bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microbial Augmentation on Intensive Grow Out Shrimp Culture to Improve Water Quality, Growth and Shrimp Production
Authors: Junda Muhammad , Pagarra Halifah , Nur Surachman
Published: June 2019

The objective of this study is to evaluate the microbial augmentation on intensive shrimp culture to improve water quality, growth, and shrimp productivity. This study was conducted on intensive shrimp grow out ponds of the farmers in Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi. There were four grow out ponds used for study with different pond size. All ponds used zero or minimal water exchange systems. All inputs used in this study such as high quality of commercial feed, seed, intensive aeration with paddle wheels, vitamins and minerals. Treatment with a consortium of flock forming bacteria as a starter each given every week. Shrimp growth ponds used intensive culture system with condition water depth of ponds 120 – 130 cm, feeding rate was four time a day. Water quality parameters measured are salinity, pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO) and turbidity. Survival rate (SR), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and MBW were measured every week. The results of this research showed that shrimp production 1,600 – 5,600 kg. Growth rate: ADG 0.34 – 0.45; survival rate 90 – 97 %; FCR 1.02 – 1.1 and MBW 22.8 – 29.40. Water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, water temperature, water depth, salinity, pH and water transparency were 2.8 – 5.5 mg L−1; 26 – 31°C; 75 – 125 cm; 15-30 mg L−1; 6.8 – 9.6 and 15 – 30 cm; respectively. In summary, shrimp production increased significantly with microbial augmentation, and water quality parameters were a suitable condition.
Astrophysical neutrinos: theory
Authors: Pisanti Ofelia
Published: June 2019

In the era of multi-messenger astronomy, neutrinos are among the most important astronomical messengers, due to their interaction properties. In these lessons I briefly review the main issues concerning the theory on astrophysical neutrinos.
Straight to the Source? Where Adaptations, Artworks, Historical Films, and Novels Connect
Authors: Strong Jeremy
Published: June 2019

Responding to several recent interventions in adaptation studies that have argued for history-as-adaptation, this article develops a sustained examination of how page-to-screen adaptations may be understood as structured and interpreted in ways analogous to the historical film. Considering the relationship between historical screen texts and the historical novel, including the many novel-to-film adaptations of such stories, the article identifies a distinct subset of adaptations in which artworks and literary works are engaged as the ‘source’ for fictional and semi-fictional narratives that ostensibly address the circumstances of their creation. Re-purposing the term ‘origin story’ to characterize these stories, the works of historical novelist Tracy Chevalier are posited as examples of this creative adaptive practice. In addition, this article argues for the trope of ‘bringing-to-life’ and the associated domain of re-enactment as key modes, deeply resonant since the earliest phases of cinema technology, for figuring both the page-to-screen adaptation and historical film. Finally, the 2015 historical biopic and adaptation Trumbo and its relationship to a range of sources are examined in the light of ideas proposed in this article.
Distributional Impacts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Using Farm Household Microdata
Authors: Bawa Siraj G. , Williamson James M.
Published: June 2019

This paper uses ten years of USDA's Agricultural Resource Management Survey data to evaluate the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). We simulate income tax returns at the household level using the survey's detailed financial and demographic information. We find that farm households in the top 10% of the income distribution realize 71% of the total tax cuts from the TCJA, while families in the bottom 20% of the distribution experience a slight increase in their income tax liabilities. Consequently, the TCJA reduces the progressivity of the tax code, particularly over years with lower farm household income.
Density-Dependent Phenotypic Plasticity in the South American Locust, Schistocerca cancellata (Orthoptera: Acrididae)
Authors: Pocco Martina E , Cigliano M Marta , Foquet Bert , Lange Carlos E , Nieves Eliana L , Song Hojun
Published: June 2019

Historically, the South American locust, Schistocerca cancellata (Serville, 1838), has been considered the most serious agricultural pest in Argentina. An outbreak of a magnitude not recorded since 1954 started in 2015 through 2017 in northern Argentina and neighboring Paraguay and Bolivia. Schistocerca cancellata is widely considered as a true locust, with pronounced locust phase polyphenism, although the expression of its phenotypic plasticity has never been quantitatively tested under different density conditions. In this study, we explicitly quantified density-dependent reaction norms in behavior, coloration, and morphology in last instar nymphs of S. cancellata under isolated and crowded conditions. We also quantified density-dependent plasticity in adults (size) and in some life history traits. Our results showed that crowded nymphs were significantly more active and more attracted to congeners than isolated nymphs, and developed a much higher percentage of black pattern color. We also found that density had strong effects on body size and there was a sex-dependent pattern in both nymphs and adults, revealing that differences in size between males and females were less pronounced in crowded locusts. We have recorded for the isolated nymphs the presence of about 50% more hairs in the hind femora than in crowded nymphs. Finally, the mean duration of each nymphal instar and adult stage was significantly longer in isolated individuals. We have found strong resemblance with the desert locust, S. gregaria (Forskål, 1775) in several traits, and we conclude that S. cancellata exhibits an extreme form of density-dependent phenotypic plasticity in behavior, coloration, morphology, and life history traits.
Marriage stability in a pastoralist society
Authors: Du Juan , Mace Ruth
Published: June 2019

