bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic approach to regulate innate immune response by Toll‐like receptor 4 antagonist E5564 in rats with D‐galactosamine‐induced acute severe liver injury
Authors: Kitazawa Toshiyuki , Tsujimoto Tatsuhiro , Kawaratani Hideto , Fukui Hiroshi 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBackground and Aims:  Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a transmembrane protein, existing mainly in macrophages, such as Kupffer cells of the liver. It plays an important role in recognizing and mediating macrophage activation and pro‐inflammatory cytokine release. Activation of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α is pivotal in the progression of liver injury. Gut‐derived endotoxin has been considered to play an important role in the development and progression of a D‐galactosamine (GalN)‐induced acute severe liver injury (ALI) model. E5564, a synthetic analog of the lipid A component of endotoxin, inhibits endotoxin‐stimulated inflammation and is under study for patients with sepsis. In this study, we seek to explore the effect of TLR4 antagonist E5564 on GalN‐induced ALI in rats.Methods:  ALI was induced in male Wistar rats by the i.p. injection of 1 g/kg bodyweight of GalN and immediately after GalN injection they were treated with an i.v. injection of 3 mg/kg bodyweight of E5564. At 24 h after GalN injection with or without E5564, serum levels of total bilirubin (T.Bil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and TNF‐α were analyzed. Expression levels of TNF‐α, TLR4 and CD14 mRNA in the whole liver of rats was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis.Results:  The i.v. injection of E5564 reduced the elevation of serum T.Bil, ALT and TNF‐α levels in rats treated with GalN. The expression level of TNF‐α mRNA in the whole liver, which was increased at 24 h after GalN injection, was also reduced by i.v. injection of E5564.Conclusion:  TLR4 antagonist E5564 reduced GalN‐induced ALI in rats. It may contribute to the treatment of acute liver failure through blocking endotoxin‐induced TNF‐α overproduction of macrophages.
New species of the myrmecophilePolyplocotesWestwood (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) from South Australia
Authors: Bell Karen L , Philips T Keith 
Published: February 2009

AbstractSix new species of the Australian myrmecophilous ptinid genusPolyplocotesare described from South Australia. Three are from the deserts of central Australia, one from the Franklin Islands in the Great Australian Bight, one from Eyre Peninsula and one from the Riverland region. Morphologically, the majority of these new species are conventionalPolyplocotes, but two are less typical. The characters uniting the genus are explored in the discussion, and comparisons are made to related genera. Although the six new species described here have not been observed in the field, the species of this genus are known to be myrmecophilous, and ant – beetle interactions similar to those seen in other spider beetles might occur between these new species and their host ants.
Genetic structure in ixodid ticks from Kangaroo Island and the South Australia mainland
Authors: Chapman Thomas W , Marando Leslee , Oorebeek Margot , Kleindorfer Sonia 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWe describe here a molecular genetic study designed to elucidate the ability of an ixodid tick to move within their range as well as between species or hosts. A direct match from the contiguous regions of the small rRNA subunit, control region #1, tRNA‐Ile, tRNA‐Gln and tRNA‐Met of the population studied here with previously published sequence suggests that the species is likelyIxodes hirsti. Phylogenetic analysis of tick haplotypes showed no evidence for bird‐host specialisation, and a nested clade analysis indicated a high degree of migration between our three collection sites (two sites on Kangaroo Island, and one site on mainland South Australia).
Army ant behaviour in the poneromorph hunting ant Onychomyrmex hedleyi Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae; Amblyoponinae)
Authors: Miyata Hiroki , Hirata Masanori , Azuma Noriko , Murakami Takahiro , Higashi Seigo 
Published: February 2009

