bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation of the dynamics of native
human
acetylcholinesterase and its inhibited huperzine A counterpart from sub-picoseconds to nanoseconds
Authors: Trapp M. , Tehei M. , Trovaslet M. , Nachon F. , Martinez N. , Koza M. M. , Weik M. , Masson P. , Peters J.
Published: May 2014

It is a long debated question whether catalytic activities of enzymes, which lie on the millisecond timescale, are possibly already reflected in variations in atomic thermal fluctuations on the pico- to nanosecond timescale. To shed light on this puzzle, the enzyme
human
acetylcholinesterase in its wild-type form and complexed with the inhibitor huperzine A were investigated by various neutron scattering techniques and molecular dynamics simulations. Previous results on elastic neutron scattering at various timescales and simulations suggest that dynamical processes are not affected on average by the presence of the ligand within the considered time ranges between 10 ps and 1 ns. In the work presented here, the focus was laid on quasi-elastic (QENS) and inelastic neutron scattering (INS). These techniques give access to different kinds of individual diffusive motions and to the density of states of collective motions at the sub-picoseconds timescale. Hence, they permit going beyond the first approach of looking at mean square displacements. For both samples, the autocorrelation function was well described by a stretched-exponential function indicating a linkage between the timescales of fast and slow functional relaxation dynamics. The findings of the QENS and INS investigation are discussed in relation to the results of our earlier elastic incoherent neutron scattering and molecular dynamics simulations.
Host ecotype generates evolutionary and epidemiological divergence across a pathogen metapopulation
Authors: Laine Anna-Liisa , Burdon Jeremy J. , Nemri Adnane , Thrall Peter H.
Published: May 2014

The extent and speed at which pathogens adapt to host resistance varies considerably. This presents a challenge for predicting when—and where—pathogen evolution may occur. While gene flow and spatially heterogeneous environments are recognized to be critical for the evolutionary potential of pathogen populations, we lack an understanding of how the two jointly shape coevolutionary trajectories between hosts and pathogens. The rust pathogenMelampsora liniinfects two ecotypes of its host plantLinum marginalethat occur in close proximity yet in distinct populations and habitats. In this study, we found that within-population epidemics were different between the two habitats. We then tested for pathogen local adaptation at host population and ecotype level in a reciprocal inoculation study. Even after controlling for the effect of spatial structure on infection outcome, we found strong evidence of pathogen adaptation at the host ecotype level. Moreover, sequence analysis of two pathogen infectivity loci revealed strong genetic differentiation by host ecotype but not by distance. Hence, environmental variation can be a key determinant of pathogen population genetic structure and coevolutionary dynamics and can generate strong asymmetry in infection risks through space.
Sinosporangium siamense sp. nov., isolated from soil and emended description of the genus Sinosporangium
Authors: Suriyachadkun Chanwit , Ngaemthao Wipaporn , Chunhametha Suwanee , Thawai Chitti , Sanglier Jean-Jacques , Kitpreechavanich Vichien
Published: May 2014

An actinomycetes strain A-T 1946Tthat developed spherical sporangia containing non-motile spores on aerial mycelia was isolated from dry deciduous forest soil in Thailand. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain A-T 1946Tbelongs to the genusSinosporangium, being closely related toSinosporangium album6014T(98.8 % sequence similarity). The DNA–DNA relatedness values were 43.7–50.9 %, which were significantly below 70 % and differentiated strain A-T 1946Tfrom the closest species. The cell-wall peptidoglycan containedmeso-diaminopimelic acid. The whole-cell sugars contained rhamnose, ribose, madurose and glucose. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H2). The diagnostic phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol-mannoside,N-acetylglucosamine-containing phospholipids, two unknown phosphoglycolipids and two unknown phospholipids. The predominant cellular fatty acids were unsaturated C16 : 1and C17 : 1, and saturated C16 : 0and 10-methyl-C17 : 0. Following an evaluation of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characteristics, the isolate is proposed to represent a novel species of genusSinosporangiumto be namedSinosporangium siamensesp. nov. The type strain is A-T 1946T( = BCC 29081T = NBRC 109515T). An emended description of the genusSinosporangiumis also provided.
Actinophytocola sediminis sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from a marine sediment
Authors: Zhang Dao-Feng , Jiang Zhao , Zhang Xiao-Mei , Yang Ling-Ling , Tian Xin-Peng , Long Li-Juan , Zhang Si , Li Wen-Jun
Published: May 2014

A novel actinomycete strain, designated YIM M13705T, was isolated from a marine sediment sample of the South China Sea and its characteristics were determined by a polyphasic approach. The slowly growing, Gram-stain-positive, aerobic strain produced branched substrate mycelium and aerial hyphae, and no diffusible pigment was produced on the media tested. At maturity, spore chains were formed on aerial hyphae and substrate mycelium was not fragmented. Whole-cell hydrolysates of the strain contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and galactose, glucose, ribose and rhamnose. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H4) and MK-10(H2). The polar lipids detected were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxyphosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and ninhydrin-positive phosphoglycolipids. The major fatty acid was iso-C16 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 68.2  mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence, the strain was shown to be most closely related to species of the genus

