bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
WHO WANTS WHAT FROM THE WELFARE STATE?
Authors: Bonoli Giuliano , Häusermann Silja 
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACT
This article investigates socio-structural cleavages in relation to social policies in Switzerland. It examines the extent to which vertical stratification, age and gender explain variation in individual social policy preferences. We use survey data on reported voting behaviour in 22 direct democratic referendums on distributional issues between 1981 and 2004. Our two main findings are the following: (1) age seems to be the most relevant line of conflict in most distributional issues and (2) vertical stratification (income and education) and gender are less important in explaining individual voting decisions. Our data also suggest that material interests based on socio-structural characteristics account for only part of the variation in social policy preferences, and that value cleavages are also important.
ADULT LEARNING ACTIVITIES, SOCIAL NETWORKS AND DIFFERENT NEIGHBOURHOODS
Authors: Krašovec Sabina Jelenc , Kump Sonja 
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACT
This is a paper on adult education and learning activities within the neighbourhood that pays special attention to the social networks of the individual. It starts off with the thesis that life circumstances and social networks (especially family and neighbourhood) have a greater influence upon the understanding of the role and importance of education then age. We have analysed the quantitative and qualitative data from the research on social networks of the elderly in Slovenia and focused on two generations (parents and grandparents) at two different points in time (1987 and 2005). We have established that regardless of the various external encouragements, the most important factors for further learning are family values and the individual's attitude towards learning that is formed throughout life and is influenced by social networks.
Optimizing the design of acoustic surveys of Peruvian anchoveta
Authors: Simmonds E. John , Gutiérrez Mariano , Chipollini Andres , Gerlotto Francois , Woillez Mathieu , Bertrand Arnaud 
Published: April 2009

Abstract
Simmonds, E.J., Gutiérrez, M., Chipollini, A., Gerlotto, F., Woillez, M., and Bertrand, A. 2009. Optimizing the design of acoustic surveys of Peruvian anchoveta. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 1341–1348. Acoustic surveys of stocks of small pelagic fish, in particular the Peruvian anchovy or anchoveta (Engraulis ringens), have been carried out off the coast of Peru since the late 1970s. In all, 51 of these have been carefully archived since 1983. The surveys provide a wealth of data on the distribution and abundance of pelagic fish in the most productive of the world's upwelling ecosystems. The data comprise integrated acoustic data at a resolution of 1 or 2 nautical miles along the cruise tracks, and trawl data, which include catch-by-species and catch-by-length information for anchoveta. Data since 1992 are sufficiently complete to allow a full re-evaluation of the surveys to determine their precision, taking account of the spatial variability of the catch and acoustic data. The methods used include bootstrap by trawl sample and transect segment, geostatistical simulation, and simulated surveys. The results reveal consistent spatial patterns of abundance with a more variable distribution of variance and a strong relationship between the local mean abundance and the variance. The temporal and spatial variabilities are considered in an evaluation of alternative survey designs, including pre-stratified and adaptive designs.
“Linking Herring”: do we really understand plasticity?
Authors: Dickey-Collas Mark , Clarke Maurice , Slotte Aril 
Published: April 2009

Abstract
Dickey-Collas, M., Clarke, M., and Slotte, A. 2009. “Linking Herring”: do we really understand plasticity? – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 1649–1651.
Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of the Parvulin-Type PPIases in Lotus japonicus
Authors: Kouri Evangelia D. , Labrou Nikolaos E. , Garbis Spiros D. , Kalliampakou Katerina I. , Stedel Catalina , Dimou Maria , Udvardi Michael K. , Katinakis Panagiotis , Flemetakis Emmanouil 
Published: April 2009

Abstract
The cis/trans isomerization of the peptide bond preceding proline is an intrinsically slow process, although important in many biological processes in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In vivo, this isomerization is catalyzed by peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans-isomerases (PPIases). Here, we present the molecular and biochemical characterization of parvulin-type PPIase family members of the model legume Lotus japonicus, annotated as LjPar1, LjPar2, and LjPar3. Although LjPar1 and LjPar2 were found to be homologous to PIN1 (Protein Interacting with NIMA)-type parvulins and hPar14 from human, respectively, LjPar3 represents a novel multidomain parvulin, apparently present only in plants, that contains an active carboxyl-terminal sulfurtransferase domain. All Lotus parvulins were heterologously expressed and purified from Escherichia coli, and purified protein verification measurements used a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based proteomic method. The biochemical characterization of the recombinant Lotus parvulins revealed that they possess PPIase activity toward synthetic tetrapeptides, although they exhibited different substrate specificities depending on the amino acid amino terminal to proline. These differences were also studied in a structural context using molecular modeling of the encoded polypeptides. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that the three parvulin genes of Lotus are ubiquitously expressed in all plant organs. LjPar1 was found to be up-regulated during the later stages of nodule development. Subcellular localization of LjPar-enhanced Yellow Fluorescence Protein (eYFP) fusions expressed in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaf epidermal cells revealed that LjPar1- and LjPar2-eYFP fusions were localized in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus, in contrast to LjPar3-eYFP, which was clearly localized in plastids. Divergent substrate specificities, expression profiles, and subcellular localization indicate that plant parvulin-type PPIases are probably involved in a wide range of biochemical and physiological processes.
Sucrose Control of Translation Mediated by an Upstream Open Reading Frame-Encoded Peptide
Authors: Rahmani Fatemeh , Hummel Maureen , Schuurmans Jolanda , Wiese-Klinkenberg Anika , Smeekens Sjef , Hanson Johannes 
Published: April 2009

AbstractRegulation of gene expression through translational control is common in many organisms. The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) transcription factor bZIP11 is translational repressed in response to sucrose (Suc), resulting in Suc-regulated changes in amino acid metabolism. The 5′ leader of the bZIP11 mRNA harbors several upstream open reading frames (uORFs), of which the second uORF is well conserved among bZIP11 homologous genes. The uORF2 element encodes a Suc control peptide (SC-peptide) of 28 residues that is sufficient for imposing Suc-induced repression of translation (SIRT) on a heterologous mRNA. Detailed analysis of the SC-peptide suggests that it functions as an attenuator peptide. Results suggest that the SC-peptide inhibits bZIP11 translation in response to high Suc levels by stalling the ribosome on the mRNA. The conserved noncanonical AUG contexts of bZIP11 uORFs allow inefficient translational initiation of the uORF, resulting in translation initiation of the scanning ribosome at the AUG codon of the bZIP11 main ORF. The results presented show that Suc-dependent signaling mediates differential translation of mRNAs containing SC-peptides encoding uORFs.
A Versatile Zero Background T-Vector System for Gene Cloning and Functional Genomics
Authors: Chen Songbiao , Songkumarn Pattavipha , Liu Jianli , Wang Guo-Liang 
Published: April 2009

Abstract
With the recent availability of complete genomic sequences of many organisms, high-throughput and cost-efficient systems for gene cloning and functional analysis are in great demand. Although site-specific recombination-based cloning systems, such as Gateway cloning technology, are extremely useful for efficient transfer of DNA fragments into multiple destination vectors, the two-step cloning process is time consuming and expensive. Here, we report a zero background TA cloning system that provides simple and high-efficiency direct cloning of PCR-amplified DNA fragments with almost no self-ligation. The improved T-vector system takes advantage of the restriction enzyme XcmI to generate a T-overhang after digestion and the negative selection marker gene ccdB to eliminate the self-ligation background after transformation. We demonstrate the feasibility and flexibility of the technology by developing a set of transient and stable transformation vectors for constitutive gene expression, gene silencing, protein tagging, protein subcellular localization detection, and promoter fragment activity analysis in plants. Because the system can be easily adapted for developing specialized expression vectors for other organisms, zero background TA provides a general, cost-efficient, and high-throughput platform that complements the Gateway cloning system for gene cloning and functional genomics.