Abstract Onychomyrmex belongs to the phylogenetically basal ant tribe Amblyoponini but shows prototypical army ant behaviours, i.e. group predation and nomadism. In order to investigate these behaviours, Onychomyrmex hedleyi was observed in the field and in laboratory experiments. Workers of O. hedleyi would frequently hunt centipedes but rarely social insects. Workers did not dismember the victims but recruited the colony mates to conduct group retrieval. If the prey were too large or too heavy to retrieve, the entire colony moved from the bivouac site to the prey site. Although foraging on the forest floor, a colony repeated the extension and withdrawal of a raiding column, which was up to 80 cm long (mean ± SD, 41.6 ± 18.5 cm). Colonies were nomadic and the relocation distance was up to 150 cm (mean ± SD, 74.4 ± 45.0 cm). Retinues guarded a queen who moved to a new bivouac site in the early phase of relocation. Colonies were found to stay at a site statistically longer if they had come from a more distant site, and were also observed to move to a more distant site if they had spent a longer time at a particular bivouac site. The consecutive migrations did not show significant directionality.
Pyriproxyfen controls silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), biotype B (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) (SLW) better than buprofezin in bitter melons Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae)
Authors: Qureshi Mohammad S , Midmore David J , Syeda Shamsa S , Reid David J 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTo improve compatibility between chemical and biological controls, the use of selective insecticides such as insect growth regulators (IGRs) is crucial. In cucurbits, the use of pyriproxyfen (an IGR) has been shown by others to be an effective method of reducing the number of sap‐sucking insects, especially silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) Biotype B (SLW). Therefore, we compared pyriproxyfen and buprofezin (an IGR) with that of no treatment (control) in a bitter melon crop for the control of populations of SLW and for their effects on fruit production. Pyriproxyfen controlled SLW and tended to have heavier fruits than the control treatment and reduced the abundance of nymphs and exuvia. Buprofezin showed no evidence in controlling SLW compared with the pyriproxyfen and control treatments. Neither pyriproxyfen nor buprofezin had any effect on the number of harvested fruit or overall fruit yield, but the average weight per fruit was higher than the control treatment. Pyriproxyfen was effective in controlling whitefly populations in bitter melons, and both pyriproxyfen and buprofezin may have the potential to increase yield. Their longer‐term use may increase predation by natural enemies as they are species‐specific and could favour build up of natural enemies of SLW. Thus, the judicious use of pyriproxyfen may provide an effective alternative to broad‐spectrum insecticides in small‐scale cucurbit production.
PCR detection of pirimicarb resistance in Australian field isolates of Aphis gossypii Glover (Aphididae: Hemiptera)
Authors: McLoon Martin O , Herron Grant A 
Published: February 2009

