bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Permian–TriassicOsteichthyes (bony fishes): diversity dynamics and body size evolution
Authors: Romano Carlo , Koot Martha B. , Kogan Ilja , Brayard Arnaud , Minikh Alla V. , Brinkmann Winand , Bucher Hugo , Kriwet Jürgen
Published: November 2014

ThePermian andTriassic were key time intervals in the history of life onEarth. Both periods are marked by a series of biotic crises including the most catastrophic of such events, the end‐Permian mass extinction, which eventually led to a major turnover from typicalPalaeozoic faunas and floras to those that are emblematic for theMesozoic andCenozoic. Here we review patterns inPermian–Triassic bony fishes, a group whose evolutionary dynamics are understudied. Based on data from primary literature, we analyse changes in their taxonomic diversity and body size (as a proxy for trophic position) and explore their response toPermian–Triassic events. Diversity and body size are investigated separately for different groups ofOsteichthyes (Dipnoi,Actinistia, ‘Palaeopterygii’, ‘Subholostei’,Holostei,Teleosteomorpha), within the marine and freshwater realms and on a global scale (total diversity) as well as across palaeolatitudinal belts. Diversity is also measured for different palaeogeographical provinces. Our results suggest a general trend from low osteichthyan diversity in thePermian to higher levels in theTriassic. Diversity dynamics in thePermian are marked by a decline in freshwater taxa during theCisuralian. An extinction event during the end‐Guadalupian crisis is not evident from our data, but ‘palaeopterygians’ experienced a significant body size increase across theGuadalupian–Lopingian boundary and these fishes upheld their position as large, top predators from theLatePermian to theLateTriassic. Elevated turnover rates are documented at thePermian–Triassic boundary, and two distinct diversification events are noted in the wake of this biotic crisis, a first one during theEarlyTriassic (dipnoans, actinistians, ‘palaeopterygians’, ‘subholosteans’) and a second one during theMiddleTriassic (‘subholosteans’, neopterygians). The origination of new, small taxa predominantly among these groups during theMiddleTriassic event caused a significant reduction in osteichthyan body size. Neopterygii, the clade that encompasses the vast majority of extant fishes, underwent another diversification phase in theLateTriassic. TheTriassic radiation ofOsteichthyes, predominantly ofActinopterygii, which only occurred after severe extinctions amongChondrichthyes during theMiddle–LatePermian, resulted in a profound change within global fish communities, from chondrichthyan‐rich faunas of thePermo‐Carboniferous to typicalMesozoic andCenozoic associations dominated by actinopterygians. This turnover was not sudden but followed a stepwise pattern, with leaps during extinction events.
Inducing malignant transformation of endometriosis in rats by long‐term sustaining hyperestrogenemia and type II diabetes
Authors: Wang Chang‐Ting , Wang Dan‐Bo , Liu Kui‐Ran , Li Yan , Sun Chun‐Xiao , Guo Cui‐Shan , Ren Fang
Published: November 2014

This study aimed to induce malignant transformation of endometriosis in Sprague–Dawley rats by hyperestrogenemia and type II diabetes and evaluate its similarity with human disease in biological features. Rats with surgically induced endometriosis were randomized into two groups: those treated with estradiol (5 mg/kg three times/week after surgery), streptozotocin (25 mg/kg, 1 month after surgery), and high carbohydrate‐and‐fat feed (Es group); and those treated with placebo saline and standard feed (control group). All rats were randomly killed 2, 4, or 8 months after surgery. The endometriosis lesions and the corresponding eutopic endometria were subjected to morphological evaluation, TUNEL, and immunohistochemical analysis for the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, phosphatase and tensin homolog, phosphorylated protein kinase B, and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin proteins. In the Es group, three cases (6.0%) of endometriosis showed atypical hyperplasia accompanied by simple hyperplastic eutopic endometria, and two cases (4.0%) of endometriosis showed endometrioid carcinoma accompanied by atypical hyperplastic eutopic endometria. In the Es group, the activity of organelles and the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, phosphorylated protein kinase B, and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin increased, and the level of phosphatase and tensin homolog and TUNEL positivity decreased progressively in the order of endometriosis, atypical endometriosis, and malignant endometriosis. The same tendency was found in the corresponding eutopic endometria. The induced malignant endometriosis showed similarities with human disease in the pathological process and histomorphological and molecular biological features. The method is feasible. The malignant transformations of endometriosis and eutopic endometria may have correlations and similarities, but the former may suffer a higher risk of canceration.
Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are increased in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps or eosinophilia
Authors: Ho J. , Bailey M. , Zaunders J. , Mrad N. , Sacks R. , Sewell W. , Harvey R. J.
Published: November 2014

Background

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a heterogeneous disease with an uncertain pathogenesis. Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) represent a recently discovered cell population which has been implicated in driving Th2 inflammation in CRS; however, their relationship with clinical disease characteristics has yet to be investigated.

