bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fluctuations in population composition dampen the impact of phenotypic plasticity on trait dynamics in superb fairy‐wrens
Authors: van de Pol Martijn , Osmond Helen L. , Cockburn Andrew 
Published: October 2011

Summary1. In structured populations, phenotypic change can result from changes throughout an individual’s lifetime (phenotypic plasticity, age‐related changes), selection and changes in population composition (environment‐ or density‐driven fluctuations in age‐structure).2. The contribution of population dynamics to phenotypic change has often been ignored. However, for understanding trait dynamics, it is important to identify both the individual‐ and population‐level mechanisms responsible for trait change, because they potentially reinforce or counteract each other.3. We use 22 years of field data to investigate the dynamics of a sexually selected phenological trait, the timing of nuptial moult in superb fairy‐wrens Malurus cyaneus.4. We show that trait expression is both climate‐ and age‐dependent, but that phenotypic plasticity in response to climate variability also varies with age. Old males can acquire nuptial plumage very early after high rainfall, but 1‐ to 2‐year‐olds cannot. However, males of all ages that defer moult to later in the year acquire nuptial plumage earlier when conditions are warmer.5. The underlying mechanism appears to be that old males may risk moulting in the most challenging period of the year: in autumn, when drought restricts food abundance and during the cold winter. By contrast, young males always moult during the spring transition to benign – warmer and generally wetter – conditions. Temperature changes dominate this transition that heralds the breeding season, thereby causing both young and late‐moulting older birds to be temperature sensitive.6. Climate and age also affect trait dynamics via a population dynamical pathway. The same high rainfall that triggers early moulting in old males concurrently increases offspring recruitment and thereby reduces the average age of males in the population. Consequently, effects of rainfall on trait dynamics through phenotypic plasticity of old males are dampened by synchronous rejuvenation of the age‐structure.7. A long‐term trend towards drier environments prompted phenotypic change because of plasticity, but this was masked by climate‐driven demographic change (causing apparent stasis). This suggests a novel explanation for why trait change may fail to reflect the observed pattern of directional selection or phenotypic plasticity.
Interactions between environmental variables determine immunity in the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella
Authors: Triggs Alison , Knell Robert J. 
Published: October 2011

Summary1. Animals raised in good environmental conditions are expected to have more resources to invest in immunity than those raised in poor conditions. Variation in immune activity and parasite resistance in response to changes in environmental temperature, population density and food quality have been shown in many invertebrate species.2. Almost all studies to date have examined the effects of individual variables in isolation. The aim of this study was to address whether environmental factors interact to produce synergistic effects on phenoloxidase (PO) activity and haemocyte count, both indicators of immune system activity. Temperature, food quality and density were varied in a fully factorial design for a total of eight treatment combinations.3. Strong interactions between the three environmental variables led to the magnitude and in some cases the direction of the effect of most variables changing as the other environmental factors were altered. Overall, food quality had the most important and consistent influence, larvae raised on a good‐quality diet having substantially higher PO activity in every case and substantially higher haemocyte counts in all treatments except unheated/low density.4. When food quality was good, the larvae showed ‘density‐dependent prophylaxis’: raising their investment in immunity when population density is high. When food quality was poor and the temperature low, however, those larvae raised at high densities invested less in immunity.5. Increased temperature is often thought to lead to increased immune reactivity in ectotherms, but we found that the effect of temperature was strongly dependent on the values of other environmental variables. PO activity increased with temperature when larvae were raised on good food or when density was high, but when food was poor and density low, a higher temperature led to reduced PO activity. A higher temperature led to higher haemocyte counts when density was high and food quality was poor, but in all other cases, the effect of increased temperature was either close to zero or somewhat negative.6. Although PO activity and haemocyte count were weakly correlated across the whole data set, there were a number of treatments where the two measures responded in different ways to environmental change. Overall, effect sizes for PO activity were substantially higher than those for haemocyte count, indicating that the different components of the immune system vary in their sensitivity to environmental change.7. Predictions of the effect of environmental or population change on immunity and disease dynamics based on laboratory experiments that only investigate the effects of single variable are likely to be inaccurate or even entirely wrong.
Resolving the Azorean knot: a response to Carine & Schaefer (2010)
Authors: Triantis Kostas A. , Hortal Joaquín , Amorim Isabel , Cardoso Pedro , Santos Ana M. C. , Gabriel Rosalina , Borges Paulo A. V. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractCarine & Schaefer (Journal of Biogeography, 2010, 37, 77–89) suggest that the lack of past climate oscillations in the Azores may have contributed to the low plant endemism in this archipelago compared to that of the Canary Islands, a pattern they term the Azorean diversity enigma. Here we challenge their hypothesis, and discuss how the particular characteristics of the Azores may have driven current diversification patterns in this archipelago. We argue that the restricted number of Azorean endemic species and their wide distribution is explicable by the geological, geographical and ecological attributes of the archipelago. That is, the Azores are too young, too small, and too environmentally homogeneous to have hosted many in situ diversification events, so they do not host as many endemic species as other Macaronesian archipelagos, such as Madeira and especially the Canary Islands.
Joint analysis of demography and selection in population genetics: where do we stand and where could we go?
Authors: LI JUNRUI , LI HAIPENG , JAKOBSSON MATTIAS , LI SEN , SJÖDIN PER , LASCOUX MARTIN 
Published: October 2011

