bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE CASE FOR THE AZTEC GOLDSMITH
Authors: King Timothy B.
Published: December 2015

There is compelling evidence to believe that some gold ornaments in the South Mexican International Style found outside the Basin of Mexico, or without provenience, were made by goldsmiths in the urban centers of the Aztec empire, rather than by the Mixtec artisans to whom they are commonly attributed. The weight of gold dust and bullion recorded as tribute to the Aztec rulers in theCodex Mendozaand other sources was sufficient to produce 22,000–27,000 small and medium-sized ornaments annually, implying a large number of goldworkers in these urban centers. Ethnohistorical documents indicate that many gold ornaments were given to provincial leaders by Aztec rulers who used gifts of luxury items as an important part of their diplomatic strategies, and political patronage system; many more were exported by means of long-distance trade.
HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE BASIN OF MEXICO AND THE CENTRAL MEXICAN SYMBIOTIC REGION: DEVELOPMENT, PRESENT STATUS, FUTURE PROSPECTS
Authors: Charlton Thomas H. , Fournier Patricia , Otis Charlton Cynthia L.
Published: December 2015

The development of the field of historical archaeology in Mexico has made many advances since the inception, in effect, of its practice there in the 1960s. The roots of historical archaeology in the Central Mexican Symbiotic Region (CMSR) in general and in the Basin of Mexico in particular are discussed. Specific case studies illustrating some of the Historical Archaeology that has been done in the CMSR are referenced with particular note of some of the diagnostic materials that have been valuable to the studies. The value of these studies to the record of post-Conquest Mexico is noted as are the prospects for continued research in the area.
INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE AND EARLY COMPLEX SOCIETIES OF THE BASIN OF MEXICO: THE FORMATIVE PERIOD
Authors: Nichols Deborah L.
Published: December 2015

Intensive agriculture was a key feature in the development of early complex societies in the Basin of Mexico. In this paper, I review the theoretical underpinnings of archaeological understandings of agriculture change, its relationship to culture change, and how these theoretical perspectives have shifted between top-down and bottom up perspectives. Next I examine current knowledge of intensive agriculture within the dynamic context of the Formative or Preclassic period. The paper concludes with a discussion of how our models and theories of the complex interplay between intensive agriculture and political economy to explain the change from village-based societies to states and cities outstrip available data in the basin.
Counting and generating terms in the binary lambda calculus
Authors: GRYGIEL KATARZYNA , LESCANNE PIERRE
Published: December 2015

In a paper, entitledBinary lambda calculus and combinatory logic, John Tromp presents a simple way of encoding lambda calculus terms as binary sequences. In what follows, we study the numbers of binary strings of a given size that represent lambda terms and derive results from their generating functions, especially that the number of terms of sizengrows roughly like 1.963447954. . .n. In a second part we use this approach to generate random lambda terms using Boltzmann samplers.
Claude Jaupart Receives 2015 Harry H. Hess Medal
Authors:   AGU
Published: December 2015

Claude Jaupart was awarded the 2015 Harry H. Hess Medal at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 16 December 2015 in San Francisco, Calif. The medal is for "outstanding achievements in research on the constitution and evolution of the Earth and other planets."
Three–Dimensional Scans Illuminate Wildlife Environments
Authors: Klein Kerry
Published: December 2015

Detailed laser imaging of vegetation and landforms where animals live and roam offers revealing new perspectives on interactions between those creatures and their surroundings.
Structural basis for Sfm1 functioning as a protein arginine methyltransferase
Authors: Lv Fengjuan , Zhang Tianlong , Zhou Zhen , Gao Shuaixin , Wong Catherine CL , Zhou Jin-Qiu , Ding Jianping
Published: December 2015

SPOUT proteins constitute one class of methyltransferases, which so far are found to exert activity mainly towards RNAs. Previously, yeast Sfm1 was predicted to contain a SPOUT domain but can methylate ribosomal protein S3. Here we report the crystal structure of Sfm1, which comprises of a typical SPOUT domain and a small C-terminal domain. The active site is similar to that of protein arginine methyltransferases but different from that of RNA methyltransferases. In addition, Sfm1 exhibits a negatively charged surface surrounding the active site unsuitable for RNA binding. Our biochemical data show that Sfm1 exists as a monomer and has high activity towards ribosomal protein S3 but no activity towards RNA. It can specifically catalyze the methylation of Arg146 of S3 and the C-terminal domain is critical for substrate binding and activity. These results together provide the structural basis for Sfm1 functioning as a PRMT for ribosomal protein S3.
Almost sure convergence in quantum spin glasses
Authors: Buzinski David , Meckes Elizabeth
Published: December 2015

Recently, Keating, Linden, and Wells [Markov Processes Relat. Fields 21(3), 537-555 (2015)] showed that the density of states measure of a nearest-neighbor quantum spin glass model is approximately Gaussian when the number of particles is large. The density of states measure is the ensemble average of the empirical spectral measure of a random matrix; in this paper, we use concentration of measure and entropy techniques together with the result of Keating, Linden, and Wells to show that in fact the empirical spectral measure of such a random matrix is almost surely approximately Gaussian itself with no ensemble averaging. We also extend this result to a spherical quantum spin glass model and to the more general coupling geometries investigated by Erdős and Schröder [Math. Phys., Anal. Geom. 17(3-4), 441–464 (2014)].
Chimera states in coupled Kuramoto oscillators with inertia
Authors: Olmi Simona
Published: December 2015

