bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two planets around Kapteyn's star: a cold and a temperate super-Earth orbiting the nearest halo red dwarf
Authors: Anglada-Escudé G. , Arriagada P. , Tuomi M. , Zechmeister M. , Jenkins J. S. , Ofir A. , Dreizler S. , Gerlach E. , Marvin C. J. , Reiners A. , Jeffers S. V. , Butler R. P. , Vogt S. S. , Amado P. J. , Rodríguez-López C. , Berdiñas Z. M. , Morin J. , Crane J. D. , Shectman S. A. , Thompson I. B. , Díaz M. , Rivera E. , Sarmiento L. F. , Jones H. R. A.
Published: July 2014

Exoplanets of a few Earth masses can be now detected around nearby low-mass stars using Doppler spectroscopy. In this Letter, we investigate the radial velocity variations of Kapteyn's star, which is both a sub-dwarf M-star and the nearest halo object to the Sun. The observations comprise archival and new HARPS (High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher), High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES) and Planet Finder Spectrograph (PFS) Doppler measurements. Two Doppler signals are detected at periods of 48 and 120 d using likelihood periodograms and a Bayesian analysis of the data. Using the same techniques, the activity indices and archival All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS-3) photometry show evidence for low-level activity periodicities of the order of several hundred days. However, there are no significant correlations with the radial velocity variations on the same time-scales. The inclusion of planetary Keplerian signals in the model results in levels of correlated and excess white noise that are remarkably low compared to younger G, K and M dwarfs. We conclude that Kapteyn's star is most probably orbited by two super-Earth mass planets, one of which is orbiting in its circumstellar habitable zone, becoming the oldest potentially habitable planet known to date. The presence and long-term survival of a planetary system seem a remarkable feat given the peculiar origin and kinematic history of Kapteyn's star. The detection of super-Earth mass planets around halo stars provides important insights into planet-formation processes in the early days of the Milky Way.
Role of contact electrification and electrostatic interactions in gecko adhesion
Authors: Izadi Hadi , Stewart Katherine M. E. , Penlidis Alexander
Published: July 2014

Geckos, which are capable of walking on walls and hanging from ceilings with the help of micro-/nano-scale hierarchical fibrils (setae) on their toe pads, have become the main prototype in the design and fabrication of fibrillar dry adhesives. As the unique fibrillar feature of the toe pads of geckos allows them to develop an intimate contact with the substrate the animal is walking on or clinging to, it is expected that the toe setae exchange significant numbers of electric charges with the contacted substrate via the contact electrification (CE) phenomenon. Even so, the possibility of the occurrence of CE and the contribution of the resulting electrostatic interactions to the dry adhesion of geckos have been overlooked for several decades. In this study, by measuring the magnitude of the electric charges, together with the adhesion forces, that gecko foot pads develop in contact with different materials, we have clarified for the first time that CE does contribute effectively to gecko adhesion. More importantly, we have demonstrated that it is the CE-driven electrostatic interactions which dictate the strength of gecko adhesion, and not the van der Waals or capillary forces which are conventionally considered as the main source of gecko adhesion.
Housing tubes from the marine worm
Chaetopterus
sp.: biomaterials with exceptionally broad thermomechanical properties
Authors: Shah Darshil U. , Vollrath Fritz , Porter David , Stires John , Deheyn Dimitri D.
Published: July 2014

The housing tube material of the marine worm
Chaetopterus
sp
.
exhibits thermal stability up to 250°C, similar to other biological materials such as mulberry silkworm cocoons. Interestingly, however, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis conducted in both air and water elucidated the lack of a glass transition in the organic tube wall material. In fact, the viscoelastic properties of the anhydrous and undried tube were remarkably stable (i.e. constant and reversible) between –75°C and 200°C in air, and 5°C and 75°C in water, respectively. Moreover, it was found that hydration and associated-water plasticization were key to the rubber-like flexible properties of the tube; dehydration transformed the material behaviour to glass-like. The tube is made of bionanocomposite fibrils in highly oriented arrangement, which we argue favours the biomaterial to be highly crystalline or cross-linked, with extensive hydrogen and/or covalent bonds. Mechanical property characterization in the longitudinal and transverse directions ascertained that the tubes were not quasi-isotropic structures. In general, the higher stiffness and strength in the transverse direction implied that there were more nanofibrils orientated at ±45° and ±65° than at 0° to the tube axis. The order of the mechanical properties of the soft–tough tubes was similar to synthetic rubber-like elastomers and even some viscid silks. The complex structure–property relations observed indicated that the worm has evolved to produce a tubular housing structure which can (i) function stably over a broad range of temperatures, (ii) endure mechanical stresses from specific planes/axes, and (iii) facilitate rapid growth or repair.
Intrinsic frequency for a systems approach to haemodynamic waveform analysis with clinical applications
Authors: Pahlevan Niema M. , Tavallali Peyman , Rinderknecht Derek G. , Petrasek Danny , Matthews Ray V. , Hou Thomas Y. , Gharib Morteza
Published: July 2014

