bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phosphorus content in detritus controls life‐history traits of a detritivore
Authors: Danger Michael , Arce Funck Julio , Devin Simon , Heberle Julie , Felten Vincent 
Published: March 2013

SummaryEcological stoichiometry, that is, the study of mass balance of multiple key chemical elements during ecological interactions, has recently been generalized to most ecosystems. Yet, effects of stoichiometric constraints on the life‐history traits of detritivores, one of the most important trophic level through its importance in nutrient cycling, are still poorly documented.Forested headwater streams constitute representative detritus‐based ecosystems, relying on leaf litter inputs as the main energy and nutrient source for their functioning. Leaf litter is quickly colonized by aquatic hyphomycetes, which are known to improve the quality of detritus, enabling nutrient and energy transfer to higher trophic levels.In this study, we manipulated leaf litter nutrient content of two common riparian tree species, differing in their initial biochemical composition, by short‐term phosphorus addition to leaf litter precolonized by aquatic hyphomycetes. Then, we tested the impact of leaf litter phosphorus content on some key life‐history traits, homeostasis and growth, of a common detritivorous invertebrate,Gammarus fossarum(Crustacea Amphipoda).G. fossarumfed individually for 5 weeks with P‐enriched leaf litter showed higher survival and growth rates than organisms fed with leaf litter colonized by fungi without P addition. Phosphorus content of resources did not alterG. fossarumelemental composition, suggesting that these detritivores are able to maintain their elemental homeostasis.This study sheds new light on the importance of phosphorus content of detritus for detritivores and paves the way for further studies aimed at transferring ecological stoichiometry concepts to detritus‐based ecosystems.
Unsuitable habitat patches lead to severe underestimation of dynamics and gene flow in a zooplankton metapopulation
Authors: Ebert Dieter , Hottinger Jürgen W. , Pajunen V. Ilmari 
Published: March 2013

SummaryMigration and re‐colonization enable organisms to persist in metapopulations. Re‐colonization success may be limited by the number of arriving migrants or by patch quality. In a well‐studied rock poolDaphniametapopulation, it is frequently assumed that re‐colonization is limited by the number of arriving migrants, and that all patches are equally suitable for colonization. This assumption strongly influences how observations about dynamics, epidemiology and population genetics for the entire metapopulation are interpreted. Here we test this assumption.In 627 rock pools, we found that highpH, highCa++and high water conductivity were positively correlated with the presence ofD. magna. The experimental release ofD. magnainto randomly chosen natural pools revealed the highest colonization success in pools with highpH. Next, we elevatedpHandCa++concentrations in natural pools by adding a system‐specific natural source of calcium carbonate (either from crushed oyster shells or from eider duck droppings, which contain blue mussel shells). These treatments led to a rapid increase inpHandCa++and strongly raised the likelihood that introducedD. magnawould establish persistent populations. Therefore, we conclude that lowpHandCa++result in unsuitable colonization conditions in two‐thirds of the untreated pools.A further experiment revealed that natural colonization rates were about five times higher in calcium‐treated pools than in untreated pools. Finally, we observed that eider droppings are more frequently found in the catchment area of occupied pools, than they are in those of unoccupied pools, suggesting that the blue mussel shells contained in the eider droppings play an important role in making pools suitable for colonization and in enablingD. magnato persist. Thus, eider ducks are ecosystem engineers in this system.We recalculate typical metapopulation parameters to account for the unsuitable pools, resulting in a much more dynamic picture of this metapopulation than previously believed, with colonization rates and gene flow three to five times higher. These results have strong implications for metapopulation persistence, local and global genetic diversity, genetic rescue, gene flow and local adaptation. Our results emphasize that without verifying patch suitability, estimated rates of metapopulation dynamics can severely underestimate the true rates.
The relationship between phenotypic variation among offspring and mother body mass in wild boar: evidence of coin‐flipping?
Authors: Gamelon Marlène , Gaillard Jean‐Michel , Baubet Eric , Devillard Sébastien , Say Ludovic , Brandt Serge , Gimenez Olivier 
Published: March 2013

Summary

In highly variable environments, the optimal reproductive tactics of iteroparous organisms should minimize variance in yearly reproductive success to maximize the long‐term average reproductive success. To minimize among‐year variation in reproductive success, individuals can either minimize the variance in the number of offspring produced at each reproductive attempt (classical bet‐hedging) or maximize the phenotypic diversity of offspring produced within or among reproductive attempts (coin‐flipping).

