bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ontogenetic differences in the chemical defence of flea beetles influence their predation risk
Authors: Sporer Theresa , Körnig Johannes , Beran Franziska 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Several insect species have evolved two‐component chemical defences that enable the rapid release of deterrent or toxic metabolites upon predator attack. However, whether these chemical defences vary across insect ontogeny and how this affects the predation risk of different life stages has rarely been addressed.

The horseradish flea beetle Phyllotreta armoraciae possesses a two‐component chemical defence that consists of sequestered glucosinolates and an insect myrosinase capable of converting the non‐toxic glucosinolates to deterrent isothiocyanates. Here, we show that the levels of sequestered glucosinolates only varied 2‐fold across beetle ontogeny, but that insect myrosinase activity differed up to 43‐fold among ontogenetic stages.

Specifically, glucosinolate levels were 1.5‐fold lower in the larvae of P. armoraciae than in pupae, but they showed 43.4‐fold higher levels of myrosinase activity. Consistent with the distinct levels of myrosinase activity in larvae and pupae, only larvae released high amounts of toxic isothiocyanates when they were attacked by the generalist predator Harmonia axyridis. P. armoraciae larvae deterred the predator and survived one attack, whereas pupae were killed.

Feeding of P. armoraciae larvae on plants that differed in glucosinolates and plant myrosinase activity influenced the accumulation of glucosinolates in larvae and their subsequent interaction with H. axyridis. Larvae with low levels of sequestered glucosinolates were much more susceptible to predation than larvae containing high glucosinolate levels.

Our results demonstrate that sequestered plant defence metabolites selectively protect specific ontogenetic stages of P. armoraciae from predation. The strong influence of plant defensive chemistry on sequestration indicates that predators have played an important role in the evolution of host use in this specialist herbivore. The distinct life styles of flea beetle life stages and their strategies to prevent predation by biologically relevant predator communities deserve further investigations.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Above‐ and below‐ground biodiversity jointly regulate temperate forest multifunctionality along a local‐scale environmental gradient
Authors: Yuan Zuoqiang , Ali Arshad , Ruiz‐Benito Paloma , Jucker Tommaso , Mori Akira S. , Wang Shaopeng , Zhang Xiaoke , Li Hui , Hao Zhanqing , Wang Xugao , Loreau Michel 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Tree diversity has been shown to promote a broad range of ecosystem functions in forests. However, how important these effects are in driving ecosystem multifunctionality in natural forests, relative to other drivers, such as below‐ground biodiversity (e.g. soil microbial diversity), community‐level functional traits and environmental conditions, remains poorly understood. Here, we hypothesize that tree species or phylogenetic diversity (PD), stand structure, functional traits and soil microbial diversity jointly regulate temperate forest multifunctionality (FM) along a local‐scale environmental gradient.

Using repeated census data from a 25‐ha old‐growth temperate forest, we first quantified eight ecosystem functions and properties related to above‐ and below‐ground nutrient cycling. We then used these to estimate ecosystem multifunctionality using both averaging and multiple threshold (50%, 75% and 95%) approaches. Finally, we used structural equation models to explore how different facets of tree (tree species, functional and PD) and soil (bacteria, fungi and nematode diversity) biodiversity influence ecosystem multifunctionality, as well as how these relationships are modulated by stand structural attributes and environmental conditions (topography and soil nutrients).

Forest multifunctionality was positively related to stand structural complexity but negatively related to acquisitive traits (i.e. community‐weighted mean of specific leaf area). Plant PD had no significant direct effect on FM, but it had a significant indirect effect via increased stand structural complexity. The effect of soil microbial diversity on FM increased with increasing threshold levels of FM and outperformed tree diversity and environmental conditions at the highest threshold level (i.e. 95%). Forests on steep slopes had lower levels of ecosystem multifunctionality due to decreased stand structural complexity. Soil nutrients were responsible for regulating FM via plant trait composition and, to a lesser extent, via tree diversity, stand structure and soil microbial diversity.