The reductionist approach has dominated the fields of biology and medicine for nearly a century. Here, we present a systems science approach to the analysis of physiological waveforms in the context of a specific case, cardiovascular physiology. Our goal in this study is to introduce a methodology that allows for novel insight into cardiovascular physiology and to show proof of concept for a new index for the evaluation of the cardiovascular system through pressure wave analysis. This methodology uses a modified version of sparse time–frequency representation (STFR) to extract two dominant frequencies we refer to as intrinsic frequencies (IFs;
ω
1
and
ω
2
). The IFs are the dominant frequencies of the instantaneous frequency of the coupled heart + aorta system before the closure of the aortic valve and the decoupled aorta after valve closure. In this study, we extract the IFs from a series of aortic pressure waves obtained from both clinical data and a computational model. Our results demonstrate that at the heart rate at which the left ventricular pulsatile workload is minimized the two IFs are equal (
ω
1
=
ω
2
). Extracted IFs from clinical data indicate that at young ages the total frequency variation (Δ
ω
=
ω
1
−
ω
2
) is close to zero and that Δ
ω
increases with age or disease (e.g. heart failure and hypertension). While the focus of this paper is the cardiovascular system, this approach can easily be extended to other physiological systems or any biological signal.
Rolling friction and energy dissipation in a spinning disc
Authors: Ma Daolin , Liu Caishan , Zhao Zhen , Zhang Hongjian
Published: July 2014

This paper presents the results of both experimental and theoretical investigations for the dynamics of a steel disc spinning on a horizontal rough surface. With a pair of high-speed cameras, a stereoscopic vision method is adopted to perform omnidirectional measurements for the temporal evolution of the disc's motion. The experiment data allow us to detail the dynamics of the disc, and consequently to quantify its energy. From our experimental observations, it is confirmed that rolling friction is a primary factor responsible for the dissipation of the energy. Furthermore, a mathematical model, in which the rolling friction is characterized by a resistance torque proportional to the square of precession rate, is also proposed. By employing the model, we perform qualitative analysis and numerical simulations. Both of them provide results that precisely agree with our experimental findings.
Using phylogenetic information and chemical properties to predict species tolerances to pesticides
Authors: Guénard Guillaume , Carsten von der Ohe Peter , Carlisle Walker Steven , Lek Sovan , Legendre Pierre
Published: July 2014

Direct estimation of species' tolerance to pesticides and other toxic organic substances is a combinatorial problem, because of the large number of species–substance pairs. We propose a statistical modelling approach to predict tolerances associated with untested species–substance pairs, by using models fitted to tested pairs. This approach is based on the phylogeny of species and physico-chemical descriptors of pesticides, with both kinds of information combined in a bilinear model. This bilinear modelling approach predicts tolerance in untested species–compound pairs based on the facts that closely related species often respond similarly to toxic compounds and that chemically similar compounds often have similar toxic effects. The three tolerance models (median lethal concentration after 96 h) used up to 25 aquatic animal species and up to nine pesticides (organochlorines, organophosphates and carbamates). Phylogeny was estimated using DNA sequences, while the pesticides were described by their mode of toxic action and their octanol–water partition coefficients. The models explained 77–84% of the among-species variation in tolerance (log
10
LC
50
). In cross-validation, 84–87% of the predicted tolerances for individual species were within a factor of 10 of the observed values. The approach can also be used to model other species response to multivariate stress factors.
Social contacts and the locations in which they occur as risk factors for influenza infection
Authors: Kwok Kin O. , Cowling Benjamin J. , Wei Vivian W. I. , Wu Kendra M. , Read Jonathan M. , Lessler Justin , Cummings Derek A. , Peiris J. S. Malik , Riley Steven
Published: July 2014

The interaction of human social behaviour and transmission is an intriguing aspect of the life cycle of respiratory viral infections. Although age-specific mixing patterns are often assumed to be the key drivers of the age-specific heterogeneity in transmission, the association between social contacts and biologically confirmed infection has not previously been tested at the individual level. We administered a questionnaire to participants in a longitudinal cohort survey of influenza in which infection was defined by longitudinal paired serology. Using a variety of statistical approaches, we found overwhelming support for the inclusion of individual age in addition to contact variables when explaining odds of infection: the best model not including age explained only 15.7% of the deviance, whereas the best model with age explained 23.6%. However, within age groups, we did observe an association between contacts, locations and infection: median numbers of contacts (or locations) reported by those infected were higher than those from the uninfected group in every age group other than the youngest. Further, we found some support for the retention of location and contact variables in addition to age in our regression models, with excess odds of infection of approximately 10% per additional 10 contacts or one location. These results suggest that, although the relationship between age and incidence of respiratory infection at the level of the individual is not driven by self-reported social contacts, risk within an age group may be.
Double meaning of courtship song in a moth
Authors: Nakano Ryo , Ihara Fumio , Mishiro Koji , Toyama Masatoshi , Toda Satoshi
Published: July 2014

