bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A multi‐faceted approach testing the effects of previous bacterial exposure on resistance and tolerance
Authors: Kutzer Megan A. M. , Kurtz Joachim , Armitage Sophie A. O. 
Published: January 2019

Abstract

Hosts can alter their strategy towards pathogens during their lifetime; that is, they can show phenotypic plasticity in immunity or life history. Immune priming is one such example, where a previous encounter with a pathogen confers enhanced protection upon secondary challenge, resulting in reduced pathogen load (i.e., resistance) and improved host survival. However, an initial encounter might also enhance tolerance, particularly to less virulent opportunistic pathogens that establish persistent infections. In this scenario, individuals are better able to reduce the negative fecundity consequences that result from a high pathogen burden. Finally, previous exposure may also lead to life‐history adjustments, such as terminal investment into reproduction.

Using different Drosophila melanogaster host genotypes and two bacterial pathogens, Lactococcus lactis and Pseudomonas entomophila, we tested whether previous exposure results in resistance or tolerance and whether it modifies immune gene expression during an acute‐phase infection (one day post‐challenge). We then asked whether previous pathogen exposure affects chronic‐phase pathogen persistence and longer‐term survival (28 days post‐challenge).

We predicted that previous exposure would increase host resistance to an early stage bacterial infection while it might come at a cost to host fecundity tolerance. We reasoned that resistance would be due in part to stronger immune gene expression after challenge. We expected that previous exposure would improve long‐term survival, that it would reduce infection persistence, and we expected to find genetic variation in these responses.

We found that previous exposure to P. entomophila weakened host resistance to a second infection independent of genotype and had no effect on immune gene expression. Fecundity tolerance showed genotypic variation but was not influenced by previous exposure. However, L. lactis persisted as a chronic infection, whereas survivors cleared the more pathogenic P. entomophila infection.