We examined how individual investment was associated with the duration of marriage partnerships in a pastoralist society of Amdo Tibetans in China. We collected demographic and socioeconomic data from 420 women and 369 men over five villages to assess which factors predicted partnership length. We found that the payment of dowry and bridewealth from both sides of the family predicted marriage stability. The production of offspring, regardless of their survivorship, also had a positive effect on marriage duration, as did trial marriage, a time period before formal marriage. Finally, we found that if both bride and groom invest resources initially into a partnership—whether wealth or labor—their subsequent partnership is stronger than couples who do not make such investments. This paper adds to our understanding of complex social institutions like marriage from a behavioral ecological perspective.
ACPred-Fuse: fusing multi-view information improves the prediction of anticancer peptides
Authors: Rao Bing , Zhou Chen , Zhang Guoying , Su Ran , Wei Leyi
Published: June 2019

Fast and accurate identification of the peptides with anticancer activity potential from large-scale proteins is currently a challenging task. In this study, we propose a new machine learning predictor, namely, ACPred-Fuse, that can automatically and accurately predict protein sequences with or without anticancer activity in peptide form. Specifically, we establish a feature representation learning model that can explore class and probabilistic information embedded in anticancer peptides (ACPs) by integrating a total of 29 different sequence-based feature descriptors. In order to make full use of various multiview information, we further fused the class and probabilistic features with handcrafted sequential features and then optimized the representation ability of the multiview features, which are ultimately used as input for training our prediction model. By comparing the multiview features and existing feature descriptors, we demonstrate that the fused multiview features have more discriminative ability to capture the characteristics of ACPs. In addition, the information from different views is complementary for the performance improvement. Finally, our benchmarking comparison results showed that the proposed ACPred-Fuse is more precise and promising in the identification of ACPs than existing predictors. To facilitate the use of the proposed predictor, we built a web server, which is now freely available via http://server.malab.cn/ACPred-Fuse.
Functional balance between Tcf21–Slug defines cellular plasticity and migratory modalities in high grade serous ovarian cancer cell lines
Authors: Varankar Sagar S , More Madhuri , Abraham Ancy , Pansare Kshama , Kumar Brijesh , Narayanan Nivedhitha J , Jolly Mohit Kumar , Mali Avinash M , Bapat Sharmila A
Published: June 2019

Cellular plasticity and transitional phenotypes add to complexities of cancer metastasis that can be initiated by single cell epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) or cooperative cell migration (CCM). Our study identifies novel regulatory cross-talks between Tcf21 and Slug in mediating phenotypic and migration plasticity in high-grade serous ovarian adenocarcinoma (HGSC). Differential expression and subcellular localization associate Tcf21, Slug with epithelial, mesenchymal phenotypes, respectively; however, gene manipulation approaches identify their association with additional intermediate phenotypic states, implying the existence of a multistep epithelial-mesenchymal transition program. Live imaging further associated distinct migratory modalities with the Tcf21/Slug status of cell systems and discerned proliferative/passive CCM, active CCM and EMT modes of migration. Tcf21–Slug balance identified across a phenotypic spectrum in HGSC cell lines, associated with microenvironment-induced transitions and the emergence of an epithelial phenotype following drug exposure. Phenotypic transitions and associated functionalities following drug exposure were affirmed to ensue from occupancy of Slug promoter E-box sequences by Tcf21. Our study effectively provides a framework for understanding the relevance of ovarian cancer plasticity as a function of two transcription factors.
Tumor-derived exosomes promote carcinogenesis of murine oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Razzo Beatrice M , Ludwig Nils , Hong Chang-Sook , Sharma Priyanka , Fabian Kellsye P , Fecek Ronald J , Storkus Walter J , Whiteside Theresa L
Published: June 2019

Circulating tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) interact with a variety of cells in cancer-bearing hosts, leading to cellular reprogramming which promotes disease progression. To study TEX effects on the development of solid tumors, immunosuppressive exosomes carrying PD-L1 and FasL were isolated from supernatants of murine or human HNSCC cell lines. TEX were delivered (IV) to immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice bearing premalignant oral/esophageal lesions induced by the carcinogen, 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO). Progression of the premalignant oropharyngeal lesions to malignant tumors was monitored. A single TEX injection increased the number of developing tumors (6.2 versus 3.2 in control mice injected with phosphate-buffered saline; P < 0.0002) and overall tumor burden per mouse (P < 0.037). The numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes infiltrating the developing tumors were coordinately reduced (P < 0.01) in mice injected with SCCVII-derived TEX relative to controls. Notably, TEX isolated from mouse or human tumors had similar effects on tumor development and immune cells. A single IV injection of TEX was sufficient to condition mice harboring premalignant OSCC lesions for accelerated tumor progression in concert with reduced immune cell migration to the tumor.
Age-Related Differences in Functional Asymmetry During Memory Retrieval Revisited: No Evidence for Contralateral Overactivation or Compensation
Authors: Roe James M , Vidal-Piñeiro Didac , Sneve Markus H , Kompus Kristiina , Greve Douglas N , Walhovd Kristine B , Fjell Anders M , Westerhausen René
Published: June 2019