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) responsiveness to ghrelin increases after 6 months of ketoconazole use in patients with Cushing’s disease: comparison with GH‐releasing peptide‐6 (GHRP‐6)
Authors: Correa‐Silva Silvia R. , Nascif Sérgio O. , Molica Patrícia , Sá Larissa B. P. C. , Vieira José G. H. , Lengyel Ana‐Maria J. 
Published: April 2009

SummaryBackground  In Cushing’s disease (CD), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)/cortisol responses to growth hormone secretagogues (GHS), such as ghrelin and GHRP‐6, are exaggerated. The effect of clinical treatment of hypercortisolism with ketoconazole on ACTH secretion in CD is controversial. There are no studies evaluating ACTH/cortisol responses to GHS after prolonged ketoconazole use in these patients.Objective  To compare ghrelin‐ and GHRP‐6‐induced ACTH/cortisol release before and after ketoconazole treatment in patients with CD.Design/patients  Eight untreated patients with CD (BMI: 28·5 ± 0·8 kg/m2) were evaluated before and after 3 and 6 months of ketoconazole treatment and compared with 11 controls (BMI: 25·0 ± 0·8).Results  After ketoconazole use, mean urinary free cortisol values decreased significantly (before: 613·6 ± 95·2 nmol/24 h; 3rd month: 170·0 ± 27·9; 6th month: 107·9 ± 30·1). The same was observed with basal serum cortisol (before: 612·5 ± 69·0 nmol/l; 3rd month: 463·5 ± 44·1; 6th month: 402·8 ± 44·1) and ghrelin‐ and GHRP‐6‐stimulated peak cortisol levels (before: 1183·6 ± 137·9 and 1045·7 ± 132·4; 3rd month: 637·3 ± 69·0 and 767·0 ± 91·0; 6th month: 689·8 ± 74·5 and 571·1 ± 71·7 respectively). An increase in basal ACTH (before: 11·2 ± 1·6 pmol/l; 6th month: 19·4 ± 2·7) and in ghrelin‐stimulated peak ACTH values occurred after 6 months (before: 59·8 ± 15·4; 6th month: 112·0 ± 11·2). GHRP‐6‐induced ACTH release also increased (before: 60·7 ± 17·2; 6th month: 78·5 ± 12·1), although not significantly.Conclusions  The rise in basal ACTH levels during ketoconazole treatment in CD could be because of the activation of normal corticotrophs, which were earlier suppressed by hypercortisolism. The enhanced ACTH responses to ghrelin after ketoconazole in CD could also be due to activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and/or to an increase in GHS‐receptors expression in the corticotroph adenoma, consequent to reductions in circulating glucocorticoids.
Gene expression signature of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with Trisomy 12
Authors: Porpaczy E. , Bilban M. , Heinze G. , Gruber M. , Vanura K. , Schwarzinger I. , Stilgenbauer S. , Streubel B. , Fonatsch C. , Jaeger U. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackground  The prognosis of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients is largely determined by the karyotype of the malignant clone. We have investigated the gene expression profile associated with trisomy 12 (+12).Design  Initially, unselected peripheral blood mononuclear cells of four patients with +12 were compared with 16 CLL controls using microarray analysis. Results were validated by quantitative real‐time PCR with RNA from 61 patients (29 with +12, 32 CLL controls).Results  Seven genes showing the strongest correlation with +12 in microarray analysis were selected for real‐time PCR: HIP1R, MYF6, SLC2A6, CD9 (overexpressed); CD200, P2RY14, RASGRP3 (underexpressed). Four genes were significantly associated with +12: HIP1R (P < 0·0001), MYF6 (P = 0·007), P2RY14 (P = 0·014), CD200 (P = 0·028). Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis revealed that HIP1R expression was a highly sensitive and specific marker for +12 in CLL patients. MYF6 was exclusively expressed in normal or malignant B cells in peripheral blood but was poorly predictive for +12. As expected, a number of overexpressed genes are located on chromosome 12 (HIP1R, MYF6). Interestingly, both significantly underexpressed genes (P2RY14, CD200) reside on the long arm of chromosome 3 pointing to trans‐repression in this region.Conclusions  Analysis of the molecular signature of trisomy 12 in CLL resulted in: (i) identification of a surrogate marker for PCR (HIP1R); (ii) observation of a gene dosage effect; and (iii) detection of specific underexpression of genes located on chromosome 3. These results should help to improve diagnosis and treatment decisions for patients with CLL and trisomy 12.
