bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An unexpected role for mixotrophs in the response of peatland carbon cycling to climate warming
Authors: Jassey Vincent E. J. , Signarbieux Constant , Hättenschwiler Stephan , Bragazza Luca , Buttler Alexandre , Delarue Frédéric , Fournier Bertrand , Gilbert Daniel , Laggoun-Défarge Fatima , Lara Enrique , T. E. Mills Robert , Mitchell Edward A. D. , Payne Richard J. , Robroek Bjorn J. M. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractMixotrophic protists are increasingly recognized for their significant contribution to carbon (C) cycling. As phototrophs they contribute to photosynthetic C fixation, whilst as predators of decomposers, they indirectly influence organic matter decomposition. Despite these direct and indirect effects on the C cycle, little is known about the responses of peatland mixotrophs to climate change and the potential consequences for the peatland C cycle. With a combination of field and microcosm experiments, we show that mixotrophs in the Sphagnum bryosphere play an important role in modulating peatland C cycle responses to experimental warming. We found that five years of consecutive summer warming with peaks of +2 to +8°C led to a 50% reduction in the biomass of the dominant mixotrophs, the mixotrophic testate amoebae (MTA). The biomass of other microbial groups (including decomposers) did not change, suggesting MTA to be particularly sensitive to temperature. In a microcosm experiment under controlled conditions, we then manipulated the abundance of MTA and showed that the reported 50% reduction of MTA biomass in the field was linked to a significant reduction of net C uptake (-13%) of the entire Sphagnum bryosphere. Our findings suggest that reduced abundance of MTA with climate warming could lead to reduced peatland C fixation.
Photoinhibition of Phaeocystis globosa resulting from oxidative stress induced by a marine algicidal bacterium Bacillus sp. LP-10
Authors: Guan Chengwei , Guo Xiaoyun , Li Yi , Zhang Huajun , Lei Xueqian , Cai Guanjing , Guo Jiajia , Yu Zhiming , Zheng Tianling 
Published: November 2015

AbstractHarmful algal blooms caused by Phaeocystis globosa have resulted in staggering losses to coastal countries because of their world-wide distribution. Bacteria have been studied for years to control the blooms of harmful alga, however, the action mechanism of them against harmful algal cells is still not well defined. Here, a previously isolated algicidal bacterium Bacillus sp. LP-10 was used to elucidate the potential mechanism involved in the dysfunction of P. globosa algal cells at physiological and molecular levels. Our results showed Bacillus sp. LP-10 induced an obvious rise of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which was supposed to be major reason for algal cell death. Meanwhile, the results revealed a significant decrease of photosynthetic physiological indexes and apparent down-regulated of photosynthesis-related genes (psbA and rbcS) and protein (PSII reaction center protein D1), after treated by Bacillus sp. LP-10 filtrates, suggesting photoinhibition occurred in the algal cells. Furthermore, our results indicated that light played important roles in the algal cell death. Our work demonstrated that the major lethal reason of P. globosa cells treated by the algicidal bacterium was the photoinhibition resulted from oxidative stress induced by Bacillus sp. LP-10.
Drowning is an apparent and unexpected recurrent cause of mass mortality of Common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)
Authors: Lawson Becki , Duff J. Paul , Beckmann Katie M. , Chantrey Julian , Peck Kirsi M. , Irvine Richard M. , Robinson Robert A. , Cunningham Andrew A. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractDrowning is infrequently reported as a cause of death of wild birds and such incidents typically involve individual, rather than multiple, birds. Over a 21-year period (1993 to 2013 inclusive), we investigated 12 incidents of mortality of multiple (2 − 80+) Common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in Great Britain that appeared to be due to drowning. More than ten birds were affected in ten of these reported incidents. These incidents always occurred during the spring and early summer months and usually involved juvenile birds. In all cases, circumstantial evidence and post-mortem examinations indicated drowning to be the most likely cause of death with no underlying disease found. A behavioural explanation seems likely, possibly related to the gregarious nature of this species combined with juvenile inexperience in identifying water hazards. A review of data from the ringed bird recovery scheme across Great Britain (1909–2013 inclusive) of both starlings and Common blackbirds (Turdus merula), also a common garden visitor, identified additional suspected drowning incidents, which were significantly more common in the former species, supporting a species predisposition to drowning. For each species there was a marked seasonal peak from April to August. Drowning should be included as a differential diagnosis when investigating incidents of multiple starling mortality, especially of juveniles.
Optical detection of individual ultra-short carbon nanotubes enables their length characterization down to 10 nm
Authors: Gao Zhenghong , Oudjedi Laura , Faes Romain , Moroté Fabien , Jaillet Christèle , Poulin Philippe , Lounis Brahim , Cognet Laurent 
Published: November 2015

