bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Small-Molecule-Binding Riboswitches
Authors: Lotz Thea S. , Suess Beatrix
Published: August 2018

RNA is a versatile biomolecule capable of transferring information, taking on distinct three-dimensional shapes, and reacting to ambient conditions. RNA molecules utilize a wide range of mechanisms to control gene expression. An example of such regulation is riboswitches. Consisting exclusively of RNA, they are able to control important metabolic processes, thus providing an elegant and efficient RNA-only regulation system. Existing across all domains of life, riboswitches appear to represent one of the most highly conserved mechanisms for the regulation of a broad range of biochemical pathways. Through binding of a wide range of small-molecule ligands to their so-called aptamer domain, riboswitches undergo a conformational change in their downstream “expression platform.” In consequence, the pattern of gene expression changes, which in turn results in increased or decreased protein production. Riboswitches unite the sensing and transduction of a signal that can directly be coupled to the metabolism of the cell; thus they constitute a very potent regulatory mechanism for many organisms. Highly specific RNA-binding domains not only occur
in vivo
but can also be evolved by means of the SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) method, which allows
in vitro
selection of aptamers against almost any ligand. Coupling of these aptamers with an expression platform has led to the development of synthetic riboswitches, a highly active research field of great relevance and immense potential. The aim of this review is to summarize developments in the riboswitch field over the last decade and address key questions of recent research.
Improving developmental care in primary practice for disadvantaged children
Authors: Edmond Karen Margaret , Tung Scarlette , McAuley Kimberley , Strobel Natalie , McAullay Daniel
Published: August 2018

Our primary objective was to assess if sustained participation in continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities could improve delivery of ‘basic developmental care’ to disadvantaged children in primary care settings. Secondary objectives were to assess if delivery of developmental care differed by age and geographic location.Data were analysed using multivariable logistic regression and generalised estimating equations. 109 indigenous primary care centres across Australia from 2012 to 2014 and2466 client files from indigenous children aged 3–59 months were included. Outcome measures were delivery of basic developmental care.We found that the proportion of children who received basic developmental care ranged from 55% (advice about physical and mental stimulation of child) (1279, 55.1%) to 74% (assessment of developmental milestones) (1510, 73.7%). Ninety-three per cent (92.6%, 88) of children received follow-up care. Centres with sustained CQI participation (completed three or more consecutive audit cycles) (508, 53.9%) were twofold more likely to deliver basic developmental care compared with centres without sustained CQI (completed less than three consecutive audit cycles) (118, 31.0%) (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.37, 95% CI 1.33 to 4.23). Children aged 3–11 months (229, 54.9%) were more likely to receive basic developmental care than children aged 24–59 months (151, 38.5%) (aOR 2.42, 95% CI 1.67 to 3.51). Geographic location had little effect (aOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.53). Overall our study found that sustained CQI can improve basic developmental care in primary care settings. However, many disadvantaged children are not receiving services. Improved resourcing of developmental care and CQI in primary care centres is needed.
Libertarianism and collective action: is there a libertarian case for mandatory vaccination?
Authors: Blunden Charlie T
Published: August 2018

In his paper ‘A libertarian case for mandatory vaccination’, Jason Brennan argues that even libertarians, who are very averse to coercive measures, should support mandatory vaccination to combat the harmful disease outbreaks that can be caused by non-vaccination. He argues that libertarians should accept the clean hands principle, which would justify mandatory vaccination. The principle states that there is a (sometimes enforceable) moral obligation not to participate in collectively harmful activities. Once libertarians accept the principle, they will be compelled to support mandatory vaccination. In my paper, I argue that the cases Brennan uses to justify this principle are disanalogous to the case of non-vaccination and that they are not compelling to libertarians. The cases Brennan offers can be explained by a libertarian using the individual sufficiency principle: which states that if an individual’s action is sufficient to cause harm, then there is a (sometimes enforceable) moral obligation not to carry out that action. I argue that this principle is more appropriate to Brennan’s examples, and more appealing to the libertarian, than the clean hands principle. In order to get libertarians to accept the clean hands principle, I present a modified version of one of Brennan’s cases that is analogous to the case of non-vaccination. Using this case, I argue that whether the clean hands principle will justify mandatory vaccination is dependent on whether the herd immunity rate in a given population is approaching a threshold after which a collective risk of harm will be imposed onto others.
DNA damage response in workers exposed to low-dose ionising radiation
Authors: Gaetani Simona , Monaco Federica , Bracci Massimo , Ciarapica Veronica , Impollonia Giulia , Valentino Matteo , Tomasetti Marco , Santarelli Lory , Amati Monica
Published: August 2018

Objective

Medical personnel using radiation for diagnosis and therapeutic purposes are potentially at risk of cancer development. In this study, the effect of ionising radiation (IR) exposure was evaluated as DNA damage response (DDR) in the circulating cells of occupationally exposed subjects.

