bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fine-scale human population structure in southern Africa reflects ecogeographic boundaries
Authors: Uren Caitlin , Kim Minju , Martin Alicia R. , Bobo Dean , Gignoux Christopher R. , van Helden Paul D. , Möller Marlo , Hoal Eileen G. , Henn Brenna
Published: January 2017

Recent genetic studies have established that the KhoeSan populations of southern Africa are distinct from all other African populations and have remained largely isolated during human prehistory until about 2,000 years ago. Dozens of different KhoeSan groups exist, belonging to three different language families, but very little is known about their population history. We examine new genome-wide polymorphism data and whole mitochondrial genomes for more than one hundred South Africans from the ≠Khomani San and Nama populations of the Northern Cape, analyzed in conjunction with 19 additional southern African populations. Our analyses reveal fine-scale population structure in and around the Kalahari Desert. Surprisingly, this structure does not always correspond to linguistic or subsistence categories as previously suggested, but rather reflects the role of geographic barriers and the ecology of the greater Kalahari Basin. Regardless of subsistence strategy, the indigenous Khoe-speaking Nama pastoralists and the N|u-speaking ≠Khomani (formerly hunter-gatherers) share ancestry with other Khoe-speaking forager populations that form a rim around the Kalahari Desert. We reconstruct earlier migration patterns and estimate that the southern Kalahari populations were among the last to experience gene flow from Bantu-speakers, approximately 14 generations ago. We conclude that local adoption of pastoralism, at least by the Nama, appears to have been primarily a cultural process with limited genetic impact from eastern Africa.

Data deposition

Data files are freely available on the Henn Lab website:http://ecoevo.stonybrook.edu/hennlab/data-software/

Distinct, spatially organized ancestries demonstrate fine-scale population structure in southern Africa, implying a more complex history of the KhoeSan than previously thought. Southern KhoeSan ancestry in the Nama and ≠Khomani is shared in a rim around the Kalahari Desert. We hypothesize that there was recent migration of pastoralists from East Africa into southern Africa, independent of the Bantu-expansion, but the spread of pastoralism within southern Africa occurred largely by cultural diffusion.
Stability and function of a putative microtubule organizing center in the human parasiteToxoplasma gondii
Authors: Leung Jacqueline M. , He Yudou , Zhang Fangliang , Hwang Yu-Chen , Nagayasu Eiji , Liu Jun , Murray John M. , Hu Ke
Published: January 2017

The organization of the microtubule cytoskeleton is dictated by microtubule nucleators or organizing centers.Toxoplasma gondii,an important human parasite, has an array of 22 regularly spaced cortical microtubules stemming from a hypothesized organizing center, the apical polar ring. Here, we examine the functions of the apical polar ring by characterizing two of its components, KinesinA and APR1, and discovered that its putative role in templating can be separated from its mechanical stability. Parasites that lack both KinesinA and APR1(ΔkinesinAΔapr1)are capable of generating 22 cortical microtubules. However, the apical polar ring is fragmented in liveΔkinesinAΔapr1parasites, and is undetectable by electron microscopy after detergent extraction. Disintegration of the apical polar ring results in the detachment of groups of microtubules from the apical end of the parasite. These structural defects are linked to a diminished ability of the parasite to move and to invade host cells, as well as decreased secretion of effectors important for these processes. Together, the findings demonstrate the importance of the structural integrity of the apical polar ring and the microtubule array in theToxoplasmalytic cycle, which is responsible for massive tissue destruction in acute toxoplasmosis.
Purposeful leadership – evolving from “me” to “we” in pursuit of our most important “why”
Authors: Wilson Clive
Published: January 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the nature of “purpose” emphasizing how it works scientifically and why leaders should invest in bringing it to life as the primary means of inspiring all stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

The power of purpose makes sense psychologically, organizationally, biologically, energetically and mathematically. By tracking the views of thought leaders in these fields, a compelling case for attention is derived.

Findings

Corporate purpose is not as simple or as static as the author may at first think. Understanding the true nature of purpose empowers leaders to provide a service relevant to all stakeholders.

Originality/value

The paper draws on established thought leadership and assembles this at high level in a way that makes the total case for purpose compelling.
Indirect effects of invasive Burmese pythons on ecosystems in southern Florida
Authors: Willson John D.
Published: January 2017

Invasive predators can dramatically alter ecosystems through both direct predation and indirect effects such as tropic cascades. However, most examples of top‐down effects of invasive predators in terrestrial systems stem from islands or similar low‐diversity ecosystems. Snakes are an emerging guild of damaging invasive predators, but demonstration of ecosystem‐level impacts of invasive snakes are limited to the single case of the brown treesnake on Guam.

Invasive Burmese pythons are firmly established in southern Florida and have been linked to severe (80–100%) declines of several previously common mammal species (e.g. raccoons, opossums and rabbits). Specifically, spatiotemporal patterns of mammal declines in the Everglades mirror the spread of pythons and experimental reintroductions of rabbits to areas where they had been extirpated failed due to high (77% of mortalities) rates of predation by pythons.

