bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Silencing of odorant binding protein gene AlinOBP4 by RNAi induces declining electrophysiological responses of Adelphocoris lineolatus to six semiochemicals
Authors: Zhang Xue‐Ying , Zhu Xiao‐Qiang , Gu Shao‐Hua , Zhou Yan‐Le , Wang Song‐Ying , Zhang Yong‐Jun , Guo Yu‐Yuan 
Published: June 2016

AbstractOdorant binding proteins (OBPs) are believed to be important for transporting semiochemicals through the aqueous sensillar lymph to the olfactory receptor cells within the insect antennal sensilla. Here, we injected AlinOBP4‐siRNA into the conjunctivum between prothorax and mesothorax of the lucerne plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatus and evaluated the silencing of AlinOBP4 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) analysis, quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR) test and electroantennogram (EAG) assay. The combination of RT‐PCR and qPCR analyses revealed that the levels of messenger RNA transcript were significantly reduced ∼95% in AlinOBP4‐siRNA‐treated A. lineolatus males and ∼75% in RNAi‐treated females within 48 hours. It was found that there are different EAG responses between male and female bugs when the AlinOBP4 gene was silenced by RNAi. The EAGs of A. lineolatus to two plant volatiles, tridecanal and hexyl alcohol, were reduced 9.09% and 79.45% in RNAi‐treated males, 62.08% and 62.08% in RNAi‐treated females compared to the controls, separately. Antennae of RNAi‐treated bugs showed significantly lower electrophysiological responses to four sex pheromone analogs, butyl butanoate, 1‐hexyl butyrate, (E)‐2‐hexenyl butyrate and hexyl hexanoate. The EAG recordings were reduced 35.43%, 35.24%, 39.96% and 78.47% in RNAi‐treated males and 64.52%, 18.13%, 36.88% and 49.52% in RNAi‐treated females, respectively. The results suggested that AlinOBP4 might play dual‐roles in the identification of plant volatiles and sex pheromones. It was suspected that AlinOBP4 may have different functions in odor perception between male and female A. lineolatus.
Unrecognized diversity in New Guinean crayfish species (Decapoda, Parastacidae): The evidence from molecular data
Authors: BLÁHA Martin , PATOKA Jiří , KOZÁK Pavel , KOUBA Antonín 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe phylogenetic relationships among imported ornamental crayfish belonging to the genus Cherax were inferred from a combined dataset of 3 mitochondrial genes (COI, 16S and 12S) and by comparison with available GenBank sequences of 14 Cherax species. Furthermore, the concordance of previously described species obtained from a wholesaler (Cherax boesemani, C. holthuisi and C. peknyi) with available GenBank sequences was verified based on COI with special respect to comparison with sequences assigned as Cherax species. Recently described species C. gherardiae, C. pulcher and C. subterigneus belong to the northern group of Cherax species. Comparison and analysis with other GenBank COI sequences show previously unreported diversity of New Guinean species, suggesting 5 putative new species. Surprisingly, species assigned to the subgenus Astaconephrops do not form a monophyletic clade; this subgenus should be reappraised relative to the purported typical morphological characteristic of the uncalcified patch on male chelae. Increasing importation of crayfish underscores the importance of accurate species identification. Use of basic molecular methods is a necessary requisite for documenting occurrence, abundance and population trends of target species. Consequently, it helps to support eventual conservation decision‐making by stakeholders.
Dispersal of invasive Phytolacca americana seeds by birds in an urban garden in China
Authors: LI Ning , YANG Wen , FANG Shubo , LI Xinhai , LIU Zhanchen , LENG Xin , AN Shuqing 
Published: June 2016

