bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Host‐specific effects of soil microbial filtrates prevail over those of arbuscular mycorrhizae in a fragmented landscape
Authors: Pizano Camila , Mangan Scott A. , Graham James H. , Kitajima Kaoru 
Published: May 2017

AbstractPlant–soil interactions have been shown to determine plant community composition in a wide range of environments. However, how plants distinctly interact with beneficial and detrimental organisms across mosaic landscapes containing fragmented habitats is still poorly understood. We experimentally tested feedback responses between plants and soil microbial communities from adjacent habitats across a disturbance gradient within a human‐modified tropical montane landscape. In a greenhouse experiment, two components of soil microbial communities were amplified; arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and a filtrate excluding AMF spores from the soils of pastures (high disturbance), coffee plantations (intermediate disturbance), and forest fragments (low disturbance), using potted seedlings of 11 plant species common in these habitats (pasture grass, coffee, and nine native species). We then examined their effects on growth of these same 11 host species with reciprocal habitat inoculation. Most plant species received a similar benefit from AMF, but differed in their response to the filtrates from the three habitats. Soil filtrate from pastures had a net negative effect on plant growth, while filtrates from coffee plantations and forests had a net positive effect on plant growth. Pasture grass, coffee, and five pioneer tree species performed better with the filtrate from “away” (where these species rarely occur) compared to “home” (where these species typically occur) habitat soils, while four shade‐tolerant tree species grew similarly with filtrates from different habitats. These results suggest that pastures accumulate species‐specific soil enemies, while coffee plantations and forests accumulate beneficial soil microbes that benefit pioneer native plants and coffee, respectively. Thus, compared to AMF, soil filtrates exerted stronger habitat and host‐specific effects on plants, being more important mediators of plant–soil feedbacks across contrasting habitats.
Barcoding rotifer biodiversity in Mediterranean ponds using diapausing egg banks
Authors: Moreno Emilio , Conde‐Porcuna José M. , Gómez Africa 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe biodiversity of Mediterranean freshwater bodies is among the most threatened worldwide; therefore, its accurate estimation is an urgent issue. However, traditional methods are likely to underestimate freshwater zooplankton biodiversity due to its high species seasonality and cryptic diversity. We test the value of applying DNA barcoding to diapausing egg banks, in combination with the creation of a reference collection of DNA barcodes using adult individual samples, to characterize rotifer communities. We use monogonont rotifers from two lakes in Doñana National Park and one from Ruidera Natural Park in Spain as models to create a reference collection of DNA barcodes for taxonomically diagnosed adult individuals sampled from the water column, to compare with the sequences obtained from individual eggs from the diapausing egg banks. We apply two different approaches to carry out DNA taxonomy analyses, the generalized mixed Yule coalescent method (GMYC) and the Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD), to the obtained sequences and to publicly available rotifer sequences. We obtained a total of 210 new rotifer COI sequences from all three locations (151 diapausing eggs and 59 adults). Both GMYC and ABGD generated the same 35 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), revealing four potential cryptic species. Most sequences obtained from diapausing eggs (85%) clustered with sequences obtained from morphologically diagnosed adults. Our approach, based on a single sediment sample, retrieved estimates of rotifer biodiversity higher than or similar to those of previous studies based on a number of seasonal samples. This study shows that DNA barcoding of diapausing egg banks is an effective aid to characterize rotifer diversity in Mediterranean freshwater bodies.
