bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Asymmetric inference towards the antonym: Experiments into the polarity and morphology of negated adjectives
Authors: Ruytenbeek Nicolas , Verheyen Steven , Spector Benjamin
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we investigate the interpretation of negated antonyms. A sentence such as Peter is not tall can be understood as meaning either that Peter is not tall tout court or that Peter is rather short (inference towards the antonym; ITA). We present the results of two experiments, in which we test two theoretical predictions. First, according to Krifka (2007), it is reasonable to expect a stronger ITA effect for positive versus negative adjectives. Second, elaborating on Krifka (2007), we expect ITA strength asymmetry to be greater for morphological antonymic pairs than for non-morphological pairs. In the first experiment, ITA strength was assessed implicitly by having participants judge the pragmatic acceptability of sentences involving a negated adjective and its antonym. In the second experiment, we collected explicit inferential judgments. The results of both experiments support the two predictions. We also discuss theoretical and methodological issues concerning the different notions of polarity.
The syllable as a prosodic unit in Japanese lexical strata: Evidence from text-setting
Authors: Starr Rebecca Lurie , Shih Stephanie S.
Published: October 2017

Text-setting, the arrangement of language to music, is a common source of evidence in the debate over the relevance of the syllable in Japanese prosody (e.g., Labrune 2012). Although Japanese text-setting is typically treated as mora-based, the present corpus analysis reveals that syllable-based text-setting is pervasive in Japanese. Two studies presented here compare native Japanese songs with those translated into Japanese. The results demonstrate use of syllabic settings throughout the corpora and across the lexical strata of Japanese. Syllabic settings are shown to arise with greater likelihood in response to pressures imposed by restrictive translation contexts, information density mismatch, and knowledge of correspondence to English loans. We argue that, given the viability of syllabic text-setting in Japanese, moraic text-setting is a stylistic norm of Japanese music that is shifting over time, rather than evidence of a lack of syllable structure in the language’s prosodic system.
Franz Hinkelammert. Hacia una crítica de la razón mítica. El laberinto de la modernidad. Materiales para la discusión
Authors: Molina Velásquez Carlos
Published: October 2017

No abstracts availableRealidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No. 115, 2008: 177-178
Ana Margarita Gómez y Sajid Alfredo Herrera Mena (editores). Los rostros de la violencia
Authors: Alvarenga Luis
Published: October 2017

No abstracts availableRealidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No. 115, 2009: 179-180
Publicaciones del padre Francisco Javier Ibisate
Authors: Editor El
Published: October 2017

No abstracts availableRealidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No. 117, 2008: 509-536
Ernesto Sabato, Antes del fin. Sabato: testigo clave
Authors: González Torres Julián
Published: October 2017

No abstracts availableRealidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No. 117, 2008: 537-539
El (no) lugar de la filosofía en la sociedad
Authors: Acosta Yamandú
Published: October 2017

Since pre-socratic philosophers, Philosophy has been an activity that distinguishes itself from profit and power. It is located in a "non-piece" regarding the economic and politic competitions. Nevenheless, this does not lead philosophy to indifference toward reality. Moreover, it is a necessary condition to its critic to power.Realidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No. 118, 2008: 677-689
O direito à inclusão digital: o papel da cidadania online em matéria ambiental para a construção de uma democracia direta
Authors: Pereira Marília Do Nascimento , Do Nascimento Valéria Ribas
Published: October 2017

O presente estudo visa discutir acerca do papel da cidadania digital para a efetivação da dimensão jurídico-política da sustentabilidade, em especial, o resguardo do direito fundamental à democracia. Nesse cenário, pretende-se observar como a cidadania vem sendo influenciada pelas novas tecnologias, com vistas a reformular o papel do indivíduo na sociedade dando possibilidade de participação mais ativa em decisões governamentais no que tange ao impulsionamento de questões ambientais. Para tal, utiliza-se do método de abordagem hipotético –dedutivo, tentando verificar se o instrumento virtual tem feito avançar nos ideais democráticos de participação, através do exercício de uma cidadania participativa. Elencou-se também o método de procedimento monográfico analisando casos concretos de participação em matéria ambiental. Em sede de conclusão, pretende-se demonstrar como a cidadania digital pode ser manejo inovador em questões de sustentabilidade, revelando um novo paradigma para a democracia participativa.
O controle de constitucionalidade na modulação dos efeitos intertemporais do controle concentrado em matéria tributária e a (in)segurança jurídica do contribuinte
Authors: Cancian Vinícius Marin , Amaral Sergio Tibiriçá
Published: October 2017

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a modulação dos efeitos intertemporais da decisão proferida em controle concentrado de constitucionalidade, promovido pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal, quando o objeto da decisão pretoriana recair sobre o direito substancial tributário. A partir da observação feita, serão tecidas críticas à aplicação desenfreada do artigo 27 da lei nº 9.868/99, por meio da explicitação do paradoxo de constitucionalidade deste dispositivo legal, em confronto com a segurança jurídica e boa-fé objetiva. Pugna-se, ao final, pela adoção de um caráter interpretativo minimalista e critérios restritivos e objetivos na efetivação da modulação intertemporal em matéria tributária.
Estudos sobre o compliance para prevenção da corrupção nos negócios públicos: ética, ciência da administração e direito
Authors: Kempfer Marlene , Batisti Beatriz Miranda
Published: October 2017

