bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wide ranging stopover movements and substantial fuelling in first year garden warblers at a northern stopover site
Authors: Stach Robert , Fransson Thord , Jakobsson Sven , Kullberg Cecilia
Published: November 2014

Migratory birds use stopovers to replenish their fuel reserves and they generally spend more time at stopover sites than they do in actual flight. When arriving at a new stopover site birds may need to search extensively to find a suitable feeding area and this search and settling period may affect the duration of stopover. Stopover behaviour can thus have profound effects on the migratory programme and studies on stopover behaviour are important to understand migratory strategies. We followed 51 first‐year garden warblers Sylvia borin with radio‐transmitters at an autumn stopover site on the island of Gotland in southern Sweden. Our aim was to determine the distance birds relocated from the coastal capture site when searching for an area to settle in, and also to establish the duration of stopover and put it in relation to refuelling rate by recapturing a subset of the radio‐tracked individuals. Sixteen birds made an extended stopover (> 2 d), relocated inland from the capture site and settled on average 5.6 km from the capture site, with the longest recorded relocation being fourteen kilometres. Birds that relocated nocturnally settled in areas further away than birds that relocated diurnally. Thirteen birds that continued migration after a short stop carried larger fuel stores than birds that stopped over longer and they remained close to the capture site until departure. Three birds were re‐trapped and showed high fuelling rates, between 0.3 and 1.1 g d–1. They left the stopover site with fuel loads between 40–56 percent of lean body mass, which possibly would have allowed them to reach the Mediterranean area without additional refuelling stops.
Phylogeography of a Holarctic rodent (Myodes rutilus): testing high‐latitude biogeographical hypotheses and the dynamics of range shifts
Authors: Kohli Brooks A. , Fedorov Vadim B. , Waltari Eric , Cook Joseph A.
Published: November 2014

Aim

We used the Holarctic northern red‐backed vole (Myodes rutilus) as a model organism to improve our understanding of how dynamic, northern high‐latitude environments have affected the genetic diversity, demography and distribution of boreal organisms. We tested spatial and temporal hypotheses derived from previous mitochondrial studies, comparative phylogeography, palaeoecology and the fossil record regarding diversification of M. rutilus in the Palaearctic and Beringia.

Location

High‐latitude biomes across the Holarctic.

Methods

We used a multilocus phylogeographical approach combined with species distribution models to characterize the biogeographical and demographic history of M. rutilus. Our molecular assessment included widespread sampling (more than 100 localities), species tree reconstruction and population genetic analyses.

Results

Three well‐differentiated mitochondrial lineages correspond to geographical regions, but nuclear genes were less structured. Multilocus divergence estimates indicated that diversification of M. rutilus was driven by events occurring before c. 100 ka. Population expansion in all three clades occurred prior to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and presumably led to secondary contact. Species distribution modelling predicted a broad LGM distribution consistent with population and range expansion during this period.

Main conclusions

The biogeographical history of M. rutilus differs from other boreal forest‐associated species. Well‐differentiated clades and the existence of secondary contact zones indicate prolonged isolation and persistence in Eurasian and Beringian refugia. Dynamic demographic and distributional changes emphasize the impact of pre‐LGM glacial–interglacial cycles on contemporary geographical structure. The Bering Strait was not a significant factor in the diversification of northern red‐backed voles.
The dissection of a Pleistocene refugium: phylogeography of the smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris, in the Balkans
Authors: Pabijan Maciej , Zieliński Piotr , Dudek Katarzyna , Chloupek Marta , Sotiropoulos Konstantinos , Liana Marcin , Babik Wiesław
Published: November 2014

Aim

To assess the role of the Balkan Peninsula as a Pleistocene refugium for the smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris, and to test whether its genetic differentiation is temporally compatible with the southern refugia model.

Location

The Balkan Peninsula.

Methods

Phylogeographical analyses were conducted using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences sampled from 49 populations of L. vulgaris. A fossil‐calibrated estimate of divergence times among major mtDNA clades was obtained.

Results

We detected seven parapatrically distributed mtDNA clades with very little admixture among populations. Whereas most clades diverged in the Pleistocene, the earliest splits between Caucasian, Anatolian and Balkan clades occurred in the Pliocene. Clades C, D, K and M have local distributions within the Balkans and have evolved in isolation from other groups. Clade L originated in the Pannonian Basin and northern margin of the Balkan Peninsula and recently expanded across central and western Europe. Clades H and E have recently arrived in the Balkans from source populations in the Apennine Peninsula and Anatolia, respectively.

