bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic value of pro‐inflammatory cytokine and pro‐angiogenesis factor in differentiating malignant from benign exudative effusion
Authors: Elhefny Radwa Ahmed , Shaban Marwa Moawad , Shaker Olfat Gamil 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackground and AimsThe precise mechanism of pathogenesis in exudation of effusions is uncertain. Released factors in inflammation and malignancy of pleura are related to incremented permeability of the micro‐pleural vessels. Angiopoietins (Ang) take part in development of angiogenesis and pleural inflammation. Interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) influences proliferation and tumor angiogenesis and it is expressed in cancer. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between inflammation, angiogenesis and etiologies of exudative effusions, and to evaluate the diagnostic value in differentiating malignant from benign.MethodsThe study includes 49 pleural fluid (PF) samples. Ang‐2 and IL‐8 in PF and serum were estimated.ResultsTen patients were transudative and 39 patients were exudative fluid, subdivided into 16 benign and 23 malignant effusion. Ang‐2 and IL‐8 either fluid level or ratio were in significantly high in exudative more than in transudative fluid (P = 0.002). Ang‐2 and IL‐8 in PF were in high level than in serum of exudative and transudative. Ang‐2 fluid level and ratio were significantly high in benign exudative effusion (P = 0.01, P = 0.05, respectively), while IL‐8 level was significantly high in malignant exudative effusion (P = 0.04). Cut‐off points for PF Ang‐2 and IL‐8 in differentiating malignant from benign exudative were 15.67 ng/mL, 325.54 pg/mL, respectively.ConclusionOur results support the evidence that angiogenesis and inflammatory pathways are linked, and that inflammation and vascular permeability of pleura constitutes the pathogenic basis of the majority of exudative effusion.
Temporal variation in body size and weapon allometry in the New Zealand giraffe weevil
Authors: PAINTING CHRISTINA J. , HOLWELL GREGORY I. 
Published: April 2015

1. Body size and exaggerated traits can show high phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental variation. Trait size can vary among generations but also fluctuate within a breeding season in response to resource availability.2. This study documents patterns of temporal variation in body and weapon size, and in weapon allometry over 3 years for a wild population of New Zealand giraffe weevils [Lasiorhynchus barbicornis (Fabricius)], the males of which display an extremely elongated rostrum used as a weapon during contests for females.3. It was predicted that body size and rostrum allometry would decrease during a breeding season, but in spite of significant annual and seasonal variation there was little evidence to support these predictions. Weapon allometry in males was more variable between years and over the breeding season than females, suggesting that male rostrum size may be more susceptible to environmental change than female rostrum size.
Establishment and dissemination of hypovirulent strains of Cryphonectria parasitica in Greece
Authors: Diamandis S. , Perlerou C. , Tziros G.T. , Christopoulos V. , Topalidou E. 
Published: April 2015

