bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coligand-directed synthesis of five Co(ii)/Ni(ii) coordination polymers with a neutral tetradentate ligand: syntheses, crystal structures, and properties
Authors: Qin Ling , Wang Zhong-Jie , Wang Ting , Zheng He-Gen , Chen Jin-Xi
Published: June 2014

The solvothermal reactions afforded five coordination polymers with different coligands, and the coligand-directed synthesis has a great effect on the final structures.
Microfluidic platforms for plant cells studies
Authors: Sanati Nezhad A.
Published: June 2014

Conventional methods of plant cell analysis rely on growing plant cells in soil pots or agarose plates, followed by screening the plant phenotypes in traditional greenhouses and growth chambers.
Prekinamycin and an isosteric-isoelectronic analogue exhibit comparable cytotoxicity towards K562 human leukemia cells
Authors: Abbott Glenn L. , Wu Xing , Zhao Zhufeng , Guo Lei , Birman Vladimir B. , Hasinoff Brian B. , Dmitrienko Gary I.
Published: June 2014

The diazo functionality of the kinamycins may not be an absolute requirement for bioactivity.
Direct growth of patterned graphene on SiO2 substrates without the use of catalysts or lithography
Authors: Kim Yong Seung , Joo Kisu , Jerng Sahng-Kyoon , Lee Jae Hong , Yoon Euijoon , Chun Seung-Hyun
Published: June 2014

Patterned graphene is obtained on SiO2 substrates without a catalyst and lithography by simply placing a shadow mask during the growth process.
Reactivity in the nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions of pyridinium ions
Authors: Bowler Jeannette T. , Wong Freeman M. , Gronert Scott , Keeffe James R. , Wu Weiming
Published: June 2014

The nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions of piperidine with N-methylpyridinium ions in methanol occur via rate determining preassociation of a second piperidine molecule with the addition intermediate followed by barrier-free deprotonation. Loss of leaving group is concurrent with deprotonation for Cl, Br, and I (E2), but subsequent to deprotonation, although rapid, for CN and F (E1cBIRR).
Theoretical insights into copper(i)–NHC-catalyzed C–H carboxylation of terminal alkynes with CO2: the reaction mechanisms and the roles of NHC
Authors: Yang Longhua , Yuan Yanli , Wang Hongming , Zhang Ning , Hong Sanguo
Published: June 2014

The reaction mechanisms of copper(i)–NHC-catalyzed C–H carboxylation of terminal alkynes with CO2 were investigated by DFT calculations (NHCN-heterocyclic carbene).
Defect structures and ordering behaviours of diblock copolymers self-assembling on spherical substrates
Authors: Zhang Liangshun , Wang Liquan , Lin Jiaping
Published: June 2014

The Landau–Brazovskii theory is employed to explore defect structures and ordering behaviors of block copolymers confined on spherical substrates. Isolated disclinations and scars are formed in the cylindrical phase. The defect structures of hedgehog, spiral and quasi-baseball are produced in the lamellar phase.
MOF derived catalysts for electrochemical oxygen reduction
Authors: Wang Xiaojuan , Zhou Junwen , Fu He , Li Wei , Fan Xinxin , Xin Gongbiao , Zheng Jie , Li Xingguo
Published: June 2014

ZIF-67, a MOF with N-coordinated Co atoms, can assist the formation of active sites in oxygen reduction catalysts by pyrolysis and acid leaching.
Dispersion of carbon nanotubes in water by self-assembled micelles of branched amphiphilic multifunctional copolymers with photosensitivity and electroactivity
Authors: Liu Ren , Zeng Xuebiao , Liu Jingcheng , Zheng Yuanyi , Luo Jing , Liu Xiaoya
Published: June 2014

A simple and novel strategy to disperse and stabilize MWCNTs in water using self-assembling micelles of a novel photo-sensitive and electroactive, amphiphilic, branched copolymer BPVCM.
Highly efficient carbon dioxide capture with a porous organic polymer impregnated with polyethylenimine
Authors: Sung Siyoung , Suh Myunghyun Paik
Published: June 2014

A porous organic framework (PAF-5) impregnated with a polyethylenimine (PEI) displays excellent properties for post-combustion CO2 capture.
Multi-responsive biomaterials and nanobioconjugates from resilin-like protein polymers
Authors: Balu Rajkamal , Whittaker Jasmin , Dutta Naba K. , Elvin Christopher M. , Choudhury Namita R.
Published: June 2014

In this review, we highlight and discuss the design, synthesis, unique molecular architecture, advanced responsive behaviour and functionality of hydrogels, solid–liquid interfaces, nanoparticles and nano-biohybrids derived from resilin-mimetic protein polymers.
Propeller-like D–π–A architectures: bright solid emitters with AIEE activity and large two-photon absorption
Authors: Huang Wei , Wang Huan , Sun Lu , Li Bo , Su Jianhua , Tian He
Published: June 2014

Two novel propeller-like D–π–A molecules with AIEE and large 2PA absorption have been synthesized. Their 2PA cross sections are 7590 GM and 7648 GM at 800 nm.
Insights into substrate binding and catalysis in bacterial type I dehydroquinase
Authors: Maneiro María , Peón Antonio , Lence Emilio , Otero José M. , Van Raaij Mark J. , Thompson Paul , Hawkins Alastair R. , González-Bello Concepción
Published: June 2014

