bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Telomeres: Linking stress and survival, ecology and evolution
Authors: Haussmann Mark F. , Marchetto Nicole M.
Published: September 2019

Telomeres are protective structures at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. The loss of telomeres through cell division and oxidative stress is related to cellular aging, organismal growth and disease. In this way, telomeres link molecular and cellular mechanisms with organismal processes, and may explain variation in a number of important life-history traits. Here, we discuss how telomere biology relates to the study of physiological ecology and life history evolution. We emphasize current knowledge on how telomeres may relate to growth, survival and lifespan in natural populations. We finish by examining interesting new connections between telomeres and the glucocorticoid stress response. Glucocorticoids are often employed as indices of physiological condition, and there is evidence that the glucocorticoid stress response is adaptive. We suggest that one way that glucocorticoids impact organismal survival is through elevated oxidative stress and telomere loss. Future work needs to establish and explore the link between the glucocorticoid stress response and telomere shortening in natural populations. If a link is found, it provides an explanatory mechanism by which environmental perturbation impacts life history trajectories.
Covariation between personalities and individual differences in coping with stress: Converging evidence and hypotheses
Authors: Carere Claudio , Caramaschi Doretta , Fawcett Tim W.
Published: September 2019

In the past decade there has been a profusion of studies highlighting covariation between individual differences in stress physiology and behavioural profiles, here called personalities. Such individual differences in ways of coping with stress are relevant both in biomedicine, since different personalities may experience a different stress and disease vulnerability, and in behavioural ecology, since their adaptive value and evolutionary maintenance are the subject of debate. However, the precise way in which individual stress differences and personalities are linked is unclear. Here we provide an updated overview of this covariation across different species and taxa, consider its functional significance and present working hypotheses for how behavioural and physiological responses to stress might be causally linked, affecting life-history traits such as dispersal and life-span.
On the intraspecific variability in basal metabolism and the food habits hypothesis in birds
Authors: Bozinovic F. , Sabat P.
Published: September 2019

The food habits hypothesis (FHH) stands as one of the most striking and often-cited interspecific patterns to emerge from comparative studies of endothermic energetics. The FHH identifies three components of diet that potentially produce variability in mass-independent BMR, i.e. food quality, food availability, and food predictability or environmental productivity. The hypothesis predicts that species with diets of low energy content and/or low digestibility should evolve low mass-independent BMRs. The effects of food habits on BMR have been widely investigated at the interspecific level, but the variation between individuals and populations has been largely ignored. Our focus is to compare predictions derived from interspecific studies with data collected from within-species studies to explore the mechanisms and functional significance of adaptive responses predicted by the food-habits hypothesis among birds. We conclude that if BMR is correlated with daily energy expenditure, then organisms that can lower BMR will reduce daily energy expenditure and hence, food requirements. Birds that lower BMR in stressful environments may increase survival. Nevertheless, the mechanism (s) by which birds eating a low quality diet reduce BMR and whether lower BMR affects fitness remain to be determined.
Behavioral and physiological flexibility are used by birds to manage energy and support investment in the early stages of reproduction
Authors: Vézina François , Salvante Katrina G.
Published: September 2019

Interest in phenotypic flexibility has increased dramatically over the last decade, but flexibility during reproduction has received relatively little attention from avian scientists, despite its possible impact on fitness. Because most avian species maintain atrophied reproductive organs when not active, reproduction in birds requires major tissue remodeling in preparation for breeding. Females undergo rapid (days) recrudescence and regression of their reproductive organs at each breeding attempt, while males grow their organs ahead of time at a much slower rate (weeks) and may maintain them at maximal size throughout the breeding season. Reproduction is associated with significant metabolic costs. Egg production leads to a 22%-27% increase in resting metabolic rate (RMR) over non-reproductive values. This is partly due to the activity of the oviduct, an organ that may allow females to adjust reproductive investment by modulating egg size and quality. In males, gonadal recrudescence may lead to a 30% increase in RMR, but the data are inconsistent and general conclusions regarding energetic costs of reproduction in males will require more research. Recent studies on captive female zebra finches describe the impacts of these costs on daily energy budgets and highlight the strategies used by birds to maintain their investment in reproduction when energy is limited. Whenever possible, birds use behavioral flexibility as a first means of saving energy. Decreasing locomotor activity saves energy during challenges such as egg production or exposure to cold temperatures and is an efficient way to buffer variation in individual daily energy budgets. However, when behavioral flexibility is not possible, birds must rely on flexibility at the physiological level to meet energy demands. In zebra finches breeding in the cold, this results in a reduced pace of laying, likely due to down-regulation of both reproductive and non-reproductive function, allowing females to defend minimal egg size and maintain reproductive success. More research involving a range of species in captive and free-living conditions is needed to determine how phenotypic flexibility during tissue remodeling and early reproductive investment translates to natural conditions and affects fitness.
European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging expert consensus paper: a comprehensive review of cardiovascular magnetic resonance normal values of cardiac chamber size and aortic root in adults and recommendations for grading severity
Authors: Petersen Steffen E , Khanji Mohammed Y , Plein Sven , Lancellotti Patrizio , Bucciarelli-Ducci Chiara
Published: September 2019

