bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cottus gobio Linnaeus, 1758 Community Interest Species Conservation in Upper Târnava Mare River Basin, Through Fish Populations Rehabilitation for Brown Trout Zone Based on a Decision-Support Management System
Authors: Cismaş Cristina , Bănăduc Doru , Răzvan Voicu , Angela Curtean-Bănăduc
Published: January 2018

The ADONIS: CE software has been used for two fish species, Cottus gobio, of conservation interest and Salmo trutta fario, of economic interest, to design an on-site (upper Târnava Mare River) adapted support-system model for management decision-making. Habitat needs and indicators of favourable conservation status have been investigated, pressures and threats to these fish species have been determined, and management elements have been suggested. This management system allows the proper organization of management measures for the renaturation of the local natural fish associations in the local brown trout zone.
The Conceptualisation of Sustainable Development: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of its Extensity, Practicability and Veracities
Authors: Oka Nosayaba O.
Published: January 2018

The prevalent geopolitical prognosis during Brundtland’s Commission conceptualisation of sustainable development has metamorphosed, even though the basic core values serve as the conceptual basis and guidelines for understanding the SDG goals. Evolving socio-political behaviours have exposed new social complications. Ideological extremism, global warming, insurgency, poverty, food crisis, social inequality and humanitarian crisis have all challenged the suitability and applicability of the conceptual framework for global development. This paper attempts to analyse qualitatively, the underexplored areas of the concept of sustainable development, vis-à-vis its strengths, weakness and limitations by synthesizing an ideal working definition with regards to existing realities, for developmental theorist. It also reviews how environmentalism and human intelligence can symbiotically drive sustainability of biotic and abiotic factors in the planetary system, by advocating an enfranchising bottom-up, frontier-wide and exhaustively deliberated methodologies that amplifies the voice of all social formations in conceptualising new transformational theories or policies for human development.
Genotypic variation in tolerance to salinity of common beans cultivated in Western Cameroon as assessed at germination and during early seedling growth
Authors: Kouam Eric B. , Ndo Simon M. , Mandou Marie S. , Chotangui Asafor H. , Tankou Christopher M.
Published: January 2018

This study was carried out to determine effects of salinity on germination and seedling development of commercially important common bean genotypes in Cameroon. The seeds of eight genotypes were used for both trials. The germination experiments were carried out on petri dishes in the laboratory while early growth trials continued in plastic pots in the screenhouse. Both stages were setup using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Germination and early growth trials of the different genotypes were studied using distilled water as control or osmotic potentials of 50, 100, 150 and 200mM NaCl to study the effects of salinity on germination and seedling growth characteristics. Leaf concentrations of Na+ and K+ were determined. At the germination level, germination percentage, germination index and the coefficient of velocity of germination decreased with increasing salinity while the mean germination time and time to 50% germination increased with increasing level of salt. All the growth variables decreased with increasing salinity with the exception of the root length which was not affected by salinity. It was observed that increasing salinity induced a significant increase in leaf Na+ and substantial reduction in the accumulation of K+ in the leaves. For ions accumulation, germination variables and growth parameters, significant differences at 0.001 probability levels were found among salinity treatments, common bean genotypes and most of their interactions. Significant correlations were found between all germination variables and between most growth parameters. From the effect of salt application, the common bean genotypes namely KEBCB049, KEB-CB053 and Mac-33 were the most tolerant while KEB-CB055 and KEB-CB050 were the most sensitive. The results confirm that there is genotypic variation in salinity tolerance and that the most tolerant genotypes should be further explored in selection programs, with the aim that they should be promoted for cultivation in tropical zones affected by salinity.
I never signed up for this! Privacy implications of email tracking
Authors: Englehardt Steven , Han Jeffrey , Narayanan Arvind
Published: January 2018

We show that the simple act of viewing emails contains privacy pitfalls for the unwary. We assembled a corpus of commercial mailing-list emails, and find a network of hundreds of third parties that track email recipients via methods such as embedded pixels. About 30% of emails leak the recipient’s email address to one or more of these third parties when they are viewed. In the majority of cases, these leaks are intentional on the part of email senders, and further leaks occur if the recipient clicks links in emails. Mail servers and clients may employ a variety of defenses, but we analyze 16 servers and clients and find that they are far from comprehensive. We propose, prototype, and evaluate a new defense, namely stripping tracking tags from emails based on enhanced versions of existing web tracking protection lists.
Real Estate Appraisal in Central-Eastern Europe: Comparative Analysis of Poland and Slovakia
Authors: Adamuscin Andrej , Palicki Sławomir , Rącka Izabela
Published: January 2018

The countries in Central-Eastern Europe have been subjected to dynamic economic changes. Researchers from Poland and Slovakia study the history of the creation of and rules by which the real estate appraiser’s profession functions. They also present the methodological basics for property appraisals. The original value of this article is a comparative analysis depicting the similarities and differences occurring in the research area, in two countries from the same region of Europe. The analysis may also influence the methodological discussions of specialists concerning the correctness and purpose of certain approaches, methods or techniques of property appraisal.

