bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Affecting Migration Timing, Growth, and Survival of Juvenile Coho Salmon in Two Coastal Washington Watersheds
Authors: Roni Philip , Bennett Todd , Holland Ranae , Pess George , Hanson Karrie , Moses Raymond , McHenry Mike , Ehinger William , Walter Jason
Published: June 2012

Recent improvements in tagging technology allow for the examination of the migration of individual fish, the detection of previously unidentified life histories, and the detailed examination of factors affecting growth, migration, and survival. Using passive integrated transponder tags and instream readers installed near tidewater, we examined the migration, growth, and survival of 18,642 juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch in two small western Washington rivers from 2005 to 2009. In most years, more than 50% of the juvenile coho salmon from a given brood year migrated to sea between 1 October and 31 December (fall migrants). These fall migrants were significantly smaller at tagging than fish that migrated between 1 January and 30 June (spring migrants) but were similar in size to fish that were never detected after tagging and assumed to have died. Annual coho salmon survival estimates from tagging to out‐migration ranged from 31% to 40% for fall and spring migrants combined but from 5% to 15% for spring migrants only. The best fitting regression models indicated that survival differed by river and year and was negatively correlated with tagging location (river kilometer) and positively correlated with fish length: larger fish and those tagged lower in the watershed were more likely to survive. The number of days juvenile coho salmon spent in freshwater before migrating to sea was positively correlated with tagging location, fish length (mm), and habitat depth (m) and negatively with density (coho salmon/m2). Our results suggest that fall or early winter migration is a common life history for juvenile coho salmon that is driven in part by fish size and location in the watershed. The exclusion of fall migrants may lead to underestimates of the total number of migrants and parr‐to‐smolt survival.
The Effect of Nonnative Salmonids on Social Dominance and Growth of Juvenile Atlantic Salmon
Authors: van Zwol Jessica A. , Neff Bryan D. , Wilson Chris C.
Published: June 2012

Nonnative species have been shown to negatively impact the native community in which they are introduced. In the Great Lakes, competition with nonnative salmonids may be hindering the restoration efforts of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, a once‐native top predator in Lake Ontario. We examined the effects of brown trout S. trutta and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, two nonnative fishes in Lake Ontario, on the social dominance and growth rate of juvenile Atlantic salmon from three strains being used for reintroduction efforts in Lake Ontario. Using seminatural stream channels, we found that the presence of either rainbow trout or brown trout reduced aggression, dominance, and food consumption of the Atlantic salmon. Brown trout had the strongest effect, increasing aggression levels in the channels by a factor of two and sharply reducing the dominance of Atlantic salmon. When both nonnatives were present, initiated aggression by Atlantic salmon decreased by a factor of three and food consumption halved as compared with when the salmon were alone. Consequently, over a 7‐d time period, standard growth rate of the Atlantic salmon dropped from no change in mass when alone to a value of –0.3% per day when with the nonnative species. Of the three strains tested, one strain was least affected by the nonnative trouts, implicating genetic differences among the strains and suggesting that one strain may have greater poststocking success in Lake Ontario tributaries with naturalized populations of brown trout and rainbow trout.
Genetic Variability in a Recruiting Population of Endangered Razorback Suckers from Lake Mead, Arizona–Nevada
Authors: Dowling Thomas E. , Saltzgiver Melody J. , Adams Deborah , Marsh Paul C.
Published: June 2012

The razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus once was common and widely distributed throughout the Colorado River drainage of western North America. Water development and predation by nonnative species led to a significant decrease in the species’ range and a dramatic reduction in the size of remaining populations. Here, we report analyses of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite variation in larval and adult razorback suckers from Lake Mead, one of the few locations with recent evidence of recruitment. Analysis of three temporal samples of larvae from Lake Mead yielded considerable variation, but it was significantly lower than variation in Lake Mead adults or in larval and adult samples from Lake Mohave, the largest extant population. This pattern is consistent with analyses of individual temporal samples from Lake Mohave, indicating that larvae were likely produced by a relatively small number of adults. The four adult samples spanned approximately 20 years from the early 1990s to the present. Patterns of microsatellite variation were comparable among all Lake Mead adult samples, but variation was lower than that in Lake Mohave, consistent with the smaller population size in Lake Mead. Levels of mtDNA variation in adults were significantly lower for the early 1990s and 2011 samples than for the 2002 samples. The result for the early 1990s sample was consistent with current knowledge of the Lake Mead population's dynamics; however, the reduced variation in the 2011 sample are somewhat surprising, as the Lake Mead population is thought to be expanding in size. Additional spatial and temporal sampling is essential to accurately assess levels of variation and population size of Lake Mead razorback suckers.
Cognitive control in belief‐laden reasoning during conclusion processing: An ERP study
Authors: Luo Junlong , Liu Xin , Stupple Edward J. N. , Zhang Entao , Xiao Xiao , Jia Lei , Yang Qun , Li Haijiang , Zhang Qinglin
Published: June 2012

