bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Platonin attenuates LPS‐induced CAT‐2 and CAT‐2B induction in stimulated murine macrophages
Authors: Chen C.‐C. , Lee J.‐J. , Tsai P.‐S. , Lu Y.‐T. , Huang C.‐L. , Huang C.‐J. 
Published: April 2006

Background:  Platonin, a cyanine photosensitizing dye, is a potent immunomodulator that suppresses acute inflammation. Platonin not only inhibits interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α production but also improves circulatory failure in septic rats. In addition, platonin reduces plasma nitric oxide (NO) formation during sepsis. However, the effects of platonin on inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cationic amino‐acid transporter (including CAT‐2, CAT‐2 A, and CAT‐2B) expressions during sepsis remain uninvestigated.Methods:  Five groups of confluent murine macrophages (RAW264.7 cells) were randomly allocated to receive a 1‐h pretreatment of one of five doses of platonin (0.1 µM, 1 µM, 10 µM, 100 µM, or 1000 µM) followed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100 ng ml−1). For negative, positive, and platonin control, three other groups of cell cultures were randomly allocated to receive phosphate‐buffered saline, LPS, or platonin (1000 µM). The cultures were harvested after exposing them to LPS for 18 h or a comparable duration in those groups without LPS. NO production, L‐arginine transport, and expression of the relevant enzymes were then evaluated.Results:  Platonin significantly attenuated LPS‐induced up‐regulation of iNOS expression and NO production in stimulated murine macrophages in a dose‐dependent manner. Platonin also significantly inhibited up‐regulation of CAT‐2 and CAT‐2B expression as well as L‐arginine transport in LPS‐stimulated murine macrophages in a dose‐dependent manner. In contrast, CAT‐2 A expression in murine macrophages was not affected by LPS and/or platonin.Conclusions:  Platonin attenuates NO production and L‐arginine transport in LPS‐stimulated murine macrophages possibly through inhibiting iNOS, CAT‐2, and CAT‐2B expression.
Disassociation between weak sexual isolation and genetic divergence in a hermaphroditic land snail and implications about chirality
Authors: Giokas S. , Mylonas M. , Rolán-Alvarez E. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Examination of the association between reproductive isolation and genetic divergence in a variety of organisms is essential for elucidating the mechanisms causing speciation. However, such studies are lacking for hermaphrodites. We measured premating (sexual) isolation in species pairs of the hermaphroditic land snail Albinaria and we compared it with their genetic divergence. We did not find substantial sexual isolation barriers between the species studied. The absence of strong sexual isolation between species implies its minor effect in the evolution of this genus, because distributional, population and life-history characteristics of Albinaria make mate-choice possibly redundant. Furthermore, we found disassociation between genetic divergence and sexual isolation, suggesting that they do not form necessarily a cause–effect duet. However, Albinaria voithii, the only dextral Albinaria species, shows strong sexual isolation against the other sinistral species. We discuss whether change in coiling either has triggered instantaneous speciation, or is an example of character displacement.
Reproductive isolation in a threespine stickleback hybrid zone
Authors: Jones F. C. , Brown C. , Pemberton J. M. , Braithwaite V. A. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
In many estuarine sites, morphological and genetic differences between anadromous and freshwater threespine sticklebacks are maintained despite breeding in sympatry. Here, we investigate the maintenance of this morphological divergence in a natural hybrid zone in the River Tyne, Scotland. We provide a morphological description of the hybrid zone, and using a Bayesian MCMC approach, identified distinct anadromous and freshwater genetic clusters. Anadromous and freshwater sticklebacks breed in spatial and temporal sympatry in the lower reaches of the River Tyne. The frequency of hybrids within these sites (33%) indicates prezygotic isolation is not complete, and suggests that assortative mating is not strong. However, significant heterozygote deficit and cytonuclear disequilibrium in juveniles collected from sympatric sites confirms that barriers to gene flow exist between the morphs in the wild. In addition, we found no evidence of a directional bias in hybridisation, although hybrids with anadromous mothers were more common because anadromous females outnumbered freshwater females within the hybrid zone. We discuss the potential contribution of temporal, spatial, and sexual prezygotic barriers to the observed reproductive isolation as well as postzygotic selection against hybrid zygotes or fry.