SummaryChestnut blight caused by Cryphonectria parasitica has been one of the major reasons for the decline of chestnut cultivation in Greece over the last 50 years. A previous detailed study of the vc types of the fungus has revealed only four vc types in the entire country, those of EU‐1, EU‐2 and EU‐10 with the dominant being EU‐12 counting for 88% of the isolates. As the loss in orchard trees reached in some chestnut producing prefectures over 35% of the trees, the decision was taken to apply biological control on a nationwide scale. The project was implemented in 17 prefectures during the period 2007–2009. Hypovirulent (hv) strains of C. parasitica which were infected by the CHV‐1 subtype I (Italian subtype) viruses which occur naturally in Greece were used. The necessary hypovirulent inoculum was prepared at the Forest Research Institute during the period 2007–2009 on a large scale, however, with laboratory care. Three million inoculations were made around accessible developing cankers over three consecutive years by trained personnel. An extensive evaluation conducted in 2011 in the 12 of the 17 treated prefectures, where no natural hypovirulence had been found before, demonstrated not only the successful establishment of hypovirulence but also profound dissemination and healing of non‐inoculated cankers. The extent of dissemination varied significantly among sampling plots and among prefectures. The conclusion is drawn that CHV‐1 subtype I has successfully established and spread into chestnut orchards and coppice forests resulting in a gradual decline of chestnut blight.
The role of stop‐signal probability and expectation in proactive inhibition
Authors: Vink Matthijs , Kaldewaij Reinoud , Zandbelt Bram B. , Pas Pascal , du Plessis Stefan 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe subjective belief of what will happen plays an important role across many cognitive domains, including response inhibition. However, tasks that study inhibition do not distinguish between the processing of objective contextual cues indicating stop‐signal probability and the subjective expectation that a stop‐signal will or will not occur. Here we investigated the effects of stop‐signal probability and the expectation of a stop‐signal on proactive inhibition. Twenty participants performed a modified stop‐signal anticipation task while being scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging. At the beginning of each trial, the stop‐signal probability was indicated by a cue (0% or > 0%), and participants had to indicate whether they expected a stop‐signal to occur (yes/no/don't know). Participants slowed down responding on trials with a > 0% stop‐signal probability, but this proactive response slowing was even greater when they expected a stop‐signal to occur. Analyses were performed in brain regions previously associated with proactive inhibition. Activation in the striatum, supplementary motor area and left dorsal premotor cortex during the cue period was increased when participants expected a stop‐signal to occur. In contrast, activation in the right inferior frontal gyrus and right inferior parietal cortex activity during the stimulus‐response period was related to the processing of contextual cues signalling objective stop‐signal probability, regardless of expectation. These data show that proactive inhibition depends on both the processing of objective contextual task information and the subjective expectation of stop‐signals.
Different cortical projections from three subdivisions of the rat lateral posterior thalamic nucleus: a single‐neuron tracing study with viral vectors
Authors: Nakamura Hisashi , Hioki Hiroyuki , Furuta Takahiro , Kaneko Takeshi 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe lateral posterior thalamic nucleus (LP) is one of the components of the extrageniculate pathway in the rat visual system, and is cytoarchitecturally divided into three subdivisions – lateral (LPl), rostromedial (LPrm), and caudomedial (LPcm) portions. To clarify the differences in the dendritic fields and axonal arborisations among the three subdivisions, we applied a single‐neuron labeling technique with viral vectors toLPneurons. The proximal dendrites ofLPl neurons were more numerous than those ofLPrm andLPcm neurons, andLPrm neurons tended to have wider dendritic fields thanLPl neurons. We then analysed the axonal arborisations ofLPneurons by reconstructing the axon fibers in the cortex. TheLPl,LPrm andLPcm were different from one another in terms of the projection targets – the main target cortical regions ofLPl andLPrm neurons were the secondary and primary visual areas, whereas those ofLPcm neurons were the postrhinal and temporal association areas. Furthermore, the principal target cortical layers ofLPl neurons in the visual areas were middle layers, but that ofLPrm neurons was layer 1. This indicates thatLPl andLPrm neurons can be categorised into the core and matrix types of thalamic neurons, respectively, in the visual areas. In addition,LPl neurons formed multiple axonal clusters within the visual areas, whereas the fibers ofLPrm neurons were widely and diffusely distributed. It is therefore presumed that these two types of neurons play different roles in visual information processing by dual thalamocortical innervation of the visual areas.
High variability in tegminal venation of primitive cercopoids (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha), as implied by the new discovery of fossils from the Middle Jurassic of China
Authors: Chen Jun , Zhang Haichun , Wang Bo , Zheng Xiaoting , Wang Xiaoli 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe Procercopidae is the most ancient family of the Cercopoidea and is known to be low in diversity. Herein, a new genus and species of Procercopidae, Titanocercopis borealis Chen, Zhang & Wang, is erected from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou of Inner Mongolia, China. The venation patterns show considerable intra‐specific or even intra‐individual variation in specimens involved in this study, suggesting that the flight ability of these primitive cercopoids might be not very strong. The new genus differs from other known genera by the following combination of morphological characters: body and tegmen large; tegmen with clavus long and narrow; apical margin rounded; vein M bifurcating basal of or almost at the same level of vein CuA bifurcation; stem ScP+R short, nearly straight, and branching into veins ScP+RA and RP near basal 1/3 wing length.
Antlered richardiid flies: new species of Richardia (Tephritoidea: Richardiidae) with antler‐like genal processes
Authors: Wendt Lisiane D. , Ale‐Rocha Rosaly 
Published: April 2015

