bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plant traits shape soil legacy effects on individual plant–insect interactions
Authors: Heinen Robin , Biere Arjen , Bezemer T. Martijn
Published: November 2019

Plant‐mediated soil legacy effects can be important determinants of the performance of plants and their aboveground insect herbivores, but, soil legacy effects on plant–insect interactions have been tested for only a limited number of host plant species and soils. Here, we tested the performance of a polyphagous aboveground herbivore, caterpillars of the cabbage moth Mamestra brassicae, on twelve host plant species that were grown on a set of soils conditioned by each of these twelve species. We tested how growth rate (fast‐ or slow‐growing) and functional type (grass or forb) of the plant species that conditioned the soil and of the responding host plant species growing in those soils affect the response of insect herbivores to conditioned soils. Our results show that plants and insect herbivores had lower biomass in soils that were conditioned by fast‐growing forbs than in soils conditioned by slow‐growing forbs. In soils conditioned by grasses, growth rate of the conditioning plant had the opposite effect, i.e. plants and herbivores had higher biomass in soils conditioned by fast‐growing grasses, than in soils conditioned by slow‐growing grasses. We show that the response of aboveground insects to soil legacy effects is strongly positively correlated with the response of the host plant species, indicating that plant vigour may explain these relationships. We provide evidence that soil communities can play an important role in shaping plant–insect interactions aboveground. Our results further emphasize the important and interactive role of the conditioning and the response plant in mediating soil–plant–insect interactions.
Network tasks and accountability: A configurational analysis of EU regulatory networks
Authors: Saz‐Carranza Angel , Albareda Adrià , Federo Ryan
Published: November 2019

Intergovernmental networks have become a prominent cooperative mechanism to deal with trans‐boundary and interdependent problems. Yet, we still have limited knowledge of how these collaborative endeavours are governed, which is crucial to properly understanding how they function. This article empirically examines the structural governance configurations of rule‐enforcing networks in the European Union. The article relies on data from 37 networks with rule‐enforcing tasks and conducts a qualitative comparative analysis. We find three basic governance structure configurations used by rule‐enforcing networks: first, a configuration with legal accountability, which is characterized by having a board of appeals; second, one with administrative accountability that, in addition to a board of appeals, has powerful executive boards and professional experts in the network plenary; and a third one with democratic accountability that incorporates legislative representatives in the network plenary. We argue that these results show how network tasks are related to accountability and governance.
Oryza sativa POSITIVE REGULATOR OF IRON DEFICIENCY RESPONSE 2 (OsPRI2) and OsPRI3 are involved in the maintenance of Fe homeostasis
Authors: Zhang Huimin , Li Yang , Pu Mengna , Xu Peng , Liang Gang , Yu Diqiu
Published: November 2019

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth development and plays a key role in regulating numerous cellular processes. In rice, OsHRZ1, an Fe‐binding ubiquitin ligase, is a putative sensor of Fe homeostasis that negatively regulates iron acquisition. Despite its apparent importance, only a single basic‐Helix–Loop–Helix (bHLH) transcription factor, OsPRI1, has been identified as a direct target of OsHRZ1. In this study, we identified and functionally characterized OsPRI2 and OsPRI3, two paralogs of OsPRI1, observing that they directly interact with OsHRZ1. Additional analyses suggested that OsHRZ1 promotes the degradation of OsPRI2 and OsPRI3. The translocation of Fe from roots to shoots was impaired in plants with loss‐of‐function mutations in OsPRI2 or OsPRI3, causing the downregulation of Fe‐deficiency‐responsive genes. In contrast, overexpression of OsPRI2 and OsPRI3 promotes Fe accumulation and activates the expression of Fe‐deficiency‐responsive genes. We also provide evidence that OsPRI2 and OsPRI3 bind to the promoters of OsIRO2 and OsIRO3, two key regulators of Fe homeostasis. Moreover, OsPRI2 and OsPRI3 directly induce expression of the metal‐nicotianamine transporter, OsYSL2, by associating with the promoter in response to Fe deficiency. Our results provide insights into the complex network regulating Fe homeostasis in rice.
Herbivore exposure alters ion fluxes and improves salt tolerance in a desert shrub
Authors: Chen Yingying , Cao Chuanjian , Guo Zhujuan , Zhang Qinghua , Li Shuwen , Zhang Xiao , Gong Junqing , Shen Yingbai
Published: November 2019

