bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Avian species identity drives predation success in tropical cacao agroforestry
Authors: Maas Bea , Tscharntke Teja , Saleh Shahabuddin , Dwi Putra Dadang , Clough Yann 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Avian ecosystem services such as the suppression of pests are considered to be of high ecological and economic importance in a range of ecosystems, especially in tropical agroforestry. However, how bird predation success is related to the diversity and composition of the bird community, as well as local and landscape factors, is poorly understood.

We quantified arthropod predation in relation to the identity and diversity of insectivorous birds using experimental exposure of artificial, caterpillar‐like prey in 15 smallholder cacao agroforestry systems differing in local shade‐tree management and distance to primary forest. The bird community was assessed using both mist‐netting (targeting active understorey insectivores) and point counts (higher completeness of species inventories).

Bird predation was not related to local shade‐tree management or overall bird species diversity, but to the activity of insectivorous bird species and the proximity to primary forest. Insectivore activity was best predicted by mist‐netting‐based data, not by point counts. We identified the abundant Indonesian endemic lemon‐bellied white‐eye Zosterops chloris as the main driver of predation on artificial prey.

Synthesis and applications. The suppression of arthropods is a major ecosystem service provided by insectivorous birds in agricultural systems world‐wide, potentially reducing herbivore damage on plants and increasing yields. Our results show that avian predation success can be driven by single and abundant insectivorous species, rather than by overall bird species richness. Forest proximity was important for enhancing the density of this key species, but did also promote bird species richness. Hence, our findings are both of economical as well as ecological interest because the conservation of nearby forest remnants will likely benefit human needs and biodiversity conservation alike.
Sugar provisioning maximizes the biocontrol service of parasitoids
Authors: Tena Alejandro , Pekas Apostolos , Cano Dalmert , Wäckers Felix L. , Urbaneja Alberto 
Published: March 2015

Summary

There is increasing interest in the use of food supplements in agriculture to enhance the performance of parasitoids as part of conservation biological control. Nevertheless, there is limited evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach, and this shortage of successful examples raises doubt regarding the validity of this approach.

The use of sugar sources relies on tiered premises that: (i) parasitoids are sugar limited and (ii) this limitation is alleviated through the provision of sugar sources, thereby increasing both (iii) parasitoid fitness and (iv) the population density, which together lead to (v) an increase in parasitism. In the present study, we address these five premises through experiments examining the release of the parasitoid Aphytis melinus DeBach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) into the citrus agroecosystem with and without sugars.

The results demonstrated that A. melinus is sugar limited when honeydew producers are scarce in the field. The provision of sugars did not increase the sugar contents in A. melinus females but rather increased the realized fecundity in these parasitoids, suggesting that females use energy for foraging and oviposition.

Sugar sources increased the parasitoid population density twofold, and this increase most likely reflects the enhanced parasitoid longevity.

Higher population densities and the increased realized fecundity of A. melinus obtained from trees with sugars were reflected in a twofold increase of parasitized hosts.

Synthesis and applications. This study provides the first evidence supporting the five premises underlying sugar provisioning for parasitoids and demonstrates the potential value of sugar provisioning to enhance natural pest control in agricultural systems.
Comparing impacts of alien plants and animals in Europe using a standard scoring system
Authors: Kumschick Sabrina , Bacher Sven , Evans Thomas , Marková Zuzana , Pergl Jan , Pyšek Petr , Vaes‐Petignat Sibylle , van der Veer Gabriel , Vilà Montserrat , Nentwig Wolfgang 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Alien species can change the recipient environment in various ways, and some of them cause considerable damage. Understanding such impacts is crucial to direct management actions. This study addresses the following questions: Is it possible to quantify impact across higher taxa in a comparative manner? Do impacts differ between taxonomic groups? How are environmental and socio‐economic impacts related? Can impacts be predicted based on those in other regions?

To address these questions, we reviewed literature describing the impacts of 300 species from five major taxonomic groups: mammals, birds, fish, terrestrial arthropods and plants. To make very diverse impact measures comparable, we used the semi‐quantitative generic impact scoring system (GISS) which describes environmental and socio‐economic impacts using twelve categories. In each category, scores range from zero (no impact known or detectable) to five (the highest possible impact).