I evaluated the potential indirect effects of pythons on the nesting success of oviparous species by monitoring artificial turtle nests (N = 183) at 13 sites across the expanding range of the python population. I documented few mammals and low rates of nest predation (average score = 1·5 on a 1–5 scale) in the southern Everglades where pythons have been established the longest, intermediate (average score = 2·3) rates of nest predation at recently invaded sites, and very high (average score = 4·6) rates of nest predation at sites with few or no pythons. These findings represent the first documentation of potential indirect effects of pythons on non‐prey species, and suggest that loss or decline of mammals is resulting in trophic cascades that threaten the Everglades ecosystem.

Synthesis and applications. My results suggest that an introduction of non‐native apex predators can result in trophic cascades that alter even complex, continental ecosystems. The Burmese python invasion of South Florida shows remarkable parallels with the catastrophic case of the brown treesnake in Guam, but in some ways is even more worrisome. Documentation of both strong direct impacts on prey and potential indirect effects on Everglades’ ecosystems within 15 years after being recognized as established emphasizes the need to integrate python management into restoration of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. More broadly, non‐native snakes warrant significant attention for their potential to become damaging invasive species.
Testing the environmental filtering concept in global drylands
Authors: Le Bagousse‐Pinguet Yoann , Gross Nicolas , Maestre Fernando T. , Maire Vincent , de Bello Francesco , Fonseca Carlos Roberto , Kattge Jens , Valencia Enrique , Leps Jan , Liancourt Pierre
Published: January 2017

The environmental filtering hypothesis predicts that the abiotic environment selects species with similar trait values within communities. Testing this hypothesis along multiple – and interacting – gradients of climate and soil variables constitutes a great opportunity to better understand and predict the responses of plant communities to ongoing environmental changes.

Based on two key plant traits, maximum plant height and specific leaf area (SLA), we assessed the filtering effects of climate (mean annual temperature and precipitation, precipitation seasonality), soil characteristics (soil pH, sand content and total phosphorus) and all potential interactions on the functional structure and diversity of 124 dryland communities spread over the globe. The functional structure and diversity of dryland communities were quantified using the mean, variance, skewness and kurtosis of plant trait distributions.

The models accurately explained the observed variations in functional trait diversity across the 124 communities studied. All models included interactions among factors, i.e. climate–climate (9% of explanatory power), climate–soil (24% of explanatory power) and soil–soil interactions (5% of explanatory power). Precipitation seasonality was the main driver of maximum plant height, and interacted with mean annual temperature and precipitation. Soil pH mediated the filtering effects of climate and sand content on SLA. Our results also revealed that communities characterized by a low variance can also exhibit low kurtosis values, indicating that functionally contrasting species can co‐occur even in communities with narrow ranges of trait values.

Synthesis. We identified the particular set of conditions under which the environmental filtering hypothesis operates in drylands world‐wide. Our findings also indicate that species with functionally contrasting strategies can still co‐occur locally, even under prevailing environmental filtering. Interactions between sources of environmental stress should be therefore included in global trait‐based studies, as this will help to further anticipate where the effects of environmental filtering will impact plant trait diversity under climate change.
Analysis of Explosives by GC‐UV
Authors: Andrasko Jan , Lagesson‐Andrasko Ludmila , Dahlén Johan , Jonsson Bengt‐Harald
Published: January 2017

A mixture of explosives was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) linked to ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry that enabled detection in the range of 178–330 nm. The gas‐phase UV spectra of 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4‐dinitrotoluene (DNT), ethylene glycol dinitrate (EGDN), glycerine trinitrate (NG, nitroglycerine), triacetone triperoxide (TATP), and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) were successfully recorded. The most interesting aspect of the current application is that it enabled simultaneous detection of both the target analyte and its decomposition products. At suitable elevated temperatures of the transfer line between the GC instrument and the UV detector, a partial decomposition was accomplished. Detection was made in real time and resulted in overlaid spectra of the mother compound and its decomposition product. Hence, the presented approach added another level to the qualitative identification of the explosives in comparison with traditional methods that relies only on the detection of the target analyte. As expected, the decomposition product of EGDN, NG, and PETN was NO, while TATP degraded to acetone. DNT and TNT did not exhibit any decomposition at the temperatures used.
Critical development studies in the Anthropocene
Authors: McGregor Andrew
Published: January 2017

In this short commentary, the ramifications of the Anthropocene for a broadly defined critical development studies are considered. The likely anthropogenic roots of increasing cyclonic intensity and associated impacts in the Pacific are drawn upon to propose four research agendas. The first focuses on how places are becoming connected through human‐induced changes to planetary systems. While direct causal relationships are difficult to draw, research efforts can highlight the disproportionate contributions particular development models, actors, and lifestyles are having on more distant socioecological systems. A second more conventional theme focuses on the uneven impacts of the Anthropocene on people and places, as well as on how development is practised and prioritised. A third theme explores how the Anthropocene can be used to retheorise development in creative and more‐than‐human ways, recognising non‐human agencies and the co‐production of development processes. A final agenda involves asking how critical development researchers can strategically use and repurpose the Anthropocene to pursue socially and environmentally progressive ends.
Thinking ‘differently’ about a feminist critical geography of development
Authors: Lahiri‐Dutt Kuntala
Published: January 2017

