bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bumble bee‐initiated vibration release mechanism of rhododendron pollen
Authors: King Marcus J. , Buchmann Stephen L.
Published: January 2018

Although Rhododendron spp. anthers have apical pores and should be expected to be buzz pollinated, bees do not normally sonicate them to release pollen. Stamens were examined to determine their pollen release mechanism; the filaments were shown to have natural vibration modes that cause pollen to be forcibly ejected by vibration, providing the pollen is mature. The first natural vibration mode of the stamens was found to generate centrifugal force sufficient to throw the pollen toward the apical pore and out of the anther, so that it adheres to the anther tip and hangs in the bee's path to the nectaries. These vibrations may be triggered by bees brushing past the long stamens when foraging for nectar, so that the flowers retain their pollen until insect vectors begin foraging on them. The low frequency vibration modes of the viscin threads, which hold the pollen together, may contribute towards the pollen ejection by low frequency stamen vibration. Vibration transmission of dehiscent anthers containing pollen was good from 50 Hz to 850 Hz, suggesting that sonication should be an efficient method of pollen collection, although this rarely occurs. Vibratory ejection occurs at a constant energy level, rather than the constant force levels found in previous research on Actinidia.
Three‐dimensional aspects of EXINE INITIATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN LILIUM LONGIFLORUM (Liliaceae)
Authors: Takahashi Masamichi
Published: January 2018

Pollen development in Lilium longiflorum was reinvestigated with high resolution scanning electron microscopy, with special attention to three‐dimensional conformation in the exine pattern formation. At the early tetrad stage, the invaginated plasma membrane takes the form of a reticulate pattern that corresponds to the mature exine tectum. Protectum is the first exine layer to be deposited on the reticulate‐patterned plasma membrane. The initial protectum consists of aggregated fibrous threads and granules. Subsequently, probacules are formed under the protectum on the plasma membrane. At the free microspore stage the developing exine becomes further enlarged and the protectum develops into mature verrucate muri. The present three‐dimensional investigation conflicts with the previous studies on exine development in Lilium.
The genius of Wilhelm Hofmeister: the origin of causal‐analytical research in plant development
Authors: Kaplan Donald R. , Cooke Todd J.
Published: January 2018

Friederich Wilhelm Benedikt Hofmeister (1824‐1877) stands as one of the true giants in the history of biology and belongs in the same pantheon as Darwin and Mendel. Yet by comparison, he is virtually unknown. If he is known at all, it is for his early work on flowering plant embryology and his ground‐breaking discovery of the alternation of generations in plants, which he published at age 27 in 1851. Remarkable as the latter study was, it was but a prelude to the more fundamental contributions he was to make in the study of plant growth and development expressed in his books on plant cell biology (Die Lehre von der Pfanzenzelle, 1867) and plant morphology (Allgemeine Morphologie der Gewächse, 1868). In this article we review his remarkable life and career, highlighting the fact that his scientific accomplishments were based largely on self‐education in all areas of biology, physics, and chemistry. We describe his research accomplishments, including his early embryological studies and their influence on Mendel's genetic studies as well as his elucidation of the alternation of generations, and we review in detail his cell biology and morphology books. It is in the latter two works that Hofmeister the experimentalist and biophysicist is most manifest. Not only did Hofmeister explore the mechanisms of cytoplasmic streaming, plant morphogenesis, and the effects of gravity and light on their development, but in each instance he developed a biophysical model to integrate and interpret his wealth of observational and experimental data. Because of the lack of attention to the cell and morphology books, Hofmeister's true genius has not been recognized. After studying several evaluations of Hofmeister by contemporary and later workers, we conclude that his reputation became eclipsed because he was so far ahead of his contemporaries that no one could understand or appreciate his work. In addition, his basically organismic framework was out of step with the more reductionistic cytogenetic work that later came in vogue. We suggest that the translation of the cell and morphology books in English would help re‐establish him as one of the most notable scientists in the history of plant biology.
The sporophyte‐gametophyte junction in the moss Acaulon muticum (Pottiaceae): EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Rushing Ann E. , Anderson Wendy B.
Published: January 2018

