bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Implications of plant functional traits and drought survival strategies for ecological restoration
Authors: Balachowski Jennifer A. , Volaire Florence A. 
Published: July 2017

Abstract

Restoration of degraded grasslands through active revegetation often involves re‐establishing populations of native grasses, which must withstand increasing drought stress to persist beyond initial establishment. In perennial species, superior dehydration tolerance is expected to result in more conservative growth, but this trade‐off has seldom been studied among populations of herbaceous species.

We measured seasonal growth and foliar and root functional traits under non‐limiting water conditions, followed by recovery after severe drought in four populations of Elymus glaucus, a perennial grass from California's Mediterranean‐climate region. We hypothesized that populations from harsher sites would be more dehydration tolerant, summer dormant and resource‐conservative.

Dehydration tolerance and summer dormancy were associated with a more conservative strategy (lower productivity, lower specific leaf area and specific root length), as well as earlier reproductive phenology.

Multivariate trait variation was associated with water availability in both the growing season and summer, while greater dehydration tolerance and summer dormancy were associated with increasing summer climatic water deficit.

Synthesis and applications. Our study provides evidence of an intraspecific trade‐off between dehydration tolerance and rapid resource acquisition. We discuss the implication that restored populations with superior drought survival may therefore be less competitive, and recommend further investigation to inform plant materials selection protocols and management practices.
South Korean Presidential Politics Turns Liberal: Transformative Change or Business as Usual?
Authors: Dostal Jörg Michael 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe impeachment of President Park Gyeun‐hye on 10 March 2017 saw South Korean politics enter a period of crisis. Her removal from office, the result of an unprecedented mass movement of citizen protests, provided a springboard for the subsequent success of the liberal candidate, Moon Jae‐in, in the presidential election of 9 May 2017. This article suggests that political change in South Korea is only possible if actors move beyond the politics of personality, and tackle the structural reasons for the policy failures of recent times. Further, if democracy, a humane economic system and responsive political institutions are going to be developed and nourished, the country's ‘imperial presidency’ needs to be reformed. In particular, the current ‘winner‐takes‐all’ politics, with the presidency as the main locus of power, needs to be reformed in ways that promote a more balanced political system, increasing the influence of other actors and institutions.
Hung Parliaments and the Need for Clearer Rules of Government Formation
Authors: Schleiter Petra , Belu Valerie , Hazell Robert 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe general elections of 2017 and 2010 produced hung parliaments in which no single party could command an overall majority; in May 2015 the UK only narrowly avoided that outcome. When a parliament is hung, more than one potential government can be viable, and the constitutional rules that determine who has the first right to form the government can thus have a decisive influence on which government forms. In the past, the UK has applied several potentially contradictory rules (based on conventions and principles), which do not all follow an equally democratic logic. This status quo is problematic because it can generate political controversy and uncertainty, in addition to jeopardising the Monarch's role in the government formation process. A reform that enables parliament to elect the leader who will be tasked with the formation of the next government would resolve these problems and provide constitutional clarity.
The 2017 General Election, Brexit and the Return to Two‐Party Politics: An Aggregate‐Level Analysis of the Result
Authors: Heath Oliver , Goodwin Matthew 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe outcome of the 2017 general election—a hung parliament—defied most predictions. In this article, we draw on aggregate‐level data to conduct an initial exploration of the vote. What was the impact of Brexit on the 2017 general election result? What difference did the collapse of UKIP make? And what was the relative importance of factors such as turnout, education, age and ethnic diversity on support for the two main parties? First, we find that turnout was generally higher in more pro‐remain areas, and places with high concentrations of young people, ethnic minorities and university graduates. Second, we find that the Conservatives made gains in the sort of places that had previously backed Brexit and previously voted for UKIP. But, third, we find that the gains the Conservatives made from the electoral decline of UKIP were offset by losses in the sort of places that had previously supported the Conservatives, particularly areas in southern England with larger numbers of graduates. The implication of these findings is that while a Brexit effect contributed to a ‘realignment on the right’, with the Conservative strategy appealing to people in places that had previously voted for UKIP, this strategy was not without an electoral cost, and appears to have hurt the party in more middle class areas.
Population genetic evaluations within a co‐distributed taxonomic group: a multi‐species approach to conservation planning
