bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PbS quantum dots prepared by pulsed laser deposition for photovoltaic applications and ligand effects on device performance
Authors: Dai Qilin , Chen Jiajun , Lu Liyou , Tang Jinke , Wang Wenyong
Published: May 2013

In this research, PbS quantum dots (QDs) were assembled directly on ternary metal oxide nanowires by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) for photovoltaic applications, which avoided the difficult ligand exchange processing needed in typical colloidal synthesis processes. Different ligands including oleic acid, oleylamine, and 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) were used to cap the PbS QDs after PLD deposition, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to characterize their coverage. The ligand effect on solar cell performance was also investigated, and it was found that the device treated with oleic acid exhibited a significantly improved performance.
Electrodeposited CuIn1−xGaxSe2 thin films from non-aqueous medium for solar cell applications
Authors: Chaure N. B.
Published: May 2013

Polycrystalline thin films of group I-III-VI, especially copper indium diselenide and its alloys with gallium (CuInxGa1−xSe2, CIGS) have proven to be a suitable absorbers layer to obtain high-efficiency solar cells. We have deposited CuInxGa1−xSe2 (CIGS) thin films by cost effective electrochemical technique from non-aqueous bath onto fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrates. The electrochemical parameters have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry in a non-aqueous solution of ethylene glycol, consisting precursors of Cu, In, Ga, and Se. The structural, morphological, compositional, and optoelectronic properties of CIGS thin films were studied. The prominent X-ray diffraction peak (112) is systematically shifted from 2θ = 26.60 to 27.26°, with increase in the contents of Ga in CIGS precursor layer. The atomic percentage of Ga in CIGS thin film was further confirmed by energy dispersive x-ray analysis technique. Preliminary solar cell devices (Glass/FTO/CdS/CIGS/Au) showed photoactive behavior with good diode characteristics in dark and under illumination conditions.
Attractiveness is Influenced by the Relationship between Postures of the Viewer and the Viewed Person
Authors: Bertamini Marco , Byrne Christopher , Bennett Kate M.
Published: May 2013

Many factors influence physical attractiveness, including degree of symmetry and relative length of legs. We asked a sample of 112 young adults to rate the attractiveness of computer-generated female bodies that varied in terms of symmetry and leg-to-body ratio. These effects were confirmed. However, we also varied whether the person in the image was shown sitting or standing. Half of the participants were tested standing and the other half sitting. The difference in the posture of the participants increased the perceived attractiveness of the images sharing the same posture, despite the fact that participants were unaware that their posture was relevant for the experiment. We conclude that our findings extend the role of embodied simulation in social cognition to perception of attractiveness from static images.
Loss of Color by Afterimage Masking
Authors: Takahashi Kohske , Yamada Shun'ya , Ono Fuminori , Watanabe Katsumi
Published: May 2013

When two images, one depicting colored disks and the other depicting colored windmill patterns, are displayed in succession, the color of the windmills is perceptually replaced by black. The illusion is striking. Experiments confirmed (1) that the luminance contrast between the target patterns and the background must be large and (2) that the disks and windmills must be static on the retina and in register. The illusion is weakened when the windmills and disks have different colors.
Sugar and Space? Not the Case: Effects of Low Blood Glucose on Slant Estimation are Mediated by Beliefs
Authors: Shaffer Dennis M. , McManama Eric , Swank Charles , Durgin Frank H.
Published: May 2013

There is a current debate concerning whether people's physiological or behavioral potential alters their perception of slanted surfaces. One way to directly test this is to physiologically change people's potential by lowering their blood sugar and comparing their estimates of slant to those with normal blood sugar. In the first investigation of this (Schnall, Zadra, & Proffitt, 2010), it was shown that people with low blood sugar gave higher estimates of slanted surfaces than people with normal blood sugar. The question that arises is whether these higher estimates are due to lower blood sugar, per se, or experimental demand created by other aspects of the experiment. Here evidence was collected from 120 observers showing that directly manipulating physiological potential, while controlling for experimental demand effects, does not alter the perception of slant. Indeed, when experimental demand went against behavioral potential, it produced judgmental biases opposite to those predicted by behavioral potential in the low blood sugar condition. It is suggested that low blood sugar only affects slant judgments by making participants more susceptible to judgmental biases.
Do patents impede the provision of genetic tests in Australia?
Authors: Nicol Dianne , Liddicoat John
Published: May 2013

