bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Amelioration of drought tolerance in wheat by the interaction of plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria
Authors: Gontia‐Mishra I. , Sapre S. , Sharma A. , Tiwari S.
Published: September 2016

Drought stress adversely affects the growth and yield of wheat. The present study was planned to investigate the effect of inoculation of plant‐growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains IG 3 (Klebsiella sp.), IG 10 (Enterobacter ludwigii) and IG 15 (Flavobacterium sp.) in improving drought tolerance in wheat.

These PGPR strains were screened for drought tolerance in nutrient broth supplemented with different concentrations (0–25%) of polyethylene glycol (PEG6000). Effect of PGPR inoculation on various physiological, biochemical parameters and gene expression of stress responsive genes were studied under drought stress. Root colonization at the surface and interiors of roots was demonstrated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tetrazolium staining, respectively.

Drought stress significantly affected various growth parameters, water status, membrane integrity, osmolyte accumulation and stress‐responsive gene expressions, which were positively altered by PGPR‐inoculation in wheat. Quantitative real‐time (qRT)‐PCR analysis revealed the up regulation of some stress‐related genes (DREB2A and CAT1) in un‐inoculated wheat plants exposed to drought stress. PGPR‐inoculated plants showed attenuated transcript levels suggesting improved drought tolerance due to interaction of PGPRs.

The PGPR strain IG 3 was found to be the best in terms of influencing biochemical and physiological status of the seedlings under drought stress. Our report demonstrates the role of PGPRs Enterobacter ludwigii and Flavobacterium sp. in plant growth promotion of wheat plants under drought stress. The study reports the potential of PGPR in alleviating drought stress in wheat which could be used as potent biofertilizers.
Genetic and phenotypic diversity of Mediterranean populations of the olive knot pathogen, Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi
Authors: Moretti C. , Vinatzer B. A. , Onofri A. , Valentini F. , Buonaurio R.
Published: September 2016

Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi (Psav) is a member of P. syringae sensu lato, and causes olive knot disease, a disease first reported over 2000 years ago. Analysing 124 isolates of Psav from 15 countries by rep‐PCR, the population genetic structure of Psav was investigated. A total of 113 distinct fingerprints were detected. Cluster analysis revealed the existence of two clusters and four subclusters. These clusters were associated with the geographic origin of isolates, which in turn correspond to historic human migration events and trade routes across the Mediterranean Sea. In contrast, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of 2788 bp of the gapA, gltA, gyrB and rpoD genes found only one variable site among 77 representative isolates. Virulence variation was observed within the Psav population, with the most virulent strains generating knots that had a weight that was 10‐fold greater than those generated by the least virulent strains. Taken together, these data suggest that today's Psav population is the result of clonal expansion of a single strain, that moderate migration of the pathogen occurred between countries, and that changes in virulence arose during its evolution.
Political Party and Presidential Decisions to Use Force: Explaining a Puzzling Nonfinding
Authors: Clark David H. , Fordham Benjamin O. , Nordstrom Timothy
Published: September 2016

Conventional wisdom holds that Republicans have hawkish foreign policy preferences compared to Democrats but quantitative research on the use of force finds no relationship between the party of the president and his propensity to use force. This article offers two reasons for this puzzling nonfinding. First, although Republicans have favored military spending and intervention more than Democrats have since the mid‐1960s, the two parties’ positions on these issues were reversed before that time. Analyses that cover the entire postwar era conflate periods when party had opposite effects. Second, previous research has generally focused on actual uses of force. Strategic conflict avoidance by potential targets is more likely to obscure a party effect when examining these relatively high‐level conflict events. Examining events data, which include many lower‐level conflict events, we find evidence that Democrats were more hawkish than Republicans during the 1949–65 period and that Republicans were more hawkish during the 1966–92 period.
Spillovers from R&D and Other Intangible Investment: Evidence from UK Industries
Authors: Goodridge Peter , Haskel Jonathan , Wallis Gavin
Published: September 2016

Many agree that evidence exists consistent with spillovers from R&D. But is there any evidence of spillovers from a broader range of intangibles, such as software, design or training? We collect investment data for these wider intangibles for a panel of seven UK industries 1992–2007. Using the industry‐level method in the R&D literature, e.g. Griliches (), we regress industry TFP growth on lagged external knowledge stock growth, where the latter are outside industry measures weighted by matrices based on (a) flows of intermediate consumption or (b) workers. Our main new result is that we find (controlling for time and industry effects) statistically significant correlations between TFP growth and knowledge stock growth in (a) external R&D and (b) total intangibles (excluding R&D). We show our results are robust to controls for imperfect competition and non‐constant returns; likewise they are robust to including foreign R&D, and other controls, and various lags.
Further progress on the phylogeny of Noctuoidea (Insecta: Lepidoptera) using an expanded gene sample
Authors: REGIER JEROME C. , MITTER CHARLES , MITTER KIM , CUMMINGS MICHAEL P. , BAZINET ADAM L. , HALLWACHS WINIFRED , JANZEN DANIEL H. , ZWICK ANDREAS
Published: September 2016

