bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cancer in adolescents and young adults: Who remains at risk of poor social functioning over time?
Authors: Husson Olga , Zebrack Bradley J. , Aguilar Christine , Hayes‐Lattin Brandon , Cole Steve 
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUNDThe objective of the current study was to examine social functioning among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) within the first 2 years after a cancer diagnosis and compare their scores with population norms and identify trajectories of social functioning over time and its correlates.METHODSA multicenter, longitudinal study was conducted among 215 AYA patients with cancer aged 14 to 39 years. A total of 141 patients completed a self‐report measure of social functioning within the first 4 months of diagnosis and again at 12 months and 24 months later.RESULTSAYA patients with cancer were found to have significantly worse social functioning scores around the time of diagnosis (52.0 vs 85.1; P<.001), at the 12‐month follow‐up (73.1 vs 85.1; P<.001), and at the 24‐month follow‐up (69.2 vs 85.1; P<.001) when compared with population norms. Significant improvements in social functioning from baseline to the 12‐month follow‐up were observed; however, social functioning levels remained stable thereafter. Among participants, 9% demonstrated consistently high/normal social functioning, 47% demonstrated improved social functioning, 13% were found to have worsening social functioning, and 32% demonstrated consistently low social functioning. AYA patients with cancer who had consistently low social functioning were more often off treatment at the time of follow‐up, reported more physical symptoms and higher levels of distress at baseline and follow‐up, and perceived less social support at baseline compared with the other 3 groups.CONCLUSIONSAlthough improved over time, social functioning still was found to be compromised 24 months after the primary diagnosis. Nearly one‐third of these patients remain at risk of poor social functioning. Reducing physical symptoms and psychological distress and enhancing social support by interventions during the period after treatment may potentially help these young survivors to better reintegrate into society. Cancer 2017;123:2743‐51. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Organogels from Double‐Chained Vitamin C Amphiphilic Derivatives
Authors: Tempestini Elia , Bucci Martina , Mastromartino Vincenzo , Gori Marianna , Tanini Damiano , Ambrosi Moira , Fratini Emiliano , Capperucci Antonella , Lo Nostro Pierandrea 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe syntheses and physicochemical characterization of double‐chained amphiphilic compounds obtained from vitamin C are reported: dialkanoyl‐5,6‐O‐ascorbic acid esters (Di‐ASCn, n=8, 10, and 12). The acetyl‐5‐dodecanoyl‐6‐ascorbic acid ester is synthesized and investigated for comparison. These products are quite insoluble in water and in polar solvents, although they form homogeneous dispersions in cyclohexane. Upon cooling, these dispersions turn into a gel‐like phase. Differential scanning calorimetry, FTIR spectroscopy, and small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering experiments are performed to investigate the properties of pure solids and their liquid dispersions. Di‐ASCn retain the same redox properties of the parent molecule and represent a valid candidate for the production of nanosized protective carriers for valuable guests that are sensitive to oxidative radical attack. Moreover, the contribution of the vitamin C hydroxyl group in position 5 to the overall hydration properties of single‐ and double‐chained amphiphilic derivatives is discussed.
