bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Monarch butterflies do not place all of their eggs in one basket: oviposition on nine Midwestern milkweed species
Authors: Pocius Victoria M. , Debinski Diane M. , Pleasants John M. , Bidne Keith G. , Hellmich Richard L. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractOver the past two decades, the population of monarch butterflies east of the Rocky Mountains has experienced a significant decline in overwintering numbers. Habitat restoration that includes planting milkweeds is essential to boost monarch numbers within the breeding range. Milkweeds are the only host plants for larval monarch butterflies, but female oviposition preference for different milkweed species, especially those with overlapping ranges, is not well documented. We examined the relative inclination to lay eggs on nine milkweed species native to Iowa (no choice), and oviposition preference (choice) among the four most commonly occurring Iowa species (Asclepias incarnata, Asclepias syriaca, Asclepias tuberosa, and Asclepias verticillata). In both experiments, eggs were counted daily for four days. The milkweeds tested were Asclepias exaltata (poke milkweed), Asclepias hirtella (tall green milkweed), A. incarnata (swamp milkweed), Asclepias speciosa (showy milkweed), Asclepias sullivantii (prairie milkweed), A. syriaca (common milkweed), A. tuberosa (butterfly milkweed), A. verticillata (whorled milkweed), and Cynanchum laeve (honeyvine milkweed). When females were given only a single species on which to lay eggs, there were significant differences among milkweed species in the average number of eggs laid; A. incarnata had the highest average egg count. When females were given a choice among A. incarnata, A. syriaca, A. tuberosa, and A. verticillata, there were also differences among milkweed species in the number of eggs laid; again, A. incarnata had the highest average number of eggs laid. Additionally, females laid more total eggs when four plants of different milkweed species were available than when there were four plants of a single milkweed species. Our results show that monarch butterflies will lay eggs on all nine milkweeds, but that there are clear preferences for some milkweed species over others.
Effects of environmental variables on invasive amphibian activity: using model selection on quantiles for counts
Authors: Muller Benjamin J. , Cade Brian S. , Schwarzkopf Lin 
Published: January 2018

AbstractMany different factors influence animal activity. Often, the value of an environmental variable may influence significantly the upper or lower tails of the activity distribution. For describing relationships with heterogeneous boundaries, quantile regressions predict a quantile of the conditional distribution of the dependent variable. A quantile count model extends linear quantile regression methods to discrete response variables, and is useful if activity is quantified by trapping, where there may be many tied (equal) values in the activity distribution, over a small range of discrete values. Additionally, different environmental variables in combination may have synergistic or antagonistic effects on activity, so examining their effects together, in a modeling framework, is a useful approach. Thus, model selection on quantile counts can be used to determine the relative importance of different variables in determining activity, across the entire distribution of capture results. We conducted model selection on quantile count models to describe the factors affecting activity (numbers of captures) of cane toads (Rhinella marina) in response to several environmental variables (humidity, temperature, rainfall, wind speed, and moon luminosity) over eleven months of trapping. Environmental effects on activity are understudied in this pest animal. In the dry season, model selection on quantile count models suggested that rainfall positively affected activity, especially near the lower tails of the activity distribution. In the wet season, wind speed limited activity near the maximum of the distribution, while minimum activity increased with minimum temperature. This statistical methodology allowed us to explore, in depth, how environmental factors influenced activity across the entire distribution, and is applicable to any survey or trapping regime, in which environmental variables affect activity.
