bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Consequences of dispersal limitation and habitat fragmentation for the Brazilian heart‐tongued frogs (Phyllodytes spp.)
Authors: Mageski Marcio Marques , Varela Sara , Roper James Joseph 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPoorly known species may be cryptically endangered, especially when they inhabit fragmented and threatened habitats. Heart‐tongued frogs (genus Phyllodytes, family Hylidae, Lophyohylinae) comprise 17 species of poorly known frogs that have obligatory associations with tank bromeliads. The distributions of all species are restricted to a small, extremely fragmented, region of Atlantic Forest in eastern Brazil. We model climate and tank bromeliad distributions to better understand frog distribution limits. Using records from several sources for frogs and bromeliads with climate data from WorldClim, we modelled the distribution of Phyllodytes using maximum entropy. We compared climate and altitude within the distribution and nearby to test how climate may limit distribution. Climate together with bromeliad distributions provided the best model and predicted the smallest suitable area for Phyllodytes that was larger than that occupied, from the state of Paraíba in the north to Rio Grande do Sul in the south. Phyllodytes occurs in lower elevations that are warmer, wetter and less variable than the surrounding regions where it does not occur, and dispersal is apparently limited by the surrounding, inhospitable, region. Dispersal limitation and habitat fragmentation have relegated Phyllodytes to many very small habitat fragments. With many species in this genus being known from a single or few samples, this unfortunate combination of limitation and fragmentation suggests that some or all species of Phyllodytes may be threatened with extinction, especially if habitat fragmentation continues at its present pace in eastern Brazil.
Impact of primary antibiotic resistance on the effectiveness of sequential therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection: lessons from a 5‐year study on a large number of strains
Authors: Gatta L. , Scarpignato C. , Fiorini G. , Belsey J. , Saracino I. M. , Ricci C. , Vaira D. 
Published: March 2018

SummaryBackgroundThe increasing prevalence of strains resistant to antimicrobial agents is a critical issue in the management of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.Aims(1) To evaluate the prevalence of primary resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole and levofloxacin (2) to assess the effectiveness of sequential therapy on resistant strains (3) to identify the minimum number of subjects to enrol for evaluating the effectiveness of an eradication regimen in patients harbouring resistant strains.MethodsConsecutive 1682 treatment naïve H. pylori‐positive patients referred for upper GI endoscopy between 2010 and 2015 were studied and resistances assessed by E‐test. Sequential therapy was offered, effectiveness evaluated and analysed.ResultsH. pylori‐primary resistance to antimicrobials tested was high, and increased between 2010 and 2015. Eradication rates were (estimates and 95% CIs): 97.3% (95.6‐98.4) in strains susceptible to clarithromycin and metronidazole; 96.1% (91.7‐98.2) in strains resistant to metronidazole but susceptible to clarithromycin; 93.4% (88.2‐96.4) in strains resistant to clarithromycin but susceptible to metronidazole; 83.1% (77.7‐87.3) in strains resistant to clarithromycin and metronidazole. For any treatment with a 75%‐85% eradication rate, some 98‐144 patients with resistant strains need to be studied to get reliable information on effectiveness in these patients.ConclusionsH. pylori‐primary resistance is increasing and represents the most critical factor affecting effectiveness. Sequential therapy eradicated 83% of strains resistant to clarithromycin and metronidazole. Reliable estimates of the effectiveness of a given regimen in patients harbouring resistant strains can be obtained only by assessing a large number of strains.
Empathy, social media, and directed altruistic living organ donation
Authors: Moorlock Greg , Draper Heather 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn this article we explore some of the ethical dimensions of using social media to increase the number of living kidney donors. Social media provides a platform for changing non‐identifiable ‘statistical victims’ into ‘real people’ with whom we can identify and feel empathy: the so‐called ‘identifiable victim effect’, which prompts charitable action. We examine three approaches to promoting kidney donation using social media which could take advantages of the identifiable victim effect: (a) institutionally organized campaigns based on historical cases aimed at promoting non‐directed altruistic donation; (b) personal case‐based campaigns organized by individuals aimed at promoting themselves/or someone with whom they are in a relationship as a recipient of directed donation; (c) institutionally organized personal case‐based campaigns aimed at promoting specific recipients for directed donation. We will highlight the key ethical issues raised by these approaches, and will argue that the third option, despite raising ethical concerns, is preferable to the other two.
