bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐term regulation of local cytokine production following immunization in mice
Authors: Nakayama Tetsuo , Kashiwagi Yasuyo , Kawashima Hisashi
Published: December 2017

Vaccines based on pathogen components require adjuvants to enhance the antigen‐specific adaptive immune response. Intramuscular injection of adjuvanted‐vaccines induces inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory nodules at the injection site within 48 hr after injection (Vaccine 2014; 32: 3393–401). In the present study, long‐term regulation of cytokine production was investigated at 3, 6, 24, and 48 hr, 5 and 7 days, and 2 and 4 weeks after immunization with human papilloma virus (HPV), diphtheria and tetanus toxoids combined with acellular pertussis (DTaP), Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib), and pneumococcal conjugated (PCV) vaccines in mouse models. The second dose was given 4 weeks later, and cytokine profiles were investigated 2, 5, and 7 days after re‐immunization. IL‐1β, IL‐6, granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF), and MCP‐1 were produced from 3 hr and peaked at 48 hr after immunization with Cervarix in mice. IL‐4, MCP‐1, and TNF‐α peaked at 5 or 7 days after immunization with Gardasil. These cytokines decreased 7 days after immunization with Cervarix and Gardasil. After the second dose, similar responses were observed. Both vaccines induced neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) in inflammatory nodules. The peak amount of IL‐1β, IL‐6, G‐CSF, and MCP‐1 was observed on day 5 of immunization and that of IL‐4 on days 5‐7 of immunization with DTaP, but no increase in IL‐6 and G‐CSF was observed after re‐immunization. A similar response was noted after immunization with PCV13. An inflammatory response is essential for the development of adaptive immunity through the production of inflammatory cytokines.
Knowledge diffusion and agricultural development
Authors: Islam Md. Rabiul , Madsen Jakob B.
Published: December 2017

Low agricultural productivity remains the primary source of poverty in the developing regions and yet little is known about the influence on agricultural productivity of domestic and international accumulated R&D knowledge and the channels through which this knowledge is transmitted internationally. Following a large scientific literature, this article argues that R&D and R&D knowledge spillover are ecozone‐specific and, therefore, are transmitted internationally through ecozones, where ecozones are the broadest biogeographic division of the earth's land surface. Using data for a panel of 88 countries, it is shown that international knowledge spillovers are ecozone‐specific and have been an important contributing factor behind the marked widening of the income gap between developed and developing countries since 1983.
Unshielded magnetocardiography: Repeatability and reproducibility of automatically estimated ventricular repolarization parameters in 204 healthy subjects
Authors: Sorbo Anna Rita , Lombardi Gianmarco , La Brocca Lara , Guida Gianluigi , Fenici Riccardo , Brisinda Donatella
Published: December 2017

Background

Magnetocardiographic mapping (MCG) provides quantitative assessment of the magnetic field (MF) induced by cardiac ionic currents, is more sensitive to tangential currents, and measures vortex currents undetectable by ECG, with higher reported sensitivity of MCG ventricular repolarization (VR) parameters for earlier detection of acute myocardial ischemia. Aims of this study were to validate the feasibility of in‐hospital unshielded MCG and to assess repeatability and reproducibility of quantitative VR parameters, considering also possible gender‐ and age‐related variability.

Methods

MCG of 204 healthy subjects [114 males—mean age 43.4 ± 17.3 and 90 females—mean age 40.2 ± 15.7] was retrospectively analyzed, with a patented proprietary software automatically estimating twelve VR parameters derived from the analysis of the dynamics of the T‐wave MF extrema (five parameters) and from the inverse solution with the effective magnetic dipole model giving the effective magnetic vector components (seven parameters). MCG repeatability was calculated as coefficient of variation (CV) ±standard error of the mean (SEM). Reproducibility was assessed as intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results

The repeatability of all MCG parameters was 16 ± 1.2 (%) (average CV ± SEM). Optimal (ICC > 0.7) reproducibility was found for 11/12 parameters (mean values) and in 8/12 parameters (single values). No significant gender‐related difference was observed; six parameters showed a strong/moderate correlation with age.

Conclusion

Reliable MCG can be performed into an unshielded hospital ambulatory, with repeatability and reproducibility of quantitative assessment of VR adequate for clinical purposes. Wider clinical use is foreseen with the development of multichannel optical magnetometry.
Thromboelastography does not provide additional information to guide resuscitation in the severely injured
Authors: van Wessem Karlijn J. P. , Leenen Luke P. H.
Published: December 2017

Background

Haemostasis assessment is essential to determine the early need for massive transfusion in the treatment of polytrauma. Strategies to guide correction of coagulopathy vary widely. In order to evaluate thromboelastography (TEG) for this goal, a prospective study was performed comparing TEG to conventional coagulation assays (CCAs) in severely injured patients.

Methods

Consecutive polytrauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a level‐1 trauma centre were prospectively included over a 30‐month period. All patients had CCA on arrival in emergency department. Patients who needed massive transfusion and underwent urgent surgery had additionally a Kaolin‐activated TEG.

