bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationships among male sexually selected traits in the bean bug, Riptortus pedestris (Heteroptera: Alydidae)
Authors: Suzaki Yû , Katsuki Masako , Miyatake Takahisa , Okada Yasukazu 
Published: October 2014

AbstractCurrent concepts of sexual selection suggest that male reproductive success is determined by multiple sexual traits. As expression and production of multiple sexual traits are frequently associated with each other, positive or negative correlations among multiple sexual traits ensue. These relationships among traits associated with male reproductive success may be crucial in the evolution of male reproductive strategies. Here, we investigate phenotypic relationships among sexually selected traits in the armed bean bug Riptortus pedestris. In this insect, males with a larger body and weapon are more likely to win male–male competitions, and males with a larger weapon or higher courtship rate are more attractive to females. There was a significant positive correlation between body size and weapon size, whereas the courtship rate had significant negative correlations with body size and weapon size. Our results suggested that there was a phenotypic trade‐off between courtship rate and male morphology. In this insect, smaller males may make more effort in courtship behavior as an alternative mating tactic.
Commentary: It's time to talk about SUDEP
Authors: Donner Elizabeth , Buchhalter Jeffrey 
Published: October 2014

SummarySudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the most tragic potential outcome of epilepsy. Despite recommendations from epilepsy organizations in the United Kingdom and the United States, many neurologists choose not to discuss the risk of SUDEP with their patients with epilepsy. Yet, the literature clearly demonstrates that people with epilepsy and their caregivers want to know more about SUDEP. When health care providers do not provide information, people with epilepsy turn to other sources, risking misinformation and potentially increasing anxiety and distress. Sharing accurate information about SUDEP can optimize epilepsy self‐management and engage the person with epilepsy as a partner in their own care. Information about SUDEP must be part of the comprehensive education given to all people with epilepsy.
Macroinvertebrate survival during cessation of flow and streambed drying in a lowland stream
Authors: Verdonschot Ralf C. M. , van Oosten‐Siedlecka Agata M. , ter Braak Cajo J. F. , Verdonschot Piet F. M. 
Published: October 2014

Summary

The number of perennial low‐order lowland streams likely to experience intermittent flow is predicted to increase in north‐western Europe. To understand the effects of such a change on macroinvertebrates, a field experiment was carried out in a currently perennial sandy lowland stream.

Using a before–after control–impact design, the flow regime was manipulated to yield two distinct treatments: stagnation (although with little water loss) and drying of the stream (although artificial remnant pools remained in the bed). There was also an unmanipulated control reach. The two treatments were applied simultaneously in separate, consecutive reaches, resulting in 29 days of stagnation and 25 days of streambed drying with surface water only present in the remnant pools. Changes in macroinvertebrate richness, abundance and community composition were recorded, and we assessed whether these changes could be explained by ecological preferences for flow of the various taxa.

Stagnation resulted in only minor changes in community composition. A small number of rheophilic taxa disappeared, while taxa preferring standing waters complemented those already present, increasing total biodiversity. In remnant pools in the otherwise dry reach, richness and abundance peaked after they became isolated, indicating a concentration of invertebrates. A subsequent steep decline in richness coincided with hypoxia and increasing conductivity. Culex pipiens/torrentium colonised the pools and was then dominant. Only a small subset of the assemblage successfully used the dry streambed as a refuge.

The effect of a shift from perennial to intermittent flow evidently depends on the degree of habitat change. Environmental conditions after cessation of flow are crucial in determining lowland stream macroinvertebrate persistence during water drawdown.
Atmospheric hydrogen peroxide and Eoarchean iron formations
Authors: Pecoits E. , Smith M. L. , Catling D. C. , Philippot P. , Kappler A. , Konhauser K. O. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractIt is widely accepted that photosynthetic bacteria played a crucial role in Fe(II) oxidation and the precipitation of iron formations (IF) during the Late Archean–Early Paleoproterozoic (2.7–2.4 Ga). It is less clear whether microbes similarly caused the deposition of the oldest IF at ca. 3.8 Ga, which would imply photosynthesis having already evolved by that time. Abiological alternatives, such as the direct oxidation of dissolved Fe(II) by ultraviolet radiation may have occurred, but its importance has been discounted in environments where the injection of high concentrations of dissolved iron directly into the photic zone led to chemical precipitation reactions that overwhelmed photooxidation rates. However, an outstanding possibility remains with respect to photochemical reactions occurring in the atmosphere that might generate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a recognized strong oxidant for ferrous iron. Here, we modeled the amount of H2O2 that could be produced in an Eoarchean atmosphere using updated solar fluxes and plausible CO2, O2, and CH4 mixing ratios. Irrespective of the atmospheric simulations, the upper limit of H2O2 rainout was calculated to be <106 molecules cm−2 s−1. Using conservative Fe(III) sedimentation rates predicted for submarine hydrothermal settings in the Eoarchean, we demonstrate that the flux of H2O2 was insufficient by several orders of magnitude to account for IF deposition (requiring ~1011 H2O2 molecules cm−2 s−1). This finding further constrains the plausible Fe(II) oxidation mechanisms in Eoarchean seawater, leaving, in our opinion, anoxygenic phototrophic Fe(II)‐oxidizing micro‐organisms the most likely mechanism responsible for Earth's oldest IF.
Climate change in our backyards: the reshuffling of North America's winter bird communities
Authors: Princé Karine , Zuckerberg Benjamin 
Published: October 2014

