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publicAug 2021View details →

Data from: Functional and phylogenetic diversity promotes litter decomposition across terrestrial ecosystems

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publicAug 2021View details →

The Kanyakla Study: Randomized controlled trial of a microclinic social network intervention for promoting engagement and retention in HIV care in rural western Kenya

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publicAug 2020View details →

Enhanced stromal H2S production via CBS upregulation promotes estrogen-stimulated human endometrial angiogenesis

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publicOct 2022View details →

Revealing the role of ionic liquids in promoting fuel cell catalysts reactivity and durability

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edi32/100

Homeowner Associations as a vehicle for promoting native urban biodiversity

The loss of habitat due to suburban and urban development represents one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. Conservation developments have emerged as a key player for reconciling new ex-urban residential development with ecosystem services. However, since more than half of the world population live in urban and suburban developments, identifying conservation partners to facilitate with retrofitting existing residential neighborhoods becomes paramount. Homeowner Associations (HOA) manage a significant proportion of residential developments in the United States, which includes the landscape design for yards and gardens. These areas have the potential to mitigate the loss of urban biodiversity when they provide habitat for native wildlife. Therefore the conditions and restrictions imposed upon the homeowner by the HOA could have profound effects on the local wildlife habitat. We explored the potential of HOAs to promote conservation by synthesizing research from three monitoring programs from Phoenix, AZ. We compared native bird diversity, arthropod diversity, and plant diversity between neighborhoods with and without an HOA. Neighborhoods belonging to HOAs had significantly greater bird and plant diversity, though insect diversity did not differ. The institutional framework structuring HOAs including sanctions for enforcement coupled with a predictable maintenance regime that introduces regular disturbance might explain why neighborhoods with an HOA had greater bird diversity. For neighborhoods with an HOA, we analyzed landscape form and management practices. We linked these features with ecological function and suggested how to modify management practices by adopting strategies from the Sustainable Sites Initiative, an international sustainable landscaping program, to help support biodiversity in current and future residential landscapes.

openOpenNov 2016View details →

zenodo28/100

Dataset of Evaluation Survey of a Conceptual Model for Promoting Digital Forensics Experiments

Dataset of Evaluation Survey of a Conceptual Model for Promoting Digital Forensics Experiments

opencc-by-4.0Mar 2020View details →

opencc-zeroJun 2020View details →

Differential ESR1 promoter Methylation in the peripheral blood of healthy middle-aged and older women- findings from the women 40+ healthy aging study

Background <a name="_Hlk24051013">Estrogen receptor alpha (ER</a>α) contributes to maintain biological processes preserving health during aging. DNA methylation changes of ERα gene (ESR1) were established as playing a direct role in the regulation of ERα levels. In this study, we hypothesized decreased DNA methylation of ESR1 associated with postmenopause, lower estradiol levels and increased age among healthy middle-aged and older women. Methods We assessed DNA methylation of ESR1 promoter region from dried blood spots and estradiol from saliva samples, among 130 healthy women aged 40-73 years. Results We found that postmenopause and lower estradiol levels were associated with lower DNA methylation of a distal regulatory region, but not with DNA methylation of proximal promoters. Conclusion Our results indicate possible adaptive changes of ESR1 methylation in women healthy aging.

zenodo28/100

Multimedia Promotion of Youth Physical Activity in a Nationally Representative Sample of U.S. Synagogues

Raw data extracted from nationally representative sample of U.S. synagogue websites during spring 2019 in order to ascertain the types and specific physical activities mentioned in child and adolescent programming.

opencc-by-4.0Jun 2020View details →

Desert-like badlands and surrounding (semi-)dry grasslands of Central Germany promote small-scale phenotypic and genetic differentiation in Thymus praecox

