bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Motion‐induced position mis‐localization predicts the severity of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Song Yamin , Wang Huiting
Published: March 2019

Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) often exhibit motion processing deficits. It is unclear whether the localization of moving objects – a perceptual process tightly linked to motion – is impaired or intact in AD. In this study, we used the phenomenon of illusory shift of position induced by motion as a behavioural paradigm to probe how the spatial representation differs between AD patients and healthy elderly controls. We measured the magnitudes of motion‐induced position shift in a group of AD participants (N = 24) and age‐matched elderly observers (N = 24). We found that AD patients showed weakened position mis‐localization, but only for motion stimuli of slow speeds. For fast motion, the position mis‐localization did not differ significantly between groups. Furthermore, we showed that the magnitudes of position mis‐localization can predict the severity of AD; that is, patients with more severe symptoms had less preserved position mis‐localization. Our results suggest that AD pathology impacts not only motion processing per se, but also the perceptual process related to motion such as the localization of moving objects.
Taking a look into the orbit of mammalian carnivorans
Authors: Casares‐Hidalgo Carlos , Pérez‐Ramos Alejandro , Forner‐Gumbau Manuel , Pastor Francisco J. , Figueirido Borja
Published: March 2019

In this study, we explore the relationship between orbit anatomy and different ecological factors in carnivorous mammals from a phylogenetic perspective. We calculated the frontation (α), convergence (β), and orbitotemporal (Ω) angles of the orbit from 3D coordinates of anatomical landmarks in a wide sample of carnivores with different kinds of visual strategy (i.e. photopic, scotopic, and mesopic), habitat (i.e. open, mixed, and closed), and substrate use (i.e. arboreal, terrestrial, and aquatic). We used Bloomberg'sKand Pagel's λ to assess phylogenetic signal in frontation, convergence, and orbitotemporal angles. The association of orbit orientation with skull length and ecology was explored using phylogenetic generalized least squares and phylogeneticmanova, respectively. Moreover, we also computed phylomorphospaces from orbit orientation. Our results indicate that there is not a clear association between orbit orientation and the ecology of living carnivorans. We hypothesize that the evolution of the orbit in mammalian carnivores represents a new case of an ecological bottleneck specific to carnivorans. New directions for future research are discussed in light of this new evidence.
The anatomy and histochemistry of flight hindlimb posture in birds. II. The flexed hindlimb posture of perching birds
Authors: Walker Amanda M. , Meyers Ron A.
Published: March 2019

During flight, birds employ one of two hindlimb postures. Perching birds utilize a flexed posture with their folded legs tucked beneath the body, whereas shorebirds and raptors use an extended posture with straightened legs trailing behind the body. Maintenance of either posture during flight requires the hindlimbs to hold their position for prolonged periods. Slow contracting fibers are known for their fatigue‐resistant properties and are often found in high percentages in muscles utilized for postural actions. Given the similar actions required of the hip and knee flexors used during flight, we hypothesized that the equivalent postural muscles of perching birds (flexed posture) would contain similar percentages of slow fibers as shorebirds (extended posture). We investigated the anatomy and fiber type composition of seven hindlimb muscles in yellow‐headed and red‐winged blackbirds and revealed that they possess a smaller percentage of slow fibers than we found previously in the same muscles of American avocets and black‐necked stilts. The comparably smaller body size of yellow‐headed and red‐winged blackbirds could mitigate the need for more slow fibers. In addition, the biomechanical placement of the weight force in the flexed posture may require less muscle force for postural support during flight and, therefore, fewer slow fibers.
Development of the chondrocranium of two caiman species, Caiman latirostris and Caiman yacare
Authors: Fernandez Blanco María V.
Published: March 2019

Little is known about the embryonic development and variation of the chondrocranium in Crocodylia and there are no works on any Caiman species. Due to the importance of cranial features in the systematics of this clade, investigating the development of the skull in embryonic stages is essential. In this study, we present for the first time the development of the cartilaginous skull of two extant Caiman species. Anatomical descriptions of the embryonic chondrocranium of Caiman latirostris and Caiman yacare were made, paying special attention to their inter‐ and intraspecific variation. For this purpose, pre‐hatching ontogenetic cranial series of these two caiman species were prepared with a double staining and diaphanization technique. The main differences with other crocodylian species were observed in the palatoquadrate, and interspecific variation within the genus was recorded in the hyobranchial apparatus and larynx. Some characters may be distinctive of Caiman (posterior and ventral surface of the otic process of the palatoquadrate articulated with the dorsal process of the columella auris, and otic process articulated with the lateral wall of the auditory capsule), Alligatoridae (presence of an epiphanial foramen) or C. latirostris and C. yacare (Corpus hyoidei with different number and position of foramina and different shapes of its anterior contour and anterior and posterior notch, different degrees of broadening of the distal end of the Cornu branchiale I, and presence/absence of a notch in the posteroventral surface of the cricoid). Homologies of the elements belonging to the hyobranchial apparatus could not be confirmed. As in other tetrapods the trachea consists of incomplete cartilaginous rings. Morphological changes and dissimilarities found in this study are useful as a context to start studying phylogenetic constraints. Moreover, in a heterochronic context, variations may be involved.
Ecological associations among epidermal microstructure and scale characteristics of Australian geckos (Squamata: Carphodactylidae and Diplodactylidae)
Authors: Riedel Jendrian , Vucko Matthew J. , Blomberg Simone P. , Robson Simon K. A. , Schwarzkopf Lin
Published: March 2019

