bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Himalayan Cambrian hyoliths
Authors: Kruse Peter D. , Hughes Nigel C.
Published: May 2016

The Indian subcontinent remains one of the few regions of the world that lacks an established biostratigraphical framework for the Cambrian. As a step towards realizing this goal, this revision of reportedly Cambrian material previously described as hyolith from the Himalaya permits the recognition of Sulcavitus wynnei (Waagen) from informal Cambrian Stage 4 and possibly as low as upper Stage 3, and Nganki namak sp. nov. from the lower part of informal Cambrian Stage 4 in the Khussak Formation of the sub‐Himalayan Salt Range of Pakistan, and aff. Nitoricornus sp. from informal Cambrian Stage 5 in the Tethyan Himalayan Parahio Formation of the Parahio Valley, northern India. Other previously reported regional hyolith material is either non‐hyolith, questionably assigned to the group, indeterminate or not available. The range of S. wynnei may have local biostratigraphical utility in the late early Cambrian, and the occurrence of the genus Nganki, previously known only from Australia, is consistent with other faunal evidence of biogeographical linkage between India and Australia at that time. Revision of these hyoliths completes a synoptic review of previously described and newly recovered trilobites, brachiopods and hyoliths from the Cambrian of the Indian subcontinent.
Synthesis and Complex Study of the Crystal Hydrate Zn2ZrF8·12H2O
Authors: Voit Elena , Didenko Nina , Gayvoronskaya Kseniya , Slobodyuk Arseniy , Gerasimenko Andrey
Published: May 2016

The synthesis and study of structure and properties of a crystal hydrate of the composition Zn2ZrF8·12H2O were performed by XRD, DTA analysis as well as IR, Raman, and 1H, and 19F NMR, including 19F MAS NMR spectroscopy. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic syngony with the following unit cell parameters: a = 20.9649 (12), b = 9.6851 (6), c = 24.0209 (14) Å, β = 103.742 (2)°, space group C2/c, Z = 12. The structure is built from monomeric complex [ZrF8]4– and [Zn(H2O)6]2+ linked through hydrogen bonds of different lengths (O–H···F and O–H···O). The peculiarity of the structure consists in the presence of short hydrogen bonds (interatomic O···F distances 2.5–2.6 Å). Analysis of the IR and Raman spectra allowed interpretation of bands corresponding to vibrations of the [ZrF8]4– anion and to describe hydrogen bonds in the structure of Zn2ZrF8·12H2O. Phase transformations in the process of thermal dehydration were studied on the basis of changes in vibrational and NMR spectra. It has been established that the interligand exchange in the complex anion takes place as early as at –103 °C, whereas no reorientation of hexaaquacations was observed up to 47 °C. At 58 °C, the compound undergoes an incongruent melting accompanied with formation of much more stable ZnZrF6·6H2O and an aqueous salty liquid phase characterized with high mobility of fluorine atoms and protons, in accordance with the NMR spectroscopic data.
On the expressive power of behavioral profiles
Authors: Polyvyanyy Artem , Armas-Cervantes Abel , Dumas Marlon , García-Bañuelos Luciano
Published: May 2016

Behavioral profiles have been proposed as a behavioral abstraction of dynamic systems, specifically in the context of business process modeling. A behavioral profile can be seen as a complete graph over a set of task labels, where each edge is annotated with one relation from a given set of binary behavioral relations. Since their introduction, behavioral profiles were argued to provide a convenient way for comparing pairs of process models with respect to their behavior or computing behavioral similarity between process models. Still, as of today, there is little understanding of the expressive power of behavioral profiles. Via counter-examples, several authors have shown that behavioral profiles over various sets of behavioral relations cannot distinguish certain systems up to trace equivalence, even for restricted classes of systems represented as safe workflow nets. This paper studies the expressive power of behavioral profiles from two angles. Firstly, the paper investigates the expressive power of behavioral profiles and systems captured as acyclic workflow nets. It is shown that for unlabeled acyclic workflow net systems, behavioral profiles over a simple set of behavioral relations are expressive up to configuration equivalence. When systems are labeled, this result does not hold for any of several previously proposed sets of behavioral relations. Secondly, the paper compares the expressive power of behavioral profiles and regular languages. It is shown that for any set of behavioral relations, behavioral profiles are strictly less expressive than regular languages, entailing that behavioral profiles cannot be used to decide trace equivalence of finite automata and thus Petri nets.
A Contemporary Evaluation of the Cause of Death and Long‐Term Quality of Life After Total Pancreatectomy
Authors: Wu Wenchuan , Dodson Rebecca , Makary Martin A. , Weiss Matthew J. , Hirose Kenzo , Cameron John L. , Ahuja Nita , Pawlik Timothy M. , Wolfgang Christopher L. , He Jin
Published: May 2016

Objective

Total pancreatectomy (TP) may be considered for diffuse disease of the pancreas. However, the quality of life (QOL) implications of TP have not been well studied in the contemporary era. We report the QOL and cause of death after TP.

Methods

186 patients underwent TP between 2000 and 2013. The 100 who were still alive at last follow‐up were sent a questionnaire including the Short Form‐36 (SF‐36), the Audit of Diabetes Dependent QoL (ADD QoL), and the European Organization for Research and Treatment in Cancer Pancreas 26 (EORTC‐PAN‐26). The cause of death was determined for the 86 patients who were dead at last follow‐up.

