bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adenine Addition Restores Cell Viability and Butanol Production in Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1-4 (ATCC 13564) Cultivated at 37°C
Authors: Kiyoshi Keiji , Kawashima Sohei , Nobuki Kosuke , Kadokura Toshimori , Nakazato Atsumi , Suzuki Ken-ichiro , Nakayama Shunichi
Published: January 2017

We have developed butanol-producing consolidated bioprocessing from cellulosic substrates through coculture of cellulolytic clostridia and butanol-producing
Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum
strain N1-4. However, the butanol fermentation by strain N1-4 (which has an optimal growth temperature of 30°C) is sensitive to the higher cultivation temperature of 37°C; the nature of this deleterious effect remains unclear. Comparison of the intracellular metabolites of strain N1-4 cultivated at 30°C and 37°C revealed decreased levels of multiple primary metabolites (notably including nucleic acids and cofactors) during growth at the higher temperature. Supplementation of the culture medium with 250 mg/liter adenine enhanced both cell growth (with the optical density at 600 nm increasing from 4.3 to 10.2) and butanol production (increasing from 3.9 g/liter to 9.6 g/liter) at 37°C, compared to those obtained without adenine supplementation, such that the supplemented 37°C culture exhibited growth and butanol production approaching those observed at 30°C in the absence of adenine supplementation. These improved properties were based on the maintenance of cell viability. We further showed that adenine supplementation enhanced cell viability during growth at 37°C by maintaining ATP levels and inhibiting spore formation. This work represents the first demonstration (to our knowledge) of the importance of adenine-related metabolism for clostridial butanol production, suggesting a new means of enhancing target pathways based on metabolite levels.

IMPORTANCE
Metabolomic analysis revealed decreased levels of multiple primary metabolites during growth at 37°C, compared to 30°C, in
C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum
strain N1-4. We found that adenine supplementation restored the cell growth and butanol production of strain N1-4 at 37°C. The effects of adenine supplementation reflected the maintenance of cell viability originating from the maintenance of ATP levels and the inhibition of spore formation. Thus, our metabolomic analysis identified the depleted metabolites that were required to maintain cell viability. Our strategy, which is expected to be applicable to a wide range of organisms, permits the identification of the limiting metabolic pathway, which can serve as a new target for molecular breeding. The other novel finding of this work is that adenine supplementation inhibits clostridial spore formation. The mechanism linking spore formation and metabolomic status in butanol-producing clostridia is expected to be the focus of further research.
Use of Acetate, Propionate, and Butyrate for Reduction of Nitrate and Sulfate and Methanogenesis in Microcosms and Bioreactors Simulating an Oil Reservoir
Authors: Chen Chuan , Shen Yin , An Dongshan , Voordouw Gerrit
Published: January 2017

Acetate, propionate, and butyrate (volatile fatty acids [VFA]) occur in oil field waters and are frequently used for microbial growth of oil field consortia. We determined the kinetics of use of these VFA components (3 mM each) by an anaerobic oil field consortium in microcosms containing 2 mM sulfate and 0, 4, 6, 8, or 13 mM nitrate. Nitrate was reduced first, with a preference for acetate and propionate. Sulfate reduction then proceeded with propionate (but not butyrate) as the electron donor, whereas the fermentation of butyrate (but not propionate) was associated with methanogenesis. Microbial community analyses indicated that
Paracoccus
and
Thauera
(
Paracoccus
-
Thauera
),
Desulfobulbus
, and
Syntrophomonas
-
Methanobacterium
were the dominant taxa whose members catalyzed these three processes. Most-probable-number assays showed the presence of up to 10
7
/ml of propionate-oxidizing sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in waters from the Medicine Hat Glauconitic C field. Bioreactors with the same concentrations of sulfate and VFA responded similarly to increasing concentrations of injected nitrate as observed in the microcosms: sulfide formation was prevented by adding approximately 80% of the nitrate dose needed to completely oxidize VFA to CO
2
in both. Thus, this work has demonstrated that simple time-dependent observations of the use of acetate, propionate, and butyrate for nitrate reduction, sulfate reduction, and methanogenesis in microcosms are a good proxy for these processes in bioreactors, monitoring of which is more complex.

IMPORTANCE
Oil field volatile fatty acids acetate, propionate, and butyrate were specifically used for nitrate reduction, sulfate reduction, and methanogenic fermentation. Time-dependent analyses of microcosms served as a good proxy for these processes in a bioreactor, mimicking a sulfide-producing (souring) oil reservoir: 80% of the nitrate dose required to oxidize volatile fatty acids to CO
2
was needed to prevent souring in both. Our data also suggest that propionate is a good substrate to enumerate oil field SRB.
Modulation of the Acetone/Butanol Ratio during Fermentation of Corn Stover-Derived Hydrolysate by Clostridium beijerinckii Strain NCIMB 8052
Authors: Liu Zi-Yong , Yao Xiu-Qing , Zhang Quan , Liu Zhen , Wang Ze-Jie , Zhang Yong-Yu , Li Fu-Li
Published: January 2017

