bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of the JAK/STAT Pathway Protects Against α-Synuclein-Induced Neuroinflammation and Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration
Authors: Qin Hongwei , Buckley Jessica A. , Li Xinru , Liu Yudong , Fox Thomas H. , Meares Gordon P. , Yu Hao , Yan Zhaoqi , Harms Ashley S. , Li Yufeng , Standaert David G. , Benveniste Etty N. 
Published: May 2016

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is an age-related, chronic neurodegenerative disorder. At present, there are no disease-modifying therapies to prevent PD progression. Activated microglia and neuroinflammation are associated with the pathogenesis and progression of PD. Accumulation of α-synuclein (α-SYN) in the brain is a core feature of PD and leads to microglial activation, inflammatory cytokine/chemokine production, and ultimately to neurodegeneration. Given the importance of the JAK/STAT pathway in activating microglia and inducing cytokine/chemokine expression, we investigated the therapeutic potential of inhibiting the JAK/STAT pathway using the JAK1/2 inhibitor, AZD1480.In vitro, α-SYN exposure activated the JAK/STAT pathway in microglia and macrophages, and treatment with AZD1480 inhibited α-SYN-induced major histocompatibility complex Class II and inflammatory gene expression in microglia and macrophages by reducing STAT1 and STAT3 activation. Forin vivostudies, we used a rat model of PD induced by viral overexpression of α-SYN. AZD1480 treatment inhibited α-SYN-induced neuroinflammation by suppressing microglial activation, macrophage and CD4+T-cell infiltration and production of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines. Numerous genes involved in cell–cell signaling, nervous system development and function, inflammatory diseases/processes, and neurological diseases are enhanced in the substantia nigra of rats with α-SYN overexpression, and inhibited upon treatment with AZD1480. Importantly, inhibition of the JAK/STAT pathway prevented the degeneration of dopaminergic neuronsin vivo. These results indicate that inhibiting the JAK/STAT pathway can prevent neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration by suppressing activation of innate and adaptive immune responses to α-SYN. Furthermore, this suggests the feasibility of targeting the JAK/STAT pathway as a neuroprotective therapy for neurodegenerative diseases.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTα-SYN plays a central role in the pathophysiology of PD through initiation of neuroinflammatory responses. Using an α-SYN overexpression PD model, we demonstrate a beneficial therapeutic effect of AZD1480, a specific inhibitor of JAK1/2, in suppressing neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Our findings document that inhibition of the JAK/STAT pathway influences both innate and adaptive immune responses by suppressing α-SYN-induced microglia and macrophage activation and CD4+T-cell recruitment into the CNS, ultimately suppressing neurodegeneration. These findings are the first documentation that suppression of the JAK/STAT pathway disrupts the circuitry of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, thus attenuating PD pathogenesis. JAK inhibitors may be a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of PD patients.
A Spherically Symmetric Solution of \(R+\lambda R^2\) Gravity
Authors: Thang Bui Quyet , Huong Do Thi 
Published: May 2016

We shortly review the metric formalism for the \(f(R)\) gravity. Based on the metric formalism, westudy the spherically symmetric static empty space solutions with the gravity Lagrangian\(L=R+\lambda R^2\). We found the general metric that described the static empty space with thespherically symmetry. Our result is more general than Schwarzschild solution, specially thepredicted metric is perturbed Schwarzschild metric of the Einstein theory.
Study of the \(^{nat}\)Sm\((\gamma ,xn)^{143m,g}\)Sm Reactions Induced by Bremsstrahlung with End-point Energies Just above GDR Region
Authors: Khue Pham Duc , Do Nguyen Van 
Published: May 2016

We investigate the energy dependence of the isomeric yield ratios for the \(^{nat}\)Sm\((\gamma ,xn)^{143m,g}\)Sm reactions with bremsstrahlung energies of 40-, 45-, and 50-MeV, just above the giant dipole resonance (GDR) region by the off-line $\gamma $-ray spectrometric method. The bremsstrahlung photons were produced from the 100 MeV electron linear accelerator (linac) at the Pohang accelerator laboratory (PAL), Pohang, Korea. In order to improve the accuracy of the experimental results the necessary corrections were made. The present results are compared with similar literature data of the $^{nat}$Sm($\gamma $,xn)$^{143m,g}$Sm reactions measured at various photon energies and of the $^{nat}$Sm(n,2n)$^{143m,g}$Sm reaction induced by 14 MeV neutrons in order to examine the effects of an excitation energy and an input angular momentum.
