bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Beyond nectar provision: the other resource requirements of parasitoid biological control agents
Authors: Gillespie Mark A.K. , Gurr Geoff M. , Wratten Steve D. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractRecent work in natural enemy nutrition has generated dramatic results, ranging from parasitoid longevity increasing several‐fold when appropriate nectar is made available to detailed quantification of changes in parasitoid searching behaviour and ‘giving‐up times’ when they have nectar access. This floral‐resource‐based approach to enhancing biological control of pests has also led to many outcomes and is currently operating in a wider context: that of on‐farm ecosystem services. Some recent publications have demonstrated that the provision of nectar resource subsidies within and around crops can positively impact a number of other ecosystem services, ranging from pollination to aesthetics, and benefit eco‐marketing. However, adult food is not the only resource requirement of parasitoids. Many species require alternative hosts, overwintering habitat, protection from tillage, and refuge from adverse biotic and abiotic conditions. Also, recent work has emphasised the importance of considering spatial and temporal scales when manipulating agro‐ecosystems in favour of beneficial insects and the impact that climate change may make on future host‐parasitoid dynamics. This review summarises recent work on these additional requirements of parasitoids with the aim of promoting the integration of the floral resource subsidies into a more ecosystem‐based view of pest suppression by parasitoids.
Preconditioning of the generalist herbivore Trialeurodes vaporariorum to greenhouse monocultures and its subsequent performance on wild polycultures
Authors: Ovčarenko Irina , Lindström Leena , Saikkonen Kari , Jauhiainen Lauri , Kaseva Janne , Vänninen Irene 
Published: March 2016

AbstractGeneralist herbivores can face many challenges when choosing their host plant. This can be particularly difficult if their choice and performance are affected by host experience. Greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is an invasive generalist herbivore, which has established in year‐round greenhouses at northern latitudes where it cannot overwinter outdoors. It mainly uses crops such as cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and ornamentals as host plants. However, every summer the insect escapes greenhouses and is exposed to natural vegetation. We evaluated the performance of T. vaporariorum on diverse vegetation outside greenhouses after prolonged experience of greenhouse crops. First, we surveyed the vegetation near infested greenhouses. Development success of the insect differed among wild hosts. We identified five new hosts among 12 plant species that bore pupae and were thus considered suitable as the insect's host plants. Members of the Urticaceae and Onagraceae were the most preferred and frequently inhabited by all insect life stages. The highest abundance of insects occurred in plots with low plant species richness, independent of plant family in these habitats. We then studied experimentally the impact of 1 year of preconditioning to one of three common greenhouse crops, cucumber, tomato, or poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch), on the performance of the preconditioned adults and their progeny on four wild plants. Adults from tomato and poinsettia preferred the novel host species over the species to which they were preconditioned. The whitefly population preconditioned to cucumber was the most fecund on all offered hosts. We conclude that generalist herbivores can have large variation in performance, despite polyphagy, on novel hosts as shown by the variable abundance of T. vaporariorum pupae among outdoor hosts. Furthermore, performance of whiteflies on natural vegetation was affected by experience on greenhouse crops. Based on our observations, we provide insights and recommendations for pest management.
Boundary line analysis of the effect of water‐filled pore space on nitrous oxide emission from cores of arable soil
Authors: Lark R. M. , Milne A. E. 
Published: March 2016

SummaryThe boundary line has been proposed as a model of the effects of a variable on a biological response, when this variable might limit the response in only some of a set of observations. It is proposed that the upper boundary (in some circumstances the lower boundary) represents the response function of interest. Boundary‐line analysis is a method for estimating this response function from data. The approach has been used to model the emission of N2O from soil in response to various soil properties. However, the methods that have been used to identify the boundary are based on somewhat ad hoc partitions of the data. A statistical model that we have presented previously has not been applied to this problem in soil science, and we do so here to represent how the water‐filled pore space (WFPS) of the soil affects the rate of N2O emission. We derive a boundary‐line response that can be shown to be a better model for the data than an unbounded alternative by statistical criteria. Furthermore, the fitted boundary‐response model is consistent with past empirical observations and modelling studies with respect to both the WFPS at which the potential emission rate is largest and the measurement error for the emission rates themselves. We show how the fitted model might be used to interpret data on soil volumetric water content with respect to seasonal changes in potential emissions, and to compare potential emissions between soil series that have contrasting physical properties.
Structural damage and recovery determined by the colloidal constituents in two forest soils compacted by heavy traffic
Authors: Goutal‐Pousse N. , Lamy F. , Ranger J. , Boivin P. 
Published: March 2016