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify ILC2s in sinus mucosa in patients with CRS and controls and compare ILC2s across characteristics of disease.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study of patients with CRS undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery was conducted. Sinus mucosal biopsies were obtained during surgery and control tissue from patients undergoing pituitary tumour resection through transphenoidal approach. ILC2s were identified as CD45+Lin−CD127+CD4−CD8−CRTH2(CD294)+CD161+ cells in single cell suspensions through flow cytometry. ILC2 frequencies, measured as a percentage of CD45+ cells, were compared across CRS phenotype, endotype, inflammatory CRS subtype and other disease characteristics including blood eosinophils, serum IgE, asthma status and nasal symptom score.

Results

35 patients (40% female, age 48 ± 17 years) including 13 with eosinophilic CRS (eCRS), 13 with non‐eCRS and 9 controls were recruited. ILC2 frequencies were associated with the presence of nasal polyps (P = 0.002) as well as high tissue eosinophilia (P = 0.004) and eosinophil‐dominant CRS (P = 0.001) (Mann–Whitney U). They were also associated with increased blood eosinophilia (P = 0.005). There were no significant associations found between ILC2s and serum total IgE and allergic disease. In the CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) population, ILC2s were increased in patients with co‐existing asthma (P = 0.03). ILC2s were also correlated with worsening nasal symptom score in CRS (P = 0.04).

Conclusion and clinical relevance

As ILC2s are elevated in patients with CRSwNP, they may drive nasal polyp formation in CRS. ILC2s are also linked with high tissue and blood eosinophilia and have a potential role in the activation and survival of eosinophils during the Th2 immune response. The association of innate lymphoid cells in CRS provides insights into its pathogenesis.
Immunological profiling in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps reveals distinct VEGF and GM‐CSF signatures during symptomatic exacerbations
Authors: Divekar R. D. , Samant S. , Rank M. A. , Hagan J. , Lal D. , O'Brien E. K. , Kita H.
Published: November 2014

Background

The mechanisms and immune pathways associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are not fully understood. Immunological changes during acute exacerbation of CRS may provide valuable clues to the pathogenesis and perpetuation of the disease.

Objective

To characterize local and systemic immune responses associated with acute worsening of sinonasal symptoms during exacerbation in CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) compared to controls.

Methods

This was a non‐interventional prospective study of individuals with CRSwNP and normal controls. Subjects underwent a baseline visit with collection of nasal secretions, nasal washes, and serum specimens. Within 3 days of acute worsening of sinonasal symptoms, subjects underwent a study visit, followed by a post‐visit 2 weeks later. The sinonasal outcome test‐22 (SNOT‐22) scores and immunological parameters in the specimens were analysed using a novel, unsupervised learning method and by conventional univariate analysis.

Results

Both CRSwNP patients and control subjects showed a significant increase in SNOT‐22 scores during acute exacerbation. Increased nasal levels of IL‐6, IL‐5, and eosinophil major basic protein were observed in CRSwNP patients. A network analysis of serum specimens revealed changes in a set of immunological parameters, which are distinctly associated with CRSwNP but not with controls. In particular, systemic increases in VEGF and GM‐CSF levels were notable and were validated by a conventional analysis.

Conclusions

CRSwNP patients demonstrate distinct immunological changes locally and systemically during acute exacerbation. Growth factors VEGF and GM‐CSF may be involved in the immunopathogenesis of subjects with CRS and nasal polyps experiencing exacerbation.
Salience Not Status: How Category Labels Influence Feature Inference
Authors: Johansen Mark K. , Savage Justin , Fouquet Nathalie , Shanks David R.
Published: November 2014

Two main uses of categories are classification and feature inference, and category labels have been widely shown to play a dominant role in feature inference. However, the nature of this influence remains unclear, and we evaluate two contrasting hypotheses formalized as mathematical models: the label special‐mechanism hypothesis and the label super‐salience hypothesis. The special‐mechanism hypothesis is that category labels, unlike other features, trigger inference decision making in reference to the category prototypes. This results in a tendency for prototype‐compatible inferences because the labels trigger a special mechanism rather than because of any influences they have on similarity evaluation. The super‐salience hypothesis assumes that the large label influence is due to their high salience and corresponding impact on similarity without any need for a special mechanism. Application of the two models to a feature inference task based on a family resemblance category structure yields strong support for the label super‐salience hypothesis and in particular does not support the need for a special mechanism based on prototypes.
Multi‐Unit Bayesian Auction with Demand or Budget Constraints
Authors: Deng Xiaotie , Goldberg Paul W. , Tang Bo , Zhang Jinshan
Published: November 2014

We consider the problem of revenue maximization on multi‐unit auctions where items are distinguished by their relative values; any pair of items has the same ratio of values to all buyers. As is common in the study of revenue maximizing problems, we assume that buyers' valuations are drawn from public known distributions and they have additive valuations for multiple items. Our problem is well motivated by sponsored search auctions, which made money for Google and Yahoo! in practice. In this auction, each advertiser bids an amount bi to compete for ad slots on a web page. The value of each ad slot corresponds to its click‐through‐rate, and each buyer has her own per‐click valuations, which is her private information. Obviously, a strategic bidder may bid an amount that is different with her true valuation to improve her utility. Our goal is to design truthful mechanisms avoiding this misreporting.

