bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regional Convergence
Authors: Iuzzolino Giovanni , Pellegrini Guido , Viesti Gianfranco 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIn 150 years, the trends in regional disparities in economic development within Italy have differed depending on whether they are gauged by longitude or by latitude. The disparities between western and eastern regions first widened and then closed; the North-South gap, by contrast, remains the main open problem in the national history of Italy. This chapter focuses on the underlying causes of the turning points in regional disparities since national unification in 1861. The first came in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, with the industrialization of the so-called "industrial triangle". This was followed by the "failed new turn" during the interwar years: not only were the beginnings of convergence blocked, but the North-South gap, until then still natural, inevitably, was transformed into a fracture of exceptional dimensions. The second turning point, in the twenty years after the World War, produced the first substantial, lasting convergence between southern and northern Italy, powered by rising productivity and structural change in the South. The last turning point was in the mid-1970s, when convergence was abruptly halted and a protracted period of immobility in the disparity began.
Functional Convergence of Oxylipin and Abscisic Acid Pathways Controls Stomatal Closure in Response to Drought
Authors: Savchenko Tatyana , Kolla Venkat A. , Wang Chang-Quan , Nasafi Zainab , Hicks Derrick R. , Phadungchob Bpantamars , Chehab Wassim E. , Brandizzi Federica , Froehlich John , Dehesh Katayoon 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Membranes are primary sites of perception of environmental stimuli. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are major structural constituents of membranes that also function as modulators of a multitude of signal transduction pathways evoked by environmental stimuli. Different stresses induce production of a distinct blend of oxygenated polyunsaturated fatty acids, “oxylipins.” We employed three Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) ecotypes to examine the oxylipin signature in response to specific stresses and determined that wounding and drought differentially alter oxylipin profiles, particularly the allene oxide synthase branch of the oxylipin pathway, responsible for production of jasmonic acid (JA) and its precursor 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (12-OPDA). Specifically, wounding induced both 12-OPDA and JA levels, whereas drought induced only the precursor 12-OPDA. Levels of the classical stress phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) were also mainly enhanced by drought and little by wounding. To explore the role of 12-OPDA in plant drought responses, we generated a range of transgenic lines and exploited the existing mutant plants that differ in their levels of stress-inducible 12-OPDA but display similar ABA levels. The plants producing higher 12-OPDA levels exhibited enhanced drought tolerance and reduced stomatal aperture. Furthermore, exogenously applied ABA and 12-OPDA, individually or combined, promote stomatal closure of ABA and allene oxide synthase biosynthetic mutants, albeit most effectively when combined. Using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and Brassica napus verified the potency of this combination in inducing stomatal closure in plants other than Arabidopsis. These data have identified drought as a stress signal that uncouples the conversion of 12-OPDA to JA and have revealed 12-OPDA as a drought-responsive regulator of stomatal closure functioning most effectively together with ABA.
Risk of herpes zoster in psoriatic patients undergoing biologic treatment
Authors: Umezawa Yoshinori , Fukuchi Osamu , Ito Toshihiro , Saeki Hidehisa , Nakagawa Hidemi 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe advent of biologic treatments for psoriasis has many benefits, such as considerably improved efficacy and lower frequency of organ toxicity. While the frequency of organ dysfunction during biologic treatment is considered to be low, the incidence of infection is slightly higher. Patients on biologic treatments are regularly monitored to be able to detect the onset of infection, because there is evidence of an increase in the risk of bacterial and fungal infections during treatment. A total of 144 patients who had received biologic treatment for a year were retrospectively examined. We encountered four cases, including one of 39 patients on infliximab treatment, two of 65 patients on adalimumab treatment and one of 40 patients on ustekinumab treatment, who developed herpes zoster (HZ) within 1 year of starting biologic treatment. Our experience shows that this incidence could be higher than that in the general population, although the data is retrospective. On consideration of previous studies and our own experiences, the risk of HZ occurrence during biologic treatments for psoriasis may increase.
Changing leaf nitrogen and canopy height quantify processes leading to plant and butterfly diversity loss in agricultural landscapes
Authors: Hodgson John G. , Tallowin Jerry , Dennis Roger L. H. , Thompson Ken , Poschlod Peter , Dhanoa Mewa S. , Charles Mike , Jones Glynis , Wilson Peter , Band Stuart R. , Bogaard Amy , Palmer Carol , Carter Gaylynne , Hynd Alison 
Published: January 2014

