bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
COP1-Mediated Ubiquitination of CONSTANS Is Implicated in Cryptochrome Regulation of Flowering inArabidopsis
Authors: Liu Li-Jun , Zhang Yan-Chun , Li Qing-Hua , Sang Yi , Mao Jian , Lian Hong-Li , Wang Long , Yang Hong-Quan 
Published: February 2008

AbstractIn Arabidopsis thaliana, the blue light photoreceptor cryptochromes (CRY) act to promote photomorphogenic development and the transition from vegetative to floral development in long days (LDs). We previously proposed that one of the mechanisms by which CRY regulates light responses is via its physical interaction with COP1, a RING motif–containing E3 ligase. Under LDs, the transcription of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) is activated by CONSTANS (CO) in leaf, and the FT protein moves to the shoot apex to induce flowering. CO protein is degraded in darkness, whereas it is stabilized by the CRY-mediated signal. However, the mechanism underlying this process is unknown. We show in this report that CO acts genetically downstream of COP1 and CRY to regulate flowering time. In addition, COP1 physically interacts with CO and functions as an E3 ligase, ubiquitinating CO in vitro and reducing CO levels in vivo. These results suggest that COP1 acts as a repressor of flowering by promoting the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis of CO in darkness and that CRY-mediated signal may negatively regulate COP1, thereby stabilizing CO, activating FT transcription, and inducing flowering.
The impact of patch encounter rate on patch residence time of female parasitoids increases with patch quality
Authors: MURATORI FRÉDÉRIC , BOIVIN GUY , HANCE THIERRY 
Published: February 2008

Abstract 1. For animal species that forage on patchily distributed resources, patch time allocation is of prime importance to their reproductive success. According to Charnov’s marginal value theorem (MVT), the rate of patch encounter should influence negatively the patch residence time: as the rate of patch encounter decreases, the patch residence time increases. Moreover, the MVT predicts that animals should stay longer in high quality patches.2. Using the aphid parasitoid Aphidius rhopalosiphi (Hymenoptera: Aphidiinae), the effects of these two factors (patch encounter rate and host density) were combined in order to test if the increment in patch residence time for a given decrease in patch encounter rate was larger for high quality patches than for low quality patches.3. The results show a significant effect of the interaction between the two factors. In high host density patches, parasitoids spent more time if they experienced a low patch encounter rate, while in low host density patches, patch encounter rate had no significant effect on the patch residence time. This suggests that the response of A. rhopalosiphi females to patch encounter rate varied with host density in the patch. Moreover, the same interaction effect was observed for the number of ovipositor contacts on aphids.4. Parasitoid females can use patch encounter rate to estimate patch density in the habitat but the effect of this estimate on their patch residence time is modulated by patch quality. Staying longer in a patch when patches are rare is more advantageous when the fitness gained by doing so is large. In low quality patches, the expected fitness gain is small and the female may gain more by leaving and taking her chance at finding another patch.
Long‐term trends in streamflow from semiarid rangelands: uncovering drivers of change
Authors: WILCOX BRADFORD P. , HUANG YUN , WALKER JOHN W. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractIn the last 100 years or so, desertification, degradation, and woody plant encroachment have altered huge tracts of semiarid rangelands. It is expected that the changes thus brought about significantly affect water balance in these regions; and in fact, at the headwater‐catchment and smaller scales, such effects are reasonably well documented. For larger scales, however, there is surprisingly little documentation of hydrological change. In this paper, we evaluate the extent to which streamflow from large rangeland watersheds in central Texas has changed concurrent with the dramatic shifts in vegetation cover (transition from pristine prairie to degraded grassland to woodland/savanna) that have taken place during the last century. Our study focused on the three watersheds that supply the major tributaries of the Concho River – those of the North Concho (3279 km2), the Middle Concho (5398 km2), and the South Concho (1070 km2). Using data from the period of record (1926–2005), we found that annual streamflow for the North Concho decreased by about 70% between 1960 and 2005. Not only did we find no downtrend in precipitation that might explain this reduced flow, we found no corresponding change in annual streamflow for the other two watersheds (which have more karst parent material). When we analyzed trends in baseflow (contributions from groundwater) and stormflow (runoff events linked to specific precipitation events), however, we found that in spite of large increases in woody plants, baseflow for all the watersheds has remained essentially consistent or has increased slightly since 1960. At the same time, stormflows were of smaller magnitude. Animal numbers have declined precipitously in the latter half of the last century. We suggest that these lower stormflows result from generally higher soil infiltrability due to generally improving range condition. There is no indication that the decline in streamflow is related to diminished groundwater flows caused by extraction of subsurface water by woody plants.