Testing the pluralist approach to sex: the influence of environment on synergistic interactions between mutation load and parasitism in Daphnia magna
Authors: Killick S. C. , Carlsson A. M. , West S. A. , Little T. J. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Both deleterious mutations and parasites have been acknowledged as potential selective forces responsible for the evolutionary maintenance of sexual reproduction. The pluralist approach to sex proposes that these two factors may have to interact synergistically in order to stabilize sex, and one of the simplest ways this could occur is if parasites are capable of causing synergistic epistasis between mutations in their hosts. However, the effects of both deleterious mutations and parasitism are known to be influenced by a range of environmental factors, so the nature of the interaction may depend upon the organisms’ environment. Using chemically mutated Daphnia magna lines, we examined the effects of mutation and parasitism under a range of temperature and food regimes. We found that although parasites were capable of causing synergistic epistasis between mutations in their hosts, these effects were dependent upon an interaction between parasite genotype and temperature.
Morphological integration and adaptation in the snake feeding system: a comparative phylogenetic study
Authors: Vincent S. E. , Dang P. D. , Herrel A. , Kley N. J. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
A long-standing hypothesis for the adaptive radiation of macrostomatan snakes is that their enlarged gape – compared to both lizards and basal snakes-enables them to consume ‘large’ prey. At first glance, this hypothesis seems plausible, or even likely, given the wealth of studies showing a tight match between maximum consumed prey mass and head size in snakes. However, this hypothesis has never been tested within a comparative framework. We address this issue here by testing this hypothesis in 12 monophyletic clades of macrostomatan snakes using recently published phylogenies, published maximum consumed prey mass data and morphological measurements taken from a large sample of museum specimens. Our nonphylogenetically corrected analysis shows that head width – independent of body size – is significantly related to mean maximum consumed prey mass among these clades, and this relationship becomes even more significant when phylogeny is taken into account. Therefore, these data do support the hypothesis that head shape is adapted to prey size in snakes. Additionally, we calculated a phylogenetically corrected morphological variance–covariance matrix to examine the role of morphological integration during head shape evolution in snakes. This matrix shows that head width strongly covaries with both jaw length and out-lever length of the lower jaw. As a result, selection on head width will likely be associated with concomitant changes in jaw length and lower jaw out-lever length in snakes.
In vitroinvestigations on the mode of action of the hydroxypyridone antimycotics rilopirox and piroctone onCandida albicans
Authors: Sigle H. C. , Schäfer‐Korting M. , Korting H. C. , Hube B. , Niewerth M. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryRilopirox and piroctone belong to the class of hydroxypyridone antimycotics. This class is not related to other antimycotics. In contrast to azole antimycotics and polyene antimycotics the mode of action of hydroxypyridone antimycotics is not fully understood. Inhibition of cellular uptake of essential compounds as well as loss of other compounds seems to be only a secondary effect of a primary not known action of these drugs. The antifungal effectin vitrodepends on the medium used. The hyphal induction ofCandida albicansis inhibited by hydroxypyridone antimycotics, but this effect is compensated by iron ions. A damage of the cell membrane and a direct influence on adenosine triphosphate synthesis, respectively, do not seem to be part of the mode of action. But there are clear hints that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and available metabolic activity are important parts of the mode of action of the hydroxypyridone antimycotics rilopirox and piroctone.
