bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magneto-transport properties of pseudo-single-crystal Mn4N thin films
Authors: Kabara Kazuki , Tsunoda Masakiyo , Kokado Satoshi
Published: January 2017

The anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) effect and the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) were investigated in the temperature range of 5–300 K for a pseudo-single-crystal Mn4N thin film. The sign of the AMR ratio changed from positive to negative when the temperature was lowered. Below 100 K, the cos 2θ component of the AMR curves significantly increased in magnitude, and a cos 4θ component appeared. Based on the electron scattering theory, which takes into account the tetragonal crystal field effect, it is suggested that the dominant scattering process in the Mn4N film is up-spin conduction electrons into up-spin d orbitals. The magnitude of the anomalous Hall conductivity (σAH) slightly increased with decreasing temperature, from 300 K to 150 K, and then it drastically dropped when the temperature was below 100 K. A sign change for σAH, from negative to positive, was observed at 30 K. The starting temperature at 100 K for the drastic change in the AHE corresponds well with that of the AMR, suggesting that the splitting of the 3d orbitals due to the tetragonal crystal field effect causes these low-temperature anomalies.
A 3D contact analysis approach for the visualization of the electrical contact asperities
Authors: Roussos Constantinos C. , Swingler Jonathan
Published: January 2017

The electrical contact is an important phenomenon that should be given into consideration to achieve better performance and long term reliability for the design of devices. Based upon this importance, the electrical contact interface has been visualized as a ‘‘3D Contact Map’’ and used in order to investigate the contact asperities. The contact asperities describe the structures above and below the contact spots (the contact spots define the 3D contact map) to the two conductors which make the contact system. The contact asperities require the discretization of the 3D microstructures of the contact system into voxels. A contact analysis approach has been developed and introduced in this paper which shows the way to the 3D visualization of the contact asperities of a given contact system. For the discretization of 3D microstructure of contact system into voxels, X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) method is used in order to collect the data of a 250 V, 16 A rated AC single pole rocker switch which is used as a contact system for investigation.
On-Line Photoionization Mass Spectrometric Study on Behavior of Ammonia Poisoning on H-Form Ultra Stable Y Zeolite for Catalytic Pyrolysis of Polypropylene
Authors: Wang Yi-zun , Yang Jiu-zhong , Pan Yang , Ma Hao , Li Yu-yang , Qi Fei
Published: January 2017

In this work, pyrolysis photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Py-PI-TOFMS) was applied to study the behavior of ammonia poisoning on H-form ultra stable Y (HUSY) zeolite for the catalytic pyrolysis of polypropylene (PP). Firstly, ammonia poisoning on HUSY was performed to obtain the suitable catalysts with different strength and amounts of acid sites. Secondly, online photoionization mass spectra for the pyrolysis products of PP and HUSY with various acid strength were recorded at different pyrolysis temperatures. Finally, the formation curves of various pyrolysates of PP/HUSY with the increase of temperature were determined. Our results indicate that the formation temperatures, yields and selectivity of the pyrolysis products of PP demonstrate obvious relationship with the acid strength of HUSY.
Herbage accumulation, plant-part composition and nutritive value on grazed signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) pastures in response to stubble height and rest period based on canopy light interception
Authors: Pedreira Carlos G. S. , Braga Gustavo J. , Portela Jorge N.
Published: January 2017

Signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk, syn. Urochloa decumbens Stapf R.D. Webster) has been widely grown in the Brazilian tropics over the last 40 years, but management recommendations have been largely empirical and not based on canopy targets. This study was designed to characterise and explain the impact of canopy-based grazing strategies on herbage accumulation, plant-part composition, and nutritive value of signal grass. Treatments were factorial combinations of two stubble heights, 5 cm (SH5) and 10 cm (SH10), and two grazing frequencies, grazing initiated when 95% (LI95) and 100% (LI100) of incoming light was intercepted by the canopy. Rest periods were imposed during summer and autumn of both experimental years. Leaf blade accumulation was greater for LI100 than LI95 (9.5 v. 8.8 t/ha) associated with increased stem accumulation (4.6 v. 3.5 t/ha for LI100 v. LI95). The SH10 pastures produced more stem than SH5 pastures (4.4 v. 3.6 t/ha), with no difference in leaf blade accumulation. In general, SH10 pastures had more residual leaf blade mass post-graze, whereas SH5 pastures combined with higher grazing frequency (SH5-LI95) became more prostrate over time, increasing leaf blade proportion in post-graze forage. Over time, stubble height had more influence than grazing frequency on leaf blade proportion at pre-graze, and SH5 pastures had leafier canopies than SH10 pastures. Digestibility was less under LI100, especially when associated with SH5 stubble (SH5-LI100), regardless of season of the year. To provide optimal leaf blade yield and overall forage digestibility, particularly during warm, rainy seasons, defoliation of signal grass should include pre-graze height varying from 18 to 30 cm (95–100% of light interception) and mean stubble height close to 10 cm.
Vein density is independent of epidermal cell size in Arabidopsis mutants
Authors: Carins Murphy Madeline R. , Dow Graham J. , Jordan Gregory J. , Brodribb Timothy J.
Published: January 2017

