bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Descriptive and Temporal Saltiness Perception Properties of Model Solid Lipoproteic Colloid Foods—Implications for Sodium Reduction
Authors: Kuo Wan‐Yuan , Lee Youngsoo
Published: June 2017

Solid lipoproteic colloid (SLC) foods that consist of an oil‐in‐water emulsion of lipid and protein such as cheese and sausage contribute a significant amount of sodium to modern diets. This study aimed to correlate the overall saltiness perception to the texture and temporal saltiness perception of SLCs to understand saltiness perception during oral processing. Model SLCs with varying levels of protein and fat were prepared via pressure homogenization of whey protein isolate, anhydrous milk fat, and NaCl, followed by heat‐induced gelation. Descriptive sensory analysis (DSA) and time‐intensity (TI) method were used to characterize the sensory profiles and the temporal saltiness perception properties of the SLCs, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis of the DSA results showed that the samples were grouped based on the formulation and the homogenization pressures. The maximum saltiness intensity in the TI curves increased with decreasing contents of protein and fat and decreasing homogenization pressures. The PCA and cluster analysis of the taste and texture attributes from the DSA and the TI parameters showed that the nonfat samples were clustered together, characterized by the DSA salty taste, syneresis texture, and the TI initial saltiness intensity. When only fat‐containing samples were analyzed, the DSA salty attribute correlated significantly with the texture attributes of fracturable and syneresis. The dependence of saltiness perception on the texture properties of the nonfat and fat‐containing samples discovered in this study provided insights for the future development of reduced‐sodium products.
Exploring the putative role of TRPV1‐dependent CGRP release in remote hind preconditioning‐induced cardioprotection
Authors: Randhawa Puneet Kaur , Jaggi Amteshwar Singh
Published: June 2017

Background

Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a phenomenon whereby transient nonlethal ischemia and reperfusion episodes confer protection against prolonged ischemia reperfusion‐induced injury. However, the underlying intracellular signaling has not been extensively explored.

Objective

This study aimed to inspect the putative involvement of TRPV1‐dependent CGRP release in mediating remote hind limb preconditioning‐induced cardioprotection.

Methods

In this study, remote hind limb preconditioning stimulus was delivered (four consecutive episodes of 5 minutes of ischemia reperfusion) using a blood pressure cuff tied at the inguinal level of the rat. The isolated rat hearts were perfused on the Langendorff's system and were subjected to 30‐minutes global ischemia and 120‐minutes reperfusion. Prolonged ischemia and subsequent reperfusion led to myocardial injury that was evaluated in terms of infarct size, LDH release, CK release, LVDP, +dp/dtmax, −dp/dtmin, and coronary flow rate. The pharmacological agents used in this study included capsaicin as TRPV1 channel activator, sumatriptan and CGRP8‐37 as CGRP blockers.

Results

Remote hind limb and capsaicin preconditioning (10 mg/kg–1) significantly reduced the infarct size, LDH release, CK release and significantly improved LVDP, +dp/dtmax, −dp/dtmin, and coronary flow rate. However, remote hind limb and capsaicin preconditioning‐induced cardioprotective effects were remarkably reduced in the presence of sumatriptan (8 mg/kg–1) and CGRP8‐37 (1 mg/kg–1).

Conclusion

This indicates that remote hind limb preconditioning stimulus probably activates TRPV1 channels which subsequently induces CGRP release to produce cardioprotective effects.
r.pi: A grass gis package for semi‐automatic spatial pattern analysis of remotely sensed land cover data
Authors: Wegmann Martin , Leutner Benjamin F. , Metz Markus , Neteler Markus , Dech Stefan , Rocchini Duccio
Published: June 2017

Analysing the changing spatial patterns of landscapes due to climate change or anthropogenic impact is important for various disciplines. Land cover change and its resulting modification of spatial patterns in the landscape influence various geographical or ecological parameters. Changing formerly continuous into discontinuous ecosystems due to land cover conversion causes isolated fragments in the landscape. Maintaining the connectivity of a fragmented landscape is relevant for, e.g. in nutrient cycle, water‐runoff or species population persistence.

Satellite imagery derived land cover can be used to analyse continuously the changing spatial arrangement of land cover types. However, analyses are computer intensive and require robust and efficient processing routines.

We developed a patch‐based spatial analysis system (r.pi) integrated natively into a Free and Open Source GIS (grass gis) to be able to analyse large amounts of satellite derived land cover data in a semi‐automatic manner, and to ensure high reproducibility and robustness.

Various established and newly developed indices for spatial pattern analysis are provided in this program, to derive further meaningful information like spatial configuration, patch irreplaceability or connectivity of fragments based on a dispersal model approach.
Nonlesional atopic dermatitis skin shares similar T‐cell clones with lesional tissues
Authors: Brunner P. M. , Emerson R. O. , Tipton C. , Garcet S. , Khattri S. , Coats I. , Krueger J. G. , Guttman‐Yassky E.
Published: June 2017

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by robust immune activation. Various T‐cell subsets, including Th2/Th22 cells, are increased in lesional and nonlesional skin. However, there is conflicting literature on the diversity of the T‐cell receptor (TCR) repertoire in lesional AD, and its relation to nonlesional skin remains unclear.

