bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ROUTINIZATION‐BIASED TECHNICAL CHANGE AND GLOBALIZATION: UNDERSTANDING LABOR MARKET POLARIZATION
Authors: JUNG JAEWON , MERCENIER JEAN
Published: May 2014

There is now ample evidence that jobs and wages have been polarizing at the extremes of the skill distribution since the early 1990s. Possible explanations include, among others, routinization‐biased technical change (technical progress substituting more easily for labor in performing routine rather than nonroutine tasks) and globalization (more specifically, offshore outsourcing by multinational firms). In this article, we develop a unified theoretical general equilibrium model and examine the implications of each competing hypotheses for labor market polarization. (JEL J21, J23, J24, F66)
Elevated volatile concentrations in high‐nutrient plants: do insect herbivores pay a high price for good food?
Authors: LOW PETAH A. , McARTHUR CLARE , FISHER KEITH , HOCHULI DIETER F.
Published: May 2014

1. A tritrophic perspective is fundamental for understanding the drivers of insect–plant interactions. While host plant traits can directly affect insect herbivore performance by either inhibiting or altering the nutritional benefits of consumption, they can also have an indirect effect on herbivores by influencing rates of predation or parasitism.

2. Enhancing soil nutrients available to trees of the genus Eucalyptus consistently modifies plant traits, typically improving the nutritional quality of the foliage for insect herbivores. We hypothesised that resulting increases in volatile essential oils could have an indirect negative effect on eucalypt‐feeding herbivores by providing their natural enemies with stronger host/prey location cues.

3. Eucalyptus tereticornis Smith seedlings were grown under low‐ and high‐nutrient conditions and the consequences for the release of volatile cues from damaged plants were examined. The influence of 1,8‐cineole (the major volatile terpene in many Eucalyptus species) on rates of predation on model caterpillars in the field was then examined.

4. It was found that the emission of cineole increased significantly after damage (artificial or herbivore), but continued only when damage was sustained by herbivore feeding. Importantly, more cineole was emitted from high‐ than low‐nutrient seedlings given an equivalent amount of damage. In the field, predation was significantly greater on model caterpillars baited with cineole than on unbaited models.

5. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that any performance benefits insect herbivores derive from feeding on high‐nutrient eucalypt foliage could be at least partially offset by an increased risk of predation or parasitism via increased emission of attractive volatiles.
Resource competition assays between the African big‐headed ant, Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius) and the invasive Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr): mechanisms of inter‐specific displacement
Authors: MOTHAPO NATASHA P. , WOSSLER THERESA C.
Published: May 2014

1. The spread of Argentine ants, Linepithema humile (Mayr), in introduced areas is mainly through the displacement of native ant species owing to high inter‐specific competition. In South Africa, L. humile has not established in the climatically suitable eastern and northern escarpments dominated by the African big headed ant, Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius), probably owing to local biotic resistance.

2. Inter‐specific aggression, at the individual and colony level, and competition for a shared resource were evaluated in the laboratory.

3. Aggression between the two ant species was very high in all of the assays. Both species suffered similar mortality rates during one‐on‐one aggression assays, however, during symmetrical group confrontations, L. humile workers showed significantly higher mortality rates than P. megacephala workers. During asymmetrical group confrontations both species killed more of the other ant species when they had numeric advantage. Both ant species located the shared resource at the same time; however, once P. megacephala discovered the bait, they displaced L. humile from the bait through high inter‐specific aggression, thereafter dominating the bait for the remainder of the trial.

4. The results demonstrate the potential of P. megacephala to prevent the establishment and survival of incipient L. humile colonies through enhanced resource competition and high inter‐specific aggression. This is the first study to indicate potential biotic resistance to the spread of L. humile in South Africa.
Sex hormones and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A 9‐year follow up among elderly men in Finland
Authors: Salminen Marika , Vahlberg Tero , Räihä Ismo , Niskanen Leo , Kivelä Sirkka‐Liisa , Irjala Kerttu
Published: May 2014

Aim

To analyze whether sex hormone levels predict the incidence of type2 diabetes among elderly Finnish men.

Methods

This was a prospective population‐based study, with a 9‐year follow up period. The study population in the municipality of Lieto, Finland, consisted of elderly (age ≥64 years) men free of type 2 diabetes at baseline in 1998–1999 (n = 430). Body mass index and cardiovascular disease‐adjusted hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals for type 2 diabetes predicted by testosterone, free testosterone, sex hormone‐binding globulin, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone/luteinizing hormone were estimated.

Results

A total of 30 new cases of type 2 diabetes developed during the follow‐up period. After adjustment, only higher levels of testosterone (hazard ratio for one‐unit increase 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.87–0.99, P = 0.020) and free testosterone (hazard ratio for 10‐unit increase 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.91–1.00, P = 0.044) were associated with a lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes during the follow up. These associations (0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.87–1.00, P = 0.050 and 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.90–1.00, P = 0.035, respectively) persisted even after additional adjustment of sex hormone‐binding globulin.

