bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Examination of relationships between stable isotopes and cortisol concentrations along the length of phocid whiskers
Authors: Karpovich Shawna A. , Skinner John P. , Kapronczai Luciene A. , Smith Justin A. , Janz David M. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAlaskan seals are found in remote and sometimes inaccessible locations, making it difficult to collect time‐series information. This study explores a novel method to examine temporal changes in diet and physiological status of ringed (Pusa hispida), spotted (Phoca largha), and harbor (Phoca vitulina) seals using cortisol concentrations and δ15N and δ13C stable isotopes (SIs) measured in serial sections of whiskers. As whiskers grow, whisker tissue is deposited sequentially making these measurements temporally aligned. Whisker cortisol presented in a distinct pattern with elevated concentrations at the root section followed by a curvilinear decline moving toward the tip of most whiskers. Comparing SIs at the root to the rest of the whiskers, δ13C values were slightly lower in ringed and harbor seal whiskers and δ15N values were slightly higher in harbor seal whiskers. The data were modeled controlling for the observed trends in cortisol concentrations and further associations between cortisol concentrations and SIs were detected in spotted and harbor seal whiskers. Additional research examining the source and stability of whisker cortisol is warranted. However, the methods presented here demonstrate that whiskers could prove valuable to gather long‐term and naturally aligned dietary and physiological information.
CO2 enrichment and soil type additively regulate grassland productivity
Authors: Polley H. Wayne , Aspinwall Michael J. , Collins Harold P. , Gibson Anne E. , Gill Richard A. , Jackson Robert B. , Jin Virginia L. , Khasanova Albina R. , Reichmann Lara G. , Fay Philip A. 
Published: October 2018

Summary

Atmospheric CO2 enrichment usually increases the aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) of grassland vegetation, but the magnitude of the ANPP–CO2 response differs among ecosystems. Soil properties affect ANPP via multiple mechanisms and vary over topographic to geographic gradients, but have received little attention as potential modifiers of the ANPP–CO2 response.

We assessed the effects of three soil types, sandy loam, silty clay and clay, on the ANPP response of perennial C3/C4 grassland communities to a subambient to elevated CO2 gradient over 10 yr in Texas, USA. We predicted an interactive, rather than additive, effect of CO2 and soil type on ANPP.

Contrary to prediction, CO2 and soil additively influenced grassland ANPP. Increasing CO2 by 250 μl l−1 increased ANPP by 170 g m−2 across soil types. Increased clay content from 10% to 50% among soils reduced ANPP by 50 g m−2. CO2 enrichment increased ANPP via a predominant direct effect, accompanied by a smaller indirect effect mediated by a successional shift to increased dominance of the C4 tallgrass Sorghastrum nutans.

Our results indicate a large, positive influence of CO2 enrichment on grassland productivity that resulted from the direct physiological benefits of CO2 augmented by species succession, and was expressed similarly across soils of differing physical properties.
Not all ‘pine cones’ flex: functional trade‐offs and the evolution of seed release mechanisms
Authors: Losada Juan M. , Blanco‐Moure Nuria , Leslie Andrew B. 
Published: October 2018

SummarySeed dispersal is critical for plants, but the evolution of mechanisms that actually release seeds from their parents is not well understood. We use the reproductive cones of conifers, specifically the Pinaceae clade, to explore the factors driving the evolution of different release mechanisms in plants.We combine comparative anatomical and phylogenetic analyses to test whether fundamental trade‐offs in the mechanical and hydraulic properties of vasculature underlie the evolution of two seed release mechanisms: cone scale flexion and cone scale shedding. We then test whether these mechanisms are linked with differences in seed size, dispersal syndrome and reproductive allocation.Cone scale xylem in flexing species is tough, but poorly conductive. Xylem in shedding species is less extensive, fragile and highly conductive; its thin‐walled tracheids allow scales to easily fracture at maturity. Shedding is also consistently associated with large, densely packed seeds.Pinaceae cones exploit a well‐known trade‐off in xylem mechanical strength vs hydraulic efficiency to generate release mechanisms that allow seeds of various sizes to leave the protecting cone. The linkage among release mechanisms, vascular anatomy and seed traits illustrates how a wide variety of selective pressures may influence the function and physiology of reproductive structures.
Exome sequencing in families with severe mental illness identifies novel and rare variants in genes implicated in Mendelian neuropsychiatric syndromes
Authors: Ganesh Suhas , Ahmed P. Husayn , Nadella Ravi K. , More Ravi P. , Seshadri Manasa , Viswanath Biju , Rao Mahendra , Jain Sanjeev ,   The ADBS Consortium, Mukherjee Odity 
Published: October 2018

