bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Forest restoration as a double‐edged sword: the conflict between biodiversity conservation and pest control
Authors: Kärvemo Simon , Björkman Christer , Johansson Therese , Weslien Jan , Hjältén Joakim 
Published: April 2017

Summary

Forestry has markedly changed a large proportion of the world's boreal forests, often with negative effects on biodiversity. As a result, forest restoration is increasingly implemented to counteract the negative effects. However, restoration measures aimed at mimicking natural disturbance regimes could simultaneously increase the risk of unwanted negative effects, such as damage by forest pest species. This study compares the effect of two restoration methods (prescribed burning and gap‐cutting), on both biodiversity conservation and pest control, to provide a basis for solutions to this potential conflict.

Bark beetles are ideal for studying this conflict, as this group is both species‐rich and contains notorious pest species. We conducted a unique, large‐scale field experiment in which we compared the effect of two different restoration methods on the abundance, species richness and assemblage composition of bark beetles. In addition, we estimated uncontrolled tree mortality by the number of trees that died post‐restoration.

Beetles were divided in two groups, primary and secondary, the former with an ability to kill growing trees. Bark beetle diversity did not differ between treatment groups prior to restoration. However, after restoration, assemblage composition and primary bark beetle abundance differed between the treatments. Furthermore, species richness was higher in burned and gap‐cut stands compared to reference stands.

The number of trees that died post‐restoration was highest on burned sites, whereas no difference was found between gap‐cut and reference stands. The number of dead trees was correlated with the number of primary beetles.

Synthesis and applications. We demonstrate the potential for a conflict between forest restoration for biodiversity conservation and the potential risk for tree mortality caused by forest pests. This is likely to become a problem in many boreal forests; however, our results suggest that this conflict can be moderated by the choice of restoration method. The restoration method gap‐cutting had a similar positive impact on bark beetle species richness as compared to the burning method, but did not as burning, increase tree mortality. Thus, in areas where there is an apparent risk for pest outbreaks, our data suggest that gap‐cutting should be the chosen method to avoid an unwanted increase in tree mortality at the stand level.
NDUFA4L2 protects against ischaemia/reperfusion‐induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction by inhibiting complex I
Authors: Li Jianhua , Bai Caiyan , Guo Junxia , Liang Wanqian , Long Jingning 
Published: April 2017

SummaryMyocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury may cause the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes as well as mitochondrial dysfunction. The aims of the present study were to investigate whether NADH dehydrogenase 1 alpha subcomplex subunit 4‐like 2 (NDUFA4L2) on myocardial ischaemia‐reperfusion (I/R) injury and the underlying molecular mechanism. The hypoxia‐reperfusion (H/R) model was established in vitro using H9c2 cells to simulate I/R injury. NDUFA4L2 and complex I expression levels were detected using RT‐PCR and western blot. The apoptosis of H9c2 cells was evaluated by flow cytometry and the expression of Bax and Bcl‐2 was detected by western blot. The mitochondrial function was assessed by ATP concentration, mPTP opening and cytochrome c (cyto C) expression. Our data indicated that NDUFA4L2 expression was significantly down‐regulated in myocardial H/R injury. Overexpression of NDUFA4L2 led to a dramatic prevention of H/R‐induced apoptosis accompanied by a decrease in the expression of Bax and an increase in the expression of Bcl‐2. Meanwhile, augmentation of NDUFA4L2 dramatically prevented mitochondrial dysfunction caused by H/R as reflecting in the increased ATP concentration, delayed mPTP opening, as well as down‐regulated cyto C expression. Moreover, complex I activation was heightened and negatively regulated by NDUFA4L2. Silencing complex I conspicuously attenuated cell apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that NDUFA4L2 protects against H/R injury by preventing myocardium apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction via the complex I, and may be a potential therapeutic approach for attenuating myocardial I/R injury.
Anti‐inflammatory and retinal protective effects of capsaicin on ischaemia‐induced injuries through the release of endogenous somatostatin
Authors: Wang Jun , Tian Wenke , Wang Shuaiwei , Wei Wenqiang , Wu Dongdong , Wang Honggang , Wang Li , Yang Ruisheng , Ji Ailing , Li Yanzhang 
Published: April 2017

