bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The SA in the Radical Imagination of the Long Weimar Republic
Authors: Brown Timothy Scott
Published: August 2013

Hitler's storm battalions, the SA—their creation, organization, and worldview—have been the object of extensive scholarly study. A key factor in the victory of National Socialism, the SA has been understood above all as an exemplar of the political violence that helped to destabilize Germany's first parliamentary democracy. Attention to the role of the storm troopers in the Nazi seizure of power—a narrative in which the SA is centrally embedded, and in which it has been largely confined in the scholarship—has tended to foreclose other lines of analysis. Indeed, the metanymic linkage of the SA to the “failure of Weimar” has prevented scholars from considering the complex ideological and social field in which the storm troopers operated as the site of contingency that it was for contemporaries. Alongside a marching, singing, monolithic SA, policing the streets against National Socialism's enemies—an SA appropriate to the long-dominant scholarly focus on the reasons for Weimar's failure and Nazism's rise—another SA exists, one that had to be spoken for, indoctrinated, won over, infiltrated, and surveilled; an SA around which moral persuasion and ideological discussion played at least as prominent a role as the political violence that has so dominated the analytic concerns of historians and social scientists; an SA that attracted the attention of self-styled revolutionaries of every stripe in the seething chaos of Weimar politics, revolutionaries who sensed in the not-quite-closed ambit of the SA's political commitments—and in classed and gendered cultural assumptions with which these commitments were bound up—the utopian horizons of the possible, both before and after January 30, 1933.
Violence and Community: A Micro-Study on Nazi Storm Troopers
Authors: Reichardt Sven
Published: August 2013

Established in spring 1928, theSturmabteilung's(SA's)Sturm 33was known in the Berlin area for its bloody street fighting. Four years after its founding, the well-known journalist Gabriele Tergit observed in theWeltbühnethat “People know it—when Sturm 33 is involved, . . . there is terror. But no newspaper says as much any longer, no police pass it on as news—it is civil war as habit.” The Berlin-Charlottenburg district's SA-Sturm represented the Nazi movement's systematic application of violence in an especially acute manner, as both social experiences and the way of living within the unit were closely tied to violent action. In that respect, I will here argue that in Sturm 33, only an internal sociohistorical dynamic of violently plotting camaraderie made it possible to fulfill Nazism's ideological promise of integration, rendering it plausible within the organizational unit's particular cosmos.
The Myth of the Unknown Storm Trooper: Selling SA Stories in the Third Reich
Authors: Wackerfuss Andrew
Published: August 2013

In July 1933, an official at Joseph Goebbels's Propaganda Ministry gave an influential speech concerning the “cultural-political tasks of the German press.” The speaker, Wilfrid Bade, was himself an author and journalist who had previously attracted little notice outside Nazi circles. He declared that “a new Germany needs new authors”—an unsurprising sentiment, and one pronounced by the cultural representatives of many new regimes. Bade went on, however, to name a surprising group of candidates for this authorial duty: the storm troopers, members of the Nazi's paramilitary group, the Sturmabteilung (SA), whose violent thuggery had raged through German streets and helped to push the decaying Weimar Republic over the edge.
ON DYNAMIC PROPORTIONAL MEAN RESIDUAL LIFE MODEL
Authors: Nanda Asok K. , Das Suchismita , Balakrishnan N.
Published: August 2013

Recently, proportional mean residual life model has received a lot of attention after the importance of the model was discussed by Zahedi [17]. In this paper, we define dynamic proportional mean residual life model and study its properties for different aging classes. The closure of this model under different stochastic orders is also discussed. Many examples are presented to illustrate different properties of the model.
Clinical challenges in the assessment and management of suicidal behaviour in patients with bordeline personality disorder
Authors: Mehlum Lars
Published: August 2013

Self-injurious and suicidal behaviours are highly prevalent in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and the risk of completed suicide is high. Borderline patients often present with heterogeneous clinical pictures and widespread comor-bidity complicating clinical assessments and management. This calls for increased efforts in systematic evaluation and monitoring of self-harming and suicidal behaviours; these behaviours should be addressed actively as high priority treatment targets. Early drop-out is common for BPD patients in treatment but is possible to counteract by fostering a strong therapeutic relationship through adopting a realistic, but consistent and supportive approach carefully avoiding reinforcement of suicidal behaviours. Suicidal crises should primarily be managed in an outpatient setting giving priority to keeping the patient safe adopting a safety plan procedure, while helping the patient as quickly as possible to return emotionally to a more acceptable level of arousal and mental functioning. Pharmacological treatments should primarily be used for management of comorbid conditions, but may possibly also be helpful when used to reduce specific symptoms such as anger, hostility and impulsivity. There is currently a range of different integrated short-term and long-term psychological treatments in different stages of development and some of them have been shown to be efficacious in reducing suicidal behaviours; notably dialectical behaviour therapy and mentalization-based therapy.

