bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
12. Prosecuting Summary Offences
Authors: Hannibal Martin , Mountford Lisa
Published: April 2020

A summary trial will be held where a defendant pleads not guilty to a summary-only offence or pleads not guilty to an either-way offence where the magistrates’ court has accepted jurisdiction to try the offence at the allocation hearing and the defendant has consented to summary trial. This chapter deals with the steps in preparing for a summary trial. It considers pleading guilty by post; the circumstances in which a defendant can be summarily tried in her absence; the rules governing the drafting of a written charge/information; the pre-trial disclosure of evidence in a summary case; case management; the steps when preparing for summary trial; and the procedure at a summary trial on a not guilty plea.
16. Witness Evidence
Authors: Hannibal Martin , Mountford Lisa
Published: April 2020

This chapter explains the law, procedure, and the practical issues associated with witness evidence. It considers the circumstances in which a witness can refresh his memory from an earlier written statement; the test to decide a witness’ competence to give evidence; the compellability of a witness; the assistance available to ‘vulnerable’ or ‘intimidated’ witnesses to give evidence under a special measures direction; a witness taking the oath or affirming; the rules associated with examination-in-chief; and the rules associated with cross-examination including admission of non-defendant bad character and re-examination.
6. The First Client Meeting and Initial Considerations
Authors: Cunningham-Hill Susan , Elder Karen
Published: April 2020

Legal representatives who are new to practice are expected initially to assist in clients’ cases and ultimately to handle their own files. In every new matter for every client, their professional conduct duties, particularly client care issues, should be at the forefront of their mind as a legal representative before proceeding to undertake any work for the client. This chapter focuses on professional conduct issues; client care; money laundering requirements; the first meeting with the client; and initial investigations. The chapter includes details of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and a range of applicable examples.
12. Case Management
Authors: Cunningham-Hill Susan , Elder Karen
Published: April 2020

This chapter considers the way in which the court ‘actively manages’ cases. All disputed cases are subject to a level of court management and enforcement of its directions orders. The chapter provides an understanding of the time at which active case management commonly occurs. It explains the ethos of case management, allocation (to track), and case management directions through the tracks. It discusses the ways in which the court will seek to ensure that its orders for the management of a case are complied with.
15. Part 36 offers and offers to settle outside Part 36
Authors: Cunningham-Hill Susan , Elder Karen
Published: April 2020

Offers to settle are a common occurrence prior to the resolution dispute or the start of trial. There does not appear to be a limit on the number of offers that can be made, although credibility and common sense would indicate that offers to settle should be made purposefully, but not irrationally. This chapter discusses the main features of Part 36 of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) and its Practice Direction in relation to commercial and personal injury claims; practical suggestions on dealing with Part 36 offers; and advising the client. It considers recent cases that demonstrate how the courts apply and interpret CPR Part 36. This chapter will also discuss the relative merits of global offers, and other offers that do not have the ‘protections’ or procedures associated with Part 36 offers.
17. Witness Statements and Documentary Evidence
Authors: Cunningham-Hill Susan , Elder Karen
Published: April 2020

Cases can readily be won or lost on the strength of witness evidence at trial. Important applications may fail if a witness statement does not adequately deal with all of the issues. A legal representative, therefore, must understand both the underlying theory behind the use of witness evidence and documentation during the course of litigation, including the rules on hearsay, and the practical requirements and challenges encountered in the preparation of witness statements. This chapter discusses the use of evidence at trial; the preparation of witness statements for interim applications and at trial; the use of hearsay in civil cases; and evidential tools.
20. Assessment of Costs Proceedings
Authors: Cunningham-Hill Susan , Elder Karen
Published: April 2020

This chapter focuses on the practical considerations and procedures involved in assessing costs once the litigation is concluded. The client must understand that, despite receiving a costs order in his favour, agreeing a liability to pay, or being ordered to pay costs, if the amount of costs cannot be agreed between the parties, then further proceedings and costs are incurred before a resolution is secured. The chapter covers detailed assessments of costs. It discusses the procedures for the assessment of costs and costs-only proceedings.
11. Taxation of trusts and settlements
Authors: Wright Kathryn , Firth Clare , Crompton Lucy , Fox Helen , Seabridge Frances , Wigglesworth Susan , Smart Elizabeth
Published: April 2020

Settlements may be created by settlors in their lifetime, or by will, or they may arise under the intestacy rules. This chapter considers the tax implications of such settlements from the perspective of both the trustees and the beneficiaries. It considers each of the three main taxes separately: inheritance tax, capital gains tax, and income tax.
12. Introduction to wills and administration of estates
Authors: Wright Kathryn , Firth Clare , Crompton Lucy , Fox Helen , Seabridge Frances , Wigglesworth Susan , Smart Elizabeth
Published: April 2020

