bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Common garden comparison of the leaf‐out phenology of woody species from different native climates, combined with herbarium records, forecasts long‐term change
Authors: Zohner Constantin M. , Renner Susanne S. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractA well‐timed phenology is essential for plant growth and reproduction, but species‐specific phenological strategies are still poorly understood. Here, we use a common garden approach to compare biannual leaf‐out data for 495 woody species growing outdoors in Munich, 90% of them not native to that climate regime. For three species, data were augmented by herbarium dates for 140‐year‐long time series. We further meta‐analysed 107 temperate‐zone woody species in which leaf‐out cues have been studied, half of them also monitored here. Southern climate–adapted species flushed significantly later than natives, and photoperiod‐ and chilling‐ sensitive species all flushed late. The herbarium method revealed the extent of species‐specific climate tracking. Our results forecast that: (1) a northward expansion of southern species due to climate warming will increase the number of late flushers in the north, counteracting documented and expected flushing time advances; and (2) photoperiod‐ and chilling‐sensitive woody species cannot rapidly track climate warming.
Mutation‐order divergence by sexual selection: diversification of sexual signals in similar environments as a first step in speciation
Authors: Mendelson Tamra C. , Martin Michael D. , Flaxman Samuel M. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe origin of species remains a central question, and recent research focuses on the role of ecological differences in promoting speciation. Ecological differences create opportunities for divergent selection (i.e. ‘ecological’ speciation), a Darwinian hypothesis that hardly requires justification. In contrast, ‘mutation‐order’ speciation proposes that, instead of adapting to different environments, populations find different ways to adapt to similar environments, implying that speciation does not require ecological differences. This distinction is critical as it provides an alternative hypothesis to the prevailing view that ecological differences drive speciation. Speciation by sexual selection lies at the centre of debates about the importance of ecological differences in promoting speciation; here, we present verbal and mathematical models of mutation‐order divergence by sexual selection. We develop three general cases and provide a two‐locus population genetic model for each. Results indicate that alternative secondary sexual traits can fix in populations that initially experience similar natural and sexual selection and that divergent traits and preferences can remain stable in the face of low gene flow. This stable divergence can facilitate subsequent divergence that completes or reinforces speciation. We argue that a mutation‐order process could explain widespread diversity in secondary sexual traits among closely related, allopatric species.
The Importance of Validating Experimental Setups: Lessons from Studies of Food Choice Copying in Zebra Finches
Authors: Rojas Mora Alfonso , Forstmeier Wolfgang 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe use of social information for foraging decisions has attracted much research attention. One line of research makes use of experimental assays of food choice copying to study whether specific traits of demonstrators influence whether or not an onlooking individual will copy their behavior. For instance, Benskin (Animal Behaviour, 64, 2002 and 823) reported that captive juvenile zebra finches always copied the foraging decision made by a male wearing red color rings as opposed to one wearing green rings. Here, we report an attempt to examine the generalizability of this finding using another zebra finch population. Our experiment did not show any effect of male ring color on onlooker's food choice and further revealed various population‐specific differences in behavior, for instance, in aversion toward novel feeding sources. We therefore conducted two follow‐up experiments to test the validity of the behavioral assay. These experiments revealed that zebra finches of our population often do not copy demonstrator food choice at all, and that copying, if it occurs, may be sensitive to very specific conditions of the experimental setup. Problematically, after testing a total of 124 onlookers (60 in the first experiment, 32 in the second, and 32 in the third), we still cannot confidently say whether or when our birds copy from demonstrators. Hence, we emphasize the risks of adopting experimental procedures that have proven successful in one study, without extensively validating them for the own study. The seemingly more rewarding follow‐up experiments can bear high risks of yielding false‐positive findings that can then be misinterpreted as justification for an actually uninformative experimental procedure.
Alternative reproductive tactics increase effective population size and decrease inbreeding in wild Atlantic salmon
Authors: Perrier Charles , Normandeau Éric , Dionne Mélanie , Richard Antoine , Bernatchez Louis 
Published: June 2014

AbstractWhile nonanadromous males (stream‐resident and/or mature male parr) contribute to reproduction in anadromous salmonids, little is known about their impacts on key population genetic parameters. Here, we evaluated the contribution of Atlantic salmon mature male parr to the effective number of breeders (Nb) using both demographic (variance in reproductive success) and genetic (linkage disequilibrium) methods, the number of alleles, and the relatedness among breeders. We used a recently published pedigree reconstruction of a wild anadromous Atlantic salmon population in which 2548 fry born in 2010 were assigned parentage to 144 anadromous female and 101 anadromous females that returned to the river to spawn in 2009 and to 462 mature male parr. Demographic and genetic methods revealed that mature male parr increased population Nb by 1.79 and 1.85 times, respectively. Moreover, mature male parr boosted the number of alleles found among progenies. Finally, mature male parr were in average less related to anadromous females than were anadromous males, likely because of asynchronous sexual maturation between mature male parr and anadromous fish of a given cohort. By increasing Nb and allelic richness, and by decreasing inbreeding, the reproductive contribution of mature male parr has important evolutionary and conservation implications for declining Atlantic salmon populations.