Summary

We describe a novel method for quantifying ecosystem drivers that potentially compromise the effectiveness of agri‐environment schemes. We use three sources of data that for many countries are already in the public domain: governmental agricultural statistics, which provide a quantitative assessment of farming intensity in the ‘working landscape’, data on threat status and species distribution for plants and butterflies from conservation agencies and similar bodies and functional traits of plant species abstracted from published data bases.

Changes in land use alter ecosystem processes which in turn modify both biodiversity and representation of functional types at the landscape scale. We interpret functional shifts to quantify important ecological drivers of floristic and faunal change and their causal land use origins.

We illustrate the power of this approach by means of a worked example. We demonstrate that despite conservation policies to counteract them, eutrophication, identified by leaf nitrogen content, and abandonment, correlated with plant canopy height, are still causing biodiversity loss to native higher plants and butterflies in the English countryside.

We use our analyses to suggest how conservation policies can be made more effective and discuss how similar approaches could be applied elsewhere.
Accounting for individual behavioural variation in studies of habitat selection
Authors: Wirsing Aaron J. , Heithaus Michael R. 
Published: January 2014

A caribou wearing an animal‐borne video camera (a) and animal‐borne video footage taken from systems deployed on mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in north‐central Washington state, USA (b‐d). When paired with tracking technology, animal‐borne video can reveal detailed information about behaviour and environmental features at each location: (b) feeding, (c) vigilant in the open, (d) vigilant in cover, (e) resting in the open. Accordingly, animal‐borne video systems should allow for analyses of habitat selection by individuals in particular behavioural states.imageA caribou wearing an animal‐borne video camera (a) and animal‐borne video footage taken from systems deployed on mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in north‐central Washington state, USA (b‐d). When paired with tracking technology, animal‐borne video can reveal detailed information about behaviour and environmental features at each location: (b) feeding, (c) vigilant in the open, (d) vigilant in cover, (e) resting in the open. Accordingly, animal‐borne video systems should allow for analyses of habitat selection by individuals in particular behavioural states.
In Focus: DeCesare, N.J., Hebblewhite, M., Bradley, M., Hervieux, D., Neufeld, L. & Musiani, M. (2014) . Journal of Animal Ecology, 83, 343–352.Resource selection is often assumed to confer enhanced fitness, but this assumption is rarely examined. In a study involving woodland caribou subject to grey wolf predation, DeCesare et al. (2014) show that while patterns of selection by caribou did correspond with a fitness proxy (survival probability), individuals did not avoid wolf predation risk to the extent that would minimize mortality. Here, we use the results of this paper as a springboard for discussing the choice of fitness proxies and the need to account for individual behavioural variation in studies of resource selection.
The LonB protease controls membrane lipids composition and is essential for viability in the extremophilic haloarchaeon Haloferax volcanii
Authors: Cerletti Micaela , Martínez María J. , Giménez María I. , Sastre Diego E. , Paggi Roberto A. , De Castro Rosana E. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryAlthough homologs of the ATP‐dependent Lon protease exist in all domains of life, the relevance of this protease in archaeal physiology remains a mystery. In this study, we have constructed and phenotypically characterized deletion and conditional lon mutants in the model haloarchaeon Haloferax volcanii to elucidate the role of the unusual membrane‐bound LonB protease in archaea. Hvlon could be deleted from the chromosome only when a copy of the wild type gene was provided in trans suggesting that Lon is essential for survival in this archaeon. Successful complementation of the lethal phenotype of ΔHvlon was attained by expression of the heterologous protease gene Nmlon from the haloalkaliphilic archaeon Natrialba magadii, meaning that the biological function of Lon is conserved in these organisms. Suboptimal cellular levels of Lon protein affected growth rate, cell shape, cell pigmentation, lipid composition and sensitivity to various antibiotics. The contents of bacterioruberins and some polar lipids were increased in the lon mutants suggesting that Lon is linked to maintenance of membrane lipid balance which likely affects cell viability in this archaeon. The phenotypes associated to a membrane‐bound LonB protease mutant were examined for the first time providing insight on the relevance of this protease in archaeal physiology.
Contrasting genomic patterns and infection strategies of two co‐existing Bacteroidetes podovirus genera
Authors: Holmfeldt Karin , Howard‐Varona Cristina , Solonenko Natalie , Sullivan Matthew B. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryBacterial viruses (phages) are abundant, ecologically important biological entities. However, our understanding of their impact is limited by model systems that are primarily not well represented in nature, e.g. Enterophages and their hosts. Here, we investigate genomic characteristics and infection strategies among six aquatic Bacteroidetes phages that represent two genera of exceptionally large (∼70–75 kb genome) podoviruses, which were isolated from the same seawater sample using Cellulophaga baltica as host. Quantitative host range studies reveal that these genera have contrasting narrow (specialist) and broad (generalist) host ranges, with one‐step growth curves revealing reduced burst sizes for the generalist phages. Genomic comparisons suggest candidate genes in each genus that might explain this host range variation, as well as provide hypotheses about receptors in the hosts. One generalist phage, φ38:1, was more deeply characterized, as its infection strategy switched from lytic on its original host to either inefficient lytic or lysogenic on an alternative host. If lysogenic, this phage was maintained extrachromosomally in the alternative host and could not be induced by mitomycin C. This work provides fundamental knowledge regarding phage‐host ranges and their genomic drivers while also exploring the ‘host environment’ as a driver for switching phage replication mode.
Defence against antimicrobial peptides: different strategies in Firmicutes
Authors: Revilla‐Guarinos Ainhoa , Gebhard Susanne , Mascher Thorsten , Zúñiga Manuel 
Published: January 2014

