bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Herbicide efficacy for aquatic Alternanthera philoxeroides management in an early stage of invasion: integrating above‐ground biomass, below‐ground biomass and viable stem fragmentation
Authors: Clements D , Dugdale T M , Butler K L , Florentine S K , Sillitoe J
Published: July 2017

Alternanthera philoxeroides is a problematic invasive plant in many regions of the world that is difficult to control once naturalised. It poses a threat to agricultural productivity, biodiversity and social amenity values of aquatic environments. Significant research has been conducted internationally, regarding the efficacy of different herbicides for control of A. philoxeroides. However, no studies have looked at key aspects of control for effective management in an early stage of invasion of aquatic environments, hindering eradication and control programmes. This study evaluates the efficacy of herbicides and surfactants on key A. philoxeroides response metrics, including control of above‐ground biomass, below‐ground biomass and production of viable stem fragments. This study concluded that glyphosate (isopropylamine salt) minimises viable stem fragment production post‐herbicide application, compared with imazapyr and metsulfuron, thus reducing the potential for dispersal throughout catchments and waterways. In contrast, imazapyr and metsulfuron provided more effective control than glyphosate for A. philoxeroides growing on exposed embankments. We propose that an effective management strategy for early invasion of aquatic A. philoxeroides, using herbicides, would be to conduct initial applications of glyphosate to control overwater biomass and limit dispersal of viable stem fragments. Once infestations have been forced back to the embankment, imazapyr or metsulfuron treatments will provide longer term control.
The Impact of Low Accelerometer Wear Time on the Estimates and Application of Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity Data in Adults
Authors: McGrath Ryan , Vella Chantal A. , Scruggs Philip W. , Peterson Mark D. , Williams Christopher J. , Paul David R.
Published: July 2017

Background: This investigation sought to determine how accelerometer wear (1) biased estimates of sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA), (2) affected misclassifications for meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and (3) impacted the results of regression models examining the association between moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and a clinically relevant health outcome. Methods: A total of 100 participants [age: 20.6 (7.9) y] wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer for 15.9 (1.6) hours per day (reference dataset) on the hip. The BOD POD was used to determine body fat percentage. A data removal technique was applied to the reference dataset to create individual datasets with wear time ranging from 15 to 10 hours per day for SB and each intensity of PA. Results: Underestimations of SB and each intensity of PA increased as accelerometer wear time decreased by up to 167.2 minutes per day. These underestimations resulted in Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans misclassification rates of up to 42.9%. The regression models for the association between MVPA and body fat percentage demonstrated changes in the estimates for each wear-time adherence level when compared to the model using the reference MVPA data. Conclusions: Increasing accelerometer wear improves daily estimates of SB and PA, thereby also improving the precision of statistical inferences that are made from accelerometer data.
The Relation of Combined Aerobic and Muscle-Strengthening Physical Activities With Presenteeism
Authors: Walker Timothy J. , Tullar Jessica M. , Diamond Pamela M. , Kohl Harold W. , Amick Benjamin C.
Published: July 2017

Background: There is a need to understand physical activity types associated with health-related work limitations (also known as presenteeism). This study tests whether additive effects between physical activity types are associated with health-related work limitations among employees from a public university system. Methods: A cross-sectional study using health assessment data (n = 10,791) was used to examine aims. Analysis of covariance models tested differences in work limitations between physical activity groups based on combinations of stretching behavior, aerobic, and muscle-strengthening physical activities. Planned contrasts compared differences between selected groups. Results: There were significant group differences (P < .001) in reported work limitations after controlling for demographic, season, and health-related variables. Employees who reported participating in aerobic physical activity had significantly lower work limitation levels compared with inactive employees (P = .027). Employees who reported participating in both aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activities had the lowest work limitation levels compared with all groups and significantly lower work limitation levels compared with employees who participated in aerobic physical activity only (P = .026). Conclusions: Results provide evidence of an additive effect where participating in a combination of aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activities may be most beneficial when targeting health-related work limitations.
Effects of School Gardening Lessons on Elementary School Children’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Time
Authors: Rees-Punia Erika , Holloway Alicia , Knauft David , Schmidt Michael D.
Published: July 2017