Stallion fertility: A focus on the spermatozoon
Authors: Varner D. D. , Gibb Z. , Aitken R. J. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryStallion fertility is a vast subject, with a wide array of permutations that can impact reproductive performance in either positive or negative ways. This review is intended to address a mere segment of the male fertility issue, but the very essence of the male contribution to fertilisation, that of the spermatozoon. Spermatozoal ultrastructure and form‐to‐function are detailed and spermatozoal metabolism is discussed, with specific reference to distinctive characteristics of stallion spermatozoa. Lastly, methods for assessment of spermatozoal function are considered, with emphasis on spermatozoal motility, the acrosome reaction and spermatozoon–oocyte interactions. Closing comments address the need for development and standardisation of molecular‐based assays for use with spermatozoa of stallions whose subfertility cannot be explained with conventional tests.
A newly discovered linkage between proteoglycans and hair biology: decorin acts as an anagen inducer
Authors: Inui Shigeki , Itami Satoshi 
Published: June 2014

AbstractProteoglycans have been suggested to play pivotal roles in hair biology. Decorin is a prototypical member of the small leucine‐rich proteoglycan family, which is involved in numerous biological processes. However, the role of decorin in the hair cycle has not been elucidated. Moreover, the effects of decorin on the activities of many growth factors are complex, and it is hard to predict whether decorin would affect hair growth or the hair cycle positively or negatively. Jing et al. focused on the potential role of decorin in the hair cycle and found that decorin is highly expressed in the epidermis, in hair follicle epithelial cells and in dermal papilla cells in the anagen phase. The expression of decorin was decreased during catagen to telogen, except for the bulge region. Exogenous administration of decorin accelerated anagen and delayed catagen transition as a positive regulator of the hair cycle. Because TGF‐β is one of the androgen‐induced pathogenic factors in androgenetic alopecia, this study provides clues to understand the pathogenesis and new therapeutic targets of hair loss.
Geographic variation in range size and beta diversity of groundwater crustaceans: insights from habitats with low thermal seasonality
Authors: Zagmajster Maja , Eme David , Fišer Cene , Galassi Diana , Marmonier Pierre , Stoch Fabio , Cornu Jean‐François , Malard Florian 
Published: June 2014

AbstractAimThree broad mechanisms have been proposed to explain geographic variation in species range size: habitat area/heterogeneity, climate seasonality and long‐term climate variability. However, it has proved difficult to disentangle their relative role, particularly as temperature seasonality often covaries with the amplitude of long‐term temperature oscillations. Here, we shed new light onto this debate by providing the first continental‐scale analysis of range size and beta diversity in groundwater habitats, where taxa are not exposed to latitudinal variation in temperature seasonality.LocationEurope.MethodsWe compiled and mapped occurrence data for 1570 groundwater crustacean species. Generalized regression models were used to test for latitudinal variation in geographic range size and to assess the relative role of the three broad mechanisms in shaping present‐day patterns of range size. We partitioned beta diversity into its spatial turnover and nestedness components and analysed their latitudinal variation across Europe.ResultsMedian range size increases with latitude above 43° N and the range size of individual species is positively correlated to latitude, even after accounting for phylogenetic effects. Long‐term temperature variability accounted for a substantially higher variation in median range size of groundwater crustaceans across Europe than precipitation seasonality and habitat heterogeneity, including aquifer area, elevation range, climatic rarity and productive energy. Spatial turnover contributes significantly more to beta diversity in southern regions characterized by stable historic climates than it does in northern Europe.Main conclusionsOur findings add support to the historic climate hypothesis which suggests that patterns of increasing range size and decreasing species turnover at higher latitudes in the Palaearctic region are primarily driven by long‐term temperature oscillations rather than by climatic seasonality and the availability and heterogeneity of habitats.
