bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Framework and guidelines for implementing the proposed IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT)
Authors: Hawkins Charlotte L. , Bacher Sven , Essl Franz , Hulme Philip E. , Jeschke Jonathan M. , Kühn Ingolf , Kumschick Sabrina , Nentwig Wolfgang , Pergl Jan , Pyšek Petr , Rabitsch Wolfgang , Richardson David M. , Vilà Montserrat , Wilson John R. U. , Genovesi Piero , Blackburn Tim M. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractRecently, Blackburn et al. (2014) developed a simple, objective and transparent method for classifying alien taxa in terms of the magnitude of their detrimental environmental impacts in recipient areas. Here, we present a comprehensive framework and guidelines for implementing this method, which we term the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa, or EICAT. We detail criteria for applying the EICAT scheme in a consistent and comparable fashion, prescribe the supporting information that should be supplied along with classifications, and describe the process for implementing the method. This comment aims to draw the attention of interested parties to the framework and guidelines, and to present them in their entirety in a location where they are freely accessible to any potential users.
Imperfect prey selectivity of predators promotes biodiversity and irregularity in food webs
Authors: Ryabov Alexey B. , Morozov Andrew , Blasius Bernd 
Published: September 2015

AbstractEcological communities are often characterised by many species occupying the same trophic level and competing over a small number of vital resources. The mechanisms maintaining high biodiversity in such systems are still poorly understood. Here, we revisit the role of prey selectivity by generalist predators in promoting biodiversity. We consider a generic tri‐trophic food web, consisting of a single limiting resource, a large number of primary producers and a generalist predator. We suggest a framework to describe the predator functional response, combining food selectivity for distinctly different functional prey groups with proportion‐based consumption of similar prey species. Our simulations reveal that intermediate levels of prey selectivity can explain a high species richness, functional biodiversity, and variability among prey species. In contrast, perfect food selectivity or purely proportion‐based food consumption leads to a collapse of prey functional biodiversity. Our results are in agreement with empirical phytoplankton rank‐abundance curves in lakes.
Epileptic auras and their role in driving safety in people with epilepsy
Authors: Punia Vineet , Farooque Pue , Chen William , Hirsch Lawrence J. , Berg Anne T. ,   the Multicenter Study of Epilepsy Surgery, Blumenfeld Hal 
Published: September 2015

SummaryThe aim of our study was to evaluate the role of auras in preventing motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) among patients with medically refractory epilepsy. The Multicenter Study of Epilepsy Surgery database was used to perform a case–control study by identifying patients who had seizures while driving that led to MVAs (cases) and those who had seizures while driving without MVAs (controls). We compared presence of reliable auras and other aura‐related features between the two groups. Two hundred fifteen of 553 patients reported having seizure(s) while driving; 74 were identified as “controls” and 141 as “cases.” The two groups had similar demographic and clinical features. The presence of reliable auras was not different between the two groups (67% in cases vs. 65% in controls; odds ratio [OR] 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49–1.61, p = 0.76). In addition, the groups did not differ in the proportion of patients who reported longer (>1 min) auras (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.28–1.76, p = 0.47), or who thought that their auras were of sufficient duration to be protective (OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.62–2.00, p = 0.77). Our study questions the long‐held belief of a protective role of reliable auras against MVAs in people with epilepsy.
From global campaign to global commitment: The World Health Assembly's Resolution on epilepsy
Authors: Covanis Athanasios , Guekht Alla , Li Shichuo , Secco Mary , Shakir Raad , Perucca Emilio 
Published: September 2015