Interleukin‐8 gene polymorphism associated with susceptibility to non‐cardia gastric carcinoma with microsatellite instability
Authors: Shirai Kennosuke , Ohmiya Naoki , Taguchi Ayumu , Mabuchi Nobuyuki , Yatsuya Hiroshi , Itoh Akihiro , Hirooka Yoshiki , Niwa Yasumasa , Mori Naoyoshi , Goto Hidemi 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Gastric carcinoma (GC) with microsatellite instability (MSI) exhibits clinicopathological characteristics distinct from microsatellite‐stable (MSS) GC. Both MSI and MSS carcinomas are mostly associated with chronic gastritis infected by Helicobacter pylori (Hp). The relationship between Hp‐induced inflammation and the mutator pathway of MSI remains unclear. Recently, cytokine polymorphisms have been reported to affect the development of non‐cardia GC. The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationship between cytokine polymorphisms and MSI phenotypes.Methods:  In a case‐control study including 482 controls and 181 patients with GC, interleukin (IL)‐8 –251, IL‐1B−511, IL‐1RN, and tumor necrosis factor‐A (TNFA) −857 polymorphisms were genotyped. The presence of MSI and mutations in exons 5 to 8 of the p53 gene were examined in GC cases. All clinicopathological data were collected from individual records.Results:  High and low frequency of MSI (MSI‐H and MSI‐L) and MSS were detected in 16 (8.8%), 14 (7.7%) and 151 (83.4%) GC cases, respectively. We found that IL‐8 –251 T/T genotype was significantly associated with increased risk of MSI‐H GC compared to MSI‐L/MSS GC and controls. We found no association between other cytokine polymorphisms and MSI‐H GC. The percentage of smokers and the frequency of p53 mutations were significantly lower in MSI‐H than MSI‐L/MSS GC. We found significant associations of MSI‐H with synchronous or metachronous multiple occurrence, antral location and intestinal type.Conclusions:  Our study shows that MSI‐H GC is associated with IL‐8–251 T/T (low expression genotype) and is inversely correlated with cigarette smoking.
Molecular cloning, mRNA expression, and immunocytochemical localization of a putative blue‐light photoreceptor CRY4 in the chicken pineal gland
Authors: Kubo Yoko , Akiyama Masashi , Fukada Yoshitaka , Okano Toshiyuki 
Published: April 2006

AbstractIn non‐mammalian vertebrates, the pineal gland contains an endogenous circadian oscillator and serves as a photosensitive neuroendocrinal organ. To better understand the pineal phototransduction mechanism, we focused on the chicken putative blue‐light photoreceptive molecule, Cryptochrome4 (cCRY4). Here we report the molecular cloning of pineal cCry4 cDNA, the in vivo expression of cCry4 mRNA, and the detection of cCRY4 protein. cCry4 is transcribed in a wide variety of chick tissues out of which the pineal gland and retina contain high levels of cCry4 mRNA. In the pineal gland, under 12 h light : 12 h dark cycles, the levels of both cCry4 mRNA and cCRY4 protein showed diurnal changes, and in cultured chick pineal cells, the cCry4 mRNA level was not only up‐regulated by light but also controlled by circadian signals. Immunoblot analysis with a cCRY4‐specific antibody detected cCRY4 in a soluble fraction of the pineal lysate. Immunocytochemistry revealed that cCRY4 was expressed in many parenchymal cells and a limited number of stromal cells. These cCRY4 features strikingly contrast with those of the chick pineal photoreceptor pinopsin, suggesting a possible temporal and/or spatial duplicity of the pineal photoreceptive system, the opsin‐ and CRY‐based mechanisms.
Acute effects of caffeine on heart rate variability in habitual caffeine consumers
Authors: Rauh Robert , Burkert Michaela , Siepmann Martin , Mueck‐Weymann Michael 
Published: April 2006

SummaryDuring the last years, heart rate variability (HRV) has become a promising risk factor for cardiovascular events. However, the effect of caffeine on HRV in habitual caffeine consumers has barely been investigated. Therefore, we treated 30 male habitual caffeine users in a randomized double‐blinded crossover study design with either placebo, 100 or 200 mg caffeine orally and determined parameters of HRV under resting conditions and metronomic breathing. As result, we could not detect significant differences in HRV parameters up to 90 min after drug ingestion. We conclude that modest amounts of caffeine do not reveal negative nor positive effects on HRV within the first 90 min after drug ingestion in young and healthy habitual caffeine consumers. However, further research is necessary to determine the effects of caffeine on HRV in habitual caffeine users, healthy as well as suffering from diabetes, hypertension and postmyocardial infarction.