Catalase supplementation on thawed bull spermatozoa abolishes the detrimental effect of oxidative stress on motility and DNA integrity
Authors: Fernández‐Santos M. R. , Domínguez‐Rebolledo A. E. , Esteso M. C. , Garde J. J. , Martínez‐Pastor F. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryThe potential protective effect of catalase supplementation during in vitro culture of frozen/thawed bull spermatozoa was investigated. Frozen/thawed semen collected from three fighting bulls was diluted in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and incubated at 37 °C under different experimental conditions: Control, Catalase (CAT) (200 U/mL), Oxidant (OXI) (100 μmFe2+/1 mmascorbate), and Catalase + Oxidant (CAT/OXI). We assessed sperm motility, acrosomal integrity, viability and chromatin status (SCSA®) at 0, 2 and 6 h of incubation. Our results showed that catalase abolished the effect of the oxidant, protecting spermatozoa against reactive oxygen species, and improving both sperm motility and chromatin status during incubation. The OXI treatment significantly reduced the percentage of motile sperm after 6 h of incubation. The statistical model also showed that there were differences in sperm motility between CAT/OXI (20.8 ± 2.9%) and OXI (11.6 ± 7.6%) (p < 0.001). There were no significant effects of OXI on sperm viability, acrosomal status or proportion of abnormal tails. %DFI (spermatozoa with moderate or high DNA Fragmentation Index) was significantly higher on OXI (p < 0.001). Catalase prevented DNA fragmentation even in the presence of the oxidant (%DFI: 30.3 ± 0.8% OXI vs. 17.4 ± 0.7% CAT/OXI). We conclude that catalase supplementation after thawing could protect bull spermatozoa against oxidative stress, and it could improve media used for processing thawed spermatozoa.
The aetiology of sperm protamine abnormalities and their potential impact on the sperm epigenome
Authors: Carrell Douglas T. , Emery Benjamin R. , Hammoud Sue 
Published: February 2008

SummaryDuring the elongating spermatid stage of spermatogenesis, there is a step‐wise replacement of nuclear histones with protamines 1 and 2. In fertile men, the ratio of protamine 1/protamine 2 (P1/P2) is within the narrow range of 0.8–1.2. Ratios above or below that range are associated with infertility, exhibiting a wide range of defects including decreased sperm counts, morphology, fertilization ability, and embryo implantation capacity. In this review, we highlight studies evaluating potential causes of abnormal protamine expression, including the sequencing of genes relevant to protamine expression in both affected patients and controls. While the variants of the protamine genes themselves do not appear to be responsible for most observed defects, variants of the Contrin gene, a transcription factor and translation repressor, appear to be contributory to some cases of abnormal expression. Additionally, we explore the potential effects of abnormal protamine replacement on the epigenome of human sperm. Ongoing studies are evaluating the role of retained histones and DNA methylation in sperm, which may be affected in sperm with aberrant protamine replacement. This important area of epigenetic research has profound clinical implications.