Densities of leaf minor veins and stomata are co-ordinated within and across vascular plants. This maximises the benefit-to-cost ratio of leaf construction by ensuring stomata receive the minimum amount of water required to maintain optimal aperture. A ‘passive dilution’ mechanism in which densities of veins and stomata are co-regulated by epidermal cell size is thought to facilitate this co-ordination. However, unlike stomata, veins are spatially isolated from the epidermis and thus may not be directly regulated by epidermal cell expansion. Here, we use mutant genotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. with altered stomatal and epidermal cell development to test this mechanism. To do this we compared observed relationships between vein density and epidermal cell size with modelled relationships that assume veins and stomata are passively diluted by epidermal cell expansion. Data from wild-type plants were consistent with the ‘passive dilution’ mechanism, but in mutant genotypes vein density was independent of epidermal cell size. Hence, vein density is not causally linked to epidermal cell expansion. This suggests that adaptation favours synchronised changes to the cell size of different leaf tissues to coordinate veins and stomata, and thus balance water supply with transpirational demand.
Maternal obesity in the rat impairs male offspring aging of the testicular antioxidant defence system
Authors: Bautista Claudia J. , Rodríguez-González Guadalupe L. , Morales Angélica , Lomas-Soria Consuelo , Cruz-Pérez Fabiola , Reyes-Castro Luis A. , Zambrano Elena
Published: January 2017

A high-fat diet during intrauterine development predisposes offspring (F1) to phenotypic alterations, such as lipid synthesis imbalance and increased oxidative stress, causing changes in male fertility. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of maternal obesity during pregnancy and lactation on antioxidant enzymes in the F1 testes. Female Wistar rats (F0) were fed either a control (C, 5% fat) or an obesogenic (MO, maternal obesity, 25% fat) diet from weaning and throughout subsequent pregnancy and lactation. F1 offspring were weaned to the control diet. Testes were retrieved at 110, 450 and 650 postnatal days (PND) for real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemical (IHC) antioxidant enzyme analyses. Catalase was similar between groups by RT-qPCR, whereas by IHC it was higher in the MO group at all ages than in the C group. Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) had lower expression at PND 110 in MO than in C by both techniques; at PND 450 and 650 by immunoanalysis SOD1 was higher in MO than in C. Glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), GPX2 and GPX4 by RT-qPCR were similar between groups and ages; by IHC GPX1/2 was higher in MO than in C, whereas GPX4 showed the opposite result at PND 110 and 450. In conclusion, antioxidant enzymes in the rat testes are modified with age. Maternal obesity negatively affects the F1 testicular antioxidant defence system, which, in turn, can explain the decrease in reproductive capacity.
Mitochondrial ferritin deficiency reduces male fertility in mice
Authors: Maccarinelli Federica , Regoni Maria , Carmona Fernando , Poli Maura , Meyron-Holtz Esther G. , Arosio Paolo
Published: January 2017

Mitochondrial ferritin (FtMt) is a functional ferritin targeted to mitochondria that is highly expressed in the testis. To investigate the role of FtMt in the testis we set up a series of controlled matings between FtMt gene-deletion mice (FtMt–/–) with FtMt+/+ mice. We found that the number of newborns per litter and the fertility rate were strongly reduced for the FtMt–/– males, but not for the females, indicating that FtMt has an important role for male fertility. The morphology of the testis and of the spermatozoa of FtMt–/– mice was normal and we did not detect alterations in sperm parameters or in oxidative stress indices. In contrast, we observed that the cauda epididymides of FtMt–/– mice were significantly lighter and contained a lower number of spermatozoa compared with the controls. Also, the ATP content of FtMt–/– spermatozoa was found to be lower than that of FtMt+/+ spermatozoa. These data show that FtMt contributes to sperm epididymis maturation and to male fertility.
A woody plant community and tree-cacti associations change with distance to a water source in a dry Chaco forest of Argentina
Authors: Trigo Carolina B. , Tálamo Andrés , Núñez-Regueiro Mauricio M. , Derlindati Enrique J. , Marás Gustavo A. , Barchuk Alicia H. , Palavecino Antonio
Published: January 2017

