bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mass spectrometry for characterization of homologous piperidine alkaloids and their activity as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Authors: Freitas Thamires R. , Danuello Amanda , Viegas Júnior Claudio , Bolzani Vanderlan S. , Pivatto Marcos 
Published: May 2018

RationalePiperidine alkaloids from Senna spectabilis constitute a rare class of natural products with several biological activities. However, the absence of chromophores makes their structural elucidation by conventional methods a great challenge. In this context, mass spectrometry emerges as a powerful tool for metabolomics studies.MethodsThe piperidine alkaloids (−)‐cassine and (−)‐spectaline and the semisynthetic derivatives (−)‐3‐O‐acetylcassine and (−)‐3‐O‐acetylspectaline were investigated by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS/MS) in the positive mode and electron ionization mass spectrometry (EI‐MS). ESI fragmentation studies were performed with a quadrupole time‐of‐flight instrument; N2 was used as collision gas. The acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of the investigated compounds was evaluated by bioautography and microplate screening assays.ResultsESI‐MS/MS and EI‐MS provided valuable and complementary information about the structure of the piperidine compounds. Collision‐induced dissociation experiments (MS/MS) revealed that neutral elimination of water or acetic acid is the major fragmentation pathway, which agrees with the stereochemistry proposed for (−)‐cassine and (−)‐spectaline and the semisynthetic derivatives (−)‐3‐O‐acetylcassine and (−)‐3‐O‐acetylspectaline.ConclusionsThe ESI‐MS/MS and EI‐MS studies allowed us to propose fragmentation mechanisms for piperidine alkaloids and derivatives. Therefore, mass spectrometry is an important tool for characterizing the structure of these compounds and for supporting further metabolomics studies.
Temporal variation in reproductive costs and payoffs shapes the flowering strategy of a neotropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica
Authors: Kellett Kimberly M. , Shefferson Richard P. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractA central goal of evolutionary ecology is to understand the factors that select for particular life history strategies, such as delaying reproduction. For example, environmental variation and reproductive costs to survival and growth often select for reproductive delays in semelparous and iteroparous species. In this study, we examine how variation in reproductive cost, which we define as a reduction to growth, survival, or future reproduction after a reproductive event, may select for reproductive delay in an iteroparous Neotropical milkweed with no obvious reproductive season. We analyzed demographic data collected every 3 months for 3 years from four populations of Asclepias curassavica in Monteverde, Costa Rica. We detected costs of flowering to survival and growth that varied in magnitude between our 12 transition periods without a seasonal pattern. The populations also exhibited temporal variation in reproductive payoffs measured as seedling establishment. We incorporated these reproductive costs into demographic projection models, which predicted a delayed flowering strategy only when we included temporal variation in costs and payoffs. Temporal variation in reproductive costs and payoffs is an important selective force in the evolution of delayed flowering in iteroparous species. Further, a lack of predictable seasonal pattern to reproductive costs and payoffs may contribute to the lack of seasonal reproductive patterns observed in our study species and other Neotropical species.
Variations in herbaceous vegetation structures and vegetation–environment relationships from floodplain to terrace along a large semi‐humid river
Authors: Xia Huijuan , Kong Weijing , Li Xuesen , Zhang Yizhang , Guo Fen , Sun Osbert Jianxin 
Published: May 2018

AbstractRiparian zones along semi‐humid rivers have significant lateral gradients of water, leading to the lateral pattern of riparian vegetation. However, less is known about the determinants of herbaceous vegetation structures between floodplain and terrace in semi‐humid region. The study was designed to assess the variations in herbaceous vegetation composition, species diversity, and vegetation‐environment relationships from floodplain to terrace. Fifty sampling lines that equally distributed in floodplain and terrace were established to collect herbaceous vegetation and corresponding environmental data. Results showed that soil moisture in floodplain was significantly higher than that in terrace, and herbaceous vegetation compositions shifted from hydric to mesic to xeric as soil moisture decreased. Phragmites australis and Artemisia selengensis were dominant species in floodplain, whereas Ambrosia trifid, Metaplexis japonica, Humulus japonicus, Glycine soja, Artemisia lavandulaefolia and Setaria glauca were dominant in terrace. Species diversity increased from floodplain to terrace and from upstream to downstream. Substrate and bank stability, rather than water availability, were the significant environmental drivers of herbaceous vegetation structures in water‐rich floodplain. However, herbaceous vegetation structures were mainly determined by water gradient and human disturbance in water‐poor terrace in semi‐humid region.
Intelligence Quotient at the Age of Six years of Iranian Children with Congenital Hypothyroidism
Authors: Rahmani Khaled , Yarahmadi Shahin , Etemad Koorosh , Mehrabi Yadollah , Aghang Nasrin , Koosha Ahmad , Soori Hamid 
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Objective
To evaluate the success rate of the National newborn screening program in maintenance of intelligent quotient (IQ) of children with congenital hypothyroidism in Iran.