Methods

We performed high‐throughput deep sequencing of the β‐TCR repertoire in 29 lesional and 19 nonlesional AD biopsies, compared to six healthy control and six cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) samples from previously published cohorts.

Results

While greater T‐cell infiltrates were observed in lesional vs nonlesional AD, TCR repertoire diversity was similar in lesional and nonlesional tissues, and absolute numbers of unique T‐cell clones correlated with respective T‐cell counts. Most (87%) top expanded lesional T‐cell clones were shared with nonlesional tissues, and they were largely maintained after 16 weeks of successful treatment with topical triamcinolone. Nevertheless, both lesional and nonlesional AD showed a highly polyclonal TCR pattern, without evidence of oligoclonal expansion, or a preferred usage of certain V‐β genes in AD skin. Size of the overall T‐cell infiltrate, but not the level of clonality, correlated with mRNA levels of key inflammatory mediators (e.g., IL‐13, CCL17, IL23p19, CXCL10).

Conclusion

While AD harbors a highly polyclonal T‐cell receptor repertoire, and despite the lack of information on TCR antigen specificity, the sharing of top abundant clones between lesional and nonlesional skin, and their persistence after months of therapy, points to the continuous presence of potentially pathogenic skin resident memory T cells well beyond clinically inflamed lesions.
Testis‐specific isoform of Na/K‐ATPase (ATP1A4) regulates sperm function and fertility in dairy bulls through potential mechanisms involving reactive oxygen species, calcium and actin polymerization
Authors: Rajamanickam G. D. , Kroetsch T. , Kastelic J. P. , Thundathil J. C.
Published: June 2017

Traditional bull breeding soundness evaluation (BBSE) eliminates bulls that are grossly abnormal; however, bulls classified as satisfactory potential breeders still vary in field fertility, implying submicroscopic differences in sperm characteristics. The testis‐specific isoform of Na/K‐ATPase (ATP1A4) is involved in regulation of sperm motility and capacitation in bulls through well‐established enzyme activity and signaling functions. The objective was to determine ATP1A4 content, activity and their relationship to post‐thaw sperm function and field fertility, using semen samples from low‐fertility (LF) and high‐fertility (HF) Holstein bulls (n = 20 each) with known FERTSOL rates (measure of field fertility, based on non‐return rate). Frozen‐thawed sperm from HF bulls had increased ATP1A4 content and activity compared to LF bulls. Furthermore, post‐thaw sperm from HF bulls had increased tyrosine phosphorylation, ROS, F‐actin content, and low intracellular calcium compared to LF bulls. Subsequent incubation of HF bull sperm with ouabain (a specific ligand of Na/K‐ATPase) further augmented the post‐thaw increase in tyrosine phosphorylation, ROS production, and F‐actin content, whereas the increase in intracellular calcium was still low compared to LF bull sperm. ATP1A4 content and activity, ROS, F‐actin and calcium were significantly correlated with fertility. In conclusion, we inferred that ATP1A4 content and activity differed among dairy bulls with satisfactory semen characteristics and that ATP1A4 may regulate sperm function through mechanisms involving ROS, F‐actin and calcium in frozen‐thawed sperm of HF and LF dairy bulls.
Feasibility study on robot‐assisted retinal vascular bypass surgery in an ex vivo porcine model
Authors: Chen Yi Qi , Tao Ji Wei , Li Liang , Mao Jian Bo , Zhu Chen Ting , Lao Ji Meng , Yang Yang , Shen Li‐Jun
Published: June 2017

Purpose

To describe a new robot‐assisted surgical system for retinal vascular bypass surgery (RVBS) and to compare the success rate with freehand RVBS.

Methods

A robot‐assisted system for retinal microsurgery was constructed to include two independent robotic arms. A 23‐gauge light probe and an intraocular forceps were affixed to the arm end effectors to perform the intraocular manipulation. Harvested porcine eyes were introduced to be established animal models of closed‐sky eyeballs after that pars plana vitrectomy using temporary keratoprosthesis was performed by a skilful surgeon. Retinal vascular bypass surgery (RVBS) was performed by an inexperienced ophthalmologist to test the ease of use. A stainless steel wire (45‐μm pipe diameter) was used as an artificial vessel. Before RVBS, the wires were prepositioned at the retinal surface of the eyes. The Control group (n = 20) underwent freehand RVBS, and the Experimental group (n = 20) underwent robot‐assisted RVBS. To create the simulated bypass, the distal end of the wire was inserted into the selected vessel and advanced ~4 mm away from the optic disc. If successful, then the proximal wire end was inserted and advanced ~2 mm towards the optic disc. The difference in the success rate for the freehand and robot‐assisted procedures was analysed by the chi‐square test.

