bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Balancing selection maintains cryptic colour morphs
Authors: Wellenreuther Maren
Published: December 2017

Animals display incredibly diverse colour patterns, a testament to evolution's endless innovation in shaping life. In many species, the interplay between males and females in the pursuit of mates has driven the evolution of a myriad of colour forms, from the flashy peacock tail feathers to the tiniest colour markings in damselflies. In others, colour provides crypsis by allowing to blend into the background and to escape the eyes of predators. While the obvious benefits of this dazzling diversity for reproduction and survival seem straightforward, its maintenance is not. Theory predicts that genetic drift and various forms of selection reduce variation over time, making the persistence of colour variants over generations a puzzle. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Lindtke et al. () study the cryptic colour morphs of Timema cristinae walking sticks to shed light on the genetic architecture and mechanisms that allow colour polymorphism maintenance over long timescales. By combining genome‐wide data with phenotyping information from natural populations, they were able to map the green and melanistic colour to one genomic region with highly reduced effective recombination rate between two main chromosomal variants, consistent with an inversion polymorphism. These two main chromosomal variants showed geographically widespread heterozygote excess, and genomic signatures consistent with long‐term balancing selection. A younger chromosomal variant was detected for the third morph, the green‐striped colour morphs, in the same genomic regions as the melanistic and the green‐unstriped morphs. Together, these results suggest that the genetic architecture of cryptic T. cristinae morphs is caused by nonrecombining genomic blocks that have been maintained over extended time periods by balancing selection making this study one of the few available empirical examples documenting that balancing selection of various forms may play an important role in maintaining adaptive genetic variation in nature.
Population transcriptomics in Daphnia: The role of thermal selection
Authors: Herrmann Maike , Ravindran Suda Parimala , Schwenk Klaus , Cordellier Mathilde
Published: December 2017

The complex interplay of forces influencing genetic divergence among populations complicates the discovery of the genetic basis underlying local adaptation. Here, we utilized for the first time a combined reverse ecology and population transcriptomic approach to assess the contribution of thermal selection to population differentiation, thereby considering transcriptome‐wide variation in both gene expression profiles and DNA sequences. We compared transcriptomes among four Daphnia galeata populations and identified transcripts potentially responding to local thermal selection based on an extensive literature search for candidate genes possibly under thermal selection in arthropods. Over‐representation of temperature‐relevant candidate genes among transcripts strongly contributing to sequence divergence among two populations indicates that local thermal selection acted on the coding sequence level. We identified a large number of transcripts, which may contribute to local thermal adaptation based on outlier tests and distinctive expression profiles. However, among these, temperature‐relevant candidate genes were not over‐represented compared to the global gene set, suggesting that thermal selection played a minor role in divergence among Daphnia populations. Interestingly, although the majority of genes contributing strongly to sequence divergence did not contribute strongly to divergence at the expression level and vice versa, the affected gene functions were largely consistent between the two data sets. This suggests that genetic and regulatory variation constitutes alternative routes for responses to natural selection. Our combined utilization of a population transcriptomics approach and literature‐based identification of ecologically informative candidate genes represents a useful and powerful methodology with a wide range of applications in evolutionary biology.
Host miRNAs are involved in hormonal regulation of HaSNPV‐triggered climbing behaviour in Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Zhang Songdou , An Shiheng , Hoover Kelli , Li Zhen , Li Xiangrui , Liu Xiaoming , Shen Zhongjian , Fang Haibo , Ros Vera I. D. , Zhang Qingwen , Liu Xiaoxia
Published: December 2017

Baculoviruses manipulate host climbing behaviour to ensure that the hosts die at elevated positions on host plants to facilitate virus proliferation and transmission, which is a process referred to as tree‐top disease. However, the detailed molecular mechanism underlying tree‐top disease has not been elucidated. Using transcriptome analysis, we showed that two hormone signals, juvenile hormone (JH) and 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E), are key components involved in HaSNPV‐induced tree‐top disease in Helicoverpa armigera larvae. RNAi‐mediated knockdown and exogenous hormone treatment assays demonstrated that 20E inhibits virus‐induced tree‐top disease, while JH mediates tree‐top disease behaviour. Knockdown of BrZ2, a downstream signal of JH and 20E, promoted HaSNPV‐induced tree‐top disease. We also found that two miRNAs target BrZ2 and are involved in the cross‐talk regulation between 20E and JH manipulating HaSNPV replication, time to death and HaSNPV‐induced tree‐top disease.
The effects of pastoral intensification on the feeding interactions of generalist predators in streams
Authors: Pearson C. E. , Symondson W. O. C. , Clare E. L. , Ormerod S. J. , Iparraguirre Bolaños E. , Vaughan I. P.
Published: December 2017

