bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Habitat Use and Separation among Congeneric Darter Species
Authors: Pratt Anne E. , Lauer Thomas E. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractFive darter species (Greenside DarterEtheostoma blennioides, Rainbow DarterE. caeruleum, Fantail DarterE. flabellare, Johnny DarterE. nigrum, and Orangethroat DarterE. spectabile) were collected from seven streams and rivers in two Indiana watersheds to determine patterns of microhabitat selection with respect to depth, water velocity (flow), and substrate size. Heterogeneous habitats create a variety of niche dimensions, promoting the coexistence of congeneric species. Greenside and Rainbow darters were most commonly found among intermediate substrate sizes (cobble + boulder) and in locations with higher velocities and deeper water. Fantail and Orangethroat darters associated with intermediate to large substrate sizes (cobble + bedrock) were found in shallower water with lower velocities. Fantail Darters were only observed in the Whitewater River watershed. In contrast, Johnny Darters were observed only within the White River watershed among small substrate sizes (silt + sand), moderate velocities, and deeper water. Based on nonmetric multidimensional scaling and multinomial logistic regression, substrate size was the most important variable in characterizing microhabitat selection. Ultimately, habitats produced patterns of segregation and coexistence among these five darters in Indiana streams. Although ecological patterns of microhabitat use are additionally influenced by competition, morphology, and life history traits, heterogeneous habitat features within ecosystems appear to be structuring fish assemblages.
Galaxy pairs in the Local Group
Authors: Fattahi Azadeh , Navarro Julio F. , Starkenburg Else , Barber Christopher R. , McConnachie Alan W. 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
Current models of galaxy formation predict that galaxy pairs of comparable magnitudes should become increasingly rare with decreasing luminosity. This seems at odds with the relatively high frequency of pairings among dwarf galaxies in the Local Group. We use literature data to show that ∼30 per cent of all the satellites of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies brighter than MV = −8 are found in likely physical pairs of comparable luminosity. Besides the previously recognized pairings of the Magellanic Clouds and of NGC 147/NGC 185, other candidate pairs include the Ursa Minor and Draco dwarf spheroidals, as well as the And I/And III satellites of M31. These pairs are much closer than expected by chance if the radial and angular distributions of satellites were uncorrelated; in addition, they have very similar line-of-sight velocities and luminosities that differ by less than three magnitudes. In contrast, the same criteria pair fewer than 4 per cent of satellites in N-body/semi-analytic models that match the radial distribution and luminosity function of Local Group satellites. If confirmed in studies of larger samples, the high frequency of dwarf galaxy pairings may provide interesting clues to the formation of faint galaxies in the current cosmological paradigm.
Signature of outflows in strong Mg ii absorbers in quasar sightlines
Authors: Sharma Mahavir , Nath Biman B. , Chand Hum 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
We report a correlation between velocity offset (β = v/c) of strong Mg ii absorption systems and the bolometric luminosity (Lbol) of quasars in SDSS-DR7. We find that β shows a power-law increase with Lbol, with a slope ∼1/4. We find that such a relation of β with Lbol is expected for outflows driven by scattering of black hole radiation by dust grains, and which are launched from the innermost dust survival radius. Our results indicate that a significant fraction of the strong Mg ii absorbers, in the range of β = 0–0.4, may be associated with the quasars themselves.
‘It's the way that you look at it’—a cognitive neuropsychological account of SSRI action in depression
Authors: Harmer Catherine J. , Cowen Philip J. 
Published: February 2013

The fact that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have antidepressant effects in some patients supports the notion that serotonin plays a role in the mode of action of antidepressant drugs. However, neither the way in which serotonin may alleviate depressed mood nor the reason why several weeks needs to elapse before the full antidepressant effect of treatment is expressed is known. Here, we propose a neuropsychological theory of SSRI antidepressant action based on the ability of SSRIs to produce positive biases in the processing of emotional information. Both behavioural and neuroimaging studies show that SSRI administration produces positive biases in attention, appraisal and memory from the earliest stages of treatment, well before the time that clinical improvement in mood becomes apparent. We suggest that the delay in the clinical effect of SSRIs can be explained by the time needed for this positive bias in implicit emotional processing to become apparent at a subjective, conscious level. This process is likely to involve the re-learning of emotional associations in a new, more positive emotional environment. This suggests intriguing links between the effect of SSRIs to promote synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis, and their ability to remediate negative emotional biases in depressed patients.
Lethal drought leads to reduction in nonstructural carbohydrates in Norway spruce tree roots but not in the canopy
Authors: Hartmann Henrik , Ziegler Waldemar , Trumbore Susan 
Published: February 2013

Summary

Heat waves and droughts are expected to increase in frequency and severity in many regions with future climate change, threatening the survival of a number of forest ecosystems. However, our understanding of the physiological processes and mechanisms underlying drought‐induced tree mortality is incomplete. Here, we present results on the physiological response of young Norway spruce trees exposed to lethal drought stress.

