bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Survivability and post‐diapause fitness in a scolytid beetle as a function of overwintering developmental stage and the implications for population dynamics
Authors: DWORSCHAK KAI , GRUPPE AXEL , SCHOPF REINHARD 
Published: May 2014

1. It has recently been suggested that expected increases in temperature might lead to an additional generation per season in bark beetles. Thus, populations would grow more rapidly. However, an additional but not fully developed generation could lead to high winter mortality in the pre‐imaginal stages.2. Winter survivability and post‐diapause fitness as a function of the overwintering developmental stage of the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus L. were studied along an altitudinal cline. Fitness was tested in terms of weight, lipid content and flight capacity.3. Mortality was significantly lower and emergence per brood system significantly higher for fully developed adults that entered overwintering than for larvae, pupae or callow adults.4. Post‐diapause fitness in terms of dry weight and flight capacity was significantly higher in individuals that completed development before winter, and lipid contents also showed a trend for being higher in those individuals.5. In conclusion, in a scenario where effective temperature sums are not adequate for the complete development of an additional generation, models may overestimate population growth by neglecting increased mortality and reduced post‐diapause fitness. The results highlight the importance of considering life‐history traits and indirect effects in addition to abiotic factors such as temperature when modelling population dynamics.
Studying ongoing and spontaneous pain in rodents – challenges and opportunities
Authors: Tappe‐Theodor Anke , Kuner Rohini 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThe measurement of spontaneous ongoing pain in rodents is a multiplex issue and a subject of extensive and longstanding debate. Considering the need to align available rodent models with clinically relevant forms of pain, it is of prime importance to thoroughly characterize behavioral outcomes in rodents using a portfolio of measurements that are not only stimulus‐dependent but also encompass voluntary behavior in unrestrained animals. Moreover, the temporal course and duration of behavioral tests should be taken into consideration when we plan our studies to measure explicit chronic pain, with a particular emphasis on performing longitudinal studies in rodents. While using rodents as model organisms, it is also worth considering their circadian rhythm and the influence of the test conditions on the behavioral results, which are affected by social paradigms, stress and anxiety. In humans, general wellbeing is closely related to pain perception, which also makes it necessary in rodents to consider modulators as well as readouts of overall wellbeing. Optimizing the above parameters in study design and the new developments that are forthcoming to test the affective motivational components of pain hold promise in solving inconsistencies across studies and improving their broad applicability in translational research. In this review, we critically discuss a variety of behavioral tests that have been developed and reported in recent years, attempt to weigh their benefits and potential limitations, and discuss key requirements and challenges that lie ahead in measuring ongoing pain in rodent models.
Characterization of structural disturbances in peats by X‐ray CT‐based density determinations
Authors: Turberg P. , Zeimetz F. , Grondin Y. , Elandoy C. , Buttler A. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryBulk density was determined indirectly in peat samples by X‐ray computed tomography (X‐ray CT) and compared with density values obtained by standard laboratory methods. Five Histosols were collected in the same cut‐over peatland, representing various degrees of disturbance related to the process of peat extraction. Soil cores were fully imaged by X‐ray CT with a voxel size of about 0.25 mm. Each one of these five attenuation profiles was analysed and compared with direct density measurements. A linear relationship, to convert attenuation values into density values, is proposed to determine the variation in bulk density with a spatial resolution clearly greater than standard laboratory determinations. It is also shown that X‐ray‐based density values can be effectively used to characterize the structure of peat soils and the possible consequences of disturbances after drainage and peat mining. Under the accepted limitations of the method, X‐ray CT opens up new opportunities to determine the structural quality of peat and to monitor its modifications with time. This indirect diagnostic could be particularly useful to study peatlands' hydraulic systems or evaluate the effectiveness of restoration measures.
Major factors controlling late Pleistocene to Holocene soil development in the Vesuvius area (southern Italy)
Authors: Scarciglia F. , Zumpano V. , Sulpizio R. , Terribile F. , Pulice I. , La Russa M. F. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryIn this paper the role of time and late Pleistocene to middle Holocene climate changes in the Somma‐Vesuvius volcano foothill (southern Italy) is investigated with a multidisciplinary approach. Four volcanic soils inter‐layered between five well‐known and well‐dated primary tephra layers were characterized. Chronological constraints were provided by the pyroclastic layers identified in the field (Pomici di Base, Pomici Verdoline, Agnano Pomici Principali, Mercato and Avellino), ranging between 22 and 3.8 thousand years (ka) before present (BP). These represent products of explosive eruptions of Somma‐Vesuvius and the Phlegrean Fields. Another pyroclastic layer (Agnano Monte Spina) from the Phlegrean Fields was also identified, and other ash layers previously unknown in the Somma‐Vesuvius stratigraphy. These were characterized with SEM‐EDS analyses, and correlated with other eruptions from the Phlegrean Fields (Soccavo 4‐5 and Tufi Biancastri) around 12 and 21 ka BP, respectively, thus resulting in further time constraints for phases of soil development. A detailed characterization of the four pedons integrated morphological, physical, chemical, mineralogical and micromorphological analyses. Soil features were interpreted in terms of dominant genetic processes and environmental conditions. The extent of soil development, assessed with pedogenetic indices and the degree of weathering of primary pumices, was only in part consistent with time‐spans of soil formation, suggesting a more important role of climate than soil age. The different extents of expression of andic properties, pumice weathering and varying clay mineralogy allowed us to relate changes to the main climatic phases that occurred during the late Pleistocene to the mid Holocene.
Differences in Frequency of Shared Song Types Enables Neighbour‐Stranger Discrimination in a Songbird Species with Small Song Repertoire
Authors: Osiejuk Tomasz S. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractAcoustic Neighbour‐Stranger (N‐S) discrimination is widespread in birds and has evolved to settle territorial disputes with low costs. N‐S discrimination was found both in song‐learning oscines and non‐song‐learning bird taxa, irrespective of the repertoire sizes they have. Therefore, it seems that more than just a single mechanism enable N‐S discrimination. Species with larger repertoires, where males have unique phrases or syllables may rely on such interindividual differences. The majority of birds have rather small repertoires, which often are shared among neighbours. In this case, males are facing the problem of individual recognition when rivals produce songs, at least superficially, identical. To better understand the acoustic basis of N‐S discrimination in species with small and shared repertoires, I studied the ortolan bunting (Emberiza hortulana). Males of this small oscine species are able to N‐S discrimination based on a single song rendition when presented in a playback experiment, regardless of song‐type diversity and song‐sharing level within a particular population. It was also found that songs of the same type sung by different males differ in the frequency of the initial song phrases and these differences persist over years. Here, I tested whether males are able to discriminate among the natural songs and the artificially modified songs of their neighbours in which the frequency was experimentally changed by relatively small value in comparison with the variation range found in this population. Subjects responded significantly more aggressively to the songs with an artificially modified frequency, suggesting that males treat such songs as having come from the repertoire of a non‐neighbour. These results confirm an earlier prediction that differences in the frequency of shared song types enable N‐S discrimination. The study presents one of the possible mechanisms enabling N‐S discrimination in songbirds with small repertoires and stress the role of within‐song‐type variation, which is still understudied song characteristic.
Latent heat exchange in the boreal and arctic biomes
Authors: Kasurinen Ville , Alfredsen Knut , Kolari Pasi , Mammarella Ivan , Alekseychik Pavel , Rinne Janne , Vesala Timo , Bernier Pierre , Boike Julia , Langer Moritz , Belelli Marchesini Luca , van Huissteden Ko , Dolman Han , Sachs Torsten , Ohta Takeshi , Varlagin Andrej , Rocha Adrian , Arain Altaf , Oechel Walter , Lund Magnus , Grelle Achim , Lindroth Anders , Black Andy , Aurela Mika , Laurila Tuomas , Lohila Annalea , Berninger Frank 
Published: May 2014