Producing biobutanol from lignocellulosic biomass has shown promise to ultimately reduce greenhouse gases and alleviate the global energy crisis. However, because of the recalcitrance of a lignocellulosic biomass, a pretreatment of the substrate is needed which in many cases releases soluble lignin compounds (SLCs), which inhibit growth of butanol-producing clostridia. In this study, we found that SLCs changed the acetone/butanol ratio (A/B ratio) during butanol fermentation. The typical A/B molar ratio during
Clostridium beijerinckii
NCIMB 8052 batch fermentation with glucose as the carbon source is about 0.5. In the present study, the A/B molar ratio during batch fermentation with a lignocellulosic hydrolysate as the carbon source was 0.95 at the end of fermentation. Structural and redox potential changes of the SLCs were characterized before and after fermentation by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and electrochemical analyses, which indicated that some exogenous SLCs were involved in distributing electron flow to
C. beijerinckii
, leading to modulation of the redox balance. This was further demonstrated by the NADH/NAD
+
ratio and
trxB
gene expression profile assays at the onset of solventogenic growth. As a result, the A/B ratio of end products changed significantly during
C. beijerinckii
fermentation using corn stover-derived hydrolysate as the carbon source compared to glucose as the carbon source. These results revealed that SLCs not only inhibited cell growth but also modulated the A/B ratio during
C. beijerinckii
butanol fermentation.

IMPORTANCE
Bioconversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks to butanol involves pretreatment, during which hundreds of soluble lignin compounds (SLCs) form. Most of these SLCs inhibit growth of solvent-producing clostridia. However, the mechanism by which these compounds modulate electron flow in clostridia remains elusive. In this study, the results revealed that SLCs changed redox balance by producing oxidative stress and modulating electron flow as electron donors. Production of H
2
and acetone was stimulated, while butanol production remained unchanged, which led to a high A/B ratio during
C. beijerinckii
fermentation using corn stover-derived hydrolysate as the carbon source. These observations provide insight into utilizing
C. beijerinckii
to produce butanol from a lignocellulosic biomass.
Stress resilience and the risk of inflammatory bowel disease: a cohort study of men living in Sweden
Authors: Melinder Carren , Hiyoshi Ayako , Fall Katja , Halfvarson Jonas , Montgomery Scott
Published: January 2017

Objective

To determine if low psychosocial stress resilience in adolescence (increasing chronic stress arousal throughout life) is associated with an increased inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) risk in adulthood. Subclinical Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) can exist over many years and we hypothesise that psychosocial stress may result in conversion to symptomatic disease through its proinflammatory or barrier function effects.

Design

National register-based cohort study of men followed from late adolescence to middle age.

Setting

A general population cohort of men in Sweden.

Participants

Swedish population-based registers provided information on all men born between 1952 and 1956 who underwent mandatory Swedish military conscription assessment (n=239 591). Men with any gastrointestinal diagnoses (except appendicitis) prior to follow-up were excluded.

Primary outcome measures

An inpatient or outpatient diagnosis of CD or UC recorded in the Swedish Patient Register (1970–2009).

Results

A total of 938 men received a diagnosis of CD and 1799 UC. Lower stress resilience in adolescence was associated with increased IBD risk, with unadjusted HRs (95% CIs) of 1.54 (1.26 to 1.88) and 1.24 (1.08 to 1.42), for CD and UC, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, including markers of subclinical disease activity in adolescence, they are 1.39 (1.13 to 1.71) and 1.19 (1.03 to 1.37).

Conclusions

Lower stress resilience may increase the risk of diagnosis of IBD in adulthood, possibly through an influence on inflammation or barrier function.
Internet search query analysis can be used to demonstrate the rapidly increasing public awareness of palliative care in the USA
Authors: McLean Sarah , Lennon Paul , Glare Paul
Published: January 2017

Background

A lack of public awareness of palliative care (PC) has been identified as one of the main barriers to appropriate PC access. Internet search query analysis is a novel methodology, which has been effectively used in surveillance of infectious diseases, and can be used to monitor public awareness of health-related topics.

Objectives

We aimed to demonstrate the utility of internet search query analysis to evaluate changes in public awareness of PC in the USA between 2005 and 2015.

Methods

Google Trends provides a referenced score for the popularity of a search term, for defined regions over defined time periods. The popularity of the search term ‘palliative care’ was measured monthly between 1/1/2005 and 31/12/2015 in the USA and in the UK.

Results

Results were analysed using independent t-tests and joinpoint analysis. The mean monthly popularity of the search term increased between 2008–2009 (p<0.001), 2011–2012 (p<0.001), 2013–2014 (p=0.004) and 2014–2015 (p=0.002) in the USA. Joinpoint analysis was used to evaluate the monthly percentage change (MPC) in the popularity of the search term. In the USA, the MPC increase was 0.6%/month (p<0.05); in the UK the MPC of 0.05% was non-significant.