This consensus paper provides a framework for grading of severity of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging-based assessment of chamber size, function, and aortic measurements. This does not currently exist for CMR measures. Differences exist in the normal reference values between echocardiography and CMR along with differences in methods used to derive these. We feel that this document will significantly complement the current literature and provide a practical guide for clinicians in daily reporting and interpretation of CMR scans. This manuscript aims to complement a recent comprehensive review of CMR normal value publications to recommend cut-off values required for severity grading. Standardization of severity grading for clinically useful CMR parameters is encouraged to lead to clearer and easier communication with referring clinicians and may contribute to better patient care. To this end, the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) has formed this expert panel that has critically reviewed the literature and has come to a consensus on approaches to severity grading for commonly quantified CMR parameters.
Effectiveness and safety of rivaroxaban vs. warfarin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and coronary or peripheral artery disease
Authors: Coleman Craig I , Baker William L , Meinecke Anna-Katharina , Eriksson Daniel , Martinez Brandon K , Bunz Thomas J , Alberts Mark J
Published: September 2019

Aims

There are scarce data evaluating the effectiveness and safety of rivaroxaban vs. warfarin in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients with concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or peripheral artery disease (PAD) treated in routine practice.

Methods and results

Using MarketScan data from January 2012 to December 2017, we identified oral anticoagulant (OAC)-naïve NVAF patients receiving rivaroxaban (15–20 mg once daily) or warfarin, with comorbid CAD and/or PAD and ≥12 months of insurance coverage before OAC initiation. Differences in baseline covariates between cohorts were adjusted using inverse probability-of-treatment weights based on propensity scores (standardized differences <0.1 achieved for all covariates after adjustment). Endpoints included a composite of major thrombotic vascular events (MTVEs) (including ischaemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or need for lower limb revascularization/major amputation) and major bleeding. Patients were followed until an event-of-interest, discontinuation/switch of index OAC, insurance disenrolment, or end-of-data availability. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Cox regression. We identified 3257 rivaroxaban (30.4% received a 15 mg dose) and 5046 warfarin users with NVAF and comorbid CAD and/or PAD. Rivaroxaban was associated with a 32% (95% CI = 8–50%) reduction in the composite of MTVE. No significant difference in major bleeding was observed (HR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.84–1.52). No statistical interactions were noted in subgroup analyses performed on the MTVE (P-interaction ≥ 0.35 for all) or major bleeding endpoints (P-interaction ≥ 0.09 for all).

Conclusion

Among patients with NVAF and comorbid CAD and/or PAD, rivaroxaban use was associated with a reduced risk of MTVEs vs. warfarin, without significantly increasing major bleeding risk.
Russian food embargo and the lost trade
Authors: Cheptea Angela , Gaigné Carl
Published: September 2019

We analyse the impact of the Russian food embargo on European and Russian trade patterns using a triple-difference estimation strategy. We quantify the embargo-induced loss in EU28 exports at €125 million per month. Only 45 per cent of the drop in EU exports of banned products to Russia was due to the ban. EU member states were unevenly affected by the ban. The estimated losses of welfare in Russia range from 0.2 to 0.6 per cent (In absolute terms, this represents €18 to €58 of the 2013 revenue of the average Russian consumer.).
How to run an experimental auction: a review of recent advances
Authors: Canavari Maurizio , Drichoutis Andreas C , Lusk Jayson L , Nayga Rodolfo M
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we review recent advances in experimental auctions and provide practical advice and guidelines for researchers. We focus on issues related to randomisation to treatment and causal identification of treatment effects, design issues such as selection between different elicitation formats, multiple auction groups in a single session and house money effects. We also discuss sample size and power analysis issues in relation to recent trends in experimental research about pre-registration and pre-analysis plans. We position our discussion with respect to how the agricultural economics profession could benefit from practices adapted in the experimental economics community. We then present the pros and cons of moving auction studies from the laboratory to the field and review the recent literature on behavioural factors that have been identified as important for auction outcomes.
Ethnic Discrimination in Multi-ethnic Societies: Evidence from Russia
Authors: Bessudnov Alexey , Shcherbak Andrey
Published: September 2019

Field experiments have provided ample evidence of ethnic and racial discrimination in the labour market. Less is known about how discrimination varies in multi-ethnic societies, where the ethnic composition of populations is different across locations. Inter-group contact and institutional arrangements for ethnic minorities can mitigate the sense of group threat and reduce discrimination. To provide empirical evidence of this, we conduct a field experiment of ethnic discrimination in Russia with a sample of over 9,000 job applications. We compare ethnically homogeneous cities and cities with ethnically mixed populations and privileged institutional status of ethnic minorities. We find strong discrimination against visible minorities in the former but much weaker discrimination in the latter. These findings demonstrate how institutions and historical contexts of inter-group relations can affect ethnic prejudice and discrimination.
Introducing Trait Networks to Elucidate the Fluidity of Organismal Evolution Using Palaeontological Data
Authors: Lord Etienne , Pathmanathan Jananan S , Corel Eduardo , Makarenkov Vladimir , Lopez Philippe , Bouchard Frédéric , Bhattacharya Debashish , Antoine Pierre-Olivier , Le Guyader Hervé , Lapointe François-Joseph , Bapteste Eric
Published: September 2019

