bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distance, dissimilarity, and mean–variance ratios in ordination
Authors: Roberts David W.
Published: July 2017

Recent advances employing generalized linear models in ecology have led ecological statisticians to argue strongly for the need to re‐evaluate or re‐invent commonly used multivariate analyses in ecology to explicitly address the mean–variance ratios of the underlying species data.

This paper re‐evaluates previous work on the importance of aligning distance‐ or dissimilarity‐based methods with the mean–variance ratios of underlying data and extends the analyses to additional simulated data designed to test the specific assertions of model‐based advocates with respect to ordination analysis. Similar analyses are conducted on an observed community dataset where the observed species abundances exhibit a quadratic variance‐to‐mean ratio. The results emphasize two general points with respect to (i) the sensitivity of ordination to species abundance distributions and (ii) the inherently hierarchical nature of community analysis.

Previously observed problematic results are shown to result from extremely high between‐community variability in sample unit abundance, and are independent of the underlying species mean–variance ratios. Results for simulated data as well as for observed coral reef community data show similar results. Multivariate analyses of the newly simulated data from two communities along a simulated gradient show excellent results despite the underlying species negative binomial distributions and putatively problematic mean–variance ratios.

Problems identified in previously observed results reflect a misunderstanding of the hierarchical nature of ecological communities. Mechanisms operating at the individual species level can manifest at the community level as a different ecological (and statistical) phenomenon. Specifically, uncorrelated or divergent changes in species abundances within communities lead inevitably to dispersion effects at the community level. The hierarchical nature of the analysis is independent of the specifics of the species mean–variance ratios, and would obtain whether species abundances are distributed with uniform, normal, or negative‐binomial distributions.

The results presented here demonstrate that suitable ordination of the data accurately represents the ecological response at the community level. However, paired ordinations on non‐standardized and standardized data can elucidate the underlying species‐level changes in abundance as the mechanism driving the change in community dispersion.
Does the morphology of animal foraging pits influence secondary seed dispersal by ants?
Authors: Radnan Gabriella N. , Eldridge David J.
Published: July 2017

Secondary seed dispersal by ants (myrmecochory) is an important process in semi‐arid environments where seeds are transported from the soil surface to an ant nest. Microsites from which ants often remove seeds are the small pits and depressions made by native and exotic animals that forage in the soil. Previous studies have demonstrated greater seed retention in the pits of native than exotic animals, but little is known about how biotic factors such as secondary seed dispersal by ants affect seed removal and therefore retention in these foraging pits. We used an experimental approach to examine how the morphology of burrowing bettong (Bettongia lesueur), greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis), short‐beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) and European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) foraging pits and ant body size influenced ant locomotion and seed removal from pits along an aridity gradient. Ants took 3.7‐times longer to emerge from echidna pits (19.6 s) and six‐times longer to emerge from bettong pits (30.5 s) than from rabbit pits (5.2 s), resulting in lower seed removal from bettong pits than other pit types. Fewer seeds were removed from pits when cages were used to exclude large body‐sized (>2 mm) ants. Few seeds were removed from the pits or surface up to aridity values of 0.5 (humid and dry sub‐humid), but removal increased rapidly in semi‐arid and arid zones. Our study demonstrates that mammal foraging pit morphology significantly affects ant locomotion, the ability of ants to retrieve seeds, and therefore the likelihood that seeds will be retained within foraging pits.
When Are Agenda Setters Valuable?
Authors: Fouirnaies Alexander
Published: July 2017

Why do industries donate money to legislative campaigns when roll‐call votes suggest that donors gain nothing in return? I argue that corporate donors may shape policy outcomes by influencing powerful agenda setters in the early stages of lawmaking. On the basis of a new data set of more than 45,000 individual state legislator sessions (1988–2012), I document how agenda control is deemed valuable to legislators and groups seeking influence on policy. Employing a difference‐in‐differences design, I assess the revealed price, as measured by campaign contributions, that firms are willing to pay for access to committee and party leaders and document how this price varies across industries and institutions. The results indicate that industries systematically funnel money to the legislative agenda setters by whom they are regulated, and to those endowed with important procedural powers. I document that the value of agenda‐setter positions has increased dramatically in recent years. Finally, exploiting changes in state laws, I show that relaxing contribution limits significantly benefits committee chairs and party leaders more so than it does other legislators, suggesting that agenda setters have strong incentives to obstruct restrictive campaign finance reforms.
Water Infused Surface Protection as an Active Mechanism for Fibrin Sheath Prevention in Central Venous Catheters
Authors: Sutherland David W. , Zhang Xin , Charest Joseph L.
Published: July 2017