Discussion

Although internet search query surveillance is a novel methodology, it is freely accessible and has significant potential to monitor health-seeking behaviour among the public. PC is rapidly growing in the USA, and the rapidly increasing public awareness of PC as demonstrated in this study, in comparison with the UK, where PC is relatively well established is encouraging in increasingly ensuring appropriate PC access for all.
3D seismic imaging of the shallow plumbing system beneath the Ben Nevis Monogenetic Volcanic Field: Faroe–Shetland Basin
Authors: McLean Charlotte E. , Schofield Nick , Brown David J. , Jolley David W. , Reid Alexander
Published: January 2017

Seismic reflection data allow for the 3D imaging of monogenetic edifices and their corresponding plumbing systems. This is a powerful tool in understanding how monogenetic volcanoes are fed and how pre-existing crustal structures can act as the primary influence on their spatial and temporal distribution. This study examines the structure and lithology of host-rock as an influence on edifice alignment and provides insight into the structure of shallow, sub-volcanic monogenetic plumbing systems. The anticlinal Ben Nevis Structure, located in the northerly extent of the Faroe–Shetland Basin, NE Atlantic Margin, was uplifted during the Late Cretaceous and Early Paleocene by the emplacement of a laccolith and a series of branching sills fed by a central conduit. Seismic data reveal that multiple intrusions migrated up the flanks of the Ben Nevis Structure after its formation,
c.
58.4 Ma (Kettla-equivalent), and fed a series of scoria cones and submarine volcanic cones. These monogenetic edifices are distributed around the crest of the Ben Nevis Structure. The edifices are fed from a complex network of sills and transgressive sheets, involving lateral magma migration of tens of kilometres before extrusion at the surface. This work highlights the importance of underlying basin structures in influencing the sites and development of subaerial monogenetic fields, and the importance of lateral magma flow within volcanic systems.

Supplementary materials:
The results of the statistical alignment analysis of the monogenetic edifices are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3662809
.
Homotopy-Initial Algebras in Type Theory
Authors: Awodey Steve , Gambino Nicola , Sojakova Kristina
Published: January 2017

We investigate inductive types in type theory, using the insights provided by homotopy type theory and univalent foundations of mathematics. We do so by introducing the new notion of a homotopy-initial algebra. This notion is defined by a purely type-theoretic contractibility condition that replaces the standard, category-theoretic universal property involving the existence and uniqueness of appropriate morphisms. Our main result characterizes the types that are equivalent to W-types as homotopy-initial algebras.
Low-Rank Approximation and Regression in Input Sparsity Time
Authors: Clarkson Kenneth L. , Woodruff David P.
Published: January 2017

We design a new distribution over
m
×
n
matrices
S
so that, for any fixed
n
×
d
matrix
A
of rank
r
, with probability at least 9/10, ∥
SAx
∥
2
= (1 ± ε)∥
Ax
∥
2
simultaneously for all
x
∈ R

d

. Here,
m
is bounded by a polynomial in
r
ε
− 1
, and the parameter ε ∈ (0, 1]. Such a matrix
S
is called a
subspace embedding
. Furthermore,
SA
can be computed in
O
(nnz(
A
)) time, where nnz(
A
) is the number of nonzero entries of
A
. This improves over all previous subspace embeddings, for which computing
SA
required at least Ω(
nd
log
d
) time. We call these
S
sparse embedding matrices
.

Using our sparse embedding matrices, we obtain the fastest known algorithms for overconstrained least-squares regression, low-rank approximation, approximating all leverage scores, and ℓ

p

regression.

More specifically, let
b
be an
n
× 1 vector, ε > 0 a small enough value, and integers
k
,
p
⩾ 1. Our results include the following.

—
Regression:
The regression problem is to find
d
× 1 vector
x
′ for which ∥
Ax
′ −
b
∥

p

⩽ (1 + ε)min

x

∥
Ax
−
b
∥

p

. For the Euclidean case
p
= 2, we obtain an algorithm running in
O
(nnz(
A
)) +
Õ
(
d
3
ε
−2
) time, and another in
O
(nnz(
A
)log(1/ε)) +
Õ
(
d
3
log (1/ε)) time. (Here,
Õ
(
f
) =
f
ċ log

O
(1)

(
f
).) For
p
∈ [1, ∞), more generally, we obtain an algorithm running in
O
(nnz(
A
) log
n
) +
O
(
r
\ε
−1
)

C

time, for a fixed
C
.

—
Low-rank approximation:
We give an algorithm to obtain a rank-
k
matrix

Â
k

such that ∥
A
−

Â
k

∥
F
≤ (1 + ε )∥
A
−

A
k

∥

F

, where

A
k

is the best rank-
k
approximation to
A
. (That is,

A
k

is the output of principal components analysis, produced by a truncated singular value decomposition, useful for latent semantic indexing and many other statistical problems.) Our algorithm runs in
O
(nnz(
A
)) +
Õ
(
nk
2
ε
−4
+
k
3
ε
−5
) time.