The main goal of this article is conducting research on the operational rules of the real estate appraiser profession and property appraisal methods. The detailed objectives include: a critical comparative analysis of the solutions used in the above-mentioned countries, searching for interesting, unusual methodological propositions, and presenting a current assessment of the applied property appraisal methodology.

The foremost methods used in this article are: the analysis of legislative instruments, the analysis of literature concerning property appraisal methodology in Poland and Slovakia, and a questionnaire (CAWI and PAPI technique). Complementary knowledge was derived from official government internet portals and trade associations dealing with property appraisals. A comparative analysis was the basis for conducting research on the similarities and differences in the studied countries.
Relations between the orthogonal matrix polynomials on [a, b], Dyukarev-Stieltjes parameters, and Schur complements
Authors: Choque-Rivero A.E.
Published: January 2018

We obtain explicit interrelations between new Dyukarev-Stieltjes matrix parameters and orthogonal matrix polynomials on a finite interval [a, b], as well as the Schur complements of the block Hankel matrices constructed through the moments of the truncated Hausdorff matrix moment (THMM) problem in the nondegenerate case. Extremal solutions of the THMM problem are described with the help of matrix continued fractions.
Fatigue Performance of Vertical Vibration Compacted Cement-Stabilized Recycled Pavement Materials
Authors: Jiang Yingjun , Liu Haipeng , Xue Jinshun
Published: January 2018

Cement-stabilized recycled pavement materials (CRPMs) have been increasingly used in road engineering. However, the fatigue performance of CRPMs compacted by vertical vibration compaction method (VVCM) has rarely been studied. This paper focuses on the fatigue performances of the CRPMs (including three ratios of reclaimed cement base material and reclaimed asphalt pavement materials, three contents of virgin aggregate, and two contents of cement) compacted by VVCM and its impacting factors. Then, fatigue equations were established, and tensile strength structure coefficients were obtained. Results show that the ratio of reclaimed cement base material to reclaimed asphalt pavement material obviously affects the fatigue performance of CRPMs under the same stress level. Meanwhile, the analysis of the fatigue equations indicated that when the stress level is 0.80 or 0.85, the fatigue life of CRPMs with a ratio of reclaimed cement base material to reclaimed asphalt pavement material of 7:3 is higher than that with other ratios. The fatigue life of CRPMs is appreciably improved with increased virgin aggregate content. The tensile strength structure coefficient of CRPMs is established for the pavement design. Verification results of an actual engineering project show that the value of tensile strength structure coefficient recommended in this study can effectively guide pavement structure design.
Loss of Balance between Striatal Feedforward Inhibition and Corticostriatal Excitation Leads to Tremor
Authors: Oran Yael , Bar-Gad Izhar
Published: January 2018

Fast-spiking interneurons (FSIs) exert powerful inhibitory control over the striatum and are hypothesized to balance the massive excitatory cortical and thalamic input to this structure. We recorded neuronal activity in the dorsolateral striatum and globus pallidus (GP) concurrently with the detailed movement kinematics of freely behaving female rats before and after selective inhibition of FSI activity using IEM-1460 microinjections. The inhibition led to the appearance of episodic rest tremor in the body part that depended on the somatotopic location of the injection within the striatum. The tremor was accompanied by coherent oscillations in the local field potential (LFP). Individual neuron activity patterns became oscillatory and coherent in the tremor frequency. Striatal neurons, but not GP neurons, displayed additional temporal, nonoscillatory correlations. The subsequent reduction in the corticostriatal input following muscimol injection to the corresponding somatotopic location in the primary motor cortex led to disruption of the tremor and a reduction of the LFP oscillations and individual neuron's phase-locked activity. The breakdown of the normal balance of excitation and inhibition in the striatum has been shown previously to be related to different motor abnormalities. Our results further indicate that the balance between excitatory corticostriatal input and feedforward FSI inhibition is sufficient to break down the striatal decorrelation process and generate oscillations resulting in rest tremor typical of multiple basal ganglia disorders.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTFast-spiking interneurons (FSIs) play a key role in normal striatal processing by exerting powerful inhibitory control over the network. FSI malfunctions have been associated with abnormal processing of information within the striatum that leads to multiple movement disorders. Here, we study the changes in neuronal activity and movement kinematics following selective inhibition of these neurons. The injections led to the appearance of episodic rest tremor, accompanied by coherent oscillations in neuronal activity, which was reversed following corticostriatal inhibition. These results suggest that the balance between corticostriatal excitation and feedforward FSI inhibition is crucial for maintaining the striatal decorrelation process, and that its breakdown leads to the formation of oscillations resulting in rest tremor typical of multiple basal ganglia disorders.
Only so Many Hours: Correlations between Personality and Daily Time Use in a Representative German Panel
Authors: Rohrer Julia M. , Lucas Richard E.
Published: January 2018

Time is a finite resource, strictly limited to 24 hours a day. How people spend these resources is in many ways determined by necessities and external constraints, yet research on personality-situation transactions shows that people also choose their environments to resonate with their personality. This finding implies that daily time use and individual traits should be correlated. However, few studies have linked modern methods for assessing time use to individual differences in personality traits. In this study, we investigate correlations between the Big Five traits and time spent on various daily activities in the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), including 5,456 days in the lives of 1,364 individuals. Results converged towards previously reported personality-situation transactions. For example, extraversion predicted whether or not respondents reported meeting their friends, whereas openness was correlated negatively with watching TV. Effects were modest in size, ranging from r ≈ .10 to .25. Taking together, our findings corroborate the notion that our personality is robustly associated with the way we spend our lives.
A Perceptual Study of Scale-degree Qualia in Context
Authors: Arthur Claire
Published: January 2018

