bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploiting avian vision with aircraft lighting to reduce bird strikes
Authors: Blackwell Bradley F. , DeVault Travis L. , Seamans Thomas W. , Lima Steven L. , Baumhardt Patrice , Fernández‐Juricic Esteban
Published: October 2012

1. Bird–aircraft collisions (bird strikes) represent a substantial safety concern and financial burden to civil aviation world‐wide. Despite an increase in the rate of damaging bird strikes, necessary steps to develop a mitigation method outside of the airport environment have not been empirically tested.

2. We assessed whether use of aircraft lighting might enhance detection of and reaction to the approach of an aircraft in flight by Canada geese Branta canadensis Linnaeus, a species responsible for a high rate of damaging bird strikes. We used a novel approach by estimating the visibility to the goose visual system of a standard radio‐controlled (RC) aircraft (standard aircraft) exhibiting either a 2‐Hz alternating pulse of two lights, or lights off; and another RC aircraft designed to mimic a raptor (predator model). We then exposed wing‐clipped Canada geese to the approach of each aircraft and quantified behavioural responses to respective treatments.

3. Estimates of chromatic and achromatic contrasts indicated that the standard aircraft with lights on was more salient to the visual system of the Canada goose than with lights off or the predator model.

4. At individual and group levels, quicker alert responses were observed to the standard aircraft with lights compared with the lights off and predator model. Goose groups showed similar responses to approaches by the standard aircraft and the predator model, suggesting use of antipredator behaviour to avoid the aircraft.

5. Synthesis and applications. Understanding animal sensory ecology and associated behaviours can aid the development of methods exploiting certain behaviours to reduce negative human–wildlife interactions. For example, reducing the frequency of bird strikes requires the integration of wildlife management efforts within and outside of the airport environment that target species resource use and response to disturbance, with mitigation techniques focused on the aircraft. Moreover, the design of aircraft lighting systems to enhance detection and avoidance by birds is contingent upon understanding avian visual ecology and behaviour. Based on spectral sensitivity in Canada geese, aircraft‐mounted lights that peak in the ultraviolet/violet range (380–400 nm) are likely to produce the maximal behavioural effect.
Spatial heterogeneity across five rangelands managed with pyric‐herbivory
Authors: McGranahan Devan A. , Engle David M. , Fuhlendorf Samuel D. , Winter Stephen J. , Miller James R. , Debinski Diane M.
Published: October 2012

1. Many rangelands evolved under an interactive disturbance regime in which grazers respond to the spatial pattern of fire and create a patchy, heterogeneous landscape. Spatially heterogeneous fire and grazing create heterogeneity in vegetation structure at the landscape level (patch contrast) and increase rangeland biodiversity. We analysed five experiments comparing spatially heterogeneous fire treatments to spatially homogeneous fire treatments on grazed rangeland along a precipitation gradient in the North American Great Plains.

2. We predicted that, across the precipitation gradient, management for heterogeneity increases both patch contrast and variance in the composition of plant functional groups. Furthermore, we predicted that patch contrast is positively correlated with variance in plant functional group composition. Because fire spread is important to the fire–grazing interaction, we discuss factors that reduce fire spread and reduce patch contrast despite management for heterogeneity.

3. We compared patch contrast across pastures managed for heterogeneity and pastures managed for homogeneity with a linear mixed effect (LME) regression model. We used the LME model to partition variation in vegetation structure to each sampled scale so that a higher proportion of variation at the patch scale among pastures managed for heterogeneity indicates patch contrast. To examine the relationship between vegetation structure and plant community composition, we used constrained ordination to measure variation in functional group composition along the vegetation structure gradient. We used the meta‐analytical statistic, Cohen’s d, to compare effect sizes for patch contrast and plant functional group composition.

4. Management for heterogeneity increased patch contrast and increased the range of plant functional group composition at three of the five experimental locations.

5. Plant functional group composition varied in proportion to the amount of spatial heterogeneity in vegetation structure on pastures managed for heterogeneity.

6. Synthesis and applications. Pyric‐herbivory management for heterogeneity created patch contrast in vegetation across a broad range of precipitation and plant community types, provided that fire was the primary driver of grazer site selection. Management for heterogeneity did not universally create patch contrast. Stocking rate and invasive plant species are key regulators of heterogeneity, as they determine the influence of fire on the spatial pattern of fuel, vegetation structure and herbivore patch selection, and therefore also require careful management.
Genotypically diverse cultivar mixtures for insect pest management and increased crop yields
Authors: Tooker John F. , Frank Steven D.
Published: October 2012

In modern crop production, each plant is often nearly genetically identical to its neighbours, allowing insect pests and pathogens to move easily from plant to plant and decimate crop fields. The associational resistance and enemies hypotheses predict that increasing plant diversity in agricultural fields will reduce pest abundance and damage. Ample research has supported these hypotheses by demonstrating that increased plant species diversity can improve insect pest management via bottom–up and top–down mechanisms. In spite of this support, diversification strategies that might contribute to improved pest control and yield have not been widely adopted owing to logistical and financial constraints.