The dynamics of two symmetrically coupled populations of rotators is studied for different values of the inertia. The system is characterized by different types of solutions, which all coexist with the fully synchronized state. At small inertia, the system is no more chaotic and one observes mainly quasi-periodic chimeras, while the usual (stationary) chimera state is not anymore observable. At large inertia, one observes two different kind of chaotic solutions with broken symmetry: the intermittent chaotic chimera, characterized by a synchronized population and a population displaying a turbulent behaviour, and a second state where the two populations are both chaotic but whose dynamics adhere to two different macroscopic attractors. The intermittent chaotic chimeras are characterized by a finite life-time, whose duration increases as a power-law with the system size and the inertia value. Moreover, the chaotic population exhibits clear intermittent behavior, displaying a laminar phase where the two populations tend to synchronize, and a turbulent phase where the macroscopic motion of one population is definitely erratic. In the thermodynamic limit, these states survive for infinite time and the laminar regimes tends to disappear, thus giving rise to stationary chaotic solutions with broken symmetry contrary to what observed for chaotic chimeras on a ring geometry.
Low-temperature (∼180 °C) position-controlled lateral solid-phase crystallization of GeSn with laser-anneal seeding
Authors: Matsumura Ryo , Chikita Hironori , Kai Yuki , Sadoh Taizoh , Ikenoue Hiroshi , Miyao Masanobu
Published: December 2015

To realize next-generation flexible thin-film devices, solid-phase crystallization (SPC) of amorphous germanium tin (GeSn) films on insulating substrates combined with seeds formed by laser annealing (LA) has been investigated. This technique enables the crystallization of GeSn at controlled positions at low temperature (∼180 °C) due to the determination of the starting points of crystallization by LA seeding and Sn-induced SPC enhancement. The GeSn crystals grown by SPC from LA seeds showed abnormal lateral profiles of substitutional Sn concentration. These lateral profiles are caused by the annealing time after crystallization being a function of distance from the LA seeds. This observation of a post-annealing effect also indicates that GeSn with a substitutional Sn concentration of up to ∼10% possesses high thermal stability. These results will facilitate the fabrication of next-generation thin-film devices on flexible plastic substrates with low softening temperatures (∼250 °C).
Protein structural and surface water rearrangement constitute major events in the earliest aggregation stages of tau
Authors: Pavlova Anna , Cheng Chi-Yuan , Kinnebrew Maia , Lew John , Dahlquist Frederick W. , Han Songi
Published: December 2015

Significance

Amyloid fibril formation is a key process accompanying many neurodegenerative diseases. Oligomers formed in the early stages of aggregation have been thought to play a key role in disease effects, but their studies are challenging. We use site-specific measurements of surface water diffusion, protein segmental dynamics, and interstrand packing to track early tau protein aggregation processes in situ. Our study reveals that tau aggregation is accompanied by a dramatic structural transformation within minutes of initiating aggregation, followed by the formation of partially structured aggregation intermediates and their rearrangement into stable aggregate species with β-sheet signatures and fibrils. Our findings suggest that therapeutic intervention may focus on disrupting the earliest aggregation events occurring in solution.
Pan-neuronal imaging in roaming
Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Venkatachalam Vivek , Ji Ni , Wang Xian , Clark Christopher , Mitchell James Kameron , Klein Mason , Tabone Christopher J. , Florman Jeremy , Ji Hongfei , Greenwood Joel , Chisholm Andrew D. , Srinivasan Jagan , Alkema Mark , Zhen Mei , Samuel Aravinthan D. T.
Published: December 2015

Significance

A full understanding of sensorimotor transformation during complex behaviors requires quantifying brainwide dynamics of behaving animals. Here, we characterize brainwide dynamics of individual nematodes exposed to a defined thermosensory input. We show that it is possible to uncover representations of sensory input and motor output in individual neurons of behaving animals. Panneuronal imaging in roaming animals will facilitate systems neuroscience in behaving
Caenorhabditis elegans
.
Discontinuity in the genetic and environmental causes of the intellectual disability spectrum
Authors: Reichenberg Abraham , Cederlöf Martin , McMillan Andrew , Trzaskowski Maciej , Kapra Ori , Fruchter Eyal , Ginat Karen , Davidson Michael , Weiser Mark , Larsson Henrik , Plomin Robert , Lichtenstein Paul
Published: December 2015

