bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Polymethyl Methacrylate Augmentation on the Primary Stability of Cannulated Bone Screws in an Anterolateral Plate in Osteoporotic Vertebrae: A Human Cadaver Study
Authors: Rüger Matthias , Sellei Richard M. , Stoffel Marcus , von Rüden Christian
Published: June 2015

Study Design

Cohort study.

Objective

Expandable anterolateral plates facilitate the reduction of posttraumatic deformities of thoracolumbar spine injuries and are commonly used in cases of unstable injuries or compromised bone quality. In this in vitro study, the craniocaudal yield load of the osseous fixation of an anterior angular stable plate fixation system and the effect of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) screw augmentation on the primary stability of the screw–bone interface during kyphosis reduction was evaluated in 12 osteoporotic human thoracolumbar vertebrae.

Methods

The anterolateral stabilization device used for this study is comprised of two swiveling flanges and an expandable midsection. It facilitates the controlled reduction of kyphotic deformities in situ with a geared distractor. Single flanges were attached to 12 thoracolumbar vertebrae. Six specimens were augmented with PMMA by means of cannulated bone screws. The constructs were subjected to static, displacement-controlled craniocaudal loading to failure in a servohydraulic testing machine.

Results

The uncemented screws cut out at a mean 393 ± 66 N, whereas the cemented screws showed significantly higher yield load of 966 ± 166 N ( p < 0.02). We detected no significant correlation between bone mineral density and yield load in this setting.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that PMMA augmentation is an effective method to increase two- to threefold the primary stability of the screw–bone interface of an anterolateral spine stabilization system in osteoporotic bone. We recommend it in cases of severely compromised bone quality to reduce the risk of screw loosening during initial kyphosis correction and to increase long-term construct stability.
Classical and generalized Horton laws for peak flows in rainfall-runoff events
Authors: Gupta Vijay K. , Ayalew Tibebu B. , Mantilla Ricardo , Krajewski Witold F.
Published: June 2015

The discovery of the Horton laws for hydrologic variables has greatly lagged behind geomorphology, which began with Robert Horton in 1945. We define the classical and the generalized Horton laws for peak flows in rainfall-runoff events, which link self-similarity in network geomorphology with river basin hydrology. Both the Horton laws are tested in the Iowa River basin in eastern Iowa that drains an area of approximately 32 400 km2 before it joins the Mississippi River. The US Geological Survey continuously monitors the basin through 34 stream gauging stations. We select 51 rainfall-runoff events for carrying out the tests. Our findings support the existence of the classical and the generalized Horton laws for peak flows, which may be considered as a new hydrologic discovery. Three different methods are illustrated for estimating the Horton peak-flow ratio due to small sample size issues in peak flow data. We illustrate an application of the Horton laws for diagnosing parameterizations in a physical rainfall-runoff model. The ideas and developments presented here offer exciting new directions for hydrologic research and education.
Ab initio quasi-particle approximation bandgaps of silicon nanowires calculated at density functional theory/local density approximation computational effort
Authors: Ribeiro M.
Published: June 2015

Ab initio calculations of hydrogen-passivated Si nanowires were performed using density functional theory within LDA-1/2, to account for the excited states properties. A range of diameters was calculated to draw conclusions about the ability of the method to correctly describe the main trends of bandgap, quantum confinement, and self-energy corrections versus the diameter of the nanowire. Bandgaps are predicted with excellent accuracy if compared with other theoretical results like GW, and with the experiment as well, but with a low computational cost.
Improvements to local projective noise reduction through higher order and multiscale refinements
Authors: Moore Jack Murdoch , Small Michael , Karrech Ali
Published: June 2015

The broad spectrum characteristic of signals from nonlinear systems obstructs noise reduction techniques developed for linear systems. Local projection was developed to reduce noise while preserving nonlinear deterministic structures, and a second order refinement to local projection which was proposed ten years ago does so particularly effectively. It involves adjusting the origin of the projection subspace to better accommodate the geometry of the attractor. This paper describes an analytic motivation for the enhancement from which follows further higher order and multiple scale refinements. However, the established enhancement is frequently as or more effective than the new filters arising from solely geometric considerations. Investigation of the way that measurement errors reinforce or cancel throughout the refined local projection procedure explains the special efficacy of the existing enhancement, and leads to a new second order refinement offering widespread gains. Different local projective filters are found to be best suited to different noise levels. At low noise levels, the optimal order increases as noise increases. At intermediate levels second order tends to be optimal, while at high noise levels prototypical local projection is most effective. The new higher order filters perform better relative to established filters for longer signals or signals corresponding to higher dimensional attractors.
Direct observation of high-spin states in manganese dimer and trimer cations by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy in an ion trap
Authors: Zamudio-Bayer V. , Hirsch K. , Langenberg A. , Kossick M. , Ławicki A. , Terasaki A. , v. Issendorff B. , Lau J. T.
Published: June 2015

