitro and, thus suggests further mechanisms responsible for the reported health‐beneficial effect of the Mediterranean diet.
Water precautions and ear surgery: evidence and practice in the UK
Authors: Basu S , Georgalas C , Sen P , Bhattacharyya A K 
Published: November 2006

Background: Patients are traditionally advised to refrain from exposing their ears to water after most otological procedures. However, recent evidence suggests that water does not adversely affect the outcome for children with tympanostomy tubes. The evidence behind the potential harmful effects of water on the outcome of other otological procedures is scarce.Objective: The study was done to determine the current practice of otolaryngology consultants in the UK on the advice given to patients regarding swimming, diving and bathing in soapy water after myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion, mastoidectomy and myringoplasty.Method: Questionnaire based survey mailed to 382 members (consultants only) of the British Association of Otolaryngologists – Head & Neck Surgeons in the UK.Results: A total of 195 responses were received (reply rate 51 per cent). In all, 95.6 per cent of the respondents allowed their patients to swim after insertion of tympanostomy tubes, with 32.9 per cent insisting on the use of earplugs until extrusion of the tympanostomy tubes. However, 61.6 per cent of the respondents restricted diving in these patients. In comparison, the respondents were more conservative with water precautions following myringoplasty and mastoidectomy. More than half the respondents recommended earplugs for bathing after all three operations.Conclusion: This study reveals current national practice among UK otolaryngologists. There is no general consensus in post-operative advice following otolaryngological procedures, indicating a need for national guidelines.
The maturation of balance in children
Authors: Cumberworth V L , Patel N N , Rogers W , Kenyon G S 
Published: November 2006

Background: Balance function is known to change with age during infancy and childhood. However, the relative contributions of the three primary inputs to position sense are not fully understood.Methods: In this paper we report the computerised dynamic posturography findings in a group of 60 healthy children from the age of five to 17.Results: The results confirm that there is a progressive improvement in balance function with age. The EquiTest system that was used gave indications of the relative contributions of the three principal contributors to overall balance function and showed that somatosensory function was intact throughout the age range tested and that there are significant increases in vestibular function with age and visual contribution with height. The technique used was found to be reliable and repeatable in this paediatric sample.Conclusions: It is hoped that a better understanding of the normal age related development of balance will be helpful in dealing with children presenting with disequilibrium and vertigo.
No association of the CYP3A5*1 allele with blood pressure and left ventricular mass and geometry: the KORA/MONICA Augsburg echocardiographic substudy
Authors: Lieb Wolfgang , Bolbrinker Juliane , Döring Angela , Hense Hans-Werner , Erdmann Jeanette , Schunkert Heribert , Kreutz Reinhold 
Published: November 2006

A polymorphism in the cytochrome P450 3A CYP3A5 enzyme has been implicated in BP (blood pressure) control and arterial hypertension. Carriers of the CYP3A5*1 allele had high, whereas homozygous carriers of the CYP3A5*3 allele exhibit low, CYP3A5 expression in the kidney, where CYP3A5 represents the major CYP3A enzyme. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of the CYP3A5*1 allele with BP, arterial hypertension, LVM [(left ventricular) mass] and LV geometry in a large Caucasian-population-based cohort. We compared BP, LVM and the prevalence of hypertension between carriers (CYP3A5*1/*1 and CYP3A5*1/*3 genotypes) and non-carriers (CYP3A5*3/*3 genotype) of the CYP3A5*1 allele in the echocardiographic substudy of the third MONICA (MONItoring trends and determinants in CArdiovascular disease) Augsburg survey. After exclusion of 269 individuals who were taking antihypertensive medication, 530 women and 554 men were available for analysis, revealing allele frequencies of 5.8 and 94.2% for the CYP3A5*1 and CYP3A5*3 alleles respectively. Overall, the presence of the CYP3A5*1 allele exhibited no effect on systolic or diastolic BP in either gender. One-third of the individuals in this cohort were hypertensive (BP ≥140/90 mmHg), and the genotype distribution between normotensive and hypertensive individuals revealed no association between CYP3A5*1 and hypertension after adjustment for age, BMI and gender (odds ratio, 1.02; P=0.92). Moreover, no effect of CYP3A5*1 on LVM, thickness of the septal and posterior wall and LV end-diastolic diameter was found. We conclude that CYP3A5*1 exhibits no significant effect on BP, LVM and LV geometry in the KORA/MONICA echocardiographic substudy.
Predicting transcription factor affinities to DNA from a biophysical model
Authors: Roider Helge G. , Kanhere Aditi , Manke Thomas , Vingron Martin 
Published: November 2006

