bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Occurrence of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) and their association with common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off northeastern New Zealand
Authors: Zaeschmar Jochen R. , Visser Ingrid N. , Fertl Dagmar , Dwyer Sarah L. , Meissner Anna M. , Halliday Joanne , Berghan Jo , Donnelly David , Stockin Karen A.
Published: September 2013

On a global scale, false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) remain one of the lesser‐known delphinids. The occurrence, site fidelity, association patterns, and presence/absence of foraging in waters off northeastern New Zealand are examined from records collected between 1995 and 2012. The species was rarely encountered; however, of the 61 distinctive, photo‐identified individuals, 88.5% were resighted, with resightings up to 7 yr after initial identification, and movements as far as 650 km documented. Group sizes ranged from 20 to ca. 150. Results indicate that all individuals are linked in a single social network. Most observations were recorded in shallow (<100 m) nearshore waters. Occurrence in these continental shelf waters is likely seasonal, coinciding with the shoreward flooding of a warm current. During 91.5% of encounters, close interspecific associations with common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were observed. Photo‐identification reveals repeat inter‐ and intraspecific associations among individuals with 34.2% of common bottlenose dolphins resighted together with false killer whales over 1,832 d. While foraging was observed during 39.5% of mixed‐species encounters, results suggest that social and antipredatory factors may also play a role in the formation of these mixed‐species groups.
Identification of the haemolytic activity of Malassezia species
Authors: Juntachai Weerapong , Kummasook Aksarakorn , Mekaprateep Malee , Kajiwara Susumu
Published: September 2013

Malassezia species are part of the normal skin flora and are associated with a number of human and animal skin diseases. However, the mechanisms that mediate infection and host–fungal interactions are poorly understood. The haemolytic activity of several microorganisms is considered a factor that contributes to pathogenicity of the organism to humans and animals. This virulence factor was previously identified in several pathogenic fungi that cause systemic mycoses, such as Aspergillus and Candida. In this study, the haemolytic activity of six major Malassezia species, including M. furfur, M. globosa, M. pachydermatis, M. restricta, M. slooffiae and M. sympodialis, was investigated. The haemolytic activity of these species was tested on tryptone soya agar with 5% sheep blood. All the examined Malassezia species produced a halo zone of complete haemolysis. A quantitative analysis of the haemolytic activity was performed by incubating sheep erythrocytes with the extraction from culture of each Malassezia species. Interestingly, M. globosa and M. restricta showed significantly high haemolytic activity compared with the other Malassezia species. In addition, M. globosa also exhibited stable haemolytic activity after treatment at 100 °C and in the presence of some proteases, indicating that this haemolytic factor is different from those of other fungi.
Gastrointestinal tone; its genesis and contribution to the physical processes of digestion
Authors: Lentle R. G. , Reynolds G. W. , Janssen P. W. M.
Published: September 2013

Background

Myogenic tone has long been recognised as an important component of gastrointestinal motility. Recent work has clarified the cellular mechanisms that engender tone and the neurogenic and mechanical stimuli that modulate it but has also highlighted cellular and regional specialisation in these mechanisms within the GI tract. Smooth muscle in all segments of the gut has the capability of latching, i.e. can generate ongoing specific rather than tetanic tone. This is likely modulated by both direct and indirect input from agonists such as acetylcholine and mechanoreceptors, the latter originating in ICC‐IM, smooth muscle cells or elements of the ENS. Tonic contraction can occur in the absence of phasic contractions or concurrent with them, and it can modulate wall compliance and the capacity of particular segments, thereby affecting the level of on‐flow and mixing, both luminal and adjacent to the mucosa.

Purpose

The review seeks to provide an overview of our understanding of the mechanism by which tone is generated and maintained, highlighting its modulation by neurogenic and mechanical stimuli, its mechanical consequences in the walls of the various segments of the gastrointestinal tract and its contribution to flow and mixing of contained digesta.
Interference between Active Implanted Medical Devices and Electromagnetic Field Emitting Devices is Rare but Real: Results of an Incidence Study in a Population of Physicians in France
Authors: HOURS MARTINE , KHATI INÈS , HAMELIN JOEL
Published: September 2013

Background and Objective

Assessing the behavior of active implanted medical devices (AIMDs) in response to electromagnetic field (EMF) transmitters is a current issue of great importance. Given the numerous telecommunication systems and our lack of knowledge as to the impact of electromagnetic effects, this study investigated the reality of possible AIMD disturbance by EMFs by interviewing health professionals.

Method

A self‐administered postal questionnaire was sent to almost 5,000 physicians in five specialties: cardiology; endocrinology; ears, nose, and throat; urology; and neurology. It collected data on the existence and annual number of incidents observed and the conditions under which they occurred, the EMF sources involved, and the means of managing the malfunctions.

Results

A total of 1,188 physicians agreed to participate. Sixteen percent of participants reported cases of implant failure, three‐quarters of whom, mainly in cardiology, reported rates of at least one incident per year—amounting to more than 100 incidents per year in all. Severity appeared to be moderate (discomfort or transient symptoms), but frequently required resetting or, more rarely, replacing the device. Some serious incidents were, however, reported. The sources implicated were basically of two types: electronic security systems (antitheft and airport gates) and medical electromagnetic radiation devices. These incidents were poorly reported within the public health system, preventing follow‐up and effective performance of alert and surveillance functions.