AbstractAlthough seed dispersal is a key process determining the regeneration and spread of invasive plant populations, few studies have explicitly addressed the link between dispersal vector behavior and seedling recruitment to gain insight into the invasion process within an urban garden context. We evaluated the role of bird vectors in the dispersal of pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), a North American herb that is invasive in urban gardens in China. Fruiting P. americana attracted both generalist and specialist bird species that fed on and dispersed its seeds. The generalist species Pycnonotus sinensis and Urocissa erythrorhyncha were the most frequent dispersers. Seedling numbers of P. americana were strongly associated with the perching behavior of frugivorous birds. If newly recruited bird species use seedling‐safe perching sites, the P. americana will regenerate faster, which would enhance its invasive potential. Based on our observations, we conclude that the 2 main bird vectors, P. sinensis and U. erythrorhyncha, provide potential effective dispersal agents for P. americana. Our results highlight the role of native birds in seed dispersal of invasive plants in urban gardens.
Cancer risk of sulfonylureas in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review
Authors: Chen Yuehong , Du Liang , Li Ling , Ma Jun , Geng Xingyuan , Yao Xun , Liu Guanjian , Sun Xin 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBackgroundIncreasing evidence suggests that oral hypoglycemic agents used in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may affect cancer risk. Sulfonylureas (SUs) are the most frequently used antidiabetic medications for T2DM. Whether using SUs has any effect on cancer has received considerable attention. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of SUs on cancer risk in T2DM patients.MethodsPublished studies were identified in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Register of Clinical Studies, and ClinicalTrials.gov was searched for additional information to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and case–control studies. The abstracts and full text were screened, data collected, and the risk of bias assessed for each individual study.ResultsSeventy‐seven studies (33 RCTs, 27 cohort studies, and 17 case–control studies) were analyzed. The RCTs did not report a difference in the risk of malignant tumor between SU‐treated T2DM patients and controls (odds ratio [OR] 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78–1.18); cohort studies showed that cancer risk was higher in patients using SUs than metformin (relative risk 1.60 [95%CI 1.37–1.87]; adjusted hazard ratio 1.13 [95%CI 1.06–1.19]), and case–control studies suggested a trend for increased cancer risk in those using SUs compared with non‐SU users (adjusted OR 1.13; 95%CI 0.93–1.37).ConclusionsThe available evidence clearly shows that SUs can significantly increase the risk of cancer compared with metformin. Although the evidence suggests the possibility that SU users may have a higher risk of cancer than those using alternative medications in addition to metformin, it remains inadequate to enable definitive conclusions to be drawn.
Deciphering the adaptation strategies of Desulfovibrio piezophilus to hydrostatic pressure through metabolic and transcriptional analyses
Authors: Amrani Amira , van Helden Jacques , Bergon Aurélie , Aouane Aicha , Ben Hania Wajdi , Tamburini Christian , Loriod Béatrice , Imbert Jean , Ollivier Bernard , Pradel Nathalie , Dolla Alain 
Published: June 2016

SummaryDesulfovibrio piezophilus strain C1TLV30T is a mesophilic piezophilic sulfate‐reducer isolated from Wood Falls at 1700 m depth in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study, we analysed the effect of the hydrostatic pressure on this deep‐sea living bacterium at the physiologic and transcriptomic levels. Our results showed that lactate oxidation and energy metabolism were affected by the hydrostatic pressure. Especially, acetyl‐CoA oxidation pathway and energy conservation through hydrogen and formate recycling would be more important when the hydrostatic pressure is above (26 MPa) than below (0.1 MPa) the optimal one (10 MPa). This work underlines also the role of the amino acid glutamate as a piezolyte for the Desulfovibrio genus. The transcriptomic analysis revealed 146 differentially expressed genes emphasizing energy production and conversion, amino acid transport and metabolism and cell motility and signal transduction mechanisms as hydrostatic pressure responding processes. This dataset allowed us to identify a sequence motif upstream of a subset of differentially expressed genes as putative pressure‐dependent regulatory element.
Psychology and Disaster: Why We Do Not See Looming Disasters and How Our Way of Thinking Causes Them
Authors: Glöckner Andreas 
Published: June 2016

