bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Consequences of impediments to animal movements at different scales: A conceptual framework and review
Authors: Cosgrove Anita J. , McWhorter Todd J. , Maron Martine 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAimThe persistence of animal populations depends on individuals moving successfully around a landscape, but habitat fragmentation can hinder this by reducing functional connectivity. The proximate cause of population declines in fragmented habitat is dependent on the spatial and temporal scales of movement restrictions.LocationGlobal.MethodsWe present a conceptual framework highlighting the relationship between spatial and temporal scales, and three mechanisms through which detrimental impacts can occur when movement is disrupted in fragmented landscapes: limited resource access, restricted demographic exchange and impeded gene flow. We then review the literature to identify the proportion of studies conducted on each mechanism and whether biases existed in how often each was studied among different geographic zones or taxa. A random selection of 250 articles was classified by the mechanism, geographic region and taxon studied in each article.ResultsOur conceptual framework highlighted that each of the three mechanisms tends to be characterized by movement restriction at progressively larger spatial and temporal scales. In our literature review, we found that the overwhelming majority (77%) of articles investigated impeded gene flow, and only 17% and 10% explored restricted demographic exchange and limited resource access, respectively. Work on limited resource access was disproportionately low for particular taxonomic groups, such as reptiles and amphibians.Main conclusionsDistinguishing which mechanisms are disrupted in a particular system is crucial because addressing each is likely to require a distinct conservation management response. We encourage greater focus on the less‐studied mechanisms of restricted demographic exchange and limited resource access.
Selective copying of the majority suggests children are broadly “optimal‐” rather than “over‐” imitators
Authors: Evans Cara L. , Laland Kevin N. , Carpenter Malinda , Kendal Rachel L. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractHuman children, in contrast to other species, are frequently cast as prolific “over‐imitators”. However, previous studies of “over‐imitation” have overlooked many important real‐world social dynamics, and may thus provide an inaccurate account of this seemingly puzzling and potentially maladaptive phenomenon. Here we investigate this topic using a cultural evolutionary approach, focusing particularly on the key adaptive learning strategy of majority‐biased copying. Most “over‐imitation” research has been conducted using consistent demonstrations to the observer, but we systematically varied the frequency of demonstrators that 4‐ to 6‐year‐old children observed performing a causally irrelevant action. Children who “over‐imitate” inflexibly should copy the majority regardless of whether the majority solution omits or includes a causally irrelevant action. However, we found that children calibrated their tendency to acquire the majority behavior, such that copying did not extend to majorities that performed irrelevant actions. These results are consistent with a highly functional, adaptive integration of social and causal information, rather than explanations implying unselective copying or causal misunderstanding. This suggests that our species might be better characterized as broadly “optimal‐” rather than “over‐” imitators.
Theta oscillations reflect conflict processing in the perception of the McGurk illusion
Authors: Morís Fernández Luis , Torralba Mireia , Soto‐Faraco Salvador 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe McGurk illusion is one of the most famous illustrations of cross‐modal integration in human perception. It has been often used as a proxy of audiovisual (AV) integration and to infer the properties of the integration process in natural (congruent) AV conditions. Nonetheless, a blatant difference between McGurk stimuli and natural, congruent, AV speech is the conflict between the auditory and the visual information in the former. Here, we hypothesized that McGurk stimuli (and any AV incongruency) engage brain responses similar to those found in more general cases of perceptual conflict (e.g., Stroop), and propose that the McGurk illusion arises as a result of the resolution of such conflict. We used electroencephalography to measure variations in the power of theta, a well‐known marker of the brain response to conflict. The results showed that perception of AV McGurk stimuli, just like AV incongruence in general, induces an increase in activity in the theta band. This response was similar to that evoked by Stroop stimuli, as measured in the same participants. This finding suggests that the McGurk illusion is mediated by general‐purpose conflict mechanisms, and calls for caution in generalizing findings obtained using the McGurk illusion, to the general case of multisensory integration.
