bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Age, state, environment, and season dependence of senescence in body mass
Authors: Kroeger Svenja B. , Blumstein Daniel T. , Armitage Kenneth B. , Reid Jane M. , Martin Julien G. A. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSenescence is a highly variable process that comprises both age‐dependent and state‐dependent components and can be greatly affected by environmental conditions. However, few studies have quantified the magnitude of age‐dependent and state‐dependent senescence in key life‐history traits across individuals inhabiting different spatially structured and seasonal environments. We used longitudinal data from wild female yellow‐bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer), living in two adjacent environments that differ in elevation and associated phenology, to quantify how age and individual state, measured as “time to death,” affect body mass senescence in different environments. Further, we quantified how patterns of senescence differed between two biologically distinct seasons, spring, and late summer. Body mass senescence had an age‐dependent component, expressed as a decrease in mass in old age. Overall, estimated age‐dependent senescence was greater in females living in the more favorable lower elevation environment, than in the harsher higher elevation environment, and greater in late summer than in spring. Body mass senescence also had a state‐dependent component, captured by effects of time to death, but only in the more favorable lower elevation environment. In spring, body mass gradually decreased from 2 years before death, whereas in late summer, state‐dependent effects were expressed as a terminal decrease in body mass in the last year of life. Contrary to expectations, we found that senescence was more likely to be observed under more favorable environmental conditions, rather than under harsher conditions. By further demonstrating that senescence patterns differ among seasons, our results imply that within‐year temporal environmental variation must be considered alongside spatial environmental variation in order to characterize and understand the pattern and magnitude of senescence in wild populations.
Interactions between species attributes explain population dynamics in stream fishes under changing climate
Authors: Chevalier Mathieu , Comte Lise , Laffaille Pascal , Grenouillet Gaël 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSpecies responses to climate change have been shown to vary in both direction and magnitude. Understanding these idiosyncratic responses is crucial if we are to predict extinction risk and set up efficient conservation strategies. The variations observed across species have been related to several species attributes including intrinsic traits such as physiological tolerances or life‐history strategies but also to niche characteristics (e.g., niche breadth [NB], niche position [NP]). However, although previous studies have successfully linked species attributes to population dynamics or range shifts, few have considered synergistic effects to explain responses to climate variations. Here, we assessed whether five species attributes (fecundity, thermal safety margin, trophic position [TP], NB, and NP) explained interspecific differences in four parameters influencing population dynamics of 35 stream fish species at the French scale. We used Bayesian N‐mixture models to estimate posterior distributions of the growth rate, the strength of density dependence, and the influence of both mean temperature and temperature variability on populations for each species. We then used phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS) models to investigate the influence of species attributes and their interactions on interspecific differences in each of the four parameter driving population dynamics. The percentage of variance explained by the PGLS models was relatively high (around 40% on average), indicating that species attributes are good predictors of species population dynamics. Furthermore, we showed that the influence of these single attributes was mediated by other attributes, especially NP and TP. Importantly, we found that models including interaction terms had greater support over simple additive models in explaining interspecific differences in population dynamics. Taken together, these results point to the importance of considering the interplay between species attributes in unraveling the mechanisms involved in population dynamics and understanding the vulnerability of species to global change.
Simulating the dependence of aspen (Populus tremuloides) on redistributed snow in a semi‐arid watershed
Authors: Soderquist B. S. , Kavanagh K. L. , Link T. E. , Seyfried M. S. , Winstral A. H. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIn semi‐arid mountainous regions across the western United States, the distribution of upland aspen (Populus tremuloides) is often related to heterogeneous soil moisture subsidies resulting from redistributed snow. As temperatures increase, interactions between decreasing snowpack and future trends in the net primary productivity (NPP) of aspen forests remain uncertain. This study characterizes the importance of heterogeneously distributed snow water to aspen communities in the Reynolds Creek Critical Zone Observatory located in southwestern Idaho, USA. Net primary productivity of three aspen stands was simulated at sites spanning elevational and precipitation gradients using the biogeochemical process model Biome‐BGC and precipitation data adjusted to account for drifting snow. Compared to a spatially homogeneous precipitation distribution, Biome‐BGC simulations accounting for redistributed precipitation were in better agreement with previous simulations of snow accumulation and soil moisture field measurements. During drought years, simulations below the largest drifts that included wind‐redistributed snow resulted in NPP values nearly 77% higher than simulations assuming uniform precipitation. However, during wet years (and at sites with higher total precipitation), increased effective precipitation resulting from drifting snow did not have a significant role in aspen productivity. In these cases, soil moisture was found to be non‐limiting even in the absence of redistributed snow. Increased water availability from snow drifts often exceeded the storage capacity of the soil and contributed little to plant available water used later in the growing season.