This paper makes a case for grounding the global in feminist, anti‐racist, and post‐colonial scholarship in order to foreground questions of race, colonialism, and history in critical geographies of development. I argue that the process of ‘doing development’ involves the imposition of power; hence, geographers' critical engagements with development need to consider the intersectionality of gender, race, and ethnicity that comprises identities of the subjects of development and of those who ‘do development’. This consideration would entail questioning the homogeneity of ‘Third World women’ as a singular category in need of development and recognising the normativity of women from the global North who, so far, have been the ‘doers’ or the key actors in global interventions.
Antioxidant Effect of Natural Table Olives Phenolic Extract Against Oxidative Stress and Membrane Damage in Enterocyte‐Like Cells
Authors: Serreli Gabriele , Incani Alessandra , Atzeri Angela , Angioni Alberto , Campus Marco , Cauli Emanuele , Zurru Roberto , Deiana Monica
Published: January 2017

The phenolic fraction of a naturally fermented cultivar of table olives, “Tonda di Cagliari,” was investigated for the ability to protect Caco‐2 cells against oxidative stress and membrane damage induced by tert‐butyl hydroperoxyde (TBH). TBH exposure resulted in an alteration of cellular redox status, with an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) level. A loss of the epithelial integrity, as indicated by the decrease of the transepithelial electrical resistance value, was also observed over time, together with an intense lipid peroxidation process. The olives phenolic extract significantly counteracted ROS generation and subsequent alteration of monolayer integrity and membrane oxidative damage. The protective action of the extract is likely due to the scavenging ability of its main components, as hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, and verbascoside among the secoiridoids and derivatives. Since olives phenolic compounds concentrate in the intestinal lumen, they may be a useful tool in the prevention of intestinal disorders related to oxidative damage.
Extraction of Epigallocatechin Gallate and Epicatechin Gallate from Tea Leaves Using β‐Cyclodextrin
Authors: Cui Lu , Liu Yuxuan , Liu Ting , Yuan Yahong , Yue Tianli , Cai Rui , Wang Zhouli
Published: January 2017

Use of organic solvents to extract phenolic compounds from plants may result in environmental pollution and cause health problems in persons. Replacing organic extraction solvents by green extracting agents without affecting the extraction yield is one of the most pressing problems to be solved. The aim of this study is to evaluate the capacity of β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) to recover phenolic compounds from tea leaves. The extract obtained using the ethanol/water mixture presented the highest total phenolic content, followed by those obtained using β‐CD solution and water. HPLC analysis of the extracts showed that the addition of β‐CD to the extracting agent had a selective effect on the extraction of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG). The extraction yield of EGCG and ECG using 15 g/L β‐CD were higher than that obtained using water and 50% ethanol. Molecular docking results indicated that the molecules of EGCG and ECG were more inclined to interact with β‐CD than epigallocatechin, epicatechin, and gallocatechin. The impact of β‐CD concentration, temperature, and time on EGCG and ECG extraction from tea leaves was investigated and the maximum amount of EGCG (118.7 mg/g) and ECG (54.6 mg/g) were achieved when extracted with 25 g/L aqueous β‐CD solution at 60 °C for 60 min. The present study indicates that aqueous β‐CD can be used as an alternative to organic solvents to recover EGCG and ECG from tea leaves.
Effect of baseline characteristics on response to proton pump inhibitors in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding
Authors: Lau James , Lind Tore , Persson Tore , Eklund Stefan
Published: January 2017

OBJECTIVE

The rate of rebleeding from peptic ulcers could differ between Asian and Western populations. This study aimed to determine whether the observed twofold difference in rebleeding rates in two similarly designed clinical trials (one in Hong Kong [n = 240], the other in a predominantly Western population [n = 764, ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00251979]) can be explained by differences in baseline patient characteristics.

METHODS

Two‐factor and multifactor analyses (adjusted by demographics, established risk factors for peptic ulcer and peptic ulcer bleeding, and disease severity variables) were performed using pooled data from the two studies. Cox regression analysis was used to predict the rebleeding risk at 3 days.

RESULTS

In the two‐factor analysis (placebo vs esomeprazole/omeprazole and Western study vs Hong Kong study), data trended towards a reduced risk of rebleeding in the Western study (hazard ratio [HR] 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44–1.07, P = 0.094). The risk of rebleeding was similar in both studies after adjusted for multiple factors (HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.60–1.99, P = 0.767). The strongest predictor of rebleeding (apart from study drug) was a classification of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade IV (HR 4.15, 95% CI 1.49–11.56, P = 0.006). When such patients were excluded, the difference in rebleeding rates between the studies reduced.

CONCLUSION

The difference in rebleeding rates between the two studies is explained by the factors in our analysis, most importantly a classification of ASA grade IV, suggesting that other differences, including ethnicity, did not influence the rebleeding rate.
Barriers toward organ donation in a Danish University Hospital
Authors: Sørensen P. , Kousgaard S. J.
Published: January 2017

Background

In Denmark, organ donation‐rates are below the average in the western countries. We investigated the donor potential and identified barriers toward organ donation in a Danish university hospital.