To our knowledge, this is the first study that addresses host tolerance to bacteria in relation to previous exposure, taking a multi‐faceted approach to address the topic. Our results suggest that previous exposure comes with transient costs to resistance during the early stage of infection in this host–pathogen system and that infection persistence may be bacterium‐specific.
Are diet diversity metrics influenced more by rainfall or by temperature in an Afrotropical Scincid Lizard?
Authors: Dendi Daniele , Segniagbeto Gabriel H. , Di Vittorio Massimiliano , Luiselli Luca 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe ecology and activity patterns of many tropical vertebrate species are heavily influenced by the seasonal alternance of dry and wet periods. However, the effects of the dry–wet seasonal alternance on feeding habits of tropical vertebrates are poorly known. In this paper, the monthly variations in the diet of the scincid lizard Trachylepis quinquetaeniata were studied, by faecal pellet analysis, in a sandy beach area of southern Togo (West Africa) in relation to both rainfall and temperature‐related variables. The diet was basically insectivorous, with five prey types (Coleoptera adults and larvae, Lepidoptera adults and larvae and Formicidae) being dominant in the pellets. Prey composition was similar between sexes, but varied considerably across months. There was a positive correlation between mean monthly rainfall and number of prey categories eaten in each month. General linear models (GLM) showed that both Simpson and Shannon indices increased with the monthly number of rainy days. GLM also showed that rainfall regime influenced the frequency of eaten Coleoptera adults and larvae and of Lepidoptera adults and larvae, with no effect on Formicoidea. Our study confirms that dietary patterns of tropical lizards are influenced by the wet‐dry‐seasonal alternance, and that both the taxonomic composition of the diet and the dietary diversity metrics are significantly affected. We also demonstrated that rainfall is more important than temperature in determining the dietary variations, and that, among the rainfall‐linked variables, it is the monthly number of rainy days that represents the most important variable.
Trait selection matters! A study on European amphibian functional diversity patterns
Authors: Tsianou Mariana A. , Kallimanis Athanasios S. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractTrait‐based approaches and functional diversity have been previously used to enlighten our knowledge on the structure of community assemblages which are driven by species interactions or abiotic factors. We assess what amphibian functional diversity implies for the community assembly of amphibians of Europe and whether the use of different Functional Trait Groups (FTGs) affects the results. We used presence/absence atlas with 50 km × 50 km grain size and three functional diversity indices (FRic, RaoQ and FDiv) which reflect functional richness and divergence to estimate functional diversity patterns calculated for three FTGs: Morphological, Habitat‐related, Reproductive and the complete set of traits. To identify the two key processes (environmental filtering and limiting similarity) that may shape amphibian communities and how the relative importance of these processes could change using different FTGs, we used null models to test for non‐random patterns of functional diversity accounting or not for the difference in regional species pool. We show that for the same grid cell, for one FTG we might observe lower than randomly expected functional diversity (i.e., trait convergence or environmental filtering as the dominant community assembly process) while for another FTG or for the complete set of traits, higher than randomly expected functional diversity (i.e., trait divergence or limiting similarity as the dominant community assembly process). This highlights the role of trait selection on the inference drawn regarding community assembly. Furthermore, the number of traits (complete set vs. FTGs) used to quantify functional diversity also affects the conclusions regarding community assembly.
Disentangling grazing and light controls on algal communities in grassland and afforested streams
Authors: Cibils‐Martina Luciana , Márquez Javier A. , Gari Elena Noemí , Albariño Ricardo J. , Principe Romina E. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractOur aim was to analyze the combined effect of grazing and light on composition, structure, functional diversity (FD) and succession of algal communities in two headwater streams (grassland and pine afforested). We hypothesized that algal communities in the grassland stream are top‐down controlled, as a result of higher grazing; meanwhile, in the afforested stream, algal communities are bottom‐up shaped, mainly due to sunlight reduction. In in situ experiments, we used platforms to avoid grazing in both streams, and the substrates were extracted at 23, 45 and 73 days. Algal community composition was different between stream types. Seventy percent of structural and biomass variables responded to grazing. In the grassland stream, grazing reduced richness and ash‐free dry mass (AFDM), especially after 45 days, while in the afforested stream, at the same time, grazed substrates showed higher richness and AFDM than ungrazed substrates. Net grazing effect was higher on algal biomass of grassland streams. Then, 30% of functional traits showed grazing effect. High profile algae predominated in the grassland stream, where ungrazed substrates showed higher proportions of species with pad mucilage and colonial life form. Algal communities in the afforested stream remained at an early stage of succession, with a predominance of small and low profile algae in both substrates, and FD and evenness indices were lower. Our results indicate that the relative strength of top‐down versus bottom‐up control is different among stream types and the primary regulatory factor of freshwater communities can be modified according to such forestry practice.
Concentration of radioactive materials in small mammals collected from a restricted area in Fukushima, Japan since 2012
Authors: Ishiniwa Hiroko , Okano Tsukasa , Yoshioka Akira , Tamaoki Masanori , Yokohata Yasushi , Shindo Junji , Azuma Noriko , Nakajima Nobuyoshi , Onuma Manabu 
Published: January 2019

AbstractFukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was struck by a huge earthquake and tsunami, which ultimately released a large amount of radioactive material owing to steam explosion in March 2011. This accident affected extensive area and resulted in soil contamination, which would prevail over a long period. The contaminants included various types of nuclear materials, among which cesium (134,137Cs) has a particularly long half‐life. Organisms living in the contaminated area are presumably exposed to radiation caused by the presence of these radioactive contaminants in their environment, in addition to internal exposure owing to the intake of these contaminants through the food web. The purpose of our data collection is to monitor accumulation of radioactive materials in small mammals for a long period and to predict its effects. Reasons for focusing on small mammals include: (a) mammals are the most sensitive to radiation, (b) small mammals have a smaller home range compared to large mammals; therefore, accumulation of radioactive materials in small mammals is considered to reflect the condition of the surrounding environment, and (c) among the small mammals, rodents are used as laboratory animals and provide a lot of information, from which we can expect to acquire much knowledge based on investigations. The dataset contains measurements of 134,137Cs and potassium (40K) concentrations in small terrestrial mammals collected in areas contaminated with radioactive contaminants from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. We established two fixed study sites and three temporary sites inside the zone from which humans were evacuated owing to high levels of radiation. Annual monitoring of Cs contamination in small mammals was started in 2012 at the fixed study sites. Until 2016, we collected 547 individuals of four species (Apodemus speciosus, Apodemus argenteus, Microtus montebelli and Urotrichus talpoides). Cs concentrations in each individual were measured using high‐purity germanium detectors against a ground body after removing the internal organs and the head. Our data provide valuable information about temporal changes in 134Cs and 137Cs concentrations in small mammals following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The study is continuing and the present dataset will be updated in the future.
A phenology model for tropical species that flower multiple times each year
Authors: Wright S. Joseph , Calderón Osvaldo , Muller‐Landau Helene C. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractPhenology models developed for temperate and boreal plants predict a single, population‐level first flowering date for each year. These models cannot accommodate species that flower multiple times each year in humid tropical forests nor flowering data with census‐interval rather than daily temporal resolution. Here, we present a new model framework able to predict the timing of multiple annual flowering events from census data. We extend a recent model, which predicted tropical flowering probabilities as discrete events occurring on census dates, by integrating predicted flowering probabilities over all dates between censuses. We evaluate our model against 29 years of daily climate and weekly flowering records forHybanthus prunifolius(Violaceae) andHandroanthus guayacan(Bignoniaceae) from Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Previous experiments demonstrate that both species flower shortly after a heavy, dry‐season rain interrupts an extended dry period. Our model captures this sequence of rainfall events. Best‐fit model parameters are consistent with previous experimental results. This match suggests the new model framework will provide novel insights for other humid tropical forest species.
A data set of long‐term observation of aquatic vertebrates and associate environmental factors in a temperate stream, the Yura River, Kyoto, Japan
Authors: Nakagawa Hikaru 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe population dynamics of fishes are strongly affected by habitat characteristics that are constantly changing due to seasonal and interannual variations in climatic, hydrological and geographical processes. Seasonal and interannual variations in hydrological events directly affect the movement, growth and mortality of stream fishes, and indirectly affect their population density and standing crop through changes in local‐scale habitat structures. Characteristics of local‐scale habitats directly affect availability of foods, shelters, spawning sites and interspecific interactions of stream fishes. Therefore, long‐term data regarding the local‐scale dynamics of habitat characteristics and their use by fish species over a few generations or longer would be needed for understanding the mechanism of the determinant process of fish population dynamics. When investigating the effects of habitat changes due to natural processes on the long‐term dynamics of fish populations, removal of artificial influences such as changes in land use, dam constructions and channelization of riverines is often problematic. Thereby, sampling sites where long‐term observation of nonartificial changes in stream fish populations and habitats are very valuable. Here, I report the long‐term seasonal and annual changes in stream fish populations and their habitat characteristics based on 75 snorkeling observations of fishes and environmental measurements in the upper reaches of the Yura River at Ashiu research forest, which has a 36.5 km2 catchment area with very little artificial disturbance, from May 2007 to June 2018. Snorkeling observations were conducted using the line‐transect method during the day and at night, and microhabitat characteristics (water depth, current velocity, substratum characteristics and the presence/absence of cover) were determined for all individuals observed. A total of 56,042 individuals were observed, belonging to 17 fish and 7 other aquatic vertebrate species. These data may be used to examine the effects of habitat change on the processes that determine fish populations.
Sustaining the Buyout Governance Model: Inside Secondary Management Buyout Boards
Authors: Jelic Ranko , Zhou Dan , Wright Mike 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThis paper examines the impact of private equity (PE) directors and their human capital on operating performance in a unique hand‐collected sample of 200 secondary management buyouts (SMBOs) during 2000–2015. It shows that PE directors’ human capital tends to play a statistically and economically important role in performance. Financial (rather than operational) experience of PE directors in acquiring PE firms tends to have a substantial impact on post‐SMBO profitability, while high‐level business education is especially important in post‐SMBO growth performance enhancement. Complementary expertise, provided by directors in buying and selling PE firms, plays an important role only in post‐SMBO growth improvements. Overall, the paper's results provide evidence that governance benefits of the buyout model tend not to be exhausted in the primary buyout stage, but the effects in the secondary buyout phase depend on the nature of PE directors’ human capital resource, notably in respect of the balance between board monitoring and advisory roles. This study therefore adds to growing evidence on how the ownership and life‐cycle nature of firms affect sustainability of boards fulfilling their roles. The results are robust to sample selection bias, different types of PE firms and different measures of human capital.
Retraction: Algorithmicity of biology
Authors: Uchmański Janusz 
Published: January 2019