The electronic structure and magnetic moments of free Mn2+ and Mn3+ are characterized by 2p x-ray absorption and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy in a cryogenic ion trap that is coupled to a synchrotron radiation beamline. Our results directly show that localized magnetic moments of 5 μB are created by 3d5(6S) states at each ionic core, which are coupled ferromagnetically to form molecular high-spin states via indirect exchange that is mediated in both cases by a delocalized valence electron in a singly occupied 4s derived antibonding molecular orbital with an unpaired spin. This leads to total magnetic moments of 11 μB for Mn2+ and 16 μB for Mn3+, with no contribution of orbital angular momentum.
Lactation-induced changes in metabolic status and follicular-fluid metabolomic profile in postpartum dairy cows
Authors: Forde Niamh , O'Gorman Aoife , Whelan Helena , Duffy Pat , O'Hara Lydia , Kelly Alan K. , Havlicek Vitezslav , Besenfelder Urban , Brennan Lorraine , Lonergan Pat
Published: June 2015

The aim was to investigate the effect of lactation on the composition of pre-ovulatory follicular fluid (FF). Forty in-calf primiparous heifers and 20 maiden heifers were enrolled. Immediately after calving, half of the cows were dried off while the remainder were milked twice daily. Serum samples were collected twice weekly from two weeks pre- to 84 days postpartum (dpp). FF was analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Serum concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate were higher, while glucose, insulin and Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) concentrations were lower in lactating cows compared with non-lactating cows and heifers (P < 0.01). Principal component analysis of FF metabolites revealed a clear separation of the lactating group from both non-lactating cows and heifers. The amino acids tyrosine, phenylalanine and valine and fatty acids heneicosanoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were all lower in FF from lactating compared with dry cows (P < 0.05). FF from lactating cows was higher in aminoadipic acid, α-aminobutyric acid, glycine and serine while histidine, leucine, lysine, methionine and ornithine were all lower than in dry cows and heifers (P < 0.05). The ratio of n6 : n3 was higher in lactating cows compared with both non-lactating cows and heifers, whereas total n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, pentadecanoic, linolenic, elaidic and arachidonic acids were all lower in the FF of lactating cows than both non-lactating cows and heifers (P < 0.05). In conclusion, lactation induces distinct changes in the overall metabolic status of postpartum lactating dairy cows which are associated with divergent metabolite profiles in FF.
Extended ex vivo culture of fresh and cryopreserved whole sheep ovaries
Authors: Maffei Sara , Galeati Giovanna , Pennarossa Georgia , Brevini Tiziana A. L. , Gandolfi Fulvio
Published: June 2015

We describe an original perfusion system for the culture of whole ovine ovaries for up to 4 days. A total of 33 ovaries were divided into six groups: control (n = 6), not perfused and fixed; Groups SM72 and SM72-FSH (n = 6 each), perfused with a simple medium for 72 h with or without FSH; Groups CM96 and CM96-FSH (n = 6 each), perfused with a complex medium for 96 h with or without FSH; Group CM96-FSH-cryo, (n = 3) cryopreserved and perfused for 96 h with Group CM96-FSH medium. Depending on the medium used, morphological parameters of cultured ovaries differed from fresh organs after 72 (SM72, SM72-FSH) or 96 (CM96, CM96-FSH) h of perfusion. Oestradiol and progesterone were secreted in all groups but FSH had an effect only on Group CM96-FSH, stimulating continued oestradiol secretion 10 times higher than in all other groups. Morphological parameters and hormone secretion of cryopreserved ovaries were not different from fresh controls. This method enables the culture of whole ovaries for up to 4 days, the time required in vivo for 0.5-mm follicles to grow to 2.2 mm and then for these follicles to reach the ovulatory size of 4 mm or more. It could be used as a research tool or to complement current techniques for preserving female fertility.
Beyond the cultural dichotomy, what do we share?
Authors: Shiau Hong-Chi
Published: June 2015

This study presents an ethnographic approach to unpack the differences in digital media use, illustrating how these differences can be better understood as a negotiable quality of incessant action and interaction, rather than as a given quality of social life mandated by the individualism/collectivism dichotomy. Drawing on ethnographic interviews with seven Taiwanese sojourners in the United States and five Americans in Taiwan, this study asked informants to retrospectively recount their sojourning experiences regarding the use of multimedia messaging services (MMS), which presently often involve smartphones. Taiwanese sojourners exhibited stronger family ties than their American counterparts. Instead of relying on collectivistic/individualistic traits as an explanatory mechanism, this study identifies three themes from the life narratives of both groups of sojourners that could explain the observed cultural differences in the terrain of smartphone communication: first, the economic basis on which sojourning was organized was asymmetric between the two groups; second, parents of the two groups had asymmetric knowledge of the sojourning destinations, and this impacted conversational repertoire; and third, the intersection of gender and media constructions of sojourning destinations also shaped varying degrees of bonding. The larger asymmetric structural context at a macro-level may offer fertile ground for further theorization on cultural differences and commonalities.
A typology of negation in Tungusic
Authors: Hölzl Andreas
Published: June 2015

