bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Basic Income on the Agenda: Policy Objectives and Political Chances. Edited by Robert van der Veen and Loek Groot. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2001. 290p. $32.00.
Authors: Cox Robert Henry
Published: May 2019

This book tells the story of a dog that did not bark. Since the 1980s, a number of European scholars have advocated a system of income support that would eliminate the stigma attached to most forms of poverty assistance and would be simple, easy, and cheap to implement. Their idea, which has various forms, is to provide all citizens a guaranteed level of support that would have no strings attached. Organized as the Basic Income European Network (BIEN), these scholars have met regularly to discuss the subject of basic income and have endeavored to make their research useful to policymaking by promoting their group's ideas in their home countries. The problem is that after more than a decade of activity, the group cannot claim any major success. To the contrary, many countries have striven to make unemployment and social assistance more conditional by attaching work requirements or lowering thresholds of eligibility.
The Carboneras Fault Zone (southeastern Spain) revisited with Ground Penetrating Radar – Quaternary structural styles from high-resolution images
Authors: Reicherter K.R. , Reiss S.
Published: May 2019

The Carboneras Fault Zone (CFZ) represents an active set of sinistral strike-slip faults in the Betic Cordilleras of southeastern Spain. It constitutes a major segment of the ‘Trans-Alboran shear zone’ during the Cenozoic, striking NE-SW. The CFZ separates the Cabo de Gata Block (Neogene volcanics) against Neogene basinal sediments and the metamorphic basement of the Alpujarride Complex.

Three sites along the CFZ were examined with Ground Penetrating Radar techniques. Radar surveying was complemented by structural studies. Shallow-depth high-resolution imaging of Tyrrhenian beach terraces exhibited both vertical and minor horizontal offsets in the Rambla Morales site in the south. A sinistral strike-slip fault associated with minor thrust faults in a positive flower structure was detected in the middle segment along the La Serrata ridge, sealed by a caliche of late Pleistocene age (> 10 ka). The Playa de Bolmayor section yielded sub-surface evidence for several faults probably related to recent activity of individual fault strands. Our results suggest a distributed tectonic activity of the CFZ during the Late Quaternary.
Seismogenic faulting in an area of low seismic activity: Paleoseismicity of the El Camp fault (Northeast Spain)
Authors: Masana E. , Villamarín J.A. , Cabañero J. Sánchez , Plaza J. , Santanach P.
Published: May 2019

Given that earthquakes do not occur only along high slip-rate faults, slow moving seismogenic faults should be characterized in order to minimize seismic hazard uncertainties. Although no historical earthquakes related to the El Camp fault have been documented, earlier regional geological analysis and the presence of a fault scarp provide evidence of its activity. A paleoseismological study on the southern part of the fault was performed in accordance with the following steps: 1) geological and géomorphologie analysis focussing on the detection of evidence for the seismogenic behavior of the fault, 2) near fault analysis to select the best trenching sites, and 3) trenching to establish and characterize the paleoseismic events. Different dating procedures were used in regional and trenching analyses (Thermoluminiscence, U/Th, Radiocarbon, Pollen analysis). The seismogenic nature of the fault was established by the presence of liquefaction features related to the fault, and by the presence of colluvial wedges composed of large angular blocks. We identified a segment boundary to the north of the Porquerola creek and we focussed our attention on the southern segment, which was active after 125000 yr. The slip rate in this southern segment is 0.02 mm/yr. A minimum of three seismic events were detected, from young to old: the last event Z took place some time prior to 1195 yr AD, the penultimate event Y between event X and the Holocene, and, finally, event X occurred after 125000 yr and prior to 60000 yr. The recurrence period is between 25000 and 35000 yr, the elapsed time is estimated to be no longer than 3000 yr; and the maximum estimated earthquake considering both the onshore and the offshore part of the fault is Mw 6.7 +/-0,5.
Major active faults in Italy: available surficial data
Authors: Galadini Fabrizio , Meletti Carlo , Vittori Eutizio
Published: May 2019

An inventory of the available surficial data on active faults in Italy has been compiled by gathering all the available information on peninsular Italy (project by CNR, National Group for the Defense against Earthquakes), the central-eastern Alps and the Po Plain (EC ‘PALEOSIS’ project). Such information has been summarised in maps (reporting surficial expressions of faults with length L≥11 km) and in a table where fault parameters relevant for seismic hazard assessment (e.g. slip rates, recurrence intervals for surface faulting events, etc..) have been reported. Based on the geological characteristics of the Italian territory, a fault has been considered as active if it shows evidence of Late Pleistocene-Holocene displacements. Active faults in Italy are distributed throughout the entire Apennine chain, in the Sicilian and Calabrian regions and in some Alpine sectors, but knowledge is not homogeneously distributed through the territory. The largest amount of data is related to the central Apennines. In contrast, fault geometries and parameters are less well defined in the southern Apennines, Sicily and Calabria, where investigations have started more recently. Knowledge is sparse in the northern Apeninnes, where data necessary to define fault parameters are lacking and also the chronology of the activity has to be considered cautiously. Abundant blind faulting in the Po Plain hinders the detection of active faults by means of the classical surficial investigations and therefore the present knowledge is limited to the Mantova fault. Blind faults and the peculiar recent geological history of the Alpine areas, which is strongly conditioned by the erosional and depositional activity during and after the last glacial maximum, also hinder the identification of active faults in the central-eastern Alps. Some faults in this Alpine sector are believed to be active, but data on their segmentation are still missing. Available information indicates that Italian active faults are usually characterised by slip rates lower than 1 mm/yr. Recurrence intervals for surface faulting events are longer than 1,000 years in the central and southern Apennines. This review on the Italian active faults represents the first step to produce a map of the major seismic sources in Italy, which in turn will result from the merge of surficial data with seismological and geological subsurficial data. The available knowledge gathered in this paper indicates those areas where data are presently sparse. It should be, therefore, possible to better plan future geomorphological and paleoseismological investigations.
FLAT RING EPIMORPHISMS OF COUNTABLE TYPE
Authors: POSITSELSKI LEONID
Published: May 2019

