bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Western Gorilla Vocal Repertoire and Contextual Use of Vocalizations
Authors: Salmi Roberta , Hammerschmidt Kurt , Doran‐Sheehy Diane M.
Published: July 2013

Despite considerable interest in the vocal communication of non‐human primates and its possible relevance to theories of language evolution, we know surprisingly little about how vocal communication varies between closely related species inhabiting differing environments. Here, we provide the first quantitative description of the vocal repertoire, calling rates, and call usage in wild western gorillas and compare it to the previous work on mountain gorilla vocal behavior. During 1572 h of focal follows (n = 533), we collected behavioral data on and recorded vocalizations (n = 2163) of eight individuals in one group atMondikaResearchCenter (Republic ofCongo). We supplemented these data with opportunistic recordings of an additional adult male in a second group. We used discriminant function analysis to test how well calls can be categorized by their acoustic structure and used behavioral data to determine the typical usage of western gorilla call types. The vocal repertoire comprised of 17 call types. Twelve of 17 call types were given primarily in a single context. Our results were similar to previous studies of mountain gorillas in that grunts, and grumbles were used most frequently and the silverback male vocalized more frequently than other group members. However, compared to mountain gorillas, western gorillas used an additional call type (sex‐whinny), used a second call type (hoot series) in a completely different context and by all age–sex classes, and used many more call types in a more context‐specific fashion. Our study suggests that although vocal production is highly constrained by morphology and phylogeny, differing social and ecological conditions can yield differences in the use and function of calls, even between two closely related species such as western and mountain gorillas.
Alternative ontogenies and developmental plasticity: implications for ecological and evolutionary studies on species complexes
Authors: Vilizzi Lorenzo , Kováč Vladimir
Published: July 2013

According to modern evolutionary biology, for understanding ontogenetic (i.e. early development) processes, it is necessary to focus on the interactions between genotype and developing phenotype, that is on both genetic and developmental epigenetic sources of information and variation. However, despite the large number of available comparative ontogenetic and eco‐morphological studies on fish, there are still several studies that have so far focussed on the genotype only, in spite of advice for alternative/complementary investigations. This study bridges the knowledge gap resulting from an imbalance between studies rooted on gradual development and genetics and those based on comparative ontogeny and focussed on eco‐morphology and developmental plasticity. As a case study using literature data, a new perspective is proposed on the early ontogeny of some species in the genus Hypseleotris in the light of the concept of alternative ontogenies and developmental plasticity. Based on this framework, an alternative explanation is proposed for the co‐occurrence of empire gudgeon (H. compressa) and firetailed gudgeon (H. galii) in similar habitats, and for the possible existence of intraspecific twin forms within western carp gudgeon (H. klunzingeri) and of interspecific species pairs in the ‘problematic’ carp gudgeon complex (Hypseleotris spp.). Central to this paper is the model of alternative ontogenies (as opposed to the historical, descriptive approach based on ‘normal stages’ of development) and its scientific potential to provide a new reference framework for existing genetic and phylogenetic studies on problematic fish species complexes, for which only genetic studies are currently available.
The calcium transporter Pmc1 provides Ca2+ tolerance and influences the progression of murine cryptococcal infection
Authors: Kmetzsch Livia , Staats Charley C. , Cupertino Julia B. , Fonseca Fernanda L. , Rodrigues Marcio L. , Schrank Augusto , Vainstein Marilene H.
Published: July 2013

The Ca2+‐calcineurin signaling pathway in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans is essential for adaptation to the host environment during infection. Calcium transporters regulate cytosolic calcium concentrations, providing Ca2+ loading into storage organelles. The three calcium transporters that have been characterized in C. neoformans, Cch1, Eca1 and Vcx1, are required for fungal virulence, supporting a role for calcium‐mediated signaling in cryptococcal pathogenesis. In the present study, we report the functional characterization of the putative vacuolar calcium ATPase Pmc1 in C. neoformans. Our results demonstrate that Pmc1 provides tolerance to high Ca2+ concentrations. The double knockout of C. neoformans PMC1 and VCX1 genes impaired the intracellular calcium transport, resulting in a significant increase in cytosolic calcium levels. Furthermore, Pmc1 was essential for both the progression of pulmonary infection and brain colonization in mice, emphasizing the crucial role of calcium signaling and transport for cryptococcal pathogenesis.
Intracranial self stimulation upregulates the expression of synaptic plasticity related genes and Arc protein expression in rat hippocampus
Authors: Kádár E. , Huguet G. , Aldavert‐Vera L. , Morgado‐Bernal I. , Segura‐Torres P.
Published: July 2013