Conclusion

Although minor, the risk of interference between EMF sources and AIMDs is real and calls for vigilance. It particularly concerns antitheft and airport security gates, though other sources may also cause incidents.
Genes for iron–sulphur cluster assembly are targets of abiotic stress in rice, Oryza sativa
Authors: LIANG XUEJIAO , QIN LU , LIU PEIWEI , WANG MEIHUAN , YE HONG
Published: September 2013

Iron–sulphur (Fe–S) cluster assembly occurs in chloroplasts, mitochondria and cytosol, involving dozens of genes in higher plants. In this study, we have identified 41 putative Fe–S cluster assembly genes in rice (Oryza sativa) genome, and the expression of all genes was verified. To investigate the role of Fe–S cluster assembly as a metabolic pathway, we applied abiotic stresses to rice seedlings and analysed Fe–S cluster assembly gene expression by qRT‐PCR. Our data showed that genes for Fe–S cluster assembly in chloroplasts of leaves are particularly sensitive to heavy metal treatments, and that Fe–S cluster assembly genes in roots were up‐regulated in response to iron toxicity, oxidative stress and some heavy metal assault. The effect of each stress treatment on the Fe–S cluster assembly machinery demonstrated an unexpected tissue or organelle specificity, suggesting that the physiological relevance of the Fe–S cluster assembly is more complex than thought. Furthermore, our results may reveal potential candidate genes for molecular breeding of rice.
The combined effect of salinity and heat reveals a specific physiological, biochemical and molecular response in tomato plants
Authors: RIVERO ROSA M. , MESTRE TERESA C. , MITTLER RON , RUBIO FRANCISCO , GARCIA‐SANCHEZ FRANCISCO , MARTINEZ VICENTE
Published: September 2013

Many studies have described the response mechanisms of plants to salinity and heat applied individually; however, under field conditions some abiotic stresses often occur simultaneously. Recent studies revealed that the response of plants to a combination of two different stresses is specific and cannot be deduced from the stresses applied individually. Here, we report on the response of tomato plants to a combination of heat and salt stress. Interestingly, and in contrast to the expected negative effect of the stress combination on plant growth, our results show that the combination of heat and salinity provides a significant level of protection to tomato plants from the effects of salinity. We observed a specific response of plants to the stress combination that included accumulation of glycine betaine and trehalose. The accumulation of these compounds under the stress combination was linked to the maintenance of a high K+ concentration and thus a lower Na+/K+ ratio, with a better performance of the cell water status and photosynthesis as compared with salinity alone. Our findings unravel new and unexpected aspects of the response of plants to stress combination and provide a proposed list of enzymatic targets for improving crop tolerance to the abiotic field environment.
Antisense suppression of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) sucrose synthase 3 (CsSUS3) reduces hypoxic stress tolerance
Authors: WANG HONGYUN , SUI XIAOLEI , GUO JINJU , WANG ZHENYU , CHENG JINTAO , MA SI , LI XIANG , ZHANG ZHENXIAN
Published: September 2013

Sucrose synthase (SUS; EC 2.4.1.13) plays important roles in sugar metabolism and abiotic stress response. But the genes encoding SUS in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) have not been well studied. Here, we isolated four cucumber sucrose synthase genes (CsSUS). Among them, CsSUS3, which highly expressed in the roots, was chosen for further study. Immunolocalization and subcellular localization analysis indicated that CsSUS3 localized in the cytosol and the plasma membrane, and mainly existed in the companion cells of phloem in the roots. When suffering hypoxia stress from flooding, CsSUS3 expression and SUS activity in roots increased, especially in the lateral roots; moreover, the soluble SUS activity increased clearly, but the membrane fraction hardly changed. Compared with the wild‐type cucumbers, the transgenic lines with antisense expression of CsSUS3 were more sensitive to flooding. After 6 d of flooding, the SUS activity, soluble sugar and uridine 5′‐diphosphate glucose (UDPG) content and the ratio of ATP/ADP in the roots of transgenic plants were significantly lower than that in wild‐type plants. Moreover, the transgenic lines grew more slowly with more yellow necrosis in the leaves. These findings suggested CsSUS3 participated in resisting hypoxic stress. Furthermore, the mechanism of CsSUS3 in resisting hypoxic stress was also discussed.
Light induces jasmonate‐isoleucine conjugation via OsJAR1‐dependent and ‐independent pathways in rice
Authors: SVYATYNA KATHARINA , JIKUMARU YUSUKE , BRENDEL RITA , REICHELT MICHAEL , MITHÖFER AXEL , TAKANO MAKOTO , KAMIYA YUJI , NICK PETER , RIEMANN MICHAEL
Published: September 2013