Results

While the majority of deaths of the 86 patients were cancer related (n = 65), only one patient died of diabetes complications. Among the 100 surviving patients, the median follow‐up was 5.9 years. Among the 36 patients who responded to the survey, every patient required pancreatic enzymes and insulin; four patients required seven total hospitalizations for hypoglycemia. The SF‐36 survey indicated a worse QOL in six domains compared with a national population matched with age and gender. However, only physical and emotional domains were decreased compared with self‐matched preoperative state (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). The ADD QoL survey showed an overall decrease in diabetes‐related QoL (p < 0.01). When compared to other types of insulin‐dependent diabetes, no significant difference in QoL were found in 14 of 19 domains. The EORTC‐PAN‐26 survey demonstrated that more than 50 % of patients had moderate to severe changes in three of seven domains.

Conclusions

Mortality from diabetic complications following TP is uncommon. The decreasing QoL after TP is comparable to self‐matched preoperative assessment or insulin‐dependent diabetes from other causes. Accounting for the overall health changes, TP should be considered in carefully selected patients.
The Effect of Hot Deformation Parameters on Microstructure Evolution of the α-Phase in Ti-6Al-4V
Authors: Perumal Bama , Rist Martin A. , Gungor Salih , Brooks Jeffery W. , Fitzpatrick Michael E.
Published: May 2016

The effect of high-temperature deformation and the influence of hot working parameters on microstructure evolution during isothermal hot forging of Ti-6Al-4V in the alpha phase field were investigated. A series of hot isothermal axis-symmetric compression tests were carried out at temperatures both low and high in the alpha stability field [(1153 K and 1223 K (880 °C and 950 °C), respectively], using three strain rates (0.01, 0.1 and 1.0/s) relevant to industrial press forging. The microstructures and orientation of the alpha laths were determined using optical microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction techniques. The experimental results show that there is a change in lath morphology of the secondary α phase under the influence of the deformation parameters, and that α lath thickness appears to have little influence on flow behavior.
Neonatal anoxia leads to time dependent progression of mitochondrial linked apoptosis in rat cortex and associated long term sensorimotor deficits
Authors: Samaiya Puneet K. , Narayan Gopeshwar , Kumar Ashok , Krishnamurthy Sairam
Published: May 2016

Neonatal anoxia arises due to oxygen deprivation at the time of birth and results in life long neurodevelopmental deficits and sometimes may lead to death. The present study investigated the time dependent cortical mitochondrial dysfunction linked apoptosis and related sensorimotor deficits in neonates. Neonates after 30 h to birth (P2) were subjected to anoxia of two episodes (10 min in each) at a time interval of 24 h by passing 100% N2 into an enclosed chamber as confirmed by pulse oximetry. Sensorimotor activities like reflex latency and hanging latency were carried out 24 h after last anoxic episode i.e. from P4 (day‐1) and continued up to P10 (day‐7). Mitochondrial dysfunction after anoxia was evident by the decrease in respiration states, respiratory control ratio (RCR), antioxidant enzyme activity but an increase in oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation and alteration in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) at different time points (30 min, 24 h and day‐7). A change in expression of Bcl‐2 family proteins and opening of mitochondrial transition pore (mPTP) in terms of mitochondrial swelling was observed resulting in release of cytochrome‐C which further activated intrinsic (mitochondrial) pathway of apoptosis through increased expression of caspase‐9/3 as confirmed by flow cytometry. In conclusion, anoxia injury leads to progressive activation of mitochondrial events leading to increase in apoptotic cell death following secondary pathological insult. Therefore, strategies in limiting mitochondrial‐linked apoptosis during the secondary insult input process may be useful in treatment of long term sensorimotor deficits following anoxia.
Adolescent HIV viral load in an urban hospital in Newark, New Jersey
Authors: Wong Kristin , Zucker Jason , Fernandes Helen , Cennimo David
Published: May 2016

Background and objectives:

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in adolescents is a growing concern. Amid psychosocial challenges, adolescents must successfully transition into adult-centered care; however, little is known about outcome measurements within this period. We assessed the trend in adolescent HIV viral loads (VLs) in a community with a high HIV prevalence, allowing physicians to better recognize the challenges of transitioning adolescents with HIV to adult care.

Patients and methods:

All HIV RNA VLs from the Molecular Virology Lab at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, from 2007 to 2010 were obtained. Patients were divided into pediatric (<13 years of age), adolescent (13—25 years of age), and adult (>25 years of age) age groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses assessed characteristics of patients by age and gender. Results: A minimum of 40 pediatric, 178 adolescent, and 1335 adult patients were identified per year. There was a statistically significant increase in VLs of adolescents when compared to pediatric patients (P < .02). In 3 of the 4 years, there was a statistically significant increase in the rate of male adolescents reaching undetectable VLs compared to female adolescents. The average VL by age demonstrated increasing VLs from age 12 through age 24, while the percentage of patients reaching undetectable VLs peaked at 80% at age 8 and declined through age 24.

