bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High genetic diversity of equine infectious anaemia virus strains from Slovenia revealed upon phylogenetic analysis of the p15 gag gene region
Authors: Kuhar U. , Malovrh T. 
Published: December 2014

SummaryReasons for performing studyThe equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV), which belongs to the Retroviridae family, infects equids almost worldwide. Every year, sporadic EIAV cases are detected in Slovenia.ObjectivesTo characterise the Slovenian EIAV strains in the p15 gag gene region phylogenetically in order to compare the Slovenian EIAV strains with EIAV strains from abroad, especially with the recently published European strains.Study designCross‐sectional study using material derived from post mortem examination.MethodsIn total, 29 EIAV serologically positive horses from 18 different farms were examined in this study. Primers were designed to amplify the p15 gag gene region. Amplicons of 28 PCRs were subjected to direct DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.ResultsAltogether, 28 EIAV sequences were obtained from 17 different farms and were distributed between 4 separate monophyletic groups and 9 branches upon phylogenetic analysis. Among EIAV strains from abroad, the closest relatives to Slovenian EIAV strains were European EIAV strains from Italy. Phylogenetic analysis also showed that some animals from distantly located farms were most probably infected with the same EIAV strains, as well as animals from the same farm and animals from farms located in the same geographical region.ConclusionsThis is the first report of such high genetic diversity of EIAV strains from one country. This led to speculation that there is a potential virus reservoir among the populations of riding horses, horses kept for pleasure and horses for meat production, with some farmers or horse‐owners not following legislation, thus enabling the spread of infection with EIAV. The low sensitivity of the agar gel immunodiffusion test may also contribute to the spread of infection with EIAV, because some infected horses might have escaped detection. The results of the phylogenetic analysis also provide additional knowledge about the highly heterogeneous nature of the EIAV genome.
Resilience and tipping points of an exploited fish population over six decades
Authors: Vasilakopoulos Paraskevas , Marshall C. Tara 
Published: December 2014

AbstractComplex natural systems with eroded resilience, such as populations, ecosystems and socio‐ecological systems, respond to small perturbations with abrupt, discontinuous state shifts, or critical transitions. Theory of critical transitions suggests that such systems exhibit fold bifurcations featuring folded response curves, tipping points and alternate attractors. However, there is little empirical evidence of fold bifurcations occurring in actual complex natural systems impacted by multiple stressors. Moreover, resilience of complex systems to change currently lacks clear operational measures with generic application. Here, we provide empirical evidence for the occurrence of a fold bifurcation in an exploited fish population and introduce a generic measure of ecological resilience based on the observed fold bifurcation attributes. We analyse the multivariate development of Barents Sea cod (Gadus morhua), which is currently the world's largest cod stock, over six decades (1949–2009), and identify a population state shift in 1981. By plotting a multivariate population index against a multivariate stressor index, the shift mechanism was revealed suggesting that the observed population shift was a nonlinear response to the combined effects of overfishing and climate change. Annual resilience values were estimated based on the position of each year in relation to the fitted attractors and assumed tipping points of the fold bifurcation. By interpolating the annual resilience values, a folded stability landscape was fit, which was shaped as predicted by theory. The resilience assessment suggested that the population may be close to another tipping point. This study illustrates how a multivariate analysis, supported by theory of critical transitions and accompanied by a quantitative resilience assessment, can clarify shift mechanisms in data‐rich complex natural systems.
Net climate impacts of forest biomass production and utilization in managed boreal forests
Authors: Kilpeläinen Antti , Torssonen Piritta , Strandman Harri , Kellomäki Seppo , Asikainen Antti , Peltola Heli 
Published: December 2014

AbstractIn this work, we studied the potentials offered by managed boreal forests and forestry to mitigate the climate change using forest‐based materials and energy in substituting fossil‐based materials (concrete and plastic) and energy (coal and oil). For this purpose, we calculated the net climate impacts (radiative forcing) of forest biomass production and utilization in the managed Finnish boreal forests (60°–70°N) over a 90‐year period based on integrated use forest ecosystem model simulations (on carbon sequestration and biomass production of forests) and life‐cycle assessment (LCA) tool. When studying the effects of management on the radiative forcing in a system integrating the carbon sink/sources dynamics in both biosystem and technosystem, the current forest management (baseline management) was used a reference management. Our results showed that the use of forest‐based materials and energy in substituting fossil‐based materials and energy would provide an effective option for mitigating climate change. The negative climate impacts could be further decreased by maintaining forest stocking higher over the rotation compared to the baseline management and by harvesting stumps and coarse roots in addition to logging residues in the final felling. However, the climate impacts varied substantially over time depending on the prevailing forest structure and biomass assortment (timber, energy biomass) used in substitution.
Modelling of the phase relations in high‐pressure and ultrahigh‐pressure eclogites
Authors: Wei Chunjing , Tian Zuolin 
Published: December 2014