Declaration of Interest: None.
Genetic diversity and structure found in samples of Eritrean bread wheat
Authors: Desta Zeratsion Abera , Orabi Jihad , Jahoor Ahmed , Backes Gunter
Published: August 2013

Genetic diversity and structure plays a key role in the selection of parents for crosses in plant breeding programmes. The aim of the present study was to analyse the genetic diversity and structure of Eritrean bread wheat accessions. We analysed 284 wheat accessions from Eritrea using 30 simple sequence repeat markers. A total of 539 alleles were detected. The allele number per locus ranged from 2 to 21, with a mean allele number of 9.2. The average genetic diversity index was 0.66, with values ranging from 0.01 to 0.89. Comparing the three genomes of wheat, the B genome had the highest genetic diversity (0.66) and the D genome the lowest diversity (0.61). A STRUCTURE analysis based on the Bayesian model-based cluster analysis followed by a graphical representation of the distances by non-parametric multidimensional scaling revealed a distinct partition of the Eritrean wheat accessions into two major groups. This is the first report of the genetic diversity and structure of Eritrean bread wheat.
Broadening the scope of epidemiology in conflict-affected settings: opportunities for mental health prevention and promotion
Authors: Tol W. A. , Rees S. J. , Silove D. M.
Published: August 2013

This editorial proposes a shift in emphasis in the field of mental health epidemiology in conflict-affected settings. After a brief summary of the nature of contemporary armed conflicts, we consider the current and potential roles that epidemiology can play with regard to: (1) establishing the burden of mental disorders; (2) identifying risk and protective factors; and (3) intervention research. We advocate for improved methodological rigor; more attention to mixed methods approaches and multi-level longitudinal research; inclusion of the determinants of mental health beyond conflict-related violence; and consideration of a wider array of mental health outcomes. We particularly highlight the importance of expanding interest to epidemiological research that advances prevention and promotion interventions (e.g., in the early childhood period), in order to fill the gap between epidemiology and mental health practice in conflict-affected settings.
The Interaction Effect Between Low Income and Severe Illness on the Risk of Death by Suicide After Self-Harm
Authors: Chung Chi-Hsiang , Pai Lu , Kao Senyeong , Lee Meei-Shyuan , Yang Tsung-Tsair , Chien Wu-Chien
Published: August 2013

Background: Previous Western studies have reported that the prevalence of death by suicide within 1 year after self-harm was 0.5–2%; however, no studies have focused on the Far East. Aims: To calculate the prevalence of death by suicide after self-harm over different lengths of follow-up time and to determine the predictors of death by suicide after self-harm. Method: Our study was based on 3,388 inpatients hospitalized between 2000 and 2007 in any of the 1,230 hospitals in Taiwan. Death by suicide after self-harm among the members of this cohort was tracked after 3 months, 6 months, and 1–8 years. The tracking continued until December 31, 2008. We analyzed the prevalence and risk factors of death by suicide after self-harm using Cox’s regression model. Results: Of the 3,388 individuals with a history of self-harm included in the study, 48 (1.4%) died by suicide after self-harm within 3 months and 97 (2.9%) within 1 year. In all, 144 (4.3%) died by suicide after self-harm within 8 years. The predictors of death by suicide were violent methods (such as hanging, drowning, firearms, and jumping), low income, and severe illness. Moreover, an interaction effect was noted between low income and severe illness on the outcome (death by suicide). Conclusion: It seems that effective healthcare for individuals who engage in self-harming behavior would benefit from supplementing medical care with social assistance, such as the support of a social worker.
Measuring α4β2∗ Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Density in Vivo with [18F]nifene PET in the Nonhuman Primate
Authors: Hillmer Ansel T , Wooten Dustin W , Slesarev Maxim S , Ahlers Elizabeth O , Barnhart Todd E , Schneider Mary L , Mukherjee Jogeshwar , Christian Bradley T
Published: August 2013

[18F]Nifene is an agonist PET radioligand developed to image α4β2∗ nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). This work aims to quantify the receptor density ( Bmax) of α4β2∗ nAChRs and the in vivo (apparent) dissociation constant ( KDapp) of [18F]nifene. Multiple-injection [18F]nifene experiments with varying cold nifene masses were conducted on four rhesus monkeys with a microPET P4 scanner. Compartment modeling techniques were used to estimate regional Bmax values and a global value of KDapp. The fast kinetic properties of [18F]nifene also permitted alternative estimates of Bmax and KDapp at transient equilibrium with the same experimental data using Scatchard-like methodologies. Averaged across subjects, the compartment modeling analysis yielded Bmax values of 4.8 ± 1.4, 4.3 ±1.0, 1.2 ± 0.4, and 1.2 ± 0.3 pmol/mL in the regions of antereoventral thalamus, lateral geniculate, frontal cortex, and subiculum, respectively. The KDapp of nifene was 2.4 ± 0.3 pmol/mL. The Scatchard analysis based on graphical evaluation of the data after transient equilibrium yielded Bmax estimations comparable to the modeling results with a positive bias of 28%. These findings show the utility of [18F]nifene for measuring α4β2∗ nAChR Bmax in vivo in the rhesus monkey with a single PET experiment.
Near‐field source localisation using a velocity sensor array
Authors: Liu Zhaoting , Pan Zhangxin
Published: August 2013