We develop the optimal (with maximum revenue) truthful auction for a relaxed demand model (where each buyer i wants at most di items) and a sharp demand model (where buyer i wants exactly di items). We also find an auction that always guarantees at least half of the revenue of the optimal auction when the buyers are budget constrained. Moreover, all of the auctions we design can be computed efficiently, that is, in polynomial time.
Recovering from disasters: a study of livelihoods in post‐quake villages in northern Pakistan
Authors: Khan Kashif Saeed , Shanmugaratnam Nadarajah , Nyborg Ingrid L.P.
Published: November 2014

The October 2005 earthquake in northern Pakistan severely affected the livelihoods of 1.5 million people. With the destruction of material assets and communications infrastructure, the quake had a devastating impact on people's way of life in this remote mountainous region. This paper explores livelihood revival interventions undertaken during the earthquake response, and considers how differentiated livelihood outcomes were achieved. In addressing this objective the paper examines livelihood rehabilitation schemes in terms of structural aspects, working strategies, key factors, strengths of interventions and the role of human agency in influencing livelihood trajectories of quake‐affected communities. Primary data for this study was gathered in northern Pakistan between October 2008 and January 2009. The study identifies structural shortcomings and strengths of the programmes attempting to revive the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable households. It identifies how households in two villages made the most of opportunities to improve their lives and move towards favourable outcomes.
Transient cardiac injury during H7N9 infection
Authors: Han Jie , Mou Yun , Yan Dong , Zhang Yun‐Tao , Jiang Tian‐An , Zhang Yuan‐Yuan , Zhou Yi‐Jiang , Sun Ze‐Wei , Jiang Dong‐Mei , Chen Yan , Liang Wei‐Feng , Li Lan‐Juan
Published: November 2014

Background

Recent reports have characterized virological and clinical features of the novel reassortant avian‐origin influenza A (H7N9) virus. However, cardiovascular involvement during H7N9 infection is still unclear. In this study, we evaluate cardiac injury among H7N9‐infected patients.

Materials and Methods

A total of 40 patients who were laboratory‐confirmed with H7N9 infection were retrospectively included and grouped by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score into four subgroups I(0–10), II(11‐20), III(21‐30) and IV(31‐71). Cardiovascular complications and markers of cardiac injury including creatinine kinase (CK), CK iso‐enzyme (CK‐MB), cardiac troponin I (cTNI) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were assessed. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography (ECHO) were also performed.

Results

Half of patients manifested with cardiovascular complications, with hypotension (47·5%) and heart failure (40·0%) the most prevalent. CK, CK‐MB and cTNI showed marked increase with H7N9 virus infection but significantly decreased after H7N9 viral tests turned negative. More than half of patients presented with an abnormal ECG, but most of them are benign changes. ECHO examination showed different degree of impairment of cardiac function. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure was increased in all groups. Cardiac damage was more evident in patients with higher APACHE II score.

Conclusions

H7N9 virus exerts a transient impairment on the cardiovascular system. Patients with a higher APACHE II score are more susceptible to cardiac damage.
How reliable and consistent are subjective measures of welfare in Europe and Central Asia?
Authors: Cojocaru Alexandru , Diagne Mame Fatou
Published: November 2014

This paper analyses the reliability and consistency of subjective well‐being measures, using the Life in Transition Survey. Drawing on two life satisfaction questions with alternative scales, our results do not reveal substantial biases in accounts of life satisfaction due to framing. Subjective individual assessments of household relative income position, on the other hand, do not appear to be reliable predictors of objective poverty or wealth. We find that subjective relative income position is only weakly correlated with objective welfare measures. There are differences in evaluations of the household's relative standing across different household members, and these differences are correlated with respondent characteristics.
Diet type modifies ingestion rates and trophallactic exchanges in leaf‐cutting ants
Authors: Moreira D.D.O. , Dáttilo W. , Morais V. , Erthal M. , Silva C.P. , Samuels R. I.
Published: November 2014

Conventional control of leaf‐cutting ants is mainly carried out by application of solid insecticide baits. However, alternative approaches could increase the efficiency of control methods. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that liquid and semi‐solid baits are more readily ingested by leaf‐cutting ants and are therefore more toxic than solid baits. Furthermore, following increased ingestion rates, ants could perform higher frequencies of trophallactic exchanges with their nest mates, thus increasing dispersal rates within the colony. Each of three diets were offered to Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus (Forel) and Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel (both Hymenoptera: Formicidae) for 1 h under laboratory conditions and subsequently crop volumes were quantified. The highest crop volumes for both species were seen when the diet was offered in liquid form, and the lowest crop volumes were observed after offering solid diets. Survival rates of the ants were monitored following addition of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid (IMI) to the three diets. The ingestion of liquid and semi‐solid diets + IMI by A. subterraneus resulted in 17 and 6% survival, respectively, whereas these diets caused 100% mortality of A. sexdens. Ingestion of solid diets with IMI resulted in 51% survival of A. subterraneus and 23% survival of Atta workers. Twenty‐three percent of A. subterraneus which had fed on liquid diet carried out trophallactic exchanges, whereas only 10 and 3% of ants carried out trophallaxis when fed on semi‐solid or solid diet, respectively. Lower trophallactic frequencies were observed for A. sexdens, with 13 and 3% of ants that had fed on liquid and semi‐solid diets performing trophallaxis, respectively. The low trophallactic exchange rates following ingestion of solid diets would reduce the dispersal of these compounds throughout the colony. Control strategies using solid baits should be re‐examined in the light of these findings, which indicate the importance of optimizing insecticide ingestion.
Effect of phorid fly density on the foraging of Atta vollenweideri leafcutter ants in the field
Authors: Guillade Andrea C. , Folgarait Patricia J.
Published: November 2014

