bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Food web structure shaped by habitat size and climate across a latitudinal gradient
Authors: Romero Gustavo Q. , Piccoli Gustavo C. O. , de Omena Paula M. , Gonçalves‐Souza Thiago 
Published: June 2016

AbstractHabitat size and climate are known to affect the trophic structure and dynamics of communities, but their interactive effects are poorly understood. Organisms from different trophic levels vary in terms of metabolic requirements and heat dissipation. Indeed, larger species such as keystone predators require more stable climatic conditions than their prey. Likewise, habitat size disproportionally affects large‐sized predators, which require larger home ranges and are thus restricted to larger habitats. Therefore, food web structure in patchy ecosystems is expected to be shaped by habitat size and climate variations. Here we investigate this prediction using natural aquatic microcosm (bromeliad phytotelmata) food webs composed of litter resources (mainly detritus), detritivores, mesopredators, and top predators (damselflies). We surveyed 240 bromeliads of varying sizes (water retention capacity) across 12 open restingas in SE Brazil spread across a wide range of tropical latitudes (−12.6° to −27.6°, ca. 2,000 km) and climates (Δ mean annual temperature = 5.3°C). We found a strong increase in predator‐to‐detritivore mass ratio with habitat size, which was representative of a typical inverted trophic pyramid in larger ecosystems. However, this relationship was contingent among the restingas; slopes of linear models were steeper in more stable and favorable climates, leading to inverted trophic pyramids (and top‐down control) being more pronounced in environments with more favorable climatic conditions. By contrast, detritivore‐resource and mesopredator‐detritivore mass ratios were not affected by habitat size or climate variations across latitudes. Our results highlight that the combined effects of habitat size, climate and predator composition are pivotal to understanding the impacts of multiple environmental factors on food web structure and dynamics.
Why do trees die? Characterizing the drivers of background tree mortality
Authors: Das Adrian J. , Stephenson Nathan L. , Davis Kristin P. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe drivers of background tree mortality rates—the typical low rates of tree mortality found in forests in the absence of acute stresses like drought—are central to our understanding of forest dynamics, the effects of ongoing environmental changes on forests, and the causes and consequences of geographical gradients in the nature and strength of biotic interactions. To shed light on factors contributing to background tree mortality, we analyzed detailed pathological data from 200,668 tree‐years of observation and 3,729 individual tree deaths, recorded over a 13‐yr period in a network of old‐growth forest plots in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range. We found that: (1) Biotic mortality factors (mostly insects and pathogens) dominated (58%), particularly in larger trees (86%). Bark beetles were the most prevalent (40%), even though there were no outbreaks during the study period; in contrast, the contribution of defoliators was negligible. (2) Relative occurrences of broad classes of mortality factors (biotic, 58%; suppression, 51%; and mechanical, 25%) are similar among tree taxa, but may vary with tree size and growth rate. (3) We found little evidence of distinct groups of mortality factors that predictably occur together on trees. Our results have at least three sets of implications. First, rather than being driven by abiotic factors such as lightning or windstorms, the “ambient” or “random” background mortality that many forest models presume to be independent of tree growth rate is instead dominated by biotic agents of tree mortality, with potentially critical implications for forecasting future mortality. Mechanistic models of background mortality, even for healthy, rapidly growing trees, must therefore include the insects and pathogens that kill trees. Second, the biotic agents of tree mortality, instead of occurring in a few predictable combinations, may generally act opportunistically and with a relatively large degree of independence from one another. Finally, beyond the current emphasis on folivory and leaf defenses, studies of broad‐scale gradients in the nature and strength of biotic interactions should also include biotic attacks on, and defenses of, tree stems and roots.