Conclusion

Higher levels of testosterone and free testosterone independently predicted a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in the elderly men. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 559–564.
Recreational boating, landscape configuration, and local habitat structure as drivers of odonate community composition in an island setting
Authors: Hall Aaron M. , McCauley Shannon J. , Fortin Marie‐Josée
Published: May 2014

Anthropogenic impacts to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are ubiquitous. Among these, local impacts to freshwater coastal wetlands from recreational boating are potentially severe. We determine the relative contribution of natural factors (local habitat structure and landscape configuration) and estimated impact from anthropogenic factors (i.e. pressure from recreational boating) to odonate community composition.

Odonate adults and exuviae were sampled from 17 islands within the 30 000 islands of the Georgian Bay Region of Lake Huron (Ontario, Canada). These islands experience a gradient of boating pressure from four marinas. The magnitude of impacts due to anthropogenic factors was estimated by marina dock space, proximity to marked boating channels, and proximity to a major highway.

Redundancy analyses and variance partitioning were utilised to quantify the relative influence of local habitat structure, landscape configuration, and anthropogenic pressures on the distribution of 18 odonate species.

Our results show that local habitat structure, landscape configuration, and boating pressures influence odonate community composition. Overall variance in the species composition explained was 36.5% for adults (25.3% landscape configuration and habitat structure, 6.0% boating pressure, 5.2% shared) and 21.9% for exuviae (13.2% landscape configuration and habitat structure, 6.9% boating pressure, 1.8% shared). We found that communities of adults and larvae (sampled as exuviae) are influenced by different factors.

Overall, we find evidence that odonate community composition is affected by boating pressures. This stresses the need to consider not only global‐scale human disturbances in conservation planning but also localised effects which differentially impact major life stages.
Ultrasound‐assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from Phyllanthus emblica L. and evaluation of antioxidant activities
Authors: Tsai C.‐C. , Chou C.‐H. , Liu Y.‐C. , Hsieh C.‐W.
Published: May 2014

Synopsis

Objective

The objective of this study was to optimize ultrasound‐assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from Phyllanthus emblica.

Methods

Extracts obtained by UAE were evaluated for their antioxidant activities. Extraction experiments were carried out with three factors and three levels namely extraction time (varying from 15 to 60 min), ethanol concentration (varying from 50 to 90%) and frequency (varying from 28 to 56 kHz).

Results

The results showed that the UAE optimal conditions of extracting total phenol components were as follows: 15 min of extraction time, 60°C of extraction temperature, 70% of ethanol concentration, 56 kHz of ultrasonic frequency and a 1: 50 solid to solvent ratio. Under optimal conditions, the leaching‐out rate of phenolic compounds was up to 55.34 mg g−1, and the yield of crude extract of P. emblica was up to 56.82%. The results reveal that the yield of phenolic compounds of UAE (56.82%) is higher than that of conventional solvent extraction (16.78%). Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts obtained by UAE were evaluated in terms of activities of DPPH (1,1'‐diphenyl‐2‐2'‐picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity, metal chelating activity, and reducing power. P. emblica extracts obtained by UAE showed high antioxidant activity (26.00, 50.11 and 115.91 μg mL−1 of IC50 values for DPPH radicals, total antioxidant ability and chelating ability of ferrous ion).

Conclusion

The result of this study showed that UAE was a suitable method for the extraction of total phenolic compounds. Moreover, the author's main finding in this work is the fact that phenolic compounds from P. emblica show excellent antioxidant activity in multi‐test systems.
Recent elevational range expansions in plethodontid salamanders (Amphibia: Plethodontidae) in the southern Appalachian Mountains
Authors: Moskwik Matthew
Published: May 2014

Aim

Approximately 32.5% of all amphibian species are globally threatened, and amphibian extinctions have been recorded worldwide. Individual studies rarely give full consideration to multiple potential drivers of observed biological change, instead tending to attribute changes to a single driver. Here, I tested for impacts of land use and climate change on range changes in a community of plethodontid salamanders living from 518 to 2036 m elevation in a global hotspot for amphibian diversity.

Location

The southern Appalachian Mountains.

Methods

I resurveyed 18 elevational transects that had originally been surveyed by Nelson Hairston in 1940, 1947 and 1949. I recorded range changes for nine species that Hairston studied and determined the extent to which the recorded expansions or contractions could be attributed to changes in forest stand, climate and competition, singly or in combination.

Results

‘Montane’ species, which occur only on mountaintops, had expanded their lower elevational limits downwards. ‘Foothill’ species, which occur at lower elevations than montane species, had expanded their upper elevational limits upwards.