Protein adhesion in central venous catheters (CVCs) leads to fibrin sheath formation, the precursor to thrombotic and biofilm‐related CVC failures. Advances in material properties and surface coatings do not completely prevent fibrin sheath formation and post‐formation treatment options are limited and expensive. We propose water infused surface protection (WISP), an active method for prevention of fibrin sheath formation on CVCs, which creates a blood‐free boundary layer on the inner surface of the CVC, limiting blood contact with the CVC lumen wall. A hollow fiber membrane (HFM) in a benchtop device served as a CVC testing model to demonstrate the WISP concept. Porcine blood was pumped through the HFM while phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was infused through the HFM wall, creating the WISP boundary layer. Protein adherences on model CVC surfaces were measured and imaged. Analytical and finite volume lubrication models were used to justify the assumption of a blood‐free boundary layer. We found a 92.2% reduction in average adherent protein density when WISP is used, compared with our model CVC without WISP flow. Lubrication models matched our experimental pressure drop measurements suggesting that a blood‐free boundary layer was created. The WISP technique also provides a novel strategy for drug administration for biofilm treatment. Reduction in adherent protein indicates a restriction on long‐term fibrin sheath and biofilm formation making WISP a promising technology which improves a wide range of vascular access treatments.
Overexpression of leucine‐rich α2‐glycoprotein‐1 is a prognostic marker and enhances tumor migration in gastric cancer
Authors: Yamamoto Masaaki , Takahashi Tsuyoshi , Serada Satoshi , Sugase Takahito , Tanaka Koji , Miyazaki Yasuhiro , Makino Tomoki , Kurokawa Yukinori , Yamasaki Makoto , Nakajima Kiyokazu , Takiguchi Shuji , Naka Testsuji , Mori Masaki , Doki Yuichiro
Published: July 2017

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors. Although improvement in chemotherapy has been achieved, the clinical prognosis of advanced gastric cancer remains poor. Therefore, it is increasingly important to predict the prognosis and determine whether patients should or should not receive neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. Leucine‐rich α2‐glycoprotein‐1 (LRG1) is overexpressed during inflammation and is associated with various malignancies. In this study, we assessed LRG1 expression in cancer specimens and in the sera of patients with cancer to clarify the usefulness of LRG1 as a biomarker in gastric cancer. This study enrolled 239 (for immunohistochemical staining; IHC) and 184 (for ELISA) patients with gastric cancer. Results of IHC showed that LRG1 expression was significantly associated with histological type, lymphatic and venous invasion, tumor and node factors, and disease stage. Overall survival was significantly worse in the high LRG1 expression group than in the low LRG1 group (P = 0.0003). Cox multivariate analysis of overall survival revealed that LRG1 expression was an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.0258). Serum LRG1 was significantly higher in gastric cancer patients than in healthy volunteers, and increased as the pathological stage progressed. Furthermore, a significant correlation was revealed between serum LRG1 level and LRG1 expression with IHC (P < 0.0001). Inhibition of LRG1 significantly decreased cell proliferation in vitro (migratory and invasive capacity of gastric cancer cells). These results suggest that LRG1 expression in tumors and serum may be a useful prognostic marker in gastric cancer patients.
Establishing Laws and Policies on Parent to Child Violence in Finland 1965–1983
Authors: Kotanen Riikka
Published: July 2017

This study explores perceptions of parent to child violence, the arguments for imposing legal regulation, and the intended objectives of the legislative process that led to a ban in Finland in 1983. This qualitative policy analysis examines policy documents alongside expert interviews with professional on the legislative process. The example of Finland shows that a significant change in attitudes and decreased levels of violence towards children can be achieved without the threat of legal punishment, even without specific intervention policies. However, the study emphasises the importance of establishing clear practices alongside altering legislation which has been inadequate in Finland.
Evaluation of complication rates and vertical bone gain after guided bone regeneration with non‐resorbable membranes versus titanium meshes and resorbable membranes. A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Cucchi Alessandro , Vignudelli Elisabetta , Napolitano Aldo , Marchetti Claudio , Corinaldesi Giuseppe
Published: July 2017

Background

The partial edentulous posterior mandible is often a challenge area that requires a bone reconstructive surgery for implants placement.

Purpose

This RCT was aimed to evaluate complications rate and vertical bone gain after Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) with dense non‐resorbable d‐PTFE titanium‐reinforced membranes (Group A) versus titanium meshes covered by cross‐linked collagen membranes (Group B).

Material and Methods

40 partially edentulous patients with atrophic posterior mandible, were randomly divided into two study group: 20 patients were treated with one stage GBR by means of non‐resorbable d‐PTFE titanium‐reinforced membranes (Group A); and 20 patients, by means of titanium mesh covered by cross‐linked collagen membranes (Group B). All complications were recorded, distinguishing between “surgical” and “healing” and between “minor” or “major.”. Primary implants stability and vertical bone gain were also evaluated.

Results

In the group A, surgical and healing complication rates were 5.0% and 15.0%, respectively. In the group B, surgical and healing complication rates were 15.8% and 21.1%, respectively. No significant differences between two study group were observed regarding complications rate implant stability and vertical bone gain.

Conclusions

Both GBR approaches for the restoration of atrophic posterior mandible achieved similar results regarding complications, vertical bone gain and implant stability.
Post‐extraction implant placement into infected versus non‐infected sites: A multicenter retrospective clinical study
Authors: Zuffetti Francesco , Capelli Matteo , Galli Fabio , Del Fabbro Massimo , Testori Tiziano
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess whether immediate implant placement into post‐extraction sites presenting a chronic infection poses a greater risk of implant failure than immediate placement in non‐infected sites.

