bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fitness costs and benefits of ultraviolet radiation exposure in marine pelagic copepods
Authors: Hylander Samuel , Grenvald Julie Cornelius , Kiørboe Thomas 
Published: August 2013

Summary

Life‐history theory predicts that organisms should allocate energy throughout their life such that they maximize their fitness. Copepod zooplankton are known to accumulate sunscreens (so‐called mycosporine‐like amino acids, MAAs) and antioxidant carotenoids to mitigate negative effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR), but it is not well known how this affects their fitness.

We followed cohorts of the marine copepod Acartia tonsa and assessed how fitness was affected by UVR exposure and a diet rich in UVR‐protective sunscreens.

Several fitness components including somatic growth, egg quality and nauplii production (larvae) were negatively affected by UVR, whereas other components such as size at maturity, survival and length of life were not. Nauplii production through low egg quality was the most influential life‐history parameter that changed in response to UVR.

There was interaction between fitness costs and food source. If copepods were fed a diet rich in UVR‐screening MAAs, they were able to maintain and even increase their fitness even though they were exposed to otherwise detrimental radiation. Levels of UVR‐protective carotenoids were low in the studied species and a meta‐analysis revealed that marine copepods in general have much lower – by an order of magnitude – levels of carotenoids than freshwater species, while levels of MAAs are similar between the two habitats.

We conclude that allocation to different fitness components to some extent is plastic although egg quality is by far the most influential factor, and this is an example of how environmental variability affects overall fitness. Fitness costs associated with UVR exposure in the absence of UVR‐screening MAAs were present. Other costs such as costs for accumulating MAAs were not detected, and if present, they were outweighed by a stimulated fitness in combined UVR and MAA treatments challenging the common model that inducible defences (such as accumulation of MAAs) should come with a cost. Low levels of carotenoids in marine systems suggest high predation pressures on pigmented specimens. Accumulation of nonpigmented MAAs could hence be a key adaptation for surface‐dwelling marine zooplankton to maintain or even increase their fitness when exposed to detrimental radiation.
Age‐related variation in energy expenditure in a long‐lived bird within the envelope of an energy ceiling
Authors: Elliott Kyle H. , Le Vaillant Maryline , Kato Akiko , Gaston Anthony J. , Ropert‐Coudert Yan , Hare James F. , Speakman John R. , Croll Donald 
Published: August 2013

Summary

Energy expenditure in wild animals can be limited (i) intrinsically by physiological processes that constrain an animal's capacity to use energy, (ii) extrinsically by energy availability in the environment and/or (iii) strategically based on trade‐offs between elevated metabolism and survival. Although these factors apply to all individuals within a population, some individuals expend more or less energy than other individuals.

To examine the role of an energy ceiling in a species with a high and individually repeatable metabolic rate, we compared energy expenditure of thick‐billed murres (Uria lomvia) with and without handicaps during a period of peak energy demand (chick‐rearing, N = 16). We also compared energy expenditure of unencumbered birds (N = 260) across 8 years exhibiting contrasting environmental conditions and correlated energy expenditure with fitness (reproductive success and survival).

Murres experienced an energy ceiling mediated through behavioural adjustments. Handicapped birds decreased time spent flying/diving and chick‐provisioning rates such that overall daily energy expenditure remained unchanged across the two treatments. The energy ceiling did not reflect energy availability or trade‐offs with fitness, as energy expenditure was similar across contrasting foraging conditions and was not associated with reduced survival or increased reproductive success.

We found partial support for the trade‐off hypothesis as older murres, where prospects for future reproduction would be relatively limited, did overcome an energy ceiling to invest more in offspring following handicapping by reducing their own energy reserves. The ceiling therefore appeared to operate at the level of intake (i.e. digestion) rather than expenditure (i.e. thermal constraint, oxidative stress).

