bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anoestrus in the Dog: a Fascinating Story
Authors: Okkens AC , Kooistra HS 
Published: July 2006

ContentsIn the bitch, progression from early to late anoestrus is characterized by a higher amplitude and a larger number of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) pulses generated by the hypothalamus, an increase in the sensitivity of the pituitary to GnRH, and an increase in ovarian responsiveness to gonadotrophins. An increase in basal plasma follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration is a critical event required for initiation of folliculogenesis. A period of increased luteinizing hormone pulsatility has been reported shortly before the onset of pro‐oestrus. Apart from these changes in the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐ovarian axis, there is also involvement of dopaminergic influences in the initiation of a new follicular phase in the bitch. Administration of the dopamine‐agonists bromocriptine and cabergoline shortens the anoestrus and is associated with a decrease in the plasma prolactin concentration, suggesting that the shortened anoestrus is the result of suppression of prolactin secretion. Yet, the anoestrus is not shortened in bitches treated with metergoline, a drug, which in a low dosage lowers the plasma prolactin concentration via a serotonin‐antagonistic pathway. In addition, under physiological conditions low plasma prolactin concentrations are found during the entire anoestrus. Furthermore, a low dosage of bromocriptine, insufficient to cause a decrease in the plasma prolactin concentration, prematurely induces folliculogenesis. These observations indicate that not the decrease in the plasma prolactin concentration, but another dopamine‐agonistic influence plays a critical role in the transition to a new follicular phase. The dopamine‐agonist induced shortening of the anoestrus is associated with a rapid rise in the basal plasma FSH concentration, similar to what is observed during the physiological late anoestrus. This observation underlines the importance of an increase in the circulating plasma FSH concentration in the initiation of folliculogenesis in the bitch.
Development of the Lipizzan Horse Breed
Authors: Dovc P , Kavar T , Sölkner H , Achmann R 
Published: July 2006

ContentsThe development and a brief history of the Lipizzan horse breed are reviewed. The contribution of several breeds, some of them already extinct, to the development of the Lipizzan horse, gives it a special status representing an important gene pool. This well‐documented breed is a part of the common European natural and cultural heritage. Breeding practices establishing stallion and mare family lines as well as availability of pedigrees are described. Molecular analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite data allowed us to analyse the structure of the Lipizzan population, to estimate genetic variability within the population and to test the reliability of the pedigree data. DNA sequence analysis of the mtDNA control region confirmed relative high variability of the gene pool, containing majority of mtDNA haplotypes found in horse populations worldwide. Microsatellite analysis showed that the level of heterozygosity in the Lipizzan population is comparable with the heterozygosity in other populations. The fact that majority of the Lipizzan population is bred on eight state studs in the Central and Eastern Europe contributes to the structuring of the population which results in three clusters: classical cluster, represented by studs Lipica, Piber and Monterotondo, transition cluster, represented by studs Szilvasvarad, Djakovo and Topolćianky and eastern cluster represented by studs Beclean and Fagaras. The molecular markers also allowed verification of pedigree data, and the rough estimation of pedigree errors was about 10%.
Ways to Improve the Biosecurity of Bovine Semen
Authors: De Ruigh L , Bosch JC , Brus MC , Landman B , Merton JS 
Published: July 2006

ContentsSemen production and trade is a worldwide industry. A framework, based on international standards is awaiting international and national regulation. In the perspective of biosecurity of the final product, critical notes can be made according to the semen production regulation and product safety. Process description brings the obligatory health standards for the production bulls, collection and processing of semen, identification, registration, worldwide distribution and insemination into discussion. Test frequency, test quality and demands, way of sampling and test consistency can influence product safety. New scientific knowledge can influence the value of the regulation. Whether a country is free of notifiable disease should influence decisions regarding necessary tests for the production bulls. The biosecurity of the semen production process is influenced by several factors. The effectiveness of the antibiotics used is questionable. The extenders for cryopreservation added to the semen can affect product safety. The way materials and storage containers have to be disinfected must be clear. In modern industry, tracking and tracing is an important issue. Worldwide differences in ways of identification of straws do not benefit a proper identification and registration throughout the process. Regulation could help improve the transparency of production and trade. Before anything concerning biohazard is implemented in regulation, each rule should be thoroughly based on scientific research where possible and furthermore it must be possible to enforce the regulation. The effort it takes to enforce the regulation should be in balance with the benefit it provides. An approach to alter regulation quickly is advisable. To produce a safe product that is accepted for international trade is of vital interest for the survival of artificial insemination (AI) in cattle.
Chemotaxis of Ralstonia sp. SJ98 towards p‐nitrophenol in soil
Authors: Paul Debarati , Singh Rajbir , Jain Rakesh K. 
Published: July 2006

