bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential Gene Expression for Investigation of
Escherichia coli
Biofilm Inhibition by Plant Extract Ursolic Acid
Authors: Ren Dacheng , Zuo Rongjun , González Barrios Andrés F. , Bedzyk Laura A. , Eldridge Gary R. , Pasmore Mark E. , Wood Thomas K. 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACT

After 13,000 samples of compounds purified from plants were screened, a new biofilm inhibitor, ursolic acid, has been discovered and identified. Using both 96-well microtiter plates and a continuous flow chamber with COMSTAT analysis, 10 μg of ursolic acid/ml inhibited
Escherichia coli
biofilm formation 6- to 20-fold when added upon inoculation and when added to a 24-h biofilm; however, ursolic acid was not toxic to
E. coli
,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
,
Vibrio harveyi
, and hepatocytes. Similarly, 10 μg of ursolic acid/ml inhibited biofilm formation by >87% for
P. aeruginosa
in both complex and minimal medium and by 57% for
V. harveyi
in minimal medium. To investigate the mechanism of this nontoxic inhibition on a global genetic basis, DNA microarrays were used to study the gene expression profiles of
E. coli
K-12 grown with or without ursolic acid. Ursolic acid at 10 and 30 μg/ml induced significantly (
P
< 0.05) 32 and 61 genes, respectively, and 19 genes were consistently induced. The consistently induced genes have functions for chemotaxis and mobility (
cheA
,
tap
,
tar
, and
motAB
), heat shock response (
hslSTV
and
mopAB
), and unknown functions (such as
b1566
and
yrfHI
). There were 31 and 17 genes repressed by 10 and 30 μg of ursolic acid/ml, respectively, and 12 genes were consistently repressed that have functions in cysteine synthesis (
cysK
) and sulfur metabolism (
cysD
), as well as unknown functions (such as
hdeAB
and
yhaDFG
). Ursolic acid inhibited biofilms without interfering with quorum sensing, as shown with the
V. harveyi
AI-1 and AI-2 reporter systems. As predicted by the differential gene expression, deleting
motAB
counteracts ursolic acid inhibition (the paralyzed cells no longer become too motile). Based on the differential gene expression, it was also discovered that sulfur metabolism (through
cysB
) affects biofilm formation (in the absence of ursolic acid).
Gut Symbiotic Bacteria of the Genus
Burkholderia
in the Broad-Headed Bugs
Riptortus clavatus
and
Leptocorisa chinensis
(Heteroptera: Alydidae)
Authors: Kikuchi Yoshitomo , Meng Xian-Ying , Fukatsu Takema 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACT

The Japanese common broad-headed bugs
Riptortus clavatus
and
Leptocorisa chinensis
possess a number of crypts in the posterior region of the midgut, whose lumen contains a copious amount of bacterial cells. We characterized the gut symbiotic bacteria by using molecular phylogenetic analysis, light and electron microscopy, in situ hybridization, and PCR-based detection techniques. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of 16S rRNA gene clones suggested that a single bacterium dominated the microbiota in the crypts of the both bug species. The predominant 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained from different individuals and species of the bugs were not identical but were very similar to each other. Homology searches in the DNA databases revealed that the sequences showed the highest levels of similarity (96% to 99%) to the sequences of
Burkholderia
spp. belonging to the β subdivision of the class
Proteobacteria
. In situ hybridization with specific oligonucleotide probes confirmed the localization of the
Burkholderia
symbiont in the lumen of the midgut crypts. Electron microscopy showed that the lumen of the crypts was filled with rod-shaped bacteria of a single morphotype. Molecular phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the
Burkholderia
symbionts of the bugs formed a well-defined monophyletic group, although the group also contained several environmental
Burkholderia
strains. The phylogenetic relationship of the
Burkholderia
symbionts did not reflect the relationship of the host bug species at all. The sequences from
R. clavatus
and the sequences from
L. chinensis
did not form clades but were intermingled in the phylogeny, suggesting that horizontal transmission of the symbiont might have occasionally occurred between populations and species of the bugs.
Epizootiological Modeling of
Pandora neoaphidis
Mycosis Transmission in
Myzus persicae
Colonies Initiated by Primarily Infected Alates
Authors: Chen Chun , Feng Ming-Guang 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACT

Pandora neoaphidis
transmission was monitored within progeny colonies initiated by infected
Myzus periscae
alates individually flown for 1 to 5 h. Mycosis progress in the colonies was well fitted (
r
2
= 0.97) to a modified logistic or Gompertz model that included their flight distance, postflight survival time, premycosis fecundity, and primary infection rate as influential variables.
Genes Involved in Cyclic Lipopeptide Production Are Important for Seed and Straw Colonization byPseudomonassp. Strain DSS73
Authors: Nielsen Tommy H. , Nybroe Ole , Koch Birgit , Hansen Michael , Sørensen Jan 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTSurvival in natural bulk soil and colonization of sugar beet seeds and barley straw residues were determined forPseudomonassp. strain DSS73 and Tn5mutants inamsY(encoding a peptide synthetase involved in production of the cyclic lipopeptide amphisin) andgacS(encoding the sensory kinase of the two-component GacA/GacS regulatory system). No differences in survival or growth in response to carbon amendment (citrate) were observed in bulk soil. However, both mutants were impaired in their colonization of sugar beet seeds and barley straw residues by an inoculum established in the bulk soil. The two mutants had comparable colonization phenotypes, suggesting that amphisin production is more important for colonization than othergacS-controlled traits.
Bacterial Diversity in Rhizospheres of Nontransgenic and Transgenic Corn
Authors: Fang Min , Kremer Robert J. , Motavalli Peter P. , Davis Georgia 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTBacterial diversity in transgenic and nontransgenic corn rhizospheres was determined. In greenhouse and field studies, metabolic profiling and molecular analysis of 16S rRNAs differentiated bacterial communities among soil textures but not between corn varieties. We conclude that bacteria in corn rhizospheres are affected more by soil texture than by cultivation of transgenic varieties.
Distribution of Botulinum Toxin-Producing Clostridia in Soils of Argentina
Authors: Lúquez Carolina , Bianco María I. , de Jong Laura I. T. , Sagua María D. , Arenas Graciela N. , Ciccarelli Alberto S. , Fernández Rafael A. 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACT
We studied the presence of botulinum toxin-producing clostridia in 2,009 soil samples from five geographical regions of Argentina. The prevalence was 23.5%, and the distribution was not homogeneous among the regions. We observed a great multiplicity of serological types and a higher prevalence in nonvirgin soils than in virgin soils.
Identification and Functional Analysis of
Escherichia coli
Cysteine Desulfhydrases
Authors: Awano Naoki , Wada Masaru , Mori Hirotada , Nakamori Shigeru , Takagi Hiroshi 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACT

In
Escherichia coli
, three additional proteins having
l
-cysteine desulfhydrase activity were identified as
O
-acetylserine sulfhydrylase-A,
O
-acetylserine sulfhydrylase-B, and MalY protein, in addition to tryptophanase and cystathionine β-lyase, which have been reported previously. The gene disruption for each protein was significantly effective for overproduction of
l
-cysteine and
l
-cystine. Growth phenotype and transcriptional analyses suggest that tryptophanase contributes primarily to
l
-cysteine degradation.
Effect of Malnutrition on K+Current in T Lymphocytes
Authors: Fernández Rafael Godínez , Leehan Joaquín Azpiroz , Pastrana Reyna Fierro , Muñiz Rocío Ortíz 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACTSevere malnutrition in children is frequently associated with infectious diseases. Animal models have been useful for studying the effects of malnutrition. One of the immunosuppressive mechanisms of malnutrition is inhibition of the activation of T lymphocytes. The voltage-dependent K(V) potassium channels are vital for the activation of T lymphocytes. The blockade of K(V) channels inhibits the activation of T lymphocytes. Malnutrition could affect the suitable synthesis of K(V) channels in T lymphocytes, producing changes in the magnitude and/or dependency of the voltage of the K+current. We reported a significant decrease in the K+current and activation to a 20 mV more positive membrane potential in T lymphocytes of rats with severe malnutrition. These results indicate that the diminution in the K+conductance by alteration of K(V) channels in severe malnutrition is one of the mechanisms that inhibit the activation of T lymphocytes.
Nuclear-Gene Targeting by Using Single-Stranded DNA Avoids Illegitimate DNA Integration in
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Zorin Boris , Hegemann Peter , Sizova Irina 
Published: July 2005

