bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Selection of growth functions for describing length-at-age relationships in fish species displaying different life history traits: unexpected alternatives to the von Bertalanffy equation and advantages of a pluralistic statistical approach.
Authors: Dumas A. , López S. , Kebreab E. , Gendron M. , Thornley J. H. M. , France J. 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Simple growth models have proven helpful to study and predict growth trajectories of fish with different life histories and from various environments, and have found numerous applications in ecology, fisheries and aquaculture worldwide. The most applied simple models (e.g. von Bertalanffy) convey little information about life history traits, are facing criticism, and their goodness of fit is assessed using a limited number of statistical outputs. This review challenges the von Bertalanffy and certain statistical outputs using real-life data, and proposes more explanatory alternatives. The length-at-age relationship from three different wild populations of four fish species (lake herring, lake whitefish, northern pike and walleye) is described using the monomolecular, Schumacher, Gompertz, logistic, von Bertalanffy and Richards equations. Comparison between models was based on least squares and likelihood theories involving several statistical outputs currently encountered in model comparison and selection studies. The analysis demonstrates that the monomolecular, Schumacher and Richards equations often stood as alternatives to the von Bertalanffy and highlighted residual sum of squares, standard error (SE) of parameter estimates and, to a lesser extent, Akaike weight as statistical outputs facilitating discrimination between candidate models. Based on visual appraisal, different equations fitted similar trajectories across the 12 growth profiles. However, the assumptions and statistical performance served to select the most appropriate models and discern life history traits of the species under study. Results indicate that comparison and selection of models should consider not only the statistical performance of equations but also the purpose of the study along with the biological/physical interpretation of parameters.
First Report of Fusicoccum aesculi Causing Leaf Spots of Paeonia suffruticosa in Henan Province, China
Authors: Zhang M. , Wu H. Y. , Geng Y. H. , Yu S. Q. 
Published: July 2012

Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) is regarded as the national flower of China and is cultivated throughout the country. In early August 2010, a moderately severe leaf spot was observed on tree peony cultivated in a garden of Zhengzhou, Henan Province, where approximately 15% of trees were diseased. In 2011, a less damaging leaf spot was also observed in another area of the city with approximately 10% of trees diseased. Early symptoms appeared as small, round, pale-brown lesions on the leaves. Lesions expanded into 5- to 20-mm-diameter spots that were elliptical or irregular, brown to dark brown. A fungus was consistently isolated from the leaf spots on potato dextrose agar (PDA) in grey-black colonies, but produced few pycnidia. Black pycnidia were ostiolate, globose, papillate, formed in uniloculate or multiloculate stromata that were immersed in the leaf, and became erumpent at maturity. Conidiophores or conidiogenous cells were hyaline and cylindrical. Conidia were hyaline, granular, fusoid to ellipsoid, aseptate, with a sub-truncate base, and 20 to 28 × 4.5 to 7.5 μm (mean dimensions of 50 conidia: 24.5 × 5.2 μm). The pathogen was identified as Fusicoccum aesculi, anamorphic stage of Botryosphaeria dothidea, on the basis of morphology (2). The identity of the fungus was confirmed to be F. aesculi by DNA sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (GenBank Accession No. JQ323001), which was 100% identical to those of other F. aesculi isolates (GenBank Accession Nos. GU997686.1 and GU723469.1) (1). Pathogenicity tests were done by inoculating each of 10 leaves on one 7-year-old tree with a mycelial plug (0.5 cm diameter) harvested from the periphery of a 7-day-old colony. An equal number of leaves on the same tree, serving as controls, were mock-inoculated with plugs of PDA medium. Inoculated leaves were covered with plastic for 24 h to maintain high relative humidity and incubated at about 25°C. The plugs were removed after 48 h. After 7 days, 80% of the inoculated leaves showed symptoms identical to those observed in the field under natural conditions, whereas controls remained symptom-free. Reisolation of the fungus from lesions on inoculated leaves confirmed that the causal agent was F. aesculi. Pathogenicity tests were repeated on the other two trees by the same methods with the same results. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. aesculi infecting P. suffruticosa in China. References: (1) S. Mohali et al. Mycol. Res. 110:405, 2006. (2) B. C. Sutton. The Coelomycetes. CABI Publishing, New York, 1980.
Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Goal-directed Hemodynamic Treatment of Elderly Hip Fracture Patients
Authors: Bartha Erzsebet , Davidson Thomas , Hommel Ami , Thorngren Karl-Göran , Carlsson Per , Kalman Sigridur 
Published: July 2012