Design
Retrospective cohort study.

Methods
The IQ scores, in three subsets of verbal, non verbal (Performance) and full scale IQ, of 240 children diagnosed with Transient congenital hypothyroidism (TCH) and Permanent congenital hypothyroidism (PCH), from 5 provinces in 5 different geographical areas of Iran, were measured at the age of 6 years using revised Wechsler pre school and primary scale of intelligence and compared with 240 healthy children. We used independent sample t test and two-way ANOVA for data analysis.

Results
Mean of verbal, performance, and full scale IQ scores were lower in the CH cases (permanent and transient) than the control group. Most of the IQ differences in two studied groups related to the PCH cases (P=0.005). Mean difference of IQs between children in the two groups in Yazd province (center of Iran) was higher than other provinces, and they also had significantly lower IQ than their control (healthy) children (P=0.001). No treated child had IQ<70.

Conclusion
Although mean IQs of CH children was lower than their controls, IQ of all treated CH cases were close to the healthy children.
Mortality in Children with Severe Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in Guangxi, China
Authors: Yang Zhi-Yong , Chen Xiu-Qi , Sun Dan , Wei Dan 
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Objective
To analyze the clinical features of children with hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) who died.

Methods
331 deaths due to HFMD between 2010 and 2014 were included in this retrospective study; 15 autopsies were performed.

Results
Most deaths were seen in children aged below 3 y, and with enterovirus 71 infection (91%). The mean (SD) duration of HFMD from onset to death was 3.7(2.9) d. The mean (SD) age of fast progressors (from onset to death less than 4 days) was 17.4 (9.2) mo. Most of them were diagnosed as stage 3 and stage 4 of HFMD. Various pathological changes were observed in brain after autopsy, especially in brain stem and medulla.

Conclusions
The brain stem encephalitis with the neurotropism of enteroviruses seems to be the main contributor to the death in HFMD.
Belangrijk werk
Authors: van der Poel Henk G. 
Published: May 2018

Samenvatting
Deze voorjaarsvergadering doen Nederlandse onderzoekers een belangrijke (internationale) duit in de wetenschappelijke zak. De data van twee grote langer lopende studies zijn nu duidelijk. De FUTURE- en HoRRAD-studie, beide op het gebied van prostaatkanker, zullen in de internationale literatuur en richtlijnen medebepalend worden.
Sleep spindles and cognitive performance across adolescence: A meta‐analytic review☆
Authors: Reynolds C.M. , Short M.A. , Gradisar M. 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTHigher sleep spindle activity generally relates to better cognitive performance in adults, while studies in children often show the opposite. As children become young adults, there is rapid brain maturation and development of higher‐order cognitive functions, and therefore investigations within this age group may elucidate the relationship between spindles and cognition in this developmental period. Twelve studies published between 2009 and 2016 were identified. Meta‐analyses revealed a positive relationship between spindles and cognition overall (r = 0.27), however effects varied depending on cognitive domain. Moderate positive relationships were seen for fluid IQ (r = 0.44), working memory/executive function (r = 0.40) and speed/accuracy (r = 0.33), while full IQ/verbal IQ was not significantly associated (r = −0.05). Meta‐regressions indicated cognitive domain and spindle characteristic had a small influence over effect sizes, while age and gender did not have a significant influence. The relationship between spindles and cognition in adolescents is likely influenced by individual neural makeup and brain maturation.
Enlisting Internal and External Financial Gatekeepers: Problems of Multiple Centres of Knowledge Construction
Authors: MINTO Andrea 
Published: May 2018