The phylogenetic and functional diversity of regional breeding bird assemblages is reduced and constricted through urbanization
Authors: La Sorte Frank A. , Lepczyk Christopher A. , Aronson Myla F. J. , Goddard Mark A. , Hedblom Marcus , Katti Madhusudan , MacGregor‐Fors Ian , Mörtberg Ulla , Nilon Charles H. , Warren Paige S. , Williams Nicholas S. G. , Yang Jun 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimUrbanization broadly affects the phylogenetic and functional diversity of natural communities through a variety of processes including habitat loss and the introduction of non‐native species. Due to the challenge of acquiring direct measurements, these effects have been studied primarily using “space‐for‐time” substitution where spatial urbanization gradients are used to infer the consequences of urbanization occurring across time. The ability of alternative sampling designs to replicate the findings derived using space‐for‐time substitution has not been tested.LocationGlobal.MethodsWe contrasted the phylogenetic and functional diversity of breeding bird assemblages in 58 cities worldwide with the corresponding regional breeding bird assemblages estimated using geographic range maps.ResultsCompared to regional assemblages, urban assemblages contained lower phylogenetic diversity, lower phylogenetic beta diversity, a reduction in the least evolutionary distinct species and the loss of the most evolutionarily distinct species. We found no evidence that these effects were related to the presence of non‐native species. Urban assemblages contained fewer aquatic species and fewer aquatic foraging species. The distribution of body size and range size narrowed for urban assemblages with the loss of species at both tails of the distribution, especially large bodied and broadly distributed species. Urban assemblages contained a greater proportion of species classified as passerines, doves or pigeons; species identified as granivores; species that forage within vegetation or in the air; and species with more generalized associations with foraging strata.Main conclusionsUrbanization is associated with the overall reduction and constriction of phylogenetic and functional diversity, results that largely replicate those generated using space‐for‐time substitution, increasing our confidence in the quality of the combined inferences. When direct measurements are unavailable, our findings emphasize the value of developing independent sampling methods that broaden and reinforce our understanding of the ecological implications of urbanization.
Late adulthood mortality among African‐American and white American people with Type 1 diabetes according to age at diabetes diagnosis
Authors: Conway B. N. , Lopes‐Virella M. F. , Blot W. J. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimsTo estimate the overall and cause‐specific mortality in a population of African‐Americans and white Americans with a low socio‐economic status who had young‐onset insulin‐treated diabetes and had survived beyond the age of 40 years, and to examine whether any excess risk varied according to age at diabetes onset.MethodsUsing the Southern Community Cohort Study, we conducted a mortality follow‐up of a cohort of mostly low‐income participants aged 40–79 years (mean 50 years) at cohort entry with insulin‐treated diabetes diagnosed before age 30 years (n=475) and without diabetes (n=62 266). Childhood onset was defined as diabetes diagnosed before age 20 years (n=162), while young‐adulthood onset was defined as diabetes diagnosed between ages 20 and 29 years (n=313). Cause‐specific mortality was based on both underlying and contributing causes of death, obtained from death certificates. Multivariable Cox analysis was performed.ResultsDuring follow‐up (mean 9.5 years), 38.7% of those with and 12.9% of those without diabetes died. Compared with those without diabetes, increases in mortality rate were generally similar among those with childhood‐ and young‐adulthood‐onset diabetes for deaths from: all causes (childhood: hazard ratio 4.3, CI 3.3–5.5; young adulthood: hazard ratio 4.9, CI 4.0–5.8); ischaemic heart disease (childhood: hazard ratio 5.7, CI 3.5–9.4; young adulthood: hazard ratio 7.9, CI 5.6–11.0); heart failure (childhood: hazard ratio 7.3, CI 4.2–12.7; young adulthood: hazard ratio 5.4, CI 3.3–8.9); sepsis (childhood: hazard ratio 10.3, CI 6.1‐17.3; young adulthood: hazard ratio 8.8, CI 5.7–13.5); renal failure (childhood: hazard ratio 15.1, CI 8.6‐26.5; young adulthood: hazard ratio 18.2, CI 12.3–27.1); respiratory disorders (childhood: hazard ratio 3.9, CI 2.3‐6.7; young adulthood: hazard ratio 5.3, CI 3.7–7.7); suicide/homicide/accidents (childhood: hazard ratio 2.3, CI 0.72–7.0; young adulthood: hazard ratio 5.8, CI 3.4–10.2); and cancer (childhood: hazard ratio 2.1, CI 0.98–4.4; young adulthood: hazard ratio 1.2, CI 0.55–2.5).ConclusionsWe observed high excess long‐term mortality for all‐cause, renal failure, ischemic heart disease and heart failure mortality in African‐American and white American people with early‐onset insulin‐treated diabetes.