Exploring the effects of fishing pressure and upwelling intensity over subtidal kelp forest communities in Central Chile
Authors: Pérez‐Matus Alejandro , Carrasco Sergio A. , Gelcich Stefan , Fernandez Miriam , Wieters Evie A. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractUnderstanding the processes that drive kelp forest communities is critical for management and conservation of these productive ecosystems. As a way to advance in this direction, we explored the effects of fishing pressure and upwelling intensity over kelp forest communities along the central coast of Chile. We sampled kelp communities in different upwelling conditions associated with contrasting management regimes, namely Territorial User Rights for Fisheries (TURFs) and open‐access (OA) areas. In TURF areas, we found a 2.6‐fold increase in reef fish biomass, higher diversity of all fish trophic groups, mainly dominated by benthic carnivore feeders, and a 1.8‐fold reduction in the number of kelp grazers. On the other hand, upwelling regimes evidence a 1.6‐fold increase in abundance and recruitment of the dominant kelp (Lessonia trabeculata), and also an increase in biomass of planktivorous reef fishes. We found that grazers were capable of reducing kelp condition (measured as canopy foliage index) in OA areas outside the influence of upwelling. Enclosure experiments in the field revealed the effect of grazers on kelps, reducing kelp growth (i.e., blade elongation) and increasing blade tissue loss. Results provide evidence that TURF areas could be important ancillary conservation instruments in kelp forest ecosystems, if key processes of the subtidal community assemblages (e.g., interactions between grazers and reef fish) are maintained. We conclude that human impact interplays with the influence of upwelling in structuring kelp communities.
Population, habitat, and marine location effects on early marine survival and behavior of Puget Sound steelhead smolts
Authors: Moore Megan E. , Berejikian Barry A. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractSteelhead trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) smolts suffer high mortality rates during their rapid migration through the Salish Sea. Among‐population variability in mortality rates may reflect (1) genetic fitness variation among populations, (2) freshwater environmental effects on fish condition, or (3) differences in local marine conditions upon seawater entry. A reciprocal transplant experiment was conducted to separate the influence of freshwater effects (combined effects of population and freshwater environment) from effects of local marine conditions on survival of two Puget Sound steelhead populations. Steelhead smolts from the Green River in Central Puget Sound (urbanized and hatchery‐influenced) and the Nisqually River in South Puget Sound (less urbanized; no hatchery influence) were tagged with acoustic telemetry transmitters and released back into their natal river or transported and released into the other river. Population of origin had little influence on probability of surviving the migration through Puget Sound. However, smolts released into the Green River had higher survival through Puget Sound (17%) than smolts released into the Nisqually River (6%); the extra 64‐km migration segment for the Nisqually‐released fish accounted for most of the difference between the two release locations. Neither fork length nor translocation influenced survival, though release date did affect survival of Nisqually population smolts regardless of their release location. Residence time and behavior in the two estuaries were similar, and no effects of population of origin or release date were evident. Marine travel rates also did not differ between populations, release dates, or release locations. This study indicates that mortality occurring in the Salish Sea is likely driven by processes in inland marine environments, more so than intrinsic effects of population or freshwater‐rearing environments.
Female sexual pain: Epidemiology and genetic overlap with chronic widespread pain
Authors: Burri A. , Ogata S. , Williams F. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackgroundIncreased tender spots and lowered general pain thresholds have been observed in patients with dyspareunia. Based on this, the aim of the study was to compare the co‐occurrence of female sexual pain across various pain populations and to further explore the aetiological structure underlying sexual pain by dissecting the genetic and environmental covariation among sexual pain, chronic widespread pain (CWP) and the previously reported psychological correlates of anxiety sensitivity and depression.MethodsA multivariate twin study including 1489 female twin individuals (246 full MZ pairs, 187 full DZ pairs and 623 whose co‐twin did not participate). Main outcomes measures included self‐reported diagnosis of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and validated questionnaires for the assessment of sexual pain, CWP, depression and anxiety sensitivity.ResultsSexual pain showed a small but statistically significant correlation with CWP (r = 0.08; p < 0.05), anxiety sensitivity (r = 0.15, p < 0.001) and depression (r = 0.09, p < 0.01). The heritability of sexual pain was found to be 31%. Multivariate variance component analysis revealed a genetic factor common among CWP, depression, anxiety sensitivity and sexual pain, and a second genetic factor shared between anxiety sensitivity and sexual pain only. We further detected genetic and environmental factors unique to sexual pain, explaining 24.01% and 67.24%, respectively, of the phenotypic variance.ConclusionsOur findings suggest some overlap between sexual pain and CWP and point towards a shared but complex psychophysiological aetiology underlying sexual pain. Results further highlight the influence of specific environmental and contextual stressors in the development and maintenance of sexual pain.SignificanceSexual pain shares a common genetic aetiology with chronic widespread pain and the frequently reported psychological comorbidities of depression and anxiety. Overall this suggests a complex psychophysiological aetiology underlying chronic pain conditions. The high proportion of variance in sexual pain explained by environmental factors further highlights the importance of specific environmental and contextual stressors in the development and maintenance of the condition.