Significance

Intellectual disability (ID) is present in almost 3% of children and fundamentally characterized by IQ scores below 70. Genetic research has shown that it is among the most heritable traits, and it has been accepted that ID is the extreme low of the normal IQ distribution. However, we show that, while the genetic and environmental factors influencing mild ID (lowest 3% of IQ distribution) are similar to those influencing IQ in the normal range, factors influencing severe ID (lowest 0.5%) differ from those influencing mild ID or IQ scores in the normal range. Therefore, severe ID is a distinct disorder, qualitatively different from the majority of ID, which in turn represents the low extreme of the normal distribution of intelligence.
Rates and drivers of mangrove deforestation in Southeast Asia, 2000–2012
Authors: Richards Daniel R. , Friess Daniel A.
Published: December 2015

Significance

This study quantifies the proximate drivers (i.e., replacement land uses) of mangrove deforestation across Southeast Asia between 2000 and 2012. Mangrove forests in the region were lost at an average rate of 0.18% per year. Aquaculture was a major pressure on mangrove systems during this period, but its dominance was lower than expected, contrary to popular development narratives. Rice agriculture has been a major driver of mangrove loss in Myanmar, and oil palm expansion is a key but under-recognized threat in Malaysia and Indonesia. The threat of oil palm to mangroves is likely to increase in the future as new frontiers open up in Papua, Indonesia. Future research and policy responses must consider the diversity of drivers of mangrove deforestation.
Ecosystem heterogeneity determines the ecological resilience of the Amazon to climate change
Authors: Levine Naomi M. , Zhang Ke , Longo Marcos , Baccini Alessandro , Phillips Oliver L. , Lewis Simon L. , Alvarez-Dávila Esteban , Segalin de Andrade Ana Cristina , Brienen Roel J. W. , Erwin Terry L. , Feldpausch Ted R. , Monteagudo Mendoza Abel Lorenzo , Nuñez Vargas Percy , Prieto Adriana , Silva-Espejo Javier Eduardo , Malhi Yadvinder , Moorcroft Paul R.
Published: December 2015

Significance

Understanding how changes in climate will affect terrestrial ecosystems is particularly important in tropical forest regions, which store large amounts of carbon and exert important feedbacks onto regional and global climates. By combining multiple types of observations with a state-of-the-art terrestrial ecosystem model, we demonstrate that the sensitivity of tropical forests to changes in climate is dependent on the length of the dry season and soil type, but also, importantly, on the dynamics of individual-level competition within plant canopies. These interactions result in ecosystems that are more sensitive to changes in climate than has been predicted by traditional models but that transition from one ecosystem type to another in a continuous, non–tipping-point manner.
Thinking from God’s perspective decreases biased valuation of the life of a nonbeliever
Authors: Ginges Jeremy , Sheikh Hammad , Atran Scott , Argo Nichole
Published: December 2015

Significance

Religious belief is often seen as a key cause of human conflict because it is said to promote preferential treatment of adherents and to harden group boundaries. Here, we examined a critical aspect of this link in the context of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, a multigenerational violent conflict with significant religious aspects. We find that although Muslim Palestinian participants valued Palestinian over Jewish Israeli lives when making difficult moral choices, they believed that Allah preferred them to make moral decisions that valued the lives of Palestinians and Jewish Israelis more equally. Beliefs about God may promote more equal valuation of human life regardless of religious identity, encouraging application of universal moral rules to believers and nonbelievers alike.
Fluctuating fitness shapes the clone-size distribution of immune repertoires
Authors: Desponds Jonathan , Mora Thierry , Walczak Aleksandra M.
Published: December 2015

Significance

Receptors on the surface of lymphocytes specifically recognize foreign pathogens. The diversity of these receptors sets the range of infections that can be detected and fought off. Recent experiments show that, despite the many differences between these receptors in different cell types and species, their distribution of diversity is a strikingly reproducible power law. By introducing effective models of repertoire dynamics that include environmental and antigenic fluctuations affecting lymphocyte growth or “fitness,” we show that a temporally fluctuating fitness is responsible for the observed heavy tail distribution. These models are general and describe the dynamics of various cell types in different species. They allow for the classification of the functionally relevant repertoire dynamics from the features of the experimental distributions.
Metabolic connectivity mapping reveals effective connectivity in the resting human brain
Authors: Riedl Valentin , Utz Lukas , Castrillón Gabriel , Grimmer Timo , Rauschecker Josef P. , Ploner Markus , Friston Karl J. , Drzezga Alexander , Sorg Christian
Published: December 2015

Significance

Noninvasive brain imaging of humans identifies prominent networks related to sensory and cognitive functions in the resting state; however, the signaling hierarchy and directionality among these networks remain largely unknown. Integrating simultaneously recorded measures for network identification and regional energy metabolism, we propose metabolic connectivity mapping (MCM) as a novel measure to reveal signaling directionality in the human brain. Comparing simple “eyes closed” and “eyes open” conditions in healthy subjects, MCM revealed stable bidirectional signaling among visual cortices and top-down signaling from parietal control regions. Additional top-down signaling from a salience network occurs only during the eyes open condition. We propose MCM as a measure for investigating signaling directions among brain networks in healthy and diseased brains.
Benefits of mercury controls for the United States
Authors: Giang Amanda , Selin Noelle E.
Published: December 2015