Results

The success rate for the freehand RVBS was 5% (1/20 eyes). In contrast, the robot‐assisted success rate was 35% (7/20) of eyes (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated the feasibility of robot‐assisted RVBS in ex vivo porcine eyes. The robotic system increased the accuracy and stability of manipulation by eliminating freehand tremor, leading to a higher surgical success rate.
A Diary Study of Self‐Compassion, Upward Social Comparisons, and Body Image‐Related Outcomes
Authors: Thøgersen‐Ntoumani Cecilie , Dodos Louisa , Chatzisarantis Nikos , Ntoumanis Nikos
Published: June 2017

Background

Self‐compassion may protect individuals experiencing poor body image and associated maladaptive outcomes. The purpose of the study was to examine within‐person associations (whilst controlling for between‐person differences) between appearance‐related self‐compassion, appearance‐related threats (operationalised as upward appearance comparisons), and body image‐related variables, namely, social physique anxiety, drive for thinness, and body dissatisfaction.

Methods

A diary methodology was used whereby young women (n = 126; Mage = 21.26) responded to brief online surveys three times per day (11am, 3pm, and 7pm) every second day for one week (i.e. a total of 12 measurement points).

Results

Results of mixed linear modeling revealed that both state appearance‐related upward comparisons and self‐compassion independently predicted all three outcomes in a positive and negative fashion, respectively. No significant interaction effects between state appearance‐related upward comparisons and self‐compassion were found.

Conclusions

The results suggested that appearance‐based self‐compassion was important, not just when there was a potential threat to body image via upward appearance comparisons. The findings highlight the importance of fostering self‐compassion on a daily level.
Planners and the Pride Factor: The Case of the Electric Escalator in Medellín
Authors: REIMERINK LETTY
Published: June 2017

The outdoor electric escalator in Medellín's Comuna 13, part of an Integrated Urban Project aimed at bridging the city's socio‐spatial divide, did not fully accomplish the project's goal of increasing the mobility of 12,000 people living in the area, nor did it make a significant contribution to diminishing social inequalities. The escalator project can be considered a prestigious solution to an ill‐defined problem that did not take people's mobility patterns into account. Although the project succeeded in increasing civic pride and improving Medellín's image of modernity and progress, it also led to new social inequalities.
Animality, Sexuality and the Politics of Death in Mario Bellatin's Salón de belleza
Authors: BOLLINGTON LUCY
Published: June 2017

In Bellatin's Salón de belleza aquariums filled with exotic fish function as the symbolic nexus through which queer bodies and destructive power intersect and become involved in mutational processes. This article brings the novella into dialogue with biopolitical philosophy, queer theory and posthumanism in order to conceptualise the multivalent implications of the text's trans‐species reflections and crossings. My analysis moves beyond existing interpretations of the novella as a mournful account of the HIV/AIDS pandemic or as a text that documents violence more broadly, by calling attention to the more affirmative potentialities that are also latent in Bellatin's aesthetics of impersonality.
Managing biological control services through multi‐trophic trait interactions: review and guidelines for implementation at local and landscape scales
Authors: Perović David J. , Gámez‐Virués Sagrario , Landis Douglas A. , Wäckers Felix , Gurr Geoff M. , Wratten Stephen D. , You Min‐Sheng , Desneux Nicolas
Published: June 2017

Ecological studies are increasingly moving towards trait‐based approaches, as the evidence mounts that functions, as opposed to taxonomy, drive ecosystem service delivery. Among ecosystem services, biological control has been somewhat overlooked in functional ecological studies. This is surprising given that, over recent decades, much of biological control research has been focused on identifying the multiple characteristics (traits) of species that influence trophic interactions. These traits are especially well developed for interactions between arthropods and flowers – important for biological control, as floral resources can provide natural enemies with nutritional supplements, which can dramatically increase biological control efficiency. Traits that underpin the biological control potential of a community and that drive the response of arthropods to environmental filters, from local to landscape‐level conditions, are also emerging from recent empirical studies. We present an overview of the traits that have been identified to (i) drive trophic interactions, especially between plants and biological control agents through determining access to floral resources and enhancing longevity and fecundity of natural enemies, (ii) affect the biological control services provided by arthropods, and (iii) limit the response of arthropods to environmental filters, ranging from local management practices to landscape‐level simplification. We use this review as a platform to outline opportunities and guidelines for future trait‐based studies focused on the enhancement of biological control services.
Children's Early Awareness of Comprehension as Evident in Their Spontaneous Corrections of Speech Errors
Authors: Wellman Henry M. , Song Ju‐Hyun , Peskin‐Shepherd Hope
Published: June 2017

A crucial human cognitive goal is to understand and to be understood. But understanding often takes active management. Two studies investigated early developmental processes of understanding management by focusing on young children's comprehension monitoring. We ask: When and how do young children actively monitor their comprehension of social‐communicative interchanges and so seek to clarify and correct their own potential miscomprehension? Study 1 examined the parent–child conversations of 13 children studied longitudinally in everyday situations from the time the children were approximately 2 years through 3 years. Study 2 used a seminaturalistic situation in the laboratory to address these questions with more precision and control with 36 children aged 2–3 years.
Happy To Be “Me?” Authenticity, Psychological Need Satisfaction, and Subjective Well‐Being in Adolescence
Authors: Thomaes Sander , Sedikides Constantine , van den Bos Nellie , Hutteman Roos , Reijntjes Albert
Published: June 2017

