bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abiotic proxies for predictive mapping of nearshore benthic assemblages: implications for marine spatial planning
Authors: McHenry Jennifer , Steneck Robert S. , Brady Damian C. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractMarine spatial planning (MSP) should assist managers in guiding human activities toward sustainable practices and in minimizing user conflicts in our oceans. A necessary first step is to quantify spatial patterns of marine assemblages in order to understand the ecosystem's structure, function, and services. However, the large spatial scale, high economic value, and density of human activities in nearshore habitats often makes quantifying this component of marine ecosystems especially daunting. To address this challenge, we developed an assessment method that employs abiotic proxies to rapidly characterize marine assemblages in nearshore benthic environments with relatively high resolution. We evaluated this assessment method along 300 km of the State of Maine's coastal shelf (<100 m depth), a zone where high densities of buoyed lobster traps typically preclude extensive surveys by towed sampling gear (i.e., otter trawls). During the summer months of 2010–2013, we implemented a stratified‐random survey using a small remotely operated vehicle that allowed us to work around lobster buoys and to quantify all benthic megafauna to species. Stratifying by substrate, depth, and coastal water masses, we found that abiotic variables explained a significant portion of variance (37–59%) in benthic species composition, diversity, biomass, and economic value. Generally, the density, diversity, and biomass of assemblages significantly increased with the substrate complexity (i.e., from sand‐mud to ledge). The diversity, biomass, and economic value of assemblages also decreased significantly with increasing depth. Last, demersal fish densities, sessile invertebrate densities, species diversity, and assemblage biomass increased from east to west, while the abundance of mobile invertebrates and economic value decreased, corresponding mainly to the contrasting water mass characteristics of the Maine Coastal Current system (i.e., summertime current direction, speed, and temperature). Integrating modeled predictions with existing GIS layers for abiotic conditions allowed us to scale up important assemblage attributes to define key foundational ecological principles of MSP and to find priority regions where some bottom‐disturbing activities would have minimal impact to benthic assemblages. We conclude that abiotic proxies can be strong forcing functions for the assembly of marine communities and therefore useful tools for spatial extrapolations of marine assemblages in congested (heavily used) nearshore habitats.
Disordered eating behaviors among transgender youth: Probability profiles from risk and protective factors
Authors: Watson Ryan J. , Veale Jaimie F. , Saewyc Elizabeth M. 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTPurposeResearch has documented high rates of disordered eating for lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth, but prevalence and patterns of disordered eating among transgender youth remain unexplored. This is despite unique challenges faced by this group, including gender‐related body image and the use of hormones. We explore the relationship between disordered eating and risk and protective factors for transgender youth.MethodsAn online survey of 923 transgender youth (aged 14–25) across Canada was conducted, primarily using measures from existing youth health surveys. Analyses were stratified by gender identity and included logistic regressions with probability profiles to illustrate combinations of risk and protective factors for eating disordered behaviors.ResultsEnacted stigma (the higher rates of harassment and discrimination sexual minority youth experience) was linked to higher odds of reported past year binge eating and fasting or vomiting to lose weight, while protective factors, including family connectedness, school connectedness, caring friends, and social support, were linked to lower odds of past year disordered eating. Youth with the highest levels of enacted stigma and no protective factors had high probabilities of past year eating disordered behaviors.DiscussionOur study found high prevalence of disorders. Risk for these behaviors was linked to stigma and violence exposure, but offset by social supports. Health professionals should assess transgender youth for disordered eating behaviors and supportive resources. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.(Int J Eat Disord 2017; 50:515–522)
Environmental (in)dependence of a hybrid zone: Insights from molecular markers and ecological niche modeling in a hybrid zone ofOriganum(Lamiaceae) on the island of Crete
Authors: Bariotakis Michael , Koutroumpa Konstantina , Karousou Regina , Pirintsos Stergios A. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe role of environment and the relative significance of endogenous versus exogenous selection in shaping hybrid zones have been crucial issues in the studies of hybridization. Recent advances in ecological niche modeling (ENM) offer new methodological tools, especially in combination with the genotyping of individuals in the hybrid zone. Here, we study the hybrid zone between the widely known spicesOriganum onitesandOriganum vulgaressp.hirtumin Crete. We analyze the genetic structure of both parental taxa and their hybridOriganum × intercendensusingAFLPmarkers on 15 sympatric and 12 allopatric populations and employ ecological niche modeling and niche similarity tests to study their niche patterns. We complement these analyses with seed viability measurements. Our study revealed that the hybridizing taxaO. onitesandO. vulgaressp.hirtumand the resulting genotypic classes showed geographical and environmental niche similarities based on the predictions ofENMs and the subsequent similarity tests. The occurrence of the hybrid zone is not directly dependent on environmental factors which favor the fitness of the hybrid compared to the parental taxa, but rather on aspects such as historical factors and management practices, which may contribute to the localization and maintenance of the contact zone between parental species. Our results suggest that if a minimum required niche differentiation between genotypic classes is not achieved, environmental dependence might not have a prominent role on the outcome of the hybridization.
