bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Costs of crowding for the transmission of malaria parasites
Authors: Pollitt Laura. C. , Churcher Thomas S. , Dawes Emma J. , Khan Shahid M. , Sajid Mohammed , Basáñez María‐Gloria , Colegrave Nick , Reece Sarah E. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe utility of using evolutionary and ecological frameworks to understand the dynamics of infectious diseases is gaining increasing recognition. However, integrating evolutionary ecology and infectious disease epidemiology is challenging because within‐host dynamics can have counterintuitive consequences for between‐host transmission, especially for vector‐borne parasites. A major obstacle to linking within‐ and between‐host processes is that the drivers of the relationships between the density, virulence, and fitness of parasites are poorly understood. By experimentally manipulating the intensity of rodent malaria (Plasmodium berghei) infections in Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes under different environmental conditions, we show that parasites experience substantial density‐dependent fitness costs because crowding reduces both parasite proliferation and vector survival. We then use our data to predict how interactions between parasite density and vector environmental conditions shape within‐vector processes and onward disease transmission. Our model predicts that density‐dependent processes can have substantial and unexpected effects on the transmission potential of vector‐borne disease, which should be considered in the development and evaluation of transmission‐blocking interventions.
Dispersal syndromes and the use of life‐histories to predict dispersal
Authors: Stevens Virginie M. , Trochet Audrey , Blanchet Simon , Moulherat Sylvain , Clobert Jean , Baguette Michel 
Published: February 2013

AbstractDue to its impact on local adaptation, population functioning or range shifts, dispersal is considered a central process for population persistence and species evolution. However, measuring dispersal is complicated, which justifies the use of dispersal proxies. Although appealing, and despite its general relationship with dispersal, body size has however proven unsatisfactory as a dispersal proxy. Our hypothesis here is that, given the existence of dispersal syndromes, suites of life‐history traits may be alternative, more appropriate proxies for dispersal. We tested this idea by using butterflies as a model system. We demonstrate that different elements of the dispersal process (i.e., individual movement rates, distances, and gene flow) are correlated with different suites of life‐history traits: these various elements of dispersal form separate syndromes and must be considered real axes of a species' niche. We then showed that these syndromes allowed accurate predictions of dispersal. The use of life‐history traits improved the precision of the inferences made from wing size alone by up to five times. Such trait‐based predictions thus provided reliable dispersal inferences that can feed simulation models aiming at investigating the dynamics and evolution of butterfly populations, and possibly of other organisms, under environmental changes, to help their conservation.
The sound of silence: autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis caused by a synonymous mutation in ABCA12
Authors: Goldsmith Tomer , Fuchs‐Telem Dana , Israeli Shirli , Sarig Ofer , Padalon‐Brauch Gilly , Bergman Reuven , Indelman Margarita , Sprecher Eli , Nousbeck Janna 
Published: February 2013

AbstractAutosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis refers to a heterogeneous group of cornification disorders of major impact on patients’ life. The disease has been linked so far to mutations in 8 distinct genes. We report a consanguineous family of Arab Muslim origin with several members displaying a severe form of congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma. Using a panel of polymorphic microsatellite markers, we identified a region of homozygosity shared by all patients on 2q34, in a region harbouring the ABCA12 gene. Direct sequencing of genomic DNA derived from a patient failed to reveal any obviously pathogenic change in the coding sequence of this gene. In contrast, cDNA sequence analysis revealed the existence of a 163‐bp‐long deletion in exon 24, thus pointing to a splicing defect. Careful reanalysis of the genomic DNA sequence revealed apart from several known single‐nucleotide polymorphisms, a hitherto unreported homozygous synonymous mutation in exon 24 (c.3456G>A; p.S1152S), which was found to lead to the formation of a novel splicing acceptor site. Synonymous mutations have been shown to uncommonly cause inherited disorders in humans. Here, we present the first example of a congenital form of ichthyosis resulting from such a genetic defect.
Molecular indicators of microbial diversity in oolitic sands of Highborne Cay, Bahamas
Authors: Edgcomb V. P. , Bernhard J. M. , Beaudoin D. , Pruss S. , Welander P. V. , Schubotz F. , Mehay S. , Gillespie A. L. , Summons R. E. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractMicrobialites (stromatolites and thrombolites) are mineralized mat structures formed via the complex interactions of diverse microbial‐mat communities. At Highborne Cay, in the Bahamas, the carbonate component of these features is mostly comprised of ooids. These are small, spherical to ellipsoidal grains characterized by concentric layers of calcium carbonate and organic matter and these sand‐sized particles are incorporated with the aid of extra‐cellular polymeric substances (EPS), into the matrix of laminated stromatolites and clotted thrombolite mats. Here, we present a comparison of the bacterial diversity within oolitic sand samples and bacterial diversity previously reported in thrombolitic and stromatolitic mats of Highborne Cay based on analysis of clone libraries of small subunit ribosomal RNA gene fragments and lipid biomarkers. The 16S‐rRNA data indicate that the overall bacterial diversity within ooids is comparable to that found within thrombolites and stromatolites of Highborne Cay, and this significant overlap in taxonomic groups suggests that ooid sands may be a source for much of the bacterial diversity found in the local microbialites. Cyanobacteria were the most diverse taxonomic group detected, followed by Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Planctomyces, Deltaproteobacteria, and several other groups also found in mat structures. The distributions of intact polar lipids, the fatty acids derived from them, and bacteriohopanepolyols provide broad general support for the bacterial diversity identified through analysis of nucleic acid clone libraries.
Benefits of mixing grasses and legumes for herbage yield and nutritive value inNorthernEurope andCanada
Authors: Sturludóttir E. , Brophy C. , Bélanger G. , Gustavsson A.‐M. , Jørgensen M. , Lunnan T. , Helgadóttir Á. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractIncreased biodiversity may improve ecosystem services, including herbage yield. A mixture experiment was carried out at five sites inNorthernEurope and one inCanada to investigate whether mixtures of grasses and legumes would give higher herbage yield than monocultures. Resistance of the mixtures to weed invasion and nutritive value of the herbage were also investigated. The experimental layout followed a simplex design, where four species differing in specific functional traits, timothy (Phleum pratenseL.), smooth meadow grass (Poa pratensisL.), red clover (Trifolium pratenseL.) and white clover (Trifolium repensL.), were grown in monocultures and eleven different mixtures with systematically varying proportions of the four species. Positive diversity effects (DE) were observed, leading to greater herbage dry‐matter (DM) yield in mixtures than expected from species sown in monocultures. For centroid mixtures, theDEgenerated on average an additional 32, 25 and 21% of theDMyield than would be expected from the monocultures in the first, second and third year respectively. On average, the mixtures were 9, 15 and 7% more productive than the most productive monoculture (transgressive overyielding) in the first, second and third year respectively. These benefits persisted over the three harvest years of the experiment and were consistent among most sites. This positive effect was not accompanied by a reduction in herbage digestibility and crude protein concentration that is usually observed with increasedDMyield. Mixtures also reduced the invasion of weeds to <5% of herbage yield compared to monocultures (10–60% of herbage yield).
Expression of Ep‐CAM, but not of E48, associates with nodal involvement in advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx
Authors: Romeu Coia , Farré Xavier , Cardesa Antonio , Nadal Alfons 
Published: February 2013