Basic and applied research is increasingly demonstrating the value of intraspecific genetic diversity for improving ecosystem stability and function. Thus, a more practical way of diversifying crop fields may be to increase plant genotypic diversity by planting cultivar mixtures. Our objective is to review the literature documenting the benefits of genotypic diversity for natural and agricultural ecosystems and synthesize the evidence in support of intraspecific diversity as a viable pest management strategy for insect pests of field crops. We found strong support for wide‐ranging benefits of genotypic diversity that improved plant fitness and productivity in natural and applied settings.

Multiple lines of evidence converge to support the potential of intraspecific variation to contribute to improve insect pest control. However, very little work has sought to develop empirical support or viable implementation practices in agricultural systems. Thus, implementation of this practice is limited.

Synthesis and applications. Intraspecific plant diversity can improve plant fitness via bottom–up and top–down effects on pest populations and niche partitioning. Further research is required to refine implementation practices and demonstrate value in terms of reduced pesticide use and increased yield. Growers can implement intraspecific crop diversity with minimal financial investment or changes in production practices. As the benefits of biodiversity for yield stability are increasingly recognized, intraspecific diversity is poised to become a prominent and sustainable management tactic.
Plant traits predict the success of weed biocontrol
Authors: Paynter Quentin , Overton Jacob McC. , Hill Richard L. , Bellgard Stanley E. , Dawson Murray I.
Published: October 2012

Biological control (biocontrol) can provide permanent cost‐effective control of plant pests, but has variable success. The ability to predict the success of weed biocontrol should improve target prioritisation and the cost‐benefit ratio of weed biocontrol.

We compiled a data base of the quantitative impacts of weed biocontrol programmes against 80 weed species and tested hypotheses regarding weed traits that contribute to weed biocontrol success using generalised additive models.

Modelling and cross‐validation indicated that a model with three traits provided good ability to predict the responses of novel species in novel regions. Biocontrol impact varied according to whether a weed was reported to be a major weed in its native range, mode of reproduction (sexual or asexual) and ecosystem (aquatic or wetland versus terrestrial).

Biocontrol appears to be highly effective against weeds with the best combination of factors for success (aquatic, asexual species that are not major weeds in their native ranges), whereas most, but not all, programmes against ‘difficult targets’, which possess the worst combination of factors for success, have failed to result in a substantial impact. An additional analysis provides a preliminary indication that the success of pioneering programmes predicts the success of repeat programmes against the same target weed in other regions.

Synthesis and applications. Predictions generated by our model will assist weed prioritisation by improving the ability to predict the success of weed biocontrol. Nevertheless, prioritisation must also consider the importance of the candidate target weeds. Species that are predicted to be difficult targets could be targeted for biocontrol, provided that they are sufficiently important to offset the increased risk of failure against the greater benefits of successful control. Further investigation is needed to assess the ability of successful pioneering programmes to predict the success of repeat programmes in other locations, particularly in conjunction with plant traits.
Does environmental contamination influence egg coloration? A long‐term study in herring gulls
Authors: Hanley Daniel , Doucet Stéphanie M.
Published: October 2012

Although considerable progress has been made in reducing concentrations of persistent organic compounds in the environment, these contaminants are still found in many taxa. Here, we investigate the relationship between environmental contamination and avian egg coloration to examine whether egg coloration could be used as a bioindicator of contaminant load.

TheHerringGullMonitoringProgramme has documented changes in contaminant levels found in herring gullLarus argentatusPontoppidan eggs across the Great Lakes for nearly 40 years. We measured the coloration of these eggs using reflectance spectrophotometry and evaluated the influence of a suite of contaminants on egg colour using general linear mixed models.

Herring gull egg coloration was related to the levels of environmental contaminants found within the eggs. Our findings reveal a negative association between blue‐green chroma and a principal component explaining contaminant load. We also found that ultraviolet chroma varied positively with contaminant load, whereas brown chroma was not significantly related to contaminant load. In addition, a cross‐validated discriminant function analysis was able to correctly classify 84% of eggs to either high or low contaminant load. This is an important first step in assessing the utility of using egg coloration as a proxy for contaminant load in a colonially breeding waterbird.

Synthesis and applications. Our study utilized a large, multi‐year data set to provide the first evidence that a suite of environmental contaminants appear to influence avian eggshell coloration. We also found that objective spectrophotometric measurements provide a reliable tool for assessment of egg contaminant load, and we provide a discriminant function for contaminant classification directly in the field. Our findings should be broadly relevant, because the pigments responsible for avian egg coloration are shared across all birds. The application of eggshell colour as a bio‐monitoring tool has important conservation and management applications; measuring egg coloration may provide a rapid, inexpensive and nondestructive means of estimating contaminant levels in the environment. This may provide an essential tool for monitoring areas or species of concern, as well as evaluating potential human health risks, by identifying populations supported by an environment that requires more attention and potentially environmental remediation.
Local depletion by a fishery can affect seabird foraging
Authors: Bertrand Sophie , Joo Rocío , Arbulu Smet Claude , Tremblay Yann , Barbraud Christophe , Weimerskirch Henri
Published: October 2012

Long‐term demographic studies show that seabird populations may suffer from competition with fisheries. Understanding this process is critical for the implementation of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAF). Existing studies rely mostly on indirect clues: overlaps between seabird foraging and fishing areas, comparing fish catches by seabirds and vessels.