AbstractUltrashort single-walled carbon nanotubes, i.e. with length below ~30 nm, display length-dependent physical, chemical and biological properties that are attractive for the development of novel nanodevices and nanomaterials. Whether fundamental or applicative, such developments require that ultrashort nanotube lengths can be routinely and reliably characterized with high statistical data for high-quality sample production. However, no methods currently fulfill these requirements. Here, we demonstrate that photothermal microscopy achieves fast and reliable optical single nanotube analysis down to ~10 nm lengths. Compared to atomic force microscopy, this method provides ultrashort nanotubes length distribution with high statistics and neither requires specific sample preparation nor tip-dependent image analysis.
Effect of conservation efforts and ecological variables on waterbird population sizes in wetlands of the Yangtze River
Authors: Zhang Yong , Jia Qiang , Prins Herbert H. T. , Cao Lei , de Boer Willem Frederik 
Published: November 2015

AbstractForage quality and availability, climatic factors and a wetland’s conservation status are expected to affect the densities of wetland birds. However, the conservation effectiveness is often poorly studied. Here, using twelve years’ census data collected from 78 wetlands in the Yangtze River floodplain, we aimed to understand the effect of these variables on five Anatidae species and evaluate the effectiveness of the conservation measures by comparing population trends of these species among wetlands that differ in conservations status. We showed that the slope angle of a wetland and the variation thereof best explain the differences in densities of four species. We also found that the population abundances of the Anatidae species generally declined in wetlands along the Yangtze River floodplain over time, with a steeper decline in wetlands with a lower protection status, indicating that current conservation policies might deliver benefits for wintering Anatidae species in China, as population sizes of the species were buffered to some extent against decline in numbers in wetlands with a higher level protection status. We recommend several protection measures to stop the decline of these Anatidae species in wetlands along the Yangtze River floodplain, which are of great importance for the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
Spatial-frequency dependent binocular imbalance in amblyopia
Authors: Kwon MiYoung , Wiecek Emily , Dakin Steven C. , Bex Peter J. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractWhile amblyopia involves both binocular imbalance and deficits in processing high spatial frequency information, little is known about the spatial-frequency dependence of binocular imbalance. Here we examined binocular imbalance as a function of spatial frequency in amblyopia using a novel computer-based method. Binocular imbalance at four spatial frequencies was measured with a novel dichoptic letter chart in individuals with amblyopia, or normal vision. Our dichoptic letter chart was composed of band-pass filtered letters arranged in a layout similar to the ETDRS acuity chart. A different chart was presented to each eye of the observer via stereo-shutter glasses. The relative contrast of the corresponding letter in each eye was adjusted by a computer staircase to determine a binocularBalance Pointat which the observer reports the letter presented to either eye with equal probability. Amblyopes showed pronounced binocular imbalance across all spatial frequencies, with greater imbalance at high compared to low spatial frequencies (an average increase of 19%,p < 0.01). Good test-retest reliability of the method was demonstrated by the Bland-Altman plot. Our findings suggest that spatial-frequency dependent binocular imbalance may be useful for diagnosing amblyopia and as an outcome measure for recovery of binocular vision following therapy.
A new application of click chemistry in situ: development of fluorescent probe for specific G-quadruplex topology
Authors: Hu Ming-Hao , Chen Xiao , Chen Shuo-Bin , Ou Tian-Miao , Yao Meicun , Gu Lian-Quan , Huang Zhi-Shu , Tan Jia-Heng 
Published: November 2015

