bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Geographically structured host specificity is caused by the range expansions and host shifts of a symbiotic fungus
Authors: Wolfe Benjamin E , Pringle Anne 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
The inability to associate with local species may constrain the spread of mutualists arriving to new habitats, but the fates of introduced, microbial mutualists are largely unknown. The deadly poisonous ectomycorrhizal fungus Amanita phalloides (the death cap) is native to Europe and introduced to the East and West Coasts of North America. By cataloging host associations across the two continents, we record dramatic changes in specificity among the three ranges. On the East Coast, where the fungus is restricted in its distribution, it associates almost exclusively with pines, which are rarely hosts of A. phalloides in its native range. In California, where the fungus is widespread and locally abundant, it associates almost exclusively with oaks, mirroring the host associations observed in Europe. The most common host of the death cap in California is the endemic coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), and the current distribution of A. phalloides appears constrained within the distribution of Q. agrifolia. In California, host shifts to native plants are also associated with a near doubling in the resources allocated to sexual reproduction and a prolonged fruiting period; mushrooms are twice as large as they are elsewhere and mushrooms are found throughout the year. Host and niche shifts are likely to shape the continuing range expansion of A. phalloides and other ectomycorrhizal fungi introduced across the world.
Historical temporal trends in monthly, seasonal, and annual mean, minimum, and maximum streamflows from the Okanagan River watershed in south-central British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Rayne Sierra , Forest Kaya 
Published: December 2011

AbstractHistorical trends in monthly, seasonal, and annual mean streamflows, as well as minimum and maximum monthly streamflows, were investigated at nine hydrometric stations in the Okanagan River watershed from south-central British Columbia, Canada. Overall, mean annual streamflows in the Okanagan River watershed are not exhibiting any significant time trends. No consistent declines in monthly minimum streamflows are evident at any point during the hydrologic year. Mean monthly and monthly maximum streamflows in tributary streams to the mainstem system appear to be significantly increasing over time during the spring snowmelt period of March and April. Any temporal changes in flow patterns at the mainstem Okanagan River stations likely reflect alterations in water management strategies over time at the respective upstream dams.
SNPxGE2: a database for human SNP–coexpression associations
Authors: Wang Yupeng , Joseph Sandeep J. , Liu Xinyu , Kelley Michael , Rekaya Romdhane 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
Motivation: Recently, gene–coexpression relationships have been found to be often conditional and dynamic. Many studies have suggested that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have impacts on gene expression variations in human populations.
Results: The SNPxGE2 database contains the computationally predicted human SNP–coexpression associations, i.e. the differential coexpression between two genes is associated with the genotypes of an SNP. These data were generated from a large-scale association study that was based on the HapMap phase I data, which covered 269 individuals from 4 human populations, 556 873 SNPs and 15 000 gene expression profiles. In order to reduce the computational cost, the SNP–coexpression associations were assessed using gap/substitution models, proven to have a comparable power to logistic regression models. The results, at a false discovery rate (FDR) cutoff of 0.1, consisted of 44 769 and 50 792 SNP–coexpression associations based on single and pooled populations, respectively, and can be queried in the SNPxGE2 database via either gene symbol or reference SNP ID. For each reported association, a detailed information page is provided.
Availability: http://lambchop.ads.uga.edu/snpxge2/index.php
Contact: wyp1125@uga.edu, rrekaya@uga.edu
Early Animal Models of Rickets and Proof of a Nutritional Deficiency Hypothesis
Authors: Chesney Russell W. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACTIn the period between 1880 and 1930, the role of nutrition and nutritional deficiency as a cause of rickets was established based upon the results from 6 animal models of rickets. This greatly prevalent condition (60%–90% in some locales) in children of the industrialized world was an important clinical research topic. What had to be reconciled was that rickets was associated with infections, crowding, and living in northern latitudes, and cod liver oil was observed to prevent or cure the disease. Several brilliant insights opened up a new pathway to discovery using animal models of rickets. Studies in lion cubs, dogs, and rats showed the importance of cod liver oil and an antirachitic substance later termed vitamin D. They showed that fats in the diet were required, that vitamin D had a secosteroid structure and was different from vitamin A, and that ultraviolet irradiation could prevent or cure rickets. Several of these experiments had elements of serendipity in that certain dietary components and the presence or absence of sunshine or ultraviolet irradiation could critically change the course of rickets. Nonetheless, at the end of these studies, a nutritional deficiency of vitamin D resulting from a poor diet or lack of adequate sunshine was firmly established as a cause of rickets.
From plots to islands: species diversity at different scales
Authors: Sfenthourakis Spyros , Panitsa Maria 
Published: December 2011