—
Leverage scores:
We give an algorithm to estimate the leverage scores of
A
, up to a constant factor, in
O
(nnz(
A
)log
n
) +
Õ
(
r
3
)time.
The Effect of Welding‐Pass Grouping on the Prediction Accuracy of Residual Stress in Multipass Butt Welding
Authors: Park Jeongung , An Gyubaek , Kim Sunghoon
Published: January 2017

The residual stress analysis of a thick welded structure requires a lot of time and computer memory, which are different from those in thin welded structure analysis. This study investigated the effect of residual stress due to welding‐pass grouping as a way to reduce the analysis time in multipass thick butt welding joint. For this purpose, the parametric analysis which changes the number of grouping passes was conducted in the multipass butt weld of a structure with a thickness of 25 mm and 70 mm. In addition, the residual stress by thermal elastoplastic FE analysis is compared with the results by the neutron diffraction method for verifying the reliability of the FE analysis. The welding sequence is considered in order to predict the residual stress more accurately when using welding‐pass grouping method. The results of the welding‐pass grouping model and half model occurred between the results of the left/right of the full model. If the total number of welding‐pass grouping is less than half of that of welding pass, a large difference with real residual stress is found. Therefore, the total number of the welding‐pass grouping should not be reduced to more than half.
Analysis of External Water Pressure for a Tunnel in Fractured Rocks
Authors: Liu Ze-jun , Huang Yong , Zhou Ding , Ge Hong
Published: January 2017

External water pressure around tunnels is a main influential factor in relation to the seepage safety of underground chambers and powerhouses which make managing external water pressure crucial to water conservation and hydropower projects. The equivalent continuous medium model and the discrete fracture network (DFN) model were, respectively, applied to calculate the seepage field of the study domain. Calculations were based on the integrity and permeability of rocks, the extent of fracture development, and the combination of geological and hydrogeological conditions in the Huizhou pump-storage hydropower station. The station generates electricity from the upper reservoir and stores power by pumping water from the lower to the upper reservoir. In this paper, the external water pressure around the cavern and variations in pressure with only one operational and one venting powerhouse were analyzed to build a predictive model. The results showed that the external water pressure was small with the current anti-seepage and drainage system that normal operation of the reservoir can be guaranteed. The results of external water pressure around the tunnels provided sound scientific evidence for the future design of antiseepage systems.
Risk of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction in Older Women After Contemporary Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer
Authors: Saiki Hirofumi , Petersen Ivy A. , Scott Christopher G. , Bailey Kent R. , Dunlay Shannon M. , Finley Randi R. , Ruddy Kathryn J. , Yan Elizabeth , Redfield Margaret M.
Published: January 2017

Background:

Cardiomyocytes are resistant to radiation. However, cardiac radiation exposure causes coronary microvascular endothelial inflammation, a perturbation implicated in the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF) and particularly HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Radiotherapy for breast cancer results in variable cardiac radiation exposure and may increase the risk of HF.

Methods:

We conducted a population-based case-control study of incident HF in 170 female residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota (59 cases and 111 controls), who underwent contemporary (1998–2013) radiotherapy for breast cancer with computed tomography–assisted radiotherapy planning. Controls were matched to cases for age, tumor side, chemotherapy use, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Mean cardiac radiation dose (MCRD) in each patient was calculated from the patient’s computed tomography images and radiotherapy plan.

Results:

Mean age at radiotherapy was 69±9 years. Of HF cases, 38 (64%) had EF≥50% (HFpEF), 18 (31%) had EF<50% (HF with reduced EF), and 3 (5%) did not have EF measured. The EF was ≥40% in 50 of the 56 HF cases (89%) with an EF measurement. The mean interval from radiotherapy to HF was 5.8±3.4 years. The odds of HF was higher in patients with a history of ischemic heart disease or atrial fibrillation. The MCRD was 2.5 Gy (range, 0.2–13.1 Gy) and higher in cases (3.3±2.7 Gy) than controls (2.1±2.0 Gy;
P
=0.004). The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for HF per log MCRD was 9.1 (3.4–24.4) for any HF, 16.9 (3.9–73.7) for HFpEF, and 3.17 (0.8–13.0) for HF with reduced EF. The increased odds of any HF or HFpEF with increasing MCRD remained significant after adjustment for HF risk factors and in sensitivity analyses matching by cancer stage rather than tumor side. Only 18.6% of patients experienced new or recurrent ischemic events between radiotherapy and the onset of HF.

Conclusions:

The relative risk of HFpEF increases with increasing cardiac radiation exposure during contemporary conformal breast cancer radiotherapy. These data emphasize the importance of radiotherapy techniques that limit MCRD during breast cancer treatment. Moreover, these data provide further support for the importance of coronary microvascular compromise in the pathophysiology of HFpEF.
The Role of Efferocytosis in Atherosclerosis
Authors: Kojima Yoko , Weissman Irving L. , Leeper Nicholas J.
Published: January 2017

