bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased hippocampal NgR1 signaling machinery in aged rats with deficits of spatial cognition
Authors: VanGuilder Starkey Heather D. , Sonntag William E. , Freeman Willard M.
Published: February 2013

Myelin‐associated inhibitor/NgR1 signaling has important roles in modulation of synaptic plasticity, with demonstrated effects on cognitive function. We have previously demonstrated that NgR1 and its ligands are upregulated in the hippocampus of aged rats with impaired spatial learning and memory, but it is unknown whether increased expression of these proteins indicates a potential increase in pathway signaling because NgR1 requires co‐receptors for signal transduction through RhoA. Two co‐receptor complexes have been identified to date, comprised of NgR1 and LINGO‐1, and either p75 or TROY. In this study, we assessed the expression of LINGO‐1, p75 and TROY, and the downstream effector RhoA in mature adult (12 months) and aged (26 months) male Fischer 344/Brown Norway hybrid rats classified as cognitively impaired or cognitively intact by Morris water maze testing. The hippocampal distribution of NgR1 and its co‐receptors was assessed to determine whether receptor/co‐receptor interaction, and therefore signaling through this pathway, is possible. Protein expression of LINGO‐1, p75, TROY and RhoA was significantly elevated in cognitively impaired, but not intact, aged rats compared with mature adults, and expression levels correlated significantly with water maze performance. Co‐localization of NgR1 with LINGO‐1, p75 and TROY was observed in hippocampal neurons of aged, cognitively impaired rats. Further, expression profiles of NgR1 pathway components were demonstrated to classify rats as cognitively intact or cognitively impaired with high accuracy. Together, this suggests that hippocampal induction of this pathway is a conserved phenomenon in cognitive decline that may impair learning and memory by suppressing neuronal plasticity.
The dimensionality of ecological networks
Authors: Eklöf Anna , Jacob Ute , Kopp Jason , Bosch Jordi , Castro‐Urgal Rocío , Chacoff Natacha P. , Dalsgaard Bo , de Sassi Claudio , Galetti Mauro , Guimarães Paulo R. , Lomáscolo Silvia Beatriz , Martín González Ana M. , Pizo Marco Aurelio , Rader Romina , Rodrigo Anselm , Tylianakis Jason M. , Vázquez Diego P. , Allesina Stefano
Published: February 2013

How many dimensions (trait‐axes) are required to predict whether two species interact? This unanswered question originated with the idea of ecological niches, and yet bears relevance today for understanding what determines network structure. Here, we analyse a set of 200 ecological networks, including food webs, antagonistic and mutualistic networks, and find that the number of dimensions needed to completely explain all interactions is small ( < 10), with model selection favouring less than five. Using 18 high‐quality webs including several species traits, we identify which traits contribute the most to explaining network structure. We show that accounting for a few traits dramatically improves our understanding of the structure of ecological networks. Matching traits for resources and consumers, for example, fruit size and bill gape, are the most successful combinations. These results link ecologically important species attributes to large‐scale community structure.
Age‐related variation in reproductive traits in the wandering albatross: evidence for terminal improvement following senescence
Authors: Froy Hannah , Phillips Richard A. , Wood Andrew G. , Nussey Daniel H. , Lewis Sue
Published: February 2013

The processes driving age‐related variation in demographic rates are central to understanding population and evolutionary ecology. An increasing number of studies in wild vertebrates find evidence for improvements in reproductive performance traits in early adulthood, followed by senescent declines in later life. However, life history theory predicts that reproductive investment should increase with age as future survival prospects diminish, and that raised reproductive investment may have associated survival costs. These non‐mutually exclusive processes both predict an increase in breeding performance at the terminal breeding attempt. Here, we use a 30‐year study of wandering albatrosses (Diomedea exulans) to disentangle the processes underpinning age‐related variation in reproduction. Whilst highlighting the importance of breeding experience, we reveal senescent declines in performance are followed by a striking increase in breeding success and a key parental investment trait at the final breeding attempt.
Real‐time microbial adaptive diversification in soil
Authors: Gómez Pedro , Buckling Angus
Published: February 2013

Bacteria undergo adaptive diversification over a matter of days in test tubes, but the relevance to natural populations remains unclear. Here, we report real‐time adaptive diversification of the bacteriumPseudomonas fluorescensin its natural environment, soil. Crucially, adaptive diversification was much greater in the absence of the established natural microbial community, suggesting that resident diversity is likely to inhibit, rather than promote, adaptive radiations in natural environments. Rapid diversification is therefore likely to play an important role in the population and community dynamics of microbes in environments where resident communities are perturbed, such as by agriculture, pollution and antibiotics.
Means and extremes: building variability into community‐level climate change experiments
Authors: Thompson Ross M. , Beardall John , Beringer Jason , Grace Mike , Sardina Paula
Published: February 2013

