bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantifying ecological responses to amplified water level fluctuations in standing waters: an experimental approach
Authors: Evtimova Vesela V. , Donohue Ian 
Published: May 2014

Summary

Global freshwater demand is increasing dramatically, with water withdrawal rates more than tripling in the last five decades. Consequently, alteration of water level regimes, particularly in the form of amplified water level fluctuations (WLF), is rapidly becoming one of the major disturbances of aquatic ecosystems globally. However, even though the impacts of WLF are likely to be strongest in littoral zones, little is known about their effects on the structure and functioning of littoral assemblages in standing water systems.

We established an experiment in large outdoor pond mesocosms to examine the effects of WLF on littoral assemblages and explore the potential for development of ecological indicators of WLF.

Water level fluctuations reduced benthic algal biomass and the density and taxonomic distinctness of benthic invertebrate assemblages. Both the taxonomic and trophic structure of benthic assemblages were altered significantly in ponds with WLF and homogenized along the depth gradient.

Synthesis and applications. Our results indicate that water level fluctuations (WLF) can reduce considerably the productivity and biological diversity of lake littoral zones. Given that the problem is likely to be exacerbated by predicted increases in climatic variability and enhanced demand for water and hydropower, our findings have important implications for the conservation and management of global aquatic biodiversity. We identified several specific ways that WLF modify littoral assemblages along the depth gradient. This ability to identify separate pressures is an important requirement of robust ecological assessment tools. This study confers potential for development of ecological indicators of WLF in standing waters, provides indication of sampling strategies to be employed and demonstrates the need to mitigate the most extreme water withdrawals.
REVIEW: China's transboundary waters: new paradigms for water and ecological security through applied ecology
Authors: He Daming , Wu Ruidong , Feng Yan , Li Yungang , Ding Chengzhi , Wang Wenling , Yu Douglas W. 
Published: May 2014

Summary

China is Asia's most important upstream riparian country, sharing 110 rivers and lakes with 18 downstream countries. Consequently, China's management of transboundary water resources must consider both environmental and geopolitical risks.

The major threats to and conflicts over international rivers in China revolve around biotic homogenisation due to the installation of transport links, water allocation, water pollution, alteration of natural flow patterns and disruption of fisheries due to the installation of hydropower dams, and droughts and floods exacerbated by climate change. Because these problems have an international component, they fall under China's Peaceful Rise strategy, mandating that transboundary conflicts be resolved amicably as part of the overarching goal of increasing regional economic growth with as little conflict as possible.

Science‐backed policy is more likely to result in long term, mutually agreeable solutions; the results of applied ecological research have already resulted in a number of mitigation measures, including setting operational thresholds to reduce the downstream impact of dams, designating protected areas along key river stretches where dams cannot be installed (one dam in a critical location has been cancelled), and the installation of terrestrial protected‐area networks.