Methods

The study population consisted of IR-exposed workers included both in group B (effective dose ranging between 0.04 and 6 mSv/year) and group A (probable effective dose exceeding 6 mSv/year), and the control group consisted of healthy individuals who had never been occupationally exposed to IR or other known carcinogenic agents. DNA damage (single-strand breaks, oxidised purine and pyrimidine bases) and DNA repair (t1/2, half time to repair DNA damage, amount of repaired DNA and DNA repair activity) were measured in lymphocytes using the comet assay. To evaluate the influence of IR doses and genetic predisposition to cancer, the enrolled population was stratified according to IR exposure level and family history of cancer.

Results

Increased DNA repair activity was found in IR-exposed group, and only subjects highly exposed to IR doses accumulated DNA damage in their circulating cells, thus supporting the hypothesis of ‘radiation hormesis’. A significant increase in DNA damage accumulation and a reduced 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1-dependent DNA repair activity were found in IR-exposed subjects with cancer cases across their family.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that chronic exposure to a low dose of IR in occupational settings induces DDR in exposed subjects and may be mutagenic in workers with family history of cancer, suggesting that periodic surveillance might be advisable, along with exposure monitoring.
Interspecific competition limits the realized niche ofFraxinus nigraalong a waterlogging gradient
Authors: Looney Christopher E. , D’Amato Anthony W. , Fraver Shawn , Palik Brian J. , Frelich Lee E.
Published: August 2018

Gradient studies of wetland forests have inferred that competition from upland tree species confines waterlogging-tolerant tree species to hydric environments. Little is known, however, about competition effects on individual-tree growth along stress gradients in wetland forests. We investigated tree growth and competition in mixed-species stands representing a waterlogging stress gradient in Fraxinus nigra Marsh. (black ash) forests in Minnesota, USA. Using competition indices, we examined how F. nigra basal area increment (BAI) responded to competition along the gradient and whether competition was size-asymmetric (as for light) or size-symmetric (as for soil resources). We modeled spatial distributions of F. nigra and associated tree species to assess how variation in species mixtures influenced competition. We found that although F. nigra BAI did not significantly differ with variations in site moisture, the importance of competition decreased as waterlogging stress increased. Competition across the gradient was primarily size-asymmetric (for light). Variation in species mixtures along the gradient was an important influence on competition. Some segregation of tree species occurred at all but the most upland site, where waterlogging stress was lowest and evidence of competition was greatest, confirming that competition from upland tree species confines F. nigra and potentially other waterlogging-tolerant species to hydric environments.
NLO K factors for ZZ double vector boson pairs in proton–proton collisions
Authors: Dilsiz Kamuran
Published: August 2018

The impact of higher-order matrix elements and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] scales on the NLO K factors for ZZ vector boson pairs in proton–proton collisions are presented in this study. All predictions are performed using MCFM-8.0 Monte Carlo generator. First, the QCD predictions of ZZ production at LO and NLO accuracies are obtained using two most recent PDFs, MMHT2014 and CT14. To discuss the impact of higher-order matrix elements on the NLO K factors, both LO and NLO corrections are obtained by LO, NLO and NNLO matrix elements of these two most recent PDFs. Then, the impact of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] scales on the NLO K factors are further discussed by using six different values of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in a range of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is Z boson mass.
Improvement of Drought Tolerance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.): Genetics, Genomic Tools, and the WRKY Gene Family
Authors: Sahebi Mahbod , Hanafi Mohamed M. , Rafii M. Y. , Mahmud T. M. M. , Azizi Parisa , Osman Mohamad , Abiri Rambod , Taheri Sima , Kalhori Nahid , Shabanimofrad M. , Miah Gous , Atabaki Narges
Published: August 2018

Drought tolerance is an important quantitative trait with multipart phenotypes that are often further complicated by plant phenology. Different types of environmental stresses, such as high irradiance, high temperatures, nutrient deficiencies, and toxicities, may challenge crops simultaneously; therefore, breeding for drought tolerance is very complicated. Interdisciplinary researchers have been attempting to dissect and comprehend the mechanisms of plant tolerance to drought stress using various methods; however, the limited success of molecular breeding and physiological approaches suggests that we rethink our strategies. Recent genetic techniques and genomics tools coupled with advances in breeding methodologies and precise phenotyping will likely reveal candidate genes and metabolic pathways underlying drought tolerance in crops. The WRKY transcription factors are involved in different biological processes in plant development. This zinc (Zn) finger protein family, particularly members that respond to and mediate stress responses, is exclusively found in plants. A total of 89 WRKY genes in japonica and 97 WRKY genes in O. nivara (OnWRKY) have been identified and mapped onto individual chromosomes. To increase the drought tolerance of rice (Oryza sativa L.), research programs should address the problem using a multidisciplinary strategy, including the interaction of plant phenology and multiple stresses, and the combination of drought tolerance traits with different genetic and genomics approaches, such as microarrays, quantitative trait loci (QTLs), WRKY gene family members with roles in drought tolerance, and transgenic crops. This review discusses the newest advances in plant physiology for the exact phenotyping of plant responses to drought to update methods of analysing drought tolerance in rice. Finally, based on the physiological/morphological and molecular mechanisms found in resistant parent lines, a strategy is suggested to select a particular environment and adapt suitable germplasm to that environment.
Plasma Heme Oxygenase-1 Levels in Patients with Coronary and Peripheral Artery Diseases
Authors: Kishimoto Yoshimi , Ibe Susumu , Saita Emi , Sasaki Kenji , Niki Hanako , Miura Kotaro , Ikegami Yukinori , Ohmori Reiko , Kondo Kazuo , Momiyama Yukihiko
Published: August 2018