Structural, biochemical and computational studies to study substrate binding and the role of the conserved residues of the DHQ1 (type I dehydroquinase) enzyme active site are reported in the present paper. The crystal structure of DHQ1 from Salmonella typhi in complex with (2R)-2-methyl-3-dehydroquinic acid, a substrate analogue, was solved at 1.5 Å. The present study reveals a previously unknown key role for conserved Glu46, Phe145 and Met205 and Gln236, Pro234 and Ala233 residues, with the latter three being located in the flexible substrate-covering loop. Gln236 was shown to be responsible for the folding of this loop and for the dramatic reduction of its flexibility, which triggers active site closure. Glu46 was found to be key in bringing the substrate close to the lysine/histidine catalytic pocket to initiate catalysis. The present study could be useful in the rational design of inhibitors of this challenging and recognized target for the development of novel herbicides and antimicrobial agents.
Optimised field programmable gate array implementation of a dual‐mode orthogonal frequency division multiplexing optical wireless communication transmitter
Authors: Sauvage Eric , Saengudomlert Poompat , Sterckx Karel
Published: June 2014

This study presents a field programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) optical wireless communication transmitter. Two OFDM techniques, namely DC biased optical OFDM and asymmetrically clipped optical OFDM, are considered. For each, the dynamic range of the signal is used to optimise signal conversion from digital to analogue domain. A dual‐mode transmitter with the same transmission bit rate for both techniques is implemented. The switch from one mode to the other can be performed according to light dimming without reprogramming the FPGA.
Electron-transfer sensitization of H
2
oxidation and CO
2
reduction catalysts using a single chromophore
Authors: La Porte Nathan T. , Moravec Davis B. , Hopkins Michael D.
Published: June 2014

Significance

In natural photosynthesis, the reducing equivalents for the reduction of CO
2
are derived from photochemical water splitting. In homogeneous artificial-photosynthetic systems for CO
2
reduction, the source of the reducing equivalents is generally a nonrenewable sacrificial electron donor. These sacrificial reagents aid proof-of-concept experiments by suppressing unproductive electron-transfer reactions but negate the solar-energy-storing potential for the system. Here, we describe an integrated homogeneous system in which a zinc porphyrin photosensitizes CO
2
reduction and H
2
oxidation catalysts, allowing the reducing equivalents for CO
2
photoreduction to be derived from renewable H
2
. This system is thermodynamically competent to photochemically drive the energy-storing reverse water–gas shift reaction.
Defining a personal, allele-specific, and single-molecule long-read transcriptome
Authors: Tilgner Hagen , Grubert Fabian , Sharon Donald , Snyder Michael P.
Published: June 2014

Significance

RNA molecules of higher eukaryotes can be thousands of nucleotides long and are expressed from two distinct alleles, which can differ by single nucleotide variations (SNVs) in the mature RNA molecule. The de facto standard in RNA biology is short (≤101 bp) read sequencing, which, although very useful, does not cover the entire molecule in a read. We show that using amplification-free long-read sequencing one can often (
i
) cover the entire molecule, (
ii
) determine the allele it originated from, and (
iii
) record its entire exon-intron structure within a single read, thus producing a full-length, allele-specific view of an individual’s transcriptome. By enhancing existing gene annotations using long reads and quantifying this enhanced annotation using >100 million 101-bp paired-end reads, we overcome the smaller number of long reads.
Macrolide antibiotics allosterically predispose the ribosome for translation arrest
Authors: Sothiselvam Shanmugapriya , Liu Bo , Han Wei , Ramu Haripriya , Klepacki Dorota , Atkinson Gemma Catherine , Brauer Age , Remm Maido , Tenson Tanel , Schulten Klaus , Vázquez-Laslop Nora , Mankin Alexander S.
Published: June 2014

Significance

Translation arrest regulated by nascent peptides and small cofactors controls expression of important genes, including medically relevant macrolide antibiotic resistance genes. The role of the cofactor for triggering this mechanism has remained enigmatic. Previous studies suggested that extensive interactions between the nascent chain and the antibiotic molecule juxtaposed in the ribosomal exit tunnel were critical for halting translation. However, here we show that the antibiotic induces stalling, even without significant contacts with the peptide, by allosterically altering the peptidyl transferase center. This finding unveils a previously unknown role of cofactors for translation arrest and demonstrates the existence of a functional link between the exit tunnel and the catalytic center of the ribosome.
PHYTOCHROME C plays a major role in the acceleration of wheat flowering under long-day photoperiod
Authors: Chen Andrew , Li Chengxia , Hu Wei , Lau Mei Yee , Lin Huiqiong , Rockwell Nathan C. , Martin Shelley S. , Jernstedt Judith A. , Lagarias J. Clark , Dubcovsky Jorge
Published: June 2014

Significance

Plants perceive day length as a critical environmental signal to trigger major changes in development. Multiple light sensors participate in day-length perception, the most important of which are the red/far-red phytochromes. In rice and
Arabidopsis
, PHYTOCHROME C (PHYC) requires other phytochromes for stability and function. By contrast, wheat PHYC is stable and functionally active even in the absence of other phytochromes. The loss of functional wheat PHYC results in altered expression of circadian clock and photoperiod genes and a dramatic delay in flowering under long days, indicating that PHYC promotes wheat flowering under inductive photoperiods. Our results provide an additional entry point to modify wheat flowering and to accelerate the development of wheat varieties better adapted to new and changing environments.
Assessment of Subyearling Chinook Salmon Survival through the Federal Hydropower Projects in the Main-Stem Columbia River
Authors: Skalski John R. , Eppard M. Brad , Ploskey Gene R. , Weiland Mark A. , Carlson Thomas J. , Townsend Richard L.
Published: June 2014

