bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Morphological specialization influences nectar extraction efficiency of sympatric nectar-feeding bats
Authors: Gonzalez-Terrazas Tania P. , Medellin Rodrigo A. , Knörnschild Mirjam , Tschapka Marco 
Published: August 2012

SummaryMammals frequently use nectar as a supplementary food, while a predominantly nectarivorous lifestyle with morphological specializations for this feeding mode is rare within the class. However, Neotropical flower-visiting bats largely depend on nectar resources and show distinct adaptations to a nectar diet. Glossophagine bats form local guilds of 2-6 species that may differ distinctly in skull morphology. It is still unknown how and to what extent this morphological diversity influences the efficiency of nectar extraction and hence also resource partitioning within the local bat guild. As foraging behaviour is a key factor for niche partitioning of coexisting species, we compared nectar extraction behaviour and efficiency at different flower depths among sympatric bat species with different degrees of morphological specialization (Glossophaga soricina, Leptonycteris yerbabuenae, Musonycteris harrisoni). In flight cage experiments with artificial flowers all species showed at deeper nectar levels a decrease in the amount extracted per visit and an increase in time spent hovering at the flower, indicating increased energetic cost when foraging on longer-tubed flowers. The lowest nectar extraction efficiency (g/s) was found in the small G. soricina and the highest in the largest species L. yerbabuenae. However, when considering also the different energy requirements of the different-sized bat species, the morphologically most specialized Musonycteris harrisoni showed consistently the highest foraging efficiency. Our data suggest that the long rostrum and tongue of the extremely specialized M. harrisoni are probably not evolved for monopolization of coevolved deep flowers, but allow efficient access to the broadest range of the local chiropterophilous flower community.
Pre- and post-natal stress in context: effects on the stress physiology in a precocial bird
Authors: Marasco Valeria , Robinson Jane , Herzyk Pawel , Spencer Karen Anne 
Published: August 2012

Summary
Developmental stress can significantly influence physiology and survival in many species. Mammalian studies suggest that pre- and post-natal stress can cause different effects (i.e. hyper- or hypo-responsiveness) on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis (HPA axis), the main mediator of the stress response. In mammals, the physiological intimacy between mother and offspring constrains the possibility to control, and therefore to manipulate, maternal pre- and post-natal influences. Here, by using the Japanese quail (Coturnix c. japonica) as our model, we elevated the glucocorticoid stress hormone corticosterone in ovo and/or in the endogenous circulation of hatchlings. We examined the effects of treatments on corticosterone and glucose stress responses at two different ages, in juvenile and adult quail. In juveniles, corticosterone data revealed a sex-specific effect of post-natal treatment regardless of the previous pre-natal protocol, with post-natally treated females showing shorter stress responses in comparison with the other groups, while no differences were observed among males. In adulthood, birds previously stressed as embryos showed higher corticosterone concentrations over the stress response compared with controls. This effect was not evident in birds subjected to either post- or the combined treatments. There were no effects on glucose in the juveniles. However, adult birds previously stressed in ovo showed opposite sex-specific basal glucose patterns compared with the other groups. Our results demonstrate that (1) early glucocorticoid exposure can have both transient and long-term effects on the HPA axis, depending upon the developmental stage and sex and (2) post-natal stress can modulate the effects of pre-natal stress on HPA activity.
High oxidative capacity and type IIx fibre content in springbok and fallow deer skeletal muscle suggest fast sprinters with a resistance to fatigue
Authors: Curry Jennifer W. , Hohl Rodrigo , Noakes Timothy D. , Kohn Tertius A. 
Published: August 2012

