bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Low prevalence of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults in northern India
Authors: Sachan A. , Zaidi G. , Sahu R. P. , Agrawal S. , Colman P. G. , Bhatia E. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAimTo study the frequency of islet antibodies in a large cohort of clinic‐ and community‐based patients with Type 2 diabetes in northern India.MethodsWe measured glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies in 618 adults with Type 2 diabetes (378 patients with diabetes attending a hospital clinic, 240 patients diagnosed in a community survey) and in 192 healthy subjects residing in north India. Islet antigen 2 (IA2) antibodies were also studied in a proportion of the patients with diabetes (n = 492) and in a control population (n = 191). GAD and IA2 antibodies were measured by immunoprecipitation of the respective 35S‐labelled recombinant antigen.ResultsWe found that GAD antibodies were present in nine (1.5%) patients with diabetes (clinic population: 0.8%, community study: 2.5%), a prevalence similar to that among the subjects without diabetes (n = 2; 1%). IA2 antibodies were detected in seven patients with Type 2 diabetes (1.4%) and in two healthy control subjects (1.0%). The frequency of either GAD or IA2 antibodies was similar in people with and without diabetes (3.2 vs 2.1%). No subject was found to have both antibodies. Insulin requirement was higher among antibody‐positive than among antibody‐negative patients (GAD antibody: 33 vs 6.3%; P = 0.001; GAD or IA2 antibody: 23.1 vs 6.4%; P = 0.02); however, other clinical features were similar in the two groups.ConclusionsIn the present north‐Indian population with Type 2 diabetes, the overall prevalence of GAD antibodies and the prevalence of either GAD or IA2 antibodies were considerably lower than those reported in white European populations.
Increased risk of ischaemic stroke among patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Tseng C.‐H. , Huang W.‐S. , Lin C.‐L. , Chang Y.‐J. 
Published: November 2014

Background and purposeInflammatory processes including autoimmune diseases which ignite endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis may promote development of cardiovascular diseases including ischaemic stroke. This study aimed to evaluate whether multiple sclerosis (MS) increases stroke risk.MethodsA national insurance claim data set of 22 million enrollees in Taiwan was used to identify 1174 patients with MS and 4696 randomly selected age‐ and gender‐matched controls from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2010. Both cohorts were followed up until the occurrence of stroke or censor. Relevant covariates, such as age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and pregnancy, were included for further survey. The hazard ratio (HR) of stroke was assessed using a Cox proportional hazards regression model.ResultsAfter adjusting for the relevant covariates, the MS cohort had an increased risk of stroke (adjusted HR = 12.1 for 1 year; adjusted HR = 4.69 for 2–5 years) compared with the control cohort within 5 years of follow‐up. Amongst participants without comorbidities, the MS cohort was still at a greater stroke risk than the control cohort [HR 4.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.85–8.55]. Moreover, in the population aged ≤40, MS was associated with a significantly increased risk of stroke (HR 12.7, 95% CI 3.44–46.7).ConclusionsMultiple sclerosis is declared to be associated with an increased risk in developing stroke, which requires closer attention to this group of patients for stroke prevention, especially in the younger population.
Enantioselective pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic analysis of two chiral CNS‐active carbamate derivatives of valproic acid
Authors: Shekh‐Ahmad Tawfeeq , Mawasi Hafiz , McDonough John H. , Finnell Richard H. , Wlodarczyk Bogdan J. , Yavin Eylon , Bialer Meir 
Published: November 2014

SummaryObjective2‐Ethyl‐3‐methylbutyl‐carbamate (EMC) and 2‐isopropylpentyl‐carbamate (IPC) are among the most potent anticonvulsant carbamate derivatives of valproic acid. EMC and IPC are chiral compounds. Consequently, the aim of the current study was to comparatively evaluate the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD anticonvulsant activity) profile of EMC and IPC individual enantiomers.MethodsThe anticonvulsant activity of EMC and IPC individual enantiomers was evaluated in several anticonvulsant rodent models including maximal electroshock (MES), 6 Hz psychomotor, subcutaneous (pentylenetetrazole) (scMet), and the pilocarpine‐induced and soman‐induced status epilepticus (SE). The PK–PD relationship of EMC and IPC individual enantiomers was evaluated following intraperitoneal administration (50 mg/kg) to rats. Induction of neural tube defects (NTDs) was evaluated in a mouse strain that was highly susceptible to teratogen‐induced NTDs.ResultsIn mice and rats, (2S)‐EMC exhibited anticonvulsant activity similar to that of racemic EMC in the MES and scMet tests, whereas in the 6 Hz test, racemic EMC was more potent than its two individual enantiomers. Racemic EMC exhibited a potent activity in the soman‐induced SE model when administered 5 and 20 min after seizure onset with median effective dose (ED50) values of 33 and 48 mg/kg, respectively. (2R)‐IPC and (2S)‐IPC exhibited ED50 values similar to those of racemic IPC in the mouse and rat MES and scMet models. (2R)‐IPC had similar ED50 values on the 6 Hz tests. Racemic IPC had an ED50 value of 107 mg/kg in the pilocarpine‐induced SE model when given 30 min after seizure onset. Racemic EMC and IPC and their enantiomers had similar clearance (3.8–5.5 L/h/kg) and short half‐life (<1 h). EMC and its enantiomers did not cause NTDs at doses 3–10 times higher than their anticonvulsant ED50 values.SignificanceEMC and IPC did not exhibit enantioselective PK, a fact that may contribute to their nonenantioselective activity in any of the anticonvulsant models. The nonsignificant difference between racemic EMC and racemic IPC and their enantiomers, suggests that their wide spectrum of anticonvulsant activity is likely to be caused by multiple mechanisms of action.
Marine capture fisheries in the Arctic: winners or losers under climate change and ocean acidification?
Authors: Lam Vicky W Y , Cheung William W L , Sumaila U Rashid 
Published: December 2014

