bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water Use for Hydraulic Fracturing of Oil and Gas in the South Platte River Basin, Colorado
Authors: Walker Ella L. , Anderson Aspen M. , Read Laura K. , Hogue Terri S.
Published: June 2017

Water use for oil and gas development (i.e., hydraulic fracturing) is a concern in semiarid basins where water supply is often stressed to meet demands, and oil and gas production can exacerbate the situation. Understanding the impacts of water use for hydraulic fracturing (HF) on water availability in semiarid regions is critical for management and regulatory decisions. In the current work, we quantify water use for HF at several scales — from municipal to state‐wide — using the IHS Enerdeq database for the South Platte Basin. In addition, we estimate produced water (a by‐product of oil and gas production), using data from the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to explore reuse scenarios. The South Platte River Basin, located in northeastern Colorado, encompasses the Denver‐Metro area. The basin has one of the most productive oil and gas shale formations in Colorado, with much of the production occurring in Weld County. The basin has experienced higher horizontal drilling rates coupled with an increasing population. Results show water use for horizontal and vertical wells averages 11,000 and 1,000 m3, respectively. Water use for HF in the South Platte Basin totaled 0.63% of the basin's 2014 total water demand. For Weld County, water use for HF was 2.4% of total demand, and for the city of Greeley, water use was 7% of total demand. Produced water totaled 9.4 Mm3 in the basin for 2014, which represents 42% of the total water used for HF.
Intra‐ and interobserver reproducibility of Bruch's membrane opening minimum rim width measurements with spectral domain optical coherence tomography
Authors: Reis Alexandre S. C. , Zangalli Camila e S. , Abe Ricardo Y. , Silva André L. , Vianna Jayme R. , Vasconcellos José Paulo C. , Costa Vital P.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

To investigate the reproducibility of Bruch's membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO‐MRW) and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLT) measurements using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT). Additionally, to investigate the reproducibility of BMO area measurements and fovea to BMO centre (FoBMO) angle.

Methods

Participants were healthy subjects (n = 30) and patients with glaucoma (n = 26). One eye of each participant was scanned to obtain optic nerve head (24 radial B‐scans) and peripapillary (one circular B‐scan) images by three independent examiners. Additionally, one examiner imaged each participant three times on the same day. Intra‐ and interobserver reproducibilities were estimated by within‐subject standard deviation (SW) and coefficient of variation (COV). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to test the correlation between the magnitude of the parameter and its standard deviation.

Results

The global BMO‐MRW COVs (%) in healthy/glaucoma subjects were 0.87/1.34 and 1.28/3.13 for intra‐ and interobserver analyses, respectively, and the corresponding global RNFLT figures were 1.50/2.10 and 2.04/2.87. Global mean BMO‐MRW and RNFLT showed no correlation with their respective standard deviations. The reproducibilities of BMO area and FoBMO angle were excellent and similar between the groups.

Conclusion

The reproducibilities of BMO‐MRW, BMO area measurements and FoBMO angle were excellent in both healthy subjects and patients with glaucoma. Bruch's membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO‐MRW) reproducibility is comparable to that of RNFLT measurements.
Do artificial nectar feeders affect bat–plant interactions in an Ecuadorian cloud forest?
Authors: Maguiña Rossana , Muchhala Nathan
Published: June 2017

Plant–pollinator interactions are critical to ecosystems. However, when artificial nectar feeders are available in an area, they could draw pollinators away from plants. We tested the effects of artificial nectar feeders in an Ecuadorian cloud forest on four aspects of bat–plant interactions: (1) bat relative abundance; (2) bat pollen loads; (3) flower visitation rates, and (4) breeding success of a bat‐pollinated species (Burmeistera glabrata). We divided the study site into areas close to (~30 m) and far from (~500 m) three different feeder sites. At each distance, we captured nectar bats (Anoura caudifer, Anoura cultrata, and Lonchophylla robusta) to estimate their relative abundance and to collect pollen from fur and fecal samples. We also videotaped flowers to estimate bat visitation rates and recorded different breeding success variables of B. glabrata. We found that areas close to feeders have higher relative bat abundance by a factor of 40. In spite of this, the presence of feeders did not affect bat pollen loads, nor the flower visitation rates and breeding success of B. glabrata. Interestingly, there were differences in pollen loads between the three bat species, in that L. robusta individuals rarely carried pollen and were only captured near feeders.
Adaptation costs to constant and alternating polluted environments
Authors: Dutilleul Morgan , Réale Denis , Goussen Benoit , Lecomte Catherine , Galas Simon , Bonzom Jean‐Marc
Published: June 2017