AbstractTarget-guided synthesis is an approach to drug discovery that allows the target to self-assemble its own binding agents. So far, target-guided synthesis and especially in situ click chemistry have attracted extensive attention and have led to the identification of highly potent inhibitors for proteins. In this study, we expand the application of in situ click chemistry and present a procedure using this approach to identify selective fluorescent probes for a specific topology of G-quadruplex nucleic acids, the parallel G-quadruplexes. On this basis, compound 15 assembled by triarylimidazole scaffold and carboxyl side chain was a positive hit, demonstrating highly potential in the sensitive and selective detection of parallel G-quadruplexes. Such selective fluorescence response can be rationalized in terms of different binding affinities between 15 and G-quadruplexes. Our work accordingly represents a new development towards the application of in situ click chemistry to develop selective fluorescent probes and may also shed light on the search for probes for a specific G-quadruplex topology.
Exploring the Effects on Lipid Bilayer Induced by Noble Gases via Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Chen Junlang , Chen Liang , Wang Yu , Wang Xiaogang , Zeng Songwei 
Published: November 2015

AbstractNoble gases seem to have no significant effect on the anesthetic targets due to their simple, spherical shape. However, xenon has strong narcotic efficacy and can be used clinically, while other noble gases cannot. The mechanism remains unclear. Here, we performed molecular dynamics simulations on phospholipid bilayers with four kinds of noble gases to elucidate the difference of their effects on the membrane. Our results showed that the sequence of effects on membrane exerted by noble gases from weak to strong was Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe, the same order as their relative narcotic potencies as well as their lipid/water partition percentages. Compared with the other three kinds of noble gases, more xenon molecules were distributed between the lipid tails and headgroups, resulting in membrane’s lateral expansion and lipid tail disorder. It may contribute to xenon’s strong anesthetic potency. The results are well consistent with the membrane mediated mechanism of general anesthesia.
Laser jetting of femto-liter metal droplets for high resolution 3D printed structures
Authors: Zenou M. , Sa’ar A. , Kotler Z. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractLaser induced forward transfer (LIFT) is employed in a special, high accuracy jetting regime, by adequately matching the sub-nanosecond pulse duration to the metal donor layer thickness. Under such conditions, an effective solid nozzle is formed, providing stability and directionality to the femto-liter droplets which are printed from a large gap in excess of 400 μm. We illustrate the wide applicability of this method by printing several 3D metal objects. First, very high aspect ratio (A/R > 20), micron scale, copper pillars in various configuration, upright and arbitrarily bent, then a micron scale 3D object composed of gold and copper. Such a digital printing method could serve the generation of complex, multi-material, micron-scale, 3D materials and novel structures.
Cognitive dysfunction and health-related quality of life among older Chinese
Authors: Pan Chen-Wei , Wang Xingzhi , Ma Qinghua , Sun Hong-Peng , Xu Yong , Wang Pei 
Published: November 2015

AbstractWe aimed to assess the association of cognitive dysfunction with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among older adults in China. We analyzed community-based cross-sectional data of 5,557 Chinese individuals aged 60 years and above in the Weitang Geriatric Diseases Study. Cognitive dysfunction and HRQOL were assessed using the Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) and the European Quality of Life-5 dimensions (EQ-5D), respectively. We estimated the impacts of cognitive dysfunction on the EQ-5D index and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores using linear regression models and the association between cognitive dysfunction and self-reported EQ-5D health problems using logistic regression models. The EQ-5D index and VAS scores were significantly lower for individuals with cognitive dysfunction than their counterparts. After controlling for covariates, the differences in EQ-5D index and VAS scores between individuals with and without cognitive dysfunction were −0.016 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.024, −0.008) and −3.4 (95% CI: −4.5, −2.4), respectively. Cognitive dysfunction was associated with reporting of problems in pain/discomfort (odds ration [OR]: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.69) and anxiety/depression (OR: 2.13; 95% CI: 1.41, 3.23). The negative impact on HRQOL increased with the severity of cognitive dysfunction. The results indicate cognitive dysfunction was associated with worse HRQOL in older adults.
DksA regulates RNA polymerase in
Escherichia coli
through a network of interactions in the secondary channel that includes Sequence Insertion 1
Authors: Parshin Andrey , Shiver Anthony L. , Lee Jookyung , Ozerova Maria , Schneidman-Duhovny Dina , Gross Carol A. , Borukhov Sergei 
Published: November 2015