Leafcutter ants in the genus Atta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Attini) are considered major pests of agriculture and forestry in the Neotropics. Phorid flies (Diptera: Phoridae) have been proposed as viable candidates for biological control of ants because of the importance of their trait‐mediated effects on their hosts. However, the impact of different densities of phorid flies has never been assessed in the field. Experiments were conducted by isolating 3‐m sections of Atta vollenweideri Forel foraging trails with tunnels, and sampling ants in trails with 0, 1, or 4 Eibesfeldtphora trilobata Disney female parasitoid flies. Samples were collected every 30 min from these trails. We also collected a sample before introducing the parasitoids and another one 30 min after removing them from the trail. We measured traffic of ants on the trails, weight and type of plant material transported, and the proportion and size of the workers collected. The presence of phorids on the trails reduced the ant traffic and amount of plant material transported into the nests and decreased the proportion of workers on the trails in the size range preferred as hosts by the flies. The effect on worker size, as well as the lag effect recorded after phorids were removed from the tunnels, was more pronounced with four phorids. The presence of phorids also affected the weight of monocotyledon and dicotyledon material transported. Even at the minimum density possible, phorids significantly influenced a key aspect of the colony life, the food intake through foraging. From an applied point of view, our results show that releases of these phorids into the field should not necessarily involve many individuals to reduce foraging by A. vollenweideri, making them potentially useful candidates for biological control of these ants.
Recent insights into the pandemic disease butternut canker caused by the invasive pathogen Ophiognomonia clavigignenti‐juglandacearum
Authors: Broders K. , Boraks A. , Barbison L. , Brown J. , Boland G. J.
Published: November 2014

In the 25 years following the initial 1967 report of the disease, butternut canker was able to quickly spread throughout the entire range of butternut (Juglans cinerea) in North America, from Minnesota in the upper Midwest to Tennessee in the south and Quebec in the north‐east. The speed of this dispersal is notable as butternut trees do not make up a significant proportion of any single forest type. Instead, they are usually found sparingly in most mixed hardwood forests. In this review, we synthesize the current knowledge of the invasion process of the butternut canker pathogen, Ophiognomonia clavigignenti‐juglandacearum, an invasive fungal pathogen, that as its emergence has spread across North America and is now found wherever butternut naturally occurs. Taxonomic studies have determined that the fungus belongs in the genus Ophiognomonia, which includes a number of saprophytes, endophytes and pathogens of members of the Fagales, rather than the genus Sirococcus, which includes several important pine pathogens. The ability of fungus to be dispersed by rain splash, transported on and in beetle vectors, transmitted by infected seed and successfully colonized several species of Juglans and Carya have all likely contributed to the rapid increase in abundance and severity of disease and tree mortality in the invaded forest ecosystems. Recent genomic and population genetic analyses have determined that there were at least three emergence events. A less virulent strain of the fungus likely has been present in the north eastern United States for over a century, but it was the emergence of a more virulent strain of the fungus in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the 1960s that resulted in range‐wide mortality and pushed butternut to be listed as an endangered species in Canada and a number of states in the United States.
A simple stochastic model for complex coextinctions in mutualistic networks: robustness decreases with connectance
Authors: Vieira Marcos Costa , Almeida‐Neto Mário
Published: November 2014

Understanding and predicting species extinctions and coextinctions is a major goal of ecological research in the face of a biodiversity crisis. Typically, models based on network topology are used to simulate coextinctions in mutualistic networks. However, such topological models neglect two key biological features of species interactions: variation in the intrinsic dependence of species on the mutualism, and variation in the relative importance of each interacting partner. By incorporating both types of variation, we developed a stochastic coextinction model capable of simulating extinction cascades far more complex than those observed in previous topological models. Using a set of empirical mutualistic networks, we show that the traditional topological model may either underestimate or overestimate the number and likelihood of coextinctions, depending on the intrinsic dependence of species on the mutualism. More importantly, contrary to topological models, our stochastic model predicts extinction cascades to be more likely in highly connected mutualistic communities.
A Test of Local Enhancement in Amphibians
Authors: Chapman Trevor L. , Holcomb Mathew P. , Spivey Kari L. , Sehr Evanna K. , Gall Brian G.
Published: November 2014