Summary
Some wild antelopes are fast sprinters and more resistant to fatigue than others. This study therefore investigated two wild antelope species to better understand their reported performance capability. Muscle samples collected post mortem from the Vastus lateralis and Longissimus lumborum of fallow deer (Dama dama) and springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) were analysed for myosin heavy chain isoform content, citrate synthase (CS), 3-hydroxyacyl Co A dehydrogenase, phopshofructokinase, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase activities. Cross-sectional areas, fibre type and oxidative capacities of each fibre type were determined in the Vastus lateralis only. The predominant fibre type in both muscle groups and species were type IIX (&gt;50%), with springbok having more type IIX fibres than fallow deer (P &lt; 0.05). Overall cross-sectional area was not different between the two species. The metabolic pathway analyses showed high glycolytic and oxidative capacities for both species, but springbok had significantly higher CS activities than fallow deer. Large variation and overlap in oxidative capacities existed within and between the fibre types. Some type IIX fibres presented with similar oxidative capacities as that from type I and IIA fibres. The data suggest that springbok and fallow deer could sprint at &gt;90 km h-1 and 46 km h-1, respectively, partly from having large type IIX fibre contents and high glycolytic capacities. The high oxidative capacities also suggest animals that could withstand fatigue for long periods of time.
The ontogenetic scaling of bite force and head size in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta): implications for durophagy in neritic, benthic habitats
Authors: Marshall Christopher D. , Guzman Alejandra , Narazaki Tomoko , Sato Katsufumi , Kane Emily A. , Sterba-Boatwright Blair D. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryOntogenetic studies of vertebrate feeding performance can help address questions relevant to foraging ecology. Feeding morphology and performance can either limit access to food resources or open up new trophic niches in both aquatic and terrestrial systems. Loggerhead sea turtles are long-lived vertebrates with complex life histories that are marked by an ontogenetic shift from an oceanic habitat to a coastal neritic habitat, and a transition from soft oceanic prey to hard, benthic prey. Although considered durophagous and strong biters, bite performance has not been measured in loggerheads, nor has the ontogeny of bite performance been characterized. In the present study, we collected measurements of bite force in loggerhead turtles from hatchlings to adults. When subadults reach the body size when the ontogenetic shift occurs, their crushing capability is great enough to consume numerous species of hard benthic prey but at smaller sizes. As loggerheads mature and bite performance increases, larger and harder benthic prey become accessible. Loggerhead bite performance eventually surpasses the crushing capability of other durophagous carnivores, thereby potentially reducing competition for hard benthic prey. The increasing bite performance and accompanying morphology of the head and jaws is likely an effective mechanism for resource partitioning and decreasing trophic competition. Simultaneous measurements of body and head size and the use of non-linear reduced major axis regression show that bite force increases with significant positive allometry relative to body size (straight carapace length, straight carapace width, and mass) and head size (head width, height, and length). Simple correlation showed that all logged morphometrics were good predictors of logged bite performance, but an AICc-based weighted regression showed that body size (SCW followed by SCL and mass, respectively) were more likely predictors of bite force than head size morphometrics (HW and HL).
Fatiguing stimulation of one skeletal muscle triggers heat shock proteins activation in several rat organs: the role of muscle innervation
Authors: Jammes Yves , Steinberg Jean G , By Youlet , Brerro-Saby Christelle , Condo Jocelyne , Olivier Marine , Guieu Regis , Delliaux Stephane 
Published: August 2012

Summary
We hypothesized that muscle afferents activation by fatigue may trigger a spread out activation of heat shock proteins (HSP) in resting muscles and different organs. In anesthetized rats, HSP25 and HSP70 levels were determined in both tibialis anterior (TA) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles, diaphragm, kidney, and brain using ELISA kits, which mostly explore the phosphorylated HSP, and Western blotting (WB). One TA muscle was electrically stimulated and tissues sampled 10 (Test10) or 60 min (Test60) after the stimulation had ended. The nerve supply to the stimulated TA or its pair in the contralateral limb was left intact or suppressed. In control rats, no muscle stimulation was performed and tissues were sampled at the same time (C10 and C60). After TA stimulation, ELISA measured increased HSP25 content in contralateral TA, EDL, and diaphragm at Test 10 but not Test 60, and HSP70 increased in all sampled tissues at Test60. WB did not measure HSP25 and HSP70 variations at Test 10 while at Test 60 HSP25 increased in all sampled tissues except the brain and HSP70 was elevated in all tissues. Denervation of the contralateral non stimulated limb suppressed HSP variations in TA and after denervation of the stimulated TA the spread out activation of HSPs in other organ was absent. Our data suggest that fatigue-induced activation of skeletal muscle afferents triggers an early increase in phosphorylated HSP25 in muscles and a delayed elevation of non phosphorylated HSP25 and HSP70 in skeletal and respiratory muscles, kidney, and brain.
Protective effect of hypothermia on brain potassium homeostasis during repetitive anoxia in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Rodriguez Esteban C. , Robertson R. Meldrum 
Published: August 2012

