bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shape of allied health: an environmental scan of 27 allied health professions in Victoria
Authors: Nancarrow Susan A. , Young Gretchen , O'Callaghan Katy , Jenkins Mathew , Philip Kathleen , Barlow Kegan
Published: August 2016

Objective In 2015, the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services commissioned the Victorian Allied Health Workforce Research Program to provide data on allied health professions in the Victorian public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Herein we present a snapshot of the demographic profiles and distribution of these professions in Victoria and discuss the workforce implications. Methods The program commenced with an environmental scan of 27 allied health professions in Victoria. This substantial scoping exercise identified existing data, resources and contexts for each profession to guide future data collection and research. Each environmental scan reviewed existing data relating to the 27 professions, augmented by an online questionnaire sent to the professional bodies representing each discipline. Results Workforce data were patchy but, based on the evidence available, the allied health professions in Victoria vary greatly in size (ranging from just 17 child life therapists to 6288 psychologists), are predominantly female (83% of professions are more than 50% female) and half the professions report that 30% of their workforce is aged under 30 years. New training programs have increased workforce inflows to many professions, but there is little understanding of attrition rates. Professions reported a lack of senior positions in the public sector and a concomitant lack of senior specialised staff available to support more junior staff. Increasing numbers of allied health graduates are being employed directly in private practice because of a lack of growth in new positions in the public sector and changing funding models. Smaller professions reported that their members are more likely to be professionally isolated within an allied health team or larger organisations. Uneven rural–urban workforce distribution was evident across most professions. Conclusions Workforce planning for allied health is extremely complex because of the lack of data, fragmented funding and regulatory frameworks and diverse employment contexts. What is known about this topic? There is a lack of good-quality workforce data on the allied health professions generally. The allied health workforce is highly feminised and unevenly distributed geographically, but there is little analysis of these issues across professions. What does this paper add? The juxtaposition of the health workforce demographics and distribution of 27 allied health professions in Victoria illustrates some clear trends and identifies several common themes across professions. What are the implications for practitioners? There are opportunities for the allied health professions to collectively address several of the common issues to achieve economies of scale, given the large number of professions and small size of many.
Eucalypts, wildlife and nature conservation: from individual trees to landscape patterns
Authors: Bennett Andrew F.
Published: August 2016

Eucalypts — gums, stringybarks, box, ironbarks and mallees — are key elements of ecosystems occupied by much of Australia’s distinctive and unique wildlife. Individual eucalypts provide an array of food resources (e.g. foliage, seeds, nectar, sap) for animals, while shelter, refuge and breeding sites for many species are associated with the physical structures of eucalypts (e.g. dense foliage, bark crevices, hollows) and fallen material (logs, leaf litter). Stands of eucalypts make up patches of habitat that sustain populations and communities of animals. The size and shape of a patch, its tree-species composition and age structure, and the context of the patch (isolation, topographic position) influence the species that occur and the structure of animal communities. At a landscape scale, the extent and spatial pattern of eucalypt forests and woodlands and the types of land uses and disturbance regimes they experience (e.g. logging, grazing, fire) shape the distribution and conservation status of animal species across extensive areas. Eucalypts form a distinctive part of the natural and cultural heritage of Australia, yet too often they are taken for granted. The value that Australians place on the protection, management and restoration of eucalypts, from individual trees to ecosystems, will have a critical role in determining the future of Australian wildlife.
An undisclosed story of roses: church, state, and nation in contemporary Georgia
Authors: Metreveli Tornike
Published: August 2016

Since the Rose Revolution (2003), Georgia has encountered an unprecedented scale of institutional reforms concomitant with the rise of American and European involvement in the “democratization” process. Various scholars have suggested that Georgian nationalism developed from an ethno-cultural basis to a more civic/liberal orientation after the Rose Revolution. This paper analyzes Georgian nationalism under President Mikheil Saakashvili to demonstrate the significant divergence between political rhetoric on national identity, the selection of symbols, and state policy toward the Georgian Orthodox Church versus state policy toward ethnic minorities. The aim of this article is to examine the at times conflicting conceptions of national identity as reflected in the public policies of Saakashvili's government since the Rose Revolution. It attempts to problematize the typologies of nationalism when applied to the Georgian context and suggests conceptualizing the state-driven nationalism of the post-Rose Revolution government as “hybrid nationalism” as opposed to civic or ethno-cultural.
Environmental Priorities in Post-Conflict Recovery: Efficacy of the Needs-Assessment Process
Authors: Kovach Tim , Conca Ken
Published: August 2016

