bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulating NaCl accumulation in a closed hydroponic crop of zucchini: Impact on macronutrient uptake, growth, yield, and photosynthesis
Authors: Neocleous Damianos , Savvas Dimitrios
Published: March 2017

Zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) plants were grown in a closed‐loop hydroponic system and supplied with nutrient solution (NS) containing NaCl at different concentrations (0.7, 3, 5, and 7 mM). The primary aim of the study was to define the relationship between the concentration of Na+ and Cl− in the root zone solution and the respective Na+/water or Cl−/water uptake ratios (uptake concentrations, UC). A second objective was to determine the UC of macronutrients (i.e., N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) and to test whether they are influenced by the gradual increase of the root zone salinity due to progressive NaCl accumulation. Two experiments were conducted, of which one (spring crop) was used to parameterize an existing empirical model, while the second one (autumn‐winter crop) was commissioned to test the validity of the determined model parameters. Both Cl− and Na+ ions accumulated progressively in the root zone solution over time, showing a tendency to stabilize at final concentrations according to the corresponding NaCl treatment. The relationship between the Na+ and Cl− concentrations in the root zone and the Na+/water or Cl−/water uptake ratios was exponential and the model parameters successfully fitted to data from crops cultivated in different growth seasons. This model may be used to monitor Na+ and Cl− concentrations in the root environment of zucchini crops as relationships of the plant water consumption. The exposure of plants to NaCl affected the UC of N, K, Ca, and Mg, but the results for some nutrients were not consistent in both growth seasons. The measurements of plant growth characteristics (i.e., biomass, yield, fruit quality, and photosynthesis) revealed that water resources containing up to 3 mM NaCl do not cause unacceptable yield losses in zucchini crops grown in completely closed hydroponic systems.
Measuring the effects of lighting on the readability of electronic devices
Authors: Lege Ranson Paul , Hasegawa Satoshi , Ishio Hiromu , Takahashi Tatsumi , Hyodo Kei , Matsunami Shigusa , Ishii Yuki , Iwata Kohei , Kojima Takehito , Miyao Masaru
Published: March 2017

The aim of this study was to understand to what extent people can read e‐paper devices under various conditions of ambient illuminance that can occur indoors. In this study, 110 young to elderly subjects participated in an experiment to evaluate the effects of 14 different levels of ambient lighting on their reading from three different electronic devises and paper text. The participants were asked to undergo a timed read task and then to evaluate the readability of two eReader devices (a regular electronic display and one with a front light) in comparison with a backlit liquid crystal device and conventional paper text. The results indicated that backlit and front lit devices are easier to read at less than 200 lx and the reflective device is easier to read at levels above 500 lx.
Treating Veterans With PTSD and Borderline Personality Symptoms in a 12‐Week Intensive Outpatient Setting: Findings From a Pilot Program
Authors: Meyers Laura , Voller Emily K. , McCallum Ethan B. , Thuras Paul , Shallcross Sandra , Velasquez Tina , Meis Laura
Published: March 2017

Rates of comorbidity between borderline personality disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are high in veteran populations, and clinicians are hesitant to treat PTSD given high rates of suicidality. Given promising early work integrating dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and prolonged exposure (PE) therapy, we created a 12‐week intensive outpatient program combining these two treatments. PE and DBT were provided concurrently to 33 veterans with PTSD symptoms and BPD symptoms at a large, midwestern Veteran Affairs medical center. Approximately half of the participants were male, with the majority identifying as Caucasian. Participants’ ages ranged from 23 to 58 years, with a mean age of 43.21 years. The full‐model of DBT was provided; PE was provided twice weekly for approximately 6 weeks of the program. Of participants, 22 veterans successfully completed the program with no dropout during PE. Large pre‐ to posttreatment effect sizes were found for decreases in PTSD symptoms (d = 1.61) and dysfunctional coping styles (d = 1.55), and an increase in the use of DBT skills (d = 1.02). A moderate effect size was found in the decrease of suicidal ideation (d = 0.64). The results of this pilot program suggest that PTSD can be safely and effectively treated among veterans with comorbid symptoms of borderline personality disorder through the combination of concurrent intensive DBT and PE.
Integrated Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders: Examination of Imaginal Exposure Length
Authors: Mills Adam C. , Badour Christal L. , Korte Kristina J. , Killeen Therese K. , Henschel Aisling V. , Back Sudie E.
Published: March 2017

Efforts to improve the efficiency of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have demonstrated that reducing the length of imaginal exposures does not negatively affect treatment outcome. A recent adaptation of PE, called Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders Using Prolonged Exposure [COPE], integrates substance use disorder treatment with PE in the same timeframe (twelve 90‐minute sessions, 8 of which include imaginal exposure). The current study, which represents a subanalysis of a larger randomized controlled trial, examined how the length of imaginal exposures (nonrandomized and measured continually) related to PTSD, substance use, and depression in a sample of military veterans (N = 31) who completed the COPE treatment. Participants completed an average of 11.5 of the 12 therapy sessions and 7.2 of the 8 imaginal exposures during treatment. Results of 3 linear mixed models indicate that PTSD, substance use, and depressive symptoms all improved over the course of treatment (ps < .001; η2 ranged between .17 and .40), and that the length of imaginal exposures did not significantly interact with any outcome. Although preliminary, the findings suggest that it may be feasible to shorten imaginal exposures without mitigating treatment gains. Implications for treatment are discussed.
Diatom bloom‐derived bottom water hypoxia off the Changjiang estuary, with and without typhoon influence
Authors: Wang Bin , Chen Jianfang , Jin Haiyan , Li Hongliang , Huang Daji , Cai Wei‐Jun
Published: March 2017