Negation seems to be a universal linguistic category, yet languages differ vastly in how they express it. Tungusic languages show several interesting and typologically rare phenomena. The paper offers a typological description of negation within the whole language family from an onomasiological perspective. But some remarks on the etymology of certain negators are made as well. There are three main patterns of “standard negation”. The historically oldest type (A) employs a negative verb similar to the Uralic languages, the second pattern (B) is a grammaticalized version of the first (possibly influenced by Nivkh) and the third type (C) is an innovation influenced by Mongolian, in which the negative existential replaced the negative verb. Some preliminary proposals are made for the development of a “conceptual space”, which also includes non-standard negation such as negative copulas, negative existentials, and prohibitives. The discussion contains examples from more than 35 languages.
Personal pronouns with determining functions in Australian languages
Authors: Louagie Dana , Verstraete Jean-Christophe
Published: June 2015

This paper analyses the adnominal use of personal pronouns in a sample of 75 Australian languages. We develop two arguments. First, we argue that in all of the adnominal uses examined, the personal pronoun has a determiner-like function, showing both the functional properties and some of the behaviour of more typical determiner categories like demonstratives or articles. We support this analysis with evidence from positioning tendencies, semantics and discourse functions, and indications of grammaticization in some languages. Secondly, we show that this phenomenon is relatively widespread in Australia, occurring in about half of the languages examined here. We identify five potential geographic clusters, one or two of which can be analyzed as areally determined groupings around a centre with incipient grammaticization. From a typological perspective, these data present new evidence for a somewhat under-studied pathway to nominal determination, in addition to better-studied pathways involving demonstratives, numerals or adjectives.
Is toponymy necessary?
Authors: Nash Joshua
Published: June 2015

Like other areas of linguistic study, toponymy as a domain of analysis does not present itself as being overly reflective of its own assumptions. I ask whether a sub-category or sub-analysis dedicated to toponymy is required at all if we analyse toponyms, landscape terms, and geographical names within the scope of general linguistic analysis (lexical semantics, morphosyntax, and phonology). Or put succinctly: Is toponymy necessary? Data from a longitudinal study of Norfolk Island and Kangaroo Island toponymy indicate there are no marked aberrancies in either sets of data which cannot be accounted for by either more general Norf’k (the Norfolk Island language) or English rules. I conclude by suggesting future studies in landscape terminology should be more mindful of the requirements of the linguistic study of toponymy, especially within lexical, morphosyntactic, and phonological concerns, rather than just within the semantic domain.
Occasioning translator competence
Authors: Kiraly Donald C.
Published: June 2015

For the past thirty years, as the translator’s profession has undergone a radical metamorphosis from a sort of bilingual craft to a highly technologized profession, translator education has been undergoing a comparatively slow evolution. From pervasive chalk-and-talk transmissionist practice just a few decades ago, the contemporary literature on translator education reveals a plethora of theoretical and practical approaches to the study and teaching of translation-related skills. In this article, the author reviews some key trends in this development within the translator education domain on the basis of his own evolution as a translator educator over the past three decades. A key focus will be placed on the role of epistemology, a mainstay of educational philosophy and learning theory, but a topic that he feels can help elucidate pedagogical practices of the past and guide the way toward ones better suited to educating translators today … and in the future.
Applying Task-Based Learning to translator education
Authors: Inoue Izumi , Candlin Christopher N.
Published: June 2015

This paper reports and discusses the outcomes of an innovative pilot training program using Task-Based Learning (TBL) in the context of translator education. The objectives were twofold: to investigate the extent to which the use of TBL helped novice participants develop their problem-solving skills, and to examine learner perceptions of the usefulness of TBL. The training program incorporates key characteristics of TBL, including tasks consisting of pedagogically sequenced stages, guided by the overall objective of achieving learner autonomy. In this study, six postgraduate students majoring in translation and interpreting in Australian universities participated in the program. The process and product of five tasks were evaluated by two professional translators using a set of rubrics. A series of interviews was conducted to identify learner perceptions of the usefulness of TBL. Overall, learners showed progress in recognizing differences between novices and professionals and in solving key problems. In terms of the second research objective, the learners perceived TBL to be a useful learning methodology, facilitating awareness of novice-professional differences, appreciation of the critical consequences derived from risks and problems, and development of interpersonal skills, including the discovery of new approaches to resolving translation challenges through peer interaction.
I know languages, therefore, I can translate?
Authors: Zlatnar Moe Marija , Mikolic Juznic Tamara , Žigon Tanja
Published: June 2015

There is a large presence of translators without formal education in the Slovene market, partly because until the 1990s there were no independent translation programs, but also because of the popular notion that anybody who speaks a foreign language well, or has a degree in it, can translate. In this paper we present a comparison of four B.A. programs at the University of Ljubljana (in three foreign language departments and one department of translation) to shed light on what knowledge and competences are expected at the end of the B.A. studies, and to find out whether these departments actually train people to be translators. The paper also reports the results of a translation quality assessment of third-year students of those departments, who were given the task of translating a text into their L1. The students approached the task in different ways and produced very different results, which indicates that language competences alone are not enough for translation, and that specific additional instruction can give them a considerable advantage at the beginning of their careers.
L2 proficiency as predictor of aptitude for interpreting
Authors: Blasco Mayor Maria Jesus
Published: June 2015