The sporophyte‐gametophyte junction in Acaulon muticum is composed of the sporophyte foot, the surrounding gametophyte vaginula, and an intervening placental space. At an early stage of development the foot has a large basal cell, characterized by extensive wall ingrowths beginning at the lowermost tip of the basal cell and extending along its tangential walls. Sporophyte cells in contact with the basal cell develop ingrowths on their outer tangential walls and on radial walls in contact with the basal cell. All sporophyte cells at this stage are characterized by numerous mitochondria, strands of endoplasmic reticulum, and dictyosomes, particularly in the cytoplasm adjacent to areas of extensive wall development. Plastids typically contain abundant starch reserves. As development proceeds, wall ingrowths become more extensive on all walls in the sporophyte foot but are never found on the upper wall of the basal cell in contact with the remainder of the sporophyte. Plastids in the foot contain fewer starch reserves later in development. Wall ingrowths are not visible in the cells of the gametophyte vaginula until well after extensive development has occurred in the sporophyte foot. Stacks or layers of endoplasmic reticulum are characteristic of the cells of the gametophyte vaginula, along with numerous mitochondria, dictyosomes, and well‐developed plastids. Starch reserves typically are less abundant in cells of the gametophyte. The early development of extensive wall elaborations in the cells of the sporophyte foot, and particularly in the basal cell, may favor the rapid movement of water and nutrients from the gametophyte into the sporophyte at a time when rapid development in this minute, ephemeral moss is critical.
Microgametogenesis in Plumbago zeylanica (Plumbaginaceae). 1. Descriptive cytology and three‐dimensional organization
Authors: Russell Scott D. , Strout Gregory W. , Stramski Anita K. , Mislan Timothy W. , Thompson Rahmona A. , Schoemann Lori M.
Published: January 2018

The generative cell is initiated as a small, lenticular, unpolarized cell with a cell wall traceable to two origins: the external segment originates as intine, while an inner callose positive cell wall forms de novo. As the lenticular generative cell begins its migration into the pollen cytoplasm, the generative cell becomes polarized both externally and internally, displaying a characteristic shape and patterns of organelle distribution oriented with respect to the vegetative nucleus and independent of pollen aperture location. Separation of the generative cell from the pollen wall begins at the end opposite the vegetative nucleus and results in an elongating protuberance at the opposite end of the generative cell; this becomes associated with a preformed groove located on the surface of the vegetative nucleus. The generative cell subsequently separates from the intine near the vegetative nucleus and moves progressively toward the opposite end of the cell; during this separation, the edge of the wall facing the intine becomes callose‐positive and remains so until separating from the intine. The generative cell becomes a free cell within the pollen, which is in physical association with the vegetative nucleus. Generative cell organization and organelle content become increasingly polarized during maturation, with microtubules evident both in the elongating protuberance of the generative cell and in association with organelles. The generative nucleus migrates away from the vegetative nucleus and toward the plastid‐rich end of the generative cell, whereas mitochondria are more generally distributed within the cell. Generative cell polarization is made permanent during mitotic division and cytokinesis, i.e., two sperm cells differing in morphology are formed: the larger cell associated with the vegetative nucleus (Svn) contains a majority of the mitochondria, and the smaller, unassociated sperm cell (Sua) receives the plastids.
Enzymatic ethanolysis of fish oil for selective concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with flexible production of corresponding glycerides and ethyl esters
Authors: Yan Xin , Zhao Xuebing , Ma Gaojian , Dai Lingmei , Du Wei , Liu Dehua
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND

Products with high concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are now in high demand for health care and medicine. In this work, a novel lipase‐catalyzed ethanolysis of low‐grade fish oil was developed with combined use of two commercial free and immobilized lipases (triacylglycerol acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3), namely Novozyme NS81006 and 435, to flexibly produce fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) and concentrated PUFAs.

RESULTS

In a first step, most of the fatty acid glycerides (FAGCs) were converted to ethyl esters with conversion rate of 70–80% but only a minor part of docosahexaenoic fatty acids (DHAs) was converted (<20%). Using molecular distillation to evaporate FAEEs, the content of PUFAs in the resulting heavy phase, primarily as glycerides and secondarily as ethyl esters, increased from ∼18% of crude fish oil to 34%. A second ethanolysis step under the catalysis of Novozyme 435 was used to further convert the residual FAGCs, especially DHA glyceride, to ethyl esters with final conversion rates of 80–100%. PUFAs content was further enhanced to 41% in the form of PUFA ethyl esters after a second‐stage moleulcar distillation.

CONCLUSIONS

This two‐step process combined the merits of free and immobilized lipases for ethanolysis of fish oil, achieving high conversion of PUFAs to corresponding ethyl esters with significant improvement of catalyst reusability in the second step. This process also provides flexible production of enriched PUFAs in the forms of glycerides or ethyl esters from low‐grade fish oil feedstocks. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Mathematical modelling of expanded bed adsorption – a perspective on in silico process design
Authors: Koppejan Victor , Ferreira Guilherme , Lin Dong‐Qiang , Ottens Marcel
Published: January 2018

Expanded bed adsorption (EBA) emerged in the early 1990s in an attempt to integrate the clarification, capture and initial product concentration/purification process. Several mathematical models have been put forward to describe its operation. However, none of the models developed specifically for EBA allows simultaneous prediction of bed hydrodynamics, mass transfer/adsorption and (unwanted) interactions and fouling. This currently limits the development and early optimization of EBA‐based separation processes. In multiphase reactor engineering, the use of multiphase computational fluid dynamics has been shown to improve fundamental understanding of fluidized beds. To advance EBA technology, a combination of particle, equipment and process scale models should be used. By employing a cascade of multiscale simulations, the various challenges EBA currently faces can be addressed. This allows for optimal design and selection of equipment, materials and process conditions, and reduces risks and development times of downstream processes involving EBA. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Differentiating crisis incidents: A replication study using the action systems model
Authors: Hempenstall Lisa , Hammond Sean
Published: January 2018

