bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
XPS analysis of genomic DNA adsorbed on PEI‐modified surfaces
Authors: Vanzetti Lia , Pasquardini L. , Potrich C. , Vaghi V. , Battista E. , Causa F. , Pederzolli C.
Published: January 2016

Polyethylenimine (PEI) is a cationic polymer able to interact with nucleic acids. Taking advantage of this property, PEI‐modified functional surfaces for the capture of DNA were developed and characterized with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) during every step of the preparation. The XPS demonstrated the presence of PEI on the functional surfaces, while the density of PEI primary amino groups was quantified with a colorimetric test, resulting in 6 × 1014 amino groups/cm2. Different amounts of DNA were adsorbed on the functional surfaces, and the interaction between DNA and PEI was monitored both via fluorescence and XPS. The functional surfaces were indeed able to capture DNA, opening the possibility of a low‐cost and fast strategy for the purification of DNA. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Directed Dedifferentiation Using Partial Reprogramming Induces Invasive Phenotype in Melanoma Cells
Authors: Knappe Nathalie , Novak Daniel , Weina Kasia , Bernhardt Mathias , Reith Maike , Larribere Lionel , Hölzel Michael , Tüting Thomas , Gebhardt Christoffer , Umansky Viktor , Utikal Jochen
Published: January 2016

The combination of cancer-focused studies and research related to nuclear reprogramming has gained increasing importance since both processes—reprogramming towards pluripotency and malignant transformation—share essential features. Studies have revealed that incomplete reprogramming of somatic cells leads to malignant transformation indicating that epigenetic regulation associated with iPSC generation can drive cancer development [J Mol Cell Biol 2011;341–350; Cell 2012;151:1617–1632; Cell 2014;156:663–677]. However, so far it is unclear whether incomplete reprogramming also affects cancer cells and their function. In the context of melanoma, dedifferentiation correlates to therapy resistance in mouse studies and has been documented in melanoma patients [Nature 2012;490:412–416; Clin Cancer Res 2014;20:2498–2499]. Therefore, we sought to investigate directed dedifferentiation using incomplete reprogramming of melanoma cells. Using a murine model we investigated the effects of partial reprogramming on the cellular plasticity of melanoma cells. We demonstrate for the first time that induced partial reprogramming results in a reversible phenotype switch in melanoma cells. Partially reprogrammed cells at day 12 after transgene induction display elevated invasive potential in vitro and increased lung colonization in vivo. Additionally, using global gene expression analysis of partially reprogrammed cells, we identified SNAI3 as a novel invasion-related marker in human melanoma. SNAI3 expression correlates with tumor thickness in primary melanomas and thus, may be of prognostic value. In summary, we show that investigating intermediate states during the process of reprogramming melanoma cells can reveal novel insights into the pathogenesis of melanoma progression. We propose that deeper analysis of partially reprogrammed melanoma cells may contribute to identification of yet unknown signaling pathways that can drive melanoma progression.
Learning in a community of practice: Factors impacting english‐learning students' engagement in scientific argumentation
Authors: González‐Howard María , McNeill Katherine L.
Published: January 2016

Recent education reform efforts have included an increasing push for school science to better mirror authentic scientific endeavor, including a focus on science practices. However, despite expectations that all students engage in these language‐rich practices, little prior research has focused on how such opportunities will be created for English‐learning students. This case study uses the conceptual framework of communities of practice to investigate the relationship between English‐learning students' argumentation and their middle school sheltered English immersion (SEI) science classroom community. Considering various aspects of this conceptual framework—including the role of legitimate peripheral participation, as well as the degree to which community members' goals and expectations around the practice of interest align—allowed us to identify classroom characteristics that both hindered and facilitated students' opportunities to engage in argumentation. First, the classroom community, and consequently the presence and quality of argumentative discourse, was influenced by student movement in and out of this classroom, as their English proficiencies improved. The constantly changing class roster made it difficult for newer members to watch, learn, and engage in argumentation with more knowledgeable peers. Furthermore, certain elements of the SEI approach, namely its deductive nature, conflicted with the type of instruction necessary to encourage language use for sensemaking. However, this instructional context also offered English‐learning students with affordances they may not find in other educational settings. Specifically, we found that when students worked in smaller group structures, such as pairs, and they utilized both their native and second language as a linguistic resource for engaging in science discourse, their engagement in argumentation was promoted. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 53: 527–553, 2016
Special education teachers' nature of science instructional experiences
Authors: Mulvey Bridget K. , Chiu Jennifer L. , Ghosh Rajlakshmi , Bell Randy L.
Published: January 2016