Inverted neutrino mass hierarchy and mixing in the Zee-Babu model
Authors: Vien Vo Van , Long Hoang Ngoc , Thu Phan Ngoc 
Published: May 2016

We show that the neutrino mass matrix of the Zee-Babu model isable to fit the recent data on neutrino masses and mixingwith non-zero $\theta_{13}$ in the inverted neutrino mass hierarchy. The results show that the Majorana phases are equal to zero and the Dirac phase ($\de$) ispredicted to either $0$ or $\pi$, i. e, there is no CP violation in the Zee-Babu model at the two loop level. The effective mass governingneutrinoless double beta decay and the sum of neutrino masses areconsistent with the recent analysis.
Does Aortic Valve Replacement Restore Normal Life Expectancy: a Twenty-Year Relative Survival Study
Authors: Manché Alexander 
Published: May 2016

<strong>Background </strong>This 20-year relative survival study investigates life expectancy in defined age cohorts<strong> </strong>and evaluates the role of patient, procedural and peri-operative variables on absolute survival after aortic valve replacement.<p> </p><p><strong>Methods </strong>Absolute long-term survival variance was calculated using Cox regression analysis in 585 consecutive aortic valve replacement patients. Relative survival curves in defined age groups were constructed using age- and gender-matched controls.</p><p><strong>Results</strong> There were 12 peri-operative deaths (2.1%), and 11 further deaths (1.9%) during the first year. 154 patients (26.3%) died subsequently and 408 patients (69.7%) were alive after 20 years. Relative survival increased with age: in patients over 68 survival was equivalent to an age- and gender-matched population. Patient risk indicators for decreased absolute survival included age, Parsonnet score, additive and logistic EuroSCORE, and for increased absolute survival included weight, body surface area, and stroke volume. Procedural risk indicators for decreased absolute survival included bypass time, use of a tissue valve, and prosthesis-patient mismatch with size 19 valves, and for an increased absolute survival included use of a mechanical valve. Post-operative risk indicators for decreased absolute survival included ITU stay, ventilation time, transfusion, haemorrhage volume and new-onset atrial fibrillation/flutter. Strong risk indicators included intra-aortic balloon pump use, and dialysis.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Conclusions</strong> Patients over 68 years discharged from hospital after aortic valve replacement had a similar 10-year survival as an age- and gender-matched population. In this age cohort surgery restored the patient’s normal life expectancy.</p><p> </p><p>Key words: aortic valve replacement; absolute survival predictors; relative survival</p>
Rede virtual: ferramenta para analisar o conhecimento dos voluntários do MORHAN sobre hanseníase
Authors: Nardi Susilene Maria Tonelli , Pedro Heloisa Da Silveira Paro , Loureiro Luisa Arantes , Marciano Lucia Helena Soares Camargo , Sousa Artur Custódio Correa de , Paschoal Vânia Del’Arco 
Published: May 2016

O objetivo do estudo foi revelar o conhecimento sobre hanseníase dos voluntários participantes da Rede virtual de Mobilização (REMOB) do Movimento de Reintegração das pessoas Atingidas pela Hanseníase (MORHAN) em relação a aspectos gerais, diagnóstico, transmissão e tratamento. Os voluntários da REMOB foram convidados a responder um formulário on line contendo 35 afirmativas sobre hanseníase e perguntas específicas sobre o voluntariado. Participaram do estudo 105 voluntários, representando 20 estados brasileiros, a média de idade foi de 38,9 (dp14,14), 72,4% eram atuantes na área da saúde, 73,3% tinham nível superior e/ou pós-graduação, para 63,8% as atividades voluntárias não iniciaram por conhecer alguém com a doença. O percentual médio de acertos sobre diagnóstico foi de 84,2%, aspectos gerais 83,2%, transmissão 71,6% e tratamento 61,9%. O conhecimento sobre hanseníase foi maior nas questões referentes ao diagnóstico e menor sobre tratamento que embora sejam bastante específicas, devem ser alvo de investimento para capacitação permanente.