Belief bias is the tendency to accept conclusions that are compatible with existing beliefs more frequently than those that contradict beliefs. It is one of the most replicated behavioral findings in the reasoning literature. Recently, neuroimaging studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and event‐related potentials (ERPs) have provided a new perspective and have demonstrated neural correlates of belief bias that have been viewed as supportive of dual‐process theories of belief bias. However, fMRI studies have tended to focus on conclusion processing, while ERPs studies have been concerned with the processing of premises. In the present research, the electrophysiological correlates of cognitive control were studied among 12 subjects using high‐density ERPs. The analysis was focused on the conclusion presentation phase and was limited to normatively sanctioned responses to valid–believable and valid–unbelievable problems. Results showed that when participants gave normatively sanctioned responses to problems where belief and logic conflicted, a more positive ERP deflection was elicited than for normatively sanctioned responses to nonconflict problems. This was observed from −400 to −200 ms prior to the correct response being given. The positive component is argued to be analogous to the late positive component (LPC) involved in cognitive control processes. This is consistent with the inhibition of empirically anomalous information when conclusions are unbelievable. These data are important in elucidating the neural correlates of belief bias by providing evidence for electrophysiological correlates of conflict resolution during conclusion processing. Moreover, they are supportive of dual‐process theories of belief bias that propose conflict detection and resolution processes as central to the explanation of belief bias.
Can intergroup contact improve humanity attributions?
Authors: Capozza Dora , Trifiletti Elena , Vezzali Loris , Favara Irene
Published: June 2012

In this paper, intergroup contact was evaluated as a strategy to favor outgroup humanization. We tested a double‐mediation model, in which contact is associated with both decreased salience of intergroup boundaries and the adoption of a common identity. These recategorizations, in turn, are related to lower levels of anxiety and higher levels of empathy, both emotions being proximal predictors of outgroup humanization. The model was tested using structural equation modeling in the context of different intergroup relations: Italians versus immigrants (Study 1); Northern Italians versus Southern Italians (Study 2). Supporting the hypotheses, group representations and emotions mediated the relationship between contact and humanity attributions. The practical implications of results are discussed.
The functions of music and their relationship to music preference in India and Germany
Authors: Schäfer Thomas , Tipandjan Arun , Sedlmeier Peter
Published: June 2012

Is the use of music in everyday life a culturally universal phenomenon? And do the functions served by music contribute to the development of music preferences regardless of the listener's cultural background? The present study explored similarities and dissimilarities in the functions of music listening and their relationship to music preferences in two countries with different cultural backgrounds: India as an example of a collectivistic society and Germany as an example of an individualistic society. Respondents were asked to what degree their favorite music serves several functions in their life. The functions were summarized in seven main groups: background entertainment, prompt for memories, diversion, emotion regulation, self‐regulation, self‐reflection, and social bonding. Results indicate a strong similarity of the functions of people's favorite music for Indian and German listeners. Among the Indians, all of the seven functions were rated as meaningful; among the Germans, this was the case for all functions except emotion regulation. However, a pronounced dissimilarity was found in the predictive power of the functions of music for the strength of music preference, which was much stronger for Germans than for Indians. In India, the functions of music most predictive for music preference were diversion, self‐reflection, and social bonding. In Germany, the most predictive functions were emotion regulation, diversion, self‐reflection, prompt for memories, and social bonding. It is concluded that potential cultural differences hardly apply to the functional use of music in everyday life, but they do so with respect to the impact of the functions on the development of music preference. The present results are consistent with the assumption that members of a collectivistic society tend to set a higher value on their social and societal integration and their connectedness to each other than do members of individualistic societies.
The processes of inference
Authors: Khemlani Sangeet , Johnson-Laird P.N.
Published: June 2012

Mental models represent possibilities, and the theory of mental models postulates three systems of mental processes underlying inference: (0) the construction of an intensional representation of a premise's meaning – a process guided by a parser; (1) the building of an initial mental model from the intension, and the drawing of a conclusion based on heuristics and the model; and (2) on some occasions, the search for alternative models, such as a counterexample in which the conclusion is false. System 0 is linguistic, and it may be autonomous. System 1 is rapid and prone to systematic errors, because it makes no use of a working memory for intermediate results. System 2 has access to working memory, and so it can carry out recursive processes, such as the construction of alternative models. However, it too is fallible when the limited processing capacity of working memory becomes overburdened. The three systems are embodied in a unified computational implementation of the model theory, called mReasoner, which is a recent departure in the theory. We review its three systems as they apply to reasoning about the properties of sets of individuals, and we explore how these systems can be extended to other domains of reasoning.
A simple and convenient set-up for high-temperature Brillouin light scattering
Authors: Guerette Michael , Huang Liping
Published: June 2012