Adolescents have a strong desire to “be themselves.” How does experiencing authenticity—the sense of being one's true self—influence subjective well‐being? What allows adolescents to experience authenticity? This research tests a working model of how authenticity is implicated in adolescents’ well‐being. Using survey, diary, and experimental methodologies, four studies (totalN = 759, age range = 12–17) supported the main tenets of the model. Authenticity (a) enhances well‐being, (b) covaries with satisfaction of psychological needs for relatedness and competence; is caused by satisfaction of the need for autonomy; and (c) mediates the link between need satisfaction and well‐being. Authenticity is more than a powerful motive: It has robust, replicable effects on well‐being and may thus be a pervasive force in positive youth development.
Increased risk of asthma in overweight children born large for gestational age
Authors: Pinto L. A. , Guerra S. , Anto J. M. , Postma D. , Koppelman G. H. , de Jongste J. C. , Gehring U. , Smit H. A. , Wijga A. H.
Published: June 2017

Background

Being born large for gestational age (LGA) is a marker of increased growth velocity in fetal life and a risk factor for childhood overweight. Both being born LGA and childhood overweight may influence the development of asthma, although the role of overweight in the association between LGA and childhood asthma is unclear. Importantly, recent studies have suggested that the association between overweight and asthma may be related to non‐allergic pathways. If this also applies to the association between LGA and asthma, the association between being born LGA and asthma may be different for atopic and non‐atopic children.

Objective

We investigated the association of being LGA with the prevalence of asthma at age 8 in atopic and non‐atopic children and the role of overweight in this association.

Methods

Complete data on asthma, anthropometry and atopy at age of 8 years, and potential confounders were available for 1608 participants of the PIAMA birth cohort. Odds ratios for the association between LGA and asthma in atopic and non‐atopic children were estimated by logistic regression analysis adjusting for potential confounders. Overweight was assessed as a potential modifier of the association between LGA and asthma.

Results

Being born LGA was not significantly associated with asthma at age of 8 in atopic and non‐atopic children. However, overweight at age of 8 years modified the association between asthma at age of 8 and LGA. In non‐atopic children, children who were born LGA and were overweight at age of 8 years had a significantly increased odds of asthma compared to non‐LGA, non‐overweight children (adj OR 7.04; 95% CI 2.2‐24).

Conclusions

We observed that non‐atopic children born LGA, who were overweight by 8 years have an increased risk of asthma. If confirmed, these findings suggest that non‐atopic children born LGA may be identified early in life as a high‐risk group for asthma.
Prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis in Australia: the National Eye Health Survey
Authors: Dirani Mohamed , Keel Stuart , Foreman Joshua , van Wijngaarden Peter , Taylor Hugh R
Published: June 2017

Importance

Australia is the only developed country to still have pockets of endemic trachoma. The research provides up‐to‐date, population‐based prevalence data of later complications of trachoma amongst a national sample of Indigenous adults.

Background

To report the prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) in Indigenous Australians aged 40 years and older.

Design

Population‐based cross‐sectional study.

Participants

A total of 1738 (41% male) Indigenous Australians aged 40 years or older, living amongst 30 randomly selected Australian sites, stratified by remoteness.

Methods

Anterior segment examination was performed and trachoma grading for the presence of TT and corneal opacification (CO) was conducted using the WHO (WHO) simplified grading system.

Main Outcome Measures

Prevalence of TT.

Results

A total of three (0.17%) participants had TT, and there were no confirmed cases of trachomatous CO in the NEHS. All three participants with TT were female and aged 40 years or older. Although they had likely spent their childhoods in more remote areas, two of the three confirmed cases resided in an urban and outer regional area at the time of their examinations.

Conclusions and relevance

Our data are in line with ongoing national trachoma surveillance reports that suggest the prevalence of late sequences of trachoma appear to be decreasing in Australia.
Genetic epidemiology of familial Mediterranean fever through integrative analysis of whole genome and exome sequences from Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Koshy R. , Sivadas A. , Scaria V.
Published: June 2017

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), an autosomal recessive and rare autoinflammatory disease is caused by genetic mutations in the MEFV gene and is highly prevalent in the Mediterranean basin. Although the carrier frequency of specific disease variants in the MEFV gene has been reported from isolated studies, a comprehensive view of variants in the Mediterranean region has not been possible due to paucity of data. The recent availability of whole‐genome and whole‐exome datasets prompted us to study the genetic epidemiology of MEFV variants in the region. We assembled data from 5 datasets encompassing whole‐genome and whole‐exome datasets for 2115 individuals from multiple subpopulations in the region and also created a compendium for MEFV genetic variants, which were further systematically annotated as per the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. Our analysis points to significant differences in allele frequencies in the subpopulations, and the carrier frequency for MEFV genetic variants in the population to be about 8%. The MEFV gene appears to be under natural selection from our analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study and analysis of population epidemiology of MEFV gene variants in the Middle East and North African populations.
Dermatological manifestations of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)
Authors: Ebrahimi‐Fakhari Daniel , Meyer Sascha , Vogt Thomas , Pföhler Claudia , Müller Cornelia Sigrid Lissi
Published: June 2017