Abstract Aphis gossypii Glover (cotton aphid) is a major secondary pest of Australian cotton that readily develops resistance to the carbamate insecticide pirimicarb (Pirimor®) and to organophosphates generally. To test the pirimicarb resistance status of Australian strains of A. gossypii, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay followed by restriction enzyme assay (REA) was designed to identify the AceI polymorphism S431F known to be responsible for resistance. The method was tested against reference and 33 field strains collected over two consecutive seasons. Both methods confirmed pirimicarb resistance in two field strains, one from each cotton season, giving credence to the molecular technique described. The PCR assay proved specific for the AceI gene. This PCR REA assay has the potential to replace bioassay for the routine pirimicarb resistance monitoring in A. gossypii. With the molecular assay providing results in 48 h, compared with 4–8 weeks for bioassay, such an assay could be used before insecticide control.
Genetic and behavioural evidence for a city‐wide supercolony of the invasive Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in southeastern Australia
Authors: Suhr Elissa L , McKechnie Stephen W , O'Dowd Dennis J 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe success of invasive ants is frequently attributed to genetic and behavioural shifts in colony structure during or after introduction. The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), a global invader, differs in colony genetic structure and behaviour between native populations in South America and introduced populations in Europe, Japan, New Zealand and North America. However, little is known about its colony structure in Australia. We investigated the genetic structure and behaviour of L. humile across Melbourne, Victoria by quantifying variation at four microsatellite loci and assaying intraspecific aggression at neighbourhood (30–200 m), fine (1–3.3 km) and regional (5–82 km) spatial scales. Hierarchical analyses across these scales revealed that most genetic variation occurred among workers within nests (∼98%). However, although low genetic differentiation occurred among workers between nests at the fine and regional scales (∼2%), negligible differentiation was detected among workers from neighbouring nests. Spatial genetic autocorrelation analysis confirmed that neighbouring nests were genetically more similar to each other. Lack of aggression within and across these scales supported the view that L. humile is unicolonial and forms a large supercolony across Melbourne. Comparisons of genetic structure of L. humile among single nests sampled from Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart and Perth with Melbourne showed no greater levels of genetic differentiation or dissimilar spatial structure, suggesting an Australia‐wide supercolony.
Population‐based epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection in Canterbury, New Zealand
Authors: Huggan P. J. , Wells J. E. , Browne M. , Richardson A. , Murdoch D. R. , Chambers S. T. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBackground: Few contemporary reports describe population‐based incidence of Staphylcoccus aureus bloodstream infection (SABSI).Aim: To describe longitudinal incidence of SABSI in a region of New Zealand with low MRSA prevalence.Methods: Blood cultures growing S. aureus were identified from hospital laboratories between 1 July 1998 and 30 June 2006. Record linkage was used to combine information from local and national databases into a single patient event record. Information from the New Zealand census was used to determine regional incidence of disease. An address‐based measure of deprivation was used to analyse the relationship between incidence and socioeconomic status. Morbidity data were not collected.Results: 779 patients with SABSI were identified (482/779 (62%) male, 297/779 (38%) female). The crude incidence of S. aureus bacteraemia varied between 18.5–27.3/100 000 per annum. Three of 779 isolates (0.4%) were MRSA. Two hundred and seventy‐seven of 776 (36%) patients with complete records had hospital‐acquired SABSI. One hundred and forty‐one of 778 patients (18%) died within 30 days and 235/778 (30%) died within a year. Proportional hazards survival models significantly associated age, male sex and more than 14 days of hospitalization in the year prior to index culture with adverse outcome. Higher socioeconomic status was associated with lower rates of SABSI (adjusted rate ratio 0.74, 95% confidence interval: 0.56–0.98, P= 0.007 after adjustment for age and sex, and comparing the highest and lowest deprivation quintiles).Conclusion: Population factors significantly influence SABSI incidence and survival. Further research is required to determine whether these have the potential to invalidate inter‐hospital comparison of SABSI incidence as a measure of health‐care quality.
Cbln1 accumulates and colocalizes with Cbln3 and GluRδ2 at parallel fiber–Purkinje cell synapses in the mouse cerebellum
Authors: Miura Eriko , Matsuda Keiko , Morgan James I. , Yuzaki Michisuke , Watanabe Masahiko 
Published: February 2009

AbstractCbln1 (a.k.a. precerebellin) is secreted from cerebellar granule cells as homohexamer or in heteromeric complexes with Cbln3. Cbln1 plays crucial roles in regulating morphological integrity of parallel fiber (PF)–Purkinje cell (PC) synapses and synaptic plasticity. Cbln1‐knockout mice display severe cerebellar phenotypes that are essentially indistinguishable from those in glutamate receptor GluRδ2‐null mice, and include severe reduction in the number of PF–PC synapses and loss of long‐term depression of synaptic transmission. To understand better the relationship between Cbln1, Cbln3 and GluRδ2, we performed light and electron microscopic immunohistochemical analyses using highly specific antibodies and antigen‐exposing methods, i.e. pepsin pretreatment for light microscopy and postembedding immunogold for electron microscopy. In conventional immunohistochemistry, Cbln1 was preferentially associated with non‐terminal portions of PF axons in the molecular layer but rarely overlapped with Cbln3. In contrast, antigen‐exposing methods not only greatly intensified Cbln1 immunoreactivity in the molecular layer, but also revealed its high accumulation in the synaptic cleft of PF–PC synapses. No such synaptic accumulation was evident at other PC synapses. Furthermore, Cbln1 now came to overlap almost completely with Cbln3 and GluRδ2 at PF–PC synapses. Therefore, the convergence of all three molecules provides the anatomical basis for a common signaling pathway regulating circuit development and synaptic plasticity in the cerebellum.
Involvement of the subthalamic nucleus in engagement with behaviourally relevant stimuli
Authors: Sauleau Paul , Eusebio Alexandre , Thevathasan Wesley , Yarrow Kielan , Pogosyan Alek , Zrinzo Ludvic , Ashkan Keyoumars , Aziz Tipu , Vandenberghe Wim , Nuttin Bart , Brown Peter 
Published: February 2009