Summary
Oxygen deprivation in nervous tissue depolarizes cell membranes, increasing extracellular potassium concentration ([K+]o). Thus, [K+]o can be used to assess neural failure. The effect of temperature (17°C, 23°C or 29°C) on the maintenance of brain [K+]o homeostasis in male Drosophila melanogaster (w1118) individuals was assessed during repeated anoxic comas induced by N2 gas. Brain [K+]o was continuously monitored using K+-sensitive microelectrodes while body temperature was changed using a thermo electric cooler (TEC). Repetitive anoxia resulted in a loss of the ability to maintain [K+]o baseline at 6.6±0.3 mM. The total [K+]o baseline variation (Δ[K+]o) was stabilized at 17°C (-1.1±1.3 mM), mildly rose at 23°C (17.3±1.4 mM), and considerably increased at 29°C (332.7±83.0 mM). We conclude that 1) reperfusion patterns consisting of long anoxia, short normoxia and high cycle frequency increased disruption of brain [K+]o baseline maintenance, and 2) hypothermia had a protective effect on brain K+ homeostasis during repetitive anoxia. Male flies are suggested as a useful model for examining deleterious consequences of O2 reperfusion with possible application on therapeutical treatment of stroke or heart attack.
Menopause-specific quality of life of urban women in West Bengal, India
Authors: Som Nivedita , Ray Subha 
Published: August 2012

Objective. To find out the association of menopause-specific quality of life of women with both working status and duration of postmenopausal years. Study design. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 250 postmenopausal women belonging to Bengali-speaking Hindu ethnic group, aged 47-62 years in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The participants were literate, living in wedlock with at least one surviving child, attained natural menopause at least two years ago and have never taken hormone replacement treatment. Menopause-specific quality of life was measured using a self-administered standard questionnaire (Menopause-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire, or MENQOL). MENQOL consisted of 29 menopausal symptoms (items) that are grouped under four domains. Additional information on sociodemographic aspect and reproductive history of the participants were collected using a pretested questionnaire. Main outcome measures. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses showed that menopause-specific quality of life decreases with the increase in duration of postmenopausal years. Although bivariate analysis demonstrated that working women had a better menopause-specific quality of life than their non-working counterpart, multivariate linear regression model did not corroborate to this finding. Conclusion. Duration of postmenopausal years had a significant association with menopause-specific quality of life of women.
Searching for pelvic floor muscle exercises on YouTube: what individuals may find and where this might fit with health service programmes to promote continence
Authors: Stephen Kate , Cumming Grant P 
Published: August 2012

Objective. This paper describes the investigation, categorization/characterization and viewing of pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) on YouTube from the perspective of the ‘wisdom of the crowd’. The aim of the research was to increase awareness of the type of clips that individuals are likely to come across when searching YouTube and to describe trends and popularity. This awareness will be useful for the design of continence promotion services, especially for hard-to-reach individuals. Study design. Web-based videos relating to PFE were identified by searching YouTube using the snowball technique. Main outcome measures. Number of views; the approach taken (health, fitness, sexual and pregnancy); product promotion; and the use of music, visual cues and elements designed to encourage exercise. The number of views of each video was recorded at three points over a seven-month period. Results. Twenty-two videos were identified. Overall these videos had been viewed over 430,000 times during the study period. One video was viewed over 100,000 times and overall the median increase in views was 59.4%. Conclusions. YouTube is increasingly used to access information about pelvic floor exercises. Different approaches are used to communicate PFME information but there are no formal structures for quality control. Further research is required to identify which elements of the video clips are effective in communicating information and in motivating exercise and to establish appropriate protocols. Kitemarking is recommended in order that women obtain correct advice.
Sedation/anaesthesia in paediatric radiology
Authors: Arlachov Y , Ganatra R H 
Published: August 2012