The bioactive form of jasmonate is the conjugate of the amino acid isoleucine (Ile) with jasmonic acid (JA), which is biosynthesized in a reaction catalysed by the GH3 enzyme JASMONATE RESISTANT 1 (JAR1). We examined the biochemical properties of OsJAR1 and its involvement in photomorphogenesis of rice (Oryza sativa). OsJAR1 has a similar substrate specificities as its orthologue in Arabidopsis. However, osjar1 loss‐of‐function mutants did not show as severe coleoptile phenotypes as the JA‐deficient mutants coleoptile photomorphogenesis 2 (cpm2) and hebiba, which develop long coleoptiles in all light qualities we examined. Analysis of hormonal contents in the young seedling stage revealed that osjar1 mutants are still able to synthesize JA‐Ile conjugate in response to blue light, suggesting that a redundantly active enzyme can conjugate JA and Ile in rice seedlings. A good candidate for this enzyme is OsJAR2, which was found to be able to catalyse the conjugation of JA with Ile as well as with some additional amino acids. In contrast, if plants in the vegetative stage were mechanically wounded, the content of JA‐Ile was severely reduced in osjar1, demonstrating that OsJAR1 is the most important JA‐Ile conjugating enzyme in the wounding response during the vegetative stage.
The Role of Leadership and Trust in Creating Structural Patterns of Team Procedural Justice: A Social Network Investigation
Authors: Liu Dong , Hernandez Morela , Wang Lei
Published: September 2013

We adopt a social network perspective to investigate the distinct structural patterns (i.e., centralization and density) of procedural justice (PJ) in teams and the antecedent factors that create them. Across 2 longitudinal field studies in which we gathered social network data from 1,008 workers on 138 teams (Study 1) in China and 672 workers on 125 teams (Study 2) in the United States, we found that differentiation in leader–member exchange relationships significantly influenced the centralization and density of PJ within a team by affecting the level of intrateam trust. Specifically, the more differentiated leader treatment team members received, the lower the level of trust within a team, which resulted in more concentrated (high centralization) and fewer (low density) social interactions among members regarding team PJ. Furthermore, differentiated leader treatment of team members was especially damaging to intrateam trust and, in turn, the structural patterns of team PJ when team members were in close proximity and highly sensitive to equity issues.
Dynamic Epistemic Logic I: Modeling Knowledge and Belief
Authors: Pacuit Eric
Published: September 2013

Dynamic epistemic logic, broadly conceived, is the study of logics of information change. This is the first paper in a two‐part series introducing this research area. In this paper, I introduce the basic logical systems for reasoning about the knowledge and beliefs of a group of agents.
Necrotic diseases caused by viruses in Swedish potato tubers
Authors: Beuch U. , Persson P. , Edin E. , Kvarnheden A.
Published: September 2013

Potato tuber necrosis in the form of spraing symptoms is caused by infection with Potato mop‐top virus (PMTV) or Tobacco rattle virus (TRV); spraing has become more important in the Swedish potato crop production. In this study, the presence in Sweden of three potato‐infecting viruses associated with necrotic symptoms in tubers was demonstrated: PMTV, TRV and Tobacco necrosis virus (TNV). This study shows that both PMTV and TRV are frequent in Swedish potato fields. PMTV was found in all Swedish counties, except the two most northern ones. TRV was present at several locations in southern and up to the central parts of Sweden. Both viruses were found further north than observed in earlier surveys. PMTV and TRV were analysed in tubers with spraing symptoms and it was not possible to decide visually if the symptoms were caused by either PMTV or TRV. Furthermore, a high occurrence of symptomless tuber infections was observed for several potato cultivars. A unique observation from this study was a mixed infection of both PMTV and TRV in tubers of cv. Berber, where no visual differences on symptom development were detectable for these tubers compared to single infections. During the survey, tubers of cv. Melody were found to display necrotic symptoms in the skin that are characteristic for the ABC disease. This suggested infection by TNV, which also could be confirmed.
A novel fluorescence imaging approach to monitor salt stress‐induced modulation of ouabain‐sensitive ATPase activity in sunflower seedling roots
Authors: Mukherjee Soumya , Bhatla Satish Chander
Published: September 2013

Seedlings exposed to salt stress are expected to show modulation of intracellular accumulation of sodium ions through a variety of mechanisms. Using a new methodology, this work demonstrates ouabain (OU)‐sensitive ATPase activity in the roots of sunflower seedlings subjected to salt stress (120 mM NaCl). 9‐Anthroylouabain (a derivative of ouabain known to inhibit Na+,K+‐ATPase activity in animal systems, EC 3.6.3.9) has been used as a probe to analyze OU‐sensitive ATPase activity in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seedling roots by spectrofluorometric estimation and localization of its spatial distribution using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Salt stress for 48 h leads to a significant induction of OU‐sensitive ATPase activity in the meristematic region of the seedling roots. Calcium ions (10 mM) significantly inhibit enzyme activity and a parallel accumulation of sodium ions in the cytosol of the columella cells, epidermis and in the cells of the meristematic region of the roots is evident. As a rapid response to NaCl stress, the activity of OU‐sensitive ATPase gets localized in the nuclear membrane of root protoplasts and it gets inhibited after treatment with calcium ions. Nuclear membrane localization of the OU‐sensitive ATPase activity highlights a possible mechanism to efflux sodium ions from the nucleus. Thus, a correlation between OU‐sensitive ATPase activity, its modulation by calcium ions and accumulation of sodium ions in various regions of the seedling roots, has been demonstrated using a novel approach in a plant system.
Renaissance eloquence and female exemplarity: Coriolanus and the matrona docta
Authors: Clarke Danielle
Published: September 2013