An allometric approach to quantify the extinction vulnerability of birds and mammals
Authors: Hilbers J. P. , Schipper A. M. , Hendriks A. J. , Verones F. , Pereira H. M. , Huijbregts M. A. J. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractMethods to quantify the vulnerability of species to extinction are typically limited by the availability of species‐specific input data pertaining to life‐history characteristics and population dynamics. This lack of data hampers global biodiversity assessments and conservation planning. Here, we developed a new framework that systematically quantifies extinction risk based on allometric relationships between various wildlife demographic parameters and body size. These allometric relationships have a solid theoretical and ecological foundation. Extinction risk indicators included are (1) the probability of extinction, (2) the mean time to extinction, and (3) the critical patch size. We applied our framework to assess the global extinction vulnerability of terrestrial carnivorous and non‐carnivorous birds and mammals. Irrespective of the indicator used, large‐bodied species were found to be more vulnerable to extinction than their smaller counterparts. The patterns with body size were confirmed for all species groups by a comparison with IUCN data on the proportion of extant threatened species: the models correctly predicted a multimodal distribution with body size for carnivorous birds and a monotonic distribution for mammals and non‐carnivorous birds. Carnivorous mammals were found to have higher extinction risks than non‐carnivores, while birds were more prone to extinction than mammals. These results are explained by the allometric relationships, predicting the vulnerable species groups to have lower intrinsic population growth rates, smaller population sizes, lower carrying capacities, or larger dispersal distances, which, in turn, increase the importance of losses due to environmental stochastic effects and dispersal activities. Our study is the first to integrate population viability analysis and allometry into a novel, process‐based framework that is able to quantify extinction risk of a large number of species without requiring data‐intensive, species‐specific information. The framework facilitates the estimation of extinction vulnerabilities of data‐deficient species. It may be applied to forecast extinction vulnerability in response to a changing environment, by incorporating quantitative relationships between wildlife demographic parameters and environmental drivers like habitat alteration, climate change, or hunting.
Lianas suppress seedling growth and survival of 14 tree species in a Panamanian tropical forest
Authors: Martínez‐Izquierdo Laura , García María M. , Powers Jennifer S. , Schnitzer Stefan A. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractLianas are a common plant growth form in tropical forests, where they compete intensely with trees, decreasing tree recruitment, growth, and survival. If the detrimental effects of lianas vary significantly with tree species identity, as is often assumed, then lianas may influence tree species diversity and community composition. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that liana abundance and biomass are increasing relative to trees in neotropical forests, which will likely magnify the detrimental effects of lianas and may ultimately alter tree species diversity, relative abundances, and community composition. Few studies, however, have tested the responses of multiple tree species to the presence of lianas in robust, well‐replicated experiments. We tested the hypotheses that lianas reduce tree seedling growth and survival, and that the effect of lianas varies with tree species identity. We used a large‐scale liana removal experiment in Central Panama in which we planted 14 replicate seedlings of 14 different tree species that varied in shade tolerance in each of 16 80 × 80 m plots (eight liana‐removal and eight unmanipulated controls; 3136 total seedlings). Over a nearly two‐yr period, we found that tree seedlings survived 75% more, grew 300% taller, and had twice the aboveground biomass in liana‐removal plots than seedlings in control plots, consistent with strong competition between lianas and tree seedlings. There were no significant differences in the response of tree species to liana competition (i.e., there was no species by treatment interaction), indicating that lianas had a similar negative effect on all 14 tree species. Furthermore, the effect of lianas did not vary with tree species shade tolerance classification, suggesting that the liana effect was not solely based on light. Based on these findings, recently observed increases in liana abundance in neotropical forests will substantially reduce tree regeneration, but will not significantly alter tropical tree species diversity, relative abundance, or community composition.