High survival through hydropower projects is an essential element in the recovery of Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. populations in the Columbia River. High dam passage survival is also a regulatory requirement under the 2008 Biological Opinion (BiOp; established under the Endangered Species Act) on Federal Columbia River Power System operation. The BiOp requires dam passage survival to be at least 0.96 and at least 0.93 for spring and summer out-migrating juvenile salmonids, respectively, and to be estimated with an SE of 0.015 or lower. An innovative virtual/paired-release design was used to estimate dam passage survival, which was defined as survival from the upstream face of a dam to the tailrace mixing zone. A coordinated four-dam study was conducted during the 2012 summer out-migration using 14,026 subyearling Chinook Salmon O. tshawytscha out-migrants with surgically implanted acoustic micro-transmitter tags. The release–recapture design consisted of 9 different release locations and 14 different detection arrays. Each of the four estimates of dam passage survival exceeded BiOp requirements, with values ranging from 0.9414 to 0.9747 (SE = 0.0031–0.0114). The virtual/paired-release design illustrated here has potential applicability wherever dam passage survival of migrant juvenile fish stocks must be estimated.

Received November 21, 2013; accepted March 13, 2014
Association between Alcohol Use and Cardiovascular Self-Care Behaviors among Male Hypertensive Veterans Affairs Outpatients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Rittmueller Stacey E. , Frey Madeleine S. , Williams Emily C. , Sun Haili , Bryson Chris L. , Bradley Katharine A.
Published: June 2014

Background

Alcohol use is associated with health behaviors that impact cardiovascular outcomes in patients with hypertension, including avoiding salt, exercising, weight management, and not smoking. This study examined associations between varying levels of alcohol use and self-reported cardiovascular health behaviors among hypertensive Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatients.

Methods

Male outpatients with self-reported hypertension from 7 VA sites who returned mailed questionnaires ( N = 11,927) were divided into 5 levels of alcohol use: nondrinking, low-level use, and mild, moderate, and severe alcohol misuse based on AUDIT-C (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test—Consumption) scores (0, 1–3, 4–5, 6–7, and 8–12, respectively). For each category, adjusted logistic regression models estimated the prevalence of patients who self-reported avoiding salt, exercising, controlling weight, or not smoking, and the composite of all four.

Results

Increasing level of alcohol use was associated with decreasing prevalence of avoiding salt, controlling weight, not smoking, and the combination of all 4 behaviors ( P values all <.001). A linear trend was not observed for exercise ( P =.83), which was most common among patients with mild alcohol misuse ( P =.01 relative to nondrinking).

Conclusions

Alcohol consumption is inversely associated with adherence to cardiovascular self-care behaviors among hypertensive VA outpatients. Clinicians should be especially aware of alcohol use level among hypertensive patients.
Modelling the variability in fish spatial distributions over time with empirical orthogonal functions: anchovy in the Bay of Biscay
Authors: Petitgas Pierre , Doray Mathieu , Huret Martin , Massé Jacques , Woillez Mathieu
Published: June 2014

Characterizing the space–time variability in spatial distributions as well as understanding its drivers is basic to designing robust spatial management plans. As a prerequisite, we analyse here how this variability relates to population dynamics in conjunction with environmental conditions. For that, spatio-temporal statistical approaches are needed but seldom used in fisheries science. To fill this gap, we showcase the usefulness of the method of empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs). Guidelines are given to apply the method on a series of gridded maps as derived from fisheries survey dataseries that now span over decades. The method is applied to the series, 2000–2012, of the spatial distributions of European anchovy in the Bay of Biscay at spawning time. Across the series, the EOF decomposition allowed to identify three main types of spatial distributions. One type corresponded to an extended distribution, another to a restricted distribution in core areas, and the third to a very coastal distribution. The coastal spawning distribution corresponded to a low population growth rate as it was never followed by a large recruitment in the subsequent year. We did not attempt to explain the spatial patterns per se but the drivers of change from one type of distribution to another. Stock size and fish size as well as bottom temperature and water column stratification were the covariates that controlled the variability in the spatial distributions over time. Further, the spatial distribution at spawning time related to recruitment in the following year, meaning that variability in the spatial distribution of spawning affected population dynamics. The typology of maps based on EOF decomposition summarized this spatial variability into spatial spawning configurations, which may serve spatial planning.
Effects of Wheat Starch Granule Size Distribution on Qualities of Chinese Steamed Bread and Raw White Noodles
Authors: Guo Qi , He Zhonghu , Xia Xianchun , Qu Yanying , Zhang Yan
Published: June 2014