AbstractAim  To investigate how plant diversity of whole islands (‘gamma’) is related to alpha and beta diversity patterns among sampling plots within each island, thus exploring aspects of diversity patterns across scales.Location  Nineteen islands of the Aegean Sea, Greece.Methods  Plant species were recorded at both the whole‐island scale and in small 100 m2 plots on each island. Mean plot species richness was considered as a measure of alpha diversity, and six indices of the ‘variation’‐type beta diversity were also applied. In addition, we partitioned beta diversity into a ‘nestedness’ and a ‘replacement’ component, using the total species richness recorded in all plots of each island as a measure of ‘gamma’ diversity. We also applied 10 species–area models to predict the total observed richness of each island from accumulated plot species richness.Results  Mean alpha diversity was not significantly correlated with the overall island species richness or island area. The range of plot species richness for each island was significantly correlated with both overall species richness and area. Alpha diversity was not correlated with most indices of beta diversity. The majority of beta diversity indices were correlated with whole‐island species richness, and this was also true for the ‘replacement’ component of beta diversity. The rational function model provided the best prediction of observed island species richness, with Monod’s and the exponential models following closely. Inaccuracy of predictions was positively correlated with the number of plots and with most indices of beta diversity.Main conclusions  Diversity at the broader scale (whole islands) is shaped mainly by variation among small local samples (beta diversity), while local alpha diversity is not a good predictor of species diversity at broader scales. In this system, all results support the crucial role of habitat diversity in determining the species–area relationship.
Factors affecting newborn care practices in Bangladesh
Authors: Shahjahan Md. , Ahmed M. Ranzu , Rahman M. Mokhlesur , Afroz Afsana 
Published: December 2011

SummaryShahjahan M, Ahmed MR, Rahman MM, Afroz A. Factors affecting newborn care practices in Bangladesh. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2012; 26: 13–18.Newborn care is of immense importance for the proper development and healthy life of a baby. Although child and infant mortality in South Asia has reduced substantially, the rate of neonatal mortality is still high, although these deaths can be prevented by adopting simple interventions at the community level. The aim of the study was to identify the associated factors which affect newborn care practices. Data for the study were drawn from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2007, in which 6150 mothers were considered. The mean age of the mothers was 18 (±3.2) years. A little over 62% of the pregnant women received at least one antenatal check‐up during the entire period of their pregnancy. About 70% of deliveries were conducted at home either by unskilled family members or by relatives. A clean instrument was used for cutting the cord of 87% of the newborn babies, while about 34% of them were reported to have had their first bath immediately after delivery. Initiation of breast feeding immediately after birth was practised in only about 19% of the cases. Compared with mothers with no education, those with secondary or higher levels were associated with clean cord care [odds ratio (OR) = 1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0, 1.9] and early breast feeding [OR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.2, 2.2]. The study revealed an urgent need to educate mothers, and train traditional birth attendants and health workers on clean delivery practices and early neonatal care. Increasing the number of skilled birth attendants can be an effective strategy to increase safe delivery practices, and to reduce delivery complications.
Kick‐and‐cook experiments on peridotite: simulating coseismic deformation and post‐seismic creep
Authors: Druiventak Anthony , Matysiak Agnes , Renner Jörg , Trepmann Claudia A. 
Published: December 2011