Some populations quickly adapt to strong and novel selection pressures caused by anthropogenic stressors. However, this short‐term evolutionary response to novel and harsh environmental conditions may lead to adaptation costs, and evaluating these costs is important if we want to understand the evolution of resistance to anthropogenic stressors. In this experimental evolution study, we exposedCaenorhabditis eleganspopulations to uranium (U populations), salt (NaCl populations) and alternating uranium/salt treatments (U/NaCl populations) and to a control environment (C populations), over 22 generations. In parallel, we ran common‐garden and reciprocal‐transplant experiments to assess the adaptive costs for populations that have evolved in the different environmental conditions. Our results showed rapid evolutionary changes in life history characteristics of populations exposed to the different pollution regimes. Furthermore, adaptive costs depended on the type of pollutant: pollution‐adapted populations had lower fitness than C populations, when the populations were returned to their original environment. Fitness in uranium environments was lower for NaCl populations than for U populations. In contrast, fitness in salt environments was similar between U and NaCl populations. Moreover, fitness of U/NaCl populations showed similar or higher fitness in both the uranium and the salt environments compared to populations adapted to constant uranium or salt environments. Our results show that adaptive evolution to a particular stressor can lead to either adaptive costs or benefits once in contact with another stressor. Furthermore, we did not find any evidence that adaptation to alternating stressors was associated with additional adaption costs. This study highlights the need to incorporate adaptive cost assessments when undertaking ecological risk assessments of pollutants.
A novel use for polyamide tie‐wraps in the surgical resolution of caecocolic intussusception in a horse
Authors: de Bont M. P.
Published: June 2017

Caecocolic intussusception is an uncommon cause of colic in the horse. Surgical correction presents its own set of challenges. The affected tissue is often markedly oedematous and a partial typhlectomy through an enterotomy incision in the right ventral colon can be the only method of successfully reducing the intussusceptum. Suture ligation of the nonviable portion of caecum can result in cut through of tissue, which can lead to an insecure ligation. In addition, a right ventral colon enterotomy can result in life‐threatening peritoneal contamination. This report describes the novel use of polyamide tie‐wraps to ligate the inverted caecum, allowing for partial typhlectomy and reduction of the intussusceptum, as well as a method to minimise potential abdominal contamination. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of the use of polyamide tie‐wraps in the gastrointestinal tract of the horse.
Micro‐spatial separation and associated morphological adaptations in the original case of avian character displacement
Authors: Yousefi Masoud , Kaboli Mohammad , Eagderi Soheil , Mohammadi Alireza , Rezaei Ali , Nourani Elham
Published: June 2017

Divergent evolution between Western Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer and Eastern Rock Nuthatch Sitta tephronota is widely recognized as the original case study of character displacement. However, in their contact zone in the Zagros Mountains, Iran, the morphological differences important for niche segregation between the two species remain unknown. We investigated microhabitat use and morphological adaptations of the two species, predicting that morphological adaptations to different habitats in these two nuthatches have led to spatial segregation. Seventy‐seven birds were captured and measured in the contact zone and allopatric zone in Iran. Twenty‐two primary variables related to flight apparatus, functional foot apparatus and feeding apparatus were measured and 11 ratios of primary variables were calculated as secondary variables due to their importance in habitat use. We also measured environmental variables related to geological features, mineral substrates and vegetation cover at a random sample of 100 of the locations where a nuthatch was observed. Results of morphometric and habitat analyses indicated that, in addition to trophic niche segregation, the two nuthatch species also differ in their microhabitat use and show differences in morphological features accordingly. In many case studies of character displacement, much more interest has been focused on the morphological differences in feeding apparatus than on those relating to habitat use. We suggest that future studies of character displacement should pay more attention to spatial niche segregation between sympatric species rather than trophic niche segregation.
Microstructure evolution and phase transformation of TiB2/SiC/B4C composites synthesized from Ti‐SiC‐B4C ternary system
Authors: Wu Chao , Xie Shihui , Li Yunkai
Published: June 2017

Bulk TiB2/SiC/B4C composites have been synthesized from Ti‐SiC‐B4C ternary system with different Ti weight percentages via reactive hot pressing at 1800°C under an applied pressure of 30 MPa for 1.5 h. By Ti amount increasing, the flexural strength curve exhibited an “M‐like” tendency reaching the maximum value of 512.36 MPa for 30 wt.% Ti. Microstructural evolution of the composites from conterminously large matrix grains to finely clear‐edged particles was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The phase transformation and element diffusion were analyzed by XRD and Energy Disperse Spectroscopy. A hybrid reinforcing mechanism of fracture and crack deflection is proposed to illustrate the change in flexural strength.
Enhanced toughness of zirconia ceramics with graphene platelets consolidated by spark plasma sintering
Authors: Li Shuang , Xie Zhipeng , Zhang Yumin , Zhou Yufeng
Published: June 2017

Graphene platelets reinforced zirconia (GPLs/ZrO2) composites were prepared by spark plasma sintering in the present work. The effects of GPLs content on the densification route, microstructure feather, mechanical properties, and aging behaviors of such composites were investigated. In spite of the impeding effect of GPLs, high relative density of 98% was achieved for the composites owing to the uniform dispersion of GPLs. The addition of GPLs contributed to enhanced fracture toughness of the composites; when the added content was 1.0 wt.%, its fracture toughness reached up to 8.6 MPa·m1/2. Also, aging behavior of the GPLs/ZrO2 composites was investigated at 134°C for 24 hours. The monolithic ZrO2 ceramic and GPLs/ZrO2 composites presented residual ratio of 55% and 72% in fracture toughness, respectively. Thus, the incorporation of GPLs inhibited phase transformation from tetragonal phase to monoclinic phase of zirconia.
Adaptive change in chewing‐related brain activity while wearing a palatal plate: an functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Inamochi Y. , Fueki K. , Usui N. , Taira M. , Wakabayashi N.
Published: June 2017