AbstractTeasing apart the effects of selection and demography on genetic polymorphism remains one of the major challenges in the analysis of population genomic data. The traditional approach has been to assume that demography would leave a genome‐wide signature, whereas the effect of selection would be local. In the light of recent genomic surveys of sequence polymorphism, several authors have argued that this approach is questionable based on the evidence of the pervasive role of positive selection and that new approaches are needed. In the first part of this review, we give a few empirical and theoretical examples illustrating the difficulty in teasing apart the effects of selection and demography on genomic polymorphism patterns. In the second part, we review recent efforts to detect recent positive selection. Most available methods still rely on an a priori classification of sites in the genome but there are many promising new approaches. These new methods make use of the latest developments in statistics, explore aspects of the data that had been neglected hitherto or take advantage of the emerging population genomic data. A current and promising approach is based on first estimating demographic and genetic parameters, using, e.g., a likelihood or approximate Bayesian computation framework, focusing on extreme outlier regions, and then using an independent method to confirm these. Finally, especially for species where evidence of natural selection has been limited, more experimental and versatile approaches that contrast populations under varied environmental constraints might be more successful compared with species‐wide genome scans in search of specific signatures.
The Arabidopsis‐related halophyte Thellungiella halophila: boron tolerance via boron complexation with metabolites?
Authors: LAMDAN NETTA LI , ATTIA ZIV , MORAN NAVA , MOSHELION MENACHEM 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTTolerance to boron (B) is still not completely understood. We tested here the hypothesis that Thellungiella halophila, an Arabidopsis thaliana‐related ‘extremophile’ plant, with abundance of B in its natural environment, is tolerant to B, and examined the potential mechanisms of this tolerance. With 1–10 mm B applied ([B]ext) to Thellungiella and Arabidopsis grown in hydroponics, the steady‐state accumulated B concentration ([B]int) in the root was below [B]ext, and was similar in both, suggesting both extrude B actively. Whether grown in soil or hydroponically, the shoot [B]int was higher in Arabidopsis than in Thellungiella, suggesting more effective net B exclusion by Thellungiella root. Arabidopsis exhibited toxicity symptoms including reduced shoot fresh weight (FW), but Thellungiella was not affected, even at similar levels of shoot‐accumulated [B]int (about 10 to 40 mm B in ‘shoot water’), suggesting additional B tolerance mechanism in Thellungiella shoot. At [B]ext = 5 mm, the summed shoot concentration of the potentially B‐binding polyhydroxyl metabolites (malic acid, fructose, glucose, sucrose and citric acid) in Arabidopsis was below [B]int, but in Thellungiella it was over twofold higher than [B]int, and therefore likely to allow appreciable 1:2 boron–metabolite complexation in the shoot. This, we suggest, is an important component of Thellungiella B tolerance mechanism.
Kidney transplant candidates’ understanding of increased risk donor kidneys: a qualitative study
Authors: Gordon Elisa J. , Reddy Elizabeth , Ladner Daniela P. , Friedewald John , Abecassis Michael M. , Ison Michael G. 
Published: October 2011