Post‐training lateral hypothalamus (LH) intracranial self stimulation (ICSS) has a reliable enhancing effect on explicit memory formation evaluated in hippocampus‐dependent tasks such as the Morris water maze. In this study, the effects of ICSS on gene expression in the hippocampus are examined 4.5 h post treatment by using oligonucleotide microarray and real‐time PCR, and by measuring Arc protein levels in the different layers of hippocampal subfields through immunofluorescence. The microarray data analysis resulted in 65 significantly regulated genes in rat ICSS hippocampi compared to sham, including cAMP‐mediated signaling as one of the most significantly enriched Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) functional categories. In particular, expression of CREB‐dependent synaptic plasticity related genes (c‐Fos, Arc, Bdnf, Ptgs‐2 and Crem and Icer) was regulated in a time‐dependent manner following treatment administration. Immunofluorescence results showed that ICSS treatment induced a significant increase in Arc protein expression in CA1 and DG hippocampal subfields. This empirical evidence supports our hypothesis that the effect of ICSS on improved or restored memory functions might be mediated by increased hippocampal expression of activity‐dependent synaptic plasticity related genes, including Arc protein expression, as neural mechanisms related to memory consolidation.
Engaging Élitism: the Mediating Effect of Work Engagement on Affective Commitment and Quit Intentions in TwoAustralianUniversityGroups
Authors: Ferrer Justine L , Morris Leanne
Published: July 2013

Some universities rely on their élitism as one mechanism to attract and retain talented faculty. This paper examines two groups of élite and non‐élite universities and the mediating effect that work engagement has on affective commitment and intention to quit. Findings indicate partial support for the mediating effect of work engagement in the non‐élite group but no support in the élite university group. The implications of these diverse results are posed for the management of academics in élite and non‐élite universities, suggesting that a ‘one size fits all approach’ to performance outcomes does not always fit.
Impact of tamsulosin on urinary retention following early catheter removal after robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: A prospective randomized controlled trial
Authors: Jeong In Gab , You Dalsan , Yoon Jong Hyun , Hong Sungwoo , Lim Ju Hyun , Hong Jun Hyuk , Choo Myung‐Soo , Ahn Hanjong , Kim Choung‐Soo
Published: July 2013

Objectives

To examine the impact of tamsulosin on the rate of acute urinary retention following early catheter removal after robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Methods

A total of 236 patients who underwent robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer carried out by a single surgeon were enrolled in this randomized study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: treatment with tamsulosin (0.4 mg) from 1 day before to 14 days after surgery (tamsulosin group), or no tamsulosin treatment (control group). The urethral catheter was removed on the fifth postoperative day. The primary end‐point was the acute urinary retention rate. Changes in each domain of the International Continence Society male short‐form questionnaire and uroflowmetry parameters were secondary end‐points.

Results

The primary end‐point was assessed in 218 patients (92.4%; n = 109 in each group). It was not assessed in 18 patients because of cystographic leak from the vesicourethral anastomosis. The acute urinary retention rate was lower in the tamsulosin group (7.3%) than in the control group (17.4%, P = 0.018). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified tamsulosin treatment and the operative experience of the surgeon as independent risk factors for acute urinary retention. Tamsulosin‐treated patients had a 0.30‐fold lower risk of developing acute urinary retention compared with control patients (95% confidence interval 0.12–0.76; P = 0.011). None of the International Continence Society male questionnaire domain scores showed significant changes between the groups.

Conclusions

Perioperative treatment with tamsulosin in patients undergoing robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy reduces the rate of acute urinary retention after early catheter removal, without aggravating urinary incontinence.
Clinical utility of sequential venous blood gas measurement in the assessment of ventilatory status during physiological stress
Authors: Wallbridge P. D. , Hannan L. M. , Joosten S. A. , Irving L. B. , Steinfort D. P.
Published: July 2013

Background

Venous blood gases (VBG) are commonly utilised, particularly in the emergency setting, to assess and monitor patients at risk of ventilatory failure with limited evidence regarding their clinical utility in the assessment of ventilatory status over time.

Aims

This study aims to assess agreement between arterial and venous pH and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) both before and after physiological stress, at each time point, and within the same subject between paired samples before and after bronchoscopy.

Methods

Prospective study of 30 patients undergoing flexible bronchoscopy under conscious sedation. Paired arterial and venous samples taken before and after bronchoscopy were analysed utilising descriptive statistics and bias plot (Bland–Altman) analysis to assess limits of agreement.

Results

Compared with baseline, post‐bronchoscopy arterial blood gas and VBG showed reduced pH (−0.05 ± 0.05 and −0.04 ± 0.04 respectively) and increased arterial and venous pCO2 (5.9 ± 6.7 and 3.5 ± 5.5 mmHg respectively), the differences being statistically significant (P = 0.035). There was statistical agreement between arterial blood gas and VBG parameters; however, the limits of agreement were wide at rest and, for pCO2, widened further post‐bronchoscopy.