SummaryThe role of colloidal constituents in soil structure and its resistance to compaction was studied in two acid forest soils of contrasting pH, clay type and texture. The soils were trafficked with an eight‐wheel‐drive forwarder, and undisturbed topsoil samples were taken on trafficked and control plots. Shrinkage analysis was used to assess the soil's physical behaviour, and in addition texture, organic carbon content and exchangeable Al3+ (Alex) and amorphous Al oxide (Aloxa) contents were determined. The effect of each constituent on the soil's physical properties was assessed with covariance analysis. The hydro‐structural stability and coarse pore (> 150 µm radius) and structural pore volumes of control samples were strongly determined by organic carbon and the forms of Al, whereas the plasma porosity was determined by clay content only. Organic carbon and Aloxa increased the structural pore and coarse pore volumes and modified their susceptibility to compaction; organic carbon provided a protecting effect, whereas it was the opposite with Aloxa. We observed contrasting effects of the colloidal constituents and of the behaviour of the pore systems on compaction. The situation is complex and we need to take into account the effects of the colloidal constituents to determine the effects of compaction on the soil's porosity. A simplified approach in which we used the water content at −10 hPa as a covariate predicted soil bulk density as accurately as with all the analytical covariates, and it seems to be an inexpensive way to assess compaction.
Ergot Use and Overuse: A Pharmacoepidemiology Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Donnet A. , Braunstein D. , Pradel V. , Sciortino V. , Allaria‐Lapierre V. , Micallef J. , Lanteri‐Minet M. 
Published: March 2016

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to estimate and to characterize the actual patterns of ergot use and overuse in France using a drug reimbursement database.MethodsWe included all people covered by the French General Health Insurance System (GHIS) from the Provence‐Alpes‐Côte‐d'Azur (PACA) and Corsica administrative areas who had at least one prescription of ergot between May 2010 and December 2011. All prescriptions of ergots, migraine prophylactic treatment, and psychotropic medications were extracted from the GHIS database. We defined occasional ergot users (<3 months of prescription) and regular ergot users (>3 months of prescription). Among regular ergot users, we identified overusers and nonoverusers.ResultsWe included 4358 patients who had at least one prescription of ergots (oral ergotamine tartrate, dihydroergotamine mesilate nasal spray, intravenous dihydroergotamine mesilate). Among ergot overusers, a large majority of patients had ergotamine tartrate overuse. The proportion of ergotamine tartrate overusers is maximum after 55 years. Compared with regular users, overusers use more frequently a prophylactic treatment (93/165 [56.4%] versus 398/1057, OR = 2.15, P < .001), antidepressants (72/165 [43.6%] versus 326/1057 [30.8%] OR = 1.79, P < .001), benzodiazepines (111/165 [67.3%] versus 613/1057 [58.0%], OR = 1.50, P < .001), weak opioids (95/165 [57.6%] versus 463/1057 [43.8], OR = 1.77, P < .001) and strong opioids (13/165 [7.9%] versus 24/1057 [2.3%], OR = 3.86, P < .001). The coexistence of ergot consumption and triptan overuse, and the possibility of both triptan and ergot overuse was described; triptan overusers were more described in ergotamine overusers than in nonoverusers.ConclusionsThis work outlines a high prevalence of ergotamine tartrate overuse (11.1%). As ergotamine tartrate users are mostly aged more than 55 years, an evaluation of ergotamine cardiovascular risk profile is necessary in the elderly population.
Characterization and automatic screening of reactive and abnormal neoplastic B lymphoid cells from peripheral blood
Authors: Alférez S. , Merino A. , Bigorra L. , Rodellar J. 
Published: March 2016