This study reports findings from an experiment that was conducted to investigate language proficiency as an indicator of future interpreting performance. The initial assumption was that Spanish undergraduate translation and interpreting students had an insufficient command of L2 skills to start interpreter training. We hypothesized that an intensive teaching module on L2 phonology and listening comprehension would improve their academic performance in interpreting. Several tests were used to evaluate participant L2 listening comprehension (TOEFL), L2 reading comprehension (TOEFL), L2 grammar (TOEFL), and L1 verbal fluency (WAIS-III). Only those related to L2 are reported here. A consecutive interpreting test was given at the end of the first interpretation module. The students’ self-perception regarding L2 issues was assessed using two questionnaires and an interview. The results suggest that L2 listening comprehension training aided in consecutive interpreting performance. Language proficiency was also found to correlate with interpreting scores. A base level of L2 proficiency for interpreting training is suggested. We conclude that L2 listening comprehension proficiency has a significant effect on undergraduate students’ interpreting ability and is therefore a suitable predictor for interpreting aptitude. Consequently, L2 listening skills should be included in the interpreting program curriculum, preferably before interpretation classes start.
Trophic Ontogeny of Fluvial Bull Trout and Seasonal Predation on Pacific Salmon in a Riverine Food Web
Authors: Lowery Erin D. , Beauchamp David A.
Published: June 2015

Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus are typically top predators in their host ecosystems. The Skagit River in northwestern Washington State contains Bull Trout and Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha populations that are among the largest in the Puget Sound region and also contains a regionally large population of steelhead O. mykiss (anadromous Rainbow Trout). All three species are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Our objective was to determine the trophic ecology of Bull Trout, especially their role as predators and consumers in the riverine food web. We seasonally sampled distribution, diets, and growth of Bull Trout in main‐stem and tributary habitats during 2007 and winter–spring 2008. Consumption rates were estimated with a bioenergetics model to (1) determine the annual and seasonal contributions of different prey types to Bull Trout energy budgets and (2) estimate the potential impacts of Bull Trout predation on juvenile Pacific salmon populations. Salmon carcasses and eggs contributed approximately 50% of the annual energy budget for large Bull Trout in main‐stem habitats, whereas those prey types were largely inaccessible to smaller Bull Trout in tributary habitats. The remaining 50% of the energy budget was acquired by eating juvenile salmon, resident fishes, and immature aquatic insects. Predation on listed Chinook Salmon and steelhead/Rainbow Trout was highest during winter and spring (January–June). Predation on juvenile salmon differed between the two study years, likely due to the dominant odd‐year spawning cycle for Pink Salmon O. gorbuscha. The population impact on ocean‐ and stream‐type Chinook Salmon was negligible, whereas the impact on steelhead/Rainbow Trout was potentially very high. Due to the ESA‐listed status of Bull Trout, steelhead, and Chinook Salmon, the complex trophic interactions in this drainage provide both challenges and opportunities for creative adaptive management strategies.
Characterization and Purification of Glutathione S-Transferase from the Liver and Gill Tissues of Ağrı Balık Lake Trout Salmo trutta labrax and the Effects of Heavy Metal Ions on Its Activity
Authors: Çomaklı Veysel , Kuzu Muslum , Demirdağ Ramazan
Published: June 2015

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) from the liver and gill tissues of Ağrı Balık Lake Trout (also known as Black Sea Trout) Salmo trutta labrax was characterized and purified, and the toxic effects of some heavy metal ions on the enzyme's activity were analyzed. Liver GST was purified 930 times, resulting in 56% yield using glutathione–agarose affinity chromatography and a specific activity of 60.87 endotoxin units (EU)/mg protein. Using the same procedure, gill GST was purified 576 times, resulting in a 60% yield and specific activity of 46.8 EU/mg protein. The purity check of the purified enzymes was determined with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Optimal pH, ionic strength, and stable pH were found for each tissue, and separate KM and Vmax values were determined for reduced glutathione and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene substrates. Heavy metal ions that have toxic effects on living organisms and are known to contribute to environmental pollution were selected, and their in vitro effects on enzyme activity were analyzed. The IC50 values and Ki constants of those metal ions showing an inhibitory effect on GST activity were determined.

Received November 24, 2014; accepted March 11, 2015
Alginate oligomer induces nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells: elucidation of the underlying intracellular signaling mechanism
Authors: Ueno Mikinori , Cho Kichul , Nakazono Satoru , Isaka Shogo , Abu Ryogo , Takeshita Satoshi , Yamaguchi Kenichi , Kim Daekyung , Oda Tatsuya
Published: June 2015

Alginate is an acidic linear polysaccharide with immune-modulating activities. In this study, we found that enzymatically digested alginate oligomer (AO) with various degrees of polymerization (DP; 2–5) induced a higher level of nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells than undigested alginate polymer (AP). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses revealed that the expression level of inducible NO synthase in AO-treated RAW264.7 cells was higher than that in AP-treated cells. AO induced nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 subunit in RAW264.7 cells to a greater extent than AP. Although AO and AP induced similar extents of phosphorylation in three mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor exhibited the most potent inhibitory effect on NO induction in AO- and AP-treated RAW264.7 cells, among three MAP kinase inhibitors that were tested.
Fibered stable varieties
Authors: Patakfalvi Zsolt
Published: June 2015