The study is based on aGPStracking experiment performed in 2007 on one of the main guano‐producing seabird species, thePeruvian booby, breeding on an island near the major port for anchovy landings inPeru. The fishery, which is entirely monitored by aVesselMonitoringSystem, opened the day we began the tracking experiment, providing a unique opportunity to examine the day‐to‐day effects of an intense fishing activity on seabird foraging behaviour.

We observed a significant increase in the range of the daily trips and distances of the dives by birds from the colony. This increase was significantly related to the concomitant fishing activity. Seabirds progressively became more segregated in space from the vessels. Their increased foraging effort was significantly related to the growing quantity of anchovy removals by the fishery. In addition, daily removals by the fishery were at least 100 times greater than the daily anchovy requirement of the seabird colonies. We conclude that seabirds needed to forage farther to cope with the regional prey depletion created by the intensive fishing behaviour of this open access fishery.

Synthesis and applications. We show that the foraging efficiency of breeding seabirds may be significantly affected by not only the global quantity, but also the temporal and spatial patterns of fishery removals. Together with an ecosystem‐based definition of the fishery quota, anEAFshould limit the risk of local depletion around breeding colonies using, for instance, adaptive marine protected areas.
The effects of large herbivore grazing on meadow steppe plant and insect diversity
Authors: Zhu Hui , Wang Deli , Wang Ling , Bai Yuguang , Fang Jian , Liu Jun
Published: October 2012

The interactions between adjacent trophic levels are essential for ecosystem functioning and stability. Grazing by domestic herbivores is an essential interaction in grasslands, but little information is available on the nature of relationship between plant and insect diversity under grazing by large herbivores.

We examined the effects of large herbivores on the relationship between plant and insect diversity with five grazing treatments (control, cattle, goat, sheep and a mixture of the three grazing types) across three plant diversity levels (low: 4–5 species, intermediate: 8–9 species and high: 15–17 species) in a meadow steppe.

We found that the grazing treatments did not significantly affect plant species richness, but reduced plant biomass, plant height and cover. Grazers affected variation in plant height differently at different plant diversity levels, and this variation increased at the low plant diversity level and decreased at the high plant diversity level after grazing. A similar pattern was observed for insect species richness: grazing had a positive impact at the low plant diversity level, but had a negative impact at the high plant diversity level.

In the absence of grazing, insect species richness was positively associated with plant species richness, but it decreased with increasing plant diversity in the grazing treatments. This was attributed to strong responses of insect species richness to plant height heterogeneity under grazing by large herbivores, implying that plant structural heterogeneity is more important than plant diversity in influencing insect diversity in grazed grasslands.

Synthesis and applications. Grazing by large herbivores may reverse the positive relationship between plant diversity and insect diversity by modifying plant structural heterogeneity. Therefore, the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation structure should be given more attention in future work on plant–insect interactions. This study further highlights the importance of using large herbivore grazing in management actions, not only to maintain diversity but also to mediate trophic interactions in grasslands.
Competition response of European beechFagus sylvaticaL. varies with tree size and abiotic stress: minimizing anthropogenic disturbances in forests
Authors: Fichtner A. , Sturm K. , Rickert C. , Härdtle W. , Schrautzer J.
Published: October 2012

New forest management approaches aim to ensure high biodiversity and climatic adaptability. Silvicultural practices can alter tree–tree interactions and thus influence forest structure and composition. However, knowledge of the interacting effects of competitive and abiotic stress in tree communities is still limited.

We assessed growth dynamics of European beechFagus sylvaticain oligo‐ to eutrophic lowland beech forests by quantifying variation in the importance and intensity of competitive interactions among adult trees along a productivity gradient defined by nutrient availability and hydrological characteristics. We further predicted changes in competition indices with various levels of crowding for different forest types. Basal area growth of 1819 canopy trees was analysed using forest inventory data.

Competition response of adult trees was inconsistent among forest types. For small timber trees, the intensity (absolute effect) and importance (effect relative to abiotic constraints) of competition decreased with increasing abiotic stress. Growth responses of medium and large timber trees, however, revealed an opposite trend. Thus, in tree communities, competition effects did not follow a general pattern, because tree maturation altered the responsiveness of trees to environmental stress.

Resource dependency of competition effects was most pronounced for large timber trees, with lowest sensitivity to changes in crowding conditions occurring on fertile sites. For small and medium timber trees, however, competition effects were strongest in dense stands, with lowest sensitivity to changes in crowding conditions on resource‐limited sites.