Experimental studies assessing climatic effects on ecological communities have typically applied static warming treatments. Although these studies have been informative, they have usually failed to incorporate either current or predicted future, patterns of variability. Future climates are likely to include extreme events which have greater impacts on ecological systems than changes in means alone. Here, we review the studies which have used experiments to assess impacts of temperature on marine, freshwater and terrestrial communities, and classify them into a set of ‘generations’ based on how they incorporate variability. The majority of studies have failed to incorporate extreme events. In terrestrial ecosystems in particular, experimental treatments have reduced temperature variability, when most climate models predict increased variability. Marine studies have tended to not concentrate on changes in variability, likely in part because the thermal mass of oceans will moderate variation. In freshwaters, climate change experiments have a much shorter history than in the other ecosystems, and have tended to take a relatively simple approach. We propose a new ‘generation’ of climate change experiments using down‐scaled climate models which incorporate predicted changes in climatic variability, and describe a process for generating data which can be applied as experimental climate change treatments.
Assemblage of flower visitors to Dillenia suffruticosa and possible negative effects of disturbances in Sarawak, Malaysia
Authors: Tokumoto Yuji , Itioka Takao , Ohkubo Tatsuhiro , Tadauchi Osamu , Nakagawa Michiko
Published: February 2013

Dillenia suffruticosa (Dilleniaceae), a common pioneer shrub in Southeast Asia, is broadly distributed along roadsides. This species flowers throughout the year and is thought to be a keystone species for maintaining populations of flower visitors. To examine the flower visitors of this species, we conducted field surveys and described the behaviors of each flower visitor species within four different research sites: Primary Forests 1 and 2, Secondary Forest, and Mixed Vegetation. We caught 1087 individuals belonging to 51 species from 11 insect families and one species of arachnid. Most flower visitors belonged to Hymenoptera (98.6% of individuals); Trigona spp. and Xylocopa spp. (Apidae) accounted for 64.0% and 20.0%, respectively, of all caught individuals. According to observations of behavior by each species, effective pollinators may include Xylocopa spp. and Amegilla spp. (Apidae). We compared the research results among four research sites and found that the effective pollinators were not different among sites. However, the number of species and the abundances of flower visitors decreased in disturbed areas, especially in Secondary Forest. This research suggests the effects of human disturbances on the diversity and abundance of flower visitors.
Human activity recognition based on kinematic features
Authors: Hernández J. , Cabido R. , Montemayor A. S. , Pantrigo J.J.
Published: February 2013

This paper proposes a new approach to recognize human actions in 2D sequences, based on real‐time visual tracking and simple feature extraction of human activities in video sequences. The proposed method emphasizes the simplicity of the strategies used, in an attempt to describe human actions as precisely as other more sophisticated (and more computationally demanding) methods in the literature. Specifically, we propose three complementary modules for the following: (a) tracking; (b) feature extraction; and (c) action recognition. The first module is based on the hybridization of a particle filter and a local search procedure and makes use of a reduced integral image to speed up the weight computation. The feature extraction module characterizes the silhouette of the tracked person by dividing it into rectangular boxes. Then, the system computes statistics on the evolution of these rectangular boxes over time. Finally, the action recognition module passes these statistics to a support vector machine to classify the actions. Experimental results show that the proposed method works in real‐time, and its performance is competitive against other state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Analysis of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signalling network with heparin as coreceptor: evidence for the expansion of the core FGFR signalling network
Authors: Xu Ruoyan , Rudd Timothy R. , Hughes Ashley J , Siligardi Giuliano , Fernig David G. , Yates Edwin A.
Published: February 2013

The evolution of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF)–FGF receptor (FGFR) signalling system has closely followed that of multicellular organisms. The abilities of nine FGFs (FGF‐1 to FGF‐9; examples of FGF subfamilies 1, 4, 7, 8, and 9) and seven FGFRs or isoforms (FGFR1b, FGFR1c, FGFR2b, FGFR2c, FGFR3b, FGFR3c, and FGFR4) to support signalling in the presence of heparin, a proxy for the cellular heparan sulfate coreceptor, were assembled into a network. A connection between two FGFRs was defined as their mutual ability to signal with a particular FGF. The network contained a core of four receptors (FGFR1c, FGFR2c, FGFR3c, and FGFR4) with complete connectivity and high redundancy. Analysis of the wider network indicated that neither FGF‐3 nor FGF‐7 was well connected to this core of four receptors, and that divergence of a precursor of FGF subgroups 1, 4 and 9 from FGF subgroup 8 may have allowed expansion from a three‐member FGFR core signalling system to the four‐member core network. This increases by four‐fold the number of possible signalling combinations. Synchrotron radiation CD spectra of the FGFs with heparin revealed no overall common structural change, suggesting the existence of distinct heparin‐binding sites throughout the FGFs. The approach provides a potential method of identifying agents capable of influencing particular FGF–FGFR combinations, or areas of the signalling network, for experimental or therapeutic purposes.
Biological functions of iduronic acid in chondroitin/dermatan sulfate
Authors: Thelin Martin A. , Bartolini Barbara , Axelsson Jakob , Gustafsson Renata , Tykesson Emil , Pera Edgar , Oldberg Åke , Maccarana Marco , Malmstrom Anders
Published: February 2013