Donors have converged upon an increasingly institutionalised process of promoting post-conflict recovery. The hallmarks of this process are a Post-Conflict Needs Assessment (PCNA), a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), and a UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). This paper examines the ability of this multi-stage process to address environmental issues. While research demonstrates that environmental governance and natural resource management are key challenges facing war-torn societies, they are often subordinated to other agendas or disappear from consideration entirely. We analyse PCNAs, PRSPs, and UNDAFs for seven cases (Afghanistan, Georgia, Haiti, Iraq, Liberia, Somalia, and Sudan) and compare them to baseline environmental assessments. We ask which types of environmental and natural resource issues garner the most attention and test whether the PCNA–PRSP–UNDAF chain sustains a consistent focus. We find that topics related to infrastructure and environmental governance are most likely to be flagged in PCNAs. In contrast, ‘environmental services’ and mining-related issues are far less likely to be identified. These oversights are problematic given the importance of good natural resource management for reconciliation and recovery, the centrality of environmental services to the livelihoods of poor people, and the role of the mining sector in fostering conflict.
Support vector machine model of developmental brain gene expression data for prioritization of Autism risk gene candidates
Authors: Cogill S. , Wang L.
Published: August 2016

Motivation: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with clinical heterogeneity and a substantial polygenic component. High-throughput methods for ASD risk gene identification produce numerous candidate genes that are time-consuming and expensive to validate. Prioritization methods can identify high-confidence candidates. Previous ASD gene prioritization methods have focused on a priori knowledge, which excludes genes with little functional annotation or no protein product such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs).

Results: We have developed a support vector machine (SVM) model, trained using brain developmental gene expression data, for the classification and prioritization of ASD risk genes. The selected feature model had a mean accuracy of 76.7%, mean specificity of 77.2% and mean sensitivity of 74.4%. Gene lists comprised of an ASD risk gene and adjacent genes were ranked using the model’s decision function output. The known ASD risk genes were ranked on average in the 77.4th, 78.4th and 80.7th percentile for sets of 101, 201 and 401 genes respectively. Of 10,840 lncRNA genes, 63 were classified as ASD-associated candidates with a confidence greater than 0.95. Genes previously associated with brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders were prioritized highly within the lncRNA gene list.

Contact:  liangjw@clemson.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Effect of Acupressure on Nausea-Vomiting in Patients With Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia
Authors: Avcı Hatice Sevil , Ovayolu Nimet , Ovayolu Özlem
Published: August 2016

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of acupressure, applied at P6 (Neiguan) acupuncture point, on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia. This was a randomized controlled trial conducted on patients with myeloblastic leukemia. A total of 90 patients, who received the same chemotherapy regimen and antiemetic therapy, were included in the study as 30 patients in the control group, 30 patients in the band group, and 30 patients in the pressure group. Although acupressure was applied by placing wristbands at P6 acupuncture point of both wrists in patients of the band group for totally 4 days, acupressure was applied with the use of finger pressure in patients of the pressure group for totally 4 days. No intervention was made in patients of the control group other than the routine antiemetic therapy. The data of the study were collected by using a questionnaire and nausea-vomiting chart. Severity of nausea-vomiting was assessed by using the visual analog scale on this chart. It was determined that the acupressure band applied to the patients included in the study reduced number and severity of nausea-vomiting (P < .05); however, the acupressure applied with pressure did not affect number and severity of nausea-vomiting (P > .05). It was found that the acupressure band was effective for reducing the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Incivility Across the Nursing Continuum
Authors: Lynette Jones , Echevarria Ilia , Sun Emily , Ryan Jane Greene
Published: August 2016

Incivility affects nurses throughout education and practice; it directly affects patient safety as well as nurses' decisions to remain in academia and clinical practice. This article reviews the current literature on incivility and proposes the application of social learning theory to evidence-based strategies that can be implemented to combat incivility.
Comparison of Smartphone Ophthalmoscopy With Slit-Lamp Biomicroscopy for Grading Vertical Cup-to-Disc Ratio
Authors: Russo Andrea , Mapham William , Turano Raffaele , Costagliola Ciro , Morescalchi Francesco , Scaroni Nicolò , Semeraro Francesco
Published: August 2016

Purpose of the Study:

The purpose of the study was to determine the agreement between smartphone ophthalmoscopy and slit-lamp indirect biomicroscopy when assessing vertical cup-to-disc ratios (VCDRs).

Materials and Methods:

This was a clinical-based, prospective, comparative instrument study performed in 110 patients with ocular hypertension (OH) or primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Patients underwent estimation of VCDR by undilated smartphone ophthalmoscopy and slit-lamp biomicroscopy by 2 masked glaucoma specialists.

Results:

The differences between the mean VCDR estimations obtained by each techniques were not statistically significant. Overall exact agreement between the 2 modalities was found in 21 of 29 eyes (72.4%; simple κ=0.63, confidence interval, 0.52-0.73, P<0.001) in POAG patients and in 52 of 78 eyes (66.7%) in OH patients. The optic nerve head was not gradable with smartphone ophthalmoscopy in 1 eye with POAG and in 2 eyes with OH because of media opacities and/or small pupil diameter.