SummaryIntroductionThe objective was to advance in the automatic, image‐based, characterization and recognition of a heterogeneous set of lymphoid cells from peripheral blood, including normal, reactive, and five groups of abnormal lymphocytes: hairy cells, mantle cells, follicular lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and prolymphocytes.MethodsA number of 4389 images from 105 patients were selected by pathologists, based on morphologic visual appearance, from patients whose diagnosis was confirmed by all the remaining complementary tests. Besides geometry, new color and texture features were extracted using six alternative color spaces to obtain rich information to characterize the cell groups. The recognition system was designed using support vector machines trained with the whole image set.ResultsIn the experimental tests, individual sets of images from 21 new patients were analyzed by the trained recognition system and compared with the true diagnosis. An overall recognition accuracy of 97.67% was achieved when the cell screening was performed into three groups: normal lymphocytes, abnormal lymphoid cells, and reactive lymphocytes. The accuracy of the whole experimental study was 91.23% when considering the further discrimination of the abnormal lymphoid cells into the specific five groups.ConclusionThe excellent automatic screening of the three groups of normal, reactive, and abnormal lymphocytes is useful as it discriminates between malignancy and not malignancy. The discrimination of the five groups of abnormal lymphoid cells is encouraging toward the idea that the system could be an automated image‐based screening method to identify blood involvement by a variety of B lymphomas.
Farmers develop more aggressive histologic subtypes of basal cell carcinoma. Experience from a Tertiary Hospital in Northern Greece
Authors: Apalla Z. , Lallas A. , Sotiriou E. , Lazaridou E. , Vakirlis E. , Trakatelli M. , Kyrgidis A. , Ioannides D. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBackgroundUltraviolet radiation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of non‐melanoma skin cancer. Outdoor workers, including farmers, experience higher exposure levels compared to the general population. Available literature data suggest that occupational ultraviolet exposure represents an independent risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma; whereas for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) this association still remains unclarified.ObjectivesTo analyse the epidemiological, clinical and histological data of patients diagnosed with BCC, and correlate them with outdoor occupation in farmers.MethodsIndividuals with histologically diagnosed BCCs, between September 2013 and September 2015, were included in the study. Their medical data, including epidemiological, clinical and histological characteristics, were recorded and analysed in conjunction with the occupation. Farmers were identified based on their specific public health insurance.ResultsThree hundred and forty patients, with 542 BCCs were included in the study. One hundred and twenty (35.3%) were farmers. Mean age of farmers was lower than non‐farmers (66.0 ± 9.1 years vs. 75 ± 6.6 years, Mann–Whitney U‐test, P < 0.001). Farmers had a sixfold higher probability for exhibiting photodamaged skin (OR = 6.02, 95% CI: 3.66–9.90, P < 0.001). Farmer workers were more likely to exhibit infiltrative or morpheaform BCC, but less likely to develop superficial BCC.ConclusionOur results indicate a higher risk of earlier development of more aggressive histological subtypes of BCCs in farmers. Photodamage was also more common in this group. Primary and secondary prevention strategies focusing on outdoor workers, including farmers, are mandatory.
Questionnaire‐based evaluation of occupational and non‐occupational solar radiation exposure in a sample of Italian patients treated for actinic keratosis and other non‐melanoma skin cancers
Authors: Modenese A. , Farnetani F. , Andreoli A. , Pellacani G. , Gobba F. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBackgroundAn adequate evaluation of the ultraviolet (UV) cumulative exposure is a major problem in epidemiological studies on chronic skin damage. Questionnaires may be applied as useful tools.ObjectiveWe developed an original questionnaire to evaluate individual cumulative exposure to solar radiation (SR) in patients affected by actinic keratosis (AK), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).MethodThe questionnaire, considering both working and leisure exposure, was applied to evaluate the whole life history of solar UV radiation exposure in a group of patients of the Dermatologic Clinic of UNIMORE.ResultsIn outdoor workers (OW), the co‐presence of AK/in situ SCC and invasive non‐melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) was increased compared to indoor workers (IW), as was the frequency of multiple skin lesions. The prevalence of skin lesions of the face was significantly higher in OW. Work ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’ in the shades was associated with an absence of skin lesions on the shoulders and neck, while workers adopting ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’ a downward bent position were more likely to develop lesions on the top of the head. Considering leisure activities, the use of tanning beds was associated to the presence of skin lesions on the shoulders, neck and chest. Considering vacation periods, subjects spending at least 2 h outdoor in the period 11 am to 1 pm presented earlier diagnoses of skin cancers.ConclusionResults of the original questionnaire developed are coherent with current knowledge and confirm the important role of UV exposure, both occupational and recreational, in the development of AK and NMSCs. Data support the hypothesis that this questionnaire can be applied as useful tool for the evaluation of cumulative UV exposure in future epidemiological studies.
Validation of a Clinical Scoring System for Outcome Prediction in Dogs with Acute Kidney Injury Managed by Hemodialysis
Authors: Segev G. , Langston C. , Takada K. , Kass P.H. , Cowgill L.D. 
Published: March 2016