Background: Recess and physical education time continue to diminish, creating a need for additional physical activity opportunities within the school environment. The use of school gardens as a teaching tool in elementary science and math classes has the potential to increase the proportion of time spent active throughout the school day. Methods: Teachers from 4 elementary schools agreed to teach 1 math or science lesson per week in the school garden. Student physical activity time was measured with ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers on 3 garden days and 3 no-garden days at each school. Direct observation was used to quantify the specific garden-related tasks during class. The proportion of time spent active and sedentary was compared on garden and no-garden days. Results: Seventy-four children wore accelerometers, and 75 were observed (86% participation). Children spent a significantly larger proportion of time active on garden days than no-garden days at 3 of the 4 schools. The proportion of time spent sedentary and active differed significantly across the 4 schools. Conclusions: Teaching lessons in the school garden may increase children’s physical activity and decrease sedentary time throughout the school day and may be a strategy to promote both health and learning.
Development and Preliminary Validation of an Athlete Burnout Measure
Authors: Raedeke Thomas D. , Smith Alan L.
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this research was to develop a psychometrically sound measure of athlete burnout. In Study 1, exploratory factor analysis revealed burn-out dimensions reflective of emotional/physical exhaustion, reduced sense of swimming accomplishment, and swimming devaluation. In two subsequent studies, the psychometric properties of a refined version of this measure were examined. Independent samples of senior age-group swimmers and college athletes from a variety of sports completed a questionnaire that tapped the three burnout dimensions as well as stress- and motivation-related variables. Confirmatory factor analysis and alternative model testing supported the specified three-factor burnout model. In support of construct validity, the burnout subscales correlated positively with stress, trait anxiety, and amotivation, and correlated negatively with coping, social support, enjoyment, commitment, and intrinsic motivation indices across the two studies.
Bacillus subtilis
Protects Public Goods by Extending Kin Discrimination to Closely Related Species
Authors: Lyons Nicholas A. , Kolter Roberto
Published: July 2017

Kin discrimination systems are found in numerous communal contexts like multicellularity and are theorized to prevent exploitation of cooperative behaviors. The kin discrimination system in
Bacillus subtilis
differs from most other such systems because it excludes nonkin cells rather than including kin cells. Because nonkin are the target of the system,
B. subtilis
can potentially distinguish degrees of nonkin relatedness, not just kin versus nonkin. We examined this by testing a large strain collection of diverse
Bacillus
species against
B. subtilis
in different multicellular contexts. The effects of kin discrimination extend to nearby species, as the other
subtilis
clade species were treated with the same antagonism as nonkin. Species in the less-related
pumilus
clade started to display varied phenotypes but were mostly still discriminated against, while
cereus
clade members and beyond were no longer subject to kin discrimination. Seeking a reason why other species are perceived as antagonistic nonkin, we tested the ability of
B. subtilis
to steal communally produced surfactant from these species. We found that the species treated as nonkin were the only ones that made a surfactant that
B. subtilis
could utilize and that nonkin antagonism prevented such stealing when the two strains were mixed. The nonkin exclusion kin discrimination method thus allows effective protection of the cooperative behaviors prevalent in multicellularity while still permitting interactions with more distant species that are not a threat.

IMPORTANCE
Multicellular systems like bacterial biofilms and swarms rely on cooperative behaviors that could be undermined by exploitative invaders. Discriminating kin from nonkin is one way to help guard against such exploitation but has thus far been examined only intraspecifically, so the phylogenetic range of this important trait is unknown. We tested whether
Bacillus subtilis
treats other species as nonkin by testing a single strain against a diverse collection of
Bacillus
isolates. We found that the species in the same clade were treated as nonkin, which then lessened in more distant relatives. Further experiments showed that these nonkin species produced a cooperative good that could be stolen by
B. subtilis
and that treating each other as nonkin largely prevented this exploitation. These results impact our understanding of interspecies interactions, as bacterial populations can interact only after they have diverged enough to no longer be a threat to their cooperative existences.
Economic evaluation of a community-based diagnostic pathway to stratify adults for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a Markov model informed by a feasibility study
Authors: Tanajewski Lukasz , Harris Rebecca , Harman David J , Aithal Guruprasad P , Card Timothy R , Gkountouras Georgios , Berdunov Vladislav , Guha Indra N , Elliott Rachel A
Published: July 2017

Objectives

To assess the long-term cost-effectiveness of a risk stratification pathway, compared with standard care, for detecting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in primary care.

Setting

Primary care general practices in England.

Participants

Adults who have been identified in primary care to have a risk factor for developing NAFLD, that is, type 2 diabetes without a history of excessive alcohol use.

Intervention

A community-based pathway, which uses transient elastography and hepatologists to stratify patients at risk of NAFLD, has been implemented and demonstrated to be feasible (NCT02037867). Earlier identification could mean earlier treatments, referral to specialist and enrolment into surveillance programmes.

Design

The impact of earlier detection and treatment with the risk stratification pathway on progression to later stages of liver disease was examined using decision modelling with Markov chains to estimate lifetime health and economic effects of the two comparators.

Data sources

Data from a prospective cross-sectional feasibility study indicating risk stratification pathway and standard care diagnostic accuracies were combined with a Markov model that comprised the following states: no/mild liver disease, significant liver disease, compensated cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplant and death. The model data were chosen from up-to-date UK sources, published literature and an expert panel.

Outcome measure

An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) indicating cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) of the risk stratification pathway compared with standard care was estimated.

Results

The risk stratification pathway was more effective than standard care and costs £2138 per QALY gained. The ICER was most sensitive to estimates of the rate of fibrosis progression and the effect of treatment on reducing this, and ranged from −£1895 to £7032/QALY. The risk stratification pathway demonstrated an 85% probability of cost-effectiveness at the UK willingness-to-pay threshold of £20 000/QALY.