We applied three levels of drought treatment (control, drying–rewetting, complete drought) and monitored relevant physiological functions and processes of carbon and water relations at high temporal resolution until tree death occurred.

Only trees subjected to continuous drought died in our experiment. Trees subjected to drying–rewetting cycles consistently recovered in their ability to transport water, indicating that these trees do not suffer permanent damage to the hydraulic system. In all cases, drought reduced carbon assimilation, caused changes in carbon allocation and appeared to have severely reduced phloem functioning and carbon translocation. Structural growth was sacrificed for carbon investment in maintenance respiration and osmoprotection. Severe drought caused trees to rely on stored carbon reserves but, in contrast to above‐ground tissues, only root carbon pools were strongly reduced when trees died.

Our results indicate that drought‐induced changes in carbon allocation, use and transport differ between above‐ and below‐ground tissues in trees. While root death may have been caused by carbon depletion, this was definitely not the case in above‐ground tissues. Our findings indicate that mortality mechanisms are not defined at the organism level but rather within tree compartments.
Does method of birth make a difference to when women resume sex after childbirth?
Authors: McDonald EA , Brown SJ 
Published: February 2013

ObjectiveTo investigate the timing of resumption of vaginal sex and assess associations with method of birth, perineal trauma and other obstetric and social factors.DesignProspective pregnancy cohort study of nulliparous women.SettingMelbourne, Australia.SampleA total of 1507 nulliparous women recruited in early pregnancy (≤24 weeks).MethodWomen were recruited from six public hospitals. Data from hospital records and self‐administered questionnaires at recruitment and 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum were analysed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression.Main outcome measureResumption of vaginal sex.ResultsSexual activity was resumed earlier than vaginal sex, with 53% resuming sexual activity by 6 weeks postpartum, and 41% attempting vaginal sex. By 8 weeks a majority of women had attempted vaginal sex (65%), increasing to 78% by 12 weeks, and 94% by 6 months. Compared with women who had a spontaneous vaginal birth with an intact perineum, women who had a spontaneous vaginal birth with an episiotomy (adjusted odds ratio 3.43, 95% confidence interval 1.9–6.2) or sutured perineal tear (adjusted odds ratio 3.18, 95% confidence interval 2.1–4.9) were more likely not to have resumed vaginal sex by 6 weeks postpartum. Similarly, women who had an assisted vaginal birth or caesarean section had raised odds of delaying resumption of sex.ConclusionsMost women having a first birth do not resume vaginal sex until later than 6 weeks postpartum. Women who have an operative vaginal birth, caesarean section or perineal tear or episiotomy appear to delay longer.
The Influence of Fetal Ethanol Exposure on Subsequent Development of the Cerebral Cortex as Revealed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Leigland Lindsey A. , Ford Matthew M. , Lerch Jason P. , Kroenke Christopher D. 
Published: February 2013