This study presents a new algorithm for near‐field source localisation by using a uniform linear array consisting of velocity‐sensor pairs (VSPs). Two schemes are used for range and direction of arrival (DOA) estimation in the proposed algorithm. The first one exploits the acoustic velocity vector field's two Cartesian components and the triangular location relationship among the near‐field sources and the VSPs. The resulting range and DOA estimates are ambiguity‐free, regardless of the inter‐sensor spacing. Whereas the second scheme uses the so‐called electric angles to determine the ranges and DOAs. Although the derived estimates may be ambiguous in the case of the inter‐sensor spacing larger than a quarter wavelength, this ambiguity can be removed by using the estimates obtained in the first scheme. Therefore the proposed algorithm can offer high estimation accuracy by increasing inter‐sensor spacing (because of array aperture extension). In addition, the proposed algorithm does not require multidimensional search, pairing parameters or high‐order statistics, hence, has a low computational complexity.
Direct position tracking loop based on linearised signal model for global navigation satellite system receivers
Authors: Liu Jing , Cui Xiaowei , Lu Mingquan , Feng Zhenming
Published: August 2013

Vehicle positioning with global navigation satellite system in urban environments has three challenges: signal attenuation, multipath and dynamic. In this study, the direct position tracking loop (DPTL) is proposed. Different from non‐linear navigation domain vector tracking loops, DPTL is a linear scheme derived from the linearised model of baseband signal. Thus, the computational cost of DPTL is not too expensive. Different from pseudorange‐based vector tracking loops (PB‐VTLs) taking pseudorange residuals as intermediate variables to synthesise user position residuals, DPTL directly discriminates user position residuals in the domain of user position and receiver clock bias. Thus, DPTL takes full advantage of geometric relationships between the receiver and satellites to improve positioning accuracy. Moreover, for the purpose of improving positioning accuracy and maintaining sufficiently wide dynamic range at the same time, DPTL incorporates the vehicle movement characteristic in urban environments to configure early–late distance spacings of the discriminator and process noise power spectral densities of Kalman filter separately for each component of user position and receiver clock bias. Performance analysis and simulation confirm the tracking and positioning performance of DPTL is better than that of the PB‐VTL in both dynamic weak signal and multipath environments.
Providing health information for culturally and linguistically diverse women: priorities and preferences of new migrants and refugees
Authors: Lee Susan K. , Sulaiman‐Hill Cheryl M. R. , Thompson Sandra C.
Published: August 2013

Issues addressed

Preferences for topics and means of access to health information among newly arrived, culturally and linguistically diverse women in Perth, Western Australia, were explored.

Methods

A mixed‐methods approach was adopted. Qualitative material obtained from focus groups and interviews with 22 service providers and 26 migrant women was used to develop a questionnaire, which was then administered to 268 newly arrived migrant and refugee women from 50 countries. Participants' information and support priorities were ascertained from a ranking exercise conducted in a non‐threatening context. Responses of migrant and refugee women were compared quantitatively.

Results

Women's top priorities for information and support included employment advice, as well as information regarding mental health issues, women's health, exercise and nutrition, family violence and alcohol and other drug issues. Their preferred methods for receiving information were interactive talks or presentations, with written material support. Audiovisual and Web‐based material were also considered useful. There were differences between refugee women's and other migrants' preferences for means of receiving information and topics of most concern.

Discussion

The use of a non‐threatening ranking process encouraged women to prioritise sensitive topics, such as family violence, and revealed a need for such topics to be incorporated within general health information presentations. Internet‐based technologies are becoming increasingly important methods for disseminating information to migrant women.

So what?

Differences between migrant and refugee women's priority health issues and their preferred methods for receiving information highlight the desirability of tailoring information to particular groups. Although advice on employment pathways and mental health concerns were top priorities, the study revealed a need for more discussion on other sensitive topics, such as family violence and alcohol‐related issues, and that ideally these should be incorporated into general information sessions to destigmatise attendance The increasing relevance of computer technology and social media for information dissemination was also of note.
Assessing what to address in science communication
Authors: Bruine de Bruin Wändi , Bostrom Ann
Published: August 2013

