bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nutritional stress causes male-biased sex ratios in eastern spruce budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
Authors: Quezada-García Roberto , Pureswaran Deepa , Bauce Éric 
Published: February 2014

AbstractNutritional variability in resources may cause differential mortality between sexes resulting in biased sex ratios. If males and females differ in fitness, then mortality of the more sensitive sex can cause a bias in sex ratios, and can stimulate dispersion of males. We reared three generations of spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens); Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on two artificial diets: a “normal” diet that provided all nutritional requirements for development and a “stress” diet (deficient in sugars and slightly higher in nitrogen), that simulated deterioration of food quality during outbreak conditions and had a detrimental impact on larval survival, development and growth. We tested the effects of continued nutritional stress on the sex ratio of pupae and adults. We found biased sex ratios in favour of males related to diet. Low quality food resulted in fewer females. This distortion was observed from the second generation onward, with a lower percentage of females reaching the pupal and adult stage. These results provide evidence that nutritional variation causes differential mortality between sexes, suggesting that females are more sensitive to nutritional stress. This is the first study that demonstrates sex ratio distortion due to nutritional selection pressure in spruce budworm. Our results indicate the importance of studying sex ratio distortion of spruce budworm in outbreak conditions.
New findings on life history traits ofXenos peckii(Strepsiptera: Xenidae)
Authors: Hrabar M. , Danci A. , McCann S. , Schaefer P.W. , Gries G. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractWe studied life history traits ofXenos peckiiKirby (Strepsiptera: Xenidae), a little-known parasite of the paper waspPolistes fuscatus(Fabricus) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in North America. We field-collected 24 wasp nests in early July 2012, isolated parasitised wasps, tracked life history events ofX. peckii, and recorded such behaviour as emergence of males and mating by normal-speed and high-speed cinematography. To emerge, males first cut the puparium with their mandibles along an ecdysial suture line, and then push aside the pupal cap during emergence. The endoparasitic females engage in active calling (pheromone release) behaviour by slowly inflating their cephalothorax, and then extruding it even farther out of, and tilting it away from, the host wasp abdomen. Seasonal and diel (afternoon) emergence periods of males coincide with seasonal and diel receptivity and calling periods of females. Males approach calling females in a swaying flight with smooth turns. They typically land on the anterior portion of the host wasp's abdomen, and then step backward until they make contact with the cephalothorax of the female. As soon as their mesothoracic legs contact the female's cephalothorax, they curl around it, and the male initiates mating. Thereafter, the female fully retreats and never re-mates.
Ocular Surface Cytotoxicity and Safety Evaluation of Tafluprost, a Recently Developed Anti-Glaucoma Prostaglandin Analog
Authors: Niwano Yoshimi , Iwasawa Atsuo , Ayaki Masahiko 
Published: February 2014

In vitro cytotoxicity of tafluprost, which is the most recently developed anti-glaucoma prostaglandin (PG) analog, in ocular surface cells is addressed in comparison with other PG analogs. Irrespective of cell lines and models, the cytotoxicity of anti-glaucoma PG eyedrops was primarily related to the concentration of benzalkonium chloride (BAK) contained in the eyedrops as a preservative. Accordingly, preservative-free tafluprost was apparently less cytotoxic than BAK-preserved PG analogs. Furthermore, our study for cytotoxicity assays on ocular cells, conducted by comprehensive investigations covering a variety of concentrations and treatment times, which is termed the cell viability score (CVS) system, demonstrated that 0.001% BAK-preserved tafluprost was not cytotoxic, and suggested that tafluprost may even reduce the cytotoxic effect of BAK. It has been reported that adverse reactions associated with tafluprost in healthy human volunteers and patients with glaucoma include conjunctival hyperemia, eyelid pigmentation, eyelash bristles, and deepening of upper eyelid sulcus. Nonetheless, most clinical studies have demonstrated that not only preservative-free tafluprost but also BAK-preserved tafluprost is well tolerated and safe in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
Intimate partner violence and HIV infection among women: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Ying , Marshall Caitlin M , Rees Hilary C , Nunez Annabelle , Ezeanolue Echezona E , Ehiri John E 