Major progress has been made recently toward resolving the phylogeny of Noctuoidea, the largest superfamily of Lepidoptera. However, numerous questions and weakly supported nodes remain. In this paper we independently check and extend the main findings of multiple recent authors by performing maximum‐likelihood analyses of 5–19 genes (6.7–18.6 kb) in 74 noctuoids representing all the families and a majority of the subfamilies. Our results strongly support the six family system of Zahiri et al., with the former Lymantriidae and Arctiidae subsumed within the huge family Erebidae, and Noctuidae restricted largely to the subfamilies with so‐called trifine hindwing venation. Our data also strongly corroborate monophyly of the set of four families with quadrifid forewing venation, to the exclusion of Notodontidae, and removal from the latter of Oenosandridae. Other among‐family relationships, however, remain unsettled. Our evidence is equivocal on the position of Oenosandridae, which are sister group to either Notodontidae alone or to all other noctuoids. Like other recent nuclear gene studies, our results also provide no strong support for relationships among the four quadrifid forewing families. In contrast, within families our analyses significantly expand the list of robustly resolved relationships, while introducing no strong conflicts with previous molecular studies. Within Notodontidae, for which we present the largest molecular taxon sample to date, we find strong evidence for polyphyly for some, or all, recent definitions of the subfamilies Thaumetopoeinae, Pygaerinae, Notodontinae and Heterocampinae. Deeper divergences are incompletely resolved but there is strong support for multiple ‘backbone’ nodes subtending most of the subfamilies studied. Within Erebidae, we find much agreement and no strong conflict with a recent previous study regarding relationships among subfamilies, and somewhat stronger support. Although many questions remain, the two studies together firmly resolve positions for over half the subfamilies. Within Noctuidae, we find no strong conflict with previous molecular studies regarding relationships among subfamilies, but much stronger resolution along the ‘backbone’ of the phylogeny. Combining information from multiple studies yields strongly resolved positions for most of the subfamilies. Finally, our results strongly suggest that the tribes Pseudeustrotiini and Prodeniini, currently assigned to the largest subfamily, Noctuinae, do not belong there. In sum, our results provide additional corroboration for the main outlines of family‐level phylogeny in Noctuoidea, and contribute toward resolving relationships within families.
Titanium wound chambers for wound healing research
Authors: Nuutila Kristo , Singh Mansher , Kruse Carla , Philip Justin , Caterson Edward J. , Eriksson Elof
Published: September 2016

Standardized and reproducible animal models are crucial in medical research. Rodents are commonly used in wound healing studies since, they are easily available, affordable and simple to handle and house. However, the most significant limitation of rodent models is that the wounds heal by contraction while in humans the primary mechanisms of healing are reepithelialization and granulation tissue formation. The robust contraction results in faster wound closure that complicates the reproducibility of rodent studies in clinical trials. We have developed a titanium wound chamber for rodent wound healing research. The chamber is engineered from two pieces of titanium and is placed transcutaneously on the dorsum of a rodent. The chamber inhibits wound contraction and provides a means for controlled monitoring and sampling of the wound environment in vivo with minimal foreign body reaction. This technical report introduces two modalities utilizing the titanium chambers in rats: (1) Wound in a skin island model and, (2) Wound without skin model. Here, we demonstrate in rats how the “wound in a skin island model” slows down wound contraction and how the “wound without skin” model completely prevents the closure. The titanium wound chamber provides a reproducible standardized models for wound healing research in rodents.
Construcción y validación de un test de producción textual
Authors: Brizuela Rodríguez Armel Brizuela
Published: September 2016

En este artículo se presenta el proceso de construcción y validación de una rúbrica para medir la expresión escrita de estudiantes universitarios de primer año de ingreso. Se recogieron 117 ensayos escritos por estudiantes universitarios (75 mujeres y 42 hombres) de la carrera de Filología Española de la Universidad de Costa Rica. Los ensayos fueron calificados por dos evaluadoras con base en una rúbrica, después de lo cual se calcularon diferentes índices de concordancia entre jueces para evaluar la calidad técnica de esta. Entre los resultados más importantes, se observó un porcentaje de acuerdo absoluto [±3 errores] del 90% en la mayoría de los rubros evaluados. Por otro lado, se observaron correlaciones pequeñas y moderadas entre los aspectos incluidos en la rúbrica. A partir de estos resultados se discute la utilidad de utilizar la lingüística textual como base teórica para construir rúbricas de evaluación.
Diseño y validación de una herramienta para medir la percepción de las condiciones de trabajo: caso Sector manufacturero de la región Caribe colombiana
Authors: Martínez Buelvas Laura , Oviedo-Trespalacios Oscar , Luna Amaya Carmenza
Published: September 2016

