bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Confident body, confident child: A randomized controlled trial evaluation of a parenting resource for promoting healthy body image and eating patterns in 2‐ to 6‐year old children
Authors: Hart Laura M. , Damiano Stephanie R. , Paxton Susan J. 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACTObjectiveBody image and eating patterns develop in early childhood and are influenced by the family environment. This research evaluated Confident Body, Confident Child (CBCC), an intervention for parents of 2‐ to 6‐year‐old children, designed to promote body satisfaction, healthy eating, and weight management in early childhood.MethodA randomized controlled trial compared four groups: (A) received the CBCC resource pack and a workshop, (B) received the CBCC resource pack only, (C) received a nutrition‐only resource and (D) received no interventions until all questionnaires were completed (i.e., functioned as waitlist control). Measures of parenting variables relevant to child body image and eating patterns, parent‐report of child weight, and evaluation questions about the resource, were implemented pre‐ and post‐intervention.ResultsAt 6‐weeks post‐intervention, the CBCC resource was associated with significant reductions in parents' intentions to use behaviors that increase the risk of negative body attitudes or unhealthy eating in their children, in parents' use of feeding practices associated with childhood overweight, and in television watching during family meals. Significant increases in parents' intentions to use positive behaviors and knowledge of child body image and healthy eating patterns were also found. Superior results were found for the CBCC resource + workshop condition, suggesting it is the preferred delivery method.DiscussionCBCC positively impacts parenting variables associated with childhood risk for body dissatisfaction, unhealthy eating and weight. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:458–472)
The influence of simulated exploitation on Patella vulgata populations: protandric sex change is size‐dependent
Authors: Borges Carla D. G. , Hawkins Stephen J. , Crowe Tasman P. , Doncaster C. Patrick 
Published: January 2016

AbstractGrazing mollusks are used as a food resource worldwide, and limpets are harvested commercially for both local consumption and export in several countries. This study describes a field experiment to assess the effects of simulated human exploitation of limpets Patella vulgata on their population ecology in terms of protandry (age‐related sex change from male to female), growth, recruitment, migration, and density regulation. Limpet populations at two locations in southwest England were artificially exploited by systematic removal of the largest individuals for 18 months in plots assigned to three treatments at each site: no (control), low, and high exploitation. The shell size at sex change (L50: the size at which there is a 50:50 sex ratio) decreased in response to the exploitation treatments, as did the mean shell size of sexual stages. Size‐dependent sex change was indicated by L50 occurring at smaller sizes in treatments than controls, suggesting an earlier switch to females. Mean shell size of P. vulgata neuters changed little under different levels of exploitation, while males and females both decreased markedly in size with exploitation. No differences were detected in the relative abundances of sexual stages, indicating some compensation for the removal of the bigger individuals via recruitment and sex change as no migratory patterns were detected between treatments. At the end of the experiment, 0–15 mm recruits were more abundant at one of the locations but no differences were detected between treatments. We conclude that sex change in P. vulgata can be induced at smaller sizes by reductions in density of the largest individuals reducing interage class competition. Knowledge of sex‐change adaptation in exploited limpet populations should underpin strategies to counteract population decline and improve rocky shore conservation and resource management.
Mapping species abundance by a spatial zero‐inflatedPoisson model: a case study in theWaddenSea, theNetherlands
Authors: Lyashevska Olga , Brus Dick J. , van der Meer Jaap 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe objective of the study was to provide a general procedure for mapping species abundance when data are zero‐inflated and spatially correlated counts. The bivalve speciesMacoma balthicawas observed on a 500×500 m grid in theDutch part of theWaddenSea. In total, 66% of the 3451 counts were zeros. A zero‐inflatedPoisson mixture model was used to relate counts to environmental covariates. Two models were considered, one with relatively fewer covariates (model “small”) than the other (model “large”). The models contained two processes: aBernoulli (species prevalence) and aPoisson (species intensity, when theBernoulli process predicts presence). The model was used to make predictions for sites where only environmental data are available. Predicted prevalences and intensities show that the model “small” predicts lower mean prevalence and higher mean intensity, than the model “large”. Yet, the product of prevalence and intensity, which might be called the unconditional intensity, is very similar.Cross‐validationshowed that the model “small” performed slightly better, but the difference was small. The proposed methodology might be generally applicable, but is computer intensive.
