bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Discord in the family Sparidae (Teleostei): divergent phylogeographical patterns across the Atlantic–Mediterranean divide
Authors: Bargelloni L. , Alarcon J. A. , Alvarez M. C. , Penzo E. , Magoulas A. , Reis C. , Patarnello T. 
Published: October 2003

Abstract
The Strait of Gibraltar has been proposed to be the divide between two marine biogeographical regions, the Mediterranean Sea and the Northeast Atlantic. Intraspecific studies have shown, for several of the examined species, a reduction of gene flow between the two basins. The present study examines genetic variation at nuclear and mitochondrial loci in five marine teleost species belonging to the family Sparidae. Four samples for each species were analysed spanning the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean. For all individuals 17 allozyme loci were scored and a combined single strand conformation polymorphism-sequencing approach was used to survey approximately 190 bp of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop region. All five species share similar biological features. For three species, namely Lithognathus mormyrus, Spondyliosoma cantharus, and Dentex dentex, large mtDNA divergence was observed between Atlantic and Mediterranean samples. Little or no mtDNA differentiation was found in the other two species, Pagrus pagrus and Pagellus bogaraveo. Allozyme data revealed strong differentiation when comparing Atlantic and Mediterranean samples of L. mormyrus and D. dentex, moderate for P. pagrus, and no differentiation for P. bogaraveo and S. cantharus. These results provide evidence for a sharp phylogeographical break (sensu Avise) between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean for two (or possibly three) sparid species of the five investigated. At the same time, the obtained results for the other two species raise the question on which ecological/historical factors might have caused the observed discrepancy in the geographical distribution of genetic variation among otherwise biologically similar species.
Context-dependent sexual advertisement: plasticity in development of sexual ornamentation throughout the lifetime of a passerine bird
Authors: Badyaev A. V. , Duckworth R. A. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractMale investment into sexual ornamentation is a reproductive decision that depends on the context of breeding and life history state. In turn, selection for state- and context-specific expression of sexual ornamentation should favour the evolution of developmental pathways that enable the flexible allocation of resources into sexual ornamentation. We studied lifelong variation in the expression and condition-dependence of a sexual ornament in relation to age and the context of breeding in male house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) – a species that develops a new sexual ornament once a year after breeding. Throughout males’ lifetime, the elaboration of ornamentation and the allocation of resources to the development of sexual ornamentation depended strongly on pairing status in the preceding breeding season – males that were single invested more resources into sexual ornamentation and changed ornamentation more than males that were paired. During the initial (post-juvenile) moult, the expression of ornamentation was closely dependent on individual condition, however the condition-dependence of ornamentation sharply decreased throughout a male's lifetime and in older males expression of sexual ornamentation was largely independent of condition during moult. Selection for early breeding favoured greater ornamentation in males that were single in the preceding seasons and the strength of this selection increased with age. On the contrary, the strength of selection on sexual ornamentation decreased with age in males that were paired in the preceding breeding season. Our results reveal strong context-dependency in investment into sexual ornamentation as well as a high flexibility in the development of sexual ornamentation throughout a male's life.
Effects of food abundance on genetic and maternal variation in the growth rate of juvenile red squirrels
Authors: McAdam A. G. , Boutin S. 
Published: October 2003

Abstract
Sources of variation in growth in body mass were assessed in natural and experimental conditions of high and low food abundance using reciprocal cross-fostering techniques and long-term data (1987–2002) for a population of North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). Growth rates were significantly higher in naturally good and food supplemented conditions, than in poor conditions. Mother–offspring resemblance was higher in poor conditions as a result of large increases in both the direct genetic variance and direct-maternal genetic covariance and a smaller increase in the coefficient of maternal variation. Furthermore, the genetic correlation across environments was significantly less than one indicating that sources of heritable variation differed between the two environments. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that selection has eroded heritable variation for growth more in good conditions and indicate the potential for independent adaptation of growth rates in good and poor conditions.
Patterns of epistasis in RNA viruses: a review of the evidence from vaccine design
Authors: Burch C. L. , Turner P. E. , Hanley K. A. 
Published: October 2003

Abstract
Epistasis results when the fitness effects of a mutation change depending on the presence or absence of other mutations in the genome. The predictions of many influential evolutionary hypotheses are determined by the existence and form of epistasis. One rich source of data on the interactions among deleterious mutations that has gone untapped by evolutionary biologists is the literature on the design of live, attenuated vaccine viruses. Rational vaccine design depends upon the measurement of individual and combined effects of deleterious mutations. In the current study, we have reviewed data from 29 vaccine-oriented studies using 14 different RNA viruses. Our analyses indicate that (1) no consistent tendency towards a particular form of epistasis exists across RNA viruses and (2) significant interactions among groups of mutations within individual viruses occur but are not common. RNA viruses are significant pathogens of human disease, and are tractable model systems for evolutionary studies – we discuss the relevance of our findings in both contexts.
Differential Avoidance of Snake Odours by a Lizard: Evidence for Prioritized Avoidance Based on Risk
Authors: Stapley Jessica 
Published: October 2003

