bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of interleukin (IL)-21 and CD4+CD25++ T cells on cytokine production of CD4+ responder T cells in patients with myasthenia gravis
Authors: Alahgholi-Hajibehzad M , Durmuş H , Aysal F , Gülşen-Parman Y , Oflazer P , Deymeer F , Saruhan-Direskeneli G 
Published: July 2017

SummaryImpairment of the suppressive function of regulatory T (Treg) cells has been reported in myasthenia gravis (MG). In this study, cytokine-related mechanisms that may lead to the defect of Treg were investigated in patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive MG (AChR + MG). Proliferation and cytokine production of responder T (Tresp) cells in response to polyclonal activation were measured in a suppression assay. The effect of interleukin (IL)-21 on suppression was evaluated in vitro in co-culture. IL-21 increased the proliferation of Tresp cells in Tresp/Treg co-cultures. Tresp cells from patients with MG secreted significantly lower levels of IL-2. In patients with MG, IL-2 levels did not change with the addition of Treg to cultures, whereas it decreased significantly in controls. In Tresp/Treg co-cultures, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 production increased in the presence of Treg in patients. Interferon (IFN)-γ was decreased, whereas IL-17A was increased in both patient and control groups. IL-21 inhibited the secretion of IL-4 in MG and healthy controls (HC), and IL-17A in HC only. The results demonstrated that IL-21 enhances the proliferation of Tresp cells in the presence of Treg. An effect of IL-21 mainly on Tresp cells through IL-2 is implicated.
Biological parameters used in setting captive‐breeding quotas for Indonesia's breeding facilities
Authors: Janssen Jordi , Chng Serene C. L. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe commercial captive breeding of wildlife is often seen as a potential conservation tool to relieve pressure on wild populations, but laundering of wild‐sourced specimens as captive bred can seriously undermine conservation efforts and provide a false sense of sustainability. Indonesia is at the center of such controversy; therefore, we examined Indonesia's captive‐breeding production plan (CBPP) for 2016. We compared the biological parameters used in the CBPP with parameters in the literature and with parameters suggested by experts on each species and identified shortcomings of the CBPP. Production quotas for 99 out of 129 species were based on inaccurate or unrealistic biological parameters and production quotas deviated more than 10% from what parameters in the literature allow for. For 38 species, the quota exceeded the number of animals that can be bred based on the biological parameters (range 100–540%) calculated with equations in the CBPP. We calculated a lower reproductive output for 88 species based on published biological parameters compared with the parameters used in the CBPP. The equations used in the production plan did not appear to account for other factors (e.g., different survival rate for juveniles compared to adult animals) involved in breeding the proposed large numbers of specimens. We recommend the CBPP be adjusted so that realistic published biological parameters are applied and captive‐breeding quotas are not allocated to species if their captive breeding is unlikely to be successful or no breeding stock is available. The shortcomings in the current CBPP create loopholes that mean mammals, reptiles, and amphibians from Indonesia declared captive bred may have been sourced from the wild.
Body fat distribution is more predictive of all‐cause mortality than overall adiposity
Authors: Lee Sung Woo , Son Jee Young , Kim Jeong Min , Hwang Seung‐sik , Han Jin Suk , Heo Nam Ju 
Published: July 2017

AimsThe relationship between directly measured body fat and all‐cause mortality has been rarely studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive significance of computed tomography (CT)‐measured body fat, including both visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA), for mortality.MethodsThe study included 36 656 participants who underwent abdominal CT as part of a health check‐up at a single university‐affiliated healthcare center in 2007 to 2015. Of those, 32 593 participants with data regarding vital status as of May 2016 were included in the final analysis. The main factors evaluated were VFA, SFA and visceral‐to‐subcutaneous fat area ratio (VSR), and the primary outcome was all‐cause mortality.ResultsThere were 253 deaths during a mean follow‐up of 5.7 years. Increased SFA was associated with decreased all‐cause mortality, whereas an increased VFA and VSR were related to increased all‐cause mortality. Compared with the predictive power of body mass index (BMI), SFA and VSR showed a larger area under the curve than did BMI. In Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis, increased SFA and VSR were associated with decreased and increased hazard of all‐cause death, respectively. However, in multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, only VSR was independently associated with all‐cause mortality. Moreover, this relationship was paralleled by the harmful impact of increased VSR on metabolic profiles.ConclusionIncreased VSR was an independent predictor of all‐cause mortality. This suggests that the location of fat deposits may be more important than the actual amount of body fat.