From a long‐term detailed study of an intensively exploited population facing a highly unpredictable environment, we identify a continuum of reproductive tactics in wild boar females depending on their body mass.

At one end, light females adjusted litter size to their body mass and produced highly similar‐sized offspring within a litter. These females fitted the hypothesis of individual optimization commonly reported in warm‐blooded species, which involves both an optimal mass and an optimal number of offspring for a given mother. At the other end of the continuum, heavy females produced litters of variable size including a mixture of heavy and light offspring within litters.

Prolific heavy wild boar females diversify the phenotype of their offspring, providing a first evidence for coin‐flipping in a warm‐blooded species.
RobOff: software for analysis of alternative land‐use options and conservation actions
Authors: Pouzols Federico Montesino , Moilanen Atte 
Published: March 2013

SummaryHabitat restoration is increasing in importance as a conservation action, compared with more traditional establishment of conservation areas. It is applied, for example, in the context of biodiversity offsetting, in which environmental impacts of economic activity are offset by additional compensating conservation efforts.We present a publicly available decision support software tool for the comparison of ecological impacts of alternative land‐use options.Methods implemented account for uncertain consequences of alternative land‐use options, including conservation actions. These actions have different costs and effects on different biodiversity features, including species, guilds or habitat types, in different environments. Consequences of actions are uncertain through time, and time discounting is allowed in the investigation of temporal preferences.This tool facilitates analyses relevant for planning of habitat restoration or management, environmental impact avoidance, biodiversity offsetting and scenario development for systematic conservation planning. RobOff derives its name from Robust Offsetting.
Identification of a metabolic signature for multidimensional impairment and mortality risk in hospitalized older patients
Authors: Fontana Luigi , Addante Filomena , Copetti Massimiliano , Paroni Giulia , Fontana Andrea , Sancarlo Daniele , Pellegrini Fabio , Ferrucci Luigi , Pilotto Alberto 
Published: March 2013

SummaryA combination of several metabolic and hormonal adaptations has been proposed to control aging. Little is known regarding the effects of multiple deregulations of these metabolic and hormonal systems in modulating frailty and mortality in hospitalized elderly patients. We measured 17 biological serum parameters from different metabolic/hormonal pathways in 594 hospitalized elderly patients followed up to 1 year who were stratified into three groups according to their multidimensional impairment, evaluated by a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA)‐based Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI). The mortality incidence rates were 7% at 1 month and 21% at 1 year. Our data show that frailty and mortality rate were positively associated with chronic inflammation and with a down‐regulation of multiple endocrine factors. Of the 17 biomarkers examined, blood levels of IGF‐1, triiodothyronine, C‐reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cell and lymphocyte counts, iron, albumin, total cholesterol, and LDL‐c were significantly associated with both MPI severity grade and mortality. In multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, the following biomarkers most strongly predicted the risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) per 1 quintile increment in predictor distribution): IGF‐1 HR = 0.71 (95% CI: 0.63–0.80), CRP HR = 1.48 (95% CI: 1.32–1.65), hemoglobin HR = 0.82 (95% CI: 0.73–0.92), and glucose HR = 1.17 (95% CI: 1.04–1.30). Multidimensional impairment assessed by MPI is associated with a distinctive metabolic ‘signature’. The concomitant elevation of markers of inflammation, associated with a simultaneous reduction in multiple metabolic and hormonal factors, predicts mortality in hospitalized elderly patients.
Arterial Stiffness Depends on Serum Ionized Calcium Levels During Dialysis With Regional Citrate Anticoagulation
Authors: Moor Matthias B. , Kruse Anja , Uehlinger Dominik E. , Eisenberger Ute 
Published: March 2013