Significance

Mercury is a globally transported pollutant with potent neurotoxic effects for both humans and wildlife. This study introduces an assessment method to estimate the potential human health-related economic benefits of global and domestic mercury control policies. It finds that for the US population as a whole, global mercury controls could lead to approximately twice the benefits of domestic action by 2050. This result is robust to several uncertainties and variabilities along the emissions-to-impacts path, although we find that those consuming locally caught freshwater fish in the United States could benefit more from domestic action.
Feature-based face representations and image reconstruction from behavioral and neural data
Authors: Nestor Adrian , Plaut David C. , Behrmann Marlene
Published: December 2015

Significance

The present work establishes a novel approach to the study of visual representations. This approach allows us to estimate the structure of human face space as encoded by high-level visual cortex, to extract image-based facial features from this structure, and to use such features for the purpose of facial image reconstruction. The derivation of visual features from empirical data provides an important step in elucidating the nature and the specific content of face representations. Further, the integrative character of this work sheds new light on the existing concept of face space by rendering it instrumental in image reconstruction. Last, the robustness and generality of our reconstruction approach is established by its ability to handle both neuroimaging and psychophysical data.
Dissecting the interface between apicomplexan parasite and host cell: Insights from a divergent AMA–RON2 pair
Authors: Parker Michelle L. , Penarete-Vargas Diana M. , Hamilton Phineas T. , Guérin Amandine , Dubey Jitender P. , Perlman Steve J. , Spano Furio , Lebrun Maryse , Boulanger Martin J.
Published: December 2015

Significance

Parasites of phylum Apicomplexa cause significant morbidity and mortality on a global scale. Central to the pathogenesis of these parasites is their ability to invade host cells through a junction formed by members of the apical membrane antigen (AMA) and rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2) families localized to the parasite surface and host outer membrane, respectively. Here we structurally and functionally characterize
Toxoplasma gondii
AMA4 (
Tg
AMA4), a highly divergent AMA protein. Structural analyses of
Tg
AMA4 in the apo and RON2
L1
bound forms reveal a previously underappreciated level of molecular diversity at the parasite–host-cell interface that offers important insight into stage-dependent invasion strategies and yields a more comprehensive model of apicomplexan invasion.
Sustainable proliferation of liposomes compatible with inner RNA replication
Authors: Tsuji Gakushi , Fujii Satoshi , Sunami Takeshi , Yomo Tetsuya
Published: December 2015

Significance

The reconstitution of liposomal growth and division compatible with replication of genetic information are required for the development of model cell growth. The growth dynamics of liposomes and their internal reactions should be synchronized to maintain the whole system. In this report, we demonstrate the concurrent incorporation of nutrients and membranes into RNA-containing liposomes using a modified freeze–thaw technique. The fusion and fission of liposomes, RNA replication, and distribution to daughter liposomes were observed compatibly. Finally, the sustainable proliferation of RNA-containing liposomes was observed by iteratively supplying nutrients for 10 cycles. We propose the use of this culturable liposome as an advanced recursive model of a liposomal protocell.
G
s
α deficiency in adipose tissue improves glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity without an effect on body weight
Authors: Li Yong-Qi , Shrestha Yogendra B. , Chen Min , Chanturiya Tatyana , Gavrilova Oksana , Weinstein Lee S.
Published: December 2015

Significance

The G protein G
s
α mediates the activation of lipolysis in white and brown adipose tissue (WAT and BAT) and thermogenesis in BAT by sympathetic nerves. In this study we show that G
s
α deficiency in BAT and WAT leads to cold intolerance and inactive BAT in mice, as expected, but does not alter body weight or energy balance, associated with a reduction in both lipolysis and lipogenesis. Despite having similar adiposity, these mice had improved insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, possibly secondary to reduced release of free fatty acids and fatty acid binding protein 4 from adipose tissue. These findings show that G
s
α in adipocytes is not required to maintain energy balance but still has an important effect on glucose metabolism.
Systematic study of constitutive cyclooxygenase-2 expression: Role of NF-κB and NFAT transcriptional pathways
Authors: Kirkby Nicholas S. , Chan Melissa V. , Zaiss Anne K. , Garcia-Vaz Eliana , Jiao Jing , Berglund Lisa M. , Verdu Elena F. , Ahmetaj-Shala Blerina , Wallace John L. , Herschman Harvey R. , Gomez Maria F. , Mitchell Jane A.
Published: December 2015

Significance

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) work by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) induced at sites of inflammation. They are among the most widely used drugs worldwide, but their cardiovascular side effects are a major concern for patients, regulators, and industry. NSAID side effects are mediated by inhibition of constitutively expressed COX-2 present in discrete regions, including the kidney. However, the pathways driving constitutive COX-2 remain poorly understood. The work presented here defines these pathways and importantly shows constitutive COX-2 expression in the kidney occurs through pathways distinct to those driving COX-2 in inflammation. These data therefore highlight the potential that targeting COX-2 at the transcriptional level may provide a way to dissociate antiinflammatory benefits of NSAIDs from their treatment-limiting cardiovascular side effects.
Long-acting cocaine hydrolase for addiction therapy
Authors: Chen Xiabin , Xue Liu , Hou Shurong , Jin Zhenyu , Zhang Ting , Zheng Fang , Zhan Chang-Guo
Published: December 2015

