bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Response of subtropical submarine-cave ecosystem to Holocene cave development and Asian monsoon variability
Authors: Chiu Wing-Tung Ruby , Yasuhara Moriaki , Iwatani Hokuto , Kitamura Akihisa , Fujita Kazuhiko 
Published: April 2017

AbstractA submarine cave is a unique environment that is dark, food limited, semi-isolated from the outside, and sheltered from wave action. However, our knowledge of the long-term change in submarine-cave ecosystems remains limited. We document here the community-scale responses toward long-term change in a submarine cave, Daidokutsu in Okinawa in southern Japan. Using both metazoans (ostracods and bivalves) and protozoans (larger benthic foraminiferans) in two sediment cores obtained from the cave, we reconstruct the faunal and diversity changes of the past 7 Kyr. All taxonomic groups showed long-term, gradual linear change of faunal composition from predominantly open-water taxa to predominantly cave taxa, and ostracods showed short-term variability of species diversity. The long-term faunal trend probably reflects gradual isolation of the cave ecosystem due to coral reef development (i.e., development of the cave ceiling) during periods of the Holocene transgression and subsequent sea-level highstand. The short-term diversity changes show substantial similarity to centennial- to millennial-scale Holocene Asian monsoon variability. Ostracod species diversity peaks tend to correspond with periods of strong East Asian winter monsoons. The results indicate that limestone submarine-cave ecosystems, an important cryptic habitat, developed gradually during the Holocene and may be sensitive to rapid climate changes.
Haemosporidian infections affect antioxidant defences in great tits Parus major but are not related to exposure to aerial pollutants
Authors: DE ANGELI DUTRA DANIELA , SILVEIRA PATRÍCIA , RAMOS JAIME ALBINO , SOUSA JOSÉ PAULO , BRAGA ÉRIKA MARTINS , NORTE ANA CLÁUDIA 
Published: April 2017

SUMMARY
Haemosporidian parasites are widespread in avian species and modulate their ecology, behaviour, life-history and fitness. The prevalence of these vector-transmitted parasites varies with host intrinsic and extrinsic factors, such as host resistance and behaviour, and habitat-related characteristics. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of avian haemosporidians in great tit Parus major populations inhabiting two areas with different degrees of exposure to aerial emissions from pulp mills, to assess if this type of pollution impacted parasite prevalence. We also compared the physiological condition of infected and uninfected individuals. Haemosporidian infection prevalence was high (58%), varied seasonally, but was not associated with air pollution exposure. Fledged birds presented higher infection rates than nestlings and infected fledged birds had higher levels of blood glutathione peroxidase activity. These results allow us to infer that infection by blood parasites may activate antioxidant defences, possibly to protect the organism from the negative oxidative stress side-effects of immune activation against parasites. Because oxidative stress is one of the mechanisms responsible for ageing and senescence and may affect fitness, the relationship between parasitism and oxidative stress markers should be further investigated through studies that include experimental manipulation of infection in model organisms.
The Influence of Forming Companions on the Spectral Energy Distributions of Stars with Circumstellar Discs
Authors: Zakhozhay Olga V. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractWe study a possibility to detect signatures of brown dwarf companions in a circumstellar disc based on spectral energy distributions. We present the results of spectral energy distribution simulations for a system with a 0.8 M⊙ central object and a companion with a mass of 30 MJ embedded in a typical protoplanetary disc. We use a solution to the one-dimensional radiative transfer equation to calculate the protoplanetary disc flux density and assume, that the companion moves along a circular orbit and clears a gap. The width of the gap is assumed to be the diameter of the brown dwarf Hill sphere. Our modelling shows that the presence of such a gap can initiate an additional minimum in the spectral energy distribution profile of a protoplanetary disc at λ = 10–100 μm. We found that it is possible to detect signatures of the companion when it is located within 10 AU, even when it is as small as 3 MJ. The spectral energy distribution of a protostellar disc with a massive fragment (of relatively cold temperature ~400 K) might have a similar double peaked profile to the spectral energy distribution of a more evolved disc that contains a gap.
Geochemical composition of Tanzanian shelf sediments indicates Holocene climatic and sea-level changes
Authors: Liu Xiting , Rendle-Bühring Rebecca , Henrich Rüdiger 
Published: April 2017

