bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Growth and Yield Performance of Some Cotton Cultivars in Xinjiang, China, An Arid Area with Short Growing Period
Authors: Wang C. , Isoda A. , Wang P. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractEleven cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars were evaluated for their growth and yield performance in Shihezi, Xinjiang, China, an area in Central Asia with short growing period in 1999 and 2000. In each cultivar the number of bolls per plant was low and the number of bolls per unit area was high. Each cultivar showed rather high seed and lint yields. The highest lint yield was Xinluzao 10 in both years with 1761 and 1809 kg ha−1. High yield ability of the cultivars in this study was attributed to large number of bolls per unit area with high lint percentage. Seed and lint yields had significant positive correlations with mean net assimilation rate, ratio of reproductive to vegetative organs and mean boll weight at earlier stages of boll growth, suggesting that early boll formation and successive partitioning of dry matter into bolls were important factors for boll growth in this study area.
Evaluation of Fibre Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) Performance under Minimal and Zero Tillage in Eastern Canada
Authors: Couture S. J. , DiTommaso A. , Asbil W. L. , Watson A. K. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe feasibility of producing fibre flax in minimum tillage or zero tillage (ZT) systems was investigated. The results were variable between the sites, which differed in soil type and previous cropping history. Tillage regime had no impact on fibre flax phenological development including number of days to emergence, days to flowering and days to harvest at either site. However, tillage regime had a significant effect on mean stem diameter, dry matter content and plant height at all three sampling dates at the sandy loam site, and a significant effect on mid‐season plant height at the clay site. At the sandy loam site, ZT plots had the highest populations of plants with the finest stem diameters, the lowest branching ratios, but the shortest plants by the end of the season. Overall, plant densities were greater, stem diameters thinner, and biomass production higher in the heavier soil of the clay site. These results indicate that under the growing conditions present in 1998, fibre flax can successfully be grown in minimum or ZT systems on different soil types in Eastern Canada. Moreover, the growth of fibre flax in these systems does not compromise the proportion of tall plants having thin stems and minimal branching, a critical quality parameter for fibre flax production.
Differences in Starch Characteristics of Rice Strains Having Different Sensitivities to Maturation Temperatures
Authors: Suzuki Y. , Sano Y. , Ishikawa T. , Sasaki T. , Matsukura U. , Hirano H.‐Y. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe amylose synthesis in rice with Wxb is affected by environmental temperature during seed development. We previously isolated a mutant candidate (coi) in which amylose synthesis is insensitive to a cool temperature. Here, the effects of maturation temperature (21 °C vs. 28 °C) on the starch characteristics of coi and its original strain 76‐3/T65 were studied. Amylose contents and gelatinization properties of 76‐3/T65 were affected by maturation temperatures, while coi was less affected. The amylopectin chain length distributions were almost the same between the two strains maturated at both temperatures. Gelatinization onset (To), peak (Tp), conclusion temperatures (Tc) and enthalpies (ΔH) decreased with environmental temperatures, and Tp, Tc and ΔH of coi at 21 °C were significantly higher than those of 76‐3/T65. Thus, the coi mutant, less affected by maturation temperature than that of 76‐3/T65, may be a useful strain in understanding biochemical and genetic starch biosynthesis response to slight changes in temperature.