Background
Health economic evaluations are increasingly used to make the decision to adopt new medical interventions. Before such decisions, various stakeholders have invested in clinical research. But health economic factors are seldom considered in research funding decisions. Cost-effectiveness analyses could be informative before the launch of clinical research projects, particularly when a targeted intervention is resource-intensive, total cost for the trial is very high, and expected gain of health benefits is uncertain. This study analyzed cost-effectiveness using a decision analytic model before initiating a large clinical research project on goal-directed hemodynamic treatment of elderly patients with hip fracture.

Methods
A probabilistic decision analytic cost-effectiveness model was developed; the model contains a decision tree for the postoperative short-term outcome and a Markov structure for long-term outcome. Clinical effect estimates, costs, health-related quality-of-life measures, and long-term survival constituted model input that was extracted from clinical trials, national databases, and surveys. Model output consisted of estimated medical care costs related to quality-adjusted life-years.

Results
In the base case analysis, goal-directed hemodynamic treatment reduced average medical care costs by €1,882 and gained 0.344 quality-adjusted life-years. In 96.5% of the simulations, goal-directed hemodynamic treatment is less costly and provides more quality-adjusted life-years. The results are sensitive to clinical effect size variations, although goal-directed hemodynamic treatment seems to be cost-effective even with moderate clinical effect.

Conclusion
This study demonstrates that cost-effectiveness analysis is feasible, meaningful, and recommendable before launch of costly clinical research projects.
Effect of Spinal Fixation in Rabbits With Metastatic Tumor Using a Novel Spinal Fusion Model
Authors: Yamada Kentaro , Terai Hidetomi , Matsumoto Tomiya , Okabe Takahiro , Suzuki Akinobu , Toyoda Hiromitsu , Nakamura Hiroaki 
Published: July 2012

Study Design:
An experimental assessment of the impact of spinal stabilization on metastasis growth using a rabbit model.

Objective:
To investigate the influence of spinal stabilization on the growth of metastatic spinal tumors in rabbits using a novel method of spinal fusion.

Summary of Background Data:
For spinal metastasis patients, gait disturbances caused by back pain or paraplegia correlates with their prognosis. Palliative surgeries are good options for some patients; however, the appropriate timing and method of spinal surgery remains controversial.

Methods:
The biomechanical properties of a novel spinal fixation model with a locking plating system were first examined on the L2–L4 fixed vertebrae of 18 Japanese white rabbits. Biomechanical and radiographic examinations were performed at 0, 4, and 8 weeks as compared with controls. After this, another 31 rabbits were then inoculated with VX2 carcinoma cells into the L3 vertebral body and divided into fixation (N=16) and sham (N=15) groups to assess the impact of spinal stabilization on tumor growth. The time to paraplegia, and tumor cell growth and proliferation were evaluated by rabbit behavior, computed tomography, myelogram, and cell proliferation marker (MIB-1 index).

Results:
In the biomechanical loading test, fixed segments showed one eighth of the range of motion and 15 times bending stiffness as compared with controls at each timepoint. No pathologic fractures were observed in the rabbits inoculated with VX2 carcinoma cells before paraplegia, and there was no difference in the time to paraplegia between the fixation and sham groups (26.7 and 28 d, respectively). Similarly, no differences were observed in osteolytic area expansion or tumor cell proliferation (MIB-1 index; 38.1% and 38.0%, respectively).