Objective.
Health policy and law reform agencies lack a sound evidence base of the impacts of patents on innovation and access to healthcare to assist them in their deliberations. This paper reports the results of a survey of managers of Australian genetic testing laboratories that asked a series of questions relating to the tests they perform, whether they pay to access patented inventions and whether they have received notifications from patent holders about patents associated with particular tests.

Results.
Some diagnostics facilities are exposed to patent costs, but they are all located in the private sector. No public hospitals reported paying licence fees or royalties beyond those included in the price of commercial test kits. Some respondents reported having received enforcement notices from patent holders, but almost all related to the widely known breast cancer-associated patents. Respondents were also asked for their views on the most effective mechanisms to protect their ability to provide genetic tests now and in the future. Going to the media, paying licence fees, ignoring patent rights and relying on the government to take action were widely seen as most effective. Litigation and applications for compulsory licences were seen as some of the least effective mechanisms.

Conclusion.
These results provide an evidence base for development of health policy and law reform.

What is known about the topic?
The impact of patents on the delivery of genetic testing services remains unclear in Australia.

What does this paper add?
The survey reported in this paper suggests that, aside from well-known enforcement actions relating to the breast cancer associated patents, there is little evidence that providers of genetic testing services are being exposed to aggressive patent-enforcement practices.

What are the implications for practitioners?
Although patent-enforcement actions may increase in the future, a range of strategies are available to providers of testing services to protect them against adverse consequences of such actions. There are ongoing law reform activities aimed at improving these strategies.
Molecular phylogenetic, morphological and biogeographic evidence for a new genus of parabathynellid crustaceans (Syncarida : Bathynellacea) from groundwater in an ancient southern Australian landscape
Authors: Abrams Kym M. , King Rachael A. , Guzik Michelle T. , Cooper Steven J. B. , Austin Andy D.
Published: May 2013

The putatively ancient subterranean crustacean family Parabathynellidae has been poorly studied, in part because of the problem of obtaining material from difficult to access subterranean habitats in which they live. Further, the systematics of the group has been complicated by their generally simplified morphology and isolated descriptions of new taxa in the absence of any phylogenetic framework. Using material from comprehensive field surveys and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear 18S sequence data, plus morphology, a new genus is recognised, Arkaroolabathynella Abrams & King, gen. nov., from underground waters in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Arkaroolabathynella contains four genetically and morphologically distinct species, described as A. bispinosa Abrams & King, sp. nov., A. remkoi Abrams & King, sp. nov., A. robusta Abrams & King, sp. nov. and A. spriggi Abrams & King, sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis also revealed a previously unknown diversity of parabathynellids from southern Australia, and a complex set of relationships with the eastern (New South Wales) and south-western (Western Australia) continental faunas. Additionally, this study showed that deep molecular divergences in parabathynellids are not always reflected in morphological divergence. A checklist to Australian parabathynellid genera and species is also provided.
Prevalence and risk factors of reproductive tract infections among a defined population of Iranian women
Authors: Maharlouei Najmeh , Barooti Esmat , Sharif Farkhondeh , Hosseini Hamed , Lankarani Kamran B.
Published: May 2013