Conclusion

Sequential VBG provide an unpredictable means for assessing pCO2 in patients undergoing flexible bronchoscopy. Previously noted poor agreement between arterial and venous pCO2 worsens following physiological stress, with sequential VBG likely to underestimate changes in ventilatory status in patients with acute respiratory compromise, suggesting limited utility as a means for monitoring changes in ventilation.
Dispersal and species’ responses to climate change
Authors: Travis Justin M. J. , Delgado Maria , Bocedi Greta , Baguette Michel , Bartoń Kamil , Bonte Dries , Boulangeat Isabelle , Hodgson Jenny A. , Kubisch Alexander , Penteriani Vincenzo , Saastamoinen Marjo , Stevens Virginie M. , Bullock James M.
Published: July 2013

Dispersal is fundamental in determining biodiversity responses to rapid climate change, but recently acquired ecological and evolutionary knowledge is seldom accounted for in either predictive methods or conservation planning. We emphasise the accumulating evidence for direct and indirect impacts of climate change on dispersal. Additionally, evolutionary theory predicts increases in dispersal at expanding range margins, and this has been observed in a number of species. This multitude of ecological and evolutionary processes is likely to lead to complex responses of dispersal to climate change. As a result, improvement of models of species’ range changes will require greater realism in the representation of dispersal. Placing dispersal at the heart of our thinking will facilitate development of conservation strategies that are resilient to climate change, including landscape management and assisted colonisation.

Synthesis

This article seeks synthesis across the fields of dispersal ecology and evolution, species distribution modelling and conservation biology. Increasing effort focuses on understanding how dispersal influences species' responses to climate change. Importantly, though perhaps not broadly widely‐recognised, species' dispersal characteristics are themselves likely to alter during rapid climate change. We compile evidence for direct and indirect influences that climate change may have on dispersal, some ecological and others evolutionary. We emphasise the need for predictive modelling to account for this dispersal realism and highlight the need for conservation to make better use of our existing knowledge related to dispersal.
Disentangling ecological, allometric and evolutionary determinants of the relationship between seed mass and elevation: insights from multiple analyses of 1355 angiosperm species on the eastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Qi Wei , Guo Shuqing , Chen Xuelin , Cornelissen Johannes H. C. , Bu Haiyan , Du Guozhen , Cui Xianliang , Li Wenjin , Liu Kun
Published: July 2013

Variation in abiotic conditions along altitudinal gradients may sort plant species from regional species pools according to their seed mass. With increasing elevation, seed mass is expected to be either larger for its advantage during seedling establishment in stressful high‐elevation environments (‘stress‐tolerance’ mechanism), or smaller owing to energy constraints. Using a large trait database involving 1355 species from the northeastern verge of the Tibetan Plateau, we found that, overall, these two opposing mechanisms balanced out one another, resulting in non‐significant seed mass–elevation relationship across all species after controlling for phylogeny. At the same time, we found that the influence of energy constraints on seed mass was indirect and mediated by the variation in plant height. Moreover, our results revealed a mass‐dependent seed mass variation along elevation gradients: with increasing elevation small seeds tended to increase ( supporting stress‐tolerance mechanism) but large seeds tended to decrease (supporting energy‐constraints mechanism). Finally, the seed mass–elevation relationships were significantly different among species with different life forms or different dispersal modes, but statistically similar for anemophilous and entomophilous species. This implies that life‐history cycle, resource allocation pattern and availability of dispersals agents, rather than pollination efficiency, can affect the responses of seed mass to elevation. Together our results suggest that a comprehensive perspective is necessary when interpreting geographic distribution of even a single trait.

Synthesis

With increasing elevation, seed mass may be either larger for its advantage during seedling establishment (‘stress‐tolerance’ force), or smaller owing to energy constraints. Our paper shows some novel and importance results in the seed mass–elevation relationship in a northeastern Tibetan flora. Firstly, these two opposing forces operate simultaneously but overall balance out one another. Secondly, the balance tends to shift toward increased energy‐constraints (stress‐tolerance) with the increase (decreased) in average seed mass. Thirdly, energy constraints on seed mass is indirect and mediated by the variation in plant height. Finally, plant resource allocation pattern, life‐history cycle, and availability of dispersal agents can affect the responses of seed mass to elevation.
Ionic Diffusion Oxidation Model of Uranium
Authors: Gharagozloo Patricia E. , Kanouff Michael P.
Published: July 2013

A theory‐driven model is formulated for the low‐temperature oxidation of uranium exposed to oxygen. The model is based on diffusion of oxygen ions through the oxide film driven by the electrostatic potential generated between the metal and adsorbed oxygen ions. The model fits published experimental data well for temperatures between 20°C and 200°C and for oxide film thicknesses less than 300 nm. The derived reaction rate coefficients for parabolic and inverse logarithmic growth regimes correspond well to the available published values and outperform the existing empirically derived forms. These reaction rate coefficients can be applied to the oxidation of any metal that is driven by the generated electrostatic potential.
SIV infection of rhesus macaques differentially impacts mononuclear phagocyte responses to virus‐derived TLR agonists
Authors: Wonderlich Elizabeth R. , Barratt‐Boyes Simon M.
Published: July 2013

Background

During progressive simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection, the ability of innate mononuclear phagocytes to function when responding to the invading pathogen has yet to be determined.

Methods

We generated single‐stranded RNA (ssRNA) oligonucleotides from the infecting strain of virus and utilized them to stimulate mononuclear phagocytes from blood and lymph nodes of naïve and SIVmac251‐infected rhesus macaques.