A perceptual study investigated the ability of scale degrees to evoke qualia, and the impact of harmonic context in shaping a scale degree’s qualia. In addition, the following questions were addressed: What role does music training have in shaping qualia? Are listeners consistent in their descriptions? Are experiences similar across participants, or are they individual and subjective? Listeners with or without music-theoretic training were asked to rate the qualia of scale degrees following various chord progressions, each ending with a different final harmony. Scale degrees were found to exhibit relatively consistent musical qualia; however, the local chord context was found to significantly influence qualia ratings. In general, both groups of listeners were found to be fairly consistent in their ratings of scale-degree qualia; however, as expected, musician listeners were more consistent than nonmusician listeners. Finally, a subset of the musical qualia ratings were compared against Krumhansl and Kessler’s (1982) scale-degree “profiles.” While profiles created from the present data, overall, were correlated with the K&K profiles, their claim that tonal stability accounts for the high ratings ascribed to tonic triad members was found to be better explained by the effect of the local chord context.
Embodied Listening and Timbre
Authors: Wallmark Zachary , Iacoboni Marco , Deblieck Choi , Kendall Roger A.
Published: January 2018

Timbre plays an essential role in transmitting musical affect, and in recent years, our understanding of emotional expression in music has been enriched by contributions from the burgeoning field of embodied music cognition. However, little attention has been paid to timbre as a possible mediator between musical embodiment and affect. In three experiments, we investigated the embodied dimensions of timbre perception by focusing on timbral qualities considered “noisy” and aversive. In Experiment 1, participants rated brief isolated natural timbres scaled into ordinal levels of “noisiness.” Experiment 2 employed the same design with a focus on polyphonic timbre, using brief (400 ms) excerpts from 6 popular music genres as stimuli. In Experiment 3, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to explore neural activations associated with perception of stimuli from Experiment 1. Converging results from behavioral, acoustical, and fMRI data suggest a motor component to timbre processing, particularly timbral qualities considered “noisy,” indicating a possible enactive mechanism in timbre processing. Activity in somatomotor areas, insula, and the limbic system increased the more participants disliked a timbre, and connectivity between the premotor cortex and insula relay decreased. Implications for recent theories of embodied music cognition, affect, and timbre semantics are discussed in conclusion.
MUSEBAQ
Authors: Chin Tan-Chyuan , Coutinho Eduardo , Scherer Klaus R. , Rickard Nikki S.
Published: January 2018

Music engagement is complex and is influenced by music training, capacity, preferences, and motivations. A multi-modular self-report instrument (the Music Use and Background Questionnaire, or MUSEBAQ) was developed to measure a diverse set of music engagement constructs. Based on earlier work, a hybrid approach of exploratory and confirmatory analyses was conducted across a series of three independent studies to establish reliability and validity of the modular tool. Module 1 (Musicianship) provides a brief assessment of formal and informal music knowledge and practice. Module 2 (Musical capacity) measures emotional sensitivity to music, listening sophistication, music memory and imagery, and personal commitment to music. Module 3 (Music preferences) captures preferences from six broad genres and utilizes adaptive reasoning to selectively expand subgenres when administered online. Module 4 (Motivations for music use) assesses musical transcendence, emotion regulation, social, and musical identity and expression. The MUSEBAQ offers researchers and practitioners a comprehensive, modular instrument that can be used in whole, or by module as required to capture an individual’s level of engagement with music and to serve as a background questionnaire to measure and interpret the effects of dispositional differences in emotional reactions to music.
Evaluation of estrogenic potential by herbal formula, HPC 03 for in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Chang Bo Yoon , Kim Dae Sung , Kim Hye Soo , Kim Sung Yeon
Published: January 2018

HPC 03 is herbal formula that consists of extracts from Angelica gigas, Cnidium officinale Makino and Cinnamomum cassia Presl. The present study evaluated the estrogenic potential of HPC 03 by using in vitro and in vivo models. The regulatory mechanisms of HPC 03 in estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells were assessed. HPC 03 induced the proliferation of estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells, and the proliferation was blocked by the addition of the estrogen antagonist tamoxifen. The estrogen receptorα/β luciferase activities were significantly increased by HPC 03 treatment, which also increased the mRNA expression of the estrogen-responsive genes Psen2, Pgr and Ctsd. Also, we evaluated the ameliorative effects of HPC 03 on menopausal symptoms in ovariectomized rats. HPC 03 treatment in OVX rats significantly affected the uterine weight, increased the expression of estrogen-responsive genes Pgr and Psen2 in uterus, increased bone mineral density loss in the femur and inhibited body weight increase. Serum E2, collagen type 1 and osteocalcin were significantly increased, while serum LH, FSH and ALP were decreased compared with OVX rats. HPC 03 may be a promising candidate for the treatment of menopause, but further research is necessary to determine whether the observed effects also occur in humans.
Does the policy of rural land rights confirmation promote the transfer of farmland in China?
Authors: Xu Hengzhou , Zhao Yihang , Tan Ronghui , Yin Hongchun
Published: January 2018