Starch is a crucial component determining the processing quality of wheat‐based products such as Chinese steamed bread (CSB) and raw white noodles (RWN). Flour from wheat cultivar Zhongmai 175 was used for fractionation into starch, gluten, and water solubles by hand washing. The starch fraction was successfully separated into large (>10 μm diameter) and small starch granules (<10 μm diameter) by repeated sedimentation. Flour fractions were reconstituted to original levels in the flour by using constant gluten and water solubles and varying the weight ratio of large and small starch granules. As the proportion of small granules increased in the reconstituted flours, farinograph water absorption increased, and amylose content, pasting peak viscosity, trough, and final viscosity decreased. Starch granule size distribution significantly affected processing quality of CSB and RWN. Superior crumb structure score (12.0) was observed in CSB made from reconstituted flour with 35% small starch granules. CSB made from reconstituted flours with 30 and 35% small starch granules exhibited the highest total scores, with values of 85.4 and 83.3, respectively. Significant improvements in color, viscoelasticity, and smoothness of RWN were obtained with an increase in small starch granule content, and reconstituted flours with 30–40% small starch granules produced RWN with moderate firmness.
Lineage, Temperature, and Host Species have Interacting Effects on Lesion Development in Phytophthora ramorum
Authors: Eyre C. A. , Hayden K. J. , Kozanitas M. , Grünwald N. J. , Garbelotto M.
Published: June 2014

There are four recognized clonal lineages of the pathogen Phytophthora ramorum. The two major lineages present in North America are NA1 and NA2. With a few exceptions, NA1 is found in natural forest ecosystems and nurseries, and NA2 is generally restricted to nurseries. Isolates from the NA1 and NA2 lineages were used to infect rhododendron, camellia, and California bay laurel in detached leaf assays to study the effects of lineage, temperature, and host on pathogenicity and host susceptibility. Isolates within both lineages were highly variable in their ability to form lesions on each host. There was also a tendency toward reduced lesion size in successive trials, suggesting degeneration of isolates over time. Temperature had a significant effect on lesion size, with a response that varied depending on the host and isolate. Phenotypic differences between lineages appear to be heavily influenced by the representation of isolates used, host, and temperature. The importance of temperature, host, and lineage are discussed with respect to disease management, as well as future range expansions and migrations of the pathogen.
Lionfish predators use flared fin displays to initiate cooperative hunting
Authors: Lönnstedt Oona M. , Ferrari Maud C. O. , Chivers Douglas P.
Published: June 2014

Despite considerable study, mystery surrounds the use of signals that initiate cooperative hunting in animals. Using a labyrinth test chamber, we examined whether a lionfish,
Dendrochirus zebra
, would initiate cooperative hunts with piscine partners. We found that
D. zebra
uses a stereotyped flared fin display to alert conspecific and heterospecific lionfish species
Pterois antennata
to the presence of prey.
Per capita
success rate was significantly higher for cooperative hunters when compared with solitary ones, with hunt responders assisting hunt initiators in cornering the prey using their large extended pectoral fins. The initiators would most often take the first strike at the group of prey, but both hunters would then alternate striking at the remaining prey. Results suggest that the cooperative communication signal may be characteristic to the lionfish family, as interspecific hunters were equally coordinated and successful as intraspecific hunters. Our findings emphasize the complexity of collaborative foraging behaviours in lionfish; the turn-taking in strikes suggests that individuals do not solely try to maximize their own hunting success: instead they equally share the resources between themselves. Communicative group hunting has enabled
Pteroine
fish to function as highly efficient predators.
Fear of predation alters soil carbon dioxide flux and nitrogen content
Authors: Sitvarin Michael I. , Rypstra Ann L.
Published: June 2014

Predators are known to have both consumptive and non-consumptive effects (NCEs) on their prey that can cascade to affect lower trophic levels. Non-consumptive interactions often drive these effects, though the majority of studies have been conducted in aquatic- or herbivory-based systems. Here, we use a laboratory study to examine how linkages between an above-ground predator and a detritivore influence below-ground properties. We demonstrate that predators can depress soil metabolism (i.e. CO
2
flux) and soil nutrient content via both consumptive and non-consumptive interactions with detritivores, and that the strength of isolated NCEs is comparable to changes resulting from predation. Changes in detritivore abundance and activity in response to predators and the fear of predation likely mediate interactions with the soil microbe community. Our results underscore the need to explore these mechanisms at large scales, considering the disproportionate extinction risk faced by predators and the importance of soils in the global carbon cycle.
Oceanographic and behavioural assumptions in models of the fate of coral and coral reef fish larvae
Authors: Wolanski Eric , Kingsford Michael J.
Published: June 2014

A predictive model of the fate of coral reef fish larvae in a reef system is proposed that combines the oceanographic processes of advection and turbulent diffusion with the biological process of horizontal swimming controlled by olfactory and auditory cues within the timescales of larval development. In the model, auditory cues resulted in swimming towards the reefs when within hearing distance of the reef, whereas olfactory cues resulted in the larvae swimming towards the natal reef in open waters by swimming against the concentration gradients in the smell plume emanating from the natal reef. The model suggested that the self-seeding rate may be quite large, at least 20% for the larvae of rapidly developing reef fish species, which contrasted with a self-seeding rate less than 2% for non-swimming coral larvae. The predicted self-recruitment rate of reefs was sensitive to a number of parameters, such as the time at which the fish larvae reach post-flexion, the pelagic larval duration of the larvae, the horizontal turbulent diffusion coefficient in reefal waters and the horizontal swimming behaviour of the fish larvae in response to auditory and olfactory cues, for which better field data are needed. Thus, the model suggested that high self-seeding rates for reef fish are possible, even in areas where the ‘sticky water’ effect is minimal and in the absence of long-term trapping in oceanic fronts and/or large-scale oceanic eddies or filaments that are often argued to facilitate the return of the larvae after long periods of drifting at sea.
Uncovering changes in spider orb-web topology owing to aerodynamic effects
Authors: Zaera Ramón , Soler Alejandro , Teus Jaime
Published: June 2014