Alfalfa Phytoestrogen Content: Impact of Plant Maturity and Herbage Components
Authors: Seguin P. , Zheng W. , Souleimanov A. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractLegumes contain a range of non‐nutritional phytochemicals that may have health‐promoting effects in humans. In this study, we determined the concentrations of four phytoestrogens (coumestrol, apigenin, luteolin and quercetin) in field‐grown alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Differences between plants of different stages of maturity, between plant parts, and different canopy segments were assessed. The concentration of individual phytoestrogen in whole herbage varied between 15 and 225 μg g−1 dry matter (DM) and was strongly affected by stage of maturity. Coumestrol and apigenin concentrations were highest at early vegetative stages, luteolin and quercetin at early vegetative and late flowering stages. All phytoestrogens were found in lowest concentrations at the early flowering stage (average 68 μg g−1 DM); stage at which alfalfa is usually harvested when used as a forage source for animals. At vegetative stages, apigenin was the predominant phytoestrogen in herbage followed by coumestrol, the reverse being observed upon initiation of flowering; luteolin and quercetin were found at all stages in similarly lower concentrations. Concentrations of luteolin, quercetin and apigenin were 225, 410 and 690 % greater, respectively, in flowers than in leaves or stems; coumestrol concentration was similar between plant parts. In flowers and stems the predominant phytoestrogens were apigenin and quercetin, followed by coumestrol and luteolin. Similar concentrations (average 26 μg g−1 DM) of each of the four phytoestrogens were found in leaves. Concentrations through the herbage canopy varied and were greatest at >60 cm from the soil surface for apigenin and coumestrol, but greatest at >60 and 0–20 cm for quercetin and at 0–20 cm for luteolin. The results suggest that if alfalfa is to be used as a source of phytoestrogens and is harvested for the production of herbal supplements or nutraceuticals, management will need to be adapted.
Patterns of floristic richness in vegetation communities of California: regional scale analysis with multi‐temporal NDVI
Authors: Fairbanks Dean H. K. , McGwire Kenneth C. 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACTAim  Applying water‐energy dynamics and heterogeneity theory to explain species richness via remote sensing could allow for the regional characterization and monitoring of vegetation community assemblages and their environment. We assess the relationship of multi‐temporal normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to plant species richness in vegetation communities.Location  California, USA.Methods  Sub‐regions containing species inventories for chaparral, coastal sage scrub, foothill woodland, and yellow pine forest communities were intersected with a vegetation community map and an AVHRR NDVI time series for 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995 and 1996. Principal components analysis reduced the AVHRR data to three variables representing the sum and temporal trajectories of NDVI within each community. A fourth variable representing heterogeneity was tested using the standard deviation of the first component. Quadratic forms of these variables were also tested. Species richness was analysed by stepwise regression.Results  Chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and yellow pine forest had the best relationships between species richness and NDVI. Richness of chaparral was related to NDVI heterogeneity and spring greenness (r2 varied between 0.26 and 0.62 depending on year of NDVI data). Richness of coastal sage scrub was nonlinearly related to annual NDVI and heterogeneity (r2 0.63–0.81), with peak richness at intermediate values. Foothill woodland richness was related to heterogeneity in a monotonic curvilinear fashion (r2 0.28–0.35). Yellow pine forest richness was negatively related to spring greenness and positively related to heterogeneity (r2 0.40–0.46).Main Conclusions  While NDVI's relationship to species richness varied, the selection of NDVI variables was generally consistent across years and indicated that spatial variability in NDVI may reflect important patterns in water‐energy use that affect plant species richness. The principal component axis that should correspond closely with annual mean NPP showed a less prominent role. We conclude that plant species richness for coarse vegetation associations can be characterized and monitored at a regional scale and over long periods of time using relatively coarse resolution NDVI data.
How fast and far might tree species migrate in the eastern United States due to climate change?
