bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wild bee community change over a 26‐year chronosequence of restored tallgrass prairie
Authors: Griffin Sean R. , Bruninga‐Socolar Bethanne , Kerr Morgan A. , Gibbs Jason , Winfree Rachael
Published: January 2017

Restoration efforts often focus on plants, but additionally require the establishment and long‐term persistence of diverse groups of nontarget organisms, such as bees, for important ecosystem functions and meeting restoration goals. We investigated long‐term patterns in the response of bees to habitat restoration by sampling bee communities along a 26‐year chronosequence of restored tallgrass prairie in north‐central Illinois, U.S.A. Specifically, we examined how bee communities changed over time since restoration in terms of (1) abundance and richness, (2) community composition, and (3) the two components of beta diversity, one‐to‐one species replacement, and changes in species richness. Bee abundance and raw richness increased with restoration age from the low level of the pre‐restoration (agricultural) sites to the target level of the remnant prairie within the first 2–3 years after restoration, and these high levels were maintained throughout the entire restoration chronosequence. Bee community composition of the youngest restored sites differed from that of prairie remnants, but 5–7 years post‐restoration the community composition of restored prairie converged with that of remnants. Landscape context, particularly nearby wooded land, was found to affect abundance, rarefied richness, and community composition. Partitioning overall beta diversity between sites into species replacement and richness effects revealed that the main driver of community change over time was the gradual accumulation of species, rather than one‐to‐one species replacement. At the spatial and temporal scales we studied, we conclude that prairie restoration efforts targeting plants also successfully restore bee communities.
Clinical management of Candida albicans keratomycosis in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Authors: Simeone Claire A. , Traversi John P. , Meegan Jenny M. , LeBert Carolina , Colitz Carmen M. H. , Jensen Eric D.
Published: January 2017

Objective

Corneal ulceration secondary to trauma commonly affects marine mammals, often with opportunistic secondary bacterial or fungal infections. This report characterizes the combined use of auriculopalpebral and ophthalmic nerve blocks, adipose‐derived stem cells, and subconjunctival injections for successful treatment of corneal trauma and infection in dolphins.

Animal studied

An 11‐year‐old, female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) presented with bilateral diffuse corneal opacities, which progressed to keratomycosis caused by Candida albicans.

Procedure

Aggressive medical management was employed, including the use of subconjunctival injections of adipose‐derived stem cells, plasma, topical and oral antifungals and antibiotics, and anti‐inflammatory and pain medications. Anesthetic block of the auriculopalpebral and ophthalmic nerves was employed to evaluate the corneas.

Conclusion

Subconjunctival injections were employed over 52 days, followed by topical drops for 5 months. At last evaluation, there was no evidence of blepharospasm bilaterally. Only a faint superficial gray corneal opacity remained OS. A temporal paraxial corneal opacity was present OD, with receding inactive vascularization and a small amount of melanosis temporally.
Bank Lending Channel in Transmission of Monetary Policy in Japan, 2000–2012: The Sign Restrictions VAR Approach
Authors: Kumamoto Masao , Zhuo Juanjuan
Published: January 2017

This paper investigates empirically whether the bank lending channel of monetary policy existed in Japan from 2000 to 2012. We employ the sign restrictions VAR approach to deal with the identification problem. In particular, we focus on the differential effects of a quantitative easing monetary policy regardless of bank (City banks vs. Regional banks) and firm (all enterprises vs. small and medium-sized enterprises－SMEs) size. Our impulse response function analyses show that following a quantitative easing monetary policy shock, the lending of Regional banks increases more than that of City banks, and the bank lending rate of Regional banks declines in a larger magnitude. Moreover, the responses of output to reserve supply are larger in Regional banks than that in City banks. Our variance decomposition analyses show that a larger proportion of the forecast error variance in the bank lending of Regional banks relative to City banks, and a larger proportion of the forecast error variance in the bank lending to SMEs relative to all firms can be explained by monetary policy shock. Similarly, the loans of Regional banks have a larger impact on output than the loans of City banks, and the loans to SMEs have a larger impact on output than the loans to all firms. Moreover, output is more affected by the reserve supply to Regional banks than to City banks. These results together indicate that a quantitative easing policy has a greater impact on the real economy through the lending of Regional banks.
Adenosine receptors regulate gap junction coupling of the human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells hCMEC/D3 by Ca2+ influx through cyclic nucleotide‐gated channels
Authors: Bader Almke , Bintig Willem , Begandt Daniela , Klett Anne , Siller Ina G. , Gregor Carola , Schaarschmidt Frank , Weksler Babette , Romero Ignacio , Couraud Pierre‐Olivier , Hell Stefan W. , Ngezahayo Anaclet
Published: January 2017

Key points

Gap junction channels are essential for the formation and regulation of physiological units in tissues by allowing the lateral cell‐to‐cell diffusion of ions, metabolites and second messengers.

Stimulation of the adenosine receptor subtype A2B increases the gap junction coupling in the human blood–brain barrier endothelial cell line hCMEC/D3.

