bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term histological changes in the macaque primary visual cortex and the lateral geniculate nucleus after monocular deprivation produced by early restricted retinal lesions and diffuser induced form deprivation
Authors: Takahata Toru , Patel Nimesh B. , Balaram Pooja , Chino Yuzo M. , Kaas Jon H. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractOcular dominance (OD) plasticity has been extensively studied in various mammalian species. While robust OD shifts are typically observed after monocular eyelid suture, relatively poor OD plasticity is observed for early eye removal or after tetrodotoxin (TTX) injections in mice. Hence, abnormal binocular signal interactions in the visual cortex may play a critical role in eliciting OD plasticity. Here, we examined the histochemical changes in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and the striate cortex (V1) in macaque monkeys that experienced two different monocular sensory deprivations in the same eye beginning at 3 weeks of age: restricted laser lesions in macular or peripheral retina and form deprivation induced by wearing a diffuser lens during the critical period. The monkeys were subsequently reared for 5 years under a normal visual environment. In the LGN, atrophy of neurons and a dramatic increase of GFAP expression were observed in the lesion projection zones (LPZs). In V1, although no obvious shift of the LPZ border was found, the ocular dominance columns (ODCs) for the lesioned eye shrunk and those for the intact eye expanded over the entirety of V1. This ODC size change was larger in the area outside the LPZ and in the region inside the LPZ near the border compared to that in the LPZ center. These developmental changes may reflect abnormal binocular interactions in V1 during early infancy. Our observations provide insights into the nature of degenerative and plastic changes in the LGN and V1 following early chronic monocular sensory deprivations.
GABA immunostaining in the central complex of dicondylian insects
Authors: Homberg Uwe , Humberg Tim‐Henning , Seyfarth Jutta , Bode Katharina , Pérez Manuel Quintero 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe central complex is a group of midline‐crossing neuropils in the insect brain involved in head direction coding, sky compass navigation, and spatial visual memory. To compare the neuroarchitecture and neurochemistry of the central complex in insects that differ in locomotion, ways of orientation, time of activity (diurnal, nocturnal), and evolutionary history, we studied the distribution of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) immunostaining in the central complex of 29 species, ranging from Zygentoma to Diptera. In all species, the lower division of the central body was densely innervated by GABA‐immunoreactive tangential neurons. These neurons had additional arborizations in the bulb, a distinct region of synaptic complexes in the lateral complex, and somata in a cell cluster mediodorsally to the antennal lobe. Differences in the appearance of GABA immunostaining in the lower division of the central body corresponded to differences in neuropil architecture, such as transformation of the lower division into a toroid in certain Diptera and Heteroptera. In nearly all species two additional systems of tangential neuron of the upper division of the central body were GABA‐immunoreactive. One of these systems diffusely invaded a superior layer, while the second system showed fan‐like projections in an inferior layer. Sparse immunostaining in the protocerebral bridge was detected in cockroaches, a cricket, and two hemipteran species. The data show that three systems of GABA‐immunoreactive tangential neurons of the central body are highly conserved and suggest that the layered organization of the upper division of the central body is, likewise, largely maintained from basal to advanced species.
Networking of multi‐domain unified communications systems: Structure design and performance evaluation
Authors: Shen Qingguo , Chen Qinghua , Gong Jing , Zhou Feng 
Published: July 2018

SummaryUC (Unified Communications) can integrate different terminals and media and has played an important role in some enterprises. However, for large UC system with multiple domains, there still exist unsolved issues such as large call delay, overlay management overhead, and bandwidth costliness. In this paper, the hierarchal structure, call routing, and bandwidth usage of the multi‐domain UC system are studied. After describing the architecture of the multi‐domain UC system, a no‐worse‐than‐two‐hop query algorithm based on P2P is proposed for inter domain call, and it is showed that 80% users can finish call query in one hop based on the derived performance formulas. Then, the typical transmission networking structure is designed with an overlay between provincial domains, and the bandwidth requirements of signaling and media traffics are estimated. By comparing the performances of overlays with mesh, star, and hybrid topologies, the hybrid overlay topology is showed to be the best choice in terms of cost and manageability for the typical traffic distribution. In the overlay with hybrid topology, the media traffic routes can be controlled dynamically with SDN (Software Defined Network), and the overlay bandwidth reserved can be used efficiently with utilization up to 84%, thus demonstrating the technical and economic feasibilities of the proposed transmission overlay.