Role of Dissolved and Molecular Oxygen on Cu and PtCu Alloy Particle Structure during Laser Ablation Synthesis in Liquids
Authors: Marzun Galina , Bönnemann Helmut , Lehmann Christian , Spliethoff Bernd , Weidenthaler Claudia , Barcikowski Stephan 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe role of molecular oxygen dissolved in the solvent is often discussed as being an influential factor on particle oxidation during pulsed laser ablation in liquids. However, the formation of the particles during laser synthesis takes place under extreme conditions that enable the decomposition of the liquid medium. Reactive species of the solvent may then affect particle formation due to a chemical reaction in the reactive plasma. Experimental results show a difference between the role of dissolved molecular oxygen and the contribution from the oxygen in water molecules. Using a metallic Cu target in air‐saturated water, laser ablation led to 20.5 wt % Cu, 11.5 wt % Cu2O, and 68 wt % CuO nanoparticles, according to X‐ray diffraction results. In contrast to particles obtained in air‐saturated water, no CuO was observed in the colloid synthesized in a Schlenk ablation chamber in completely oxygen‐free water. Under these conditions, less‐oxidized nanoparticles (25 wt % Cu and 75 wt % Cu2O) were synthesized. The results show that nanoparticle oxidation during laser synthesis is mainly caused by reactive oxygen species from the decomposition of water molecules. However, the addition of molecular oxygen promotes particle oxidation. Storage of the Cu colloid in the presence of dissolved oxygen leads, due to aging, to nanostructures with a higher oxidation state than the freshly prepared colloid. The XRD pattern of the sample prepared in air‐saturated acetone showed no crystalline phases, which is possibly due to small crystallites or low particle concentration. Concentration of the particles by centrifugation showed that in the large fraction (>20 nm), even less oxidized nanoparticles (46 wt % Cu and 54 wt % Cu2O) were present, although the solubility of molecular oxygen is higher in acetone than in water. The nanoparticles in acetone were stable due to a Cu‐catalyzed graphite layer formed on their surfaces. The influence of the solvent on alloy synthesis is also crucial. Laser ablation of PtCu3 in air‐saturated water led to separated large CuO and Pt‐rich spherical nanoparticles, whereas homogeneous PtCu3 alloy nanoparticles were formed in acetone.
Functionalization of Ruthenium(II)(η6‐p‐cymene)(3‐hydroxy‐2‐pyridone) Complexes with (Thio)Morpholine: Synthesis and Bioanalytical Studies
Authors: Hanif Muhammad , Meier Samuel M. , Adhireksan Zenita , Henke Helena , Martic Sanela , Movassaghi Sanam , Labib Mahmoud , Kandioller Wolfgang , Jamieson Stephen M. F. , Hejl Michaela , Jakupec Michael A. , Kraatz Heinz‐Bernhard , Davey Curt A. , Keppler Bernhard K. , Hartinger Christian G. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractHydroxypyr(id)ones constitute an emerging platform for the design of drug molecules, owing to their favorable biocompatibility and toxicity profiles. Herein, [RuII(η6‐p‐cymene)] complexes with 3‐hydroxy‐2‐pyridinone functionalized with morpholine and thiomorpholine, as a means often used in medicinal chemistry to alter the physicochemical properties of drug compounds, are reported. The compounds underwent hydrolysis of the Ru−Cl bond and the aqua species were stable for up to 48 h in aqueous solution, as observed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and ESI‐MS. The compounds formed adducts with amino acids and proteins through cleavage of the pyridinone ligand. Binding experiments to the nucleosome core particle by means of X‐ray crystallography revealed similar reactivity and exclusive binding to histidine moieties of the histone proteins. Preliminary cyclin‐dependent kinase 2 (CDK2)/cyclin A kinase inhibitory studies revealed promising activity similar to that of structurally related organometallic compounds.
Species’ traits help predict small mammal responses to habitat homogenization by an invasive grass
Authors: Ceradini Joseph P. , Chalfoun Anna D. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractInvasive plants can negatively affect native species, however, the strength, direction, and shape of responses may vary depending on the type of habitat alteration and the natural history of native species. To prioritize conservation of vulnerable species, it is therefore critical to effectively predict species’ responses to invasive plants, which may be facilitated by a framework based on species’ traits. We studied the population and community responses of small mammals and changes in habitat heterogeneity across a gradient of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) cover, a widespread invasive plant in North America. We live‐trapped small mammals over two summers and assessed the effect of cheatgrass on native small mammal abundance, richness, and species‐specific and trait‐based occupancy, while accounting for detection probability and other key habitat elements. Abundance was only estimated for the most common species, deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). All species were pooled for the trait‐based occupancy analysis to quantify the ability of small mammal traits (habitat association, mode of locomotion, and diet) to predict responses to cheatgrass invasion. Habitat heterogeneity decreased with cheatgrass cover. Deer mouse abundance increased marginally with cheatgrass. Species richness did not vary with cheatgrass, however, pocket mouse (Perognathus spp.) and harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys spp.) occupancy tended to decrease and increase, respectively, with cheatgrass cover, suggesting a shift in community composition. Cheatgrass had little effect on occupancy for deer mice, 13‐lined ground squirrels (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus), and Ord's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ordii). Species’ responses to cheatgrass primarily corresponded with our a priori predictions based on species’ traits. The probability of occupancy varied significantly with a species’ habitat association but not with diet or mode of locomotion. When considered within the context of a rapid habitat change, such as caused by invasive plants, relevant species’ traits may provide a useful framework for predicting species’ responses to a variety of habitat disturbances. Understanding which species are likely to be most affected by exotic plant invasion will help facilitate more efficient, targeted management and conservation of native species and habitats.