El Cuestionario de Condiciones de Trabajo fue diseñado y aplicado como una herramienta de evaluación de componentes psicosociales que impactan en la Calidad de Vida, en una muestra de 518 empleados de diferentes empresas del sector manufacturero de la región Caribe colombiana, con edades comprendidas entre 17 y 68 años. El instrumento se planeó, se diseñó y se construyó con el propósito de comprobar su fiabilidad y validez, mediante análisis factorial exploratorio y análisis de componentes principales con rotación VARIMAX. La investigación reporta que la escala de condiciones de trabajo presenta una media 5,38 (D.E. = 3,22) y un = 0.793; la evaluación de homogeneidad fue elevada en todos los casos obteniéndose correlaciones de ítems total superiores a 0,60. La adecuación de los datos a la matriz factorial fue satisfactoria, se encontró un KMO = 0,785. Se extrajeron 11 factores de los cuales son interpretables 5, éstos se explican en un 73,128% con respecto a la varianza total. La estructura factorial quedó representada por 17 ítems escalonados en cinco grupos: carga física, ambiente térmico, ruido, riesgos laborales y seguridad en el trabajo. En conclusión, el instrumento confirma una confiabilidad adecuada y estabilidad estructural de gran utilidad para la comprensión e implementación de estrategias de acción en cuanto a la realización de modificaciones en las condiciones de trabajo en el sector para lograr satisfacción entre los empleados.
ESTRATEGIAS DE ACULTURACIÓN E IDENTIDAD ÉTNICA. UN ESTUDIO EN MIGRANTES SUR-SUR EN EL NORTE DE CHILE
Authors: Arenas Pablo , Urzúa M. Alfonso
Published: September 2016

Bajo un diseño no experimental, analítico y transversal, el estudio describe la relación existente entre las Estrategias de Aculturación propuestas por Berry de integración, asimilación, separación y marginalización, con la Identidad Étnica. Se recogieron datos de 431 inmigrantes peruanos y colombianos en la ciudad de Antofagasta, Chile a través de la escala de aculturación desarrollada por Basabe, N., Zlobina, A. y Páez, D. (2004) y la “Escala de Identidad Étnica Multigrupo” (EIEM) en su versión en español. Los resultados arrojaron que la estrategia de aculturación mayormente utilizada por ambos grupos fue la biculturalidad aunque existen diferencias por sexo, en cuanto a la identidad étnica las diferencias fueron estadísticamente significativas para ambos grupos sólo entre nacionalidades. Al analizar la relación existente entre las variables, las pruebas lograron ser concluyentes apoyando los supuestos teóricos de que quienes optan por una estrategia de aculturación de “lealtad al endogrupo” (biculturales y separados) tienen una mayor orientación positiva hacia su grupo étnico, a diferencia de quienes utilizan una estrategia de corte “individualista” (asimilados y marginados).
Efectos del método de entrenamiento en ajedrez con escolares
Authors: Aciego Ramón , García Lorena , Betancort Moisés
Published: September 2016

Se analiza el efecto del entrenamiento en ajedrez según se utilice una metodología sensible con el desarrollo de competencias cognitivas y sociopersonales frente a otra focalizada en el entrenamiento táctico, en una muestra de educación obligatoria. Se utiliza un diseño cuasi-experimental con: grupo experimental 1, formación integral (N = 110); grupo experimental 2, formación centrada en el tablero (N = 60); y grupo control, baloncesto y fútbol (N = 60). Las variables, medidas al inicio y final de curso académico, son: competencia cognitiva, evaluada mediante prueba de rendimiento; competencia socio-afectiva, mediante test auto-evaluativo; y competencia en ajedrez, mediante prueba de rendimiento. Los resultados muestran que el grupo de formación integral mejora no sólo en competencias cognitivas básicas (atención y memoria), como ocurre en el grupo experimental 2, sino también en competencias cognitivas más complejas (asociación, análisis, síntesis, planeamiento, previsión…). Igualmente mejora en el ámbito socioafectivo no sólo en somatizaciones y comportamiento en clase, sino también en autoestima, motivación y actitud ante el estudio.
‘Método de Evaluación Dinámica Automatizado’ de Competencias Lectoras para Educación Secundaria. (EdiLEC)
Authors: Ávila Clemente Vicenta , Gil Pelluch Laura , Gilabert Ramiro , Maña Amelia , Vidal-Abarca Gamez Eduardo
Published: September 2016

Se presenta un nuevo método de evaluación dinámica de la competencia lectora automatizado para Educación Secundaria (EdiLEC). Su diseño se ajusta al marco teórico propuesto por el Informe PISA-2009 (OCDE, 2010) y los principios de la evaluación dinámica (Sternberg y Grigorenko, 2002). Esta herramienta electrónica, proporciona automáticamente mensajes de retroalimentación adaptados a cada individuo sobre el proceso y ejecución a lo largo de la prueba, añadiendo a los resultados de la evaluación tradicional de la competencia lectora la posibilidad de explorar las potencialidades de aprendizaje del estudiante. El método ha sido baremado con una muestra de 1008 estudiantes de entre 11 y 14 años. Los resultados muestran que consta de propiedades psicométricas de fiabilidad, homogeneidad y validez satisfactorias.
La relación entre el proceso de autorregulación y el proceso de coaching
Authors: Baquero Barato Jhon Alexander , Rodríguez-Moneo María
Published: September 2016

El coaching ha tenido un importante crecimiento en los últimos años como método que facilita el logro de metas y propicia el desarrollo de habilidades. Sin embargo existen críticas dirigidas, por un lado, a la débil fundamentación teórica que sustenta su proceso y, por otro, a la baja producción de investigaciones empíricas que expliquen los resultados de éxito y que muestren con rigor los cambios cognitivos, motivacionales y afectivos logrados por las personas que participan en este tipo de procesos. Este artículo presta especial atención al análisis de la relación de los procesos de coaching y de autorregulación. El objetivo principal se centra en plantear este vínculo como una posible solución a la necesidad de profesionalizar la práctica del coaching, de emplear técnicas basadas en la evidencia y que procedan de las investigaciones sobre los procesos psicológicos, pero, sobre todo, de encontrar un cuerpo teórico sólido que dé cuenta de su éxito. También se proponen algunas posibilidades de cómo el desarrollo de la autorregulación puede verse beneficiado por las prácticas del coaching. Se plantean, por último, algunas ideas sobre la dirección de futuras investigaciones en el tema.
Validación del Cuestionario de Motivación en Educación Física en Educación Primaria (CMEF-EP)
Authors: Leo Francisco Miguel , García-Fernández José Miguel , Sánchez-Oliva David , Pulido Juan José , García-Calvo Tomás
Published: September 2016