Results

Soon after infection and continuing through to chronic disease, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), monocytes, and macrophages from SIV‐infected macaques were less able to produce pro‐inflammatory cytokines after exposure to virus‐derived toll‐like receptor (TLR) agonists. In contrast, myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) became hyper‐responsive during acute and stable chronic infection.

Conclusions

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells, monocytes, and macrophages may not instigate continued immune activation by recognizing the single‐stranded RNA from SIV as they are left dysfunctional after infection. Conversely, mDC functionality may be beneficial as their hyper‐responsiveness is related to slowed disease progression.
Circadian phase‐dependent effect of nitric oxide on L‐type voltage‐gated calcium channels in avian cone photoreceptors
Authors: Ko Michael L. , Shi Liheng , Huang Cathy C.‐Y. , Grushin Kirill , Park So‐Young , Ko Gladys Y.‐P.
Published: July 2013

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in phase‐shifting of circadian neuronal activities in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and circadian behavior activity rhythms. In the retina, NO production is increased in a light‐dependent manner. While endogenous circadian oscillators in retinal photoreceptors regulate their physiological states, it is not clear whether NO also participates in the circadian regulation of photoreceptors. In this study, we demonstrate that NO is involved in the circadian phase‐dependent regulation of L‐type voltage‐gated calcium channels (L‐VGCCs). In chick cone photoreceptors, the L‐VGCCα1 subunit expression and the maximal L‐VGCC currents are higher at night, and both Ras‐mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)‐extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (Erk) and Ras‐phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)‐protein kinase B (Akt) are part of the circadian output pathways regulating L‐VGCCs. The NO‐cGMP‐protein kinase G (PKG) pathway decreases L‐VGCCα1 subunit expression and L‐VGCC currents at night, but not during the day, and exogenous NO donor or cGMP decreases the phosphorylation of Erk and Akt at night. The protein expression of neural NO synthase (nNOS) is also under circadian control, with both nNOS and NO production being higher during the day. Taken together, NO/cGMP/PKG signaling is involved as part of the circadian output pathway to regulate L‐VGCCs in cone photoreceptors.

image

In cone photoreceptors, the protein expression of neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and NO production are under circadian control. NO‐cGMP‐protein kinase G (PKG) signaling serves in the circadian output pathway to regulate the circadian rhythms of L‐type voltage‐gated calcium channels (L‐VGCCs) in part through regulating the phosphorylation states of extracellular‐signal‐regulated kinase (Erk) and protein kinase B (Akt).
Understanding the Costs of Support Transactions in Daily Life
Authors: McClure M. Joy , Xu Joy H. , Craw Jeffrey P. , Lane Sean P. , Bolger Niall , Shrout Patrick E.
Published: July 2013

The benefits of close relationships for mental and physical health are well documented. One of the mechanisms presumed to underlie these effects is social support, whereby close others provide practical and emotional assistance in times of need. Although there is no doubt that generalized perceptions of support availability are beneficial, research examining actual instances of support receipt has found unexpectedly mixed results. Receiving support sometimes has positive effects, but null or even negative effects are common. In this article, we review our multimethod program of research that seeks to understand and explain the costs of receiving social support. We focus on reductions in the recipient's sense of relationship equity and self‐efficacy as mechanisms of this effect and examine a number of other moderating factors. Although we have found that receiving support incurs costs on average, there is considerable variability yet to be explained. Using diary data from 312 persons preparing to take a challenging exam, we examined the potential of individual differences in neuroticism, agreeableness, and attachment insecurity to explain variability in experienced support costs. We close with new questions about why received support may be beneficial or benign in some situations while being especially toxic in others.
Tuber Blight Development in Potato Cultivars in Response to Different Genotypes of Phytophthora infestans
Authors: Rojas Jorge Alejandro , Kirk William W. , Gachango Esther , Douches David S. , Hanson Linda E.
Published: July 2013

Migrations or introduction of new genotypes of Phytophthora infestans to a specific region imposes a different perspective for potato production. During 2009–2010, a late blight epidemic affected the Northeastern United States, which quickly spread through several states. The epidemic was characterized by the appearance of a new genotype of P. infestans designated US‐22, which was isolated from tomato and potato. Potato tubers are an essential component of late blight epidemics where the pathogen cannot overwinter on Solanaceous plants. Six potato cultivars were inoculated with 12 isolates of P. infestans (five different genotypes), including isolates of the genotype US‐22. Tuber blight development was characterized in terms of tissue darkening expressed as area under the disease progress curve values and lenticel infection. The responses indicated that US‐8 was more aggressive than US‐22, but US‐22 isolates obtained from potato were more aggressive on potato than those acquired from tomato. Tuber periderm responses to infection were limited, yet US‐8 isolates infected the periderm more often than US‐22 isolates. There were significant differences among the cultivars tested but cv. Jacqueline Lee was the most resistant overall. Although isolates of P. infestans genotype US‐22 were less aggressive in comparison with US‐8 isolates, US‐22 isolates still infected potato tubers and were as aggressive us US‐8 isolates on some cultivars. Management of late blight caused by isolates of US‐22 through host resistance may be feasible but imposes a different set of criteria for consideration from those that US‐8 imposed.
The diet of adult psittacids: veterinarian and ethological approaches
Authors: Péron F. , Grosset C.
Published: July 2013

