bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A protective effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 against eczema in the first 2 years of life persists to age 4 years
Authors: Wickens K. , Black P. , Stanley T. V. , Mitchell E. , Barthow C. , Fitzharris P. , Purdie G. , Crane J. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryBackgroundUsing a double blind randomized placebo‐controlled trial (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12607000518460), we have shown that in a high risk birth cohort, maternal supplementation from 35 weeks gestation until 6 months if breastfeeding and infant supplementation until 2 years with Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 (HN001) (6 × 109 cfu/day) halved the cumulative prevalence of eczema by age 2 years. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis HN019 (HN019) (9 × 109 cfu/day) had no effect.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the associations of HN001 and HN019 with allergic disease and atopic sensitization among these children at age 4 years, 2 years after stopping probiotic supplementation.MethodsThe presence (UK Working Party's Diagnostic Criteria) and severity SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) of eczema and atopy (skin prick tests) and parent‐reported symptoms of asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis were assessed using standard protocols and questions.ResultsFour‐hundred and seventy‐four infants were eligible at birth of whom 425 (90%) participated in this follow‐up. The cumulative prevalence of eczema by 4 years (Hazard ratio (HR) 0.57 (95% CI 0.39–0.83)) and prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis at 4 years (Relative risk 0.38 (95% CI 0.18–0.83)) were significantly reduced in the children taking HN001; there were also nonsignificant reductions in the cumulative prevalence of SCORAD ≥ 10 (HR 0.74 (95% CI 0.52–1.05), wheeze (HR 0.79 (95% CI 0.59–1.07)) and atopic sensitization (HR = 0.72 (95% CI 0.48–1.06)). HN019 did not affect the prevalence of any outcome.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceThis study showed that the protective effect of HN001 against eczema, when given for the first 2 years of life only, extended to at least 4 years of age. This, together with our findings for a protective effect against rhinoconjunctivitis, suggests that this probiotic might be an appropriate preventative intervention for high risk infants.
Non‐atopic males with adult onset asthma are at risk of persistent airflow limitation
Authors: Amelink M. , de Nijs S. B. , Berger M. , Weersink E. J. , ten Brinke A. , Sterk P. J. , Bel E. H. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryBackgroundPatients with asthma have on average a more rapid decline in FEV
1 as compared with the general population. Recent cluster analysis has revealed different asthma phenotypes that can be distinguished by age of onset and reversibility of airflow limitation.ObjectiveThis study aimed at detecting risk factors associated with persistent airflow limitation in patients with the adult onset asthma phenotype.MethodsWe recruited 88 patients with adult onset (≥ 18 years) asthma from an academic pulmonary outpatient clinic in the Netherlands. The associations of age, age of asthma onset, asthma duration, gender, race, atopy, smoking packyears, BMI, use of oral corticosteroids with post‐bronchodilator FEV
1/FVC were investigated.ResultsMultiple linear regression analysis showed an association of absence of atopy (r = −0.27, B = −0.26, P = 0.01) and male gender (r = 0.31, B = 0.30, P = 0.004) with post‐bronchodilator FEV
1/FVC. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that male patients were 10.8 (CI: 2.6–45.2) times the odds than women to have an FEV
1/FVC < 0.7, and non‐atopic patients were 5.2 (CI: 1.3–20.3) times the odds to have an FEV
1/FVC < 0.7 than atopic patients.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceWe conclude that in patients with adult onset asthma, male gender and absence of atopy are associated with persistent airflow limitation. This might suggest that amongst patients with adult onset asthma, non‐atopic male patients are at increased risk of accelerated decline in lung function.
