bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Implant Design and Surface on Bone Regeneration and Implant Stability: An Experimental Study in the Dog Mandible
Authors: Rasmusson Lars , Kahnberg Karl‐Erik , Tan Albert 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT Background: Previous experimental studies have shown a higher degree of bone‐implant contact for surface‐enlarged implants compared with machined implants. Yet, there is insufficient evidence that such implants show higher stability and an increased survival rate. Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to study the integration and stability of grit‐blasted implants with retention elements on the implant neck, with and without marginal bone defects, compared with machined implants without retention elements. Materials and Methods: After tooth extraction of the mandibular premolars in six dogs, two grit‐blasted, partly microthreaded Astra Tech implants and one standard Branemark implant were bilaterally placed in each dog. On one side, 3 ± 3 mm large buccal defects were created, to expose three to four implant threads. The contralateral side served as control, and no defects were made. The animals were sacrificed after 4 months of healing. Implant stability was measured using resonance frequency analysis at implant installation and after 4 months of healing. Histologic and histomorpho‐metric evaluation was made after 4 months of healing. Results: Resonance frequency analysis indicated that all implants in the test and control groups were osseointegrated after 4 months, with a tendency toward higher implant stability for the Astra Tech implants. There was a statistically significant higher increase in resonance frequency for the Astra test implants compared with their corresponding controls. Histology and histomorphometry showed well‐integrated implants with varying degrees of bone repair at the defect sites. The greater bone‐implant contact for the Astra implants was statistically significant. No significant difference between the implants in amount of bone filling the threads was recorded. Conclusions: The Astra Tech implants tested showed a higher degree of bone—implant contact and higher level of bone regenerated at defect sites compared with the Brånemark implants. Resonance frequency analysis demonstrated a significantly higher increase in the Astra test implants compared with their control groups than did the Brånemark test implants versus their controls.
Changes in Thermostability of Photosystem II and Leaf Lipid Composition of Rice Mutant with Deficiency of Light‐harvesting Chlorophyll a/b Protein Complexes
Authors: Tang Yunlai , Chen Mei , Xu Yinong , Kuang Tingyun 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe studied the difference in thermostability of photosystem II (PSII) and leaf lipid composition between a T‐DNA insertion mutant rice (Oryza sativa L.) VG28 and its wild type Zhonghua 11. Native green gel and SDS‐PAGE electro‐phoreses revealed that the mutant VG28 lacked all light‐harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein complexes. Both the mutant and wild type were sensitive to high temperatures, and the maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/ Fm) and oxygen‐evolving activity of PSII in leaves significantly decreased with increasing temperature. However, the PSII activity of the mutant was markedly more sensitive to high temperatures than that of the wild type. Lipid composition analysis showed that the mutant had less phosphatidylglycerol and sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol compared with the wild type. Fatty acid analysis revealed that the mutant had an obvious decrease in the content of 16:1t and a marked increase in the content of 18:3 compared with the wild type. The effects of lipid composition and unsaturation of membrane lipids on the thermostability of PSII are discussed.
AtCLH2, a Typical but Possibly Distinctive Chlorophyllase Gene in Arabidopsis
Authors: Liao Yang , An Kun , Zhou Xiao , Chen Wen‐Jun , Kuai Ben‐Ke 
Published: April 2007

AbstractChlorophyllase (EC 3.1.1.14) is involved in the first step of chlorophyll degradation. Isolation of chlorophyllase genes greatly facilitates characterization of chlorophyllase properties and elucidation of molecular regulation of their in vivo activities. There are two chlorophyllase genes, AtCLH1 and AtCLH2, in Arabidopsis thaliana. The in vivo roles of AtCLH1 have been reported previously. However, few studies have been carried out on AtCLH2. Here, we show that purified recombinant Chlase2, encoded by AtCLH2, exhibits in vitro chlorophyllase activity. Interestingly, “activation” of in vitro activity of the recombinant Chlase2 required higher concentrations of a detergent or a polar solvent. To determine its activity in vivo, the expression of AtCLH2 was inhibited by RNA interference. RNAi plants showed decreased contents of chlorophyllide without a substantial change in the total amount of the extractable chlorophyll and consequently presented lower chlorophyllide to chlorophyll ratios in their leaves. In addition, the two AtCLHs exhibited differential expression patterns. Our results suggest that AtCLH2 might play a distinctive role in chlorophyll catabolism in vivo.