During the summers of 2009 and 2013, seawater pH and concentrations of dissolved oxygen, inorganic carbon, and nutrients were measured off the Changjiang estuary in the East China Sea. The 2009 cruise captured the effects of Typhoon Morakot; the 2013 cruise sampled more typical conditions (no typhoon). Data from both years indicate a close correlation between high primary productivity in surface waters and hypoxia in bottom waters. Based on these observations, we developed a conceptual model to guide an exploration of processes contributing to the formation of summertime bottom hypoxia. A mixing‐model analysis of the 2009 data identified a surface diatom bloom as the major (70–80%) source of the organic carbon that decomposed and ultimately led to bottom water hypoxia. Within the Changjiang River plume, depth‐integrated net biological production in the water column was 1.8 g C m−2 d−1, indicating strong autotrophic production, which in turn led to a high respiration rate of 1.2 g C m−2 d−1 in the bottom water. During both cruises, strong surface‐to‐bottom physical and metabolic coupling was evident. In 2009, storm‐driven inputs of nutrients from elevated river discharge and strong vertical mixing helped to fuel the rapid development of a surface diatom bloom. Afterwards, stratified conditions re‐established, newly formed labile organic matter sank, and bottom water oxygen was quickly consumed to an extent that hypoxia and acidification developed. To our knowledge, the observed rate of hypoxia and acidification development (within 6 d) is the fastest yet reported for the Changjiang River plume.
Free Fatty Acid Receptor 1 (FFAR1) as an Emerging Therapeutic Target for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Recent Progress and Prevailing Challenges
Authors: Li Zheng , Xu Xue , Huang Wenlong , Qian Hai
Published: March 2017

The free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1/GPR40) amplifies glucose‐dependent insulin secretion; therefore, it has attracted widespread attention as a promising antidiabetic target. Current clinical proof of concept also indicates that FFAR1 agonists achieve the initially therapeutic endpoint for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without the hypoglycemic risk. Thus, many pharmaceutical companies and academic institutes are competing to develop FFAR1 agonists. However, several candidates have been discontinued in clinical trials, often without reporting the underlying reasons. Herein, we review the challenges and corresponding strategies chosen by different medicinal chemistry teams to improve the physicochemical properties, potency, pharmacokinetics, and safety profiles of FFAR1 agonists, with a brief introduction to the biology and pharmacology of related targets.
Validation of surface‐to‐volume ratio measurements derived from oscillating gradient spin echo on a clinical scanner using anisotropic fiber phantoms
Authors: Lemberskiy Gregory , Baete Steven H. , Cloos Martijn A. , Novikov Dmitry S. , Fieremans Els
Published: March 2017

A diffusion measurement in the short‐time surface‐to‐volume ratio (S/V) limit (Mitra et al., Phys Rev Lett. 1992;68:3555) can disentangle the free diffusion coefficient from geometric restrictions to diffusion. Biophysical parameters, such as the S/V of tissue membranes, can be used to estimate microscopic length scales non‐invasively. However, due to gradient strength limitations on clinical MRI scanners, pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) measurements are impractical for probing the S/V limit. To achieve this limit on clinical systems, an oscillating gradient spin echo (OGSE) sequence was developed. Two phantoms containing 10 fiber bundles, each consisting of impermeable aligned fibers with different packing densities, were constructed to achieve a range of S/V values. The frequency‐dependent diffusion coefficient, D(ω), was measured in each fiber bundle using OGSE with different gradient waveforms (cosine, stretched cosine, and trapezoidal), while D(t) was measured from PGSE and stimulated‐echo measurements. The S/V values derived from the universal high‐frequency behavior of D(ω) were compared against those derived from quantitative proton density measurements using single spin echo (SE) with varying echo times, and from magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF). S/V estimates derived from different OGSE waveforms were similar and demonstrated excellent correlation with both SE‐ and MRF‐derived S/V measures (ρ  ≥  0.99). Furthermore, there was a smoother transition between OGSE frequency f and PGSE diffusion time when using
, rather than the commonly used teff = 1/(4f), validating the specific frequency/diffusion time conversion for this regime. Our well‐characterized fiber phantom can be used for the calibration of OGSE and diffusion modeling techniques, as the S/V ratio can be measured independently using other MR modalities. Moreover, our calibration experiment offers an exciting perspective of mapping tissue S/V on clinical systems.
A weak Galerkin finite element method for a coupled Stokes‐Darcy problem
Authors: Li Rui , Li Jian , Liu Xin , Chen Zhangxin
Published: March 2017