AbstractOver the last decade complexity has impaired financial regulators’ and supervisors’ ability to cope with informational asymmetries, moral hazards and other market failures. Recent regulatory responses have been to include external auditors in the range of “gatekeepers” and “watchdogs” that serve regulatory objectives. On the other hand, the compliance function gained greater prominence as a form of internalised law enforcement, being increasingly seen as facilitating the achievement of public regulatory needs in maintaining the safety and soundness of financial institutions. Yet, uncertainty has pervaded the issue of what modes of interaction supervisors, compliance and external auditors should be subject to. International experience and anecdotal evidence show, in fact, that the current informal, discretion-based, relationship between such gatekeepers brings about risks of knowledge fragmentation and ambiguity, calling for better gathering and use of “gatekeepers’ knowledge”. The objective of this article is to address and rectify problems of multiple centres of knowledge construction, by approaching questions pertaining to the interaction between the “internal” and “external” gatekeepers. A primary contribution of this article is to examine this problem by reconciling the strand of research concerning multiple gatekeepers´ liability and the developing legal scholarship on compliance as a delegated form of external enforcement. The explanatory nature of multiple gatekeepers’ liability is twofold: first, it contributes in emphasising the complexity stemming from the interactions between multiple gatekeepers; second, it offers a solid working hypothesis to detect the market failures that can arise from such complexity, namely relating to fragmentation – and construction – of knowledge.
First molecular phylogeny ofAgrilus(Coleoptera: Buprestidae), the largest genus on Earth, with DNA barcode database for forestry pest diagnostics
Authors: Kelnarova I. , Jendek E. , Grebennikov V.V. , Bocak L. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAll more than 3000 species ofAgrilusbeetles are phytophagous and some cause economically significant damage to trees and shrubs. Facilitated by international trade,Agrilusspecies regularly invade new countries and continents. This necessitates a rapid identification ofAgrilusspecies, as the first step for subsequent protective measures. This study provides the first DNA reference library for ~100Agrilusspecies from the Northern Hemisphere based on three mitochondrial markers:cox1–5′(DNA barcode fragment),cox1–3′, andrrnL. All 329Agrilusrecords available in the Barcode of Life Database format, including specimen images and geo data, are released through a public dataset ‘Agrilus1 329’ available at: dx.doi.org/10.5883/DS-AGRILUS1. AllAgrilusspecies were identified using adult morphology and by using molecular phylogenetic trees, as well as distance- and tree-based algorithms. Most DNA-based species limits agree well with the morphology-based identification. Our results include cases of high intraspecific variability and multiple species para- and polyphyly. DNA barcoding is a powerful species identification tool inAgrilus, although it frequently fails to recover morphologically-delimitedAgrilusspecies-group. Even though the current three-gene database covers only ~3% of the knownAgrilusdiversity, it contains representatives of all principal lineages from the Northern Hemisphere and represents the most extensive dataset built for DNA-delimited species identification within this genus so far. Molecular data analyses can rapidly and cost-effectively identify an unknown sample, including immature stages and/or non-native taxa, or species not yet formally named.
Survey of trematodes in intertidal snails from Patagonia, Argentina: new larval forms and diversity assessment
Authors: Gilardoni C. , Di Giorgio G. , Bagnato E. , Cremonte F. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractLarval trematodes are the main parasites of snails, and they play a crucial role because they usually castrate their snail hosts and can thus alter their population and community dynamics. This study involved a survey of seven gastropod species (Crepipatella dilatata,Fissurella radiosa,Nacella magellanica,Pareuthria fuscata,Siphonaria lessonii, S. lateralisandTrophon geversianus) parasitized by 12 trematode species (one hemiurid, one gymnophallid, two lepocreadiids, two microphallids, one notocotylid, two renicolids, one philophtalmid, one schistosomatid and one zoogonid) from southern Patagonia (47°S, 65°W), Argentina. OnlyF. radiosawas free of parasites. The study included the description of five new larvae, based on morphological and molecular information, and a comparison of the parasite diversity with that of a northern locality (42°S, 64°W), characterized by a lower mollusc diversity. Species richness and diversity of parasites were higher in the southern site. This suggests a correlation between the level of parasitism and the diversity of molluscs (first intermediate hosts), which is higher at the high-latitude site and seems to attract shorebirds, which disperse the digenean eggs and facilitate the completion of their life cycles. These results support the notion that parasitism is influenced by large-scale factors such as biogeographical patterns, and small-scale factors such as diversity or abundance of intermediate and definitive hosts.