The importance of biodiversity and dominance for multiple ecosystem functions in a human‐modified tropical landscape
Authors: Lohbeck Madelon , Bongers Frans , Martinez‐Ramos Miguel , Poorter Lourens 
Published: June 2016

AbstractMany studies suggest that biodiversity may be particularly important for ecosystem multifunctionality, because different species with different traits can contribute to different functions. Support, however, comes mostly from experimental studies conducted at small spatial scales in low‐diversity systems. Here, we test whether different species contribute to different ecosystem functions that are important for carbon cycling in a high‐diversity human‐modified tropical forest landscape in Southern Mexico. We quantified aboveground standing biomass, primary productivity, litter production, and wood decomposition at the landscape level, and evaluated the extent to which tree species contribute to these ecosystem functions. We used simulations to tease apart the effects of species richness, species dominance and species functional traits on ecosystem functions. We found that dominance was more important than species traits in determining a species’ contribution to ecosystem functions. As a consequence of the high dominance in human‐modified landscapes, the same small subset of species mattered across different functions. In human‐modified landscapes in the tropics, biodiversity may play a limited role for ecosystem multifunctionality due to the potentially large effect of species dominance on biogeochemical functions. However, given the spatial and temporal turnover in species dominance, biodiversity may be critically important for the maintenance and resilience of ecosystem functions.
Altered Integration of Structural Covariance Networks in Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Hosseini S.M. Hadi , Mazaika Paul , Mauras Nelly , Buckingham Bruce , Weinzimer Stuart A. , Tsalikian Eva , White Neil H. , Reiss Allan L. ,   for the Diabetes Research in Children Network (DirecNet)
Published: June 2016

AbstractType 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), one of the most frequent chronic diseases in children, is associated with glucose dysregulation that contributes to an increased risk for neurocognitive deficits. While there is a bulk of evidence regarding neurocognitive deficits in adults with T1D, little is known about how early‐onset T1D affects neural networks in young children. Recent data demonstrated widespread alterations in regional gray matter and white matter associated with T1D in young children. These widespread neuroanatomical changes might impact the organization of large‐scale brain networks. In the present study, we applied graph‐theoretical analysis to test whether the organization of structural covariance networks in the brain for a cohort of young children with T1D (N = 141) is altered compared to healthy controls (HC; N = 69). While the networks in both groups followed a small world organization—an architecture that is simultaneously highly segregated and integrated—the T1D network showed significantly longer path length compared with HC, suggesting reduced global integration of brain networks in young children with T1D. In addition, network robustness analysis revealed that the T1D network model showed more vulnerability to neural insult compared with HC. These results suggest that early‐onset T1D negatively impacts the global organization of structural covariance networks and influences the trajectory of brain development in childhood. This is the first study to examine structural covariance networks in young children with T1D. Improving glycemic control for young children with T1D might help prevent alterations in brain networks in this population. Hum Brain Mapp 37:4034–4046, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial and noxious gas emission in weaning pigs
Authors: Lan Ruixia , Koo Jinmo , Kim Inho 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDAntibiotics used as growth promoters in livestock have been banned in the European Union since 2006. Antibiotics alternatives have focused on probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus. The concentration of L. acidophilus is considered crucial for obtaining the desired effects. However, limited studies have been conducted to test the dose‐dependent effects of L. acidophilus. Therefore, the present study aimed to test the dose‐dependent effects of L. acidophilus on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial flora and fecal noxious gas emission in weaning pigs.RESULTSLactobacillus acidophilus supplementation increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain, average daily feed intake, apparent nutrient digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen and gross energy, and Lactobacillus counts compared to the basal diet treatment, and a linear effect (P < 0.05) was observed on those criteria. Escherichia coli counts and NH3 emission were decreased (P < 0.05) by L. acidophilus supplementation, and a linear effect (P < 0.05) was observed on E. coli counts.CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that L. acidophilus could be used as an antibiotic alternative by improving growth performance, nutrient digestibility and gut balance (i.e. increased Lactobacillus counts and decreased E. coli counts), and decreasing NH3 emission, of weaning pigs. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Qualitative characteristics and comparison of volatile fraction of vodkas made from different botanical materials by comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography and the electronic nose based on the technology of ultra‐fast gas chromatography
