bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the Lotus japonicus Symbiotic Mutant lot1 That Shows a Reduced Nodule Number and Distorted Trichomes
Authors: Ooki Yasuhiro , Banba Mari , Yano Koji , Maruya Jumpei , Sato Shusei , Tabata Satoshi , Saeki Kazuhiko , Hayashi Makoto , Kawaguchi Masayoshi , Izui Katsura , Hata Shingo 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
We isolated a recessive symbiotic mutant of Lotus japonicus that defines a genetic locus, LOT1 (for low nodulation and trichome distortion). The nodule number per plant of the mutant was about one-fifth of that of the wild type. The lot1 mutant showed a moderate dwarf phenotype and distorted trichomes, but its root hairs showed no apparent differences to those of the wild type. Infection thread formation after inoculation of Mesorhizobium loti was repressed in lot1 compared to that in the wild type. The nodule primordia of lot1 did not result in any aborted nodule-like structure, all nodules becoming mature and exhibiting high nitrogen fixation activity. The mutant was normally colonized by mycorrhizal fungi. lot1 also showed higher sensitivity to nitrate than the wild type. The grown-up seedlings of lot1 were insensitive to any ethylene treatments with regard to nodulation, although the mutant showed normal triple response on germination. It is conceivable that a nodulation-specific ethylene signaling pathway is constitutively activated in the mutant. Grafting experiments with lot1 and wild-type seedlings suggested that the root genotype mainly determines the low nodulation phenotype of the mutant, while the trichome distortion is regulated by the shoot genotype. Grafting of har1-4 shoots to lot1 roots resulted in an intermediate nodule number, i.e. more than that of lot1 and less than that of har1-4. Putative double mutants of lot1 and har1 also showed intermediate nodulation. Thus, it was indicated that LOT1 is involved in a distinct signal transduction pathway independent of HAR1.
Dynamics of Exogenous Nitrogen Partitioning and Nitrogen Remobilization from Vegetative Organs in Pea Revealed by 15N in Vivo Labeling throughout Seed Filling
Authors: Schiltz Séverine , Munier-Jolain Nathalie , Jeudy Christian , Burstin Judith , Salon Christophe 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
The fluxes of (1) exogenous nitrogen (N) assimilation and (2) remobilization of endogenous N from vegetative plant compartments were measured by 15N labeling during the seed-filling period in pea (Pisum sativum L. cv Caméor), to better understand the mechanism of N remobilization. While the majority (86%) of exogenous N was allocated to the vegetative organs before the beginning of seed filling, this fraction decreased to 45% at the onset of seed filling, the remainder being directed to seeds. Nitrogen remobilization from vegetative parts contributed to 71% of the total N in mature seeds borne on the first two nodes (first stratum). The contribution of remobilized N to total seed N varied, with the highest proportion at the beginning of filling; it was independent of the developmental stage of each stratum of seeds, suggesting that remobilized N forms a unique pool, managed at the whole-plant level and supplied to all filling seeds whatever their position on the plant. Once seed filling starts, N is remobilized from all vegetative organs: 30% of the total N accumulated in seeds was remobilized from leaves, 20% from pod walls, 11% from roots, and 10% from stems. The rate of N remobilization was maximal when seeds of all the different strata were filling, consistent with regulation according to the N demand of seeds. At later stages of seed filling, the rate of remobilization decreases and may become controlled by the amount of residual N in vegetative tissues.