Gordon EJ, Reddy E, Ladner DP, Friedewald J, Abecassis MM, Ison MG. Kidney transplant candidates’ understanding of increased risk donor kidneys: a qualitative study.  Clin Transplant 2011 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399‐0012.2011.01536.x.  © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  Background:  The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) requires specific informed consent when “increased risk” (IR) donor organs are utilized. Little is known about kidney transplant candidates’ understanding of IR donor kidneys.Methods:  We assessed kidney transplant candidates’ perceptions, reasons for accepting or declining a future IR donor kidney offer, and information needs through semi‐structured interviews.Results:  One hundred and sixty‐two (80%) patients participated. Patients perceived IR donors as having poor health (44%), advanced age (38%), and poor kidney quality (24%). Patients (31%) would accept IR donor kidneys to get off dialysis (n = 18/50), to improve health by receiving a transplant quickly (n = 13/50), and felt that the risk of infection was low (n = 10/50). Patients (47%) would decline IR donor kidneys for fear of infection transmission (n = 34/76), perceived poor‐quality kidneys (n = 32/76), and their health was good enough to wait for an average‐risk kidney (n = 23/76). Undecided patients (22%) needed information about the donation situation. Patients desired information about IR donors, their kidneys, and their impact on patients’ health.Conclusions:  Patients confuse risk posed by OPTN‐defined IR donors and other non‐standard risk donors. Greater efforts are needed to educate kidney transplant candidates about IR donor kidneys and refine terminology used to describe risks to patients.
Analysis and clinical correlation of genetic variation in cytomegalovirus
Authors: Lisboa L.F. , Tong Y. , Kumar D. , Pang X.L. , Åsberg A. , Hartmann A. , Rollag H. , Jardine A.G. , Pescovitz M.D. , Humar A. 
Published: October 2011

Abstract:BackgroundCytomegalovirus (CMV) displays genetic polymorphisms in multiple genes, which may result in important virulence differences. Glycoprotein N (gN) and immediate early 1 (IE1) are key viral genes and immune targets. We aimed to characterize the molecular epidemiology of gN and IE1 genotypes in organ transplant patients with CMV disease in the context of clinical and virologic endpoints.MethodsA total of 240 patients with CMV disease had genotyping analysis by nested polymerase chain reaction assays and sequencing using blood samples obtained at disease onset. Results were correlated with viral clearance kinetics and recurrence.ResultsComplex patterns of gN and IE1 genotypes were present with no clear genetic linkages. No single genotype of IE1 or gN was associated with poorer outcome. For example, different gN or IE1 genotypes had comparable baseline viral load, clearance half‐lives, time to clearance, and rates of virologic recurrence. Mixed infection was present at IE1 in 15.8% and gN in 21.9%, but analysis of a single gene was insufficient to detect all mixed infections. Infections caused by multiple strains, as opposed to single strains, were associated with higher baseline viral loads (P = 0.011), delayed viral clearance (P = 0.033), and higher rates of virologic recurrence (P = 0.008).ConclusionsGenetic diversity in CMV is complex. Specific gN or IE subtypes do not seem to affect in vivo viral virulence patterns in single‐strain infections. Mixed infections demonstrate associations with virologic outcomes that single‐strain infections do not.
Comparison of air‐sealing characteristics of tapered‐ vs. cylindrical‐shaped high‐volume, low‐pressure tube cuffs
Authors: MADJDPOUR C. , MAUCH J. , DAVE M. H. , SPIELMANN N. , WEISS M. 
Published: October 2011

