bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Drought tolerance as predicted by leaf water potential at turgor loss point varies strongly across species within an Amazonian forest
Authors: Maréchaux Isabelle , Bartlett Megan K. , Sack Lawren , Baraloto Christopher , Engel Julien , Joetzjer Emilie , Chave Jérôme 
Published: April 2015

Summary

Amazonian droughts are predicted to become increasingly frequent and intense, and the vulnerability of Amazonian trees has become increasingly documented. However, little is known about the physiological mechanisms and the diversity of drought tolerance of tropical trees due to the lack of quantitative measurements.

Leaf water potential at wilting or turgor loss point (πtlp) is a determinant of the tolerance of leaves to drought stress and contributes to plant‐level physiological drought tolerance. Recently, it has been demonstrated that leaf osmotic water potential at full hydration (πo) is tightly correlated with πtlp. Estimating πtlp from osmometer measurements of πo is much faster than the standard pressure–volume curve approach of πtlp determination. We used this technique to estimate πtlp for 165 trees of 71 species, at three sites within forests in French Guiana. Our data set represents a significant increase in available data for this trait for tropical tree species.

Tropical trees showed a wider range of drought tolerance than previously found in the literature, πtlp ranging from −1·4 to −3·2 MPa. This range likely corresponds in part to adaptation and acclimation to occasionally extreme droughts during the dry season.

Leaf‐level drought tolerance varied across species, in agreement with the available published observations of species variation in drought‐induced mortality. On average, species with a more negative πtlp (i.e. with greater leaf‐level drought tolerance) occurred less frequently across the region than drought‐sensitive species.

Across individuals, πtlp correlated positively but weakly with leaf toughness (R2 = 0·22, P = 0·04) and leaf thickness (R2 = 0·03, P = 0·03). No correlation was detected with other functional traits (leaf mass per area, leaf area, nitrogen or carbon concentrations, carbon isotope ratio, sapwood density or bark thickness).

The variability in πtlp among species indicates a potential for highly diverse species responses to drought within given forest communities. Given the weak correlations between πtlp and traditionally measured plant functional traits, vegetation models seeking to predict forest response to drought should integrate improved quantification of comparative drought tolerance among tree species.
Dynamics of Vibrio cholerae abundance in Austrian saline lakes, assessed with quantitative solid‐phase cytometry
Authors: Schauer Sonja , Jakwerth Stefan , Bliem Rupert , Baudart Julia , Lebaron Philippe , Huhulescu Steliana , Kundi Michael , Herzig Alois , Farnleitner Andreas H. , Sommer Regina , Kirschner Alexander 
Published: April 2015

SummaryIn order to elucidate the main predictors of Vibrio cholerae dynamics and to estimate the risk of Vibrio cholera‐related diseases, a recently developed direct detection approach based on fluorescence in situ hybridization and solid‐phase cytometry (CARD‐FISH/SPC) was applied in comparison to cultivation for water samples from the lake Neusiedler See, Austria and three shallow alkaline lakes over a period of 20 months. Vibrio cholerae attached to crustacean zooplankton was quantified via FISH and epifluorescence microscopy. Concentrations obtained by CARD‐FISH/SPC were significantly higher than those obtained by culture in 2011, but were mostly of similar magnitude in 2012. Maximum cell numbers were 1.26 × 106 V. cholerae per L in Neusiedler See and 7.59 × 107 V. cholerae per L in the shallow alkaline lakes. Only on a few occasions during summer was the crustacean zooplankton the preferred habitat for V. cholerae. In winter, V. cholerae was not culturable but could be quantified at all sites with CARD‐FISH/SPC. Beside temperature, suspended solids, zooplankton and ammonium were the main predictors of V. cholerae abundance in Neusiedler See, while in the shallow alkaline lakes it was organic carbon, conductivity and phosphorus. Based on the obtained concentrations a first estimation of the health risk for visitors of the lake could be performed.
Different utilization of alginate and other algal polysaccharides by marineAlteromonas macleodiiecotypes
Authors: Neumann Anna M. , Balmonte John P. , Berger Martine , Giebel Helge‐Ansgar , Arnosti Carol , Voget Sonja , Simon Meinhard , Brinkhoff Thorsten , Wietz Matthias 
Published: April 2015