ABSTRACT

Homologous DNA recombination (HR) allows the deletion (knockout), repair (rescuing), and modification of a selected gene, thereby rendering a functional analysis of the gene product possible. However, targeting of nuclear genes has been an inefficient process in most eukaryotes, including algae, plants, and animals, due to the dominance of integration of the applied DNA into nonhomologous regions of the genome. We have shown for the green alga
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
by repairing a previously introduced truncated aminoglycoside 3′-phosphotransferase gene,
aphVIII
, that single-stranded DNA can recombine with a homologous endogenous DNA region of interest. Nonhomologous DNA integration appeared to be more than 100-fold reduced compared with the use of double-stranded DNA, thus allowing isolation of the homologous recombinants. We propose that this method will be applicable to direct targeting of nuclear
C. reinhardtii
genes.
Wisdom, Theodicy, Death, and the Evolution of Intellectual Traditions
Authors: Sanders Jack 
Published: July 2005

AbstractWhen one reads through the main Judaic wisdom texts chronologically, one sees the rise of the problem of theodicy and the resultant attempt to solve the problem. All the sages after the authors of Proverbs treat this problem in one way or another, and one can follow a course from the awareness of the problem in Job to its complete solution in the book of Wisdom and in 4QInstruction, where versions of a belief in an existence beyond death finally make their way into the tradition. Even this adaptation, however, did not ensure the survival of the wisdom tradition.
Score-Celebration Injuries among Soccer Players
Authors: Zeren Bülent , Öztekin Haluk H. 
Published: July 2005

Background Professional and amateur soccer players often perform dramatic on-field feats of celebration after scoring a goal. Injuries may occur during these activities. Purpose With the aim of preventing such “score-celebration injuries” in the future, the authors examine these events in professional soccer players and discuss potential avenues for prevention. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods Over the course of 2 seasons (1996-1998), 152 soccer players were evaluated at an orthopaedic clinic for injuries incurred during matches. Nine players (6%) had injured themselves while celebrating after scoring goals in a match. The type of celebration, injury type, treatment, and mean duration of recovery were noted. Results Seven of the 9 patients were male professional soccer players with ages ranging between 17 and 29 years (mean age, 24 years). The injuries occurred when the playing ground was natural turf in 8 cases; most injuries occurred in the second half of the game. The types of celebration maneuvers were sliding (prone or supine) and sliding while kneeling in 5 cases, piling up on jubilant teammates in 3 cases, and being tackled while racing away in 1 case. Injuries included ankle, clavicle, and rib fractures; medial collateral ligament sprain; low back strain; hamstring and adductor muscle strain; quadriceps muscle sprain; and coccyx contusion. The mean duration for recovery was 6.2 weeks. Rival team players were usually not responsible for such trauma. Conclusion Exaggerated celebrations after making a goal, such as sliding, piling up, and tackling a teammate when racing away, can result in serious injury. In addition to general measures for preventing soccer injuries, coaches and team physicians should teach self-control and behavior modification to minimize the risk of such injuries. More restrictive rules, which penalize such behavior, may assist in the prevention of score-celebration injuries.
Assessment of an electronic voting system within the tutorial setting: A randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN54535861]
Authors: Palmer Edward J , Devitt Peter G , De Young Neville J , Morris David 
Published: July 2005

Abstract
Background
Electronic voting systems have been used in various educational settings with little measurement of the educational impact on students. The goal of this study was to measure the effects of the inclusion of an electronic voting system within a small group tutorial.

Method
A prospective randomised controlled trial was run at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, a teaching hospital in Adelaide, Australia. 102 students in their first clinical year of medical school participated in the study where an electronic voting system was introduced as a teaching aid into a standard tutorial. Long-term retention of knowledge and understanding of the topics discussed in the tutorials was measured and student response to the introduction of the electronic voting system was assessed.

Results
Students using the electronic voting system had improved long-term retention of understanding of material taught in the tutorial. Students had a positive response to the use of this teaching aid.