Analytic Element Modeling of Steady Interface Flow in Multilayer Aquifers Using AnAqSim
Authors: Fitts Charles R. , Godwin Joshua , Feiner Kathleen , McLane Charles , Mullendore Seth 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThis paper presents the analytic element modeling approach implemented in the software AnAqSim for simulating steady groundwater flow with a sharp fresh‐salt interface in multilayer (three‐dimensional) aquifer systems. Compared with numerical methods for variable‐density interface modeling, this approach allows quick model construction and can yield useful guidance about the three‐dimensional configuration of an interface even at a large scale. The approach employs subdomains and multiple layers as outlined by Fitts (2010) with the addition of discharge potentials for shallow interface flow (Strack 1989). The following simplifying assumptions are made: steady flow, a sharp interface between fresh‐ and salt water, static salt water, and no resistance to vertical flow and hydrostatic heads within each fresh water layer. A key component of this approach is a transition to a thin fixed minimum fresh water thickness mode when the fresh water thickness approaches zero. This allows the solution to converge and determine the steady interface position without a long transient simulation. The approach is checked against the widely used numerical codes SEAWAT and SWI/MODFLOW and a hypothetical application of the method to a coastal wellfield is presented.
Developing a long‐term condition's information service in collaboration with third sector organisations
Authors: McShane Lesley , Greenwell Kate , Corbett Sally , Walker Richard 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackgroundPeople with long‐term conditions need to be signposted to high quality information and advice to understand and manage their condition. Information seeking tools combined with third sector information could help address their information needs.ObjectiveTo describe the development and implementation of an information service for people living with long‐term conditions at one NHS acute trust in the Northeast of England.MethodsAn information service was trialled using bespoke information models for three long‐term conditions in collaboration with third sector organisations. These guided people to relevant, timely and reliable information. Both clinician and service user questionnaires were used to evaluate satisfaction with the service.ResultsAppropriately designed information models can be used interchangeably across all services. Between 75% and 91% of users agreed that they were satisfied with various aspects of the service. Generally, users received relevant, understandable and high quality information at the right time. Nearly all health professionals (94–100%) felt the service was accessible, provided high quality information and did not significantly impact on their consultation time.ConclusionThe developed information service was well received by service users and health professionals. Specifically, the use of information prescriptions and menus facilitated access to information for people with long‐term conditions.
Current concepts in the management of prosthetic joint infection
Authors: Aboltins C. , Daffy J. , Choong P. , Stanley P. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractProsthetic joint infection (PJI) is a serious complication of arthroplasty that is associated with significant mortality, morbidity and costs. PJI is difficult to cure because causative bacteria form and persist in biofilm adherent to the prosthesis surface. PJI can be classified into early, delayed or late according to the time of onset after insertion of the prosthesis, and this classification can help determine pathogenesis and appropriate management. Traditional treatment has been with prolonged intravenous antibiotics and prosthesis exchange, which has been successful in treating infection but is technically difficult and has high rates of associated morbidity. On the basis of in vitro and animal studies, interest has turned to the use of antimicrobials that are particularly active against biofilm‐associated bacteria. Recent clinical evidence shows success in more than 77% of early PJI with surgical debridement, retention of prosthesis and the use of rifampicin‐based combinations for staphylococcal PJI. Fluoroquinolones are preferred for Gram‐negative PJI. Optimal antimicrobial treatment duration and the management of polymicrobial, enterococcal, fungal and culture‐negative infections are still yet to be defined but will become more clear as the results of current research comes to hand.
General practitioner management plans delaying time to next potentially preventable hospitalisation for patients with heart failure
Authors: Vitry A. I. , Nguyen T. A. , Ramsay E. N. , Caughey G. E. , Gilbert A. L. , Shakib S. , Ryan P. , Esterman A. , McDermott R. A. , Roughead E. E. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackgroundSeveral studies have shown that the Australian Medicare‐funded chronic disease management programme can lead to improvements in care processes. No study has examined the impact on long‐term health outcomes.AimsThis retrospective cohort study assessed the association between provision of a general practitioner management plan and time to next potentially preventable hospitalisation for older patients with heart failure.MethodsWe used the Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) claims database and compared patients exposed to a general practitioner management plan with those who did not receive the service. Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare time until next potentially preventable hospitalisation for heart failure between the exposed and unexposed groups.ResultsThere were 1993 patients exposed to a general practitioner management plan and 3986 unexposed patients. Adjusted results showed a 23% reduction in the rate of potentially preventable hospitalisation for heart failure at any time (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.64 to 0.92; P = 0.0051) among those with a general practitioner management plan compared with the unexposed patients. Within one year, 8.6% of the exposed group compared with 10.7% of the unexposed group had a potentially preventable hospitalisation for heart failure.ConclusionsA general practitioner management plan is associated with delayed time to next potentially preventable hospitalisation for heart failure.