AimsTo evaluate epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep‐CAM) and E48 expression, and their relationship with histological differentiation and nodal metastasis, in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).Methods and resultsThe expression of Ep‐CAM and E48 was investigated using immunohistochemistry in a series of 66 SCC (stages 3 and 4) and their adjacent non‐neoplastic epithelia. Ep‐CAM expression increased with the progression from normal squamous epithelium to SCC. It was detected in 96% of carcinomas and high levels of Ep‐CAM expression (50% or more positive cells) were associated with poorer differentiation (P = 0.003) and the presence of lymph node metastases (P = 0.001). E48 expression was characteristically strong and diffuse in non‐neoplastic squamous epithelium, and decreased with progression to SCC. Poorly differentiated (grade 4) tumours had lower proportions of E48‐positive cells than well‐ to moderately‐ differentiated cases (P < 0.001).ConclusionsExpression of both Ep‐CAM and E48 correlated with cell differentiation, although in inverse fashion. In particular, the association between high levels of Ep‐CAM expression and high frequency of nodal metastases suggests that Ep‐CAM plays a role in the development of lymph node metastases in SCC of the larynx.
Norepinephrine Transport Inhibition for Treatment of Vasovagal Syncope
Authors: SHELDON ROBERT S. , RITCHIE DEBBIE , MCRAE MAUREEN , RAJ SATISH 
Published: February 2013

Norepinephrine Transporter and Syncope IntroductionNorepinephrine transporter inhibitors, such as sibutramine, have been shown to prevent vasovagal syncope induced by tilt testing in healthy volunteers. As a test of concept we assessed whether sibutramine prevents fainting in highly symptomatic VVS patients.Methods and ResultsThis was an open label, dose‐ranging protocol of sibutramine 10, 15, and 20 mg daily for ≥4 weeks per dose, with progression dictated by response and tolerance. Responders were predefined as having >50% reduction in spell frequency, compared to baseline spell frequency. The cohort included seven subjects (6 women; 32 ± 7 years) who had a median of 593 faints over a median of 180 months. The patients had had 7 ± 4 previous treatment attempts without a satisfactory response. The mean duration of exposure to 10 mg, 15 mg, and 20 mg doses were 45 ± 33 days, 98 ± 89 days, and 137 ± 83 days. Six patients tolerated the maximum dose, and 1 patient dropped out due to adverse effects at 15 mg/day. The median frequency of spells at baseline, 10, 15, and 20 mg/day was 12, 4.4, 2.8, and 1 events/28 days (P = 0.0048). Five patients were responders and 2 were nonresponders. Among responders, the median frequency of spells at baseline, 10, 15, and 20 mg/day was 14, 4.8, 0.8, and 0.4 events per 28 days (P = 0.0089). No patients developed hypertension.ConclusionIn this open label series, sibutramine prevented vasovagal syncope in most highly symptomatic patients.
Generation time extension for cost‐effective strain maintenance of transgenic Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata [Diptera: Tephritidae]
Authors: Ogaugwu C. E. , Curril I. M. , Wimmer E. A. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractMolecular technologies have enabled the generation of various transgenic insect strains for the area‐wide control of agricultural pests and vectors of human diseases. Individual maintenance of several diverse transgenic lines or strains involves a lot of resources, and sometimes problems arise that threaten the strains being maintained. Here, we present a way to cost‐effectively maintain transgenic lines or strains of the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata by extending their generation time. Immature stages were kept at 20°C instead of 28°C, and the subsequent generation of transgenic flies kept at different temperatures were found to have laboratory fecundity comparable to the untreated transgenic flies. Extension of generation time offers inexpensive strain maintenance as it reduces the resources, time and energy spent on maintenance of transgenic medfly strains, in addition to minimizing exposure of strains to problems sometimes associated with strain maintenance.
Constipation associated with brumation? Intestinal obstruction caused by a fecalith in a wild red diamond rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber)
Authors: Corbit A. G. , Person C. , Hayes W. K. 
Published: February 2013