As members of a democratic society, individuals face complex decisions about whether to support climate change mitigation, vaccinations, genetically modified food, nanotechnology, geoengineering, and so on. To inform people’s decisions and public debate, scientific experts at government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and other organizations aim to provide understandable and scientifically accurate communication materials. Such communications aim to improve people’s understanding of the decision-relevant issues, and if needed, promote behavior change. Unfortunately, existing communications sometimes fail when scientific experts lack information about what people need to know to make more informed decisions or what wording people use to describe relevant concepts. We provide an introduction for scientific experts about how to use mental models research with intended audience members to inform their communication efforts. Specifically, we describe how to conduct interviews to characterize people’s decision-relevant beliefs or mental models of the topic under consideration, identify gaps and misconceptions in their knowledge, and reveal their preferred wording. We also describe methods for designing follow-up surveys with larger samples to examine the prevalence of beliefs as well as the relationships of beliefs with behaviors. Finally, we discuss how findings from these interviews and surveys can be used to design communications that effectively address gaps and misconceptions in people’s mental models in wording that they understand. We present applications to different scientific domains, showing that this approach leads to communications that improve recipients’ understanding and ability to make informed decisions.
The sciences of science communication
Authors: Fischhoff Baruch
Published: August 2013

The May 2012 Sackler Colloquium on “The Science of Science Communication” brought together scientists with research to communicate and scientists whose research could facilitate that communication. The latter include decision scientists who can identify the scientific results that an audience needs to know, from among all of the scientific results that it would be nice to know; behavioral scientists who can design ways to convey those results and then evaluate the success of those attempts; and social scientists who can create the channels needed for trustworthy communications. This overview offers an introduction to these communication sciences and their roles in science-based communication programs.
The Drug Facts Box: Improving the communication of prescription drug information
Authors: Schwartz Lisa M. , Woloshin Steven
Published: August 2013

Communication about prescription drugs ought to be a paragon of public science communication. Unfortunately, it is not. Consumers see $4 billion of direct-to-consumer advertising annually, which typically fails to present data about how well drugs work. The professional label—the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) mechanism to get physicians information needed for appropriate prescribing—may also fail to present benefit data. FDA labeling guidance, in fact, suggests that industry omit benefit data for new drugs in an existing class and for drugs approved on the basis of unfamiliar outcomes (such as depression rating scales). The medical literature is also problematic: there is selective reporting of favorable trials, favorable outcomes within trials, and “spinning” unfavorable results to maximize benefit and minimize harm. In contrast, publicly available FDA reviews always include the phase 3 trial data on benefit and harm, which are the basis of drug approval. However, these reviews are practically inaccessible: lengthy, poorly organized, and weakly summarized. To improve accessibility, we developed the Drug Facts Box: a one-page summary of benefit and harm data for each indication of a drug. A series of studies—including national randomized trials—demonstrates that most consumers understand the Drug Facts Box and that it improves decision-making. Despite calls from their own Risk Communication Advisory Committee and Congress (in the Affordable Care Act) to consider implementing boxes, the FDA announced it needs at least 3–5 y more to make a decision. Given its potential public health impact, physicians and the public should not have to wait that long for better drug information.
Brain mechanisms for simple perception and bistable perception
Authors: Wang Megan , Arteaga Daniel , He Biyu J.
Published: August 2013

Significance

When viewing an image with multiple interpretations such as the Necker cube, subjective perception alternates stochastically between the different interpretations. This phenomenon provides a well-controlled experimental approach to studying how the brain responds to ambiguities in sensory inputs—a ubiquitous problem in dealing with natural environment. We found that, compared with simple perception devoid of ambiguities, bistable perception requires additional higher-order brain regions and dramatically enhanced top-down and bottom-up influences in the brain. Intermittent viewing of ambiguous images elicits even stronger top-down brain activity. These results help elucidate the mechanisms of visual perception by demonstrating an active top-down inferential process.
Compassion for Wisdom
Authors: Stroumsa Sarah
Published: August 2013

Abstract
In studying the attitude of medieval philosophers towards the act of writing, scholars have tended to concentrate on their esoteric tendencies and their reluctance to commit philosophy to writing. The basic attitude of medieval philosophers to the decision to commit something to writing, whether it be that made by the prophets, the sages or the medieval philosophers themselves, however, is on the whole positive. This article examines the sources - both religious and philosophical - from which this positive attitude stems and then discusses its manifestations in the work of three medieval thinkers: Abu Nasr al-Farabi, Abu al-Barakat al-Baghdadl and Moses Maimonides.
Der Alexandrismus an den Universitäten im späten Mittelalter
Authors: Pluta Olaf
Published: August 2013

Abstract
This essay outlines the history of Alexandrism in the Middle Ages, focusing on the reception of Alexander of Aphrodisias in the late-medieval universities. Alexander of Aphrodisias met with severe criticism in the 13th century from William of Auvergne, Albert the Great and Thomas of Aquinas among others, but in the 14th century this attitude changed completely with John Buridan, giving way to a positive and productive adoption of his theories. The centerpiece of the controversy was Alexander's doctrine that the human soul is similar to the animal soul and hence mortal "like the soul of a dog or a donkey." Previously condemned as the absurd thesis of an outsider - wrongly so, because Alexander was perfectly in line with a long peripatetic tradition beginning with Dikaiarch of Messene and Straton of Lampsakos -, this doctrine was now considered philosophically superior to and sounder than the competing theories of Averroes and the Roman Catholic faith. In connection with this doctrine, Buridan stated that some higher species of animals have the ability to think like a man or an ape (sicut homo vel simia) and that an ape can even be said to have some reason. Buridan's interpretation of Alexander was disseminated at the universities of the 14th and 15th centuries by his many followers, including Lawrence of Lindores, Marsilius of Inghen (who defended Alexander against Albert the Great), Nicholas of Amsterdam, Biagio Pelacani of Parma and Benedikt Hesse of Kraków.
L'espressività del cielo di Marsilio Ficino, lo Zodiaco medievale e Plotino
Authors: Federici Vescovini Graziella
Published: August 2013

