bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hormonal mediation of a carry‐over effect in a wild cooperative mammal
Authors: Sanderson Jennifer L. , Young Andrew J. , Hodge Sarah J. , Kyabulima Solomon , Walker Susan L. , Cant Michael A. 
Published: July 2014

Summary

Recent research has shown that parental investment in one breeding attempt often has a profound negative impact on the level of parental investment in subsequent breeding attempts. However, the mechanistic underpinnings that mediate such carry‐over effects are poorly understood.

Here, we hypothesise that carry‐over effects arise because energetic losses lead to elevated levels of glucocorticoid ‘stress’ hormones which inhibit future investment and thereby maintain energetic homeostasis. We investigate this hypothesis through a detailed investigation of a carry‐over effect of (allo‐) parental investment in the cooperatively breeding banded mongoose (Mungos mungo).

Using a combination of non‐invasive hormone monitoring and feeding experiments, we demonstrate (i) that high glucocorticoid concentrations prior to breeding predict reduced alloparental investment; (ii) that energetic losses associated with high alloparental investment lead to an increase in glucocorticoid concentrations during the breeding attempt; and (iii) that elevated glucocorticoid concentrations persist into a time period that is known to affect future investment, although high pup mortality meant that we could not measure effects on subsequent alloparental investment directly.

Together, our results provide strong evidence for the hypothesis that carry‐over effects on parental investment are mediated by circulating glucocorticoid concentrations. Since an individual's stress physiology is shaped by early‐life and social factors, our findings may help to explain how these factors contribute to individual variation in parental investment and lifetime reproductive success.
Canopy facilitates seaweed recruitment on subtidal temperate reefs
Authors: Bennett Scott , Wernberg Thomas 
Published: July 2014

Summary

Facilitation through physical stress amelioration has been largely overlooked in subtidal marine ecosystems, where abiotic gradients are perceived to be benign. However, seemingly subtle changes in marine environmental conditions can alter community structure across vast areas, and therefore, the type of interactions and any refuge provided by marine foundation species. This could have substantial implications for community organization.

We measured net recruitment rates of subtidal seaweeds under experimentally modified canopy densities, across 1000 km of coastline, to examine the nature of interactions between seaweed canopies and recruits.

Contrary to expectations, facilitation, as evidenced by higher recruitment under canopies, was observed throughout all conditions for Scytothalia dorycarpa and under partial canopies at three of four locations for Sargassum spp., whilst competitive interactions remained prevalent for Sargassum under closed canopies.

Supply side dynamics were also of major importance to recruitment success for Scytothalia. For Sargassum, the interaction strength between recruits and the canopy became increasingly positive towards lower latitudes, suggesting the canopy environment was mitigating stress across the latitudinal climate gradient.