In semiarid regions, livestock is concentrated around water sources generating a piosphere pattern (gradients of woody vegetation degradation with increasing proximity to water). Close to the water source, livestock may affect the composition, structure and regeneration strategies of woody vegetation. We used the proximity from a water source as a proxy of grazing pressure. Our objectives were (1) to compare woody vegetation attributes (richness, diversity, species composition, density and basal area) and ground cover between sites at two distances to a water source: near (higher grazing pressure) and far from the water source (lower grazing pressure), and (2) to quantify and compare cases of spatial association among the columnar cacti Stetsonia coryne (Salm-Dyck) Britton and Rose (Cactaceae), and the dominant tree Bulnesia sarmientoi Lorentz ex Griseb. (Zygophyllaceae). We used a paired design with eight pairs of rectangular plots distributed along a large and representative natural water source. We found lower total species richness, plant density and soil cover near than far from water source, and more cases of spatial associations between the two species studied. Our results show evidence of increased livestock impacts around water sources. However, we found no difference in terms of species composition or basal area at near versus far sites. We conclude that grazing pressure might be changing some attributes of the woody plant community, and that the association of young trees with thorny plants (grazing refuge) could be a regeneration mechanism in this semiarid forest with high grazing pressure.
Managing two decades of visceral leishmaniasis and HIV co-infection: a case report that illustrates the urgent research needs in the field
Authors: Kelly Melissa L. , Pinto Angie N. , Suan Dan , Marriott Debbie , Cooper David A. , Pett Sarah L.
Published: January 2017

Visceral leishmaniasis and HIV co-infection presents diagnostic, monitoring and treatment challenges. This is a report of a co-infected patient who developed multiple complications and treatment side-effects, including renal and liver failure, pancytopenia with recurrent sepsis, along with anal cancer, depression and poor quality-of-life spanning over two decades. Urgent research specific to this cohort is needed.
Acceptability of self-sampling in Portuguese women: the good, the bad or the ugly?
Authors: Silva Jani , Cerqueira Fátima , Medeiros Rui
Published: January 2017

Background: Self-sampling is a less costly approach that has been used for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 313 Portuguese women assessed the acceptability of cervicovaginal self-sampling. Results: Self-sampling was a well-accepted method [75.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 70.5–80.2], and the majority of women felt no pain (67.4%; 95% CI 61.9–72.5), no discomfort (70.9%; 95% CI 65.5–75.8) and no complexity (76.4%; 95% CI 71.2–80.9). The willingness to repeat self-sampling was high (89.5%; 95% CI 85.4–92.5). Compared to physician-sampling, women reported a preference for self-sampling (58.1%; 95% CI 52.5–63.6), as it was more comfortable (67.1%; 95% CI 61.5–72.2) and caused less pain (16.3%; 95% CI 12.5–20.9) and embarrassment (13.4%; 95% CI 9.9–17.8). Conclusion: Offering self-sampling for HPV testing may improve screening participation rates and overcome women’s embarrassment regarding physician examination.
Sexuality-related attitudes significantly modulate demographic variation in sexual health literacy in Tasmanian university students
Authors: Simpson Steve , Clifford Christine , Quinn Michael G. , Ross Kaz , Sefton Neil , Owen Louise , Blizzard Leigh , Turner Richard
Published: January 2017

Background: It has previously been shown that there is a significant demographic variation in sexual health literacy (SHL) in university-level students in Tasmania, Australia. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of statistical adjustment for sexuality-related attitudes on this demographic variation in SHL. Methods: Iterated principal-factor analysis was used to evaluate latent variable grouping of responses to 21 attitudinal questions regarding sexuality and sexual behaviour. Linear regression was used to evaluate the distribution and determinants of attitudinal patterns and thence the relationship of these patterns to SHL. Results: Three patterns – conservative, anti-persons-living-with-HIV and sexually responsible – were identified as explaining variation in sexual attitudes; the former two being associated with significantly lower SHL and the latter associated with significantly higher SHL. Adjustment for these patterns significantly attenuated much of the differences in SHL by birthplace/ethnicity and religion, including among South and South-East Asian and Protestant, Islamic and Hindu students. However, some differences in SHL persisted, suggesting they are partly or fully independent of the attitudinal questions. Conclusions: As hypothesised, differences in attitude significantly explained much of the demographic differences in SHL found previously. These results suggest that sexual education and orientation efforts need to bear cultural framing in mind to enhance uptake by students.
Need for more research on and health interventions for transgender people
Authors: Ortiz-Martínez Yeimer , Ríos-González Carlos Miguel
Published: January 2017

Background
Recently, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) scientific production is growing, but transgender (TG) people is less considered in the LGBT-related research, highlighting the lack of representative data on this neglected population. Methods: To assess the current status of scientific production on TG population, a bibliometric study was performed using the articles on TG people deposited in five databases, including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Science Citation Index (SCI), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS). Results: The PubMed/Medline search retrieved 2370 documents, which represented 0.008% of all articles recorded in Medline. The Scopus search identified 4974 articles. At SCI, 2863 articles were identified. A search of the SciELO database identified 39 articles, whereas the LILACS search identified 44 articles. Most papers were from the US (57.59%), followed by Canada (5.15%), the UK (4.42%), Australia (3.19%), The Netherlands (2.46%) and Peru (1.83%). These six countries accounted for 74.6% of all scientific output. Conclusions: The findings indicate that the TG-related research is low, especially in low-income developing countries, where stigma and discrimination are common. More awareness, knowledge, and sensitivity in healthcare communities are needed to eliminate barriers in health attention and research in this population.
The interaction between soil pH and phosphorus for wheat yield and the impact of lime-induced changes to soil aluminium and potassium
Authors: Scanlan Craig A. , Brennan Ross F. , D'Antuono Mario F. , Sarre Gavin A.
Published: January 2017