Conclusions:
Our locking plate fixation of rabbit spines exhibited sufficient biomechanical properties. Spinal fixation had little influence on the growth of the aggressive carcinoma and the time to paraplegia. However, further investigation is needed to determine the influence of spinal stabilization on slow-growing tumors.
Responses in growth rate of larval northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) to anomalous upwelling in the northern California Current
Authors: TAKAHASHI MOTOMITSU , CHECKLEY DAVID M. , LITZ MARISA N.C. , BRODEUR RICHARD D. , PETERSON WILLIAM T. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractWe examined variability in growth rate during the larval stage of northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) in response to physical and biological environmental factors in 2005 and 2006. The onset of spring upwelling was anomalously delayed by 2–3 months until mid‐July in 2005; in contrast, spring upwelling in 2006 began as a normal year in the northern California Current. Larval and early juvenile E. mordax were collected in August, September, and October off the coast of Oregon and Washington. Hatch dates ranged from May to September, with peaks in June and August in 2005 and a peak in July in 2006, based on the number of otolith daily increments. Back‐calculated body length‐at‐age in the June 2005 hatch cohort was significantly smaller than in the August 2005 cohort, which had comparable growth to the July 2006 cohort. Standardized otolith daily increment widths as a proxy for seasonal variability in somatic growth rates in 2005 were negative until late July and then changed to positive with intensification of upwelling. The standardized increment width was a positive function of biomass of chlorophyll a concentration, and neritic cold‐water and oceanic subarctic copepod species sampled biweekly off Newport, Oregon. Our results suggest that delayed upwelling in 2005 resulted in low food availability and, consequently, reduced E. mordax larval growth rate in early summer, but once upwelling began in July, high food availability enhanced larval growth rate to that typical of a normal upwelling year (e.g., 2006) in the northern California Current.
Use of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) leaf for improving oxidative stability of microwave‐precooked traditional Thai pork patty and its frozen storage trial
Authors: Chinprahast Ninnart , Suwannadath Akarapon , Homjabok Thiti 
Published: July 2012

SummaryA study was carried out to assess the effects of rosemary leaf, microwave cooking time and meat particle size on the oxidative stability of Thai‐style seasoned patties. A preliminary investigation to determine the optimum marination and microwave cooking times showed that they were, respectively, 120 and 12 min. These conditions were used to prepare patties for the main study, which showed that patties formed with smaller meat particles (1.5 vs. 4.7 mm) were more stable with regard to oxidative stability. Increased TBARS formation was observed for increasing microwave cooking time. Finally, patties with added rosemary leaf (3.2% by weight of the meat) were significantly more stable to oxidation than the controls and had a shelf life of 3–4 months in frozen storage (−18 °C). The microwave cooking time over 12 min seems excessively long.
Genome shuffling to improve fermentation properties of acetic acid bacterium by the improvement of ethanol tolerance
Authors: Wei Ke , Cao Xiaohong , Li Xin , Wang Chunling , Hou Lihua 
Published: July 2012