El objetivo de la presente investigación era validar al contexto de la Educación Primaria el instrumento CMEF (Cuestionario de Motivación en Educación Física), desarrollado originalmente en la etapa de Educación Secundaria. Para ello, participaron un total de 333 alumnos de Educación Primaria, de género masculino (n = 183) y femenino (n = 150), con edades comprendidas entre los 10 y los 12 años (M = 10.92; DT = .77) pertenecientes a seis centros educativos públicos de la comunidad autónoma de Murcia. Los resultados obtenidos demostraron que la escala presentaba una adecuada validez factorial a partir de los índices de ajuste obtenidos en el análisis factorial confirmatorio, así como valores aceptables de consistencia interna (α > .70). De la misma manera, se correlacionaron los factores del instrumento con la percepción de comportamientos positivos en la Educación Física, obteniendo una adecuada validez nomológica. Por tanto, este estudio aporta evidencias de que el Cuestionario de Motivación en la Educación Física también permite analizar los tipos de regulación motivacional de los alumnos en las clases de Educación Física en la etapa de Educación Primaria.
Beyond defect formation: Spectroscopic characterization of plasma-induced structural and electronic transformations in graphene
Authors: Wallace Joshua S. , Quinn Austin , Gardella Joseph A. , Huang Da , Hu Jing , Kong Eric Siu-Wai , Joh Han-Ik
Published: September 2016

Recent research suggests plasma-induced hydrogenation is an efficient method for inducing a band-gap in graphene. To date, the characterization of plasma treatment-induced chemical changes is performed almost exclusively by Raman spectroscopy with the extent of hydrogenation presented as the evolution defect structures in the sp2 lattice of graphene. Alarmingly, almost no attention is given to the concurrent electronic modification. Here, x-ray induced Auger emission spectroscopy is utilized to better understand the effect of plasma treatment on the electronic properties of graphene beyond the formation of defects as determined by Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate the fine structure of the CKLL emission offers a suitable complement to Raman spectroscopy in assessing the extent of chemical and electronic changes induced by H2 plasma treatments. Significant changes to the D-value, defined as the distance between local maxima and minima in the CKLL Auger emission, are observed after only 30 s of treatment (p < 0.001), while the ID/IG ratio remains statistically equivalent (p = 0.441). The results indicate significant differences in the electronic properties of plasma-treated graphene are observed concomitant to sp2 defect structures normally attributed to hydrogenation.
Humpback whale-generated ambient noise levels provide insight into singers' spatial densities
Authors: Seger Kerri D. , Thode Aaron M. , Urbán-R. Jorge , Martínez-Loustalot Pamela , Jiménez-López M. Esther , López-Arzate Diana
Published: September 2016

Baleen whale vocal activity can be the dominant underwater ambient noise source for certain locations and seasons. Previous wind-driven ambient-noise formulations have been adjusted to model ambient noise levels generated by random distributions of singing humpback whales in ocean waveguides and have been combined to a single model. This theoretical model predicts that changes in ambient noise levels with respect to fractional changes in singer population (defined as the noise “sensitivity”) are relatively unaffected by the source level distributions and song spectra of individual humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). However, the noise “sensitivity” does depend on frequency and on how the singers' spatial density changes with population size. The theoretical model was tested by comparing visual line transect surveys with bottom-mounted passive acoustic data collected during the 2013 and 2014 humpback whale breeding seasons off Los Cabos, Mexico. A generalized linear model (GLM) estimated the noise “sensitivity” across multiple frequency bands. Comparing the GLM estimates with the theoretical predictions suggests that humpback whales tend to maintain relatively constant spacing between one another while singing, but that individual singers either slightly increase their source levels or song duration, or cluster more tightly as the singing population increases.
Color polymorphism in an aphid is maintained by attending ants
Authors: Watanabe Saori , Murakami Taiga , Yoshimura Jin , Hasegawa Eisuke
Published: September 2016

Color polymorphism in an aphid is maintained by attending ants preferring an intermediate proportion of green/red morphs.
Synaptic mechanisms of pattern completion in the hippocampal CA3 network
Authors: Guzman Segundo Jose , Schlögl Alois , Frotscher Michael , Jonas Peter
Published: September 2016