SummaryThe mechanisms regarding the retinal protective and anti‐inflammatory effects of capsaicin (CAP) remain unclear. Somatostatin is contained in CAP‐sensitive sensory neurons, including nerve terminals, from which it can be released by capsaicin. The present study provides a novel neurohumoral regulatory mechanism for CAP‐induced‐endogenous somatostatin in a retinal ischaemia‐reperfusion (I/R) mouse model. CAP (0.5 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously 5 minutes after I/R. A selective somatostatin‐depleting agent, cysteamine, was applied subcutaneously 4 hours before the experiment to examine the effects of endogenous somatostatin. Ischaemia and oxidative stress‐induced inflammatory factors (CXCL10, CXCR3 and NF‐κB p65) were also examined in the present study. The morphometric evaluation showed that the retinal thickness was increased 24 hours after I/R injury and attenuated 7 days after I/R injury. The number of ganglion cells was reduced 7 days after I/R injury. The application of CAP significantly prevented retinal I/R damage. Cysteamine pretreatment reversed the effects of CAP. Inhibition of CXCL10/CXCR3 and NF‐κB (especially in astrocytes and microglia/macrophage) was involved in capsaicin‐induced retinal protection through endogenous somatostatin. CAP has anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in ischaemia‐induced retinal injuries through endogenous somatostatin. Novel therapeutic remedies for inflammation or neuronal injuries were developed based on the systemic humoral effects related to CAP.
DNA metabarcoding of unfractionated water samples relates phyto‐, zoo‐ and bacterioplankton dynamics and reveals a single‐taxon bacterial bloom
Authors: Wurzbacher Christian , Attermeyer Katrin , Kettner Marie Therese , Flintrop Clara , Warthmann Norman , Hilt Sabine , Grossart Hans‐Peter , Monaghan Michael T. 
Published: April 2017

SummaryMost studies of aquatic plankton focus on either macroscopic or microbial communities, and on either eukaryotes or prokaryotes. This separation is primarily for methodological reasons, but can overlook potential interactions among groups. Here we tested whether DNA metabarcoding of unfractionated water samples with universal primers could be used to qualitatively and quantitatively study the temporal dynamics of the total plankton community in a shallow temperate lake. Significant changes in the relative proportions of normalized sequence reads of eukaryotic and prokaryotic plankton communities over a 3‐month period in spring were found. Patterns followed the same trend as plankton estimates measured using traditional microscopic methods. The bloom of a conditionally rare bacterial taxon belonging to Arcicella was characterized, which rapidly came to dominate the whole lake ecosystem and would have remained unnoticed without metabarcoding. The data demonstrate the potential of universal DNA metabarcoding applied to unfractionated samples for providing a more holistic view of plankton communities.
rptR: repeatability estimation and variance decomposition by generalized linear mixed‐effects models
Authors: Stoffel Martin A. , Nakagawa Shinichi , Schielzeth Holger 
Published: April 2017

Summary

Intra‐class correlations (ICC) and repeatabilities (R) are fundamental statistics for quantifying the reproducibility of measurements and for understanding the structure of biological variation. Linear mixed effects models offer a versatile framework for estimating ICC and R. However, while point estimation and significance testing by likelihood ratio tests is straightforward, the quantification of uncertainty is not as easily achieved.

A further complication arises when the analysis is conducted on data with non‐Gaussian distributions because the separation of the mean and the variance is less clear‐cut for non‐Gaussian than for Gaussian models. Nonetheless, there are solutions to approximate repeatability for the most widely used families of generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs).

Here, we introduce the R package rptR for the estimation of ICC and R for Gaussian, binomial and Poisson‐distributed data. Uncertainty in estimators is quantified by parametric bootstrapping and significance testing is implemented by likelihood ratio tests and through permutation of residuals. The package allows control for fixed effects and thus the estimation of adjusted repeatabilities (that remove fixed effect variance from the estimate) and enhanced agreement repeatabilities (that add fixed effect variance to the denominator). Furthermore, repeatability can be estimated from random‐slope models. The package features convenient summary and plotting functions.