Materials and Methods

Records of patients who underwent extraction and immediate implant placement into both infected and non‐infected sites from January 1998 to September 2014 at 5 different dental centers were considered for inclusion. Included records were subjected to statistical analysis of survival rates, along with a number of other patient‐, implant‐, surgery‐, and prosthesis‐related variables.

Results

The inclusion criteria were met by 369 patients who received a total of 527 implants. The follow‐up averaged 53.2 months (range 0.9‐158.3) for implants placed into non‐infected sockets (N = 334) and 50.1 months (range 1.6‐146.1) for those placed into infected sites (N = 193). Seven implants failed in non‐infected sites and 3 in infected ones. All failures occurred within 1 year of placement. Cumulative implant survival rate for non‐infected and infected sites was, respectively, 97.9% ± 0.8% and 98.4% ± 0.9%, being not significantly different (P = .66). None of the investigated variables affected the outcome.

Conclusions

Placement of implants into periodontally or endodontically infected sites immediately after tooth extraction is a safe option, even when the implants are loaded immediately or early.
An open source and modular search engine for biomedical literature retrieval
Authors: Almeida Hayda , Jean‐Louis Ludovic , Meurs Marie‐Jean
Published: July 2017

This work presents the bioMine system, a full‐text natural language search engine for biomedical literature. bioMine provides search capabilities based on the full‐text content of documents belonging to a database composed of scientific articles and allows users to submit their search queries using natural language. Beyond the text content of articles, the system engine also uses article metadata, empowering the search by considering extra information from picture and table captions. bioMine is publicly released as an open‐source system under the MIT license.
Conceptual annotation of text patterns
Authors: Bashar Md Abul , Li Yuefeng , Shen Yan , Gao Yang , Huang Wei
Published: July 2017

Patterns are used as a fundamental means for analyzing data in many data mining applications. Many efficient techniques have been developed to discover patterns. However, the excessive number of discovered patterns and the lack of semantic information have made it difficult for a user to interpret and explore the patterns. A rough idea of the meanings of patterns can benefit the user in the process of exploring them. To address this issue, this paper presents a model for automatically annotating patterns with concepts. In addition, in a given context, the relative importance of each term that defines a concept is not the same. To define a context, there are a number of related information sources, such as documents, patterns, concepts, and an ontology. The question is which information sources are useful for estimating the relative importance of the terms? Should the most accurate one to be focused on or all of them be used to define the context? This research investigated these questions and defined an effective annotation context to estimate the relative importance of the terms, where the aim is to improve the performance of a machine that relies on the subject matter of a pattern set. The model is evaluated by comparing it with different baseline models on 2 standard datasets. The results show that the performance of the proposed model is significantly better.
Tax Shifting and Incentives for Biodiversity Conservation on Private Lands
Authors: Schuster Richard , Law Elizabeth A. , Rodewald Amanda D. , Martin Tara G. , Wilson Kerrie A. , Watts Matthew , Possingham Hugh P. , Arcese Peter
Published: July 2017

Conservation in human‐dominated landscapes is challenging partly due to the high costs of land acquisition. We explored a property tax mechanism to finance conservation easements or related contracts as a partial‐property acquisition strategy to meet Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) treaty targets to conserve critically imperiled coastal Douglas fir ecosystems in Canada. To maximize cost‐efficiency, we used systematic planning tools to prioritize 198,058 parcels for biodiversity values, estimated the cost of eliminating property tax on high‐priority parcels to engage land owners in conservation, and then calculated the tax increase on nonpriority parcels necessary to maintain tax revenue. Marginal tax rate increases of 0.13, 0.21, and 0.51% on nonpriority parcels were necessary to offset the elimination of tax revenue on ∼21,000 ha of high‐priority parcels, and potentially sufficient to increase area protection from 9% to 17% to meet CBD targets given uptake rates of 100, 50, or 25%, respectively. Sensitivity analyses suggest uptake rates of 30% to 40% could allow government to achieve a 17% target with 30% of the planning area prioritized for inclusion in a property tax mechanism. Our results suggest prioritizing parcels for biodiversity value and commensurate “tax shifting” may offer an efficient route to conservation on private land.
865. NEPENTHES DUBIA
Authors: Cheek Martin , Jebb Matthew , Mansur Muhammad , Beattie James
Published: July 2017

The history, taxonomic placement, relationships, mode of trapping and cultivation of Nepenthes dubia Danser, an epiphytic fly‐eater from the cloud forests of the Bukit Barisan range of the west coast of Sumatra, are discussed. This is one of the eight species of Sect. Montanae Danser with ‘egg‐cup’ like pitchers. A key is provided to the eight species and they are formally named as Nepenthes Sect. Montanae subsect. Poculae‐ovis.
Humboldt Core – toward a standardized capture of biological inventories for biodiversity monitoring, modeling and assessment
Authors: Guralnick Robert , Walls Ramona , Jetz Walter
Published: July 2017