Interactions between soil pH and phosphorus (P) for plant growth have been widely reported; however, most studies have been based on pasture species, and the agronomic importance of this interaction for acid-tolerant wheat in soils with near-sufficient levels of fertility is unclear. We conducted field experiments with wheat at two sites with acid soils where lime treatments that had been applied in the 6 years preceding the experiments caused significant changes to soil pH, extractable aluminium (Al), soil nutrients and exchangeable cations. Soil pH(CaCl2) at 0–10cm was 4.7 without lime and 6.2 with lime at Merredin, and 4.7 without lime and 6.5 with lime at Wongan Hills. A significant lime×P interaction (P<0.05) for grain yield was observed at both sites. At Merredin, this interaction was negative, i.e. the combined effect of soil pH and P was less than their additive effect; the difference between the dose–response curves without lime and with lime was greatest at 0kgPha–1 and the curves converged at 32kgPha–1. At Wongan Hills, the interaction was positive (combined effect greater than the additive effect), and lime application reduced grain yield. The lime×P interactions observed are agronomically important because different fertiliser P levels were required to maximise grain yield. A lime-induced reduction in Al phytotoxicity was the dominant mechanism for this interaction at Merredin. The negative grain yield response to lime at Wongan Hills was attributed to a combination of marginal soil potassium (K) supply and lime-induced reduction in soil K availability.
Abnormal Development of Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis (Acari:
Ixodidae)
Authors: Ren Qiaoyun , Chen Ze , Luo Jin , Liu Guangyuan , Guan Guiquan , Yin Hong , Luo Jianxun
Published: January 2017

A single Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis specimen exhibiting abnormal morphology was collected from a tick laboratory colony. The tick had a heart-shaped body with partial twinning of the posterior region (with two anal orifices and two genital grooves). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of teratological changes in H. qinghaiensis. The abnormal morphological features are described herein.
Dake Chen: unraveling the secrets of ocean–climate interaction
Authors: Wang Ling
Published: January 2017

The ocean is a complex and mysterious system that attracts scientists around the world to unravel its secrets. Dake Chen, a distinguished physical oceanographer and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is one of them. Since the mid-1980s, he has been studying ocean dynamics and ocean–atmosphere interaction, and has made seminal contributions to the understanding and prediction of short-term climate variability, especially the El Niño phenomenon. In a recent interview with NSR, Professor Dake Chen says that China has made significant progress in recent years in ocean research, but, in order to make breakthroughs in the field of oceanography, China needs to further expand the scope of research programs from coastal seas to open oceans, to greatly increase the investment in global ocean-observing systems and to pay more attention to fundamental scientific problems in addition to practical applications. He also calls for a better-defined national strategic plan for ocean science and technology.
InN/InGaN quantum dot electrochemical devices: new solutions for energy and health
Authors: Nötzel Richard
Published: January 2017

A review is given of the exceptional electrochemical performance of epitaxial InN/InGaN quantum dots (QDs) as photoelectrodes for solar hydrogen generation by water splitting, as biosensor transducers and as anion-selective electrodes, and they are also evaluated as supercapacitor electrodes. The performance is benchmarked against the best performances of other reported materials and nanostructures. A model based on the unique interplay of surface and quantum properties is put forward to understand the boost of catalytic activity and anion selectivity interlinking quantum nanostructure physics with electrochemistry and catalysis. Of equal impact is the direct growth on cheap Si substrates without any buffer layers, allowing novel device designs and integration with Si technology. This makes the InN/InGaN QDs viable, opening up new application fields for III-nitride semiconductors.
The Christian Reconstruction Movement in U.S. Politics
Authors: Ingersoll Julie
Published: January 2017

For more than half a century, Rousas John Rushdoony and his followers have articulated and disseminated what they understand to be a biblical worldview, based in aspects of traditional reformed theology and both the Old and New Testaments. This worldview seeks to apply biblical law to every aspect of life and to transform every aspect of culture to establish the Kingdom of God. While some components of their vision are so extreme that Christian Reconstructionists are often dismissed as an irrelevant fringe group, other aspects of their vision have taken root in conservative American Protestantism, especially in the Christian homeschool movement, and therefor influenced American conservatism more broadly. This essay outlines that worldview and points to some of those areas of influence.
Impact of Concurrent Medication Use on Pancreatic Cancer Survival—SEER-Medicare Analysis
Authors: Beg Muhammad S. , Gupta Arjun , Sher David , Ali Sadia , Khan Saad , Gao Ang , Stewart Tyler , Ahn Chul , Berry Jarett , Mortensen Eric M.
Published: January 2017

Objectives:

Preclinical studies have suggested that non-antineoplastic medication use may impact pancreatic cancer biology. We examined the association of several medication classes on pancreatic cancer survival in a large medical claims database.