We show that if a stable variety (in the sense of Kollár and Shepherd-Barron) admits a fibration with stable fibers and base, then this fibration structure deforms (uniquely) for all small deformations. During our proof we obtain a Bogomolov-Sommese type vanishing for vector bundles and reflexive differential

n
−
1

n-1

-forms as well.
A family of non-injective skinning maps with critical points
Authors: Gaster Jonah
Published: June 2015

Certain classes of 3-manifolds, following Thurston, give rise to a ‘skinning map’, a self-map of the Teichmüller space of the boundary. This paper examines the skinning map of a 3-manifold

M
M

, a genus-2 handlebody with two rank-1 cusps. We exploit an orientation-reversing isometry of

M
M

to conclude that the skinning map associated to

M
M

sends a specified path to itself and use estimates on extremal length functions to show non-monotonicity and the existence of a critical point. A family of finite covers of

M
M

produces examples of non-immersion skinning maps on the Teichmüller spaces of surfaces in each even genus, and with either

4
4

or

6
6

punctures.
Geometric spectral theory for compact operators
Authors: Chagouel Isaak , Stessin Michael , Zhu Kehe
Published: June 2015

For annn-tupleA=(A1,⋯,An)\mathbb {A}=(A_1,\cdots ,A_n)of compact operators we define the joint point spectrum ofA\mathbb {A}to be the set\[<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="sigma Subscript p Baseline left-parenthesis double-struck upper A right-parenthesis equals StartSet left-parenthesis z 1 comma midline-horizontal-ellipsis comma z Subscript n Baseline right-parenthesis element-of double-struck upper C Superscript n Baseline colon kernel left-parenthesis upper I plus z 1 upper A 1 plus midline-horizontal-ellipsis plus z Subscript n Baseline upper A Subscript n Baseline right-parenthesis not-equals left-parenthesis 0 right-parenthesis EndSet period">σp(A)={(z1,⋯,zn)∈Cn:ker⁡(I+z1A1+⋯+znAn)≠(0)}.\sigma _p(\mathbb {A})=\{(z_1,\cdots ,z_n)\in \mathbb {C}^n:\ker (I+z_1A_1+\cdots +z_nA_n)\not =(0)\}.\]We prove in several situations that the operators inA\mathbb {A}pairwise commute if and only ifσp(A)\sigma _p(\mathbb {A})consists of countably many, locally finite, hyperplanes inCn\mathbb C^n. In particular, we show that ifA\mathbb {A}is annn-tuple ofN×NN\times Nnormal matrices, then these matrices pairwise commute if and only if the polynomial\[<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="p Subscript double-struck upper A Baseline left-parenthesis z 1 comma midline-horizontal-ellipsis comma z Subscript n Baseline right-parenthesis equals det left-parenthesis upper I plus z 1 upper A 1 plus midline-horizontal-ellipsis plus z Subscript n Baseline upper A Subscript n Baseline right-parenthesis">pA(z1,⋯,zn)=det(I+z1A1+⋯+znAn)p_{\mathbb {A}}(z_1,\cdots ,z_n)=\det (I+z_1A_1+\cdots +z_nA_n)\]is completely reducible, namely,\[<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="p Subscript double-struck upper A Baseline left-parenthesis z 1 comma midline-horizontal-ellipsis comma z Subscript n Baseline right-parenthesis equals product Underscript k equals 1 Overscript upper N Endscripts left-parenthesis 1 plus a Subscript k Baseline 1 Baseline z 1 plus midline-horizontal-ellipsis plus a Subscript k n Baseline z Subscript n Baseline right-parenthesis">pA(z1,⋯,zn)=∏k=1N(1+ak1z1+⋯+aknzn)p_{\mathbb {A}}(z_1,\cdots ,z_n)=\prod _{k=1}^N(1+a_{k1}z_1+\cdots +a_{kn}z_n)\]can be factored into the product of linear polynomials.
Metabolite Analysis Allows Insight into the Differences in Functionality of 25 Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains in Bread Dough Fermentation
Authors: Rezaei Mohammad N. , Verstrepen Kevin J. , Courtin Christophe M.
Published: June 2015

During dough fermentation, yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) changes the physical properties of the dough matrix. In this study, we investigate if different yeast strains have an impact on dough rheology and on the gas holding capacity of fermenting dough. Furthermore, we analyze whether observed differences are linked to the metabolite profiles of the yeast strains. More specifically, the impact of 25 yeast strains on dough spread, dough fermentation properties, and dough metabolite profile was analyzed. Our results demonstrate large differences in the fermentation ability and metabolite profile of the 25 strains. Analysis of metabolites in fermented dough confirmed that acetic acid and succinic acid are likely responsible for the lowering of dough pH during fermentation and that the onset of CO2 release from dough is related to dough pH rather than to the volume of CO2 within the dough. Our results further suggest that the spread test is an inadequate tool to quantify rheological differences observed for strains with different fermentation profiles.
Facilitation of Fusarium graminearum Infection by 9-Lipoxygenases in Arabidopsis and Wheat
Authors: Nalam Vamsi J. , Alam Syeda , Keereetaweep Jantana , Venables Barney , Burdan Dehlia , Lee Hyeonju , Trick Harold N. , Sarowar Sujon , Makandar Ragiba , Shah Jyoti
Published: June 2015