Glycaemic outcomes of an Individualized treatMent aPproach for oldER vulnerable patIents: A randomized, controlled stUdy in type 2 diabetes Mellitus (IMPERIUM)
Authors: Heller Simon R. , Pratley Richard E. , Sinclair Alan , Festa Andreas , Kiljański Jacek , Brusko Cynthia S. , Duan Ran , Heine Robert J. 
Published: July 2017

AimsTo compare the glycaemic outcomes of 2 glucose‐lowering treatment strategies in vulnerable (moderately ill and/or frail) patients aged ≥65 years with type 2 diabetes whose individual HbA1c targets were not met with diet/exercise and/or oral anti‐hyperglycaemic medications (OAMs).MethodsThe primary endpoint of this study was a composite of achieving/maintaining individualized HbA1c targets without “clinically significant” hypoglycaemia (severe hypoglycaemia or repeated hypoglycaemia causing interruption of patients’ activities or blood glucose <54 mg/dL). Strategy‐A comprised glucose‐dependent therapies (n = 99) with a non‐sulphonylurea OAM and a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist as the first injectable. Strategy‐B comprised non‐glucose‐dependent therapies (n = 93) with sulphonylurea as the preferred OAM and insulin glargine as the first injectable.ResultsThere was no significant difference between Strategy‐A and Strategy‐B in percentages of patients achieving the primary endpoint (64.5% vs 54.9%; P = .190). Mean incidences (A vs B) of total (10.2% vs 53.8%), documented symptomatic (5.1% vs 36.6%), and asymptomatic (8.2% vs 32.3%) hypoglycaemia were lower for Strategy‐A (P < .001 each). Proportions of patients achieving/maintaining HbA1c target (A, 63.3% vs B, 55.9%) were similar.ConclusionSimilar proportions of older, vulnerable aged ≥65 years patients with type 2 diabetes achieved/maintained glycaemic treatment goals without clinically significant hypoglycaemia with Strategies A or B. However, Strategy‐A resulted in lower risk of total, documented symptomatic, and asymptomatic hypoglycaemia. These results identify an approach of potential clinical benefit in this age group and will inform future clinical research in older patients with type 2 diabetes.
A screening echocardiogram to identify diastolic dysfunction leads to better outcomes
Authors: Ghany Reyan , Palacio Ana , Chen Gordon , Dawkins Elissa , Ghany Alina , Forbes Emancia , Tajiri Thiago , Tamariz Leonardo 
Published: July 2017

BackgroundDiastolic dysfunction (DD) can lead to heart failure and higher mortality. Echocardiograms can detect DD but are not indicated for screening in older adults. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of DD and the impact of identifying it in seniors.MethodsWe performed screening echocardiograms in 5227 consecutive patients between January 2014 and March 2015 in 36 senior‐focused value‐based clinics across six states. We determined the presence of the grade of DD and defined stage B grade II/III (asymptomatic) and of stage C grade II/III (symptomatic) DD by the presence or absence of typical HF symptoms. We obtained prescribed medications from the electronic health record to determine absolute changes in HF therapy before and after the echocardiogram.ResultsWe included a group with no DD (n=649), a group with grade 1 DD (n=2875), and those with grades 2 and 3 (n=1357) who had normal ejection fraction. The prevalence of grade 2 or 3 DD with preserved ejection fraction was 25%; 95% CI: 24–26. The absolute change of ace‐inhibitor use before and after the echocardiogram increased by 14, 19, 23, 27 in patients without DD, those with grade 1, grade 2 or 3 asymptomatic and grade 2 or 3 symptomatic, respectively. The use of β‐blocker, statin, and diuretic had similar trends.ConclusionsSeniors without previously known stage B or stage C heart failure have moderate‐to‐severe DD, 27% of whom were stage C. Identifying seniors with DD leads to improvement in care.