The hippocampal CA3 region plays a key role in learning and memory. Recurrent CA3–CA3 synapses are thought to be the subcellular substrate of pattern completion. However, the synaptic mechanisms of this network computation remain enigmatic. To investigate these mechanisms, we combined functional connectivity analysis with network modeling. Simultaneous recording from up to eight CA3 pyramidal neurons revealed that connectivity was sparse, spatially uniform, and highly enriched in disynaptic motifs (reciprocal, convergence, divergence, and chain motifs). Unitary connections were composed of one or two synaptic contacts, suggesting efficient use of postsynaptic space. Real-size modeling indicated that CA3 networks with sparse connectivity, disynaptic motifs, and single-contact connections robustly generated pattern completion. Thus, macro- and microconnectivity contribute to efficient memory storage and retrieval in hippocampal networks.
Comment on “Principles of connectivity among morphologically defined cell types in adult neocortex”
Authors: Barth Alison L. , Burkhalter Andreas , Callaway Edward M. , Connors Barry W. , Cauli Bruno , DeFelipe Javier , Feldmeyer Dirk , Freund Tamas , Kawaguchi Yasuo , Kisvarday Zoltan , Kubota Yoshiyuki , McBain Chris , Oberlaender Marcel , Rossier Jean , Rudy Bernardo , Staiger Jochen F. , Somogyi Peter , Tamas Gabor , Yuste Rafael
Published: September 2016

Jiang
et al
. (Research Article, 27 November 2015, aac9462) describe detailed experiments that substantially add to the knowledge of cortical microcircuitry and are unique in the number of connections reported and the quality of interneuron reconstruction. The work appeals to experts and laypersons because of the notion that it unveils new principles and provides a complete description of cortical circuits. We provide a counterbalance to the authors’ claims to give those less familiar with the minutiae of cortical circuits a better sense of the contributions and the limitations of this study.
Highly siderophile elements were stripped from Earth’s mantle by iron sulfide segregation
Authors: Rubie David C. , Laurenz Vera , Jacobson Seth A. , Morbidelli Alessandro , Palme Herbert , Vogel Antje K. , Frost Daniel J.
Published: September 2016

Highly siderophile elements (HSEs) are strongly depleted in the bulk silicate Earth (BSE) but are present in near-chondritic relative abundances. The conventional explanation is that the HSEs were stripped from the mantle by the segregation of metal during core formation but were added back in near-chondritic proportions by late accretion, after core formation had ceased. Here we show that metal-silicate equilibration and segregation during Earth’s core formation actually increased HSE mantle concentrations because HSE partition coefficients are relatively low at the high pressures of core formation within Earth. The pervasive exsolution and segregation of iron sulfide liquid from silicate liquid (the “Hadean matte”) stripped magma oceans of HSEs during cooling and crystallization, before late accretion, and resulted in slightly suprachondritic palladium/iridium and ruthenium/iridium ratios.
Dirhodium-catalyzed C-H arene amination using hydroxylamines
Authors: Paudyal Mahesh P. , Adebesin Adeniyi Michael , Burt Scott R. , Ess Daniel H. , Ma Zhiwei , Kürti László , Falck John R.
Published: September 2016

Primary and
N
-alkyl arylamine motifs are key functional groups in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and functional materials, as well as in bioactive natural products. However, there is a dearth of generally applicable methods for the direct replacement of aryl hydrogens with NH
2
/NH(alkyl) moieties. Here, we present a mild dirhodium-catalyzed C-H amination for conversion of structurally diverse monocyclic and fused aromatics to the corresponding primary and
N
-alkyl arylamines using NH
2
/NH(alkyl)-
O
-(sulfonyl)hydroxylamines as aminating agents; the relatively weak RSO
2
O-N bond functions as an internal oxidant. The methodology is operationally simple, scalable, and fast at or below ambient temperature, furnishing arylamines in moderate-to-good yields and with good regioselectivity. It can be readily extended to the synthesis of fused
N
-heterocycles.
Optic flow odometry operates independently of stride integration in carried ants
Authors: Pfeffer Sarah E. , Wittlinger Matthias
Published: September 2016

Cataglyphis
desert ants are impressive navigators. When the foragers roam the desert, they employ path integration. For these ants, distance estimation is one key challenge. Distance information was thought to be provided by optic flow (OF)—that is, image motion experienced during travel—but this idea was abandoned when stride integration was discovered as an odometer mechanism in ants. We show that ants transported by nest mates are capable of measuring travel distance exclusively by the use of OF cues. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the information gained from the optic flowmeter cannot be transferred to the stride integrator. Our results suggest a dual information channel that allows the ants to measure distances by strides and OF cues, although both systems operate independently and in a redundant manner.
Local near instantaneously dynamically triggered aftershocks of large earthquakes
Authors: Fan Wenyuan , Shearer Peter M.
Published: September 2016

Aftershocks are often triggered by static- and/or dynamic-stress changes caused by mainshocks. The relative importance of the two triggering mechanisms is controversial at near-to-intermediate distances. We detected and located 48 previously unidentified large early aftershocks triggered by earthquakes with magnitudes between ≥7 and 8 within a few fault lengths (approximately 300 kilometers), during times that high-amplitude surface waves arrive from the mainshock (less than 200 seconds). The observations indicate that near-to-intermediate-field dynamic triggering commonly exists and fundamentally promotes aftershock occurrence. The mainshocks and their nearby early aftershocks are located at major subduction zones and continental boundaries, and mainshocks with all types of faulting-mechanisms (normal, reverse, and strike-slip) can trigger early aftershocks.
Electromagnetic interference shielding with 2D transition metal carbides (MXenes)
Authors: Shahzad Faisal , Alhabeb Mohamed , Hatter Christine B. , Anasori Babak , Man Hong Soon , Koo Chong Min , Gogotsi Yury
Published: September 2016

