bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tracing the radiation of Maniola (Nymphalidae) butterflies: new insights from phylogeography hint at one single incompletely differentiated species complex
Authors: Kreuzinger Angelina J. , Fiedler Konrad , Letsch Harald , Grill Andrea
Published: December 2014

The use of DNA sequence data often leads to the recognition of cryptic species within putatively well‐known taxa. The opposite case, detecting less diversity than originally described, has, however, far more rarely been documented. Maniola jurtina, the Meadow Brown butterfly, occurs all over Europe, whereas all other six species in the genus Maniola are restricted to the Mediterranean area. Among them, three are island endemics on Sardinia, Cyprus, and Chios, respectively. Maniola species are almost indistinguishable morphologically, and hybridization seems to occur occasionally. To clarify species boundaries and diversification history of the genus, we reconstructed the phylogeography and phylogeny of all seven species within Maniola analyzing 138 individuals from across its range using mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers. Examination of variation in mitochondrial and nuclear DNA surprisingly revealed a case of taxonomic “oversplitting”. The topology of the recovered phylogenetic tree is not consistent with accepted taxonomy, but rather reveals haplotype clades that are incongruent with nominal species boundaries: instead of seven species, we recognized only two major, yet incompletely segregated, lineages. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that Maniola originated in Africa. We suggest that one lineage dispersed over the Strait of Gibraltar and the Iberian Peninsula to the west of Europe, while the other lineage spreads eastward through Asia Minor and over the Bosporus to Eastern Europe.
IL‐22 and IL‐22 binding protein (IL‐22BP) regulate fibrosis and cirrhosis in hepatitis C virus and schistosome infections
Authors: Sertorio Mathieu , Hou Xunya , Carmo Rodrigo F. , Dessein Hélia , Cabantous Sandrine , Abdelwahed Mohammed , Romano Audrey , Albuquerque Fernanda , Vasconcelos Luydson , Carmo Theomira , Li Jun , Varoquaux Arthur , Arnaud Violaine , Oliveira Pablo , Hamdoun Anas , He Hongbin , Adbelmaboud Suzan , Mergani Adil , Zhou Jie , Monis Ahmed , Pereira Leila Beltrao , Halfon Philippe , Bourlière Marc , Parana Raymundo , dos Reis Mitermayer , Gonnelli David , Moura Patricia , Elwali Nasr Eldin , Argiro Laurent , Li Yuesheng , Dessein Alain
Published: December 2014

Interleukin (IL)‐22 acts on epithelia, hepatocytes, and pancreatic cells and stimulates innate immunity, tissue protection, and repair. IL‐22 may also cause inflammation and abnormal cell proliferation. The binding of IL‐22 to its receptor is competed by IL‐22 binding protein (IL‐22BP), which may limit the deleterious effects of IL‐22. The role of IL‐22 and IL‐22BP in chronic liver diseases is unknown. We addressed this question in individuals chronically infected with schistosomes or hepatitis C virus (HCV). We first demonstrate that schistosome eggs stimulate production of IL‐22 transcripts and inhibit accumulation of IL22‐BP transcripts in schistosome‐infected mice, and that schistosome eggs selectively stimulate production of IL‐22 in cultures of blood leukocytes from individuals chronically infected with Schistosoma japonicum. High IL‐22 levels in cultures correlated with protection against hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension. To test further the implication of IL‐22/IL‐22BP in hepatic disease, we analyzed common genetic variants of IL22RA2, which encodes IL‐22BP, and found that the genotypes, AA, GG of rs6570136 (P = 0.003; odds ratio [OR] = 2), and CC, TT of rs2064501 (P = 0.01; OR = 2), were associated with severe fibrosis in Chinese infected with S. japonicum. We confirmed this result in Sudanese (rs6570136 GG [P = 0.0007; OR = 8.2], rs2064501 TT [P = 0.02; OR = 3.1]), and Brazilians (rs6570136 GG [P = 0.003; OR = 26], rs2064501 TC, TT (P = 0.03; OR = 11]) infected with S. mansoni. The aggravating genotypes were associated with high IL22RA2 transcripts levels. Furthermore, these same variants were also associated with HCV‐induced fibrosis and cirrhosis (rs6570136 GG, GA [P = 0.007; OR = 1.7], rs2064501 TT, TC (P = 0.004; OR = 2.4]). Conclusions: These results provide strong evidence that IL‐22 protects against and IL‐22BP aggravates liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in humans with chronic liver infections. Thus, pharmacological modulation of IL‐22 BP may be an effective strategy to limit cirrhosis. (Hepatology 2015;61:1321–1331)
Hepatitis C virus–induced reduction in miR‐181a impairs CD4+ T‐cell responses through overexpression of DUSP6
Authors: Li Guang Y. , Zhou Yun , Ying Ruo S. , Shi Lei , Cheng Yong Q. , Ren Jun P. , Griffin Jeddidiah W.D. , Jia Zhan S. , Li Chuan F. , Moorman Jonathan P. , Yao Zhi Q.
Published: December 2014

