bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interlaboratory trial for the measurement of total cobalt in equine urine and plasma by ICP‐MS
Authors: Popot Marie‐Agnes , Ho Emmie N.M. , Stojiljkovic Natali , Bagilet Florian , Remy Pierre , Maciejewski Pascal , Loup Benoit , Chan George H.M. , Hargrave Sabine , Arthur Rick M. , Russo Charlie , White James , Hincks Pamela , Pearce Clive , Ganio George , Zahra Paul , Batty David , Jarrett Mark , Brooks Lydia , Prescott Lise‐Anne , Bailly‐Chouriberry Ludovic , Bonnaire Yves , Wan Terence S.M. 
Published: March 2017

Cobalt is an essential mineral micronutrient and is regularly present in equine nutritional and feed supplements. Therefore, cobalt is naturally present at low concentrations in biological samples. The administration of cobalt chloride is considered to be blood doping and is thus prohibited. To control the misuse of cobalt, it was mandatory to establish an international threshold for cobalt in plasma and/or in urine. To achieve this goal, an international collaboration, consisting of an interlaboratory comparison between 5 laboratories for the urine study and 8 laboratories for the plasma study, has been undertaken. Quantification of cobalt in the biological samples was performed by inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). Ring tests were based on the analysis of 5 urine samples supplemented at concentrations ranging from 5 up to 500 ng/mL and 5 plasma samples spiked at concentrations ranging from 0.5 up to 25 ng/mL. The results obtained from the different laboratories were collected, compiled, and compared to assess the reproducibility and robustness of cobalt quantification measurements. The statistical approach for the ring test for total cobalt in urine was based on the determination of percentage deviations from the calculated means, while robust statistics based on the calculated median were applied to the ring test for total cobalt in plasma. The inter‐laboratory comparisons in urine and in plasma were successful so that 97.6% of the urine samples and 97.5% of the plasma samples gave satisfactory results. Threshold values for cobalt in plasma and urine were established from data only obtained by laboratories involved in the ring test. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Par3 in chick lens placode development
Authors: Melo Maraysa de Oliveira , Moraes Borges Ricardo , Yan Chao Yun Irene 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe lens originates from a simple cuboidal epithelium, which, on its basal side, contacts the optic vesicle, whilst facing the extraembryonic environment on its apical side. As this epithelium changes into the pseudostratified lens placode, its cells elongate and become narrower at their apical ends. This is due to the formation of an apical actin network, whose appearance is restricted to cells of the placodal region, as a result of region‐specific signaling mechanisms that remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the role of the polarity protein PAR3 and the phosphorylation state of its Threonine 833 (T833) aPKC‐binding site in the recruitment of aPKC and in the establishment of actin network in the chick lens placode. Overexpression of wild type PAR3 recruited aPKC and punctate actin clusters to the basolateral membranes of the placodal cells. Recruitment of aPKC depended on the charge of the residue that replaced the T833 residue. In contrast, induction of the ectopic actin spots was independent on the charge of this residue.