Land‐use change can alter trophic interactions with wide‐ranging functional consequences, yet the consequences for aquatic food webs have been little studied. In part, this may reflect the challenges of resolving the diets of aquatic organisms using classical gut contents analysis, especially for soft‐bodied prey. We used next‐generation sequencing to resolve prey use in nearly 400 individuals of two predatory invertebrates (the Caddisfly,Rhyacophila dorsalis,and the StoneflyDinocras cephalotes) in streams draining land with increasingly intensive livestock farming.Rhyacophila dorsalisoccurred in all streams, whereasD. cephaloteswas restricted to low intensities, allowing us to test whether: (i) apparent sensitivity to agriculture in the latter species reflects a more specialized diet and (ii) diet inR. dorsalisvaried between sites with and withoutD. cephalotes.DNAwas extracted from dissected gut contents, amplified without blocking probes and sequenced using Ion Torrent technology. Both predators were generalists, consuming 30 prey taxa with a preference for taxa that were abundant in all streams or that increased with intensification. Where both predators were present, their diets were nearly identical, andR. dorsalis's diet was virtually unchanged in the absence ofD. cephalotes. The loss ofD. cephalotesfrom more intensive sites was probably due to physicochemical stressors, such as sedimentation, rather than to dietary specialization, although wider biotic factors (e.g., competition with other predatory taxa) could not be excluded. This study provides a uniquely detailed description of predator diets along a land‐use intensity gradient, offering new insights into how anthropogenic stressors affect stream communities.
Coupling of microRNA‐directed phased small interfering RNA generation from long noncoding genes with alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation in small RNA‐mediated gene silencing
Authors: Ma Wuqiang , Chen Chengjie , Liu Yuanlong , Zeng Ming , Meyers Blake C. , Li Jianguo , Xia Rui
Published: December 2017

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and phased small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs) play vital regulatory roles in plant growth and development. Little is known about these small RNAs in litchi (Litchi chinensis), an economically important fruit crop widely cultivated in Southeast Asia.

We profiled the litchi small RNA population with various deep‐sequencing techniques and in‐depth bioinformatic analyses.

The genome‐wide identification of miRNAs, their target genes, and phasiRNA‐generating (PHAS) genes/loci showed that the function of miR482/2118 has expanded, relative to its canonical function. We also discovered that, for 29 PHAS loci, miRNA‐mediated phasiRNA production was coupled with alternative splicing (AS) and alternative polyadenylation (APA). Most of these loci encoded long noncoding RNAs. An miR482/2118 targeted locus gave rise to four main transcript isoforms through AS/APA, and diverse phasiRNAs generated from these isoforms appeared to target long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons and other unrelated genes. This coupling enables phasiRNA production from different exons of noncoding PHAS genes and yields diverse phasiRNA populations, both broadening and altering the range of downstream phasiRNA‐regulated genes.

Our results reveal the diversity of miRNA and phasiRNA in litchi, and demonstrate AS/APA as a new layer of regulation in small RNA‐mediated gene silencing.
Sorting the Left from the Rest: The Communitarian Religious Perspective and Liberal Economic Attitudes
Authors: Ledet Richard
Published: December 2017

In this article, the argument is made that the religious activity generated by churches, which tends to focus an individual's attention either outward toward the larger community or inward toward one's self, can influence parishioners’ economic attitudes. Using survey data obtained during the 2008 presidential election cycle, this article tests the merits of that argument by examining the effect of multiple aspects of religion on economic attitudes. Evidence indicates that, along with some of the conventional religiosity measures, there is a previously noticed but understudied “communitarian” dimension of religion that explains variation in social welfare attitudes. Additional tests conducted on subsamples of denominational groups reveal that the communitarian religious perspective is a significant predictor of liberal welfare attitudes among Mainline Protestants. These findings shed light on characteristics associated with the “religious left,” and provide a clearer picture of how religion, in different measurable forms, is related to economic attitudes.

Related Articles

Rugeley, Cynthia R., and
John David Gerlach. 2012. “.” Politics & Policy 40 (): 444‐470. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2012.00352.x/full

Butz, Adam M., and
Jason E. Kehrberg. 2015. “.” Politics & Policy 43 (): 256‐286. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12115/full

Ertas, Nevbahar. 2015. “.” Politics & Policy 43 (): 426‐451. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12120/abstract

Related Media

. n.d. “The Henry Institute National Survey of Religion and Public Life, 2008.” http://www.thearda.com/Archive/Files/Descriptions/NSRPL.asp

. 2017. Calvin College. Home Page. https://calvin.edu/centers-institutes/henry-institute/
Variable Implementation of Sexuality Education in Three Nigerian States
Authors: Kunnuji Michael O. N. , Robinson Rachel Sullivan , Shawar Yusra Ribhi , Shiffman Jeremy
Published: December 2017