AbstractWithin Richardiidae, Richardia infestans, from Colombia, is the only known species to have genal processes, which are structures formed by the extension of the cuticle on the lateral margin of the gena. In the present work, six new species, with different patterns of antler‐like genal processes, are described. An identification key and illustrations are provided. Richardia bella sp. nov., R. modesta sp. nov. and R. vitta sp. nov. are recorded from Costa Rica; R. advena sp. nov. is recorded from Costa Rica and Panama; R. simplex sp. nov. is recorded from Panama; and R. ornatella sp. nov. is recorded from Ecuador.
Predicting Predatory Outcomes in the Context of Carryover Effects: Interactions between Juvenile Frogs and Spider Predators
Authors: Youngquist Melissa B. , Sitvarin Michael I. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractAs representatives of organisms with complex life histories, frogs provide an ideal system to study predator‐induced carryover effects: how the risk of predation in one life stage can impact predator–prey interactions in a later stage. Invertebrate predation on frogs has been widely reported, although studies of the behavioral mechanisms underlying their interactions in the terrestrial stage have been lacking. We made detailed observations of interactions between a wolf spider (Tigrosa helluo) and Blanchard's cricket frog (Acris blanchardi) to determine factors that predict capture success and to evaluate potential carryover effects from aquatic predation risk. Juvenile frogs, reared with or without dragonfly predator cues, were placed in an arena with or without spider cues and allowed to interact with a spider. Spiders captured frogs, and an interaction between frog size and activity predicted frog survival. We found no evidence that either aquatic or terrestrial cues altered frog behavior or survival. By preying upon a demographically important life stage, spiders may contribute to population dynamics in frogs.
The Role of Wing Coloration in Sex Recognition and Competitor Recognition in Rubyspot Damselflies (Hetaerina spp.)
Authors: Grether Gregory F. , Drury Jonathan P. , Berlin Erin , Anderson Christopher N. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe decision rules that animals use for distinguishing between conspecifics of different age and sex classes are relevant for understanding how closely related species interact in sympatry. In rubyspot damselflies (Hetaerina spp.), the red wing coloration of mature males is hypothesized to be a key trait for sex recognition and competitor recognition within species and the proximate trigger for interspecific male–male aggression. We tested this hypothesis by manipulating the wing coloration of tethered conspecific intruders and measuring the responses of territory holders of three species in the field. As predicted, covering the red spots of mature males with black ink nearly eliminated territorial responses, and in some cases, territorial holders clasped the blackened males as if they were females. Adding red spots to female wings triggered territorial responses and nearly eliminated sexual responses. Immature males with artificial red spots were attacked at the same rate as mature male intruders, and much more frequently than were immature male controls. The results varied somewhat by species. In H. titia, the only species of Hetaerina with substantial black wing pigmentation, the effects of blackening the red spots of intruders varied both geographically and seasonally. But even when blackening the red spots of male intruders did not reduce the aggressive response of H. titia territory holders, adding artificial red spots to female wings elicited aggressive responses and nearly eliminated sexual responses. The results of this study further strengthen the evidence that interspecific aggression in Hetaerina results from overlap in territorial signals and that the derived black wing pigmentation of H. titia reduces interspecific aggression.
Injuries and outcome of three horses hospitalised in the aftermath ofHurricaneIsaac
Authors: Freeman C. E. , Mirza M. H. , Pescosolido K. C. , McConnico R. S. 
Published: April 2015

