bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Climate drives plant–pollinator interactions even along small‐scale climate gradients: the case of the Aegean
Authors: Petanidou T. , Kallimanis A. S. , Lazarina M. , Tscheulin T. , Devalez J. , Stefanaki A. , Hanlidou E. , Vujić A. , Kaloveloni A. , Sgardelis S. P. 
Published: June 2017

Abstract

Plant–pollinator network structure is the outcome of ecological and evolutionary processes, and although the importance of environmental factors is beyond doubt, our knowledge of how abiotic factors (e.g. climate) shape plant–pollinator networks remains limited. This knowledge gap is critical, as climate change poses a major threat to ecosystems, especially in the Mediterranean. This study focuses on one of the hottest parts of the Mediterranean Basin, the Aegean Archipelago, Greece, and examines how climate affects species richness and network properties (e.g. nestedness, modularity and specialisation) – either directly or indirectly through species richness.

We sampled systematically 39 local plant–pollinator networks on eight islands along a north–south climate gradient in the Aegean. All plant–pollinator material used in the analyses was collected in 2012 and identified to species level. Aspects of climate used in the models were expressed as average conditions (mean temperature and annual precipitation) or as seasonal variability (isothermality and temperature seasonality).

Structural properties of plant–pollinator networks were found to be strongly associated with species richness, which was in turn affected by climate, implying that pollination network structure is driven indirectly by climate. In addition, climate had a direct effect on network structure, especially on modularity and specialisation. Different aspects of climate affected network properties in different ways.

We highlight that even in a relatively narrow latitudinal gradient, such as within the Aegean Sea region, climate constitutes a significant driver of plant–pollinator interactions.
Uncovering the contribution of epigenetics to plant phenotypic variation in Mediterranean ecosystems
Authors: Balao F. , Paun O. , Alonso C. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractEpigenetic signals can affect plant phenotype and fitness and be stably inherited across multiple generations. Epigenetic regulation plays a key role in the mechanisms of plant response to the environment, without altering DNA sequence. As plants cannot adapt behaviourally or migrate instantly, such dynamic epigenetic responses may be particularly crucial for survival of plants within changing and challenging environments, such as the Mediterranean‐Type Ecosystems (MTEs). These ecosystems suffer recurrent stressful events (warm and dry summers with associated fire regimes) that have selected for plants with similar phenotypic complex traits, resulting in similar vegetation growth forms. However, the potential role of epigenetics in plant adaptation to recurrent stressful environments such as the MTEs has generally been ignored. To understand the full spectrum of adaptive processes in such contexts, it is imperative to prompt study of the causes and consequences of epigenetic variation in natural populations. With this purpose, we review here current knowledge on epigenetic variation in natural populations and the genetic and epigenetic basis of some key traits for plants in the MTEs, namely those traits involved in adaptation to drought, fire and oligotrophic soils. We conclude there is still much to be learned about ‘plant epigenetics in the wild’ and, thus, we propose future research steps in the study of natural epigenetic variation of key traits in the MTEs at different scales.
Resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in wild Brassica species and the importance of Sclerotinia subarctica as a Brassica pathogen
Authors: Taylor A. , Rana K. , Handy C. , Clarkson J. P. 
Published: June 2017

Brassica crops are of global importance, with oilseed rape (Brassica napus) accounting for 13% of edible oil production. All Brassica species are susceptible to sclerotinia stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a generalist fungal pathogen causing disease in over 400 plant species. Generally, sources of plant resistance result in partial control of the pathogen although some studies have identified wild Brassica species that are highly resistant. The related pathogen S. subarctica has also been reported on Brassica but its aggressiveness in relation to S. sclerotiorum is unknown. In this study, detached leaf and petiole assays were used to identify new sources of resistance to S. sclerotiorum within a wild Brassica ‘C genome’ diversity set. High‐level resistance was observed in B. incana and B. cretica in petiole assays, whilst wild B. oleracea and B. incana lines were the most resistant in leaf assays. A B. bourgeai line showed both partial petiole and leaf resistance. Although there was no correlation between the two assays, resistance in the detached petiole assay was correlated with stem resistance in mature plants. When tested on commercial cultivars of B. napus, B. oleracea and B. rapa, selected isolates of S. subarctica exhibited aggressiveness comparable to S. sclerotiorum indicating it can be a significant pathogen of Brassica. This is the first study to identify B. cretica as a source of resistance to S. sclerotiorum and to report resistance in other wild Brassica species to a UK isolate, hence providing resources for breeding of resistant cultivars suitable for Europe.
Mixed Generalized Akaike Information Criterion for Small Area Models
Authors: Lombardía María José , López-Vizcaíno Esther , Rueda Cristina 
Published: June 2017