T cells play a crucial role in viral clearance or persistence; however, the precise mechanisms that control their responses during viral infection remain incompletely understood. MicroRNA (miR) has been implicated as a key regulator controlling diverse biological processes through posttranscriptional repression. Here, we demonstrate that hepatitis C virus (HCV)–mediated decline of miR‐181a expression impairs CD4+ T‐cell responses through overexpression of dual specific phosphatase 6 (DUSP6). Specifically, a significant decline of miR‐181a expression along with overexpression of DUSP6 was observed in CD4+ T cells from chronically HCV‐infected individuals compared to healthy subjects, and the levels of miR‐181a loss were found to be negatively associated with the levels of DUSP6 overexpression in these cells. Importantly, reconstitution of miR‐181a or blockade of DUSP6 expression in CD4+ T cells led to improved T‐cell responses including enhanced CD25 and CD69 expression, increased interleukin‐2 expression, and improved proliferation of CD4+ T cells derived from chronically HCV‐infected individuals. Conclusion: Since a decline of miR‐181a concomitant with DUSP6 overexpression is the signature marker for age‐associated T‐cell senescence, these findings provide novel mechanistic insights into HCV‐mediated premature T‐cell aging through miR‐181a‐regulated DUSP6 signaling and reveal new targets for therapeutic rejuvenation of impaired T‐cell responses during chronic viral infection. (Hepatology 2015;61:1163–1173)
Neuromodulatory signaling in hippocampus‐dependent memory retrieval
Authors: Thomas Steven A.
Published: December 2014

Considerable advances have been made toward understanding the molecular signaling events that underlie memory acquisition and consolidation. In contrast, less is known about memory retrieval, despite its necessity for utilizing learned information. This review focuses on neuromodulatory and intracellular signaling events that underlie memory retrieval mediated by the hippocampus, for which the most information is currently available. Among neuromodulators, adrenergic signaling is required for the retrieval of various types of hippocampus‐dependent memory. Although they contribute to acquisition and/or consolidation, cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling are generally not required for retrieval. Interestingly, while not required for retrieval, serotonergic and opioid signaling may actually constrain memory retrieval. Roles for histamine and non‐opioid neuropeptides are currently unclear but possible. A critical effector of adrenergic signaling in retrieval is reduction of the slow afterhyperpolarization mediated by β1 receptors, cyclic AMP, protein kinase A, Epac, and possibly ERK. In contrast, stress and glucocorticoids impair retrieval by decreasing cyclic AMP, mediated in part by the activation of β2‐adrenergic receptors. Clinically, alterations in neuromodulatory signaling and in memory retrieval occur in Alzheimer's disease, Down syndrome, depression, and post‐traumatic stress disorder, and recent evidence has begun to link changes in neuromodulatory signaling with effects on memory retrieval. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The response of actual evaporation to global warming in China based on six reanalysis datasets
Authors: Su Tao , Feng Guolin , Zhou Jie , Ye Min
Published: December 2014

In this paper, we present the response of actual evaporation to global warming in China based on the National Centers for Environmental Prediction‐National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis 1, the NCEP‐Department of Energy (NCEP/DOE) reanalysis 2, 40‐year ECMWF Re‐Analysis (ERA‐40), ECMWF‐Interim Re‐Analysis (ERA‐Interim), Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA), and Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR). Rotated empirical orthogonal function (REOF) analysis was applied to reveal the coherent pattern of the change in reanalysis evaporation (RE). According to the first four REOF modes in NCEP/NCAR, we subdivided China into six climatic regions, and found that RE increased significantly in central and southeast of China from 1979 to 2012, especially during the sub‐period of 1985–2004. Various estimates of linear trend are statistically consistent, and most of them are significant at the 95% confidence level. Conversely, RE decreased in northern and northeast although the magnitude of decreasing trends is inconsistently among the reanalysis. Moreover, there is a general tendency of RE to increase in northwest, but mostly RE trends are not significant. In the dry northwest and northern regions, rainfall is an important factor affecting the changing of RE, while RE is less sensitive to the change of temperature. However, RE rates are dominated by temperature in the humid central and southeast regions. These results support the view that the sensitivity of RE to global warming largely depends on the environment. In view of data availability, despite the general similarity, differences exist among the various reanalysis, especially in NCEP/NCAR and CFSR. In summary, it can be concluded that the quality of RE values is higher in central and southeast, while even greater uncertainties lie in the estimates of RE in northwest China and Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau.
An 850‐year tree‐ring‐based reconstruction of drought history in the western Qilian Mountains of northwestern China
Authors: Gou Xiaohua , Gao Linlin , Deng Yang , Chen Fahu , Yang Meixue , Still Christopher
Published: December 2014

Studies of regional drought history will be helpful for understanding current hydroclimate variability with global warming as well as predicting future hydroclimate shifts. Long‐term tree‐ring records are scarce in the western Qilian Mountains of northwestern China, which is also the western boundary of the natural distribution of Qilian Juniper (Juniperus przewalskii Kom.) in this area. Here, we present an 850‐year (AD 1161–2010) reconstruction of May–July self‐calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI) in the western Qilian Mountains that is based on two nearly millennia of ring‐width chronologies derived from long‐lived Qilian Juniper trees. The reconstruction suggests a relatively dry phase from the 15th century to the 18th century during the Little Ice Age (LIA) and a relatively wet period over the past two centuries. This reconstruction is consistent with other tree‐ring‐based hydroclimatic reconstructions from the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, as well as the corresponding century‐scale solar activity during the LIA. The three mega‐drought periods (AD 1260s–1340s, 1430s–1540s and 1640s–1740s) recorded by the tree‐ring series also correspond to the Wolf, Spörer and Maunder solar activity minimum periods. Results of the multi‐tape method analysis and wavelet analysis further confirmed the relationship between regional hydroclimate variability and solar activity forcing.
Improvement of CGCM prediction for wet season precipitation over Maritime Continent using a bias correction method
Authors: Jo Sera , Ahn Joong‐Bae
Published: December 2014

