bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A randomized controlled bicenter trial of yoga for patients with colorectal cancer
Authors: Cramer Holger , Pokhrel Bijay , Fester Claudia , Meier Beate , Gass Florian , Lauche Romy , Eggleston Brandon , Walz Martin , Michalsen Andreas , Kunz Reiner , Dobos Gustav , Langhorst Jost
Published: July 2015

Objective

The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effects of yoga on health‐related quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer.

Methods

Patients with non‐metastatic colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to a 10‐week yoga intervention (90 min once weekly) or a waitlist control group. Primary outcome measure was disease‐specific quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Colorectal [FACT‐C]) at week 10. Secondary outcome measures included FACT‐C subscales: spiritual well‐being (FACT – Spirituality); fatigue (FACT – Fatigue); sleep disturbances (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory); depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale); body awareness (Scale of Body Connection); and body‐efficacy expectations (Body‐Efficacy Expectations Scale). Outcomes were assessed at week 10 and week 22 after randomization.

Results

Fifty‐four patients (mean age 68.3 ± 9.7 years) were randomized to yoga (n = 27; attrition rate 22.2%) and control group (n = 27; attrition rate 18.5%). Patients in the yoga group attended a mean of 5.3 ± 4.0 yoga classes. No significant group differences for the FACT‐C total score were found. Group differences were found for emotional well‐being at week 22 (∆ = 1.59; 95% CI = 0.27,2.90; p = 0.019), sleep disturbances at week 22 (∆ = −1.08; 95% CI = −2.13, −0.03; p = 0.043), anxiety at week 10 (∆ = −1.14; 95% CI = −2.20, −0.09; p = 0.043), and depression at week 10 (∆ = −1.34; 95% CI = −2.61, −0.8; p = 0.038). No serious adverse events occurred in the yoga group, while liver metastases were diagnosed in one patient in the control group.

Conclusion

This randomized trial found no effects of yoga on health‐related quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer. Given the high attrition rate and low intervention adherence, no definite conclusions can be drawn from this trial. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Was university liable for professor's sexual harassment of students?
Authors: Gelpi Aileen
Published: July 2015

Frantz Bernard — an East Stroudsburg University student — told one of its vice presidents in August 2007 that he had been sexually harassed and assaulted by Isaac Sanders, director of the ESU Advancement Office.
Motivate students to aspire to greater levels of success
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: July 2015

ROSIE PHILLIPS BINGHAM, VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS, UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
Food habits of adult male white‐tailed deer determined by camera collars
Authors: Lavelle Michael J. , Blass Chad R. , Fischer Justin W. , Hygnstrom Scott E. , Hewitt David G. , VerCauteren Kurt C.
Published: July 2015

Many factors influence what and why animals select the foods they eat. Several methods have been used to estimate food habits of herbivores, but they all have limitations such as defining available foods and misrepresenting particular forages. We evaluated plant consumption by adult male white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with camera collars in a semi‐enclosed population in southern Texas, USA, during late autumn 2010. We collected 1,241 videos taken at all times of the day and night from 15 camera collars and confirmed consumption of 40 plant species with an 84% probability of identification. Diets of individual deer varied considerably, though there was an apparent preference for prickly‐pear cactus (Opuntia engelmannii) and blackbrush acacia (Vachellia rigidula). Our results were consistent with other conventional studies of food habits of deer in the region. Yet, we feel camera collars provide a more thorough and detailed representation of forage species available and consumed. Strategic deployments of camera collars could advance the understanding of nutritional requirements and behavior of deer because a broad array of concurrent data can be collected. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Survival and harvest of Atlantic Flyway resident population Canada Geese
Authors: Beston Julie A. , Williams Christopher K. , Nichols Theodore C. , Castelli Paul M.
Published: July 2015

Resident Population Canada geese (Branta canadensis) are a valuable natural resource, but at high densities they create problems by colliding with vehicles, damaging crops, and fouling parks with feces. Effective management of these geese could be improved with knowledge of demographic rates, especially survival. We used band recovery data from 2005 to 2012 to estimate temporally and spatially explicit survival and recovery rates of Atlantic Flyway Resident Population Canada geese. We analyzed the data in Program MARK and found evidence that survival and recovery varied by age, state of banding, and year. We present state–age–year survival, recovery, and harvest rates from all states. Model‐averaged estimates of adult survival ranged from 0.62 to 0.87 and had high precision for most states. Estimates of survival of juvenile geese were generally higher than those for adult geese, but they were less precise and more variable among states. Based on estimates of survival and recovery rates, the average annual harvest rate of adult geese was 13.5% and ranged from 3.1% in North Carolina to 20.1% in Pennsylvania, USA. Harvest rates of juvenile geese were not significantly different from those of adult geese and averaged 15.3%. The estimated survival and harvest rates can be incorporated into population models to assess potential effectiveness of various management strategies for Resident Population Canada geese. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.
Stereo-PIV measurements of spatio-temporal turbulence correlations in an axisymmetric jet
Authors: Pokora C. D. , McGuirk J. J.
Published: July 2015