Environmental heterogeneity among sites can generate phenotypic and genetic variation facilitating differentiation and microevolution of plant populations. Badlands are desert-like, predominantly vegetation-poor habitats often embedded in (semi-)dry grasslands. The desert-like conditions of badlands demand extreme adaptation of plants, i.e., phenotypic modifications in short-term and/or natural adaptation in long-term. However, detailed knowledge is missing about both plant phenotypic and genetic differentiation in this unique and widely occurring habitat type. The present study focused on the largest known badlands systems in Central Europe located in the 'Drei Gleichen' region, a designated nature conservation area in Central Germany. Locations were suitable for this study in terms of having co-occurring badlands and (semi-)dry grassland habitats (sites) occupied by the pioneer plant Thymus praecox. Here, we studied the environmental preferences, morphological and functional trait variation, and genetic variation using microsatellite markers of T. praecox. Results revealed significant, mainly site-dependent environmental, phenotypic and genetic differentiation. In general, individuals in badlands are shorter in height, have lower patch sizes (length x width), relative growth rates, and smaller stomata. The PCA additionally unveiled slightly increased leaf robustness, trichome density, decreased stomatal conductance, fewer females, and earlier phenology in badlands. We interpret differentiation patterns as adaptive responses to light, temperature, drought and nutrient stress conditions supported by reviewed literature. Genetic differentiation was strongest between local badlands and grassland sites, and clearly weaker among locations and between sites (in total) as indicated by GST, AMOVA, PCoA and population structure. Our study supports the importance of small-scale microhabitat conditions as a driver of microevolutionary processes, and the population´s need for sufficient phenotypic plasticity and genetic resources to deal with environmental changes. We demonstrated that badlands are an appropriate model system for testing plant response to extreme habitats and that more research is needed on these fascinating landscapes.

opencc-zeroSep 2020View details →

Livestock grazing promotes ecosystem multifunctionality of a coastal saltmarsh

The effects of livestock grazing on grasslands have garnered much attention; however, little is known about how grazing affects ecosystems' ability to simultaneously support multiple ecosystem functions (i.e., ecosystem multifunctionality, hereafter EMF) in coastal saltmarshes. To comprehensively evaluate the ecological effects of livestock grazing and tidal flooding on saltmarshes, we conducted a grazing-exclusion experiment in the high and middle marsh zones of the Yangtze River Estuary, China. Livestock grazing generally enhanced EMF in the salt marshes, with a stronger impact in the middle marshes than in the high ones. Although plant biomass, aboveground N of plants, soil organic C, and sediment deposition rate decreased under grazing, activities of soil microbes and nematodes, soil N pool, N mineralization, decomposition and soil respiration increased. Synthesis and applications. We suggest that tidal flooding and associated replenishment of sediments may mitigate the negative effects of grazing on plants and sedimentation and strengthen positive grazing impacts on nutrient cycling, consequently reinforcing the beneficial effects of livestock grazing on the saltmarsh ecosystem multifunctionality. Our results provide a holistic framework of ecosystem-level responses to livestock grazing in saltmarshes and highlight the regulatory role of external environmental factors such as tidal flooding. Although livestock grazing enhanced the overall EMF of saltmarshes in our study, it was not necessarily desirable for ecosystem services. Integration of ecosystem function-multifunctionality and ecosystem service-multifunctionality of saltmarshes need to be recommended in future multifunctionality studies.

opencc-zeroOct 2020View details →

Invasion promotes invasion: facilitation of C3 perennial grass dominance

1. In the southern Great Plains (SGP) of the USA, encroachment of the native invasive woody legume, honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.), has caused a decline in C4 mid-grass abundance. Prosopis glandulosa invasion has also facilitated growth of the C3 mid-grass species, Texas wintergrass (Nassella leucotricha [Trin & Rupr.] Pohl) initially beneath its canopy but extending to interspaces between P. glandulosa as stand density increases. Little is known about the stability of the Prosopis/Nassella association, or C4 grass recovery following P. glandulosa disturbance. 2. We quantified C3 and C4 grass production in interspaces, and basal cover in interspaces and P. glandulosa subcanopy microsites for 9 years following P. glandulosa suppression (top-kill) and compared this to untreated P. glandulosa woodland (woodland). 3. The Prosopis/Nassella association limited the window of C4 mid-grass recovery to only a few years. Nassella leucotricha dominated grass production during the first 3 years after top-kill. C4 mid-grass recovery began in year 4, but was interrupted by severe drought in years 5 through 7. Recovery resumed in year 8, due to above average summer rainfall, but P. glandulosa regrowth was large enough by this time to limit C4 mid-grass production to a third of its potential. 4. Nassella leucotricha basal cover remained dominant and stable in woodland subcanopy microsites, even during drought, and only briefly declined in top-kill subcanopy microsites before returning to pre-treatment levels by year 8 as P. glandulosa regrowth increased and provided shade. 5. Synthesis and applications. A single suppression event had little impact on disrupting the Prosopis/Nassella association and allowing C4 mid-grass recovery. The coupling of a deciduous, N-fixing C3 woody species with this C3 perennial grass may be a vegetative "state" that is resistant to multiple woody suppression disturbances, and permanently limits the transition back to C4 grassland.