Top‐down control of carbon sequestration: grazing affects microbial structure and function in salt marsh soils
Authors: Mueller Peter , Granse Dirk , Nolte Stefanie , Do Hai Thi , Weingartner Magdalena , Hoth Stefan , Jensen Kai 
Published: March 2017

AbstractTidal wetlands have been increasingly recognized as long‐term carbon sinks in recent years. Work on carbon sequestration and decomposition processes in tidal wetlands focused so far mainly on effects of global‐change factors such as sea‐level rise and increasing temperatures. However, little is known about effects of land use, such as livestock grazing, on organic matter decomposition and ultimately carbon sequestration. The present work aims at understanding the mechanisms by which large herbivores can affect organic matter decomposition in tidal wetlands. This was achieved by studying both direct animal–microbe interactions and indirect animal–plant–microbe interactions in grazed and ungrazed areas of two long‐term experimental field sites at the German North Sea coast. We assessed bacterial and fungal gene abundance using quantitative PCR, as well as the activity of microbial exo‐enzymes by conducting fluorometric assays. We demonstrate that grazing can have a profound impact on the microbial community structure of tidal wetland soils, by consistently increasing the fungi‐to‐bacteria ratio by 38–42%, and therefore potentially exerts important control over carbon turnover and sequestration. The observed shift in the microbial community was primarily driven by organic matter source, with higher contributions of recalcitrant autochthonous (terrestrial) vs. easily degradable allochthonous (marine) sources in grazed areas favoring relative fungal abundance. We propose a novel and indirect form of animal–plant–microbe interaction: top‐down control of aboveground vegetation structure determines the capacity of allochthonous organic matter trapping during flooding and thus the structure of the microbial community. Furthermore, our data provide the first evidence that grazing slows down microbial exo‐enzyme activity and thus decomposition through changes in soil redox chemistry. Activities of enzymes involved in C cycling were reduced by 28–40%, while activities of enzymes involved in N cycling were not consistently affected by grazing. It remains unclear if this is a trampling‐driven direct grazing effect, as hypothesized in earlier studies, or if the effect on redox chemistry is plant mediated and thus indirect. This study improves our process‐level understanding of how grazing can affect the microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of semi‐terrestrial ecosystems that may help explain and predict differences in C turnover and sequestration rates between grazed and ungrazed systems.
How repeatable is the Environmental Impact Classification of Alien Taxa (EICAT)? Comparing independent global impact assessments of amphibians
Authors: Kumschick Sabrina , Measey G. John , Vimercati Giovanni , de Villiers F. Andre , Mokhatla Mohlamatsane M. , Davies Sarah J. , Thorp Corey J. , Rebelo Alexander D. , Blackburn Tim M. , Kraus Fred 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe magnitude of impacts some alien species cause to native environments makes them targets for regulation and management. However, which species to target is not always clear, and comparisons of a wide variety of impacts are necessary. Impact scoring systems can aid management prioritization of alien species. For such tools to be objective, they need to be robust to assessor bias. Here, we assess the newly proposed Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) used for amphibians and test how outcomes differ between assessors. Two independent assessments were made by Kraus (Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, 46, 2015, 75‐97) and Kumschick et al. (Neobiota, 33, 2017, 53‐66), including independent literature searches for impact records. Most of the differences between these two classifications can be attributed to different literature search strategies used with only one‐third of the combined number of references shared between both studies. For the commonly assessed species, the classification of maximum impacts for most species is similar between assessors, but there are differences in the more detailed assessments. We clarify one specific issue resulting from different interpretations of EICAT, namely the practical interpretation and assigning of disease impacts in the absence of direct evidence of transmission from alien to native species. The differences between assessments outlined here cannot be attributed to features of the scheme. Reporting bias should be avoided by assessing all alien species rather than only the seemingly high‐impacting ones, which also improves the utility of the data for management and prioritization for future research. Furthermore, assessments of the same taxon by various assessors and a structured review process for assessments, as proposed by Hawkins et al. (Diversity and Distributions, 21, 2015, 1360), can ensure that biases can be avoided and all important literature is included.
