bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modulation of intestinal calcium and phosphate transport in young goats fed a nitrogen- and/or calcium-reduced diet
Authors: Elfers Kristin , Wilkens Mirja R. , Breves Gerhard , Muscher-Banse Alexandra S. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractFeeding ruminants a reduced N diet is a common approach to reduce N output based on rumino-hepatic circulation. However, a reduction in N intake caused massive changes in Ca and inorganic phosphate (Pi) homoeostasis in goats. Although a single dietary Ca reduction stimulated intestinal Ca absorption in a calcitriol-dependent manner, a concomitant reduction of Ca and N supply led to a decrease in calcitriol, and therefore a modulation of intestinal Ca and Pi absorption. The aim of this study was to examine the potential effects of dietary N or Ca reduction separately on intestinal Ca and Pi transport in young goats. Animals were allocated to a control, N-reduced, Ca-reduced or combined N- and Ca-reduced diet for about 6−8 weeks, whereby N content was reduced by 25 % compared with recommendations. In Ussing chamber experiments, intestinal Ca flux rates significantly decreased in goats fed a reduced N diet, whereas Pi flux rates were unaffected. In contrast, a dietary Ca reduction stimulated Ca flux rates and decreased Pi flux rates. The combined dietary N and Ca reduction withdrew the stimulating effect of dietary Ca reduction on Ca flux rates. The expression of Ca-transporting proteins decreased with a reduced N diet too, whereas Pi-transporting proteins were unaffected. In conclusion, a dietary N reduction decreased intestinal Ca transport by diminishing Ca-transporting proteins, which became clear during simultaneous N and Ca reduction. Therefore, N supply in young ruminant nutrition is of special concern for intestinal Ca transport.
‘WE CAN’T GET WORMS FROM COW DUNG’: REPORTED KNOWLEDGE OF PARASITISM AMONG PASTORALIST YOUTH ATTENDING SECONDARY SCHOOL IN THE NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA, TANZANIA
Authors: Henderson Rita Isabel , Hatfield Jennifer , Kutz Susan , Olemshumba Saningo , Van Der Meer Frank , Manyama Mange , Bastien Sheri 
Published: October 2015

SummaryRecords at the Endulen Hospital in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), Tanzania, reveal that soil-transmitted helminth infections and protozoa are consistently in the top ten diagnoses for Maasai pastoralists, indicating a significant public health concern. Nevertheless, Maasai pastoralist adaptations to life in close proximity to livestock and to unreliable access to water raise important questions about experiences of, and resiliency to, parasitic infections. Though these infections are particularly prevalent among youth in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), a focus on resiliency highlights local capacity to recover from and prevent illness. For instance, how is human parasitism perceived and experienced among communities displaying behaviours that studies have associated with transmission of diarrhoeal diseases, such as open defecation? Among these communities, how is parasitism seen to impact the health and development of children? And, what resources are available to endure or mitigate this heavy disease burden among affected communities? This study draws on formative research carried out in May 2014 in anticipation of an innovative school-based and youth-driven water, sanitation and hygiene education intervention rolled out in two boarding schools in the NCA in subsequent months. The initiative is grounded in a One Health approach to health promotion, drawing on partnerships in medicine, public health and veterinary medicine to appreciate the unique interactions between humans, animals and the environment that shape well-being among pastoralist communities. Qualitative data generated through group discussions with secondary school youth (n=60), Maasai teachers (n=6) and a women’s group (n=8) in the NCA convey existing knowledge of the prevalence, prevention and treatment of human parasitism. An underlying principle of the larger initiative is to engage youth as creative agents of change in developing and sustaining locally relevant health promotion strategies. Findings highlight practical knowledge around certain ‘neglected tropical diseases’, namely helminths, among pastoralist communities in the NCA, in turn feeding into the development of the science fair and related interventions.
Risk factors forEchinococcuscoproantigen positivity in dogs from the Alay valley, Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Mastin A. , van Kesteren F. , Torgerson P.R. , Ziadinov I. , Mytynova B. , Rogan M.T. , Tursunov T. , Craig P.S. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractEchinococcosis, caused by the zoonotic cestodesEchinococcus granulosus(sensu lato) andEchinococcus multilocularis,is highly endemic in the Central Asian Republic of Kyrgyzstan, and is being identified increasingly as a public health problem, especially amongst pastoral communities. As domestic dogs are considered to be the main source of human infection, the identification of potential transmission pathways is of relevance when considering implementing an echinococcosis control scheme. The current report describes the results of an analytical study of canineEchinococcuscoproantigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) prevalence in the Alay valley of southern Kyrgyzstan prior to the commencement of regular praziquantel dosing of dogs. A logistic regression model using a form of Bayes modal estimation was used to identify possible risk factors for coproantigen positivity, and the output was interpreted in a Bayesian context (posterior distributions of the coefficients of interest). The study found that sheepdogs had lower odds of coproantigen positivity, as did dogs in households with donkeys, where owners had knowledge of echinococcosis, and households which engaged in home slaughtering. Surprisingly, there was no evidence of an association between free roaming or previous praziquantel dosing and coproantigen positivity, as has been found in previous studies. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed in the context of the epidemiology of echinococcosis and potential intervention approaches.
Anthelmintic efficacy of cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid from cortex cinnamon essential oil againstDactylogyrus intermedius
Authors: LING FEI , JIANG CHAO , LIU GUANGLU , LI MINGSHUANG , WANG GAOXUE 
Published: October 2015