This chapter provides an overview of Chapters 13 to 15. When a person dies, their relatives or friends usually deal with the most pressing matters—registering the death and arranging the funeral—before consulting a solicitor. In simple cases, or where the deceased has left little property, it may well be that a solicitor is not consulted at all. Commonly, however, the advice of a solicitor will be sought as to who is entitled to the deceased’s property, as to the liability of the estate to tax, and generally as to ‘what has to be done’ in order to pass the deceased’s property to those now entitled to it.
3. Liability of partners to outsiders
Authors: Slorach J. Scott , Ellis Jason
Published: April 2020

Partners will incur debts and other obligations in the course of carrying on the partnership’s business. This chapter examines the nature of the partners’ liabilities in these circumstances and the extent to which an individual partner can bind the partnership as a whole. It then considers whether it is possible for individuals who are not partners at the time the debt or obligation was incurred to be liable for that debt or obligation.
8. Formation of a limited company
Authors: Slorach J. Scott , Ellis Jason
Published: April 2020

This chapter considers the process by which a limited company is formed and the steps required both for and following its formation. It also looks at shelf companies, as an alternative means of providing a company to a client, and the related changes which can be made to a company’s main features. The process of registering a company is governed by the Companies Act 2006.
10. Shareholders
Authors: Slorach J. Scott , Ellis Jason
Published: April 2020

This chapter focuses on the position of shareholders in relation to a company. It considers the following issues: registration of membership; the powers of shareholders in relation to their company; the legal protection given to shareholders by the rules of equity and by the Companies Act 2006; and the payment of dividends to shareholders.
18. The corporation tax system
Authors: Slorach J. Scott , Ellis Jason
Published: April 2020

This chapter deals with the corporation tax system, which determines the tax liability of companies. It discusses the calculation of profits; tax assessment; relief for trade losses; and taxation of close companies.
29. Sale of a business to a company
Authors: Slorach J. Scott , Ellis Jason
Published: April 2020

A sole trader or partnership may decide, for a variety of reasons, to incorporate the business. Incorporation will give rise to a number of tax and other problems. This chapter considers these problems and how they can be avoided, or at least mitigated. It shows that the tax rules are the most important in this area, since if they are not appreciated the payment of an unexpected tax bill can cause very serious cash flow problems. These include rules on income tax, capital gains tax, VAT, and stamp duty/stamp duty land tax.
2. Taking instructions and other initial matters
Authors: Abbey Robert M. , Richards Mark B.
Published: April 2020

This chapter begins with a look at the process of initial interviews with clients. At the start of any transaction it is important to establish a good working relationship with the client. The first interview marks the perfect time to do this, for it gives practitioners the opportunity to instil confidence in the client of their abilities as a conveyancer. The chapter then deals with estate agents; client care and advice on costs; advice on co-ownership; advice on finance; advice on survey; Law Society Conveyancing Protocol; professional conduct; and considerations for acting for either seller or buyer.
6. Preparing for and implementing exchange of contracts
Authors: Abbey Robert M. , Richards Mark B.
Published: April 2020

This chapter first considers matters that must be attended to before an exchange of contracts when acting for the buyer and when acting for the seller. It then discusses implementing the exchange of contracts; actions taken after exchange; and death or insolvency of contracting parties between exchange and completion.
13. Business Tenancies and the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, Part II
Authors: Abbey Robert M. , Richards Mark B.
Published: April 2020

This chapter considers the provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, Part II, which regulates the ways in which business tenancies may be terminated and gives statutory protection to business tenants. Topics discussed include agreements to which the 1954 Act applies; requirement for ‘tenancy’ tenancies excluded from statutory protection; requirement for ‘occupation’ methods of termination under the 1954 Act; Section 40 notices; rules for service of notices; interim rent applications; landlord’s statutory grounds of opposition; tenant’s right to compensation for failure to obtain a new tenancy; and court order for new tenancy.
1. Introduction
Authors: Sime Stuart
Published: April 2020

The civil courts perform the important function of resolving disputes that cannot be resolved by agreement between the parties. This introductory chapter briefly sets out the book’s focus, namely the mechanics of how legal and equitable rights are asserted, determined, and enforced through the civil courts. It then discusses the legal profession, lawyers’ duties, initial instructions, confidentiality and conflict of interest, pre-action correspondence, and the main stages in court proceedings.
6. Issuing and Serving
Authors: Sime Stuart
Published: April 2020

Civil proceedings commence with the issuance of a claim form. Issuing a claim involves the court sealing the claim form with its official seal. This chapter discusses issuing and serving proceedings. It covers the claim form; jurisdictional endorsements; particulars of claim; specialist claims; issuing a claim form; service of the claim form; deemed date of service of the claim form; service of documents other than a claim form; deemed date of service (non-claim form documents); certificate of service; irregular service; and filing of documents at court.
8. Part 8 Claims and Petitions
Authors: Sime Stuart
Published: April 2020

This chapter discusses Part 8 claims and petitions, which are forms of originating process. Most types of proceedings which have to be brought by either Part 8 claim form or petition are very narrow and specialized, but some are of great importance. The most important types of proceedings which must be commenced by petition are those for divorce, judicial separation, bankruptcy, and the winding-up of companies.
13. Default Judgment
Authors: Sime Stuart
Published: April 2020