Objectives
In this article we will give a comprehensive literature review on sedation/general anaesthesia (S/GA) and discuss the international variations in practice and options available for S/GA for imaging children.

Methods
The key articles were obtained primarily from PubMed, MEDLINE, ERIC, NHS Evidence and The Cochrane Library.

Results
Recently, paediatric radiology has seen a surge of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, some of which require children to be still and compliant for up to 1 h. It is difficult and sometimes even impossible to obtain quick and high-quality images without employing sedating techniques in certain children. As with any medical procedure, S/GA in radiological practice is not without risks and can have potentially disastrous consequences if mismanaged. In order to reduce any complications and practice safety in radiological units, it is imperative to carry out pre-sedation assessments of children, obtain parental/guardian consent, monitor them closely before, during and after the procedure and have adequate equipment, a safe environment and a well-trained personnel.

Conclusion
Although the S/GA techniques, sedative drugs and personnel involved vary from country to country, the ultimate goal of S/GA in radiology remains the same; namely, to provide safety and comfort for the patients.

Advances in knowledge
Imaging children under general anaesthesia is becoming routine and preferred by operators because it ensures patient conformity and provides a more controlled environment.
Diffusion-weighted imaging in uterine artery embolisation: do findings correlate with contrast enhancement and volume reduction?
Authors: Ananthakrishnan G , Macnaught G , Hinksman L , Gilmour H , Forbes K P , Moss J G 
Published: August 2012

Objectives
The objective of this study was to determine the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in uterine artery embolisation (UAE), and to assess the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the dominant fibroid and its relationship to contrast enhancement and fibroid volume reduction.

Methods
We carried out a retrospective study of 15 patients who underwent UAE. Calculations were performed at baseline and 6 months post-embolisation. Fibroid ADC (expressed in 10−3 mm2 s−1) was calculated using b=0 and b=1000 DWI values. Fibroid enhancement was compared with background myometrium by measuring signal-difference-to-noise ratio (SDNR). Fibroid volume was calculated using a prolate ellipse formula.

Results
There was a significant reduction (p&lt;0.001) in fibroid ADC at 6 months (0.48; standard deviation, SD=0.26) as compared with baseline (1.01; SD=0.39). No significant change (p=0.07) was identified in 6-month myometrial ADC (1.09; SD=0.28) as compared with baseline (1.24; SD=0.20). Moderately strong and significant positive correlation was identified between baseline ADC and 6-month percentage volume reduction of the fibroid (correlation=0.66, p=0.007). No correlation was identified between SDNR and ADC at baseline or 6 months (r=0.01, p=0.97 and r=−0.13, p=0.64, respectively) or SDNR and percentage volume reduction at 6 months (correlation r=0.18, p=0.51).

Conclusion
Baseline ADC of dominant fibroids shows a moderately strong correlation with subsequent volume reduction at 6 months following UAE. No correlation was identified between ADC values and contrast enhancement on the baseline or 6-month scans. Further prospective evaluation is needed before DWI can be utilised in clinical practice.

