bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Past and future demographic dynamics of alpine species: limited genetic consequences despite dramatic range contraction in a plant from the Spanish Sierra Nevada
Authors: Blanco‐Pastor J. L. , Fernández‐Mazuecos M. , Vargas P. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractAnthropogenic global climate change is expected to cause severe range contractions among alpine plants. Alpine areas in the Mediterranean region are of special concern because of the high abundance of endemic species with narrow ranges. This study combined species distribution models, population structure analyses and Bayesian skyline plots to trace the past and future distribution and diversity of Linaria glacialis, an endangered narrow endemic species that inhabits summits of Sierra Nevada (Spain). The results showed that: (i) the habitat of this alpine‐Mediterranean species in Sierra Nevada suffered little changes during glacial and interglacial stages of late Quaternary; (ii) climatic oscillations in the last millennium (Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age) moderately affected the demographic trends of L. glacialis; (iii) future warming conditions will cause severe range contractions; and (iv) genetic diversity will not diminish at the same pace as the distribution range. As a consequence of the low population structure of this species, genetic impoverishment in the alpine zones of Sierra Nevada should be limited during range contraction. We conclude that maintenance of large effective population sizes via high mutation rates and high levels of gene flow may promote the resilience of alpine plant species when confronted with global warming.
Bacteria like sharing their sweets
Authors: Cuccui Jon , Wren Brendan W. 
Published: July 2013

SummaryProtein glycosylation and capsular polysaccharide formation are increasingly recognized as playing central roles in the survival and virulence of bacterial pathogens. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, structural analysis in Acinetobacter baumannii 17978 revealed that a pentasaccharide that decorates glycoproteins is formed of the same building blocks used for capsule biosynthesis demonstrating split roles for this glycan. Disruption of PglC, the initiating glycosyltransferase responsible for attachment of the first sugar to undecaprenylphosphate abolished glycoprotein production and capsule biosynthesis. Both pathways are demonstrated to be important in biofilm formation and pathogenesis, and disabling their synthesis should provide a useful route for antimicrobial design. Shared polysaccharide usage reduces the genetic and metabolic burden in a bacterial cell and is an emerging theme among bacterial pathogens that need to be energy efficient for their streamlined lifestyle.
Empirical Amphotericin B therapy on Day 4 or Day 8 of Febrile Neutropenia
Authors: Malhotra Pankaj , Makkar Akash , Guru Murthy Guru Subramanian , Varma Neelam , Varma Subhash , Chakrabarti Arunaloke 
Published: July 2013