Generalized joint attribute modeling for biodiversity analysis: median‐zero, multivariate, multifarious data
Authors: Clark James S. , Nemergut Diana , Seyednasrollah Bijan , Turner Phillip J. , Zhang Stacy 
Published: November 2016

AbstractProbabilistic forecasts of species distribution and abundance require models that accommodate the range of ecological data, including a joint distribution of multiple species based on combinations of continuous and discrete observations, mostly zeros. We develop a generalized joint attribute model (GJAM), a probabilistic framework that readily applies to data that are combinations of presence‐absence, ordinal, continuous, discrete, composition, zero‐inflated, and censored. It does so as a joint distribution over all species providing inference on sensitivity to input variables, correlations between species on the data scale, prediction, sensitivity analysis, definition of community structure, and missing data imputation. GJAM applications illustrate flexibility to the range of species‐abundance data. Applications to forest inventories demonstrate species relationships responding as a community to environmental variables. It shows that the environment can be inverse predicted from the joint distribution of species. Application to microbiome data demonstrates how inverse prediction in the GJAM framework accelerates variable selection, by isolating effects of each input variable's influence across all species.
Vegetation dynamics and rainfall sensitivity for different vegetation types of the Australian continent in the dry period 2002–2010
Authors: Liu N. , Harper R.J. , Dell B. , Liu S. , Yu Z. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractOver the past 100 years, Australia has experienced pronounced changes in rainfall patterns, which in south‐western Australia (SWAU) has resulted in both a >50% decrease of runoff since 1975 and effects on vegetation health. Resolving the dynamics of vegetation and climate is a prerequisite for predicting the response of vegetation to future climates and carbon mitigation objectives. With multi‐resource vegetation indices (VIs; normalized difference vegetation index and leaf area index) and gridded climate data, this paper examines vegetation dynamics and sensitivity to rainfall change on the Australian continent for the past long drought period (2002–2010). We found that rainfall and VIs declined across 90% and 80% of the whole continent, respectively, compared to the baseline period of 2000–2001. The most dramatic declines in VIs occurred in open shrublands near the center of Australia and in SWAU, coinciding with significant reductions in rainfall and soil moisture. Overall, a strong relationship between water (rainfall and soil moisture) and VIs was detected in places where rainfall declined dramatically (up to 5 mm/year since 1970). For five major vegetation types, croplands showed the highest sensitivity to water change, followed by grasslands and woody savanna. Moderate sensitivity of open shrublands to water change was found, while evergreen broadleaf forests only showed a slight sensitivity to soil moisture change. Although there was no consistent significant relationship between rainfall and VIs of evergreen broadleaf forests, forests in south‐eastern Australia, where rainfall had declined since 1997, have become more sensitive to rainfall change than in SWAU. Our results provide evidence that, at this scale of assessment and with interpolated data sets, a lasting reduced rainfall pattern has been a key factor constraining vegetation growth over the Australian continent.
