bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of transformational leadership and job satisfaction: The roles of personality traits and psychological empowerment
Authors: Aydogmus Ceren , Metin Camgoz Selin , Ergeneli Azize , Tayfur Ekmekci Ozge
Published: December 2016

Through two studies, this paper investigates the moderating effects of personality traits (i.e., extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness and neuroticism) and the mediating effect of psychological empowerment on the relationship between perceived transformational leadership and job satisfaction. Study 1 searches whether personality traits moderate the effects of perceived transformational leadership on followers’ job satisfaction. Using a sample of 221 R&D employees employed by information technology organizations, the results of Study 1 indicate that the more conscientious the employee, the stronger the relationship between perceived transformational leadership and job satisfaction. Study 2 explores whether psychological empowerment mediates the effects of perceived transformational leadership on followers’ job satisfaction. Based on data from 348 academics, the results support the mediating role of psychological empowerment on job satisfaction, in that when employees perceive their leader as transformational they feel more psychologically empowered, which in turn increases job satisfaction levels. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
Dating of Russian Hunting Stations in South Spitsbergen Using Dendrochronological and Radiocarbon Analyses
Authors: Chochorowski Jan , Krąpiec Marek
Published: December 2016

Excavations conducted in 1982–1987 by the Polish archaeological expedition of Jagiellonian University in the Sørkappland and Hornsund fjord regions of Spitsbergen encompassed the three Pomor hunting stations of Bjørnbeinflyene, Palffyodden, and Schönningholmane, and included relics from the landing site on the Tørrflya coast used by the Pomors. The wood recovered during the excavations, originating from wooden dwellings, monumental crosses, and a shipwreck, was subjected to dendrochronological analysis. In total, 26 samples were examined, which allowed for the following chronologies to be developed: SPITS_A3 (larch, 9 samples, 208 yr); SPITS_B1 (pine, 5 samples, 222 yr); and SPITS_C1 (spruce, 2 samples, 142 yr). The dendrochronological dating obtained for the spruce sequence was established as AD 1769–1910. The chronological position of the remaining sequences was established by means of wiggle-matching. The results suggest that the youngest rings of the larch sequence cannot be older than AD 1745, and the youngest rings of the pine sequence date within the period of AD 1697–1805 or 1837–1869. Absolute dates obtained for the wood from the huts from the northern part of Sørkappland are consistent with the chronological framework established based on historical data. Thus, the hypothesis positing pre-Barents chronology of the Russianpromyslin the investigated area could not be confirmed.
Figuring Out How to Proceed with Evaluation After Figuring Out What Matters
Authors: ANDREOU CHRISOULA
Published: December 2016

I focus on David Gauthier’s intriguing suggestion that actions are not to be evaluated directly but via an evaluation of deliberative procedures. I argue that this suggestion is misleading, since even the most direct evaluation of (intentional) actions involves the evaluation of different ways of deliberating about what to do. Relatedly, a complete picture of what an agent is or might be (intentionally) doing cannot be disentangled from a complete picture of how s/he is or might be deliberating. A more viable contrast concerns whether actionsanddeliberative procedures are properly evaluatedon the wholeor, instead,through time.
Gauthier and the Prisoner’s Dilemma
Authors: KUHN STEVEN
Published: December 2016

The Prisoner’s Dilemma (PD) plays a central, but shifting, role in David Gauthier’s moral theorizing. In “Morality and Advantage,” it provides a model, demonstrating how morality can have seemingly contradictory properties. In Morals by Agreement, it poses a special problem for the view that moral behaviour is individually rational. Authorities on game theory have subsequently disputed the idea that the PD is an appropriate tool for thinking about moral theory. In the first part of this paper, I examine the roles of the PD in Gauthier’s writings. In the second part, I outline a project, with both descriptive and normative components, that develops the insights of “Morality and Advantage” while preserving it from the game theorists’ attack.
Getting the Baseline Right—or—Why I’m Right and Everyone Else is Wrong, in each of the Two Senses of ‘Why’
Authors: VIMINITZ PAUL
Published: December 2016

My fellow contractarians and I are of a mind that it would be irrational to comply with a distribution of the cooperative dividend that worsens one’s condition. But worse than what? According to David Gauthieret al., it’s non-interaction, i.e., what would be the case were the negotiators never to have met. I argue that it’s what would be the case in the absence of their coming to an agreement. As it turns out, this distinction can be, and often is, a matter of life and death.
A method for increasing the survival of shallow-water populations of the endemic coral Astroides calycularis
Authors: Terrón-Sigler Alejandro , León-Muez David , Peñalver-Duque Patricio , Espinosa Torre Free
Published: December 2016