A new model output statistics method – Ensemble Selective Simple Linear Regression (E‐SSLR) – is developed based on SLR in order to increase the seasonal prediction skill of a Coupled General Circulation Model (CGCM) over the Maritime Continent (MC), a region with large model simulation errors. E‐SSLR is applied to Pusan National University (PNU) CGCM hindcast over the MC region for the period of 1981–2010 to reduce the systematic model bias in boreal winter (DJF) seasonal mean precipitation and outgoing long‐wave radiation (OLR) anomalies. Three oceanic indices (Nino 3.4, El Nino Modoki and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) Mode indices) and one atmospheric index (Southern Oscillation Index, SOI) produced from PNU CGCM hindcast are used as SLR predictor. E‐SSLR consists of three steps: Selection, SLR and Ensemble. The selection and ensemble steps are added to the conventional SLR step to overcome the weakness of the linear regression method. In the selection step, the grids with a temporal correlation coefficient between predictor and predictand exceeding the threshold are selected. These grids (grid‐selected) are corrected by SLR in the second step. For the grids that are grid‐not‐selected, the original CGCM results are used without further correction. This prevents insignificant statistical correction due to the application of low correlated predictors to the SLR. The correction effect of E‐SSLR is analysed in terms of deterministic and categorical analyses. The result shows that the seasonal predictability of DJF seasonal precipitation and OLR in the MC region is increased by using E‐SSLR, and this increment is statistically significant. The correction effect is larger when indices with high predictability that are closely correlated with the predictand are used as predictors.
Den entry behavior in Scandinavian brown bears: Implications for preventing human injuries
Authors: Sahlén Veronica , Friebe Andrea , Sæbø Solve , Swenson Jon E. , Støen Ole‐Gunnar
Published: December 2014

Encounters between Scandinavian brown bears (Ursus arctos) and humans that result in human injuries and fatalities typically coincide with den entry in October and November, and commonly occur near a den. Our aim was to determine when bears arrive at their dens, identify potential predictors of this event, document behavior and activity associated with this period, and attempt to explain the increased risk of bear‐caused human injuries in this period. We analyzed global positioning system (GPS) location and activity data from brown bears in south‐central Sweden, using generalized linear mixed models, statistical process control, and activity analyses. Bears arrived at their den sites between 6 October and 1 December. Timing varied by reproductive category, bear age, and year. Half of all bears significantly reduced their activity before arriving at the den area: on average 2,169 m away from the den and 1.8 days before arrival. The other half reduced their activity after arriving at the den area. The latter bears took longer time to reach hibernation activity levels, but we did not find a difference in the start date of hibernation between the 2 groups. Bears also appeared to be sensitive to disturbance in this period, with higher den abandonment rates than later in winter, particularly for males and for bears that had not visited their den sites previously. Den entry occurred from October to December, with high variability and poor predictability of its timing. Therefore, restricting hunting or other recreation activities to reduce risk of injury by bears and disturbing bears probably would be both impractical and ineffective. Our findings can be used to educate hunters about bear behavior at this time of year. Many people associate dens with an increased risk of a bear responding aggressively to disturbance to defend its den, but our results indicate that other behavioral, and possibly physiological, changes in this period also may be involved. © 2014 The Authors. The Journal of Wildlife Management published by The Wildlife Society.
Linking neuroscience with modern concepts of impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Napier T. Celeste , Corvol Jean‐Christophe , Grace Anthony A. , Roitman Jamie D. , Rowe James , Voon Valerie , Strafella Antonio P.
Published: December 2014

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) may experience impulse control disorders (ICDs) when on dopamine agonist therapy for their motor symptoms. In the last few years, a rapid growth of interest for the recognition of these aberrant behaviors and their neurobiological correlates has occurred. Recent advances in neuroimaging are helping to identify the neuroanatomical networks responsible for these ICDs, and together with psychopharmacological assessments are providing new insights into the brain status of impulsive behavior. The genetic associations that may be unique to ICDs in PD are also being identified. Complementing human studies, electrophysiological and biochemical studies in animal models are providing insights into neuropathological mechanisms associated with these disorders. New animal models of ICDs in PD patients are being implemented that should provide critical means to identify efficacious therapies for PD‐related motor deficits while avoiding ICD side effects. Here, we provide an overview of these recent advances, with a particular emphasis on the neurobiological correlates reported in animal models and patients along with their genetic underpinnings. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Escaping Poverty in Post‐Socialist Vietnam: Does Place Matter?
Authors: Sanders Scott R. , Brown David L.
Published: December 2014