An emulated platelet geometry (or reflection-induced platelet geometry) is employed to collect photons scattered from both longitudinal and transverse acoustic waves travelling within a bulk transparent sample sitting on a reflective Pt plate. Temperature of the sample was controlled with a Linkam TS1500 optical furnace (maximum temperature of 1500 °C). This simple and convenient set-up allows a full determination of elastic constants of transparent materials in situ as a function of temperature from Brillouin light scattering. Structural information can be gained at the same time by guiding the scattered light into a Raman spectrometer using a flipping mirror or a beam splitter. We will demonstrate the applications of this set-up in transparent inorganic glasses, but it can be easily extended to any other transparent materials, either crystalline or amorphous in nature.
Surface structure and field emission properties of cost effectively synthesized zinc oxide nanowire/multiwalled carbon nanotube heterojunction arrays
Authors: Nayeri F Dehghan , Darbari S , Soleimani E A , Mohajerzadeh S
Published: June 2012

A cost-effective and efficient approach for the synthesis of single-crystalline zinc oxide nanowires on vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) array is presented. ZnO nanowires are grown on the base of individual CNT through the low-temperature wet-chemical batch deposition technique, while the size and interspacing of the nanowires can be controlled by precursor concentration, growth temperature and time duration. The scanning electron microscopy image showed that the ZnO nanostructures are successfully grown on the CNT's surface uniformly. The produced nanostructures are characterized by x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Also, field emission characteristics of the fabricated double-stage ZnO nanowire/CNT array are investigated and compared with the emission behaviour of CNT and ZnO nanowire arrays. The ZnO nanowire/CNT heterojunction array resulted in a low turn-on field of 1.5 V µm−1 and a threshold field of 4.5 V µm−1, which were lower than both the vertical CNT and ZnO arrays. The field emission properties and stability of the fabricated nanostructures also demonstrated great potential for field emission applications.
Theoretical computation of thermophysical properties of high-temperature F2, CF4, C2F2, C2F4, C2F6, C3F6 and C3F8 plasmas
Authors: Wang WeiZong , Wu Yi , Rong MingZhe , Éhn László , Černušák Ivan
Published: June 2012

The calculated values of thermodynamic and transport properties of pure F2 and fluorocarbon compounds CF4, C2F2, C2F4, C2F6, C3F6 and C3F8 at high temperatures are presented in this paper. The thermodynamic properties are determined by the method of Gibbs free energy minimization, using standard thermodynamic tables. The transport properties, including electron diffusion coefficients, viscosity, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity, are evaluated using the Chapman–Enskog method expanded up to the third-order approximation (second order for viscosity). The most accurate cross-section data that could be located are used to evaluate collision integrals. The calculations based on the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium are performed for atmospheric-pressure plasmas in the temperature range from 300 to 30 000 K for different pressures between 0.1 and 10 atm. The results of F2, CF4, C2F2, C2F4 and C2F6 are compared with those of previously published studies. Larger discrepancies occur for transport coefficients; these are explained in terms of the different values of the collision integrals that were used. The results presented here are expected to be more accurate because of the improved collision integrals employed.
Boundary-connectivity via graph theory
Authors: Timár Ádám
Published: June 2012

We generalize theorems of Kesten and Deuschel-Pisztora about the connectedness of the exterior boundary of a connected subset of

Z

d

\mathbb {Z}^d

, where “connectedness” and “boundary” are understood with respect to various graphs on the vertices of

Z

d

\mathbb {Z}^d

. These theorems are widely used in statistical physics and related areas of probability. We provide simple and elementary proofs of their results. It turns out that the proper way of viewing these questions is graph theory instead of topology.
Describing free groups, Part II: Π⁰₄ hardness and no Σ₂⁰ basis
Authors: McCoy Charles , Wallbaum John
Published: June 2012

We continue the study of free groups from a computability theoretic perspective. In particular, we show that for

F

∞

F_{\infty }

, the free group on a countable number of generators, the descriptions given in our preceding paper are the best possible.
Accuracy of Ultrasound-guided Nerve Blocks of the Cervical Zygapophysial Joints
Authors: Siegenthaler Andreas , Mlekusch Sabine , Trelle Sven , Schliessbach Juerg , Curatolo Michele , Eichenberger Urs
Published: June 2012

Background

Cervical zygapophysial joint nerve blocks typically are performed with fluoroscopic needle guidance. Descriptions of ultrasound-guided block of these nerves are available, but only one small study compared ultrasound with fluoroscopy, and only for the third occipital nerve. To evaluate the potential usefulness of ultrasound-guidance in clinical practice, studies that determine the accuracy of this technique using a validated control are essential. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of ultrasound-guided nerve blocks of the cervical zygapophysial joints using fluoroscopy as control.

Methods

Sixty volunteers were studied. Ultrasound-imaging was used to place the needle to the bony target of cervical zygapophysial joint nerve blocks. The levels of needle placement were determined randomly (three levels per volunteer). After ultrasound-guided needle placement and application of 0.2 ml contrast dye, fluoroscopic imaging was performed for later evaluation by a blinded pain physician and considered as gold standard. Raw agreement, chance-corrected agreement κ, and chance-independent agreement Φ between the ultrasound-guided placement and the assessment using fluoroscopy were calculated to quantify accuracy.