Actinophytocola

. DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness values (<70 %) of the isolate with its closest neighbour

Actinophytocola xinjiangensis

QAIII60T supported classification of the isolate as a representative of a novel species. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, and phenotypic and genotypic data, it is concluded that the new isolate belongs to a novel species of the genus

Actinophytocola

, for which the name Actinophytocola sediminis sp. nov. (type strain YIM M13705T = DSM 45939T = BCRC 16956T) is proposed.
Identification of an RNA silencing suppressor encoded by a mastrevirus
Authors: Wang Yaqin , Dang Mingqing , Hou Huwei , Mei Yuzhen , Qian Yajuan , Zhou Xueping
Published: May 2014

Wheat dwarf virus (WDV) is a DNA virus belonging to the genus Mastrevirus of the family Geminiviridae. In this study, we report that the Rep protein encoded by WDV is a RNA silencing supressor as determined by co-infiltration assays using transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana line 16c carrying the GFP reporter gene. The Rep protein was shown to inhibit both local and systemic RNA silencing of the GFP gene as well as the spread of systemic GFP RNA silencing signals. Gel mobility shift assays showed that the Rep protein binds 21 nt and 24 nt small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes and single-stranded (ss)-siRNA. To our knowledge, this is the first identification of an RNA silencing suppressor encoded by mastreviruses. Furthermore, deletion mutagenesis indicates that both the N- and C-terminal regions of the Rep protein are not critical for silencing suppression and self-interaction, but the N terminus of Rep is necessary for its pathogenicity.
Different profile of transcriptome between wheat Yunong 201 and its high-yield mutant Yunong 3114
Authors: Chen Feng , Dong Zhongdong , Ning Zhang , Xiangfen Zhang , Cui Dangqun
Published: May 2014

Wheat is one of the most important crops in the world. With the exponentially increasing population and the need for ever increased food and feed production, an increased yield of wheat grain (as well as rice, maize and other grains) will be critical. Modern technologies are utilized to assist breeding programs. Such as the transcriptome sequencing, which greatly improves our genetic understanding, provides a platform for functional genomics research on crops. Herein, to get an overview of transcriptome characteristics of Yunong 3114, which is screened from the EMS mutagenized population of, a high quality Chinese winter noodle wheat, due to its different plant architecture as well as larger kernel size and higher grain weight, a high-throughput RNA sequencing based on next generation sequencing technology (Illumina) were performed. These unigenes were annotated by Blastx alignment against the NCBI non-redundant (nr), Clusters of orthologous groups (COG), gene orthology (GO), and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genesand Genomes (KEGG) databases. The 90.96% of the unigenes matched with protein in the NCBI nr database. Functional analysis identified that changes in several GO categories, including recognition of pollen, apoptotic process, defense response, receptor activity, protein kinase activity, DNA integration and so forth, played crucial roles in the high-yield characteristics of the mutant. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that the recognition of pollen related gene GsSRK is significantly up-regulated in Yunong 3114. In addition, alternative splicing (AS) analysis results indicated that mutation influence AS ratio, especially the retained introns, including the pollen related genes. Furthermore, the digital gene expression spectrum (DGE) profiling data provides comprehensive information at the transcriptional level that facilitates our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of various physiological aspects including development and high-yield of wheat. Together, these studies substantially increase our knowledge of potential genes and pathways for the genetic improvement of wheat and provide new insights into the yield and breeding strategies.
Lighter: fast and memory-efficient error correction without counting
Authors: Song Li , Florea Liliana , Langmead Ben
Published: May 2014

Lighter is a fast, memory-efficient tool for correcting sequencing errors. Lighter avoids countingk-mers. Instead, it uses a pair of Bloom filters, one holding a sample of the inputk-mers and the other holdingk-mers likely to be correct. As long as the sampling fraction is adjusted in inverse proportion to the depth of sequencing, Bloom filter size can be held constant while maintaining near-constant accuracy. Lighter is parallelized, uses no secondary storage, and is both faster and more memory-efficient than competing approaches while achieving comparable accuracy.
Identifying Restrictions in the Order of Accumulation of Mutations during Tumor Progression: Effects of Passengers, Evolutionary Models, and Sampling
Authors: Diaz-Uriarte Ramon
Published: May 2014

