bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing uncertainties in land cover projections
Authors: Alexander Peter , Prestele Reinhard , Verburg Peter H. , Arneth Almut , Baranzelli Claudia , Batista e Silva Filipe , Brown Calum , Butler Adam , Calvin Katherine , Dendoncker Nicolas , Doelman Jonathan C. , Dunford Robert , Engström Kerstin , Eitelberg David , Fujimori Shinichiro , Harrison Paula A. , Hasegawa Tomoko , Havlik Petr , Holzhauer Sascha , Humpenöder Florian , Jacobs‐Crisioni Chris , Jain Atul K. , Krisztin Tamás , Kyle Page , Lavalle Carlo , Lenton Tim , Liu Jiayi , Meiyappan Prasanth , Popp Alexander , Powell Tom , Sands Ronald D. , Schaldach Rüdiger , Stehfest Elke , Steinbuks Jevgenijs , Tabeau Andrzej , van Meijl Hans , Wise Marshall A. , Rounsevell Mark D. A. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractUnderstanding uncertainties in land cover projections is critical to investigating land‐based climate mitigation policies, assessing the potential of climate adaptation strategies and quantifying the impacts of land cover change on the climate system. Here, we identify and quantify uncertainties in global and European land cover projections over a diverse range of model types and scenarios, extending the analysis beyond the agro‐economic models included in previous comparisons. The results from 75 simulations over 18 models are analysed and show a large range in land cover area projections, with the highest variability occurring in future cropland areas. We demonstrate systematic differences in land cover areas associated with the characteristics of the modelling approach, which is at least as great as the differences attributed to the scenario variations. The results lead us to conclude that a higher degree of uncertainty exists in land use projections than currently included in climate or earth system projections. To account for land use uncertainty, it is recommended to use a diverse set of models and approaches when assessing the potential impacts of land cover change on future climate. Additionally, further work is needed to better understand the assumptions driving land use model results and reveal the causes of uncertainty in more depth, to help reduce model uncertainty and improve the projections of land cover.
Genetically informed ecological niche models improve climate change predictions
Authors: Ikeda Dana H. , Max Tamara L. , Allan Gerard J. , Lau Matthew K. , Shuster Stephen M. , Whitham Thomas G. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWe examined the hypothesis that ecological niche models (ENMs) more accurately predict species distributions when they incorporate information on population genetic structure, and concomitantly, local adaptation. Local adaptation is common in species that span a range of environmental gradients (e.g., soils and climate). Moreover, common garden studies have demonstrated a covariance between neutral markers and functional traits associated with a species’ ability to adapt to environmental change. We therefore predicted that genetically distinct populations would respond differently to climate change, resulting in predicted distributions with little overlap. To test whether genetic information improves our ability to predict a species’ niche space, we created genetically informed ecological niche models (gENMs) usingPopulus fremontii(Salicaceae), a widespread tree species in which prior common garden experiments demonstrate strong evidence for local adaptation. Four major findings emerged: (i)gENMs predicted population occurrences with up to 12‐fold greater accuracy than models without genetic information; (ii) tests of niche similarity revealed that three ecotypes, identified on the basis of neutral genetic markers and locally adapted populations, are associated with differences in climate; (iii) our forecasts indicate that ongoing climate change will likely shift these ecotypes further apart in geographic space, resulting in greater niche divergence; (iv) ecotypes that currently exhibit the largest geographic distribution and niche breadth appear to be buffered the most from climate change. As diverse agents of selection shape genetic variability and structure within species, we argue thatgENMs will lead to more accurate predictions of species distributions under climate change.
Expression of activated Notch1 and Hey1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Jung Chang Won , Kong Jun Suk , Seol Hyesil , Park Sunhoo , Koh Jae Soo , Lee Seung‐Sook , Kim Min Joo , Choi Ik Joon , Myung Jae Kyung 
Published: August 2016

AimsThe Notch signalling pathway is involved in normal development as well as tumorigenesis. However, it is unclear whether Notch activation is related to diverse clinicopathological factors in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).Methods and resultsWe examined the relationship between clinicopathological factors and the expression of activated Notch1 and Hey1, which are indicators of Notch signalling pathway activation, in 109 PTC cases. Activated Notch1 showed strong, moderate and weak expression in 23, 48 and 36 cases, respectively. Its expression was related significantly to histopathological variants (P = 0.007), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.016), BRAF mutation (P = 0.036) and extent of surgery (P = 0.014). Hey1 immunostaining could be divided into two groups: positive and negative, with 26 and 83 cases, respectively. Its expression was related significantly to histopathological variants (P = 0.026), extrathyroidal extension (P = 0.005), BRAF mutation (P = 0.048) and recurrence or soft tissue metastasis (P = 0.000). Multivariate analysis revealed that tumour size (>1 cm), Hey1 immunoreactivity and the presence of lymph node metastasis were associated significantly with recurrence or soft tissue metastasis (odds ratio = 7.38, 4.28 and 12.00, respectively).ConclusionsThus, we found that activation of Notch signalling was correlated significantly with clinicopathological parameters. Therefore, Notch signalling could be a useful prognostic marker in patients with PTC.