Plants have evolved complex mechanisms that allow them to withstand multiple environmental stresses, including biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we investigated the interaction between herbivore exposure and salt stress of Ammopiptanthus nanus, a desert shrub. We found that jasmonic acid (JA) was involved in plant responses to both herbivore attack and salt stress, leading to an increased NaCl stress tolerance for herbivore‐pretreated plants and increase in K+/Na+ ratio in roots. Further evidence revealed the mechanism by which herbivore improved plant NaCl tolerance. Herbivore pretreatment reduced K+ efflux and increased Na+ efflux in plants subjected to long‐term, short‐term, or transient NaCl stress. Moreover, herbivore pretreatment promoted H+ efflux by increasing plasma membrane H+‐adenosine triphosphate (ATP)ase activity. This H+ efflux creates a transmembrane proton motive force that drives the Na+/H+ antiporter to expel excess Na+ into the external medium. In addition, high cytosolic Ca2+ was observed in the roots of herbivore‐treated plants exposed to NaCl, and this effect may be regulated by H+‐ATPase. Taken together, herbivore exposure enhances A. nanus tolerance to salt stress by activating the JA‐signalling pathway, increasing plasma membrane H+‐ATPase activity, promoting cytosolic Ca2+ accumulation, and then restricting K+ leakage and reducing Na+ accumulation in the cytosol.
Fiscal policy, government size and EMU business cycle synchronization
Authors: Bunyan Sabrina , Duffy David , Filis George , Tingbani Ishmael
Published: November 2019

We provide new evidence on the effects of fiscal policy and government size on pairwise business cycle synchronization in EMU. A novel time‐varying framework is employed to estimate business cycle synchronization and subsequently a panel approach is used to establish the role of fiscal variables in determining the pairwise synchronization observations across time. The findings suggest similarities in the size of the public sector, yet divergence in fiscal policy stance, matter for the determination of business cycle synchronization. Hence, increased fiscal federalism in EMU will contribute to increased business cycle synchronization. Our results remain robust to different specifications and sub‐periods.
To be or not to be: postcubital vein in insects revealed by microtomography
Authors: Schubnel Thomas , Desutter‐Grandcolas Laure , Legendre Frederic , Prokop Jakub , Mazurier Arnaud , Garrouste Romain , Grandcolas Philippe , Nel Andre
Published: November 2019

To better understand insect evolution, fossils – mainly known by their wings – must be used as terminals in phylogenetic analyses. Such analyses are, however, rarely performed because of a lack of consensus on the homology of venation in insects. Researchers do not agree with the current concept on the exact number and identity of the main veins. Here, we confirm the presence, which has been in question since the early 20th century, of an independent main postcubital vein (PCu vein) between the cubital and anal veins (29 fossil and extant examined orders; > 85% of observed insects). The PCu vein corresponds to the so‐called vein 1A or first anal vein. It is easily identified by the unique shape of its bulla. It may have several branches and be partially fused with the cubital and anal veins. Once the PCu vein was identified, we reconsidered as an example the particular case of the Phasmatodea, showing that extant stick insects have a unique venation among insects, with a reduced median vein and a simple cubital vein adjacent or fused to the PCu vein. This study is a new approach towards resolving wing vein homology issues, crucial for future large‐scale phylogenetic analyses in insects combining extant and extinct taxa.
Two ANGUSTIFOLIA genes regulate gametophore and sporophyte development in Physcomitrella patens
Authors: Hashida Yoshikazu , Takechi Katsuaki , Abiru Tomomi , Yabe Noriyuki , Nagase Hiroaki , Hattori Koro , Takio Susumu , Sato Yoshikatsu , Hasebe Mitsuyasu , Tsukaya Hirokazu , Takano Hiroyoshi
Published: November 2019

In Arabidopsis thaliana the ANGUSTIFOLIA (AN) gene regulates the width of leaves by controlling the diffuse growth of leaf cells in the medio‐lateral direction. In the genome of the moss Physcomitrella patens, we found two normal ANs (PpAN1‐1 and 1‐2). Both PpAN1 genes complemented the A. thaliana an‐1 mutant phenotypes. An analysis of spatiotemporal promoter activity of each PpAN1 gene, using transgenic lines that contained each PpAN1‐promoter– uidA (GUS) gene, showed that both promoters are mainly active in the stems of haploid gametophores and in the middle to basal region of the young sporophyte that develops into the seta and foot. Analyses of the knockout lines for PpAN1‐1 and PpAN1‐2 genes suggested that these genes have partially redundant functions and regulate gametophore height by controlling diffuse cell growth in gametophore stems. In addition, the seta and foot were shorter and thicker in diploid sporophytes, suggesting that cell elongation was reduced in the longitudinal direction, whereas no defects were detected in tip‐growing protonemata. These results indicate that both PpAN1 genes in P. patens function in diffuse growth of the haploid and diploid generations but not in tip growth. To visualize microtubule distribution in gametophore cells of P. patens, transformed lines expressing P. patens α‐tubulin fused to sGFP were generated. Contrary to expectations, the orientation of microtubules in the tips of gametophores in the PpAN1‐1/1‐2 double‐knockout lines was unchanged. The relationships among diffuse cell growth, cortical microtubules and AN proteins are discussed.
The Credibility of Traditional and Online Media for the Promotion of Tourism in the Contemporary Tourism Marketing Environment in Durban South Africa
Authors: Chiguvi Douglas , Madondo Elvis , Tadu Ruramayi
Published: November 2019