BackgroundThis study aimed at comparing air‐sealing characteristics of the new tapered‐shaped tracheal tube cuffs with cylindrical tube cuffs.MethodsTracheal tubes with tapered‐shaped polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cuffs as well as standard cylindrical‐shaped cuffs made of PU and PVC (Covidien, Athlone, Ireland) were investigated. A tracheal model attached to a test lung was intubated, and cuffs were inflated to 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 cm H2O. The test lung was ventilated with intermittent positive pressure ventilation at peak inspiratory pressures (PIPs) of 20 and 25 cm H2O. Air leakage was assessed by spirometry and measurement of sevoflurane concentration passing the cuff at the upper cuff border using an anaesthetic gas analyser. Experiments were repeated four times with new tracheal tubes for each run. Statistical comparisons were done using Mann–Whitney U‐test with level of significance at P < 0.05.ResultsThe tapered‐shaped PVC tube cuff demonstrated a significantly lower air leakage determined by spirometry than the cylindrical‐shaped cuff at both PIPs (20 and 25 cm H2O). Similarly, sevoflurane leakage was less with the tapered PVC cuff particularly at higher cuff pressures. With the PU cuff, reduction in air leakage by a tapered‐shaped compared with a cylindrical‐shaped tube cuff was not significant.ConclusionsA tapered‐shaped tube cuff considerably improves air‐sealing characteristics of PVC tube cuffs and allows thereby reducing cuff pressure required for sufficient ventilation. In tube cuffs made of PU that exhibits superior sealing characteristics compared with PVC, a tapered shape failed to result in a further reduction of air leakage.
Severe prosthetic joint infection in an immunocompetent male patient due to a therapy refractory Pseudallescheria apiosperma
Authors: Lackner M. , De Man F. H. , Eygendaal D. , Wintermans R. G. F. , Kluytmans J. A. , Klaassen C. H. , Meis J. F. 
Published: October 2011

SummaryProsthetic joint infections (PJI) are rarely due to fungal agents and if so they are mainly caused by Candida strains. This case represents a PJI caused by a multi‐drug resistant Pseudallescheria apiosperma, with poor in vivo response to itraconazole and voriconazole. This case differs also by the way of infection, since the joint infection did not follow a penetrating trauma. In the majority of cases, Scedosporium extremity infections remain local in immunocompetent individuals. We report a persistent joint infection with multiple therapeutic failures, and subsequent amputation of the left leg. Detailed clinical data, patient history, treatment regime and outcome of a very long‐lasting (>4 years) P. apiosperma prosthetic knee infection in an immunocompetent, 61‐year‐old male patient are presented with this case. The patient was finally cured by the combination of multiple and extensive surgical interventions and prolonged antifungal combination therapy with voriconazole and terbinafine.
Scedosporium and Pseudallescheria low molecular weight metabolites revealed by database search
Authors: Krasny Lukas , Strohalm Martin , Bouchara Jean‐Philippe , Sulc Miroslav , Lemr Karel , Barreto‐Bergter Eliana , Havlicek Vladimir 
Published: October 2011

SummaryThe potential of mMass software search tool with new compound libraries was demonstrated on metabolomics of Scedosporium prolificans, S. apiospermum and Pseudallescheria boydii sensu stricto. Cyclic peptides pseudacyclins, small molecular weight tyroscherin analogues and various lipids were annotated by public software tool (http://www.mmass.org) utilising accurate matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectral data of intact fungal spores. Electrospray ionisation combined with tandem mass spectrometry was used for monohexosylceramide characterisation in fungal extracts.
Co‐administration of an α1‐blocker improves the efficacy and safety of antimuscarinic agents in rats with detrusor overactivity
Authors: Nagase Keiko , Ito Hideaki , Aoki Yoshitaka , Tanase Kazuya , Akino Hironobu , Yokoyama Osamu 
Published: October 2011