Main conclusions

The history of L. vulgaris involves multiple, independent refugial populations in the Balkans. Only one of them, located at the northern periphery of the peninsula, showed evidence of post‐glacial expansion into western and northern Europe. The Balkans have therefore served as a reservoir of old diversity for L. vulgaris. By contrast, populations at the northern and eastern frontiers of the peninsula have experienced non‐equilibrium dynamics. Our dating revealed that very little, if any, pre‐Pliocene genetic diversity has survived in Europe, despite an extensive fossil record for this species in the Miocene and Pliocene. Differentiation of the European mtDNA clades thus seems to have been primarily moulded by Pleistocene climate change. None of the currently recognized subspecies present in the Balkans are reciprocally monophyletic in their mtDNA. We hypothesize that incomplete lineage sorting and mtDNA introgression account for the observed discrepancies.
Influence of Renal Function on Mortality and Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients Undergoing First Implantable Cardioverter‐Defibrillator Generator Replacement
Authors: WAKS JONATHAN W. , HIGGINS ANGELA Y. , MITTLEMAN MURRAY A. , BUXTON ALFRED E.
Published: November 2014

GFR, Mortality and ICD Therapy After ICD Generator Replacement

Background

Impaired renal function is associated with increased mortality among patients with implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators (ICDs). The relationship between renal function at time of ICD generator replacement and subsequent appropriate ICD therapies is not known.

Methods and Results

We identified 441 patients who underwent first ICD generator replacement between 2000 and 2011 and had serum creatinine measured within 30 days of their procedure. Patients were divided into tertiles based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Adjusted Cox proportional hazard and competing risk models were used to assess relationships between eGFR and subsequent mortality and appropriate ICD therapy. Median eGFR was 37.6, 59.3, and 84.8 mL/min/1.73 m2 for tertiles 1–3, respectively. Five‐year Kaplan–Meier survival probability was 34.8%, 61.4%, and 84.5% for tertiles 1–3, respectively (P < 0.001). After multivariable adjustment, compared to tertile 3, worse eGFR tertile was associated with increased mortality (HR 2.84, 95% CI [1.36–5.94] for tertile 2; HR 3.84, 95% CI [1.81–8.12] for tertile 1). At 5 years, 57.0%, 58.1%, and 60.2% of patients remained free of appropriate ICD therapy in tertiles 1–3, respectively (P = 0.82). After adjustment, eGFR tertile was not associated with future appropriate ICD therapy. Results were unchanged in an adjusted competing risk model accounting for death.

Conclusions

At time of first ICD generator replacement, lower eGFR is associated with higher mortality, but not with appropriate ICD therapies. The poorer survival of ICD patients with reduced eGFR does not appear to be influenced by arrhythmia status, and there is no clear proarrhythmic effect of renal dysfunction, even after accounting for the competing risk of death.
Actinic keratosis with atypical basal cells (AK I) is the most common lesion associated with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
Authors: Fernández‐Figueras M.T. , Carrato C. , Sáenz X. , Puig L. , Musulen E. , Ferrándiz C. , Ariza A.
Published: November 2014

Background

Progression from actinic keratosis (AK) to invasive squamous cell carcinoma (iSCC) of the skin is thought to occur after the development of full thickness epidermal neoplasia, as in the classic pathway of cervical cancer. Nevertheless, cutaneous iSCC may also directly arise from a proliferation of atypical basaloid cells limited mostly to the epidermal basal layer (AK I), akin to what happens in the ‘differentiated pathway’ of iSCC of the vulva, oral cavity and other locations.

Objective

To evaluate the prevalence of classic and differentiated pathways in the development of cutaneous iSCC.

Methods

The epidermis adjacent to and overlying iSCC, assumed to be representative of pre‐existing lesions, was histologically studied in 196 skin biopsy specimens showing iSCC.

Results

AK I, AK II and AK III lesions overlying iSCC were present in 63.8%, 17.9% and 18.4% of cases respectively. The corresponding percentages in the epidermis adjacent to iSCC were 77.9%, 6.6% and 8.3% respectively (stage could not be assessed in 8.1% of cases). Focal epidermal ulceration overlying iSCC was seen in 32% of AK I, 28.6% of AK II and 33.3% of AK III instances. Adnexal involvement by atypical keratinocytes (proliferative AK) was present more frequently in cases with overlying AK I (39/125, 31.2%) than with AK II (8/35, 22.9%) and AKII I (5/36, 13.9%).

Conclusion

Direct invasion from proliferating basaloid atypical keratinocytes limited to the epidermal basal layer (AK I), known as the differentiated pathway, was the most common form of progression to cutaneous iSCC in our series. On the other hand, stepwise progression from AK I to AK II and AK III (classic pathway) was seen to be operative in a substantial proportion of iSCC cases. All AK lesions, irrespective of intraepidermal neoplasia thickness, are therefore potentially invasive and tumour advance along adnexal structures might facilitate iSCC development from AK I lesions.
100 years of Wood's lamp revised
Authors: Klatte J.L. , van der Beek N. , Kemperman P.M.J.H.
Published: November 2014

The Wood's lamp is a diagnostic tool in dermatology. Unfortunately, this useful tool is often overlooked in the busy and hectic outdoor dermatology clinic. To emphasize its value in modern dermatology, we present an updated review of the principles and applications and shed new light on its proper place in our practice.
Explaining the sawtooth: latitudinal periodicity in a circadian gene correlates with shifts in generation number
Authors: Levy R. C. , Kozak G. M. , Wadsworth C. B. , Coates B. S. , Dopman E. B.
Published: November 2014