Judgment in default may be entered where the defendant fails to defend a claim. It produces a judgment in favour of a claimant without holding a trial. This chapter discusses when default judgment may be entered; cases excluded from judgment in default; entering default judgment; final judgment and judgment for an amount to be decided; deciding the amount of damages; setting aside default judgments; and stay of undefended cases.
14. Statements of Case
Authors: Sime Stuart
Published: April 2020

Statements of case are formal documents used in litigation to define what each party says about the case. This chapter discusses forms of statements of case; particulars of claim defence; counterclaims and set-offs; reply and defence to counterclaim; subsequent statements of case; dispensing with statements of case; Scott schedules; interrelation with case management; and use of statements of case at trial.
17. Costs Capping and Protection
Authors: Sime Stuart
Published: April 2020

Costs capping orders limit the amount of costs a party may be ordered to pay to its opponent. This chapter will consider the general rules governing costs capping in CPR, Part 3. When it comes into force, there will be a parallel statutory costs capping scheme for judicial review claims in the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, ss 88 and 89. In addition, there are a number of judge-made costs protection orders, namely: Beddoe orders; protective costs orders; Aarhus Convention cases; and costs limitation orders.
18. Requests for Further Information
Authors: Sime Stuart
Published: April 2020

A party may sometimes take the view that the statement of case provided by the other side is not as clear as it should be, or fails to set out the other side’s case with the precision that would be expected. In such cases a request may be made for further information about the facts on which the other side’s case is based. This chapter discusses the rules on requests for further information; the response; objecting to requests; orders for responses; requests in freezing injunctions; and collateral use.
29. Multi-Track
Authors: Sime Stuart
Published: April 2020

The multi-track deals with a vast range of cases, from simple contractual disputes involving little more than £25,000, to complex commercial cases involving difficult issues of fact and law with values of several million pounds, to cases where perhaps no money is at stake but which raise points of real public importance. Cases on the multi-track will generally be dealt with either in the Royal Courts of Justice or other civil trial centre. This chapter discusses agreed directions; case management conferences; fixing the date for trial; pre-trial checklists; listing hearings; pre-trial review; directions given at other hearings; and variation of case management timetable.
30. Striking Out, Discontinuance, and Stays
Authors: Sime Stuart
Published: April 2020

This chapter discusses striking-out orders, discontinuance, and stays in civil proceedings. Rule 3.4(2) of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (CPR) allows the court to strike out a statement of case if it appears to the court: that the statement of case discloses no reasonable grounds for bringing or defending the claim; that the statement of case is an abuse of the court’s process or is otherwise likely to obstruct the just disposal of the proceedings; or that there has been a failure to comply with a rule, practice direction, or court order. A party who realizes their case is doomed is often best advised to discontinue to prevent the accumulation of further costs, but often has to pay the costs of the other parties to date. Stays are temporary halts in proceedings, and can be granted for a range of reasons. A stay is normally lifted once the reason no longer applies.
32. Witness Statements, Affidavits, and Depositions
Authors: Sime Stuart
Published: April 2020

This chapter discusses the rules relating to the use of written evidence in civil proceedings. Under the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (CPR), evidence given in civil trials is given primarily from the witness box, but with witness statements exchanged well before trial standing as the evidence-in-chief of the witnesses. The parties are required to exchange their witnesses’ statements in order to save time and costs at trial, and to enable the parties to evaluate the merits of their dispute with a view to settlement. Written evidence in support of interim applications can be given by a variety of different methods, but the principal means is by way of signed witness statements.
40. References to the Court of Justice of the European Union
Authors: Sime Stuart
Published: April 2020

An English court faced with a question of EU law may sometimes decide it itself, or may refer it to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Luxembourg for a preliminary ruling. If a reference is made, the English proceedings will be stayed pending the ruling of the CJEU. Once it is made, the ruling is binding on the English court, but it is only a preliminary ruling, in that the English court is left to apply the ruling to the facts of the case and to give judgment. This chapter discusses the questions which may be referred to the CJEU; mandatory references; discretionary references; procedures in England; procedure in the CJEU; and costs of the parties in seeking a ruling from the CJEU.
41. Judgments and Orders
Authors: Sime Stuart
Published: April 2020

This chapter discusses the rules on judgments and orders. Although there is likely to be a delay between judgment being pronounced and the judgment being sealed and served, r 40.7(1) of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (CPR) provides that judgment in fact takes effect from the day it was given. After a judgment or order has been pronounced by the court, the next step is to have it drawn up. This chapter discusses settlements; orders made at hearings; form of judgments and orders; general rules relating to drawing up orders and judgments; and register of judgments.
44. Search Orders
Authors: Sime Stuart
Published: April 2020