SummaryTuesday May 26, 2015, will be remembered as an historic day in the fight against epilepsy. On that date, the World Health Assembly approved unanimously the Resolution on the “Global Burden of Epilepsy and the Need for Coordinated Action at the Country Level to Address its Health, Social and Public Knowledge Implications,” which urges Member States to implement a coordinated action against epilepsy and its consequences. This event, which comes almost 20 years after the establishment of the Global Campaign against Epilepsy, is another landmark in the longstanding collaboration among the World Health Organization (WHO), the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), and the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) in addressing the needs of people with epilepsy. It also acted as a catalyst for other professional societies, including the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), to join forces in promoting a common action against epilepsy. The Resolution did not happen by chance, but came at the end of a long journey that involved the hard and tireless work of many dedicated individuals around the globe.
Illness perceptions mediate the relationship between depression and quality of life in patients with epilepsy
Authors: Shallcross Amanda J. , Becker Danielle A. , Singh Anuradha , Friedman Daniel , Montesdeoca Jacqueline , French Jacqueline , Devinsky Orrin , Spruill Tanya M. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryThe current study examined whether negative illness perceptions help explain the link between depression and quality of life. Seventy patients with epilepsy completed standardized self‐report questionnaires measuring depression, illness perception, and quality of life (QOL). Illness perception statistically mediated the relationship between depression and QOL (Indirect effect (CI; confidence interval) = −.72, lower limit = −1.7, upper limit = −.22, p < .05). Results held with and without adjusting for potential confounding variables (age, sex, ethnicity, income, and seizure frequency) and when operationalizing depression as a continuous variable that indexed severity of symptoms or as a dichotomous variable that indexed criteria consistent with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. This study is the first to suggest that illness perceptions may be a useful target in screening and intervention approaches in order to improve QOL among low‐income, racially/ethnically diverse patients with epilepsy.
Near‐transfer effects following working memory intervention (Cogmed) in children with symptomatic epilepsy: An open randomized clinical trial
Authors: Kerr Elizabeth N. , Blackwell Melissa C. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryObjectiveLimited research exists regarding the effectiveness of educational and psychological interventions for improving commonly presenting cognitive impairments experienced by children with epilepsy. We evaluated the efficacy of a commercially available, computerized, working memory (WM) program (Cogmed) using a well‐defined population of children with epilepsy.MethodsIn this controlled trial, 77 children with symptomatic epilepsy (ages 6.5–15.5 years; 100% taking medication) with estimated intellectual ability greater than the 2nd percentile were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 42) or waitlist‐control (n = 35) group. Standardized assessments of attention and WM were administered pre‐ and posttraining or waitlist interval, 7 weeks apart.ResultsWithout intervention, participants displayed significant weaknesses in intelligence, attention, and WM compared to normative samples. After controlling for preintervention scores and intelligence, we found that significant treatment effects for the intervention group were evident for visual attention span, auditory WM, and visual‐verbal WM. Intention‐to‐treat analyses (all participants) and sensitivity analyses (n = 37 and n = 21 for the intervention and waitlist‐control groups, respectively) were highly similar, providing confidence to the results. Effect sizes for significant outcomes were large (greater than or equal to two thirds of the standard deviation of the normative‐data). The clinical/demographic and functional factors studied did not elucidate who most benefits from training.SignificanceThis is the first study to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention to ameliorate WM deficits commonly experienced by children with symptomatic epilepsy. Results support group improvement on some untrained tasks immediately postintervention, demonstrating preliminary usefulness of Cogmed as a treatment option.
Does canopy nitrogen uptake enhance carbon sequestration by trees?
Authors: Nair Richard K. F. , Perks Micheal P. , Weatherall Andrew , Baggs Elizabeth M. , Mencuccini Maurizio 
Published: September 2015

