bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Broken Bones and Broken Stones: Exploring Fragmentation in Middle and Late Bronze Age Settlement Contexts in Ireland
Authors: Cleary Kerri
Published: November 2017

This article examines the evidence for fragmentation practices on Middle–Late Bronze Age (c. 1600–700bc) settlement sites in Ireland by looking at two kinds of material: human remains, both burnt and non-burnt, and quern stones. It highlights evidence for the manipulation of non-burnt skulls through ‘de-facing’ and the potential retention of cranial and other fragments for ‘burial’ in settlements. It also explores the more difficult task of determining whether incomplete skeletal representation in cremated remains can be interpreted as deliberate fragmentation, and how the context of deposition must be considered. Human agency in relation to the fragmentation patterns of querns is also examined to understand whether the act of breaking these objects was intentional or unintended and if depositing them was symbolic or simply fortuitous. By discussing this evidence, I hope to contribute to the argument that the funerary and settlement spheres in later prehistoric Ireland were becoming increasingly intertwined.
The strategist’s dilemma: Global dynamic density and the making of US ‘China policy’
Authors: Meijer Hugo , Jensen Benjamin
Published: November 2017

Combining the English School of International Relations and the study of grand strategy decision-making processes, this article investigates how dynamic density – growing volume, velocity, and diversity of interactions within international society – alters states’ strategy formation processes. By contrasting the perspectives of structural realism and the English School on the role of dynamic density in world politics, the piece illustrates the strategist’s dilemma: as global dynamic density in the international society increases, the ability of great powers to formulate coherent grand strategies and policies potentially decreases. Specifically, it contends that growing global dynamic density generates processual and substantive fragmentation in strategy formation. Building on a large body of elite interviews, US policy toward China – and the so-called US ‘rebalance’ to Asia – is used as a probability probe of the central idea of the strategist’s dilemma. In conclusion, we contrast our findings with complex interdependence theory and examine their implications for ‘great power management’ (GPM) as a primary institution of international society. We argue that, by generating processual and substantive fragmentation in strategy formation, global dynamic density complicates GPM by hindering the capacity of great powers to manage and calibrate the competitive and cooperative dynamics at play in a bilateral relationship.
Self-similar properties of decelerating turbulent jets
Authors: Shin Dong-hyuk , Aspden A. J. , Richardson Edward S.
Published: November 2017

The flow in a decelerating turbulent round jet is investigated using direct numerical simulation. The simulations are initialised with a flow field from a statistically stationary turbulent jet. Upon stopping the inflow, a deceleration wave passes through the jet, behind which the velocity field evolves towards a new statistically unsteady self-similar state. Assumption of unsteady self-similar behaviour leads to analytical relations concerning the evolution of the centreline mean axial velocity and the shapes of the radial profiles of the velocity statistics. Consistency between these predictions and the simulation data supports the use of the assumption of self-similarity. The mean radial velocity is predicted to reverse in direction near to the jet centreline as the deceleration wave passes, contributing to an approximately threefold increase in the normalised mass entrainment rate. The shape of the mean axial velocity profile undergoes a relatively small change across the deceleration transient, and this observation provides direct evidence in support of previous models that have assumed that the mean axial velocity profile, and in some cases also the jet spreading angle, remain approximately constant within unsteady jets.
Development of gravity currents on rapidly changing slopes
Authors: Negretti M. E. , Flòr J.-B. , Hopfinger E. J.
Published: November 2017

Gravity currents often occur on complex topographies and are therefore subject to spatial development. We present experimental results on continuously supplied gravity currents moving from a horizontal to a sloping boundary, which is either concave or straight. The change in boundary slope and the consequent acceleration give rise to a transition from a stable subcritical current with a large Richardson number to a Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) unstable current. It is shown here that depending on the overall acceleration parameter$\overline{T_{a}}$, expressing the rate of velocity increase, the currents can adjust gradually to the slope conditions (small$\overline{T_{a}}$) or go through acceleration–deceleration cycles (large$\overline{T_{a}}$). In the latter case, the KH billows at the interface have a strong effect on the flow dynamics, and are observed to cause boundary layer separation. Comparison of currents on concave and straight slopes reveals that the downhill deceleration on concave slopes has no qualitative influence, i.e. the dynamics is entirely dominated by the initial acceleration and ensuing KH billows. Following the similarity theory of Turner 1973 (Buoyancy Effects in Fluids. Cambridge University Press), we derive a general equation for the depth-integrated velocity that exhibits all driving and retarding forces. Comparison of this equation with the experimental velocity data shows that when$\overline{T_{a}}$is large, bottom friction and entrainment are large in the region of appearance of KH billows. The large bottom friction is confirmed by the measured high Reynolds stresses in these regions. The head velocity does not exhibit the same behaviour as the layer velocity. It gradually approaches an equilibrium state even when the acceleration parameter of the layer is large.
Conditioning of cross-flow instability modes using dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators
Authors: Serpieri Jacopo , Yadala Venkata Srikar , Kotsonis Marios
Published: November 2017