Explaining the evolution of animals requires ecological, developmental, paleontological, and phylogenetic considerations because organismal traits are affected by complex evolutionary processes. Modeling a plurality of processes, operating at distinct time-scales on potentially interdependent traits, can benefit from approaches that are complementary treatments to phylogenetics. Here, we developed an inclusive network approach, implemented in the command line software ComponentGrapher, and analyzed trait co-occurrence of rhinocerotoid mammals. We identified stable, unstable, and pivotal traits, as well as traits contributing to complexes, that may follow to a common developmental regulation, that point to an early implementation of the postcranial Bauplan among rhinocerotoids. Strikingly, most identified traits are highly dissociable, used repeatedly in distinct combinations and in different taxa, which usually do not form clades. Therefore, the genes encoding these traits are likely recruited into novel gene regulation networks during the course of evolution. Our evo-systemic framework, generalizable to other evolved organizations, supports a pluralistic modeling of organismal evolution, including trees and networks.
Open Science is for Aging Research, Too
Authors: Isaacowitz Derek M , Lind Majse
Published: September 2019

In response to concerns about the replicability of published research, some disciplines have used open science practices to try to enhance the credibility of published findings. Gerontology has been slow to embrace these changes. We argue that open science is important for aging research, both to reduce questionable research practices that may also be prevalent in the field (such as too many reported significant age differences in the literature, underpowered studies, hypothesizing after the results are known, and lack of belief updating when findings do not support theories), as well as to make research in the field more transparent overall. To ensure the credibility of gerontology research moving forward, we suggest concrete ways to incorporate open science into gerontology research: for example, by using available preregistration templates adaptable to a variety of study designs typical for aging research (even secondary analyses of existing data). Larger sample sizes may be achieved by many-lab collaborations. Though using open science practices may make some aspects of gerontology research more challenging, we believe that gerontology needs open science to ensure credibility now and in the future.
Deep velocity image of the north Zagros collision zone (Iran) from regional and teleseismic tomography
Authors: Rahmani M , Motaghi K , Ghods A , Sobouti F , Talebian M , Ai Y , Chen L
Published: September 2019

We inverted 3555 regional and teleseismic P-wave relative time residuals to resolve deep velocity structure beneath the NW part of the Zagros collision zone. The data were gathered by 46 seismic stations installed along a ∼520-km-long seismic profile crossing the Zagros Mountains, Central Iran and the western Alborz Mountains. The obtained tomogram reveals a high velocity lithospheric root beneath the Zagros Mountains and a low velocity wedge in the frontal edge of the Arabian Plate beneath the suture that might be interpreted as beginning of delamination of lower part of the Arabian mantle lithosphere from its upper part. A significant deep (depth >350 km) high velocity feature is observed in the lower part of the upper mantle to the north of the Zagros suture and beneath Central Iran. We interpret this feature as the remains of oceanic slab of the Neotethys lying in the lower portion of the upper mantle and the transition zone.
Input–output linearization of non-linear time-varying delay systems: the single-input single-output case
Authors: Haidar Ihab , Nicolau Florentina , Barbot Jean-Pierre , Aggoune Woihida
Published: September 2019

This paper deals with the input–output linearization of non-linear time-varying delay systems. We introduce an extension of the Lie derivative for time-varying delay systems and derive sufficient conditions for the existence of a causal and bounded non-linear feedback linearizing the input–output behaviour of the system. Sufficient conditions ensuring the internal stability after output stabilization are also presented. Finally, several examples illustrating our main results are discussed.
On the Kronecker canonical form of a full row rank matrix pencil and applications
Authors: Karathanasi Sophia D , Karampetakis Nicholas P
Published: September 2019

The Kronecker canonical form (KCF) of matrix pencils plays an important role in many fields such as systems control and differential–algebraic equations. In this article, we compute a finite and infinite Jordan chain and also a singular chain of vectors corresponding to a full row rank matrix pencil using an extended algorithm, first introduced by Jones (1999, Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Mathematics, Loughborough University of Technology, Loughborough, UK). The proposed method exploits these vectors forming the chains corresponding to the finite and infinite eigenvalues and to the right minimal indices of the pencil. This leads to the computation of two transformation matrices for obtaining under strict equivalence the KCF of the pencil. An application to the study of homogeneous linear rectangular descriptor systems is considered and closed form solutions are obtained in terms of these two transformation matrices. All the results are illustrated with an example.
Electronic medical record–based cohort selection and direct-to-patient, targeted recruitment: early efficacy and lessons learned
Authors: Miller Hailey N , Gleason Kelly T , Juraschek Stephen P , Plante Timothy B , Lewis-Land Cassie , Woods Bonnie , Appel Lawrence J , Ford Daniel E , Dennison Himmelfarb Cheryl R
Published: September 2019

Objective

The study sought to characterize institution-wide participation in secure messaging (SM) at a large academic health network, describe our experience with electronic medical record (EMR)–based cohort selection, and discuss the potential roles of SM for research recruitment.