Let R→U be an associative ring epimorphism such that U is a flat left R-module. Assume that the related Gabriel topology $\mathbb{G}$ of right ideals in R has a countable base. Then we show that the left R-module U has projective dimension at most 1. Furthermore, the abelian category of left contramodules over the completion of R at $\mathbb{G}$ fully faithfully embeds into the Geigle–Lenzing right perpendicular subcategory to U in the category of left R-modules, and every object of the latter abelian category is an extension of two objects of the former one. We discuss conditions under which the two abelian categories are equivalent. Given a right linear topology on an associative ring R, we consider the induced topology on every left R-module and, for a perfect Gabriel topology $\mathbb{G}$, compare the completion of a module with an appropriate Ext module. Finally, we characterize the U-strongly flat left R-modules by the two conditions of left positive-degree Ext-orthogonality to all left U-modules and all $\mathbb{G}$-separated $\mathbb{G}$-complete left R-modules.
INTRA-HOUSEHOLD RELATIONS AND TREATMENT DECISION-MAKING FOR CHILDHOOD ILLNESS: A KENYAN CASE STUDY
Authors: MOLYNEUX C. S. , MURIRA G. , MASHA J. , SNOW R. W.
Published: May 2019

This study, conducted on the Kenyan coast, assesses the effect of intra-household relations on maternal treatment-seeking. Rural and urban Mijikenda mothers’ responses to childhood fevers in the last 2 weeks (n=317), and to childhood convulsions in the previous year (n=43), were documented through survey work. The intra-household relations and decision-making dynamics surrounding maternal responses were explored through in-depth individual and group interviews, primarily with women (n=223). Responses to convulsions were more likely than responses to fevers to include a healer consultation (p<0·0001), and less likely to include the purchase of over-the-counter medications (p<0·0001). Mothers received financial or advisory assistance from others in 71% (n=236) of actions taken outside the household in response to fevers. In-depth interviews suggested that general agreement on appropriate therapy results in relatively few intra-household conflicts over the treatment of fevers. Disputes over perceived cause and appropriate therapy of convulsions, however, highlighted the importance of age, gender and relationship to household head in intra-household relations and treatment decision-making. Although mothers’ treatment-seeking preferences are often circumscribed by these relations, a number of strategies can be drawn upon to circumvent ‘inappropriate’ decisions, sometimes with implications for future household responses to similar syndromes. The findings highlight the complexity of intra-household relations and treatment decision-making dynamics. Tentative implications for interventions aimed at improving the home management of malaria, and for further research, are presented.
Neoliberalism and its Consequences in Brazil
Authors: AMANN EDMUND , BAER WERNER
Published: May 2019

This article examines the impact of a decade of neoliberal policies on poverty and income distribution in Brazil. It demonstrates that while trade and market reform contributed towards the attainment of price stability and accelerated capital inflows, little was achieved by way of reducing income inequality and poverty. The article concludes by outlining the policy options which might be adopted to tackle this critical problem.
The Buddhist salvation of Ajātaśatru and the Jaina non-salvation of Kūṇika
Authors: Wu Juan
Published: May 2019

This article examines Buddhist and Jaina attitudes towards the salvation of the Magadhan king Ajātaśatru (alias Kūṇika), a narrative character found in both Buddhist and Jaina traditions. A number of Buddhist texts prophesy that Ajātaśatru, despite his next birth in hell, will attain liberation in his final birth. Jaina sources also speak of Kūṇika's descent into hell, but give no prophecy of his ultimate liberation. While the Buddhists offered various solutions to Ajātaśatru's sinful condition, the Jainas proposed no remedy to mitigate the consequences of Kūṇika's sins. The Buddhist prophecies of Ajātaśatru's eventual liberation indicate that some Buddhists in ancient India were particularly concerned with the salvation of an archetypal villain such as Ajātaśatru. The Jaina silence on Kūṇika's destiny suggests that the Jainas in general had little interest in bringing this violent figure to liberation, and deemed him incapable of overcoming his “false view of reality” (mithyātva) due to his strong passions.
Filling-in: One or many?
Authors: Pessoa Luiz , Thompson Evan , Noë Alva
Published: May 2019

