bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Part played by Microclimates in enabling Glossina submorsitans and G. tachinoides to withstand the high Temperatures of a West African Dry Season
Authors: Nash T. A. M. 
Published: July 2009

1. It has been confirmed that the lower limit of the critical zone, for fly of medium age, is 102°F. for both species; this limit is probably even lower for very old G. tachinoides.2. The adverse effect upon the fly community of a day when the maximum temperature enters the critical zone is continued among the older individuals for several days following, even though the maximum temperature on these days remains below the lower limit.3. From the mean maximum temperatures recorded over 52 days in 9 microclimates, it would appear that sites on the ground are cooler than those above the surface; the difference is not very great, the mean for the four ground sites being only 4·4°F. lower than the mean for the five above-ground sites.4. The evidence suggests that on very hot days only the ground within the true forest is safe for tsetse; in all other sites—above the ground in the true forest or on the ground in the intrusive and peripheral thickets—the temperature is liable to enter the critical zone, and may even reach the upper fatal limit.5. The tsetse community is living very close to the critical zone in the late dry season. Even the coolest ground site yielded an absolute maximum that was only 3·5°F. below the lower limit.6. Site no. 9 gives an indication of how severe the conditions might become in the true forest were the windbreaks of peripheral and intrusive thicket removed.7. In ground sites a shower of rain produces about twice as great an initial drop in temperature, and temperature remains abnormally low for about twice as long, as it does for sites above the surface of the soil.8. The duration of the period of dangerously high temperatures to which the fly community is subjected in the late dry season may be very varied; it depends upon the incidence of rain in April and May.
Spatial distribution of subtidal meiobenthos along estuarine gradients in two southern European estuaries (Portugal)
Authors: Alves Ana Sofia , Adão Helena , Patrício Joana , Neto João Magalhães , Costa Maria José , Marques João Carlos 
Published: July 2009

The spatial variation in abundance and composition of subtidal meiobenthos communities was studied in two Portuguese estuaries under distinct degrees of anthropogenic pressure. Samples were collected from 20 sampling stations along both estuarine gradients from freshwater (<0.5) to euhaline areas (>30). Of these stations 11 were located in the Mondego estuary, a system exposed to high anthropogenic stress, and 9 in the Mira estuary, a naturally stressed system located inside the Natural Park ‘Costa Vicentina’ (south-western coast of Portugal).Total meiobenthos density was higher in the Mira estuary and in both estuaries the community was dominated by nematodes. Among the twelve taxa identified in the Mira estuary, Harpacticoid copepods and Polychaeta were the second and the third most abundant groups respectively. In the Mondego estuary, Polychaeta was the second while Harpacticoid copepods was the third most abundant group in the thirteen total taxa recorded.Estuarine gradients of salinity, particles size and water nutrients were clearly detected in both estuaries and there was significant spatial heterogeneity in abundance and composition of the subtidal meiobenthos communities along these environmental gradients. Accordingly, three distinct sections were identified in both estuaries: (i) freshwater sections, where total density, and density of nematodes and Harpacticoid copepods reached minimum values; (ii) oligohaline and mesohaline sections, where the total density was low and diversity was poor; and (iii) polyhaline and euhaline sections, where both total density and diversity reached the highest values.The similar spatial distribution of meiobenthos assemblages in both estuaries suggests that natural stressors may be the major factors controlling the physicochemical conditions that determine meiobenthos community patterns. The mesoscale variability of subtidal meiobenthos density and composition within estuaries (in the order of kilometres) seems to be more important than the variability between estuaries (at the scale of hundreds of kilometres), a common feature in intertidal systems. From the management point of view, these results, based on higher taxa resolution, represent an obvious constraint to the applicability of ecological quality evaluation tools.
Climatic and oceanic influences on the abundance of gelatinous zooplankton in the North Sea
Authors: Lynam C.P. , Attrill M.J. , Skogen M.D. 
Published: July 2009