Species inventories, i.e. the recording of multiple species for a specific place and time, are routinely performed and offer particular value for characterizing biodiversity and its change. However, reporting standards allowing these inventories to be re‐used, compared to one another, and further integrated with other sources of biodiversity data are lacking, impeding their broadest utility. Here we provide a conceptual informatics framework for capturing, in a standardized and general way, core information about processes underpinning inventory work. We dub this set of terms Humboldt Core, and demonstrate its utility. This proposed framework is based on a community input process, followed by extensive refinement and testing using published inventories. We first develop a typology of inventories and inventory processes, distinguishing between single, elementary inventories, extended and summary inventories, representing increasing levels of sampling event aggregation. We then further describe typical reporting content for inventory processes, along with their value for inferring absence and use in occupancy modeling. Next we provide an overview of the Humboldt Core terms for capture of geospatial, temporal, taxonomic, and environmental conditions, along with methodological descriptors related to the assessment of sampling effort and inventory completeness. Finally, we introduce a pilot implementation of Humboldt Core for the ingestion and provision of inventory process metadata into Map of Life, demonstrating standardized mobilization of metadata from several hundred previously published summary inventories. Humboldt Core helps facilitate integration of different types of inventories and their use in model‐supported assessment of spatial biodiversity and its change, critical for meeting global monitoring goals. Humboldt Core will benefit from further enhancements based on community testing and input, but represents a step toward significantly expanding biodiversity dataset discovery, interoperability, and modeling utility for a type of data essential to the assessment of biodiversity variation in space and time.
Outbreak of powdery mildew caused by Sawadaea negundinis on boxelder in Iran
Authors: Arzanlou M. , Narmani A.
Published: July 2017

Boxelder (Acer negundo) is planted as ornamental and shade tree in many countries including Iran. During July 2016, boxelder trees in parks and streets of different localities in East Azarbaijan province, Iran were found to be heavily infected with powdery mildew. Whitish powdery fungal mass developed mainly on the lower leaf surface. The infected young leaves became bubbled, curled and crinkled, giving affected plants an unpleasant appearance. During September, scattered, dark brown, spherical chasmothecia were produced on the lower leaf surface. The causal agent was identified as Sawadaea negundinis based on a combination of morphological characteristics of sexual and asexual morphs and sequence data of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2). This study provides the first report on the occurrence of S. negundinis on boxelder in Iran.
Antiepileptic drug discontinuation by people with epilepsy in the general population
Authors: Giussani Giorgia , Bianchi Elisa , Canelli Valentina , Erba Giuseppe , Franchi Carlotta , Nobili Alessandro , Sander Josemir W. , Beghi Ettore ,   the EPIRES Group
Published: July 2017

Objective

Rate, reasons, and predictors of antiepileptic drug (AED) discontinuation were investigated in a well‐defined cohort of people with epilepsy to verify efficacy and tolerability of treatment up to 20 years from treatment initiation.

Methods

The history of AED usage in children and adults with epilepsy registered with 123 family physicians in an area of Northern Italy between 2000 and 2008 was recorded. Cumulative probabilities of AED withdrawal for specific reasons were estimated using cumulative incidence functions. The probabilities of withdrawing for terminal remission, and of achieving sustained remission while still on treatment, were also evaluated. The roles of sex, age at diagnosis, seizure types, duration at diagnosis, and syndrome were assessed with hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results

Seven hundred thirty‐one of 747 individuals were treated with one or more AEDs during the disease course. The three commonest drugs were valproate, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital. Reported reasons for AED withdrawal were, in decreasing order, terminal remission, ineffectiveness, and adverse events. The probability of withdrawing the first AED for terminal remission was 1.0% at 1 year and increased to 20.0% at 20 years. Corresponding rates were 2.9% and 12.6% for ineffectiveness and 0.5% and 3.3% for adverse events. Reasons for withdrawal varied with individuals’ age, sex, disease characteristics, and drugs.

Significance

The initial AED given was retained in the majority of cases. Terminal remission, lack of efficacy, and adverse effects were, in decreasing order, the commonest reasons for AED discontinuation. Withdrawal could be predicted by age at diagnosis, sex, and clinical characteristics and varies among drugs.
Seizure outcome after hippocampal deep brain stimulation in patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy: A prospective, controlled, randomized, double‐blind study
Authors: Cukiert Arthur , Cukiert Cristine Mella , Burattini Jose Augusto , Mariani Pedro Paulo , Bezerra Daniela Fontes
Published: July 2017

Objective

We designed a prospective, randomized, controlled, double‐blind study to evaluate the efficacy of hippocampal deep brain stimulation (Hip‐DBS) in patients with refractory temporary lobe epilepsy (TLE).

Methods

Sixteen adult patients with refractory TLE were studied. Patient's workup included medical history, interictal and ictal electroencephalography (EEG), and high‐resolution 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients were randomized on a 1:1 proportion to an active (stimulation on) or to a control (no stimulation) arm. After implantation, patients were allowed to recover for 1 month, which was followed by a 1‐month titration (or sham) period. The 6‐month blinded phase started immediately afterward. A postoperative MRI confirmed the electrode's position in all patients. All patients received bipolar continuous stimulation. Stimulus duration was 300 μs and frequency was 130 Hz; final intensity was 2 V. Patients were considered responders when they had at least 50% seizure frequency reduction.