Brain asymmetry is inherent to cognitive processing and seems to reflect processing efficiency. Lower frontal asymmetry is often observed in older adults during memory retrieval, yet it is unclear whether lower asymmetry implies an age-related increase in contralateral recruitment, whether less asymmetry reflects compensation, is limited to frontal regions, or predicts neurocognitive stability or decline. We assessed age-related differences in asymmetry across the entire cerebral cortex, using functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 89 young and 76 older adults during successful retrieval, and surface-based methods allowing direct homotopic comparison of activity between cortical hemispheres . An extensive left-asymmetric network facilitated retrieval in both young and older adults, whereas diverse frontal and parietal regions exhibited lower asymmetry in older adults. However, lower asymmetry was not associated with age-related increases in contralateral recruitment but primarily reflected either less deactivation in contralateral regions reliably signaling retrieval failure in the young or lower recruitment of the dominant hemisphere—suggesting that functional deficits may drive lower asymmetry in older brains, not compensatory activity. Lower asymmetry predicted neither current memory performance nor the extent of memory change across the preceding ~ 8 years in older adults. Together, these findings are inconsistent with a compensation account for lower asymmetry during retrieval and aging.
Slowly or Nonresolving Legionnaires’ Disease: Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Pouderoux Cécile , Ginevra Christophe , Descours Ghislaine , Ranc Anne-Gaëlle , Beraud Laetitia , Boisset Sandrine , Magand Nicolas , Conrad Anne , Bergeron-Lafaurie Anne , Jarraud Sophie , Ader Florence
Published: June 2019

Background

Rarely, Legionnaires’ disease (LD) can progress into a slowly or nonresolving form.

Methods

A nationwide retrospective study was conducted by the French National Reference Center for Legionella (2013–2017) including cases of slowly or nonresolving LD defined as persistent clinical symptoms, computed tomography (CT) scan abnormalities, and Legionella detection in lower respiratory tract specimens by culture and/or real-time (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) >30 days after symptom onset.

Results

Twelve cases of community-acquired slowly or nonresolving LD were identified among 1686 cases of culture-positive LD. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 63 (29–82) years. Ten (83.3%) patients had ≥1 immunosuppressive factor. Clinically, 9 patients transiently recovered before further deterioration (median [IQR] symptom-free interval, 30 [18–55] days), 3 patients had uniformly persistent symptoms (median [IQR] time, 48 [41.5–54] days). Two patients had >2 recurrences. CT scan imagery found lung abscess in 5 (41.6%) cases. Slowly or nonresolving LD was diagnosed on positive Legionella cultures (n = 10, 83.3%) at 49.5 (IQR, 33.7–79) days. Two cases were documented through positive Legionella RT PCR at 52 and 53 days (cycle threshold detection of 21.5 and 33.7, respectively). No genomic microevolution and no Legionella resistance to antibiotics were detected. The median (IQR) duration of treatment was 46.5 (21–92.5) days. Two empyema cases required thoracic surgery. At a median (IQR) follow-up of 26 (14–41.5) months, LD-attributable mortality was 16.6% (n = 2).

Conclusions

Slowly or nonresolving LD may occur in immunocompromised patients, possibly leading to lung abscess and empyema.
Effective questioning in CLIL classrooms: empowering thinking
Authors: Valverde Caravaca Rebeca
Published: June 2019

This research explores the types of questions teachers ask their students in CLIL classrooms and how they can optimize their use of these questions. It came about as a result of a slowdown detected in the learning capacity of students after the first two years of CLIL programmes in the region of Murcia, Spain. The first data collected demonstrated that most classroom interactions only involved responding to display questions, which required the mere remembering or understanding of concepts. Hence, we implemented a testing methodology to determine whether stimulating higher-order thinking would result in a significant improvement in student outcomes. The results showed that this methodological intervention succeeded in its aim, as a marked improvement in student responses was achieved. These findings highlight the value of optimizing the use of questions to foster critical thinking and empower students for the knowledge economy in which we live.
Clinical safety of the ProMRI implantable cardioverter-defibrillator systems during head and lower lumbar magnetic resonance imaging at 3 T: results of the ProMRI 3T ENHANCED Master study
Authors: Zbinden Rainer , Wollmann Christian , Brachmann Johannes , Michaelsen Jochen , Steinwender Clemens , Kovoor Pramesh , Kelle Sebastian , McGavigan Andrew D , Ching Chi Keong , Figtree Gemma A , Schmidt Jan , Timmel Tobias , Lotz Joachim
Published: June 2019

Aims

There have been no published studies on the safety of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 Tesla (3 T) in patients with MRI-conditional implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). The aim of this study was to assess clinical safety of the Biotronik ProMRI ICD system during non-diagnostic head and lower lumbar scans under 3 T MRI conditions.