Materials and Methods:

Histologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma diagnosed between 2006 and 2009 were analyzed from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database with available part D data. Drug use was defined as having 2 prescriptions filled within 12 months of pancreatic cancer diagnosis. The following medication classes/combinations were analyzed: β-blocker, statin, insulin, metformin, thiazolidinedione, warfarin, heparin, β-blocker/statin, metformin/statin, and β-blocker/metformin. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for age, sex, race, stage at diagnosis, site of cancer, and Charlson comorbidity index were constructed to test the association between medication classes and overall survival.

Results:

A total of 13,702 patients were included in the study; median age 76 years, 42.5% males, 77.1% white. The most common anatomic site and stage at diagnosis were head of the pancreas (49.9%) and stage 4 (49.6%), respectively. Ninety-four percent of patients died in the follow-up period (median overall survival 5.3 mo). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that use of β-blockers, heparin, insulin, and warfarin were significantly associated with improved survival (P<0.05 for each one), whereas metformin, thiazolidinedione, statin, and combination therapies were not.

Conclusions:

In this study, use of β-blockers, heparin, insulin, and warfarin were associated with improved survival in patients with pancreatic cancer. Additional studies are needed to validate these findings in the clinical setting.
Putting the “Meaning” in Meaningful Recognition of Nurses
Authors: Barnes Bonnie , Barnes Mark , Sweeney Cynthia D.
Published: January 2017

Healthcare organizations, nurses, patients, and their families benefit from the opportunity to say, “Thank you.” The experience of being hospitalized can be devastating. Recognizing compassionate and extraordinary nursing care in a meaningful way is a powerful tool that supports a healthy work environment, engages nursing staff, and impacts the patient care experience. The DAISY Award™ is a legacy of thanks that exemplifies the qualities of “meaningful” recognition.
Beyond Magnet® Designation
Authors: Hayden Margaret A. , Wolf Gail A. , Zedreck-Gonzalez Judith F.
Published: January 2017

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to identify patterns of high-performing behaviors and nurse manager perceptions of the factors of Magnet® sustainability at a multidesignated Magnet organization.

BACKGROUND:

The Magnet program recognizes exemplary professional nursing practice and is challenging to achieve and sustain. Only 10% (n = 42) of Magnet hospitals sustained designation for 12 years or longer. This study explored the perspectives of Magnet nurse managers regarding high-performing teams and the sustainability of Magnet designation.

METHODS:

A qualitative study of nurse managers was conducted at 1 multidesignated Magnet organization (n = 13). Interview responses were analyzed using pattern recognition of Magnet model domains and characteristics of high-performing teams and then related to factors of Magnet sustainability.

RESULTS:

Transformational leadership is both an essential factor for sustainability and a potential barrier to sustainability of Magnet designation.

CONCLUSIONS:

Transformational nursing leaders lead high-performing teams and should be in place at all levels as an essential factor in sustaining Magnet redesignation.
A Simplified Electroencephalogram Monitoring System in the Emergency Room
Authors: Nozawa Masahiro , Terashima Hiroshi , Tsuji Satoshi , Kubota Masaya
Published: January 2017

Objectives

The study aims to assess the clinical usefulness and related limitations of our simplified emergency electroencephalography (eEEG) as an assessment tool of lethal abnormal brain waves in the emergency room (ER).

Methods

Electrodes were placed on 4 places: bilateral frontal poles and parietal regions. The derivations to judge consisted of only 2 bipolar leads on the left and right. Abnormal wave was defined as either persistent rhythmic waves or persistent high-amplitude slow waves (<2 Hz). The indications of eEEG were as follows: prolonged impairment of consciousness, suspected subclinical or subtle seizure, and requirement of evaluation of consciousness or seizure during administration of muscle relaxants for endotracheal intubation.

Results

We performed eEEG for 86 patients between July 2013 and February 2014. The persistent rhythmic waves were observed in 7 (8.1%), whereas high-amplitude slow waves were observed in 10 (11.6%). Among 69 patients with normal eEEG, 2 were diagnosed with encephalopathy after hospitalization. The mean time taken to attach electrodes was 5.4 minutes.

Conclusions

For the ER physician, the simple EEG, such as eEEG, is useful as a biological monitor because it enables quick assessment of lethal abnormal brain waves in the ER. The clinical usefulness and limitations of our eEEG method should be investigated further in a large population.
Muscle developmental defects in heterogeneous nuclear Ribonucleoprotein A1 knockout mice
Authors: Liu Ting-Yuan , Chen Yu-Chia , Jong Yuh-Jyh , Tsai Huai-Jen , Lee Chien-Chin , Chang Ya-Sian , Chang Jan-Gowth , Chang Yung-Fu
Published: January 2017

Heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) is crucial for regulating alternative splicing. Its integrated function within an organism has not, however, been identified. We generated hnRNP A1 knockout mice to study the role of hnRNP A1
in vivo
. The knockout mice,
hnRNP A1
−/−
, showed embryonic lethality because of muscle developmental defects. The blood pressure and heart rate of the heterozygous mice were higher than those of the wild-type mice, indicating heart function defects. We performed mouse exon arrays to study the muscle development mechanism. The processes regulated by hnRNP A1 included cell adhesion and muscle contraction. The expression levels of muscle development-related genes in
hnRNP A1
+/−
mice were significantly different from those in wild-type mice, as detected using qRT-PCR. We further confirmed the alternative splicing patterns of muscle development-related genes including
mef2c
,
lrrfip1
,
usp28
and
abcc9
. Alternative mRNA isoforms of these genes were increased in
hnRNP A1
+/−
mice compared with wild-type mice. Furthermore, we revealed that the functionally similar hnRNP A2/B1 did not compensate for the expression of hnRNP A1 in organisms. In summary, our study demonstrated that hnRNP A1 plays a critical and irreplaceable role in embryonic muscle development by regulating the expression and alternative splicing of muscle-related genes.
The influence of sea ice, wind speed and marine mammals on Southern Ocean ambient sound
Authors: Menze Sebastian , Zitterbart Daniel P. , van Opzeeland Ilse , Boebel Olaf
Published: January 2017

This paper describes the natural variability of ambient sound in the Southern Ocean, an acoustically pristine marine mammal habitat. Over a 3-year period, two autonomous recorders were moored along the Greenwich meridian to collect underwater passive acoustic data. Ambient sound levels were strongly affected by the annual variation of the sea-ice cover, which decouples local wind speed and sound levels during austral winter. With increasing sea-ice concentration, area and thickness, sound levels decreased while the contribution of distant sources increased. Marine mammal sounds formed a substantial part of the overall acoustic environment, comprising calls produced by Antarctic blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia), fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) and leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx). The combined sound energy of a group or population vocalizing during extended periods contributed species-specific peaks to the ambient sound spectra. The temporal and spatial variation in the contribution of marine mammals to ambient sound suggests annual patterns in migration and behaviour. The Antarctic blue and fin whale contributions were loudest in austral autumn, whereas the Antarctic minke whale contribution was loudest during austral winter and repeatedly showed a diel pattern that coincided with the diel vertical migration of zooplankton.
Not Normal: the uncertainties of scientific measurements
Authors: Bailey David C.
Published: January 2017

Judging the significance and reproducibility of quantitative research requires a good understanding of relevant uncertainties, but it is often unclear how well these have been evaluated and what they imply. Reported scientific uncertainties were studied by analysing 41 000 measurements of 3200 quantities from medicine, nuclear and particle physics, and interlaboratory comparisons ranging from chemistry to toxicology. Outliers are common, with 5
σ
disagreements up to five orders of magnitude more frequent than naively expected. Uncertainty-normalized differences between multiple measurements of the same quantity are consistent with heavy-tailed Student’s
t
-distributions that are often almost Cauchy, far from a Gaussian Normal bell curve. Medical research uncertainties are generally as well evaluated as those in physics, but physics uncertainty improves more rapidly, making feasible simple significance criteria such as the 5
σ
discovery convention in particle physics. Contributions to measurement uncertainty from mistakes and unknown problems are not completely unpredictable. Such errors appear to have power-law distributions consistent with how designed complex systems fail, and how unknown systematic errors are constrained by researchers. This better understanding may help improve analysis and meta-analysis of data, and help scientists and the public have more realistic expectations of what scientific results imply.
Experimental illumination of a forest: no effects of lights of different colours on the onset of the dawn chorus in songbirds
Authors: Da Silva Arnaud , de Jong Maaike , van Grunsven Roy H. A. , Visser Marcel E. , Kempenaers Bart , Spoelstra Kamiel
Published: January 2017

Light pollution is increasing exponentially, but its impact on animal behaviour is still poorly understood. For songbirds, the most repeatable finding is that artificial night lighting leads to an earlier daily onset of dawn singing. Most of these studies are, however, correlational and cannot entirely dissociate effects of light pollution from other effects of urbanization. In addition, there are no studies in which the effects of different light colours on singing have been tested. Here, we investigated whether the timing of dawn singing in wild songbirds is influenced by artificial light using an experimental set-up with conventional street lights. We illuminated eight previously dark forest edges with white, green, red or no light, and recorded daily onset of dawn singing during the breeding season. Based on earlier work, we predicted that onset of singing would be earlier in the lighted treatments, with the strongest effects in the early-singing species. However, we found no significant effect of the experimental night lighting (of any colour) in the 14 species for which we obtained sufficient data. Confounding effects of urbanization in previous studies may explain these results, but we also suggest that the experimental night lighting may not have been strong enough to have an effect on singing.
Cultural factors that affected the spatial and temporal epidemiology of kuru
Authors: Whitfield J. T. , Pako W. H. , Collinge J. , Alpers M. P.
Published: January 2017