Conclusions:

Smartphone ophthalmoscopy showed substantial agreement with slit-lamp examination for the estimation of the VCDR. The ubiquitous diffusion of the smartphones, together with their connectivity and portability features, enables an extensive benefit for this technology to be used in glaucoma screening, especially in low-resource settings.
The Diagnostic Accuracy of Serum Procalcitonin for Bacteremia in Critically Ill Children
Authors: Nellis Marianne E. , Pon Steven , Giambrone Ashley E. , Coleman Nana E. , Reiss Jonathan , Mauer Elizabeth , Greenwald Bruce M.
Published: August 2016

Background

Bacterial sepsis is frequently encountered in children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and requires early recognition and treatment. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a serum biomarker with a high sensitivity to predict bacteremia in critically ill adults. This study sought to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of PCT for bacteremia in febrile children in the PICU.

Methods

This retrospective observational study used data from children admitted to the PICU from October 2010 to October 2012. Patients up to 21 years of age were included if they had an abnormal temperature, serum PCT, and blood culture assayed, and were not receiving empiric antibiotics at the time.

Results

There were 202 PCT values that met inclusion criteria. The prevalence of positive blood cultures was 13.2% (27 total positive blood cultures). The area under the curve (AUC) for PCT was 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70–0.89), the AUC for lactate was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.65–0.87), and the AUC for C-reactive protein was 0.68 (95% CI, 0.57–0.80). The optimal threshold of PCT for accuracy was determined to be 2 ng/mL (sensitivity, 69.2%; specificity, 74.4%; positive predictive value, 28.6%; negative predictive value, 94.2%). The combination of an abnormal lactate (>2.0 mmol/L) increased the specificity of PCT for diagnosing bacteremia.

Conclusions

Procalcitonin has a good diagnostic accuracy to rule out bacteremia in critically ill, febrile children. The combination of PCT and an abnormal lactate value increases the specificity and may improve the ability to diagnose bacteremia.
Sudden Death Due to Coronary Blockade by Microfilaremia
Authors: Punia Rajpal Singh , Kundu Reetu , Harish Dasari
Published: August 2016

Extralymphatic filarial disease has varied clinical manifestations and is largely underestimated worldwide. We report an autopsy case of extralymphatic filarial disease with coronary and pulmonary circulations being involved and causing sudden death. Such an isolated event is, perhaps, rare and has not been reported so far to the best of our knowledge. Microfilaremia on autopsy may be easily missed or overlooked due to unawareness. The present report emphasizes the importance of extensive careful scrutiny of autopsy sections.
Enteral Nutrition and Acid-Suppressive Therapy in the PICU: Impact on the Risk of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia*
Authors: Albert Ben D. , Zurakowski David , Bechard Lori J. , Priebe Gregory P. , Duggan Christopher P. , Heyland Daren K. , Mehta Nilesh M.
Published: August 2016

Objective:

Enteral nutrition has been implicated as a risk factor for ventilator-associated pneumonia. We explored the prevalence of ventilator-associated pneumonia and its association with clinical and nutrition-related therapies in mechanically ventilated children.

Design:

Prospective, multicenter, cohort study.

Setting:

Fifty-nine PICU in 15 countries.

Patients:

Children less than 18 years old, mechanically ventilated for more than 48 hours.

Interventions:

None. Multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Measurements and Major Results:

Data are presented as median (interquartile range) or counts (%). We enrolled 1,245 subjects (45% women; 42% surgical), age 20 months (4–84 mo), and duration of mechanical ventilation 7 days (3–13 d). Culture-positive ventilator-associated pneumonia was diagnosed in 80 patients (6.4%); duration of mechanical ventilation for this subgroup was 17 days (8–39 d). Enteral nutrition was delivered in 985 patients (79%), initiated within 48 hours in 592 patients (60%), and via postpyloric route in 354 patients (36%). Acid-suppressive agents were used in 763 patients (61%). The duration of enteral nutrition (p = 0.21), route (gastric vs postpyloric) of delivery (p = 0.94), severity of illness (p = 0.17), and diagnostic category on admission (p = 0.31) were not associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia. After adjusting for enteral nutrition days, illness severity, and site, ventilator-associated pneumonia was significantly associated with mechanical ventilation more than 10 days (odds ratio, 3.7; 95% CI, 2.2–6.5; p < 0.001), PICU length of stay more than 10 days (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1–3.1; p = 0.029), and the use of acid-suppressive medication (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2–3.6; p = 0.011).