Significance

It is essential for a truly effective addiction medication to block the drug's physiological effects effectively without affecting normal functions of the brain and other critical organs such as the heart and while still preventing relapse during abstinence. Most popularly used pharmacological approaches to addiction treatment, including all currently available addiction therapies, either affect normal functions of brain receptors/transporters or are unable to prevent relapse. The long-acting enzyme approach may provide a novel, truly promising therapy capable of effectively blocking the physiological and toxic effects of cocaine without affecting normal functions of the brain and other critical organs and prevent relapse during abstinence. New insights obtained in this study also may be valuable in guiding development of other therapeutic proteins.
Neolithic and Bronze Age migration to Ireland and establishment of the insular Atlantic genome
Authors: Cassidy Lara M. , Martiniano Rui , Murphy Eileen M. , Teasdale Matthew D. , Mallory James , Hartwell Barrie , Bradley Daniel G.
Published: December 2015

Significance

Modern Europe has been shaped by two episodes in prehistory, the advent of agriculture and later metallurgy. These innovations brought not only massive cultural change but also, in certain parts of the continent, a change in genetic structure. The manner in which these transitions affected the islands of Ireland and Britain on the northwestern edge of the continent remains the subject of debate. The first ancient whole genomes from Ireland, including two at high coverage, demonstrate that large-scale genetic shifts accompanied both transitions. We also observe a strong signal of continuity between modern day Irish populations and the Bronze Age individuals, one of whom is a carrier for the C282Y hemochromatosis mutation, which has its highest frequencies in Ireland today.
One-carbon chemistry of oxalate oxidoreductase captured by X-ray crystallography
Authors: Gibson Marcus I. , Chen Percival Yang-Ting , Johnson Aileen C. , Pierce Elizabeth , Can Mehmet , Ragsdale Stephen W. , Drennan Catherine L.
Published: December 2015

Significance

The microbial Wood−Ljungdahl pathway is the biological equivalent of the Monsanto process, responsible for converting greenhouse gas CO
2
into acetate. In addition to CO
2
, this microbial pathway requires low-potential electrons. The recently discovered oxalate oxidoreductase produces both low-potential electrons and CO
2
through the oxidation of oxalate. Here our structural data allow us to visualize intermediates along the reaction cycle that have not been previously described, providing insight into the molecular mechanism by which oxalate is metabolized.
HIV-1 RNA genome dimerizes on the plasma membrane in the presence of Gag protein
Authors: Chen Jianbo , Rahman Sheikh Abdul , Nikolaitchik Olga A. , Grunwald David , Sardo Luca , Burdick Ryan C. , Plisov Sergey , Liang Edward , Tai Sheldon , Pathak Vinay K. , Hu Wei-Shau
Published: December 2015

Significance

Dimerization of the RNA genome is a key event in HIV-1 virion assembly and has a strong impact in viral replication and evolution. Packaging the dimeric genome allows frequent recombination to rescue genetic information in damaged RNAs and to generate variants that can evade the host immune response or resist antiviral treatments. Furthermore, genome packaging is regulated by recognition of dimeric RNA. Our studies demonstrate that HIV-1 RNAs dimerize not in the cytoplasm but on the plasma membrane, often early during the assembly process, and that Gag protein is required for maintenance of the RNA dimer. These studies address the timing, location, and partners involved in RNA dimerization, an important process for HIV-1 replication.
Ecology-driven stereotypes override race stereotypes
Authors: Williams Keelah E. G. , Sng Oliver , Neuberg Steven L.
Published: December 2015

Significance

Ecological features shape people’s goals, strategies, and behaviors. Our research suggests that social perceivers possess a lay understanding of ecology’s influence on behavior, resulting in ecology-driven stereotypes. Moreover, because race is confounded with ecology in the United States, Americans’ stereotypes about racial groups may actually reflect their stereotypes about these groups’ presumed home ecologies. In a series of studies, we demonstrate that (i) individuals possess ecology-driven stereotypes; (ii) these stereotypes are not derivative of race stereotypes; and (iii) the application of race stereotypes to targets is greatly diminished when more immediate cues to home ecology are present. These findings have important implications for the conceptualization of race stereotypes, as well as for reducing the application of pernicious stereotypes to individuals.
Cbx4: A new guardian of p63’s domain of epidermal control
Authors: Cohen Idan , Ezhkova Elena
Published: December 2015

Epigenetic regulators are essential for cell lineage choices during development. In this issue, Mardaryev et al. (2016. J. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201506065) show that Polycomb subunit Cbx4 acts downstream of transcriptional regulator p63 to maintain epidermal progenitor identity and proliferation in the developing epidermis via Polycomb-dependent and -independent SUMO E3 ligase activities.
Delineating the continuum of marine ecosystem-based management: a US fisheries reference point perspective
Authors: Dolan Tara E. , Patrick Wesley S. , Link Jason S.
Published: December 2015