In the current study, selective forcing of cross-flow instability modes evolving on a $45^{\circ }$ swept wing at $Re=2.17\times 10^{6}$ is achieved by means of spanwise-modulated plasma actuators, positioned near the leading edge. In the perspective of laminar flow control, the followed methodology holds on the discrete roughness elements/upstream flow deformation (DRE/UFD) approach, thoroughly investigated by e.g. Saric et al. (AIAA Paper 1998-781, 1998), Malik et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 399, 1999, pp. 85–115) and Wassermann & Kloker (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 456, 2002, pp. 49–84). The possibility of using active devices for UFD provides several advantages over passive means, allowing for a wider range of operating $Re$ numbers and pressure distributions. In the present work, customised alternating current dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators have been designed, manufactured and characterised. The authority of the actuators in forcing monochromatic stationary cross-flow modes at different spanwise wavelengths is assessed by means of infrared thermography. Moreover, quantitative spatio-temporal measurements of the boundary layer velocity field are performed using time-resolved particle image velocimetry. The results reveal distinct steady and unsteady forcing contributions of the plasma actuator on the boundary layer. It is shown that the actuators introduce unsteady fluctuations in the boundary layer, amplifying at frequencies significantly lower than the actuation frequency. In line with the DRE/UFD strategy, forcing a sub-critical stationary mode, with a shorter wavelength compared to the naturally selected mode, results in less amplified primary vortices and related fluctuations, compared to the critical forcing case. The effect of the forcing on the flow stability is further inspected by combining the measured actuators body force with the numerical solution of the laminar boundary layer and linear stability theory. The simplified methodology yields fast and computationally cheap estimates on the effect of steady forcing (magnitude and direction) on the boundary layer stability.
Geometry and ice dynamics of the Darwin–Hatherton glacial system, Transantarctic Mountains
Authors: GILLESPIE METTE K. , LAWSON WENDY , RACK WOLFGANG , ANDERSON BRIAN , BLANKENSHIP DONALD D. , YOUNG DUNCAN A. , HOLT JOHN W.
Published: November 2017

The Darwin–Hatherton Glacial system (DHGS) connects the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) with the Ross Ice Shelf and is a key area for understanding past variations in ice thickness of surrounding ice masses. Here we present the first detailed measurements of ice thickness and grounding zone characteristics of the DHGS as well as new measurements of ice velocity. The results illustrate the changes that occur in glacier geometry and ice flux as ice flows from the polar plateau and into the Ross Ice Shelf. The ice discharge and the mean basal ice shelf melt for the first 8.5 km downstream of the grounding line amount to 0.24 ± 0.05 km3 a−1 and 0.3 ± 0.1 m a−1, respectively. As the ice begins to float, ice thickness decreases rapidly and basal terraces develop. Constructed maps of glacier geometry suggest that ice drainage from the EAIS into the Darwin Glacier occurs primarily through a deep subglacial canyon. By contrast, ice thins to <200 m at the head of the much slower flowing Hatherton Glacier. The glaciological field study establishes an improved basis for the interpretation of glacial drift sheets at the link between the EAIS and the Ross Ice Sheet.
CANONICAL LIFTS OF FAMILIES OF ELLIPTIC CURVES
Authors: BORGER JAMES , GURNEY LANCE
Published: November 2017

We show that the canonical lift construction for ordinary elliptic curves over perfect fields of characteristic $p>0$ extends uniquely to arbitrary families of ordinary elliptic curves, even over $p$-adic formal schemes. In particular, the universal ordinary elliptic curve has a canonical lift. The existence statement is largely a formal consequence of the universal property of Witt vectors applied to the moduli space of ordinary elliptic curves, at least with enough level structure. As an application, we show how this point of view allows for more formal proofs of recent results of Finotti and Erdoğan.
TWO-DIMENSIONAL SHRINKING TARGET PROBLEM IN BETA-DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS
Authors: HUSSAIN MUMTAZ , WANG WEILIANG
Published: November 2017

In this paper, we investigate the two-dimensional shrinking target problem in beta-dynamical systems. Let $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}>1$ be a real number and define the $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$-transformation on $[0,1]$ by $T_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}}:x\rightarrow \unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}x\;\text{mod}\;1$. Let $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F9}_{i}$ ($i=1,2$) be two positive functions on $\mathbb{N}$ such that $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F9}_{i}\rightarrow 0$ when $n\rightarrow \infty$. We determine the Lebesgue measure and Hausdorff dimension for the $\limsup$ set $$\begin{eqnarray}W(T_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}},\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F9}_{1},\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F9}_{2})=\{(x,y)\in [0,1]^{2}:|T_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}}^{n}x-x_{0}|<\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F9}_{1}(n),|T_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}}^{n}y-y_{0}|<\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F9}_{2}(n)\text{ for infinitely many }n\in \mathbb{N}\}\end{eqnarray}$$ for any fixed $x_{0},y_{0}\in [0,1]$.
PRODUCTS OF ROTATIONS BY A GIVEN ANGLE IN THE ORTHOGONAL GROUP
Authors: MAHMOUDI M. G.
Published: November 2017