Results

One hundred eighty needles were placed in 60 volunteers. Raw agreement was 87% (95% CI 81-91%), κ was 0.74 (0.64-0.83), and Φ 0.99 (0.99-0.99). Accuracy varied significantly between the different cervical nerves: it was low for the C7 medial branch, whereas all other levels showed very good accuracy.

Conclusions

Ultrasound-imaging is an accurate technique for performing cervical zygapophysial joint nerve blocks in volunteers, except for the medial branch blocks of C7.
USP11 augments TGFβ signalling by deubiquitylating ALK5
Authors: Al-Salihi Mazin A. , Herhaus Lina , Macartney Thomas , Sapkota Gopal P.
Published: June 2012

The TGFβ receptors signal through phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of SMAD2/3. SMAD7, a transcriptional target of TGFβ signals, negatively regulates the TGFβ pathway by recruiting E3 ubiquitin ligases and targeting TGFβ receptors for ubiquitin-mediated degradation. In this report, we identify a deubiquitylating enzyme USP11 as an interactor of SMAD7. USP11 enhances TGFβ signalling and can override the negative effects of SMAD7. USP11 interacts with and deubiquitylates the type I TGFβ receptor (ALK5), resulting in enhanced TGFβ-induced gene transcription. The deubiquitylase activity of USP11 is required to enhance TGFβ-induced gene transcription.
RNAi
-mediated depletion of USP11 results in inhibition of TGFβ-induced SMAD2/3 phosphorylation and TGFβ-mediated transcriptional responses. Central to TGFβ pathway signalling in early embryogenesis and carcinogenesis is TGFβ-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition. USP11 depletion results in inhibition of TGFβ-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition.
Replication-dependent downregulation of cellular angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 protein expression by human coronavirus NL63
Authors: Dijkman Ronald , Jebbink Maarten F. , Deijs Martin , Milewska Aleksandra , Pyrc Krzysztof , Buelow Elena , van der Bijl Anna , van der Hoek Lia
Published: June 2012

Like severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), human coronavirus (HCoV)-NL63 employs angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor for cellular entry. SARS-CoV infection causes robust downregulation of cellular ACE2 expression levels and it has been suggested that the SARS-CoV effect on ACE2 is involved in the severity of disease. We investigated whether cellular ACE2 downregulation occurs at optimal replication conditions of HCoV-NL63 infection. The expression of the homologue of ACE2, the ACE protein not used as a receptor by HCoV-NL63, was measured as a control. A specific decrease for ACE2 protein level was observed when HCoV-NL63 was cultured at 34 °C. Culturing the virus at the suboptimal temperature of 37 °C resulted in low replication of the virus and the effect on ACE2 expression was lost. We conclude that the decline of ACE2 expression is dependent on the efficiency of HCoV-NL63 replication, and that HCoV-NL63 and SARS-CoV both affect cellular ACE2 expression during infection.
Arabidopsis Class I and Class II TCP Transcription Factors Regulate Jasmonic Acid Metabolism and Leaf Development Antagonistically
Authors: Danisman Selahattin , van der Wal Froukje , Dhondt Stijn , Waites Richard , de Folter Stefan , Bimbo Andrea , van Dijk Aalt DJ , Muino Jose M. , Cutri Lucas , Dornelas Marcelo C. , Angenent Gerco C. , Immink Richard G.H.
Published: June 2012

TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR1 (TCP) transcription factors control developmental processes in plants. The 24 TCP transcription factors encoded in the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genome are divided into two classes, class I and class II TCPs, which are proposed to act antagonistically. We performed a detailed phenotypic analysis of the class I tcp20 mutant, showing an increase in leaf pavement cell sizes in 10-d-old seedlings. Subsequently, a glucocorticoid receptor induction assay was performed, aiming to identify potential target genes of the TCP20 protein during leaf development. The LIPOXYGENASE2 (LOX2) and class I TCP9 genes were identified as TCP20 targets, and binding of TCP20 to their regulatory sequences could be confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses. LOX2 encodes for a jasmonate biosynthesis gene, which is also targeted by class II TCP proteins that are under the control of the microRNA JAGGED AND WAVY (JAW), although in an antagonistic manner. Mutation of TCP9, the second identified TCP20 target, resulted in increased pavement cell sizes during early leaf developmental stages. Analysis of senescence in the single tcp9 and tcp20 mutants and the tcp9tcp20 double mutants showed an earlier onset of this process in comparison with wild-type control plants in the double mutant only. Both the cell size and senescence phenotypes are opposite to the known class II TCP mutant phenotype in JAW plants. Altogether, these results point to an antagonistic function of class I and class II TCP proteins in the control of leaf development via the jasmonate signaling pathway.
Structure of the regulatory domain of the LysR family regulator NMB2055 (MetR-like protein) fromNeisseria meningitidis
Authors: Sainsbury Sarah , Ren Jingshan , Saunders Nigel J. , Stuart David I. , Owens Raymond J.
Published: June 2012