Conclusion
Electronic voting systems can provide a stimulating learning environment for students and in a small group tutorial may improve educational outcomes.
Effect of antithrombin III on neutrophil deformability
Authors: Saito Hajime , Minamiya Yoshihiro , Kalina Uwe , Saito Satoshi , Ogawa Jun-ichi 
Published: July 2005

AbstractAs the spherical diameter of pulmonary capillaries is smaller than that of neutrophils, increased neutrophil stiffness or conversely, decreased neutrophil deformability is a key step in the initial sequestration of neutrophils within the lungs during inflammatory processes. Antithrombin III (AT) is known to exert a therapeutic effect against disseminated intravascular coagulation, and accumulating evidence suggests that AT also has anti-inlammatory properties. The mechanisms of its anti-inflammatory effects remain unclear, but in a rat endotoxin model, AT apparently inhibited neutrophil sequestration in the lung. In the present in vitro study, therefore, we examined the effect of AT on the deformability of human neutrophils and correlated those findings with their F-actin content. Isolated human neutrophils were stimulated with formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (1 μM, 2 min) in the presence or absence of the α, β, or low heparin-affinity isoforms of AT (1 IU/ml, 20 min), and deformability was evaluated using a filter assay system. Neutrophils were also stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate-phalloidin and subjected to a fluorescein-activated cell sorter scan to assess F-actin content. The results showed that pretreatment with any of the three AT isoforms similarly inhibited the decreased neutrophil deformability and increased F-actin content of stimulated cells. Notably, heparinase had no effect on deformability or F-actin content in the presence or absence of AT, which was somewhat unexpected, as heparin sulfate proteoglycans likely function as AT receptors. These findings suggested that AT inhibits the increase in neutrophil stiffness seen during inflammatory processes by inhibiting actin polymerization via a heparin-independent pathway.
Negative regulatory role of mannose receptors on human alveolar macrophage proinflammatory cytokine release in vitro
Authors: Zhang Jianmin , Tachado Souvenir D , Patel Naimish , Zhu Jinping , Imrich Amy , Manfruelli Pascal , Cushion Melanie , Kinane T Bernard , Koziel Henry 
Published: July 2005

AbstractAlveolar macrophages (AM) are critical components of lung innate immunity and contribute to an effective host response to Pneumocystis pneumonia. Recognition of unopsonized Pneumocystis organisms by human AM is mediated predominantly via mannose receptors and results in phagocytosis, release of reactive oxygen species, and activation of the nuclear transcription factor (NF)-κB. However, the AM host defense genes activated by Pneumocystis have not been defined. In the present study, incubation of AM with unopsonized Pneumocystis organisms was not associated with release of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (important cytokines in the host response to Pneumocystis) and did not induce IL-1β, IL-6, or TNF-α mRNA transcripts. These findings were not attributed to Pneumocystis-induced cytopathic changes, as these same AM released IL-8 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in response to Pneumocystis. NF-κB-mediated IL-8 release was independent of Pneumocystis phagocytosis. The observed response was specific, as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α release and mRNA induction were preserved in response to lipopolysaccharide or serum-opsonized Pneumocystis. The absence of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α release in response to Pneumocystis was predominately influenced by AM mannose receptors, as blocking mannose receptors or targeted mannose receptor small interfering RNA functional gene silencing resulted in TNF-α release in response to unopsonized Pneumocystis organisms. Furthermore, ligation of AM mannose receptors by unopsonized Pneumocystis organisms reduced Toll-like receptor 4-mediated TNF-α release. Taken together, these data suggest that mannose receptors on human AM may suppress select proinflammatory cytokine release and may serve to regulate the innate inflammatory responses to infectious challenge in the lungs.
Latent Learning and Deferred Imitation at 3 Months
Authors: Campanella Jennifer , Rovee‐Collier Carolyn 
Published: July 2005

AbstractYoung infants spend most of their waking time looking around, but whether they learn anything about what they see is unknown. We used a sensory preconditioning paradigm and a deferred imitation task to assess if 3‐month‐olds formed a latent association between 2 objects (S1, S2) that they merely saw together. Because infants cannot perform the imitation task until 6 months, we maintained the latent memory with periodic reminders until then, when we modeled the target actions on S1 and tested them with S2 24 hr later. At 6 months of age, infants who had seen S1 and S2 paired (but not unpaired) deferred imitation on S2, confirming that they had associated the objects 3 months earlier. In addition, 3‐month‐olds who saw the objects paired and then saw the target actions modeled on S1 for 60 sec also recalled and imitated them on S2 3 months later, at 6 months of age. These data reveal that latent learning by very young infants is both extensive and enduring and document that the knowledge base begins to form early in life, long before infants are able to express what they know.
Avoidance of Heights on the Visual Cliff in Newly Walking Infants
Authors: Witherington David C. , Campos Joseph J. , Anderson David I. , Lejeune Laure , Seah Eileen 
Published: July 2005