Conclusions:

Ventilator-associated pneumonia was diagnosed in 6.5% of mechanically ventilated children in a heterogeneous multicenter cohort. We did not find a link between enteral nutrition duration or route of delivery and ventilator-associated pneumonia. In addition to duration of mechanical ventilation and length of PICU stay, the use of acid-suppressive therapy independently increased the likelihood of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia in this population. This association must be further explored in clinical trials.
Challenging the One-Dose-Fits-All Model for Insulin in the Acute Treatment of Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis. A Critical Appraisal of “Low-Dose Versus Standard-Dose Insulin in Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial” by Nallasamy et al (JAMA Pediatrics 2014; 168:999–1005)
Authors: Orwoll Benjamin Edward
Published: August 2016

Objective:

To review the findings and discuss the implications of the use of low-dose insulin infusions in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis compared with standard-dose insulin.

Data Sources:

A search of the electronic PubMed database was used to perform the clinical query as well as to search for additional relevant literature.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

The article by Nallasamy K et al “Low-Dose vs Standard-Dose Insulin in Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatrics 2014; 17:e477–e480” was selected for critical appraisal and literature review.

Data Synthesis:

The authors performed a randomized controlled trial among 50 consecutive patients of 0–12 years old presenting to the emergency department in diabetic ketoacidosis. They found that low-dose (0.05 U/kg/hr) insulin infusion was noninferior to standard-dose (0.1 U/kg/hr) insulin in terms of resolution of hyperglycemia and acidosis with a trend toward lower rates of therapy-related complications in the low-dose group.

Conclusions:

Low-dose insulin infusion is noninferior to standard-dose insulin in the treatment of younger pediatric patients with diabetic ketoacidosis and may lead to fewer therapy-related complications.
Metastatic Ovarian Tumors Originating From a Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma – A Case Report and Brief Literature Review
Authors: Mitsushita Junji , Netsu Sachiho , Suzuki Koichi , Nokubi Mitsuhiro , Tanaka Akira
Published: August 2016

Approximately 1.6% of tumors metastatic to the ovary of nongynecologic origin are from a small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA). However, the incidence of SBA is extremely rare (0.23 cases/100,000 people), which suggests a high frequency of ovarian metastasis, although the reason is unknown. To identify the characteristics of ovarian tumor metastasis from SBA, we reviewed 72 cases reported in the English literature, including the case presented in this report. The mean age of the patients was 46.7 yr. Solitary ovarian metastasis was observed in 67% of the cases, and ovarian metastasis was accompanied by peritoneal dissemination in 33% of the cases. Although duodenal adenocarcinoma has the highest incidence among the SBAs, jejunal adenocarcinoma, particularly that at the proximal end, is the type of SBA that most frequently metastasizes to the ovary. Among the cases of ovarian metastasis from SBA, 51% were bilateral, 33% were unilateral to the right ovary, and 16% were unilateral to the left ovary.
Extrauterine Placental Site Trophoblastic Tumor Involving the Vagina
Authors: Gupta Mayank , Gnanasekaran Kiruthiga K. , Manojkumar Ramani , Thomas Anitha , Sebastian Ajit
Published: August 2016

Very few cases of placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) primarily involving extrauterine sites have been reported to date. We report a case of a 29-year-old female who presented with a vaginal nodule 9 months after delivery at an outside hospital which was initially diagnosed as a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Subsequently she was referred to our institute, and on the basis of histology, mildly elevated serum β-HCG level, and immunohistochemistry, PSTT was diagnosed. After the completion of chemotherapy, the vaginal nodule completely regressed and serum β-hCG returned to baseline. Her follow-up has been unremarkable. This case highlights the importance of the fact that PSTT can be easily misdiagnosed at extrauterine sites in the absence of proper clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical correlation.
Inferring node dates from tip dates in fossil Canidae: the importance of tree priors
Authors: Matzke Nicholas J. , Wright April
Published: August 2016

Tip-dating methods are becoming popular alternatives to traditional node calibration approaches for building time-scaled phylogenetic trees, but questions remain about their application to empirical datasets. We compared the performance of the most popular methods against a dated tree of fossil Canidae derived from previously published monographs. Using a canid morphology dataset, we performed tip-dating using BEAST v. 2.1.3 and M
r
B
ayes
v. 3.2.5. We find that for key nodes (
Canis,
approx. 3.2 Ma, Caninae approx. 11.7 Ma) a non-mechanistic model using a uniform tree prior produces estimates that are unrealistically old (27.5, 38.9 Ma). Mechanistic models (incorporating lineage birth, death and sampling rates) estimate ages that are closely in line with prior research. We provide a discussion of these two families of models (mechanistic versus non-mechanistic) and their applicability to fossil datasets.
Maternal condition and previous reproduction interact to affect offspring sex in a wild mammal
Authors: Douhard Mathieu , Festa-Bianchet Marco , Pelletier Fanie
Published: August 2016