Although the increased gap junction coupling is cAMP‐dependent, neither the protein kinase A nor the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP were involved in this increase.

We found that cAMP activates cyclic nucleotide‐gated (CNG) channels and thereby induces a Ca2+ influx, which leads to the increase in gap junction coupling.

The report identifies CNG channels as a possible physiological link between adenosine receptors and the regulation of gap junction channels in endothelial cells of the blood–brain barrier.

The human cerebral microvascular endothelial cell line hCMEC/D3 was used to characterize the physiological link between adenosine receptors and the gap junction coupling in endothelial cells of the blood–brain barrier. Expressed adenosine receptor subtypes and connexin (Cx) isoforms were identified by RT‐PCR. Scrape loading/dye transfer was used to evaluate the impact of the A2A and A2B adenosine receptor subtype agonist 2‐phenylaminoadenosine (2‐PAA) on the gap junction coupling. We found that 2‐PAA stimulated cAMP synthesis and enhanced gap junction coupling in a concentration‐dependent manner. This enhancement was accompanied by an increase in gap junction plaques formed by Cx43. Inhibition of protein kinase A did not affect the 2‐PAA‐related enhancement of gap junction coupling. In contrast, the cyclic nucleotide‐gated (CNG) channel inhibitor l‐cis‐diltiazem, as well as the chelation of intracellular Ca2+ with BAPTA, or the absence of external Ca2+, suppressed the 2‐PAA‐related enhancement of gap junction coupling. Moreover, we observed a 2‐PAA‐dependent activation of CNG channels by a combination of electrophysiology and pharmacology. In conclusion, the stimulation of adenosine receptors in hCMEC/D3 cells induces a Ca2+ influx by opening CNG channels in a cAMP‐dependent manner. Ca2+ in turn induces the formation of new gap junction plaques and a consecutive sustained enhancement of gap junction coupling. The report identifies CNG channels as a physiological link that integrates gap junction coupling into the adenosine receptor‐dependent signalling of endothelial cells of the blood–brain barrier.
Effect of deposition conditions and composition on band offsets in atomic layer deposited HfxSi1−xOy on InGaZnO4
Authors: Hays David C. , Gila Brent P. , Pearton Stephen J. , Trucco Andres , Thorpe Ryan , Ren Fan
Published: January 2017

HfO2 or HfxSi1−xO4 (consisting of HfO2/SiO2 multilayers) were deposited at 200 °C by atomic layer deposition (ALD) onto a-InGaZnO4 (IGZO) layers deposited by sputtering at room temperature and the band offsets in the HfxSi1−xOy/InGaZnO4 heterostructures determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The values for HfxSi1−xOy/IGZO are different from those obtained when sputtering is used to deposit the dielectric, indicating that surface disordering or metal inclusions can play a role in the offsets. Similarly, the band offsets for SiO2 deposited on IGZO by ALD are larger than previous reports for the same system in which the SiO2 was deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. In that latter case, the effect of incorporated hydrogen in the SiO2 may play a role by reducing the bandgap. By contrast, there was no difference in the offsets in interfaces initiated with SiO2-first versus HfO2-first deposition and no effect of annealing the IGZO at the ALD-deposition temperature prior to dielectric deposition. The valence band offset for HfxSi1−xOy/IGZO was determined as a function of composition, with values ranging from 1.73 eV for pure SiO2 to 0.52 eV for pure HfO2. Across the entire composition range, the HfxSi1−xOy/InGaZnO4 system has a nested, or straddling, gap (type I) alignment.
DAMPening the effects of trauma-induced inflammation
Authors: Ulery Bret D.
Published: January 2017

Amine-containing polymers immobilized on mesh and placed at trauma sites scavenge biomolecules that initiate a damaging immune response.
Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein (PML) ControlsListeria monocytogenesInfection
Authors: Ribet David , Lallemand-Breitenbach Valérie , Ferhi Omar , Nahori Marie-Anne , Varet Hugo , de Thé Hugues , Cossart Pascale
Published: January 2017

The promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) is the main organizer of stress-responsive subnuclear structures called PML nuclear bodies. These structures recruit multiple interactors and modulate their abundance or their posttranslational modifications, notably by the SUMO ubiquitin-like modifiers. The involvement of PML in antiviral responses is well established. In contrast, the role of PML in bacterial infection remains poorly characterized. Here, we show that PML restricts infection by the pathogenic bacteriumListeria monocytogenesbut not bySalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium. During infection, PML undergoes oxidation-mediated multimerization, associates with the nuclear matrix, and becomes de-SUMOylated due to the pore-forming activity of theListeriatoxin listeriolysin O (LLO). These events trigger an antibacterial response that is not observed duringin vitroinfection by an LLO-defectiveListeriamutant, but which can be phenocopied by specific induction of PML de-SUMOylation. Using transcriptomic and proteomic microarrays, we also characterized a network of immunity genes and cytokines, which are regulated by PML in response toListeriainfection but independently from the listeriolysin O toxin. Our study thus highlights two mechanistically distinct complementary roles of PML in host responses against bacterial infection.