The increasing human impact at shallow depths may be affecting the Mediterranean endemic coral Astroides calycularis irreversibly. Therefore, management tools need to be developed for use in its conservation. The main aim of this study was to test a reliable attachment methodology for restoring sites where the species has been affected by human activities. We chose an attachment technique using a marine quick-action epoxy resin, completing three treatments (control, transplanted and translocated colonies) in two sites with different hydrodynamic conditions. Control colonies were undisturbed colonies that were not manipulated; translocation colonies were dislodged and reattached in the same place; and transplantation colonies were dislodged and attached in a different area. Translocated colonies showed a higher survival than transplanted ones, and survival was also higher in environments with more hydrodynamism. Regarding growth, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) did not show significant differences among treatments, but significant differences between areas with different hydrodynamic conditions were noted. This study confirms that it is possible to transplant or translocate colonies of this coral with the technique proposed here, which could be used in future management plans for areas impacted by humans.
In Search of Space: The Trope of Escape in German Electronic Music around 1968
Authors: BROWN TIMOTHY SCOTT
Published: December 2016

‘In Search of Space’ explores the history of Krautrock, a futuristic musical genre that began in Germany in the late 1960s and flowered in the 1970s. Not usually explicitly political, Krautrock bore the unmistakable imprint of the revolt of 1968. Groups arose out of the same milieux and shared many of the same concerns as anti-authoritarian radicals. Their rebellion expressed, in an artistic way, key themes of the broader countercultural moment of which they were a part. A central theme, the article argues, was escape – escape from the situation of Germany in the 1960s in general, and from the specific conditions of the anti-authoritarian revolt in the Federal Republic in the wake of 1968. Mapping Krautrock's relationship to key locations and routes (both real and imaginary), the article situates Krautrock in relationship to the political and cultural upheavals of its historical context.
Age differences in the use of serving size information on food labels: numeracy or attention?
Authors: Miller Lisa M Soederberg , Applegate Elizabeth , Beckett Laurel A , Wilson Machelle D , Gibson Tanja N
Published: December 2016

Objective

The ability to use serving size information on food labels is important for managing age-related chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and cancer. Past research suggests that older adults are at risk for failing to accurately use this portion of the food label due to numeracy skills. However, the extent to which older adults pay attention to serving size information on packages is unclear. We compared the effects of numeracy and attention on age differences in accurate use of serving size information while individuals evaluated product healthfulness.

Design

Accuracy and attention were assessed across two tasks in which participants compared nutrition labels of two products to determine which was more healthful if they were to consume the entire package. Participants’ eye movements were monitored as a measure of attention while they compared two products presented side-by-side on a computer screen. Numeracy as well as food label habits and nutrition knowledge were assessed using questionnaires.

Setting

Sacramento area, California, USA, 2013–2014.

Subjects

Stratified sample of 358 adults, aged 20–78 years.

Results

Accuracy declined with age among those older adults who paid less attention to serving size information. Although numeracy, nutrition knowledge and self-reported food label use supported accuracy, these factors did not influence age differences in accuracy.

Conclusions

The data suggest that older adults are less accurate than younger adults in their use of serving size information. Age differences appear to be more related to lack of attention to serving size information than to numeracy skills.
Efficient access to a designed phosphapalladacycle catalyst via enantioselective catalytic asymmetric hydrophosphination
Authors: Li Xi-Rui , Yang Xiang-Yuan , Li Yongxin , Pullarkat Sumod A. , Leung Pak-Hing
Published: December 2016

A facile and efficient method for preparing a chiral phosphapalladacycle catalyst via asymmetric catalytic hydrophosphination followed by cyclopalladation was developed. The catalytic potential of the new complex was demonstrated.
Cobaltocenium-containing polybenzimidazole polymers for alkaline anion exchange membrane applications
Authors: Chen Nanjun , Zhu Hong , Chu Yuhao , Li Rui , Liu Yang , Wang Fanghui
Published: December 2016

A novel cobaltocenium-containing polybenzimidazole polymer was used for alkaline anion exchange membranes.
Aural Atresia: What Audiologists Need to Know About Bilateral Versus Unilateral Cases
Authors: Flynn Traci
Published: December 2016

Children with aural atresia (AA) present with a hearing loss due to differing degrees of malformations of the ear. The effects of this hearing loss on audition, speech/language development, and academic achievement are not well understood. The literature is quite sparse on this topic, including studies with only small numbers of children or retrospective chart reviews. The few studies that have been completed demonstrate that the hearing loss caused by AA affects auditory, as well as speech and language, development and, therefore, results in delays. Children with bilateral atresia are more adversely affected than children with unilateral atresia. However, the delays are not well understood with respect to whether or not amplification mitigates them. This paper presents the current evidence in the literature on the audiological management, the auditory and speech/language development, and the academic achievement of children with aural atresia.
Notions From the Field of Reading as They Apply to Tesol
Authors: Beatty Ross
Published: December 2016

The field of teaching reading to English-speaking students and the field of TESOL (Teaching English as a Second or Other Language) need to borrow from each other more than they are now doing. To this end, the author here applies notions from the field of reading to TESOL. This is done within the framework of a taxonomy of the elements of reading instruction. For each division on the taxonomy, there is given information that a TESOL teacher would need for applying material from the field of reading. Also, for each division there are suggested ways in which the specific needs of non-English speaking students can be met.
The Role of Field Independence in Foreign Language Instruction
Authors: De Keyser Robert M.
Published: December 2016