Results

One hundred and thirty‐five patients were included, 76% male, median age 45 years, 96% blunt injuries and median injury severity score was 29. One hundred and fourteen patients had CCA only and 21 patients had both CCA and TEG. Patients who had both CCA and TEG were acidotic, hypothermic and coagulopathic on arrival in emergency department. All 21 patients had normal TEG results even though prothrombin time was prolonged.

Conclusions

TEGs were normal in all polytrauma patients even though patients were severely injured. They had prolonged prothrombin time, acidosis and hypothermia both on arrival and when TEG was measured. Caution should be exercised in interpretation of TEG results in treating polytrauma patients. In our system, with aggressive early haemostatic resuscitation, TEG does not provide additional information in guiding resuscitation.
Polytope samplers for network tomography
Authors: Hazelton Martin L. , Bilton Timothy P.
Published: December 2017

Network tomography is concerned with reconstruction and estimation of properties of traffic flow that are linked to the observed data through an underdetermined linear system. The likelihood function for such problems can be expressed only as the sum over integer‐valued points in a convex polytope. Typically this set is too large to enumerate, so that statistical inference must proceed by sampling from the polytope. Recent progress has seen the development of polytope sampling algorithms that operate well when the network link‐path incidence matrix is totally unimodular. In this paper we examine whether this property is likely to hold in practical applications. We find that total unimodularity is assured for certain simple networks, but that it can fail in more complex cases. We show that when it does fail, the existing polytope samplers may not generate the requisite irreducible Markov chain. As a remedy, a modified algorithm is proposed in which the basis for the polytope adapts to ensure adequate mixing over the entire polytope. The operation of this algorithm is illustrated by a numerical example.
Confidence intervals for nonparametric quantile regression: an emphasis on smoothing splines approach
Authors: Lim Yaeji , Oh Hee‐Seok
Published: December 2017

In this paper we consider the problem of constructing confidence intervals for nonparametric quantile regression with an emphasis on smoothing splines. The mean‐based approaches for smoothing splines of Wahba (1983) and Nychka (1988) may not be efficient for constructing confidence intervals for the underlying function when the observed data are non‐Gaussian distributed, for instance if they are skewed or heavy‐tailed. This paper proposes a method of constructing confidence intervals for the unknownτth quantile function (0<τ<1) based on smoothing splines. In this paper we investigate the extent to which the proposed estimator provides the desired coverage probability. In addition, an improvement based on a local smoothing parameter that provides more uniform pointwise coverage is developed. The results from numerical studies including a simulation study and real data analysis demonstrate the promising empirical properties of the proposed approach.
Survey of equine castration techniques, preferences and outcomes among Australian veterinarians
Authors: Owens CD , Hughes KJ , Hilbert BJ , Heller J , Nielsen S , Trope GD
Published: December 2017

Objectives

(1) To collect the perceptions of veterinarians performing equine castrations in Australia on techniques, preferences and outcomes, (2) to investigate veterinarian use and experience with the Henderson castrating instrument and (3) to investigate potential associations between demographics, castration methods and techniques, and complications.

Design

Online survey of members of the Australian Veterinary Association’s Special Interest Group, Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA).

Methods

A link to the survey was included in the EVA e‐newsletter and practices on the EVA website were contacted by telephone and follow‐up email. Fisher’s exact test was used to determine associations between ligation and complications. A generalised linear model with a negative binomial family was used to determine associations between count response variables and categorical independent variables.

Results

Responses were obtained from 138 veterinarians (response rate, 13.1%) who performed 5330 castrations over 12 months. Castrations were most commonly performed in the field, on anaesthetised horses, using emasculators, via an open approach and without ligation of the spermatic cord. Estimated complications after use of emasculators were swelling (25%), haemorrhage (5%) and infection (5%). The Henderson instrument was used by approximately 10% of respondents and its use for castration was associated with fewer reports of postoperative swelling compared with emasculators (P = 0.002). Rates of evisceration with the Henderson and emasculator methods were comparable (0.43% and 0.9%, respectively).

Conclusion

Castration preferences varied widely among survey participants. Reported complication types and rates were comparable to those reported previously in other countries. Perceptions that the Henderson instrument was associated with less swelling should be investigated further via a prospective controlled investigation.
Interactive Contributions of Attribution Biases and Emotional Intensity to Child–Friend Interaction Quality During Preadolescence
Authors: Chen Xi , McElwain Nancy L. , Lansford Jennifer E.
Published: December 2017

Using data from a subsample of 913 study children and their friends who participated in the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, the interactive contributions of child‐reported attribution biases and teacher‐reported child emotional intensity (EI) at Grade 4 (M = 9.9 years) to observed child–friend interaction at Grade 6 (M = 11.9 years) were examined. Study children's hostile attribution bias, combined with high EI, predicted more negative child–friend interaction. In contrast, benign attribution bias, combined with high EI, predicted more positive child–friend interaction. The findings are discussed in light of the “fuel” interpretation of EI, in which high‐intensity emotions may motivate children to act on their cognitive biases for better or for worse.
Visually Supporting Multiple Needle Placement in Irreversible Electroporation Interventions
Authors: Kreiser J. , Freedman J. , Ropinski T.
Published: December 2017