Special education teachers provide critical science instruction to students. However, little research investigates special education teacher beliefs and practices around science in general or the nature of science and inquiry in particular. This investigation is a cross‐case analysis of four elementary special education teachers' initial semester‐long professional development experiences learning about and attempting to implement nature of science and inquiry instruction. Participants were purposively selected from a larger study of 61 pre‐K–5 teachers from one mid‐Atlantic urban school district. Data sources included pre/postsurveys, video recordings of lessons, teachers' guided reflections through time, and a postcourse interview. Results demonstrated that all participants improved their nature of science conceptions, explicitly addressed nature of science tenets during instruction, and taught via inquiry. Further, they moved beyond simply mimicking course lessons they experienced by adapting them to student needs and even innovating new lessons. Teachers increased their attention to plans and instruction to meet the needs of students with special needs; yet most of the teachers made few references to specific Individualized Education Programs, individual student needs, or associated instructional decisions. Results suggest that nature of science and inquiry professional development can increase special education teachers' expectations of their students with special needs. To improve outcomes, professional development should increase the explicit attention to planning and strategies to help meet specific student needs. Also, special and general education teachers in inclusion settings can benefit from support with the negotiation of their roles. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 53: 554–578, 2016
A faulty node detection scheme for wireless sensor networks that use data aggregation for transport
Authors: Artail Hassan , Ajami Abdelkarim , Saouma Tania , Charaf Malak
Published: January 2016

This paper presents a faulty node detection approach for wireless sensor networks that aggregate measurement data on their way toward the sink (base station). The approach is based on the idea of commanding sensor nodes on the aggregation paths to temporarily stop including their readings in the received aggregated readings from their upstream neighbors. The scheme is dependent on the ability of the sink to detect faulty nodes through changes in the received aggregated readings at the sink using a Markov Chain Controller (MCC). The algorithm that is run in the sink uses the MCC to assign a state to each sensor node based on transitions that are triggered by receiving aggregated path readings, and accordingly deduces the nodes that may be faulty. The experimental results show at least 98% detection rate at the cost of reasonable detection delays and generated wireless network traffic. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Long‐Term Outcome of Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma in Patients Undergoing Surgical Intervention for Skeletal Metastases
Authors: Mishra Anjali , Kumar Chitresh , Chand Gyan , Agarwal Gaurav , Agarwal Amit , Verma Ashok Kumar , Mishra Saroj Kanta
Published: January 2016

Background

A large proportion of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) patients in developing countries present with overt skeletal metastases (SM). These patients often require surgical interventions for prevention of morbidity, palliation of symptoms, and facilitation of radioiodine therapy (RAIT). Scarce literature is available about the long‐term outcome of such patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long‐term outcome of FTC patients undergoing surgical intervention for SM.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the data of FTC patients with SM (January 1990–December 2011). Out of 91 patients with SM, 32 had surgical interventions for SM. All had total thyroidectomy performed.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 48.5 years (M:F = 1:2). Majority (93.7 %) had synchronous metastases and 22 % had multiple SM. The surgical interventions for SM included: laminectomy (50 %), resection of skull metastases (18.8 %), resection of manubrium sterni (18.8 %), partial clavicle excision (9.4 %), and hemimandibulectomy (3.1 %). The main intents were palliation (50 %) and facilitation of RAIT (37.5 %). 84 % patients received RAIT. Median follow‐up was 52 months (mean = 50 ± 37). Five‐ (56 vs 63 %) and 10‐year (28 vs 23 %) overall survival (OS) did not differ significantly (p = 0.968) from those not having interventions for SM. On univariate analysis tumor invasion (p = 0.006) and synchronous presentation of SM (p = 0.043) were significant risk factors for OS, whereas on multivariate analysis tumor invasion (p = 0.006) was significant.

Conclusions

Surgical interventions directed at SM in FTC patients with overt multiple SM might not result in improve OS. However, considering reasonable long‐term survival, interventions should be considered for desired palliation and preservation of body function.
Landscape level processes driving carabid crop assemblage in dynamic farmlands
Authors: Duflot Rémi , Ernoult Aude , Burel Françoise , Aviron Stéphanie
Published: January 2016

Landscape heterogeneity has been shown to be a major factor in the maintenance of biodiversity and associated services in agricultural landscapes. Farmlands are mosaics of fields with various crop types and farming practices. Crop phenology creates asynchrony between fields sown and harvested in different periods (winter vs. spring crops). The present study was conducted to examine the influence of such spatio‐temporal heterogeneity on biodiversity, with the hypothesis that it would lead to spatio‐temporal redistribution (shifting) of species. Species richness and activity‐density of carabid beetles in winter cereal (winter) and maize (spring) crops were compared across 20 landscapes distributed along a double gradient of relative area and spatial configuration of winter and spring crops. Maize fields were sampled in spring and late summer for comparison over time. The response of carabid species richness to landscape heterogeneity was weak in spring, but maize field richness benefited from adjacencies with woody habitat, in late summer. In spring, increased length of interfaces between winter and spring crops lowered carabid activity‐density in winter cereal fields, suggesting that maize fields acted as sinks. Interfaces between woody habitats and crops increased activity‐density in both crop types. We found no evidence of spatio‐temporal complementation, but different species benefited from winter cereals and maize in spring and late summer, increasing overall diversity. These findings confirm the role of adjacencies between woody and cultivated habitats in the conservation of abundant carabid assemblage in winter cereals and maize. We conclude that between‐field population movement occurs, and advocate for better consideration of farmland heterogeneity in future research.
A new approach to simplify surgical colpotomy in laparoscopic hysterectomy
Authors: van den Haak L. , Rhemrev J. P. T. , Blikkendaal M. D. , Luteijn A. C. M. , van den Dobbelsteen J. J. , Driessen S. R. C. , Jansen F. W.
Published: January 2016