AbstractPhase relations of basic rocks under high pressure (HP) and ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic conditions are modelled on the basis of a MORB composition. The calculated pseudosections predict that basic rocks will contain glaucophane, garnet, omphacite, lawsonite, phengite, quartz with or without talc under HP‐lawsonite eclogite subfacies conditions (1.8–2.8 GPa, 500–600°C). In these assemblages, the pyrope content (Xpy) in garnet mainly increases with temperature rising, the grossular content (Xgr) chiefly decreases with pressure rising, and the silica content (Si‐) in phengite increases linearly with increasing pressure; their contents are subtly affected by variations in bulk‐rock composition. Thus, the isopleths of garnet and phengite compositions in P–T pseudosections potentially present a robust geothermobarometric method for natural glaucophane‐bearing HP eclogites. Under low‐T UHP conditions (>2.8 GPa, 550–650°C), a common assemblage for basic rocks is predicted to be garnet + omphacite + lawsonite + phengite + talc + coesite + phengite. In this assemblage, the Xpy steadily increases as temperature rises and the Si‐phengite increases with pressure rising, whereas the Xgr is very sensitive as pressure changes. The peak P–T conditions for low‐T UHP eclogites can be determined using the isopleths of maximum Xpy and Si‐phengite in P–T pseudosections. Under medium‐T UHP conditions (>2.8 GPa and >650°C), basic rocks are predicted commonly to contain garnet + omphacite + lawsonite + phengite + coesite. In this assemblage, the Xpy mostly depends on bulk‐rock compositions, whereas the Xgr and Si‐phengite regularly increase, respectively, as temperature and as pressure rises, and thus, can provide good thermobarometric constraints for medium‐T UHP eclogites. The decompression of these HP and UHP assemblages are modelled to be dominated by lawsonite dehydration reactions, which will result in disappearance of lawsonite and formation of glaucophane, epidote and/or kyanite with releasing a large amount of bound fluid.
Basaltic volcaniclastics from the Challenger Deep forearc segment, Mariana convergent margin: Implications for tectonics and magmatism of the southernmost Izu–Bonin–Mariana arc
Authors: Stern Robert J. , Ren Minghua , Kelley Katherine A. , Ohara Yasuhiko , Martinez Fernando , Bloomer Sherman H. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractConvergent margin igneous activity is generally limited to 100–200 km from the trench except where spreading ridges are subducted or in association with Subduction‐Transform Edge Propagators (STEP faults). The southernmost Mariana forearc, facing the Challenger Deep, subducts Mesozoic seafloor and is not in a STEP fault setting but includes at least one site where tholeiitic basalts recently erupted close to the trench, the SE Mariana Forearc Rift (SEMFR). We present evidence of young basaltic volcanism from ca. 100 km west of SEMFR. Shinkai 6500 diving during YK13‐08 (Dive 1363) recovered volcaniclastics from 5.5 to 6 km deep in the inner wall of the Mariana Trench, 50 km NE of the Challenger Deep. Glassy fragments are tholeiitic basalts similar to MORB except for much higher contents of magmatic water (approx. 2% H2O vs. <0.2% H2O in MORB) and enrichments in trace elements Rb‐Cs‐Ba, K, Pb, and Sr. Dive 1363 glasses are similar to basalts from SEMFR erupted near the trench and to Mariana Trough backarc basin basalts. Basalt fragments and palagonitized matrix dominate the studied samples, but small xenocrysts and xenoliths derived from mantle peridotite and Neogene volcanics are also present, probably torn from the vent walls. Dive 1363 hyaloclastites erupted at 3–6 km water depth accompanied by vigorous degassing of volatiles, most likely CO2. These results provide further evidence that the forearc adjacent to the Challenger Deep has been invaded by asthenospheric mantle and derivative hydrous melts. Extension, hydration, and melt invasion combine to further weaken Challenger Deep forearc lithosphere. Combined effects of: (i) absence of strong, cold lithosphere of the overriding plate; (ii) rapid rollback of a narrow, short subducted slab; and (iii) weak coupling between the subducting Pacific plate and the overriding Mariana plate may be responsible for the great depth of the Challenger Deep.
Petrofabrics of olivine in a rift axis and rift shoulder and their implications for seismic anisotropy beneath the Rio Grande rift
Authors: Park Munjae , Jung Haemyeong , Kil Youngwoo 
Published: December 2014