First published: 29 January 2019
https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13157
The above article, published online on 29 January 2019 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been withdrawn by agreement between the journal's Executive Editor, the journal's Senior Editors, the British Ecological Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The withdrawal has been agreed as it has been brought to the attention of the Editorial Office and the Publisher that this article is an English translation of a previously published Polish language article, authored by Dr Uchmański.While the journal does consider translations for publication, this is subject to certain conditions being met. These conditions include: permission being sought by the authors from the original Publisher for the translation, the authors informing the Editorial Office upon initial submission that it is a translation, and the authors clearly referencing the original version of the article in the translation. Unfortunately, none of these conditions were met and the journal has therefore agreed to withdraw the article.
Alcohol and delirium tremens: effects of average number of drinks per day and beverage type
Authors: Sørensen H. J. , Holst C. , Knop J. , Mortensen E. L. , Tolstrup J. S. , Becker U. 
Published: January 2019

ObjectiveAssociations of amount of alcohol intake and beverage type with the risk of delirium tremens (DT) have not been studied. This longitudinal study investigated if the average number of drinks per day and beverage type predict DT.MethodsA cohort of 3 582 alcohol‐dependent men and women aged 19–82 without previous DT were interviewed about alcohol intake and beverage type at baseline in 1994–2005 and followed through record linkage in Danish nationwide registers to identify incident DT. Data were analyzed by means of Cox regression models.ResultsAn average number of drinks per day of 20–30 or >30 was associated with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.38 (95% CI 1.03–1.84) and 1.64 (95% CI 1.19–2.27) relative to the reference category (1–9 drinks). Independently of amount consumed and covariates (age, gender, civil status and work status), beverage type (spirits vs. mixed alcohol) was associated with a HR of 1.63 (95% CI 1.08–2.46). Male gender was robustly associated with increased risk (HR = 1.62 (95% CI 1.25–2.08).ConclusionsIn alcohol‐dependent men and women, daily alcohol intake above a threshold of 20 beverages or 240 g alcohol and a preference for spirits increase the risk of developing DT.
Cardiovascular risk remains high in schizophrenia with modest improvements in bipolar disorder during past decade
Authors: Rødevand L. , Steen N. E. , Elvsåshagen T. , Quintana D. S. , Reponen E. J. , Mørch R. H. , Lunding S. H. , Vedal T. S. J. , Dieset I. , Melle I. , Lagerberg T. V. , Andreassen O. A. 
Published: January 2019