Aims. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an intracellular enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of heme to generate CO, biliverdin, and iron. Since these products have antiatherogenic properties, HO-1 may play a protective role against the progression of atherosclerosis. However, plasma HO-1 levels in patients with atherosclerotic diseases, such as coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD), have not been clarified yet. Methods. We investigated plasma HO-1 levels by ELISA in 410 consecutive patients undergoing elective coronary angiography who also had an ankle-brachial index (ABI) test for PAD screening. Results. Of the 410 study patients, CAD was present in 225 patients (55%) (1-vessel (1-VD), n=91; 2-vessel (2-VD), n=66; 3-vessel disease (3-VD), n=68). PAD (ABI < 0.9) was found in 36 (9%) patients. Plasma HO-1 levels did not differ between 225 patients with CAD and 185 without CAD (median 0.44 versus 0.35 ng/mL), but they were significantly lower in 36 patients with PAD than in 374 without PAD (0.27 versus 0.41 ng/mL, P<0.02). After excluding the 36 patients with PAD, HO-1 levels were significantly higher in 192 patients with CAD than in 182 without CAD (0.45 versus 0.35 ng/mL, P<0.05). HO-1 levels in 4 groups of CAD(−), 1-VD, 2-VD, and 3-VD were 0.35, 0.49, 0.44, and 0.44 ng/mL, respectively, and were highest in 1-VD (P<0.05). In the multivariate analysis, HO-1 levels were inversely associated with PAD, whereas they were also associated with CAD. The odds ratios for PAD and CAD were 2.12 (95% CI = 1.03–4.37) and 0.65 (95% CI = 0.42–0.99) for the HO-1 level of <0.35 ng/mL, respectively. Conclusions. Plasma HO-1 levels were found to be low in patients with PAD, in contrast to high levels in patients with CAD.
Adaptive Reward Allocation for Participatory Sensing
Authors: Connolly Martin , Dusparic Ivana , Iosifidis Georgios , Bouroche Melanie
Published: August 2018

Participatory sensing is a paradigm through which mobile device users (or participants) collect and share data about their environments. The data captured by participants is typically submitted to an intermediary (the service provider) who will build a service based upon this data. For a participatory sensing system to attract the data submissions it requires, its users often need to be incentivized. However, as an environment is constantly changing (for example, an accident causing a buildup of traffic and elevated pollution levels), the value of a given data item to the service provider is likely to change significantly over time, and therefore an incentivization scheme must be able to adapt the rewards it offers in real‐time to match the environmental conditions and current participation rates, thereby optimizing the consumption of the service provider’s budget. This paper presents adaptive reward allocation (ARA), which uses the Lyapunov Optimization method to provide adaptive reward allocation that optimizes the consumption of the service provider’s budget. ARA is evaluated using a simulated participatory sensing environment with experimental results showing that the rewards offered to participants are adjusted so as to ensure that the data captured matches the dynamic changes occurring in the sensing environment and takes the response rate into account while also seeking to optimize budget consumption.
Machine Learning Applied to Near-Infrared Spectra for Chicken Meat Classification
Authors: Barbon Sylvio , Costa Barbon Ana Paula Ayub da , Mantovani Rafael Gomes , Barbin Douglas Fernandes
Published: August 2018

Identification of chicken quality parameters is often inconsistent, time-consuming, and laborious. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been used as a powerful tool for food quality assessment. However, the near-infrared (NIR) spectra comprise a large number of redundant information. Determining wavelengths relevance and selecting subsets for classification and prediction models are mandatory for the development of multispectral systems. A combination of both attribute and wavelength selection for NIR spectral information of chicken meat samples was investigated. Decision Trees and Decision Table predictors exploit these optimal wavelengths for classification tasks according to different quality grades of poultry meat. The proposed methodology was conducted with a support vector machine algorithm (SVM) to compare the precision of the proposed model. Experiments were performed on NIR spectral information (1050 wavelengths), colour (CIEL∗a∗b∗, chroma, and hue), water holding capacity (WHC), and pH of each sample analyzed. Results show that the best method was the REPTree based on 12 wavelengths, allowing for classification of poultry samples according to quality grades with 77.2% precision. The selected wavelengths could lead to potential simple multispectral acquisition devices.
Endoscopy- and Monitored Anesthesia Care-Assisted High-Resolution Impedance Manometry Improves Clinical Management
Authors: Christian Kaci E. , Morris John D. , Xie Guofeng
Published: August 2018