Changes in neuronal activity of cortico‐basal ganglia–thalamic networks induced by acute dopaminergic manipulations in rats
Authors: Ivica Nedjeljka , Richter Ulrike , Sjöbom Joel , Brys Ivani , Tamtè Martin , Petersson Per 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe basal ganglia are thought to be particularly sensitive to changes in dopaminergic tone, and the realization that reduced dopaminergic signaling causes pronounced motor dysfunction is the rationale behind dopamine replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease. It has, however, proven difficult to identify which neurophysiological changes that ultimately lead to motor dysfunctions. To clarify this, we have here recorded neuronal activity throughout the cortico‐basal ganglia–thalamic circuits in freely behaving rats during periods of immobility following acute dopaminergic manipulations, involving both vesicular dopamine depletion and antagonism of D1 and D2 type dopamine receptors. Synchronized and rhythmic activities were detected in the form of betaband oscillations in local field potentials and as cortical entrainment of action potentials in several basal ganglia structures. Analyses of the temporal development of synchronized oscillations revealed a spread from cortex to gradually also include deeper structures. In addition, firing rate changes involving neurons in all parts of the network were observed. These changes were typically relatively balanced within each structure, resulting in negligible net rate changes. Animals treated with D1 receptor antagonist showed a rapid onset of hypokinesia that preceded most of the neurophysiological changes, with the exception of these balanced rate changes. Parallel rate changes in functionally coupled ensembles of neurons in different structures may therefore be the first step in a cascade of neurophysiological changes underlying motor symptoms in the parkinsonian state. We suggest that balanced rate changes in distributed networks are possible mechanism of disease that should be further investigated in conditions involving dopaminergic dysfunction.
Predictive cues for auditory stream formation in humans and monkeys
Authors: Aggelopoulos Nikolaos C. , Deike Susann , Selezneva Elena , Scheich Henning , Brechmann André , Brosch Michael 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAuditory perception is improved when stimuli are predictable, and this effect is evident in a modulation of the activity of neurons in the auditory cortex as shown previously. Human listeners can better predict the presence of duration deviants embedded in stimulus streams with fixed interonset interval (isochrony) and repeated duration pattern (regularity), and neurons in the auditory cortex of macaque monkeys have stronger sustained responses in the 60–140 ms post‐stimulus time window under these conditions. Subsequently, the question has arisen whether isochrony or regularity in the sensory input contributed to the enhancement of the neuronal and behavioural responses. Therefore, we varied the two factors isochrony and regularity independently and measured the ability of human subjects to detect deviants embedded in these sequences as well as measuring the responses of neurons the primary auditory cortex of macaque monkeys during presentations of the sequences. The performance of humans in detecting deviants was significantly increased by regularity. Isochrony enhanced detection only in the presence of the regularity cue. In monkeys, regularity increased the sustained component of neuronal tone responses in auditory cortex while isochrony had no consistent effect. Although both regularity and isochrony can be considered as parameters that would make a sequence of sounds more predictable, our results from the human and monkey experiments converge in that regularity has a greater influence on behavioural performance and neuronal responses.
Mitigation of nitrous oxide emissions from acidic soils by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, a plant growth‐promoting bacterium
Authors: Wu Shanghua , Zhuang Guoqiang , Bai Zhihui , Cen Yu , Xu Shengjun , Sun Haishu , Han Xingguo , Zhuang Xuliang 
Published: December 2017

AbstractNitrous oxide (N2O) is a long‐lived greenhouse gas that can result in the alteration of atmospheric chemistry and cause accompanying changes in global climate. To date, many techniques have been used to mitigate the emissions of N2O from agricultural fields, which represent one of the most important sources of N2O. In this study, we designed a greenhouse pot experiment and a microcosmic serum bottle incubation experiment using acidic soil from a vegetable farm to study the effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BA) on plant growth and N2O emission rates. The addition of BA to the soil promoted plant growth enhanced the soil pH and increased the total nitrogen (TN) contents in the plants. At the same time, it decreased the concentrations of ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3−) and TN in the soil. Overall, the addition of BA resulted in a 50% net reduction of N2O emissions compared with the control. Based on quantitative PCR and the network analysis of DNA sequencing, it was demonstrated that BA partially inhibited the nitrification process through the significant reduction of ammonia oxidizing bacteria. Meanwhile, it enhanced the denitrification process, mainly by increasing the abundance of N2O‐reducing bacteria in the treatment with BA. The results of our microcosm experiment provided evidence that strongly supported the above findings under more strictly controlled laboratory conditions. Taken together, the results of our study evidently demonstrated that BA has dual effects on the promotion of plant growth and the dramatic reduction of greenhouse emissions, thus suggesting the possibility of screening beneficial microbial organisms from the environment that can promote plant growth and mitigate greenhouse trace gases.