Crisis incidents are volatile situations that can pose significant risk to those involved and to law enforcement. The idiosyncratic conditions that lead to such incidents, as well as their volatility, often militate against consistent explanatory models. However, the application of overarching paradigms, such as the action systems model, has shown some promise in imposing order in the domain. Recent research has successfully differentiated crisis incidents into the four distinct modes of the action systems model: conservative, adaptive, integrative, and expressive. The purpose of this paper is to attempt to replicate this recent study using 242 cases from the United States, Ireland, Canada, and Sweden. Data analysis involves smallest space analyses and constrained multidimensional scaling. Although the results supported the underlying structure of original proposed behavioural model, there are a few deviances. These differences along with the potential influence of cultural variations, offence variable selection, the type of incident, and the sample under scrutiny are discussed. It is evident that there remain several challenges, and further research is required, prior to developing a unified framework.
Frontiers and route‐ways from Europe: the Early Middle Palaeolithic of Britain
Authors: Ashton Nick , Harris Claire R. E. , Lewis Simon G.
Published: January 2018

Britain has a rich and well‐documented earlier Palaeolithic record, which provides a unique resource to investigate population dynamics and the cultural and geographical links with north‐west Europe during the Middle Pleistocene. This paper examines a newly enhanced dataset for the distribution of finds locations and their geological context. Using artefact types as proxies for different populations it contrasts the Lower Palaeolithic and Early Middle Palaeolithic records. New methods are devised to mitigate for the clear bias towards handaxes in collection history. Taking account of this bias, the results suggest differences in distribution between Lower Palaeolithic and Early Middle Palaeolithic populations, with the latter more heavily concentrated in the lower reaches of large southern and eastern rivers. Drawing on recent studies on the palaeogeography of the Channel and southern North Sea Basin, the paper suggests that this restricted distribution reflects short‐lived occupation by small groups of early Neanderthals in late MIS 8, who eventually became locally extinct because of isolation caused by rising sea levels in the first warm sub‐stage of MIS 7.
Development and Evaluation of the Thinking About Recovery Scale: Measure of Parent Posttraumatic Cognitions Following Children's Exposure to Trauma
Authors: Schilpzand Elizabeth J. , Conroy Rowena , Anderson Vicki , Alisic Eva
Published: January 2018

Researchers have recently suggested that parent posttraumatic appraisals potentially contribute to the development of posttraumatic stress in both parents and children following children's exposure to trauma. However, a single‐instrument, multidimensional measure of parent posttraumatic cognitions as they relate to their child's recovery has yet to be operationalized. This study described the development and evaluation of a parent‐report questionnaire of parent posttraumatic cognitions, designed to be used after a child's exposure to trauma. We generated an initial pool of items in reference to existing theories and subjected this list to an iterative process of item writing and revision. Items were subjected to expert review to maximize construct validity. The 33‐item Thinking About Recovery Scale (TARS), which measures three domains (My child has been permanently damaged; The world is dangerous for my child; Parents should always promote avoidance) demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .74‐88) and convergent validity (r 2 range = .08‐.40) when piloted in a sample of 116 parents of children who had been exposed to a serious accidental injury. The TARS augments the available literature by providing a brief measure of parent posttraumatic cognitions, an area which is currently understudied in childhood posttraumatic stress and could have broad clinical and research use.
Biomechanical properties of aquatic plants: The effect of test conditions
Authors: Łoboda A. M. , Przyborowski Ł. , Karpiński M. , Bialik R. J. , Nikora V. I.
Published: January 2018

Four aquatic plants (i.e.,Potamogeton pectinatusL.,Potamogeton crispusL.,Myriophyllum spicatumL., andCeratophyllum demersumL.) that commonly grow in European lowland rivers and lakes and exhibit a variety of morphologies and differences in the internal structures of their stem cross sections were selected to investigate the influence of initial conditions on biomechanical tests. A new method of sample testing in wet conditions is proposed and employed using a bench‐top testing machine. The obtained biomechanical characteristics, such as breaking strain, force, and stress; Young's modulus; flexural strain; flexural rigidity; and flexural modulus are presented and discussed. Even when fresh specimens were kept in water before testing in air, their biomechanical parameters were sensitive to fast drying. If the turgor pressure was not maintained in dry tests, specimen stiffness was not preserved and the measured biomechanical properties deviated from those observed in wet conditions. Approximately 43% of the three‐point bending tests and 20% of the tension tests showed significant differences between dry and wet conditions in all considered plant species. Bending tests for both conditions performed onP. pectinatusL. andP. crispusL. showed the highest differences in flexural rigidity values, reflecting the adaptation of these plants to changing hydraulic conditions. Stem resistance to tension forces in terms of Young's modulus was found to be different for wet and dry conditions only forP. pectinatusL. Overall, it was revealed that plants constantly submerged in water tend to be stiffer than plants exposed to dry conditions.
Pazopanib therapy for desmoid tumors in adolescent and young adult patients
Authors: Agresta Laura , Kim Hee , Turpin Brian K. , Nagarajan Rajaram , Plemmons Alexandra , Szabo Sara , Dasgupta Roshni , Sorger Joel I. , Pressey Joseph G.
Published: January 2018