The Influence of Carbosilane Nanosegregation on the Dynamics in ‘de Vries‐type’ Liquid Crystals
Authors: Müller Carsten , Schubert Christopher P. J. , Lemieux Robert P. , Giesselmann Frank 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe mesogens QL32‐6, QL33‐6 and QL‐34‐6 contain 5‐phenylpyrimidine cores and terminal nanosegregating carbosilane end groups of different lengths and are known to exhibit ‘de Vries‐type’ properties of varying strength. We report a systematic study of the influence of the nanosegregating sublayer on the dynamics and rotational viscosities of the collective modes in the smectic A* (SmA*) and smectic C* (SmC*) phase using dielectric spectroscopy. It was found that the dynamics of the Goldstone mode corresponding to phase angle fluctuations are almost not affected while the relaxation time and rotational viscosity of the soft mode are influenced by the degree of nanosegregation. In other words, the nanosegregating sublayer does not influence the dynamics of ferroelectric switching in the SmC* phase, but is critical in inducing ‘de Vries‐type’ properties.
Enhanced Furfural Yields from Xylose Dehydration in the γ‐Valerolactone/Water Solvent System at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Sener Canan , Motagamwala Ali Hussain , Alonso David Martin , Dumesic James A. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractInvited for this month's cover is the group of Prof. James Dumesic at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The image shows a process for the conversion of xylose, obtained from the hemicellulose fraction of lignocellulosic biomass, to furfural at high yields (>90%) using a biomass derived solvent, γ‐valerolactone, at high temperature (e.g., 498 K). The Full Paper itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.201800730.
A low‐power digital IC emulating intracellular calcium dynamics
Authors: Soleimani Hamid , Drakakis Emmanuel M. 
Published: July 2018

SummaryLow power/area cytomorphic chips may be interfaced and ultimately implanted in the human body for cell‐sensing and cell‐control applications of the future. In such electronic platforms, it is crucial to accurately mimic the biological timescales and operate in real time. This paper proposes a methodology where slow nonlinear dynamical systems describing the behaviour of naturally encountered biological systems can be efficiently realised in hardware. To this end, as a case study, a low power and efficient digital Application‐Specific Integrated Circuit capable of emulating slow intracellular calcium dynamics with timescales reaching to seconds has been fabricated in the commercially available AMS 0.35 μm technology and compared with its analog counterpart. The fabricated chip occupies an area of 1.5 mm2 (excluding the area of the pads) and consumes 18.93 nW for each calcium unit from a power supply of 3.3 V. The presented cytomimetic topology follows closely the behaviour of its biological counterpart, exhibiting similar time‐domain calcium ions dynamics. Results show that the implemented design has the potential to speed up large–scale simulations of slow intracellular dynamics by sharing cellular units in real time.
Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass surgery alters serum metabolites and fatty acids in patients with morbid obesity
Authors: Wijayatunga Nadeeja N. , Sams Valerie G. , Dawson John A. , Mancini Matthew L. , Mancini Gregory J. , Moustaid‐Moussa Naima 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAimBariatric surgery induces significant weight loss, increases insulin sensitivity, and reduces mortality, but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. It was hypothesized that Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery improves metabolic profile along with weight loss. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate changes in serum metabolites and fatty acids (FA) at 2 weeks and 6 months after RYGB.Materials and MethodsSerum samples were collected pre‐surgery, at 2 weeks and 6 months post‐surgery from 20 patients undergoing RYGB surgery. Serum non‐esterified free FA (NEFA) were measured. Serum metabolites and FA were measured using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and improved direct fatty acid methyl ester synthesis and the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method, respectively, in subjects who completed follow‐up at 6 months (n = 8).ResultsMean (standard deviation) percent total weight loss was 6.70% (1.7) and 24.91% (6.63) at 2 weeks (n = 15) and 6 months (n = 8) post‐surgery, respectively. NEFA were significantly reduced at 6 months post‐surgery (P = 0.001, n = 8). Serum branched chain amino acids, 2‐aminobutyrate, butyrate, 2‐hydroxybutyrate, 3‐hydroxybutyrate, acetone, 2‐methylglutarate, and 2‐oxoisocaproate were significantly reduced, while serum alanine, glycine, pyruvate, and taurine were significantly elevated at 6 months post‐surgery compared with pre‐surgery (n = 8, P < 0.05). Also, serum FA C10:0, C13:0, C14:0, C15:0, and C18:0 increased significantly (n = 8, P < 0.05) by 6 months post‐surgery.ConclusionsChanges in serum metabolites and FA at 6 months post‐RYGB surgery in this pilot study with limited number of participants are suggestive of metabolic improvement; larger studies are warranted for confirmation.
Mutational analysis of a Drosophila neuroblast enhancer governing nubbin expression during CNS development
Authors: Ross Jermaine , Kuzin Alexander , Brody Thomas , Odenwald Ward F. 
Published: July 2018

SummaryWhile developmental studies of Drosophila neural stem cell lineages have identified transcription factors (TFs) important to cell identity decisions, currently only an incomplete understanding exists of the cis‐regulatory elements that control the dynamic expression of these TFs. Our previous studies have identified multiple enhancers that regulate the POU‐domain TF paralogs nubbin and pdm‐2 genes. Evolutionary comparative analysis of these enhancers reveals that they each contain multiple conserved sequence blocks (CSBs) that span TF DNA‐binding sites for known regulators of neuroblast (NB) gene expression in addition to novel sequences. This study functionally analyzes the conserved DNA sequence elements within a NB enhancer located within the nubbin gene and highlights a high level of complexity underlying enhancer structure. Mutational analysis has revealed CSBs that are important for enhancer activation and silencing in the developing CNS. We have also observed that adjusting the number and relative positions of the TF binding sites within these CSBs alters enhancer function.
Population‐level manipulations of field vole densities induce subsequent changes in plant quality but no impacts on vole demography
Authors: Ruffino Lise , Hartley Susan E. , DeGabriel Jane L. , Lambin Xavier 
Published: July 2018

AbstractGrazing‐induced changes in plant quality have been suggested to drive the negative delayed density dependence exhibited by many herbivore species, but little field evidence exists to support this hypothesis. We tested a key premise of the hypothesis that reciprocal feedback between vole grazing pressure and the induction of anti‐herbivore silicon defenses in grasses drives observed population cycles in a large‐scale field experiment in northern England. We repeatedly reduced population densities of field voles (Microtus agrestis) on replicated 1‐ha grassland plots at Kielder Forest, northern England, over a period of 1 year. Subsequently, we tested for the impact of past density on vole life history traits in spring, and whether these effects were driven by induced silicon defenses in the voles’ major over‐winter food, the grass Deschampsia caespitosa. After several months of density manipulation, leaf silicon concentrations diverged and averaged 22% lower on sites where vole density had been reduced, but this difference did not persist beyond the period of the density manipulations. There were no significant effects of our density manipulations on vole body mass, spring population growth rate, or mean date for the onset of spring reproduction the following year. These findings show that grazing by field voles does induce increased silicon defenses in grasses at a landscape scale. However, at the vole densities encountered, levels of plant damage appear to be below those needed to induce changes in silicon levels large and persistent enough to affect vole performance, confirming the threshold effects we have previously observed in laboratory‐based studies. Our findings do not support the plant quality hypothesis for observed vole population cycles in northern England, at least over the range of vole densities that now prevail here.