Selective predation by larval Agabus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) on mosquitoes: support for conservation‐based mosquito suppression in constructed wetlands
Authors: CULLER LAUREN E. , LAMP WILLIAM O. 
Published: April 2009

Summary1. Wetland insect predators can structure aquatic prey communities via selective predation, but receive considerably less attention than vertebrate predators. We conducted laboratory experiments to test selective predation by two species of larval dytiscid beetles (Agabus; Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) and the potential contribution of these beetles to suppression of mosquito populations in constructed wetlands.2. Agabus consumed copepods, ostracods and mosquito larvae in no‐choice tests. When offered a choice, 76% of all prey consumed were mosquito larvae, indicating selective predation. Subsequent experiments revealed this preference was due to ease of capture of mosquito larvae over alternative prey.3. Cannibalism and intraguild predation were common within and between species of Agabus, which may reduce the overall impact of the observed selective predation.4. Agabus larvae selectively preyed on mosquito larvae over alternative prey, which is not characteristic of some fish used as biological control agents for mosquitoes. Predator exclusion or similar experiments in the field could document how these results translate into a natural setting.5. The findings of this study suggest developing mosquito suppression strategies focused on conservation of native wetland predators. These strategies are preferable to introducing non‐native generalist predators, or applying pesticides.
Interpretation of regional aeromagnetic data by the scaling function method: the case of Southern Apennines (Italy)
Authors: Florio G. , Fedi M. , Rapolla A. 
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACTA complex aeromagnetic anomaly in Southern Apennines (Italy) is analysed and interpreted by a multiscale method based on the scaling function. We use multiscale methods allowing analysis of a potential field along ridges, which are lines defined by the position of the extrema of the field at the considered scales. The method developed and applied in this paper is based on the study of the scaling function of the total magnetic field. It allows recovering of source parameters such as depth and structural index. The studied area includes a Pleistocene volcanic structure (Mt. Vulture) whose intense dipolar anomaly is superimposed on a longer wavelength regional anomaly. The interpretation of ridges of the modulus of the analytic signal at different altitude ranges allows recognition of at least three distinct sources between about 5 km and 20 km depth. Their interpretation is discussed in light of borehole data and other geophysical constraints. A reasonable geological model for these sources indicates the presence of intrusions, probably linked to the past activity of Mt. Vulture.
Tradeoffs and thresholds in the effects of nitrogen addition on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: evidence from inner Mongolia Grasslands
Authors: BAI YONGFEI , WU JIANGUO , CLARK CHRISTOPHER M. , NAEEM SHAHID , PAN QINGMIN , HUANG JIANHUI , ZHANG LIXIA , HAN XINGGUO 
Published: April 2009

AbstractNitrogen (N) deposition is widely considered an environmental problem that leads to biodiversity loss and reduced ecosystem resilience; but, N fertilization has also been used as a management tool for enhancing primary production and ground cover, thereby promoting the restoration of degraded lands. However, empirical evaluation of these contrasting impacts is lacking. We tested the dual effects of N enrichment on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning at different organizational levels (i.e., plant species, functional groups, and community) by adding N at 0, 1.75, 5.25, 10.5, 17.5, and 28.0 g N m−2 yr−1 for four years in two contrasting field sites in Inner Mongolia: an undisturbed mature grassland and a nearby degraded grassland of the same type. N addition had both quantitatively and qualitatively different effects on the two communities. In the mature community, N addition led to a large reduction in species richness, accompanied by increased dominance of early successional annuals and loss of perennial grasses and forbs at all N input rates. In the degraded community, however, N addition increased the productivity and dominance of perennial rhizomatous grasses, with only a slight reduction in species richness and no significant change in annual abundance. The mature grassland was much more sensitive to N‐induced changes in community structure, likely as a result of higher soil moisture accentuating limitation by N alone. Our findings suggest that the critical threshold for N‐induced species loss to mature Eurasian grasslands is below 1.75 g N m−2 yr−1, and that changes in aboveground biomass, species richness, and plant functional group composition to both mature and degraded ecosystems saturate at N addition rates of approximately 10.5 g N m−2 yr−1. This work highlights the tradeoffs that exist in assessing the total impact of N deposition on ecosystem function.