bla
CTX-M
Genes in Clinical
Salmonella
Isolates Recovered from Humans in England and Wales from 1992 to 2003
Authors: Batchelor M. , Hopkins K. , Threlfall E. J. , Clifton-Hadley F. A. , Stallwood A. D. , Davies R. H. , Liebana E. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

Cefotaximases (CTX-M) are a rapidly growing class A β-lactamase family that has been found among a wide range of clinical bacteria. One hundred and six isolates were selected from 278,308
Salmonella
isolates based on resistance to ampicillin and cephalosporins and subjected to further characterization. Fourteen isolates were
bla
CTX-M
PCR positive, and cefotaxime MICs for these isolates were ≥16 mg/liter. Furthermore, sequence analysis revealed the presence of type CTX-M9, -15, or -17 to -18. All 14 isolates presented different PFGE restriction profiles, although six
Salmonella enterica
serotype Virchow isolates formed a tight cluster. The
bla
CTX-M
genetic determinants were present in transferable plasmids of ∼63, 105, and >148 kb. Plasmid restriction analysis showed that both horizontal transfer of similar plasmids among different clones and transfer of genes between different plasmids were likely mechanisms involved in the spread of
bla
CTX-M
genes. We have found that CTX-M enzymes have emerged in community-acquired infections both linked to foreign travel and domestically acquired. This is the first report of a CTX-M enzyme in
Salmonella
in the United Kingdom. Also, it represents the first report of a
bla
CTX-M
gene in
Salmonella enterica
serotype Stanley and a
bla
CT
X
-M-15
gene in
Salmonella enterica
serotypes Anatum, Enteritidis, and Typhimurium.
Topical Caspofungin for Treatment of Keratitis Caused by
Candida albicans
in a Rabbit Model
Authors: Goldblum David , Frueh Beatrice E. , Sarra Gian-Marco , Katsoulis Konstantinos , Zimmerli Stefan 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

Candida albicans
is the most frequent cause of fungal keratitis in temperate regions. Caspofungin has potent activity against
Candida
spp. in a variety of clinical settings. Little is known, however, about its activity against fungal keratitis. We compared the efficacy of topical caspofungin with that of topical amphotericin B (AMB) in a rabbit model of experimental keratomycosis. Keratitis was induced with a standardized inoculum of
Candida albicans
(SC 5314) placed on the debrided cornea. Twenty-four hours after infection, animals were randomly assigned to treatment with 0.15% caspofungin, 0.5% caspofungin, 0.15% AMB, and a saline control (
n
= 12 rabbits in each group). For the first 12 h, treatment was repeated every 30 min and, after a 12-h pause, was resumed at hourly intervals for another 12 h. The animals were examined and killed 12 h after administration of the last dose. Treatment effects were evaluated by clinical assessment, fungal culture, and histopathology. Drug treatment significantly reduced corneal fungal recovery from 3.78 log
10
CFU in saline-treated animals to 2.97, 1.76, and 1.18 log
10
CFU in animals treated with 0.15% caspofungin, 0.5% caspofungin, and 0.15% AMB, respectively. By histopathology, the mean hyphal density was significantly lower in the corneas of treated animals than in those of the controls; there was no difference in hyphal densities between the different treatment groups. The depth of corneal invasion was not significantly reduced by the antifungal treatments. By clinical assessment, keratitis progressed in animals treated with saline, whereas disease progression was inhibited by all drug treatment regimens. In our rabbit model, 0.5% caspofungin was as effective as 0.15% AMB for the topical treatment of
Candida
keratitis. The potential clinical efficacy of caspofungin awaits further investigation.
Cloning, Sequencing, and Characterization of the SdeAB Multidrug Efflux Pump of
Serratia marcescens
Authors: Kumar Ayush , Worobec Elizabeth A. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

Serratia marcescens
is an important nosocomial agent known for causing various infections in immunocompromised individuals. Resistance of this organism to a broad spectrum of antibiotics makes the treatment of infections very difficult. This study was undertaken to identify multidrug resistance efflux pumps in
S. marcescens
. Three mutant strains of
S. marcescens
were isolated in vitro by the serial passaging of a wild-type strain in culture medium supplemented with ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, or ofloxacin. Fluoroquinolone accumulation assays were performed to detect the presence of a proton gradient-dependent efflux mechanism. Two of the mutant strains were found to be effluxing norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin, while the third was found to efflux only ofloxacin. A genomic library of
S. marcescens
wild-type strain UOC-67 was constructed and screened for RND pump-encoding genes by using DNA probes for two putative RND pump-encoding genes. Two different loci were identified:
sdeAB
, encoding an MFP and an RND pump, and
sdeCDE
, encoding an MFP and two different RND pumps. Northern blot analysis revealed overexpression of
sdeB
in two mutant strains effluxing fluoroquinolones. Analysis of the
sdeAB
and
sdeCDE
loci in
Escherichia coli
strain AG102MB, deficient in the RND pump (AcrB), revealed that gene products of
sdeAB
are responsible for the efflux of a diverse range of substrates that includes ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, chloramphenicol, sodium dodecyl sulfate, ethidium bromide, and
n
-hexane, while those of
sdeCDE
did not result in any change in susceptibilities to any of these agents.