Methods and results

The study enrolled 129 patients at 12 sites in Australia, Singapore, and Europe. Predefined head and lower lumbar MR scans (total duration ≈30 min) were performed in 112 patients. Three primary endpoints were evaluated from the pre-MRI to the 1-month post-MRI visit: (i) freedom from serious adverse device effects (SADEs) related to MRI (hypothesized to be >90%); (ii) pacing threshold invariance for all leads (geometric mean of the patient-wise ratios for 1 month vs. pre-MRI was hypothesized to be <1.07); and (iii) sensing amplitude invariance (geometric mean of the ratios was hypothesized to be >0.993). No MRI-related SADE occurred (SADE-free rate 100%, 95% confidence interval 95.98–100%). Pacing threshold and sensing amplitudes fulfilled the invariance hypotheses with high statistical significance (P < 0.0013). No threshold increase >0.5 V or sensing amplitude decrease by >50% was observed (secondary endpoints). Lead impedances, battery capacity, and detection and treatment of arrhythmias by ICDs were not affected by MRI scans.

Conclusion

The head and lower lumbar scans under specific 3 T MRI conditions were safe in the investigated MR-conditional ICD systems. There was no evidence of harm to the patients or any negative influence of the MRI scan on the implanted systems.
Improving relative earthquake locations using surface-wave source corrections
Authors: Howe Michael , Ekström Göran , Nettles Meredith
Published: June 2019

We develop a procedure to improve estimates of relative earthquake locations using Rayleigh and Love wave arrivals for multiple earthquakes recorded at common stations. We fit predicted differential traveltimes to those measured using a cross-correlation technique, and correct the phases of the cross-correlation functions for phase delays that result from the surface-wave radiation patterns. We develop an empirical measure of uncertainty that provides realistic estimates of the errors in the earthquake locations. We investigate the effectiveness of the relocation procedure by first applying it to two suites of synthetic earthquakes. We then relocate real earthquakes in three separate regions: two ridge-transform systems and one subduction zone. We demonstrate that the inclusion of source corrections in the relocation procedure results in improved location estimates compared to relocations without source corrections. The source correction also allows for automated application of the relocation procedure, even in regions with a wide range of earthquake focal mechanisms.
Explaining and predicting the impact of authors within a community: an assessment of the bibliometric literature and application of machine learning
Authors: Chai Sen , D’Amour Alexander , Fleming Lee
Published: June 2019

Following widespread availability of computerized databases, much research has correlated bibliometric measures from papers or patents to subsequent success, typically measured as the number of publications or citations. Building on this large body of work, we ask the following questions: given available bibliometric information in one year, along with the combined theories on sources of creative breakthroughs from the literatures on creativity and innovation, how accurately can we explain the impact of authors in a given research community in the following year? In particular, who is most likely to publish, publish highly cited work, and even publish a highly cited outlier? And, how accurately can these existing theories predict breakthroughs using only contemporaneous data? After reviewing and synthesizing (often competing) theories from the literatures, we simultaneously model the collective hypotheses based on available data in the year before RNA interference was discovered. We operationalize author impact using publication count, forward citations, and the more stringent definition of being in the top decile of the citation distribution. Explanatory power of current theories altogether ranges from less than 9% for being top cited to 24% for productivity. Machine learning (ML) methods yield similar findings as the explanatory linear models, and tangible improvement only for non-linear Support Vector Machine models. We also perform predictions using only existing data until 1997, and find lower predictability than using explanatory models. We conclude with an agenda for future progress in the bibliometric study of creativity and look forward to ML research that can explain its models.
The role of marine mammals in the Barents Sea foodweb
Authors: Blanchet Marie-Anne , Primicerio Raul , Frainer André , Kortsch Susanne , Skern-Mauritzen Mette , Dolgov Andrey V , Aschan Michaela
Published: June 2019

Marine mammals are important players in the Barents Sea ecosystem but their structural role in the foodweb has been little explored. We compare foodweb-related characteristics within and between phylogenetic groups for 19 marine mammals. As a group, they directly connect to the most central species (i.e cod and haddock) in the Barents Sea (i.e. cod and haddock) and consume over half of the available species. Pinnipeds are the most homogenous phylogenetic group with high omnivory and high prey richness. Mysticetes are split between well-connected species with high omnivory like the humpback whale, and peripheral specialists like the blue whale. Based on foodweb-derived indices some species consistently cluster together forming two groups, suggesting topological redundancy within them. One is dominated by Arctic seals and the other includes most of the baleen whales. Marine mammals generally contribute to network modularity as their trophic links are mainly within their own module. However, Atlantic species such as the grey seal act as a module connector decreasing modularity. This might negatively affect ecosystem robustness with perturbation effects spreading further and quicker in the foodweb. In the Arctic reaches of the Barents Sea, climate warming is likely to bring about extensive changes in the foodweb structure through a redistribution of species.
Predicting the impact of future oil-spill closures on fishery-dependent communities—a spatially explicit approach
Authors: Berenshtein Igal , O’Farrell Shay , Perlin Natalie , Sanchirico James N , Murawski Steven A , Perruso Larry , Paris Claire B
Published: June 2019

