bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Activated endothelial cells limit inflammatory response, but increase chemoattractant potential and bacterial clearance by human monocytes
Authors: Mancilla‐Herrera Ismael , Alvarado‐Moreno José Antonio , Cérbulo‐Vázquez Arturo , Prieto‐Chávez Jessica L. , Ferat‐Osorio Eduardo , López‐Macías Constantino , Estrada‐Parra Sergio , Isibasi Armando , Arriaga‐Pizano Lourdes 
Published: January 2015

AbstractInflammation is the normal immune response of vascularized tissues to damage and bacterial products, for which leukocyte transendothelial migration (TEM) is critical. The effects of cell‐to‐cell contact seen in both leukocyte and endothelial cells include cytoskeleton rearrangement, and dynamic expression of adhesion molecules and metalloproteinases. TEM induces expression of anti‐apoptotic molecules, costimulatory molecules associated with antigen presentation, and pattern recognition receptors (PRR), such as TLR‐4, in monocytes. However, little is known about how TLR‐4 increment operates in monocytes during an inflammatory response. To understand it better, we used an in vitro model in which monocytes crossed a layer of IL‐1β stimulated Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC). After TEM, monocytes were tested for the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, their phenotype (CD14, CD16, TLR‐4 expression), and TLR‐4 canonical [Nuclear Factor kappa B, (NF‐κB) pathway] and non‐canonical [p38, extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 pathway] signal transduction induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Phagocytosis and bacterial clearance were also measured. There was diminished secretion of LPS‐induced inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α) and higher secretion of chemokines (CXCL8/IL‐8 and CCL2/MCP‐1) in supernatant of TEM monocytes. These changes were accompanied by increases in TLR‐4, CD14 (surfaces expression), p38, and ERK1/2 phosphorylated cytoplasmic forms, without affecting NF‐κB activation. It also increased bacterial clearance after TEM by an O2‐independent mechanism. The data suggest that interaction between endothelial cells and monocytes fine‐tunes the inflammatory response and promotes bacterial elimination.
Sexual dimorphism and phenotypic plasticity in the antennal lobe of a stingless bee, Melipona scutellaris
Authors: Roselino Ana Carolina , Hrncir Michael , da Cruz Landim Carminda , Giurfa Martin , Sandoz Jean‐Christophe 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTAmong social insects, the stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponini), a mainly tropical group of highly eusocial bees, present an intriguing variety of well‐described olfactory‐dependent behaviors showing both caste‐ and sex‐specific adaptations. By contrast, little is known about the neural structures underlying such behavioral richness or the olfactory detection and processing abilities of this insect group. This study therefore aimed to provide the first detailed description and comparison of the brains and primary olfactory centers, the antennal lobes, of the different members of a colony of the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris. Global neutral red staining, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and 3D reconstructions were used to compare the brain structures of males, workers, and virgin queens with a special emphasis on the antennal lobe. We found significant differences between both sexes and castes with regard to the relative volumes of olfactory and visual neuropils in the brain and also in the number and volume of the olfactory glomeruli. In addition, we identified one (workers, queens) and three or four (males) macroglomeruli in the antennal lobe. In both sexes and all castes, the largest glomerulus (G1) was located at a similar position relative to four identified landmark glomeruli, close to the entrance of the antennal nerve. This similarity in position suggests that G1s of workers, virgin queens, and males of M. scutellaris may correspond to the same glomerular entity, possibly tuned to queen‐emitted volatiles since all colony members need this information. J. Comp. Neurol. 523:1461–1473, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
No species is an island: testing the effects of biotic interactions on models of avian niche occupation
Authors: Morelli Federico , Tryjanowski Piotr 
Published: January 2015