Many temperate insects take advantage of longer growing seasons at lower latitudes by increasing their generation number or voltinism. In some insects, development time abruptly decreases when additional generations are fit into the season. Consequently, latitudinal ‘sawtooth’ clines associated with shifts in voltinism are seen for phenotypes correlated with development time, like body size. However, latitudinal variation in voltinism has not been linked to genetic variation at specific loci. Here, we show a pattern in allele frequency among voltinism ecotypes of the European corn borer moth (Ostrinia nubilalis) that is reminiscent of a sawtooth cline. We characterized 145 autosomal and sex‐linked SNPs and found that period, a circadian gene that is genetically linked to a major QTL determining variation in post‐diapause development time, shows cyclical variation between voltinism ecotypes. Allele frequencies at an unlinked circadian clock gene cryptochrome1 were correlated with period. These results suggest that selection on development time to ‘fit’ complete life cycles into a latitudinally varying growing season produces oscillations in alleles associated with voltinism, primarily through changes at loci underlying the duration of transitions between diapause and other life history phases. Correlations among clock loci suggest possible coupling between the circadian clock and the circannual rhythms for synchronizing seasonal life history. We anticipate that latitudinal oscillations in allele frequency will represent signatures of adaptation to seasonal environments in other insects and may be critical to understanding the ecological and evolutionary consequences of variable environments, including response to global climate change.
Receptive females mitigate costs of sexual conflict
Authors: Harano T.
Published: November 2014

Males typically gain fitness from multiple mating, whereas females often lose fitness from numerous mating, potentially leading to sexual conflict over mating. This conflict is expected to favour the evolution of female resistance to mating. However, females may incur male harassment if they refuse to copulate; thus, greater female resistance may increase costs imposed by males. Here, I show that the evolution of resistance to mating raises fitness disadvantages of interacting with males when mating is harmful in female adzuki bean beetles, Callosobruchus chinensis. Females that were artificially selected for higher and lower remating propensity evolved to accept and resist remating, respectively. Compared with females that evolved to accept remating, females that evolved to resist it suffered higher fitness costs from continuous exposure to males. The costs of a single mating measured by the effect on longevity did not differ among selection line females. This study indicates that receptive rather than resistant females mitigate the fitness loss resulting from sexual conflict, suggesting that even though mating is harmful, females can evolve to accept additional mating.
Influence of sex and habitat on the size and shape of anal and dorsal fins of the blackstripe topminnow Fundulus notatus
Authors: Welsh D. P. , Fuller R. C.
Published: November 2014

The size and shape of the anal and dorsal fin in the blackstripe topminnow Fundulus notatus from lake and stream habitats across multiple ages and sexes were examined. Differences in the size and shape of anal and dorsal fins were sex‐specific and not related to habitat differences. Males have longer and more pointed anal fins and longer, larger and more pointed dorsal fins than females. These sex differences occur predominantly in the older age class. The angle (i.e. pointedness) of the dorsal and anal fins is tightly correlated suggesting that fins follow a similar growth trajectory as individuals become sexually mature.
Diel patterns of larval drift of honmoroko Gnathopogon caerulescens in an inlet of Ibanaiko Lagoon, Lake Biwa, Japan
Authors: Kikko T. , Ishizaki D. , Ninomiya K. , Kai Y. , Fujioka Y.
Published: November 2014

Diel drift patterns of larvae of the endangered cyprinid Gnathopogon caerelescens in an inlet of the Ibanaiko Lagoon, connected to Lake Biwa in Japan, were assessed in April 2012. Peak occurrence of yolk‐sac larvae was within a few hours after dark. Drift of newly hatched larvae is considered to be an important biological mechanism that ensures larval dispersal and recruitment from the inlets (spawning grounds) to the lagoon which functions as a nursery ground.
Effect of Natural Additives on the Fatty Acid Signatures of Green Mussel Perna viridis L. in a Time‐Dependent Accelerated Shelf Life Study
Authors: Chakraborty Kajal , Chakkalakal Selsa J. , Joseph Deepu
Published: November 2014

The present study identified the freeze‐dried concentrate of green mussel to possess valuable nutritional properties with respect to long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The freeze‐dried concentrate (C0) was stabilized with different ratios of naturally derived antioxidative oleoresins of Rosmarinus officinalis and Curcuma longa along with trace amounts of other natural additives to obtain four combinations (C1, C2, C3 and C4) and was subjected to accelerated shelf storage for 90 days (d90) to understand their role in retaining the desired nutritional composition. A threshold level of oleoresins of C. longa : R. officinalis (0.8:0.4%) was sufficient for optimum antioxidant activity, and further addition of endogenous antioxidants did have negative impacts on stability of the polyunsaturated fatty acid compositions of the green mussel concentrate. The combinations C2 and C4 effectively arrested the isomeric conversion of cis polyunsaturated fatty acids to their trans conformers at d0 and d90 than recorded in C0.

