bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Habitat type and structure affect trap capture success of an invasive snake across variable densities
Authors: Nafus Melia G. , Yackel Adams Amy A. , Klug Page E. , Rodda Gordon H. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDetection represents an important limitation of accurately estimating population size, abundance, and habitat suitability for wildlife, which can be especially true for cryptic animals. Moreover, for reptiles, juveniles are often less likely to be detected than later life stages. In the case of invasive species, preventing false negatives early in the invasion process can be critical for improving outcomes of control measures. We evaluated habitat structure in relation to catch per unit effort (CPUE) and mean size of trapped invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) on Guam. We used a 5‐ha enclosure containing a known, closed population of brown treesnakes to identify key habitat variables that related to CPUE and mean size of trapped snakes over six years. We then tested the relationship of those variables to CPUE and mean size of trapped snakes at three sites with suppressed snake populations as a proxy for low‐density populations anticipated to occur during early detection of invasive populations. We found that a coarse measure of habitat structure represented by three forest types correlated with trap detections, as well as finer measures of habitat structure, such as distance to nearest branch and the type of trap support structure used. On average, smaller snakes were captured in traps placed higher in the tree canopy. Some, but not all, habitat variables identified as predictive of CPUE and mean size within the enclosed population pre‐suppression were also predictive at the snake‐suppressed (low‐density proxy) sites. Habitat structure around the sampling unit (a trap) affected detection probability and the size of detected individuals independently of the demographic structure of the population. Measuring wildlife‐habitat relationships of invaders in their novel environments may be one method to improve early detection during invasive species management.
Utility of Nd isotope ratio as a tracer of marine animals: regional variation in coastal seas and causal factors
Authors: Saitoh Yu , Nakano Takanori , Shin Ki‐Cheol , Matsubayashi Jun , Kato Yoshikazu , Amakawa Hiroshi , Osada Yutaka , Yoshimizu Chikage , Okuda Noboru , Amano Yosuke , Togashi Hiroyuki , Kurita Yutaka , Tayasu Ichiro 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIsotopic compositions of animal tissue are an intrinsic marker commonly used to trace animal origins and migrations; however, few isotopes are effective for this purpose in marine environments, especially on a local scale. The isotope ratio of the lanthanoid element neodymium (Nd) is a promising tracer for coastal animal migrations. Neodymium derives from the same geologic materials as strontium, well known as an isotopic tracer (87Sr/86Sr) for terrestrial and anadromous animals. The advantage of the Nd isotope ratio (143Nd/144Nd, expressed as εNd) is that it varies greatly in the ocean according to the geology of the neighboring continents, whereas oceanic 87Sr/86Sr is highly uniform. This study explored the utility of the Nd isotope ratio as a marine tracer by investigating the variation of εNd preserved in tissues of coastal species, and the causes of that variation, in a region of northeastern Japan where the bedrock geology is highly variable. We measured εNd and 87Sr/86Sr in seawater, river water, and soft tissues of sedentary suspension feeders: the mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis and Mytilus coruscus and the oyster Crassostrea gigas. We also measured concentrations of three lanthanoids (La, Ce, and Pr) in shellfish bodies to determine whether the Nd in shellfish tissue was derived from solution in seawater or from suspended particulates. The εNd values in shellfish tissue varied regionally (−6 to +1), matching the ambient seawater, whereas all 87Sr/86Sr values were homogeneous and typical of seawater (0.7091–0.7092). The seawater εNd values were in turn correlated with those in the adjacent rivers, linking shellfish εNd to the geology of river catchments. The depletion of Ce compared to La and Pr (negative Ce anomaly) suggested that the Nd in shellfish was derived from the dissolved phase in seawater. Our results indicate that the distinct Nd isotope ratio derived from local geology is imprinted, through seawater, on the soft tissues of shellfish. This result underscores the potential of εNd as a tracer of coastal marine animals.
Phenolics, Tocopherols, and Volatiles Changes During Virgin Pistachio Oil Processing Under Different Technological Conditions
Authors: Ojeda‐Amador Rosa M. , Trapani Serena , Fregapane Giuseppe , Salvador María D. 