Mediators of medication adherence and glycaemic control and their implications for direct outpatient medical costs: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Lum Z. K. , Tsou K. Y. K. , Lee J. Y.‐C. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimsTo investigate the effects of diabetes‐related distress and perception of hyperglycaemia on self‐reported medication adherence and glycaemic control, as measured by HbA1c, and to compare the cost outcomes in patients with sub‐optimally vs uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes mellitus.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cross‐sectional study that involved the review of a chronic disease database in Singapore. Data on clinical characteristics, diabetes‐related distress, perception of hyperglycaemia, self‐reported medication adherence and costs were obtained from the database. Mediation analyses were conducted using a linear regression‐based approach. A final path model was built to illustrate the sequential mediating effects of diabetes‐related distress and perception on the association of medication adherence and HbA1c concentration.ResultsDiabetes‐related distress and perception of hyperglycaemia were significantly associated with medication adherence and HbA1c concentration. Mediation analyses showed a significant indirect effect of diabetes‐related distress and perception of hyperglycaemia on medication adherence and HbA1c concentration. People with uncontrolled diabetes were found to incur significantly higher total direct medical costs than those with sub‐optimally controlled diabetes (P = 0.034), with medication cost as the main cost driver (66.6%).ConclusionsIdentifying the influence of the sequential mediating effects of distress and perception was important in understanding the pathway between medication adherence and glycaemic control. This suggests the importance of a team‐based approach to address these mediators and thus improve glycaemic control. Poor glycaemic control was also found to be associated with higher direct medical costs.
Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass compared with equivalent diet restriction: Mechanistic insights into diabetes remission
Authors: Pop Laurentiu M. , Mari Andrea , Zhao Tong‐Jin , Mitchell Lori , Burgess Shawn , Li Xilong , Adams‐Huet Beverley , Lingvay Ildiko 
Published: March 2018

AimsTo investigate the physiological mechanisms leading to rapid improvement in diabetes after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and specifically the contribution of the concurrent peri‐operative dietary restrictions, which may also alter glucose metabolism.Materials and methodsIn order to assess the differential contributions of diet and surgery to the mechanisms leading to the rapid improvement in diabetes after RYGB we enrolled 10 patients with type 2 diabetes scheduled to undergo RYGB. All patients underwent a 10‐day inpatient supervised dietary intervention equivalent to the peri‐operative diet (diet‐only period), followed by, after a re‐equilibration (washout) period, an identical period of pair‐matched diet in conjunction with RYGB (diet and RYGB period). We conducted extensive metabolic assessments during a 6‐hour mixed‐meal challenge test, with stable isotope glucose tracer infusion performed before and after each intervention.ResultsSimilar improvements in glucose levels, β‐cell function, insulin sensitivity and post‐meal hepatic insulin resistance were observed with both interventions. Both interventions led to significant reductions in fasting and postprandial acyl ghrelin. The diet‐only intervention induced greater improvements in basal hepatic glucose output and post‐meal gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) secretion. The diet and RYGB intervention induced significantly greater increases in post‐meal glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1), peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon levels.ConclusionsStrict peri‐operative dietary restriction is a main contributor to the rapid improvement in glucose metabolism after RYGB. The RYGB‐induced changes in the incretin hormones GLP‐1 and PYY probably play a major role in long‐term compliance with such major dietary restrictions through central and peripheral mechanisms.
Long‐term sustainability of glycaemic achievements with second‐line antidiabetic therapies in patients with type 2 diabetes: A real‐world study
Authors: Montvida Olga , Shaw Jonathan E. , Blonde Lawrence , Paul Sanjoy K. 