Synthesis. Plant PD, stand structure and soil microbial diversity jointly regulated FM, and these effects were influenced by local‐scale changes in environmental conditions. Soil microbial diversity was a key driver of highly multifunctional forests, whereas conservation of complex stand structure and conservative trait dominance could enhance mean values of multiple functions.
Interactive effects of global change factors on terrestrial net primary productivity are treatment length and intensity dependent
Authors: Ma Zilong , Chen Han Y. H. , Li Yongchun , Chang Scott X. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Individual effects of co‐occurring global change factors on net primary productivity (NPP) have been widely studied; however, their interactive effects remain highly debated.

Here, we conducted a global meta‐analysis based on 919 multifactor observations from 120 published studies to examine the interactive effects on NPP of global change factors including elevated [CO2], warming, nitrogen addition, irrigation, drought and changes in species diversity.

On average, of the factors studied, six pairs of factors had additive and two pairs had synergistic interactions. Importantly, some of those interaction types changed over time and with treatment intensity. The synergistic interaction between elevated [CO2] and nitrogen addition became additive at high nitrogen addition rates, whereas the synergistic interaction between irrigation and warming diminished at higher temperatures. Over time, the additive effect between elevated [CO2] and increased species richness switched to synergistic. Other global change factor pairs—including elevated [CO2] and warming, nitrogen addition and increased richness, irrigation and N addition, as well as drought and increased richness—remained additive regardless of their treatment intensity or experimental duration. Interaction types of those global change factor pairs did not vary with ecosystem types assessed in our study.

Synthesis. Our results suggest that the assumptions of static effects through time or ignoring treatment intensity effects will provide inaccurate predictions of the interactive effects of global change factors on terrestrial NPP. Understanding the context‐dependent nature of interactive effects is crucial for validating Earth system models and predicting future NPP responses to co‐occurring global change drivers.
Consumer involvement in emergency medicine research: Lessons from engaging sepsis survivors
Authors: Sills Rachel L , Macdonald Stephen PJ , Williams Briony G , Burcham Jonathon D , McCutcheon David , Cordingley Anne E , Fatovich Daniel M 
Published: February 2020