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a minimally invasive technique for small tumour ablation. Multiple needles are inserted around the planned treatment zone and, depending on the size, inside as well. An applied electric field triggers instant cell death around this zone. To ensure the correct application of IRE, certain criteria need to be fulfilled. The needles' placement in the tissue has to be parallel, at the same depth, and in a pattern which allows the electric field to effectively destroy the targeted lesions. As multiple needles need to synchronously fulfill these criteria, it is challenging for the surgeon to perform a successful IRE. Therefore, we propose a visualization which exploits intuitive visual coding to support the surgeon when conducting IREs. We consider two scenarios: first, to monitor IRE parameters while inserting needles during laparoscopic surgery; second, to validate IRE parameters in post‐placement scenarios using computed tomography. With the help of an easy to comprehend and lightweight visualization, surgeons are enabled to quickly visually detect what needs to be adjusted. We have evaluated our visualization together with surgeons to investigate the practical use for IRE liver ablations. A quantitative study shows the effectiveness compared to a single 3D view placement method.
Vertical distribution of larval Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus): Implications for vertical migratory behaviour and transport
Authors: Hale Edward A. , Targett Timothy E.
Published: December 2017

Understanding the interactions among biological and physical processes is essential to determining how the environment affects transport and survival of fishes. We examined vertical distribution in larval Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) using 126 depth stratified tows in Delaware Bay, USA, during two cruises, in December 2007 and February 2008. Menhaden larvae were 16.8–24.6 and 20.5–26.2 mm standard length in December and February. Corresponding lengths for croaker were 9.3–17.9 and 8.6–19.6 mm. Using empirical observations, and statistically derived models, we explored larval concentration for both species as a function of location, depth, diel period, tidal period, size, and pairwise interactions. Menhaden concentration was best modeled as a function of station, cruise, and interactions between depth and size as well as between station and cruise. No significant differences in larval menhaden concentration were present among tidal and diel periods. Croaker concentration was best modeled as a function of size and interactions between station and diel period, depth and size, cruise and size. Despite tidal period not emerging as a significant model parameter, we observed larger croaker larvae during nighttime flood tides. Our statistical models are consistent with processes of up‐estuary transport for both species, suggesting larvae are increasingly affected by behavioral responses as larvae grow, exhibiting stronger patterns in vertical distribution. The results refine our understanding of the potential importance of size‐related differences in vertical distribution for larval transport in these species. Future research should examine the interactions among size‐specific vertical migratory capabilities, vertical distribution, transport, and retention.
Delineating advanced practice nursing in New Zealand: a national survey
Authors: Carryer J. , Wilkinson J. , Towers A. , Gardner G.
Published: December 2017

Background

A variety of advanced practice nursing roles and titles have proliferated in response to the changing demands of a population characterized by increasing age and chronic illness. Whilst similarly identified as advanced practice roles, they do not share a common practice profile, educational requirements or legislative direction. The lack of clarity limits comparative research that can inform policy and health service planning.

Aims

To identify advanced practice roles within nursing titles employed in New Zealand and practice differences between advanced practice and other roles.

Method

Replicating recent Australian research, 3255 registered nurses/nurse practitioners in New Zealand completed the amended Advanced Practice Delineation survey tool. The mean domain scores of the predominant advanced practice position were compared with those of other positions. Differences between groups were explored using one‐way ANOVA and post hoc between group comparisons.

Results

Four nursing position bands were identified: nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, domain‐specific and registered nurse. Significant differences between the bands were found on many domain scores. The nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist bands had the most similar practice profiles, nurse practitioners being more involved in direct care and professional leadership.

Conclusions

Similar to the position of clinical nurse consultant in Australia, those practicing as clinical nurse specialists were deemed to reflect the threshold for advanced practice nursing. The results identified different practice patterns for the identified bands and distinguish the advanced practice nursing roles.

Implications for nursing policy

By replicating the Australian study of Gardener et al. (2016), this NZ paper extends the international data available to support more evidence‐based nursing workforce planning and policy development.
New single‐component multicolor emission Na1−xAl1+2xSi1−2xO4:xBi3+/Eu3+ phosphors via energy transfer
Authors: Xu Chengyi , Sheng Ye , Song Yanhua , Guan Hongxia , Zhang Xiangting , Meng Deyue , Zhu He , Shi Zhan , Zou Haifeng , Zheng Keyan
Published: December 2017