A meta‐analysis comparing responses of breeding animals to handicapping suggests that our results are typical: animals either reduced investment in themselves or in their offspring to remain below an energy ceiling. Across species, whether a handicapped individual invested in its own energy stores or its offspring's growth was not explained by life history (future vs. current reproductive potential). Many breeding animals apparently experience an intrinsic energy ceiling, and increased energy costs lead to a decline in self‐maintenance and/or offspring provisioning.
Downscaling pollen–transport networks to the level of individuals
Authors: Tur Cristina , Vigalondo Beatriz , Trøjelsgaard Kristian , Olesen Jens M. , Traveset Anna 
Published: August 2013

Summary

Most plant–pollinator network studies are conducted at species level, whereas little is known about network patterns at the individual level. In fact, nodes in traditional species‐based interaction networks are aggregates of individuals establishing the actual links observed in nature. Thus, emergent properties of interaction networks might be the result of mechanisms acting at the individual level.

Pollen loads carried by insect flower visitors from two mountain communities were studied to construct pollen–transport networks. For the first time, these community‐wide pollen–transport networks were downscaled from species–species (sp–sp) to individuals–species (i–sp) in order to explore specialization, network patterns and niche variation at both interacting levels. We used a null model approach to account for network size differences inherent to the downscaling process. Specifically, our objectives were (i) to investigate whether network structure changes with downscaling, (ii) to evaluate the incidence and magnitude of individual specialization in pollen use and (iii) to identify potential ecological factors influencing the observed degree of individual specialization.

Network downscaling revealed a high specialization of pollinator individuals, which was masked and unexplored in sp–sp networks. The average number of interactions per node, connectance, interaction diversity and degree of nestedness decreased in i–sp networks, because generalized pollinator species were composed of specialized and idiosyncratic conspecific individuals. An analysis with 21 pollinator species representative of two communities showed that mean individual pollen resource niche was only c. 46% of the total species niche.

The degree of individual specialization was associated with inter‐ and intraspecific overlap in pollen use, and it was higher for abundant than for rare species. Such niche heterogeneity depends on individual differences in foraging behaviour and likely has implications for community dynamics and species stability.

Our findings highlight the importance of taking interindividual variation into account when studying higher‐order structures such as interaction networks. We argue that exploring individual‐based networks will improve our understanding of species‐based networks and will enhance the link between network analysis, foraging theory and evolutionary biology.
Which are the best predictors of theory of mind delay in children with specific language impairment?
Authors: Andrés‐Roqueta Clara , Adrian Juan E. , Clemente Rosa A. , Katsos Napoleon 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe relationship between language and theory of mind (ToM) development in participants with specific language impairment (SLI) it is far from clear due to there were differences in study design and methodologies of previous studies.AimsThis research consisted of an in‐depth investigation of ToM delay in children with SLI during the typical period of acquisition, and it studied whether linguistic or information‐processing variables were the best predictors of this process. It also took into account whether there were differences in ToM competence due to the degree of pragmatic impairment within the SLI group.Methods & ProceduresThirty‐one children with SLI (3;5–7;5 years old) and two control groups (age matched and language matched) were assessed with False Belief (FB) tasks, a wide battery of language measures and additional information‐processing measures.Outcomes & ResultsThe members of the SLI group were less competent than their age‐matched peers at solving FB tasks, but they performed similarly to the language‐matched group. Regression analysis showed that overall linguistic skills of children with SLI were the best predictor of ToM performance, and especially grammar abilities. No differences between SLI subgroups were found according to their pragmatic level.Conclusions & ImplicationsA delay in ToM development in children with SLI around the critical period of acquisition is confirmed more comprehensively, and it is shown to be more strongly related to their general linguistic level than to their age and other information‐processing faculties. This finding stresses the importance of early educational and clinical programmes aimed at reducing deleterious effects in later development.
A pair of chiral flavonolignans as novel anti‐cyanobacterial allelochemicals derived from barley straw (Hordeum vulgare): characterization and comparison of their anti‐cyanobacterial activities
Authors: Xiao Xi , Huang Haomin , Ge Zhiwei , Rounge Trine B. , Shi Jiyan , Xu Xinhua , Li Ruobing , Chen Yingxu 
Published: August 2013