Terra Nova, 24, 62–69, 2012AbstractExperiments comprising deformation at 600 °C and annealing at 700–1000 °C were performed on natural peridotite to examine the microfabric evolution at conditions corresponding to those prevailing just below the seismogenic zone in suboceanic upper mantle. The found olivine microstructures indicate that deformation occurs by low‐temperature plasticity. At low and high annealing temperatures, zones of high strain are replaced by subgrains and recrystallized grains respectively. The microstructures after annealing at 1000 °C resemble ‘core‐and‐mantle structures’ from shear zone peridotites, often interpreted as imprint of steady‐state dislocation creep. Our study shows that such structures can form by a sequence of low‐temperature plasticity at high stress and subsequent recrystallization at low stress, as corresponding to coseismic deformation and post‐seismic creep. In this case, palaeopiezometers are not applicable and a local CPO in aggregates of new grains does not necessarily indicate the activated glide system.
Enhance Beef Cattle Improvement by Embryo Biotechnologies
Authors: Wu B , Zan L 
Published: December 2011

ContentsEmbryo biotechnology has become one of the prominent high businesses worldwide. This technology has evolved through three major changes, that is, traditional embryo transfer (in vivo embryo production by donor superovulation), in vitro embryo production by ovum pick up with in vitro fertilization and notably current cloning technique by somatic cell nuclear transfer and transgenic animal production. Embryo biotechnology has widely been used in dairy and beef cattle industry and commercial bovine embryo transfer has become a large international business. Currently, many developed biotechnologies during the period from early oocyte stage to pre‐implantation embryos can be used to create new animal breeds and accelerate genetic progression. Based on recent advances in embryo biotechnologies and authors current studies, this review will focus on a description of the application of this technology to beef cattle improvement and discuss how to use this technology to accelerate beef cattle breeding and production. The main topics of this presentation include the following: (i) how to increase calf production numbers from gametes including sperm and oocyte; (ii) multiple ovulation and embryo transfer breeding schemes; (iii) in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasm sperm injection in bovine; (iv) pronuclear development and transgenic animals; (v) sex selection from sperm and embryos; (vi) cloning and androgenesis; (vii) blastocyst development and embryonic stem cells; (viii) preservation of beef cattle genetic resources; and (ix) conclusions.
Neuronal activity in the superior colliculus related to saccade initiation during coordinated gaze–reach movements
Authors: Reyes‐Puerta Vicente , Philipp Roland , Lindner Werner , Hoffmann Klaus‐Peter 
Published: December 2011