Stereoscopic three-component particle image velocimetry (3C-PIV) measurements have been made in a turbulent round jet to investigate the spatio-temporal correlations that are the origin of aerodynamic noise. Restricting attention to subsonic, isothermal jets, measurements were taken in a water flow experiment where, for the same Reynolds number and nozzle size, the shortest time scale of the dynamically important turbulent structures is more than an order of magnitude greater that in equivalent airflow experiments, greatly facilitating time-resolved PIV measurements. Results obtained (for a jet nozzle diameter and velocity of 40 mm and $1~\text{m}~\text{s}^{-1}$, giving $\mathit{Re}=4\times 10^{4}$) show that, on the basis of both single-point statistics and two-point quantities (correlation functions, integral length scales) the present incompressible flow data are in excellent agreement with published compressible, subsonic airflow measurements. The 3C-PIV data are first compared to higher-spatial-resolution 2C-PIV data and observed to be in good agreement, although some deterioration in quality for higher-order correlations caused by high-frequency noise in the 3C-PIV data is noted. A filter method to correct for this is proposed, based on proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) of the 3C-PIV data. The corrected data are then used to construct correlation maps at the second- and fourth-order level for all velocity components. The present data are in accordance with existing hot-wire measurements, but provide significantly more detailed information on correlation components than has previously been available. The measured relative magnitudes of various components of the two-point fourth-order turbulence correlation coefficient ($R_{ij,kl}$) – the fundamental building block for free shear flow aerodynamic noise sources – are presented and represent a valuable source of validation data for acoustic source modelling. The relationship between fourth-order and second-order velocity correlations is also examined, based on an assumption of a quasi-Gaussian nearly normal p.d.f. for the velocity fluctuations. The present results indicate that this approximation shows reasonable agreement for the measured relative magnitudes of several correlation components; however, areas of discrepancy are identified, indicating the need for work on alternative models such as the shell turbulence concept of Afsar (Eur. J. Mech. (B/Fluids), vol. 31, 2012, pp. 129–139).
New Legal Realism's Rejoinder
Authors: SHAFFER GREGORY
Published: July 2015

This rejoinder responds to criticisms by Jan Klabbers and Ino Augsberg of ‘The New Legal Realist Approach to International Law’ (Leiden Journal of International Law, Volume 28:2, 2015). The New Legal Realism brings together empirical and pragmatic perspectives in order to build theory regarding how law obtains meaning, is practised, and changes over time. In contrast with conceptualists, such as Augsberg, legal realists do not accept the priority of concepts over facts, but rather stress the interaction of concepts with experience in shaping law's meaning and practice. Klabbers, as a legal positivist, questions the value of the turn to empirical work and asks whether it is a fad. This rejoinder contends that the New Legal Realism has deep jurisprudential roots in Europe and the United States, constituting a third stream of jurisprudence involving the development of sociolegal theory, in complement with, but not opposed to, analytic and normative theory.
Competing infant feeding information in mothers’ networks: advice that supports v. undermines clinical recommendations
Authors: Ashida Sato , Lynn Freda B , Williams Natalie A , Schafer Ellen J
Published: July 2015

Objective

To identify the social contextual factors, specifically the presence of information that supports v. undermines clinical recommendations, associated with infant feeding behaviours among mothers in low-income areas.

Design

Cross-sectional survey evaluating social support networks and social relationships involved in providing care to the infant along with feeding beliefs and practices.

Setting

Out-patient paediatric and government-funded (Women, Infants, and Children) clinics in an urban, low-income area of the south-eastern USA.

Subjects

Eighty-one low-income mothers of infants between 0 and 12 months old.

Results

Most mothers reported receiving both supportive and undermining advice. The presence of breast-feeding advice that supports clinical recommendations was associated with two infant feeding practices that are considered beneficial to infant health: ever breast-feeding (OR=6·7; 95 % CI 1·2, 38·1) and not adding cereal in the infant’s bottle (OR=15·9; 95 % CI 1·1, 227·4). Advice that undermines clinical recommendations to breast-feed and advice about solid foods were not associated with these behaviours.

Conclusions

Efforts to facilitate optimal infant feeding practices may focus on increasing information supportive of clinical recommendations while concentrating less on reducing the presence of undermining information within mothers’ networks. Cultural norms around breast-feeding may be stronger than the cultural norms around the introduction of solid foods in mothers’ social environments; thus, additional efforts to increase information regarding introduction of solid foods earlier in mothers’ infant care career may be beneficial.
Opportunities and barriers to enhance research capacity and outputs among academic family physicians in the Arab world
Authors: Romani Maya H. , Hamadeh Ghassan N. , Mahmassani Dina M. , AlBeri Adel A.K. , AlDabbagh Abdul-Munem Y. , Farahat Taghreed M. , AlShafaee Mohammed A. , Lakkis Najla A.
Published: July 2015

Aim

To explore the current status of academic primary care research in Arab countries and investigate the barriers to its adequate implementation.

Background

Research is an essential building block that ensures the advancement of the discipline of Family Medicine (FM). FM research thus ought to be contributed to by all family physicians; nevertheless, its development is being hindered worldwide by several challenges. The amount of research conducted by academic academic family physicians and general practitioners is scant. This phenomenon is more pronounced in the Arab countries.