Conclusion:

Successful transitional care programs should focus on pediatric needs to address the noticeable decrease in virologic control beginning at 8 years of age and the decreased rate of virologic suppression in females, creating concern for potential gender inequalities and increased risk of vertical transmission.
Freestanding Emergency Critical Care During the Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy: Implications for Disaster Preparedness and Response
Authors: Smith Silas W. , Jamin Catherine T. , Malik Sidrah , Abrukin Liliya , Tupchong Keegan M. , Portelli Ian , Asaeda Glenn , Prezant David J. , Wang Binhuan , Hu Ming , Goldfrank Lewis R. , Meyers Chad M.
Published: May 2016

Objective

To assess the impact of an emergency intensive care unit (EICU) established concomitantly with a freestanding emergency department (ED) during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed records of all patients in Bellevue’s EICU from freestanding ED opening (December 10, 2012) until hospital inpatient reopening (February 7, 2013). Temporal and clinical data, and disposition upon EICU arrival, and ultimate disposition were evaluated.

Results

Two hundred twenty-seven patients utilized the EICU, representing approximately 1.8% of freestanding ED patients. Ambulance arrival occurred in 31.6% of all EICU patients. Median length of stay was 11.55 hours; this was significantly longer for patients requiring airborne isolation (25.60 versus 11.37 hours, P<0.0001 by Wilcoxon rank sum test). After stabilization and treatment, 39% of EICU patients had an improvement in their disposition status (P<0.0001 by Wilcoxon signed rank test); upon interhospital transfer, the absolute proportion of patients requiring ICU and SDU resources decreased from 37.8% to 27.1% and from 22.2% to 2.7%, respectively.

Conclusions

An EICU attached to a freestanding ED achieved significant reductions in resource-intensive medical care. Flexible, adaptable care systems should be explored for implementation in disaster response. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:496–502)
The Fractured Self and the Primacy of the Future: Edward Schillebeeckx and the Eschatological Horizon
Authors: Minch Daniel
Published: May 2016

In light of the problem of the postmodern “de-centered” subject for Christianity, I address the loss of a common expectation horizon of the eschatological future. This loss is situated within the wider collapse of modern metanarratives and the dispersal of the primacy and critical power of the future, leading to an incomplete and even shattered process of identity formation for Christians. By recovering elements of Edward Schillebeeckx's eschatology, I suggest a way forward by drawing on the wider Christian tradition and hope for salvation as an essential element for the ongoing process of identity formation, while using his thought to critique the fractured postmodern “self” and contemporary trends in culture, religion, and economics.
Strategies to Prevent MRSA Transmission in Community-Based Nursing Homes: A Cost Analysis
Authors: Roghmann Mary-Claire , Lydecker Alison , Mody Lona , Mullins C. Daniel , Onukwugha Eberechukwu
Published: May 2016

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the costs of 3 MRSA transmission prevention scenarios compared with standard precautions in community-based nursing homes.

DESIGN

Cost analysis of data collected from a prospective, observational study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Care activity data from 401 residents from 13 nursing homes in 2 states.

METHODS

Cost components included the quantities of gowns and gloves, time to don and doff gown and gloves, and unit costs. Unit costs were combined with information regarding the type and frequency of care provided over a 28-day observation period. For each scenario, the estimated costs associated with each type of care were summed across all residents to calculate an average cost and standard deviation for the full sample and for subgroups.

RESULTS

The average cost for standard precautions was $100 (standard deviation [SD], $77) per resident over a 28-day period. If gown and glove use for high-risk care was restricted to those with MRSA colonization or chronic skin breakdown, average costs increased to $137 (SD, $120) and $125 (SD, $109), respectively. If gowns and gloves were used for high-risk care for all residents in addition to standard precautions, the average cost per resident increased substantially to $223 (SD, $127).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of gowns and gloves for high-risk activities with all residents increased the estimated cost by 123% compared with standard precautions. This increase was ameliorated if specific subsets (eg, those with MRSA colonization or chronic skin breakdown) were targeted for gown and glove use for high-risk activities.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:962–966
An intensive personalised support approach to treating individuals with psychosis and co-morbid mild intellectual disability
Authors: Raftery M. , Burke K. , Murray N. , O’Duinn O. , Murray I. , Hallahan B.
Published: May 2016

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical benefits and associated cost effectiveness of an intensive personalised support (IPS) approach for clients suffering from psychosis and co-morbid mild intellectual disability (ID).

Method

Four individuals with a psychotic disorder and co-morbid mild ID participated in an 18-month IPS rehabilitative intervention. Biopsychosocial measures were used to evaluate clinical effectiveness. A cost analysis was undertaken to examine the cost effectiveness of the intervention.

Results

Reductions in psychopathology including anxiety symptoms were noted in all individuals. In addition, increased functioning and quality of life were demonstrated in all cases. Overall cost reductions were noted in inpatient care, accommodation and legal/emergency expenses.