(1) The main issue with regard to modal and amodal completion is not which phenomena are cognitive, and which perceptual. At the level of the animal, both are visuo-cognitive. At the level of visual processing, however, we need to dissect the different functional effects of these kinds of completion. (2) Resonant binding between distributed cortical areas may play a role in perceptual completion, but evidence is needed.
The role of the brain in perception
Authors: Bach-y-Rita Paul , Hasse Steven J.
Published: May 2019

The recent interest of cognitive- and neuro-scientists in the topic of consciousness (and the dissatisfaction with the present state of knowledge) has revealed deep conceptual differences with Humanists, who have dealt with issues of consciousness for centuries. O'Regan & Noë have attempted (unsuccessfully) to bridge those differences.
Common codes for situated interaction
Authors: Cisek Paul , Kalaska John F.
Published: May 2019

A common code for integrating perceptions and actions was relevant for simple behavioral guidance well before the evolution of cognitive abilities. We review proposals that representation of to-be-produced events played important roles in early behavior, and evidence that the neural mechanisms supporting such rudimentary sensory predictions have been elaborated through evolution to support the cognitive codes addressed by TEC.
Noise-driven attractor landscapes for perception by mesoscopic brain dynamics
Authors: Freeman Walter J.
Published: May 2019

Tsuda offers advanced concepts to model brain functions, includ-ing “chaotic itinerancy,” “attractor ruins,” “singular-continuous nowhere-differentiable attractors,” “Cantor coding,” “multi-Milnor attractor systems,” and “dynamically generated noise.” References to physiological descriptions of attractor landscapes governing activity over cortical fields maintained by millions of action potentials may facilitate their application in future experimental designs and data analyses.
Ecological information and prospective control without mental representation
Authors: Kim Nam-Gyoon , Effken Judith A.
Published: May 2019

We agree with the authors that an adequate account of the perception-action interface is needed. However, we believe that the answer will not be found in a common representational structure encoding distal events, as the authors propose, but in Gibson's notion of ecological information, which, as we demonstrate, specifies not only perspective but also prospective and retrospective states of affairs.
In the Mind's Eye: Perceptual coupling and sensorimotor contingencies
Authors: Hochberg Julian
Published: May 2019

The theoretical proposal that perceptual experience be thought of as expectancies about sensorimotor contingencies, rather than as expressions of mental representations, is endorsed; examples that effectively enforce that view are discussed; and one example (of perceptual coupling) that seems to demand a mental representation, with all of the diagnostic value such a tool would have, is raised for consideration.
How do we account for the absence of “change deafness”?
Authors: Isel Frédéric
Published: May 2019

O'Regan & Noë (O&N) argue that there is no need of internal, more or less picture-like, representation of the visual world in the brain. They propose a new approach in which vision is a mode of exploration of the world that is mediated by knowledge of sensorimotor contingencies. Data obtained in “change blindness” experiments support this assumption.
Using experimental data and analysis in EEG modelling
Authors: Rowe Donald L. , Wright James
Published: May 2019

We question the falsifiability of Tsuda's theory and emphasise the need for physiologically based, quantitative models of large scale cortical function that can be validated through experimental data. We outline such a model emphasising its verification through experimental data and possible avenues for testing Tsuda's predictions about nonlinearities in neural behaviour.
Perception, action, and motor control: Interaction does not necessarily imply common structures
Authors: Pisella L. , Kritikos A. , Rossetti Y.
Published: May 2019

The Theory of Event Coding (TEC) provides a preliminary account of the interaction between perception and action, which is consistent with several recent findings in the area of motor control. Significant issues require integration and elaboration, however; particularly, distractor interference, automatic motor corrections, internal models of action, and neuroanatomical bases for the link between perception and action.
Computational motor planning and the theory of event coding
Authors: Rosenbaum David A.
Published: May 2019

Recent computational models of motor planning have relied heavily on anticipating the consequences of motor acts. Such anticipation is vital for dealing with the redundancy problem of motor control (i.e., the problem of selecting a particular motor solution when more than one is possible to achieve a goal). Computational approaches to motor planning support the Theory of Event Coding (TEC).
Scaling up from atomic to complex events
Authors: Zacks Jeffrey M.
Published: May 2019

The Theory of Event Coding deals with brief events but has implications for longer, complex events, particularly goal-directed activities. Two of the theory's central claims are consistent with or assumed by theories of complex events. However, the claim that event codes arise from the rapid activation and integration of features presents challenges for scaling up to larger events.
Perceptions as hypotheses of the outside world
Authors: Virsu Veijo , Vanni Simo
Published: May 2019

Perceptual phenomena reviewed by O'Regan & Noë (O&N) cannot be explained by bottom-up activity alone, but conventional interpretations suffice if perceptions are seen as activations of memory models of the outside world and its events. Motor involvement is necessary only during the phylogenetic and ontogenetic development of perceptual mechanisms.
Presence of PolyclonalPseudomonas aeruginosain an Intensive Care Unit A 27-Month Prospective Study on Molecular Epidemiology
Authors: Cortés Pilar , Mariscal Dolors , Vallés Jordi , Rello Jordi , Coll Pere
Published: May 2019