Methods

An online questionnaire was emailed to all academic family physicians practicing in member Arab countries of the World Organization of Family Doctors WONCA-East Mediterranean Region.

Findings

Seventy-six out of 139 academic family physicians from eight Arab countries completed the questionnaire. Around 75% reported that they are required to conduct research studies, yet only 46% contributed to at least one publication. While 75% and 52.6% disclosed their interest in participating in a research team and in leading a research team respectively, 64.5% reported being currently involved in research activities. Of all, 56% have attended a research ethics course. Lack of training in research, the unavailability of a healthcare system that is supportive of research, insufficient financial resources, and the unavailability of electronic health records were perceived as major barriers in conducting FM research.

Conclusion

Although many physicians in Arab academic institutions expressed enthusiasm to conduct research projects, FM research infrastructure remains to be weak. This demonstrates the need for immense efforts from different parties particularly governments and academic institutions.
Descartes' dogma and damage to Western psychiatry
Authors: Ventriglio A. , Bhugra D.
Published: July 2015

René Descartes described the concept of mind–body dualism in the 16th century. This concept has been called his error but we prefer to call it his dogma because the error was recognised much later. We studied the original writings translated by various scholars. We believe that his dogma has caused tremendous amount of damage to Western psychiatry. This dualism has created boundaries between mind and body but as we know they are inextricably interlinked and influence each other. This has affected clinical practice and has increased the dichotomy between psychiatric services and the physical health care services in the West at least. This dualism has also contributed to stigma against mental illness, the mentally ill and the psychiatric services. We propose that it is time to abandon this mind–body dualism and to look at the whole patient and their illness experiences as is done in some other health care systems such as Ayurveda.
Chaos in high-dimensional dissipative dynamical systems
Authors: Ispolatov Iaroslav , Madhok Vaibhav , Allende Sebastian , Doebeli Michael
Published: July 2015

For dissipative dynamical systems described by a system of ordinary differential equations, we address the question of how the probability of chaotic dynamics increases with the dimensionality of the phase space. We find that for a system of d globally coupled ODE’s with quadratic and cubic non-linearities with randomly chosen coefficients and initial conditions, the probability of a trajectory to be chaotic increases universally from ~10−5 − 10−4 for d = 3 to essentially one for d ~ 50. In the limit of large d, the invariant measure of the dynamical systems exhibits universal scaling that depends on the degree of non-linearity, but not on the choice of coefficients and the largest Lyapunov exponent converges to a universal scaling limit. Using statistical arguments, we provide analytical explanations for the observed scaling, universality and for the probability of chaos.
Disinhibition-induced transitions between absence and tonic-clonic epileptic seizures
Authors: Fan Denggui , Wang Qingyun , Perc Matjaž
Published: July 2015

Electrophysiological experiments have long revealed the existence of two-way transitions between absence and tonic-clonic epileptic seizures in the cerebral cortex. Based on a modified spatially-extended Taylor & Baier neural field model, we here propose a computational framework to mathematically describe the transition dynamics between these epileptic seizures. We first demonstrate the existence of various transition types that are induced by disinhibitory functions between two inhibitory variables in an isolated Taylor & Baier model. Moreover, we show that these disinhibition-induced transitions can lead to stable tonic-clonic oscillations as well as periodic spike with slow-wave discharges, which are the hallmark of absence seizures. We also observe fascinating dynamical states, such as periodic 2-spike with slow-wave discharges, tonic death, bursting oscillations, as well as saturated firing. Most importantly, we identify paths that represent physiologically plausible transitions between absence and tonic-clonic seizures in the modified spatially-extended Taylor & Baier model.
Increased Acetylcholinesterase Expression in Bumble Bees During Neonicotinoid-Coated Corn Sowing
Authors: Samson-Robert Olivier , Labrie Geneviève , Mercier Pierre-Luc , Chagnon Madeleine , Derome Nicolas , Fournier Valérie
Published: July 2015

While honey bee exposure to systemic insecticides has received much attention, impacts on wild pollinators have not been as widely studied. Neonicotinoids have been shown to increase acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in honey bees at sublethal doses. High AChE levels may therefore act as a biomarker of exposure to neonicotinoids. This two-year study focused on establishing whether bumble bees living and foraging in agricultural areas using neonicotinoid crop protection show early biochemical signs of intoxication. Bumble bee colonies (Bombus impatiens) were placed in two different agricultural cropping areas: 1) control (≥3 km from fields planted with neonicotinoid-treated seeds) or 2) exposed (within 500 m of fields planted with neonicotinoid-treated seeds) and maintained for the duration of corn sowing. As determined by Real Time qPCR, AChE mRNA expression was initially significantly higher in bumble bees from exposed sites, then decreased throughout the planting season to reach a similar endpoint to that of bumble bees from control sites. These findings suggest that exposure to neonicotinoid seed coating particles during the planting season can alter bumble bee neuronal activity. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report in situ that bumble bees living in agricultural areas exhibit signs of neonicotinoid intoxication.
Exploration of minimum energy conical intersection structures of small polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: toward an understanding of the size dependence of fluorescence quantum yields
Authors: Harabuchi Yu , Taketsugu Tetsuya , Maeda Satoshi
Published: July 2015