Abstract
This essay provides an analysis of Marsilio Ficino's doctrine of the heavens, especially as this is developed in his commentary on Plotinus' Enneads with reference to contemporary debates in Florence concerning the legitimacy of astrology and in view of new interpretations of attendant problematic issues. Particular attention is given to Ficino's early works, such as the Disputatio contra iudicium astrologorum, as well as to his commentary on Enn. 4, 4-42 and his De vita. The leading interest of the essay consists in the attempt to clarify Ficino's reception of the medieval doctrine of the heavens, most pointedly the theory propounded by Peter of Abano in his Lucidator dubitabilium astronomiae of 1310.
Bias Neglect: A Blind Spot in the Evaluation of Scientific Results
Authors: Strickland Brent , Mercier Hugo
Published: August 2013

Experimenter bias occurs when scientists' hypotheses influence their results, even if involuntarily. Meta-analyses have suggested that in some domains, such as psychology, up to a third of the studies could be unreliable due to such biases. A series of experiments demonstrates that while people are aware of the possibility that scientists can be more biased when the conclusions of their experiments fit their initial hypotheses, they robustly fail to appreciate that they should also be more sceptical of such results. This is true even when participants read descriptions of studies that have been shown to be biased. Moreover, participants take other sources of bias—such as financial incentives—into account, showing that this bias neglect may be specific to theory-driven hypothesis testing. In combination with a common style of scientific reporting, bias neglect could lead the public to accept premature conclusions.
The unity of the ethical and the religious in Jung's thought
Authors: Barreto Marco Heleno
Published: August 2013

In this article, the relations of the ethical and religious dimensions present in Jung's thought are examined. Through a delimited approach of key passages in his texts, this article shows that for Jung, due to its double characterization of Self as God-image and as conscience, there is a deep unity of both dimensions. After establishing this point only through reference to Jung's text, the author briefly discusses the problem of a possible legitimacy of religious experience to a truly modern consciousness, so that Jung's perspective may be seen in its relation to modern truth.
Syzygies and singularities of tensor product surfaces of bidegree (2,1)
Authors: Schenck Hal , Seceleanu Alexandra , Validashti Javid
Published: August 2013

Let
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="upper U subset-of-or-equal-to upper H Superscript 0 Baseline left-parenthesis script upper O Subscript double-struck upper P Sub Superscript 1 Subscript times double-struck upper P Sub Superscript 1 Subscript Baseline left-parenthesis 2 comma 1 right-parenthesis right-parenthesis">

U
⊆

H
0

(

O

P

1

×

P

1

(
2
,
1
)
)

U \subseteq H^0({\mathcal {O}_{\mathbb {P}^1 \times \mathbb {P}^1}}(2,1))

be a basepoint free four-dimensional vector space. The sections corresponding to

U
U

determine a regular map

ϕ
U

:

P

1

×

P

1

⟶

P

3

\phi _U: {\mathbb {P}^1 \times \mathbb {P}^1} \longrightarrow \mathbb {P}^3

. We study the associated bigraded ideal

I
U

⊆
k
[
s
,
t
;
u
,
v
]

I_U \subseteq k[s,t;u,v]

from the standpoint of commutative algebra, proving that there are exactly six numerical types of possible bigraded minimal free resolution. These resolutions play a key role in determining the implicit equation for

ϕ
U

(

P

1

×

P

1

)

\phi _U({\mathbb {P}^1 \times \mathbb {P}^1})

, via work of Busé-Jouanolou, Busé-Chardin, Botbol and Botbol-Dickenstein-Dohm on the approximation complex

Z

\mathcal {Z}

. In four of the six cases

I
U

I_U

has a linear first syzygy; remarkably from this we obtain all differentials in the minimal free resolution. In particular, this allows us to explicitly describe the implicit equation and singular locus of the image.
Uropygial gland volatiles facilitate species recognition between two sympatric sibling bird species
Authors: Zhang Yao-Hua , Du Yu-Feng , Zhang Jian-Xu
Published: August 2013