Main conclusions

For montane species these downward expansions appear to be the result of two processes: local cooling of the climate and maturation of forests after the cessation of large‐scale logging operationsc. 80 years ago. In contrast, changes in upper elevational range limits of foothill species are probably the result of a suite of complex and interacting drivers, including, but not limited to, maturation of forests, changes in climate, and interactions with other species.
A comparison of remotely sensed and pollen‐based approaches to mapping Europe's land cover
Authors: Woodbridge Jessie , Fyfe Ralph M. , Roberts Neil
Published: May 2014

Aim

Remote sensing coupled with direct observation allows recent changes in vegetation to be investigated but, in order to extend our understanding of land‐cover change further back in time, different proxies for vegetation are required. The pseudobiomization (PBM) approach has been developed to transform fossil pollen data into land‐cover classes (LCCs) in order to reconstruct broad‐scale anthropogenic land‐use change through time. The aim of this study was to test and refine the PBM approach through application to an extensive modern pollen dataset and comparison with remotely sensed CORINE land‐cover maps for Europe.

Location

The study area comprised 2471 modern pollen sites from across Europe.

Methods

Pollen sites were assigned to one of eight LCCs using the pollen‐based PBM method, which draws upon biomization techniques to transform pollen data into records of land‐cover change. Five of the LCCs were ‘pure’ classes (e.g. broad‐leaf forest) and three of them were mixed vegetation. Remotely sensed CORINE land‐cover maps were used to assign LCCs to sites, and the results were compared with pollen‐assigned LCCs.

Results

The results revealed a good correspondence between the proportions of different LCCs that were registered using CORINE and pollen‐based PBM, when data were aggregated at a pan‐European scale. However, the match between the two datasets was much less close at a site‐specific level. The overall results were improved to c. 60% when the target was broadened to include similar as well as identical LCCs. The spatial correspondence was best across north‐central Europe and least good in south‐west Europe, the Mediterranean and northern Scandinavia.

Main conclusions

The ability of distinct data types to sense actual vegetation is limited by various sources of error; for example, both pollen and remote sensing vary in terms of spatial and temporal heterogeneity and taxonomic resolution. It is likely that many of the main sources of error are common to both methods, rather than being approach‐specific. We conclude that pollen‐based methods of intermediate complexity can be used as a proxy for broad‐scale land‐cover change across most of temperate Europe, but may be less reliable at a site‐specific scale.
Controversy Regarding the Association of High Calcium Intake and Increased Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Chrysant Steven G. , Chrysant George S.
Published: May 2014

Calcium intake has been shown to be associated with beneficial effects regarding hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), vascular disease, and stroke by several prospective cohort studies. However, recent studies have questioned the beneficial cardiovascular effects of calcium intake and instead have shown that high calcium intake is associated with an increased risk for CHD and stroke. These findings have created controversy and concern among physicians, because calcium is consumed by a large number of older men and women to prevent osteoporosis and bone fractures. Based on the methods of patient self‐reporting of calcium intake and cardiovascular events, the conclusions drawn from the studies may not be entirely valid. Therefore, until more confirmatory data are available, physicians should not be dissuaded from prescribing calcium supplements to their patients. The best candidates are patients with low calcium intake, but their calcium supplementation should not exceed the recommended 1200 mg/d to 1500 mg/d.
Is national socioeconomic status related to prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome?
Authors: Zhu Jin‐Zhou , Yan Tian‐Lian , Yu Chao‐Hui , Wan Xing‐Yong , Wang Yu‐Ming , Li You‐Ming
Published: May 2014

Background and Aim

There are a multitude of cross‐sectional surveys that provide the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the community. However, the data regarding the influence of socioeconomic status on prevalence of IBS were sparse. This study is to investigate the possible relation between human development and prevalence of IBS, at national level.

Methods

EMBASE Classic, EMBASE, and MEDLINE were searched (until October 2013) to identify population‐based studies that reported prevalence of IBS. Human Development Index (HDI) was chosen to assess socioeconomic status at national level.

Results

Firstly, no correlation was observed between prevalence of IBS and national HDI (P = 0.848). Specifically, there was no statistical significance in prevalence between developing and developed countries (P = 0.319). Moreover, prevalence of IBS failed to witness a downtrend in worldwide over the past two decades. Interestingly, the ratio of female/male prevalence was correlated with national HDI according to linear regression analysis (r = 0.395), and the ratio in the developing was significant lower than that in the developed (P = 0.0394). Lastly, except methods of data collection (P < 0.000), it shows no difference between developing and developed countries in diagnostic criteria, IBS subtypes, and age distribution (P = 0.119, 0.327, and 0.845 respectively).

Conclusions

This study is the first time to investigate the relation between IBS prevalence and national socioeconomic status, with consideration of years, gender, and other factors. It demonstrates that national development is not a direct indicator for prevalence of IBS.
Validation of a Certified Nurse‐Midwifery Database for Use in Quality Monitoring and Outcomes Research
Authors: DeJoy Susan , Pekow Penelope , Bertone‐Johnson Elizabeth , Chasan‐Taber Lisa
Published: May 2014

Introduction

Certified nurse‐midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) attend 11% of US vaginal births, and CNM/CM databases include a rich source of information on the birth outcomes of women not generally available through obstetric electronic health records (oEHRs). Although CNM databases are in wide use, studies on their validity are sparse. We examined the validity of a practice‐specific CNM birth database compared with an oEHR in a large tertiary‐care facility.

