bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of acclimation and latitude on the activity thresholds of the aphid Myzus persicae in Europe
Authors: Alford L. , Blackburn T. M. , Bale J. S. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractActivity thresholds were measured in nine anholocyclic clones of the peach‐potato aphid Myzus persicae collected along a latitudinal cline of its European distribution from Sweden to Spain. The effects of collection origin and intra‐ and intergenerational acclimation on these thresholds were investigated. Low‐temperature (10°C) acclimation for one generation depressed the movement threshold and chill coma temperatures, with the largest reduction in movement threshold recorded for clone UK 1 (8.8–2.5°C) and in chill coma for UK 2 (4.8–2.0°C). High‐temperature (25°C) acclimation for one generation increased the heat movement threshold and heat coma temperature with the largest increase in the movement threshold (40.1–41.1°C) and heat coma (41.4–42.3°C) recorded for clone Swed 1. There was no further intergenerational acclimation over three generations. High‐temperature activity thresholds were less plastic than low‐temperature thresholds, and, consequently, thermal activity ranges were expanded following low‐temperature acclimation. No constant affect of acclimation was observed on chill coma recovery, although clonal differences were observed with Swed 1 and 3 requiring some of the longest complete recovery times. There was no relationship between latitude and activity thresholds with the exception of heat coma data where Scandinavian clones Swed 2 and 3 consistently displayed some of the lowest heat coma temperatures (e.g. 41.3°C for both clones at 20°C) and Mediterranean clones Span 1, 2 and 3 displayed some of the highest (e.g. 42.1, 41.9 and 42.5°C, respectively, at 20°C). These data suggest that clonal mixing could occur over a large scale across Europe, limiting local adaptation to areas where conditions enable long‐term persistence of populations, e.g. adaptation to higher temperatures in the Mediterranean region. It is suggested that aphid thermal tolerance could be governed more by clonal type than the latitudinal origin.
Substituted 2‐aminothiophenes: antifungal activities and effect on Microsporum gypseum protein profile
Authors: Fogue Pythagore Soubgwi , Lunga Paul Keilah , Fondjo Emmanuel Sopbué , De Dieu Tamokou Jean , Thaddée Boudjeko , Tsemeugne Joseph , Tchapi Amandine Tienga , Kuiate Jules‐Roger 
Published: August 2011

SummaryThe increasing recognition and importance of fungal infections, the difficulties encountered in their treatment and the increase in resistance to antifungal agents have stimulated the search for therapeutic alternatives. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activities of three substituted 2‐aminothiophenes (1, 2 and 3) against some fungal species. The synthesis of substituted 2‐aminothiophenes was carried out through the most versatile synthetic method developed by Gewald et al. The antifungal activity was performed against yeast, dermatophytes and Aspergillus species using the broth microdilution method. The effect of these aminothiophenes was examined on the protein content and profile. Compound 2 was the most active (MIC varying from 2.00 to 128 μg ml−1). All the three substituted 2‐aminothiophenes had a relatively important dose‐dependent effect on Microsporum gypseum protein profile and content. These compounds affected the structure and dye fixation of macroconidia of this fungus. The overall results indicate that the tested substituted 2‐aminothiophenes can be used as precursors for new antifungal drugs development.
Improved polycross breeding of tall fescue through marker‐based parental selection
Authors: Amini Fatemeh , Mirlohi Aghafakhr , Majidi Mohamad M. , ShojaieFar Samira , Kölliker Roland 
Published: August 2011

With 2 figures and 6 tablesAbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate whether key agronomic traits of tall fescue synthetic progeny could be improved by using genetically diverse parents selected from a large breeding pool. Syn1 progeny of four polycrosses composed using six parental plants with contrasting levels of diversity based on phenotypic and expressed sequence tag (EST)‐simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were investigated together with the progeny of a fifth polycross composed using six genotypes with highest general combining ability. Syn1 progeny from parents with high general combining ability generally showed lower values for most traits investigated when compared to progeny derived from other polycrosses. Progeny from parents selected for high molecular genetic diversity showed comparable or higher values than the other progeny for all traits investigated. The assessment of phenotypic and molecular genetic diversity of the five Syn1 populations showed high congruence with the diversity observed among the respective parental plants and decreased from parents to Syn1 as expected. Our results demonstrate that EST‐SSR markers provide a reliable means to predict genetic diversity in Syn1 progeny that may allow for efficiently selecting parental genotypes and enhancing tall fescue breeding programmes.
Incidence rate trends in childhood Type 1 diabetes in Yorkshire, UK 1978–2007: effects of deprivation and age at diagnosis in the south Asian and non‐south Asian populations
Authors: Harron K. L. , McKinney P. A. , Feltbower R. G. , Bodansky H. J. , Norman P. D. , Campbell F. M. , Parslow R. C. 