Published: August 2018

The present work aims to study the influence of different processing conditions, including temperature, roasting, the use of whole nuts, pressure (nozzle size) and speed of the screw‐press extraction process, on the minor components, mainly tocopherols, phenolics, and volatile components, contained in virgin pistachio oils (VPO) and their corresponding partially defatted residual cakes. An important increase in total polar phenolic (TPP) is observed in VPO processed at a temperature above 60 °C (e.g., 16.7–65.3 and 76.4 mg kg−1 at 130 °C and roasting conditions). TPP and the corresponding antioxidant activity also increase when a smaller nozzle diameter (3 mm) is used (16.7–35.4 mg kg−1; DPPH increases 36%), but no differences are observed when changing the screw speed. It is remarkable that the use of the whole pistachio (with its shell) helps to greatly enrich the oil in aromatic volatile compounds by up to 135%, with terpenes being the main family (e.g., 38.6–90.9 mg kg−1). Phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activity are higher in the residual cake when a higher processing temperature is used, for example, from 7260 to 12 250 mg kg−1 (at 40 and 130 °C, respectively). This result indicates their potential use as functional ingredients in food formulations.Practical Applications: The edible oil market is expanding and creating new products, where nut oils are gaining space in the preferences of consumers. In this sense, the study of the effect of different oil extraction conditions on the minor composition may help to produce VPOs with a higher bioactive compound content and/or with desired organoleptic characteristics.Virgin nut oils are minimally processed foods characterized by their typical aroma, taste, and minor bioactive compounds depending on the extraction and processing methods employed. Different technological conditions are studied using a screw‐press expeller to produce added value pistachio virgin oils and their residual cakes.
Biochar: A Low‐cost Electrode Modifier for Electrocatalytic, Sensitive and Selective Detection of Similar Organic Compounds
Authors: Ferreira Priscila Alves , Backes Rafael , Martins Cauê Alves , de Carvalho Cláudio Teodoro , da Silva Rodrigo Amorim Bezerra 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThis work proposes for the first time the use of biochar (BC) as a cost‐effective electrode modifier for simultaneous electroanalysis of similar organic compounds. BCs were prepared from Babassu petiole pyrolysis at five temperatures (500–900 °C) and characterized by FTIR, SEM, TG‐DTA and BET., which presented amorphous shapes with relative high surface areas (280–396 m2 g−1) and polar surface groups (T<700 °C). As a proof of concept, BC‐modified glassy carbon electrodes (BC/GCE) were studied using ferrocyanide probe and evaluated towards the simultaneous detection of catechol and hydroquinone (isomers), levofloxacin and norfloxacin (analogous structure), and tert‐butylhydroquinone and butylated hydroxyanisole. In all cases, BC improved the peak‐to‐peak separation, sensitivity and electrocatalytic activity, which highlights BC as a promising modifier to be used in simultaneous determinations of organic compounds with similar peak potentials.
Occurrence, evolution and ice content of ice‐debris complexes in the Ak‐Shiirak, Central Tien Shan revealed by geophysical and remotely‐sensed investigations
Authors: Bolch T. , Rohrbach N. , Kutuzov S. , Robson B.A. , Osmonov A. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractRock glaciers and large ice‐debris complexes are common in many mountain ranges and are especially prominent in semi‐arid mountains such as the Andes or the Tien Shan. These features contain a significant amount of ice but their occurrence and evolution are not well known. Here, we present an inventory of the ice‐debris complexes for the Ak‐Shiirak, Tien Shan's second largest glacierised massif, and a holistic methodology to investigate two characteristic and large ice‐debris complexes in detail based on field investigations and remote sensing analysis using Sentinel‐1 SAR data, 1964 Corona and recent high resolution stereo images. Overall, we found 74 rock glaciers and ice‐debris complexes covering an area of 11.2 km2 (3.2% of the glacier coverage) with a mean elevation of about 3950 m asl. Most of the complexes are located south‐east of the main ridge of Ak‐Shiirak. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurements reveal high ice content with the occurrence of massif debris‐covered dead‐ice bodies in the parts within the Little Ice Age glacier extent. These parts showed significant surface lowering, in some places exceeding 20 m between 1964 and 2015. The periglacial parts are characterised by complex rock glaciers of different ages. These rock glaciers could be remnants of debris‐covered ice located in permafrost conditions. They show stable surface elevations with no or only very low surface movement. However, the characteristics of the fronts of most rock glacier parts indicate slight activity and elevation gains at the fronts slight advances. GPR data indicated less ice content and slanting layers which coincide with the ridges and furrows and could mainly be formed by glacier advances under permafrost conditions. Overall, the ice content is decreasing from the upper to the lower part of the ice‐debris complexes. Hence, these complexes, and especially the glacier‐affected parts, should be considered when assessing the hydrological impacts of climate change. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of chronic toxicity of sodium chloride or potassium chloride to a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea) in water exposures using standard and refined toxicity testing methods
Authors: Wang Ning , Kunz James L. , Dorman Rebecca A. , Ingersoll Christopher G. , Steevens Jeffery A. , Hammer Edward J. , Bauer Candice R. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

Freshwater mussels are generally underrepresented in toxicity databases used to derive water quality criteria, especially for long-term exposures. Multiple tests were conducted to determine the chronic toxicity of sodium chloride (NaCl) or potassium chloride (KCl) to a unionid mussel (fatmucket, Lampsilis siliquoidea). Initially, a 4-wk NaCl test and a 4-wk KCl test were conducted starting with 2-mo-old mussels in water exposures with and without a thin layer of sand substrate. A feeding study was conducted later to refine test conditions for longer-term 12-wk exposures, and 3 chronic NaCl tests were then conducted following the refined method to assess the influence of test duration (4–12 wk) and age of organisms (starting age ∼1 wk to 2 mo) on mussel sensitivity. Biomass (total dry wt of surviving mussels in a replicate) was generally a more sensitive endpoint compared to survival and growth (length and dry wt). In the 4-wk NaCl or KCl test started with 2-mo-old juveniles, a 20% effect concentration (EC20) based on biomass (264 mg Cl/L from the NaCl test or 8.7 mg K/L from the KCl test) in the exposure with sand was 2-fold lower than the EC20 in the exposure without sand. The longer-term 12-wk NaCl tests started with the 1-wk-old and 2-mo-old juveniles were successfully completed under refined test conditions based on the feeding study, and younger juveniles were more sensitive to NaCl than older juveniles. The NaCl toxicity did not substantially change with extended exposure periods from 4 to 12 wk, although the 4-wk EC20s for biomass were slightly greater (up to 37%) than the 12-wk EC20s in the 2 longer-term exposures. Including the toxicity data from the present study into existing databases would rank fatmucket the most sensitive species to KCl and the second most sensitive species to NaCl for all freshwater organisms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:3050–3062. Published 2018 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
Positive and balancing selection onSLC18A1gene associated with psychiatric disorders and human-unique personality traits
Authors: Sato Daiki X. , Kawata Masakado 
Published: August 2018

AbstractMaintenance of genetic variants susceptible to psychiatric disorders is one of the intriguing evolutionary enigmas. The present study detects three psychiatric disorder-relevant genes (CLSTN2, FAT1, and SLC18A1) that have been under positive selection during the human evolution. In particular, SLC18A1 (vesicular monoamine transporter 1; VMAT1) gene has a human-unique variant (rs1390938, Thr136Ile), which is associated with bipolar disorders and/or the anxiety-related personality traits. 136Ile shows relatively high (20–61%) frequency in non-African populations, and Tajima's D reports a significant peak around the Thr136Ile site, suggesting that this polymorphism has been positively maintained by balancing selection in non-African populations. Moreover, Coalescent simulations predict that 136Ile originated around 100,000 years ago, the time being generally associated with the Out-of-Africa migration of modern humans. Our study sheds new light on a gene in monoamine pathway as a strong candidate contributing to human-unique psychological traits.