Published: February 2014

IntroductionTo assess evidence of an association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV infection among women.MethodsMedline/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, EBSCO, Ovid, Cochrane HIV/AIDS Group's Specialized Register and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched up to 20 May 2013 to identify studies that examined the association between IPV and HIV infection in women. We included studies on women aged ≥15 years, in any form of sexually intimate relationship with a male partner.ResultsTwenty‐eight studies [(19 cross‐sectional, 5 cohorts and 4 case‐control studies) involving 331,468 individuals in 16 countries – the US (eight studies), South Africa (four studies), East Africa (10 studies), India (three studies), Brazil (one study) and multiple low‐income countries (two studies)] were included. Results were pooled using RevMan 5.0. To moderate effect estimates, we analyzed all data using the random effects model, irrespective of heterogeneity level. Pooled results of cohort studies indicated that physical IPV [pooled RR (95% CI): 1.22 (1.01, 1.46)] and any type of IPV [pooled RR (95% CI): 1.28 (1.00, 1.64)] were significantly associated with HIV infection among women. Results of cross‐sectional studies demonstrated significant associations of physical IPV with HIV infection among women [pooled OR (95% CI): 1.44 (1.10, 1.87)]. Similarly, results of cross‐sectional studies indicated that combination of physical and sexual IPV [pooled OR (95% CI): 2.00 (1.24, 3.22) and any type of IPV [pooled OR (95% CI): 1.41 (1.16, 1.73)] were significantly associated with HIV infection among women.ConclusionsAvailable evidence suggests a moderate statistically significant association between IPV and HIV infection among women. To further elucidate the strength of the association between IPV and HIV infection among women, there is a need for high‐quality follow‐up studies conducted in different geographical regions of the world, and among individuals of diverse racial/cultural backgrounds and varying levels of HIV risks.
Simulations of gravity wave‐induced variations of the OH(8,3), O2(0,1), and O(1S) airglow emissions in the MLT region
Authors: Huang Tai‐Yin , George Richard 
Published: February 2014

AbstractWe investigate gravity wave‐induced airglow intensity variations of the OH(8,3), O2(0,1) atmospheric band, and O(1S) greenline emissions in the mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT) region with two two‐dimensional, time‐dependent, nonlinear models—an OH Chemistry‐Dynamics model and a Multiple Airglow Chemistry‐Dynamics model. Our simulation results of the wave effects by a small‐scale 30 km wave packet show that it induces an ~22% secular increase in the OH(8,3) airglow intensity, a 30% increase in the O2(0,1) atmospheric band, and a 33% increase in the O(1S) greenline. The largest wave‐induced airglow intensity fluctuation amplitude is seen in the OH(8,3) emission (~2.4%), followed by the O2(0,1) atmospheric band and O(1S) greenline with comparable maximum wave‐induced airglow intensity fluctuation amplitudes of 1%. Our study also shows that the production of atmospheric bands and O(1S) strongly depends on the rate coefficients in the three‐body recombination reactions.
Mechanisms and timescales of fluvial activity at Mojave and other young Martian craters
Authors: Goddard Kate , Warner Nicholas H. , Gupta Sanjeev , Kim Jung‐Rack 
Published: February 2014

AbstractMojave Crater, and five other relatively young Late Hesperian to Amazonian‐age Martian craters exhibit channelized alluvial fans that are sourced from bedrock‐eroded catchments. These catchments emerge from the crests of sloping surfaces, suggesting a formation mechanism that involved precipitation. The evidence for fluvial activity at all six craters is restricted to their interiors and the immediate surrounding regions. Detailed mapping at Mojave reveals the highest density of channels, catchments and fans interior to the crater. Similar landforms are identified outside of the crater, but not beyond ~200 km from the rim. Irregular pits on the floor of Mojave, interpreted as degassing structures from hot impact melt, directly superpose several fan surfaces, and partly destroy the fan toes. This suggests that sediment was mobilized immediately after crater formation, while the crater was still hot. Based on the patterns and timing of channel‐fan development at all six craters we favor several hypotheses for the precipitation mechanism: (1) snowfall and melt on young, hot impact craters, (2) impact plume precipitation, and (3) degassing of volatiles from impact melt terrain. Scenario (1) suggests a different global or regional climate relative to modern conditions, requiring equatorial and midlatitude snowfall accumulation. Scenarios (2) and (3) do not necessarily require unique climate conditions, as water may have been mobilized from the target or the impactor.