Assessing the Contribution of Genetic Enhancements and Fertilizer Application Regimes on Canola Yield and Production Risk in Manitoba
Authors: Carew Richard , Smith Elwin G. 
Published: April 2006

The number of canola varieties released, since the enactment of Plant Breeders' Rights (PBR) legislation in Canada in 1990, has increased substantively. The effect of genetic enhancements, including PBR, on canola yield and its variance is estimated for canola production regions of Manitoba using the Just‐Pope production function. Diagnostic tests reveal the presence of heteroscedasticity in the data. The percentage of varieties seeded with PBR has a negligible effect on canola yield. Hybrid and herbicide tolerant varieties (HY/HT) seeded on over 90% of canola production area increases average yield by about 6.8%. Increased spatial diversity (more varieties planted on fewer acres) has reduced canola yield by up to 1.7%. Temporal diversity (turnover of varieties) has no significant impact on yield. Nitrogen and sulphur fertilizers are yield increasing. The variance of yield is not impacted by PBR, HY/HT, other technology measures, or by fertilizer other than potassium. Canola breeding programs have not compromised canola yield stability. Depuis l'adoption de la Loi sur la protection des obtentions végétales (LPOV) au Canada en 1990, le nombre de variétés de canola mises au point a augmenté considérablement. L'effet des améliorations génétiques, y compris l'effet de la LPOV, sur le rendement du canola et sa variance a été estimé dans les régions du Manitoba productrices de canola à l'aide de la fonction de production Just‐Pope. Des tests de diagnostic ont révélé la présence d'hétéroscédasticité dans les données. Le pourcentage de variétés ensemencées depuis la LPOV a un effet négligeable sur le rendement de canola. Les variétés hybrides et les variétés tolérantes aux herbicides (HY‐HT) ensemencées sur plus de 90% des superficies cultivées en canola ont augmenté le rendement moyen d'environ 6.8%. L'accroissement de la diversité spatiale (plus de variétés sur moins de superficies) a diminué le rendement du canola jusqu'à 1.7%. La diversité temporelle (rotation des variétés) n'a aucun impact significatif sur le rendement. Les engrais azotés et soufrés augmentent les rendements. La variance du rendement n'est pas influencée par la LPOV, ni les HY‐HT, ni les autres mesures technologiques ni les engrais autres que le potassium. Les programmes de sélection du canola n'ont pas compromis la stabilité du rendement du canola.
Genetically Modified Food Market Participation and Consumer Risk Perceptions: A Cross‐Country Comparison
Authors: Curtis Kynda R. , Moeltner Klaus 
Published: April 2006

As developing nations look to become more competitive in world agricultural markets, genetically modified (GM) crops are one avenue of pursuit. However, fears of primary export market loss, negative media attention, and adverse government regulations often hinder GM crop implementation and increase GM food risk perceptions among domestic consumers. In this study we analyze consumer surveys of GM food purchase propensity conducted in the developing countries of Romania and China. Through the examination of marginal effects and the drivers of purchase propensity, we find that in spite of demographic and psychographic similarities, consumer willingness to purchase GM foods is quite different between the two samples. Consumer preferences are largely dependent on risk perceptions, which are high in the Romanian sample, but low in the Chinese sample. Additionally, the effect of regressors on GM purchase propensity is invariant across foods in Romania, but distinctly different across foods in China, possibly due to the stated nutritional enhancement (vitamin A) in GM rice. Comme les pays en développement cherchent à devenir plus concurrentiels sur les marchés agricoles mondiaux, les cultures génétiquement modifiées (CGM) constituent une avenue. Cependant, la crainte de perdre les principaux marchés d'exportation, l'attention médiatique négative et les règlements gouvernementaux défavorables retardent souvent l'ensemencement de CGM et augmentent la perception des risques liés aux aliments génétiquement modifiés (AGM) chez les consommateurs nationaux. Dans la présente étude, nous avons analysé des enquêtes auprès des consommateurs sur la propension à acheter des AGM dans les pays en développement, notamment la Roumanie et la Chine. En examinant les effets marginaux et les facteurs de propension à acheter, nous avons trouvé que, malgré des similarités démographiques et psychographiques, la volonté des consommateurs à acheter des AGM variait considérablement dans les deux échantillons. Les préférences des consommateurs dépendent grandement de la perception des risques, qui était élevée dans l'échantillon de la Roumanie et faible dans l'échantillon de la Chine. De plus, l'effet des variables indépendantes sur la propension à acheter des AGM était invariant pour tous les aliments en Roumanie, mais distinctement différent entre les aliments en Chine, probablement en raison de l'enrichissement nutritionnel déclaré (vitamine A) du riz génétiquement modifié.