AbstractTemperate forest 15N isotope trace experiments find nitrogen (N) addition‐driven carbon (C) uptake is modest as little additional N is acquired by trees; however, several correlations of ambient N deposition against forest productivity imply a greater effect of atmospheric nitrogen deposition than these studies. We asked whether N deposition experiments adequately represent all processes found in ambient conditions. In particular, experiments typically apply 15N to directly to forest floors, assuming uptake of nitrogen intercepted by canopies (CNU) is minimal. Additionally, conventional 15N additions typically trace mineral 15N additions rather than litter N recycling and may increase total N inputs above ambient levels. To test the importance of CNU and recycled N to tree nutrition, we conducted a mesocosm experiment, applying 54 g N/15N ha−1 yr−1 to Sitka spruce saplings. We compared tree and soil 15N recovery among treatments where enrichment was due to either (1) a 15N‐enriched litter layer, or mineral 15N additions to (2) the soil or (3) the canopy. We found that 60% of 15N applied to the canopy was recovered above ground (in needles, stem and branches) while only 21% of 15N applied to the soil was found in these pools. 15N recovery from litter was low and highly variable. 15N partitioning among biomass pools and age classes also differed among treatments, with twice as much 15N found in woody biomass when deposited on the canopy than soil. Stoichiometrically calculated N effect on C uptake from 15N applied to the soil, scaled to real‐world conditions, was 43 kg C kg N−1, similar to manipulation studies. The effect from the canopy treatment was 114 kg C kg N−1. Canopy treatments may be critical to accurately represent N deposition in the field and may address the discrepancy between manipulative and correlative studies.
Interaction of plant genotype and management in the persistence of a perennial grass exposed to grazing and soil fertility stresses
Authors: Culvenor R. A. , Simpson R. J. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIncreased stocking rates under typical pasture improvement practices in southern Australia have often been associated with low persistence by sown perennial grasses subjected to continuous stocking. Cultivars of the perennial grass phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.), which is widely used in southern Australia, vary in their phenology and growth habit. Winter‐active cultivars have also been developed with improved stress tolerances, viz. heavy grazing pressure (Holdfast GT) and acid soils (Advanced AT). This study examined the persistence of phalaris genotypes over 4 years under five management treatments: high P‐high stocking rate (18 sheep per hectare) rotationally stocked (HPRS); high P‐high stocking rate continuously stocked (HPCS); high P‐intermediate stocking rate (13·5 sheep per hectare) continuously stocked (HPCS13.5); low P‐low stocking rate (9 sheep per hectare) rotationally stocked (LPRS); and low P‐low stocking rate continuously stocked (LPCS). Basal frequency of phalaris declined rapidly under HPCS and LPCS in the first year of treatments when periods of low herbage mass occurred under low rainfall. Basal frequency in high P treatments stabilized and partially recovered but continued to decline in low P treatments. Holdfast GT survived the early decline in the HPCS treatment better than other winter‐active cultivars and similar to a known grazing tolerant, semi‐winter‐dormant cultivar. Advanced AT and older winter‐active cultivars were sensitive to continuous stocking but persisted better under rotational stocking or under a reduced rate of continuous stocking (HPCS13.5). Rotational management clearly promoted persistence of winter‐active phalaris, but long‐term persistence will be better ensured by combining management with the use of genotypes with grazing tolerance traits.
Increased thrombin activity following reperfusion after ischemic stroke alters synaptic transmission in the hippocampus
Authors: Bushi Doron , Ben Shimon Marina , Shavit Stein Efrat , Chapman Joab , Maggio Nicola , Tanne David 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThrombin, a key player in thrombogenesis, affects cells in the brain through activation of its receptors. Low levels of thrombin activity are protective while high levels are toxic. We sought to quantify thrombin activity levels and their spatial distribution in brains of mice following reperfusion after ischemic stroke focusing on infarct, peri‐infarct and contralateral areas. In order to find out the contribution of brain‐derived thrombin, mRNA levels of both prothrombin and factor X were determined. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of thrombin levels that were measured in the ischemic brain on synaptic transmission. We found that in the brains of mice following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, thrombin activity is elevated throughout the ischemic hemisphere, including in peri‐infarct areas (90 ± 33 and 60 ± 18 mU/mL, in the infarct and peri‐infarct areas, respectively, compared to 11 ± 3 and 12 ± 5 mU/mL, in the corresponding contralateral areas; mean ± SE; p < 0.05). Brain mRNA levels of prothrombin and, in particular, factor X are up‐regulated in the ischemic core. Hippocampal slices treated with thrombin concentrations as found in the ischemic hemisphere show altered synaptic responses. We conclude that high thrombin activity following reperfusion after ischemic stroke may cause synaptic dysfunction.
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Following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice, thrombin activity is elevated throughout the ischemic hemisphere, including in peri‐infarct areas. Brain mRNA levels of prothrombin and factor X are up‐regulated in the ischemic core. Thrombin is known to affect synaptic function in a concentration dependent manner and hippocampal slices treated with the concentrations found in the ischemic hemisphere show altered synaptic responses. We conclude that in ischemic stroke, the high brain thrombin activity found after reperfusion may cause synaptic dysfunction.
Extensively remodeled, fractured cetacean tympanic bullae show that whales can survive traumatic injury to the ears
Authors: Yamato Maya , Khidas Kamal , Pyenson Nicholas D. , Fordyce R. Ewan , Mead James G. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractUnderwater human activities and anthropogenic noise in our oceans may be a major source of habitat degradation for marine life. This issue was highlighted by the opening of the United States Eastern Seaboard for seismic oil and gas exploration in 2014, which generated massive media coverage and widespread concern that seismic surveys could kill or deafen whales. We discovered 11 new specimens of fractured and healed cetacean ear bones, out of a survey of 2127 specimens housed in museum collections. This rare condition has been previously reported only in two specimens of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) from the early 1900s, summarized by Fraser & Purves (). All of our new specimens are represented by species for which this condition had never been reported previously, including both baleen and toothed whales. The baleen whale specimens (Balaenoptera physalus, Balaenoptera borealis, Balaenoptera acutorostrata) were collected during Canadian commercial whaling operations in the Atlantic Ocean in the 1970s; the specimens include ear bones with well‐healed fractures, demonstrating that baleen whales are capable of overcoming traumatic injury to the ears. The toothed whale specimens (Delphinus sp., Berardius bairdii) were found dead on beaches in 1972 and 2001, respectively, with less remodeled fractures. Thus, ear injuries may be more lethal to the echolocating toothed whales, which rely on hearing for navigation and foraging. We explore several hypotheses regarding how these injuries could have occurred, and conclude that the most parsimonious explanations appear to be both direct and indirect effects of lytic processes from disease or calcium depletion, or damage from external pressure waves. Although further research is required to confirm whether the fractures resulted from natural or human‐induced events, this study underscores the importance of museum collections and the work of stranding networks in understanding the potential effects of modern human activities on marine mammal health.
Longitudinal Links Between Discrimination and Civic Development Among Latino and Asian Adolescents
Authors: Ballard Parissa J. 
Published: September 2015