Authors: Wiśniewska Paulina , Śliwińska Magdalena , Dymerski Tomasz , Wardencki Waldemar , Namieśnik Jacek 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDVodka is a spirit‐based beverage made from ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin. At present, increasingly more vodka brands have labels that specify the botanical origin of the product. Until now, the techniques for distinguishing between vodkas of different botanical origin have been costly, time‐consuming and insufficient for making a distinction between vodka produced from similar raw materials. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to find a fast and relatively inexpensive technique for conducting such tests.RESULTSIn the present study, we employed comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) and an electronic nose based on the technology of ultra‐fast GC with chemometric methods such as partial least square discriminant analysis, discriminant function analysis and soft independent modeling of class analogy.CONCLUSIONBoth techniques allow a distinction between the vodkas produced from different raw materials. In the case of GC×GC, the differences between vodkas were more noticeable than in the analysis by electronic nose; however, the electronic nose allowed the significantly faster analysis of vodkas. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of probiotic supplementation in different nutrient density diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, fecal microflora and noxious gas emission in weaning pig
Authors: Lan Ruixia , Tran Hoainam , Kim Inho 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDProbiotics can serve as alternatives to antibiotics to increase the performance of weaning pigs, and the intake of probiotics is affected by dietary nutrient density. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a probiotic complex in different nutrient density diets on growth performance, digestibility, blood profiles, fecal microflora and noxious gas emission in weaning pigs.RESULTSFrom day 22 to day 42, both high‐nutrient‐density and probiotic complex supplementation diets increased (P < 0.05) the average daily gain. On day 42, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter, nitrogen and gross energy (GE), blood urea nitrogen concentration and NH3 and H2S emissions were increased (P < 0.05) in pigs fed high‐nutrient‐density diets. Pigs fed probiotic complex supplementation diets had higher (P < 0.05) ATTD of GE than pigs fed non‐supplemented diets. Fecal Lactobacillus counts were increased whereas Escherichia coli counts and NH3 and H2S emissions were decreased (P < 0.05) in pigs fed probiotic complex supplementation diets. Interactive effects on average daily feed intake (ADFI) were observed from day 22 to day 42 and overall, where probiotic complex improved ADFI more dramatically in low‐nutrient‐density diets.CONCLUSIONThe beneficial effects of probiotic complex (Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium butyricum) supplementation on ADFI is more dramatic with low‐nutrient‐density diets. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Depressive Symptoms are Frequent in Atypical Parkinsonian Disorders
Authors: Almeida Leonardo , Ahmed Bilal , Walz Roger , De Jesus Sol , Patterson Addie , Martinez‐Ramirez Daniel , Vaillancourt David , Bowers Dawn , Ward Herbert , Okun Michael S. , McFarland Nikolaus R. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe objective of this study was to compare the incidence and prevalence of depressive symptoms in atypical parkinsonian (APD) syndromes versus Parkinson disease (PD).MethodsIn a large, retrospective patient cohort, the authors analyzed the incidence and prevalence of depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory and evaluated patients longitudinally on subsequent visits. For individuals who were followed at subsequent visits, incidence rates were calculated in person‐years as a measure of incidence.ResultsIn total, 361 patients were identified who had APD syndromes, including progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, multiple system atrophy, and dementia with Lewy bodies; and 2352 patients with PD were used as a control group. The mean Beck Depression Inventory values were significantly higher in patients with APD (F = 14.19; P < 0.001). A significantly higher proportion of those with APD screened positive for depressive symptoms both at the initial visit and on subsequent visits (P < 0.001), and depressive symptoms appeared to be more severe in the APD subgroups. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor scores and disease duration were correlated with depressive symptoms.ConclusionsThe current results suggest that the incidence and prevalence of depressive symptoms are higher in patients with APD syndromes and also appear to be more severe than those in patients with PD. Depressive symptoms in APD are common and affect patients regardless of disease duration or motor severity.