AbstractMantle‐derived xenoliths associated with continental rifting can provide important information about the mantle structure and the physicochemical properties of deformation processes in the upper mantle. Metasomatized spinel peridotites from Adam's Diggings (AD) at a rift shoulder and Elephant Butte (EB) at the rift axis in the Rio Grande rift (RGR) were investigated to understand the deformation processes and seismic anisotropy occurring in the upper mantle. As determined through analysis of the lattice preferred orientation (LPO) of olivine by using a scanning electron microscope equipped with electron backscatter diffraction (SEM/EBSD), AD peridotites exhibited C‐type LPO of olivine indicating a dominant slip system of (100)[001] at the rift shoulder, whereas EB peridotites exhibited A‐type LPO indicating a dominant slip system of (010)[100] at the rift axis. Both geochemical data and microstructural observations indicate that the localized mantle enrichment processes, including melts with hydrous fluids, controlled multiple mantle metasomatisms and deformation of rocks under wet conditions (with olivine C‐type LPO) at the rift shoulder (AD), whereas mantle depletion by decompression partial melting caused deformation of rocks under dry conditions (with olivine A‐type LPO) at the rift axis (EB). These observations provide evidence for localized hydration and physicochemical heterogeneity of the upper mantle in the RGR zone. Seismic anisotropy observed beneath this zone can be attributed to the transtensional rupture, such as inhomogeneous stretching, and the petrofabrics of olivine beneath the study area.
Pillow lava and spasmodic submarine fire fountaining in the middle Miocene marginal basin, Sado Island, Japan
Authors: Fujibayashi Norie , Asakura Kensuke , Hattori Takeshi , Allen Sharon 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThe Sawasaki basalt unit of the Ogi Basalt Member is a middle Miocene submarine volcano formed in a marginal basin, cropping out on the coast of the Ogi Peninsula, Sado Island, Japan. It is approx. 100 m thick, more than 4 km wide, and is composed of pillow lavas (Sawasaki pillow lava) and overlying fire fountain deposits (Sawasaki pyroclastic rocks). The Sawasaki pillow lava is a pile of nearly‐horizontal lava flows. Massive sheet lavas and lava pods grade into pillow lavas. The flat surfaces of the sheet lavas suggest that they spread over a summit plain. The margin of the Sawasaki pillow lava is dominated by thin elongated pillow lobes (20–30 cm across) dipping at 45–60°, contrast with the large pillows (40–100 cm across) in the core. The proximal lithofacies of the Sawasaki pyroclastic rocks is scoria agglomerate which is composed of tens of stratified beds. Individual beds have a range of clast sizes and abundance of subaqueous bombs (sometimes up to >70%), which suggests that they were formed by submarine spasmodic fire fountain eruptions. Progressive aggradation from a turbulent flow allowed settling of well‐preserved fluidal‐shaped subaqueous bombs in a fines‐depleted matrix. The basal layer shows lamina, scour and imbrication of scoria clasts. The thick scoria agglomerate beds with large subaqueous bombs, derived from energetic fire fountains, were emplaced during transition to higher degrees of hydrovolcanic fragmentation. Alternating scoria lapilli tuff and tuff beds in the distal area may represent the coupled topset and foreset beds formed by deposition from dilute, turbulent flows, and cascading of volcanic debris from the crest of the volcanic hill.
Increased expression of human leucocyte antigen class I free heavy chains on monocytes of patients with spondyloarthritis and cells transfected with HLA‐B27
Authors: Ding Jin , Feng Yuan , Zheng Zhao Hui , Li Xue Yi , Wu Zhen Biao , Zhu Ping 
Published: December 2014