Ecosystem management (EM) suffers from linguistic uncertainty surrounding the definition of “EM” and how it can be operationalized. Using fisheries management as an example, we clarify how EM exists in different paradigms along a continuum, starting with a single-species focus and building towards a more systemic and multi-sector perspective. Focusing on the specification of biological and other systemic reference points (SRPs) used in each paradigm and its related regulatory and governance structures, we compare and contrast similarities among these paradigms. We find that although EM is a hierarchical continuum, similar SRPs can be used throughout the continuum, but the scope of these reference points are broader at higher levels of management. This work interprets the current state of the conversation, and may help to clarify the levels of how EM is applied now and how it can be applied in the future, further advancing its implementation.
An overview of global research effort in fisheries science
Authors: Aksnes Dag W. , Browman Howard I.
Published: December 2015

We used bibliometric indicators to characterize recent (2010–2013) research activity in fisheries science with the objective of garnering insights into how this increased effort has been directed. Specifically, we provide an overview of the primary literature on fisheries research, including which countries are the largest contributors (USA, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, and Norway), and an assessment of the citation impact of the research conducted by different countries. The countries with the highest impact were the UK, Norway, Germany, France, Canada, and Italy. We further assessed the research topics that are most commonly studied and attempt to understand what drives that. During the past three decades, research appears to have shifted from a focus on species-related questions to processes. An analysis of how publication output is distributed at the level of fish species indicates that a small number of species (e.g. Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, and Atlantic cod) account for a disproportionate volume of the total research effort. Interestingly, publication output is not correlated with the commercial importance of a species. Although fisheries management is purportedly based upon scientific research, our analysis reveals that hardly any research at all is conducted on several of the (commercially) most important species, at least as measured by articles appearing in international scientific journals.
Is There a Role for Decompression Alone for Treating Symptomatic Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis?
Authors: Joaquim Andrei F. , Milano Jeronimo B. , Ghizoni Enrico , Patel Alpesh A.
Published: December 2015

Background Context:

A posterior decompression with an instrumented fusion is one of the most common surgical procedures performed for treating symptomatic spinal stenosis associated with degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS). However, some patients may benefit from a decompression alone, avoiding complications related to instrumentation and fusion.

Objective:

To identify the characteristics of patients with symptomatic DS who may be successfully treated with an isolated decompression.

Study Design:

A systematic literature review of studies including patients who underwent decompression without instrumentation for treatment of DS.

Methods:

A systematic review of the Medline database was performed. Retrospective and prospective studies of patients with DS who underwent a decompression were included, as well as studies comparing decompression with instrumented decompression. All the articles were classified according to their level of evidence.

Results:

Thirteen studies met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. We identified several characteristics that may be associated with a less favorable outcome after a decompression alone: a facet angle >50 degrees, a disk space of >6.5 mm, presence of low back pain rather than lower extremity symptoms, presence of hypermobility in the listhetic level on dynamic radiographs (>1.25 to 2 mm), and resection of the posterior elements. The majority of the studies comparing decompression alone to decompression and instrumented fusion included in our review suggested similar clinical outcomes with both procedures; however, with long-term follow-up, fusion may provide better outcomes. Decompression with a noninstrumented fusion is also a good alternative to improve symptoms in selected patients, potentially decreasing the risk of reoperation compared with an instrumented fusion.

Conclusions:

Satisfactory clinical outcome can be achieved with an isolated decompression in selected patients, avoiding the additional risks and costs of instrumentation and spinal fusion. Noninstrumented fusion is also an interesting alternative to instrumented fusion for well-selected patients to decrease complications related to instrumentation.
Bibliometric and Geographical Analysis of Cell Death Related Literature
Authors: Muley Vijaykumar Yogesh , Hahn Anne , Paikrao Pravin
Published: December 2015

Natural language processing continues to gain importance in a thriving scientific community that communicates its latest results in such a frequency that following up on the most recent developments even in a specific field cannot be managed by human readers alone. Here we summarize and compare the publishing activity of the previous years on a distinct topic across several countries, addressing not only publishing frequency and history, but also stylistic characteristics that are accessible by means of natural language processing. Though there are no profound differences in the sentence lengths or lexical diversity among different countries, writing styles approached by Part-Of-Speech tagging are similar among countries that share history or official language or those are spatially close.
Initiator tRNA Genes Template the 3’CCA End at High Frequencies in Bacteria
Authors: Ardell David H. , Hou Ya-Ming
Published: December 2015