AbstractTo be able to decide and act quickly and efficiently in a complex world, individuals rely on mechanisms that reduce information in a meaningful way. Instead of holding a set of partially contradicting cognitions, individuals construct coherent interpretations or stories to make sense of the available information using interactive activation. Interactive activation describes cognitive processing as bidirectional propagation of activation among simple processing units, which allows individuals to integrate large amounts of information quickly and with little cognitive effort. However, interactive activation also has important downsides that can prevent individuals from detecting looming disasters and can even contribute to their emergence. I describe the functioning of interactive activation and how it can be modeled using connectionist networks. Later I explain how interactive activation causes a set of biases (e.g. coherence effects, overconfidence, hindsight bias and status‐quo bias) that make it hard to detect looming disasters and how these biases lead to discontinuities in understanding of problems and rapid behavioral switches that can contribute to the emergence of disasters.
Is International Law Conducive To Preventing Looming Disasters?
Authors: van Aaken Anne 
Published: June 2016

AbstractLooming disasters mostly require collective action but international law is traditionally consent based. For a state to be bound by international law, it needs to have ratified a treaty (e.g. concerning climate change) or must be bound by customary international law. This horizontal form of cooperation makes the system sensitive to collective action problems (like free‐riding on global public good, overuse of commons, begging‐thy‐neighbor etc.). I explore the question of whether other forms of cooperation, e.g. cooperation through soft law or international organizations mitigate the problem and under what circumstances this might be so. Furthermore, international law design might need to take into account internal processes within states (breaking up the black box) as well as behavioral economic insights. The paper suggests some mechanisms to help states overcoming the cooperation problem with regard to looming disasters and highlights their limits as well. It submits that international lawyers need to look at all behavioral mechanisms of international law in order to understand how it can be designed and used to prevent looming disasters.
Catastrophes To Come: What Can Literature Tell Us?
Authors: Lavocat Françoise 
Published: June 2016

AbstractCan literature and the arts in general help to prevent catastrophes? In the article this question is entertained through examination of the contrast between ancient cultural productions (comprising those legends and sermons which constitute ‘literature’ in the larger sense) and contemporary fiction. The article shows, first of all, how ancient culture not only engaged in forward‐looking thought when it came to catastrophes through the attribution of responsibility and by recommending moral reform but also by constituting a memory of catastrophes and in making practical suggestions. Our contemporary world has been swamped with fictional treatments of catastrophes – treatments that might seem to have the power of heralding these catastrophes and certainly of nurturing an obsessive fear of them. But contemporary fiction (literary or filmic) principally expresses a consciousness of its own impotence; if literature can prepare people for catastrophes, it can only be along ethical lines.
Collective Action to Avoid Catastrophe: When Countries Succeed, When They Fail, and Why
Authors: Barrett Scott 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThis article is concerned with situations in which avoiding a catastrophic outcome requires collective action. Using the logic of simple game theory, I identify circumstances that would cause rational players to act so as to guarantee that a catastrophe occurs, even when it is in their collective interests to avoid such an outcome – and when these players have the means at their disposal to ensure that such an outcome is avoided. I also identify circumstances that would cause rational players to act in concert to avert a catastrophe, and explain why other circumstances that might seem relevant to explaining these outcomes may be entirely inconsequential. Most of my discussion focuses on climate change. However, I also explain the relevance of the approach to three other areas: the millennium bug, drug resistance and nuclear arms control. In the final sections I discuss whether and how institutions might be designed to overcome, or at least reduce the likelihood of, catastrophic collective‐action failures at the international level.
Efficacy of a Universal Brief Intervention for Violence Among Urban Emergency Department Youth
Authors: Carter Patrick M. , Walton Maureen A. , Zimmerman Marc A. , Chermack Stephen T. , Roche Jessica S. , Cunningham Rebecca M. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBackgroundViolent injury is the leading cause of death among urban youth. Emergency department (ED) visits represent an opportunity to deliver a brief intervention (BI) to reduce violence among youth seeking medical care in high‐risk communities.ObjectiveThe objective was to determine the efficacy of a universally applied BI addressing violence behaviors among youth presenting to an urban ED.MethodsED youth (14 to 20 years old) seeking medical or injury‐related care in a Level I ED (October 2011–March 2015) and screening positive for a home address within the intervention or comparison neighborhood of a larger youth violence project were enrolled in this quasi‐experimental study. Based on home address, participants were assigned to receive either the 30‐minute therapist‐delivered BI (Project Sync) or a resource brochure (enhanced usual care [EUC] condition). The Project Sync BI combined motivational interviewing and cognitive skills training, including a review of participant goals, tailored feedback, decisional balance exercises, role‐playing exercises, and linkage to community resources. Participants completed validated survey measures at baseline and a 2‐month follow‐up assessment. Main outcome measures included self‐report of physical victimization, aggression, and self‐efficacy to avoid fighting. Poisson and zero‐inflated Poisson regression analyses analyzed the effects of the BI, compared to the EUC condition, on primary outcomes.ResultsA total of 409 eligible youth (82% participation) were enrolled and assigned to receive either the BI (n = 263) or the EUC condition (n = 146). Two‐month follow‐up was 91% (n = 373). There were no significant baseline differences between study conditions. Among the entire sample, mean (±SD) age was 17.7 (±1.9) years, 60% were female, 93% were African American, and 79% reported receipt of public assistance. Of participants, 9% presented for a violent injury, 9% reported recent firearm carriage, 20% reported recent alcohol use, and 39% reported recent marijuana use. Compared with the EUC group, participants in the therapist BI group showed self‐reported reductions in frequency of violent aggression (therapist, −46.8%; EUC, −36.9%; incident rate ratio [IRR] = 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.76 to 0.99) and increased self‐efficacy for avoiding fighting (therapist, +7.2%; EUC, −1.3%; IRR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.15). No significant changes were noted for victimization.ConclusionsAmong youth seeking ED care in a high‐risk community, a brief, universally applied BI shows promise in increased self‐efficacy for avoiding fighting and a decrease in the frequency of violent aggression.
Testing the effect of portfolio holdings disclosure in an environment absent of mandatory disclosure
Authors: Chen Zhe , Gallagher David R. , Lee Adrian D. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThis study examines a number of portfolio disclosure regimes with respect to accuracy and susceptibility to copycat behaviour in an environment absent of mandatory disclosure. We find that periodic portfolio disclosure tends to underestimate true excess performance as well as idiosyncratic risk in top‐quartile fund managers, with longer inter‐reporting intervals tending to result in greater differences. ‘Copycat funds’ following the disclosed holdings of top‐tier managers significantly underperform the underlying fund, while copycats following bottom‐tier managers significantly outperform the underlying fund. Our findings suggest that periodic reporting at monthly intervals or longer would not affect fund alpha generation.
A new species of Hydrellia (Diptera: Ephydridae) mining Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) leaves in Singapore
Authors: Bownes Angela , Deeming John 
Published: June 2016