Cancer progression is caused by the sequential accumulation of mutations, but not all orders of accumulation of mutations are equally likely. When the fixation of some mutations depends on the presence of previous ones, identifying restrictions in the order of accumulation of mutations can lead to the discovery of therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers. Using simulated data sets, I conducted a comprehensive comparison of the performance of all available methods to identify these restrictions from cross-sectional data. In contrast to previous work, I embedded restrictions within evolutionary models of tumor progression that included passengers (mutations not responsible for the development of cancer, known to be very common). This allowed me to asses the effects of having to filter out passengers, of sampling schemes, and of deviations from order restrictions. Poor choices of method, filtering, and sampling lead to large errors in all performance metrics. Having to filter passengers lead to decreased performance, especially because true restrictions were missed. Overall, the best method for identifying order restrictions were Oncogenetic Trees, a fast and easy to use method that, although unable to recover dependencies of mutations on more than one mutation, showed good performance in most scenarios, superior to Conjunctive Bayesian Networks and Progression Networks. Single cell sampling provided no advantage, but sampling in the final stages of the disease vs. sampling at different stages had severe effects. Evolutionary model and deviations from order restrictions had major, and sometimes counterintuitive, interactions with other factors that affected performance. This paper provides practical recommendations for using these methods with experimental data. Moreover, it shows that it is both possible and necessary to embed assumptions about order restrictions and the nature of driver status within evolutionary models of cancer progression to evaluate the performance of inferential approaches.
OPT3 Is a Phloem-Specific Iron Transporter That Is Essential for Systemic Iron Signaling and Redistribution of Iron and Cadmium inArabidopsis
Authors: Zhai Zhiyang , Gayomba Sheena R. , Jung Ha-il , Vimalakumari Nanditha K. , Piñeros Miguel , Craft Eric , Rutzke Michael A. , Danku John , Lahner Brett , Punshon Tracy , Guerinot Mary Lou , Salt David E. , Kochian Leon V. , Vatamaniuk Olena K.
Published: May 2014

Iron is essential for both plant growth and human health and nutrition. Knowledge of the signaling mechanisms that communicate iron demand from shoots to roots to regulate iron uptake as well as the transport systems mediating iron partitioning into edible plant tissues is critical for the development of crop biofortification strategies. Here, we report that OPT3, previously classified as an oligopeptide transporter, is a plasma membrane transporter capable of transporting transition ions in vitro. Studies in Arabidopsis thaliana show that OPT3 loads iron into the phloem, facilitates iron recirculation from the xylem to the phloem, and regulates both shoot-to-root iron signaling and iron redistribution from mature to developing tissues. We also uncovered an aspect of crosstalk between iron homeostasis and cadmium partitioning that is mediated by OPT3. Together, these discoveries provide promising avenues for targeted strategies directed at increasing iron while decreasing cadmium density in the edible portions of crops and improving agricultural productivity in iron deficient soils.
High-pressure structural properties of naphthalene up to 6 GPa
Authors: Likhacheva Anna Y. , Rashchenko Sergey V. , Litasov Konstantin D.
Published: May 2014

The elastic and structure behavior of solid naphthalene (C10H8) was studied byin situsynchrotron powder X-ray diffraction up to 5.6 GPa in a diamond anvil cell. Rietveld refinements were applied to obtain atomic coordinates and lattice parameters as a function of pressure. Within the studied pressure range, the intramolecular C—C and C—H distances decrease by 3.5%, whereas intermolecular distances within and between the herringbone layers decrease by 18 and 10%, respectively. Noindication of a symmetry change (space groupP21/a) was observed. A markedly anisotropic compression is preserved up to 5.6 GPa, with linear compressibilities βa:βb:βc:β[200]≃ 7:5:3:10. Fitting of theP–Vexperimental data to the Vinet equation of state yieldsK0= 7.9 (3) GPa andK′ = 7.5 (3) atV0= 361 Å3. At the highest pressure of 5.6 GPa, the unit-cell volume is decreased by 23%. The overall regularity of compression confirms the absence of major structural transformations in naphthalene up to 5.6 GPa. However, a distinct bend of the pressure dependence of the interlayer C...C distances observed at 2 GPa suggests a minor structural irregularity, which is apparently associated with spectroscopic anomalies observed previously.
Cheetah: software for high-throughput reduction and analysis of serial femtosecond X-ray diffraction data
Authors: Barty Anton , Kirian Richard A. , Maia Filipe R. N. C. , Hantke Max , Yoon Chun Hong , White Thomas A. , Chapman Henry
Published: May 2014

The emerging technique of serial X-ray diffraction, in which diffraction data are collected from samples flowing across a pulsed X-ray source at repetition rates of 100 Hz or higher, has necessitated the development of new software in order to handle the large data volumes produced. Sorting of data according to different criteria and rapid filtering of events to retain only diffraction patterns of interest results in significant reductions in data volume, thereby simplifying subsequent data analysis and management tasks. Meanwhile the generation of reduced data in the form of virtual powder patterns, radial stacks, histograms and other meta data creates data set summaries for analysis and overall experiment evaluation. Rapid data reduction early in the analysis pipeline is proving to be an essential first step in serial imaging experiments, prompting the authors to make the tool described in this article available to the general community. Originally developed for experiments at X-ray free-electron lasers, the software is based on a modular facility-independent library to promote portability between different experiments and is available under version 3 or later of the GNU General Public License.
In situX-ray diffraction study of point defects in neptunium dioxide at elevated temperature
Authors: Chollet M. , Léchelle J. , Belin R. C. , Richaud J.-C.
Published: May 2014