Published: August 2011

Diabet. Med. 28, 1508–1513 (2011)AbstractAims  Incidence of Type 1 diabetes in children is increasing worldwide. Earlier studies suggest that UK south Asian immigrants develop similar rates to the overall UK population, although incidence is lower in their country of origin. This study examines incidence rate trends of childhood Type 1 diabetes in Yorkshire 1978–2007, focusing on differences between south Asians and non‐south Asians.Methods  Data from the population‐based Yorkshire Register of Diabetes in Children and Young People were used to estimate incidence (per 100 000 childhood population < 15 years per year) of Type 1 diabetes, stratified by sex, age and ethnicity validated using two name‐recognition programs. Age–sex standardized rates were calculated for 1978–2007 and assessed by ethnic‐group and deprivation for 1990–2007. We used Poisson regression to assess incidence trends and predict rates until 2020.Results  From 1978–2007, 3912 children were diagnosed. Overall incidence was 18.1 per 100 000 childhood population (< 15 years) per year (95% CI17.6–18.7) and increased significantly over time: 13.2 (1978–1987) to 17.3 (1988–1997) to 24.2 (1998–2007). Average annual percentage change was 2.8% (2.5–3.2). Incidence for non‐south Asians (21.5; 20.7–22.4) was significantly higher than for south Asians (14.7; 12.4–17.1). Average annual percentage change increased significantly over 18 years (1990–2007) in non‐south Asians (3.4%; 2.7–4.2) compared with a non‐significant rise of 1.5% (−1.5 to 4.6) in south Asians. Deprivation score did not affect overall incidence.Conclusions  Type 1 diabetes incidence rose almost uniformly for non‐south Asians, but not for south Asians, contrary to previous studies. Overall rates are predicted to rise by 52% from 2007 to 2020 to 39.0 per 100 000 per year.
A web‐based pedometer programme in women with a recent history of gestational diabetes
Authors: Kim C. , Draska M. , Hess M. L. , Wilson E. J. , Richardson C. R. 
Published: August 2011

Diabet. Med. 29, 278–283 (2012)AbstractAims  Women with remote histories of gestational diabetes mellitus can reduce their diabetes risk through lifestyle changes, but the effectiveness of interventions in women with more recent histories of gestational diabetes has not been reported. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study of a low‐intensity web‐based pedometer programme targeting glucose intolerance among women with recent gestational diabetes.Methods  Women with a gestational diabetes delivery within the past 3 years were randomized to a 13‐week intervention consisting of a structured web‐based pedometer programme which gave personalized steps‐per‐week goals, pedometers and education regarding lifestyle modification, or to a letter about diabetes risk reduction and screening after delivery for gestational diabetes (control condition). The main outcome measures were change in fasting plasma glucose and 2‐h glucose levels on a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test between baseline and 13‐week follow‐up. Weight was a secondary outcome and behavioural constructs (self‐efficacy, social support, risk perception) were also assessed.Results  Forty‐nine women were enrolled. At 13‐week follow‐up, women randomized to the intervention did not have significant changes in behavioural constructs, physical activity or anthropometrics compared with women in the control group. Changes in fasting plasma glucose (–0.046 mmol/l vs. 0.038 mmol/l, P = 0.65), 2‐h glucose values (–0.48 mmol/l vs. –0.42 mmol/l, P = 0.91) and weight (–0.14 kg vs. –1.5 kg, P = 0.13) were similar between the control and intervention groups, respectively.Conclusions  Structured web‐based education utilizing pedometers is feasible although uptake may be low. Such programmes may need to be supplemented with additional measures in order to be effective for reduction of diabetes risk.
The ecology of lizard reproductive output
Authors: Meiri Shai , Brown James H. , Sibly Richard M. 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTAim  We provide a new quantitative analysis of lizard reproductive ecology. Comparative studies of lizard reproduction to date have usually considered life‐history components separately. Instead, we examine the rate of production (productivity hereafter) calculated as the total mass of offspring produced in a year. We test whether productivity is influenced by proxies of adult mortality rates such as insularity and fossorial habits, by measures of temperature such as environmental and body temperatures, mode of reproduction and activity times, and by environmental productivity and diet. We further examine whether low productivity is linked to high extinction risk.Location  World‐wide.Methods  We assembled a database containing 551 lizard species, their phylogenetic relationships and multiple life history and ecological variables from the literature. We use phylogenetically informed statistical models to estimate the factors related to lizard productivity.Results  Some, but not all, predictions of metabolic and life‐history theories are supported. When analysed separately, clutch size, relative clutch mass and brood frequency are poorly correlated with body mass, but their product – productivity – is well correlated with mass. The allometry of productivity scales similarly to metabolic rate, suggesting that a constant fraction of assimilated energy is allocated to production irrespective of body size. Island species were less productive than continental species. Mass‐specific productivity was positively correlated with environmental temperature, but not with body temperature. Viviparous lizards were less productive than egg‐laying species. Diet and primary productivity were not associated with productivity in any model. Other effects, including lower productivity of fossorial, nocturnal and active foraging species were confounded with phylogeny. Productivity was not lower in species at risk of extinction.Main conclusions  Our analyses show the value of focusing on the rate of annual biomass production (productivity), and generally supported associations between productivity and environmental temperature, factors that affect mortality and the number of broods a lizard can produce in a year, but not with measures of body temperature, environmental productivity or diet.
