bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plastic and evolutionary responses to heat stress in a temperate dung fly: negative correlation between basal and induced heat tolerance?
Authors: Esperk T. , Kjærsgaard A. , Walters R. J. , Berger D. , Blanckenhorn W. U. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractExtreme weather events such as heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense. Populations can cope with elevated heat stress by evolving higher basal heat tolerance (evolutionary response) and/or stronger induced heat tolerance (plastic response). However, there is ongoing debate about whether basal and induced heat tolerance are negatively correlated and whether adaptive potential in heat tolerance is sufficient under ongoing climate warming. To evaluate the evolutionary potential of basal and induced heat tolerance, we performed experimental evolution on a temperate source population of the dung fly Sepsis punctum. Offspring of flies adapted to three thermal selection regimes (Hot, Cold and Reference) were subjected to acute heat stress after having been exposed to either a hot‐acclimation or non‐acclimation pretreatment. As different traits may respond differently to temperature stress, several physiological and life history traits were assessed. Condition dependence of the response was evaluated by exposing juveniles to different levels of developmental (food restriction/rearing density) stress. Heat knockdown times were highest, whereas acclimation effects were lowest in the Hot selection regime, indicating a negative association between basal and induced heat tolerance. However, survival, adult longevity, fecundity and fertility did not show such a pattern. Acclimation had positive effects in heat‐shocked flies, but in the absence of heat stress hot‐acclimated flies had reduced life spans relative to non‐acclimated ones, thereby revealing a potential cost of acclimation. Moreover, body size positively affected heat tolerance and unstressed individuals were less prone to heat stress than stressed flies, offering support for energetic costs associated with heat tolerance. Overall, our results indicate that heat tolerance of temperate insects can evolve under rising temperatures, but this response could be limited by a negative relationship between basal and induced thermotolerance, and may involve some but not other fitness‐related traits.
Evolution of male age‐specific reproduction under differential risks and causes of death: males pay the cost of high female fitness
Authors: Chen H.‐y. , Spagopoulou F. , Maklakov A. A. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractClassic theories of ageing evolution predict that increased extrinsic mortality due to an environmental hazard selects for increased early reproduction, rapid ageing and short intrinsic lifespan. Conversely, emerging theory maintains that when ageing increases susceptibility to an environmental hazard, increased mortality due to this hazard can select against ageing in physiological condition and prolong intrinsic lifespan. However, evolution of slow ageing under high‐condition‐dependent mortality is expected to result from reallocation of resources to different traits and such reallocation may be hampered by sex‐specific trade‐offs. Because same life‐history trait values often have different fitness consequences in males and females, sexually antagonistic selection can preserve genetic variance for lifespan and ageing. We previously showed that increased condition‐dependent mortality caused by heat shock leads to evolution of long‐life, decelerated late‐life mortality in both sexes and increased female fecundity in the nematode, Caenorhabditis remanei. Here, we used these cryopreserved lines to show that males evolving under heat shock suffered from reduced early‐life and net reproduction, while mortality rate had no effect. Our results suggest that heat‐shock resistance and associated long‐life trade‐off with male, but not female, reproduction and therefore sexually antagonistic selection contributes to maintenance of genetic variation for lifespan and fitness in this population.
The evolution of colour pattern complexity: selection for conspicuousness favours contrasting within‐body colour combinations in lizards
Authors: Pérez i de Lanuza G. , Font E. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractMany animals display complex colour patterns that comprise several adjacent, often contrasting colour patches. Combining patches of complementary colours increases the overall conspicuousness of the complex pattern, enhancing signal detection. Therefore, selection for conspicuousness may act not only on the design of single colour patches, but also on their combination. Contrasting long‐ and short‐wavelength colour patches are located on the ventral and lateral surfaces of many lacertid lizards. As the combination of long‐ and short‐wavelength‐based colours generates local chromatic contrast, we hypothesized that selection may favour the co‐occurrence of lateral and ventral contrasting patches, resulting in complex colour patterns that maximize the overall conspicuousness of the signal. To test this hypothesis, we performed a comparative phylogenetic study using a categorical colour classification based on spectral data and descriptive information on lacertid coloration collected from the literature. Our results demonstrate that conspicuous ventral (long‐wavelength‐based) and lateral (short‐wavelength‐based) colour patches co‐occur throughout the lacertid phylogeny more often than expected by chance, especially in the subfamily Lacertini. These results suggest that selection promotes the evolution of the complex pattern rather than the acquisition of a single conspicuous colour patch, possibly due to the increased conspicuousness caused by the combination of colours with contrasting spectral properties.