Background
Reproductive tract infections are among the most prevalent gynaecological health concerns. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of reproductive tract infections among a defined population of Iranian women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in Shiraz, Southern Iran, from 2007 to 2009. The study subjects were 28 484 vulnerable household women who were covered by the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation insurance scheme. All the participants underwent vaginal speculum examinations and swab sampling. Vaginal discharge was collected for Gram staining, potassium hydroxide mount, wet mount and in a transport medium for culture and sensitivity testing. The frequency of reproductive tract infections and their risk factors were determined. Results: The mean age of the 28 484 women who participated in the study was 48.7 ± 10.1 (range: 13–104) years. According to the results, 13 472 (47.3%) subjects had reproductive tract infections. Moreover, vulvovaginal candidiasis was the most common infection in our population, accounting for 4718 subjects (16.6%), followed by trichomoniasis (11.2%) and bacterial vaginosis (10.6%). Furthermore, the number of pregnancies, being married and low educational levels (illiterate and under diploma level) were the risk factors for these infections, whereas the use of oral contraceptives and being employed were the protective factors. Conclusion: Almost half of the vulnerable Iranian women suffer from reproductive tract infections, with candidiasis and trichomoniasis being the most prevalent types. Based on the high prevalence of these infections, appropriate and precise screening programs should be taken into consideration for this specific population.
High incidence of multiple paternity in an Australian snapping turtle (Elseya albagula)
Authors: Todd Erica V. , Blair David , Limpus Colin J. , Limpus Duncan J. , Jerry Dean R.
Published: May 2013

Genetic parentage studies can provide detailed insights into the mating system dynamics of wild populations, including the prevalence and patterns of multiple paternity. Multiple paternity is assumed to be common among turtles, though its prevalence varies widely between species and populations. Several important groups remain to be investigated, including the family Chelidae, which dominate the freshwater turtle fauna of the Southern Hemisphere. We used seven polymorphic microsatellite markers to investigate the presence of multiple fathers within clutches from the white-throated snapping turtle (Elseya albagula), an Australian species of conservation concern. We uncovered a high incidence of multiple paternity, with 83% of clutches showing evidence of multiple fathers and up to three males contributing to single clutches. We confirm a largely promiscuous mating system for this species in the Burnett River, Queensland, although a lone incidence of single paternity indicates it is not the only strategy employed. These data provide the first example of multiple paternity in the Chelidae and extend our knowledge of the taxonomic breadth of multiple paternity in turtles of the Southern Hemisphere.
Brief demethylation step allows the conversion of adult human skin fibroblasts into insulin-secreting cells
Authors: Pennarossa Georgia , Maffei Sara , Campagnol Marino , Tarantini Letizia , Gandolfi Fulvio , Brevini Tiziana A. L.
Published: May 2013

The differentiated state of mature cells of adult organisms is achieved and maintained through the epigenetic regulation of gene expression, which consists of several mechanisms including DNA methylation. The advent of induced pluripotent stem cell technology enabled the conversion of adult cells into any other cell type passing through a stable pluripotency state. However, indefinite pluripotency is unphysiological, inherently labile, and makes cells prone to culture-induced alterations. The direct conversion of one cell type to another without an intermediate pluripotent stage is also possible but, at present, requires the viral transfection of appropriate transcription factors, limiting its therapeutic potential. The aim of this study was to investigate whether it is possible to achieve the direct conversion of an adult cell by exposing it to a demethylating agent immediately followed by differentiating culture conditions. Adult human skin fibroblasts were exposed for 18 h to the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine, followed by a three-step protocol for the induction of endocrine pancreatic differentiation that lasted 36 d. At the end of this treatment, 35 ± 8.9% fibroblasts became pancreatic converted cells that acquired an epithelial morphology, produced insulin, and then released the hormone in response to a physiological glucose challenge in vitro. Furthermore, pancreatic converted cells were able to protect recipient mice against streptozotocin-induced diabetes, restoring a physiological response to glucose tolerance tests. This work shows that it is possible to convert adult fibroblasts into insulin-secreting cells, avoiding both a stable pluripotent stage and any transgenic modification.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of neuronal population response in the primary visual cortex
Authors: Zhou Douglas , Rangan Aaditya V. , McLaughlin David W. , Cai David
Published: May 2013