SummaryFebrile neutropenic patients are at greater risk of getting bacterial and fungal infections. Empirical antifungal therapy is considered if the fever persists despite broad‐spectrum antibiotics including vancomycin. However, the timing of initiating empirical antifungal therapy can vary from 3 to 8 days of non‐response to antibiotics. We choose to determine the response of empirical amphotericin B deoxycholate (dAMB) starting either on day 4 or day 8 in febrile neutropenic patients not responding to broad‐spectrum antibiotics and without localisation of fever. Fifty‐six patients with persistent neutropenic fever despite 72 h of antibiotic therapy were randomly assigned to receive dAMB either starting on day 4 (group A, n = 27, median age 23 years) or starting on day 8 (group B, n = 29, median age 25 years). Satisfactory response (patient remaining afebrile for 48 h and maintaining absolute neutrophil count >500 μl−1) occurred in 85.2% of patients in group A vs. 69.5% in group B (P = 0.209). Patients in group A took significantly fewer days to become afebrile than group B (5.4 ± 3.9 days vs. 11.3 ± 4.0 days, P = 0.0001). The adverse side effects of dAMB (nephrotoxicity, hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia) occurred at similar rates in both groups. Early addition of empirical dAMB in febrile neutropenic patients leads to their early defervescence and decreased dose requirement.
Influence of gastric emptying on gastro‐esophageal reflux: a combined pH‐impedance study
Authors: Gourcerol G. , Benanni Y. , Boueyre E. , Leroi A. M. , Ducrotte P. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe involvement of delayed gastric emptying (GE) in the pathophysiology of gastro‐esophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains debated and has been to date only assessed using esophageal pH‐metry that only detects acidic reflux. We therefore investigated whether delay in GE could impact on liquid, mixed, and gas reflux detected using combined esophageal pH‐impedance recording.Patients and methodsThirty consecutive patients were explored with GE and esophageal pH‐impedance measurement in the workup of typical symptoms of GERD. Gastric emptying was assessed using the 13C–octanoic acid breath test and an ambulatory esophageal pH‐impedance recording was performed off proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for 24 h.Key ResultsGastric emptying was normal in 17 patients and delayed in 13 patients. Delay in GE increased the daily number of liquid/mixed reflux events detected by combined esophageal pH‐impedance monitoring, but had no effect of esophageal acid exposure or gas reflux. This translated in increased number of postprandial reflux events, with a longer bolus clearance time and increased esophageal proximal extension. In patient with delayed GE, symptomatic reflux had a higher proximal extension and a longer bolus clearance time compared to symptomatic reflux events from patients with normal GE.Conclusions & InferencesDelay in GE increases daily and postprandial liquid/mixed reflux events. Reflux characteristics differently trigger symptoms in patients with normal and delayed GE, and may impact on the therapeutic strategy.
Diurnal patterns of productivity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi revealed with the Soil Ecosystem Observatory
Authors: Hernandez Rebecca R. , Allen Michael F. 
Published: July 2013

Summary

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are the most abundant plant symbiont and a major pathway of carbon sequestration in soils. However, their basic biology, including their activity throughout a 24‐h day : night cycle, remains unknown.

We employed the in situ Soil Ecosystem Observatory to quantify the rates of diurnal growth, dieback and net productivity of extra‐radical AM fungi. AM fungal hyphae showed significantly different rates of growth and dieback over a period of 24 h and paralleled the circadian‐driven photosynthetic oscillations observed in plants.

The greatest rates (and incidences) of growth and dieback occurred between noon and 18:00 h. Growth and dieback events often occurred simultaneously and were tightly coupled with soil temperature and moisture, suggesting a rapid acclimation of the external phase of AM fungi to the immediate environment.

Changes in the environmental conditions and variability of the mycorrhizosphere may alter the diurnal patterns of productivity of AM fungi, thereby modifying soil carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling and host plant success.
Epidemiology and variables involved in dental abscess: survey of dental emergency unit in Trieste
Authors: Ottaviani G , Costantinides F , Perinetti G , Luzzati R , Contardo L , Visintini E , Tirelli G , Di Lenarda R , Gobbo M , Biasotto M 
Published: July 2013