Males use courtship signals to inform a conspecific female of their presence and/or quality, or, alternatively, to ‘cheat’ females by imitating the cues of a prey or predator. These signals have the single function of advertising for mating. Here, we show the dual functions of the courtship song in the yellow peach moth,Conogethes punctiferalis, whose males generate a series of short pulses and a subsequent long pulse in a song bout. Repulsive short pulses mimic the echolocation calls of sympatric horseshoe bats and disrupt the approach of male rivals to a female. The attractive long pulse does not mimic bat calls and specifically induces mate acceptance in the female, who raises her wings to facilitate copulation. These results demonstrate that moths can evolve both attractive acoustic signals and repulsive ones from cues that were originally used to identify predators and non-predators, because the bat-like sounds disrupt rivals, and also support a hypothesis of signal evolution via receiver bias in moth acoustic communication that was driven by the initial evolution of hearing to perceive echolocating bat predators.
Dietary characterization of terrestrial mammals
Authors: Pineda-Munoz Silvia , Alroy John
Published: July 2014

Understanding the feeding behaviour of the species that make up any ecosystem is essential for designing further research. Mammals have been studied intensively, but the criteria used for classifying their diets are far from being standardized. We built a database summarizing the dietary preferences of terrestrial mammals using published data regarding their stomach contents. We performed multivariate analyses in order to set up a standardized classification scheme. Ideally, food consumption percentages should be used instead of qualitative classifications. However, when highly detailed information is not available we propose classifying animals based on their main feeding resources. They should be classified as generalists when none of the feeding resources constitute over 50% of the diet. The term ‘omnivore’ should be avoided because it does not communicate all the complexity inherent to food choice. Moreover, the so-called omnivore diets actually involve several distinctive adaptations. Our dataset shows that terrestrial mammals are generally highly specialized and that some degree of food mixing may even be required for most species.
Terrabacter koreensis sp. nov., isolated from soil of a flowerbed
Authors: Won KyungHwa , Kook MooChang , Yi Tae-Hoo
Published: July 2014

A Gram-staining-positive, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, non-motile and aerobic bacterium, strain THG-e54T, was isolated from soil of a flowerbed in Bucheon, South Korea. The taxonomic position of this bacterium was determined in an investigation based on a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed a clear affiliation of strain THG-e54T with the genus

Terrabacter

. Strain THG-e54T showed the closest phylogenetic relationship with

Terrabacter tumescens

DSM 20308T with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.6 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 71.0 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids of strain THG-e54T were iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0, and the predominant menaquinone was menaquinone MK-8(H4). The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, an unidentified amino-containing phosphoglycolipid, unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified aminophospholipid. The cell-wall peptidoglycan type was ll-diaminopimelic acid and the cell-wall sugars were glucose and ribose. DNA–DNA hybridization experiments revealed a low level of DNA–DNA relatedness (less than 35.2 %) between strain THG-e54T and its five closest relatives. The combined phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data showed that strain THG-e54T could be clearly distinguished from closely related recognized members of the genus

Terrabacter

. Therefore the results of this study indicated the existence of a novel species of the genus

Terrabacter

, for which we propose the name Terrabacter koreensis sp. nov., with strain THG-e54T ( = KACC 17589T = JCM 19342T) as the type strain.
A Framework of All Discovered Immunological Pathways and Their Roles for Four Specific Types of Pathogens and Hypersensitivities
Authors: Hu Wan-Chung
Published: July 2014

Tfh initiates four eradicable immunities. Tfh includes FDC, LTi, IL21 CD4 T cell, and IgG/M B cell. Treg initiates four tolerable immunities. Treg includes DCreg, ILCreg, TGFβ CD4 T cell, and IgA B cell. TH1/TH1-like is immunity for intracellular bacteria/protozoa and type 4 delayed type hypersensitivity. TH1 includes M1 macrophage, mDC2, Tc1 CD8 T cell, IFNg CD4 T cell, ILC1, iNKT1, and IgG3 B cell. TH1-like includes M2 macrophage, ILC1, suppressive CD8 T cell, IFNg/TGFβ CD4 T cell, regulatory iNKT cells, and IgA1 B cell. TH2/TH9 is immunity for helminths and type1 IgE mediated hypersensitivity. TH2 includes iEOS eosinophil, Langerhans cell, basophil/MCt mast cell, IL-4 CD4 T cell, ILC2, iNKT2, and IgE/IgG4 B cell. TH9 includes rEOS eosinophil, basophils/mast cell MCct, IL-9 CD4 T cell, ILC2, regulatory iNKT cells, and IgA2 B cell. TH22/TH17 is immunity for extracellular bacteria/fungi and type 3 immune complex hypersensitivity. TH22 includes N1 neutrophils, mDC1, IL-22 CD4 T cell, ILC3(NCR+), iNKT17, and IgG2 B cell. TH17 includes N2 neutrophils, IL-17 CD4 T cell, regulatory iNKT cells, ILC3(NCR−), and IgA2 B cell. THαβ/TH3 is immunity for viruses and type 2 antibody dependent cytotoxic hypersensitivity. THαβ includes NK1 natural killer cell, pDC, Tc2 CD8 T cell, IL10 CD4 T cell, ILC10, iNKT10, and IgG1 B cell. TH3 includes NK2 natural killer cell, suppressive CD8 T cell, ILC10, IL-10/TGFβ CD4 T cell, regulatory iNKT cells, and IgA1 B cell.