Oceanographically based mechanisms are shown to explain the spatial variation in the climatic relationship between the abundance of medusae (Aurelia aurita and Cyanea spp. of the class Scyphozoa), in the North Sea between 1971 and 1986 during June–August, and the winter (December–March) North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI). A scyphomedusa population to the west of Denmark shows a strong inverse relationship between medusa abundance and fluctuations in the NAOI; the NAOI correlates strongly (P < 0.001) with both annual sea surface temperature (SST) at 6.5°E 56.5°N (1950–2008) and with winter precipitation on the Danish coast at Nordby (1900–2008) suggesting a direct link between the influence of climate and medusae abundance. In contrast, scyphomedusa abundance and distribution in the northern North Sea appears to be influenced by oceanic and mixed water inflow, which may overwhelm or mask any direct climatic influence on jellyfish abundance. Similarly, advection can also explain much of the interannual variability (1959–2000) in the abundance of other gelatinous zooplankton taxa (Cnidaria, Ctenophora and Siphonophora) in the northern North Sea as identified by the capture of gelatinous tissue and nematocysts (stinging cells) in Continuous Plankton Recorder samples. Jellyfish (Scyphozoa) in the southern North Sea may benefit from low temperature anomalies and the long-term effects of global warming might suppress Aurelia aurita and Cyanea spp. populations there. However, the biological response to temperature is complex and future research is required in this area.
Postsocialist transition: an overall survey
Authors: Kornai János 
Published: July 2009

The lecture outlines a conceptual framework for the analysis of changes in those countries going through the transformation from a socialist economy to a market economy. It takes a positive predictive approach. It describes seven tendencies which are very likely to apply.(1) Marketization replacing the command economy.(2) The evolution of the private sector—a broad new middle class will develop.(3) Reproduction of macrodisequilibria. The inherited imbalance, namely chronic and intensive shortage will be eliminated, but inflation, budget deficit, unemployment and foreign indebtedness will remain in various configurations.(4) Development of a constitutional state.(5) Development of democratic institutions.(6) The redefinition of a national community—which tendency might be accompanied by severe tensions and conflicts.(7) Unequal increase of welfare.Finally the paper discusses the role of academics in the process of transformation.
Power and insecurity in Europe
Authors: Freedman Lawrence 
Published: July 2009

The end of the cold war exposed the tendency in the European state system for those ‘great powers’ which might have been expected to manage the system to become steadily more reluctant to accept the commitment this requires, in terms of responsibility for the security of other states. The West had not sought the collapse of European communism and was, in many ways, comfortable with the stable framework provided by the cold war.The ‘contract of 1990’ is identified as the means of managing the transition, as Moscow was persuaded to tolerate German unification within NATO and retreat from its Empire in return for reassurances from the West that these changes would not be exploited. Many recent problems can be understood in terms of the need to renegotiate this contract.
Online Training of New Curators
Authors: Gillespie Marc , Jassal Bijay 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe basic information in Reactome is provided by bench biologists who are experts on a particular pathway, the Reactome Team is always working hard to drive engagement. This engagement between experts, curators, editors and reviewers requires maintenance and improvement, and in this sense Reactome is itself a model for large biocuration projects that are driven by community engagement. This tutorial will highlight issues from the perspective of online training participants, the trainer's and the audience's. From the audience perspective the tutorial will introduce the concepts that drive the Reactome data model, cover the basic steps that a researcher would have to follow in order to breakdown a biological pathway into its "reaction-based" Reactome representation. Introduce the user to the tools that are used by authors, the "authortool" and the tools used by curators, the "curatortool" to move that data into the Reactome database. From the trainer perspective the tutorial will focus on the essential role that a clear explanation of a resource's data model plays in priming the audience for the technical aspects of biocuration. Technical challenges and online delivery methods will be discussed and examples of systems used will be presented with discussion of the negative and positive aspects. Pedagogical models for enhancing audience participation will be briefly presented. The Reactome project is a collaboration among Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, The European Bioinformatics Institute, and The Gene Ontology Consortium to develop a curated resource of core pathways and reactions in human biology. The information in this database is authored by biological researchers with expertise in their fields, maintained by the Reactome editorial staff, and cross referenced with the sequence databases at NCBI, Ensembl and UniProt, the UCSC Genome Browser , KEGG (Gene and Compound ), ChEBI, PubMed and GO. The information is then managed by groups of curators at CSHL and EBI, peer-reviewed by other researchers and published on the web. While Reactome is targeted at human pathways, it also includes many individual biochemical reactions from non-human systems such as rat, mouse, pufferfish and zebrafish. This makes the database relevant to the many researchers who work on model organisms. All the information in Reactome is backed up by its provenance: either a literature citation or an electronic inference based on sequence similarity. Reactome is a free on-line resource, and Reactome software is open-source.
Evaluation of a High-Throughput Protocol for Detecting Blueberry shock virus in Vaccinium Using ELISA
Authors: Sedegui Mohamed (Sid) , Osterbauer Nancy K. 
Published: July 2009