Quantifying diet breadth through ordination of host association
Authors: Fordyce J. A. , Nice C. C. , Hamm C. A. , Forister Matthew L. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractMany areas of research in ecology and evolutionary biology depend on the quantification of dietary niche width. For herbivorous insects, diet breadth has most often been measured as simply the number and type of host plant taxa attacked. We propose an index of host range (which we refer to as “ordinated diet breadth”) based on observed associations between plants and insects, and the calculation of multivariate distances among plants in ordination space. Similarities and distances are calculated based on host association and, in this context, potentially encompass multiple properties of plants, including phytochemistry, phenology, and other plant traits. This approach can distinguish between herbivores that utilize suites of hosts that are commonly used together and herbivores that attack unusual host combinations, and thus have a relatively broad diet breadth. For illustration, we use a data set of nymphalid butterfly host records, and compare taxonomic and ordinated host range. For a large number of butterfly taxa, we find that host use is clustered in multivariate space with respect to associations observed across all of the butterfly taxa. Applications are discussed, including a hypothesis test of nonrandom host association, and prediction of shifts and expansions of diet breadth.
Identifying consumer–resource population dynamics using paleoecological data
Authors: Einarsson Árni , Hauptfleisch Ulf , Leavitt Peter R. , Ives Anthony R. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractEcologists have long been fascinated by cyclic population fluctuations, because they suggest strong interactions between exploiter and victim species. Nonetheless, even for populations showing high‐amplitude fluctuations, it is often hard to identify which species are the key drivers of the dynamics, because data are generally only available for a single species. Here, we use a paleoecological approach to investigate fluctuations in the midge population in Lake Mývatn, Iceland, which ranges over several orders of magnitude in irregular, multigeneration cycles. Previous circumstantial evidence points to consumer–resource interactions between midges and their primary food, diatoms, as the cause of these high‐amplitude fluctuations. Using a pair of sediment cores from the lake, we reconstructed 26 years of dynamics of midges using egg remains and of algal groups using diagnostic pigments. We analyzed these data using statistical methods that account for both the autocorrelated nature of paleoecological data and measurement error caused by the mixing of sediment layers. The analyses revealed a signature of consumer–resource interactions in the fluctuations of midges and diatoms: diatom abundance (as inferred from biomarker pigment diatoxanthin) increased when midge abundance was low, and midge abundance (inferred from egg capsules) decreased when diatom abundance was low. Similar patterns were not found for pigments characterizing the other dominant primary producer group in the lake (cyanobacteria), subdominant algae (cryptophytes), or ubiquitous but chemically unstable biomarkers of total algal abundance (chlorophyll a); however, a significant but weaker pattern was found for the chemically stable indicator of total algal populations (β‐carotene) to which diatoms are the dominant contributor. These analyses provide the first paleoecological evaluation of specific trophic interactions underlying high amplitude population fluctuations in lakes.
Positive effects of neighborhood complementarity on tree growth in a Neotropical forest
Authors: Chen Yuxin , Wright S. Joseph , Muller‐Landau Helene C. , Hubbell Stephen P. , Wang Yongfan , Yu Shixiao 
Published: May 2016

AbstractNumerous grassland experiments have found evidence for a complementarity effect, an increase in productivity with higher plant species richness due to niche partitioning. However, empirical tests of complementarity in natural forests are rare. We conducted a spatially explicit analysis of 518 433 growth records for 274 species from a 50‐ha tropical forest plot to test neighborhood complementarity, the idea that a tree grows faster when it is surrounded by more dissimilar neighbors. We found evidence for complementarity: focal tree growth rates increased by 39.8% and 34.2% with a doubling of neighborhood multi‐trait dissimilarity and phylogenetic dissimilarity, respectively. Dissimilarity from neighbors in maximum height had the most important effect on tree growth among the six traits examined, and indeed, its effect trended much larger than that of the multi‐trait dissimilarity index. Neighborhood complementarity effects were strongest for light‐demanding species, and decreased in importance with increasing shade tolerance of the focal individuals. Simulations demonstrated that the observed neighborhood complementarities were sufficient to produce positive stand‐level biodiversity–productivity relationships. We conclude that neighborhood complementarity is important for productivity in this tropical forest, and that scaling down to individual‐level processes can advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying stand‐level biodiversity–productivity relationships.