The presence of iduronic acid in chondroitin/dermatan sulfate changes the properties of the polysaccharides because it generates a more flexible chain with increased binding potentials. Iduronic acid in chondroitin/dermatan sulfate influences multiple cellular properties, such as migration, proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis and the regulation of cytokine/growth factor activities. Under pathological conditions such as wound healing, inflammation and cancer, iduronic acid has diverse regulatory functions. Iduronic acid is formed by two epimerases (i.e. dermatan sulfate epimerase 1 and 2) that have different tissue distribution and properties. The role of iduronic acid in chondroitin/dermatan sulfate is highlighted by the vast changes in connective tissue features in patients with a new type of Ehler–Danlos syndrome: adducted thumb‐clubfoot syndrome. Future research aims to understand the roles of the two epimerases and their interplay with the sulfotransferases involved in chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate biosynthesis. Furthermore, a better definition of chondroitin/dermatan sulfate functions using different knockout models is needed. In this review, we focus on the two enzymes responsible for iduronic acid formation, as well as the role of iduronic acid in health and disease.
Can lake restoration by fish removal improve the status of profundal macroinvertebrate assemblages?
Authors: Jyväsjärvi Jussi , Immonen Hemmo , Högmander Pia , Högmander Harri , Hämäläinen Heikki , Karjalainen Juha
Published: February 2013

Removal of fish to restore lake pelagic food webs and water quality has been shown to increase the abundance of benthic invertebrates in shallow areas due to decreased predation pressure, while responses of profundal macroinvertebrate assemblages are less well documented.

We used multivariate analyses and a Before‐After‐Control‐Impact design to assess the impacts of fish removal (in total 101 000 kg of percid and cyprinid fish) on profundal macroinvertebrate species composition and abundance and ecological status in two basins of a eutrophic boreal lake.

In the deeper main basin, macroinvertebrate community composition and classification of ecological status were not affected by fish removal, although changes in chironomid abundance and relative abundances of predominant oligochaete taxa were observed. By contrast, in the shallower basin, community response to fish removal was more pronounced and characterised by a marked decrease in abundances of pollution‐tolerant chironomid and oligochaete taxa, resulting in change in community composition and improvement in the ecological status.

Fish removal resulted in no change in trophic state of Lake Jyväsjärvi; hence, the mechanism(s) responsible for the observed changes in profundal assemblages are unclear. A decrease in turbidity and an increase in Secchi depth suggest that concentrations of suspended solids may have decreased, resulting in lower planktic microbial production, indirectly affecting macroinvertebrate community structure.

Our results indicate that a 3‐year fish reduction may have been too short to achieve complete recovery of the benthic communities, suggesting that prolonged food‐web management together with a greater reduction in nutrient loading is needed.
Life histories of closely related amphidromous and non‐migratory fish species: a trade‐off between egg size and fecundity
Authors: Closs Gerard P. , Hicks Andy S. , Jellyman Phillip G.
Published: February 2013

Amphidromy is a widespread migratory behavioural syndrome exhibited by fish (and some aquatic invertebrates) that spawn in fresh water and whose larvae migrate to pelagic marine (or lentic) habitats for a period of early growth, followed by a return migration to adult freshwater habitats. The fitness advantage of amphidromy has been the subject of prolonged debate, and we examined the hypothesis that amphidromy mainly increases fecundity through the production of small pelagic larvae.

We compared egg size (a proxy for larval size) of closely related non‐migratory and amphidromous fish species in the familiesCottidae,Galaxiidae,Eleotridae andGobiidae. To examine how egg size changes in relation to body size within a taxonomic group, we also compared egg size and maximum body size across most species ofNewZealand non‐migratory and amphidromous galaxiids.

Non‐migratory species generally have relatively larger eggs than their amphidromous confamilial species. This particular trait has evolved independently several times in each of the four families of amphidromous fish that have given rise to significant freshwater radiations. Amongst theNewZealand galaxiids, mean egg diameter increased with maximum body length for both non‐migratory and amphidromous species; however, despite the considerably smaller relative body size of the non‐diadromous species, the rate of increase in egg diameter relative to the increase in body size is considerably higher in the non‐migratory fish.

We propose that amphidromous fish maintain a high level of fecundity by producing small pelagic larvae. In contrast, the relatively large eggs and well‐developed larvae of non‐migratory species increase larval survival in what are often relatively harsh and unproductive freshwater habitats. Consequently, amphidromous species are likely to have a competitive advantage over their non‐migratory relatives when close to a pelagic habitat in which their larvae can grow and develop and then migrate upstream, releasing them from recruitment limitation and giving them a local reproductive advantage over their less fecund non‐migratory relatives.

We argue that the persistence and distribution of both life‐history strategies across the landscape depends on the relative difference in the net reproductive return for each strategy in relation to distance from a pelagic larval habitat, as mediated by the relative costs of migration and egg size/fecundity relationships.
Biodiversity in heavily modified waterbodies: native and introduced fish in Iberian reservoirs
Authors: Clavero Miguel , Hermoso Virgilio , Aparicio Enric , Godinho Francisco N.
Published: February 2013

Introduced species often thrive in modified systems, although it is not clear whether they have negative effects on native biota that might also be present or, alternatively, occupy niches that have been left empty due to the original habitat modification.

We used 247 surveys of fish assemblages (48 species in all) in riverine reservoirs across the Iberian Peninsula to analyse the relationships between the species richness of introduced and native fish. Most of the samples (195) were from areas with a Mediterranean climate, while the reminder (52) had a temperate climate.