Practical Applications

The nonconjugated olefinic system in the long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the marine products make them susceptible to oxidation, limiting the amount of time that such products can be stored on the shelf. The use of natural oleoresins in meat products and fried foods has been extensively researched and used in commercialized foods. The present work focused to study the use of natural antioxidative additives in increasing the shelf life of the freeze‐dried concentrate developed from green mussel Perna viridis and to retain the native form of unsaturated fatty acids, which are highly susceptible to oxidation. The study demonstrated that a combination of green mussel concentrate rich in long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and naturally derived antioxidative substances might result in nutritionally valuable functional food products.
Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease: frequency of genetic subtypes in a Southern Italy population
Authors: Manganelli Fiore , Tozza Stefano , Pisciotta Chiara , Bellone Emilia , Iodice Rosa , Nolano Maria , Geroldi Alessandro , Capponi Simona , Mandich Paola , Santoro Lucio
Published: November 2014

The objective of this study is to assess the genetic distribution of Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth (CMT) disease in Campania, a region of Southern Italy. We analyzed a cohort of 197 index cases and reported the type and frequency of mutations for the whole CMT population and for each electrophysiological group (CMT1, CMT2, and hereditary neuropathy with susceptibility to pressure palsies [HNPP]) and for familial and isolated CMT cases. Genetic diagnosis was achieved in 148 patients (75.1%) with a higher success rate in HNPP and CMT1 than CMT2. Only four genes (PMP22, GJB1, MPZ, and GDAP1) accounted for 92% of all genetically confirmed CMT cases. In CMT1, PMP22 duplication was the most common mutation while the second gene in order of frequency was MPZ in familial and SH3TC2 in isolated cases. In CMT2, GJB1 was the most frequent mutated gene and GJB1 with GDAP1 accounted for almost 3/4 of genetically defined CMT2 patients. The first gene in order of frequency was GJB1 in familial and GDAP1 in isolated cases. In HNPP, the majority of patients harbored the PMP22 gene deletion. The novelty of our data is the relatively high frequency of SH3TC2 and GDAP1 mutations in demyelinating and axonal forms, respectively. These epidemiological data can help in panel design for our patients' population.
Information Asymmetry in Consumer Perceptions of Quality‐Differentiated Food Products
Authors: Palma Marco A. , Collart Alba J. , Chammoun Christopher J.
Published: November 2014

Increasing consumer demand for quality‐differentiated food products has given rise to a large quantity of food product classifications related to production practices and locations. Some food product claims such as native have no clear definitions and may have ambiguous connotations for different consumers. We analyze whether asymmetry in information affects consumer preferences and willingness to pay for ambiguous claims using the native attribute. An empirical application of pecans is used in the analysis to compare native and improved pecan varieties. With no evidence in the literature of additional benefits of native varieties, the results showed that consumers preferred native varieties. Furthermore tastes and preferences for all product attributes were heterogeneous; heterogeneity in preference for the native attribute was only significant at the 10% level.
A population‐based comparison of the use of acute healthcare services by older adults with and without mental illness diagnoses
Authors: Adams L. Y. , Koop P. , Quan H. , Norris C.
Published: November 2014

Accessible summary

Older adults with mental illness (MI) are a highly vulnerable population and need to be provided healthcare services in a timely and thorough way.

Compared with older adults without MI, older adults with MI spend a great deal of time being hospitalized and hence costing millions of dollars because the care they need is often overlooked and/or not provided. While they end up spending too much time in hospital, in the emergency department and getting readmitted to hospital because of their MI, this could have been prevented or lessened if an adequate assessment and treatment regime was done by clinicians who were well informed on the topic of older adults' mental health.

Older adults with MI are also more likely to leave hospital for long‐term care settings, to die and to have more sickness compared with older adults who do not have MI. Further, they are also more likely to be admitted to hospital on an urgent, unplanned basis.

How older adults with MI use acute hospitals is important for psychiatric nurses to know and understand, as they can help to provide the care needed so they do not have to be in hospital for long periods of time. Psychiatric nurses can share much support and information on making sure older adults with MI are accurately care for when needed.

To explore and compare predictors of hospital length of stay (LOS), acute LOS (ALOS), emergency room (ER) wait times, rate of readmission (ROR) and costs of inpatient hospital care for older adults with and without mental illness (MI) diagnoses in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). This descriptive‐comparative study used aggregate population level data of 12 283 people aged 65 years and older admitted to an acute care hospital in the province of NL. A total of 8.3% of hospitalized older adults had MI diagnoses. Older adults with MI diagnoses had a significantly longer LOS, ALOS, ROR, ER wait time and costs compared with older adults without MI diagnoses, after controlling for medical co‐morbidities. Key variables such as patient demographics, admission indicators, discharge indicators and other medical co‐morbidities had differential impacts on observed service use. While only a small percentage of hospitalized older adults had MI diagnoses, the use and cost of acute hospitalizations was significantly greater than that of older adults without MI diagnoses.
Categorization and understanding of facial expressions in 4‐month‐old infants
Authors: Kaneshige Toshinori , Haryu Etsuko
Published: November 2014

This study examined whether 4‐month‐olds (N = 40) could perceptually categorize happy and angry faces, and show appropriate behavior in response to these faces. During the habituation phase, infants were shown the same type of facial expressions (happy or angry) posed by three models, and their behavior in response to those faces was observed. During the test phase immediately after the habituation phase, infants saw a novel emotional expression and a familiar expression posed by a new model, and their looking times were measured. The results indicated that, although 4‐month‐olds could perceptually categorize happy and angry faces accurately, they responded positively to both expression types. These findings suggest that, although infants can perceptually categorize facial expressions at 4 months of age, they require further time to learn the affective meanings of the facial expressions.
Predicting lexical accent perception in native Japanese speakers: An investigation of acoustic pitch sensitivity and working memory
Authors: Goss Seth , Tamaoka Katsuo
Published: November 2014