Local enhancement is an underexplored social learning mechanism that is often observed in organisms that live in groups. This mechanism occurs when individuals are attracted to areas where conspecifics have previously been, but which are not present when the animal actually moves into the area. We tested for local enhancement in wood frog tadpoles (Lithobates sylvatica) and spotted salamander larvae (Ambystoma maculatum) in three experiments that exposed individuals to one side of a test chamber which was empty and another that contained a group of three conspecifics. Side preference of the focal individual was recorded once the conspecifics were removed. Tadpoles showed a clear preference for moving to areas where a group of tadpoles had previously been located. Conversely, this preference was not observed in salamander larvae. In addition, salamander larvae took significantly more time to initially choose a side. These results indicate that tadpoles exhibit local enhancement, whereas aquatic salamander larvae do not. This difference in social learning could be largely due to differences in aquatic ecology between tadpoles and salamander larvae.
Laser capture microdissection followed by next‐generation sequencing identifies disease‐related microRNAs in psoriatic skin that reflect systemic microRNA changes in psoriasis
Authors: Løvendorf Marianne B. , Mitsui Hiroshi , Zibert John R. , Røpke Mads A. , Hafner Markus , Dyring‐Andersen Beatrice , Bonefeld Charlotte M. , Krueger James G. , Skov Lone
Published: November 2014

Psoriasis is a systemic disease with cutaneous manifestations. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non‐coding RNA molecules that are differentially expressed in psoriatic skin; however, only few cell‐ and region‐specific miRNAs have been identified in psoriatic lesions. We used laser capture microdissection (LCM) and next‐generation sequencing (NGS) to study the specific miRNA expression profiles in the epidermis (Epi) and dermal inflammatory infiltrates (RD) of psoriatic skin (N = 6). We identified 24 deregulated miRNAs in the Epi and 37 deregulated miRNAs in the RD of psoriatic plaque compared with normal psoriatic skin (FCH > 2, FDR < 0.05). Interestingly, 9 of the 37 miRNAs in RD, including miR‐193b and miR‐223, were recently described as deregulated in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with psoriasis. Using flow cytometry and qRT‐PCR, we found that miR‐193b and miR‐223 were expressed in Th17 cells. In conclusion, we demonstrate that LCM combined with NGS provides a robust approach to explore the global miRNA expression in the epidermal and dermal compartments of psoriatic skin. Furthermore, our results indicate that the altered local miRNA changes seen in the RD are reflected in the circulating immune cells, suggesting that miRNAs may contribute to the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
Next‐generation sequencing detection and characterization of a heterozygous novel splice junction mutation in the 2B domain of KRT1 in a family with diffuse palmoplantar keratoderma
Authors: Banerjee Santasree , Ren Yunqing , Wei Tianying , Zhou Zhongwei , Yu Ping , Guan Fenghui , Wei Xiaonming , Ye Sheng , Yan Shaofeng , Zheng Min , Raff Michael L , Qi Ming
Published: November 2014

Diffuse palmoplantar keratoderma (DPPK) is an autosomal‐dominant genodermatosis characterized by restricted, uniform hyperkeratosis on the palm and sole epidermis. DPPK is normally associated with dominant‐negative mutations in the keratin‐encoding gene, KRT1. We report a heterozygous novel point mutation in the exon 6 splice donor site of KRT1 (c.1254G>C) by next‐generation sequencing, resulting in the formation of two alternative transcripts, which segregates with DPPK in a four‐generation Chinese family. This results in both the complete loss of exon 6 and the simultaneous utilization of a novel in‐frame splice site 54 bases downstream of the mutation with the subsequent deletion of 42 amino acids and the insertion of 18 amino acids into the protein's 2B domain. This is the first report of a novel splice donor site mutation with aberrant splicing and the formation of two alternative transcripts causing DPPK. This study also demonstrates the value of next‐generation sequencing in the identification of novel disease‐causing mutations.
Spatial and seasonal changes in species diversity of epilithic fungi along environmental gradients of a river
Authors: Miura Aya , Urabe Jotaro
Published: November 2014

Fungi in stream ecosystems play a critical role in decomposing organic matter. However, despite their ecological importance, few studies have investigated spatial and seasonal variation in lotic fungi.

We hypothesised that the taxonomic composition and richness of epilithic fungal assemblages would change along the longitudinal river gradient from headwaters to lower reaches. To test this hypothesis, we examined composition and richness in the Natori River, Japan, using PCR‐DGGE (polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis). We focused on five phyla of fungi or fungus‐like organisms (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Zygomycota and Oomycota) that colonised cobbles to examine effects of dissolved organic matter and nutrients on fungal assemblages.

We found that taxonomic richness on cobbles was as high as that on leaf litter and woody debris, suggesting that fungi can grow directly using dissolved organic matter and nutrients in the water, or indirectly via epilithic biofilms. Supporting the hypothesis, taxonomic richness increased longitudinally along the river in autumn, although the within‐site variation in composition on different cobbles was higher in the upper reaches. No spatial differences were detected in spring when spatial heterogeneity in water temperature was low.

With the exception of Basidiomycota, nestedness in taxonomic composition was not detected in either spring or autumn, indicating that fungal taxa in the upper reaches are generally replaced by others downstream.