Mortality, fertility, and the OY ratio in a model hunter–gatherer system
Authors: White Andrew A. 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTAn agent‐based model (ABM) is used to explore how the ratio of old to young adults (the OY ratio) in a sample of dead individuals is related to aspects of mortality, fertility, and longevity experienced by the living population from which the sample was drawn. The ABM features representations of rules, behaviors, and constraints that affect person‐ and household‐level decisions about marriage, reproduction, and infant mortality in hunter–gatherer systems. The demographic characteristics of the larger model system emerge through human‐level interactions playing out in the context of “global” parameters that can be adjusted to produce a range of mortality and fertility conditions. Model data show a relationship between the OY ratios of living populations (the living OY ratio) and assemblages of dead individuals drawn from those populations (the dead OY ratio) that is consistent with that from empirically known ethnographic hunter–gatherer cases. The dead OY ratio is clearly related to the mean ages, mean adult mortality rates, and mean total fertility rates experienced by living populations in the model. Sample size exerts a strong effect on the accuracy with which the calculated dead OY ratio reflects the actual dead OY ratio of the complete assemblage. These results demonstrate that the dead OY ratio is a potentially useful metric for paleodemographic analysis of changes in mortality and mean age, and suggest that, in general, hunter–gatherer populations with higher mortality, higher fertility, and lower mean ages are characterized by lower dead OY ratios. Am J Phys Anthropol 154:222–231, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Impact of a Food for Education Program on Schooling in Cambodia
Authors: Cheung Maria , Berlin Maria Perrotta 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThis study is an evaluation of the impact of a food for education program implemented in primary schools (grades 1–6) in six Cambodian provinces between 1999 and 2003. We find that school enrolment increased to varying degrees in relation to different designs of the intervention. We also investigate the effect of the program in terms of completed education and probability of having ever been in school, following up the affected cohorts in a 2009 survey. With an estimated cost of US$85 per additional child in school per year, the program can be considered very cost‐effective within a comparable class of interventions.
Preparation and up‐conversion luminescence properties of LaOBr:Yb3+/Er3+ nanofibers via electrospinning
Authors: Ma Wenwen , Yu Wensheng , Dong Xiangting , Wang Jinxian , Liu Guixia 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTLaOBr:Yb3+/Er3+ nanofibers were synthesized for the first time by calcinating electrospun PVP/[La(NO3)3 + Er(NO3)3 + Yb(NO3)3 + NH4Br] composites. The morphology and properties of the final products were investigated in detail using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), X‐ray diffractometry (XRD) and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicate that LaOBr:Yb3+/Er3+ nanofibers are tetragonal in structure with a space group of P4/nmm. The diameter of LaOBr:Yb3+/Er3+ nanofibers is ~ 147 nm. Under the excitation of a 980‐nm diode laser, LaOBr:Yb3+/Er3+ nanofibers emit strong green and red up‐conversion emission centering at 519, 541 and 667 nm, ascribed to the 2H11/2, 4S3/2 → 4I15/2 and 4 F9/2 → 4I15/2 energy‐level transitions of Er3+ ions, respectively. The up‐conversion luminescent mechanism of LaOBr:Yb3+/Er3+ nanofibers is advanced. Moreover, near‐infrared emission of LaOBr:Yb3+/Er3+ nanofibers is obtained under the excitation of a 532‐nm laser. The formation mechanism of LaOBr:Yb3+/Er3+ nanofibers is proposed. LaOBr:Yb3+/Er3+ nanofibers could be important up‐conversion luminescent materials. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Charge engineering of cellulases improves ionic liquid tolerance and reduces lignin inhibition