The crystal structure of the regulatory domain of NMB2055, a putative MetR regulator fromNeisseria meningitidis, is reported at 2.5 Å resolution. The structure revealed that there is a disulfide bond inside the predicted effector-binding pocket of the regulatory domain. Mutation of the cysteines (Cys103 and Cys106) that form the disulfide bond to serines resulted in significant changes to the structure of the effector pocket. Taken together with the high degree of conservation of these cysteine residues within MetR-related transcription factors, it is suggested that the Cys103 and Cys106 residues play an important role in the function of MetR regulators.
Effect of a herbal extract containing curcumin and piperine on midazolam, flurbiprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers
Authors: Volak Laurie P. , Hanley Michael J. , Masse Gina , Hazarika Suwagmani , Harmatz Jerold S. , Badmaev Vladimir , Majeed Muhammed , Greenblatt David J. , Court Michael H.
Published: June 2012

Aims

Turmeric extract derived curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin) are currently being evaluated for the treatment of cancer and Alzheimer's dementia. Previous in vitro studies indicate that curcuminoids and piperine (a black pepper derivative that enhances curcuminoid bioavailability) could inhibit human CYP3A, CYP2C9, UGT and SULT dependent drug metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine whether a commercially available curcuminoid/piperine extract alters the pharmacokinetic disposition of probe drugs for these enzymes in human volunteers.

Methods

A randomized placebo‐controlled six way crossover study was conducted in eight healthy volunteers. A standardized curcuminoid/piperine preparation (4 g curcuminoids plus 24 mg piperine) or matched placebo was given orally four times over 2 days before oral administration of midazolam (CYP3A probe), flurbiprofen (CYP2C9 probe) or paracetamol (acetaminophen) (dual UGT and SULT probe). Plasma and urine concentrations of drugs, metabolites and herbals were measured by HPLC. Subject sedation and electroencephalograph effects were also measured following midazolam dosing.

Results

Compared with placebo, the curcuminoid/piperine treatment produced no meaningful changes in plasma Cmax, AUC, clearance, elimination half‐life or metabolite levels of midazolam, flurbiprofen or paracetamol (α = 0.05, paired t‐tests). There was also no effect of curcuminoid/piperine treatment on the pharmacodynamics of midazolam. Although curcuminoid and piperine concentrations were readily measured in plasma following glucuronidase/sulfatase treatment, unconjugated concentrations were consistently below the assay thresholds (0.05–0.08 μm and 0.6 μm, respectively).

Conclusion

The results indicate that short term use of this piperine‐enhanced curcuminoid preparation is unlikely to result in a clinically significant interaction involving CYP3A, CYP2C9 or the paracetamol conjugation enzymes.
Effects of irradiance on diel and seasonal patterns of nutrient uptake by stream periphyton
Authors: MATHESON FLEUR E. , QUINN JOHN M. , MARTIN MICHAEL L.
Published: June 2012

1. Irradiance strongly affects the abundance of stream periphyton communities that in turn influence patterns of instream nutrient uptake. We examined relationships between irradiance and periphyton nutrient uptake taking into account diel and seasonal variation in ambient irradiance.

2. Uptake of dissolved N, P and C by periphyton as areal uptake (U) and demand (Vf) was determined under 11 irradiance levels (0–100% of ambient conditions) using shallow stream‐side experimental channels. Experiments were conducted once per season over one annual cycle with both day and night uptake rates assessed, together with periphyton biomass and autotrophic production rates.

3. No consistent diel variation in areal uptake or demand was detected for the predominant inorganic or total dissolved nutrients even at the highest irradiances. Lack of variation may indicate nutrient limitation, with photosynthetic sequestration and storage of C during the day for subsequent utilisation at night. Alternatively, oxygen consumption by photoautotrophs at night may stimulate compensatory heterotrophic uptake (e.g. denitrification).

4. In all seasons, release of dissolved organic N was detected during the day but to a lesser extent at night. This was not directly related to irradiance levels, indicating that heterotrophic metabolism (e.g. microbial decomposition) contributes to this phenomenon.

5. Areal uptake and demand for the predominant inorganic and total dissolved nutrients increased in response to increasing irradiance in some or all seasons, but rates were typically higher during the spring and summer. Saturation of areal uptake and demand at elevated irradiances was evident during the spring. demand was also saturated at higher irradiances in the summer and autumn. Maximum demand was comparable during spring and summer, but saturation occurred at lower irradiance in summer (24 h average 135–145 μmol m−2 s−1) relative to spring (312–424 μmol m−2 s−1), indicating more efficient nutrient uptake in summer. Higher total periphyton biomass in summer, but comparable autotrophic biomass (chlorophyll a), implies that heterotrophic metabolism may contribute to this greater efficiency. In spring, autotrophic biomass peaked at an irradiance level of 225 μmol m−2 s−1, also suggesting a role for heterotrophic metabolism in demand at higher irradiances.