Materials with good flexibility and high conductivity that can provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding with minimal thickness are highly desirable, especially if they can be easily processed into films. Two-dimensional metal carbides and nitrides, known as MXenes, combine metallic conductivity and hydrophilic surfaces. Here, we demonstrate the potential of several MXenes and their polymer composites for EMI shielding. A 45-micrometer-thick Ti
3
C
2
T
x
film exhibited EMI shielding effectiveness of 92 decibels (>50 decibels for a 2.5-micrometer film), which is the highest among synthetic materials of comparable thickness produced to date. This performance originates from the excellent electrical conductivity of Ti
3
C
2
T
x
films (4600 Siemens per centimeter) and multiple internal reflections from Ti
3
C
2
T
x
flakes in free-standing films. The mechanical flexibility and easy coating capability offered by MXenes and their composites enable them to shield surfaces of any shape while providing high EMI shielding efficiency.
Asymmetry in supramolecular assembly
Authors: Slim Suzette , Rosei Federico
Published: September 2016

Photoresponsive organic nanowires connect to gold nanomesh and silicon electrodes
Lentiviral vectors, two decades later
Authors: Naldini Luigi , Trono Didier , Verma Inder M.
Published: September 2016

A deadly virus became an effective gene delivery tool
A Primer on Infectious Disease Bacterial Genomics
Authors: Lynch Tarah , Petkau Aaron , Knox Natalie , Graham Morag , Van Domselaar Gary
Published: September 2016

The number of large-scale genomics projects is increasing due to the availability of affordable high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies. The use of HTS for bacterial infectious disease research is attractive because one whole-genome sequencing (WGS) run can replace multiple assays for bacterial typing, molecular epidemiology investigations, and more in-depth pathogenomic studies. The computational resources and bioinformatics expertise required to accommodate and analyze the large amounts of data pose new challenges for researchers embarking on genomics projects for the first time. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of a bacterial genomics projects from beginning to end, with a particular focus on the planning and computational requirements for HTS data, and provide a general understanding of the analytical concepts to develop a workflow that will meet the objectives and goals of HTS projects.
Veterinary Fusarioses within the United States
Authors: O'Donnell Kerry , Sutton Deanna A. , Wiederhold Nathan , Robert Vincent A. R. G. , Crous Pedro W. , Geiser David M.
Published: September 2016

Multilocus DNA sequence data were used to assess the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships of 67
Fusarium
strains from veterinary sources, most of which were from the United States. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that the strains comprised 23 phylogenetically distinct species, all but two of which were previously known to infect humans, distributed among eight species complexes. The majority of the veterinary isolates (47/67 = 70.1%) were nested within the
Fusarium solani
species complex (FSSC), and these included 8 phylospecies and 33 unique 3-locus sequence types (STs). Three of the FSSC species (
Fusarium falciforme
,
Fusarium keratoplasticum
, and
Fusarium
sp. FSSC 12) accounted for four-fifths of the veterinary strains (38/47) and STs (27/33) within this clade. Most of the
F. falciforme
strains (12/15) were recovered from equine keratitis infections; however, strains of
F. keratoplasticum
and
Fusarium
sp. FSSC 12 were mostly (25/27) isolated from marine vertebrates and invertebrates. Our sampling suggests that the
Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti
species complex (FIESC), with eight mycoses-associated species, may represent the second most important clade of veterinary relevance within
Fusarium
. Six of the multilocus STs within the FSSC (3+4-eee, 1-b, 12-a, 12-b, 12-f, and 12-h) and one each within the FIESC (1-a) and the
Fusarium oxysporum
species complex (ST-33) were widespread geographically, including three STs with transoceanic disjunctions. In conclusion, fusaria associated with veterinary mycoses are phylogenetically diverse and typically can only be identified to the species level using DNA sequence data from portions of one or more informative genes.
Should vets be concerned about biodiversity loss?
Authors: Wensley S. P.
Published: September 2016

Sean Wensley believes there are sound justifications for the profession to act
Comparative development of simple and compound leaves in the genus Cecropia
Authors: Ogden Michael S. , Lacroix Christian R.
Published: September 2016

Plants develop leaves that range from simple to compound in shape. The evolutionary divergence of simple and compound leaves has spurred research into identifying the cellular and molecular processes involved in determining leaf shape. The roles of various genes and signalling pathways have been characterized in specifying leaf shape; however, few studies have investigated leaf primordium structure and shoot apex organization throughout the development of both simple and compound leaves. Using Cecropia obtusa Trécul and Cecropia sciadophylla Martius, two putatively closely related species bearing simple palmate and palmately-compound leaves, respectively, we compared the morphogenesis of leaves of both species at the shoot apex. Analysis of shoot apices using scanning electron microscopy yielded a nonsignificant difference in leaf primordium divergence angles and plastochron ratios, suggesting that divergence of the two leaf types occurred independently of primordium organization and growth rate at the shoot apex. Qualitative analysis of primordium initiation and morphogenesis revealed that both species share highly homologous development, as primordium structure and lobe/leaflet initiation sites are complementary in both leaf types. Our observations suggest a high degree of conserved ontogeny in the developmental pathways underlying the morphogenesis of simple palmate and palmately-compound leaves in these two species.
Temporal and spatial variation in strontium in a tropical river: implications for otolith chemistry analyses of fish migration
Authors: Crook David A. , Lacksen Katherine , King Alison J. , Buckle Duncan J. , Tickell Steven J. , Woodhead Jonathon D. , Maas Roland , Townsend Simon A. , Douglas Michael M.
Published: September 2016