ObjectiveWhile CVD risk has decreased in the general population during the last decade, the situation in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) is unknown.MethodsWe compared CVD risk factors in patients with SCZ and BD recruited from 2002–2005 (2005 sample, N = 270) with patients recruited from 2006–2017 (2017 sample, N = 1011) from the same catchment area in Norway. The 2017 sample was also compared with healthy controls (N = 922) and the general population (N range = 1285–4587, Statistics Norway) from the same area and period.ResultsPatients with SCZ and BD in the 2017 sample had significantly higher level of most CVD risk factors compared to healthy controls and the general population. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of CVD risk factors in SCZ between the 2005 and 2017 samples except a small increase in glucose in the 2017 sample. There were small‐to‐moderate reductions in hypertension, obesity, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the BD 2017 sample compared to the 2005 sample.ConclusionDespite major advances in health promotion during the past decade, there has been no reduction in the level of CVD risk factors in patients with SCZ and modest improvement in BD.
Differential gene expression analysis of sickle cell anemia in steady and crisis state
Authors: Zanette Dalila L. , Santiago Rayra P. , Leite Ivana Paula Ribeiro , Santana Sanzio S. , da Guarda Caroline , Maffili Vitor V. , Ferreira Junia Raquel Dutra , Adanho Corynne Stephanie Ahouefa , Yahouedehou Setondji Cocou Modeste Alexandre , Menezes Isa Lyra , Goncalves Marilda Souza 
Published: January 2019

AbstractSickle cell anemia is one of the most prevalent genetic diseases worldwide, showing great clinical heterogeneity. This study compared the gene expression patterns between sickle cell anemia pediatric patients in steady state and in crisis state, as compared to age‐paired, healthy individuals. RNA sequencing was performed from these groups of patients/controls using Illumina HiSeq 2500 equipment. The resulting differentially expressed genes were loaded into QIAGEN's ingenuity pathway analysis. The results showed that EIF2 pathway and NRF2‐mediated oxidative stress‐response pathways were more highly activated both in steady state and in crisis patients, as compared to healthy individuals. In addition, we found increased activation of eIF4 and p70S6K signaling pathways in crisis state compared to healthy individuals. The transcription factor GATA‐1 was found exclusively in steady state while SPI was found exclusively in crisis state. IL6 and VEGFA were found only in crisis state, while IL‐1B was found exclusively in steady state. The regulator effects analysis revealed IgG1 as an upstream regulator in steady state compared to healthy individuals, resulting in invasion of prostate cancer cell lines as the disease/function outcome. For crisis‐state patients versus healthy individuals, two networks of regulator effects revealed STAT1, CD40LG, TGM2, IRF7, IRF4, and IRF1 acting as upstream regulators, resulting in disease/function outcomes, including engulfment of cells and aggregation of blood cells and inflammation of joints. Our results indicated genes and pathways that can provide clues on the molecular events involved in the severity of sickle cell disease.
Up‐regulation of Rac1 in the bronchial smooth muscle of murine experimental asthma
Authors: Kai Yuki , Motegi Momoko , Suzuki Yuta , Takeuchi Hiroto , Harada Yui , Sato Fumiaki , Chiba Yoshihiko , Kamei Junzo , Sakai Hiroyasu 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThere has been considerable research on the involvement of RhoA/Rho kinase signalling in smooth muscle contractions. However, only a few reports have addressed the specific role of Rac1, which is a member of the Rho GTPase superfamily. Therefore, this study investigated the role of Rac1‐related pathways in bronchial smooth muscle (BSM) contractions. Bronchial rings isolated from mice were suspended in an organ bath, and the isometric contractions of circular smooth muscles were monitored. The phosphorylation of myosin light chains (MLCs) was analysed by immunoblotting. The Rac1 inhibitor EHT1864 inhibited carbachol (CCh)‐induced BSM contractions, although high K+ depolarization‐induced BSM contractions were not significantly attenuated by EHT1864. Moreover, high K+‐ and phorbol 12,13‐dibutyrate (PDBu; PKC activator)‐induced contractions were not attenuated by Rac1 inhibition, whereas sodium fluoride (NaF)‐induced force development was inhibited by EHT1864. The gene and protein expression of Rac1 was increased in the BSM of a murine model with antigen‐induced airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR). In addition, an increased force of the BSM contractions in AHR was suppressed by EHT1864 treatment, suggesting that the up‐regulation of Rac1 is involved in AHR. These findings suggest that an increase in Rac1‐mediated signalling is involved in the augmented contractions of BSMs in antigen‐induced AHR mice.