bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic polymorphism of serum vitamin D‐binding protein (GC) in sheep and mouflon
Authors: KALÁB P. , STRATIL A. , GLASNÁK V.
Published: August 2013

Summary One‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (ID PAGE) followed by immunoblotting revealed genetic polymorphism of GC protein in sheep (variants F, S, V) and mouflon (variants F and S, apparently identical to F and S of sheep). The frequency of Gc5 allele ranged from 0.84 to 1.0 in the 12 breeds of sheep studied. GcV allele was observed only in Tsigai breed with a frequency of 0.017.
Shifts in functional traits and functional diversity between vegetation and seed bank
Authors: Pakeman Robin J. , Eastwood Antonia
Published: August 2013

Question

Does the seed bank have a different functional trait signature to the vegetation and is this difference affected by productivity and disturbance? Do functional diversity differences exist between the vegetation and seed bank and are the differences modulated by productivity and disturbance.

Location

An area of diverse land use on the west coast of Scotland.

Methods

Parallel vegetation and seed bank surveys were carried out across 30 sites contrasting in land use, and hence productivity and disturbance regime. Data were analysed to assess overall differences between the seed bank and vegetation in community‐weighted mean for selected functional traits and to test if the difference was affected by productivity or disturbance. Three functional diversity indices were calculated for each seed bank and vegetation sample – functional richness, functional divergence and functional evenness – and each index was assessed for overall differences between the seed bank, the vegetation and differences modulated by disturbance and productivity.

Results

There were clear differences in many community‐weighted mean traits between the seed bank and the vegetation. Plants in the vegetation were characterized by increased stature, more conservative leaf traits, wind pollination and by being perennial, whereas plants in the seed bank had higher seed longevity, higher seed masses and were more frequently insect‐ or self‐pollinated. There was no difference in functional richness between the seed bank and the vegetation, and while both the seed bank and the vegetation functional richness were significantly lower than expected, the vegetation showed a bigger deviation from expectations compared to the seed bank. The functional diversity indices revealed different relationships between seed bank and vegetation against productivity and disturbance. Functional divergence (and its standardized effect size) indicated stronger habitat filtering for the vegetation at high levels of productivity or disturbance, while the effect size of functional richness and functional evenness suggested stronger filtering on the seed bank at high levels of productivity and disturbance.

Conclusions

The significant difference in traits between the seed bank and vegetation mean that following disturbance this is likely to have a considerable impact (at least in the short term) on ecosystem function. Functional diversity patterns were less clear, with conflicting evidence on habitat filtering, depending on the metric chosen.
Pradosia restingae sp. nov. from the Atlantic forest, Brazil
Authors: Terra‐Araujo Mário Henrique , de Faria Aparecida Donisete , Alves‐Araujo Anderson , Alves Marccus
Published: August 2013

Pradosia restingae Terra‐Araujo, a new species of Sapotaceae (Chrysophylloideae) from the Brazilian Atlantic forest is described and illustrated. It is only known from the southern coast of the State Rio Grande do Norte and is likely restricted to the coastal sand dune ecosystem, locally known as the restinga forest, from which the epithet is derived. The species is naturally common, but due the low number of known subpopulations we assign P. restingae a preliminary conservation status of ‘Endangered’ (EN).
Killing Discarded Embryos and the Nothing‐is‐Lost Principle
Authors: Devolder Katrien
Published: August 2013

A widely held view holds that it is permissible to conduct destructive research on embryos discarded following fertility treatment, but not on embryos especially created for research. One argument in support of this view appeals to the nothing‐is‐lost principle. It holds that because discarded embryos will die soon in any case, and something good is expected to come out of using them for research, it is presumptively permissible to do so. It is then claimed that no equivalent justification can be adduced in support of destructive research on embryos especially created for research. I argue that, on a standard formulation of the nothing‐is‐lost principle, this argument fails. I consider whether other plausible variants of the principle render the argument sound and argue that they do not.
Palaearctic biogeography revisited: evidence for the existence of a North African refugium for Western Palaearctic biota
Authors: Husemann Martin , Schmitt Thomas , Zachos Frank E. , Ulrich Werner , Habel Jan Christian
Published: August 2013

Aim

In contrast to the attention given to southern Europe both as a centre of speciation and differentiation and as a Pleistocene refugium of Western Palaearctic taxa, North Africa has been relatively neglected. In this paper, we set out to address this shortfall.

Location

North‐West Africa and the Mediterranean.

Methods

We reviewed the existing literature on the biogeography of North Africa, and carried out analyses of species distribution data using parsimony, nestedness and co‐occurrence methods.

Results

In many cases, distribution patterns of non‐flying mammals, bats, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, zygaenid moths and odonates demonstrated important biogeographical affinities between Europe and North Africa at the species level. On the other hand, species co‐occurrence, nestedness and parsimony analysis also revealed some deep splits between the Maghreb and Europe; yet even in these cases the closest affinities were found between the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb. Furthermore, North Africa harbours the highest proportion of endemic taxa (13.7%) across all groups analysed. Many molecular studies demonstrated a strong genetic cohesiveness between North Africa and Europe despite the potential barrier effect of the Mediterranean Sea. In other taxa, however, remarkable splits were detected. In addition, southern European genetic lineages were often nested within North African clades, and many taxa showed exceptionally high genetic variability and differentiation in this region.