This article argues that Shakespeare's Coriolanus draws on the powerful exemplary figure of Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi, in its ambiguous depiction of the relationship between eloquence and femininity. By looking at ideas relating to the example, and at a range of depictions of Cornelia, the essay suggests that the manipulation of these images represents a response to emergent discourses relating to femininity, as well as an engagement with the reception of classical rhetoric. As the figures of Cornelia and her counterpart Volumnia demonstrate, female exemplars are integrally involved in the formulation of ideas about style, rhetoric and ethics, and can be seen to figure centrally in the Renaissance's understanding of relationships between private and public, as figured in the polis, the household and in historical narrative. Shakespeare both addresses and complicates the standard equation between maternal virtue and eloquence by critiquing the incursion of feminine rhetoric into the public realm of politics and governance.
The Merchant of Venice and Shakespeare's sense of humour(s)
Authors: Bernard J. F.
Published: September 2013

This paper examines a crucial and often overlooked dimension of The Merchant of Venice as it pertains to both its performative and critical histories; namely, how the presence of a melancholic character problematizes the play at its core. This essay argues that the tonal dissonance created by Antonio's melancholy represents an integral component of its comic progression and, in doing so, construes the play as representative of Shakespeare's idiosyncratic brand of comedy. I maintain that, in relying on a melancholic protagonist who defies comic classification – much like the play itself – the comedy eschews both the Galenic understanding of humoural theory, predicated on an imbalance of bodily substance, as well as the Jonsonian style of humour plays, where each absurd affect is expected to yield mockery and laughter. Rather than consider Antonio's melancholy as a critical springboard, however, I discuss its impact within the comedy it inhabits, reading the merchant as the dramatic intersection through which the play's multiple plots and characters converge. Though he is in no way the play's antagonistic figure, Antonio represents a considerably dissonant note that jeopardizes the concretization of the romantic plot, hence his ostensible exclusion at the end of the comedy.
Uncertainty Importance Analysis Using Parametric Moment Ratio Functions
Authors: Wei Pengfei , Lu Zhenzhou , Song Jingwen
Published: September 2013

This article presents a new importance analysis framework, called parametric moment ratio function, for measuring the reduction of model output uncertainty when the distribution parameters of inputs are changed, and the emphasis is put on the mean and variance ratio functions with respect to the variances of model inputs. The proposed concepts efficiently guide the analyst to achieve a targeted reduction on the model output mean and variance by operating on the variances of model inputs. The unbiased and progressive unbiased Monte Carlo estimators are also derived for the parametric mean and variance ratio functions, respectively. Only a set of samples is needed for implementing the proposed importance analysis by the proposed estimators, thus the computational cost is free of input dimensionality. An analytical test example with highly nonlinear behavior is introduced for illustrating the engineering significance of the proposed importance analysis technique and verifying the efficiency and convergence of the derived Monte Carlo estimators. Finally, the moment ratio function is applied to a planar 10‐bar structure for achieving a targeted 50% reduction of the model output variance.
Geodesic Monte Carlo on Embedded Manifolds
Authors: Byrne Simon , Girolami Mark
Published: September 2013

Markov chain Monte Carlo methods explicitly defined on the manifold of probability distributions have recently been established. These methods are constructed from diffusions across the manifold and the solution of the equations describing geodesic flows in the Hamilton–Jacobi representation. This paper takes the differential geometric basis of Markov chain Monte Carlo further by considering methods to simulate from probability distributions that themselves are defined on a manifold, with common examples being classes of distributions describing directional statistics. Proposal mechanisms are developed based on the geodesic flows over the manifolds of support for the distributions, and illustrative examples are provided for the hypersphere and Stiefel manifold of orthonormal matrices.
Film-Cooling Performance of Antivortex Hole on a Flat Plate
Authors: LeBlanc Christopher , Narzary Diganta P. , Ekkad Srinath
Published: September 2013

Improved film cooling performance and coolant flow usage have a significant effect on overall engine performance. In the current study, film cooling performance of an improved antivortex or tripod hole geometry is evaluated on a flat plate surface with steady-state IR (infrared thermography) technique and compared to traditional baseline geometry. The baseline geometry is a simple cylindrical hole design inclined at 30 deg from the surface with pitch-to-diameter ratio of 3.0. The proposed improvement is a tripod design where the two side holes, also of the same diameter, branch out from the root of the main hole at 15 deg angle with a larger pitch-to-diameter ratio of 6.0 between the main holes. The third geometry studied is the same tripod design embedded in a trench to enhance two-dimensional film performance. The mainstream Reynolds number is 3110 based on the coolant hole inlet diameter. Two secondary fluids, air and carbon dioxide, were used to study the effects of coolant-to-mainstream density ratio (DR = 0.95 and 1.45) on film cooling effectiveness. Several blowing ratios in the range 0.5–4.0 were investigated independently at the two density ratios. Results indicate significant improvement in effectiveness with the tripod holes compared to cylindrical holes at all the blowing ratios studied. The trenched design shows improved effectiveness in the trench region and reduced effectiveness in the downstream region. At any given blowing ratio, the tripod hole designs use 50% less coolant and provide at least 30%–40% overall averaged higher cooling effectiveness. The use of relatively dense secondary fluid improves effectiveness immediately downstream of the antivortex holes but leads to poor performance downstream.
Through-Flow Analysis of Air-Cooled Gas Turbines
Authors: Petrovic Milan V. , Wiedermann Alexander
Published: September 2013