AbstractHemodynamic effects related to changes in serum ionized calcium (iCa) are difficult to determine during conventional hemodialysis (HD) using a fixed dialysate concentration of calcium. Regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) allows the study of the effects of predefined iCa changes on arterial stiffness and blood pressure (BP) during a single dialysis session. In a crossover study, 15 patients with end‐stage renal disease underwent two HD sessions with RCA. Each session was divided into two study phases in which iCa was titrated either to 0.8–1.0 mm or to 1.1–1.4 mm. The sequence of phases was randomly chosen and alternated for the second session. After reaching a stable iCa level, pulse wave velocity (PWV), arterial BP, and heart rate were measured. iCa levels were modified during sequence 1 (iCa low‐high) from a predialysis baseline value of 1.15 ± 0.09 mm, first to 0.92 ± 0.05 mm (time point 1; P < 0.001 vs. baseline) and then to 1.18 ± 0.05 (time point 2; ns). During sequence 2 (iCa high‐low), iCa levels were modified from 1.15 ± 0.12 mm first to 1.20 ± 0.05 mm (time point 1; ns vs. baseline) and then to 0.93 ± 0.03 (time point 2; P < 0.001). Assuming a basic linear repeated measures model, PWV was positively related to iCa levels (P < 0.03) independent of systolic or diastolic BP, heart rate, or ultrafiltration rate. PWV is closely related to acute changes in serum iCa levels in HD patients using RCA. RCA provides an interesting opportunity to study the effects of acute iCa changes during one dialysis procedure.
Girls who masturbate in early infancy: diagnostics, natural course and a long‐term follow‐up
Authors: Rödöö Peo , Hellberg Dan 
Published: March 2013

AbstractAimTo evaluate the natural course, onset, diagnostics and long‐term follow‐up masturbation in infant girls, which up to now has only been described in case reports.MethodsNineteen consecutive healthy, masturbating girls, diagnosed in early infancy between three and 15 months, were followed up for an average of 8 years. All were diagnosed in the same Swedish hospital between May 1996 and June 2010. Ten girls were videotaped and/or directly observed while masturbating.ResultsMean age at onset of masturbation was 10.4 months. The diagnosis was based on history taking and clinical observation. Parents reported that masturbation ranged from a few times a week to two‐to‐fifty episodes a day. Twelve girls had stopped masturbating when this study was written, after a mean duration of 66 months. Their symptoms and diagnostics are described in detail.ConclusionThis is the first follow‐up study of girls who started masturbating in early infancy, with a mean duration of five‐and‐a‐half years. Diagnosis may be difficult, but with awareness and knowledge of the condition, a normal physical and neurological examination, a detailed history from the parents and, in particular, video documentation, it can be settled without extensive investigations and the parents reassured.
Validation of serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) as an independent prognostic factor for disease‐free survival in patients with localised renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
Authors: de Martino Michela , Klatte Tobias , Seemann Christoph , Waldert Matthias , Haitel Andrea , Schatzl Georg , Remzi Mesut , Weibl Peter 
Published: March 2013