Fusarium graminearum causes Fusarium head blight, an important disease of wheat. F. graminearum can also cause disease in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis LOX1 and LOX5 genes, which encode 9-lipoxygenases (9-LOXs), are targeted during this interaction to facilitate infection. LOX1 and LOX5 expression were upregulated in F. graminearum–inoculated plants and loss of LOX1 or LOX5 function resulted in enhanced disease resistance in the corresponding mutant plants. The enhanced resistance to F. graminearum infection in the lox1 and lox5 mutants was accompanied by more robust induction of salicylic acid (SA) accumulation and signaling and attenuation of jasmonic acid (JA) signaling in response to infection. The lox1- and lox5-conferred resistance was diminished in plants expressing the SA-degrading salicylate hydroxylase or by the application of methyl-JA. Results presented here suggest that plant 9-LOXs are engaged during infection to control the balance between SA and JA signaling to facilitate infection. Furthermore, since silencing of TaLpx-1 encoding a 9-LOX with homology to LOX1 and LOX5, resulted in enhanced resistance against F. graminearum in wheat, we suggest that 9-LOXs have a conserved role as susceptibility factors in disease caused by this important fungus in Arabidopsis and wheat.
Differential Transmission of Two Isolates ofWheat streak mosaic virusby Five Wheat Curl Mite Populations
Authors: Wosula E. N. , McMechan A. J. , Oliveira-Hofman C. , Wegulo S. N. , Hein G. L.
Published: June 2015

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), type member of the genus Tritimovirus in the family Potyviridae, is an economically important virus causing annual average yield losses of approximately 2 to 3% in winter wheat across the Great Plains. The wheat curl mite (WCM), Aceria tosichella, transmits WSMV along with two other viruses found throughout the Great Plains of the United States. Two common genotypes of WSMV (Sidney 81 and Type) in the United States share 97.6% nucleotide sequence identity but their transmission relationships with the WCM are unknown. The objective of this study was to determine transmission of these two isolates of WSMV by five WCM populations (‘Nebraska’, ‘Montana’, ‘South Dakota’, ‘Type 1’, and ‘Type 2’). Nonviruliferous mites from each population were reared on wheat source plants mechanically inoculated with either Sidney 81 or Type WSMV isolates. For each source plant, individual mites were transferred to 10 separate test plants and virus transmission was determined by a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Source plants were replicated nine times for each treatment (90 individual mite transfers). Results indicate that three mite populations transmitted Sidney 81 at higher rates compared with Type. Two mite populations (Nebraska and Type 2) transmitted Sidney 81 and Type at higher rates compared with the other three populations. Results from this study demonstrate that interactions between virus isolates and mite populations influence the epidemiology of WSMV.
CRISTALES: a world to discover. An exhibition for schools and universities
Authors: Garcia-Ruiz Juan Manuel , Otalora Fermin , Garcia-Caballero Alfonso , González-Ramírez Luis A. , Verdugo-Escamilla Cristobal
Published: June 2015

The exhibition CRISTALES: a world to discover is a teaching/outreach activity whose main goals are to increase awareness of the importance of crystallography and its role in everyday life in modern society, motivate young people, and promote education and research in crystallography. CRISTALES is designed to inspire the audience with a careful design and a view of crystallography that places the emphasis not only on the most important contributions of crystallography to society's welfare, including new materials and biomedical research, but also on those aspects of crystallography related to art and the mind. This article describes the simplest version of the exhibition, composed of 14 posters that have been created specifically for schools and universities. Each poster displays an image that is both aesthetically powerful and scientifically intriguing, so as to provoke the curiosity of the students. The posters also contain a brief text explaining the image and its relation to crystallography and a QR code that links the poster to a web page containing further information.
Three-dimensional reciprocal space mapping with a two-dimensional detector as a low-latency tool for investigating the influence of growth parameters on defects in semipolar GaN
Authors: Bauer Sondes , Lazarev Sergey , Bauer Martin , Meisch Tobias , Caliebe Marian , Holý Václav , Scholz Ferdinand , Baumbach Tilo
Published: June 2015