Authors: Anthonysamy W. J. B. , Dreslik M. J. , Douglas M. R. , Thompson D. , Klut G. M. , Kuhns A. R. , Mauger D. , Kirk D. , Glowacki G. A. , Douglas M. E. , Phillips C. A. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMulti‐species approaches provide valuable insight for conservation planning, yet most studies focus on only one species while generalizing across taxa. Here, we employed 5–14 microsatellite DNA loci to evaluate population genetic patterns and future vulnerability for a freshwater turtle assemblage distributed across north‐eastern Illinois. Focal species (Emydoidea blandingii, Clemmys guttata, Chrysemys picta and Chelydra serpentina) differ in conservation status as well as in ecological and life‐history traits, which modulate gene flow across heterogeneous landscapes. We hypothesized (1) common and more ubiquitous species (C. picta and C. serpentina) would exhibit higher levels of genetic connectivity compared to species more restricted in distributions and with an elevated conservation status (E. blandingii and C. guttata) and (2) endangered species exhibit a greater loss of future genetic diversity. We found that genetic patterns varied considerably among co‐distributed species. Endangered species had lower levels of genetic diversity and gene flow, more pronounced genetic structure and a higher risk of genetic drift compared to common species, thus supporting our hypotheses. The observed patterns are potentially attributable to life‐history and ecological traits and will affect the long‐term viability of the four species within a modified north‐eastern Illinois landscape. Our study is an important first step for understanding how landscape features and species‐specific traits interact to affect gene flow and population genetic structure within altered landscapes. It also underscores how multi‐species approaches can be informative for conservation actions.
Performance of the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear in a population‐based sample of adults
Authors: Ibrahim H , Lyons KM , Armfield JM , Thomson WM 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF‐4C) was introduced to overcome the theoretical and practical shortcomings of previously developed dental fear measures. This new scale has not been tested on population samples other than in its country of origin, Australia. The aim of this study was to validate the IDAF‐4C in a different cultural setting and to determine the prevalence and sociodemographic associations of dental anxiety.MethodsA cross sectional study of a representative New Zealand adult population sample was undertaken. The questionnaire was mailed to 523 randomly‐selected participants. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, oral and general health care, and dental anxiety using both the IDAF‐4C and the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS).ResultsThe response rate was 51.8%. The factor structure of the IDAF‐4C was confirmed. The prevalence estimates for high dental anxiety and fear were 18.6% using the DAS and 13.0% using the IDAF‐4C. Mean scores for the IDAF‐4C and DAS were higher among episodic dental visitors and those without a recent dental visit.ConclusionsThe performance of the IDAF‐4C in this New Zealand community sample supports its use for dental anxiety measurement.
Insect community response to switchgrass intercropping and stand age of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations
Authors: Lee Myung‐Bok , Campbell Joshua W. , Miller Darren A. , Martin James A. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIntercropping switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) between rows in managed pine stands is a potential, emerging method for biofuel feedstock production in forestry systems. Switchgrass intercropping likely alters vegetation characteristics within a stand by increasing herbaceous vegetation cover and thus influences insect communities positively. However, its effect may vary with stand age, which often determines canopy closure and vegetation structure within a stand: effects of switchgrass intercropping may be stronger in old pine stands with a closed canopy than in young pine stands with an open canopy.We examined how switchgrass intercropping and stand age, namely 3–4‐year‐old pine (YPine) and 8–9‐year‐old pine (OPine), influenced insect abundance and diversity in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stands inMississippi,U.S.A.,duringMay toAugust 2013–2014. We captured insects at 36 locations throughout 12 stands (three stands per each of four treatments; intercropping and non‐intercropping treatment inYPine andOPine stands), using pan traps.Abundance and family level richness were greater inYPine stands andShannon–Wiener diversity and evenness at family level was higher inOPine stands both years. However, insect abundance and diversity did not differ between intercropping and non‐intercropping treatments. Community composition was also influenced by stand age, which explained > 90% of constrained inertia, rather than switchgrass intercropping.Our findings suggest that switchgrass intercropping is unlikely to significantly affect insect communities in managed pine stands, whereas stand age, as well as associated successional changes, can be a main factor affecting insects, as often observed in other animal taxa in managed pine landscapes.
Breeding experiments and genome‐wide association analysis elucidate two genetically different forms of non‐syndromic congenital cleft lip and jaw in Vorderwald × Montbéliarde cattle
Authors: Reinartz S. , Distl O. 
Published: July 2017