Evaluation of the prebiotic potential of five kiwifruit cultivars after simulated gastrointestinal digestion and fermentation with human faecal bacteria
Authors: Parkar Shanthi G. , Simmons Lyall , Herath Thanuja D. , Phipps Janet E. , Trower Tania M. , Hedderley Duncan I. , McGhie Tony K. , Blatchford Paul , Ansell Juliet , Sutton Kevin H. , Ingram John R. 
Published: December 2017

SummaryWe studied the in vitro prebiotic potential of five different cultivars of kiwifruit including the green‐fleshed ‘Hayward’ and ‘Zesh004’ and the gold‐fleshed ‘Hort16A’, ‘Zesy002’ and ‘Zesy003’. The kiwifruit (25 g fresh weight equivalent) were subjected to simulated gastrointestinal digestion before fermentation for 16 h with faecal microbiota from ten individual donors. Microbial metabolites including lactate were quantified while changes in microbiome composition were determined by 16S rRNA sequencing. Lactate concentrations were highest with ‘Hayward’ (P = 0.01) and correlated with the amount of the kiwifruit fibre and polyphenols, chlorogenic acid and cryptochlorogenic acid. All the kiwifruit behaved similar to inulin in increasing the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium (P < 0.001), but unlike inulin, significantly (P < 0.001) increased the abundances of Ruminococcaceae and decreased Bacteroides. In comparison with inulin, the green‐fleshed kiwifruit selectively increased Lachnospira (P = 0.008) while the gold‐fleshed kiwi fruit increased Akkermansia (P < 0.001). These data suggest that the fibre and polyphenol content of the kiwifruit play a role in modulating gut microbial metabolism. Further clinical studies with these kiwifruit cultivars are required to confirm the potential prebiotic benefits that may be achieved by normal dietary intervention.
The physiological differentiation along the midgut of Bombyx mori – inspirations from proteomics and gene expression patterns of the secreted proteins in the ectoperitrophic space
Authors: Liu L. , Qu M. , Yang J. , Yang Q. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe ectoperitrophic space (EcPS) between the insect midgut epithelial cells and the peritrophic matrix is an unexplored, clean resource for concentrated proteins secreted by the midgut epithelial cells, which offers an ideal opportunity to uncover the midgut functions. In this study, we used Bombyx mori as a model organism and performed comparative proteomic analyses of the secreted proteins in the EcPS at the feeding and wandering stages. A total of 372 proteins were identified from both stages and 70 proteins were predicted to be secreted. Amongst these proteins, 17 secreted digestive proteins were identified and their temporal and spatial transcriptional expression patterns demonstrated that all these proteins were up‐regulated at the feeding stage and differentially expressed in different parts of the midgut. Proteins with nutrient reservoir activity and defence activity were found to be up‐regulated at the wandering stage. This work is the first to show the presence of digestive enzymes in the EcPS of the insect midgut using a proteomic approach, which provides evidence that suggests a physiological functional differentiation of the insect midgut. It is very clear that the EcPS undergoes dynamic changes in its composition of proteins in response to the changing needs of the insect at different developmental stages.