Environmental diversity constrains learning in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: TOSH COLIN R. , BROGAN BARRY 
Published: July 2017

1. Much is known about how enriched environmental diversity affects ability to learn across the months and years that are the developmental periods of large animals.2. Less is known about how diversity impacts learning across the minutes and hours during which sensory environments of small foraging animals such as insects may vary dramatically.3. This study shows that Drosophila melanogaster exposed to a diversity of odour–taste associations over a few minutes subsequently learn standard associative learning tasks poorly.4. This effect is robust to variation in odours used in all parts of experiments.5. Findings may have an impact on at least three major research areas in ecology: the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning; the evolution of floral constancy in pollinators; and the pest‐protective effects of mixed species crops.
Parallel foraging cycles for different resources in leaf‐cutting ants: a clue to the mechanisms of rhythmic activity
Authors: BOCHYNEK THOMAS , TANNER JAMES L. , MEYER BERND , BURD MARTIN 
Published: July 2017

1. Leaf‐cutting ants display regular diel cycles of foraging, but the regulatory mechanisms underlying these cycles are not well known. There are, however, some indications in the literature that accumulation of leaf tissue inside a nest dampens recruitment of foragers, thereby providing a negative feedback that can lead to periodic foraging. We investigated two foraging cycles occurring simultaneously in an Atta colombica colony, one involving leaf harvesting and the other exploiting an ephemeral crop of ripe fruit.2. Leaf harvesting followed a typical diel pattern of a 10–12 h foraging bout followed by a period of inactivity, while fruit harvesting occurred continuously, but with a regular pre‐dawn dip in activity that marked a 24 h cycle.3. Although the results of the present study are drawn from a single field colony, the difference found is consistent with a mechanism of negative feedback regulation acting in parallel on two resources that differ in their rates of distribution and processing, creating cycles of formation and depletion of material caches.4. This hypothesis should provoke further interest from students of ant behaviour and some simple manipulative experiments that would begin to test it are outlined. Any role of resource caches in regulating foraging by Atta colonies may have similarities to the logistics of warehouse inventories in human economic activity.
An enemy of your enemy is your friend: Impact of predators on aggregation behavior of gammarids
Authors: Jermacz Łukasz , Andrzejczak Jagoda , Arczyńska Emilia , Zielska Joanna , Kobak Jarosław 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPredation pressure may affect many aspects of prey behavior, including forming groups and changes in social interactions. We studied the aggregation behavior of competing gammaridsDikerogammarus villosusandPontogammarus robustoides(Amphipoda, Crustacea) to check whether they modify their preferences for conspecifics or heterospecifics in response to predator (the racer gobyBabka gymnotrachelus) kairomones in the presence or absence of stone shelters (alternative protection source). Both species exhibited preferences toward shelters occupied by conspecifics over empty shelters and conspecifics apart from shelters, suggesting that their aggregation depends not only on habitat heterogeneity, but also on their social interactions. Moreover, gammarids in the presence of shelters (safer conditions) preferred conspecifics over heterospecifics, but predator kairomones made them form aggregations irrespective of species. In the predator presence,P. robustoidesincreased its aggregation level only in the sheltered conditions, whereasD. villosusexhibited this response only in the absence of shelters, suggesting that this behavior can protect it against predators. Therefore, we tested the antipredator effectiveness ofD. villosusaggregations by exposing them to fish predation. Gobies foraged most effectively on immobile single gammarids compared to moving and aggregated individuals. Fish also avoided aggregated prey, confirming the protective character of aggregations. We have demonstrated that the predator presence increases aggregation level of prey gammarids and affects their social behavior by reducing antagonistic interactions and avoidance between competing species. This is likely to affect their distribution and functioning in the wild, where predator pressure is a standard situation.