Main conclusions

The Maghreb was an important differentiation and speciation centre for thermophilic organisms during the Pliocene and Pleistocene with high relevance as a colonization source for Europe. The regions around the sea straits of Gibraltar and Sicily have acted as important biogeographical links between North Africa and Europe at different times.
The Eczema Education Programme: intervention development and model feasibility
Authors: Jackson K. , Ersser S.J. , Dennis H. , Farasat H. , More A.
Published: August 2013

Background

The systematic support of parents of children with eczema is essential to their effective management; however, we have few models of support. This study examines the rationale, evidence base and development of a large‐scale, structured, theory‐based, nurse‐led intervention, the ‘Eczema Education Programme’ (EEP), for parents of children with eczema.

Objectives

To outline development of the EEP, model of delivery, determine its feasibility and evaluate this based on service access and parental satisfaction data.

Methods

Parent–child dyads meeting EEP referral criteria were recruited and demographic information recorded. A questionnaire survey of parental satisfaction was conducted 4 weeks post EEP; parental focus groups at 6 weeks provided comparative qualitative data. Descriptive statistics were derived from the questionnaire data using Predictive Analytics Software (PASW); content analysis was applied to focus group data.

Results

A total of 356 parents attended the EEP during the evaluation period. Service access was achieved for those in a challenging population. Both survey data (n = 146 parents, 57%) and focus group data (n = 21) revealed a significant level of parental satisfaction with the programme.

Conclusions

It was feasible to provide the EEP as an adjunct to normal clinical care on a large scale, achieving a high level of patient/parent satisfaction and access within an urban area of multiple deprivation and high mobility. The intervention is transferable and the results are generalizable to other ethnically diverse child eczema populations within metropolitan areas in Britain. A multicentre RCT is required to test the effectiveness of this intervention on a larger scale.
Antibacterial Activity and Antifungal and Anti‐Mycotoxigenic Activities Against Aspergillus flavus and A. ochraceus of Green Coffee Chlorogenic Acids and Dodecyl Chlorogenates
Authors: Suárez‐Quiroz Mirna L. , Taillefer W. , López Méndez E.M. , González‐Ríos O. , Villeneuve P. , Figueroa‐Espinoza M.C.
Published: August 2013

Green coffee chlorogenic acids (CGA) and dodecyl chlorogenates (DCGA) were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity on different bacterial strains (Bacillus cereus, Clostridium sporogenes, Listeria innocua, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Salmonella enterica), and for their antifungal and anti‐mycotoxigenic activities against Aspergillus flavus and A. ochraceus. Sa. enterica was resistant to both CGA and DCGA. CGA had an antimicrobial effect on gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria; it exhibited bactericidal activity against P. fluorescens and S. aureus, and had no sporicidal activity against B. cereus and C. sporogenes. DCGA was active on three gram‐positive bacteria and inactive on the gram‐negative ones. Both, CGA and DCGA presented anti‐Aspergillus activities and were better anti‐mycotoxigenic agents for ochratoxin A than for aflatoxin B1. This work reports for the first time both CGA and DCGA as antibacterial, antifungal and anti‐mycotoxigenic agents, which could be promising preservatives in food or nonfood products.

Practical Applications

Both chlorogenic acids and dodecyl chlorogenates could be used as antibacterial, antifungal and anti‐mycotoxigenic agents, possessing antioxidant properties, as preservatives in food or nonfood products like cosmetics.
Exploring Co-Parent Experiences of Sexuality in the First 3 Months After Birth
Authors: van Anders Sari M. , Hipp Lauren E. , Kane Low Lisa
Published: August 2013

Introduction

Research on postpartum sexuality has focused primarily on mothers, though new findings suggest that relational perceptions may have a strong influence over sexual desire and behavior. Little investigation exists regarding sexuality in partners of postpartum women. Additionally, recent findings point to the importance of a partner's sexuality for postpartum women's perceptions of their own sexuality in this time.

Aims

The goal of this research was to explore women's partners' sexuality in the early postpartum phase taking into account psychosocial context.

Methods

Partners (N = 114; 95 men, 18 women, 1 unspecified) of postpartum women completed a retrospective online questionnaire about their sexuality during the 3 months following their youngest child's birth.

Main Outcome Measures

Primary measures included sexual desire (Sexual Desire Inventory), latency to sexual behavior, and enjoyment and initiation of sexual behavior. Other psychosocial variables were investigated: partners' perceptions of the birth mother's sexual desire, perceptions of the birth experience (Questionnaire Measuring Attitudes About Labor and Delivery), postpartum stress (Perceived Stress Scale), body image self-consciousness (Body Image Self-Consciousness Scale), social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), fatigue, and experiences surrounding breastfeeding.

Results

Partners reported most frequent engagement in intercourse in the postpartum period, earliest engagement in masturbation, and highest enjoyment of receiving oral sex compared with other sexual activities. Partners' sexual desire was not correlated with the psychosocial variables measured in the study. Findings for partners' sexuality were similar by gender, except for perceptions of social support and likelihood to engage in intercourse.