Based on the educational implications of field (in)dependence as described by Witkin et al. (1977), a series of hypotheses are formulated concerning the role of FI in L2-learning with different methods. Most existing L2-research, in contrast, has studied FI, usually assessed with the EFT, as an aptitude for learning with any particular teaching method, and has yielded somewhat inconsistent results, with a tendency to mild positive correlations between FI and L2-achievement. It is argued that FI in L2-learning should be viewed in the aptitude-treatment interaction paradigm and a series of suggestions are made concerning the assessment of FI as well as the design and the outcome measures for such interaction research.
Bilingual Acquisition of L1 Punjabi and L2 English by Sandwell Primary School Children
Authors: Duncan D.M. , Gibbs D.A. , Noor N.S. , Whittaker H.M.
Published: December 2016

Diagnostic Expressive Language (Syntax) Tests of L1 Punjabi and L2 English were devised by a joint Health and Education Department team and administered to 99 Punjabi-speaking sub-jects after 5, 8 and 11 Terms of School in England. Their scores were analysed on a two-dimensional matrix by error analysis to form profiles of their behaviour in the two lanÂguages. Both L1 Punjabi and L2 English were seen to develop with age, the former showing a spurt between 8 and 11 Terms (7 1/2 to 8 1/2 years) and the latter reflecting a steady acquisition. Language 'transfer' of certain features where the formal and developmental axes of the two languages converge was seen to take place from English to Punjabi but not conÂversely
Making Input Comprehensible
Authors: Pica Teresa , Doughty Catherine J. , Young Richard
Published: December 2016

In view of the evidence that comprehensible input is necessary for language acquisition (Krashen 1980, 1982, Long 1981, 1983, 1985), this study compared the listening comprehension of NNSs' of English on directions to an assembly task given by a NS under two input conditions : (1) Syntactically and semantically premodified input without interaction and (2) Unmodified input with interaction.

Two hypotheses were tested in the study. First, it was predicted that interaction in Condition (2) would lead to even greater syntactic and semantic modification of input than was built in a priori in Condition (1) and second, that NNSs' comprehension of input in Condition (2) would exceed that in Condition (1). Both hypotheses were supported.

Analysis of the data indicated that the most significant aids to comprehension brought about by interaction were increased quantity and redundancy of input. Several specific interactional modifications, such as confirmation and comprehension checks and clarification requests were also shown to be critical factors in input comprehension. However, a reduction in the syntactic complexity of the input was observed to play no significant role in its comprehension.
Solving the Vocabulary Retention Problem
Authors: Kelly Peter
Published: December 2016

The main problem in learning foreign language vocabulary is retention. There exists a considerable amount of evidence pointing to the superiority of mnemonic techniques over rote repetition in the learning of verbal material. An investigation was carried out comparing the learning of FL vocabulary in three different conditions : (1) making formal and semantic links with known words (2) making verbal links of a solemy semantic nature (3) using habitual methods. The first experimental group demonstrated superiority, although scores were not significant on an anamysis of variance. Indications were given by the data that training and encouragement in the use of formal and semantic verbal association will lead to better vocabulary retention.
A Quantification Of Phoneme Productions
Authors: Bourdeau Marc
Published: December 2016

Using continuous variables derived in information theory and from a Markovian model of phonemic chaining, we have anamysed some strings of jar-gonic speech of French speakers (glossolalics, schizophasics, aphasies, poets) and of natural French2. These anamyses give a quantitative meaning to the concept of phonological plane. Discriminant anamyses separate our groups in a clear-cut fashion. Elementary numerical cmustering provides a meaningful interpretation. This type of approach could bring, in its future developments, further insights into the phonological systems of languages.
Textual Cohesion in Hindi
Authors: Singh Rajendra , Kachroo Balkrishan
Published: December 2016

The purpose of this paper is to summarize some preliminary research on textual cohesion in Hindi. The study of linguistic cohesion attempts to isolate linguistic devices used to ‘link’ sentences in a discourse. The present study was undertaken to find out exactly what cohesion devices are used in Hindi and how the linking texture of Hindi discourses differs from that of English.

Although both Hindi and English use some of the same cohesion devices, there are both quantitative and qualitative differences in their textures. This paper focuses on Hindi-particular cohesion devices and on devices differentially exploited to Hindi and English.

An example of a Hindi particular cohesion device is ‘Adjective Promotion’. The differential exploitation of the device of co-referential NP provides an example of the second type of difference between the two languages. Hindi uses it far more frequently than English.

Our results also provide evidence for the hypothesis that parallel sublanguages of Hindi and English are more alike in their cohesive texture than are different sub-languages of either of these two languages. ‘Stylistic contact’ in the domain of more technical sublanguage may provide an explanation for this.