Synthesis and applications. Applied ecology will continue to play an important role in the diagnosis and resolution of environmental threats to China's transboundary waters. More importantly, applied ecology can inform the development of a transboundary environmental compensation mechanism and regional consultative mechanisms that support informed, cooperative decision‐making for China and its riparian neighbours.
Small RNA deep sequencing‐based detection and further evidence of DNA viruses infecting sweetpotato plants in Tanzania
Authors: Mbanzibwa D.R. , Tugume A.K. , Chiunga E. , Mark D. , Tairo F.D. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractSmall interfering RNA deep sequencing (SRDS) was used to detect viruses in 23 sweetpotato plants, collected from various locations in Tanzania. Alignment of small RNA reads using a MAQ program recovered genomes of viruses from five families, namely Geminiviridae (2), Closteroviridae (1), Betaflexiviridae (1), Caulimoviridae (1) and Potyviridae (1). This was in agreement with the variation of symptoms observed on sweetpotato plants in fields and screen house, which included leaf curl, vein yellowing, chlorosis, stunted growth and brown blotches. PCR was also used to confirm the occurrence of viruses associated with leaf curl and symptomless infections. A complete genome (2768 nucleotides) was obtained for a sweepovirus that was 89.9% identical to the strain of Sweet potato leaf curl Sao Paulo virus (SPLCSPV; Begomovirus) reported in South Africa. Sweepoviruses are known to undergo frequent recombinations and evidence for this was found in the SPLCSPV sequence studied. The SRDS‐based results indicated occurrence of the poorly studied Sweet potato badnavirus B (SPBV‐B) and Sweet potato badnavirus A (collectively known as Sweet potato pakakuy virus; SPPV; Caulimoviridae) in sweetpotato plants in Tanzania. A 5′‐end partial sequence (3065 nucleotides), encoding hypothetical, movement and coat proteins, was obtained and found to be 86.3% and 73.1% identical to SPBV‐B and SPBV‐A, respectively. A survey for the distribution of SPPV and Sweet potato symptomless mastrevirus 1 (SPSMV‐1) showed that these viruses were wide spread and co‐infecting sweetpotato plants in Tanzania. The importance of East Africa as a hot spot for the diversity and evolution of sweet potato viruses is discussed.
Monitoring of occupational and environmental aeroallergens – EAACI Position Paper
Authors: Raulf M. , Buters J. , Chapman M. , Cecchi L. , de Blay F. , Doekes G. , Eduard W. , Heederik D. , Jeebhay M. F. , Kespohl S. , Krop E. , Moscato G. , Pala G. , Quirce S. , Sander I. , Schlünssen V. , Sigsgaard T. , Walusiak‐Skorupa J. , Wiszniewska M. , Wouters I. M. , Annesi‐Maesano I. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractExposure to high molecular weight sensitizers of biological origin is an important risk factor for the development of asthma and rhinitis. Most of the causal allergens have been defined based on their reactivity with IgE antibodies, and in many cases, the molecular structure and function of the allergens have been established. Significant information on allergen levels that cause sensitization and allergic symptoms for several major environmental and occupational allergens has been reported. Monitoring of high molecular weight allergens and allergen carrier particles is an important part of the management of allergic respiratory diseases and requires standardized allergen assessment methods for occupational and environmental (indoor and outdoor) allergen exposure. The aim of this EAACI task force was to review the essential points for monitoring environmental and occupational allergen exposure including sampling strategies and methods, processing of dust samples, allergen analysis, and quantification. The paper includes a summary of different methods for sampling and allergen quantification, as well as their pros and cons for various exposure settings. Recommendations are being made for different exposure scenarios.
Impression management during evaluation and psychological reactions post‐donation of living kidney donors
Authors: Hildebrand Lee , Melchert Timothy P. , Anderson Rebecca C. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractMany healthcare providers have been concerned about the extent to which potential kidney donors use impression management or concealment of important information regarding their medical history, current functioning, or other circumstances that could affect whether they are accepted as donors. To date, however, there has been very little empirical examination of these questions. It is also not known whether donors' use of impression management pre‐donation is related to their reactions and adjustment post‐donation.MethodsThis study surveyed 76 individuals who had donated a kidney one to six yr previously regarding their use of impression management and their concealing of information during their psychological evaluations. They were also asked about their reactions to the donation and whether they would make the same decision again. In addition, 21 of these donors participated in focus groups that explored these questions in depth.ResultsMany of the kidney donors reported that they possessed very strong motivation to donate and consequently used impression management in their interactions with medical professionals pre‐donation. Very few donors, however, indicated that they concealed information during their pre‐donation evaluations. The donors' psychological reactions post‐donation were generally positive, and nearly all indicated that they would make the same decision again.
Applying evolutionary concepts to wildlife disease ecology and management
Authors: Vander Wal Eric , Garant Dany , Calmé Sophie , Chapman Colin A. , Festa‐Bianchet Marco , Millien Virginie , Rioux‐Paquette Sébastien , Pelletier Fanie 
Published: May 2014