Methods

All patients who died in Aalborg University Hospital in 2012 were retrospectively identified. Patients with a CT‐ or MRI‐proven deadly brain‐lesion were eligible for inclusion.

Results

Eighty‐five patients with deadly brain‐lesions were included, and of these 47 patients died in the intensive care unit (ICU). Older age and diagnosis of brain‐hemorrhage and infarction were associated with admission to general ward (GW). In 62.4% of the patients the potential of becoming a donor was not identified. No donations occurred from patients dying from intracerebral hemorrhage or brain‐infarction although they represented 44.7% of the potential donors.

Discussion

This study reveals a huge, unrecognized donation potential at our hospital. About 30% was lost because they were never admitted to the ICU. After primary admission to the ICU, 15.3% of the potential donors were lost because they were transferred to the GW. In patients who died in the ICU 17.6% of the patients were not evaluated as potential donors. The relatives refused donation in 17.6% of cases.

Conclusion

It would be possible to raise the donation rate considerably if patients with donation potential are intubated and admitted to the ICU. When active treatment is considered withdrawn, possibility of organ donation should be evaluated, and the next of kin be approached by experienced staff.
The Glaze Technology of Hispano‐Moresque Ceramic Tiles: A Comparison Between Portuguese and Spanish Collections
Authors: Coentro S. , Alves L. C. , Relvas C. , Ferreira T. , Mirão J. , Molera J. , Pradell T. , Trindade R. A. A. , Da Silva R. C. , Muralha V. S. F.
Published: January 2017

For the first time, Hispano‐Moresque glazed tiles from Portuguese and Spanish collections were studied together and compared. This work is included in a wider study tackling the technology of Hispano‐Moresque tile production from several collections in the Iberian Peninsula. While showing many similarities, differences were identified between collections, regarding both chemical and morphological characteristics. The collection from the Mosteiro de Santa Clara‐a‐Velha (Coimbra) stands out from the other collections, with higher SnO2 content (up to 14 wt%), the highest Fe2O3 contents in amber glazes and a Ca‐rich interface layer (mostly comprised of wollastonite, CaSiO3). Samples from Palácio Nacional de Sintra (near Lisbon) and Seville‐attributed samples (from the Instituto Valencia de Don Juan) are chemically similar, except that most Sintra's samples display a K‐rich glaze/ceramic interface, whereas the ones from Seville exhibit both K‐rich and Ca‐rich inclusions. The samples attributed to Toledo show glazes with many inclusions, contrasting with the homogeneous glazes in most Hispano‐Moresque tiles. From these results, we identify differences that can be used as markers in future studies on Hispano‐Moresque tiles.
A Multi-Dimensional Functional Principal Components Analysis of EEG Data
Authors: Hasenstab Kyle , Scheffler Aaron , Telesca Donatello , Sugar Catherine A. , Jeste Shafali , DiStefano Charlotte , Şentürk Damla
Published: January 2017

The electroencephalography (EEG) data created in event-related potential (ERP) experiments have a complex high-dimensional structure. Each stimulus presentation, or trial, generates an ERP waveform which is an instance of functional data. The experiments are made up of sequences of multiple trials, resulting in longitudinal functional data and moreover, responses are recorded at multiple electrodes on the scalp, adding an electrode dimension. Traditional EEG analyses involve multiple simplifications of this structure to increase the signal-to-noise ratio, effectively collapsing the functional and longitudinal components by identifying key features of the ERPs and averaging them across trials. Motivated by an implicit learning paradigm used in autism research in which the functional, longitudinal, and electrode components all have critical interpretations, we propose a multidimensional functional principal components analysis (MD-FPCA) technique which does not collapse any of the dimensions of the ERP data. The proposed decomposition is based on separation of the total variation into subject and subunit level variation which are further decomposed in a two-stage functional principal components analysis. The proposed methodology is shown to be useful for modeling longitudinal trends in the ERP functions, leading to novel insights into the learning patterns of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their typically developing peers as well as comparisons between the two groups. Finite sample properties of MD-FPCA are further studied via extensive simulations.
Guided parent‐delivered cognitive behaviour therapy for children with anxiety disorders: Outcomes at 3‐ to 5‐year follow‐up
Authors: Brown Alexandra , Creswell Cathy , Barker Chris , Butler Stephen , Cooper Peter , Hobbs Catherine , Thirlwall Kerstin
Published: January 2017

Objectives

Brief guided parent‐delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has been developed to meet the demand for non‐intensive interventions for children with anxiety disorders, and initial trials have shown it to be effective for children with a range of anxiety disorders. This study examined outcomes 3–5 years post‐treatment.

Design

A long‐term follow‐up (LTFU) cohort study.

Methods

Families who (1) completed at least 50% of allocated treatment sessions of guided parent‐delivered CBT for childhood anxiety as part of a randomized control trial (RCT), (2) provided consent to be recontacted, (3) had not received further mental health interventions, and (4) were contactable were invited to take part. Fifty‐seven families (29% of the original sample) completed structured diagnostic interviews on average 50 months after treatment (39–61 months).