AbstractClimate change, ocean acidification (OA) and the subsequent changes in marine productivity may affect fisheries and eventually the whole economy in the Arctic. We analysed how changes in climate and ocean pH under scenarios of anthropogenic CO2 emissions are likely to affect the economics of marine fisheries in the Arctic. We applied a Dynamic Bioclimate Envelope Model (DBEM) and outputs from four different Earth System Models (ESMs) to project future changes in the distribution and maximum catch potential of exploited marine fishes and invertebrates. We projected that total fisheries revenue in the Arctic region may increase by 39% (14–59%) by 2050 relative to 2000 under the Special Reports on Emission Scenario (SRES) A2. Simultaneously, total fishing costs, fishers’ incomes, household incomes and economy‐wide impacts in the Arctic are also projected to increase. Climate change with OA is expected to reduce the potential increases in catch and the economic indicators studied herein. Although the projections suggest that Arctic countries are likely to be ‘winners’ under climate change in comparison with tropical developing countries, the effects of OA will lower the expected future benefits in the Arctic. The predicted impacts are likely to be conservative as we consider only the direct effects of OA on fishes and calcifiers, of which there are only a few in the Arctic. Results of this study would be useful for designing effective adaptation strategies to climate change and measures to mitigate the potential negative impacts of OA in the Arctic.
Financial Wellness and Relationship Satisfaction: Does Communication Mediate?
Authors: Wilmarth Melissa J. , Nielsen Robert B. , Futris Ted G. 
Published: December 2014

This research investigated if married couples' positive and negative communication patterns mediate the association between financial wellness and relationship satisfaction. Data were collected from married individuals in a southern state in 2007 (N = 515) and 2011 (N = 489). Guided by social exchange theory, structural equation models isolated the mediating effects of positive and negative communication patterns. In concert with a consistent and positive direct path from financial wellness to relationship satisfaction, financial wellness was positively associated with positive communication patterns and negatively associated with negative communication patterns. Although a mediating role for positive communication was not identified, negative communication patterns indicated full mediation with the 2007 sample and partial mediation with the 2011 sample. Implications for understanding the effects of finances and couple communication processes on relationship satisfaction are discussed.
Functional classifications and their application in phytoplankton ecology
Authors: Salmaso Nico , Naselli‐Flores Luigi , Padisák Judit 
Published: December 2014

Summary

Ecologists often group organisms based on similar biological traits or on taxonomic criteria. However, the use of taxonomy in ecology has many drawbacks because taxa may include species with very different ecological adaptations. Further, similar characters may evolve independently in different lineages.

In this review, we examine the main criteria that have been used in the identification of nine modes of classifying phytoplankton non‐taxonomically. These approaches are based purely on morphological and/or structural traits, or on more complex combinations including physiological and ecological features.

Different functional approaches have proved able to explain some fraction of the variance observed in the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of algal assemblages, although their effectiveness varies greatly, depending on the number and characteristics of functional traits used. The attribution of functional traits to single species or broad groups of species has allowed a few classifications (e.g. Functional Groups, FG) to be used in the assessment of ecological status.

We stress that the misuse of functional classifications (by applying them under conditions other than those intended) can have serious consequences for interpreting ecological processes. Assigning functional traits or groups cannot be considered a surrogate for the knowledge of species or ecotypes, and the use of specific traits must always be justified and circumscribed within the limits of ecological questions and hypotheses.