Our study shows not only what some of the Hindi-particular cohesion devies are but also how a large number of shared cohesion devices are differentially exploited by different languages and what sorts of trade-offs are made amongst the major types of cohesion devices (semantic, syntactic, morphological, and lexical).
Speech Act Functions
Authors: Adegbija Efurosibina
Published: December 2016

This paper examines samples of spoken data with a view to elucidating the problem of the performing of speech acts in a Second language context of English usage. The encoding and decoding of speech acts, the author shows, involve a network of cognitive processes in which the linguistic competence of the participants, their world knowledge, their psychological state, and their knowledge of socially and culturally relevant factors of the situation are accessed, activated, and put to work in the process of inferring the meaning and the speech act function of utterances; a process which is essentially one of semantic and pragmatic decision-making. For communication to succeed, participants in the communicative event must share mutual factual background information and be able to activate this when it proves relevant to the discourse at hand. Incompetence in the use of the target language may lead to the performance of an unintended speech act and the decoder's misinterpretation. Therefore, speakers of English in a Second language or multilingual context should make allowance for unintended speech acts, and should be particularly sensitive to the total context of communication.
Morpheme Data Analysis in Second Language Acquisition Research
Authors: Pica Teresa
Published: December 2016

This article will review options which confront second language acquisition researchers in their analysis of a learner’s morpheme production. It will first critically examine several different procedures which can be used to compute production accuracy, particularly when assigning values to morpheme oversuppliance, substitution, and regularization, and then review various ways in which morpheme suppliance scores can be computed within individual linguistic contexts or on overall basis, across a speaker’s corpus.

Conversations with 18 native Spanish speaking adult acquirers of English L2 will be used to highlight the often contradictory results obtained when one procedure is chosen over another to quantify the same corpus of morphemes, and to set forth problems which arise when comparisons are made of learners whose morpheme production accuracy has not been computed under the same procedures. Finally, the argument will be made that issues arising from procedural choices in morpheme data analysis are also relevant to research on other dimensions of second language acquisition.
Pre-Reading and the use of Advance Organisers in L2 Reading Instruction
Authors: Tudor Ian
Published: December 2016

The article describes an experiment in the use of one category of pre-reading activity, advance organisers, with a population of L2 learners (L2-French; L1-English) at three proficiency levels. Advance organisers, like other pre-reading act)vities, are designed to encourage a more contextually sensitive and schemata driven form of reading strategy usage, and thus counteract the observed tendency of L2 learners to process texts in a too exclusively decoding oriented manner. It was hypothesised that the presence of an advanced organiser would facilitate the text comprehension of the subject L2 learners, particularly with respect to their use of discourse constraints. The results indicated some degree of facultative potential, but not in the dominantly discourse-constraint oriented manner predicted. Levels of facilitation appeared to depend on subject proficiency level and difficulty level of the text. Implications for the use of pre-reading activities and for further research in this area are discussed.
Interference in Second Language Learning
Authors: Henderson Lalitha
Published: December 2016

This study deals with the acquisition of English and Tamil as a second language and to explain the errors found in the speech of L2 learners caused by the interference from the first language within the frame of reference of the phonological system of the target language (L2) as perceived and produced by the native speaker of the first language (L1). The overall systems are compared so as to highlight the most genera] similarities and differences. The comparison also focuses on the similarities and contrasts between the phonetic manifestations of each phonological unit of L1 and its counterpart in L2. The data from the actual speech of English and Tamil by the L2 speakers are used to bring out the contrast between the two languages and the L1 interference on L2.
Forms of Address in Indonesian
Authors: Jenson Kenneth M.
Published: December 2016

Because of ethnic and linguistic diversity of the Indonesian nation, Bahasa Indonesia (the Indonesian language) presents a dazzling array of terms of address available to the speaker. This paper attempts to classify the more commonly used forms other than the standard terms neatly presented in any Indonesian language textbook.
Suffixation and second Language Acquisition
Authors: Aiking-Brandenburg Marijke J.T.J. , James Allan R. , Meijs Willem J.
Published: December 2016

The aim of the present paper was to find out which learning strategies secondary school pupils of different ages employ to acquire complex words in English as their second language: either by applying rules and analogies or by learning by heart. As a working hypothesis, it was postulated that younger pupils probably preferred the latter approach and older pupils the former. In order to test this hypothesis, a 122-item complex word derivation test was devised, containing three categories of words: (1) words of which both the base-form and the derived form had been studied, (2) words of which just the base-form had been studied and (3) words of which neither form had been studied. The test was administered to pupils in three grades of secondary school and a group of 1st year university students of English. Statistical treatment of the data neither confirmed nor falsified the original hypothesis, but it showed many correlations and gave rise to a large number of additional conclusions. Amongst other things, it was concluded that the presence of the proposed tentative change-over in learning approach, from learning words as whole entities to applying word-formation rules, may or may not have been present, but if it were, it had been completely obscured. It was evident from several different indications that a dominant influence on the pupils' scores was exerted by exposure. In addition, the data collected revealed numerous correlations concerning the influence of education level, word category, regularity, frequency, etc. Finally, suggestions are given for application of the test results in second language education in secondary school in general.
Patterns of Language Use among Nigerian Undergraduate Learners of French in Togo
Authors: Ajiboye Tunde
Published: December 2016