Background. High-resolution impedance manometry (HRiM) is the test of choice to diagnose esophageal motility disorders and is particularly useful for identifying achalasia subtypes, which often guide therapy. HRiM is typically performed without sedation in the office setting. However, a substantial number of patients fail this approach. We report our single-center experience on endoscopy-assisted HRiM under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) in adults to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this approach. Methods. Patients who had failed prior HRiM attempts received propofol under MAC. Patients then underwent an upper endoscopy, followed immediately by passage of a Diversateck HRiM motility catheter through the nares and under direct visualization into the stomach, often using the tip of the endoscope to guide the catheter. We then awakened the patients and asked them to perform 10 saline swallows. Results. We successfully completed HRiM studies in 14 consecutive patients. Six patients had achalasia; two had esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction; two had absent contractility; one had distal esophageal spasm; one had ineffective esophageal motility; and one had a normal study. The majority of these patients were treated successfully with targeted interventions, including per oral endoscopic myotomy, gastrostomy, botox injection, medical therapy, and dietary modifications.
The Italian Version of the Brief 21-Item Prodromal Questionnaire: Field Test, Psychometric Properties and Age-Sensitive Cut-Offs
Authors: Pelizza Lorenzo , Azzali Silvia , Paterlini Federica , Scazza Ilaria , Garlassi Sara , Chiri Luigi Rocco , Poletti Michele , Pupo Simona , Raballo Andrea
Published: August 2018

Background: The Brief, 21-item version of the Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ-B) is a promising screener for psychosis-risk states that could be implemented in routine clinical practice. In this study, we assessed psychometric properties of the Italian version of the PQ-B (iPQ-B) in a sample of 243 help-seekers, aged 13–35 years. Sampling and Methods: After completing the iPQ-B, participants were assessed with the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS). Diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values [PPV and NPV], positive and negative likelihood ratios) and concurrent validity between PQ-B and CAARMS were determined using Cronbach’s alpha and Cohen’s kappa. We also tested the validity of the adopted PQ-B cut-offs through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves plotted against CAARMS diagnoses and the predictive validity of the iPQ-B at 1-year follow-up. Results: The iPQ-B showed high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.868), acceptable diagnostic accuracy and concurrent validity (70% sensitivity, 67% specificity, 81% PPV, Cohen’s kappa = 0.335). ROC analyses pointed to threshold of ≥20 on the PQ-B total distress score as best cut-off. After 12 months of follow-up, 11% of participants who scored ≥4 on the PQ-B distressing item total score and did not meet CAARMS psychosis criteria at baseline, developed a psychotic disorder. Interestingly, age had significant negative correlations with iPQ-B scores and adolescents (aged < 18 years) showed higher iPQ-B scores than young adults. Conclusions: Overall, the psychometric properties of the iPQ-B were satisfactory. As iPQ-B scores appeared inversely associated to age, age-tailored cut-off scores are recommended for screening purposes in child-adolescent cohorts.
Persistent Müllerian Duct Syndrome in a German Shepherd Dog
Authors: De Lorenzi Lisa , Arrighi Silvana , Groppetti Debora , Bonacina Stefania , Parma Pietro
Published: August 2018

In mammals, the regression of the müllerian ducts is regulated by the action of the AMH hormone which is produced by testes during embryonic development. The action of this hormone is mediated by the only known receptor AMHR2. Mutations occurring in the AHM hormone and/or in the AMHR2 receptor gene cause the lack of regression of müllerian ducts, which may therefore persist even in male embryos carrying a XY chromosomal arrangement. This is known as the persistent müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS). A female German Shepherd dog was referred to the veterinary clinic because of urinary incontinence. She also showed an anatomical structure that protruded from and enlarged the vulvar labia. From the morphological appearance, one gonad resembled an ovary and the other a testicle. The histological examination instead showed that the gonads were both testes with an underdeveloped parenchyma and without signs of spermatogenetic activity. No alterations were found with regard to the uterus which showed a correctly developed body, cervix, and horns. Genetic analysis, performed on DNA extracted from blood, showed (i) the presence of both X and Y chromosomes, (ii) the absence of chromosome XX/XY chimerism, (iii) a normal SRY gene coding sequence, (iv) a normal AMHR2 gene coding sequence, and (v) a normal AMH gene coding sequence. In this study, we report and characterize a new case of PMDS in a dog excluding that the only mutation hitherto found in the AMHR2 gene is responsible for the observed phenotype.
Molecular phylogeny of sea-skaters (Halobates Eschscholtz, 1822), relationship between Halobatini and Metrocorini, and a catalogue of the subfamily Halobatinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerridae)
Authors: Román-Palacios Cristian , Damgaard Jakob , Cheng Lanna , Moreira Felipe Ferraz Figueiredo , Ikawa Terumi , Weir Tom A. , Zettel Herbert
Published: August 2018