Conclusions

Implementation of a community-based risk stratification pathway is likely to be cost-effective.

Trial registration number

NCT02037867, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Determinants of knowledge of critical danger signs, safe childbirth and immediate newborn care practices among auxiliary midwives: a cross sectional survey in Myanmar
Authors: Than Kyu Kyu , Morgan Alison , Pham Minh Duc , Beeson James G , Luchters Stanley
Published: July 2017

Objectives

The re-emergence of community-based health workers such as the auxiliary midwives (AMWs) in Myanmar, who are local female volunteers, has been an important strategy to address global health workforce shortages. The Myanmar government recommends one AMW for every village. The aim of this study is to investigate the current knowledge of critical danger signs and practices for safe childbirth and immediate newborn care of AMWs to inform potential task shifting of additional healthcare responsibilities.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July 2015 to June 2016 in three hard-to-reach areas in Myanmar. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a pretested questionnaire.

Results

Among 262 AMWs participating in the study, only 8% of AMWs were able to identify at least 80% of 20 critical danger signs. Factors associated with greater knowledge of critical danger signs included older age over 35 years (adjusted OR (AOR) 2.19, 95% CI 0.99 to 4.83), having received refresher training within the last year (AOR 2.20, 95% CI 1.21 to 4.01) and receiving adequate supervision (AOR 5.04, 95% CI 2.74 to 9.29). Those who employed all six safe childbirth and immediate newborn care practices were more likely to report greater knowledge of danger signs (AOR 2.81, 95% CI 1.50 to 5.26), adequate work supervision (AOR 3.18 95% CI 1.62 to 6.24) and less education (AOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.88).

Conclusion

The low level of knowledge of critical danger signs and reported practices for safe childbirth identified suggest that an evaluation of the current AMW training and supervision programme needs to be revisited to ensure that existing practices, including recognition of danger signs, meet quality care standards before new interventions are introduced or new responsibilities given to AMWs.
Retinal embolic events: frequency and impact following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for aortic stenosis
Authors: Fusi-Rubiano William J , Yang Yit C , Smallwood Andrew F , Chavan Randhir C , Khogali Saib , Narendran Nirodhini , Cotton James M
Published: July 2017

Objectives

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an established treatment for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. It has a cerebrovascular accident rate of about 5% but the effect on retinal embolic events has not been previously reported. This study investigated the occurrence of retinal emboli following TAVI.

Methods and analysis

In this prospective observational study, 20 patients underwent full ophthalmic examination to assess retinal embolic events prior to TAVI and at 48 hours and 1 month post-TAVI.

Results

At 48 hours post-TAVI, one patient had a new cotton wool spot in the right eye. At 1 month, another two patients had new retinal emboli events in at least one eye and a fourth patient developed retinal splinter haemorrhages in the right eye.

Conclusion

Retinal embolic events and new retinal abnormalities following TAVI occurred in 15% and 20% of our cohort, respectively, without any associated retinal damage or significant visual problems. Retinal evaluation may be a useful surrogate test for cerebral embolisation in future studies assessing the utility of new valve prostheses and embolic protection devices
A cost-effectiveness analysis of condom distribution programmes for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections in England
Authors: Sadler Susannah , Tosh Jon , Pennington Rebekah , Rawdin Andrew , Squires Hazel , Romero Carmen , Fischer Alastair , Chilcott James
Published: July 2017

Background

Prevention of sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence in England is a high priority, particularly among young people, men who have sex with men (MSM) and black ethnic minorities. An economic evaluation of condom distribution programmes (CDPs) to reduce STI transmission is presented.

Methods

An economic model using a Bernoulli process estimated the number of people acquiring an STI as a function of its prevalence, transmission rate, condom use, condom failure rate and number of sexual contacts. Models were developed for young people (13–24 years), black ethnic minorities, MSM and the general English population. Effectiveness evidence came from a recent systematic review. For young people, a CDP was modelled (relative risk for condom use=1.23), along with an exploratory analysis of the impact on unintended pregnancies. For other populations, threshold analyses were used to identify the combination of costs and effect size required to make a programme cost-effective.

Results

The base case predicted that CDP for all young people in England could avert 5123 STI cases per annum, with an incremental cost–effectiveness ratio of £17 411. In addition, it could avert 118 pregnancies and 82 abortions and save £333 000 in associated costs. Schemes for black ethnic minorities and MSM could also be cost-effective even with relatively high costs and small effect sizes.

Conclusion

CDPs for young people are likely to be cost-effective or cost-saving. CDPs for other high-risk populations may also be cost-effective if they can increase condom use, since high HIV prevalence in these groups imposes a considerable health and cost burden.
Alcohol consumption and all-cause mortality: an analysis of general practice database records for patients with long-term conditions
Authors: Stewart Duncan , Han Lu , Doran Tim , McCambridge Jim
Published: July 2017

Background

Alcohol is a risk factor for ill health and reduced life expectancy, but little is known about the impact of alcohol on mortality for people with existing long-term conditions. We used primary care data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) to study relationships between alcohol consumption and all-cause mortality among general practice patients with long-term conditions.