Prosthodontic treatment success depends on patients' ability to adapt to an altered oral environment containing removable prostheses. We investigated adaptive chewing‐related brain activity changes in response to a new oral environment. Twenty‐eight fully dentate subjects (mean age: 28·6 years) wore experimental denture‐base palatal plates (3 mm thick), for 7 days. We measured food mixing ability and cycle time, and assessed brain activity by functional magnetic resonance imaging during chewing at pre‐insertion (Day 0), and immediately (Day 1), 3 days (Day 3) and 7 days (Day 7) after insertion. Food mixing ability significantly decreased and cycle time increased on Day 1 as compared to Day 0 (P < 0·001) and tended to recover to Day 0 level by Day 7. Brain activation in the right face primary sensorimotor cortex and putamen significantly decreased on Day 1 as compared to Day 0 (P < 0·001) and recovered to Day 0 level by Day 7. Brain activation in the left face primary sensorimotor cortex, putamen, anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG) and right posterior medial frontal cortex (pMFC) significantly decreased on Day 1 as compared to Day 0 (P < 0·001) and did not recover by Day 7. Thus, oral environment changes involving palate covering affected chewing and induced adaptive brain activity changes in the face primary sensorimotor cortex and putamen, possibly associated with motor learning. As ACG and pMFC activity remained unrecovered by 7 days after plate insertion, automatisation of chewing while wearing a palatal plate may require longer adaptation periods.
Circulating high mobility group AT‐hook 2 and pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 in blood of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Ren Wenhao , Gao Ling , Li Fan , Qiang Cui , Li Shaoming , Zheng Jingjing , Kong Xinjuan , Deng Jing , Cai Guangfeng , Zhang Hao , Zhou Minzhan , Zhi Keqian
Published: June 2017

Background

High mobility group AT‐hook 2 (HMGA2) and pleomorphic adenoma gene 1(PLAG1) have been demonstrated to be elevated in many malignant tumors. However, the aim of this study was to evaluate HMGA2 and PLAG1 levels in blood as a non‐invasive biomarker for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) diagnosis.

Methods

qRT‐PCR was performed to measure circulating HMGA2 and PLAG1 levels in OSCC patients (n=43) and matched cancer‐free blood control group (n=21). Clinical data of all patients were recorded.

Results

Circulating HMGA2 and PLAG1 in the 43 OSCC patients was significantly higher than in control group (P<.001, P=.038, respectively). Furthermore, HMGA2 expression in OSCC patients with poor‐moderate differentiation was increased compared with well‐differentiated group. However, no significant differences in PLAG1 expression were detected when differentiation was considered. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for circulating HMGA2 revealed an area under the ROC curve of 0.876 (95% confidence interval, 0.793‐0.959; P<.001) with 65.1% sensitivity and 100% specificity in discriminating OSCC from controls at a cutoff value of 14.380, demonstrating significant diagnostic value for OSCC.

Conclusion

Circulating HMGA2 levels are increased in OSCC patients and may potentially serve as a significant index to evaluate OSCC diagnosis.
Uncovering the role of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor/tyrosine kinase receptor B signaling in head and neck malignancies
Authors: de Moraes Juliana Kern , Wagner Vivian Petersen , Fonseca Felipe Paiva , Vargas Pablo Agustin , de Farias Caroline Brunetto , Roesler Rafael , Martins Manoela Domingues
Published: June 2017

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family of growth factors that was first known as responsible for sustain the growth, function, and plasticity of neural cells. BDNF exerts its effects by binding to the tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB). The BDNF/TrkB axis has been reported to be overexpressed in several neurogenic and non‐neurogenic tumors. Its higher expression was associated with a poor prognosis to patients affected by different human malignancies, tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis; epithelial‐mesenchymal transition and resistance to chemotherapy. BDNF/TrkB represent promising targets to the development of novel anticancer therapies. Some clinical trials are currently evaluating the efficacy of Trk protein‐target drugs in different types of solid tumors. To date, few groups have evaluated the DNF/TrkB pathway in head and neck malignancies. The aims of this study were to review the literature concerning the role of BDNF/TrkB activation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and malignant salivary gland tumors and to discuss future perspectives of BDNF/TrkB‐target therapy.
Dominance solvable approval voting games
Authors: Courtin Sébastien , Núñez Matías
Published: June 2017

This work provides necessary and sufficient conditions for the dominance solvability of approval voting games. Our conditions are very simple since they depend just on the number of possible winners when voters play weakly undominated strategies. If there are at most two possible winners, then the game is dominance‐solvable and the outcome coincides with the Condorcet winner. If every candidate is a possible winner, the game is not dominance‐solvable. If none of the previous conditions holds, then the game need not be dominance‐solvable, and the outcome need not coincide with the Condorcet winner.
Characterizing the allopolyploid species among the wild relatives of soybean: Utility of reduced representation genotyping methodologies
Authors: Sherman‐Broyles Sue , Bombarely Aureliano , Doyle Jeff
Published: June 2017