We investigated the phylogenetic relationships among seven of the ten Halobatinae genera (Heteroptera: Gerridae) based on COI+II, 16S rRNA, and 28S rRNA genes. Our analyses recovered monophyly of Halobatinae, and suggested paraphyly of Metrocorini caused by the position of Ventidius and Esakia. Since our phylogenies did not infer monophyly of the subgenus Halobates (s.str.) within Halobatini, we synonymized Austrobates and Halobates (Hilliella) with Halobates. We confirmed that (1) the limnic lifestyle of Metrocorini was ancestral in Halobatinae, (2) the marine lifestyle evolved only once in the common ancestor of Asclepios + Halobates, (3) the limnic lifestyle of some members of Halobates was independently derived from marine ancestors, and that (4) the open ocean was colonized at least three times in Halobates. A catalogue of Halobatinae organized according to an updated classification is presented, including all known geographic distributions, bibliographical references, and additional notes to all species of the subfamily.
The firefly genus Pteroptyx Olivier revisited (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae)
Authors: JUSOH WAN F. A. , BALLANTYNE LESLEY , LAMBKIN CHRISTINE L. , HASHIM NOR RASIDAH , WAHLBERG NIKLAS
Published: August 2018

The synchronous firefly genus Pteroptyx Olivier is reassessed from morphological, molecular, and habitat perspectives in Malaysia, and includes some reliably associated females described from morphological features and internal female reproductive anatomy. Phylogenetic analyses using combined morphological and molecular data (where available) for 158 taxa supported all the major features of the existing taxonomic categories within the Indopacific Luciolinae. They revealed a distinct Pteroptyx clade as a morphologically variable genus with Poluninius selangoriensis Ballantyne being newly synonymised with Luciola testacea Motschulsky, the type species, which is redescribed from the type series. Pteroptyx gelasina Ballantyne was shown to be distinct and three of the four morphological subdivisions within Pteroptyx malaccae (Gorham) considered useful. A new species Pt. balingiana Jusoh sp. nov. is described from Sarawak. A second specimen of Pt. gombakia Ballantyne is described and figured.        Some females were reliably associated with identified males by molecular data, but investigation of their morphology showed consistent features that were for the most part not useful for species delineation, which still relies on association with the males and colour patterns. All females investigated had bursa plates.Habitat details for most Pteroptyx revealed an association with a riparian environment likely to support mangroves but not necessarily an obligatory association with mangroves or any particular species. Pteroptyx galbina Jusoh was found up to 30 km from the sea, and Pt. bearni Olivier displays in a variety of flowering plants alongside rivers, including mangroves.Keys to species and diagnoses of all species with coloured plates are given.
Synchrotron micro-CT scanning leads to the discovery of a new genus of morphologically conserved echinoid (Echinodermata: Cassiduloida)
Authors: SOUTO CAMILLA , MARTINS LUCIANA
Published: August 2018

Here we use synchrotron radiation-based micro-computed tomography (SRµCT) images of type specimens to confidently place Cassidulus malayanus in a new genus (Kassandrina gen. nov.) that would not have been discovered with traditional techniques, and to describe a new species of Cassidulus (Cassidulus briareus sp. nov.) from Australia and designate a neotype for Cassidulus caribaearum. We also provide remarks describing the taxonomic history of each taxon and a diagnostic table of all living cassidulid species, and extend the known geographic and bathymetric range of C. caribaearum and C. malayanus. Besides rendering novel morphological data, the SRµCT images provide significant insights in the evolution of bourrelets of these cassiduloid echinoids.
Two new species of Polana (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Iassinae: Gyponini) and redescription of Polana (Striapona) desela
Authors: GONÇALVES CLAYTON CORRÊA , TAKIYA DANIELA MAEDA , MEJDALANI GABRIEL
Published: August 2018

Two new species of Polana DeLong, 1942 are described and illustrated, P. (Angusana) pilosa sp. nov. from Peru and P. (Declivella) maculosa sp. nov. from Brazil. Polana (Striapona) desela Delong, 1979 is redescribed; the female terminalia of this species are described and illustrated for the first time.
Revisiting Gryposuchus jessei Gürich, 1912 (Crocodylia: Gavialoidea): specimen description and comments on the genus
Authors: SOUZA RAFAEL GOMES DE , RIFF DOUGLAS , DE SOUZA-FILHO JONAS P. , KELLNER ALEXANDER W. A.
Published: August 2018

Gryposuchus Gürich, 1912 is the most diverse genus within the Gavialoidea. However, the type species G. jessei Gürich, 1912 has been subject of controversy and was regarded conspecific with G. neogaeus (Burmeinster, 1885) or G. colombianus (Langston, 1965). Here we provide a revision of G. jessei to verify the conspecific hypothesis and the implications for the genus Gryposuchus. Our study shows that G. jessei is a valid species, and a new specimen was referred to this taxon. The comparisons with other Gavialoidea species enabled the proposition of three exclusive characters for the genus. We further advocate a sister affinity between G. jessei and G. pachakamue.
Facilitating the Self-Directed Learning Efforts of Professional Meteorologists
Authors: LaDue Daphne S. , Cohen Ariel E.
Published: August 2018