Studies in language use have become all the more relevant to Africa since they shifted from unilingual to multilingual situations. Multilingualism which until the 60's was not considered worthy of too serious a study by linguists has since attracted a lot of attention especially in the narrower field of sociolinguistics where attempts are being made to meet some of the challenges posed by the multiplicity of languages in otherwise homogeneous communities. African countries harbour a lot of examples : Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda, among others. There are two main ways in which the present study is different from earlier studies in multilingualism, even though, as we shall see later, the results are basically the same. In the first place, we are dealing here with a temporary situation of multilingualism in the strict sense that subjects are neither i-migrants nor natives but birds of passage whose length of stay is pre-determined (by their mission). The languages included in the interaction should therefore be seen as such. Secondly, while the study of language choice by analysts like A. Tabouret-Keller (1968), Gumperz and Eduardo (1971) and Stark (1989) seems to emphasize the connection between language use and "a variety of social factors such as ethnic identity, age, and sex..., degree of solidarity or confidentiality," (Gumperz et al. 1971:122) the nature of our samples (students) tends to demonstrate that in analysing the pattern of language choice, the effect of an external, super-imposed trigger such as the need to pass an examination may not be over-looked.
Human resources perceptions of corporate chaplains: enhancing positive organizational culture
Authors: Miller David W. , Ngunjiri Faith Wambura , LoRusso James D.
Published: December 2016

Workplace chaplaincy represents one way that workplace spirituality manifests itself today in corporate America. Rigorous scholarly research into workplace (or corporate) chaplaincy remains scant. This article seeks to remedy that by focusing on human resource professionals’ perceptions
and experiences with workplace chaplaincy in five organizations in the United States. Using data gathered from qualitative interviews with HR executives and staff, five themes emerged regarding their views of chaplaincy in their organizations: chaplains support and enhance a positive organizational
culture; they complement or serve as an alternative to employee assistance programs; they provide psychosocial and pastoral care support to employees; they help to bridge cultural divides; and they enhance HR’s efforts in religious diversity and accommodation. Overall, HR felt that chaplains
contribute to a positive organizational culture through employee care and contributions to diversity and inclusion. Article ends with implications for theory and practice.
Real-World Effectiveness of Simeprevir-containing Regimens Among Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus: The SONET Study
Authors: Alam Imtiaz , Brown Kimberley , Donovan Cynthia , Forlenza Jamie , Lauwers Kris , Mah’moud Mitchell A. , Manch Richard , Mohanty Smruti R. , Prabhakar Avinash , Reindollar Robert , DeMasi Ralph , Slim Jihad , Tandon Neeta , Villadiego Shirley , Naggie Susanna
Published: December 2016

Background

The Simeprevir ObservatioNal Effectiveness across practice seTtings (SONET) study evaluated the real-world effectiveness of simeprevir-based treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods

The SONET study was a phase 4, prospective, observational, United States–based study enrolling patients ≥18 years of age with chronic genotype 1 HCV infection. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved sustained virologic response 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12), defined as HCV ribonucleic acid undetectable ≥12 weeks after the end of all HCV treatments.

Results

Of 315 patients (intent-to-treat [ITT] population), 275 (87.3%) completed the study. Overall, 291 were treated with simeprevir + sofosbuvir, 17 with simeprevir + sofosbuvir + ribavirin, and 7 with simeprevir + peginterferon + ribavirin. The majority of patients were male (63.2%) and white (60.6%); median age was 58 years, 71.7% had genotype/subtype 1a, and 39.4% had cirrhosis. The SVR12 was achieved by 81.2% (255 of 314) of ITT patients (analysis excluded 1 patient who completed the study but was missing SVR12 data); 2 had viral breakthrough and 18 had viral relapse. The SVR12 was achieved by 92.4% (255 of 276) of patients in the modified ITT (mITT) population, which excluded patients who discontinued treatment for nonvirologic reasons before the SVR12 time point or were missing SVR12 assessment data. Among mITT patients, higher SVR12 rates were associated with factors including age ≥65 years, non-Hispanic/Latino ethnicity, and employment status, but not genotype/subtype nor presence of cirrhosis. Simeprevir-based treatment was well tolerated; no serious adverse events were considered related to simeprevir.

Conclusions

In the real-world setting, simeprevir + sofosbuvir treatment was common and 92% of mITT patients achieved SVR12. Simeprevir-based treatment was effective and well tolerated in this cohort, including patients with cirrhosis.
Disseminated Cryptococcosis With Brain Involvement in Patients With Chronic Lymphoid Malignancies on Ibrutinib
Authors: Messina Julia A. , Maziarz Eileen K. , Spec Andrej , Kontoyiannis Dimitrios P. , Perfect John R.
Published: December 2016

We report 2 cases of disseminated cryptococcosis with central nervous system involvement in patients with chronic lymphoid malignancies occurring within 1 month of starting on ibrutinib. Characteristically, in both cases, no inflammation was seen in the cerebrospinal fluid. Central nervous system mycoses should be considered as a potential complication of ibrutinib.
WHOP, a Genomic Region Associated With Woody Hosts in thePseudomonas syringaeComplex Contributes to the Virulence and Fitness ofPseudomonas savastanoipv.savastanoiin Olive Plants
Authors: Caballo-Ponce Eloy , van Dillewijn Pieter , Wittich Regina Michaela , Ramos Cayo
Published: December 2016