Major oil spills immensely impact the environment and society. Coastal fishery-dependent communities are especially at risk as their fishing grounds are susceptible to closure because of seafood contamination threat. During the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster for example, vast areas of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) were closed for fishing, resulting in coastal states losing up to a half of their fishery revenues. To predict the effect of future oil spills on fishery-dependent communities in the GoM, we develop a novel framework that combines a state-of-the-art three-dimensional oil-transport model with high-resolution spatial and temporal data for two fishing fleets—bottom longline and bandit-reel—along with data on the social vulnerability of coastal communities. We demonstrate our approach by simulating spills in the eastern and western GoM, calibrated to characteristics of the DWH spill. We find that the impacts of the eastern and western spills are strongest in the Florida and Texas Gulf coast counties respectively both for the bandit-reel and the bottom longline fleets. We conclude that this multimodal spatially explicit quantitative framework is a valuable management tool for predicting the consequences of oil spills at locations throughout the Gulf, facilitating preparedness and efficient resource allocation for future oil-spill events.
A novel biodegradable occluder for the closure of ventricular septal defects: immediate and medium-term results in a canine model
Authors: Bu Haisong , Yang Yifeng , Hu Shijun , Wu Qin , Gong Xueyang , Zhao Tianli
Published: June 2019

OBJECTIVES

The feasibility of an Amplatzer septal occluder closure of ventricular septal defects (VSDs) under echocardiographic guidance has already been proven. However, the technique is not used routinely owing to high-rate atrioventricular blocks and the non-absorbability of the occluder. Here, we aimed to evaluate the safety, biocompatibility and effectiveness of a new biodegradable occluder.

METHODS

A total of 18 adult beagle dogs [mean body weight 8.85 kg (range 8.10–10.40 kg)] were enrolled in our study from March 2015 to July 2018. VSD animal models were prepared by thoracic intervention, and the new bioabsorbable occluder was implanted under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiography. Laboratory examinations, transthoracic echocardiography and electrocardiography were performed after surgery, and pathological samples from dogs were obtained after euthanasia and examined in the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th and 24th months to evaluate the safety, biocompatibility and effectiveness of the biodegradable occluder.

RESULTS

All the dogs received successful implantations of the biodegradable occluder and survived, showing no follow-up-related complications (such as dislocation, arrhythmia and recanalization). Biochemical tests showed no significant abnormalities or differences, except for an increase in white blood cells and C-reactive proteins on the day after the operation. Histopathological examinations revealed that the bioabsorbable occluders were biocompatible, while immunohistochemical evaluations and electron microscopy showed endothelial cells growing on the occluder surface.

CONCLUSIONS

The effective occlusion of VSD, good biocompatibility, rapid endothelialization and lack of complications shown by the biodegradable occluder in this study suggest that the device meets acceptable clinical safety and has potential application prospects.
Improved error estimates for semidiscrete finite element solutions of parabolic Dirichlet boundary control problems
Authors: Gong Wei , Li Buyang
Published: June 2019

The parabolic Dirichlet boundary control problem and its finite element discretization are considered in convex polygonal and polyhedral domains. We improve the existing results on the regularity of the solutions by establishing and utilizing the maximal $L^p$-regularity of parabolic equations under inhomogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions. Based on the proved regularity of the solutions, we prove ${\mathcal O}(h^{1-1/q_0-\epsilon })$ convergence for the semidiscrete finite element solutions for some $q_0>2$, with $q_0$ depending on the maximal interior angle at the corners and edges of the domain and $\epsilon$ being a positive number that can be arbitrarily small.
A Version of the Berglund–Hübsch–Henningson Duality With Non-Abelian Groups
Authors: Ebeling Wolfgang , Gusein-Zade Sabir M
Published: June 2019

A. Takahashi suggested a conjectural method to find mirror symmetric pairs consisting of invertible polynomials and symmetry groups generated by some diagonal symmetries and some permutations of variables. Here we generalize the Saito duality between Burnside rings to a case of non-abelian groups and prove a “non-abelian” generalization of the statement about the equivariant Saito duality property for invertible polynomials. It turns out that the statement holds only under a special condition on the action of the subgroup of the permutation group called here PC (“parity condition”). An inspection of data on Calabi–Yau three-folds obtained from quotients by non-abelian groups shows that the pairs found on the basis of the method of Takahashi have symmetric pairs of Hodge numbers if and only if they satisfy PC.
Delocalized Eta Invariants, Algebraicity, and K-Theory of Group C*-Algebras
Authors: Xie Zhizhang , Yu Guoliang
Published: June 2019

In this paper, we establish a precise connection between higher rho invariants and delocalized eta invariants. Given an element in a discrete group, if its conjugacy class has polynomial growth, then there is a natural trace map on the $K_0$-group of its group $C^\ast$-algebra. For each such trace map, we construct a determinant map on secondary higher invariants. We show that, under the evaluation of this determinant map, the image of a higher rho invariant is precisely the corresponding delocalized eta invariant of Lott. As a consequence, we show that if the Baum–Connes conjecture holds for a group, then Lott’s delocalized eta invariants take values in algebraic numbers. We also generalize Lott’s delocalized eta invariant to the case where the corresponding conjugacy class does not have polynomial growth, provided that the strong Novikov conjecture holds for the group.
A prophage and two ICESa2603-family integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) carrying optrA in Streptococcus suis
Authors: Shang Yanhong , Li Dexi , Hao Wenbo , Schwarz Stefan , Shan Xinxin , Liu Bianzhi , Zhang Su-Mei , Li Xin-Sheng , Du Xiang-Dang
Published: June 2019

Objectives

To investigate the presence and transfer of the oxazolidinone/phenicol resistance gene optrA and identify the genetic elements involved in the horizontal transfer of the optrA gene in Streptococcus suis.