Social functioning and facial expression recognition in children with neurofibromatosis type 1
Authors: Allen T. , Willard V. W. , Anderson L. M. , Hardy K. K. , Bonner M. J. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBackgroundThis study examined social functioning and facial expression recognition (FER) in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) compared to typically developing peers. Specifically, the current research aimed to identify hypothesised relationships between neurocognitive ability, FER and social functioning.MethodChildren, ages 8 to 16, with NF1 (n = 23) and typically developing peers (n = 23) were recruited during regularly scheduled clinic visits and through advertisements on an institutional clinical trials website, respectively. Participants completed a measure of FER, an abbreviated intelligence test and questionnaires regarding their quality of life and behavioural functioning. Parents were also asked to complete questionnaires regarding the social–emotional and cognitive functioning of their child.ResultsAs expected, there were significant differences between children with NF1 and typically developing peers across domains of social functioning and FER. Within the sample of children with NF1, there were no significant associations observed between cognitive measures, social functioning and facial recognition skills.ConclusionChildren with NF1 exhibited high rates of social impairment and weak FER skills compared to controls. The absence of associations between FER with cognitive and social variables, however, suggests something unique about this skill in children with NF1. Theoretical comparisons are made to children with autism spectrum disorders, as this condition may serve as a potentially useful model in better understanding FER in children with NF1.
The Baby‐Friendly Hospital Initiative as an Intervention to Improve Breastfeeding Rates: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Howe‐Heyman Abigail , Lutenbacher Melanie 
Published: January 2016

IntroductionThe Baby‐Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is considered to be an evidence‐based program that improves breastfeeding outcomes, but primary research on the topic has been limited. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the literature and synthesize findings to determine the effectiveness of the BFHI as an intervention to improve breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity.MethodsA review of literature published from 1991 to October 2014 using MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Knowledge with the search term “Baby‐Friendly Hospital Initiative.” The 724 titles initially identified were reviewed using these inclusion criteria: English language, primary research, and available electronically or via interlibrary loan. Studies were excluded if they explicitly stated that they had omitted specific portions of the BFHI or did not fully implement the intervention; considered breastfeeding rather than the BFHI as an intervention; used the BFHI to improve neonatal intensive care unit outcomes specifically; or measured outcomes other than breastfeeding initiation, duration, or exclusivity. This yielded 25 studies for review.ResultsThere are more studies that support the BFHI as an intervention to increase breastfeeding than there are studies that demonstrate no effect of the intervention. However, design weaknesses, settings outside the United States, and disparate methods impede the ability to reach firm conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the BFHI in improving breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity rates in the United States.DiscussionMany of the studies regarding the effectiveness of the BFHI have been hampered by weak designs or methodologic limitations. Research conducted in the United States and employing experimental designs would help to more conclusively determine the effectiveness of the BFHI as an intervention to improve breastfeeding rates.