The necrotic core has long been a hallmark of the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. Although apoptotic cells are cleared quickly in almost all other tissue beds, their removal appears to be significantly impaired in the diseased blood vessel. Emerging evidence indicates that this phenomenon is caused by a defect in efferocytosis, the process by which apoptotic tissue is recognized for engulfment by phagocytic cells such as macrophages. Genetic and experimental data suggest that efferocytosis is impaired during atherogenesis caused by dysregulation of so-called eat me ligands, which govern the edibility of cells undergoing programmed cell death. The following is a summary of recent data indicating that efferocytosis is a major unappreciated driver of lesion expansion but also a reversible defect that can potentially be targeted as a means to prevent plaque progression.
Muscle Vibration-Induced Illusions: Review of Contributing Factors, Taxonomy of Illusions and User’s Guide
Authors: Taylor Mitchell W. , Taylor Janet L. , Seizova-Cajic Tatjana
Published: January 2017

Limb muscle vibration creates an illusory limb movement in the direction corresponding to lengthening of the vibrated muscle. Neck muscle vibration results in illusory motion of visual and auditory stimuli. Attributed to the activation of muscle spindles, these and related effects are of great interest as a tool in research on proprioception, for rehabilitation of sensorimotor function and for multisensory immersive virtual environments. However, these illusions are not easy to elicit in a consistent manner. We review factors that influence them, propose their classification in a scheme that links this area of research to perception theory, and provide practical suggestions to researchers. Local factors that determine the illusory effect of vibration include properties of the vibration stimulus such as its frequency, amplitude and duration, and properties of the vibrated muscle, such as contraction and fatigue. Contextual (gestalt) factors concern the relationship of the vibrated body part to the rest of the body and the environment. Tactile and visual cues play an important role, and so does movement, imagined or real. The best-known vibration illusions concern one’s own body and can be classified as ‘first-order’ due to a direct link between activity in muscle spindles and the percept. More complex illusions involve other sensory modalities and external objects, and provide important clues regarding the hidden role of proprioception, our ‘silent’ sense. Our taxonomy makes explicit this and other distinctions between different illusory effects. We include User’s Guide with tips for anyone wishing to conduct a vibration study.
Hydrolagus erithacus sp. nov. (Chimaeriformes: Chimaeridae), a new species of chimaerid from the southeastern Atlantic and southwestern Indian oceans
Authors: WALOVICH KRISTIN A. , EBERT DAVID A. , KEMPER JENNY M.
Published: January 2017

A new species of chimaerid, Hydrolagus erithacus sp. nov., is described from nine specimens collected from the southeast Atlantic and southwest Indian oceans from depths of 470–1,000 meters. This species is distinguished from all other Hydrolagus species based on the following characteristics: head bulky, relatively large, followed by stocky body; head and body height from about pectoral fin origin to pelvic fin origin similar, then tapering rapidly to filamentous tail; first dorsal fin spine height about equal to, or slightly less than first dorsal fin apex height; second dorsal fin up to 81% of total body length and uniform in height; trifurcate claspers forked for approximately 20% of total length; robust frontal tenaculum nearly uniform in width, prepelvic tenaculae with five to seven medial spines, and a uniform black coloration with robust, non-deciduous skin. Comparison of mitochondrial NADH2 gene sequences with other morphologically similar Hydrolagus species suggests that H. erithacus is a distinct species.
The Influences of Boundary Layer Mixing and Cloud-Radiative Forcing on Tropical Cyclone Size
Authors: Bu Yizhe Peggy , Fovell Robert G. , Corbosiero Kristen L.
Published: January 2017

Tropical cyclone (TC) size is an important factor directly and indirectly influencing track, intensity, and related hazards, such as storm surge. Using a semi-idealized version of the operational Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting Model (HWRF), the authors show that both enabling cloud-radiative forcing (CRF) and enhancing planetary boundary layer (PBL) vertical mixing can encourage wider storms by enhancing TC outer-core convective activity. While CRF acts primarily above the PBL, eddy mixing moistens the boundary layer from below, both making peripheral convection more likely. Thus, these two processes can cooperate and compete, making their influences difficult to deconvolve and complicating the evaluation of model physics improvements, especially since the sensitivity to both decreases as the environment becomes less favorable. Further study shows not only the magnitude of the eddy mixing coefficient but also the shape of it can determine the TC size and structure.
Characteristics of Stratospheric Winds over Jiuquan (41.1°N, 100.2°E) Using Rocketsonde Data in 1967–2004
Authors: Sheng Z. , Li J. W. , Jiang Y. , Zhou S. D. , Shi W. L.
Published: January 2017

Stratospheric winds play a significant role in middle atmosphere dynamics, model research, and carrier rocket experiments. For the first time, 65 sets of rocket sounding experiments conducted at Jiuquan (41.1°N, 100.2°E), China, from 1967 to 2004 are presented to study horizontal wind fields in the stratosphere. At a fixed height, wind speed obeys the lognormal distribution. Seasonal mean winds are westerly in winter and easterly in summer. In spring and autumn, zonal wind directions change from the upper to the lower stratosphere. The monthly zonal mean winds have an annual cycle period with large amplitudes at high altitudes. The correlation coefficients for zonal winds between observations and the Horizontal Wind Model (HWM) with all datasets are 0.7. The MERRA reanalysis is in good agreement with rocketsonde data according to the zonal winds comparison with a coefficient of 0.98. The sudden stratospheric warming is an important contribution to biases in the HWM, because it changes the zonal wind direction in the midlatitudes. Both the model and the reanalysis show dramatic meridional wind differences with the observation data.
Do all screening immunoassay positive buprenorphine samples need to be confirmed?
Authors: Saleem Mohamed , Martin Helen , Tolya Anne , Coates Penny
Published: January 2017

Background

Interference from opiates in the Microgenics CEDIA® Buprenorphine assay is known to produce false-positive buprenorphine screening immunoassay results necessitating confirmatory buprenorphine testing by chromatography/mass spectrometry methods.