AbstractWe present a high-resolution geochemical and grain-size record from a Holocene sediment core off the Pangani River mouth, Tanzania. Elemental ratios between biogenic elements and Al (i.e., Ca/Al, Mg/Al, and Sr/Al) are mainly influenced by terrigenous dilution on carbonate concentration and/or limitation of carbonate production as a result of variations in the supply of fine-grained terrigenous sediments of the Pangani River. Such elemental ratios increased significantly at the end of the mid-Holocene between 5 and 3.5 ka, demonstrating a gradual transition from the humid early and mid-Holocene to the arid late Holocene in East Africa. Among the elemental ratios between terrigenous elements and Al, Si/Al and K/Al ratios correlate to grain-size variation, indicating a change in sedimentation regime. Fe/Al and Ti/Al ratios show that the sediment source area has shifted from the terrestrial volcanic region of Tanzania (Fe, Ti rich) to the coastal and inner-shelf regions (Fe, Ti poor) around 7.5 ka, in response to arid climate and high sea level. Our geochemical results correspond with a sea-surface temperature record derived from the same sediment core, indicating that the end of the East African Humid Period could have been gradual and related to the cooling water in the western Indian Ocean.
Association between lutein intake and lung function in adults: the Rotterdam Study
Authors: Melo van Lent Debora , Leermakers Elisabeth T. M. , Hofman Albert , Stricker Bruno H. , Brusselle Guy G. , Franco Oscar H. , Lahousse Lies , Kiefte-de Jong Jessica C. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractLutein, a fat-soluble carotenoid with antioxidant properties, may have an effect on respiratory health. However, the evidence is inconsistent. We aimed to cross-sectionally investigate the association between lutein intake and lung function by measuring forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC% in adults (aged 45–79 years). We included 4402 participants from the Rotterdam Study, a prospective cohort study in The Netherlands. Lutein intake was assessed using a validated FFQ. Lung function was assessed using spirometry around the same time point as the dietary assessment. No independent association was found between lutein intake and FEV1 (−12·17 (95 % CI −34·21, 9·87) ml per sd increase in lutein) after adjustment for age, sex, height, cohort effect, ethnicity, education, weight, total daily energy intake, smoking status, physical activity, and intakes of fatty acids, dietary fibre, alcohol, β-carotene, β-crypotoxanthin, lycopene and zeaxanthin. There was also no association between lutein and FVC or FEV1/FVC%. However, after stratification by smoking status, lutein intake was significantly associated with lower FEV1/FVC% in current smokers (−1·69 (95 % CI −2·93, −0·45) % per sd increase of lutein) independent of other carotenoids. The present study does not support an independent association between lutein intake and lung function in adults. However, future studies should focus on the potential inverse association between high lutein intake and lung function in specific risk groups such as smokers.
The effect of diet, temperature and intermittent low oxygen on the metabolism of rainbow trout
Authors: Stiller Kevin T. , Vanselow Klaus H. , Moran Damian , Riesen Guido , Koppe Wolfgang , Dietz Carsten , Schulz Carsten 
Published: April 2017

AbstractAn automated respirometer system was used to measure VO2, protein catabolism as ammonia quotient and the energy budget to evaluate whether the crude protein content of a standard protein (SP) diet (42·5 %) or a high-protein (HP) diet (49·5 %) influences metabolism in rainbow trout under challenging intermittent, low dissolved oxygen concentrations. In total, three temperature phases (12, 16, 20°C) were tested sequentially, each of which were split into two oxygen periods with 5 d of unmanipulated oxygen levels (50–70 %), followed by a 5d manipulated oxygen period (16.00–08.00 hours) with low oxygen (40–50 %) levels. For both diets, catabolic protein usage was lowest at 16°C and was not altered under challenging oxygen conditions. Low night-time oxygen elevated mean daily VO2by 3–14 % compared with the unmanipulated oxygen period for both diets at all temperatures. The relative change in VO2and retained energy during the intermittent low oxygen period was smaller for the HP diet compared with the SP diet. However, in absolute terms, the SP diet was superior to the HP diet as the former demonstrated 30–40 % lower protein fuel use rates, higher retained energy (1–4 % digestible energy) and slightly lowered VO2(0–8 %) over the range of conditions tested. The decrease in retained energy under low oxygen conditions suggests that there is scope to improve the performance of SP diets under challenging conditions; however, this study suggests that simply increasing the dietary protein content is not a remedy, and other strategies need to be explored.
A Hausdorff measure version of the Jarník–Schmidt theorem in Diophantine approximation
Authors: SIMMONS DAVID 
Published: April 2017

