bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Central‐place foraging and ecological effects of an invasive predator across multiple habitats
Authors: Benkwitt Cassandra E. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractCross‐habitat foraging movements of predators can have widespread implications for predator and prey populations, community structure, nutrient transfer, and ecosystem function. Although central‐place foraging models and other aspects of optimal foraging theory focus on individual predator behavior, they also provide useful frameworks for understanding the effects of predators on prey populations across multiple habitats. However, few studies have examined both the foraging behavior and ecological effects of nonnative predators across multiple habitats, and none has tested whether nonnative predators deplete prey in a manner predicted by these foraging models. I conducted behavioral observations of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) to determine whether they exhibit foraging movements similar to other central‐place consumers. Then, I used a manipulative field experiment to test whether their effects on prey populations are consistent with three qualitative predictions from optimal foraging models. Specifically, I predicted that the effects of invasive lionfish on native prey will (1) occur at central sites first and then in surrounding habitats, (2) decrease with increasing distance away from their shelter site, and (3) extend to greater distances when prey patches are spaced closer together. Approximately 40% of lionfish exhibited short‐term crepuscular foraging movements into surrounding habitats from the coral patch reefs where they shelter during daylight hours. Over the course of 7 weeks, lionfish depleted native fish populations on the coral patch reefs where they reside, and subsequently on small structures in the surrounding habitat. However, their effects did not decrease with increasing distance from the central shelter site and the influence of patch spacing was opposite the prediction. Instead, lionfish always had the greatest effects in areas with the highest prey densities. The differences between the predicted and observed effects of lionfish foraging are likely due to different constraints faced by invasive predators compared to native predators, namely that lionfish do not face increased predation risk with increased movement away from shelter sites. By foraging at greater distances from patch reefs than native predators, lionfish eliminated a spatial refuge from predation used by juveniles of many commercially and ecologically important reef fishes.
Do the rich get richer? Varying effects of tree species identity and diversity on the richness of understory taxa
Authors: Chamagne Juliette , Paine C. E. Timothy , Schoolmaster Donald R. , Stejskal Robert , Volarřík Daniel , Šebesta Jan , Trnka Filip , Koutecký Tomáš , Švarc Petr , Svátek Martin , Hector Andy , Matula Radim 
Published: May 2016

AbstractUnderstory herbs and soil invertebrates play key roles in soil formation and nutrient cycling in forests. Studies suggest that diversity in the canopy and in the understory are positively associated, but these studies often confound the effects of tree species diversity with those of tree species identity and abiotic conditions. We combined extensive field sampling with structural equation modeling to evaluate the simultaneous effects of tree diversity on the species diversity of understory herbs, beetles, and earthworms. The diversity of earthworms and saproxylic beetles was directly and positively associated with tree diversity, presumably because species of both these taxa specialize on certain species of trees. Tree identity also strongly affected diversity in the understory, especially for herbs, likely as a result of interspecific differences in canopy light transmittance or litter decomposition rates. Our results suggest that changes in forest management will disproportionately affect certain understory taxa. For instance, changes in canopy diversity will affect the diversity of earthworms and saproxylic beetles more than changes in tree species composition, whereas the converse would be expected for understory herbs and detritivorous beetles. We conclude that the effects of tree diversity on understory taxa can vary from positive to negative and may affect biogeochemical cycling in temperate forests. Thus, maintaining high diversity in temperate forests can promote the diversity of multiple taxa in the understory.
Could an El Niño event put dietary supplies of n‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA and DHA) in jeopardy
Authors: Pike Ian H. , Tocher Douglas R. 
Published: May 2016

The beneficial effects of n‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA, for human health are widely recognised. Intakes of these fatty acids in many parts of Europe fall far short of the recommended intake, especially in young people. The most robust evidence from human health studies demonstrating beneficial effects is that for cardiovascular disease. Other beneficial effects have been reported for inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, cognitive and visual development in pre‐term infants and on various psychological/behavioural and psychiatric disorders. For European consumers fish is the main source of EPA and DHA, especially oily fish, and in particular farmed Atlantic salmon. With evidence of a strong El Niño type event occurring in the Pacific currently (2015/16), fish stock biomasses have drastically declined and permitted fishing heavily reduced. Subsequent fish oil shortages have resulted in increased substitution of fish oil with vegetable oil in feeds for farmed salmon. A significant fall in EPA and DHA in these fish and a reduction in intake by consumers are expected in the short term. Avoiding fish oil shortages causing reductions in EPA and DHA intake by consumers in the future may be possible through the production of DHA‐rich algal biomass if the cost can be reduced. Genetically modified crops which might also be a source of these fatty acids are unlikely to be acceptable for salmon feeds in Europe in the near future.Practical applications: If farmed Atlantic salmon is to continue to be an important source of EPA and DHA in European diets, especially those in the UK, consideration will have to be given to obtaining new sources of these fatty acids. It would be prudent to follow the development of cheaper forms of DHA‐rich algal biomass for incorporation into salmon feeds. Any relaxation of the public's objections to the use of genetically modified crops to produce ingredients for salmon feeds should be followed. It may present the opportunity to use, for example, genetically modified Camelina sativa as an alternative source.For European consumers fish, and especially farmed salmon, are the almost exclusive source of dietary EPA and DHA that are important in the maintenance of health. Salmon obtain most of these fatty acids from fish oil, which in turn is produced mainly in South American waters. With a strong El Niño, a natural periodic warming event, in the Pacific Ocean in 2014/15 fish oil supplies are currently scarce with reduced stocks for salmon feeds. This in turn has reduced availability of EPA and DHA and so alternative sources are suggested.