Published: March 2018

AimsTo inform patients and their carers about both the probability of reducing glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) to clinically desirable levels and the sustainability of such control over 2 years with major second‐line antidiabetic therapies, in individual risk scenarios, with and without third‐line intensification.Materials and MethodsFrom US Centricity Electronic Medical Records, 163 081 patients with type 2 diabetes aged 18 to 80 years, who had initiated metformin, intensified their treatment with dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 (DPP‐4) inhibitors, glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) receptor agonists (GLP‐1RAs), sulphonylureas (SUs), insulin or thiazolidinediones (TZDs), and continued second‐line treatment for ≥6 months, were selected. Treatment groups were balanced with regard to baseline characteristics, and glycaemic achievements were estimated using logistic regression analysis.ResultsWith HbA1c concentrations of 58–63.9 mmol/mol (7.5–7.9%) at second‐line treatment initiation, the adjusted probabilities of achieving HbA1c <53 mmol/mol (<7%) at 6 months were 32%, 38%, 39%, 26% and 38% in the SU, DPP‐4 inhibitor, GLP‐1RA, insulin and TZD groups, respectively, while with baseline HbA1c concentrations of 64–75 mmol/mol (8–9%), the corresponding probabilities of reducing HbA1c to <58 mmol/mol (<7.5%) were 38%, 44%, 40%, 34% and 42%, respectively. In these baseline HbA1c categories, the adjusted probabilities of sustaining HbA1c achievements over 2 years were higher in the GLP‐1RA and TZD groups, compared with the SU and insulin groups (P < .01). With baseline HbA1c concentrations of 75.1–108 mmol/mol (9.1–12%) 38% of patients achieved an HbA1c concentration <58 mmol/mol (<7.5%) at 6 months. The adjusted probability of sustaining this control over 2 years was higher in the incretin and TZD groups (range 62%‐75%), while insulin and SUs offered lower chances of sustainable control (range 54%‐56%).ConclusionsPatients treated with second‐line incretins and TZDs had a significantly higher probability of achieving and sustaining glycaemic control over 2 years without further intensification, compared with those treated with SUs or insulin.
Experimental logging alters the abundance and community composition of ovipositing mosquitoes in the southern Appalachians
Authors: Hopkins M. Camille , Thomason Courtney A. , Brown Bryan L. , Kirkpatrick Laila T. , Paulson Sally L. , Hawley Dana M. 
Published: March 2018

1. The loss of intact forest via logging can influence vector‐borne disease dynamics in part by altering the abundance or diversity of mosquito species. Using an experimental field approach, we characterised how two types of logging (clearcut and repeat‐entry shelterwood) affected temperate forest mosquito abundance and diversity in southwestern Virginia.2.From May to September in 2008–2010, infusion‐baited gravid traps were used to collect ovipositing female mosquitoes across experimental forest plots that varied in logging treatment. Of the 29 680 collected adult female mosquitoes, the three dominant taxa captured wereAedes triseriatus(55%),Aedes japonicus(21%), andCulex pipiens/restuans(20%).3. Logging treatment had a significant effect on the overall number of female mosquitoes caught per trap night, with lower average abundance of females on both logged treatments relative to two types of unlogged, control plots. When the three most abundant mosquito species were examined separately, logging treatment significantly influenced the abundance of bothAedesspecies, but did not significantly affectC. pipiens/restuansabundance.4. Logging treatment did not influence the richness or diversity of mosquito species captured in gravid traps. However, logging treatment significantly altered the multivariate community composition of captured mosquitoes, an effect probably mediated by differential species‐specific impacts of logging on abundance.5. Overall, the results of the present study suggest that the risk of arboviruses transmitted by container‐breedingAedesspecies may be lower following a logging event in Appalachian forests because of reducedA. japonicusandA. triseriatusabundance with logging.