For every rotation $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}$ of the Euclidean space $\mathbb{R}^{n}$ ($n\geq 3$), we find an upper bound for the number $r$ such that $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}$ is a product of $r$ rotations by an angle $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$ ($0<\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}\leq \unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}$). We also find an upper bound for the number $r$ such that $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}$ can be written as a product of $r$ full rotations by an angle $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$.
The Stanford Prison Experiment's Torture Hermeneutics: Difference and Morality in the US University, 1968 to 9/11
Authors: BOUCHARD DANIELLE
Published: November 2017

Beginning with Talal Asad's (2007) claim that torture is a hermeneutic, this article investigates the ongoing relationship between torture and the US university's primary ways of making meaning about racialized difference. The Stanford prison experiment is routinely referenced as a seminal study revealing why people engage in torture. Through a close reading of Philip Zimbardo'sThe Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil, the major account of the SPE, I raise concerns about how torture is used to enable moral development and to promote an understanding of difference as a “problem” to be managed by institutionalized diversity projects.
Morphological variability and molecular characterization of Mawsonascaris australis (Johnston & Mawson, 1943) (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea: Acanthocheilidae) from the brown guitarfish Rhinobatos schlegelii Müller & Henle (Rhinopristiformes: Rhinobatidae)
Authors: Zhao W.-T. , Xu Z. , Li L.
Published: November 2017

A rare ascaridoid species, Mawsonascaris australis (Johnston & Mawson, 1943), is reported from the Taiwan Strait for the first time, and the brown guitarfish Rhinobatos schlegelii Müller & Henle (Rhinopristiformes: Rhinobatidae) represents a new fish host. The detailed morphology of M. australis was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) based on the newly collected specimens. The results revealed some important, but previously unreported or erroneous, morphological features, including the lateral alae starting well posterior to the base of the ventrolateral lips, the presence of one pair of double paracloacal papillae and a single, small precloacal median papilla on the anterior margin of the cloaca. In addition, in order to determine whether the morphometric difference in the relative lengths of the right and left spicules represents intraspecific or interspecific variation, specimens of M. australis were characterized using molecular approaches by sequencing and analysing the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and mitochondrial cox1 genes. The results indicate that this morphometric difference represents intraspecific variability.
Associations between psychosis endophenotypes across brain functional, structural, and cognitive domains
Authors: Blakey R. , Ranlund S. , Zartaloudi E. , Cahn W. , Calafato S. , Colizzi M. , Crespo-Facorro B. , Daniel C. , Díez-Revuelta Á. , Di Forti M. ,   GROUP, Iyegbe C. , Jablensky A. , Jones R. , Hall M.-H. , Kahn R. , Kalaydjieva L. , Kravariti E. , Lin K. , McDonald C. , McIntosh A. M. ,   PEIC, Picchioni M. , Powell J. , Presman A. , Rujescu D. , Schulze K. , Shaikh M. , Thygesen J. H. , Toulopoulou T. , Van Haren N. , Van Os J. , Walshe M. ,   WTCCC2, Murray R. M. , Bramon E.
Published: November 2017

Background

A range of endophenotypes characterise psychosis, however there has been limited work understanding if and how they are inter-related.

Methods

This multi-centre study includes 8754 participants: 2212 people with a psychotic disorder, 1487 unaffected relatives of probands, and 5055 healthy controls. We investigated cognition [digit span (N= 3127), block design (N= 5491), and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (N= 3543)], electrophysiology [P300 amplitude and latency (N= 1102)], and neuroanatomy [lateral ventricular volume (N= 1721)]. We used linear regression to assess the interrelationships between endophenotypes.

Results

The P300 amplitude and latency were not associated (regression coef. −0.06, 95% CI −0.12 to 0.01,p= 0.060), and P300 amplitude was positively associated with block design (coef. 0.19, 95% CI 0.10–0.28,p< 0.001). There was no evidence of associations between lateral ventricular volume and the other measures (allp> 0.38). All the cognitive endophenotypes were associated with each other in the expected directions (allp< 0.001). Lastly, the relationships between pairs of endophenotypes were consistent in all three participant groups, differing for some of the cognitive pairings only in the strengths of the relationships.

Conclusions

The P300 amplitude and latency are independent endophenotypes; the former indexing spatial visualisation and working memory, and the latter is hypothesised to index basic processing speed. Individuals with psychotic illnesses, their unaffected relatives, and healthy controls all show similar patterns of associations between endophenotypes, endorsing the theory of a continuum of psychosis liability across the population.
We need more precise, quantitative models of sentiments
Authors: Galesic Mirta
Published: November 2017

The constructs of attitudes, emotions, and sentiments are often only verbally defined and therefore somewhat vague. The sentiment construct might be fruitfully modeled as a result of sampling processes, complementing the Attitude–Scenario–Emotion model in explaining similarities and differences in sentiments across different cultures.
Warmth, competence, and closeness may provide more empirically grounded starts for a theory of sentiments
Authors: Hruschka Daniel J.
Published: November 2017

Gervais & Fessler dissect the folk concept of “contempt” to argue for a functionally integrated model of attitudes and emotions in the context of social relationships. Existing studies of how evaluations of warmth, competence, and closeness shape people's reactions and behaviors towards others may help in operationalizing and testing the proposed model.
Building a house of sentiment on sand: Epistemological issues with contempt
Authors: Lench Heather C. , Bench Shane W. , Perez Kenneth A.
Published: November 2017