New surgical techniques and technology have simplified laparoscopic hysterectomy and have enhanced the safety of this procedure. However, the surgical colpotomy step has not been addressed. This study evaluates the surgical colpotomy step in laparoscopic hysterectomy with respect to difficulty and duration. Furthermore, it proposes an alternative route that may simplify this step in laparoscopic hysterectomy. A structured interview, a prospective cohort study, and a problem analysis were performed regarding experienced difficulty and duration of surgical colpotomy in laparoscopic hysterectomy. Sixteen experts in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery from 12 hospitals participated in the structured interview using a 5-point Likert scale. The colpotomy in LH received the highest scores for complexity (2.8 ± 1.2), compared to AH and VH. Colpotomy in LH was estimated as more difficult than in AH (2.8 vs 1.4, p < .001). In the cohort study, 107 patients undergoing LH were included. Sixteen percent of the total procedure time was spent on colpotomy (SD 7.8 %). BMI was positively correlated with colpotomy time, even after correcting for longer operation time. No relation was found between colpotomy time and blood loss or uterine weight. The surgical colpotomy step in laparoscopic hysterectomy should be simplified as this study demonstrates that it is time consuming and is considered to be more difficult than in other hysterectomy procedures. A vaginal approach to the colpotomy is proposed to achieve this simplification.
Effects of converting natural forests to coniferous plantations on fruit and seed production and mating patterns in wild cherry trees
Authors: Nagamitsu Teruyoshi , Shuri Kato , Taki Hisatomo , Kikuchi Satoshi , Masaki Takashi
Published: January 2016

Landscape disturbances can affect reproductive performance of animal‐pollinated trees. We verified the effects of the loss and fragmentation of natural forests caused by the creation of coniferous plantations on fruit and seed production as well as mating patterns of animal‐pollinated trees. We investigated 146 and 134 individual flowering trees of Prunus verecunda (Koidz.) Koehne in 2012 and 2013, respectively, at 12 sites. These sites were at least 1.2 km apart from each other in an 8 × 15‐km forestry region, and the composition and configuration of natural forests varied in the study area. The mean outcrossing rate was >0.99 across the sites. Among trees within the sites, the number of fruits per inflorescence was positively correlated with the basal stem area and leaf chlorophyll density of the trees. Among the sites, the mean number of fruits per inflorescence was positively correlated with the site elevation, and the correlated paternity was positively correlated with the mean distance between trees. The sound‐seed rate was positively correlated with the natural‐forest area among the sites. These results suggest that environments and resources of trees influence their fruit production, that a loss of natural forests increases in embryo mortality, and that a reduction in tree density decreases pollen donor diversity in P. verecunda. Thus, a landscape disturbance may decrease seed production, whereas outbreeding is maintained, and fruit production is not likely to be dependent on the landscape disturbance in this species.
Compilation of Japanese fisheries statistics for the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, since 1894: a historical dataset for stock assessment
Authors: Hakoyama Hiroshi , Fujimori Hiroka , Okamoto Chiaki , Kodama Sakie
Published: January 2016

Fishery sustainability and the extinction risk of the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, are of global concern. The landings of the Japanese eel in Japan comprise a large part of the landings in East Asia. This study provides a compiled dataset of the annual fisheries statistics of the Japanese eel in Japan for stock assessment. The Japanese government has been recording Japanese eel statistics annually since 1984 in five series of annual reports by conducting systematic questionnaire surveys of fisheries managers and associations; however, most of these data are stored in analog format. The key variables in the dataset include the harvest weight of eels, the harvest weight and number of seeds for aquaculture, the number of eels stocked, and the number of management entities engaged in the eel fishery. The levels of spatial aggregation of the variables include the site (river and lake), prefecture, inland and coastal waters, and total in Japan. We also incorporated location data (latitude and longitude) of the site and prefecture into the dataset. Eel harvest includes primarily yellow eels (late juvenile stage) and silver eels (mature stage). Seed harvest in inland waters includes glass eels (intermediate stage between leptocephalus and elver) and elvers (early juvenile stage). Seed harvest from coastal waters comprises glass eels. This dataset provides information to assess long‐term trends in the Japanese eel population.
Role of Promoters on the Acrolein Ammoxidation Performances of BiMoOx
Authors: Ghalwadkar Ajay , Katryniok Benjamin , Paul Sébastien , Mamede Anne‐Sophie , Dumeignil Franck
Published: January 2016