Besides repeatabilities, the package also allows the quantification of coefficients of determination R2 as well as of raw variance components. We present an example analysis to demonstrate the core features and discuss some of the limitations of rptR.
Pooled analysis of three randomized, double‐blind, placebo controlled trials with rimonabant for smoking cessation
Authors: Robinson Jason D. , Cinciripini Paul M. , Karam‐Hage Maher , Aubin Henri‐Jean , Dale Lowell C. , Niaura Raymond , Anthenelli Robert M. ,   the STRATUS Group
Published: April 2017

AbstractDespite the withdrawal of CB1 antagonists, such as rimonabant, from the market and from active clinical development because of concerns about their side effect profiles, research suggests that the endocannabinoid system may play an important role in modulating nicotine's effects. We report the combined results, using a pooled analysis, of three previously unpublished trials assessing rimonabant as a smoking cessation pharmacotherapy conducted between 2002 and 2004. Smokers (n = 2097) motivated to quit were enrolled in three randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trials, STRATUS EU, US, and META, which consisted of a 10‐week treatment period with either rimonabant 20 mg (n = 789), 5 mg (n = 518; used in only two of the three studies), or placebo (n = 790), in conjunction with brief counseling. The impact of drug on prolonged abstinence and adverse events was examined at 8 weeks (end‐of‐treatment) and at 48 weeks (available for STRATUS EU and US) after the targeted quit date. Rimonabant 20 mg resulted in significantly higher abstinence at end‐of‐treatment and at 48 weeks post‐targeted quit date compared with placebo, while rimonabant 5 mg and placebo did not differ. Serious AEs did not differ by drug group. The 20 mg rimonabant dose, compared with placebo, produced increased nausea, diarrhea, anxiety symptoms, hyporexia, and vomiting, and decreased headache, constipation, and cough. These results support rimonabant 20 mg as a modestly effective aid for smoking cessation. Although work on CB1 antagonists such as rimonabant has mostly been stopped because of unacceptable adverse events, these results may inform and spur the development of other endocannabinoids for smoking cessation.
Intravenous self‐administration of benzydamine, a non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug with a central cannabinoidergic mechanism of action
Authors: Avvisati Riccardo , Meringolo Maria , Stendardo Emiliana , Malavasi Elisa , Marinelli Silvia , Badiani Aldo 
Published: April 2017

AbstractBenzydamine (BZY) is a non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug used for the topical treatment of inflammations of the oral and vaginal mucosae. Virtually nothing is known about the central pharmacological actions of BZY. Yet there are reports of voluntary systemic overdosage of BZY in drug addicts, resulting in a euphoric, hallucinatory state. In the present study, we investigated the reinforcing properties of BZY in a rat self‐administration paradigm. We found that BZY has a powerful reinforcing effect and that this effect is greatly facilitated in animals that already had substance experience, having previously self‐administered heroin and cocaine, indicating cross sensitization between BZY and other common drugs of abuse. We then assessed the effect of BZY on prelimbic cortex‐to‐nucleus accumbens glutamatergic transmission, using field recordings in rat parasagittal brain slices. BZY dose‐dependently reduced both field excitatory post synaptic potential amplitude and paired pulse ratio, suggesting a presynaptic mechanism of action. Similarly to the in vivo paradigm, also the electrophysiological effects of BZY were potentiated in slices from animals that had undergone cocaine and heroin self‐administration. Furthermore, BZY‐induced Long Term Depression (LTD)‐like responses in the prelimbic cortex‐to‐nucleus accumbens circuitry were significantly reduced in the presence of the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251. These findings provide firm evidence of the abuse liability of BZY and suggest a possible cannabinoidergic mechanism of action. Further research is needed in order to give insights into the molecular mechanism underlying BZY psychoactive and reinforcing effects, to better understand its abuse potential.
Pursuing the second ipsilateral gland during minimally invasive video‐assisted parathyroidectomy
Authors: Bendinelli Cino , Gray Andrew , Suradi Hassan , Weber Dieter G. , Acharya Shamasunder , Price Anna , McGrath Shaun 
Published: April 2017