Spatiotemporal variation in drivers of parasitoid metacommunity structure in continuous forest landscapes
Authors: Marrec Ronan , Pontbriand‐Paré Olivier , Legault Simon , James Patrick M. A. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAlthough landscape spatial structure is known to influence spatial patterns of biodiversity, its effect on insect communities at higher trophic levels such as parasitoids remains poorly understood. This is particularly true in continuously distributed forests in which it can be difficult to identify clear boundaries among habitat patches. Using the metacommunity framework, we evaluate the relative importance of forest landscape structure, non‐environmental spatial structure, and host outbreak status to spatial and within‐season temporal variation in parasitoid communities. We used variation partitioning and metacommunity structure analyses to identify (1) the drivers of the metacommunity structure of parasitoids associated with the spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana), and (2) how their relative influence varies through a season. We used a multi‐scale perspective to summarize landscape heterogeneity in regions of increasing size around the community sampling locations. Spruce budworm larvae and pupae were sampled during three periods during the summer 2014 in 18 locations within continuous forest landscapes in Quebec, Canada. Thirty‐two parasitoid wasp and fly species were recorded, 16 of which were found at more than one location. We found that the mechanisms shaping metacommunity structure changed over the course of a single season and that community structure varied among sites. At early and late periods in the season, we found that non‐environmental structure, forest structure, and likely inter‐specific competition were the main mechanisms influencing spatial variation in community structure. These results suggest a competition–dispersal trade‐off. In contrast, at the middle period of the season, environmental filtering by forest structure and stochastic events were found to influence community structure. This period corresponds to the transition between early and late parasitoid communities. Our findings on the role of environmental filtering and forest structure support the idea that forest manipulations have the potential to influence parasitoid populations and hence spruce budworm outbreak dynamics as hypothesized by the “enemies hypothesis.” Moreover, our study highlights the value of considering a multi‐scale approach and temporal variability of species interactions when characterizing the multiple processes shaping spatial metacommunity structure, particularly in continuous environments.
Carbon‐based adsorbents for post‐combustion capture: a review
Authors: Zhao Hongyu , Luo Xiaona , Zhang Haijiao , Sun Nannan , Wei Wei , Sun Yuhan 
Published: January 2018

AbstractCarbon dioxide capture is regarded as an effective method of greenhouse gas reduction. Post‐combustion capture from power plants will play a key role in CO2 abatement due to their important contribution to total CO2 emissions. Compared with the state‐of‐the‐art amine scrubbing technology, adsorption‐based post‐combustion capture (PCC) possesses excellent potential for lowering energy demand, and thus the total cost. Due to their relatively weak interaction with CO2, carbons showed lower adsorption capacity during PCC as compared with some benchmark materials (e.g. amine‐based adsorbents); however, their high cyclic stability and fast adsorption/desorption kinetics suggest that carbons have the important potential to achieve an optimized or balanced performance, and thus provide a low‐cost PCC process. In this review, we present preparation options and consider the structure‐performance relationship in CO2 capture with carbons, and summarize recent progress on using carbons for CO2 capture with special focus on PCC. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharide suppresses osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption via inhibiting RANKL signaling
Authors: Song Dezhi , Cao Zhen , Huang Song , Tickner Jennifer , Li Nan , Qiu Heng , Chen Xi , Wang Chao , Chen Kai , Sun Youqiang , Dong Shiwu , Xu Jiake 
Published: January 2018

AbstractOsteoclasts are highly differentiated multinucleated giant cells that play fundamental roles in bone resorption and in the pathogenesis of osteolytic conditions, such as osteoporosis and cancer‐induced bone loss. Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharide (ABP) is a hydrophilic compound with anti‐oxidation and anti‐aging characteristics. The impact of ABP on RANKL‐induced osteoclast formation and bone resorption has not been assessed, hence, in this study we investigated the effect of ABP on osteoclast formation and resorption in murine bone marrow derived osteoclasts. We found that ABP was able to suppress RANKL‐induced osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption activity at concentrations above 6.5 µM, while demonstrating no cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 10 µM. The actions of ABP were mediated through inhibition of RANKL‐induced c‐Fos and NFATc1 gene and protein expression. Furthermore, we found that ABP suppressed NFATc1 transcriptional activity, and the phosphorylation of MAPK pathways induced by RANKL. Collectively, ABP attenuates RANKL‐mediated osteoclast activity and signaling, and might serve as a potential therapeutic candidate for preventing bone loss related diseases.