Summary
A mixed generalized Akaike information criterion xGAIC is introduced and validated. It is derived from a quasi-log-likelihood that focuses on the random effect and the variability between the areas, and from a generalized degree-of-freedom measure, as a model complexity penalty, which is calculated by the bootstrap. To study the performance of xGAIC, we consider three popular mixed models in small area inference: a Fay–Herriot model, a monotone model and a penalized spline model. A simulation study shows the good performance of xGAIC. Besides, we show its relevance in practice, with two real applications: the estimation of employed people by economic activity and the prevalence of smokers in Galician counties. In the second case, where it is unclear which explanatory variables should be included in the model, the problem of selection between these explanatory variables is solved simultaneously with the problem of the specification of the functional form between the linear, monotone or spline options.
Evaluating the Accuracy of Small P‐Values In Genetic Association Studies Using Edgeworth Expansions
Authors: Zheng Gang , Xiong Jinghong , Li Qizhai , Xu Jinfeng , Yuan Ao , Gastwirth Joe L. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe asymptotic distributions of many classical test statistics are normal. The resulting approximations are often accurate for commonly used significance levels, 0.05 or 0.01. In genome‐wide association studies, however, the significance level can be as low as 1×10−7, and the accuracy of the p‐values can be challenging. We study the accuracies of these small p‐values are using two‐term Edgeworth expansions for three commonly used test statistics in GWAS. These tests have nuisance parameters not defined under the null hypothesis but estimable. We derive results for this general form of testing statistics using Edgeworth expansions, and find that the commonly used score test, maximin efficiency robust test and the chi‐squared test are second order accurate in the presence of the nuisance parameter, justifying the use of the p‐values obtained from these tests in the genome‐wide association studies.
Arabidopsis WRKY2 and WRKY34 transcription factors interact with VQ20 protein to modulate pollen development and function
Authors: Lei Rihua , Li Xiaoli , Ma Zhenbing , Lv Yan , Hu Yanru , Yu Diqiu 
Published: June 2017