Antiviral activity of aspirin against RNA viruses of the respiratory tract—an in vitro study
Authors: Glatthaar‐Saalmüller Bernadette , Mair Kerstin H. , Saalmüller Armin 
Published: August 2016

AimAspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) has been used for more than 115 years in medicine. Research exists to show that aspirin has antiviral effects in vitro, for example, by blocking influenza virus propagation via NF‐κB inhibition when used at high concentrations and short‐term incubation steps. The aim of this study was to confirm the antiviral activity of aspirin against influenza virus and further elucidate the activity of aspirin against other respiratory viruses.MethodsTests to detect antiviral activity were performed using plaque‐reduction assays. Aspirin was administered to the virus‐infected cell cultures one hour after infection. Prior to these assays, the non‐cytotoxic concentrations of aspirin on cells used for propagation of the respective viruses were determined.ResultsAspirin was found to be highly effective against influenza A H1N1 virus. The antiviral activity against further respiratory RNA viruses was less distinct. Respiratory syncytial virus was minimally inhibited. However, the activity of aspirin against rhinoviruses was more pronounced. Aspirin demonstrated antiviral activity against all human rhinoviruses (HRV), but the effect on members of the “major group” viruses, namely HRV14 and HRV39, was greater than on those of the “minor group,” HRV1A and HRV2.ConclusionsThese data demonstrate a specific antiviral activity of aspirin against influenza A virus and HRV. The mode of action against rhinoviruses is still unknown and requires further investigation, as does the possibility of aspirin being effective in vivo to treat the common cold.
Thermal plasticity inDrosophila melanogasterpopulations from eastern Australia: quantitative traits to transcripts
Authors: Clemson A. S. , Sgrò C. M. , Telonis‐Scott M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe flexibility afforded to genotypes in different environments by phenotypic plasticity is of interest to biologists studying thermal adaptation because of the thermal lability of many traits. Differences in thermal performance and reaction norms can provide insight into the evolution of thermal adaptation to explore broader questions such as species distributions and persistence under climate change. One approach is to study the effects of temperature on fitness, morphological and more recently gene expression traits in populations from different climatic origins. The diverse climatic conditions experienced byDrosophila melanogasteralong the eastern Australian temperate‐tropical gradient are ideal given the high degree of continuous trait differentiation, but reaction norm variation has not been well studied in this system. Here, we reared a tropical and temperate population from the ends of the gradient over six developmental temperatures and examined reaction norm variation for five quantitative traits including thermal performance for fecundity, and reaction norms for thermotolerance, body size, viability and 23 transcript‐level traits. Despite genetic variation for some quantitative traits, we found no differentiation between the populations for fecundity thermal optima and breadth, and the reaction norms for the other traits were largely parallel, supporting previous work suggesting that thermal evolution occurs by changes in trait means rather than by reaction norm shifts. We examined reaction norm variation in our expanded thermal regime for a gene set shown to previously exhibit GxE for expression plasticity in east Australian flies, as well as key heat‐shock genes. Although there were differences in curvature between the populations suggesting a higher degree of thermal plasticity in expression patterns than for the quantitative traits, we found little evidence to support a role for genetic variation in maintaining expression plasticity.
Isolation by Time During an Arctic Phytoplankton Spring Bloom
Authors: Tammilehto Anna , Watts Phillip C. , Lundholm Nina 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe arctic phytoplankton spring bloom, which is often diatom‐dominated, is a key event that provides the high latitude communities with a fundamental flux of organic carbon. During a bloom, phytoplankton may increase its biomass by orders of magnitude within days. Yet, very little is known about phytoplankton bloom dynamics, including for example how blooming affects genetic composition and diversity of a population. Here, we quantified the genetic composition and temporal changes of the diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus, which is one of the most important primary producers in the Arctic, during the spring bloom in western Greenland, using 13 novel microsatellite markers developed for this study. We found that genetic differentiation (quantified using sample‐specific FST) decreased between time points as the bloom progressed, with the most drastic changes in FST occurring at the start of the bloom; thus the genetic structure of the bloom is characterized by isolation by time. There was little temporal variation in genetic diversity throughout the bloom (mean HE = 0.57), despite marked fluctuations in F. cylindrus cell concentrations and the temporal change in sample‐specific FST. On the basis of this novel pattern of genetic differentiation, we suggest that blooming behavior may promote genetic diversity of a phytoplankton population.