A new chronostratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental framework for the end of the Messinian salinity crisis in the Sorbas Basin (Betic Cordillera, southern Spain)
Authors: Roveri Marco , Gennari Rocco , Persico Davide , Rossi Francesco Paolo , Lugli Stefano , Manzi Vinicio , Reghizzi Matteo , Taviani Marco 
Published: August 2018

New palaeontologic, sedimentologic, and Sr isotope data allow to reconstruct a high‐resolution chronostratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental framework of the continental‐marine transition at the Miocene–Pliocene boundary in the Sorbas Basin (Betic Cordillera, South‐eastern Spain). The presence ofReticulofenestra zancleana,Ceratolithus acutus, andR. pseudoumbilicusin a marine horizon sharply overlying the continental deposits of the Zorreras Member indicates that the Messinian salinity crisis ended in the Sorbas Basin synchronously with the other Mediterranean basins at the base of the Zanclean, within the MNN12a biozone. Our results suggest that the Zanclean flooding turned the Sorbas Basin into a shallow bay with limited exchange with the main Mediterranean basin, probably through narrow seaways connecting also the Almeria, Nijar, and Vera basins. Our results do not confirm previous hypotheses envisaging an older age for the return to fully marine conditions in the Sorbas Basin and is in a good agreement with the reconstructions suggesting that the Zorreras Mb. continental deposits are the local time‐equivalent of the latest Messinian Lago‐Mare phase during the last stage of the salinity crisis.
Cerebellar development and its mediation role in cognitive planning in childhood
Authors: Kipping Judy A. , Xie Yingyao , Qiu Anqi 
Published: August 2018

AbstractRecent evidence suggests that the cerebellum contributes not only to the planning and execution of movement but also to the high‐order cognitive planning. Childhood is a critical period for development of the cerebellum and cognitive planning. This study aimed (a) to examine the development of cerebellar morphology and microstructure and (b) to examine the cerebellar mediation roles in the relationship between age and cognitive planning in 6‐ to 10‐year‐old children (n = 126). We used an anatomical parcellation to quantify cerebellar regional gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes, and WM microstructure, including fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD). We assessed planning ability using the Stockings of Cambridge (SOC) task in all children. We revealed (a) a measure‐specific anterior‐to‐posterior gradient of the cerebellar development in childhood, that is, smaller GM volumes and greater WM FA of the anterior segment of the cerebellum but larger GM volumes and lower WM FA in the posterior segment of the cerebellum in older children; (b) an age‐related improvement of the SOC performance at the most demanding level of five‐move problems; and (c) a mediation role of the lateral cerebellar WM volumes in age‐related improvement in the SOC performance in childhood. These results highlight the differential development of the cerebellum during childhood and provide evidence that brain adaptation to the acquisition of planning ability during childhood could partially be achieved through the engagement of the lateral cerebellum.
Health care utilization at retirement: The role of the opportunity cost of time
Authors: Lucifora Claudio , Vigani Daria 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWe investigate the causal impact of retirement on health care utilization using SHARE data for 10 European countries. We show that the number of doctor's visits and the probability of visiting a doctor more than four times a year (our measures of health care utilization) increase after retirement. The increase in health care utilization is found to depend mainly on the years spent in retirement, suggesting that adjustment may take time. We find evidence of heterogeneous effects by gender and across different patterns of time use prior to retirement (i.e., working long hours and combined work and out‐of‐work activities). Overall, the empirical findings suggest that the increase in health care utilization is consistent with the decrease in the opportunity cost of time faced by individuals when they retire.
Subject‐specific hand grip fatigability indicator determined using parameter identification technique
Authors: Liu Bin , Ma Liang , Zhang Wei , Zhang Zhanwu 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDuring hand grip operations, the fatigability of the local muscle determines the antifatigue capacity and influences the risk of injury of the workers. This study proposes a new hand grip subject‐specific fatigability indicator using a parameter identification technique from a physiologically based muscle fatigue model. Experimental measurements were conducted in a laboratorial fatiguing operation with a fixed external load (5 kg) under a static posture. Sixty participants (30 males and 30 females) participated in the experiment. Subject‐specific hand muscle fatigue rates (k) were identified by performing regressions of the muscle strength during time intervals using the muscle fatigue model. The majority (46/60) of the goodness of fit statistics (R2) was over 0.70, which indicates the validity of using the fatigue rate (k) as a hand grip fatigability indicator. Individual differences in the hand grip fatigue rate (k) were substantial, ranging from 0.14 to 2.57 min−1 with a coefficient of variation of 59.0%. The gender effect and body mass index did not exhibit significant influences on the hand grip muscle fatigue rates (k).