Quantification of carbamylated albumin in serum based on capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Delanghe Sigurd , Moerman Alena , Pletinck Anneleen , Schepers Eva , Glorieux Griet , Van Biesen Wim , Delanghe Joris R. , Speeckaert Marijn M. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractProtein carbamylation, a nonenzymatic posttranslational modification promoted during uremia, is linked to a poor prognosis. In the present study, carbamylation of serum albumin was assayed using the symmetry factor on a capillary electrophoresis instrument (Helena V8). The symmetry factor has been defined as the distance from the center line of the peak to the back slope, divided by the distance from the center line of the peak to the front slope, with all measurements made at 10% of the maximum peak height. Serum albumin, creatinine, and urea concentrations were assayed using routine methods, whereas uremic toxins were determined using HPLC. In vitro carbamylation induced a marked albumin peak asymmetry. Reference values for the albumin symmetry factor were 0.69–0.92. In kidney patients, albumin peak asymmetry corresponded to the chronic kidney disease stage (p < 0.0001). The symmetry factor correlated well with serum urea (r = −0.5595, p < 0.0001) and creatinine (r = −0.5986, p < 0.0001) concentrations. Several protein‐bound uremic toxins showed a significant negative correlation with the symmetry factor. Morphology of the albumin fraction was not affected by presence of glycated albumin and protein‐bound antibiotics. In conclusion, the presented method provides a simple, practical way for monitoring protein carbamylation.
Poly(vinyl chloride) and its fire properties
Authors: Hirschler Marcelo M. 
Published: May 2017

SummaryThis work provides an up‐to‐date review of the fire properties of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) materials, both rigid (unplasticized) and flexible (plasticized). The fire properties addressed include ignitability, ease of extinction (oxygen index), flame spread (small scale and intermediate scale), heat release, smoke obscuration, smoke toxicity, hydrogen chloride emission and decay, and performance in real‐scale fires.This comprehensive review includes a wide selection of references and tables illustrating the properties of PVC materials in comparison with those of other polymeric materials, including, in many instances, wood materials. The work puts these fire properties in perspective, showing that the heat release rate (the key fire property) of rigid PVC (and that of properly flame‐retarded flexible PVC) are among the lower values found for combustible materials. This work also shows that the smoke toxicity and smoke obscuration resulting from burning PVC materials in real‐scale fires is in the same range as those of other materials.
Improving watershed management practices in humid regions
Authors: Zimale Fasikaw A. , Tilahun Seifu A. , Tebebu Tigist Y. , Guzman Christian D. , Hoang Linh , Schneiderman Elliot M. , Langendoen Eddy J. , Steenhuis Tammo S. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractIn many parts of the world, watershed management practices have been extremely effective. However, implementation of soil and water conservation technologies in the humid African highlands, while beneficial in the short term, were remarkably unsuccessful in the long term. Insights from community knowledge perspectives have revealed that alternative methods are needed. Although conservation practices are designed to conserve water in semi‐arid areas, safely draining excess water is needed in humid areas. The objective of this paper is to review current watershed management approaches used in humid regions as exemplified by those used in Ethiopian highlands and then based on these findings propose more effective practices. Although current government sponsored practices primarily protect the hillsides, direct run‐off is generated from areas that become saturated on valley bottoms near rivers and on specific parts of the hillsides with degraded soils (or with highly permeable surface soils) and with perched water tables on slowly permeable horizons at shallow depths. In these areas, direct run‐off is increasing with deforestation and the soil degradation, demanding additional drainage ways that evolve in the form of gullies. Therefore, watershed management interventions for erosion control should prioritize revegetation of degraded areas, increasing sustainable infiltration, and rehabilitating gullies situated at saturated bottomlands.