This chapter discusses the rules for search orders. A search order is a bundle of interim orders which require the respondent to admit another party to premises for the purpose of preserving evidence which might otherwise be destroyed or concealed by the respondent. Search orders are principally, but not exclusively, used in intellectual property claims against defendants who are likely to destroy incriminating evidence rather than disclose it voluntarily under standard disclosure.
49. Judicial Review
Authors: Sime Stuart
Published: April 2020

This chapter discusses the rules for judicial review. Judicial review lies against public bodies and must be brought by a person with a sufficient interest. There are six remedies available on applications for judicial review (quashing order, mandatory orders, prohibitory order, declaration, injunction, and money awards). Before commencing judicial review proceedings, a claimant should comply with the judicial review pre-action protocol. Permission must be sought to proceed with a claim for judicial review. Defendants must be served with the judicial review claim form, and unless they acknowledge service they cannot appear at the permission hearing unless the court allows them to attend.
Lawyers' Skills
Authors: Webb Julian , Maughan Caroline , Maughan Mike , Keppel-Palmer Marcus , Boon Andrew
Published: April 2020

Lawyers’ Skills helps students develop the legal skills required for successful practice in the modern solicitors’ firm. The book equips students with a solid understanding of the theory and concepts underpinning the key skills areas of legal writing and drafting, interviewing and advising, practical legal research, and advocacy, enabling students to develop, practise, and refine the legal skills they will depend on throughout their professional career. It goes beyond coverage of the assessed skills, providing guidance on a range of professional skills that should be mastered before going into practice, including effective time management, negotiation, and email etiquette. The inclusion of realistic examples from practice, tasks, and reflective exercises reflects the interactive nature of skills as a subject and encourages students to develop, practice, and refine their legal skills. Chapter summaries, diagrams, and self-test questions are also featured throughout and provide additional learning support to students. The text is essential reading for all LPC students and is also a useful source of reference for practitioners wishing to refresh their legal skills. After an introduction, the book covers: interviewing and advising; legal writing; drafting legal documents; legal research; practical problem-solving; negotiation; advocacy and the solicitor; managing your workload; and continuing your learning.
6. Practical problem-solving
Authors: Webb Julian , Maughan Caroline , Maughan Mike , Keppel-Palmer Marcus , Boon Andrew
Published: April 2020

This chapter discusses the skills needed for practical problem-solving. It focuses on understanding the importance of a problem-solving strategy for effective practice; using a variety of problem-solving techniques; and developing an effective risk-management strategy for one’s own work.
Intimate Partner Violence and Use of Primary and Emergency Care: The Role of Informal Social Support
Authors: Dias Nicole Geovana , Ribeiro Ana Isabel , Henriques Ana , Soares Joaquim , Hatzidimitriadou Eleni , Ioannidi-Kapolou Elisabeth , Lindert Jutta , Sundin Örjan , Toth Olga , Barros Henrique , Fraga Sílvia
Published: April 2020

Social support may encourage victims to disclose their experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV), but also to seek the appropriate help and care in the social and health services. Using data from a multicenter European project, DOVE (Domestic Violence Against women/men in Europe—prevalence, determinants, effects, and policies/practices), the present study aimed at measuring the frequency of primary care and emergency use according to IPV types of victimization, and to investigate whether victims receiving different levels of informal social support are using health care differently. Results suggested a significant association between IPV types and use of emergency services, and no association was found regarding primary care services. Victims of physical abuse and sexual coercion went to the emergency department (ED) more frequently (more than once a year). Also, victims of physical abuse receiving low social support visited an ED more frequently than those with high social support, whereas victims of sexual coercion with high informal social support went more often to the ED compared with victims of sexual coercion with low social support, even after controlling for other covariates. These results seem to suggest that social support has a significant role in the decision to use health care among victims of IPV.
Imprisoning Pregnant and Parenting Women: A Focus on Social Justice, Equal Rights, and Equality
Authors: Cross JaNeen
Published: April 2020

The mass incarceration of pregnant and parenting women is a serious problem in the United States. African American women and other women of color are most burdened by mass incarceration. This article outlines the problems with health care delivery in correctional facilities. It is argued that correctional facilities are not the place for pregnant and parenting women. A policy focus is needed that takes a public health approach. There are promising alternative policies that integrate a public health approach, improve treatment outcomes for women, and provide an alternative to incarceration. This problem is discussed through the lens of the Grand Challenges for Social Work. Alternative policies and programs are recommended that align with a public health approach and directly target the pathways for imprisonment. This issue requires a call for policy action to challenge the inequality and social justices inherent in this problem. The grand challenges offer a blueprint in which to develop effective policy approaches.
An Exploration of the Experiences of Florida Abortion Fund Service Recipients
Authors: Ely Gretchen E , Hales Travis W , Agbemenu Kafuli
Published: April 2020