SummaryThe marine bacteriumAlteromonas macleodiiis a copiotrophicr‐strategist, but little is known about its potential to degrade polysaccharides. Here, we studied the degradation of alginate and other algal polysaccharides byA. macleodiistrain 83‐1 in comparison to otherA. macleodiistrains. Cell densities of strain 83‐1 with alginate as sole carbon source were comparable to those with glucose, but the exponential phase was delayed. The genome of 83‐1 was found to harbour an alginolytic system comprising five alginate lyases, whose expression was induced by alginate. The alginolytic system contains additionalCAZymes, including twoTonB‐dependent receptors, and is part of a 24 kb genomic island unique to theA. macleodii ‘surface clade’ ecotype. In contrast, strains of the ‘deep clade’ ecotype contain only a single alginate lyase in a separate 7 kb island. This difference was reflected in an eightfold greater efficiency of surface clade strains to grow on alginate. Strain 83‐1 furthermore hydrolysed laminarin, pullulan and xylan, and corresponding polysaccharide utilization loci were detected in the genome.Alteromonas macleodiialginate lyases were predominantly detected in Atlantic Ocean metagenomes. The demonstrated hydrolytic capacities are likely of ecological relevance and represent another level of adaptation amongA. macleodiiecotypes.
Functional brain development in growth‐restricted and constitutionally small fetuses: a fetal magnetoencephalography case–control study
Authors: Morin EC , Schleger F , Preissl H , Braendle J , Eswaran H , Abele H , Brucker S , Kiefer‐Schmidt I 
Published: April 2015

ObjectiveFetal magnetoencephalography records fetal brain activity non‐invasively. Delayed brain responses were reported for fetuses weighing below the tenth percentile. To investigate whether this delay indicates delayed brain maturation resulting from placental insufficiency, this study distinguished two groups of fetuses below the tenth percentile: growth‐restricted fetuses with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocity (IUGR) and constitutionally small‐for‐gestational‐age fetuses with normal umbilical artery Doppler findings (SGA) were compared with fetuses of adequate weight for gestational age (AGA), matched for age and behavioural state.DesignA case–control study of matched pairs.SettingFetal magnetoencephalography‐Center at the University Hospital of Tuebingen.PopulationFourteen IUGR fetuses and 23 SGA fetuses were matched for gestational age and fetal behavioural state with 37 healthy, normal‐sized fetuses.MethodsA 156‐channel fetal magentoencephalography system was used to record fetal brain activity. Light flashes as visual stimulation were applied to the fetus. The Student's t‐test for paired groups was performed.Main outcome measureLatency of fetal visual evoked magnetic responses (VER).ResultsThe IUGR fetuses showed delayed VERs compared with controls (IUGR, 233.1 ms; controls, 184.6 ms; P = 0.032). SGA fetuses had similar evoked response latencies compared with controls (SGA, 216.1 ms; controls, 219.9 ms; P = 0.828). Behavioural states were similarly distributed.ConclusionVisual evoked responses are delayed in IUGR fetuses, but not in SGA. Fetal behavioural state as an influencing factor of brain response latency was accounted for in the comparison. This reinforces that delayed brain maturation is the result of placental insufficiency.
Uterine rupture: trends over 40 years
Authors: Al‐Zirqi I , Stray‐Pedersen B , Forsén L , Daltveit A‐K , Vangen S 
Published: April 2015