Exclusion of introduced deer increases size and seed production success in an island‐endemic plant species
Authors: Dvorak Tyler M. , Catalano Amy E. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe presence of extra‐local invaders, such as the southern California mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) on Santa Catalina Island, may contribute to more selective and insidious effects within the unique ecosystems that have evolved in their absence. Studies at the species level may detect effects not noticed in broader, community level vegetation monitoring or help tease apart differences in the level of effect among the various ecological components of an invaded system. In this initial study, we measured the impacts of herbivory by mule deer, a species native to analogous habitats on the adjacent mainland, on size and seed production success for Crocanthemum greenei (island rush‐rose), a federally listed sub‐shrub that is not present on mainland California. We found deer exclusion resulted in an overall increase in stem measurement of 18.8 cm. Exclosure populations exhibited complete seed production success, whereas control populations showed significantly reduced success and exhibited complete failure within 58% of populations. These results show that the introduced mule deer on Santa Catalina Island are negatively affecting a federally threatened plant species. This strongly implies that the current deer management strategy is insufficient, if one of its goals is biodiversity and endemic species conservation.
Phylogenetic analysis suggests that sociality is associated with reduced effectiveness of selection
Authors: Settepani Virginia , Bechsgaard Jesper , Bilde Trine 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe evolution of sociality in spiders is associated with female bias, reproductive skew and an inbreeding mating system, factors that cause a reduction in effective population size and increase effects of genetic drift. These factors act to decrease the effectiveness of selection, thereby increasing the fixation probability of deleterious mutations. Comparative studies of closely related species with contrasting social traits and mating systems provide the opportunity to test consequences of low effective population size on the effectiveness of selection empirically. We used phylogenetic analyses of three inbred social spider species and seven outcrossing subsocial species of the genus Stegodyphus, and compared dN/dS ratios and codon usage bias between social Inbreeding and subsocial outcrossing mating systems to assess the effectiveness of selection. The overall results do not differ significantly between the social inbreeding and outcrossing species, but suggest a tendency for lower codon usage bias and higher dN/dS ratios in the social inbreeding species compared with their outcrossing congeners. The differences in dN/dS ratio and codon usage bias between social and subsocial species are modest but consistent with theoretical expectations of reduced effectiveness of selection in species with relatively low effective population size. The modest differences are consistent with relatively recent evolution of social mating systems. Additionally, the short terminal branches and lack of speciation of the social lineages, together with low genetic diversity lend support for the transient state of permanent sociality in spiders.
Comparative phylogeography and evolutionary history of schizothoracine fishes in the Changtang Plateau and their implications for the lake level and Pleistocene climate fluctuations
Authors: He Dekui , Chen Yifeng , Liu Chunlong , Tao Juan , Ding Chengzhi , Chen Yiyu 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe water level oscillation of endorheic lakes and extent change of glaciers associated with the Asian monsoon are known as prominent representatives of climatic and environmental events in the Tibetan Plateau during the Quaternary. However, details process in spatial and temporal changes are still debated. We use the schizothoracines as a palaeoclimatic proxy to test two hypotheses concerning the evolution of Quaternary glaciations and lakes of the Changtang Plateau: (1) the Tibetan glaciations generally tended to decrease since the middle Pleistocene; (2) the lakes expansion was driven by summer monsoon rainfall. Based on a wide range‐wide sampling throughout in the Changtang Plateau and its adjacent drainages, we constructed phylogeny and demographic histories of schizothoracines in the Changtang Plateau. Our results showed that the populations of the exorheic rivers and lakes in southern Tibet possessed higher genetic variability, earlier coalescent and expansion times than those of the endorheic lakes in the Changtang Plateau. Population expansions are highly consistent with phases of strong summer monsoon and high lake level during interglacial stages. The maximum growth rate intervals showed three pulses from 64.7 to 54.8, 39.6 to 31.0, and 14.9 to 2.4 kya respectively. The significant positive correlations were found between regional precipitation and genetic diversity, as well as coalescence time of populations in the endorheic lakes. We suggested that the demographic history of the schizothoracines reflects the spatial and temporal changes in climate and lake level, in particular, in regional precipitation gradients associated with changes of the South Asian monsoon, and supports the climatic hypothesis of a general diminishing tend in Tibetan glaciations in the Tibetan Plateau since the middle Pleistocene.
