bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genotype‐by‐environment interactions underlie the expression of pre‐ and post‐copulatory sexually selected traits in guppies
Authors: Evans J. P. , Rahman M. M. , Gasparini C. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe role that genotype‐by‐environment interactions (GEIs) play in sexual selection has only recently attracted the attention of evolutionary biologists. Yet GEIs can have profound evolutionary implications by compromising the honesty of sexual signals, maintaining high levels of genetic variance underlying their expression and altering the patterns of genetic covariance among fitness traits. In this study, we test for GEIs in a highly sexually dimorphic freshwater fish, the guppy Poecilia reticulata. We conducted an experimental quantitative genetic study in which male offspring arising from a paternal half‐sibling breeding design were assigned to differing nutritional ‘environments’ (either high or low feed levels). We then determined whether the manipulation of diet quantity influenced levels of additive genetic variance and covariance for several highly variable and condition‐dependent pre‐ and post‐copulatory sexual traits. In accordance with previous work, we found that dietary limitation had strong phenotypic effects on numerous pre‐ and post‐copulatory sexual traits. We also report evidence for significant GEI for several of these traits, which in some cases (area of iridescence and sperm velocity) reflected a change in the rank order of genotypes across different nutritional environments (i.e. ecological crossover). Furthermore, we show that genetic correlations vary significantly between nutritional environments. Notably, a highly significant negative genetic correlation between iridescent coloration and sperm viability in the high food treatment broke down under dietary restriction. Taken together, these findings are likely to have important evolutionary implications for guppies; ecological crossover may influence sexual signal reliability in unstable (nutritional) environments and contribute towards the extreme levels of polymorphism in sexual traits typically reported for this species. Furthermore, the presence of environment‐specific genetic covariance suggests that trade‐offs measured in one environment may not be indicative of genetic constraints in others.
The Spanish Transition to Industrial Metabolism: Long‐Term Material Flow Analysis (1860–2010)
Authors: Infante‐Amate Juan , Soto David , Aguilera Eduardo , García‐Ruiz Roberto , Guzmán Gloria , Cid Antonio , González de Molina Manuel 
Published: March 2015

SummaryThe aim of this work is to reconstruct the main economy‐wide/material flow accounting indicators for the Spanish economy between 1860 and 2010. The main results indicate that from 1960 onward, the country saw a very rapid industrial transition based on the domestic extraction of quarry products and the import of fossil fuels and manufactured goods. Direct material consumption rose from 58.7 million tonnes (Mt) in 1860 to 570.2 Mt in 2010. In per capita terms, it rose from 2.76 tonnes per capita per year (t/cap/yr) to 11.61 t/cap/year. Of the decennial years studied in this article, a peak of 15.23 t/cap/yr occurs in the year 2000; the subsequent fall is explained by the crisis of 2008. Until 1930, Spain was a net exporter of resources, but since that year, and especially since 1960, it began to depend heavily on overseas resources. The physical trade balance per inhabitant in Spain was –0.01 t/cap/year in 1860 and today it is 2.45 t/cap/year. This process also reveals the change in consumption patterns, which became increasingly dependent on abiotic resources. In 1860, 98.1% of resources consumed was biomass, whereas today the figure is 16.2%. In all events, this article shows how, although the great transformation did not occur until 1960, before that date the country saw significant qualitative transformation, which did not involve relevant changes in the mobilization of resources.
Emergent Effects of Residential Lighting Choices: Prospects for Energy Savings
Authors: Hicks Andrea L. , Theis Thomas L. , Zellner Moira L. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryArtificial lighting has allowed the decoupling of human activities from natural daylight hours. Electricity utilized for artificial lighting accounts for 18.8% of U.S. electricity consumption. Compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and light‐emitting diode (LED) options are more efficient and have longer lifetimes than conventional incandescent bulbs, but the question remains about the actual energy savings likely to be realized through more efficient lighting delivery systems. This uncertainty influences the rate of adoption and use of efficient lighting technology (and thus the extent and time lags of efficiency gains). Once adopted, gains in efficiency can lead to rebound effects that eliminate these gains and, paradoxically, lock society into increased use of energy. In this study, an agent‐based model and complex systems approach is used to understand how available information and perceptions of different lighting options influence adoption and use, and the potential impact of the rebound effect to reduce the energy savings of energy‐efficient lighting options in a residential setting. Individual households and their decisions are modeled to create overall population‐level consumption data. The multifunctionality of LED lighting may cause consumers to use significantly more light, creating the potential for both rebound and backfire to occur. The results indicate that the adoption of CFL and LED lighting will decrease residential energy consumption if consumers continue to use the same amount or slightly more light; however, when an expansion of lit spaces is included or a large increase in lighting usage occurs, energy consumption will increase and, over time, reduce or completely erode energy savings.
Autonomy's impact on newcomer proactive behaviour and socialization: A needs–supplies fit perspective
Authors: Yu Kang Yang T. , Davis Hunter M. 
Published: March 2015