Background

Desmoid tumors/aggressive fibromatosis (DT/AF) lack a reliably effective medical therapy. Surgical resection may be morbid and does not preclude recurrence. Radiation may carry severe late effects, particularly detrimental in young patients. At our institution, we recently observed promising results with pazopanib therapy for DT/AF in adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients.

Procedure

Retrospective single‐institution chart review.

Results

Six DT/AF patients of 3–21 years with previously treated DT/AF received pazopanib; 31 DT/AF patients received established therapies only. In both groups, median age at diagnosis was 16 years, female patients comprised 50%, and most common DT/AF site was extremity. Established therapies showed few objective responses and most patients therefore received multiple therapies. Surgical resection had a 68% recurrence rate. Of eight patients who received vinblastine/methotrexate, only one had a partial response (PR) by RECIST 1.1 and five had stable disease (SD); 62.5% required additional therapy. Of seven patients who received sulindac/tamoxifen, none showed objective improvement. In contrast, pazopanib demonstrated best responses by RECIST of PR in two of seven and SD in six of seven tumors. A PR of 66% was observed in a patient who had failed multiple prior therapies. The mesenteric DT/AF also showed PR. Maximum volumetric decrease by T2‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was 97%. Dramatically increased fibrosis was seen on T2‐weighted MRI. Patients reported pain relief and improvement in function within 1 month. Except for one case of edema, all other toxicities responded to dose reduction without sacrificing objective treatment response.

Conclusion

Pazopanib provides a promising, well‐tolerated therapy for DT/AF in the AYA population and warrants further study.
Addressing unmeasured confounding in comparative observational research
Authors: Zhang Xiang , Faries Douglas E. , Li Hu , Stamey James D. , Imbens Guido W.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Observational pharmacoepidemiological studies can provide valuable information on the effectiveness or safety of interventions in the real world, but one major challenge is the existence of unmeasured confounder(s). While many analytical methods have been developed for dealing with this challenge, they appear under‐utilized, perhaps due to the complexity and varied requirements for implementation. Thus, there is an unmet need to improve understanding the appropriate course of action to address unmeasured confounding under a variety of research scenarios.

Methods

We implemented a stepwise search strategy to find articles discussing the assessment of unmeasured confounding in electronic literature databases. Identified publications were reviewed and characterized by the applicable research settings and information requirements required for implementing each method. We further used this information to develop a best practice recommendation to help guide the selection of appropriate analytical methods for assessing the potential impact of unmeasured confounding.

Results

Over 100 papers were reviewed, and 15 methods were identified. We used a flowchart to illustrate the best practice recommendation which was driven by 2 critical components: (1) availability of information on the unmeasured confounders; and (2) goals of the unmeasured confounding assessment. Key factors for implementation of each method were summarized in a checklist to provide further assistance to researchers for implementing these methods.

Conclusion

When assessing comparative effectiveness or safety in observational research, the impact of unmeasured confounding should not be ignored. Instead, we suggest quantitatively evaluating the impact of unmeasured confounding and provided a best practice recommendation for selecting appropriate analytical methods.
Metastatic prostate cancer‐associated P62 inhibits autophagy flux and promotes epithelial to mesenchymal transition by sustaining the level of HDAC6
Authors: Jiang Xianhan , Huang Yiqiao , Liang Xue , Jiang Funeng , He Yongzhong , Li Tian , Xu Guibin , Zhao Haibo , Yang Weiqing , Jiang Ganggang , Su Zhengming , Jiang Lingke , Liu Leyuan
Published: January 2018

Background

P62 (also named sequestosome‐1, SQSTM1) is involved in autophagy regulation through multiple pathways. It interacts with autophagosomes‐associated LC3‐II and ubiquitinated protein aggregates to engulf the aggregates in autophagosomes, interacts with HDAC6 to inhibit its deacetylase activity to maintain the levels of acetylated α‐tubulin and stabilities of microtubules to enhance autophagosome trafficking, and regulates autophagy initiation and cell survival. We performed immunohistochemistry staining of P62 in prostate tissues from prostate cancer patients and found that levels of P62 in patients with prostate adenocarcinomas (PCA) are significantly higher than those in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). High levels of P62 predict high tumor grade and high intensity of metastasis.