The prognostic value of PI3K mutational status in breast cancer: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Sobhani Navid , Roviello Giandomenico , Corona Silvia P. , Scaltriti Maurizio , Ianza Anna , Bortul Marina , Zanconati Fabrizio , Generali Daniele 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBreast cancer (BC) is the second most common cause of cancer‐related deaths in women worldwide. The availability of reliable biomarkers of response/resistance to cancer treatments would benefit patients and clinicians allowing for a better selection of BC patients most likely to respond to a specific treatment. Phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) enzymes are involved in numerous cellular‐ functions and processes. The gene encoding for PI3K catalytic subunit p110α is mutated in 20‐40% of BC. We performed a meta‐analysis of the current literature on randomized clinical trials, investigating the role of PIK3CA mutational status as prognostic factor, and predictor of response to anti‐cancer treatments. Overall 1929 cases were included. The pooled analysis confirmed that the presence of a PIK3CA mutation represents an independent negative prognostic factor (HR = 1.67, 95%CI: 1.15‐2.43; P = 0.007) in BC, as previously reported. As PI3K signaling is also a result of other pathways’ hyperactivation, further investigation of potential biomarkers able to predict likelihood of response to anti‐PI3K/mTOR, anti‐HER2, and other TKRs is warranted in future randomized clinical trials.
Glycation of ovalbumin after high‐intensity ultrasound pretreatment: effects on conformation, immunoglobulin (Ig)G/IgE binding ability and antioxidant activity
Authors: Yang Wenhua , Tu Zongcai , Wang Hui , Zhang Lu , Song Qidong 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDOvalbumin (OVA), a protein with excellent nutritional and processing properties, is the major allergen of hen egg white. High‐intensity ultrasound treatment increases the immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgE binding abilities by unfolding the conformational structure of OVA. This may allow a modification of the IgG and IgE binding of OVA by combining high‐intensity ultrasound with other methods, such as glycation, thus representing a promising method for the improvement of protein properties.RESULTSGlycation with mannose (M) after ultrasound pretreatment at 0–600 W significantly reduced the IgG and IgE binding abilities and dramatically enhanced the antioxidant activity of OVA‐M conjugates, with the lowest values of IgG and IgE binding and highest values of antioxidant capacity observed at 600 W. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the molecular weight of OVA‐M conjugates with ultrasound pretreatment increased more than non‐pretreatment sample, implying that ultrasound pretreatment promoted glycation. The α‐helix content and ultraviolet absorption of OVA were observably increased, whereas β‐sheet content, intrinsic fluorescence and surface hydrophobicity were notably decreased, indicating that the tertiary and secondary structures of OVA were markedly changed.CONCLUSIONHigh‐intensity ultrasound pretreatment can be conducive to reducing the binding abilities of IgG and IgE and enhancing the antioxidant activity of OVA‐M conjugates. Therefore, glycation combined with high‐intensity ultrasound pretreatment might be a promising method for producing hypo‐allergenic and high‐antioxidant OVA products. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Accessibility at JSTOR: From box‐checking to a more inclusive and sustainable future
Authors: Trimble Lauren 
Published: January 2018

Key points
Testing for accessibility after extensive changes to a website and addressing them as technical debt is unsustainable in the long term.