Methods

A total of 237 S. suis isolates were screened for the presence of the optrA gene by PCR. Whole-genome DNA of three optrA-positive strains was completely sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq and Pacbio RSII platforms. MICs were determined by broth microdilution. Transferability of the optrA gene in S. suis was investigated by conjugation. The presence of circular intermediates was examined by inverse PCR.

Results

The optrA gene was present in 11.8% (28/237) of the S. suis strains. In three strains, the optrA gene was flanked by two copies of IS1216 elements in the same orientation, located either on a prophage or on ICESa2603-family integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), including one tandem ICE. In one isolate, the optrA-carrying ICE transferred with a frequency of 2.1 × 10−8. After the transfer, the transconjugant displayed elevated MICs of the respective antimicrobial agents. Inverse PCRs revealed that circular intermediates of different sizes were formed in the three optrA-carrying strains, containing one copy of the IS1216E element and the optrA gene alone or in combination with other resistance genes.

Conclusions

A prophage and two ICESa2603-family ICEs (including one tandem ICE) associated with the optrA gene were identified in S. suis. The association of the optrA gene with the IS1216E elements and its location on either a prophage or ICEs will aid its horizontal transfer.
Relationship Between Burn Wound Location and Outcomes in Severely Burned Patients: More Than Meets the Size
Authors: Liu Nehemiah T , Rizzo Julie A , Shingleton Sarah K , Fenrich Craig A , Serio-Melvin Maria L , Christy Robert J , Salinas José
Published: June 2019

We hypothesized that burn location plays an important role in wound healing, mortality, and other outcomes and conducted the following study to test this multifold hypothesis. We conducted a study to retrospectively look at patients with burns ≥10% TBSA. Demographics, TBSA, partial/full thickness burns (PT/FT) in various wound locations, fluids, inhalation injury, mortality, ICU duration, and hospital duration were considered. Initial wound healing rates (%/d) were also calculated as a slope from the time of the first mapping of open wound size to the time of the third mapping of open wound size. Multivariate logistic regression and operating curves were used to measure mortality prediction performance. All values were expressed as median [interquartile range]. The mortality rate for 318 patients was 17% (54/318). In general, patients were 43 years [29, 58 years] old and had a TBSA of 25% [17, 39%], PT of 16% [10, 25%], and FT of 4% [0, 15%]. Between patients who lived and did not, age, TBSA, FT, 24-hour fluid, and ICU duration were statistically different (P < .001). Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences in FT head (0% [0, 0%] vs 0% [0, 1%], P = .048); FT anterior torso (0% [0, 1%] vs 1% [0, 4%], P < .001); FT posterior torso (0% [0, 0%] vs 0% [0, 4%], P < 0.001); FT upper extremities (0% [0, 3%] vs 2% [0, 11%], P < .001); FT lower extremities (0% [0, 2%] vs 6% [0, 17%], P < .001); and FT genitalia (0% [0, 0%] vs 0% [0, 2%], P < .001). Age, presence of inhalation injury, PT/FT upper extremities, and FT lower extremities were independent mortality predictors and per unit increases of these variables were associated with an increased risk for mortality (P < .05): odds ratio of 1.09 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.61–1.13; P < .001) for mean age; 2.69 (95% CI = 1.04–6.93; P = .041) for inhalation injury; 1.14 (95% CI = 1.01–1.27; P = .031) for mean PT upper extremities; 1.26 (95% CI = 1.11–1.42; P < .001) for mean FT upper extremities; and 1.07 (95% CI = 1.01–1.12; P = .012) for mean FT lower extremities. Prediction of mortality was better using specific wound locations (area under the curve [AUC], AUC of 0.896) rather than using TBSA and FT (AUC of 0.873). Graphs revealed that initial healing rates were statistically lower and 24-hour fluids and ICU length of stay were statistically higher in patients with FT upper extremities than in patients without FT extremities (P < .001). Burn wound location affects wound healing and helps predict mortality and ICU length of stay and should be incorporated into burn triage strategies to enhance resource allocation or stratify wound care.
Volume Limit: An Effective Response to the India Flash Crash?
Authors: Dalko Viktoria , Wang Michael H
Published: June 2019

This paper assesses the recently enacted securities regulation, called the volume limit, by the Securities and Exchange Board of India. It reviews the literature on the negative consequences of large sale volumes on the stability of the stock market. The paper also examines the recent development of high-frequency trading in India. The two investigations unveil areas in which the regulation is effective and those in which it is inadequate. That is, the effectiveness of the regulation of the volume limit lies in reducing large price impacts due to genuine transactions. However, the inadequacy of this regulation is exposed when manipulation tactics arise regarding order display, such as spoofing by certain high-frequency traders.
Delhi High Court identifies limitations to architects’ moral rights in case of demolition of buildings
Authors: Sandhu Amit Jyoti
Published: June 2019