AbstractTraditionally, the niche of a species is described as a hypothetical 3D space, constituted by well‐known biotic interactions (e.g. predation, competition, trophic relationships, resource–consumer interactions, etc.) and various abiotic environmental factors. Species distribution models (SDMs), also called “niche models” and often used to predict wildlife distribution at landscape scale, are typically constructed using abiotic factors with biotic interactions generally been ignored. Here, we compared the goodness of fit of SDMs for red‐backed shrike Lanius collurio in farmlands of Western Poland, using both the classical approach (modeled only on environmental variables) and the approach which included also other potentially associated bird species. The potential associations among species were derived from the relevant ecological literature and by a correlation matrix of occurrences. Our findings highlight the importance of including heterospecific interactions in improving our understanding of niche occupation for bird species. We suggest that suite of measures currently used to quantify realized species niches could be improved by also considering the occurrence of certain associated species. Then, an hypothetical “species 1” can use the occurrence of a successfully established individual of “species 2” as indicator or “trace” of the location of available suitable habitat to breed. We hypothesize this kind of biotic interaction as the “heterospecific trace effect” (HTE): an interaction based on the availability and use of “public information” provided by individuals from different species. Finally, we discuss about the incomes of biotic interactions for enhancing the predictive capacities on species distribution models.
Integrated survival analysis using an event‐time approach in a Bayesian framework
Authors: Walsh Daniel P. , Dreitz Victoria J. , Heisey Dennis M. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractEvent‐time or continuous‐time statistical approaches have been applied throughout the biostatistical literature and have led to numerous scientific advances. However, these techniques have traditionally relied on knowing failure times. This has limited application of these analyses, particularly, within the ecological field where fates of marked animals may be unknown. To address these limitations, we developed an integrated approach within a Bayesian framework to estimate hazard rates in the face of unknown fates. We combine failure/survival times from individuals whose fates are known and times of which are interval‐censored with information from those whose fates are unknown, and model the process of detecting animals with unknown fates. This provides the foundation for our integrated model and permits necessary parameter estimation. We provide the Bayesian model, its derivation, and use simulation techniques to investigate the properties and performance of our approach under several scenarios. Lastly, we apply our estimation technique using a piece‐wise constant hazard function to investigate the effects of year, age, chick size and sex, sex of the tending adult, and nesting habitat on mortality hazard rates of the endangered mountain plover (Charadrius montanus) chicks. Traditional models were inappropriate for this analysis because fates of some individual chicks were unknown due to failed radio transmitters. Simulations revealed biases of posterior mean estimates were minimal (≤ 4.95%), and posterior distributions behaved as expected withRMSEof the estimates decreasing as sample sizes, detection probability, and survival increased. We determined mortality hazard rates for plover chicks were highest at <5 days old and were lower for chicks with larger birth weights and/or whose nest was within agricultural habitats. Based on its performance, our approach greatly expands the range of problems for which event‐time analyses can be used by eliminating the need for having completely known fate data.
Development of a heating system using CPV technology and heat pipes
Authors: Lee Dong Il , Baek Seung Wook 
Published: January 2015

The purpose of this research was to increase the generating efficiency of concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) technology within a restricted area using solar tracking and heat pipes. We propose a system with the ability to extract thermal energy from CPV devices using a thermal absorber containing heat pipes and cooling water. This energy can then be used for a heating system or hot‐water supply.We performed a parametric analysis of the velocity and entrance location of the cooling water in the thermal absorber with respect to the operating temperature of the CPV devices and the outlet temperature of the cooling water in the thermal absorber. We also examined the effect of the lens concentration ratio. Simulated and experimental results for the thermal absorber containing heat pipes were in good agreement.Given that the results of an economic feasibility study were positive in terms of payback time, the proposed system is practical and realistic. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 1197–1207, 2015
Heterogeneous distributions of CO2 may be more important for dissolution and karstification in coastal eogenetic limestone than mixing dissolution
Authors: Gulley Jason D. , Martin Jonathon B. , Moore Paul J. , Brown Amy , Spellman Patricia D. , Ezell John 
Published: January 2015