SummaryThe inhibitory effect of barley straw (Hordeum vulgare) on cyanobacteria has been observed in many field and laboratory studies for over 30 years, although the compounds responsible for this anti‐cyanobacterial effect have remained unknown. In this study, a pair of chiral flavonolignans were isolated from barley straw extract using a bioassay‐guided isolation procedure against Microcystis sp. The structures of the allelopathic compounds were elucidated by NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) and HPLC‐MS (high performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry), and turned out to be salcolin A and B. The enantiomers differ in their anti‐cyanobacterial abilities. Both enantiomers exhibited inhibitory effects on Microcystis sp., and the EC50 (concentration for 50% of maximal effect) of salcolin A and B were 6.02 × 10−5 and 9.60 × 10−5 mol l−1, respectively. Furthermore, the modes of actions of the enantiomers were investigated and compared at a single cell level by flow cytometry. Salcolin A was found to induce an increase on cyanobacterial intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) levels and to inhibit esterase activity, whereas salcolin B caused leakages of cyanobacterial cytoplasms. Thus, salcolin A was more ‘algistatic’, and salcolin B was more ‘algicidal’. This study suggests that salcolin is the key allelochemical in barley straw's inhibitory effect on cyanobacteria and could be used as an agent in the future control of cyanobacterial harmful algae blooms.
Incidence and characterisation of aerobic spore‐forming bacteria originating from dairy milk in Tunisia
Authors: Aouadhi Chedia , Maaroufi Abderrazak , Mejri Slah 
Published: August 2013

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and characterisation of aerobic spore‐forming bacteria originating from dairy milk in Tunisia. The distribution of Bacillus species in raw milk, pasteurised milk and UHT milk were 47.5%, 27.5% and 25%, respectively. Seven Bacillus species, including Bacillus pumilus (10%), Bacillus subtilis (12.5%), Brevibacillus brevis (10%), Bacillus cereus (22.5%), Bacillus sphaericus (7.5%), Bacillus licheniformis (12.5%) and Bacillus sporothermodurans (25%) were identified in different milk samples. Bacillus cereus was predominant in raw and pasteurised milk. Although B. sporothermodurans was the predominant sporogenous micro‐organism in UHT milk, B. cereus, B. sphaericus and B. licheniformis were also present. This study showed that there is a high degree of diversity, both phenotypic and genotypic, among Bacillus isolates from Tunisian milk and the persistence of spoilage risk in UHT milk.
Evaluation of the psychrotrophic specific signatures for cspA gene and 16S rDNA on the phenotype of Bacillus cereus sensu strictu
Authors: Montanhini Maike T Maziero , Neto Roberto Montanhini , Bittencourt Juliana Vitória M , Pinto José Paes de A N , Bersot Luciano dos Santos 
Published: August 2013

This study characterised the psychrotrophic genotypes and phenotypes behaviour of 63 strains of Bacillus cereus sensu stricto isolated from dairy products. The presence of the cspA gene signature and the 16S rDNA mesophilic and/or psychrotrophic specific signatures was evaluated. Among the strains, 25 (39.7%) had the cspA gene signature, 38 (60.3%) had both mesophilic and psychrotrophic 16S rDNA signatures, 24 (38.1%) had only mesophilic and one exhibited only psychrotrophic. No strain grew at 7 °C. The results indicate that the presence of psychrotrophic signatures for cspA gene or the 16S rDNA did not ensure a psychrotrophic behaviour on a B. cereus phenotype.
NeEstimator v2: re‐implementation of software for the estimation of contemporary effective population size (Ne) from genetic data
Authors: Do C. , Waples R. S. , Peel D. , Macbeth G. M. , Tillett B. J. , Ovenden J. R. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractNeEstimator v2 is a completely revised and updated implementation of software that produces estimates of contemporary effective population size, using several different methods and a single input file. NeEstimator v2 includes three single‐sample estimators (updated versions of the linkage disequilibrium and heterozygote‐excess methods, and a new method based on molecular coancestry), as well as the two‐sample (moment‐based temporal) method. New features include the following: (i) an improved method for accounting for missing data; (ii) options for screening out rare alleles; (iii) confidence intervals for all methods; (iv) the ability to analyse data sets with large numbers of genetic markers (10 000 or more); (v) options for batch processing large numbers of different data sets, which will facilitate cross‐method comparisons using simulated data; and (vi) correction for temporal estimates when individuals sampled are not removed from the population (Plan I sampling). The user is given considerable control over input data and composition, and format of output files. The freely available software has a new JAVA interface and runs under MacOS, Linux and Windows.
Transcriptomic fingerprinting of Pseudomonas putida under alternative physiological regimes
Authors: Kim Juhyun , Oliveros Juan Carlos , Nikel Pablo I. , de Lorenzo Víctor , Silva‐Rocha Rafael 
Published: August 2013