AbstractIn this study we investigate how the basal ganglia (BG) may process the behavioural relevance of environmental cues by recording local field potentials (LFPs) in the subthalamic nucleus of patients with Parkinson’s disease who had undergone implantation of electrodes for deep brain stimulation. Fourteen patients were recorded as they performed a paradigm dissociating warning cue presentation from programming related to execution of specific tasks. Target and non‐target warning cues of differing behavioural relevance were contrasted, and we evaluated if warning cue‐evoked activities varied according to whether the eventual task to be performed was motor or cognitive and whether patients were receiving or withdrawn from dopaminergic therapy. Warning cues evoked a complex temporal sequence of activities with three epochs over the 760 ms following the onset of the warning cue. In contrast to the initial evoked LFP, evoked activities over two later periods were significantly influenced by behavioural relevance and by treatment state. The early activity was likely related to the initial orientating of attention induced by a novel target, while the delayed responses in our paradigm may reflect processing related to the non‐motor resource implications of cues. The results suggest that the BG are intimately involved in the evaluation of changes in the environment and of their behavioural significance. The latter process is partly modulated by dopamine. Weakness in this function might contribute to the behavioural impairment that can follow BG lesions and surgery.
Novel natural parabens produced by aMicrobulbiferbacterium in its calcareous sponge hostLeuconia nivea
Authors: Quévrain Elodie , Domart‐Coulon Isabelle , Pernice Mathieu , Bourguet‐Kondracki Marie‐Lise 
Published: February 2009

SummaryA broad variety of natural parabens, including four novel structures and known ethyl and butyl parabens, were obtained from culture of aMicrobulbifersp. bacterial strain isolated from the temperate calcareous marine spongeLeuconia nivea(Grant 1826). Their structures were elucidated from spectral analysis, including mass spectrometry and 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance. Their antimicrobial activity evaluated againstStaphylococcus aureuswas characterized by much higherin vitroactivity of these natural paraben compounds 3–9 than commercial synthetic methyl and propyl parabens, usually used as antimicrobial preservatives. Compounds 4 and 9 revealed a bacteriostatic effect and compounds 6 and 7 appeared as bactericidal compounds. Major paraben compound 6 was also active against Gram positiveBacillussp. andPlanococcussp. sponge isolates and was detected in whole sponge extracts during all seasons, showing its persistentin situproduction within the sponge. Moreover,Microbulbifersp. bacteria were visualized in the sponge body wall using fluorescencein situhybridization with a probe specific to L4‐n2 phylotypes. Co‐detection in the sponge host of both paraben metabolites andMicrobulbifersp. L4‐n2 indicates, for the first time, production of natural parabens in a sponge host, which may have an ecological role as chemical mediators.
Redox cycling of arsenic by the hydrothermal marine bacteriumMarinobacter santoriniensis
Authors: Handley Kim M. , Héry Marina , Lloyd Jonathan R. 
Published: February 2009

SummaryMarinobacter santoriniensisNKSG1Tis a mesophilic, dissimilatory arsenate‐reducing and arsenite‐oxidizing bacterium isolated from an arsenate‐reducing enrichment culture. The inoculum was obtained from arsenic‐rich shallow marine hydrothermal sediment from Santorini, Greece, with evidence of arsenic redox cycling. Growth studies demonstratedM. santoriniensisNKSG1Tis capable of conserving energy from the reduction of arsenate [As(V)] with acetate or lactate as the electron donor, and of oxidizing arsenite [As(III)] heterotrophically with oxygen as the electron acceptor. The oxidation of As(III) coincided with the expression of theaoxBgene encoding for the catalytic molybdopterin subunit of the heterodimeric arsenite oxidase operon, indicating the reaction is enzymatically controlled, andM. santoriniensisNKSG1Tis a heterotrophic As(III)‐oxidizing bacterium. Although it is clear that this organism also performs dissimilatory As(V) reduction, no amplification of thearrAarsenate reductase gene was attained using a range of primers and PCR conditions.Marinobacter santoriniensisNKSG1Tbelongs to a genus of bacteria widely occurring in marine environments, including hydrothermal sediments, and is among the first marine bacteria shown to be capable of either anaerobic As(V) respiration or aerobic As(III) oxidation.
Vasculogenic erectile dysfunction in teenagers: a 5‐year multi‐institutional experience
Authors: Tal Raanan , Voelzke Bryan B. , Land Spencer , Motarjem Pejman , Munarriz Ricardo , Goldstein Irwin , Mulhall John P. 
Published: February 2009