High-temperature X-ray diffraction measurements have been performed on neptunium dioxide up to 2000 K for the first time under He, He/5%H2and air atmospheres. Up to 1643 K, NpO2remains stoichiometric under all the considered atmospheres, and the coefficients of thermal expansion have been evaluated. Above 1643 K, the lattice parameter departs from linearity towards higher values. The atomic displacement parameters of the O and Np atoms were determined from Rietveld refinement and the Debye temperature subsequently obtained. This was used to study the contribution of point defects to the evolution of the lattice parameter at elevated temperature by estimating the energy of formation of vacancies. It is shown that only the chemical reduction of NpO2to NpO2−xis responsible for the departure from linearity below 1750 K. Above this temperature, the evolution is due to the simultaneous effect of reduction and the formation of oxygen Frenkel pairs.
High-resolution X-ray diffraction investigation on the evolution of the substructure of individual austenite grains in TRIP steels during tensile deformation
Authors: Blondé Romain , Jimenez-Melero Enrique , Huizenga Richard , Zhao Lie , Wright Jonathan , Brück Ekkes , van der Zwaag Sybrand , van Dijk Niels
Published: May 2014

The martensitic transformation behaviour of the metastable austenite phase in low-alloyed transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steels has been studiedin situusing high-energy X-ray diffraction during deformation. The austenite stability during tensile deformation has been evaluated at different length scales. A powder diffraction analysis has been performed to correlate the macroscopic behaviour of the material to the observed changes in the volume phase fraction. Moreover, the austenite deformation response has been studied at the length scale of individual grains, where an in-depth characterization of four selected grains has been performed, including grain volume, local carbon concentration and grain orientation. For the first time, a high-resolution far-field detector was used to study the initial and evolving structure of individual austenite grains during uniaxial tensile deformation. It was found that the austenite subgrain size does not change significantly during tensile deformation. Most austenite grains show a complete martensitic transformation in a single loading step.
Using a commodity high-definition television for collaborative structural biology
Authors: Yennamalli Ragothaman , Arangarasan Raj , Bryden Aaron , Gleicher Michael , Phillips George N.
Published: May 2014

Visualization of protein structures using stereoscopic systems is frequently needed by structural biologists working to understand a protein's structure–function relationships. Often several scientists are working as a team and need simultaneous interaction with each other and the graphics representations. Most existing molecular visualization tools support single-user tasks, which are not suitable for a collaborative group. Expensive caves, domes or geowalls have been developed, but the availability and low cost of high-definition televisions (HDTVs) and game controllers in the commodity entertainment market provide an economically attractive option to achieve a collaborative environment. This paper describes a low-cost environment, using standard consumer game controllers and commercially available stereoscopic HDTV monitors with appropriate signal converters for structural biology collaborations employing existing binary distributions of commonly used software packages likeCoot,PyMOL,Chimera,VMD,O,Olex2and others.
A novel particle swarm optimization based robust H-infinity control for rotorcrafts
Authors: Dai Jiyang , Ying Jin , Tan Chang
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a novel optimization approach to design a robust H-infinity controller.

Design/methodology/approach

– To use a modified particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and to search for the optimal parameters of the weighting functions under the circumstance of the given structures of three weighting matrices in the H-infinity mixed sensitivity design.

Findings

– This constrained multi-objective optimization is a non-convex, non-smooth problem which is solved by a modified PSO algorithm. An adaptive mutation-based PSO (AMBPSO) algorithm is proposed to improve the search accuracy and convergence of the standard PSO algorithm. In the AMBPSO algorithm, the inertia weights are modified as a function with the gradient descent and the velocities and positions of the particles.

Originality/value

– The AMBPSO algorithm can efficiently solve such an optimization problem that a satisfactory robust H-infinity control performance can be obtained.
Collaborative application of the Adaptive Mentorship© model
Authors: Godden Lorraine , Tregunna Leigha , Kutsyuruba Benjamin
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe a qualitative action research study into the collective experiences of establishing a mentoring culture within a research triad consisting of a university professor together with a doctoral student and a master's level student who served as research assistants (RAs). This paper documents a process of ongoing reflection, which was used to gain insight about the personal selves, the professional selves, the role of being a RA, and concepts, ideas, and frameworks that might be useful in fulfilling the work inside and outside of the collaborative research project.