Interleukin‐33 (IL‐33): A nuclear cytokine from the IL‐1 family
Authors: Cayrol Corinne , Girard Jean‐Philippe 
Published: December 2017

SummaryInterleukin‐33 (IL‐33) is a tissue‐derived nuclear cytokine from the IL‐1 family abundantly expressed in endothelial cells, epithelial cells and fibroblast‐like cells, both during homeostasis and inflammation. It functions as an alarm signal (alarmin) released upon cell injury or tissue damage to alert immune cells expressing the ST2 receptor (IL‐1RL1). The major targets of IL‐33 in vivo are tissue‐resident immune cells such as mast cells, group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Other cellular targets include T helper 2 (Th2) cells, eosinophils, basophils, dendritic cells, Th1 cells, CD8+ T cells, NK cells, iNKT cells, B cells, neutrophils and macrophages. IL‐33 is thus emerging as a crucial immune modulator with pleiotropic activities in type‐2, type‐1 and regulatory immune responses, and important roles in allergic, fibrotic, infectious, and chronic inflammatory diseases. The critical function of IL‐33/ST2 signaling in allergic inflammation is illustrated by the fact that IL33 and IL1RL1 are among the most highly replicated susceptibility loci for asthma. In this review, we highlight 15 years of discoveries on IL‐33 protein, including its molecular characteristics, nuclear localization, bioactive forms, cellular sources, mechanisms of release and regulation by proteases. Importantly, we emphasize data that have been validated using IL‐33‐deficient cells.
Interleukin 1 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to disease
Authors: Khazim Khaled , Azulay Etti Ester , Kristal Batya , Cohen Idan 
Published: December 2017

SummaryThe Interleukin 1 (IL‐1) family plays a central role in the generation and regulation of inflammatory responses, in both innate and adaptive immunity. Although the IL‐1 molecules are traditionally considered to be classical proinflammatory cytokines, their functions are not restricted to inflammation, and they have also been shown to play a key role in a wide range of additional physiological and pathological functions, including learning modulation, sleep, pregnancy, depression, appetite, hematopoiesis, metabolism, and many others. Since their effect as cytokines and regulators of inflammation is so pleiotropic, any shift of the biological balance between agonistic and antagonistic signals has the potential to cause disease. Here, we consider the genetic influence of interleukin‐1 gene polymorphism in the context of susceptibility to human diseases. We review known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of IL‐1 genes linked to human diseases, and suggest how exploring biological effects of IL‐1 gene cluster polymorphism may lead to new directions in understanding and diagnostic of disease and effective treatment.
Performance, cognitive load, and behaviour of technology‐assisted English listening learning: From CALL to MALL
Authors: Chang Chi‐Cheng , Warden Clyde A. , Liang Chaoyun , Chou Pao‐Nan 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis study examines differences in English listening comprehension, cognitive load, and learning behaviour between outdoor ubiquitous learning and indoor computer‐assisted learning. An experimental design, employing a pretest‐posttest control group is employed. Randomly assigned foreign language university majors joined either the experimental group (outdoor ubiquitous learning), with 80 participants (26 males and 54 females), or a control group (indoor computer‐assisted learning), with 80 participants (27 males and 53 females). The experiment lasted 3 weeks. Both groups were administered a test of English listening proficiency before and after the experiment along with a questionnaire of cognitive load postexperiment. Prior English listening proficiency forms a covariate for the multivariate analysis of covariance. Results show (a) students in the experimental group exhibit significantly better English listening comprehension after the experiment compared to the control group; (b) students in the experimental group reported significantly lower cognitive load than the control group; (c) English listening comprehension and cognitive load exhibited a statistically significant negative relationship; and (d) outdoor ubiquitous learning enhanced self‐reported learning interests and interactions more than indoor computer‐assisted learning. Contributions and significances of this study are presented based on these results. Finally, implications for teaching practices are proposed.