Results

At LTFU, 79% of the assessed children who had received the treatment no longer met criteria for their primary diagnosis, 63% did not meet criteria for any anxiety disorder, and 61% did not meet criteria for any DSM‐IV disorder. Treatment gains were mostly maintained (60%), and some children went on to recover during the follow‐up period without additional input from mental health services (19%). Few young people had relapsed since their last assessment (12%). Mean scores on standardized symptom questionnaires were within the normal range.

Conclusions

Children who recovered from anxiety disorders following brief guided parent‐delivered CBT typically maintained good outcomes and few relapsed. These findings suggest that this is a viable first‐line, low‐intensity treatment approach. This study only included a small subsample of those in the original RCT (29%), and more information is required about those who dropped out of treatment and those who required further intervention immediately after treatment.

Practitioner points

Treatment gains from brief guided parent‐delivered cognitive behaviour therapy for children with anxiety are maintained for most children 3–5 years later.

The majority of children who completed at least 50% of the intervention required no further mental health intervention in that time.

Some children make continued improvement after completing the intervention.

Data are based on a sample of families from southern England where the primary caregiving parent was free of mental health difficulties.

Further research is needed to explore the mental health needs of those who do not benefit from this intervention.
Genistein and tyrphostin AG556 decrease ultra‐rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ current of human atria by inhibiting EGF receptor tyrosine kinase
Authors: Xiao Guo‐Sheng , Zhang Yan‐Hui , Wu Wei , Sun Hai‐Ying , Wang Yan , Li Gui‐Rong
Published: January 2017

Background and Purpose

The ultra‐rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ current IKur (encoded by Kv1.5 or KCNA5) plays an important role in human atrial repolarization. The present study investigates the regulation of this current by protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs).

Experimental Approach

Whole‐cell patch voltage clamp technique and immunoprecipitation and Western blotting analysis were used to investigate whether the PTK inhibitors genistein, tyrphostin AG556 (AG556) and PP2 regulate human atrial IKur and hKv1.5 channels stably expressed in HEK 293 cells.

Key Results

Human atrial IKur was decreased by genistein (a broad‐spectrum PTK inhibitor) and AG556 (a highly selective EGFR TK inhibitor) in a concentration‐dependent manner. Inhibition of IKur induced by 30 μM genistein or 10 μM AG556 was significantly reversed by 1 mM orthovanadate (a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor). Similar results were observed in HEK 293 cells stably expressing hKv1.5 channels. On the other hand, the Src family kinase inhibitor PP2 (1 μM) slightly enhanced IKur and hKv1.5 current, and the current increase was also reversed by orthovanadate. Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting analysis showed that genistein, AG556, and PP2 decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of hKv1.5 channels and that the decrease was countered by orthovanadate.

Conclusion and Implications

The PTK inhibitors genistein and AG556 decrease human atrial IKur and cloned hKv1.5 channels by inhibiting EGFR TK, whereas the Src kinase inhibitor PP2 increases IKur and hKv1.5 current. These results imply that EGFR TK and the soluble Src kinases may have opposite effects on human atrial IKur.
Identification and characterization of novel host defense peptides from the skin secretion of the fungoid frog, Hydrophylax bahuvistara (Anura: Ranidae)
Authors: Vineeth Kumar Thundi Parambil Vasanth Kumar , Asha Radhamony , Shyla Gopal , George Sanil
Published: January 2017

Two novel peptides (brevinin1 HYba1 and brevinin1 HYba2) were identified from the skin secretion of the frog Hydrophylax bahuvistara, endemic to Western Ghats, India, and their amino acid sequences were confirmed using cDNA cloning and LC/MS/MS. Antibacterial, hemolytic, and cytotoxic activities of brevinin1 peptides and their synthetic analogs (amidated C‐terminus) were investigated and compared. All the peptides except the acidic forms showed antibacterial activity against all tested Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. They exhibited low hemolysis on human erythrocytes and showed potent cytotoxic activity against Hep 3B cancer cell line. Upon amidation, the peptides showed increased activity against the tested microbes without altering their hemolytic and cytotoxic properties. The study also emphasizes the need for screening endemic amphibian fauna of Western Ghats, as a potential source of host defense peptides with possible therapeutic applications in the future.
In silico analysis of the deleterious nsSNPs (missense) in the homeobox domain of human HOXB13 gene responsible for hereditary prostate cancer
Authors: Chandrasekaran Gopalakrishnan , Hwang Eu Chang , Kang Taek Won , Kwon Dong Deuk , Park Kwangsung , Lee Je‐Jung , Lakshmanan Vinoth‐Kumar
Published: January 2017