In 2003, Nigeria adopted the Family Life and HIV Education (FLHE) sexuality education curriculum. Our analysis interrogates variation in sub‐national implementation. We conducted 52 interviews with persons knowledgeable about the curriculum in three states—Kano, Lagos, and Niger—and reviewed publications on FLHE. In Kano, the socio‐cultural context impeded implementation, but the persistence of innovative local champions resulted in some success. In Lagos, the cosmopolitan context, effective champions, funding by international donors, and a receptive government bureaucracy led to successful implementation. In Niger, despite a relatively conservative socio‐cultural context, state bureaucratic bottlenecks overwhelmed proponents’ efforts. In summary, the interaction of socio‐cultural context, domestic champions, adaptive capacity of state bureaucracies, and international funders explains variable implementation of FLHE. The Nigerian experience highlights the need for sexuality education proponents to anticipate and prepare for local opposition and bureaucratic barriers.
Putting It Off for Later: Procrastination and End of Fiscal Year Spending Spikes
Authors: Baumann Stuart
Published: December 2017

Many governments around the world exhibit heightened spending at the end of the fiscal year. These end of fiscal year spending spikes often concern policy makers due to their tendency to result in lower quality spending. This paper uses UK data to offer evidence against the precautionary savings explanation for spending spikes. An alternative explanation is offered with procrastination driving heightened end of fiscal year spending. A new technique of time‐variant budgetary taxes is calibrated to the model, and it is shown to be effective for smoothing spending and improving spending efficiency throughout the fiscal year.
Power Variations and Testing for Co‐Jumps: The Small Noise Approach
Authors: Kurisu Daisuke
Published: December 2017

In this paper, we study the effects of noise on bipower variation, realized volatility (RV) and testing for co‐jumps in high‐frequency data under the small noise framework. We first establish asymptotic properties of bipower variation in this framework. In the presence of the small noise, RV is asymptotically biased, and the additional asymptotic conditional variance term appears in its limit distribution. We also propose consistent estimators for the asymptotic variances of RV. Second, we derive the asymptotic distribution of the test statistic proposed in (Ann. Stat. 37, 1792‐1838) under the presence of small noise for testing the presence of co‐jumps in a two‐dimensional Itô semimartingale. In contrast to the setting in (Ann. Stat. 37, 1792‐1838), we show that the additional asymptotic variance terms appear and propose consistent estimators for the asymptotic variances in order to make the test feasible. Simulation experiments show that our asymptotic results give reasonable approximations in the finite sample cases.
Influence of a Mathematics Teachers' Circle on Elementary Teachers' Use of Problem Solving
Authors: Garner Mary L. , Watson Virginia , Rogers Beth , Head Catherine
Published: December 2017

Math teachers' circles are a form of professional development that is recommended by the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences in their publication Mathematical Education of Teachers II (2012). However, little research has been published on how effective math teachers' circles are in advancing the mathematical knowledge of teachers and influencing their actual teaching practice. This study reports how 25 elementary teachers from schools with minority and economically disadvantaged populations responded to a math circle experience. A pretest and posttest showed a significant increase in problem‐solving ability. Through analysis of journals, all but 4 of the 25 teachers indicated that participation in the math circle increased their understanding of problem solving and advanced their use of problem solving in the classroom.
Potential of saprophage Diptera to acquire culturable livestock‐associated antibiotic‐resistant bacteria
Authors: Russell S. M. , Chittick V. A. , Sangweme D. T. , Lampert E. C.
Published: December 2017

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance among bacteria is one of the most intractable challenges in 21st‐century public health. Dipterans that associate with livestock, livestock waste products and cadavers have the potential to acquire livestock‐associated antibiotic‐resistant bacteria (LA‐ARB) and transmit them to humans. In this study, piglet cadavers were used to attract saprophage dipterans from the environment and those dipterans were sampled for the presence of LA‐ARB. In the first trial, culturable microbes resistant to both aminoglycoside and β‐lactam antibiotics were found in all cadavers and masses of dipteran larvae, and in three‐quarters of adult dipterans. In the second trial, over 130 culturable bacterial colonies resistant to β‐lactams were isolated from the cadavers, larval and adult dipterans. Over 100 of those colonies were coliform or metabolically similar bacteria. Adult dipterans carried β‐lactam resistant staphylococci, whereas those bacterial types were absent from larval dipterans and cadavers, suggesting they were picked up from elsewhere in the environment. This research indicates that LA‐ARB are ubiquitous in pig farms, and dipterans have the potential to carry medically important microbes. Further research is encouraged to determine the extent to which dipterans acquire microbes from animal agriculture relative to other environments.
Automated Manufacturing Process Selection During Conceptual Design
Authors: Hoefer Michael J. , Frank Matthew C.
Published: December 2017

This paper presents a method for automated manufacturing process selection during conceptual design. It is helpful to know which manufacturing processes can produce a design at an early stage, when the overall design can be changed for less cost. Early during new product development, geometric dimensions and tolerances may not yet be specified, but a general three-dimensional (3D) model is often under development. In this work, algorithms are presented to interrogate 3D models to calculate machining-based manufacturability metrics. These algorithms are used on a dataset of 86 computer-aided design (CAD) models classified as machined or cast-then-machined. The metrics, such as visibility, reachability, and setup orientations, seek to characterize a part's manufacturability using machining domain knowledge. These metrics serve as inputs to machine learning models, which are used to classify parts by manufacturing process with 86% accuracy. Some of the incorrectly classified parts were instances that had robust designs capable of being manufactured using machining or casting. The results of the machine learning models indicate that the machining metrics can be used to provide process selection feedback during conceptual design.
Loss Generation in Transonic Turbine Blading
Authors: Duan Penghao , Tan Choon S. , Scribner Andrew , Malandra Anthony
Published: December 2017