AbstractA new species of ephydrid fly, Hydrellia purcelli Deeming sp. nov. from Singapore, is described and illustrated. Hydrellia purcelli larvae mine the leaves of a weedy aquatic macrophyte, Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle. Morphologically, Hydrellia purcelli is most similar to Hydrellia balciunasi Bock from Australia. However, the shape of the fused surstyli of the male fly is unique, in that the most basal part of the medial emargination is not slot‐like but almost a hairline division. Descriptions and illustrations of adults and immature stages are provided, and information on its biology and life history is detailed. Hydrellia purcelli is a candidate biological control agent for Hydrilla verticillata in South Africa.
Review of the seven new species of Isometopinae (Heteroptera: Miridae) in Australia and discussion of distribution and host plant associations of the subfamily on a worldwide basis
Authors: Namyatova Anna A , Cassis Gerasimos 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe Isometopinae are a poorly known subfamily of Miridae (Heteroptera) with 42 genera and 239 described species worldwide. Prior to this study, the subfamily was represented in Australia by a single species, Eurocrypha thanatochlamus. In this work, three isometopine genera, Jozefus, Paratopus and Myiomma, are reported from Australia for the first time, and Australotopus gen. nov. is described as new to science. The following seven new species are described: Australotopus cooperensis sp. nov., Jozefus brunetus sp. nov., Jozefus monteithi sp. nov., Myiomma albalata sp. nov., Myiomma basseti sp. nov., Paratopus brunocapitus sp. nov. and Paratopus flavocapitus sp. nov. Habitus images, scanning electron micrographs, measurements and illustration of male and female genitalia are provided to support the diagnoses of the above taxa. The distribution and plant associations of the subfamily Isometopinae are discussed.
Dynamic Changes in High‐Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I Are Associated with Dynamic Changes in Sum Absolute QRST Integral on Surface Electrocardiogram in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Authors: Tereshchenko Larisa G. , Feeny Albert , Shelton Erica , Metkus Thomas , Stolbach Andrew , Mavunga Ernest , Putman Shannon , Korley Frederick K. 
Published: June 2016