Comparative Efficacies of TAK-187, a Long-Lasting Ergosterol Biosynthesis Inhibitor, and Benznidazole in Preventing Cardiac Damage in a Murine Model of Chagas' Disease
Authors: Corrales Milagros , Cardozo Rubén , Segura María Asunción , Urbina Julio A. , Basombrío Miguel Angel 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

We carried out a comparative study of benznidazole and TAK-187, a long-lasting ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitor, with a murine model of Chagas' disease. The results indicated that TAK-187 was more effective than benznidazole in preventing
Trypanosoma cruzi
-induced cardiac damage in experimental animals.
Functional Characterization of OXA-57, a Class D β-Lactamase from
Burkholderia pseudomallei
Authors: Keith Karen E. , Oyston Petra C. , Crossett Ben , Fairweather Neil F. , Titball Richard W. , Walsh Timothy R. , Brown Katherine A. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

Class D β-lactamase OXA-57 was identified in a range of isolates of
Burkholderia pseudomallei
and
Burkholderia thailandensis
. Comparative kinetic analyses of wild-type and mutant forms of
B. pseudomallei
OXA-57 are reported. Implications of these data for β-lactam resistance and the proposed role of Ser-104 in β-lactam hydrolysis are discussed.
Effects of montelukast on airway narrowing from eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation and cold air exercise
Authors: Rundell K W , Spiering B A , Baumann J M , Evans T M 
Published: March 2005

Background:Exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is common in elite athletes. Eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation (EVH) is a laboratory test recommended for the identification of EIB in athletes, secondary to a field exercise challenge. Montelukast attenuates EIB, but its protective effect against airway narrowing from EVH has not been investigated.Objective:To examine the effectiveness of montelukast after exercise and after EVH.Methods:A randomised, placebo controlled, double blind, crossover study was performed with 11 physically active EIB positive subjects (eight men, three women; mean (SD) age 22.8 (6.8) years). Six hours before each of the following challenges 10 mg montelukast or placebo was ingested: (a) a six minute, cold air (−3°C) maximal effort work accumulation cycle ergometer exercise; (b) EVH, breathing 5% CO2compressed air at 85% maximal voluntary ventilation for six minutes. Spirometry was performed before and 5, 10, and 15 minutes after the challenge. At least 48 hours was observed between challenges.Results:No differences in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were found after the two challenges. Exercise and EVH resulted in falls in FEV1of 22.4 (18.0) and 25.6 (16.8) respectively. Falls in FEV1after montelukast were less than after placebo (10.6 (10.6) and 14.3 (11.3) after exercise and EVH respectively; p<0.05). Montelukast provided protection against bronchoconstriction (59% and 53%; p<0.05) for eight exercising subjects and 10 EVH subjects; no protection was afforded for three exercising and one EVH challenged subject.Conclusions:Both exercise and EVH were potent stimuli of airway narrowing. A single dose of montelukast provided reasonable protection in attenuating bronchoconstriction from either exercise or EVH. The similar protection by montelukast suggests that EVH is a suitable laboratory surrogate for EIB evaluation.
How do minimum cigarette price laws affect cigarette prices at the retail level?