Heterogeneities in the infection process drive ranavirus transmission
Authors: Brunner Jesse L. , Beaty Lynne , Guitard Alexandra , Russell Deanna 
Published: November 2016

AbstractTransmission is central to our understanding and efforts to control the spread of infectious diseases. Because transmission generally requires close contact, host movements and behaviors can shape transmission dynamics: random and complete mixing leads to the classic density‐dependent model, but if hosts primarily interact locally (e.g., aggregate) or within groups, transmission may saturate. Manipulating host behavior may thus change both the rate and functional form of transmission. We used the ranavirus–wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) tadpole system to test whether transmission rates reflect contacts, and whether the functional form of transmission can be influenced by the distribution of food in mesocosms (widely dispersed, promoting random movement and mixing vs. a central pile, promoting aggregations). Contact rates increased with density, as expected, but transmission rapidly saturated. Observed rates of transmission were not explained by observed contact rates or the density‐dependent model, but instead transmission in both treatments followed models allowing for heterogeneities in the transmission process. We argue that contacts were not generally limiting, but instead that our results are better explained by heterogeneities in host susceptibility. Moreover, manipulating host behavior to manage the spread of infectious disease may prove difficult to implement.
Positive feedback between chironomids and algae creates net mutualism between benthic primary consumers and producers
Authors: Herren Cristina M. , Webert Kyle C. , Drake Michael D. , Jake Vander Zanden M. , Einarsson Árni , Ives Anthony R. , Gratton Claudio 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe chironomids of Lake Mývatn show extreme population fluctuations that affect most aspects of the lake ecosystem. During periods of high chironomid densities, chironomid larvae comprise over 90% of aquatic secondary production. Here, we show that chironomid larvae substantially stimulate benthic gross primary production (GPP) and net primary production (NPP), despite consuming benthic algae. Benthic GPP in experimental mesocosms with 140,000 larvae/m2 was 71% higher than in mesocosms with no larvae. Similarly, chlorophyll a concentrations in mesocosms increased significantly over the range of larval densities. Furthermore, larvae showed increased growth rates at higher densities, possibly due to greater benthic algal availability in these treatments. We investigated the hypothesis that larvae promote benthic algal growth by alleviating nutrient limitation, and found that (1) larvae have the potential to cycle the entire yearly external loadings of nitrogen and phosphorus during the growing season, and (2) chlorophyll a concentrations were significantly greater in close proximity to larvae (on larval tubes). The positive feedback between chironomid larvae and benthic algae generated a net mutualism between the primary consumer and primary producer trophic levels in the benthic ecosystem. Thus, our results give an example in which unexpected positive feedbacks can lead to both high primary and high secondary production.
Termites promote resistance of decomposition to spatiotemporal variability in rainfall
Authors: Veldhuis Michiel P. , Laso Francisco J. , Olff Han , Berg Matty P. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe ecological impact of rapid environmental change will depend on the resistance of key ecosystems processes, which may be promoted by species that exert strong control over local environmental conditions. Recent theoretical work suggests that macrodetritivores increase the resistance of African savanna ecosystems to changing climatic conditions, but experimental evidence is lacking. We examined the effect of large fungus‐growing termites and other non‐fungus‐growing macrodetritivores on decomposition rates empirically with strong spatiotemporal variability in rainfall and temperature. Non‐fungus‐growing larger macrodetritivores (earthworms, woodlice, millipedes) promoted decomposition rates relative to microbes and small soil fauna (+34%) but both groups reduced their activities with decreasing rainfall. However, fungus‐growing termites increased decomposition rates strongest (+123%) under the most water‐limited conditions, making overall decomposition rates mostly independent from rainfall. We conclude that fungus‐growing termites are of special importance in decoupling decomposition rates from spatiotemporal variability in rainfall due to the buffered environment they create within their extended phenotype (mounds), that allows decomposition to continue when abiotic conditions outside are less favorable. This points at a wider class of possibly important ecological processes, where soil‐plant‐animal interactions decouple ecosystem processes from large‐scale climatic gradients. This may strongly alter predictions from current climate change models.