Trivers and Willard proposed that offspring sex ratio should vary with maternal condition when condition, meant as maternal capacity to care, has different fitness consequences for sons and daughters. In polygynous and dimorphic species, mothers in good condition should preferentially produce sons, whereas mothers in poor condition should produce more daughters. Despite its logical appeal, support for this hypothesis has been inconsistent. Sex-ratio variation may be influenced by additional factors, such as environmental conditions and previous reproduction, which are often ignored in empirical studies. We analysed 39 years of data on bighorn sheep (
Ovis canadensis
) that fit all the assumptions of the Trivers–Willard hypothesis. Production of sons increased with maternal condition only for mothers that weaned a son the previous year. This relationship likely reflects a mother's ability to bear the higher reproductive costs of sons. The interaction between maternal condition and previous weaning success on the probability of producing a son was independent of the positive effect of paternal reproductive success. Maternal and paternal effects accounted for similar proportions of the variance in offspring sex. Maternal reproductive history should be considered in addition to current condition in studies of sex allocation.
Splendid coloration of the peacock spider
Maratus splendens
Authors: Stavenga Doekele G. , Otto Jürgen C. , Wilts Bodo D.
Published: August 2016

Jumping spiders are well known for their acute vision and often bright colours. The male peacock spider
Maratus splendens
is richly coloured by scales that cover the body. The colours of the white, cream and red scales, which have an elaborate shape with numerous spines, are pigmentary. Blue scales are unpigmented and have a structural colour, created by an intricate photonic system consisting of two chitinous layers with ridges, separated by an air gap, with on the inner sides of the chitin layers an array of filaments. We have characterized the optical properties of the scales by microspectrophotometry, imaging scatterometry and light and scanning electron microscopy. Optical modelling revealed that the filament array constitutes a novel structural coloration system, which subtly fine tunes the scale reflectance to the observed blue coloration.
Song sparrowsMelospiza melodiahave a home-field advantage in defending against sympatric malarial parasites
Authors: Sarquis-Adamson Yanina , MacDougall-Shackleton Elizabeth A.
Published: August 2016

Hosts and parasites interact on both evolutionary and ecological timescales. The outcome of these interactions, specifically whether hosts are more resistant to their local parasites (sympatric) than to parasites from another location (allopatric), is likely to affect the spread of infectious disease and the fitness consequences of host dispersal. We conducted a cross-infection experiment to determine whether song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) have an advantage in dealing with sympatric parasites. We captured birds from two breeding sites 437 km apart, and inoculated them with avian malaria (Plasmodiumspp.) cultured either from their capture site or from the other site. Infection risk was lower for birds exposed to sympatric than to allopatricPlasmodiumlineages, suggesting that song sparrows may have a home-field advantage in defending against local parasite strains. This pattern was more pronounced at one capture site than at the other, consistent with mosaic models of host–parasite interactions. Home-field advantage may arise from evolutionary processes, whereby host populations become adapted to their local parasites, and/or from ecological interactions, whereby host individuals develop resistance to the local parasites through previous immune exposure. Our findings suggest that greater susceptibility to novel parasites may represent a fitness consequence of natal dispersal.
Two-scale homogenization to determine effective parameters of thin metallic-structured films
Authors: Marigo Jean-Jacques , Maurel Agnès
Published: August 2016

We present a homogenization method based on matched asymptotic expansion technique to derive effective transmission conditions of thin structured films. The method leads unambiguously to effective parameters of the interface which define jump conditions or boundary conditions at an equivalent zero thickness interface. The homogenized interface model is presented in the context of electromagnetic waves for metallic inclusions associated with Neumann or Dirichlet boundary conditions for transverse electric or transverse magnetic wave polarization. By comparison with full-wave simulations, the model is shown to be valid for thin interfaces up to thicknesses close to the wavelength. We also compare our effective conditions with the two-sided impedance conditions obtained in transmission line theory and to the so-called generalized sheet transition conditions.
Continental cichlid radiations: functional diversity reveals the role of changing ecological opportunity in the Neotropics
Authors: Arbour Jessica Hilary , López-Fernández Hernán
Published: August 2016

Adaptive radiations have been hypothesized to contribute broadly to the diversity of organisms. Models of adaptive radiation predict that ecological opportunity and ecological release, the availability of empty ecological niches and the response by adapting lineages to occupy them, respectively, drive patterns of phenotypic and lineage diversification. Adaptive radiations driven by ‘ecological opportunity’ are well established in island systems; it is less clear if ecological opportunity influences continent-wide diversification. We use Neotropical cichlid fishes to test if variation in rates of functional evolution is consistent with changing ecological opportunity. Across a functional morphological axis associated with ram–suction feeding traits, evolutionary rates declined through time as lineages diversified in South America. Evolutionary rates of ram–suction functional morphology also appear to have accelerated as cichlids colonized Central America and encountered renewed opportunity. Our results suggest that ecological opportunity may play an important role in shaping patterns of morphological diversity of even broadly distributed lineages like Neotropical cichlids.
Dead ant walking: a myrmecophilous beetle predator uses parasitoid host location cues to selectively prey on parasitized ants
Authors: Mathis Kaitlyn A. , Tsutsui Neil D.
Published: August 2016