A presente pesquisa objetiva ressaltar a importância do conhecimento interdisciplinar entre Ética, Ciência da Administração e o Direito, para enaltecer o compliance diante do tema da corrupção nos negócios públicos. Limitada a pesquisa, neste momento, a apresentação de categorias dos campos da ética, administração de empresa e direito, em face da adoção de programas de integridade na gestão empresarial conforme previsão nas leis 12.846/13 (lei anticorrupção) e 13.303/16 (Lei das Estatais). O programa de integridade é instrumento importante para controle interno e espera-se que estimule a formação de uma cultura organizacional ética. Em face da constatação, na atualidade, de inúmeras condutas de corrupção na administração pública e nas empresas estatais, as leis supra citadas preveem, o caminho jurídico tradicional sancionatório e norma jurídica de encorajamento, uma vez que as primeiras nem sempre alcançam o objetivo de coibir ou desestimular tais práticas. Neste sentido as leis introduziram no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro normas que incentivam: i) as empresas privadas que negociam com o poder público a implementarem instrumentos de integridade empresarial; e ii) impõem esta forma de gestão para as empresas estatais. Assim, defende-se que os estudos destas três áreas do saber podem contribuir para ações preventivas, tanto na esfera privada quanto pública, em prol do combate a corrupção nos negócios públicos.
Novos paradigmas da cooperação jurídica internacional e o conceito contemporâneo de soberania
Authors: Oliveira Henrique Gentil , Aguiar Julio Cesar de
Published: October 2017

Inicialmente, o artigo fará breve digressão histórica da recente ampliação de rumos da cooperação jurídica internacional, analisando como a efervescência com que pessoas e riquezas se deslocaram pelo mundo no século XX potencializou o surgimento de problemas que não podem ser solucionados solitariamente por um Estado, fazendo com que a soberania - a princípio, um mecanismo de isolamento, passasse a aproximar nações com propósitos comuns. Em sequência, mostrará que a forma como modernamente a aplicação do Direito Internacional soluciona as problemáticas transfronteiriças impôs à cooperação jurídica internacional transitar do singelo papel de instrumentalizar o Direito Penal Internacional para ser uma ferramenta essencial para a satisfação de direitos humanos, inclusive com o desenvolvimento de tratados para amparar a nova tarefa, abordando-se alguns deles. Continuando, evidenciará que o “mundo das soberanias” caminha para um “mundo das pessoas”, e que a definição contemporânea de soberania encerra o dever cogente de cooperar. Finalizará o raciocínio expondo que enrijecer a soberania para obstar a cooperação certamente enfraquecerá a aptidão dos Estados de controlar o que acontece em seus territórios, e, por consequência, suas soberanias.
La evaluación de lenguas en un colegio plurilingüe: Un estudio de caso de las creencias pedagógicas del profesorado
Authors: Mate Zita
Published: October 2017

El artículo describe los resultados de un estudio de caso que investiga las creencias, representaciones y saberes de profesores de lengua, indaga sobre cómo explican esos profesores sus prácticas de evaluación con alumnos que aprenden simultáneamente varias lenguas. Con esta finalidad, se escogió un centro internacional que lleva más de un siglo experimentando la enseñanza plurilingüe. Fueron realizadas tres entrevistas semiestructuradas cuyo análisis desveló que el docente de cada lengua entiende la evaluación como parte integrante del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Desde el punto de vista del alumno, los métodos de los docentes se complementan, aunque el planteamiento de la evaluación en cada caso es monolingüe.
Local Contingencies in L2 Tasks: A Comparison of Context-Sensitive Interactional Achievements across Two Different Task Types
Authors: Balaman Ufuk , Sert Olcay
Published: October 2017

Recent research on L2 interaction and interactional competencies shows that L2 learners deploy a great diversity of interactional resources and adapt their talk to context-sensitive differences in various institutional settings. Although there is a growing interest in how these resources vary in different settings, comparative investigations into the interactional mechanisms in different contexts is scarce. With this mind, using Conversation Analysis, this study sets out to provide a snapshot of how a focal L2 learner manifests an observable diversity in task openings of a face-to-face discussion task and an online emergent information gap task. We focus on the first encounters with these two task types and settings and describe participant orientations to context-sensitive conduct on a turn-by-turn basis. The findings demonstrate differences in turn taking, allocation and design as well as in action formation, thus contributing to L2 interactional competence research based on comparative analyses of two single cases.
Book Review: Enseñanza y Aprendizaje de Lenguas Extranjeras en Educación Secundaria y Obligatoria, edited by Dolors Masats and Luci Nussbaum. (2016) Síntesis
Authors: Calvo Benzies Yolanda Joy
Published: October 2017

Enseñanza y Aprendizaje de Lenguas Extranjeras en Educación Secundaria y Obligatoria, edited by Dolors Masats and Luci Nussbaum, contains a lot of useful and innovative information regarding the teaching and learning of foreign languages in today’s classrooms.
Estou Satisfeito: Um Estudo sobre a Lealdade do Consumidor em Restaurantes Empregando a Escala Dineserv
Authors: Alves Carlos Alberto
Published: October 2017