Species partitioning in a temperate mountain chain: Segregation by habitat vs. interspecific competition
Authors: Bastianelli Giulia , Wintle Brendan A. , Martin Elizabeth H. , Seoane Javier , Laiolo Paola 
Published: March 2017

AbstractDisentangling the relative influence of the environment and biotic interactions in determining species coexistence patterns is a major challenge in ecology. The zonation occurring along elevation gradients, or at bioclimatic contact zones, offers a good opportunity to improve such understanding because the small scale at which the partitioning occurs facilitates inference based on experiments and ecological modelling. We studied the influence of abiotic gradients, habitat types, and interspecific competition in determining the spatial turnover between two pipit and two bunting species in NW Spain. We explored two independent lines of evidence to draw inference about the relative importance of environment and biotic interactions in driving range partitioning along elevation, latitude, and longitude. We combined occurrence data with environmental data to develop joint species distribution models (JSDM), in order to attribute co‐occurrence (or exclusion) to shared (or divergent) environmental responses and to interactions (attraction or exclusion). In the same region, we tested for interference competition by means of playback experiments in the contact zone. The JSDMs highlighted different responses for the two species pairs, although we did not find direct evidence of interspecific aggressiveness in our playback experiments. In pipits, partitioning was explained by divergent climate and habitat requirements and also by the negative correlations between species not explained by the environment. This significant residual correlation may reflect forms of competition others than direct interference, although we could not completely exclude the influence of unmeasured environmental predictors. When bunting species co‐occurred, it was because of shared habitat preferences, and a possible limitation to dispersal might cause their partitioning. Our results indicate that no single mechanism dominates in driving the distribution of our study species, but rather distributions are determined by the combination of many small forces including biotic and abiotic determinants of niche, whose relative strengths varied among species.
Extreme drought, host density, sex, and bullfrogs influence fungal pathogen infection in a declining lotic amphibian
Authors: Adams Andrea J. , Kupferberg Sarah J. , Wilber Mark Q. , Pessier Allan P. , Grefsrud Marcia , Bobzien Steve , Vredenburg Vance T. , Briggs Cheryl J. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractFreshwater biodiversity is imperiled across the globe, and multiple stressors such as habitat alteration, non‐native species invasion, disease, and climate change can act in concert to threaten vulnerable taxa. The amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which causes the disease chytridiomycosis, is one of the causative factors of severe amphibian declines. The foothill yellow‐legged frog (Rana boylii) is a stream‐breeding anuran endemic to California and Oregon (USA) that has declined precipitously in recent decades, yet there is little information on its susceptibility to Bd. In the fall of 2013, we observed dead and dying juvenile R. boylii in a San Francisco Bay Area watershed where annual amphibian breeding censuses have been conducted since 1997 in a free‐flowing reach and since 2003 in an anthropogenically modified stream reach. High pathogen loads on R. boylii and histologic lesions observed on a dead R. boylii metamorph collected from the site were consistent with lethal chytridiomycosis. The outbreak coincided with extremely low stream flows in autumn that concentrated frogs in drying pools and the absence of high peak flows in winter that allowed non‐native American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) to expand their spatial distribution in the stream network. Following the outbreak, we surveyed R. boylii and sympatric anurans at the site for the next two years to determine Bd trends within the population. Using mixed‐effects models, we found that bullfrog presence was a positive predictor of both Bd prevalence and Bd load in R. boylii. Prevalence was also influenced by sex and life stage: Adult males were more likely to be infected than either females or juveniles. Moreover, we found that stream flow volume was negatively associated with Bd load. These results indicate that disease, drought, and flow regulation may interact synergistically to impact amphibians in ways not previously recognized, informing stream flow management strategies for native aquatic taxa.
Outside the envelope: rare events disrupt the relationshipbetween climate factors and species interactions
Authors: Stuble Katharine L. , Zefferman Emily P. , Wolf Kristina M. , Vaughn Kurt J. , Young Truman P. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe order in which species arrive during community assembly can be an important driver of community composition and function. However, the strength of these priority effects can be variable, in part because of strong site and year effects. To understand how priority effects vary in importance with abiotic conditions, we initiated identical community assembly experiments in which we varied the timing of arrival of native and exotic grass species in each of 4 yr across three grassland sites in northern California. This uniquely replicated experiment tested the power of priority to determine initial community structure in a restoration context across a natural range of conditions. There were large and significant differences in both total seeded cover and the strength of priority across sites and years of initiation, confirming the suspicion that most ecological experiments may lack spatial and temporal generality. On the other hand, much of the variation in strength of priority could be related to climate. Strikingly, however, the model fit across the three sites and the first 3 yr of the study (the first nine experiments) was radically altered when we included the fourth year, which was characterized by an unusual weather pattern with higher temporal variability in rainfall (a rainfall pattern predicted to increase with climate change). This year produced relatively low strength of priority, supporting the suggestion that highly variable climates may be associated with lower strength of priority effects. Experiments that examine community assembly over a range of naturally occurring abiotic conditions enhance our ability to predict when priority effects will be important, allowing us to explore shifting patterns of community assembly in the face of climate change and optimize restoration strategies based on environmental conditions.