Land tenure security and land transfer markets are once again a topmost priority in the policy development agenda because of their expected outcomes in terms of equity and efficiency in the rural sector of China. The policy of rural land rights confirmation has been implemented since 2010 to enhance land tenure security and the transferability of farmland. However, only a few studies have been conducted on the effect of rural land rights confirmation on farmland transfer. Therefore, we use household-level survey data from 48 villages across Tianjin City and Shandong Province to explore whether rural land rights confirmation promotes the transfer of farmlands. Our empirical results show that rural land rights confirmation has significant and positive effects on the likelihood and amount of transfer-out land at the 5% significance level, but the effect on transfer-in farmland is insignificant. The results of the study have several policy implications. For instance, the agricultural comparative advantage should be improved through various agricultural subsidy policies. Moreover, the intermediary service network for farmland transfer should be established, and strengthening the non-farm employment skills and improving the non-agricultural employment market are necessary for the rural labour force.
Trastuzumab Plus Pertuzumab Resistance Does Not Preclude Response to Lapatinib Plus Trastuzumab in HER2-Amplified Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Fakih Marwan G.
Published: January 2018

Human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) amplification represents a distinct molecular subgroup of colorectal cancers that is associated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor resistance and sensitivity to dual HER2 targeting. Although clinical trials have reported activity for trastuzumab/pertuzumab and trastuzumab/lapatinib combinations, there are no reports on lapatinib plus trastuzumab activity after resistance to trastuzumab plus pertuzumab. Presented are three cases of HER2 amplified colorectal cancer that developed acquired refractoriness to trastuzumab pertuzumab with subsequent clinical benefit to lapatinib plus trastuzumab, highlighting the potential for HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibition plus trastuzumab in overcoming trastuzumab/pertuzumab resistance.
The Adiponectin Receptor Agonist AdipoRon Ameliorates Diabetic Nephropathy in a Model of Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Kim Yaeni , Lim Ji Hee , Kim Min Young , Kim Eun Nim , Yoon Hye Eun , Shin Seok Joon , Choi Bum Soon , Kim Yong-Soo , Chang Yoon Sik , Park Cheol Whee
Published: January 2018

Adiponectin exerts renoprotective effects against diabetic nephropathy (DN) by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/peroxisome proliferative-activated receptor–α (PPARα) pathway through adiponectin receptors (AdipoRs). AdipoRon is an orally active synthetic adiponectin receptor agonist. We investigated the expression of AdipoRs and the associated intracellular pathways in 27 patients with type 2 diabetes and examined the effects of AdipoRon on DN development in male C57BLKS/J db/db mice, glomerular endothelial cells (GECs), and podocytes. The extent of glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis correlated with renal function deterioration in human kidneys. Expression of AdipoR1, AdipoR2, and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase–β (CaMKKβ) and numbers of phosphorylated liver kinase B1 (LKB1)– and AMPK-positive cells significantly decreased in the glomeruli of early stage human DN. AdipoRon treatment restored diabetes-induced renal alterations in db/db mice. AdipoRon exerted renoprotective effects by directly activating intrarenal AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, which increased CaMKKβ, phosphorylated Ser431LKB1, phosphorylated Thr172AMPK, and PPARα expression independently of the systemic effects of adiponectin. AdipoRon-induced improvement in diabetes-induced oxidative stress and inhibition of apoptosis in the kidneys ameliorated relevant intracellular pathways associated with lipid accumulation and endothelial dysfunction. In high-glucose–treated human GECs and murine podocytes, AdipoRon increased intracellular Ca2+ levels that activated a CaMKKβ/phosphorylated Ser431LKB1/phosphorylated Thr172AMPK/PPARα pathway and downstream signaling, thus decreasing high-glucose–induced oxidative stress and apoptosis and improving endothelial dysfunction. AdipoRon further produced cardioprotective effects through the same pathway demonstrated in the kidney. Our results show that AdipoRon ameliorates GEC and podocyte injury by activating the intracellular Ca2+/LKB1-AMPK/PPARα pathway, suggesting its efficacy for treating type 2 diabetes–associated DN.
Differences in Stock Returns of U.S. Firms with High and Low Tradability
Authors: Tian Mary
Published: January 2018

In this note, I summarize the methodology and findings of my research paper and draw out the policy implications. The effects of GDP growth appear to matter more but the link between exchange rates and stock returns is also economically and statistically significant. The policy implications are that the spread in returns between U.S. firms with high and low tradability could provide a hedge against recessions. At the same time, stock returns are also informative about future exchange rate movements.
A contrapelo: incursão teórica na tecnologia - discurso eletrônico, escola, cidade
Authors: Orlandi Eni Puccinelli
Published: January 2018