The main purpose of study is to analyse the credibility of traditional and online media for the promotion of tourism in the contemporary tourism marketing environment in Durban South Africa. Explanatory research design was employed and the questionnaire was used to collect the data. The study findings revealed that traditional media and online media are more or less equally competitive for the promotion of tourism. The study also revealed that international visitors have a positive attitude towards online media than traditional media while domestic tourists have a positive attitude towards traditional media than online media. Traditional media was revealed to be highly credible than the general perception of the people and it is a lot more credible than online media. The survival of traditional media is not threatened by online media and traditional media is still working well alongside online media. The study concluded and recommended that tourism marketers and authorities need to come to terms with traditional media and online media coexistence. There is no need to rely on one media to do it all. Where traditional media lacks, online media must be there to make up the difference and enhance the tourist’s experience.
A world beyond P: policies, strategies, tactics and advice
Authors: Drummond Gordon
Published: November 2019

A short review of the changing approach to statistics' contribution to the conduct of physiological experiments, with suggestions for further changes and better practice.
A6 neurons simultaneously modulate active expiration and upper airway resistance in rats
Authors: Magalhães Karolyne S. , de Britto Alan A. , Paton Julian F. R. , Moraes Davi J. A.
Published: November 2019

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Do A6 neurons modulate active expiratory and airway responses evoked by hypercapnia/acidosis?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Acute inhibition of A6 neurons reduced active expiratory, inspiratory and the associated oropharyngeal and laryngeal motor responses to hypercapnia/acidosis. A6 neurons provide excitatory synaptic drive contributing to the central generation of inspiratory and expiratory motor activity as well as the control of upper airway resistance.

During rest, inspiration is an active phenomenon, whereas expiration is passive. Under conditions of high chemical drive, such as hypercapnia/acidosis, there is an increase in inspiratory activity, expiration becomes active and upper airway resistance is reduced. The locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons (A6 neurons) are activated when exposed to elevated CO2/[H+] levels and modulate respiratory brainstem neurons regulating ventilation. However, the role of A6 neurons in the control of upper airway resistance is not fully understood. We tested the hypothesis that A6 neurons contribute to the central generation of active inspiratory and expiratory responses and the associated changes in the motor nerves controlling upper airway resistance during hypercapnia/acidosis in rats. Using a perfused brainstem–spinal cord preparation, we inhibited A6 neurons using pharmacogenetics and evaluated the active expiratory (abdominal nerve), laryngeal (cervical vagus nerve), oropharyngeal (hypoglossal nerve) and inspiratory (phrenic nerve) motor nerve responses to hypercapnia/acidosis. Acute inhibition of A6 neurons did not produce significant changes in the respiratory pattern in normocapnia. However, the hypercapnia/acidosis‐induced active expiratory response and the associated changes in the motor nerves responsible for control of oropharyngeal and laryngeal resistance, as well as the inspiratory response were all reduced after inhibition of A6 neurons. Our data demonstrate that A6 neurons exert an important excitatory synaptic drive to the central generation of both active inspiratory and expiratory activities and modulate the control of upper airway resistance during hypercapnia/acidosis.
Volcanology and associated hazards of the San Francisco volcanic field
Authors: Riggs Nancy , Ort Michael , Connor Chuck , Alfano Fabrizio , Conway Michael
Published: November 2019

The San Francisco volcanic field stretches from Williams, Arizona, in the west, to northeast of Flagstaff, Arizona, on the east. Within the ~5000 km2 area, more than 600 volcanoes are primarily monogenetic and basaltic, but silicic stratovolcanoes and domes are present as well. This field guide focuses on five broadly basaltic cones (Government Prairie vent, Red Mountain, SP Crater, Colton Crater, and Sunset Crater) and two silicic volcanoes (Kendrick Peak and San Francisco Mountain) in the field, with an emphasis on the different kinds of volcanic activity represented and the petrological variations. Hazards assessment indicates that is it possible for future eruptions to affect Flagstaff, but the probability is low. As information in this guide indicates, hazard assessments need to be improved to encompass a wide range of eruption types, and additional data are needed to improve models of the rate of volcanic activity and how the locus of activity has shifted over time.
Generation of Late Cretaceous Ji’an basalts through asthenosphere-slab interaction in South China
Authors: Wu Yangming , Guo Feng , Wang Xuan-Ce , Zhang Bo , Zhang Xiaobing , Alemayehu Melesse , Wang Guoqing
Published: November 2019

Recycled crustal components have been widely identified in the source of continental basalts with geochemical features similar to oceanic island basalts (OIBs). However, the mechanism of how these recycled materials are involved remains highly debatable. Here we conduct comprehensive geochemical analyses (including whole-rock, olivine, and melt inclusion) and numerical modeling on Late Cretaceous Ji’an basalts from South China interior, aiming to investigate the possible role of recycled crustal components in basalt petrogenesis driven by the subducted paleo-Pacific oceanic plate. The Ji’an basalts show geochemical characteristics akin to OIBs and have depleted asthenospheric mantle-like Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopic compositions with moderately radiogenic Os. Their olivine-hosted melt inclusions have low H2O and highly negative δD values and olivine phenocrysts are mainly characterized by depletion of 18O with δ18O values lowering to 3.9‰. These features are consistent with positive Sr and Eu anomalies in some whole-rock samples. The combined geochemical data suggest that the primary magmas were derived from an asthenospheric mantle enriched by melts from an altered gabbroic oceanic crust, which had experienced intensive dehydration. Further numerical modeling shows that melting of the dehydrated oceanic crust can occur along the torn flank of the subducting lithosphere, in the case that the slab is strongly thinned and fractured. The low δ18O preserved in olivine and the estimated slab age (<300 Ma) from the radiogenic whole-rock Os and Pb compositions also require the involvement of a recently recycled slab, probably represented by the subducted paleo-Pacific oceanic plate. Rollback of the subducting paleo-Pacific slab might create a slab window, in which melt from the torn/fractured slab reacted with the upwelling asthenosphere to form an enriched mantle source for the Ji’an basalts and similar counterparts.
Description of a New Species of Pelagic Eelpout Melanostigma thalassium sp. nova (Zoarcidae) from Walvis Ridge (Southeastern Atlantic) and Identification Key for Species of the Genus from the Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Orlovskaya M. V. , Balushkin A. V.
Published: November 2019