Significance
The transcription factor DksA is a critical determinant of the stringent response and is essential for virulence in many pathogenic proteobacteria. This ubiquitous transcription factor is also a model system for transcription regulation, making it essential to understand how DksA interacts with RNA polymerase (RNAP) at the molecular level. High-resolution structural information of the DksA–RNAP interaction is currently unavailable. Using genetic, biochemical, and computational approaches, we have generated a new high-quality model of the DksA–RNAP interaction that advances our understanding of DksA binding and activity and will serve as a springboard for future mechanistic investigations into DksA regulation.
Electrical active defects in HfO2 based metal/oxide/metal devices
Authors: El Kamel F 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
Dielectric as well as thermally stimulated current measurements were performed on metal/HfO2/Pt capacitors in order to study the electrical active defects in hafnia thin films. Two thermally activated relaxation processes have been carried out from both measurements. At low temperatures, the relaxation process can be ascribed to the shallow traps level localized at 0.65 eV and generally evidenced by the second ionization of oxygen vacancies. At high temperatures, the relaxation process arises from the diffusion of positively charged oxygen vacancies by overcoming an energetic barrier of about 1 eV.
Opportunities to Create New General Surgery Residency Programs to Alleviate the Shortage of General Surgeons
Authors: Meagher Ashley D. , Beadles Christopher A. , Sheldon George F. , Charles Anthony G. 
Published: November 2015

Purpose
To estimate the capacity for supporting new general surgery residency programs among U.S. hospitals that currently do not have such programs.

Method
The authors compiled 2011 American Hospital Association data regarding the characteristics of hospitals with and without a general surgery residency program and 2012 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education data regarding existing general surgery residencies. They performed an ordinary least squares regression to model the number of residents who could be trained at existing programs on the basis of residency program-level variables. They identified candidate hospitals on the basis of a priori defined criteria for new general surgery residency programs and an out-of-sample prediction of resident capacity among the candidate hospitals.

Results
The authors found that 153 hospitals in 39 states could support a general surgery residency program. The characteristics of these hospitals closely resembled the characteristics of hospitals with existing programs. They identified 435 new residency positions: 40 hospitals could support 2 residents per year, 99 hospitals could support 3 residents, 12 hospitals could support 4 residents, and 2 hospitals could support 5 residents. Accounting for progressive specialization, new residency programs could add 287 additional general surgeons to the workforce annually (after an initial five- to seven-year lead time).

Conclusions
By creating new general surgery residency programs, hospitals could increase the number of general surgeons entering the workforce each year by 25%. A challenge to achieving this growth remains finding new funding mechanisms within and outside Medicare. Such changes are needed to mitigate projected workforce shortages.
Similarity-based fusion of MEG and fMRI reveals spatio-temporal dynamics in human cortex during visual object recognition
Authors: Cichy Radoslaw Martin , Pantazis Dimitrios , Oliva Aude 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTEvery human cognitive function, such as visual object recognition, is realized in a complex spatio-temporal activity pattern in the brain. Current brain imaging techniques in isolation cannot resolve the brain’s spatio-temporal dynamics because they provide either high spatial or temporal resolution but not both. To overcome this limitation, we developed a new integration approach that uses representational similarities to combine measurements from different imaging modalities – magnetoencephalography (MEG) and functional MRI (fMRI) - to yield a spatially and temporally integrated characterization of neuronal activation. Applying this approach to two independent MEG-fMRI data sets, we observed that neural activity first emerged in the occipital pole at 50-80ms, before spreading rapidly and progressively in the anterior direction along the ventral and dorsal visual streams. These results provide a novel and comprehensive, spatio-temporally resolved view of the rapid neural dynamics during the first few hundred milliseconds of object vision. They further demonstrate the feasibility of spatially unbiased representational similarity based fusion of MEG and fMRI, promising new insights into how the brain computes complex cognitive functions.
speciesgeocodeR: An R package for linking species occurrences, user-defined regions and phylogenetic trees for biogeography, ecology and evolution
Authors: Zizka Alexander , Antonelli Alexandre 
Published: November 2015