AbstractMost studies of predator avoidance behaviours have focussed on single‐predator systems, despite the fact that prey often are confronted with predator rich environments. In the presence of more than one predator, prey may have to choose between avoiding one predator over another. How prey cope with exposure to several enemies simultaneously remains largely untested. In this study I set out to investigate if skinks showed preferential avoidance of snake odours based on the relative predation risk posed by different snake species. This relative predation risk was estimated using information on density, diet specificity and foraging habit of each snake species. I tested retreat‐site selection in two‐choice tests, where lizards chose between different combinations of control and snake treated retreat‐sites as well as two retreat‐sites treated with different snake species odours. Lizards preferred control–treated retreat‐sites to those treated with snake odours and showed a differential avoidance response to refuges treated with odours from different snake species. There was strong evidence to suggest that lizards preferentially avoided refuges with the odours of the snake that posed the greatest predation risk, the white‐lipped snake (Drysdalia coronoides). Naïve juvenile lizards were also tested and their response was similar to the adults demonstrating that the behaviour is innate and not the result of higher encounter rates of more common snake odours. To my knowledge this is one of the first studies to demonstrate that prey can prioritize avoidance to a single most dangerous predator in the face of several predators and conflicting avoidance responses.
Skin infection due to Geomyces pannorum var. pannorum
Authors: Gianni Claudia , Caretta Giuseppe , Romano Clara 
Published: October 2003

Summary Geomyces pannorum var. pannorum is an ubiquitous saprophytic fungus frequently isolated from the soil and from air samples. It has rarely been reported as an animal or plant pathogen and it is an occasional aetiological agent of superficial infection of skin and nails in humans. Here, we report a case of superficial infection of the skin due to this fungus in a healthy man. The patient was treated orally with terbinafine 250 mg daily and topic bifonazole with complete resolution in 2 months.
Significance of complications of allergic diseases in young patients with interstitial cystitis
Authors: YAMADA TETSUO 
Published: October 2003

Abstract Background: It was found that about one‐half of interstitial cystitis (IC) patients have complications of allergic diseases. However, significance of the complications have not been studied.Patients and Methods: Thirty‐four patients (age range 20 to 39 years old) meeting the diagnostic criteria of NIDDK established in 1987 were selected. Clinical allergic tests and significance of complications of allergic diseases were examined.Results: Eighty‐six percent of young patients had complications of allergic diseases. In two patients, IC was a part of generalized allergic diseases. In 25 patients, IC was suggested to have some association with allergy. Of these 25 patients, there were alternating symptoms or proportionally changing symptoms of allergy and IC in 15 patients, and the number of eosinophils increased in six patients. Seven IC patients were considered to have developed allergic diseases only by chance without apparent association.Conclusions: Complications of allergic diseases are frequent, particularly in young IC patients. The results suggest the involvement of allergy in about 80% of IC patients with complications of allergic diseases. In only 6% of patients, IC was a part of generalized allergic disease.
Pathology of interstitial cystitis
Authors: ROSAMILIA ANNA , IGAWA YASUHIKO , HIGASHI SHIN 
Published: October 2003

Abstract In this workshop the participants were asked to consider the role of pathology in the diagnosis and management of interstitial cystitis (IC). Currently, the NIDDK definition of IC is made on clinical criteria; bladder biopsy is not required for the clinical work‐up and histology is not used as a diagnostic criterion. The literature review described the most common pathological findings to be epithelial denudation or ulceration, mononuclear inflammation, edema, congestion, hemorrhage, and mast cell activation. These pathological changes were not universal or specific with 55% of IC subjects in one study having histology that was normal and indistinguishable from control subjects.Presentations were made which generally confirmed an association between abnormal pathology and more severe disease as determined by symptoms, cystoscopic capacity, and prognosis.During the workshop it was clear that whether or not a biopsy was performed depended on a number of factors, for example, country of origin, the research interest of the unit, and the desire to exclude malignancy on histological grounds. The consensus, which was not unanimous, was that bladder biopsy was a‐non‐mandatory test in the clinical work‐up of the patient with IC but that urine cytology should be performed. It was discussed that bladder biopsy be an optional test and particularly relevant when one was suspicious of other conditions and in IC research.It was hoped that bladder biopsy pathology will give clues to contributory pathogenic processes such as epithelial dysfunction and inflammation; and in the future, with the help of molecular biology, may help determine etiology.
The place of cystoscopy and hydrodistension in the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis: a potpourri of opinions emanating from an International Consultation on IC in Kyoto, Japan, March 28–30, 2003
Authors: RABE HANS‐HEINRICH , GOTOH MOMOKAZU , MOMOSE HITOSHI 
Published: October 2003