To stay modern and efficient, providers of digital content to academic institutions should build accessibility into development.
For JSTOR, working with participating institutions to understand their concerns was essential to reaching WCAG 2.0 AA conformance.
With Artstor recently joining ITHAKA, we face the challenge of making a visual archive accessible.
Kudingcha and Fuzhuan Brick Tea Prevent Obesity and Modulate Gut Microbiota in High‐Fat Diet Fed Mice
Authors: Chen Guijie , Xie Minhao , Dai Zhuqing , Wan Peng , Ye Hong , Zeng Xiaoxiong , Sun Yi 
Published: January 2018

ScopeKudingcha (KDC) from Ilex kudingcha and Fuzhuan brick tea (FBT) are popular beverages in China, and their preventive and therapeutic roles in metabolic disorders have been reported. However, the relationship between the gut microbiota modulatory effects of KDC and FBT and prevention of obesity is still not clearly understood.Methods and resultsKDC and FBT are tested individually for their capacities to prevent obesity and modulate the gut microbiota in high‐fat diet (HFD) fed C57BL/6J mice. The results show that both KDC and FBT supplementation could modulate oxidative injury, inflammation, lipid metabolism, and reduce HFD induced obesity significantly. Both KDC and FBT could enhance the diversity of gut microbiota. KDC could reduce the relative abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae, while FBT could reduce the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes and enhance the relative abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae.ConclusionThese findings suggest that KDC and FBT could attenuate features of the metabolic syndrome in HFD‐fed mice, which might be due to the modulation of gut microbiota by KDC and FBT.
Allyl Isothiocyanate Ameliorates Obesity by Inhibiting Galectin‐12
Authors: Lo Chia‐Wen , Chen Chih‐Sheng , Chen Ying‐Chi , Hsu Yu‐An , Huang Chi‐Chun , Chang Ching‐Yao , Lin Chao‐Jen , Lin Cheng‐Wen , Lin Hui‐Ju , Liu Fu‐Tong , Wan Lei 
Published: January 2018

ScopeThe aim of this study is to investigate the signaling pathways by which allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) reduces adipocyte differentiation and the efficacy of AITC in suppressing galectin‐12 levels as a therapeutic for high fat diet (HFD)‐induced obesity.Methods and resultsAITC presents anti‐adipogenic effects on 3T3‐L1 cells by decreasing lipid droplet accumulation in a dose‐dependent manner. AITC suppresses 3T3‐L1 differentiation into adipocytes by decreasing galectin‐12 expression and by downregulating key adipogenic transcription factors. AITC influences the expression of 3T3‐L1 pre‐adipocytes by modulating adipokine expression (leptin and resistin) and by regulating the protein kinase B (PKB/Akt)/cAMP response element‐binding protein (CREB) pathway. In HFD‐fed mice, oral administration of AITC reduces the body weight, accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver, and white adipocyte size.ConclusionIn summary, the results indicate that AITC inhibits adipocyte differentiation by suppressing galectin‐12 levels in 3T3L1 cells and has antiobesity effects in HFD‐fed mice.
Anterior cruciate ligament tear induces a sustained loss of muscle fiber force production
Authors: Gumucio Jonathan P. , Sugg Kristoffer B. , Enselman Elizabeth R Sibilsky , Konja Alexis C. , Eckhardt Logan R. , Bedi Asheesh , Mendias Christopher L. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears have persistent quadriceps strength deficits that are thought to be due to altered neurophysiological function. Our goal was to determine the changes in muscle fiber contractility independent of the ability of motor neurons to activate fibers. Methods: We obtained quadriceps biopsies of patients undergoing ACL reconstruction, and additional biopsies 1, 2, and 6 months after surgery. Muscles fiber contractility was assessed in vitro, along with whole muscle strength testing. Results: Compared with controls, patients had a 30% reduction in normalized muscle fiber force at the time of surgery. One month later, the force deficit was 41%, and at 6 months the deficit was 23%. Whole muscle strength testing demonstrated similar trends. Discussion: While neurophysiological dysfunction contributes to whole muscle weakness, there is also a reduction in the force generating capacity of individual muscle cells independent of alpha motor neuron activation. Muscle Nerve 58: 145–148, 2018
Efficient solution of parameter‐dependent quasiseparable systems and computation of meromorphic matrix functions
Authors: Boito P. , Eidelman Y. , Gemignani L. 