Methods

The study population consisted of all 3133 births in a large CNM practice that were entered into a practice‐specific electronic birth database from 2001 to 2008. We assessed agreement with the oEHR overall and according to individual maternal demographic characteristics; obstetric, medical, and social risk factors; labor and birth information; and newborn characteristics. We also evaluated whether there were differences in agreement according to early versus later study periods and by years of CNM clinical experience.

Results

Overall agreement between the CNM birth database and the oEHR was 92.4%. Agreement between the CNM birth database and the oEHR was greater than 90% for maternal age, race/ethnicity, route and type of birth, major genital tract trauma, newborn weight, and primary clinician attending the birth. Lower agreement rates for smoking, total weight gain in pregnancy, beginning of pregnancy body mass index, and anesthesia for birth were due, in part, to missing information in the oEHR. Agreement did not vary significantly by early versus late study periods or by years of CNM clinical experience.

Discussion

Findings indicate that a CNM/CM birth database is a valid data source for quality monitoring and outcomes research and may contain more complete information for some variables than the oEHR.
Molecular cytogenetics of Leymus: Mapping the Ns genome‐specific repetitive sequences
Authors: ANAMTHAWAT‐JÓNSSON Kesara
Published: May 2014

The objective of this paper is to summarize the work in my group on FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) mapping of Ns‐specific repetitive DNA sequences from Leymus and discuss the results in the context of classification based on the genome system currently used among Triticeae researchers. The key question here is whether the genome composition of a tetraploid Leymus species should be NsXm or NsNs (Ns1Ns2). Different types of Leymus‐specific dispersed retroelement‐like repeats have been isolated and characterized. Because the sequences occur in significantly high copy number in Leymus, based on strong hybridization signal in Southern blots, they are considered essentially specific to Leymus. They are also abundant in Psathyrostachys, the progenitor of Ns genome in Leymus. These dispersed repeats are found to distribute over the whole of all Leymus chromosomes, without any differentiation between chromosomes that have been suggested to be of different genomic origins, meaning that all genomes in Leymus are the same. GISH (genomic in situ hybridization) experiments on Leymus chromosomes using Psathyrostachys genomic DNA as probes further support the NsNs (Ns1Ns2) genome constitution for Leymus. The Xm genome of an unknown origin might have been there in the beginning of the allopolyploidization process, but the Ns genome‐specific elements must have spread predominantly and rapidly across genomes, thus homogenizing the nuclear genomes of Leymus. I present here for the first time evidence that Ns‐specific dispersed repeats can spread in a very short time, from Leymus over to wheat in Triticum × Leymus hybrids growing in artificial conditions.
Ruminant mandibular tooth mesowear: a new scheme for increasing paleoecological sample sizes
Authors: Fraser D. , Zybutz T. , Lightner E. , Theodor J. M.
Published: May 2014

Extension of the mesowear method to include the lower cheek teeth of ruminants will dramatically increase sample sizes and thus the statistical power of paleodietary inferences. However, the mesowear method of Fortelius and Solounias, which was designed for application to the upper molars, does not effectively separate ruminant species by diet when applied to the lower teeth. Upper and lower mesowear scores have sometimes been compared among non‐analogous cusps (i.e. the buccal cusps of the maxillary teeth, which experience incursion and the buccal cusps of the mandibular teeth, which experience excursion during the chewing stroke). We therefore compare mesowear scores between the buccal cusps of maxillary cheek teeth and the lingual cusps of mandibular cheek for a large sample of ruminants because both cusps experience incursion during the chewing stroke. Using the original mesowear scoring method, we find dietary signal in both the maxillary and mandibular cheek teeth and a high correlation between them using both non‐phylogenetic and phylogenetic comparative methods. Noting unique patterns of mesowear among the mandibular teeth, we also propose a new scoring method with additional wear categories that improves dietary inference when applied to the lower teeth and is highly repeatable. We also find that mandibular mesowear scores are consistently lower than for their maxillary counterparts. Although differential wear among the upper and lower teeth is much less apparent when applying our new scoring method, wear differences might relate to anisodonty (i.e. mandibular cheek teeth are narrower). Overall, we recommend our new scoring method for application to the lingual cusps of the lower second molars of fossil ruminants.
Discovery of the most distal Ries tektites found in Lower Silesia, southwestern Poland
Authors: Brachaniec Tomasz , Szopa Krzysztof , Karwowski Łukasz
Published: May 2014

We report the first occurrence of moldavites in Poland. This discovery confirms the hypothesis that moldavites could have been distributed up to 500 km from the Ries crater in Germany. The tektites were reworked from Middle Miocene sediments and redeposited in Late Miocene (Pannonian) fluvial deposits of the Gozdnicka Formation in Lower Silesia. The Polish moldavites are represented by nine (<8 mm) fragments with a total of 0.471 g. The lack of the autochthonous tektites indicates that tektites investigated here had to be redeposited in a fluvial environment, probably from the Lusatian area. The chemical composition of the Polish moldavites plots in the same area with those from other localities.
Shocked quartz grains from the Målingen structure, Sweden—Evidence for a twin crater of the Lockne impact structure
Authors: Alwmark C. , Alwmark‐Holm S. , Ormö J. , Sturkell E.
Published: May 2014