Contempt shares its features with other emotions, indicating that there is no justification for creating “sentiment” as a new category of feelings. Scientific categories must be created or updated on the basis of evidence. Building a new category on the currently limited contempt literature would be akin to building a house on sand – likely to fall at any moment.
Seeing the elephant: Parsimony, functionalism, and the emergent design of contempt and other sentiments
Authors: Gervais Matthew M. , Fessler Daniel M. T.
Published: November 2017

The target article argues that contempt is a sentiment, and that sentiments are the deep structure of social affect. The 26 commentaries meet these claims with a range of exciting extensions and applications, as well as critiques. Most significantly, we reply that construction and emergence are necessary for, not incompatible with, evolved design, while parsimony requires explanatory adequacy and predictive accuracy, not mere simplicity.
Does consonant–vowel skeletal structure play a role early in lexical processing? Evidence from masked priming
Authors: PEREA MANUEL , MARCET ANA , ACHA JOANA
Published: November 2017

Is the specific consonant–vowel (CV) letter combination of a word a basic source of information for lexical access in the early stages of processing? We designed two masked priming lexical decision experiments to respond to this question by directly examining the role of CV skeletal structure in written-word recognition. To that aim, each target word was preceded by a one-letter different nonword prime that kept the same CV skeletal structure or not. We also included an identity prime as a control. Results showed faster word identification times in the CV congruent condition than in the CV incongruent condition when a consonant was replaced from the target (paesaje–PAISAJE < parsaje–PAISAJE), but not when it was a vowel (alusno–ALUMNO = alueno–ALUMNO). This dissociation poses problems for those accounts based on an early activation of the CV skeletal structure during lexical processing. Instead, this pattern of data favors the view that it is the word's consonant skeleton rather than the CV skeletal structure that is the key element in the early phases of word processing. We discuss the theoretical and methodological implications of these findings.
Geology of the Nelson Limestone, Postel Nunatak, Patuxent Range, Antarctica
Authors: Evans Kevin Ray , McKenna Lawrence W. , Lieberman Bruce S. , Weichert Wesley Donald , Macleod Kenneth G.
Published: November 2017

Postel Nunatak in the Patuxent Range has been previously mapped as Nelson Limestone but there was no biostratigraphic support for that interpretation until now. We confirm that limestone exposures at Postel Nunatak are at least partly correlated with the Nelson Limestone of the Neptune Range, 160 km north-east, and are not correlative with the lower Cambrian Schneider Hills Limestone of the Argentina Range. Upper beds have yielded the trilobitesSuludella? davniiPalmer & Gatehouse, 1972 andSolenopleura pruinaPalmer & Gatehouse, 1972, which provide a basis for assignment to Cambrian Series 3 (late middle Cambrian), within the Drumian or lower Guzhangian stages. Limestone beds were deposited in a shallow marine setting, ranging from supratidal to lagoonal facies with rare subtidal intervals. These settings contrast with deeper water facies of the Neptune Range. Despite limitations in sampling density, isotopic analysis indicates that a greater than +2.5‰ shift in δ13C is consistent with δ13C trends documented for the Drumian Stage. Because the upper and lower contacts at Postel Nunatak are covered by snow and ice, the relationship with rocks mapped as the Patuxent Formation in the Patuxent Range remains uncertain, but part of it may belong to the Precambrian Hannah Ridge Formation.
Craft guild ideology and urban literature: theFour Crowned Martyrsand theLives of Saints Nazarius and Celsusas told by the masons’ guild of fifteenth-century Ghent
Authors: CROMBIE LAURA
Published: November 2017

The economic and political dimensions of guilds in medieval Flanders, especially medieval Ghent, have been well studied for generations. It is often noted that guilds were more than work organizations, and that their religious and social activities made them very like confraternities, but exploring the cultural and ideological side of guilds can be hampered by less surviving evidence. The present article attempts to address this lacuna by using poems written by/for the masons’ guild in fifteenth-century Ghent, taking an interdisciplinary perspective to examine ideals of community, hierarchy and the sacralization of labour from an urban perspective.
Unsupervised learning of semantic representation for documents with the law of total probability
Authors: WEI YANG , WEI JINMAO , YANG ZHENGLU
Published: November 2017

The semantic information of documents needs to be represented because it is the basis for many applications, such as document summarization, web search, and text analysis. Although many studies have explored this problem by enriching document vectors with the relatedness of the words involved, the performance remains far from satisfactory because the physical boundaries of documents hinder the evaluation of the relatedness between words. To address this problem, we propose an effective approach to further infer the implicit relatedness between words via their common related words. To avoid overestimation of the implicit relatedness, we restrict the inference in terms of the marginal probabilities of the words based on the law of total probability. The proposed method measures the relatedness between words, which is confirmed theoretically and experimentally. Thorough evaluation on real datasets illustrates that significant improvement on document clustering has been achieved with the proposed method compared with state-of-the-art methods.
THE DEMON DRINK
Authors: NELSON MARK IAN , HAGEDOORN PETER , WORTHY ANNETTE L.
Published: November 2017