SummaryPseudomonas putida KT2440 is a metabolically versatile soil bacterium useful both as a model biodegradative organism and as a host of catalytic activities of biotechnological interest. In this report, we present the high‐resolution transcriptome of P. putida cultured on different carbon sources as revealed by deep sequencing of the corresponding RNA pools. Examination of the data from growth on substrates that are processed through distinct pathways (glucose, fructose, succinate and glycerol) revealed that ≥ 20% of the P. putida genome is differentially expressed depending on the ensuing physiological regime. Changes affected not only metabolic genes but also a suite of global regulators, e.g. the rpoS sigma subunit of RNA polymerase, various cold‐shock proteins and the three HU histone‐like proteins. Specifically, the genes encoding HU subunit variants hupA, hupB and hupN drastically altered their expression levels (and thus their ability to form heterodimeric combinations) under the diverse growth conditions. Furthermore, we found that two small RNAs, crcZ and crcY, known to inhibit the Crc protein that mediates catabolite repression in P. putida, were both down‐regulated by glucose. The raw transcriptomic data generated in this work is made available to the community through the Gene Expression Omnibus database.
Anatomical and scanning electron microscopic studies of the tongue and lingual papillae in the chital deer (Axis axis, Erxleben 1777)
Authors: Erdoğan Serkan , Pérez William 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThis research presents the first definitive anatomical description of the tongue and lingual papillae of the chital deer. In this study, tongues of five deer were used. The tongue was fairly elongated and terminated in oval apex. Cone‐shaped filiform papilla was composed of one larger main papilla and two smaller secondary papillae, which emerged from bottom of main papilla. Rounded fungiform papillae were randomly distributed on the body and torus, and some fungiform papillae were surrounded by evident groove. On the ventral surface, some of them had evident fossa on their surfaces. The lenticular papillae on the lateral and rostral side of the torus were smaller in length compared with ones localized on central region of the torus. Eleven to fourteen circumvallate papillae were situated on each caudolateral side of the torus. The circumvallate papillae were surrounded by a prominent gustatory groove and there were no annular pads surrounding the groove. Morphological features of the tongue of the chital deer were similar to some wild and domestic ruminants. In this regard; it is thought that this research will provide morphological contributions for deer species as there are not sufficient and detailed sources on species‐specific morphology in researches on Cervidae family.
Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Molecular Docking Studies of High‐Affinity Bone Targeting N,N'‐Bis (alendronate) Diethylenetriamene‐N,N'‐Triacetic Acid: A Bifunctional Bone Scintigraphy Agent
Authors: Chadha Nidhi , Sinha Deepa , Tiwari Anjani K. , Chuttani Krishna , Mishra Anil K. 
Published: August 2013