Analysis of otolith strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) is an increasingly utilized approach for studying fish migration. We analysed surface and ground water from the Daly River catchment in the wet–dry tropics of northern Australia over 2 years. Analyses of otolith 87Sr/86Sr ratios were also conducted for freshwater sooty grunter (Hephaestus fuliginosus) and the putatively diadromous diamond mullet (Liza ordensis). Spatial variation in freshwater 87Sr/86Sr was high (range: 0.71612–0.78059), and there was strong seasonality in water 87Sr/86Sr, with highest values in the wet season. Temporal variation in water 87Sr/86Sr ratios is attributed to seasonal patterns in surface runoff from geological formations with radiogenic compositions versus input from groundwater aquifers interacting with less radiogenic formations. Temporal variation in water 87Sr/86Sr ratios precluded robust inference on movement within fresh water for both species, although movement across salinity gradients by diamond mullet was clearly identified. We conclude that temporally and spatially replicated water Sr data should be a general requisite for studies that analyse otolith Sr (87Sr/86Sr, Sr/Ca, Sr/Ba) to make inferences about fish movement and migration.
Cosmology and supergravity
Authors: Ferrara S. , Kehagias A. , Sagnotti A.
Published: September 2016

Abdus Salam was a true master of 20th Century Theoretical Physics. Not only was he a pioneer of the Standard Model (for which he shared the Nobel Prize with S. Glashow and S. Weinberg), but he also (co)authored many other outstanding contributions to the field of Fundamental Interactions and their unification. In particular, he was a major contributor to the development of supersymmetric theories, where he also coined the word “Supersymmetry” (replacing the earlier “Supergauges” drawn from String Theory). He also introduced the basic concept of “Superspace” and the notion of “Goldstone Fermion” (Goldstino). These concepts proved instrumental for the exploration of the ultraviolet properties and for the study of spontaneously broken phases of super Yang–Mills theories and Supergravity. They continue to play a key role in current developments in Early-Universe Cosmology. In this contribution we review models of inflation based on Supergravity with spontaneously broken local supersymmetry, with emphasis on the role of nilpotent superfields to describe a de Sitter phase of our Universe.
ACCELERATION PATTERN OF THE UPPER BODY DURING LEVEL WALKING IN PATIENTS WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Authors: KIM JI-WON , KWON YU-RI , HEO JAE-HOON , EOM GWANG-MOON , KWON MOON-SEOK , TACK GYE-RAE , KOH SEONG-BEOM
Published: September 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Parkinson's disease (PD) on upper body acceleration patterns during level walking. Twenty-three patients with PD and 29 controls of similar age participated in this study. Subjects walked along a 12 m linear walkway at self-selected comfortable speeds. Upper body accelerations were measured using three-axis accelerometers located at the pelvis, shoulder, and head. Acceleration magnitude, stride-to-stride irregularity, and degree of coupling among three body parts were derived from the acceleration signals. In the vertical (supero-inferior) direction, PD patients exhibited a smaller acceleration magnitude, a more irregular pattern, and less coupling of acceleration among body parts compared to the controls ([Formula: see text]). In the anterio-posterior (AP) direction, acceleration magnitude at the pelvis in PD patients was smaller than that in the controls ([Formula: see text]). In addition, the phase lag of AP head acceleration from shoulder and pelvis was smaller in PD patients than in the controls ([Formula: see text]). These results suggest that PD patients walk with reduced ankle power generation and a more rigid upper body in the AP direction and with more irregular muscle force generation in the SI direction.
EFFECT OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE SUBSTRATE TISSUES ON THE DETERMINATION OF ELASTIC MODULUS OF THE SCLERA USING INDENTATION TEST
Authors: QIAN XIUQING , ZHANG KUNYA , LIU ZHICHENG
Published: September 2016

The sclera is an important connective tissue that protects the sensitive layers within the eyeball. Identifying the mechanical properties of the sclera near the posterior pole is necessary to analyze the deformation of the sclera and stresses changing in the optic nerve head tissues. We propose a method to determine the mechanical properties of the sclera using dimensional analysis, finite element method and the indentation test. The elastic moduli of the sclera for different indentation depths and positions were identified. We found that the elastic moduli of the sclera varied with indentation depth. This was due to the effect of the mechanical properties of the substrate tissues inside the sclera. The elastic modulus of the choroid had the biggest effect on the determination of elastic modulus of the sclera, whereas that of the vitreous body could be ignored when the ratio of the indentation depth to the thickness of the sclera was less than 0.5. The effects of mechanical properties of the substrate tissues become more pronounced at greater indentation depths.
A mathematical analysis of world cup advertisements
Authors: Goding Eric , Arangala Crista
Published: September 2016

Qualitative content analysis is the most common method to compare advertisements cross-culturally or cross-generationally. However, quantitative methods, such as chi-square or Fisher tests, can also be used. In this paper, we introduce results for Fisher tests, seriation and single-value decomposition that prove useful in determining similarities and differences in cultural appeals in advertising.
Feedback Control of Two-Component Regulatory Systems
Authors: Groisman Eduardo A.
Published: September 2016