ObjectivesThe objective of this epidemiologic study was to estimate the healing time of acute dental abscesses and to evaluate the main variables involved in the healing process itself.Subjects and MethodsAmong a sample of over 24 000 patients visited at the emergency dental unit, 688 subjects were diagnosed with dental abscess and enrolled in the study. Case histories of all patients were collected to investigate the clinical course and healing time of dental abscess according to anamnestic and diagnostic data and therapeutic management. A multiple logistic regression model was performed to evaluate the association of each variable with the healing time required for dental abscess.ResultsVariables associated with increased healing time were spring seasonality at admission, pyretic state, trismus, involvement of multiple anatomic spaces, and spontaneous drainage. Moreover, administration of some, but not all, classes of antibiotics was also associated with an increased healing time.ConclusionsThe knowledge of variables involved in healing time for dental abscess is crucial in the optimization of managing such infections in terms of cost–benefit ratio. This would represent a valuable way to ensure a shortened and more effective healing.
Using an Academic‐Community Partnership Model and Blended Learning to Advance Community Health Nursing Pedagogy
Authors: Ezeonwu Mabel , Berkowitz Bobbie , Vlasses Frances R. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThis article describes a model of teaching community health nursing that evolved from a long‐term partnership with a community with limited existing health programs. The partnership supported RN–BSN students' integration in the community and resulted in reciprocal gains for faculty, students and community members. Community clients accessed public health services as a result of the partnership. A blended learning approach that combines face‐to‐face interactions, service learning and online activities was utilized to enhance students' learning. Following classroom sessions, students actively participated in community‐based educational process through comprehensive health needs assessments, planning and implementation of disease prevention and health promotion activities for community clients. Such active involvement in an underserved community deepened students' awareness of the fundamentals of community health practice. Students were challenged to view public health from a broader perspective while analyzing the impacts of social determinants of health on underserved populations. Through asynchronous online interactions, students synthesized classroom and community activities through critical thinking. This paper describes a model for teaching community health nursing that informs students' learning through blended learning, and meets the demands for community health nursing services delivery.
Brachypodium distachyon exhibits compatible interactions with Oculimacula spp. and Ramularia collo‐cygni, providing the first pathosystem model to study eyespot and ramularia leaf spot diseases
Authors: Peraldi A. , Griffe L. L. , Burt C. , McGrann G. R. D. , Nicholson P. 
Published: July 2013

Brachypodium distachyon (Bd) has established itself as an essential tool for comparative genomic studies in cereals and increasing attention is being paid to its potential as a model pathosystem. Eyespot and ramularia leaf spot (RLS) are important diseases of wheat, barley and other small‐grain cereals for which very little is known about the mechanisms of host resistance despite urgent requirements for plant breeders to develop resistant varieties. This work aimed to test the compatibility of interaction of two Bd accessions with the cereal pathogens Oculimacula spp. and Ramularia collo‐cygni, the causal agents of eyespot and RLS diseases, respectively. Results showed that both Bd accessions developed symptoms similar to those on the natural host for all pathogen species tested. Microscopy images demonstrated that R. collo‐cygni produced secondary conidia and both Oculimacula spp. formed characteristic infection structures on successive tissue layers. Visual disease assessment revealed that quantitative differences in disease severity exist between the two Bd accessions. The results presented here provide the first evidence that Bd is compatible with the main causal agents of eyespot and RLS diseases, and suggest that future functional genetic studies can be undertaken to investigate the mechanisms of eyespot and RLS disease resistance using Bd.
Maternal Birthweight Is Associated with Subsequent Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency in Early Pregnancy
Authors: Huang Jonathan Y. , Qiu Chunfang , Miller Raymond S. , Siscovick David S. , Williams Michelle A. , Enquobahrie Daniel A. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackgroundMaternal low birthweight and vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy are associated with a similar spectrum of adverse pregnancy outcomes including pre‐eclampsia and gestational diabetes. However, the relationship between maternal birthweight and subsequent vitamin D concentrations in early pregnancy is largely unknown.MethodsWe assessed whether self‐reported maternal birthweight was associated with risk of early pregnancy vitamin D deficiency (≤20 ng/mL) among a pregnancy cohort (n = 658). Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was measured using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectroscopy.ResultsAdjusting for maternal characteristics and month of blood draw, a 100‐g higher maternal birthweight was associated with a 5.7% decreased risk of early pregnancy 25(OH)D deficiency [odds ratio (OR) = 0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90, 0.99]. Low‐birthweight (<2500 g) women were 3.7 times as likely to have early pregnancy 25(OH)D deficiency compared with normal‐birthweight women [OR = 3.69; 95% CI 1.63, 8.34]. These relationships were not modified by either pre‐pregnancy overweight status [body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2] or adulthood weight trajectory (BMI change ≥2 kg/m2 from age 18 to pre‐pregnancy).ConclusionsFurther research on shared developmental mechanisms that determine birthweight and vitamin D homeostasis may help identify targets and related preventative measures for adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes.
Technical Progress and Real Wages Once again
Authors: Batra Ravi , Beladi Hamid , Oladi Reza 
Published: July 2013