Methods

We created prostate cancer cell lines stably overexpressing P62 and then suppress the expression of P62 in the cell line stably overexpressing P62 with CRISPR technology. Cell proliferation assay with crystal violet, cell migration assay, cell invasion assay, Western blot analysis, and confocal fluorescent microscopy were conducted to test the impact of altered levels of P62 on the growth, migration, invasion, epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition, autophagy flux, HDAC6 activity, and microtubular acetylation of cancer cells.

Results

P62 increased the levels of HDAC6 and reduced the acetylation of α‐tubulin and the stability of microtubules. Consequently, high levels of P62 caused a promotion of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition in addition to an impairment of autophagy flux, and further led to an enhancement of proliferation, migration, and invasion of prostate cancer cells.

Conclusion

P62 promotes metastasis of PCA by sustaining the level of HDAC6 to inhibit autophagy and promote epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition.
Hydrophobic residues can identify native protein structures
Authors: Mirzaie Mehdi
Published: January 2018

Evaluation of protein structures needs a trustworthy potential function. Although several knowledge‐based potential functions exist, the impact of different types of amino acids in the scoring functions has not been studied yet. Previously, we have reported the importance of nonlocal interactions in scoring function (based on Delaunay tessellation) in discrimination of native structures. Then, we have questioned the structural impact of hydrophobic amino acids in protein fold recognition. Therefore, a Hydrophobic Reduced Model (HRM) was designed to reduce protein structure of FS (Full Structure) into RS (Reduced Structure). RS is considered as a reduced structure of only seven hydrophobic amino acids (L, V, F, I, A, W, Y) and all their interactions. The presented model was evaluated via four different performance metrics including the number of correctly identified natives, the Z‐score of the native energy, the RMSD of the minimum score, and the Pearson correlation coefficient between the energy and the model quality. Results indicated that only nonlocal interactions between hydrophobic amino acids could be sufficient and accurate enough for protein fold recognition. Interestingly, the results of HRM is significantly close to the model that considers all amino acids (20‐amino acid model) to discriminate the native structure of the proteins on eleven decoy sets. This indicates that the power of knowledge‐based potential functions in protein fold recognition is mostly due to hydrophobic interactions. Hence, we suggest combining a different well‐designed scoring function for non‐hydrophobic interactions with HRM to achieve better performance in fold recognition.
Decentralized intelligent tracking control for uncertain high‐order stochastic nonlinear strong interconnected systems in drift and diffusion terms
Authors: Si Wen‐Jie
Published: January 2018

This paper focuses mainly on decentralized intelligent tracking control for a class of high‐order stochastic nonlinear systems with unknown strong interconnected nonlinearity in the drift and diffusion terms. For the control of uncertain high‐order nonlinear systems, the approximation capability of RBF neural networks is utilized to deal with the difficulties caused by completely unknown system dynamics and stochastic disturbances, and only one adaptive parameter is constructed to overcome the overparameterization problem. Then, to address the problem from high‐order strong interconnected nonlinearities in the drift and diffusion terms with full states of the overall system, by using the monotonically increasing property of the bounding functions, the variable separation technique is achieved. Lastly, based on the Lyapunov stability theory, a decentralized adaptive neural control method is proposed to reduce the number of online adaptive learning parameters. It is shown that, for bounded initial conditions, the designed controller can ensure the semiglobally uniformly ultimate boundedness of the solution of the closed‐loop system and make the tracking errors eventually converge to a small neighborhood around the origin. Two simulation examples including a practical example are used to further illustrate the effectiveness of the design method.
Novel Transparent and Self‐Powered UV Photodetector Based on Crossed ZnO Nanofiber Array Homojunction
Authors: Ning Yi , Zhang Zhiming , Teng Feng , Fang Xiaosheng
Published: January 2018

A novel self‐powered UV photodetector based on electrospun ZnO nanofiber arrays is introduced. Aligned pure ZnO nanofibers and Ag‐doped p‐type ZnO nanofibers are processed perpendicular to each other, and p–n junction arrays of ZnO nanofibers are fabricated as a result. Owing to the intrinsic intervals between nanofibers, the device is fully transparent on quartz substrate. Various characterization methods including TEM, XRD, and XPS are used to testify the existence form of Ag element in ZnO nanofibers, and a field effect transistor is constructed to judge their conductivity. It is discovered that the Ag doping process not only transforms ZnO to p‐type conductivity, making it possible to build this self‐powered photodetector, but also forms Ag nanoparticles in ZnO nanofibers and thus helps reduce the response time. Benefiting from the abovementioned dual effects, this UV detector is found to have an enhanced performance, with the on–off ratio up to 104 at zero bias and a rather short rise/decay time of 3.90 s/4.71 s.
The effect of inquiry‐based learning on the achievement goal‐orientation of grade 10 physical sciences learners at township schools in South Africa
Authors: Mupira Pio , Ramnarain Umesh
Published: January 2018