Ammoxidation of acrolein to acrylonitrile was studied using multicomponent (MC) BiMoOx catalysts in the presence of ammonia and oxygen. The MC catalysts containing bivalent and trivalent metal promoters were found to be highly active and selective to acrylonitrile. The corresponding MC catalysts were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ICP‐MS and UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. It was observed that, among the bivalent cations, the catalysts containing both Co–Ni showed superior performances due to the presence of the metastable β‐CoxNi1−xMoO4 phase. The presence of a trivalent cation, and especially of iron, promoted the formation of both the γ‐Bi2MoO6 active phase and the active β‐phase of bivalent metal molybdate. Further, optimization of the reaction conditions enabled the achievement of a 59 % acrylonitrile yield.
The extent of the raphe in bicuspid aortic valves is associated with aortic regurgitation and aortic root dilatation
Authors: Koenraadt W. M. C. , Grewal N. , Gaidoukevitch O. Y. , DeRuiter M. C. , Gittenberger-de Groot A. C. , Bartelings M. M. , Holman E. R. , Klautz R. J. M. , Schalij M. J. , Jongbloed M. R. M.
Published: January 2016

Background

The clinical course of bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs) is variable. Data on predictors of aortopathy and valvular dysfunction mainly focus on valve morphology.

Aim

To determine whether the presence and extent of the raphe (fusion site of valve leaflets) is associated with the degree of aortopathy and valvular dysfunction in patients with isolated BAV and associated aortic coarctation (CoA).

Methods

Valve morphology and aortic dimensions of 255 BAV patients were evaluated retrospectively by echocardiography.

Results

BAVs with a complete raphe had a significantly higher prevalence of valve dysfunction (especially aortic regurgitation) than BAVs with incomplete raphes (82.9 vs. 66.7 %, p = 0.01). Type 1A BAVs (fusion of right and left coronary leaflets) and complete raphe had larger aortic sinus diameters compared with the rest of the population (37.74 vs. 36.01, p = 0.031). Patients with CoA and type 1A BAV had significantly less valve regurgitation (13.6 vs. 55.8 %, p < 0.001) and smaller diameters of the ascending aorta (33.7 vs. 37.8 mm, p < 0.001) and aortic arch (25.8 vs. 30.2 mm, p < 0.001) than patients with isolated BAV.

Conclusions

Type 1A BAV with complete raphe is associated with more aortic regurgitation and root dilatation. The majority of CoA patients have incomplete raphes, associated with smaller aortic root diameters and less valve regurgitation.
Self‐perceptions of pubertal timing and patterns of peer group activities and dating behavior among heterosexual adolescent girls
Authors: Carter Rona , Williams Sandra
Published: January 2016

This study identified patterns of past and concurrent peer group and dating behavior in a sample of adolescent girls (N = 511; aged 17–19 years; 49% White). Peer group activities and dating behaviors were classified as occurring in either early (ages 10–13 years), middle (ages 14–16 years), or late (ages 17–19 years) adolescence according to the age at which each participant indicated the activity/behavior was first experienced. Latent class analysis identified four latent classes: Early Interactions/Early Daters (15%), Early Interactions/Late Daters (17%), Early Interactions/Middle Daters (33%) and Middle Interactions/Middle Daters (35%). Class membership was associated with girl's perceived pubertal timing. Compared to Early Interactions/Early Daters, girls in the Early Interactions/Late Daters class reported higher levels of pubertal timing, indicating greater perception that their pubertal development was late relative to peers. Late perceived pubertal timing is potentially relevant for dating but not necessarily other mixed‐ and cross‐sex peer interactions.
Study progress of berberine for treating cardiovascular disease
Authors: Xia Le‐Min , Luo Mei‐Hong
Published: January 2016

Berberine (BBR) is a natural alkaloid isolated from the Coptis chinensis. While this plant has been used in Chinese medicine for more than 2500 years, interest in its effects in treating cardiovascular disease has been growing in the last decade. Recent researches showed that BBR had the effect of anti‐heart failure, anti‐hypertension, anti‐hyperlipidemia, anti‐insulin resistance, anti‐arrhythmias, and anti‐platelet aggregation.
Reliability and Validity of School Function Assessment for Children with Cerebral Palsy in Guangzhou, China
Authors: Li Xiao-Lin , Dong Vicky An-Qin , Fong Kenneth N.K.
Published: January 2016

Background/Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the School Function Assessment (SFA) for primary school students with cerebral palsy (CP) in Guangzhou, China.

Methods

Ninety-three students with CP were recruited by convenience sampling from a special school. The Chinese version of the SFA was administered and an exploratory factor analysis with direct oblique rotation was used to extract the factor structure underlying the Activity Performance scales of the SFA. An intraclass correlation one-way random single measure was performed to study external reliability. Cronbach's alpha was used to study internal consistency.

Results

The findings showed that the Chinese version of the SFA had high internal consistency with test–retest reliability [ICC (1, k) = 0.49–0.97].