Allopolyploidy is a common feature in many angiosperm genera. The perennial wild relatives of soybean in the genus Glycine include at least nine recently formed (within the last million years) allopolyploid taxa. This study examined three allopolyploid and four diploid progenitor taxa using genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and network analysis. Genotyping by sequencing (GBS) was used to generate SNPs and results were compared with previous analyses from transcriptome data. Three lanes of Illumina sequencing produced genotypes for 70 accessions and an alignment of 22 806 SNPs across eight taxa with no missing data. The alignment combined with network analysis confirmed results from previous studies. In addition, the extended sampling made possible by GBS identified accessions that have either been misclassified or samples that came from mixed seed stocks. The most intriguing results are the discovery of previously unrecognized substructure within diploid taxa, and the likelihood that allopolyploids were derived from particular subgroups. Separation of allopolyploid SNPs into SNPs derived from homoeologous progenitor species indicate that allopolyploids no longer share genotypes with their diploid progenitors but have evolved separately long enough for signals from direct progenitor genotypes to be obscured.
Pharmacokinetics and dynamics of mycophenolate mofetil after single‐dose oral administration in juvenile dachshunds
Authors: Grobman M. , Boothe D. M. , Rindt H. , Williamson B. G. , Katz M. L. , Coates J. R. , Reinero C. R.
Published: June 2017

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is recommended as an alternative/complementary immunosuppressant. Pharmacokinetic and dynamic effects of MMF are unknown in young‐aged dogs. We investigated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of single oral dose MMF metabolite, mycophenolic acid (MPA), in healthy juvenile dogs purpose‐bred for the tripeptidyl peptidase 1 gene (TPP1) mutation. The dogs were heterozygous for the mutation (nonaffected carriers). Six dogs received 13 mg/kg oral MMF and two placebo. Pharmacokinetic parameters derived from plasma MPA were evaluated. Whole‐blood mitogen‐stimulated T‐cell proliferation was determined using a flow cytometric assay. Plasma MPA Cmax (mean ± SD, 9.33 ± 7.04 μg/ml) occurred at <1 hr. The AUC0–∞ (mean ± SD, 12.84±6.62 hr*μg/ml), MRTinf (mean ± SD, 11.09 ± 9.63 min), T1/2 (harmonic mean ± PseudoSD 5.50 ± 3.80 min), and k/d (mean ± SD, 0.002 ± 0.001 1/min). Significant differences could not be detected between % inhibition of proliferating CD5+ T lymphocytes at any time point (p = .380). No relationship was observed between MPA concentration and % inhibition of proliferating CD5+ T lymphocytes (R = .148, p = .324). Pharmacodynamics do not support the use of MMF in juvenile dogs at the administered dose based on existing therapeutic targets.
The emerging science of linked plant–fungal invasions
Authors: Dickie Ian A. , Bufford Jennifer L. , Cobb Richard C. , Desprez‐Loustau Marie‐Laure , Grelet Gwen , Hulme Philip E. , Klironomos John , Makiola Andreas , Nuñez Martin A. , Pringle Anne , Thrall Peter H. , Tourtellot Samuel G. , Waller Lauren , Williams Nari M.
Published: June 2017

Invasions of alien plants are typically studied as invasions of individual species, yet interactions between plants and symbiotic fungi (mutualists and potential pathogens) affect plant survival, physiological traits, and reproduction and hence invasion success. Studies show that plant–fungal associations are frequently key drivers of plant invasion success and impact, but clear conceptual frameworks and integration across studies are needed to move beyond a series of case studies towards a more predictive understanding. Here, we consider linked plant–fungal invasions from the perspective of plant and fungal origin, simplified to the least complex representations or ‘motifs’. By characterizing these interaction motifs, parallels in invasion processes between pathogen and mutualist fungi become clear, although the outcomes are often opposite in effect. These interaction motifs provide hypotheses for fungal‐driven dynamics behind observed plant invasion trajectories. In some situations, the effects of plant–fungal interactions are inconsistent or negligible. Variability in when and where different interaction motifs matter may be driven by specificity in the plant–fungal interaction, the size of the effect of the symbiosis (negative to positive) on plants and the dependence (obligate to facultative) of the plant−fungal interaction. Linked plant–fungal invasions can transform communities and ecosystem function, with potential for persistent legacies preventing ecosystem restoration.

Contents

Summary
1314

I.
Introduction
1315

II.
Simplification of complex networks into interaction motifs
1316

III.
Plant–fungal interactions and plant invasion dynamics
1322

IV.
Predicting where plant–fungal interactions matter: plant−symbiont specificity, dependence and effect size
1323

V.
Spatial context of linked plant–fungal invasions
1325

VI.
Impacts of linked plant–fungal invasions on ecosystem processes
1326

VII.
Management implications
1326

VIII.
Conclusions
1327

Acknowledgements
1328

References
1328
A WRKY transcription factor from Withania somnifera regulates triterpenoid withanolide accumulation and biotic stress tolerance through modulation of phytosterol and defense pathways
Authors: Singh Anup Kumar , Kumar Sarma Rajeev , Dwivedi Varun , Rai Avanish , Pal Shaifali , Shasany Ajit K. , Nagegowda Dinesh A.
Published: June 2017

Withania somnifera produces pharmacologically important triterpenoid withanolides that are derived via phytosterol pathway; however, their biosynthesis and regulation remain to be elucidated.

A jasmonate‐ and salicin‐inducible WRKY transcription factor from W. somnifera (WsWRKY1) exhibiting correlation with withaferin A accumulation was functionally characterized employing virus‐induced gene silencing and overexpression studies combined with transcript and metabolite analyses, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay.