Abstract1. Large-scale species occurrence data from geo-referenced observations and collected specimens are crucial for analyses in ecology, evolution and biogeography. Despite the rapidly growing availability of such data, their use in evolutionary analyses is often hampered by tedious manual classification of point occurrences into operational areas, leading to a lack of reproducibility and concerns regarding data quality.2. Here we present speciesgeocodeR, a user-friendly R-package for data cleaning, data exploration and data visualization of species point occurrences using discrete operational areas, and linking them to analyses invoking phylogenetic trees.3. The three core functions of the package are 1) automated and reproducible data cleaning, 2) rapid and reproducible classification of point occurrences into discrete operational areas in an adequate format for subsequent biogeographic analyses, and 3) a comprehensive summary and visualization of species distributions to explore large datasets and ensure data quality. In addition, speciesgeocodeR facilitates the access and analysis of publicly available species occurrence data, widely used operational areas and elevation ranges. Other functionalities include the implementation of minimum occurrence thresholds and the visualization of coexistence patterns and range sizes. SpeciesgeocodeR accompanies a richly illustrated and easy-to-follow tutorial and help functions.
Re-visioning English language arts practices and writing outcomes through the remaking of Cinderella
Authors: Choi Tat Heung , Ng Ka Wa 
Published: November 2015

Purpose
– This paper, which originates in an English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) classroom activity in Hong Kong, aims to explore English learners’ expressive and creative potential in writing by studying their work in the literary narrative genre.

Design/methodology/approach
– A group of upper secondary students (15-16 years of age) with limited English resources and competence was enlisted to remake a folktale with visual and written prompts.

Findings
– The writing samples demonstrate that these low-level EFL writers are able to refashion the narrative elements, and to communicate meanings for their own purposes. They exhibit logicality and problem-solving skills in their attempts to challenge and transform idea and to include themes of interest to them. There is also evidence of creative play with language in their use of dialogues and figures of speech.

Research limitations/implications
– These writing outcomes suggest the need to re-vision English language arts practices in increasingly diverse education systems. Genre-based instruction, with its emphasis on “writing to mean” as a social activity supported by learning to use language, could lead to widening EFL learners’ access to genre knowledge and to greater life chances.

Practical implications
– A linguistics-based pedagogy scaffolding less able EFL writers while they learn to build effective narratives is identified as a way forward.

Originality/value
– Although the idea of using narratives to engage EFL learners in writing is not entirely new, this paper contributes to the field by responding to low-level learners’ writing that goes beyond linguistic “correctness”, and developing strategies for supporting creativity and language play.
Standards-based governance of English teaching, past, present, and future?
Authors: Brass Jory 
Published: November 2015

Purpose– This study aims to draw from overlapping scholarship in critical policy studies and governmentality studies to examine how recent standards-based education policies mark a pivotal shift in the aims and governance of English education.Design/methodology/approach– The author traces this shift through a comparative analysis of the past two standards projects in the USA: the 1996 IRA/NCTE Standards for the English Language Arts and the 2010 Common Core State Standards.Findings– An analysis of the standards’ comparative development processes, educational aims and governmentalities exemplifies a global shift toward new policy networks, neoliberal imaginaries and the interrelated policy technologies of managerialism, performativity and free markets.Originality/value– This paper hopes to prompt more critical, reflexive and strategic stances towards standardization and the ways in which global education policies seek to reshape subject English and the future of teaching and teacher education.