AbstractWe construct a general equilibrium model of trade and show that an economy can experience technological progress and declining real wages provided that it is open to trade and import demand is sufficiently inelastic in both countries. This is a puzzling outcome so far as marginal productivity paradigm is concerned. In this context we demonstrate that new technology works differently in a closed vs an open economy. In an open economy, technical improvements may generate a fall in labor real earnings, but not in a closed economy. In addition, technical progress in manufacturing must increase manufacturing–service wage gap according to marginal productivity doctrine. We show that the opposite outcome can occur theoretically in an open economy—yet another seemingly puzzling labor market outcome.
Millimeter wave silicon micromachined waveguide probe as an aid for skin diagnosis – results of measurements on phantom material with varied water content
Authors: Dancila D. , Augustine R. , Töpfer F. , Dudorov S. , Hu X. , Emtestam L. , Tenerz L. , Oberhammer J. , Rydberg A. 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundMore than 2 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually in the United States, which makes it the most common form of cancer in that country. Early detection of cancer usually results in less extensive treatment and better outcome for the patient. Millimeter wave silicon micromachined waveguide probe is foreseen as an aid for skin diagnosis, which is currently based on visual inspection followed by biopsy, in cases where the macroscopical picture raises suspicion of malignancy.AimsDemonstration of the discrimination potential of tissues of different water content using a novel micromachined silicon waveguide probe. Secondarily, the silicon probe miniaturization till an inspection area of 600 × 200 μm2, representing a drastic reduction by 96.3% of the probing area, in comparison with a conventional WR‐10 waveguide. The high planar resolution is required for histology and early‐state skin‐cancer detection.Material and methodsTo evaluate the probe three phantoms with different water contents, i.e. 50%, 75% and 95%, mimicking dielectric properties of human skin were characterized in the frequency range of 95‐105 GHz. The complex permittivity values of the skin are obtained from the variation in frequency and amplitude of the reflection coefficient (S11), measured with a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA), by comparison with finite elements simulations of the measurement set‐up, using the commercially available software, HFSS. The expected frequency variation is calculated with HFSS and is based on extrapolated complex permittivities, using one relaxation Debye model from permittivity measurements obtained using the Agilent probe.ResultsMillimeter wave reflection measurements were performed using the probe in the frequency range of 95‐105 GHz with three phantoms materials and air. Intermediate measurement results are in good agreement with HFSS simulations, based on the extrapolated complex permittivity. The resonance frequency lowers, from the idle situation when it is probing air, respectively by 0.7, 1.2 and 4.26 GHz when a phantom material of 50%, 75% and 95% water content is measured.DiscussionThe results of the measurements in our laboratory set‐up with three different phantoms indicate that the probe may be able to discriminate between normal and pathological skin tissue, improving the spatial resolution in histology and on skin measurements, due to the highly reduced area of probing.ConclusionThe probe has the potential to discriminate between normal and pathological skin tissue. Further, improved information, compared to the optical histological inspection can be obtained, i.e. the complex permittivity characterization is obtained with a high resolution, due to the highly reduced measurement area of the probe tip.
Impacts of land‐use intensity on soil organic carbon content, soil structure and water‐holding capacity