A Comparative Docking Strategy to Identify Polyphenolic Derivatives as Promising Antineoplastic Binders of G‐quadruplex DNA c‐myc and bcl‐2 Sequences
Authors: Costa Giosuè , Rocca Roberta , Moraca Federica , Talarico Carmine , Romeo Isabella , Ortuso Francesco , Alcaro Stefano , Artese Anna 
Published: June 2016

AbstractPolyphenols are compounds ubiquitously expressed in plants and used for their multiple healthy effects in humans as anti‐inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer and immunomodulatory agents. Due to their ability to modulate the activity of multiple targets involved in carcinogenesis, polyphenols can be employed to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Several studies reported their high affinity to different G‐quadruplex DNA structures, including the oncogene promoters c‐myc and bcl‐2. In this work we applied a structure‐based virtual screening approach in order to screen a database of polyphenolic derivatives and human metabolites against both c‐myc and bcl‐2 DNA G‐quadruplex structures. A Delphinidine derivative was identified as the best “dual” candidate and, after molecular dynamics simulations, resulted able to well stabilize both receptors.
Urolithin A suppresses the proliferation of endometrial cancer cells by mediating estrogen receptor‐α‐dependent gene expression
Authors: Zhang Wei , Chen Jo‐Hsin , Aguilera‐Barrantes Irene , Shiau Chung‐Wai , Sheng Xiugui , Wang Li‐Shu , Stoner Gary D. , Huang Yi‐Wen 
Published: June 2016

ScopeObese and overweight women are at high risk of developing endometrial cancer; indeed, many of endometrial cancer patients are obese. The increased number and size of adipocytes due to obesity elevate levels of circulating estrogens that stimulate cell proliferation in the endometrium. However, black raspberries are a promising approach to preventing endometrial cancer.Methods and resultsWe examined 17 black raspberry constituents and metabolites (10 μM or 10 μg/mL, 48 h) for their ability to prevent endometrial cancer cells from proliferating. Urolithin A (UA) was most able to suppress proliferation in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner (p < 0.05). It arrested the G2/M phase of the cell cycle by upregulating cyclin‐B1, cyclin‐E2, p21, phospho‐cdc2, and CDC25B. UA also acted as an estrogen agonist by modulating estrogen receptor‐α (ERα) dependent gene expression in ER‐positive endometrial cancer cells. UA enhanced the expression of ERβ, PGR, pS2, GREB1 while inhibiting the expression of ERα and GRIP1. Coincubating UA‐treated cells with the estrogen antagonist ICI182,780 abolished UA's estrogenic effects. Knocking down ERα suppressed PGR, pS2, and GREB gene expression but increased GRIP1 expression. Thus, UA's actions appear to be mediated through ERα.ConclusionThis study suggests that UA modulates ERα‐dependent gene expression, thereby inhibiting endometrial cancer proliferation.
Thermosensitive and photocleavable polyaspartamide derivatives for drug delivery
Authors: Du Xiao , Jiang Yibo , Zhuo Renxi , Jiang Xulin 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTThe development of novel thermo‐ and photo‐dual‐responsive biodegradable polymeric micelles based on amphiphilic polyaspartamide derivatives (NB‐g‐PHPA‐g‐mPEG) for anticancer drug delivery is reported. The obtained polymers containing hydrophobic photocleavable o‐nitrobenzyl groups exhibit thermo‐ and photosensitivity. The micelles and paclitaxel‐loaded micelles based on the thermo‐ and photo‐dual‐sensitive polymers were prepared by a quick heating method without using toxic organic solvent. The paclitaxel release from the drug‐loaded micelles can be triggered under photoirradiation. Enhancement of the anticancer activity against HeLa cells was observed for paclitaxel‐loaded NB‐g‐PHPA‐g‐mPEG micelles after light irradiation, while the empty NB‐g‐PHPA‐g‐mPEG micelles with or without irradiation did not show any toxicity. Therefore, the thermo‐ and photo‐dual‐responsive NB‐g‐PHPA‐g‐mPEG micelles have a promising future applied as a light controlled drug delivery system for anticancer drugs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 2855–2863
Beyond basins: φ,ψ preferences of a residue depend heavily on the φ,ψ values of its neighbors
Authors: Hollingsworth Scott A. , Lewis Matthew C. , Karplus P. Andrew 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe Ramachandran plot distributions of nonglycine residues from experimentally determined structures are routinely described as grouping into one of six major basins: β, PII, α, αL, ξ and γ'. Recent work describing the most common conformations adopted by pairs of residues in folded proteins [i.e., (φ,ψ)2‐motifs] showed that commonly described major basins are not true single thermodynamic basins, but are composed of distinct subregions that are associated with various conformations of either the preceding or following neighbor residue. Here, as documentation of the extent to which the conformational preferences of a central residue are influenced by the conformations of its two neighbors, we present a set of φ,ψ‐plots that are delimited simultaneously by the φ,ψ‐angles of its neighboring residues on both sides. The level of influence seen here is typically greater than the influence associated with considering the identities of neighboring residues, implying that the use of this heretofore untapped information can improve the accuracy of structure prediction algorithms and low resolution protein structure refinement.