ObjectiveTo follow trends of uterine rupture over a period of 40 years in Norway.DesignPopulation‐based study using data from the Medical Birth Registry, the Patient Administration System, and medical records.SettingNorway.SampleWomen giving birth in 21 maternity units in Norway during the period 1967–2008 (n = 1 441 712 maternities).MethodsThe incidence and outcomes of uterine rupture were compared across four decades: 1967–1977; 1978–1988; 1989–1999; and 2000–2008. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratio (OR) for uterine rupture in each decade compared with the second decade.Main outcome measureTrends in uterine rupture.ResultsWe identified 359 uterine ruptures. The incidence rates per 10 000 maternities in the first, second, third, and fourth decade were 1.2, 0.9, 1.7, and 6.1, respectively. The ORs for complete and partial ruptures in the fourth versus the second decade were 6.4 (95% confidence interval, 95% CI 3.8–10.8) and 7.2 (95% CI 4.2–12.3), respectively. Significant contributing factors to this increase were the higher rates of labour augmentation with oxytocin, scarred uteri from a previous caesarean section, and labour induction with prostaglandins or prostaglandins combined with oxytocin. After adjusting for risk factors, the ORs for complete and partial ruptures were 2.2 (95% CI 1.3–3.8) and 2.8 (95% CI 1.6–4.8), respectively. Severe postpartum haemorrhage, hysterectomy, intrapartum death and infant death after complete uterine ruptures decreased significantly over time.ConclusionsA sharply increasing trend of uterine rupture was found. Obstetric interventions contributed to this increase, but could not explain it entirely.Tweetable abstractA sharply increasing trend of uterine ruptures has been found in Norway in recent years.
Urinary incontinence persisting after childbirth: extent, delivery history, and effects in a 12–year longitudinal cohort study
Authors: MacArthur C , Wilson D , Herbison P , Lancashire RJ , Hagen S , Toozs‐Hobson P , Dean N , Glazener C ,   the Prolong study group
Published: April 2015