WsWRKY1 silencing resulted in stunted plant growth, reduced transcripts of phytosterol pathway genes with corresponding reduction in phytosterols and withanolides in W. somnifera. Its overexpression elevated the biosynthesis of triterpenoids in W. somnifera (phytosterols and withanolides), as well as tobacco and tomato (phytosterols). Moreover, WsWRKY1 binds to W‐box sequences in promoters of W. somnifera genes encoding squalene synthase and squalene epoxidase, indicating its direct regulation of triterpenoid pathway. Furthermore, while WsWRKY1 silencing in W. somnifera compromised the tolerance to bacterial growth, fungal infection, and insect feeding, its overexpression in tobacco led to improved biotic stress tolerance.

Together these findings demonstrate that WsWRKY1 has a positive regulatory role on phytosterol and withanolides biosynthesis, and defense against biotic stress, highlighting its importance as a metabolic engineering tool for simultaneous improvement of triterpenoid biosynthesis and plant defense.
Lack of a weathering signal with increased Cenozoic erosion?
Authors: Norton Kevin P. , Schlunegger Fritz
Published: June 2017

The Late Cenozoic has been marked by large and rapid fluctuations in temperature. This cooling has been attributed to accelerated erosion, with concomitant increased chemical‐weathering rates and CO2 drawdown from the atmosphere. At the same time, much of the supporting evidence appears to be affected by a sampling bias, implying that global erosion and weathering have remained largely constant over the past millions of years. We suggest that sedimentary archives of geomorphic activity, such as grain size and the ratio of terrestrial to oceanic sedimentation, which show accelerated erosion are not subject to these biases. Furthermore, the active tectonic settings where these erosion increases were likely to have taken place are exactly those locations where chemical‐weathering signals are least likely to faithfully follow physical erosion rates. A lack of evidence for an increase in chemical weathering does not necessarily preclude an increase in physical erosion. In this contribution, we suggest an alternative interpretation in which erosion rates have increased in the Late Cenozoic but without significantly increased silicate weathering, which can explain the meagre response of chemical‐weathering proxies.
Examining Antecedents of Brand Loyalty on Sportswear: An Empirical Investigation of University Students in Hong Kong
Authors: Dai Xiaoxin , Chen Kuan-Chou
Published: June 2017

To extend the current understanding of brand loyalty in the sportswear industry, this article discusses six factors that influence brand loyalty of university students towards the Hong Kong sportswear market. Conclusions were drawn based on responses collected through online questionnaires. A total of 205 college students participated in the study. The final results showed that only product quality and brand name affect Hong Kong university students’ brand loyalty towards sportswear. However, based on the whole study, other factors (i.e., service quality, store environment, style and promotions) also play a vital role in sportswear marketing. This research provided insight for sportswear marketers in creating proper marketing strategies for the sportswear industry.
New faunistic and taxonomical findings of oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) of the family Otocepheidae from Myanmar
Authors: Ermilov Sergey G.
Published: June 2017

The first data on the oribatid mites of Myanmar are presented and these belong to the family Otocepheidae. A new species of the genus Eurostocepheus (Oribatida, Otocepheidae) is described from litter of disturbed primary forest of Nat Ma Taung National Park in the Chin State. Eurostocepheus (Eurostocepheus) peterjaegeri sp. nov. is morphologically most similar to E. (E.) mahunkai Mondal & Kundu, 1999, but differs by the shorter notogastral setae c and la compared to the other notogastral setae, setae la pressed to notogastral surface, well-developed lateral prodorsal carinae, smooth genital plates and by the presence of diagonal ridges on the anal plates. A supplementary description of Otocepheus (Otocepheus) heterosetiger Aoki, 1965 which was originally described from Thailand, is given in detail on the basis of specimens from Myanmar. The main morphological traits for this species are summarized.
Ticks (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae) collected from nest soil and litter of Synthliboramphus antiquus on Chilbal Island, Jeollanam Province, Republic of Korea, with the first Korean record of Ixodes uriae White
Authors: Kim Heung-chul , Park Chang-uk , Kim Miran , Kim Yang-mo , Cho Sook-young , Choi Kwang-ho , Yeo Juhan , Kwon Young-soo , Johnson Jaree L. , Monthei Derek R. , Chong Sung-tae , Klein Terry A. , Robbins Richard George
Published: June 2017

The 65th Medical Brigade and Medical Department Activity-Korea, in collaboration with the Migratory Birds Research Center, National Park Research Institute, conducted a migratory bird tick-borne disease surveillance program on Chilbal Island during 2016. Chilbal Island is a small, remote, uninhabited government-protected island in southwestern Jeollanam Province, Republic of Korea (ROK). Ticks were collected from nest soil and litter of the Ancient Murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus, using Tullgren funnels. A total of 4 Ixodes ticks (3 male Ixodes uriae and 1 female Ixodes signatus) were collected. The principal hosts of I. uriae are pelagic birds that have a largely circumpolar distribution. Ixodes signatus parasitizes other migratory birds in coastal areas of western North America and eastern Asia. This is the first report of I. uriae from the ROK.
A lumped parameter model of the single free-flooded ring transducer
Authors: Been Kyounghun , Nam Seungwon , Lee Haksue , Seo Hee-seon , Moon Wonkyu
Published: June 2017