AbstractMixing dissolution, a process whereby mixtures of two waters with different chemical compositions drive undersaturation with respect to carbonate minerals, is commonly considered to form cavernous macroporosity (e.g. flank margin caves and banana holes) in eogenetic karst aquifers. On small islands, macroporosity commonly originates when focused dissolution forms globular chambers lacking entrances to the surface, suggesting that dissolution processes are decoupled from surface hydrology. Mixing dissolution has been thought to be the primary dissolution process because meteoric water would equilibrate rapidly with calcium carbonate as it infiltrates through matrix porosity and because pCO2 was assumed to be homogeneously distributed within the phreatic zone. Here, we report data from two abandoned well fields in an eogenetic karst aquifer on San Salvador Island, Bahamas, that demonstrate pCO2 in the phreatic zone is distributed heterogeneously. The pCO2 varied from less than log −2.0 to more than log −1.0 atm over distances of less than 30 m, generating dissolution in the subsurface where water flows from regions of low to high pCO2 and cementation where water flows from regions of high to low pCO2. Using simple geochemical models, we show dissolution caused by heterogeneously distributed pCO2 can dissolve 2.5 to 10 times more calcite than the maximum amount possible by mixing of freshwater and seawater. Dissolution resulting from spatial variability in pCO2 forms isolated, globular chambers lacking initial entrances to the surface, a morphology that is characteristic of flank margin caves and banana holes, both of which have entrances that form by erosion or collapse after cave formation. Our results indicate that heterogeneous pCO2, rather than mixing dissolution, may be the dominant mechanism for observed spatial distribution of dissolution, cementation and macroporosity generation in eogenetic karst aquifers and for landscape development in these settings. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Carbon dioxide concentration in temperate climate caves and parent soils over an altitudinal gradient and its influence on speleothem growth and fabrics
Authors: Borsato Andrea , Frisia Silvia , Miorandi Renza 
Published: January 2015

AbstractCarbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in caves and parent soils in the Italian Alps have been studied along a 2100 m altitudinal range – corresponding to a mean annual temperature (MAT) range of 12°C – in order to investigate the relationship between MAT, soil pCO2 and cave air pCO2, and to test the influence of soil pCO2 on speleothem growth and fabric to ultimately gain insight into their palaeoclimatic significance in temperate climate settings.Our findings indicate that soil CO2 is linearly correlated to MAT and its mean annual concentration is described by the equation: soil CO2 (ppmv) = 1112 + 460 MAT. Soil pCO2 can also be exponentially correlated to actual evapotranspiration. The pCO2 in the aquifer is linearly correlated to MAT at the infiltration site and is more influenced by summer soil pCO2. Cave air CO2 in the innermost part of the caves exhibits a similar seasonal pattern, and commonly reaches concentrations of about 15% to 35%, with respect to the corresponding soil values, and is exponentially correlated to the MAT at the infiltration site.The combination of these parameters (soil pCO2, dripwater pCO2 and cave air pCO2) results in speleothem growth and controls their fabrics which are typical of four MAT/elevation belts broadly corresponding to the present‐day vegetation zones. In the lower montane zone [100–800 m above sea level (a.s.l.)] speleothems mostly consist of columnar fabric, in the upper montane zone (800–1600 m a.s.l.) both columnar and dendritic fabrics are common, the Subalpine zone (1600–2200 m a.s.l.) is characterized mostly by moonmilk deposits, whereas in the Alpine zone (above 2200 m a.s.l.) no speleothems are forming today. Therefore, fabric changes in fossil speleothem can potentially be used to reconstruct MAT changes in temperate climate karst areas. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Amorphous silica mobilization by inter‐rill erosion: insights from rainfall experiments
Authors: Clymans Wim , Struyf Eric , Van den Putte An , Langhans Christoph , Wang Zhengang , Govers Gerard 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAmorphous silica (ASi) carried in suspension by rivers is an important component in the global Si budget. Water erosion processes in cultivated catchments are likely to drive ASi delivery to the river system. However, no studies have investigated the controls on ASi mobilization by erosional processes in croplands. Rainfall experiments were performed on split fields (i.e. a part conventionally ploughed and a part under reduced tillage) to simulate ASi mobilization by inter‐rill erosion in croplands, and identify its dependency on soil, field and rainfall characteristics. The ASi content of the soil and the inter‐rill erosion rate were determined as the major controls on ASi mobilization. Variables such as tillage technique and crop type did not have a consistent direct or indirect effect. Inter‐rill erosion is clearly selective with respect to ASi, indicating association of ASi with the fine soil fraction and with soil organic carbon. Our experiments demonstrate that erosion increases due to human perturbation will increase the delivery of reactive Si to aquatic systems. We estimate that globally, c. 7% of all reactive Si that enters aquatic systems is derived from erosion of agricultural soils. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predicting bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soft-shelled clams (Mya arenaria) using field deployments of polyethylene passive samplers
Authors: Fernandez Loretta A. , Gschwend Philip M. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract

Biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAF), frequently used to predict tissue concentrations of organisms living within and above sediments contaminated with hydrophobic organic chemicals, often produce inaccurate estimates. Hence, freely dissolved porewater concentrations, CW, have also been investigated as predictors of organism tissue concentrations, but they are more difficult to measure than bulk sediment concentrations (used with BSAF). In situ passive sampling methods, however, make it possible to deduce CW with less effort than required to measure the value directly and make it possible to relate CW with tissue concentrations of undisturbed, native organisms. In the present study, polyethylene passive samplers containing performance reference compounds (d10-phenanthrene, d10-pyrene, and d12-chrysene) were deployed in diverse sediment beds near Boston, Massachusetts, USA, for a 1-wk period. Clams (Mya arenaria) and sediments were then collected from the deployed sediment beds. Concentrations of 3 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; phenanthrene, pyrene, and chrysene) were measured in the porewaters, in clam tissues, and in the bulk sediment. Biota-sediment accumulation factors and polyethylene-deduced CW were used to predict organism tissue concentrations. Ratios of predicted-to-measured values showed that the BSAF method over-predicted tissue concentrations in M. arenaria by up to 2 orders of magnitude. The polyethylene-deduced CW method resulted in average ratios closer to 1 (0.43 ± 0.26, 3.7 ± 2.5, and 1.1 ± 1.2 for phenanthrene, pyrene, and chrysene, respectively, N = 26, uncertainty = ± 1σ). Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:993–1000. © 2015 SETAC
Glycated Hemoglobin Level and Risk of Hip Fracture in Older People with Type 2 Diabetes: A Competing Risk Analysis of Taiwan Diabetes Cohort Study
Authors: Li Chia-Ing , Liu Chiu-Shong , Lin Wen-Yuan , Meng Nai-Hsin , Chen Ching-Chu , Yang Sing-Yu , Chen Hsuan-Ju , Lin Cheng-Chieh , Li Tsai-Chung 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACT

Hip fracture, which is associated with substantial morbidity and long-term mortality, imposes a major burden on the healthcare system. Diabetes is a risk factor for osteoporosis, which is a crucial risk factor of hip fracture. However, epidemiological studies investigating the risk of hip fracture among patients with type 2 diabetes are limited. This study explored the association between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the risk of hip fracture in people with type 2 diabetes aged 65 years and older. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 20 025 older patients with type 2 diabetes who participated in the National Diabetes Case Management Program in Taiwan. The HbA1c level at the baseline and hip fracture incidence over an average of 7.41 years of follow-up were analyzed (maximum and standard deviation were 10.9 and 2.42 years, respectively). A total of 1514 hip fracture cases were recorded. The incidence rates of hip fracture were 9.15, 8.02, 9.58, 10.61, 12.51, and 13.43 per 1000 person-years in patients with baseline HbA1c levels of &lt; 6%, 6–7%, 7%–8%, 8%–9%, 9%–10%, and ≥ 10%, respectively. After multivariate adjustment, the risk of hip fracture increased among patients with HbA1c levels of 9%–10% and ≥ 10.0% compared with patients with HbA1c levels of 6–7% (hazard ratio, 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.49 and 1.32; 1.09–1.58, respectively). Significant linear trends among various HbA1c levels were observed (P  &lt; 0.05). Patients with type 2 diabetes whose HbA1c levels exceeded 9.0% exhibited an increased risk of hip fracture, confirming a linear relationship. Our study's findings demonstrated the importance of glycemic control for fracture prevention in older adults with type 2 diabetes. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Ecological Performance of the Restored South East New Territories (SENT) Landfill in Hong Kong (2000–2012)
Authors: Chen Xun‐Wen , Wong James Tsz‐Fung , Mo Wing‐Yin , Man Yu‐Bon , Ng Charles Wang‐Wai , Wong Ming‐Hung 
Published: January 2015