Synthesis. Positive interactions and stress amelioration play an important and previously unrecognized role in determining the recruitment success and viability of seaweeds in subtidal marine ecosystems. These results challenge long held paradigms about the general importance of canopy competition and force a rethink of how seaweed interactions affect habitat resilience to disturbances in subtidal ecosystems.
Glucagon‐like peptide 1 receptor agonist therapy is more efficacious than insulin glargine for poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Liu Fu‐peng , Dong Jian‐jun , Yang Qing , Xue Xian‐zhong , Ren Zhong‐fa , Gan Yi‐zhang , Liao Lin 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of the present study was to compare the reported efficacy and safety of glucagon‐like peptide‐l receptor agonist (GLP‐1RA) and insulin glargine (IGlar) for poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.MethodsMedline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov were carried out. References and cited papers of relevant articles were also checked.ResultsSeven trials met the inclusion criteria. GLP‐1RA showed equivalent or superior efficacy to IGlar for reducing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), with a greater proportion of patients achieving HbAlc<7%. GLP‐1RA also favored decreased body weight, total cholesterol (TC), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Serious adverse events were uncommon and not significantly different. More patients taking GLP‐1RA experienced gastrointestinal complications: nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Severe hypoglycemia events were rare, and minor hypoglycemia was less common for GLP‐1RA.ConclusionsGLP‐1RA showed greater efficacy compared to IGlar for type 2 diabetes, and it may also prove beneficial for other diabetes‐associated characteristics, including obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.
Changing relative contribution of abdominal obesity and a family history of diabetes on prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Korean men and women aged 30–49 years from 2001 to 2010 从2001至2010年在韩国30–49岁年龄段的男性与女性中腹型肥胖以及糖尿病家族史对糖尿病患病率相对贡献度的变化
Authors: Koo Bo Kyung , Kim Sang Wan , Yi Ka Hee , Park Kyong Soo , Moon Min Kyong 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackgroundWe investigated the change in the relative impact of a family history of diabetes (FH) and abdominal obesity on diabetes mellitus (DM) over a 10‐year period in Korea.MethodsWe analyzed data from the 2001, 2005, and 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that were weighted to represent the entire Korean population in each year. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between DM and FH or abdominal obesity.ResultsIn men aged 30–49 years, the association between FH and DM was stronger in 2010 than in 2001; the odds ratio (OR) was 1.508 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.814–2.792) in 2001, 3.351 (95% CI, 1.599–7.024) in 2005, and 7.302 (95% CI, 3.451–15.451) in 2010 (P for trend = 0.003). In contrast, the association between abdominal obesity and DM was weaker in 2010 (OR, 0.969 [95% CI, 0.465–2.018]) than in 2001 (OR, 2.532 [95% CI, 1.572–4.080]) (P for trend = 0.037). In women aged 30–49 years, there was no significant change in OR of FH or abdominal obesity during the same period. (P for trend = 0.367 and 0.401, respectively).ConclusionsIn Korean men aged 30–49 years, the association between FH and DM has been stronger from 2001 to 2010, whereas abdominal obesity was less important in 2010 compared to 2001.
Mouse double minute‐2 homolog (MDM2)‐rs2279744 polymorphism associated with lung cancer risk in a Northeastern Chinese population
Authors: Wang Xu , Jin Lina , Cui Jiuwei , Ma Kewei , Chen Xiao , Li Wei 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackgroundAltered expression or function of mouse double minute‐2 (MDM2) protein could contribute to lung carcinogenesis; thus, this study investigated MDM2‐rs2279744 polymorphism together with other epidemiologic factors for their association with lung cancer risk.MethodsA total of 500 lung cancer patients and 500 age and gender‐matched healthy controls living in Northeastern China were recruited for genotyping of MDM2‐rs2279744. Clinicopathological data was collected and subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsIn univariate analysis, the MDM2‐rs2279744 G/G genotype versus T/T + T/G genotypes showed a tendency toward a higher incidence of lung cancer in the recessive model (P = 0.043). However, there were no significant differences when it was analyzed by the dominant, additive, or multiplicative models. A significantly increased lung cancer risk was observed associated with lower education level, lower body mass index, cancer family history, prior diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia, exposure to pesticide or gasoline/diesel, tobacco smoking, and heavy cooking emissions when assessed by multivariate analyses. Moreover, MDM2‐rs2279744 was still a significant risk factor even after incorporating environmental and lifestyle factors. However, there was no association between MDM2‐rs2279744 and other factors.ConclusionsThe MDM2‐rs2279744 G/G genotype was associated with a higher lung cancer risk, even after incorporating other epidemiologic factors.
The attractiveness of flowering herbaceous plants to bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) and hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in agro‐ecosystems of Central Spain
Authors: Barbir Jelena , Badenes‐Pérez Francisco R. , Fernández‐Quintanilla César , Dorado José 
Published: July 2014

Abstract

Habitat management, with the aim of conserving pollinators in agro‐ecosystems, requires the selection of the most suitable floral species in terms of their attractiveness to pollinators and a simplicity of agronomic management.
A randomized block design including 12 herbaceous plants was used to study their attractiveness to pollinators (insect visitation), their attractiveness efficiency (a combination of duration of flowering and insect visitation), their response to two different agronomic management practices (growing in mixed versus mono‐specific stands; tillage versus no‐tillage) and their potential weediness.
The flowers of Borago officinalis, Echium plantagineum, Phacelia tanacetifolia and Diplotaxis tenuifolia were attractive to bees, whereas Calendula arvensis, Coriandrum sativum, D. tenuifolia and Lobularia maritima were attractive to hoverflies.
A floral mixture resulted in a lower attractiveness efficiency to pollinators than D. tenuifolia, but higher than when compared with most of the mono‐specific stands. On the other hand, although some of the most attractive plant species (P. tanacetifolia and C. arvensis) showed potential weediness, their self‐seeding was reduced by tillage treatment.
Diplotaxis tenuifolia was the only plant with a high attractiveness efficiency to pollinators and efficient self‐reproduction. Therefore, D. tenuifolia is highly recommended species for attracting bees and hoverflies in agro‐ecosystems of Central Spain.
Renoprotective Effects of Gamma‐Aminobutyric Acid on Cisplatin‐induced Acute Renal Injury in Rats
Authors: Ali Badreldin H. , Al–Salam Suhail , Al Za'abi Mohammed , Al Balushi Khalid A. , AlMahruqi Ahmed S. , Beegam Somyia , Al‐Lawatia Intisar , Waly Mostafa I. , Nemmar Abderrahim 
Published: July 2014