SummaryBioremediation of contaminated sites has been accepted as an efficient and cheaper alternative to physicochemical means of remediation in several cases. Although chemotactic behaviour of many bacteria has been studied earlier and assays have been developed to study bacterial chemotaxis in semi‐solid media, this phenomenon has never been demonstrated in soil. For bioremediation application it is important to know whether bacteria actually migrate through the heterogenous soil medium towards a gradient of a particular chemoattractant. In the present study we have successfully demonstrated bacterial chemotaxis of a Ralstonia sp. SJ98 in soil microcosm using qualitative and quantitative plate and tray assays. The migration of bacteria has been established using several methods such as plate counting, vital staining and flow cytometry and slot blot hybridization. A non‐chemotactic p‐nitrophenol utilizing strain Burkholderia cepacia RKJ200 has been used as negative control. Our work clearly substantiates the hypothesis that chemotactic bacteria may enhance in situ bioremediation of toxic pollutants from soils and sediments.
Glucose control with insulin results in reduction of NF‐κB‐binding activity in mononuclear blood cells of patients with recently manifested type 1 diabetes
Authors: Schiekofer S. , Galasso G. , Andrassy M. , Aprahamian T. , Schneider J. , Rocnik E. 
Published: July 2006

Aim:  Chronic elevated blood glucose levels are associated with the formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). Hyperglycaemia and AGEs have been shown to induce activation of the redox‐sensitive transcription factor nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB). To validate the hypothesis that the maintenance of normal glucose levels results in the reduction of NF‐κB‐binding activity in vivo, the redox‐sensitive transcription factor NF‐κB was used as marker of hyperglycaemia‐induced mononuclear cell activation in patients who recently developed type 1 diabetes.Methods:  Twelve patients with recently manifested type 1 diabetes mellitus were examined in our study. After sampling blood for determination of baseline glucose values, the 12 patients were treated with insulin, and blood samples were taken 4 and 12 weeks later. Mononuclear cells were isolated and assayed in a tissue culture‐independent electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA)‐based detection system for NF‐κB‐binding activity. Western blot analysis was used to determine nuclear and cytoplasmic localization of NF‐κB‐p65 and cytoplasmic content of inhibitor of kappa B‐α (IκB‐α). In addition, we determined the concentration of heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) from cytoplasmic extract as a marker of oxidative stress.Results:  Normalization of blood glucose levels resulted in a highly significant reduction of NF‐κB activation in EMSA. Before and after glucose normalization, there were no differences in binding by the members of the NF‐κB family to the NF‐κB consensus sequence oligonucleotide. Similar data were obtained by Western blot analysis showing NF‐κB‐p65 localization in the nucleus, while p65 levels increased in the cytoplasm. IκB‐α increased in the cytoplasm after glucose normalization. HO‐1 antigen consistently decreased, as expected from the decrease in NF‐κB activation.Conclusion:  Thus, we conclude that normalization of blood glucose levels results in the reduction of NF‐κB activation and gene products controlled by this transcription factor.
Expression profiling of chickpea genes differentially regulated during a resistance response to Ascochyta rabiei
Authors: Coram Tristan E. , Pang Edwin C. K. 
Published: July 2006