In this article, we introduce and analyze a weak Galerkin finite element method for numerically solving the coupling of fluid flow with porous media flow. Flows are governed by the Stokes equations in primal velocity‐pressure formulation and Darcy equation in the second order primary formulation, respectively, and the corresponding transmission conditions are given by mass conservation, balance of normal forces, and the Beavers‐Joseph‐Saffman law. By using the weak Galerkin approach, we consider the two‐dimensional problem with the piecewise constant elements for approximations of the velocity, pressure, and hydraulic head. Stability and optimal error estimates are obtained. Finally, we provide several numerical results illustrating the good performance of the proposed scheme and confirming the optimal order of convergence provided by the weak Galerkin approximation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 1352–1373, 2017
Lack of small colony variants of Staphylococcus aureus from lower respiratory tract specimens
Authors: Carzino Rosemary , Hart Emily , Sutton Philip , King Louise , Ranganathan Sarath ,   on behalf of AREST CF
Published: March 2017

Background

Small‐colony variants (SCVs) of Staphylococcus aureus are associated with worse lung disease in children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), exhibit a higher resistance to antibiotics and co‐colonize more commonly with Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to the normal phenotype. The prevalence of SCVs in lower airway specimens from children with CF is largely unknown.

Methods

Each visible morphotype of S. aureus was subcultured onto horse blood agar (HBA) to enable identification of SCVs.

Results

Sixty‐one samples from 41 children (mean age 11.7 (SD 5.3) years) were identified with a positive S. aureus culture from lower respiratory tract specimens collected in 2014‐2015. None of the differing morphotypes isolated were identified as S. aureus SCVs.

Conclusion

In a center where anti staphylococcal prophylaxis is adopted, S. aureus SCVs were not isolated from the lower airways specimens in young children with CF indicating that acquisition of small colony variant S. aureus may not be a significant clinical problem in young children with CF.
Nucleosome mobility and the regulation of gene expression: Insights from single‐molecule studies
Authors: Rudnizky Sergei , Malik Omri , Bavly Adaiah , Pnueli Lilach , Melamed Philippa , Kaplan Ariel
Published: March 2017

Nucleosomes at the promoters of genes regulate the accessibility of the transcription machinery to DNA, and function as a basic layer in the complex regulation of gene expression. Our understanding of the role of the nucleosome's spontaneous, thermally driven position changes in modulating expression is lacking. This is the result of the paucity of experimental data on these dynamics, at high‐resolution, and for DNA sequences that belong to real, transcribed genes. We have developed an assay that uses partial, reversible unzipping of nucleosomes with optical tweezers to repeatedly probe a nucleosome's position over time. Using the nucleosomes at the promoters of two model genes, Cga and Lhb, we show that the mobility of nucleosomes is modulated by the sequence of DNA and by the use of alternative histone variants, and describe how the mobility can affect transcription, at the initiation and elongation phases.
Intrastriatal Transplantation of Human Neural Stem Cells Restores the Impaired Subventricular Zone in Parkinsonian Mice
Authors: Zuo Fuxing , Xiong Feng , Wang Xia , Li Xueyuan , Wang Renzhi , Ge Wei , Bao Xinjie
Published: March 2017

Cell replacement therapy using neural stem cells (NSCs) transplantation has recently emerged as a promising method of Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. To gain new insights into the mechanisms of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced lesioning and therapeutic efficacy of human NSCs (hNSCs) transplantation, the striatum (ST) of intrastriatal 6-OHDA-injected parkinsonian mice were unilaterally engrafted with undifferentiated hNSCs. A high-throughput quantitative proteomic approach was used to characterize the proteome profiles of PD-related brain regions such as the SN, ST, olfactory bulb, and subventricular zone (SVZ) in these mice. The abundance of more than 5,000 proteins in each region was determined with high confidence in this study, which is the most extensive proteomic study of PD mouse models to date. In addition to disruption of the DA system, the quantitative analysis demonstrated profound disturbance of the SVZ proteome after 6-OHDA insult. After hNSC engraftment, the SVZ proteome was restored and the astrocytes in the ST were greatly activated, accompanied by an increase in neurotrophic factors. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that the changes in the proteome were not caused by the proliferation of hNSCs or their progeny, but rather by the reaction of endogenous stem cells. Overall, this study elucidates the unexpected role of SVZ cells in PD progress and treatment, thereby providing new therapeutic targets for PD.
Adhesive tangential impact without slip of a rigid sphere and a power‐law graded elastic half‐space
Authors: Willert E. , Popov V. L.
Published: March 2017

The JKR‐adhesive impact of a rigid sphere on a power‐law graded half space is studied analytically and numerically under the assumptions of elastic similarity, no‐slip and quasi‐stationarity. The coefficient of normal restitution is determined analytically. The tangential problem is solved by a numerical algorithm based on the Method of Dimensionality Reduction. The tangential coefficient of restitution is depending on only two properly chosen dimensionless parameters. Thereby the presence of only very weak adhesion severely changes the tangential restitution of the sphere.
Risk Factors for Postoperative Ascites in Patients Undergoing Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Yoshikawa Takahiro , Nomi Takeo , Hokuto Daisuke , Yasuda Satoshi , Kawaguchi Chihiro , Yamada Takatsugu , Kanehiro Hiromichi , Nakajima Yoshiyuki
Published: March 2017

Background

Postoperative ascites is a common complication after liver resection. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for ascites in patients after liver resection and the relationship between postoperative ascites and other complications.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data that were obtained from 266 patients who underwent liver resection for treating hepatocellular carcinoma between 2008 and 2015. Postoperative ascites was defined as a daily ascitic fluid drainage exceeding 500 mL on postoperative day 3 or later. The participants were categorized and analyzed with respect to the presence or absence of postoperative ascites.