Quantitative and qualitative shifts in defensive metabolites define chemical defense investment during leaf development inInga, a genus of tropical trees
Authors: Wiggins Natasha L. , Forrister Dale L. , Endara María‐José , Coley Phyllis D. , Kursar Thomas A. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractSelective pressures imposed by herbivores are often positively correlated with investments that plants make in defense. Research based on the framework of an evolutionary arms race has improved our understanding of why the amount and types of defenses differ between plant species. However, plant species are exposed to different selective pressures during the life of a leaf, such that expanding leaves suffer more damage from herbivores and pathogens than mature leaves. We hypothesize that this differential selective pressure may result in contrasting quantitative and qualitative defense investment in plants exposed to natural selective pressures in the field. To characterize shifts in chemical defenses, we chose six species ofInga,a speciose Neotropical tree genus. Focal species represent diverse chemical, morphological, and developmental defense traits and were collected from a single site in the Amazonian rainforest. Chemical defenses were measured gravimetrically and by characterizing the metabolome of expanding and mature leaves. Quantitative investment in phenolics plus saponins, the major classes of chemical defenses identified inInga, was greater for expanding than mature leaves (46% and 24% of dry weight, respectively). This supports the theory that, because expanding leaves are under greater selective pressure from herbivores, they rely more upon chemical defense as an antiherbivore strategy than do mature leaves. Qualitatively, mature and expanding leaves were distinct and mature leaves contained more total and unique metabolites. Intraspecific variation was greater for mature leaves than expanding leaves, suggesting that leaf development is canalized. This study provides a snapshot of chemical defense investment in a speciose genus of tropical trees during the short, few‐week period of leaf development. Exploring the metabolome through quantitative and qualitative profiling enables a more comprehensive examination of foliar chemical defense investment.
Context‐dependent female preference for multiple ornaments in the bearded reedling
Authors: Griggio Matteo , Hoi Herbert , Lukasch Barbara , Pilastro Andrea 
Published: January 2016

AbstractWhile it is well established that females prefer to mate with well‐ornamented males, the influence of perceptive and cognitive processes on the expression of female mate choice is still poorly known. It has been suggested that the female perception of a male's attractiveness is not absolute, but depends on the other males with which he is compared that have been previously encountered (comparative evaluation). We investigated whether mate preference in bearded reedlings (Panurus biarmicus) is dependent on or independent of social context in relation to two different traits: beard and tail lengths. Each female had a choice between two to three males with different modifications of beard and tail. For each female, three different experiments were conducted (one binary and two trinary tests). We found that when females are presented with options that vary antagonistically with respect to two ornaments (binary test), some individuals prefer one trait while others the other trait. This indicates that in our bearded reedlings population exists a mate preference polymorphisms. Moreover, we found that the presence of a third stimulus, irrespective of the initial preference, reduced the strength of the initial preference – what we can call a “preference dilution effect.” Our results suggest that the female's choice may be constrained by her cognitive abilities when she is simultaneously presented with several options varying for two uncorrelated traits.