An orb-weaving spider's likelihood of survival is influenced by its ability to retain prey with minimum damage to its web and at the lowest manufacturing cost. This set of requirements has forced the spider silk to evolve towards extreme strength and ductility to a degree that is rare among materials. Previous studies reveal that the performance of the web upon impact may not be based on the mechanical properties of silk alone, aerodynamic drag could play a role in the dissipation of the prey's energy. Here, we present a thorough analysis of the effect of the aerodynamic drag on wind load and prey impact. The hypothesis considered by previous authors for the evaluation of the drag force per unit length of thread has been revisited according to well-established principles of fluid mechanics, highlighting the functional dependence on thread diameter that was formerly ignored. Theoretical analysis and finite-element simulations permitted us to identify air drag as a relevant factor in reducing deterioration of the orb web, and to reveal how the spider can take greater—and not negligible—advantage of drag dissipation. The study shows the beneficial air drag effects of building smaller and less dense webs under wind load, and larger and denser webs under prey impact loads. In essence, it points out why the aerodynamics need to be considered as an additional driving force in the evolution of silk threads and orb webs.
Onset of virus systemic infection in plants is determined by speed of cell-to-cell movement and number of primary infection foci
Authors: Rodrigo Guillermo , Zwart Mark P. , Elena Santiago F.
Published: June 2014

The cornerstone of today's plant virology consists of deciphering the molecular and mechanistic basis of host–pathogen interactions. Among these interactions, the onset of systemic infection is a fundamental variable in studying both within- and between-host infection dynamics, with implications in epidemiology. Here, we developed a mechanistic model using probabilistic and spatio-temporal concepts to explain dynamic signatures of virus systemic infection. The model dealt with the inherent characteristic of plant viruses to use two different and sequential stages for their within-host propagation: cell-to-cell movement from the initial infected cell and systemic spread by reaching the vascular system. We identified the speed of cell-to-cell movement and the number of primary infection foci in the inoculated leaf as the key factors governing this dynamic process. Our results allowed us to quantitatively understand the timing of the onset of systemic infection, describing this global process as a consequence of local spread of viral populations. Finally, we considered the significance of our predictions for the evolution of plant RNA viruses.
Corrosion pitting and environmentally assisted small crack growth
Authors: Turnbull Alan
Published: June 2014

In many applications, corrosion pits act as precursors to cracking, but qualitative and quantitative prediction of damage evolution has been hampered by lack of insights into the process by which a crack develops from a pit. An overview is given of recent breakthroughs in characterization and understanding of the pit-to-crack transition using advanced three-dimensional imaging techniques such as X-ray computed tomography and focused ion beam machining with scanning electron microscopy. These techniques provided novel insights with respect to the location of crack development from a pit, supported by finite-element analysis. This inspired a new concept for the role of pitting in stress corrosion cracking based on the growing pit inducing local dynamic plastic strain, a critical factor in the development of stress corrosion cracks. Challenges in quantifying the subsequent growth rate of the emerging small cracks are then outlined with the potential drop technique being the most viable. A comparison is made with the growth rate for short cracks (through-thickness crack in fracture mechanics specimen) and long cracks and an electrochemical crack size effect invoked to rationalize the data.
A test of the intergenerational conflict model in Indonesia shows no evidence of earlier menopause in female-dispersing groups
Authors: Snopkowski Kristin , Moya Cristina , Sear Rebecca
Published: June 2014

Menopause remains an evolutionary puzzle, as humans are unique among primates in having a long post-fertile lifespan. One model proposes that intergenerational conflict in patrilocal populations favours female reproductive cessation. This model predicts that women should experience menopause earlier in groups with an evolutionary history of patrilocality compared with matrilocal groups. Using data from the Indonesia Family Life Survey, we test this model at multiple timescales: deep historical time, comparing age at menopause in ancestrally patrilocal Chinese Indonesians with ancestrally matrilocal Austronesian Indonesians; more recent historical time, comparing age at menopause in ethnic groups with differing postmarital residence within Indonesia and finally, analysing age at menopause at an individual-level, assuming a woman facultatively adjusts her age at menopause based on her postmarital residence. We find a significant effect only at the intermediate timescale where, contrary to predictions, ethnic groups with a history of multilocal postnuptial residence (where couples choose where to live) have the slowest progression to menopause, whereas matrilocal and patrilocal ethnic groups have similar progression rates. Multilocal residence may reduce intergenerational conflicts between women, thus influencing reproductive behaviour, but our results provide no support for the female-dispersal model of intergenerational conflict as an explanation of menopause.
The developmental origin of zygodactyl feet and its possible loss in the evolution of Passeriformes
Authors: Botelho João Francisco , Smith-Paredes Daniel , Nuñez-Leon Daniel , Soto-Acuña Sergio , Vargas Alexander O.
Published: June 2014