Conclusions

This study provided a novel perspective on the study of postpartum sexuality by investigating physical and psychosocial influences on the experiences of partners of parous women. Given parallels between sexuality reported by partners in this study and by birth mothers in past studies, this study provided evidence that sexuality in the postpartum period may be experienced similarly, highlighting the social and relational nature of the postpartum.
Revisiting predictors of virologic response to PEGIFN + RBV therapy in HIV‐/HCV‐coinfected patients: the role of metabolic factors and elevated GGT levels
Authors: Mandorfer M. , Reiberger T. , Payer B. A. , Breitenecker F. , Aichelburg M. C. , Obermayer‐Pietsch B. , Rieger A. , Puoti M. , Zangerle R. , Trauner M. , Peck‐Radosavljevic M.
Published: August 2013

Evaluation of metabolic factors and elevated γ‐glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels as independent predictors of treatment failure in a thoroughly documented cohort of HIV‐/HCV‐coinfected patients (HIV/HCV). Sixty‐four HIV/HCV patients treated with pegylated interferon‐α‐2a plus ribavirin (PEGIFN + RBV) at the Medical University of Vienna within a prospective trial were included in this study. In addition, 124 patients with HIV/HCV from the AIFA‐HIV and AHIVCOS cohorts were included as a validation cohort. Advanced liver fibrosis, GGT elevation, insulin resistance (IR) and low CD4+ nadir were defined as METAVIR F3/F4, GGT levels >1.5× sex‐specific upper limit of normal, homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance >2 and CD4+ nadir <350 cells/μL, respectively. HCV‐genotype 1/4 (OR26.3; P = 0.006), advanced liver fibrosis (OR20.2; P = 0.009), interleukin 28B rs12979860 non‐C/C SNP (OR8.27; P = 0.02) and GGT elevation (OR7.97; P = 0.012) were independent predictors of treatment failure, while both IR (OR3.51; P = 0.106) and low CD4 + nadir (OR2.64; P = 0.263) were not independently associated with treatment failure. A statistically significant correlation between GGT elevation and prior alcohol abuse (r = 0.259; P = 0.039), liver steatosis (r = 0.301; P = 0.034) and low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (r = −0.256; P = 0.041) was observed. The importance of GGT elevation as an independent predictor of treatment failure was confirmed in a validation cohort (OR2.76; P = 0.026). While GGT elevation emerged as an independent predictor of treatment failure in both the derivation and the validation cohort, no independent associations between metabolic factors and treatment failure were observed. Thus, our findings suggest that GGT elevation is an independent predictor of treatment failure in HIV/HCV that can easily be incorporated into predictive algorithms.
Which trait dissimilarity for functional diversity: trait means or trait overlap?
Authors: de Bello Francesco , Carmona Carlos P. , Mason Norman W. H. , Sebastià Maria‐Teresa , Lepš Jan
Published: August 2013

Question

Many functional diversity indices require the calculation of functional trait dissimilarities between species. However, very little is known about how the dissimilarity measure used might affect conclusions about ecological processes drawn from functional diversity.

Methods

We simulated real applications of functional diversity, to illustrate the key properties of the two most common families of dissimilarity measures: (1) ‘Gower’ distance, using only ‘mean trait’ value per species and then standardizing each trait, e.g. relative to its range; (2) ‘trait overlap’ between species, which takes into account within‐species trait variability. We then examine how these approaches could affect conclusions about ecological processes commonly assessed with functional diversity. We also propose a new R function (‘trova’, i.e. TRait OVerlAp) which performs computations to estimate species trait dissimilarity with different types of data.

Results

The trait overlap approach generally produces a less context‐dependent measure of functional dissimilarity. For example, the results are less dependent on the transformation of trait data (often required in empirical datasets) and on the particular pool of species considered (i.e. trait range, regularity and presence of outliers). The results therefore could be more easily compared across studies and biomes. Further, trait overlap more reliably reproduces patterns expected when niche differentiation structures communities. The Gower approach, on the contrary, more reliably detects environmental filtering effects.

Conclusion

The two approaches imply different conceptions of how species dissimilarities relate to niche differentiation. Trait overlap is suitable for testing the effect of species interactions on functional diversity within local communities, especially when relatively small differences in species traits are linked to different resource acquisition. Gower is better suited to detecting changes in functional diversity along environmental gradients, as greater differences in trait values reflect increased niche differentiation. Combining trait overlap and Gower approaches may provide a novel way to assess the joint effects of environmental filtering and niche complementarity on community assembly. We suggest that attention should be given not only to the index of functional diversity considered but also whether the dissimilarity used is appropriate for the study context.
A family of null models to distinguish between environmental filtering and biotic interactions in functional diversity patterns
Authors: Chalmandrier L. , Münkemüller T. , Gallien L. , de Bello F. , Mazel F. , Lavergne S. , Thuiller W.
Published: August 2013

Questions

Traditional null models used to reveal assembly processes from functional diversity patterns are not tailored for comparing different spatial and evolutionary scales. In this study, we present and explore a family of null models that can help disentangling assembly processes at their appropriate scales and thereby elucidate the ecological drivers of community assembly.

Location

French Alps.