Objective
To validate high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) serum levels as an independent marker for disease‐free survival (DFS) in clinically localised clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).
Patients and Methods
In all, 403 consecutive patients with clinically localised (T1–3N0M0) ccRCC treated by radical or partial nephrectomy were enrolled.
Preoperative serum levels of hs‐CRP were evaluated as both a continuous and categorical variables.
Associations with clinical (age, gender) and pathological variables (T classification, grade, tumour necrosis) were assessed with the chi‐square and Kruskal–Wallis tests.
Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were fitted. The prognostic accuracy (PA) was assessed with Harrell's C‐index.
Results
The mean hs‐CRP level was 1.32 mg/dL. The hs‐CRP levels were associated with T classification (P = 0.05), high‐grade disease (P < 0.001) and tumour necrosis (P = 0.003).
After a median follow‐up of 43 months, 41 patients (10.1%) had developed disease recurrence. With each unit increase in hs‐CRP levels, the risk of recurrence increased by 10% (hazard ratio 1.10, P = 0.015).
The thresholds of 0.5 and 0.75 mg/dL showed the best discrimination for stratification of patients according to the probability of recurrence.
These categorically coded hs‐CRP levels were identified as independent prognostic factors in multivariable analyses (P < 0.001) and led to a significant increase in the PA of a multivariable base model containing the variables of the ‘Stage, Size, Grade and Necrosis’ (SSIGN) score.
Conclusions
This study validates preoperative serum hs‐CRP levels as independent prognostic factor after surgery for localised ccRCC.
Hs‐CRP may be included in standard prognostic modelling after surgery and may guide surveillance and inclusion in adjuvant clinical trials.
Morbidly obese paediatric patients are not adequately screened for comorbidities
Authors: Hsia D. S. , Gwilliam N. R. , Ferrell L. B. , Haymond M. W. , Brandt M. L. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryAlthough childhood obesity is common, many paediatric practitioners are not familiar with screening for its associated, serious comorbidities. We aimed to determine the adequacy of screening for nine well‐recognized comorbidities in outpatients with severe morbid obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥50 kg m−2) seen in a large tertiary paediatric hospital. Patients with a BMI of ≥50 kg m−2 seen at Texas Children's Hospital during calendar year 2009 were identified. Their medical records were reviewed for any documentation where hypertension, cardiac dysfunction, sleep apnoea, hepatosteatosis, diabetes, pseudotumour cerebri, dyslipidemia, orthopaedic issues and depression were noted and/or addressed as evidence of clinician awareness of these problems. We identified 123 patients seen at least once in 2009, with an average of 3.4 physician visits per patient and by an average of 2 different specialists. Hypertension screening was the most documented (91% of patients) and depression screening was the least documented (41%) in this patient cohort. Twelve patients (10%) had documented screening for all nine comorbidities. Overall, 55 patients (45%) had five or fewer of the nine comorbidities noted and/or addressed in the medical record. Adequate screening for comorbidities occurs in approximately half of children with severe morbid obesity, which means that many of these comorbidities are not being identified or treated. Educational programmes and new methodologies are needed to ensure comprehensive care of children with morbid obesity.
Does competition influence bank failures?
Authors: Fungáčová Zuzana , Weill Laurent 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThere has been a notable debate in the banking literature on the impact of bank competition on financial stability. The aim of this article is to provide the first investigation of the role of bank competition on the occurrence of bank failures. We analyse this issue on a large sample of Russian banks for the period 2001–2007, as the Russian banking industry is a unique example of an emerging market which has undergone a large number of bank failures during the last decade. Our findings support the view that tighter bank competition enhances the occurrence of bank failures. Thus, measures that increase bank competition could undermine financial stability.
Neural correlates of dual‐task practice benefit on motor learning: a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation study
Authors: Goh Hui‐Ting , Lee Ya‐Yun , Fisher Beth E. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractDual‐task practice has been previously shown to enhance motor learning when both primary and secondary tasks engage similar cognitive processes. In the present study, participants practiced a finger sequence task with the non‐dominant hand under a single‐task condition (i.e. without a probe task) or a dual‐task condition in which a probe choice reaction time (CRT) task was presented during the preparation phase (before movement onset) of the finger task. It was hypothesised that by engaging similar ‘planning’ processes, the dual‐task condition may facilitate the activation of shared ‘planning’ circuitry that includes dorsal premotor cortex (dPM), an important neural substrate for CRT task performance and movement preparation. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS; 1 Hz) was applied to the contralateral dPM immediately following practice. Motor learning was assessed by a retention test conducted ~ 24 h after practice. Consistent with our previous results, the dual‐task condition enhanced learning compared with the single‐task condition. rTMS applied to dPM attenuated the dual‐task practice benefit on motor learning. In contrast, rTMS to M1 did not attenuate the dual‐task practice benefit, suggesting the rTMS effect was specific to dPM. Our findings suggest a unique role of dPM in mediating the dual‐task practice effect on motor learning.
Fluctuations in method‐of‐moments variograms caused by clustered sampling and their elimination by declustering and residual maximum likelihood estimation
Authors: Marchant B.P. , Viscarra Rossel R.A. , Webster R. 
Published: March 2013