One of the fundamental questions in system neuroscience is how the brain encodes external stimuli in the early sensory cortex. It has been found in experiments that even some simple sensory stimuli can activate large populations of neurons. It is believed that information can be encoded in the spatiotemporal profile of these collective neuronal responses. Here, we use a large-scale computational model of the primary visual cortex (V1) to study the population responses in V1 as observed in experiments in which monkeys performed visual detection tasks. We show that our model can capture very well spatiotemporal activities measured by voltage-sensitive-dye-based optical imaging in V1 of the awake state. In our model, the properties of horizontal long-range connections with NMDA conductance play an important role in the correlated population responses and have strong implications for spatiotemporal coding of neuronal populations. Our computational modeling approach allows us to reveal intrinsic cortical dynamics, separating them from those statistical effects arising from averaging procedures in experiment. For example, in experiments, it was shown that there was a spatially antagonistic center-surround structure in optimal weights in signal detection theory, which was believed to underlie the efficiency of population coding. However, our study shows that this feature is an artifact of data processing.
The gypsy as vanishing mediator in Russian television coverage of interethnic tension
Authors: Hutchings Stephen C.
Published: May 2013

The article addresses the representation of gypsies in Russian television news bulletins and popular drama series over a 15-month period. It seeks first to explain the prominence of the media image of the gypsy relative to the size of the Roma population and second to account for the relationship between fictional and non-fictional modes of representation. Situating itself within the broader field of post-Soviet Russian identity studies and applying qualitative tools differentiated according to the arena of analysis, it looks at questions of lexicon, voice and viewpoint in relation to news and issues of characterization, fictional space and plot with respect to drama. The two apparatuses are linked through a shared emphasis on narrative, and in particular on its dual orientation toward the exceptional (what makes a story worth telling and capable of embracing “difference”) and the typical (what enables it to represent and project “identity”). In its central argument it maps this dual “identity/difference” dynamic onto the gypsy's liminal status as both “of the self” and “of the other”, and its mediatory function: the ability to serve as a proxy for ethno-cultural difference more generally, and to negotiate the tensions between the cultural and racial aspects of ethnicity.
Differentiating between Sampling‐ and Environment‐Related Mortality in Shortnose Sturgeon Larvae Collected Using Anchored D‐Frame Nets
Authors: Usvyatsov Sima , Watmough James , Litvak Matthew K.
Published: May 2013

This study provided the first attempt to differentiate between environmental‐ and sampling‐related mortality in larval Shortnose Sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum. Anchored D‐frame nets are widely used for sampling sturgeon larvae, but the associated larval mortality rates are not known. We assessed larval mortality (1) by examining the effect of net deployment period on mortality rate; (2) directly, by deploying live larvae in nets and observing survival over time; and (3) indirectly, by establishing the time of larval death based on body decomposition. Larval mortality in nets deployed for 12 and 24 h was similar: 50% of the nets contained no live larvae. After a 6‐h deployment, half of the nets contained 60% or more live larvae. After placement of live larvae in nets for 12 h, the nets retained 60.0 ± 20.4% (mean ± SE) of the deployed larvae. Of the retained larvae, only 6.5 ± 2.3% (mean ± SE) survived 12 h inside the net. Decomposition rates of dead larvae were examined both in a controlled environment and in the nets. Dead larvae that were deployed in nets decomposed faster than those in a controlled environment, with high decay after only 12 h of deployment. A discriminant function analysis differentiated well between larvae that had been dead for 9 h and larvae that had been dead for 21 or 32 h. The assessment of time of death based on decomposition was used to identify the cause of mortality for Shortnose Sturgeon larvae collected in the Saint John River, New Brunswick, during 2008–2010. We propose that in short to medium deployment periods (up to overnight), pristine and partly decayed larvae can be assigned to sampling mortality, while highly decayed larvae can be assigned to environment‐related mortality. Using this distinction, sampling and environmental sources of mortality accounted for at least 20–56% and 4–25%, respectively, of the sampled Shortnose Sturgeon larvae.