Authors: Feighery E C , Ribisl K M , Schleicher N C , Zellers L , Wellington N 
Published: March 2005

Objectives:Half of US states have minimum cigarette price laws that were originally passed to protect small independent retailers from unfair price competition with larger retailers. These laws prohibit cigarettes from being sold below a minimum price that is set by a formula. Many of these laws allow cigarette company promotional incentives offered to retailers, such as buydowns and master-type programmes, to be calculated into the formula. Allowing this provision has the potential to lower the allowable minimum price. This study assesses whether stores in states with minimum price laws have higher cigarette prices and lower rates of retailer participation in cigarette company promotional incentive programmes.Design:Retail cigarette prices and retailer participation in cigarette company incentive programmes in 2001 were compared in eight states with minimum price laws and seven states without them. New York State had the most stringent minimum price law at the time of the study because it excluded promotional incentive programmes in its price setting formula; cigarette prices in New York were compared to all other states included in the study.Results:Cigarette prices were not significantly different in our sample of US states with and without cigarette minimum price laws. Cigarette prices were significantly higher in New York stores than in the 14 other states combined.Conclusions:Most existing minimum cigarette price laws appear to have little impact on the retail price of cigarettes. This may be because they allow the use of promotional programmes, which are used by manufacturers to reduce cigarette prices. New York’s strategy to disallow these types of incentive programmes may result in higher minimum cigarette prices, and should also be explored as a potential policy strategy to control cigarette company marketing practices in stores. Strict cigarette minimum price laws may have the potential to reduce cigarette consumption by decreasing demand through increased cigarette prices and reduced promotional activities at retail outlets.
Validity of self reports in a cohort of Swedish adolescent smokers and smokeless tobacco (snus) users
Authors: Post A , Gilljam H , Rosendahl I , Meurling L , Bremberg S , Galanti M R 
Published: March 2005

Objective:To validate self reports of cigarette and smokeless tobacco (snus) use in a prospective cohort of adolescents.Design:A cross sectional analysis of a cohort sub-sample.Setting:County of Stockholm, Sweden.Subjects:520 adolescents in the final grade of junior high school (mean age 15.0 years).Main outcome measure:Concordance between self reported tobacco use and saliva cotinine concentration.Results:Using a cut point of 5 ng/ml saliva cotinine to discriminate active tobacco use, there was a 98% concordance between self reported non-use in the past month and cotinine concentration. The sensitivity of the questionnaire compared to the saliva cotinine test, used as the gold standard, was 90% and the specificity 93%. One hundred and fifteen out of 520 subjects (22%) reported monthly tobacco use. Among these, 67% (46/69) of the exclusive cigarette smokers, 82% (23/28) of exclusive snus users, and 94% (15/16) of mixed users (cigarettes + snus) had cotinine concentrations above 5 ng/ml. Among subjects reporting daily use 96% (64/67) had saliva cotinine concentrations above the cut point. Exclusive current cigarette users were more likely to be classified discordantly by questionnaire and cotinine test compared to snus users (odds ratio 3.2, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 8.6).Conclusion:This study confirms the reliability of adolescents’ self reported tobacco use. In a context of low exposure to environmental tobacco smoke a cut off for saliva cotinine of 5 ng/ml reliably discriminated tobacco users from non-users. Irregular use of tobacco in this age group probably explains the discrepancy between self reported use and cotinine concentrations.
A Multilevel Approach to Investigating Cross-National Differences in Negotiation Processes
Authors:   Huang, Van de Vliert Evert 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThe impact of the psychological states of the negotiators, the social conditions of negotiations, and the behavior of negotiators on the outcomes of negotiations differs from country to country. Various suboptimal, individual-level, and country-level solutions have been suggested to predict and explain such cross-national variations. Drawing inspiration from a series of cross-cultural studies on job satisfaction and motives for volunteer work that successfully employed multilevel modeling, we propose a multilevel research approach to more accurately examine the generalizability of negotiation models across countries.