The transition from adolescence to adulthood is formative for civic development. Unfortunately, many adolescents from Latino and Asian backgrounds experience discrimination, which can alienate them from civic life. This study employed cross‐lagged structural equation modeling to test the bidirectional links between perceived discrimination and civic beliefs and activism among Latino and Asian late adolescents (N = 400, Mage = 17.34, 61% female). Civic beliefs (i.e., believing that the government is unresponsive) and civic activism (i.e., protesting and expressing political opinions) in high school predicted increased perceptions of discrimination over time. Perceiving high levels of discrimination in high school predicted a decrease in the belief that society is fair over time.
Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid α‐Tocopherol and Selenium Concentrations in Neonatal Foals with Neuroaxonal Dystrophy
Authors: Finno C.J. , Estell K.E. , Katzman S. , Winfield L. , Rendahl A. , Textor J. , Bannasch D.L. , Puschner B. 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundEquine neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (NAD/EDM) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting genetically predisposed foals maintained on α‐tocopherol (α‐TP)‐deficient diet.ObjectiveIntramuscular α‐TPand selenium (Se) administration at 4 days of age would have no significant effect on serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) α‐TPin healthy foals. Serum andCSFα‐TP, but not Se, would be significantly decreased inNAD/EDM‐affected foals during first year of life.AnimalsFourteen Quarter horse foals; 10 healthy foals supplemented with 0.02 mL/kg injectable α‐TPandSe (n = 5) or saline (n = 5) at 4 days of age and 4 unsupplementedNAD/EDM‐affected foals.MethodsComplete neurologic examinations were performed, blood andCSFwere collected before (4 days of age) and after supplementation at 10, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 360 days of age. Additional blood collections occurred at 90, 150, 210, and 300 days. At 540 days,NAD/EDM‐affected foals and 1 unsupplemented healthy foal were euthanized and necropsies performed.ResultsSignificant decreases in blood,CSFα‐TPandSe found in the first year of life in all foals, with most significant changes in serum α‐TPfrom 4–150 days. Dam α‐TPandSe significantly influenced blood concentrations in foals. Injection of α‐TPandSe did not significantly increaseCSF Se, blood orCSFα‐TPin healthy foals.NAD/EDM‐affected foals had significantly lowerCSFα‐TPthrough 120 days.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceInjection of α‐TPandSe at 4 days of age does not significantly increase blood orCSFα‐TP. Despite all 14 foals remaining deficient in α‐TP, only the 4 genetically predisposed foals developedNAD/EDM.
Biofilm formation by pathogenic Prototheca algae
Authors: Kwiecinski J. 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Prototheca microalgae are the only plants known to cause infections in humans and animals. The mechanisms of Prototheca infections are poorly understood, and no good treatments are available. Biofilms—surface-attached, three-dimensional microbial communities contributing to chronic infections—are formed by many pathogenic bacteria and fungi, but it is not known if Prototheca algae also have this ability. This study shows that various Prototheca species form biofilms composed of surface-attached cells in all growth phases, linked together by matrix containing DNA and polysaccharides. Biofilm formation was modulated by the presence of host plasma or milk. Compared to planktonic cells, Prototheca biofilms caused decreased release of IL-6 by mononuclear immune cells and responded differently to treatment with antimicrobials. Prototheca biofilms possibly contribute to chronic and hard-to-treat character of those algal infections.

Significance and Impact of the Study
Prototheca algae are the only existing pathogenic plants. Almost nothing is known about mechanisms of Prototheca infections. This study identifies that, similar to pathogenic bacteria and fungi, Prototheca algae can form biofilms. These biofilms induce reduced immune cell activation relative to planktonic cells, and are also less susceptible to antimicrobials. Biofilm formation by Prototheca could be the first in vitro correlate of pathogenicity, opening a new research field for this pathogen.
Norden multimesh gill net for fish sampling in lotic environments
Authors: Fjälling Arne , Degerman Erik , Johansson Ulf 
Published: September 2015

AbstractReliable data on species composition, length‐frequency distribution and relative density of freshwater fish are difficult to obtain for some stream habitats. Present methods, with electro‐fishing being the most important one, are not useful where the conditions are unfavourable, as in deep, turbulent or turbid waters. A new sampling method focusing on fish in stream habitats is presented in this study. The novel gill net is a development of the European standardized fish sampling method Norden (standardized multimesh survey net). The net was tested in both lotic (up to 0.5 m s−1) and lentic habitats. The results were compared to fish trap data. The novel net produced consistent data on the number of fish species and length frequency of the catch. It was straightforward to handle and is considered to be useful for sampling fish in flowing waters. Further studies are required to evaluate the performance of the net at high stream velocities, and to establish the effort (number of nets) required for good sample precision.