IMPORTANCEThe promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) is a eukaryotic protein that can polymerize in discrete nuclear assemblies known as PML nuclear bodies (NBs) and plays essential roles in many different cellular processes. Key to its function, PML can be posttranslationally modified by SUMO, a ubiquitin-like modifier. Identification of the role of PML in antiviral defenses has been deeply documented. In contrast, the role of PML in antibacterial defenses remains elusive. Here, we identify two mechanistically distinct complementary roles of PML in antibacterial responses against pathogens such asListeria: (i) we show that PML regulates the expression of immunity genes in response to bacterial infection, and (ii) we unveil the fact that modification of PML SUMOylation by bacterial pore-forming toxins is sensed as a danger signal, leading to a restriction of bacterial intracellular multiplication. Taken together, our data reinforce the concept that intranuclear bodies can dynamically regulate important processes, such as defense against invaders.
Adult parenteral nutrition in the North of England: a region-wide audit
Authors: Dyson Jessica K , Thompson Nick
Published: January 2017

Objectives

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is widely used to provide nutritional support to patients with inaccessible or inadequate length of gut or non-functioning gut. The objective was to compare practice in PN administration to results of the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) report, ‘A Mixed Bag’, and to establish whether good practice was being followed within this part of the UK.

Setting

Using the Northern Nutrition Network (NNN), we examined the care of adult patients receiving PN in all 10 secondary care hospitals in our region.

Participants

All patients receiving PN were included with no exclusions. Data were collected on 192 patients (51% females, median age 65 years (range 18–96)).

Outcome measures

A data collection tool was designed based on the recommendations of the NCEPOD report.

Results

PN was used for a median of 7 days with a 30-day mortality rate of 8%. Metabolic complications occurred in 34%, of which only 13% were avoidable. The catheter sepsis rate was 1.5 per 1000 PN days. The audit suggests that nutrition team input improves patient assessment prior to starting PN and review once PN is established. Risk of refeeding syndrome was identified in 75%. Areas for improvement are documentation of treatment goal (39%), review of PN constitution (38%), ensuring patients are weighed regularly (56%) and documentation of line-tip position (52%).

Conclusions

This region-wide prospective audit suggests improved practice within the UK compared to the NCEPOD audit with lower mortality and line sepsis rates. However, documentation remains suboptimal. This work strengthens the case for introducing nutrition teams in hospitals without this service. These findings are likely to be reproduced across the UK and in other healthcare settings. We provide a template for similar audits of clinical practice.
Socioeconomic, remoteness and sex differences in life expectancy in New South Wales, Australia, 2001–2012: a population-based study
Authors: Stephens Alexandre S , Gupta Leena , Thackway Sarah , Broome Richard A
Published: January 2017

Objectives

Despite being one of the healthiest countries in the world, Australia displays substantial mortality differentials by socioeconomic disadvantage, remoteness and sex. In this study, we examined how these mortality differentials translated to differences in life expectancy between 2001 and 2012.

Design and setting

Population-based study using mortality and estimated residential population data from Australia's largest state, New South Wales (NSW), between 2001 and 2012. Age-group-specific death rates by socioeconomic disadvantage quintile, remoteness (major cities vs regional and remote areas), sex and year were estimated via Poisson regression, and inputted into life table calculations to estimate life expectancy.

Results

Life expectancy decreased with increasing socioeconomic disadvantage in males and females. The disparity between the most and least socioeconomically deprived quintiles was 3.77 years in males and 2.39 years in females in 2012. Differences in life expectancy by socioeconomic disadvantage were mostly stable over time. Gender gaps in life expectancy ranged from 3.50 to 4.93 years (in 2012), increased with increasing socioeconomic disadvantage and decreased by ∼1 year for all quintiles between 2001 and 2012. Overall, life expectancy varied little by remoteness, but was 1.8 years higher in major cities compared to regional/remote areas in the most socioeconomically deprived regions in 2012.

Conclusions

Socioeconomic disadvantage and sex were strongly associated with life expectancy. The disparity in life expectancy across the socioeconomic spectrum was larger in males and was stable over time. In contrast, gender gaps reduced for all quintiles between 2001 and 2012, and a remoteness effect was evident in 2012, but only for those living in the most deprived areas.
The effects of feedback and incentive-based insurance on driving behaviours: study approach and protocols
Authors: Stevenson Mark , Harris Anthony , Mortimer Duncan , Wijnands Jasper S , Tapp Alan , Peppard Frank , Buckis Samantha
Published: January 2017

Background

Road injury is the leading cause of death for young people, with human error a contributing factor in many crash events. This research is the first experimental study to examine the extent to which direct feedback and incentive-based insurance modifies a driver's behaviour. The study applies in-vehicle telematics and will link the information obtained from the technology directly to personalised safety messaging and personal injury and property damage insurance premiums.

Methods

The study has two stages. The first stage involves laboratory experiments using a state-of-the-art driving simulator. These experiments will test the effects of various monetary incentives on unsafe driving behaviours. The second stage builds on these experiments and involves a randomised control trial to test the effects of both direct feedback (safety messaging) and monetary incentives on driving behaviour.