Mediterranean reservoirs had more introduced than native species, with an opposite pattern in the temperate areas. The richness of non‐natives was positively related to the area of reservoir and human pressures and negatively related to altitude. Native richness was higher in larger and deeper reservoirs and lower in older and more impacted reservoirs, as well as in those with more introduced piscivores.

There was a negative relationship between the richness of native fish and that of non‐native piscivores in Mediterranean reservoirs, confirmed through multiple regression and structural equation modelling. Contrastingly, native fish richness was mainly controlled by variables related to water quality in temperate areas, implying that the negative impacts of introduced fishes in reservoirs can be context dependent.

The presence of introduced piscivores thus seems an important factor excluding many native fish from reservoirs in Mediterranean environments in the Iberian Peninsula.
Climate change reduces the net sink of CH4 and N2O in a semiarid grassland
Authors: Dijkstra Feike A. , Morgan Jack A. , Follett Ronald F. , LeCain Daniel R.
Published: February 2013

Atmospheric concentrations of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) have increased over the last 150 years because of human activity. Soils are important sources and sinks of both potent greenhouse gases where their production and consumption are largely regulated by biological processes. Climate change could alter these processes thereby affecting both rate and direction of their exchange with the atmosphere. We examined how a rise in atmospheric CO2 and temperature affected CH4 and N2O fluxes in a well‐drained upland soil (volumetric water content ranging between 6% and 23%) in a semiarid grassland during five growing seasons. We hypothesized that responses of CH4 and N2O fluxes to elevated CO2 and warming would be driven primarily by treatment effects on soil moisture. Previously we showed that elevated CO2 increased and warming decreased soil moisture in this grassland. We therefore expected that elevated CO2 and warming would have opposing effects on CH4 and N2O fluxes. Methane was taken up throughout the growing season in all 5 years. A bell‐shaped relationship was observed with soil moisture with highest CH4 uptake at intermediate soil moisture. Both N2O emission and uptake occurred at our site with some years showing cumulative N2O emission and other years showing cumulative N2O uptake. Nitrous oxide exchange switched from net uptake to net emission with increasing soil moisture. In contrast to our hypothesis, both elevated CO2 and warming reduced the sink of CH4 and N2O expressed in CO2 equivalents (across 5 years by 7% and 11% for elevated CO2 and warming respectively) suggesting that soil moisture changes were not solely responsible for this reduction. We conclude that in a future climate this semiarid grassland may become a smaller sink for atmospheric CH4 and N2O expressed in CO2‐equivalents.
Vulnerability of terrestrial island vertebrates to projected sea‐level rise
Authors: Wetzel Florian T. , Beissmann Helmut , Penn Dustin J. , Jetz Walter
Published: February 2013

Sea‐level rise (SLR) from global warming may have severe consequences for biodiversity; however, a baseline, broad‐scale assessment of the potential consequences of SLR for island biodiversity is lacking. Here, we quantify area loss for over 12 900 islands and over 3000 terrestrial vertebrates in the Pacific and Southeast Asia under three different SLR scenarios (1 m, 3 m and 6 m). We used very fine‐grained elevation information, which offered >100 times greater spatial detail than previous analyses and allowed us to evaluate thousands of hitherto not assessed small islands. Depending on the SLR scenario, we estimate that 15–62% of islands in our study region will be completely inundated and 19–24% will lose 50–99% of their area. Overall, we project that between 1% and 9% of the total island area in our study region may be lost. We find that Pacific species are 2–3 times more vulnerable than those in the Indomalayan or Australasian region and risk losing 4–22% of range area (1–6 m SLR). Species already listed as threatened by IUCN are particularly vulnerable compared with non‐threatened species. Under a simple area loss–species loss proportionality assumption, we estimate that 37 island group endemic species in this region risk complete inundation of their current global distribution in the 1 m SLR scenario that is widely anticipated for this century (and 118 species under 3 m SLR). Our analysis provides a first, broad‐scale estimate of the potential consequences of SLR for island biodiversity and our findings confirm that islands are extremely vulnerable to sea‐level rise even within this century.
Comparison of p40 (ΔNp63) and p63 expression in prostate tissues – which one is the superior diagnostic marker for basal cells?
Authors: Sailer Verena , Stephan Carsten , Wernert Nicolas , Perner Sven , Jung Klaus , Dietel Manfred , Kristiansen Glen
Published: February 2013

Aims

p63 is one of the standard markers for basal cells of the prostate gland. Recently, it has been suggested that the p63 isoform p40 might be more specific as a basal cell marker. In this study we compare the staining characteristics of p63 and p40 in normal and malignant prostate tissues.

Methods and results

A prostatectomy cohort (n = 640) in tissue microarray format was evaluated for p63 (clone 4A4) and for p40 (rabbit polyclonal) immunoreactivity in malignant and normal tissues. Immunoreactivity of basal and secretory cells was evaluated in a semiquantitative manner and compared case‐wise. In normal tissues, p40 showed highly similar immunoreactivity compared to p63. The staining patterns were absolutely identical in 88% of cases. Additional cytoplasmic p40 staining in tumour cells occurred in 59.6% of cancer cases. Differences were seen in nuclear staining of carcinomas: 1.4% of carcinomas were p63‐positive, whereas 0.6% were p40‐positive.

