bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Double decomposition: decomposing the variance in subcomponents of male extra‐pair reproductive success
Authors: Losdat Sylvain , Arcese Peter , Reid Jane M. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryExtra‐pair reproductive success (EPRS) is a key component of male fitness in socially monogamous systems and could cause selection on female extra‐pair reproduction if extra‐pair offspring (EPO) inherit high value forEPRSfrom their successful extra‐pair fathers. However,EPRSis itself a composite trait that can be fully decomposed into subcomponents of variation, each of which can be further decomposed into genetic and environmental variances. However, such decompositions have not been implemented in wild populations, impeding evolutionary inference.We first show thatEPRScan be decomposed into the product of three life‐history subcomponents: the number of broods available to a focal male to sireEPO, the male's probability of siring anEPOin an available brood and the number of offspring in available broods. This decomposition ofEPRSfacilitates estimation from field data because all subcomponents can be quantified from paternity data without need to quantify extra‐pair matings. Our decomposition also highlights that the number of available broods, and hence population structure and demography, might contribute substantially to variance in maleEPRSand fitness.We then used 20 years of complete genetic paternity and pedigree data from wild song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) to partition variance in each of the three subcomponents ofEPRS, and thereby estimate their additive genetic variance and heritability conditioned on effects of male coefficient of inbreeding, age and social status.All three subcomponents ofEPRSshowed some degree of within‐male repeatability, reflecting combined permanent environmental and genetic effects. Number of available broods and offspring per brood showed low additive genetic variances. The estimated additive genetic variance in extra‐pair siring probability was larger, although the 95% credible interval still converged towards zero. Siring probability also showed inbreeding depression and increased with male age, while the numbers of available broods and offspring per brood did not.Our results indicate that the probability that a male will sire an EPO in an available brood is the primary source of genetic variation in maleEPRS, implying that the evolution of female extra‐pair reproduction could be facilitated by genetic covariance with this subcomponent ofEPRS.
Natural vegetation benefits synergistic control of the three main insect and pathogen pests of a fruit crop in southern Africa
Authors: Henri Dominic C. , Jones Owen , Tsiattalos Ariana , Thébault Elisa , Seymour Colleen L. , van Veen F. J. Frank 
Published: May 2015

Summary

Most studies of the potential for natural habitat to improve agricultural productivity have been conducted in transformed, temperate regions, but little is known of the importance of agroecosystem services in biodiverse developing countries.

Natural vegetation may promote the density and/or diversity of natural enemies of crop pests, but the strength of the effect varies, and few studies directly measure concurrent impacts on pest density. Considering multiple pest species within the same agroecosystem may help explain why some pests are more affected than others by landscape complexity. Here, we investigated multiple pest species (three species of Tephritidae fruit fly, leaf galling flies and pathogenic fungi Fusarium spp.) and their enemies in cultivated mango Mangifera indica, in north‐eastern South Africa.

The density of generalist Tephritidae fruit flies increased with distance from natural vegetation during harvesting months, and predation rate of pupae sharply decreased from ~50% at the edge with natural vegetation to 0% at 250 m into the crop. Parasitism rates of the cryptic, gall‐forming fly increased with proximity to natural vegetation, but pest density was unrelated to distance from natural vegetation. Incidence of the fungal pathogen disease increased with distance from natural vegetation, possibly due to decreased predation of commensal mites.

Although the relationship with distance to natural vegetation was significant for all species considered, the strength of this relationship varied across pest species and type of natural enemy studied, suggesting the benefits of natural vegetation depend on each natural enemy species' ability to disperse into the agricultural environment.

Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that natural vegetation is a net source of natural enemies in a region of South Africa that still contains much of its natural biodiversity. However, the decline in natural enemies, and increase in pests, with distance from natural habitat indicates that this biocontrol is limited by natural enemy dispersal. In landscapes like these that are still dominated by natural habitat, conservation biocontrol can still be improved by management aimed at providing corridors of key plants and habitat elements into the crops, to facilitate natural enemy dispersal.
Landscape distribution of food and nesting sites affect larval diet and nest size, but not abundance of Osmia bicornis
Authors: Coudrain Valérie , Rittiner Sarah , Herzog Felix , Tinner Willy , Entling Martin H. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractHabitat fragmentation is a major threat for beneficial organisms and the ecosystem services they provide. Multiple‐habitat users such as wild bees depend on both nesting and foraging habitat. Thus, they may be affected by the fragmentation of at least two habitat types. We investigated the effects of landscape‐scale amount of and patch isolation from both nesting habitat (woody plants) and foraging habitat (specific pollen sources) on the abundance and diet of Osmia bicornis L. Trap‐nests of O. bicornis were studied in 30 agricultural landscapes of the Swiss Plateau. Nesting and foraging habitats were mapped in a radius of 500 m around the sites. Pollen composition of larval diet changed as isolation to the main pollen source, Ranunculus, increased, suggesting that O. bicornis adapted its foraging strategy in function of the nest proximity to main pollen sources. Abundance of O. bicornis was neither related to isolation or amount of nesting habitat nor to isolation or abundance of food plants. Surprisingly, nests of O. bicornis contained fewer larvae in sites at forest edge compared to isolated sites, possibly due to higher parasitism risk. This study indicates that O. bicornis can nest in a variety of situations by compensating scarcity of its main larval food by exploiting alternative food sources.
TPEN Prevents Rapid Pacing‐Induced Calcium Overload and Nitration Stress in HL‐1 Myocytes
Authors: Yang Shusen , Xu Wenjing , Dong Zengxiang , Zhou Mo , Lin Chaolan , Jin Hongbo , Su Yafen , Li Qingyu , Wang Xu , Chang Huiying , Han Wei 
Published: May 2015

SummaryIntroductionAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. However, the current drug interference of antiarrhythmia has limited efficacy and off‐target effects. Accumulating evidence has implicated a potential role of nitration stress in the pathogenesis of AF. The aim of the study was to determine whether TPEN provided antinitration effects on atrial myocytes during AF, especially under circumstances of nitration stress.MethodsWe utilized a rapid paced HL‐1 cells model for AF. The changes of electrophysiological characteristics and structure of paced HL‐1 cells were determined by a patch clamp and a TEM method. The effects of TPEN on pacing and ONOO− pretreated HL‐1 cells were examined using MTT assay, TUNEL technique, confocal microscope experiment, and Western blot analysis.ResultsThe results revealed that ONOO− reduced the viability of HL‐1 cells in a dose‐dependent manner, and 1 μmol/L TPEN significantly ameliorated the damage caused by 50 μmol/L ONOO− (P < 0.05). Pacing and/or ONOO−‐induced marked shortening of APD, myolysis, and nuclear condensation. TPEN inhibited the Ca2+ overload induced by rapid pacing (P < 0.05) and ONOO− stimulation (P < 0.05). The application of TPEN significantly prevented the protein nitration caused by pacing or pacing plus ONOO− (P < 0.05). Additionally, pacing in combination with ONOO− treatment led to increase in apoptosis in HL‐1 cells (P < 0.01), which could be reduced by pretreatment with TPEN (P < 0.05).ConclusionsTPEN prevents Ca2+ overload and nitration stress in HL‐1 atrial myocytes during rapid pacing and circumstances of nitration stress.
Extinction of alcohol seeking is enhanced by compound extinction and the noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor atomoxetine
Authors: Leung Hiu T. , Corbit Laura H. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAlcohol‐related stimuli can trigger relapse of alcohol‐seeking behaviors even after extended periods of abstinence. Extinction of such stimuli provides a means for reducing their impact on relapse. However, the expression of extinction can be disrupted by exposure to the previous reinforcer as well as the simple passage of time. We investigated whether augmentation of prediction error or of noradrenaline neurotransmission by the reuptake inhibitor atomoxetine would enhance long‐term extinction of alcohol‐seeking behavior. Rats received Pavlovian conditioning of multiple stimuli signaling the delivery of an alcohol reward before individual extinction was given to each of these stimuli. Further extinction was then given to a target stimulus presented in compound with another alcohol‐predictive stimulus intended to augment prediction error (Experiment 1) or after a systemic injection of atomoxetine (1.0 mg/kg; Experiment 2). Experiment 3 examined whether the compound stimulus effect relied on noradrenergic activity by testing the effects of the β‐adrenergic antagonist propranolol, given prior to compound stimulus trials. Long‐term retention of extinction learning was assessed a week later. Compound stimulus presentations enhanced long‐term extinction as the stimulus extinguished in compound elicited less responding than a stimulus receiving equal extinction alone when tested a week later. This effect was mimicked by atomoxetine and blocked by propranolol given during extinction training. Thus, extinction of alcohol‐seeking behavior can be improved by extinguishing multiple alcohol‐predictive stimuli or enhancing noradrenaline neurotransmission during extinction training. Both behavioral and neurobiological processes could be exploited to enhance the outcome of extinction‐based treatments for alcohol use disorders.
The Adult Learning Open University Determinants (ALOUD) study: Biological and psychological factors associated with learning performance in adult distance education
Authors: Neroni Joyce , Gijselaers Hieronymus J.M. , Kirschner Paul A. , de Groot Renate H.M. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractLearning is crucial for everyone. The association between biological (eg, sleep, nutrition) and psychological factors (eg, test anxiety, goal orientation) and learning performance has been well established for children, adolescents and college students in traditional education. Evidence for these associations for adult distance students is lacking however. The Adult Learning Open University Determinants (ALOUD) study is the first to identify the determinants of learning performance within adult distance education. Over the course of 1 year, all new students (n = 4945) of the Open University of the Netherlands were approached. At baseline, 2040 students fully participated in this observational longitudinal study by filling out an online questionnaire and performing cognitive tests. At the 7 and 14 months follow‐up, participants filled out a second and third questionnaire respectively, and data were given by the exam registration office to measure learning performance at these times. The ALOUD study might result in tailor‐made educational innovations for adults participating in distance education and, finally, a more successful distance education student population.
A framework to guide the conservation of species hybrids based on ethical and ecological considerations
Authors: Jackiw Raeya N. , Mandil Ghada , Hager Heather A. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractSpecies hybrids have long been undervalued in conservation and are often perceived as a threat to pure species. Recently, the conservation value of hybrids, especially those of natural origin, has gained recognition; however, hybrid conservation remains controversial. We reviewed hybrid management policies, including laws, regulations, and management protocols, from a variety of organizations, primarily in Canada and the United States. We found that many policies are based on limited ethical and ecological considerations and provide little opportunity for hybrid conservation. In most policies, hybrids are either unrepresented or considered a threat to conservation goals. This is problematic because our review of the hybrid conservation literature identified many ethical and ecological considerations relevant to determining the conservation value of a hybrid, all of which are management‐context specific. We also noted a lack of discussion of the ethical considerations regarding hybrid conservation. Based on these findings, we created a policy framework outlining situations in which hybrids could be eligible for conservation in Canada and the United States. The framework comprises a decision tree that helps users determine whether a hybrid should be eligible for conservation based on multiple ecological and ethical considerations. The framework may be applied to any hybrid and is flexible in that it accommodates context‐specific management by allowing different options if a hybrid is a threat to or could benefit conservation goals. The framework can inform policy makers and conservationists in decision‐making processes regarding hybrid conservation by providing a systematic set of decision criteria and guidance on additional criteria to be considered in cases of uncertainty, and it fills a policy gap that limits current hybrid management.
Renminbi in Ordinary Economies: A Demand‐side Study of Currency Globalization
Authors: Chey Hyoung‐kyu 
Published: May 2015