6. The results of this study show that irradiance levels exert a strong influence on the nature and quantity of instream nutrient uptake with N demand saturated at elevated irradiance levels during the spring, summer and autumn. Our results also suggest that heterotrophic metabolism makes a measurable contribution to instream nutrient uptake even under higher irradiances that favour autotrophic activity.
Maternal exposure to predation risk decreases offspring antipredator behaviour and survival in threespined stickleback
Authors: McGhee Katie E. , Pintor Lauren M. , Suhr Elissa L. , Bell Alison M.
Published: June 2012

1.Adaptive maternal programming occurs when mothers alter their offspring's phenotype in response to environmental information such that it improves offspring fitness. When a mother's environment is predictive of the conditions her offspring are likely to encounter, such transgenerational plasticity enables offspring to be better‐prepared for this particular environment. However, maternal effects can also have deleterious effects on fitness.

2.Here, we test whether female threespined stickleback fish exposed to predation risk adaptively prepare their offspring to cope with predators. We either exposed gravid females to a model predator or not, and compared their offspring's antipredator behaviour and survival when alone with a live predator. Importantly, we measured offspring behaviour and survival in the face of the same type of predator that threatened their mothers (Northern pike).

3.We did not find evidence for adaptive maternal programming; offspring of predator‐exposed mothers were less likely to orient to the predator than offspring from unexposed mothers. In our predation assay, orienting to the predator was an effective antipredator behaviour and those that oriented survived for longer.

4.In addition, offspring from predator‐exposed mothers were caught more quickly by the predator on average than offspring from unexposed mothers. The difference in antipredator behaviour between the maternal predator‐exposure treatments offers a potential behavioural mechanism contributing to the difference in survival between maternal treatments.

5.However, the strength and direction of the maternal effect on offspring survival depended on offspring size. Specifically, the larger the offspring from predator‐exposed mothers, the more vulnerable they were to predation compared to offspring from unexposed mothers.

6.Our results suggest that the predation risk perceived by mothers can have long‐term behavioural and fitness consequences for offspring in response to the same predator. These stress‐mediated maternal effects can have non‐adaptive consequences for offspring when they find themselves alone with a predator. In addition, complex interactions between such maternal effects and offspring traits such as size can influence our conclusions about the adaptive nature of maternal effects.
The effect of applying cattle slurry using the trailing‐shoe technique on dairy cow and sward performance in a rotational grazing system
Authors: Dale A. J. , Ferris C. P. , Frost J. P. , Mayne C.S. , Kilpatrick D.J.
Published: June 2012

The effects of applying cattle slurry using the trailing‐shoe technique on dairy cow and sward performance were examined in two experiments in Northern Ireland. In Experiment 1, forty‐eight cows were allocated to two treatments, with or without slurry application. In Experiment 2, sixty cows were allocated to four treatments, a combination of high and normal grazing stocking rate, with or without slurry application. In Experiment 1, slurry was applied during the first and fourth rotations. In Experiment 2, slurry was applied prior to the first grazing rotation and during the second, fifth and sixth grazing rotations. In Experiments 1 and 2, the total inorganic fertilizer nitrogen (N) inputs applied within the slurry treatments were 200 and 133 kg N ha−1, with 280 and 285 kg N ha−1 used within the fertilizer‐only treatments in each experiment respectively. Varying responses of milk yield to slurry application were observed. In Experiment 1, with a normal stocking rate, no effect was observed. In Experiment 2 with two stocking rates, reduced milk yields were observed at both stocking rates. Although not significant, there were indications that this reduction in milk yield when slurry was applied was higher at higher stocking rates.
Antibody repertoire development in fetal and neonatal piglets. XXII. λ rearrangement precedes κ rearrangement during B‐cell lymphogenesis in swine
Authors: Sun Xiuzhu , Wertz Nancy , Lager Kelly , Sinkora Marek , Stepanova Katerina , Tobin Gregory , Butler John E.
Published: June 2012

VDJ and VJ rearrangements, expression of RAG‐1, Tdt and VpreB, and the presence of signal joint circles (SJC) were used to identify sites of B‐cell lymphogenesis. VDJ, VλJλ but not VκJκ rearrangements or SJC were recovered from yolk sac (YS) at 20 days of gestation (DG) along with strong expression of VpreB and RAG‐1 but weak Tdt expression. VλJλ rearrangements but not VκJκ rearrangements were recovered from fetal liver at 30–50 DG. SJC were pronounced in bone marrow at 95 DG where VκJκ rearrangements were first recovered. The VλJλ rearrangements recovered at 20–50 DG used some of the same Vλ and Jλ segments seen in older fetuses and adult animals. Hence the textbook paradigm for the order of light‐chain rearrangement does not apply to swine. Consistent with weak Tdt expression in early sites of lymphogenesis, N‐region additions in VDJ rearrangements were more frequent at 95 DG. Junctional diversity in VλJλ rearrangement was limited at all stages of development. There was little evidence for B‐cell lymphogenesis in the ileal Peyer's patches. The widespread recovery of VpreB transcripts in whole, non‐lymphoid tissue was unexpected as was its recovery from bone marrow and peripheral blood monocytes. Based on recovery of SJC, B‐cell lymphogenesis continues for at least 5 weeks postpartum.
CD4+ CD25− FoxP3+ regulatory cells are the predominant responding regulatory T cells after human rotavirus infection or vaccination in gnotobiotic pigs
Authors: Wen Ke , Li Guohua , Yang Xingdong , Bui Tammy , Bai Muqun , Liu Fangning , Kocher Jacob , Yuan Lijuan
Published: June 2012