SummaryPlant male gametogenesis is tightly regulated, and involves complex and precise regulations of transcriptional reprogramming. WRKY transcription factors have been demonstrated to play critical roles in plant development and stress responses. Several members of this family physically interact with VQ motif‐containing proteins (VQ proteins) to mediate a plethora of programs in Arabidopsis; however, the involvement of WRKY–VQ complexes in plant male gametogenesis remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that WRKY2 and WKRY34 interact with VQ20 both in vitro and in vivo. Further experiments displayed that the conserved VQ motif of VQ20 is responsible for their physical interactions. The VQ20 protein localizes in the nucleus and specifically expresses in pollens. Phenotypic analysis showed that WRKY2, WRKY34 and VQ20 are crucial for pollen development and function. Mutations of WRKY2, WRKY34 and VQ20 simultaneously resulted in male sterility, with defects in pollen development, germination and tube growth. Further investigation revealed that VQ20 affects the transcriptional functions of its interacting WRKY partners. Complementation evidence supported that the VQ motif of VQ20 is essential for pollen development, as a mutant form of VQ20 in which LVQK residues in the VQ motif were replaced by EDLE did not rescue the phenotype of the w2‐1 w34‐1 vq20‐1 triple‐mutant plants. Further expression analysis indicated that WRKY2, WRKY34 and VQ20 co‐modulate multiple genes involved in pollen development, germination and tube growth. Taken together, our study provides evidence that VQ20 acts as a key partner of WRKY2 and WKRY34 in plant male gametogenesis.
Clinical features and outcomes in patients with thrombotic microangiopathy not associated with severe ADAMTS13 deficiency
Authors: Li Ang , Bendapudi Pavan K. , Uhl Lynne , Hamdan Ayad , Kaufman Richard M. , Makar Robert S. 
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUNDThe a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motifs, member 13 (ADAMTS13) activity assay has become important in distinguishing autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura from other forms of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Although the significance of severe deficiency in ADAMTS13 (activity levels 10% or less) has been well defined, little data are available on the clinical importance of mild to moderate deficiency (activity levels 11%‐70%) among patients with TMA.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSWe conducted a retrospective study using the Harvard TMA Research Collaborative Registry. Among 254 patients who met the inclusion criteria for TMA, 186 patients with ADAMTS13 activity levels greater than 10% were divided into moderate‐deficiency (11%‐40%), mild‐deficiency (41%‐70%), and no‐deficiency (greater than 70%).RESULTSCompared with mild or no deficiency, moderate ADAMTS13 deficiency correlated with older age; higher bilirubin and international normalized ratio; and increased frequency of sepsis, shock, or multiorgan failure. Platelet counts, lactate dehydrogenase levels, and the presence of renal or neurologic dysfunction did not vary across the three patient cohorts. While moderate ADAMTS13 deficiency was associated with increased 90‐day mortality in univariate analysis, this association was no longer significant in multivariate analysis. Variables that independetly predicted 90‐day mortality in this cohort of patients included Charlson comorbidity index, alanine aminotransferase level, platelet count, creatinine, and the presence of sepsis, shock, or multiorgan failure.CONCLUSIONModerately deficient ADAMTS13 activity identifies a cohort of patients with TMA who are at increased risk for 90‐day mortality. The ADAMTS13 activity level in this group is not an independent predictor of poor outcomes but instead appears to be a marker of disease acuity.
Proteomic analysis of red blood cells from donors exhibiting high hemolysis demonstrates a reduction in membrane‐associated proteins involved in the oxidative response
Authors: Chen Deborah , Schubert Peter , Devine Dana V. 
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUNDThe development of hemolysis during ex vivo hypothermic storage is multifaceted. Standardization of collection and production processes is used to minimize variability in biologics manufacturing and to maximize product quality. However, the influence of various donor characteristics on product quality is often difficult to evaluate and to control. Using a proteomic approach, we aimed to decipher relevant donor characteristics that may predict red blood cell (RBC) quality during storage.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSTen healthy volunteer donors exhibiting repeated high hemolysis at outdate (>0.8%; RBCHH) and 10 age‐ and sex‐matched control donors (RBCCtrl) were studied. Common quality variables were measured on Days 5, 14, 21, 28, and 42 of storage. Protein profiles of hemoglobin‐depleted membrane fractions from RBCHH and RBCCtrl donors were analyzed using a quantitative proteomics approach based on iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation).RESULTSTime‐dependent lesion development was apparent in both donor populations. RBCHH exhibited reduced 2,3‐bisphosphoglycerate levels (p < 0.001) and morphologic score (p < 0.001), but displayed elevated hemolysis level (p < 0.001), RBC‐derived microvesicle formation (p < 0.001), and mean corpuscular fragility (p < 0.001) compared to RBCCtrl, indicating notable differences at the membrane between the two donor populations. Proteomic findings revealed a significant reduction in the level of proteins involved in oxidative response pathways at early time points in RBCHH compared to that of RBCCtrl.CONCLUSIONThe recruitment of these candidate proteins might be part of a response mechanism altered in RBCHH donors and therefore may be useful as a donor screening tool.
Snake spectacle vessel permeability to sodium fluorescein
Authors: Bellhorn Roy W. , Strom Ann R. , Motta Monica J. , Doval John , Hawkins Michelle G. , Paul‐Murphy Joanne 
Published: June 2017