SummaryThis case series describes 3 horses rescued from flooded areas, hospitalised and treated at theLouisianaStateUniversityVeterinaryTeachingHospital in the wake ofHurricaneIsaac. The purpose of the paper is to familiarise practitioners with the injuries that may be found in flood‐afflicted horses and livestock.Case 1presented with a degloving injury of the right hindlimb. The gelding developed neurological signs and was subjected to euthanasia; necropsy was consistent withSalmonellasepsis and disseminated mycosis due toCandida krusei, the first case reported in a horse.Case 2presented with dermatitis attributable to chemical exposure and pneumonia and was subjected to euthanasia due to severe bilateral laminitis.Case 3sustained a degloving injury of the left hindlimb and was subjected to euthanasia due to intractable pain. This case series illustrates the need for preparation and evacuation to avoid life‐threatening injuries in equids and livestock caused by hurricanes and their aftermath.
Diagnosing disorders of the equine oesophagus
Authors: Sutton D. G. M. 
Published: April 2015

SummaryMost disorders of the equine cervical oesophagus present with a similar range of clinical signs, resulting from acute, chronic or recurrent impediment to the transit of ingesta and saliva. These include profuse frothy nasal discharge and dysphagia with gagging and coughing. Rupture of the cervical oesophagus is characterised by a painful ventral swelling at the affected site with crepitus, cellulitis and potential drainage of necrotic material. Disorders of the thoracic and abdominal segments of the oesophagus are less well recognised and clinical signs are more insidious in onset. Catastrophic damage to the thoracic oesophagus may occur without previous signs of obstruction. Pyrexia, tachycardia, tachypnoea and vague colic signs may be the first manifestations of perforation of the thoracic oesophagus, resulting from a progressive septic pleural effusion. Rupture of the thoracic oesophagus should be a differential in any horse presenting with an unexplained pleural effusion and ruled out by careful endoscopic examination.
Nitrogen limitation of heterotrophic biofilms in boreal streams
Authors: Burrows Ryan M. , Hotchkiss Erin R. , Jonsson Micael , Laudon Hjalmar , McKie Brendan G. , Sponseller Ryan A. 
Published: April 2015

Summary

Nutrient limitation of the biofilm is fundamental to stream ecosystem processes, as microbial activity shapes the biological availability and biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nutrients.

We used nutrient‐diffusing substrata (NDS) to investigate heterotrophic nutrient limitation of microbial respiration (MR) across 20 streams draining boreal landscapes in northern Sweden. We also explored variation in microbial biomass and community structure of biofilms that developed on NDS using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) biomarkers. Limitation was determined as a significant response of MR and biomass production on cellulose surfaces to enrichment with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) or N + P, relative to controls.

Microbial respiration was N‐limited, with an average 3.3‐fold increase on N‐amended NDS. Nitrogen limitation decreased, and control rates of MR increased, with greater background concentrations of inorganic N across the sites.

In contrast to MR, microbial biomass was primarily N‐limited but was greatest for the N + P NDS. Accordingly, differences in respiratory versus biomass responses to nutrient addition resulted in significantly greater biomass‐specific MR on N‐amended NDS compared to all other treatments. In addition, PLFA biomarkers indicated distinct microbial communities on N and N + P NDS compared to controls and/or P NDS.