Results

All patients had focal impaired awareness seizures (FIAS, complex partial seizures), and 87% had focal aware seizures (FAS, simple partial seizures). Mean preoperative seizure frequency was 12.5 ± 9.4 (mean ± standard deviation) per month. MRI findings were normal in two patients, disclosed bilateral mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) in three, left MTS in five, and right MTS in six patients. An insertional effect could be noted in both control and active patients. In the active group (n = 8), four patients became seizure‐free; seven of eight were considered responders and one was a nonresponder. There was a significant difference regarding FIAS frequency between the two groups from the first month of full stimulation (p < 0.001) until the end of the blinded phase (p < 0.001). This was also true for FAS, except for the third month of the blinded phase.

Significance

Hip‐DBS was effective in significantly reducing seizure frequency in patients with refractory TLE in the active group, as compared to the control group. Fifty‐percent of the patients in the active group became seizure‐free. The present study is the larger prospective, controlled, double‐blind study to evaluate the effects of Hip‐DBS published to date.
Rapid partner switching may facilitate increased broadcast group size in dance compared with conversation groups
Authors: Robertson Cole , Tarr Bronwyn , Kempnich Mary , Dunbar Robin
Published: July 2017

Dancing is a universal human activity that involves exertive rhythmic movement to music. It is often conducted in a social environment and often involves synchronization. It has been found to cause dancers to bond socially. Like conversation, it has been suggested that dancing may be an inexpensive form of social bonding, in that both activities facilitate efficient group bonding by allowing multiple individuals to bond simultaneously. However, no previous study has systematically observed the size of naturally occurring dance groups. During unobtrusive observation of natural dance and conversation behavior, we found that the cumulative number of dance partners (cumulative group) was greater than the number of partners at any one moment (instantaneous group), whereas no such difference was found for conversation. Additionally, the length of uninterrupted engagement (bout) was negatively predicted by group size in conversation but not dance groups, and it was significantly longer in conversation groups than dance groups. Finally, instantaneous group size was significantly larger in dance than conversation groups, and also positively related to time spent synchronizing in dance groups. Together, these results suggest that dance may allow a larger number of individuals to simultaneously engage with each other than conversation does because (i) more rapid partner switching increases cumulative broadcast group; and (ii) synchrony facilitates simultaneous interaction with multiple individuals, allowing for larger instantaneous groups. We conclude that the capacity for information transfer provided by language comes at a cost in terms of social bonding, and that dance may have played an important role in bonding large hominin social groups.
Earnout deals: Method of initial payment and acquirers’ gains
Authors: Barbopoulos Leonidas G. , Paudyal Krishna , Sudarsanam Sudi
Published: July 2017

We analyse the implications of initial payment methods in earnout deals on acquirers’ gains. The results, which are robust to self‐selection bias and alternative model specifications, reveal that earnout deals outperform non‐earnout deals. The acquirers gain the most from earnout deals when both initial and deferred payments are in stocks. The positive wealth effect of the choice of initial payment method in earnout deals is more prominent in cross‐border deals than in domestic deals. Overall, the earnout deals generate higher gains when both the initial and deferred payments help spread the risk between the shareholders of acquiring and target firms.
In situ conservation—harnessing natural and human‐derived evolutionary forces to ensure future crop adaptation
Authors: Bellon Mauricio R. , Dulloo Ehsan , Sardos Julie , Thormann Imke , Burdon Jeremy J.
Published: July 2017

Ensuring the availability of the broadest possible germplasm base for agriculture in the face of increasingly uncertain and variable patterns of biotic and abiotic change is fundamental for the world's future food supply. While ex situ conservation plays a major role in the conservation and availability of crop germplasm, it may be insufficient to ensure this. In situ conservation aims to maintain target species and the collective genotypes they represent under evolution. A major rationale for this view is based on the likelihood that continued exposure to changing selective forces will generate and favor new genetic variation and an increased likelihood that rare alleles that may be of value to future agriculture are maintained. However, the evidence that underpins this key rationale remains fragmented and has not been examined systematically, thereby decreasing the perceived value and support for in situ conservation for agriculture and food systems and limiting the conservation options available. This study reviews evidence regarding the likelihood and rate of evolutionary change in both biotic and abiotic traits for crops and their wild relatives, placing these processes in a realistic context in which smallholder farming operates and crop wild relatives continue to exist. It identifies areas of research that would contribute to a deeper understanding of these processes as the basis for making them more useful for future crop adaptation.
Distribution patterns and population structure of the blue shark (Prionace glauca) in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans
Authors: Coelho Rui , Mejuto Jaime , Domingo Andrés , Yokawa Kotaro , Liu Kwang‐Ming , Cortés Enric , Romanov Evgeny V. , da Silva Charlene , Hazin Fábio , Arocha Freddy , Mwilima Aldrin Masawbi , Bach Pascal , Ortiz de Zárate Victoria , Roche William , Lino Pedro G. , García‐Cortés Blanca , Ramos‐Cartelle Ana M. , Forselledo Rodrigo , Mas Federico , Ohshimo Seiji , Courtney Dean , Sabarros Philippe S. , Perez Bernardo , Wogerbauer Ciara , Tsai Wen‐Pei , Carvalho Felipe , Santos Miguel N.
Published: July 2017