Over the past two decades, Vietnam has exhibited remarkable success in eliminating poverty. In fact, since 1999 Vietnam had the highest percentage point reduction of households living in poverty of any country in Asia. Between 2004 and 2008, the period focused on in this article, the Vietnamese national poverty rate fell from 21 to 12 percent. Although Vietnam experienced a dramatic overall reduction in poverty, poverty levels remain spatially uneven. Provinces with large amounts of foreign investments report significantly higher levels of poverty reduction than economically isolated rural provinces. This article focuses on both temporal change and geographic variability in household poverty reduction. Using paneled household data, a series of multilevel logistic regressions are used to examine why some households are more likely to escape poverty than others, and whether a household's place of residence contributes to its likelihood of escaping poverty. We address two questions: (1) controlling for household‐level sociodemographic factors, does the geographic location in which a household is embedded affect its likelihood of escaping poverty, and (2) does the interaction between household characteristics and provincial‐level changes in foreign direct investment per capita between 2001 and 2008 affect the probability of a household escaping poverty during this time?
Poverty Scorecards: Lessons from a Microlender in Bosnia‐Herzegovina
Authors: Schreiner Mark , Matul Michal , Pawlak Ewa , Kline Sean
Published: December 2014

How poor are participants in development projects? This article analyzes how well a simple scorecard identifies poor clients at a microlender in Bosnia‐Herzegovina. The scorecard effectively ranks clients by the likelihood that they are poor by an absolute, expenditure‐based standard. The score tracks poverty more closely than loan size, microfinance's traditional poverty indicator. Overall, poverty scorecards are a simple, inexpensive way for microlenders—or any other development entity—to target the poor, track changes in poverty over time, manage poverty outreach, and report on clients' absolute poverty.
Physical Activity Levels During Acute Inpatient Admission After Hip Fracture are Very Low
Authors: Davenport Sarah J , Arnold Meaghan , Hua Carol , Schenck Amie , Batten Sarah , Taylor Nicholas F
Published: December 2014

Background and Purpose

Hip fractures are very common in older adults and result in serious health consequences. Early mobilization post‐surgical intervention for hip fractures is very important. The purpose of this study was to determine physical activity levels during an acute inpatient admission of patients after surgery for hip fracture.

Methods

The observational study was completed on an orthopaedic ward in an acute general hospital. Twenty patients (18 women, mean age ± standard deviation, 79.1 ± 9.3 years) post‐surgical intervention for a hip fracture were included. Physical activity levels were measured using an accelerometer to record the percentage of time spent in lying/sitting, standing and walking, number of steps taken and average energy expenditure.

Results

Physical activity levels were extremely low, with participants spending an average of 99% of the day either lying or sitting and a little more than 1% of the day either standing or walking (16 min). Participants took an average of 35.7 ± 80.4 steps per day. Patients received more physiotherapy intervention on weekdays compared with weekends. There was no significant difference in activity levels between weekdays to weekends. No measures of physical activity were associated with length of stay. A mild to moderate association (r = 0.26–0.41) was observed between the measures of physical activity and the amount of physiotherapy received during the weekdays.

Discussion

Physical activity levels during an acute inpatient admission surgery for hip fracture are very low. Patients may have difficulty completing basic activities of daily living post‐discharge into the community. Physical activity should be optimized as early in the rehabilitation process as able. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inheritance of resistance to 2,4‐D and chlorsulfuron in a multiple‐resistant population of Sisymbrium orientale
Authors: Preston Christopher , Malone Jenna M
Published: December 2014

BACKGROUND

A population of Sisymbrium orientale from South Australia has multiple resistance to auxinic herbicides and inhibitors of acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS). Inheritance of resistance to 2,4‐D and chlorsulfuron was studied in this population.

RESULTS

Crosses were made between seven resistant individuals as pollen donors to seven susceptible individuals. Sixteen F1 individuals from three crosses were identified by their lack of strong epinasty when treated with 200 g 2,4‐D ha−1. These individuals were selfed, and segregation analysis of strong epinasty in the resulting progeny fitted a 3:1 ratio for resistant:susceptible individuals when treated with 200 g 2,4‐D ha−1, as predicted by a single major gene. A detailed dose–response analysis of the F2 populations to 2,4‐D confirmed single‐gene inheritance. Analysis of segregation to 1 g chlorsulfuron ha−1, a concentration that kills all susceptible individuals, was unable to determine the mode of inheritance. A detailed dose–response analysis indicated that two genes contributed to chlorsulfuron resistance: a dominant target‐site mutation of Pro 197 to Ser and a second gene with dose‐dependent dominance.

CONCLUSIONS

This population has a single dominant allele conferring 2,4‐D resistance, whereas two genes contribute to chlorsulfuron resistance. Single dominant gene inheritance demonstrates that 2,4‐D resistance can be readily selected. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Forecasting Errors of New Venture Survival
Authors: Hyytinen Ari , Lahtonen Jukka , Pajarinen Mika
Published: December 2014

This article studies entrepreneurs' forecast errors around market entry. Using data on nascent entrepreneurs in the U.S. and start‐ups in Finland, we find that besides being overoptimistic on average in both countries, entrepreneurs' survival expectations can barely distinguish survival from exits. Moreover, about one fourth of the entrepreneurs do not provide an estimate for the survival of a typical venture. However, among those that do provide it, the estimates are less overoptimistic. We also compare the forecast accuracy of entrepreneurs to those of macroeconomic forecasters. Our findings provide guidance for the development of positive theories of entrepreneurial belief formation and overoptimism. Copyright © 2014 Strategic Management Society.
Team Consistency and Occurrences of Prolonged Operative Time, Prolonged Hospital Stay, and Hospital Readmission: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Xiao Yan , Jones Alan , Zhang Beilei (Belinda) , Bennett Monica , Mears Simon C. , Mabrey Jay D. , Kennerly Donald
Published: December 2014

Background

Human factors research has suggested benefits of consistent teams yet no surgical team consistency measures have been established for teamwork improvement initiatives.