The Oregon Department of Agriculture's official virus testing program for Vaccinium has grown 915% since its inception. To address this increased workload, we evaluated a high-throughput ELISA protocol that uses a 96-well format for sap extraction. To verify the efficacy of the protocol, it was used to test leaves from known infected and healthy plants (positive and negative controls) and from 940 Vaccinium plants grown in a nursery with Blueberry shock virus (BlShV) problems. Each leaf collected was cut in half; one-half was macerated in an extraction buffer using mesh sample bags and a roller press (standard protocol) and the other half was placed into 10 × 96 collection microtubes and macerated in the extraction buffer using a Mixer Mill MM300 (high-throughput protocol). All sample sap extractions were then tested with a commercial ELISA kit. In experiments with the BlShV positive and negative control plants, the high-throughput protocol had high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (100%), matching the standard protocol. In experiments with the blueberry plants of unknown BlShV infection status, the high-throughput protocol had a sensitivity of 94.85% and a specificity of 96.70%, compared to the standard protocol. It is concluded the high-throughput protocol can be used successfully with ELISA to detect BlShV in Accepted for publication 17 May 2009. Published 10 July 2009. Accepted for publication 17 May 2009. Published 10 July 2009.
Differences in the prevalence of growth, endocrine and vitamin D abnormalities among the various thalassaemia syndromes in North America
Authors: Vogiatzi Maria G. , Macklin Eric A. , Trachtenberg Felicia L. , Fung Ellen B. , Cheung Angela M. , Vichinsky Elliott , Olivieri Nancy , Kirby Melody , Kwiatkowski Janet L. , Cunningham Melody , Holm Ingrid A. , Fleisher Martin , Grady Robert W. , Peterson Charles M. , Giardina Patricia J. ,   for the Thalassemia Clinical Research Network
Published: July 2009

SummaryThis study aimed to determine differences in the rates of growth, endocrine‐ and calcium‐related abnormalities in the various thalassemia syndromes in North America treated with current therapies. Medical history, physical examinations and blood and urine collections were obtained from patients with all thalassemia syndromes age 6 years and older in the Thalassemia Clinical Research Network. 361 subjects, 49% male, mean age 23·2 years (range 6·1–75 years) were studied. Approximately 25% of children and adults, regardless of the thalassemia syndrome, had short stature. Overall growth in children was mildly affected. Final height was close to midparental height (z = −0·73 ± 1·24). Patients with beta thalassemia major (TM) had higher rates of hypogonadism, multiple endocrinopathies, worse hyperglycaemia, subclinical hypoparathyroidism and hypercalciuria. Hypogonadism remained the most frequent endocrinopathy and was frequently under‐treated. 12·8% of the subjects had 25 vitamin D concentrations less than 27 nmol/l and 82% less than 75 nmol/l, regardless of the thalassemia syndrome. Adolescents had lower 25 vitamin D levels than children and adults. Compared to patients with other thalassemia syndromes, those with beta TM suffered from higher rates of multiple endocrinopathies, abnormal calcium metabolism and hypercalciuria. Vitamin D abnormalities were high among adolescents.
Automated diffusion chambers to monitor diurnal and seasonal dynamics of the soil CO2 concentration profile
Authors: Albanito F. , Saunders M. , Jones M. B. 
Published: July 2009

SummaryTo better understand the factors controlling carbon dioxide (CO2) production and transport in soil, we developed a new method to continuously monitor soil CO2 concentration at multiple depths, by using diffusion chambers. The soil diffusion chambers are constructed from a high‐density polyethylene cylindrical frame enclosed by a micro‐polyvinylidene difluoride flat membrane (PVDF). All chambers are linked to an infrared gas analyser positioned above‐ground through a multi‐port valve system. We set up two experimental sites for long‐term measurements of soil CO2 concentration, soil temperature and soil water content at depths of 0, 10, 20, 40 and 80 cm. The system provides the following advantages : (i) the use of the PVDF combined with the small dimensions of the diffusion chambers allows rapid diffusion of soil gas into the chambers and therefore a short equilibration time of the gas phase with the surrounding soil atmosphere, (ii) the equilibrating closed loop system allows the semi‐continuous measurement of soil profile CO2 concentrations without creating a pressure differential within the chambers, thus reducing gas concentration distortions in the soil, (iii) the small size of the closed diffusion chambers reduces the initial soil disturbance during installation, (iv) it allows sampling in wet, humid soils, including ones that are waterlogged or temporarily saturated, and (v) the chambers do not require removal for maintenance purposes and are inexpensive.
Interactions among performance capacities predict male combat outcomes in the field cricket
Authors: Hall Matthew D. , McLaren Luke , Brooks Robert C. , Lailvaux Simon P. 
Published: July 2009