A new species Melanostigma thalassium sp. n. is described from the underwater Walvis Ridge (Southeast Atlantic Ocean). This species differs from the other species of the genus Melanostigma in an original combination of characters based on the structure of the head’s lateral line system (interruption in supratemporal commissure with the loss of medial segments and the absence of pores in the temporal canal) and a nontransparent dark body. In addition, it is different in a range of the count characters in the axial skeleton and fins. A key for identifying the Atlantic species of the genus is provided.
Prospective associations of psychosocial work exposures with mortality in France: STRESSJEM study protocol
Authors: Niedhammer Isabelle , Milner Allison , Geoffroy-Perez Béatrice , Coutrot Thomas , LaMontagne Anthony D , Chastang Jean-François
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Although evidence has been provided on the associations between psychosocial work exposures and morbidity outcomes in the literature, knowledge appears much more sparse on mortality outcomes. The objective of STRESSJEM is to explore the prospective associations between psychosocial work exposures and mortality outcomes among the national French working population. In this paper, we describe the study protocol, study population, data sources, method for exposure assessment, data analysis and future plans.

Methods and analysis

Data sources will include: the data from the national SUMER survey from DARES on the evaluation of psychosocial work exposures and the data from the COSMOP programme from Santé publique France linking job history (DADS data from INSEE) and mortality according to causes of death (data from the national death registry, INSERM-CépiDc). A sample of 1 511 456 individuals will form the studied prospective cohort for which data are available on both job history and mortality over the period 1976–2002. Psychosocial work exposures will be imputed via a job-exposure matrix using three job title variables that are available in both the SUMER and COSMOP data sets. Our objectives will be to study the associations between various psychosocial work exposures and mortality outcomes. Psychosocial work exposures will include the job strain model factors as well as other psychosocial work factors. Various measures of exposure over time will be used. All-cause and cause-specific mortality will be studied.

Ethics and dissemination

Both the SUMER survey and the COSMOP programme have been approved by French ethics committees. Dissemination of the study results will include a series of international peer-reviewed papers and at least one paper in French. The results will be presented in national and international conferences. This project will offer a unique opportunity to explore mortality outcomes in association with psychosocial work exposures in a large national representative sample of the working population.
LeiKA: an optional German general practice teaching project for first-semester medical students: who is taking part and why? A cross-sectional study
Authors: Geier Anne-Kathrin , Saur Christiane , Lippmann Stefan , Nafziger Melanie , Frese T , Deutsch Tobias
Published: November 2019

Objectives

This study investigates students’ adoption of LeiKA, a new extracurricular longitudinal general practice (GP) teaching project. LeiKA aims to attract a broad range of students, not only those who are already planning to become GPs. This study compares participants’ and non-participants’ characteristics, career preferences and job-related value orientations to assess the programme’s initial potential to increase the number of students subsequently entering GP careers. Additionally, students’ motives for taking part in the programme were explored.

Design

We analysed administrative data and data from a cross-sectional questionnaire survey for the first three cohorts. LeiKA participants were compared with non-participants regarding baseline characteristics, career intentions and attitudes associated with GP careers. There was also a qualitative analysis of the reasons for taking part.

Setting

Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Germany.

Participants

First-semester medical students in the years 2016–2018.

Results

In the first 3 years, 86 of 90 LeiKA slots were taken, 9.0% (n=86/960) of those eligible to apply. LeiKA participants were a mean of 0.6 years older (LeiKA: 21.5 vs whole cohort: 20.9 years, p<0.001) and slightly more interested in long-term doctor–patient relationships (3.6 vs 3.3, scale from 1 ‘unimportant’ to 5 ‘very important’, p=0.018), but did not differ regarding other characteristics and attitudes. Although more participants definitely favoured a GP career (13.1% vs 4.9%, p=0.001), it was a possible option for most students in both groups (78.6% vs 74.0%). Early acquisition of skills and patient contact were the main motives for taking part, stated by 60.7% and 41.7% of the participants, respectively.