Methods

Retrospective analysis was conducted of teams performing consecutive elective procedures of unilateral primary total knee and hip replacement between June 2008 and May 2010 at a large tertiary medical center. Surgeons who performed fewer than 50 cases of the procedures during the study period were excluded. A team was defined as consistent when its nurse and surgical technologist members were both among the three most frequent working with the surgeon during the study period. Odds ratios for prolonged operative time (in the longest quartile), prolonged hospital stay (longer than median), and 30‐day all‐cause readmissions were adjusted for patient characteristics (sex, age, comorbidity, American Society of Anesthesiology status), surgery characteristics (procedures, time of day), and surgeons.

Results

Inconsistent teams performed 61 % of the 1,923 cases with eight surgeons, each of which worked with a median of 43.5 (range, 28–58) nurses and 29 (range, 13–47) technologists. Inconsistent teams were associated with higher likelihood of prolonged operative time [odds ratio 1.52, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.20–1.91], higher likelihood of prolonged hospital stay (odds ratio 1.51, 95 % CI 1.23–1.86), and more readmissions (adjusted odds ratio 1.42, 95 % CI 1.07–1.89).

Conclusions

Team consistency was an independent predictor of prolonged operative time, prolonged hospital stay, and 30‐day hospital readmission in elective, primary, unilateral total knee, and hip replacement procedures, after adjusting for patient and surgery characteristics and surgeons.
Bioconversion of α-pinene by a novel cold-adapted fungusChrysosporium pannorum
Authors: Trytek Mariusz , Jędrzejewski Krzysztof , Fiedurek Jan
Published: December 2014

The psychrotrophic fungus Chrysosporium pannorum A-1 is reported for the first time as a novel biocatalyst for O2-promoted oxidation of α-pinene. GC–MS analysis indicated that the main products of the reaction were compounds of a high commercial value, verbenol (1) and verbenone (2). Exponentially growing cells (days 2–3) were about twice as active as cells in the late stationary phase in terms of the total concentration of products. The highest yields of 1 and 2 were obtained using three-day and two-day-old mycelia and a medium containing 1.5 and 1 % (v/v) of the substrate, respectively. The optimal time for the bioconversion of α-pinene varied from 1 to 3 days, and depended on the kind of product desired. Most of 1 was produced at a relatively high concentration of 360 mg/L after the first six hours of α-pinene bioconversion [with an average yield of 69 mg/(g dry cell L aqueous phase)]. The oxidative activity of C. pannorum was identified across a wide temperature range of 5–25 °C, 10 °C being the optimum for the production of 1 and 20 °C for the production of 2. Sequential addition of the substrate during 3 days of the biotransformation resulted in a significant increase in 1 and 2 up to 722 and 176 mg/L, respectively, and a 2-fold enhancement of product yield as compared to bioconversion with a single supply of α-pinene. The concentration of total conversion products in the culture medium reached 1.33 g/L [which corresponded product yield of 225 mg/(g dry cell L)]. This represents probably the most promising result reported to date for oxidative biotransformation of α-pinene by a wild-type microorganism.
ON NORMATIVITY AND EPISTEMIC INTUITIONS: FAILURE OF REPLICATION
Authors: Seyedsayamdost Hamid
Published: December 2014

The field of experimental philosophy has received considerable attention, essentially for producing results that seem highly counter-intuitive and at the same time question some of the fundamental methods used in philosophy. One of the earlier influential papers that gave rise to the experimental philosophy movement titled ‘Normativity and Epistemic Intuitions’ by Jonathan M. Weinberg, Shaun Nichols and Stephen Stich (2001), reported that respondents displayed different epistemic intuitions depending on their ethnic background as well as socioeconomic status. These findings, if robust, would have important implications for philosophical methodology in general and epistemology in particular. Because of the important implication of its findings, Weinberget al. (2001) has been very influential – currently with more than four hundred citations – and the subject of extensive debate. Despite the paper's significance and despite all the debates this paper has generated, there has not been a replication attempt of its experiments. We collected data from four different sources (two on-line and two in-person) to replicate the experiments. Despite several different data sets and in various cases larger sample sizes, we failed to detect significant differences between the above-mentioned groups. Our results suggest that epistemic intuitions are more uniform across ethnic and socioeconomic groups than Weinberget al. (2001) indicates. Given our data, we believe that the notion of differences in epistemic intuitions among different ethnic and socioeconomic groups advanced by Weinberget al. (2001) and accepted by many researchers needs to be corrected.
Trazodone and exacerbation of psychotic symptoms: an unfamiliar link
Authors: Osman M. , Kilduff M.
Published: December 2014

Objective

In this case report we attempt to emphasize the unfamiliar link between trazodone and relapse of psychotic symptoms.