O propsito deste trabalho investigar a relao entre a qualidade de servios e a lealdade do consumidor mediada pela satisfao, por meio de um estudo emprico realizado com frequentadores de restaurantes na cidade de So Paulo. Por meio de uma extensiva reviso bibliogrfica, duas hipteses centrais foram formuladas: a) a qualidade de servios percebida possui relao direta e significante com a lealdade e b) a satisfao um fator mediador, contribuindo com a relao qualidade de servio percebida e lealdade do consumidor. Foi realizada uma pesquisa tipo survey com 444 consumidores que frequentam restaurantes para jantar na cidade de So Paulo, e utilizada a Modelagem de Equao Estrutural, para avaliar as relaes entre caminhos e testes de hipteses. Os resultados apontam para uma relao positiva e significante entre a qualidade percebida em servios e a lealdade do consumidor e, da mesma forma, foi encontrado que a satisfao possui papel de mediao na relao. Como contribuio gerencial, os resultados deste estudo do algumas importantes direes aos gestores de restaurantes na formulao de uma estratgia para fornecer uma qualidade de servio superior aos seus clientes e consumidores. Este estudo se justifica tanto teoricamente como gerencialmente, pois, no Brasil, poucos trabalhos publicados consideram a relao entre a qualidade percebida de servios e a lealdade do consumidor, mediada pela satisfao no setor de hospitalidade.
Explorando aspectos utilitários e hedônicos do consumo no Fundo da Pirâmide
Authors: Gerhard Felipe , Souza Lucas Lopes Ferreira de , Peñaloza Verónica , Denegri Marianela
Published: October 2017

O nmero de pesquisas sobre o Fundo da Pirmide aumentou nas ltimas dcadas; no entanto, uma discusso sobre seus hbitos de consumo ainda necessria. Assim, este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar o comportamento de consumidores em mercados informais, inerentes a esse segmento. Especificamente, este estudo explora os significados atribudos pelos consumidores para participar de uma feira, atravs das lentes de valores de compra hednicos e utilitrios. Atravs da triangulao de dois mtodos de pesquisa, foi analisada a Feira das Aves e seus consumidores (Brasil). Os resultados destacam o fato de a Feira ser constituda pelo sincretismo de grupos no homogneos de consumidores, que possuem diferentes razes para visit-la. Juntamente com o conceito econmico-utilitarista central de preos baixos, um elemento hednico-festivo surge como um atributo essencial do comportamento do consumidor. Nesse sentido, os indivduos fazem suas compras guiados por uma necessidade de utilidade, mas tambm h prazer na atividade de fazer compras em si.
Approaches that Affect Consumer-Based Brand Equity
Authors: Oliveira Denise Santos de , Caetano Mauro , Coelho Ricardo Limongi França
Published: October 2017

Current studies on factors affecting the dimensions of consumer-based brand equity have been dispersed, applicable to specific contexts and not systematized in the literature. So, the purpose of this paper is to identify and categorize factors that create, increase or decrease each of the consumer-based brand equity dimensions: brand associations, brand awareness, perceived quality and brand loyalty. The extensive analysis of literature shows that there are significant differences between factors affecting each of the brand equity dimensions. Factors that positively affect one dimension cannot have the same effect on another. Moreover, it notes that the effect of such factors is variations when analyzed in different sectors and economic contexts. The main contribution of this research lies in the fact that it provides a research panorama already conducted on factors affecting the dimensions of consumer-based brand equity, indicating a potential for development of future studies. This research also enriches the literature categorizing the factors identified in the literature in four sets that allow the future targeting studies.
Cheniella gen. nov. (Leguminosae: Cercidoideae) from southern China, Indochina and Malesia
Authors: Clark Ruth P. , Mackinder Barbara A. , Banks Hannah
Published: October 2017

For much of the last thirty years, the caesalpinioid genus Bauhinia has been recognised by numerous authors as a broadly circumscribed, ecologically, morphologically and palynologically diverse pantropical taxon, comprising several subgenera. One of these, Bauhinia subg. Phanera has recently been reinstated at generic rank based on a synthesis of morphological and molecular data. Nevertheless, there remains considerable diversity within Phanera. Following a review of palynological and molecular studies of Phanera in conjunction with a careful re-examination of the morphological heterogeneity within the genus, we have found strong evidence that the species of Phanera subsect. Corymbosae are a natural group that warrant generic status. We describe here the genus Cheniella R.Clark & Mackinder gen. nov. to accommodate them. It comprises 10 species and 3 subspecies, one newly described here. Generic characters include leaves that are simple and emarginate or bilobed; flowers with elongate hypanthia which are as long as or much longer than the sepals; pods that are glabrous, compressed, oblong, indehiscent or tardily dehiscent; and with numerous seeds, the seeds bearing an unusually long funicle extending most of the way around their circumference. A further distinctive floral character was found to be a fleshy disc on which the staminodes are mounted. An analysis carried out for this study reveals Cheniella to be characterised by a pollen type that is unique to the genus and previously unknown in the Leguminosae. Species diversity is richest in southern China, the full distribution extending westward to India and south- and eastward through Indochina into Malesia.
Nanotechnology in the Water Industry, Part 1: Occurrence and Risks
Authors: Bhattacharyya Sanjib , Bennett Jack , Short Luke C. , Theisen Tamara S. , Wichman Michael D. , White Jason C. , Wright Sarah
Published: October 2017

With continued research, addressing risks, and careful monitoring, water and wastewater treatment could be part of the nanotechnology frontier.
Magnesium, Hard Water, and Health
Authors: Cotruvo Joseph A. , Costello Rebecca , Weglicki William B.
Published: October 2017

The risk relationship between hard water and reduced cardiovascular disease is well known, but it's the magnesium portion of the hardness that accounts for most of the beneficial effect. Magnesium is important in hundreds of biochemical processes, and adult daily requirements are approximately 300‐350 mg/day. Most Americans consume less than the optimal daily amount of magnesium recommended for good health.
Stack and Queue Layouts via Layered Separators
Authors: Dujmović Vida , Frati Fabrizio
Published: October 2017