AbstractSouth East New Territories (SENT) landfill (Phase I) was saturated with wastes and capped with a cover system to prevent rainfall infiltration and gas emission and to support plant growth. Subsequently, a revegetation program was conducted in 1997. Line transects were used for monitoring (i) the restored area (AT), (ii) the area adjacent to AT (BT) and (iii) the area outside AT, which served as control (CT). Flora and fauna diversities, plant performance (chlorophyll florescent and stomatal resistance ofAcacia confusa) and soil properties were monitored during 2000–2012. There were 28, 24 and 23 plant species, and 61, 39 and 61 animal species found at AT, BT and CT during the past 13 years, respectively. The total number of plants recorded at AT fluctuated considerably, and was more stable at BT, especially CT. The results of similarity analyses showed that the plant community at AT were significantly different (P < 0·01) from those at BT and CT, whereas no difference was noted among fauna communities at different sites. Soil properties, including pH, bulk density, moisture content, total organic content, organic matter, total Fe and total Zn were significantly different (P < 0·05) among sites. The decreasing trend of soil pH in all sites indicated that regional soil acidification may have occurred. Soil moisture content and stomatal resistance ofA. confusawere negatively correlated, which showed that AT was more subjected to drought than BT and CT. Plants in restored area were more sensitive to the changes in environmental conditions compared with those of control site. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new method of sutureless microvascular anastomoses using a thermosensitive poloxamer and cyanoacrylate: An experimental study
Authors: Qassemyar Q. , Michel G. 
Published: January 2015

IntroductionRecently, a new method of sutureless micro‐anastomosis based on the injection of a termosensitive poloxamer into the vessel lumen and application of cyanoacrylate, was described. The long‐term results in animals are attractive but its use requires a specific heated poloxamer gel and an external heating lamp to maintain the surgical site above the transition temperature. The aim of our study was to prove the feasibility of this method of sutureless anastomosis with a poxolamer gel, which could be used at ambient temperature.Materials and MethodsTwenty male Sprague–Dawley rats were used. Right common iliac arteries anastomoses (RCIA) were performed with the sutureless method (poloxamer gel and cyanoacrylate) (SG group) and were compared to left common iliac arteries (LCIA) sutured with conventional sutures (CG group). Diameters, duration of microvascular anastomosis (DMA) and patency rates were reported.ResultsThe mean diameter of RCIA and LCIA was about 1 mm. The mean DMA for the SG group was 9.25 ± 1.45min and 21.65 ± 2.96 min in the CG group. Patency rates didn't differ between the both groups, either 15 min after anastomosis (CG group 95% vs.SG group 100%, P = 0.23) or 15 days after surgery (CG group 90% vs.SG group: 95%, P = 0.55). Histological analysis showed lower foreign body reaction in sutureless group.ConclusionThis sutureless method of micro‐anastomosis seems to be easy to learn and require lower time than conventional sutures. However, this technique needs further investigations over the coming years to prove long‐term reliability. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 35:315–319, 2015.
Assessment OF aged mdx mice by electrical impedance myography and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Wu Jim S. , Li Jia , Greenman Robert L. , Bennett David , Geisbush Tom , Rutkove Seward B. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Similar to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electrical impedance myography (EIM) is dependent on the presence and location of water in muscle to assess neuromuscular diseases. We compared the 2 technologies in mdx mice to better understand their relationship. Methods: EIM and MRI, using T2 relaxation and diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI), were performed on the gastrocnemius of 10 mdx and 10 wild‐type mice. Muscle function and tissue composition measurements were compared with the EIM and MRI data. Results: EIM reactance and T2 relaxation mapping can discriminate healthy from diseased mice (P < 0.001 for both), but DWI could not. Both T2 relaxation and EIM reactance also correlated closely with muscle function/composition and with each other. Conclusion: Given the low cost of EIM and the simplicity of application, it may be a valuable alternative to muscle MRI in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, where simple cumulative indices of muscle health are being sought. Muscle Nerve 52: 598–604, 2015