Some results on cyclic interval edge colorings of graphs
Authors: Asratian Armen S. , Casselgren Carl Johan , Petrosyan Petros A. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractA proper edge coloring of a graph G with colors is called a cyclic interval t‐coloring if for each vertex v of G the edges incident to v are colored by consecutive colors, under the condition that color 1 is considered as consecutive to color t. We prove that a bipartite graph G of even maximum degree admits a cyclic interval ‐coloring if for every vertex v the degree satisfies either or . We also prove that every Eulerian bipartite graph G with maximum degree at most eight has a cyclic interval coloring. Some results are obtained for ‐biregular graphs, that is, bipartite graphs with the vertices in one part all having degree a and the vertices in the other part all having degree b; it has been conjectured that all these have cyclic interval colorings. We show that all (4, 7)‐biregular graphs as well as all ‐biregular () graphs have cyclic interval colorings. Finally, we prove that all complete multipartite graphs admit cyclic interval colorings; this proves a conjecture of Petrosyan and Mkhitaryan.
Exploring the radiosynthesis and in vitro characteristics of [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐Siglec‐9
Authors: Jensen Svend B. , Käkelä Meeri , Jødal Lars , Moisio Olli , Alstrup Aage K.O. , Jalkanen Sirpa , Roivainen Anne 
Published: May 2017

Vascular adhesion protein 1 is a leukocyte homing‐associated glycoprotein, which upon inflammation rapidly translocates from intracellular sources to the endothelial cell surface. It has been discovered that the cyclic peptide residues 283–297 of sialic acid‐binding IgG‐like lectin 9 (Siglec‐9) “CARLSLSWRGLTLCPSK” bind to vascular adhesion protein 1 and hence makes the radioactive analogues of this compound ([68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐Siglec‐9) interesting as a noninvasive visualizing marker of inflammation. Three different approaches to the radiosynthesis of [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐Siglec‐9 are presented and compared with previously published methods. A simple, robust radiosynthesis of [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐Siglec‐9 with a yield of 62% (non decay‐corrected) was identified, and it had a radiochemical purity >98% and a specific radioactivity of 35 MBq/nmol. Furthermore, the protein binding and stability of [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐Siglec‐9 were analyzed in vitro in mouse, rat, rabbit, pig, and human plasma and compared with in vivo pig results. The plasma in vitro protein binding of [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐Siglec‐9 was the lowest in the pig followed by rabbit, human, rat, and mouse. It was considerably higher in the in vivo pig experiments. The in vivo stability in pigs was lower than the in vitro stability. Despite considerable species differences, the observed characteristics of [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐Siglec‐9 are suitable as a positron emission tomography tracer.
Parsing disease‐relevant protein modifications from epiphenomena: perspective on the structural basis of SOD1‐mediated ALS
Authors: Schmitt N. D. , Agar J. N. 
Published: May 2017

Conformational change and modification of proteins are involved in many cellular functions. However, they can also have adverse effects that are implicated in numerous diseases. How structural change promotes disease is generally not well‐understood. This perspective illustrates how mass spectrometry (MS), followed by toxicological and epidemiological validation, can discover disease‐relevant structural changes and therapeutic strategies. We (with our collaborators) set out to characterize the structural and toxic consequences of disease‐associated mutations and post‐translational modifications (PTMs) of the cytosolic antioxidant protein Cu/Zn‐superoxide dismutase (SOD1). Previous genetic studies discovered >180 different mutations in the SOD1 gene that caused familial (inherited) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS). Using hydrogen–deuterium exchange with mass spectrometry, we determined that diverse disease‐associated SOD1 mutations cause a common structural defect – perturbation of the SOD1 electrostatic loop. X‐ray crystallographic studies had demonstrated that this leads to protein aggregation through a specific interaction between the electrostatic loop and an exposed beta‐barrel edge strand. Using epidemiology methods, we then determined that decreased SOD1 stability and increased protein