A series of emission‐tunable Na1−xAl1+2xSi1−2xO4:xBi3+/Eu3+ phosphors were synthesized via high temperature solid‐state reaction method. The luminescence properties, energy transfer from Bi3+ to Eu3+ ions, color tuning, thermal stability and quantum efficiency were systematically investigated. Especially, in the host, a certain amount of Si4+ were replaced by Al3+ in order to remedy the charge compensating defect, so that, the emission intensity had been improved. The results of Rietveld refinements, the analysis of SEM mapping and the fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) indicated that this charge balance strategy was an effective method. Meanwhile, the energy transfer from Bi3+ to Eu3+ can be inferred and confirmed and the mechanisms were demonstrated to quadrupole–quadrupole interaction. The emission hue can be tuned from blue to pink, and finally to orange red light by properly varying the ratio of Bi3+ and Eu3+. Importantly, when the temperature was raised to 150°C, the integrated emission intensity was 71.20% of the initial value for NAS:1%Bi3+,2%Eu3+ samples indicating that these phosphors had excellent thermal stability and stable color (no emission shift). All these properties indicate that the developed phosphors may be potentially used as single‐component color‐tunable‐emitting phosphors for UV light‐emitting diodes.
When the species–time–area relationship meets island biogeography: Diversity patterns of avian communities over time and space in a subtropical archipelago
Authors: Song Xiao , Holt Robert D. , Si Xingfeng , Christman Mary C. , Ding Ping
Published: December 2017

Aim

The species–area (SAR) and species–time relationships (STR) are of vital importance in community ecology. Previous studies suggest that a unified, general species–time–area relationship (STAR) may hold, with non‐independent scaling of richness across space and time. Most STAR studies to date have considered species accumulation curves in relatively homogeneous habitats. Here, we test the generality of the STAR in an island system and assess how factors other than area influence species richness, accumulation and turnover through time.

Location

Thousand Island Lake, China.

Methods

We surveyed bird communities on 36 islands using line transects, and calculated annual species richness of breeding birds from 2007 to 2015. We built island STAR models at island (island STAR; ISTAR) and transect levels (local community–time–area relationship; LCTAR). We employed partial correlations and multiple regressions to examine potential influences of island attributes other than area (i.e. isolation, edge effect and habitat richness) on slopes of STRs.

Results

ISTAR and LCTAR models explained 88.8% and 83.1% of total variance, respectively, and both models have a negative space–time interaction. Richness scales comparably in space and time, for both whole‐island and transect‐level analyses. The partial correlation analysis showed that distance to mainland and perimeter‐to‐area ratio are significantly positively correlated with the time scalar (w), and habitat richness and w are negatively correlated. Multiple regression models identify perimeter‐to‐area ratio as particularly influential.

Main conclusions

The STAR pattern generalized to an island system where species turnover is high, indicating an interdependency of time and space in determining species richness. Islands have attributes other than area that influence patterns of species accumulation and turnover through time. Ecologists should consider the interdependence of space and time when characterizing species richness patterns.
Linking genotype to phenotype in a changing ocean: inferring the genomic architecture of a blue mussel stress response with genome‐wide association
Authors: Kingston S. E. , Martino P. , Melendy M. , Reed F. A. , Carlon D. B.
Published: December 2017

A key component to understanding the evolutionary response to a changing climate is linking underlying genetic variation to phenotypic variation in stress response. Here, we use a genome‐wide association approach (GWAS) to understand the genetic architecture of calcification rates under simulated climate stress. We take advantage of the genomic gradient across the blue mussel hybrid zone (Mytilus edulis and Mytilus trossulus) in the Gulf of Maine (GOM) to link genetic variation with variance in calcification rates in response to simulated climate change. Falling calcium carbonate saturation states are predicted to negatively impact many marine organisms that build calcium carbonate shells – like blue mussels. We sampled wild mussels and measured net calcification phenotypes after exposing mussels to a ‘climate change’ common garden, where we raised temperature by 3°C, decreased pH by 0.2 units and limited food supply by filtering out planktonic particles >5 μm, compared to ambient GOM conditions in the summer. This climate change exposure greatly increased phenotypic variation in net calcification rates compared to ambient conditions. We then used regression models to link the phenotypic variation with over 170 000 single nucleotide polymorphism loci (SNPs) generated by genotype by sequencing to identify genomic locations associated with calcification phenotype, and estimate heritability and architecture of the trait. We identified at least one of potentially 2–10 genomic regions responsible for 30% of the phenotypic variation in calcification rates that are potential targets of natural selection by climate change. Our simulations suggest a power of 13.7% with our study's average effective sample size of 118 individuals and rare alleles, but a power of >90% when effective sample size is 900.
Predation drives morphological convergence in theGambusia panucospecies group among lotic and lentic habitats
Authors: Moody E. K. , Lozano‐Vilano M. L.
Published: December 2017