This article describes a secondary data analysis of a health data set representing the experiences of abortion fund service recipients (ASRs) who received financial assistance to help pay for unaffordable abortion costs. The authors analyzed 3,216 ASR cases from 2001 to 2015. Demographic characteristics, service utilization rates, and the personal hardships reported by the sample were assessed. The personal hardships of the Florida ASRs were compared with the hardships reported by ASRs who received assistance from a national fund. Results indicate that Florida ASRs are primarily people of color who are single, in their mid-20s, already parenting children, and receiving assistance in the second trimester of pregnancy. ASRs in this current study are experiencing multiple personal hardships while trying to access an abortion, including economic hardships (such as lack of insurance coverage and unemployment) and trauma (including rape and partner violence). When compared with the ASRs at the national level, these state-level ASRs reported higher rates of unemployment, partner violence, and rape, which suggests that the Florida ASRs face some more dire circumstances compared with ASRs at the national level. Repeal of policy that restricts public funding of abortion in Florida is recommended to improve access to abortion.
Super-resolution of near-colliding point sources
Authors: Batenkov Dmitry , Goldman Gil , Yomdin Yosef
Published: April 2020

We consider the problem of stable recovery of sparse signals of the form $$\begin{equation*}F(x)=\sum_{j=1}^d a_j\delta(x-x_j),\quad x_j\in\mathbb{R},\;a_j\in\mathbb{C}, \end{equation*}$$from their spectral measurements, known in a bandwidth $\varOmega $ with absolute error not exceeding $\epsilon>0$. We consider the case when at most $p\leqslant d$ nodes $\{x_j\}$ of $F$ form a cluster whose extent is smaller than the Rayleigh limit ${1\over \varOmega }$, while the rest of the nodes is well separated. Provided that $\epsilon \lessapprox \operatorname{SRF}^{-2p+1}$, where $\operatorname{SRF}=(\varOmega \varDelta )^{-1}$ and $\varDelta $ is the minimal separation between the nodes, we show that the minimax error rate for reconstruction of the cluster nodes is of order ${1\over \varOmega }\operatorname{SRF}^{2p-1}\epsilon $, while for recovering the corresponding amplitudes $\{a_j\}$ the rate is of the order $\operatorname{SRF}^{2p-1}\epsilon $. Moreover, the corresponding minimax rates for the recovery of the non-clustered nodes and amplitudes are ${\epsilon \over \varOmega }$ and $\epsilon $, respectively. These results suggest that stable super-resolution is possible in much more general situations than previously thought. Our numerical experiments show that the well-known matrix pencil method achieves the above accuracy bounds.
Using the RE-AIM framework to evaluate internal and external validity of mobile phone–based interventions in diabetes self-management education and support
Authors: Yoshida Yilin , Patil Sonal J , Brownson Ross C , Boren Suzanne A , Kim Min , Dobson Rosie , Waki Kayo , Greenwood Deborah A , Torbjørnsen Astrid , Ramachandran Ambady , Masi Christopher , Fonseca Vivian A , Simoes Eduardo J
Published: April 2020

Objective

We evaluated the extent to which studies that tested short message service (SMS)– and application (app)-based interventions for diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) report on factors that inform both internal and external validity as measured by the RE-AIM (Reach, Efficacy/Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework.

Materials and Methods

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL (Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature), and IEEE Xplore Digital Library for articles from January 1, 2009, to February 28, 2019. We carried out a multistage screening process followed by email communications with study authors for missing or discrepant information. Two independent coders coded eligible articles using a 23-item validated data extraction tool based on the RE-AIM framework.

Results

Twenty studies (21 articles) were included in the analysis. The comprehensiveness of reporting on the RE-AIM criteria across the SMS- and app-based DSMES studies was low. With respect to internal validity, most interventions were well described and primary clinical or behavioral outcomes were measured and reported. However, gaps exist in areas of attrition, measures of potential negative outcomes, the extent to which the protocol was delivered as intended, and description on delivery agents. Likewise, we found limited information on external validity indicators across adoption, implementation, and maintenance domains.

Conclusions

Reporting gaps were found in internal validity but more so in external validity in the current SMS- and app-based DSMES literature. Because most studies in this review were efficacy studies, the generalizability of these interventions cannot be determined. Future research should adopt the RE-AIM dimensions to improve the quality of reporting and enhance the likelihood of translating research to practice.
Baseline Plant-to-Plant Larval Movement of Spodoptera eridania in Bt and Non-Bt Soybean and Its Possible Impacts on IRM
Authors: Fanela Thiago L M , Baldin Edson L L , Hunt Thomas E , Faria Rodrigo D
Published: April 2020

The widespread use of transgenic technologies has led to the emergence of insect populations resistant to Bt toxins. Some lepidopteran pest species also appear to naturally have some level of tolerance to certain proteins, such as some species of Spodoptera to Cry1Ac. One of the main strategies to manage resistance is the use of refuge areas, the success of which is in part dependent on larval movement of the target pest. Thus, in order to assess the viability of a refuge strategy addressing Spodoptera eridania Stoll (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Bt soybean, it was evaluated the larval movement across plants in Bt and non-Bt soybean, as well as the larval development and mortality on Bt and non-Bt soybean cultivars. We concluded that apparent S. eridania incomplete resistance resulting from high larval mortality and low adaptability on Bt plants, high larval dispersal, nondirectional larval movement, and random larval spatial dispersion suggest that structured refuge is more suitable than mixed refuge for managing resistance in S. eridania populations.
US court rules that unlicensed reproduction of NBA players' tattoos in their videogame avatars is not a copyright infringement
Authors: Rosati Eleonora
Published: April 2020