Objective:  To investigate the efficacy and safety of a combination treatment with α1‐blockers and antimuscarinics for detrusor overactivity in rats.Methods:  Rats with detrusor overactivity caused by a cerebral infarction were divided into four groups that received an i.v. administration of tamsulosin (0.1–1000 µg/kg); solifenacin (0.01–0.3 mg/kg); combined low doses of tamsulosin (0.008, 0.1 µg/kg) and solifenacin (0.01 mg/kg); or solifenacin (0.1, 0.3, 1.0 mg/kg) at 1‐h intervals during the continuous administration of tamsulosin (0.01 µg/kg/h).Results:  Both tamsulosin alone and solifenacin alone significantly increased bladder capacity in cerebral infarcted rats, but these effects were reduced in rats pretreated with resiniferatoxin. The combined low dose of tamsulosin and solifenacin resulted in a significant increase in bladder capacity compared to mono‐administration of 0.01 mg/kg solifenacin (68.8 vs 19.8% of control value, respectively). In the group receiving solifenacin at 1‐h intervals, solifenacin dose‐dependently decreased bladder contraction duration and a significant reduction in bladder contraction pressure (by 35.0% of control value) was found at the highest dose (1.0 mg/kg). However, no reduction in bladder contraction duration was found even at the highest dose of solifenacin when co‐administered with tamsulosin.Conclusion:  α1‐blockers and antimuscarinic agents have an additive ameliorative effect on detrusor overactivity when co‐administered at low doses. α1‐blockers prevent the reduction in bladder contraction duration induced by a high‐dose administration of antimuscarinic agents.
Evaluation of maternal and neonatal outcomes after maintenance tocolysis: A retrospective study
Authors: Plummer Christopher P. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractAim:  This study aimed to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes after no tocolysis, short‐term tocolysis (≤48 h), and maintenance tocolysis (>48 h).Methods:  This was a retrospective study, conducted from January 2007 to June 2008, of vaginal preterm deliveries admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between 23 and 36 weeks of gestation. Patients were placed in three groups: no tocolysis, tocolysis ≤48 h, and tocolysis >48 h. The following neonatal parameters were recorded: respiratory distress syndrome, grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage, culture‐proven sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and length of NICU stay.Results:  A total of 162 deliveries were included in the study. Sixty‐nine mothers received no tocolysis, 42 received tocolysis ≤48 h, and 51 received tocolysis >48 h. No adverse maternal outcomes were observed in any of the groups. There were no statistically significant differences in neonatal outcomes between the three groups. The maintenance tocolysis group had a longer pregnancy duration (P < 0.0001), but their infants required longer NICU stay (P = 0.0020).Conclusion:  This study showed that maintenance tocolysis prolongs the duration of pregnancy but does not improve neonatal outcomes. Infants of mothers in the maintenance tocolysis group showed an increase in the length of NICU stay. A multicenter randomized control trial should be considered to further evaluate the need for maintenance tocolysis.
Ultrasonographic gastric antral area and gastric contents volume in children
Authors: Schmitz Achim , Thomas Schraner , Melanie Fruehauf , Rabia Liamlahi , Klaghofer Richard , Weiss Markus , Kellenberger Christian 
Published: October 2011

SummaryBackground:  Cross‐sectional gastric antral area (GAA) measurements by ultrasonography (US) have been proposed for preoperative assessment of gastric volume in adults but not been validated in children. This study investigates whether in children gastric volumes can be predicted by US performed in different patient positions.Method:  Gastric fluid and air volumes were examined by magnetic resonance imaging before or up to 120 min after ingestion of 7 ml·kg−1 diluted raspberry syrup in healthy volunteers who had fasted overnight. GAA was measured with US three times each in supine (SUP), elevated 45° degree supine (E45) and right decubital (RDC) position using imaging planes defined by vascular landmarks. Correlation coefficients (Pearson) between GAA and gastric volumes were calculated and Bland–Altman analysis performed.Results:  Sixteen children aged from 6.4 to 12.8 (9.2) years were included in 23 examinations: 6 after overnight fasting, 3 directly after, and 14 with a delay of 74 ± 35 min after fluid intake. GAA was 221 ± 116, 218 ± 112, and 347 ± 188 mm2 for SUP, E45, and RDC position, respectively. The best correlation between body weight corrected total gastric/gastric fluid volume (TGVw/GFVw) with GAA was found for RDC position (R = 0.79; P < 0.01/R = 0.78; P < 0.01). Bias and precision of calculated and measured GFVw was 0 ± 2.8 ml·kg−1.Conclusion:  Correlations between GAA and TGVw or GFVw in children are best in the RDC position, but not sufficient to predict GFVw with a given GAA. Interpretation of isolated GAA values may be misleading.