The distribution and dynamic changes of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ and CD4+ CD25− FoxP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells induced by human rotavirus (HRV) infection and vaccination were examined in neonatal gnotobiotic pigs infected with virulent HRV (VirHRV) or vaccinated with attenuated HRV (AttHRV). Subsets of gnotobiotic pigs in the AttHRV and control groups were challenged with VirHRV at post‐inoculation day (PID) 28. We demonstrated that VirHRV infection or AttHRV vaccination reduced frequencies and numbers of tissue‐residing Treg cells, and decreased the frequencies of interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) and transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) producing CD4+ CD25− Treg cells in ileum, spleen and blood at PID 28. The frequencies of IL‐10 and TGF‐β producing CD4+ CD25− Treg cells in all sites at PID 28 were significantly inversely correlated with the protection rate against VirHRV‐caused diarrhoea (r = −1, P < 0·0001). Hence, higher frequencies of functional CD4+ CD25− Treg cells can be an indicator for poorer protective immunity against rotavirus. Our results highlighted the importance of CD4+ CD25− Treg cells over CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells in rotavirus infection and immunity. AttHRV vaccination (induction of immune effector responses) reduced the expansion of CD4+ CD25− Treg cells in ileum seen in the challenged naive pigs during the acute phase of VirHRV infection and preserved normal levels of intestinal TGF‐β producing Treg cells post‐challenge. The reduced suppressive effect of Treg cells in AttHRV‐vaccinated pigs would unleash effector/memory T‐cell activation upon challenge. Preserving TGF‐β producing CD4+ CD25− Treg cells is important in maintaining homeostasis. Based on our findings, a model is proposed to depict the dynamic equilibrium course of Treg and effector T‐cell responses after primary rotavirus infection/vaccination and challenge.
A critique of the National League for Nursing/Jeffries simulation framework
Authors: LaFond Cynthia M. , Van Hulle Vincent Catherine
Published: June 2012

lafond c.m. & van hulle vincent c. (2012) A critique of the National League for Nursing/Jeffries simulation framework. Journal of Advanced Nursing00(0), 000–000. doi: 10.1111/j.1365‐2648.2012.06048.x

Aims.  To present a critique of the National League for Nursing/Jeffries simulation framework.

Design.  Fawcett’s criteria for theory analysis and evaluation are used.

Background.  Use of simulated learning experiences in nursing education is widespread; a sound framework to guide educators across the globe in implementing these experiences effectively is essential. The basic assertion of the National League for Nursing/Jeffries simulation framework is that student‐learning outcomes are influenced by the concepts of teacher, student, educational practices, and simulation design characteristics.

Data sources.  A literature search was performed using Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed and Google Scholar to identify studies published in the English language, between 2005–June 2011, where the National League for Nursing/Jeffries simulation framework was tested or used as a theoretical framework for research.

Discussion.  Sixteen publications (two articles in press) from the USA and UK were identified using the framework to guide research; outcomes included increased student satisfaction, confidence, and improved skill performance.

Implications for nursing.  As a newer theoretical framework, the National League for Nursing/Jeffries simulation framework offers promise to guide the construction and implementation of simulation experiences resulting in positive student outcomes.

Conclusion.  Empirically supported definitions of concepts would strengthen the framework and help educators to consistently produce and identify positive outcomes. Additional rigorous research is necessary to further test relationships among concepts and the associated concept variables in the framework. More studies outside of the United States are needed to confirm the framework is relevant to nursing programs in other countries.
Recent phylogeographic structure in a widespread ‘weedy’ Neotropical tree species, Cordia alliodora (Boraginaceae)
Authors: Rymer Paul D. , Dick Christopher W. , Vendramin Giovanni G. , Buonamici Anna , Boshier David
Published: June 2012

Aim  Although hundreds of tree species have broad geographic ranges in the Neotropics, little is known about how such widespread species attained disjunct distributions around mountain, ocean and xeric barriers. Here, we examine the phylogeographic structure of a widespread and economically important tree, Cordia alliodora, to: (1) test the roles of vicariance and dispersal in establishing major range disjunctions, (2) determine which geographic regions and/or habitats contain the highest levels of genetic diversity, and (3) infer the geographic origin of the species.

Location  Twenty‐five countries in Central and South America, and the West Indies.

Methods  Chloroplast simple sequence repeats (cpSSR; eight loci) were assayed in 67 populations (240 individuals) sampled from the full geographic range of C. alliodora. Chloroplast (trnH–psbA) and nuclear (internal transcribed spacer, ITS) DNA sequences were sampled from a geographically representative subset. Genetic structure was determined with samova, structure and haplotype networks. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and rarefaction analyses were used to compare regional haplotype diversity and differentiation.