ObjectiveTo investigate the extent of persistent urinary incontinence (UI) 12 years after birth, and association with delivery‐mode history and other factors.DesignTwelve‐year longitudinal cohort study.SettingMaternity units in Aberdeen, Birmingham, and Dunedin.PopulationWomen who returned questionnaires 3 months and 12 years after index birth.MethodsData on all births over a period of 12 months were obtained from the units and then women were contacted by post.Main outcome measurePersistent UI reported at 12 years, with one or more previous contact.ResultsOf 7879 women recruited at 3 months, 3763 (48%) responded at 12 years, with 2944 also having responded at 6 years; non‐responders had similar obstetric characteristics. The prevalence of persistent UI was 37.9% (1429/3763). Among those who had reported UI at 3 months, 76.4% reported it at 12 years. Women with persistent UI had lower SF12 quality of life scores. Compared with having only spontaneous vaginal deliveries (SVDs), women who delivered exclusively by caesarean section were less likely to have persistent UI (odds ratio, OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.33–0.54). This was not the case in women who had a combination of caesarean section and SVD births (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.78–1.30). Older age at first birth, greater parity, and overweight/obesity were associated with persistent UI. Of 54 index primiparae with UI before pregnancy, 46 (85.2%) had persistent UI.ConclusionsThis study, demonstrating that UI persists to 12 years in about three‐quarters of women, and that risk was only reduced with caesarean section if women had no other delivery mode, has practice implications.Tweetable abstractA longitudinal study of 3763 women showed a prevalence of persistent UI 12 years after birth of 37.9%.
Measurement of Urban Fringe Sprawl in Nanjing between 1984 and 2010 Using Multidimensional Indicators
Authors: FENG L. , DU P.J. , LI H. , ZHU L.J. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractDue to the global increases in urbanisation rates, urban sprawl has become a worldwide issue. In China, the development of rural areas has been affected by urban expansion and adjustments of metropolitan areas by administrative divisions that have led to losses in agricultural lands and ecosystem services. There is the ‘paradoxical’ desire for governments to promote rural development and protect land resources. Urban fringe sprawl is a prominent issue in the process of rural development. Identifying and measuring sprawl at the urban fringe could assist policymakers to either encourage or discourage this phenomenon. This paper demonstrates use of multidimensional indicators to effectively measure urban fringe sprawl by remote sensing, in addition to demographic and socio‐economic data. Using integrated indicators observed in the recent Chinese development context, urban fringe sprawl was measured comprehensively for Jiangning, a district in the city of Nanjing, China. This study indicates that Jiangning is sprawling rapidly. The results also show that the multidimensional indicator approach could provide decision support to create effective long‐term land‐use planning policies for controlling urban sprawl patterns.
Isoflavone Profile in Soymilk as Affected by Soybean Variety, Grinding, and Heat‐Processing Methods
Authors: Zhang Yan , Chang Sam K.C. , Liu Zhisheng 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIsoflavones impart health benefits and their overall content and profile in foods are greatly influenced at each step during processing. In this study, 2 soybean varieties (Prosoy and black soybean) were processed with 3 different grinding (ambient, cold, and hot grinding) and heating methods (traditional stove cooking, 1‐phase UHT, and 2‐phase UHT) for soymilk making. The results showed after cold, ambient, and hot grinding, the total isoflavones were 3917, 5013, and 5949 nmol/g for Prosoy; the total isoflavones were 4073, 3966, and 4284 nmol/g for black soybean. Grinding could significantly increase isoflavone extraction. The grinding process had a destructive effect on isoflavones and this effect varied with grinding temperature. Different heating methods had different effects on different isoflavone forms. Two soybean varieties showed distinct patterns with respect to the change of isoflavone profile during processing.
Electrodialytic Removal of Nitrate from Pineapple Juice: Effect on Selected Physicochemical Properties, Amino Acids, and Aroma Components of the Juice
Authors: Ackarabanpojoue Yuwadee , Chindapan Nathamol , Yoovidhya Tipaporn , Devahastin Sakamon 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThis study aimed at investigating the effect of nitrate removal from pineapple juice by electrodialysis (ED) on selected properties of the ED‐treated juice. Single‐strength pineapple juice with reduced pulp content was treated by ED to reduce the nitrate concentration to 15, 10, or 5 ppm. After ED, the removed pulp was added to the ED‐treated juice and its properties, including electrical conductivity, acidity, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), color, amino acids, and selected aroma compounds, were determined and compared with those of the untreated juice. ED could reduce the nitrate content of 1 L of pineapple juice from an initial value of 50 ppm to less than 5 ppm within 30 min. A significant decrease in the electrical conductivity, acidity, pH, TSS, and yellowness, but a significant increase in the lightness, of the juice was observed upon ED. Concentrations of almost all amino acids of the ED‐treated juice significantly decreased. The concentrations of 8 major compound contributors to the pineapple aroma also significantly decreased. Adding the pulp back to the ED‐treated juice increased the amino acids concentrations; however, it led to a significant decrease in the concentrations of the aroma compounds.
Evaluation of the effect of zoom function on lesion detection by soft‐copy reading of screening mammograms
Authors: Trieu Phuong Dung , Brennan Patrick , Giuffre Bruno , Mello‐Thoms Claudia , Tapia Kriscia , Santangelo Nicole , Kim Haewon , Cameron Katherine , Hayter Catherine , Da Costa Glenys , Sterba Jarmila , Lee Warwick 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIntroductionThis study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of zooming in improving screen‐reader performance in reporting digital mammograms.MethodTwo experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, 5 readers were asked to report 59 two‐view bilateral mammograms retrospectively with zooming function turned off. The second session was similar to the first one except that zooming was enabled. The task of readers was to assess if the mammograms were normal or abnormal and rate the confidence levels for each of the lesion they detected. The reader performances were evaluated via case sensitivity, lesion sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) and jackknife free‐response receiver operating characteristics (JAFROC) figure of merit (FOM).ResultsThere was no significant improvement in overall reader performance in detecting abnormalities in zooming condition compared with no zooming in terms of case sensitivity (96% and 87%, P = 0.285) or lesion sensitivity (88% and 81%, P = 0.224). However, differences in ROC AUC and JAFROC FOM (P ≤ 0.05) were found in two readers when they performed the test set with zooming function.ConclusionThe results suggested that the use of the zooming function did improve the performance of some readers in detecting abnormal cases.
Superior target volume and organ stability with the use of endorectal balloons in post‐prostatectomy radiotherapy
Authors: de Leon Jeremiah F , Jameson Michael G , Windsor Apsara , Cloak Kirrily , Keats Sarah , Vial Philip , Holloway Lois , Metcalfe Peter , Sidhom Mark 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIntroductionWe investigated the endorectal balloon (ERB) as a method to improve post‐prostatectomy clinical target volume (CTV) stability.MethodsSeventy cone‐beam CT (CBCT) obtained during radiotherapy treatment from seven patients treated with an ERB and 68 CBCT from seven patients treated without an ERB were contoured according to published guidelines. CTV was subdivided into superior and inferior CTV; whole rectal volume was subdivided into superior and inferior rectum and anal volume. Concordance index (CI) of CBCT treatment volumes compared with planning volumes was calculated and displacements were measured.ResultsWhole rectal, superior and inferior rectum and anal CI were significantly improved with the ERB by 21%, 17%, 26% and 17% respectively (P < 0.0001). Overall CTV and inferior CTV CI was improved by 4% with the ERB (overall CTV P = 0.021; Inferior CTV P < 0.0001). In the ERB cohort, average displacement for superior CTV was 0.37 cm anterior–posterior (AP) and 0.10 cm left–right (LR). Average standard deviation was 0.27 cm AP and 0.11 cm LR. Inferior CTV average displacement was 0.11 cm AP and 0.02 cm LR. Average standard deviation was 0.11 cm AP and 0.02 cm LR.In the non‐ERB cohort, average displacement for superior CTV was 0.43 cm AP and 0.10 mm left–right (LR). Average standard deviation was 0.45 cm AP and 0.13 cm LR. Inferior CTV average displacement was 0.16 cm AP and 0.01 cm LR. Average standard deviation was 0.17 cm AP and 0.03 cm LR. There was no statistically significant impact of bladder filling on CTV CI in ERB patients (P = 0.551) as opposed to non‐ERB patients (P = 0.0421).ConclusionERBs in the post‐prostatectomy setting resulted in increased rectal and CTV stability while negating the effects of bladder filling on CTV stability.
LEA: An R package for landscape and ecological association studies
Authors: Frichot Eric , François Olivier 
Published: April 2015