Resistance and resilience of social–ecological systems to recurrent typhoon disturbance on a subtropical island: Taiwan
Authors: Chang Chung‐Te , Vadeboncoeur Matthew A. , Lin Teng‐Chiu 
Published: January 2018

AbstractTropical cyclones (TCs) have major effects on ecological and social systems. However, studies integrating the effects of TCs on both social and ecological systems are rare, especially in the northwest Pacific, where the frequency of TCs (locally named typhoons) is the highest in the world. We synthesized studies of effects of recurrent typhoons on social and ecological systems in Taiwan over the last several decades. Many responses to TCs are comparable between social and ecological systems. High forest ecosystem resistance, evident from tree mortality below 2% even following multiple strong typhoons, is comparable with resistance of social systems, including the only 4% destruction of river embankments following a typhoon that brought nearly 3000 mm rainfall in three days. High resilience as reflected by quick returns of leaf area index, mostly in one year, and streamwater chemistry, one to several weeks to pre‐typhoon levels of ecosystems, are comparable to quick repair of the power grid within one to several days and returns of vegetable price within several weeks to pre‐typhoon levels of the social systems. Landslides associated with intense typhoons have buried mountain villages and transported large quantities of woody debris to the coast, affecting the coastal plains and reefs, illustrating a ridge‐to‐reef link between ecological and societal systems. Metrics of both social and ecological function showed large fluctuations in response to typhoons but quickly returned to pre‐disturbance levels, except when multiple intense typhoons occurred within a single season. Our synthesis illustrates that the social–ecological systems in Taiwan are highly dynamic and responsive to frequent typhoon disturbance, with extraordinarily high resistance and resilience. For ecosystems, the efficient responsiveness results from the selective force of TCs on ecosystem structure and processes. For social systems, it is the result of the effects of TCs on planning and decision making by individuals (e.g., farmers), management sectors, and ultimately the government. In regions with frequent TCs, the social–ecological systems are inevitably highly dynamic and rapid responses are fundamental to system resistance and resilience which in turn is key to maintaining structure and function of the social–ecological systems.
The nitrogen window for arctic herbivores: plant phenology and protein gain of migratory caribou (Rangifer tarandus)
Authors: Barboza Perry S. , Van Someren Lindsay L. , Gustine David D. , Bret‐Harte M. Syndonia 
Published: January 2018

AbstractTerrestrial plants are often limited by nitrogen (N) in arctic systems, but constraints of N supply on herbivores are typically considered secondary to those of energy. We tested the hypothesis that forage N is more limiting than energy for arctic caribou by collecting key forages (three species of graminoids, three species of woody browse, and one genus of forb) over three summers in the migratory range of the Central Arctic Herd in Alaska from the Brooks Range to the Coastal Plain on the Arctic Ocean. We combined in vitro digestion and detergent extraction to measure fiber, digestible energy, and usable fractions of N in forages (n = 771). Digestible energy content fell below the minimum threshold value of 9 kJ/g for one single forage group: graminoids, and only beyond 64–75 d from parturition (6 June), whereas all forages fell below the minimum threshold value for digestible N (1% of dry matter) before female caribou would have weaned their calves at 100 d from parturition. The window for digestible N was shortest for browse, which fell below 1% at 30–41 d from parturition, whereas digestible N contents of graminoids were adequate until 46–57 d from parturition. The low quality of browse as a source of N was also apparent from concentrations of available N (i.e., the N not bound to fiber) that were <1% at 72–80 d from parturition. The Coastal Plain may be favored by female caribou because available and digestible concentrations of N are not only greater than those on the Brooks Range, the window of usable N on the Coastal Plain extends the period of protein gain for females and their calves by 17 d. Conversely, inland areas with greater biomass and densities of digestible N than the Coastal Plain may be more favorable for large male caribou that begin gaining protein from spring to breed in autumn. Our study provides evidence that phenological windows for protein gain in caribou are both spatially and temporally dynamic and likely to affect the distribution and growth of the population.