Authors: Iverson Louis R. , Schwartz M. W. , Prasad Anantha M. 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACTAim We describe and use a model, SHIFT, to estimate potential migration due to climate change over the next 100 years.Location Eastern United States.Methods Five species, currently confined to the eastern half of the United States and not extending into Canada, were used to assess migration potential:Diospyros virginiana(persimmon),Liquidambar styraciflua(sweetgum),Oxydendrum arboreum(sourwood),Pinus taeda(loblolly pine), andQuercus falcatavar.falcata(southern red oak). SHIFT is a matrix simulation model using simple inverse power functions to provide a distance decay of seed dispersal and is driven primarily by the abundance of the species near the boundary, the forest density within and beyond the boundary, and the distance between cells. For each cell outside the current boundary, the model creates an estimate of the probability that each unoccupied cell will become colonized over a period of 100 years. SHIFT is a ‘fat‐tailed’ migration model that allows rare very long distance dispersal events and colonization could occur up to 500 km beyond the current distribution boundary. Model outputs were analysed using transects through sections showing relatively low and high colonization probabilities as a result of low and high densities of target trees (high source strength) as well as high densities of forest (high sink strength). We also assess migration potential for species by concentric rings around the current boundary.Results Model outputs show the generally limited nature of migration for all five species over 100 years. There is a relatively high probability of colonization within a zone of 10–20 km (depending on habitat quality and species abundance) from the current boundary, but a small probability of colonization where the distance from the current boundary exceeds about 20 km. Whether biologically plausible or not, rare very long distance migration events are not sufficient to rescue migration. Species abundance (the source strength of migration) near the range boundary carried relatively more influence than percentage forest cover (sink strength) in determining migration rates.Main conclusion The transect evaluation revealed the importance of abundance of the species near the boundary, indicating that rare species may have much more difficulty in unassisted northward migration due to climate change. The concentric rings analysis of the model outputs showed that only the first 10–20 km of area would have a reasonably high probability of colonization. Rare, long‐distance events permit colonization of remote outliers, but much more needs to be understood about the likelihood of these rare events to predict the frequency of outlier establishment.
Sensitivity of macroecological patterns of South American parrots to differences in data sources
Authors: Mathias Pablo V. C. , Mendonça Cláudio V. , Rangel Thiago F. L. V. B. , Diniz‐Filho José A. F. 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACTA criticism of macroecological studies has been their extensive use of secondary data sources. In this note we evaluate how different data sources affect macroecological patterns for the parrots of South America. We mapped extents of parrot occurrence based on four sources of range maps. We compared basic statistics for geographical range size distribution (mean, variance and skew) and calculated correlations between geographical range size estimates and grid cell species richness estimates. Finally, results from multiple regression analyses of species richness against six environmental variables were also compared. We found that patterns were very robust to the data source, with only relatively slight quantitative differences. Our results reinforce the notion that patterns emerging from macroecological analyses are robust to variations in data sources and cannot be merely artefacts resulting from low data quality, notably poorly defined mapping and conflicting taxonomy.
Inclusive learning disability research: the (nondisabled) researcher's role
Authors: Walmsley Jan 
Published: May 2004

SummaryIn this paper, the role of the nondisabled researcher who supports inclusive research in learning disability is explored. The author argues for more transparency about the role in order to highlight the challenges of working inclusively on research projects, the real contribution of people with learning difficulties to research, and the training/support implications of working inclusively.
To be labelled, or not to be labelled: that is the question
Authors: Ho Anita 
Published: May 2004

Summary• ‘Learning disability’ label establishes accommodation eligibility and civil rights protection but provides an excuse for school officials and legislators to adopt a medical model of learning disabilities and ignore other problems in the educational and social systems.• A commitment to inclusion and equality requires an acknowledgement of various categorization problems, and a realization that various contexts may contribute to people's different learning patterns.• Pathologizing learning difference may be unnecessary or even counterproductive if we presume that all children learn in their unique ways. It is more productive to design flexible curricula that can accommodate learning diversity.
Developmental loss and resistance to MPTP toxicity of dopaminergic neurones in substantia nigra pars compacta of γ‐synuclein, α‐synuclein and double α/γ‐synuclein null mutant mice
Authors: Robertson Darren C. , Schmidt Oliver , Ninkina Natalia , Jones Paul A. , Sharkey John , Buchman Vladimir L. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe growing body of evidence suggests that intermediate products of α‐synuclein aggregation cause death of sensitive populations of neurones, particularly dopaminergic neurones, which is a critical event in the development of Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies. The role of two other members of the family, β‐synuclein and γ‐synuclein, in neurodegeneration is less understood. We studied the effect of inactivation of γ‐synuclein gene on mouse midbrain dopaminergic neurones. Reduced number of dopaminergic neurones was found in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) but not in ventral tegmental area (VTA) of early post‐natal and adult γ‐synuclein null mutant mice. Similar reductions were revealed in α‐synuclein and double α‐synuclein/γ‐synuclein null mutant animals. However, in none of these mutants did this lead to significant changes of striatal dopamine or dopamine metabolite levels and motor dysfunction. In all three studied types of null mutants, dopaminergic neurones of SNpc were resistant to methyl‐phenyl‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) toxicity. We propose that both synucleins are important for effective survival of SNpc neurones during critical period of development but, in the absence of these proteins, permanent activation of compensatory mechanisms allow many neurones to survive and become resistant to certain toxic insults.