An important future challenge will be to integrate advances in molecular genetics, metabolomics and physiology with more conventional traits; this will form the basis of the next generation of functional classifications.
Habitat and species identity, not diversity, predict the extent of refuse consumption by urban arthropods
Authors: Youngsteadt Elsa , Henderson Ryanna C. , Savage Amy M. , Ernst Andrew F. , Dunn Robert R. , Frank Steven D. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractUrban green spaces provide ecosystem services to city residents, but their management is hindered by a poor understanding of their ecology. We examined a novel ecosystem service relevant to urban public health and esthetics: the consumption of littered food waste by arthropods. Theory and data from natural systems suggest that the magnitude and resilience of this service should increase with biological diversity. We measured food removal by presenting known quantities of cookies, potato chips, and hot dogs in street medians (24 sites) and parks (21 sites) in New York City, USA. At the same sites, we assessed ground‐arthropod diversity and abiotic conditions, including history of flooding during Hurricane Sandy 7 months prior to the study. Arthropod diversity was greater in parks (on average 11 hexapod families and 4.7 ant species per site), than in medians (nine hexapod families and 2.7 ant species per site). However, counter to our diversity‐based prediction, arthropods in medians removed 2–3 times more food per day than did those in parks. We detected no effect of flooding (at 19 sites) on this service. Instead, greater food removal was associated with the presence of the introduced pavement ant (Tetramorium sp. E) and with hotter, drier conditions that may have increased arthropod metabolism. When vertebrates also had access to food, more was removed, indicating that arthropods and vertebrates compete for littered food. We estimate that arthropods alone could remove 4–6.5 kg of food per year in a single street median, reducing its availability to less desirable fauna such as rats. Our results suggest that species identity and habitat may be more relevant than diversity for predicting urban ecosystem services. Even small green spaces such as street medians provide ecosystem services that may complement those of larger habitat patches across the urban landscape.
Intercontinental divergence in the climate envelope of major plant biomes
Authors: Moncrieff Glenn R. , Hickler Thomas , Higgins Steven I. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAimConvergent evolution and environmental filtering are assumed to often result in deterministic patterns of vegetation structure and function in relation to prevailing environmental conditions regardless of differences in evolutionary history among regions. We systematically evaluate the degree to which biomes located in different biogeographic realms converge in environmental space; identifying globally uniform entities and those diverging systematically among realms.LocationGlobal.MethodsTwo global biome distribution maps constructed using contrasting approaches are used to evaluate convergence in the environmental space occupied by biomes across biogeographic realms. Environmental conditions are summarized using nine climatic and two edaphic variables known to directly influence plant distributions. Biome maps are analysed accounting for differences in the availability of environments among realms.ResultsThe same biome located in two different realms often overlaps no more in environmental space than two altogether different biomes, with the average overlap on the two biome maps calculated using Schoener's D metric only 0.42 and 0.36. This suggests that the coarse structural and phenological characteristics used to define biomes conceal important differences in plant functioning and responses to environmental drivers. Nonetheless, some biomes, in particular savannas and boreal forests, show high overlap among realms. Others, like mediterranean‐type ecosystems and treeless biomes, often occur in vastly different regions of environmental space. Within most biomes though overlap varies greatly depending on the specific realms being compared, with historical biogeography and evolutionary history helping to explain this variation.Main conclusionsBiomes often occur under different environmental conditions when comparing regions with distinct evolutionary and environmental histories. The biome concept and efforts to model current and future vegetation patterns needs to be adapted to account for the role of history in determining how vegetation responds to environmental drivers and disturbance.
Energy use by migrants and residents in North American breeding bird communities
Authors: Fristoe Trevor S. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAimOf the order of 5 billion birds comprising more than 700,000 tonnes of biomass migrate across North America every year to exploit seasonal resource pulses at high latitudes during breeding. Despite this impressive scale, little is known about the metabolic role of these migrants in their breeding grounds across temperate ecosystems. I estimate the energy use of short‐ and long‐distance migrant passerines as well as residents in over 2000 breeding bird communities covering the geographic scope of North America. My aim was to characterize the geographic patterns of energy use by each migratory group and test the hypothesis that seasonal patterns of resource availability structure temperate breeding bird communities.LocationNorth America from 25 to 69° N.MethodsI estimated the energy use of migrant and resident passerines using abundance data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey and scaling relationships for field metabolic rate as a function of body size. Linear regression was used to test the relationship between energy use by each migratory group and latitude as well as indirect measures of environmental productivity during different seasons.ResultsEnergy use by all groups showed a strong relationship with latitude except for long‐distance migrants, which were surprisingly invariant across geography. Energy use by migrants was highest in environments with low winter productivity and high seasonality, while resident energy use was highest where annual productivity was the highest.Main conclusionsMigrant passerines contribute significantly to temperate breeding bird communities, especially in high latitudes. They account for 78% of consumption in habitats north of 50° N compared with 1.7% in the subtropics south of 35° N. Short‐distance migrants are especially important to community energy use in the habitats where migrants consume the most. Future shifts in breeding bird community composition are likely to occur as climate change alters seasonal cycles of resource availability.
Genetic and morphological characterization of Acroceras macrum Stapf
Authors: Ferrari Usandizaga S. C. , Brugnoli E. A. , Weiss A. I. , Zilli A. L. , Schedler M. , Pagano E. M. , Martínez E. J. , Acuña C. A. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAcroceras macrum is a warm‐season grass used for pastures, and it has high nutritive value. The scarce genetic and reproductive information about this grass is limiting its breeding for forage. The objective of this research was to determine the number of genotypes and cytotypes present in a collection established in Argentina, and to estimate the diversity of this species based on molecular markers, and morphological and agronomic characteristics. The number of genotypes among forty‐seven accessions was determined using ISSR markers. The identified genotypes were further characterized for ploidy levels. In addition, the genetic distances among them were estimated with ISSR markers. They were also propagated and planted into the field following a randomized complete block design with four replications, and a group of sixteen morphological and agronomic variables were evaluated. A total of twenty‐seven genotypes were identified in this collection; twenty‐two genotypes were tetraploid (2n = 4x = 36) and five were hexaploid (2n = 6x = 54). These two cytotypes were found clearly separated by both genetic and phenotypic characteristics. Above‐ground biomass, internode length, initial growth and number of spikelets per inflorescence were the most variable traits. The high diversity present in this collection will allow for the initiation of a breeding programme for A. macrum.
Time‐Lapse Electrical Geophysical Monitoring of Amendment‐Based Biostimulation
Authors: Johnson Timothy C. , Versteeg Roelof J. , Day‐Lewis Frederick D. , Major William , Lane John W. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractBiostimulation is increasingly used to accelerate microbial remediation of recalcitrant groundwater contaminants. Effective application of biostimulation requires successful emplacement of amendment in the contaminant target zone. Verification of remediation performance requires postemplacement assessment and contaminant monitoring. Sampling‐based approaches are expensive and provide low‐density spatial and temporal information. Time‐lapse electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is an effective geophysical method for determining temporal changes in subsurface electrical conductivity. Because remedial amendments and biostimulation‐related biogeochemical processes often change subsurface electrical conductivity, ERT can complement and enhance sampling‐based approaches for assessing emplacement and monitoring biostimulation‐based remediation.Field studies demonstrating the ability of time‐lapse ERT to monitor amendment emplacement and behavior were performed during a biostimulation remediation effort conducted at the Department of Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO) Yard, in Brandywine, Maryland, United States. Geochemical fluid sampling was used to calibrate a petrophysical relation in order to predict groundwater indicators of amendment distribution. The petrophysical relations were field validated by comparing predictions to sequestered fluid sample results, thus demonstrating the potential of electrical geophysics for quantitative assessment of amendment‐related geochemical properties. Crosshole radar zero‐offset profile and borehole geophysical logging were also performed to augment the data set and validate interpretation.In addition to delineating amendment transport in the first 10 months after emplacement, the time‐lapse ERT results show later changes in bulk electrical properties interpreted as mineral precipitation. Results support the use of more cost‐effective surface‐based ERT in conjunction with limited field sampling to improve spatial and temporal monitoring of amendment emplacement and remediation performance.
The information experience and learning needs of couples living with HIV in Malawi
Authors: Wella Kondwani 
Published: November 2014