Endogenous sex hormones and C‐reactive protein in healthy chinese men
Authors: Zhang Youjie , Gao Yong , Tan Aihua , Yang Xiaobo , Zhang Haiying , Zhang Shijun , Wu Chunlei , Lu Zheng , Wang Mengjie , Liao Ming , Qin Xue , Li Li , Hu Yanling , Mo Zengnan 
Published: February 2012

SummaryObjectiveTo examine the association of endogenous sex hormones and sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG) with C‐reactive protein (CRP) in Chinese men.Design and participantsThe study population comprised 1989 men at baseline recruitment of a population‐based cohort in China. Participant information on risk factors was collected by a face‐to‐face interview and clinical examination. All subjects in the study were without taking any kind of medication for anti‐inflammation purpose or treatment of hypogonadism and with CRP value less than 10 mg/l. Data were analysed using linear regression analyses.ResultsHigher levels of total testosterone (TT, β = −0·114, 95%CI, −0·162 to −0·065), free testosterone (β = −0·059, 95%CI, −0·106 to −0·012) and SHBG (β = −0·116, 95%CI, −0·169 to −0·063) were statistically significantly related to lower levels of CRP, after adjustment for age, waist circumference (WC), triglycerides, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose, insulin, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes and family history of hypertension or diabetes. In the subgroup of men with body mass index ≥ 27·5 kg/m2 or with metabolic syndrome, findings for TT and SHBG were more pronounced, whereas the associations of TT with CRP were attenuated and nonstatistically significant among subjects with WC ≥ 90 cm or with insulin resistance. No associations were observed between estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and CRP.ConclusionsWe have confirmed the association of androgens with reduced inflammation as measured by CRP in Chinese men. This is independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors and is explained in part by markers of central obesity and insulin resistance, rather than metabolic syndrome.
The effects of exercise and diurnal variation on monocyte subsets and monocyte‐platelet aggregates
Authors: Shantsila Eduard , Tapp Luke D. , Wrigley Benjamin J. , Montoro‐Garcia Silvia , Ghattas Angie , Jaipersad Anthony , Lip Gregory Y. H. 
Published: February 2012

Eur J Clin Invest 2012AbstractBackground  Monocytes are important mediators in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease, but only scarce data are available on biological and methodological factors affecting their levels.Design  Three monocyte subsets, CD14++ CD16− CCR2+ (Mon1), CD14++ CD16+ CCR2+ (Mon2), CD14+ CD16+ CCR2− (Mon3), and monocyte‐platelet aggregates (MPAs) were analysed by flow cytometry. The effects of treadmill exercise were assessed on 12 healthy volunteers. Diurnal variation was evaluated in 16 healthy volunteers, and the effects of delayed blood processing were measured in 12 samples.Results  Mon1 were increased when measured 15 min after exercise followed by a reduction at 1 h (P < 0·05 for both). MPAs were significantly reduced at 15 min and 1 h (P < 0·05 for both). There was significant diurnal variation in the numbers of Mon2, which were highest at 6 pm and lowest at 6 am. There were also significant diurnal variations in phagocytic activity of Mon1 and Mon2, which were highest at 12 pm and lowest at 12 am. Monocyte counts remained stable up to 2 h after venipuncture. MPAs were significantly increased at 2 h and increased further by 4 h after sampling.Conclusions  Monocyte subset Mon2 and monocyte phagocytic activity undergo significant diurnal variation. A single bout of exercise causes a temporal increase in monocytes and a reduction in MPAs. Monocyte subset counts should be analysed within 2 h of blood sampling, whereas measurement of MPAs and monocyte CD14 and CD16 expression should be performed within 1 h.
How the ladybird got its spots: effects of resource limitation on the honesty of aposematic signals
Authors: Blount Jonathan D. , Rowland Hannah M. , Drijfhout Falko P. , Endler John A. , Inger Richard , Sloggett John J. , Hurst Gregory D. D. , Hodgson David J. , Speed Michael P. 