The blue shark (Prionace glauca) is the most frequently captured shark in pelagic oceanic fisheries, especially pelagic longlines targeting swordfish and/or tunas. As part of cooperative scientific efforts for fisheries and biological data collection, information from fishery observers, scientific projects and surveys, and from recreational fisheries from several nations in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans was compiled. Data sets included information on location, size and sex, in a total of 478,220 blue shark records collected between 1966 and 2014. Sizes ranged from 36 to 394 cm fork length. Considerable variability was observed in the size distribution by region and season in both oceans. Larger blue sharks tend to occur in equatorial and tropical regions, and smaller specimens in higher latitudes in temperate waters. Differences in sex ratios were also detected spatially and seasonally. Nursery areas in the Atlantic seem to occur in the temperate south‐east off South Africa and Namibia, in the south‐west off southern Brazil and Uruguay, and in the north‐east off the Iberian Peninsula and the Azores. Parturition may occur in the tropical north‐east off West Africa. In the Indian Ocean, nursery areas also seem to occur in temperate waters, especially in the south‐west Indian Ocean off South Africa, and in the south‐east off south‐western Australia. The distributional patterns presented in this study provide a better understanding of how blue sharks segregate by size and sex, spatially and temporally, and improve the scientific advice to help adopt more informed and efficient management and conservation measures for this cosmopolitan species.
Functionality of intrinsic disorder in tumor necrosis factor‐α and its receptors
Authors: Uversky Vladimir N. , El‐Baky Nawal Abd , El‐Fakharany Esmail M. , Sabry Amira , Mattar Ehab H. , Uversky Alexey V. , Redwan Elrashdy M.
Published: July 2017

Tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) is a pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine that exerts potent cytotoxic effects on solid tumor cells, while not affecting their normal counterparts. It is also known that TNF‐α exerts many of its biological functions via interaction with specific receptors. To understand the potential roles of intrinsic disorder in the functioning of this important cytokine, we explored the peculiarities of intrinsic disorder distribution in human TNF‐α and its homologs from various species, ranging from zebrafish to chimpanzee. We also studied the peculiarities of intrinsic disorder distribution in human TNF‐α receptors, TNFR1 and TNFR2. Analysis revealed that cytoplasmic domains of TNF‐α and its receptors are expected to be highly disordered. Furthermore, although the sequence identities of analyzed TNF‐α homologs range from 99.57% (between human and chimpanzee proteins) to 22.33% (between frog and fish proteins), their intrinsic disorder profiles are characterized by a remarkable similarity. These observations indicate that the peculiarities of distribution of the intrinsic disorder propensity within the amino acid sequences are evolutionary conserved, and therefore could be of functional importance for this family of proteins. We also show that disordered and flexible regions of human TNF‐α and its TNFR1 and TNFR2 receptors are crucial for some of their biological activities.
Effects of side‐groove depth on creep crack‐tip constraint and creep crack growth rate in C(T) specimens
Authors: He J.Z. , Wang G.Z. , Tu S.T. , Xuan F.Z.
Published: July 2017

The effects of side‐groove depth on creep crack‐tip constraint and creep crack growth (CCG) rate in C(T) specimens have been quantitatively studied. The results indicate that with increasing side‐groove depth, the constraint level and CCG rate increase and constraint distribution along crack front (specimen thickness) becomes more uniform. The constraint and CCG rate of thinner specimen are more sensitive to side‐groove depth. Two new creep constraint parameters (namelyR*andAc) both can quantify constraint levels of the specimens with and without side‐grooves, and the quantitative correlations of CCG rate with constraint have been established. The mechanism of the side‐groove depth effect on the CCG rate has also been analyzed.
Seed origin and warming constrain lodgepole pine recruitment, slowing the pace of population range shifts
Authors: Conlisk Erin , Castanha Cristina , Germino Matthew J. , Veblen Thomas T. , Smith Jeremy M. , Moyes Andrew B. , Kueppers Lara M.
Published: July 2017