Conclusions

In most cases, p40 stains prostatic basal cells as reliably as p63, with only minor differences. Aberrant staining of tumour cells is seen more rarely than with p63 (clone 4A4), establishing its higher specificity. However, additional cytoplasmic immunoreactivity narrows its eligibility for antibody cocktails (e.g. with alpha‐methylacyl‐CoA racemase).
Antibiofilm activity, pH and solubility of endodontic sealers
Authors: Faria‐Júnior N. B. , Tanomaru‐Filho M. , Berbert F. L. C. V. , Guerreiro‐Tanomaru J. M.
Published: February 2013

Aim

To evaluate antibiofilm activity against Enterococcus faecalis, pH and solubility of AH Plus, Sealer 26, Epiphany SE, Sealapex, Activ GP, MTA Fillapex (MTA‐F) and an experimental MTA‐based Sealer (MTA‐S).

Methodology

Sealer samples were manipulated and stored for 2 or 7 days. Prepared sealers were evaluated by a modified direct contact test (DCT) for 5 h, 10 h or 15 h with biofilm previously induced on bovine dentine for 14 days. In the control group, the biofilm was not exposed to the sealers. The number of colony‐forming units (CFU mL−1) in the remaining biofilm was determined. Sealer solubility was assessed by the percentage of mass loss after 15 h of immersion in distilled water. Sealer pH was measured at 5 h, 10 h and 15 h. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn or anova and Tamhane's T2 tests, at 5% significance.

Results

At 2 days post‐manipulation, the DCT showed that Sealapex and MTA‐F were associated with a reduction in the number of bacteria in all 3 contact periods evaluated, compared with the control group (P < 0.05). At 7 days, Sealapex had the greatest antibiofilm action at 10 h and 15 h. Sealapex had the highest pH values 2 and 7 days post‐manipulation. Regarding the solubility, at 2 days the highest values were observed for MTA‐F, MTA‐S, Sealapex and Activ GP (P < 0.05). At 7 days, MTA‐S and MTA‐F had greater solubility than the other materials (P < 0.05). AH Plus had the lowest solubility for both post‐manipulation periods (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Sealapex and MTA‐F were associated with a reduction in the number of bacteria in biofilms and had greater solubility. The high solubility and pH may be related to the antibacterial activity of these materials.
Synthetic Pyrethroid effect on blood plasma biomarker enzymes and histological changes in Catla catla
Authors: Muthuviveganandavel Veerappan , Hwang Inho , Anita Vanattayen , Malarani Pattabiraman S. , Selvam Chandrasekar , Hemalatha Moorthy , Pandurangan Muthuraman
Published: February 2013

Alpha‐cypermethrin is an isoform of cypermethrin; it is an active pyrethroid used extensively to control a wide range of pests in agriculture and animal breeding. In this study four groups of six fish were examined. The first group served as a control in fresh water alone, with no pyrethroid. The second, third and fourth groups were exposed to alpha‐cypermethrin for 4, 8 and 96 h respectively. At the end of the each exposure period, the fish were sacrificed, and the required muscle tissues were collected for histological examination. The blood was drawn with heparinized needles and processed for serum enzymatic studies. Serum enzymes such as aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), amylase, acid phosphatase (ACP) and gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were measured at 4, 8 and 96 h. AST enzyme activity was significantly increased at 4 h, whereas ALT and amylase enzyme activities were significantly reduced at all the time points. ACP enzyme activity was significantly reduced at 4 and 8 h, whereas GGT enzyme activity was significantly increased at all the time points. Hepatocyte cytoplasmic vacuolisation and degeneration, rupture of blood vessels, and necrosis was found at all time points. Congestion of blood vessels, bulging, distortion of filaments, erosion and disintegration of blood corpuscles and hyperplasia of epithelium were found in treated gills at 4, 8 and 96 h. Breakdown of muscle fibres, vacuolation and accumulation of lipids and melanin in white muscle were observed in treated fish muscle at 4, 8 and 96 h.
Possible association between TGF‐β1 polymorphism and oral cancer
Authors: Carneiro N. K. , Oda J. M. M. , Losi Guembarovski R. , Ramos G. , Oliveira B. V. , Cavalli I. J. , de S. F. Ribeiro E. M. , Gonçalves M. S. B. , Watanabe M. A. E.
Published: February 2013