We provide a qualitative analysis of a system of nonlinear differential equations that model the spread of alcoholism through a population. Alcoholism is viewed as an infectious disease and the model treats it within asirframework. The model exhibits two generic types of steady-state diagram. The first of these is qualitatively the same as the steady-state diagram in the standardsirmodel. The second exhibits a backwards transcritical bifurcation. As a consequence of this, there is a region of bistability in which a population of problem drinkers can be sustained, even when the reproduction number is less than one. We obtain a succinct formula for this scenario when the transition between these two cases occurs.
A NOTE ON COMPUTING THE INTERSECTION OF SPHERES IN
Authors: MAIOLI D. S. , LAVOR C. , GONÇALVES D. S.
Published: November 2017

Finding the intersection of $n$-dimensional spheres in $\mathbb{R}^{n}$ is an interesting problem with applications in trilateration, global positioning systems, multidimensional scaling and distance geometry. In this paper, we generalize some known results on finding the intersection of spheres, based on QR decomposition. Our main result describes the intersection of any number of $n$-dimensional spheres without the assumption that the centres of the spheres are affinely independent. A possible application in the interval distance geometry problem is also briefly discussed.
Between Choice and Obligation: An Exploratory Assessment of Forced Marriage Problems and Policies among Migrants in the United States
Authors: Marcus Anthony , Begum Popy , Alsabahi Laila , Curtis Ric
Published: November 2017

Recently, in the United States (US) there has been increasing interest in and advocacy for developing research and policies that identify and address what has, in the European context, been called child and forced marriage, in which migrant parents, typically from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) impose marital choices on their Western-raised children, through coercion, psychological pressure, or the threat of violence. Despite widespread international concern, there remains little research-based empirical knowledge about the problem in the United States. Drawing on interviews with 100 City University of New York students from MENASA families, this study documents significant intergenerational conflict over honour, sexuality, and marital choice and suggests a high likelihood that coercive marital situations are present in the US. However, the different socio-political environment encountered by migrant families in the US may not effectively accommodate European style anti-forced marriage policy constructions and criminal justice responses.
Home on Sunday, Home on Tuesday? Secular Political Participation in the United States
Authors: Brockway Mark
Published: November 2017

The American religious landscape is transforming due to a sharp rise in the percentage of the population that is nonreligious. Political and demographic causes have been proffered but little attention has been paid to the current and potential political impact of these “nones,” especially given the established link between religion, participation, and party politics. I argue that the political impact of nonreligious Americans lies in an unexplored subset of the nonreligious population called committed seculars. Committed seculars de-identify with religion, they adopt secular beliefs, and join organizations structured on secular beliefs. Using a unique survey of a secular organization, the American Humanist Association, I demonstrate that committed seculars are extremely partisan and participatory, and are driven to participate by their ideological extremity in relation to the Democratic Party. These results point to a long-term mobilizing dimension for Democrats and indicate the potential polarizing influence of seculars in party politics.
Tolerance of Several Legumes to Residual Imazapyr Applied Under Greenhouse Conditions
Authors: Zaccaro Maria Leticia M. , Byrd John D. , Russell David P.
Published: November 2017

Control of noxious weeds such as cogongrass depend heavily on chemical treatment, but success is limited unless integrated with other practices. Utilization of cover crops in the system is ideal to avoid the use of excess herbicide and replace vegetation that will resist cogongrass reinvasion. Greenhouse studies were conducted from 2013 through 2015 at Mississippi State University with the objective to evaluate ‘AG4934’ RR/STS soybean, Korean lespedeza, crimson clover and ‘Durana’ white clover tolerance to soil-applied imazapyr at selected rates and various planting times after application. Plastic containers filled with a mixture of 2:1 sand:topsoil were treated with imazapyr at 0, 70, 140 and 280 g ae ha–1. Legume species were planted 0, 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment (MAT). The factorial experimental design included legume species, imazapyr rate and planting time. At 6 weeks after each planting, the number of seedlings, average plant height and shoot biomass were measured. Statistical analysis revealed the imazapyr rate x planting time interaction was significant with respect to number of emerged seedlings, average height and shoot biomass per plant for each species. It was observed that the legumes planted at 0 MAT of imazapyr at 70 g ae ha–1or higher reduced emerged seedlings, average height and biomass production. In general, seeds planted 1 MAT or later in combination with these same herbicide rates, showed less growth reductions than treatments seeded 0 MAT. In conclusion, sites treated with imazapyr rates from 70 to 280 g ae ha–1for weed control, should not be seeded with legume ground covers less than 1 month after treatment to reduce emergence failure, plant height and biomass production.
Double-stranded RNA released from damaged articular chondrocytes promotes cartilage degeneration via Toll-like receptor 3-interleukin-33 pathway
Authors: Li Changwei , Chen Kaizhe , Kang Hui , Yan Yufei , Liu Kewei , Guo Changjun , Qi Jin , Yang Kai , Wang Fei , Guo Lei , He Chuan , Deng Lianfu
Published: November 2017