Native and alien floras in urban habitats: a comparison across 32 cities of central Europe
Authors: Lososová Zdeňka , Chytrý Milan , Tichý Lubomír , Danihelka Jiří , Fajmon Karel , Hájek Ondřej , Kintrová Kateřina , Kühn Ingolf , Láníková Deana , Otýpková Zdenka , Řehořek Vladimír 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTAim  To determine relative effects of habitat type, climate and spatial pattern on species richness and composition of native and alien plant assemblages in central European cities.Location  Central Europe, Belgium and the Netherlands.Methods  The diversity of native and alien flora was analysed in 32 cities. In each city, plant species were recorded in seven 1‐ha plots that represented seven urban habitat types with specific disturbance regimes. Plants were classified into native species, archaeophytes (introduced before ad 1500) and neophytes (introduced later). Two sets of explanatory variables were obtained for each city: climatic data and all‐scale spatial variables generated by analysis of principal coordinates of neighbour matrices. For each group of species, the effect of habitat type, climate and spatial variables on variation in species composition was determined by variation partitioning. Responses of individual plant species to climatic variables were tested using a set of binomial regression models. Effects of climatic variables on the proportion of alien species were determined by linear regression.Results  In all cities, 562 native plant species, 188 archaeophytes and 386 neophytes were recorded. Proportions of alien species varied among urban habitats. The proportion of native species decreased with increasing range and mean annual temperature, and increased with increasing precipitation. In contrast, proportions of archaeophytes and neophytes increased with mean annual temperature. However, spatial pattern explained a larger proportion of variation in species composition of the urban flora than climate. Archaeophytes were more uniformly distributed across the studied cities than the native species and neophytes. Urban habitats rich in native species also tended to be rich in archaeophytes and neophytes.Main conclusions  Species richness and composition of central European urban floras are significantly affected by urban habitat types, climate and spatial pattern. Native species, archaeophytes and neophytes differ in their response to these factors.
Spurious thresholds in the relationship between species richness and vegetation cover
Authors: Maron Martine , Bowen Michiala , Fuller Richard A. , Smith Geoffrey C. , Eyre Teresa J. , Mathieson Michael , Watson James E. M. , McAlpine Clive A. 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTAim  Thresholds often exist in the relationship between species richness and the area of remaining habitat in human‐modified landscapes, prompting debate about the mechanisms responsible. We hypothesize that if species–area relationships differ with underlying factors such as landscape productivity, and such factors correlate with patterns of habitat clearance, then spurious thresholds can arise where the separate species–area relationships intersect. We assessed whether this phenomenon could explain landscape‐level species–area relationships for birds occupying 31 landscapes of 100 km2 in eastern Australia.Location  Eastern Australia.Methods  Landscape‐level species richness estimates were modelled as a function of the percentage of native vegetation remaining in the study landscapes. The performance of traditional species–area curves and continuous and discontinuous piecewise models was compared using an information theoretic approach. Separate models for high‐ and low‐productivity and high‐ and low‐fragmentation landscapes were examined to determine whether they implied different species–area relationships.Results  The species–area relationship exhibited a rapid change‐point at approximately 40% vegetation cover, but this was most parsimoniously explained by two disjunct slopes rather than a continuous threshold model or a classic species–area curve. Exploration of models fitted separately to high‐ and low‐productivity landscapes suggested that such landscapes may differ in their characteristic species–area relationships.Main conclusions  The observed pattern is consistent with the spurious threshold hypothesis, and opens a new avenue of enquiry into the processes behind apparent ecological thresholds. This hypothesis may be valid in other regions where clearing history is confounded by underlying factors such as landscape productivity, and demands further research. In such systems, real thresholds for different landscape types may occur at different levels of cover, or might not exist at all. If so, a simple space‐for‐time substitution may not be valid, and management prescriptions based on threshold values (e.g. 40%) will be flawed.
Identification, characterization and interpretation of single‐nucleotide sequence variation in allopolyploid crop species
Authors: Kaur Sukhjiwan , Francki Michael G. , Forster John W. 