Synthesis and applications. Tree–tree interactions in beech forests showed a clear pattern which depended on tree maturation and resource supply. This highlights the importance of considering tree size‐related changes along environmental gradients in regional growth models. Our findings indicate that management practices could facilitate both timber production and nature conservation demands by adapting thinning approaches to age‐ and resource‐related tree growth patterns. We propose a distinct reduction in thinning intensity, particularly for larger beech trees growing on sites with optimum below‐ground resources. This would increase the permanent stand volumes and promote natural stand dynamics, which in turn would benefit biodiversity typical of old‐growth beech forest ecosystems.
Does managed coastal realignment create saltmarshes with ‘equivalent biological characteristics’ to natural reference sites?
Authors: Mossman Hannah L. , Davy Anthony J. , Grant Alastair
Published: October 2012

Coastal saltmarshes provide distinctive biodiversity and important ecosystem services, including coastal defence, supporting fisheries and nutrient cycling. However, c. 50% of the world's coastal marshes are degraded or have been lost, with losses continuing. In both Europe and North America, there is a legal requirement to create habitats to substitute for losses. How well do created habitats replicate natural salt marshes?

We compared plant communities and environmental characteristics of 18 deliberately realigned (managed realignment, MR ‐ between 1 and 14 years old), 17 accidentally realigned (AR, 25–131 years old) sites with those on 34 natural reference saltmarshes in the UK.

Halophytic species colonized individual realignment sites rapidly, attaining species richness similar to nearby reference marshes after 1 year. Nevertheless, the community composition of MR sites was significantly different from reference sites, with early‐successional species remaining dominant, even on the high marsh.

The dominance of pioneer species on the low and mid‐marsh may be because, at the same elevation, sediments were less oxygenated than on reference sites. Sediments were well oxygenated on the high marsh, but were often drier than on natural marshes.

Overall community composition of AR marshes was not significantly different to reference marshes, but the characteristic perennials Limonium vulgare, Triglochin maritima, Plantago maritima and Armeria maritima remained relatively rare. In contrast, the shrub Atriplex portulacoides was more abundant, and its growth form may inhibit or delay colonization by other species.

Synthesis and applications. Marshes created by managed realignment do not satisfy the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive. Adherence to the Directive might be improved by additional management interventions, such as manipulation of topographic heterogeneity or planting of mid‐ and upper‐marsh species. However, given the inherent variation in natural saltmarshes and projected environmental change, policies that require exact equivalence at individual sites may be unachievable. More realistic goals might require minimum levels of a range of ecosystem functions on a broader scale, across catchments or regions.
Grazing alters ecosystem functioning and C:N:P stoichiometry of grasslands along a regional precipitation gradient
Authors: Bai Yongfei , Wu Jianguo , Clark Chris M. , Pan Qingmin , Zhang Lixia , Chen Shiping , Wang Qibing , Han Xingguo
Published: October 2012

The Eurasian steppe has long been subject to grazing by domestic ungulates at high levels, resulting in widespread deterioration of biodiversity and ecosystem services. While abundant evidence demonstrates that heavy grazing alters the ecosystem structure and function of grasslands, research on how grazing specifically affects ecosystem functioning and stoichiometry on broad scales is scarce because of a lack of adequate ungrazed reference sites.

We examined the effects of grazing on ecosystem functioning and C : N : P stoichiometry across a precipitation gradient along the 700 km China–Mongolia transect (CMT), covering three community types: meadow steppe, typical steppe and desert steppe.

Long‐term grazing has dramatically altered the C, N and P pools and stoichiometry of steppe ecosystems along the CMT. Grazing reduced the C, N and P pools in above‐ground biomass and litter, while the responses in below‐ground biomass and soil C, N and P pools to grazing differed substantially among community types.

Grazing increased N content and decreased C : N ratios in all plant compartments, suggesting accelerated N cycling. The altered C : N : P stoichiometry may be explained by changes in the composition of species and functional groups as well as increased foliar N and P contents for the same species in grazed communities.

Synthesis and applications. Plant stoichiometric responses to grazing ranged from large in the meadow steppe to small in the typical steppe to generally insignificant in the desert steppe, implying that different underlying mechanisms operated along the regional precipitation gradient. Our findings suggest that reducing the stocking rate and restoring the vastly degraded steppes are essential to sustain native steppe biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and biological capacity for mitigating the impact of climate change in the Inner Mongolia grassland.
A Longitudinal Study of Emotion Regulation, Emotion Lability‐Negativity, and Internalizing Symptomatology in Maltreated and Nonmaltreated Children
Authors: Kim‐Spoon Jungmeen , Cicchetti Dante , Rogosch Fred A.
Published: October 2012

The longitudinal contributions of emotion regulation and emotion lability‐negativity to internalizing symptomatology were examined in a low‐income sample (171 maltreated and 151 nonmaltreated children, from age 7 to 10 years). Latent difference score models indicated that for both maltreated and nonmaltreated children, emotion regulation was a mediator between emotion lability‐negativity and internalizing symptomatology, whereas emotion lability‐negativity was not a mediator between emotion regulation and internalizing symptomatology. Early maltreatment was associated with high emotion lability‐negativity (age 7) that contributed to poor emotion regulation (age 8), which in turn was predictive of increases in internalizing symptomatology (from age 8 to 9). The results imply important roles of emotion regulation in the development of internalizing symptomatology, especially for children with high emotion lability‐negativity.
Fur Shading and Modification based on Cone Step Mapping
Authors: Kühnert T. , Brunnett G.
Published: October 2012