AbstractMuch of the recent changes in North American climate have occurred during the winter months, and as result, overwintering birds represent important sentinels of anthropogenic climate change. While there is mounting evidence that bird populations are responding to a warming climate (e.g., poleward shifts) questions remain as to whether these species‐specific responses are resulting in community‐wide changes. Here, we test the hypothesis that a changing winter climate should favor the formation of winter bird communities dominated by warm‐adapted species. To do this, we quantified changes in community composition using a functional index – the Community Temperature Index (CTI) – which measures the balance between low‐ and high‐temperature dwelling species in a community. Using data from Project FeederWatch, an international citizen science program, we quantified spatiotemporal changes in winter bird communities (n = 38 bird species) across eastern North America and tested the influence of changes in winter minimum temperature over a 22‐year period. We implemented a jackknife analysis to identify those species most influential in driving changes at the community level and the population dynamics (e.g., extinction or colonization) responsible for these community changes. Since 1990, we found that the winter bird community structure has changed with communities increasingly composed of warm‐adapted species. This reshuffling of winter bird communities was strongest in southerly latitudes and driven primarily by local increases in abundance and regional patterns of colonization by southerly birds. CTI tracked patterns of changing winter temperature at different temporal scales ranging from 1 to 35 years. We conclude that a shifting winter climate has provided an opportunity for smaller, southerly distributed species to colonize new regions and promote the formation of unique winter bird assemblages throughout eastern North America.
Trees increase their P:N ratio with size
Authors: Sardans Jordi , Peñuelas Josep 
Published: October 2014

AbstractAimPhosphorus (P) tends to become limiting in ageing terrestrial ecosystems, and its resorption efficiency is higher than for other elements such as nitrogen (N). We thus hypothesized that trees should store more P than those other elements such as N when tree size increases and that this process should be enhanced in slow‐growing late‐successional trees.LocationCatalan forests.MethodsWe used data from the Catalan Forest Inventory that contains field data on the P and N contents of total aboveground, foliar and woody biomasses of the diverse mediterranean, temperate and alpine forests of Catalonia (1018 sites). We used correlation and general linear models to analyse the allometric relationships between the nutrient contents of different aboveground biomass fractions (foliar, branches and stems) and total aboveground biomass.ResultsAboveground forest P content increases proportionally more than aboveground forest N content with increasing aboveground biomass. Two mechanisms underlie this. First, woody biomass increases proportionally more than foliar biomass, with woody biomass having a higher P:N ratio than foliar biomass. Second, the P:N ratio of wood increases with tree size. These results are consistent with the generally higher foliar resorption of P than of N. Slow‐growing species accumulate more total P aboveground with size than fast‐growing species, mainly as a result of their large capacity to store P in wood.Main conclusionsTrees may have developed long‐term adaptive mechanisms to store P in biomass, mainly in wood, thereby slowing the loss of P from ecosystems, reducing its availability for competitors and implying an increase in the P:N ratio in forest biomass with ageing. This trend to accumulate more P than N with size is more accentuated in slow‐growing, large, long‐lived species of late successional stages. In this way they partly counterbalance the gradual decrease of P in the soil.
Introducing dental hygienists in general practice to research – an in‐practice evaluation programme in the United Kingdom
Authors: Eaton KA , Suvan JE , Saraf S , Rist A 
Published: October 2014

AbstractAimTo introduce dental hygienists (DHs) in the UK to the principles of research through a practice‐based product evaluation programme.MethodsThe programme consisted of an initial training and orientation day with presentations on evidence‐based practice, research methods and the structure of research papers. The programme and its aims were explained in detail, and participants were briefed on the methods to be used. Participants then recruited seven to ten patients from their practices (offices), carried out a baseline assessment of: plaque, gingival health, calculus and staining at anterior teeth, and gave the patients a questionnaire asking about their teeth and then provided a 3‐month supply of a test toothpaste. About 10 weeks later, a follow‐up assessment of the same variables was performed and the questionnaire was repeated. A second training day followed during which the DHs provided feedback of their experiences and received training in literature searching and critical appraisal of literature including interpretation of results.ResultsSixty‐five DHs attended the first training day; 31 were able to recruit sufficient patients and attend the second training day. The DHs recruited 168 patients who received baseline and follow‐up assessments. All the variables improved overall. Feedback from the DHs was very positive, and patients expressed delight with the care they had received.ConclusionsQualitative feedback for participating DHs suggests the programme met its aim and could be used in the future as a mechanism for helping DHs who want to increase their understanding of research methodology.
Internal determinants of recycling behaviour by university students: a cross‐country comparative analysis
Authors: Izagirre‐Olaizola Julen , Fernández‐Sainz Ana , Vicente‐Molina M. Azucena 
Published: October 2014