Spoken language perception may be constrained by a listener's cognitive resources, including verbal working memory (WM) capacity and basic auditory perception mechanisms. For Japanese listeners, it is unknown how, or even if, these resources are involved in the processing of pitch accent at the word level. The present study examined the extent to which native Japanese speakers could make correctness judgments on and categorize spoken Japanese words by pitch accent pattern, and how verbal WM capacity and acoustic pitch sensitivity related to perception ability. Results showed that Japanese listeners were highly accurate at judging pitch accent correctness (M = 93%), but that the more cognitively demanding accent categorization task yielded notably lower performance (M = 61%). Of chief interest was the finding that acoustic pitch sensitivity significantly predicted accuracy scores on both perception tasks, while verbal WM had a predictive role only for the categorization of a specific accent pattern. These results indicate first, that task demands greatly influence accuracy and second, that basic cognitive capacities continue to support perception of lexical prosody even in adult listeners.
Intra‐articular administration of lidocaine in anaesthetized dogs: pharmacokinetic profile and safety on cardiovascular and nervous systems
Authors: Di Salvo A. , Bufalari A. , De Monte V. , Cagnardi P. , Marenzoni M. L. , Catanzaro A. , Vigorito V. , della Rocca G.
Published: November 2014

The intra‐articular administration of lidocaine is a frequent practice in human orthopaedic surgical procedures, but an eventual absorption of the drug into the bloodstream can lead to toxicity, mainly concerning the central nervous system and the cardiovascular systems. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic profile and the safety, in terms of cardiovascular and CNS toxicity, of lidocaine after intra‐articular administration to anesthetized dogs undergoing arthroscopy. Lidocaine 2% was administered to eight dogs before surgery in differing amounts, depending on the volume of the joints involved, and blood samples were taken at predetermined time points. The maximum serum concentration of lidocaine ranged from 0.50 to 3.01 μg/mL (mean ± SD: 2.18 ± 0.91 μg/mL), and the time to reach it was 28.75 ± 15.74 min. No signs of cardiac toxicity were detected during the entire procedure, and possible signs of CNS toxicity were masked by the anaesthesia. However, concentrations reported in literature as responsible for neurotoxicity in dog were achieved in three of eight investigated subjects. Pending further studies, veterinarians should consider the possibility of side effects occurring following the intra‐articular administration of local anaesthetics.
Pharmacokinetics and physiologic effects of alprazolam after a single oral dose in healthy mares
Authors: Wong D. M. , Davis J. L. , Alcott C. J. , Hepworth‐Warren K. L. , Galow‐Kersh N. L. , Rice S. , Coetzee J. F.
Published: November 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties and physiologic effects of a single oral dose of alprazolam in horses. Seven adult female horses received an oral administration of alprazolam at a dosage of 0.04 mg/kg body weight. Blood samples were collected at various time points and assayed for alprazolam and its metabolite, α‐hydroxyalprazolam, using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic disposition of alprazolam was analyzed by a one‐compartmental approach. Mean plasma pharmacokinetic parameters (±SD) following single‐dose administration of alprazolam were as follows: Cmax 14.76 ± 3.72 ng/mL and area under the curve (AUC0–∞) 358.77 ± 76.26 ng·h/mL. Median (range) Tmax was 3 h (1–12 h). Alpha‐hydroxyalprazolam concentrations were detected in each horse, although concentrations were low (Cmax 1.36 ± 0.28 ng/mL). Repeat physical examinations and assessment of the degree of sedation and ataxia were performed every 12 h to evaluate for adverse effects. Oral alprazolam tablets were absorbed in adult horses and no clinically relevant adverse events were observed. Further evaluation of repeated dosing and safety of administration of alprazolam to horses is warranted.
Comparative pharmacokinetics of norfloxacin nicotinate in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and crucian carp (Carassius auratus) after oral administration
Authors: Xu N. , Ai X. , Liu Y. , Yang Q.
Published: November 2014

Comparative pharmacokinetics of norfloxacin nicotinate (NFXNT) was investigated in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and crucian carp (Carassius auratus) after a single oral dose of 10 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). Analyses of plasma samples were performed using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with fluorescence detection. After oral dose, plasma concentration–time curves of common carp and crucian carp were best described by a two‐compartment open model with first‐order absorption. The pharmacokinetic parameters of common carp were similar to those of crucian carp. The distribution half‐life (t1/2α), elimination half‐life (t1/2β), peak concentration (Cmax), time‐to‐peak concentration (Tmax), and area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) of common carp were 1.58 h, 26.33 h, 6069.79 μg/L, 1.08 h, and 103072.36 h·μg/L, respectively, and those corresponding to crucian carp were 1.36 h, 26.55 h, 9586.06 μg/L, 0.84 h, and 126604.4 h·μg/L, respectively. These studies demonstrated that 10 mgNFXNT/kg body weight in common carp and crucian carp following oral dose presented good pharmacokinetic characteristics.
Post‐grazing and post‐fire vegetation dynamics: long‐term changes in mountain bogs reveal community resilience
Authors: Clarke Peter J. , Keith David A. , Vincent Ben E. , Letten Andrew D.
Published: November 2014

Questions

Are Australian Sphagnum bogs compositionally stable or undergoing long‐term change in response to grazing legacies or environmental change along a climatic gradient? Are these Sphagnum bogs resilient to discrete fire events, and over what time scales does recovery from disturbance take place? How does fire disturbance influence species composition in the assembly of fire‐prone Australian bog communities?