SummaryThe Firmicutes constitute a phylum of bacteria that can be found in a wide variety of habitats, from soil to the gastrointestinal tract of animals, where they have to thrive in complex communities. Competition in these communities usually involves the production of compounds such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to eliminate competitor organisms. Animals and plants also produce AMPs to control their associated microbiota. In turn, defence mechanisms have evolved to prevent the action of these compounds. The close association of some Firmicutes with humans as prominent pathogens or commensal organisms has driven a considerable research effort on defence mechanisms used by these bacteria against antimicrobial compounds. This review focuses on the most recent advances on two well‐characterized defence mechanisms against AMPs: the modification of the cell wall by D‐alanylation and the role of peptide antibiotic‐specific adenosine triphosphate‐binding cassette transporters.
Development and validation of the Emergency Department Assessment of Chest pain Score and 2 h accelerated diagnostic protocol
Authors: Than Martin , Flaws Dylan , Sanders Sharon , Doust Jenny , Glasziou Paul , Kline Jeffery , Aldous Sally , Troughton Richard , Reid Christopher , Parsonage William A , Frampton Christopher , Greenslade Jaimi H , Deely Joanne M , Hess Erik , Sadiq Amr Bin , Singleton Rose , Shopland Rosie , Vercoe Laura , Woolhouse‐Williams Morgana , Ardagh Michael , Bossuyt Patrick , Bannister Laura , Cullen Louise 
Published: January 2014