Materials and Methods

Study teams defined eligibility criteria to create a computable phenotype, structured EMR data, to identify and recruit participants. Patients with SM accounts matching this phenotype received recruitment messages. We compared demographic characteristics across SM users and the overall health system. We also tabulated SM activation and use, characteristics of individual studies, and efficacy of the recruitment methods.

Results

Of the 1 308 820 patients in the health network, 40% had active SM accounts. SM users had a greater proportion of white and non-Hispanic patients than nonactive SM users id. Among the studies included (n = 13), 77% recruited participants with a specific disease or condition. All studies used demographic criteria for their phenotype, while 46% (n = 6) used demographic, disease, and healthcare utilization criteria. The average SM response rate was 2.9%, with higher rates among condition-specific (3.4%) vs general health (1.4%) studies. Those studies with a more inclusive comprehensive phenotype had a higher response rate.

Discussion

Target population and EMR queries (computable phenotypes) affect recruitment efficacy and should be considered when designing an EMR-based recruitment strategy.

Conclusions

SM guided by EMR-based cohort selection is a promising approach to identify and enroll research participants. Efforts to increase the number of active SM users and response rate should be implemented to enhance the effectiveness of this recruitment strategy.
Susceptibility of Rice to Oebalus pugnax (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Feeding at Different Levels of Grain Maturity and Impacts on Insecticide Termination
Authors: Cato A J , Lorenz G M , Bateman N R , Hardke J T , Black J L , Thrash B C , Johnson D L , Gore J , Studebaker G , Fan S X , Gaillard P R
Published: September 2019

The stages of rice, Oryza sativa L. (Poales: Poaceae), grain maturity that are most susceptible to rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax (F.), damage have been identified; however, the stage at which they are no longer capable of causing appreciable damage during grain maturity is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the susceptibility of rice to rice stink bug feeding at different levels of grain maturity and determine an insecticide termination timing. Rice stink bug damage was examined using five levels of grain maturity described as percent of kernels reaching mature straw coloration referred to as hard dough (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%) across a range of infestation levels using single panicle sleeve cages and large cages. Hybrid and conventional cultivar rice panicles at 20, 40, and 60% hard dough were found to be susceptible to indirect yield loss, as two rice stink bugs per panicle resulted in over 7% peck. In large cage trials, 25 rice stink bugs caused 0.7–1% peck to hybrid and conventional rice plots at 20% hard dough. Much less damage was observed once rice reached 60% hard dough, where peck averages only reached 0.4%. Decreased damage at 60% hard dough was validated using uncaged trials where 0.4% additional peck was observed in unsprayed plots. These data indicate that rice in the early stages of hard dough is susceptible to large levels of indirect yield loss, but unless significant densities of rice stink bug are present at 60% hard dough, no more sampling or applications are necessary.
The Sugarcane Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Infests Rice at Low Population Levels in Florida
Authors: Roldán Erik L , Beuzelin Julien M , Vanweelden Matthew T , Cherry Ronald H
Published: September 2019

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), rice stalk borer, Chilo plejadellus Zincken, and Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), are stem borers (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) that infest rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the southern United States. A 2-yr study was conducted to determine stem borer injury, infestation, and parasitism levels in Florida. Thirty commercial rice fields were selected during the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons throughout the rice production region in southern Florida. Sampling for stem borer injury and infestations was conducted in each field between the milk and early maturation stages by observing plants at 10 locations, with three 1-m2 quadrats per location. In addition, monitoring for E. loftini adults was conducted using one pheromone trap adjacent to each field. In 2017, the number of rice tillers exhibiting stem borer injury averaged 0.024 tillers/m2 and infestation levels averaged 0.008 stem borers/m2, with only D. saccharalis being observed. In 2018, injury and infestation levels averaged 0.062 injured tillers/m2 and 0.023 D. saccharalis larvae or pupae/m2, respectively. The solitary parasitoid Alabagrus stigma Brullé (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitized 33 and 40% of the collected D. saccharalis in 2017 and 2018, respectively. In addition, pheromone traps did not capture E. loftini adults. This study shows that D. saccharalis infests rice in Florida but at relatively low levels not threatening production and that rice fields are habitats for D. saccharalis parasitoids. This study also suggests that C. plejadellus and E. loftini do not occur in southern Florida.
Sticky traps as an early detection tool for crawlers of Adelges tsugae (Hemiptera: Adelgidae)
Authors: Fidgen Jeffrey G , Whitmore Mark C , Studens Kala D , Macquarrie Chris J K , Turgeon Jean J
Published: September 2019