Bacterial diversity is positively correlated with soil heterogeneity
Authors: Curd Emily E. , Martiny Jennifer B. H. , Li Huiying , Smith Thomas B. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractPlant and animal diversity generally increases with increasing environmental heterogeneity. Here, we test whether this relationship also holds for bacterial communities in soil. Specifically, we investigate whether invasive annual grasslands have reduced soil heterogeneity and, thereby, decreased bacterial alpha‐ and beta‐diversity. Soils were sampled at nine sites within a 5‐km stretch of Southern California, at five depths in three habitats, including non‐native invasive annual grassland, native oak woodland, and native coastal sage scrub. We characterized soil heterogeneity as well as bacterial alpha‐ and beta‐diversity by 16S ribosomalRNAsequencing. We found that invasive annual grasslands harbored less soil heterogeneity and reduced bacterial alpha‐diversity relative to the two native woody habitats. Further, across all habitats and depths, bacterial alpha‐ and beta‐diversity was positively related to soil heterogeneity. These results suggest that plant invasions associated with soil homogenization may lead to reduced microbial diversity.
Development of Corrosion‐Resistant Pressure Sensor with Semiconductor Strain Sensor
Authors: SUZUKI KENGO , OOTA HIROYUKI , UMEYAMA TAKAHIRO 
Published: January 2018

SUMMARYIn automotive and industrial fields, pressure sensors are a key component for precisely controlling the mechanical systems. Conventional micro electro mechanical system (MEMS)‐based pressure sensors have an advantage in noise resistance, because both strain gauges and control circuits are integrated in one chip. However, the MEMS‐based pressure sensors are generally fabricated on an Si substrate, and have a low stability against various active gases. Thus, we have newly proposed a pressure sensor which consists of an Si‐based strain sensor set on a stainless steel diaphragm with a high stability against the active gases. The key technology is that a Koval plate is inserted between the strain sensor and the stainless steel diaphragm, for preventing the breakage or the delamination of the strain sensor at the bonding interface due to a difference in thermal expansion. Structure of the sensor including the shape and the size of Koval plate and the assembly position of the strain sensor were designed using structural simulation and experiments.Eventually, the 2.8 mm wide and 0.17 mm thick Koval beam was bridged on the stainless steel diaphragm for efficiently transmitting the diaphragm deformation to the strain sensor. The strain sensor was assembled at the edge of Koval beam with a glass bonding technique. Consequently, the developed pressure sensor has achieved a small dispersion of less than 1% F. S. in a temperature range from 0 °C to 85 °C.
Recent Advances in Metabolic Engineering of Yarrowia lipolytica for Lipid Overproduction
Authors: Zeng Si‐Yu , Liu Hu‐Hu , Shi Tian‐Qiong , Song Ping , Ren Lu‐Jing , Huang He , Ji Xiao‐Jun 
Published: January 2018

The non‐conventional yeast Yarrowia lipolytica have been receiving growing attention due to its excellent lipid accumulation capacity. Microbial lipid have attracted widespread interest due to their broad applications as dietary supplements, cosmetic additives, oleochemicals, and renewable starting materials for the production of fossil fuel. With the development of whole‐genome sequencing, many effective genetic tools, including transformation systems, promoter systems, genomic integration and genome editing tools, have been applied in Y. lipolytica to enhance the overproduction of lipid. It can be genetically engineered for high lipid production via the upregulation of synthetic precursor and lipid synthesis pathways, the downregulation or disruption of competing pathways such as β‐oxidation, and elimination of inhibitory factors. In this review, the lipid metabolism, available genetic tools, and recent advances in metabolic engineering of Y. lipolytica for the overproduction of lipid and lipid‐derived chemicals is summarized. Future prospects of lipid biosynthesis in Y. lipolytica are discussed in light of the current progress, challenges, and trends in this field. Guidelines for future studies are also proposed.Practical Applications: General concerns about climate change, oil price crisis, and the increasing study for renewable energy are driving bio‐lipid as promising alternatives to fossil fuel. Over the past few decades, microbial lipid have been widely applied in dietary supplements, cosmetic additives, oleochemicals, and renewable starting materials for the production of fossil fuel. The non‐conventional yeast Yarrowia lipolytica have become an attractive metabolic engineering host for the production of microbial lipids due to its ability to synthesize them in large quantities. This review illuminates the lipid biosynthesis and degradation of Y. lipolytica, and summarizes the metabolic engineering efforts which have targeted a variety of biosynthetic biosynthetic pathway to efficiently convert carbon source to lipid in oleaginous Y. lipolytica.Schematic diagram of lipid and triacylglyceride biosynthesis, including the native and heterologous biosynthesis pathways of fatty acids in Y. lipolytica.