AbstractExisting and emerging infectious diseases are among the most pressing global threats to biodiversity, food safety and human health. The complex interplay between host, pathogen and environment creates a challenge for conserving species, communities and ecosystem functions, while mediating the many known ecological and socio‐economic negative effects of disease. Despite the clear ecological and evolutionary contexts of host–pathogen dynamics, approaches to managing wildlife disease remain predominantly reactionary, focusing on surveillance and some attempts at eradication. A few exceptional studies have heeded recent calls for better integration of ecological concepts in the study and management of wildlife disease; however, evolutionary concepts remain underused. Applied evolution consists of four principles: evolutionary history, genetic and phenotypic variation, selection and eco‐evolutionary dynamics. In this article, we first update a classical framework for understanding wildlife disease to integrate better these principles. Within this framework, we explore the evolutionary implications of environment–disease interactions. Subsequently, we synthesize areas where applied evolution can be employed in wildlife disease management. Finally, we discuss some future directions and challenges. Here, we underscore that despite some evolutionary principles currently playing an important role in our understanding of disease in wild animals, considerable opportunities remain for fostering the practice of evolutionarily enlightened wildlife disease management.
Does therapeutic intervention in atopic dermatitis normalize epidermal Notch deficiency?
Authors: Melnik Bodo C. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThis viewpoint presents a unifying concept for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) that is based on the improvement of deficient Notch signalling, which appears to represent the fundamental epithelial defect of AD resulting in epidermal and immunological barrier dysfunction. One study of AD patients demonstrated a marked epidermal deficiency of Notch receptors and several mouse models with genetically suppressed Notch signalling exhibit dry skin, signs of scratching, skin barrier abnormalities, increased transepidermal water loss and Th2 cell‐mediated immunological changes closely resembling human AD. Notch signalling is critically involved in the differentiation of regulatory T cells, in the feedback inhibition of activated innate immunity, in the repression of activating protein‐1 (AP‐1), the regulation of late epidermal differentiation associated with filaggrin‐ and stratum corneum barrier lipid processing, in aquaporin 3‐ and claudin‐1 expression and in keratinocyte‐mediated release of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), which promotes Th2‐driven immune responses with TSLP‐ and IL‐31‐mediated stimulation of cutaneous sensory neurons involved in the induction of itch. Translational evidence will be provided that all major therapeutic regimens employed for the treatment of AD such as glucocorticoids, calcineurin inhibitors and UV radiation may converge in the upregulation of impaired Notch signalling, the proposed pathogenic defect of AD.
Topical application of the adenosine A2A receptor agonist CGS‐21680 prevents phorbol‐induced epidermal hyperplasia and inflammation in mice
Authors: Arasa Jorge , Martos Patricio , Terencio María Carmen , Valcuende‐Cavero Francisca , Montesinos María Carmen 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThe nucleoside adenosine is a known regulator of immunity and inflammation that mediates, at least in part, the anti‐inflammatory effect of methotrexate, an immunosuppressive agent widely used to treat autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Adenosine A2A receptors play a key role in the inhibition of the inflammatory process besides promoting wound healing. Therefore, we aimed to determine the topical effect of a selective agonist, CGS‐21680, on a murine model of skin hyperplasia with a marked inflammatory component. Pretreatment with either CGS‐21680 (5 μg per site) or the reference agent dexamethasone (200 μg/site) prevented the epidermal hyperplasia and inflammatory response induced by topical application of 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA, 2 nmol/site) for three consecutive days. The histological analysis showed that both CGS‐21680 and dexamethasone produced a marked reduction of inflammatory cell infiltrate, which correlated with diminished myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in skin homogenates. Both treatments reduced the levels of the chemotactic mediators LTB4 and CXCL‐1, and the inflammatory cytokine TNF‐α, through the suppression of NFκB phosphorylation. The immunohistochemical analysis of the hyperproliferative markers cytokeratin 6 (CK6) and Ki67 revealed that while both agents inhibit the number of proliferating cells in the epidermis, CGS‐21680 treatment promoted dermal fibroblasts proliferation. Consistently, increased collagen deposition in dermis was observed in tissue sections from agonist‐treated mice. Our results showed that CGS 21680 efficiently prevents phorbol‐induced epidermal hyperplasia and inflammation in mice without the deleterious atrophic effect of topical corticosteroids.
The serodominant secreted effector protein of Salmonella, SseB, is a strong CD4 antigen containing an immunodominant epitope presented by diverse HLA class II alleles
Authors: Reynolds Catherine J. , Jones Claire , Blohmke Christoph J. , Darton Thomas C. , Goudet Amelie , Sergeant Ruhena , Maillere Bernard , Pollard Andrew J. , Altmann Daniel M. , Boyton Rosemary J. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryDetailed characterization of the protective T‐cell response in salmonellosis is a pressing unmet need in light of the global burden of human Salmonella infections and the likely contribution of CD4 T cells to immunity against this intracellular infection. In previous studies screening patient sera against antigen arrays, SseB was noteworthy as a serodominant target of adaptive immunity, inducing significantly raised antibody responses in HIV‐seronegative compared with seropositive patients. SseB is a secreted protein, part of the Espa superfamily, localized to the bacterial surface and forming part of the translocon of the type III secretion system (T3SS) encoded by Salmonella pathogenicity island 2. We demonstrate here that SseB is also a target of CD4 T‐cell immunity, generating a substantial response after experimental infection in human volunteers, with around 0·1% of the peripheral repertoire responding to it. HLA‐DR/peptide binding studies indicate that this protein encompasses a number of peptides with ability to bind to several different HLA‐DR alleles. Of these, peptide 11 (p11) was shown in priming of both HLA‐DR1 and HLA‐DR4 transgenic mice to contain an immunodominant CD4 epitope. Analysis of responses in human donors showed immunity focused on p11 and another epitope in peptide 2. The high frequency of SseB‐reactive CD4 T cells and the broad applicability to diverse HLA genotypes coupled with previous observations of serodominance and protective vaccination in mouse challenge experiments, make SseB a plausible candidate for next‐generation Salmonella vaccines.
miR‐155 deficiency protects mice from experimental colitis by reducing T helper type 1/type 17 responses
Authors: Singh Udai P. , Murphy Angela E. , Enos Reilly T. , Shamran Haidar A. , Singh Narendra P. , Guan Honbing , Hegde Venkatesh L. , Fan Daping , Price Robert L. , Taub Dennis D. , Mishra Manoj K. , Nagarkatti Mitzi , Nagarkatti Prakash S. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryInflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic intestinal inflammatory condition that affects millions of people worldwide, results in high morbidity and exorbitant health‐care costs. The critical features of both innate and adaptive immunity are to control inflammation and dysfunction in this equilibrium is believed to be the reason for the development of IBD. miR‐155, a microRNA, is up‐regulated in various inflammatory disease states, including IBD, and is a positive regulator of T‐cell responses. To date, no reports have defined a function for miR‐155 with regard to cellular responses in IBD. Using an acute experimental colitis model, we found that miR‐155−/− mice, as compared to wild‐type control mice, have decreased clinical scores, a reversal of colitis‐associated pathogenesis, and reduced systemic and mucosal inflammatory cytokines. The increased frequency of CD4+ lymphocytes in the spleen and lamina propria with dextran sodium sulphate induction was decreased in miR‐155−/− mice. Similarly, miR‐155 deficiency abrogated the increased numbers of interferon‐γ expressing CD4+ T cells typically observed in wild‐type mice in this model. The frequency of systemic and mucosal T helper type 17‐, CCR9‐expressing CD4+ T cells was also reduced in miR‐155−/− mice compared with control mice. These findings strongly support a role for miR‐155 in facilitating pro‐inflammatory cellular responses in this model of IBD. Loss of miR‐155 also results in decreases in T helper type 1/type 17, CD11b+, and CD11c+ cells, which correlated with reduced clinical scores and severity of disease. miR‐155 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of IBD.
25‐hydroxyvitamin D and increased all‐cause mortality in very old women: the Newcastle 85+ study
Authors: Granic A. , Aspray T. , Hill T. , Davies K. , Collerton J. , Martin‐Ruiz C. , von Zglinicki T. , Kirkwood T. B. L. , Mathers J. C. , Jagger C. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the associations between low and high concentrations of baseline serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and all‐cause mortality in very old (≥85 years) men and women over 6 years.Design, setting and subjectsProspective mortality data from 775 participants in the Newcastle 85+ Study were analysed for survival in relation to 25(OH)D (season‐specific quartiles and predefined cut‐off values) and sex using Cox proportional hazards models. The models were fitted to the entire and restricted (nonusers of vitamin D‐containing supplements and medication) cohorts.ResultsFor the entire cohort, mortality was higher in both the lowest and highest 25(OH)D season‐specific quartiles [SQ1: hazard ratio (HR) 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.69, P = 0.04; SQ4: HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.12–1.85, P = 0.004] compared with the combined middle quartiles (SQ2 + SQ3), after adjustment for sociodemographic factors. The increased risk for the highest quartile remained significant after further adjustment for lifestyle variables (SQ4: HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.06–1.77, P = 0.02) and was seen only in women in sex‐specific analyses. Similarly, in sensitivity analyses with predefined 25(OH)D cut‐off values, the highest 25(OH)D concentration (≥75 nmol L−1) was associated with a 2.4‐fold increased risk of mortality in women (restricted cohort) after adjusting for all covariates.ConclusionLow and high season‐specific 25(OH)D quartiles were associated with increased risks of mortality over 6 years in the very old; this effect was particularly noticeable in women, including those who reported taking vitamin D‐containing supplements/medication.
Short‐term variations in gene flow related to cyclic density fluctuations in the common vole
Authors: Gauffre Bertrand , Berthier Karine , Inchausti Pablo , Chaval Yannick , Bretagnolle Vincent , Cosson Jean‐François 
Published: May 2014