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic multisystem disorder with prominent skin involvement that frequently occurs in early childhood. Dermatologic manifestations include facial angiofibromas, hypomelanotic macules, fibrous cephalic plaques, shagreen patches, and ungual fibromas. The International TSC Consensus Conference in 2012 provided guidelines for standardized baseline evaluation and follow‐up. Detailed clinical dermatological evaluation at the time of diagnosis and annual skin examination is recommended for both pediatric and adult populations. The onset of dermatological manifestations is clearly age‐related. However, dermatologists also have to assess for clinical manifestations beyond their own specialty. With advances in genetics and the advent of mTORC1 inhibitors, new specific therapeutic options have become available for TSC patients with skin manifestations. Early intervention is commonly recommended for symptomatic, rapidly evolving, disfiguring, or debilitating lesions. The consensus guidelines recommend “treatment as appropriate for the lesion and clinical context” and suggest the use of surgical excision, laser therapy, or topical mTORC1 inhibitors. Topical mTORC1 inhibitors present a useful option for TSC‐associated skin lesions, particularly in medically complex patients. They may prevent or reduce the risks of subsequent surgeries and permanent scarring.
Multi‐scalar Labour Agency in Global Production Networks: Contestation and Crisis in the South African Fruit Sector
Authors: Alford Matthew , Barrientos Stephanie , Visser Margareet
Published: June 2017

Integration into global production networks poses significant challenges, and also opens up opportunities, for labour agency. Governance by lead firms affects working conditions and can drive precarious employment; this interacts with and can constrain national labour legislation covering labour rights. The global production networks (GPN) approach facilitates examination of commercial value chains, their interaction with institutionally and societally embedded labour markets, and potential leverage points for labour contestation transcending local, national and global scales. This informs analysis of commercial/societal articulations as contested processes opening space for multi‐scalar labour agency within global production networks. This article examines how tensions between global commercial and societally embedded dimensions of global production networks drive precarious work, and seeks to understand the implications for emergent forms of multi‐scalar community‐based labour agency. These questions are explored through an examination of labour casualization and contestation in South African fruit production in 2012–13, using the GPN approach. The authors find that multi‐scalar channels of labour agency leveraging both global commercial and government actors can enable reworking by unorganized community‐based labour to bargain for better pay and conditions, but if the underlying global commercial logic is to be challenged, more systemic strategies are required.
The US Dollar's Continuing Hegemony as an International Currency: A Double‐matrix Analysis
Authors: Kaltenbrunner Annina , Lysandrou Photis
Published: June 2017

The standard framework for debating the international currency system casts doubt on the dollar's continuing hegemonic position because it raises questions regarding the ability of the US to finance its external liabilities in the face of worsening economic fundamentals. This article addresses these questions by adding to the usual matrix linking the international functions of money to two different types of agents, private and official, a second matrix linking the functions of money to two different types of commodities, material goods and services on the one hand, and financial securities on the other. Once it is understood that bonds and equities are now not only different types of funding instruments but also different types of commodities whose use value to the world's large investors is to serve as stores of value, it is possible to understand why the size of the US capital markets will long continue to bind foreign investors to the dollar because it will be some time before other capital markets will reach a comparable size.
Prevention of cardiovascular disease through reduction of glycaemic exposure in type 2 diabetes: A perspective on glucose‐lowering interventions
Authors: Roussel Ronan , Steg Philippe Gabriel , Mohammedi Kamel , Marre Michel , Potier Louis
Published: June 2017

Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Observational studies have consistently shown an association between glycaemic level and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE); however, intervention studies have provided limited evidence supporting a reduction in the cardiovascular burden of diabetes through intensive glucose control. In the present review, we aimed to examine the concept of cumulative glycaemic exposure with regard to protection against CVD in diabetes. We address how we can move from a binary approach in trials, to a more quantitative approach based on differences in cumulative glycaemic exposure. We plotted the association between differing glycaemic exposures between study arms and the hazard ratio for MACE in randomized controls trials comparing intensive with conventional glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes. We found a strikingly strong correlation between differential exposure and cardiovascular risk reduction. Similar results were obtained for trials comparing antidiabetes drugs with placebo. The results suggest that a minimum study duration and a minimum gain in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) reduction are necessary to drive a relevant risk reduction in CVD risk, and we provide a quantitative perspective in that respect. The present analysis underlines that the duration of the intensification of glycemic control, and the amplitude of the resulting reduction in HbA1c, are important notions for clinical decision‐making.
Long‐distance dispersal syndromes matter: diaspore–trait effect on shaping plant distribution across the Canary Islands
Authors: Arjona Yurena , Nogales Manuel , Heleno Ruben , Vargas Pablo
Published: June 2017