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Solid Oak Sketches, LLC v 2 K Games, Inc and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc, 16-CV-724-LTS-SDA, 26 March 2020
Tallow tree allocates contrasting secondary chemicals in response to varying environments along elevational gradients
Authors: Xiao Li , Zhang Jialiang , Huang Wei , Carrillo Juli , Siemann Evan , Ding Jianqing
Published: April 2020

Aims

Understanding how tree species regulate multiple types of secondary chemicals along elevational gradients is critical for elucidating the physiological and ecological strategies of plants in response to varying biotic and/or abiotic environments. This study aims to examine how Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera) allocates resources to the production of different secondary chemicals in response to varying environments across elevational gradients.

Methods

We conducted field surveys of different herbivore feeding guilds and their damage rates on Chinese tallow trees along an elevational gradient in China and measured secondary chemicals (tannins and flavonoids) in damaged and undamaged leaves.

Important Findings

The odds of a leaf being damaged (chewing or scarring) decreased with elevation. Flavonoid concentrations increased with elevation in undamaged leaves but decreased with elevation in damaged leaves, with quercitrin contributing most strongly to this pattern, likely as results of plant responding to changing biotic or abiotic stresses along elevational gradients. Tannin concentrations did not vary with elevation, so undamaged leaves had relatively lower tannin to flavonoid ratios at high elevation than at low elevation. Our study reveals variation in herbivory and contrasting trends in plant secondary metabolism along an elevation gradient and highlights the importance of simultaneously considering multiple types of secondary chemicals in plant physiological and ecological strategies.
Genome resequencing reveals demographic history and genetic architecture of seed salinity tolerance in Populus euphratica
Authors: Jia Huixia , Liu Guangjian , Li Jianbo , Zhang Jin , Sun Pei , Zhao Shutang , Zhou Xun , Lu Mengzhu , Hu Jianjun
Published: April 2020

Populus euphratica is a dominant tree species in desert riparian forests and possesses extraordinary adaptation to salinity stress. Exploration of its genomic variation and molecular underpinning of salinity tolerance is important for elucidating population evolution and identifying stress-related genes. Here, we identify approximately 3.15 million single nucleotide polymorphisms using whole-genome resequencing. The natural populations of P. euphratica in northwest China are divided into four distinct clades that exhibit strong geographical distribution patterns. Pleistocene climatic fluctuations and tectonic deformation jointly shaped the extant genetic patterns. A seed germination rate-based salinity tolerance index was used to evaluate seed salinity tolerance of P. euphratica and a genome-wide association study was implemented. A total of 38 single nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with seed salinity tolerance and were located within or near 82 genes. Expression profiles showed that most of these genes were regulated under salt stress, revealing the genetic complexity of seed salinity tolerance. Furthermore, DEAD-box ATP-dependent RNA helicase 57 and one undescribed gene (CCG029559) were demonstrated to improve the seed salinity tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. These results provide new insights into the demographic history and genetic architecture of seed salinity tolerance in desert poplar.
Arabidopsis thaliana trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase gene TPPI enhances drought tolerance by regulating stomatal apertures
Authors: Lin Qingfang , Wang Song , Dao Yihang , Wang Jianyong , Wang Kai
Published: April 2020

Transpiration occurs through stomata. The alteration of stomatal apertures in response to drought stress is an important process associated with water use efficiency (WUE). Trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) family genes have been reported to participate in adjustment of stomatal aperture. However, there have been no reports of the trehalose metabolism pathway genes improving WUE, and the upstream signalling pathway modulating these genes is not clear. Here, we demonstrate that a member of the TPP gene family, AtTPPI, confers drought resistance and improves WUE by decreasing stomatal apertures and improving root architecture. The reduced expression of AtTPPI caused a drought-sensitive phenotype, while its overexpression significantly increased drought tolerance. Abscisic acid (ABA)-induced stomatal closure experiments confirmed that AtTPPI mutation increased the stomatal aperture compared with that of wild-type plants; in contrast, overexpression plants had smaller stomatal apertures than those of wild-type plants. Moreover, AtTPPI mutation also caused stunted primary root length and compromised auxin transport, while overexpression plants had longer primary root lengths. Yeast one-hybrid assays showed that ABA-responsive element-binding factor1 (ABF1), ABF2, and ABF4 directly regulated AtTPPI expression. In summary, the way in which AtTPPI responds to drought stress suggests that AtTPPI-mediated stomatal regulation is an important mechanism to cope with drought stress and improve WUE.
Pseudozyma spp. human infections: A systematic review
Authors: Telles João Paulo , Ribeiro Victoria Stadler Tasca , Kraft Letícia , Tuon Felipe Francisco
Published: April 2020