Results

Overall, 17 (6.4%) patients developed postoperative ascites. A multivariate analysis identified that three significant factors—serum albumin, platelet count, and operation duration—were associated with the development of postoperative ascites. Sixteen (94.1%) of the 17 patients with postoperative ascites experienced other associated complications. The patients with ascites had more pleural effusion (70.6 vs. 17.7%, P < 0.001) than the patients without ascites. Postoperative morbidity, except for pleural effusion, was similar between the groups. The postoperative hospital stay duration was significantly longer in patients with ascites than in those without ascites.

Conclusions

Postoperative ascites frequently occurred in patients with decreased liver functional reserve. Moreover, the presence of ascites was associated with significantly increased pleural effusion rates, and postoperative hospital stay duration was significantly prolonged.
A Psychological Perspective on Factors Predicting Prophylactic Salpingo‐Oophorectomy in a Sample of Italian Women from the General Population. Results from a Hypothetical Study in the Context of BRCA Mutations
Authors: Gavaruzzi Teresa , Tasso Alessandra , Franiuk Marzena , Varesco Liliana , Lotto Lorella
Published: March 2017

The aim of this study was to assess attitudes toward ovarian cancer risk management options for BRCA mutation carriers in healthy Italian women, and to identify predictors of the preference for risk reducing salpingo‐oophorectomy (RRSO) over surveillance. One hundred eighty‐one women aged 30–45 completed a questionnaire about preferences, knowledge, risk perception, and socio‐demographic information. Participants were randomly presented with a pamphlet about BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation‐specific testing, consequences of testing and preventive options for carriers, and they were stratified by having children or not and by age group. Surveillance was the preferred option (64.6%), followed by RRSO (24.3%). Although RRSO is the only effective strategy available to BRCA carriers, most healthy women faced for the first time with this option may not consider it as their preferred choice. Predictors associated with a higher likelihood to prefer surgery over surveillance were: knowing that life expectancy is longer with surgery, perceived comprehension of the consequences of testing, previous knowledge about BRCA testing, anticipated worry about developing cancer, and feelings of risk. Childbearing intentions and the effect of childbearing intentions on choice were associated with a lower preference for surgery. Further research is needed to confirm the role of the factors identified in this study in order to promote informed decision‐making about RRSO.
New Evidence Against a Causal Marriage Wage Premium
Authors: Killewald Alexandra , Lundberg Ian
Published: March 2017

Recent research has shown that men’s wages rise more rapidly than expected prior to marriage, but interpretations diverge on whether this indicates selection or a causal effect of anticipating marriage. We seek to adjudicate this debate by bringing together literatures on (1) the male marriage wage premium; (2) selection into marriage based on men’s economic circumstances; and (3) the transition to adulthood, during which both union formation and unusually rapid improvements in work outcomes often occur. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, we evaluate these perspectives. We show that wage declines predate rather than follow divorce, indicating no evidence that staying married benefits men’s wages. We find that older grooms experience no unusual wage patterns at marriage, suggesting that the observed marriage premium may simply reflect co-occurrence with the transition to adulthood for younger grooms. We show that men entering shotgun marriages experience similar premarital wage gains as other grooms, casting doubt on the claim that anticipation of marriage drives wage increases. We conclude that the observed wage patterns are most consistent with men marrying when their wages are already rising more rapidly than expected and divorcing when their wages are already falling, with no additional causal effect of marriage on wages.
Taking a break in response to pain. An experimental investigation of the effects of interruptions by pain on subsequent activity resumption
Authors: Gatzounis Rena , Schrooten Martien G.S. , Crombez Geert , Vancleef Linda M.G. , Vlaeyen Johan W.S.
Published: March 2017

Background and aims

Interrupting ongoing activities with the intention to resume them again later is a natural response to pain. However, such interruptions might have negative consequences for the subsequent resumption and performance of the interrupted activity. Activity interruptions by pain may be more impairing than interruptions by non-painful stimuli, and also be subjectively experienced as such. These effects might be more pronounced in people high in pain catastrophizing. These hypotheses were investigated in two experiments.

Methods

In Experiment 1, healthy volunteers (n = 24) performed an ongoing task requiring a sequence of joystick movements. Occasionally, they received either a painful electrocutaneous or a non-painful vibrotactile stimulus, followed by suspension of the ongoing task and temporary engagement in a different task (interruption task). After performing the interruption task for 30 s, participants resumed the ongoing task. As the ongoing task of Experiment 1 was rather simple, Experiment 2 (n = 30) included a modified, somewhat more complex version of the task, in order to examine the effects of activity interruptions by pain.