A correlation between the fluorescence quantum yields and the energy barrier to the conical intersection region was discovered for five small PAHs.
Mechanism of Li intercalation/deintercalation into/from the surface of LiCoO2
Authors: Moradabadi Ashkan , Kaghazchi Payam
Published: July 2015

The mechanism of Li diffusion at the (101̅4) surface is studied and compared to that in bulk LiCoO2 using density functional theory calculations.
Direct evidence of Fe(v) and Fe(iv) intermediates during reduction of Fe(vi) to Fe(iii): a nuclear forward scattering of synchrotron radiation approach
Authors: Machala Libor , Procházka Vít , Miglierini Marcel , Sharma Virender K. , Marušák Zdeněk , Wille Hans-Christian , Zbořil Radek
Published: July 2015

Identification of unstable high-valent iron species in decomposition of ferrate(vi) advances the understanding of mechanisms by ferrates.
Facile synthesis of anhydrous alkaline earth metal dodecaborates MB12H12 (M = Mg, Ca) from M(BH4)2
Authors: He Liqing , Li Hai-Wen , Tumanov Nikolay , Filinchuk Yaroslav , Akiba Etsuo
Published: July 2015

Thermal decomposition of MB12H12 (M = Mg, Ca) forms H-deficient monomers MB12H12−x containing icosahedral B12 skeletons and is followed by the formation of (MByHz)n polymers.
Catalytic transformation of bio-derived furans to valuable ketoacids and diketones by water-soluble ruthenium catalysts
Authors: Gupta Kavita , Tyagi Deepika , Dwivedi Ambikesh D. , Mobin Shaikh M. , Singh Sanjay K.
Published: July 2015

Unique structural advantage of arene–ruthenium(ii) catalysts containing 8-aminoquinoline ligand and their cooperative synergy with formic acid was explored to accomplish facile one-pot catalytic transformation of furans to ketoacid and diketones in water.
Merging drops in a Teflon tube, and transferring fluid between them, illustrated by protein crystallization and drug screening
Authors: Feuerborn A. , Prastowo A. , Cook P. R. , Walsh E.
Published: July 2015

The ability to manipulate drops with small volumes has many practical applications.
Synthesis of Al-MTW with low Si/Al ratios by combining organic and inorganic structure directing agents
Authors: Paris Cecilia , Martín Nuria , Martínez-Triguero Joaquín , Moliner Manuel , Corma Avelino
Published: July 2015

Al-rich MTW zeolites show large pore accessibility, high Brönsted acidity and high activity for the cracking of n-decane.
Protein–ligand interaction study of signal transducer smoothened protein with different drugs: molecular docking and QM/MM calculations
Authors: Farrokhpour Hossein , Pakatchian Vahid , Hajipour Abdolreza , Abyar Fatemeh , Najafi Chermahini Alireza , Fakhari Farzaneh
Published: July 2015

A part of signal transducer smoothened (SMO) protein including antitumor agent LY2940680. The site of this antitumor was considered for the docking of 716 ligands.
Intumescent flame retardancy of a DGEBA epoxy resin based on 5,10-dihydro-phenophosphazine-10-oxide
Authors: Luo Qinqin , Yuan Yanchao , Dong Chunlei , Liu Shumei , Zhao Jiangqing
Published: July 2015

Only 2.5 wt% DPPA makes the epoxy resin achieve a V-0 rating in the UL-94 test due to the combination of intumescent charring and the blowing-out effect.
Room-temperature synthesis of mesoporous CuO and its catalytic activity for cyclohexene oxidation
Authors: Sang Xinxin , Zhang Jianling , Wu Tianbin , Zhang Bingxing , Ma Xue , Peng Li , Han Buxing , Kang Xinchen , Liu Chengcheng , Yang Guanying
Published: July 2015

CuO nanoleaves with a mesoporous structure have been synthesized in the presence of triethylamine at room temperature. The mesoporous CuO nanoleaves exhibit excellent catalytic activity for solvent-free cyclohexene oxidation with oxygen.
Inhibition of HIV-1 gp41 expression with hammerhead ribozymes
Authors: Fedoruk-Wyszomirska Agnieszka , Szymański Maciej , Głodowicz Paweł , Gabryelska Marta , Wyszko Eliza , Estrin William J. , Barciszewski Jan
Published: July 2015

Despite great progress in the treatment of AIDS, HIV-1 remains one of the major concerns as a human pathogen. One of the therapeutic strategies against viral infections is the application of catalytic ribonucleic acids (ribozymes) that can significantly reduce expression of a target gene by site-specific hydrolysis of its mRNA. In the present paper, we report a study on the activity of several variants of hammerhead ribozymes targeting a conserved region within mRNA encoding HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp41. On the basis of the data from in vitro assays and gene silencing in the cultured cells, we propose a new hammerhead ribozyme targeting the gp41-encoding sequence that can be potentially used as a therapeutic agent in AIDS treatment. Moreover, we demonstrate that the hydrolytic activity of the ribozyme in the intracellular environment cannot be inferred solely from the results of in vitro experiments.
The Sequence of Swallowing Events During the Chin-Down Posture
Authors: Young Jennifer L. , Macrae Phoebe , Anderson Cheryl , Taylor-Kamara Isha , Humbert Ianessa A.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

This study investigated the effect of the chin-down posture on the sequence of swallowing events in healthy adults.