Due to apartheid policies, Black African learners in South Africa have been severely disadvantaged in school science. Despite policy changes to redress these historical imbalances, Black African learners continue to underperform in science. Previous research has identified motivation as a key factor that impacts performance. Achievement goal orientation is a construct of motivation that explains learning behaviour. In an attempt to address the problem of learner motivation, this study investigated the effect of inquiry‐based learning on the achievement goal‐orientation of grade 10 physical sciences learners at historically disadvantaged township schools in South Africa. In South Africa, the term “township” usually refers to under‐developed urban areas that were historically created for “non‐whites” during the apartheid era. The findings showed that the experiment group of learners who experienced inquiry‐based learning significantly gained in mastery goal orientation, while the control that were taught through a traditional direct didactic approach had an insignificant change in their mastery goal orientation. From these results, it can be concluded that inquiry‐based learning does support a mastery goal orientation in learners. This orientation is regarded as desirable because mastery approach goals could support positive outcomes in conceptual learning, leading to an improvement in science achievement of learners.
Refining and defining riverscape genetics: How rivers influence population genetic structure
Authors: Davis Chanté D. , Epps Clinton W. , Flitcroft Rebecca L. , Banks Michael A.
Published: January 2018

Traditional analysis in population genetics evaluates differences among groups of individuals and, in some cases, considers the effects of distance or potential barriers to gene flow. Genetic variation of organisms in complex landscapes, seascapes, or riverine systems, however, may be shaped by many forces. Recent research has linked habitat heterogeneity and landscape or seascape configuration to genetic structure by integrating methods from landscape ecology, population genetics, and spatial statistics in approaches known as landscape or seascape genetics. However, functional differences between terrestrial or seascapes systems in comparison to riverscape topography (i.e., movement pathways for aquatic obligate species are constrained to river channels) make translating these approaches into freshwater analyses problematic. Studies that may be described as riverscape genetics (RG) have linked temperature, stream gradient, and confluences to genetic variability. Lack of consistency in methodology, however, has made comparisons across species and scales difficult. We provide a perspective on how RG could be used to provide a more comprehensive conceptual and applied understanding of connectivity and dispersal in freshwater systems. We describe four thematic areas of study representing current and future research opportunities and describe a basic workflow for conducting RG analysis. Although numerous methodological challenges remain, a RG approach can enhance our understanding of habitat heterogeneity in shaping gene flow and spatial genetic structure. These characteristics of populations are critical components for interpreting demographic and evolutionary consequences of habitat loss and fragmentation. WIREs Water 2018, 5:e1269. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1269

This article is categorized under:

Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems

Water and Life > Methods

Science of Water > Hydrological Processes
First report of a hatched, hand‐reared, and released African oystercatcher
Authors: Klusener Romy , Hurtado Renata , Stander Nicola , Parsons Nola J.
Published: January 2018

The African oystercatcher Haematopus moquini is a near‐threatened wader that is endemic to southern Africa. In the past, the species suffered a drastic decrease in nesting success due to human disturbance. We present the case report of an African oystercatcher that was hatched, hand‐reared, and released in the Western Cape, South Africa. African oystercatchers are semi‐altricial birds that tend to be highly sensitive to stress; as a result, strategies to minimize stress and the employment of surrogate parents and pre‐release acclimatization are important to ensure post‐release survival of hand‐reared chicks. Considering the lack of literature on the incubation and hand‐rearing of oystercatchers, this case report provides a basis for the development of hand‐rearing techniques that might be useful for the protection of this and other threatened wader species.
Identification of possible nutritional and stress risk factors in the development of marmoset wasting syndrome
Authors: Cabana Francis , Maguire Rina , Hsu Chia‐Da , Plowman Amy
Published: January 2018

Marmoset wasting syndrome (MWS) describes a series of symptoms in callitrichids that lead to general weakness and a failure to thrive in captive conditions such as zoological institutions. Though the cause of MWS has not been identified, the majority of hypotheses are linked to deficiencies of specific nutrients and increased stress levels. Questionnaires were sent to zoos requesting information on diets and housing of currently living and dead callitrichids before their deaths, as well as their postmortem reports. Risk factors for development and occurrence of MWS include close proximity of predator enclosures and high levels of dietary magnesium and zinc. Variables with effects which may protect against the development of MWS included provision of a nest box, natural trees within enclosure, reduced visibility to visitors, as well as dietary factors such as higher concentrations of potassium and fiber fractions. The protective effects of limited concentrate feeds and increased total dietary fiber may help reduce the risks of developing MWS. The minerals may not have biological implications in MWS per se, however, they may be reflective of diets too high in concentrates and too low in plant matter. Habitat designs that are less naturalistic and those which provide insufficient privacy or hide areas may increase chronic stress for callitrichid species, possibly because of visitor‐related stress. Other causes of chronic stress in captive zoo populations should be the topic of further research to reduce occurrence of MWS.
Mussel inspired green synthesis of silver nanoparticles-decorated halloysite nanotube using dopamine: characterization and evaluation of its catalytic activity
Authors: Das Tushar Kanti , Ganguly Sayan , Bhawal Poushali , Remanan Sanjay , Mondal Subhadip , Das N. C.
Published: January 2018