Amyloid precursor‐like protein 1 (APLP1) exhibits stronger zinc‐dependent neuronal adhesion than amyloid precursor protein and APLP2
Authors: Mayer Magnus C. , Schauenburg Linda , Thompson‐Steckel Greta , Dunsing Valentin , Kaden Daniela , Voigt Philipp , Schaefer Michael , Chiantia Salvatore , Kennedy Timothy E. , Multhaup Gerhard 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its paralogs, amyloid precursor‐like protein 1 (APLP1) and APLP2, are metalloproteins with a putative role both in synaptogenesis and in maintaining synapse structure. Here, we studied the effect of zinc on membrane localization, adhesion, and secretase cleavage of APP, APLP1, and APLP2 in cell culture and rat neurons. For this, we employed live‐cell microscopy techniques, a microcontact printing adhesion assay and ELISA for protein detection in cell culture supernatants. We report that zinc induces the multimerization of proteins of the amyloid precursor protein family and enriches them at cellular adhesion sites. Thus, zinc facilitates the formation of de novo APP and APLP1 containing adhesion complexes, whereas it does not have such influence on APLP2. Furthermore, zinc‐binding prevented cleavage of APP and APLPs by extracellular secretases. In conclusion, the complexation of zinc modulates neuronal functions of APP and APLPs by (i) regulating formation of adhesion complexes, most prominently for APLP1, and (ii) by reducing the concentrations of neurotrophic soluble APP/APLP ectodomains.
image
Earlier studies suggest a function of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) family proteins in neuronal adhesion. We report here that adhesive function of these proteins is tightly regulated by zinc, most prominently for amyloid precursor‐like protein 1 (APLP1). Zinc‐mediated APLP1 multimerization, which induced formation of new neuronal contacts and decreased APLP1 shedding. This suggests that APLP1 could function as a zinc receptor processing zinc signals to stabilized or new neuronal contacts.
Hyperpolarization‐activated cation and T‐type calcium ion channel expression in porcine and human renal pacemaker tissues
Authors: Hurtado Romulo , Smith Carl S. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractRenal pacemaker activity triggers peristaltic upper urinary tract contractions that propel waste from the kidney to the bladder, a process prone to congenital defects that are the leading cause of pediatric kidney failure. Recently, studies have discovered that hyperpolarization‐activated cation (HCN) and T‐type calcium (TTC) channel conductances underlie murine renal pacemaker activity, setting the origin and frequency and coordinating upper urinary tract peristalsis. Here, we determined whether this ion channel expression is conserved in the porcine and human urinary tracts, which share a distinct multicalyceal anatomy with multiple pacemaker sites. Double chromagenic immunohistochemistry revealed that HCN isoform 3 is highly expressed at the porcine minor calyces, the renal pacemaker tissues, whereas the kidney and urinary tract smooth muscle lacked this HCN expression. Immunofluorescent staining demonstrated that HCN+ cells are integrated within the porcine calyx smooth muscle, and that they co‐express TTC channel isoform Cav3.2. In humans, the anatomic structure of the minor calyx pacemaker was assayed via hematoxylin and eosin analyses, and enabled the visualization of the calyx smooth muscle surrounding adjacent papillae. Strikingly, immunofluorescence revealed that HCN3+/Cav3.2+ cells are also localized to the human minor calyx smooth muscle. Collectively, these data have elucidated a conserved molecular signature of HCN and TTC channel expression in porcine and human calyx pacemaker tissues. These findings provide evidence for the mechanisms that can drive renal pacemaker activity in the multi‐calyceal urinary tract, and potential causes of obstructive uropathies.
Temporal Doppler Effect and Future Orientation: Adaptive Function and Moderating Conditions
Authors: Gan Yiqun , Miao Miao , Zheng Lei , Liu Haihua 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to examine whether the temporal Doppler effect exists in different time intervals and whether certain individual and environmental factors act as moderators of the effect. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we examined the existence of the temporal Doppler effect and the moderating effect of future orientation among 139 university students (Study 1), and then the moderating conditions of the temporal Doppler effect using two independent samples of 143 and 147 university students (Studies 2 and 3). Results indicated that the temporal Doppler effect existed in all of our studies, and that future orientation moderated the temporal Doppler effect. Further, time interval perception mediated the relationship between future orientation and the motivation to cope at long time intervals. Finally, positive affect was found to enhance the temporal Doppler effect, whereas control deprivation did not influence the effect. The temporal Doppler effect is moderated by the personality trait of future orientation and by the situational variable of experimentally manipulated positive affect. We have identified personality and environmental processes that could enhance the temporal Doppler effect, which could be valuable in cases where attention to a future task is necessary.