Methods

Data were accessed from a sample of 125 general practices from the CPRD database. Adult patients with long-term health conditions, a record of alcohol consumption in CPRD and at least 1 year of follow-up data between 2000 and 2014 (n=95 991) were matched to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) mortality register.

Results

In Cox proportional hazards regression models, mortality was higher for patients consuming 25–34 units of alcohol per week (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.42) and 35 units or more (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.51 to 1.94), compared with those drinking 1–7 units per week. Patterns of mortality risk were the same for men and women. Heavy drinking increased mortality risk in combination with smoking (HR 4.04, 95% CI 3.41 to 4.79) and high levels of deprivation (HR 3.01, 95% CI 2.40 to 3.79).

Conclusions

Heavier drinkers with long-term conditions are at significantly greater risk of death than lighter drinkers. The findings support the UK Chief Medical Officers’ guidance on having similar low-risk alcohol consumption guidelines for men and women. More needs to be done to tackle alcohol consumption among patients with long-term conditions.
Effects of multiaged silvicultural systems on reserve tree growth 19 years after establishment across multiple species in the Acadian forest in Maine, USA
Authors: Carter David R. , Seymour Robert S. , Fraver Shawn , Weiskittel Aaron
Published: July 2017

This study investigated the growth response of mature, isolated reserve trees (n = 528) in two multiaged silvicultural systems in the Acadian Forest Ecosystem Research Project (AFERP). Absolute and percent increases in basal area increment (BAI; cm2·year−1) were assessed for the five predominant reserve tree species in AFERP: Acer rubrum L., Picea rubens Sarg., Pinus strobus L., Thuja occidentalis L., and Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière. Absolute growth was significantly greater in the large-gap treatment (23.7 ± 1.1 cm2·year−1; mean ± SE) than in the small-gap treatment (16.3 ± 0.9 cm2·year−1). Percent growth increase was greater in the small-gap treatment (187.6% ± 15.8%) than in the large-gap treatment (143.4% ± 19.3%), and both treatments had greater percent increases than the unharvested control (9.6% ± 5.2%). Species differed in their response to treatment. Pinus strobus had the greatest absolute increase (large-gap, 52.5 cm2·year−1), while Tsuga canadensis (large-gap, 270% ± 71.6%) and Acer rubrum (small-gap, 262% ± 42.4%) had the greatest percent increases. Growth responses typically diminished with increasing tree size and pretreatment growth rate; however, reserve trees showed greater growth responses than their paired analogues in the control across all initial tree sizes and prior growth rates. The results suggest that these silivicultural systems accelerate the development of large trees.
Genetic analysis of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) solid-wood quality traits
Authors: Hayatgheibi Haleh , Fries Anders , Kroon Johan , Wu Harry X.
Published: July 2017

Potential improvement of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) solid-wood properties was examined by estimating age trends of inheritance, age–age genetic correlations, and the efficiency of early selection using 823 increment cores sampled from 207 half-sib families at two independent progeny trials, aged 34–35 years, located in northern Sweden. High-resolution radial variation of annual ring width, wood density, microfibril angle (MFA), and modulus of elasticity (clearwood stiffness; MOES) was measured using SilviScan. The dynamic stiffness (MOEtof) of standing trees was also obtained using Hitman ST300. Heritabilities ranged from 0.10 to 0.64 for growth and earlywood, transition-wood, and latewood proportions, from 0.29 to 0.77 for density traits, and from 0.13 to 0.33 for MFA and stiffness traits. Genetic correlations between early age and the reference age (26 years) suggested that early selection is efficient at age 4 years for MFA and between ages 5 to 8 years for density and MOES. Unfavorable diameter–stiffness genetic correlations and correlated responses indicate that breeding for a 1% increase in diameter would confer 5.5% and 2.3% decreases in lodgepole pine MOES and MOEtof, respectively. Index selection with appropriate economical weights for growth and wood stiffness is highly recommended for selective breeding.
Comparison of biomass partitioning and transpiration for water-stressed shortleaf, loblolly, and shortleaf × loblolly pine hybrid seedlings
Authors: Bradley Joshua C. , Will Rodney E.
Published: July 2017

Hybridization between shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) has dramatically increased and may threaten the genetic integrity of shortleaf pine. Shortleaf pine is presumed to be more drought tolerant than loblolly pine, but the drought hardiness of the hybrid pine is not known. We determined biomass partitioning in response to water stress and measured whole-plant transpiration of shortleaf, loblolly, and hybrid pine seedlings. Water stress decreased total seedling biomass, increased biomass partitioning to foliage, and decreased biomass partitioning to coarse roots. Shortleaf pine seedlings partitioned more biomass to coarse roots than loblolly pine, and hybrid pine was intermediate between the parent species. We found no differences in the level of soil moisture at which seedlings of different species began to limit transpiration. Our results suggest that the transpiration response of shortleaf pine and hybrid pine is similar to that of loblolly pine when exposed to water stress. However, greater partitioning to coarse root may allow shortleaf and hybrid pines to better withstand drought due to greater potential belowground carbohydrate supply.
Phosphorus availability and fractionation vary among forest site types in reconstructed oil sands soils
Authors: Manimel Wadu Mihiri C.W. , Duan Min , Chang Scott X.
Published: July 2017