Abstract The place of cystoscopy and hydrodistension in the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis (IC) was discussed by an international and Japanese panel of IC researchers. Cysto and hydrodistension (HD) has been traditionally regarded as pivotal to the diagnostic process.To assess the experts’ opinions a questionnaire was circulated which revealed that 20 of the 31 responders regarded cysto and HD to remain as an important inclusion criterion in the diagnosis of IC (with 8 undecided and 3 against the inclusion). The questionnaire further demanded opinions about the specificity of the known IC changes at cysto and HD, correlation with the clinical picture, false positives, and methodology of the examination.
On propagation of short rolling contact fatigue cracks
Authors: RINGSBERG J. W. , BERGKVIST A. 
Published: October 2003

ABSTRACTRecent accidents involving railway rails have aroused demand for improved and more efficient rail maintenance strategies to reduce the risk of unexpected rail fracture. Numerical tools can aid in generating maintenance strategies: this investigation deals with the numerical modelling and analysis of short crack growth in rails. Factors that influence the fatigue propagation of short surface‐breaking cracks (head checks) in rails are assessed. A proposed numerical procedure incorporates finite element (FE) calculations to predict short crack growth conditions for rolling contact fatigue (RCF) loading. A parameterised FE model for the rolling‐sliding contact of a cylinder on a semi‐infinite half space, with a short surface breaking crack, presented here, is used in linear‐elastic and elastic–plastic FE calculations of short crack propagation, together with fracture mechanics theory. The crack length and orientation, crack face friction, and coefficient of surface friction near the contact load are varied. The FE model is verified for five examples in the literature. Comparison of results from linear‐elastic and elastic–plastic FE calculations, shows that the former cannot describe short RCF crack behaviour properly, in particular 0.1–0.2 mm long (head check) cracks with a shallow angle; elastic–plastic analysis is required instead.
Simulation of wheel–rail contact forces
Authors: IWNICKI S. 
Published: October 2003

ABSTRACTThis paper summarizes the forces that develop in the contact patch between the wheel and rail in a railway vehicle. The ways that these forces govern the behaviour of a vehicle running on straight and curved track are explained and the methods commonly used to calculate and utilize the forces summarized. As an illustration, the results from a computer simulation of a typical UK passenger train are presented and certain aspects examined.
Ratcheting and fatigue‐led wear in rail–wheel contact
Authors: FRANKLIN F. J. , CHUNG T. , KAPOOR A. 
Published: October 2003

ABSTRACTA computer model, which simulates the ratcheting wear of a ductile material subject to repeated loading, is presented and discussed in detail. Variation of material properties is a feature of the model, failure by ductility exhaustion occurring at isolated points or extending regions of failure. Such regions form crack‐like features. Mechanisms for removal of weakened material from the surface as wear debris are described. The wear process causes a degree of surface roughness. The simplicity of the model enables simulation of millions of load cycles in only a few hours' computer time. The computer model is used to study the effect of partial slip on wear rate. When creepage is relatively low, the wear rate increases sharply with creepage. When creepage is relatively high, the wear rate is largely insensitive to the creepage.
Disturbances prevent stem size‐density distributions in natural forests from following scaling relationships
Authors: Coomes David A. , Duncan Richard P. , Allen Robert B. , Truscott James 
Published: October 2003

AbstractEnquist and Niklas propose that trees in natural forests have invariant size‐density distributions (SDDs) that scale as a −2 power of stem diameter, although early studies described such distributions using negative exponential functions. Using New Zealand and ‘global’ data sets, we demonstrate that neither type of function accurately describes the SDD over the entire diameter range. Instead, scaling functions provide the best fit to smaller stems, while negative exponential functions provide the best fit to larger stems. We argue that these patterns are consistent with competition shaping the small‐stem phase and exogenous disturbance shaping the large‐stem phase. Mortality rates, estimated from repeat measurements on 1546 New Zealand plots, fell precipitously with stem size until 18 cm but remained constant after that, consistent with our arguments. Even in the small‐stem phase, where SDDs were best described by scaling functions, the scaling exponents were not invariantly −2, but differed significantly from this value in both the ‘global’ and New Zealand data sets, and varied through time in the New Zealand data set.
Mass flowering crops enhance pollinator densities at a landscape scale
Authors: Westphal Catrin , Steffan‐Dewenter Ingolf , Tscharntke Teja 
Published: October 2003