opencc-zeroOct 2021View details →

Ecological and social constraints combine to promote evolution of non-breeding strategies in clownfish

Individuals that forgo their own reproduction in animal societies represent an evolutionary paradox because it is not immediately apparent how natural selection can preserve the genes that underlie non-breeding strategies. Cooperative breeding theory provides a solution to the paradox: non-breeders benefit by helping relatives and/or inheriting breeding positions; non-breeders do not disperse to breed elsewhere because of ecological constraints. However, the question of why non-breeders do not contest to breed within their group has rarely been addressed. Here, we use a wild population of clownfish (Amphiprion percula), where non-breeders wait peacefully for years to inherit breeding positions, to show non-breeders will disperse when ecological constraints (risk of mortality during dispersal) are experimentally weakened. In addition, we show non-breeders will contest when social constraints (risk of eviction during contest) are experimentally relaxed. Our results show it is the combination of ecological and social constraints that promote the evolution of non-breeding strategies. The findings highlight parallels between, and potential for fruitful exchange between, cooperative breeding theory and economic bargaining theory: individuals will forgo their own reproduction and wait peacefully to inherit breeding positions (engage in cooperative options) when there are harsh ecological constraints (poor outside options) and harsh social constraints (poor inside options).

opencc-zeroOct 2020View details →

IS-mediated mutations both promote and constrain evolvability during a long-term experiment with bacteria

The long-term dynamics of IS elements and their effects on bacteria are poorly understood, including whether they are primarily genomic parasites or important drivers of adaptation by natural selection. Here, we investigate the dynamics of IS elements and their contribution to genomic evolution and fitness during a long-term experiment with Escherichia coli. This data set includes the Rmd file to analyze the genomic and metagenomic data (Tenaillon et al. 2016 and Good et al. 2017) in light with the IS dynamics and their correlation with fitness improvements described in the present work.

Exposure to low doses of Dechlorane Plus promotes adipose tissue dysfunction and glucose intolerance in mice

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) continues to increase worldwide. It is well established that genetic susceptibility, obesity, overnutrition and a sedentary life style are risk factors for the development of T2D. However, more recently, studies have also proposed links between exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and altered glucose metabolism. Human exposure to environmental pollutants suspected to have endocrine disruptor activity is ubiquitous. One such chemical is Dechlorane Plus, a flame retardant, that is now detected in humans and the environment. Here we show that exposure of mice to low, environmentally relevant doses of Dechlorane Plus (DP), promoted glucose intolerance in mice fed high fat diet independent of weight gain. Further, DP had pronounced effects on the adipose tissue, where it induced the development of hypertrophied white adipose tissue (WAT), and increased serum levels of resistin, leptin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Further, DP exposure induced "whitening" of brown adipose tissue (BAT), and reduced BAT uncoupling protein 1 expression. Importantly, some of these effects occurred even when the mice were fed regular, low fat, diet. Finally, WAT adipogenic markers were reduced with DP treatment in the WAT. We also show that, DP directly inhibited insulin signalling in murine adipocytes and human primary subcutaneous adipocytes in vitro. Taken together, our results show that the exposure to low and environmentally relevant levels of DP may contribute to the development of T2D.