Conclusion

This study has established the applicability of the SFA for both clinical and research purposes in the Chinese population, and presented evidence of satisfactory psychometric properties in use with primary school students with CP in special schools.
DETERMINANTS OF DECISIONS TO ENTER THE U.S. FARMING SECTOR
Authors: MISHRA ASHOK K. , EL-OSTA HISHAM S.
Published: January 2016

This study investigates the factors likely to affect an individual’s decision to enter farming after and/or while participating in an off-farm employment activity. Additionally, an ordered multivariate regression procedure was used to analyze the degree of importance of selected motivating reasons that were drivers of individuals’ decision to enter farming. Results indicate that individuals with lower education, children in the household, and older family members were more likely to have entered farming as an occupation. Findings further suggest that federal policies in the form of farm program payments may provide retired nonfarm workers incentives to enter farming in later life.
Singular perturbations of the unicritical polynomials with two parameters
Authors: XIAO YINGQING , YANG FEI
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we study the dynamics of the family of rational maps with two parameters $$\begin{eqnarray}f_{a,b}(z)=z^{n}+\frac{a^{2}}{z^{n}-b}+\frac{a^{2}}{b},\end{eqnarray}$$ where $n\geq 2$ and $a,b\in \mathbb{C}^{\ast }$. We give a characterization of the topological properties of the Julia set and the Fatou set of $f_{a,b}$ according to the dynamical behavior of the orbits of the free critical points.
AN ALTERNATE PROOF OF WISE’S MALNORMAL SPECIAL QUOTIENT THEOREM
Authors: AGOL IAN , GROVES DANIEL , MANNING JASON FOX
Published: January 2016

We give an alternate proof of Wise’s malnormal special quotient theorem (MSQT), avoiding cubical small cancelation theory. We also show how to deduce Wise’s Quasiconvex Hierarchy Theorem from the MSQT and theorems of Hsu and Wise and Haglund and Wise.
Centrifugal instabilities in an experimental open cavity flow
Authors: Douay C. L. , Pastur L. R. , Lusseyran F.
Published: January 2016

We present an experimental parametric study of spanwise centrifugal instabilities in an open cavity flow. We show that the mode selected at threshold depends on the cavity streamwise aspect ratio. For small aspect ratio, a steady mode is enhanced, while travelling waves are observed for large aspect ratio. The bifurcation is found to be supercritical for all configurations. Sidewall effects are shown to generate secondary flows that carry the vortical patterns. Spanwise confinement enhances the family of steady modes relative to the family of oscillatory modes. These results are discussed with respect to predictions from linear stability analyses and other flows developing centrifugal instabilities.
A Reassessment of the Routine Pretreatment Protocol for Radiocarbon Dating Cremated Bones
Authors: Snoeck Christophe , Staff Richard A , Brock Fiona
Published: January 2016

In the late 1990s, it was demonstrated that reliable radiocarbon dates could be obtained directly from cremated bone. Many 14C laboratories have since used a protocol for pretreating cremated (calcined) bones that consists of consecutive treatments with bleach and acetic acid to remove organic matter and extraneous or diagenetic carbonate, respectively. In most instances, the bleach used is sodium hypochlorite, although in recent years the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (ORAU) has used acidified sodium chlorite instead. However, properly calcined (white) bones should not contain any organic material; hence, the bleach treatment is potentially unnecessary. This article describes studies investigating the effectiveness of bleach (and the specific bleach used) during pretreatment of calcined bone, and demonstrates that 14C dates on six cremated bone samples are statistically indistinguishable whether or not the initial bleach step is applied.
Rapid Quantification of Bone Collagen Content by ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy
Authors: Lebon M , Reiche I , Gallet X , Bellot-Gurlet L , Zazzo A
Published: January 2016

Expensive and time-consuming preparation procedures for radiocarbon and stable isotope analyses can be conducted on archaeological bone samples even if no collagen is preserved. Such unsuccessful preparation can lead to the partial destruction of valuable archaeological material. Establishing a rapid prescreening method for evaluating the amount of bone collagen while minimizing the impact of sampling constitutes a challenge for the preservation of archaeological collections. This study proposes and discusses a new methodology to detect and quantify collagen content in archaeological bone samples by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. A total of 42 Pleistocene to modern bone samples were selected according to their nitrogen content measured using an elemental analyzer. Comparison of collagen content estimation using ATR-FTIR and mass spectrometry reveals that some of the studied samples are contaminated by a nitrogen source coming from the burial environment. Two different FTIR calibration approaches were tested on the uncontaminated samples: peak-to-peak ratio and multivariate regression (PLS). The two approaches yield similar results with a good correlation of ATR-FTIR analyses and N wt% from 0.7 to 4wt% (R²=0.97–0.99; standard error of estimation ±0.22 to 0.25wt%). While collagen content remains difficult to detect in poorly preserved bones (less than ~3wt%), ATR-FTIR analysis can be a fast alternative for sample screening to optimize the sampling strategy and avoid partial destruction of valuable samples that do not contain enough collagen for further analysis.
Time History of a Human Kidney Stone Determined by Bomb-Pulse Dating
Authors: Levchenko Vladimir A , Williams A Alan
Published: January 2016