BackgroundA three‐dimensional electrocardiographic (ECG) metric, the sum absolute QRST integral (SAI QRST), predicts ventricular arrhythmias in heart failure (HF) patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator and mechanical response to cardiac resynchronization therapy. We hypothesized that there is an association between patient‐specific changes in SAI QRST and myocardial injury as measured by high‐sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI).MethodsSum absolute integral QRST on resting 12‐lead ECG and hsTnI were measured simultaneously, every 3 hours, and during 12‐hour observation period in a prospective cohort of emergency department patients (n = 398; mean age 57.8 ± 13.2 years; 54% female, 64% black), diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS, n = 28), acutely decompensated HF (acute decompensated heart failure, n = 35), cardiac non‐ACS (n = 19), or noncardiac condition (n = 316). Random‐effects linear regression analysis assessed the association of SAI QRST and myocardial injury, with adjustment for demographics (age, sex, race), prevalent cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, history of revascularization, stroke, and HF), risk factors (diabetes, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and cocaine use), and left bundle branch block.ResultsWithin the entire cohort, SAI QRST decreased by 3 (95%CI −5 to −1) mV*ms every 3 hours. A 10‐fold increase in hsTnI was associated with a 7.7 (0.6–14.9) mV*ms increase in SAI QRST. In the subgroup of acutely decompensated HF patients (n = 35), a 10‐fold increase in hsTnI was associated with a 61.0 (5.9–116.1) mV*ms increase in SAI QRST.ConclusionPatient‐specific time‐varying changes in the surface ECG scalar measure of global electrical heterogeneity, as measured by SAI QRST, and in myocardial injury as measured by hsTnI, are independently and directly associated with each other, likely reflecting a common underlying mechanism.
Restoring Damage or Pursuing Justice? The Dilemma of Communitarian Miskitu Women Seeking a Life Free of Violence
Authors: ROMERO DOLORES FIGUEROA , BARBEYTO RODRIGUEZ ARELLY 
Published: June 2016

This article analyses the options Miskitu women from Krukira have for negotiating the contradictions between two systems of justice – state justice and communitarian justice – in their pursuit of a life free of violence. While these two systems operate under different conceptions of justice and gender‐based violence, the communitarian system represents the most accessible option women can turn to for the reparation of damages. With a reflexive approach to the dynamics of the communitarian space, this article employs an intercultural perspective to contribute to the design of a regional model of justice that meets Miskitu women's demands.
Intrinsic Image Decomposition Using Multi‐Scale Measurements and Sparsity
Authors: Ding Shouhong , Sheng Bin , Hou Xiaonan , Xie Zhifeng , Ma Lizhuang 
Published: June 2016

AbstractAutomatic decomposition of intrinsic images, especially for complex real‐world images, is a challenging under‐constrained problem. Thus, we propose a new algorithm that generates and combines multi‐scale properties of chromaticity differences and intensity contrast. The key observation is that the estimation of image reflectance, which is neither a pixel‐based nor a region‐based property, can be improved by using multi‐scale measurements of image content. The new algorithm iteratively coarsens a graph reflecting the reflectance similarity between neighbouring pixels. Then multi‐scale reflectance properties are aggregated so that the graph reflects the reflectance property at different scales. This is followed by a L0 sparse regularization on the whole reflectance image, which enforces the variation in reflectance images to be high‐frequency and sparse. We formulate this problem through energy minimization which can be solved efficiently within a few iterations. The effectiveness of the new algorithm is tested with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) dataset, the Intrinsic Images in the Wild (IIW) dataset, and various natural images.