Conclusion

The IPS approach was clinically effective particularly in addressing individual’s psychosocial needs, psychological functioning, daily living skills and overall quality of life. Costs had decreased for three of the four individuals, ranging from a 17% to 46% savings. The findings highlight that the intervention was cost effective in most cases at this early stage. However, further research is necessary in order to ascertain if cost savings occur over time.
Homann Flow and Heat Transfer of a Newtonian Fluid Over a Translating Plate with Viscous Dissipation and Heat Generation
Authors: Demir M. Ş. , Barış S.
Published: May 2016

A theoretical study is presented for the problem of orthogonal axisymmetric stagnation flow towards an infinite horizontal plate with a constant velocity in the presence of viscous dissipation and heat generation. The governing equations are reduced to a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations by means of appropriate transformations for the velocity components and temperature. The similarity equations are solved numerically using the Matlab routine bvp4c. The results are compared with those known from the literature and an excellent agreement is found. The effects of involved parameters on thex-wise velocity component, temperature, skin friction, heat transfer and entropy generation rate are presented in graphical and tabular forms. It was found that the Eckert number Ec, the Prandtl number Pr and the heat generation parameter α play a significant role on the temperature, heat transfer and entropy generation rate.
BERNSTEIN–SATO POLYNOMIALS AND TEST MODULES IN POSITIVE CHARACTERISTIC
Authors: BLICKLE MANUEL , STÄBLER AXEL
Published: May 2016

In analogy with the complex analytic case, Mustaţă constructed (a family of) Bernstein–Sato polynomials for the structure sheaf${\mathcal{O}}_{X}$and a hypersurface$(f=0)$in$X$, where$X$is a regular variety over an$F$-finite field of positive characteristic (see Mustaţă,Bernstein–Sato polynomials in positive characteristic, J. Algebra321(1) (2009), 128–151). He shows that the suitably interpreted zeros of his Bernstein–Sato polynomials correspond to the$F$-jumping numbers of the test ideal filtration${\it\tau}(X,f^{t})$. In the present paper we generalize Mustaţă’s construction replacing${\mathcal{O}}_{X}$by an arbitrary$F$-regular Cartier module$M$on$X$and show an analogous correspondence of the zeros of our Bernstein–Sato polynomials with the jumping numbers of the associated filtration of test modules${\it\tau}(M,f^{t})$provided that$f$is a nonzero divisor on$M$.
Perspectives on Cretaceous Gondwana break-up from detrital zircon provenance of southern Zealandia sandstones
Authors: ADAMS C.J. , CAMPBELL H J. , MORTIMER N. , GRIFFIN W.L.
Published: May 2016

Detrital zircon U–Pb ages in 37 sandstones from late Early – Late Cretaceous marine and non-marine successions across southern Zealandia indicate a provenance from local basement within present-day Zealandia. Samples from Taranaki Basin were derived from Median and Karamea batholith granitoids with transport directions from west to east. Samples from West Coast, Western Southland and Great South basins contain components derived more locally and more variably from Median Batholith and Rahu Suite granitoids and/or the Palaeozoic Buller Terrane. West Coast Basin samples have more plutonic contributions and Great South Basin localities have more Albian-aged (c. 110–100 Ma) zircons. Samples from Canterbury Basin were sourced from Torlesse Composite Terrane basement. The provenance variations are present in both marine and non-marine sandstones and suggest localized watersheds. This fits an interpretation of Late Cretaceous deposition in rift-controlled basins across southern Zealandia during pre-Gondwana break-up regional extension. More speculatively, some additional source areas may have been created at the rifted margins of Zealandia during this break-up.
Ignimbrite correlation using whole-rock geochemistry: an example from the Sulcis (SW Sardinia, Italy)
Authors: GISBERT GUILLEM , GIMENO DOMINGO
Published: May 2016

Ignimbrites are useful chronological markers in the geological record at local and regional scales. They also provide information on the dynamics of the eruption that produced them, making their study of great importance in terms of volcanic hazard assessment. However, their study is usually hampered by their lateral variation and discontinuity. When stratigraphic and lithologic criteria are not sufficient for correlation purposes, the use of multiple complementary correlation tools may be necessary to correctly determine their areal extension, volume and facies variations. Whole-rock geochemistry is considered one of the less reliable correlation techniques due to the pyroclastic nature of these deposits and their emplacement dynamics. These may introduce vertical and horizontal geochemical heterogeneity in the final deposit. In addition, the occurrence of zoned ignimbrites due to magma supply of changing composition is common. In this work we show that, if appropriately used, whole-rock geochemistry can be a valid and highly useful tool for ignimbrite correlation. We provide an example from the study of an ignimbrite sequence containing 18 units (sensu lato) in the Sulcis region (SW Sardinia, Italy). A protocol has been developed for unit recognition based on successive simple binary diagrams where the whole-rock composition of a problem sample can be plotted. Immobile trace elements have been preferentially used to minimize effects of element mobilization associated with alteration and weathering. The diagrams provided here are designed for the Sulcis, but the methodology followed to develop them may be applied to other study areas.
Who are the Lonetia? Findings from southern Karamoja, Uganda
Authors: Stites Elizabeth , Marshak Anastasia
Published: May 2016