Neste artigo, colocamos em relação o discurso do analista de sistema e o do analista de discurso, procurando mostrar como, pela análise de discurso, se pode compreender o modo de constituição dos sentidos e dos sujeitos – tanto em sua função de autoria como no efeito leitor - quando tomamos como objeto de observação o espaço digital. Para tal, mobilizamos reflexivamente noções como interação, interpretação, navegar, percorrer relações, deriva, distintas noções de memória, fato, dado, textualidade, visando a diferença entre ser usuário e ser sujeito de conhecimento.
Design, Synthesis and In Combo Antidiabetic Bioevaluation of Multitarget Phenylpropanoic Acids
Authors: Colín-Lozano Blanca , Estrada-Soto Samuel , Chávez-Silva Fabiola , Gutiérrez-Hernández Abraham , Cerón-Romero Litzia , Giacoman-Martínez Abraham , Almanza-Pérez Julio Cesar , Hernández-Núñez Emanuel , Wang Zhilong , Xie Xin , Cappiello Mario , Balestri Francesco , Mura Umberto , Navarrete Vázquez Gabriel
Published: January 2018

We synthesized a small series of five 3-[4-arylmethoxy)phenyl]propanoic acids using an easy and short step synthetic route. All compounds were tested in vitro against a set of four protein targets identified as key elements in diabetes: GPR40, aldose reductase (AKR1B1), PPARγ and GLUT-4. Compound 1 displayed an EC50 value of 0.075 μM against GPR40 and was an AKR1B1 inhibitor, showing IC50 = 7.4 μM. Compounds 2 and 3 behave as AKR1B1 inhibitors, GPR40 agonists and showed an increase of 2 to 4-times in the mRNA expression of PPARγ, as well as the GLUT-4 levels. Docking studies were conducted in order to explain the polypharmacological mode of action and the interaction binding mode of the most active compounds on these targets. Compounds 1-3 were tested in vivo at 100 mg/kg dose, being 2 and 3 orally actives, reducing glucose levels in a non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus mice model. Compounds 2 and 3 showed robust in vitro and in vivo efficacy, and could be considered as promising multitarget antidiabetic drug candidates. This is the first report of a single molecule with these four polypharmacological target action.
Dissolved Silica Effects on Adsorption and Co-Precipitation of Sb(III) and Sb(V) with Ferrihydrite
Authors: Zhou Shuang , Sato Tsutomu , Otake Tsubasa
Published: January 2018

Elevated antimony concentrations in aqueous environments from anthropogenic sources is becoming of global concern, here iron oxides are known to strongly adsorb aqueous antimony species with different oxidation states, but the effect of silica on the removal characteristics is not well understood despite being a common component in the environment. In this study, ferrihydrite was synthesized at various Si/Fe molar ratios to investigate its adsorption and co-precipitation behaviors with aqueous antimony anionic species, Sb(III) and Sb(V). The XRD analyses of the precipitates showed two broad diffraction features at approximately 35° and 62° 2θ, which are characteristic of 2-line ferrihydrite, no significant shifts in peak positions in the ferrihydrite regardless of the Si/Fe ratios. The infrared spectra showed a sharp band at ~990 cm−1, corresponding to asymmetric stretching vibrations of Si-O-Fe bonds which increased in intensity with increasing Si/Fe molar ratios. Further, the surface charge on the precipitates became more negative with increasing Si/Fe molar ratios. The adsorption experiments indicated that Sb(V) was preferentially adsorbed at acidic conditions and decreased dramatically with increasing pH while the adsorption rate of Sb(III) ions was independent of pH, however, the presence of silica suppressed the adsorption of both Sb(III) and Sb(V) ions. The results showed that Sb(III) and Sb(V) ions were significantly inhibited by co-precipitation with ferrihydrite even in the presence of silica by isomorphous substitution in the ferrihydrite crystal structure.
Southeastern Wildrye Nutritive Value and Production with Nitrogen Fertilizer or Legume Incorporation
Authors: Rushing J. Brett , Thornton Matthew T.
Published: January 2018

Core Ideas

Southeastern wildrye produces adequate amounts of quality forage as a cool‐season native grass.

Nitrogen and annual clover inclusion to southeastern wildrye stands improves nutritive values.

Nitrogen and annual clover inclusion to southeastern wildrye stands improves dry matter yield.

Southeastern wildrye [Elymus glabriflorus (Vasey ex L.H. Dewey) Scrib & C.R. Ball] has been identified as a potential native, cool‐season, perennial forage crop for the southeastern United States. This study was conducted to determine how annual clovers or N applications influenced dry matter (DM) yield and nutritive values in southeastern wildrye stands. Field trials were established in 2014 at Newton and Starkville, MS, and were conducted for two growing seasons (2015 and 2016). Plots received one of five N treatments (0, 56, 112, 168, and 224 kg N ha−1) or five annual legumes in a randomized complete block design. Plots were sampled to monitor DM and nutritive value (crude protein [CP], acid detergent fiber [ADF], neutral detergent fiber [NDF], and relative forage quality [RFQ]). All treatments maintained adequate nutritive values for growing beef cattle throughout the course of the study. Nutritive value declined as the season progressed at each location. Clover treatments had greater mean CP (146–222 g kg−1 DM) values compared to N treatments (141–191 g kg−1 DM), especially in earlier harvests. Greater RFQ values were also observed for clover treatments (115–132) compared to N treatments (113–118) across all harvests. Mean cumulative DM yield, however, was somewhat greater for N‐treated plots, compared to clover plots. This was more clearly observed in late season harvests, as clover composition diminished with increasing temperatures. Nutritive value and DM production of southeastern wildrye with N or annual clover inclusion produces quality feedstuffs worthy of further investigation.
Expression of Drought‐Tolerant N2 Fixation in Heterogeneous Inbred Families derived from PI471938 and Hutcheson Soybean
Authors: Riar Mandeep K. , Cerezini Paula , Manandhar Anju , Sinclair Thomas R. , Li Zenglu , Carter Thomas E.
Published: January 2018