The measured loss characteristic in a high-speed cascade tunnel of two turbine blades of different designs showed distinctly different trends with exit Mach number ranging from 0.8 to 1.4. Assessments using steady Reynolds-averaged Navier--Stokes equations (RANS) computation of the flow in the two turbine blades, complemented with control volume analyses and loss modeling, elucidate why the measured loss characteristic looks the way it is. The loss model categorizes the total loss in terms of boundary layer loss, trailing edge (TE) loss, and shock loss; it yields results in good agreement with the experimental data as well as steady RANS computed results. Thus, RANS is an adequate tool for determining the loss variations with exit isentropic Mach number and the loss model serves as an effective tool to interpret both the computational and the experimental data. The measured loss plateau in blade 1 for exit Mach number of 1–1.4 is due to a balance between a decrease of blade surface boundary layer loss and an increase in the attendant shock loss with Mach number; this plateau is absent in blade 2 due to a greater rate in shock loss increase than the corresponding decrease in boundary layer loss. For exit Mach number from 0.85 to 1, the higher loss associated with shock system in blade 1 is due to the larger divergent angle downstream of the throat than that in blade 2. However, when exit Mach number is between 1.00 and 1.30, blade 2 has higher shock loss. For exit Mach number above an approximate value of 1.4, the shock loss for the two blades is similar as the flow downstream of the throat is completely supersonic. In the transonic to supersonic flow regime, the turbine design can be tailored to yield a shock pattern the loss of which can be mitigated in near equal amount of that from the boundary layer with increasing exit Mach number, hence yielding a loss plateau in transonic-supersonic regime.
Aerobic Transformation of 2,4-Dinitrotoluene by Escherichia coli and Its Implications for the Detection of Trace Explosives
Authors: Shemer Benjamin , Yagur-Kroll Sharon , Hazan Carina , Belkin Shimshon
Published: December 2017

DNT (2,4-dinitrotoluene), a volatile impurity in military-grade 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT)-based explosives, is a potential tracer for the detection of buried landmines and other explosive devices. We have previously described an
Escherichia coli
bioreporter strain engineered to detect traces of DNT and have demonstrated that the
yqjF
gene promoter, the sensing element of this bioreporter, is induced not by DNT but by at least one of its transformation products. In the present study, we have characterized the initial stages of DNT biotransformation in
E. coli
, have identified the key metabolic products in this reductive pathway, and demonstrate that the main DNT metabolite that induces
yqjF
is 2,4,5-trihydroxytoluene. We further show that
E. coli
cannot utilize DNT as a sole carbon or nitrogen source and propose that this compound is metabolized in order to neutralize its toxicity to the cells.

IMPORTANCE
The information provided in this article sheds new light both on the microbial biodegradability of nitroaromatic compounds and on the metabolic capabilities of
E. coli
. By doing so, it also clarifies the pathway leading to the previously unexplained induction of the
E. coli yqjF
gene by 2,4-dinitrotoluene, an impurity that accompanies 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT)-based explosives. Our improved understanding of these processes will serve to molecularly enhance the performance of a previously described microbial bioreporter of buried landmines and other explosive devices, in which the
yqjF
gene promoter serves as the sensing element.
Tracking the Taxonomy of the Genus Bifidobacterium Based on a Phylogenomic Approach
Authors: Lugli Gabriele Andrea , Milani Christian , Duranti Sabrina , Mancabelli Leonardo , Mangifesta Marta , Turroni Francesca , Viappiani Alice , van Sinderen Douwe , Ventura Marco
Published: December 2017

For decades, bacterial taxonomy has been based on
in vitro
molecular biology techniques and comparison of molecular marker sequences to measure the degree of genetic similarity and deduce phylogenetic relatedness of novel bacterial species to reference microbial taxa. Due to the advent of the genomic era, access to complete bacterial genome contents has become easier, thereby presenting the opportunity to precisely investigate the overall genetic diversity of microorganisms. Here, we describe a high-accuracy phylogenomic approach to assess the taxonomy of members of the genus
Bifidobacterium
and identify apparent misclassifications in current bifidobacterial taxonomy. The developed method was validated by the classification of seven novel taxa belonging to the genus
Bifidobacterium
by employing their overall genetic content. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of this whole-genome approach to become the gold standard for phylogenomics-based taxonomic classification of bacteria.