A rapid nondestructive defect assessment and quantification method based on X-ray diffraction and three-dimensional reciprocal-space mapping has been established. A fast read-out two-dimensional detector with a high dynamic range of 20 bits, in combination with a powerful data analysis software package, is set up to provide fast feedback to crystal growers with the goal of supporting the development of reduced defect density GaN growth techniques. This would contribute strongly to the improvement of the crystal quality of epitaxial structures and therefore of optoelectronic properties. The method of normalized three-dimensional reciprocal-space mapping is found to be a reliable tool which shows clearly the influence of the parameters of the metal–organic vapour phase epitaxial and hydride vapour phase epitaxial (HVPE) growth methods on the extent of the diffuse scattering streak. This method enables determination of the basal stacking faults and an exploration of the presence of other types of defect such as partial dislocations and prismatic stacking faults. Three-dimensional reciprocal-space mapping is specifically used in the manuscript to determine basal stacking faults quantitatively and to discuss the presence of partial dislocations. This newly developed method has been applied to semipolar GaN structures grown on patterned sapphire substrates (PSSs). The fitting of the diffuse scattering intensity profiles along the stacking fault streaks with simulations based on a Monte Carlo approach has delivered an accurate determination of the basal plane stacking fault density. Three-dimensional reciprocal-space mapping is shown to be a method sensitive to the influence of crystallographic surface orientation on basal stacking fault densities during investigation of semipolar (11{\overline 2}2) GaN grown on an r-plane (1{\overline 1}02) PSS and semipolar (10{\overline 1}1) GaN grown on an n-plane (11{\overline 2}3) PSS. Moreover, the influence of HVPE overgrowth at reduced temperature on the quality of semipolar (11{\overline 2}2) GaN has been studied.
Detection of medium-range-order structure in amorphous germanium films by spectroscopic ellipsometry
Authors: Wang Xiao-Dong , Chen Bo , Wang Hai-Feng , Chen Bin , Liu Shi-Jie , Cui Zhong-Xu , Li Bo , Wang Jun-Bo , Wang Shan-Meng , Li Yun-Peng
Published: June 2015

Amorphous germanium (a-Ge) films in the thickness range of 5.2–370.7 nm were prepared by radio frequency magnetron sputtering. Spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis shows that less than 3% of medium-range order exists in a-Ge under the reported deposition conditions.
The `quasi-mosaic' effect in crystals and its applications in modern physics
Authors: Camattari Riccardo , Guidi Vincenzo , Bellucci Valerio , Mazzolari Andrea
Published: June 2015

`Quasi-mosaicity' is an effect of anisotropy in crystals that permits one to obtain a curvature of internal crystallographic planes that would be flat otherwise. The term `quasi-mosaicity' was introduced by O. Sumbaev in 1957. The concept of `quasi-mosaicity' was then retrieved about ten years ago and was applied to steering of charged-particle beams at the Super Proton Synchrotron at CERN. Beams were deviated by exploiting channeling and volume reflection phenomena in curved crystals that show the `quasi-mosaic' effect. More recently, a crystal of this kind was installed in the Large Hadron Collider at CERN for beam collimation by the UA9 collaboration. Since 2011, another important application involving the `quasi-mosaic' effect has been the focalization of hard X-rays and soft γ-rays. In particular, the possibility of obtaining both high diffraction efficiency and the focalization of a diffracted beam has been proved, which cannot be obtained using traditional diffracting crystals. A comprehensive survey of the physical properties of `quasi-mosaicity' is reported here. Finally, experimental demonstrations for adjustable values of the `quasi-mosaic' curvature are provided.
1-(7-Chloro-1,4-dihydroquinolin-4-ylidene)thiosemicarbazide and its hydrochloride: evidence for the existence of a stable imine tautomer in the solid state of 4-aminoquinoline free bases, an anomalous case in nitrogen heterocycles
Authors: Machado Rafael C. , Grazul Richard M. , Diniz Renata
Published: June 2015

In the solid state, crystals of both 1-(7-chloro-1,4-dihydroquinolin-4-ylidene)thiosemicarbazide–methanol–water (2/1/1), 2C10H9ClN4S·CH3OH·H2O, (I), and its hydrochloride salt {systematic name: [(7-chloro-1,4-dihydroquinolin-4-ylidene)azaniumyl]thiourea chloride}, C10H10ClN4S+·Cl−, (II), assume the imine tautomeric form, contrary to other 4-amino-7-chloroquinolines. Of particular interest are the N—C bond lengths, which have appreciable double-bond character, and the C—N—C aromatic ring bond angle. Both of these parameters have been studied extensively in 4-amino-substituted quinolines. The crystal structures of (I) and (II) in this study provide interesting examples of the amino–imino tautomerism which exists in this class of compound and is, to the best of our knowledge, hitherto unreported.
How national context moderates the impact of family-supportive supervisory behavior on job performance and turnover intentions
Authors: Las Heras Mireia , Trefalt Spela , Escribano Pablo Ignacio
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study was to examine how national context moderates the impact of family supportive supervisory behavior (FSSB) on employee’s job performance and turnover intentions. The authors consider direct and indirect (through work–family positive spillover) effects of FSSB. Our model is based on conservation of resources (COR) theory and boundary theory. The authors conceptualize national context as contributing resources to or threatening with loss of resources for individuals. To test the model, the authors use data from three Latin American countries – Brazil, Chile and Ecuador.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a cross-sectional study based on a survey of almost 988 individuals. The authors first test the direct and indirect effects (via bi-directional positive spillover) of FSBB on performance and turnover intentions without considering the moderating effects of national context (mediation analysis). Then, the authors test the effect of national context in our baseline model by conducting a moderation analysis of direct and indirect effects. The authors use seemingly unrelated regressions and account for control variables and country-level effects.

Findings

– The results confirm that national context affects the relationships between FSSB and outcomes. As unemployment rises, the effect of FSSB on turnover intentions is stronger and the effect of FSSB on performance, via bi-directional work–family positive spillover, is stronger. When social expenditures increase, the relationship between FSSB and performance via work–family positive spillover becomes weaker. In addition, the authors find some unexpected results.