Visual and acoustic cues in birds have been well documented to play a role in species recognition between closely related bird species. Here, we aimed to test whether chemical cues also play a role in avian species recognition between 2 sympatric sibling species of waxwings, Bombycilla garrulus and Bombycilla japonica. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, we characterized from uropygial gland secretions 38 compounds that were quantitatively divergent between species and exhibited sex differences within species. Nine major compounds, including 6 linear alkanols and 3 carboxylic acids, which accounted for more than 85% of all compounds were used for simulation of the scents. Female B. garrulus exhibited a striking preference for their mirror images scented with either conspecific body odor or its synthetic analogs and avoided the scents of the sibling species B. japonica in a Y-maze olfactometer. Our results suggest that the volatile components of uropygial gland secretions have diverged in composition and these differences contribute to species recognition between sympatric sibling bird species and subsequently affect the likehood of speciation.
BLAD: A comprehensive database of widely circulated beta-lactamases
Authors: Danishuddin Mohd , Hassan Baig Mohd , Kaushal Lalima , Khan Asad U
Published: August 2013

Motivation: Beta-lactamases confer resistance to a broad range of antibiotics and inhibitors by accumulating mutations. The number of beta-lactamases and their variants is steadily increasing. The horizontal gene transfer likely plays a major role in dissemination of these markers to new environments and hosts. Moreover, information about the beta-lactamase classes and their variants was scattered. Categorizing all these classes and their associated variants along with their epidemiology and resistance pattern information on one platform could be helpful to the researcher working on multidrug-resistant bacteria. Thus, the beta-lactamase database (BLAD) has been developed to provide comprehensive information (epidemiology and resistance pattern) on beta-lactamases. Beta-lactamase gene sequences in BLAD are linked with structural data, phenotypic data (i.e. antibiotic resistance) and literature references to experimental studies. In summary, BLAD integrates information that may provide insight into the epidemiology of multidrug resistance and enable the designing of novel drug candidates.

Availability: The database can be accessed from the website www.blad.co.in.

Contact:  asad.k@rediffmail.com

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The location and impact of jet-driven outflows of cold gas: the case of 3C 293
Authors: Mahony E. K. , Morganti R. , Emonts B. H. C. , Oosterloo T. A. , Tadhunter C.
Published: August 2013

The nearby radio galaxy 3C 293 is one of a small group of objects where extreme outflows of neutral hydrogen have been detected. However, due to the limited spatial resolution of previous observations, the exact location of the outflow was not able to be determined. In this Letter, we present new higher resolution Very Large Array observations of the central regions of this radio source and detect a fast outflow of H i with a full width at zero intensity velocity of Δv ∼ 1200 km s−1 associated with the inner radio jet, approximately 0.5 kpc west of the central core. We investigate possible mechanisms which could produce the observed H i outflow and conclude that it is driven by the radio jet. However, this outflow of neutral hydrogen is located on the opposite side of the nucleus to the outflow of ionized gas previously detected in this object. We calculate a mass outflow rate in the range of 8–50 M⊙ yr−1 corresponding to a kinetic energy power injected back into the interstellar medium of 1.38 × 1042 − 1.00 × 1043 erg s−1 or 0.01–0.08 per cent of the Eddington luminosity. This places it just outside the range required by some galaxy evolution simulations for negative feedback from the AGN to be effective in halting star formation within the galaxy.
The Bdtf1 Gene in Alternaria brassicicola Is Important in Detoxifying Brassinin and Maintaining Virulence on Brassica Species
Authors: Srivastava Akhil , Cho Il Kyu , Cho Yangrae
Published: August 2013

Brassinin is an antifungal compound induced in Brassica plants after microbial infection. Molecular evidence is incomplete, however, in supporting the importance of brassinin in plant resistance to pathogens. To test the importance of brassinin in plant defense, we studied the functions of the gene Bdtf1 in the necrotrophic fungus Alternaria brassicicola. Several strains of mutants of this gene were weakly virulent on Brassica species, causing lesions 70% smaller in diameter than the wild type on three Brassica species. These mutants, however, were as virulent as the wild type on Arabidopsis thaliana. They were similar to the wild type in spore germination, colony morphology, and mycelial growth in nutrient-rich media, both with and without stress-inducing chemicals. Unlike wild-type A. brassicicola, however, the mutants failed to germinate and their hyphal growth was arrested in the presence of 200 μM brassinin. When grown in a medium containing 100 μM brassinin, wild-type mycelium entirely converted the brassinin into a nontoxic derivative, of which the precise chemical nature was not established. Mutants of the Bdtf1 gene were unable to perform this conversion. Our results support the hypothesis that the ability of A. brassicicola to detoxify brassinin is necessary for successful infection of Brassica species.
Distribution and Frequency of Fusarium Species Associated with Soybean Roots in Iowa
Authors: Arias M. M. Díaz , Munkvold G. P. , Ellis M. L. , Leandro L. F. S.
Published: August 2013