Using the same scoring system for taxa as diverse as invertebrates, vertebrates and plants, we found that overall, alien mammals in Europe have the highest impact, while fish have the lowest. Terrestrial arthropods were found to have the lowest environmental impact, while fish had relatively low socio‐economic impact.

Overall, the magnitude of environmental and socio‐economic impacts of individual alien species is highly correlated. However, at the species level, major deviations are found.

For mammals and birds, the impacts in invaded ranges outside of Europe are broadly similar to those recorded for alien species within Europe, indicating that a consideration of the known impacts of a species in other regions can be generally useful when predicting the impacts of an alien species. However, it should be noted that this pattern is not consistent across all mammal and bird orders, and thus, such information should be considered with caution.

Synthesis and applications. Comparing the impacts of alien species across taxa is necessary for prioritizing management efforts and effective allocation of resources. By applying the generic impact scoring system (GISS) to five major taxonomic groups, we provide the basis for a semi‐quantitative cross‐taxa listing process (e.g. ‘black lists’ or 100‐worst‐lists). If more data are collated from different geographical regions and habitats using standard GISS protocols, risk assessments for alien species based on rigorous measures of impact could be improved by taking into account local variation, and context dependence of impacts. This would also allow studies at lower taxonomic levels, and within‐taxon analyses of functional groups and guilds.
miR‐30c Mediates Upregulation of Cdc42 and Pak1 in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Raut Satish K. , Kumar Akhilesh , Singh Gurinder B. , Nahar Uma , Sharma Vibhuti , Mittal Anupam , Sharma Rajni , Khullar Madhu 
Published: March 2015

SummaryAimCardiac hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis significantly contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Altered expression of several genes and their regulation by microRNAs has been reported in hypertrophied failing hearts. This study aims to examine the role of Cdc42, Pak1, and miR‐30c in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy in DCM.MethodsDCM was induced in Wistar rats by low‐dose streptozotocin‐high‐fat diet for 12 weeks. Cardiac expression of Cdc42, Pak1 and miR‐30c, and hypertrophy markers (ANP and β‐MHC) was studied in DCM vs control rats and in high‐glucose (HG)‐treated H9c2 cardiomyocytes.ResultsDiabetic rats showed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, increased heart‐to‐body weight ratio, and an increased expression of ANP and β‐MHC. Cardiac expression of Cdc42 and Pak1 genes was increased in diabetic hearts and in HG‐treated cardiomyocytes. miR‐30c was identified to target Cdc42 and Pak1 genes, and cardiac miR‐30c expression was found to be decreased in DCM rats, patients with DCM, and in HG‐treated cardiomyocytes. miR‐30c overexpression decreased Cdc42 and Pak1 genes and attenuated HG‐induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, whereas miR‐30c inhibition increased Cdc42 and Pak1 gene expression and myocyte hypertrophy in HG‐treated cardiomyocytes.ConclusionDownregulation of miR‐30c mediates prohypertrophic effects of hyperglycemia in DCM by upregulation of Cdc42 and Pak1 genes.
A New Mesopsychid (Mecoptera) from the Middle Jurassic of Northeastern China
Authors: ChungKun SHIH , Xiao QIAO , LABANDEIRA Conrad C. , Dong REN 
Published: March 2015

Abstract:The family Mesopsychidae Tillyard, 1917 presently consists of ten described genera from the Early Permian to the Early Cretaceous of Australia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, South Africa, Tajikistan, and Ukraine. Herein, a new genus and a new species of fossil mesopsychid, Epicharmesopsyche pentavenulosa gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia, China, supplementing the family‐level diversity. The well‐preserved, new material reveals many characters, including antennae, wing venation, shape and genitalia that increase our morphological understanding of the family, although unfortunately the mouthparts and most of the legs are not preserved. Diagnosis of the Mesopsychidae is emended to include a four‐ or five‐branched MP in both the fore‐ and hind wings. This is the first documentation of a wing coupling structure in the Mesopsychidae, consisting of three to four frenula bristles on the humeral lobe at the base of the costal margin of both hind wings. Asymmetrical shape and size of the left and right wings on a specimen of E. pentavenulosa gen. et sp. nov., seems to be a common condition for mesopsychid taxa from northeastern China.
Compaction Rate of an Early Permian Volcanic Tuff from Wuda Coalfield, Inner Mongolia
Authors: Jun WANG , Xuezhi HE , PFEFFERKORN Hermann W. , Jinrong WANG 
Published: March 2015