Discussion

Assuming a positive finding associated with the monetary incentive-based approach, the study will dramatically influence the personal injury and property damage insurance industry. In addition, the findings will also illustrate the role that in-vehicle telematics can play in providing direct feedback to young/novice drivers in relation to their driving behaviours which has the potential to transform road safety.
Factors influencing the use of tocilizumab as monotherapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a real-life setting: results at 1 year of the ACT-SOLO study
Authors: Flipo René-Marc , Maillefert Jean-Francis , Chazerain Pascal , Idier Isabelle , Coudert Mathieu , Tebib Jacques
Published: January 2017

Introduction

Using a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) as monotherapy in clinical practice for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is common and recognised by health authorities although current guidelines recommend to combine them with conventional synthetic (cs)DMARDs. This study mainly aimed to search for real-life factors influencing the use of tocilizumab as MONO or in combination (COMBO).

Methods

In this non-interventional, prospective, national, multicentre study, data were collected every 3 months over a 12-month period in RA patients starting tocilizumab. The proportion of monotherapy patients was described, together with significant explicative factors.

Results

Among the 577 analysed patients recruited from January 2012 to August 2013 (228 monotherapy patients; 40%), 79% were women, mean RA duration was 11±9 years, previous RA treatments included bDMARDs and csDMARDs in 75% of cases and mean Disease Activity Score 28 joints-Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (DAS28-ESR) was 5.2±1.3 at inclusion. Explicative factors for monotherapy were at least 65 years (OR=1.47, p=0.0485), no methotrexate within the two last years (OR=5.96, p<0.0001), past severe infection (OR=1.99, p=0.0272) and higher baseline DAS28-ESR (OR=1.22, p=0.0086). Regarding clinical results (DAS28-ESR, Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and Simple Disease Activity Index (SDAI) low disease activity and remission; ACR20/50/70 and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response; Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) score), no relevant differences between monotherapy and combination patients were observed at 1 year. A total of 23 tocilizumab-treated patients (4%) experienced serious infections; no new safety signals were noted with no differences between groups.

Conclusions

ACT-SOLO confirms the high proportion of RA patients receiving tocilizumab as MONO in clinical practice. The study also showed that clinical results at 1 year were similar between MONO and COMBO patients in a real-life setting.

Trial registration number

NCT01474291.
Drought and simulated deer herbivory reduce growth in Atlantic white cedar seedlings
Authors: Steven Janet C. , Gaddis Amber L.
Published: January 2017

White-tailed deer are overabundant in much of eastern North America and may be suppressing regeneration in some tree species. Herbivory initially reduces plant biomass, but it has the potential to stimulate compensatory growth. However, stressful environmental conditions may reduce recovery from herbivory. Seedlings of Atlantic white cedar, Chamaecyparis thyoides (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb., are frequently browsed by white-tailed deer and also experience both flooded and dry soils in natural habitats. We conducted a growth chamber experiment to test for a potential interaction between simulated deer browsing and water availability treatments on seedling height, stem diameter, and above- and belowground biomass. Of the 180 study plants, half were subjected to an initial clipping treatment, and all plants were then exposed to high, intermediate, or low water availability for 90 days. We found that, over the short term, seedlings in favorable growing conditions could not compensate for lost biomass after simulated browsing. Drought reduced shoot biomass, and flooded soils reduced root but not shoot growth. Water stress and herbivory did not interact to reduce growth more than the effect of each treatment separately. In general, the effect of water stress on plant size was greater than the effect of simulated herbivory.
Synthesis of tricyanomethanesulfonic acid as a novel nanostructured and recyclable solid acid: application at the synthesis of biological henna-based chromenes
Authors: Zolfigol Mohammad Ali , Khazaei Ardeshir , Alaie Saied , Baghery Saeed
Published: January 2017

A novel and unique nanostructured solid acid, namely tricyanomethanesulfonic acid (TCMS), was designed, synthesized, and attained as an ecofriendly, reusable catalyst for the one-pot three-component synthesis of 2-amino-3-cyano-4-aryl-5,10-dioxo-5,10-dihydro-4H-benzo[g]chromene derivatives from the reaction between aromatic aldehydes, 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione (henna), and malononitrile under solvent-free conditions at room temperature with good to excellent yields and a short reaction time. The TCMS catalyst was prepared and fully characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass, X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal gravimetric (TG), and derivative thermal gravimetric (DTG) analyses. The nanostructured solid acid catalyst was simply recycled at least eight times without any loss of catalytic activity. This process is improved as a safe and appropriate procedure for the synthesis of 2-amino-3-cyano-4-aryl-5,10-dioxo-5,10-dihydro-4H-benzo[g]chromenes using an environmentally friendly and green recyclable catalyst. Thus, TCMS is a good candidate for the synthesis of new molecular organic frameworks and gelators.
Fish community assessment with eDNA metabarcoding: effects of sampling design and bioinformatic filtering
Authors: Evans Nathan T. , Li Yiyuan , Renshaw Mark A. , Olds Brett P. , Deiner Kristy , Turner Cameron R. , Jerde Christopher L. , Lodge David M. , Lamberti Gary A. , Pfrender Michael E.
Published: January 2017