The zygodactyl orientation of toes (digits II and III pointing forwards, digits I and IV pointing backwards) evolved independently in different extant bird taxa. To understand the origin of this trait in modern birds, we investigated the development of the zygodactyl foot of the budgerigar (Psittaciformes). We compared its muscular development with that of the anisodactyl quail (Galliformes) and show that while the musculus abductor digiti IV (ABDIV) becomes strongly developed at HH36 in both species, the musculus extensor brevis digiti IV (EBDIV) degenerates and almost disappears only in the budgerigar. The asymmetric action of those muscles early in the development of the budgerigar foot causes retroversion of digit IV (dIV). Paralysed budgerigar embryos do not revert dIV and are anisodactyl. Both molecular phylogenetic analysis and palaeontological information suggest that the ancestor of passerines could have been zygodactyl. We followed the development of the zebra finch (Passeriformes) foot muscles and found that in this species, both the primordia of the ABDIV and of the EBDIV fail to develop. These data suggest that loss of asymmetric forces of muscular activity exerted on dIV, caused by the absence of the ABDIV, could have resulted in secondary anisodactyly in Passeriformes.
Morphological and histological adaptation of muscle and bone to loading induced by repetitive activation of muscle
Authors: Vickerton Paula , Jarvis Jonathan C. , Gallagher James A. , Akhtar Riaz , Sutherland Hazel , Jeffery Nathan
Published: June 2014

Muscular contraction plays a pivotal role in the mechanical environment of bone, but controlled muscular contractions are rarely used to study the response of bone to mechanical stimuli. Here, we use implantable stimulators to elicit programmed contractions of the rat tibialis anterior (TA) muscle. Miniature stimulators were implanted in Wistar rats (n= 9) to induce contraction of the left TA every 30 s for 28 days. The right limb was used as a contralateral control. Hindlimbs were imaged using microCT. Image data were used for bone measurements, and to construct a finite-element (FE) model simulation of TA forces propagating through the bone. This simulation was used to target subsequent bone histology and measurement of micromechanical properties to areas of high strain. FE mapping of simulated strains revealed peak values in the anterodistal region of the tibia (640 µε ± 30.4 µε). This region showed significant increases in cross-sectional area (28.61%,p< 0.05) and bone volume (30.29%,p< 0.05) in the stimulated limb. Histology revealed a large region of new bone, containing clusters of chondrocytes, indicative of endochondral ossification. The new bone region had a lower elastic modulus (8.8 ± 2.2 GPa) when compared with established bone (20 ± 1.4 GPa). Our study provides compelling new evidence of the interplay between muscle and bone.
Two developmentally temporal quantitative trait loci underlie convergent evolution of increased branchial bone length in sticklebacks
Authors: Erickson Priscilla A. , Glazer Andrew M. , Cleves Phillip A. , Smith Alyson S. , Miller Craig T.
Published: June 2014

In convergent evolution, similar phenotypes evolve repeatedly in independent populations, often reflecting adaptation to similar environments. Understanding whether convergent evolution proceeds via similar or different genetic and developmental mechanisms offers insight towards the repeatability and predictability of evolution. Oceanic populations of threespine stickleback fish,Gasterosteus aculeatus, have repeatedly colonized countless freshwater lakes and streams, where new diets lead to morphological adaptations related to feeding. Here, we show that heritable increases in branchial bone length have convergently evolved in two independently derived freshwater stickleback populations. In both populations, an increased bone growth rate in juveniles underlies the convergent adult phenotype, and one population also has a longer cartilage template. Using F2crosses from these two freshwater populations, we show that two quantitative trait loci (QTL) control branchial bone length at distinct points in development. In both populations, a QTL on chromosome 21 controls bone length throughout juvenile development, and a QTL on chromosome 4 controls bone length only in adults. In addition to these similar developmental profiles, these QTL show similar chromosomal locations in both populations. Our results suggest that sticklebacks have convergently evolved longer branchial bones using similar genetic and developmental programmes in two independently derived populations.
Sexual antagonism for resistance and tolerance to infection inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Vincent Crystal M. , Sharp Nathaniel P.
Published: June 2014

A critical task in evolutionary genetics is to explain the persistence of heritable variation in fitness-related traits such as immunity. Ecological factors can maintain genetic variation in immunity, but less is known about the role of other factors, such as antagonistic pleiotropy, on immunity. Sexually dimorphic immunity—with females often being more immune-competent—may maintain variation in immunity in dioecious populations. Most eco-immunological studies assess host resistance to parasites rather than the host's ability to maintain fitness during infection (tolerance). Distinguishing between resistance and tolerance is important as they are thought to have markedly different evolutionary and epidemiological outcomes. Few studies have investigated tolerance in animals, and the extent of sexual dimorphism in tolerance is unknown. Using males and females from 50Drosophila melanogastergenotypes, we investigated possible sources of genetic variation for immunity by assessing both resistance and tolerance to the common bacterial pathogenPseudomonas aeruginosa.We found evidence of sexual dimorphism and sexual antagonism for resistance and tolerance, and a trade-off between the two traits. Our findings suggest that antagonistic pleiotropy may be a major contributor to variation in immunity, with implications for host–parasite coevolution.
Farming behaviour of reef fishes increases the prevalence of coral disease associated microbes and black band disease
Authors: Casey Jordan M. , Ainsworth Tracy D. , Choat J. Howard , Connolly Sean R.
Published: June 2014