This paper presents an algorithm for the real time rendering of fur without adding fur‐specific geometry, such as shells, to the object. It is based on Cone Step Mapping and introduces a local distortion of the view vector to simulate a deformation of the heightfield‐bound hair geometry. While this distortion enables a more realistic fur rendering, some limitations emerge and have to be dealt with. A local light reflectance model including approximations of global light interactions with hair and skin is proposed. We furthermore show how material and geometric properties can locally be influenced through standard texture mapping. This includes most notably the local modification of growth and streak direction of the hairs.
A Global Parity Measure for Incomplete Point Cloud Data
Authors: Seversky L. M. , Yin L.
Published: October 2012

Shapes with complex geometric and topological features such as tunnels, neighboring sheets, and cavities are susceptible to undersampling and continue to challenge existing reconstruction techniques. In this work we introduce a new measure for point clouds to determine the likely interior and exterior regions of an object. Specifically, we adapt the concept of parity to point clouds with missing data and introduce the parity map, a global measure of parity over the volume. We first examine how parity changes over the volume with respect to missing data and develop a method for extracting topologically correct interior and exterior crusts for estimating a signed distance field and performing surface reconstruction. We evaluate our approach on real scan data representing complex shapes with missing data. Our parity measure is not only able to identify highly confident interior and exterior regions but also localizes regions of missing data. Our reconstruction results are compared to existing methods and we show that our method faithfully captures the topology and geometry of complex shapes in the presence of missing data.
10‐Hydroxy‐2‐decenoic acid prevents ultraviolet A‐induced damage and matrix metalloproteinases expression in human dermal fibroblasts
Authors: Zheng Jinfen , Lai Wei , Zhu Guoxing , Wan Miaojian , Chen Jian , Tai Yan , Lu Chun
Published: October 2012

Background  10‐Hydroxy‐2‐decenoic acid (10‐HDA) is a major fatty acid component of royal jelly, which has been reported to have a variety of beneficial pharmacological characteristics. However, the effects of 10‐HDA on skin photoageing and its potential mechanism of action are unclear.

Objective  We investigated the protective effects of 10‐HDA on ultraviolet (UV) A‐induced damage in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). We then explored the inhibitory effects of 10‐HDA on UVA‐induced matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) expression and elucidated the signalling pathways controlling MMPs inhibition.

Methods  Primary human dermal fibroblasts were exposed to UVA. Cell proliferation, cellular senescent state and collagen content were analysed using CCK‐8, senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase staining and Sircol collagen assay, respectively. Fluorometric assays were performed to detect the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cells. The mRNA levels of MMP‐1, MMP‐3 and type I (α1) collagen were determined by quantitative real‐time PCR. Western blot was applied to detect the expression of MMP‐1, MMP‐3, JNK and p38 MAPK.

Results  HDFs treated with 10‐HDA were significantly protected from UVA‐induced cytotoxicity, ROS, cellular senescence and stimulated collagen production. Moreover, 10‐HDA suppressed the UVA‐induced expression of MMP‐1 and MMP‐3 at both the transcriptional and protein levels. Treatment with 10‐HDA also reduced the UVA‐induced activation of the JNK and p38 MAPK pathways.

Conclusion  The data obtained in this study provide evidence that 10‐HDA could prevent UVA‐induced damage and inhibit MMP‐1 and MMP‐3 expressions. Therefore, 10‐HDA may be a potential agent for the prevention and treatment of skin photoageing.
Efficacy and safety of apremilast in subjects with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: results from a phase II, multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel‐group, dose‐comparison study
Authors: Papp K.A. , Kaufmann R. , Thaçi D. , Hu C. , Sutherland D. , Rohane P.
Published: October 2012

Background  Apremilast, a small molecule specific inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4, works intracellularly to modulate pro‐inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory mediator production.

Objective  Assess apremilast efficacy and safety in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Methods  Phase II, 12‐week, multicenter, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel‐group, dose‐comparison study of 259 subjects randomized 1 : 1 : 1 to placebo, apremilast 20 mg QD or apremilast 20 mg BID.

Results  More subjects receiving apremilast 20 mg BID achieved ≥ 75% reduction in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI‐75) vs. placebo (24.4% vs. 10.3%; P = 0.023). A similar proportion of subjects receiving apremilast 20 mg QD and placebo achieved PASI‐75 at week 12 [9/87 (10.3%, each group)]. Mean per cent reduction in PASI from baseline was 17.4% for placebo, 30.3% for apremilast 20 mg QD (P = 0.021 vs. placebo) and 52.1% for apremilast 20 mg BID (P < 0.001). Apremilast 20 mg BID significantly decreased mean body surface area involvement vs. placebo (30.8% vs. 3.2%; P < 0.001). The most common adverse events were headache, nasopharyngitis, diarrhoea and nausea. Most events (> 90%) were mild to moderate and did not lead to study discontinuation. Serious adverse events occurred in four placebo subjects (panic attack, hospitalization for rehabilitation, hospitalization for alcoholism, worsening psoriasis), one receiving apremilast 20 mg QD (knee surgery) and in one receiving apremilast 20 mg BID (worsening psoriasis). The panic attack was considered treatment‐related; both cases of worsening psoriasis occurred after medication discontinuation. No deaths or opportunistic infections were reported.