Species–area functions revisited
Authors: Williams Matthew R. , Lamont Byron B. , Henstridge John D. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractAim Numerous functions have been proposed to describe the species–area relationship but despite almost a century of curve‐fitting there is little agreement on which is best. We aimed to rationalize the list of proposed functions and to discuss appropriate methodology for fitting and comparing the alternatives.Location Data from the British Isles were used for model comparisons.Methods Sixteen functions that have been proposed as models of the species–area relationship were compared algebraically and reformulated into a consistent format. Each was parameterized to enable their use as link functions to model the combined effects of area and other factors (covariates) onS(species number). Using data on the number of plant species on 41 British islands, we examined the effects of ignoring important covariates on the choice of the best‐fitting function. The methods used in some recent studies that compared alternative functions were examined.Results Many of the 16 species–area functions are special cases of others, some are identical, and two arose as a result of transcription errors. The 16 functions were reduced to a set of nine general functions. The empirical comparison showed that including covariates in addition to area resulted in a different best‐fitting function, and that different functions identified different covariates as important. Previous studies that have compared alternative functions suffered from three shortcomings: (1) too much emphasis was placed on maximizing goodness‐of‐fit betweenSandA(area), ignoring the effects of other factors, (2) most made implicit or untested assumptions about the distribution ofS, and (3) some repeated the mispractice of usingR2to compare models with different numbers of parameters or differing error distributions.Main conclusions The generalized linear model is a framework with which to fit alternative species–area functions, and the information‐theoretic approach provides one suitable method with which to compare their fit. Ignoring the effects of important covariates may result in an incorrect choice of the best‐fitting function. The choice of function may also affect which covariates are found to be important. Determining an appropriate statistical model with which to relate species number to area and other covariates requires careful consideration of many issues, not just of the functional relationship between species number and area.
Nuclear sequences reveal mid‐range isolation of an imperilled deep‐water coral population
Authors: EYTAN RON I. , HAYES MARSHALL , ARBOUR‐REILY PATRICIA , MILLER MARGARET , HELLBERG MICHAEL E. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe mitochondrial DNA of corals and their anthozoan kin evolves slowly, with substitution rates about two orders of magnitude lower than in typical bilateral animals. This has impeded the delineation of closely related species and isolated populations in corals, compounding problems caused by high morphological plasticity. Here we characterize rates of divergence and levels of variation for three nuclear gene regions, then use these nuclear sequences as markers to test for population structure inOculina, a taxonomically confused genus of corals. Rates of sequence divergence (obtained by comparison toSolenastrea hyades) were at least five (and sometimes over 10) times faster for the three nuclear markers than for a mitochondrial reference sequence. Nuclear sequence variation was also high within populations, although it tended to decline north of Cape Canaveral. Significant subdivision was evident among samples from 10 locations from between North Carolina and the Florida Panhandle, but neither nominal species designation nor population depth explained much of this variation. Instead, a single population from the unique deep (> 70 m) water reefs at the Oculina Banks off central Florida was a strong genetic outlier: all pairwise measures of subdivision involving this population were greater than those involving all other populations, and multilocus clustering recognized the Oculina Banks as distinct from other populations, despite its close proximity (≤ 36 km) to populations from shallower waters nearby and its location at the centre of the sampled range. Genetic isolation of the Oculina Banks population suggests that focused efforts will be needed to conserve the foundation species of these monotypic reefs and that depth may play a role in isolating marine populations and perhaps facilitating initial steps towards speciation.