Methods

Our approach gradually constrains null models by: (1) filtering out species not able to survive in the regional conditions in order to reduce the spatial scale, and (2) shuffling species only within lineages of different ages to reduce the evolutionary scale of the analysis. We first tested and validated this approach using simulated communities. We then applied it to study the functional diversity patterns of the leaf–height–seed strategy of plant communities in the French Alps.

Results

Using simulations, we found that reducing the spatial scale correctly detected a signature of competition (functional divergence) even when environmental filtering produced an overlaying signal of functional convergence. However, constraining the evolutionary scale did not change the identified functional diversity patterns. In the case study of alpine plant communities, investigating scale effects revealed that environmental filtering had a strong influence at larger spatial and evolutionary scales and that neutral processes were more important at smaller scales. In contrast to the simulation study results, decreasing the evolutionary scale tended to increase patterns of functional divergence.

Conclusion

We argue that the traditional null model approach can only identify a single main process at a time and suggest to rather use a family of null models to disentangle intertwined assembly processes acting across spatial and evolutionary scales.
Functional and phylogenetic community assembly linked to changes in species diversity in a long‐term resource manipulation experiment
Authors: Gerhold Pille , Price Jodi N. , Püssa Kersti , Kalamees Rein , Aher Kaia , Kaasik Ants , Pärtel Meelis
Published: August 2013

Question

There are contrasting opinions about how communities assemble along a productivity gradient, particularly in relation to competitive interactions. One view is that functionally similar, and closely related species, are less likely to co‐exist (limiting similarity). Alternatively, competitive exclusion may act on dissimilar species because species bearing traits associated with low competitive ability are excluded (weaker competitor exclusion). We ask if patterns of functional and phylogenetic diversity are related to changes in species diversity in response to fertility manipulations.

Location

Species‐rich mesophytic grassland in Estonia.

Methods

The grassland has been manipulated from 2002 to 2011 to increase (fertilizer addition) and decrease productivity (sucrose addition) in small‐scale (50 cm × 50 cm) plots. We linked annual increases and decreases in species diversity to changes in functional and phylogenetic diversity. We used abundance‐weighted mean pair‐wise functional or phylogenetic distance of all possible species pairs.

Results

We found convergence in four traits (plant height, leaf distribution, lateral spread, type of reproduction) and a decrease in mean functional and phylogenetic diversity, in support of weaker competitor exclusion or habitat filtering. There was less support for limiting similarity, with divergence found for two traits associated with decreasing species diversity (leaf distribution in the sucrose treatment and lateral spread in the fertilizer treatment).

Conclusions

Our results support the view that competition can lead to the exclusion of weaker competitors, rather than increasing functional and phylogenetic diversity, as expected from the principle of limiting similarity. However, multiple assembly processes, which are generally seen as mutually exclusive, are operating simultaneously, albeit on different traits and at different stages of community assembly.
In Vitro Screening of Fungicidal Chemicals for Antifungal Activity against Saprolegnia
Authors: Hu Xue‐Gang , Liu Lei , Hu Kun , Yang Xian‐Le , Wang Gao‐Xue
Published: August 2013

Saprolegnia is an important fish fungal pathogen that often results in significant economic losses to freshwater aquaculture. To find effective drugs to control saprolegniasis, 30 fungicidal chemicals used in agriculture were screened, in which kresoxim‐methyl and azoxystrobin, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 1.0 and 0.5 mg/L, respectively, showed good in vitro antifungal activities against Saprolegnia. Azoxystrobin has the most promising anti‐Saprolegnia activity with 50% effective concentration (EC50) value of 0.212 mg/L against mycelial growth and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) value of 0.13 mg/L against spores, while EC50 and MFC values to kresoxim‐methyl are 0.240 and 0.25 mg/L, respectively. Through the acute toxicity assay using goldfish, Carassius auratus, azoxystrobin exhibited wider margin of safety with a safe concentration (SC) value of 0.553 mg/L than kresoxim‐methyl with an SC value of 0.131 mg/L. These findings demonstrated that azoxystrobin has the potential for the development of therapy for the control of Saprolegnia in aquaculture. Both kresoxim‐methyl and azoxystrobin were tested with a post‐antifungal effects (PAFE) assay and the results revealed that the two chemicals had no significant effect on fungal growth inhibition after a 1‐hour exposure, indicating that the treatment needs to be carried out over an extended period.
Genetic Diversity and Differentiation in Broodstocks of the Endangered Chinese Sucker, Myxocyprinus asiaticus, Using Microsatellite Markers
Authors: Xu Nian , Yang Zhong , Que Yanfu , Shi Fang , Zhu Bin , Xiong Meihua
Published: August 2013

Chinese Sucker, Myxocyprinus asiaticus, is a valuable and endangered freshwater species in China. We investigated genetic diversity and differentiation of four M. asiaticus broodstock populations using 10 microsatellite loci. Three populations showed weak genetic differentiation among them. The other and the most distant population exhibited the lowest genetic diversity. It was inferred that wild M. asiaticus ancestry in the Yangtze River had sufficient gene flow among localities, while under the situation of population decline and fragmentation, restocking programs without genetic management might aggravate loss of genetic diversity and increase genetic differentiation. Maintenance of population connectivity among localities requires real attention in future restocking efforts.
Feasibility of Offshore Co‐culture of Abalone, Haliotis discus hannai Ino, and Sea Cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, in a Temperate Zone
Authors: Qi Zhanhui , Wang Jun , Mao Yuze , Liu Hongmei , Fang Jianguang
Published: August 2013