We investigated relationships between phosphorus (P) availability and fractionation and growth of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Watson) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) in the Athabasca oil sands region. The study sites had peat – mineral soil mix (PMM) as cover soil over a tailings sand substrate planted to pine or an overburden substrate planted to spruce. Available P was determined using a modified Kelowna extraction and sequentially extracted to obtain exchangeable, Fe- and Al-bound, Ca- and Mg-bound, organic, and residual P. The organic P content in PMM explained 83% and 65% of the variations in available P in the pine and spruce sites, respectively. Phosphorus bound to Fe and Al in PMM was also positively related to available P on pine sites (p < 0.001) but not on spruce sites. Available P in PMM was correlated with aboveground biomass increment of spruce (p < 0.05) and explained 78% of the variation in foliar P. Foliar P in both pine and spruce was lower than the adequate level for tree growth. Low foliar P and available P in PMM affect the successful establishment of pine and spruce trees on the reclaimed sites, and proper P nutrition management is important to overcome P limitation in reclaimed soils.
Changes in mitochondrial properties may contribute to enhanced resistance to ischemia–reperfusion injury in the diabetic rat heart
Authors: Muráriková Martina , Ferko Miroslav , Waczulíková Iveta , Jašová Magdaléna , Kancirová Ivana , Murínová Jana , Ravingerová Táňa
Published: July 2017

Diabetes mellitus, besides having deleterious effects, induces cardiac adaptation that may reduce the heart’s susceptibility to ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury. This study aimed to investigate whether changes in mitochondrial properties are involved in the mechanisms of increased resistance of the diabetic heart to IR. Adult male Wistar rats were made diabetic by a single dose of streptozotocin (65 mg·kg–1, i.p.), and on the day 8, Langendorff-perfused hearts were subjected to 30 min global ischemia and 40 min reperfusion. Baseline preischemic parameters in the diabetic hearts did not differ markedly from those in the nondiabetic controls, except for lower left ventricular developed pressure, higher mitochondrial membrane fluidity, and protein levels of manganese superoxide dismutase. On the other hand, diabetic hearts showed significantly better post-IR functional restoration and reduced arrhythmogenesis associated with lower reactive oxygen species production as compared with healthy controls. IR decreased membrane fluidity in both experimental groups; however, it led to a complete recovery of mitochondrial Mg2+-ATPase activity in diabetics in contrast to its reduction in nondiabetics. These findings indicate that the heart may become adapted to diabetes-induced alterations that might increase its tolerance to an ischemic insult. Preserved mitochondrial function might play a role in the mechanisms of the heart’s resistance to IR injury in diabetics.
Balancing selection maintains diversity in a cold tolerance gene in broadly distributed live oaks
Authors: Meireles Jose Eduardo , Beulke Anne , Borkowski Daniel S. , Romero-Severson Jeanne , Cavender-Bares Jeannine
Published: July 2017

Cold poses major physiological challenges to plants, especially long-lived trees. In trees occurring along variable temperature clines, the expected direction and consequences of selection on cold acclimation ability and freezing tolerance are not straightforward. Here we estimated selection in cold acclimation genes at two evolutionary timescales in all seven species of the American live oaks (Quercus subsection Virentes). Two cold response candidate genes were chosen: ICE1, a key gene in the cold acclimation pathway, and HOS1, which modulates cold response by negatively regulating ICE1. Two housekeeping genes, GAPDB and CHR11, were also analyzed. At the shallow evolutionary timescale, we demonstrate that HOS1 experienced recent balancing selection in the two most broadly distributed species, Q. virginiana and Q. oleoides. At a deeper evolutionary scale, a codon-based model of evolution revealed the signature of negative selection in ICE1. In contrast, three positively selected codons have been identified in HOS1, possibly a signature of the diversification of Virentes into warmer climates from a freezing adapted lineage of oaks. Our findings indicate that evolution has favored diversity in cold tolerance modulation through balancing selection in HOS1 while maintaining core cold acclimation ability, as evidenced by purifying selection in ICE1.
Completely bounded bimodule maps and spectral synthesis
Authors: Alaghmandan M. , Todorov I. G. , Turowska L.
Published: July 2017