Secure principal component analysis in multiple distributed nodes
Authors: Won Hee‐Sun , Kim Sang‐Pil , Lee Sanghun , Choi Mi‐Jung , Moon Yang‐Sae 
Published: June 2016

AbstractPrivacy preservation becomes an important issue in recent big data analysis, and many secure multiparty computations have been proposed for the purpose of privacy preservation in the environment of distributed nodes. As a secure multiparty computations of principal component analysis (PCA), in this paper, we propose S‐PCA, which compute PCA securely among the distributed nodes. PCA is widely used in many applications including time‐series analysis, text mining, and image compression. In general, we compute PCA after concentrating all data in a single server, but this approach discloses data privacy of each node. In contrast, the proposed S‐PCA computes PCA without disclosing the sensitive data of individual nodes. In S‐PCA, the nodes share non‐sensitive mean vectors first and compute covariance matrices and PCA securely using the shared mean vectors. In this paper, we formally prove the correctness and secureness of S‐PCA and apply it to an application of secure similar document detection. Experimental results show that the performance of S‐PCA is slightly worse than that of PCA due to guarantee of secureness, but it significantly improves the performance of secure similar document detection by up to two orders of magnitudes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The risk of carriage of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in food animals in dynamic populations
Authors: Stipetic Korana , Chang Yu‐Chen , Peters Kenlyn , Salem Ahmed , Doiphode Sanjay H. , McDonough Patrick L. , Chang Yung Fu , Sultan Ali , Mohammed Hussni O. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractSalmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes are foodborne pathogens of global importance. We assessed their risks and associated factors in a highly dynamic population of animals. Animal and environmental samples were collected from dairy cattle, sheep, camel and chickens at either the farms or the abattoirs. The pathogens were detected using a combination of bacterial enrichment culture and real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data on putative risk factors were collect and analysed for their significance of association with these pathogens.Salmonella spp. were detected at higher proportions in sheep faeces and sheep carcasses in comparison to cattle faeces (odds ratio = 2.4 and 2.2, respectively). This pathogen was less common in milk or carcasses samples from cattle or chickens. Sheep and camel carcass samples were highly contaminated with Salmonella spp. Faecal samples from cattle had the most diverse serovars of Salmonella enterica including S. Newport, S. Haifa, S. Kedougou, S. Kentucky, S. Mbandaka and S. Goettingen. Exotic serovars in sheep included S. Eastbourne, S. Chester and S. Kottnus. Serovars that were shed in camel faeces included S. Newport, S. Bovismorbificans and S. Infantis. In all sampled populations, detection of Salmonella spp. was more likely during warmer months than cold months. Listeria monocytogenes was not common in the targeted populations and was detected at a rate of 2.4%, mainly from sheep carcasses. The study highlights the role of food animals as reservoirs of pathogens across boundaries since all feed are imported in that population from different parts of the world.