TorsinB – perinuclear location and association with torsinA
Authors: Hewett Jeffrey W. , Kamm Christoph , Boston Heather , Beauchamp Roberta , Naismith Teri , Ozelius Laurie , Hanson Phyllis I. , Breakefield Xandra O. , Ramesh Vijaya 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe torsins comprise a four‐member family of AAA+ chaperone proteins, including torsinA, torsinB, torp2A and torp3A in humans. Mutations in torsinA underlie early onset torsion dystonia, an autosomal dominant, neurologically based movement disorder. TorsinB is highly homologous to torsinA with its gene adjacent to that for torsinA on human chromosome 9q34. Antibodies have been generated which can distinguish torsinA and torsinB from each other, and from the torps in human and rodent cells. TorsinB (∼ MW 38 kDa), like torsinA (∼ MW 37 kDa), is an N‐glycosylated protein and both reside primarily in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope in cultured cells. Immunoprecipitation studies in cultured cells and human brain tissue indicate that torsinA and torsinB are associated with each other in cells. Overexpression of both wild‐type torsinB and mutant torsinA lead to enrichment of the protein in the nuclear envelope and formation of large cytoplasmic inclusions. We conclude that torsinB and torsinA are localized in overlapping cell compartments within the same protein complex, and thus may carry out related functions in vivo.
Choline availability modulates human neuroblastoma cell proliferation and alters the methylation of the promoter region of the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 3 gene
Authors: Niculescu Mihai D. , Yamamuro Yutaka , Zeisel Steven H. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractCholine is an important methyl donor and a component of membrane phospholipids. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that choline availability can modulate cell proliferation and the methylation of genes that regulate cell cycling. In several other model systems, hypomethylation of cytosine bases that are followed by a guanosine (CpG) sites in the promoter region of a gene is associated with increased gene expression. We found that in choline‐deficient IMR‐32 neuroblastoma cells, the promoter of the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 3 gene (CDKN3) was hypomethylated. This change was associated with increased expression of CDKN3 and increased levels of its gene product, kinase‐associated phosphatase (KAP), which inhibits the G1/S transition of the cell cycle by dephosphorylating cyclin‐dependent kinases. Choline deficiency also reduced global DNA methylation. The percentage of cells that accumulated bromodeoxyuridine (proportional to cell proliferation) was 1.8 times lower in the choline‐deficient cells than in the control cells. Phosphorylated retinoblastoma (p110) levels were 3 times lower in the choline‐deficient cells than in control cells. These findings suggest that the mechanism whereby choline deficiency inhibits cell proliferation involves hypomethylation of key genes regulating cell cycling. This may be a mechanism for our previously reported observation that stem cell proliferation in hippocampus neuroepithelium is decreased in choline‐deficient rat and mouse fetuses.
Neuroprotective properties of Bcl‐w in Alzheimer disease
Authors: Zhu Xiongwei , Wang Yang , Ogawa Osamu , Lee Hyoung‐gon , Raina Arun K. , Siedlak Sandra L. , Harris Peggy L. R. , Fujioka Hisashi , Shimohama Shun , Tabaton Massimo , Atwood Craig S. , Petersen Robert B. , Perry George , Smith Mark A. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractWhile there is a host of pro‐apoptotic stimuli that target neurons in Alzheimer disease (AD), given the chronicity of the disease and the survival of many neurons, those neurons must either avoid or, at minimum, delay apoptotic death signaling. In this study, we investigated Bcl‐w, a novel member of the Bcl‐2 family that promotes cell survival. In AD, we found increased levels of Bcl‐w associated with neurofibrillary pathology and punctate intracytoplasmic structures whereas, in marked contrast, there are only low diffuse levels of Bcl‐w in the neuronal cytoplasm of age‐matched control cases. Immunoblot analysis confirmed that Bcl‐w levels were significantly increased in AD. By electron microscopy, we determined that the increased Bcl‐w expression in AD was ultrastructurally localized to mitochondria and neurofibrillary pathology. To investigate the cause and consequence of Bcl‐w up‐regulation in neurons, we found that fibrillized amyloid‐β led to increased Bcl‐w protein levels in M17 human neuroblastoma cells, and that overexpression of Bcl‐w significantly protected neurons against staurosporine‐ and amyloid‐β‐induced apoptosis. Taken together, these series of results suggest that Bcl‐w may play an important protective role in neurons in the diseased brain and that this aspect could be therapeutically harnessed to afford neuroprotection.