Kuru is a prion disease which became epidemic among the Fore and surrounding linguistic groups in Papua New Guinea, peaking in the late 1950s. It was transmitted during the transumption (endocannibalism) of dead family members at mortuary feasts. In this study, we aimed to explain the historical spread and the changing epidemiological patterns of kuru by analysing factors that affected its transmission. We also examined what cultural group principally determined a family's behaviour during mortuary rituals. Our investigations showed that differences in mortuary practices were responsible for the initial pattern of the spread of kuru and the ultimate shape of the epidemic, and for subsequent spatio-temporal differences in the epidemiology of kuru. Before transumption stopped altogether, the South Fore continued to eat the bodies of those who had died of kuru, whereas other linguistic groups, sooner or later, stopped doing so. The linguistic group was the primary cultural group that determined behaviour but at linguistic boundaries the neighbouring group's cultural practices were often adopted. The epidemiological changes were not explained by genetic differences, but genetic studies led to an understanding of genetic susceptibility to kuru and the selection pressure imposed by kuru, and provided new insights into human history and evolution.
Identity recognition in response to different levels of genetic relatedness in commercial soya bean
Authors: Murphy Guillermo P. , Van Acker Rene , Rajcan Istvan , Swanton Clarence J.
Published: January 2017

Identity recognition systems allow plants to tailor competitive phenotypes in response to the genetic relatedness of neighbours. There is limited evidence for the existence of recognition systems in crop species and whether they operate at a level that would allow for identification of different degrees of relatedness. Here, we test the responses of commercial soya bean cultivars to neighbours of varying genetic relatedness consisting of other commercial cultivars (intraspecific), its wild progenitor
Glycine soja
, and another leguminous species
Phaseolus vulgaris
(interspecific). We found, for the first time to our knowledge, that a commercial soya bean cultivar, OAC Wallace, showed identity recognition responses to neighbours at different levels of genetic relatedness. OAC Wallace showed no response when grown with other commercial soya bean cultivars (intra-specific neighbours), showed increased allocation to leaves compared with stems with wild soya beans (highly related wild progenitor species), and increased allocation to leaves compared with stems and roots with white beans (interspecific neighbours). Wild soya bean also responded to identity recognition but these responses involved changes in biomass allocation towards stems instead of leaves suggesting that identity recognition responses are species-specific and consistent with the ecology of the species. In conclusion, elucidating identity recognition in crops may provide further knowledge into mechanisms of crop competition and the relationship between crop density and yield.
An investigation into inflection-point instability in the entrance region of a pulsating pipe flow
Authors: Miau J. J. , Wang R. H. , Jian T. W. , Hsu Y. T.
Published: January 2017

This paper investigates the inflection-point instability that governs the flow disturbance initiated in the entrance region of a pulsating pipe flow. Under such a flow condition, the flow instability grows within a certain phase region in a pulsating cycle, during which the inflection point in the unsteady mean flow lifts away from the viscous effect-dominated region known as the Stokes layer. The characteristic frequency of the instability is found to be in agreement with that predicted by the mixing-layer model. In comparison with those cases not falling in this category, it is further verified that the flow phenomenon will take place only if the inflection point lifts away sufficiently from the Stokes layer.
Low functional diversity promotes niche changes in natural island pollinator communities
Authors: Hiraiwa Masayoshi K. , Ushimaru Atushi
Published: January 2017

Functional diversity loss among pollinators has rapidly progressed across the globe and is expected to influence plant–pollinator interactions in natural communities. Although recent findings suggest that the disappearance of a certain pollinator functional group may cause niche expansions and/or shifts in other groups, no study has examined this prediction in natural communities with high plant and pollinator diversities. By comparing coastal pollination networks on continental and oceanic islands, we examined how community-level flower visit patterns are influenced by the relative biomass of long-tongued pollinators (RBLP). We found that RBLP significantly correlated with pollinator functional diversity and was lower in oceanic than in continental islands. Pollinator niches shifted with decreasing RBLP, such that diverse species with various proboscis lengths, especially short-tongued species, increasingly visited long-tubed flowers. However, we found no conspicuous negative impacts of low RBLP and the consequent niche shifts on pollinator visit frequencies to flowers in oceanic island communities. Notably, fruit set significantly decreased as RBLP decreased in a study plant species. These results suggest that niche shifts by other functional groups can generally compensate for a decline in long-tongued pollinators in natural communities, but there may be negative impacts on plant reproduction.
Corticosterone and timing of migratory departure in a songbird
Authors: Eikenaar Cas , Müller Florian , Leutgeb Clara , Hessler Sven , Lebus Konstantin , Taylor Philip D. , Schmaljohann Heiko
Published: January 2017