Conclusions

The extracurricular programme was taken up by a broad range of students, indicating its potential to attract more students to become GPs. The reasons for taking part that we identified may guide the planning of other similar projects.
Prognostic factors for relapse in patients with clinical stage I testicular cancer: protocol for a Danish nationwide cohort study
Authors: Wagner Thomas , Toft Birgitte Grønkær , Engvad Birte , Lauritsen Jakob , Kreiberg Michael , Bandak Mikkel , Rosenvilde Josephine , Christensen Ib Jarle , Pilt Anette Pedersen , Berney Daniel , Daugaard Gedske
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Approximately one-fourth of patients with clinical stage I testicular germ cell cancer will relapse within 5 years of follow-up. Certain histopathological features in the primary tumour have been associated with an increased risk of relapse. The available evidence on the prognostic value of the risk factors, however, is hampered by heterogeneity of the study populations included and variable reporting of the histopathological features. The aim of this study is to identify pathological risk factors for relapse in an unselected large nationwide cohort of patients with stage I disease.

Methods and analysis

All incident cases of stage I testicular germ cell cancer diagnosed in Denmark between 2013 and 2018 will be identified using the nationwide prospective Danish Testicular Cancer (DaTeCa) database. Archived microscopic slides from the orchiectomy specimens will be retrieved through linkage to the Danish Pathology Data Bank and reviewed blinded to the clinical outcome. The DaTeCa database includes 960 stage I seminoma patients with expected 185 relapses and 480 patients with stage I non-seminoma with expected 150 relapses. A minimum follow-up period of 3 years of all patients will be ensured. Predefined prognostic variables will be investigated with regard to relapse in univariable and multivariable analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Ethics and dissemination

This study protocol has been approved by the Regional Ethics Committee (Region Zealand, Denmark) and the Danish Data Protection Agency. All data will be managed confidentially according to legislation. Study results will be presented at international conferences and published in peer-review journals.
Expanding choice through online contraception: a theory of change to inform service development and evaluation
Authors: Rezel-Potts Emma , Free Caroline , Syred Jonathan , Baraitser Paula
Published: November 2019

Background

This study presents the theory of change underpinning an intervention to provide online contraceptive care in an inner London area with high rates of unplanned pregnancy. It aims to suggest attributes of an effective service and to identify key questions for its evaluation.

Methods

Thematic analysis of an online sexual and reproductive health programme funding application and 21 semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of stakeholders selected to provide expertise in contraception and online health.

Results

A theory of change model summarised the positive processes of change which could be initiated through increased access to contraceptive supplies, online information and remote interaction and support. Stakeholders predicted that perceptions of convenience and anonymity of online access would vary across the target population. They stressed the importance of trusting service-users’ capabilities for autonomous contraceptive decision-making, but expressed concerns that online access could be detrimental for those requiring more complex care. Concerns were alleviated by the prospect of responsive support through text messaging and phone calls, and when the online service was positioned as part of a broader system of provision including physical services.

Conclusions

This study has revealed priority areas for the ongoing development of an online contraception service and pertinent evaluation questions. Evaluative research should test assumptions within the theory of change model, exploring the characteristics and circumstances of those preferring online access over existing services and the value of convenience, anonymity, autonomous access and responsive support in executing effective contraceptive choices within a new landscape of contraceptive delivery.
Approach to imaging a thoracic mass in cats and dogs
Authors: Smith Alex , Warren‐Smith Chris
Published: November 2019

Background: The interpretation of thoracic imaging is often regarded as being challenging due to the intricacies of the included anatomy, the wide overlap in radiographic findings between pathological processes and the great potential for imaging artefacts in such a dynamic body region.

Aim of the article: This article describes the use of a structured approach to help overcome these challenges for patients suspected of having a thoracic mass.
Veterinary care of free‐living hedgehogs
Authors: Bexton Steve , Couper David
Published: November 2019

Background: Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are widespread throughout mainland Britain, often inhabiting parks and gardens in built‐up areas. They are popular with the public, frequently coming top in polls of Britain's favourite wild mammal. They are also the most common species of wildlife casualty encountered in veterinary practice.

Aim of the article: This article describes the principles of hedgehog care while at the veterinary practice, and the treatment of some of the most common problems.
Disbudding of goat kids
Authors: Matthews John , Dustan Ben
Published: November 2019

Background: Disbudding is the most common surgical procedure carried out in goats, but the relatively small number of these animals in the UK means that many veterinary students will leave university without ever having seen a kid disbudded. Goat keepers regularly comment on the poor technique of practitioners when undertaking disbudding, which results in a failure to remove the horn buds completely or even the deaths of kids.