SummaryNon‐syndromic congenital cleft lip and jaw (CLJ) is a condition reported in Vorderwald × Montbéliarde cattle. The objective of the present study was to perform a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) for 10 CLJ‐affected and 50 unaffected Vorderwald × Montbéliarde cattle using the bovine Illumina high density bead chip to identify loci for this condition. Phenotypic classification of CLJ was based on a detailed recording of orofacial structures using computed tomography. A breeding experiment among CLJ‐affected Vorderwald × Montbéliarde cattle and CLJ‐affected Vorderwald × Montbéliarde cattle with unaffected Holsteins confirmed recessive inheritance and different loci for bilateral or left‐sided versus right‐sided CLJ. The GWAS for the five cases with right‐sided CLJ gave a genome‐wide signal on bovine chromosome (BTA) 29 at 16 Mb. For the four left‐sided and one bilateral CLJ case, a genome‐wide significant association was identified on BTA4 at 32 Mb. Two different loci are very likely to be involved in CLJ in Vorderwald × Montbéliarde cattle because experimental matings among affected cows and bulls with different types of CLJ did not result in CLJ‐affected progeny, and in addition, two different loci were also found through GWAS and mapped on two different bovine chromosomes. Validation in 346 Vorderwald × Montbéliarde cattle for the highly associated SNPs on BTA4 and 29 gave ratios of 33/346 (0.095, BTA4) and 6/346 (0.017, BTA29) homozygous mutant genotypes. Further studies should elucidate the responsible mutations underlying the different types of CLJ in Vorderwald × Montbéliarde cattle.
Review article: the many potential roles of intestinal serotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine, 5‐HT) signalling in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Coates M. D. , Tekin I. , Vrana K. E. , Mawe G. M. 
Published: July 2017

SummaryBackgroundSerotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine, 5‐HT) is an important mediator of every major gut‐related function. Recent investigations also suggest that 5‐HT can influence the development and severity of inflammation within the gut, particularly in the setting of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).AimTo review the roles that the intestinal serotonin signalling system plays in gut function, with a specific focus on IBD.MethodsWe reviewed manuscripts from 1952 to 2017 that investigated and discussed roles for 5‐HT signalling in gastrointestinal function and IBD, as well as the influence of inflammation on 5‐HT signalling elements within the gut.ResultsInflammation appears to affect every major element of intestinal 5‐HT signalling, including 5‐HT synthesis, release, receptor expression and reuptake capacity. Importantly, many studies (most utilising animal models) also demonstrate that modulation of selective serotonergic receptors (via agonism of 5‐HT4R and antagonism of 5‐HT3R) or 5‐HT signal termination (via serotonin reuptake inhibitors) can alter the likelihood and severity of intestinal inflammation and/or its complicating symptoms. However, there are few human studies that have studied these relationships in a targeted manner.ConclusionsInsights discussed in this review have strong potential to lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic tools to improve the management of IBD and other related disorders. Specifically, strategies that focus on modifying the activity of selective serotonin receptors and reuptake transporters in the gut could be effective for controlling disease activity and/or its associated symptoms. Further studies in humans are required, however, to more completely understand the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the roles of 5‐HT in this setting.
Short‐term acipimox treatment is associated with decreased cardiac parasympathetic modulation
Authors: Vestergaard Esben Thyssen , Cichosz Simon Lebech , Møller Niels , Jørgensen Jens Otto Lunde , Fleischer Jesper 
Published: July 2017