MGMT promoter methylation and IDH mutation detected in 301 patients with GBM

The datasets had listed the information of IDH mutation or wildtype at c.395G>A and MGMT promoter methylation status in 301 samples with GBM.

Relaxed predation selection on rare morphs of Ensatina salamanders (Caudata: Plethodontidae) promotes a polymorphic population in a novel dune sand habitat

The Ensatina ring species represents a classic example of locally adapted lineages. The Monterey Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii eschscholtzii) is a cryptic subspecies with brown coloration, however, a recently discovered polymorphic population within a wind-blown sand region also contains leucistic (pink) and xanthistic (orange) morphs. Leucism/xanthism frequency was mapped across the subspecies' range revealing that these morphs are generally rare or absent except within regions containing light-colored substrate. Attack rates were estimated using clay models of the three morphs, deployed only at the crepuscular period and during the night, on both light and dark substrates at a site within the dune sand region. Model selection found that the interaction between morph and substrate color best predicted attack rates. Typical morphs had equal attack rates on both substrates while xanthistic and leucistic morphs incurred significantly fewer attacks on light versus dark substrate, and there was no significant difference in attack rates among morphs on light substrates. These results support the idea that xanthistic and leucistic morphs are poorly adapted for dark substrates compared to typical morphs, but they are more or less equally adapted for light substrates. We suggest that this microgeographic island of relaxed selection on light-colored morphs helps explain the existence of this polymorphic population.

opencc-zeroDec 2020View details →

Resource diversity promotes among-individual diet variation, but not genomic diversity, in lake stickleback

Many generalist species consist of specialized individuals that use different resources. This within-population niche variation can stabilize population and community dynamics. Consequently, ecologists wish to identify environmental settings that promote such variation. Theory predicts that environments with greater resource diversity favor ecological diversity (via disruptive selection or plasticity). Alternatively, niche variation might be a side-effect of neutral genomic diversity in larger populations. We tested these alternatives in a metapopulation of threespine stickleback. Stickleback consume benthic and limnetic invertebrates, focusing on the former in small lakes, the latter in large lakes. Intermediate-sized lakes support generalist stickleback populations using an even mixture of the two prey types, due to greater among-individual variation in diet and morphology. In contrast, genomic diversity increases with lake size. Thus, phenotypic diversity and neutral genetic polymorphism are decoupled: trophic diversity being greatest in intermediate-sized lakes with high resource diversity, whereas neutral genetic diversity is greatest in the largest lakes.

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Data and Code for "Limitation by a shared mutualist promotes coexistence of multiple competing partners"

Code for the ecological model (.R file) and data (.xlsx file) presented in Hammarlund et al. "Limitation by a shared mutualist promotes coexistence of multiple competing partners."

opencc-by-4.0Oct 2020View details →

opencc-zeroDec 2020View details →

Asymmetric, but opposing reductions in immigrant viability and fecundity promote reproductive isolation among host-associated populations of an insect herbivore

Immigrant inviability can contribute to reproductive isolation (RI) during ecological speciation by reducing the survival of immigrants in non-native environments. However, studies that assess the fitness consequence of immigrants moving from native to non-native environments typically fail to explore the potential role of concomitant reductions in immigrant fecundity despite recent evidence suggesting its prominent role during local adaptation. Here, we evaluate the directionality and magnitude of both immigrant viability and fecundity to RI in a host specific gall-forming wasp, Belonocnema treatae. Using reciprocal transplant experiments replicated across sites, we measure immigrant viability and fecundity by comparing differences in the incidence of gall formation (viability) and predicted number of eggs per female (fecundity) between residents and immigrants in each of two host-plant environments. Reduced immigrant viability was found in one environment while reduced immigrant fecundity was found in the other. Such habitat-dependent barriers resulted in asymmetric RI between populations. By surveying recent literature on local adaptation, we find that asymmetry in immigrant viability and fecundity are widespread across disparate taxa, which highlights the need to combine estimates of both common and overlooked barriers in cases of potential bi-directional gene flow to create a more comprehensive view of the evolution of RI.