We developed an approach using sticky trap arrays as an early detection tool for populations of first-instar nymphs of the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand), a pest of hemlocks (Tsuga spp. [Pinaceae]) in North America. We considered the detection rate of at least one nymph from trapping arrays consisting of one to six sticky panels, where we varied both the surface area of each trap that we assessed and the length of the trapping duration. We also estimated the time needed to set up, service, and assess groups of traps and attempted to relate capture of nymphs on traps to incidence and abundance of A. tsugae in the canopy above the traps. Arrays consisting of two traps provided a detection rate of 75% when 87.5% of the surface area of each trap was assessed, a process that required 38 min per array. The probability of detecting nymphs on traps left in the field for 5–6 d was similar to that for traps left for 12 d. The number of nymphs trapped in an array predicted the probability of finding A. tsugae in the canopy but only when all six traps were fully assessed. To reliably detect incipient A. tsugae infestations, we recommend placing arrays of traps at 1 km intervals along the perimeter of a stand during peak activity of first-instar sistentes nymphs and servicing these arrays every 5–7 d.
Feasibility of synthetic computed tomography generated with an adversarial network for multi-sequence magnetic resonance-based brain radiotherapy
Authors: Koike Yuhei , Akino Yuichi , Sumida Iori , Shiomi Hiroya , Mizuno Hirokazu , Yagi Masashi , Isohashi Fumiaki , Seo Yuji , Suzuki Osamu , Ogawa Kazuhiko
Published: September 2019

The aim of this work is to generate synthetic computed tomography (sCT) images from multi-sequence magnetic resonance (MR) images using an adversarial network and to assess the feasibility of sCT-based treatment planning for brain radiotherapy. Datasets for 15 patients with glioblastoma were selected and 580 pairs of CT and MR images were used. T1-weighted, T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MR sequences were combined to create a three-channel image as input data. A conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) was trained using image patches. The image quality was evaluated using voxel-wise mean absolute errors (MAEs) of the CT number. For the dosimetric evaluation, 3D conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans were generated using the original CT set and recalculated using the sCT images. The isocenter dose and dose–volume parameters were compared for 3D-CRT and VMAT plans, respectively. The equivalent path length was also compared. The mean MAEs for the whole body, soft tissue and bone region were 108.1 ± 24.0, 38.9 ± 10.7 and 366.2 ± 62.0 hounsfield unit, respectively. The dosimetric evaluation revealed no significant difference in the isocenter dose for 3D-CRT plans. The differences in the dose received by 2% of the volume (D2%), D50% and D98% relative to the prescribed dose were <1.0%. The overall equivalent path length was shorter than that for real CT by 0.6 ± 1.9 mm. A treatment planning study using generated sCT detected only small, clinically negligible differences. These findings demonstrated the feasibility of generating sCT images for MR-only radiotherapy from multi-sequence MR images using cGAN.
The Role of Hospitable and Inhospitable States in the Process of Refugee Resettlement in the United States
Authors: NOLASCO CLAIRE ANGELIQUE , Braaten Daniel
Published: September 2019

Although the resettlement of refugees is always politically contentious in host countries, the current global refugee crisis has only magnified those contentions. In the United States and in many European countries, there has been a strong backlash against the resettlement of refugees—particularly those from Muslim-majority countries. However, within countries such as the United States, there are areas of the country that are more anti-refugee than others. The purpose of this article is to explore the variation in refugee resettlement across the 50 US states from 2002 to 2010. Refugee resettlement in the United States is done in conjunction with the federal government, religious and secular non-profits, and state governments. Some states are far more hospitable to refugee resettlement than others and this article explores the political, economic and social factors that influence the number of refugees resettled in each state. We find that states with a moralistic political culture resettle the most refugees but more liberal states do not resettle more refugees than conservative states. Also, states with a better quality of life resettle more refugees but so do states with higher poverty rates.
A rare complication of testicular infarction after femorofemoral bypass highlighting the importance of surgical technique
Authors: Manvar-Singh Pallavi , Segal Michael , Etkin Yana , Dodla Ranjith , Landis Gregg , Krishnasastry Kambhampaty V , Frankini Larry
Published: September 2019

We present an interesting case of a 66-year-old male who had acute testicular infarction following a right common femoral artery to left profunda femoris artery bypass with advanced symptoms of claudication. Angiography in the preoperative period demonstrated the extent of peripheral arterial disease present, revealing a calcified aorta, partially occluded left hypogastric artery, occluded left external iliac, common femoral and superficial femoral arteries and an occluded right hypogastric artery. A bypass was performed without any initial complications and subsequent relief of symptoms of claudication and rest pain. Postoperative scrotal pain and follow-up duplex demonstrated lack of perfusion of the testicle necessitating orchiectomy. This case serves to illustrate the importance of preserving collateral vessels as a technical consideration, as well as presenting a rare potential complication.
Mining ethnicity: Discourse-driven topic modelling of immigrant discourses in the USA, 1898–1920
Authors: Viola Lorella , Verheul Jaap
Published: September 2019

This article aims to offer a methodological contribution to digital humanities by exploring the value of a mixed-method approach to uncover and understand historical patterns in large quantities of textual data. It refines the distant reading technique of topic modelling (TM) by using the discourse-historical approach (DHA——Wodak, 2001) in order to analyse the mechanisms underlying discursive practices in historical newspapers. Specifically, we investigate public discourses produced by Italian minorities and test the methodology on a corpus of digitized Italian ethnic newspapers published in the USA between 1898 and 1920 (ChroniclItaly—Viola, 2018). This combined methodology, which we suggest to label ‘discourse-driven topic modelling’ (DDTM), enabled us to triangulate linguistic, social, and historical data and to examine how the changing experience of migration, identity construction, and assimilation was reflected over time in the accounts of the minorities themselves. The results proved DDTM to be effective in obtaining a categorization of the topics discussed in the immigrant press. The changing distribution of topics over time revealed how the Italian immigrant community negotiated their sense of connectedness with both the host country and the homeland. At the same time, without jeopardizing the analytical depth of the findings, the method proved its value of minimizing the risk of biases when identifying the topics which stemmed from the results rather than from preconceived assumptions.
Symbolic model checking of public announcement protocols
Authors: Charrier Tristan , Pinchinat Sophie , Schwarzentruber FranÇois
Published: September 2019