IMPORTANCE
Nowadays, next-generation sequencing has given access to genome sequences of the currently known bacterial taxa. The public databases constructed by means of these new technologies allowed comparison of genome sequences between microorganisms, providing information to perform genomic, phylogenomic, and evolutionary analyses. In order to avoid misclassifications in the taxonomy of novel bacterial isolates, new (bifido)bacterial taxons should be validated with a phylogenomic assessment like the approach presented here.
Origin, History, and Meanings of the WordTransmission
Authors: Villalba Joaquín , Navarro Fernando A. , Cortés Francisco
Published: December 2017

The origin of the wordstransmitandtransmissionand their derivatives can be traced to the Latintransmittere, in turn formed by prefixing the prepositiontrans(“across or beyond”) to the verbmittere(“to let go or to send”). From the times of Ancient Rome in the 3rd centuryb.c.e., the Latin wordtransmissiohas been “transmitted” (through Romance languages such as French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese) to all the major languages of culture, English among them. And through English, the international language of biomedical science in the 21st century, the termtransmissionis increasingly present today in some of the most dynamic disciplines of modern natural science, including genomics, molecular microbiology, hospital epidemiology, molecular genetics, biotechnology, evolutionary biology, and systems biology.
Case–control study to assess the association between colorectal cancer and selected occupational agents using INTEROCC job exposure matrix
Authors: El-Zaemey Sonia , Anand TN , Heyworth Jane Shirley , Boyle Terry , van Tongeren Martie , Fritschi Lin
Published: December 2017

Background

Colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent cancer in the world and is twice as common in developed countries when compared with low-income and middle-income countries. Few occupational risk factors for colorectal cancer have been identified. This case–control study aimed to assess the association between colorectal cancer and occupational exposure to selected solvents, combustion products, metals, dusts and other agents.

Methods

Cases (n=918) were enrolled from the Western Australian Cancer Registry from June 2005 to August 2007. Controls (n=1021) were randomly selected from the Western Australian electoral roll. We collected lifetime occupational history from cases and controls, in addition to their demographic and lifestyle characteristics. We applied the INTEROCC job exposure matrix to convert the occupational history to occupational exposure for 18 selected agents. Three exposure indices were developed: (1) exposed versus non-exposed; (2) lifetime cumulative exposure; and (3) total duration of exposure. The associations between colorectal cancer and the selected agents were estimated using logistic regression models adjusting for sex and age.

Results

None of the 18 selected agents showed an association with colorectal cancer. No dose–response relationships with lifetime cumulative exposure or duration of exposure were observed.

Conclusion

There was no evidence to suggest that occupational exposure to 18 selected agents increased the risk of colorectal cancer.
FOREIGN BIAS OF SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND AND SPATIAL SPILLOVER EFFECTS
Authors: ZHANG HONGXIA , KIM HEEHO
Published: December 2017

This study explores a foreign bias model to examine if the degree of foreign bias of sovereign wealth fund depends on the spatial spillover effects of cultural distances. Using the spatial panel data of foreign investment by sovereign wealth fund in 2008–2014, we empirically test (1) whether the relationships between return, risk and foreign bias of sovereign wealth fund are statistically significant and (2) whether this relationship depends on the spatial spillover effects of cultural distances. The evidence strongly supports our hypotheses across six target countries (Australia, Canada, China, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States).
Energy peaks: A high energy physics outlook
Authors: Franceschini Roberto
Published: December 2017

Energy distributions of decay products carry information on the kinematics of the decay in ways that are at the same time straightforward and quite hidden. I will review these properties and discuss their early historical applications, as well as more recent ones in the context of (i) methods for the measurement of masses of new physics particle with semi-invisible decays, (ii) the characterization of Dark Matter particles produced at colliders, (iii) precision mass measurements of Standard Model particles, in particular of the top quark. Finally, I will give an outlook of further developments and applications of energy peak method for high energy physics at colliders and beyond.
Quasi-distribution amplitudes for pion and kaon via the nonlocal chiral-quark model
Authors: Nam Seung-il
Published: December 2017

We investigate the pseudoscalar (PS) meson ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]) quasi-distribution amplitude (QDA), which is supposed to be an asymptotic analog to the meson distribution amplitude (DA) [Formula: see text] in the limit of the large longitudinal PS-meson momentum, i.e. [Formula: see text], in the non-perturbative (NP) region. For this purpose, we employ the nonlocal chiral-quark model (NLChQM) in the light-front (LF) formalism with a minimal Fock-state for the mesons [Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text] at the low-energy scale parameter of the model [Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]1 GeV. As a trial, we extract the transverse-momentum distribution amplitude (TMDA) from the light-front wave function (LFWF) within the model, and convert it to QDA with help of the virtuality-distribution amplitude (VDA). By doing that, we derive an analytical expression for the NP QDA with the current-quark mass correction up to [Formula: see text]. Numerically, we confirm that the obtained TMDA reproduces the experimental data for the photon-pion transition form factor [Formula: see text] at the low-[Formula: see text] qualitatively well. We also observe that the obtained QDA approaches to DA as [Formula: see text] increases, showing the symmetric and asymmetric curves with respect to [Formula: see text] for the pion and kaon, respectively, due to the current-quark mass difference [Formula: see text]. Assigning [Formula: see text], the moments [Formula: see text] are computed, using the pion and kaon QDAs, and there appear only a few percent deviations in the moments for [Formula: see text] in comparison to the values calculated directly from DAs. It turns out that the higher moments are more sensitive to the change of [Formula: see text], whereas the lower ones depend less on it.
Theory and calculation of colloidal depletion interaction
Authors: Ma Hongru
Published: December 2017