A first step in examining factors influencing trait evolution is demonstrating associations between traits and environmental factors. Scale microstructure is a well‐studied feature of squamate reptiles (Squamata), including geckos, but few studies examine ecology the of microstructures, and those focus mainly on toe pads. In this study, the ecomorphology of cutaneous microstructures on the dorsum was described for eight Australian species of carphodactylid (Squamata: Carphodactylidae) and 19 diplodactylid (Squamata: Diplodactylidae) geckos. We examined scale dimensions, spinule and cutaneous sensilla (CS) morphology, using scanning electron microscopy, and described associations of these traits with microhabitat selection (arboreal, saxicoline or terrestrial) and relative humidity of each species’ habitat (xeric, mesic or humid). We used a phylogenetic flexible discriminant analysis (pFDA) to describe relationships among all traits and then a modeling approach to examine each trait individually. Our analysis showed that terrestrial species tended to have long spinules and CS with more bristles, saxicoline species larger diameter CS and arboreal species tended to have large granule scales and small intergranule scales. There was high overlap in cutaneous microstructural morphology among species from xeric and mesic environments, whereas species from humid environments had large diameter CS and few bristles. Significant associations between epidermal morphology and environmental humidity and habitat suggest that epidermal microstructures have evolved in response to environmental variables. In summary, long spinules, which aid self‐cleaning in terrestrial geckos, are consistent with greater exposure to dirt and debris in this habitat. Long spinules were not clearly correlated to environmental humidity. Finally, more complex CS (larger diameter with more bristles) may facilitate better perception of environmental variation in geckos living in drier habitats.
Apoptosis and proliferation during human salivary gland development
Authors: de Mello Gomes Ágatha Nagli , Nagai Maria Aparecida , Lourenço Silvia Vanessa , Coutinho‐Camillo Cláudia Malheiros
Published: March 2019

Human salivary gland (SG) branching morphogenesis is an intricate mechanism divided into stages, prebud, initial bud, pseudoglandular, canalicular, and terminal bud, to form the final lobular structure of the organ. The coordination of molecular cascades, including cell proliferation and apoptosis, are fundamental to this process. The intrinsic apoptosis pathway appears to be important in the early phases of ductal cavitation and luminisation; however, the role of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway has still to be determined. Questions remain as to whether the latter mechanism participates in the maintenance of the ductal lumen; therefore, the present study investigated the expression of proteins Prostate apoptosis response‐4 (Par‐4), Fas cell surface death receptor (Fas), Fas ligand (FasL), pleckstrin homology‐like domain family A member 1 (PHLDA1), caspase‐3, B‐cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2), survivin, Ki‐67, mucin 1 (MUC1), and secreted protein acidic and cysteine‐rich (SPARC) during distinct phases of human SG development (50 specimens). This strategy aimed to draw an immunomorphological map of the proteins involved in apoptosis, cell proliferation, and tissue maturation during the SG branching morphogenesis process. Par‐4 was positive at all stages except the pre‐acinar phase. Fas and FasL were expressed in few cells. PHLDA1 was expressed in all phases but not in the terminal bud. Bcl‐2 expression was mainly negative (expressed in few cells). Survivin showed a cytoplasmic expression pattern in the early phases of development, which changed to a predominantly nuclear expression during development into more differentiated structures. Ki‐67 was expressed mainly at the pseudoglandular stage. MUC1 was positive in the pseudoglandular stage with a cytoplasmic pattern in regions of early luminal opening. Immunostaining for SPARC and caspase‐3 was negative. Our results suggest that proteins associated with the regulation of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis contribute to apoptosis during specific phases of the early formation of SGs in humans.
A comprehensive guide to upper lip aesthetic rejuvenation
Authors: Baudoin Julien , Meuli Joachim N. , di Summa Pietro G. , Watfa William , Raffoul Wassim
Published: March 2019

The authors of this review present a comprehensive assessment of the techniques and indications in the treatment of the long upper lip. Setting aside the maxillofacial malformations, the review is focused on senescence as the most frequent etiology. A graphical reminder of the anatomical entities and of the upper lip proportions allows optimal preoperative planning. All current treatment options, from fillers to surgical excision and dermabrasion, are reviewed and summarized in order to provide an overview of each technique's expected results and contraindications.
Intergenerational Risk of Parentification and Infantilization to Externalizing Moderated by Child Temperament
Authors: Nuttall Amy K. , Zhang Qian , Valentino Kristin , Borkowski John G.
Published: March 2019

Objective: The present study examined the intergenerational risk of instrumental filial responsibility in the first generation on children's externalizing behaviors in the next generation and examined difficult child temperament as a potential moderator of this association.

Background: Filial responsibility refers to children's instrumental or emotional caregiving roles. Moderate levels of instrumental responsibility, such as age‐appropriate responsibilities, may be normative whereas too much (parentification) or too little (infantilization) responsibility is associated with risk to development, parenting, and offspring development. Prior work has not isolated the unique effects of instrumental caregiving or identified the children most susceptible to intergenerational risk.