We initiate the study of the completely bounded multipliers of the Haagerup tensor product [Formula: see text] of two copies of the Fourier algebra [Formula: see text] of a locally compact group [Formula: see text]. If [Formula: see text] is a closed subset of [Formula: see text] we let [Formula: see text] and show that if [Formula: see text] is a set of spectral synthesis for [Formula: see text] then [Formula: see text] is a set of local spectral synthesis for [Formula: see text]. Conversely, we prove that if [Formula: see text] is a set of spectral synthesis for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is a Moore group then [Formula: see text] is a set of spectral synthesis for [Formula: see text]. Using the natural identification of the space of all completely bounded weak* continuous [Formula: see text]-bimodule maps with the dual of [Formula: see text], we show that, in the case [Formula: see text] is weakly amenable, such a map leaves the multiplication algebra of [Formula: see text] invariant if and only if its support is contained in the antidiagonal of [Formula: see text].
Representations of Face Images and Collaborative Representation Classification for Face Recognition
Authors: Fang Hansheng , Zhang Jian
Published: July 2017

Collaborative representation classification (CRC) was firstly proposed by Zhang et al. [L. Zhang, M. Yang, X. Feng, Y. Ma and D. Zhang, Collaborative Representation based Classification for Face Recognition, Computer Science, 2014]. It was an excellent algorithm for solving face recognition problems. The method suggests that the combination of all original training samples can approach the test samples accurately. But in fact, this does not mean it can well solve complex face recognition problems in some special situation, such as face recognition with varying illuminations and facial expressions. In the paper, we proposed an improvement to previous CRC method. By using a dedicated algorithm to combine the linear combinations of the original and their mirror training samples to represent the test samples, we can get more accurate recognition of test samples. The experimental results show that the proposed method does obtain notable accuracy improvement in comparison with the previous method.
EXACT ANALYTICAL SOLUTION OF BIOHEAT EQUATION SUBJECTED TO INTENSIVE MOVING HEAT SOURCE
Authors: TALAEE MOHAMMAD REZA , KABIRI ALI
Published: July 2017

Presented is the analytical solution of Pennes bio-heat equation, under localized moving heat source. The thermal behavior of one-dimensional (1D) nonhomogeneous layer of biological tissue is considered with blood perfusion term and modeled under the effect of concentric moving line heat source. The procedure of the solution is Eigen function expansion. The temperature profiles are calculated for three tissues of liver, kidney, and skin. Behavior of temperature profiles are studied parametrically due to the different moving speeds. The analytical solution can be used as a verification branch for studying the practical operations such as scanning laser treatment and other numerical solutions.
Land bidding game with conflicting interest and its quantum solution
Authors: Situ Haozhen , Alonso-Sanz Ramón , Li Lvzhou , Zhang Cai
Published: July 2017

Recently, the first conflicting interest quantum game based on the nonlocality property of quantum mechanics has been introduced in A. Pappa, N. Kumar, T. Lawson, M. Santha, S. Y. Zhang, E. Diamanti and I. Kerenidis, Phys. Rev. Lett. 114 (2015) 020401. Several quantum games of the same genre have also been proposed subsequently. However, these games are constructed from some well-known Bell inequalities, thus are quite abstract and lack of realistic interpretations. In the present paper, we modify the common interest land bidding game introduced in N. Brunner and N. Linden, Nat. Commun. 4 (2013) 2057, which is also based on nonlocality and can be understood as two companies collaborating in developing a project. The modified game has conflicting interest and reflects the free rider problem in economics. Then we show that it has a fair quantum solution that leads to better outcome. Finally, we study how several types of paradigmatic noise affect the outcome of this game.
A fractional-order delay differential model for Ebola infection and CD8+ T-cells response: Stability analysis and Hopf bifurcation
Authors: Latha V. Preethi , Rihan Fathalla A. , Rakkiyappan R. , Velmurugan G.
Published: July 2017

In this paper, we study a fractional-order model with time-delay to describe the dynamics of Ebola virus infection with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response in vivo. The time-delay is introduced in the CTL response term to represent time required to stimulate the immune system. Based on fractional Laplace transform, some conditions on stability and Hopf bifurcation are derived for the model. The analysis shows that the fractional-order with time-delay can effectively enrich the dynamics and strengthen the stability condition of fractional-order infection model. Finally, the derived theoretical results are justified by some numerical simulations.
The Impact of Demographics on Productivity and Inflation in Japan
Authors: Liu Yihan , Westelius Niklas
Published: July 2017

Is Japan’s aging and, more recently, declining population hampering its growth and reflation efforts? Exploiting the demographic and economic variation in the prefectural data between 1990 and 2007, we find that aging of the working age population has had a significant negative impact on the total factor productivity (TFP). Moreover, prefectures that aged at a faster pace experienced lower overall inflation, while prefectures with higher population growth experienced higher inflation. The results give strong support to the notion that demographic headwinds can have a non-trivial impact on the TFP and deflationary pressures.
The Drivers of Capital Flows in Emerging Markets Post Global Financial Crisis
Authors: Hannan Swarnali Ahmed
Published: July 2017