Colloidal dispersion is composed of particles with size ranging from 1 nm to [Formula: see text]m dispersed in solvents. There are the volume exclusion interaction and other interactions between colloidal particles, of which the former interaction causes the depletion effect. When a big sphere is immersed in the colloidal system of small spheres, there is a depletion layer around the big sphere where the center of small sphere cannot enter. The depletion layers of two big spheres overlap if they are close to each other, increasing the free volume accessed by small spheres and thereby enlarging the entropy of the system. As a result, an effective interaction between the two big spheres is resulted from the change of entropy as a function of their distance, which is referred to as the depletion interaction. This paper first introduces the concept and scenario of the depletion interaction in colloidal systems. Then we briefly introduce various numerical or simulations methods of the depletion interaction of hard sphere systems, such as the acceptance ratio method, Wang–Landau method, and the density functional theory method. Taking the Asakura–Oosawa model as an example, we introduce a useful approximation method, Derjaguin approximation as well as the derivation of some approximate formula for the depletion interaction of different hardcore colloidal systems, such as between a pair of spheres in mono-disperse small spheres, between a hard sphere and a hard wall in a liquid of small spheres, and between a pair of hard spheres in a liquid of thin rods and thin disks.
A REVIEW ON BIOMECHANICAL ASPECTS OF VERTEBROPLASTY AND KYPHOPLASTY USING FINITE ELEMENT MODELING-BASED METHODS
Authors: JAMSHIDI NIMA , FARADONBEH SEYED AREF HOSSEINI
Published: December 2017

The vertebroplasty (VP) and kyphoplasty (KP) are two minimally invasive surgeries using cement augmentation to treat the osteoporotic vertebrae in elderlies in order to relieve pain and prevent the continuation of microfractures. Biomechanists have always tried to assess the mechanical behavior of vertebrae after cement augmentation by using both the experimental and theoretical methods such as finite element modeling (FEM).

In this study, 31 related articles using FEM in analyzing the VP and KP have been reviewed. This study included two main categories of spinal load distribution and tension in vertebrae after the VP and KP operations. This could be obtained by conducting FEM on the whole spine or other sectors of it such as intervertebral disc (IVD) or end plates (EPs). This study also referred to articles predicting the probability of adjacent fractures following VP and KP. The most common software employed in FEM was ABAQUS, applied for static and dynamic loads’ analyses.

It was found that most of the reviewed articles adopted reverse engineering techniques by converting 2D computed tomography (CT) scan images into 3D reconstructed models. The material properties were generally taken from the literature. In more than 80% of studies, the model geometry was based on CT data of the spine. Almost 45% of the studies have attempted to compare the simulated vertebra after augmentation with experimental results taken from the literature (5% of the reviewed articles) or their own experimental tests (40% of the reviewed articles).
A Higher-Order Variable Cross-Section Viscoelastic Beam Element Via ANCF for Kinematic and Dynamic Analyses of Two-Link Flexible Manipulators
Authors: Yu Haidong , Zhao Chunzhang , Zheng Hui
Published: December 2017

A new viscoelastic beam element with variable cross-sections is developed based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation, in which the higher-order slope coordinates are used to describe the variable geometric boundaries and circumvent possible shear-locking problem. The mass and stiffness matrices of the new element are derived by considering the variable geometrical boundary in the integration functions. The modified Kelvin–Voigt viscoelastic constitutive model for large deformation problems is introduced into the stiffness matrix. The dynamic model of a typical two-link manipulator with variable cross-section links is established where the constraint equations of revolute joints are considered with Lagrange multipliers. The kinematic trajectories of the manipulator with various materials and geometrical parameters are numerically studied. It is shown that the new element could circumvent shear-locking problem and yield improved accuracy and convergence compared with the conventional beam elements for solving large deformation problems. Also, the viscosity of the structural material helps to reduce the deformation of the links and improve the kinematic precision of the manipulator, hence the trajectory of the flexible manipulator could be controlled by changing the geometrical shape of the cross-section of links under the constraint of same mass.
Diagnostic Ureteroscopy Prior to Radical Nephroureterectomy for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Increased the Risk of Intravesical Recurrence
Authors: Tan Ping , Xie Nan , Yang Lu , Liu Liangren , Tang Zhuang , Wei Qiang
Published: December 2017