S100A1 codistributes with synapsin I in discrete brain areas and inhibits the F‐actin‐bundling activity of synapsin I
Authors: Benfenati Fabio , Ferrari Rosaria , Onofri Franco , Arcuri Cataldo , Giambanco Ileana , Donato Rosario 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe Ca2+‐sensor protein S100A1 was recently shown to bind in vitro to synapsins, a family of synaptic vesicle phosphoproteins involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter release. In this paper, we analyzed the distribution of S100A1 and synapsin I in the CNS and investigated the effects of the S100A1/synapsin binding on the synapsin functional properties. Subcellular fractionation of rat brain homogenate revealed that S100A1 is present in the soluble fraction of isolated nerve endings. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and immunogold immunocytochemistry demonstrated that S100A1 and synapsin codistribute in a subpopulation (5–20%) of nerve terminals in the mouse cerebral and cerebellar cortices. By forming heterocomplexes with either dephosphorylated or phosphorylated synapsin I, S100A1 caused a dose‐ and Ca2+‐dependent inhibition of synapsin‐induced F‐actin bundling and abolished synapsin dimerization, without affecting the binding of synapsin to F‐actin, G‐actin or synaptic vesicles. These data indicate that: (i) synapsins and S100A1 can interact in the nerve terminals where they are coexpresssed; (ii) S100A1 is unable to bind to SV‐associated synapsin I and may function as a cytoplasmic store of monomeric synapsin I; and (iii) synapsin dimerization and interaction with S100A1 are mutually exclusive, suggesting an involvement of S100A1 in the Ca2+‐dependent regulation of synaptic vesicle trafficking.
Enhanced anandamide degradation is associated with neuronal apoptosis induced by the HIV‐1 coat glycoprotein gp120 in the rat neocortex
Authors: Maccarrone Mauro , Piccirilli Silvia , Battista Natalia , Del Duca Claudio , Nappi Giuseppe , Corasaniti M. Tiziana , Finazzi‐Agrò Alessandro , Bagetta Giacinto 
Published: May 2004

AbstractHuman immunodeficiency virus type‐1 coat glycoprotein gp120 causes delayed apoptosis in rat brain neocortex. Here, we investigated the possible role of the endocannabinoid system in this process. It is shown that gp120 causes a time‐dependent increase in the activity and immunoreactivity of the anandamide (AEA)‐hydrolyzing enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), paralleled by increased activity of the AEA membrane transporter and decreased endogenous levels of AEA. The AEA‐synthesizing phospholipase D and the AEA‐binding receptors were not affected by gp120. None of the changes induced by gp120 in the cortex were induced by bovine serum albumin, nor were they observed in the hippocampus of the same animals. Also, the activity of 5‐lipoxygenase, which generates AEA derivatives able to inhibit FAAH, decreased down to approximately 25% of the control activity upon gp120 treatment, due to reduced protein level (∼45%). In addition, the FAAH inhibitor methyl‐arachidonoyl fluorophosphonate significantly reduced gp120‐induced apoptosis in rat brain neocortex, whereas selective blockers of AEA membrane transporter or of AEA‐binding receptors were ineffective. Taken together, these results suggest that gp120, by activating FAAH, decreases endogenous levels of AEA, and the latter effect seems instrumental in the execution of delayed neuronal apoptosis in the brain neocortex of rats.