Results

Participants made more errors and were slower to initiate movements (Experiment 1 & 2) and to complete movements (Experiment 2) when they resumed the ongoing task after an interruption, indicating that interruptions impaired subsequent performance. However, these impairments were not larger when the interruption was prompted by painful than by non-painful stimulation. Pain catastrophizing did not influence the results.

Conclusions

Results indicate that activity interruptions by pain have negative consequences for the performance of an activity upon its resumption, but not more so than interruptions by non-painful stimuli. Potential explanations and avenues for future research are discussed.

Implications

Interrupting ongoing activities is a common response to pain. In two experiments using a novel paradigm we showed that activity interruptions by pain impair subsequent activity resumption and performance. However, this effect seems to not be specific to pain.
Social Networks and Networked Scholars
Authors: Pluckhahn Thomas J. , Wallis Neill J.
Published: March 2017

We describe the development of an open-access database for Swift Creek Complicated Stamped ceramics, a type of pottery common to Georgia, eastern Alabama, and northern Florida in the Middle and Late Woodland periods between ca. cal A.D. 100 and 800. The characteristic stamped designs on Swift Creek pottery, created by impressing a carved paddle into a clay vessel before firing, provide unique signatures that enable archaeologists to identify paddle matches—multiple vessels, sometimes hundreds of kilometers apart, stamped with a single paddle. These paddle matches potentially allow archaeologists to trace social interactions across hundreds of kilometers with high spatial and temporal resolution. To date, however, this potential has been hindered by the limited accessibility and fragmented nature of the dataset of reconstructed designs. The database we describe integrates paddle designs with other pertinent data for identifying paddle matches and their context, including the results of sourcing and technofunctional analyses and absolute dating. We view this database not only as a critical component of our own research, but also as a platform for collaboration among researchers that will facilitate broad syntheses of the region.
A Simple GDP-based Model for Public Investments at Risk
Authors: Lapeyre Bernard , Quinet Emile
Published: March 2017

Investment decision rules in risk situations have been extensively analyzed for firms. Most research focus on financial options and the wide range of methods based on dynamic programming currently used by firms to decide on whether and when to implement an irreversible investment under uncertainty. The situation is quite different for public investments, which are decided and largely funded by public authorities. These investments are assessed by public authorities, not through market criteria, but through public Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) procedures. Strangely enough, these procedures pay little attention to risk and uncertainty. The present text aims at filling this gap. We address the classic problem of whether and when an investment should be implemented. This stopping time problem is established in a framework where the discount rate is typically linked toGDP, which follows a Brownian motion, and where the benefits and cost of implementation follow linked Brownian motions. We find that the decision rule depends on a threshold value of the First Year Advantage/Cost ratio. This threshold can be expressed in a closed form including the means, standard deviations and correlations of the stochastic variables. Simulations with sensible current values of these parameters show that the systemic risk, coming from the correlation between the benefits of the investment and economic growth, is not that high, and that more attention should be paid to risks relating to the construction cost of the investment; furthermore, simple rules of thumb are designed for estimating the above-mentioned threshold. Some extensions are explored. Others are suggested for further research.
Wait! What About Customer-Based Subtle Discrimination?
Authors: Madera Juan M. , Lee Lindsey , Kapoor Camille E.
Published: March 2017

In the focal article, Jones, Arena, Nittrouer, Alonso, and Lindsey (2017) provide a review and a conceptual framework for examining subtle discrimination in the workplace. The focal article, however, mainly focuses on subtle discrimination that occurs among coworkers and only mentions customers once. The current commentary delves deeper into this notion and extends their framework by focusing on customer-based subtle discrimination. We mainly focus on research from the service industry, in part because the service industry is the largest industry in the United States, employing more than half of all employees in the United States (Lopez, 2010), and because the service industry involves frequent customer interactions. Whether it is a server in a restaurant, a front-desk clerk at a hotel, a flight attendant on a plane, or an attendant in a retail store, stigmatized service employees often face subtle discrimination. Consistent with the focal article, we argue that the subtle discrimination faced by service employees can be both interpersonal (e.g., rudeness directed toward a stigmatized service employee) and formal (e.g., a lower tip for a stigmatized service employee). The purpose of this commentary is to highlight the research on subtle discrimination by customers, focusing on a discussion of the reasons why stigmatized service employees are particularly vulnerable to subtle discrimination from customers during service encounters.
Subtle Discrimination as Natural “Equal Reaction” to Organizational Actions, and Practical Ways To Soften It
Authors: Rabenu Edna , Chernyak-Hai Lily
Published: March 2017

The article on subtle discrimination by Jones and colleagues (K. P. Jones, Arena, Nittrouer, Alonso, & Lindsey, 2017) describes in detail and enriches the knowledge on this undesirable yet quite common phenomenon in organizations. In this comment, we argue that subtle discrimination behaviors are natural and predictable in view of organizational actions taken to increase diversity on one hand and prevent overt discrimination on the other hand. Also, practical ways to reduce the phenomenon are suggested.
Breaking Engagement Apart: The Role of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation in Engagement Strategies
Authors: Delaney Molly L. , Royal Mark A.
Published: March 2017