Pseudomonas aeruginosawas isolated in 22.2% of 305 intensive care unit environmental cultures. A high genetic heterogeneity (18 pulsotypes) was evident. Taps and related surfaces were a stable reservoir for certain pulsotypes. The 15.4% of theP aerugi-Mosa-positive cultures were polyclonal. Different colony morpho-types should be assayed in surveillance studies.
Effect of plasma urea concentration at the time of insemination or embryo transfer on pregnancy rate in cattle
Authors: Gath V.P. , Fahey J. , Snijders S.E.M. , O'Callaghan D.
Published: May 2019

Plasma urea concentrations have been used as a diagnostic tool in the investigation of reproductive performance in cattle. Data were compiled from three recent studies on bovine fertility and a retrospective comparison of plasma urea concentrations was made between those animals that conceived to an insemination or embryo transfer. In studies I and 2 plasma urea concentrations around the time of insemination were determined. Pregnancies were diagnosed using ultrasonography 35 days later. There was no significant difference between the mean plasma urea concentrations around the time of insemination in the cattle subsequently diagnosed pregnant or not pregnant. In study 3, in vitro produced good quality embryos were transferred into three groups of beef heifers. The three groups were allocated to diets of high energy / high urea, high energy / no urea and low energy / high urea. The plasma urea concentrations at the time of embryo transfer were different between the three groups. However, the pregnancy rates 28 days post transfer, were not significantly different between the three groups. This suggests that the previously reported effects of high protein diets on fertility are not solely due to disruptive effects on the uterine environment. The main effect of urea on fertility may be on oocyte development within the follicle. Overall, these results indicate that measurement of plasma urea concentrations in individual animals around the time of insemination or embryo transfer is not a useful predictor of subsequent pregnancy rate.
Relationships between body condition score (BCS), biochemical blood parameters and pregnancy rates in Prim'Holstein cows under subtropical conditions
Authors: Tillard E. , Nabeneza S. , Faye B. , Humblot P.
Published: May 2019

The relationships between body condition score (BCS), metabolic measurements and pregnancy rates were studied from 214 cows belonging to 6 herds located in Reunion Island between January and December 1998. BCS (0 to 5 scale) and biochemical blood parameters were measured before calving, 0-30, 60-90 and 120-150 days post-partum. Pregnancy status was also checked precisely after 171 AI's (n=104 cows) by EIA progesterone determination in milk 23 to 24 days after AI and pregnancy specific protein B (PSPB) measurements 30 to 45 days after AI and was further confirmed by rectal palpation by 60 days post AI. A preliminary analysis led to determine 3 groups of herds according to their pregnancy rates (40%, 26% and 14.5% respectively for group 1, 2 and 3 cows). Significant differences between the 3 groups were found for BCS, glucose and urea (p < 0.0001) and a significant main effect of the post-partum stage was observed as well (p < 0.0001). Mean BCS were not different in the 3 groups before calving but were higher in group 1 cows than in group 2 and 3 cows at all other stages studied. A similar trend was found for urea. Glucose concentrations were severely depressed in group 3 cows when compared to group 1 and 2 cows whatever the stage studied. These results sugggest that variables illustrating negative energy balance (BCS decrease and low glucose concentrations) or deficit in nitrogen supply (urea concentrations) on a herd basis are related to poor pregnancy rates.
Hausdorff compactifications and zero-one measures
Authors: DIMOV GEORGI D. , TIRONI GINO
Published: May 2019

It is well known that the Wallman-type compactifications of a Tychonoff space
X can be obtained as spaces of all regular zero-one measures on suitable lattices of
subsets of X (see [1, 2, 4, 12]).
Using the technique developed in [5, 6], we find for
any Tychonoff space X a Boolean algebra [Bscr ]X
and a set [Lscr ]X of sublattices of [Bscr ]X
having the following property: for any Hausdorff compactification cX of X there
exists a (unique) LcX ∈ [Lscr ]X
such that the maximal spectrum of LcX and the space of
all u-regular zero-one measures on the Boolean subalgebra b(LcX)
of [Bscr ]X, generated by LcX, are Hausdorff compactifications
of X equivalent to cX. Let us give more details now.
Modeling corticofugal feedback and the sensitivity of lateral
geniculate neurons to orientation discontinuity
Authors: HAYOT FERNAND , TRANCHINA DANIEL
Published: May 2019

We model feedback from primary visual cortex to the dorsal
lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN). This feedback makes dLGN
neurons sensitive to orientation discontinuity (Sillito et al.,
1993; Cudeiro & Sillito, 1996). In the model, each dLGN
neuron receives retinotopic input driven by layer 6 cortical
neurons in a full set of orientation columns. Excitation is
monosynaptic, while inhibition is through perigeniculate neurons
and dLGN interneurons. The stimulus consists of drifting gratings,
one within and the other outside a circular region centered
over the receptive field of the model dLGN relay neuron we study.
They appear as a single grating when they are aligned with equal
contrast. The model reproduces experimental results showing
an increasing inhibitory effect of feedback on the firing rate
of dLGN neurons as the two gratings move towards the aligned
position. Moreover, enhancement of dLGN cell center-surround
antagonism by feedback is revealed by measuring the responses
to drifting gratings inside a circular window, as a function
of window radius. This effect is related to the observed length
tuning of dLGN cells. Sensitivity to orientation discontinuity
could be mediated in the model by feedback from either simple
or complex cells. The model puts constraints on the feedback
synaptic footprint and shows that its elongated shape does not
play a crucial role in sensitivity to orientation discontinuity.
The inhibitory component of feedback must predominate overall,
but the feedback signal from a cortical neuron to a dLGN neuron
with the same or nearby receptive-field center can be dominated
by excitation. Predictions of the model include (1) robust stimuli
for layer 6 cortical neurons give pronounced nonlinearities
in the responses of dLGN neurons; (2) the sensitivity to
orientation discontinuity at low contrast is twice that at high
contrast.
120 Hz oscillations in the flash visual evoked potential
are strictly phase-locked and limited to the first 100 ms
Authors: HEINRICH SVEN P. , BACH MICHAEL
Published: May 2019