The human HOXB13 gene encodes a transcription factor containing a DNA‐binding homeobox domain and a HoxA13 N‐terminal domain. SNP is considered to be the primary genetic cause for hereditary prostate cancer (PCa). The study of functional nsSNPs would give an insight into the exact cause underlying the onset of hereditary PCa and possible methodologies for the cure or early management of the disease. Several in silico tools were used to screen and map the deleterious nsSNPs to the protein structure for predicting the structure–function effects. Among the 23 homeobox nsSNPs, sift predicted 20, whereas PolyPhen, panther, and provean predicted 21 nsSNP's as deleterious. W63R, D244N, K239Q, P222R, K218R, and G216C were found to have higher energy values than the native 2CRA. The RMSD value showed increased deviation for T253P(2.53 Å), P222R(2.27 Å), G216C(2.15 Å), K218R(1.66 Å), and K239Q(1.62 Å). The I‐Mutant showed increase in the stability of R258C, S254T, S250L, K239Q, and Q227E. Ramachandran plot showed mutants P222R, G216C, W263R, and K218R having drastically unfavorable pattern of amino acid residues. The presence of these mutations may result in the altered structure and function of the transcription factor; however, the exact mechanism and pathology of those predicted nsSNPs should further be validated by in vivo experiments and population‐based studies.
Co‐varying impacts of land use and non‐native brown trout on fish communities in small streams
Authors: Kirk Mark A. , Wissinger Scott A. , Goeller Brandon C. , Rieck Leslie O.
Published: January 2017

Evaluating the biological integrity of stream ecosystems requires a clear understanding of biological responses to anthropogenic stressors. Co‐variation of stressors with natural landscape gradients has been shown to complicate the ability of biological assessments to detect community‐level responses to anthropogenic stressors. Similarly, the co‐varying occurrence of non‐native species would also likely confound the ability of biological assessments to accurately determine biological integrity, although these relationships have been less studied.

We compared fish communities in 99 wadeable tributaries (with catchments of 10–35 km2) of the upper Allegheny River watershed, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., to disentangle the effects of human‐induced stressors associated with agricultural development, the presence of non‐native brown trout (Salmo trutta) and background variation in community composition associated with natural landscape features.

Multivariate analyses using both taxonomic and trait‐based data revealed that environmental gradients sorted fish species into different thermal communities (coolwater versus warmwater). Layered over the shift in thermal communities was the presence of large‐bodied (piscivorous) brown trout, which along with agricultural land use, was a consistent determinant of community diversity and presence–absence of nine common native species. Small‐bodied taxa (minnows, darters) were the most responsive to the presence of these large non‐native predators.

Our results highlight how the presence of a non‐native species can modify the interactions between natural and anthropogenic stressor gradients and therefore confound the ability to detect signals between land use stressors and local stream community composition. The complicated interaction between brown trout and other anthropogenic stressors documented herein is likely to be a widespread phenomenon given the global introductions of many salmonid species into systems with varying anthropogenic stressor gradients. Overall, understanding how non‐native species influence stream community composition should lead to biological assessments with greater capabilities for detecting non‐native effects on biological integrity relative to the more frequently evaluated land use stressors.
Testing for local adaptation and evolutionary potential along altitudinal gradients in rainforest Drosophila: beyond laboratory estimates
Authors: O'Brien Eleanor K. , Higgie Megan , Reynolds Alan , Hoffmann Ary A. , Bridle Jon R.
Published: January 2017

Predicting how species will respond to the rapid climatic changes predicted this century is an urgent task. Species distribution models (SDMs) use the current relationship between environmental variation and species’ abundances to predict the effect of future environmental change on their distributions. However, two common assumptions of SDMs are likely to be violated in many cases: (i) that the relationship of environment with abundance or fitness is constant throughout a species’ range and will remain so in future and (ii) that abiotic factors (e.g. temperature, humidity) determine species’ distributions. We test these assumptions by relating field abundance of the rainforest fruit fly Drosophila birchii to ecological change across gradients that include its low and high altitudinal limits. We then test how such ecological variation affects the fitness of 35 D. birchii families transplanted in 591 cages to sites along two altitudinal gradients, to determine whether genetic variation in fitness responses could facilitate future adaptation to environmental change. Overall, field abundance was highest at cooler, high‐altitude sites, and declined towards warmer, low‐altitude sites. By contrast, cage fitness (productivity) increased towards warmer, lower‐altitude sites, suggesting that biotic interactions (absent from cages) drive ecological limits at warmer margins. In addition, the relationship between environmental variation and abundance varied significantly among gradients, indicating divergence in ecological niche across the species’ range. However, there was no evidence for local adaptation within gradients, despite greater productivity of high‐altitude than low‐altitude populations when families were reared under laboratory conditions. Families also responded similarly to transplantation along gradients, providing no evidence for fitness trade‐offs that would favour local adaptation. These findings highlight the importance of (i) measuring genetic variation in key traits under ecologically relevant conditions, and (ii) considering the effect of biotic interactions when predicting species’ responses to environmental change.
A Joint Analytic Method for Estimating Aquitard Hydraulic Parameters
Authors: Zhuang Chao , Zhou Zhifang , Illman Walter A.
Published: January 2017