AbstractIn this study latent heat flux (λE) measurements made at 65 boreal and arctic eddy‐covariance (EC) sites were analyses by using the Penman–Monteith equation. Sites were stratified into nine different ecosystem types: harvested and burnt forest areas, pine forests, spruce or fir forests, Douglas‐fir forests, broadleaf deciduous forests, larch forests, wetlands, tundra and natural grasslands. The Penman–Monteith equation was calibrated with variable surface resistances against half‐hourly eddy‐covariance data and clear differences between ecosystem types were observed. Based on the modeled behavior of surface and aerodynamic resistances, surface resistance tightly controlλEin most mature forests, while it had less importance in ecosystems having shorter vegetation like young or recently harvested forests, grasslands, wetlands and tundra. The parameters of the Penman–Monteith equation were clearly different for winter and summer conditions, indicating that phenological effects on surface resistance are important. We also compared the simulatedλEof different ecosystem types under meteorological conditions at one site. Values ofλEvaried between 15% and 38% of the net radiation in the simulations with mean ecosystem parameters. In general, the simulations suggest thatλEis higher from forested ecosystems than from grasslands, wetlands or tundra‐type ecosystems. Forests showed usually a tighter stomatal control ofλEas indicated by a pronounced sensitivity of surface resistance to atmospheric vapor pressure deficit. Nevertheless, the surface resistance of forests was lower than for open vegetation types including wetlands. Tundra and wetlands had higher surface resistances, which were less sensitive to vapor pressure deficits. The results indicate that the variation in surface resistance within and between different vegetation types might play a significant role in energy exchange between terrestrial ecosystems and atmosphere. These results suggest the need to take into account vegetation type and phenology in energy exchange modeling.
Sun protection and hydration of stratum corneum: a study by 2‐D differential method
Authors: Lécureux M. , Deumié C. , Enoch S. 
Published: May 2014