OBJECTIVETo report the experience of three highly specialized centres in the vascular evaluation of erectile dysfunction (ED) in teenagers, as there is little information on this topic, and although clinical guidelines support the use of vascular studies in selected cases, our experience is that vascular evaluation aimed at diagnosing organic ED is uncommon in teenagers, and most are designated as having psychogenic ED.PATIENTS AND METHODSIn a retrospective multi‐institutional analysis of three ED databases (1998–2003) we assessed males aged ≤19 years presenting with ED. The review of these databases focused on demographic characteristics, risk factors for ED, erectile function, results of vascular evaluation, and the causes of ED.RESULTSIn all, 40 males aged 14–19 years were identified. The mean (range) duration of ED at presentation was 22.6 (4–84) months. The major risk factors for ED were antecedent perineal trauma (37%) and penile trauma or surgery (15%). The mean (sd) International Index of Erectile Function ‘erectile function’ domain score was 15 (4). Information obtained by history taking was not predictive of the cause of ED. Vascular studies were performed in 62% of the patients and 48% of these patients were found to have an underlying vascular pathology; 42% of the latter group were found to be possible candidates for surgical intervention and another 16% needed further angiographic evaluation.CONCLUSIONED in teenagers should not be routinely categorized as psychogenic without an adequate vascular evaluation, as a significant percentage have abnormal erectile haemodynamics consistent with vasculogenic ED.
A multisite gateway‐based toolkit for targeted gene expression and hairpin RNA silencing in tomato fruits
Authors: Estornell Leandro Hueso , Orzáez Diego , López‐Peña Lucas , Pineda Benito , Antón María Teresa , Moreno Vicente , Granell Antonio 
Published: February 2009

SummaryA collection of fruit promoters, reporter genes and protein tags has been constructed in a triple‐gateway format, a recombination‐based cloning system that facilitates the tandem assembly of three DNA fragments into plant expression vectors. The new pENFRUIT collection includes, among others, the classical tomato‐ripening promoters E8 and 2A11 and a set of six new tomato promoters. The new promoter activities were characterized in both transient assays and stable transgenic plants. The range of expression of the new promoters comprises strong (PNH, PLI), medium (PLE, PFF, PHD) and weak (PSN) promoters driving gene expression preferentially in the fruit, and covering a wide range of tissues and developmental stages. Together, a total of 78 possible combinations for the expression of a gene of interest in the fruit, plus a set of five reporters for new promoter analysis, was made available in the current collection. Moreover, the pENFRUIT promoter collection is adaptable to hairpin RNA strategies aimed at tissue/organ‐specific gene silencing with only an additional cloning step. The pENFRUIT toolkit broadens the spectrum of promoter activities available for fruit biotechnology and fundamental research, and bypasses technical difficulties of current ligase‐dependent cloning techniques in the construction of fruit expression cassettes. The pENFRUIT vector collection is available for the research community in a plasmid repository, facilitating its accessibility.
RETRACING LIBERALISM AND REMAKING NATURE: DESIGNER CHILDREN, RESEARCH EMBRYOS, AND FEATHERLESS CHICKENS
Authors: FOX DOV 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTLiberal theory seeks to achieve toleration, civil peace, and mutual respect in pluralistic societies by making public policy without reference to arguments arising from within formative ideals about what gives value to human life. Does it make sense to set aside such conceptions of the good when it comes to controversies about stem cell research and the genetic engineering of people or animals? Whether it is reasonable to bracket our worldviews in such cases depends on how we answer the moral questions that the use of these biotechnologies presuppose. I argue that the moral language of liberal justice – of rights and duties, interests and opportunities, freedom and consent, equality and fairness – cannot speak to these underlying concerns about what the human embryo is, why the natural lottery matters to us, and whether ‘animal nature’ is worth preserving. I conclude that liberal theory is incapable of furnishing a coherent or desirable account to govern the way we use our emerging powers of biotechnology.