Performance of the Early Access AmpliSeq™ Mitochondrial Panel with degraded DNA samples using the Ion Torrent™ platform
Authors: Wai Ka Tak , Barash Mark , Gunn Peter 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe Early Access AmpliSeq™ Mitochondrial Panel amplifies whole mitochondrial genomes for phylogenetic and kinship identifications, using Ion Torrent™ technology. There is currently limited information on its performance with degraded DNA, a common occurrence in forensic samples. This study evaluated the performance of the Panel with DNA samples degraded in vitro, to mimic conditions commonly found in forensic investigations. Purified DNA from five individuals was heat‐treated at five time points each (125°C for 0, 30, 60, 120, and 240 min; total n = 25). The quality of DNA was assessed via a real‐time DNA assay of genomic DNA and prepared for massively parallel sequencing on the Ion Torrent™ platform. Mitochondrial sequences were obtained for all samples and had an amplicon coverage averaging between 66X to 2803X. Most amplicons (157/162) displayed high coverages (452 ± 333X), while reads with less than 100X coverage were recorded in five amplicons only (90 ± 5X). Amplicon coverage was decreased with prolonged heating. At 72% strand balance, reads were well balanced between forward and reverse strands. Using a coverage threshold of ten reads per SNP, complete sequences were recovered in all samples and resolved kinship and, haplogroup relations. Additionally, the HV1 and HV2 regions of the reference and 240‐min heat‐treated samples (n = 10) were Sanger‐sequenced for concordance. Overall, this study demonstrates the efficacy of a novel forensic Panel that recovers high quality mitochondrial sequences from degraded DNA samples.
Multi‐site N‐Glycan mapping study 2: UHPLC
Authors: Szekrényes Ákos , Park SungAe Suhr , Cosgrave Eoin , Jones Aled , Haxo Ted , Kimzey Michael , Pourkaveh Shiva , Szabó Zoltán , Sosic Zoran , Feng Peng , Sejwal Preeti , Dent Kelsey , Michels David , Freckleton Gordon , Qian Jun , Lancaster Catherine , Duffy Toni , Schwartz Melissa , Luo Jiann‐Kae , van Dyck Jonathan , Leung Pui‐King , Olajos Marcell , Kowle Ronald , Gao Kai , Wang Wenbo , Wegstein Jo , Tep Samnang , Domokos Apolka , Váradi Csaba , Guttman András 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIn the first part of this publication, the results from an international study evaluating the precision (i.e., repeatability and reproducibility) of N‐glycosylation analysis using capillary electrophoresis of APTS‐labeled N‐glycans were presented. The corresponding results from ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with fluorescence detection are presented here from 12 participating sites. All participants used the same lot of samples, reagents, and columns to perform the assays. Elution time, peak area and peak area percent values were determined for all peaks ≥0.1% peak area, and statistical analysis was performed following ISO 5725‐2 guideline principles. The results demonstrated adequate reproducibility, within any given site as well across all sites, indicating that standard UHPLC‐based N‐glycan analysis platforms are appropriate for general use.