A free-flooded ring (FFR) transducer can generate low-frequency sound in a small device and has a wide operating frequency bandwidth. Many studies have been performed that can predict the characteristics of an FFR transducer using analytical techniques and an equivalent circuit model (ECM), and methods to predict properties using numerical simulations have recently been developed. However, an ECM, a type of lumped parameter model (LPM), is still widely used to interpret the properties of such transducers in the design process. In this study, the authors investigated an ECM of an FFR transducer. The ECM consists of three parts: the piezoelectric ring, the cylindrical cavity, and the radiation load. Moreover, it can be included readily in a circuit to drive an FFR transducer. Additionally, an LPM was proposed, considering the mutual radiation loads, to improve the accuracy of the model. Each model was tested in comparisons with the finite element method; it was confirmed that an LPM could predict the properties of an FFR transducer with much better accuracy than an ECM. The LPM developed can save much time in designing FFR transducers.
Neurogenic pulmonary oedema: a rare cause of maternal collapse
Authors: Farooq Huma , Veerareddy Sukrutha , Silber Eli
Published: June 2017

Acute pulmonary oedema is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in pregnant and postpartum women. We present an unusual case of near-fatal acute pulmonary oedema in a pregnant woman, which was attributed to the acute onset of neurogenic pulmonary oedema secondary to epileptic seizure activity. The patient required supportive management in the intensive care setting for a short period and subsequently made complete recovery with regular neurological follow-up arranged for the management of her epilepsy.
Regulations governing the operation of longer combination vehicles in Canada
Authors: Wood Steven , Regehr Jonathan D.
Published: June 2017

The permits governing longer combination vehicle (LCV) activity in Canada aim to leverage LCV productivity advantages relative to other truck configurations while subjecting LCV operations to stringent regulatory controls. As of 2016, nine of the 13 provinces and territories permit LCV operations on a 17 000 km highway network. This article synthesizes LCV regulations in these jurisdictions within five categories: (i) carrier permit requirements, (ii) truck size and weight limits, (iii) equipment requirements, (iv) operating conditions, and (v) driver qualifications. While jurisdiction-specific differences remain, the synthesis reveals regulatory uniformity at the regional level. The article identifies how these regulations influence highway design, operations, and management decisions concerning the accommodation of LCV performance characteristics, the spatial and temporal control of LCV operations, the eligibility of drivers and carriers to operate LCVs, and opportunities for regulatory harmonization. As LCV activity increases, the need to formally consider the characteristics of LCVs within these decisions becomes more apparent.
Securely Computing a Ground Speed Model
Authors: Kolman Eyal , Pinkas Benny
Published: June 2017

Consider a server offering risk assessment services and potential clients of these services. The risk assessment model that is run by the server is based on current and historical data of the clients. However, the clients might prefer not sharing such sensitive data with external parties such as the server, and the server might consider the possession of this data as a liability rather than an asset. Secure multi-party computation (MPC) enables one, in principle, to compute any function while hiding the inputs to the function, and would thus enable the computation of the risk assessment model while hiding the client’s data from the server. However, a direct application of a generic MPC solution to this problem is rather inefficient due to the large scale of the data and the complexity of the function.

We examine a specific case of risk assessment—the ground speed model. In this model, the geographical locations of successive user-authentication attempts are compared, and a warning flag is raised if the physical speed required to move between these locations is greater than some threshold, and some other conditions, such as authentication from two related networks, do not hold. We describe a very efficient secure computation solution that is tailored for this problem. This solution demonstrates that a risk model can be applied over encrypted data with sufficient efficiency to fit the requirements of commercial systems.
A Joint Data Compression and Encryption Approach for Wireless Energy Auditing Networks
Authors: Tan Rui , Chiu Sheng-Yuan , Nguyen Hoang Hai , Yau David K. Y. , Jung Deokwoo
Published: June 2017

Fine-grained real-time metering is a fundamental service of wireless energy auditing networks, where metering data is transmitted from embedded wireless power meters to gateways for centralized processing, storage, and forwarding. Due to limited meter capability and wireless bandwidth, the increasing sampling rates and network scales needed to support new energy auditing applications pose significant challenges to metering data
fidelity
and
secrecy
. This article exploits the
compression
and
encryption
properties of compressive sensing (CS) to design a joint data compression and encryption (JICE) approach that addresses these two challenges simultaneously. Compared with a conventional signal processing pipeline that compresses and encrypts data sequentially, JICE reduces computation and space complexities due to its simple design. It thus leaves more processor time and available buffer space for handling lossy wireless transmissions. Moreover, JICE features an adaptive reconfiguration mechanism that selects the signal representation basis of CS at runtime among several candidate bases to achieve the best fidelity of the recovered data at the gateways. This mechanism enables JICE to adapt to changing power consumption patterns. On a smart plug platform, we implemented JICE and several baseline approaches including downsampling, lossless compression, and the pipeline approach. Extensive testbed experiments show that JICE achieves higher data delivery ratios and lower recovery distortions under a range of realistic settings. In particular, at a meter sampling rate of 8 Hz, JICE increases the number of meters supported by a gateway by 50%, compared with the commonly used pipeline approach, while keeping a signal distortion rate lower than 5%.
A Role for Neuronal Alpha-Synuclein in Gastrointestinal Immunity
Authors: Stolzenberg Ethan , Berry Deborah , Yang De , Lee Ernest Y. , Kroemer Alexander , Kaufman Stuart , Wong Gerard C.L. , Oppenheim Joost J. , Sen Supti , Fishbein Thomas , Bax Ad , Harris Brent , Barbut Denise , Zasloff Michael A.
Published: June 2017