Bird migration entails replenishing fuel stores at stopover sites. There, individuals make daily decisions whether to resume migration, and must also decide their time of departure. Variation in departure timing affects the total time required to complete a migratory journey, which in turn affects fitness through arrival time at the breeding and wintering grounds. It is well established that stopover departure decisions are based on cues from innate rhythms, intrinsic factors and extrinsic factors. Yet, virtually nothing is known about the physiological mechanism(s) linking these cues to departure decisions. Here, we show for a nocturnal migratory songbird, the northern wheatear (
Oenanthe oenanthe
), that baseline corticosterone levels of birds at stopover increased both over the migratory season and with wind assistance towards the migratory destination. Corticosterone in turn predicted departure probability; individuals with high baseline corticosterone levels were more likely to resume migration on a given night. Corticosterone further predicted the departure time within the night, with high baseline levels being associated with early departures. These novel findings indicate that corticosterone may be mediating between departure cues and the timing of departure from a stopover site, which is a major step towards understanding the hormonal control of animal migration.
Accurate alignment between correlated light, cryo-light, and electron cryo-microscopy data using sample support features
Authors: Anderson Karen L. , Page Christopher , Swift Mark F. , Hanein Dorit , Volkmann Niels
Published: January 2017

Combining fluorescence microscopy with electron cryo-tomography allows, in principle, spatial localization of tagged macromolecular assemblies and structural features within the cellular environment. To allow precise localization and scale integration between the two disparate imaging modalities, accurate alignment procedures are needed. Here, we describe a marker-free method for aligning images from light or cryo-light fluorescence microscopy and from electron cryo-microscopy that takes advantage of sample support features, namely the holes in the carbon film. We find that the accuracy of this method, as judged by prediction errors of the hole center coordinates, is better than 100 nm.
Computational Identification of Operons in Microbial Genomes
Authors: Zheng Yu , Szustakowski Joseph D. , Fortnow Lance , Roberts Richard J. , Kasif Simon
Published: January 2017

By applying graph representations to biochemical pathways, a new computational pipeline is proposed to find potential operons in microbial genomes. The algorithm relies on the fact that enzyme genes in operons tend to catalyze successive reactions in metabolic pathways. We applied this algorithm to 42 microbial genomes to identify putative operon structures. The predicted operons from Escherichia coliwere compared with a selected metabolism-related operon dataset from the RegulonDB database, yielding a prediction sensitivity (89%) and specificity (87%) relative to this dataset. Several examples of detected operons are given and analyzed. Modular gene cluster transfer and operon fusion are observed. A further use of predicted operon data to assign function to putative genes was suggested and, as an example, a previous putative gene (MJ1604) from Methanococcus jannaschii is now annotated as a phosphofructokinase, which was regarded previously as a missing enzyme in this organism. GC content changes in the operon region and nonoperon region were examined. The results reveal a clear GC content transition at the boundaries of putative operons. We looked further into the conservation of operons across genomes. A trp operon alignment is analyzed in depth to show gene loss and rearrangement in different organisms during operon evolution.
Structural explanation of the spectral features of the nonsymmetrical complex {2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-5-[(methylimino)methyl]porphyrinato-κ4N21,N22,N23,N24}palladium(II)
Authors: Erzina Dina R. , Zamilatskov Ilya A. , Kurochkina Nadezhda M. , Ponomarev Gelii V. , Tafeenko Victor A.
Published: January 2017

The features of porphyrins defining their functionality are related to their conformational flexibility. The degree of nonplanarity of metalloporphyrins depends directly on the number of substituents, their size and their location. The introduction of substituents in themesopositions of β-substituted porphyrins increases the steric interaction and leads to distortions of the porphyrin core. Increasing the distortion of the porphyrin core would augment the bathochromic (red) shift of the electronic absorption spectra. A new nonsymmetrical 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-5-[(methylimino)methyl]porphyrin complex of palladium(II), [Pd(C38H47N5)], was synthesized and characterized by NMR, mass spectrometry and X-ray analysis. The features of the electronic absorption spectrum of the synthesized complex are explained by the planarity of the porphyrin core and the π-system of the imino group orthogonal to it.
Domain-specific market segmentation: a wine-related lifestyle (WRL) approach
Authors: Bruwer Johan , Roediger Brigitte , Herbst Frikkie
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the use of a domain-specific research instrument (the wine-related lifestyle (WRL)) to determine the different lifestyle-related wine market segments in a country and compare the findings cross-culturally.

Design/methodology/approach

The research instrument included 48 psychographic activities, interests and opinions (AIO) statements, plus socio-demographic, product consumption and purchasing questions. A final sample of 376 South African wine consumers was utilised, whereon exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, combined with Hough’s Euclidean test, were applied to determine the existence of clusters (segments), assign descriptions to them, and link these to product consumption data.

Findings

Five wine segments recurred when comparing wine market segmentation studies cross-culturally. This means that cross-culturally, similar types of people drink wine with similar AIOs towards wine. In the South African market, four of these segments were identified.

Research limitations/implications

This study achieved a robust lifestyle-based market segmentation algorithm which can be used by researchers in different country environments for wine as a domain-specific product.

Originality/value

The contribution of this research is threefold in that it tested the WRL instrument in a cross-cultural context which is the first time this has been done; in the process it interpreted the wine consumer segments in South Africa for the first time; using a WRL-based (AIO) approach. The study demonstrated that market segmentation based on psychographic (lifestyle) behaviour is strengthened when supported by two additional segmentation methods, namely, socio-demographics and product involvement (purchasing and consumption).