Nitrogen fixation of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is particularly vulnerable to drought, since, in most genotypes, N2 fixation activity decreases very early in the soil drying cycle. Although a few soybean genotypes, including ‘PI 471938’, have been identified that express N2 fixation tolerance of drought, it is unknown how readily this trait is transferred to progeny. Unfortunately, the techniques used to phenotype for the tolerance trait are either too crude or too labor‐intensive to allow the acquisition of data required for a classical inheritance assessment. In this study, a heterogeneous inbred family (HIF) population derived from PI 471938 × ‘Hutcheson’ was studied for its N2 fixation drought tolerance to obtain a preliminary indication of the expression of this trait in progeny genotypes. An in situ flow‐through acetylene reduction assay was used to track the N2 fixation rates of 13 HIFs over dry‐down periods lasting about 2 wk. There was a distinct segregation among the HIFs, with nine exhibiting tolerance equivalent to PI 471938 and four exhibiting sensitivity equal to or greater than Hutcheson. These results indicate that N2 fixation drought tolerance might be transferred to progeny lines fairly readily, or at least retained in a selected population such as these HIFs.
Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci for Grain Yield and Other Traits in Tropical Maize Under High and Low Soil‐Nitrogen Environments
Authors: Ribeiro P.F. , Badu‐Apraku B. , Gracen V.E. , Danquah E.Y. , Garcia‐Oliveira A.L. , Asante M.D. , Afriyie‐Debrah C. , Gedil M.
Published: January 2018

Low soil Nitrogen (low‐N) is one of the most important abiotic stressors responsible for significant yield losses in maize (Zea maysL.). The development and commercialization of low‐N–tolerant genotypes can contribute to improved food security in developing countries. However, selection for low‐N tolerance is difficult because it is a complex trait with strong interaction between genotypes and environments. Marker‐assisted breeding holds great promise for improving such complex traits more efficiently and in less time, but requires markers associated with the trait of interest. In this study, 150 BC2F1families of CML 444 × CML 494 were evaluated at two locations for two consecutive seasons to identify SNP markers associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for yield and other agronomic traits under low‐ and high‐N environments. A total of 13 QTL were identified with 158 SNP markers, of which nine and four QTL were detected under low‐ and high‐N environments, respectively. Five QTL one each for grain yield (qgy‐1), days to silking (qdts‐1) and anthesis‐ silking interval (qasi‐6), and two for stay green characteristic (qsg‐1 andqsg‐4) were close to their adjacent markers, with an interval of 0.7 to 5.2 cM between them and explained phenotypic variance of 9 to 21%. These QTL would be invaluable for rapid introgression of genomic regions into maize populations using marker‐assisted selection (MAS) approaches. However, further validation of these QTL is needed before use in MAS.
Soil Property and Class Maps of the Conterminous United States at 100‐Meter Spatial Resolution
Authors: Ramcharan Amanda , Hengl Tomislav , Nauman Travis , Brungard Colby , Waltman Sharon , Wills Skye , Thompson James
Published: January 2018

Core Ideas

Ensemble machine learning methods were used to obtain gridded soil property and class maps.

Final predictions were generated for six soil properties and two soil classes at 100‐m resolution.

Soil data are easier to integrate with spatially explicit models compared with multicomponent map units.

Soil property maps are available at seven standard depths.

With growing concern for the depletion of soil resources, conventional soil maps need to be updated and provided at finer and finer resolutions to be able to support spatially explicit human–landscape models. Three US soil point datasets—the National Cooperative Soil Survey Characterization Database, the National Soil Information System, and the Rapid Carbon Assessment dataset—were combined with a stack of over 200 environmental datasets and gSSURGO polygon maps to generate complete coverage gridded predictions at 100‐m spatial resolution of six soil properties (percentage of organic C, total N, bulk density, pH, and percentage of sand and clay) and two US soil taxonomic classes (291 great groups [GGs] and 78 modified particle size classes [mPSCs]) for the conterminous United States. Models were built using parallelized random forest and gradient boosting algorithms as implemented in the ranger and xgboost packages for R. Soil property predictions were generated at seven standard soil depths (0, 5, 15, 30, 60, 100, and 200 cm). Prediction probability maps for US soil taxonomic classifications were also generated. Cross validation results indicated an out‐of‐bag classification accuracy of 60% for GGs and 66% for mPSCs; for soil properties, RMSE for leave‐location‐out cross‐validation was 0.74 (R2 = 0.68), 17.8 wt% (R2 = 0.57), 12 wt% (R2 = 0.46), 3.63 wt% (R2 = 0.41), 0.2 g cm−3 (R2 = 0.42), and 0.27 wt% (R2 = 0.39) for pH, percent sand and clay, weight percentage of organic C, bulk density, and weight percentage of total N, respectively. Nine independent validation datasets were used to assess prediction accuracies for soil class models, and results ranged between 24 and 58% and between 24 and 93% for GG and mPSC prediction accuracies, respectively. Although mapping accuracies were variable and likely lower than gSSURGO in some areas, this modeling approach can enable easier integration of soil information with spatially explicit models compared with multicomponent map units.
Improved Nitrogen Management as a Key Mitigation to Net Global Warming Potential and Greenhouse Gas Intensity on the North China Plain
Authors: Huang Tao , Hu Xiaokang , Gao Bing , Yang Hao , Huang Changchun , Ju Xiaotang
Published: January 2018