Method

Sixteen healthy participants performed 45 5-ml thin liquid swallows during videofluoroscopy: 5 neutral head position, 30 chin-down posture, and then 10 neutral head position. Eight swallowing events were measured: the time of hyoid burst, bolus head in the pharynx, bolus tail in the pharynx, laryngeal vestibule closure (LVC), upper esophageal sphincter (UES) opening, bolus head in the UES, bolus tail exiting the pharynx, and laryngeal vestibule opening (LVO).

Results

Our key finding is that LVC was one of the first 3 swallowing events in 69% of neutral swallows and in 78% of chin-down swallows (
p
= .006). Also, LVO occurred last in 14% of chin-down swallows but never occurred last in the preceding neutral swallows (
p
≤ .001). Thus, in chin-down swallows, LVC occurred earlier and LVO occurred later.

Conclusions

The chin-down posture may be beneficial for individuals with delayed onset of LVC and reduced duration of the LVC. Future studies are needed to examine this effect in individuals with dysphagia.
Technical grid connection guides for distributed electricity generation systems: a new DERlab database has come alive
Authors: Purvins Arturs , Klebow Birthe
Published: July 2015

The increasing share of distributed energy resources (DER) in electricity production requires new sources and techniques in grid support services to keep the quality and reliability of power supply high. Addressing this matter, DER systems are required to follow technical grid connection requirements determined by distribution system operators (DSOs). Currently, these requirements widely differ from country to country. Recent studies suggest developing unified grid connection requirements for DER on the international level. This unification currently is the main activity for DSOs and standardisation organisations in the field of grid‐connected DER. To support this activity, the present article (i) offers a status report on recent studies relevant to the harmonisation of DER grid connection requirements, and (ii) identifies and discusses current DER grid connection guides, namely standards of international and European standardisation organisations, as well as regulations of national DSOs from Austria, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Switzerland (German‐speaking part) and the United Kingdom. The guides are collected and grouped according to the technical area and technology in a database: http://dergridrequirements.net. The database is a tool for finding relevant DER grid connection guides for a specific region, technical area and/or technology. The target audience of the database is DER system developers.
Review and demonstration of ultra-low-emittance photocathode measurements
Authors: Lee Hyeri , Karkare Siddharth , Cultrera Luca , Kim Andrew , Bazarov Ivan V.
Published: July 2015

This paper reports the development of a simple and reliable apparatus for measuring ultra-low emittance, or equivalently the mean transverse energy from cryogenically cooled photocathodes. The existing methods to measure ultra-low emittance from photocathodes are reviewed. Inspired by the available techniques, we have implemented two complementary methods, the waist scan and voltage scan, in one system giving consistent results. Additionally, this system is capable of measuring the emittance at electric fields comparable to those obtained in DC photoinjectors.
Feedforward deformation control of a dielectric elastomer actuator based on a nonlinear dynamic model
Authors: Gu Guo-Ying , Gupta Ujjaval , Zhu Jian , Zhu Li-Min , Zhu Xiang-Yang
Published: July 2015

In the practical applications of actuators, the control of their deformation or driving force is a key issue. Most of recent studies on dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) focus on issues of mechanics, physics, and material science, whereas less importance is given to the control of these soft actuators. In this paper, we underline the importance of a nonlinear dynamic model as the basis for a feedforward deformation control approach of a rubber-based DEA. Experimental evidence shows the effectiveness of the feedforward controller. The present study confirms that a DEA's trajectory can be finely controlled with a solid nonlinear dynamic model despite the presence of material nonlinearities and electromechanical coupling. The effective control of DEAs may pave the way for extensive emerging applications to soft robots.
Effect of surface temperature on microparticle-surface adhesion
Authors: Vallabh Chaitanya Krishna Prasad , Stephens James D. , Cetinkaya Cetin
Published: July 2015

The effect of surface temperature on the adhesion properties of the bond between a substrate and a single micro-particle is investigated in a non-contact/non-invasive manner by monitoring the rolling/rocking motion dynamics of acoustically excited single microparticles. In the current work, a set of experiments were performed to observe the change in the rocking resonance frequency of the particles with the change of surface temperature. At various substrate surface temperature levels, the work-of-adhesion values of the surface-particle bond are evaluated from the resonance frequencies of the rocking motion of a set of microparticles driven by an orthogonal ultrasonic surface acoustic wave field. The dependence of adhesion bonds of a microparticle and the substrate on the surface temperature has been clearly demonstrated by the performed experiments. It was also observed and noted that the relative humidity plays a vital role in the rolling behavior of particles.
Reproductive ecology of the northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus) in habitat fragments of urban Brisbane
Authors: FitzGibbon Sean I.
Published: July 2015