Long‐term results of the risk‐stratified treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in China
Authors: Shen Shuhong , Cai Jiaoyang , Chen Jing , Xue Huiliang , Pan Ci , Gao Yijin , Tang Yanjing , Wang Jianmin , Li Benshang , Wang Xiang , Chen Jing , Gu Longjun , Tang Jingyan 
Published: August 2018

AbstractLong‐term follow‐up data for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are scarce in China because of lacking population‐based and hospitalized registry system. This retrospective study, conducted at Shanghai's Children's Medical Center in China (SCMC), aimed to investigate the long‐term results of childhood ALL and to identify prognostic factors. The Pediatric Oncology Network Database, designed by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA, were used to collect data for the enrolled patients starting in 2005. From 2005 to 2014, 1085 evaluable patients with ALL aged 1 to 18 years old were enrolled and treated using SCMC‐ALL‐2005 risk‐stratified protocol. Complete remission was achieved in 95.6% of patients. At 5 and 10 years, the event‐free survival rate was 68.3 ± 1.4% and 64.6 ± 1.6%, and the overall survival rate was 80.0 ± 1.2% and 76.3 ± 1.6%, respectively. The 5‐year event‐free survival rates were 81.8 ± 2.0%, 67.0 ± 1.9%, and 14.3 ± 4.0% for patients in low‐risk, intermediate‐risk, and high‐risk groups, respectively. The cumulative risk of relapse was 24.5% at 10 years. Induction failure conferred worse prognosis. Patients younger than 1 year of age at diagnosis, intermediate‐risk/high‐risk group, male gender, and positive minimal residual disease (MRD) results at day 55, both in the univariate and multivariate analysis, were associated with significantly worse prognosis (P < .05). Patients with positive MRD at both day 35 and day 55 were related to a significantly poor outcome (P < .0001), but not for patients with negitive MRD at day 35. The overall outcomes for ALL patients treated with protocol SCMC‐ALL‐2005 in SCMC are lower than in developed countries. Factors including age, gender, risk group and MRD results at day 55 were associated with treatment outcomes in childhood ALL.
Fine mapping of 2q35 high‐risk neuroblastoma locus reveals independent functional risk variants and suggests full‐length BARD1 as tumor‐suppressor
Authors: Cimmino Flora , Avitabile Marianna , Diskin Sharon J. , Vaksman Zalman , Pignataro Piero , Formicola Daniela , Cardinale Antonella , Testori Alessandro , Koster Jan , de Torres Carmen , Devoto Marcella , Maris John M. , Iolascon Achille , Capasso Mario 
Published: August 2018

A previous genome‐wide association study (GWAS) identified common variation at the BARD1 locus as being highly associated with susceptibility to high‐risk neuroblastoma, but the mechanisms underlying this association have been not extensively investigated.Here, we performed a fine mapping analysis of BARD1 locus (2q35) using GWAS data from 556 high‐risk neuroblastoma patients and 2,575 controls of European‐American ancestry, and identified two independent genome‐wide neuroblastoma‐associated loci. Functional single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) prioritization identified two causative variants that independently contributed to neuroblastoma risk, and each replicated robustly in multiple independent cohorts comprising 445 high‐risk cases and 3,170 controls (rs17489363: combined p = 1.07 × 10−31, OR:1.79, 95% CI:1.62–1.98 and rs1048108: combined p = 7.27 × 10−14, OR:0.65, 95% CI:0.58–0.73). Particularly, the T risk allele of rs17489363 in the canonical promoter region of full‐length BARD1 altered binding site of the transcription factor HSF1 and correlated with low expression of full‐length BARD1 mRNA and protein. Low‐level expression of full‐length BARD1 associated with advanced neuroblastoma. In human neuroblastoma cells, attenuating full‐length BARD1 increased proliferation and invasion capacity. In conclusion, we have identified two potentially causative SNPs at the BARD1 locus associated with predisposition to high‐risk neuroblastoma, and have shown that full‐length BARD1 may act as tumor suppressor.