Parrots species are kept as pets because of their colours, their vocal abilities, their longevity and also their behaviours. Nevertheless, many owners do not know how to feed their bird in a healthy way and sometimes veterinarians and ethologists are confronted to dramatic situations. Diet is a key factor to prevent and reduce health and psychogenic disorders. Imbalance can lead to physical, physiological and behavioural modifications that can weaken the owner–bird relationship, cause bird discomfort and sometimes threaten its survival. Psittacids are known for their complex cognitive and communicative abilities. They are social animals and need many interactions. Kept in captivity, they could suffer from boredom because of lack of stimulations and also because of lack of possibility to explore and to forage, which could represent up to 70% of their day time in the wild. Indeed, humans control every parameter in the environment of pet psittacids. They provide a highly digestible diet. In captivity, foraging is not mandatory, and the bird can get bored. Here, we present a review of the literature regarding the quality of the diet and health disorders on one hand and the interaction between foraging opportunities and psychogenic disorders in adult psittacids on the other hand.
Impact of the blood sampling site on time–concentration drug profiles following intravenous or buccal drug administration
Authors: Hedges A. R. , Pypendop B. H. , Shilo Y. , Stanley S. D. , Ilkiw J. E.
Published: July 2013

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the sampling site on the drug concentration–time profile, following intravenous or buccal (often called ‘oral transmucosal’) drug administration. Buprenorphine (20 μg/kg) was administered IV or buccally to six cats. Blood samples were collected from the carotid artery and the jugular and medial saphenous veins for 24 h following buprenorphine administration. Buprenorphine concentration–time data were examined using noncompartmental analysis. Pharmacokinetic parameters were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, applying the Bonferroni correction. Significance was set at P < 0.05. Following IV administration, no difference among the sampling sites was found. Following buccal administration, maximum concentration [jugular: 6.3 (2.9–9.8), carotid: 3.4 (1.9–4.9), medial saphenous: 2.5 (1.7–4.1) ng/mL], area under the curve [jugular: 395 (335–747), carotid: 278 (214–693), medial saphenous: 255 (188–608) ng·min/mL], and bioavailability [jugular: 47 (34–67), carotid: 32 (20–52), medial saphenous: 23 (16–55)%] were higher in the jugular vein than in the carotid artery and medial saphenous vein. Jugular venous blood sampling is not an acceptable substitute for arterial blood sampling following buccal drug administration.
Forgotten, not neglected: viral hepatitis in resource‐limited settings, recall for action
Authors: Lemoine Maud , Thursz Mark , Njie Ramou , Dusheiko Geoffrey
Published: July 2013

In 2010, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution calling for interventions for the prevention and control of chronic viral hepatitis. These infectious diseases mostly affect resource‐limited countries accounting for 80% of the world's population and facing numerous obstacles to contain the epidemic. At a time when morbidity and mortality of chronic liver disease have been considerably improved in wealthy countries by new innovative strategies and new potent antiviral drugs, it is now urgent to recall for concrete actions from stakeholders of global health policy to reduce the burden in resource‐limited countries.
Challenges in detecting olivine on the surface of 4 Vesta
Authors: Beck Andrew W. , McCoy Timothy J. , Sunshine Jessica M. , Viviano Christina E. , Corrigan Catherine M. , Hiroi Takahiro , Mayne Rhiannon G.
Published: July 2013

Identifying and mapping olivine on asteroid 4 Vesta are important components to understanding differentiation on that body, which is one of the objectives of the Dawn mission. Harzburgitic diogenites are the main olivine‐bearing lithology in the howardite‐eucrite‐diogenite (HED) meteorites, a group of samples thought to originate from Vesta. Here, we examine all the Antarctic harzburgites and estimate that, on scales resolvable by Dawn, olivine abundances in putative harzburgite exposures on the surface of Vesta are likely at best in the 10–30% range, but probably lower due to impact mixing. We examine the visible/near‐infrared spectra of two harzburgitic diogenites representative of the 10–30% olivine range and demonstrate that they are spectrally indistinguishable from orthopyroxenitic diogenites, the dominant diogenitic lithology in the HED group. This suggests that the visible/near‐infrared spectrometer onboard Dawn (VIR) will be unable to resolve harzburgites from orthopyroxenites on the surface of Vesta, which may explain the current lack of identification of harzburgitic diogenite on Vesta.
Evidence for a host role in thermotolerance divergence between populations of the mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) from different reef environments
Authors: Kenkel C. D. , Goodbody‐Gringley G. , Caillaud D. , Davies S. W. , Bartels E. , Matz M. V.
Published: July 2013