Received June 13, 2012; accepted March 7, 2013
Catch-and-Release Rates of Sport Fishes in Northern Wisconsin from an Angler Diary Survey
Authors: Gaeta Jereme W. , Beardmore Ben , Latzka Alexander W. , Provencher Bill , Carpenter Stephen R.
Published: May 2013

Recreational freshwater fisheries are key components of local economies in many regions. The quality of these fisheries can be affected not only by harvest but also by catch-and-release practices. Documenting catch and release among sport fish taxa is, therefore, important to fisheries researchers studying sport fishes and managers regulating these fisheries. We used an angler diary survey to assess taxon-specific effort, catch, harvest, release, and reason for release during the 2011 open-water season. Our study included information on 5,007 fishing trips taken by 652 anglers. These anglers visited 279 lakes spanning 11,761.5 km2 of northern Wisconsin. Muskellunge Esox masquinongy, black bass (i.e., Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu and Largemouth Bass M. salmoides), Northern Pike E. lucius, Walleye Sander vitreus, and panfish were released at rates of 99, 97, 86, 67, and 67%, respectively, when targeted by anglers. This study is the first to document black bass catch-and-release rates in the region and corroborates previous findings of Muskellunge and Walleye catch-and-release rates based on creel surveys. Voluntary catch and release was the most common reason for release. Our findings suggest that regulations may be much more generous than the harvest rates practiced by anglers and that catch-and-release angling practices may be an important factor affecting these sport fish populations.

Received July 18, 2012; accepted March 12, 2013
Survival and Traits of Reconditioned Kelt Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss in the Yakima River, Washington
Authors: Hatch Douglas R. , Fast David E. , Bosch William J. , Blodgett Joseph W. , Whiteaker John M. , Branstetter Ryan , Pierce Andrew L.
Published: May 2013

We evaluated the traits and survival to release of reconditioned kelt steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss in the Yakima River (Washington State, USA). From 2001 to 2011, we captured a total of 9,738 downstream-migrating kelts at an irrigation diversion facility, an average about 27% of each annual wild steelhead return. Captured kelts were reared for 4.5–10 months in an artificial environment, treated for diseases and parasites, and fed both krill and pellets. Surviving reconditioned fish were released into the Yakima River during the peak of the upstream migration of prespawn steelhead. Reconditioned steelhead kelts were predominantly (>92%) female. Annual survival to release ranged from 20% to 62% and averaged 38% over the course of the study, the surviving reconditioned kelts showing increases in FL, weight, and Fulton's K condition factor compared with their preconditioning status. Kelts in good condition and those with bright coloration at the time of collection were more likely to survive than those of poorer status at collection. Postrelease timing of upstream migration by reconditioned kelts was spread over several months and correlated well with the run timing of prespawn migrants upstream. The empirical results we observed demonstrate the potential for kelt reconditioning to provide recovery benefits for repeat spawning imperiled wild populations in highly developed river systems.

Received July 17, 2012; accepted March 15, 2013
Alcohol, Tobacco, Cocaine, and Marijuana Use: Relative Contributions to Preterm Delivery and Fetal Growth Restriction
Authors: Janisse James J. , Bailey Beth A. , Ager Joel , Sokol Robert J.
Published: May 2013

Background

Pregnancy substance use is linked to low birth weight. However, less is known about relative contributions of various substances and whether effects are due to decreased gestational duration, restriction of fetal growth, or both. The study goal was to use causal modeling to evaluate the individual impact of alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, and marijuana on gestational duration and fetal growth.

Methods

Participants were 3164 urban black women recruited at entry to prenatal care and followed to delivery, with all gestational dating ultrasound supported. Pregnancy substance use was assessed via self-report (alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, and marijuana).

Results

Alcohol, cigarette, and cocaine use were all individually and negatively related to gestational age at delivery. However, only alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use predicted fetal growth, with effects for alcohol and cigarette greater and more discrepant for older women. Overall, heavy cigarette smoking had the greatest individual impact on birth weight (up to 431 g). Heavy levels of use of all 4 substances by older women decreased birth weight by 26% (806 g).