Published: February 2012

Summary1. Prey species often possess defences (e.g. toxins) coupled with warning signals (i.e. aposematism). There is growing evidence that the expression of aposematic signals often varies within species and correlates with the strength of chemical defences. This has led to the speculation that such signals may be ‘honest’, with signal reliability ensured by the costliness of producing or maintaining aposematic traits.2. We reared larval seven‐spot ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) on a Low or High aphid diet and measured the effects on warning signal expression (elytral carotenoid pigmentation, conspicuousness, spot size), levels of defensive alkaloids (precoccinelline, coccinelline), and relationships between these traits.3. High‐diet individuals had greater total precoccinelline levels, and elytra carotenoid concentrations at adulthood which was detectable to a typical avian predator. However, larval diet did not significantly affect adult body mass or size, spot size or coccinelline levels.4. Elytra carotenoid concentrations correlated positively with total precoccinelline levels in both diet groups and sexes. However, the relationship between elytra carotenoid concentrations and total levels of coccinelline depended on sex: in both diet groups, elytra carotenoids and coccinelline levels were positively correlated in females, but negatively correlated in males. Spot size and coccinelline levels correlated positively in Low‐diet individuals, but negatively in High‐diet individuals.5. These results point to physiological linkages between components of aposematism, which are modulated by resource (i.e. food) availability and affect the honesty of signals. Developmental diet, but also sex, influenced the relationships between signals and toxin levels. Ladybirds are sexually size dimorphic, and thus in comparison with males, females may be more susceptible to resource limitation and more likely to be honest signallers.
Stem xylem conductivity is key to plant water balance across Australian angiosperm species
Authors: Gleason Sean M. , Butler Don W. , Ziemińska Kasia , Waryszak Paweł , Westoby Mark 
Published: February 2012

Summary1. Plants must balance water expenditure from their crown with water supplied through root and stem tissues. Although many different combinations of hydraulic traits could accomplish water balance, we ask whether variation across species in stem hydraulic traits has been concentrated along few, or many, dimensions of trait variation.2. We measured stem hydraulic traits for 120 woody dicot species across a range of different biomes in eastern Australia. Mean annual temperatures ranged from 10 to 27 °C and aridity (precipitation/potential evapotranspiration) from 0·33 to 1·02 across study sites.3. Xylem‐specific conductivity, species’ height and ratio of leaf area to xylem area were positively correlated, manifesting as a single axis of trait variation, with other traits mostly orthogonal to this axis. Thus, as height and ratio of leaf area to xylem area increased across species and habitats (increasing resistance per leaf area), xylem‐specific conductivity partially compensated for this resistance. Xylem‐specific conductivity was well predicted by increasing height (r2 = 0·45) and ratio of leaf area to xylem area (r2 = 0·36). This three‐trait axis was positively correlated with increasing precipitation (r2 = 0·28) and temperature (r2 = 0·15), but most of the explained variance lay within sites (39%) rather than across sites (10%). Thus, the spread of species’ traits along this functional axis reflected structural and hydraulic differences among co‐occurring species, at least as much as it reflected differences associated with contrasting climates.4. High xylem‐specific conductivity in stems was accomplished by high vessel diameter to number ratio (r2 = 0·32) and/or by high vessel lumen fraction (r2 = 0·13). Low midday water potential (higher xylem tension) was associated with low ratio of vessel diameter to number (r2 = 0·25), whereas low specific gravity (r2 = 0·18) and stiffness (r2 = 0·12) were associated with high vessel lumen fraction.5. Light capture (i.e. increasing height and leafiness) may be facilitated by high xylem‐specific conductivity, but marked increases in xylem‐specific conductivity may also be associated with reduced hydraulic and mechanical safety. Although the trade‐offs associated with increasing xylem‐specific conductivity remain unclear, our data suggest that xylem‐specific conductivity is important for maintaining water balance across a large range of species and biomes.