AbstractCollaboration with consumers is an emerging focus for medical researchers worldwide. Public involvement is increasingly encouraged, and in some cases stipulated by funding bodies, in order to secure financial support. While consumer involvement could be viewed as another hurdle in the funding application process, it can add immense value to research outcomes. However, given the diverse and transient nature of our consumer group, how can we develop meaningful public engagement in emergency medicine research?
Moving eDNA surveys onto land: Strategies for active eDNA aggregation to detect invasive forest insects
Authors: Valentin Rafael E. , Fonseca Dina M. , Gable Sydney , Kyle Kathleen E. , Hamilton George C. , Nielsen Anne L. , Lockwood Julie L. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe use of environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys to monitor terrestrial species has been relatively limited, with successful implementations still confined to sampling DNA from natural or artificial water bodies and soil. Sampling water for eDNA depends on proximity to or availability of water, whereas eDNA from soil is limited in its spatial scale due to the large quantities necessary for processing and difficulty in doing so. These challenges limit the widespread use of eDNA in several systems, such as surveying forests for invasive insects. We developed two new eDNA aggregation approaches that overcome the challenges of above‐ground terrestrial sampling and eliminate the dependency on creating or utilizing pre‐existing water bodies to conduct eDNA sampling. The first, “spray aggregation,” uses spray action to remove eDNA from surface substrates and was developed for shrubs and other understorey vegetation, while the second, “tree rolling,” uses physical transfer via a roller to remove eDNA from the surface of tree trunks and large branches. We tested these approaches by surveying for spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, a recent invasive pest of northeastern USA that is considered a significant ecological and economic threat to forests and agriculture. We found that our terrestrial eDNA surveys matched visual surveys, but also detected L. delicatula presence ahead of visual surveys, indicating increased sensitivity of terrestrial eDNA surveys over currently used methodology. The terrestrial eDNA approaches we describe can be adapted for use in surveying a variety of forest insects and represent a novel strategy for surveying terrestrial biodiversity.
Genetic basis of relapsing polychondritis revealed by family‐based whole‐exome sequencing
Authors: Feng Junmei , Zuo Xiaoyu , Gui Lian , Qi Jun , Guo Xinghua , Lv Qing , Zhang Yanli , Fang Linkai , Zhang Xi , Gu Jieruo , Lin Zhiming 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAimGenetic factors are believed to be implicated in the pathogenesis of relapsing polychondritis (RP). However, the molecular genetic determinants remain to be elucidated. This study aimed to detect the susceptibility genes of RP with whole‐exome sequencing (WES) in a Chinese family and deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis of RP thereafter.MethodA 32‐year‐old Chinese female proband with RP and her family including her mother with RP were enrolled in the study. The genomic DNA of 6 human subjects was extracted from peripheral blood and then gene allele mutations were identified using WES. Candidate variants with low frequency (<0.1%) in the general population and predicted deleterious effects on gene function were identified. Sanger sequencing was applied subsequently to confirm the analyzed gene variants in 12 human blood samples.ResultsNine single nucleotide polymorphism variants from different genes were identified to associate with RP by WES and further confirmed by Sanger sequencing, including Ring finger protein 207 (RNF207), collagen type XXII alpha 1 chain (COL22A1) rs200464636, glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor attachment 1 (GPAA1) rs201424010, recQ like helicase 4 (RECQL4) rs757703895, folliculin (FLCN) NM_144606: c.G838A: p.E280K, DNA ligase 3 (LIG3) rs761808558, NM_207396: c.T425C:p.I142T, myosin heavy chain 15 (MYH15) NM_014981: c.G4462A: p.A1488T, purkinje cell protein 2 (PCP2) rs144974437 and coiled‐coil domain containing 61 (CCDC61) rs777816675.ConclusionsThis study suggests that coinheritance of multigene mutation may contribute to RP predisposition. The candidate genes mutated which we discovered are potential targets for in‐depth functional studies.
The Aggravated Struggle for Regional Power in the Middle East: American Allies Saudi Arabia and Israel versus Iran