Species richness is a metric of biodiversity that represents the number of species present in a community. Traditional fisheries assessments that rely on capture of organisms often underestimate true species richness. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is an alternative tool that infers species richness by collecting and sequencing DNA present in the ecosystem. Our objective was to determine how spatial distribution of samples and “bioinformatic stringency” affected eDNA-metabarcoding estimates of species richness compared with capture-based estimates in a 2.2 ha reservoir. When bioinformatic criteria required species to be detected only in a single sample, eDNA metabarcoding detected all species captured with traditional methods plus an additional 11 noncaptured species. However, when we required species to be detected with multiple markers and in multiple samples, eDNA metabarcoding detected only seven of the captured species. Our analysis of the spatial patterns of species detection indicated that eDNA was distributed relatively homogeneously throughout the reservoir, except near the inflowing stream. We suggest that interpretation of eDNA metabarcoding data must consider the potential effects of water body type, spatial resolution, and bioinformatic stringency.
Intertwining operator in thermal CFTd
Authors: Ohya Satoshi
Published: January 2017

It has long been known that two-point functions of conformal field theory (CFT) are nothing but the integral kernels of intertwining operators for two equivalent representations of conformal algebra. Such intertwining operators are known to fulfill some operator identities — the intertwining relations — in the representation space of conformal algebra. Meanwhile, it has been known that the S-matrix operator in scattering theory is nothing but the intertwining operator between the Hilbert spaces of in- and out-particles. Inspired by this algebraic resemblance, in this paper, we develop a simple Lie-algebraic approach to momentum-space two-point functions of thermal CFT living on the hyperbolic space–time [Formula: see text] by exploiting the idea of Kerimov’s intertwining operator approach to exact S-matrix. We show that in thermal CFT on [Formula: see text], the intertwining relations reduce to certain linear recurrence relations for two-point functions in the complex momentum space. By solving these recurrence relations, we obtain the momentum-space representations of advanced and retarded two-point functions as well as positive- and negative-frequency two-point Wightman functions for a scalar primary operator in arbitrary space–time dimension [Formula: see text].
In monkeys making value-based decisions, amygdala neurons are sensitive to cue value as distinct from cue salience
Authors: Leathers Marvin L. , Olson Carl R.
Published: January 2017

Neurons in the lateral intraparietal (LIP) area of macaque monkey parietal cortex respond to cues predicting rewards and penalties of variable size in a manner that depends on the motivational salience of the predicted outcome (strong for both large reward and large penalty) rather than on its value (positive for large reward and negative for large penalty). This finding suggests that LIP mediates the capture of attention by salient events and does not encode value in the service of value-based decision making. It leaves open the question whether neurons elsewhere in the brain encode value in the identical task. To resolve this issue, we recorded neuronal activity in the amygdala in the context of the task employed in the LIP study. We found that responses to reward-predicting cues were similar between areas, with the majority of reward-sensitive neurons responding more strongly to cues that predicted large reward than to those that predicted small reward. Responses to penalty-predicting cues were, however, markedly different. In the amygdala, unlike LIP, few neurons were sensitive to penalty size, few penalty-sensitive neurons favored large over small penalty, and the dependence of firing rate on penalty size was negatively correlated with its dependence on reward size. These results indicate that amygdala neurons encoded cue value under circumstances in which LIP neurons exhibited sensitivity to motivational salience. However, the representation of negative value, as reflected in sensitivity to penalty size, was weaker than the representation of positive value, as reflected in sensitivity to reward size.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to characterize amygdala neuronal responses to cues predicting rewards and penalties of variable size in monkeys making value-based choices. Manipulating reward and penalty size allowed distinguishing activity dependent on motivational salience from activity dependent on value. This approach revealed in a previous study that neurons of the lateral intraparietal (LIP) area encode motivational salience. Here, it reveals that amygdala neurons encode value. The results establish a sharp functional distinction between the two areas.
The mammalian efferent vestibular system plays a crucial role in vestibulo-ocular reflex compensation after unilateral labyrinthectomy
Authors: Hübner Patrick P. , Khan Serajul I. , Migliaccio Americo A.
Published: January 2017