Bacteria from the Pseudomonas syringae complex belonging to phylogroups 1 and 3 (PG1 and PG3, respectively) isolated from woody hosts share a genomic region herein referred to as WHOP (from woody host and Pseudomonas spp.), which is absent in strains infecting herbaceous organs. In this work, we show that this region is also encoded in P. syringae pv. actinidifoliorum (PG1) and six additional members of PG3, namely, Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. retacarpa, three P. syringae pathovars, Pseudomonas meliae, and Pseudomonas amygdali. Partial conservation of the WHOP occurs in only a few PG2 strains. In P. savastanoi pv. savastanoi NCPPB 3335, the WHOP region is organized into four operons and three independently transcribed genes. While the antABC and catBCA operons mediate the catabolism of anthranilate and catechol, respectively, the ipoABC operon confers oxygenase activity to aromatic compounds. The deletion of antABC, catBCA, or ipoABC in NCPPB 3335 caused reduced virulence in woody olive plants without affecting knot formation in nonwoody plants; catBCA, dhoAB, and PSA3335_3206 (encoding a putative aerotaxis receptor) were also required for the full fitness of this strain exclusively in woody olive plants. Overall, this study sheds light on the evolution and adaptation of bacteria from the P. syringae complex to woody hosts and highlights the enzymatic activities encoded within the WHOP region that are essential for this process.
Temperature dependence of ice-on-rock friction at realistic glacier conditions
Authors: McCarthy C. , Savage H. , Nettles M.
Published: December 2016

Using a new biaxial friction apparatus, we conducted experiments of ice-on-rock friction in order to better understand basal sliding of glaciers and ice streams. A series of velocity-stepping and slide–hold–slide tests were conducted to measure friction and healing at temperatures between −20°C and melting. Experimental conditions in this study are comparable to subglacial temperatures, sliding rates and effective pressures of Antarctic ice streams and other glaciers, with load-point velocities ranging from 0.5 to 100 µm s−1and normal stressσn = 100 kPa. In this range of conditions, temperature dependences of both steady-state friction and frictional healing are considerable. The friction increases linearly with decreasing temperature (temperature weakening) fromμ = 0.52 at −20°C toμ = 0.02 at melting. Frictional healing increases and velocity dependence shifts from velocity-strengthening to velocity-weakening behaviour with decreasing temperature. Our results indicate that the strength and stability of glaciers and ice streams may change considerably over the range of temperatures typically found at the ice–bed interface.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Microdynamics of ice’.
Recrystallization and damage of ice in winter sports
Authors: Seymour-Pierce Alexandra , Lishman Ben , Sammonds Peter
Published: December 2016

Ice samples, after sliding against a steel runner, show evidence of recrystallization and microcracking under the runner, as well as macroscopic cracking throughout the ice. The experiments that produced these ice samples are designed to be analogous to sliding in the winter sport of skeleton. Changes in the ice fabric are shown using thick and thin sections under both diffuse and polarized light. Ice drag is estimated as 40–50% of total energy dissipation in a skeleton run. The experimental results are compared with visual inspections of skeleton tracks, and to similar behaviour in rocks during sliding on earthquake faults. The results presented may be useful to athletes and designers of winter sports equipment.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Microdynamics of ice’.
Micromechanics of sea ice frictional slip from test basin scale experiments
Authors: Sammonds Peter R. , Hatton Daniel C. , Feltham Daniel L.
Published: December 2016

We have conducted a series of high-resolution friction experiments on large floating saline ice floes in an environmental test basin. In these experiments, a central ice floe was pushed between two other floes, sliding along two interfacial faults. The frictional motion was predominantly stick–slip. Shear stresses, normal stresses, local strains and slip displacement were measured along the sliding faults, and acoustic emissions were monitored. High-resolution measurements during a single stick–slip cycle at several positions along the fault allowed us to identify two phases of frictional slip: a nucleation phase, where a nucleation zone begins to slip before the rest of the fault, and a propagation phase when the entire fault is slipping. This is slip-weakening behaviour. We have therefore characterized what we consider to be a key deformation mechanism in Arctic Ocean dynamics. In order to understand the micromechanics of sea ice friction, we have employed a theoretical constitutive relation (i.e. an equation for shear stress in terms of temperature, normal load, acceleration, velocity and slip displacement) derived from the physics of asperity–asperity contact and sliding (Hatton
et al.
2009
Phil. Mag.
89
, 2771–2799 (
doi:10.1080/14786430903113769
)). We find that our experimental data conform reasonably with this frictional law once slip weakening is introduced. We find that the constitutive relation follows Archard's law rather than Amontons' law, with

(where
τ
is the shear stress and
σ
n
is the normal stress) and
n
 = 26/27, with a fractal asperity distribution, where the frictional shear stress,
τ = f
fractal
T
ml
w
s
, where
f
fractal
is the fractal asperity height distribution,
T
ml
is the shear strength for frictional melting and lubrication and
w
s
is the slip weakening. We can therefore deduce that the interfacial faults failed in shear for these experimental conditions through processes of brittle failure of asperities in shear, and, at higher velocities, through frictional heating, localized surface melting and hydrodynamic lubrication.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Microdynamics of ice’.
Quantifying variation by the ratio of CSS to UCSS
Authors: Pahlevani M.
Published: December 2016