Conjugated bilirubin affects cytokine profiles in hepatitis A virus infection by modulating function of signal transducer and activator of transcription factors
Authors: Castro‐García Flor P. , Corral‐Jara Karla F. , Escobedo‐Melendez Griselda , Sandoval‐Hernandez Monserrat A. , Rosenstein Yvonne , Roman Sonia , Panduro Arturo , Fierro Nora A. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryHepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is the major cause of acute liver failure in paediatric patients. The clinical spectrum of infection is variable, and liver injury is determined by altered hepatic enzyme function and bilirubin concentration. We recently reported differences in cytokine profiles between distinct HAV‐induced clinical courses, and bilirubin has been recognized as a potential immune‐modulator. However, how bilirubin may affect cytokine profiles underlying the variability in the course of infection has not been determined. Herein, we used a transcription factor (TF) binding site identification approach to retrospectively analyse cytokine expression in HAV‐infected children and to predict the entire set of TFs associated with the expression of specific cytokine profiles. The results suggested that modulation of the activity of signal transducers and activators of transcription proteins (STATs) may play a central role during HAV infection. This led us to compare the degree of STAT phosphorylation in peripheral blood lymphoid cells (PBLCs) from paediatric patients with distinct levels of conjugated bilirubin (CB). Low CB levels in sera were associated with increased STAT‐1 and STAT‐5 phosphorylation. A positive correlation was observed between the serum interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) content and CB values, whereas higher levels of CB correlated with reduced serum IL‐8 values and with a reduction in the proportion of PBLCs positive for STAT‐5 phosphorylation. When CB was used to stimulate patients' PBLCs in vitro, the levels of IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor‐α were increased. The data showed that bilirubin plays a role in STAT function and affects cytokine profile expression during HAV infection.
Selective immunotargeting of diabetogenic CD4 T cells by genetically redirected T cells
Authors: Perez Shira , Fishman Sigal , Bordowitz Amos , Margalit Alon , Wong F. Susan , Gross Gideon 
Published: June 2014

SummaryThe key role played by islet‐reactive CD8 and CD4 T cells in type 1 diabetes calls for new immunotherapies that target pathogenic T cells in a selective manner. We previously demonstrated that genetically linking the signalling portion of CD3‐ζ onto the C‐terminus of β2‐microglobulin and an autoantigenic peptide to its N‐terminus converts MHC‐I complexes into functional T‐cell receptor‐specific receptors. CD8 T cells expressing such receptors specifically killed diabetogenic CD8 T cells, blocked T‐cell‐induced diabetes in immunodeficient NOD.SCID mice and suppressed disease in wild‐type NOD mice. Here we describe the immunotargeting of CD4 T cells by chimeric MHC‐II receptors. To this end we chose the diabetogenic NOD CD4 T‐cell clone BDC2.5, which recognizes the I‐Ag7‐bound 1040‐31 mimotope. We assembled several constructs encoding I‐Ag7 α‐ and β‐chains, the latter carrying mim or hen egg lysozyme peptide as control, each supplemented with CD3‐ζ intracellular portion, either with or without its transmembrane domain. Following mRNA co‐transfection of reporter B3Z T cells and mouse CD8 and CD4 T cells, these constructs triggered robust activation upon I‐Ag7 cross‐linking. A BDC2.5 T‐cell hybridoma activated B3Z transfectants expressing the mimotope, but not the control peptide, in both configurations. Potent two‐way activation was also evident with transgenic BDC2.5 CD4 T cells, but peptide‐specific activation required the CD3‐ζ transmembrane domain. Chimeric MHC‐II/CD3‐ζ complexes therefore allow the selective immunotargeting of islet‐reactive CD4 T cells, which take part in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes.
Low‐Temperature Sintering Li2MoO4/Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 Magneto‐Dielectric Composites for High‐Frequency Application
Authors: He Li , Zhou Di , Yang Haibo , Niu Yujuan , Xiang Feng , Wang Hong 
Published: June 2014

The coexistence of Li2MoO4 (LMO) and Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 (NZO) has been proven and their low‐temperature‐sintered magneto‐dielectric composites (1−x)LMO–xNZO (volume fraction factor x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7) were prepared by the conventional solid‐state reaction method and were sintered below 700°C. It is found that the optimal sample (x = 0.5) has good and relatively stable magneto‐dielectric performance in the frequency range from 10 MHz to 1 GHz with permittivity between 7.14 and 6.84, dielectric loss tangent between 0.09 and 0.02, and permeability between 5.23 and 3.30, magnetic loss tangent between 0.06 and 0.65, respectively. Furthermore, the verified chemical compatibility with silver indicates that the LMO–NZO ceramics are potential for low‐temperature cofired ceramic application and their multifunctional magneto‐dielectric properties also make them for potential applications in electronic devices.