Summary sentence

The summarized framework of host immunities to explain their relations to specific pathogens and hypersensitivities
Improved genome inference in the MHC using a population reference graph
Authors: Dilthey Alexander , Cox Charles , Iqbal Zamin , Nelson Matthew R. , McVean Gil
Published: July 2014

In humans and many other species, while much is known about the extent and structure of genetic variation, such information is typically not used in assembling novel genomes. Rather, a single reference is used against which to map reads, which can lead to poor characterisation of regions of high sequence or structural diversity. Here, we introduce a population reference graph, which combines multiple reference sequences as well as catalogues of SNPs and short indels. The genomes of novel samples are reconstructed as paths through the graph using an efficient hidden Markov Model, allowing for recombination between different haplotypes and variants. By applying the method to the 4.5Mb extended MHC region on chromosome 6, combining eight assembled haplotypes, sequences of known classical HLA alleles and 87,640 SNP variants from the 1000 Genomes Project, we demonstrate, using simulations, SNP genotyping, short-read and longread data, how the method improves the accuracy of genome inference. Moreover, the analysis reveals regions where the current set of reference sequences is substantially incomplete, particularly within the Class II region, indicating the need for continued development of reference-quality genome sequences.
TRICHOME BIREFRINGENCE-LIKE27 Affects Aluminum Sensitivity by Modulating the O-Acetylation of Xyloglucan and Aluminum-Binding Capacity in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhu Xiao Fang , Sun Ying , Zhang Bao Cai , Mansoori Nasim , Wan Jiang Xue , Liu Yu , Wang Zhi Wei , Shi Yuan Zhi , Zhou Yi Hua , Zheng Shao Jian
Published: July 2014

Xyloglucan (XyG) has been reported to contribute to the aluminum (Al)-binding capacity of the cell wall in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). However, the influence of O-acetylation of XyG, accomplished by the putative O-acetyltransferase TRICHOME BIREFRINGENCE-LIKE27 (TBL27 [AXY4]), on its Al-binding capacity is not known. In this study, we found that the two corresponding TBL27 mutants, axy4-1 and axy4-3, were more Al sensitive than wild-type Columbia-0 plants. TBL27 was expressed in roots as well as in leaves, stems, flowers, and siliques. Upon Al treatment, even within 30 min, TBL27 transcript accumulation was strongly down-regulated. The mutants axy4-1 and axy4-3 accumulated significantly more Al in the root and wall, which could not be correlated with pectin content or pectin methylesterase activity, as no difference in the mutants was observed compared with the wild type when exposed to Al stress. The increased Al accumulation in the wall of the mutants was found to be in the hemicellulose fraction. While the total sugar content of the hemicellulose fraction did not change, the O-acetylation level of XyG was reduced by Al treatment. Taken together, we conclude that modulation of the O-acetylation level of XyG influences the Al sensitivity in Arabidopsis by affecting the Al-binding capacity in the hemicellulose.
Dt2Is a Gain-of-Function MADS-Domain Factor Gene That Specifies Semideterminacy in Soybean
Authors: Ping Jieqing , Liu Yunfeng , Sun Lianjun , Zhao Meixia , Li Yinghui , She Maoyun , Sui Yi , Lin Feng , Liu Xiaodong , Tang Zongxiang , Nguyen Hanh , Tian Zhixi , Qiu Lijuan , Nelson Randall L. , Clemente Thomas E. , Specht James E. , Ma Jianxin
Published: July 2014

Similar to Arabidopsis thaliana, the wild soybeans (Glycine soja) and many cultivars exhibit indeterminate stem growth specified by the shoot identity gene Dt1, the functional counterpart of Arabidopsis TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1). Mutations in TFL1 and Dt1 both result in the shoot apical meristem (SAM) switching from vegetative to reproductive state to initiate terminal flowering and thus produce determinate stems. A second soybean gene (Dt2) regulating stem growth was identified, which, in the presence of Dt1, produces semideterminate plants with terminal racemes similar to those observed in determinate plants. Here, we report positional cloning and characterization of Dt2, a dominant MADS domain factor gene classified into the APETALA1/SQUAMOSA (AP1/SQUA) subfamily that includes floral meristem (FM) identity genes AP1, FUL, and CAL in Arabidopsis. Unlike AP1, whose expression is limited to FMs in which the expression of TFL1 is repressed, Dt2 appears to repress the expression of Dt1 in the SAMs to promote early conversion of the SAMs into reproductive inflorescences. Given that Dt2 is not the gene most closely related to AP1 and that semideterminacy is rarely seen in wild soybeans, Dt2 appears to be a recent gain-of-function mutation, which has modified the genetic pathways determining the stem growth habit in soybean.
A candidate for a single-chain magnet: [Mn3(OAc)6(py)2(H2O)2]n(OAc is acetate and py is pyridine)
Authors: Caballero-Jiménez Judith , Reyes Ortega Yasmi , Bernès Sylvain , Escudero Roberto
Published: July 2014