The reproductive ecology of wildlife can have an enormous impact on their ability to survive within heavily modified landscapes, such as urbanised environments. This paper examines the reproductive ecology of northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus) in small bush fragments within urban Brisbane, where much of the diverse original mammal fauna has become locally extinct. During the 33-month study, 46 independent female bandicoots were captured and 45 litters were examined from 27 mature females. Reproduction was found to be seasonal with most mature females carrying young during late winter, spring and summer; the proportion of breeding females diminished during autumn and there appeared to be a short period of non-breeding each year around late autumn and/or early winter. There was no significant association between breeding and rainfall. Litter size reduction during pouch young development was observed in numerous females, with the mean number of young falling from 3.7 early in lactation to 1.9 late in lactation (40+ days). Survivorship of young during pouch development was estimated to be between 51% and 75%. Annual fecundity of females was estimated at 4.7 litters per year, resulting in an estimated mean of 11–13 weaned young per female. The study highlights the considerable reproductive capacity and flexible annual breeding pattern of northern brown bandicoots. In combination with their generalist habitat and dietary requirements, these reproductive traits are considered important life-history characteristics that have facilitated the species’ survival in bush fragments of Brisbane’s urban landscape.
A Ramsar-wetland in suburbia: wetland management in an urbanised, industrialised area
Authors: Kermode S. J. , Heijnis H. , Wong H. , Zawadzki A. , Gadd P. , Permana A.
Published: July 2015

Wetlands provide crucial services to support human populations and intrinsic environmental functioning. They are, therefore, recognised at higher-level global conservation treaties down to regional and local environmental management plans. Palaeorecords to understand preimpact conditions and ranges of natural variability are critical, alongside ongoing monitoring of ecosystem health for understanding important wetlands and determining long-term conservation strategies. They also enable effective analysis of human impacts. Towra Point Nature Reserve is an internationally significant wetland complex listed under multiple international conservation agreements, including the 1971 Ramsar Convention. It faces similar challenges to other coastal wetlands globally: sea level rise, changing shoreline conditions, and anthropogenic impacts. Its location within Sydney’s Botany Bay results in high potential for pollutants to enter the wetland complex. This makes ongoing monitoring of the ecosystem critically important. This study has found that arsenic, lead and zinc are relatively elevated in the southern part of the embayment, adjacent to an urban area, where concentrations are near to, or exceeding trigger levels (ANZECC/ARMCANZ 2000). In contrast, in the western part of the embayment contaminant levels are well below trigger values. We propose that these trigger levels should be adopted and incorporated into the Towra Point Plan of Management.
Patterned fen formation and development from the Great Sandy Region, south-east Queensland, Australia
Authors: Moss Patrick , Tibby John , Shapland Felicity , Fairfax Russell , Stewart Philip , Barr Cameron , Petherick Lynda , Gontz Allen , Sloss Craig
Published: July 2015

The Great Sandy Region (incorporating Fraser Island and the Cooloola sand-mass), south-east Queensland, contains a significant area of Ramsar-listed coastal wetlands, including the globally important patterned fen complexes. These mires form an elaborate network of pools surrounded by vegetated peat ridges and are the only known subtropical, Southern Hemisphere examples, with wetlands of this type typically located in high northern latitudes. Sedimentological, palynological and charcoal analysis from the Wathumba and Moon Point complexes on Fraser Island indicate two periods of swamp formation (that may contain patterned fens), one commencing at 12 000 years ago (Moon Point) and the other ~4300 years ago (Wathumba). Wetland formation and development is thought to be related to a combination of biological and hydrological processes with the dominant peat-forming rush, Empodisma minus, being an important component of both patterned and non-patterned mires within the region. In contrast to Northern Hemisphere paludifying systems, the patterning appears to initiate at the start of wetland development or as part of an infilling process. The wetlands dominated by E. minus are highly resilient to disturbance, particularly burning and sea level alterations, and appear to form important refuge areas for amphibians, fish and birds (both non-migratory and migratory) over thousands of years.
Local and expert knowledge improve conservation assessment of rare and iconic Fijian tree species
Authors: Keppel Gunnar , Naikatini Alifereti , Rounds Isaac A. , Pressey Robert L. , Thomas Nunia T.
Published: July 2015

In many developing countries, threatened species lists are unavailable and IUCN Red Lists are very incomplete. Because limited resources are available for conservation in developing countries, detailed field assessments and scientific study of threatened species are often not feasible. However, considerable knowledge about biodiversity exists among experts and local land users. We used questionnaires as part of field surveys to compile information about the abundance, conservation threats, distribution, and ecology of populations of four threatened and iconic target species in Fiji (Acmopyle sahniana, Dacrydium nausoriense, Podocarpus affinis [all Podocarpaceae], and Cynometra falcata [Leguminosae]). These questionnaires were completed in the field for all known populations by an assessor, compiling field observations and measurements with information from local land users and local and outside experts. For the four species in this study, the questionnaires improved estimates of population size, identified previously unknown populations, provided estimates of regeneration, and identified key conservation threats. Species of highly fragmented remnants in drier climates were less protected than those in more contiguous forests of moist climates. The methods employed provided rapid, cost-effective information that can be used to revise IUCN Red List and conservation status assessments and are applicable to other Pacific Island and developing countries.
Tolerance and Avoidance Characteristics of Prenant's Schizothoracin Schizothorax prenanti to Total Dissolved Gas Supersaturated Water
Authors: Wang Yuanming , Li Kefeng , Li Jia , Li Ran , Deng Yun
Published: July 2015