A bisphosphonate derivative DTPA‐bis(alendronate) conjugate has been synthesized and evaluated as potential radiopharmaceutical for bone imaging. The compound was synthesized by the covalent coupling of DTPA‐bis(anhydride) with alendronate and was char‐acterized on the basis of IR, NMR and mass spectroscopy. It was labelled with 99mTc with 96% efficacy and was found stable for about 24 h under physiological conditions. Blood kinetic studies of 99mTc DTPA‐bis(alendronate) showed a biexponential pattern as well as quick washout from the blood circulation. The biological t1/2(F) and t1/2(S) were found to be 50 min ± 0.001 and 6 h 30 min ± 0.005, respectively. Imaging and biodistribution studies showed a significant accumulation of 99mTc DTPA‐bis(alendronate) conjugate at bone site. Bone‐to‐muscles ratios were 12.08 ± 0.001 at 1 h, 45.33 ± 0.001 at 4 h and 35.83 ± 0.001 at 24 h after post‐injection, respectively. The receptor binding of the 99mTc‐DTPA‐bis (alendronate) was established on human bone cell line (Soas‐2) revealed KD = 0.86 nm. The preliminary result of the 99mTc‐DTPA‐bis(alendronate) is encouraging to carrying out further in vivo experiment for targeted bone imaging because of good‐bone‐to‐normal‐organ contrast. Further docking analysis with molecular targets, farnesyl diphosphate synthase, geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate and osteocalcin revealed the high affinity of −17.419 and thus represents strong potential of bone‐imaging agent.
Undernutrition in children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD): its prevalence and influence on quality of life
Authors: Holenweg‐Gross C. , Newman C. J. , Faouzi M. , Poirot‐Hodgkinson I. , Bérard C. , Roulet‐Perez E. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackgroundTo estimate the prevalence of undernutrition among children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) and to explore its influence on quality of life.MethodsSeventy‐two children with PIMD (47 male; 25 female; age range 2 to 15 years 4 months; mean age 8.6, SD 3.6) underwent an anthropometric assessment, including body weight, triceps skinfold thickness, segmental measures and recumbent length. Undernutrition was determined using tricipital skinfold percentile and z‐scores of weight‐for‐height and height‐for‐age. The quality of life of each child was evaluated using the QUALIN questionnaire adapted for profoundly disabled children.ResultsTwenty‐five children (34.7%) were undernourished and seven (9.7%) were obese. Among undernourished children only eight (32 %) were receiving food supplements and two (8%) had a gastrostomy, of which one was still on a refeeding programme. On multivariate analysis, undernutrition was one of the independent predictors of lower quality of life.ConclusionUndernutrition remains a matter of concern in children with PIMD. There is a need to better train professionals in systematically assessing the nutritional status of profoundly disabled children in order to start nutritional management when necessary.
Polymorphisms of the ADAM33 gene and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Aierken Haidiya , Wang Jing , Wushouer Qimanguli , Shayhidin Elnur , Hu Xing , Syed Ikramullah , Wufuer Dilinuer 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe T1 (rs2280091), S1 (rs3918396) and S2 (rs528557) polymorphisms in a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM33) gene has been implicated in susceptibility of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But, a number of studies have reported inconclusive results. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between T1 (rs2280091), S1 (rs3918396) and S2 (rs528557) polymorphisms in ADAM33 gene and COPD risk by meta‐analysis.MethodsWe searched Pubmed database, Embase database, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure database and Wanfang database, covering all studies till September 5, 2012. Statistical analysis was performed using software METAGEN (STATA 12.0) and Revman5.0.ResultsA total of 2139 COPD cases and 3765 controls in 10 case‐control studies were included in this study. The results showed that S2 (rs528557) and T1 (rs2280091) polymorphisms did not result in an increased or a decreased risk of COPD. The analysis described in this report demonstrated that S1 (rs3918396) polymorphism (GG + AG vs AA) was significantly associated with the total and Asian. Odds ratio (OR)total = 1.27 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.56, P = 0.03], ORAsian = 1.44 (95% CI 1.13–1.83, P = 0.003) but not with Caucasians.ConclusionsThis meta‐analysis suggested that S1 (rs3918396) polymorphism of ADAM33 is associated with increased risk of COPD in Asian (China) but not in Caucasians. Future studies are needed to validate our conclusions.