The title complex,catena-poly[di-μ3-acetato-κ6O:O:O′-tetra-μ2-acetato-κ4O:O;κ4O:O′-diaquabis(pyridine-κN)trimanganese(II)], [Mn3(CH3COO)6(C6H5N)2(H2O)2]n, is a true one-dimensional coordination polymer, in which the MnIIcentres form a zigzag chain along [010]. The asymmetric unit contains two metal centres, one of which (Mn1) lies on an inversion centre, while the other (Mn2) is placed close to an inversion centre on a general position. Since all the acetates behave as bridging ligands, although with different μ2- and μ3-coordination modes, a one-dimensional polymeric structure is formed, based on trinuclear repeat units (Mn1...Mn2...Mn2′), in which the Mn2 and Mn2′ sites are related by an inversion centre. Within this monomeric block, the metal–metal separations are Mn1...Mn2 = 3.36180 (18) Å and Mn2...Mn2′ = 4.4804 (3) Å. Cation Mn1, located on an inversion centre, displays an [MnO6] coordination sphere, while Mn2, on a general position, has a slightly stronger [MnO5N] ligand field, as the sixth coordination site is occupied by a pyridine molecule. Both centres approximate an octahedral ligand field. The chains are parallel in the crystal structure and interactviahydrogen bonds involving coordinated water molecules. However, the shortest metal–metal separation between two chains [5.3752 (3) Å] is large compared with the intrachain interactions. These structural features are compatible with a single-chain magnet behaviour, as confirmed by preliminary magnetic studies.
Case of semicircular lipoatrophy: Relation between its characteristic distribution and anatomical muscle structure
Authors: Hinogami Haruna , Sakai Hiroshi , Shirabe Hirotsugu
Published: July 2014

Semicircular lipoatrophy is characterized by one or more partial, horizontal, band‐like depressions, usually on the anterolateral thigh or thighs. We report the case of a 47‐year‐old woman who presented with a 1‐month history of bilateral, parallel, symmetrical depressions on the anterolateral aspects of her thighs. She had been wearing a tight girdle, and the girdle's folds matched the cutaneous bands. Ultrasound examination of the affected areas showed that the muscle tensor fasciae latae became its tendon at this level, and the muscle rectus femoris originated at the same level in the deeper layer. Although semicircular lipoatrophy has a predisposition for the anterolateral aspect of the thigh, and has often been considered to be caused by repetitive mild trauma to the site, we speculate that it is also attributed to the vulnerability of the site, as explained by the muscle structure.
‘Believe Me Ever Most Truly and Affectly Yours’: John Robinson and Charles Jenkinson: Friendship and Sentiment within and without the Corridors of Power
Authors: Connell Andrew
Published: July 2014

Recent scholarship has subjected eighteenth‐century masculine identities to complex and contested analyses, but paid relatively little attention to friendship. The correspondence between Charles Jenkinson and John Robinson, hitherto a resource for high political narrative, is here examined to trace and analyse the development of lifelong sympathy and affection between two diligent, conventionally polite but privately emotional men, whose friendship outlived the chances of patronage and politics that initially threw them together. The evidence sheds light not only on events in high politics but also on the nature and significance of a close relationship between male friends in middle and old age.
Does trophy hunting matter to long‐term population trends inAfrican herbivores of different dietary guilds?
Authors: Crosmary W.‐G. , Côté S. D. , Fritz H.
Published: July 2014

The persistence of largeAfrican herbivores in trophy hunting areas is still unclear because of a lack of data from long‐term wildlife monitoring outside national parks. We compared population trends over the last 30 years inHwangeNationalPark,Zimbabwe, and the neighbouringMatetsiSafariArea where large herbivores were harvested at an average yearly rate of 2%. We investigated whether trophy hunting altered densities and the proportion of adult males in several large herbivore species. Large herbivores generally thrived as well, or even better, in the hunting areas than in the national park. The proportion of adult males did not differ between the two zones, except for species with higher harvest rates and proportionally more males harvested. Densities were not lower in the hunting areas than in the national park, except for elephant and impala. Large herbivores generally declined throughout the 30‐year period in both zones, particularly selective grazers. This is probably because of their greater sensitivity to variation in rainfall compared with other herbivores. Rainfall indeed declined during the study period with droughts being particularly frequent during the 1990s. Browsers, mixed feeders and non‐selective grazers generally declined less in the hunting areas than in the national park, possibly because of lower densities of natural predators and elephants outside the park. Our study highlighted that large herbivores may persist in trophy hunting areas as well as in national parks. When rigorously managed, trophy hunting areas may be relevant conservation areas for large herbivores, particularly under the current global decline of wildlife abundance acrossAfrica.
Mapping a new future: using spatial multiple criteria analysis to identify novel habitats for assisted colonization of endangered species
Authors: Dade M. C. , Pauli N. , Mitchell N. J.
Published: July 2014

Many species with restricted ranges or poor dispersal ability will occupy suboptimal habitats under climate change. The practice of translocating populations to more suitable areas outside the known historical range (assisted colonization) has been advanced as a solution to reduce the risk of extinction in the wild. Due to the high‐risk and bureaucratic complexities of assisted colonization, it is imperative that a systematic process is used to select release sites that have a reduced likelihood of translocation failure. Here we demonstrate how a spatially explicit, three‐stage multiple criteria analysis (MCA) can be used to identify potentially suitable sites for assisted colonization of an endangered species. We employ this method as an initial screening process, prior to final selection of sites for assisted colonization of the critically endangered western swamp tortoise (Pseudemydura umbrina). This species occurs naturally in two small reserves in southwestern Australia, and is currently threatened by a shift to a drier climate and consequent changes to hydrological regimes. A literature review, characteristics of remnant P. umbrina habitat, and expert knowledge were used to create a composite index of habitat suitability, mapped across the entire south‐west bioregion of Australia. The most suitable sites were 150 to 250 km south of the known range of P. umbrina, in areas of high landscape connectivity and low human population density. A subset of sites were examined in further detail and ranked using weighted summation. Careful use of MCA, taking into account data uncertainties and differences in expert opinion, can be a valuable tool when evaluating novel habitats for threatened species.
International Transmission of the People's Bank of China's Balance Sheet Expansion
Authors: Huang Yiping , Xie Peichu , Wang Jiao
Published: July 2014