Authors: Nordwald Erik M. , Brunecky Roman , Himmel Michael E. , Beckham Gregg T. , Kaar Joel L. 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTWe report a novel approach to concurrently improve the tolerance to ionic liquids (ILs) as well as reduce lignin inhibition of Trichoderma reesei cellulase via engineering enzyme charge. Succinylation of the cellulase enzymes led to a nearly twofold enhancement in cellulose conversion in 15% (v/v) 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM][Cl]). The improvement in activity upon succinylation correlated with the apparent preferential exclusion of the [Cl] anion in fluorescence quenching assays. Additionally, modeling analysis of progress curves of Avicel hydrolysis in buffer indicated that succinylation had a negligible impact on the apparent KM of cellulase. As evidence of reducing lignin inhibition of T. reesei cellulase, succinylation resulted in a greater than twofold increase in Avicel conversion after 170 h in buffer with 1 wt% lignin. The impact of succinylation on lignin inhibition of cellulase further led to the reduction in apparent KM of the enzyme cocktail for Avicel by 2.7‐fold. These results provide evidence that naturally evolved cellulases with highly negative surface charge densities may similarly repel lignin, resulting in improved cellulase activity. Ultimately, these results underscore the potential of rational charge engineering as a means of enhancing cellulase function and thus conversion of whole biomass in ILs. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 1541–1549. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High‐performance liquid chromatography assay using ultraviolet detection for urinary quantification of milrinone concentrations in cardiac surgery patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Gavra Paul , Nguyen Anne Q. N. , Beauregard Natasha , Denault André Y. , Varin France 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTAn analytical assay using liquid–liquid extraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection was developed for the quantification of total (conjugated and unconjugated) urinary concentrations of milrinone after the inhalation of a 5 mg dose in 15 cardiac patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. Urine samples (700 μL) were extracted with ethyl‐acetate and subsequently underwent acid back‐extraction before and after deconjugation by mild acid hydrolysis. Milrinone was separated on a strong cation exchange analytical column. The mobile phase consisted of a constant mixture of acetonitrile:tetrahydrofurane–NaH2PO4 buffer (40:60 v/v, pH 3.0). Thirteen calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of 31.25–4000 ng/mL, using olprinone as the internal standard (r2 range 0.9911–0.9999, n = 13). Mean milrinone recovery and accuracy were respectively 85.2 ± 3.1% and ≥93%. Intra‐ and inter‐day precisions (coefficients of variation) were ≤5% and ≤8%, respectively. Over a 24 h collection period, the cumulative urinary milrinone recovered from 15 patients was 26.1 ± 7.7% of the nominal 5 mg dose administered. The relative amount of milrinone glucuronic acid conjugate was negligible in the urine of patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass This method proved to be reliable, specific and accurate to determine the cumulative amount of total milrinone recovered in urine after inhalation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stereoselective analysis of flecainide enantiomers using reversed‐phase liquid chromatography for assessing CYP2D6 activity
Authors: Doki Kosuke , Sekiguchi Yukio , Kuga Keisuke , Aonuma Kazutaka , Kohda Yukinao , Homma Masato 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTStereoselective analyses of flecainide enantiomers were performed using reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a polysaccharide‐based chiral column (Chiralpak AS‐RH) and fluorescence detector. Excitation and emission wavelengths were set at 300 and 370 nm, respectively. Flecainide enantiomers in serum and urine were extracted using diethyl ether. The mobile phase solution, comprising 0.1 m potassium hexafluorophosphate and acetonitrile (65:35, v/v), was pumped at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The recoveries of flecainide enantiomers were greater than 94%, with the coefficients of variation (CVs) <6%. The calibration curves of flecainide enantiomers in serum and urine were linear in the concentration range 5–500 ng/mL and 0.75–15 µg/mL (r > 0.999), respectively. CVs in intra‐day and inter‐day assays were 1.8–5.8 and 3.4–7.5%, respectively. In a pharmacokinetic study, the ratios of (S)‐ to (R)‐flecainide (S/R ratio) in the area under the curve and the amount of flecainide enantiomers excreted in urine were lower in a subject carrying CYP2D6*10/*10 than in subjects carrying CYP2D6*1/*2. The S/R ratio of trough serum flecainide concentration ranged from 0.79 to 1.16 in patients receiving oral flecainide. The present HPLC method can be used to assess hepatic flecainide metabolism in a pharmacokinetic study and therapeutic drug monitoring. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genome‐wide polygenic scoring for a 14‐year long‐term average depression phenotype