This paper describes the development of a new through-flow method for the analysis of axial multistage turbines with cooling by air from compressor bleed. The method is based on a stream function approach and a finite element solution procedure. It includes a high-fidelity loss and deviation model with improved correlations. A radial distribution model of losses and a new spanwise mixing model are applied to simulate 3D flow effects. The calibration of the models is performed by calculation of a number of test cases with different configurations, with the aim of achieving high accuracy and optimum robustness for each of the test cases considered. Various types of cooling air injection were encompassed: film cooling, trailing edge injection, and disk/endwall coolant flow. There are two effects of air cooling: (i) increase in mass flow downstream of the injection surface and (ii) reduction of the gas total temperature connected with total pressure losses. For both of these effects, the appropriate 2D models were developed and applied. The code was applied to flow analysis and performance prediction of a newly developed industrial gas turbine. Comparison of the predicted results and measured test data for a number of parameters showed good agreement. The results of the validation confirmed that this method based on calibrated correlations can be considered a reliable tool for flow analysis and parameter variation during the design phase.
Fabrication of Y2O3-Doped Zirconia/Gadolinia-Doped Ceria Bilayer Electrolyte Thin Film SOFC Cells of SOFCs by Single-Pulsed Laser Deposition Processing
Authors: Mukai T. , Tsukui S. , Yoshida K. , Yamaguchi S. , Hatayama R. , Adachi M. , Ishibashi H. , Kakehi Y. , Satoh K. , Kusaka T. , Goretta K. C.
Published: September 2013

An 8 -mol. % Y2O3-doped zirconia/10-mol. % GdO2-doped ceria (YSZ/GDC) bilayer electrolyte and a Gd0.5Sr0.5CoO3 (GSCO) cathode were deposited by a single-processing, pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method to fabricate anode support cells. No additional heat treatment was needed. Laser frequencies of 10, 20, and 100 Hz were used to deposit bilayer electrolytes between the NiO–YSZ (NiO:YSZ = 60:40 wt. %) anode substrate and the GSCO cathode thin film. The GDC thin film produced at 10 Hz was smooth, well-crystallized, and highly dense. The crystallinity of the GSCO cathode on the GDC was also improved. We concluded the GDC crystallinity affected the crystallinity of the cathode thin film. The resistivity of the YSZ single layer (5.7 μm thickness) was 1.4 times higher than that of the YSZ/GDC bilayer (YSZ 3.0 μm thickness, GDC 2.7 μm thickness) at 600 °C and that of the YSZ-GDC interface became low. The optimum YSZ thickness was found to be approximately 3.0 μm, at which thickness there was effective blocking of the passage of hydrogen molecules and electrons. A cell with a YSZ (3.0 μm thickness, fabricated at 20 Hz)/GDC (5.0 μm thickness, fabricated at 10 Hz) bilayer and GSCO cathode thin film exhibited a maximum power density of 400 mW·cm–2 at a comparatively low temperature of 600 °C.
Development of a Hybrid System of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell and Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition Engine for Distributed Power Generation
Authors: Kim Seonyeob , Raza Abid Agha , Jun Jang Jae , Ho Song Han , Jin Song Seung , Young Ahn Kook , Duk Lee Young , Gyu Kang Sang
Published: September 2013

A new hybrid system of molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) and homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine is suggested to improve the overall system efficiency and performance. In the proposed system, the catalytic burner in a standalone MCFC system is replaced with the HCCI engine. The HCCI engine is chosen over conventional spark-ignition or compression-ignition engines since it has been demonstrated to operate with highly diluted reactant mixture, which is suitable to run directly with the MCFC anode off-gas. A nonisothermal numerical model that incorporates major fuel cell losses is developed to predict the fuel cell performance. The fuel cell model assumes parallel anode and cathode flow configuration with LiNaCO3 as an electrolyte. It is integrated with an in-house HCCI engine model to investigate the hybrid system performance. At the selected design point operation around 300 kW power output, the maximum hybrid system efficiency is 21.2% (relative) higher than that of a standalone fuel cell system and, thus, achieving around 60% overall, which demonstrates the potential of the suggested hybrid system as a highly-efficient distributed power generation source in the near future.
DNA Identification After Conflict or Disaster
Authors: London Alex John , Parker Lisa S. , Aronson Jay D.
Published: September 2013

International structures are needed to promote more equitable access to forensic identification and ensure uniform protections for participants.
Interacting Gears Synchronize Propulsive Leg Movements in a Jumping Insect
Authors: Burrows Malcolm , Sutton Gregory
Published: September 2013

Joint Action

Many small insects are impressive jumpers, but large leaps and small bodies pose biomechanical challenges.
Burrows and Sutton
(p.
1254
) show that the nymphal planthopper
Issus
has interlocking gears on their hindleg trochanters that act together to cock the legs synchronously before triggering forward jumps. At the final molt, the gears are swapped for a high-performance friction-based mechanism because the risk of breaking a gear is high, the options for repair during molting are gone, and, moreover, the animal is bigger and stronger.
Regulation of Temperature-Responsive Flowering by MADS-Box Transcription Factor Repressors
Authors: Lee Jeong Hwan , Ryu Hak-Seung , Chung Kyung Sook , Posé David , Kim Soonkap , Schmid Markus , Ahn Ji Hoon
Published: September 2013

Chilly Repression Stalls Flowering

In a cool spring, flowering might be delayed compared to a warm spring, even though the change in day length marches on regardless of temperature.

Lee
et al.