It is known that every proper minor-closed class of graphs has bounded stack-number (a.k.a. book thickness and page number). While this includes notable graph families such as planar graphs and graphs of bounded genus, many other graph families are not closed under taking minors. For fixed $g$ and $k$, we show that every $n$-vertex graph that can be embedded on a surface of genus $g$ with at most $k$ crossings per edge has stack-number $\mathcal{O}(\log n)$; this includes $k$-planar graphs. The previously best known bound for the stack-number of these families was $\mathcal{O}(\sqrt{n})$, except in the case of $1$-planar graphs. Analogous results are proved for map graphs that can be embedded on a surface of fixed genus. None of these families is closed under taking minors. The main ingredient in the proof of these results is a construction proving that $n$-vertex graphs that admit constant layered separators have $\mathcal{O}(\log n)$ stack-number.
On the NP-hardness of GRacSim drawing and k-SEFE Problems
Authors: Grilli Luca
Published: October 2017

We study the complexity of two problems on simultaneous graph drawing.
The first problem, $\rm{GR{\small AC} S{\small IM~DRAWING}}$, asks for finding a simultaneous geometric embedding of two planar graphs, sharing a common subgraph, such that only crossings at right angles are allowed, and every crossing must involve a private edge of one graph and a private edge of the other graph.

The second problem, $k-\rm{SEFE}$, is a restricted version of the topological simultaneous embedding with fixed edges ($\rm{SEFE}$) problem, for two planar graphs, in which every private edge may receive at most $k$ crossings, where $k$ is a prescribed positive integer.
We show that $\rm{GR{\small AC} S{\small IM~DRAWING}}$ is $\mathcal{NP}$-hard and that $k-\rm{SEFE}$ is $\mathcal{NP}$-complete.
The $\mathcal{NP}$-hardness of both problems is proved using two similar reductions from $\rm{3-P\small{ARTITION}}$.
Inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis through RNF145-dependent ubiquitination of SCAP
Authors: Zhang Li , Rajbhandari Prashant , Priest Christina , Sandhu Jaspreet , Wu Xiaohui , Temel Ryan , Castrillo Antonio , de Aguiar Vallim Thomas Q , Sallam Tamer , Tontonoz Peter
Published: October 2017

Cholesterol homeostasis is maintained through concerted action of the SREBPs and LXRs. Here, we report that RNF145, a previously uncharacterized ER membrane ubiquitin ligase, participates in crosstalk between these critical signaling pathways. RNF145 expression is induced in response to LXR activation and high-cholesterol diet feeding. Transduction of RNF145 into mouse liver inhibits the expression of genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and reduces plasma cholesterol levels. Conversely, acute suppression of RNF145 via shRNA-mediated knockdown, or chronic inactivation of RNF145 by genetic deletion, potentiates the expression of cholesterol biosynthetic genes and increases cholesterol levels both in liver and plasma. Mechanistic studies show that RNF145 triggers ubiquitination of SCAP on lysine residues within a cytoplasmic loop essential for COPII binding, potentially inhibiting its transport to Golgi and subsequent processing of SREBP-2. These findings define an additional mechanism linking hepatic sterol levels to the reciprocal actions of the SREBP-2 and LXR pathways.
Daam2 driven degradation of VHL promotes gliomagenesis
Authors: Zhu Wenyi , Krishna Saritha , Garcia Cristina , Lin Chia-Ching John , Mitchell Bartley D , Scott Kenneth L , Mohila Carrie A , Creighton Chad J , Yoo Seung-Hee , Lee Hyun Kyoung , Deneen Benjamin
Published: October 2017

Von Hippel-Landau (VHL) protein is a potent tumor suppressor regulating numerous pathways that drive cancer, but mutations in VHL are restricted to limited subsets of malignancies. Here we identified a novel mechanism for VHL suppression in tumors that do not have inactivating mutations. Using developmental processes to uncover new pathways contributing to tumorigenesis, we found that Daam2 promotes glioma formation. Protein expression screening identified an inverse correlation between Daam2 and VHL expression across a host of cancers, including glioma. These in silico insights guided corroborating functional studies, which revealed that Daam2 promotes tumorigenesis by suppressing VHL expression. Furthermore, biochemical analyses demonstrate that Daam2 associates with VHL and facilitates its ubiquitination and degradation. Together, these studies are the first to define an upstream mechanism regulating VHL suppression in cancer and describe the role of Daam2 in tumorigenesis.
Estimation of time detection limit for human cytochrome b in females of Lutzomyia evansi
Authors: Vergara José Gabriel , Verbel-Vergara Daniel , Montesino Ana Milena , Pérez-Doria Alveiro , Bejarano Eduar Elías
Published: October 2017