Contact calling behaviour in the male ring‐tailed lemur (Lemur catta)
Authors: Bolt Laura M. , Tennenhouse Erica 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe ring‐tailed lemur (Lemur catta) is a group‐living strepsirhine primate endemic to Madagascar that has a complex vocal repertoire including affiliative moan and hmm calls. Past research has suggested that both vocalisations may be contact calls, and we assessed their usage in addition to examining the effect of individual differences and social factors on male calling behaviour. We tested three hypotheses: the group cohesion, preferred companion and individual differences hypotheses. From March to July 2010, 565 h of focal animal data were collected on 31 males aged ≥1 year at the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar. Focal males were observed for 30 min, with vocalisations, allogrooming and agonistic interactions noted using one‐zero sampling, and general behaviour, nearest neighbour identity and distance noted using instantaneous point sampling, all at 2.5 min intervals. We found support for the group cohesion hypothesis for both vocalisations, and support for the preferred companion and individual differences hypotheses for the hmm but not the moan vocalisation. Moan and hmm calls maintained the distance between a male and his nearest neighbour, and were made at higher rates during behaviours which may lead to separation from conspecifics, such as travel and vigilance. Males made hmm calls at higher rates when they were low‐ranking, and/or when the nearest neighbour of a male or a preferred companion of either sex. Low‐ranking males may hmm call to maintain proximity to specific individuals within social groups who will show them increased tolerance, with the hmm signalling peaceful intent. Ring‐tailed lemurs are one of the best living models of gregarious primate ancestors, and gaining a better knowledge of the function and range of usage of their contact calls informs our understanding of the evolution of primate cognition.
Effects of lions on behaviour and endocrine stress in plains zebras
Authors: Périquet Stéphanie , Richardson Peter , Cameron Elissa Z. , Ganswindt André , Belton Lydia , Loubser Elize , Dalerum Fredrik 
Published: July 2017

AbstractLiving under predation risk may alter both behaviour and physiology of potential prey. In extreme cases, such alterations may have serious demographic consequences, and recent studies support that non‐lethal effects of predation may have broad ecological consequences. However, behavioural and physiological responses to predation risk may be related to trade‐offs associated with resource acquisition and direct predation risk. We validated an enzyme‐linked immunoassay (EIA) for non‐invasive monitoring of stress in plains zebras (Equus quagga) from faecal material. We used this assay in combination with behavioural data to assess if plains zebras living with and without lions (Panthera leo) in a mountain savannah in southern Africa differed in behaviour and physiology, and if such differences were influenced by seasons with contrasting resource availability. Zebra group sizes did not differ between areas with and without lions, but zebra groups had more juveniles in an area with lions than groups in an area without lions, but only during the wet season. Similarly, we observed differences in individual vigilance, foraging behaviour and stress hormone concentrations, but all these differences were influenced by seasons. Despite these seasonal influences, our study did not suggest that zebras in an area with lions spent a higher proportion of time being vigilant, a lower proportion of time foraging, or had higher stress hormone levels. Our results instead suggest that zebras' responses to lion presence were highly context dependent and the result of complex interactions between resource abundance and cues about predation risk. Because of the obvious ecological and evolutionary ramifications of such findings, we argue that further research is needed to define the spatial and temporal scales over which predators impose indirect effects on their prey.