The vertical hydraulic conductivity (Kv), elastic (Sske), and inelastic (Sskv) skeletal specific storage of aquitards are three of the most critical parameters in land subsidence investigations. Two new analytic methods are proposed to estimate the three parameters. The first analytic method is based on a new concept of delay time ratio for estimating Kv and Sske of an aquitard subject to long‐term stable, cyclic hydraulic head changes at boundaries. The second analytic method estimates the Sskv of the aquitard subject to linearly declining hydraulic heads at boundaries. Both methods are based on analytical solutions for flow within the aquitard, and they are jointly employed to obtain the three parameter estimates. This joint analytic method is applied to estimate the Kv, Sske, and Sskv of a 34.54‐m thick aquitard for which the deformation progress has been recorded by an extensometer located in Shanghai, China. The estimated results are then calibrated by PEST (Doherty 2005), a parameter estimation code coupled with a one‐dimensional aquitard‐drainage model. The Kv and Sske estimated by the joint analytic method are quite close to those estimated via inverse modeling and performed much better in simulating elastic deformation than the estimates obtained from the stress‐strain diagram method of Ye and Xue (2005). The newly proposed joint analytic method is an effective tool that provides reasonable initial values for calibrating land subsidence models.
The cascade of HIV care among refugees and nationals in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda
Authors: O'Laughlin KN , Kasozi J , Rabideau DJ , Parker RA , Mulogo E , Faustin ZM , Greenwald KE , Doraiswamy S , Walensky RP , Bassett IV
Published: January 2017

Objectives

Refugees living in Uganda come from HIV‐endemic countries, and many remain in refugee settlements for over a decade. Our objective was to evaluate the HIV care cascade in Nakivale Refugee Settlement and to assess correlates of linkage to care.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled individuals accessing clinic‐based HIV testing in Nakivale Refugee Settlement from March 2013 to July 2014. Newly HIV‐diagnosed clients were followed for 3 months post‐diagnosis. Clients underwent a baseline survey. The following outcomes were obtained from HIV clinic registers in Nakivale: clinic attendance (‘linkage to HIV care’), CD4 testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART) eligibility, and ART initiation within 90 days of testing. Descriptive data were reported as frequency with 95% confidence interval (CI) or median with interquartile range (IQR). The impact of baseline variables on linkage to care was assessed with logistic regression models.

Results

Of 6850 adult clients tested for HIV, 276 (4%; CI: 3–5%) were diagnosed with HIV infection, 148 (54%; CI: 47–60%) of those were linked to HIV care, 54 (20%; CI: 15–25%) had a CD4 test, 22 (8%; CI: 5–12%) were eligible for ART, and 17 (6%; CI: 3–10%) initiated ART. The proportions of refugees and nationals at each step of the cascade were similar. We identified no significant predictors of linkage to care.

Conclusions

Less than a quarter of newly HIV‐diagnosed clients completed ART assessment, considerably lower than in other reports from sub‐Saharan Africa. Understanding which factors hinder linkage to and engagement in care in the settlement will be important to inform interventions specific for this environment.
Effect of vacuum‐drying, hot air‐drying and freeze‐drying on polyphenols and antioxidant capacity of lemon (Citrus limon) pomace aqueous extracts
Authors: Papoutsis Konstantinos , Pristijono Penta , Golding John B. , Stathopoulos Costas E. , Bowyer Michael C. , Scarlett Christopher J. , Vuong Quan V.
Published: January 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of freeze‐drying, hot air‐drying and vacuum‐drying at 70, 90 and 110 °C, on dried lemon pomace polyphenols and antioxidant capacity. The total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity were higher in lemon pomace dried by hot air or under vacuum than those dried by freeze‐drying and increased as the temperature increased. The highest total flavonoid content was recorded in the pomace dried under vacuum at 70 and 90 °C. Lemon pomace dried by freeze‐drying had the highest neohesperidin content, whereas pomace dried under vacuum at 70 °C had the highest rutin and p‐coumaric acid content. The highest gallic acid content was recorded in the pomace dried by hot air at 110 °C. The results of this study indicate that drying technique should be carefully selected according to the bioactive compounds aimed to be extracted.
Oxygen permeation characteristics of sol‐gel derived barium‐substituted strontium ferrite membranes
Authors: Jaiswal Shivendra Kumar , Kumar Jitendra
Published: January 2017

The pervoskite‐type oxides have received attention due to their potential applications in catalysis, solid oxide fuel cells, gas sensors, and gas separable membranes. In view of their importance in oxygen separation from air, BaxSr1−xFeO3−δ (0≤x≤1.0) samples have been synthesized by sol‐gel process and investigated with regard to phase(s), oxygen permeation, and electrical conductivity. These compounds possess at room temperature, a perovskite‐type cubic, mixture of rhombohedral and hexagonal, and hexagonal phase(s) depending upon the composition 0≤x≤0.94, x=0.96‐0.98, and x=1.0, respectively. The barium incorporation causes initially enhancement but decrease in electrical conductivity above x=0.94. Above 800°C, all the compositions exhibit a stable cubic phase. The compacts made in the form of discs serve as stable oxygen permeable membranes displaying flux density () of ~2.45‐3.58 mL/cm2.min at 1000°C. A good correlation has been demonstrated between the oxygen permeation and the electrical conductivity data. The maximum values of and conductivity correspond to BaxSr1−xFeO3−δ (x=0.94) with a perovskite‐type cubic structure. Hence, this membrane is quite suitable for oxygen separation technology.
Rapid low‐temperature synthesis of tetragonal single‐phase Li7La3Zr2O12
Authors: Kimura Teiichi , Yamada Yusuke , Yamamoto Kazuo , Matsuda Tetsushi , Nomura Hiroshi , Hirayama Tsukasa
Published: January 2017