Evaluation of Prime/Boost Regimens Using Recombinant Poxvirus/Tyrosinase Vaccines for the Treatment of Patients with Metastatic Melanoma
Authors: Lindsey Kimberly R. , Gritz Linda , Sherry Richard , Abati Andrea , Fetsch Patricia A. , Goldfeder Lisa C. , Gonzales Monica I. , Zinnack Kimberly A. , Rogers-Freezer Linda , Haworth Leah , Mavroukakis Sharon A. , White Donald E. , Steinberg Seth M. , Restifo Nicholas P. , Panicali Dennis L. , Rosenberg Steven A. , Topalian Suzanne L. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractPurpose: Two clinical trials were conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy and immunologic impact of vaccination against the tyrosinase protein plus systemic interleukin 2 (IL-2) administration in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma.Experimental Design: Full-length tyrosinase was employed as an immunogen to induce diverse immunologic responses against a commonly expressed melanoma antigen. Heterologous prime/boost vaccination with recombinant vaccinia and fowlpox vectors encoding tyrosinase was first explored in a randomized three-arm phase II trial, in which vaccines were administered alone or concurrently with low-dose or high-dose IL-2. In a subsequent single cohort phase II trial, all patients received the same vaccines and high-dose IL-2 sequentially rather than concurrently.Results: Among a total of 64 patients treated on these trials, 8 objective partial responses (12.5%) were observed, all in patients receiving high-dose IL-2. Additional patients showed evidence of lesional regression (mixed tumor response) or overall regression that did not achieve partial response status (minor response). In vitro evidence of enhanced immunity against tyrosinase following protocol treatments was documented in 3 of 49 (6%) patients tested serologically, 3 of 23 (13%) patients tested for T-cell recognition of individual tyrosinase peptides, and 4 of 16 (25%) patients tested for T-cell recognition of full-length tyrosinase protein with real-time reverse transcription-PCR techniques.Conclusions: Whereas prime/boost immunization with recombinant vaccinia and fowlpox viruses enhanced antityrosinase immunity in some patients with metastatic melanoma, it was ineffective alone in mediating clinical benefit, and in combination with IL-2 did not mediate clinical benefit significantly different from that expected from treatment with IL-2 alone.
Comparison of Hindcasts Anticipating the 2004 Florida Hurricane Season
Authors: Elsner James B. , Jagger Thomas H. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Advances in hurricane climate science allow forecasts of seasonal landfall activity to be made. The authors begin with a review of the forecast methods available in the literature. They then reformulate the methods using a Bayesian probabilistic approach. This allows a direct comparison to be made while focusing on a single hindcast of the 2004 season over Florida. The models, including climatology, are estimated using Gibbs sampling. Diagnostic checks verify convergence and efficient mixing of the samples from each of the models. A below average sea level pressure gradient over the eastern North Atlantic Ocean during May and June in combination with an above average tropospheric-averaged wind index associated, in part, with a strengthening of the Bermuda high pressure during July resulted in an above average probability of at least one Florida hurricane. The relatively high hindcast probabilities for 2004 were in marked contrast to the most recent 50-yr empirical probabilities for Florida, but fell short in anticipating the unprecedented level of activity that ensued. Similar results are obtained from hindcasts of total U.S. hurricane activity for 2004.