Pseudozyma spp. are described as environmental yeasts but have also been identified as rare human pathogens found in immunocompromised patients. This systematic review details the clinical manifestations, diagnostic methodology, and empirical anti-fungal therapy for this rare yeast. PubMed, LILACS, Scielo, and Web of Science databases were searched for articles about Pseudozyma spp. infections from inception to June 2019. Inclusion criteria were any published studies that included patients with Pseudozyma spp. infection. Infections were identified using criteria set forth by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, and were further classified according to clinical, laboratory, or radiologic findings, microbiologic confirmation, and response to therapy. Eleven articles were included with 15 patients. Oncological and/or hematological disorders were the most reported risk factors. Nontraditional microbiological methods correctly identified Pseudozyma spp., whereas traditional methods failed to identify fungal genus. Species were identified by sequencing, and most demonstrated a higher minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for fluconazole and echinocandins. MICs for itraconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole varied by species. All isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B, which was the most used treatment.

Pseudozyma spp. infections usually present with fever and are diagnosed by blood culture. Most species studied appeared to be resistant to fluconazole and echinocandin. Voriconazole, posaconazole, and amphotericin were effective in treating P. aphidis. However, more studies are needed to evaluate voriconazole and posaconazole in species other than P. aphidis.
The Sheet of Giants: Unusual properties of the Milky Way’s immediate neighbourhood
Authors: Neuzil Maria K , Mansfield Philip , Kravtsov Andrey V
Published: April 2020

We quantify the shape and overdensity of the galaxy distribution in the ‘Local Sheet’ within a sphere of R = 8 Mpc and compare these properties with the expectations of the ΛCDM model. We measure ellipsoidal axis ratios of c/a ≈ 0.16 and b/a ≈ 0.79, indicating that the distribution of galaxies in the Local Volume can be approximated by a flattened oblate ellipsoid, consistent with the ‘sheet’-like configuration noted in previous studies. In contrast with previous estimates that the Local Sheet has a density close to average, we find that the number density of faint and bright galaxies in the Local Volume is ≈1.7 and ≈5.2 times denser, respectively, than the mean number density of galaxies of the same luminosity. Comparison with simulations shows that the number density contrasts of bright and faint galaxies within 8 Mpc alone make the Local Volume a ≈2.5 σ outlier in the ΛCDM cosmology. Our results indicate that the cosmic neighbourhood of the Milky Way may be unusual for galaxies of similar luminosity. The impact of the peculiar properties of our neighbourhood on the properties of the Milky Way and other nearby galaxies is not yet understood and warrants further study.
Zodiacal exoplanets in time – X. The orbit and atmosphere of the young ‘neptune desert’-dwelling planet K2-100b
Authors: Gaidos E , Hirano T , Mann A W , Owens D A , Berger T A , France K , Vanderburg A , Harakawa H , Hodapp K W , Ishizuka M , Jacobson S , Konishi M , Kotani T , Kudo T , Kurokawa T , Kuzuhara M , Nishikawa J , Omiya M , Serizawa T , Tamura M , Ueda A
Published: April 2020

We obtained high-resolution infrared spectroscopy and short-cadence photometry of the 600–800 Myr Praesepe star K2-100 during transits of its 1.67-d planet. This Neptune-size object, discovered by the NASA K2 mission, is an interloper in the ‘desert’ of planets with similar radii on short-period orbits. Our observations can be used to understand its origin and evolution by constraining the orbital eccentricity by transit fitting, measuring the spin-orbit obliquity by the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect, and detecting any extended, escaping the hydrogen–helium envelope with the 10 830 -Å line of neutral helium in the 2s3S triplet state. Transit photometry with 1-min cadence was obtained by the K2 satellite during Campaign 18 and transit spectra were obtained with the IRD spectrograph on the Subaru telescope. While the elevated activity of K2-100 prevented us from detecting the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect, the new photometry combined with revised stellar parameters allowed us to constrain the eccentricity to e < 0.15/0.28 with 90/99 per cent confidence. We modelled atmospheric escape as an isothermal, spherically symmetric Parker wind, with photochemistry driven by ultraviolet radiation, which we estimate by combining the observed spectrum of the active Sun with calibrations from observations of K2-100 and similar young stars in the nearby Hyades cluster. Our non-detection (<5.7 m Å) of a transit-associated He i line limits mass-loss of a solar-composition atmosphere through a T ≤ 10000 K wind to <0.3 M⊕ Gyr−1. Either K2-100b is an exceptional desert-dwelling planet, or its mass-loss is occurring at a lower rate over a longer interval, consistent with a core accretion-powered scenario for escape.
Caveat mutator: alanine substitutions for conserved amino acids in RNA ligase elicit unexpected rearrangements of the active site for lysine adenylylation
Authors: Unciuleac Mihaela-Carmen , Goldgur Yehuda , Shuman Stewart
Published: April 2020