The People's Bank of China's (PBoC) balance sheet expanded more dramatically than any of its major international counterparts during the past decade. The main contribution to this expansion was the rapid accumulation of the central bank's foreign assets, as a result of foreign exchange market intervention. In this paper, we examine the possible international transmission of this expansion by analyzing monthly data for China and 15 other countries over the period 2000–2012. Impulse response analysis based on vector autoregression modeling suggests that the PBoC's balance sheet expansion has greater impacts on developing than on developed countries. So far the influences appear to be dominated by “trade channels” instead of “financial channels,” possibly due to China's capital account controls. However, the impacts of the PBoC's balance sheet expansion on other countries' interest rates, exchange rates, and stock market prices could strengthen significantly in the coming years as China's economic scale grows and its capital account opens up.
A novel device for target controlled administration and reflection of desflurane – the Mirus™
Authors: Bomberg H. , Glas M. , Groesdonk V. H. , Bellgardt M. , Schwarz J. , Volk T. , Meiser A.
Published: July 2014

The Anaconda™ system is used to deliver inhalational sedation in the intensive care unit in mainland Europe. The new Mirus™ system also uses a reflector like the Anaconda; however, it also identifies end‐tidal concentrations from the gas flow, injects anaesthetics during early inspiration, controls anaesthetic concentrations automatically, and can be used with desflurane, which is not possible using the Anaconda. We tested the Mirus with desflurane in the laboratory. Compared with an external gas monitor, the bias (two standard deviations) of the end‐tidal concentration was 0.11 (0.29)% volume. In addition, automatic control was reasonable and maximum concentration delivered was 10.2%, which was deemed to be sufficient for clinical use. Efficiency was > 80% and was also deemed to be acceptable, but only when delivering a low concentration of desflurane (≤ 1.8%). By modifying the reflector, we improved efficiency up to a concentration of 3.6%. The Mirus appears to be a promising new device for long‐term sedation with desflurane on the intensive care unit, but efficiency must be improved before routine clinical use becomes affordable.
Minimally Invasive Access for Central Extracorporeal Life Support: How We Do It
Authors: Weymann Alexander , Sabashnikov Anton , Patil Nikhil P. , Mohite Prashant N. , Zych Bartlomiej , Garcia Saez Diana , Popov Aron‐Frederik , Simon Andre R.
Published: July 2014

Central extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is an effective treatment method of cardiogenic shock patients with or without lung failure. However, complications like infection and bleeding are common. The classical implantation approach requires full sternotomy, mobilization of the heart, with the well‐known risks of bleeding and mediastinal infections. We present our minimally invasive technique for central ECLS through a nonsternotomy incision. Minimized right‐sided thoracotomy is performed. Flexible arterial and venous cannulas are tunneled toward the right thoracotomy incision through the eighth intercostal space. A sewing ring is secured to the right atrium and a tube graft is anastomosed to the ascending aorta. Following full‐dose heparinization, the arterial cannula is inserted with the tip into the vascular graft of the ascending aorta and the venous cannula via the ring into the right atrium. After meticulous deairing, the central ECLS is set at full flow.
Maternal and fetal zidovudine pharmacokinetics during pregnancy and labour: too high dose infused at labour?
Authors: Fauchet Floris , Treluyer Jean‐Marc , Valade Elodie , Benaboud Sihem , Pannier Emmanuelle , Firtion Ghislaine , Foissac Frantz , Bouazza Naim , Urien Saik , Hirt Déborah
Published: July 2014

Aims

The main goal of the study was to describe the pharmacokinetics of maternal zidovudine (ZDV) administration during pregnancy and labour and to evaluate their impact on fetal concentrations and exposures.

Methods

A total of 195 HIV‐infected pregnant and non‐pregnant women aged 16–59 years were included and 273 maternal and 79 cord blood ZDV concentrations were collected. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed to describe ZDV concentrations as a function of time in the mother and the fetus. Fetal exposures resulting from maternal oral administration and infusion were estimated and compared with therapeutic exposures (3–5 mg l−1 h) and to exposure providing higher risk of toxicity (>8.4 mg l−1 h). Different protocols for ZDV administration during labour were simulated.

Results

The median fetal exposure and the percentage of children with values above 8.4 mg l−1 h were 3.20 mg l−1 h and 0% after maternal oral administration, respectively, and 9.71 mg l−1 h and 51% after maternal infusion during labour. Two options were considered to reduce fetal exposure during labour: (i) maternal infusion rates could be 1 mg kg−1 h−1 during 1 h followed by 0.5 mg kg−1 h−1 and (ii) the mother could only take oral ZDV every 5 h from start of labour until delivery with her neonate having their first ZDV dose as soon as possible after birth.