Protein Structure‐sensitive Analysis by Normal Pulse Voltammetry
Authors: Černocká Hana , Paleček Emil 
Published: May 2016

AbstractEarlier we showed that constant current chronopotentiometric stripping (CPS) at mercury‐containing electrodes reflects changes in proteins, such as denaturation, single amino acid exchange or protein damage by physical and chemical agents. Here we attempted to compare performance of the galvanostatic CPS with the potentiostatic normal pulse voltammetry (NPV). We have found that repeated 50 ms or longer NPV pulses denature the surface‐attached protein. Using shorter pulses and adapting other NPV settings we have been able to obtain a good resolution of native (folded) and denatured (unfolded) bovine serum albumin. On the other hand, partial denaturation of the surface‐attached native bovine serum albumin during the potential scanning may prevent detection of small conformational changes in the protein.
Isotretinoin Oxidation and Electroanalysis in a Pharmaceutical Drug Using a Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode
Authors: Machini W. B. S. , Enache T. A. , Jorge S. M. A. , Oliveira‐Brett A. M. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIsotretinoin redox behaviour, by voltammetry, at the cathodic pre‐treated boron doped diamond electrode by cyclic, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry, and by spectrophotometry in a wide pH range, was investigated. The isotretinoin oxidation was an irreversible, diffusion‐controlled process, occurred in a three‐step cascade mechanism, and the isotretinoin diffusion coefficient D13‐cis‐RA=7.35×10−6 cm2 s−1, was calculated. The UV‐Vis isotretinoin maximum absorption was pH‐dependent. The detection limits LOD=0.53 μM, by differential pulse voltammetry, and LOD=0.38 μM, by UV‐Vis spectroscopy, were obtained. The isotretinoin in the pharmaceutical drug Roacutan®, using differential pulse voltammetry, was determined.
Determining Which Phenotypes Underlie a Pleiotropic Signal
Authors: Majumdar Arunabha , Haldar Tanushree , Witte John S. 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTDiscovering pleiotropic loci is important to understand the biological basis of seemingly distinct phenotypes. Most methods for assessing pleiotropy only test for the overall association between genetic variants and multiple phenotypes. To determine which specific traits are pleiotropic, we evaluate via simulation and application three different strategies. The first is model selection techniques based on the inverse regression of genotype on phenotypes. The second is a subset‐based meta analysisASSET[Bhattacharjee et al.,], which provides an optimal subset of nonnull traits. And the third is a modified Benjamini–Hochberg (B‐H) procedure of controlling the expected false discovery rate [Benjamini and Hochberg,] in the framework of phenome‐wide association study. From our simulations we see that an inverse regression‐based approachMultiPhen[O'Reilly et al.,] is more powerful thanASSETfor detecting overall pleiotropic association, except for when all the phenotypes are associated and have genetic effects in the same direction. For determining which specific traits are pleiotropic, the modified B–H procedure performs consistently better than the other two methods. The inverse regression‐based selection methods perform competitively with the modified B–H procedure only when the phenotypes are weakly correlated. The efficiency ofASSETis observed to lie below and in between the efficiency of the other two methods when the traits are weakly and strongly correlated, respectively. In our application to a large GWAS, we find that the modified B–H procedure also performs well, indicating that this may be an optimal approach for determining the traits underlying a pleiotropic signal.