Authors: Beck Martin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe present contribution first describes the aggravated Middle Eastern power competition in the 21st century, thereby emphasizing two aspects: the concentration of participants in the regional power game to Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Iran, including shifts in regional power distribution; and the recent trend of entanglement of the Israeli–Iranian conflict with that between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Second, it contributes to an explanation of these developments by discussing the explanatory power of approaches based on three paradigms: primordialism, rationalism, and social constructivism. It is shown that a rationalist school of thought – structural realism – does not perform perfectly but nonetheless does rather well in explaining the aggravated power competition in the Middle East and the entanglement of the rivalries of each of the two American allies with Iran. At the same time, it is shown that the best way of bridging some of the explanatory gaps of structural realism in the case of Middle Eastern power politics is to epistemologically embed insights from rationalist schools of thought in a setting of a positivist version of social constructivism. On this fundament, the article explores a Copenhagen School‐inspired approach of securitization to better comprehend recent developments of aggravated Middle Eastern power conflicts.
Enhancing Europe’s Global Power: A Scenario Exercise with Eight Proposals
Authors: Abels Christoph M. , Anheier Helmut K. , Begg Iain , Featherstone Kevin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn the present context of intensifying competition between the major trading economies and potentially game‐changing technological developments, the European Union is generally seen as the weaker party. Lacking the ‘hard power’ derived from military capabilities, it has laid claim to a ‘soft power’ of normative influence externally, yet even that is only partially utilised. Nor has Europe been able to exercise the power to coerce – ‘sharp power’ – commensurate with its economic weight as a trading bloc equivalent in size and reach to the US or China, its most prominent global competitors. How can Europe strengthen its position, and in what fields? Through a scenario exercise, we develop eight policy proposals aimed at countering Europe´s vulnerabilities and enabling it to assert its sharp and soft power more effectively. Specifically, we consider the feasibility, means and scope for their realisation. Together, they provide a transformative agenda for the EU’s position in the world.
Influences of non‐nutritive sweeteners on ovarian and uterine expression of T1R2 and T1R3 in peripubertal female guinea pigs
Authors: Li Junrong , Shen Ting , Shi Fangxiong , Fu Yan 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe underlying mechanism of taste receptor type 1 subunit 2 (T1R2) and taste receptor type 1 subunit 3 (T1R3) in the hormonal and reproductive system is still elusive. A low or a high dose of sweetness equivalent to that sodium saccharin (SS, 1.5 or 7.5 mM) and rebaudioside A (RA, 0.5 or 2.5 mM) was administered to young female guinea pigs for 28 consecutive days from the age of 28 days. Our results indicated that the sweet taste receptor subunit T1R2 was markedly expressed in the ovary and uterus of guinea pigs, whereas the T1R3 protein was expressed at a lower level. We elucidated that low‐dose (1.5 mM) SS increased body and ovary weight associated with elevated ovarian expression of T1R2 in guinea pigs, unlike the high‐dose (7.5 mM) SS, which suppressed the ovarian expression of T1R2 and resulted in certain adverse effects on ovarian and uterine morphology. Furthermore, high‐dose (2.5 mM) RA increased the number of corpus luteum and elevated uterine expression of T1R2, whereas low‐dose (0.5 mM) RA induced increased secretion of serum progesterone. Therefore, our findings suggest that we should pay more attention to the potential adverse effects, including increases in ovary weight, morphology changes, and increased progesterone that result from the dose‐dependent regulation of T1R2 by non‐nutritive sweeteners (NNS) in the ovaries and uteri of peripubertal females.
Outcome of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in myeloproliferative neoplasm, unclassifiable: a retrospective study by the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the EBMT
Authors: McLornan Donal P. , Malpassuti Vittoria , Lippinkhof‐Kozijn Anne , Potter Victoria , Beelen Dietrich , Bunjes Donald , Sengeloev Henrik , Radujkovic Aleksandar , Passweg Jakob , Chalandon Yves , Kröger Nicolaus , Wulf Gerald G. , Johansson Jan‐Erik , Ciceri Fabio , Bornhäuser Martin , Holler Ernst , Guffroy Blandine , Martin Sonja , Neubauer Andreas , Gramatski Martin , Robin Marie , Iacobelli Simona , Hayden Patrick , Hernández Boluda Juan C. , Czerw Tomasz , Yakoub‐Agha Ibrahim 
Published: February 2020

SummaryMyeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN), unclassifiable (MPN‐U) is a heterogeneous disease with regards to both clinical phenotype and disease course. Patients may initially be asymptomatic or present with leucocytosis or thrombocytosis, anaemia, progressive splenomegaly, constitutional symptom, thromboses or accelerated/blastic phase disease. Treatment strategies are variable and there are no widely accepted consensus management guidelines for MNU‐U. Allogeneic Haematopoietic Cell Transplantation (allo‐HCT) remains the only curative strategy yet outcomes, to date, are not well defined. We hereby report on the largest retrospective study of patients with MPN‐U undergoing allo‐HCT, highlighting the potentially curative role and providing clinicians with robust engraftment, GvHD and outcome data to facilitate patient discussion.
The positive experience of encountering wolves in the wild
Authors: Arbieu Ugo , Albrecht Jörg , Mehring Marion , Bunnefeld Nils , Reinhardt Ilka , Mueller Thomas 
Published: February 2020

AbstractLarge carnivores often impact human livelihoods and well‐being. Previous research has mostly focused on the negative impacts of large carnivores on human well‐being but has rarely considered the positive aspects of living with large carnivores. In particular, we know very little on people's direct experiences with large carnivores like personal encounters and on people's awareness and tolerance toward their exposure to large carnivores. Here, we focus on the wolf (Canis lupus), and report on a phone survey in Germany. We examined whether encounters with wolves were positive or negative experiences and quantified people's awareness and tolerance related to their exposure to wolves. We found that the majority of people reported positive experiences when encountering wolves, regardless of whether wolves were encountered in the wild within Germany, in the wild abroad, or in captivity. The frequency of encounters did not affect the probability to report positive, neutral, or negative experiences. Moreover, people in Germany expressed a high tolerance of living in close vicinity to wolves. These findings are novel and important because they highlight the positive aspects of living in proximity with large carnivores in human‐dominated landscapes.
Modelling bioenergetic and population‐level impacts of invasive bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp.) on native paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) in backwaters of the lower Mississippi River
Authors: Kinlock Nicole L. , Laybourn Adam J. , Murphy Catherine E. , Hoover Jan Jeffrey , Friedenberg Nicholas A. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

While invasions of large rivers by exotic fish species are well documented, assessing actual or potential impacts on native species is a challenge. Rapid assessments may be possible through the application of a combination of bioenergetic and population dynamic models.

Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) is a native species in the central USA with a history of population decline due to waterway development and overharvesting for roe. It is not known whether paddlefish are impacted by resource competition from invasive bigheaded carp populations, including silver (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), which have expanded dramatically in the Mississippi River.

We used bioenergetic models to project the potential impact of invasive silver and bighead carp on zooplankton density and paddlefish somatic growth in backwater habitat. Bioenergetic outputs were translated to impacts on fecundity, becoming inputs for 50‐year metapopulation simulations of backwater habitat connected to the main‐stem Mississippi River by episodic flood events.

Competition with carp reduced growth and increased the risk of population decline for paddlefish. Impacts increased disproportionately with increased carp abundance and were further exacerbated in scenarios with increased diet overlap or decreased zooplankton abundance.

We also analysed paddlefish condition data collected at sites near the lower Mississippi River with varying histories of carp invasion. These data give credence to the bioenergetic model output; paddlefish had reduced body condition at sites with long‐established, high‐density carp populations.

We conclude that invasive bigheaded carps have great potential to reduce paddlefish growth, fecundity, and abundance. The pairing of bioenergetics and population models is likely to be broadly useful in assessing the risks posed by other invasive species.
Deepened winter snow cover enhances net ecosystem exchange and stabilizes plant community composition and productivity in a temperate grassland
Authors: Li Ping , Sayer Emma J. , Jia Zhou , Liu Weixing , Wu Yuntao , Yang Sen , Wang Chengzhang , Yang Lu , Chen Dima , Bai Yongfei , Liu Lingli 
Published: February 2020

AbstractGlobal warming has greatly altered winter snowfall patterns, and there is a trend towards increasing winter snow in semi‐arid regions in China. Winter snowfall is an important source of water during early spring in these water‐limited ecosystems, and it can also affect nutrient supply. However, we know little about how changes in winter snowfall will affect ecosystem productivity and plant community structure during the growing season. Here, we conducted a 5‐year winter snow manipulation experiment in a temperate grassland in Inner Mongolia. We measured ecosystem carbon flux from 2014 to 2018 and plant biomass and species composition from 2015 to 2018. We found that soil moisture increased under deepened winter snow in early growing season, particularly in deeper soil layers. Deepened snow increased the net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) and reduced intra‐ and inter‐annual variation in NEE. Deepened snow did not affect aboveground plant biomass (AGB) but significantly increased root biomass. This suggested that the enhanced NEE was allocated to the belowground, which improved water acquisition and thus contributed to greater stability in NEE in deep‐snow plots. Interestingly, the AGB of grasses in the control plots declined over time, resulting in a shift towards a forb‐dominated system. Similar declines in grass AGB were also observed at three other locations in the region over the same time frame and are attributed to 4 years of below‐average precipitation during the growing season. By contrast, grass AGB was stabilized under deepened winter snow and plant community composition remained unchanged. Hence, our study demonstrates that increased winter snowfall may stabilize arid grassland systems by reducing resource competition, promoting coexistence between plant functional groups, which ultimately mitigates the impacts of chronic drought during the growing season.