Conclusions

Zidovudine exposures are very important during labour and during the first days of a neonate's life. Maternal ZDV dose should be reduced in addition to the neonate doses reduction already proposed.
Health and social care interventions which promote social participation for adults with learning disabilities: a review
Authors: Howarth Sharon , Morris David , Newlin Meredith , Webber Martin
Published: July 2014

Accessible summary

People with learning disabilities have fewer friends than others;

Social care interventions are needed to help people to be more socially active in their community;

This review looks at what research has already been done in this area;

This is important to people with learning disabilities as it highlights the importance of having friends in, and outside of, services.

People with learning disabilities are among the most socially excluded in society. There is a significant gap in research evidence showing how health and social care workers can intervene to improve the social participation of adults with learning disabilities. A systematic review and modified narrative synthesis was used to appraise the quality and outcomes of published studies in this area. Six of eleven included studies showed a positive effect on social participation. Interventions included person‐centred planning, alteration of activity patterns, a befriending scheme and skill‐based group sessions. The majority of studies were found to have a moderate risk of bias. Further evidence about the effectiveness of interventions is required to inform policy and practice.
Late Devensian ice‐marginal features in the central North Sea – processes and chronology
Authors: Sejrup Hans Petter , Hjelstuen Berit Oline , Nygård Atle , Haflidason Haflidi , Mardal Ivar
Published: July 2014

Palaeoglaciological reconstructions of the North Sea sector of the last British Ice Sheet have, as other shelf areas, suffered from a lack of dates directly related to ice‐front positions. In the present study new high‐resolution TOPAS seismic data, bathymetric records and sediment core data from the Witch Ground Basin, central North Sea, were compiled. This compilation made it possible to map out three ice‐marginal positions, partly through identification of terminal moraines and partly through location of glacial‐fed debrisflows. The interfingering of the distal parts of the glacial‐fed debrisflows with continuous marine sedimentation enabled the development of a chronology for glacial events based on previously published and some new radiocarbon dates on marine molluscs and foraminifera. From these data it is suggested that after the central Witch Ground Basin was deglaciated at c. 27 cal. ka BP, the eastern part was inundated by glacial ice from the east in the Tampen advance at c. 21 cal. ka BP. Subsequently, the basin was inundated by ice from northeast during the Fladen 1 (c. 17.5 cal. ka BP) and the Fladen 2 (16.2 cal. ka BP) events. It should be emphasized that the Fladen 1 and 2 events, individually, may represent dynamics of relatively small lobes of glacial ice at the margin of the British Ice Sheet and that the climatic significance of these may be questioned. However, the Fladen Events probably correlate in time with the Clogher Head and Killard Point re‐advances previously documented from Ireland and the Bremanger event from off western Norway, suggesting that the British and Fennoscandian ice sheets both had major advances in their northwestern parts, close to the northwestern European seaboard, at this time.
Molecular mechanism of allosteric modulation at GPCRs: insight from a binding kinetics study at the human A1 adenosine receptor
Authors: Guo Dong , Venhorst Suzanne N , Massink Arnault , van Veldhoven Jacobus P D , Vauquelin Georges , IJzerman Adriaan P , Heitman Laura H
Published: July 2014

Background and Purpose

Many GPCRs can be allosterically modulated by small‐molecule ligands. This modulation is best understood in terms of the kinetics of the ligand–receptor interaction. However, many current kinetic assays require at least the (radio)labelling of the orthosteric ligand, which is impractical for studying a range of ligands. Here, we describe the application of a so‐called competition association assay at the adenosine A1 receptor for this purpose.

Experimental Approach

We used a competition association assay to examine the binding kinetics of several unlabelled orthosteric agonists of the A1 receptor in the absence or presence of two allosteric modulators. We also tested three bitopic ligands, in which an orthosteric and an allosteric pharmacophore were covalently linked with different spacer lengths. The relevance of the competition association assay for the binding kinetics of the bitopic ligands was also explored by analysing simulated data.

Key Results

The binding kinetics of an unlabelled orthosteric ligand were affected by the addition of an allosteric modulator and such effects were probe‐ and concentration‐dependent. Covalently linking the orthosteric and allosteric pharmacophores into one bitopic molecule had a substantial effect on the overall on‐ or off‐rate.

Conclusion and Implications

The competition association assay is a useful tool for exploring the allosteric modulation of the human adenosine A1 receptor. This assay may have general applicability to study allosteric modulation at other GPCRs as well.
Ursodeoxycholyl lysophosphatidylethanolamide attenuates hepatofibrogenesis by impairment of TGF‐β1/Smad2/3 signalling
Authors: Pathil Anita , Mueller Jan , Ludwig Johannes M , Wang Jiliang , Warth Arne , Chamulitrat Walee , Stremmel Wolfgang
Published: July 2014

Background and Purpose

Chronic hepatic inflammation results in liver fibrosis. As effective anti‐fibrogenic agents are lacking, we investigated ursodeoxycholyl lysophosphatidylethanolamide (UDCA‐LPE), a synthetic bile acid–phospholipid conjugate with anti‐inflammatory and anti‐apoptotic properties for tis effects on hepatic fibrogenesis.