A Single Electrochemical Probe Used for Analysis of Multiple Nucleic Acid Sequences
Authors: Mills Dawn M. , Calvo‐Marzal Percy , Pinzon Jeffer M. , Armas Stephanie , Kolpashchikov Dmitry M. , Chumbimuni‐Torres Karin Y. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractElectrochemical hybridization sensors have been explored extensively for analysis of specific nucleic acids. However, commercialization of the platform is hindered by the need for attachment of separate oligonucleotide probes complementary to a RNA or DNA target to an electrode's surface. Here we demonstrate that a single probe can be used to analyze several nucleic acid targets with high selectivity and low cost. The universal electrochemical four‐way junction (4J)‐forming (UE4J) sensor consists of a universal DNA stem‐loop (USL) probe attached to the electrode's surface and two adaptor strands (m and f) which hybridize to the USL probe and the analyte to form a 4J associate. The m adaptor strand was conjugated with a methylene blue redox marker for signal ON sensing and monitored using square wave voltammetry. We demonstrated that a single sensor can be used for detection of several different DNA/RNA sequences and can be regenerated in 30 seconds by a simple water rinse. The UE4J sensor enables a high selectivity by recognition of a single base substitution, even at room temperature. The UE4J sensor opens a venue for a re‐useable universal platform that can be adopted at low cost for the analysis of DNA or RNA targets.
Hybridization Biosensors Relying on Electrical Properties of Nucleic Acids
Authors: Ferapontova Elena E. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractElectrochemical nucleic acids (NA) technologies allow development of sensitive and accurate, yet simple, inexpensive and robust analytical platforms, which can successfully compete with other approaches. In this Review, I critically overview the basic trends in construction of label‐free DNA hybridization genosensors exploiting variations in electrical properties of the electrode‐immobilized NA. It will be discussed how interfacial and electronic properties of NA can be modulated to allow efficient biosensor applications, including the choice of the redox probe and use of alternative linkers and immobilization strategies These results contribute to understanding of interfacial ET reactions in DNA and advanced design of fast, reliable and cost‐effective diagnostic devices.
Complexation Based Voltammetric Determination of Pantoprazole Sodium in Pharmaceutical Formulations and Rabbit Plasma
Authors: Khashaba Pakinaz Y. , Ali Hassan Refat H. , El‐Wekil Mohamed M. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractSquare wave adsorptive stripping voltammetric (SQWASV) method has been utilized to confirm and elucidate the possible complexation reaction between pantoprazole sodium and cobalt as a transition metal in Britton‐Robinson buffer (pH=7.0). The current signal due to the oxidation process was a function of the amount of pantoprazole sodium, pH of the medium, cobalt concentration and accumulation time at the electrode surface. The oxidation peak current has varied linearly with the concentration over the range of 0.1–9.0 nM. The limit of detection was found to be 0.04 nM. The validity of the method was successfully applied for the determination of pantoprazole sodium in pharmaceutical formulations with a pharmacokinetic study in rabbit plasma. The simplicity, rapidity, sensitivity and selectivity of this method make it a very attractive alternative to the other existing methods in the quality control laboratories.
Preparation of Different Nickel–Iron/Titania–Alumina Catalysts for Hydrogen/Carbon Monoxide Methanation under Atmospheric Pressure
Authors: Cheng Chongbo , Wu Chunfei , Shen Dekui 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBimetallic Ni–Fe/TiO2–Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by using the titania–alumina composite as a support, which was synthesized through three different methods (precipitation, co‐precipitation, and sol–gel). The synthesized catalysts were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, temperature‐programmed reduction, and transmission electron microscopy. The catalytic performance of the catalysts for the methanation of syngas was studied under atmospheric pressure. Ni and Fe species were found to be highly dispersed on the TiO2–Al2O3 composite prepared by the sol–gel method, which led to good catalytic performance for CO conversion (≈96.7 %) and methane selectivity (≈94.7 %) at lower temperatures. In addition, less amorphous carbon was deposited on the used Ni–Fe/TiO2–Al2O3 catalyst prepared by the sol–gel method. This was ascribed to the evidenced core‐in‐shell structures (TiO2 shell with Al2O3 core) of the TiO2–Al2O3 composite prepared by the sol–gel method, which led to prominent stability of the catalyst (≈30 h). The results give an applicable guide for the highly efficient methanation of syngas under atmospheric pressure.