Plasma Vasoprotective Eicosanoid Concentrations in Healthy Greyhounds and Non‐Greyhound Dogs
Authors: Martinez J.T. , Rogers L.K. , Kellogg C. , Iazbik M.C. , Couto C.G. , Pressler B.M. , Hoepf T.M. , Radin M.J. 
Published: January 2016

BackgroundHypertension and albuminuria often coexist in Greyhounds, suggesting generalized vascular dysfunction that could contribute to the development of a variety of diseases in this breed. Eicosanoid metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) mediate endothelial function, vascular reactivity, and proteinuria in humans and in rodent models.HypothesisThe eicosanoid profile of Greyhounds is shifted toward metabolites that promote vascular dysfunction, hypertension, and proteinuria.AnimalsHealthy Greyhounds (n = 20) and non‐Greyhound (n = 20) dogs that were consecutively enrolled in a blood donor program.MethodsProspective study. Plasma eicosanoid metabolites were assayed by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS) and compared to systolic blood pressure (SP) measurements and urine albumin concentration.ResultsIsomers of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) were higher in Greyhounds than non‐Greyhounds (median, range in pmol/mL: 5(S)HETE19.82, 8.55–32.95 versus 13.54, 4.33–26.27,P= .033; 8(S)HETE9.39, 3.28–19.84 versus 5.80, 2.25–17.66,P= .002; 9(S)HETE9.46, 2.43–13.79 versus 5.82, 1.50–17.16,P= .026; 12(S)HETE10.17, 3.81–40.06 versus 7.24, 2.9–16.16,P= .022). Dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (DHET) isomers also were higher in Greyhounds compared to non‐Greyhounds (mean ±SDin pmol/mL: 8,9DHET5.78 ± 2.13 versus 4.03 ± 1.36,P= .004; 11,12DHET11.98 ± 2.86 versus 8.90 ± 3.48,P= .004; 14,15DHET7.23 ± 2.19 versus 5.76 ± 1.87,P= .028). Albuminuria correlated with totalDHET(rs= 0.46,P= .003).SPwas positively correlated with 11,12EET(rs= 0.42,P= .006) and 20(S)HETE(rs= 0.38,P= .017).SPand 8,9EETwere inversely correlated (rs= −0.49,P= .001).Conclusions and Clinical ImportancePlasma eicosanoid profile in Greyhounds was consistent with activation of metabolic pathways known to promote vascular dysfunction and might contribute to higher blood pressures and albuminuria. Inhibition of these eicosanoid pathways should be evaluated as therapeutic targets in Greyhounds.
Supermajorities and Political Rent Extraction
Authors: Kauder Björn , Potrafke Niklas 
Published: January 2016

SummaryModels of political competition portray political candidates as seeking the support of the median voter to win elections by majority voting. In practice, political candidates seek supermajorities, rather than majorities based on support of the median voter. We study the political benefits of supermajorities using data from Bavaria, the largest German state. Members of the Bavarian parliament had been permitted to hire relatives as office employees, but in the year 2000 the practice was prohibited, with exceptions that allowed continuation of employment of previously hired relatives. The circumstances provide an informative setting to relate political behavior to protection of incumbency. Our results show that the likelihood of politicians hiring relatives increased with the margin of the majority for the incumbent in the previous election. When the majority increased by one percentage point, the likelihood of hiring relatives increased by about one percentage point. Supermajorities thus facilitated political rent extraction.
Simulating evolution of interindustry linkages in endogenous dynamic IO model with layers of techniques
Authors: Gurgul Henryk , Lach Łukasz 
Published: January 2016

AbstractIn this article, we propose a new version of dynamic input–output model in which both technological progress and deployment are endogenous, and where sector‐specific outlays on R&D speed up the development of new technologies and the installation of capital stock. In this two‐technology model, the new and old technical processes within a sector exchange their relative weights in production. We use the model to obtain projections of the interindustry linkages of sectors in the Polish economy over the next 50 years. The results of this simulation suggest an ongoing change of the composition of the set of key sectors of the Polish economy. In general, one may expect to see an ongoing drop in the importance of agriculture‐ and heavy‐industry‐related sectors on the one hand, and a rise in the importance of services‐related ones on the other.