Abstract:Compaction rates of sediments or volcaniclastic material are needed to reconstruct original thickness of a bed, which in turn is required to reconstruct subsidence rates, sea‐level rise, or in the case of volcaniclastic, the location or direction of the eruption site. The knowledge of compaction rates can also aid in the reconstruction of deformed fossils. The known shape of deformed fossils can allow the determination of the compaction they experienced. Here we report the compaction rate in an early Permian volcanic tuff from Wuda, Inner Mongolia, determined from the deformation of standing tree fern stems of known anatomy. The compaction rate has been found to be 0.56 in this case, indicating that 44% of original thickness remains.
New Schizolepis Fossils from the Early Cretaceous in Inner Mongolia, China and its Phylogenetic Position
Authors: Xiaohui XU , Ruiyun LI , Chong DONG , Qiujun WANG , Peihong JIN , Bainian SUN 
Published: March 2015

Abstract:Three Schizolepis species collected from the Lower Cretaceous layer of the Huolinhe Basin, Inner Mongolia, China are described. These fossils are Schizolepis longipetiolus Xu XH et Sun BN sp. nov., which is a new species, Schizolepis cf. heilongjiangensis Zheng et Zhang, and Schizolepis neimengensis Deng. The new species is a well‐preserved female cone, slender and cylindrical in shape. The seed–scale complexes have long petioles and are arranged on the cone axis loosely and helically. The seed scales are divided into two lobes from the base. Each lobe is semicircular or elongate ligulate in shape, widest at the middle or the lower middle part, with an obtuse or bluntly pointed apex. The inner margin is almost straight and the outer margin is strongly arched. On the surface of the lobe, there are longitudinal and somewhat radial striations from the base to the margin. The seed is borne on the adaxial surface at the base or middle of each lobe. Schizolepis was established in 1847, and, although more than twenty species have been discovered and reported, its phylogenetic position is controversial because of the imperfection of fossils. Most authors have considered there to be a close evolutionary relationship between Schizolepis and extant Pinaceae. Here, we analyze characteristics and compare Schizolepis with Picea crassifolia Kom, which is morphologically most similar to Schizolepis. The results indicate that the genus probably has a distant evolutionary relationship with extant Pinaceae. A detailed statistical analysis of the global paleogeographic distribution of Schizolepis showed that all the fossils of this genus appeared in strata ranging from the Upper Triassic to the Lower Cretaceous in the North Hemisphere, being rare in the Upper Triassic and Lower Jurassic, but being very common from the Middle Jurassic to the Lower Cretaceous, and particularly abundant in the Lower Cretaceous. According to the statistical results, we speculate that the genus originated in Europe in the Late Triassic then spread from Europe to Asia between the Late Triassic and the Late Jurassic. In the Early Cretaceous most species existed in China's three northeastern Provinces and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and adjacent areas. Combining the paleogeographic distribution of the genus with ancient climatic factors, we deduced that Schizolepis began to decline and became extinct in the Early Cretaceous, and the reason for its extinction is closely related to the icehouse climate during the Early Cretaceous.
Stable Carbon Isotope Variations in Cave Percolation Waters and their Implications in Four Caves of Guizhou, China
Authors: Weijun LUO , Shijie WANG , Xingneng XIE , Yunchao ZHOU , Tingyu LI 
Published: March 2015