AimsThe nicotinic acid analogue acipimox is an antilipolytic agent, which acutely inhibits lipolysis and suppresses systemic levels of free fatty acids (FFA) and improves insulin sensitivity in obese patients. These effects of acipimox are transient due to a counter‐regulatory increase in growth hormone levels that reverse the antilipolytic effect of acipimox. Hypopituitary patients constitute a viable model to study the growth hormone‐independent effects of acipimox and the impact of isolated changes in FFA concentrations and insulin sensitivity on parasympathetic nervous activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate if pharmacological antilipolysis with acipimox acutely affects autonomic tone.MethodsWe studied heart rate variability as a measure of autonomic tone in eight hypopituitary men with and without acipimox treatment. The standard deviation of normal‐to‐normal intervals, root mean square of successive differences and high frequency were measured as heart rate variability parameters. The patients were studied in the basal and insulin‐stimulated state with clamped plasma glucose on two occasions in a randomized, double‐blind and placebo‐controlled crossover study.ResultsPlasma glucose (4.7 vs. 4.9 mmol l–1, P = 0.02) and serum FFA (0.05 vs. 0.41 mmol l–1, P < 0.001) were significantly decreased during acipimox treatment. Acipimox had an inhibitory effect on standard deviation of normal‐to‐normal intervals (41.3 vs. 45.3 ms, P = 0.01), root mean square of successive differences (23.2 vs. 11 ms, P = 0.03) and high frequency (3.79 vs 3.60 ln (ms2), P = 0.02) and these effects were reversed during clamping.ConclusionsShort‐term inhibition of lipolysis by acipimox treatment lowered circulating FFA levels, improved insulin sensitivity, and was accompanied by reduced parasympathetic tone. The effect of acipimox on the parasympathetic modulation was reversed by hyperinsulinaemia.
Formula supplementation in hospital and subsequent feeding at discharge among women who intended to exclusively breastfeed: An administrative data retrospective cohort study
Authors: Bentley Jason P. , Nassar Natasha , Porter Maree , de Vroome Michelle , Yip Elizabeth , Ampt Amanda J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundAmong women who intend to exclusively breastfeed, it is important to identify mothers and their infants who have a greater risk of formula supplementation in hospital, and are unlikely to recover exclusive breastfeeding at discharge. We investigated factors associated with in‐hospital formula feeding among healthy term infants born to women who intended to exclusively breastfeed, and among this group, predictors of infant feeding at discharge.MethodsRetrospective cohort study utilizing routinely collected clinical data for women who intended to exclusively breastfeed and gave birth to healthy term infants in five hospitals in New South Wales, Australia, 2010‐2013. Robust Poisson regression was used to obtain adjusted relative risks (aRR) for the associations between formula feeding in hospital, feeding at discharge, and associated factors.ResultsOf 24 713 mother‐infant dyads in the study population, 16.5% received formula in hospital. After adjustment, the strongest predictors of formula supplementation were breastfeeding difficulties (aRR 2.90 [95% confidence interval {CI} 2.74‐3.07]), Asian born mother (aRR 2.07 [95% CI 1.92‐2.23]), and neonatal conditions (aRR 2.00 [95% CI 1.89‐2.13]). Among infants who received formula (n=3998), 49.3% were fully breastfeeding at discharge, 33.1% partially breastfeeding, and 17.5% formula‐only feeding. Compared with formula‐only feeding, special care nursery admission (aRR 1.23 [95% CI 1.17‐1.30]) and ≥1 neonatal conditions (compared with none) were most strongly associated with fully breastfeeding at discharge (aRR 1.21 [95% CI 1.16‐2.16]).ConclusionWomen and their infants who receive formula in hospital need additional support to attain exclusive breastfeeding by hospital discharge. Such support is especially needed for younger women, smokers, and women with breastfeeding difficulties.
‘Lnc’‐ing Wnt in female reproductive cancers: therapeutic potential of long non‐coding RNAs in Wnt signalling
Authors: Ong Mei S , Cai Wanpei , Yuan Yi , Leong Hin C , Tan Tuan Z , Mohammad Asad , You Ming L , Arfuso Frank , Goh Boon C , Warrier Sudha , Sethi Gautam , Tolwinski Nicholas S , Lobie Peter E , Yap Celestial T , Hooi Shing C , Huang Ruby Y , Kumar Alan P 
Published: July 2017