Inflammatory ‘double hit’ model of temporomandibular joint disorder with elevated CCL2, CXCL9, CXCL10, RANTES and behavioural hypersensitivity in TNFR1/R2−/− mice
Authors: McIlwrath S.L. , Nesemeier R. , Ma F. , Oz H.S. , Zhang L. , Westlund K.N. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBackgroundPatients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), reactive arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis often have combined etiology of hereditary and microenvironmental factors contributing to joint pain. Multiple clinical and animal studies indicate ‘double‐hit’ inflammatory insults can cause chronic inflammation. The first inflammatory insult primes the immune system and subsequent insults elicit amplified responses. The present ‘double hit’ study produced a chronic orofacial pain model in mice with genetic deletion of both TNFα receptors (TNFR1/R2−/−), investigating the main nociceptive signalling pathways in comparisons to wild type mice.MethodsAn initial inflammatory insult was given unilaterally into the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Secondary hypersensitivity was tested on the skin over the TMJ throughout the experiment. Three weeks later after complete reversal of hypersensitivity, a second inflammatory insult was imposed on the colon. Pharmacological interventions were tested for efficacy after week 10 when hypersensitivity was chronic in TNFR1/R2−/− mice. Serum cytokines were analysed at Days 1, 14, and Week 18.ResultsThe double hit insult produced chronic hypersensitivity continuing through the 4‐month experimental timeline in the absence of TNFα signalling. P2X7 and NMDA receptor antagonists temporarily attenuated chronic hypersensitivity. Serum cytokine/chemokine analysis on Day 14 when CFA induced hypersensitivity was resolved identified increased levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines CCL2, CXCL9, CXCL10, RANTES and decreased levels of anti‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐1ra and IL‐4 in TNFR1/R2−/− compared to WT mice.ConclusionsThese data suggest a causal feed‐forward signalling cascade of these little studied cytokines have the potential to cause recrudescence in this orofacial inflammatory pain model in the absence of TNFα signalling.SignificanceUsing a mouse model of chronic inflammatory temporomandibular joint disorder, we determined that absence of functional TNFR1/R2 induces aberrant inflammatory signalling caused by other increased pro‐inflammatory and decreased anti‐inflammatory cytokines that could serve as blood biomarkers and may predict disease progression.
Improvement of docosahexaenoic acid fermentation from Schizochytrium sp. AB‐610 by staged pH control based on cell morphological changes
Authors: Zhao Ben , Li Yafei , Mbifile Martha Daniel , Li Changling , Yang Hailin , Wang Wu 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSchizochytrium sp. AB‐610 accumulates relatively higher amount of DHA‐rich lipid in the cells, and it was found that DHA yield was closely related to the cell morphology and pH value during fermentation period. DHA production from Schizochytrium sp. AB‐610 in fed‐batch fermentation was investigated and four growth stages were clarified as lag stage, balanced growth stage, lipid accumulation stage, and lipid turnover stage, based on the morphologic observation and key parameters changes. Then a simple strategy of two‐stage pH control was developed, in which pH 7.0 was kept until 12 h after the end of balanced growth stage, and then shifted to 5.0 for the rest period in fermentation. A maximal DHA production of 11.44g/L was achieved. This approach has advantage of easy scaling up for industrial DHA fermentation from Schizochytrium sp. cells.