Conclusions

For perhaps the first time, reduced birth weight is apportioned both by type of substance and mechanism of effect. The use of alcohol and/or cigarettes was clearly more harmful to fetal growth than cocaine use. Findings demonstrate the need for continued emphasis on intervention efforts to address legal and illicit pregnancy substance use.
A Comparison of Two Methods for Colorimetric in situ Hybridization Using Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Sections and Digoxigenin-Labeled Hybridization Probes
Authors: Marcino Joe
Published: May 2013

Two methods for colorimetric in situ DNA probe hybridization (CISH) assays on paraffin-embedded tissue sections were compared. The heated method used heat (90–100°C) to denature DNA in the sample prior to probe hybridization, while the unheated method used a standard hybridization temperature of 42°C. Both procedures were tested on tissue samples that harbored the mollusk protozoan pathogens Perkinsus marinus, P. chesapeaki, or Haplosporidium nelsoni, the protozoan and bacterial fish pathogens Myxobolus cerebralis (myxosporidean) or Renibacterium salmoninarum (bacterial), or the crab viral pathogen Callinectes sapidus reovirus. Samples were fixed in either formalin or Davidson's fixative and embedded in paraffin for histological examination. The heated method is labor intensive and highly prone to human error, while the unheated method is less labor intensive and can be completed in a shorter period of time. Both methods yielded similar hybridization results. The use of complex and expensive prehybridization buffers did not improve the performances of the tested CISH assays. Prehybridization heat denaturation of DNA in assayed samples increased both assay duration and loss of samples but did not improve hybridization signals.

Received September 27, 2012; accepted February 22, 2013
Correlates of Improved Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Personnel: A Survey of Hospitals in Louisiana
Authors: Fricke Kayla L. , Gastañaduy Mariella M. , Klos Renee , Bégué Rodolfo E.
Published: May 2013

Objective.

To describe practices for influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel (HCP) with emphasis on correlates of increased vaccination rates.

Design.

Survey.

Participants.

Volunteer sample of hospitals in Louisiana.

Methods.

All hospitals in Louisiana were invited to participate. A 17-item questionnaire inquired about the hospital type, patients served, characteristics of the vaccination campaign, and the resulting vaccination rate.

Results.

Of 254 hospitals, 153 (60%) participated and were included in the 124 responses that were received. Most programs (64%) required that HCP either receive the vaccine or sign a declination form, and the rest were exclusively voluntary (36%); no program made vaccination a condition of employment. The median vaccination rate was 67%, and the vaccination rate was higher among hospitals that were accredited by the Joint Commission; provided acute care; served children, pregnant women, oncology patients, or intensive care unit patients; required a signed declination form; or imposed consequences for unvaccinated HCP (the most common of which was to require that a mask be worn on patient contact). Hospitals that provided free vaccine, made vaccine widely available, advertised the program extensively, required a declination form, and imposed consequences had the highest vaccination rates (median, 86%; range, 81%–91%).

Conclusions.

The rate of influenza vaccination of HCP remains low among the hospitals surveyed. Recommended practices may not be enough to reach 90% vaccination rates unless a signed declination requirement and consequences are implemented. Wearing a mask is a strong consequence. Demanding influenza vaccination as a condition of employment was not reported as a practice by the participating hospitals.
Impact of left bundle branch block on heart rate and its relationship to treatment with ivabradine in chronic heart failure
Authors: Reil Jan‐Christian , Robertson Michele , Ford Ian , Borer Jeffrey , Komajda Michel , Swedberg Karl , Tavazzi Luigi , Böhm Michael
Published: May 2013

Aims

Left bundle branch block (LBBB) increases morbidity and mortality in heart failure (HF). Heart rate reduction with ivabradine improves outcomes in patients with systolic HF. Therefore, we aimed to analyse the impact of LBBB on outcomes in patients with systolic HF as a function of heart rate, and the relationship between LBBB and the effect of treatment with ivabradine.

Methods and results

Patients from the SHIFT (n = 6505) were divided into groups with (n = 912) or without (n = 5593) LBBB at baseline, and according to tertiles of heart rate (70–73, 74–80, and ≥81 b.p.m.). The effect of LBBB, heart rate, and ivabradine on the primary endpoint (cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization) and other endpoints was analysed. LBBB was associated with increases in the primary endpoint by 65%, cardiovascular mortality by 49%, HF hospitalization by 86%, and all‐cause mortality by 49% (all P < 0.001). No interaction appeared between the impact of heart rate on outcomes and presence of LBBB (P = 0.83 for the primary endpoint); thus LBBB increases risk for all heart rates. No interaction was apparent in the effect of ivabradine with LBBB or without LBBB. Ivabradine did not increase the prevalence of bradycardia in patients with LBBB.