AbstractTo counteract the decline of pollinators in Europe, conservation strategies traditionally focus on enhancing the local availability of semi‐natural habitats, as supported by the European Union's Common Agriculture Policy. In contrast, we show that densities of bumblebees, an important pollinator group in agroecosystems, were not determined by the proportion of semi‐natural habitats in agricultural landscapes. Instead, bumblebee densities were positively related to the availability of highly rewarding mass flowering crops (i.e. oilseed rape) in the landscape. In addition, mass flowering crops were only effective determinants of bumblebee densities when grown extensively at the landscape scale, but not at smaller local scales. Therefore, future conservation measures should consider the importance of mass flowering crops and the need for management schemes at landscape level to sustain vital pollination services in agroecosystems.
Fathers, fruits and photosynthesis: pollen donor effects on fruit photosynthesis in wild parsnip
Authors: Zangerl Arthur R. , Berenbaum May R. , DeLucia Evan H. , Nitao James K. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractChlorophyll is frequently present in plant reproductive tissues and indicates that photosynthesis is occurring in these parts. Photosynthesis by a reproductive organ can contribute as much as 65% to its own growth. Given the advantages that increased photosynthetic rates might have on development of individual seeds competing for resources, selection can be expected to favour the ability of offspring to influence photosynthetic rates of the tissues surrounding them. We report in this study the first evidence that the pollen genotype can influence the rate of photosynthesis in the fruit tissues surrounding the developing offspring. Using a novel chlorophyll fluorescence imaging instrument to quantify quantum efficiency of photosystem II, we found significant differences in photosynthetic rates among fruits in wild parsnip, Pastinaca sativa L, associated with different pollen genotypes.
Thermodynamic and metabolic effects on the scaling of production and population energy use
Authors: Ernest S. K. Morgan , Enquist Brian J. , Brown James H. , Charnov Eric L. , Gillooly James F. , Savage Van M. , White Ethan P. , Smith Felisa A. , Hadly Elizabeth A. , Haskell John P. , Lyons S. Kathleen , Maurer Brian A. , Niklas Karl J. , Tiffney Bruce 
Published: October 2003

AbstractEcosystem properties result in part from the characteristics of individual organisms. How these individual traits scale to impact ecosystem‐level processes is currently unclear. Because metabolism is a fundamental process underlying many individual‐ and population‐level variables, it provides a mechanism for linking individual characteristics with large‐scale processes. Here we use metabolism and ecosystem thermodynamics to scale from physiology to individual biomass production and population‐level energy use. Temperature‐corrected rates of individual‐level biomass production show the same body‐size dependence across a wide range of aerobic eukaryotes, from unicellular organisms to mammals and vascular plants. Population‐level energy use for both mammals and plants are strongly influenced by both metabolism and thermodynamic constraints on energy exchange between trophic levels. Our results show that because metabolism is a fundamental trait of organisms, it not only provides a link between individual‐ and ecosystem‐level processes, but can also highlight other important factors constraining ecological structure and dynamics.
Large‐scale energetic and landscape factors of vegetation diversity
Authors: Venevsky Sergey , Veneskaia Irina 
Published: October 2003

AbstractWe show that at large scale the species number of vascular plants can be predicted to a major extent by climatically determined latent heat for evaporation and geometrical structure of landscape, described as an altitudinal difference. Application of the energy‐equivalence rule across plant communities for transpiration per area unit, and use of fractal theory for the description of habitat occupation by vegetation results in a physically based species–energy relationship. Application of averaged global constants in the relationship results in a species–area equation with known parameters. Despite its simple form, this species–energy relationship generally reproduces global patterns of vegetation diversity at two scales – 10 000 and 100 000 km2– and is applicable for different regions across scales from 100 to million km2. The proposed theory produces more robust results compared with the correlated‐based approaches, which link plant diversity patterns with climate variables, and allows the inclusion of an evolutionary component. The final climate‐richness equation for vascular plants has a simple and consistent analytical form and requires easily measurable variables.
Drought‐induced mosquito outbreaks in wetlands
Authors: Chase Jonathan M. , Knight Tiffany M. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractMosquitoes are not only a nuisance, but also vector many important human and animal diseases. Here, in opposition with the dogma that increased precipitation predicts mosquito abundance, we hypothesize that mosquitoes should show population outbreaks after drought years. Specifically, we suggest that in wetlands that never dry (permanent), predators limit mosquito abundance, whereas in wetlands that dry yearly (temporary), competitors that are well adapted to predictable drying, limit mosquito abundance. However, in wetlands that dry only during drought years (semi‐permanent), mosquito predators and competitors are eliminated and must recolonize following a drought, and the abundance of wetland mosquitoes can skyrocket. We present supportive evidence for this hypothesis from surveys of natural wetlands and from a controlled mesocosm experiment. We conclude that this framework may provide a reliable way to predict and prepare for year‐to‐year variation in mosquito abundances at large spatial scales.