We study the symbolic model checking problem against public announcement protocol logic (PAPL), featuring protocols with public announcements, arbitrary public announcements and group announcements. Technically, symbolic models are Kripke models whose accessibility relations are presented as programs described in a dynamic logic style with propositional assignments. We highlight the relevance of such symbolic models and show that the symbolic model checking problem against PAPL is A$_{\textrm{pol}}$Exptime-complete as soon as announcement protocols allow for either arbitrary announcements or iteration of public announcements. However, when both options are discarded, the complexity drops to Pspace-complete.
Study of the activity of Punica granatum-mediated silver nanoparticles against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata, alone or in combination with azoles or polyenes
Authors: Souza José António Santos , Alves Marta M , Barbosa Debora Barros , Lopes Maria Manuel , Pinto Eugénia , Figueiral Maria Helena , Delbem Alberto Carlos B , Mira Nuno Pereira
Published: September 2019

The continuous emergence of Candida strains resistant to currently used antifungals demands the development of new alternatives that could reduce the burden of candidiasis. In this work silver nanoparticles synthesized using a green route are efficiently used, alone or in combination with fluconazole, amphotericin B or nystatine, to inhibit growth of C. albicans and C. glabrata oral clinical strains, including in strains showing resistance to fluconazole. A potent inhibitory effect over biofilm formation prompted by the two Candida species was also observed, including in mature biofilm cells. These results foster the use of phytotherapeutics as effective treatments in oral candidiasis.
Chronostar: a novel Bayesian method for kinematic age determination. I. Derivation and application to the β Pictoris moving group
Authors: Crundall Timothy D , Ireland Michael J , Krumholz Mark R , Federrath Christoph , Žerjal Maruša , Hansen Jonah T
Published: September 2019

Gaia DR2 provides an unprecedented sample of stars with full 6D phase-space measurements, creating the need for a self-consistent means of discovering and characterising the phase-space overdensities known as moving groups or associations. Here we present Chronostar, a new Bayesian analysis tool that meets this need. Chronostar uses the Expectation-Maximisation algorithm to remove the circular dependency between association membership lists and fits to their phase-space distributions, making it possible to discover unknown associations within a kinematic data set. It uses forward-modelling of orbits through the Galactic potential to overcome the problem of tracing backward stars whose kinematics have significant observational errors, thereby providing reliable ages. In tests using synthetic data sets with realistic measurement errors and complex initial distributions, Chronostar successfully recovers membership assignments and kinematic ages up to ≈100 Myr. In tests on real stellar kinematic data in the phase-space vicinity of the β Pictoris Moving Group, Chronostar successfully rediscovers the association without any human intervention, identifies 15 new likely members, corroborates 43 candidate members, and returns a kinematic age of 17.8 ± 1.2 Myr. In the process we also rediscover the Tucana-Horologium Moving Group, for which we obtain a kinematic age of $36.3^{+1.3}_{-1.4}$ Myr.
Searching for signs of jet-driven negative feedback in the nearby radio galaxy UGC 05771
Authors: Zovaro Henry R M , Nesvadba Nicole P H , Sharp Robert , Bicknell Geoffrey V , Groves Brent , Mukherjee Dipanjan , Wagner Alexander Y
Published: September 2019

Hydrodynamical simulations predict that the jets of young radio sources can inhibit star formation in their host galaxies by injecting heat and turbulence into the interstellar medium (ISM). To investigate jet–ISM interactions in a galaxy with a young radio source, we have carried out a multiwavelength study of the z = 0.025 Compact Steep Spectrum radio source hosted by the early-type galaxy UGC 05771. Using Keck/OSIRIS observations, we detected H2 1–0 S(1) and [Fe ii] emission at radii of 100s of parsecs, which traces shocked molecular and ionized gas being accelerated outwards by the jets to low velocities, creating a ‘stalling wind’. At kpc radii, we detected shocked ionized gas using observations from the CALIFA survey, covering an area much larger than the pc-scale radio source. We found that existing interferometric radio observations fail to recover a large fraction of the source’s total flux, indicating the likely existence of jet plasma on kpc scales, which is consistent with the extent of shocked gas in the host galaxy. To investigate the star formation efficiency in UGC 05771, we obtained IRAM CO observations to analyse the molecular gas properties. We found that UGC 05771 sits below the Kennicutt–Schmidt relation, although we were unable to definitively conclude if direct interactions from the jets are inhibiting star formation. This result shows that jets may be important in regulating star formation in the host galaxies of compact radio sources.
The GALAH survey and Gaia DR2: Linking ridges, arches, and vertical waves in the kinematics of the Milky Way
Authors: Khanna Shourya , Sharma Sanjib , Tepper-Garcia Thor , Bland-Hawthorn Joss , Hayden Michael , Asplund Martin , Buder Sven , Chen Boquan , De Silva Gayandhi M , Freeman Ken C , Kos Janez , Lewis Geraint F , Lin Jane , Martell Sarah L , Simpson Jeffrey D , Nordlander Thomas , Stello Dennis , Ting Yuan-Sen , Zucker Daniel B , Zwitter Tomaž
Published: September 2019