Method: A multisite, longitudinal design assessed a diverse sample of first‐time mothers and their children. Data from the present study (N = 374) were drawn from the third trimester of pregnancy and 12‐month and 36‐month assessments.

Results: The results support the curvilinear association between the maternal history of instrumental caregiving and offspring externalizing symptoms controlling for emotional caregiving. Difficult child temperament moderated the association.

Conclusion: Maternal instrumental caregiving history increases risk to children's externalizing symptoms, particularly at high (parentification) and low (infantilization) levels of instrumental caregiving and when child temperament is easy rather than difficult.
Gay‐Straight Alliances, Inclusive Policy, and School Climate:LGBTQYouths’ Experiences of Social Support and Bullying
Authors: Day Jack K. , Fish Jessica N. , Grossman Arnold H. , Russell Stephen T.
Published: March 2019

Gay‐Straight Alliances (GSA) and school policies focused on support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning youth may reduce bias‐based bullying and enhance social supports in schools. Using multivariate regression, we tested the relationship between youth reports of the presence ofGSAs andLGBTQ‐focused policies, independently and mutually, with experiences bullying and perceived support (n = 1,061). Youth reported higher classmate support in the presence ofGSAs and higher teacher support in the presence ofLGBTQ‐focused policies; the presence of bothGSAs andLGBTQ‐focused policies was associated with less bullying and higher perceived classmate and teacher support. The findings indicate thatGSAs andLGBTQ‐focused policies are distinctly and mutually important for fostering safer and more supportive school climates for youth.
Does one Size Fit All?—Linking Parenting With Adolescent Substance Use and Adolescent Temperament
Authors: Kapetanovic Sabina , Skoog Therése , Bohlin Margareta , Gerdner Arne
Published: March 2019

Using longitudinal Swedish data from 1,373 early‐adolescent youths, this study aims to answer the question of whether the previously established protective function of parental knowledge and its sources—adolescent disclosure, parental solicitation, and parental control—on substance use among early‐adolescents is moderated by the adolescent's temperament. Adolescent temperament moderated several links between parental knowledge and its sources and adolescent substance use. The most pronounced moderating results were found for those adolescents with fearless, socially detached and thrill‐seeking tendencies. For these “detached thrill‐seekers”, bidirectional links between adolescent disclosure and substance use, and negative links between parental solicitation and substance use were found. We recommend, therefore, that adolescent temperament is considered when designing parenting programs.
Giving to Friends, Classmates, and Strangers in Adolescence
Authors: van de Groep Suzanne , Zanolie Kiki , Crone Eveline A.
Published: March 2019

This study examined how perspective taking and sensitivity to social rewards predict giving to friends, classmates, and strangers in adolescence. Five hundred and twenty adolescents aged 12–17 years completed questionnaires on perspective taking and social rewards and played three Dictator Games in which they divided coins between themselves and a friend, classmate, and stranger. We found that, irrespective of age, adolescents donated most to a friend, less to their classmate, and least to a stranger, and females donated more than males. Individual differences in perspective taking and social reward sensitivity moderated how much adolescents donated, especially to strangers. These findings suggest that perspective taking and sensitivity to social rewards influence giving behavior in adolescence, especially to unknown others.
Effect of enzymatic crosslinking on the handling properties of dough as a function of NaCl levels for CWRS varieties, Pembina and Harvest
Authors: Hopkins Erin J. , Hucl Pierre , Scanlon Martin G. , Nickerson Michael T.
Published: March 2019

The effects of transglutaminase (TG) and glucose oxidase (GO) on the handling properties of model bread dough were examined at both normal (2% wt. by flour) and reduced (1% wt.) sodium chloride (NaCl) levels using two Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) cultivars; Pembina and Harvest. The reduction of NaCl level had negative effects on dough rheology and stickiness, however, the inclusion of GO (0.001 and 0.01% by flour weight) or TG (only at the 0.5% by flour weight inclusion) was able to improve dough strength and reduce stickiness. GO appeared to be more effective than TG (at 0.01%) at equivalent concentrations for improving dough‐handling properties. Flour cultivar had significant effects; Harvest flour (weaker) was more impacted by salt reduction and enzyme inclusion compared to Pembina flour (stronger). Crosslinking assays showed significant differences in glutenin macropolymer (GMP) content in dough prepared with GO, and dough prepared with different flours. Additionally, significantly fewer free thiol groups were found in dough produced with GO compared to dough without any enzymes and those with TG. GO appears to have potential for use as a bread improver to reduce stickiness and improve the strength of bread dough produced at lower salt concentrations, especially for dough prepared with weaker flour cultivars.
Therapeutic monitoring of rivaroxaban in dogs using thromboelastography and prothrombin time
Authors: Bae Junwoo , Kim Hyunwoo , Kim Woosun , Kim Suhee , Park Jinho , Jung Dong‐In , Yu Dohyeon
Published: March 2019

Background

The chromogenic anti‐Xa assay, the gold standard for monitoring the anti‐Xa effect of rivaroxaban, is not available as a cage‐side diagnostic test for use in a clinical setting.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To evaluate clinical modalities for measuring the anticoagulant effects of rivaroxaban using a point‐of‐care prothrombin time (PT) and thromboelastography (TEG).