Location

Alpine and subalpine bogs in mainland eastern Australia (Kosciuszko National Park).

Method

Full floristic sampling over ca. 50 yr (1960s, 1990, 2005, 2007, 2013) at 11 sites; each site sampled with 25 quadrats (0.1 m2) haphazardly placed during each successive survey. Sites were stratified over alpine and subalpine elevations, in burned and unburned areas. Changes in species composition over space and time were examined with multivariate and univariate analyses.

Results

The Sphagnum bogs of the subalpine and alpine regions show progressive increases in cover of Sphagnum over the last 40–50 yr. Overall species richness and frequency of dominant woody species declined. These trends were not strongly related to the climate gradient. Fire temporarily reduced the frequency of most species but initial floristic composition was regained a decade after fire. There was fire‐dependent variation related to regeneration of hygrophyllous woody species through seed germination and seedling growth in open ground.

Conclusion

Our results show a degree of community resilience to both grazing and fire, although some observed changes appear directional and the recovery time for grazing was much longer than that for fire. The increase in Sphagnum frequency across subalpine and alpine bogs is likely to reflect progressive recovery of Sphagnum from the grazing era, possibly enhanced by the changing atmosphere. Concurrently, there have been declines in species richness and woody species frequency. The bogs exhibited resilience to infrequent pulse disturbance related to fires, which appear to drive community assembly through cycles of compositional change.
Disturbance legacies and paludification mediate the ecological impact of an intensifying wildfire regime in theClayBelt boreal forest of easternNorthAmerica
Authors: Terrier Aurélie , Girardin Martin P. , Cantin Alan , de Groot William J. , Anyomi Kenneth Agbesi , Gauthier Sylvie , Bergeron Yves
Published: November 2014

Questions

High moisture levels and low occurrences of wildfires have contributed during recent millennia to the accumulation of thick layers of organic soil and to a succession into open black spruce (Picea mariana)–Sphagnum‐dominated forests in the Clay Belt boreal landscapes of eastern North America. In these forests, the anticipated increase in drought frequency with climate change could lead to a shift in forest structure and composition via increased fire disturbance. Here, we quantify the expected changes in fire behaviour, biomass burning and vegetation composition in the Clay Belt forest of North America that could arise under climate change over the next century.

Location

A managed forest unit in the Clay Belt boreal forest of eastern North America.

Methods

The impact of a changing climate from 1971 to 2100 on fire regime characteristics (i.e. rate of spread, fuel consumption, fire intensity, type of fire and depth of burn) and vegetation dynamics (mortality and recruitment) was investigated using the Canadian Fire Effects Model (CanFIRE). Vegetation dynamics were governed by the fire danger and behaviour that affect tree mortality and post‐fire recruitment of species, and by long‐term successional pathways that are driven by post‐fire recruitment and forest age. An ensemble of two climate models forced by three scenarios of greenhouse gas emissions was used to drive CanFIREsimulations.

Results

Results from multiple scenarios suggested that fire danger will increase significantly during the 21st century in the Clay Belt forest. The burn rate was projected to change from 4.2% decade−1during 1971–2000 to 18.6% decade−1during 2071–2100. Stand mortality, fire intensity and areas affected by crown fires were also projected to increase. A shift in forest composition did not occur over the simulation period across most of our fire regime scenarios. Dominance of open black spruce–Sphagnumforests was projected to remain in future landscapes.

Conclusions

Moist and cool conditions in these forests prevent high depth of burn and contribute to the ecological resistance of these forests to increasing fire danger.
A model of plant community dynamics based on replacement networks
Authors: Alcántara Julio M. , Rey Pedro J. , Manzaneda Antonio J.
Published: November 2014

Questions

When a tree or a shrub dies, the space it occupied can be overtaken by plants that were recruiting beneath it or colonized by new species. Such replacement processes can drive the temporal change in species abundance in a plant community. Can we predict the dynamics of a real plant community using observational data on plant–plant recruitment interactions? What would be the relative importance of recruitment interactions vs life‐history traits in determining community dynamics?

Location

Forest communities dominated by Pinus halepensis and Quercus ilex in SE Spain.

Methods

We develop a continuous time non‐linear model that can be easily parameterized with empirical data for the interactions between adult and juvenile plants recruiting beneath them. These interactions form a complex replacement network (or matrix) that is the backbone of the model. We parameterize the model with life‐history data from the literature and from recruitment interactions observed in a successional community 12 yr after a forest fire. We explore the behaviour of the model under different intensities of chronic disturbance, and after modifications of the structure of the replacement network and the values of the parameters.