AbstractObjectiveAssess vascular permeability of the snake spectacle to sodium fluorescein during resting and shedding phases of the ecdysis cycle.Animal studiedBall python (Python regius).ProceduresThe snake was anesthetized, and spectral domain optic coherence tomography was performed prior to angiographic procedures. An electronically controlled digital single‐lens reflex camera with a dual‐head flash equipped with filters suitable for fluorescein angiography was used to make images. Sodium fluorescein (10%) solution was administered by intracardiac injection. Angiographic images were made as fluorescein traversed the vasculature of the iris and spectacle. Individually acquired photographic frames were assessed and sequenced into pseudovideo image streams for further evaluationConclusionsFluorescein angiograms of the snake spectacle were readily obtained. Vascular permeability varied with the phase of ecdysis. Copious leakage of fluorescein occurred during the shedding phase. This angiographic method may provide diverse opportunities to investigate vascular aspects of snake spectacle ecdysis, dysecdysis, and the integument in general.
Effect of body position, eyelid manipulation, and manual jugular compression on intraocular pressure in clinically normal cats
Authors: Rajaei Seyed Mehdi , Asadi Faezeh , Rajabian Mohammad Reza , Ostadhassan Hesam , Crasta Manuela 
Published: June 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the effect of body position, eyelid manipulation, and manual jugular compression on intraocular pressure (IOP) in clinically normal cats.Animal studiedTwenty‐one adult client‐owned domestic shorthair catsProceduresThe IOP was measured by means of rebound tonometer. A baseline IOP was measured in all cats in ventral recumbency with normal head position (horizontal to the ground) with no pressure on the neck or eyelids. To measure the IOP in dorsal recumbency, each cat was held in the dorsal recumbency position for 5 min. Four different manipulations were used, including maximal dorsoventral extension of the eyelids, lateral eyelid extension, manual compression of the ipsilateral jugular vein, and manual compression of both jugular veins. IOP after all the manipulations was measured in ventral recumbency.ResultsOverall the mean ± SD IOP values of all eyes in ventral recumbency, dorsal recumbency, maximal dorsoventral extension of the eyelids, lateral eyelid extension, compression of the right jugular vein, compression of the left jugular vein, and compression of the both jugular veins were 16.1 ± 2.9 mmHg, 17.1 ± 5.0 mmHg, 21.7 ± 5.8 mmHg, 22.4 ± 5.6 mmHg, 15.0 ± 3.7 mmHg, 14.9 ± 3.7 mmHg, and 16.1 ± 4.6 mmHg, respectively. IOP was increased significantly in maximal dorsoventral extension of the eyelids (P = 0.001) and lateral eyelid extension (P = 0.001) compared to baseline.ConclusionsResults of this study may be beneficial for clinicians to be aware of the effects of body position, traction, and compression of the eyelids and neck on IOP during ophthalmic examination in cats.
MALAYSIAN SEA WATER LEVEL PATTERN DERIVED FROM 19 YEARS TIDAL DATA
Authors: Md Din Ami Hassan , Abdul Hamid Amalina Izzati , Mohammad Yazid Nornajihah , Tugi Astina , Khalid Nur Fadila , Mohd Omar Kamaludin , Ahmad Anuar 
Published: June 2017

Long-term water level changes have generally been estimated using tidal data. Tide gauges are common tools used to determine the continuous time series of relative water level. This paper presents an effort to interpret the water level from tidal data over Malaysian seas. There are 21 tide gauge stations involved and taken from Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (PSMSL) with monthly averaged data from 1993 to 2011. The monthly tidal data is then converted to tidal sea level anomaly. For sea level trend analysis, robust fit regression is employed. Next, the sea levels were analysed based on the pattern of seasonal variation and extreme meteorological effects such as El-Nino and La-Nina. In summary, the relative sea level trend in Malaysian seas is rising and varying from 2 to 6.5 mm/yr. This study offers valuable sea level information to be applied in wide range of climatology, related environmental issue such as flood and global warming in Malaysia.
Tren Pembelajaran Menggunakan Multimedia Interaktif dalam Bidang Pendidikan Teknikal: Satu Sorotan Literatur
Authors: Salsidu Siti Zulaidah , Azman Mohamed Nor Azhari , Abdullah Mai Shihah 
Published: June 2017

Technology should be in harmony with the progress of education in the country. The rapid development in information technology and computing, indirectly change the education system in Malaysia. Teachers nowadays just not teach by “chalk and talk”, but they are also exposed to the utilization of technology in teaching. This scenario triggers the rapid usage of Information Technologies in teaching and learning process. This study was intended to display the trend of learning using Interactive Multimedia in Technical Education. It examined and reviewed the changing trends of Multimedia Interactive Learning patterns of the usage of multimedia educational media with emphasis in Technical Education between the years of 1900-2013 and served as the conceptual framework for the study. Thus, it forecasts the perspective on the usage of Interactive Multimedia and could assist the learning and teaching process in the school.
A study of the process e+ + e−→ e+ + e− + p + p̄ by the two-photon mechanism γγ → pp̄ at high energies
Authors: Ahmadov Azad I. 
Published: June 2017