SUMMARYUtilization of chemical pesticide to control monogenean diseases is often restricted in many countries due to the development of pesticide resistance and concerns of chemical residues and environmental contamination. Thus, the use of antiparasitic agents from plants has been explored as a possible way for controlling monogenean infections. Extracts fromCinnamomum cassiawere investigated underin vivoconditions againstDactylogyrus intermediusin goldfish. The two bioactive compounds, cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid, were identified using nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The 48 h median effective concentrations (EC50) for these compounds againstD. intermediuswere 0·57 and 6·32 mg L−1, respectively. The LD50of cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid were 13·34 and 59·66 mg L−1to goldfish in 48 h acute toxicity tests, respectively. These data confirm that cinnamaldehyde is effective againstD. intermedius, and the cinnamaldehyde exhibits potential for the development of a candidate antiparasitic agent.
Long-term spatiotemporal stability and dynamic changes in helminth infracommunities of bank voles (Myodes glareolus) in NE Poland
Authors: GRZYBEK MACIEJ , BAJER ANNA , BEDNARSKA MAŁGORZATA , AL-SARRAF MOHAMMED , BEHNKE-BOROWCZYK JOLANTA , HARRIS PHILIP D. , PRICE STEPHEN J. , BROWN GABRIELLE S. , OSBORNE SARAH-JANE , SIŃSKI EDWARD , BEHNKE JERZY M. 
Published: October 2015

SUMMARYParasites are considered to be an important selective force in host evolution but ecological studies of host-parasite systems are usually short-term providing only snap-shots of what may be dynamic systems. We have conducted four surveys of helminths of bank voles at three ecologically similar woodland sites in NE Poland, spaced over a period of 11 years, to assess the relative importance of temporal and spatial effects on helminth infracommunities. Some measures of infracommunity structure maintained relative stability: the rank order of prevalence and abundance ofHeligmosomum mixtum, Heligmosomoides glareoliandMastophorus murischanged little between the four surveys. Other measures changed markedly: dynamic changes were evident inSyphacia petrusewicziwhich declined to local extinction, while the capillariidAonchotheca annulosafirst appeared in 2002 and then increased in prevalence and abundance over the remaining three surveys. Some species are therefore dynamic and both introductions and extinctions can be expected in ecological time. At higher taxonomic levels and for derived measures, year and host-age effects and their interactions with site are important. Our surveys emphasize that the site of capture is the major determinant of the species contributing to helminth community structure, providing some predictability in these systems.
Functional evaluation of gene silencing on macrophages derived from U937 cells using interference RNA (shRNA) in a model of macrophages infected withLeishmania(Viannia)braziliensis
Authors: OVALLE-BRACHO CLEMENCIA , LONDOÑO-BARBOSA DIANA A. , FRANCO-MUÑOZ CARLOS , CLAVIJO-RAMÍREZ CARLOS 
Published: October 2015