High Court of Delhi, Raj Rewal v Union of India & Ors, CS(COMM) 3/2018, IA No 90/2018, 28 May 2019
Expression of FRIGIDA in root inhibits flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Kong Xiangxiang , Luo Landi , Zhao Jinjie , Chen Qian , Chang Guanxiao , Huang Jinling , Yang Yongping , Hu Xiangyang
Published: June 2019

Root FRIGIDA activated the novel targets MAF4/5 to delay flowering; temporal expresson of FRIGIDA as early as at the pro-embryo stage is efficient in delaying flowering.
Serum and Saliva Concentrations of Biochemical Parameters in Men with Prostate Cancer and Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
Authors: Farahani Hyder , Alaee Mona , Amri Jamal , Baghinia Mahmoud-Reza , Rafiee Mohammad
Published: June 2019

Objectives

To find suitable biomarkers for diagnosis of prostate cancer (PC) in serum and saliva; also, to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of saliva in patients with PC.

Methods

This case-control study included 20 patients with PC and 20 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Blood and saliva were collected from the participants and centrifuged. Serum and supernatant saliva were used for biochemical analysis. We evaluated serum and salivary levels of urea, creatinine, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), creatine kinase BB (CK-BB), zinc, β-2 microglobulin (B2M), and melatonin. Also, we used Mann-Whitney U testing, Spearman correlation coefficients, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to evaluate the data.

Results

Serum and salivary concentrations of urea, creatinine, PSA, CK-BB, zinc, and B2M were significantly higher in patients with PC, compared with the BPH group (P <.05). However, serum and salivary concentrations of melatonin were significantly lower in patients with PC, compared with BPH group (P <.05). In both groups, salivary concentrations of all markers were lower (P <.05), compared with those values in serum. We observed positive correlation between serum and salivary concentrations of all markers studied (P <.05).

Conclusion

From the data, we conclude that investigation using saliva specimens is a noninvasive, simple, and effective tool for screening of biochemical parameters.
Emotional geographies of irregular transmigrants’ journeys
Authors: Campos-Delgado Amalia
Published: June 2019

Migrants’ journeys involve geopolitical, corporeal, and emotional dimensions. Yet, emotions, which are fundamental to understand the migrant experience, are usually overlooked. Following the ‘emotional geographies’ approach, this article analyses the spatial contextualisation of the affective and emotional experiences of irregular migrants in transit. Cognitive mapping methodology is proposed as a means to address the spatial and subjective dimensions of migrants’ experiences. The ‘testimonial maps’ of two Central American transmigrants in Mexico are explored. The emotional geographies of irregular transmigration underscore the emotional turmoil associated with the irregular migratory process(es). They shed light to the familiar arrangements made before the journey, the natural landscape as part of the control, the encounters with agents of the state and criminal actors, the sanctuary places, the acquaintances and fortuitous friendships, the resilience and adaptability needed for endure the journey, and, beneath all this, the multi-emotional dimension of the journey: love, sorrow, shame, courage, anxiety, fear, trust, kindness, and hope.
Dynamical heating across the Milky Way disc using APOGEE and Gaia
Authors: Mackereth J Ted , Bovy Jo , Leung Henry W , Schiavon Ricardo P , Trick Wilma H , Chaplin William J , Cunha Katia , Feuillet Diane K , Majewski Steven R , Martig Marie , Miglio Andrea , Nidever David , Pinsonneault Marc H , Aguirre Victor Silva , Sobeck Jennifer , Tayar Jamie , Zasowski Gail
Published: June 2019

The kinematics of the Milky Way disc as a function of age are well measured at the solar radius, but have not been studied over a wider range of Galactocentric radii. Here, we measure the kinematics of mono-age, mono-[Fe/H] populations in the low and high [α/Fe] discs between 4 ≲ R ≲ 13 kpc and |z| ≲ 2 kpc using 65 719 stars in common between APOGEE DR14 and Gaia DR2 for which we estimate ages using a Bayesian neural network model trained on asteroseismic ages. We determine the vertical and radial velocity dispersions, finding that the low and high [α/Fe] discs display markedly different age–velocity dispersion relations (AVRs) and shapes σz/σR. The high [α/Fe] disc has roughly flat AVRs and constant σz/σR = 0.64 ± 0.04, whereas the low [α/Fe] disc has large variations in this ratio that positively correlate with the mean orbital radius of the population at fixed age. The high [α/Fe] disc component’s flat AVRs and constant σz/σR clearly indicate an entirely different heating history. Outer disc populations also have flatter radial AVRs than those in the inner disc, likely due to the waning effect of spiral arms. Our detailed measurements of AVRs and σz/σR across the disc indicate that low [α/Fe], inner disc ($R \lesssim 10\, \mathrm{kpc}$) stellar populations are likely dynamically heated by both giant molecular clouds and spiral arms, while the observed trends for outer disc populations require a significant contribution from another heating mechanism such as satellite perturbations. We also find that outer disc populations have slightly positive mean vertical and radial velocities likely because they are part of the warped disc.
Kinematical evolution of multiple stellar populations in star clusters
Authors: Tiongco Maria A , Vesperini Enrico , Varri Anna Lisa
Published: June 2019