Two-component systems are a dominant form of bacterial signal transduction. The prototypical two-component system consists of a sensor that responds to a specific input(s) by modifying the output of a cognate regulator. Because the output of a two-component system is the amount of phosphorylated regulator, feedback mechanisms may alter the amount of regulator, and/or modify the ability of a sensor or other proteins to alter the phosphorylation state of the regulator. Two-component systems may display intrinsic feedback whereby the amount of phosphorylated regulator changes under constant inducing conditions and without the participation of additional proteins. Feedback control allows a two-component system to achieve particular steady-state levels, to reach a given steady state with distinct dynamics, to express coregulated genes in a given order, and to activate a regulator to different extents, depending on the signal acting on the sensor.
Molecular Genetic Analysis of Chlamydia Species
Authors: Sixt Barbara S. , Valdivia Raphael H.
Published: September 2016

Species of Chlamydia are the etiologic agent of endemic blinding trachoma, the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases, significant respiratory pathogens, and a zoonotic threat. Their dependence on an intracellular growth niche and their peculiar developmental cycle are major challenges to elucidating their biology and virulence traits. The last decade has seen tremendous advances in our ability to perform a molecular genetic analysis of Chlamydia species. Major achievements include the generation of large collections of mutant strains, now available for forward- and reverse-genetic applications, and the introduction of a system for plasmid-based transformation enabling complementation of mutations; expression of foreign, modified, or reporter genes; and even targeted gene disruptions. This review summarizes the current status of the molecular genetic toolbox for Chlamydia species and highlights new insights into their biology and new challenges in the nascent field of Chlamydia genetics.
sFRP2 activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cardiac fibroblasts: differential roles in cell growth, energy metabolism, and extracellular matrix remodeling
Authors: Lin Huey , Angeli Mia , Chung Kwang Jin , Ejimadu Chukwuemeka , Rosa Angelica Rivera , Lee Techung
Published: September 2016

Secreted Frizzled-related protein 2 (sFRP2) plays a key role in chronic fibrosis after myocardial infarction and in heart failure. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms through which sFRP2 may regulate the growth and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling of adult mouse cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). We found that sFRP2 activates CFs in part through canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling, as evidenced by increased expression of Axin2 and Wnt3a, but not Wnt5a, as well as accumulation of nuclear β-catenin. In response to sFRP2, CFs exhibited robust cell proliferation associated with increased glucose consumption and lactate production, a phenomenon termed “the Warburg effect” in oncology. The coupling between CF expansion and anaerobic glycolysis is marked by upregulation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase. In conjunction with these phenotypic changes, CFs accelerated ECM remodeling through upregulation of expression of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 1 and MMP13 genes, two members of the collagenase subfamily, and enzyme activities of MMP2 and MMP9, two members of the gelatinase subfamily. Consistent with the induction of multiple MMPs possessing collagenolytic activities, the steady-state level of collagen type 1 in CF-spent medium was reduced by sFRP2. Analysis of non-CF cell types revealed that the multifaceted effects of sFRP2 on growth control, glucose metabolism, and ECM regulation are largely restricted to CFs and highly sensitive to Wnt signaling perturbation. The study provides a molecular framework on which the functional versatility and signaling complexity of sFRP2 in cardiac fibrosis may be better defined.
Energy substrate utilization with and without exogenous carbohydrate intake in boys and men exercising in the heat
Authors: Leites Gabriela T. , Cunha Giovani S. , Chu Lisa , Meyer Flavia , Timmons Brian W.
Published: September 2016

Little is known about energy yield during exercise in the heat in boys compared with men. To investigate substrate utilization with and without exogenous carbohydrate (CHOexo) intake, seven boys [11.2 ± 0.2 (SE) yr] and nine men (24.0 ± 1.1 yr) cycled (4 × 20-min bouts) at a fixed metabolic heat production ( Ḣ p) per unit body mass (6 W/kg) in a climate chamber (38°C and 50% relative humidity), on two occasions. Participants consumed a 13C-enriched 8% CHO beverage (CARB) or placebo beverage (CONT) in a double-blinded, counterbalanced manner. Substrate utilization was calculated for the last 60 min of exercise. CHOexo oxidation rate (2.0 ± 0.3 vs. 2.5 ± 0.2 mg·kg fat-free mass−1·min−1, P = 0.02) and CHOexo oxidation efficiency (12.8 ± 0.6 vs. 16.0 ± 0.9%, P = 0.01) were lower in boys compared with men exercising in the heat. Total carbohydrate (CHOtotal), endogenous CHO (CHOendo), and total fat (Fattotal) remained stable in boys and men ( P > 0.05) during CARB, whereas CHOtotal oxidation rate decreased ( P < 0.001) and Fattotal oxidation rate increased over time similarly in boys and men during CONT ( P < 0.001). The relative contribution of CHOexo to total energy yield increased over time in both groups ( P < 0.001). In conclusion, endogenous substrate metabolism and the relative contribution of fuels to total energy yield were not different between groups. The ingestion of a CHO beverage during exercise in the heat may be as beneficial for boys as men to spare endogenous substrate.