Method

Case report and literature review of relevant papers.

Results

We report a case of a 78-year-old woman with an established diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia who has experienced an exacerbation of positive psychotic symptoms following initiation of 50 mg dailydose of trazodone. We noted that psychotic symptoms abated following discontinuation of trazodone.

Conclusion

Trazodone use in patients in remission from schizophrenia may be associated with relapse of psychotic symptoms and caution is required.
Helical vortex filament motion under the non-local Biot–Savart model
Authors: Van Gorder Robert A.
Published: December 2014

The thin helical vortex filament is one of the fundamental exact solutions possible under the local induction approximation (LIA). The LIA is itself an approximation to the non-local Biot–Savart dynamics governing the self-induced motion of a vortex filament, and helical filaments have also been considered for the Biot–Savart dynamics, under a variety of configurations and assumptions. We study the motion of such a helical filament in the Cartesian reference frame by determining the curve defining this filament mathematically from the Biot–Savart model. In order to do so, we consider a matched approximation to the Biot–Savart dynamics, with local effects approximated by the LIA in order to avoid the logarithmic singularity inherent in the Biot–Savart formulation. This, in turn, allows us to determine the rotational and translational velocity of the filament in terms of a local contribution (which is exactly that which is found under the LIA) and a non-local contribution, each of which depends on the wavenumber, $k$, and the helix diameter, $A$. Performing our calculations in such a way, we can easily compare our results to those of the LIA. For small $k$, the transverse velocity scales as $k^{2}$, while for large $k$, the transverse velocity scales as $k$. On the other hand, the rotational velocity attains a maximum value at some finite $k$, which corresponds to the wavenumber giving the maximal torsion.
Experimental investigation of stationary and rotational structures in non-circular hydraulic jumps
Authors: Teymourtash A. R. , Mokhlesi M.
Published: December 2014

When a vertical liquid jet impacts on a solid horizontal surface, the first expectation is to have a circular hydraulic jump. However, in some conditions, for highly viscous fluids, the transition from supercritical to subcritical flow occurs with non-circular shapes such as polygons. Indeed, a quick rotational wave appears on the circular jump before the formation of a polygonal form, which may be related to the Rayleigh–Plateau instability. In this paper, stable polygonal jumps are studied to complete this research. The region of stability is defined for polygonal jumps, and the dependence of this region on the flow governing dimensionless groups is determined experimentally. The results confirm the multistability (hysteresis) of the polygonal jumps, and imply that polygonal jumps with different corner numbers can be created in a certain parameter regime. The size and curvature of the sides of the polygons due to variations of flow rate and downstream obstacle height are also investigated. In addition to the stable ones, our experiments reveal a new type of polygonal jump that has an unstable structure and displays a rotational behaviour with a constant angular velocity, which we call it, ‘rotational hydraulic jump’. It is observed that the angular velocity of this kind of jump depends on the jet flow rate, jet radius and downstream height of the jump. Our observations suggest that the nature of the rotational jump is some kind of surface wave along the jump in clockwise or anticlockwise direction. It seems that the rotational jump has a flow structure that is the same as a type IIb jump. The jump dimensions are studied; the inscribed and circumscribed circular radii of each polygon are measured in order to compare the various polygons together and to find a mean jump radius to compare with Watson’s theory.
Childcare and parenting practices in Singapore: A comparison of fathers’ and mothers’ involvement
Authors: Shan Cheung Hoi , Hawkins Russell
Published: December 2014

The extent to which fathers and mothers adopted various childcare and parenting practices in Singapore was examined. Interviews were conducted with 530 parent–child dyads (involving 1060 participants), with parents and children (from age 10–12) responding independently and concurrently in separate rooms. Mothers were more likely than fathers to be children's main and preferred caregivers. Fathers reported using less physical punishment than mothers did, and were also perceived to be less warm and accepting by their children. These findings support the view that power assertive discipline may still be compatible with warmth in parenting at least in this culture. In Confucian societies, parenting concepts involving elements of authoritarianism may be seen as a positive sign of concern.
Sounding in silence: men, machines and the changing environment of naval discipline, 1796–1815
Authors: POSKETT JAMES
Published: December 2014

Logbooks and sea charts may appear rather straightforward evidence to present at a naval court martial. However, their introduction into proceedings in the early nineteenth century reveals an important shift. Measuring the depth of water soon became a problem both of navigation and of discipline. Indeed, Captain Newcomb's knowledge of the soundings taken at the Battle of the Basque Roads proved crucial at Lord Gambier's court martial in June 1809. Through a case study of Edward Massey's sounding machine, this paper reveals the close connection between disciplinary practices on land and at sea. The Board of Longitude acted as a key intermediary in this respect. By studying land and sea together, this paper better explains the changing make-up of the British scientific instrument trade in this period. Massey is just one example of a range of new entrants, many of whom had little previous experience of the maritime world. More broadly, this paper emphasizes the role of both environmental history and material culture in the study of scientific instruments.
Prognostic significance of tumour progression and human papillomavirus in advanced tonsillar cancer classified as stage IVa
Authors: Park E , Jung K-Y , Kwon S-Y , Woo J-S , Cho J-G , Park M W , Kim I S , Kim S J , Baek S-K
Published: December 2014

Objective:

To identify clinical factors that can explain the differences in treatment outcome, and examine the value of human papillomavirus infection as a prognostic biomarker in stage IVa tonsillar carcinomas.