SUMMARYLeishmaniasis development is multifactorial; nonetheless, the establishment of the infection, which occurs by the survival and replication of the parasite inside its main host cell, the macrophage, is mandatory. Thus, the importance of studying the molecular mechanisms involved in the Leishmania–macrophage interaction is highlighted. The aim of this study was to characterize a cellular model of macrophages derived from U937 cells that would allow for the identification of infection phenotypes induced by genetic silencing with interference RNA in the context of macrophages infected withLeishmania(Viannia)braziliensis. The model was standardized by silencing an exogenous gene (gfp), an endogenous gene (lmna) and a differentially expressed gene between infected and non-infected macrophages (gro-β). The silencing process was successful for the three genes studied, obtaining reductions of 88·9% in the GFP levels, 87·5% in LMNA levels and 74·4% for Gro-β with respect to the corresponding control cell lines. The cell model revealed changes in the infection phenotype of the macrophages in terms of number of amastigotes per infected macrophage, number of amastigotes per sampled macrophage and percentage of infected macrophages as a result of gene silencing. Thus, this cell model constitutes a research platform for the study of parasite–host interactions and for the identification of potentially therapeutic targets.
You can't always get what you want: actual and preferred ages of retirement in Europe
Authors: STEIBER NADIA , KOHLI MARTIN 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACTUsing data from the European Social Survey fielded in 2010/11, this study presents new evidence on retirement preferences in Europe. It investigates retirees'preferred and actual ages of retirement, focusing on the retirement window 1995–2011. Moreover, it reports on the prevalence of mismatch in the form ofinvoluntary retirement(retiring earlier than preferred) andinvoluntary work(retiring later than preferred). The study identifies substantial shares of retirees who are affected by a mismatch between their preferred and actual ages of retirement. In the majority of the countries analysed, at least 30 per cent of retirees would have preferred to continue working past the age at which they retired, while in a number of countries sizeable shares of retirees report involuntary work. The risk factors for involuntary retirement include the experience of late-career job loss, unemployment, job exits for health reasons and, in the case of women, working in higher-status occupations. The risk factors for involuntary work include fatherhood and, in the case of women, part-time work. As a result of rising actual ages of retirement, the risk of involuntary retirement has decreased for more recent retirement cohorts, while due to pension reforms that have tightened eligibility rules for early retirement, men's risk of involuntary work has increased. However, involuntary retirement is still more prevalent than involuntary work.
Canopy gaps promote selective stem-cutting by small mammals of two dominant tree species in an African lowland forest: the importance of seedling chemistry
Authors: Norghauer Julian M. , Röder Gregory , Glauser Gaëtan 
Published: October 2015

Abstract:Small mammals can impede tree regeneration by injuring seedlings and saplings in several ways. One fatal way is by severing their stems, but apparently this type of predation is not well-studied in tropical rain forest. Here, we report on the incidence of ‘stem-cutting’ to new, wild seedlings of two locally dominant, canopy tree species monitored in 40 paired forest understorey and gap-habitat areas in Korup, Cameroon following a 2007 masting event. In gap areas, which are required for the upward growth and sapling recruitment of both species, 137 seedlings of the long-lived, light-demanding, fast-growing large tropical tree (Microberlinia bisulcata) were highly susceptible to stem-cutting (83% of deaths) — it killed 39% of all seedlings over a c. 2-y period. In stark contrast, seedlings of the more shade-tolerant, slower-growing tree species (Tetraberlinia bifoliolata) were hardly attacked (4.3%). In the understorey, however, stem-cutting was virtually absent. Across the gap areas, the incidence of stem-cutting of M. bisulcata seedlings showed significant spatial variation that could not be explained significantly by either canopy openness or Janzen–Connell type effects (proximity and basal area of conspecific adult trees). To examine physical and chemical traits that might explain the species difference to being cut, bark and wood tissues were collected from a separate sample of seedlings in gaps (i.e. not monitored for stem-cutting). These analyses suggested that, compared with T. bifoliolata, the lower stem density, higher Mg and K and fatty acid concentrations in bark, and fewer phenolic and terpene compounds in M. bisulcata seedlings made them more palatable and attractive to small-mammal predators, likely rodents. We conclude that selective stem-cutting is a potent countervailing force to the current local canopy dominance of the grove-forming M. bisulcata by limiting the recruitment and abundance of its saplings. Given the ubiquity of gaps and ground-dwelling rodents in pantropical forests, it would be surprising if this form of lethal browsing was restricted to Korup.
Are interspecific associations of primates in the Western Ghats a matter of chance? A case study of the lion-tailed macaque
Authors: Erinjery Joseph J. , Kumara Honnavalli N. , Kavana T. S. , Singh Mewa 
Published: October 2015

Abstract:When animals or groups of animals in their wild habitats come close to each other within a defined distance, it is termed as an association. Observing two groups of the lion-tailed macaque at Nelliyampathy and Andiparai forests of the Western Ghats of India, we asked whether the lion-tailed macaque associations with the sympatric Nilgiri langur and bonnet macaque were by chance or had any biological significance. Employing ‘all occurrences’ sampling, we recorded an association if a group of another primate species came within 30 m of the focal group of the lion-tailed macaque. Date, time, associating species, activity of the study species and of the associating species, type of interaction, aggressor and the recipient, species displaced and duration of the association were recorded. We used the Waser gas model to calculate the expected frequency and duration of associations and compared them with the observed associations. The lion-tailed macaque spent less time in associations than expected. The lion-tailed macaque and the Nilgiri langur initiated associations less often, and remained in association for less time, than expected by chance. Whereas the expected and observed initiation of associations between the lion-tailed macaque and the Nilgiri langur in Nelliyampathy was significantly different (expected rate = 153; observed rate = 64), in Andiparai, it was not (expected rate = 55.5; observed rate = 61). The expected and observed association duration was significantly different in Nelliyampathy (expected duration = 54 min; observed duration = 15 min) and Andiparai (expected duration = 48 min; observed duration = 19 min). In contrast, we detected few differences between observed and expected association frequency for the lion-tailed macaque and the bonnet macaque. Aggressive interactions were common in areas where density of the Nilgiri langur groups was high. This is the first study on Asian primates using the ideal gas approach to show that primates do not form active associations with each other.
Investigating the multiplicity and concentration behaviour of solutions for a quasi-linear Choquard equation via the penalization method
Authors: Alves Claudianor O. , Yang Minbo 
Published: October 2015