Results  Although the ITS region was polymorphic it revealed limited phylogeographic structure, and trnH–psbA was monomorphic. However, structure analysis of cpSSR variation recovered three broad demes spanning Central America (Deme 1), the Greater Antilles and the Chocó (Deme 2), and the Lesser Antilles and cis‐Andean South America (Deme 3). samova showed two predominant demes (Deme 1 + 2 and Deme 3). The greatest haplotype diversity was detected east of the Andes, while significantly more genetic variation was partitioned among trans‐Andean populations. Populations experiencing high precipitation seasonality (dry ecotype) had greater levels of genetic variation.

Main conclusions  Cordia alliodora displayed weak cis‐ and trans‐Andean phylogeographic structure based on DNA sequence data, indicative of historical dispersal around this barrier and genetic exchange across its broad range. The cpSSR data revealed phylogeographic structure corresponding to three biogeographic zones. Patterns of genetic diversity are indicative of an origin in the seasonally dry habitats of South America. Therefore, C. alliodora fits the disperser hypothesis for widespread Neotropical species. Dispersal is evident in the West Indies and the northern Andean cordilleras. The dry ecotype harbours genetic variation that is likely to represent the source for the establishment of populations under future warmer and drier climatic scenarios.
Across‐taxa incongruence in patterns of collecting bias
Authors: Vale Mariana M. , Jenkins Clinton N.
Published: June 2012

If biological collections tend to be taken near accessible areas, and the number of such areas is limited, then we should expect a similar spatial distribution of collecting effort across taxa. Alternatively, if researchers working on a given taxon pick collection localities based on idiosyncratic criteria, then there should be no spatial similarity in collecting effort. This study compares the spatial distribution of collecting effort for plants and birds in Amazonia. Collection localities were transformed into a Thiessen network where polygon size works as a surrogate for collecting effort. A correlation between botanical and ornithological datasets, with an adjustment for spatial autocorrelation, showed little congruence in the spatial distribution of collecting effort between the two taxa. This incongruence of the distribution of collection effort among taxa suggests that the identification of priority areas for research, and correction for Wallacean and Linnean shortfalls based on taxon‐specific studies, should not be generalized.
Promiscuous mating in the harem‐roosting fruit bat,Cynopterus sphinx
Authors: GARG KRITIKA M. , CHATTOPADHYAY BALAJI , DOSS D. PARAMANATHA SWAMI , A.K. VINOTH KUMAR , KANDULA SRIPATHI , RAMAKRISHNAN UMA
Published: June 2012

Observations on mating behaviours and strategies guide our understanding of mating systems and variance in reproductive success. However, the presence of cryptic strategies often results in situations where social mating system is not reflective of genetic mating system. We present such a study of the genetic mating system of a harem‐forming batCynopterus sphinxwhere harems may not be true indicators of male reproductive success. This temporal study using data from six seasons on paternity reveals that social harem assemblages do not play a role in the mating system, and variance in male reproductive success is lower than expected assuming polygynous mating. Further, simulations reveal that the genetic mating system is statistically indistinguishable from promiscuity. Our results are in contrast to an earlier study that demonstrated high variance in male reproductive success. Although an outcome of behavioural mating patterns, standardized variance in male reproductive success (Im) affects the opportunity for sexual selection. To gain a better understanding of the evolutionary implications of promiscuity for mammals in general, we compared our estimates ofImand total opportunity for sexual selection (Im/If, whereIfis standardized variance in female reproductive success) with those of other known promiscuous species. We observed a broad range ofIm/Ifvalues across known promiscuous species, indicating our poor understanding of the evolutionary implications of promiscuous mating.
Genetic polymorphism in dopamine receptor D4 is associated with early body condition in a large population of greater flamingos, Phoenicopterus roseus
Authors: GILLINGHAM MARK A. F. , BECHET ARNAUD , GERACI JULIA , WATTIER REMI , DUBREUIL CHRISTINE , CEZILLY FRANK
Published: June 2012

Body condition is an important determinant of fitness in many natural populations. However, as for many fitness traits, the underlying genes that regulate body condition remain elusive. The dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) is a promising candidate as dopamine is known to play an important role in the regulation of food intake and the metabolism of both glucose and lipids in vertebrates. In this study, we take advantage of a large data set of greater flamingos, Phoenicopterus roseus, to test whether DRD4 polymorphism predicts early body condition (EBC) while controlling for whole‐genome effects of inbreeding and outbreeding using microsatellite multilocus heterozygosity (MLH). We typed 670 of these individuals for exon 3 of the homologue of the human DRD4 gene and 10 microsatellite markers. When controlling for the effects of yearly environmental variations and differences between sexes, we found strong evidence of an association between exon 3 DRD4 polymorphisms and EBC, with 2.2–2.3% of the variation being explained by DRD4 polymorphism, whereas there was only weak evidence that MLH predicts EBC. Because EBC is most likely a polygenic trait, this is a considerable amount of variation explained by a single gene. This is to our knowledge, the first study to show an association between exon 3 DRD4 polymorphism and body condition in non‐human animals. We anticipate that the DRD4 gene as well as other genes coding for neurotransmitters and their receptors may play an important role in explaining variation in traits that affect fitness.