Conclusion  Apremilast 20 mg BID for 12 weeks was effective and well tolerated in subjects with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
Extraction of natural dyes from Alpinia blepharocalyx K. Schum. for dyeing of silk fabric
Authors: Wang Chunxia , Xu Changhai , Tian Anli , Fu Shaohai , Wang Chaoxia
Published: October 2012

Natural dyes were extracted from the leaves and stems of Alpinia blepharocalyx K. Schum. Analysis of the designed experiment revealed that extraction at a plant/water ratio of 1:20 could reach an optimal production of natural dyes when extraction was performed at 80 °C, for 4 h, under 20 min ultrasound, in the presence of 10 g/l sodium hydroxide, and with two extractions. The extracted natural dyes were applied to the dyeing of silk fabrics using different methods, including or excluding a mordant. It was found that mordants had a significant effect on the colour of dyed silk fabrics. The silk fabric dyed with the pre‐mordant method using potassium aluminium sulphate as a mordant showed a bright yellow with a higher colour strength. The optimal dyeing conditions were reached when the extracted natural dyes were pre‐mordanted with 10 g/l potassium aluminium sulphate at pH 6, and for a 20 min dyeing time.
Evaluation of Air Permeation Behavior of Porous SiC Ceramics Synthesized by Oxidation‐Bonding Technique
Authors: Dey Atanu , Kayal Nijhuma , Chakrabarti Omprakash , Innocentini Murilo D. M. , Chacon Welton S. , Coury José R.
Published: October 2012

Porous SiC ceramics were synthesized by oxidation bonding of compacts of commercial α‐SiC powder at 1300°C. Different volume fractions of petroleum coke powder were used for variation of porosity of ceramics from 36% to 56%. The material exhibited variations of pore size from 3 to 15 μm, flexural strength from 5.5 to 29.5 MPa, and elastic modulus from 3.3 to 27.6 GPa. Air permeation behavior was studied at 26–650°C. At room temperature Darcian (k1) and non‐Darcian (k2) permeability parameters vary from 1.64 to 18.42 × 10−13 m2 and 0.58 to 2.95 × 10−7 m, respectively. Temperature dependence of permeability was explained from structural changes occurring during test conditions.
Secular evolution in action: central values and radial trends in the stellar populations of boxy bulges
Authors: Williams Michael J. , Bureau Martin , Kuntschner Harald
Published: October 2012

We determine central values and radial trends in the stellar populations of the bulges of a sample of 28 edge-on S0—Sb disc galaxies, 22 of which are boxy/peanut-shaped (and therefore barred). Our principal findings are the following. (1) At a given velocity dispersion, the central stellar populations of galaxies with boxy/peanut-shaped bulges are indistinguishable from those of early-type (elliptical and S0) galaxies. Either secular evolution affects stellar populations no differently to monolithic collapse or mergers, or secular evolution is not important in the central regions of these galaxies, despite the fact that they are barred. (2) The radial metallicity gradients of boxy/peanut-shaped bulges are uncorrelated with velocity dispersion and are, on average, shallower than those of unbarred early-type galaxies. This is qualitatively consistent with chemodynamical models of bar formation, in which radial inflow and outflow smear out pre-existing gradients.
Comparing Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Asylophobia: The British Case
Authors: Linehan Thomas
Published: October 2012

This article examines how far discourses on the ‘Other’ and immigration in contemporary Britain resemble antisemitic discourses in Britain during and between the two World Wars. The article contends that there was a particular British species of antisemitism in evidence during the wartime and interwar periods which was made up of a number of key elements, defined here as ‘conspiratorial’, ‘cultural’, ‘religious’, and ‘economic’ forms of anti‐Jewish animosity. The article then considers whether similar elements can be discerned in responses to ‘Other’ maligned groups in the contemporary period, particularly in relation to anti‐Muslim sentiment or Islamophobic discourses. The article then investigates whether we can identify symmetry in relation to another group which has experienced high levels of discrimination in twenty‐first‐century Britain, asylum seekers. Here, the article considers whether one needs to situate contemporary ‘asylophobia’ in a wider explanatory framework which both takes account of the possible ‘re‐cycling’ of earlier stigmatising representations of Jews, and more contemporary influences and developments relating to neo‐liberal globalisation.
Landscapes of ‘Othering’ in Postwar and ContemporaryGermany: The Limits of the ‘Culture of Contrition’ and the Poverty of the Mainstream
Authors: Kallis Aristotle
Published: October 2012