Introducción. Las técnicas de biología molecular han permitido ampliar el conocimiento sobre las fuentes de ingestión de sangre de los insectos vectores. Sin embargo, la utilidad de estas técnicas depende de la cantidad de sangre ingerida y del proceso de digestión en el insecto.Objetivo. Determinar el tiempo límite de detección del gen citocromo b (Cyt b) de humanos en hembras de Lutzomyia evansi alimentadas experimentalmente.Materiales y métodos. Se evaluaron ocho grupos de hembras de L. evansi alimentadas con sangre humana, las cuales fueron sacrificadas en intervalos de 24 horas desde el momento de la ingestión sanguínea. Se extrajo el ADN total de cada hembra y se amplificó un segmento de 358 pb del gen Cyt b. Los productos amplificados fueron sometidos a un análisis de polimorfismos en la longitud de los fragmentos de restricción (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, RFLP), con el fin de descartar falsos positivos.Resultados. El segmento del gen Cyt b de humanos fue detectado en 86 % (49/57) de las hembras de L. evansi a partir de las 0 horas y hasta 168 horas después de la ingestión de sangre. En 7 % (4/57) de los individuos se amplificó el ADN del insecto y en el 7 % restante no se amplificó la banda de interés. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticas en cuanto a la amplificación del segmento del gen Cyt b de humanos ni al número de muestras amplificadas entre los grupos de hembras sacrificadas a distintas horas después de la ingestión.Conclusión. El segmento del gen Cyt b de humanos fue detectable en hembras de L. evansi hasta 168 horas después de la ingestión de sangre.
Laboratory susceptibility tests of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae to the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
Authors: Ulvedal Carolina , Bertolotti Marìa Alejandra , Cagnolo Susana Raquel , Almirón Walter Ricardo
Published: October 2017

Introducción. Aedes aegypti es el vector de los virus del dengue, la fiebre amarilla, el Zika y el chikungunya, y Culex quinquefasciatus, de los virus de la encefalitis de Saint Louis y de la del Oeste del Nilo.Objetivo. Evaluar la capacidad infecciosa de Heterorhabditis bacteriophora N4 en larvas de C. quinquefasciatus y A. aegypti en el laboratorio.Materiales y métodos. Treinta larvas de segundo estadio de cada especie de mosquito se expusieron a diferentes dosis (0:1, 1:1, 5:1, 15:1, 100:1, 500:1, 750:1 y 1.500:1) de ejemplares juveniles infectivos del nematodo. Se hicieron cuatro réplicas por dosis.Resultados. El parasitismo varió entre 2,5 y 80 % en C. quinquefasciatus y entre 4,2 y 92,5 % en A. aegypti, con diferencias significativas entre las dosis (p<0,0001). Las DL50 fueron de 160,8 ejemplares juveniles infectivos por larva de C. quinquefasciatus y 113,6 por larva de A. aegypti; 4 a 6 % de los ejemplares juveniles infectivos llegaron a la fase adulta en C. quinquefasciatus, y 12 a 61 % en A. aegypti. Nuevos ejemplares juveniles infectivos aparecieron a partir de la dosis de 100:1. En A. aegypti aparecieron solo con dosis superiores a esta y, en C. quinquefasciatus, con una dosis de 1500:1. Se observó melanización de los ejemplares juveniles infectivos en las dos especies de mosquitos.Conclusión. Se estableció la sensibilidad de estas especies de mosquitos al parasitismo producido por un aislamiento autóctono de H. bacteriophora en condiciones de laboratorio y su potencial efecto como agente de control biológico.
Bionomics of Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) albimanus (Diptera: Culicidae) in two villages of the Wayúu people, Riohacha, La Guajira, Colombia
Authors: Díaz Airleth Sofía , Sotelo Aura Isabel , González-Uribe Catalina , Brochero Helena L.
Published: October 2017

Introducción. Riohacha, capital del departamento de La Guajira, registra las tasas más altas de malaria o paludismo en el departamento, especialmente entre los indígenas de la etnia wayúu.Objetivo. Describir algunos aspectos de la bionomía de las especies del género Anopheles presentes en dos rancherías de la etnia wayúu.Materiales y métodos. Se hicieron dos muestreos durante las temporadas de lluvia y sequía en las rancherías Marbacella y El Horno (municipio de Riohacha, La Guajira). Se recolectaron formas inmaduras de los mosquitos y se describieron sus hábitats. Los mosquitos adultos se recolectaron al posarse en sujetos humanos, previo consentimiento informado, y con trampas de luz Shannon y CDC.Resultados. Todos los ejemplares recolectados eran Anopheles albimanus, especie que registró actividad de picadura durante toda la noche en el peridomicilio (n=7), en tanto que en el intradomicilio se capturaron solo dos mosquitos entre las 18:00 y las 20:00 horas. Los sitios de cría positivos correspondieron a jagüeyes (n=7; 38,8 %), charcos (n=2; 10,5 %), y estanques piscícolas (n=2; 10,5 %). La mayor abundancia de formas inmaduras se encontró en los jagüeyes (n=25; 78 %), cuyo pH oscilaba entre 7,20 y 7,81 a una temperatura de 26,5 °C, y se localizaban a 150 m de distancia de las viviendas.Conclusión. Anopheles albimanus se registró en todos los depósitos de agua de ambas rancherías. Dado que la especie se considera vector primario de la malaria en la zona, debe establecerse un sistema de vigilancia entomológica local que involucre a la comunidad a la vez que respete su cosmología y actividades rutinarias como la pesca.
Abundance, composition and natural infection of Anopheles mosquitoes from two malaria-endemic regions of Colombia
Authors: Montoya Carolina , Bascuñán Priscila , Rodríguez-Zabala Julián , Correa Margarita M.
Published: October 2017