AbstractTo investigate the effect of gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) on acute renal injury (ARI), we used here a rat model of acute tubular necrosis induced by the anticancer drug cisplatin (CP). GABA was given orally (100 or 500 mg/kg/day for ten consecutive days), and on the 6th day, some of the treated rats were also injected intraperitoneally with either saline or CP (6 mg/kg). Four days after CP treatment, urine was collected from all rats, which were then anaesthetized for blood pressure and renal blood flow monitoring. This was followed by intravenous injection of norepinephrine for the assessment of renal vasoconstrictor responses. Thereafter, blood and kidneys were collected for measurement of several functional, biochemical and structural parameters. GABA treatment (at 500 but not 100 mg/kg) significantly mitigated all the measured physiological and biochemical indices. Sections from saline‐ and GABA‐treated rats showed apparently normal proximal tubules. However, kidneys of CP‐treated rats had a moderate degree of necrosis. This was markedly lessened when CP was given simultaneously with GABA (500 mg/kg). The concentration of platinum in the cortical tissues was not significantly altered by GABA treatment. The results suggested that GABA can ameliorate CP nephrotoxicity in rats. Pending further pharmacological and toxicological studies, GABA may be considered a potentially useful nephroprotective agent in CP‐induced ARI.
Alteration of vascular reactivity in heart failure: role of phosphodiesterases 3 and 4
Authors: Hubert F , Belacel‐Ouari M , Manoury B , Zhai K , Domergue‐Dupont V , Mateo P , Joubert F , Fischmeister R , Leblais V 
Published: July 2014

Background and PurposeThis study examined the role of the main vascular cAMP‐hydrolysing phosphodiesterases (cAMP‐PDE) in the regulation of basal vascular tone and relaxation of rat aorta mediated by β‐adrenoceptors, following heart failure (HF).Experimental ApproachTwenty‐two weeks after proximal aortic stenosis, to induce HF, or SHAM surgery in rats, we evaluated the expression, activity and function of cAMP‐PDE in the descending thoracic aorta.Key ResultsHF rat aortas exhibited signs of endothelial dysfunction, with alterations of the NO pathway, and alteration of PDE3 and PDE4 subtype expression, without changing total aortic cAMP‐hydrolytic activity and PDE1, PDE3 and PDE4 activities. Vascular reactivity experiments using PDE inhibitors showed that PDE3 and PDE4 controlled the level of PGF2α‐stimulated contraction in SHAM aorta. PDE3 function was partially inhibited by endothelial NO, whereas PDE4 function required a functional endothelium and was under the negative control of PDE3. In HF, PDE3 function was preserved, but its regulation by endothelial NO was altered. PDE4 function was abolished and restored by PDE3 inhibition. In PGF2α‐precontracted arteries, β‐adrenoceptor stimulation‐induced relaxation in SHAM aorta, which was abolished in the absence of functional endothelium, as well as in HF aortas, but restored after PDE3 inhibition in all unresponsive arteries.Conclusions and ImplicationsOur study underlines the key role of the endothelium in controlling the contribution of smooth muscle PDE to contractile function. In HF, endothelial dysfunction had a major effect on PDE3 function and PDE3 inhibition restored a functional relaxation to β‐adrenoceptor stimulation.
Elevated receptor for activated C kinase 1 expression is involved in intracellular Ca2+ influx and potentially associated with compromised regulatory T cell function in patients with asthma
Authors: Negoro T. , Shimizu S. , Narushima M. , Banham A. H. , Wakabayashi H. , Takayanagi R. , Hagiwara T. , Roncador G. , Osabe T. , Yanai T. , Kin M. , Ikeda K. , Endo A. , Akiyama H. , Nakano Y. 
Published: July 2014