The ontogeny of personality traits in the desert funnel‐web spider, Agelenopsis lisa (Araneae: Agelenidae)
Authors: Bosco Jennifer M. , Riechert Susan E. , O'Meara Brian C. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractTrait consistency over time is one of the cornerstones of animal personality. Behavioral syndromes are the result of correlations between behaviors. While repeatability in behavior is not a requirement for behavioral syndromes, the two concepts studied together provide a more comprehensive understanding of how behavior can change over ontogeny. The roles of ontogenetic processes in the emergence of personality and behavioral syndromes have received much individual attention. However, the characterization of both individual trait consistency and behavioral syndromes across both sexes, as in our study, has been relatively rare. Ontogeny refers to changes that occur from conception to maturation, and juveniles might be expected to undergo different selection pressures than sexually mature individuals and also will experience profound changes in hormones, morphology, and environment during this period. In this study, we test for behavioral trait consistency and behavioral syndromes across six time points during ontogenetic development in the desert funnel‐web spider (Agelenopsis lisa). Our results indicate behavioral traits generally lack consistency (repeatability) within life stages and across ontogeny. However, penultimate males and mature females do exhibit noticeable mean‐level changes, with greater aggressive responses toward prey, shorter latencies to explore their environment and in the exhibition of risk‐averse responses to predatory cues. These traits also show high repeatability. Some trait correlations do exist as well. In particular, a strong correlation between aggressiveness toward prey and exploration factors is observed in mature males. However, because correlations among these factors are unstable across ontogeny and vary in strength over time, we conclude that behavioral syndromes do not exist in this species. Nevertheless, our results indicate that increased consistency, increasing average trait values, and varying correlations between traits may coincide with developmentally important changes associated with sexual maturation, albeit at different time points in males and females. This period of the life cycle merits systematic examination across taxa.
Facial cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis associated with Alternaria infectoriae infection
Authors: González‐Medina S. , Dukes J. , Rasotto R. , Szekely A. , Borman A. M. 
Published: July 2017

SummaryCutaneous nodular disease in the horse is relatively rare and usually associated with arthropod bites, dermal hyperplasia and inflammatory or neoplastic infiltrates. Equine phaeohyphomycosis, particularly alternariosis, has been previously described in the literature and is usually associated with Alternaria alternata. In this article we report a case of phaeohyphomycosis caused by a member of Alternaria section Infectoriae in a horse. To our knowledge this is the first time that this organism has been identified in equids. Despite A. Infectoriae being commonly isolated in individuals receiving immunosuppressive therapy and/or suffering from Cushing's syndrome, we could not determine a link between pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and fungal infection in this case. The mare responded well to surgical excision of the cutaneous lesions and made a full recovery.
The signature of human pressure history on the biogeography of body mass in tetrapods
Authors: Rapacciuolo Giovanni , Marin Julie , Costa Gabriel C. , Helmus Matthew R. , Behm Jocelyn E. , Brooks Thomas M. , Hedges S. Blair , Radeloff Volker C. , Young Bruce E. , Graham Catherine H. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAimExamining the biogeography of body size is crucial for understanding how animal communities are assembled and maintained. In tetrapods, body size varies predictably with temperature, moisture, productivity seasonality and topographical complexity. Although millennial‐scale human pressures are known to have led to the extinction of primarily large‐bodied tetrapods, human pressure history is often ignored in studies of body size that focus on extant species. Here, we analyse 11,377 tetrapod species of the Western Hemisphere to test whether millennial‐scale human pressures have left an imprint on contemporary body mass distributions throughout the tetrapod clade.LocationWestern Hemisphere.Time periodContemporary.Major taxa studiedTetrapods (birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles).MethodsWe mapped the distribution of assemblage‐level median tetrapod body mass at a resolution of 110 km across the Western Hemisphere. We then generated multivariate models of median body mass as a function of temperature, moisture, productivity seasonality and topographical complexity, as well as two variables capturing the history of human population density and human‐induced land conversion over the past 12,000 years. We controlled for both spatial and phylogenetic autocorrelation effects on body mass–environment relationships.ResultsHuman pressures explain a small but significant portion of geographical variation in median body mass that cannot be explained by ecological constraints alone. Overall, the median body mass of tetrapod assemblages is lower than expected in areas with a longer history of high human population density and land conversion, but there are important differences among tetrapod classes.Main conclusionsAt this broad scale, the effect of human pressure history on tetrapod body mass is low relative to that of ecology. However, ignoring spatial variation in the history of human pressure is likely to lead to bias in studies of the present‐day functional composition of tetrapod assemblages, at least in areas that have long been influenced by humans.