Introducción. En Colombia hay tres especies de mosquitos Anopheles implicadas como vectores primarios en la transmisión de la malaria o paludismo; sin embargo, el rol local de algunas especies de Anopheles aún debe determinarse.Objetivo. Determinar la abundancia, la composición y la infección natural de mosquitos anofelinos con Plasmodium spp. en dos regiones endémicas de malaria en Colombia.Materiales y métodos. Se recolectaron mosquitos del género Anopheles usando los métodos de recolección con cebo humano y en reposo en corrales de ganado vacuno, en nueve localidades de dos regiones endémicas para malaria en Colombia. Los especímenes se identificaron morfológicamente y se confirmaron por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) de los polimorfismos en la longitud de los fragmentos de restricción (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, RFLP) en el espaciador intergénico ribosómico nuclear 2 (Internal Transcribed Spacer, ITS-2) (PCR-RFLP-ITS2). Los especímenes se procesaron y analizaron mediante ELISA y PCR anidada basada en la subunidad pequeña del ARN ribosómico (small subunit ribosomal RNA, ssrRNA) para determinar la infección por Plasmodium.Resultados. Se recolectaron 1.963 mosquitos Anopheles correspondientes a nueve especies. Anopheles nuneztovari fue la especie predominante (53,5 %), seguida por A. darlingi (34,5 %), A. triannulatus s.l. (6 %) y por otras especies (≈5,9 %). Tres especies se encontraron naturalmente infectadas con Plasmodium spp.: A. darlingi, A. nuneztovari y A. triannulatus s.l.Conclusiones. La infección natural de A. darlingi y A. nuneztovari indica que estos vectores primarios siguen siendo actores principales en la transmisión de malaria en las localidades estudiadas de los departamentos del Valle del Cauca y Chocó. Además, el espécimen A. triannulatus s.l. infectado, recolectado en corrales de animales de la localidad estudiada en el departamento de Córdoba, indica que existe la necesidad de estudios futuros para establecer la importancia epidemiológica de esta especie dada su abundancia y comportamiento antropofílico oportunista.
Identifying Trypanosoma cruzi discreet typing units in triatomines collected in different natural regions of Perú
Authors: Padilla Carlos P. , Alvarado Uriel , Ventura Gladis , Luna-Caipo Deysi , Suárez Marcial , Tuñoque José R. , Ruelas-Llerena Nancy , Fachín Luis A. , Huiza Alina , Gonzáles Lizandro , Carranza Julio César , Vallejo Gustavo Adolfo , Vallejo Gustavo Adolfo , Cáceres Abraham G. , Cáceres Abraham G.
Published: October 2017

Introducción. Trypanosoma cruzi se ha dividido en seis unidades taxonómicas discretas (Discreet Typing Units, DTU) denominadas TcI, TcII, TcIII, TcIV, TcV y TcVI. Aún se desconocen los factores determinantes de la dinámica de la transmisión vectorial de los genotipos de T. cruzi en las diferentes regiones geográficas de distribución de la enfermedad de Chagas en Perú.Objetivo. Detectar y tipificar las unidades taxonómicas discretas de T. cruzi en las heces de siete especies de triatominos (Panstrongylus chinai, P. geniculatus, P. herreri, Rhodnius robustus, R. pictipes, Triatoma carrioni y T. infestans), capturados en ocho departamentos de diferentes regiones naturales de Perú.Materiales y métodos. Se examinaron 197 insectos para la detección de tripanosomas. Se extrajo el ADN del contenido intestinal de cada insecto y se amplificó mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) de los genes kDNA, SL-IR, 24Sα rRNA y 18Sα RNA para detectar las DTU de T. cruzi. Resultados. Se detectaron cinco infecciones con T. rangeli y 113 con T. cruzi. De estas últimas, fue posible identificar 95 de TcI (dos en P. chinai, una en P. geniculatus, 68 en P. herreri, cuatro en R. pictipes, siete en R. robustus, una en T. carrioni, y 12 en T. infestans); cinco de TcII (cuatro en P. herreri, una en T. infestans); cuatro de TcIII (tres en P. herreri, una en R. robustus) y cuatro infecciones de TcIV en P. herreri.Conclusión. Este es el primer trabajo de caracterización a gran escala de T. cruzi en el intestino de vectores de importancia epidemiológica en Perú, orientado a generar información básica que permita entender la dinámica de la transmisión vectorial de T. cruzi en esta región del continente.
Effects of GnRHa treatment during vitellogenesis on the reproductive physiology of thermally challenged female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Authors: Anderson Kelli , Pankhurst Ned , King Harry , Elizur Abigail
Published: October 2017

Tasmanian Atlantic salmon (S. salar) broodstock can experience temperatures above 20 °C, which impairs reproductive development and inhibits ovulation. The present study investigated the prolonged use of gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) during vitellogenesis as a means of maintaining endocrine function and promoting egg quality at elevated temperature in maiden and repeat spawning S. salar. GnRHa-treatment during vitellogenesis did not compensate for the negative effects of thermal challenge on the timing of ovulation, egg size, egg fertility or embryo survival in any fish maintained at 22 °C relative to 14 °C. The lack of effectiveness was reflected by the endocrine data, as plasma follicle stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone levels were not different between treated and untreated groups at 22 °C. Furthermore, plasma testosterone and E2 levels were unchanged in GnRHa-treated fish at 22 °C, and plasma levels were generally lower in both groups maintained at 22 °C relative to 14 °C. Transcription of vitellogenin, and zona pellucida B and C was not enhanced in GnRHa-treated fish relative to untreated fish at 22 °C, presumably due to observed suppression of plasma E2. These results indicate that thermal impairment of reproduction is likely to occur on multiple levels, and is difficult to overcome via hormonal manipulation.
Influence of current climate, historical climate stability and topography on species richness and endemism in Mesoamerican geophyte plants
Authors: Sosa Victoria , Loera Israel
Published: October 2017

Background

A number of biotic and abiotic factors have been proposed as drivers of geographic variation in species richness. As biotic elements, inter-specific interactions are the most widely recognized. Among abiotic factors, in particular for plants, climate and topographic variables as well as their historical variation have been correlated with species richness and endemism. In this study, we determine the extent to which the species richness and endemism of monocot geophyte species in Mesoamerica is predicted by current climate, historical climate stability and topography.