AbstractMotivation: Theoretical efforts to understand the regulation of gene expression are traditionally centered around the identification of transcription factor binding sites at specific DNA positions. More recently these efforts have been supplemented by experimental data for relative binding affinities of proteins to longer intergenic sequences. The question arises to what extent these two approaches converge. In this paper, we adopt a physical binding model to predict the relative binding affinity of a transcription factor for a given sequence.Results: We find that a significant fraction of genome-wide binding data in yeast can be accounted for by simple count matrices and a physical model with only two parameters. We demonstrate that our approach is both conceptually and practically more powerful than traditional methods, which require selection of a cutoff. Our analysis yields biologically meaningful parameters, suitable for predicting relative binding affinities in the absence of experimental binding data.Availability: The C source code for our TRAP program is freely available for non-commercial use atContact: vingron@molgen.mpg.de
A Membrane-Bound NAC Transcription Factor Regulates Cell Division inArabidopsis
Authors: Kim Youn-Sung , Kim Sang-Gyu , Park Jung-Eun , Park Hye-Young , Lim Mi-Hye , Chua Nam-Hai , Park Chung-Mo 
Published: November 2006

AbstractControlled release of membrane-tethered, dormant precursors is an intriguing activation mechanism that regulates diverse cellular functions in eukaryotes. An exquisite example is the proteolytic activation of membrane-bound transcription factors. The proteolytic cleavage liberates active transcription factors from the membranes that can enter the nucleus and evokes rapid transcriptional responses to incoming stimuli. Here, we show that a membrane-bound NAC (for NAM, ATAF1/2, CUC2) transcription factor, designated NTM1 (for NAC with transmembrane motif1), is activated by proteolytic cleavage through regulated intramembrane proteolysis and mediates cytokinin signaling during cell division in Arabidopsis thaliana. Cell proliferation was greatly reduced in an Arabidopsis mutant with retarded growth and serrated leaves in which a transcriptionally active NTM1 form was constitutively expressed. Accordingly, a subset of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor genes (the KIP-related proteins) was induced in this mutant with a significant reduction in histone H4 gene expression and in CDK activity. Consistent with a role for NTM1 in cell cycling, a Ds element insertional mutant was morphologically normal but displayed enhanced hypocotyl growth with accelerated cell division. Interestingly, cytokinins were found to regulate NTM1 activity by controlling its stability. These results indicate that the membrane-mediated activation of NTM1 defines a molecular mechanism by which cytokinin signaling is tightly regulated during cell cycling.
SIAMESE, a Plant-Specific Cell Cycle Regulator, Controls Endoreplication Onset inArabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Churchman Michelle L. , Brown Matthew L. , Kato Naohiro , Kirik Viktor , Hülskamp Martin , Inzé Dirk , De Veylder Lieven , Walker Jason D. , Zheng Zhengui , Oppenheimer David G. , Gwin Taylor , Churchman Jason , Larkin John C. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractRecessive mutations in the SIAMESE (SIM) gene of Arabidopsis thaliana result in multicellular trichomes harboring individual nuclei with a low ploidy level, a phenotype strikingly different from that of wild-type trichomes, which are single cells with a nuclear DNA content of ∼16C to 32C. These observations suggested that SIM is required to suppress mitosis as part of the switch to endoreplication in trichomes. Here, we demonstrate that SIM encodes a nuclear-localized 14-kD protein containing a cyclin binding motif and a motif found in ICK/KRP (for Interactors of Cdc2 kinase/Kip-related protein) cell cycle inhibitor proteins. Accordingly, SIM was found to associate with D-type cyclins and CDKA;1. Homologs of SIM were detected in other dicots and in monocots but not in mammals or fungi. SIM proteins are expressed throughout the shoot apical meristem, in leaf primordia, and in the elongation zone of the root and are localized to the nucleus. Plants overexpressing SIM are slow-growing and have narrow leaves and enlarged epidermal cells with an increased DNA content resulting from additional endocycles. We hypothesize that SIM encodes a plant-specific CDK inhibitor with a key function in the mitosis-to-endoreplication transition.
The Balance between theMIR164AandCUC2Genes Controls Leaf Margin Serration inArabidopsis
Authors: Nikovics Krisztina , Blein Thomas , Peaucelle Alexis , Ishida Tetsuya , Morin Halima , Aida Mitsuhiro , Laufs Patrick 
Published: November 2006

AbstractCUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON1 (CUC1), CUC2, and CUC3 define the boundary domain around organs in the Arabidopsis thaliana meristem. CUC1 and CUC2 transcripts are targeted by a microRNA (miRNA), miR164, encoded by MIR164A, B, and C. We show that each MIR164 is transcribed to generate a large population of primary miRNAs of variable size with a locally conserved secondary structure around the pre-miRNA. We identified mutations in the MIR164A gene that deepen serration of the leaf margin. By contrast, leaves of plants overexpressing miR164 have smooth margins. Enhanced leaf serration was observed following the expression of an miR164-resistant CUC2 but not of an miR164-resistant CUC1. Furthermore, CUC2 inactivation abolished serration in mir164a mutants and the wild type, whereas CUC1 inactivation did not. Thus, CUC2 specifically controls leaf margin development. CUC2 and MIR164A are transcribed in overlapping domains at the margins of young leaf primordia, with transcription gradually restricted to the sinus, where the leaf margins become serrated. We suggest that leaf margin development is controlled by a two-step process in Arabidopsis. The pattern of serration is determined first, independently of CUC2 and miR164. The balance between coexpressed CUC2 and MIR164A then determines the extent of serration.
Fine‐scale natal homing and localized movement as shaped by sex and spawning habitat in Chinook salmon: insights from spatial autocorrelation analysis of individual genotypes
Authors: NEVILLE H. M. , ISAAK D. J. , DUNHAM J. B. , THUROW R. F. , RIEMAN B. E. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractNatal homing is a hallmark of the life history of salmonid fishes, but the spatial scale of homing within local, naturally reproducing salmon populations is still poorly understood. Accurate homing (paired with restricted movement) should lead to the existence of fine‐scale genetic structuring due to the spatial clustering of related individuals on spawning grounds. Thus, we explored the spatial resolution of natal homing using genetic associations among individual Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in an interconnected stream network. We also investigated the relationship between genetic patterns and two factors hypothesized to influence natal homing and localized movements at finer scales in this species, localized patterns in the distribution of spawning gravels and sex. Spatial autocorrelation analyses showed that spawning locations in both sub‐basins of our study site were spatially clumped, but the upper sub‐basin generally had a larger spatial extent and continuity of redd locations than the lower sub‐basin, where the distribution of redds and associated habitat conditions were more patchy. Male genotypes were not autocorrelated at any spatial scale in either sub‐basin. Female genotypes showed significant spatial autocorrelation and genetic patterns for females varied in the direction predicted between the two sub‐basins, with much stronger autocorrelation in the sub‐basin with less continuity in spawning gravels. The patterns observed here support predictions about differential constraints and breeding tactics between the two sexes and the potential for fine‐scale habitat structure to influence the precision of natal homing and localized movements of individual Chinook salmon on their breeding grounds.
A spatial genetic structure and effects of relatedness on mate choice in a wild bird population
Authors: FOERSTER K. , VALCU M. , JOHNSEN A. , KEMPENAERS B. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractInbreeding depression, as commonly found in natural populations, should favour the evolution of inbreeding avoidance mechanisms. If natal dispersal, the first and probably most effective mechanism, does not lead to a complete separation of males and females from a common origin, a small‐scale genetic population structure may result and other mechanisms to avoid inbreeding may exist. We studied the genetic population structure and individual mating patterns in blue tits (Parus caeruleus). The population showed a local genetic structure in two out of four years: genetic relatedness between individuals (estimated from microsatellite markers) decreased with distance. This pattern was mainly caused by immigrants to the study area; these, if paired with fellow immigrants, were more related than expected by chance. Since blue tits did not avoid inbreeding with their social partner, we examined if individuals preferred less related partners at later stages of the mate choice process. We found no evidence that females or males avoided inbreeding through extra‐pair copulations or through mate desertion and postbreeding dispersal. Although the small‐scale genetic population structure suggests that blue tits could use a simple rule of thumb to select less related mates, females did not generally prefer more distantly breeding extra‐pair partners. However, the proportion of young fathered by an extra‐pair male in mixed paternity broods depended on the genetic relatedness with the female. This suggests that there is a fertilization bias towards less related copulation partners and that blue tits are able to reduce the costs of inbreeding through a postcopulatory process.
The utility of QTL‐Linked markers to detect selective sweeps in natural populations — a case study of theEDAgene and a linked marker in threespine stickleback
Authors: CANO J. M. , MATSUBA C. , MÄKINEN H. , MERILÄ J. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractSequence polymorphisms in coding genes and variability in quantitative trait loci (QTL)‐linked markers can be used to uncover the evolutionary mechanisms of traits involved in adaptive processes. We studied sequence variation in theEDAgene and allelic variation in 18 microsatellites — one of which (Gac4174) is linked with theEDAQTL — in low, partially and completely plated morphs from eight threespine stickleback European populations. The results agree with previous studies in thatEDApolymorphism is closely related to plate number variation:EDAsequences grouped populations into low and completely plated morphs, whereas microsatellites failed to do so. Furthermore, partially plated fish were heterozygous with respect to the distinctiveEDAalleles for completely and low plated morphs, indicating that completely plated morph alleles are not entirely dominant in controlling the expression of lateral plate number. An examination of population differentiation in plate number with quantitative genetic methods revealed that the degree of differentiation exceeded that expected from genetic drift alone (QST > FST). Our results support the adaptive genetic differentiation of plate morphs and the view that distinctiveEDAgene polymorphism occurs in similar sites across the distribution range of this species. Yet, allele frequency differentiation in the Gac4174 microsatellite locus, informative in experimental crosses for plate number variation, did not differ from that of neutral markers and, was therefore unable to detect the signature of natural selection responsible for population divergence.
Uncoupling of choline‐O‐sulphate utilization from osmoprotection in Pseudomonas putida
Authors: Galvão Teca Calcagno , De Lorenzo Víctor , Cánovas David 
Published: November 2006