Mycamoeba gemmipara nov. gen., nov. sp., the First Cultured Member of the Environmental Dermamoebidae Clade LKM74 and its Unusual Life Cycle
Authors: Blandenier Quentin , Seppey Christophe V. W. , Singer David , Vlimant Michèle , Simon Anaële , Duckert Clément , Lara Enrique 
Published: August 2016

AbstractSince the first environmental DNA surveys, entire groups of sequences called “environmental clades” did not have any cultured representative. LKM74 is an amoebozoan clade affiliated to Dermamoebidae, whose presence is pervasively reported in soil and freshwater. We obtained an isolate from soil that we assigned to LKM74 by molecular phylogeny, close related to freshwater clones. We described Mycamoeba gemmipara based on observations made with light‐ and transmission electron microscopy. It is an extremely small amoeba with typical lingulate shape. Unlike other Dermamoebidae, it lacked ornamentation on its cell membrane, and condensed chromatin formed characteristic patterns in the nucleus. M. gemmipara displayed a unique life cycle: trophozoites formed walled coccoid stages which grew through successive buddings and developed into branched structures holding cysts. These structures, measuring hundreds of micrometres, are built as the exclusive product of osmotrophic feeding. To demonstrate that M. gemmipara is a genuine soil inhabitant, we screened its presence in an environmental soil DNA diversity survey performed on an experimental setup where pig cadavers were left to decompose in soils to follow changes in eukaryotic communities. Mycamoeba gemmipara was present in all samples, although related reads were uncommon underneath the cadaver.
Effect of different polysaccharides on swelling of composite whey protein hydrogels: A low field (LF) NMR relaxometry study
Authors: Ozel Baris , Uguz Sirvan S. , Kilercioglu Mete , Grunin Leonid , Oztop Mecit H. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractHydrogels are usually prepared from hydrophilic polymers and when different types of polymers are blended or emulsified with an oil phase the resulting gel is usually known as a composite gel. The objective of this study was to analyze the water uptake characteristics of whey protein‐polysaccharide containing composite hydrogels. Composite and composite emulsion gels were formulated in this study using whey protein, xanthan (XN), pectin (PC), alginate (AL), and sunflower oil. Water absorption of hydrogels was studied using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxometry through transverse relaxation time (T2) measurements, and Non‐Negative‐Least‐Square (NNLS) analysis. Swelling ratios (SR) of different gels were determined. Swelling of the gels was also evaluated mathematically and water uptake of hydrogels was explained by the power law model and diffusion rate constants based on power law model were determined. Results showed that NMR relaxometry could be used to differentiate water uptake mechanisms of composite hydrogels.Practical applicationsBiodegradable hydrogels provide controlled delivery of nutrients, bioactive agents such as antioxidants and antimicrobial agents at a desired site and time and at a specific rate. Incorporating bioactive agents to these gels also protects sensitive nutrients and may increase the shelf life of some potential food products. The swelling characteristics of hydrogels provide information about the possible release behavior of the hydrogels. When a hydrogel is loaded with an agent and placed in an aqueous medium, usually the release rate of the agent from the gel and the swelling ratio (SR) of the gel due to solvent uptake from the surrounding medium is proportional to each other. In this study, effects of different polysaccharides on the SR of composite whey protein hydrogels were determined by NMR relaxometry. NMR enabled fast and easy monitoring for hydrogel swelling. Furthermore, NMR provided more detailed information on swelling mechanism than conventional methods proving potential for further applications.
Simplifying The Big Mac Index
Authors: Clements Kenneth W. , Si Jiawei 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe Economist magazine recently introduced a major innovation to its famous Big Mac Index of currency values by adjusting for differences in incomes of countries. A recent paper (O'Brien and Ruiz de Vargas, , OR) explains clearly the workings of the new index, something overlooked by The Economist. The current article draws on OR to suggest an alternative formulation that is attractive in its simplicity.
The palatal dentition of tetrapods and its functional significance
Authors: Matsumoto Ryoko , Evans Susan E. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe presence of a palatal dentition is generally considered to be the primitive condition in amniotes, with each major lineage showing a tendency toward reduction. This study highlights the variation in palatal tooth arrangements and reveals clear trends within the evolutionary history of tetrapods. Major changes occurred in the transition between early tetrapods and amphibians on the one hand, and stem amniotes on the other. These changes reflect the function of the palatal dentition, which can play an important role in holding and manipulating food during feeding. Differences in the arrangement of palatal teeth, and in their pattern of loss, likely reflect differences in feeding strategy but also changes in the arrangement of cranial soft tissues, as the palatal dentition works best with a well‐developed mobile tongue. It is difficult to explain the loss of palatal teeth in terms of any single factor, but palatal tooth patterns have the potential to provide new information on diet and feeding strategy in extinct taxa.