AbstractMost studies of renminbi internationalization focus on the supply side, by examining China's own economic and political conditions. In contrast, this study addresses the demand side of renminbi internationalization, by providing an in‐depth analysis of renminbi use in ordinary foreign economies from both economic and political perspectives, with a particular focus on South Korea, China's next‐door neighbor. The study finds that sustainable indigenous market forces facilitating renminbi use in South Korea remain weak, despite the country's close economic ties with China. This research also shows, however, that the Korean Government has itself recently been able, through its policy measures, to generate new domestic support for greater use of the renminbi. These findings ultimately highlight the significant impact on the internationalization of a currency of the politics in the foreign countries using it.
Growth Slowdown in China since 2008: Will There Be a Hard Landing in the Near Future?
Authors: Lai Pingyao 
Published: May 2015

AbstractChina has witnessed an unprecedented great leap forward in investment since the 2008 global financial crisis, and at the same time real GDP growth has undergone a significant slowdown. This paper examines China's growth slowdown since 2008 up to 2013 using a growth accounting model in a systematic way. It is found that China's growth slowdown since 2008 almost completely comes from a sharp slowdown in total factor productivity growth. During this period, the positive effect on growth from expanding investment has been completely offset by the negative effect of the slowdown in total factor productivity growth. Currently, China's economy has slid into the Solow downward path. Under these circumstances, a soft landing is completely infeasible. Unless the Chinese Government implements substantial rebalancing and comprehensive and in‐depth market‐oriented reform, accompanied by large‐scale de‐investment (decreasing in the ratio of investment in GDP) and massive employment adjustment, China will be unable to avoid the Solow downward path, and a hard landing in investment will be inevitable in the near future.
Economic Globalization and Inflation in China: A Multivariate Approach
Authors: Zhang Chengsi , Song Ke , Wang Fang 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis paper evaluates whether globalization has increased the role of global factors in driving inflation in China. Unlike other published studies on the relationship between globalization and inflation, which mostly use Phillips curve models, this paper uses multivariate dynamic models to examine the dynamic interactions between globalization and inflation in China. Empirical results with quarterly data spanning from 1995 to 2012 show that the global output gap significantly affects the dynamics of inflation in China. In particular, the global output gap is superior to the domestic output gap in predicting domestic inflation. Impulse response and variance decomposition analyses reinforce this finding. Our results indicate that the central bank of China should take developments in global output into account in its monetary policy‐making process.
Prediction of volumetric soil organic carbon from field‐moist intact soil cores
Authors: Roudier P. , Hedley C.B. , Ross C.W. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryThis study investigated the potential for visible–near‐infrared (vis–NIR) spectroscopy to predict locally volumetric soil organic carbon (SOC) from spectra recorded from field‐moist soil cores. One hundred cores were collected from a 71‐ha arable field. The vis–NIR spectra were collected every centimetre along the side of the cores to a depth of 0.3 m. Cores were then divided into 0.1‐m increments for laboratory analysis. Reference SOC measurements were used to calibrate three partial least‐squares regression (PLSR) models for bulk density (ρb), gravimetric SOC (SOCg) and volumetric SOC (SOCv). Accurate predictions were obtained from averages of spectra from those 0.1‐m increments for SOCg (ratio of performance to inter‐quartile (RPIQ) = 5.15; root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.38%) and SOCv (RPIQ = 5.25; RMSE = 4.33 kg m−3). The PLSR model for ρb performed least well, but still produced accurate results (RPIQ = 3.76; RMSE = 0.11 Mg m−3). Predictions for ρb and SOCg were combined to compare indirect and direct predictions of SOCv. No statistical difference in accuracy between these approaches was detected, suggesting that the direct prediction of SOCv is possible. The PLSR models calibrated on the 10‐cm depth intervals were also applied to the spectra originally recorded on a 1‐cm depth increment. While a bigger bias was observed for 1‐cm than for 10‐cm predictions (1.13 and 0.19 kg m−3, respectively), the two populations of estimates were not distinguishable statistically. The study showed the potential for using vis–NIR spectroscopy on field‐moist soil cores to predict SOC at high depth resolutions (1 cm) with locally derived calibrations.