SynopsisObjectiveThe stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the skin. Its components and its morphology (such as the size of its cells) play a role in sun protection, and it has been noted that the stratum corneum hydration can change these properties. Sunscreens, applied on the skin, can be more or less effective depending on the stratum corneum characteristics. We therefore propose to simulate the quality of the sun protection and the effect of the stratum corneum hydration on the sun protection.MethodsWe first determined the sunscreen distribution on a plastic substrate using an optical coherence tomography device. We were then able to calculate, by 2‐D differential method, the extinction of several sunscreens. We modelled the hydration of the stratum corneum, by changing the substrate with corneocytes of different thicknesses.ResultsOur results showed that hydrated stratum corneum protects more against the UV. The benefit from changing the substrate varies depending on the sunscreen applied.ConclusionWe modelled sunscreens on different substrates using electromagnetic simulations. To compare these results with measurements, we have to carefully hydrate or dehydrate the SC: the simulations did not take into account modifications of the surface (water on the surface for example) or any change in the characteristics of the stratum corneum other than the modification of the corneocytes thickness.
Maternal Responsiveness and the Development of Directed Vocalizing in Social Interactions
Authors: Gros‐Louis Julie , West Meredith J. , King Andrew P. 
Published: May 2014

For effective communication, infants must develop the phonology of sounds and the ability to use vocalizations in social interactions. Few studies have examined the development of the pragmatic use of prelinguistic vocalizations, possibly because gestures are considered hallmarks of early pragmatic skill. The current study investigated infant vocal production and maternal responsiveness to examine the relationship between infant and maternal behavior in the development of infants' vocal communication. Specifically, we asked whether maternal responses to vocalizations could influence the development of prelinguistic vocal usage, as has been documented in recent experimental studies exploring the relation between maternal responses and phonological development. Twelve mother–infant dyads participated over a six‐month period (between 8 and 14 months of age). Mothers completed the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory when infants were 15 months old. Maternal sensitive responses to infant vocalizations in the previous months predicted infants' mother‐directed vocalizations in the following months, rather than overall response rate. Furthermore, mothers' sensitive responding to mother‐directed vocalizations was correlated with an increase in developmentally advanced, consonant–vowel vocalizations and some language measures. This is the first study to document a social shaping mechanism influencing developmental change in pragmatic usage of vocalizations in addition to identifying the specific behaviors underlying development.
Into and out of the tropics: the generation of the latitudinal gradient among New World passerine birds
Authors: Kennedy Jonathan D. , Wang Zhiheng , Weir Jason T. , Rahbek Carsten , Fjeldså Jon , Price Trevor D. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractAimOne prominent explanation for the latitudinal gradient in biodiversity proposes that its prime cause is the greater age and/or higher origination rates of tropical clades, and the infrequent or delayed dispersal of their component species into temperate regions. An alternative is that species’ carrying capacities vary regionally, which influences rates of time‐averaged diversification via ecological opportunity. We contrast these hypotheses, in order to assess potential historical influences upon the latitudinal gradient of New World passerine birds (order Passeriformes), comparing patterns among the two suborders present (oscines and suboscines), which are known to have had different routes of dispersal across the region.LocationNew World.MethodsWe examine diversity patterns, their abiotic and biotic correlates, and the distributions of phylogenetically old and young species.ResultsStrong latitudinal gradients are present within both oscine and suboscine birds, with maximum diversity towards the equator, but their overall shapes differ. Among the oscines, older lineages are found towards the north, with progressively younger lineages present further south. Regional variation in oscine richness is statistically well explained by a combination of productivity and elevation (R2 = 0.76). In contrast, few suboscine groups have colonized the north, so their current diversity is well correlated with temperature seasonality (R2 = 0.74).Main conclusionsBecause the oscines colonized the Americas from the north, their latitudinal gradient must reflect regional differences in time‐averaged diversification rates, and not the time present within a region. The richness patterns derived from phylogenetic data and the strong predictive power of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) suggest that the radiation of the oscines is consistent with the idea that entry into a new region stimulates a burst of diversification, which is higher and/or continues for longer in areas with greater carrying capacity. Conversely, the suboscine distributions potentially reflect a large historical barrier to dispersal and niche conservatism of climatic tolerances, possibly coupled with competition from the oscines. Although contemporary conditions can explain much of the passerine diversity patterns, history has had an important influence on the taxonomic composition of this gradient.
The impact of grazing on dung beetle diversity depends on both biogeographical and ecological context
Authors: Barragán Felipe , Moreno Claudia E. , Escobar Federico , Bueno‐Villegas Julián , Halffter Gonzalo 
Published: May 2014