The α9-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α9-nAChR) subunit is expressed in the vestibular and auditory periphery, and its loss of function could compromise peripheral input from the predominantly cholinergic efferent vestibular system (EVS). A recent study has shown that α9-nAChRs play an important role in short-term vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) adaptation. We hypothesize that α9-nAChRs could also be important for other forms of vestibular plasticity, such as that needed for VOR recovery after vestibular organ injury. We measured the efficacy of VOR compensation in α9 knockout mice. These mice have deletion of most of the gene ( chrna9) encoding the nAChR and thereby lack α9-nAChRs. We measured the VOR gain (eye velocity/head velocity) in 20 α9 knockout mice and 16 cba129 controls. We measured the sinusoidal (0.2–10 Hz, 20–100°/s) and transient (1,500–6,000°/s2) VOR in complete darkness before (baseline) unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL) and then 1, 5, and 28 days after UL. On day 1 after UL, cba129 mice retained ~50% of their initial function for contralesional rotations, whereas α9 knockout mice only retained ~20%. After 28 days, α9 knockout mice had ~50% lower gain for both ipsilesional and contralesional rotations compared with cba129 mice. Cba129 mice regained ~75% of their baseline function for ipsilesional and ~90% for contralesional rotations. In contrast, α9 knockout mice only regained ~30% and ~50% function, respectively, leaving the VOR severely impaired for rotations in both directions. Our results show that loss of α9-nAChRs severely affects VOR compensation, suggesting that complimentary central and peripheral EVS-mediated adaptive mechanisms might be affected by this loss.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Loss of the α9-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α9-nAChR) subunit utilized by the efferent vestibular system (EVS) has been shown to significantly affect vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) adaptation. In our present study we have shown that loss of α9-nAChRs also affects VOR compensation, suggesting that the mammalian EVS plays an important role in vestibular plasticity, in general, and that VOR compensation is a more distributed process than previously thought, relying on both central and peripheral changes.
Reliability of Growth Indicators and Efficiency of Functional Treatment for Skeletal Class II Malocclusion: Current Evidence and Controversies
Authors: Perinetti Giuseppe , Contardo Luca
Published: January 2017

Current evidence on the reliability of growth indicators in the identification of the pubertal growth spurt and efficiency of functional treatment for skeletal Class II malocclusion, the timing of which relies on such indicators, is highly controversial. Regarding growth indicators, the hand and wrist (including the sole middle phalanx of the third finger) maturation method and the standing height recording appear to be most reliable. Other methods are subjected to controversies or were showed to be unreliable. Main sources of controversies include use of single stages instead of ossification events and diagnostic reliability conjecturally based on correlation analyses. Regarding evidence on the efficiency of functional treatment, when treated during the pubertal growth spurt, more favorable response is seen in skeletal Class II patients even though large individual responsiveness remains. Main sources of controversies include design of clinical trials, definition of Class II malocclusion, and lack of inclusion of skeletal maturity among the prognostic factors. While no growth indicator may be considered to have a full diagnostic reliability in the identification of the pubertal growth spurt, their use may still be recommended for increasing efficiency of functional treatment for skeletal Class II malocclusion.
Robustness of Dengue Complex Network under Targeted versus Random Attack
Authors: Malik Hafiz Abid Mahmood , Abid Faiza , Wahiddin Mohamed Ridza , Bhatti Zeeshan
Published: January 2017

Dengue virus infection is one of those epidemic diseases that require much consideration in order to save the humankind from its unsafe impacts. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 3.6 billion individuals are at risk because of the dengue virus sickness. Researchers are striving to comprehend the dengue threat. This study is a little commitment to those endeavors. To observe the robustness of the dengue network, we uprooted the links between nodes randomly and targeted by utilizing different centrality measures. The outcomes demonstrated that 5% targeted attack is equivalent to the result of 65% random assault, which showed the topology of this complex network validated a scale-free network instead of random network. Four centrality measures (Degree, Closeness, Betweenness, and Eigenvector) have been ascertained to look for focal hubs. It has been observed through the results in this study that robustness of a node and links depends on topology of the network. The dengue epidemic network presented robust behaviour under random attack, and this network turned out to be more vulnerable when the hubs of higher degree have higher probability to fail. Moreover, representation of this network has been projected, and hub removal impact has been shown on the real map of Gombak (Malaysia).
Numerical Solution of Second-Order Fredholm Integrodifferential Equations with Boundary Conditions by Quadrature-Difference Method
Authors: Jalius Chriscella , Abdul Majid Zanariah
Published: January 2017

In this research, the quadrature-difference method with Gauss Elimination (GE) method is applied for solving the second-order of linear Fredholm integrodifferential equations (LFIDEs). In order to derive an approximation equation, the combinations of Composite Simpson’s 1/3 rule and second-order finite-difference method are used to discretize the second-order of LFIDEs. This approximation equation will be used to generate a system of linear algebraic equations and will be solved by using Gauss Elimination. In addition, the formulation and the implementation of the quadrature-difference method are explained in detail. Finally, some numerical experiments were carried out to examine the accuracy of the proposed method.
Effectiveness of a Group-Based Culturally Tailored Lifestyle Intervention Program on Changes in Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes among Asian Indians in the United States
Authors: Patel Rupal M. , Misra Ranjita , Raj Sudha , Balasubramanyam Ashok
Published: January 2017