(p.
628
, published online 12 September; see the Perspective by

Nilsson

) now show that this delay in flowering is a regulated process, not simply a consequence of sluggish metabolism. In the model plant
Arabidopsis
, transcription of the gene encoding the regulator SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) is unaffected by temperature, but the stability of the SVP protein is decreased at higher temperatures. Its regulatory partner,
FLOWERING LOCUS M
(
FLM
)-
β
, is the product of alternative splicing of transcripts from the gene encoding FLM that favors the β form at lower temperatures. SVP and FLM-β form a complex that represses flowering. At lower temperatures, more of the repressive complex is present and flowering is delayed. At higher temperatures, SVP tends to degrade and FLM-β tends not to be produced, yielding reduced levels of the repressive complex, which allows flowering to proceed.
Antibodies in HIV-1 Vaccine Development and Therapy
Authors: Klein Florian , Mouquet Hugo , Dosenovic Pia , Scheid Johannes F. , Scharf Louise , Nussenzweig Michel C.
Published: September 2013

Despite 30 years of study, there is no HIV-1 vaccine and, until recently, there was little hope for a protective immunization. Renewed optimism in this area of research comes in part from the results of a recent vaccine trial and the use of single-cell antibody-cloning techniques that uncovered naturally arising, broad and potent HIV-1–neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). These antibodies can protect against infection and suppress established HIV-1 infection in animal models. The finding that these antibodies develop in a fraction of infected individuals supports the idea that new approaches to vaccination might be developed by adapting the natural immune strategies or by structure-based immunogen design. Moreover, the success of passive immunotherapy in small-animal models suggests that bNAbs may become a valuable addition to the armamentarium of drugs that work against HIV-1.
Antibody Therapeutics in Cancer
Authors: Sliwkowski Mark X. , Mellman Ira
Published: September 2013

In a relatively short period of time, monoclonal antibodies have entered the mainstream of cancer therapy. Their first use was as antagonists of oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinases, but today monoclonal antibodies have emerged as long-sought vehicles for the targeted delivery of potent chemotherapeutic agents and as powerful tools to manipulate anticancer immune responses. With ever more promising results from the clinic, the future will likely see continued growth in the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies and their derivatives.
Structure of the CCR5 Chemokine Receptor–HIV Entry Inhibitor Maraviroc Complex
Authors: Tan Qiuxiang , Zhu Ya , Li Jian , Chen Zhuxi , Han Gye Won , Kufareva Irina , Li Tingting , Ma Limin , Fenalti Gustavo , Li Jing , Zhang Wenru , Xie Xin , Yang Huaiyu , Jiang Hualiang , Cherezov Vadim , Liu Hong , Stevens Raymond C. , Zhao Qiang , Wu Beili
Published: September 2013

CCR5-Maraviroc Structure

The chemokine receptor CCR5, a G protein–coupled receptor best known as a co-receptor during HIV-1 infection, is important in a variety of physiological processes.

Tan
et al.

(p.
1387
, published online 12 September; see the Perspective by

Klasse

) now report the high-resolution crystal structure of CCR5 bound to the HIV-1 entry inhibitor, Maraviroc. The structure suggests that Maraviroc acts as a noncompetitive inhibitor by binding to a region of CCR5 that is distinct from the binding site of HIV-1 and chemokines. Comparison of the structure of CCR5 with the other HIV-1 co-receptor, the chemokine receptor CXCR4, provides insight into the co-receptor selectivity of the virus.
HONO Emissions from Soil Bacteria as a Major Source of Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen
Authors: Oswald R. , Behrendt T. , Ermel M. , Wu D. , Su H. , Cheng Y. , Breuninger C. , Moravek A. , Mougin E. , Delon C. , Loubet B. , Pommerening-Röser A. , Sörgel M. , Pöschl U. , Hoffmann T. , Andreae M.O. , Meixner F.X. , Trebs I.
Published: September 2013

From Soil to Sky

Trace gases emitted either through the activity of microbial communities or from abiotic reactions in the soil influence atmospheric chemistry. In laboratory column experiments using several soil types,

Oswald
et al.

(p.
1233
) showed that soils from arid regions and farmlands can produce substantial quantities of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous acid (HONO). Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria are the primary source of HONO at comparable levels to NO, thus serving as an important source of reactive nitrogen to the atmosphere.
Sensing Endotoxins from Within
Authors: Kagan Jonathan C.
Published: September 2013

Macrophages respond to bacteria through a protein complex that promotes inflammation when activated by internalized bacterial endotoxin.

[Also see Reports by

Kayagaki
et al.

and

Hagar
et al.

]
A New Bundle of Prospects for Blocking HIV-1 Entry
Authors: Klasse P. J.
Published: September 2013

A crystal structure of the HIV-1 co-receptor CCR5 with a bound inhibitor may assist the rational improvement of small-molecule inhibitors.

[Also see Report by

Tan
et al.

