bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Short and long sleep duration are associated with prevalent cardiovascular disease in Australian adults
Authors: MAGEE CHRISTOPHER A. , KRITHARIDES LEONARD , ATTIA JOHN , MCELDUFF PATRICK , BANKS EMILY 
Published: December 2011

SummaryA growing number of studies from a range of different countries have observed an association between sleep duration and cardiovascular disease. The objective of this paper was to examine the associations between sleep duration and prevalent cardiovascular disease in a large sample of Australian adults, and identify the sociodemographic and health‐related factors moderating these associations. Participants included 218 155 Australian adults aged 45 years and over. The results indicated that 6 h versus 7 h sleep was associated with increased odds of heart disease [odds ratio (OR) = 1.11 (1.06–1.17)], diabetes [OR = 1.15 (1.09–1.22)], stroke [OR = 1.25 (1.14–1.38)] and high blood pressure [OR = 1.08 (1.04–1.11)]. Long sleep (≥9 h sleep) was also related to elevated odds of heart disease [OR = 1.14 (1.09–1.19)], diabetes [OR = 1.25 (1.19–1.31)], stroke [OR = 1.50 (1.38–1.62)] and high blood pressure [OR = 1.04 (1.01–1.08)] compared to 7 h sleep. Some of these relationships varied by age, and were not evident in adults aged 75 years and over. The magnitude of some associations varied significantly by body mass index, smoking and physical activity. These findings provide further insight into the nature of the relationship between sleep and cardiovascular health.
Sociogenetic structure, kin associations and bonding in delphinids
Authors: MÖLLER LUCIANA M. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractSocial systems are the outcomes of natural and sexual selection on individuals’ efforts to maximize reproductive success. Ecological conditions, life history, demography traits and social aspects have been recognized as important factors shaping social systems. Delphinids show a wide range of social structures and large variation in life history traits and inhabit several aquatic environments. They are therefore an excellent group in which to investigate the interplay of ecological and intrinsic factors on the evolution of mammalian social systems in these environments. Here I synthetize results from genetic studies on dispersal patterns, genetic relatedness, kin associations and mating patterns and combine with ecological, life history and phylogenetic data to predict the formation of kin associations and bonding in these animals. I show that environment type impacts upon dispersal tendencies, with small delphinids generally exhibiting female‐biased philopatry in inshore waters and bisexual dispersal in coastal and pelagic waters. When female philopatry occurs, they develop moderate social bonds with related females. Male bonding occurs in species with small male‐biased sexual size dimorphism and male‐biased operational sex ratio, and it is independent of dispersal tendencies. By contrast, large delphinids, which live in coastal and pelagic waters, show bisexual philopatry and live in matrilineal societies. I propose that sexual conflict favoured the formation of these stable societies and in turn facilitated the development of kin‐biased behaviours. Studies on populations of the same species inhabiting disparate environments, and of less related species living in similar habitats, would contribute towards a comprehensive framework for the evolution of delphinid social systems.
Phylogeography of the catfish Hatcheria macraei reveals a negligible role of drainage divides in structuring populations
Authors: UNMACK PETER J. , BARRIGA JUAN P. , BATTINI MIGUEL A. , HABIT EVELYN M. , JOHNSON JERALD B. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractSouthern South America provides a set of unusual geographic features that make it particularly interesting for studying phylogeography. The Andes Mountains run along a north‐to‐south axis and act as a barrier to gene flow for much of the biota of this region, with southern portions experiencing extensive historical glaciation. Geological data reveal a series of drainage reversals, shifting from Pacific Ocean outlets to Atlantic Ocean outlets because of glacier formation that dammed and reversed rivers. Once glaciers melted around 13 000 years ago, drainages returned to the Pacific Ocean. This geologic history predicts that aquatic organisms in Pacific rivers should have their closest relationships to their counterparts in Atlantic rivers immediately to their east. We tested this prediction in the trichomycterid catfish Hatcheria macraei from 38 locations using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Our results show that most populations found in Pacific rivers were closely related to fish found in the adjacent Atlantic draining Río Chubut. Surprisingly, one documented drainage reversal (from Río Deseado into Río Baker) did not result in movement of H. macraei. Overall, we found the lowest levels of genetic structure between most Pacific rivers that are adjacent to the Atlantic draining Río Chubut. We also found low levels of population structuring among three of four contemporary river basins that drain to the Atlantic Ocean. Our findings suggest that drainage basin boundaries have historically not played an important long‐term role in structuring between nine of 11 drainages, an unusual finding in freshwater biogeography.