This study investigates newcomer proactive behaviour through the lens of person–environment (PE) fit theory. Two competing theories of autonomy‐based needs–supplies (NS) fit were hypothesized to impact both newcomer proactive behaviours and socialization outcomes. Results from two waves of data collected from organizational newcomers indicate support for a self‐regulatory form of relationship, where individuals engaged in different types of proactive behaviours most often when organizational supplies for autonomy did not match their personal needs. Specific types of proactive behaviours including feedback seeking, positive framing, general socializing, networking, and information seeking also mediated the impact ofNSmisfit onto certain socialization outcomes. Much can still be learnt aboutPEfit and proactive behaviours through further integration of ideas from both fields of research.Practitioner pointsEmployers need to understand which types of proactive behaviours to encourage in newcomers in order for them to become active contributors in their new organizational settings.Employers looking to manage newcomer proactive behaviours through autonomy need to carefully manage the amount of autonomy provided relative to individual needs for autonomy.
Influence of Different Information Presentation Formats on Consumer Acceptability: The Case of Goat Milk Presented as Obtained from Different Rearing Systems
Authors: Musto M. , Cardinale D. , Lucia P. , Faraone D. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe present study aimed to evaluate whether information about the main aspects related to milk production practices adopted in the two major systems of small ruminant farming (i.e., intensive and semi‐extensive rearing systems) can affect consumer acceptability of two different types of goat milk: semi‐skimmed and whole milk. Four milk‐information combinations were evaluated in two experiments, which differed for the information presentation formats (i.e., textual description versus video with narration). Information about semi‐extensive rearing system had a high positive effect on milk liking, especially in video‐with‐narration condition. Moreover, this information presentation format generated higher hedonic expectations for milk presented as obtained from intensive rearing system than did textual description only. We conclude that information about some farming practices related to milk production may be important for helping consumers to make informed food choices, especially when conveying it by a video‐with‐narration format.Practical ApplicationsThe disclosure of information about livestock production practices is important for shortening the distance between those who produce food and their consumers. Illustrating such information may help consumers to understand how food is produced and, hence, to build their trust in food production. Our results show that video with narration seems to be an effective presentation format for conveying such information. In a purchase situation, this may be achieved via the Internet, for instance, by voluntarily printing a matrix barcode on a food label. When scanned by a smartphone, the barcode can direct the smartphone to display a video, text or other information, which may help consumers to make more informed food choices. The adoption of this strategy may contribute to differentiate animal products from farms aimed at boosting their transparency in the global market of food.
Risk Assessment of Negative Sensory Effects in Product Development Using the Benchmark Dose (BMD) Methodology for Continuous Data
Authors: Kuesten Carla , Bi Jian 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe Benchmark Dose (BMD) methodology is a statistical tool for quantitative risk assessment. It has been developed as an alternative to the approach of “no observed adverse effect level” or “lowest observed adverse effect level” during the last decades in many scientific fields for risk assessment. Because risk is various and ubiquitous, the BMD methodology has potential applications in the food science field for risk assessment of negative sensory effects in product development and sensory and consumer research. This paper discusses the BMD analysis in a product development effort using ratings data and Thurstonian discriminal d′ data.Practical ApplicationsRisk assessment of negative sensory effects in product development using the Benchmark Dose (BMD) methodology has two major objectives. One objective is to determine an appropriate change of ingredient for a product at an allowed risk. The second objective is to assess the risk of negative sensory effects associated with a particular change. The well‐developed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Benchmark Dose Modeling Software (BMDS) and the R/S‐Plus codes developed and provided in the paper can be used for BMD analysis.
Molecular identification of black‐pigmented bacteria from subgingival samples of cats suffering from periodontal disease
Authors: Pérez‐Salcedo L. , Laguna E. , Sánchez M. C. , Marín M. J. , O‘Connor A. , González I. , Sanz M. , Herrera D. 
Published: March 2015