Professional meteorologists gain a great deal of knowledge through formal education, but two factors require ongoing learning throughout a career: professionals must apply their learning to the specific subdiscipline they practice, and the knowledge and technology they rely on becomes outdated over time. It is thus inherent in professional practice that much of the learning is more or less self-directed. While these principles apply to any aspect of meteorology, this paper applies concepts to weather and climate forecasting, for which a range of resources, from many to few, for learning exist. No matter what the subdiscipline, the responsibility for identifying and pursuing opportunities for professional, lifelong learning falls to the members of the subdiscipline. Thus, it is critical that meteorologists periodically assess their ongoing learning needs and develop the ability to reflectively practice. The construct of self-directed learning and how it has been implemented in similar professions provide visions for how individual meteorologists can pursue—and how the profession can facilitate—the ongoing, self-directed learning efforts of meteorologists.
Greater Exercise Pressor Response Is Associated With Impaired Claudication Outcomes in Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease
Authors: Gardner Andrew W. , Montgomery Polly S. , Wang Ming , Chen Chixiang , Kuroki Marcos , Kim Danielle Jin-Kwang
Published: August 2018

We determined whether a greater exercise pressor response during a constant-load treadmill test was associated with lower peak walking time (PWT) and claudication onset time (COT) measured during a graded maximal treadmill test in 304 patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD). The exercise pressor response was assessed by measuring heart rate and blood pressure (BP) at rest and during a constant-load treadmill test (speed = 2 mph, grade = 0%). After only 2 minutes of walking, mean heart rate increased by 26 beats/min from rest and mean systolic BP increased by 16 mm Hg. In adjusted analyses, increases in systolic BP ( P = .021), heart rate ( P = .002), mean arterial pressure ( P = .034), and rate–pressure product ( P < .001) from rest to 2 minutes of constant-load exercise were negatively associated with COT. Similarly, increases in heart rate ( P = .012) and rate–pressure product ( P = .018) from rest to 2 minutes of constant-load exercise were negatively associated with PWT. A greater exercise pressor response observed after only 2 minutes of walking at no incline was independently associated with impaired claudication outcomes in patients with symptomatic PAD. The implication is that the exercise pressor response is an important and easily obtained clinical measurement that partially explains differences in PWT and COT.
Social Networks and the Targeting of Vote Buying
Authors: Cruz Cesi
Published: August 2018

The social networks of voters have been shown to facilitate political cooperation and information transmission in established democracies. These same social networks, however, can also make it easier for politicians in new democracies to engage in clientelistic electoral strategies. Using survey data from the Philippines, this article demonstrates that individuals with more friend and family ties are disproportionately targeted for vote buying. This is consistent with the importance of other social factors identified in the literature such as reciprocity, direct ties to politicians, and individual social influence. In addition, this article presents evidence supporting an additional mechanism linking voter social networks to the targeting of vote buying: social network–based monitoring. Voters with larger networks are both more sensitive to the ramifications of reneging on vote buying agreements and are primarily targeted for vote buying in contexts where monitoring is necessary.
The thermonuclear revolution and the politics of imagination: realist radicalism in political theory and IR
Authors: van Munster Rens , Sylvest Casper
Published: August 2018

Both within political theory and International Relations (IR), recent scholarship has reflected on the nature and limits of political realism. In this article, we return to the thermonuclear revolution and the debates it spurred about what was real and possible in global politics. We argue that a strand of oppositional and countercultural thinking during this period, which we refer to as realist radicalism, has significant theoretical and practical relevance for current scholarship on political realism. Indeed, debates during the thermonuclear revolution speak to questions about the nature of realism and whether it is possible to develop a realism that is attuned to progressive or emancipatory ambitions. By focusing mainly on two radical American intellectuals – C. Wright Mills and Lewis Mumford – we show how their responses to the thermonuclear, superpower standoff challenged conventional understanding of realism and utopianism. By harnessing the concept of the imagination, they called into question pre-existing conceptions about politics and reality. The contribution of the article is twofold. First, we argue that realist political theory and IR should pay more attention to thinkers that are not conventionally regarded as canonical but whose writings and politics interrogated the limits and potential of political realism. Second, we demonstrate that the work of such public intellectuals and their calls for cultivating the imagination connect directly to current debates about political realism, including its statist bend and its (purported) conservatism.
The Sequential Scale-Up of an Evidence-Based Intervention: A Case Study
Authors: Thomas Jaime , Cook Thomas D. , Klein Alice , Starkey Prentice , DeFlorio Lydia
Published: August 2018