BackgroundA scoring system for outcome prediction in dogs with acute kidney injury (AKI) recently has been developed but has not been validated.HypothesisThe scoring system previously developed for outcome prediction will accurately predict outcome in a validation cohort of dogs withAKImanaged with hemodialysis.AnimalsOne hundred fifteen client‐owned dogs withAKI.MethodsMedical records of dogs withAKItreated by hemodialysis between 2011 and 2015 were reviewed. Dogs were included only if all variables required to calculate the final predictive score were available, and the 30‐day outcome was known. A predictive score for 3 models was calculated for each dog. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of the final predictive score with each model's outcome. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analyses were performed to determine sensitivity and specificity for each model based on previously established cut‐off values.ResultsHigher scores for each model were associated with decreased survival probability (P< .001). Based on previously established cut‐off values, 3 models (models A, B, C) were associated with sensitivities/specificities of 73/75%, 71/80%, and 75/86%, respectively, and correctly classified 74–80% of the dogs.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceAll models were simple to apply and allowed outcome prediction that closely corresponded with actual outcome in an independent cohort. As expected, accuracies were slightly lower compared with those from the previously reported cohort used initially to develop the models.
Investigation of Neurokinin‐1 Receptor Antagonism as a Novel Treatment for Chronic Bronchitis in Dogs
Authors: Grobman M. , Reinero C. 
Published: March 2016

BackgroundCanine chronic bronchitis (CCB) results in cough lasting ≥2 months and airway inflammation. Adverse effects include risk of secondary infection associated with lifelong corticosteroid administration and prompt investigation into alternative therapies. Neurogenic pathways mediated by tachykinins that bind neurokinin (NK) 1 receptors may induce cough and airway inflammation. Maropitant, a NK‐1 receptor antagonist, has been advocated for treatment of CCB based on anecdotal improvement, but without scientific evidence.Hypothesis/ObjectivesMaropitant will blunt clinical signs and airway inflammation associated with CCB.AnimalsClient‐owned dogs (n = 8) with cough >2 months, thoracic radiographic evidence of airway disease and sterile airway inflammation (>7% non‐degenerate neutrophils, >7% eosinophils or both) on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) enrolled.MethodsMaropitant (2 mg/kg) administered q48h for 14 days. Study endpoints included client perception of clinical signs (surveys at baseline and 14 days, and visual analogue scale [VAS] at baseline, 7, and 14 days), and BAL % neutrophils and eosinophils (baseline and 14 days). One‐way repeated measures ANOVA (VAS) and Wilcoxon‐signed rank‐sum tests (BAL cells, cough frequency) used with P < .05 considered significant.ResultsMaropitant significantly decreased cough frequency (P < .001) and VAS scores (P = .005). No differences in BAL % neutrophils or % eosinophils noted with treatment (P = .279 and P = .382, respectively).Conclusions and Clinical ImportancePreliminary results suggest that although maropitant may have antitussive properties leading to perceived clinical improvement, its failure to diminish airway inflammation makes it unsuitable for treatment of CCB. Future studies could evaluate maropitant as a cough suppressant for other respiratory disorders in dogs.
Disentangling canopy and soil effects of a savanna tree species on its understorey
Authors: Abdallah Fathia , Michalet Richard , Maalouf Jean‐Paul , Ouled‐Dhaou Saad , Touzard Blaise , Noumi Zouhaier , Chaieb Mohamed 
Published: March 2016