Complex trait relationships between leaves and absorptive roots: Coordination in tissue N concentration but divergence in morphology
Authors: Wang Ruili , Wang Qiufeng , Zhao Ning , Yu Guirui , He Nianpeng 
Published: March 2017

AbstractLeaves and absorptive roots (i.e., first‐order root) are above‐ and belowground plant organs related to resource acquisition; however, it is controversy over whether these two sets of functional traits vary in a coordinated manner. Here, we examined the relationships between analogous above‐ and belowground traits, including chemical (tissue C and N concentrations) and morphological traits (thickness and diameter, specific leaf area and root length, and tissue density) of 154 species sampling from eight subtropical and temperate forests. Our results showed that N concentrations of leaves and absorptive roots were positively correlated independent of phylogeny and plant growth forms, whereas morphological traits between above‐ and belowground organs varied independently. These results indicate that, different from plant economics spectrum theory, there is a complex integration of diverse adaptive strategies of plant species to above‐ and belowground environments, with convergent adaptation in nutrient traits but divergence in morphological traits across plant organs. Our results offer a new perspective for understanding the resource capture strategies of plants in adaptation to heterogeneous environments, and stress the importance of phylogenetic consideration in the discussion of cross‐species trait relationships.
Does the morphological fit between flowers and pollinators affect pollen deposition? An experimental test in a buzz‐pollinated species with anther dimorphism
Authors: Solís‐Montero Lislie , Vallejo‐Marín Mario 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSome pollination systems, such as buzz‐pollination, are associated with floral morphologies that require a close physical interaction between floral sexual organs and insect visitors. In these systems, a pollinator's size relative to the flower may be an important feature determining whether the visitor touches both male and female sexual organs and thus transfers pollen between plants efficiently. To date, few studies have addressed whether in fact the “fit” between flower and pollinator influences pollen transfer, particularly among buzz‐pollinated species. Here we use Solanum rostratum, a buzz‐pollinated plant with dimorphic anthers and mirror‐image flowers, to investigate whether the morphological fit between the pollinator's body and floral morphology influences pollen deposition. We hypothesized that when the size of the pollinator matches the separation between the sexual organs in a flower, more pollen should be transferred to the stigma than when the visitor is either too small or too big relative to the flower. To test this hypothesis, we exposed flowers of S. rostratum with varying levels of separation between sexual organs, to bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) of different sizes. We recorded the number of visits received, pollen deposition, and fruit and seed production. We found higher pollen deposition when bees were the same size or bigger than the separation between anther and stigma within a flower. We found a similar, but not statistically significant pattern for fruit set. In contrast, seed set was more likely to occur when the size of the flower exceeded the size of the bee, suggesting that other postpollination processes may be important in translating pollen receipt to seed set. Our results suggest that the fit between flower and pollinator significantly influences pollen deposition in this buzz‐pollinated species. We speculate that in buzz‐pollinated species where floral morphology and pollinators interact closely, variation in the visitor's size may determine whether it acts mainly as a pollinator or as a pollen thief (i.e., removing pollen rewards but contributing little to pollen deposition and fertilization).