Flash stimulation elicits a visual evoked potential (VEP) as
part of the electroencephalogram (EEG). This VEP is known to
contain strong oscillatory activity around 120 Hz, which ceases
100 ms after the flash. It was unclear so far whether this time
limit represents an averaging artifact due to loss of intertrial
phase coherence or indicates a veridical cessation. Here we
present results obtained from single-trial analysis of the EEG.
These show that the oscillations exhibit virtually perfect phase
locking and do in fact cease around 100 ms after the stimulus.
Thus, the cessation of oscillatory activity in the VEP is not
due to increasing intertrial phase jitter. Comparison with
simultaneous retinal recordings exclude the possibility of direct
crosstalk from the retina, but suggest that the oscillations
are propagated from the retina to the cortex with a time lag
of 48 ms.
Calcium-permeable glutamate receptors in horizontal cells
of the mammalian retina
Authors: RIVERA LUIS , BLANCO ROMAN , DE LA VILLA PEDRO
Published: May 2019

Mechanisms that mediate the calcium influx in mammalian horizontal
cells were studied. Horizontal cells (HCs) enzymatically
dissociated from the rabbit retina were recorded by the whole-cell
configuration of the patch-clamp technique and by calcium image
ratioespectrophotometry of Fura-2 loaded cells. AMPA-preferring
glutamate receptors were shown to permeate Ca2+ in
mammalian HCs by ionic substitution experiments. Furthermore,
after blocking the L-type calcium current with nifedipine (100
μM), calcium current through the AMPA-preferring glutamate
receptors was measured. Calcium image ratioespectrophotometry
was performed on the dissociated HCs in order to determine the
changes in the intracellular calcium
([Ca2+]i). Fura-2
microspectrophotometry showed that in HCs, K+-induced
cell depolarization promoted an increase in
[Ca2+]i, mediated by the L-type
calcium channels, since it was abolished in the presence of
nifedipine. The increase in [Ca2+]i
upon cell depolarization was observed throughout each cell;
however, it was maximal at the cell soma. Activation of glutamate
receptors in dissociated HCs by glutamate, AMPA or kainate promoted
an increase in [Ca2+]i. This
increase in [Ca2+]i was abolished
in nominally Ca2+-free solution (0 mM Ca2+);
in contrast, nifedipine decreased the glutamate-induced influx
of calcium in ca. 50%. The present study demonstrates
that calcium may permeate through glutamate receptors expressed
in HCs of the rabbit retina.
Adverse childhood experiences predict autonomic indices of emotion dysregulation and negative emotional cue-elicited craving among female opioid-treated chronic pain patients
Authors: Garland Eric L. , Reese Sarah E. , Bedford Carter E. , Baker Anne K.
Published: May 2019

Through autonomic and affective mechanisms, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may disrupt the capacity to regulate negative emotions, increasing craving and exacerbating risk for opioid use disorder (OUD) among individuals with chronic pain who are receiving long-term opioid analgesic pharmacotherapy. This study examined associations between ACEs, heart rate variability (HRV) during emotion regulation, and negative emotional cue-elicited craving among a sample of female opioid-treated chronic pain patients at risk for OUD. A sample of women (N= 36, mean age = 51.2 ± 9.5) with chronic pain receiving long-term opioid analgesic pharmacotherapy (mean morphine equivalent daily dose = 87.1 ± 106.9 mg) were recruited from primary care and pain clinics to complete a randomized task in which they viewed and reappraised negative affective stimuli while HRV and craving were assessed. Both ACEs and duration of opioid use significantly predicted blunted HRV during negative emotion regulation and increased negative emotional cue-elicited craving. Analysis of study findings from a multiple-levels-of-analysis approach suggest that exposure to childhood abuse occasions later emotion dysregulation and appetitive responding toward opioids in negative affective contexts among adult women with chronic pain, and thus this vulnerable clinical population should be assessed for OUD risk when initiating a course of extended, high-dose opioids for pain management.
Spindle and chromosome configuration analysis of human biopsied versus non-biopsied embryos by confocal laser scanning microscopy following vitrification
Authors: Chatzimeletiou Katerina , Vanderzwalmen Pierre , Panagiotidis Yannis , Papatheodorou Achilleas , Karagiannidis Alexandros , Kolibianakis Efstratios , Grimbizis Grigoris , Prapas Nikos , Prapas Yannis , Tarlatzis Basil C.
Published: May 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of zona drilling and biopsy on day 3 followed by vitrification on day 5 on the cytoskeleton and development of human embryos, by analysing survival rates and spindle and chromosome configurations by fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy in human biopsied and non-biopsied embryos. In total, 98 human blastocysts (50 non-biopsied and 48 following biopsy on day 3) were vitrified on day 5 using either a commercial dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO)-free vitrification kit or increasing concentrations of DMSO/EG (5%/5–10%/10–20%/20%). Following warming, the blastocysts were allowed to recover in culture for 24 h and were immunostained with α-tubulin, acetylated tubulin, and/or γ-tubulin antibodies in combination with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Labelled embryos were examined by both fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The survival rates following warming (92% non-biopsied vs 83.3% biopsied) and the incidence of normal spindle chromosome configurations was not statistically different between the two groups (65.2% non-biopsied vs 59.2% biopsied,P>0.05). The incidence of spindle abnormalities including multipolarity, chromosome lagging, congression failure and chromosome bridging were also similar between the two groups (P>0.05). This study is the first to compare the incidence of cytoskeletal abnormalities in biopsied and non-biopsied human embryos following vitrification. We conclude that there was no significant difference in the survival rates and the incidence of spindle abnormalities between the two groups.
An Ex Ante Assessment of Investments in Texas Grapefruit under Uncertainty
Authors: Elmer Nicole A. , Thurow Amy P. , Johnson Jason L. , Rosson C. Parr
Published: May 2019