Fish morphology is often constrained by a trade‐off between optimizing steady vs. unsteady swimming performance due to opposing effects of caudal peduncle size. Lotic environments tend to select for steady swimming performance, leading to smaller caudal peduncles, whereas predators tend to select for unsteady swimming performance, leading to larger caudal peduncles. However, it is unclear which aspect of performance should be optimized across heterogeneous flow and predation environments and how this heterogeneity may affect parallel phenotypic evolution. We investigated this question among fourGambusiaspecies in north‐eastern Mexico, specifically the riverineG. panuco, the spring endemicsG. alvareziandG. hurtadoi, and a fourth species,G. marshi, found in a variety of habitats with varying predation pressure in the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin and Río Salado de Nadadores. We employed a geometric morphometric analysis to examine how body shapes of both male and female fish differ among species and habitats and with piscivore presence. We found that high‐predation and low‐predation species diverged morphologically, withG. marshiexhibiting a variable, intermediate body shape. WithinG. marshi, body morphology converged in high‐predation environments regardless of flow velocity, and fish from high‐predation sites had larger relative caudal peduncle areas. However, we found thatG. marshifrom low‐predation environments diverged in morphology between sub‐basins of Cuatro Ciénegas, indicating other differences among these basins that merit further study. Our results suggest that a morphological trade‐off promotes parallel evolution of body shape in fishes colonizing high‐predation environments and that changing predation pressure can strongly impact morphological evolution in these species.
Singular approach to penetrometry by preprocessing of digitized force–displacement curves and chemometry: A case study of 12 tomato varieties
Authors: Camps Cédric
Published: December 2017

This study evaluated a singular approach to the analysis of digitized force–displacement curves from penetrometry performed on tomatoes. Penetrometry is commonly used to evaluate the texture properties of fresh fruits and vegetables. Currently, the parameters are computed from force–displacement curves. The parameters are statistically analyzed to highlight differences, for instance, between fruit varieties or differentially stored fruits. In this study, digitized force–displacement curves were considered “mechanical imprints” (MIs). Twelve varieties of tomato were analyzed, and the assumption that a given variety is characterized by a singular MI was tested. The digitized curves were preprocessed through standardization and smoothing. This preprocessing enabled the classification of more than 94% of fruit according to variety compared with 45% of fruit without preprocessing. To compare this approach with a classical approach of texture analysis, 13 parameters were computed from the force–displacement curves and analyzed. This parameters‐based approach enabled the classification of approximately 46% of fruit according to variety. The digitized curve enabled the correct classification of 88% more fruit than the level achieved by the parameters‐based approach. Thus, penetrometry analysis presents new opportunities, particularly for breeding programs aimed at improving the texture characteristics of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, this approach could be adapted to other mechanical tests for the characterization of the textural properties of food products.

Practical applications

The force–displacement curve of penetrometry can be considered a “mechanical imprint” to improve fruit classification according to preharvest and postharvest characteristics (i.e., maturity, variety, etc.). This mechanical imprint represents a new and discriminant phenotyping criterion for tomato breeding to improve texture. The use of the digitized curve rather than computed parameters may be more easily implemented in industry.
A case of Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome associated with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
Authors: Alnahhas Iyad , Wong Jason , Vota Scott
Published: December 2017

Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome is an immune‐mediated disorder of the presynaptic neuromuscular junction that occurs in paraneoplastic and nontumor forms. Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome is most commonly associated with small‐cell lung cancer, but has also been reported with other neuroendocrine tumors including large‐cell neuroendocrine tumor of the lung, atypical carcinoid, thymic neuroendocrine tumor, and Merkel cell carcinoma. We here report a case of electro‐diagnostically confirmed Lambert–Eaton syndrome in a patient who was found to have pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor with positive P/Q‐type calcium channel antibodies.
Nursing as concrete philosophy, Part II: Engaging with reality
Authors: Theodoridis Kyriakos
Published: December 2017

This is the second paper of an essay in two parts. The first paper (Part I) is a critical discussion of Mark Risjord's conception of nursing knowledge where I argued against the conception of nursing knowledge as a kind of nursing science. The aim of the present paper (Part II) is to explicate and substantiate the thesis of nursing as a kind of concrete philosophy. My strategy is to elaborate upon certain themes from Wittgenstein's Tractatus in order to canvass a general scheme of philosophy based on a distinction between reality and the world. This distinction will be employed in the appropriation of certain significant features of nursing and nursing knowledge. By elaborating on the contrast between the abstract and the concrete, I will suggest that nursing may be seen as a kind of concrete philosophy, being primarily concerned with reality (and secondarily with the world). This thesis, I will argue, implies that philosophy is the kind of theory that is essential to nursing (which is not so much a theory than a certain kind of activity).
Entrapped carrion increases indirect plant resistance and intra‐guild predation on a sticky tarweed
Authors: LoPresti Eric , Krimmel Billy , Pearse Ian S.
Published: December 2017