The Målingen structure in Sweden has for a long time been suspected to be the result of an impact; however, no hard evidence, i.e., shock metamorphic features or traces of the impactor, has so far been presented. Here we show that quartz grains displaying planar deformation features (PDFs) oriented along crystallographic planes typical for shock metamorphism are present in drill core samples from the structure. The shocked material was recovered from basement breccias, below the sediment infill, and the distribution of the orientation of the shock‐produced PDFs indicates that the studied material experienced low shock pressures. Based on our findings, we can exclude that the material is transported from the nearby Lockne impact structure, which means that the Målingen structure is a separate impact structure, the seventh confirmed impact structure in Sweden. Furthermore, sedimentological and biostratigraphic aspects of the deposits that fill the depression at Målingen are very similar to features at the Lockne impact structure. This implies a coeval formation age and thus also the confirmation of the first known marine target doublet impact craters on Earth (i.e., the Lockne–Målingen pair).
Iron‐responsive chromatin remodelling and MAPK signalling enhance adhesion in Candida albicans
Authors: Puri Sumant , Lai William K. M. , Rizzo Jason M. , Buck Michael J. , Edgerton Mira
Published: May 2014

Recent cumulative data show that various transcription factors are recruited to the chromatin in an iron‐responsive manner to affect diverse cellular functions in the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. Here we identified groups of iron‐responsive genes in C. albicans by chromatin remodelling analysis at gene promoters, using micrococcal nuclease (MNase) digestion followed by deep sequencing. Chromatin in the promoter regions of iron uptake and utilization genes showed repressed and active configuration, respectively, under iron‐replete conditions. GO Term enrichment analysis of genes with differentially remodelled chromatin, in respective promoter locales, suggested that many genes involved in adhesion are also iron‐responsive. C. albicans was observed to be more self‐adherent (twofold increase) and formed higher biofilm mass (77% increase) in the presence of iron. Furthermore, we identified various known and novel adhesion‐related genes with iron‐dependent active chromatin profiles that are indicative of potential upregulation under iron‐replete conditions. Transcription factor Cph1 that is activated upon Cek1 phosphorylation also showed an active chromatin profile under iron‐replete conditions and cells showed iron‐responsive Cek1 MAPK phosphorylation in the presence of iron. Thus, iron affects diverse biological functions by modulating chromatin profiles of large gene sets and by signalling through Cek1 MAPK in C. albicans.
PsMPK7, a stress‐associated mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) in Phytophthora sojae, is required for stress tolerance, reactive oxygenated species detoxification, cyst germination, sexual reproduction and infection of soybean
Authors: Gao Jian , Cao Mingna , Ye Wenwu , Li Haiyang , Kong Liang , Zheng Xiaobo , Wang Yuanchao
Published: May 2014

The sensing of stress signals and their transduction into appropriate responses are crucial for the adaptation, survival and infection of phytopathogenic fungi and oomycetes. Amongst evolutionarily conserved pathways, mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades function as key signal transducers that use phosphorylation to convey information. In this study, we identified a gene, designated PsMPK7, one of 14 predicted genes encoding MAPKs in Phytophthora sojae. PsMPK7 was highly transcribed in each tested stage, but was up‐regulated in the zoospore, cyst and cyst germination stages. Silencing of PsMPK7 affected the growth of germinated cysts, oospore production and the pathogenicity of soybean. PsMPK7 transcription was induced by stresses from sorbitol, NaCl and hydrogen peroxide. Transformants in which PsMPK7 expression was silenced (PsMPK7‐silenced) were significantly more sensitive to osmotic and oxidative stress. Aniline blue and diaminobenzidine staining revealed that the silenced lines did not suppress the host reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst, indicating that either the inoculated plants activated stronger defence responses to the transformants and/or the PsMPK7‐silenced transformants failed to overcome plant defences. In addition, extracellular secretion of laccase decreased in the silenced lines. Overall, our results indicate that the PsMPK7 gene encodes a stress‐associated MAPK in P. sojae that is important not only for responses to various stresses, but also for ROS detoxification, cyst germination, sexual oospore production and infection of soybean.
The origins and progress of genomics research on Tef (Eragrostis tef)
Authors: Girma Dejene , Assefa Kebebew , Chanyalew Solomon , Cannarozzi Gina , Kuhlemeier Cris , Tadele Zerihun
Published: May 2014