The variance, the average of squared deviations of data values from their mean, is the most widely used criterion for measuring the variation. Small amounts of the variance indicate that the values tend to be close to the mean and its high amounts are indicative of more dispersion around the mean. However, when dealing with a single variable or variables with different measuring units, variance can not give us a proper understanding of the actual extent of variation. RCU, the ratio of corrected sum of squares (CSS) to the uncorrected sum of squares (UCSS) can quantify variation too. The values of RCU vary from zero, for a situation in which all values are the same, to 100 % when they are completely different or symmetric. To compare the efficiency of RCU and variance for measuring variation, data of seven variables with different units of measurement for 17 wheat cultivars including yield (g/plant), spikes (numbers), height (cm), earliness (days), viability (%), hectoliter (kg/hectoliter) and EC (micromohs/cm) were used. Variance of these variables respectively was 83.34, 72.01, 353.23, 81.48, 5.31, 69.52 and 7167.47. The highest and lowest RCU was obtained for spikes (9.38 %) and viability (0.05 %), respectively. The RCU for yield, height, earliness, hectoliter and EC was 8.97, 2.67, 0.29, 1.30 and 2.85 %, respectively. The RCUs were somewhat similar to coefficient of variation of the variables. Based on the RCU, the extent of variation was medium for spikes and viability and was low for the other variables. As a result RCU could be used as a simple criterion to quantify the actual extent of variation in the data.

Abbreviation

CSS

corrected sum of squares

UCSS

uncorrected sum of squares

RCU

the ratio of CSS to UCSS

CV

coefficient of variation

VAR

variance
Evolutionary history of the brown rat: out of southern East Asia and selection
Authors: Zeng Lin , Ming Chen , Li Yan , Su Ling-Yan , Su Yan-Hua , Otecko Newton O. , Dalecky Ambroise , Donnellan Stephen , Aplin Ken , Liu Xiao-Hui , Song Ying , Zhang Zhi-Bin , Esmailizadeh Ali , Sohrabi Saeed S. , Nanaei Hojjat Asadollahpour , Liu He-Qun , Wang Ming-Shan , Atteynine Solimane Ag , Rocamora Gérard , Brescia Fabrice , Morand Serge , Irwin David M. , Peng Ming-sheng , Yao Yong-Gang , Li Hai-Peng , Wu Dong-Dong , Zhang Ya-Ping
Published: December 2016

The brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) is found wherever humans live and transmits many diseases, and its breeding produced the laboratory rat used widely in medical research. Here, we sequenced whole genomes from 118 rats to explore the origin and dispersal routes of the brown rat and the domestication of the laboratory rat. We showed that brown rats migrated about 3600 years ago from southern East Asia, rather than Northern Asia as formerly suggested, to the Middle East and then to Europe and Africa. Many genes involved in the immune system experienced positive selection in the wild brown rat, while genes involved in the nervous system and energy metabolism showed evidence of artificial selection during the domestication of laboratory strains. Our findings demystify the puzzling origin and migration of brown rats and reveal the impact of evolution and domestication on this animal.
Case of late‐onset erythropoietic protoporphyria with myelodysplastic syndrome who has homozygous IVS3‐48C polymorphism in the ferrochelatase gene
Authors: Suzuki Hiromi , Kikuchi Katsuko , Fukuhara Noriko , Nakano Hajime , Aiba Setsuya
Published: December 2016

We report the case of a 42‐year‐old man with a 5‐year history of myelodysplastic syndrome and photosensitivity who had developed painful erythema and blisters on sun‐exposed sites. Histological examination of a mildly lichenified lesion on the dorsal finger revealed extensive deposits of a hyaline‐like, periodic acid‐Schiff‐positive material around superficial dermal blood vessels. Laboratory tests showed elevated erythrocyte protoporphyrin and normal urinary porphyrins, suggesting a diagnosis of erythropoietic protoporphyria. Late‐onset erythropoietic protoporphyria is rare and is usually associated with an acquired somatic mutation of the ferrochelatase gene secondary to a hematological malignancy such as myelodysplastic syndrome. DNA analysis revealed that our patient has the homozygous IVS3‐48C polymorphism that is a low‐expression variant of wild‐type ferrochelatase allele.
Factors That Distinguish High‐Performing Accountable Care Organizations in the Medicare Shared Savings Program
Authors: D'Aunno Thomas , Broffman Lauren , Sparer Michael , Kumar Sumit R.
Published: December 2016

Objective

To identify factors that promote the effective performance of accountable care organizations (ACOs) in the Medicare Shared Savings Program.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Data come from a convenience sample of 16 Medicare Shared SavingsACOs that were organized around large physician groups. We use claims data from the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services and data from 60 interviews at three high‐performing and three low‐performingACOs.