A 3-year survey was conducted in Iowa to characterize the distribution and frequency of species of Fusarium associated with soybean roots. Ten plants were collected from each of 40 to 57 fields each year at V2 to V5 and R3 to R4 soybean growth stages. Fusarium colonies were isolated from symptomatic and symptomless roots and identified to species based on cultural and morphological characteristics. Species identification was confirmed by amplification and sequencing of the translation elongation factor (EF1-α) gene. Fifteen species were identified; Fusarium oxysporum was isolated most frequently, accounting for more than 30% of all isolates. F. acuminatum, F. graminearum, and F. solani were also among the most frequent and widespread species. Eleven other species were recovered from few fields, accounting for less than 10% of all isolates in a given year. No consistent trends were observed in geographic distribution of species. Variability in species frequency was found between soybean growth stages. Fusarium oxysporum was recovered at higher frequency during vegetative stages (40%) than reproductive stages (22%). Conversely, species such as F. acuminatum, F. graminearum, and F. solani were recovered more often from reproductive-stage plants. No significant differences in species composition were observed among fields differing in tillage practices and row spacing.
Predicting the distribution of oceanic-stage Kemp's ridley sea turtles
Authors: Putman Nathan F. , Mansfield Katherine L. , He Ruoying , Shaver Donna J. , Verley Philippe
Published: August 2013

The inaccessibility of open ocean habitat and the cryptic nature of small animals are fundamental problems when assessing the distribution of oceanic-stage sea turtles and other marine animals sharing similar life-history traits. Most methods that estimate patterns of abundance cannot be applied in situations that are extremely data limited. Here, we use a movement ecology framework to generate the first predicted distributions for the oceanic stage of the Kemp's ridley sea turtle (
Lepidochelys kempii
). Our simulations of particle dispersal within ocean circulation models reveal substantial annual variation in distribution and survival among simulated cohorts. Such techniques can help prioritize areas for conservation, and supply inputs for more realistic demographic models attempting to characterize population trends.
Environmental perturbations influence telomere dynamics in long-lived birds in their natural habitat
Authors: Mizutani Yuichi , Tomita Naoki , Niizuma Yasuaki , Yoda Ken
Published: August 2013

Telomeres are regarded as markers of biological or cellular ageing because they shorten with the degree of stress exposure. Accordingly, telomere lengths should show different rates of change when animals are faced with different intensities of environmental challenges. However, a relationship between telomere length and the environment has not yet been tested within a natural setting. Here, we report longitudinal telomere dynamics in free-living, black-tailed gulls (
Larus crassirostris
) through the recapture of birds of a known age over 2–5 consecutive years. The rate of change in telomere lengths differed with respect to year but not sex or age. The years when gulls showed stable telomere lengths or increases in telomere lengths (from 2009 to 2010) and decreases in telomere lengths (from 2010 to 2011) were characterized by El Niño and the Great Japan Earthquake, respectively. Both events are suspected to have had long-lasting effects on food availability and/or weather conditions. Thus, our findings that telomere dynamics in long-lived birds are influenced by dramatic changes in environmental conditions highlight the importance of environmental fluctuations in affecting stress and lifespan.
How many and which ant species are being accidentally moved around the world?
Authors: Miravete Verónica , Roura-Pascual Núria , Dunn Robert R. , Gómez Crisanto
Published: August 2013

Human transportation facilitates the dispersal of exotic ants, but few studies have quantified the magnitude and geography of these movements. We used several non-parametric indexes to estimate the number of species successfully introduced to or established in new regions. We also compared their source biogeographic realms to assess the importance of the geographical origin in determining the likelihood of establishment after introduction. Data on exotic ants derive from studies of three temperate regions. Our results suggest that the numbers of introduced or established ants may be much larger than the numbers so far documented. Ants introduced or established in new regions tend to arrive from the same or neighbouring realms, as would be expected if exotic species tend to match climates and if arrival/establishment is dependent upon higher trade rates from neighbouring countries.
Wick–Malliavin approximation to nonlinear stochastic partial differential equations: analysis and simulations
Authors: Venturi D. , Wan X. , Mikulevicius R. , Rozovskii B. L. , Karniadakis G. E.
Published: August 2013

Approximating nonlinearities in stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs) via the Wick product has often been used in quantum field theory and stochastic analysis. The main benefit is simplification of the equations but at the expense of introducing modelling errors. In this paper, we study the accuracy and computational efficiency of Wick-type approximations to SPDEs and demonstrate that the Wick propagator, i.e. the system of equations for the coefficients of the polynomial chaos expansion of the solution, has a sparse lower triangular structure that is seemingly universal, i.e. independent of the type of noise. We also introduce new higher-order stochastic approximations via Wick–Malliavin series expansions for Gaussian and uniformly distributed noises, and demonstrate convergence as the number of expansion terms increases. Our results are for diffusion, Burgers and Navier–Stokes equations, but the same approach can be readily adopted for other nonlinear SPDEs and more general noises.
Modelling localized nonlinearities in continuous systems via the method of augmentation by non-smooth basis functions
Authors: Brake M. R. , Segalman D. J.
Published: August 2013