We present the results of a suite of N-body simulations aimed at understanding the fundamental aspects of the long-term evolution of the internal kinematics of multiple stellar populations in globular clusters. Our models enable us to study the cooperative effects of internal, relaxation-driven processes and external, tidally induced perturbations on the structural and kinematic properties of multiple-population globular clusters. To analyse the dynamical behaviour of the multiple stellar populations in a variety of spin-orbit coupling conditions, we have considered three reference cases in which the tidally perturbed star cluster rotates along an axis oriented in different directions with respect to the orbital angular momentum vector. We focus specifically on the characterization of the evolution of the degree of differential rotation and anisotropy in the velocity space, and we quantify the process of spatial and kinematic mixing of the two populations. In light of recent and forthcoming explorations of the internal kinematics of this class of stellar systems by means of line-of sight and astrometric measurements, we also investigate the implications of projection effects and spatial distribution of the stars adopted as tracers. The kinematic and structural richness emerging from our models further emphasizes the need and the importance of observational studies aimed at building a complete kinematical picture of the multiple population phenomenon.
The retrograde orbit of the globular cluster FSR1758 revealed with Gaia DR2
Authors: Simpson Jeffrey D
Published: June 2019

We report the first radial velocity measurements of the recently identified globular cluster FSR1758. From the two member stars with radial velocities from the Gaia Radial Velocity Spectrograph reported in Gaia DR2, we find FSR1758 has a radial velocity of 227 ± 1$\, \textrm{km}\, \textrm{s}^{-1}$. We also find potential extra-tidal star lost from the cluster in the surrounding 1 deg. Combined with Gaia proper motions and photometric distance estimates, this shows that FSR1758 is on a relatively retrograde, radial orbit with a pericentre of $3.8_{-0.9}^{+0.9}$ kpc, an apocentre of $16_{-5}^{+8}$ kpc, and eccentricity of $0.62_{-0.04}^{+0.05}$. Although it is currently at a Galactocentric distance of $3.8_{-0.9}^{+0.9}$ kpc – at the edge of the bulge – it is an intruder from the halo. We investigate whether a reported ‘halo’ of stars around FSR1758 is related to the cluster, and find that most of these stars are likely foreground dwarf stars. We conclude that FSR1758 is not a dwarf galaxy, but rather a globular cluster.
Focusing of non-linear eccentric waves in astrophysical discs
Authors: Lynch Elliot M , Ogilvie Gordon I
Published: June 2019

We develop a fully non-linear approximation to the short-wavelength limit of eccentric waves in astrophysical discs, based on the averaged Lagrangian method of Whitham. In this limit there is a separation of scales between the rapidly varying eccentric wave and the background disc. Despite having small eccentricities, such rapidly varying waves can be highly non-linear, potentially approaching orbital intersection, and this can result in strong pressure gradients in the disc. We derive conditions for the steepening of non-linearity and eccentricity as the waves propagate in a radially structured disc in this short-wavelength limit and show that the behaviour of the solution can be bounded by the behaviour of the WKB solution to the linearized equations.
Two sub-millimetre bright protoclusters bounding the epoch of peak star-formation activity
Authors: Lacaille Kevin M , Chapman Scott C , Smail Ian , Steidel C C , Blain A W , Geach J , Golob A , Gurwell M , Ivison R J , Reddy N , Sawicki M
Published: June 2019

We present James Clerk Maxwell Telescope Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array 2 (SCUBA-2) 850 and 450 $\mu$m observations (σ850 ∼ 0.5 mJy, σ450 ∼ 5 mJy) of the HS1549+19 and HS1700+64 survey fields containing two of the largest known galaxy overdensities at z = 2.85 and 2.30, respectively. We detect 56 sub-millimetre galaxies (SMGs) with SNR > 4 over ∼50 arcmin2 at 850 $\mu$m with flux densities of 3–17 mJy. The number counts indicate overdensities in the 3-arcmin diameter core region (∼1.5 Mpc at z = 2.5) of $6^{+4}_{-2}\times$ (HS1549) and $4^{+6}_{-2}\times$ (HS1700) compared to blank field surveys. Within these core regions, we spectroscopically confirm that approximately one-third of the SMGs lie at the protocluster redshifts for both HS1549 and HS1700. We use statistical identifications of other SMGs in the wider fields to constrain an additional four candidate protocluster members in each system. We combine multiwavelength estimates of the star-formation rates (SFRs) from Lyman-break dropout- and narrow-band-selected galaxies, and the SCUBA-2 SMGs, to estimate total SFRs of 12 500 ± 2800 M⊙ yr−1 (4900 ± 1200 M⊙ yr−1) in HS1549 (HS1700), and SFR densities (SFRDs) within the central 1.5-Mpc diameter of each protocluster to be 3000 ± 900 M⊙ yr−1 Mpc−3 (1300 ± 400 M⊙ yr−1 Mpc−3) in the HS1549 (HS1700) protocluster, ∼104 × larger than the global SFRDs found at their respective epochs, due to the concentration of star-forming galaxies in the small volume of the dense cluster cores. Our results suggest centrally concentrated starbursts within protoclusters may be a relatively common scenario for the build-up of mass in rich clusters assembling at z ≳ 2.