These results suggest that taxonomic composition and richness of epilithic fungal assemblages change along the longitudinal gradient of the river, depending on water temperature and spatial differences in abundance and composition of dissolved organic matter and nutrients.
Changes in autumn vegetation dormancy onset date and the climate controls across temperate ecosystems in China from 1982 to 2010
Authors: Yang Yuting , Guan Huade , Shen Miaogen , Liang Wei , Jiang Lei
Published: November 2014

Vegetation phenology is a sensitive indicator of the dynamic response of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change. In this study, the spatiotemporal pattern of vegetation dormancy onset date (DOD) and its climate controls over temperate China were examined by analysing the satellite‐derived normalized difference vegetation index and concurrent climate data from 1982 to 2010. Results show that preseason (May through October) air temperature is the primary climatic control of the DOD spatial pattern across temperate China, whereas preseason cumulative precipitation is dominantly associated with the DOD spatial pattern in relatively cold regions. Temporally, the average DOD over China's temperate ecosystems has delayed by 0.13 days per year during the past three decades. However, the delay trends are not continuous throughout the 29‐year period. The DOD experienced the largest delay during the 1980s, but the delay trend slowed down or even reversed during the 1990s and 2000s. Our results also show that interannual variations in DOD are most significantly related with preseason mean temperature in most ecosystems, except for the desert ecosystem for which the variations in DOD are mainly regulated by preseason cumulative precipitation. Moreover, temperature also determines the spatial pattern of temperature sensitivity of DOD, which became significantly lower as temperature increased. On the other hand, the temperature sensitivity of DOD increases with increasing precipitation, especially in relatively dry areas (e.g. temperate grassland). This finding stresses the importance of hydrological control on the response of autumn phenology to changes in temperature, which must be accounted in current temperature‐driven phenological models.
Anomalous droughts, not invasion, decrease persistence of native fishes in a desert river
Authors: Ruhí Albert , Holmes Elizabeth E. , Rinne John N. , Sabo John L.
Published: November 2014

Changing climate extremes and invasion by non‐native species are two of the most prominent threats to native faunas. Predicting the relationships between global change and native faunas requires a quantitative toolkit that effectively links the timing and magnitude of extreme events to variation in species abundances. Here, we examine how discharge anomalies – unexpected floods and droughts – determine covariation in abundance of native and non‐native fish species in a highly variable desert river in Arizona. We quantified stochastic variation in discharge using Fourier analyses on >15 000 daily observations. We subsequently coupled maximum annual spectral anomalies with a 15‐year time series of fish abundances (1994–2008), using Multivariate Autoregressive State‐Space (MARSS) models. Abiotic drivers (discharge anomalies) were paramount in determining long‐term fish abundances, whereas biotic drivers (species interactions) played only a secondary role. As predicted, anomalous droughts reduced the abundances of native species, while floods increased them. However, in contrast to previous studies, we observed that the non‐native assemblage was surprisingly unresponsive to extreme events. Biological trait analyses showed that functional uniqueness was higher in native than in non‐native fishes. We also found that discharge anomalies influenced diversity patterns at the meta‐community level, with nestedness increasing after anomalous droughts due to the differential impairment of native species. Overall, our results advance the notion that discharge variation is key in determining community trajectories in the long term, predicting the persistence of native fauna even in the face of invasion. We suggest this variation, rather than biotic interactions, may commonly underlie covariation between native and non‐native faunas, especially in highly variable environments. If droughts become increasingly severe due to climate change, and floods increasingly muted due to regulation, fish assemblages in desert rivers may become taxonomically and functionally impoverished and dominated by non‐native taxa.
Chemosensory receptor genes in the Oriental tobacco budworm Helicoverpa assulta
Authors: Xu W. , Papanicolaou A. , Liu N.‐Y. , Dong S.‐L. , Anderson A.
Published: November 2014

The Oriental tobacco budworm (Helicoverpa assulta) is a specialist herbivore moth and its larvae feed on Solanaceous plants. (Z)‐9‐hexadecenal (Z9‐16: Ald) is the major sex pheromone component in H. assulta but the specific pheromone receptor (PR) against Z9‐16: Ald has not yet been identified. In the present study, we integrated transcriptomic, bioinformatic and functional characterization approaches to investigate the chemosensory receptor genes of H. assulta. We identified seven potential PRs with 44 olfactory receptors, 18 gustatory receptors and 24 ionotropic receptors, which were further studied by in silico gene expression profile, phylogenetic analysis, reverse transcription PCR and calcium imaging assays. The candidate PR, HassOR13, showed a strong response to the minor sex pheromone component, (Z)‐11‐hexadecenal, but not the major component, Z9‐16: Ald, in calcium imaging assays. This study provides the molecular basis for comparative studies of chemosensory receptors between H. assulta and other Helicoverpa species and will advance our understanding of the evolution and function of Lepidoptera insect chemosensation.
Feeding the Ties to “Home”: Diaspora Policies for the Next Generations
Authors: Mahieu Rilke
Published: November 2014

How do countries of origin deal with their post‐migrant generations, the emigrants' descendants who are born and raised abroad? In this article we examine the diaspora policies of Morocco, a country that relies heavily on its expatriate communities and that is confronted with growing post‐migrant generations. Theoretically, the article draws on the literature on diaspora policies and migrant transnationalism and connects the two. An in‐depth examination of the annual Summer Universities for young Moroccans Living Abroad, one of the flagships of the current Moroccan diaspora policy, demonstrates that diaspora policy programmes are vehicles to convey targeted messages to the post‐migrant generations concerning their transnational ties.
Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis – A Review
Authors: Katelaris C. H.
Published: November 2014