BackgroundIn patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and preoperative imaging suggesting a solitary parathyroid adenoma (SPA), focused parathyroidectomy is most often curative. Even so, large studies show up to 3% of patients experience persistent or recurrent PHPT. Unilateral neck exploration (UNE) aiming to identify the SPA and the other ipsilateral parathyroid may reduce this failure rate. We hypothesized that: (i) minimally invasive video‐assisted (MIVA) approach would facilitate UNE and (ii) this would be a clinically relevant strategy.MethodsProspective case series of a consecutive cohort of PHPT patients (with preoperative diagnosis of SPA), who underwent MIVA‐UNE. A 15 mm collar incision and endoscopic magnification were utilized to both excise the SPA and seek the ipsilateral parathyroid gland.ResultsFrom 2009 to 2014, 132 patients were offered MIVA‐UNE (age: 63.0 (interquartile range: 11.2); females: 94 (71.2%); symptomatic: 89 (67.4%); mean serum corrected calcium: 2.7 (standard deviation: 0.9) mmol/L; mean serum parathyroid hormone: 16.8 (standard deviation: 11.8) pmol/L). Conversion from MIVA‐UNE to open UNE was required in 14 (10.6%) patients (excluded from subsequent analysis). MIVA‐UNE was concluded in 118 patients. The second ipsilateral parathyroid was identified in 62 (52.5%) patients and in 13 (11.0%) it appeared enlarged and was excised. Histopathology confirmed five (4.2%) of these glands to be hyperplastic.Conclusion
MIVA‐UNE allows identification of the second ipsilateral parathyroid in about half the patients. This approach helped to diagnose and treat unexpected multigland disease in almost 5% of patients.
Race and the Pitfalls of Emotional Democracy: Primary Schools and the Critique of Black Pete in the Netherlands
Authors: Coenders Yannick , Chauvin Sébastien 
Published: April 2017

AbstractA centrepiece of the Dutch festival of Sinterklaas, the blackface character Black Pete, has met with growing contestation in the past decade over its caricatural representation of people of African descent. Attacks on this national “happy object” elicited a host of majority responses that converged in professing non‐racism. As the celebration is primarily thought of as a children's festival, schools across the Netherlands had to decide whether to maintain, alter or suppress the Black Pete character. This article considers the spatial politics of race that informed school decisions about the festival. We show geographical variation in the distribution between change and non‐change. However, we find that both strategies were justified in the name of respect for “black feelings”, even as majority calls for mutual tolerance between proponents and opponents of Black Pete normatively portrayed multicultural society as conflict free and ultimately strove to disarm anti‐racist critique by framing it as anti‐democratic.
FROM DISTANT NEIGHBOURS TO BEDMATES: EXPLORING THE SYNERGIES BETWEEN THE SOCIAL ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Authors: HUDON Marek , HUYBRECHTS Benjamin 
Published: April 2017

ABSTRACTTo introduce this special issue we explore the conceptual and practical synergies between the social economy and sustainable development. New empirical evidence is presented on the emergence of these two research fields and the increasing combination of these fields in the literature. Several avenues through which social enterprises can contribute to the transition towards sustainable development are then identified. This is followed by a discussion of how and why the combination can be particularly fruitful both for the social economy and for sustainability transition movements. We also highlight some important challenges facing the social economy with regard to its contribution to sustainable development. Finally we introduce the papers that constitute this special issue and show how they contribute, individually and collectively, to a better understanding of the increasing linkage between the social economy and sustainable development.
Body weight, gender and pregnancy affect enantiomer‐specific ketorolac pharmacokinetics
Authors: Välitalo Pyry A. , Kemppainen Heidi , Kulo Aida , Smits Anne , van Calsteren Kristel , Olkkola Klaus T. , de Hoon Jan , Knibbe Catherijne A. J. , Allegaert Karel 
Published: April 2017