AbstractIn highly fluctuating populations with complex social systems, genetic patterns are likely to vary in space and time due to demographic and behavioural processes. Cyclic rodents are extreme examples of demographically instable populations that often exhibit strong social organization. In such populations, kin structure and spacing behaviour may vary with density fluctuations and impact both the composition and spatial structure of genetic diversity. In this study, we analysed the multiannual genetic structure of a cyclic rodent, Microtus arvalis, using a sample of 875 individuals trapped over three complete cycles (from 1999 to 2007) and genotyped at 10 microsatellite loci. We tested the predictions that genetic diversity and gene flow intensity vary with density fluctuations. We found evidences for both spatial scale‐dependant variations in genetic diversity and higher gene flow during high density. Moreover, investigation of sex‐specific relatedness patterns revealed that, although dispersal is biased toward males in this species, distances moved by both sexes were lengthened during high density. Altogether, these results suggest that an increase in migration with density allows to restore the local loss of genetic diversity occurring during low density. We then postulate that this change in migration results from local competition, which enhances female colonization of empty spaces and male dispersal among colonies.
Effects of long‐term differential fertilization on eukaryotic microbial communities in an arable soil: a multiple barcoding approach
Authors: Lentendu Guillaume , Wubet Tesfaye , Chatzinotas Antonis , Wilhelm Christian , Buscot François , Schlegel Martin 
Published: May 2014