The increase in crime and violence committed by young men known as lonetia in southern Karamoja, Uganda, has occurred in parallel to overall security improvements since the start of the 2006 disarmament campaign. This article examines the lonetia phenomenon from the perspective of the young men themselves. Panel data from four sets of interviews conducted in 2013 with approximately 400 young men provide details on the motivations of young men and the challenges they experience in the face of changing livelihood opportunities. We find that the lonetia category is highly fluid and that a set of behaviours and attributes correspond with the frequency of engagement in lonetia activity. Examination of seasonality highlights the contribution of hunger to lonetia frequency. We examine the perceptions of power and respect of young men in their communities as well as their propensity towards violence. The article concludes with thoughts on influencing lonetia involvement.
Fire is REDD+: offsetting carbon through early burning activities in south-eastern Tanzania
Authors: Khatun Kaysara , Corbera Esteve , Ball Steve
Published: May 2016

A project combining participatory forest management and REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) is underway in south-eastern Tanzania. It introduces early burning practices to reduce the number and (heat) intensity of wild and late-season fires, to develop robust carbon accounting methods. Our analysis considers the causes of forest fires, and local people's knowledge of the early burning process and its impacts on livelihoods, through the development of early burning activities as a potential source of carbon revenue. Some of the difficulties of implementation have been resolved over time (e.g. the premature introduction of carbon contracts), whereas others remain: there are inequalities in knowledge, awareness and participation in early burning and the broader REDD+ process at village level. A more structured approach to early burning, with well-publicized advance planning, that includes all community members and subvillages would make a significant difference. Further challenges exist in the form of both legal and illegal hunting, a cause of forest fires that could undermine the early burning process. We argue that the long-term commitment of project managers to gain detailed knowledge of social–ecological systems, forest governance and local politics is required to successfully develop this and other similar REDD+ projects.
Trypanosoma cruzi–Trypanosoma rangelico-infection ameliorates negative effects of single trypanosome infections in experimentally infectedRhodnius prolixus
Authors: PETERSON JENNIFER K. , GRAHAM ANDREA L. , ELLIOTT RYAN J. , DOBSON ANDREW P. , TRIANA CHÁVEZ OMAR
Published: May 2016

Trypanosoma cruzi, causative agent of Chagas disease, co-infects its triatomine vector with its sister speciesTrypanosoma rangeli, which shares 60% of its antigens withT. cruzi. Additionally,T. rangelihas been observed to be pathogenic in some of its vector species. AlthoughT. cruzi–T. rangelico-infections are common, their effect on the vector has rarely been investigated. Therefore, we measured the fitness (survival and reproduction) of triatomine speciesRhodnius prolixusinfected with justT. cruzi, justT. rangeli, or bothT. cruziandT. rangeli. We found that survival (as estimated by survival probability and hazard ratios) was significantly different between treatments, with theT. cruzitreatment group having lower survival than the co-infected treatment. Reproduction and total fitness estimates in theT. cruziandT. rangelitreatments were significantly lower than in the co-infected and control groups. TheT. cruziandT. rangelitreatment group fitness estimates were not significantly different from each other. Additionally, co-infected insects appeared to tolerate higher doses of parasites than insects with single-species infections. Our results suggest thatT. cruzi–T. rangelico-infection could ameliorate negative effects of single infections of either parasite onR. prolixusand potentially help it to tolerate higher parasite doses.
Differential prevalence and diversity of haemosporidian parasites in two sympatric closely related non-migratory passerines
Authors: DUBIEC ANNA , PODMOKŁA EDYTA , ZAGALSKA-NEUBAUER MAGDALENA , DROBNIAK SZYMON M. , ARCT ANETA , GUSTAFSSON LARS , CICHOŃ MARIUSZ
Published: May 2016

Haemosporidian parasites infecting birds show distinct heterogeneity in their distribution among host species. However, despite numerous studies on the prevalence and diversity of parasite communities across species, very little is known on patterns of differences between them. Such data is lacking because up to date the majority of studies explored the patterns of variation in infections in different years, different time of sampling within a year or a breeding cycle, different study sites or was based on a small sample size, all of which may affect the estimates of prevalence and parasite diversity. Here, the prevalence, richness and diversity of haemosporidian parasites from the generaPlasmodiumandHaemoproteuswere studied in two closely related non-migratory hole-nesting passerines: Great Tits and Blue Tits. Birds were sampled in sympatrically breeding populations during two seasons at the same stage of their breeding cycle – late nestling care. Great Tits were more prevalently infected withPlasmodiumandHaemoproteusparasites (97·1vs71·2%), harboured a higher proportion of multiple infections (26·2vs3·2%) and had a more diverse parasite community (11vs5 parasite lineages) than Blue Tits. Observed differences between two host species are discussed with reference to their breeding densities and immunological and behavioural characteristics.
Ecology of the Atlantic black skipjack Euthynnus alletteratus (Osteichthyes: Scombridae) in the western Mediterranean Sea inferred by parasitological analysis
Authors: MELE SALVATORE , PENNINO M. GRAZIA , PIRAS M. CRISTINA , MACÍAS DAVID , GÓMEZ-VIVES M. JOSÉ , ALEMANY FRANCISCO , MONTERO FRANCISCO E. , GARIPPA GIOVANNI , MERELLA PAOLO
Published: May 2016