Disentangling effects of air and soil temperature on C allocation in cold environments: A 14C pulse‐labelling study with two plant species
Authors: Ferrari Adele , Hagedorn Frank , Niklaus Pascal Alex 
Published: July 2018

AbstractCarbon cycling responses of ecosystems to global warming will likely be stronger in cold ecosystems where many processes are temperature‐limited. Predicting these effects is difficult because air and soil temperatures will not change in concert, and will affect above and belowground processes differently. We disentangled above and belowground temperature effects on plant C allocation and deposition of plant C in soils by independently manipulating air and soil temperatures in microcosms planted with either Leucanthemopsis alpina or Pinus mugo seedlings. Daily average temperatures of 4 or 9°C were applied to shoots and independently to roots, and plants pulse‐labelled with 14CO2. We traced soil CO2 and 14CO2 evolution for 4 days, after which microcosms were destructively harvested and 14C quantified in plant and soil fractions. In microcosms with L. alpina, net 14C uptake was higher at 9°C than at 4°C soil temperature, and this difference was independent of air temperature. In warmer soils, more C was allocated to roots at greater soil depth, with no effect of air temperature. In P. mugo microcosms, assimilate partitioning to roots increased with air temperature, but only when soils were at 9°C. Higher soil temperatures also increased the mean soil depth at which 14C was allocated. Our findings highlight the dependence of C uptake, use, and partitioning on both air and soil temperature, with the latter being relatively more important. The strong temperature‐sensitivity of C assimilate use in the roots and rhizosphere supports the hypothesis that cold limitation on C uptake is primarily mediated by reduced sink strength in the roots. We conclude that variations in soil rather than air temperature are going to drive plant responses to warming in cold environments, with potentially large changes in C cycling due to enhanced transfer of plant‐derived C to soils.
Development of on‐shore behavior among polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea: inherited or learned?
Authors: Lillie Kate M. , Gese Eric M. , Atwood Todd C. , Sonsthagen Sarah A. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPolar bears (Ursus maritimus) are experiencing rapid and substantial changes to their environment due to global climate change. Polar bears of the southern Beaufort Sea (SB) have historically spent most of the year on the sea ice. However, recent reports from Alaska indicate that the proportion of the SB subpopulation observed on‐shore during late summer and early fall has increased. Our objective was to investigate whether this on‐shore behavior has developed through genetic inheritance, asocial learning, or through social learning. From 2010 to 2013, genetic data were collected from SB polar bears in the fall via hair snags and remote biopsy darting on‐shore and in the spring from captures and remote biopsy darting on the sea ice. Bears were categorized as either on‐shore or off‐shore individuals based on their presence on‐shore during the fall. Levels of genetic relatedness, first‐order relatives, mother–offspring pairs, and father–offspring pairs were determined and compared within and between the two categories: on‐shore versus off‐shore. Results suggested transmission of on‐shore behavior through either genetic inheritance or social learning as there was a higher than expected number of first‐order relatives exhibiting on‐shore behavior. Genetic relatedness and parentage data analyses were in concurrence with this finding, but further revealed mother–offspring social learning as the primary mechanism responsible for the development of on‐shore behavior. Recognizing that on‐shore behavior among polar bears was predominantly transmitted via social learning from mothers to their offspring has implications for future management and conservation as sea ice continues to decline.