Many plants employ indirect defenses against herbivores; often plants provide a shelter or nutritional resource to predators, increasing predator abundance, and lessening herbivory to the plant. Often, predators on the same plant represent different life stages and different species. In these situations intraguild predation (IGP) may occur and may decrease the efficacy of that defense. Recently, several sticky plants have been found to increase indirect defense by provisioning predatory insects with entrapped insects (hereafter: carrion). We conducted observational studies and feeding trials with herbivores and predators on two sticky, insect‐entrapping asters, Hemizonia congesta and Madia elegans, to construct food webs for these species and determine the prevalence of IGP in these carrion‐provisioning systems. In both systems, intraguild predation was the most common interaction observed. To determine whether IGP was driven by resource abundance, whether it reduced efficacy of this indirect defense and whether stickiness or predator attraction was induced by damage, we performed field manipulations on H. congesta. Carrion supplementation led to an increase in predator abundance and IGP. IGP was asymmetric within the predator guild: assassin bugs and spiders preyed on small stilt bugs but not vice versa. Despite increased IGP, carrion provisions decreased the abundance of the two most common herbivores (a weevil and a mealybug). Overall seed set was driven by plant size, but number of seeds produced per fruit significantly increased with increasing carrion, likely because of the reduction in the density of a seed‐feeding weevil. Observationally and experimentally, we found that carrion‐mediated indirect defense of tarweeds led to much intraguild predation, though predators effectively reduced herbivore abundance despite the increase in IGP.
The natural selection of metabolism explains curvature in allometric scaling
Authors: Witting Lars
Published: December 2017

I simulate the natural selection of metabolism and mass to explain the curvature in the metabolic allometry for placental and marsupial mammals. The simulation model starts with a single ancestor in each clade at the Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary 65 million years ago. The release of inter‐specific competition by the extinction of dinosaurs make it possible for each clade to diversify into a multitude of species across a wide range of empty niches. The selection of mass in these species depends on the net assimilated energy that depends on 1) the handling of the resources in the different niches, and on 2) mass‐specific metabolism that defines the pace of the handling process. The model is fitted to explain the maximum observed body masses over time and the current inter‐specific allometry for metabolism. The selection of mass‐specific metabolism is found to bend the metabolic allometry over time, even when all species have the same selection on the per‐generation time‐scale of natural selection. This is because the smaller species evolve over a larger number of generations than the larger species. The strongest curvature is in the placental clade, where the estimated rate of exponential increase in mass‐specific metabolism is 9.3 × 10−9 (95% CI: 7.3 × 10−9 – 1.1 × 10−8) on the per‐generation time‐scale. This is an order of magnitude larger than the estimate for marsupials, in agreement with an average metabolism that is 30% larger in placentals relative to marsupials of similar size.
What is performance measurement for? Multiple uses of performance information within organizations
Authors: Micheli Pietro , Pavlov Andrey
Published: December 2017

Recent research in performance measurement has focused on the tension between two uses of performance information: ‘passive’, to ensure compliance, and ‘purposeful’, to improve services. This article presents an in‐depth study of two public sector organizations in England and shows that the main tension may actually lie between a combined purposeful and passive use, and an exclusively passive one. This tension was most pronounced between organizational levels, where a combined use was dominant among senior managers, and an exclusively passive one was prevalent among middle managers and frontline staff. This split was not intentional—instead, it reflected how people interpreted the role of performance measurement, suggesting that simply promoting greater use of information may not be sufficient for linking measurement with service improvement. This study extends the theoretical understanding of the dynamics of performance information use in organizations and generates implications for using performance measurement to improve service delivery.
Association between extremity kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and lymphedema
Authors: Konczyk Dennis J. , Goss Jeremy A. , Maclellan Reid A. , Greene Arin K.
Published: December 2017

Kaposiform hemangioendotheliomas are pediatric vascular tumors that do not metastasize. We present a patient with a thigh kaposiform hemangioendothelioma successfully treated using a systemic corticosteroid during infancy who was diagnosed with lymphedema in the extremity 9 years later. The observation that extremity kaposiform hemangioendothelioma could possibly be associated with lymphedema has implications for the care of patients with kaposiform hemangioendothelioma.
Vavilov wheat accessions provide useful sources of resistance to tan spot (syn. yellow spot) of wheat
Authors: Dinglasan E. G. , Godwin I. D. , Phan H. T. T. , Tan K.‐C. , Platz G. J. , Hickey L. T.
Published: December 2017

Host genetic resistance is the most effective and sustainable means of managing tan spot or yellow spot of wheat. The disease is becoming increasingly problematic due to the adoption of minimum tillage practices, evolution of effector‐mediated pathogenicity, and widespread cultivation of susceptible cultivars from a narrow genetic base. This highlights the importance of broadening the diversity of resistance factors in modern breeding germplasm. This study explored 300 genetically diverse wheat accessions, originally sourced from the N. I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR), St Petersburg, Russia. The collection was screened for resistance to tan spot at seedling and adult stage under controlled conditions, and in the field across 2 years. The phenotypic datasets, coupled with ToxA bioassay screening, identified a number of accessions with useful sources of resistance. Seedling disease response corresponded well with ToxA sensitivity (r = 0.49, P < 0.000), but not adult responses (r = −0.02 to −0.19, P < 0.002), and overall reactions to ToxA appeared to show poor correspondence with disease response at the adult stage. ToxA‐insensitive accessions were generally found resistant across different growth stages (all‐stage resistance, ASR) in all experiments (seedling and adult stage under controlled conditions and field). ToxA‐sensitive accessions that were susceptible at seedling stage, but resistant at both adult‐plant stages, were deemed to carry adult‐plant resistance (APR). This study provides detailed information on the degree of tan spot resistance in the Vavilov wheat collection and discusses strategies to harness these sources to boost the diversity of resistance factors in modern wheat breeding germplasm.
How many trials does it take to get a significant ERP effect? It depends
Authors: Boudewyn Megan A. , Luck Steven J. , Farrens Jaclyn L. , Kappenman Emily S.
Published: December 2017