Textural, microstructural, and compositional characteristics of Fe‐based geomaterials and Upper Paleolithic ocher in the Lessini Mountains, Northeast Italy: Implications for provenance studies
Authors: Cavallo Giovanni , Fontana Federica , Gonzato Federica , Peresani Marco , Riccardi Maria Pia , Zorzin Roberto 
Published: March 2017

AbstractProvenance research of archaeological ocher contributes to understanding the capabilities of prehistoric humans to select, process, and treat suitable raw materials for symbolic and utilitarian purposes. The western part of the Lessini Mountains in the Veneto region of northeast Italy is an ideal location for this type of study as it features several different Fe‐rich deposits, and many examples of archaeological ocher have been found in the nearby Fumane Cave and Tagliente Rockshelter Upper Paleolithic sites. Sourcing areas are often identified through the use of geochemical studies; however, microscopic techniques can also be used with the benefit of providing more detailed information about accessory minerals and textural characteristics of the material. One of the goals of our study was to demonstrate the potential in using polarizing light microscopy supported by scanning electron microscopy coupled with an energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometer in research of this type. We studied geological source samples and archaeological materials from the sites, the results of which are very promising in terms of shedding light on the sourcing of prehistoric ocher in this region.
Important considerations in lesion‐symptom mapping: Illustrations from studies of word comprehension
Authors: Shahid Hinna , Sebastian Rajani , Schnur Tatiana T. , Hanayik Taylor , Wright Amy , Tippett Donna C. , Fridriksson Julius , Rorden Chris , Hillis Argye E. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractLesion‐symptom mapping is an important method of identifying networks of brain regions critical for functions. However, results might be influenced substantially by the imaging modality and timing of assessment. We tested the hypothesis that brain regions found to be associated with acute language deficits depend on (1) timing of behavioral measurement, (2) imaging sequences utilized to define the “lesion” (structural abnormality only or structural plus perfusion abnormality), and (3) power of the study. We studied 191 individuals with acute left hemisphere stroke with MRI and language testing to identify areas critical for spoken word comprehension. We use the data from this study to examine the potential impact of these three variables on lesion‐symptom mapping. We found that only the combination of structural and perfusion imaging within 48 h of onset identified areas where more abnormal voxels was associated with more severe acute deficits, after controlling for lesion volume and multiple comparisons. The critical area identified with this methodology was the left posterior superior temporal gyrus, consistent with other methods that have identified an important role of this area in spoken word comprehension. Results have implications for interpretation of other lesion‐symptom mapping studies, as well as for understanding areas critical for auditory word comprehension in the healthy brain. We propose that lesion‐symptom mapping at the acute stage of stroke addresses a different sort of question about brain–behavior relationships than lesion‐symptom mapping at the chronic stage, but that timing of behavioral measurement and imaging modalities should be considered in either case. Hum Brain Mapp 38:2990–3000, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Changes in low and high flows in the Vistula and the Odra basins: Model projections in the European‐scale context
Authors: Piniewski Mikołaj , Szcześniak Mateusz , Kundzewicz Zbigniew W. , Mezghani Abdelkader , Hov Øystein 
Published: March 2017

AbstractA number of extensive droughts and destructive floods have occurred in Poland in the last 25 years; hence, projections of low and high river flows are of considerable interest and importance. In the first part of this paper, projections of low and high flows in the rivers of the Vistula and the Odra basins (VOB region), for two future time horizons, are presented. Projections are based on the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model simulations driven by results of the EURO‐CORDEX experiment under Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 and 8.5. The VOB region covers most of Poland and parts of five neighboring countries, giving this study an international relevance. In the second part of the paper, a review of projections of low and high flows in rivers in Central and Eastern Europe is presented. Despite a substantial spread of flow projections, the main message of the modelling part is that increases of both low and high flows are dominating. The magnitude of increase of low flow is considerably higher than that of high flow. In other words, future streamflow droughts are projected to be less severe, whereas, in contrast, river floods are projected to increase, which is a challenge for flood risk reduction, water management, and climate change adaptation. There is an overall agreement of our findings for the VOB region with projections of hydrological extremes from large‐scale models forced by EURO‐CORDEX results in the European‐scale studies.