The formation of Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZ), a Li ion conducting oxide with a garnet‐type crystal structure, from a powder mixture of Li2CO3, La(OH)3, and ZrO2 was investigated, and two possible reaction pathways were identified. Based on the obtained results, LLZ was synthesized at low temperatures and short reaction times, using Li2CO3, La(OH)3, and La2Zr2O7 (instead of ZrO2) as starting materials. According to the proposed method, single‐phase LLZ was obtained by heating the initial mixture to 800°C for 1 hour in air, which eliminated possible Li losses. The produced LLZ species exhibited a tetragonal crystal structure with the lattice parameters a=1.3189(3) nm and c=1.2694(1) nm, while their transmission electron microscopy images confirmed that LLZ formation occurred through the dissolution of La2Zr2O7 and La(OH)3 in a Li2CO3 melt followed by LLZ precipitation from solution.
MnO2 with controlled phase for use in supercapacitors
Authors: Sari Fitri Nur Indah , So Pei‐Ru , Ting Jyh‐Ming
Published: January 2017

Nanostructured MnO2 has been synthesized using a simple and rapid microwave‐assisted hydrothermal (MHT) technique through the decomposition of KMnO4 in a hydrochloric acid solution. The effects of hydrothermal temperature and ramp rate were examined and discussed. It was found that a lower temperature (140°C) favors the formation of cauliflower‐like δ‐MnO2 particles while a higher temperature (160°C, 180°C, or 200°C) favors the formation of α‐MnO2 nanorods. The dimensions of the obtained MnO2 nanorods were affected by the ramp rate. The cauliflower‐like δ‐MnO2 particles have higher specific surface areas than the α‐MnO2 nanorods. Supercapacitors having the obtained MnO2 as the electrodes were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in a 1 mol·L−1 Na2SO4 solution within a potential window of −0.1‐0.9 V. The cauliflower‐like δ‐MnO2 electrodes give higher capacitance, up to 202 F/g, than the nanorods α‐MnO2 electrodes, at most 61 F/g.
Long‐term microstructural changes in solid oxide fuel cell anodes: 3D reconstruction
Authors: Parikh Harshil , Hilli Naima , De Guire Mark R. , Heuer Arthur H. , Liu Zhien , Goettler Richard
Published: January 2017

Microstructural changes in solid oxide fuel cell anodes after long‐term operation have been characterized by sequential sectioning with a focused ion beam, followed by scanning electron microscopy imaging and three‐dimensional reconstruction. The anodes were porous composites of Ni and Y2O3‐stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ). The cells were operated at 800°C for 2, 4, and 8 kh, and at 925°C for 2 and 4 kh. For each specimen, the volume fraction, surface area, particle diameter, and tortuosity have been calculated for each phase (Ni, YSZ, and pores). The dependence of these microstructural parameters on the volume of sample analyzed was monitored; sufficiently large volumes were analyzed so as to eliminate any effect of sample volume. Gradients in volume fraction of Ni and porosity developed during fuel cell operation, with Ni fraction increasing, and pore fraction decreasing, at the electrolyte/anode interface. The magnitudes of these gradients increased with time.
An open‐label randomized control trial of hopping and jumping training versus sensorimotor rehabilitation programme on postural capacities in individuals with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Borji Rihab , Sahli Sonia , Baccouch Rym , Laatar Rabeb , Kachouri Hiba , Rebai Haithem
Published: January 2017

Background

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a hopping and jumping training programme (HJP) versus a sensorimotor rehabilitation programme (SRP) on postural performances in children with intellectual disability.

Methods

Three groups of children with intellectual disability participated in the study: the HJP group, the SRP group and a control group. Postural capacities were tested with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Tinetti tests. The HJP and the SRP groups participated in the training programmes for eight weeks. Then, all participants were retested.

Results

Results showed that before the training period, there are no significant differences between the three groups. After the training period, the BBS and the Tinetti scores increased significantly in the HJP group and the SRP group with greater extent in the HJP group than in the STP group.

Conclusion

We suggest that HJP training is more recommended to improve postural capacities in children with intellectual disability.
The United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: The Voting of Conservative Parliamentarians
Authors: Heppell Timothy , Crines Andrew , Jeffery David
Published: January 2017

This article considers the attitudes of members of the parliamentary Conservative Party (PCP) during the European Union (EU) membership referendum held in the United Kingdom (UK) on 23 June 2016. First, the article identifies the voting positions – remain or leave – of each Conservative parliamentarian in order to assess the strength of opinion within the PCP and place it within its historical context. Second, the article uses multivariate analysis to test a series of hypotheses about the voting of Conservative parliamentarians. Through this we will aim to identify whether any associations existed between advocates and opponents of Brexit and social variables such as age, schooling, university, occupation and gender; political variables such as constituency marginality, and whether they were a minister, an ex‐minister or a permanent backbencher; and the ideological variable of morality – such as support for or opposition to same sex marriage.