An in vivo grown human kidney stone was dated using the atmospheric bomb pulse. The growth period was found to be 17.6 yr for a sample size of 6 mm across. The step dissolution method was used, as one of several possibilities, to produce depositional subsamples. A noticeable dead carbon presence is detected in the modern industrialized diet, and as a consequence in human metabolites. The importance for correction when applying bomb-pulse dating is noted.
Calendar Age of the Baigetobe Kurgan from the Iron Age Saka Cemetery in Shilikty Valley, Kazakhstan
Authors: Panyushkina Irina P , Slyusarenko Igor Y , Sala Renato , Deom Jean-Marc , Toleubayev Abdesh T
Published: January 2016

This study addresses the development of an absolute chronology for prominent burial sites of Inner Asian nomadic cultures. We investigate Saka archaeological wood from a well-known gold-filled Baigetobe kurgan (burial mound #1 of Shilikty-3 cemetery) to estimate its calendar age using tree-ring and 14C dating. The Saka was the southernmost tribal group of Asian Scythians, who roamed Central Asia during the 1st millennium BC (Iron Age). The Shilikty is a large burial site located in the Altai Mountains along the border between Kazakhstan and China. We present a new floating tree-ring chronology of larch and five new 14C dates from the construction timbers of the Baigetobe kurgan. The results of Bayesian modeling suggest the age of studied timbers is ~730–690 cal BC. This places the kurgan in early Scythian time and authenticates a previously suggested age of the Baigetobe gold collection between the 8th and 7th centuries BC derived from the typology of grave goods and burial rites. Chronologically and stylistically, the Scythian Animal Style gold from the Baigetobe kurgan is closer to Early Scythians in the North Caucasus and Tuva than to the local Saka occurrences in the Kazakh Altai. Our dating results indicate that the Baigetobe kurgan was nearly contemporaneous to the Arjan-2 kurgan (Tuva) and could be one of the earliest kurgans of the Saka-Scythian elite in Central Asia.
The Radiocarbon Approach to Neanderthals in a Carnivore Den Site: a Well-Defined Chronology for Teixoneres Cave (Moià, Barcelona, Spain)
Authors: Talamo Sahra , Blasco Ruth , Rivals Florent , Picin Andrea , Gema Chacón M , Iriarte Eneko , Manuel López-García Juan , Blain Hugues-Alexandre , Arilla Maite , Rufà Anna , Sánchez-Hernández Carlos , Andrés Míriam , Camarós Edgard , Ballesteros Anna , Cebrià Artur , Rosell Jordi , Hublin Jean-Jacques
Published: January 2016

During the Middle Paleolithic period, carnivores and hominids periodically occupied the same areas at different times and each predator generated significant palimpsests, rendering difficult their archaeological interpretation. Teixoneres Cave, a carnivore den site, located in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula, demonstrates that it is possible to overcome these problems by using a careful strategy in selecting samples for radiocarbon dating, in order to produce an accurate chronology of the site in question and certainly attest the human occupation.
Naturally Dyed Wool and Silk and Their Atomic C:N Ratio for Quality Control of14C Sample Treatment
Authors: Boudin Mathieu , Bonafini Marco , Berghe Ina Vanden , Maquoi Marie-Christine
Published: January 2016

Quality control of sample material (e.g. charcoal, collagen) is receiving considerable attention in the effort to obtain more reliable14C dates. The atomic carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio is a useful indicator of contamination and/or degradation of bone collagen. Wool and silk are also composed of proteinaceous material such as bone collagen, and the C:N ratio may also be a useful quality indicator for archaeological wool and silk. Analyses of modern undyed, mordanted, non-mordanted, and naturally dyed silk and wool were done in order to determine a C:N range that indicates the sample quality. The C:N range can be different for every material as the amino acid composition of wool, silk, and bone collagen are distinct. The measured minimum and maximum C:N values were used to set up a C:N range of uncontamined and undegraded wool and silk. Then, the C:N ratio and14C were analyzed of archaeological wool and silk samples. The applicability of the C:N ratio as a quality indicator for archaeological silk and wool was shown by the good agreement of the14C dates with the presumed historical dates for the uncontaminated samples and the disagreement of the14C dates with the presumed historical dates for contaminated samples.
Stable Isotopic Detection of Manual Intervention Among the Faunal Assemblage from a Majiayao Site in NW China
Authors: Dong Weimiao , An Cheng-Bang , Fan Wenjie , Li Hu , Zhao Xueye
Published: January 2016

Faunal remains from Shannashuzha in Minxian County, Gansu Province, China were isotopically analyzed to understand animal husbandry, and thus human subsistence strategy, during the Majiayao culture (5200–4800 cal yr BP) period. Stable carbon isotopic results reveal that only two pig samples clearly show a C4-dominated diet with a mean δ13C value of –8.5‰, which possibly indicated controlled feeding practices by human beings. No other significant manual intervention can be observed among the remaining samples, suggesting that both wild and domesticated meat sources were used at Shannashuzha. Statistically, Bos are indistinguishable from Cervidae based solely on isotopic results, suggesting that Bos may have remained in wild form during the Majiayao culture period. The presence of hare/rabbit, bamboo rat, and badger reflects the diversified food exploitation behavior.
AMS14C Dating of Preclassic to Classic Period Household Construction in the Ancient Maya Community of Cahal Pech, Belize
Authors: Ebert Claire E , Culleton Brendan J , Awe Jaime J , Kennett Douglas J
Published: January 2016