Gaia DR2 has revealed new small-scale and large-scale patterns in the phase-space distribution of stars in the Milky Way. In cylindrical Galactic coordinates $(R,\phi ,z)$, ridge-like structures can be seen in the $(R,V_\phi)$ plane and asymmetric arch-like structures in the $(V_R,V_\phi)$ plane. We show that the ridges are also clearly present when the third dimension of the $(R,V_\phi)$ plane is represented by $\langle z \rangle$, $\langle V_z \rangle$, $\langle V_R \rangle$, $\langle$[Fe/H]$\rangle$, and $\langle [\alpha /{\rm Fe}]\rangle$. The maps suggest that stars along the ridges lie preferentially close to the Galactic mid-plane ($|z|\lt 0.2$ kpc), and have metallicity and $\alpha$ elemental abundance similar to that of the Sun. We show that phase mixing of disrupting spiral arms can generate both the ridges and the arches. It also generates discrete groupings in orbital energy – the ridges and arches are simply surfaces of constant energy. We identify eight distinct ridges in the Gaia DR2 data: six of them have constant energy while two have constant angular momentum. Given that the signature is strongest for stars close to the plane, the presence of ridges in $\langle z \rangle$ and $\langle V_z \rangle$ suggests a coupling between planar and vertical directions. We demonstrate, using N-body simulations that such coupling can be generated both in isolated discs and in discs perturbed by an orbiting satellite like the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy.
Radio recombination line observations towards Spitzer infrared bubbles with the TianMa radio telescope
Authors: Hou L G , Gao X Y
Published: September 2019

Many of the Spitzer infrared bubbles identified by the Milky Way Project (MWP) are suggested to be $\rm{H \small {II}} $ regions in nature. More than 70 per cent of the ∼5000 known bubbles do not have radio recombination line (RRL) observations, hence have not been confirmed as $\rm{H \small {II}} $ regions. A systematic RRL survey should be helpful to identify the nature of the bubbles. With the Shanghai TianMa 65-m radio telescope, we searched for RRLs towards 216 selected Spitzer bubbles by simultaneously observing 19 RRLs in the C band (4–8 GHz). RRLs are detected in the directions of 75 of the 216 targets. 31 of the 75 RRL sources are classified as new detections, which are possibly from new $\rm{H \small {II}} $ regions or diffuse warm ionized medium; 36 of them are probably from the outskirts of nearby bright $\rm{H \small {II}} $ regions, rather than bubble-encircled ionized gas; and the detected RRLs towards 8 bubbles are identified from known $\rm{H \small {II}} $ regions. For 58 of the 75 RRL sources, we obtained their distances after resolving the kinematic distance ambiguity by combining the results of the H2CO absorption method, the $\rm{H \small {I}} $ emission/absorption method, and the $\rm{H \small {I}} $ self-absorption method. The low detection rate of new $\rm{H \small {II}} $ regions implies that a number of MWP bubbles in the DR1 catalogue are too faint if they are $\rm{H \small {II}} $ regions.
The fundamental relation between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies
Authors: de Nicola Stefano , Marconi Alessandro , Longo Giuseppe
Published: September 2019

We study the correlations between supermassive black holes (BHs) and their host galaxies, using a sample of 83 BH masses collected from the most recent and reliable spatially resolved estimates available from the literature. We confirm the mono- and bivariate correlations between SMBHs and the bulges of their host galaxies, confirming that the correlation with the effective velocity dispersion is not significantly improved by higher dimensionality. Instead, pseudo-bulges do not seem to correlate with their SMBHs, probably because their secular evolution is often unable to trigger accretion onto the central BH. We then present a novel approach aimed at finding the fundamental relation between SMBHs and their host galaxies. For the first time, we analytically combine BH masses with the Fundamental Plane (FP), showing that MBH–σe appears to be the fundamental relation rather than a putative ‘BH Fundamental Plane’ of the kind MBH–σe–Re. These results can be explained by a picture which sees the MBH–σe relation as a natural outcome of the change in AGN feedback from momentum-driven to energy-driven. The other scaling relations are then established through the FP.
Optical detection of the black widow binary PSR J2052+1219
Authors: Zharikov S , Kirichenko A , Zyuzin D , Shibanov Yu , Deneva J S
Published: September 2019