The maize (Zea maysL.)roothairless3gene encodes a putative GPI‐anchored, monocot‐specific, COBRA‐like protein that significantly affects grain yield
Authors: Hochholdinger Frank , Wen Tsui‐Jung , Zimmermann Roman , Chimot‐Marolle Patricia , Da Costa e Silva Oswaldo , Bruce Wesley , Lamkey Kendall R. , Wienand Udo , Schnable Patrick S. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryTherth3(roothairless 3) mutant is specifically affected in root hair elongation. We report here the cloning of therth3gene via a PCR‐based strategy (amplification of insertion mutagenized sites) and demonstrate that it encodes a COBRA‐like protein that displays all the structural features of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. Genes of theCOBRAfamily are involved in various types of cell expansion and cell wall biosynthesis. Therth3gene belongs to a monocot‐specific clade of theCOBRAgene family comprising two maize and two rice genes. While the rice (Oryza sativa) geneOsBC1L1appears to be orthologous torth3based on sequence similarity (86% identity at the protein level) and maize/rice synteny, the maize (Zea maysL.)rth3‐likegene does not appear to be a functional homolog ofrth3based on their distinct expression profiles. Massively parallel signature sequencing analysis detectedrth3expression in all analyzed tissues, but at relatively low levels, with the most abundant expression in primary roots where the root hair phenotype is manifested.In situhybridization experiments confinerth3expression to root hair‐forming epidermal cells and lateral root primordia. Remarkably, in replicated field trials involving near‐isogenic lines, therth3mutant conferred significant losses in grain yield.
Influence of disturbance and nutrient enrichment on early successional fouling communities in an oligotrophic marine system
Authors: Canning‐Clode João , Kaufmann Manfred , Molis Markus , Wahl Martin , Lenz Mark 
Published: February 2008

AbstractDisturbance and productivity are often cited as the main factors determining temporal and spatial patterns in species distribution and the diversity of communities. A field experiment was conducted to test the role of these factors in the structuring of early successional fouling communities in a nutrient limited system at the south coast of Madeira Island. Macro‐benthic sessile communities, established on artificial settlement substrata, were manipulated and surveyed over a 9‐week period. We applied mechanical disturbances of four different frequencies crossed with three levels of inorganic nutrient enrichment. Fertilization enhanced community diversity by favouring the establishment and growth of macroalgae. Disturbance reduced diversity by eliminating species – but only at the highest nutrient level. This is explained by a multiple‐stressor model; species most sensitive to nutrient deficiency (only present in the highest enrichment treatment) were simultaneously the most sensitive to disturbance.
Radiation‐induced angiosarcoma of the rectum: a case report and review of literature
Authors: Ahmad A. , Jamieson T. , Balsitis M. , Diament R. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractWe report a case of rectal angiosarcoma after prostatic radiotherapy, illustrating diagnostic difficulty. Awareness of this potential diagnosis is important with increasing use of radiotherapy in the treatment of pelvic cancers.
Trans‐sacral (Kraske) approach for gastrointestinal stromal tumour of the lower rectum: old procedure for a new disease
Authors: Gervaz P. , Huber O. , Bucher P. , Sappino P. , Morel P. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractGastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) of the lower rectum are rare cancers from mesenchymatous origin, which are characterized by; 1) the absence of metastases in loco‐regional lymph nodes; and 2) a tendency to grow opposite to the intestinal lumen. Thus, the two preferred surgical approaches for rectal adenocarcinomas (i.e. abdominal and transanal) are inappropriate for GISTs, due to: 1) the uselessness of total mesorectal excision; and 2) to the difficulty to locate the tumour with a transanal approach. We report here a case of a large GIST of the lower rectum which was successfully treated with a posterior trans‐sacral approach. Lower rectum GISTs are good indications for the Kraske procedure, and this relatively new disease entity may contribute to the reintroduction of an old procedure into the armamentarium of 21st century colorectal surgeons.
PANTHEISM RECONSTRUCTED: ECOTHEOLOGY AS A SUCCESSOR TO THE JUDEO‐CHRISTIAN, ENLIGHTENMENT, AND POSTMODERNIST PARADIGMS
Authors: Grula John W. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract.The Judeo‐Christian, Enlightenment, and postmodernist paradigms have become intellectually and ethically exhausted. They are obviously failing to provide a conceptual framework conducive to eliminating some of humanity's worst scourges, including war and environmental destruction. This raises the issue of a successor, which necessitates a reexamination of first principles, starting with our concept of God. Pantheism, which is differentiated from panentheism, denies the existence of a transcendent, supernatural creator and instead asserts that God and the universe are one and the same. Understood via intuition, modern cosmology, and other natural sciences, it offers an alternative worldview that posits the divine and sacred nature of the universe/creation. By asserting the fallacy of the creator/creation dichotomy and any attempts to anthropomorphize or personalize God, pantheism precludes hubris stemming from erroneous notions of divine favoritism. The links between Judeo‐Christianity and the Enlightenment are traced and a case made that the latter has resulted in the equally erroneous and hubristic notion of human ascendancy to a Godlike status, with the concept of progress providing a secular version of the Christian belief in salvation. By reestablishing the natural sciences’metanarrative, even as it asserts the divinity of the material universe, pantheism simultaneously demotes postmodernism and reconciles science with religion. Pantheism provides a theological foundation for deep ecology and also stakes out a viable third position in relation to the ongoing dispute between advocates of intelligent design and the scientific establishment.