In the 1930s theNationalSocialist regime embarked on a chillingly ambitious and fanatical project to ‘remake’ German society and ‘race’ by deploying a peerless – in both kind and intensity – repertoire of ‘othering’ strategies and measures directed at the Jews, theSinti/Roma, and non‐conformist groups within theThirdReich. At the heart of this campaign was the notion of a ‘zero‐sum’ confrontation between the nation/race and its perceived ‘enemies’: namely, that the existence of these ‘enemies’ within German society threatened the very foundations of theGerman ‘race’ and posed the gravest threat to its mere survival. To what extent can the experience of the 1930s aggressive, violent, and eventually murderous ‘zero‐sum’ mindset provide crucial insights into contemporary discourses of ‘othering’, linked with theEuropean radical‐populist right but increasingly ‘infecting’ the social and political mainstream? The contemporary ‘ethno‐pluralist’ framing of the discussion divulges the persistence of a similar ‘zero‐sum’ mentality that is nurtured by socio‐economic and cultural insecurity, on the one hand, and powerful long‐standing prejudices against particular groups, on the other. The article explores this ‘zero‐sum’ insecurity mindset in the anti‐immigration ‘mainstream’ discourses in theFederalRepublic ofGermany, both before and after re‐unification. It demonstrates how – in contrast to the postwar ‘culture of contrition’ with regard to the memory of the Holocaust – this mindset continues to be a powerful political and psychological refuge for societal insecurities that has an enduring appeal to significant audiences well beyond the narrow political constituencies of the radical right.
Atrial Electrical and Structural Remodeling: Implications for Racial Differences in Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: LAU CHU‐PAK , TSE HUNG‐FAT , SIU CHUNG‐WAH , GBADEBO DAVID
Published: October 2012

Racial Disparity in AF Electrophysiology. Racial differences in prevalence and incidence rates of atrial fibrillation (AF) are known to exist even after accounting for ascertainment bias, as well as differences in the prevalence of known risk factors. Thus, a different susceptibility to traditional risk factors in different ethnic groups that lead to AF clearly exists. Initiation and maintenance of AF are dependent on triggers, autonomic influence and atrial substrate, and progression to persistent AF occurs by electromechanical remodeling. Genetic differences among the racial group contribute to such differences. This article reviews the electrophysiologic mechanisms for AF, evidence for racial differences in susceptibility to AF, and suggests possible electromechanical reasons for the susceptibility. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. S36‐S40, November 2012)
Ectocranial suture fusion in primates: as related to cranial volume and dental eruption
Authors: Cray James , Cooper Gregory M. , Mooney Mark P. , Siegel Michael I.
Published: October 2012

Background

Timing of calvarial suture fusion is important in primate ontogeny. Ages at death are difficult to assess especially for museum collections.

Methods

1550 skulls of Hominoid, Hylobatidae, Macaca and Papio were observed for fusion. Calvarial expansion (early) and dental eruption (late) were utilized as indicators of ontogeny. Homogeneity of slopes and ANOVA were used to determine differences in timing of fusion.

Results

For calvarial growth the great apes all showed small levels of calvarial suture remodeling prior to full calvarial expansion. For dental eruption, Homo and Macaca share a common pattern of fusion in late adulthood. The other species show early remodeling. Papio was observed to have distinct patterns for suture fusion progression.

Conclusions

Thus, suture fusion progression although influenced by evolutionary changes in the robusticity of the craniofacial skeleton can be modeled by the phylogeny among this group. Overall, Homo appears to have a distinct pattern of delayed suture fusion progression.
Bioaccumulation of Microcystins in Lettuce
Authors: Hereman Talita Caroline , Bittencourt‐Oliveira Maria do Carmo
Published: October 2012

The contamination of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by water‐borne crude extracts of the cyanobacterium microcystin‐producing Microcystis aeruginosa (Kützing) Kützing was investigated. The aim of the study was to determine whether bioaccumulation of microcystins occurs in lettuce foliar tissue when sprayed with solutions containing microcystins at concentrations observed in aquatic systems (0.62 to 12.5 μg · L−1). Microcystins were found in lettuce foliar tissues (8.31 to 177.8 μg per Kg of fresh weight) at all concentrations of crude extracts. Spraying with water containing microcystins and cyanobacteria may contaminate lettuce at levels higher than the daily intake of microcystins recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), underscoring the need to monitor such food exposure pathways by public authorities.
Interferon Regulation Factor‐3 is a Critical Regulator of the Mature of Dendritic Cells from Mice
Authors: Zhang G. , Zhang Z. , Liu Z.
Published: October 2012