Is an Increase in the Minimum Retirement Age Always Desirable? The Case of Notional Defined Contribution Systems
Authors: Magnani Riccardo 
Published: January 2016

AbstractSeveral countries have recently introduced reforms that aim to increase the neutrality of their pension system by introducing an incentives‐disincentives mechanism or by replacing their traditional defined‐benefit system with a Notional Defined Contribution method. This paper evaluates the financial effects of an increase in the minimum retirement age in countries where a Notional Defined Contribution system exists. We show that such a reform produces a positive effect on the financial situation of the pension system (by generating surpluses or by reducing deficits) in the short and in the medium run, but it becomes completely ineffective in the long run. This result implies that in countries where the pension system is sufficiently neutral such a reform is not appropriate to solve the problem of population ageing which is a long‐run problem.
Antifungal mechanisms of a plant defensin MtDef4 are not conserved between the ascomycete fungi Neurospora crassa and Fusarium graminearum
Authors: El‐Mounadi Kaoutar , Islam Kazi T. , Hernández‐Ortiz Patricia , Read Nick D. , Shah Dilip M. 
Published: January 2016

SummaryDefensins play an important role in plant defense against fungal pathogens. The plant defensin, MtDef4, inhibits growth of the ascomycete fungi, Neurospora crassa and Fusarium graminearum, at micromolar concentrations. We have reported that MtDef4 is transported into the cytoplasm of these fungi and exerts its antifungal activity on intracellular targets. Here, we have investigated whether the antifungal mechanisms of MtDef4 are conserved in these fungi. We show that N. crassa and F. graminearum respond differently to MtDef4 challenge. Membrane permeabilization is required for the antifungal activity of MtDef4 against F. graminearum but not against N. crassa. We find that MtDef4 is targeted to different subcellular compartments in each fungus. Internalization of MtDef4 in N. crassa is energy‐dependent and involves endocytosis. By contrast, MtDef4 appears to translocate into F. graminearum autonomously using a partially energy‐dependent pathway. MtDef4 has been shown to bind to the phospholipid phosphatidic acid (PA). We provide evidence that the plasma membrane localized phospholipase D, involved in the biosynthesis of PA, is needed for entry of this defensin in N. crassa, but not in F. graminearum. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a defensin which inhibits the growth of two ascomycete fungi via different mechanisms.
Search for the missing lncs: gene regulatory networks in neural crest development and long non‐coding RNA biomarkers of Hirschsprung's disease
Authors: Rogers J. M. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractHirschsprung's disease (HSCR), a birth defect characterized by variable aganglionosis of the gut, affects about 1 in 5000 births and is a consequence of abnormal development of neural crest cells, from which enteric ganglia derive. In the companion article in this issue (Shen et al., Neurogasterenterol Motil 28: 266–73), the authors search for long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) differentially expressed in bowel tissues of infants with HSCR. Microarray analysis of over 37 000 lncRNAs and 34 000 mRNAs was done. The key result was identification of a set of 5 lncRNAs that is a potential diagnostic biomarker of HSCR. In this minireview, I provide an overview of neural crest development and the gene regulatory networks involved in specification, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and migration of neural crest cells. Genes involved in later development, proliferation, and differentiation of neural crest cells as they migrate into the gut are also reviewed. Many of these genes are associated with HSCR, including RET, GDNF, GFRα, EDN3, and EDNRB. LncRNAs and their roles in development and disease and their use as biomarkers are discussed. The authors of the companion article previously used a multipronged approach to elucidate the etiology of HSCR by examining the effects of specific miRNAs or lncRNAs and target genes on cell migration, proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis in vitro. These studies are discussed in terms of their elegance and limitations. The companion article identifies many new lncRNAs that, in addition to providing potential biomarkers of HSCR, may be a treasure trove for future investigations.