Evaluating vaccination strategies to control foot-and-mouth disease: a country comparison study
Authors: Rawdon T.G. , Garner M.G. , Sanson R.L. , Stevenson M.A. , Cook C. , Birch C. , Roche S.E. , Patyk K.A. , Forde-Folle K.N. , Dubé C. , Smylie T. , Yu Z.D. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractVaccination is increasingly being recognised as a potential tool to supplement ‘stamping out’ for controlling foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in non-endemic countries. Infectious disease simulation models provide the opportunity to determine how vaccination might be used in the face of an FMD outbreak. Previously, consistent relative benefits of specific vaccination strategies across different FMD simulation modelling platforms have been demonstrated, using a UK FMD outbreak scenario. We extended this work to assess the relative effectiveness of selected vaccination strategies in five countries: Australia, New Zealand, the USA, the UK and Canada. A comparable, but not identical, FMD outbreak scenario was developed for each country with initial seeding of Pan Asia type O FMD virus into an area with a relatively high density of livestock farms. A series of vaccination strategies (in addition to stamping out (SO)) were selected to evaluate key areas of interest from a disease response perspective, including timing of vaccination, species considerations (e.g. vaccination of only those farms with cattle), risk area vaccination and resources available for vaccination. The study found that vaccination used with SO was effective in reducing epidemic size and duration in a severe outbreak situation. Early vaccination and unconstrained resources for vaccination consistently outperformed other strategies. Vaccination of only those farms with cattle produced comparable results, with some countries demonstrating that this could be as effective as all species vaccination. Restriction of vaccination to higher risk areas was less effective than other strategies. This study demonstrates consistency in the relative effectiveness of selected vaccination strategies under different outbreak start up conditions conditional on the assumption that each of the simulation models provide a realistic estimation of FMD virus spread. Preferred outbreak management approaches must however balance the principles identified in this study, working to clearly defined outbreak management objectives, while having a good understanding of logistic requirements and the socio-economic implications of different control measures.
Relationships between compound lipophilicity on seed coat permeability and embryo uptake by soybean and corn
Authors: Yang Daibin , Donovan Stephen , Black Bruce C , Cheng Lailiang , Taylor Alan G 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSystemic uptake of organic compounds from roots to leaves follows a Gaussian distribution in relation to the lipophilicity, as measured by the logKow. Quantification of compound uptake with different lipophilicities, and applied as a seed treatment that diffuses through the seed coat into the embryo during imbibition, has not been reported. The aim of this investigation was to quantify the uptake of non-ionic compounds into seeds of soybean and corn. A series of fluorescent piperonyl amides were synthesized and a novel combinatorial pharmacodynamic technique was developed that provided a range of compounds from logKow0.02 to 5.7. Seeds were treated with a mixture of amides, imbibed and compounds chemically extracted and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography using a fluorescence detector. The maximum uptake efficiency of the applied amide mixture from whole soybean and corn seeds was 67% at logKow2.9, and 43% at logKow3.4, respectively. The critical partition coefficient for uptake for both species was <4.2 logKow. Seeds were dissected and separated as soybean embryo and testa, and corn internal tissues (embryo + endosperm) or seed covering layers (pericarp + testa), and >75% of the amides were found in the soybean embryo or corn internal tissues compared with the covering layers at logKow<4.2. The distribution of amides showed that the corn seed covering layer had similar hydrophilic/lipophilic properties as internal tissues, while soybean tissues had different hydrophilic/lipophilic properties. Collectively, the Gaussian uptake pattern for systemic uptake into plants was not found for either seed species.
Developmental and molecular responses of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) cumulus–oocyte complex maturedin vitrounder heat shock conditions
Authors: El-Sayed Ashraf , Nagy Rehab , El-Asheeri Amal K. , Eid Liala N. 
Published: May 2018