Interferon regulatory factor‐3 (IRF‐3) plays an important role in virus and double‐stranded RNA‐mediated induction of type I interferon and RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted), DNA damage signalling, tumour suppression and virus‐induced apoptosis. IRF‐3 had recently been shown to contribute to T‐cell activation in response to pathogens, which implicated an extensive immunological role for IRF‐3. Dendritic cells (DCs) played critical roles as professional APCs in the development of immune responses. However, it was unclear whether IRF‐3 had any effect on phenotype or function of DCs. In this study, it was shown that IRF‐3 acted as a promoter of DC maturation. The level of IRF‐3 expression was transiently upregulated and accumulated in the nucleus in TNF‐α‐induced immune maturation of mice DC cells. Knockdown of IRF‐3 by small interfering RNA in DC cells resulted in both phenotypic and functional immaturation, even without TNF‐α treatment. Overall, our data demonstrated for the first time that IRF‐3 was a critical regulator of mice DC maturation.
Study of a Fully Compliant U-Joint Designed for Minirobotics Applications
Authors: Palmieri G. , Palpacelli M. C. , Callegari M.
Published: October 2012

The paper proposes the study of the kinetostatic behavior of a flexible universal joint for minirobotic applications. A closed-form formulation of joint’s compliance is obtained for linear elastic material and small displacements. It is also presented a numerical study that considers the joint realized with a superelastic shape memory alloys (SMA) material (Ni–Ti alloy); in this case, a finite element (FE) approach is used to overcome the strong nonlinearities arising from both the superelastic constitutive law and the large displacements. Besides the compliance properties of the joint, also kinematic performances are investigated, since the instantaneous rotation axis is expected to be floating around its ideal position because of parasitic elastic deformations.
Improving the Volumetric Efficiency of the Axial Piston Pump
Authors: Wang Shu
Published: October 2012

The volumetric efficiency is one of the most important aspects of system performance in the design of axial piston pumps. From the standpoint of engineering practices, the geometric complexities of the valve plate (VP) and its multiple interactions with pump dynamics pose difficult obstacles for optimization of the design. This research uses the significant concept of pressure carryover to develop the mathematical relationship between the geometry of the valve plate and the volumetric efficiency of the piston pump. For the first time, the resulting expression presents the theoretical considerations of the fluid operating conditions, the efficiency of axial piston pumps, and the valve plate designs. New terminology, such as discrepancy of pressure carryover (DPC) and carryover cross-porting (CoCp), is introduced to explain the fundamental principles. The important results derived from this study can provide clear recommendations for the definition of the geometries required to achieve an efficient design, especially for the valve plate timings. The theoretical results are validated by simulations and experiments conducted by testing multiple valve plates under various operating conditions.
Performance Analysis of the Low-Temperature Solar-Boosted Power Generation System—Part I: Comparison Between Kalina Solar System and Rankine Solar System
Authors: Sun Faming , Ikegami Yasuyuki , Arima Hirofumi , Zhou Weisheng
Published: October 2012

On the base of the two classical thermodynamic cycles (Kalina cycle and Rankine cycle), solar-boosted Kalina system (Kalina solar system) and solar-boosted Rankine system (Rankine solar system) with traditional nonconcentrating flat plate solar collector (FPSC) and evacuated tube solar collector (ETSC) are investigated in the present paper. The proposed solar systems are considered to be the hybrid of power generation subcycle and solar collector subcycle. Their electricity generating performances are compared under their respective optimal operating conditions to clarify which one is more competitive in solar utilization. Results show that ETSC is the better choice for the both solar systems. Further, the performance comparison shows that the low-temperature solar energy utilized in Kalina cycle is predominant to generate electricity. Meanwhile, the study also find that mass flow rate of the power generation subcycle, mass flow rate of the solar collector subcycle, mass fraction of ammonia and the regenerator performance are important operational parameters for high performance of the Kalina solar system. Finally, with the aid of the weather conditions of Kumejima Island in Japan, the perceptual knowledge for Kalina solar system by using an application case is shown in the paper.
Computer‐aided classification of breast masses using speckle features of automated breast ultrasound images
Authors: Moon Woo Kyung , Lo Chung‐Ming , Chang Jung Min , Huang Chiun‐Sheng , Chen Jeon‐Hor , Chang Ruey‐Feng
Published: October 2012

Purpose:

To develop an ultrasound computer‐aided diagnosis (CAD) system using speckle features of automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) images.

Methods:

The ABUS images of 147 pathologically proven breast masses (76 benign and 71 malignant cases) were used. For each mass, a volume of interest (VOI) was cropped to define the tumor area, and the average number of speckle pixels within a VOI was calculated. In addition, first‐order and second‐order statistical analyses of the speckle pixels were used to quantify the information of gray‐level distributions and the spatial relations among the pixels. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the performance.

Results:

The proposed CAD system based on speckle patterns achieved an accuracy of 84.4% (124/147), a sensitivity of 83.1% (59/71), a specificity of 85.5% (65/76), and an Az of 0.91. The performance indices of the speckle features were comparable to the performance indices of the morphological features, which include shape and ellipse‐fitting features (p‐value > 0.05). Furthermore, combining speckle and morphological features yielded an Az that was significantly better than the Az of the morphological features alone (0.96 vs 0.91, p‐value = 0.0154).

Conclusions:

The results suggest that the proposed speckle features, while combined with morphological features, are promising for the classification of breast masses detected using ABUS.