Published: January 2018

SummaryIn this paper, we focus on the solution of shifted quasiseparable systems and of more general parameter‐dependent matrix equations with quasiseparable representations. We propose an efficient algorithm exploiting the invariance of the quasiseparable structure under diagonal shifting and inversion. This algorithm is applied to compute various functions of matrices. Numerical experiments show that this approach is fast and numerically robust.
Encapsulation of Cadmium Selenide Nanocrystals in Biocompatible Nanotubes: DFT Calculations, X‐ray Diffraction Investigations, and Confocal Fluorescence Imaging
Authors: Calatayud David G. , Ge Haobo , Kuganathan Navaratnarajah , Mirabello Vincenzo , Jacobs Robert M. J. , Rees Nicholas H. , Stoppiello Craig T. , Khlobystov Andrei N. , Tyrrell Rex M. , Como Enrico Da , Pascu Sofia I. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe encapsulation of CdSe nanocrystals within single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) cavities of varying dimensions at elevated temperatures under strictly air‐tight conditions is described for the first time. The structures of CdSe nanocrystals under confinement inside SWNTs was established in a comprehensive study, combining both experimental and DFT theoretical investigations. The calculated binding energies show that all considered polymorphs [(3:3), (4:4), and (4:2)] may be obtained experimentally. The most thermodynamically stable structure (3:3) is directly compared to the experimentally observed CdSe structures inside carbon nanotubes. The gas‐phase DFT‐calculated energy difference between “free” 3:3 and 4:2 structures (whereby 3:3 models a novel tubular structure in which both Cd and Se form three coordination, as observed experimentally for HgTe inside SWNT, and 4:2 is a motif derived from the hexagonal CuI bulk structure in which both Cd and Se form 4 or 2 coordination) is surprisingly small, only 0.06 eV per formula unit. X‐ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray analyses led to the full characterization of the SWNTs filled with the CdSe nanocrystals, shedding light on the composition, structure, and electronic interactions of the new nanohybrid materials on an atomic level. A new emerging hybrid nanomaterial, simultaneously filled and beta‐d‐glucan coated, was obtained by using pristine nanotubes and bulk CdSe powder as starting materials. This displayed fluorescence in water dispersions and unexpected biocompatibility was found to be mediated by beta‐d‐glucan (a biopolymer extracted from barley) with respect to that of the individual inorganic material components. For the first time, such supramolecular nanostructures are investigated by life‐science techniques applied to functional nanomaterial characterization, opening the door for future nano‐biotechnological applications.
SnO2 Functionalized Polyethylene Separator with Enhanced Thermal Stability for High Performance Lithium Ion Battery
Authors: Xiang Yinyu , Zhu Wenyi , Qiu Weijian , Guo Wei , Lei Jiaheng , Liu Dan , Qu Deyu , Xie Zhizhong , Tang Haolin , Li Junsheng 
Published: January 2018

AbstractImproving the thermal stability and electrolyte affinity of the separator is critical for enhancing the performance of lithium ion batteries. A novel SnO2 nanoparticle functionalized polyethylene separator prepared through a facile blade coating process is reported. The SnO2 functionalization effectively enhances the thermal stability of the separator. The functionalized separator could withstand a temperature up to 130 °C. In addition, the novel separator shows significantly improved electrochemical performance due to its good compatibility of the SnO2 layer with the electrolyte. As a result of these favourable features, the SnO2 functionalized separator presents excellent battery performance. The discharge capacity of the LiCoO2 half‐cell with the functionalized separator at 5C is improved by ∼13% at room temperature. Besides, the functionalized separator also exhibits superior discharge performance at 80 °C. These results demonstrate the high potential of the SnO2 functionalized separator for practical lithium ion battery applications.