Astaxanthin Accumulation in the Green Alga Haematococcus pluvialis: Effects of Cultivation Parameters
Authors: He Ping , Duncan James , Barber James 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe green alga, Haematococcus pluvialis Flotow is used as a source of the ketocarotenoid astaxanthin for application in fish aquaculture, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Cells of the green alga were induced by the application of different light and starvation conditions to evaluate the effect in astaxanthin accumulate. The conditions used for the induction were high light intensity (170 μmol·m‐2·s‐1), iron starvation, sulfur starvation and phosphate starvation. The results show that stresses applied in culture, which interfere with cell division, trigger the accumulation of astaxanthin. Notably, sulfur starvation results in a massive accumulation of this commercially important carotenoid.
Proteomics Associated with Virulence Differentiation of Curvularia lunata in Maize in China
Authors: Xu Shufa , Chen Jie , Liu Lixing , Wang Xiaofei , Huang Xiuli , Zhai Yuhong 
Published: April 2007

AbstractOne‐dimensional electrophoresis (1‐DE) of proteins, two‐dimensional electrophoresis (2‐DE) of proteins and cloning of cDNA sequence were used to study the virulence differentiation of Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boed. isolated from maize (Zea maydis L.) in China. From 1‐DE gel profiles of proteins, 110 reproducible bands were separated from six isolates of C. lunata CX‐3, SD‐6, C‐152, C107‐1, DD‐60 and W‐18. Sixty‐eight bands (61.82%) were polymorphic, suggesting huge biodiversities among the isolates. All isolates for the experiment were clustered into three groups consisting of different virulent types by coefficient value of 0.605. Group 1, consisting of CX‐3, SD‐6 and C‐152 with high virulence displayed more protein bands than Groups 2 and 3, consisting of C107‐1 and DD‐60 with low virulence. Proteomics approaches based on 2‐DE techniques were applied to identify specific proteins associated with the virulence differentiation in CX‐3 and DD‐60. A total of 423 protein spots were separated. Out of them 75 specific protein spots were displayed in 2‐DE gels. Among them 28 protein spots were unique in CX‐3 and eight in DD‐60, and 39 protein spots were shown on both 2‐DE gels but expressed differently in intensity. Twenty protein spots including three unique protein spots and 17 differentially expressed protein spots (more than two‐fold DD‐60) in CX‐3 were further identified with MALDI‐TOF MS/MS. Results indicated that most of the identified proteins were found to be associated with virulence differentiation, metabolisms, stress response and signal transduction. One of them was identified as Brn1 protein, which had been reported to be related to melanin biosynthesis and the virulence differentiation in fungi. Combined with our previous findings, we assumed that Brn1 protein and its regulating products might be involved in the virulence differentiation of C. lunata. Consequently, we cloned a Brn1 cDNA fragment and aligned it with the fragments in other fungi. Results indicated that the 633‐bp sequence of Brn1 cloned in C. lunata was highly homological with the compared fungi. Further work for the exact gene roles of Brn1 in our case is underway.
The Challenge of Placing Spirituality within Geographies of Development
Authors: Sanderson Eleanor 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDebate surrounding spirituality has been gaining prominence within development studies. In contrast to the limited consideration previously given to this issue, recent research is articulating the way that practices of spirituality and development inform one another. Geographies of development must therefore also address these concerns. This is particularly important given the relevance of the spatial politics within this debate to aspects of contemporary human geography. I suggest an embodied geographical approach to be an important way of responding to these debates and the way that they intersect each other, as well as an appropriate place for addressing issues of spirituality within development geography. I discuss how an embodied approach might also address some of the underlying and enduring tensions for development theory and practice, which are, namely, the challenge of negotiating predetermined lacks in the context of multiple and complex relationships.