Methods:

Fifty-nine patients with tonsillar carcinoma classified as stage IVa were retrospectively analysed for survival outcomes according to various clinical factors. Human papillomavirus infection was evaluated using a human papillomavirus DNA chip test and immunohistochemical staining for p16 and p53.

Results:

Lower disease-free survival rates were associated with increasing local invasiveness and nodal status. Although human papillomavirus positivity and p16 expression was more common in locally advanced tonsillar carcinomas with advanced nodal status, the overall survival rate was better for patients with human papillomavirus positive, p16-positive tumours.

Conclusion:

The disease-free survival rate may differ according to local tumour invasiveness and nodal status, even for stage IVa tonsillar cancers. Human papillomavirus infection may be a useful biomarker for predicting treatment outcomes for stage VIa tumours.
What helminth genomes have taught us about parasite evolution
Authors: ZAROWIECKI MAGDALENA , BERRIMAN MATT
Published: December 2014

The genomes of more than 20 helminths have now been sequenced. Here we perform a meta-analysis of all sequenced genomes of nematodes and Platyhelminthes, and attempt to address the question of what are the defining characteristics of helminth genomes. We find that parasitic worms lack systems for surface antigenic variation, instead maintaining infections using their surfaces as the first line of defence against the host immune system, with several expanded gene families of genes associated with the surface and tegument. Parasite excretory/secretory products evolve rapidly, and proteases even more so, with each parasite exhibiting unique modifications of its protease repertoire. Endoparasitic flatworms show striking losses of metabolic capabilities, not matched by nematodes. All helminths do however exhibit an overall reduction in auxiliary metabolism (biogenesis of co-factors and vitamins). Overall, the prevailing pattern is that there are few commonalities between the genomes of independently evolved parasitic worms, with each parasite having undergone specific adaptations for their particular niche.
Psychotic reactions to daily life stress and dopamine function in people with severe hearing impairment
Authors: Gevonden M. J. , Myin-Germeys I. , van den Brink W. , van Os J. , Selten J. P. , Booij J.
Published: December 2014

Background.

Minor stresses measured in daily life have repeatedly been associated with increased momentary psychotic experiences, both in individuals with psychotic disorders and in persons who are genetically at an increased risk for these disorders. Severe hearing impairment (SHI) is an environmental risk factor for psychotic disorder, possibly due to the experience of social exclusion. The aim of the current study is to investigate whether people with SHI exhibit higher levels of psychotic reactivity to social stressors in daily life than normal-hearing controls and whether this reactivity is associated with decreased baseline dopamine (DA) D2/3receptor availability and/or elevated DA release following a dexamphetamine challenge.

Method.

We conducted an experience sampling study in 15 young adults with SHI and 19 matched normal-hearing controls who had previously participated in a single photon emission computed tomography study measuring DA D2/3receptor availability and DA release in response to dexamphetamine.

Results.

The association between social stress and momentary psychotic experiences in daily life was stronger among SHI participants than among normal-hearing controls. Interactions between social stress and baseline striatal DA D2/3receptor availability or DA release were not significant in multilevel models of momentary psychotic experiences including age, sex and tobacco use.

Conclusions.

While both elevated striatal DA release and elevated psychotic stress reactivity have been found in the same population defined by an environmental risk factor, SHI, their inter-relationship cannot be established. Further research is warranted to clarify the association between biological and psychological endophenotypes and psychosis risk.
Determination of the maximal singularity-free zone of 4-RRR redundant parallel manipulators and its application on investigating length ratios of links
Authors: Liu Yuzhe , Wu Jun , Wang Liping , Wang Jinsong
Published: December 2014

This paper presents a new numerical approach using a Genetic algorithm (GA) to search for the singularity-free cylindrical space of a 4-RRR planar redundant parallel manipulator and investigates the effects of the joint position (namely the length ratios of two links) of each leg on the singularity-free cylindrical space. A previous method investigated the maximal singularity-free zone in a 3-dimensional (3-D) space within a given workspace. The method in this paper is improved by optimizing the maximal singularity-free zone in a 2-dimensional (2-D) plane while considering the whole workspace. This improvement can be helpful for reducing the searching time and for finding a larger singularity-free zone. Furthermore, the effect of the joint position of each leg on the maximal singularity-free zone is studied in this paper, which reveals a larger singularity-free zone than before. This result shows that changing the joint positions of one or two legs may be more practical than changing the joint positions of more legs. The approach in this paper can be used to analyze the maximal singularity-free zone of any other three-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) planar parallel mechanisms and will be useful for the optimal design of redundant parallel manipulators.
Asymmetrical Reciprocity in Market Exchange: Implications for Economies in Transition
Authors: Buchanan James M.
Published: December 2014