BackgroundFetal alcohol syndrome and related disorders (commonly referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or FASD) cause significant hardships to the individuals affected. Previously, histological studies in animals have characterized developmental cerebral cortical abnormalities that result from prenatal ethanol (EtOH) exposure. Additionally, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have identified abnormalities associated with fetal EtOH exposure in the cerebral cortices of human children and adolescents. However, there is still a need to bridge the gap between human MRI studies and animal histological studies. The goal of the research presented here was to perform postmortem MRI experiments on rodents, during time periods relative to late human gestation through adulthood, to characterize anomalies associated with FASD throughout development. Additionally, by determining how histologically identified abnormalities are manifest in MRI measurements specifically during the critical early time points, neuroimaging‐based biomarkers of FASD can potentially be identified at much earlier ages in humans, thus reducing the impact of these disorders.MethodsCerebral cortical volume, thickness, and surface area were characterized by ex vivo MRI in Long‐Evans rat pups born from dams that were EtOH‐treated, maltose/dextrin‐treated, or untreated throughout gestation at 6 developmental time points (postnatal day [P] 0, P3, P6, P11, P19, and P60).ResultsBrain volume, isocortical volume, isocortical thickness, and isocortical surface area were all demonstrated to be reduced following prenatal exposure to EtOH. Significant differences among the treatment groups were observed throughout the range of time points studied, allowing for a comprehensive view of FASD influenced MRI outcomes throughout development. Isocortical surface area and isocortical thickness results contributed independent information important to interpreting effects of prenatal EtOH exposure on cerebral cortical development. Additionally, regional patterns in cortical thickness differences suggested primary sensory areas were particularly vulnerable to gestational EtOH exposure.ConclusionsStructural MRI measurements were in accordance with previous histological studies performed in animal models of FASD. In addition to establishing a summary of MRI outcomes throughout development in FASD, this research suggests that MRI techniques are sufficiently sensitive to detect neuroanatomical effects of fetal EtOH exposure on development of the cerebral cortex during the period of time corresponding to late gestation in humans. Importantly, this research provides a link between animal histological data and human MRI data.
Effects of the feeding sequence of concentrate and forage and the feeding ratio of sake cake to grass hay on the characteristics and the entrapment effect of the ruminal mat in non‐lactating dairy cows
Authors: Izumi Kenichi 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe effects of the feeding sequence of concentrate and forage, and of the feeding ratio of sake cake (SC) to grass hay (GH) on the ruminal mat characteristics and the entrapment effect for steamed flaked corn (SFC) by the mat were evaluated. Three non‐lactating, rumen‐cannulated Holstein cows were offered SC and GH using a ratio of 35:65 (SC35) or 65:35 (SC65). For SC35, SFC was fed at 1 h after or immediately before offering SC and GH, while for SC65, SFC was only fed at 1 h after. To estimate the degree of SFC entrapment in the ruminal mat, the location of SFC in the rumen and two types of mean retention time (MRT) were measured, that is, MRT for the SFC marker placed directly on the mat or taken orally. The ruminal mat was formed even when SC65 diet was consumed. The entrapment effect was not affected by the feeding sequence or the ratio. However, a more interesting finding is that the entrapment effect of the ruminal mat may not be as absolute as previously considered because of the large amount of SFC particles which precipitated at the bottom of the rumen 1 h after feeding.
Circulating N‐cadherin levels are a negative prognostic indicator in patients with multiple myeloma
Authors: Vandyke Kate , Chow Annie W.S. , Williams Sharon A. , To Luen B. , Zannettino Andrew C.W. 
Published: February 2013

SummaryN‐cadherin (cadherin 2, type 1, N‐cadherin (neuronal); CDN2) is a homotypic adhesion molecule that is upregulated in breast, prostate and bladder cancer. Here we investigated the prognostic significance of upregulated N‐cadherin expression in multiple myeloma (MM). Our results indicate that N‐cadherin protein and gene expression is abnormally increased in trephine biopsies and CD38++/CD138+ plasma cells from MM patients, when compared with those of normal donors. In addition, levels of circulating N‐cadherin were elevated in a subset of patients with MM (n = 81; mean: 14·50 ng/ml, range: 0–146·78 ng/ml), relative to age‐matched controls (n = 27; mean: 2·66 ng/ml, range: 0–5·96 ng/ml), although this did not reach statistical significance. Notably, patients with abnormally high levels of N‐cadherin (>6 ng/ml) had decreased progression‐free survival (P = 0·036; hazard ratio: 1·94) and overall survival (P = 0·002; hazard ratio: 3·15), when compared with patients with normal N‐cadherin levels (≤6 ng/ml). Furthermore, multivariate analyses revealed that the combination of N‐cadherin levels and International Staging System (ISS) was a more powerful prognostic indicator than using ISS alone. Collectively, our studies demonstrate that circulating N‐cadherin levels are a viable prognostic marker for high‐risk MM patients.
Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen is detected in rare cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer
Authors: Mertz Kirsten D. , Paasinen Aino , Arnold Andreas , Baumann Michèle , Offner Felix , Willi Niels , Cathomas Gieri 
Published: February 2013

AbstractBackgroundStudies of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) in nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC) other than Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) produced controversial results. Therefore, we studied the prevalence of MCPyV in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).MethodsTissue specimens were analyzed for the presence of MCPyV DNA by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Expression of MCPyV large T protein was determined by immunohistochemistry.ResultsMCPyV DNA was frequently detected in skin cancers by PCR, in 36 of 88 BCCs, in 21 of 75 SCCs and in 10 of 47 normal skin samples. In BCC, a significant difference in the detection rate compared to normal skin was observed. In contrast, weak reactivity for MCPyV large T antigen was detected only sporadically in immunosuppressed patients (2 of 88 BCCs, 1 of 75 SCCs). Mutations of the large T antigen of MCPyV were more frequently observed in MCC than in BCC/SCC.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the frequent detection of the MCPyV genome in NMSC by PCR reflects ubiquitous spread of the virus. However, the low immunohistochemical detection rate of MCPyV and the lack of MCC‐specific MCPyV mutations argue against an essential role of MCPyV in the development of skin cancers other than MCC.
Livedoid vasculopathy – current aspects of diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous infarction
Authors: Kerk Nina , Goerge Tobias 
Published: February 2013