First described in 1974 by an Australian ophthalmologist Dr. Spring, Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC) is one of the external ocular allergic conditions. It is most often associated with contact lens wear, but has also been described in patients with ocular prostheses and corneal sutures following surgery. Diagnosis is usually straightforward. Patients complain of decreasing lens tolerance, mucus production, often severe enough to cause blurred vision, and some itch. Inspection will reveal conjunctival hyperaemia and enlarged tarsal papillae. Management centres around patient education regarding careful lens hygiene but in severe cases may require a change to disposable lenses or a cessation of lens wear. In some cases, pharmacological agents may be required. The histopathology of GPC is very similar to Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). It is caused by a complex immunological reaction and is not solely IgE‐mediated. Trauma and foreign body reactions also play a role. The incidence of GPC has decreased with the advent of disposable lenses.
Comparison of the Topical Ocular Antiallergic Efficacy of Emedastine 0.05% Ophthalmic Solution to Ketorolac 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution in a Clinical Model of Allergic Conjunctivitis
Authors: Discepola M. , Deschenes J. , Abelson M.
Published: November 2014

Purpose: To compare the clinical efficacy of emedastine ophthalmic solution to that of ketorolac ophthalmic solution using a conjunctival allergen challenge model.

Methods: The conjunctival allergen challenge model was used in this randomized, double‐masked, single center, crossover study. The titer of allergen that elicited a positive allergic reaction was selected. After at least 14 days, 36 subjects were randomized into two groups of 18 to receive either emedastine in one eye and placebo in the contralateral eye, or ketorolac in one eye and placebo in the contralateral eye. Ten minutes after drug instillation, subjects were challenged with antigen. At 3, 10 and 20 minutes following challenge subjects graded ocular itching and were assessed for hyperemia in conjunctival, ciliary, and episcleral vessel beds. Approximately 14 days later, subjects received the alternate treatment in one eye and placebo in the contralateral eye. They were again challenged with allergen and their responses were rated in the same manner. Ocular discomfort was assessed by the subjects after administration of each study drug.

Results: Emedastine significantly (p<0.05) inhibited ocular itching and redness in vascular beds following topical ocular administration. In contrast, ketorolac failed to significantly inhibit ocular itching or redness in this study. Patient assessment of comfort indicated emedastine was significantly (p<0.05) more comfortable than ketorolac upon topical ocular administration.

Conclusion: Emedastine is superior to ketorolac in controlling itching and redness, the cardinal symptom and sign of allergic conjunctivitis.
FABRY'S DISEASE AND CORNEA VERTICILLATA
Authors: TUPPURAINEN KAIJA , COLLAN YRJÖ , RANTANEN TAPIO , HOLLMEN ANTERO
Published: November 2014

Fabry's disease is a rare familial disorder of glycolipid metabolism which is caused by a deficiency of a lysosomal enzyme α‐galactosidase. A Finnish family is described in which cornea verticillata was found in the father and 2 daughters. In all cases, there were symptoms suggesting Fabry's disease: febrile episodes the origin of which was not clear, limb pains and, in the case of the father, 20 years of proteinuria with elevated ESR, and hemiplegia and aphasia following a cerebral thrombosis at the age of 43. The diagnosis was confirmed by demonstration of an α‐galactosidase deficit in the serum and urine of all patients. Deficiency of this enzyme leads to abnormally high urinary tri‐ and dihexosyl ceramide levels, and this was observed in the father and the elder daughter. At the age of 12, the daughter had loss of vision in her right eye as a result of occlusion of the central retinal artery. Electron microscopic (EM) examination of the father's dermal angioma suggested Fabry's disease. Computerized cranial tomography of the father revealed not only the cerebrovascular condition but also a disease affecting the white matter of the brain.
PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF INTRAOCULAR INFLAMMATION
Authors: ALGVERE P. , ALANKO H. , DICKHOFF K. , LÄHDE Y. , SAARI K. M.
Published: November 2014

To evaluate the role of pars plana vitrectomy in the management of intraocular inflammation with dense vitreous opacification, vitrectomy was performed in 14 patients with chronic uveitis, 6 eyes with retinal periphlebitis, and in 8 cases of endophthalmitis. Visual acuity improved in 21 eyes, remained unchanged in 3, and deteriorated in 4 cases (follow‐up period 2 months to 3 years). Pre‐existing retinal damage such as cystoid macular oedema or degeneration restricted final visual acuity. In most eyes inflammation (aqueous flare and cells) diminished, except in hypotonic eyes with chronic iridocyclitis, which also gained little in vision. The results indicate that vitrectomy is valuable in the treatment of chronic uveitis with vitreous opacification due to cellular invasion and membrane formation, in periphlebitis with vitreous hemorrhages, and in endophthalmitis.
CONTRAST SENSITIVITY FUNCTION IN EVALUATION OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT DUE TO RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA
Authors: HYVÄRINEN LEA , ROVAMO JYRKI , LAURINEN PENTTI , PELTOMAA ANNELI
Published: November 2014