SummaryUsing microarray technology and a set of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) unigenes, grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and lentil (Lens culinaris Med.) resistance gene analogues, the ascochyta blight (Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) L.) resistance response was studied in four chickpea genotypes, including resistant, moderately resistant, susceptible and wild relative (Cicer echinospermum L.) genotypes. The experimental system minimized environmental effects and was conducted in reference design, in which samples from mock‐inoculated controls acted as reference against post‐inoculation samples. Robust data quality was achieved through the use of three biological replicates (including a dye swap), the inclusion of negative controls and strict selection criteria for differentially expressed genes, including a fold change cut‐off determined by self–self hybridizations, Student's t‐test and multiple testing correction (P < 0.05). Microarray observations were also validated by quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). The time course expression patterns of 756 microarray features resulted in the differential expression of 97 genes in at least one genotype at one time point. k‐means clustering grouped the genes into clusters of similar observations for each genotype, and comparisons between A. rabiei‐resistant and A. rabiei‐susceptible genotypes revealed potential gene ‘signatures’ predictive of effective A. rabiei resistance. These genes included several pathogenesis‐related proteins, SNAKIN2 antimicrobial peptide, proline‐rich protein, disease resistance response protein DRRG49‐C, environmental stress‐inducible protein, leucine‐zipper protein, polymorphic antigen membrane protein, Ca‐binding protein and several unknown proteins. The potential involvement of these genes and their pathways of induction are discussed. This study represents the first large‐scale gene expression profiling in chickpea, and future work will focus on the functional validation of the genes of interest.
Children's Emotionality and Social Status: A Meta‐analytic Review
Authors: Dougherty Lea R. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractOver the last 15 years, the role of emotions in children's peer relations has received greader attention. The purpose of the meta‐analytic review was to determine the magnitude of the relation between negative emotionality (NE) and positive emotionality (PE) and social status. Based on 54 independent samples, the overall effect size for the relation between children's NE and social status was in the moderate‐to‐small range, and this effect size was similar across all types of NE (i.e., general measures of NE, anger, fear and sadness). Based on 10 independent samples, the overall effect size for the relation between children's PE and social status was in the small range. We found that the assessment method for anger significantly moderated the relation between anger and social status, and the context in which PE was observed significantly moderated the relation between PE and social status. This article concludes with a set of recommendations for the next generation of research on children's emotional and social competence.
The Entry Behavior of Aggressive/Rejected Children: The Contributions of Status and Temperament
Authors: Wilson Beverly J. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis study investigated the entry behavior and temperamental characteristics of aggressive/rejected and nonaggressive/popular kindergarten and first‐grade children. An analog entry situation was used to assess children's entry skills. Aggressive/rejected children had more difficulty than nonaggressive/popular children delivering their entry bids in a well‐timed manner and engaged in more disruptive entry strategies. They also tended to use more aggressive entry strategies after experiencing entry failure. The children's temperamental characteristics accounted for significant variance in their entry behavior. Temperamental fear made a positive contribution to children's use of socially appropriate entry strategies. The children's status and impulsiveness each explained unique variance in their use of disruptive entry strategies. Aggressive/rejected girls were more impulsive than other groups and tended to be less fearful.
Trait Emotional Intelligence and Children's Peer Relations at School
Authors: Petrides K. V. , Sangareau Yolanda , Furnham Adrian , Frederickson Norah 
Published: July 2006

AbstractTrait emotional intelligence (‘trait EI’ or ‘trait emotional self‐efficacy’) is a constellation of emotion‐related self‐perceptions and dispositions comprising the affective aspects of personality. The present study investigated the role of trait EI in children's peer relations at school. One hundred and sixty pupils (83 girls; mean age = 10.8 years) were administered the trait emotional intelligence questionnaire and were subsequently asked to nominate all classmates who fitted each of seven distinct behavioural descriptions (‘co‐operative’, ‘disruptive’, ‘shy’, ‘aggressive’, ‘dependent’, ‘leader’ and ‘intimidating’). The teachers were also asked to nominate all pupils who fitted the seven descriptions. Pupils with high trait EI scores received more nominations for ‘co‐operation’ and ‘leadership’ and fewer nominations for ‘disruption’, ‘aggression’ and ‘dependence’. Factor analysis of teacher nominations revealed two orthogonal factors encompassing pro social and antisocial descriptions, respectively. High trait EI pupils scored higher on the pro social factor and lower on the antisocial factor. The discussion focuses on the construct validity of trait EI and its implications for children's peer relations at school.
C‐Reactive Protein May Be Increased in Migraine Patients Who Present With Complex Clinical Features
Authors: Welch K. M. A. , Brandes Avery W. , Salerno Lauren , Brandes Jan Lewis 
Published: July 2006

Objectives.—Stroke risk is increased in migraine, the basis of which remains to be established. C‐reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of cerebrovascular disease, suggesting in part an inflammatory mechanism. Because attacks of migraine may involve repeated sterile vascular inflammation, we measured CRP in migraine patients.Methods.—Retrospective review was conducted of 60 randomly sampled charts of patients with the diagnosis of migraine without aura (MwoA, n = 29) and migraine with aura (MwA, n = 31), in which CRP was recorded as part of the differential diagnostic evaluation. CRP was measured by standard commercial laboratory methods; high sensitivity CRP (hs‐CRP) values above 3mg/L were considered abnormal.Results.—Elevated hs‐CRP was found in 43% of all patients (26 of 60). In MwoA, of 29 subjects, abnormal hs‐CRP was recorded in 16; in 10 no other conditions were found to explain the abnormality. In MwA, of 31 subjects, abnormal CRP was recorded in 10; in 5 no other condition could explain the abnormality. No associations were found between other demographic or clinical features.Conclusions.—CRP may be abnormal in MwoA and MwA patients who present with atypical, severe, or complex clinical features that require extensive differential diagnostic investigation.
Work design and management in the manufacturing sector: development and validation of the Work Organisation Assessment Questionnaire
Authors: Griffiths A , Cox T , Karanika M , Khan S , Tomás J M 
Published: July 2006