AbstractIn this feature, guest writer Kondwani Wella presents an overview of his PhD – a study which investigated the information experience of serodiscordant couples with HIV and AIDS in Malawi. In particular, for this article, he considers the information behaviour of people who need HIV‐ and AIDS‐specific information and the role of the librarian in helping to deliver what is needed to support engagement in relevant learning.H.S.
Gelating and Drying Process of Aqueous Gelcasting Aluminum Nitride Ceramics
Authors: Guo Jian , Sun Yongjian , Qiu Tai , Xue Wang , Yang Haiyan 
Published: November 2014

In this study, aluminum nitride (AlN) ceramics were first prepared by aqueous gelcasting. The effect of various parameters such as concentration of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAA, as monomers), N,N′‐methylenbisacrylamide (MBAM, as cross‐linking agent), ammonium persulfate amount (APS, as initiator), solid content and polymerization temperature on AlN ceramics was discussed for aqueous gelcasting system. Finally, drying methods of aqueous gelcasting AlN green bodies were investigated. Aqueous gelcasting AlN ceramics, sintered at 1850°C for 4 h, had homogeneous grain size and little grain boundary phase, and the relative density, flexural strength and thermal conductivity of aqueous gelcasting AlN ceramics were 99.9%, 333(±10) MPa, 136(±9) W/(m·K), respectively.