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a worldwide health problem because it is a great cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. The transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) is involved in the regulation of numerous immunomodulatory processes. Thus, the aim of this case–control study was to investigate the possible association between the TGF‐β1T869C polymorphism and oral cancer. The genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood of 62 male smoker patients diagnosed with OSCC and 62 smokers without cancer was analysed. The C allele was significantly more prevalent in the oral cancer group than in the controls, and individuals carrying this allele had an estimated 2.73‐fold greater relative risk of developing cancer compared with C allele noncarriers (OR = 2.73, 95% CI = 1.19–6.28). Although T allele was not statistically significant among the controls, considering the genotypic analysis, the TT homozygous genotype showed a protector effect in relation to oral cavity cancer (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.16–0.84). Some clinicopathological features were also analysed for genotype distribution, and no significant differences were observed: tumour size (P > 0.70), nodal status (P > 0.10) and tumour stage (P > 0.70). This is the first report of a study assessing the importance of T869C TGF‐β polymorphism in oral cancer. It is known that the TGF‐β T869C variation results in a Leu10Pro substitution in the signal peptide sequence. Our results suggested that the C allele could increase TGF‐β secretion which suppresses antitumour immune responses and may affect the OSCC risk.
Association of Interleukin 1 beta (IL‐1B) gene polymorphism with early pregnancy loss risk in the North Indian population
Authors: Nair R. R. , Khanna A. , Singh K.
Published: February 2013

C+3953T IL‐1 B single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping was carried out in 140 unrelated early pregnancy loss (EPL) patients and in 198 fertile healthy control women and in chorionic villous samples by PCR‐RFLP. In Indian population, this is the first report on association of IL‐1 B SNP C+3953T polymorphism and EPL.
RNA interference‐mediated depletion of N‐ethylmaleimide Sensitive Fusion Protein and Synaptosomal Associated Protein of 25 kDa results in the inhibition of blood feeding of the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum
Authors: Browning R. , Karim S.
Published: February 2013

The signalling pathways in tick salivary glands that control ‘sialo‐secretome’ secretion at the tick−host interface remain elusive; however, this complex process is essential for successful feeding and manipulation of the host haemostatic response. Exocytosis of the sialo‐secretome in the salivary glands requires a core of soluble N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive fusion (NSF) attachment proteins (SNAPs) and receptor proteins (SNAREs). SNAREs have been identified as the key components in regulating the sialo‐secretome in the salivary gland cells. In this study, we utilized RNA interference to investigate the functional role of two Amblyomma maculatum SNARE complex proteins, AmNSF and AmSNAP‐25, in the tick salivary glands during extended blood feeding on the vertebrate host. Knock‐down of AmNSF and AmSNAP‐25 resulted in death, impaired feeding on the host, lack of engorgement and inhibited oviposition in ticks. Depletion also led to important morphological changes in the collapse of the Golgi apparatus in the salivary gland cells. Our results imply a functional significance of AmNSF and AMSNAP‐25 in prolonged tick feeding, and survival on the host. Further characterization of the factors that regulate exocytosis may lead to novel approaches to prevent tick‐borne diseases.
The Intraday Pattern of Information Asymmetry, Spread, and Depth: Evidence from the NYSE
Authors: Tannous George , Wang Juan , Wilson Craig
Published: February 2013

Studies suggest that investment flows, liquidity imbalances, and institutional trading may create intraday trading patterns and opportunities for investors to time their trades to reduce transaction costs. Motivated by these studies, we divide each trading day into 13 half‐hour trading intervals and measure information asymmetry from price changes, trade sizes, and trade directions. We find that information asymmetry starts high in the morning, drops continuously until it reaches a midday low during Interval 7, rises to a midday high during Interval 10, and drops continuously after. In contrast, neither the spread nor the depth exhibit similar midday extreme values. Essentially, we identify a 90‐min window in the afternoon when net valuable information arrives to the market in high frequency while liquidity is stable, and that may be an opportunity for some investors to time their trades. In addition, we show that market makers employ dynamic strategies that change the spread, the depth, or both to manage information asymmetry. This is particularly evident during the last three trading intervals, where the significant drop in information asymmetry is countered primarily by a significant increase in the depth while the spread is almost constant.
Liabilities of Globalization: Sovereign Debt, International Investors and Interstate Conflict with Other People's Money
Authors: Helfstein Scott
Published: February 2013

Foreign ownership of government debt has increased steadily over the past 30 years with the globalization of financial markets. The increased availability of foreign borrowing may make it easier for countries to pursue bellicose policies by altering the cost–benefit calculations associated with international conflict, giving rise to an underappreciated link between globalization and military action. This has not been addressed because globalization is most often approached through the income statement, such as trade flows, or the asset side of the balance sheet, such as foreign direct investment. A series of empirical tests using time‐series cross‐section analysis of militarized disputes, finds a strong relationship between foreign debt ownership and conflict.
Species importance in a heterospecific foraging association network
Authors: Sridhar Hari , Jordán Ferenc , Shanker Kartik
Published: February 2013

There is a growing recognition of the need to integrate non‐trophic interactions into ecological networks for a better understanding of whole‐community organization. To achieve this, the first step is to build networks of individual non‐trophic interactions. In this study, we analyzed a network of interdependencies among bird species that participated in heterospecific foraging associations (flocks) in an evergreen forest site in the Western Ghats, India. We found the flock network to contain a small core of highly important species that other species are strongly dependent on, a pattern seen in many other biological networks. Further, we found that structural importance of species in the network was strongly correlated to functional importance of species at the individual flock level. Finally, comparisons with flock networks from other Asian forests showed that the same taxonomic groups were important in general, suggesting that species importance was an intrinsic trait and not dependent on local ecological conditions. Hence, given a list of species in an area, it may be possible to predict which ones are likely to be important. Our study provides a framework for the investigation of other heterospecific foraging associations and associations among species in other non‐trophic contexts.
The population ecology of novel plant–herbivore interactions
Authors: Forister Matthew L. , Wilson Joseph S.
Published: February 2013