Feasibility of offshore co‐culture of abalone and sea cucumber was investigated in Northern China. Survival and growth of abalone, Haliotis discus hannai Ino, and sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, co‐cultured in abalone cages from suspended longlines, in the offshore area, were examined. Abalone and sea cucumbers were co‐cultured at density ratios of both 3:1 and 6:1 for 1 yr. Abalone were fed with fresh kelp and no additional feed was given to sea cucumbers. Survival of abalone and sea cucumber was 100% for all treatments. Abalone and sea cucumber grew well; the body weight (BW) of abalone and sea cucumber was nearly doubled and had reached a commercial size. There were no significant differences in the growth rates for both abalone and sea cucumber between the two density treatments. The specific growth rate of BW of abalone (SGRbw) was highest in June, with a value of 0.536%/d. Growth rate of sea cucumber (SGRsc) was highest in December, reached 1.84%/d, with an annual average SGRsc of 0.182%/d. Results suggested that the offshore co‐culture of abalone and sea cucumber was feasible offshore. The co‐culture of abalone with sea cucumbers may provide an additional valuable crop without additional financial input.
Effects of Inorganic and Organic Fertilization on Physicochemical Parameters, Bacterial Concentrations, and Shrimp Growth in Litopenaeus vannamei Cultures with Zero Water Exchange
Authors: Lara‐Anguiano Guillermo F. , Esparza‐Leal Héctor M. , Sainz‐Hernández Juan C. , Ponce‐Palafox Jesús T. , Valenzuela‐Quiñónez Wenceslao , Apun‐Molina Juan P. , Klanian Mariel Gullian
Published: August 2013

To identify ways to improve water quality and shrimp production in closed systems, two parallel experiments (one in tanks and one in ponds) were conducted using Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, cultures. In both experiments, the effects of inorganic (Nutrilake®) and organic (molasses) fertilization on physicochemical parameters, bacterial concentrations, and shrimp performance under zero water exchange were evaluated. Fertilization with both molasses and Nutrilake enhanced the feed conversion rate, as well as shrimp survival and production. In tanks, the shrimp survival and production rates were highest in the molasses treatment, but this effect was not observed in ponds. In ponds, fertilization with Nutrilake increased nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations more than did the controls and molasses treatments toward the end of the experiment. In tanks, fertilization with molasses reduced ammonia concentrations toward the end of the experiment, but the same effect was not observed in ponds. In ponds, fertilization reduced the proportion of Vibrio spp. bacteria, which most likely reduced the incidence of disease from these potentially pathogenic organisms. In both culture systems, fertilization increased the proportion of Bacillus spp., which most likely enhanced food availability.
Assessment of Aquatic Aeromonas spp. Isolates' Susceptibility to Cinnamaldehyde, Vanillin, and Crude Kigelia africana Fruit Extracts
Authors: Okolie Chinenye , Chenia Hafizah Y.
Published: August 2013

Aeromonas spp. are primary and opportunistic fish pathogens that are responsible for severe economic losses in aquaculture, and are exacerbated by their increasing incidence of antimicrobial resistance. Phytochemicals are being explored as alternatives to conventional antimicrobial agents since they have destressing, growth‐promoting, immune‐stimulating, and antimicrobial properties. The susceptibility of 93 aquatic Aeromonas spp. and six Plesiomonas shigelloides isolates (from cultured catfish, koi carp, tilapia, and seawater) to three phytochemicals, viz.: cinnamaldehyde (10–1250 µg/mL), vanillin (5–250 µg/mL), and crude Kigelia africana fruit extracts (4–10 mg/mL ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, methanol, and hexane) were assessed using the disk diffusion assay and compared to ampicillin and tetracycline, using activity indices. No zones of inhibition were obtained with 10 µg/mL of cinnamaldehyde, or with 5–250 µg/mL of vanillin. However, varying degrees of inhibition were observed with higher concentrations of cinnamaldehyde, as well as with the K. africana methanol extract. Cinnamaldehyde (≥500 µg/mL) and the K. africana methanol extract displayed better antimicrobial activity against study isolates in comparison to vanillin and ampicillin. They appear to be promising and sustainable phytochemicals that might be useful as alternatives to the antimicrobial agents currently in use in aquaculture.
Impacts of Bolbophorus damnificus (Digenea: Bolbophoridae) on Production Characteristics of Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Raised in Experimental Ponds
Authors: Wise David J. , Li Menghe H. , Griffin Matt J. , Robinson Edwin H. , Khoo Lester H. , Greenway Terrence E. , Byars Todd S. , Walker Josh R. , Mischke Charles C.
Published: August 2013