Core Ideas

Effects of improved N management on net GWP and GHG intensity were investigated.

Fertilizer production and irrigation were the main contributors to GWP.

Optimized chemical N and manure N can decrease net GWP and GHG intensity relative to conventional N.

Improved N management could realize food security and net GWP mitigation concomitantly.

Agricultural production is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. Net global warming potential (net GWP) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) were investigated in a maize–wheat rotation from 2011 to 2014 on the North China Plain by summarizing the net exchange of CO2 equivalent (CO2–eq) from direct and indirect GHG emissions. The experiment included four managements: no N input (N0), conventional chemical‐N management (Ncon), optimized chemical N management (Nopt), and balanced chemical‐N management incorporated with dairy manure (MNbal). Cumulative N2O emissions were significantly increased by N input rates. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content increased linearly in all treatments with 0.11 to 0.46 g C kg–1 yr–1 at 0 to 20 cm. The energy consumption associated with chemical N‐fertilizer production and irrigation was the main contributor to GWP. Compared with Ncon, a 45% decrease in chemical‐N input by Nopt brought about a 33% decrease in net GWP, but a 10% decrease in grain yield, and thus only reduced 25% of GHGI. A 40% decrease in total N application in the MNbal treatment saved chemical N by 66% and increased soil organic carbon sequestration by 45%, increased grain yield by 18%, and finally, decreased net GWP and GHGI by 48 and 56%, respectively, relative to the Ncon treatment. We conclude that the incorporation of dairy manure with chemical N is a promising strategy for reducing net GWP and ensuring food security concomitantly in these intensive maize–wheat cropping systems on the North China Plain.
MODERN TRENDS IN SURGICAL TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH ACL RUPTURES (LITERATURE REVIEW)
Authors: Rikun O. V. , Khominets V. V. , Fedotov A. O.
Published: January 2018

The authors conducted an analysis of national and foreign scientific publications dedicated to the problems in treatment of patients with ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee joint. The results of the analysis demonstrated that such lesions still remain the key knee pathology resulting from sports injuries that significantly affect knee function and require timely reconstructive surgical correction. Based on the study the key areas of improvement in treatment for mentioned category of patients have been identified. This is the biomechanically justified single bundle anatomical ACL reconstruction which is currently widely applied in the clinical practice by using of an isometrically located autograft. Such technique represents a radically new stage in the development of treatment methods for young and middle-aged patients with high functional demands.
FAST-TRACK HIP AND KNEE ARTHROPLASTY (LITERATURE REVIEW)
Authors: Ageenko A. M. , Sadovoy M. A. , Shelyakina O. V. , Ovtin M. A.
Published: January 2018

In the present paper the authors discuss the history of fast-track formation, its development and current status. Fast-track advantages in comparison to other rehabilitation options are analyzed. The focus is placed on methods of accelerated rehabilitation after total hip and knee arthroplasty in the leading European and American clinics. Fast-track protocols of surgical centers of Denmark and Hospital for special surgery in the US are described, factors that determine time of hospital stay after total hip and knee arthroplasty are considered, predictors of hospital stay and patients satisfaction after the surgery are examined. The paper reflects the results of the comparison of frequency of thromboembolic and other complications as well as readmission rate after traditional rehabilitation and after fast-track. The paper considers fast-track in bilateral total knee replacement. The authors conclude that further research on acceleration of rehabilitation and reduction of hospital stay after total hip and knee arthroplasty needs to be focused on the optimization of pain relief, especially after discharge, blood preservation techniques, supplementation of fluids loss and strengthening of muscles. Literature analysis demonstrated that the implementation of the Protocol for accelerated recovery after joint arthroplasty in Russia is at an insufficient level. Data of foreign multicenter studies during recent years indicate a high efficacy and safety of this technique in different groups of patients.
POTENTIAL OF ULTRASOUND-GUIDED LUMBAR FACET RADIOFREQUENCY DENERVATION
Authors: Volkov I. V. , Karabaev I. Sh. , Ptashnikov D. A. , Konovalov N. A. , Poyarkov K. A.
Published: January 2018