Oceanic islands emerge lifeless from the seafloor and are separated from continents by long stretches of sea. Consequently, all their species had to overcome this stringent dispersal filter, making these islands ideal systems to study the biogeographic implications of long‐distance dispersal (LDD). It has long been established that the capacity of plants to reach new islands is determined by specific traits of their diaspores, historically called dispersal syndromes. However, recent work has questioned to what extent such dispersal‐related traits effectively influence plant distribution between islands. Here we evaluated whether plants bearing dispersal syndromes related to LDD – i.e. anemochorous (structures that favour wind dispersal), thalassochorous (sea dispersal), endozoochorous (internal animal dispersal) and epizoochorous (external animal dispersal) syndromes – occupy a greater number of islands than those with unspecialized diaspores by virtue of their increased dispersal ability. We focused on the native flora of the lowland xeric communities of the Canary Islands (531 species) and on the archipelago distribution of the species. We controlled for several key factors likely to affect the role of LDD syndromes in inter‐island colonization, namely: island geodynamic history, colonization time and phylogenetic relationships among species. Our results clearly show that species bearing LDD syndromes have a wider distribution than species with unspecialized diaspores. In particular, species with endozoochorous, epizoochorous and thalassochorous diaspore traits have significantly wider distributions across the Canary archipelago than species with unspecialized and anemochorous diaspores. All these findings offer strong support for a greater importance of LDD syndromes on shaping inter‐island plant distribution in the Canary Islands than in some other archipelagos, such as Galápagos and Azores.
Response of soil microbial community structure to increased precipitation and nitrogen addition in a semiarid meadow steppe
Authors: Sun S. , Zhao H. , Xing F. , Bai Z. , Gao Y. , Dong Y. , Zhou J. , Wu Y. , Yang Y.
Published: June 2017

Additions of nitrogen (N) and water might have an interactive effect on the structure of the soil microbial community. The effects and importance of a fluctuating natural precipitation regime on the soil microbial community in a semiarid meadow steppe are very variable and less well known. On a Stipa baicalensis Rosh. meadow steppe, we used phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis to evaluate the effects of increased precipitation, addition of nitrogen and precipitation regime in regulating the structure of the microbial community. The experiment had a complete randomized block design with additions of N of 0, 5 and 10 g N m−2 year−1 and of water of 15 or 30% above the natural precipitation from 2010 to 2012. Additional water and number of years had interactive effects on the soil's microbial community structure. The indirect effects of water and N on soil properties such as pH might explain, at least in part, the changes in microbial groups. Additional water significantly decreased PLFAs for most microbial groups in the dry year, but had no effect in the wet year. The results reflected fluctuation in the natural precipitation regime during two hydrologically contrasting years. Changes in the structure of the soil microbial community might depend on variation in interannual precipitation on meadow steppe. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of the precipitation regime for the soil's microbial community structure. Increases in natural precipitation will weaken the negative effects of nitrogen fertilizers on the grassland ecosystem in future.

Highlights

Effects of fluctuating natural precipitation and additions of nitrogen on soil's microbial community structure.

Structure of soil's microbial community might depend on variation in interannual precipitation on meadow steppe.

Increases in natural precipitation weaken the negative effects of nitrogen fertilizers on the grassland ecosystem.

Precipitation regime has an important effect on soil's microbial community structure.
Assessment of soil group, site and climatic effects on soil organic carbon stocks of topsoil in Japanese forests
Authors: Nanko K. , Hashimoto S. , Miura S. , Ishizuka S. , Sakai Y. , Levia D. F. , Ugawa S. , Nishizono T. , Kitahara F. , Osone Y. , Kaneko S.
Published: June 2017

The aim of this study was to assess the factors that account for the geographical variation in soil organic carbon stocks at the 0–30‐cm depth (SOC30) of forests in Japan. Boosted regression tree analysis was applied to 2157 points throughout Japan and to four regional geographical subdivisions with 16 environmental variables. The rank of predictor variables was different for Japan as a whole and among the regions. For Japan as a whole, soil group, air temperature, slope inclination, altitude and organic carbon stocks of litter were the most important factors that affected SOC30 stocks. Overall, SOC30 stocks decreased with air temperature, which was attributed to the decomposability of organic carbon. In addition, SOC30 stocks decreased with slope inclination because of instability of the topsoil on slopes, which, in turn, is related to the increase in rock fragment content and decrease in soil bulk density. The distribution of volcanic soil resulted in larger SOC30 stocks than was expected from climatic conditions. Precipitation was not important because of conflicting effects between the increase in soil organic carbon content with increasing net primary production and the decrease in mineral soil mass by the loss in topsoil. The regional analyses provide insight into the factors that cause variation in SOC30 stocks, which were obscured by the macroscale analysis of Japan as a whole, thereby illustrating the power of regional geographical analyses. Our results provide an improved basis for soil, forestry and biogeochemical models that require accurate estimates of SOC30 stocks.

Highlights

We assessed factors that account for geographic variation in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks.

Effect and dependence of factors were estimated by a machine learning approach.

SOC stocks were affected by soil type, climate, site‐specific location and organic matter input.

Volcanic soil distribution, climate, slope steepness and historical overuse of forest affected SOC stocks.
Prediction of specific depressive symptom clusters in youth with epilepsy: The NDDI‐E‐Y versus Neuro‐QOL SF
Authors: Kellermann Tanja S. , Mueller Martina , Carter Emma G. , Brooks Byron , Smith Gigi , Kopp Olivia J. , Wagner Janelle L.
Published: June 2017

Objective

Proper assessment and early identification of depressive symptoms are essential to initiate treatment and minimize the risk for poor outcomes in youth with epilepsy (YWE). The current study examined the predictive utility of the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory‐Epilepsy for Youth (NDDI‐E‐Y) and the Neuro‐QOL Depression Short Form (Neuro‐QOL SF) in explaining variance in overall depressive symptoms and specific symptom clusters on the gold standard Children's Depression Inventory‐2 (CDI‐2).