OBJECTIVESTo characterise the black‐pigmented bacterial species found in the subgingival samples of cats with periodontal disease using molecular‐based microbiological techniques.METHODSSixty‐five subgingival samples obtained from 50 cats with periodontal disease were analysed by polymerase chain reaction amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis and cloning and sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes.RESULTSAmong the 65 subgingival samples, eight phylogenetic profiles were obtained, of which the most prevalent species were: Porphyromonas gulae (40%), P. gingivalis/P. gulae (36 · 9%), P. gulae/Porphyromonas sp. UQD 406 (9 · 2%), Odoribacter denticanis (6 · 2%), P. gulae/Porphyromonas sp. UQD 348 (1 · 5%) and P. circumdentaria (1 · 5%). When compared with the species resulting from biochemical diagnosis, the identification of P. gulae was congruent in 70% of the cases, while colonies identified as P. intermedia‐like corresponded in 80% of cases to P. gulae.CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEThe use of molecular‐based microbiological diagnostic techniques resulted in a predominance of Porphyromonas spp. in the subgingival plaque of cats suffering from periodontal disease. Further characterisation of these bacteria identified P. gulae, O. denticanis and P. circumdentaria. The more frequently detected phylogenetic profiles corresponded to P. gingivalis and P. gulae.
Hispanic parents’ experiences of the process of caring for a child undergoing routine surgery: A focus on pain and pain management
Authors: Olshansky Ellen , Zender Robynn , Kain Zeev N. , Rosales Alvina , Guadarrama Josue , Fortier Michelle A. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractPurposeThe purpose was to understand the processes Hispanic parents undergo in managing postoperative care of children after routine surgical procedures.Design and MethodsSixty parents of children undergoing outpatient surgery were interviewed. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology.ResultsParents experienced five subprocesses that comprised the overall process of caring for a child after routine surgery: (a) becoming informed; (b) preparing; (c) seeking reassurance; (d) communicating with one's child; and (e) making pain management decisions.Practice ImplicationsAddressing cultural factors related to pain management in underserved families may instill greater confidence in managing pain.
An outbreak of hepatitis E in an urban area of Bangladesh
Authors: Haque F. , Banu S. S. , Ara K. , Chowdhury I. A. , Chowdhury S. A. , Kamili S. , Rahman M. , Luby S. P. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryWe investigated an outbreak of jaundice in urban Bangladesh in 2010 to examine the cause and risk factors and assess the diagnostic utility of commercial assays. We classified municipal residents reporting jaundice during the preceding 4 weeks as probable hepatitis E cases and their neighbours without jaundice in the previous 6 months as probable controls. We tested the sera collected from probable cases and probable controls for IgM anti‐hepatitis E virus (HEV), and the IgM‐negative sera for IgG anti‐HEV using a commercial assay locally. We retested the IgM‐positive sera for both IgM and IgG anti‐HEV using another assay at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA. Probable cases positive for IgM anti‐HEV were confirmed cases; probable controls negative for both IgM and IgG anti‐HEV were confirmed controls. We explored the local water supply and sanitation infrastructure and tested for bacterial concentration of water samples. Probable cases were more likely than probable controls to drink tap water (adjusted odds ratio: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.2–9.2). Fifty‐eight percentage (36/62) of the case sera were IgM anti‐HEV positive; and 75% of the IgM‐positive samples were confirmed positive on retesting with another assay at CDC. Compared to confirmed controls, cases confirmed using either or both assays also identified drinking tap water as the risk factor. Two tap water samples had detectable thermotolerant coliforms. Research exploring decentralized water treatment technologies for sustainable safe water might prevent HEV transmission in resource‐poor cities. Detection of serological markers in a majority of probable cases implied that available diagnostic assays could adequately identify HEV infection during outbreaks.
Extinct isotope heterogeneities in the mantles of Earth and Mars: Implications for mantle stirring rates
Authors: Jacobsen Stein B. , Yu Gang 
Published: March 2015