Objective: To assess the impact of diagnostic ureteroscopy (URS) prior to radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) on intravesical recurrence (IVR) in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search of the Medline, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane library was performed in August 2017. Cumulative analyses of available hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% CI were conducted using Stata version 12.0. Results: Eleven studies including 4,057 participants were included, with a total of 1,403 patients diagnosed with IVR during the follow-up period. The pooled HRs of eight studies suggested that diagnostic URS prior to RNU significantly increased the IVR risk after RNU (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.31–1.77; p < 0.001). However, the preoperative diagnostic URS was not associated with cancer-specific survival (HR 0.72; p = 0.11), metastasis-free survival (HR 1.09; p = 0.60) or overall survival (HR 1.12; p = 0.73). No publication bias was observed (Begg, p = 0.90; Egger, p = 0.71). Conclusions: Regardless, the diagnostic URS prior to RNU might increase the IVR risk in patients with UTUC. As ureteroscopy provides important prognostic and therapeutic value and guides decisions in UTUC, more future studies should be performed to find a novel way to mitigate the potential risk of IVR after RNU, such as chemoprophylaxis after endoscopy.
The Interaction between Semantic Representation and Episodic Memory
Authors: Fang Jing , Rüther Naima , Bellebaum Christian , Wiskott Laurenz , Cheng Sen
Published: December 2017

The experimental evidence on the interrelation between episodic memory and semantic memory is inconclusive. Are they independent systems, different aspects of a single system, or separate but strongly interacting systems? Here, we propose a computational role for the interaction between the semantic and episodic systems that might help resolve this debate. We hypothesize that episodic memories are represented as sequences of activation patterns. These patterns are the output of a semantic representational network that compresses the high-dimensional sensory input. We show quantitatively that the accuracy of episodic memory crucially depends on the quality of the semantic representation. We compare two types of semantic representations: appropriate representations, which means that the representation is used to store input sequences that are of the same type as those that it was trained on, and inappropriate representations, which means that stored inputs differ from the training data. Retrieval accuracy is higher for appropriate representations because the encoded sequences are less divergent than those encoded with inappropriate representations. Consistent with our model prediction, we found that human subjects remember some aspects of episodes significantly more accurately if they had previously been familiarized with the objects occurring in the episode, as compared to episodes involving unfamiliar objects. We thus conclude that the interaction with the semantic system plays an important role for episodic memory.
Polystichum zhijinense (subg. Haplopolystichum; Dryopteridaceae), a new cave species of Polystichum from Guizhou, China
Authors: DUAN YI-FAN , KROPF MATTHIAS , ZHANG LI-BING
Published: December 2017

A new fern species, Polystichum zhijinense, a member of P. subg. Haplopolystichum (Dryopteridaceae), is described and illustrated from Guizhou Province in Southwest China. Polystichum zhijinense is somehow similar to P. fengshanense in having pinnae oblong and entire or shallowly repand (not aristate-spinulose on the margin), but differs in the shape of the pinna apex, the morphology of microscales, and the sorus distribution. Polystichum zhijinense was found at a cave entrance and is currently known from one population only and thus is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) following IUCN Red List criteria.
A new species of Chrysophyllum (Sapotaceae) from the Brazilian Atlantic forest
Authors: SOSSAI BRENNO GARDIMAN , VIÉGAS-AQUIJE GLÓRIA , SANTOS FRANCISCO DE ASSIS RIBEIRO DOS , ALVES-ARAÚJO ANDERSON
Published: December 2017

The new species Chrysophyllum pubipetalum from the Brazilian Atlantic forest of Espírito Santo state is described and illustrated. This new species is characterized by the presence of trichomes on both surfaces of the corolla (a character unique in the genus), channeled petioles, a relatively short pedicel length, and various characters of the fruits and seeds. A distribution map and a table distinguishing the new species from morphologically similar species are also included. As based on IUCN criteria, the species is considered critically endangered.
Lectotypification of the Linnaean name Lobelia coronopifolia (Campanulaceae)

Authors: KHAN RAEES , UL ABIDIN SHEIKH ZAIN , MUMTAZ ABDUL SAMAD , ALTINORDU FAHIM , SENNIKOV ALEXANDER
Published: December 2017

The genus Lobelia Linnaeus (1753: 929) honors the memory of Mathias de l’Obel (1538–1616), a Flemish physician and botanist who published important pre-Linnaean works on plant classification (see Shosteck 1974). Lobelia, a genus native to the New World, northern and western Europe, Africa, southern and eastern Asia, Australia and New Zealand, comprises 415 species and it is the second largest genus out of the 84 ones which currently belong to Campanulaceae Juss. (Lammers 2011).
Alchemilla mazandarana (Rosaceae), a new species from high mountainous areas of the Hyrcanian relict region, N. Iran
Authors: NAQINEZHAD ALIREZA , FRÖHNER SIGURD E. , ESMAILPOOR ALI
Published: December 2017

Alchemilla mazandarana (Rosaceae) is described and illustrated as a new endemic species from the high mountain rocks of the Hyrcanian region, N. Iran. The new species is characterized by unique leaf division and flower characteristics and most closely related to A. rizensis, A. heteroschista and A. sericea. Some notes are presented on the ecology, distribution, and conservation status of the new species and a distribution map is provided.
Nomenclature of Caroxylon imbricatum s.lat. (Amaranthaceae / Chenopodiaceae), with a new combination at variety rank
Authors: NEJAD FALATOURY ATIYE , IAMONICO DUILIO , FREITAG HELMUT
Published: December 2017