AbstractWe solve the problem of giving sharp asymptotic bounds on the Hausdorff dimensions of certain sets of badly approximable matrices, thus improving results of Broderick and Kleinbock (preprint 2013) as well as Weil (preprint 2013), and generalising to higher dimensions those of Kurzweil ('51) and Hensley ('92). In addition we use our technique to compute the Hausdorfff-measure of the set of matrices which are not ψ-approximable, given a dimension functionfand a function ψ : (0, ∞) → (0, ∞). This complements earlier work by Dickinson and Velani ('97) who found the Hausdorfff-measure of the set of matrices which are ψ-approximable.
Knockdown of Broad-Complex Gene Expression of Bombyx mori by Oligopyrrole Carboxamides Enhances Silk Production
Authors: Ali Asfa , Bovilla Venugopal Reddy , Mysarla Danti Kumari , Siripurapu Prasanthi , Pathak Rashmi U. , Basu Bhakti , Mamillapalli Anitha , Bhattacharya Santanu 
Published: April 2017

AbstractBombyx mori (B. mori) is important due to its major role in the silk production. Though DNA binding ligands often influence gene expression, no attempt has been made to exploit their use in sericulture. The telomeric heterochromatin of B. mori is enriched with 5′-TTAGG-3′ sequences. These sequences were also found to be present in several genes in the euchromatic regions. We examined three synthetic oligopyrrole carboxamides that target 5′-TTAGG-3′ sequences in controlling the gene expression in B. mori. The ligands did not show any defect or feeding difference in the larval stage, crucial for silk production. The ligands caused silencing of various isoforms of the broad-complex transcription factor and cuticle proteins which resulted in late pupal developmental defects. Furthermore, treatment with such drugs resulted in statistically enhanced cocoon weight, shell weight, and silk yield. This study shows for the first time use of oligopyrrole carboxamide drugs in controlling gene expression in B. mori and their long term use in enhancing silk production.
The effect of social connections on the discovery of multiple hidden food patches in a bird species
Authors: Tóth Zoltán , Tuliozi Beniamino , Baldan Davide , Hoi Herbert , Griggio Matteo 
Published: April 2017

AbstractSocial foraging is thought to provide the possibility of information transmission between individuals, but this advantage has been proved only in a handful of species and contexts. We investigated how social connections in captive flocks of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) affected the discovery of (i.e. feeding for the first time from) two hidden food patches in the presence of informed flock-mates. At the first-discovered and most-exploited food patch social connections between birds affected the order of discovery and presumably contributed to a greater exploitation of this patch. However, social connections did not affect discovery at the second food patch despite its close spatial proximity. Males discovered the food sources sooner than females, while feeding activity was negatively related to patch discovery. Age had no effect on the order of discovery. Birds that first discovered and fed at the food patches were characterized by higher level of social indifference, i.e. followed others less frequently than other birds in an independent context. Our findings provide experimental evidence for the importance of variable social connections during social foraging in house sparrow flocks, and suggest that social attraction can contribute differently to the exploitation of different patches when multiple food sources are present.
Association between schizophrenia and violence among Chinese female offenders
Authors: Wang Jun , Li Chun , Zhu Xiao-min , Zhang Si-mei , Zhou Jian-song , Li Qi-guang , Wang Qun , Zhong Shao-ling , Ng Chee H. , Ungvari Gabor S. , Xiang Yu-tao , Wang Xiao-ping 
Published: April 2017