Naegleria gruberi RNA ligase (NgrRnl) exemplifies the Rnl5 family of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent polynucleotide ligases that seal 3′-OH RNA strands in the context of 3′-OH/5′-PO4 nicked duplexes. Like all classic ligases, NgrRnl forms a covalent lysyl–AMP intermediate. A two-metal mechanism of lysine adenylylation was established via a crystal structure of the NgrRnl•ATP•(Mn2+)2 Michaelis complex. Here we conducted an alanine scan of active site constituents that engage the ATP phosphates and the metal cofactors. We then determined crystal structures of ligase-defective NgrRnl-Ala mutants in complexes with ATP/Mn2+. The unexpected findings were that mutations K170A, E227A, K326A and R149A (none of which impacted overall enzyme structure) triggered adverse secondary changes in the active site entailing dislocations of the ATP phosphates, altered contacts to ATP, and variations in the numbers and positions of the metal ions that perverted the active sites into off-pathway states incompatible with lysine adenylylation. Each alanine mutation elicited a distinctive off-pathway distortion of the ligase active site. Our results illuminate a surprising plasticity of the ligase active site in its interactions with ATP and metals. More broadly, they underscore a valuable caveat when interpreting mutational data in the course of enzyme structure-function studies.
Functional organization of box C/D RNA-guided RNA methyltransferase
Authors: Yang Zuxiao , Wang Jiayin , Huang Lin , Lilley David M J , Ye Keqiong
Published: April 2020

Box C/D RNA protein complexes (RNPs) catalyze site-specific 2′-O-methylation of RNA with specificity determined by guide RNAs. In eukaryotic C/D RNP, the paralogous Nop58 and Nop56 proteins specifically associate with terminal C/D and internal C'/D' motifs of guide RNAs, respectively. We have reconstituted active C/D RNPs with recombinant proteins of the thermophilic yeast Chaetomium thermophilum. Nop58 and Nop56 could not distinguish between the two C/D motifs in the reconstituted enzyme, suggesting that the assembly specificity is imposed by trans-acting factors in vivo. The two C/D motifs are functionally independent and halfmer C/D RNAs can also guide site-specific methylation. Extensive pairing between C/D RNA and substrate is inhibitory to modification for both yeast and archaeal C/D RNPs. N6-methylated adenine at box D/D' interferes with the function of the coupled guide. Our data show that all C/D RNPs share the same functional organization and mechanism of action and provide insight into the assembly specificity of eukaryotic C/D RNPs.
Religious Freedom, Inc: Business, Religion and the Law in the Secular Economy
Authors: Corsalini Matteo
Published: April 2020

This article focuses on the rise of corporate religious freedom in EU law. In general, this legal category might be associated with not only a positive dimension (corporate freedom of religion) but also with a negative one (corporate freedom from religion). The present article centres around the latter, underscoring how the CJEU has taken for granted the necessity of neutrality within the private business world in reaching a decision in the case of Achbita v G4S Secure Solutions. And, in addition, to highlight how churches (but also the Belgian branch of a provider of secure global logistic services) can discriminate on religious grounds under Directive 2000/78EC. This article explains how the judicial extension of conscience exemptions from non-discrimination laws for religious institutions to a secular for-profit corporation has signalled a new ‘religious institutionalism’ in tension with employment and human rights law. Accordingly, if that is how secular commercial businesses have become ‘religious’ under the EU Single Market, this article calls for a new approach to employer/employees conflicts through a ‘freedom of the church’ analysis.
fMRI and Human Pain Perception
Authors: Iannetti Giandomenico , Apkarian A. Vania
Published: April 2020

Almost 30 years ago, technology based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) made it possible to visualize the functional states of the human brain. This technology immediately spurred pain researchers to examine brain circuitry of human pain and relate brain activity patterns with verbal reports of subjective perception. There was a brief period prior to functional MRI (fMRI) when positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) technologies were used to identify brain states in humans reporting pain, but the noninvasiveness of fMRI and its higher spatial and temporal resolution quickly made the latter the preferred choice to study human brain physiology. Prior to the advent of such human brain imaging technologies, whether the neocortex was involved in pain perception was still an open question: In human brain injury studies, large cortical lesions seemed to have little effect on pain perception, and in animal electrophysiological studies (mostly done in anesthetized preparations) several years of single-unit electrophysiological explorations from large expanses of the cortex yielded a measly number of neurons responding to nociceptive stimuli and not a single neocortical column dedicated to nociception. What has been learned between the introduction of the technology and today? This chapter briefly reviews the subject, highlighting advances and novel insights and pointing to lingering gaps. It also outlines future directions from the viewpoint of understanding mechanisms for nociception, acute pain, and chronic pain. From a brain imaging viewpoint, the chapter tackles the last concepts regarding local neuronal representation and across neuronal integration of information.