Results

The model predicts that the current community of the burned area will develop into a forest very similar quantitatively to the surrounding mature forests, as long as the rates of chronic disturbance remain very low. For increasingly higher levels of chronic disturbance, the community would reach stable states resembling a mixed pine–oak forest, a degraded oak forest, an oak dehesa and, finally, a steppe‐like vegetation. All these types of plant assemblages can currently be found throughout the study area. These predictions are less sensitive to variation in the estimates of species' life history (i.e. growth, death and colonization rates) than to variation in the structure of the recruitment matrix.

Conclusions

The model projects realistic community dynamics. The analysis of the model suggest that understanding the structure of replacement networks and how they are assembled can contribute significantly to our knowledge of the dynamics and stability of forest plant communities.
Shrub cover regulates population dynamics of herbaceous plants at individual shrub scale on the Mongolian steppe
Authors: Koyama A. , Sasaki T. , Jamsran U. , Okuro T.
Published: November 2014

Questions

Do shrubs regulate herbaceous plant community by modifying seed and plant distributions at the individual shrub scale? Do the magnitude and extent of effects at this scale change with shrub cover?

Location

A desert steppe, Mandalgobi, Mongolia.

Methods

We compared soil properties, seed accumulation and the establishment of plants of three functional types (annual forb, perennial forb and perennial graminoid) between shrub microsites (on mounds vs mound interspace) at sites differing in shrub coverage (high and low).

Results

Shrub patches (a legume Caragana microphylla) promoted seed accumulation but inhibited plant establishment on mounds, relative to the mound interspace, for all functional types. However, the effects varied with shrub cover, particularly in the mound interspace, with responses specific to each functional type. The accumulation of soil and annual forb seeds increased with shrub cover at both microsites. Additionally, the density of annual forbs was positively related to shrub cover in the mound interspace. In contrast, the density of perennial forbs and graminoids decreased with increasing shrub cover at both microsites, possibly because of enhanced sand accumulation.

Conclusion

Shrubs shape herbaceous plant community by causing differences at the individual shrub scale in seed and plant distributions. Additionally, we showed that individual shrub effects are shrub cover‐dependent: dense shrub stands enhanced the dominance of annual forbs in spite of the negative effect found at the individual shrub scale, whereas perennial forbs and graminoids were less abundant in denser shrub stands. Shrubs can play an important role in structuring plant communities via shrub cover‐dependent variation at microsites.
Influence of rock‐pool characteristics on the distribution and abundance of inter‐tidal fishes
Authors: White Gemma E. , Hose Grant C. , Brown Culum
Published: November 2014

Rock pools can be found in inter‐tidal marine environments worldwide; however, there have been few studies exploring what drives their, fish species composition, especially in Australia. The rock‐pool environment is highly dynamic and offers a unique natural laboratory to study the habitat choices, physiological limitations and adaptations of inter‐tidal fish species. In this study rock pools of the Sydney region were sampled to determine how the physical (volume, depth, rock cover and vertical position) and biological (algal cover and predator presence) parameters of pools influence fish distribution and abundance. A total of 27 fish species representing 14 families was observed in tide pools at the four study locations. The five most abundant species were Bathygobius cocosensis, Centropogon australis, Enneapterygius atrogulare, Lepidoblennius haplodactylus and Microcanthus strigatus, which together represented 71% of the total number of fish recorded. Larger rock pools containing more algal and rock ledge cover hosted a larger and more diverse population of fish. Furthermore, certain species were only found in pools with specific characteristics, such as the presence of loose shells, a variety algae or rock cover, suggesting a high degree of habitat specificity. By contrast, some species were ubiquitous and thus can likely tolerate a wide variety of physical conditions.
Protracted oogenesis and annual reproductive periodicity in the deep‐sea pennatulacean Halipteris finmarchica (Anthozoa, Octocorallia)
Authors: Baillon Sandrine , Hamel Jean‐François , Mercier Annie
Published: November 2014

Halipteris finmarchica is one of the most common species of deep‐sea pennatulacean corals in the Northwest Atlantic; it was recently determined to act as a biogenic substrate for other species and as a nursery for fish larvae. Its reproductive cycle was investigated in colonies sampled in 2006 and 2007 along the continental slope of Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada). Halipteris finmarchica exhibits large oocytes (maximum diameter of 1000 μm), which are consistent with lecithotrophic larval development. Female potential fecundity based on mature oocytes just before spawning was ~6 oocytes · polyp−1 (500–6300 oocytes · colony−1); male potential fecundity was 16 spermatocysts · polyp−1 (5500–57,400 spermatocysts · colony−1). Based on statistical analysis of size‐probability frequency distributions, males harboured one cohort of spermatocysts that matured inside 8–11 months, whereas females harboured two distinct cohorts of oocytes; a persistent pool of small ones (≤400 μm) and a small number (~20%) of larger ones that grew from ~400 to >800 μm over a year. Despite this difference in the tempo of oogenesis and spermatogenesis, a synchronic annual spawning was detected. A latitudinal shift in the spawning period occurred from south (April in the Laurentian Channel) to north (May in Grand Banks and July–August in Labrador/Lower Arctic), following the development of the phytoplankton bloom (i.e. sinking of phytodetritus). Prolonged oogenesis with the simultaneous presence of different oocyte classes in a given polyp is likely not uncommon in deep‐sea octocorals and could hamper the detection of annual/seasonal reproduction when sample sizes are low and/or time series discontinued or brief.
Vibrio cholerae MARTX toxin heterologous translocation of beta‐lactamase and roles of individual effector domains on cytoskeleton dynamics
Authors: Dolores Jazel S. , Agarwal Shivani , Egerer Martina , Satchell Karla J. F.
Published: November 2014