Abstract:Monitoring and sampling of main plants, soil CO2, soil water, bedrock, spring water, drip water and its corresponding speleothem were performed at four cave systems of Guizhou, Southwest China, from April 2003 to May 2004, in order to understand stable carbon isotope ratios variations of dissolved inorganic Carbon (DIC) in cave percolation waters (δ13CDIC) and their implications for paleoclimate. Stable carbon isotopic compositions and ions (Ca, Mg, Sr, SO4, Cl etc.) were measured for all samples. The results indicate that there are significant differences among the δ13CDIC values from inter‐cave, even inter‐drip of intra‐cave in the four caves. The δ13CDIC values from the Liangfeng Cave (LFC) is lightest among the four caves, where vegetation type overlying the cave is primary forest dominated by tall trees with lighter average δ13C value (−29.9‰). And there are remarkable differences in δ13CDIC values of different drip waters in the Qixing Cave (QXC) and Jiangjun Cave (JJC), up to 6.9‰ and 7.8‰, respectively. Further analyses show that the δ13CDIC values in cave drip waters are not only controlled by vegetation biomass overlying the cave, but also hydro‐geochemical processes. Therefore, accurate interpreting of δ13C recorded in speleothems cannot be guaranteed if these effects of the above mentioned factors are not taken into consideration.
Prediction of Flowing Bottomhole Pressures for Two‐Phase Coalbed Methane Wells
Authors: Xinfu LIU 
Published: March 2015

Abstract:A method is proposed to predict the flowing bottomhole pressures (FBHPs) for two‐phase coalbed methane (CBM) wells. The mathematical models for both gas column pressure and two‐phase fluid column pressure were developed based on the well liquid flow equation. FBHPs during the production were predicted by considering the effect of entrained liquid on gravitational gradients. Comparison of calculated BHPs by Cullender‐Smith and proposed method was also studied. The results show that the proposed algorithm gives the desired accuracy of calculating BHPs in the low‐productivity and low‐pressure CBM wells. FBHP is resulted from the combined action of wellhead pressure, gas column pressure and fluid column pressure. Variation of kinetic energy term, compressibility and friction factors with depth increments and liquid holdup with velocity should be considered to simulate the real BHPs adequately. BHP is a function of depth of each column segment. The small errors of less than 1.5% between the calculated and measured values are obtained with each segment within 25 m. Adjusting BHPs can effectively increase production pressure drop, which is beneficial to CBM desorption and enhances reservoir productivity. The increment of pressure drop from 5.37 MPa2 to 8.66 MPa2 leads to an increase of CBM production from 3270 m3/d to 6700 m3/d and is attributed to a decrease in BHP from 2.25 MPa to 1.33 MPa.
Geochemical Modelling of Fluoride Concentration in Hard Rock Terrain of Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: THAKUR Jay Krishna , SINGH Prafull , SINGH Sudhir Kumar , BHAGHEL Bijendra 
Published: March 2015

Abstract:The aim of the present study is to locate and decipher the groundwater quality, types, and hydrogeochemical reactions, which are responsible for elevated concentration of fluoride in the Chhindwara district in Madhya Pradesh, India. Groundwater samples, quality data and other ancillary information were collected for 26 villages in the Chhindwara District, M.P. India during May 2006. The saturation index was computed for the selected samples in the region, which suggest that generally most of the minerals are saturated with respect to water. The concentration of fluoride in the region varies from 0.6 to 4.74 mg/l, which is much higher as per the national and international water quality standards. The study also reveals that the fluoride bearing rock formations are the main source of the higher concentration of fluoride in groundwater along with the conjuncture of land use change. Moreover, the area is a hard rock terrain and consists of fractured granites and amygdaloidal and highly jointed compact basalt acting as good aquifer, which is probably enriching the high content of fluoride in groundwater. High concentration of fluoride is found in deeper level of groundwater and it is possible due to rock‐water interaction, which requires further detailed investigation. The highly alkaline conditions indicate fluorite dissolution, which works as a major process for higher concentration of fluoride in the study area. The results of this study will ultimately help in the identification of risk areas and taking measures to mitigate negative impacts related to fluoride pollution and toxicity.
Ichnofossils from the Miocene Middle Bhuban Formation, Mizoram, Northeast India and their Paleoenvironmental Significance
Authors: LOKHO Kapesa , SINGH Birendra P. 
Published: March 2015