AimsAlthough ketorolac analgesia is linked only to the S‐enantiomer, there is limited information on the stereo‐selective pharmacokinetics of this agent. We studied the stereo‐selective pharmacokinetics of ketorolac in a pooled dataset of two studies, with women at delivery and 4–5 months postpartum, and males and nonpregnant females.MethodsNonlinear mixed‐effect modelling was used to evaluate the stereo‐selective pharmacokinetics of ketorolac tromethamine after a single intravenous injection immediately after delivery (n = 41), 4–5 months postpartum (n = 8, paired), and in male (n = 12) and nonpregnant female (n = 14) subjects. All of the males and six of the nonpregnant females were recruited from another study, in which they were undergoing blood sampling for 24 h. All remaining cases underwent blood sampling for 8 h.ResultsFor both the R‐ and S‐enantiomers, body weight affected ketorolac clearance. In addition, clearance for both enantiomers was 36% [95% confidence interval (CI) 15%, 58%] higher in male than in female subjects of the same body weight, and 55% (95% CI 33%, 78%) higher in women at delivery than in nonpregnant women of the same body weight. Women at delivery also had a 27% (95% CI 8%, 46%) higher distribution volume than nonpregnant women. The proportional effects of the covariates were not significantly different for the two ketorolac enantiomers.ConclusionsBesides the anticipated impact of body weight on clearance, R‐ and S‐ketorolac clearance is increased in male subjects and in women at delivery. To reach an exposure equivalent to that in nonpregnant women, males should receive a 36% increased ketorolac dose and pregnant women a 55% increased dose, in addition to a dose adjustment by body weight.
Influence of leaf trichomes on boundary layer conductance and gas‐exchange characteristics in Metrosideros polymorpha (Myrtaceae)
Authors: Amada Gaku , Onoda Yusuke , Ichie Tomoaki , Kitayama Kanehiro 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe amount of trichomes on the leaves of Metrosideros polymorpha varies enormously, ranging from 0 to ca 150 g/m2 across environmental gradients on the island of Hawaii. Pubescent individuals are abundant in dry areas or on young lava flows, whereas glabrous individuals are abundant in wet areas or on developed soils. To understand the adaptive advantages of pubescent individuals in arid environments, we addressed the following questions: (1) whether leaf trichomes increase the boundary layer resistance to gas diffusion, which in turn reduces the transpiration rate and increases water‐use efficiency (WUE); and (2) whether pubescent individuals have other associated leaf and shoot traits that have adaptive significance in arid environments. We made detailed ecophysiological measurements on M. polymorpha in three populations in habitats that varied in aridity. We found a large allocation of leaf mass to trichomes, up to 33 percent at the arid site, but our analyses showed that trichomes had small effects (1–9%) on gas exchange and negligible effects on WUE, suggesting the trichomes may have roles beyond increasing WUE. However, pubescent individuals did have higher Rubisco amount and a lower leaf‐to‐ sapwood area ratio, which are considered adaptive in arid environments. These results suggest that pubescent individuals of M. polymorpha are indeed adapted to arid environments with changes in a suite of traits. The adaptive significance of the enormous variation in amounts of trichomes remains unclear and may be related to functions other than increasing boundary layer resistance.
The contribution of epiphyton to the primary production of tropical floodplain wetlands
Authors: Adame Maria F. , Pettit Neil E. , Valdez Dominic , Ward Doug , Burford Michele A. , Bunn Stuart E. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractTropical floodplains are one of the most productive ecosystems on earth. Studies on floodplain productivity have primarily focused on trees and macrophytes, rather than algae, due to their greater biomass. However, epiphyton—algae and bacteria attached to the submerged portion of aquatic macrophytes—is a major source of energy in many tropical floodplains. Epiphyton productivity rates are unknown for most tropical floodplain wetlands, and spatial variability is not well understood. In this study, we measured primary productivity of epiphyton in Kakadu National Park in northern Australia. We estimated the relative contribution of epiphyton to aquatic production (epiphyton, + phytoplankton + macrophytes). We sampled sites dominated by different macrophyte structural types: vertical emerging grasses, horizontal emerging grasses, submerged macrophytes, and macrophytes with floating leaves. Epiphyton productivity was highly influenced by the structural type of the macrophyte. Highest potential productivity per weight was measured from epiphyton growing on macrophytes with floating leaves and horizontal grasses (1.52 ± 0.53 and 1.82 ± 0.61 mgC/dw g epiphyton/h, respectively) and lowest in submerged macrophytes and vertical grasses (0.57 ± 0.26 and 0.66 ± 0.47 mgC/dw g epiphyton/h, respectively). When considering the areal biomass of the macrophyte and the amount of epiphyton attached, epiphyton on horizontal grasses and submerged macrophytes had productivity values approximately ten times higher (45–219 mgC/m2/d) compared to those on vertical grasses and macrophytes with floating leaves (2–18 mgC/m2/d). Epiphyton contributed between 2 to 13 percent to the aquatic production of these tropical floodplain wetlands.