This study used an experimental, pretest-posttest control group repeated measures design to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based culturally appropriate lifestyle intervention program to reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) amongGujaratiAsian Indians (AIs) in an urban community in the US. Participants included 70 adult AIs in the greater Houston metropolitan area. The primary outcomes were reduction in weight and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and improvement in physical activity. Participants were screened for risk factors and randomly assigned to a 12-week group-based lifestyle intervention program (n=34) or a control group (n=36) that received standard print material on diabetes prevention. Participants also completed clinical measures and self-reported questionnaires about physical activity, social, and lifestyle habits at 0, 3, and 6 months. No significant baseline differences were noted between groups. While a significant decline in weight and increase in physical activity was observed in all participants, the intervention group lowered their HbA1c(p<0.0005)and waist circumference (p=0.04) significantly as compared to the control group. Findings demonstrated that participation in a culturally tailored, lifestyle intervention program in a community setting can effectively reduce weight, waist circumference, and HbA1c amongGujaratiAIs living in the US.
Implementation of a Modified Wireless Sensor Network MAC Protocol for Critical Environments
Authors: Richert Viktor , Issac Biju , Israr Nauman
Published: January 2017

A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is a network of many nodes. These nodes are equipped with sensors which communicate wirelessly using techniques for radio frequency transmission. This network helps to measure and record the physical environment variables and to forward these results to a central location known as a sink. As WSN nodes are only supplied by a battery, the primary challenge is to reduce the energy consumption. The MAC layer is responsible for the establishment of a reliable and efficient communication link between WSN nodes and is responsible for energy waste. The newly proposed MAC protocol in this paper uses an improved variant of CSMA which implements weak signal detection (WSD). This technique enables dividing collisions from weak signals and takes appropriate decisions to reduce energy consumption. The CSMA/WSD protocol is presented as a flowchart and implemented in OMNeT++ by using the MiXiM framework structure. Implementation tests are performed to prove the validity of the implemented protocol in different scenarios. Different simulation scenarios show that this protocol offers a higher throughput, a smaller mean backoff time, and less average delay in critical environments.
Hyperechogenicity of the Substantia Nigra in Parkinson’s Disease: Insights from Two Brothers with Markedly Different Disease Durations
Authors: Hall Julie M. , Georgiades Matthew J. , Hammond Deborah A. , Feng Xiaoting , Moustafa Ahmed A. , Lewis Simon J. G. , Todd Gabrielle
Published: January 2017

We present clinical features and substantia nigra morphology for two brothers with Parkinson’s disease (PD) aged 60 and 59 years. The brothers were diagnosed at 41 and 50 years of age, respectively. Both patients exhibited an abnormally large area of substantia nigra echogenicity bilaterally when viewed with transcranial ultrasound. The abnormality was similar in both brothers despite one having a much longer disease duration than the other. These findings further highlight that transcranial ultrasound is not associated with severity of clinical symptoms, but it might assist in the diagnosis of PD provided that it is combined with other variables known to precede PD.
The “Destabilizing” Effect of Cannibalism in a Spatially Explicit Three-Species Age Structured Predator-Prey Model
Authors: Al Basheer Aladeen , Lyu Jingjing , Giffin Adom , Parshad Rana D.
Published: January 2017

Cannibalism, the act of killing and consumption of conspecifics, is generally considered to be a stabilising process in ODE models of predator-prey systems. On the other hand, Sun et al. were the first to show that cannibalism can cause Turing instability, in the classical Rosenzweig-McArthur two-species PDE model, which is an impossibility without cannibalism. Magnússon’s classic work is the first to show that cannibalism in a structured three-species predator-prey ODE model can actually be destabilising. In the current manuscript we consider the PDE form of the three-species model proposed in Magnússon’s classic work. We prove that, in the absence of cannibalism, Turing instability is an impossibility in this model, forany range of parameters. However, theinclusionof cannibalism can cause Turing instability. Thus, to the best of our knowledge, we report thefirstcannibalism induced Turing instability result, in spatially explicit three-species age structured predator-prey systems. We also show that, in the classical ODE model proposed by Magnússon, cannibalism can act as a life boat mechanism,for the prey.
A Reduced-Order Fault Detection Filtering Approach for Continuous-Time Markovian Jump Systems with Polytopic Uncertainties
Authors: Rong Lihong , Peng Xiuyan , Zhang Biao
Published: January 2017

The fault detection (FD) reduced-order filtering problem is investigated for a family of continuous-time Markovian jump linear systems (MJLSs) with polytopic uncertain transition rates, which also include the totally known and partly unknown transition rates. Then, in accordance with the convexification techniques, a novel sufficient condition for the existence of FD reduced-order filter over MJLSs with deficient transition information is obtained in terms of linear matrix inequality (LMI), which can ensure the error augmented system with the FD reduced-order filter is randomly stable. In addition, a performance index is given to enhance the robustness of the residual system against deficient transition information and external disturbance, such that the error between the fault and the residual is made as small as possible to reinforce the faults sensitivity. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is substantiated with two illustrative examples.
Science Applied for the Investigation of Imperial Gate from Eighteenth Century Wooden Church of Nicula Monastery
Authors: Bratu I. , Siluan Monk , Măruţoiu C. , Kacso I. , Garabagiu S. , Măruţoiu V. C. , Tănăselia C. , Popescu D. , Postolache D. L. , Pop D.
Published: January 2017