Environmental heterogeneity does not affect levels of phenotypic plasticity in natural populations of three Drosophila species
Authors: Manenti Tommaso , Sørensen Jesper G. , Loeschcke Volker 
Published: March 2017

AbstractAdaptation of natural populations to variable environmental conditions may occur by changes in trait means and/or in the levels of plasticity. Theory predicts that environmental heterogeneity favors plasticity of adaptive traits. Here we investigated the performance in several traits of three sympatric Drosophila species freshly collected in two environments that differ in the heterogeneity of environmental conditions. Differences in trait means within species were found in several traits, indicating that populations differed in their evolutionary response to the environmental conditions of their origin. Different species showed distinct adaptation with a very different role of plasticity across species for coping with environmental changes. However, geographically distinct populations of the same species generally displayed the same levels of plasticity as induced by fluctuating thermal regimes. This indicates a weak and trait‐specific effect of environmental heterogeneity on plasticity. Furthermore, similar levels of plasticity were found in a laboratory‐adapted population of Drosophila melanogaster with a common geographic origin but adapted to the laboratory conditions for more than 100 generations. Thus, this study does not confirm theoretical predictions on the degree of adaptive plasticity among populations in relation to environmental heterogeneity but shows a very distinct role of species‐specific plasticity.
Switching among natal and auxiliary hosts increases vulnerability of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to insecticides
Authors: Saeed Qamar , Saeed Shafqat , Ahmad Faheem 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe role of insecticidal application and host plant resistance in managing Spodoptera exigua has been well documented, but the effect of different host plants, on which the pest cycles its population in the field, has seldom been investigated. Therefore, we have studied the vulnerability of S. exigua against commonly used insecticides (cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, lufenuron, and emamectin benzoate) with different mode of actions when it switches its generations from natal to auxiliary hosts and vice versa. Different field populations being established on different host plants including castor, cauliflower, cotton, okra, and spinach were collected and reared in the laboratory before insecticidal bioassays. The role of larval diet and host plant switching on their response to tolerate applied insecticides was studied using leaf‐dip bioassay methods. Host switching demonstrated a significant role in altering the vulnerability of S. exigua populations to tested insecticides. Spodoptera exigua sourced from castor, when switched host to okra and spinach, exhibited 50% higher mortality when treated with emamectin benzoate. This trend in mortality was consistent upon complete host switch cycle (natal—auxiliary—natal host). However, the highest increase (92%) in vulnerability was recorded when the larvae were shifted to spinach from cotton. In general, chlorpyrifos and lufenuron had highest efficacies in terms of larval mortality. The findings of present studies provide insights to a better understanding the behavior of polyphagous pests and the role of different host plants in altering the susceptibility of these pests against applied insecticides. Ultimately the results warrant that due consideration should be given to cropping patterns and time of host switching by pest population during planning and executing chemical control.
Environmental indicators reflective of road design in a forested landscape
Authors: Neher Deborah A. , Williams Kristin M. , Lovell Sarah Taylor 
Published: March 2017

AbstractRoads cause both chemical and physical disturbance at the time of creation and through the maintenance of the road. However, none have fully considered the extent of above‐ and below‐ground impacts related to roads. Our study seeks to fill this gap with three objectives: (1) quantify differences in the nematode community by road‐use intensity, (2) estimate distance of environmental impact of roads using nematode community indices, and (3) relate nematode communities to abiotic soil and above‐ground plant communities for a relatively comprehensive environmental assessment of the spatial footprint of roads on the landscape. Soil and plant samples were co‐located at six distances from the road edge (shoulder, sideslope, ditch, backslope, 10 m from forest edge, and 50 m from road crown) for each of 10 transects perpendicular to each of three road types (highways, two‐lane paved, and gravel). There were differences in all nematode community measures based upon distance as a main effect, correlating with patterns of plant communities. Nematode community index values reflect increased disturbance closer to the road, particularly at the shoulder, with later ecological succession and a shift in the decomposer food web with increased distance from the road and in reference forest sites. In contrast, chemical properties of soil were influenced more by road type and the two‐way interaction of road type and topography. Salt concentrations were greatest by two‐lane paved roads, while heavy metal concentrations were greatest near highway roads. This study is one of the most comprehensive assessments of environmental impact by roads, providing data for accurate transportation system models. The results suggest that conscious design and management of the forest buffer and intentional inclusion of a ditch as a roadside feature may minimize pollutant movement and protect surrounding landscapes.