Gynodioecy in structured populations: understanding fine‐scale sex ratio variation in Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima
Authors: DE CAUWER I. , DUFAY M. , HORNOY B. , COURSEAUX A. , ARNAUD J.‐F. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractNatural selection, random processes and gene flow are known to generate sex ratio variations among sexually polymorphic plant populations. In gynodioecious species, in which hermaphrodites and females coexist, the relative effect of these processes on the maintenance of sex polymorphism is still up for debate. The aim of this study was to document sex ratio and cytonuclear genetic variation at a very local scale in wind‐pollinated gynodioecious Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima and attempt to elucidate which processes explained the observed variation. The study sites were characterized by geographically distinct patches of individuals and appeared to be dynamic entities, with recurrent establishment of distinct haplotypes through independent founder events. Along with substantial variation in sex ratio and unexpectedly low gene flow within study sites, our results showed a high genetic differentiation among a mosaic of genetically distinct demes, with isolation by distance or abrupt genetic discontinuities taking place within a few tens of metres. Overall, random founder events with restricted gene flow could be primary determinants of sex structure, by promoting the clumping of sex‐determining genes. Such high levels of sex structure provide a landscape for differential selection acting on sex‐determining genes, which could modify the conditions of maintenance of gynodioecy in structured populations.
Minimal increase in genetic diversity enhances predation resistance
Authors: KOH KAI S. , MATZ CARSTEN , TAN CHUAN H. , LE HOANG L. , RICE SCOTT A. , MARSHALL DUSTIN J. , STEINBERG PETER D. , KJELLEBERG STAFFAN 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe importance of species diversity to emergent, ecological properties of communities is increasingly appreciated, but the importance of within‐species genetic diversity for analogous emergent properties of populations is only just becoming apparent. Here, the properties and effects of genetic variation on predation resistance in populations were assessed and the molecular mechanism underlying these emergent effects was investigated. Using biofilms of the ubiquitous bacterium Serratia marcescens, we tested the importance of genetic diversity in defending biofilms against protozoan grazing, a main source of mortality for bacteria in all natural ecosystems. S. marcescens biofilms established from wild‐type cells produce heritable, stable variants, which when experimentally combined, persist as a diverse assemblage and are significantly more resistant to grazing than either wild type or variant biofilms grown in monoculture. This diversity effect is biofilm‐specific, a result of either facilitation or resource partitioning among variants, with equivalent experiments using planktonic cultures and grazers resulting in dominance by a single resistant strain. The variants studied are all the result of single nucleotide polymorphisms in one regulatory gene suggesting that the benefits of genetic diversity in clonal biofilms can occur through remarkably minimal genetic change. The findings presented here provide a new insight on the integration of genetics and population ecology, in which diversity arising through minimal changes in genotype can have major ecological implications for natural populations.
Genome‐wide selection for increased copy number in Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1: locus and context‐dependent variation in gene amplification
Authors: Seaton Sarah C. , Elliott Kathryn T. , Cuff Laura E. , Laniohan Nicole S. , Patel Poonam R. , Neidle Ellen L. 