Mean reproductive traits of fungal assemblages are correlated with resource availability
Authors: Bässler Claus , Halbwachs Hans , Karasch Peter , Holzer Heinrich , Gminder Andreas , Krieglsteiner Lothar , Gonzalez Ramiro Silveyra , Müller Jörg , Brandl Roland 
Published: January 2016

AbstractOrganisms have evolved a fascinating variety of strategies and organs for successful reproduction. Fruit bodies are the reproductive organ of fungi and vary considerably in size and shape among species. Our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the differences in fruit body size among species is still limited. Fruit bodies of saprotrophic fungi are smaller than those of mutualistic ectomycorrhizal fungi. If differences in fruit body size are determined by carbon acquisition, then mean reproductive traits of saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal fungi assemblages should vary differently along gradients of resource availability as carbon acquisition seems more unpredictable and costly for saprotrophs than for ectomycorrhizal fungi. Here, we used 48 local inventories of fungal fruit bodies (plot size: 0.02 ha each) sampled along a gradient of resource availability (growing stock) across 3 years in the Bavarian Forest National Park in Germany to investigate regional and local factors that might influence the distribution of species with different reproductive traits, particularly fruit body size. As predicted, mean fruit body size of local assemblages of saprotrophic fungi was smaller than expected from the distribution of traits of the regional species pool across central and northern Europe, whereas that of ectomycorrhizal fungi did not differ from random expectation. Furthermore and also as expected, mean fruit body size of assemblages of saprotrophic fungi was significantly smaller than for assemblages of ectomycorrhizal species. However, mean fruit body sizes of not only saprotrophic species but also ectomycorrhizal species increased with resource availability, and the mean number of fruit bodies of both assemblages decreased. Our results indicate that the differences in carbon acquisition between saprotrophs and ectomycorrhizal species lead to differences in basic reproductive strategies, with implications for the breadth of their distribution. However, the differences in resource acquisition cannot explain detailed species distribution patterns at a finer, local scale based on their reproductive traits.
Stoichiometrical regulation of soil organic matter decomposition and its temperature sensitivity
Authors: He Nianpeng , Yu Guirui 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) can be described by a set of kinetic principles, environmental constraints, and substrate supply. Here, we hypothesized that SOM decomposition rates (R) and its temperature sensitivity (Q10) would increase steadily with the N:C ratios of added substrates by alleviating N limitation on microbial growth. We tested this hypothesis by investigating SOM decomposition in both grassland and forest soils after addition of substrates with a range of N:C ratios. The results showed that Michaelis–Menten equations well fit the response of R to the N:C ratio variations of added substrates, and their coefficients of determination (R2) ranged from 0.65 to 0.89 (P < 0.01). Moreover, the maximal R, Q10, and cumulative C emission of SOM decomposition increased exponentially with the N:C ratios of added substrates, and were controlled interactively by incubation temperature and the N:C ratios of the added substrates. We demonstrated that SOM decomposition rate and temperature sensitivity were exponentially correlated to substrate stoichiometry (N:C ratio) in both grassland and forest soils. Therefore, these correlations should be incorporated into the models for the prediction of SOM decomposition rate under warmer climatic scenarios.
Vegetable oil‐mediated thermal isomerization of (all‐E)‐lycopene: Facile and efficient production of Z‐isomers
Authors: Honda Masaki , Horiuchi Ikumi , Hiramatsu Hayato , Inoue Yoshinori , Kitamura Chitoshi , Fukaya Tetsuya , Takehara Munenori 
Published: January 2016

Thermal isomerization of (all‐E)‐lycopene to the corresponding Z‐isomers was investigated in edible vegetable oils; perilla, linseed, grape seed, soybean, corn, sesame, rapeseed, rice bran, safflower seed, olive, and sunflower seed oil. Purified (all‐E)‐lycopene from tomato oleoresin was converted to Z‐isomers in the range of 44.8–58.8% content, and the remaining ratio of total amount of lycopene isomers without decomposition were ranged from 38.8 to 79.6% after heating at 100°C for 1 h in the vegetable oils. Both values were exceedingly high in sesame oil: 58.8% of total Z‐isomers content and 78.3% of remaining lycopene. In particular, (5Z)‐lycopene, which has higher bioavailability and antioxidant capacity as well as greater storage stability among the Z‐isomers, was notably increased in that oil; approximately threefold higher than the average of the other vegetable oils.Practical applications: Lycopene offers many health benefits such as decreased risk of cancer and arteriosclerosis. The Z‐isomers of lycopene, occurring in processed tomato products, are more bioavailable than the all‐E‐isomer which is a major configuration form in raw tomatoes. This study has developed an efficient production method for Z‐isomers of lycopene by heating (all‐E)‐lycopene in edible vegetable oils, in which neither organic solvents nor food additives are used. It would be practically feasible to utilize this procedure for the food, drink, and dietary supplement manufacturing, as well as for daily cooking at home.Thermal isomerization of (all‐E)‐lycopene to Z‐isomers was investigated in edible vegetable oils. In sesame oil, (5Z)‐lycopene, which has higher bioavailability, antioxidant capacity, and greater storage stability among the Z‐isomers, was increased significantly.