AbstractUniversity students are a key group for research since they will be the consumers and the intellectual vanguard of the future and, therefore, a reference group for other consumers. Accordingly, data obtained from university students in Spain (n = 640) and the US (n = 597) were analysed to identify the main internal factors which lead them to participate in recycling activities. Given that morality‐based theories, and more specifically the Value–Belief–Norm (VBN) Theory, might be very useful in explaining pro‐environmental behaviour which requires personal sacrifices and whose benefits are mainly for the environment itself, that is the theoretical approach that we take for the selection and analysis of factors. Our findings support our thesis that environmental knowledge is a factor that should be (but is not currently) considered in the framework of VBN theory for predicting recycling behaviour. Although university students from Spain and the US have very different recycling rates, the internal factors that explain their recycling behaviour are very similar (motivations, perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE), environmental knowledge and gender). The elasticity of recycling behaviour to changes in internal factors is estimated with a view to making predictions, and altruistic motivations and PCE are found to be the factors that have the greatest effect in terms of improving recycling behaviour, followed by environmental knowledge. These predictions could help university policy makers take better decisions about the factors on which they need to act to increase recycling activities. Some guidelines for consideration in future intervention strategies to encourage this group to recycle are also provided.
Phytosanitary irradiation in ports of entry: a practical solution for developing countries
Authors: Bustos‐Griffin Emilia , Hallman Guy J. , Griffin Robert L. 
Published: October 2014

SummaryThe advantages of using ionising irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment have been demonstrated commercially in the past two decades and several countries currently use the technology for commercial treatments to meet plant quarantine requirements. Although many countries have expressed interest in using phytosanitary irradiation (PI) and it provides a viable alternative for overcoming a wide range of phytosanitary restrictions for numerous fresh products, the use of PI for fresh fruits and vegetables faces economic obstacles due to the sizeable initial investment required to build an irradiation facility. Projecting the market demand for irradiated products to justify the investment in treatment facilities is a business challenge limited by the potential for all countries to invest in this technology, especially developing countries. A recent change in import regulations by the United States allows for treatment upon entry, thus removing the immediate need for treatment facilities in the exporting country. This change makes it possible for exporting countries to explore and develop new markets prior to investing in treatment facilities at the origin. This paper discusses the economic potential of products that could be shipped to the United States for irradiation from selected countries in the Americas, Asia and Africa.
Oligosaccharide production by hydrolysis of polysaccharides: a review
Authors: de Moura Fernanda A. , Macagnan Fernanda T. , da Silva Leila P. 
Published: October 2014

SummaryOligosaccharides are carbohydrates with a low molecular weight, which, when nondigestible, can produce bifidogenic activity and several other effects to human health. Oligosaccharides can be found naturally in foods or are produced by the synthesis from disaccharide substrates or by the hydrolysis of polysaccharides. Although it has yet to be improved, the hydrolysis of polysaccharides is the best choice for oligosaccharide production on a large scale, due to its reproducibility and smaller cost. This review concisely presents the main processes for the production of oligosaccharides by depolymerisation of polysaccharides (enzymatic, acid, and physical hydrolysis), taking into account their advantages, disadvantages, and perspectives.
Identification of key sensory attributes for consumer acceptance and instrumental quality of aseptic‐packaged cooked rice
Authors: Kwak Han Sub , Kim Misook , Lee Youngseung , Jeong Yoonhwa 
Published: October 2014

SummaryThe objectives of this study were to identify the relation between consumer acceptance and instrumental quality measurements, and to investigate the drivers of liking and disliking descriptive attributes for seven samples of aseptic‐packaged cooked rice. Nineteen descriptive attributes were finally determined by analysis of variance and adjusted F‐test. There was a difference in sensory profiles of 7 aseptic‐packaged cooked rice samples by the descriptive analysis. Boramchan, Suryejinmi, Suwon528 and HA had distinctive characteristics; Dami, Suwon 534 and Suwon 538 had relatively neutral characteristics. Haiami was the most accepted preferred sample, followed by Suwon 528 by consumer acceptance test. Consumer acceptances and instrumental quality measurements were not strongly correlated. A total of 11 key attributes for aseptic‐packaged cooked rice were determined as drivers of liking (rice cake, sweet, roasted aroma and flavour, cohesiveness of mass, deformation and shininess) and disliking (rice bran aroma and flavour, hardness and smoothness of surface).
Stroke Severity and Incidence of Acute Large Vessel Occlusions in Patients with Hyper-Acute Cerebral Ischemia: Results from a Prospective Cohort Study Based on CT-Angiography (CTA)
Authors: Hansen C. K. , Christensen A. , Ovesen C. , Havsteen I. , Christensen H. 
Published: October 2014