Structure analysis of montmorillonite crystallites by convergent-beam electron diffraction
Authors: Beermann T. , Brockamp O. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThe small particle size and the random stacking of layers has previously hindered systematic structure investigations of montmorillonite. By applying the convergent-beam electron diffraction mode (CBED) of a transmission electron microscope (TEM) with a beam spot of ~800 Å we were able to examine undisturbed areas of montmorillonite crystallites.Because montmorillonite crystallites are mostly thin particles, kinematic theory can be applied and the CBED patterns can be interpreted directly, provided that the particle thickness remains below the critical value of 350 Å. An average thickness of ~90 Å was calculated here for montmorillonite of bulk samples from X-ray diffraction analysis and lattice-fringe images. However, satisfactory diffraction intensity patterns for quantitative evaluation were obtained only from crystallites with a thickness above the average, which yielded a sufficient scattering volume. These patterns could be described in terms of the kinematic theory and therefore these crystallites were <350 Å thick. Yet, crystallites of adequate thickness were extremely rare in the three samples investigated (Clay Spur, Rock River and Upton, all in Wyoming, USA).The diffraction intensities from theabplane of single montmorillonite crystallites of the various origins fit the three structural models for atrans-vacancy distribution, acis-vacancy distribution or a random-cation distribution within the octahedral sheets. The configuration of the diffraction patterns also shows a 1Msymmetry of the layer. Due to the limited data set of CBED patterns, a refinement of the structure could not be achieved. However, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy data and computation of the cation–anion distances and valences using the ‘distance valence least square’ program permitted a refinement of the models.
Alteration of smectites induced by hydrolytic exchange
Authors: Ramirez S. , Righi D. , Petit S. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractHydrolytic exchange was performed experimentally on four smectitic clays to evaluate the extent of clay alteration induced by this process and the associated ‘auto-transformation’ of H+ clays. Clay samples were Na-saturated and submitted to 10, 50 and 100 wetting-drying (WD) cycles and characterized after treatment using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and cation exchange capacity analysis. Evidence for hydrolytic exchange was given by increasing amounts of exchangeable Mg2+ and precipitation of Na soluble salts for samples subjected to 100 WD cycles. Results indicated a decrease in the interlayer charge after 10 WD cycles but no further decrease was observed after 50 and 100 WD cycles. For one sample, XRD data indicated a decrease in the proportion of the smectite phase and a relative increase in the concentration of illite-smectite mixed layers also present in the sample. The results suggested that the reaction induces first a decrease in the layer charge and then a partial dissolution of some smectite layers.
Clayey materials from the Sierra de la Demanda Range (Spain): their potential as raw materials for the building ceramics industry
Authors: Artigas R. , Rodas M. , Sánchez C. J. , Mas R. , Dondi M. , Arribas J. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThis work describes the possible use of thick Early Cretaceous clay deposits, which occur in the southern sector of the Sierra de la Demanda range, as raw materials in the manufacture of ceramic articles. The global mineralogical composition is characterized by high proportions of phyllosilicates and quartz with variable quantities of feldspars, carbonates and hematite. The clay mineralogy differentiates two types of raw materials: illitic clay and kaolinitic-illitic clay. A granulometric distribution in the 2–60 µm fraction, good behaviour during the drying stage and acceptable results in firing tests confirmed that most samples can be utilized as raw material in the building ceramics industry. The range of suitable firing temperatures for these materials is 950–1000°C, a temperature which needs to be raised for samples with a high percentage of kaolinite and quartz. Moreover, other materials with abundant calcite (20–30%) are suitable for use as modifiers of some properties or colour.
Clay minerals in hydrothermally altered basalts from Middle Atlas, Morocco
Authors: Dekayir A. , Amouric M. , Olives J. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractClay minerals occur as replacements of olivine, pyroxenes, plagioclase and interstitial materials, and as vesicle fillings, in altered basalts from the Middle Atlas (Morocco). Phyllosilicates are the main components of this alteration process. They have been characterized here by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy as saponite, talc, corrensite and chlorite. The homogeneity of the chemical compositions of these phyllosilicates, in different alteration environments, probably means that they are controlled by the composition of the hydrothermal fluid. Talc-saponite-corrensite (with dominant saponite) is the clay mineral association most frequently observed (corrensite being more abundant in the vesicular levels of the basalts). Such an association, with no evidence of albite and zeolite, suggests that these basalts have suffered minimal alteration at relatively low temperatures. Another association, chlorite-corrensite, was detected in a deeper (vesicular) sample, probably resulting from a slightly higher temperature. Lastly, only discrete phyllosilicates (i.e. no random mixed-layer minerals) were observed. This suggests that near-equilibrium conditions prevailed during this alteration stage and that a dissolution-crystallization process was the main mechanism of transformation.