We present optical time-resolved multiband photometry of the black widow binary millisecond pulsar J2052+1219 using direct-imaging observations with the 2.1-m telescope of the Observatorio Astronomico Nacional San Pedro Mártir (OAN-SPM), Mexico. The observations reveal a variable optical source whose position and periodicity, P = 2.752 h, coincide with the pulsar coordinates and the orbital period obtained from radio timing. This has allowed us to identify it with its binary companion. We reproduce the light curves of the source, modelling the companion’s heating by the pulsar and accounting for the system parameters obtained from the radio data. As a result, we estimate the distance to the system independently as 3.94(16) kpc, which agrees with the dispersion measure distance. The size of the companion star is 0.12−0.15 R$\odot$, close to filling its Roche lobe. It has a surface temperature difference of about 3000 K between the side facing the pulsar and the back side. We summarize characteristics of all black widow systems studied in the optical and we compare them with the parameters of PSR J2052+1219 derived from our observations.
H0LiCOW – X. Spectroscopic/imaging survey and galaxy-group identification around the strong gravitational lens system WFI 2033−4723
Authors: Sluse D , Rusu C E , Fassnacht C D , Sonnenfeld A , Richard J , Auger M W , Coccato L , Wong K C , Suyu S H , Treu T , Agnello A , Birrer S , Bonvin V , Collett T , Courbin F , Hilbert S , Koopmans L V E , Tihhanova O , Marshall P J , Meylan G , Shajib A J , Annis J , Avila S , Bertin E , Brooks D , Buckley-Geer E , Burke D L , Carnero Rosell A , Carrasco Kind M , Carretero J , Castander F J , da Costa L N , De Vicente J , Desai S , Doel P , Evrard A E , Flaugher B , Frieman J , García-Bellido J , Gerdes D W , Goldstein D A , Gruendl R A , Gschwend J , Hartley W G , Hollowood D L , Honscheid K , James D J , Kim A G , Krause E , Kuehn K , Kuropatkin N , Lima M , Lin H , Maia M A G , Marshall J L , Melchior P , Menanteau F , Miquel R , Plazas A A , Sanchez E , Serrano S , Sevilla-Noarbe I , Smith M , Soares-Santos M , Sobreira F , Suchyta E , Swanson M E C , Tarle G
Published: September 2019

Galaxies and galaxy groups located along the line of sight towards gravitationally lensed quasars produce high-order perturbations of the gravitational potential at the lens position. When these perturbation are too large, they can induce a systematic error on H0 of a few per cent if the lens system is used for cosmological inference and the perturbers are not explicitly accounted for in the lens model. In this work, we present a detailed characterization of the environment of the lens system WFI 2033−4723 ($z_{\rm src} =\,$1.662, $z_{\rm lens}=\,$0.6575), one of the core targets of the H0LiCOW project for which we present cosmological inferences in a companion paper. We use the Gemini and ESO-Very Large telescopes to measure the spectroscopic redshifts of the brightest galaxies towards the lens, and use the ESO-MUSE integral field spectrograph to measure the velocity-dispersion of the lens ($\sigma _{\rm {los}}= 250^{+15}_{-21}$  km s−1) and of several nearby galaxies. In addition, we measure photometric redshifts and stellar masses of all galaxies down to i < 23 mag, mainly based on Dark Energy Survey imaging (DR1). Our new catalogue, complemented with literature data, more than doubles the number of known galaxy spectroscopic redshifts in the direct vicinity of the lens, expanding to 116 (64) the number of spectroscopic redshifts for galaxies separated by less than 3 arcmin (2 arcmin ) from the lens. Using the flexion-shift as a measure of the amplitude of the gravitational perturbation, we identify two galaxy groups and three galaxies that require specific attention in the lens models. The ESO MUSE data enable us to measure the velocity-dispersions of three of these galaxies. These results are essential for the cosmological inference analysis presented in Rusu et al.
A tight cold-inducible switch built by coupling thermosensitive transcriptional and proteolytic regulatory parts
Authors: Zheng Yang , Meng Fankang , Zhu Zihui , Wei Weijia , Sun Zhi , Chen Jinchun , Yu Bo , Lou Chunbo , Chen Guo-Qiang
Published: September 2019

Natural organisms have evolved intricate regulatory mechanisms that sense and respond to fluctuating environmental temperatures in a heat- or cold-inducible fashion. Unlike dominant heat-inducible switches, very few cold-inducible genetic switches are available in either natural or engineered systems. Moreover, the available cold-inducible switches still have many shortcomings, including high leaky gene expression, small dynamic range (<10-fold) or broad transition temperature (>10°C). To address these problems, a high-performance cold-inducible switch that can tightly control target gene expression is highly desired. Here, we introduce a tight and fast cold-inducible switch that couples two evolved thermosensitive variants, TFts and TEVts, as well as an additional Mycoplasma florum Lon protease (mf-Lon) to effectively turn-off target gene expression via transcriptional and proteolytic mechanisms. We validated the function of the switch in different culture media and various Escherichia coli strains and demonstrated its tightness by regulating two morphogenetic bacterial genes and expressing three heat-unstable recombinant proteins, respectively. Moreover, the additional protease module enabled the cold-inducible switch to actively remove the pre-existing proteins in slow-growing cells. This work establishes a high-performance cold-inducible system for tight and fast control of gene expression which has great potential for basic research, as well as industrial and biomedical applications.