Large‐scale 3D inversion of potential field data
Authors: Čuma Martin , Wilson Glenn A. , Zhdanov Michael S. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTInversion of gravity and/or magnetic data attempts to recover the density and/or magnetic susceptibility distribution in a 3D earth model for subsequent geological interpretation. This is a challenging problem for a number of reasons. First, airborne gravity and magnetic surveys are characterized by very large data volumes. Second, the 3D modelling of data from large‐scale surveys is a computationally challenging problem. Third, gravity and magnetic data are finite and noisy and their inversion is ill posed so regularization must be introduced for the recovery of the most geologically plausible solutions from an infinite number of mathematically equivalent solutions. These difficulties and how they can be addressed in terms of large‐scale 3D potential field inversion are discussed in this paper. Since potential fields are linear, they lend themselves to full parallelization with near‐linear scaling on modern parallel computers. Moreover, we exploit the fact that an instrument’s sensitivity (or footprint) is considerably smaller than the survey area. As multiple footprints superimpose themselves over the same 3D earth model, the sensitivity matrix for the entire earth model is constructed. We use the re‐weighted regularized conjugate gradient method for minimizing the objective functional and incorporate a wide variety of regularization options. We demonstrate our approach with the 3D inversion of 1743 line km of FALCON gravity gradiometry and magnetic data acquired over the Timmins district in Ontario, Canada. Our results are shown to be in good agreement with independent interpretations of the same data.
A frozen feast: thawing permafrost increases plant‐available nitrogen in subarctic peatlands
Authors: Keuper Frida , van Bodegom Peter M. , Dorrepaal Ellen , Weedon James T. , van Hal Jurgen , van Logtestijn Richard S. P. , Aerts Rien 
Published: February 2012

AbstractMany of the world's northern peatlands are underlain by rapidly thawing permafrost. Because plant production in these peatlands is often nitrogen (N)‐limited, a release of N stored in permafrost may stimulate net primary production or change species composition if it is plant‐available. In this study, we aimed to quantify plant‐available N in thawing permafrost soils of subarctic peatlands. We compared plant‐available N‐pools and ‐fluxes in near‐surface permafrost (0–10 cm below the thawfront) to those taken from a current rooting zone layer (5–15 cm depth) across five representative peatlands in subarctic Sweden. A range of complementary methods was used: extractions of inorganic and organic N, inorganic and organic N‐release measurements at 0.5 and 11 °C (over 120 days, relevant to different thaw‐development scenarios) and a bioassay with Poa alpina test plants. All extraction methods, across all peatlands, consistently showed up to seven times more plant‐available N in near‐surface permafrost soil compared to the current rooting zone layer. These results were supported by the bioassay experiment, with an eightfold larger plant N‐uptake from permafrost soil than from other N‐sources such as current rooting zone soil or fresh litter substrates. Moreover, net mineralization rates were much higher in permafrost soils compared to soils from the current rooting zone layer (273 mg N m−2 and 1348 mg N m−2 per growing season for near‐surface permafrost at 0.5 °C and 11 °C respectively, compared to −30 mg N m−2 for current rooting zone soil at 11 °C). Hence, our results demonstrate that near‐surface permafrost soil of subarctic peatlands can release a biologically relevant amount of plant available nitrogen, both directly upon thawing as well as over the course of a growing season through continued microbial mineralization of organically bound N. Given the nitrogen‐limited nature of northern peatlands, this release may have impacts on both plant productivity and species composition.
Prey‐race drives differentiation of biotypes in ant‐eating spiders
Authors: Pekár S. , Šmerda J. , Hrušková M. , Šedo O. , Muster C. , Cardoso P. , Zdráhal Z. , Korenko S. , Bureš P. , Líznarová E. , Sentenská L. 