Background: Alpha-synuclein (αS) is a nerve cell protein associated with Parkinson disease (PD). Accumulation of αS within the enteric nervous system (ENS) and its traffic from the gut to the brain are implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of PD. αS has no known function in humans and the reason for its accumulation within the ENS is unknown. Several recent studies conducted in rodents have linked αS to immune cell activation in the central nervous system. We hypothesized that αS in the ENS might play a role in the innate immune defenses of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Methods: We immunostained endoscopic biopsies for αS from children with documented gastric and duodenal inflammation and intestinal allograft recipients who contracted norovirus. To determine whether αS exhibited immune-modulatory activity, we examined whether human αS induced leukocyte migration and dendritic cell maturation. Findings: We showed that the expression of αS in the enteric neurites of the upper GI tract of pediatric patients positively correlated with the degree of acute and chronic inflammation in the intestinal wall. In intestinal allograft subjects who were closely monitored for infection, expression of αS was induced during norovirus infection. We also demonstrated that both monomeric and oligomeric αS have potent chemoattractant activity, causing the migration of neutrophils and monocytes dependent on the presence of the integrin subunit, CD11b, and that both forms of αS stimulate dendritic cell maturation. Interpretation: These findings strongly suggest that αS is expressed within the human ENS to direct intestinal inflammation and implicates common GI infections in the pathogenesis of PD.
ЕЛЕКТРОННИЙ РЕЄСТР ПАЦІЄНТІВ – ЧАСТИНА ГЛОБАЛЬНОЇ ІНФОРМАЦІЙНОЇ СИСТЕМИ МЕДИЧНОЇ ДОПОМОГИ
Authors: Litvinovа O. N. , Terenda N. A. , Panchishin N. Ya. , Fedchishin N. Ye. , Smirnova V. L. , Petrashik Yu. N. , Slobodyan N. A.
Published: June 2017

Мета – проаналізувати стан створення електронних реєстрів у системі медичної допомоги та показати алгоритм стратегічної систематизації даної проблеми.Матеріали і методи. Були розглянуті офіційні нормативні документи щодо створення реєстру пацієнтів та подібних реєстрів, які вже працюють в Україні. У роботі використані методи аналізу, порівняння, статистичні та ретроспективні методи дослідження.Результати. Аналіз інформації щодо створення електронних реєстрів пацієнтів засвідчує необхідність системного підходу до даного проекту. При розробці шляхів експлуатації даного реєстру слід визначитися з можливістю кореспонденції між подібними реєстрами і базами даних, як в Україні, так і в дружніх країнах зарубіжжя. Відмічено, що в основу запровадження такого реєстру необхідно закладати економічну, медичну та соціальну ефективність.Висновки. Визначення мети реєстру і балансу «затрати – результат», як і питання гарантії безпеки пацієнта, мають бути пріоритетними стратегічними кроками у процесі формування реєстру.
ГРОМАДСЬКА МЕДИЧНА ДОПОМОГА ПІВДНЯ УКРАЇНИ (ДРУГА ПОЛОВИНА ХІХ – ПОЧАТОК ХХ СТ.): ПОПУЛЯРИЗАЦІЯ ТА ВПРОВАДЖЕННЯ НАУКОВОЇ МЕДИЦИНИ
Authors: Yermilov V. S.
Published: June 2017

Подією в історії медицини України став вихід монографії В.С. Єрмілова «Громадська медична допомога Півдня України (друга половина ХІХ – початок ХХ ст.)», оскільки раптове, одноосібне, необґрунтоване і навіть шкідницьке рішення ексміністра освіти і науки Д.В. Табачника про переведення спеціальності «Історія медицини» з галузі «медичних наук» до «історичних наук» серйозно підірвало планування і виконання історико-медичних досліджень, бо припинило роботу медиків у цій галузі, але поки ще не дуже сприяло діяльності в ній професійних істориків.
Population status and species diversity of wetland birds in the Rapti and Narayani rivers and associated wetlands of Chitwan National Park, Nepal
Authors: Khadka Bed Bahadur , Acharya Paras Mani , Rajbhandari Sunil Lal
Published: June 2017

In autumn and winter, 24 migratory waterfowl species from the north utilise the wetlands of Chitwan National Park, which provide vital staging, roosting, resting, foraging and breeding places. The birds stay for about eight months before returning north in March and April. These birds are indicators of healthy wetlands, and they distribute nutrients through their droppings that increase primary production of aquatic vegetation and fish. A population census of wetland birds was conducted during January 2014 in Chitwan National Park on the Rapti and Narayani rivers and associated wetlands, including Lami Tal, Tamor Tal, Garud Tal, Devi Tal and marshes and lakes around Temple Tiger. The study found that the Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea was the migratory waterfowl with the largest population in these rivers.
Co-occurrence patterns of fish communities in littorals of three floodplain lakes of the Orinoco River, Venezuela
Authors: Echevarría Gabriela E. , González Nirson
Published: June 2017

The co-occurrence patterns of fish communities in the littorals of three lagoons of the Orinoco River floodplain in Venezuela were studied during four hydrological phases: low, rising, high and falling waters, from 2008–2009, using null models.  The analyses were made separately for each floodplain lake and for each habitat type within them.  During low waters only one lake showed a segregated pattern in beaches covered with leaf litter, whereas in the other floodplain lakes the communities were randomly assembled in all habitats during the four hydrological phases.  Despite the absence of a significant overall structure, several significantly aggregated and segregated species pairs were observed in the three lakes.  The temporal variation might be the main factor responsible for the co-occurrence patterns observed in these floodplain lakes due to the periodic reshuffling of littoral habitats.
Sphaerotheca pashchima, a new species of burrowing frog (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from western India
Authors: Padhye Anand , Dahanukar Neelesh , Sulakhe Shauri , Dandekar Nikhil , Limaye Sunil , Jamdade Kirti
Published: June 2017