AbstractHeterogeneities in terrestrial samples for 182W/183W and 142Nd/144Nd are only preserved in Hadean and Archean rocks while heterogeneities in 129Xe/130Xe and 136Xe/130Xe persist to very young mantle‐derived rocks. In contrast, meteorites from Mars show that the Martian mantle preserves heterogeneities in 182W/183W and 142Nd/144Nd up to the present. As a consequence of the probable “deep magma ocean” core formation process, we assume that the Earth and Mars both had a very early two‐mantle‐reservoir structure with different initial extinct nuclide isotopic compositions (different 182W/183W, 142Nd/144Nd, 129Xe/130Xe, 136Xe/130Xe ratios). Based on this assumption, we developed a simple stochastic model to trace the evolution of a mantle with two initially distinct layers for the extinct isotopes and its development into a heterogeneous mantle by convective mixing and stretching of these two layers. Using the extinct isotope system 182Hf‐182W, we find that the mantles of Earth and Mars exhibit substantially different mixing or stirring rates. This is consistent with Mars having cooled faster than the Earth due to its smaller size, resulting in less efficient mantle mixing for Mars. Moreover, the mantle stirring rate obtained for Earth using 182Hf‐182W is consistent with the mantle stirring rate of ~500 Myr constrained by the long‐lived isotope system, 87Rb‐87Sr and 147Sm‐143Nd. The apparent absence of 182W/183W isotopic heterogeneity in modern terrestrial rocks is attributed to very active mantle stirring which reduced the 182W/183W isotopic heterogeneity to a relatively small scale (~83 m for a mantle stirring rate of 500 Myr) compared to the common sampling scale of terrestrial basalts (~30 or 100 km). Our results also support the “deep magma ocean” core formation model as being applicable to both Mars and Earth.
More similarities than differences between men and women with irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Björkman I. , Jakobsson Ung E. , Ringström G. , Törnblom H. , Simrén M. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBackgroundDifferences regarding symptoms, coping abilities, and quality of life (QOL) between men and women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been reported but data are sparse and sometimes conflicting. The aim of present study was to investigate gender differences in gastrointestinal, extra‐intestinal, and psychological symptoms, and sense of coherence (SOC) and QOL in a large group of patients diagnosed with IBS.MethodsWe analyzed questionnaire data from 557 patients (152 men) diagnosed with IBS consecutively included in studies at an outpatient clinic for functional bowel disorders between 2002 and 2010. Following questionnaires were included: IBS severity scoring system (IBS‐SSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), IBSQOL Scale, Visceral Sensitivity Index (VSI), SOC Scale, Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐15).Key ResultsWomen had harder stools (FDR‐adjusted p‐value: q = 0.033), more severe bloating (q = 0.020), higher symptom severity (q = 0.042), higher total somatic symptom burden (q = 0.035), lower SOC (q = 0.042), and lower QOL. Women rated more general anxiety (q = 0.017) and gastrointestinal‐specific anxiety (q = 0.042), but there were no group differences in depression, pain, stool frequency, impact on daily life, dissatisfaction with bowel habit, or extra‐colonic symptoms. The differences found were small (effect sizes: r < 0.3).Conclusions & InferencesIn this study, we demonstrated more similarities than differences between men and women with IBS. The largest difference were seen for QOL which might reflect certain structural stressors to which women in general are more exposed than men.
Plastic expression of heterochrony quantitative trait loci (hQTLs) for leaf growth in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Authors: Jiang Libo , Clavijo Jose A. , Sun Lidan , Zhu Xuli , Bhakta Mehul S. , Gezan Salvador A. , Carvalho Melissa , Vallejos C. Eduardo , Wu Rongling 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Heterochrony, that is, evolutionary changes in the relative timing of developmental events and processes, has emerged as a key concept that links evolution and development. Genes associated with heterochrony encode molecular components of developmental timing mechanisms. However, our understanding of how heterochrony genes alter the expression of heterochrony in response to environmental changes remains very limited.