Employee engagement has long been an instrumental component of human capital strategies and continues to dominate the conversation about how high-performing organizations attract and retain their best talent. Engagement is a construct of component parts, however, and we believe there is still much to be learned about engagement by taking an in-depth look at those components. This article examines employee motivation as a core element of engagement, including its antecedents and outcomes, the types of motivation and the dynamics between them, and the ways organizations can foster and harness motivation for improved engagement. Our research identifies a large and consistent motivation gap, such that employee intrinsic motivation is consistently higher than extrinsic motivation. This gap signals that investments in engagement can yield a higher return if strategically focused on motivation, and so we offer recommendations regarding how to close this gap via intrinsically and extrinsically motivating work structures and environments. The goal is to create a new dialogue around engagement and encourage organizations to break it down in order to understand it more fully.
Changes of glaciers and glacial lakes implying corridor-barrier effects and climate change in the Hengduan Shan, southeastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: WANG XIN , CHAI KAIGUO , LIU SHIYIN , WEI JUNFENG , JIANG ZONGLI , LIU QIONGHUAN
Published: March 2017

Changes of glaciers and glacial lakes and their causes were examined in the Hengduan Shan from 1990 to 2014, based on Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI images. A total glacier area of 1298.8 ± 62.1 km2 and glacial lake area of 255.8 ± 31.6 km were inventoried in 2014. The area of glaciers declined at an average rate of −0.40 ± 0.26% a−1, while glacial lakes expanded at average rate of +0.12 ± 0.03% a−1 over the past 24 years. These changes probably resulted from an observable temperature increase and slight precipitation increase. A ‘corridor-barrier’ effect formed by the longitudinal range–gorge terrain may have had major impacts on the distributions and changes of glaciers and glacial lakes. The Ningjing-Yunling Shan, where glaciers and glacial lakes are sparsely distributed, are an important geographic transition line in the Hengduan Shan because of the barrier effect of the mountain ranges against moisture from the southwest. In contrast, between the south and north, there were small differences with respect to the distributions and changes of glaciers and glacial lakes, owing to a north–south corridor effect for water and heat transport and diffusion through the longitudinal gorges in the Hengduan Shan.
Evolutionary implications of a new transitional blastozoan echinoderm from the middle Cambrian of the Czech Republic
Authors: Nardin Elise , Lefebvre Bertrand , Fatka Oldřich , Nohejlová Martina , Kašička Libor , Šinágl Miroslav , Szabad Michal
Published: March 2017

The primitive blastozoanFelbabkacystis luckaen. gen. n. sp. is described from the Drumian Jince Formation, Barrandian area (Czech Republic) from eleven fairly well-preserved specimens. Its unique body plan organization is composed of a relatively long, stalk-like imbricate structure directly connected to the aboral imbricate cup of the test and of an adoral vaulted tessellate test supporting the ambulacral and brachiolar systems. Its bipartite test, called prototheca, highlights the evolution of the body wall among blastozoans.Felbabkacystisn. gen. shows the combination of plesiomorphic (imbricate stalk-like appendage) and derived features (highly domed peristome, elongate epispires). The new genus is interpreted as a transitional form between calyx-bearing and theca-bearing blastozoans, and is attributed to the new family Felbabkacystidae. The lithology, the associated fauna, and the possession of a long stalk suggest thatFelbabkacystiswas probably a low-level suspension feeder living in relatively deep settings.
Stable Carbon Isotopic Composition in Annual Rings of a Pine Tree (Pinus Densiflora) from Yeongwol, Korea: Possible Application to Climate Study
Authors: Kim Chi-Hwan , Lee Jang Hoon , Kang Jin , Song Sujin , Yun Myung-ho , Kim Jong Chan
Published: March 2017

Stable carbon isotope ratios were measured on the alpha-cellulose in tree rings of a pine tree (Pinus densiflora) from Yeongwol, Korea. We developed an annual-resolution δ13C series (1835–1905) by correcting the measured data for changes in δ13C of air to minimize non-climatic influences. To investigate the climatic signal in the δ13C series, we performed correlation analysis between δ13C and the Cheugugi climate data. The Cheugugi precipitation data were first recorded by King Sejong (1397–1450) of the Joseon Dynasty. However, the longest set of precipitation data available is the one collected in Seoul (1776–1907). Although many studies support the reliability of the Cheugugi data, no previous studies have investigated the potential of the δ13C signal in tree rings as paleoclimate proxy using the Cheugugi data. Recent precipitation trends in Yeongwol are quite similar to that of Seoul, and we found significant correlations between the Cheugugi data and the δ13C series. We suggest further studies to replicate these results and confirm whether comparing δ13C variations in tree rings and Cheugugi data is a useful method of investigating the potential of the δ13C signal as a paleoclimate proxy in or near the Korean peninsula.
Committee Chairs and Legislative Review in Parliamentary Democracies
Authors: Fortunato David , Martin Lanny W. , Vanberg Georg
Published: March 2017