SummaryTo investigate the effects of physiologically relevant heat shock during oocyte maturation, buffalo cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured at 38.5°C (control) or were exposed to 39.5°C (T1) or 40.5°C (T2) for the first 6 h ofin vitromaturation (IVM), followed by 38.5°C through the next 18 h/IVM and early embryonic development up to the blastocyst stage. Gene expression analysis was performed on selected target genes (HSF-1,HSF-2,HSP-70,HSP-90,BAX,p53,SOD1,COX1,MAPK14) in denuded oocytes and their isolated cumulus cells resulting from control COCs as well as from COCs exposed to a temperature of 39.5°C (T1). The results indicated that heat shock significantly (P< 0.01) decreased the maturation rate in T1 and T2 cells compared with the control. Afterin vitrofertilization (IVF), cleavage rate was lower (P< 0.01) for oocytes exposed to heat stress, and the percentage of oocytes arrested at the 2- or 4-cell stage was higher (P< 0.01) than that of the control. The percentage of oocytes that developed to the 8-cell, 16-cell or blastocyst stage was lower (P< 0.01) in both T1 and T2 groups compared with the control group. mRNA expression levels for the studied genes were decreased (P< 0.05) in treated oocytes (T1) except forHSP-90andHSF-1, which were increased. In cumulus cells isolated from COCs (T1), the expression for the target genes was upregulated except forBAX, which was downregulated. The results of this study demonstrated that exposure of buffalo oocytes to elevated temperatures for 6 h severely compromised their developmental competence and gene expression.
Exploring Citizens’ Hierarchical Government Satisfaction: Evidence from China and Taiwan
Authors: HUANG HSIN-HAO 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAlthough the importance of public satisfaction is well documented, few studies have been conducted on the diversity of citizens’ evaluations of the various levels of government. This study explored hierarchical government satisfaction among the public in two culturally Chinese societies, namely China and Taiwan. Basing the analysis on the perspective of responsibility attribution, this paper proposes that the two publics’ distinctive perceptions, which are shaped by different information flows, lead hierarchical government satisfaction in the two societies in separate directions. This argument is supported by the empirical findings from the sixth wave of the World Values Survey. The findings confirm that personal evaluations, including household economic satisfaction, democratic evaluation, and public service confidence, exert more influence over local government satisfaction in China, but conversely have a greater impact on central government satisfaction in Taiwan. Moreover, these evaluations are shown to affect hierarchical government satisfaction differently in the two societies. The evidence reveals that the two publics attribute blame for problems to different administrative objects: Chinese citizens tend to blame local governments, whereas Taiwanese citizens are inclined to criticize the central government.
A Tale of Two Hybrid Regimes: A Study of Cabinets and Parliaments in Indonesia and Thailand
Authors: SAWASDEE SIRIPAN NOGSUAN 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis article applies the concept of hybrid regimes to evaluate the state of political transition in Indonesia and Thailand. It aims to answer why the transition to democracy in Indonesia during 1999–2004 was successful, while the transition in Thailand during 1997–2006 culminated in a reversion to authoritarianism by examining the social profiles and formation of cabinet and parliament members as well as the design of constitutions. The study suggests that the lack of inclusiveness helps explain why democratization in Thailand was in failure. During the transition period, inclusiveness has not markedly increased because of the leadership strongman style, the flaws in the recruitment process, and the problem with the party system. This was unlike Indonesia, where cabinet, parliament, and multiparty system were able to include a variety groups and broad societal segments that played a significant role in deliberating political rules of the game. Indonesia's institutional rearrangements appear to sustain popular participation and engender momentum for fostering democracy, while Thailand's constitutional re-engineering contains many provisions to disempower the elected bodies. The perpetuation of the hybrid regime in Thailand is foreseeable as the hybridity satisfies the needs and concerns of the traditional elites and the urban middle class.