Myrmecophiles (i.e. organisms that associate with ants) use a variety of ecological niches and employ different strategies to survive encounters with ants. Because ants are typically excellent defenders, myrmecophiles may choose moments of weakness to take advantage of their ant associates. This hypothesis was studied in the rove beetle,
Myrmedonota xipe
, which associates with
Azteca sericeasur
ants in the presence of parasitoid flies. A combination of laboratory and field experiments show that
M. xipe
beetles selectively locate and prey upon parasitized ants. These parasitized ants are less aggressive towards beetles than healthy ants, allowing beetles to eat the parasitized ants alive without interruption. Moreover, behavioural assays and chemical analysis reveal that
M. xipe
are attracted to the ant's alarm pheromone, the same secretion used by the phorid fly parasitoids in host location. This strategy allows beetles access to an abundant but otherwise inaccessible resource, as
A. sericeasur
ants are typically highly aggressive. These results are the first, to our knowledge, to demonstrate a predator sharing cues with a parasitoid to gain access to an otherwise unavailable prey item. Furthermore, this work highlights the importance of studying ant–myrmecophile interactions beyond just their pairwise context.
Improvement of the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) genome using a Hi-C-based Proximity-Guided Assembly method
Authors: Peichel Catherine L. , Sullivan Shawn T. , Liachko Ivan , White Michael A.
Published: August 2016

Scaffolding genomes into complete chromosome assemblies remains challenging even with the rapidly increasing sequence coverage generated by current next-generation sequence technologies. Even with scaffolding information, many genome assemblies remain incomplete. The genome of the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), a fish model system in evolutionary genetics and genomics, is not completely assembled despite scaffolding with high-density linkage maps. Here, we first test the ability of a Hi-C based proximity guided assembly to perform ade novogenome assembly from relatively short contigs. Using Hi-C based proximity guided assembly, we generated complete chromosome assemblies from 50 kb contigs. We found that 98.99% of contigs were correctly assigned to linkage groups, with ordering nearly identical to the previous genome assembly. Using available BAC end sequences, we provide evidence that some of the few discrepancies between the Hi-C assembly and the existing assembly are due to structural variation between the populations used for the two assemblies or errors in the existing assembly. This Hi-C assembly also allowed us to improve the existing assembly, assigning over 60% (13.35 Mb) of the previously unassigned (∼21.7 Mb) contigs to linkage groups. Together, our results highlight the potential of the Hi-C based proximity guided assembly method to be used in combination with short read data to perform relatively inexpensivede novogenome assemblies. This approach will be particularly useful in organisms in which it is difficult to perform linkage mapping or to obtain high molecular weight DNA required for other scaffolding methods.
Compensation masks trophic cascades in complex food webs
Authors: Fahimipour Ashkaan K , Anderson Kurt E , Williams Richard J
Published: August 2016

Ecological networks, or food webs, describe the feeding relationships between interacting species within an ecosystem. Understanding how the complexity of these networks influences their response to changing top-down control is a central challenge in ecology. Here, we provide a model-based investigation oftrophic cascades‒ an oft-studied ecological phenomenon that occurs when changes in the biomass of top predators indirectly effect changes in the biomass of primary producers ‒ in complex food webs that are representative of the structure of real ecosystems. Our results reveal that strong cascades occur primarily in low richness and weakly connected food webs, a result in agreement with some prior predictions. The primary mechanism underlying weak or absent cascades was a strong compensatory response; in most webs predators induced large population level cascades that were masked by changes in the opposite direction by other species in the same trophic guild. Thus, the search for a general theory of trophic cascades in food webs should focus on uncovering features of real ecosystems that promote biomass compensation within functional guilds or trophic levels.
Construction of a quartz spherical analyzer: application to high-resolution analysis of the NiKα emission spectrum
Authors: Honnicke Marcelo Goncalves , Bianco Leonardo M. , Ceppi Sergio A. , Cusatis Cesar , Huang XianRong , Cai Yong Q. , Stutz Guillermo E.
Published: August 2016

The construction and characterization of a focusing X-ray spherical analyzer based on α-quartz 4{\bar 4}04 are presented. The performance of the analyzer was demonstrated by applying it to a high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy study of theKα1,2emission spectrum of Ni. An analytical representation based on physical grounds was assumed to model the shape of the X-ray emission lines. Satellite structures assigned to 3dspectator hole transitions were resolved and determined as well as their relative contribution to the emission spectrum. The present results on 1s−13d−1shake probabilities support a recently proposed calculation framework based on a multi-configuration atomic model.
A new optical scheme for large-extraction small-aberration vacuum-ultraviolet synchrotron radiation beamlines
Authors: Moreno Thierry
Published: August 2016