Changes in soil nutrient content and bacterial community after 12 years of organic amendment application to a vineyard
Authors: Calleja‐Cervantes M. E. , Menéndez S. , Fernández‐González A. J. , Irigoyen I. , Cibriáin‐Sabalza J. F. , Toro N. , Aparicio‐Tejo P. M. , Fernández‐López M. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryAn interesting alternative to landfills for disposing of organic residues is their addition to soil as composted organic residues. There is little information available about the long‐term benefits following prolonged periods of application. After 12 years of annual incorporation of organic amendments to the soil of a vineyard, three soil characteristics were analysed: mineral content, bacterial community and soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The organic amendments were (i) a pelletized organic compost (PEL) made from plant, animal and sewage sludge residues, (ii) a compost made from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OF‐MSW) and (iii) a stabilized sheep manure compost (SMC). Mineral fertilizer (NPK) and an unaltered control treatment were also included. Our results showed that long‐term application of treated residues as compost changed soil nutrient content, bacterial community and gas emission rates. For instance, SMC increased nutrients and soil organic matter (OM) throughout the experiment. There was a change in bacterial community structure, with an increase in the phylum Proteobacteria observed for all four treated soils, and an increase in the phylum Bacteroidetes for PEL, OF‐MSW and SMC treatments. Among the organically‐amended soils, the amount of Adhaeribacter increased by a factor of 2.5 times more than the control, which reported a total of 2.0% of the bacterial community compared with 5.6% for PEL, 5.2% for OF‐MSW and 5.0% for SMC. Adhaeribacter may be a genus that specializes in the degradation of residues in the different composts. The SMC treatment had the largest Chao1 estimator and was the most biodiverse of all treatments. These changes in bacterial community structure did not correlate with the observed GHG fluxes from the sampling day. The application of amendments did not affect N2O fluxes. However, the application of treatments slightly reduced the capacity for CH4 sequestration by soil with respect to the untreated soils. Compost is an effective method to increase soil fertility. Soil GHG emissions should be further evaluated.
Role of root exudates on the sorption of arsenate by ferrihydrite
Authors: Castaldi P. , Garau G. , Lauro G. P. , Pigna M. , Violante A. , Deiana S. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryIron oxy‐hydroxides in soil are known to have a large affinity for arsenate (As(V)) inorganic species. At the soil–root interface such mineral components are embedded by mucilaginous material that is secreted from continuously growing root cap cells. In order to determine the role of plant mucilages inAs(V)sorption by iron oxy‐hydroxides, we layered a calcium (Ca)‐polygalacturonate network (CaPGA) on to amorphous iron (Fe) (III) hydroxide (ferrihydrite,Fh) particles. The scanning electron micrographs of theCaPGAnetwork coating the ferrihydrite (Fh–CaPGA) show a regular structure with a honeycomb‐like pattern where interlacing fibrils form a porous system. TheFT‐IRspectra ofFh–CaPGAsuggest thatCaPGAfibrils are retained by the surfaceFe(III) nuclei ofFhthrough electrostatic interactions. The sorption experiments carried out atpH4.3 and 5.8 indicated a smaller amount ofAs(V)sorbed byFh–CaPGAthan byFhalone, being less after 3 and 24 hours of reaction by about 70 and 30%, respectively. The sorption ofAs(V)byFhwas also studied in the presence of caffeic acid (CAF), an important root exudate. Simultaneous sorption kinetics show thatAs(V)sorption byFhis almost independent ofCAFconcentration, indicating a greater affinity of arsenate ions towards theFhsurfaces. However, the amount ofAs(V)sorbed by theFhcoated byCaPGA, in the presence of 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mm CAF, is markedly smaller by about 20, 27 and 40%, respectively, than that found in theAs(V)–CAF‐Fhternary systems. This is caused mainly by redox reactions involvingCAFand the surfaceFe(III) nuclei ofFhleading to the formation ofCAFoxidation products which preventAs(V)sorption.