Existing solutions for continuous systems with localized, non-smooth nonlinearities (such as impacts) focus on exact methods for satisfying the nonlinear constitutive equations. Exact methods often require that the non-smooth nonlinearities be expressed as piecewise-linear functions, which results in a series of mapping equations between each linear regime of the nonlinearities. This necessitates exact transition times between each linear regime of the nonlinearities, significantly increasing computational time, and limits the analysis to only considering a small number of nonlinearities. A new method is proposed in which the exact, nonlinear constitutive equations are satisfied by augmenting the system's primary basis functions with a set of non-smooth basis functions. Two consequences are that precise contact times are not needed, enabling greater computational efficiency than exact methods, and localized nonlinearities are not limited to piecewise-linear functions. Since each nonlinearity requires only a few non-smooth basis functions, this method is easily expanded to handle large numbers of nonlinearities throughout the domain. To illustrate the application of this method, a pinned–pinned beam example is presented. Results demonstrate that this method requires significantly fewer basis functions to achieve convergence, compared with linear and exact methods, and that this method is orders of magnitude faster than exact methods.
Adrenocortical stress responses influence an invasive vertebrate's fitness in an extreme environment
Authors: Jessop Tim S. , Letnic Mike , Webb Jonathan K. , Dempster Tim
Published: August 2013

Continued range expansion into physiologically challenging environments requires invasive species to maintain adaptive phenotypic performance. The adrenocortical stress response, governed in part by glucocorticoid hormones, influences physiological and behavioural responses of vertebrates to environmental stressors. However, any adaptive role of this response in invasive populations that are expanding into extreme environments is currently unclear. We experimentally manipulated the adrenocortical stress response of invasive cane toads (
Rhinella marina
) to investigate its effect on phenotypic performance and fitness at the species' range front in the Tanami Desert, Australia. Here, toads are vulnerable to overheating and dehydration during the annual hot–dry season and display elevated plasma corticosterone levels indicative of severe environmental stress. By comparing unmanipulated control toads with toads whose adrenocortical stress response was manipulated to increase acute physiological stress responsiveness, we found that control toads had significantly reduced daily evaporative water loss and higher survival relative to the experimental animals. The adrenocortical stress response hence appears essential in facilitating complex phenotypic performance and setting fitness trajectories of individuals from invasive species during range expansion.
Tracking niche variation over millennial timescales in sympatric killer whale lineages
Authors: Foote Andrew D. , Newton Jason , Ávila-Arcos María C. , Kampmann Marie-Louise , Samaniego Jose A. , Post Klaas , Rosing-Asvid Aqqalu , Sinding Mikkel-Holger S. , Gilbert M. Thomas P.
Published: August 2013

Niche variation owing to individual differences in ecology has been hypothesized to be an early stage of sympatric speciation. Yet to date, no study has tracked niche width over more than a few generations. In this study, we show the presence of isotopic niche variation over millennial timescales and investigate the evolutionary outcomes. Isotopic ratios were measured from tissue samples of sympatric killer whaleOrcinus orcalineages from the North Sea, spanning over 10 000 years. Isotopic ratios spanned a range similar to the difference in isotopic values of two known prey items, herringClupea harengusand harbour sealPhoca vitulina. Two proxies of the stage of speciation, lineage sorting of mitogenomes and genotypic clustering, were both weak to intermediate indicating that speciation has made little progress. Thus, our study confirms that even with the necessary ecological conditions, i.e. among-individual variation in ecology, it is difficult for sympatric speciation to progress in the face of gene flow. In contrast to some theoretical models, our empirical results suggest that sympatric speciation driven by among-individual differences in ecological niche is a slow process and may not reach completion. We argue that sympatric speciation is constrained in this system owing to the plastic nature of the behavioural traits under selection when hunting either mammals or fish.
Reciprocity explains food sharing in humans and other primates independent of kin selection and tolerated scrounging: a phylogenetic meta-analysis
Authors: Jaeggi Adrian V. , Gurven Michael
Published: August 2013

Helping, i.e. behaviour increasing the fitness of others, can evolve when directed towards kin or reciprocating partners. These predictions have been tested in the context of food sharing both in human foragers and non-human primates. Here, we performed quantitative meta-analyses on 32 independent study populations to (i) test for overall effects of reciprocity on food sharing while controlling for alternative explanations, methodological biases, publication bias and phylogeny and (ii) compare the relative effects of reciprocity, kinship and tolerated scrounging, i.e. sharing owing to costs imposed by others. We found a significant overall weighted effect size for reciprocity of
r
= 0.20–0.48 for the most and least conservative measure, respectively. Effect sizes did not differ between humans and other primates, although there were species differences in in-kind reciprocity and trade. The relative effect of reciprocity in sharing was similar to those of kinship and tolerated scrounging. These results indicate a significant independent contribution of reciprocity to human and primate helping behaviour. Furthermore, similar effect sizes in humans and primates speak against cognitive constraints on reciprocity. This study is the first to use meta-analyses to quantify these effects on human helping and to directly compare humans and other primates.