Sphaerotheca pashchima, a new species of burrowing frog, is described from western India. It can be diagnosed from all its congeners based on a combination of characters including interorbital width less than upper eyelid width, snout to nostril distance less than half of eye diameter, nostril nearer to snout than to eye, internarial distance greater than inter orbital distance, snout rounded, dorsum rough and warty, finger 2 length equal to or less than finger 4 length, finger 1 less finger 3 length, outer metatarsal tubercle absent, tibio tarsal tubercle absent, length of inner metatarsal tubercle more than three times the inner toe length and reduced webbing.  We also provide 16S rRNA gene sequence for S. pashchima sp. nov. and show that it is genetically distinct from species of Sphaerotheca for which genetic data is available.
A new record of Tenodera fasciata (Olivier, 1792) (Insecta: Mantodea: Mantidae: Mantinae) for western India
Authors: Raut Gopal Ambrushi , Gaikwad Sunil Madhukar
Published: June 2017

Tenodera fasciata (Olivier, 1792) is reported for the first time from the Western Ghats.  The present record extends its known geographical range notably from the east towards western India for about 1,400km.  The finding of only two specimens in two years suggests its rarity.
A new locality record of the rare Anomalous Nawab Polyura agrarius (Swinhoe, 1887) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Charaxinae) from central India
Authors: Mehra Deepika , Flora Jagatjot Singh , Sharma Vivek
Published: June 2017

Polyura agrarius (Swinhoe, 1887), known as the Anomalous Nawab, is a wide-ranging but localized and rare species in India; there are only a handful records from central India.  The only specimen-based record of this species from Madhya Pradesh, India is by Charles Swinhoe in 1886, which is the basis of its original description.  This paper reports a new locality record for Polyura agrarius from Jabalpur, central India along with a review of earlier records from the region.
Taxonomic note about Willow Ermine Moth Yponomeuta rorrellus Hübner (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) from Ladakh division of Jammu & Kashmir, India
Authors: Dar Mudasir Ahmed , Akbar Shahid Ali , Mahendiran Govindasamy
Published: June 2017

Yponomeuta rorrellus (Hübner, 1796) is considered a monophagous pest of the willow plantation (Salix spp.) in Drass and Leh districts of Ladakh Division (Jammu & Kashmir), with its peak activity recorded during the months of July and August.  The taxonomic study of the species is presented here for the first time.
First records of butterflies Anthene emolus emolus (Godart, [1924]) (Lepidoptera:Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae) and Gandaca harina assamica Moore, [1906] (Lepidoptera: Pieridae: Coliadinae) from Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Sondhi Sanjay
Published: June 2017

Reporting the range extension of the Common Ciliate Blue Anthene emolus emolus and the Tree Yellow Gandaca harina assamica to the Kumaon Himalaya in India
Acute Hemodynamic and Tissue Effects of Cryoballoon Ablation on Pulmonary Vessels: The IVUS‐Cryo Study
Authors: Baran Jakub , Lewandowski Paweł , Smarż Krzysztof , Sikorska Agnieszka , Zaborska Beata , Kułakowski Piotr
Published: June 2017

Background

Cryoballoon‐based pulmonary vein isolation (CB‐
PVI
) has been widely used for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Although generally safe and effective, the procedure may be associated with pulmonary vein (
PV
) stenosis and bronchial or esophageal injury. The mechanisms leading to these complications have not been studied in detail. Our aim was to examine acute effects of cryoballoon on the pulmonary vessel and right heart pressures as well as
PV
wall morphology.

Methods and Results

In 8 patients (5 men, mean age 55±14 years) undergoing
CB
‐
PVI
, pressure in each
PV
was measured by catheter located inside the
PV
directly before and after
CB
‐
PVI
. The right atrial, right ventricular, and pulmonary artery pressures as well as pulmonary arterial wedge capillary pressure in the pulmonary artery branch corresponding to target
PV
were also measured. Morphological changes in
PVs
were assessed using intravascular ultrasonography.

There were no significant differences in
PV
pressures before and after ablation. The pulmonary arterial wedge capillary pressure significantly increased during cryoapplication (left superior: 20±10 versus 29±8.5 mm Hg,
P
=0.004; left inferior: 24±10 versus 32±6 mm Hg,
P
=0.012; right superior: 25±9 versus 35±10 mm Hg,
P
=0.002; right inferior: 24±10 versus 37±12 mm Hg,
P
=0.0036). The right atrial and pulmonary artery pressures increased significantly after
CB
‐
PVI
(9±6 versus 13±8 mm Hg,
P
=0.004, and 20±9 versus 24±10 mm Hg,
P
=0.048, respectively). Intravascular ultrasonography showed acute edema and dissection‐like changes causing relative lumen narrowing in 90% of
PVs
.

Conclusions

CB
‐
PVI
causes significant rise in pulmonary artery and right atrial pressures as well as
PV
wall damage. The clinical significance of these findings warrants further investigations.