Long‐distance pollen and seed dispersal and inbreeding depression in Hymenaea stigonocarpa (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) in the Brazilian savannah
Authors: Moraes Marcela A. , Kubota Thaisa Y. K. , Rossini Bruno C. , Marino Celso L. , Freitas Miguel L. M. , Moraes Mario L. T. , da Silva Alexandre M. , Cambuim Jose , Sebbenn Alexandre M. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractHymenaea stigonocarpa is a neotropical tree that is economically important due to its high‐quality wood; however, because it has been exploited extensively, it is currently considered threatened. Microsatellite loci were used to investigate the pollen and seed dispersal, mating patterns, spatial genetic structure (SGS), genetic diversity, and inbreeding depression in H. stigonocarpa adults, juveniles, and open‐pollinated seeds, which were sampled from isolated trees in a pasture and trees within a forest fragment in the Brazilian savannah. We found that the species presented a mixed mating system, with population and individual variations in the outcrossing rate (0.53–1.0). The studied populations were not genetically isolated due to pollen and seed flow between the studied populations and between the populations and individuals located outside of the study area. Pollen and seed dispersal occurred over long distances (>8 km); however, the dispersal patterns were isolated by distance, with a high frequency of mating occurring between near‐neighbor trees and seeds dispersed near the parent trees. The correlated mating for individual seed trees was higher within than among fruits, indicating that fruits present a high proportion of full‐sibs. Genetic diversity and SGS were similar among the populations, but offspring showed evidence of inbreeding, mainly originating from mating among related trees, which suggests inbreeding depression between the seed and adult stages. Selfing resulted in a higher inbreeding depression than mating among relatives, as assessed through survival and height. As the populations are not genetically isolated, both are important targets for in situ conservation to maintain their genetic diversity; for ex situ conservation, seeds can be collected from at least 78 trees in both populations separated by at least 250 m.
Plastome phylogeny and lineage diversification of Salicaceae with focus on poplars and willows
Authors: Zhang Lei , Xi Zhenxiang , Wang Mingcheng , Guo Xinyi , Ma Tao 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPhylogenetic relationships and lineage diversification of the family Salicaceae sensu lato (s.l.) remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined phylogenetic relationships between 42 species from six genera based on the complete plastomes. Phylogenetic analyses of 77 protein coding genes of the plastomes produced good resolution of the interrelationships among most sampled species and the recovered clades. Of the sampled genera from the family, Flacourtia was identified as the most basal and the successive clades comprised both Itoa and Poliothyrsis, Idesia, two genera of the Salicaceae sensu stricto (s.s.) (Populus and Salix). Five major subclades were recovered within the Populus clade. These subclades and their interrelationships are largely inconsistent with morphological classifications and molecular phylogeny based on nuclear internal transcribed spacer sequence variations. Two major subclades were identified for the Salix clade. Molecular dating suggested that species diversification of the major subclades in the Populus and Salix clades occurred mainly within the recent Pliocene. In addition, we found that the rpl32 gene was lost and the rps7 gene evolved into a pseudogene multiple times in the sampled genera of the Salicaceae s.l. Compared with previous studies, our results provide a well‐resolved phylogeny from the perspective of the plastomes.
Host specificity of parasitoids (Encyrtidae) toward armored scale insects (Diaspididae): Untangling the effect of cryptic species on quantitative food webs
Authors: Qin Yao‐Guang , Zhou Qing‐Song , Yu Fang , Wang Xu‐Bo , Wei Jiu‐Feng , Zhu Chao‐Dong , Zhang Yan‐Zhou , Vogler Alfried P. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractHost specificity of parasitoids may be measured by various specialization indices to assess the variation of interaction strength among species and the structure of the wider interaction network. However, the conclusions from analyses at the species and network levels may differ, which remains poorly explored. In addition, the recovery of cryptic species of hosts and parasitoids with molecular data may affect the structure of inferred interaction links. We quantified host specificity of hymenopteran parasitoids (family Encyrtidae) on armored scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) from a wide geographic sampling range across the Chinese Mainland based on both morphological and molecular species delimitation. MitochondrialCOIand nuclear 28S markers detected high cryptic species diversity in the encyrtids and to a lesser degree in the diaspidids, which divided generalist morphospecies into complexes of specialists and generalists. One‐to‐one reciprocal host–parasite links were increased in the molecular data set, but different quantitative species‐level indices produced contrasting estimates of specificity from various one‐to‐multiple and multiple‐to‐multiple host–parasite links. Network indices calculated fromDNA‐based species, compared to morphology‐based species definitions, showed lower connectance and generality, but greater specialization and compartmentalization of the interaction network. We conclude that a high degree of cryptic species in host–parasitoid systems refines the true network structure and may cause us overestimating the stability of these interaction webs.