Tef, Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter, is the most important cereal in Ethiopia. Tef is cultivated by more than five million small‐scale farmers annually and constitutes the staple food for more than half of the population of 80 million. The crop is preferred by both farmers and consumers due to its beneficial traits associated with its agronomy and utilization. The genetic and phenotypic diversity of tef in Ethiopia is a national treasure of potentially global importance. In order for this diversity to be effectively conserved and utilized, a better understanding at the genomic level is necessary. In the recent years, tef has become the subject of genomic research in Ethiopia and abroad. Genomic‐assisted tef improvement holds tremendous potential for improving productivity, thereby benefiting the smallholder farmers who have cultivated and relied on the crop for thousands of years. It is hoped that such research endeavours will provide solutions to some of the age‐old problems of tef's husbandry. In this review, we provide a brief description of the genesis and progress of tef genomic research to date, suggest ways to utilize the genomic tools developed so far, discuss the potential of genomics to enable sustainable conservation and use of tef genetic diversity and suggest opportunities for the future research.
Re‐interpreting plant morphological responses to UV‐B radiation
Authors: ROBSON T. MATTHEW , KLEM KAREL , URBAN OTMAR , JANSEN MARCEL A. K.
Published: May 2014

There is a need to reappraise the effects of UV‐B radiation on plant morphology in light of improved mechanistic understanding of UV‐B effects, particularly elucidation of the UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8) photoreceptor. We review responses at cell and organismal levels, and explore their underlying regulatory mechanisms, function in UV protection and consequences for plant fitness. UV‐induced morphological changes include thicker leaves, shorter petioles, shorter stems, increased axillary branching and altered root:shoot ratios. At the cellular level, UV‐B morphogenesis comprises changes in cell division, elongation and/or differentiation. However, notwithstanding substantial new knowledge of molecular, cellular and organismal UV‐B responses, there remains a clear gap in our understanding of the interactions between these organizational levels, and how they control plant architecture. Furthermore, despite a broad consensus that UV‐B induces relatively compact architecture, we note substantial diversity in reported phenotypes. This may relate to UV‐induced morphological changes being underpinned by different mechanisms at high and low UV‐B doses. It remains unproven whether UV‐induced morphological changes have a protective function involving shading and decreased leaf penetration of UV‐B, counterbalancing trade‐offs such as decreased photosynthetic light capture and plant‐competitive abilities. Future research will need to disentangle seemingly contradictory interactions occurring at the threshold UV dose where regulation and stress‐induced morphogenesis overlap.
Cardiac Screening in Infants with Infantile Hemangiomas before Propranolol Treatment
Authors: Blei Francine , McElhinney Doff B. , Guarini Ascanio , Presti Salvatore
Published: May 2014

There is no uniform pretreatment cardiac evaluation for infants treated with oral propranolol, which is now the drug of choice for hemangiomas of infancy requiring systemic medical intervention. The aim of this study was to report and evaluate the findings of pretreatment cardiac evaluation. Data were reviewed for patients evaluated by a single hemangioma specialist and a single pediatric cardiologist prior to initiation of propranolol for infantile hemangioma. Cardiac evaluation included a complete echocardiogram. From July 2009 through January 2013, 239 consecutive patients 12 months of age or younger (median 2.7 months) were screened. No patients had cardiac contraindications to propranolol. However, 50 patients (21%) had an abnormal echocardiogram: 39 atrial septal defects (5 associated with right heart enlargement), 6 ventricular septal defects, 2 patent ductus arteriosus, 1 aortic coarctation, 1 pulmonary valve stenosis, and 1 aberrant subclavian artery. Overall, 69 patients had an audible heart murmur, 44 of which were not associated with pathologic findings on echocardiogram. All patients with a ventricular septal defect and 16 of 39 with an atrial septal defect had a murmur. Two of seven patients with PHACE syndrome had cardiac anomalies. None of the findings precluded the use of propranolol. Assisted reproductive technologies were used in 18% of pregnancies, including in vitro fertilization in 12%. Cardiac contraindications to propranolol treatment are uncommon in patients with infantile hemangioma. However, anatomic abnormalities were more common than reported in the general population. Further study is necessary to determine whether there is a pathogenic relationship between cardiac defects and nonsyndromic infantile hemangioma.
Prevention of Diaper Dermatitis in Infants—a Literature Review
Authors: Blume‐Peytavi Ulrike , Hauser Matthias , Lünnemann Lena , Stamatas Georgios N. , Kottner Jan , Garcia Bartels Natalie
Published: May 2014

Diaper dermatitis (DD) is one of the most common skin conditions in neonates and infants, with a peak between the ages of 9 and 12 months. Appropriate skin care practices that support skin barrier function and protect the buttocks skin from urine and feces are supposed to be effective in the prevention ofDD. Despite many recommendations for parents and caregivers on proper diaper skin care, there is no up‐to‐date synthesis of the available evidence to develop recommendations forDDprevention practice. Therefore we performed a systematic literature review on the efficacy of nonmedical skin care practices on the diapered area of healthy, full‐term infants ages 0 to 24 months. We identified 13 studies covering skin care practices such as cleansing, bathing, and application of topical products.DDprevalence and incidence and physiologic skin parameters were used as efficacy parameters. The results of this review indicate that cleansing of the diaper area using baby wipes or water and a washcloth have comparable effects on diapered skin. Bathing with a liquid baby cleanser twice weekly seems comparable with water alone. The application of ointments containing zinc oxide or petrolatum with or without vitamin A seems to have comparable effects onDDseverity. There seems to be no information on whether single skin care practices such as cleansing, bathing, and application of topical preparations can preventDD. High‐quality randomized clinical trials are needed to show the effectiveness of skin care practices for controlling and preventingDD.
Questing activity in bed bug populations: male and female responses to host signals
Authors: Aak Anders , Rukke Bjørn A. , Soleng Arnulf , Rosnes Marte K.
Published: May 2014