Method

We reviewed data on falsely positive buprenorphine immunoassay screen (cut-off ≥ 5  µg/L) but negative for buprenorphine by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (cut-off ≥ 5  µg/L) and had a positive opiate immunoassay result (cut-off ≥ 300  µg/L). The results were collected over three months, and the data were evaluated to determine whether there is an opiate immunoassay screen concentration below which a false-positive buprenorphine result will not occur.

Results

We found that cross-reactivity in the CEDIA® buprenorphine immunoassay by opiates at concentrations <2000  µg/L will not cause a false-positive buprenorphine result. After changing our practice to not proceed with confirmatory buprenorphine gas chromatography mass spectrometry assay when the opiate screening concentration is below an even more conservative cut-off of <1500  µg/L, we estimate a potential cost-saving of AU$ 17,810 per year without compromising clinical care.

Conclusion

Samples with CEDIA® opiate immunoassay result <2000  µg/L and a positive CEDIA® buprenorphine immunoassay screen do not require confirmatory testing for buprenorphine.
Rise of the Startup City
Authors: Florida Richard , Mellander Charlotta
Published: January 2017

The prevailing geographic model for high-technology industrial organization has been the “nerdistan,” a sprawling, car-oriented suburb organized around office parks. This seems to contradict a basic insight of urban theory, which associates dense urban centers with higher levels of innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity. This article examines the geography of recent venture capital finance startups across U.S. metros and within a subset of them by neighborhood. It concludes that the model is changing. The suburban model might have been a historical aberration, and innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship are realigning in the same urban centers that traditionally fostered them.
A critical examination of school-based occupational therapy collaborative consultation
Authors: Villeneuve Michelle
Published: January 2017

Background

Although collaborative consultation has been widely adopted in school-based occupational therapy practice, there is limited conceptual understanding of how collaboration contributes to educationally relevant outcomes for students with disabilities. Even without a clear understanding of the evidence related to school-based occupational therapy services, there continue to be decisions about funding and delivery of services.

Purpose

This paper synthesizes and critically appraises the research literature on collaborative consultation services in school-based occupational therapy in order to provide program administrators with direction for critically examining decision making for service deliveryin their districts.

Key Issues

Advancing occupational therapy practice in education settings requires a sound theoretical understanding of collaborative consultation. Distributed cognition offers a more robust understanding of the relationship between educator-therapist collaboration and outcomes of school-based occupational therapy services.

Implications

This review concludes with two fundamental conditions necessary for collaboration between educators and occupational therapists to flourish.
Addressing pediatric wait times using the model of human performance technology
Authors: Hoyt-Hallett Gillian , Beckers Kim , Enman Michael , Betuzzi Conny
Published: January 2017

Background

When traditional approaches to waitlist management are unsuccessful, service managers and providers must consider alternatives.

Purpose

To describe how the model of human performance technology was used to address an extensive pediatric waitlist.

Methods

Data were obtained from in-depth interviews with clinicians, educators, and parents and analyzed according to the model.

Findings

The need for a paradigm shift from a linear model of service delivery to a continuum of service was identified which could meet the unique needs of each child and family. Services include information, education, and supports, and all are grounded in principles of family-centred care.

Implications

The model of human performance technology provided a systematic approach with which to reveal the reason for extensive wait times for pediatric occupational therapy service. The model suggested a paradigm shift from a linear model of care to a continuum of care grounded in family-centred care. Implementation and evaluation of this new care model are ongoing.
God and our view of the universe: An uneasy compatibility
Authors: Drummy Michael F.
Published: January 2017

This article evaluates how the recent findings of science have influenced the traditional question of God within a Christian context. The notion of a "paradoxical panentheism" is offered as a working paradigm of the God-world relationship that is consistent with the contemporary scientific world view and with biblical revelation, yet which takes seriously the often painful and bewildering experience that defines creaturehood. The article concludes with some thoughts on how such a model might present science and religion alike with a unique opportunity to consider what each has to offer in a new light.
Conceptualism and consequences: The legacy of Locke's Essay
Authors: Grabowski John S.
Published: January 2017

Building on recent studies which have demonstrated the nominalist character of Locke's epistemology, this article argues that a reading of Locke as a moderate nominalist or conceptualist, especially in light of his tremendous influence, can illuminate something of the specific character of his impact upon modern thought. It then considers aspects of this ambiguous influence on the emerging natural sciences, on metaphysical reflection concerning the created order and God, on the sources and binding character of moral obligation and the relationship of faith and reason.
De la régulation sociale à l'identité morale : le défi de la sociologie de l'éthique selon Jean-Louis Genard
Authors: Larouche Jean-Marc , Jobin Guy
Published: January 2017