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), including Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), are involved in arthritic responses; however, whether interleukin-33 (IL-33) is involved in TLR3-mediated cartilage degeneration is unknown. Here, we found that IL-33 was abundantly increased in chondrocytes of osteoarthritis, especially the chondrocytes of weight-bearing cartilage. Furthermore, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) released from damaged articular chondrocytes induced by mechanical stretching upregulated IL-33 expression to a greater degree than IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α. dsRNA induced IL-33 expression via the TLR3-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. In addition, formation of the p65 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ transcriptional complex was required for dsRNA-induced IL-33 expression. IL-33, in turn, acted on chondrocytes to induce matrix metalloproteinase-1/13 and inhibit type II collagen expression. These findings reveal that dsRNA released from damaged articular chondrocytes promotes cartilage degeneration via the TLR3-IL-33 pathway.
A metastasis biomarker (MetaSite Breast™ Score) is associated with distant recurrence in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer
Authors: Sparano Joseph A. , Gray Robert , Oktay Maja H. , Entenberg David , Rohan Thomas , Xue Xiaonan , Donovan Michael , Peterson Michael , Shuber Anthony , Hamilton Douglas A. , D’Alfonso Timothy , Goldstein Lori J. , Gertler Frank , Davidson Nancy E. , Condeelis John , Jones Joan
Published: November 2017

Metastasis is the primary cause of death in early-stage breast cancer. We evaluated the association between a metastasis biomarker, which we call “Tumor Microenviroment of Metastasis” (TMEM), and risk of recurrence. TMEM are microanatomic structures where invasive tumor cells are in direct contact with endothelial cells and macrophages, and which serve as intravasation sites for tumor cells into the circulation. We evaluated primary tumors from 600 patients with Stage I–III breast cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy in trial E2197 (NCT00003519), plus endocrine therapy for hormone receptor (HR)+ disease. TMEM were identified and enumerated using an analytically validated, fully automated digital pathology/image analysis method (MetaSite Breast™), hereafter referred to as MetaSite Score (MS). The objectives were to determine the association between MS and distant relapse free interval (DRFI) and relapse free interval (RFI). MS was not associated with tumor size or nodal status, and correlated poorly with Oncotype DX Recurrence Score (r = 0.29) in 297 patients with HR+/HER2- disease. Proportional hazards models revealed a significant positive association between continuous MS and DRFI (p = 0.001) and RFI (p = 0.00006) in HR+/HER2- disease in years 0–5, and by MS tertiles for DRFI (p = 0.04) and RFI (p = 0.01), but not after year 5 or in triple negative or HER2+ disease. Multivariate models in HR+/HER- disease including continuous MS, clinical covariates, and categorical Recurrence Score (<18, 18–30, > 30) showed MS is an independent predictor for 5-year RFI (p = 0.05). MetaSite Score provides prognostic information for early recurrence complementary to clinicopathologic features and Recurrence Score.
The microbiological characteristics and risk factors for PICC-related bloodstream infections in intensive care unit
Authors: Zhang Shumin , Sun Xiaofeng , Lei Yan
Published: November 2017

The study was aimed to investigate the pathogens distribution and risk factors for PICC-related bloodstream infection in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. 402 patients placed with PICC in ICU were recruited in the study. The microbiological characteristics of PICC-related infection were investigated by Vitek 2 Compact automated microbial system. Antibiotics sensitivity was performed with disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods. Multivariate logistic and cox analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for PICC-related infection in ICU patients. 38 PICC-related infection cases were observed, and its morbidity was 9.45%. The morbidity was significantly higher in power PICC cases than that in common PICC cases. Gram-positive bacteria might be responsible for the major infection cases, followed by gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. Drug sensitivity analyses indicated that gram-negative bacteria showed low resistance to carbapenems antibiotics, and Cefperazone/sulbactam. The gram-positive bacterial exhibited sensitive to Teicoplanin and Vancomycin. The isolated fungi showed low resistance to the commonly used antifungal antibiotics. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that power PICC, high Charison scores, diabetes mellitus, double lumens triple lumens were risk factors for PICC-related infections among ICU patients. Power PICC, high Charison scores, diabetes mellitus, multi-lumens are risk factors for PICC-related bloodstream infection in ICU patients.
Molecular spectrum of secretome regulates the relative hepatogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow and dental tissue
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Kumar Vinod , Rattan Vidya , Jha Vivekananda , Pal Arnab , Bhattacharyya Shalmoli
Published: November 2017

Liver regeneration is a spontaneous process that occurs after liver injury, but acute liver failure is a complex and fatal disease which is difficult to treat. Cell-based therapies are promising alternative therapeutic approach for liver failure and different cell sources have been tested in this regard. We investigated the comparative hepatogenic potential of human bone marrow stem cells (BMSC) with stem cells derived from human dental pulp (DPSC), apical papilla (SCAP) and follicle (DFSC) during this study. Hepatogenic potential of stem cells was assessed by functional assays at both genetic and protein level. We observed higher expression of most of the hepatic markers post differentiation in DPSCs compared to other cell types. LC-MS/MS analysis of stem cell secretome revealed the presence of different proteins related to hepatogenic lineage like growth arrest specific protein 6, oncostatin M, hepatocyte growth factor receptor etc. Interactome and Reactome pathway analysis revealed the interaction of DPSC/SCAP secretome proteins and these proteins were found to be associated with various pathways involved in lipid transport and metabolism. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study regarding detailed investigation of hepatogenic potential of BMSCs v/s DMSCs (DPSC, SCAP & DFSC) along-with secretome characterization.
Quantitative text feature analysis of autobiographical interview data: prediction of episodic details, semantic details and temporal discounting
Authors: Peters J. , Wiehler A. , Bromberg U.
Published: November 2017