The Dixit-Pindyck model was applied to examine the hypothesis that uncertainty associated with grapefruit production costs and returns is an important determinant of Texas grapefruit growers' investment behavior. Freezes, price variability, and the effects of expanded trade were analyzed as risk factors. An investment decision rule based on a net-present value calculation would approve a 25-year commitment to a 20-acre grapefruit grove, given a 6-percent discount rate. The modified hurdle rate, calculated using an ex ante version of the Dixit-Pindyck model, is 24 percent. The major source of the risk borne by Texas grapefruit investors is from freezes, rather than from expanded trade.
Assessing Spatial Break-even Variability in Fields with Two or More Management Zones
Authors: English Burton C. , Mahajanashetti S.B. , Roberts Roland K.
Published: May 2019

Farmers are interested in knowing whether applying inputs at variable rates across a field is economically viable. The answer depends on the crop, the input, their prices, the cost of variable rate technology (VRT) versus uniform rate technology (URT), and the spatial and yield response variability within each field. Methods were investigated for determining the range of spatial variability over which the return to VRT covers its additional cost compared with URT in fields with multiple management zones. Models developed in this article, or variants thereof, could be used to help farmers make the VRT adoption decision.
Independent effects of dietary linoleic and linolenic fatty acids on the conjugated linoleic acid content of cows’ milk
Authors: Lock A.L. , Garnsworthy P.C.
Published: May 2019

It may be desirable to increase the level of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in milk as a health benefit in human nutrition. The purpose of this work was to separate the effects of linoleic and linolenic acids on CLA production in dairy cows and to determine to what extent endogenous synthesis contributes to cis-9, trans-11 CLA concentration in milk fat. Eight lactating cows and four non-lactating duodenal fistulated cows were used in a 4 ✕ 4 Latin-square design. All cows received a basal diet of grass silage that was supplemented with one of four concentrates, which were designed to differ in their linoleic and linolenic acid contents. The oil components of the concentrates were produced from mixtures of olive, linseed, rape, soya and sunflower oils to produce the four treatments: low linoleic/ low linolenic acid (LL), low linoleic/high linolenic acid (LH), high linoleic/low linolenic acid (HL) and high linoleic/ high linolenic acid (HH). Milk cis-9, trans-11 CLA contents were 0·8, 0·9, 0·9 and 1·1 g/100 g fatty acid methyl esters (P < 0·05) and yields were 5, 7, 7 and 8 g/day (P < 0·05) for the LL, LH, HL and HH treatments, respectively. The yields of trans-C18:1fatty acids in milk were 19, 22, 21 and 23 g/day (P < 0·05), respectively. Taking the data for the cis-9, trans-11 CLA content and flow of duodenal fluid from the fistulated cows and representing this in terms of dietary intake by the lactating animals, the amounts of cis-9, trans-11 CLA produced in the rumen were calculated to be 0·8, 0·9, 1·2 and 1·1 g/day (P < 0·05) and for trans-C18:1fatty acids 58, 58, 66 and 69 g/day (P < 0·05). Increasing linoleic and/or linolenic acids in the diet can increase the cis-9, trans-11 CLA content of cows’ milk. Only diets high in linoleic acid increased cis-9, trans-11 CLA production in the rumen. On all four diets, more than 80% of cis-9, trans-11 CLA in milk was produced endogenously by Δ9-desaturase from trans-11 C18:1in the mammary gland. Cows on the same diet have different milk fat cis-9, trans-11 CLA concentrations that may be partially explained by differences in Δ9-desaturase activity between cows. Increasing the activity of Δ9-desaturase in the mammary gland may offer greater potential for enhancing the cis-9, trans-11 CLA content of milk fat than increasing cis-9, trans-11 CLA production in the rumen.
The effect of plane of nutrition and shearing on the pattern of the moult in Scottish Cashmere goats
Authors: Merchant M. , Riach D.J.
Published: May 2019

The effect of plane of nutrition on the timing of the moult in cashmere goats was investigated. Three groups of mature does were individually offered food to supply 0·8 (L, no. = 14), 1·2 (M, no. = 14) or 20 (H, no. = 13) times their estimated maintenance energy requirements from mid December until mid May. Two other groups of goats which were shorn in mid January, were offered 1·2 times maintenance requirements from mid December until mid March when food levels were increased to either 1·6 M (SL, no. = 6) or ad libitum (SAL, no. = 6). In mid May mean live weights for treatments L, M, H, SL and SAL were 36·0, 41·5, 46·9, 33·0 and 43·1 kg (average s.e.d. = 2·27, P < 0·001).