Recent research on parliamentary institutions has demonstrated that legislatures featuring strong committees play an important role in shaping government policy. However, the impact of the legislators who lead these committees – committee chairs – is poorly understood. This study provides the first examination of whether the partisan control of committee chairs in parliamentary systems has a systematic impact on legislative scrutiny. The article argues that committee chairs can, in principle, use their significant agenda powers to serve two purposes: providing opposition parties with a greater ability to scrutinize government policy proposals, and enabling government parties to better police one another. Analyzing the legislative histories of 1,100 government bills in three parliamentary democracies, the study finds that control of committee chairs significantly strengthens the ability of opposition parties to engage in legislative review. The analysis also suggests that government parties’ ability to monitor their coalition allies does not depend on control of committee chairs.
Insecticidal effects of extracts of Humulus lupulus (hops) L. cones and its principal component, xanthohumol
Authors: Aydin T. , Bayrak N. , Baran E. , Cakir A.
Published: March 2017

Insecticidal effects of the dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol and methanol extracts of Humulus lupulus (hops) L. cones and its principal components, xanthohumol was investigated on five stored pests, Sitophilus granarius (L.), Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Lasioderma serricorne (F.). The mortality of adults of the insects treated with 2, 5, 5, 10 and 20 mg ml̠−1 concentrations of the extracts and xanthuhumol was counted after 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h. In order to determine the toxic effects of the substances tested against all tested insects, durations for 50% mortality of the adults, and LD50 values were also determined in the first 48 h by probit analysis. Our results also showed that xanthohumol was more toxic against the pests in comparison with the extracts applications. LD50 values for xanthohumol were found to be low dose as compared with the extracts. Xanthohumol was more toxic against S. granarius (L.) with 6.8 µg of LD50 value. Among the extracts, methanol extract was less effective than other extracts against all tested insects. The ethyl acetate extract of H. lupulus cones was the most effective extract against the tested pests. The quantitative amounts of xanthohumol in the extracts were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography. The quantitative data indicated that amount of xanthohumol in the extracts increased with increase of polarity of the solvents used from methanol to dichloromethane. The methanol extract contained the high amount of xanthohumol with 5.74 g/100 g extract (0.46 g/100 g plant sample).
Occam’s Razor and Non-Voluntarist Accounts of Political Authority
Authors: MARING LUKE
Published: March 2017

Certain non-voluntarists have recently defended political authority by advancing views with a two-fold structure. First, they argue that the state, or the law, is best (or uniquely) capable of accomplishing something important. Second, they defend a substantive normative principle on which being so situated is sufficient for de jure authority. Widely accepted tenets undermine all such views.
Dionysos in Jerusalem and the Historicity of 2 Macc 6:7
Authors: Amitay Ory
Published: March 2017

In his masterful translation and commentary on the Second Book of Maccabees, Daniel Schwartz devotes a short appendix to the historicity of the information provided in chapter 6, verse 7:

ἤγοντο δὲ μετὰ πικρᾶς ἀνάγκης εἰς τὴν κατὰ μῆνα τοῦ βασιλέως γενέθλιον ἡμέραν ἐπὶ σπλαγχισμόν, γενομένης δὲ Διονυσίων ἑορτῆς ἠναγκάζοντο κισσοὺς ἔχοντες πομπεύειν τΔιονύσῳ.

And with bitter compulsion they were led each month to a banquet for the King's birthday, and as there was a Dionysia festival, they were forced to parade carrying ivy in honor of Dionysos.

In the opening paragraph of his discussion of the verse, Schwartz states: “This verse refers to two elements in Antiochus’ persecution in Jerusalem: monthly celebrations of the king's birthday and the cult of Dionysus. Concerning both there is room to suspect that they reflect the Ptolemaic context of our author more than the realities of Seleucid Jerusalem.” In other words, he doubts the historicity of the information provided in the verse, making it an imaginative creation either by Jason of Kyrene or by the anonymous redactor of 2 Macc.
Gender and Board Activeness: The Role of a Critical Mass
Authors: Schwartz-Ziv Miriam
Published: March 2017

This study analyzes detailed minutes of board meetings of business companies in which the Israeli government holds a substantial equity interest. Boards with at least 3 directors of each gender are found to be at least 79% more active at board meetings than those without such representation. This phenomenon is driven by women directors in particular; they are more active when a critical mass of at least 3 women is in attendance. Gender-balanced boards are also more likely to replace underperforming chief executive officers (CEOs) and are particularly active during periods when CEOs are being replaced.
Pied-piping in cognition
Authors: HUDSON RICHARD
Published: March 2017