Greater MR and biomass, and the development of distinct microbial communities, when supplied with inorganic N suggest that factors which alter aquatic N loading during autumn may have important implications for ecosystem processes and the biogeochemistry of boreal streams and rivers. Our findings add to a growing body of evidence that the productivity of Fennoscandian boreal landscapes is constrained by N availability.
Exploring the spatially explicit predictions of the Maximum Entropy Theory of Ecology
Authors: McGlinn D. J. , Xiao X. , Kitzes J. , White E. P. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractAimThe maximum entropy theory of ecology (METE) is a unified theory of biodiversity that attempts to simultaneously predict patterns of species abundance, size and spatial structure. The spatial predictions of this theory have repeatedly performed well at predicting diversity patterns across scales. However, the theoretical development and evaluation of METE has focused on predicting patterns that ignore intersite spatial correlations. As a result the theory has not been evaluated using one of the core components of spatial structure. We develop and test a semi‐recursive version of the spatially explicit predictions of METE for the distance–decay relationship of community similarity and compare its performance with the classic random placement model of completely random species distributions. This provides a better understanding and stronger test of the spatial community predictions of METE.LocationNew World tropical and temperate plant communities.MethodsWe analytically derived and simulated the spatially explicit expectations of METE for the Sørensen index of community similarity. We then compared the distance–decay of community similarity of 16 mapped plant communities with METE and the random placement model.ResultsThe version of METE we examined was successful at capturing the general functional form of the observed distance–decay relationships, a negative power function relationship between community similarity and distance. However, the semi‐recursive approach consistently predicted lower intercepts and higher slopes than observed in the empirical distance–decay relationships and yielded worse predictions than the random placement model.Main conclusionsOur results suggest that while the current spatial models of METE accurately predict the spatial scaling of species occupancy, and therefore core ecological patterns like the species–area relationship, its semi‐recursive form does not accurately characterize spatially explicit patterns of correlation. More generally, this suggests that tests of spatial theories based only on the species–area relationship may appear to support the underlying theory despite significant deviations in important aspects of spatial structure.
Close agreement between pollen‐based and forest inventory‐based models of vegetation turnover
Authors: Nieto‐Lugilde Diego , Maguire Kaitlin C. , Blois Jessica L. , Williams John W. , Fitzpatrick Matthew C. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractAimFossil records are being increasingly used to help understand the consequences of climate change for biodiversity. Pollen records from the late Quaternary are among the most commonly used fossil data, but pollen‐based inferences of biodiversity can potentially be confounded by spatial and taxonomic uncertainties and the influence of non‐climatic abiotic factors such as soils on vegetation–climate relationships. Using paired pollen and vegetation inventories, we assess the fidelity of pollen‐based estimates of compositional turnover of vegetation along environmental gradients given various sources of uncertainty.LocationEastern United States.MethodsWe used modern pollen records and forest composition data from Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots to fit generalized dissimilarity models. To address how uncertainties in pollen records affect estimates of turnover, we coarsened the vegetation data spatially from individual plots to 10‐ and 30‐arcmin resolution and taxonomically from species to genus. To determine whether soil properties influenced turnover, we used deviance partitioning between models including climate or soil variables versus models with a combination of both.ResultsPollen‐based estimates of turnover were highly correlated with those based on FIA data, but tended to be lower, mainly due to differences in taxonomic resolution and secondarily to differences in spatial resolution. Neither spatial nor taxonomic uncertainty substantially reduced the correlation between pollen‐ and FIA‐based estimates of turnover. FIA data best matched pollen records when they were aggregated to genus and 30‐arcmin resolution. Vegetation–climate relationships were similar across datasets, although models sometimes differed. The influence of soil variables was negligible compared with climate variables and did not improve model fit. Pollen thresholds did not greatly affect the form and strength of pollen–vegetation relationships.Main conclusionsPollen can act as a robust proxy for vegetation turnover, thereby supporting the use of pollen‐based estimates of turnover to predict temporal changes in vegetation.
Magnitude of the termite problem and its potential anthropogenic causes in Nakasongola district of Uganda
Authors: Mugerwa Swidiq 
Published: April 2015

AbstractLocated in central Uganda, the grasslands of Nakasongola face devastation of herbaceous vegetation by subterranean termites. Reduction in the preferred food of termites (plant litter), and loss of their natural predators and parasites are known to be major factors contributing to the damage imposed by termites on grassland vegetation. This review analyzes the situation with respect to termites in the area to draw the attention of ecologists, conservationists, policy makers and farmers, to the current and future threats of subterranean termites to the functioning and sustainability of this ecosystem. The suppressive effect of anthropogenic activities on termites' food resources, populations of natural enemies and the resultant escalation in termite populations is discussed. I hypothesize that tree cutting, overgrazing and overhunting are reducing the food resources and predator populations and, consequently, are enhancing the current destructive behavior of termites in the rangelands of Uganda. It is suggested that intervention for sustainable management of termites in the area should consider restoring their natural food sources and predators to reestablish the ecological equilibrium between termites and other components of the ecosystem.