Objectives:To examine the factor structure, reliability, and validity of a new context-specific questionnaire for the assessment of work and organisational factors. The Work Organisation Assessment Questionnaire (WOAQ) was developed as part of a risk assessment and risk reduction methodology for hazards inherent in the design and management of work in the manufacturing sector.Method:Two studies were conducted. Data were collected from 524 white- and blue-collar employees from a range of manufacturing companies. Exploratory factor analysis was carried out on 28 items that described the most commonly reported failures of work design and management in companies in the manufacturing sector. Concurrent validity data were also collected. A reliability study was conducted with a further 156 employees.Results:Principal component analysis, with varimax rotation, revealed a strong 28-item, five factor structure. The factors were named: quality of relationships with management, reward and recognition, workload, quality of relationships with colleagues, and quality of physical environment. Analyses also revealed a more general summative factor. Results indicated that the questionnaire has good internal consistency and test-retest reliability and validity. Being associated with poor employee health and changes in health related behaviour, the WOAQ factors are possible hazards. It is argued that the strength of those associations offers some estimation of risk. Feedback from the organisations involved indicated that the WOAQ was easy to use and meaningful for them as part of their risk assessment procedures.Conclusions:The studies reported here describe a model of the hazards to employee health and health related behaviour inherent in the design and management of work in the manufacturing sector. It offers an instrument for their assessment. The scales derived which form the WOAQ were shown to be reliable, valid, and meaningful to the user population.
Protein transport in the plant secretory pathwayThis review is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Plant Cell Biology.
Authors: Hanton Sally L. , Brandizzi Federica 
Published: July 2006

The study of the plant secretory pathway is a relatively new field, developing rapidly over the last 30 years. Many exciting discoveries have already been made in this area, but as old questions are answered new ones become apparent. Our understanding of the functions and mechanisms of the plant secretory pathway is constantly expanding, in part because of the development of new technologies, mainly in bioimaging. The increasing accessibility of these new tools in combination with more established methods provides an ideal way to increase knowledge of the secretory pathway in plants. In this review we discuss recent developments in understanding protein transport between organelles in the plant secretory pathway.
Oxidized Phospholipids Alter Vascular Connexin Expression, Phosphorylation, and Heterocellular Communication
Authors: Isakson Brant E. , Kronke Gerhard , Kadl Alexandra , Leitinger Norbert , Duling Brian R. 
Published: July 2006

Objective—In endothelial cells (EC) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from atherosclerotic mice, connexin (Cx) expression becomes distorted. Lipoprotein-derived phospholipid oxidation products (OxPAPC) play a critical role in atherosclerosis, and we hypothesized that they may act as trigger molecules causing the changes in connexin expression.Methods and Results—We applied OxPAPC to murine carotid arteries in vivo and vascular cell cocultures. OxPAPC applied to carotids induced an upregulation of both Cx37 and Cx43 in the VSMC. In EC, Cx43 was upregulated and Cx37 was downregulated, whereas Cx40 in EC remained constant. In the vascular cell coculture, OxPAPC caused similar changes in Cx37 and Cx43 but caused a decrease in Cx40 in EC and an elevation of Cx40 in VSMC. In the coculture model, OxPAPC treatment led to the selective disappearance of Cx40 at the myoendothelial junction. Biocytin dye transfer between EC and VSMC coupling was dramatically reduced by OxPAPC. The decrease in dye transfer after OxPAPC treatment was correlated with an increase in tyrosine 265 phosphorylation of Cx43, especially at the in vitro myoendothelial junction.Conclusions—We conclude that OxPAPC could be responsible for the changes in connexin expression previously reported in atherosclerosis.
Neural Correlates of Self-distraction from Anxiety and a Process Model of Cognitive Emotion Regulation
Authors: Kalisch Raffael , Wiech Katja , Herrmann Katrin , Dolan Raymond J. 
Published: July 2006

Abstract
Cognitive strategies used in volitional emotion regulation include self-distraction and reappraisal (reinterpretation). There is debate as to what the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms underlying these strategies are. For example, it is unclear whether self-distraction and reappraisal, although distinct at a phenomenological level, are also mediated by distinct neural processes. This is partly because imaging studies on reappraisal and self-distraction have been performed in different emotional contexts and are difficult to compare. We have therefore investigated the neural correlates of self-distraction, as indexed by a thought suppression task, in an anticipatory anxiety paradigm previously employed by us to study reappraisal. Brain activity was measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging. We show that self-distraction recruits the left lateral prefrontal cortex. Based on a review of the existing data, we develop a process model of cognitive emotion regulation. The model posits that both self-distraction and reappraisal attenuate emotional reactions through replacement of emotional by neutral mental contents but achieve replacement in different ways. This is associated with a dependence of self-distraction on a left prefrontal production function, whereas reappraisal depends on a right prefrontal higher order monitoring process.