SummaryHuman leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐B27 expression is correlated with spondyloarthritis (SpA), but its role in disease pathogenesis remains unclear. The aim of the study was to determine whether HLA‐B27 free heavy chain (FHC) contributes to SpA pathogenesis. Flow cytometry was used to analyse the FHC expression on CD3+ and CD14+ cells in the peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) from SpA patients, healthy controls, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Human monocytic U937 cell lines stably expressing enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP)/HLA‐B27, EGFP/HLA‐A2 or EGFP alone were created to further investigate the relation between HLA‐B27 and FHC expression. The relative FHC level on CD14+ PB cells was significantly higher in SpA patients than in controls, but lower than on the SF cells of SpA patients. No significant correlation was found for relative FHC expression with HLA‐B27 or β2‐microglobulin expression. HLA‐B27‐transfected U937 cells expressed higher FHC levels than either EGFP/HLA‐A2‐ or EGFP‐transfected cells. HLA class I FHC expression was significantly increased on monocytes of SpA patients and HLA‐B27‐transfected cells, implying that FHC, perhaps mostly derived from HLA‐B27, plays an important role in SpA pathogenesis.
A group‐specific sequence‐based typing approach for HLA‐DQA1
Authors: Lemin A. J. , Johnson J. , Darke C. 
Published: December 2014

SummaryAn HLA‐DQA1 sequence‐based typing method reliant upon group‐specific amplification to achieve an unambiguous second‐field DQA1 typing assignment is presented. Method validation, using 51 reference DNA samples covering 21 different DQA1 alleles, showed 100% concordance with the reference types. This typing strategy has several important uses including identifying DQA1 mismatches in kidney donor/recipient pairs to inform patient DQ antibody assignments.
Diagnosis of Glanzmann thrombasthenia by whole blood impedance analyzer (MEA) vs. light transmission aggregometry
Authors: Albanyan A. , Al‐Musa A. , AlNounou R. , Al Zahrani H. , Nasr R. , AlJefri A. , Saleh M. , Malik A. , Masmali H. , Owaidah T. 
Published: December 2014

SummaryBackgroundGlanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) is a rare inherited platelet disorder that is characterized by spontaneous or postprocedural bleeding. The diagnosis of GT depends on identifying the dysfunction of the platelets.AimThe aim of this study was to compare a whole blood impedance Multiplate analyzer (MEA) with the standard method, light transmission aggregometry (LTA) in diagnosis of GT.MethodsFifteen patients with GT were assessed on MEA and LTA using arachidonic acid (ASPI: 15 mm), (TRAP: 1 mm), collagen (100 μg/mL), ADP (0.2 mm), and ristocetin (Risto: 10 mg/mL). Whole blood samples were collected in sodium citrate and hirudin vacuum, blood collection tubes and tested within 4 h. Platelet‐rich plasma was used for LTA using platelet agonists (ristocetin 1.5 mg/mL) (arachidonic acid 0.5 mg/mL) (ADP 2.5 mg/mL) and (collagen 1 mg/mL).ResultsThe platelet count and PFA‐100 results were (average and SD) 319 ± 93 × 109 L and 252 ± 34 s, respectively. Flow cytometry analysis showed that all samples are positive for CD42a and CD42b, whereas 9/15 samples were negative for CD61 and CD41. The other six patients had either partial or full expression of CD61/CD41. Aggregation analysis using both methods showed that all samples had no aggregation response to any of the agonists used apart from six samples which, using only the MEA, showed minimal aggregation in response to collagen (average = 14.3 ± 7 μg, which may suggest ability to detect qualitative abnormality of GPIIb/IIIa).ConclusionThese results suggest that the MEA is sensitive for the detection of Glanzmann thrombasthenia. Furthermore, MEA may also be able to differentiate between the subtypes of Glanzmann thrombasthenia.
Adipokinetic hormone signalling system in the Chagas disease vector, Rhodnius prolixus
Authors: Zandawala M. , Hamoudi Z. , Lange A. B. , Orchard I. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractNeuropeptides and their G protein‐coupled receptors are widespread throughout Metazoa and in several cases, clear orthologues can be identified in both protostomes and deuterostomes. One such neuropeptide is the insect adipokinetic hormone (AKH), which is related to the mammalian gonadotropin‐releasing hormone. AKH has been studied extensively and is known to mobilize lipid, carbohydrates and proline for energy‐consuming activities such as flight. In order to determine the possible roles for this signalling system in Rhodnius prolixus, we isolated the cDNA sequences encoding R. prolixus AKH (Rhopr‐AKH) and its receptor (Rhopr‐AKHR). We also examined their spatial expression pattern using quantitative PCR. Our expression analysis indicates that Rhopr‐AKH is only expressed in the corpus cardiacum of fifth‐instars and adults. Rhopr‐AKHR, by contrast, is expressed in several peripheral tissues including the fat body. The expression of the receptor in the fat body suggests that AKH is involved in lipid mobilization, which was confirmed by knockdown of Rhopr‐AKHR via RNA interference. Adult males that had been injected with double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) for Rhopr‐AKHR exhibited increased lipid content in the fat body and decreased lipid levels in the haemolymph. Moreover, injection of Rhopr‐AKH in Rhopr‐AKHR dsRNA‐treated males failed to elevate haemolymph lipid levels, confirming that this is indeed the receptor for Rhopr‐AKH.
Hiring subsidies for people with a disability: Evidence from a small‐scale social field experiment
Authors: DEUCHERT Eva , KAUER Lukas 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThe effectiveness of hiring subsidies for people with disabilities remains unclear due to potential free‐rider, substitution and signalling effects. The authors propose a novel evaluation approach wherein it is randomly decided whether or not job applications disclose the subsidy to potential employers. Based on call‐back rates for interviews, the subsidy is found to be ineffective or even counterproductive in a group of adolescents having completed their vocational training programme. However, the negative signalling effect seems to be much weaker in a group of clients of job‐coaching services who acquired their disability during their working life.
Low Loss Magneto‐Dielectric Composite Ceramics Ba3Co2Fe24O41/SrTiO3 for High‐Frequency Applications
Authors: Chang Panpan , He Li , Wang Hong 
Published: December 2014