Policy makers face dilemmas when choosing a policy, program, or practice to implement. Researchers in education, public health, and other fields have proposed a sequential approach to identifying interventions worthy of broader adoption, involving pilot, efficacy, effectiveness, and scale-up studies. In this article, we examine a scale-up of an early math intervention to the state level, using a cluster randomized controlled trial. The intervention, Pre-K Mathematics, has produced robust positive effects on children’s math ability in prior pilot, efficacy, and effectiveness studies. In the current study, we ask if it remains effective at a larger scale in a heterogeneous collection of pre-K programs that plausibly represent all low-income families with a child of pre-K age who live in California. We find that Pre-K Mathematics remains effective at the state level, with positive and statistically significant effects (effect size on the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort Mathematics Assessment = .30, p < .01). In addition, we develop a framework of the dimensions of scale-up to explain why effect sizes might decrease as scale increases. Using this framework, we compare the causal estimates from the present study to those from earlier, smaller studies. Consistent with our framework, we find that effect sizes have decreased over time. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our study for how we think about the external validity of causal relationships.
Impact of Deductible Health Plans on Parental Decision Making for Common Pediatric Otolaryngology Procedures
Authors: Sjogren Phayvanh P. , Hall Daniel , Padia Reema , Stoddard Gregory J. , Meier Jeremy D.
Published: August 2018

Objective

To describe how deductible health plans affect parental decision making for common pediatric otolaryngology operations.

Study Design

A cross‐sectional survey study.

Setting

Tertiary care pediatric hospital.

Subjects and Methods

Caregivers of patients aged <18 years were surveyed to assess factors in decision making related to common otolaryngologic surgical procedures, including outpatient tympanostomy tubes and adenotonsillectomy, between July 2015 and June 2016. Children in foster care and those who underwent nonelective surgery were excluded. Decision‐making factors were statistically analyzed with univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression.

Results

A total of 155 caregivers completed the survey. The median age of the patient at the time of the surgery was 3 years. Surgical procedures included tympanostomy tube placement (51%), adenotonsillectomy (37%), tympanostomy tube placement with adenotonsillectomy (10%), and other (2%). The mean ± SD annual deductible per child was $1870 ± $140, and the mean maximum out‐of‐pocket expense was $3833 ± $235. The odds of having the deductible or out‐of‐pocket expense affect surgical decision making was greater for those covered under a high‐deductible health plan (odds ratio = 2.27; 95% CI, 1.25‐4.12; P =. 007).

Conclusion

High‐deductible health plans and out‐of‐pocket expenses can influence parental decision making for common otolaryngology operations, such as tympanostomy tube placement and adenotonsillectomy. Future studies are needed to determine if such policies affect access to care in the pediatric population.
Upper Airway Stimulation in Patients Who Have Undergone Unsuccessful Prior Palate Surgery: An Initial Evaluation
Authors: Huntley Colin , Vasconcellos Adam , Doghramji Karl , Hofauer Benedikt , Heiser Clemens , Boon Maurits
Published: August 2018

Upper airway stimulation therapy (UAS) is a new option for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients unable to tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). We set out to evaluate the effectiveness of UAS in patients who have undergone prior palate surgery. We designed a retrospective review and evaluated patients undergoing UAS at 2 academic centers. We recorded demographic and pre‐ and postoperative polysomnogram (PSG) data. We compared the cohort of patients who had undergone prior palate surgery, “prior surgery,” to the cohort who had not, “no prior surgery.” A total of 164 patients were included in the study: 23 in the prior surgery and 141 in the no prior surgery groups. The mean age was significantly higher in the no prior surgery group (P =. 020). There were no other significant differences when comparing demographic, quality of life, or PSG variables between cohorts. UAS therapy is an option to treat OSA in patients having undergone unsuccessful prior palate surgery.
Popular music in the educational space of Polish preschools – the teacher’s perspective
Authors: Kondracka-Szala Marta , Michalak Marcin
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this article is to investigate the presence of popular music within the area of preschool education. To this end, an online survey was conducted with a sample of 115 Polish preschool teachers. This allowed for an analysis of teachers’ opinions on using popular music in various didactic activities, and on the educational value of such music. The results reveal that popular music – marginalized or even excluded from curricula for years – is present in preschools and offers, in the opinions of the teachers, educational value. Genres of this kind of music appear in different educational situations, sometimes as the ‘background’ for teaching and educational activities, among which two forms of musical activity are predominant, namely, motor activities with music, and singing. Analysis of the outcomes leads to a reflection on the necessity of expanding and diversifying educational offers in preschools and points to the fact that further studies on the application of popular music in the early stages of education and on the reception of popular music by children are needed.
A 2000-year record of ocean influence on Jakobshavn Isbræ calving activity, based on marine sediment cores
Authors: Wangner David J , Jennings Anne E , Vermassen Flor , Dyke Laurence M , Hogan Kelly A , Schmidt Sabine , Kjær Kurt H , Knudsen Mads F , Andresen Camilla S
Published: August 2018