SummaryThis report describes the fecalith‐induced intestinal obstruction of a free‐ranging red diamond rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber) and the snake's subsequent history following surgical removal of the fecalith. The captured snake exhibited an abnormally distended abdomen and an extremely hard mass, detected via palpation, near its vent. Coeliotomy yielded a 2.5‐cm, 5‐g fecalith from the large intestine. Microscopic dissection of the fecalith revealed no evidence of gastrointestinal parasitic worms. Subsequently, we implanted a radio‐transmitter that allowed us to track the snake's movements for 7 months (until the radio signal vanished), indicating normal behaviour, complete recovery and good health apart from the obstruction. This observation suggests that fecalith development and intestinal obstruction represent potential risks of long‐term faecal retention, an unusual physiological trait well documented among rattlesnakes and other stout, heavy‐bodied terrestrial viperid snakes. Dehydration and decreased gut motility associated with brumation (≈hibernation) may predispose temperate snakes to fecalith formation. Regional drought and a small mammal diet with indigestible hairs might have also promoted fecalith formation in this specimen.
Slow wave activity and slow oscillations in sleepwalkers and controls: effects of 38 h of sleep deprivation
Authors: Perrault Rosemarie , Carrier Julie , Desautels Alex , Montplaisir Jacques , Zadra Antonio 
Published: February 2013

SummarySleepwalkers have been shown to have an unusually high number of arousals from slow wave sleep and lower slow wave activity (SWA) power during the night than controls. Because sleep deprivation increases the frequency of slow wave sleep (SWS) arousals in sleepwalkers, it may also affect the expression of the homeostatic process to a greater extent than shown previously. We thus investigated SWA power as well as slow wave oscillation (SWO) density in 10 sleepwalkers and nine controls at baseline and following 38 h of sleep deprivation. There was a significant increase in SWA during participants' recovery sleep, especially during their second non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) period. SWO density was similarly increased during recovery sleep's first two NREM periods. A fronto‐central gradient in SWA and SWO was also present on both nights. However, no group differences were noted on any of the 2 nights on SWA or SWO. This unexpected result may be related to the heterogeneity of sleepwalkers as a population, as well as our small sample size. SWA pressure after extended sleep deprivation may also result in a ceiling effect in both sleepwalkers and controls.
Overlooking coerciveness: The impact of interrogation techniques and guilt corroboration on jurors’ judgments of coerciveness
Authors: Shaked‐Schroer Netta , Costanzo Mark , Berger Dale E. 
Published: February 2013

PurposeThe present study investigated whether mock jurors judged the coerciveness of an interrogation differently based on whether or not a confession led to the discovery of corroborating evidence. Specifically, we examined whether jurors were likely to overlook tactics they would otherwise find objectionable if they were confident that the defendant was guilty.MethodA 2 × 2 between‐subjects design was used to examine the influence of interrogation techniques (low pressure or high pressure) and level of guilt corroboration (uncorroborated or corroborated) on mock jurors' verdicts and ratings of an interrogation. Two hundred and two jury‐eligible participants read a case summary, watched a realistic video recording of an interrogation that included a confession, and read prosecution and defence closing arguments. Participants then decided on a verdict and answered a series of questions about the interrogation and confession.ResultsThe interrogation was rated as significantly less coercive when the confession led to the discovery of corroborating evidence than when corroborating evidence was not found. Furthermore, participants who viewed a high‐pressure interrogation rated it as less coercive when the confession was corroborated by additional evidence than when it was not. There was no difference between the corroborated and uncorroborated conditions for the low‐pressure interrogation.ConclusionsThe present findings support the idea that more extreme tactics may be considered less coercive when they produce a greater certainty that the defendant is guilty. The results can be explained in terms of self‐presentation theories.
Remorse in oral and handwritten false confessions
Authors: Villar Gina , Arciuli Joanne , Paterson Helen M. 
Published: February 2013