AbstractTo understand the fine‐scale effects of changes in nutrient availability on eukaryotic soil microorganisms communities, a multiple barcoding approach was used to analyse soil samples from four different treatments in a long‐term fertilization experiment. We performed PCR amplification on soil DNA with primer pairs specifically targeting the 18S rRNA genes of all eukaryotes and three protist groups (Cercozoa, Chrysophyceae‐Synurophyceae and Kinetoplastida) as well as the ITS gene of fungi and the 23S plastid rRNA gene of photoautotrophic microorganisms. Amplicons were pyrosequenced, and a total of 88 706 quality filtered reads were clustered into 1232 operational taxonomic units (OTU) across the six data sets. Comparisons of the taxonomic coverage achieved based on overlapping assignment of OTUs revealed that half of the eukaryotic taxa identified were missed by the universal eukaryotic barcoding marker. There were only little differences in OTU richness observed between organic‐ (farmyard manure), mineral‐ and nonfertilized soils. However, the community compositions appeared to be strongly structured by organic fertilization in all data sets other than that generated using the universal eukaryotic 18S rRNA gene primers, whereas mineral fertilization had only a minor effect. In addition, a co‐occurrence based network analysis revealed complex potential interaction patterns between OTUs from different trophic levels, for example between fungivorous flagellates and fungi. Our results demonstrate that changes in pH, moisture and organic nutrients availability caused shifts in the composition of eukaryotic microbial communities at multiple trophic levels.