Balearic lizards use chemical cues from a complex deceptive mimicry to capture attracted pollinators
Authors: Pérez‐Cembranos Ana , Pérez‐Mellado Valentín , Cooper William E. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDeceptive flowers from several plant species emit odors that mimic oviposition cues and attract female insects seeking for a laying site. Helicodiceros muscivorus is a species that emits an odor mimicking the foul smell of rotting meat and thereby attracts blowflies that usually oviposit on carcasses but are deceived into pollinating the plant. Thus, H. muscivorus is a striking case of pollination by brood‐site deception. The Balearic lizard, Podarcis lilfordi, exhibits remarkable interactions with dead horse arum. Balearic lizards, which sometimes forage on carcasses, are attracted to blooming dead horse arum. We showed experimentally that P. lilfordi can detect chemical cues from carcasses on cotton swabs and exhibits elevated tongue‐flick rates to carcass chemical cues compared to control stimuli. Lizards also detected and located hidden carcasses using only airborne chemical cues. The responses of lizards to chemical cues from the spadix of blooming dead horse arum were qualitatively and quantitatively similar to those to carcass odors. Therefore, the decay‐like odor that attracts blowflies for the plant's benefit also attracts lizards. This attraction may initially have been somewhat favorable for lizards that eat blowflies, but slightly unfavorable for plants because the lizards ate some pollinators. We suggest that lizards attracted by odor may have learned later to use the plant for thermoregulation and then consume its fruits, making the association more positive for lizards and benefitted arum by seed dispersal.
Different colour morphs of the poison frog Andinobates bombetes (Dendrobatidae) are similarly effective visual predator deterrents
Authors: Casas‐Cardona Santiago , Márquez Roberto , Vargas‐Salinas Fernando 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAposematism is the use of warning signals to advertise unpleasant or dangerous defences to potential predators. As the effectiveness of this strategy depends on predator learning, little variation is expected in aposematic warning signals, as similar signals facilitate predator learning. However, warning signals are frequently variable in aposematic species. Such variability could arise as a result of geographic variation in the interpretation that local predators give warning signals. We tested this divergent learning hypothesis in the polytypic poison frog Andinobates bombetes (Anura: Dendrobatidae), focusing on visual predators. Our study was conducted in two populations of this species located in the Western Andes of Colombia, where individuals at some localities exhibit red dorsolateral stripes, while those in others exhibit yellow dorsolateral stripes. We deployed paraffin models imitating both forms of A. bombetes in size and colouration, as well as dull‐coloured controls, at sites inhabited by either red‐striped or yellow‐striped frogs. Red and yellow models were attacked at similar rates at both sites, and brown models were attacked more frequently at one of the sites. These results suggest that red and yellow colourations function as similarly effective aposematic signals for primarily visual predators, regardless of the form previously experienced by these predators. Therefore, our results do not support the hypothesis of divergent predator learning as a driver of the polytypism present in this species. Finally, we discuss other mechanisms that may be involved in the evolution and maintenance of this polytypism.
Who is in the neighborhood? Conspecific and heterospecific responses to perceived density for breeding habitat selection
Authors: Kelly Janice K. , Chiavacci Scott J. , Benson Thomas J. , Ward Michael P. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTheoretical models of habitat selection often incorporate negative density dependence. Despite strong negative density‐dependent effects on habitat selection, more recent studies indicate that animals settle near members of their own (conspecific) and other species (heterospecific) when selecting habitat with social cues. Social cue use for habitat selection is particularly common among songbirds, but few studies have investigated if songbirds use social cues to assess conspecific or heterospecific density (as opposed to just presence/absence) when making settlement decisions. We conducted a playback experiment to evaluate if yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia) and willow flycatchers (Empidonax traillii), two potential competitors for breeding habitat, use social cues to assess density (conspecific for warblers and heterospecific for flycatchers) when selecting breeding locations at two spatial scales. We simulated yellow warbler density to be high or low at multiple treatment plots (3.14 ha) with song playback and then evaluated settlement decisions by comparing yellow warbler and willow flycatcher abundances across plots (broad‐scale habitat selection) and individual space use within plots (fine‐scale territory establishment). Yellow warbler density treatments did not affect habitat selection by yellow warblers at the broad scale, but caused individuals to cluster territories at high‐density treatments. Willow flycatchers were most abundant at high‐density treatment plots, but yellow warbler density treatments did not affect territory locations. The results indicate that perceived density affects the habitat selection process for both conspecifics and heterospecifics.