In designing an ERP study, researchers must choose how many trials to include, balancing the desire to maximize statistical power and the need to minimize the length of the recording session. Recent studies have attempted to quantify the minimum number of trials needed to obtain reliable measures for a variety of ERP components. However, these studies have largely ignored other variables that affect statistical power in ERP studies, including sample size and effect magnitude. The goal of the present study was to determine whether and how the number of trials, number of participants, and effect magnitude interact to influence statistical power, thus providing a better guide for selecting an appropriate number of trials. We used a Monte Carlo approach to measure the probability of obtaining a statistically significant result when testing for (a) the presence of an ERP effect, (b) within‐participant condition differences in an ERP effect, and (c) between‐participants group differences in an ERP effect. Each of these issues was examined in the context of the error‐related negativity and the lateralized readiness potential. We found that doubling the number of trials recommended by previous studies led to more than a doubling of statistical power under many conditions. Thus, when determining the number of trials that should be included in a given study, researchers must consider the sample size, the anticipated effect magnitude, and the noise level, rather than relying solely on general recommendations about the number of trials needed to obtain a “stable” ERP waveform.
Henry Savile's Tacitus in Italy
Authors: Philo John‐Mark
Published: December 2017

This article examines the Italian afterlife of Henry Savile's Tacitus. Approximately four years before his execution, Henry Cuffe (1562/3–1601), classical scholar and secretary to the Earl of Essex, produced a series of translations into Italian and Latin of Savile's commentary on Tacitus. Cuffe completed these at Padua in the company of Gian Vincenzo Pinelli (1535–1601), owner of one of the largest private libraries of the Renaissance. Pinelli subsequently produced a discourse responding to Savile's commentary, challenging Savile's reading of the Agricola. These works, preserved at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milan, reveal a fascinating exchange of ideas across languages and across cultures in the final years of the Cinquecento.
Contrasting physical and biochemical properties of orchard soils suppressive and conducive to Fusarium wilt of banana
Authors: Li Z. , Deng Z. , Chen S. , Yang H. , Zheng Y. , Dai L. , Zhang F. , Wang S. , Hu Shuijin
Published: December 2017

Fusarium wilt disease is one of the most serious soil‐borne diseases in banana orchards worldwide. Some soils are suppressive to Fusarium wilt, although the mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, two typical banana‐growing soils (ultisol and inceptisol), which were either suppressive or conducive to Fusarium wilt, were collected from Hainan, China. Particle size distribution, pH values, electrical conductivity (EC), enzyme activities and microbial polymerase chain reaction amplification of the soil samples were analysed. The suppressive soils had significantly more >2 and <0.053 mm aggregates than the conducive soils. In addition, the suppressive soils had a comparatively even size distribution within the range of 0–0.25 mm. Total carbon, total nitrogen and soil enzyme activities in the aggregates of suppressive soils were also significantly higher than those in the conducive soils. For example, soil invertase activities in the >2 mm aggregates were 7.9–11.9 and 3.2–3.3 mg/g for the suppressive and conducive soils, respectively. Furthermore, in situ EC can be applied as an indicator of the integrated contrast between the suppressive and conducive soils, and could be a new tool for monitoring soil‐borne disease.
Enhanced electrocoagulation–electroflotation for turbidity removal by Opuntia ficus indica cladode mucilage
Authors: Djerroud Naima , Adjeroud Nawel , Felkai‐Haddache Lamia , Hammoui Yasmina , Remini Hocine , Dahmoune Farid , Merzouk Belkacem , Madani Khodir
Published: December 2017

The optimisation of the electrocoagulation‐electroflotation (EC‐EF) process assisted by the mucilage of the Opuntia ficus indica (OFI), on the turbidity removal was performed through the response surface methodology (RSM). For a solution of 300 mg/L of silica gel, high turbidity removal (93.14% ± 1.31) was obtained under the optimal conditions of 2.5 mg/L, 21.2 V, 9.65 and 2.61 mS/cm for the mucilage concentration, voltage, pH and conductivity, respectively, this experimental value was close to the predicted value of 92.96% ± 0.3. OFI mucilage increases turbidity removal efficiency and reduces specific energy consumption at a fixed current density. The turbidity removal of the EC‐EF process was improved by 30.94% compared with the conventional EC–EF (EC–EF without OFI mucilage) which shows 62.02% ± 1.45 of turbidity removal.
Under the sea: Pulsing corals in ambient flow
Authors: Battista Nicholas A. , Samson Julia E. , Khatri Shilpa , Miller Laura A.
Published: December 2017