Between 2008 and 2011, the head of 150 Euthynnus alletteratus (Osteichthyes: Scombridae) caught inshore off the southeastern Iberian coast (western Mediterranean Sea) were examined for parasites. Two monogeneans, four didymozoid trematodes and four copepods were found. Parasite abundance showed a positive relationship with the annual sea surface temperature, except for Pseudocycnus appendiculatus, but negative with the sea depth (Capsala manteri, Neonematobothrium cf. kawakawa and Caligus bonito). Prevalences and mean abundances differed significantly among sampling areas, except for C. manteri, Oesophagocystis sp. 2 and Ceratocolax euthynni, and sampling years (Melanocystis cf. kawakawa, N.cf. kawakawa, P. appendiculatus and Unicolax collateralis). Results indicate that the parasite abundances of E. alletteratus in the western Mediterranean Sea depend mainly on regional environmental variables, which can show interannual variations. The presence of pelagic parasites, i.e. didymozoids and P. appendiculatus, could indicate that E. alletteratus migrates between inshore and offshore pelagic domains. The different parasite faunas reported in E. alletteratus populations from the western Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea appear to point out the geographical host isolation. These results suggest that E. alletteratus inhabiting the western Mediterranean Sea performs inshore-offshore small-scale migrations, and not transoceanic migrations between the western Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
Our seabed? Argentina, the Falklands and the wider South Atlantic
Authors: Dodds Klaus
Published: May 2016

This note addresses the recent announcement regarding Argentina's submission to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. While the commission considered much of Argentina's submitted materials regarding the outer continental shelf (and sovereign rights that accrue to the seabed), it deliberately excluded areas of controversy including the Falkland Islands and Antarctica. What should be of interest to Polar Record readers is how consistently international media, including British journalists, misunderstand international maritime law and ‘stoke’ the fires of Argentine and British nationalisms. The Argentine government, however, was not an innocent party and its own press releases were ambiguous on the matter concerned, even if the commission had recognised the merit of much of their scientific-technical submission.
Building the New Socialist Countryside: Tracking Public Policy and Public Opinion Changes in China
Authors: Stepan Matthias , Han Enze , Reeskens Tim
Published: May 2016

Ever since the introduction of the national political programme of “Building a new socialist countryside” (BNSC) in the early 2000s, renewed focus has been cast on how the Chinese government manages the gap between its rural and urban areas in the new millennium. Previous research has mostly studied the social and political consequences of the BNSC initiative without paying particular attention to its effects on public opinion. In this article, we present an analysis of the 2002 and 2008 waves of the mainland China subset of the Asian Barometer. Our results show a significant shift in the perceptions of the rural population in respect to how much impact government policies have on daily life. This shift brings rural perceptions more in line with those of the urban population in 2002. The paper concludes with the implications of our findings for the study of the relations between public opinion and public policy in China.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci with reduced daptomycin susceptibility in Singapore: prevalence and associated factors
Authors: CHOW A. , WIN N. N. , NG P. Y. , LEE W. , WIN M. K.
Published: May 2016

Prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and use of daptomycin are increasing in Asia. To determine the prevalence of daptomycin non-susceptible enterococci (DNSE) and understand factors associated with reduced daptomycin susceptibility in VRE, we conducted a case-control study in a 1600-bed adult tertiary hospital in Singapore. All VRE isolates from inpatients in 2012 were tested for daptomycin susceptibility. Patients with VRE isolates of daptomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ⩾3 µg/ml were classified as daptomycin-reduced susceptible VRE (DRS-VRE) and those with daptomycin MIC <3 µg/ml classified as daptomycin-susceptible VRE (DS-VRE). Medical records were reviewed for clinical and epidemiological data. None of 243 VRE isolates had MIC >4 µg/ml (DNSE). About half (135, 55%) had reduced susceptibility to daptomycin (MIC 3–4 µg/ml). None in the DS-VRE group had prior exposure to daptomycin. After adjusting for age, gender, comorbidity, hospitalization duration, surgical history, indwelling device use, and duration of antibiotic exposure in the prior 3 months, >1 movement between wards [odds ratio (OR) 0·35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·16–0·74, P = 0·006] and minocycline resistance (OR 0·45, 95% CI 0·25–0·84, P = 0·011) were independently associated with DRS-VRE. Our study suggests that daptomycin exposure, >1 movement between wards, and resistance to minocycline, were associated with reduced daptomycin susceptibility in VRE.
How plausible is the use of dietaryn-3 PUFA in the adjuvant therapy of cancer?
Authors: Serini Simona , Ottes Vasconcelos Renata , Fasano Elena , Calviello Gabriella
Published: May 2016

Considerable debate exists regarding the potential antineoplastic effect of dietary long-chainn-3 PUFA contained in fatty fishes. Since the majority of published data has proven that their intake does not induce toxic or carcinogenic effects in humans, their possible preventive use against cancer has been suggested. On the other hand, it is unlikely that they could be effective in cancer patients as a single therapy. Nevertheless, a considerable effort has been put forth in recent years to evaluate the hypothesis thatn-3 PUFA might improve the antineoplastic efficiency of currently used anticancer agents. The rationale for this therapeutic combinatory strategy is trying to increase cancer sensitivity to conventional therapies. This could allow the use of lower drug/radiation doses and, thereby, a reduction in the detrimental health effects associated with these treatments. We will here critically examine the studies that have investigated this possibility, by focusing particularly on the biological and molecular mechanisms underlying the antineoplastic effect of these combined treatments. A possible use ofn-3 PUFA in combination with the innovative single-targeted anti-cancer therapies, that often are not completely devoid of dangerous side-effects, is also suggested.
FINITE-DIMENSIONAL ORDERED VECTOR SPACES WITH RIESZ INTERPOLATION AND EFFROS–SHEN’S UNIMODULARITY CONJECTURE
Authors: TIKUISIS AARON
Published: May 2016