SummaryBackgroundRegulatory T cells (Tregs) are activated during anergy in response to T cell receptor (TCR) activation and functional immune suppression. Anergy of paediatric Tregs is partially dependent on intracellular calcium mobility; following TCR activation, Tregs do not exhibit increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i).ObjectiveWe determined whether [Ca2+]i in adult Tregs defined their anergy, if intracellular Ca2+ movement was linked to regulatory functions, whether [Ca2+]i was indicative of asthma pathology, and the potential molecular mechanism responsible for Ca2+ movement in Tregs.MethodsTregs were purified by the magnetic bead method, and their regulatory functions were assessed by monitoring carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester‐labelled responder T cell proliferation. The Ca2+ response of Fura‐2‐labelled cells was measured using a video image analysis system. To analyse the functions of Tregs at the molecular level, we generated Jurkat Tet‐On® clones with doxycycline (Dox)‐induced forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) protein expression.ResultsCD4+CD25+CD127−/low Tregs from participants without asthma did not elicit Ca2+ influx in response to TCR activation, exhibited little proliferation and suppressed proliferation of CD4+CD25− T cells. In contrast, under similar conditions, Tregs from patients with asthma exhibited increased [Ca2+]i and robust proliferation with partial loss of regulatory functions. FOXP3 protein levels in Tet‐On® clones were high after both 2‐ and 5‐day Dox treatment; however, 5‐day cells were comparable with Tregs from patients with asthma, whereas 2‐day cells were similar to Tregs from participants without asthma. Increasing [Ca2+]i induced a high level of receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) expression in 5‐day cells.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceWe confirmed that Tregs in patients with asthma are functionally impaired and that the abnormal regulatory functions of these cells can be analysed by [Ca2+]i following TCR engagement. Furthermore, the impaired functioning of Tregs evident in patients with asthma may be due to a high level of RACK1.
Th17 response and its regulation in inflammatory upper airway diseases
Authors: Liu Y. , Zeng M. , Liu Z. 
Published: July 2014

SummaryAllergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are two widely prevalent inflammatory diseases in the upper airways. T cell immunity has been suggested to play an important pathogenic role in many chronic inflammatory diseases including inflammatory upper airway diseases. Inappropriate CD4+ T cell responses, especially the dysregulation of the Th1/Th2 balance leading to excessive Th1 or Th2 cell activation, have been associated with allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis. Nevertheless, recent studies suggest that IL‐17A and IL‐17A‐producing Th17 cell subset, a distinct pro‐inflammatory CD4+ T cell lineage, may also play an important role in the pathophysiology of inflammatory upper airway diseases. Th17 cells may promote both eosinophilic and neutrophilic inflammation in AR and CRS. In addition, a few, but accumulating evidence shows that the Th17 responses can be tightly regulated by endogenous and exogenous substances in the context of AR and CRS. This review discusses recent advances in our understanding of the expression and function of the Th17 response and its regulation in inflammatory upper airway diseases, and the perspective for future investigation and clinical utility.
(In)Sufficient?: ethnicity and foster care in English local authorities
Authors: Kirton Derek 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThis paper examines the place of ethnicity in local authority foster care in the context of the sufficiency duty to secure adequate local placements for looked after children. The analysis draws on two main sources, namely Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (OFSTED's) annual survey of fostering agencies and inspection reports for around half the local authority fostering services in England. Sufficiency is gauged in two main ways, comparing numbers of black and minority ethnic (BME) foster carers first with numbers of BME looked after children and second, with local adult (age 25–64) populations. Statistical analysis shows very wide variation on both measures and a significant minority of authorities that perform poorly in terms of the ethnic diversity of their foster carers. Inspection reports also vary widely in the degree and nature of attention given to issues of ethnicity with many offering limited (and sometimes no) challenge to poor performance. These findings are discussed within the broader context of recent trends towards de‐emphasizing the significance of ethnicity in child welfare.
Learning Hierarchical Task Models from Input Traces
Authors: Hogg Chad , Muñoz‐Avila Héctor , Kuter Ugur 
Published: July 2014