Methods

Using approximately 2,650 occurrence points representing 507 geophyte taxa, species richness (SR) and weighted endemism (WE) were estimated at a geographic scale using grids of 0.5 × 0.5 decimal degrees resolution using Mexico as the geographic extent. SR and WE were also estimated using species distributions inferred from ecological niche modeling for species with at least five spatially unique occurrence points. Current climate, current to Last Glacial Maximum temperature, precipitation stability and topographic features were used as predictor variables on multiple spatial regression analyses (i.e., spatial autoregressive models, SAR) using the estimates of SR and WE as response variables. The standardized coefficients of the predictor variables that were significant in the regression models were utilized to understand the observed patterns of species richness and endemism.

Results

Our estimates of SR and WE based on direct occurrence data and distribution modeling generally yielded similar results, though estimates based on ecological niche modeling indicated broader distribution areas for SR and WE than when species richness was directly estimated using georeferenced coordinates. The SR and WE of monocot geophytes were highest along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, in both cases with higher levels in the central area of this mountain chain. Richness and endemism were also elevated in the southern regions of the Sierra Madre Oriental and Occidental mountain ranges, and in the Tehuacán Valley. Some areas of the Sierra Madre del Sur and Sierra Madre Oriental had high levels of WE, though they are not the areas with the highest SR. The spatial regressions suggest that SR is mostly influenced by current climate, whereas endemism is mainly affected by topography and precipitation stability.

Conclusions

Both methods (direct occurrence data and ecological niche modeling) used to estimate SR and WE in this study yielded similar results and detected a key area that should be considered in plant conservation strategies: the central region of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Our results also corroborated that species richness is more closely correlated with current climate factors while endemism is related to differences in topography and to changes in precipitation levels compared to the LGM climatic conditions.
The benefits of Tai Chi and brisk walking for cognitive function and fitness in older adults
Authors: Ji Zhiguang , Li Anmin , Feng Tian , Liu Xiaolei , You Yihong , Meng Fanying , Wang Ruoqing , Lu Jialing , Zhang Chunhua
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits of exercises with different cognitive demands for cognitive functions (Executive and non-Executive) in healthy older adults. A cross-sectional design was adopted. In total, 84 healthy older adults were enrolled in the study. They were categorized into the Tai Chi group (TG), the brisk walking group (BG) or the control group (CG). Each participant performed the Stroop task and a digit comparison task. The Stroop task included the following three conditions: a naming condition, an inhibition condition and an executive condition. There were two experimental conditions in the digit comparison task: the non-delay condition and the delay condition. The results indicated that participants of the TG and BG revealed significant better performance than the CG in the executive condition of cognitive tasks and fitness. There was no significant difference of reaction time (RT) and accuracy rate in the inhibition and delay conditions of cognitive tasks and fitness between the TG and BG. The TG showed shorter reaction time in the naming and the executive conditions, and more accurate in the inhibition conditions than the BG. These findings demonstrated that regular participation in brisk walking and Tai Chi have significant beneficial effects on executive function and fitness. However, due to the high cognitive demands of the exercise, Tai Chi benefit cognitive functions (Executive and non-Executive) in older adults more than brisk walking does. Further studies should research the underlying mechanisms at the behavioural and neuroelectric levels, providing more evidence to explain the effect of high-cognitive demands exercise on different processing levels of cognition.
Five new lichen species (Ascomycota) and a new record from southern New South Wales, Australia
Authors: McCarthy Patrick , Elix John
Published: October 2017

Five lichen species (Ascomycota) are described as new from rocks in coastal and tableland localities of southern New South Wales: Catillaria gerroana P.M.McCarthy & Elix (Catillariaceae), Fellhanera robusta P.M.McCarthy & Elix (Pilocarpaceae), Menegazzia fortuita Elix & P.M.McCarthy (Parmeliaceae), Ramboldia curvispora P.M.McCarthy & Elix (Lecanoraceae) and Sarcogyne maritima P.M.McCarthy & Elix (Acarosporaceae). Arthonia lapidicola (Taylor) Branth & Rostrup (Arthoniaceae) is reported for the first time from Australia
Pyroclastic Eruption Boosts Organic Carbon Fluxes Into Patagonian Fjords
Authors: Mohr Christian H. , Korup Oliver , Ulloa Héctor , Iroumé Andrés
Published: October 2017