Archaeologists have traditionally relied upon relative ceramic chronologies to understand the occupational histories of large and socially complex polities in the Maya lowlands. High-resolution accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating can provide independent chronological control for more discrete events that reflect cultural change through time. This article reports results of AMS14C dating of stratified sequences at the residential group Tzutziiy K’in, associated with the major Maya polity of Cahal Pech in the Belize Valley. Cahal Pech is one of the earliest permanently settled sites in the Maya lowlands (1200 cal BC), and was continuously occupied until the Terminal Classic Maya “collapse” (~cal AD 800). We use Bayesian modeling to build a chronology for the settlement, growth, and terminal occupation of Tzutziiy K’in, and compare our results to chronological data from the monumental site core at Cahal Pech. The analyses indicate that Tzutziiy K’in was first settled by the Late Preclassic period (350–100 cal BC), concurrent with the establishment of several other large house groups and the growth of the Cahal Pech site core. Terminal occupation by high-status residents at this house group occurred between cal AD 850 and 900. This study provides a framework for interpreting patterns of spatial, demographic, and sociopolitical change between households and the Cahal Pech site core.
Graphitization of Small Carbonate Samples for Paleoceanographic Research at the Godwin Radiocarbon Laboratory, University of Cambridge
Authors: Freeman E , Skinner L C , Reimer R , Scrivner A , Fallon S
Published: January 2016

A new radiocarbon preparation facility was set up in 2010 at the Godwin Laboratory for Palaeoclimate Research, at the University of Cambridge. Samples are graphitized via hydrogen reduction on an iron powder catalyst before being sent to the Chrono Centre, Belfast, or the Australian National University for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) analysis. The experimental setup and procedure have recently been developed to investigate the potential for running small samples of foraminiferal carbonate. By analyzing background values of samples ranging from 0.04 to 0.6 mg C along with similar sized secondary standards, the setup and experimental procedures were optimized for small samples. “Background” modern 14C contamination has been minimized through careful selection of iron powder, and graphitization has been optimized through the use of “small volume” reactors, allowing samples containing as little as 0.08 mg C to be graphitized and accurately dated. Graphitization efficiency/fractionation is found not to be the main limitation on the analysis of samples smaller than 0.07 mg C, which rather depends primarily on AMS ion beam optics, suggesting further improvements in small sample analysis might yet be achieved with our methodology.
Luck Egalitarianism, Responsibility, and Political Liberalism
Authors: LONG RYAN
Published: January 2016

Luck egalitarians argue that distributive justice should be understood in terms of our capacity to be responsible for our choices. Both proponents and critics assume that the theory must rely on a comprehensive conception of responsibility. I respond to luck egalitarianism’s critics by developing a political conception of responsibility that remains agnostic on the metaphysics of free choice. I construct this political conception by developing a novel reading of John Rawls’ distinction between the political and the comprehensive. A surprising consequence is that many responsibility-based objections to luck egalitarianism turn out to be objections to Rawls’ political liberalism as well.
Symbiotic bacteria of helminths: what role may they play in ecosystems under anthropogenic stress?
Authors: Morley N.J.
Published: January 2016

Symbiotic bacteria are a common feature of many animals, particularly invertebrates, from both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. These bacteria have increasingly been recognized as performing an important role in maintaining invertebrate health. Both ecto- and endoparasitic helminths have also been found to harbour a range of bacterial species which provide a similar function. The part symbiotic bacteria play in sustaining homeostasis of free-living invertebrates exposed to anthropogenic pressure (climate change, pollution), and the consequences to invertebrate populations when their symbionts succumb to poor environmental conditions, are increasingly important areas of research. Helminths are also susceptible to environmental stress and their symbiotic bacteria may be a key aspect of their responses to deteriorating conditions. This article summarizes the ecophysiological relationship helminths have with symbiotic bacteria and the role they play in maintaining a healthy parasite and the relevance of specific changes that occur in free-living invertebrate–bacteria interactions under anthropogenic pressure to helminths and their bacterial communities. It also discusses the importance of understanding the mechanistic sensitivity of helminth–bacteria relationships to environmental stress for comprehending the responses of parasites to challenging conditions.
Oil extraction from microalgae for live prey enrichment and larviculture of clownfishAmphiprion percula
Authors: Dhaneesh K. V. , Ajith Kumar T. T.
Published: January 2016

The present study investigates the potential of algal oil (extracted fromNannochloropsis salina), cod liver oil, olive oil and yeast for live prey enrichments inA. perculalarviculture. After hatching, larvae were divided into six experimental groups as follows. Larvae fed on non-enriched (control), cod liver oil enriched, olive oil enriched, algal oil enriched, yeast enriched live prey and wild collected mixed plankton. Growth (total length, standard length, body depth, head depth and weight), survival, carotenoid and PUFAs content were observed at higher levels in juveniles fed on wild plankton and algal oil enriched diets. Thyroid hormones (T3, T4and TSH) levels were also higher in the juveniles fed on wild plankton followed by algal oil enriched diet. Based on the present study, it can be concluded that mixed zooplankton and algal oil enriched rotifersBrachionus plicatilisandArtemianauplii may be considered suitable live prey for clownfish larviculture.
The outcome of short- and long-term psychotherapy 10 years after start of treatment
Authors: Knekt P. , Virtala E. , Härkänen T. , Vaarama M. , Lehtonen J. , Lindfors O.
Published: January 2016

Background

Empirical evidence on whether patients’ mental health and functioning will be more improved after long-term than short-term therapy is scarce. We addressed this question in a clinical trial with a long follow-up.