PurposeThe search for objective markers of a true versus false confession is an important but under‐researched area. In the first study of its kind, we examined the utility of expressions of remorse as a marker of a true compared with a false oral versus written confession.MethodsWe elicited both written and oral false confessional statements and true accounts from 85 participants.ResultsResults showed that the proportion of remorseful words that participants produced was significantly higher in their true compared with their false confessions, in both oral and written confession modalities. Furthermore, an acoustic analysis of oral confessions revealed that participants' remorseful utterances were significantly louder in their true compared with their false confessions.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that the presence and nature of remorseful utterances in oral and written statements are useful in the identification of true versus false confessions.
How much do residential aged care staff members know about the nutritional needs of residents?
Authors: Beattie Elizabeth , O'Reilly Maria , Strange Elise , Franklin Sara , Isenring Elisabeth 
Published: February 2013

BackgroundUndernutrition, weight loss and dehydration are major clinical issues for people with dementia in residential care, with excessive weight loss contributing to increased risk of frailty, immobility, illness and premature morbidity. This paper discusses a nutritional knowledge and attitudes survey conducted as part of a larger project focused on improving nutritional intake of people with dementia within a residential care facility in Brisbane, Australia.AimsThe specific aims of the survey were to identify (i) knowledge of the nutritional needs of aged care facility residents; (ii) mealtime practices; and (iii) attitudes towards mealtime practices and organisation.MethodsA survey based on those used in other healthcare settings was completed by 76 staff members. The survey included questions about nutritional knowledge, opinions of the food service, frequency of feeding assistance provided and feeding assessment practices.ResultsNutritional knowledge scores ranged from 1 to 9 of a possible 10, with a mean score of 4.67. While 76% of respondents correctly identified risk factors associated with malnutrition in nursing home residents, only 38% of participants correctly identified the need for increased protein and energy in residents with pressure ulcers, and just 15% exhibited correct knowledge of fluid requirements. Further, while nutritional assessment was considered an important part of practice by 83% of respondents, just 53% indicated that they actually carried out such assessments. Identified barriers to promoting optimal nutrition included insufficient time to observe residents (56%); being unaware of residents' feeding issues (46%); poor knowledge of nutritional assessments (44%); and unappetising appearance of food served (57%).ConclusionAn important step towards improving health and quality of life for residents of aged care facilities would be to enhance staff nutritional awareness and assessment skills. This should be carried out through increased attention to both preservice curricula and on‐the‐job training.Implications for practiceThe residential facility staff surveyed demonstrated low levels of nutrition knowledge, which reflects findings from the international literature. This has implications for the provision of responsive care to residents of these facilities and should be explored further.
Overexpression of plastidial thioredoxin f leads to enhanced starch accumulation in tobacco leaves
Authors: Sanz‐Barrio Ruth , Corral‐Martinez Patricia , Ancin Maria , Segui‐Simarro Jose M. , Farran Inmaculada 
Published: February 2013

SummaryStarch, the most abundant storage carbohydrate in plants, has been a major feedstock for first‐generation biofuels. Growing fuel demands require, however, that the starch yields of energy crops be improved. Leaf starch is synthesised during the day and degraded at night to power nonphotosynthetic metabolism. Redox regulation has been associated with the coordination of the enzymes involved in starch metabolism, but neither the signals nor mechanisms that regulate this metabolism are entirely clear. In this work, the thioredoxin (Trx) f and m genes, which code for key enzymes in plastid redox regulation, were overexpressed from the plastid genome. Tobacco plants overexpressing Trx f, but not Trx m, showed an increase of up to 700% in leaf starch accumulation, accompanied by an increase in leaf sugars, specific leaf weight (SLW), and leaf biomass yield. To test the potential of these plants as a nonfood energy crop, tobacco leaves overexpressing Trx f were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, and around a 500% increase in the release of fermentable sugars was recorded. The results show that Trx f is a more effective regulator of photosynthetic carbon metabolism in planta than Trx m. The overexpression of Trx f might therefore provide a means of increasing the carbohydrate content of plants destined for use in biofuel production. It might also provide a means of improving the nutritional properties of staple food crops.