SummaryWhole‐cell biocatalysts are commonly limited by low tolerance of extreme process conditions such as alcoholic strength, temperature, pH and concentration of solute. Here, we describe the use of genome shuffling to improve the ethanol tolerance of acetic acid bacterium, which is a poorly characterised industrial strain. The best strain A3‐11 was constructed and selected after three rounds of shuffling from the wild‐type strain of acetic acid bacterium. A3‐11 could grow in liquid medium with 13% ethanol. During the vinegar fermentation, the organic acid components produced were distinctly improved by A3‐11. It was found that the content of acetic acid was twice as much as the control. Furthermore, the concentration of tartaric acid was 4.04‐fold more than the control. Notably, A3‐11 increased in butanedioic acid production by up to 71.73% compared with the control.
Loss of floral polymorphism in heterostylous Luculia pinceana (Rubiaceae): a molecular phylogeographic perspective
Authors: ZHOU WEI , BARRETT SPENCER C. H. , WANG HONG , LI DE‐ZHU 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBoth deterministic and stochastic forces determine the representation and frequency of floral morphs in heterostylous plant populations. Phylogeographic analysis of molecular variation can provide information on the role of historical factors, including founder events, in affecting population morph structure. Here, we investigate geographical patterns of floral morph variation in a distylous shrub Luculia pinceana (Rubiaceae) by examining the relations between floral polymorphism and molecular (cpDNA and microsatellite) variation in 25 populations sampled throughout the distribution of the species in southwest China and adjacent countries. In 19 of the 25 populations, the frequency of floral morphs was not significantly different from the expected 1:1 ratio. The remaining populations were either L‐morph biased (2) or monomorphic (4) for this form and were morphologically differentiated from the remaining populations in several floral traits, that is, corolla tube length, sex organ position and stigma‐anther separation. Phylogeographic analysis supports the hypothesis that L. pinceana was initially split into west‐central and eastern lineages in the Early Pleistocene (∼1.982 Mya). A centrally located lineage composed of morph‐biased and monomorphic populations appears to have been subsequently derived from the west‐central lineage, perhaps by a founder event after the last glacial maximum. Hypotheses to explain why these populations have not returned to equilibrium morph frequencies are considered.
The efficiency of C4 photosynthesis under low light conditions in Zea mays, Miscanthus x giganteus and Flaveria bidentis
Authors: UBIERNA NEREA , SUN WEI , KRAMER DAVID M. , COUSINS ASAPH B. 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTThe efficiency of C4 photosynthesis in Zea mays, Miscanthus x giganteus and Flaveria bidentis in response to light was determined using measurements of gas exchange, 13CO2 photosynthetic discrimination, metabolite pools and spectroscopic assays, with models of C4 photosynthesis and leaf 13CO2 discrimination. Spectroscopic and metabolite assays suggested constant energy partitioning between the C4 and C3 cycles across photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Leakiness (φ), modelled using C4 light‐limited photosynthesis equations (φmod), matched values from the isotope method without simplifications (φis) and increased slightly from high to low PAR in all species. However, simplifications of bundle‐sheath [CO2] and respiratory fractionation lead to large overestimations of φ at low PAR with the isotope method. These species used different strategies to maintain similar φ. For example, Z. mays had large rates of the C4 cycle and low bundle‐sheath cells CO2 conductance (gbs). While F. bidentis had larger gbs but lower respiration rates and M. giganteus had less C4 cycle capacity but low gbs, which resulted in similar φ. This demonstrates that low gbs is important for efficient C4 photosynthesis but it is not the only factor determining φ. Additionally, these C4 species are able to optimize photosynthesis and minimize φ over a range of PARs, including low light.
Protective Effect of HLA‐DRB1*11 and Predisposition of HLA‐C*04 in the Development of Severe Liver Damage in Brazilian Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Authors: Marangon A. V. , Silva G. F. , de Moraes C. F. V. , Grotto R. M. T. , Pardini M. I. M. C. , de Pauli D. S. , Visentainer J. E. L. , Sell A. M. , Moliterno R. A. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe objective of this study was to investigate human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genes in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and to analyse the possible role of these genes in the progression of chronic hepatitis C. One hundred and forty‐five (145) Brazilian patients infected only with HCV genotype 1 were evaluated. HLA class I (A*, B*, C*) and class II (DRB1*, DQA1*, DQB1*) typing were carried out by PCR‐SSO, through Luminex technology. Associations were found with protection against development of liver damage by both DRB1*11 (5.0% versus 18.2%, P = 0.0016, OR = 0.23, CI 95% = 0.09–0.58; Pc=0.0208) and DRB1*11‐DQA1*05‐DQB1*03 haplotype (4.2% versus 15.3%, P = 0.0032; OR = 0.24, CI 95% = 0.08‐0.64). Liver damage was associated with HLA‐C*04 in patients with <20 years of infection (38.4% versus 9.1%, P = 0.002, OR = 6.25, CI 95% = 1.97–19.7; Pc=0.0238). It is concluded that HLA alleles can influence the development of liver damage in HCV type‐1 chronically infected Brazilian patients.