Microbial community structure on coral reefs is strongly influenced by coral–algae interactions; however, the extent to which this influence is mediated by fishes is unknown. By excluding fleshy macroalgae, cultivating palatable filamentous algae and engaging in frequent aggression to protect resources, territorial damselfish (f. Pomacentridae), such as
Stegastes
, mediate macro-benthic dynamics on coral reefs and may significantly influence microbial communities. To elucidate how
Stegastes apicalis
and
Stegastes nigricans
may alter benthic microbial assemblages and coral health, we determined the benthic community composition (epilithic algal matrix and prokaryotes) and coral disease prevalence inside and outside of damselfish territories in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. 16S rDNA sequencing revealed distinct bacterial communities associated with turf algae and a two to three times greater relative abundance of phylotypes with high sequence similarity to potential coral pathogens inside
Stegastes
's territories. These potentially pathogenic phylotypes (totalling 30.04% of the community) were found to have high sequence similarity to those amplified from black band disease (BBD) and disease affected corals worldwide. Disease surveys further revealed a significantly higher occurrence of BBD inside
S. nigricans
's territories. These findings demonstrate the first link between fish behaviour, reservoirs of potential coral disease pathogens and the prevalence of coral disease.
Vampire bats exhibit evolutionary reduction of bitter taste receptor genes common to other bats
Authors: Hong Wei , Zhao Huabin
Published: June 2014

The bitter taste serves as an important natural defence against the ingestion of poisonous foods and is thus believed to be indispensable in animals. However, vampire bats are obligate blood feeders that show a reduced behavioural response towards bitter-tasting compounds. To test whether bitter taste receptor genes (T2Rs) have been relaxed from selective constraint in vampire bats, we sampled all three vampire bat species and 11 non-vampire bats, and sequenced nine one-to-one orthologousT2Rs that are assumed to be functionally conserved in all bats. We generated 85T2Rsequences and found that vampire bats have a significantly greater percentage of pseudogenes than other bats. These results strongly suggest a relaxation of selective constraint and a reduction of bitter taste function in vampire bats. We also found that vampire bats retain many intactT2Rs, and that the taste signalling pathway geneCalhm1remains complete and intact with strong functional constraint. These results suggest the presence of some bitter taste function in vampire bats, although it is not likely to play a major role in food selection. Together, our study suggests that the evolutionary reduction of bitter taste function in animals is more pervasive than previously believed, and highlights the importance of extra-oral functions of taste receptor genes.
Autosomal admixture levels are informative about sex bias in admixed populations
Authors: Goldberg Amy , Verdu Paul , Rosenberg Noah A
Published: June 2014

Sex-biased admixture has been observed in a wide variety of admixed populations. Genetic variation in sex chromosomes and ratios of quantities computed from sex chromosomes and autosomes have often been examined in order to infer patterns of sex-biased admixture, typically using statistical approaches that do not mechanistically model the complexity of a sex-specific history of admixture. Here, expanding on a model of Verdu & Rosenberg (2011) that did not include sex specificity, we develop a model that mechanistically examines sex-specific admixture histories. Under the model, multiple source populations contribute to an admixed population, potentially with their male and female contributions varying over time. In an admixed population descended from two source groups, we derive the moments of the distribution of the autosomal admixture fraction from a specific source population as a function of sex-specific introgression parameters and time. Considering admixture processes that are constant in time, we demonstrate that surprisingly, although the mean autosomal admixture fraction from a specific source population does not reveal a sex bias in the admixture history, the variance of autosomal admixture is informative about sex bias. Specifically, the long-term variance decreases as the sex bias from a contributing source population increases. This result can be viewed as analogous to the reduction in effective population size for populations with an unequal number of breeding males and females. Our approach can contribute to methods for inference of the history of complex sex-biased admixture processes by enabling consideration of the effect of sex-biased admixture on autosomal DNA.
Mesoscale analyses of fungal networks as an approach for quantifying phenotypic traits
Authors: Lee Sang Hoon , Fricker Mark D. , Porter Mason A.
Published: June 2014

We investigate the application of mesoscopic response functions (MRFs) to characterize a large set of networks of fungi and slime moulds grown under a wide variety of different experimental treatments, including inter-species competition and attack by fungivores. We construct ‘structural networks’ by estimating cord conductances (which yield edge weights) from the experimental data, and we construct ‘functional networks’ by calculating edge weights based on how much nutrient traffic is predicted to occur along each edge. Both types of networks have the same topology, and we compute MRFs for both families of networks to illustrate two different ways of constructing taxonomies to group the networks into clusters of related fungi and slime moulds. Although both network taxonomies generate intuitively sensible groupings of networks across species, treatments, and laboratories, we find that clustering using the functional-network measure appears to give groups with lower intra-group variation in species or treatments. We argue that MRFs provide a useful quantitative analysis of network behaviour that can (1) help summarize an expanding set of increasingly complex biological networks and (2) help extract information that captures subtle changes in intra-specific and inter-specific phenotypic traits that are integral to a mechanistic understanding of fungal behaviour and ecology. As an accompaniment to our paper, we also make a large data set of fungal networks available in the public domain.
Thejiaoyao1Mutant Is an Allele ofkorrigan1That Abolishes Endoglucanase Activity and Affects the Organization of Both Cellulose Microfibrils and Microtubules inArabidopsis
Authors: Lei Lei , Zhang Tian , Strasser Richard , Lee Christopher M. , Gonneau Martine , Mach Lukas , Vernhettes Samantha , Kim Seong H. , J. Cosgrove Daniel , Li Shundai , Gu Ying
Published: June 2014