AimSevere mental illnesses (SMI), such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, are highly heritable, and have a complex pattern of inheritance. Genome‐wide association studies detect a part of the heritability, which can be attributed to common genetic variation. Examination of rare variants with next‐generation sequencing may add to the understanding of the genetic architecture of SMI.MethodsWe analyzed 32 ill subjects from eight multiplex families and 33 healthy individuals using whole‐exome sequencing. Prioritized variants were selected by a three‐step filtering process, which included: deleteriousness by fivein silicoalgorithms; sharing within families by affected individuals; rarity in South Asian sample estimated using the Exome Aggregation Consortium data; and complete absence of these variants in control individuals from the same gene pool.ResultsWe identified 42 rare, non‐synonymous deleterious variants (~5 per pedigree) in this study. None of the variants were shared across families, indicating a ‘private’ mutational profile. Twenty (47.6%) of the variant harboring genes were previously reported to contribute to the risk of diverse neuropsychiatric syndromes, nine (21.4%) of which were of Mendelian inheritance. These included genes carrying novel deleterious variants, such as theGRM1gene implicated in spinocerebellar ataxia 44 and theNIPBLgene implicated in Cornelia de Lange syndrome.ConclusionNext‐generation sequencing approaches in family‐based studies are useful to identify novel and rare variants in genes for complex disorders like SMI. The findings of the study suggest a potential phenotypic burden of rare variants in Mendelian disease genes, indicating pleiotropic effects in the etiology of SMI.
Abscisic acid promotes root system development in birch tissue culture: a comparison to aspen culture and conventional rooting‐related growth regulators
Authors: Vaičiukynė Miglė , Žiauka Jonas , Žūkienė Rasa , Vertelkaitė Lidija , Kuusienė Sigutė 
Published: October 2018

The research aim was to assess the effects of the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) and the growth regulator paclobutrazol (PBZ) on root system development during the in vitro culture of different birch and aspen genotypes. The studied genotypes involved two aspen (Populus tremula and Populus tremuloides × P. tremula) and two silver birch (Betula pendula) trees, with one of the birches characterized by its inability to root in vitro. For experiments, apical shoot segments were cultured on nutrient medium enriched with either ABA or PBZ. Additionally, the analysis of the endogenous hormones in shoots developed on hormone‐free medium was conducted by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The endogenous concentration of auxin indole‐3‐acetic acid was much higher in the aspens than that in the birches, while the highest concentration of ABA was found in the root‐forming birch. The culturing of this birch genotype on medium enriched with ABA resulted in an increased root length and a higher number of lateral roots without any negative effect on either shoot growth or adventitious root (AR) formation, although these two processes were largely inhibited by ABA in the aspens. Meanwhile, PBZ promoted AR formation in both aspen and birch cultures but impaired secondary root formation and shoot growth in birches. These results suggest the use of ABA for the in vitro rooting of birches and PBZ for the rooting of aspens.
How transparent film applied on dermatologic imaging devices in order to prevent infections affects image quality?
Authors: Cinotti Elisa , Campoli Marco , Pataia Giacomo , Ouerdane Youcef , Thuret Gilles , Gain Philippe , Tognetti Linda , Perrot Jean Luc , Rubegni Pietro 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundIn the clinical practice, transparent films are used as sterile interfaces in in vivo dermatologic imaging in order to prevent the transmissions of infections. However, in our experience, the use of a transparent film can alter skin images. Our study aimed to compare the optical quality of a series of different plastic films used as interfaces in order to understand if some might be more suitable for imaging.Materials and methodsWe tested the optical properties of 11 different protective transparent films that are marketed in France with a transparency meter and a spectrophotometer.ResultsTransmission, minimal diffusion, amount of gray, and contrast were obtained for each transparent film. Transmission ranged from 93.24% to 96.88% (mean 95.36; standard deviation SD 1.02), minimal diffusion from 88.28% to 123.87% (mean 101.04; standard deviation SD 10.02) and contrast from 11.01 to 15.88 (mean 13.93 and SD 1.3). For some films, the transmission was lower at lower wavelengths.ConclusionAll tested films had excellent optical properties. However, some of them had better optical qualities and seemed more suitable for their use in dermatologic imaging.
How Good Is Your Evidence and How Would You Know?
Authors: Hahn Ulrike , Merdes Christoph , von Sydow Momme 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis paper examines the basic question of how we can come to form accurate beliefs about the world when we do not fully know how good or bad our evidence is. Here, we show, using simulations with otherwise optimal agents, the cost of misjudging the quality of our evidence. We compare different strategies for correctly estimating that quality, such as outcome‐ and expectation‐based updating. We also identify conditions under which misjudgment of evidence quality can nevertheless lead to accurate beliefs, as well as those conditions where no strategy will help. These results indicate both where people will nevertheless succeed and where they will fail when information quality is degraded.
Initial Validation of the Teacher-Created Empowering and Disempowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire in Physical Education
Authors: Milton Daniel , Appleton Paul R. , Bryant Anna , Duda Joan L. 
Published: October 2018