AbstractAimWe analysed the effects of grazing on the diversity and structure of dung beetle communities to see whether the biogeographical and ecological contexts influence dung beetle responses. We hypothesized that the responses of dung beetle communities are modulated by both the ecological conditions resulting from the transformation of native vegetation into grazing areas, and the history of the species inhabiting different biogeographical provinces.LocationThe state of Hidalgo, in the Mexican Transition Zone, central Mexico.MethodsWe used a standardized hierarchical sampling procedure in three biogeographical provinces located in Hidalgo. Within each province, we identified the dominant vegetation types, and within these we identified the sites with native vegetation and those modified by grazing. The design included 800 baited pitfall traps, and allowed us to study the response of dung beetle communities with different biogeographical histories to ecological context.ResultsWe captured 8707 beetles belonging to 37 species and 17 genera in the subfamily Scarabaeinae. We found that grazing areas only had a negative effect on dung beetle diversity in tropical forest; conversely, in dry environments (pine–oak forest and xerophilous scrubland) diversity in grazing areas was higher than in the native vegetation sites. We did not detect a clear effect in cloud forest sites. Species turnover between the native vegetation and pastures was high locally, and low over larger spatial scales (vegetation type or biogeographical province). In all four vegetation types grazing was associated with differences in dung beetle community composition.Main conclusionsThe impact of grazing on dung beetle diversity is dependent to a considerable degree on the local ecological conditions and the biogeographical context that has shaped the composition of communities over time.
An Approach to Integrating Occupational Safety and Health into Life Cycle Assessment: Development and Application of Work Environment Characterization Factors
Authors: Scanlon Kelly A. , Lloyd Shannon M. , Gray George M. , Francis Royce A. , LaPuma Peter 
Published: May 2014

SummaryIntegrating occupational safety and health (OSH) into life cycle assessment (LCA) may provide decision makers with insights and opportunities to prevent burden shifting of human health impacts between the nonwork environment and the work environment. We propose an integration approach that uses industry‐level work environment characterization factors (WE‐CFs) to convert industry activity into damage to human health attributable to the work environment, assessed as disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs). WE‐CFs are ratios of work‐related fatal and nonfatal injuries and illnesses occurring in the U.S. worker population to the amount of physical output from U.S. industries; they represent workplace hazards and exposures and are compatible with the life cycle inventory (LCI) structure common to process‐based LCA. A proof of concept demonstrates application of the WE‐CFs in an LCA of municipal solid waste landfill and incineration systems. Results from the proof of concept indicate that estimates of DALYs attributable to the work environment are comparable in magnitude to DALYs attributable to environmental emissions. Construction and infrastructure‐related work processes contributed the most to the work environment DALYs. A sensitivity analysis revealed that uncertainty in the physical output from industries had the most effect on the WE‐CFs. The results encourage implementation of WE‐CFs in future LCA studies, additional refinement of LCI processes to accurately capture industry outputs, and inclusion of infrastructure‐related processes in LCAs that evaluate OSH impacts.
Role of Perceived Stress in the Occurrence of Preterm Labor and Preterm Birth Among Urban Women
Authors: Seravalli Laura , Patterson Freda , Nelson Deborah B. 
Published: May 2014

IntroductionThis study examined whether prenatal perceived stress levels during pregnancy were associated with preterm labor or preterm birth.MethodsPerceived stress levels were measured at 16 weeks’ gestation or less and between 20 and 24 weeks’ gestation in a sample of 1069 low‐income pregnant women attending Temple University prenatal care clinics. Scores were averaged to create a single measure of prenatal stress. Preterm birth was defined as the occurrence of a spontaneous birth prior to 37 weeks’ gestation. Preterm labor was defined as the occurrence of regular contractions between 20 and 37 weeks' gestation that were associated with changes in the cervix.ResultsIndependent of potential confounding factors, prenatal perceived stress was not associated with preterm labor (odds ratio [OR], 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69‐1.78; P = .66); however, prenatal stress trended toward an association with preterm birth (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.00‐2.23; P = .05). The strongest predictor of preterm labor was a history of preterm labor in a prior pregnancy. Women with a history of preterm labor were 2 times more likely to experience preterm labor in the current pregnancy than women who did not have a preterm labor history (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.05‐4.41; P = .04). Historical risk factors for preterm birth, such as African American race, a history of abortion, or a history of preterm birth, were not related to preterm labor. The strongest predictor of preterm birth was having a history of preterm birth in a prior pregnancy (OR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.54‐4.24; P < .001).DiscussionPrenatal perceived stress levels may be a risk factor for preterm birth independent of preterm labor; however, prenatal stress was not associated with preterm labor. Risk factors for preterm labor may be different from those of preterm birth.