When water is allowed to spill over a hydroelectric dam, the intense aeration and pressure in the deep plunge-pool produced by the high-volume discharge generates water supersaturated with total dissolved gases (TDGs) in areas downstream from the dam, which can cause gas bubble disease (GBD) in fish and threaten their survival. Experiments were conducted to measure the acute lethality, intermittent exposure, horizontal avoidance, and vertical avoidance of Prenant's Schizothoracin Schizothorax prenanti related to TDG supersaturation. The fish were placed in different tanks containing TDG-supersaturated water at a maximum water depth of 35 cm, and the resulting median lethal times (LT50) determined for the fish were 23.88, 9.66, 8.74, 8.03, 4.61, 3.48, and 2.81 h when the TDG supersaturation levels were 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, and 150%, respectively. The LT50 values of the fish in continuous exposure conditions were not significantly different from the LT50 values of fish subjected to intermittent exposure (F = 2.72, df = 9,10, P = 0.07). In all of the avoidance experiments, Prenant's Schizothoracin exhibited varying degrees of horizontal escape from and strong vertical avoidance of TDG-supersaturated water. These results provide important information that can be used in operational processes at hydropower stations in China and contribute fundamental data for the establishment of water-related environmental standards for this and similar species.

Received November 1, 2014; accepted May 8, 2015
Bacterial Analysis of Fertilized Eggs of Atlantic Salmon from the Penobscot, Naraguagus, and Machias Rivers, Maine
Authors: Cipriano Rocco C.
Published: July 2015

Serious losses have occurred at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery, East Orland, Maine, among eggs that were taken from Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar, which were held as captive broodfish during their returns to the Penobscot River, Naraguagus River, and Machias River to spawn. Bacterial isolations were attempted from external surfaces and the internal contents of individual eggs. Externally and in all cases, Pseudomonas fluorescens was the predominant bacterium associated with the surface of all eggs. These bacteria were resistant to a surface treatment of 1,667 ppm formalin for 15 min and, therefore, the monoclonal nature of P. fluorescens on egg surfaces was considered to result from its ability to resist the germicidal activity of formalin administered for antifungal treatments. Flavobacterium psychrophilum, the cause of bacterial coldwater disease, was isolated from the interior of 23.6, 18.1, and 29.2% of the dead Atlantic Salmon eggs from Penobscot River egg lots A-98, A-100, and A-101, respectively, and concentrations of this pathogen ranged from 1.0 × 103 to >5 × 108 CFU per gram of dead egg. Flavobacterium psychrophilum was also isolated from 8.3, 26.7, and 10.0% of the dead eggs from Naraguagus River egg lots N-158, N-161, and N-163, respectively, in which concentrations of this organism ranged from 1.0 × 103 to 7.5 × 108 CFU per gram of egg. This bacterium was also isolated from within 18.3% and 3.3% of the dead eggs from Machias River egg lots M-128 and M-142, respectively, and its concentrations ranged from 1.0 × 103 to 1.5 × 108 CFU per gram of egg. The finding of F. psychrophilum from within these eggs is indicative of this pathogen's widespread and persistent prevalence in Atlantic Salmon in New England.

Received December 19, 2014; accepted May 4, 2015
dendextend: an R package for visualizing, adjusting and comparing trees of hierarchical clustering
Authors: Galili Tal
Published: July 2015

Summary:  dendextend is an R package for creating and comparing visually appealing tree diagrams. dendextend provides utility functions for manipulating dendrogram objects (their color, shape and content) as well as several advanced methods for comparing trees to one another (both statistically and visually). As such, dendextend offers a flexible framework for enhancing R's rich ecosystem of packages for performing hierarchical clustering of items.

Availability and implementation: The dendextend R package (including detailed introductory vignettes) is available under the GPL-2 Open Source license and is freely available to download from CRAN at: (http://cran.r-project.org/package=dendextend)

Contact:  Tal.Galili@math.tau.ac.il
Physical properties of distant red galaxies in the COSMOS/UltraVISTA field
Authors: Ma Zhongyang , Fang Guanwen , Kong Xu , Fan Lulu
Published: July 2015