Experimental Approach

To stimulate fibrogenesis, LX2 hepatic stellate cells were cultured with conditioned medium from CL48 liver cells after exposure to stress‐inducing conditions – methionine–choline‐deficient (MCD) medium or TNFα/cycloheximide (CHX) – with or without UDCA‐LPE preincubation. Anti‐fibrogenic effects of UDCA‐LPE were further studied in CL48 and LX2 cells and in primary human hepatic stellate cells (HHStec) directly exposed to TGF‐β1. To test UDCA‐LPE in vivo, C57BL/6 mice were fed a MCD diet for 11 weeks followed by 30 mg·kg−1 UDCA‐LPE 3× per week for 2.5 weeks.

Key Results

Expression of α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), α1‐collagen, vimentin and TGF‐β1 was down‐regulated by up to 93% by UDCA‐LPE in LX‐2 cells cultured with conditioned medium. Also, UDCA‐LPE inhibited Smad3 phosphorylation in CL48 cells incubated with MCD medium or TNFα/CHX and in LX2 cells exposed to conditioned medium. UDCA‐LPE also decreased phosphorylated Smad3 and Smad2 directly induced by TGF‐β1. Inhibition of TGF‐β1/Smad2/3 signalling with down‐regulation of target genes was confirmed in HHStec. In vivo, UDCA‐LPE decreased hepatic α‐SMA, α1‐collagen and TGF‐β1 expression and markedly lowered α‐SMA protein and collagen deposition in MCD mice.

Conclusions and Implications

By blocking TGF‐β1/Smad2/3 signalling, UDCA‐LPE suppressed key mediators of hepatic fibrogenesis. Thus, UDCA‐LPE could be suitable for prevention of fibrotic progression of chronic liver disease.
Intraperitoneal insulin infusion: treatment option for type 1 diabetes resulting in beneficial endocrine effects beyond glycaemia
Authors: van Dijk P.R. , Logtenberg S.J.J. , Gans R.O.B. , Bilo H.J.G. , Kleefstra N.
Published: July 2014

Continuous intraperitoneal insulin infusion (CIPII) is a treatment option for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus who fail to reach adequate glycaemic control despite intensive subcutaneous (SC) insulin therapy. CIPII has clear advantages over SC insulin administration in terms of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties and has been shown to improve glycaemic regulation. Due to the delivery of insulin predominantly in the portal vein, as opposed to systemically, CIPII offers a unique research model to investigate the effects of insulin on endocrine and metabolic parameters in vivo. The aim of the present article is to provide an overview of the literature with respect to the effects of CIPII on glucose management, quality of life, complications and costs, with additional focus on metabolic and endocrine aspects. Finally, future use and research objectives are discussed.
Optimized Generation of Stereoscopic CGI Films by 3D Image Warping
Authors: Noguera José M. , Rueda Antonio J. , Espada Miguel A. , Martín Máximo
Published: July 2014

The generation of a stereoscopic animation film requires doubling the rendering times and hence the cost. In this paper, we address this problem and propose an automatic system for generating a stereo pair from a given image and its depth map. Although several solutions exist in the literature, the high standards of image quality required in the context of a professional animation studio forced us to develop specially crafted algorithms that avoid artefacts caused by occlusions, anti‐aliasing filters, etc. This paper describes all the algorithms involved in our system and provides their GPU implementation. The proposed system has been tested with real‐life working scenarios. Our experiments show that the second view of the stereoscopic pair can be computed with as little as 15% of the effort of the original image while guaranteeing a similar quality.
Evolution of donor‐specific antibodies (DSA) and incidence of de novo DSA in solid organ transplant recipients after switch to everolimus alone or associated with low dose of calcineurin inhibitors
Authors: Perbos Emma , Juinier Estelle , Guidicelli Gwendaline , Dromer Claire , Merville Pierre , Billes Marc‐Alain , Taupin Jean‐Luc , Neau‐Cransac Martine
Published: July 2014

Background

Everolimus (EVR) is used in organ transplantation to minimize calcineurin inhibitors (CNI). Some studies pointed out an increase in rejection and de novo donor‐specific antibodies (DSA) incidence in kidney transplant patients after switch to EVR and CNI withdrawal. The aims of our study were to determine the evolution of anti‐HLA antibodies and the incidence of de novo DSA in transplant recipients after conversion to EVR.

Methods

Heart, lung, kidney, and liver transplant recipients were included in a retrospective, monocentric case–control study. Anti‐HLA antibodies were identified at transplantation, pre‐switch, and at three, six, and 12 months post‐switch.

Results

Conversion to EVR was performed about six yr after the transplant, and low‐dose CNI was maintained in 60% of patients. We found no statistical difference for rejection, evolution of preformed anti‐HLA antibodies or de novo DSA, after conversion to EVR or not. Incidence of anti‐class II DSA tended to increase at month 12 whatever the immunosuppressive regimen.

Conclusions

Late conversion to EVR appears to be safe and to not modify the natural evolution of anti‐HLA antibodies in organ transplantation. As 60% of patients received EVR and low doses of CNI, it seems that such combinations could be used with a good outcome.