A large‐arena bioassay is used to examine sex differences in spatiotemporal patterns of bed bug Cimex lectularius L. behavioural responses to either a human host or CO2 gas. After release in the centre of the arena, 90% of newly‐fed bed bugs move to hiding places in the corners within 24 h. They require 3 days to settle down completely in the arena, with generally low activity levels and the absence of responses to human stimuli for 5 days. After 8–9 days, persistent responses can be recorded. Sex differences are observed, in which females are more active during establishment, respond faster after feeding, expose themselves more than males during the daytime, and respond more strongly to the host signal. The number of bed bugs that rest in harbourages is found to vary significantly according to light setting and sex. Both sexes stay inside harbourages more in daylight compared with night, and males hide more than females during the daytime but not during the night. The spatial distribution of the bed bugs is also found to change with the presence of CO2, and peak aggregation around the odour source is observed after 24 min. Both male and female bed bugs move from hiding places or the border of the arena toward the centre where CO2 is released. Peak responses are always highest during the night. Bed bug behaviour and behaviour‐regulating features are discussed in the context of control methods.
Occurrence of resistance‐breaking strains of Beet necrotic yellow vein virus in sugar beet in northwestern Europe and identification of a new variant of the viral pathogenicity factor P25
Authors: Bornemann K. , Hanse B. , Varrelmann M. , Stevens M.
Published: May 2014

Rhizomania, one of the most devastating diseases in sugar beet production, is caused by Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) and transmitted by Polymyxa betae. Previously, disease control was possible by cultivation of sugar beet hybrids carrying a major resistance gene Rz1, which restricts virus accumulation in taproots and suppresses symptom development. Over the last few years, BNYVV strains with four RNA components have arisen, which are able to overcome Rz1‐mediated resistance. All strains described so far possess an A67V amino acid exchange within the RNA3‐encoded P25 pathogenicity factor. In this study, BNYVV was isolated from Rz1 plants, collected in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany, displaying patches of strong rhizomania symptoms. Sequencing of the coat protein and P25 gene of three isolates showed 100% nucleotide sequence identity and detected AYPR as the P25 tetrad amino acid composition. The ability of this strain to accumulate to higher levels in young plants of Rz1 resistant but not in Rz1 + Rz2 resistant genotypes was initially demonstrated in a greenhouse assay in natural field soil from the Netherlands. This strain was loaded into a virus‐free P. betae population and compared to reference strains. The AYPR strain retained its resistance‐breaking ability in the Rz1 genotypes and displayed replication at a higher rate compared to the Rz1‐resistance‐breaking P type. The strain origin is unclear and it remains speculative whether the occurrence at different geographic locations is the result of independent selection or displacement of infested soil.
Participation, Online and Otherwise: What's the Difference for Policy Preferences?
Authors: Oser Jennifer , Leighley Jan E. , Winneg Kenneth M.
Published: May 2014

Objective

One explanation for why voters’ preferences are privileged by policymakers is that voters are likely to communicate their preferences through additional avenues as well. We examine this “communication hypothesis” by comparing the policy preferences of different types of political participators.

Methods

We analyze the National Annenberg Election Survey (2008) using latent class analysis to identify different types of political participators and multinomial logistic regression to compare the policy preferences of these participator types.

Results

Voters who also engage in additional online and/or offline political acts have policy preferences that differ in a number of meaningful ways from those who “only” vote.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that prior research has overlooked important evidence on the connection between citizen participation and political outcomes due to a primary focus on the act of voting. This study suggests how future research can assess the impact of citizens’ broader patterns of political participation.
Dengue disease surveillance: an updated systematic literature review
Authors: Runge‐Ranzinger S. , McCall P. J. , Kroeger A. , Horstick O.
Published: May 2014

Objectives

To review the evidence for the application of tools for dengue outbreak prediction/detection and trend monitoring in passive and active disease surveillance systems in order to develop recommendations for endemic countries and identify important research needs.

Methods

This systematic literature review followed the protocol of a review from 2008, extending the systematic search from January 2007 to February 2013 on PubMed, EMBASE, CDSR, WHOLIS and Lilacs. Data reporting followed the PRISMA statement. The eligibility criteria comprised (i) population at risk of dengue, (ii) dengue disease surveillance, (iii) outcome of surveillance described and (iv) empirical data evaluated. The analysis classified studies based on the purpose of the surveillance programme. The main limitation of the review was expected publication bias.