The paper offers an analysis of pied-piping within the theoretical framework of Word Grammar. This framework combines cognitive linguistics with dependency grammar, so it assumes that the full power of domain-general cognition is available for syntax, and that syntactic structure can be conceived as a network of relations between individual words. In this network, words are related by at least two kinds of link: dependencies and ‘landmark’ links that determine word order. To handle the special characteristics of pied-piping, the analysis also includes a single special relation, ‘pipee’, which links the ‘piper’ (thewh-type word) to the word which replaces it in the landmark structure. The analysis is applied in detail to English, and then compared with previous analyses and extended to accommodate both the pied-piping with inversion found in Meso-American languages, and the boundary markers found in other languages.
Secondary nucleation of monomers on fibril surface dominatesα-synuclein aggregation and provides autocatalytic amyloid amplification
Authors: Gaspar Ricardo , Meisl Georg , Buell Alexander K. , Young Laurence , Kaminski Clemens F. , Knowles Tuomas P. J. , Sparr Emma , Linse Sara
Published: March 2017

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by proteinaceous aggregates named Lewy Bodies and Lewy Neurites containingα-synuclein fibrils. The underlying aggregation mechanism of this protein is dominated by a secondary process at mildly acidic pH, as in endosomes and other organelles. This effect manifests as a strong acceleration of the aggregation in the presence of seeds and a weak dependence of the aggregation rate on monomer concentration. The molecular mechanism underlying this process could be nucleation of monomers on fibril surfaces or fibril fragmentation. Here, we aim to distinguish between these mechanisms. The nature of the secondary processes was investigated using differential sedimentation analysis, trap and seed experiments, quartz crystal microbalance experiments and super-resolution microscopy. The results identify secondary nucleation of monomers on the fibril surface as the dominant secondary process leading to rapid generation of new aggregates, while no significant contribution from fragmentation was found. The newly generated oligomeric species quickly elongate to further serve as templates for secondary nucleation and this may have important implications in the spreading of PD.
Dispersal ofGoeppertia marantifoliaclonal offspring increases with greater canopy openness and larger plant size
Authors: Matlaga David P. , Snyder Rachel K. , Horvitz Carol C.
Published: March 2017

Many plants within the neotropical understorey produce both seeds and clonal offspring. Plant attributes (i.e. size) and variability in light can influence seed dispersal but it is not known if these factors influence the dispersal of clonal offspring. Our goal was to determine if canopy openness and plant size influence clonal-offspring dispersal of the herbGoeppertia marantifolia, which produces clonal bulbils on above-ground shoots. We monitored plants in permanent plots with varying levels of canopy openness in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. We recorded canopy openness, leaf area and the distance clonal offspring travelled from their parent plant (N = 283). Our path analysis model demonstrated that canopy openness had a strong positive effect on dispersal distance, while the association between clonal-offspring dispersal distance and parent plant leaf area was only weakly positive. On average, plants experiencing high canopy openness dispersed their clonal offspring further than plants under low canopy openness (124 cm vs. 79 cm, respectively). Contrary to studies on species that utilize rhizomes and stolons for clonal reproduction, we found that in this bulbil-producing species light availability is positively associated with clonal dispersal distance. Therefore, the influence of resource availability on spatial population dynamics of clonal species may be influenced by the species’ growth-form.
First record of flower visitation by a rodent in Neotropical Proteaceae, Oreocallis grandiflora
Authors: Cárdenas Santiago , Nivelo-Villavicencio Carlos , Cárdenas Juan D. , Landázuri P. Omar , Tinoco Boris A.
Published: March 2017

There is still much to learn about pollination ecology in areas of high species diversity, such as the Neotropical region. For example, the role of non-flying mammals in pollination is largely unknown in the Neotropical areas, despite the importance of this group in the pollination of plants in other regions. Here we report evidence for flower visitation by a rodent to Oreocallis grandiflora (Proteaceae) in our study site in the southern Andes of Ecuador. For a period of 241 h, camcorders equipped with infrared lights revealed 22 occurrences of floral visitation by Microryzomys altissimus (Cricetidae) to inflorescences of O. grandiflora. Pollen samples taken from the fur of captured individuals showed that M. altissimus carries pollen of O. grandiflora, indicating a potential pollinator role for the rodent. This is the first record of flower visitation by a rodent in the Neotropical Andes. Pollination interactions between non-flying mammals and Proteaceae have been reported in other southern hemisphere continents. This study underscores the need for more research on pollination interactions in the Neotropics, especially in critical Andean biodiversity hotspots.
Effect of distance from edge on exotic grass abundance in tropical dry forests bordering pastures in Ecuador
Authors: Lyons-Galante Hannah Ruth , Haro-Carrión Xavier
Published: March 2017

We compared exotic pasture grass cover near the edges of 20–25-y-old secondary forests (N = 8) with those of mature forests (N = 8), bordering actively grazed pastures on the Pacific Coast of Ecuador. We estimated grass cover in 224 1 × 3-m plots along transects that ran from the pasture edge into forest interiors (11–44 m). Using a spline regression, we divided the transects into three segments: exterior (in the pasture), edge and interior (in the forest). With a stepwise regression, we tested the effect of transect section, forest type and distance from edge on grass cover. Forest type, distance from edge, interior transect section and the combined effect of distance from edge in both the interior and exterior sections explained variation in grass cover. Grass abundance was higher and penetrated further into secondary than mature forests. Edge proximity and differences in forest canopy openness likely favours recruitment and persistence of pasture grasses.