Aim of the article: This article provides veterinary surgeons with the information required for the safe and successful disbudding of kids. It is worth noting that the procedure for the disbudding of goat kids is very different from that for disbudding calves.
Tidal erosion and upstream sediment trapping modulate records of land-use change in a formerly glaciated New England estuary
Authors: Shawler Justin L. , Hein Christopher J. , Canuel Elizabeth A. , Kaste James M. , Fitzsimons Gregory G. , Georgiou Ioannis Y. , Willard Debra A.
Published: November 2019

Land clearing, river impoundments, and other human modifications to the upland landscape and within estuarine systems can drive coastal change at local to regional scales. However, as compared with mid-latitude coasts, the impacts of human modifications along sediment-starved formerly glaciated coastal landscapes are relatively understudied. To address this gap, we present a late-Holocene record of changing sediment accumulation rates and sediment sources from sediment cores collected across a tidal flat in the Merrimack River estuary (Mass., USA). We pair sedimentology, geochronology, bulk- and stable-isotope organic geochemistry, and hydrodynamic simulations with historical data to evaluate human and natural impacts on coastal sediment fluxes. During the 17th to 19th centuries, accumulation rates increased by an order of magnitude in the central tidal flat, likely in response to enhanced delivery of terrestrial sediment resulting from upland deforestation. However, the overall increase in accumulation (0.56–2.6 mm/year) within the estuary is subtle and spatially variable across the tidal flats because of coincident anthropogenic land clearing and dam building, upland sediment storage, and estuarine hydrodynamics. This study provides insight into the response of formerly glaciated fluvialcoastal systems to human modifications, and underscores the role of estuarine environmental conditions in modifying upland signals of land-use change.
Acute ingestion of hydrogen-rich water does not improve incremental treadmill running performance in endurance-trained athletes
Authors: Ooi Cheong Hwa , Ng Siew Kit , Omar Eshaifol Azam
Published: November 2019

There is emerging evidence that hydrogen-rich water (H2-water) has beneficial effects on the physiological responses to exercise. However, few studies investigate its ergogenic potential. This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of H2-water ingestion on physiological responses and exercise performance during incremental treadmill running. In a double-blind crossover design, 14 endurance-trained male runners (age, 34 ± 4 years; body mass, 63.1 ± 7.2 kg; height, 1.72 ± 0.05 m) were randomly assigned to ingest 2 doses of 290-mL H2-water or placebo on each occasion. The first bolus was given before six 4-min submaximal running bouts, and the second bolus was consumed before the maximal incremental running test. Expired gas, heart rate (HR), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded; blood samples were collected at the end of each submaximal stage and post maximal running test. Cardiorespiratory responses, RPE, and blood gas indices were not significantly different at each submaximal running intensity (range: 34%–91% maximal oxygen uptake) between H2-water and placebo trials. No statistical difference was observed in running time to exhaustion (618 ± 126 vs. 619 ± 113 s), maximal oxygen uptake (56.9 ± 4.4 vs. 57.1 ± 4.7 mL·kg−1·min−1), maximal HR (184 ± 7 vs. 184 ± 7 beat·min−1), and RPE (19 ± 1 vs. 19 ± 1) in the runners between the trials. The results suggest that the ingestion of 290 mL of H2-water before submaximal treadmill running and an additional dose before the subsequent incremental running to exhaustion were not sufficiently ergogenic in endurance-trained athletes.

Novelty Acute ingestion of H2-water does not seem to be ergogenic for endurance performance. A small dose of H2-water does not modulate buffering capacity during intense endurance exercise in athletes.
Sphagnum outcompetes feathermosses in their photosynthetic adaptation to postharvest black spruce forests
Authors: Zhu Xinbiao , Nimmo Victoria , Wu Jianghua , Thomas Raymond
Published: November 2019

Mosses dominate the understory of black spruce forest, and changes in moss community composition and functional traits may influence many important ecosystem processes, particularly paludification due to accumulation of peat (mainly Sphagnum). To understand performance and fitness of ground-cover mosses in early forest succession following clearcutting, we investigated photosynthetic traits in Sphagnum and three feathermoss species (i.e., Hylocomium, Ptilium, and Pleurozium) coexisting in mature stands and decade-old black spruce harvest blocks. The results showed that all of these mosses have a significantly higher light saturation point at the harvested plots than the forested plots. Feathermosses at the harvested plots all underwent a reduction in quantum efficiency, chlorophyll b content, and chlorophylls:carotenoids ratio related to photoinhibition, particularly Pleurozium, which experienced a significant decrease in maximum net photosynthesis. In contrast, Sphagnum showed a significant increase in maximum gross photosynthesis, dark respiration, and the ratio of chlorophyll a:b at the harvested plots compared with the forested plots. The distinctive responses of moss photosynthetic traits indicate the potential proliferation of Sphagnum and decrease of feathermosses, and thus consequent peat accumulation. Our results emphasize the importance of the photosynthetic traits of moss as indicators of postharvest conditions for enhancing understory vegetation management to maintain and improve productivity of black spruce.
Key Classes in Object-Oriented Systems: Detection and Assessment
Authors: do Nascimento Vale Liliane , de Almeida Maia Marcelo
Published: November 2019

Inadequate documentation of software design has been known to be a barrier for developers. Interestingly, several relevant object-oriented systems have their design documented using key classes, which are meant to represent key concepts of the systems. In order to fill the gap of under-documented design, we present Keecle, an approach for detecting a predefined number of key classes in a semi-automatic way. The main challenge is to reduce the space of potentially thousands of classes to just a few representatives of the main concepts of a system, while maintaining high precision. The approach is evaluated with 13 systems in order to assess its correctness. The ground-truth is obtained either from the original documentation, or from third-party, or from the respective developers. The results were analyzed in terms of precision and recall, and have shown to be superior compared to the state-of-the-art approach. In order to evaluate if key classes are more critical from the design point of view, we evaluated whether they are associated with cohesion and coupling metrics. We found that although key classes, in general, are critical from the point of view of design, there are other classes that are also critical, suggesting that being aware of key classes encompass information not available in structural metrics, and could be useful as a additional facet for design assessment.
WAAC: An End-to-End Web API Automatic Calls Approach for Goal-Oriented Intelligent Services
Authors: Li Ying , Liu Shengpeng , Jin Ting , Gao Honghao
Published: November 2019