Results

A total of 1116 papers were identified of which 36 articles were included in the review. Four cohort‐based prospective studies calculated expansion factors demonstrating remarkable levels of underreporting in the surveillance systems. Several studies demonstrated that enhancement methods such as laboratory support, sentinel‐based reporting and staff motivation contributed to improvements in dengue reporting. Additional improvements for passive surveillance systems are possible by incorporating simple data forms/entry/electronic‐based reporting; defining clear system objectives; performing data analysis at the lowest possible level (e.g. district); seeking regular data feedback. Six studies showed that serotype changes were positively correlated with the number of reported cases or with dengue incidence, with lag times of up to 6 months. Three studies found that data on internet searches and event‐based surveillance correlated well with the epidemic curve derived from surveillance data.

Conclusions

Passive surveillance providing the baseline for outbreak alert should be strengthened and appropriate threshold levels for outbreak alerts investigated. Additional enhancement tools such as syndromic surveillance, laboratory support and motivation strategies can be added. Appropriate alert signals need to be identified and integrated into a risk assessment tool. Shifts in dengue serotypes/genotype or electronic event‐based surveillance have also considerable potential as indicator in dengue surveillance. Further research on evidence‐based response strategies and cost‐effectiveness is needed.
Importance of Distributed Temperature Sensor Data for Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage Reservoir Characterization and History Matching Within Ensemble Kalman Filter Framework
Authors: Panwar Amit , Trivedi Japan J. , Nejadi Siavash
Published: May 2014

Distributed temperature sensing (DTS), an optical fiber down-hole monitoring technique, provides a continuous and permanent well temperature profile. In steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) reservoirs, the DTS plays an important role to provide depth-and-time continuous temperature measurement for steam management and production optimization. These temperature observations provide useful information for reservoir characterization and shale detection in SAGD reservoirs. However, use of these massive data for automated SAGD reservoir characterization has not been investigated. The ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), a parameter estimation approach using these real-time temperature observations, provides a highly attractive algorithm for automatic history matching and quantitative reservoir characterization. Due to its complex geological nature, the shale barrier exhibits as a different facies in sandstone reservoirs. In such reservoirs, due to non-Gaussian distributions, the traditional EnKF underestimates the uncertainty and fails to obtain a good production data match. We implemented discrete cosine transform (DCT) to parameterize the facies labels with EnKF. Furthermore, to capture geologically meaningful and realistic facies distribution in conjunction with matching observed data, we included fiber-optic sensor temperature data. Several case studies with different facies distribution and well configurations were conducted. In order to investigate the effect of temperature observations on SAGD reservoir characterization, the number of DTS observations and their locations were varied for each study. The qualities of the history-matched models were assessed by comparing the facies maps, facies distribution, and the root mean square error (RMSE) of the predicted data mismatch. Use of temperature data in conjunction with production data demonstrated significant improvement in facies detection and reduced uncertainty for SAGD reservoirs. The RMSE of the predicted data is also improved. The results indicate that the assimilation of DTS data from nearby steam chamber location has a significant potential in significant reduction of uncertainty in steam chamber propagation and production forecast.
Energetic Comparison of Linear Fresnel and Parabolic Trough Collector Systems
Authors: Schenk Heiko , Hirsch Tobias , Fabian Feldhoff Jan , Wittmann Michael
Published: May 2014

In recent years, linear Fresnel (LF) collector systems have been developed as a technical alternative to parabolic trough (PT) collector systems. While in the past, LF systems focused on low- and medium-temperature applications, today, LF systems are equipped with vacuum receivers and, therefore, can be operated with similar operating parameters as PT systems. Papers about the technical and economical comparison of specific PT and LF systems have already been published (Dersch et al., 2009, "Comparison of Linear Fresnel and Parabolic Trough Collecor Systems—System Analysis to Determine Break-Even Costs of Linear Fresnel Collectors," Proceedings of the 15th International SolarPACES Symposium, Berlin; Giostri et al. 2011, "Comparison of Two Linear Collectors in Solar Thermal Plants: Parabolic Trough vs. Fresnel," ASME 2011 5th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Washington, DC; and Morin et al., 2012, "Comparison of Linear Fresnel and Parabolic Trough Collector Power Plants," Sol. Energy, 86(1), pp. 1–12). However, the present paper focuses on the systematic differences in optical and thermodynamic performance and the impact on the economic figures. In a first step the optical performance of typical PT and LF solar fields (SFs) has been examined, showing the differences during the course of the day and annually. Furthermore, the thermodynamic performance, depending on the operating temperature, has been compared. In a second step, the annual electricity yield of typical PT and LF plants has been examined. Solar Salt has been chosen as the heat transfer fluid. Both systems utilize the same power block (PB) and storage type. Solar field size, storage capacity, and PB electrical power are variable, while all examined configurations achieve the same annual electricity yield. As expected for molten salt systems, both systems are the most cost-effective with large storage capacities. The lower thermodynamic performance of the LF system requires a larger SF and lower specific SF costs in order to be competitive. Assuming specific PT field costs of 300 €/m2 aperture, the break-even costs of the LF system with Solar Salt range between 202 and 235 €/m2, depending on the site and storage capacity. In order to confirm the major statements, within a sensitivity analysis, it is shown that a variation of SF and storage costs does not have a significant impact on the relative break-even costs of the LF system.