In this paper, we consider the exclusive production of proton–antiproton pairs in the interaction between two quasireal photons in [Formula: see text] collision. The differential and total cross-section of the process [Formula: see text] at a beam energy of photons from 2.1 GeV to 4.5 GeV in the center-of-mass and for different values of [Formula: see text] is calculated. At energy [Formula: see text] the total cross-section process of the [Formula: see text] is calculated by the two-photon mechanism. The results are in satisfactory agreement with the experimental data.
Genomic Alterations in Fatal Forms of Non-Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: Identification of MED12 and RBM10 as Novel Thyroid Cancer Genes Associated with Tumor Virulence
Authors: Ibrahimpasic Tihana , Xu Bin , Landa Iñigo , Dogan Snjezana , Middha Sumit , Seshan Venkatraman , Deraje Shyam , Carlson Diane L. , Migliacci Jocelyn , Knauf Jeffrey A. , Untch Brian , Berger Michael F. , Morris Luc , Tuttle R. Michael , Chan Timothy , Fagin James A. , Ghossein Ronald , Ganly Ian 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
Purpose: Patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) have a very high death rate. In contrast, deaths from non-anaplastic thyroid (NAT) cancer are much less common. The genetic alterations in fatal NAT cancers have not been reported.
Experimental Design: We performed next-generation sequencing of 410 cancer genes from 57 fatal NAT primary cancers. Results were compared with The Cancer Genome Atlas study (TCGA study) of papillary thyroid cancers (PTCs) and to the genomic changes reported in ATC.
Results: There was a very high prevalence of TERT promoter mutations, comparable with that of ATC, and these co-occurred with BRAF and RAS mutations. A high incidence of chromosome 1q gain was seen highlighting its importance in tumor aggressiveness. Two novel fusion genes DLG5–RET and OSBPL1A–BRAF were identified. There was a high frequency of mutations in MED12 and these were mutually exclusive to TERT promoter mutations and also to BRAF and RAS mutations. In addition, a high frequency of mutations in RBM10 was identified and these co-occurred with RAS mutations and PIK3CA mutations. Compared with the PTCs in TCGA, there were higher frequencies of mutations in TP53, POLE, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway effectors, SWI/SNF subunits, and histone methyltransferases.
Conclusions: These data support a model, whereby fatal NAT cancers arise from well-differentiated tumors through the accumulation of key additional genetic abnormalities. The high rate of TERT promoter mutations, MED12 mutations, RBM10 mutations, and chromosome 1q gain highlight their likely association with tumor virulence. Clin Cancer Res; 23(19); 5970–80. ©2017 AACR.
Understanding the Mechanisms behind the Northward Extension of the West African Monsoon during the Mid-Holocene
Authors: Gaetani Marco , Messori Gabriele , Zhang Qiong , Flamant Cyrille , Pausata Francesco S. R. 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
Understanding the West African monsoon (WAM) dynamics in the mid-Holocene (MH) is a crucial issue in climate modeling, because numerical models typically fail to reproduce the extensive precipitation suggested by proxy evidence. This discrepancy may be largely due to the assumption of both unrealistic land surface cover and atmospheric aerosol concentration. In this study, the MH environment is simulated in numerical experiments by imposing extensive vegetation over the Sahara and the consequent reduction in airborne dust concentration. A dramatic increase in precipitation is simulated across the whole of West Africa, up to the Mediterranean coast. This precipitation response is in better agreement with proxy data, in comparison with the case in which only changes in orbital forcing are considered. Results show a substantial modification of the monsoonal circulation, characterized by an intensification of large-scale deep convection through the entire Sahara, and a weakening and northward shift (~6.5°) of the African easterly jet. The greening of the Sahara also leads to a substantial reduction in the African easterly wave activity and associated precipitation. The reorganization of the regional atmospheric circulation is driven by the vegetation effect on radiative forcing and associated heat fluxes, with the reduction in dust concentration to enhance this response. The results for the WAM in the MH present important implications for understanding future climate scenarios in the region and in teleconnected areas, in the context of projected wetter conditions in West Africa.