AbstractLittle is known about the association between schizophrenia and violence in women in China. This study aimed to examine the association between schizophrenia and violence in Chinese female offenders. Fifty-two schizophrenia patients were identified from the female offenders who received forensic psychiatric assessments in 2011 in Hunan province, China. Using a propensity score matching method, 104 matched controls without psychiatric disorders were selected from female criminals in Hunan province. Violent offences and homicides were verified and recorded. The percentages of violent offences and homicides were significantly higher in female offenders with schizophrenia than in controls (78.8% vs. 30.8%, P < 0.001; 44.2% vs. 18.3%, P = 0.001, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that diagnosis of schizophrenia, younger age at first offence, living in rural area and a lower education level were independently and positively associated with violent offences, while having a diagnosis of schizophrenia and lower education level were associated with homicides. There appears to be an independent and positive association between schizophrenia and violent offence in Chinese female offenders. Effective preventive approaches on violence in female schizophrenia patients are warranted.
Time-decay Memristive Behavior and diffusive dynamics in one forget process operated by a 3D vertical Pt/Ta2O5−x/W device
Authors: Wang Qi , He Deyan 
Published: April 2017

AbstractA time-decay resistive switching memory using a 3D vertical Pt/Ta2O5−x/W device architecture is demonstrated, in which horizontal W electrodes were fabricated, and vertical Pt electrodes was formed at the sidewall after oxide was deposited. Unlike conventional resistive switching, which usually form a conductive filament connect two electrodes, a weak conductive filament was formed from bottom electrode W to near top electrode Pt. The memory can be recovered with a time scale when the electrical stimulation is removed. However, different decay behaviors were observed in one decay curve, including rapid decay and slow decay processes. This can be a good simulation of different stages of forgetting. By a combination of the current decay fitting and the conductive analysis, the rapid decay and slow decay processes correspond to ion diffusion and electron detrapping, respectively.
CNT Sheet Air Electrode for the Development of Ultra-High Cell Capacity in Lithium-Air Batteries
Authors: Nomura Akihiro , Ito Kimihiko , Kubo Yoshimi 
Published: April 2017

AbstractLithium-air batteries (LABs) are expected to provide a cell with a much higher capacity than ever attained before, but their prototype cells present a limited areal cell capacity of no more than 10 mAh cm−2, mainly due to the limitation of their air electrodes. Here, we demonstrate the use of flexible carbon nanotube (CNT) sheets as a promising air electrode for developing ultra-high capacity in LAB cells, achieving areal cell capacities of up to 30 mAh cm−2, which is approximately 15 times higher than the capacity of cells with lithium-ion battery (LiB) technology (~2 mAh cm−2). During discharge, the CNT sheet electrode experienced enormous swelling to a thickness of a few millimeters because of the discharge product deposition of lithium peroxide (Li2O2), but the sheet was fully recovered after being fully charged. This behavior results from the CNT sheet characteristics of the flexible and fibrous conductive network and suggests that the CNT sheet is an effective air electrode material for developing a commercially available LAB cell with an ultra-high cell capacity.
Obesity and depressive symptoms among Chinese people aged 45 and over
Authors: Qian Jiahui , Li Ningxiu , Ren Xiaohui 
Published: April 2017

AbstractWe examined the controversial relationship between obesity and depression among Chinese people aged 45 and over using data from the 2013 follow-up survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Depressive symptoms were measured using the CES-D 10; overweight and obesity were defined using WHO, Asian and Chinese criteria. The proportion of depressive symptoms was 19.9% and 33.2% in men and women, respectively. Depressive symptoms decreased as BMI increased in both men and women (P < 0.05). Obese women were less likely to suffer from depressive symptoms than normal weight women according to WHO, Asian and Chinese criteria (P < 0.05). Obese men were less likely to suffer from depressive symptoms than normal weight men under the Chinese criteria (P < 0.05). The results indicate that there is an inverse association between obesity and depressive symptoms among Chinese men and women, supporting the “jolly fat” hypothesis in China, and suggest that individuals and medical providers should pay attention to underweight as well as obesity. In addition, our study illustrates the importance of establishing appropriate obesity cut-off points for individual countries.
Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) prevents periprosthetic inflammatory loosening through FBXL2-TRAF6 ubiquitination pathway
Authors: Zhao Xiang , Zhao Gangsheng , Shi Zhongli , Zhou Chenhe , Chen Yunlin , Hu Bin , Yan Shigui 
Published: April 2017