Studying the mechanisms that enable coral populations to inhabit spatially varying thermal environments can help evaluate how they will respond in time to the effects of global climate change and elucidate the evolutionary forces that enable or constrain adaptation. Inshore reefs in the Florida Keys experience higher temperatures than offshore reefs for prolonged periods during the summer. We conducted a common garden experiment with heat stress as our selective agent to test for local thermal adaptation in corals from inshore and offshore reefs. We show that inshore corals are more tolerant of a 6‐week temperature stress than offshore corals. Compared with inshore corals, offshore corals in the 31 °C treatment showed significantly elevated bleaching levels concomitant with a tendency towards reduced growth. In addition, dinoflagellate symbionts (Symbiodinium sp.) of offshore corals exhibited reduced photosynthetic efficiency. We did not detect differences in the frequencies of major (>5%) haplotypes comprising Symbiodinium communities hosted by inshore and offshore corals, nor did we observe frequency shifts (‘shuffling’) in response to thermal stress. Instead, coral host populations showed significant genetic divergence between inshore and offshore reefs, suggesting that in Porites astreoides, the coral host might play a prominent role in holobiont thermotolerance. Our results demonstrate that coral populations inhabiting reefs <10‐km apart can exhibit substantial differences in their physiological response to thermal stress, which could impact their population dynamics under climate change.
Collembola, the biological species concept and the underestimation of global species richness
Authors: Cicconardi Francesco , Fanciulli Pietro P. , Emerson Brent C.
Published: July 2013

Despite its ancient origin, global distribution and abundance in nearly all habitats, the class Collembola is comprised of only 8000 described species and is estimated to number no more than 50 000. Many morphologically defined species have broad geographical ranges that span continents, and recent molecular work has revealed high genetic diversity within species. However, the evolutionary significance of this genetic diversity is unknown. In this study, we sample five morphological species of the globally distributed genus Lepidocyrtus from 14 Panamanian sampling sites to characterize genetic diversity and test morphospecies against the biological species concept. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data were analysed and a total of 58 molecular lineages revealed. Deep lineage diversification was recovered, with 30 molecular lineages estimated to have established more than 10 million years ago, and the origin almost all contemporary lineages preceding the onset of the Pleistocene (~2 Mya). Thirty‐four lineages were sampled in sympatry revealing unambiguous cosegregation of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence variation, consistent with biological species. Species richness within the class Collembola and the geographical structure of this diversity are substantially misrepresented components of terrestrial animal biodiversity. We speculate that global species richness of Collembola could be at least an order of magnitude greater than a previous estimate of 50 000 species.
High‐throughput amplicon sequencing of rRNA genes requires a copy number correction to accurately reflect the effects of management practices on soil nematode community structure
Authors: Darby B. J. , Todd T. C. , Herman M. A.
Published: July 2013

Nematodes are abundant consumers in grassland soils, but more sensitive and specific methods of enumeration are needed to improve our understanding of how different nematode species affect, and are affected by, ecosystem processes. High‐throughput amplicon sequencing is used to enumerate microbial and invertebrate communities at a high level of taxonomic resolution, but the method requires validation against traditional specimen‐based morphological identifications. To investigate the consistency between these approaches, we enumerated nematodes from a 25‐year field experiment using both morphological and molecular identification techniques in order to determine the long‐term effects of annual burning and nitrogen enrichment on soil nematode communities. Family‐level frequencies based on amplicon sequencing were not initially consistent with specimen‐based counts, but correction for differences in rRNA gene copy number using a genetic algorithm improved quantitative accuracy. Multivariate analysis of corrected sequence‐based abundances of nematode families was consistent with, but not identical to, analysis of specimen‐based counts. In both cases, herbivores, fungivores and predator/omnivores generally were more abundant in burned than nonburned plots, while bacterivores generally were more abundant in nonburned or nitrogen‐enriched plots. Discriminate analysis of sequence‐based abundances identified putative indicator species representing each trophic group. We conclude that high‐throughput amplicon sequencing can be a valuable method for characterizing nematode communities at high taxonomic resolution as long as rRNA gene copy number variation is accounted for and accurate sequence databases are available.
MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry identification of filamentous fungi in the clinical laboratory
Authors: Ranque Stéphane , Normand Anne‐Cécile , Cassagne Carole , Murat Jean‐Benjamin , Bourgeois Nathalie , Dalle Frédéric , Gari‐Toussaint Martine , Fourquet Patrick , Hendrickx Marijke , Piarroux Renaud
Published: July 2013