We applied functional mapping to find quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for growth trajectories of leaf area and leaf mass in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) grown in two contrasting environments.

We identified three major QTLs pleiotropically expressed under the two environments. Further characterization of the temporal pattern of these QTLs indicates that they are heterochrony QTLs (hQTLs) in terms of their role in influencing four heterochronic parameters: the timing of the inflection point, the timing of maximum acceleration and deceleration, and the duration of linear growth. The pattern of gene action by the hQTLs on each parameter was unique, being environmentally dependent and varying between two allometrically related leaf growth traits.

These results provide new insights into the complexity of genetic mechanisms that control trait formation in plants and provide novel findings that will be of use in studying the evolutionary trends.
Sex‐biased gene expression in dioecious garden asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)
Authors: Harkess Alex , Mercati Francesco , Shan Hong‐Yan , Sunseri Francesco , Falavigna Agostino , Leebens‐Mack Jim 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Sex chromosomes have evolved independently in phylogenetically diverse flowering plant lineages. The genes governing sex determination in dioecious species remain unknown, but theory predicts that the linkage of genes influencing male and female function will spur the origin and early evolution of sex chromosomes. For example, in an XY system, the origin of an active Y may be spurred by the linkage of female suppressing and male promoting genes.

Garden asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) serves as a model for plant sex chromosome evolution, given that it has recently evolved an XX/XY sex chromosome system. In order to elucidate the molecular basis of gender differences and sex determination, we used RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐Seq) to identify differentially expressed genes between female (XX), male (XY) and supermale (YY) individuals.

We identified 570 differentially expressed genes, and showed that significantly more genes exhibited male‐biased than female‐biased expression in garden asparagus. In the context of anther development, we identified genes involved in pollen microspore and tapetum development that were specifically expressed in males and supermales.

Comparative analysis of genes in the Arabidopsis thaliana, Zea mays and Oryza sativa anther development pathways shows that anther sterility in females probably occurs through interruption of tapetum development before microspore meiosis.
Change of a conserved amino acid in the MYC2 and MYC3 transcription factors leads to release of JAZ repression and increased activity
Authors: Goossens Jonas , Swinnen Gwen , Vanden Bossche Robin , Pauwels Laurens , Goossens Alain 
Published: March 2015

Summary

The bHLH transcription factor MYC2, together with its paralogues MYC3 and MYC4, is a master regulator of the response to the jasmonate (JA) hormone in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). In the absence of JA, JASMONATE ZIM (JAZ) proteins interact with the MYC proteins to block their activity. Understanding of the mechanism and specificity of this interaction is key to unravel JA signalling.

We generated mutant MYC proteins and assessed their activity and the specificity of their interaction with the 12 Arabidopsis JAZ proteins.

We show that the D94N mutation present in the atr2D allele of MYC3 abolishes the interaction between MYC3 and most JAZ proteins. The same effect is observed when the corresponding conserved Asp (D105) was mutated in MYC2. Accordingly, MYC2D105N activated target genes in the presence of JAZ proteins, in contrast to wild‐type MYC2. JAZ1 and JAZ10 were the only JAZ proteins still showing interaction with the mutant MYC proteins, due to a second MYC interaction domain, besides the classical Jas domain.

Our results visualize the divergence among JAZ proteins in their interaction with MYC proteins. Ultimately, the transferability of the Asp‐to‐Asn amino acid change might facilitate the design of hyperactive transcription factors for plant engineering.