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that Low intensity pulsed ultrasound(LIPUS) prevents polyethylene-debris-induced periprosthetic loosening in vivo, but the details of the mechanism by which it does so remain unclear. In this article, we used polyethylene debris induced RAW 264.7 cells as the in vitro model, and tested the effect of LIPUS on this model. Changes in the level of inflammatory cytokines, cell proliferation, and apoptosis were assessed. Gene overexpression and siRNA technique were applied, and the levels of expression of FBXL2, TRAF6, ERK, and related inflammatory cytokines were also measured. Results indicated that FBXL2-mediated TRAF6 ubiquitination and degradation also plays an important role in aseptic periprosthetic loosening process, and LIPUS prevents such loosening by strengthening this pathway.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Chemical inhibition reveals differential requirements of signaling pathways in krasV12- and Myc-induced liver tumors in transgenic zebrafish
Authors: Yan Chuan , Yang Qiqi , Huo Xiaojing , Li Hankun , Zhou Li , Gong Zhiyuan 
Published: April 2017

AbstractPreviously we have generated inducible liver tumor models by transgenic expression of an oncogene and robust tumorigenesis can be rapidly induced by activation of the oncogene in both juvenile and adult fish. In the present study, we aimed at chemical intervention of tumorigenesis for understanding molecular pathways of tumorigenesis and for potential development of a chemical screening tool for anti-cancer drug discovery. Thus, we evaluated the roles of several major signaling pathways in krasV12- or Myc-induced liver tumors by using several small molecule inhibitors: SU5402 and SU6668 for VEGF/FGF signaling; IWR1 and cardionogen 1 for Wnt signaling; and cyclopamine and Gant61 for Hedgehog signaling. Inhibition of VEGF/FGF signaling was found to deter both Myc- and krasV12-induced liver tumorigenesis while suppression of Wnt signaling relaxed only Myc- but not krasV12-induced liver tumorigenesis. Inhibiting Hedgehog signaling did not suppress either krasV12 or Myc-induced tumors. The suppression of liver tumorigenesis was accompanied with a decrease of cell proliferation, increase of apoptosis, distorted liver histology. Collectively, our observations suggested the requirement of VEGF/FGF signaling but not the hedgehog signaling in liver tumorigenesis in both transgenic fry. However, Wnt signaling appeared to be required for liver tumorigenesis only in Myc but not krasV12 transgenic zebrafish.
Elemental stoichiometry and compositions of weevil larvae and two acorn hosts under natural phosphorus variation
Authors: Ji Huawei , Du Baoming , Liu Chunjiang 
Published: April 2017

AbstractTo understand how different trophic organisms in a parasite food chain adapt to the differences in soil nutrient conditions, we investigated stoichiometric variation and homeostasis of multiple elements in two acorn trees, Quercus variabilis and Quercus acutissima, and their parasite weevil larvae (Curculio davidi Fairmaire) at phosphorus (P)-deficient and P-rich sites in subtropical China where P-rich ores are scattered among dominant P-deficient soils. Results showed that elemental stoichiometry and compositions of both acorns and weevil larvae differed significantly between P-deficient and P-rich sites (p < 0.05), with the largest contribution of acorn and weevil larva P in distinguishing the stoichiometric compositions between the two site types. The two acorn species were statistically separated by their acorn elemental stoichiometry and compositions (p < 0.05), but no difference was observed on weevil larvae between the two acorn species. P was one of the few elements that were non strict homeostasis in both acorns and weevil larvae. These findings highlight the importance of both environmental influence in elemental stoichiometry and composition and physiological regulations of nutritional needs in organisms and provide possible stoichiometric responses of both plants and animals to P loading, a worldwide issue from excess release of P into the environment.