Methods

Cross‐sectional study examining 99 YWE (female 68, mean age 14.7 years) during a routine epilepsy visit, who completed self‐report measures of depressive symptoms, including the NDDI‐E‐Y, CDI‐2, and the Neuro‐QOL SF. Caregivers completed a measure of seizure severity. All sociodemographic and medical information was evaluated through electronic medical record review.

Results

After accounting for seizure and demographic variables, the NDDI‐E‐Y accounted for 45% of the variance in the CDI‐2 Total score and the CDI‐2 Ineffectiveness subscale. Furthermore, the NDDI‐E‐Y predicted CDI‐2 Total scores and subscales similarly, with the exception of explaining significantly more variance in the CDI‐2 Ineffectiveness subscale compared to the Negative Mood subscale. The NDDI‐E‐Y explained greater variance compared to Neuro‐QOL SF across the Total (48% vs. 37%) and all CDI‐2 subscale scores; however, the NDDI‐E‐Y emerged as a stronger predictor of only CDI‐2 Ineffectiveness. Both the NDDI‐E‐Y and Neuro‐QOL SF accounted for the lowest amount of variance in CDI‐2 Negative Mood. Sensitivity was poor for the Neuro‐QOL SF in predicting high versus low CDI‐2 scores.

Significance

The NDDI‐E‐Y has strong psychometrics and can be easily integrated into routine epilepsy care for quick, brief screening of depressive symptoms in YWE.
Some like it deep: Intraspecific niche segregation in ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua)
Authors: Eloranta Antti P. , Vejříková Ivana , Čech Martin , Vejřík Lukáš , Holubová Michaela , Šmejkal Marek , Frouzová Jaroslava , Kiljunen Mikko , Jones Roger I. , Peterka Jiří
Published: June 2017

Generalist fishes commonly show intraspecific niche segregation along the littoral–pelagic resource axis in lakes. Recent studies have shown that the deep, cold and seemingly unproductive profundal zone can also offer underutilised resources and facilitate specialised individuals, and can contribute to lake food webs via methane‐derived carbon pathways. Despite numerous examples from salmonid fish species, such intraspecific niche segregation along a littoral–profundal resource axis has not been reported in percids or other predominantly littoral benthivorous fishes.

Here, we describe a case of ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua: Percidae) populations consisting of shallow‐ and deep‐water dwelling individuals in two post‐mining lakes in the northern Czech Republic. Results from stable isotope (δ15N and δ13C) mixing models indicated that littoral and profundal food resources dominated the long‐term diets of ruffe individuals caught from shallow‐ and deep‐water habitats, respectively. No similar niche segregation along the littoral–profundal gradient was observed in coexisting perch (Perca fluviatilis: Percidae) which used more pelagic food than the benthivorous ruffe.

The observed littoral–profundal niche segregation in ruffe was more pronounced in the macrophyte‐rich and poorly oxygenated Lake Milada, where high habitat complexity and strong interspecific interactions in the littoral zone as well as the absence of competing fish species in the profundal zone likely promote narrow trophic niches of shallow‐ and deep‐water dwelling ruffe

Our study provides novel evidence of littoral–profundal niche segregation in a predominantly benthivorous fish species. The results also show that intraspecific niche variation can be affected by lake ecosystem characteristics, in particular by the availability of and competition for littoral and profundal resources. Although more research is needed to confirm potential early divergence of shallow‐ and deep‐water dwelling ruffe as well as cascading effects on lake ecosystem processes (e.g. nutrient cycling and competitive and predatory interactions), our study indicates that individual ruffe may show limited habitat and food‐web coupling due to their restricted use of shallow or deep resources.
Alternative operation models for using a feed‐in terminal as a part of the forest chip supply system for a CHP plant
Authors: Väätäinen Kari , Prinz Robert , Malinen Jukka , Laitila Juha , Sikanen Lauri
Published: June 2017

The fuel supply of forest chips has to adapt to the annual fluctuations of power and heat generation. This creates inefficiency and unbalances the capacity utilization of the fuel supply fleet in the direct fuel supplies from roadside storages to power and heat generation. Terminals can offer an alternative approach for the fleet management of fuel supplies in terms of smoothing the unbalanced fleet use towards more even year‐round operations. The aim of the study was to compare the supply costs of a conventional direct forest chip supply to an alternative fuel supply with the use of a feed‐in terminal using the discrete‐event simulation method. The influences of the terminal location, terminal investment cost, outbound terminal transport method, terminal truck utilization and quality changes of terminal‐stored forest chips for the fuel supply cost were studied in the case environment. By introducing a feed‐in terminal and a shuttle truck for the transports of terminal‐stored forest chips, the total supply cost was 1.4% higher than the direct fuel supply scenario. In terminal scenarios, the supply costs increased 1–2% if the cost of the terminal investment increased 30%, the distance to the terminal increased from 5 to 30 km or the total annual use of a terminal truck decreased 1500 h. Moreover, a 1 per cent point per month increase in the dry matter loss of terminal‐stored chips increased the total supply cost 1%. The study revealed that with the relatively low additional cost, the feed‐in terminal can be introduced to the conventional forest chip supply. Cost compensation can be gained through the higher annual use of a fuel supply fleet and more secured fuel supply to power plants by decreasing the need for supplement fuel, which can be more expensive at a time of the highest fuel demand.
Endoplasmic reticulum proteins SDF2 and SDF2L1 act as components of the BiP chaperone cycle to prevent protein aggregation
Authors: Fujimori Tsutomu , Suno Ryoji , Iemura Shun‐ichiro , Natsume Tohru , Wada Ikuo , Hosokawa Nobuko
Published: June 2017