Many native herbivores are known to attack exotic plants, and we can expect these interactions to occur with increasing frequency in coming years as invasive plants become naturalized and new invaders arrive in native communities. In some cases, evolutionary biologists and ecologists have learned a great deal from insects adapting to novel hosts. However, there is more to be learned and we suggest that the ecological study of exotic host colonization by native insects has been impeded by a lack of focus in the questions being asked, and also from overlap with other areas of plant–insect ecology, including the study of specialization. In the present paper, a conceptual model is described for the colonization of a novel host‐plant, which focuses on the relationship between occupancy and availability. Occupancy is the fraction of patches of novel hosts that are utilized by an herbivore, and availability is the abundance or presence of a novel host on the landscape. Considering the slope of that relationship (between occupancy and availability), hypotheses are suggested that involve dispersal and, most important, population growth rate of an insect herbivore associated with an exotic host. A focus on the occupancy–availability relationship highlights the strengths and weaknesses of common experimental approaches, such as preference–performance experiments. Suggestions for future work are offered that include integration with evolutionary theory and exploration of more complex demographic and ecological scenarios.
Invasive parasites in multiple invasive hosts: the arrival of a new host revives a stalled prior parasite invasion
Authors: Kelehear Crystal , Brown Gregory P. , Shine Richard
Published: February 2013

The success of a biological invasion can depend upon other invasions; and in some cases, an earlier invader may fail to spread until facilitated by a second invader. Our study documents a case whereby an invasive parasite has remained patchily distributed for decades due to the fragmented nature of available hosts; but the recent arrival of a broadly distributed alternative invasive host species provides an opportunity for the parasite to expand its range considerably. At least 20 years ago, endoparasitic pentastomids (Raillietiella frenata) were brought with their native host, the invasive Asian house geckoHemidactylus frenatus, to the port city of Darwin in tropical Australia. These geckos rarely disperse away from human habitation, restricting the transmission of their parasites to urban environments – and thus, their pentastomids have remained patchily distributed and have only been recorded in scant localities, primarily surrounding Darwin. The recent range expansion of the invasive cane toadRhinella marinainto the Darwin area has provided an alternative host for this pentastomid. Our results show that the cane toad is a competent host forRa. frenata– toads shed fully embryonated pentastomid eggs in their faeces – and that pentastomids are now common in cane toads near Darwin. Likely reflecting the tendency for the parasite's traditional definitive host (the Asian house gecko) and only known intermediate host (the cockroach) to reside around buildings, we found the prevalence of this parasite follows an urban distribution. Because cane toads are widely distributed through urban and rural habitat and can shed viable pentastomid eggs, the toad invasion is likely to facilitate the parasite's spread across the tropics, into areas (and additional susceptible hosts) that were previously inaccessible to it.
Bile salt export pump deficiency: A de novo mutation in a child compound heterozygous for ABCB11. Laboratory investigation to study pathogenic role and transmission of two novel ABCB11 mutations
Authors: Francalanci Paola , Giovannoni Isabella , Candusso Manila , Bellacchio Emanuele , Callea Francesco
Published: February 2013

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a heterogeneous group of autosomal disorders. PFIC type 2 is due to mutation in ABCB11, the gene encoding the bile salt export pump (BSEP) protein. The aim of the study was to describe a child with a de novo mutation in a compound heterozygous for ABCB11 gene. We report a 1.7‐year‐old girl who presented with pruritus, jaundice and liver dysfunction of PFIC type 2. Immunohistochemistry and molecular analysis are described. Liver biopsy showed micronodular cirrhosis and immunohistochemical staining for BSEP, the protein encoded by ABCB11, displayed a patchy and faint reactivity. Molecular analysis revealed two novel mutations of ABCB11. We give details that one mutation is transmitted by the mother while the second one appears a de novo mutation as mutations or a potential mosaicism were ruled out in the natural father. We further speculate that the ABCB11 mutations do not prevent BSEP glycoprotein to be expressed at the canalicular pole of hepatocytes, but interfere with its ability to export bile salts. As in most instances, mutational analysis is performed following the histochemical demonstration of an undetectable BSEP on liver biopsy specimen. This case stresses that clinical PFIC with an attenuated rather than absent BSEP immunostaining can still be due to ABCB11 mutations presumably encoding a functionally deficient protein.
Five‐year economic evaluation of non‐melanoma skin cancer surgery at the Costa del Sol Hospital (2006–2010)
Authors: Aguilar‐Bernier M , González‐Carrascosa M , Padilla‐España L , Rivas‐Ruiz F , Jiménez‐Puente A , de Troya‐Martín M
Published: February 2013

Background

The cost associated with treatment of non‐melanoma skin cancer is expected to rise considerably over the coming decades. This important public health problem is therefore expected to have an enormous economic impact for the various public health services.

Objectives

To estimate the cost of the surgical‐care process of non‐melanoma skin cancer at the Costa del Sol Hospital and seek areas to improve its efficiency, using the activity‐based costing (ABC) method and the tools designed for decision analysis.