AbstractObjectiveRisk scores and accelerated diagnostic protocols can identify chest pain patients with low risk of major adverse cardiac event who could be discharged early from the ED, saving time and costs. We aimed to derive and validate a chest pain score and accelerated diagnostic protocol (ADP) that could safely increase the proportion of patients suitable for early discharge.MethodsLogistic regression identified statistical predictors for major adverse cardiac events in a derivation cohort. Statistical coefficients were converted to whole numbers to create a score. Clinician feedback was used to improve the clinical plausibility and the usability of the final score (Emergency Department Assessment of Chest pain Score [EDACS]). EDACS was combined with electrocardiogram results and troponin results at 0 and 2 h to develop an ADP (EDACS‐ADP). The score and EDACS‐ADP were validated and tested for reproducibility in separate cohorts of patients.ResultsIn the derivation (n = 1974) and validation (n = 608) cohorts, the EDACS‐ADP classified 42.2% (sensitivity 99.0%, specificity 49.9%) and 51.3% (sensitivity 100.0%, specificity 59.0%) as low risk of major adverse cardiac events, respectively. The intra‐class correlation coefficient for categorisation of patients as low risk was 0.87.ConclusionThe EDACS‐ADP identified approximately half of the patients presenting to the ED with possible cardiac chest pain as having low risk of short‐term major adverse cardiac events, with high sensitivity. This is a significant improvement on similar, previously reported protocols. The EDACS‐ADP is reproducible and has the potential to make considerable cost reductions to health systems.
The relationship between plasma homocysteine level and HLA‐B51 in patients with Behcet's disease: a case‐control study
Authors: Shadmanfar Soraya , Shahram Farhad , Nadji Abdolhadi , Akhlaghi Maassoumeh , Faezi Seyedeh T. , Sadeghi‐Abdollahi Bahar , Faridar Alireza , Madanchi Nima , Davatchi Fereydoun 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackgroundVarious coagulation disorders have been reported to explain hypercoagulability state in Behcet's disease (BD). A possible negative association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐B51 and increased homocysteine level has been suggested in a previous report from Iranian patients with BD. The aim of this study was to find any possible relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and HLA‐B51.MethodsIn a case‐control study, BD patients (fulfilling the new International Criteria for BD) and controls (who had similar clinical symptoms but BD was clinically excluded in them) were included. Mean plasma homocysteine levels measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in HLA‐B51 positive and negative individuals both in patients and controls were compared by t‐test, Mann–Whitney test and analysis of variance (F‐test).ResultsNinety‐six BD patients and 152 controls were recruited. There was no significant difference between HLA‐B51 positive and negative individuals either in the mean plasma homocysteine levels (13.59 ± 9.03 vs. 12.95 ± 4.98 μmol/L, P = 0.514), or in the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia (17% vs. 21.4%, P = 0.504). This was true both for BD and control groups. In HLA‐B51 positive and negative BD patients, mean plasma homocysteine levels were 14.29 ± 12.02 and 12.62 ± 4.79 μmol/L, respectively (P = 0.33), and the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia was 20.8% versus 19.5% (P = 0.55). In the control group, the mean plasma homocysteine levels in HLA‐B51 positive and negative individuals were 12.85 ± 4.28 and 13.14 ± 5.10 μmol/L, respectively (P = 0.794), and the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia was 13% versus 22.1% (P = 0.23). The difference was non‐significant regarding sex (P > 0.71) and disease activity (P > 0.31).ConclusionIn contrast to our previous report, we found no relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and HLA‐B51 in this study, either in BD or in the control group.
Personal tobacco pack display before and after the introduction of plain packaging with larger pictorial health warnings in Australia: an observational study of outdoor café strips
Authors: Zacher Meghan , Bayly Megan , Brennan Emily , Dono Joanne , Miller Caroline , Durkin Sarah , Scollo Michelle , Wakefield Melanie 
Published: January 2014

AbstractAimsWe tested whether prevalence of cigarette pack display and smoking at outdoor venues and pack orientation changed following the introduction of plain packaging and larger pictorial health warnings in Australia.MethodsBetween October and April 2011–12 (pre‐plain packaging, pre‐PP) and 2012–13 (post‐plain packaging, post‐PP), we counted patrons, smokers and tobacco packs at cafés, restaurants and bars with outdoor seating. Pack type (fully branded, plain or unknown) and orientation were noted. Rates of pack display, smoking and pack orientation were analysed using multi‐level Poisson regression.ResultsPack display declined by 15% [adjusted incident rate ratio (IRR) = 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.79–0.91, P < 0.001], driven by a 23% decline in active smoking (IRR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.71–0.84, P < 0.001) between phases. The decline in pack display coincided with the full implementation of plain packaging from December 2012, was stronger in venues with children present and was limited to mid and high socio‐economic status (SES) areas. The proportion of packs orientated face‐up declined from 85.4% of fully branded packs pre‐PP to 73.6% of plain packs post‐PP (IRR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.79–0.95, P = 0.002). Alternatively, the proportions concealed by telephones, wallets or other items (4.4% of fully branded packs pre‐PP and 9.5% of plain packs post‐PP; IRR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.72–3.17, P < 0.001) and in an external case (1.5–3.5% of all packs; IRR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.77–4.40, P < 0.001) increased. Low SES areas evidenced the greatest increase in pack concealment and the greatest decline in face‐up pack orientation.ConclusionsFollowing Australia's 2012 policy of plain packaging and larger pictorial health warnings on cigarette and tobacco packs, smoking in outdoor areas of cafés, restaurants and bars and personal pack display (packs clearly visible on tables) declined. Further, a small proportion of smokers took steps to conceal packs that would otherwise be visible. Both are promising outcomes to minimize exposure to tobacco promotion.
Temporal asynchrony in fine‐root biomass may contribute to shrub and grass coexistence in mixed patches
Authors: Rodríguez María Victoria , Bertiller Mónica Beatriz 
Published: January 2014