Understanding how climate warming will affect the demographic rates of different ecotypes is critical to predicting shifts in species distributions. Here, we present results from a common garden, climate change experiment in which we measured seedling recruitment of lodgepole pine, a widespread North American conifer that is also planted globally. Seeds from a low‐elevation provenance had more than three‐fold greater recruitment to their third year than seeds from a high‐elevation provenance across sites within and above its native elevation range and across climate manipulations. Heating halved recruitment to the third year of both low‐ and high‐elevation seed sources across the elevation gradient, while watering more than doubled recruitment, alleviating some of the negative effects of heating. Demographic models based on recruitment data from the climate manipulations and long‐term observations of adult populations revealed that heating could effectively halt modeled upslope range expansion except when combined with watering. Simulating fire and rapid postfire forest recovery at lower elevations accelerated lodgepole pine expansion into the alpine, but did not alter final abundance rankings among climate scenarios. Regardless of climate scenario, greater recruitment of low‐elevation seeds compensated for longer dispersal distances to treeline, assuming colonization was allowed to proceed over multiple centuries. Our results show that ecotypes from lower elevations within a species’ range could enhance recruitment and facilitate upslope range shifts with climate change.
Do mandibular complete dentures made using a neutral zone technique improve speech?—A pilot study
Authors: Rehmann Peter , Künkel Anna Katharina , Weber Daniel , Lotzmann Ulrich , Wöstmann Bernd
Published: July 2017

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate speech sound production (SSP) in older edentulous patients provided with two different types of mandibular complete dentures (MCDs; conventional vs neutral zone).

Background

Regarding the fact that complete dentures (CDs) affect SSP, it is unknown whether the set‐up of the artificial teeth resulting from the neutral zone technique leads to a negative impact on SSP.

Materials and methods

For 21 participants, a conventional MCD and a MCD using a modified neutral zone technique (neutral zone dentures) were fabricated. The SSP was described using a phonetically balanced text, which was recorded digitally and evaluated.

Results

No significant difference in SSP was observed.

Conclusion

Within the limits of this study, it can be concluded that the application of the neutral zone technique in the mandible has no considerable impact on SSP.
Holocene salinity fluctuations of the East Korean lagoon related to sea level and precipitation changes
Authors: Katsuki Kota , Nakanishi Toshimichi , Lim Jaesoo , Nahm Wook‐Hyun
Published: July 2017

Detailed diatom records within core sediments from Maeho Lagoon along the Eastern coast of South Korea revealed that the ecological dynamics of the lagoon during the Holocene were associated with relative sea level and regional precipitation. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dating indicates that sediment accumulation began prior to 8300 cal. year BP, and that the lagoon formed around 8000 cal. year BP. The salinity level of the lagoon increased until 5000 cal. year BP, and then decreased. Long‐term trends in salinity were dependent upon changes in sea level: periods of high salinity in the lagoon were generally coincident with periods of high sea levels along the east coasts of Korea and Japan. On the other hand, multicentennial‐scale fluctuations in diatom assemblages and magnetic susceptibility (MS) suggest that a 400 year fluctuation in salinity was regulated by changes in precipitation in the area of this lagoon. Changes in the westerly jet stream, controlled by variation in solar irradiance, had an important influence on precipitation volume in South Korea, suggesting that the patterns of the westerly jet stream fluctuate on a 400 year cycle.
U–Pb and fission‐track dating of a submarine pyroclastic rock from southwest Japan
Authors: Ninomiya Takashi , Taniguchi Sho , Shimoyama Shoichi , Watanabe Koichiro , Danhara Tohru , Iwano Hideki , Dunkley Daniel J. , Shiraishi Kazuyuki , Gouzu Chitaro
Published: July 2017

The Okinoshima Formation crops out on Okinoshima Island and comprises a thick sequence (> 200 m) of pyroclastic rocks and alternating beds of sandstone and mudstone. Because Okinoshima Island is located between Honshu and Tsushima Island, the Okinoshima Formation potentially provides an important record of volcanism during the opening of the Japan Sea in northwest Kyushu, as well as a record of the formation of the present Genkai Sea region. In consideration of the lack of previous geochronological work, dating (fission‐track and U–Pb) of igneous zircons extracted from the Okinoshima Formation were undertaken and studied the clay mineral alteration in the pyroclastic material in order to reveal its thermal history. These data are used to constrain the age of the Okinoshima Formation and the present Genkai Sea region. Our results show that no thermal event has reset the fission‐track age after deposition of the pyroclastic rocks, and that the Okinoshima Formation was deposited at 16.2 Ma. The present Genkai Sea region is a deep‐sea basin, and its formation at 16.2 Ma was accompanied by submarine volcanism and rapid subsidence that marked the climactic stage of Japan Sea formation. After 16 Ma, the tectonic setting of the present Genkai Sea region changed from one of extension (related to the formation of the Japan Sea) to one of compression, with uplift occurring under the influence of the clockwise rotation of southwest Japan. Consequently, after 16 Ma the present Genkai Sea region became isolated from the forming processes of the Japan Sea.
Lateral and axial cutting efficiency of instruments manufactured with conventional nickel‐titanium and novel gold metallurgy
Authors: Vasconcelos R. A. , Arias A. , Peters O. A.
Published: July 2017

Aim

To isolate the effect of metallurgy in lateral and axial cutting efficacy against plastic and bovine dentine substrates by comparing two rotary systems with identical design but manufactured with either conventional nickel‐titanium or heat‐treated gold alloy.