The paper studies the determinants of various instruments of capital flows, using 34 emerging markets and developing economies over 2009Q3–2015Q4. The regressions are extended to focus on quarters with flows that are one standard deviation above/below mean. Overall, the capital flow slowdown in recent years is due to lower growth prospects of recipient countries and worsening global risk sentiment. However, there are considerable differences across instruments. The sensitivity of some flows, towards push/pull factors, increases during periods of extreme capital flows. The gap between the US long- and short-term maturity bond yields — insignificant during normal times — is important during high capital flow episodes.
Aid for Trade, Foreign Direct Investment and Export Upgrading in Recipient Countries
Authors: Gnangnon Sèna Kimm , Roberts Michael
Published: July 2017

This paper examines empirically whether Aid for Trade (AfT) programs and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows affect export upgrading and, if so, whether their effects are complementary or substitutable. The empirical analysis suggests that AfT and FDI do affect export upgrading, namely export diversification and export quality improvement. Moreover, there is a significant interplay between these two financial flows in affecting export upgrading in recipient countries. The importance of this interplay should be taken into account by policymakers of recipient countries when they are devising both export development strategies and policies/institutions that affect FDI inflows into their countries.
Reduction in Carbon Emissions Intensity and Impact on Export Competitiveness: Evidence from Indian Manufacturing Firms
Authors: Goldar Bishwanath , Parida Yashobanta , Sehdev Deepika
Published: July 2017

India’s organized manufacturing sector experienced a 11% fall in its carbon di oxide (CO2) emissions intensity during 2009–2012, while a majority of the manufacturing plants achieved over a 30% fall during the corresponding period. How did such a reduction in CO2 emissions intensity affect the export competitiveness of Indian manufacturing firms? Using firm-level data for 2009–2013, this paper attempts to empirically answer that question. It is found that large firms and capital intensive firms have achieved a relatively faster decline in CO2 emissions intensity and that containment of CO2 emissions in manufacturing firms did not cause any major loss in their export competitiveness. Rather, it is found to be positively associated with increases in exports.
Extraovarian gonadotropin negative feedback revealed by aromatase inhibition in female marmoset monkeys
Authors: Kraynak Marissa , Flowers Matthew T. , Shapiro Robert A. , Kapoor Amita , Levine Jon E. , Abbott David H.
Published: July 2017

Whereas the ovary produces the majority of estradiol (E2) in mature female primates, extraovarian sources contribute to E2synthesis and action, including the brain E2-regulating hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone. In ovary-intact female rodent models, aromatase inhibition (AI) induces a polycystic ovary syndrome-like hypergonadotropic hyperandrogenism due to absent E2-mediated negative feedback. To examine the role of extraovarian E2on nonhuman primate gonadotropin regulation, the present study uses letrozole to elicit AI in adult female marmoset monkeys. Sixteen female marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus; >2 yr) were randomly assigned to ovary-intact or ovariectomy (OVX) conditions and subsequently placed on a daily oral regimen of either ~200 µl vehicle alone (ovary-intact Control, n = 3; OVX, n = 3) or 1 mg ⋅ kg−1⋅ day−1letrozole in vehicle (ovary-intact AI, n = 4; OVX + AI, n = 6). Blood samples were collected every 10 days, and plasma chorionic gonadotropin (CG) and steroid hormone levels were determined by validated radioimmunoassay and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. Ovary-intact, AI-treated and OVX females exhibited elevated CG ( P < 0.01, P = 0.004, respectively) compared with controls, and after 30 days, OVX + AI females exhibited a suprahypergonadotropic phenotype ( P = 0.004) compared with ovary-intact + AI and OVX females. Androstenedione ( P = 0.03) and testosterone ( P = 0.05) were also elevated in ovary-intact, AI-treated females above all other groups. The current study thus confirms in a nonhuman primate that E2depletion and diminished negative feedback in ovary-intact females engage hypergonadotropic hyperandrogenism. Additionally, we demonstrate that extraovarian estrogens, possibly neuroestrogens, contribute to female negative feedback regulation of gonadotropin release.
Macrolides protect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection via inhibition of inflammasomes
Authors: Fan Li-Chao , Lin Jie-Lu , Yang Jia-Wei , Mao Bei , Lu Hai-Wen , Ge Bao-Xue , Choi Augustine M. K. , Xu Jin-Fu
Published: July 2017