Animals

Six healthy Beagle dogs.

Methods

Prospective, experimental study. Four different doses of rivaroxaban (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg) were administered PO to dogs. Single PO and 3 consecutive dosing regimens also were assessed. Plasma rivaroxaban concentration was determined using a chromogenic anti‐Xa assay, point‐of‐care PT, and TEG analysis with 4 activators (RapidTEG, 1 : 100 tissue factor [TF100], 1 : 3700 tissue factor [TF3700], and kaolin), and results were compared. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated between ratios (peak to baseline PT; peak reaction time [R] of TEG to baseline [R] of TEG) and anti‐Xa concentration.

Results

Anti‐Xa concentration had a significant correlation with point‐of‐care PT (R = 0.82, P < .001) and RapidTEG‐TEG, TF100‐TEG, and TF3700‐TEG (R = 0.76, P < .001; R = 0.82, P < .001; and R = 0.83, P < .001, respectively).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Overall, a 1.5‐1.9 × delay in PT and R values of TEG 3 hours after rivaroxaban administration is required to achieve therapeutic anti‐Xa concentrations of rivaroxaban in canine plasma. The R values of TEG, specifically using tissue factors (RapidTEG, TF100, TF3700) and point‐of‐care PT for rivaroxaban can be used practically for therapeutic monitoring of rivaroxaban in dogs.
Not gone with the wind: Vegetation complexity increases seed retention during windy periods in the Argentine Semiarid Chaco
Authors: Lipoma María Lucrecia , Cuchietti Anibal , Gorne Lucas D. , Díaz Sandra M.
Published: March 2019

Questions

We experimentally studied whether different degrees of vegetation structural complexity, developed under different land‐use regimes, affected the retention of seeds in situ in the semiarid Chaco forest. We sought to answer the following questions: (a) Does vegetation complexity in interaction with climatic conditions affect seed retention on the soil surface? (b) Do seeds with contrasting traits show the same retention pattern?

Location

Chancaní, Northwestern Córdoba, Argentina.

Methods

We run a field experiment to test seed retention across 16 field sites differing in physiognomy and land‐use regime. We used artificial seeds with contrasting traits to simulate extreme morphologies found among dominant species of the Chaco forest (large‐flattened and small‐spherical seed types). We placed artificial seeds in 10 quadrats along a transect at each site and recorded the number of seeds retained after 25 days. We performed the experiment in the same season in two consecutive years. Through a Principal Component Analysis of a matrix of 320 survey plots by 6 structural variables, we extracted two major multivariate axes summarizing vegetation complexity.

Results

Vegetation complexity was strongly related to land‐use regimes, and a more complex vegetation structure increased seed retention, particularly in the first year of the experiment, when wind velocity was twice the value of the historical mean. The same general retention pattern was observed for different seed types with contrasting size and shape, but the absolute amount of retention was lower for large‐flattened than small‐spherical seeds.

Conclusion

Vegetation complexity interacting with variable climatic conditions ‐especially wind velocity‐ and seed morphology increased seed retention on the soil surface. Because seed dynamics is known to play an essential role in vegetation recovery, manipulation of soil cover should be a key factor in vegetation resilience in these systems.
Medical Malpractice Appeals in a Civil Law System: Do Administrative and Civil Courts Award Noneconomic Damages Differently?
Authors: Amaral-Garcia Sofia
Published: March 2019

How do courts award noneconomic damages? Does it matter if the state is the defendant? This article addresses these questions in the context of medical malpractice appeals to the Spanish Supreme Court. Moreover, this study provides the first empirical analysis of the quantification of noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases in administrative courts, where the state is the defendant, and in civil courts. This separation of jurisdictions is a common feature in civil law tradition countries. Yet, critics of this separation in general, and specialized courts in particular, argue that parties might be subject to different treatments and that similar cases might reach different outcomes, namely in terms of the quantification of damages. A consistent result of this paper is that no significant differences between noneconomic damages in civil and administrative appeals were found. The separation of jurisdictions does not necessarily imply that courts reach different outcomes, even when the state is the defendant. Citizens should not refrain from bringing their claims forward against the state, a more powerful party. In the current era of increasing juridification and judicialization of modern life (Ginsburg 2009; Hirschl 2006; Hirschl 2011), it is crucial for society that citizens and other parties litigating with the state are not disadvantageously treated.
Pathophysiological mechanisms in detrusor underactivity: Novel experimental findings
Authors: Vale Luís , Jesus Filipa , Marcelissen Tom , Rieken Malte , Geavlete Bogdan , Rahnama'i Mohammad Sajjad , Martens Frank , Cruz Francisco , Antunes‐Lopes Tiago ,   on behalf of the EAU Young Academic Urologists Functional Urology Working Group
Published: March 2019