Pour qui s'intéresse à la sociologie de l'éthique, l'ouvrage de Jean-Louis Genard, simplement intitulé Sociologie de l'éthique, ne peut être ignoré tant pour la portée de son analyse critique des approches de la morale développées par É. Durkheim, M. Weber et leurs héritiers que pour la façon dont il cherche à répercuter en sociologie de l'éthique les acquis de quelques théories éthiques contemporaines, notamment celles de J. Habermas et de P. Ricoeur. Par son approche, Genard réussit à dépasser le principal obstacle de la sociologie de l'éthique, soit la reconnaissance de l'acteur social comme sujet éthique. Dans un premier temps, nous ferons un bref retour sur l'épistémè des classiques en sociologie de l'éthique. En second lieu, nous présenterons l'approche de Genard et, enfin, nous en dégagerons la portée en la comparant à l'approche éthique d'Alain Touraine dans Critique de la modernité.
Honours and worship: Emperors, imperial cults and associations at Ephesus (first to third centuries C.E.)
Authors: Harland Philip A.
Published: January 2017

Scholars have frequently underplayed the significance of the emperors within actual social and religious life in cities of the Roman empire and have portrayed imperial cults as predominantly political, lacking in religious dimensions. However, this view of imperial cults is misguided and acts as an obstacle to understanding the nature and significance of these cults at the local level. A fresh study of associations (local social-religious groups) in Ephesus helps to clarify the significance of emperors with respect to social, political and religious facets of life. There were two main interconnected ways in which emperors played a role in social and religious life within associations: in regard to networks of benefaction and with respect to cultic activities.
Learning From Early Adopters in the New Accountability Era: Insights From California’s CORE Waiver Districts
Authors: Marsh Julie A. , Bush-Mecenas Susan , Hough Heather
Published: January 2017

Purpose: The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) represents a notable shift in K-12 accountability, requiring a more comprehensive approach to assessing school performance and a less prescriptive approach to intervening in low-performing schools. In this article, we seek to leverage the experiences of California’s CORE (California Office to Reform Education) waiver districts to better understand what it means to implement an ESSA-like system. Specifically, we examine educators’ attitudes about CORE’s accountability system, how it was implemented, and its intermediate outcomes. Research Methods: We use a multiple, embedded case study design, examining the implementation of CORE’s accountability system across all six CORE Districts. We draw on interviews with CORE staff ( n = 4), district leaders ( n = 6) and administrators ( n = 29), and school principals ( n = 15); observations of CORE meetings (42 hours); and documentation. Findings: We find strong buy-in for CORE’s accountability system and considerable adaptation of its key elements. District administrators also reported challenges with achieving reciprocity in collaborative activities, and limited capacity, validity concerns, and policy misalignment constrained implementation. Reported effects on practice and learning indicate CORE efforts were a work in progress. Implications for Research and Practice: This research suggests lessons about what it means to be “data-driven” in a multiple-measures accountability era and raises questions about how to facilitate school improvement. While efforts to motivate change via test-based measures, sanctions, and prescribed interventions in prior accountability eras may not have yielded all the expected positive results, our study indicates that a shift to multiple measures, greater flexibility, and locally determined capacity-building efforts brings its own set of challenges.
Professional Learning Among School Leaders in Secondary Education: The Impact of Personal and Work Context Factors
Authors: Veelen Ruth van , Sleegers Peter J. C. , Endedijk Maaike D.
Published: January 2017

Purpose: School leadership is fundamental in efforts to successfully implement school reform and improve student and teacher learning. Although there is an abundant amount of research on school leaders’ formal training, assessment, and practice, little is known about their informal professional learning. In other words, how do school leaders learn at the workplace? To answer this question, we took an interactionist approach and argued that school leadership learning is based on the interplay between the school environment and the person. Specifically, we investigated the effect of school context (learning climate, social support), task (task variation), and the personal factor self-efficacy on both individual (reflection and career awareness) and social (asking for feedback and challenging groupthink) learning activities. Method: A questionnaire was administered among 1,150 school leaders in Dutch secondary education. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed relationships between our model variables. Findings: Self-efficacy positively predicted all four learning activities. Task variation positively predicted asking for feedback and reflection. Learning climate positively predicted asking for feedback, reflection, and career awareness. Interestingly, the effect of social support was twofold: It positively predicted social learning, but it negatively predicted individual learning. Finally, self-efficacy was an important mediator in the relationship between school context and professional learning. Conclusions: This study demonstrates how personal, task, and school context factors affect school leaders’ professional learning. These insights help develop tools and conditions for leaders to reflect and discuss on their practice, and to set an example for lifelong learning in schools.
Tra scrittura e immagine: La pelle di Curzio Malaparte
Authors: Martínez Garrido Elisa
Published: January 2017