Method

In the Helsinki Psychotherapy Study, 326 out-patients with mood or anxiety disorder were randomly assigned to long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (LPP), short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (SPP) or solution-focused therapy (SFT) and were followed for 10 years. The outcome measures were psychiatric symptoms, work ability, personality and social functioning, need for treatment, and remission.

Results

At the end of the follow-up, altogether 74% of the patients were free from clinically elevated psychiatric symptoms. Compared with SPP, LPP showed greater reductions in symptoms, greater improvement in work ability and higher remission rates. A similar difference in symptoms and work ability was observed in comparison with SFT after adjustment for violations of treatment standards. No notable differences in effectiveness between SFT and SPP were observed. The prevalence of auxiliary treatment was relatively high, 47% in SFT, 58% in SPP and 33% in LPP, and, accordingly, the remission rates for general symptoms were 55, 45 and 62%, respectively.

Conclusions

After 10 years of follow-up, the benefits of LPP in comparison with the short-term therapies are rather small, though significant in symptoms and work ability, possibly due to more frequent use of auxiliary therapy in the short-term therapy groups. Further studies should focus on the choice of optimal length of therapy and the selection of factors predicting outcome of short- v. long-term therapy.
The effects of joint clearance on the dynamics of the 3RRR planar parallel manipulator
Authors: Varedi-Koulaei S. M. , Daniali H. M. , Farajtabar M.
Published: January 2016

In reality, clearances in the joints are inevitable due to tolerances, and defects arising from design and manufacturing. Therefore, poor dynamic performance, reduction in components component lifetimes and generation of undesirable vibrations result in impacts of mating parts in the clearance joint. In this study, the dynamic behavior of a planar mechanism with revolute joints, in the presence of clearances is investigated. A continuous contact force model, based on elastic Hertz theory together with a dissipative term, is used to evaluate the contact forces here. Moreover, using a contact model, the effects of working speed and clearance size on the dynamic characteristics of a planar mechanical system are analyzed and compared. Furthermore, numerical results for a 3RRR planar parallel manipulator with six revolute clearance joints are presented.
Understanding the effects of different HIV transmission models in individual-based microsimulation of HIV epidemic dynamics in people who inject drugs
Authors: MONTEIRO J. F. G. , ESCUDERO D. J. , WEINREB C. , FLANIGAN T. , GALEA S. , FRIEDMAN S. R. , MARSHALL B. D. L.
Published: January 2016

We investigated how different models of HIV transmission, and assumptions regarding the distribution of unprotected sex and syringe-sharing events (‘risk acts’), affect quantitative understanding of HIV transmission process in people who inject drugs (PWID). The individual-based model simulated HIV transmission in a dynamic sexual and injecting network representing New York City. We constructed four HIV transmission models: model 1, constant probabilities; model 2, random number of sexual and parenteral acts; model 3, viral load individual assigned; and model 4, two groups of partnerships (low and high risk). Overall, models with less heterogeneity were more sensitive to changes in numbers risk acts, producing HIV incidence up to four times higher than that empirically observed. Although all models overestimated HIV incidence, micro-simulations with greater heterogeneity in the HIV transmission modelling process produced more robust results and better reproduced empirical epidemic dynamics.
The development of postinstitutionalized versus parent-reared Russian children as a function of age at placement and family type
Authors: McCall Robert B. , Muhamedrahimov Rifkat J. , Groark Christina J. , Palmov Oleg I. , Nikiforova Natalia V. , Salaway Jennifer , Julian Megan M.
Published: January 2016

A total of 149 children, who spent an average of 13.8 months in Russian institutions, were transferred to Russian families of relatives and nonrelatives at an average age of 24.7 months. After residing in these families for at least 1 year (average = 43.2 months), parents reported on their attachment, indiscriminately friendly behavior, social–emotional competencies, problem behaviors, and effortful control when they were 1.5–10.7 years of age. They were compared to a sample of 83 Russian parents of noninstitutionalized children, whom they had reared from birth. Generally, institutionalized children were rated similarly to parent-reared children on most measures, consistent with substantial catch-up growth typically displayed by children after transitioning to families. However, institutionalized children were rated more poorly than parent-reared children on certain competencies in early childhood and some attentional skills. There were relatively few systematic differences associated with age at family placement or whether the families were relatives or nonrelatives. Russian parent-reared children were rated as having more problem behaviors than the US standardization sample, which raises cautions about using standards cross-culturally.