Published: February 2012

Summary1. Disruptive natural selection resulting from specialization on different hosts is recognized as one of the most important driving forces in the diversification of herbivores and parasites. It has been proposed that a similar mechanism could apply to carnivorous predators too, although the evidence is still lacking.2. Here, we show that the differentiation of biotypes of specialized ant‐eating spiders of the genusZodarionhas probably been induced by prey‐shifting. We focused on two forms of one speciesZ. styliferumfrom the Iberian Peninsula that presumably represent ecological races. We conducted geographic, ecological, venom‐oriented, reproductive and genetic divergence analysis among multiple populations collected at a number of sites across Portugal and Madeira.3. Geographic analysis revealed that the two forms occur in mosaic sympatry. Each form was found to associate in nature with a different ant species in a different habitat. Specifically, thestyliferumform hunted predominantlyMessorants, and theextraneumform hunted mainlyCamponotusants. Laboratory experiments revealed that the two forms exhibit a significant preference for attacking focal ants, demonstrating higher paralysis efficiency, and also show different venom composition. Cross‐mating of the two forms was significantly less likely than between pairs of the same form, suggesting moderate assortative mating. Phylogenetic analyses indicate low genetic differentiation of the two forms and parallel‐repeated evolution of biotypes.4. Adaptive prey‐shifting correlated with habitat preference are at present the most valid explanations for biotype formation inZodarion. The speciation of ant‐eatingZodarionspiders thus appears to follow a scenario similar to that of host‐shifting in parasites and herbivores.
Sex at the origin: an Asian population of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae reproduces sexually
Authors: SALEH DOUNIA , XU PENG , SHEN YING , LI CHENGUYN , ADREIT HENRI , MILAZZO JOËLLE , RAVIGNÉ VIRGINIE , BAZIN ERIC , NOTTÉGHEM JEAN‐LOUP , FOURNIER ELISABETH , THARREAU DIDIER 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSexual reproduction may be cryptic or facultative in fungi and therefore difficult to detect. Magnaporthe oryzae, which causes blast, the most damaging fungal disease of rice, is thought to originate from southeast Asia. It reproduces asexually in all rice‐growing regions. Sexual reproduction has been suspected in limited areas of southeast Asia, but has never been demonstrated in contemporary populations. We characterized several M. oryzae populations worldwide both biologically and genetically, to identify candidate populations for sexual reproduction. The sexual cycle of M. oryzae requires two strains of opposite mating types, at least one of which is female‐fertile, to come into contact. In one Chinese population, the two mating types were found to be present at similar frequencies and almost all strains were female‐fertile. Compatible strains from this population completed the sexual cycle in vitro and produced viable progenies. Genotypic richness and linkage disequilibrium data also supported the existence of sexual reproduction in this population. We resampled this population the following year, and the data obtained confirmed the presence of all the biological and genetic characteristics of sexual reproduction. In particular, a considerable genetic reshuffling of alleles was observed between the 2 years. Computer simulations confirmed that the observed genetic characteristics were unlikely to have arisen in the absence of recombination. We therefore concluded that a contemporary population of M. oryzae, pathogenic on rice, reproduces sexually in natura in southeast Asia. Our findings provide evidence for the loss of sexual reproduction by a fungal plant pathogen outside its centre of origin.
Mycoheterotrophic interactions are not limited to a narrow phylogenetic range of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Authors: MERCKX VINCENT S. F. T. , JANSSENS STEVEN B. , HYNSON NICOLE A. , SPECHT CHELSEA D. , BRUNS THOMAS D. , SMETS ERIK F. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe majority of achlorophyllous mycoheterotrophic plant species associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Previous studies have shown that some species are highly specialized towards narrow lineages of AMF and have suggested that only particular lineages of these fungi are targeted by mycoheterotrophic plants. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed all available partial SSU sequences of AMF associated with mycoheterotrophic plants including data from 13 additional specimens from French Guiana, Gabon and Australia. Sequences were assigned to ‘virtual taxa’ (VT) according to the MaarjAM database. We found that 20% of all known Glomeromycota VT are involved in mycoheterotrophic interactions and the majority of associations involve Glomeraceae (Glomus Group A) fungi. While some mycoheterotrophic plant species have been found growing with only a single VT, many species are able to associate with a wide range of AMF. We calculated significant phylogenetic clustering of Glomeromycota VT involved in mycoheterotrophic interactions, suggesting that associations between mycoheterotrophic plants and AMF are influenced by the phylogenetic relationships of the fungi. Our results demonstrate that many lineages of AMF are prone to exploitation by mycoheterotrophic plants. However, mycoheterotrophs from different plant lineages and different geographical regions tend to be dependent on lineages of AMF that are phylogenetically related.