Macrolides antibiotics have been effectively used in many chronic diseases, especially with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infection. The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of macrolides in these diseases remain poorly understood. We established a mouse model of chronic lung infection using P. aeruginosa agar-beads, with azithromycin treatment or placebo. Lung injury, bacterial clearance, and inflammasome-related proteins were measured. In vitro, the inflammasomes activation induced by flagellin or ATP were assessed in LPS-primed macrophages with or without macrolides treatment. Plasma IL-18 levels were determined from patients who were diagnosed with bronchiectasis isolated with or without P. aeruginosa and treated with azithromycin for 3–5 days. Azithromycin treatment enhanced bacterial clearance and attenuated lung injury in mice chronically infected with P. aeruginosa, which resulted from the inhibition of caspase-1-dependent IL-1β and IL-18 secretion. In vitro, azithromycin and erythromycin inhibited NLRC4 and NLRP3 inflammasomes activation. Plasma IL-18 levels were higher in bronchiectasis patients with P. aeruginosa isolation compared with healthy controls. Azithromycin administration markedly decreased IL-18 secretion in bronchiectasis patients. The results of this study reveal that azithromycin and erythromycin exert a novel anti-inflammatory effect by attenuating inflammasomes activation, which suggests potential treatment options for inflammasome-related diseases.
Unique sex- and age-dependent effects in protective pathways in acute kidney injury
Authors: Boddu Ravindra , Fan Chunlan , Rangarajan Sunil , Sunil Bhuvana , Bolisetty Subhashini , Curtis Lisa M.
Published: July 2017

Sex and age influence susceptibility to acute kidney injury (AKI), with young females exhibiting lowest incidence. In these studies, we investigated mechanisms which may underlie the sex/age-based dissimilarities. Cisplatin (Cp)-induced AKI resulted in morphological evidence of injury in all groups. A minimal rise in plasma creatinine (PCr) was seen in Young Females, whereas in Aged Females, PCr rose precipitously. Relative to Young Males, Aged Males showed significantly, but temporally, comparably elevated PCr. Notably, Aged Females showed significantly greater mortality, whereas Young Females exhibited none. Tissue KIM-1 and plasma NGAL were significantly lower in Young Females than all others. IGFBP7 levels were modestly increased in both Young groups. IGFBP7 levels in Aged Females were significantly elevated at baseline relative to Aged Males, and increased linearly through day 3, when these levels were comparable in both Aged groups. Plasma cytokine levels similarly showed a pattern of protective effects preferentially in Young Females. Expression of the drug transporter MATE2 did not explain the sex/age distinctions. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels (~28-kDa species) showed elevation at day 1 in all groups with highest levels seen in Young Males. Exclusively in Young Females, these levels returned to baseline on day 3, suggestive of a more efficient recovery. In aggregate, we demonstrate, for the first time, a distinctive pattern of response to AKI in Young Females relative to males which appears to be significantly altered in aging. These distinctions may offer novel targets to exploit therapeutically in both females and males in the treatment of AKI.
Impact of the localization of dendritic calcium persistent inward current on the input-output properties of spinal motoneuron pool: a computational study
Authors: Kim Hojeong
Published: July 2017

The goal of this study is to investigate how the dendritic Ca-PIC location influences nonlinear input-output properties and depends on the type of motoneurons across the motoneuron pool. A model motoneuron pool consisting of 10 motoneurons was constructed using a recently developed two-compartment modeling approach that reflected key cell type-associated properties experimentally identified. The dendritic excitability and firing output depended systematically on both the PIC location and the motoneuron type. The PIC onset and offset in the current-voltage ( I–V) relationship tended to occur at more hyperpolarized voltages as the path length to the PIC channels from the soma increased and as the cell type shifted from high- to low-threshold motoneurons. At the same time, the firing acceleration and frequency hysteresis in the frequency-current ( F–I) relationship became faster and larger, respectively. However, the PIC onset-offset hysteresis increased as the path length and the recruitment threshold increased. Furthermore, the gain of frequency-current function before full PIC activation was larger for PIC channels located over distal dendritic regions in low- compared with high-threshold motoneurons. When compared with previously published experimental observations, the modeling concurred when Ca-PIC channels were placed closer to the soma in high- than low-threshold motoneurons in the model motoneuron pool. All of these results suggest that the negative relationship of Ca-PIC location and cell recruitment threshold may underlie the systematic variation in I–V and F–I transformation across the motoneuron pool.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY How does the dendritic location of calcium persistent inward current (Ca-PIC) influence dendritic excitability and firing behavior across the spinal motoneuron pool? This issue was investigated developing a model motoneuron pool that reflected key motoneuron type-specific properties experimentally identified. The simulation results point out the negative relationship between the distance of Ca-PIC source from the soma and cell recruitment threshold as a basis underlying the systematic variation in input-output properties of motoneurons over the motoneuron pool.
CORP: Improving the status quo for measuring whole body sweat losses
Authors: Cheuvront Samuel N. , Kenefick Robert W.
Published: July 2017

The measurement of whole body sweat losses (WBSL) is important to the study of body heat balance, body water balance, establishing guidelines for water and electrolyte consumption, and the study of metabolism and health. In principal, WBSL is measured by an acute change in body mass (ΔBM) in response to a thermoregulatory sweating stimulus. In this Cores of Reproducibility in Physiology (CORP) review, we revisit several basic, but rarely discussed, assumptions important to WBSL research, including the common equivalences: mass = weight = water = sweat. Sources of large potential measurement errors are also discussed, as are best practices for avoiding them. The goal of this CORP review is to ultimately improve the accuracy, reproducibility, and application of WBSL research.