Bolbophorus damnificus was recognized as a threat to channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, production in Louisiana and Mississippi in 1997 and 1999, respectively. Severe to moderate outbreaks (≥34% prevalence) are correlated to heavy losses, but impact of mild outbreaks with low prevalence (<33%) was unknown. Laboratory and field studies were conducted to evaluate sublethal acute (early stage) and chronic (late stage) trematode infection impacts on catfish production. Fish raised in ponds seeded with ram's horn snails from ponds harboring active B. damnificus outbreaks resulted in infection prevalence ranging from 1.6 to 20.4%. Compared to fish raised in ponds not seeded with infected snails (0% prevalence), fish biomass, number harvested, and total feed fed were significantly lower. These data agree with previous studies where mild infections reduced feed consumption, fish production, and economic returns. Infected fish were collected from ponds and used in a laboratory growth study. Once removed from the infection source, weight gain, growth rate, feed consumption, and feed efficiency were equal to or greater than trematode‐free fish. This suggests that although early B. damnificus infection (premetacercarial development) can severely impact production, infection has little impact on performance once metacercarial cysts are fully developed, and the infection source is removed.
A pill for HCV – myth or foreseeable future?
Authors: Jaroszewicz Jerzy , Flisiak Robert , Dusheiko Geoffrey
Published: August 2013

Weekly injections with pegylated‐IFNa (PegIFN) combined with daily ribavirin (RBV) are still the standard of care for chronic hepatitis C in most of the world. Sustained virological response (SVR) of 40–50% for patients infected with HCV genotypes (GT) 1 or 4 and 70–90% for genotypes 2–3 are achieved with this regimen. Triple therapy, registered in both the EU and USA, utilizing the first‐generation direct protease inhibitors is able to increase the SVR rates to 75%, but its use is restricted to patients infected with HCV GT1. Additional limitations include challenging dosing schedules, complex treatment algorithms, limited efficacy in patients with previous null response to PegIFN/RBV therapy and additional side effects. There is also an important need for more effective antiviral therapy for difficult‐to‐treat populations with PEG‐IFN intolerance, particularly those with cirrhosis and non‐responders to previous therapies. All‐oral, IFN‐free therapies are an evolutionary step for future anti‐HCV therapies. Initial results of clinical studies conducted during the last year give hope for ‘a pill for HCV’ at least in selected CHC populations. In 2013 several clinical trials of all‐oral anti‐HCV therapies had been completed, first all‐oral combination submitted for registration and some conclusions could be drawn. However, there is not yet a clear direction for IFN‐free therapies in treatment naïve patients or more complex non‐responders.
Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine effectiveness and other characteristics associated with hospitalization in chronic liver disease patients
Authors: Ohfuji Satoko , Fukushima Wakaba , Sasaki Yachiyo , Tamori Akihiro , Kurai Osamu , Kioka Kiyohide , Maeda Kazuhiro , Maeda Akiko , Hirota Yoshio
Published: August 2013

Background & Aims

To date, few studies have investigated the clinical effectiveness of influenza vaccine in chronic liver disease patients. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of monovalent inactivated influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine and other characteristics associated with hospitalization in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods

We conducted a hospital‐based cohort study during influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 pandemic. A total of 408 patients (132 vaccinated, 276 unvaccinated) with detectable HCV‐RNA were followed up with respect to any hospitalization using a weekly postal questionnaire. Reported hospitalizations were verified by medical records.

Results

During the epidemic period, 28 hospitalizations (6 vaccinated, 22 unvaccinated) were observed. After adjustment for potential confounders, vaccination decreased the odds ratio (OR) for hospitalization with marginal significance (OR = 0.43, 95%CI = 0.16–1.17). Besides, positive association with hospitalization was observed in patients with albumin levels <3.5 g/dl (OR = 8.40, 3.66–19.3) and steroid users (OR = 5.58, 0.98–31.7).

Conclusions

Among patients with chronic hepatitis C, A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine appeared to have a protective effect against hospitalization. Those patients with a higher risk for hospitalization should be carefully followed during the influenza season, even when vaccinated.
Systemic and local expression levels of TNF‐like ligand 1A and its decoy receptor 3 are increased in primary biliary cirrhosis
Authors: Aiba Yoshihiro , Harada Kenichi , Komori Atsumasa , Ito Masahiro , Shimoda Shinji , Nakamura Hitomi , Nagaoka Shinya , Abiru Seigo , Migita Kiyoshi , Ishibashi Hiromi , Nakanuma Yasuni , Nishida Nao , Kawashima Minae , Tokunaga Katsushi , Yatsuhashi Hiroshi , Nakamura Minoru
Published: August 2013

Background & Aims

Through a genome‐wide association study of a Japanese population, we recently identified TNFSF15, a gene encoding TNF‐like ligand 1A (TL1A), as a susceptibility gene for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). We investigated the clinical significance of TL1A and one of its receptors, decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), in PBC.

Methods

We analysed the systemic and local expression of TL1A and DcR3 in 110 PBC patients and 46 healthy controls using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining.

Results

Serum TL1A levels were significantly increased in PBC patients at both early and late stages as compared with healthy controls, and its levels were significantly decreased in early‐stage PBC patients after ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment. TL1A was immunohistochemically localized to biliary epithelial cells, Kupffer cells, blood vessels and infiltrating mononuclear cells in the PBC liver. In addition, TL1A messenger RNA expression was increased in the PBC liver as compared with the non‐diseased liver. Serum DcR3 levels were also significantly increased in PBC patients, and were significantly decreased after UDCA treatment in early‐stage PBC patients.