Electric‐Field‐Driven Caloric Effects in Ferroelectric Materials for Solid‐State Refrigeration
Authors: Patel Satyanarayan , Chauhan Aditya , Vaish Rahul 
Published: January 2016

AbstractFerroelectrics have long been investigated for electrocaloric cooling applications, and recent studies have hinted that these materials possess huge potential for multiple caloric possibilities. These caloric effects are manifested as a response to multiple physical impetus. The present work evaluates the electrocaloric effect (ECE) and inverse piezocaloric (iPC) effect in various ferroelectric materials. Here, three different ferroelectric materials, namely, single crystal 0.65(PbMg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.35PbTiO3 (PMN–0.35PT), polycrystalline lanthanum‐doped lead zirconate titanate [PLZT(8/65/35)], and (Ba0.865Ca0.135)(Zr0.11Ti0.89)O3 (BCZTO) ceramics are considered for ECE and iPC investigations. The results were obtained using modified Maxwell's relations in conjunction with independent experimental data. It was observed that PMN–35PT possesses significantly high potential for ECE (ΔTEC=0.78 K), for an applied electric field of 2.75 MV m−1 at 418 K. PLZT and BCZTO have ΔTEC values of 0.45 and 0.49 K at 383 K (1 MV m−1) and 353 K (3 MV m−1), respectively. As the selected compositions are relaxors, ΔTEC is observed in a wide operating temperature range. Finally, a new component of electric‐field‐driven caloric effect (iPC effect) has been reported for all compositions. PMN–35PT and PLZT exhibit ΔTiPC values of 0.29 K (425 K) and 0.49 K (383 K) under applied electric fields of 2.75 and 1 MV m−1, respectively. However, BCZTO demonstrates a stress‐biased
=0.35 K at 298 K for a 3 MV m−1 electric field. This new way of estimating the caloric effect can be employed for materials having higher strain. Moreover, the iPC and ECE effects are manifested simultaneously in the material; therefore it is very difficult to determine, theoretically, which effect ultimately dominates.
Artificial Leaf for Water Splitting Based on a Triple‐Junction Thin‐Film Silicon Solar Cell and a PEDOT:PSS/Catalyst Blend
Authors: Bogdanoff Peter , Stellmach Diana , Gabriel Onno , Stannowski Bernd , Schlatmann Rutger , van de Krol Roel , Fiechter Sebastian 
Published: January 2016

AbstractAn integrated water‐splitting device based on a triple‐junction silicon‐based solar cell (a‐Si:H/a‐Si:H/μc‐Si:H; a‐Si=amorphous silicon, μc‐Si=microcrystalline) in superstrate configuration modified with catalysts at the back and front contacts is described. In this configuration, the solar cell is illuminated by the glass substrate, while the back and front contacts are arrayed laterally at the opposite side of the cell. Therefore, neither shadowing nor light scattering by evolved gas bubbles can detrimentally affect the solar‐to‐hydrogen efficiency of this artificial leaf. By modifying the contact layers of the cell, its chemical stability in acid electrolyte is significantly improved. To test the system, RuO2 and Pt black catalysts are fixed on the contacts as a blend by using a conductive polymer [poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)]. A solar‐to‐hydrogen efficiency of 3.4 % is obtained under AM1.5G illumination and 1000 W m−2 in 0.5 M H2SO4 without applying any external bias. The device shows only 6 % loss of efficiency within 17 h of operation.