Effects of uncertainty in head tissue conductivity and complexity on EEG forward modeling in neonates
Authors: Azizollahi Hamed , Aarabi Ardalan , Wallois Fabrice 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the impact of uncertainty in head tissue conductivities and inherent geometrical complexities including fontanels in neonates. Based on MR and CT coregistered images, we created a realistic neonatal head model consisting of scalp, skull, fontanels, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), gray matter (GM), and white matter (WM). Using computer simulations, we investigated the effects of exclusion of CSF and fontanels, discrimination between GM and WM, and uncertainty in conductivity of neonatal head tissues on EEG forward modeling. We found that exclusion of CSF from the head model induced the strongest widespread effect on the EEG forward solution. Discrimination between GM and white matter also induced a strong widespread effect, but which was less intense than that of CSF exclusion. The results also showed that exclusion of the fontanels from the neonatal head model locally affected areas beneath the fontanels, but this effect was much less pronounced than those of exclusion of CSF and GM/WM discrimination. Changes in GM/WM conductivities by 25% with respect to reference values induced considerable effects in EEG forward solution, but this effect was more pronounced for GM conductivity. Similarly, changes in skull conductivity induced effects in the EEG forward modeling in areas covered by the cranial bones. The least intense effect on EEG was caused by changes in conductivity of the fontanels. Our findings clearly emphasize the impact of uncertainty in conductivity and deficiencies in head tissue compartments on modeling research and localization of brain electrical activity in neonates. Hum Brain Mapp 37:3604–3622, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Soil water content in southern England derived from a cosmic‐ray soil moisture observing system – COSMOS‐UK
Authors: Evans J. G. , Ward H. C. , Blake J. R. , Hewitt E. J. , Morrison R. , Fry M. , Ball L. A. , Doughty L. C. , Libre J. W. , Hitt O. E. , Rylett D. , Ellis R. J. , Warwick A. C. , Brooks M. , Parkes M. A. , Wright G. M. H. , Singer A. C. , Boorman D. B. , Jenkins A. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractCosmic‐ray soil moisture sensors have the advantage of a large measurement footprint (approximately 700 m in diameter) and are able to operate continuously to provide area‐averaged near‐surface (top 10–20 cm) volumetric soil moisture content at the field scale. This paper presents the application of this technique at four sites in southern England over almost 3 years. Results show the soil moisture response to contrasting climatic conditions during 2011–2014 and are the first such field‐scale measurements made in the UK. These four sites are prototype stations for a UK COsmic‐ray Soil Moisture Observing System, and particular consideration is given to sensor operating conditions in the UK. Comparison of these soil water content observations with the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator 10‐cm soil moisture layer shows that these data can be used to test and diagnose model performance and indicate the potential for assimilation of these data into hydro‐meteorological models. The application of these large‐area soil water content measurements to evaluate remotely sensed soil moisture products is also demonstrated. Numerous applications and the future development of a national COsmic‐ray Soil Moisture Observing System network are discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New method for the fabrication of highly osteoconductive β‐1,3‐glucan/HA scaffold for bone tissue engineering: Structural, mechanical, and biological characterization
Authors: Klimek Katarzyna , Przekora Agata , Pałka Krzysztof , Ginalska Grażyna 
Published: May 2016

AbstractRecent studies have shown that thermal method for β‐1,3‐glucan (curdlan) gelation performed at temperature above 80°C enables fabrication of biocompatible bone scaffolds. The aim of this study was to establish new method for fabrication of β‐1,3‐glucan/hydroxyapatite (glu/HA) scaffold using ion‐exchanging dialysis for curdlan gelation that allows for the modifications of the glu/HA material with thermo‐sensitive agents like growth factors or adhesive proteins. Obtained results reveal that fabricated scaffold appears to be highly osteoconductive as it is nontoxic, promotes osteoblast growth and proliferation as well as increases bone alkaline phosphatase level thereby enhancing cell differentiation. It was demonstrated that developed new method for the glu/HA scaffold fabrication allows to obtain material that not only can be modified with thermo‐sensitive agents at the stage of production process but also is a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering applications to act as a framework for osteoblasts to spread and form new bone. It should be noted that dialysis method for curdlan gelation has never been used before to fabricate bone scaffold. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 2528–2536, 2016.
Modeling and optimization of antibacterial activity of the chitosan‐based hydrogel films using central composite design
Authors: Lahooti Behnaz , Khorram Mohammad , Karimi Gholamreza , Mohammadi Aliakbar , Emami Amir 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIn the present study, hydrogel films composed of chitosan–poly(vinyl alcohol)–gelatin–thyme honey were successfully prepared by casting method, and their anti‐bacterial properties were modeled and optimized. Antibacterial properties of the prepared films were analyzed by applying agar diffusion method. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were tested as Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, respectively. In order to obtain the composition of the film with maximum inhibition zone against both above‐mentioned bacterial strains, the experiments were designed using response surface methodology based on five‐level central composite design with four parameters, including concentrations of chitosan, poly(vinyl alcohol), gelatin, and honey. The results indicated that the prepared samples had good antibacterial activities against these two studied bacteria strains. Response surface method is conducted to develop mathematical models for process responses. Variance analysis on the experimental data shows that inhibition zone can be predicted effectively with quadratic models. In addition, swelling properties and rate of water vapor transmission of the prepared hydrogel films were studied. Due to the successful results, this hydrogel film has an excellent potential to be explored further as a wound healing material. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 2544–2553, 2016.