Background The frequency of acute large vessel occlusions in relation to clinical severity has not yet been established in a comprehensive, consecutive and unselected cohort of patients with hyper-acute cerebral ischemia. Aim The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of acute large vessel occlusions and describe the relations to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), lesion site and time from symptom onset in unselected consecutive patients with hyper-acute cerebral ischemia. Methods A prospective single hospital registry was based on consecutive unselected patients admitted from July 2009 to December 2011 with symptoms of acute cerebral ischemia within 4·5 h from symptom onset. ICA, M1, M2, ACA, PCA, BA and VA were assed for occlusions. Best NIHSS-cut-off values were calculated based on sensitivity and specificity for detecting any, anterior and posterior occlusions and the effect of time after symptom onset was assessed. Results Six hundred thirty-seven patients, with admission NIHSS: 1–42, were included; 183 patients presented with acute vessel occlusions (28·7%) in 15 different combinations of occlusions. The best NIHSS-cut-off for detecting any occlusion was 6. NIHSS is highly depending on lesion site, highest values being observed in relation to combined and M1 occlusions. Conclusion Acute vessel occlusions are frequent in unselected patients. Occlusions occurred in all NIHSS score values but a NIHSS cut-off value of 6 most optimally predicted acute vessel occlusion, even though accuracy was low.
Identification, characterization and expression of a receptor for the unusual myosuppressin in the blood‐feeding bug, Rhodnius prolixus
Authors: Lee D. , James T. E. , Lange A. B. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractMyosuppressins are a family of the FMRFamide‐like peptides. They have been characterized in many insects and shown to inhibit visceral muscle contraction. Rhodnius prolixus possesses an unusual myosuppressin in that the typical FLRFamide C‐terminal motif is unique and ends with FMRFamide. In the present study, we isolated the cDNA sequence for the R. prolixus receptor for this unusual myosuppressin (RhoprMSR). Quantitative PCR indicates high relative transcript expression of RhoprMSR in the central nervous system and also supports the previously described physiological effects of RhoprMS on the digestive system, with expression of the RhoprMSR transcript in the midgut and hindgut. Expression of the RhoprMSR transcript was also found in the female and male reproductive system of 5th instar nymphs, with transcript expression greater in the female reproductive tissues. No expression was found in the salivary glands or Malpighian tubules. A functional receptor expression assay confirmed that the cloned RhoprMSR is indeed activated by RhoprMS (half maximum effective concentration = 42.7 nM). Structure‐activity studies based upon both functional receptor assays and physiological assays showed the importance of the HVFMRFamide moiety, as further N‐terminal truncation removed all activity.
Inhibition of indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase activity enhances the anti‐tumour effects of a Toll‐like receptor 7 agonist in an established cancer model
Authors: Ito Hiroyasu , Ando Tatsuya , Arioka Yuko , Saito Kuniaki , Seishima Mitsuru 
Published: October 2014

SummaryToll‐like receptor (TLR) agonists have been shown to have anti‐tumour activity in basic research and clinical studies. However, TLR agonist monotherapy does not sufficiently eliminate tumours. Activation of the innate immune response by TLR agonists is effective at driving adaptive immunity via interleukin‐12 (IL‐12) or IL‐1, but is counteracted by the simultaneous induction of immunosuppressive cytokines and other molecules, including IL‐10, transforming growth factor‐β, and indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO). In the present study, we evaluated the anti‐cancer effect of the TLR7 agonist, imiquimod (IMQ), in the absence of IDO activity. The administration of IMQ in IDO knockout (KO) mice inoculated with tumour cells significantly suppressed tumour progression compared with that in wild‐type (WT) mice, and improved the survival rate. Moreover, injection with IMQ enhanced the tumour antigen‐specific T helper type 1 response in IDO‐KO mice with tumours. Combination therapy with IMQ and an IDO inhibitor also significantly inhibited tumour growth. Our results indicated that the enhancement of IDO expression with TLR agonists in cancer treatment might impair host anti‐tumour immunity while the inhibition of IDO could enhance the therapeutic efficacy of TLR agonists via the increase of T helper type 1 immune response.