Naturally occurring ceramic tubular clay, Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), having a significant amount of surface hydroxyls has been coated by self-polymerized dopamine in this work. The polydopamine-coated HNTs acts as a self-reducing agent for Ag+ ion to Ag0 in nanometer abundance. Herein, nano size Ag0 deposited on solid support catalyst has been used to mitigate water pollution within 10 min. To establish the versatility of the catalyst, nitroaryl (4-nitrophenol) and synthetic dye (methylene blue) have been chosen as model pollutant. The degradation/reduction of the aforementioned pollutants was confirmed after taking UV–visible spectra of the respective compounds. All the study can make sure that the catalyst is green and the rate constant value for catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol and methylene blue was calculated to be 4.45 × 10−3 and 1.13 × 10−3 s−1, respectively, which is found to be more efficient in comparison to other nanostructure and commercial Pt/C nanocatalyst (1.00 × 10−3 s−1).
Treatment of Postanoxic Action Myoclonus With Intrathecal Baclofen: A Case Report
Authors: Whitlock James A. , Dumigan Ryan W.
Published: January 2018

A case of severe action myoclonus after pulmonary arrest is described. Although there was benefit from oral pharmacotherapy, action myoclonus remained disabling. A favorable response to baclofen during an intrathecal trial led to eventual placement of an intrathecal baclofen pump. The present case illustrates the potential utility of intrathecal baclofen for treating this condition.

Level of Evidence

V
The Role of Rehabilitation in Patients With Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: A Narrative Review
Authors: Intiso Domenico , Bartolo Michelangelo , Santamato Andrea , Di Rienzo Filomena
Published: January 2018

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the deposition of abnormal proteins in neurons of the basal ganglia that limit motor ability, resulting in disability and reduced quality of life. So far, no pharmacologic therapy has been developed, and the treatment remains symptomatic. The aim of the present study is to perform a systematic investigation of the literature, and to determine the types and effects of rehabilitative interventions used for PSP. A search of all studies was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and EMBASE. Twelve studies were identified, including 6 case reports, 3 case series, one case‐control study, one quasi−randomized trial (i.e. not truly random) with crossover design, and one randomized controlled trial, with 88 patients investigated overall. Rehabilitative interventions varied in type, number, frequency, and duration of sessions. The most commonly used clinical measures were the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale (PSPRS) and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Physical exercises were the main rehabilitative strategy but were associated with other interventions and rehabilitative devices, in particular treadmill and robot‐assisted gait training. All studies showed an improvement in balance and gait impairment with a reduction of falls after rehabilitation treatment. Because of poor methodological quality and the variety of rehabilitative approaches including different and variable strategies, there was insufficient evidence of the effectiveness of any specific rehabilitation intervention in PSP. Despite this finding, rehabilitation might improve balance and gait, thereby reducing falls in PSP patients.

Level of Evidence

IV
Next-Generation Sequencing to Diagnose Muscular Dystrophy, Rhabdomyolysis, and HyperCKemia
Authors: Wu Lily , Brady Lauren , Shoffner John , Tarnopolsky Mark A.
Published: January 2018

Background:Neuromuscular disorders are a phenotypically and genotypically diverse group of diseases that can be difficult to diagnose accurately because of overlapping clinical features and nonspecific muscle pathology. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a high-throughput technology that can be used as a more time- and cost-effective tool for identifying molecular diagnoses for complex genetic conditions, such as neuromuscular disorders.Methods:One hundred and sixty-nine patients referred to a Canadian neuromuscular clinic for evaluation of possible muscle disease were screened with an NGS panel of muscular dystrophy–associated genes. Patients were categorized by the reason of referral (1) muscle weakness (n=135), (2) recurrent episodes of rhabdomyolysis (n=18), or (3) idiopathic hyperCKemia (n=16).Results:Pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants were identified in 36.09% of patients (61/169). The detection rate was 37.04% (50/135) in patients with muscle weakness, 33.33% (6/18) with rhabdomyolysis, and 31.25% (5/16) in those with idiopathic hyperCKemia.Conclusions:This study shows that NGS can be a useful tool in the molecular workup of patients seen in a neuromuscular clinic. Evaluating the utility of large panels of a muscle disease-specific NGS panel to investigate the genetic susceptibilities of rhabdomyolysis and/or idiopathic hyperCKemia is a relatively new field. Twenty-eight of the pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants reported here are novel and have not previously been associated with disease.
FINITE TRIFACTORISED GROUPS AND -DECOMPOSABILITY
Authors: KAZARIN L. S. , MARTÍNEZ-PASTOR A. , PÉREZ-RAMOS M. D.
Published: January 2018