aggregation are powerful risk factors for fALS progression, with a combined hazard ratio > 300 (for comparison, a lifetime of smoking is associated with a hazard ratio of ~15 for lung cancer). The resulting structural model of fALS etiology supported the hypothesis that some sporadic ALS (sALS, ~80% of ALS is not associated with a gene defect) could be caused by post‐translational protein modification of wild‐type SOD1. We developed immunocapture antibodies and high sensitivity top‐down MS methods and characterized PTMs of wild‐type SOD1 using human tissue samples. Using global hydrogen–deuterium exchange, X‐ray crystallography and neurotoxicology, we then characterized toxic and protective subsets of SOD1 PTMs. To cap this perspective, we present proof‐of‐concept that post‐translational modification can cause disease. We show that numerous mutations (N➔D; Q➔E), which result in the same chemical structure as the PTM deamidation, cause multiple diseases. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Leukemia/lymphoma‐related factor (LRF) exhibits stage‐ and context‐dependent transcriptional controls in the oligodendrocyte lineage and modulates remyelination
Authors: Davidson Nathan L. , Yu Fengshan , Kijpaisalratana Naruchorn , Le Tuan Q. , Beer Laurel A. , Radomski Kryslaine L. , Armstrong Regina C. 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACTLeukemia/lymphoma‐related factor (LRF), a zinc‐finger transcription factor encoded by Zbtb7a, is a protooncogene that regulates differentiation in diverse cell lineages, and in the CNS, its function is relatively unexplored. This study is the first to examine the role of LRF in CNS pathology. We first examined LRF expression in a murine viral model of spinal cord demyelination with clinically relevant lesion characteristics. LRF was rarely expressed in oligodendrocyte progenitors (OP) yet, was detected in nuclei of the majority of oligodendrocytes in healthy adult CNS and during remyelination. Plp/CreERT:Zbtb7afl/fl mice were then used with cuprizone demyelination to determine the effect of LRF knockdown on oligodendrocyte repopulation and remyelination. Cuprizone was given for 6 weeks to demyelinate the corpus callosum. Tamoxifen was administered at 4, 5, or 6 weeks after the start of cuprizone. Tamoxifen‐induced knockdown of LRF impaired remyelination during 3 or 6‐week recovery periods after cuprizone. LRF knockdown earlier within the oligodendrocyte lineage using NG2CreERT:Zbtb7afl/fl mice reduced myelination after 6 weeks of cuprizone. LRF knockdown from either the Plp/CreERT line or the NG2CreERT line did not significantly change OP or oligodendrocyte populations. In vitro promoter assays demonstrated the potential for LRF to regulate transcription of myelin‐related genes and the notch target Hes5, which has been implicated in control of myelin formation and repair. In summary, in the oligodendrocyte lineage, LRF is expressed mainly in oligodendrocytes but is not required for oligodendrocyte repopulation of demyelinated lesions. Furthermore, LRF can modulate the extent of remyelination, potentially by contributing to interactions regulating transcription.
Enhanced charge generation in doped organic/organic p–n heterojunction for improving the performance of tandem organic light emitting diode
Authors: Qin Dashan , Zhao Wei , Chen Li , Shi Zhihua , Cao Huan 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe doped organic/organic p–n heterojunctions have been applied as charge generation structure (CGS) in tandem organic light emitting diodes (TOLEDs). It is found that the field‐induced charge generation takes place more efficiently at the interface between Li2CO3 n‐doped bathocuproine (BCP:Li2CO3) and MoO3 p‐doped 4,4′‐N,N′‐dicarbazole‐biphenyl (CBP:MoO3) than at the interface between BCP:Li2CO3 and MoO3 p‐doped 4,4‐bis[N‐1‐naphthyl‐N‐phenylamino]biphenyl (NPB:MoO3). It is because the process of electrons tunneling through the depletion zone from the highest occupied molecular orbit (HOMO) of CBP:MoO3 to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbit (LUMO) of BCP:Li2CO3 is more efficient than that from the HOMO of NPB:MoO3 to the LUMO of BCP:Li2CO3. Compared to the TOLED using the conventional CGS of 10‐nm BCP:Li2CO3/20‐nm NPB:MoO3, the one using the CGS of 10‐nm BCP:Li2CO3/10‐nm CBP:MoO3/10‐nm NPB:MoO3 shows increased device performance. In addition, the interconnecting property of CGS of 10‐nm BCP:Li2CO3/x nm CBP:MoO3/20 − x nm NPB:MoO3 shows a strong dependence on the thickness of CBP:MoO3. We provide a new insight on optimizing Ohmic loss in the CGSs, useful for improving the performance of TOLEDs.