School Geography and the Politics of Culture
Authors: Morgan John 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWithin school geography in England and Wales, there is increasing interest in using insights from the ‘cultural turn’ in human geography. This article explores the implications of these developments. It discusses how debates about culture influenced educational developments in the 1960s and 1970s and how these stressed that culture and politics are closely linked. The article examines examples of recent materials produced for school geography teachers that draw upon work in cultural geography and argues that these tend to downplay and minimise questions of politics. The article stresses the importance of asking critical questions about the forms of geographical knowledge produced in educational settings.
Clinical Response and Tolerability to and Safety of Saquinavir with Low-Dose Ritonavir in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Mothers and Their Infants
Authors: Zorrilla Carmen D. , Van Dyke Russell , Bardeguez Arlene , Acosta Edward P. , Smith Betsy , Hughes Michael D. , Huang Sharon , Watts D. Heather , Heckman Barbara , Jiménez Eleanor , McSherry George , Mofenson Lynne 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT
Saquinavir boosted with low-dose ritonavir given with zidovudine and lamivudine was well tolerated by pregnant women and their infants. All mothers had <400 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA copies/ml at delivery. Two had elevated liver transaminases and amylase. Seven infant adverse events were possibly treatment related (anemia, neutropenia, and hyperbilirubinemia).
Identification of the Novel Narrow-Spectrum β-Lactamase SCO-1 in
Acinetobacter
spp. from Argentina
Authors: Poirel Laurent , Corvec Stéphane , Rapoport Melina , Mugnier Pauline , Petroni Alejandro , Pasteran Fernando , Faccone Diego , Galas Marcelo , Drugeon Henri , Cattoir Vincent , Nordmann Patrice 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

By studying the β-lactamase content of several
Acinetobacter
spp. isolates from Argentina, producing the expanded-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) VEB-1a or PER-2, a novel Ambler class A β-lactamase gene was identified. It encoded the narrow-spectrum β-lactamase SCO-1, whose activity was inhibited by clavulanic acid. SCO-1 hydrolyzes penicillins at a high level and cephalosporins and carbapenems at a very low level. β-Lactamase SCO-1 was identified from unrelated VEB-1a-positive or PER-2-positive
Acinetobacter
spp. isolates recovered from three hospitals. The
bla
SCO-1
gene was apparently located on a plasmid of ca. 150 kb from all cases but was not associated with any ESBL-encoding gene. The G+C content of the
bla
SCO
gene was 52%, a value that does not correspond to that of the
A. baumannii
genome (39%). β-Lactamase SCO-1 shares 47% amino acid identity with CARB-5 and ca. 40% with the enzymes TEM, SHV, and CTX-M. A gene encoding a putative resolvase was identified downstream of the
bla
SCO-1
gene, but its precise way of acquisition remains to be determined.
Antimicrobial Resistance inHaemophilus influenzae
Authors: Tristram Stephen , Jacobs Michael R. , Appelbaum Peter C. 
Published: April 2007

SUMMARYHaemophilus influenzaeis a major community-acquired pathogen causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Meningitis and bacteremia due to type b strains occur in areas where the protein-conjugated type b vaccine is not in use, whereas nontypeable strains are major causes of otitis media, sinusitis, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, and pneumonia. Antibiotic resistance in this organism is more diverse and widespread than is commonly appreciated. Intrinsic efflux resistance mechanisms limit the activity of the macrolides, azalides, and ketolides. β-Lactamase production is highly prevalent worldwide and is associated with resistance to ampicillin and amoxicillin. Strains with alterations in penicillin binding proteins, particularly PBP3 (β-lactamase negative ampicillin resistant and β-lactamase positive amoxicillin-clavulanate resistant), are increasing in prevalence, particularly in Japan, with increasing resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and many cephalosporins, limiting the efficacy of expanded-spectrum cephalosporins against meningitis and of many oral cephalosporins against other diseases. Most strains remain susceptible to the carbapenems, which are not affected by penicillin binding protein changes, and the quinolones. The activity of many oral agents is limited by pharmacokinetics achieved with administration by this route, and the susceptibility of isolates based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters is reviewed.