Vacuum-ultraviolet radiation delivered by bending-magnet sources is used at numerous synchrotron radiation facilities worldwide. As bending-magnet radiation is inherently much less collimated compared with undulator sources, the generation of high-quality intense bending-magnet vacuum-ultraviolet photon beams is extremely demanding in terms of the optical layout due to the necessary larger collection apertures. In this article, an optimized optical layout which takes into account both the optical and electron beam properties is proposed. This layout delivers an improved beam emittance of over one order of magnitude compared with existing vacuum-ultraviolet bending-magnet beamlines that, up to now, do not take into account electron beam effects. The arrangement is made of two dedicated mirrors, a cylindrical and a cone-shaped one, that focus independently both the horizontal and the vertical emission of a bending-magnet source, respectively, and has been already successfully applied in the construction of the infrared beamline at the Brazilian synchrotron. Using this scheme, two vacuum-ultraviolet beamline designs based on a SOLEIL synchrotron bending-magnet source are proposed and analysed. They would be useful for future upgrades to the DISCO beamline at SOLEIL and could be readily implemented at other synchrotron radiation facilities.
A CHALLENGE FOR THE OPEN AND DISTANCE EDUCATION IN TAIWAN
Authors: Hsieh  , Jui Ming
Published: August 2016

Owing to fulfill the policy of the multi‐education system in Taiwan, the government adopt the open strategy of the high level education system, the number of universities is increase drastically since the late of 20 century, so the students have a large of chances to select the institute to learning, there are many universities have already adopt the media‐teaching style of the Open and Distance Education (ODE), it enlarge the score and model of course's selection in the traditional universities, so the only multimedia‐teaching university, the National Open University (NOU) have already lose her monopoly power in the open and distance education system in Taiwan, the NOU also faced the problem that the number of students had decreased drastically during these years. In order to improve the development of the instructional media teaching and learning in the NOU, it need to change the policy of teaching and learning style in order to match the challenge for the ODE in Taiwan in the near future.
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LEARNERS INTERACTION IN THE ONLINE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: DOES NATIONAL CULTURE MATTER?
Authors: Bing Wu , Ping Teoh Ai
Published: August 2016

Open and distance learning (ODL) connects learners across geographical boundaries. Through the support of the Internet and Learning Management Systems (LMS), learners nowadays are conveniently learning and communicating via the online mode. Nevertheless, will the cultural diversity of learners affect their learning and interaction behavior in the web-based environment? This is viewed as one of the relatively unexplored scope of research areas worthy investigating via a comparative analysis of two countries from Asia but with different contexts of society. This article investigates the learners' online interaction of two open universities, namely Shanghai TV University in China and Wawasan Open University in Malaysia. Based on the findings of this comparative study, the authors are of the opinion that national cultural diversity of learners affects and influences their learning and interaction behavior in the online platform. The effect of cultural diversity of learners is in fact prominent in several aspects in their online learning and interaction behavior as observed in the synchronous chat sessions and asynchronous forum board discussions. In order to better guide the learners as well as to eliminate the negative impact of national cultural diversity on learning outcome, several suggestions and recommendations are proposed.
DISTANCE STUDENTS' PERCEPTION ON THE QUALITY OF COMPUTER - ASSISTED INSTRUCTION PROGRAM IN OPERATION RESEARCH COURSE
Authors: Harsasi Meirani , Muzammil Moh. , Riana Kurnia Endah
Published: August 2016

Universitas Terbuka (UT) is a distance education institution that implements communication technology in various ways. In accordance with the implementation of this technology, UT uses both printed and non-printed materials designed as selflearning materials. These learning materials provide students not only with explanations of a subject but also with instructional learning purposes, examples, practices, summaries, formative tests, feedbacks, and learning instructions. Computer Assisted instruction (CAI) as a technology based learning material can be used as a supplement to the main learning material. For instance, Operation Research is mainly delivered to students through modules but it is completed by the CAI program. In order to improve the quality of the CAI program, an evaluation is needed, especially the evaluation that invites students' opinion. It is important to ask the students how the CAI program can help them comprehend a topic and which part of the program should be improved. The aim of this study is to figure out whether there are differences between students' expectation and students' perception toward the quality of the CAI program, namely the Operation Research. Some questionnaires were given to 41 respondents in Jakarta. Purposive sampling was chosen as a sampling technique with a criterion that each respondent has passed Operation Research Subject examination. From 30 questionnaires sent back and analyzed it can be concluded that there are some differences between students' expectation and students' perception toward the quality of the CAI program.
A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF UNDERGRADUATE PHYSICS LABORATORY INSTRUCTION OFFERED AT IGNOU
Authors: Mishra Arundhati , Vijayshri  , Garg Suresh
Published: August 2016