Originality/value

– The authors advance the understanding of how national context affects the impact of FSSB on outcomes, specifically in Latin America. The authors conceptualize national context as providing or threatening individuals’ resources, using publicly available data on unemployment and social expenditures.
Mode‐converted volcanogenic massive sulphide ore lens reflections in vertical seismic profiles from Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada
Authors: Melanson D.M. , White D.J. , Samson C. , Bellefleur G. , Schetselaar E. , Schmitt D.R.
Published: June 2015

In October 2006, three‐component zero‐offset vertical seismic profile data were acquired from a deviated well in the Flin Flon mining camp in Manitoba, Canada, using a dynamite source. These vertical seismic profile data were processed to reveal reflections originating from the 85.5 Mt Flin Flon‐Callinan‐777 volcanogenic massive sulphide ore system. From drill records, mine plans, surficial maps, and seismic data, 3D voxel models of the local geology and known ore zones were built, which were then used in 3D finite‐difference modelled simulations of the vertical seismic profile surveys. The number of geological units partitioning the model was incrementally increased to study the effects of the massive sulphide ore and the major rock units on the seismic response. The simulations and field data were jointly visualized, and reflections originating at some of the known ore zones were identified. These reflections were observed in each of the three components in both the real field and the forward modelled data and indicate a strong mode‐converted component of the reflected wavefield.
Earthquake detection probability within a seismically quiet area: application to the Bruchsal geothermal field
Authors: Gaucher Emmanuel
Published: June 2015

In applications such as oil and gas production, deep geothermal energy production, underground storage, and mining, it is common practice to implement local seismic networks to monitor and to mitigate induced seismicity. For this purpose, it is crucial to determine the capability of the network to detect a seismic event of predefined magnitude in the target area. The determination of the magnitude of completeness of a network is particularly required to properly interpret seismic monitoring results. We propose a method to compute the detection probability for existing local seismic networks, which (i) strictly follows the applied detection sequence; (ii) estimates the detection capability where seismicity has not yet occurred; and (iii) delivers the results in terms of probabilities. The procedure includes a calibration of a local magnitude scale using regional earthquakes recorded by the network and located outside the monitored area. It involves pre‐processing of the seismograms recorded at each station as performed during the triggering sequence, which is assumed based on amplitude thresholds. Then, the calibrated magnitude–distance–amplitude relations are extrapolated at short distances and combined to reproduce the network detection sequence. This generates a probability to detect a seismic event of a given magnitude at a specified location. This observation‐based approach is an alternative to a fully theoretical detection capability modelling and includes field conditions. Seismic wave attenuation by geometrical spreading and intrinsic attenuation, site effect, and instrumental responses are partly accounted for by the calibration. We apply this procedure on the seismic network deployed in the Bruchsal geothermal field (Germany). Although the system was in good working order, no induced seismicity was identified in the area between June 2010, when monitoring started, and November 2012. The recording of distant seismicity during this time period, however, allowed the application of the proposed procedure. According to the applied network detection parameters, the results indicate that the absence of seismicity can be interpreted as a 95% probability that no seismic event with ML ≥ 0.7 occurred below the network at 2.4‐km depth, i.e., in the geothermal reservoir.
State-Level Restriction of Religious Freedom and Women’s Rights: A Global Analysis
Authors: Ben-Nun Bloom Pazit
Published: June 2015

The literature is divided on the nature of the relationship between state-level restriction of religious freedom and women’s rights, as religious freedom can empower members of marginalized groups or advance gender-discriminatory practices. Employing a time-series cross-sectional analysis of data for two decades from 153 nations, this study shows that the relationship between religious regulation and women’s rights depends on the type of regulation, with regulation of the majority religion improving state-level women’s rights and discriminatory regulation specifically targeting minority religions impairing them. Furthermore, the effect of regulation is moderated by the context. Even relatively small regulatory steps promote women’s rights in patriarchal and non-democratic regimes by weakening the religion-state fusion and patriarchal values. However, in liberal democracies, the beneficial effects of regulation wane or even backfire, as religious institutions may rally around the religion. Consequently, this article advocates a multidimensional view of religious freedom, and warns against viewing secularization as inherently promoting gender equality.
The Influence of Voting Advice Applications on Preferences, Loyalties and Turnout: An Experimental Study
Authors: Enyedi Zsolt
Published: June 2015

Voting Advice Applications (VAAs) are increasingly popular, yet little is known about their impact. This article investigates their influence on party choice, party loyalty and electoral participation, relying on a complex experiment conducted before and after the 2010 Hungarian election. Participants were directed to two VAAs, some received advice from one and some from both, while the control group visited none. According to subjective recollections, 7 per cent changed their vote intentions, but according to the panel study the VAAs were unable to direct users to specific parties. Sheer exposure to the advice did not have mobilising or demobilising effects either, but preference-confirming outputs increased party loyalty while preference-disconfirming recommendations decreased it, and double exposure amplified further the impact of the VAAs. Converging advice from two different sources increased the rate of electoral participation, but more by provoking, rather than by persuading, the users.