Underactive bladder (UAB) is a multifactorial symptom complex often related to detrusor underactivity (DU). Although recognized as a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms and with significant effects on quality of life, UAB/DU is largely underresearched. Herein, we review up‐to‐date knowledge on the pathophysiological mechanisms of UAB/DU, with an emphasis on the relationship between UAB and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). Original articles and reviews concerning UAB/DU were identified through a search of the PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases. DU can result from several pathological mechanisms, which can be categorized as idiopathic, neurogenic, myogenic, or functional. The main etiological factors of UAB/DU are aging, diabetes mellitus, neurogenic disorders, and BOO. Although conventional models focus primarily on efferent nerve and myogenic mechanisms, contemporary views highlight the importance of the afferent pathway. Specifically, recent findings in BOO showed that afferent dysfunction, such as altered expression of muscarinic and purinergic P2X3 receptors or diminished urothelial ATP may play a role in the initial and reversible stages of DU, with potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
Prioritising research efforts for effective species conservation: a review of 145 years of koala research
Authors: Ashman Kita R. , Watchorn Darcy J. , Whisson Desley A.
Published: March 2019

In many countries, more resources are required for the conservation of threatened species than are made available. Australia, the home to many unique mammalian species, has been identified as one of the top seven countries worldwide with the highest biodiversity loss and lowest amount of funding dedicated to conservation. Conservation action is generally determined by what we perceive to be the most significant conservation problems; therefore, identifying potential biases in research effort is crucial for prioritising research actions for effective conservation outcomes.

We reviewed the published literature on the koala Phascolarctos cinereus, a vulnerable arboreal marsupial. Our aim was to assess and quantify research efforts (number of publications) and research coverage (diversity of subject areas) of koala‐related research. We then focused on the research effort of threats to identify primary threats and fields requiring further research.

Using a combination of key words, journal name, study title, and methods, we reviewed and categorised 714 publications to identify the focus of research efforts. We investigated subject area, geographic and temporal publication patterns, and the extent to which primary threats have been addressed.

We found a trend of increasing number of publications with a diversification of threat‐based studies, and identified both geographic and subject bias in research effort. Geographic bias in the volume of research indicates that the level of koala research between regions may be a response to the species’ distribution, status and impact of threats. Research areas ‘anatomy and physiology’ and ‘threats’ received comparatively more research attention than other areas. We found a research bias between threats, with ‘disease’ representing a high percentage of all threat‐based publications. Areas that have been identified but are receiving little research attention include habitat selection and use, along with the effects of habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation.
When I say … community of practice
Authors: Buckley Heather , Steinert Yvonne , Regehr Glenn , Nimmon Laura
Published: March 2019

“Community of practice” is a term impacted upon by conceptual plurality and dynamic evolution. To offer clarification regarding its use, the authors map the trajectory of the phrases use in the latest installment of “When I say…”.
A methodology for obtaining spatiotemporal information of the vehicles on bridges based on computer vision
Authors: Zhang Bo , Zhou Liming , Zhang Jian
Published: March 2019

Spatiotemporal information of the vehicles on a bridge is important evidence for reflecting the stress state and traffic density of the bridge. A methodology for obtaining the information is proposed based on computer vision technology, which contains the detection by Faster region‐based convolutional neural network (Faster R‐CNN), multiple object tracking, and image calibration. For minimizing the detection time, the ZF (Zeiler & Fergus) model with five convolutional layers is selected as the shared part between Region Proposal Network and Fast R‐CNN in Faster R‐CNN. An image data set including 1,694 images is established about eight types of vehicles for training Faster R‐CNN. Combined with the detection of each frame of the video, the methods of multiple object tracking and image calibration are developed for acquiring the vehicle parameters, including the length, number of axles, speed, and the lane that the vehicle is in. The method of tracking is mainly based on the judgment of the distances between the vehicle bounding boxes in virtual detection region. As for image calibration, it is based on the moving standard vehicles whose lengths are known, which can be regarded as the 3D template to calculate the vehicle parameters. After acquiring the vehicles' parameters, the spatiotemporal information of the vehicles can be obtained. The proposed system has a frame rate of 16 fps and only needs two cameras as the input device. The system is successfully applied on a double tower cable‐stayed bridge, and the identification accuracies of the types and number of axles are about 90 and 73% in the virtual detection region, and the speed errors of most vehicles are less than 6%.
Estimating photosynthetic capacity from leaf reflectance and Chl fluorescence by coupling radiative transfer to a model for photosynthesis
Authors: Vilfan Nastassia , van der Tol Christiaan , Verhoef Wouter
Published: March 2019

In photosynthesis models following the Farquhar formulation, the maximum carboxylation rate Vcmax is the key parameter. Remote‐sensing indicators, such as reflectance ρ and Chl fluorescence (ChlF), have been proven as valuable estimators of photosynthetic capacity and can be used as a constraint to Vcmax estimation.

We present a methodology to retrieve Vcmax from leaf ρ and ChlF by coupling a radiative transfer model, Fluspect, to a model for photosynthesis. We test its performance against a unique dataset, with combined leaf spectral, gas exchange and pulse‐amplitude‐modulated measurements.

Our results show that the method can estimate the magnitude of Vcmax estimated from the far‐red peak of ChlF and green ρ or transmittance τ, with values of root‐mean‐square error below 10 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1.