SummarySoil data accumulated in national and regional archives derive from many sources and tend to be concentrated in zones of particular interest. Experimental variograms computed from such data by the usual method of moments can appear highly erratic, and therefore models fitted to them are likely to be unreliable. We have explored two methods of avoiding the effects, one by computing declustering weights and incorporating them into the method of moments, the other using residual maximum likelihood. The methods are illustrated with data on bulk density, exchangeable magnesium, cation exchange capacity and organic carbon of 4182 samples of soil from numerous soil surveys in the whole of Australia and stored in the CSIRO's national archive. The experimental variograms of all four variables are erratic. Cell declustering produced much smoother sequences of estimates to which plausible models could be fitted with confidence. The residual maximum likelihood models closely matched those models over several hundred km. Finally values were simulated at the same sampling points from the residual maximum likelihood models, reproducing ‘spiky’ experimental variograms such as those computed from the data. The simulation showed that clustered design of sampling causes spiky artefacts. We conclude that where data are clustered experimental variograms should be computed with declustered weighting or variogram models be fitted by residual maximum likelihood.
Assessing the Effects of Rearing Environment, Natural Selection, and Developmental Stage on the Emergence of a Behavioral Syndrome
Authors: Sweeney Kayla , Gadd Ryan D. H. , Hess Zachary L. , McDermott Donna R. , MacDonald Leigh , Cotter Patrick , Armagost Fawn , Chen Jason Z. , Berning Aric W. , DiRienzo Nicholas , Pruitt Jonathan N. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractAlthough there is much interest in behavioral syndromes, very little is known about how syndromes are generated in wild populations. Here, we assess the roles of correlated selection and divergent rearing environments in generating a syndrome between foraging aggressiveness and boldness in the spider Agelenopsis pennsylvanica. We first tested for and confirmed the presence of a behavioral syndrome between boldness and foraging aggressiveness in wild penultimate A. pennsylvanica (r = 0.24). Then, to assess the effects of rearing environment on the boldness–aggressiveness syndrome, we compared the behavioral tendencies of field‐ vs. laboratory‐reared spiders over the course of their development. The presence of the boldness–aggressiveness syndrome differed based on spiders' developmental stage and rearing environment: field‐reared juveniles did not exhibit a syndrome between boldness and foraging aggressiveness, but field‐reared penultimates did. In contrast, laboratory‐reared spiders never exhibited a behavioral syndrome, regardless of their developmental stage. Thus, the boldness–aggressiveness syndrome in A. pennsylvanica manifests only when individuals are reared in the field. Selection data from a mark–recapture study failed to indicate any signature of correlated selection, despite our finding that at least one element of the syndrome (foraging aggressiveness) can respond to selection (Heritability h2 = 0.27, from mid‐parent breeding study). Thus, contemporary correlated selection does not appear to be a major driver of the boldness–aggressiveness syndrome of A. pennsylvanica. Taken together, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that the boldness–aggressiveness syndrome exhibited by wild A. pennsylvanica develops as a result of environmentally induced phenotypic plasticity, and not correlated selection.
Fighting by Kittens and Piglets during Suckling: What Does it Mean?
Authors: Hudson Robyn , Distel Hans 
Published: March 2013

AbstractNewborn kittens and piglets show some notable similarities in suckling‐associated behaviours. Both develop a pattern of teat use in which each member of the litter predominantly occupies one or two particular nipples or teats, both show agonistic behaviour towards littermates during suckling, and both are born with ‘weapons’–kittens with sharp claws and piglets with sharp needle teeth. Traditionally, the differential use of nipples or teats has been thought to be due to differential quality of the mammary glands. However, neither our findings in kittens nor an examination of the literature on piglets support this view. As mammary glands usually are of equal quality and as there are normally more glands than young, there seems little reason for littermates to fight. Furthermore, there is also little evidence that individual performance in suckling contests or use of ‘weapons’ is related to weight gain or to dominance relations. Given the present lack of satisfying adaptive explanations for the seemingly aggressive behaviour and use of weapons by kittens and piglets, we suggest these to be epiphenomena of developmental processes anticipating the use of these behaviours and structures in later adaptive contexts.