AbstractOne must be quick and precise when foveating targets to be reached, because the eyes have to guide the hand trajectory by visual feedback, and we may miss a rapidly moving target if our grasping is not fast and accurate enough. To this end, our brains developed mechanisms coordinating gaze and hand movements to optimize the way in which we foveate and reach. One of these mechanisms is the facilitation of the primary saccade – proven in humans and confirmed here in monkeys – which allows the generation of short‐latency gaze movements when reaching towards visual targets. Here we tested whether the neuronal activity in the superior colliculus (SC) accounts for this mechanism; alternatively, cortical saccade‐related areas could play a major role in the fast initiation of saccades during such elaborated behaviours bypassing the SC. Upon presentation of a target, neurons located at the rostral pole of the SC started the saccade‐related pause in their activity earlier in tasks involving coordinated gaze–reach movements than in tasks in which the saccades were made in isolation. In the same tasks neurons located at the caudal SC reached peak firing rates earlier in coordinated gaze–reach movements than with isolated saccades, confirming the tight coupling between their burst activity latencies and the saccadic reaction times. In sum, our results extend the role of the SC in saccade initiation to coordinated gaze–reach movements, identifying its activity as an important part of the distributed neural system for eye–hand coordination.
Gene expression analysis in the parvalbumin‐immunoreactive PV1 nucleus of the mouse lateral hypothalamus
Authors: Girard F. , Meszar Z. , Marti C. , Davis F. P. , Celio M. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractA solitary, elongated cluster of parvalbumin‐immunoreactive neurons has been previously observed in the rodent ventrolateral hypothalamus. However, the function of this so‐called PV1 nucleus is unknown. In this article, we report the results of an unbiased, broad and in‐depth molecular characterization of this small, compact group of neurons. The Allen Brain Atlas database of in situ hybridization was screened in order to identify genes expressed in the PV1‐nucleus‐containing area of the hypothalamus, and those that might be co‐expressed with parvalbumin. Although GABA is the principal neurotransmitter in parvalbumin‐expressing cells in various other brain areas, we found that PV1 neurons express the vesicular glutamate transporter (VGlut) VGlut2‐encoding gene Slc17a6 and are negative for the glutamic acid decarboxylase 1 (GAD1) gene. These cells also express the mRNA for the neuropeptides Adcyap1 and possibly Nxph4, express several types of potassium and sodium channels, are under the control of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, bear receptors for the glial‐derived neurotrophic factor, and produce an extracellular matrix rich in osteopontin. The PV1 nucleus is thus composed of glutamatergic nerve cells, expressing some typical markers of long‐axon, projecting neurons (e.g. VGlut2), but also co‐expressing genes typical of short‐axon GABA neurons (e.g. a variety of potassium channels). Hence, neurons of the PV1 nucleus combine physiological characteristics of interneurons with those of projection neurons.
Surgical management and outcome of lower eyelid entropion in 124 cats
Authors: White James S. , Grundon Rachael A. , Hardman Chloe , O’Reilly Anu , Stanley Robin G. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractObjectives  To evaluate the success rate of various surgical techniques for the management of lower eyelid entropion in cats.Design  Retrospective study.Animals studied  One hundred and twenty‐four cats with surgical correction of lower eyelid entropion of 200 eyes over a 13 year period.Methods  Records of 124 cats were reviewed for signalment, type of entropion, surgical procedure performed and post‐operative result.Results  Combinations of the Hotz‐Celsus (HC), lateral canthal closure and full thickness wedge resection techniques were used to treat 64 bilateral and 60 unilateral cases of lower lid entropion. Twenty‐three cats were under a year of age, 52 cats were aged between 2 and 8 years and 49 were over 8 years old. The overall success rate for a single surgical procedure (which may consist of multiple techniques) to correct lower eyelid entropion was 96.0% per eye. The remaining 4.0% had the entropion resolved with a second surgery. A combined HC and lateral canthal closure had a 99.21% success rate of resolving lower lid entropion. Geriatric cats were the most likely age group to develop corneal sequestra; 37% of cats in this group presented with entropion and corneal sequestra concurrently. Seventeen percent of cats that presented with unilateral entropion and did not have prophylactic surgery on the fellow eye went on to develop entropion in the fellow eye.Conclusions  A combined HC and lateral canthal closure was the most effective surgical technique in managing lower eyelid entropion of cats in our study. Prophylactic lateral canthal closure in the unaffected eye is recommended.
Observations on the ultrastructure and distribution of chromatophores in the skin of chelonians
Authors: Alibardi Lorenzo 
Published: December 2011

AbstractAlibardi, L. 2011. Observations on the ultrastructure and distribution of chromatophores in the skin of chelonians. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 00:1–11.The cytology and distribution of chromatophores responsible for skin pigmentation in chelonians is analyzed. Epidermal melanocytes are involved in the formation of dark spots or stripes in growing shelled and non‐shelled skin. Melanocytes rest in the basal layer of the epidermis and transfer melanosomes into keratinocytes during epidermal growth. Dermal melanophores and other chromatophores instead remain in the dermis and form the gray background of the skin. When dermal melanophores condense, they give origin to the dense spots or stripes in areas where no epidermal melanocytes are present. In the latter case, the epidermis and the corneous layer are transparent and reveal the dermal distribution of melanophores and other chromatophores underneath. As a result of this basic process of distribution of pigment cells, the dark areas visible in scales can have a double origin (epidermal and dermal) or a single origin (epidermal or dermal). Xanthophores, lipophores, and a cell containing both pterinosomes and lipid droplets are sparse in the loose dermis while iridophores are rarely seen in the skin of chelonians analyzed in the present study. Xanthophores and lipophores contribute to form the pale, yellow or oranges hues present among the dark areas of the skin in turtles.
Hand function in children with an upper brachial plexus birth injury: results of the nine‐hole peg test
Authors: IMMERMAN IGOR , ALFONSO DANIEL T , RAMOS LORNA E , GROSSMAN LESLIE A , ALFONSO ISRAEL , DITARANTO PATRICIA , GROSSMAN JOHN A I 
Published: December 2011