Web API recommendations have recently been studied extensively. However, recommending an API for a service is different than service intelligence. Web API automatic calls are widely used in question–answer dialog applications and service-composed workflow systems to achieve intelligent services. To finish an automatic Web API call not only requires the Web API ID, but also its input parameters. In this paper, we propose an end-to-end Web API automatic calls approach, named WAAC, that translates a goal’s natural language sentences directly to the Web API invoking sequences including its ID and parameters. This end-to-end approach based on the seq2seq encoder–decoder framework, adopts character-level RNN for the Chinese sentences and introduces a copying mechanism to retrieve API parameters. To train the network, a Chinese version dataset of over 1 million natural sentences and API invoking sequence pairs are generated with some manually labeled data and 72 real Web API invoking logs. Experiments obtain a 96% precision on predicting API invoking sequences and show that the character-level RNN and copying mechanism both contribute considerably to achieving a high precision Web API automatic call system for goal-oriented services.
Nonlinear Post-Buckling of CNTs Reinforced Sandwich-Structured Composite Annular Spherical Shells
Authors: Manh Dương Tuan , Anh Vu Thi Thuy , Nguyen Pham Dinh , Duc Nguyen Dinh
Published: November 2019

This work presents the nonlinear post-buckling behavior of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced sandwich composite annular spherical (AS) shells supported by elastic foundations in the thermal environment. This paper takes advantage of the sandwich-structured configuration with three layers: two nanocomposite face sheets and an isotropic core to analyze the static problem. Due to the precious properties, CNTs are applied to reinforce nanocomposite face sheets of AS shells. The governing equations of the nonlinear mechanical response of CNTs reinforced sandwich-structured composite (SSC) AS shells are achieved by using the classical shell theory (CST) and taking von Kármán’s geometrical nonlinearity into account. Applying Airy’s stress function and an approximate solution, we propose a form of stress function for CNTs reinforced SSC AS shells. The detailed effects of different types of CNTs’ reinforcement and volume fractions, geometrical parameters, core to face sheet thickness ratio, Winkler and Pasternak elastic foundations on the nonlinear mechanical post-buckling analysis are examined.
Free Vibration Response of FG Porous Sandwich Micro-Beam with Flexoelectric Face-Sheets Resting on Modified Silica Aerogel Foundation
Authors: Arani Ali Ghorbanpour , Zarei Hassan Baba Akbar , Pourmousa Pouya
Published: November 2019

The free vibration analysis of sandwich micro-beam (SMB) which is subjected to electrical field is investigated by adopting the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory (EBBT) and modified strain gradient theory (MSGT). SMB is made of three layers, including a functionally graded (FG) porous core and two flexoelectric face-sheets. The porosities are assumed to be distributed over the beam thickness based on the two distribution functions. Also, due to the electric properties of flexoelectric materials, face-sheets of SMB are subjected to the external electric field. The modified Silica Aerogel foundation model is employed to consider the effects of elastic foundation on SMB. The size-dependent governing equations of motion are derived using Hamilton’s principle and solved by Navier’s solution method for a case of simply supported SMB. The effects of various parameters, such as length to thickness ratio, porosity index, flexoelectric loadings (the load applied to the flexoelectric face-sheets caused by external electric field), small scale parameter and foundation parameters on dimensionless frequency of SMB, are assessed. The results of this work can be used for optimum design and control of micro-electro-mechanical devices.
EVALUATING CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE IN A CLIMATE MODEL WITH ENDOGENOUS TECHNICAL CHANGE
Authors: DURMAZ TUNÇ , SCHROYEN FRED
Published: November 2019

We assess the extent to which Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and R&D on this abatement technology are part of a socially efficient solution to the problem of climate change. For this purpose, we extend the intertemporal model of climate and directed technical change developed by Acemoglu et al. (2012) [The environment and directed technical change. American Economic Review, 102(1), 131–166] to include a sector responsible for CCS. We show that two types of solutions exist: a renewable energy regime where current CCS technology is only temporarily used but never further developed; and a fossil energy regime where CCS is part of a long-term solution and is further developed at about the same rate as fossil energy technology. Our computations show that for current estimates of the marginal cost of CCS, the renewable energy regime clearly dominates the fossil fuel energy regime.
Successive Cyclicity and the Syntax of Long-Distance Dependencies
Authors: van Urk Coppe
Published: November 2019