Autologous peripheral blood progenitor cells cryopreserved with 5 and 10 percent dimethyl sulfoxide alone give comparable hematopoietic reconstitution after transplantation
Authors: Akkök Çiğdem A. , Liseth Knut , Nesthus Ingerid , Løkeland Turid , Tefre Kari , Bruserud Øystein , Abrahamsen Jenny F. 
Published: February 2008

BACKGROUND: Previous in vitro studies have demonstrated decreased apoptosis and necrosis in peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) cryopreserved with 5 percent instead of 10 percent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). This study was carried out to investigate whether these in vitro findings were supported by clinical data concerning hematopoietic engraftment after autologous stem cell transplantations with PBPCs cryopreserved with 5 and 10 percent DMSO.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: During a 6‐year period, 103 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM; n = 58) and lymphoma (n = 45) were transplanted with autologous PBPCs. Throughout the first part of the period cells were cryopreserved with 10 percent DMSO and later with 5 percent. A retrospective comparison was carried out of the clinical results for these two groups.RESULTS: No significant difference in median time to neutrophil and platelet (PLT) engraftment was demonstrated for MM and lymphoma patients transplanted with PBPCs cryopreserved with 5 or 10 percent DMSO. Time until neutrophil counts of more than 0.5 × 109 per L was 10 days both for the 5 and 10 percent MM groups and 12 days for both the 5 and the 10 percent lymphoma patients. Median time until stable PLT counts of more than 20 × 109 per L was 11 days in all four groups. In addition, transfusion requirements and duration of days admitted to hospital did not differ between the groups.CONCLUSION: The routines for cryopreservation of autografts vary considerably between transplantation centers, and this makes it difficult to compare different clinical studies. Our results suggest that cryopreservation with 5 percent DMSO alone followed by storage in nitrogen is a simple, highly standardized, and safe procedure for cryopreservation of autologous stem cell graft.
Association of cord blood platelet characteristics and hematopoietic progenitor cells
Authors: Eskola Mikko , Rekunen Sari , Aroviita Pekka , Möttönen Sari , Hiilesmaa Vilho , Sainio Susanna , Kekomäki Riitta 
Published: February 2008

BACKGROUND: Total nucleated cell (TNC) dose is associated with neutrophil and platelet (PLT) engraftment after cord blood (CB) transplantation and thus is used for selection of CB for banking. The goal of this study was to evaluate the internal relationships of CB PLT characteristics, TNC, and the hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) content of CB units.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: HPC and TNC counts of 167 CB units processed with an automated cell separation system were compared with CB PLT count and mean PLT volume (MPV). Megakaryocyte progenitors (CFU‐MK) were cultured from a subset of units (n = 24).RESULTS: PLT concentration correlated with MPV (r = −0.39), which was also associated with both TNC and total CD34+ cells before and after processing (r = 0.37 and 0.35 and r = 0.41 and 0.42, respectively). In addition, MPV was associated with HPC counts in the CB unit. The p value was less than 0.001 for all associations. PLT count was inversely associated with markers of hematopoietic potential. Median removal of PLTs during processing was 62 percent (range, 40%‐84%). All 24 CB units of the subset exhibited CFU‐MK growth. In multivariate linear regression analysis, MPV improved prediction of the HPC content of the CB unit compared to prediction with CB volume and nucleated cell concentration only.CONCLUSION: Mean PLT volume correlated with current markers of CB hematopoietic potential and is potentially useful for evaluating CB collections for banking. The question of the clinical significance of PLT characteristics in CB transplantation remains unanswered.