The pattern of moult was described by changes in a subjectively assessed moult score, the proportion of follicles with brushes and staple length. The loss of brushes, indicating the start of the moult, began from the primary follicles on days 143, 131, 76, 150 and 129 (average s.e.d. = 13·5, P < 0001), and from the secondary follicles on days 141, 128, 104, 144 and 125 (average s.e.d. = 14·1, P = 0·053) for treatments L, M, H, SL and SAL respectively. The loss of brushes from primary and secondary follicles was completed on average, by days 194 and 206 of the experiment respectively, and there were no differences between treatments. Moult score and staple length data confirmed the conclusion that lowering the plane of nutrition delayed the start of the moult. No additional effect of fleece removal in the shorn treatments was observed.

Changes in circulating levels of plasma prolactin, thyroxine, tri-iodothyronine, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 and growth hormone were related to seasonal changes in daylength and plane of nutrition. Their rôle in the control of the moult is discussed.

Manipulation of the nutrition of cashmere goats in early spring has the potential to delay and increase the synchrony of fibre moult and to improve the efficiency of cashmere harvesting.
Association in horses of orosensory characteristics of foods with their post-ingestive consequences
Authors: Cairns M. C. , Cooper J. J. , Davidson H. P. B. , Mills D. S.
Published: May 2019

In the domestic environment, horses are often presented with foods to which they are not evolutionarily adapted, such as low fibre pellets. Horses may not have the ability to learn the consequences of consuming unnatural foodstuffs and adapt their selection accordingly. This study aimed to investigate the horse’s feeding preferences when presented with concentrate pellets differing in nutrient content. Using a choice test, the relative preferences of 12 horses for mint and garlic, in iso-caloric diets, was first assessed over 29 meals. A mint preference, calculated as the proportion of mint in the total food intake, was shown by 11 horses. The horses were then divided into two groups, approximately balanced on the basis of mint preference. Group A was exposed to a choice of a mint-flavoured lower energy food or a garlic-flavoured higher energy food, while group B was exposed to mint-flavoured higher energy food and garlic-flavoured lower energy food for 29 meals. Next the flavours were presented in iso-caloric foods, initially for 10 meals, then a further 40, before the flavour-energy pairings were reversed for 30 meals. A final iso-caloric test was carried out for 30 meals. Both groups showed a preference for mint in the initial iso-caloric choice test but no such preference was shown in later iso-caloric tests. Both groups showed a higher preference for mint when paired with higher energy (proportion of mint intake to total intake was 0·75 (s.e.0·02) and 0·73 (s.e.0·02) for A and B respectively). Group B also showed a preference for garlic when paired with higher energy (proportion of mint intake: 0·32, s.e. 0·02) whilst group A showed a significant decrease in preference for mint when paired with lower energy (by 0·21 (s.e. 0·03), T = 6·88, P 0·01). The results suggest that horses can select a higher energy diet over a lower energy one and that horses can form associations between foods and their nutritional composition, even if they do not resemble those found in their natural environment.
The multiplicity of steady-state solutions arising from microwave heating. I. Infinite Biot number and small penetration depth
Authors: Nelson M. I. , Wake G. C. , Chen X. D. , Balakrishnan E.
Published: May 2019

Microwave heating of porous solid materials has received considerable attention in recent years because of its widespread use in industry. In this study, the microwave power absorption term is modelled as the product of an exponential temperature function with function that decays exponentially with distance. The latter describes the penetration of material by the microwaves.

We investigate the phenomena of multiplicity in class A geometries, paying particular attention to how the penetration function affects the behaviour of the system. We explain why the phase-plane techniques which have been used in the case when the penetration term is constant do not extend to non-constant penetration.
Stern waves with vorticity
Authors: Kang Y. , Vanden-Broeck J.-M.
Published: May 2019

Steady two-dimensional free surface flow past a semi-infinite flat plate is considered. The vorticity in the flow is assumed to be constant. For large values of the Froude numberF, an analytical relation betweenF, the vorticity parameter ω and the steepnesssof the waves in the far field is derived. In addition numerical solutions are calculated by a boundary integral equation method.
The stability of boundary layers on curved heated plates
Authors: Stott Jillian A. K. , Denier James P.
Published: May 2019