Published: December 2011

SummaryRenewed interest in gene amplification stems from its importance in evolution and a variety of medical problems ranging from drug resistance to cancer. However, amplified DNA segments (amplicons) are not fully characterized in any organism. Here we report a novel Acinetobacter baylyi system for genome‐wide studies. Amplification mutants that consume aromatic compounds were selected under conditions requiring high‐level expression from three promoters in a linked set of chromosomal genes. Tools were developed to relocate these catabolic genes to any non‐essential chromosomal position, and 49 amplification mutants from five genomic contexts were characterized. Amplicon size (18–271 kb) and copy number (2–105) indicated that 30% of mutants carried more than 1 Mb of amplified DNA. Amplification features depended on genomic position. For example, amplicons from one locus were similarly sized but displayed variable copy number, whereas those from another locus were differently sized but had comparable copy number. Additionally, the importance of sequence context was highlighted in one region where amplicons differed depending on the presence of a promoter mutation in the strain from which they were selected. DNA sequences at amplicon boundaries in 19 mutants reflected illegitimate recombination. Furthermore, steady‐state duplication frequencies measured under non‐selective conditions (10−4 to 10−5) confirmed that spontaneous gene duplication is a major source of genetic variation.
Expression and tissue‐specific localization of nitrate‐responsive miRNAs in roots of maize seedlings
Authors: TREVISAN SARA , NONIS ALBERTO , BEGHELDO MAURA , MANOLI ALESSANDRO , PALME KLAUS , CAPORALE GIOVANNI , RUPERTI BENEDETTO , QUAGGIOTTI SILVIA 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACTNitrogen availability seriously affects crop productivity and environment. The knowledge of post‐transcriptional regulation of plant response to nutrients is important to improve nitrogen use efficiency of crop. This research was aimed at understanding the role of miRNAs in the molecular control of plant response to nitrate. The expression profiles of six mature miRNAs were deeply studied by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization (ISH). To this aim, a novel optimized protocol was set up for the use of digoxygenin‐labelled Zip Nucleic Acid‐modified oligonucleotides as probes for ISH. Significant differences in miRNAs' transcripts accumulation were evidenced between nitrate‐supplied and nitrate‐depleted roots. Real‐time PCR analyses and in situ detection of miRNA confirmed the array data and allowed us to evidence distinct miRNAs spatio‐temporal expression patterns in maize roots. Our results suggest that a prolonged nitrate depletion may induce post‐transcriptionally the expression of target genes by repressing the transcription of specific miRNAs. In particular, the repression of the transcription of miR528a/b, miR528a*/b*, miR169i/j/k, miR169i*/j*/k*, miR166j/k/n and miR408/b upon nitrate shortage could represent a crucial step integrating nitrate signals into developmental changes in maize roots.
Compliance of deferoxamine injection in beta‐thalassaemia major patients in Iran
Authors: Rashid M. , Karimi M. 
Published: December 2011

Aim/Objective: Iran is located on the Mediterranean belt and has high prevalence of thalassaemia. Deferoxamine therapy requires burdensome hours of daily infusion several times a week.Methods: We studied 510 thalassaemia major patients referring to thalassaemia tertiary care centre for compliance of deferoxamine and also assessed various reasons for non‐compliance. A questionnaire was developed.Results: Our study showed that 418 (82%) subjects were adherent to deferoxamine therapy. Females were more adherent to the chelation therapy. Among patients whose age was ≤12 years, 90·4% showed drug compliance compared with 80·3% in patients aged >12 years (P = 0·03). The most frequently reported reason for poor compliance was pain (38%).Conclusion: High percentage of patients had adherence to iron chelation, which is in contrast to previous studies. This may be attributed to the vigorous efforts of governmental and non‐governmental organisations in educating patients and provision of free drug and equipment in the past few years. The results were satisfying but still more is to be done to increase drug adherence and to minimise reasons causing poor compliance.
Sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine resistance and intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy: a retrospective analysis of birth weight data in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Authors: Likwela Joris L. , D’Alessandro Umberto , Lokwa Bernard L. , Meuris Sylvain , Dramaix Michele W. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractObjective  To assess the effect of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine (IPTp‐SP) on birth weight in sites with varying degrees of drug resistance.Methods  Birth weight data from three regions in Democratic Republic of Congo with varying degrees of sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine (SP) resistance (1.6% in Mikalayi, 21.7% in Kisangani and 60.6% in Rutshuru) were analysed retrospectively by means of a logistic model that included the number of SP doses taken by the mother and other potentials confounding factors.Results  The IPTp‐SP reduced the risk of low birth weight (LBW) in Kisangani (adjusted OR, 0.15; IC95%, 0.05–0.46) and in Mikalayi (adjusted OR, 0.12; IC95%, 0.01–0.89). In both sites, the average birth weight was higher for mothers having received two rather than one or no SP doses (P < 0.001). In Rutshuru, IPTp‐SP had an effect in primigravidae but not in multigravidae. However, after adjustment for other LBW risk factors, there was no difference in the proportion of LBW (adjusted OR 0.92; IC95%, 0.37–2.25) between women having taken at least 2 SP doses and those with only one dose or none.Conclusion  IPT‐SP remains an effective strategy in Kisangani and Mikalayi where the therapeutic failure to SP in children with clinical malaria was 21.7% and 1.6%, respectively, while IPTp‐SP effect seems lower in Rutshuru where the therapeutic failure to SP was 60.6%. The threshold value of SP resistance at which IPTp‐SP fails to have a significant impact on birth weight and LBW is unknown. Considering that no alternative is currently available, additional studies on the efficacy of IPTp‐SP in the areas of high SP resistance such as Rutshuru are needed so that the threshold at which this intervention fails to provide any benefit is determined with some precision.
Dengue virus infection in renal allograft recipients: a case series during 2010 outbreak
Authors: Prasad N. , Bhadauria D. , Sharma R.K. , Gupta A. , Kaul A. , Srivastava A. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractDengue virus infection is an emerging global threat caused by Arbovirus, a virus from Flaviridiae family, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Renal transplant recipients who live in the endemic zones of dengue infection or who travel to an endemic zone could be at risk of this infection. Despite multiple epidemics and a high case fatality rate in the Southeast Asian region, only a few cases of dengue infection in renal transplant recipients have been reported. Here, we report a case series of 8 dengue viral infection in renal transplant recipients. Of the 8 patients, 3 developed dengue hemorrhagic shock syndrome and died.
Chronic hepatitis E in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients in a low‐endemic country?
Authors: Koenecke C. , Pischke S. , Heim A. , Raggub L. , Bremer B. , Raupach R. , Buchholz S. , Schulz T. , Manns M.P. , Ganser A. , Wedemeyer H. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractCases of chronic hepatitis E have been described in patients after kidney and liver transplantation. In addition, hepatitis E virus (HEV) reactivation was reported after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We here evaluated if HEV infection might explain elevated liver enzymes in a well selected cohort of allogeneic HSCT patients with biochemical evidence of hepatitis (n = 52). Of note, none of the subjects tested positive for HEV RNA, including 2 HSCT patients who had been infected with HEV already before transplantation. Thus, both chronic courses of HEV infections and HEV reactivations seem to be rather rare events in HSCT patients in a non‐endemic country.
Phytophthora citrophthora, a new pathogen causing decline on horse chestnut in Turkey
Authors: Akıllı S. , Ulubas Serçe Ç. , Katırcıoğlu Y. , Maden S. 
Published: December 2011

SummaryDieback symptoms were observed on horse chestnut trees planted approximately 40 years ago in Ankara, Turkey. Lesions at the stem bases of the affected trees were similar to those of ink disease on sweet chestnut. A Phytophthora sp. was isolated from the fine roots and soil samples collected around the stem bases by baiting using chestnut leaves. The pathogen was identified as Phytophthora citrophthora based on several morphological features and DNA sequences of the ITS region. Pathogenicity of P. citrophthora was tested by stem inoculation on 3‐year‐old horse chestnut saplings. P. citrophthora produced large cankers in 20 days and killed 40% of the saplings. This is the first report of P. citrophthora causing dieback on horse chestnut.