We describe HTN‐MAKER, an algorithm for learning hierarchical planning knowledge in the form of task‐reduction methods for hierarchical task networks (HTNs). HTN‐MAKER takes as input a set of planning states from a classical planning domain and plans that are applicable to those states, as well as a set of semantically annotated tasks to be accomplished. The algorithm analyzes this semantic information to determine which portion of the input plans accomplishes a particular task and constructs task‐reduction methods based on those analyses.We present theoretical results showing that HTN‐MAKER is sound and complete. Our experiments in five well‐known planning domains confirm the theoretical results and demonstrate convergence toward a set of HTN methods that can be used to solve any problem expressible as a classical planning problem in that domain, relative to a set of goal types for which tasks have been defined. In three of the five domains, HTN planning with the learned methods scales much better than a modern classical planner.
The effects of levosimendan on renal function early after heart transplantation: results from a pilot randomized trial
Authors: Knezevic Ivan , Poglajen Gregor , Hrovat Eva , Oman Anja , Pintar Tatjana , Wu Joseph C. , Vrtovec Bojan , Haddad François 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackgroundWe evaluated the effects of a levosimendan (LS)‐based strategy compared with standard inotropic therapy on renal function in heart transplantation.Methods and resultsUsing a randomized study design, 94 patients were assigned to LS‐based therapy or standard inotropic support. At the time of transplantation, the groups did not differ in age, gender, heart failure etiology, hemodynamic profile, LVEF, or comorbidities. While there were no differences in serum creatinine (sCr) or eGFR between groups at baseline, patients in the LS group had a greater increase in their relative eGFR (62% vs. 12%, p = 0.002) and a lower incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) (28% vs. 6%, p = 0.01) during the first post‐transplant week. On logistic regression analysis, correlates of AKI were randomization to LS therapy (OR = 0.21 [0.09–0.62], p = 0.01), baseline renal dysfunction (OR = 3.9 [1.1–13.6], p = 0.032), and diabetes mellitus (OR = 4.2 [1.1–16.5], p = 0.038). However, LS was associated with a greater need for additional norepinephrine therapy (40 [85%] vs. 15 [31%], p < 0.001) and a trend toward longer intensive care unit stay (9.5 ± 9.0 d vs. 7.0 ± 6.0 d, p = 0.13).ConclusionsIn patients undergoing heart transplantation, levosimendan‐based strategy may be associated with better renal function when compared to standard therapy.
Impacts of elevated CO2 on Bemisia tabaci infesting Bt cotton and its parasitoid Encarsia formosa
Authors: Wang Guo‐Hong , Wang Xue‐Xia , Sun Yu‐Cheng , Ge Feng 
Published: July 2014

AbstractAtmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is expected to rise in the coming decades. Rising atmospheric CO2 levels may alter plant‐insect‐parasitoid associations due to the indirect effects of CO2 enrichment on phytochemicals important for herbivore and parasitoid nutrition. Tritrophic effects of elevated CO2 on Bt cotton (GK‐12) and non‐transgenic (Simian‐3, or S3) cotton [Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvaceae)], Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and its parasitoid Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), were examined in open‐top chambers. Significantly, longer egg‐adult developmental duration and higher mortality of nymphs were observed under elevated CO2 concentrations on both cotton cultivars during three successive generations. However, no significant differences were found in adult longevity, offspring sex ratio, and the number of eggs laid per female adult of B. tabaci fed on transgenic (GK‐12) or non‐transgenic cotton (S3) grown under elevated CO2. Abundance of B. tabaci adults increased from 10 to 120 per plant and then decreased to 40 per plant through the growing season, but no significant differences in density occurred between CO2 treatments and between cultivar treatments. Similarly, no significant differences were found in the developmental duration, parasitization rate, and adult emergence rate of E. formosa after parasitizing B. tabaci for three successive generations. Our results showed that the effects of transgenic Bt cotton did not significantly affect the development, survivorship, life span, or fecundity of B. tabaci and its parasitoids. Moreover, interactions between B. tabaci and E. formosa were not significantly affected by elevated CO2. These results suggest that the biological control of B. tabaci by E. formosa would not be influenced by transgenic Bt cotton and/or elevated CO2, indicating that the current risk management strategy regarding B. tabaci outbreaks and biocontrol by E. formosa will remain effective if the atmospheric CO2 level continues to rise.