Spatial contrast sensitivity functions of 11 retinitis pigmentosa patients were studied. The patients represented 3 different stages of the disease: 1: in the very severely impaired patients the contrast sensitivity and grating resolution had decreased to a fraction of normal. 2: in severely impaired patients, who had lost peripheral field but had subjectively satisfactory vision in the central field, contrast sensitivity differed considerably from one patient to another. 3: some of the moderately impaired patients, who still had useful peripheral vision, had nearly normal contrast sensitivity in the central vision while they already had large ring scotomas. The severity of reduction in contrast sensitivity was poorly correlated with visual acuity, the size of the visual field and the age of the patient. Because contrast sensitivity function cannot be predicted by means of other clinical measurements, it should be included in evaluation of visual impairment due to retinitis pigmentosa. We also measured contrast sensitivity at low luminance levels: this procedure provided useful information for evaluation of vision in retinitis pigmentosa. The contrast sensitivity function of each patient agreed with the subjective view of the patient about his visual impairment and it also corresponded with the examiners' evaluation of the patient's performance in different visual and visuomotor tasks.
The European Union as Security Community‐Building Institution: Venues, Networks and Co‐operative Security Practices
Authors: Bremberg Niklas
Published: November 2014

How does the European Union promote security beyond its borders? This article answers this seemingly straightforward question by exploring how the EU works as security community‐building institution vis‐à‐vis non‐members. Drawing upon practice theory in International Relations, the article unpacks the security community concept, focusing especially on the relation between co‐operative security practices and the expansion of security communities. The article discusses how recent practice‐inspired insights can be applied in empirical research to generate novel and interesting results of relevance for EU studies. It does so by recapitulating the main findings from a study on Spanish‐Moroccan co‐operation on civilian and military crisis management. The findings support the claim that common practice precedes collective identity in processes of security community‐building in that the EU has helped bring together and perpetuate a community of security practitioners in the western Mediterranean that builds upon, as well as transcends, already existing bilateral relations.
TH17 cells, interleukin‐17 and interferon‐ γ in patients and households contacts of leprosy with multibacillary and paucibacillary forms before and after the start of chemotherapy treatment
Authors: de Almeida‐Neto F.B. , Assis Costa V.M. , Oliveira‐Filho A.F. , de Souza Franco E. , Tavares Julião de Lima E.V. , Barros de Lorena V.M. , Oliveira de Souza V.M. , de Sousa Maia M.B.
Published: November 2014

Background

Studies on the immunology of leprosy are fundamental to the understanding of the various forms of clinical manifestation of the disease. In some diseases, lymphocytes TH17 and one of its key cytokines, interleukin‐17 has been shown to be essential in developing an effective immune response. In leprosy, involvement of lymphocyte TH17 and interleukin‐17 remains understudied.

Objectives

This study is the first investigation to examine the association between TH17 cells, interleukin‐17 and interferon‐ γ in patients and households contacts of leprosy.

Methods

To document the participation of TH17 cells and interleukin‐17 in the immunology of leprosy, to observe the behavior of interferon‐γ in relation to interleukin‐17 and to verify the differences found between individuals paucibacillary, multibacillary and household contacts, we analyzed samples peripheral blood to identify TH‐17 cells, interleukin‐17 and IFN‐γ; establishing relationships between all the groups.

Results

There was a significant difference in the results found in the comparison between the paucibacillary and multibacillary groups of patients (P < 0.001), as well with the household contacts (P < 0.005). The polychemotherapeutic treatment modified the profile of immune response in multibacillary patients compared to what was observed before the start of treatment.

Conclusion

The principal finding was that TH17 lymphocytes and interleukin‐17 actively participating in the immune response of Hansen's disease as well these cells can stimulate the cellular immunity.
Carotenoid‐based bill coloration functions as a social, not sexual, signal in songbirds (Aves: Passeriformes)
Authors: Dey C. J. , Valcu M. , Kempenaers B. , Dale J.
Published: November 2014

Many animals use coloration to communicate with other individuals. Although the signalling role of avian plumage colour is relatively well studied, there has been much less research on coloration in avian bare parts. However, bare parts could be highly informative signals as they can show rapid changes in coloration. We measured bill colour (a ubiquitous bare part) in over 1600 passerine species and tested whether interspecific variation in carotenoid‐based coloration is consistent with signalling to potential mates or signalling to potential rivals in a competitive context. Our results suggest that carotenoid bill coloration primarily evolved as a signal of dominance, as this type of coloration is more common in species that live in social groups in the nonbreeding season, and species that nest in colonies; two socio‐ecological conditions that promote frequent agonistic interactions with numerous and/or unfamiliar individuals. Additionally, our study suggests that carotenoid bill coloration is independent of the intensity of past sexual selection, as it is not related to either sexual dichromatism or sexual size dimorphism. These results pose a significant challenge to the conventional view that carotenoid‐based avian coloration has evolved as a developmentally costly, condition‐dependent sexual signal. We also suggest that bare part ornamentation may often signal different information than plumage ornaments.