Authors: Chang Shun‐Chiao , Glymour M. Maria , Walter Stefan , Liang Liming , Koenen Karestan C. , Tchetgen Eric J. , Cornelis Marilyn C. , Kawachi Ichiro , Rimm Eric , Kubzansky Laura D. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBackgroundDespite moderate heritability estimates for depression‐related phenotypes, few robust genetic predictors have been identified. Potential explanations for this discrepancy include the use of phenotypic measures taken from a single time point, rather than integrating information over longer time periods via multiple assessments, and the possibility that genetic risk is shaped by multiple loci with small effects.MethodsWe developed a 14‐year long‐term average depression measure based on 14 years of follow‐up in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS; N = 6989 women). We estimated polygenic scores (PS) with internal whole‐genome scoring (NHS‐GWAS‐PS). We also constructed PS by applying two external PS weighting algorithms from independent samples, one previously shown to predict depression (GAIN‐MDD‐PS) and another from the largest genome‐wide analysis currently available (PGC‐MDD‐PS). We assessed the association of all three PS with our long‐term average depression phenotype using linear, logistic, and quantile regressions.ResultsIn this study, the three PS approaches explained at most 0.2% of variance in the long‐term average phenotype. Quantile regressions indicated PS had larger impacts at higher quantiles of depressive symptoms. Quantile regression coefficients at the 75th percentile were at least 40% larger than at the 25th percentile in all three polygenic scoring algorithms. The interquartile range comparison suggested the effects of PS significantly differed at the 25th and 75th percentiles of the long‐term depressive phenotype for the PGC‐MDD‐PS (P = 0.03), and this difference also reached borderline statistical significance for the GAIN‐MDD‐PS (P = 0.05).ConclusionsIntegrating multiple phenotype assessments spanning 14 years and applying different polygenic scoring approaches did not substantially improve genetic prediction of depression. Quantile regressions suggested the effects of PS may be largest at high quantiles of depressive symptom scores, presumably among people with additional, unobserved sources of vulnerability to depression.
Phase II trial of sorafenib and erlotinib in advanced pancreatic cancer
Authors: Cardin Dana B. , Goff Laura , Li Chung‐I , Shyr Yu , Winkler Charles , DeVore Russell , Schlabach Larry , Holloway Melanie , McClanahan Pam , Meyer Krista , Grigorieva Julia , Berlin Jordan , Chan Emily 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThis trial was designed to assess efficacy and safety of erlotinib with sorafenib in the treatment of patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. An exploratory correlative study analyzing pretreatment serum samples using a multivariate protein mass spectrometry‐based test (VeriStrat®), previously shown to correlate with outcomes in lung cancer patients treated with erlotinib, was performed. Patients received sorafenib 400 mg daily along with erlotinib 150 mg daily with a primary endpoint of 8‐week progression free survival (PFS) rate. Pretreatment serum sample analysis by VeriStrat was done blinded to clinical and outcome data; the endpoints were PFS and overall survival (OS). Difference between groups (by VeriStrat classification) was assessed using log‐rank P values; hazard ratios (HR) were obtained from Cox proportional hazards model. Thirty‐six patients received study drug and were included in the survival analysis. Eight‐week PFS rate of 46% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.32–0.67) did not meet the primary endpoint of a rate ≥70%. Thirty‐two patients were included in the correlative analysis, and VeriStrat “Good” patients had superior PFS (HR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.06–0.57; P = 0.001) and OS (HR = 0.31 95% CI: 0.13–0.77, P = 0.008) compared to VeriStrat “Poor” patients. Grade 3 toxicities of this regimen included fever, anemia, diarrhea, dehydration, rash, and altered liver function. This study did not meet the primary endpoint, and this combination will not be further pursued. In this small retrospective analysis, the proteomic classification was significantly associated with clinical outcomes and is being further evaluated in ongoing studies.