Autobiographical memory and episodic future thinking (i.e. the capacity to project oneself into an imaginary future) are typically assessed using the Autobiographical Interview (AI). In the AI, subjects are provided with verbal cues (e.g. “your wedding day”) and are asked to freely recall (or imagine) the cued past (or future) event. Narratives are recorded, transcribed and analyzed using an established manual scoring procedure (Levine et al., 2002). Here we applied automatic text feature extraction methods to a relatively large (n = 86) set of AI data. In a first proof-of-concept approach, we used regression models to predict internal (episodic) and semantic detail sum scores from low-level linguistic features. Across a range of different regression methods, prediction accuracy averaged at about 0.5 standard deviations. Given the known association of episodic future thinking with temporal discounting behavior, i.e. the preference for smaller-sooner over larger-later rewards, we also ran models predicting temporal discounting directly from linguistic features of AI narratives. Here, prediction accuracy was much lower, but involved the same text feature components as prediction of internal (episodic) details. Our findings highlight the potential feasibility of using tools from quantitative text analysis to analyze AI datasets, and we discuss potential future applications of this approach.
Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate administration during early life: effects on performance, immunity and microbial community of European sea bass yolk-sac larvae
Authors: Franke Andrea , Roth Olivia , Schryver Peter De , Bayer Till , Garcia-Gonzalez Linsey , Künzel Sven , Bossier Peter , Miest Joanna J. , Clemmesen Catriona
Published: November 2017

The reliable production of marine fish larvae is one of the major bottlenecks in aquaculture due to high mortalities mainly caused by infectious diseases. To evaluate if the compound poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) might be a suitable immunoprophylactic measure in fish larviculture, its capacity to improve immunity and performance in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) yolk-sac larvae was explored. PHB was applied from mouth opening onwards to stimulate the developing larval immune system at the earliest possible point in time. Larval survival, growth, microbiota composition, gene expression profiles and disease resistance were assessed. PHB administration improved larval survival and, furthermore, altered the larva-associated microbiota composition. The bacterial challenge test using pathogenic Vibrio anguillarum revealed that the larval disease resistance was not influenced by PHB. The expression profiles of 26 genes involved e.g. in the immune response showed that PHB affected the expression of the antimicrobial peptides ferritin (fer) and dicentracin (dic), however, the response to PHB was inconsistent and weaker than previously demonstrated for sea bass post-larvae. Hence, the present study highlights the need for more research focusing on the immunostimulation of different early developmental stages for gaining a more comprehensive picture and advancing a sustainable production of high quality fry.
Extreme behavioural shifts by baboons exploiting risky, resource-rich, human-modified environments
Authors: Fehlmann Gaelle , O’Riain M. Justin , Kerr-Smith Catherine , Hailes Stephen , Luckman Adrian , Shepard Emily L. C. , King Andrew J.
Published: November 2017

A range of species exploit anthropogenic food resources in behaviour known as ‘raiding’. Such behavioural flexibility is considered a central component of a species’ ability to cope with human-induced environmental changes. Here, we study the behavioural processes by which raiding male chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) exploit the opportunities and mitigate the risks presented by raiding in the suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa. Ecological sampling and interviews conducted with ‘rangers’ (employed to manage the baboons’ space use) revealed that baboons are at risk of being herded out of urban spaces that contain high-energy anthropogenic food sources. Baboon-attached motion/GPS tracking collars showed that raiding male baboons spent almost all of their time at the urban edge, engaging in short, high-activity forays into the urban space. Moreover, activity levels were increased where the likelihood of deterrence by rangers was greater. Overall, these raiding baboons display a time-activity balance that is drastically altered in comparison to individuals living in more remote regions. We suggest our methods can be used to obtain precise estimates of management impact for this and other species in conflict with people.
Decoy Wnt receptor (sLRP6E1E2)-expressing adenovirus induces anti-fibrotic effect via inhibition of Wnt and TGF-β signaling
Authors: Lee Won Jai , Lee Jung-Sun , Ahn Hyo Min , Na Youjin , Yang Chae Eun , Lee Ju Hee , Hong JinWoo , Yun Chae-Ok
Published: November 2017