Summary

Based on population genomic and environmental data, genomewide ecological association studies aim at detecting allele frequencies that exhibit significant statistical association with ecological gradients. Ecological association studies can provide lists of genetic polymorphisms that are potentially involved in local adaptation to environmental conditions through natural selection.

Here, we present the R package LEA that enables users to run ecological association studies from the R command line. The package can perform analyses of population structure and genome scans for adaptive alleles from large genomic data sets. It derives advantages from R programming functionalities to adjust significance values for multiple testing issues and to visualize results.

This note also illustrates the main steps of ecological association studies and the typical use of LEA for analysing data sets based on R commands.
The relative value of field survey and remote sensing for biodiversity assessment
Authors: Rhodes Christopher J. , Henrys Peter , Siriwardena Gavin M. , Whittingham Mark J. , Norton Lisa R. 
Published: April 2015

Summary

The importance of habitat for biodiversity is well established, but the two most commonly used methods to measure habitat (field survey and remote sensing) have seldom been explicitly compared.

We compare high‐resolution sample‐based field survey (Countryside Survey) with medium‐resolution remotely sensed habitat data (the highest resolution of Land Cover Map available) for Great Britain. Variation in abundance of 60 bird species from 335 1 km squares was modelled using habitat predictors from the two methods. Model comparisons assessed the explanatory power of (i) field survey vs. remotely sensed data and (ii) coarse information on habitat areas (Broad Habitats) vs. fine‐grained information on Landscape Features.

Field survey data (combining Broad Habitat and Landscape Feature predictors) explained more variation in bird abundance than remotely sensed data (comprising Broad Habitat predictors only) for 57 species and had significantly higher mean explanatory power, averaged across 60 species models. The relative explanatory power of remote sensing, as a proportion of that provided by field data, was measured at 73%, averaged across 60 species models. Predictions from field survey Broad Habitat data were more accurate than those from either remotely sensed Broad Habitat data or field survey Landscape Feature data, averaged across 60 species models.

High‐resolution data generate more reliable models of predicted local population responses to land use change than lower resolution remotely sensed data. Collection of field data is typically costly in time, labour and resources, making use of remote sensing more feasible for assessment at larger spatial extents if data of equivalent value are produced, but the cost–benefit threshold between the two is likely to be context specific. However, integration of field survey with remotely sensed data provides accurate predictions of bird distributions, which suggests that both forms of data should be considered for future biodiversity surveys.