Overweight and impaired insulin sensitivity present in growing cats
Authors: Häring T. , Haase B. , Zini E. , Hartnack S. , Uebelhart D. , Gaudenz D. , Wichert B. A. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryObesity is a growing problem in pets as well as in humans. Overweight and obesity are linked to insulin sensitivity and subsequently in older cats, to an increased risk of developing diabetes mellitus. In the experimental cat population of the Institute of Animal Nutrition of the Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, an overweight phenotype in intact cats younger than 1 year became evident. The aims of the present study were to determine whether an association between insulin sensitivity and body condition score (BCS) or feline body mass index (FBMI) is already present during young adulthood in these cats and to test the hypothesis that the phenotype lean/overweight is significantly associated with monthly body weight during the growing period. Therefore, 41 kittens from the mentioned cat breeding colony were studied. They were weighed weekly and checked monthly (third to eighth month after birth) for BCS and FBMI. At the age of 8 months, they were classified into an overweight and lean phenotype based on BCS on a scale of 9 (median; maximum and minimum: overweight male (6.4; 6.8; 6.0); overweight female (6.1; 6.2; 6.0); lean male (5.4; 5.7; 5.0); lean female (5.2; 5.6; 5.0). A significant association between the phenotype and body weight was obvious during the growing period from the third to the 8 months (p = 0.0001). At month 8, body fat content was measured by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry and a glucose tolerance test to determine the insulin sensitivity index was performed. Insulin sensitivity was significantly associated with BCS (p = 0.0007) and body fat content (p < 0.0001) but not with sex (p = 0.61). Our data provide evidence that already in young intact cats; insulin insensitivity is significantly associated with BCS or a presumed phenotype lean/overweight.
A survey of long‐term terrestrial ecology studies in Australia
Authors: YOUNGENTOB K. N. , LIKENS G. E. , WILLIAMS J. E. , LINDENMAYER D. B. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractLong‐term ecological studies (LTES) are critical for understanding and managing landscapes. To identify important research gaps, facilitate collaborations and communicate results, several countries have established long‐term ecological research networks. A few initiatives to create such a network in Australia have been undertaken, but relatively few published data exist on the current state of LTES in Australia. In this paper, we present the results of an online survey of terrestrial LTES projects sent to academic, government and non‐governmental organization‐based researchers across Australia. We asked questions pertaining to the focus, scope, support and outcomes of LTES spanning 7 years or longer. Based on the information reported from 85 Australian LTES, we: (i) identify the biomes, processes and species that are under‐represented in the current body of research; (ii) discuss important contributing factors to the successful development and survival of these projects; and (iii) make recommendations to help increase the productivity and influence of LTES across research, management and policy sectors.
Alpha2‐adrenergic receptor activation regulates cortical interneuron migration
Authors: Riccio Orbicia , Hurni Nicolas , Murthy Sahana , Vutskits Laszlo , Hein Lutz , Dayer Alexandre 
Published: July 2012

AbstractMonoamines such as serotonin and dopamine have been shown to regulate cortical interneuron migration but very little is known regarding noradrenaline. Similarly to other monoamines, noradrenaline is detected during embryonic cortical development and adrenergic receptors are expressed in transient embryonic zones of the pallium that contain migrating neurons. Evidence of a functional role for the adrenergic system in interneuron migration is lacking. In this study we first investigated the expression pattern of adrenergic receptors in mouse cortical interneuron subtypes preferentially derived from the caudal ganglionic eminences, and found that they expressed different subtypes of adrenergic receptors. To directly monitor the effects of adrenergic receptor stimulation on interneuron migration we used time‐lapse recordings in cortical slices and observed that alpha2 adrenergic receptors (adra2) receptor activation inhibits the migration of cortical interneurons in a concentration‐dependent and reversible manner. Furthermore, we observed that following adra2 activation the directionality of migrating interneurons was significantly modified, suggesting that adra2 stimulation could modulate their responsiveness to guidance cues. Finally the distribution of cortical interneurons was altered in vivo in adra2a/2c‐knockout mice. These results support the general hypothesis that adrenergic dysregulation occurring during embryonic development alters cellular processes involved in the formation of cortical circuits.