The global burden of hepatitis E outbreaks: a systematic review
Authors: Hakim Mohamad S. , Wang Wenshi , Bramer Wichor M. , Geng Jiawei , Huang Fen , de Man Robert A. , Peppelenbosch Maikel P. , Pan Qiuwei 
Published: August 2016

AbstractHepatitis E virus (HEV) is responsible for repeated water‐borne outbreaks since the past century, representing an emerging issue in public health. However, the global burden ofHEVoutbreak has not been comprehensively described. We performed a systematic review of confirmedHEVoutbreaks based on published literatures.HEVoutbreaks have mainly been reported from Asian and African countries, and only a few from European and American countries. India represents a country with the highest number of reportedHEVoutbreaks.HEVgenotypes 1 and 2 were responsible for most of the large outbreaks in developing countries. During the outbreaks in developing countries, a significantly higher case fatality rate was observed in pregnant women. In fact, outbreaks have occurred both in open and closed populations. The control measures mainly depend upon improvement of sanitation and hygiene. This study highlights thatHEVoutbreak is not new, yet it is a continuous global health problem.
Resource partitioning among air‐breathing marine predators: are body size and mouth diameter the major determinants?
Authors: Saporiti Fabiana , Bearhop Stuart , Vales Damián G. , Silva Laura , Zenteno Lisette , Tavares Mauricio , Crespo Enrique A. , Cardona Luis 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAlthough the body size of consumers may be a determinant factor in structuring food webs, recent evidence indicates that body size may fail to fully explain differences in the resource use patterns of predators in some situations. Here we compared the trophic niche of three sympatric and sexually dimorphic air‐breathing marine predators (the South American sea lion, Otaria flavescens, the South American fur seal, Arctocephalus australis, and the Magellanic penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus) in three areas of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (Río de la Plata and adjoining areas, Northern Patagonia and Southern Patagonia), in order to assess the importance of body size and mouth diameter in determining resource partitioning. Body weight and palate/bill breadth were used to characterize the morphology of each sex and species, whereas the trophic niche was assessed through the use of stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen. The quantitative method Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R (SIBER) was used to compute the area of the Bayesian ellipses and the overlap of the isotopic niches. The results showed that morphological similarity was significantly correlated with isotopic distance between groups within the δ13C–δ15N bi‐plot space in the Río de la Plata area, but not in Northern and Southern Patagonia. Furthermore, resource partitioning between groups changed regionally, and some morphologically distinct groups exhibited a large trophic overlap in certain areas, such as the case of male penguins and male sea lions in Southern Patagonia. Conversely, female sea lions always overlapped with the much larger males of the same species, but never overlapped with the morphologically similar male fur seals. These results indicate that body size and mouth diameter are just two of the factors involved in resource partitioning within the guild of air‐breathing predators considered here, and for whom – under certain environmental conditions – other factors are more important than morphology.
Rapid transcriptional acclimation following transgenerational exposure of oysters to ocean acidification
Authors: Goncalves Priscila , Anderson Kelli , Thompson Emma L. , Melwani Aroon , Parker Laura m. , Ross Pauline M. , Raftos David A. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMarine organisms need to adapt in order to cope with the adverse effects of ocean acidification and warming. Transgenerational exposure to CO2 stress has been shown to enhance resilience to ocean acidification in offspring from a number of species. However, the molecular basis underlying such adaptive responses is currently unknown. Here, we compared the transcriptional profiles of two genetically distinct oyster breeding lines following transgenerational exposure to elevated CO2 in order to explore the molecular basis of acclimation or adaptation to ocean acidification in these organisms. The expression of key target genes associated with antioxidant defence, metabolism and the cytoskeleton was assessed in oysters exposed to elevated CO2 over three consecutive generations. This set of target genes was chosen specifically to test whether altered responsiveness of intracellular stress mechanisms contributes to the differential acclimation of oyster populations to climate stressors. Transgenerational exposure to elevated CO2 resulted in changes to both basal and inducible expression of those key target genes (e.g. ecSOD, catalase and peroxiredoxin 6), particularly in oysters derived from the disease‐resistant, fast‐growing B2 line. Exposure to CO2 stress over consecutive generations produced opposite and less evident effects on transcription in a second population that was derived from wild‐type (nonselected) oysters. The analysis of key target genes revealed that the acute responses of oysters to CO2 stress appear to be affected by population‐specific genetic and/or phenotypic traits and by the CO2 conditions to which their parents had been exposed. This supports the contention that the capacity for heritable change in response to ocean acidification varies between oyster breeding lines and is mediated by parental conditioning.