The folding of newly synthesized proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is assisted by ER‐resident chaperone proteins. BiP (immunoglobulin heavy‐chain‐binding protein), a member of the HSP70 family, plays a central role in protein quality control. The chaperone function of BiP is regulated by its intrinsic ATPase activity, which is stimulated by ER‐resident proteins of the HSP40/DnaJ family, including ERdj3. Here, we report that two closely related proteins, SDF2 and SDF2L1, regulate the BiP chaperone cycle. Both are ER‐resident, but SDF2 is constitutively expressed, whereas SDF2L1 expression is induced by ER stress. Both luminal proteins formed a stable complex with ERdj3 and potently inhibited the aggregation of different types of misfolded ER cargo. These proteins associated with non‐native proteins, thus promoting the BiP–substrate interaction cycle. A dominant‐negative ERdj3 mutant that inhibits the interaction between ERdj3 and BiP prevented the dissociation of misfolded cargo from the ERdj3–SDF2L1 complex. Our findings indicate that SDF2 and SDF2L1 associate with ERdj3 and act as components in the BiP chaperone cycle to prevent the aggregation of misfolded proteins, partly explaining the broad folding capabilities of the ER under various physiological conditions.
Sillimanite‐mullite transformation observed in synchrotron X‐ray diffraction experiments
Authors: Igami Yohei , Ohi Shugo , Miyake Akira
Published: June 2017

High‐resolution synchrotron powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) experiments were conducted to clarify the transformation of sillimanite to mullite (mullitization) and determine the mullitization temperature (Tc). We were able to distinguish sillimanite and mullite in the XRD patterns, despite their very similar crystallographic parameters, and to detect the appearance of small mullite peaks among sillimanite peaks. Analysis of the Johnson‐Mehl‐Avrami (JMA) equation for mullitization ratio (ζ) revealed that at temperatures T≥1240°C the mullitization had the same kinetics. The activation energy E at T≥1240°C obtained from the Arrhenius plot was 679.8 kJ mol−1. In analysis using a time‐temperature‐transformation diagram for mullitization, a mullitization curve of ζ=1% can be described as urn:x-wiley:00027820:media:jace15020:jace15020-math-0001

where t is time, n is a reaction‐mechanism‐dependent parameter determined as 0.324 by JMA‐analysis, k0 is the frequency factor, EA is the activation energy for atomic diffusion, and represents the activation energy for nucleation. The results of fitting the data to this equation were Tc=1199°C, A=3.9×106 kJ mol−1 K−2, EA=605 kJ mol−1, and k0=3.65×1015. We conclude that the boundary between sillimanite and mullite+SiO2 in the phase diagram is ~1200°C.
miR‐181a and miR‐150 regulate dendritic cell immune inflammatory responses and cardiomyocyte apoptosis via targeting JAK1–STAT1/c‐Fos pathway
Authors: Zhu Jianbing , Yao Kang , Guo Junjie , Shi Hongtao , Ma Leilei , Wang Qian , Liu Haibo , Gao Wei , Sun Aijun , Zou Yunzeng , Ge Junbo
Published: June 2017

The immune inflammatory response plays a crucial role in many cardiac pathophysiological processes, including ischaemic cardiac injury and the post‐infarction repair process. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the development and function of dendritic cells (DCs), which are key players in the initiation and regulation of immune responses; however, the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we used the supernatants of necrotic primary cardiomyocytes (Necrotic‐S) to mimic the myocardial infarction (MI) microenvironment to investigate the role of miRNAs in the regulation of DC‐mediated inflammatory responses. Our results showed that Necrotic‐S up‐regulated the DC maturation markers CD40, CD83 and CD86 and increased the production of inflammatory cytokines, concomitant with the up‐regulation of miR‐181a and down‐regulation of miR‐150. Necrotic‐S stimulation activated the JAK/STAT pathway and promoted the nuclear translocation of c‐Fos and NF‐κB p65, and silencing of STAT1 or c‐Fos suppressed Necrotic‐S‐induced DC maturation and inflammatory cytokine production. The effects of Necrotic‐S on DC maturation and inflammatory responses, its activation of the JAK/STAT pathway and the induction of cardiomyocyte apoptosis under conditions of hypoxia were suppressed by miR‐181a or miR‐150 overexpression. Taken together, these data indicate that miR‐181a and miR‐150 attenuate DC immune inflammatory responses via JAK1–STAT1/c‐Fos signalling and protect cardiomyocytes from cell death under conditions of hypoxia.