While the CCA sequence at the mature 3’ end of tRNAs is conserved and critical for translational function, a genetic template for this sequence is not always contained in tRNA genes. In eukaryotes and archaea, the CCA ends of tRNAs are synthesized post-transcriptionally by CCA-adding enzymes. In bacteria, tRNA genes template CCA sporadically. In order to understand variation in how prokaryotic tRNA genes template CCA, we re-annotated tRNA genes in the tRNAdb-CE database. Among 132,129 prokaryotic tRNA genes, initiator tRNA genes template CCA at the highest average frequency (74.1%) over all functional classes except selenocysteine and pyrrolysine tRNA genes (88.1% and 100% respectively). Across bacterial phyla and a wide range of genome sizes, many lineages exist in which predominantly initiator tRNA genes template CCA. Preferential retention of CCA in initiator tRNA genes evolved multiple times during reductive genome evolution in Bacteria. Also, in a majority of cyanobacterial and actinobacterial genera, predominantly initiator tRNA genes template CCA. We suggest that cotranscriptional synthesis of initiator tRNA CCA 3’ ends can complement inefficient processing of initiator tRNA precursors, “bootstrap” rapid initiation of protein synthesis from a non-growing state, or contribute to an increase in cellular growth rates by reducing overheads of mass and energy to maintain nonfunctional tRNA precursors. More generally, CCA templating in structurally non-conforming tRNA genes can afford cells robustness and greater plasticity to respond rapidly to environmental changes and stimuli.
The Fisher-Wright model with deterministic seed bank and selection
Authors: Koopmann Bendix , Müeller Johannes , Tellier Aurélien , Živković Daniel
Published: December 2015

Seed banks are a common characteristics to many plant species, which allow storage of genetic diversity in the soil as dormant seeds for various periods of time. We investigate an above-ground population following a Fisher-Wright model with selection coupled with a deterministic seed bank assuming the length of the seed bank is kept constant and the number of seeds is large. To assess the combined impact of seed banks and selection on genetic diversity, we derive a general diffusion model. We compute the equilibrium solution of the site-frequency spectrum and derive the times to fixation of an allele with and without selection. Finally, it is demonstrated that seed banks enhance the effect of selection onto the site-frequency spectrum while slowing down the time until the mutation-selection equilibrium is reached.
Epigenetic Regulation of Vegetative Phase Change in Arabidopsis
Authors: Xu Mingli , Hu Tieqiang , Smith Michael R. , Poethig R. Scott
Published: December 2015

Vegetative phase change in flowering plants is regulated by a decrease in the level of miR156. The molecular mechanism of this temporally regulated decrease in miR156 expression is still unknown. Most of the miR156 in Arabidopsis thaliana shoots is produced by MIR156A and MIR156C. We found that the downregulation of these genes during vegetative phase change is associated with an increase in their level of histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) and requires this chromatin modification. The increase in H3K27me3 at MIR156A/MIR156C is associated with an increase in the binding of PRC2 to these genes and is mediated redundantly by the E(z) homologs SWINGER and CURLY LEAF. The CHD3 chromatin remodeler PICKLE (PKL) promotes the addition of H3K27me3 to MIR156A/MIR156C but is not responsible for the temporal increase in this chromatin mark. PKL is bound to the promoters of MIR156A/MIR156C, where it promotes low levels of H3K27ac early in shoot development and stabilizes the nucleosome at the +1 position. These results suggest a molecular mechanism for the initiation and maintenance of vegetative phase change in plants.
Women's opinions on being weighed at routine antenatal visits
Authors: Brownfoot FC , Davey M‐A , Kornman L
Published: December 2015

Objective

To assess the opinions of pregnant women regarding their weight gain and to assess the level of satisfaction and anxiety provoked by being weighed in clinic.

Design

Questionnaires were given to women participating in a randomised controlled trial comparing routine weighing in the antenatal clinic with standard care.

Setting

A tertiary hospital antenatal clinic in Melbourne, Australia.

Population

In all, 782 healthy pregnant women participated in the randomised controlled trial and 586 responded to the questionnaire.

Methods

A questionnaire was offered to all participants at 36 weeks of gestation gauging their satisfaction with their weight gain during pregnancy. The intervention group was asked about their level of satisfaction and anxiety provoked by being weighed in clinic. The control group was asked whether they would have liked to be weighed in clinic. Both groups were questioned about the influences on their weight gain.

Results

Women in both groups were satisfied with their weight gain during pregnancy. Seventy‐three percent of women in the intervention group were very comfortable with being weighed in clinic. Approximately half of those in the control group would have favoured being weighed. Twenty‐one percent of women said other people influenced their weight gain; mostly family members and two‐thirds of them encouraged weight gain. Less than half of the women in the study used weighing scales at home.

Conclusion

Women were satisfied with being weighed antenatally and it did not cause anxiety. Pregnant women accepted the re‐introduction of weighing in the antenatal clinic.

Tweetable abstract

Women are satisfied with being weighed antenatally and it does not cause anxiety.
Effect of Taurine on Hemodiafiltration in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Shiohira Shunji , Komatsu Mizuki , Okazaki Masayuki , Naganuma Toshiaki , Kawaguchi Hiroshi , Nitta Kosaku , Tsuchiya Ken
Published: December 2015