]
Researchers to Explore Promise, Risks of Sequencing Newborns' DNA
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: September 2013

Might it someday make sense to sequence every newborn's genome? Should doctors and parents learn of all the genetic risks a child faces? A new $25 million, 5-year federal research program is exploring these questions.
Alarm Over Autism Test
Authors: Underwood Emily
Published: September 2013

A hypothesis that maternal antibodies can impair fetal brains stirred plenty of doubts—and that was before the researchers set out to turn it into a test for predicting autism.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Flu Shot?
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: September 2013

Novel antibodies suggest a surprising formula for a universal flu vaccine.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Thermoanaerobacter
sp. Strain A7A, Reconstructed from a Metagenome Obtained from a High-Temperature Hydrocarbon Reservoir in the Bass Strait, Australia
Authors: Li Dongmei , Greenfield Paul , Rosewarne Carly P. , Midgley David J.
Published: September 2013

The draft genome sequence of
Thermoanaerobacter
sp. strain A7A was reconstructed from a metagenome of a microbial consortium obtained from the Tuna oil field in the Gippsland Basin, Australia. The organism is a strict anaerobe that is predicted to ferment a range of simple sugars and undertake sulfur reduction.
Complete Genome Sequence of Staphylococcus aureus Tager 104, a Sequence Type 49 Ancestor
Authors: Davis Richard , Hossain Mohammad J. , Liles Mark R. , Panizzi Peter
Published: September 2013

We report here the complete genome sequence of
Staphylococcus aureus
Tager 104, originally isolated from a cutaneous abscess in 1947 by Morris Tager. Sequence typing of the strain revealed its membership in sequence type 49 (ST49), a previously unknown multilocus sequence type (MLST) in clinical samples.
Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus pumilus CCMA-560, Isolated from an Oil-Contaminated Mangrove Swamp
Authors: Domingos Daniela F. , Dellagnezze Bruna M. , Greenfield Paul , Reyes Luciana R. , Melo Itamar S. , Midgley David J. , Oliveira Valéria M.
Published: September 2013

Bacillus pumilus
strain CCMA-560 was isolated from an oil-contaminated mangrove swamp and was shown to produce biosurfactants. The strain appears to be capable of degrading some plant cell wall-related compounds, including hemicelluose and pectin. Genes for biopolymer export and polysaccharide intercellular adhesin synthesis were also annotated.
Draft Genome Sequence of Ammonia-Producing
Aeromonas
sp. MDS8 Strain MCC2167 from Sludge of a Dairy Effluent Treatment Plant
Authors: RayChaudhuri Shaon , Saha Amrita , Ghoshal Thungri , Thakur Ashoke Ranjan
Published: September 2013

The draft genome sequence of an amylase-, protease-, lipase-, oxidase-, and catalase-producing Gram-negative bacillus (
Aeromonas
sp. MDS8 strain MCC2167) with the ability to produce ammonia during 16 h of growth at 37°C, isolated from dairy sludge, with a size of 4,841,753 bp and a G+C content of 63.1%, is reported here.
Chromosome Sequence of Borrelia miyamotoi, an Uncultivable Tick-Borne Agent of Human Infection
Authors: Hue Fong , Ghalyanchi Langeroudi Arash , Barbour Alan G.
Published: September 2013

Borrelia miyamotoi
is a newly recognized agent of human disease.
B. miyamotoi
strain LB-2001, an isolate from the tick
Ixodes scapularis
, was propagated in mice. The sequence of the chromosome was determined by next-generation sequencing of DNA isolated from whole blood. The sequence established that
B. miyamotoi
is a relapsing fever group species.
Genome Sequence of Novosphingobium lindaniclasticum LE124
T
, Isolated from a Hexachlorocyclohexane Dumpsite
Authors: Saxena Anjali , Nayyar Namita , Sangwan Naseer , Kumari Rashmi , Khurana J. P. , Lal Rup
Published: September 2013

Novosphingobium lindaniclasticum
LE124
T
is a hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)-degrading bacterium isolated from a high-dosage-point HCH dumpsite (450 mg HCH/g soil) located in Lucknow, India (27°00′N and 81°09′E). Here, we present the annotated draft genome sequence of strain LE124
T
, which has an estimated size of 4.86 Mb and is comprised of 4,566 coding sequences.
Mature teratoma of the thymus
Authors: Murray James , Amin Faisal , Shah Samir , Cooper Samantha
Published: September 2013

A 55-year-old man presented with a 7-month history of an intermittent dry cough after returning from Turkey. A chest radiograph revealed a large mass-like opacity in the right lung field and CT demonstrated a 13 cm round, cystic lesion in the anterior mediastinum. The patient was referred to the cardiothoracic surgical team for rigid bronchoscopy, thoracotomy and resection. Surgery was uncomplicated with a rapid uneventful recovery. Histology concluded a diagnosis of a mature teratoma of the thymus.
Prevalence of, and risk factors for, HIV, hepatitis B and C infections among men who inject image and performance enhancing drugs: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Hope Vivian D , McVeigh Jim , Marongiu Andrea , Evans-Brown Michael , Smith Josie , Kimergård Andreas , Croxford Sara , Beynon Caryl M , Parry John V , Bellis Mark A , Ncube Fortune
Published: September 2013

Objective

To describe drug use, sexual risks and the prevalence of blood-borne viral infections among men who inject image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs).

Design

A voluntary unlinked-anonymous cross-sectional biobehavioural survey.

Setting

19 needle and syringe programmes across England and Wales.

Participants

395 men who had injected IPEDs.