Arthropod abundance in tall fescue, Lolium arundinaceum, pastures containing novel ‘safe’ endophytes
Authors: Keathley C. P. , Potter D. A. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPoor livestock performance on tall fescue is linked to infection by a fungal endophyte that enhances grass resistance to stress, including herbivory, while producing ergot alkaloids toxic to vertebrate grazers. Novel ‘safe’ endophyte/grass associations produce no ergot alkaloids yet retain stand persistence, but they could be more susceptible to insect outbreaks. We tested the hypothesis that grass‐feeding insects are more abundant in novel endophyte pastures compared with those containing common endophyte. Above‐ and below‐ground herbivores were sampled across two growing seasons in pastures containing common strain endophyte (KY31), novel endophytes (MaxQ or AR584) or endophyte free. We also sampled natural enemies as an indicator of possible tritrophic effects. With a few exceptions, numbers of predatory, chewing (grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars) or sucking insects (leafhoppers, planthoppers) were similar in common and novel endophyte pastures. Contrary to our hypothesis, Aphrodes spp. leafhoppers were more abundant in KY31 than other pasture types in 2008; their nymphs also were more abundant in KY31 than in MaxQ in 2009. Adults (but not total numbers or nymphs) of another leafhopper, Psammotettix striatus, were less abundant in KY31 than other pasture types in 2009. Popillia japonica and Cyclocephala spp. grubs did not differ in density, weight or instar among the endophyte‐containing associations. In feeding assays, armyworm (Mythimna unipuncta) survival was higher on MaxQ and NE9301, and weight gain was higher on NE9301, suggesting armyworm outbreaks could be more severe on such grasses, but that result may not be attributable solely to alkaloids because common strain and endophyte‐free grasses did not differ in either parameter. Caterpillar abundance did not differ among pasture types in the field. Our results suggest that re‐seeding common strain endophytic pastures with livestock‐safe novel endophyte/grass associations to alleviate fescue toxicosis is unlikely to promote markedly higher populations of plant‐feeding insects.
Similarities in pheromonal communication of flea beetles Phyllotreta cruciferae Goeze and Ph. vittula Redtenbacher (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Tóth M. , Csonka É. , Bartelt R. J. , Cossé A. A. , Zilkowski B. W. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractRemarkable similarities have been found in the pheromonal communication of Phyllotreta vittula Redtenbacher and of Ph. cruciferae Goeze (European population) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). In previously published European field tests with Ph. cruciferae, only the major male‐produced sesquiterpene identified from North American Ph. cruciferae [compound A, (6R,7S)‐2,2,6,10‐tetramethylbicyclo[5.4.0]undeca‐1(11),9‐diene] was behaviourally active; unexpectedly, the European species Ph. vittula also responded in these tests and in the same way. In the present study, both the European population of Ph. cruciferae and Ph. vittula were shown to produce the same blend of compounds found in North American Ph. cruciferae and in similar proportions. Compound A is concluded to be a pheromone component for Ph. vittula as well as for Ph. cruciferae. In previously published tests with host compounds, Ph. vittula preferred 3‐butenyl isothiocyanate to allyl isothiocyante whereas the reverse was true for Ph. cruciferae. It was also learned earlier that compound A enhanced the response of both species toward allyl isothiocyanate. The present study further explored interactions between compound A and the two isothiocyanates. Thus, the highest catches of Ph. vittula were recorded in traps with the combination of racemic compound A with 3‐butenyl isothiocyanate, while highest Ph. cruciferae catches (and of Ph. nigripes Fabr.) were observed in traps with the combination of compound A with allyl isothiocyanate. Therefore, with the optimal combination of pheromonal and host‐derived stimuli, more specific communication channels may exist for the different Phyllotreta spp. Both Ph. cruciferae and Ph. vittula rank among the most important pest flea beetles in Europe.