Aberrant activation of the canonical Wingless type (Wnt) signaling pathway plays a key role in the development of hypertrophic scars and keloids, and this aberrant activation of Wnt pathway can be a potential target for the development of novel anti-fibrotic agents. In this study, we evaluated the anti-fibrotic potential of a soluble Wnt decoy receptor (sLRP6E1E2)-expressing non-replicating adenovirus (Ad; dE1-k35/sLRP6E1E2) on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), keloid fibroblasts (KFs), and keloid tissue explants. Higher Wnt3a and β-catenin expression was observed in the keloid region compared to the adjacent normal tissues. The activity of β-catenin and mRNA expression of type-I and -III collagen were significantly decreased following treatment with dE1-k35/sLRP6E1E2 in HDFs and KFs. The expression of LRP6, β-catenin, phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta, Smad 2/3 complex, and TGF-β1 were decreased in Wnt3a- or TGF-β1-activated HDFs, following administration of dE1-k35/sLRP6E1E2. Moreover, dE1-k35/sLRP6E1E2 markedly inhibited nuclear translocation of both β-catenin and Smad 2/3 complex. The expression levels of type-I and -III collagen, fibronectin, and elastin were also significantly reduced in keloid tissue explants after treatment with dE1-k35/sLRP6E1E2. These results indicate that Wnt decoy receptor-expressing Ad can degrade extracellular matrix in HDFs, KFs, and primary keloid tissue explants, and thus it may be beneficial for treatment of keloids.
Differential transcriptome regulation by 3,5-T2 and 3′,3,5-T3 in brain and liver uncovers novel roles for thyroid hormones in tilapia
Authors: Olvera A. , Martyniuk C. J. , Buisine N. , Jiménez-Jacinto V. , Sanchez-Flores A. , Sachs L. M. , Orozco A.
Published: November 2017

Although 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3) is considered to be the primary bioactive thyroid hormone (TH) due to its high affinity for TH nuclear receptors (TRs), new data suggest that 3,5-diiodothyronine (T2) can also regulate transcriptional networks. To determine the functional relevance of these bioactive THs, RNA-seq analysis was conducted in the cerebellum, thalamus-pituitary and liver of tilapia treated with equimolar doses of T2 or T3. We identified a total of 169, 154 and 2863 genes that were TH-responsive (FDR < 0.05) in the tilapia cerebellum, thalamus-pituitary and liver, respectively. Among these, 130, 96 and 349 genes were uniquely regulated by T3, whereas 22, 40 and 929 were exclusively regulated by T2 under our experimental paradigm. The expression profiles in response to TH treatment were tissue-specific, and the diversity of regulated genes also resulted in a variety of different pathways being affected by T2 and T3. T2 regulated gene networks associated with cell signalling and transcriptional pathways, while T3 regulated pathways related to cell signalling, the immune system, and lipid metabolism. Overall, the present work highlights the relevance of T2 as a key bioactive hormone, and reveals some of the different functional strategies that underpin TH pleiotropy.
Deconstructing atypical eye gaze perception in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Pantelis Peter C. , Kennedy Daniel P.
Published: November 2017

The ability to discern the target of another person’s gaze is critical for social and linguistic development, but functions atypically in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A multi-pronged approach allowed us to deconstruct this complex ability, to uncover the fundamental bases of this impairment. We analyzed performance on a novel gaze perception task with classical psychophysical metrics (precision and accuracy), principal component analysis (in the analysis of spatial biases), and Bayesian computational modeling (in the analysis of individual subjects’ use of contextual salience cues). Compared to controls, adults with ASD were less precise and less accurate in their judgments of gaze direction. Further, although nearly all controls exhibited a prototypical pattern of spatial bias in their judgments, this spatial prior was severely disrupted among a large subset of ASD participants. By contrast, Bayesian computational modeling revealed that both groups exploited contextual salience cues in their gaze judgments, and that the average strength of this contextual prior was similar for both groups. This comprehensive study revealed that although most ASD participants performed atypically in at least one aspect of gaze perception, the particular aspects disrupted varied idiosyncratically across individuals. Impairment in gaze perception in ASD likely arises via heterogeneous underlying mechanisms.
Mechanotransduction of matrix stiffness in regulation of focal adhesion size and number: reciprocal regulation of caveolin-1 and β1 integrin
Authors: Yeh Yi-Chun , Ling Jin-Ying , Chen Wan-Chun , Lin Hsi-Hui , Tang Ming-Jer
Published: November 2017

Focal adhesion (FA) assembly, mediated by integrin activation, responds to matrix stiffness; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we showed that β1 integrin and caveolin-1 (Cav1) levels were decreased with declining matrix stiffness. Soft matrix selectively downregulated β1 integrin by endocytosis and subsequent lysosomal degradation. Disruption of lipid rafts with methyl-β-cyclodextrin or nystatin, or knockdown of Cav1 by siRNA decreased cell spreading, FA assembly, and β1 integrin protein levels in cells cultured on stiff matrix. Overexpression of Cav1, particularly the phospho-mimetic mutant Cav1-Y14D, averted soft matrix-induced decreases in β1 integrin protein levels, cell spreading, and FA assembly in NMuMG cells. Interestingly, overexpression of an auto-clustering β1 integrin hindered soft matrix-induced reduction of Cav1 and cell spreading, which suggests a reciprocal regulation between β1 integrin and Cav1. Finally, co-expression of this auto-clustering β1 integrin and Cav1-Y14D synergistically enhanced cell spreading, and FA assembly in HEK293T cells cultured on either stiff ( > G Pa) or soft (0.2 kPa) matrices. Collectively, these results suggest that matrix stiffness governs the expression of β1 integrin and Cav1, which reciprocally control each other, and subsequently determine FA assembly and turnover.