Authors: Acín‐Carrera M. , José Marques M. , Carral P. , Álvarez A. M. , López C. , Martín‐López B. , González J. A. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe impact of land‐use intensity is evaluated through changes in the soil properties in different areas of the traditional central Spanish landscape. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content, bulk density, aggregate stability and water‐holding capacity (WHC) in the topsoil of active and abandoned vineyards, livestock routes (LR) and young Quercus afforested areas were analysed. These different types of land use can be interpreted as having a gradient of progressively less impact on soil functions or conservation. As soil use intensity declines, there is an increase in SOC content (from 0.2 to 0.6%), WHC (from 0.2 to 0.3 g H2O per g soil) and aggregate stability (from 4 to 33 drop impacts). Soils beneath vines have lost their upper horizon (15 cm depth) because of centuries‐old tillage management of vineyards. Except for an increase in bulk density (from 1.2 to 1.4 g/cm3), there were no differences in soil characteristics 4 yr after the abandonment of vine management. LR can be considered sustainable uses of land, which preserve or improve soil characteristics, as there were no significant differences between topsoil from LR and that from a 40‐yr‐old Quercus afforested area. SOC content, one of the main indicators for soil conservation, is considered very low in every case analysed, even in the more conservative uses of land. These data can be useful in understanding the slow rate of recovery of soils, even after long‐term cessation of agricultural land use.
Colocasiomyia (Diptera: Drosophilidae) revised phylogenetically, with a new species group having peculiar lifecycles on monsteroid (Araceae) host plants
Authors: FARTYAL RAJENDRA S. , GAO JIAN‐JUN , TODA MASANORI J. , HU YAO‐GUANG , TAKANO KOHEI TAKENAKA , SUWITO AWIT , KATOH TORU , TAKIGAHIRA TOMOHIRO , YIN JIAN‐TAO 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe phylogeny of Colocasiomyia (Drosophilidae) is analysed using data for 70 morphological characters, many of which are re‐evaluated from or added to those used previously, for an expanded taxon sample of 24 Colocasiomyia ingroup species. A special focus is put on three species, of which two have remained unresolved for their relationships to other Colocasiomyia species, and the other is a newly discovered species. The analysis results in a single, most parsimonious cladogram, in which a clade comprising the three focal species is recognized along with other clades recovered for the known species groups of Colocasiomyia. Based on this, a new species group—the gigantea group—is established, including Colocasiomyia gigantea (Okada), C. rhaphidophorae Gao & Toda, n.sp. and C. scindapsae Fartyal & Toda, n.sp. These species of the gigantea group breed on inflorescences/infructescences of the subfamily Monsteroideae (Araceae) exceptionally among Colocasiomyia species, most of which use plants of the subfamily Aroideae as their hosts. Colocasiomyia gigantea uses Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engler, C. rhaphidophorae uses Rhaphidophora hookeri Schott and C. scindapsae uses Scindapsus coriaceus Engler as their hosts. The host plants of the gigantea group are epiphytes and differ in the structure of spadix and the fruiting process from those of the Aroideae. To understand how the species of the gigantea group adapt to properties of their host plants, their reproductive ecology—most intensively that of C. gigantea—is investigated. The lifecycle of C. gigantea is characterized by its relatively slow embryonic development (taking approximately 6 days), the very long duration of the full‐grown first instar within the egg capsule (approximately three months) until dehiscence of host infructescence, and its relatively fast larval and pupal development (taking approximately 11 or 12 days). Some morphological adaptations and the reproductive strategy in terms of ‘egg size vs. number’ trade‐off are discussed in relation to their reproductive habits and peculiar lifecycles.
Trade in Services and Regional Trade Agreements: Do Negotiations on Services Have to be Specific?
Authors: Guillin Amélie 
Published: July 2013

AbstractTrade in services has been on a substantial positive trend since the last decades, and the number of regional trade agreements (RTAs) in force has increased regularly overtime. However, negotiations on services remain hesitant even at the bilateral level. Classifying an RTA according to its degree of liberalisation in services allows accounting for ‘depth’ and heterogeneity issues amongst RTAs. I estimate a gravity equation using panel data covering the period 1999–2007, including bilateral and country‐and‐time fixed effects. The main results are: (i) amongst RTAs, only the trade agreements covering services have a significant effect on trade in services; and (ii) the deeper, in terms of sectors and of content, the agreement is, the more intratrade the signatory countries have.