AbstractWe described seasonal changes in fine‐root biomass of a grass and a shrub dominant species in a plant community characteristic of the arid Patagonian Monte and then we inferred to want extent the observed differences could contribute to the species coexistence. We selected representative plant patches of the natural vegetation arrangement consisting of one isolated plant of the dominant shrub Larrea divaricata (Ld), grass patches formed by one or more bunches of the dominant grass Nassella tenuis (Nt), and mixed patches consisting of one individual of L. divaricata with bunches of N. tenuis under its canopy (LdNt). We assessed the biomass and temporal changes in fine roots of each species in the upper soil (50 cm depth) of each patch type at three‐month intervals during 2 years. The temporal series of fine‐root biomass were compared among patch types and in relation to above‐ground phenology, as well as climate variables (precipitation, arid index and air temperature). Seasonal changes in fine‐root biomass showed similar cycles in the three plant patches with a maximum in spring. The maximum increase in root biomass in Ld and Nt patches occurred during the onset of reproductive growth in winter and spring, respectively. Fine‐root changes in LdNt patches mimicked that in Ld patches. Precipitation inputs were significantly positively and temperature negatively related to fine‐root changes in Nt patches. Fine‐root changes in Ld and LdNt patches were related to the aridity index (positively) and temperature (negatively). We concluded that the observed asynchronies in the date of the largest increases in root biomass and its climate control between the studied grass and shrub species could contribute to the coexistence of plants of both life forms when they overlap their root systems growing in mixed patches. Mechanisms underlying the root patterns observed should be further explored.
Do newly built homes affect rhinitis in children? The ISAAC phase III study in Korea
Authors: Hahm M.‐I. , Chae Y. , Kwon H.‐J. , Kim J. , Ahn K. , Kim W.‐K. , Lee S.‐Y. , Park Y. M. , Han M. Y. , Lee K.‐J. , Lee H.‐Y. , Min I. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackgroundAs Korea has experienced rapid economic development, the lifestyles of Koreans have become more Westernized, in terms of urbanization and dietary habits. Also, the prevalences of allergic diseases, such as rhinitis, asthma, and dermatitis, have increased rapidly. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the symptoms of rhinitis conditions, including rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, overlapped rhinitis, and overlapped allergic rhinitis, among Korean children aged 6–7 years.MethodsThe study subjects were drawn from participants in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) study in 2010 and were aged 6–7 years. We analysed data for a total of 3804 children.ResultsThe prevalences of symptoms suggestive of rhinitis and allergic rhinitis in the previous 12 months were 43.4% and 22.1%, respectively. For overlapped rhinitis and overlapped allergic rhinitis, only 2.5% and 1.9% of the children had overlapping symptoms, having rhinitis with asthma and eczema simultaneously. Gender, a parental history of allergic disease, mould or dampness at home, and the risk factors for ‘sick building syndrome’ (SBS) were risk factors influencing rhinitis diseases. In particular, a history of moving to a newly built home in the child's infancy was strongly associated with symptoms of all the rhinitis diseases examined.ConclusionsThis study identified patterns of the prevalence of rhinitis conditions among Korean children that were similar to those reported in Western countries. We confirmed that a history of moving to a newly built home during infancy was associated with a considerable risk of rhinitis conditions.