Fjords and old‐growth forests store large amounts of organic carbon. Yet the role of episodic disturbances, particularly volcanic eruptions, in mobilizing organic carbon in fjord landscapes covered by temperate rainforests remains poorly quantified. To this end, we estimated how much wood and soils were flushed to nearby fjords following the 2008 eruption of Chaitén volcano in south‐central Chile, where pyroclastic sediments covered >12 km2 of pristine temperate rainforest. Field‐based surveys of forest biomass, soil organic content, and dead wood transport reveal that the reworking of pyroclastic sediments delivered ~66,500 + 14,600/−14,500 tC of large wood to two rivers entering the nearby Patagonian fjords in less than a decade. A similar volume of wood remains in dead tree stands and buried beneath pyroclastic deposits (~79,900 + 21,100/−16,900 tC) or stored in active river channels (5,900–10,600 tC). We estimate that bank erosion mobilized ~132,300+21,700/−30,600 tC of floodplain forest soil. Eroded and reworked forest soils have been accreting on coastal river deltas at >5 mm yr−1 since the eruption. While much of the large wood is transported out of the fjord by long‐shore drift, the finer fraction from eroded forest soils is likely to be buried in the fjords. We conclude that the organic carbon fluxes boosted by rivers adjusting to high pyroclastic sediment loads may remain elevated for up to a decade and that Patagonian temperate rainforests disturbed by excessive loads of pyroclastic debris can be episodic short‐lived carbon sources.
A Multimodel Study on Warm Precipitation Biases in Global Models Compared to Satellite Observations
Authors: Jing Xianwen , Suzuki Kentaroh , Guo Huan , Goto Daisuke , Ogura Tomoo , Koshiro Tsuyoshi , Mülmenstädt Johannes
Published: October 2017

The cloud‐to‐precipitation transition process in warm clouds simulated by state‐of‐the‐art global climate models (GCMs), including both traditional climate models and a high‐resolution model, is evaluated against A‐Train satellite observations. The models and satellite observations are compared in the form of the statistics obtained from combined analysis of multiple‐satellite observables that probe signatures of the cloud‐to‐precipitation transition process. One common problem identified among these models is the too‐frequent occurrence of warm precipitation. The precipitation is found to form when the cloud particle size and the liquid water path (LWP) are both much smaller than those in observations. The too‐efficient formation of precipitation is found to be compensated for by errors of cloud microphysical properties, such as underestimated cloud particle size and LWP, to an extent that varies among the models. However, this does not completely cancel the precipitation formation bias. Robust errors are also found in the evolution of cloud microphysical properties from nonprecipitating to drizzling and then to raining clouds in some GCMs, implying unrealistic interaction between precipitation and cloud water. Nevertheless, auspicious information is found for future improvement of warm precipitation representations: the adoption of more realistic autoconversion scheme in the high‐resolution model improves the triggering of precipitation, and the introduction of a sophisticated subgrid variability scheme in a traditional model improves the simulated precipitation frequency over subtropical eastern ocean. However, deterioration in other warm precipitation characteristics is also found accompanying these improvements, implying the multisource nature of warm precipitation biases in GCMs.
Open‐loop Stackelberg learning solution for hierarchical control problems
Authors: Vamvoudakis Kyriakos G. , Lewis Frank L. , Dixon Warren E.
Published: October 2017

This work presents a novel framework based on adaptive learning techniques to solve the continuous‐time open‐loop Stackelberg games. The method yields real‐time approximations of the game value and convergence of the policies to the open‐loop Stackelberg‐equilibrium solution, while also guaranteeing asymptotic stability of the equilibrium point of the closed‐loop system. It is implemented as a separate actor/critic parametric network approximator structure for every player and involves simultaneous continuous‐time adaptation. To introduce and implement the hierarchical structure to the coupled optimization problem, we adjoin to the leader the controller dynamics of the follower. A persistence of excitation condition guarantees convergence of both critics to the actual game values that eventually solve the hierarchical optimization problem. A simulation example shows the efficacy of the proposed approach.
Challenges of Diffusion Bonding of Different Classes of Stainless Steels
Authors: Gietzelt Thomas , Toth Volker , Huell Andreas
Published: October 2017

Solid state diffusion bonding is used to produce monolithic parts exhibiting mechanical properties comparable to those of the bulk material. This requires diffusion of atoms across mating surfaces at high temperatures, accompanied by grain growth. In case of steel, polymorphy helps to limit the grain size, since the microstructure is transformed twice. The diffusion coefficient differs extremely for ferritic and austenitic phases. Alloying elements may shift or suppress phase transformation until the melting range. In this paper, diffusion bonding experiments are reported for austenitic, ferritic, and martensitic stainless steels possessing varying alloying elements and contents. Passivation layers of different compositions are formed, thus affecting the local diffusion coefficient and impeding diffusion across faying surfaces. As a consequence, different bonding temperatures are needed to obtain good bonding results, making it difficult to control the deformation of parts, since strong nonlinearities exist between temperature, bonding time, and bearing pressure. For martensitic stainless steel, it is shown that it is very easy to obtain good bonding results at low deformation, whereas ferritic and austenitic stainless steels require much more extreme bonding parameters.
The Influence of Hydrogen on the Low Cycle Fatigue Behavior of Medium Strength 3.5NiCrMoV Steel Studied Using Notched Specimens
Authors: Liu Qian , Atrens Andrej
Published: October 2017

The influence of hydrogen on low cycle fatigue (LCF) of 3.5NiCrMoV steel electrochemically hydrogen charged in the acidified pH 2 0.1 M Na2SO4 solution is studied. In the presence of hydrogen, the fatigue life decreases significantly by ≈70 to ≈80% by: (i) the crack initiation period is decreased; and (ii) the crack growth rate is accelerated. SEM observation indicates that in the presence of hydrogen, the fracture surface shows flat transgranular fracture with vague striations and some intergranular fracture at lower stresses. The fatigue crack growth rate increases with increasing cyclic stress amplitude and with hydrogen fugacity. Once the fatigue crack reaches a critical length, the specimen becomes mechanical unstable and fracture due to ductile overload occurs. The hydrogen contribution to the final fracture process is not significant.