Recent discoveries in the non‐coding genome have challenged the original central dogma of molecular biology, as non‐coding RNAs and related processes have been found to be important in regulating gene expression. MicroRNAs and long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are among those that have gained attention recently in human diseases, including cancer, with the involvement of many more non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) waiting to be discovered. ncRNAs are a group of ribonucleic acids transcribed from regions of the human genome, which do not become translated into proteins, despite having essential roles in cellular physiology. Deregulation of ncRNA expression and function has been observed in cancer pathogenesis. Recently, the roles of a group of ncRNA known as lncRNA have gained attention in cancer, with increasing reports of their oncogenic involvement. Female reproductive cancers remain a leading cause of death in the female population, accounting for almost a third of all female cancer deaths in 2016. The Wnt signalling pathway is one of the most important oncogenic signalling pathways which is hyperactivated in cancers, including female reproductive cancers. The extension of ncRNA research into their mechanistic roles in human cancers has also led to novel reported roles of ncRNAs in the Wnt pathway and Wnt‐mediated oncogenesis. This review aims to provide a critical summary of the respective roles and cellular functions of Wnt‐associated lncRNAs in female reproductive cancers and explores the potential of circulating cell‐free lncRNAs as diagnostic markers and lncRNAs as therapeutic targets.Linked ArticlesThis article is part of a themed section on WNT Signalling: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.24/issuetoc
Taking culture seriously: Can we improve the developmental health and well‐being of Australian Aboriginal children in out‐of‐home care?
Authors: Raman S. , Ruston S. , Irwin S. , Tran P. , Hotton P. , Thorne S. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundChildren in out‐of‐home care have well‐documented health and developmental needs. Research suggests that Aboriginal children in care have unmet health and intervention needs. In metropolitan Sydney, Kari Aboriginal Resources Inc. (KARI), an Aboriginal organization, provides support to indigenous children in care, including clinical assessment and intervention. We wanted to determine the health and developmental needs of a subset of children in out‐of‐home care with KARI, who had been in stable care for at least a year. We wanted to identify child, carer, and intervention characteristics that contributed to children doing well. We also wanted to identify enablers and barriers to providing culturally competent intervention.MethodsWe used mixed methods. From the KARI clinic database over the past 3 years, we identified children who had been in stable care with KARI for >12 months. We compared clinical measures and outcomes for these children with results from previous audits. We carried out a group discussion and key informant interviews with therapists and caseworkers to identify risk and resilience factors for each child, as well as enablers and barriers to culturally competent intervention.ResultsThe health and developmental profile of the 26 children identified as being in stable care was similar to that of previous audits. Most (88%) were getting speech pathology intervention; one third were getting occupational therapy and psychological intervention; most children and their carers attended cultural programmes. The majority of children (25/26) improved in their developmental health. Caseworkers and therapists identified risk and resilience factors related to child, carer, and home characteristics. They also identified elements of good practice; systemic issues prevented some interventions from being carried out.ConclusionsThere are challenges delivering a trauma‐informed, culturally respectful service to Aboriginal children in out‐of‐home care in an urban setting, but it can be done if attention is paid to culture and the enablers and barriers are identified.