AbstractWork with infants on the “visual cliff” links avoidance of drop‐offs to experience with self‐produced locomotion. Adolph's (2002) research on infants' perception of slope and gap traversability suggests that learning to avoid falling down is highly specific to the postural context in which it occurs. Infants, for example, who have learned to avoid crossing risky slopes while crawling must learn anew such avoidance when they start walking. Do newly walking infants avoid crossing the drop‐off of the visual cliff? Twenty prewalking but experienced crawling infants were compared with 20 similarly aged newly walking infants on their reactions to the visual cliff. Newly walking infants avoided moving onto the cliff's deep side even more consistently than did the prewalking crawlers. Thus, in the context of drop‐offs in visual texture, our results show that once avoidance of drop‐offs is established under conditions of crawling, it is developmentally maintained once infants begin walking.
Expressive Vocabulary in Language Learners From Two Ecological Settings in Three Language Communities
Authors: Bornstein Marc H. , Cote Linda R. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractThis study compared multiple characteristics of girls' and boys' vocabulary in 6 different linguistic communities—1 urban and 1 rural setting in each of 3 countries. Two hundred fifty‐two mothers in Argentina, Italy, and the United States completed vocabulary checklists for their 20‐month‐old children. Individual variability was substantial within each linguistic community. Minimal cross‐linguistic differences were found in children's vocabulary size; however, differences among languages in the composition of children's vocabularies appeared possibly related to cultural valuing of different categories of words. Ecological setting differences within cultures appeared in children's vocabulary size, even when the composition of children's vocabularies was examined: Children living in urban areas were reported by their mothers to say significantly more words than children living in rural areas, particularly for Argentine and U.S. children. Girls had consistently larger vocabularies than boys. These findings are discussed in terms of contextual and child factors that together influence first language learning.
Prospective Parallel Randomized, Double-Blind, Double-Dummy Controlled Clinical Trial Comparing Clomiphene Citrate and Metformin as the First-Line Treatment for Ovulation Induction in Nonobese Anovulatory Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Palomba Stefano , Orio Francesco , Falbo Angela , Manguso Francesco , Russo Tiziana , Cascella Teresa , Tolino Achille , Carmina Enrico , Colao Annamaria , Zullo Fulvio 
Published: July 2005

Abstract
Context: Although metformin has been shown to be effective in the treatment of anovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), clomiphene citrate (CC) is still considered to be the first-line drug to induce ovulation in these patients.
Objective: The goal of this study was to compare the effectiveness of metformin and CC administration as a first-line treatment in anovulatory women with PCOS.
Design: We describe a prospective parallel randomized, double-blind, double-dummy controlled clinical trial.
Setting: The study was conducted at the University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
Patients: One hundred nonobese primary infertile anovulatory women with PCOS participated.
Interventions: We administered metformin cloridrate (850 mg twice daily) plus placebo (group A) or placebo plus CC (150 mg for 5 d from the third day of a progesterone withdrawal bleeding) (group B) for 6 months each.
Mean outcome measures: The main outcome measures were ovulation, pregnancy, abortion, and live-birth rates.
Results: The subjects of groups A (n = 45) and B (n = 47) were studied for a total of 205 and 221 cycles, respectively. The ovulation rate was not statistically different between either treatment group (62.9 vs. 67.0%, P = 0.38), whereas the pregnancy rate was significantly higher in group A than group B (15.1 vs. 7.2%, P = 0.009). The difference found between groups A and B regarding the abortion rate was significant (9.7 vs. 37.5%, P = 0.045), whereas a positive trend was observed for the live-birth rate (83.9 vs. 56.3%, P = 0.07). The cumulative pregnancy rate was significantly higher in group A than group B (68.9 vs. 34.0%, P &lt; 0.001).
Conclusions: Six-month metformin administration is significantly more effective than six-cycle CC treatment in improving fertility in anovulatory nonobese PCOS women.