In higher plants, cellulose is synthesized by plasma membrane–localized cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs). Arabidopsis thaliana GH9A1/KORRIGAN1 is a membrane-bound, family 9 glycosyl hydrolase that is important for cellulose synthesis in both primary and secondary cell walls. Most previously identified korrigan1 mutants show severe phenotypes such as embryo lethality; therefore, the role of GH9A1 in cellulose synthesis remains unclear. Here, we report a novel A577V missense mutation, designated jiaoyao1 (jia1), in the second of the glycosyl hydrolase family 9 active site signature motifs in GH9A1. jia1 is defective in cell expansion in dark-grown hypocotyls, roots, and adult plants. Consistent with its defect in cell expansion, this mutation in GH9A1 resulted in reduced cellulose content and reduced CSC velocity at the plasma membrane. Green fluorescent protein–GH9A1 is associated with CSCs at multiple locations, including the plasma membrane, Golgi, trans-Golgi network, and small CESA-containing compartments or microtubule-associated cellulose synthase compartments, indicating a tight association between GH9A1 and CSCs. GH9A1A577V abolishes the endoglucanase activity of GH9A1 in vitro but does not affect its interaction with CESAs in vitro, suggesting that endoglucanase activity is important for cellulose synthesis. Interestingly, jia1 results in both cellulose microfibril and microtubule disorganization. Our study establishes the important role of endoglucanase in cellulose synthesis and cellulose microfibril organization in plants.
fac-[1,2-Bis(pyridin-4-yl)ethane-κN]tricarbonyl(1,10-phenanthroline-κ2N,N′)rhenium(I) hexafluoridophosphate acetonitrile monosolvate
Authors: Guilardi Silvana , Patrocinio Antonio Otavio Toledo , Sousa Sinval Fernandes de , Ellena Javier
Published: June 2014

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Re(C12H8N2)(C12H12N2)(CO)3]PF6.·CH3CN, contains one cation, one hexafluoridophosphate anion and one acetonitrile solvent molecule. The ReIion is coordinated by two N atoms from the 1,10-phenanthroline ligand and one N atom from the 1,2-bis(pyridin-4-yl)ethane ligand [mean Re—N = 2.191 (15) Å] and by three carbonyl ligands [mean Re—C = 1.926 (3) Å] in a distorted octahedral geometry. The electrostatic forces and weak C—H...F(O) hydrogen bonds pack cations and anions into the crystal with voids of 82 Å3, which are filled by solvent molecules. The crystal packing exhibits short intermolecular O...O distance of 2.795 (5) Å between two cations related by inversion.
2-Bromo-1-[1-(4-bromophenyl)-5-methyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]ethanone
Authors: Bunev Alexander S. , Troshina Marina A. , Ostapenko Gennady I. , Pavlova Andzhela P. , Khrustalev Victor N.
Published: June 2014

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C11H9Br2N3O, contains two crystallographically independent molecules with similar geometries; the Br—C—C=O torsion angles are 1.2 (4) and −2.8 (4)°, and the benzene and triazole rings are inclined o one another by 51.90 (16) and 51.88 (16)°. The two molecules are related by a pseudo-screw 21axis directed along [100]. In the crystal, molecules are linked into a three-dimensional network by weak C—H...O and C—H...N hydrogen bonds and secondary Br...Br [3.5991 (8) and 3.6503 (9) Å] interactions.
6-Chloro-7-fluoro-4-oxo-4H-chromene-3-carbaldehyde
Authors: Ishikawa Yoshinobu
Published: June 2014

In the title compound, C10H4ClFO3, a chlorinated and fluorinated 3-formylchromone derivative, all atoms are essentially coplanar (r.m.s. = 0.0336 Å for the non-H atoms), with the largest deviation from the least-squares plane [0.062 (2) Å] being for a benzene-ring C atom. In the crystal, molecules are linked through stacking interactions [centroid–centroid distance between the benzene and pyran rings = 3.958 (3) Å and interplanar distance = 3.259 (3) Å], C—H...O hydrogen bonds, and short C...O contacts [2.879 (3) Å]. Unsymmetrical halogen–halogen interactions between the Cl and F atoms [Cl...F = 3.049 (3) Å, C—Cl...F = 148.10 (9)° and C—F...Cl = 162.06 (13)°] are also formed, giving a meandering two-dimensional network along theaaxis.
5-Fluoro-2-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-methylsulfinyl-1-benzofuran
Authors: Choi Hong Dae , Seo Pil Ja , Lee Uk
Published: June 2014

In the title compound, C15H10F2O2S, the dihedral angle between the plane of the benzofuran ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.015 Å) and that of the 2-fluorophenyl ring is 28.53 (6)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...O and C—H...F hydrogen bonds, and by π–π interactions between the furan and benzene rings of neighbouring molecules [centroid–centroid distance = 3.625 (2) Å], forming a three-dimensional network.
3-(4-Fluorophenylsulfinyl)-2,4,5,6-tetramethyl-1-benzofuran
Authors: Choi Hong Dae , Seo Pil Ja , Lee Uk
Published: June 2014

In the title compound, C18H17FO2S, the dihedral angle between the plane of the benzofuran ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.013 Å) and that of the 4-fluorophenyl ring is 74.30 (5)°. In the crystal, weak C—H...O and C—H...F hydrogen bonds link the molecules into columns extending in direction [100].