We present a study on physical properties for a large distant red galaxy (DRG) sample, using the K-selected multi-band photometry catalog of the COSMOS/UltraVISTA field and the CANDELS near-infrared data. Our sample includes 4485 DRGs with (J − K)AB > 1.16 and KAB < 23.4 mag, and 132 DRGs have HST/WFC3 morphological measurements. The results of nonparametric measurements of DRG morphology are consistent with our rest-frame UVJ color classification; quiescent DRGs are generally compact while star-forming DRGs tend to have extended structures. We find the star formation rate (SFR) and the stellar mass of star-forming DRGs present tight “main sequence” relations in all redshift bins. Moreover, the specific SFR (sSFR) of DRGs increases with redshift in all stellar mass bins and DRGs with higher stellar masses generally have lower sSFRs, which indicates that galaxies were much more active on average in the past, and star formation contributes more to the mass growth of low-mass galaxies than to high-mass galaxies. The infrared-derived SFR dominates the total SFR of DRGs which occupy the high-mass range, implying that the J − K color criterion effectively selects massive and dusty galaxies. DRGs with higher M* generally have redder (U − V)rest colors, and the (U − V)rest colors of DRGs become bluer at higher redshifts, suggesting high-mass galaxies have higher internal dust extinctions or older stellar ages and they evolve with time. Finally, we find that DRGs have different overlap among extremely red objects, BzK galaxies, IRAC-selected extremely red objects, and high-z ultraluminous infrared galaxies, indicating that DRGs are not a special population and they can also be selected by other color criteria.
Femoral Version and Tibial Torsion are Not Associated With Hip or Knee Arthritis in a Large Osteological Collection
Authors: Weinberg Douglas S. , Park Paul J. , Morris William Z. , Liu Raymond W.
Published: July 2015

Background:

Tibial torsion and femoral anteversion are common rotational abnormalities in children, and their courses are most often benign and self-resolving. Although neither usually requires surgical treatment, the decision to perform a derotational osteotomy is usually based on the degree of functional impairment. Neither condition is thought to influence the development of osteoarthritis of the hip or knee; however, to date there have been no large scale studies confirming this.

Methods:

Tibial torsion and femoral version in 1158 cadaveric tibiae and femora were measured using a camera setup based on previously described radiographic landmarks. Any specimens with obvious traumatic, rheumatic, or metabolic abnormalities were excluded. Degenerative joint disease of the hip and knee were each graded from 0 to 6. Correlations between tibial torsion, femoral version, age, race, and sex with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee joints were evaluated with multiple regression analysis.

Results:

The mean and SDs of tibial torsion and femoral anteversion were 7.9±8.8 and 11.4±12.0 degrees, respectively. African Americans had significantly increased tibial torsion (5.1±8.7 vs. 9.2±8.5 degrees, P<0.0005) and greater femoral anteversion (14.1±11.9 vs. 10.2±11.8 degrees, P<0.0005) compared with whites. The average grades for hip and knee osteoarthritis were 3.1±1.4 and 2.7±1.4. Using multiple regression analysis neither tibial torsion nor femoral version were independent predictors of hip or knee arthritis (P>0.05 for all).

Discussion:

This study confirmed previously reported differences in the rotational profiles between races and sexes. However, neither tibial torsion nor femoral anteversion had a significant influence on the development of arthritis of the hip or knee.

Clinical Relevance:

These results support the practice of treating tibial torsion and femoral anteversion based on the symptomatology of the patient. Parents of asymptomatic children can be reassured that long-term consequences are unlikely.
Solitary Extramedullary Plasmacytoma of the Orbital Apex and Dura Masquerading as Idiopathic Inflammation
Authors: Huggins Alison B. , Carrasco Jacqueline R. , Evans James J. , Rabinowitz Michael P.
Published: July 2015

This is a retrospective case description of a single female patient found to have a primary solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the orbital apex and temporal/parietal dura. These monoclonal plasma cell neoplasms account for fewer than 5% of plasma cell neoplasms. Although most commonly found in the head and neck, orbital and dural solitary extramedullary plasmacytomas are extremely uncommon. The authors present a case of an extramedullary plasmacytoma involving both of these structures in a middle-age otherwise healthy female to highlight this rare entity and elucidate current treatment modalities and future considerations.
Capabilities and Limitations of Tissue Size Control Through Passive Mechanical Forces
Authors: Kursawe Jochen , Brodskiy Pavel A. , Zartman Jeremiah J. , Baker Ruth E. , Fletcher Alexander George
Published: July 2015

Embryogenesis is an extraordinarily robust process, exhibiting the ability to control tissue size and repair patterning defects in the face of environmental and genetic perturbations. The size and shape of a developing tissue is a function of the number and size of its constituent cells as well as their geometric packing. How these cellular properties are coordinated at the tissue level to ensure developmental robustness remains a mystery; understanding this process requires studying multiple concurrent processes that make up morphogenesis, including the spatial patterning of cell fates and apoptosis, as well as cell intercalations. In this work, we develop a computational model that aims to understand aspects of the robust pattern repair mechanisms of the Drosophila embryonic epidermal tissues. Size control in this system has previously been shown to rely on the regulation of apoptosis rather than proliferation; however, to date little work has been done to understand the role of cellular mechanics in this process. We employ a vertex model of an embryonic segment to test hypotheses about the emergence of this size control. Comparing the model to previously published data across wild type and genetic perturbations, we show that passive mechanical forces suffice to explain the observed size control in the posterior (P) compartment of a segment. However, observed asymmetries in cell death frequencies across the segment are demonstrated to require patterning of cellular properties in the model. Finally, we show that distinct forms of mechanical regulation in the model may be distinguished by differences in cell shapes in the P compartment, as quantified through experimentally accessible summary statistics, as well as by the tissue recoil after laser ablation experiments.