The Vibrio cholerae MARTXVc toxin delivers three effector domains to eukaryotic cells. To study toxin delivery and function of individual domains, the rtxA gene was modified to encode toxin with an in‐frame beta‐lactamase (Bla) fusion. The hybrid RtxA::Bla toxin was Type I secreted from bacteria; and then Bla was translocated into eukaryotic cells and delivered by autoprocessing, demonstrating that the MARTXVc toxin is capable of heterologous protein transfer. Strains that produce hybrid RtxA::Bla toxins that carry one effector domain in addition to Bla were found to more efficiently translocate Bla. In cell biological assays, the actin cross‐linking domain (ACD) and Rho‐inactivation domain (RID) are found to cross‐link actin and inactivate RhoA, respectively, when other effector domains are absent, with toxin autoprocessing required for high efficiency. The previously unstudied alpha‐beta hydrolase domain (ABH) is shown here to activate CDC42, although the effect is ameliorated when RID is also present. Despite all effector domains acting on cytoskeleton assembly, the ACD was sufficient to rapidly inhibit macrophage phagocytosis. Both the ACD and RID independently disrupted polarized epithelial tight junction integrity. The sufficiency of ACD but strong selection for retention of RID and ABH suggests these two domains may primarily function by modulating cell signaling.
Development of predictive models for determining fetal age‐at‐length in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) and their application towardin situandex situpopulation management
Authors: Robeck Todd R. , Schmitt Todd L. , Osborn Steve
Published: November 2014

For wild belugas (Delphinapterus leucas), gestation length estimates based on fetal size have produced extreme ranges.Ex situpopulations thereby provide unique opportunities to define this important life history event. Accordingly, research with ultrasound was conducted on six beluga whales over 11 gestations with known conception dates to serially measure fetal changes in biparietal diameter (BP), thoracic diameter (TD), thoracic circumference (TC), and total length (TL). Incremental polynomial regression analyses were performed on each fetal measurement to develop predictive models for determining age based on fetal size and days from parturition. Gestation length (n= 11) was a mean 467 ± 5.4 d with male calves (478 ± 8.6 d) experiencing a longer gestation (P= 0.04) than females (457 ± 3.9 d). Age atTLwas best described using a 2nd order polynomial model, while linear relationships existed forBPD,TD, andTC. Accuracy was improved for predicting age (P= 0.001) or days prior to parturition (P= 0.038) using data from the firstvs. the second half of gestation. The results provide accurate models for aging beluga fetuses based on size in bothin situandex situpopulations.
Yangtze finless porpoises along the main channel of Poyang Lake, China: Implications for conservation
Authors: Dong Lijun , Wang Ding , Wang Kexiong , li Songhai , Mei Zhigang , Wang Shiyong , Akamatsu Tomonari , Kimura Satoko
Published: November 2014

Poyang Lake is the largest freshwater lake in China and flows into the Yangtze River. It is a traditional habitat for the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise, which has not been well investigated. To reveal the distribution of the porpoise in Poyang Lake, 12 passive acoustic surveys were conducted along 123 km of the main channel of the lake during different seasons (spring transition season, wet season, autumn transition season, and dry season) from 2008 to 2012. We counted the number of phonating porpoises encountered and calculated the detection rate (encountered individuals detected per kilometer). The median porpoise detection rates ranged from 0 to 0.65 individuals per kilometer during the different surveys. The highest median detection rate of 0.50 was detected in the autumn transition season. The seasonal shrinking of the lake during the dry season may cause a concentration of porpoises in the narrow channels and a high incidence of collisions with cargo ships and fishing boats. Conservation actions should be focused on the main channel of the lake during the dry and transition seasons. In addition, the expansion of the existing reserve to include areas with high porpoise detection rates is necessary.
Invited review: Animal models of tauopathies and their implications for research/translation into the clinic
Authors: Dujardin Simon , Colin Morvane , Buée Luc
Published: November 2014

Our aims are to review animal models of tauopathies, which include a number of brain disorders with various aetiologies, including ageing, genetics, infectious diseases, toxins, trauma and other unknown factors. Tauopathies are characterized by the accumulation of filaments of the microtubule‐associated tau protein. The different aetiopathogeneses and distinct molecular events involved in tau aggregation have led to the development of various animal models for these diseases.

In this review, rather than listing all current models, we focus on specific animal models addressing, among others, the question of tau hyperphosphorylation, tau aggregation and tau spreading. Physiological conditions, including normal ageing and hibernation, may exhibit tau phosphorylation and some aspects of tauopathies. However, most of the models of tauopathies involve genetically modified animals (mostly rodents, but also fruit fly, zebrafish and worm). Some of these models have been crucial for the development of therapeutic approaches in humans.

The present review shows the difficulty in pinpointing a specific mechanism that may be targeted in tauopathies but also opens up new avenues for innovative therapeutic strategies.