Design/methodology/approach

– A Faculty of Education within a Canadian university provided the context for the study. A large-scale, pan-Canadian document analysis research project served as the context for mentorship activities. The Adaptive Mentorship© model (Ralph and Walker, 2010) was the tool used to document and analyze experiences of working on the research project. Completion of individual mentoring session reflections, as recommended by the Adaptive Mentorship© model, provided a means for documenting the process and experiences within the triad.

Findings

– Findings indicated that the enhancement of working environment and the professional growth of all three members of the research triad were primarily achieved as a result of the commitment to collaborative mentoring for the duration of this project rather than as a direct result of application of the model. Nonetheless, the application of the Adaptive Mentorship© model within the research project triad proved to be a valuable tool for supporting the social competence-based and experiential needs.

Originality/value

– In the context of this study, collaborative mentoring led to professional growth and an enhancement of the working environment due to multiple contact-points and exposures to specific tasks or skill-sets. The establishment of the mentoring culture and continued identification of individual needs within the triad allowed for adaptive support, appropriate skills development, and an increase in confidence necessary for both students to be successful in their RA positions and in turn, successfully support the university professor to complete the project. The experience suggests that the Adaptive Mentorship© model, if further refined, could be applied to graduate RAships with multiple participants, increasing the potential to enhance research experiences through its focus on one or several specific tasks or skill-sets around which the work is organized.
Freshwater conservation planning under climate change: demonstrating proactive approaches for Australian Odonata
Authors: Bush Alex , Hermoso Virgilio , Linke Simon , Nipperess David , Turak Eren , Hughes Lesley
Published: May 2014

Climate change represents a major challenge for conservation in the future and undermines protection within reserve boundaries. Freshwater biodiversity is still under‐represented within reserves world‐wide, and connectivity among reserves will become increasingly crucial if species are to persist under climate change.

We tested the likely benefits of including predicted species distributions in systematic reserve design for rivers under climate change and the impact of varying connectivity requirements on future representation.

We used the modelled distribution of 126 east Australian Odonata to identify reserve networks using data for current or future (2055 and 2085) distributions either by filling gaps additively, or as separate targets in a single solution. We then assessed the potential improvements to species representation in the future using different types of connectivity penalties that emphasized either longitudinal riverine connections or connections to all neighbouring subcatchments.

Solutions that did not include future distributions in the planning stages were 16 to 30% less likely to protect the same species by 2055 and 2085, respectively. Inclusion of species' future distributions in the design phase leads to short‐term increases in cost, but in the longer term fewer additional areas are required to meet targets and this strategy is likely to be significantly more efficient than implementing systematic design in stages. In addition, solely targeting riverine connectivity was significantly less likely to protect current species in the future than if cross‐catchment connections were included.

Synthesis and applications. Where protected areas can be expanded to assist species adaptation to climate change, significant gains in efficiency are possible if longer term goals are considered when selecting sites. Furthermore, to improve the representation of species under future climates, reserve selection should consider inter‐catchment connectivity, although the nature of optimal solutions will depend heavily on the range of taxa included, their dispersal capacity, and the availability of climatic refugia.
Verbal strategies and nonverbal cues in school‐age children with and without specific language impairment (SLI)
Authors: Eichorn Naomi , Marton Klara , Campanelli Luca , Scheuer Jessica
Published: May 2014

Background

Considerable evidence suggests that performance across a variety of cognitive tasks is effectively supported by the use of verbal and nonverbal strategies. Studies exploring the usefulness of such strategies in children with specific language impairment (SLI) are scarce and report inconsistent findings.

Aims

To examine the effects of induced labelling and auditory cues on the performance of children with and without SLI during a categorization task.

Methods & Procedures

Sixty‐six school‐age children (22 with SLI, 22 age‐matched controls, 22 language‐matched controls) completed three versions of a computer‐based categorization task: one baseline, one requiring overt labelling and one with auditory cues (tones) on randomized trial blocks.

Outcomes & Results

Labelling had no effect on performance for typically developing children but resulted in lower accuracy and longer reaction time in children with SLI. The presence of tones had no effect on accuracy but resulted in faster reaction time and post‐error slowing across groups.

Conclusions & Implications

Verbal strategy use was ineffective for typically developing children and negatively affected children with SLI. All children showed faster performance and increased performance monitoring as a result of tones. Overall, effects of strategy use in children appear to vary based on task demands, strategy domain, age and language ability. Results suggest that children with SLI may benefit from auditory cues in their clinical intervention but that further research is needed to determine when and how verbal strategies might similarly support performance in this population.
Networks and political engagement of migrant organisations in five European cities
Authors: Eggert Nina , Pilati Katia
Published: May 2014

This article investigates networks and political actions by migrant organisations in five European cities. It examines how political opportunity structures moderate the impact of organisational networks on organisations' political contacts and protests using data from organisational surveys undertaken between 2005 and 2008 in Budapest, Lyon, Madrid, Milan and Zurich. Results suggest that the political context moderates the role that different types of networks have on mobilisation. It is found that migrant organisational networks may be sources compensating for the lack of contextual opportunities, thus fostering the use of protest by migrant organisations. However, migrant organisational networks can also favour the creation of political subcultures, marginalised from mainstream politics. Finally, migrant networks are likely to foster migrant organisations' political integration in multicultural contexts through conventional as well as non‐conventional politics.
MeCa, a toolbox for the calculation of metabolism in heterogeneous streams
Authors: Halbedel Susanne , Büttner Olaf
Published: May 2014

The estimation of stream metabolism represents a useful technique for characterising the ecological status of natural lotic systems. The existing tools for investigating metabolism in situ demand expert knowledge, provide only a few options, ignore possible groundwater effects and often rely on modelled input data, such as gas exchange, that could be subject to error.