It is shown that, for any field $\mathbb{F}\subseteq \mathbb{R}$, any ordered vector space structure of $\mathbb{F}^{n}$ with Riesz interpolation is given by an inductive limit of a sequence with finite stages $(\mathbb{F}^{n},\mathbb{F}_{\geq 0}^{n})$ (where $n$ does not change). This relates to a conjecture of Effros and Shen, since disproven, which is given by the same statement, except with $\mathbb{F}$ replaced by the integers, $\mathbb{Z}$. Indeed, it shows that although Effros and Shen’s conjecture is false, it is true after tensoring with $\mathbb{Q}$.
REALIZABILITY PROBLEM FOR COMMUTING GRAPHS
Authors: GIUDICI MICHAEL , KUZMA BOJAN
Published: May 2016

We investigate properties which ensure that a given finite graph is the commuting graph of a group or semigroup. We show that all graphs on at least two vertices such that no vertex is adjacent to all other vertices is the commuting graph of some semigroup. Moreover, we obtain complete classifications of the graphs with an isolated vertex or edge that are the commuting graph of a group and the cycles that are the commuting graph of a centrefree semigroup.
Did Food Insecurity rise across Europe after the 2008 Crisis? An analysis across welfare regimes
Authors: Davis Owen , Geiger Ben Baumberg
Published: May 2016

Since the 2008 crisis, there has been a sharp rise in demand for food aid across high-income countries, spurring increased academic interest in the issue of food insecurity. Despite this heightened interest, there remains a paucity of quantitative evidence on trends in the prevalence of food insecurity in rich countries. In this context, the following article presents ‘direct’ evidence on recent patterns of food insecurity across countries and welfare regimes using secondary analysis of the European Quality of Life Survey. It uses an item which has been a longstanding component of deprivation scales, ‘could your household afford a meal with meat, chicken or fish every second day if you wanted it?’, to investigate two hypotheses. First, we explore whether food insecurity has risen since the 2008 crisis as the rise in food aid suggests. Second, we examine if this rise has varied across welfare regimes, if it has occurred at all. The article finds evidence to support both contentions: food insecurity has risen across many European countries and has varied by welfare regime. It also finds that contrary to expectations, the sharpest rise was in the Anglo-Saxon countries of Ireland and the UK, rather than Southern or Eastern European countries.
THE LAST STAND?
Authors: King Desmond S. , Smith Rogers M.
Published: May 2016

In 2013, the United States Supreme Court decidedShelby County v. Holder, which invalidated Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The ruling is part of longstanding efforts to maintain American institutions that have provided wide-ranging benefits to White citizens, including disproportionate political power. Over time, such efforts are likely to fail to prevent significant increases in political gains for African Americans, Latinos, and other minority citizens. But they threaten to foster severe conflicts in American politics for years to come.
The fermentation product 2,3-butanediol alters P. aeruginosa clearance, cytokine response and the lung microbiome
Authors: Nguyen Mytien , Sharma Anurag , Wu Wenzhu , Gomi Rika , Sung Biin , Hospodsky Denina , Angenent Largus T , Worgall Stefan
Published: May 2016

Diseases that favor colonization of the respiratory tract with Pseudomonas aeruginosa are characterized by an altered airway microbiome. Virulence of P. aeruginosa respiratory tract infection is likely influenced by interactions with other lung microbiota or their products. The bacterial fermentation product 2,3-butanediol enhances virulence and biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa in vitro. This study assessed the effects of 2,3-butanediol on P. aeruginosa persistence, inflammatory response, and the lung microbiome in vivo. Here, P. aeruginosa grown in the presence of 2,3-butanediol and encapsulated in agar beads persisted longer in the murine respiratory tract, induced enhanced TNF-α and IL-6 responses and resulted in increased colonization in the lung tissue by environmental microbes. These results led to the following hypothesis that now needs to be tested with a larger study: fermentation products from the lung microbiota not only have a role in P. aeruginosa virulence and abundance, but also on the increased colonization of the respiratory tract with environmental microbes, resulting in dynamic shifts in microbiota diversity and disease susceptibility.
Evaluating community–environment relationships along fine to broad taxonomic resolutions reveals evolutionary forces underlying community assembly
Authors: Lu Hsiao-Pei , Yeh Yi-Chun , Sastri Akash R , Shiah Fuh-Kwo , Gong Gwo-Ching , Hsieh Chih-hao
Published: May 2016