Purpose: Guided by Duda’s hierarchical conceptualization of the motivational climate that draws from self-determination and achievement goal theories, this study provides initial evidence of the psychometric properties of the Empowering and Disempowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire in physical education (EDMCQ-PE). Method: Questionnaire based with two samples of Welsh secondary school pupils. Results: Exploratory structural equation modeling provided a better fit of the data to the hypothesized model than confirmatory factor analysis. Moreover, a two-factor composite (i.e., empowering and disempowering) lower-order model provided an acceptable fit and clear parameter estimates. This two-factor model also demonstrated scalar gender measurement invariance. Discussion: The evidence from this study suggests the EDMCQ-PE is a promising scale for the assessment of secondary school pupils’ perceptions of the empowering and disempowering features of the motivational climate created by their physical education teachers. Conclusion: Moving forward, the statistical approach employed in this paper can inform future studies that develop questionnaire methodology in physical education and from an applied perspective; the EDMCQ-PE can be used by researchers and teachers to assess the motivational climate in PE and help inform the pedagogy underpinning teachers’ classes.
Health literacy, cognitive ability and smoking: a cross-sectional analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Authors: Fawns-Ritchie Chloe , Starr John M , Deary Ian J 
Published: October 2018

ObjectivesWe used logistic regression to investigate whether health literacy and cognitive ability independently predicted whether participants have ever smoked and, in ever smokers, whether participants still smoked nowadays.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThis study used data from Wave 2 (2004–05) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, which is a cohort study of adults who live in England and who, at baseline, were aged 50 years and older.Participants8734 (mean age=65.31 years, SD=10.18) English Longitudinal Study of Ageing participants who answered questions about their current and past smoking status, and completed cognitive ability and health literacy tests at Wave 2.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome measures were whether participants reported ever smoking at Wave 2 and whether ever smokers reported still smoking at Wave 2.ResultsIn models adjusting for age, sex, age left full-time education and occupational social class, limited health literacy (OR=1.096, 95% CI 0.988 to 1.216) and higher general cognitive ability (OR=1.000, 95% CI 0.945 to 1.057) were not associated with reporting ever smoking. In ever smokers, limited compared with adequate health literacy was associated with greater odds of being a current smoker (OR=1.194, 95% CI 1.034 to 1.378) and a 1 SD higher general cognitive ability score was associated with reduced odds of being a current smoker (OR=0.878, 95% CI 0.810 to 0.951), when adjusting for age, sex, age left full-time education and occupational social class.ConclusionsWhen adjusting for education and occupation variables, this study found that health literacy and cognitive ability were independently associated with whether ever smokers continued to smoke nowadays, but not with whether participants had ever smoked.
Assessment of parental mosaicism in SCN1A-related epilepsy by single-molecule molecular inversion probes and next-generation sequencing
Authors: de Lange Iris M , Koudijs Marco J , van ‘t Slot Ruben , Sonsma Anja C M , Mulder Flip , Carbo Ellen C , van Kempen Marjan J A , Nijman Isaac J , Ernst Robert F , Savelberg Sanne M C , Knoers Nine V A M , Brilstra Eva H , Koeleman Bobby P C 
Published: October 2018

BackgroundDravet syndrome is a severe genetic encephalopathy, caused by pathogenic variants in SCN1A. Low-grade parental mosaicism occurs in a substantial proportion of families (7%–13%) and has important implications for recurrence risks. However, parental mosaicism can remain undetected by methods regularly used in diagnostics. In this study, we use single-molecule molecular inversion probes (smMIP), a technique with high sensitivity for detecting low-grade mosaic variants and high cost-effectiveness, to investigate the incidence of parental mosaicism of SCN1A variants in a cohort of 90 families and assess the feasibility of this technique.MethodsDeep sequencing of SCN1A was performed using smMIPs. False positive rates for each of the proband’s pathogenic variants were determined in 145 unrelated samples. If parents showed corresponding variant alleles at a significantly higher rate than the established noise ratio, mosaicism was confirmed by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR).ResultsSequence coverage of at least 100× at the location of the corresponding pathogenic variant was reached for 80 parent couples. The variant ratio was significantly higher than the established noise ratio in eight parent couples, of which four (5%) were regarded as true mosaics, based on ddPCR results. The false positive rate of smMIP analysis without ddPCR was therefore 50%. Three of these variants had previously been considered de novo in the proband by Sanger sequencing.ConclusionsmMIP technology combined withnext generation sequencing (NGS) performs better than Sanger sequencing in the detection of parental mosaicism. Because parental mosaicism has important implications for genetic counselling and recurrence risks, we stress the importance of implementing high-sensitivity NGS-based assays in standard diagnostics.
Prevalence and characteristics of tobacco purchases in convenience stores: results of a postpurchase intercept survey in Dunedin, New Zealand
Authors: Robertson Lindsay , Cameron Claire , Hoek Janet A , Sullivan Trudy , Marsh Louise , Peterson Elizabeth , Gendall Philip 
Published: October 2018