We have developed MeCa, a user‐friendly MATLAB toolbox that contains different options – including the groundwater correction – for the calculation of metabolism. A detailed explanation of all the calculation steps and the various calculation options is given in the Appendix S1. The functions of MeCa can be tested using the test data set provided.

We conducted sensitivity tests to assess the effect of certain parameters (reaeration, travel time, groundwater oxygen concentration, mean depth and width) and other measurements (oxygen, temperature, pressure) on the metabolism estimation. Uncertainties in the parameters have a greater effect than those that apply to the measurements. The parameters reaeration coefficient and mean depth are the most sensitive input data.

Results from sensitivity analyses show the complexity of metabolism studies in streams and the importance of direct calculations. MeCa includes all relevant calculation options, and thus makes a contribution towards the standardisation of metabolism studies.
Effect of the invasive common reed on the abundance, richness and diversity of birds in freshwater marshes
Authors: Gagnon Lupien N. , Gauthier G. , Lavoie C.
Published: May 2014

The Eurasian genotype of common reed Phragmites australis subsp. australis is rapidly invading freshwater marshes in North America. Several bird species depend upon particular plant assemblages for feeding and reproduction and could be adversely affected by the expansion of this invader. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of common reed on the abundance, richness, diversity and site occupancy of bird assemblages in freshwater marshes recently invaded by the plant (southern Quebec, Canada). We conducted fixed‐distance point counts for songbirds (passerines and rails) and visual surveys for waterbirds (ducks, geese and waders) during two nesting seasons (2009 and 2010). There were major structural differences between common reed stands and marsh vegetation assemblages dominated by other plant species (bulrushes, cattails, sedges). However, there was a little difference in abundance, richness, diversity and site occupancy for songbirds. Marsh wren Cistothorus palustris, a wetland specialist, was the only nesting bird that preferred a native plant (cattail) over common reed, probably because common reed stands have low plant diversity and few appropriate nest materials. No major differences were observed in the abundance of waterbirds between invaded and non‐invaded marshes. For most bird species, the water depth of the marsh had more influence on the abundance of individuals and on site occupancy than the composition of the plant assemblage. Common reed stands can therefore be used by generalist and specialist marsh passerines as feeding and reproduction sites. However, it is possible that in southern Quebec, the number and extent of common reed populations have not yet reached a threshold beyond which adverse effects of the invader on avian species could be significant. This study adds to a growing body of evidence showing that the relationship between invasive plants and birds is not straightforward.
Reframing Ethnicity: Academic Tropes, Recognition beyond Politics, and Ritualized Action between Nepal and India
Authors: Shneiderman Sara
Published: May 2014

Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork across the Himalayan borders of Nepal and India, I revisit disciplinary debates about ethnicity. I focus on the expressive production of ethnic consciousness among members of the Thangmi (Thami) community in a context of high cross‐border mobility. I argue that ethnicity is the result not only of the prerogatives of state control or market forces but also of a ritual process through which identity itself is produced as a sacred object that binds together diverse members of the collectivity. Thangmi participation in a range of ritualized actions demonstrates how mobility across national borders yields a high level of self‐consciousness about the efficacy of each form of action as well as of the frames within which action unfolds. Ethnicity may be understood simultaneously as a historically contingent process and a wellspring of affectively real cultural content, enabling us to make better sense—in both scholarly and political terms—of emergent ethnic claims in South Asia and beyond.
The effect of pre‐treatment with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on the quality of recovery after ambulatory breast surgery: a prospective, randomised controlled trial
Authors: Zhang Q. , Gao Z. , Wang H. , Ma L. , Guo F. , Zhong H. , Xiong L. , Wang Q.
Published: May 2014