While many organisms filter feed and exchange heat or nutrients in flow, few benthic organisms also actively pulse to enhance feeding and exchange. One example is the pulsing soft coral (Alcyonacea: Xeniidae). Pulsing corals live in colonies, where each polyp actively pulses through contraction and relaxation of their tentacles. The pulses are typically out of phase and without a clear pattern. These corals live in lagoons and bays found in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean where they at times experience strong ambient flows. In this paper, 3D fluid-structure interaction simulations are used to quantify the effects of ambient flow on the exchange currents produced by the active contraction of pulsing corals. We find a complex interaction between the flows produced by the coral and the background flow. The dynamics can either enhance or reduce the upward jet generated in a quiescent medium. The pulsing behavior also slows the average horizontal flow near the polyp when there is a strong background flow. The dynamics of these flows have implications for particle capture and nutrient exchange.
Long-Term Creep-Rupture Behavior of Inconel® 740 and Haynes® 282
Authors: Tortorelli P. F. , Wang H. , Unocic K. A. , Santella M. L. , Shingledecker J. P. , Cedro V.
Published: December 2017

Creep testing and microstructural analysis were used to assess the properties and time-dependent deformation behavior of precipitation-strengthened nickel-based alloys, specifically, Inconel® alloy 740 and Haynes® 282® alloy, for use as pressure components in boilers operating under advanced steam conditions (750°C, >35 MPa). In support of the need for extended service of steam boiler tubing, piping and vessels, the ability of simple Larson-Miller estimates and a modified power-law model (Wilshire et al.) to predict creep lifetimes on the order of 105 hours based on experimental data out to almost 50,000 h was evaluated for these alloys. Even under conservative conditions, both Inconel alloy 740 and Haynes 282 project to have creep lifetimes exceeding 100,000 hours at 750°C and 100 MPa.

Paper published with permission.
Performance Research on Large Diameter P91 Produced by Hot-Expanding Process
Authors: Yin Lijun , Wu Guang , Xu Tong , Shou Binan
Published: December 2017

The Medium Frequency Local-Heating Expanding Diameter Process (MFLHEDP), also called the hot-expanding process, can produce large diameter thin-wall steel pipes. Because of its advantages, such as low cost, short delivery time etc., MFLHEDP becomes an important supplement for the traditional processes of seamless steel pipe manufacturing. In the presented study, the short-term mechanical properties and the high-temperature long-term rupture strength of a P91 pipe the diameter of which was expanded using MFLHEDP, were tested. The experimental result shows that the performances of the P91 pipe produced by MFLHEDP can meet the requirements of the applicable standards.

Paper published with permission.
Creep Deformation, Rupture Strength, and Rupture Ductility of Grades T/P92 Steels
Authors: Kimura Kazuhiro , Sawada Kota , Kushima Hideaki
Published: December 2017

Creep and creep rupture strength property of Grades T/P92 steels are investigated. Assessment of creep rupture strength is examined by region splitting analysis method with the use of three type time-temperature parameters (TTP) of Larson-Miller, Orr-Sherby-Dorn, and Manson-Succop parameters. According to the evaluated creep rupture strength, the current allowable stress of Grades T/P92 steels is reviewed. Remarkable drop in creep rupture ductility of the steels is recognized in the low-stress and long-term regime where the ratio of stress to 0.2% offset yield stress is 50% and below, and it is discussed in consideration of change in creep deformation property.

Paper published with permission.
Creep-Fatigue Design Applied to Molten Salt Solar Receivers
Authors: Radke Edward F. , Wasyluk David T. , Dewees David J. , Tanzosh James M.
Published: December 2017

The development of solar energy for commercial power generation has been an active area of work for several decades. A limiting design consideration for solar receivers is creep-fatigue because of the high heat fluxes involved and the inherent cyclic nature of solar energy. Design activities and concerns are presented for a recent commercial molten salt receiver application. A critical review of available creep-fatigue data and methods is provided and supplemented with detailed inelastic analysis. Recommendations are made for both design and further material property development that would help to remove conservatism and increase reliability.

Paper published with permission.
Hastelloy® N for Molten Salt Reactors Used for Power Generation
Authors: Swindeman Robert W. , Ren Weiju , Katcher Michael , Holcomb David E.
Published: December 2017

Hastelloy® N alloy was developed in the 1950’s as ‘INOR 8’ by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to resist molten salts used as a fuel and coolant in the early development of molten salt nuclear reactors for propulsion and power generation. China has recently expressed interest in Hastelloy N for use in prototype and demonstration components for a high-temperature, uranium-fueled, molten-salt cooled reactor for the production of electricity. An ASME Section III NH Code Case will be necessary to move Alloy N forward commercially. This paper discusses the guidelines for design data requirements necessary to satisfy the Boiler Code for elevated temperature nuclear applications where creep effects are significant. The historic tensile and creep properties data for Alloy N (N10003) were collected and re-analyzed in accordance with current ASME procedures. The collected data will be uploaded into the ASME Materials Properties Database to support the NH Code Case development.

Paper published with permission.