We study the multiplicity and concentration behaviour of positive solutions for a quasi-linear Choquard equationwhere Δp is the p-Laplacian operator, 1 < p < N, V is a continuous real function on ℝN, 0 < μ < N, F(s) is the primitive function of f(s), ε is a positive parameter and * represents the convolution between two functions. The question of the existence of semiclassical solutions for the semilinear case p = 2 has recently been posed by Ambrosetti and Malchiodi. We suppose that the potential satisfies the condition introduced by del Pino and Felmer, i.e.V has a local minimum. We prove the existence, multiplicity and concentration of solutions for the equation by the penalization method and Lyusternik–Schnirelmann theory and even show novel results for the semilinear case p = 2.
Adaptive kinetic structural behavior through machine learning: Optimizing the process of kinematic transformation using artificial neural networks
Authors: Kontovourkis Odysseas , Phocas Marios C. , Lamprou Ifigenia 
Published: October 2015

AbstractNowadays, on the basis of significant work carried out, architectural adaption structures are considered to be intelligent entities, able to react to various internal or external influences. Their adaptive behavior can be examined in a digital or physical environment, generating a variety of alternative solutions or structural transformations. These are controlled through different computational approaches, ranging from interactive exploration ones, producing alternative emergent results, to automate optimization ones, resulting in acceptable fitting solutions. This paper examines the adaptive behavior of a kinetic structure, aiming to explore suitable solutions resulting in final appropriate shapes during the transformation process. A machine learning methodology that implements an artificial neural networks algorithm is integrated to the suggested structure. The latter is formed by units articulated together in a sequential composition consisting of primary soft mechanisms and secondary rigid components that are responsible for its reconfiguration and stiffness. A number of case studies that respond to unstructured environments are set as examples, to test the effectiveness of the proposed methodology to be used for handling a large number of input data and to optimize the complex and nonlinear transformation behavior of the kinetic system at the global level, as a result of the units’ local activation that influences nearby units in a chaotic and unpredictable manner.
Determining the cost optimum among a discrete set of building technologies to satisfy stringent energy targets
Authors: Simmons Brian , Tan Matthias H.Y. , Wu C.F. Jeff , Augenbroe Godfried 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis paper presents the development of an optimization methodology for selecting the lowest monetary cost combinations of building technologies to meet set operational energy reduction targets. The new optimization algorithm introduced in this paper departs from the notion that optimal design choices over a large set of design parameters and properties can be driven by energy targets. We assume that design parameters are determined by many concurrent considerations fighting over the attention span of the design team. Our approach starts from a design outcome and asks the question, which set of discrete technologies are the right mix to reach an energy target in the cost optimal way? Such an approach has to face the challenge that the properties of market-available building technologies have a discrete nature that makes their optimal selection a combinatorial problem. The optimization algorithm searches the discrete combinatoric space by maximizing the following objective function: calculated energy savings divided by premium cost, where cost is defined as the additional cost over a baseline solution. The algorithm is codified into a custom MATLAB script and when compared to prescriptive methodologies is shown to be more cost effective and generically applicable given a palette of building technology alternatives and their corresponding cost data.
Dexen: A scalable and extensible platform for experimenting with population-based design exploration algorithms
Authors: Janssen Patrick 
Published: October 2015

AbstractA platform for experimenting with population-based design exploration algorithms is presented, calledDexen. The platform has been developed in order to address the needs of two distinct groups of users loosely labeled asresearchersanddesigners. Whereas the researchers group focuses on creating and testing customized toolkits, the designers group focuses on applying these toolkits in the design process. A platform is required that is scalable and extensible: scalable to allow computationally demanding population-based exploration algorithms to be executed on distributed hardware within reasonable time frames, and extensible to allow researchers to easily implement their own customized toolkits consisting of specialized algorithms and user interfaces. In order to address these requirements, a three-tier client–server system architecture has been used that separates data storage, domain logic, and presentation. This separation allows customized toolkits to be created for Dexen without requiring any changes to the data or logic tiers. In the logic tier, Dexen uses a programming model in which tasks only communicate through data objects stored in a key-value database. The paper ends with a case study experiment that uses a multicriteria evolutionary algorithm toolkit to explore alternative configurations for the massing and façade design of a large residential development. The parametric models for developing and evaluating design variants are described in detail. A population of design variants are evolved, a number of which are selected for further analysis. The case study demonstrates how evolutionary exploration methods can be applied to a complex design scenario without requiring any scripting.