In the undergraduate physics laboratory, a student is expected to make precise measurements, hone investigative skills and discover the interplay between experimentation and fundamental principles underlying physical phenomena. But in India, the mainstream conventional UG physics laboratory instruction has all along been cookbook in nature. In such a scenario, incorporating innovative and meaningful laboratory experience in Open and Distance Education programmes becomes a formidable challenge. Recently we evaluated the physics laboratory courses, which are integral to the B.Sc (Physics) programme of IGNOU offered at a distance, for their quality, relevance and effectiveness. Our findings reveal that these courses are being received well particularly by those students who are pursuing the B.Sc (Major) in Physics. The success rates improve as learners evolve in the system and their satisfaction levels are high. However, factor analysis of learners' perceptions brings forth six factors guided approach, student-centered learning and assessment, emphasis on self-learning, use of multimedia and innovative non-conventional teaching strategies, increased student participation and emphasis on problem solving as key determinants for further improving the quality of learning in physics laboratory.
Cyber Social Network Management: Enhancing the Learning Power of Distance Learners in Learning Communities
Authors: Zhixian Zhong , Jianhua Shen
Published: August 2016

Based on the relevant concepts of Cyber Social Network Management (CSNM), this paper analyzes the necessity and possibility of CSNM from the perspective of connectivism and discusses the underlying aim and the essential strategies (processes, principles and tools) of CSNM. The paper makes an attempt to provide a series of helpful ideas and practices for distance learners to promote the learning power through CSNM.
Designing an online learning environment on Open Educational Resources for science education
Authors: Karunanayaka Shironica , Fernando Chandana , de Silva Vajira
Published: August 2016

The concept of Open Educational Resources (OER) is a major breakthrough in education, which promotes sharing, adaptation and contextualisation of course content. Promotion of using OER can be very cost effective, since development of new course content would be both expensive and time consuming. However, awareness raising and capacity building of teachers and learners is crucial, in order to exploit the full potential of OER.

The Faculty of Education at the Open University of Sri Lanka, initiated a research project to create an Online Learning Environment (OLE) on OER for science education, witha view to raise awareness, develop competencies and enhance adapting, adoption and creation of OER by teachers. This is developed in Moodle Learning Management System, as a supplementary material for science teachers enrolled in a distance mode professional development programme. The research team, together with a group of science teachers and teacher educators, who are their students, is engaged in this action research conducted in several stages: analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation. This paper discusses the first three stages, concerning the following objectives: to identify sources of OER for science education, to make key design decisions of the OLE, and to design and develop the OLE on OER for science education.

The analysis of need, learner, task and context, resulted in making decisions on information, instruction, interaction and interface design. Some initial design decisions are: Structuring of information on finding, using and creating OER related to teaching science, while making it relevant and meaningful for teachers; Use of exploratory instructional strategies enabling teachers to select OER; Incorporate frequent interactions encouraging teachers to adopt, adapt, create and share OER; and Use of different media elements to make the visual layout motivating. A prototype will be pilot tested with science teachers with a view to revise and improve the OLE on OER. Allowing student teachers/teacher educators to work collaboratively with their instructors, as a team, enable both parties to face challenges together, in this novel experience of designing and developing an OLE on OER.
Scenario-based Assessment Exercises and the Perceived Learning of Mass Communication Students
Authors: Din Aisha Muhammad , Jabeen Sadia
Published: August 2016

One of the biggest challenges faced by online learning systems is the absence of opportunities for the practical exposure of the students, especially in professional degree programmes. The theoretical knowledge they gain is undoubtedly more refined and enriched, but it is quite difficult to provide an e-learner with occasions where he/she can actually apply the concepts in real-time situations,as student and teacher are at a great distance from each other. This shortcoming can be overcome by giving scenario-based assignments to the students during their study programme. A hypothetical situation is created in scenario-based assignments where students are required to apply their theoretical knowledge according to the scenario given. In this way, students are actively involved in brainstorming rather than merely reproducing bookish knowledge. In this regard, the Virtual University of Pakistan has adopted advanced methodologies for learning and evaluation of its students. For this purpose, the researchers have aimed to measure the perceived learning of the students of the BS Mass Communication programme. The main objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness of online scenario-based exercises on student learning and comprehension; and to enhance their analytical abilities and the mode of student-instructor interaction. For this purpose, five scenario-based assignments on various mass communication courses in the autumn 2012 semester were selected; and an online survey of all enrolled students in five subjects was conducted. The tool used in this study was derived from Renda-Tanali's (2012) research on security studies. For data analysis,descriptive statistics, a one-sample t-test, an independent sample t-test and regression analysis were applied. The results of the study indicated a positive student response towards e-scenario-based exercises. The two prominent outcomes identified by students were their improvement in decision-making skills and deepened understanding of real life situations. In the light of the findings of the study, it can be concluded that students' learning in the context of scenario-based exercises was very encouraging for Mass Communication subjects.