Advances in knowledge
DWI imaging may provide additional information about UAE and possibly help to predict uterine volume reduction.
Onco-Nephrology
Authors: Cambier Jean-François , Ronco Pierre 
Published: August 2012

Summary
Glomerular diseases occurring in the course of malignancies remain rare. Diverse glomerular lesions can be observed in a variety of neoplasms and involve different pathophysiologic links between the glomerulopathy and the cancer. The pathophysiology of solid tumor–associated glomerulopathies remains obscure, whereas in hematologic malignancy–induced paraneoplastic glomerulopathies, a molecular link can usually be demonstrated. The aim of this review is to provide an update on glomerular diseases associated with carcinoma and hematologic malignancies, covering epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and therapy. Special emphasis will be placed on the potential usefulness of novel biomarkers, such as antiphospholipase A2 receptor antibodies, for the diagnosis of membranous nephropathy, and on new associations and recent entities, including (proliferative) GN with nonorganized monoclonal immunoglobulin deposits and myeloproliferative neoplasm–related glomerulopathy.
Financial Information Globalization and Foreign Investment Decisions
Authors: Amiram Dan 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT
This paper investigates the association between the adoption of international accounting standards and foreign investment decisions. Prior research suggests that information asymmetries between local and foreign investors and behavioral biases caused by unfamiliarity of the foreign markets contribute to investors preferring to invest in their home markets. Because one of the goals of the adoption of international accounting standards is to establish a high-quality, internationally familiar set of accounting standards, I predict that foreign investments will increase in countries that adopted International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) after the adoption and that this increase is driven by the familiarity of IFRS. I find that foreign equity portfolio investments (FPI) increase in countries that adopt IFRS. More importantly, I find that this relation is driven by foreign investors from countries that also use IFRS. Moreover, the effect of accounting familiarity is more pronounced when investor and investee countries share language, legal origin, culture, and region. I also find that countries with lower corruption and better investor protection experience larger increases in FPI after they adopt IFRS relative to other IFRS users. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that familiar accounting information drives foreign investment decisions.
Fixed points and iterations of mean-type mappings
Authors: Matkowski Janusz 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Let (X, d) be a metric space and T: X → X a continuous map. If the sequence (T
n)n∈ℕ of iterates of T is pointwise convergent in X, then for any x ∈ X, the limit $$\mu _T (x) = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{n \to \infty } T^n (x)$$ is a fixed point of T. The problem of determining the form of µT leads to the invariance equation µT ○ T = µT, which is difficult to solve in general if the set of fixed points of T is not a singleton. We consider this problem assuming that X = I
p, where I is a real interval, p ≥ 2 a fixed positive integer and T is the mean-type mapping M =(M
1,...,M
p) of I
p. In this paper we give the explicit forms of µM for some classes of mean-type mappings. In particular, the classical Pythagorean harmony proportion can be interpreted as an important invariance equality. Some applications are presented. We show that, in general, the mean-type mappings are not non-expansive.
Low temperature measurements by infrared spectroscopy in CoFe2O4 ceramic
Authors: Bujakiewicz-Korońska Renata , Hetmańczyk Łukasz , Garbarz-Glos Barbara , Budziak Andrzej , Kalvane Anna , Bormanis Karlis , Drużbicki Kacper 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
This paper presents results of new far-infrared and middle-infrared measurements (wavenumber range of 4000–100 cm−1) of the CoFe2O4 ceramic in the temperature range from 300 K to 8 K. The band positions and their shapes remain constant across the wide temperature range. The quality of the sample was investigated by X-ray, EDS and EPMA studies. The CoFe2O4 retains the cubic structure (Fd - 3m) across the temperature range from 85 K to 360 K without any traces of distortion. Based on current knowledge the polycrystalline CoFe2O4 does not exhibit any phase transitions across the temperature range from 8 K to 300 K.
Observation of electromagnetically induced transparency in a ring cavity
Authors: Wu E. , Ma Yong-Hong , Han Xiang-Gang 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
A scheme to observe Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in an optomechanical system is proposed in the current paper. We treat a narrowband squeezed field as the weak probe field. We find that EIT dips exist in the output field. Moreover, the dependence of the EIT dips on the effective cavity detuning Δ and the input power ζ are explored. We show that the width of the EIT dips can be controlled by the parameters ξ and the detuning Δ.