Abstract:An ichnofossil assemblage is preserved in sediments of the Middle Bhuban Formation, Surma Group, of Miocene age from the Durtlang and Chanmari sections, Aizawl district, Mizoram, northeastern India. The studied sections comprise a thick, bioturbated and thinly bedded sandstone–silty shale facies. The preserved ichnofossils show high density and low diversity with the assemblage represented by feeding and resting traces, i.e., Psilonichnus upsilon Frey et al., 1984, Ophiomorpha isp., Teichichnus spiralis Mikuláš. 1990, Skolithos isp., Palaeophycus isp., and other horizontal burrows. Sedimentary structures associated with these traces are mainly cross bedding, flaser bedding and slump structures. Considering the distribution of the Psilonichnus ichnogenus across an integrated ichnological‐sedimentological framework, the stratigraphic interval of the Middle Bhuban Formation, in which they occur, are interpreted to have been deposited under a shallow, marginal‐marine channel complex dominated by tidal channels developed in quiet, brackish‐water portions of a delta plain.
A New Specimen of Shansisuchus shansisuchus Young, 1964 (Diapsida: Archosauriformes) from the Triassic of Shanxi, China
Authors: Runfu WANG , Shichao XU , Xiaochun WU , Chun LI , Suozhu WANG 
Published: March 2015

Abstract:Shansisuchus shansisuchus Young, 1964 was restudied on the basis of a new specimen. Some anatomical features that were either briefly or not described at all in the original study were detailed. The new specimen not only provides further information on the skull anatomy and the vertebral column but also expands the range of the geographical distribution of the taxon. With new information, the diagnosis of S. shansisuchus was emended and its phylogenetic relationships were further analyzed. S. shansisuchus differs from other archosauriforms primarily in the presence of a large subnarial fenestra anterior to the antorbital fenestra, tongue‐in‐groove articulations between the ascending process of the premaxilla and nasal and between the premaxilla and maxilla, a tall and posterodorsally directed ascending process of the maxilla, a knee‐shaped process of the postorbital projecting into the orbit, a broad descending process of squamosal distally well forked and a large, deeply bow‐shaped intercentrum tightly anchoring/capping the sharp ventral edges of two neighboring centra together in cervical and at least first eight dorsal vertebrae. With additional information derived from the new specimen, the phylogenetic relationships of S. shansisuchus were reanalyzed; it is closely related to Erythrosuchus‐Vjushkovia clade.
Implementation and preliminary validation of a new score that predicts post‐operative complications
Authors: CHELAZZI C. , VILLA G. , VIGNALE I. , FALSINI S. , BONI L. , DE GAUDIO A. R. 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundAn accurate pre‐operative risk assessment could reduce morbidity and mortality for high‐risk surgical patients. The aim of the study was to implement and preliminary validate a new score that could predict the occurrence of post‐operative complications (PoCs): the Anesthesiological and Surgical Postoperative Risk Assessment (ASPRA) score.MethodsThe ASPRA score was created through a literature's review; a score of 1–3 was given to each identified risk factor, according to its statistical correlation with PoC. ASPRA was retrospectively applied to a derivation set of 176 surgical patients. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis evaluated the discriminating ability of the score and cutoff value in predicting the occurrence of PoCs, according to the Clavien‐Dindo classification of surgical complications. The statistical validation of the score and related cutoff values was prospectively ran within a validation set of 1928 surgical patients.ResultsThrough ROC analysis, an ASPRA score of 7 was chosen as the cutoff value in the derivation set. In the validation set, 65.3% of patients presented a PoC (Clavien ≥ 1). In this group, ROC analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.72, and although potentially related to the high rate of complications a high positive predictive value of 87.0% has been observed. No significant differences were found in ROC‐AUC, sensitivity, specificity, or positive or negative predictive value between the derivation and validation sets (P > 0.05).ConclusionThe new ASPRA score has a high positive predictive value to predict the occurrence of PoCs. Further prospective studies are required to confirm these results.