The Greenland Ice Sheet has experienced significant mass loss in recent years. A substantial component of this is attributable to the retreat of marine-terminating outlet glaciers, which lose mass through increases in calving, submarine melting and terrestrial meltwater discharge. In terms of iceberg production, Jakobshavn Isbræ is the largest marine-terminating glacier in Greenland, yet relatively little is known about its history before the first glacier margin observations in 1851. Two marine sediment cores obtained 15 and 19 km northwest from the mouth of Jakobshavn Isfjord were analysed to reconstruct the past behaviour of Jakobshavn Isbræ and to investigate the response of the glacier system to ocean forcing. These records provide long-term (~2000) context for assessing the significance of the rapid changes in glacier stability over the last century. The X-ray imagery and high-resolution grain size analysis from both cores reveal distinct multi-centennial-scale changes in the flux of iceberg-rafted debris (IRD) from Jakobshavn Isbræ. Foraminiferal analysis shows that variability in the relatively warm West Greenland Current (WGC) may have been an important driver of calving activity at Jakobshavn Isbræ. We find that iceberg rafting and WGC inflow were relatively high from onset of the record, at 60 BC, until AD 1100. Subsequently, the inflow of the WGC into Disko Bugt decreased. This was accompanied by a dramatic reduction in IRD from AD 1500 to 1850, which is attributed to the establishment of a floating ice tongue. We also show that ocean warming in the 20th century is part of a longer-term warming trend in the WGC which started at around AD 1700. Finally, these new records underline the complexity of glaciomarine sediments; IRD variability was driven by the inflow of the WGC but was also modulated by a complex interplay of air temperature, sea-ice coverage and ice margin proximity.
A nonlinear creep damage model for salt rock
Authors: Wu Fei , Chen Jie , Zou Quanle
Published: August 2018

In the creep tests, stress is no longer a constant and increases gradually under the influence of damage occurring during accelerating creep, which is a slow-loading process rather than a conventional creep. With the accumulation of the damage over time, the actual stress increases greatly. The increased actual stress not only generates loading strain but also causes the steady creep rate to rise. This coupling possibly explains why salt rock presents nonlinear accelerating characteristics at the accelerating creep stage. In this work, the constraint of the present creep concept was overcome by assuming that the acceleration creep phase is a coupling process of loading and creeping. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the total strain in this phase is equal to the sum of loading strain and creeping strain. A new nonlinear constitutive equation for creep was then derived, and the mechanisms underlying the nonlinear accelerating characteristics emerging at the stage of accelerating creep are further explained. A step-loading experiment on salt rock was performed for a period of six months. The characteristics of accelerating creep appeared in the last step of loading. This new nonlinear creep damage constitutive model was used to fit and analyze the test data. Obtained results show that this model fits well to these test data and also favorably represents the nonlinear characteristics of accelerating creep, thus supporting the model’s validity.
Effects of Resonance Voice Therapy on Hormone-Related Vocal Disorders in Professional Singers: A Pilot Study
Authors: Ouyoung Laishyang (Melody) , Villegas Brenda Capobres , Liu Changxing , Talmor Guy , Sinha Uttam K
Published: August 2018

Background:

Menstruation-related hormonal alteration can be detrimental to the professional singing voice of women. Resonance Voice Therapy (RVT) has been proven to improve vocal production. However, no research to date has been conducted examining the subjective, acoustic, and stroboscopic effects of RVT on professional female singers having premenstrual or postmenopausal voice disorders.

Aim:

The aim of this study is to compare the vocal effects of RVT with a control cervical-thoracic intervention in healthy female singers during the premenstrual phase as well as in postmenopausal singers and to evaluate which intervention will allow singers to improve vocal performance regardless of changes in hormonal status.

Design:

A randomized study was designed for this research. The research subjects were 20 professional female singers from the Southern California area, USA, with 10 premenstrual subjects in one group and 10 postmenopausal subjects in the other group. Among each group, 5 subjects were randomly selected to receive RVT and the remaining subjects received cervical-thoracic–focused exercises. The therapies consisted of 1 month of daily 15-minute sessions. For premenstrual subjects, voice data were collected at days 25 to 27 of the premenstrual phase during a scheduled initial voice evaluation. Follow-up data were collected during the same phase of the menstrual cycle (days 25-27) after 1 month of exercises. For postmenopausal subjects, voice data were collected at an initial voice evaluation with follow-up after 1 month of the assigned voice treatment. Outcomes were assessed with the singer’s voice handicap index (VHI), laryngeal videostroboscopic examination, maximum phonation time (MPT), relative average perturbation (RAP), and pitch range before and following completion of therapies. Alleviation or deterioration percentages were used for statistical analysis. Student t test was used for statistical comparison between therapies.

Results:

The RVT decreased singer’s VHI for both premenstrual and postmenopausal subjects by an average of 67%, compared with 7.8% for the cervical-thoracic therapy. The RVT also effectively decreased RAP by an average of 57% when combining the premenstrual and postmenopausal groups. The RVT increased MPT and pitch range among both premenstrual and postmenopausal subjects. The stroboscopic examination did not detect any significant differences between the 2 interventions.

Conclusions:

The RVT is effective for professional female singers with hormone-related premenstrual and postmenopausal vocal changes. The RVT is suggested as one of the therapeutic approaches for vocal abnormalities in such a population. A larger cohort may be needed for future research.

Level of Evidence:

1b