This study aimed to validate the effectiveness of a standardised procedure for the MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry (MS)‐based identification on a large sample of filamentous fungi routinely identified in university hospitals' laboratories. Non‐dermatophyte filamentous fungi prospectively isolated in the routine activity of five teaching hospitals in France were first identified by conventional methods in each laboratory and then by MS in one centre. DNA sequence‐based identification resolved discrepancies between both methods. In this study, of the 625 analysed filamentous fungi of 58 species, 501 (80%) and 556 (89%) were correctly identified by conventional methods and MS respectively. Compared with the conventional method, MS dramatically enhanced the performance of the identification of the non‐Aspergillus filamentous fungi with a 31–61% increase in correct identification rate. In conclusion, this study on a large sample of clinical filamentous fungi taxa demonstrates that species identification is significantly improved by MS compared with the conventional method. The main limitation is that MS identification is possible only if the species is included in the reference spectra library. Nevertheless, for the routine clinical laboratory, MS provides the means to attain markedly accurate results in filamentous fungi identification, which was previously restricted to only a few reference laboratories.
Gastric electrical stimulation with Enterra therapy improves symptoms of idiopathic gastroparesis
Authors: McCallum R. W. , Sarosiek I. , Parkman H. P. , Snape W. , Brody F. , Wo J. , Nowak T.
Published: July 2013

Background

Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) is a therapeutic option for intractable symptoms of gastroparesis (GP). Idiopathic GP (ID‐GP) represents a subset of GP. AIMS: A prospective, multicenter, double‐blinded, randomized, crossover study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Enterra GES in the treatment of chronic vomiting in ID‐GP.

Methods

Thirty‐two ID‐GP subjects (mean age 39; 81% F, mean 7.7 years of GP) were implanted with GES. The stimulator was turned ON for 1½ months followed by double‐blind randomization to consecutive 3‐month crossover periods with the device either ON or OFF. ON stimulation was followed in unblinded fashion for another 4.5 months. Twenty‐five subjects completed the crossover phase and 21 finished 1 year of follow‐up.

Key Results

During the unblinded ON period, there was a reduction in weekly vomiting frequency (WVF) from baseline (61.2%, P < 0.001). There was a non‐significant reduction in WVF between ON vs OFF periods (the primary outcome) with median reduction of 17% (P > 0.10). Seventy‐five percent of patients preferred the ON vs OFF period (P = 0.021). At 1 year, WVF remained decreased (median reduction = 87%, P < 0.001), accompanied by improvements in GP symptoms, gastric emptying and days of hospitalization (P < 0.05).

Conclusions & Inferences

(i) In this prospective study of Enterra GES for ID‐GP, there was a reduction in vomiting during the initial ON period; (ii) The double‐blind 3‐month periods showed a non‐significant reduction in vomiting in the ON vs OFF period, the primary outcome variable; (iii) At 12 months with ON stimulation, there was a sustained decrease in vomiting and days of hospitalizations.
Non‐transplantation surgical approach for chronic intestinal pseudo‐obstruction: analysis of 63 adult consecutive cases
Authors: Sabbagh C. , Amiot A. , Maggiori L. , Corcos O. , Joly F. , Panis Y.
Published: July 2013

Background

Chronic intestinal pseudo‐obstruction (CIPO) is a recurrent disorder caused by intestinal dysmotility. Although, CIPO is not a surgically remediable condition, surgery is a common issue in CIPO patients. The aim of this study was to assess postoperative morbidity and mortality of patients operated on for CIPO and risk of re‐operation.

Methods

Adult patients that have undergone surgery for CIPO since 1980 were included in this retrospective study using a prospective database. Postoperative morbidity, according to Clavien‐Dindo classification and CIPO‐related re‐operation rates were evaluated with univariate and multivariate analysis.

Key Results

Sixty‐three patients (33 women, median age 37 [range: 15–79] years) were included. Median follow‐up was 6 (0.2–28) years. Overall postoperative mortality rate was 7.9%. Overall morbidity rate was 58.2% (Clavien‐Dindo ≥3 in 20.7%) leading to re‐operation in 17% of cases. In multivariate analysis, major postoperative morbidity (Clavien‐Dindo ≥3) was significantly increased when there was an intraoperative bowel injury (HR = 15.7 [2.4–102], P = 0.004), idiopathic CIPO (HR = 4.2 [1.5–12], P = 0.007) and emergency procedure (HR = 3 [1.3–6.8]. After the first surgery, probabilities of CIPO‐related re‐operation were 44%, 60%, and 66% at 1, 3, and 5 years respectively. In multivariate analysis, CIPO‐related reoperation for CIPO was significantly increased when there was a major postoperative morbidity (HR = 2.1 [1.1–4.4], P = 0.040) and intraoperative bowel injury (HR = 33.1 [2–553], P = 0.015) after the first procedure.

Conclusions & Inferences

The surgical management of CIPO patients was associated with high postoperative morbidity and mortality rates and frequent re‐operation. Attempts should be made to avoid surgery when possible and optimize nutritional status.
The great opportunity to view stasis with an ecological lens
Authors: Dietl Gregory P.
Published: July 2013

A major challenge facing conservation biology today is predicting how often species will be able to adapt to environmental change. We need to know which, and under what environmental conditions, ecologically important traits are likely to evolve and keep species in the evolutionary game. Conservation biologists currently lack enough data across a broad range of traits and taxa to address this problem, which impedes the development of scenarios of possible adaptive management responses. HereIoutline how trait‐based data and methods that palaeobiologists use to address the long‐term dynamics of evolving lineages can be applied to address this challenge. We need an impassioned community‐wide effort to view evolutionary stasis with an ecological lens.
Novel bioresources for studies of Brassica oleracea: identification of a kale MYB transcription factor responsible for glucosinolate production
Authors: Araki Ryoichi , Hasumi Akiko , Nishizawa Osamu Ishizaki , Sasaki Katsunori , Kuwahara Ayuko , Sawada Yuji , Totoki Yasushi , Toyoda Atsushi , Sakaki Yoshiyuki , Li Yimeng , Saito Kazuki , Ogawa Toshiya , Hirai Masami Yokota
Published: July 2013

Plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family exhibit species‐specific profiles of glucosinolates (GSLs), a class of defence compounds against pathogens and insects. GSLs also exhibit various human health–promoting properties. Among them, glucoraphanin (aliphatic 4‐methylsulphinylbutyl GSL) has attracted the most attention because it hydrolyses to form a potent anticancer compound. Increased interest in developing commercial varieties of Brassicaceae crops with desirable GSL profiles has led to attempts to identify genes that are potentially valuable for controlling GSL biosynthesis. However, little attention has been focused on genes of kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala). In this study, we established full‐length kale cDNA libraries containing 59 904 clones, which were used to generate an expressed sequence tag (EST) data set with 119 204 entries. The EST data set clarified genes related to the GSL biosynthesis pathway in kale. We specifically focused on BoMYB29, a homolog of Arabidopsis MYB29/PMG2/HAG3, not only to characterize its function but also to demonstrate its usability as a biological resource. BoMYB29 overexpression in wild‐type Arabidopsis enhanced the expression of aliphatic GSL biosynthetic genes and the accumulation of aliphatic GSLs. When expressed in the myb28myb29 mutant, which exhibited no detectable aliphatic GSLs, BoMYB29 restored the expression of biosynthetic genes and aliphatic GSL accumulation. Interestingly, the ratio of methylsulphinyl GSL content, including glucoraphanin, to that of methylthio GSLs was greatly increased, indicating the suitability of BoMYB29 as a regulator for increasing methylsulphinyl GSL content. Our results indicate that these biological resources can facilitate further identification of genes useful for modifications of GSL profiles and accumulation in kale.
Sharing the Air, the Legal and Ethical Considerations of Extending Tobacco Legislation to Include Multiunit Dwellings in Alberta
Authors: Stooke Victoria D.
Published: July 2013

This study explores the legal and ethical considerations of extending tobacco legislation to include multiunit dwellings (MUDs) in Alberta and the implications for public health nursing practice. The tobacco legislation in Canada currently protects individuals in public places and not private dwellings. In Alberta, there are over 1 million individuals living in MUDs who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. Children are particularly vulnerable to the negative health effects. As well, many apartment fires in Alberta are related to smoking which makes expanding tobacco legislation to include MUDs an important public health issue. There are many potential barriers to the adoption of this tobacco legislation including legal, ethical, and civil rights concerns, and the bureaucracy of the political process. This study articulates the position that it is both legal and ethical to expand provincial tobacco legislation to include MUDs after the consideration of individual civil rights and using the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses (2008) as a guide for practice. Public health nurses must advocate for a change in the current legislation by becoming politically active and building community capacity to demonstrate accountability and promote social justice.
Perceived Threat, Social Identification, and Psychological Well‐Being: The Effects of Political Conflict Exposure
Authors: Schmid Katharina , Muldoon Orla T.
Published: July 2013

Using data drawn from the adult population in Northern Ireland (N = 1,515), this article examines the relationship between perceived intergroup threat and psychological well‐being, taking into consideration the mediating role of social identification and the moderating role of political conflict exposure. Results by and large confirmed our predictions that perceived threat would be directly associated with poorer well‐being but would also exert a positive indirect effect on well‐being via increased social identification. However, these relationships were dependent on individuals' prior conflict exposure, such that the positive indirect relationship between perceived threat and psychological well‐being emerged only for two subpopulations: individuals who had high direct and high indirect exposure to conflict, and individuals who had low direct, but high indirect conflict exposure. No indirect effects emerged for individuals with relatively lower conflict exposure. Results are discussed with regard to their implications for research on the consequences of intergroup threat in political conflict settings and beyond.
Reliability of theERNacross multiple tasks as a function of increasing errors
Authors: Meyer Alexandria , Riesel Anja , Proudfit Greg Hajcak
Published: July 2013

Event‐related potential (ERP) studies of error‐processing have characterized the error‐related negativity (ERN) as a negative deflection occurring after the commission of an error at frontocentral sites. TheERNhas frequently been examined in the context of individual differences and has been proposed as a neurobehavioral risk marker. Given this, it is important to characterize the psychometric properties of theERNacross multiple tasks as a function of increasing trial numbers in order to establish task‐specific psychometric properties for efficient assessments in clinical or applied settings. The current study examines the internal reliability of theERNacross the flankers, Stroop, and go/no‐go tasks as a function of error number. Results suggest that although the tasks all elicit theERNreliably, important psychometric differences emerged indicating that the flankers task might be prioritized when assessing theERN.