Effect of consumer loss on resource removal depends on species‐specific traits
Authors: Hodapp Dorothee , Hillebrand Helmut 
Published: March 2017

AbstractNegative effects of species loss on ecosystem functioning within and across trophic levels have been demonstrated across systems and organism groups. Recent meta‐analyses showed that lower levels of consumer diversity lead to a reduction in resource removal. The strength of these effects seems to strongly depend on species identity, that is, species‐specific traits, resulting in a variety of consumer interactions ranging from facilitating to strongly antagonistic effects. For a general test of trait‐based effects of species loss, we conducted a meta‐analysis on resource experiments including two consumer species. We calculated effect sizes of losing one of the two species, and related these to variables describing species' traits and experimental design. Our results show that loss of one species on average reduces resource removal supporting the hypothesis that loss of certain species‐specific traits cannot fully be compensated for by biomass increases of the remaining consumer. However, the investigation of various consumer traits including body size did not allow for generalizations on the effect of loss of a certain consumer trait on resource removal.
What if plant functional types conceal species‐specific responses to environment? Study on arctic shrub communities
Authors: Saccone Patrick , Hoikka Kristiina , Virtanen Risto 
Published: March 2017

AbstractPlant functional types (PFT) are increasingly used to outline biome‐scale plant–environment relationship and predict global change effects on community structure. However, the potentials and limitations of the PFT approach have to be tested as they can be less sensitive than trait‐based or species‐level approaches. Here, we compare the responses of deciduous‐evergreen shrub PFTs and species to gradual snow‐related environmental conditions by also considering effects of aboveground architectural traits and neighboring shrubs. Five deciduous species and four evergreen dwarf shrub species were transplanted to be exposed to four levels of winter snow cover across mesotopographic gradients in northern Fennoscandian tundra. The survival and growth of individually tagged shoots were monitored over one year, and the change in cover of shrubs was monitored over four years. Evergreen species showed higher resistance to environmental severity and generally benefitted from higher abundance of neighboring shrubs. Deciduous species exhibited negligible to drastic responses to snow thickness and neighboring shrubs tended to have a negative effect on their performance and survival. Tall shoots of deciduous shrubs survived poorly under the thinnest snow cover. Overall, deciduous and evergreen PFTs showed modest differences in their performances along the gradient. Our results show that deciduous‐evergreen leaf phenology categories predict shrub responses to changing environmental conditions only to a limited extent. Our findings highlight strong species‐specific responses especially among deciduous shrubs, and a differential role of plant–plant interactions for shrubs. Our results emphasize that distribution patterns of arctic‐alpine shrubs and shrub community responses to altered snow regimes depend on species‐level plant functional attributes, species interactions and species‐specific sensitivities to environmental severity.
Continuing a Culture of Evidence: Expanding Skills in Higher Education
Authors: Oliveri María Elena , Markle Ross 
Published: March 2017

AbstractFrom 2006 to 2008, Educational Testing Service (ETS) produced a series of reports titled A Culture of Evidence, designed to capture a changing climate in higher education assessment. A decade later, colleges and universities face a new set of challenges resulting from societal, technological, and other influences, leading to a need to augment the skills expected of college graduates. This report is one of a new series of reports by ETS describing current issues and trends in higher education with a focus on assessment. In this report, we discuss shifts in cognitive and noncognitive skills expected of college graduates in response to new educational and occupational demands. In particular, we describe these demands, the factors influencing them, and the impact of these factors on the instruction and assessment of skills needed for success in higher education and the workforce.