SummaryLivedoid vasculopathy is a rare, chronic, recurrent disease of the cutaneous microcirculation. Its typical clinical manifestation is a triad which consists of livedo racemosa of the skin, episodic painful ulcerations of the distal aspects of the legs and a healing process leaving small porcelain‐white scars called atrophie blanche. As an important result of recent research, livedoid vasculopathy has been defined as a coagulation disorder classified as a vasculopathy different from inflammatory vasculitis. This differentiation adds to the current pathophysiologic understanding and supports the therapeutic rationale with respect to the use of new systemic anticoagulants. The prevention of irreversible residual scarring and the improvement of patientsí quality of life are the main goals in treating cutaneous infarction and require early and consequent treatment. This article presents current knowledge on diagnosing this rare disease and offers practical guidance on its therapy.
Did support for economic and political reforms increase during the post‐communist transition, and if so, why?
Authors: Rovelli Riccardo , Zaiceva Anzelika 
Published: February 2013

AbstractWe study the dynamics of individual support for changes in the economic and political system, using a unique dataset for 12 transition economies over the period 1991–2004. We document that support for transition was initially lower in theCIScountries and that there has been a converging trend in the support for reforms between theCISand the Baltic and Central and Eastern European countries. We suggest several explanations for the initial divergence and the post‐98 convergence in support for transition between these three groups of countries, and show that economic growth, declining income inequality and improving quality of governance have contributed to increase the support for transition. In addition, we find that increased support for the market economy and democracy in theCISis accompanied by a larger increase in trust towards the political institutions. Our results also confirm the implications of Aghionet al. ()'s model of a negative correlation between trust and the demand for government regulation.
Detection efficiency and habitat use to inform inventory and monitoring efforts: juvenile coho salmon in the Knik River basin, Alaska
Authors: Sethi Suresh A. , Benolkin Elizabeth 
Published: February 2013

AbstractImperfect detection associated with sampling gear presents challenges for wildlife inventory and monitoring efforts. We examined occupancy dynamics and habitat use of juvenile coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, in shallow lake environments over a summer and early fall season in the Knik River area of south central Alaska using models which control for and estimate sampling gear detection efficiency. In addition, we present statements for the probability that observed absences at a survey site or from a survey area (a collection of sites) are true absences given some amount of sampling effort and analysts' beliefs about site occupancy and sampling gear detection efficiency which can be used to guide inventory and monitoring efforts for juvenile salmon or other wildlife and plant species. Occupancy modelling results demonstrate that minnow traps were effective at sampling juvenile coho in shallow lake environments, with a mean probability of detection across the study period of 0.68 (i.e., probability of detecting the presence of juvenile coho given that they are present at a trap site; SE = 0.03). Juvenile coho salmon migrated into shallow water lakes in late summer and early fall, presumably to seek out overwinter habitat. N‐mixture modelling examination of habitat use demonstrated that once in shallow lake environments, juvenile coho were widely distributed across a range of microhabitats, with some evidence for preference for shallower depths and warmer water temperatures.
Diagnostic potential of hepcidin testing in pediatrics
Authors: Cangemi Giuliana , Pistorio Angela , Miano Maurizio , Gattorno Marco , Acquila Maura , Bicocchi Maria Patrizia , Gastaldi Roberto , Riccardi Francesca , Gatti Cinzia , Fioredda Francesca , Calvillo Michaela , Melioli Giovanni , Martini Alberto , Dufour Carlo 
Published: February 2013

AbstractObjectivesHepcidin, a peptide hormone released by hepatocytes into circulation is the main regulator of dietary iron absorption and cellular iron release. Although commercial tests are available, assay harmonization for hepcidin has not been yet reached, making reference intervals and consequent clinical decisions still elusive for each assay and specific population. The aim of this study is to set up hepcidin measurement in pediatric age and to investigate its potential usefulness in the diagnosis and management of iron disorders in children.MethodsSerum hepcidin was measured by using an automated commercial immunoassay. Reference values were obtained from 86 healthy children. Hepcidin was then evaluated in 52 children with diseases where this hormone was expected to be differently regulated.ResultsHepcidin values were 43.6 ng/mL median; 32–52.7 1–3 q: in males and 36.4 ng/mL median; 28.5–45.7 1–3 q: in females (P = 0.039). Hepcidin was significantly higher in postpubertal normal females than in normal males. Hepcidin resulted up‐regulated in anemia of chronic disease of children affected by systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and decreased after treatment with anakinra, an anti‐interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist. In iron deficiency anemia patients on oral iron supplementation and in β‐thalassemia subjects, hepcidin levels were similar to those found in healthy subjects.ConclusionsThis study sets up reference values for pediatric population and shows that in normal controls serum hepcidin react differently to puberty in females vs. males. In addition, it suggests that serum hepcidin may discriminate microcytic inflammatory anemia of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis from iron deficiency anemia. Overall these findings may represent a helpful tool for future studies tailored to understand the role of hepcidin in management of iron disorders in children.