Part of an indestructible component of any orthodox church, the Imperial Gates represent an important symbol in our cultural heritage. But in many cases the Imperial Gates from the wooden churches were damaged. In order to preserve and restore them, the scientific investigations of the Imperial Gate belonging to Nicula Monastery wooden church were performed by employing nondestructive and destructive methods. The wood essence was established, with its “health” status being investigated by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopy and DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) thermal analysis. The painting materials employed by popular artists were determined by FTIR and XRF (X-ray fluorescence) spectroscopy as gypsum, calcite (rear background), lead white (Archangel Clothes), lead-minium (Archangel Clothes, leaf), iron oxide (Imperial Gate frame), malachite (green), Prussian blue (blue), orpiment (yellow), aliphatic, ester, and protein (probably egg yolk degradation products). Using similar colors as in the original artwork (resulting from the scientific investigation of the pigments) a 3D reconstruction has been performed. The restored Imperial Gates are placed in the old Nicula wooden church, being included into a tourist and religious circuit.
Influence of Lime and Phosphorus Application Rates on Growth of Maize in an Acid Soil
Authors: Opala Peter Asbon
Published: January 2017

The interactive effects of lime and phosphorus on maize growth in an acid soil were investigated in a greenhouse experiment. A completely randomized design with 12 treatments consisting of four lime levels, 0, 2, 10, and 20 t ha−1, in a factorial combination with three phosphorus rates, 0, 30, and 100 kg ha−1, was used. Maize was grown in pots for six weeks and its heights and dry matter yield were determined and soils were analyzed for available P and exchangeable acidity. Liming significantly reduced the exchangeable acidity in the soils. The effect of lime on available P was not significant but available P increased with increasing P rates. There was a significant effect of lime, P, and P by lime interactions on plant heights and dry matter. Without lime application, dry matter increased with increasing P rates but, with lime, dry mattes increased from 0 to 30 kg P ha−1but declined from 30 to 100 kg P ha−1. The highest dry matter yield (13.8 g pot−1) was obtained with a combined 2 t ha−1of lime with 30 kg P ha−1suggesting that lime application at low rates combined with moderate amounts of P would be appropriate in this soil.
Adaptive Channel Estimation Based on an Improved Norm-Constrained Set-Membership Normalized Least Mean Square Algorithm
Authors: Li Yingsong , Jin Zhan , Wang Yanyan
Published: January 2017

An improved norm-constrained set-membership normalized least mean square (INCSM-NLMS) algorithm is proposed for adaptive sparse channel estimation (ASCE). The proposed INCSM-NLMS algorithm is implemented by incorporating an lp-norm penalty into the cost function of the traditional set-membership normalized least mean square (SM-NLMS) algorithm, which is also denoted as lp-norm penalized SM-NLMS (LPSM-NLMS) algorithm. The derivation of the proposed LPSM-NLMS algorithm is given theoretically, resulting in a zero attractor in its iteration. By using this proposed zero attractor, the convergence speed is effectively accelerated and the channel estimation steady-state error is also observably reduced in comparison with the existing popular SM-NLMS algorithms for estimating exact sparse multipath channels. The estimation behaviors are investigated via a typical sparse wireless multipath channel, a typical network echo channel, and an acoustic channel. The computer simulation results show that the proposed LPSM-NLMS algorithm is better than those corresponding sparse SM-NLMS and traditional SM-NLMS algorithms when the channels are exactly sparse.
Output-Only Modal Parameter Recursive Estimation of Time-Varying Structures via a Kernel Ridge Regression FS-TARMA Approach
Authors: Ma Zhi-Sai , Liu Li , Zhou Si-Da , Yu Lei
Published: January 2017

Modal parameter estimation plays an important role in vibration-based damage detection and is worth more attention and investigation, as changes in modal parameters are usually being used as damage indicators. This paper focuses on the problem of output-only modal parameter recursive estimation of time-varying structures based upon parameterized representations of the time-dependent autoregressive moving average (TARMA). A kernel ridge regression functional series TARMA (FS-TARMA) recursive identification scheme is proposed and subsequently employed for the modal parameter estimation of a numerical three-degree-of-freedom time-varying structural system and a laboratory time-varying structure consisting of a simply supported beam and a moving mass sliding on it. The proposed method is comparatively assessed against an existing recursive pseudolinear regression FS-TARMA approach via Monte Carlo experiments and shown to be capable of accurately tracking the time-varying dynamics in a recursive manner.
Unsteady Natural Convection Flow past an Infinite Cylinder with Thermal and Mass Stratification
Authors: Paul Ashish , Deka Rudra Kanta
Published: January 2017

This paper presents an analytical solution of unsteady one-dimensional free convection flow past an infinite vertical circular cylinder in a stratified fluid medium. The dimensionless coupled linear governing partial differential equations are solved by Laplace transform technique for unit Prandtl number and Schmidt number. Effects of various physical parameters are presented with graphs. Numerical values of boundary layer thickness for different parameters are presented in table. Due to the effects of thermal and mass stratifications, the velocity, temperature, and skin friction, Nusselt number shows oscillatory behaviour at smaller times and then reaches steady state at larger times.