Conclusions

These results indicate that TL1A and DcR3 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PBC.
Overall safety profile of boceprevir plus peginterferon alfa‐2b and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1: a combined analysis of 3 phase 2/3 clinical trials
Authors: Manns Michael P. , McCone Jonathan , Davis Mitchell N. , Rossaro Lorenzo , Schiff Eugene , Shiffman Mitchel L. , Bacon Bruce , Bourliere Marc , Sulkowski Mark S. , Bruno Savino , Balart Luis , Bronowicki Jean‐Pierre , Kwo Paul , Poordad Fred , Felizarta Franco , Reddy K. Rajender , Helmond Frans A. , Sings Heather L. , Pedicone Lisa D. , Burroughs Margaret , Brass Clifford A. , Albrecht Janice K. , Vierling John M.
Published: August 2013

Background & Aims

Triple therapy with peginterferon/ribavirin (PR) plus an NS3 protease inhibitor has emerged as the standard‐of‐care for patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype‐1. We provide a detailed safety analysis comparing PR to boceprevir plus PR (BOC/PR) across three phase 2/3 studies.

Methods

SPRINT‐1 was an open‐label phase 2 study in 595 treatment‐naive patients. In the two phase 3 studies, 1500 patients (1097 treatment‐naive, SPRINT‐2; 403 treatment‐failure, RESPOND‐2) were randomized to receive PR alone, or one of two regimens where BOC was added to PR after a 4‐wk PR lead‐in. In this analysis, the respective BOC/PR and PR arms were combined for all three trials. The benefit of shortened duration of treatment using response‐guided therapy (RGT) was also explored in the SPRINT‐2 trial.

Results

Only two adverse events, anaemia and dysgeusia, occurred 20% more often with the BOC‐containing regimens compared with PR. Nausea, diarrhoea and neutropenia were the only other common events with an incidence of at least 5% greater when BOC was added to the PR backbone. The proportions of patients reporting serious adverse events (AE), life‐threatening AEs, and study drug discontinuation because of an AE were similar in the PR and BOC/PR arms. In treatment‐naive patients, RGT generally did not result in a lower frequency of common AEs; however, RGT led to decreased exposure to all 3 study drugs and to a decrease in the mean duration of several clinically relevant AEs such as anaemia, neutropenia, fatigue and depression, as well as earlier normalization of haemoglobin and neutrophil counts.

Conclusions

The safety profile of BOC combination therapy largely reflects the known profile of peginterferon and ribavirin, with incremental haematolgical effects and dysgeusia. Shorter treatment duration with RGT significantly reduced the duration of AEs.
New metric of microhabitat complexity predicts species richness on a rocky shore
Authors: Meager Justin J. , Schlacher Thomas A.
Published: August 2013

Most habitat complexity–species diversity relationships are specific to the habitat type, taxonomic group and spatial scale investigated. There is a need for a biologically relevant metric of habitat complexity that is transferable across systems and scales. Here, we introduce a novel metric of landscape microhabitat complexity that may overcome such constraints. It is scaled to the size of individual organisms and it numerically captures structural elements of the habitat that are biologically relevant to individuals. Our model ecosystem to develop this metric was a rocky shore in Eastern Australia. Here species richness of invertebrates was linked to habitat complexity quantified by the new metric. Importantly, measurements made at the scale of the organism predicted species richness at the landscape scale. Testing the generality of this approach across different systems may prove useful in a broader conservation biology context.
The contribution of rare species to coastal phytoplankton assemblages
Authors: Ignatiades Lydia , Gotsis‐Skretas Olympia
Published: August 2013

Analysis of quantitative and qualitative composition of rare phytoplankton species was performed using a data set collected over a large geographic area (four eutrophic gulfs of the Aegean Sea, E. Mediterranean Sea) during 2002–2003. We examined the effects of excluding rare species on comparisons of species richness, diversity, similarity and niche breadth as well as the regional and seasonal contribution of rare species to cell abundance and carbon biomass. Overall, the total of 401 species included 182 rare species contributing 45.1% of the total species number. However, there was a considerable variation in this relationship among the other parameters, as rare species contributed only 6.4% of total cell abundance, 13.1% of total species diversity, 21.2% of total cell biovolume and 16.6% of total carbon biomass. The results showed that rarity may be a significant issue in studies detecting and quantifying phytoplankton community structure.
The cooperative roles of PHO80‐like cyclins in regulating the G1/S transition and posterior cytoskeletal morphogenesis in Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Liu Yi , Hu Huiqing , Li Ziyin
Published: August 2013