AbstractQuestionsWhat are the relative contributions of short‐term canopy and long‐term soil effects of a savanna tree species in explaining differences in biomass, species density and composition of understorey plants (1) between trees and open areas, and (2) below trees between the northern and southern sides of the trees?LocationAcacia tortilis tree savanna ecosystem, southern arid Tunisia (Bou Hedma National Park).MethodsWe measured environmental conditions (soil and microclimate) on the northern and southern sides of the trees and in open areas between trees. We also manipulated light on the southern side of the trees with a shade cloth, and cross‐transplanted soils between north and south sides of the trees while testing for soil disturbance. The response of the vegetation was analysed with CCA and univariate analyses.ResultsDifferences in species composition, richness and biomass of understorey communities between trees and open areas were mostly due to long‐term soil effects of A. tortilis, mainly nutrients and water, whereas differences below trees were due to short‐term effects of the trees, in particular on light and temperature conditions. Additionally, the soil disturbance induced by our soil transplantation treatment modified species composition and density, likely because of disruption of the soil crust.ConclusionsOur study provides additional evidence that savanna trees have the potential to increase the diversity of arid systems at the landscape level. We showed that two main mechanisms are involved: (1) trees improve soil conditions, in particular nutrients and water, resulting in differences between trees and open areas; (2) within trees, there is heterogeneity of light and temperature conditions under the crown, resulting in vegetation differences.
The impact of oil revenues on theIranian economy and theGulf states
Authors: Dreger Christian , Rahmani Teymur 
Published: March 2016

AbstractPersistent streams of oil revenues can have a long‐lasting impact onGDPper capita in oil‐exporting countries. Higher revenues might finance government activities andGDP. Besides the direct impact, an indirect effect may occur, as revenues may lead to higher investment that could raise capital accumulation and the production frontier. In this paper, the relationship between poli revenues,GDPand investment is explored forIran and the countries of theGulfCooperationCouncil (GCC). To account for nonstationarities of the variables involved, (panel) cointegration techniques are applied. Several results are drawn from the analysis. Cointegration between oil revenues,GDPand investment can be established for all countries. While the cointegration vector is found to be unique forIran, long‐run equations forGDPand investment per capita are distinguished for theGulf countries. WhileGDPand investment both respond to deviations from the steady state, oil income can be treated as weakly exogenous. The long‐run oil elasticities intGCCstates exceed theirIranian counterparts. While oil revenues are closely related to investment activities in theGCCstates, investment inIran does not react to oil revenues in the long run.
Oil nationalisations as protracted affairs: evidence from Venezuela
Authors: Portillo Jorge E 
Published: March 2016

AbstractEmpirical studies tend to treat oil nationalisations as basically discrete, sudden events, an approach that in some cases might be misleading and adds little to disentangle causality. On a contrary vein, we take a closer look at the 1970s nationalisation of Venezuela's oil industry and find evidence that this was a rather protracted affair, expanding over a 17‐year period. We argue that although the transfer of all assets to government hands was not completed until 1975, oil companies fully anticipated such move as early as 1958 and started to operate in a way compatible with a much shorter time horizon. Specifically, we use an estimate of the resource rent (defined as output price minus marginal extraction cost) to show a major shift in oil firms' implicit time horizon after 1958. Our results help to explain the rather weak causality link found in the data between oil nationalisations and price fluctuations.