Every major theoretical approach to syntactic structure incorporates a mechanism for generating unbounded dependencies. In this article, I distinguish between some of the most commonly entertained mechanisms by looking in detail at one of the most fundamental discoveries about long-distance dependencies, the fact that they are successive cyclic. Most of the mechanisms posited in order to generate long-distance dependencies capture this property, but make different predictions about what reflexes of successive cyclicity should be attested across languages. In particular, theories of long-distance dependencies can be distinguished according to whether they propose intermediate occurrences of the moving phrases (movement theories) or whether intermediate heads carry features relevant to displacement (featural theories). I show that a full consideration of the typology of successive cyclicity provides clear evidence that both components are part of the syntax of long-distance dependencies. In addition, reflexes of successive cyclicity are equally distributed across the CP and vP edge, suggesting that these are parallel domains.
DAMPs, PAMPs, and LAMPs in Immunity and Sterile Inflammation
Authors: Zindel Joel , Kubes Paul
Published: November 2019

Recognizing the importance of leukocyte trafficking in inflammation led to some therapeutic breakthroughs. However, many inflammatory pathologies remain without specific therapy. This review discusses leukocytes in the context of sterile inflammation, a process caused by sterile (non-microbial) molecules, comprising damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). DAMPs bind specific receptors to activate inflammation and start a highly optimized sequence of immune cell recruitment of neutrophils and monocytes to initiate effective tissue repair. When DAMPs are cleared, the recruited leukocytes change from a proinflammatory to a reparative program, a switch that is locally supervised by invariant natural killer T cells. In addition, neutrophils exit the inflammatory site and reverse transmigrate back to the bloodstream. Inflammation persists when the program switch or reverse transmigration fails, or when the coordinated leukocyte effort cannot clear the immunostimulatory molecules. The latter causes inappropriate leukocyte activation, a driver of many pathologies associated with poor lifestyle choices. We discuss lifestyle-associated inflammatory diseases and their corresponding immunostimulatory lifestyle-associated molecular patterns (LAMPs) and distinguish them from DAMPs.
Resetting Policies to End Family Homelessness
Authors: Bassuk Ellen L. , Hart Jacqueline A. , Donovan Effy
Published: November 2019

Homelessness is a devastating experience for children and their families. Families, the majority of whose members are children, now comprise more than one-third of the overall US homeless population. Most of these children are less than six years old. Various assumptions have driven policy and the allocation of resources to programs serving these families. Although decades of research and field experience suggest strategies for preventing and reducing this problem, perspectives differ, hindering the development of effective solutions. In this article, we explore some of these assumptions, including ( a) definitions of homelessness used to count the numbers of families and determine resource allocation, ( b) the needs of children and responses to the impact of adverse childhood experiences, and ( c) whether services matter and should be integrated with affordable housing. We conclude by suggesting various directions to ensure that these children are protected and have the opportunity to grow and thrive.
ASIC1a plays a key role in evoking the metabolic component of the exercise pressor reflex in rats
Authors: Ducrocq Guillaume P. , Kim Joyce S. , Estrada Juan A. , Kaufman Marc P.
Published: November 2019

The role of the acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) in evoking the exercise pressor reflex is unknown, despite the fact that ASIC1a is opened by decreases in pH in the physiological range. This fact prompted us to test the hypothesis that ASIC1a plays an important role in evoking the exercise pressor reflex in decerebrated rats with freely perfused hindlimb muscles. To test this hypothesis, we measured the effect of injecting two ASIC1a blockers into the arterial supply of the triceps surae muscles on the reflex pressor responses to four maneuvers, namely 1) static contraction of the triceps surae muscles (i.e., the exercise pressor reflex), 2) calcaneal tendon stretch, 3) intra-arterial injection of lactic acid, and 4) intra-arterial injection of diprotonated phosphate. We found that the 2 ASIC1a blockers, psalmotoxin-1 (200 ng/kg) and mambalgin-1 (6.5 μg/kg), decreased the pressor responses to static contraction as well as the peak pressor responses to injection of lactic acid and diprotonated phosphate. In contrast, neither ASIC1a blocker had any effect on the pressor responses to tendon stretch. Importantly, we found that ASIC1a blockade significantly decreased the pressor response to static contraction after a latency of at least 8 s. Our results support the hypothesis that ASIC1a plays a key role in evoking the metabolic component of the exercise pressor reflex.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The role played by acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) in evoking the exercise pressor reflex remains unknown. In decerebrated rats with freely perfused femoral arteries, blocking ASIC1a with psalmotoxin-1 or mambalgin-1 significantly attenuated the pressor response to static contraction, lactic acid, and diprotonated phosphate injection but had no effect on the pressor response to stretch. We conclude that ASIC1a plays a key role in evoking the exercise pressor reflex by responding to contraction-induced metabolites, such as protons.
Dendritic Cells Drive Osteosarcomagenesis through Newly Identified Oncogene and Tumor Suppressor
Authors: Jones Kevin B.
Published: November 2019

GRM4, a GWAS-suspected tumor suppressor, is tested in a mouse model of osteosarcomagenesis as well as the putative oncogene it suppresses, IL23. Both are expressed in and exert the bulk of their influence among tumor-infiltrating myeloid-derived antigen-presenting cells, rather than osteosarcoma cells.

See related article by Kansara et al., p. 1511.