At the leaf level, the method could be used for detection of plant stress and tested against more extensive datasets. With a similar scheme devised for the higher spatial scales, such models could provide a comprehensive method to estimate the actual photosynthetic capacity of vegetation.
Linking crude oil prices and Middle East stock markets
Authors: Tawfeeq Mousa , Collins Alan R. , Elbakidze Levan , Zaynutdinova Gulnara
Published: March 2019

This study investigates the effects of oil prices (OPs) on stock markets in the Middle Eastern (ME) economies. The focus is on the dynamic relationship between crude OPs and stock market capitalisation (MC) in the ME. We use daily data from nine countries between the years 2001 and 2015 to examine the relationships based on Vector Autoregression (VAR), Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) and Impulse Response Function (IRF). VECM results indicate that there are long‐run linkages between OP and MC in seven ME economies from 2001 to 2015, three countries in the pre‐shale (2001–2008) and four countries in the post‐shale (2009–2015) periods. The VAR models show short‐run causality running from OP to MC in two countries from 2001 to 2015, five countries in pre‐shale and six countries in post‐shale periods. The IRFs verify the relationships between OPs and stock market value for most of the ME markets.
FLOURY ENDOSPERM16 encoding a NAD‐dependent cytosolic malate dehydrogenase plays an important role in starch synthesis and seed development in rice
Authors: Teng Xuan , Zhong Mingsheng , Zhu Xiaopin , Wang Chunming , Ren Yulong , Wang Yunlong , Zhang Huan , Jiang Ling , Wang Di , Hao Yuanyuan , Wu Mingming , Zhu Jianping , Zhang Xin , Guo Xiuping , Wang Yihua , Wan Jianmin
Published: March 2019

Starch is the most important form of energy storage in cereal crops. Many key enzymes involved in starch biosynthesis have been identified. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of starch biosynthesis are largely unknown. In this study, we isolated a novel floury endosperm rice (Oryza sativa) mutant flo16 with defective starch grain (SG) formation. The amylose content and amylopectin structure were both altered in the flo16 mutant. Map‐based cloning and complementation tests demonstrated that FLO16 encodes a NAD‐dependent cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (CMDH). The ATP contents were decreased in the mutant, resulting in significant reductions in the activity of starch synthesis‐related enzymes. Our results indicated that FLO16 plays a critical role in redox homeostasis that is important for compound SG formation and subsequent starch biosynthesis in rice endosperm. Overexpression of FLO16 significantly improved grain weight, suggesting a possible application of FLO16 in rice breeding. These findings provide a novel insight into the regulation of starch synthesis and seed development in rice.
Redshifted and Near‐infrared Active Analog Pigments Based upon Archaerhodopsin‐3
Authors: Ganapathy Srividya , Kratz Svenja , Chen Que , Hellingwerf Klaas J. , de Groot Huub J.M. , Rothschild Kenneth J. , de Grip Willem J.
Published: March 2019

Archaerhodopsin‐3 (AR3) is a member of the microbial rhodopsin family of hepta‐helical transmembrane proteins, containing a covalently bound molecule of all‐trans retinal as a chromophore. It displays an absorbance band in the visible region of the solar spectrum (λmax 556 nm) and functions as a light‐driven proton pump in the archaeon Halorubrum sodomense. AR3 and its mutants are widely used in neuroscience as optogenetic neural silencers and in particular as fluorescent indicators of transmembrane potential. In this study, we investigated the effect of analogs of the native ligand all‐trans retinal A1 on the spectral properties and proton‐pumping activity of AR3 and its single mutant AR3 (F229S). While, surprisingly, the 3‐methoxyretinal A2 analog did not redshift the absorbance maximum of AR3, the analogs retinal A2 and 3‐methylamino‐16‐nor‐1,2,3,4‐didehydroretinal (MMAR) did generate active redshifted AR3 pigments. The MMAR analog pigments could even be activated by near‐infrared light. Furthermore, the MMAR pigments showed strongly enhanced fluorescence with an emission band in the near‐infrared peaking around 815 nm. We anticipate that the AR3 pigments generated in this study have widespread potential for near‐infrared exploitation as fluorescent voltage‐gated sensors in optogenetics and artificial leafs and as proton pumps in bioenergy‐based applications.
The Epistemology of Testimonal Trust
Authors: Kallestrup Jesper
Published: March 2019

According to a strong assurance view of testimonial trust, a speaker's assurance thatpgrounds a reason for the hearer to believep. While the strong view offers a genuinely inter‐personal account of testimony, it faces a problem about bootstrapping: how can trust generate epistemic reasons when trust can obtain between unreliable speakers and hearers? In contrast, a weaker assurance view holds that a speaker's assurance thatpgrounds a reason for the hearer to believeponly if the speaker is reliable. While the weaker view offers an epistemic account of testimony, it faces a problem about redundancy: how can trust play any epistemic role when the speaker's reliability seems to pre‐empt any contribution that trust may make towards such epistemic reason? This paper argues that neither horn of this dilemma is convincing once proponents of assurance views avail themselves of an epistemic distinction between reasons of rationality as a guide to reasonable belief and reasons of justification as a guide to true belief. Whereas testimonial assurance grounds rational reasons, which need not make probable the beliefs they make reasonable, testimonial reliability grounds justificatory reasons, which need not make reasonable the beliefs they make probable.
Obstacles and Motivators for Partnership Formation in a Multidimensional Environment
Authors: Fowler Luke
Published: March 2019