We propose a method for detecting evolutionary forces underlying community assembly by quantifying the strength of community–environment relationships hierarchically along taxonomic ranks. This approach explores the potential role of phylogenetic conservatism on habitat preferences: wherein, phylogenetically related taxa are expected to exhibit similar environmental responses. Thus, when niches are conserved, broader taxonomic classification should not diminish the strength of community–environment relationships and may even yield stronger associations by summarizing occurrences and abundances of ecologically equivalent finely resolved taxa. In contrast, broader taxonomic classification should weaken community–environment relationships when niches are under great divergence (that is, by combining finer taxa with distinct environmental responses). Here, we quantified the strength of community–environment relationships using distance-based redundancy analysis, focusing on soil and seawater prokaryotic communities. We considered eight case studies (covering a variety of sampling scales and sequencing strategies) and found that the variation in community composition explained by environmental factors either increased or remained constant with broadening taxonomic resolution from species to order or even phylum level. These results support the niche conservatism hypothesis and indicate that broadening taxonomic resolution may strengthen niche-related signals by removing uncertainty in quantifying spatiotemporal distributions of finely resolved taxa, reinforcing the current notion of ecological coherence in deep prokaryotic branches.
Coarse-grained simulation reveals key features of HIV-1 capsid self-assembly
Authors: Grime John M. A. , Dama James F. , Ganser-Pornillos Barbie K. , Woodward Cora L. , Jensen Grant J. , Yeager Mark , Voth Gregory A.
Published: May 2016

The maturation of HIV-1 viral particles is essential for viral infectivity. During maturation, many copies of the capsid protein (CA) self-assemble into a capsid shell to enclose the viral RNA. The mechanistic details of the initiation and early stages of capsid assembly remain to be delineated. We present coarse-grained simulations of capsid assembly under various conditions, considering not only capsid lattice self-assembly but also the potential disassembly of capsid upon delivery to the cytoplasm of a target cell. The effects of CA concentration, molecular crowding, and the conformational variability of CA are described, with results indicating that capsid nucleation and growth is a multi-stage process requiring well-defined metastable intermediates. Generation of the mature capsid lattice is sensitive to local conditions, with relatively subtle changes in CA concentration and molecular crowding influencing self-assembly and the ensemble of structural morphologies.
A combined computational and structural model of the full-length human prolactin receptor
Authors: Bugge Katrine , Papaleo Elena , Haxholm Gitte W. , Hopper Jonathan T. S. , Robinson Carol V. , Olsen Johan G. , Lindorff-Larsen Kresten , Kragelund Birthe B.
Published: May 2016

The prolactin receptor is an archetype member of the class I cytokine receptor family, comprising receptors with fundamental functions in biology as well as key drug targets. Structurally, each of these receptors represent an intriguing diversity, providing an exceptionally challenging target for structural biology. Here, we access the molecular architecture of the monomeric human prolactin receptor by combining experimental and computational efforts. We solve the NMR structure of its transmembrane domain in micelles and collect structural data on overlapping fragments of the receptor with small-angle X-ray scattering, native mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. Along with previously published data, these are integrated by molecular modelling to generate a full receptor structure. The result provides the first full view of a class I cytokine receptor, exemplifying the architecture of more than 40 different receptor chains, and reveals that the extracellular domain is merely the tip of a molecular iceberg.
A single gene of a commensal microbe affects host susceptibility to enteric infection
Authors: Yoon Mi Young , Min Kyung Bae , Lee Kang-Mu , Yoon Yujin , Kim Yaeseul , Oh Young Taek , Lee Keehoon , Chun Jongsik , Kim Byung-Yong , Yoon Seok-Hwan , Lee Insuk , Kim Chan Yeong , Yoon Sang Sun
Published: May 2016

Indigenous microbes inside the host intestine maintain a complex self-regulating community. The mechanisms by which gut microbes interact with intestinal pathogens remain largely unknown. Here we identify a commensal Escherichia coli strain whose expansion predisposes mice to infection by Vibrio cholerae, a human pathogen. We refer to this strain as ‘atypical’ E. coli (atEc) because of its inability to ferment lactose. The atEc strain is resistant to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proliferates extensively in antibiotic-treated adult mice. V. cholerae infection is more severe in neonatal mice transplanted with atEc compared with those transplanted with a typical E. coli strain. Intestinal ROS levels are decreased in atEc-transplanted mice, favouring proliferation of ROS-sensitive V. cholerae. An atEc mutant defective in ROS degradation fails to facilitate V. cholerae infection when transplanted, suggesting that host infection susceptibility can be regulated by a single gene product of one particular commensal species.
Innate olfactory preferences for flowers matching proboscis length ensure optimal energy gain in a hawkmoth
Authors: Haverkamp Alexander , Bing Julia , Badeke Elisa , Hansson Bill S. , Knaden Markus
Published: May 2016

Cost efficient foraging is of especial importance for animals like hawkmoths or hummingbirds that are feeding ‘on the wing’, making their foraging energetically demanding. The economic decisions made by these animals have a strong influence on the plants they pollinate and floral volatiles are often guiding these decisions. Here we show that the hawkmoth Manduca sexta exhibits an innate preference for volatiles of those Nicotiana flowers, which match the length of the moth’s proboscis. This preference becomes apparent already at the initial inflight encounter, with the odour plume. Free-flight respiration analyses combined with nectar calorimetry revealed a significant caloric gain per invested flight energy only for preferred—matching—flowers. Our data therefore support Darwin’s initial hypothesis on the coevolution of flower length and moth proboscis. We demonstrate that this interaction is mediated by an adaptive and hardwired olfactory preference of the moth for flowers offering the highest net-energy reward.