Taurine, an important factor in the living body, is essential for cardiovascular function and development and function of skeletal muscle, retina and central nervous system. In the present study, its effect on cardiovascular function was specifically taken into consideration. In hemodiafiltration (HDF) patients, the effect of taurine on patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), in whom dry weight was difficult to control, was evaluated. All patients who were subjected to regular HDF for 4 h three times per week at Joban hospital were included in this study. Patients with chronic heart failure, in whom dry weight was difficult to control (N = 4), were included in the evaluation of clinical status. X‐ray and echocardiography were determined before and after taurine treatment. Almost all patients were taking nitric acid, warfarin, anti‐platelet agents and vasopressors. Because vital signs were unstable in chronic heart failure, all cases withheld antihypertensive drugs during HDF. For unstable vital signs during HDF, pulmonary congestion was chronically recognized. After taurine was started, vital signs stabilized and lowering of dry weight was possible. In addition, X‐ray and cardiac diastolic failure on echocardiography improved. Taurine was effective for CHF patients on HDF in whom dry weight was difficult to control in spite of various medications.
The Empire of Home: Global Domestic Objects and The Female American (1767)
Authors: Smith Chloe Wigston
Published: December 2015

This article studies the representation of global domestic objects and the treatment of dress and domesticity in The Female American (1767). I argue that the novel's biracial heroine exploits portable goods, such as religious vestments, in her imperialist missionary scheme. This fictional re‐imagining of feminine material culture echoes, but remains distinct from, period examples of needlework and handicrafts that document knowledge of empire and colonisation. Whereas embroidery and novels often schooled women in the pleasures of domesticity, compelling their attention inwards, The Female American suggests a new model of heroic femininity that evades domestic gender ideologies.
Effects of dispersal limitation in the face of intense selection via dietary intervention on the faecal microbiota of rats
Authors: Barron Pastor Heli J. , Gordon David M.
Published: December 2015

Four ecological processes mediate microbial diversity: selection, whereby host factors favour the persistence of particular microbial taxa; historical contingency, where differences in the timing and order of microbial acquisition results in different communities; stochastic factors that impact community assemblages; and dispersal limitation, where the presence of particular taxa is restricted by host population structure and local environmental factors. However, few studies have explored the impact of selection through diet modification on the differences in microbial community composition arising from dispersal limitation.

At weaning, the faecal microbiota of 45 rats originating from six litters, as assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, was strongly correlated with an animal's litter membership. Following 14 weeks on one of three the experimental diets, the faecal microbiota of the rats were again characterized. Clear effects of diet on microbial community composition were observed. However, after 14 weeks of dietary intervention, the effect of litter membership on microbial community composition was still significant.

Our results demonstrate that intense selection (diet manipulation) cannot completely eliminate differences in microbial communities that occurred as a consequence of dispersal limitation (litter membership) prior to selection. These results have clear implications for efforts that attempt to achieve positive health outcomes through diet manipulation.
The firm size, farm size, and transaction costs: the case of hazelnut farms in Turkey
Authors: Demir Ibrahim
Published: December 2015

This study analyzes the effects of transaction costs on the size of hazelnut farms in Turkey. The study finds that higher land slope and higher variance of rain, as transaction‐cost‐increasing natural effects, lead to smaller hazelnut land holdings. High slope and weather variation can increase the costs of monitoring the laborers, make moving inputs or output up and down harder, limit the use of machinery, and reduce contractual performance of labor contracts. For farm production functions, land is a complex input with measurable interactions with nature. Contrary to common production theory approaches that take natural properties of land as given, the study develops a production function that incorporates natural properties, such as, slope and rain variance. The study utilizes two separate data sets for the estimations. The first data set explores the characteristics of hazelnut farmers, while the second one analyzes the regional characteristics of hazelnut farms.
Incidence of obstetric fistula in Norway: a population‐based prospective cohort study
Authors: Trovik Jone , Thornhill Heidi F. , Kiserud Torvid
Published: December 2015

Introduction

Obstetric fistula is a serious complication of childbirth prevalent in developing societies. Less is known about its occurrence in industrialized countries. We aimed to determine incidence and outcome of obstetric fistulas in Norway.

Material and methods

This was a population‐based prospective cohort study. Patient characteristics were registered for all treated at the National Treatment Center for Gynecologic Fistulas, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen. Women with obstetric fistula after delivering in Hordaland County were included when calculating the incidence based on number of deliveries in that county during 1995–2014.

Results

Of 280 fistulas, 40 were related to obstetrics (four urogenital and 36 enterogenital), 19 women were from Hordaland County. During this period, 116 389 deliveries were registered, giving an incidence of obstetric fistula of 16.3/100 000 deliveries (95% confidence interval 10.2–25.7/100 000). The urinary fistulas were due to cesarean section, cerclage, and uterine rupture, and all were repaired surgically. The 36 enteral fistulas were all related to vaginal deliveries; nine (25%) were instrumental and 19 (53%) had experienced a perineal tear of grade 3–4. These fistulas were small, with a median diameter of 2 mm. Four healed spontaneously or after enterostomy, and 30 were repaired transvaginally. In all, 37 of 40 obstetric fistulas were confirmed healed at follow up. Two women refrained from surgery, and one was lost to follow up.

Conclusion

Obstetric fistula does occur in industrialized societies but with a low incidence; fistulas are due to obstetric trauma or surgery rather than prolonged obstructed labor. The outcome of treatment is excellent when women are treated at a competent center.