Partnerships are now essential to public service delivery. However, due to the limitations in collaborative capacity, there are both obstacles and motivators for forming partnerships. Intergovernmental and cross‐sectoral partnerships offer different advantages and disadvantages in extending public service missions in new directions. Using survey data of local air quality agencies, findings determine different factors contribute to partnership and nonpartnership. Further findings suggest partnerships are driven largely by problem severity, but nonpartnership is driven by specific benefits and risks associated with types of partners. Conclusions indicate that understanding nonpartnership is a key to understanding partnership formation.

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Burau, Viola, and Carole Clavier. 2018. “Understanding Gaps in the Coexistence between Different Modes of Governance: A Case Study of Public Health in Schools in a Multilevel System.” Politics & Policy 46 (4): 604‐629. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12269

Graizbord, Boris, and Jose Luis Gonzalez Granillo. 2019. “Urban Growth and Environmental Concerns: The Venture of the Greater Mexico City Metropolitan Area.” Politics & Policy 47 (1): 178‐206. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12292

Porto, Edoardo D., and Sonia Paty. 2018. “Cooperation among Local Governments to Deliver Public Services.” Politics & Policy 46 (5): 790‐820. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12275

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DeGood, Kevin. 2018. “When Public‐Private Partnerships Fail: A Look at Southern Indiana’s I‐69 Project.” https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2018/02/15/446720/public-private-partnerships-fail-look-southern-indianas-69-project/

Fowler, Luke, and Bryant Jones. 2018. “Local Governments and Air Quality Where You Are.” https://thebluereview.org/local-governments-air-quality/
Transdiagnostic trauma severity in anxiety and mood disorders: Functional brain activity during emotional scene processing
Authors: Sambuco Nicola , Bradley Margaret , Herring David , Hillbrandt Katja , Lang Peter J.
Published: March 2019

Exposure to traumatic events is not unique to post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is a significant factor in the development of physical and mental disease across the diagnostic spectrum. Using fMRI, this study assesses functional activation in the amygdala and visual cortex during emotional scene processing in a sample of anxiety and mood disorder patients (N = 162). Replicating previous studies with healthy young participants, a strong covariation was found between functional activity in the amygdala and ventral visual cortex, with blood‐oxygen‐level dependent (BOLD) activity overall significantly enhanced in both regions when viewing emotionally arousing, compared to neutral, scenes. BOLD changes during emotional processing predicted questionnaire reports of experienced trauma and PTSD‐like symptoms (e.g., intrusive thoughts, bad dreams, re‐experiencing) and associated functional impairment. Patients showing the smallest BOLD changes when viewing emotional (compared to neutral) scenes in the amygdala and ventral visual cortex reported the highest trauma scores, whereas those patients with the largest amygdala emotional reactivity differences reported the lowest trauma scores. Experiencing a life‐threatening event (to self or other) that prompts high fear, distress, and functional impairment was associated with reduced functional limbic‐visual activity, independent of a PTSD diagnosis. The findings suggest that experienced trauma may be a transdiagnostic vulnerability factor contributing significantly to psychopathology in many patients with anxiety and mood disorders.
P300 in detecting concealed information and deception: A review
Authors: Rosenfeld J. Peter
Published: March 2019

Studies using the P300 ERP in detection of concealed information are reviewed. An overview of the initial findings, methodological issues, and use of bootstrapping methods for data analysis are considered, with various protocols explicated. Applications to forensic issues, employee screening, cognitive deficit malingering, and facial recognition in lineups are outlined. Countermeasures to the original P300‐based tests are described, and a possible approach to this problem using a new complex‐trial protocol is offered. Applications of this protocol to forensic and antiterror scenarios are then presented, along with its first independent replication. Studies of visual versus auditory stimulus presentation in the complex‐trial protocol are evaluated. Findings from attempted voluntary suppression of P300 as a recognition signal are presented, and the effects of motivational manipulations on the P300‐based complex‐trial protocol are summarized. Limitations of the research are reviewed, and, based on this review, future directions of P300 methods for detection of concealed information and deception are suggested that may guide the development of more precision and reliability of this promising tool.
Cigarette Smoking and Multiple Health Risk Behaviors: A Latent Class Regression Model to Identify a Profile of Young Adolescents
Authors: Charrier Lorena , Berchialla Paola , Dalmasso Paola , Borraccino Alberto , Lemma Patrizia , Cavallo Franco
Published: March 2019