Secondary objective

To compare the costs for hospitalized patients obtained using the ABC method with the data published by the Spanish Ministry of Health, using the diagnosis‐related groups (DRG) classification system.

Material and methods

Retrospective analysis of the cost of non‐melanoma skin cancer surgery at the Costa del Sol Hospital.

Results

The total estimated cost from 2006 to 2010 was 3 398 540€. Most of the episodes (47.3%) corresponded to minor outpatient surgery. The costs of the episodes varied greatly according to the type of admission: 423€ (minor outpatient surgery), 1267€ (major outpatient surgery), and 1832€ (inpatient surgery). The average cost of an inpatient episode varied significantly depending on the calculation system used (ABC: 2328€ vs. DRG: 5674€).

Conclusions

The ABC cost analysis system favours standardization of the care process for these tumours and the detection of areas to improve efficiency. This would enable more reliable economic studies than those obtained using traditional methods, such as the DRG.
Metformin in dermatology: an overview
Authors: Badr D. , Kurban M. , Abbas O.
Published: February 2013

For several decades, metformin has been used as an oral hypoglycaemic agent, where it is the first line of treatment in overweight and obese type 2 diabetic patients. This is because it decreases the hepatic glucose output and acts as an insulin sensitizer by increasing the glucose utilization by muscles and adipocytes. As a result of the improvement in glycaemic control, serum insulin concentrations decline slightly, thus improving hyperinsulinaemia and its signs. In addition, it has been shown that metformin has platelet anti‐aggregating and antioxidant effects. These pharmacological properties have allowed metformin to be effective in non‐diabetic situations including cutaneous conditions. This is an evidence‐based review on the use of metformin in the treatment of skin disorders such as hirsutism, acne, hidradenitis suppurativa, acanthosis nigricans, psoriasis, skin cancer, among others. In addition, cutaneous side‐effects such as leukocytoclastic vasculitis, bullous pemphigoid, psoriasiform drug eruption, lichen planus and acute alopecia have been associated with metformin use and are discussed in the article.
The precision of the hominid timescale estimated by relaxed clock methods
Authors: Schrago C. G. , Voloch C. M.
Published: February 2013

The chronological scenario of the evolution of hominoid primates has been thoroughly investigated since the advent of the molecular clock hypothesis. With the availability of genomic sequences for all hominid genera and other anthropoids, we may have reached the point at which the information from sequence data alone will not provide further evidence for the inference of the hominid evolution timescale. To verify this conjecture, we have compiled a genomic data set for all of the anthropoid genera. Our estimate places the Homo/Pan divergence at approximately 7.4 Ma, the Gorilla lineage divergence at approximately 9.7 Ma, the basal Hominidae divergence at 18.1 Ma and the basal Hominoidea divergence at 20.6 Ma. By inferring the theoretical limit distribution of posterior densities under a Bayesian framework, we show that it is unlikely that lengthier alignments or the availability of new genomic sequences will provide additional information to reduce the uncertainty associated with the divergence time estimates of the four hominid genera. A reduction of this uncertainty will be achieved only by the inclusion of more informative calibration priors.
Evidence for genetic differentiation in timing of maturation among nine‐spined stickleback populations
Authors: Ghani N. I. A. , Herczeg G. , Leinonen T. , Merilä J.
Published: February 2013

Timing of maturation is an important life‐history trait that is likely to be subjected to strong natural selection. Although population differences in timing of maturation have been frequently reported in studies of wild animal populations, little is known about the genetic basis of this differentiation. Here, we investigated population and sex differences in timing of maturation within and between two nine‐spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) populations in a laboratory breeding experiment. We found that fish from the high‐predation marine population matured earlier than fish from the low‐predation pond population and males matured earlier than females. Timing of maturation in both reciprocal hybrid crosses between the two populations was similar to that in the marine population, suggesting that early timing of maturation is a dominant trait, whereas delayed timing of maturation in the pond is a recessive trait. Thus, the observed population divergence is suggestive of strong natural selection against early maturation in the piscine‐predator‐free pond population.
Parallel episodes of phyletic dwarfism in callitrichid and cheirogaleid primates
Authors: Montgomery S. H. , Mundy N. I.
Published: February 2013

The Callitrichidae are the smallest anthropoids, whereas the Cheirogaleidae include the smallest of all primates. Using species‐level analyses, we show that these are derived conditions; both neonatal and adult body mass decreased in a gradual, phyletic manner in parallel across callitrichids, and across cheirogaleids. We identify lineages with particularly rapid decreases and highlight the pygmy marmoset, Callithrix pygmaea, as a phenotypic outlier. The life‐history traits associated with body‐mass reduction in each clade suggest that the convergent evolution of small body size was achieved by changes in different ontogenetic stages. Body‐size reduction in callitrichids appears to be almost exclusively due to alterations in prenatal growth rate, whereas body‐size reduction in cheirogaleids may have been largely due to reduced duration of growth phases. Finally, we use these results to discuss some of the debates surrounding the evolution of Homo floresiensis and suggest potential parallels between the evolution of H. floresiensis and callitrichids.