Cyclins and cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDKs) represent the fundamental, crucial regulators of the cell division cycle in eukaryotes. Trypanosoma brucei expresses a large number of cyclins and Cdc2‐related kinases (CRKs). However, how these cyclins and CRKs cooperate to regulate cell cycle progression remains poorly understood. Here, we carry out directional yeast two‐hybrid assays to identify the interactions between the 10 cyclins and the 11 CRKs and detect a total of 26 cyclin–CRK pairs, among which 20 pairs are new. Our current efforts are focused on four PHO80‐like cyclins, CYC2, CYC4, CYC5 and CYC7, and their physical and functional interactions with CRK1. Silencing of the four cyclins and CRK1 leads to the increase of G1 cells and defective DNA replication, suggesting their important roles in promoting the G1/S transition. Additionally, CYC2‐, CYC7‐ and CRK1‐deficient cells possess an elongated posterior that is filled with newly assembled microtubules. Further, we show that the four cyclins display distinct subcellular localizations and half‐lives, suggesting that they likely undergo distinct regulation. Altogether, our results demonstrate the involvement of four CRK1‐associated cyclins, CYC2, CYC4, CYC5 and CYC7, in promoting the G1/S transition and the requirement of CYC2 and CYC7 in maintaining posterior cytoskeletal morphogenesis during the G1/S transition.
Ghrelin signaling in the gut, its physiological properties, and therapeutic potential
Authors: Avau B. , Carbone F. , Tack J. , Depoortere I.
Published: August 2013

Background

Ghrelin, an orexigenic hormone secreted from the stomach, was soon after its discovery hypothesized to be a prokinetic agent, due to its homology to motilin. Studies in animals and humans, using ghrelin and ghrelin receptor agonists, confirmed this hypothesis, suggesting a therapeutic potential for the ghrelin receptor in the treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders. Precilinical studies demonstrated that ghrelin can act directly on ghrelin receptors on the enteric nervous system, but the predominant route of action under physiological circumstances is signaling via the vagus nerve in the upper gastrointestinal tract and the pelvic nerves in the colon. Different pharmaceutical companies have designed stable ghrelin mimetics that revealed promising results in trials for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis and post‐operative ileus. Nevertheless, no drug was able to reach the market so far, facing problems proving superiority over placebo treatment in larger trials.

Purpose

This review aims to summarize the road that led to the current knowledge concerning the prokinetic properties of ghrelin with a focus on the therapeutic potential of ghrelin receptor agonists in the treatment of hypomotility disorders. In addition, we outline some of the problems that could be at the basis of the negative outcome of the trials with ghrelin agonists and question whether the right target groups were selected. It is clear that a new approach is needed to develop marketable drugs with this class of gastroprokinetic agents.
Melancholic microbes: a link between gut microbiota and depression?
Authors: Dinan T. G. , Cryan J. F.
Published: August 2013

There is a growing awareness of the potential for microbiota to influence gut‐brain communication in health and disease. A variety of strategies have been used to study the impact of the microbiota on brain function and these include antibiotic use, probiotic treatments, fecal microbiota transplantation, gastrointestinal infection studies, and germ‐free studies. All of these approaches provide evidence to support the view that the microbiota can influence brain chemistry and consequently behavior. Efforts are now turning to investigate the role of microbiota in animal models of psychopathology. Animal models of depression are thus essential in studying the complex interplay between the microbiota and brain. Recent studies published in this Journal and elsewhere demonstrate that there is a distinct perturbation of the composition of gut microbiota in animal models of depression and chronic stress. This has direct implications for the development of psychobiotic‐based therapeutic strategies for psychiatric disorders. Moreover, given that affective co‐morbidities, such as major depression and anxiety states, are common in patients presenting with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it may have implications for functional bowel disorders also. Further studies require appropriately phenotyped patients with depression and/or IBS using a judicious use of techniques including functional imaging and in depth microbial pyrosequencing.
Sensory processing: who's in (top‐down) control?
Authors: Ruff Christian C.
Published: August 2013

A major aim of Jon Driver's research was to identify principles by which the brain selects behaviorally relevant stimuli or thoughts for in‐depth processing. His insights have shaped neurobiological models of selective attention that highlight top‐down modulations of sensory cortex as a neural substrate of adaptive behavioral control. In this paper, I review research on the characteristics and neural origins of such top‐down modulations. The studies reviewed show that neural processing in sensory cortical areas can be biased toward behaviorally relevant stimuli and thoughts by feedback projections from frontal and parietal brain areas. Such modulatory influences are similarly present for judgments about external sensory information (during attention) or internal representations (during imagery and short‐term memory), potentially reflecting common neural mechanisms that enhance sensory processing of relevant neural signals. How such top‐down control processes may ultimately be guided by motivational brain systems is a topic of current debate, for which Jon Driver's work will continue to provide important inspiration.
Pass the passport! Geographies of the Rugby World Cup 2011
Authors: Overton John , Murray Warwick E. , Heitger Jo
Published: August 2013

The Rugby World Cup, held in New Zealand in 2011, was a showcase for a rapidly globalising sport involving competition between twenty national teams, comprising over 600 players. This paper analyses the geography of the players’ team affiliations and reveals patterns of labour mobility that disrupt and render complex concepts and definitions of ‘national’ identity. We see that the dominance of professional rugby, particularly by European clubs, is concentrating player resources and revenue generation in ways that suggest an evolving core–periphery relationship. We suggest that the players themselves exercise agency by finding, manipulating and exploiting cracks and opportunities in the complex regulatory framework of the sport. We build a case for a research agenda that maps out these geographies of rugby and traces their implications for understandings of identity and the political economy of globalising sport.