IntroductionArguments regarding the importance of tobacco to convenience stores could impede the adoption of tobacco retail reduction policies. Although trade associations argue tobacco constitutes two-thirds of convenience store sales and drives footfall, few studies have tested these claims. We therefore examined the prevalence and characteristics of tobacco purchases at convenience stores in Dunedin, New Zealand.MethodsWe conducted a postpurchase survey at 20 convenience stores, each visited for three 60 min intervals over a 4-week period. We used descriptive statistics to determine proportions and 95% CIs of transactions that contained tobacco and those that contained only non-tobacco items. We estimated the mean number of items purchased, the mean number of non-tobacco items purchased and mean expenditure on non-tobacco items.ResultsFourteen per cent of transactions contained tobacco (n=95/679); of those, 64% comprised tobacco only. Only 5% of all transactions included both tobacco and non-tobacco products. The mean number of non-tobacco items purchased was 1.9 for transactions containing only non-tobacco products and 1.7 for transactions containing both tobacco and non-tobacco products. After excluding the cost of tobacco, people who purchased tobacco and non-tobacco products spent on average $5.11 on non-tobacco items, whereas people who purchased only non-tobacco items spent on average $6.85.ConclusionsTobacco products constitute a small proportion of items purchased from Dunedin convenience stores and are typically not purchased with non-tobacco items. Our findings are inconsistent with arguments that most small retailers rely on tobacco sales.
Diante da catástrofe. Imagem em movimento, imagem-apagamento e cemitério marinho
Authors: Monteiro Lucia Ramos 
Published: October 2018

Este artigo pretende pensar a indissociabilidade entre representação da catástrofe e catástrofe da representação. Para tanto, serão observadas tentativas de figurar diferentes eventos catastróficos por meio da imagem em movimento, ao longo da história. Na vídeo-instalação Los durmientes (2014), realizada pelo artista chileno Enrique Ramirez e exposta em 2015 no Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos de Santiago, a água que preenche todo o quadro tem qualidade sólida e opaca, funcionando como obstáculo à visão do espectador, o que reitera a “invisibilidade constitutiva” das tentativas de representação da catástrofe. Enquanto afirmação da inacessibilidade da verdade sobre os presos torturados, assassinados e desaparecidos sob a ditadura militar chilena, pode esta imagem em movimento ser entendida como imagem-apagamento?
Revolução visual da arte de Eisenstein em Ivan, o Terrível
Authors: Avancini Atilio , Riscali Fernanda 
Published: October 2018

A proposta do artigo é a leitura da mensagem cinematográfica e fotográfica do filme Ivan o Terrível – Parte II do diretor Sergei Eisenstein. A metodologia de pesquisa tem como ponto de partida a análise do fotograma idealizado pelo crítico Roland Barthes entre os sentidos óbvio e obtuso. Em adição, amplia-se a circulação de sentidos do objeto artístico para o ponto de vista descritivo e cultural de Erwin Panofsky, além da leitura do elemento técnico-estético. Instrumento de denúncia, a obra clássica Ivan o Terrível – Parte II se eterniza ao ser legitimado como registro histórico do passado e metáfora do presente. Esta pesquisa na área da arte, de caráter teórico e crítico, trabalha com a ideia de que com lirismo plástico e discussão política esta obra cinematográfica contribui para promover uma revolução visual.
Picture in Children's Story Books: Children's Perspective
Authors: Bulut-Ozsezer M. Sencer , Canbazoglu H. Beyza 
Published: October 2018

<p style="text-align:justify">The aim of this study is to collect and analyze children's comments on the pictures in children's story books. Four students studied in the first grade of a public primary school in Adana participated in the study. The research model is an example of phenomenology among qualitative research patterns. Focus group method was used as the data collection tool and observation method was used in a second exercise to support the first method. In focus group discussion "The City on the Wind" by Behic Ak, selected as the Book 1, was reviewed along with 4 participating students. In the second exercise, the book named "The Little Match Girl" selected as Book 2 was reviewed. Descriptive analysis and document analysis methods were used in the analysis of the research data. Students' comments on the pictures were collected under four different themes. "Description" among these themes was the most common in student expressions. The sentences for the themes of superficial interpretation, imaginative interpretation and critical understanding were less frequently used by students. Another finding of the study is the number of words students used to describe the picture. Students built short sentences not exceeding 2-3 words. </p>