Study Design

Explanatory sequential design, using qualitative data to account for patterns observed in quantitative assessment ofACOperformance.

Data Collection Methods

A total of 16ACOs were first rank‐ordered on measures of cost and quality of care; we then selected three high and three low performers for site visits; interview data were content‐analyzed.

Principal Findings

Results identify several factors that distinguish high‐ from low‐performingACOs: (1) collaboration with hospitals; (2) effective physician group practice prior toACOengagement; (3) trusted, long‐standing physician leaders focused on improving performance; (4) sophisticated use of information systems; (5) effective feedback to physicians; and (6) embedded care coordinators.

Conclusions

Shorter interventions can improveACOperformance—use of embedded care coordinators and local, regional health information systems; timely feedback of performance data. However, longer term interventions are needed to promote physician–hospital collaboration and skills of physician leaders.CMSand other stakeholders need realistic timelines forACOperformance.
Effects of temperature on fitness costs in chlorpyrifos‐resistant brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)
Authors: Yang Bao‐Jun , Liu Mei‐Ling , Zhang Yi‐Xi , Liu Ze‐Wen
Published: December 2016

Insecticide resistance is inevitable if an insecticide is widely used to control insect pests. Fortunately, the resistance‐associated fitness costs often give chances to manage resistances. In most cases, the fitness cost in resistant insects is often evaluated under laboratory conditions for insect development, which limits its practical application in pest control in the field. In a laboratory population R9 with 253‐fold resistance to chlorpyrifos after nine‐generation selection with chlorpyrifos, the relative fitness was only 0.206 under laboratory conditions (25°C, humidity 70%–80% and 16 h light/8 h dark photoperiod), when compared to S9, a susceptible counterpart (resistance ratio = 2.25‐fold) from the same origin as R9 but without any selection with insecticides. Temperatures varied the resistance‐associated fitness costs, with enhanced costs at high temperatures and reduced costs at low temperatures, such as 0.174 at 32°C and 0.527 at 18°C. The copulation rate and fecundity were two key factors for the reduced costs at low temperatures. Another finding was that R9 individuals needed much more time to recover from heat shock than that of S9, but R9 and S9 individuals were similarly sensitive to cold shock. The low fitness cost at low temperatures would increase the overwintering population, which might further increase risks of rapid development and widespread distribution of chlorpyrifos resistance in Nilaparvata lugens.
Does Including Soil Moisture Observations Improve Operational Streamflow Forecasts in Snow‐Dominated Watersheds?
Authors: Harpold Adrian A. , Sutcliffe Kent , Clayton Jordan , Goodbody Angus , Vazquez Shareily
Published: December 2016

Changing climate and growing water demand are increasing the need for robust streamflow forecasts. Historically, operational streamflow forecasts made by the Natural Resources Conservation Service have relied on precipitation and snow water equivalent observations from Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) sites. We investigate whether also including SNOTEL soil moisture observations improve April‐July streamflow volume forecast accuracy at 0, 1, 2, and 3‐month lead times at 12 watersheds in Utah and California. We found statistically significant improvement in 0 and 3‐month lead time accuracy in 8 of 12 watersheds and 10 of 12 watersheds for 1 and 2‐month lead times. Surprisingly, these improvements were insensitive to soil moisture metrics derived from soil physical properties. Forecasts were made with volumetric water content (VWC) averaged from October 1 to the forecast date. By including VWC at the 0‐month lead time the forecasts explained 7.3% more variability and increased the streamflow volume accuracy by 8.4% on average compared to standard forecasts that already explained an average 77% of the variability. At 1 to 3‐month lead times, the inclusion of soil moisture explained 12.3‐26.3% more variability than the standard forecast on average. Our findings indicate including soil moisture observations increased statistical streamflow forecast accuracy and thus, could potentially improve water supply reliability in regions affected by changing snowpacks.
Estimation of Catchment Nutrient Loads in New Zealand Using Monthly Water Quality Monitoring Data
Authors: Snelder T.H. , McDowell R.W. , Fraser C.E.
Published: December 2016

Causes of variation between loads estimated using alternative calculation methods and their repeatability were investigated using 20 years of daily flow and monthly concentration samples for 77 rivers in New Zealand. Loads of dissolved and total nitrogen and phosphorus were calculated using the Ratio, L5, and L7 methods. Estimates of loads and their precision associated with short‐term records of 5, 10, and 15 years were simulated by subsampling. The representativeness of the short‐term loads was quantified as the standard deviation of the 20 realizations. The L7 method generally produced more realistic loads with the highest precision and representativeness. Differences between load estimates were shown to be associated with poor agreement between the data and the underlying model. The best method was shown to depend on the match between the model and functional and distributional characteristics of the data, rather than on the contaminant. Short‐term load estimates poorly represented the long‐term load estimate, and deviations frequently exceeded estimated imprecision. The results highlight there is no single preferred load calculation method, the inadvisability of “unsupervised” load estimation and the importance of inspecting concentration‐flow, unit load‐flow plots and regression residuals. Regulatory authorities should be aware that the precision of loads estimated from monthly data are likely to be “optimistic” with respect to the actual repeatability of load estimates.