Disrupted female estrous cyclicity in the intrahippocampal kainic acid mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Li Jiang , Kim Jae Seong , Abejuela Vincent A. , Lamano Jason B. , Klein Natalie J. , Christian Catherine A. 
Published: November 2016

SummaryObjectiveReproductive dysfunction is a comorbidity that commonly occurs with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Characterization of this comorbidity in various models of TLE in mice will greatly facilitate mechanistic investigations of the relationship between reproductive disorders and seizures initiated in the hippocampus. Here we investigate the impact on female reproductive estrous cyclicity in the intrahippocampal kainic acid mouse model of TLE and demonstrate the utility of using this model for future mechanistic studies.MethodsKainic acid (KA) or saline vehicle was stereotaxically injected in the right dorsal hippocampus of adult female C57BL/6J mice. Development of epilepsy was assessed by video monitoring for behavioral seizures. Reproductive function was assessed by daily estrous cycle monitoring and ovarian morphology. Estrous cycles were monitored for up to 2 months after injection. Ovarian morphology was examined by histological staining and assessment of follicular and luteal development.ResultsWe observed spontaneous behavioral seizures in 82% of kainic‐acid‐treated mice. Irregular estrous cycles developed within 2 months after kainic acid injection. Sixty‐seven percent of KA‐treated mice showed disrupted estrous cycles, typically characterized by increased estrous cycle length, increased time spent in diestrus (nonfertile stage), and decreased time spent in estrus by 42 days post‐KA injection. The estrous cycle disruption, however, was not accompanied by major changes in ovarian morphology or follicular development. KA‐treated mice also displayed increased weight gain compared to control mice.SignificanceThese data indicate that comorbid female irregular estrous cyclicity arises in the intrahippocampal kainic acid mouse model of TLE. This is the first demonstration of disrupted reproductive endocrine function in a mouse model of TLE initially produced by an insult specifically targeted to the hippocampus. This model should thus be useful for basic studies investigating the neural mechanisms driving comorbid reproductive dysfunction in epilepsy in women.
Toxicity of individual pharmaceuticals and their mixtures to Aliivibrio fischeri: Evidence of toxicological interactions in binary combinations
Authors: Di Nica Valeria , Villa Sara , Finizio Antonio 
Published: November 2016

Abstract

The combined toxicities of binary mixtures of veterinary pharmaceutical active compounds were examined using the bioluminescent bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri as a test organism (Microtox® test). Mixtures were prepared at an equitoxic ratio that corresponded to the inhibitory concentration, 10% (IC10) of individual pharmaceutical active compounds. In addition, the toxicity was determined of a multicomponent mixture that contained all of the investigated pharmaceutical active compounds mixed at a ratio corresponding to their individual predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) values. The experimental results were successively compared with those obtained by applying the 2 most widely used models for predicting mixture toxicity, the concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA) models. Although the toxicity of the multicomponent mixture tested was well predicted by the CA and IA models, deviations from the model predictions were found for almost all of the binary mixtures. The deviations from the CA and IA models were greater at lower concentrations, particularly when diclofenac sodium and amoxicillin were present in the mixture. Based on these results, another hypothesis was tested, that of toxicological interactions occurring in binary mixtures (in the direction of synergistic or antagonistic effects), by applying the combination index method, which allowed for computerized quantification of synergism, the additive effect and antagonism. The application of this method confirmed, for at least half of the binary combinations, the clear presence of synergistic deviations at the lowest tested concentrations, with a tendency toward antagonism at the higher ones. In 1 case, a relevant antagonistic interaction was observed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:815–822. © 2016 SETAC