Methodology

A total of 258 ProTaper Universal (PTU) and ProTaper Gold (PTG) Shaping instruments were used. Bending behaviour was assessed to determine the appropriate displacement associated with a 2 N force in lateral cutting. Ten instruments of each type were used in lateral action for 60 s against bovine dentine or plastic substrates four consecutive times producing four notches in each specimen. Ten further instruments of each type were used in on axial action in four standardized simulated root canals fabricated from 4‐mm thick plastic or dentine discs. Both tests were performed at 300 rpm in a computer‐controlled testing platform. Notch area and torsional load were compared with Student's t‐tests. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare cutting efficiency across the four different time‐points. Pearson correlation coefficients between substrates were also determined.

Results

For lateral action, all three PTG instruments cut significantly more effectively (P < 0.05) than PTU on the plastic substrate. S1 and S2 PTG cut significantly more after 120 and 180 s (P < 0.05) on bovine dentine substrate. For axial action, S1 and S2 PTG were significantly more efficient in cutting at 180 s on plastic and 120 s on bovine dentine (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Instruments made from heat‐treated nickel‐titanium gold alloy had equal or greater cutting efficiency when compared to those made from conventional nickel‐titanium.
Identification and characterization of a gene involved in the encapsulation response of Helicoverpa armigera haemocytes
Authors: Hu Q.‐Q. , Wei X.‐H. , Li Y.‐P. , Wang J.‐L. , Liu X.‐S.
Published: July 2017

Encapsulation is a kind of cellular immune response of insect haemocytes, which results in the formation of capsules around invading parasites. However, the molecular mechanism of this response is largely unknown. In this study, we identified a potential immune‐related gene in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, called defence protein 1 (Ha‐DFP1). A tissue distribution analysis revealed that Ha‐DFP1 protein was expressed in haemocytes and secreted into the haemolymph of Helic. armigera larvae. The Ha‐DFP1 mRNA transcript level in haemocytes and the concentration of the Ha‐DFP1 protein in haemolymph both increased after injecting chromatography beads. Purified recombinant Ha‐DFP1 bound to the surface of haemocytes and promoted haemocyte encapsulation on chromatography beads in vitro. The spreading ability of haemocytes was inhibited when Ha‐DFP1 expression in Helic. armigera larval haemocytes decreased in response to the injection of double‐stranded RNA specific to Ha‐DFP1, and the encapsulation ability of haemocytes was impaired. Based on these results, we speculate that Ha‐DFP1 plays an important role in the Helic. armigera encapsulation response, possibly by binding to the haemocyte surface and mediating spreading behaviour.
The hidden burden of influenza: A review of the extra‐pulmonary complications of influenza infection
Authors: Sellers Subhashini A. , Hagan Robert S. , Hayden Frederick G. , Fischer William A.
Published: July 2017

Severe influenza infection represents a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Although influenza is primarily considered a viral infection that results in pathology limited to the respiratory system, clinical reports suggest that influenza infection is frequently associated with a number of clinical syndromes that involve organ systems outside the respiratory tract. A comprehensive MEDLINE literature review of articles pertaining to extra‐pulmonary complications of influenza infection, using organ‐specific search terms, yielded 218 articles including case reports, epidemiologic investigations, and autopsy studies that were reviewed to determine the clinical involvement of other organs. The most frequently described clinical entities were viral myocarditis and viral encephalitis. Recognition of these extra‐pulmonary complications is critical to determining the true burden of influenza infection and initiating organ‐specific supportive care.
Can a Morel‐Lavallée lesion be misdiagnosed as a mass like lesion?
Authors: Lee Yoon Jae , Kim Jun Hyeok , Kim Ji Young , Han Hyun Ho
Published: July 2017

The Morel‐Lavallée lesion (MLL) is a post‐traumatic closed soft tissue degloving injury. Common complaints ofMLLpatients are a haematoma or fluid collection on the trunk or the lower extremity.

However, the authors introduce unique cases ofMLLthat present an atypical appearance. The fluid collection was not apparent, and the capsule formation was not detected on preoperative image study. The main complaint of patients was the uncomfortable mass‐like lesion that was regarded as a simple benign lump.

The purpose of this case study is to introduce the atypical cases ofMLLand to help other physicians make accurate diagnosis based on trial and error of our cases.
Equiaxed β–Si3N4 ceramics prepared by rapid reaction‐bonding and post‐sintering using TiO2–Y2O3–Al2O3 additives
Authors: Wu Li‐Xiang , Guo Wei‐Ming , Zeng Ling‐Yong , Lin Hua‐Tay
Published: July 2017

Sintered reaction‐bonded Si3N4 ceramics with equiaxed microstructure were prepared with TiO2–Y2O3–Al2O3 additions by rapid nitridation at 1400°C for 2 hours and subsequent post‐sintering at 1850°C for 2 hours under N2 pressure of 3 MPa. It was found that α–Si3N4, β–Si3N4, Si2N2O, and TiN phases were formed by rapid nitridation of Si powders with single TiO2 additives. However, the combination of TiO2 and Y2O3–Al2O3 additives led to the formation of 100% β–Si3N4 phase from the nitridation of Si powders at such low temperature (1400°C), and the removal of Si2N2O phase. As a result, dense β–Si3N4 ceramics with equiaxed microstructure were obtained after post‐sintering at high temperature.