Aim  The aim of this study was to evaluate hand function in children with Erb upper brachial plexus palsy.Method  Hand function was evaluated in 25 children (eight males; 17 females) with a diagnosed upper (C5/C6) brachial plexus birth injury. Of these children, 22 had undergone primary nerve reconstruction and 13 of the 25 had undergone simultaneous and/or secondary shoulder procedures. Hand function was evaluated using the nine‐hole peg test at a mean age of 9 years (SD 2y 2mo), and compared with the contralateral, uninvolved hand. Results were compared with age‐ and sex‐matched population norms, and correlated with shoulder outcomes using the Gilbert and Miami scores.Results  Although shoulder function was graded as good or excellent in 24 of 25 children, hand function as measured by the nine‐hole peg test was significantly altered in the involved hand in 80% (p=0.008). On average the participants took 18.8% longer to complete the task with the involved hand; this was significantly different from the expected difference of 7.2% (p=0.008).Interpretation  Hand function is impaired in individuals with upper brachial plexus birth injury. These results suggest that from the initiation of treatment in this population, attention should be paid to recognizing and focusing therapy on subtle limitations of hand function.
DHA inhibits ER Ca2+ release and ER stress in astrocytes following in vitro ischemia
Authors: Begum Gulnaz , Kintner Douglas , Liu Yan , Cramer Samuel W. , Sun Dandan 
Published: December 2011

J. Neurochem. (2012) 120, 622–630.AbstractDocosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has neuroprotective effects in several neurodegenerative disease conditions. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of DHA on astrocyte Ca2+ signaling under in vitro ischemic conditions (oxygen/glucose deprivation and reoxygenation, OGD/REOX). OGD (2 h) triggered a Ca2+ER store overload (∼1.9‐fold). Ca2+ uptake by the Ca2+ER stores was further augmented during REOX and Ca2+ER was elevated by ∼4.7‐fold at 90 min REOX. Interestingly, Ca2+ER stores abruptly released Ca2+ at ∼120 min REOX and emptied at 160 min REOX. Depletion of Ca2+ER stores led to delayed elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration (Ca2+cyt) and cell death. Activation of the purinergic receptor P2Y1 was responsible for the release of Ca2+ER. Most importantly, DHA blocked the initial Ca2+ER store overload, the delayed depletion of Ca2+ER, and rise in Ca2+cyt, which was in part via inhibiting d‐myo‐inositol 1,4,5‐triphosphate receptors. The DHA metabolite DiHDoHE exhibited similar effects. DHA also attenuated expression of phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2α and activating transcription factor‐4, two ER stress markers, following in vitro ischemia. Taken together, these findings suggest that DHA has protective effects in astrocytes following in vitro ischemia, in part, by inhibiting Ca2+ dysregulation and ER stress.
A Proposal to Improve the VAT Treatment of Housing in the European Union*
Authors: Cnossen Sijbren 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe treatment of housing is one of the most difficult issues under the VATs in the EU. Ideally, rents and rental values should be taxed just like other consumer goods and services, but doing so would present formidable practical and political difficulties. Under a second‐best approach, the value of newly created residential (and other) property is taxed as a proxy for the VAT that should be payable on the flow of housing (building) services. This implies, however, that future increases (and decreases) in the value of the exempt property are left out of the VAT base. To remedy this defect, this paper recommends taxing the increases (refunding the tax related to decreases) realised at the time of sale of the exempt used property. This VAT should replace the current transfer, registration and stamp duties, which are highly distortionary. Beyond that, the VATs in various member states can be improved by limiting the exemption for all used immovable property to housing, by taxing land and by applying the standard rate more widely than is currently the case.