Summary 1. There is a growing appreciation that male fighting ability is influenced by multiple traits. In particular, studies of male combat have identified a variety of performance capacities that predict victory in conflicts between conspecifics in several animal species. However, while multiple aspects of male fighting ability are often examined with a single study, the interactions among traits are rarely considered. 2. We conducted fight trials between size‐matched males in the black field cricket, Teleogryllus commodus, with the aim of testing how two whole‐organism performance traits, jumping ability and bite force, together with weight at eclosion, interact to determine combat outcomes. We then examined the relationships between these traits and the outcome of a fight using: a univariate framework, where we examined the difference between winners and losers for each trait separately; and, a multivariate framework known as response surface analysis, where we examined how the interactions among traits predict the outcome of a fight. 3. We show that males that won fights tended to exert significantly more force when biting, but were neither better jumpers nor heavier at eclosion than their rivals. However, when we examined the effects of these three traits while statistically controlling for one another in a multiple regression, we showed that overall fighting ability depends not only on contributions of individual traits to contest resolution but also on the interactions among traits and their relationship to the capabilities of rival males. We found that the probability of winning was highest for a male with the greatest positive difference from his rival in the combination of bite force, jump power and weight at eclosion. 4. These findings highlight how studying multiple performance capabilities in isolation from each other may obscure the importance of some variables. Our multivariate analyses revealed that the interactions between multiple dimensions of performance are important in male combat. We discuss the broader implications of these findings, including the potential role of whole‐organism performance in determining male quality.
Diversity, endemism and evolution in the Coral Triangle
Authors: Briggs J. C. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIn a recent paper by D. R. Bellwood and C. P. Meyer (‘Searching for heat in a marine biodiversity hotspot’, Journal of Biogeography, 2009, 36, 569–576), the authors had two evident objectives: (1) to disprove the theory that the geographical origins of reef organisms could be determined by locating concentrations of endemic species, and (2) to emphasize that the high diversity of the Coral Triangle was due to an accumulation of species from outside that area. With regard to the first point, no such theory had previously been proposed to my knowledge. Second, the accumulation theory was promoted without consideration of the facts supporting the centre of origin hypothesis, except to dismiss it by saying that it had its origin in pre‐continental drift ideas. This short response outlines the properties and evidence for the operation of centres of origin in this region.
Social calls are subject to stabilizing selection in insular bats
Authors: Russo Danilo , Teixeira Sérgio , Cistrone Luca , Jesus José , Teixeira David , Freitas Tamira , Jones Gareth 
Published: July 2009

AbstractAim  Bats communicate by emitting social calls, and these often elicit reactions in conspecifics. Many such vocalizations are species‐specific so that unambiguous signals can be transmitted and interpreted by conspecifics. In species‐rich assemblages, evolutionary pressures might prompt interspecific diversification of call structure so that communication with heterospecifics is avoided. In species‐poor island communities, where no risk of miscommunication occurs, stabilizing selection should prevail and preserve call structure and function. Call structure in island bats might be inherited from colonizers from the mainland and be maintained with little change in the absence of selection from heterospecifics. To test this hypothesis we studied Pipistrellus maderensis, an insular taxon occurring on the Madeira Archipelago, the Canary Islands and the Azores. It is closely related to one of the most widespread European pipistrelles, Pipistrellus kuhlii. Pipistrellus maderensis most probably evolved from a common ancestor shared with P. kuhlii, or from founders of that taxon that colonized the islands. We hypothesized that on Madeira Island, where no risk of ambiguous communication with heterospecifics exists, the structure and function of social calls should have been preserved by stabilizing selection. Echolocation calls, subject to different selection pressures, may instead show more pronounced differences between P. maderensis and P. kuhlii.Location  Madeira Island (Portugal, Atlantic Ocean), central and southern Italy.Methods  We recorded social and echolocation calls from allopatric populations of the two pipistrelles and explored interspecific differences in time and frequency characteristics. We also conducted playback experiments by broadcasting recordings of social calls from P. kuhlii and P. maderensis (taken respectively in peninsular Italy and on Madeira) and monitoring the bats’ responses.Results  Social call structure showed a strong similarity between species, whereas echolocation calls were markedly different and exhibited a mean divergence of over 6 kHz in their frequency of maximum energy. On Madeira, P. maderensis significantly reduced flight activity when we broadcast P. kuhlii signals, as did P. kuhlii in Italy in response to P. maderensis calls.Main conclusions  Reliable interpretation of social calls provides benefits to both the signaller and the receiver because signals help to optimize food exploitation at foraging sites. In the absence of closely related species that can emit similar calls, this advantage may have acted as a strong evolutionary pressure, stabilizing social call structure in P. maderensis in insular ecosystems with limited foraging resources.