SummaryThe genomic context of the recognized bet genes for choline‐O‐sulphate (COS) utilization in Pseudomonas putida KT2440 is such that betC (choline sulphatase) lies adjacent to an ATP‐binding cassette transporter and a LysR type regulator, but well away from betBA, encoding enzymes for transformation of choline into glycine betaine. The consequences of such genetic layout of the functions for COS metabolism have been examined with a suite of genetic and biochemical approaches. An early clue of the utilities of the bet‐encoded products was exposed by the phenotypes of a betC deletion. This mutant still accumulated intact COS but failed to use this compound as carbon or nitrogen source. Furthermore, betC expression was downregulated at high salt concentrations, showing that the principal role of this gene lied in COS metabolism, not in osmoprotection. In contrast, the betBA genes were required for choline transformation into the highly effective compatible solute glycine betaine (and the concomitant endurance to high salt) and also for its utilization as carbon or nitrogen source. Thus, unlike in the cases of Bacillus subtilis and Sinorhizobium meliloti, betC is unrelated to osmoprotection in Pseudomonas putida while the betBA genes are required for both betaine synthesis and tolerance to high osmotic pressure.
WFCAM, Spitzer/IRAC and SCUBA observations of the massive star-forming region DR21/W75 – II. Stellar content and star formation
Authors: Kumar M. S. N. , Davis C. J. , Grave J. M. C. , Ferreira B. , Froebrich D. 
Published: November 2006

Abstract
Wide-field near-infrared observations and Spitzer Space Telescope Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) observations of the DR21/W75 star formation regions are presented. The photometric data are used to analyse the extinction, stellar content and clustering in the entire region by using standard methods. A young stellar population is identified all over the observed field, which is found to be distributed in embedded clusters that are surrounded by a distributed halo population extending over a larger projected area. The Spitzer/IRAC data are used to compute a spectral index value, α, for each young stellar object in the field. We use these data to separate pure photospheres from disc excess sources. We find a small fraction of sources with α in excess of 2 to 3 (plus a handful with α∼ 4), which is much higher than the values found in the low-mass star-forming region IC 348 (α≤ 2). The sources with high values of α spatially coincide with the densest regions of the filaments and also with the sites of massive star formation. Star formation is found to be occurring in long filaments stretching to few parsecs that are fragmented over a scale of ∼1 pc. The spatial distribution of young stars are found to be correlated with the filamentary nebulae that are prominently revealed by 8- and 850-μm observations. Five filaments are identified that appear to converge on a centre that includes the DR21/DR21(OH) regions. The morphological pattern of filaments and clustering compare well with numerical simulations of star cluster formation by Bate et al.
Amnion graft following hysteroscopic lysis of intrauterine adhesions
Authors: Amer Mohamed I. , Abd‐El‐Maeboud Karim H. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractAim:  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of amnion grafting after hysteroscopic lysis of intrauterine adhesions.Methods:  In a pilot study involving 25 patients with moderate or severe intrauterine adhesions, hysteroscopic adhesiolysis was followed by intrauterine application of a fresh amnion graft over an inflated balloon of a Foley’s catheter for 2 weeks. Follow‐up hysteroscopy was performed after 4 months. Outcome measures included recurrence of adhesions, achievement of normal menstrual flow, and improvement in the uterine length.Results:  Moderate (group A) and severe (group B) adhesions were found in 12 and 13 subjects, respectively. Uterine perforation occurred in two patients in group B, one treated conservatively and the other via laparoscopy. No clinical evidence of infection was observed, and spontaneous expulsion of the balloon occurred within days in three patients, with easy removal after 2 weeks in the rest of the subjects. Significant improvement in uterine length was found in both groups. Despite improvement, failure to achieve normal menstrual flow was found in 16.7% in group A versus 23.1% in group B. Follow‐up hysteroscopy revealed adhesion reformation in 48%, all belonging to group B, all with minimal adhesions. Moderate adhesions were found in only two subjects with previous tuberculous endometritis.Conclusion:  Hysteroscopic lysis of intrauterine adhesions with amnion grafting seems to be a promising procedure for decreasing recurrence of adhesions and encouraging endometrial regeneration. Randomized comparative studies are needed to validate its benefits, including reproductive outcome.