We consider the effect the competing mechanisms of buoyancy-driven acceleration (arising from heating a surface) and streamline curvature (due to curvature of a surface) have on the stability of boundary-layer flows. We confine our attention to vortex type instabilities (commonly referred to as Görtler vortices) which have been identified as one of the dominant mechanisms of instability in both centrifugally and buoyancy driven boundary layers. The particular model we consider consists of the boundary-layer flow over a heated (or cooled) curved rigid body. In the absence of buoyancy forcing the flow is centrifugally unstable to counter-rotating vortices aligned with the direction of the flow when the curvature is concave (in the fluid domain) and stable otherwise. Heating the rigid plate to a level sufficiently above the fluid's ambient (free-stream) temperature can also serve to render the flow unstable. We determine the level of heating required to render an otherwise centrifugally stable flow unstable and likewise, the level of body cooling that is required to render a centrifugally unstableflow stable.
Gevrey class regularity of the magnetohydrodynamics equations
Authors: Kim Sangjeong
Published: May 2019

In this article, we use the method of Foias and Temam to show that the strong solutions of the time-dependent magnetohydrodynamics equations in a periodic domain are analytic in time with values in a Gevrey class of functions. As immediate corollaries we find that the solutions are analytic in Hr-norms and that the solutions become smooth immediately after the initial time.
Calculation of Chakalov-Popoviciu quadratures of Radau and Lobatto type
Authors: Spalević Miodrag M.
Published: May 2019

A numerical method for calculation of the generalized Chakalov-Popoviciu quadrature formulae of Radau and Lobatto type, using the results given for the generalized Chakalov-Popoviciu quadrature formula, is given. Numerical results are included. As an application we discuss the problem of approximating a function f on the finite interval I = [a, b] by a spline function of degree m and variable defects dv, with n (variable) knots, matching as many of the initial moments of f as possible. An analytic formula for the coefficients in the generalized Chakalov-Popoviciu quadrature formula is given.
Further results for a one-dimensional linear thermoelastic equation with Dirichlet-Dirichlet boundary conditions
Authors: Guo Bao Zhu
Published: May 2019

We show that a sequence of generalized eigenfunctions of a one-dimensional linear thermoelastic system with Dirichiet-Dirichlet boundary conditions forms a Riesz basis for the state Hilbert space. This develops a parallel result for the same system with Dirichlet-Neumann or Neumann-Dirichlet boundary conditions.
Stability of the solutions of impulsive functional-differential equations by Lyapunov's direct method
Authors: Bainov D. D. , Stamova I. M.
Published: May 2019

We consider the stability of the zero solution of a system of impulsive functional-differential equations. By means of piecewise continuous functions, which are generalizations of classical Lyapunov functions, and using a technique due to Razumikhin, sufficient conditions are found for stability, uniform stability and asymptotical stability of the zero solution of these equations. Applications to impulsive population dynamics are also discussed.
Improving the Imbalanced Global Supply Chain of Phosphorus Fertilizers
Authors: Yang Haozhe , Liu Ying , Liu Junfeng , Meng Jing , Hu Xiurong , Tao Shu
Published: May 2019

The unbalanced use of phosphorus fertilizers at the global scale has resulted in phosphorus fertilizer scarcity in less developed areas as well as eutrophication problems in developed and large emerging countries. Historically, the uneven distribution of phosphate rock has been regarded as the major reason for this unbalanced use. However, the international trade of commodities may also play an important role in the unbalanced use of phosphorus fertilizers. By tracing the trade flows of commodities, we found that nearly 5.2 Tg of phosphorus fertilizer was embodied in traded commodities, which were mainly exported from large emerging countries (with low phosphorus use efficiencies) to developed countries (e.g., the US, Western Europe and Japan, commonly with high phosphorus use efficiencies). Furthermore, among the 5.2 Tg of phosphorus fertilizer embodied in traded commodities, 2.5 Tg was embodied in the trade of commodities from industry, construction, and services. Our results indicate that this trade pattern could create substantial mutual benefits if improvements are made to the phosphorus supply chain. With technology transfer and financial support from developed countries, large emerging countries could use phosphorus fertilizers more efficiently, thereby reducing the risk of eutrophication and lowering the cost of agricultural production. The phosphorus fertilizers saved by large emerging countries could be partially used to enhance food production in Sub‐Saharan African countries. This optimized supply chain could reduce eutrophication, conserve phosphate rock resources, and enhance global agricultural production.
Paleomagnetic Secular Variations During the Past 40,000 Years From the Bay of Bengal
Authors: Wang Shishun , Chang Liao , Xue Pengfei , Liu Shengfa , Shi Xuefa , Khokiattiwong Somkiat , Kornkanitnan Narumol , Liu Jianxing
Published: May 2019

Paleomagnetic secular variations in South Asia are not well understood due to insufficient records. In this study, we produce a new paleomagnetic secular variation curve covering the past 40,000 years by stacking four marine sediment records from the middle portion of Bay of Bengal. Age models are based on radiocarbon dating and core correlation. Stepwise alternating field demagnetization was used to isolate the primary remanent component. Rock magnetic measurements indicate that the primary magnetic remanence carriers are single domain and pseudo‐single domain magnetites with no sign of diagenetic alteration. Our Bengal relative paleointensity stack is broadly consistent with local records and the PISO‐1500 relative paleointensity stack (Channell et al., 2009; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2009.03.012). Two geomagnetic excursions presented by paleointensity minima are recognized, which correlate to the Mono Lake (29–32 ka) and Laschamp excursion (38–40 ka), respectively. We conclude that the Mono Lake and Laschamp excursion are two separate events.