Electroacupuncture has been demonstrated to be effective at alleviating pain and postoperative side‐effects. Our aim was to investigate whether transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation, a low‐skill alternative to needle‐based electroacupuncture, could improve the quality of recovery after ambulatory surgery. Seventy‐two women scheduled for cosmetic breast surgery were randomly allocated to transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation or sham groups. Patients in the transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation group received 30 min of electrical stimulation at three acupoints located on the hand and forearm before the induction of general anaesthesia. We found significant mean (SD) differences between the transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation and sham groups in the mean (SD) length of recovery room stay (35.6 (12.9) min vs 48.3 (16.3) min, p = 0.01), time to removal of the laryngeal mask airway (10.2 (2.5) min vs 17.8 (4.4) min, p = 0.01), and time to reorientation of the patient (14.6 (3.2) min vs 26.5 (5.0) min, p = 0.01). Further, postoperative pain scores and the incidence of side‐effects were all lower in the transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation group. In conclusion, transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation can significantly improve the quality of recovery and decrease the incidence of anaesthesia‐related side‐effects for patients undergoing ambulatory surgery.
Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in young adults with type 1 diabetes since childhood: the Oulu cohort study of diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Hautala Nina , Hannula Virva , Palosaari Tapani , Ebeling Tapani , Falck Aura
Published: May 2014

Purpose

To evaluate the prevalence and stage of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a population‐based cohort of young Finnish adults who have had type 1 diabetes (T1D) since childhood.

Material and methods

The cohort includes all 5‐ to 16‐year‐old patients with T1D who lived in the Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District of Finland, in 1989 (n = 216). DR was evaluated from fundus photographs taken in 1989–1990 and again in 2007. The patients were 7 ± 4 years age (range 0–15 years) at the time of diagnosis of T1D, and the average duration of diabetes at the re‐evaluation was 23 ± 4 years (range 17–32 years).

Results

The prevalence of DR was analysed in 172 patients (80% of the original cohort) at 22–35 years. Proliferative DR (PDR) was observed in 35% (60/172) and non‐proliferative DR in 59% (101/172), with no signs of DR being present in the remaining 6% (11/172) of the subjects. The prevalence of DR did not differ by gender (p = 0.356).

Conclusions

After the 18‐year follow‐up, a high prevalence of DR and PDR (94% and 35%, respectively) was found in patients who have had T1D since childhood, with no difference between the genders.
The effect of tendon vibration on motor unit activity, intermuscular coherence and force steadiness in the elbow flexors of males and females
Authors: Harwood B. , Cornett K. M. D. , Edwards D. L. , Brown R. E. , Jakobi J. M.
Published: May 2014

Background

Compartmentalized responses in motor unit (MU) activity of the short head (SH) and long head (LH) of the biceps brachii are observed following forearm position change. Differential muscle spindle afferent distribution has been proposed as a potential mechanism underlying this behaviour. Tendon vibration is an effective, non‐invasive method of increasing muscle spindle afferent activity of a target muscle group offering a paradigm in which this hypothesis may be investigated further.

Aim

To determine the effect of tendon vibration on MU recruitment and discharge rates of the SH and LH, muscle activity of the elbow flexors and triceps brachii, intermuscular coherence among the SH, LH, brachioradialis and triceps brachii and force steadiness in young males and females during isometric elbow flexion.

Methods

Intramuscular electromyography (EMG) of the SH and LH, and surface EMG of the elbow flexors were recorded pre‐ and post‐vibration during low‐force isometric contractions. Motor unit recruitment thresholds, MU discharge rates and MU discharge variability; surface EMG amplitude, intermuscular coherence and force steadiness were determined pre‐ and post‐vibration.

Results

Differential changes in all MU properties, EMG amplitude and intermuscular coherence were observed among elbow flexors. Although MU properties exhibited differential changes, they accounted for little variance in isometric force steadiness. However, intermuscular EMG coherence among all muscles investigated was reduced post‐vibration.

Conclusion

Uncoupling of common oscillatory input as a result of differential muscle spindle afferent inputs to elbow flexors may be responsible for the reduction in force steadiness following tendon vibration and a forearm position change.
Invasive grasses change landscape structure and fire behaviour in Hawaii
Authors: Ellsworth Lisa M. , Litton Creighton M. , Dale Alexander P. , Miura Tomoaki
Published: May 2014

Questions

How does potential fire behaviour differ in grass‐invaded non‐native forests vs open grasslands? How has land cover changed from 1950–2011 along two grassland/forest ecotones in Hawaii with repeated fires?

Location

Non‐native forest with invasive grass understory and invasive grassland (Megathyrsus maximus) ecosystems on Oahu, Hawaii, USA.

Methods

We quantified fuel load and moisture in non‐native forest and grassland (Megathyrsus maximus) plots (n = 6) at Makua Military Reservation and Schofield Barracks, and used these field data to model potential fire behaviour using the BehavePlus fire modelling program. Actual rate and extent of land‐cover change were quantified for both areas from 1950–2011 with historical aerial imagery.