The Prognostic Significance of Neutrophil‐to‐Lymphocyte and Platelet‐to‐Lymphocyte Ratios in Patients With Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Wongrakpanich Supakanya , George Gemlyn , Chaiwatcharayut Wikrom , Biso Sylvia , Candelario Nellowe , Mittal Varun , Pomerantz Sherry , Varadi Gabor 
Published: May 2016

ObjectNeutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are simple, inexpensive prognostic markers for various conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of NLR and PLR in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in terms of survival.MethodA retrospective chart review study was conducted for 175 patients who met the criterion of diagnosis for MM between January 2004 and September 2014.ResultThe median age of diagnosis was 69 years. Patients were divided into high and low NLR and PLR groups according to cutoff points from the receiver operating characteristic curve (2.78 and 155.58, respectively). The high NLR and PLR groups were associated with lower albumin level and higher staging. The high NLR group experienced inferior median survival compared with the low NLR group (37 vs. 66 months; log‐rank P‐value 0.005). However, there was no significant difference in median survival between the high and low PLR groups (45 vs. 62 months; P = 0.077). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that NLR is an independent predictor for OS of MM (HR 2.892; P = 0.009).ConclusionWe conclude that NLR is an independent prognostic factor for OS in MM.
Gait mechanics 2 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction are associated with longer‐term changes in patient‐reported outcomes
Authors: Erhart‐Hledik Jennifer C. , Chu Constance R. , Asay Jessica L. , Andriacchi Thomas P. 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTThis study tested the hypothesis that side‐to‐side differences in knee gait mechanics 2 years after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction are associated with long‐term (∼8 years post‐reconstruction) changes in patient‐reported outcome scores. Sixteen subjects (5 males; age: 29.1 ± 7.1 years) with primary unilateral ACL reconstruction were gait tested at baseline (2.2 ± 0.3 years post‐ACL reconstruction) and filled out KOOS and Lysholm surveys. At long‐term follow‐up (7.7 ± 0.7 years post‐ACL reconstruction), the same subjects completed KOOS and Lysholm surveys. Pearson correlation coefficients assessed relationships between side‐to‐side differences in kinematics and kinetics at baseline and changes in Lysholm and KOOS Pain/QOL scores from 2 to 8 years post‐ACL reconstruction. Significant associations were seen between greater average varus rotation (Lysholm: R = −0.654, p = 0.006) and less anterior femoral displacement (Lysholm: R = 0.578, p = 0.019) during stance of the ACL reconstructed knee versus the contralateral knee at baseline and worse follow‐up outcome scores. Significant associations were seen between greater peak knee flexion moment (KOOS Pain: R = −0.572, p = 0.026; KOOS QOL: R = −0.636, p = 0.011), peak knee adduction moment (Lysholm: R = −0.582, p = 0.018; KOOS Pain: R = −0.742, p = 0.002; KOOS QOL: R = −0.551, p = 0.033), and peak internal rotation moment (Lysholm: R = 0.525, p = 0.037; KOOS Pain: R = 0.815, p < 0.001; KOOS QOL: R = 0.777, p = 0.001) in the ACL reconstructed knee at baseline with worse follow‐up outcomes. The results of this study support the hypotheses that early changes in gait mechanics following ACL reconstruction are associated with longer‐term clinical changes in patient‐reported outcomes, suggesting that biomechanical markers obtained as early as 2 years after ACL reconstruction may be useful to understand clinical outcomes in this population. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:634–640, 2017.
Rate Constants and Sticking Coefficients for H2 and He Obtained by Analysis of Agglomeration in a Nozzle Beam
Authors: Goodisman J. , Chaiken J. 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTCluster–cluster reaction rate constants are obtained from measurements of coalescence in nozzle‐beam expansions. Coalescence is described by the Smoluchowski equations, modified to accommodate changes in volume and temperature. The asymptotic form of the cluster size distribution can reveal the scaling of the second‐order rate constants Kjk with the sizes of colliding particles. Scalings derived in the past are demonstrably incorrect and physically unjustifiable. Here, we use the physically reasonable scaling, Kjk = K11jμkμ, to study H2 coalescence in a nozzle beam. Experimental size distributions fit the predicted asymptotic form, Nk = Akae−bk, very well, with deviations identifying magic numbers. We obtain the base agglomeration cross section K11 and the parameter μ, and thus all the rate constants, for H2. By comparing with products of geometric cross section and relative velocity, we find sticking coefficients. Experimental results for a nozzle‐beam expansion of He are analyzed similarly, to yield K11 and μ, and hence sticking coefficients, for He. These are compared to those for H2.