The mutagenesis of a type IV secretion system locus of Piscirickettsia salmonis leads to the attenuation of the pathogen in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar
Authors: Mancilla M , Saavedra J , Grandón M , Tapia E , Navas E , Grothusen H , Bustos P 
Published: December 2017

AbstractPiscirickettsiosis is a threatening infectious disease for the salmon industry, due to it being responsible for significant economic losses. The control of outbreaks also poses considerable environmental challenges. Despite Piscirickettsia salmonis having been discovered as the aetiological agent of the disease more than 25 years ago, its pathogenicity remains poorly understood. Among virulence factors identified so far, type four secretion systems (T4SS) seem to play a key role during the infection caused by the bacterium. We report here the genetic manipulation of P. salmonis by means of the transference of plasmid DNA in mating assays. An insertion cassette was engineered for targeting the icmB gene, which encodes a putative T4SS‐ATPase and is carried by one of the chromosomal T4SS clusters found within the genome of P. salmonis PM15972A1, a virulent representative of the EM‐90‐like strain. The molecular characterization of the resulting mutant strain demonstrated that the insertion interrupted the target gene. Further in vitro testing of the icmB mutant showed a dramatic drop in infectivity as tested in CHSE‐214 cells, which is in agreement with its attenuated behaviour observed in vivo. Altogether, our results demonstrate that, similar to other facultative intracellular pathogens, P. salmonis’ virulence relies on an intact T4SS.
Sensitivity assessment of sea lice to chemotherapeutants: Current bioassays and best practices
Authors: Marín S L , Mancilla J , Hausdorf M A , Bouchard D , Tudor M S , Kane F 
Published: December 2017

AbstractTraditional bioassays are still necessary to test sensitivity of sea lice species to chemotherapeutants, but the methodology applied by the different scientists has varied over time in respect to that proposed in “Sea lice resistance to chemotherapeutants: A handbook in resistance management” (2006). These divergences motivated the organization of a workshop during the Sea Lice 2016 conference “Standardization of traditional bioassay process by sharing best practices.” There was an agreement by the attendants to update the handbook. The objective of this article is to provide a baseline analysis of the methodology for traditional bioassays and to identify procedures that need to be addressed to standardize the protocol. The methodology was divided into the following steps: bioassay design; material and equipment; sea lice collection, transportation and laboratory reception; preparation of dilution; parasite exposure; response evaluation; data analysis; and reporting. Information from the presentations of the workshop, and also from other studies, allowed for the identification of procedures inside a given step that need to be standardized as they were reported to be performed differently by the different working groups. Bioassay design and response evaluation were the targeted steps where more procedures need to be analysed and agreed upon.
Effect of ohmic heating on fundamental properties of protein in soybean milk
Authors: Li Xuerui , Ye Changwen , Tian Yan , Pan Siyi , Wang Lufeng 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe structure and functional properties of heated soybean milk protein were measured and compared between ohmic heating (17, 23, 30, and 37 V/cm) and common resistance wire heating. The results showed that the number of free amino groups increased by 14%; total sulfhydryl content and surface hydrophobicity decreased; the protein structure was not significantly changed; functional properties and foaming activity were reduced by 10, 15, 35, and 40% for the different voltage ohmic heating; foam stability was reduced by 28.3, 12.9, 18.3, and 8.3%, respectively; the EAI of ohmic heating increased by 38%, whereas the ESI decreased by 65%. Soybean protein has been reported to be denaturalized in traditional heating. As a resistor, in situ vibration was conducted inside the molecule when it is heated via electricity. It can be assumed that ohmic heating is conducive to the improvement of functional properties, digestion, and absorption of soybean milk protein.Practical applicationsThis study explored effects of voltage ranges on soybean milk quality and structure and functional properties. After ohmic heating treatment, the structure and functional properties of protein in soybean milk greatly changed relative to traditional heating treatment. The application of ohmic heating for soybean milk was found very successful in reducing heating time and producing nutrient products. The same goes for the other fruit and vegetable products, it is of great directive significance to ohmic heating processing industry for them.