L’articolo studia l’importanza della forza visiva nel romanzo malapartiano La pelle. La continua ricorrenza all’ ekprasis pittorica contribuisce alla potenza espressiva della sua prosa, a cavallo tra l’espressionismo e il decadentismo.
TRQs and the WTO
Authors: Damodaran A.
Published: January 2017

By virtue of their complexity and sensitivity, TRQs have naturally emerged as one of the key issues in the WTO agricultural negotiations. TRQs form an uneasy compromise between market access and tariffication. TRQs applying countries with a-strong track record ofp rotectionism have a difficult problem at hand, when it comes to designing these mechanisms. Indeed the task of balancing national interests with international obligations on market access is a key challenge to trade policy formulation in the developing world. TRQs that meet the criteria of uniformity, equity and transparency may achieve WTO compatibility, though it is doubtful whether they would serve the economic development priorities of the developing countries.

This paper attempts to look into the prospects and options before India in designing WTO compatible TRQ regimes for agricultural commodities. The paper also examines key issues concerning TRQs that need to be taken up in the forthcoming round ofWTO negotiations.
WTO, India and Emerging Global Trade Challenges in Higher Education
Authors: Agrawal Raj
Published: January 2017

Today's world is far different from what it used to be few decades ago. As knowledge becomes more important, so does higher education. In World Trade Organisation (WTO), the objective of General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) was to establish a multilateral framework for services similar to trade in goods involving reduction in tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. GATS covered all the four modes of supply, i.e. cross-border supply, consumption abroad, commercial presence and presence of natural persons. Out of the twelve basic and miscellaneous service sectors identified under GATS schedules, educational services constitute an important sector. The major challenge of all education is to develop an efficient and pro-active quality oriented education system, which fine-tunes itself regularly to meet the changing demand of WTO. Thus India must realise the impending threats of trade in education and try to convert these into opportunities. With many more countries waiting to tap this lucrative sector, India has to take the lead on behalf of the developing countries by using WTO as the forum and a worldclass education sector as the weapon to demand its due share of the colossal education market.
WTO and Indian Software Industry
Authors: Hegde Ishwar V.
Published: January 2017

This paper examines the implications of various agreements of WTO on Indian software industry. It also analyses recent developments in Indian software sector and provides new strategic options for the Industry. The study observes that the WTO agreements like GATT, GATS, TRIPS and IT will have profound implications on the software industry. It suggests that the robust growth of software industry during the last six years lies in many uneven patterns. Hence Indian companies need to supply patented software, provide high value solutions, expand their product portfolio to new destinations, and build Indian multinationals to negate the impact ofg lobal downturn and to reap the benefits of globalisation promoted by WTO.
Global Knowledge Game… Wildcard for India!
Authors: Patra Sudipto , Roy Raj K.
Published: January 2017

Globalisation has brought all sorts of questions pertaining to Indian MNCs to the fore. The enlargement of the freedom to tap the competitive potential, unhindered by geographical restrictions, is at the heart of these forces of globalisation. It endangers the entrenched domestic market players of the cocooned era of the past, simultaneously presenting them the opportunity to look beyond their traditional market (home) and to leverage its strengths to gain higher profitability. From the Indian perspective, we found that there is a plethora of opportunities and Indian companies can really win this global game if they play it right.

In the changing context of business with world moving definitely to a global village we have raised certain questions and tried to answer them in the paper. What is India's competitive advantage? What is the strength that Indian companies can play with to capitalise upon the opportunities that are arising in the global business scenario, at the same time dodging the threats and overcoming their weaknesses? Who are these multinationals that we keep referring to? Are they the giants of the Indian industry? Are they the doyens of the brick and mortar era? Or are they the new-age players in knowledge economy? Why is it that the Indian manufacturing sector could not deliver quality in last 40 years while IT could achieve it in less than a decade? Were there policy bottlenecks that stifled the traditional Indian companies to a stunted Indian presence or something internal to them?

There is a question-mark on the traditional definition of an MNC itself - "Company with operation bases in countries other than that of its origin". When a large part of manufacturing is relocating itself in countries that offer the factor cost advantages, as is available in South-East Asia and China, how relevant is the traditional definition of an MNC? isn't MNC the one which looks at transnational marketing, creating global brands, with localised operations (not necessarily in home country) that allow it to attain highest profitability? Why can't TATA and Reliance be dubbed MNCs if they can play to these rules?

We found that the Indian MNCs also have certain inherent strengths that can catapult them to the global arena Experience gained by the Indian industry over the last 55 years Accumulated knowledge capital Entrepreneurial spirit shown in the right kind of conditions A new mirldset that is emerging slowly but definitely .

Though we are yet to take these strengths to the final frontier of customer satisfaction and the highest order in the business value chain - selling to customers directly or creating global brands - it is only pertinent that we revisit the Indian business scenario with the confidence of delivering quality products as IT has shown. The same factors can help the Indian MN Cs to face the challenges and emerge winners in the new global ball game. We have suggested a broad pack of strategies, which are going to be indispensable for Indian MNCs in 2010 and beyond.