The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility of US navigation for Radiofrequency denervation (RFD) of the lumbar facets.Material and methods. The authors performed a prospective controlled cohort study which included 50 patients with chronic pain syndrome who underwent RFD LIII-SI facets on both sides. The main group (US) included 25 patients, who underwent US guided navigation with FScontrol of the correct placement of the cannula prior to ablation. In the control group (FS) the RFD was performed only under FS control. Patients were selected after preliminary test block of medial branch with 50% pain reduction from the baseline. Patients with overweight, spinal deformity, pronounced degenerative changes, spinal stenosis and developmental anomalies were not included in the study. For the evaluation of outcomes, the numeric pain scale NRS-11 and the Oswestry index (ODI) were used, the accuracy of the cannula position was assessed and factors determining the accuracy were searched.Results. As a result of the intervention, there was a significant decrease of NRS-11 and ODI criteria in both groups (p0.001), a positive outcome was achieved in 18 (72%) of US patients and 16 (64%) of FS patients, p = 0.564. Of the 200 attempts to position the cannula under the ultrasound control, 169 (84.5%) were successful, in most cases (187 out of 200, 93.5%) at least 3 attempts were required to reposition the cannula. The average time for performing the procedure under the ultrasound control was 47.3±1.13 minutes. The facet angle and procedure level were defined as predictors of the cannula positioning accuracy, odds ratio 0.93 (95% CI 0.894–0.963) and 0.51 (95% CI 0.32–0.805), respectively.Conclusion. RFD of lumbar facet under ultrasound navigation allows to achieve a relatively high accuracy of the cannula position into the zone of passage of the articular branch. The navigation capabilities are reduced at the level of LV and SI vertebrae due to structural features of the joints, namely coronary orientation of the facets with the formation of a narrow space between the transverse and upper articular process, which create difficulties for scanning. The disadvantage of ultrasound control is the lengthy procedure and the need for repeated reinsertion of the cannulae worsening the patient’s tolerance of procedure.
So Far So Good?: A Critical Evaluation of Racial Vilification Laws in Australia
Authors: Meagher Dan
Published: January 2018

It may be true that morality cannot be legislated, but behaviour can be regulated. The law may not change the heart, but it can restrain the heartless.
Choice of Law and the Australian Constitution: Locating the Debate
Authors: Stellios James
Published: January 2018

There has been renewed interest in the constitutional dimensions of choice of law. This interest was reignited by the High Court’s decision in John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Rogerson, where the Court appealed to ‘constitutional factors’ as guiding the selection of the lex loci delicti as a common law choice of law rule in intra-national tort cases. While the central importance of the overarching constitutional framework to intra-national choice of law questions may be accepted, the High Court struggled to identify with precision the relevance of constitutional provisions and implications for the choice of law inquiry. In particular, it failed to respond adequately to concerns expressed in earlier majority judgments about the continued capacity of State legislatures to direct their courts as to the legal standards to be applied in a case involving out-of-state elements. Because of the fact pattern that arose in Pfeiffer, the High Court was able to avoid the more difficult questions that arise in intra-national choice of law cases, particularly the question of which legal standards apply when there is an ‘inconsistency’ between two or more State legislative provisions.
Judicial Review of Migration Decisions: Life after S157
Authors: Beaton-Wells Caron
Published: January 2018

The last two decades have witnessed a colossal struggle between the government and the courts over judicial supervision of executive decisions with respect to migration. The struggle culminated in February 2003 with the High Court decision in Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth concerning the privative clause in the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (‘the Act’). While upholding its constitutional validity, the Court rendered the privative clause effectively redundant by ruling it incapable of protecting decisions involving jurisdictional error.
Bradley Maxwell Selway: A Personal Tribute
Authors: Williams John M
Published: January 2018

On 10 April 2005 Justice Bradley Selway died. He was 50. For those who knew and worked with Brad, as he was universally known, this was crushing news. Like many I came across Brad through a shared interest in public law, an area in which he excelled, and like many a professional interaction it turned into a cherished friendship.

My first meeting with Brad was when he agreed to chair a continuing legal education seminar in Adelaide on section 90 of the Constitution. As an inexperienced academic I was nervous and clearly portrayed that lack of confidence. He, as was his way, calmed the situation by reminding all that he should be the nervous one having just lost the States $5 billion with the High Court’s decision in Ha v New South Wales.
Courts and Social Change
Authors: Sackville Ronald
Published: January 2018

The relationship between courts and social change can be viewed from at least two perspectives. The first, frequently explored in the literature, invites consideration of how courts respond to social change, real or apparent. The second directs attention to whether the courts themselves can bring about social change.
Griffith University V Tang, ‘Under an Enactment’ and Limiting Access to Judicial Review
Authors: Stewart Daniel
Published: January 2018

The Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) (‘ADJR Act’) provides for judicial review based on decisions ‘to which this Act applies’. Persons aggrieved by ‘a decision to which this Act applies’, conduct engaged in for the purpose of making a decision to which this Act applies, or a failure to make a decision to which this Act applies are able to apply to the Federal Court for an order for review. ‘[D]ecision to which this Act applies’ is defined as a ‘decision of an administrative character, made … under an enactment’. Other similar statutory schemes providing for judicial review also rely on showing that there was or will be a decision made ‘under an enactment’. The High Court decision in Griffith University v Tang is the most recent to consider the meaning of this phrase.