Sexual competition and the evolution of condition-dependent ageing
Authors: Hooper Amy K. , Lehtonen Jussi , Schwanz Lisa E. , Bonduriansky Russell 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIncreased individual resources (condition) can be correlated with either increased or decreased longevity. While variation in resource acquisition and allocation can account for some of this variation, the general conditions that select for either pattern remain unclear. Previous models suggest that nonlinearity of payoffs from investment in reproduction (e.g., male secondary sexual traits) can select for high-condition individuals that sacrifice longevity to increase reproductive opportunity. However, it remains unclear what mating systems or patterns of sexual competition might select for such life-history strategies. We used a model of condition-dependent investment to explore how expected payoffs from increased expression of secondary sexual traits affect optimal investment in lifespan. We find that nonlinearity of these payoffs results in a negative relationship between condition and lifespan under two general conditions: first, when there are accelerating marginal benefits from increasing investment; second, when individuals that invest minimally in secondary sexual trait expression can still achieve matings. In the second scenario, the negative relationship occurs due to selection on low-condition individuals to extend lifespan at the cost of secondary sexual trait expression. Our findings clarify the potential role of sexual selection in shaping patterns of condition-dependent ageing, and highlight the importance of considering the strategies of both low- and high-condition individuals when investigating patterns of condition-dependent ageing.
Cell therapy for spinal cord injury with olfactory ensheathing glia cells (OECs)
Authors: Gómez Rosa M. , Sánchez Magdy Y. , Portela‐Lomba Maria , Ghotme Kemel , Barreto George E. , Sierra Javier , Moreno‐Flores M. Teresa 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe prospects of achieving regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) have changed, as most recent findings indicate that several species, including humans, can produce neurons in adulthood. Studies targeting this property may be considered as potential therapeutic strategies to respond to injury or the effects of demyelinating diseases in the CNS. While CNS trauma may interrupt the axonal tracts that connect neurons with their targets, some neurons remain alive, as seen in optic nerve and spinal cord (SC) injuries (SCIs). The devastating consequences of SCIs are due to the immediate and significant disruption of the ascending and descending spinal pathways, which result in varying degrees of motor and sensory impairment. Recent therapeutic studies for SCI have focused on cell transplantation in animal models, using cells capable of inducing axon regeneration like Schwann cells (SchCs), astrocytes, genetically modified fibroblasts and olfactory ensheathing glia cells (OECs). Nevertheless, and despite the improvements in such cell‐based therapeutic strategies, there is still little information regarding the mechanisms underlying the success of transplantation and regarding any secondary effects. Therefore, further studies are needed to clarify these issues. In this review, we highlight the properties of OECs that make them suitable to achieve neuroplasticity/neuroregeneration in SCI. OECs can interact with the glial scar, stimulate angiogenesis, axon outgrowth and remyelination, improving functional outcomes following lesion. Furthermore, we present evidence of the utility of cell therapy with OECs to treat SCI, both from animal models and clinical studies performed on SCI patients, providing promising results for future treatments.
To engage or not to engage with host governments: Corporate political activity and host country political risk
Authors: De Villa Maria A. , Rajwani Tazeeb , Lawton Thomas C. , Mellahi Kamel 
Published: January 2018

Research summary: We analyze how a host market’s institutional context can influence a multinational enterprise’s (MNE’s) senior management’s choice and deployment of corporate political activity (CPA). First, we argue that a non‐engaged approach to CPA is likely to be chosen when senior management perceives high host country political risk, arising not only from host country political institutions, but also from the distance between home and host government relations. Second, we propose that the deployment of this approach can require active adaptation through four political strategies: low visibility, ensuring a minimal degree of general attention from other actors; rapid compliance, entailing high speed actions to obey the rules; reconfiguration, involving rearranging the MNE’s structure and processes for competitiveness; and anticipation, implying the prediction of public policy and analysis of interest groups to anticipate responses.
Managerial summary: Senior managers of multinational enterprises often examine when and how to engage, or not to engage, with host governments. We argue that senior managers are likely to choose to evade engagement with a host government when they perceive high host country political risk, not only through public political risk ratings, but also via their home and host government relations. We show that this choice can require senior managers to lead active adaptation through four strategies: low visibility, enabling the MNE to operate under the radar of host governments; rapid compliance, entailing high speed actions to obey the rules; reconfiguration, involving rearranging the MNE’s structure and processes for competitiveness; and anticipation, implying the prediction of public policy and analysis of interest groups to anticipate responses.A video abstract is available at https://youtu.be/DL1LlQEhGU0.