Published: August 2011

SummaryAn understanding of nature and extent of nucleotide sequence variation is required for programmes of discovery and characterization of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which provide the most versatile class of molecular genetic marker. A majority of higher plant species are polyploids, and allopolyploidy, because of hybrid formation between closely related taxa, is very common. Mutational variation may arise both between allelic (homologous) sequences within individual subgenomes and between homoeologous sequences among subgenomes, in addition to paralogous variation between duplicated gene copies. Successful SNP validation in allopolyploids depends on differentiation of the sequence variation classes. A number of biological factors influence the feasibility of discrimination, including degree of gene family complexity, inbreeding or outbreeding reproductive habit, and the level of knowledge concerning progenitor diploid species. In addition, developments in high‐throughput DNA sequencing and associated computational analysis provide general solutions for the genetic analysis of allopolyploids. These issues are explored in the context of experience from a range of allopolyploid species, representing grain (wheat and canola), forage (pasture legumes and grasses), and horticultural (strawberry) crop. Following SNP discovery, detection in routine genotyping applications also presents challenges for allopolyploids. Strategies based on either design of subgenome‐specific SNP assays through homoeolocus‐targeted polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, or detection of incremental changes in nucleotide variant dosage, are described.
WELLBEING, SCHIZOPHRENIA AND EXPERIENCE MACHINES
Authors: BIRKS DAVID RHYS 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTIn the USA and England and Wales, involuntary treatment for mental illness is subject to the constraint that it must be necessary for the health or safety of the patient, if he poses no danger to others. I will argue against this necessary condition of administering treatment and propose that the category of individuals eligible for involuntary treatment should be extended. I begin by focusing on the common disorder of schizophrenia and proceed to demonstrate that it can be a considerable harm to a person's life without causing the person to be a danger to himself. I illuminate this claim by constructing a thought experiment concerning a person who slips on a banana peel and falls into a malfunctioning version of Robert Nozick's experience machine. I propose that the reasons why we should remove the person from the machine are the same reasons why we should administer involuntary treatment to individuals with schizophrenia. I rebut three objections to the analogy and conclude that if we believe that we have a duty to provide treatment for reasons relating to a person's wellbeing, it follows that we should reject the health or safety requirement and instead broaden the category of individuals who are eligible for involuntary treatment.
‘It’s got so politically correct now’: parents’ talk about empowering individuals with learning disabilities
Authors: Jingree Treena , Finlay W.M.L. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractOver the last decade the UK Government has made proposals to empower individuals with learning disabilities. Strategies have been implemented to reduce institutionalisation and social segregation. Consequently, some learning disability services are being phased out and the focus of care has moved away from institutions and into the community and family domain. Focusing on discourse as a site for social action and identity construction, we used critical discursive psychology to examine focus group discussions between family carers about facilitating the independence of adult family members with learning disabilities. Unlike official UK Government and learning disability services’ constructions of empowerment policy, we found that parents invoked empowerment talk: (1) as a resource to construct the facilitation of independence as an abstract, irresponsible, politically correct professional trend; (2) dilemmatically with meritocratic or practical arguments to undermine notions of facilitating choices; and (3) as a resource to construct new service developments as contrary to the preferences of people with learning disabilities. Parents also described individuals with learning disabilities as unable to cope, and drew stark contrasts between their practice and those of service‐professionals when expressing concerns about empowerment. We discuss possible implications of such discourses and contrasts on opportunities for empowering individuals with learning disabilities.
Development of a semi‐permanent mascara technology
Authors: Dempsey J.H. , Fabula A.M. , Rabe T.E. , Lubbers J.M. , Ye M. 
Published: August 2011

SynopsisMany women would like their mascara beauty benefits to be available all day, every day. One way to address this desire is through a semi‐permanent mascara technology that provides full mascara benefits of long, dark beautiful lashes for multiple days. To date, products promising multi‐day benefits have acted more as either ‘lash dyes’, providing a lash darkening benefit but failing to provide fullness and length, or waterproof mascaras that do not maintain the initial beauty look over multiple days. Here, a formulation approach is described for a mascara product that is designed to be abrasion resistant, flexible and insoluble in soap and water so that the initial beauty look is maintained for multiple days. The new semi‐permanent formula technology uses rosinate polymers that have a superior combination of flexibility, abrasion resistance and water and surfactant resistance. Based on principles used by the paint industry for creating durable films, the levels of the polymers and other non‐volatile ingredients are balanced such that the product forms a continuous polymer film on the eyelash. Cryo‐SEM is used to demonstrate that the new semi‐permanent formula technology forms a film different from those formed by current mascara products. A stretch test and rub test are used to demonstrate that the new semi‐permanent formula technology has superior flexibility and abrasion resistance to current mascara products. Finally, a multi‐day consumer study with daily imaging of the eyes is used to demonstrate the superior wear performance of the new semi‐permanent formula technology in actual usage.