Results

Live and dead fuel moisture content and fine fuel loads did not differ between forests and grasslands. However, mean surface fuel height was 31% lower in forests (72 cm) than grasslands (105 cm; P < 0.02), which drove large differences in predicted fire behaviour. Rates of fire spread were 3–5 times higher in grasslands (5.0–36.3 m·min−1) than forests (0–10.5 m·min−1; P < 0.001), and flame lengths were 2–3 times higher in grasslands (2.8–10.0 m) than forests (0–4.3 m; P < 0.01). Between 1950 and 2011, invasive grassland cover increased at both Makua (320 ha) and Schofield (745 ha) at rates of 2.62 and 1.83 ha·yr−1, respectively, with more rapid rates of conversion before active fire management practices were implemented in the early 1990s.

Conclusions

These results support accepted paradigms for the tropics, and demonstrate that type conversion associated with non‐native grass invasion and subsequent fire has occurred on landscape scales in Hawaii. Once forests are converted to grassland there is a significant increase in fire intensity, which likely provides the positive feedback to continued grassland dominance in the absence of active fire management.
Effects of Colistin on the Sensory Nerve Conduction Velocity and F‐wave in Mice
Authors: Dai Chongshan , Tang Shusheng , Li Jichang , Wang Jiping , Xiao Xilong
Published: May 2014

The aim of this study was to examine the changes of sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and F‐wave for colistin‐induced peripheral neurotoxicity using a mouse model. Mice were administered with colistin 5, 7.5 and 15 mg/kg/day via a 3‐min. intravenous infusion. The sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and F‐wave were measured using the bipolar recording electrodes. The SNCV and F‐wave latency changed in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. The significant increase of F‐wave latency and significant decrease of SNCV appeared on day 3 (p < 0.05 and 0.01, respectively) in the 15 mg/kg/day group, and they were markedly changed on day 7 in the 7.5 mg/kg/day (p < 0.01 and 0.05, respectively) and 15 mg/kg/day groups (both p < 0.01). In addition, F‐wave latency also significantly increased on day 7 in the 5 mg/kg/day group (p < 0.05) without any clinical signs. These results indicate that SNCV and F‐wave latency were more sensitive in colistin‐induced neurotoxicity in mice, which highlights the early monitoring tool of polymyxins neurotoxicity in the clinic.
Health‐related quality of life from a prospective randomised clinical trial of robot‐assisted laparoscopic vs open radical cystectomy
Authors: Messer Jamie C. , Punnen Sanoj , Fitzgerald John , Svatek Robert , Parekh Dipen J.
Published: May 2014

Objective

To compare health‐related quality‐of‐life (HRQoL) outcomes for robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy (RARC) with those of traditional open radical cystectomy (ORC) in a prospective randomised fashion.

Patients and Methods

This was a prospective randomised clinical trial evaluating the HRQoL for ORC vs RARC in consecutive patients from July 2009 to June 2011. We administered the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Vanderbilt Cystectomy Index questionnaire, validated to assess HRQoL, preoperatively and then at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months postoperatively. Scores for each domain and total scores were compared in terms of deviation from preoperative values for both the RARC and the ORC cohorts. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the association between the type of radical cystectomy and HRQoL.

Results

At the time of the study, 47 patients had met the inclusion criteria, with 40 patients being randomised for analysis. The cohorts consisted of 20 patients undergoing ORC and 20 undergoing RARC, who were balanced with respect to baseline demographic and clinical features. Univariate analysis showed a return to baseline scores at 3 months postoperatively in all measured domains with no statistically significant difference among the various domains between the RARC and the ORC cohorts. Multivariate analysis showed no difference in HRQoL between the two approaches in any of the various domains, with the exception of a slightly higher physical well‐being score in the RARC group at 6 months.

Conclusions

There were no significant differences in the HRQoL outcomes between ORC and RARC, with a return of quality of life scores to baseline scores 3 months after radical cystectomy in both cohorts.
Convergent pharmacological mechanisms in impulsivity and addiction: insights from rodent models
Authors: Jupp B , Dalley J W
Published: May 2014

Research over the last two decades has widely demonstrated that impulsivity, in its various forms, is antecedent to the development of drug addiction and an important behavioural trait underlying the inability of addicts to refrain from continued drug use. Impulsivity describes a variety of rapidly and prematurely expressed behaviours that span several domains from impaired response inhibition to an intolerance of delayed rewards, and is a core symptom of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other brain disorders. Various theories have been advanced to explain how impulsivity interacts with addiction both causally and as a consequence of chronic drug abuse; these acknowledge the strong overlaps in neural circuitry and mechanisms between impulsivity and addiction and the seemingly paradoxical treatment of ADHD with stimulant drugs with high abuse potential. Recent years have witnessed unprecedented progress in the elucidation of pharmacological mechanisms underpinning impulsivity. Collectively, this work has significantly improved the prospect for new therapies in ADHD as well as our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the shift from recreational drug use to addiction. In this review, we consider the extent to which pharmacological interventions that target impulsive behaviour are also effective in animal models of addiction. We highlight several promising examples of convergence based on empirical findings in rodent‐based studies.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Animal Models in Psychiatry Research. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2014.171.issue-20