Problems in Diagnosing Scabies, a Global Disease in Human and Animal Populations
Authors: Walton Shelley F. , Currie Bart J. 
Published: April 2007

SUMMARYScabies is a worldwide disease and a major public health problem in many developing countries, related primarily to poverty and overcrowding. In remote Aboriginal communities in northern Australia, prevalences of up to 50% among children have been described, despite the availability of effective chemotherapy. Sarcoptic mange is also an important veterinary disease engendering significant morbidity and mortality in wild, domestic, and farmed animals. Scabies is caused by the ectoparasitic miteSarcoptes scabieiburrowing into the host epidermis. Clinical symptoms include intensely itchy lesions that often are a precursor to secondary bacterial pyoderma, septicemia, and, in humans, poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. Although diagnosed scabies cases can be successfully treated, the rash of the primary infestation takes 4 to 6 weeks to develop, and thus, transmission to others often occurs prior to therapy. In humans, the symptoms of scabies infestations can mimic other dermatological skin diseases, and traditional tests to diagnose scabies are less than 50% accurate. To aid early identification of disease and thus treatment, a simple, cheap, sensitive, and specific test for routine diagnosis of active scabies is essential. Recent developments leading to the expression and purification ofS. scabieirecombinant antigens have identified a number of molecules with diagnostic potential, and current studies include the investigation and assessment of the accuracy of these recombinant proteins in identifying antibodies in individuals with active scabies and in differentiating those with past exposure. Early identification of disease will enable selective treatment of those affected, reduce transmission and the requirement for mass treatment, limit the potential for escalating mite resistance, and provide another means of controlling scabies in populations in areas of endemicity.
Role ofd-Alanylation ofStreptococcus gordoniiLipoteichoic Acid in Innate and Adaptive Immunity
Authors: Chan Karenn G. , Mayer Matt , Davis Elisabeth M. , Halperin Scott A. , Lin Tong-Jun , Lee Song F. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTIn recent years, there has been considerable interest in using the oral commensal gram-positive bacteriumStreptococcus gordoniias a live vaccine vector. The present study investigated the role ofd-alanylation of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in the interaction ofS. gordoniiwith the host innate and adaptive immune responses. A mutant strain defective ind-alanylation was generated by inactivation of thedltAgene in a recombinant strain ofS. gordonii(PM14) expressing a fragment of the S1 subunit of pertussis toxin. The mutant strain was found to be more susceptible to killing by polymyxin B, nisin, magainin II, and human β defensins than the parent strain. When it was examined for binding to murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs), thedltAmutant exhibited 200- to 400-fold less binding than the parent but similar levels of binding were shown for Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) knockout DCs and HEp-2 cells. In a mouse oral colonization study, the mutant showed a colonization ability similar to that of the parent and was not able to induce a significant immune response. The mutant induced significantly less interleukin 12p70 (IL-12p70) and IL-10 than the parent from DCs. LTA purified from the bacteria induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-6 production from wild-type DCs but not from TLR2 knockout DCs, and the mutant LTA induced a significantly smaller amount of these two cytokines. These results show thatd-alanylation of LTA inS. gordoniiplays a role in the interaction with the host immune system by contributing to the relative resistance to host defense peptides and by modulating cytokine production by DCs.