Biogeography of Alaska paper birch (Betula neoalaskana): latitudinal patterns in chemical defense and plant architecture
Authors: Stevens Michael T. , Brown Sarah C. , Bothwell Helen M. , Bryant John P. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe latitudinal herbivory‐defense hypothesis (LHDH) predicts that plants near the equator will be more heavily defended against herbivores than are plants at higher latitudes. Although this idea is widely found in the literature, recent studies have called this biogeographic pattern into question. We sought to evaluate theLHDHin a high‐latitude terrestrial ecosystem where fire and mammalian herbivores may contribute to selection for higher levels of defensive chemistry. To address this objective, we collected seeds of Alaska paper birch (Betula neoalaskana) from nine locations along two north–south transects between 55° N and 62° N latitudes in western, interior Canada. The birch seeds were planted in pots in a common garden in Madison, Wisconsin,USA. From the resulting seedlings, we determined levels of chemical defense by assessing the density of resin glands, which have been shown to be negatively correlated with browsing. To assess plant architectural traits such as height, mean individual leaf area, and root‐to‐shoot ratio, we harvested a subset of the birch seedlings. Further, we used these traits to examine growth–defense trade‐offs. Contrary to theLHDH, we found a positive correlation between chemical defense and latitude. Investigating relationships with fire, we found a strong positive correlation between resin gland density and percentage of area annually burned (PAAB) around each collection location and also betweenPAABand latitude. Additionally, birch seedlings originating from higher latitudes were shorter, smaller‐leaved, and rootier than their lower‐latitude counterparts. Growth–defense trade‐offs were observed in negative correlations between resin gland density and height and leaf size. Seedlings with higher resin gland densities also allocated less biomass to shoots and more to roots. These results further call into question theLHDHand provide specific information about latitudinal trends in plant defense at high, northern latitudes where fire is a major ecosystem driver and mammals are the main herbivores of deciduous trees such as birches. We propose that these interconnected relationships are the key drivers of the positive correlation between defense and latitude inB. neoalaskana. Understanding patterns of boreal plant defense and growth is especially important because high latitude ecosystems are particularly susceptible to climate change.
Global scombrid life history data set
Authors: Juan‐Jordá Maria José , Mosqueira Iago , Freire Juan , Ferrer‐Jordá Elena , Dulvy Nicholas K. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe scombrids (Family Scombridae), commonly known as tunas, bonitos, Spanish mackerels, and mackerels, play an important role as predators and prey in coastal and oceanic marine ecosystems, and sustain some of the most important fisheries in the world. Knowledge of their basic biology and life history traits, such as growth, age, and maturity, is fundamental to sustainably manage these species, and maintain their critical role in marine ecosystems. Given the economic and social importance of their fisheries in many regions throughout the world, numerous life history studies have been conducted in the last century. Despite efforts to create global repositories of life history parameters, e.g., FishBase, many life history studies remain scattered and not readily accessible. Here, we compiled 667 life history studies published between 1933 and 2012 describing the growth, age, and reproductive biology of the 51 species of scombrids distributed around the world and create a standardized life history data set including maximum size, longevity, growth, maturity, fecundity, spawning season and frequency, and egg size information. We created this data set to promote the best use of the existing life history information and with the intention of providing a data resource suitable to test large‐scale ecological hypotheses on life history strategies and life history evolution, as well as support the management and conservation of this important group of commercially exploited species. We envisage the large repository of standardized life history data compiled will make this endeavor more effective and robust by providing a valuable resource that can help address many research questions.