Western visitors to those parts of the world that before 1991 were politically organized as the Soviet Union have been impressed by the attitudes of persons toward behavior in ordinary exchanges, attitudes that seem to be so different from those in Western economies. The essential elements of an “exchange culture” seem to be missing, and this absence, in itself, may be central to the effective functioning of market economies. Individual participants in ordinary exchange relationships in Western economies act as if they understand the simplest of all economic principles, namely, that there are mutual gains from trade, that the benefits are reciprocal, that exchange is a positive-sum game. This “as if” understanding, which remains perhaps below our level of consciousness in the West, is largely missing from the public attitudes of citizens of the former Soviet Union, who behave as if the gains from trade do not exist, or at least are one-sided rather than mutual.
Association of host, agent and environment characteristics and the duration of incubation and symptomatic periods of norovirus gastroenteritis
Authors: DEVASIA T. , LOPMAN B. , LEON J. , HANDEL A.
Published: December 2014

We analysed the reported duration of incubation and symptomatic periods of norovirus for a dataset of 1022 outbreaks, 64 of which reported data on the average incubation period and 87 on the average symptomatic period. We found the mean and median incubation periods for norovirus to be 32·8 [95% confidence interval (CI) 30·9–34·6] hours and 33·5 (95% CI 32·0–34·0) hours, respectively. For the symptomatic period we found the mean and median to be 44·2 (95% CI 38·9–50·7) hours and 43·0 (95% CI 36·0–48·0) hours, respectively. We further investigated how these average periods were associated with several reported host, agent and environmental characteristics. We did not find any strong, biologically meaningful associations between the duration of incubation or symptomatic periods and the reported host, pathogen and environmental characteristics. Overall, we found that the distributions of incubation and symptomatic periods for norovirus infections are fairly constant and showed little differences with regard to the host, pathogen and environmental characteristics we analysed.
A coalgebraic view on decorated traces
Authors: BONCHI F. , BONSANGUE M. , CALTAIS G. , RUTTEN J. , SILVA A.
Published: December 2014

In the concurrency theory, various semantic equivalences on transition systems are based on traces decorated with some additional observations, generally referred to as decorated traces. Using the generalized powerset construction, recently introduced by a subset of the authors (Silva et al.2010 FSTTCS. LIPIcs8 272–283), we give a coalgebraic presentation of decorated trace semantics. The latter include ready, failure, (complete) trace, possible futures, ready trace and failure trace semantics for labelled transition systems, and ready, (maximal) failure and (maximal) trace semantics for generative probabilistic systems. This yields a uniform notion of minimal representatives for the various decorated trace equivalences, in terms of final Moore automata. As a consequence, proofs of decorated trace equivalence can be given by coinduction, using different types of (Moore-) bisimulation (up-to context).
Molecular phylogeny indicates polyphyly in Raphanus L. (Brassicaceae)
Authors: Ziffer-Berger J. , Hanin N. , Fogel T. , Mummenhoff K. , Barazani O.
Published: December 2014

We evaluated the systematic relationship of the two sections of Raphanus (Brassicaceae) on the basis of morphological and ITS data. We obtained strong support that Raphanus is a polyphyletic group embedded in the Oleracea lineage of the tribe Brassiceae. Section Raphanis, which includes Raphanus raphanistrum, R. pugioniformis and R. sativus, is a strongly supported monophyletic lineage. Section Hesperidopsis is embedded in a different lineage together with Brassica deflexa and B. aucheri. We propose to reinstate the genus Quidproquo in place of Raphanus sect. Hesperidopsis as reflected by both morphological data and ITS phylogeny.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF WOODY LEGUMES IN NEOTROPICAL DRY FORESTS: THE PLEISTOCENE ARC THEORY 20 YEARS ON*
Authors: Mogni V. Y. , Oakley L. J. , Prado D. E.
Published: December 2014

The Pleistocene Arc Theory (PAT) suggests that present-day disjunct fragments of dry forests in central tropical South America give evidence of a previously more continuous distribution during the Pleistocene that has been disrupted by dry-cold vs. humid-warm climatic cycles. This Arc extends from NE Brazil to NE Argentina and eastern Paraguay, through the Chiquitanía to NW Argentina and SW Bolivia and into the dry inter-Andean valleys in Peru and Ecuador, with intrusions into the Great Chaco. Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) are floristically and physiognomically dominated by woody legumes, mostly deciduous in the dry season. In the last two decades field collection and research on legume taxa has greatly increased, with a significant number of taxonomic revisions and molecular phylogenetic studies, together with some paleoclimatic modelling studies. The evidence accumulated in the last 23 years has confirmed the integrity of the Chaco and Caatingas phytogeographical provinces, with an impressive and increasing level of botanical endemism discovered. The PAT pattern has also been supported, specifically through the mapping of five selected woody Leguminosae species (Anadenanthera colubrina, Enterolobium contortisiliquum, Pterogyne nitens, Amburana cearensis and Piptadenia viridiflora). The pre-existing nuclei of South American SDTF (Caatingas, Misiones and Piedmont) are now increased to four with the postulation of the Chiquitanía Nucleus in south-eastern Bolivia and bordering Paraguay. Some new endemisms are compiled from recent literature and mapped for the Misiones and Chiquitanía nuclei. The need for more botanical collections and further taxonomic, phylogenetic and demographic studies of South American legumes is emphasised.