Results

Of the participants (median age 28 years), 36% had used IPEDs for <5 years. Anabolic steroids (86%), growth hormone (32%) and human chorionic gonadotropin (16%) were most frequently injected, with 88% injecting intramuscularly and 39% subcutaneously. Two-thirds also used IPEDs orally. Recent psychoactive drug use was common (46% cocaine, 12% amphetamine), 5% had ever injected a psychoactive drug and 9% had shared injecting equipment. ‘Viagra/Cialis’ was used by 7%, with 89% reporting anal/vaginal sex in the preceding year (20% had 5+ female-partners, 3% male-partners) and 13% always using condoms. Overall, 1.5% had HIV, 9% had antibodies to the hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and 5% to hepatitis C (anti-HCV). In multivariate analysis, having HIV was associated with: seeking advice from a sexual health clinic; having had an injection site abscess/wound; and having male partners. After excluding those reporting male partners or injecting psychoactive drugs, 0.8% had HIV, 8% anti-HBc and 5% anti-HCV. Only 23% reported uptake of the hepatitis B vaccine, and diagnostic testing uptake was poor (31% for HIV, 22% for hepatitis C).

Conclusions

Previous prevalence studies had not found HIV among IPED injectors. HIV prevalence in this, the largest study of blood-borne viruses among IPED injectors, was similar to that among injectors of psychoactive drugs. Findings indicate a need for targeted interventions.
Governing patient safety: lessons learned from a mixed methods evaluation of implementing a ward-level medication safety scorecard in two English NHS hospitals
Authors: Ramsay Angus I G , Turner Simon , Cavell Gillian , Oborne C Alice , Thomas Rebecca E , Cookson Graham , Fulop Naomi J
Published: September 2013

Background

Relatively little is known about how scorecards presenting performance indicators influence medication safety. We evaluated the effects of implementing a ward-level medication safety scorecard piloted in two English NHS hospitals and factors influencing these.

Methods

We used a mixed methods, controlled before and after design. At baseline, wards were audited on medication safety indicators; during the ‘feedback’ phase scorecard results were presented to intervention wards on a weekly basis over 7 weeks. We interviewed 49 staff, including clinicians and managers, about scorecard implementation.

Results

At baseline, 18.7% of patients (total n=630) had incomplete allergy documentation; 53.4% of patients (n=574) experienced a drug omission in the preceding 24 h; 22.5% of omitted doses were classified as ‘critical’; 22.1% of patients (n=482) either had ID wristbands not reflecting their allergy status or no ID wristband; and 45.3% of patients (n=237) had drugs that were either unlabelled or labelled for another patient in their drug lockers. The quantitative analysis found no significant improvement in intervention wards following scorecard feedback. Interviews suggested staff were interested in scorecard feedback and described process and culture changes. Factors influencing scorecard implementation included ‘normalisation’ of errors, study duration, ward leadership, capacity to engage and learning preferences.

Discussion

Presenting evidence-based performance indicators may potentially influence staff behaviour. Several practical and cultural factors may limit feedback effectiveness and should be considered when developing improvement interventions. Quality scorecards should be designed with care, attending to evidence of indicators’ effectiveness and how indicators and overall scorecard composition fit the intended audience.
Quantifying the familiarization period for maximal resistive exercise
Authors: Green Lara A. , Parro Justin J. , Gabriel David A.
Published: September 2013

Resistive exercise is used in the assessment of musculoskeletal health, performance, training interventions, and population differences (i.e., gender, age, training status). There is a need to determine the amount of familiarization required to stabilize performance prior to testing. Fifteen males completed a familiarization session consisting of 3 blocks of 5 maximal isometric dorsiflexion contractions, followed by a retention test (an additional block of 5 contractions) performed 3 days later. Mean force and surface electromyography (sEMG) from both the agonist and antagonist muscles were collected. A variance ratio, representing the stability between trials, was calculated for each of the 4 blocks of 5 contractions for both force and sEMG. The variance ratio for both force and agonist sEMG decreased significantly within the first 10 trials and remained stable during the retention test. The variance ratio for antagonist sEMG was stable across the 3 blocks of familiarization and significantly decreased during the retention test. The magnitude variables all remained stable across the 3 familiarization blocks. However, an 11% increase in mean force was seen during the retention test while both agonist and antagonist sEMG remained stable. Although slight changes occurred in the magnitude variables during the retention test, the stabilization of the force and agonist sEMG variance ratios suggest that familiarization to the task was achieved within the first 10 contractions and was sustained over a 3-day period.
Stress resistance of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis is modulated by auxins
Authors: Repar J. , Šućurović S. , Zahradka K. , Zahradka D. , Ćurković-Perica M.
Published: September 2013

Two bacterial species, Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis, were exposed to different auxins to examine possible effects of these substances on bacterial stress tolerance. Bacterial resistance to UV irradiation, heat shock, and streptomycin was assessed with and without previous exposure to the following auxins: indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Escherichia coli and B. subtilis cultures pretreated with any of the 3 auxins survived UV irradiation better than the untreated cultures. Also, B. subtilis cultures pretreated with IBA or NAA survived prolonged heat exposure better than the untreated cultures, while IAA pretreatment had no effect on heat shock survival. In contrast, auxin pretreatment rendered E. coli more sensitive to heat shock. Escherichia coli cultures pretreated with auxins were also more sensitive to streptomycin, while auxin pretreatment had no effect on sensitivity of B. subtilis to streptomycin. These results show that auxins may either enhance or reduce bacterial tolerance to different stressors, depending on the bacterial species and the type and level of the stress. Auxins usually had similar effects on the same bacterial species in cases when the same type and level of stress were applied.