Genome-Wide Identification ofFrancisella tularensisVirulence Determinants
Authors: Su Jingliang , Yang Jun , Zhao Daimin , Kawula Thomas H. , Banas Jeffrey A. , Zhang Jing-Ren 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTFrancisella tularensisis a gram-negative pathogen that causes life-threatening infections in humans and has potential for use as a biological weapon. The genetic basis of theF. tularensisvirulence is poorly understood. This study screened a total of 3,936 transposon mutants of the live vaccine strain for infection in a mouse model of respiratory tularemia by signature-tagged mutagenesis. We identified 341 mutants attenuated for infection in the lungs. The transposon disruptions were mapped to 95 different genes, virtually all of which are also present in the genomes of otherF. tularensisstrains, including human pathogenicF. tularensisstrain Schu S4. A small subset of these attenuated mutants carried insertions in the genes encoding previously known virulence factors, but the majority of the identified genes have not been previously linked toF. tularensisvirulence. Among these are genes encoding putative membrane proteins, proteins associated with stress responses, metabolic proteins, transporter proteins, and proteins with unknown functions. Several attenuated mutants contained disruptions in a putative capsule locus which partially resembles the poly-γ-glutamate capsule biosynthesis locus ofBacillus anthracis, the anthrax agent. Deletional mutation analysis confirmed that this locus is essential forF. tularensisvirulence.
Cytogenetic analysis of Anaecypris hispanica and its relationship with the paternal ancestor of the diploid-polyploid Squalius alburnoides complex
Authors: Gromicho Marta , Coelho Maria Manuela , Alves Maria Judite , Collares-Pereira Maria João 
Published: April 2007

The karyotype of the endangered fish Anaecypris hispanica was revisited using advanced cytogenetic techniques to elucidate its putative relationship with the paternal ancestor of the hybrid complex Squalius alburnoides and to clarify some of the recently described cytogenetic patterns of the complex. The results of chromomycin A3 and Ag staining, as well as fluorescent in situ hybridization with 28S and 5S rDNA and the (TTAGGG)n telomeric probes, were compared with the patterns observed in specimens of the all-male nonhybrid lineage of S. alburnoides complex, which is considered to reconstitute the nuclear genome of the probably extinct paternal ancestor. Several cytogenetic features observed in A. hispanica specimens were indeed shared by S. alburnoides nuclear nonhybrid males, supporting the hypothesis of a close evolutionary link between A. hispanica and the paternal ancestor of the complex. The genomic rearrangements involving 28S rDNA sites previously described in the S. alburnoides complex and in its maternal ancestor ( S. pyrenaicus ) were not detected in A. hispanica; they are, therefore, probably due to mechanisms related to hybridization and polyploidy.
MDM2 Splice Variants Predominantly Localize to the Nucleoplasm Mediated by a COOH-Terminal Nuclear Localization Signal
Authors: Schuster Katja , Fan Liying , Harris Linda C. 
Published: April 2007

Abstract
Of the &gt;40 alternative and aberrant splice variants of MDM2 that have been described to date, the majority has lost both the well-characterized nuclear localization signal (NLS1) and the nuclear export signal (NES) sequence. Because cellular localization of proteins provides insight regarding their potential function, we determined the localization of three different MDM2 splice variants. The splice variants chosen were the common variants MDM2-A and MDM2-B. In addition, MDM2-FB26 was chosen because it is one of the few variants described that contains the complete p53-binding site. All three splice variants predominantly localized to the nucleus. Nuclear localization of MDM2-A and MDM2-B was controlled by a previously uncharacterized nuclear localization signal (NLS2), whereas nucleoplasmic localization of MDM2-FB26 was mediated by NLS1. p53 and full-length MDM2 colocalized with the splice variants in the nucleus. MDM2-A and MDM2-B both contain a COOH-terminal RING finger domain, and interaction with full-length MDM2 through this domain was confirmed. MDM2-FB26 was the only splice variant evaluated that contained a p53-binding domain; however, interaction between MDM2-FB26 and p53 could not be shown. p14ARF did not colocalize with the splice variants and was predominantly expressed within the nucleoli. In summary, nuclear localization signals responsible for the nucleoplasmic distribution of MDM2 splice variants have been characterized. Colocalization and interaction of MDM2-A and MDM2-B with full-length MDM2 in the nucleus have important physiologic consequences, for example, deregulation of p53 activity. (Mol Cancer Res 2007;5(4):403–12)