We derive some structural properties of a trifactorised finite group $G=AB=AC=BC$, where $A$, $B$, and $C$ are subgroups of $G$, provided that $A=A_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}}\times A_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}^{\prime }}$ and $B=B_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}}\times B_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}^{\prime }}$ are $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}$-decomposable groups, for a set of primes $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}$.
SAYYID QUTB AND THE CRISIS OF CULTURE IN LATE 1940S EGYPT
Authors: Sabaseviciute Giedre
Published: January 2018

This article focuses on the writings and literary networks of the Egyptian intellectual and activist Sayyid Qutb during the late 1940s. Scholars have tended to explain Qutb's political radicalization and joining of the Muslim Brotherhood during the subsequent decade via aspects of his personality or personal life, such as his quick temper, conservatism, or frustration over unfulfilled aspirations to become a writer. Drawing on three periodicals published respectively by leftist, Islamist, and independent aspiring writers, I instead place Qutb's criticism of political, economic, and cultural elites in the context of an emerging generation of critical intellectuals. By shedding light on intellectual cooperation between Qutb, Muslim Brothers, Marxists, and independent writers, this article challenges established scholarly narratives that locate the Islamist project outside the Egyptian intellectual field.
Giving Voice to Ancient Texts: Manuscript Scholarship in the Digital Era
Authors: Stewart Columba
Published: January 2018

The study of manuscripts was traditionally the preserve of scholar-curators in research libraries who devoted their lives to the exhaustive study and description of collections that were often gathered from several sources. The expected result of their solitary labor was a printed catalog that might describe at most a few hundred manuscripts from a particular linguistic or religious culture. That model has been challenged by the advent of large-scale digital projects that aggregate thousands or even tens of thousands of manuscripts from multiple libraries in a single database or portal.
The epidemiology of trichinellosis in the Arctic territories of a Far Eastern District of the Russian Federation
Authors: Uspensky A. , Bukina L. , Odoevskaya I. , Movsesyan S. , Voronin M.
Published: January 2018

Trichinellosis, a zoonotic disease caused by nematodes of the genus Trichinella, is still a public health concern in the Arctic. The aims of this study were to investigate the seroprevalence of anti-Trichinella IgG in aboriginal peoples of two settlements in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (Russian Federation) on the Arctic coast of the Bering Sea, and to evaluate the survival of Trichinella nativa larvae in local fermented and frozen meat products. A seroprevalence of 24.3% was detected in 259 people tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The highest prevalence was detected among people who consumed traditional local foods made from the meat of marine mammals. Trichinella nativa larvae were found to survive for up to 24 months in a fermented and frozen marine mammal meat product called kopalkhen. Since the T. nativa life cycle can be completed in the absence of humans, it can be expected to persist in the environment and therefore remain a cause of morbidity in the human populations living in Arctic regions.
The Origins of “Social Justice” in the Natural Law Philosophy of Antonio Rosmini
Authors: Kraynak Robert P.
Published: January 2018

“Social justice” is a powerful idea today, but its origins and meaning are unclear. One of the first to use the term was Antonio Rosmini, author ofThe Constitution under Social Justice(1848) and other works of moral philosophy. I argue that Rosmini arrived at his idea of social justice by developing Thomistic natural law theory into a novel view of the common good that balances two principles: (1) the equal rights and dignity of persons as ends-in-themselves, a version of “personalism” influenced by Kant and Christianity; and (2) unequal rewards for those who contribute most to society, a version of Aristotelian “proportionalism” based on the social nature of man. I conclude by comparing Rosmini's idea of social justice to John Rawls's “theory of justice” and Catholic social teaching.
Comparison of self-rated and objective successful ageing in an international cohort
Authors: STEWART JOCELYN M. , AUAIS MOHAMMAD , BÉLANGER EMMANUELLE , PHILLIPS SUSAN P.
Published: January 2018

Understanding predictors of successful ageing is essential to policy development promoting quality-of-life of an ageing population. Initial models precluded successful ageing in the presence of chronic disease/functional disability; however, this is discrepant with self-reported successful ageing. Indicators of social, psychological and physical health in 1,735 people aged 65–74, living in Canada, Columbia, Brazil or Albania, were analysed in the International Mobility in Ageing Study. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the change in self-rated successful ageing in relation to physical health, depression, social connectedness, resilience and site, while controlling for age, gender and income sufficiency. Sixty-five per cent of participants self-rated as ageing successfully; however, this was significantly different across sites (p < 0.0005, range 17–85%) and gender (p = 0.019). Using objective measures, 6 per cent were classified as ‘successful’, with significant variability amongst sites (p < 0.0005, range 0–12%). Subjective successful ageing was associated with fewer (not absence of) chronic diseases, absence of depression and less dysfunction in activities of daily living, but not with objective measures of physical dysfunction. Social connectedness and resilience also aligned with self-rated successful ageing. Traditional definitions of objective successful ageing are likely too restrictive, and thus, do not approximate self-rated successful ageing. International differences suggest that site could be a surrogate for variables other than physical/mental health and social engagement.