Magneto‐dielectric composite ceramics Ba3Co2Fe24O41/SrTiO3 (Co2Z/STO) loading with high volume fraction of hexaferrite Co2Z ( = 60%–95%) are successfully prepared by a hybrid process. The microstructures with homogeneously dispersed constituent grains are observed in these composites. The composites loading with 60%–80% hexaferrite possess stable magneto‐dielectric properties in the frequency range from 10 MHz to 1 GHz with both low dielectric loss and magnetic loss. For the composite loading with 60% Co2Z, the relative permittivity is 28.08 and permeability is 4.46 (at 10 MHz), the dielectric loss tangent keeps below 0.009 within the frequency range from 10 MHz to 1 GHz. Also, it possesses a magnetic loss tangent of 0.006 and 0.144 at 50 MHz and 1 GHz, respectively, which are much lower than 0.056 and 1.242 of the single Co2Z phase at the same frequency. These excellent properties indicate that the low‐loss Co2Z/STO composite ceramic is a new kind of multifunctional magneto‐dielectric material with potential for high‐frequency electromagnetic device applications.
Biogeography of the Andean metaltail hummingbirds: contrasting evolutionary histories of tree line and habitat‐generalist clades
Authors: Benham Phred M. , Cuervo Andrés M. , McGuire Jimmy A. , Witt Christopher C. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAimTo assess geographical and temporal patterns of diversification in Metallura hummingbirds, particularly with respect to topographical barriers and climatic variation between different populations.LocationTropical Andes.MethodsWe estimated a multilocus phylogeny for all nine species of Metallura and evaluated phylogeographical patterns within Metallura tyrianthina using mitochondrial DNA sequences from across its range (n = 192). We tested mechanisms of diversification using climatic classification of sampling sites, coalescent‐based dating, lineages‐through‐time plots and dispersal–vicariance analysis.ResultsMetallura consists of two main clades: (1) the tree line specialists in the M. aeneocauda superspecies; and (2) a habitat‐generalist clade that includes M. tyrianthina and M. iracunda. Metallura phoebe was recovered as sister to the tree line clade in some analyses. In both clades, there was marked genetic structure across topographical barriers and almost no structure between climatically distinct regions in the absence of barriers. The tree line clade exhibited deeper divergences in the Central Andes than elsewhere, and a south‐to‐north history of diversification, whereas the habitat‐generalist clade showed deeper divergences in the Northern Andes and a history of southward expansion. A pure‐birth model explained the steady net rate of diversification of Metallura hummingbirds through the Pliocene and the Pleistocene.Main conclusionsIsolation across topographical barriers best explained the genetic structure in M. tyrianthina. The two Metallura clades expanded from opposite ends of the Andes, leading to asynchronous divergence across common topographical barriers. Cycles of expansion followed by isolation may explain the preponderance of idiosyncratic area relationships that are typical of Andean clades. Geoclimatic dynamism during the Pleistocene caused Metallura and other Andean bird clades to undergo radical range shifts, including dispersal across topographical barriers, that became key to their diversification.