Improved postthaw viability and in vitro functionality of peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cells after cryopreservation with a theoretically optimized freezing curve
Authors: Tijssen Marloes R. , Woelders Henri , De Vries‐van Rossen Ada , Van Der Schoot C. Ellen , Voermans Carlijn , Lagerberg Johan W.M. 
Published: February 2008

BACKGROUND: The freezing curve currently used for the cryopreservation of peripheral blood stem cell transplants (PBSCTs) has been determined empirically. Although the use of cryopreserved PBSCTs is successful and usually leads to rapid hematopoietic recovery, the freeze‐thawing process is known to induce a significant degree of cell death. Furthermore, the infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), used to protect the cells against damage induced by freezing, can cause morbidity. Therefore, optimizing the current cryopreservation protocol (with 10% DMSO and a slow linear cooling curve) with theoretically optimized freezing curves and a lower DMSO concentration might improve the recovery after transplantation.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A theoretical model was used to predict optimal freezing curves for 5 and 10 percent DMSO. CD34+‐selected and ‐unselected PBSCs were cryopreserved with the current or the new freezing curves. Postthaw quality was evaluated by cell viability, colony formation, and megakaryocyte outgrowth.RESULTS: With 10 percent DMSO, the use of the predicted optimal freezing curve resulted in increased postthaw viability of CD34+ cells, colony formation, and megakaryocyte outgrowth. Lowering the DMSO concentration to 5 percent resulted in improved postthaw viability and functionality, which was not further improved by use of the theoretically optimized freezing curve.CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the current cryopreservation method for PBSCTs can be improved by either lowering the DMSO concentration to 5 percent or by using the theoretically optimized freezing curve. Infusion of less DMSO and more viable cells might improve the outcome of PBSCT.
Transfusion‐related immunomodulation due to peripheral blood dendritic cells expressing the CD200 tolerance signaling molecule and alloantigen
Authors: Clark David A. , Gorczynski Reginald M. , Blajchman Morris A. 
Published: February 2008

BACKGROUND: The transfusion of allogeneic blood products containing white cells (WBCs) has been reported to reduce resistance to infection, stimulate the growth of some types of tumors in animal models, and prevent abortion of allogeneic embryos in the CBAxDBA/2 murine model.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this study, the issue explored was whether allogeneic BALB/c whole blood given to C57Bl/6 mice by tail vein after injection of syngeneic FSL‐10 fibrosarcoma cells increased the number of lung nodules enumerated on Day 21. The effect on the tumor growth–promoting effect produced by allogeneic BALB/c whole blood was then examined by exposure of the allogeneic BALB/c blood to various monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). The antibodies added to the BALB/c blood included anti‐murine CD200 antibodies, anti‐lymphoid dendritic cell (DC) antibodies (DEC205), or anti‐myeloid DC (anti‐CD11c) antibodies.RESULTS: The tumor growth–promoting effect of the allogeneic BALB/c blood was abrogated by the addition to the BALB/c blood of MoAb either to myeloid DCs (anti‐CD11c) or to the CD200 tolerance signaling molecule, but not by adding MoAb to lymphoid DCs (DEC205). BALB/c blood also was shown to increase the percentage of transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β+ splenocytes detected in recipient mice, on Day 12 after transfusion. This effect was abrogated by adding anti‐CD200 antibody to the BALB/c donor blood. Moreover, physiologic concentrations of TGF‐β, but not interleukin‐10, were shown to stimulate, in cell culture experiments, the proliferation of syngeneic FSL‐10 sarcoma cells.CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that the mechanism of the tumor growth–promoting effect of allogeneic blood is mediated by a highly potent population of peripheral blood DCs expressing the CD200 tolerance signaling molecule. These data also indicate that tumor cell growth can be mediated by the stimulation of TGF‐β–producing cells and that TGF‐β may act by tumor cell growth stimulation, rather than by host immunosuppression.