Cigarette smoking is often established during adolescence when other health‐related risk behaviors tend to occur. The aim of the study was to further investigate the hypothesis that risky health behaviors tend to cluster together and to identify distinctive profiles of young adolescents based on their smoking habits. To explore the idea that smoking behavior can predict membership in a specific risk profile of adolescents, with heavy smokers being more likely to exhibit other risk behaviors, we reanalyzed the data from the 2014 Health Behaviour in School‐Aged Children Italian survey of about 60,000 first‐ and third‐grade junior high school (JHS) and second‐grade high school (HS) students. A Bayesian approach was adopted for selecting the manifest variables associated with smoking; a latent class regression model was employed to identify smoking behaviors among adolescents. Finally, a health‐related risk pattern associated with different types of smoking behaviors was found. Heavy smokers engaged in higher alcohol use and abuse and experienced school failure more often than their peers. Frequent smokers reported below‐average academic achievement and self‐rated their health as fair/poor more frequently than nonsmokers. Lifetime cannabis use and early sexual intercourse were more frequent among heavy smokers. Our findings provide elements for constructing a profile of frequent adolescent smokers and for identifying behavioral risk patterns during the transition from JHS to HS. This may provide an additional opportunity to devise interventions that could be more effective to improve smoking cessation among occasional smokers and to adequately address other risk behaviors among frequent smokers.
International trade and capital accumulation in an overlapping generations model with a public intermediate good
Authors: Shinozaki Tsuyoshi , Tawada Makoto , Yanagihara Mitsuyoshi
Published: March 2019

We investigate the effects of a public intermediate good on trade patterns, capital accumulation, and the gains from trade in a two‐country, three‐sector overlapping generations model. A public intermediate good affects not only the productivity of private production but capital accumulation; thus, the results differ from those obtained in previous studies. First, opening to trade may accelerate capital accumulation in the higher‐savings country. Additionally, the country producing a public intermediate good more (which is labor‐intensive) may be the importer of the investment good (which is the most capital‐intensive). Finally, the lower‐savings country may have lower steady‐state welfare under trade.
Income or Consumption: Which Better Predicts Subjective Well‐Being?
Authors: Carver Thomas , Grimes Arthur
Published: March 2019

The positive relationship between income and subjective well‐being has been well documented. However, work assessing the relationship of alternative material well‐being metrics to subjective well‐being (SWB) is limited. Consistent with the permanent income hypothesis, we find that a consumption‐based measure out‐performs (surveyed) income in predicting subjective well‐being. When objective measures of consumption are combined with self‐assessments of a household’s standard of living, income becomes insignificant altogether. We obtain our result utilizing household‐level data from Statistics New Zealand’s New Zealand General Social Survey which contains measures of income, SWB and a measure of material well‐being called the Economic Living Standard Index that combines measures of consumption flows and self‐assessments of material well‐being.
Markov Switching Integer-Valued Generalized Auto-Regressive Conditional Heteroscedastic Models for Dengue Counts
Authors: Chen Cathy W. S. , Khamthong Khemmanant , Lee Sangyeol
Published: March 2019

This study models weekly dengue case counts with two climatological variables: temperature and precipitation. Since conventional zero-inflated integer-valued generalized auto-regressive conditional heteroscedastic (GARCH) models and Poisson regression cannot properly illustrate consecutive 0s in time series of counts, the paper proposes a Markov switching Poisson integer-valued GARCH model wherein a first-order Markov process governs the switching mechanism. This newly designed model has some interesting statistical features: lagged dependence, overdispersion, consecutive 0s, non-linear dynamics and time varying coefficients for the meteorological variables governed by a two-state Markov chain structure. We perform parameter estimation and model selection within a Bayesian framework via a Markov chain Monte Carlo scheme. As an illustration, we conduct a simulation study to examine the effectiveness of the Bayesian method and analyse 12-year weekly dengue case counts from five provinces in north-eastern Thailand. The evidence strongly supports that the proposed Markov switching Poisson integer-valued GARCH model with two climatological covariates appropriately describes consecutive 0s, non-linear dynamics and seasonal patterns. The posterior probabilities deliver clear insight into the state changes that are captured in the data set modelled. We use predictive credible intervals for monitoring and for providing early warning signals of outbreaks.
Effectiveness of oral health education on oral hygiene status among schizophrenic patients: A randomized controlled study
Authors: Agarwal Deepali , Kumar Adarsh , B.C. Manjunath , Sethi Sujata , Yadav Vipul , Shyam Radhey , Kumar Vijay
Published: March 2019

Aim

The study aims to assess the effectiveness of oral health education on oral hygiene status among schizophrenic patients.

Methods and results

A randomized parallel controlled trial was conducted among schizophrenic patients (n = 111) with BPR score of ≤ 48 to assess the role of oral health education on their oral hygiene status. The experimental group (n = 56) received oral health education while the control group (n = 55) were administered standard care advice. Reinforcement in the form of printed calendar was done after 1 month followed by final assessment of KAP (knowledge, attitude and practice) through DCBS (Dental Coping Beliefs Scale), while oral hygiene through the oral hygiene index done after 2 months. Majority of subjects were males with mean age of 34.73 ± 9.9 years and mean duration of illness of 6.41 ± 5.2 years. All domains of the modified DCBS showed significant improvement in the experimental group. Frequency of brushing twice a day increased from 5.4% to 23.2% (p < 0.05) in the experimental group. DI score was 2.28 ± 0.93 versus 2.98 ± 1.3 (p < 0.02) in the experimental group as compared to the control group.

Conclusion

The oral health education with reinforcement in the form of printed calendar although showed statistically significant changes but lacked clinical importance.