A nomenclatural study of the names linked to the critical Caroxylon imbricatum is presented. The names Chenopodium baryosmon, Salsola foetida var. gaetula, S. foetida var. glabrescens, S. foetida var. hirtipetala, S. foetida var. scopiformis, and S. imbricata were studied. Salsola foetida Delile ex Sprengel is lectotypified on a specimen preserved at MPU, while for Chenopodium baryosmon we clarified the statement by Botschantzev (lectotype at BM). Isolectotypes of C. baryosmon are deposited at BM, BR, E, G, K, M, and LE. Salsola foetida Delile ex Moquin-Tandon is an illegitimate name and a homotypic synonym of C. barysmon (Art. 52.2 of the ICN). A taxonomic treatment of the C. imbricatum group is proposed, with two species recognised: C. imbricatum s.lat. (incl. var. imbricatum and var. hirtipetalum comb. nov.) and C. gaetulum.
A new species of Paratrigonidium Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893 from Hainan, China (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae; Trigonidiinae)
Authors: HE ZHUQING , LIU YUQING , LU HUI , WANG HANQIANG , WANG PENG , LI KAI
Published: December 2017

One new species, Paratrigonidium chloropodum sp. nov., is described from Hainan, China. The type specimens are deposited in East China Normal University, Biology of History Museum (ECNU). S. venustula is moved to genus Paratrigonidium as P. venustulum comb. nov. P. vittatum Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893 syn. is the junior synonym of P. venustulum.
Impact of Palliative Chemotherapy and Travel Distance on Hospice Referral in Patients With Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis Within a Veterans Administration Medical Center
Authors: Duff Jennifer M. , Thomas Ryan M.
Published: December 2017

Background:

Metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) has a poor prognosis despite chemotherapy advancements. Although hospice utilization has increased, timing of referral is not always optimal.

Aim:

To investigate whether palliative chemotherapy and travel distance to the treatment center impact hospice referral patterns in veterans of the US military in order to identify potential areas for improving referral timing.

Design:

Demographic and clinical data were collected retrospectively according to the timing of hospice referral.

Settings/Participants:

Patients with mPDAC within a Veterans Administration Medical Center from 2005 to 2014.

Results:

Of 58 patients identified, 52 were referred to hospice. The median time from diagnosis to referral and referral to death was 2.4 and 3.1 weeks, respectively. Palliative chemotherapy was administered to 22 (42.3%) patients, with 30 (57.7%) patients not treated due to poor functional status (n = 16, 53.3%) or patient refusal (n = 14, 46.7%). Subset analysis for those travelling >60 miles versus <60 miles to the treatment center showed the median time to hospice referral was 1.7 versus 4.7 weeks. With no significant differences between groups, univariate analysis demonstrated that those referred to hospice >2.4 weeks from diagnosis more often received chemotherapy ( P < .001) and lived <60 miles from the treatment center ( P = .05).

Conclusion:

Receipt of palliative chemotherapy and proximity to the treatment center appear to delay referral to hospice in patients with mPDAC. Increasing physician awareness of such factors that may impact the decision to involve hospice is necessary for delivering optimal oncology care.
Reliability of doming and toe flexion testing to quantify foot muscle strength
Authors: Ridge Sarah Trager , Myrer J. William , Olsen Mark T. , Jurgensmeier Kevin , Johnson A. Wayne
Published: December 2017

Background

Quantifying the strength of the intrinsic foot muscles has been a challenge for clinicians and researchers. The reliable measurement of this strength is important in order to assess weakness, which may contribute to a variety of functional issues in the foot and lower leg, including plantar fasciitis and hallux valgus. This study reports 3 novel methods for measuring foot strength – doming (previously unmeasured), hallux flexion, and flexion of the lesser toes.

Methods

Twenty‐one healthy volunteers performed the strength tests during two testing sessions which occurred one to five days apart. Each participant performed each series of strength tests (doming, hallux flexion, and lesser toe flexion) four times during the first testing session (twice with each of two raters) and two times during the second testing session (once with each rater). Intra‐class correlation coefficients were calculated to test for reliability for the following comparisons: between raters during the same testing session on the same day (inter‐rater, intra‐day, intra‐session), between raters on different days (inter‐rater, inter‐day, inter‐session), between days for the same rater (intra‐rater, inter‐day, inter‐session), and between sessions on the same day by the same rater (intra‐rater, intra‐day, inter‐session).

Results

ICCs showed good to excellent reliability for all tests between days, raters, and sessions. Average doming strength was 99.96 ± 47.04 N. Average hallux flexion strength was 65.66 ± 24.5 N. Average lateral toe flexion was 50.96 ± 22.54 N.

Conclusions

These simple tests using relatively low cost equipment can be used for research or clinical purposes. If repeated testing will be conducted on the same participant, it is suggested that the same researcher or clinician perform the testing each time for optimal reliability.