Conclusion

LBBB increases risk in HF patients with heart rates ≥70 b.p.m. in sinus rhythm, unmodulated by heart rate. Ivabradine was safe in LBBB. Its effect was directionally similar to that in patients without LBBB, but did not reach statistical significance, possibly due to lack of power to test this effect because of the small number of LBBB patients.
Survival bottlenecks in the early ontogenesis of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus, L.) in coastal lagoon spawning areas of the western Baltic Sea
Authors: Polte Patrick , Kotterba Paul , Hammer Cornelius , Gröhsler Tomas
Published: May 2013

Dominant drivers of larval survival are considered to include oceanographic dispersal, sea temperatures, and food availability in the phase of first-feeding. However, research progress on larval herring survival dynamics indicates that multiple factors might act on differing larval developmental stages. Hypothesizing that in inshore systems of the western Baltic Sea bottlenecks of herring development occur before the point of first-feeding, we analysed an extensive time-series of weekly abundances of early stage larvae in Greifswald Bay, an important spawning area for Western Baltic herring. Additionally, we investigated whether distinct hatching cohorts contribute differently to established survival indices on the level of (i) later larval stages in Greifswald Bay and (ii) 1+ group juveniles in the overall western Baltic Sea. Results revealed that abundances of the earliest larval stage explain 62% of the variability of later stage larvae and 61% of the variability of surviving juveniles, indicating pre-hatching survival bottlenecks. Hatching cohorts occurring later during the spawning season contribute most to the surviving year class. Earlier hatching cohorts were not found to result in significant amounts of growing larvae, indicating a bottleneck phase at the critical period when larvae start feeding.
Characterizing walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) winter distribution from opportunistic acoustic data
Authors: Barbeaux Steven J. , Horne John K. , Dorn Martin W.
Published: May 2013

Barbeaux, S. J., Horne, J. K., and Dorn, M. W. 2013. Characterizing walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) winter distribution from opportunistic acoustic data. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70: 1162–1173. In 2003, acoustic data from 25 000 km of ship track lines were collected from two fishing vessels participating in the eastern Bering Sea walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) fishery. Although these data were not calibrated or collected on a systematic grid, their broad temporal extent combined with high spatial resolution facilitated the examination of the distribution and behaviour of fished aggregations. To demonstrate their scientific applicability, these data were used to identify the spatio-temporal dynamics of pollock aggregations over scales ranging from hundreds of metres to hundreds of kilometres and from minutes to months. The spatial analysis identified three levels of pollock aggregation. The largest regions of high pollock density had an average diameter of 110 km and were comparable with distinct fishing grounds identified by fishers. The next smaller areas of high pollock density had a diameter between 2.5 and 6 km. Within these areas were clusters of pollock at even higher densities. The extent of the smallest aggregations ranged in diameter from 0.1 km in daylight to 0.6 km at night. Time-series analysis identified vertical and horizontal diel changes in pollock distribution and an overall decline in pollock density over the study period.
Fisheries management under climate and environmental uncertainty: control rules and performance simulation
Authors: Punt André E. , A'mar Teresa , Bond Nicholas A. , Butterworth Douglas S. , de Moor Carryn L. , De Oliveira José A. A. , Haltuch Melissa A. , Hollowed Anne B. , Szuwalski Cody
Published: May 2013

The ability of management strategies to achieve the fishery management goals are impacted by environmental variation and, therefore, also by global climate change. Management strategies can be modified to use environmental data using the “dynamic B0” concept, and changing the set of years used to define biomass reference points. Two approaches have been developed to apply management strategy evaluation to evaluate the impact of environmental variation on the performance of management strategies. The “mechanistic approach” estimates the relationship between the environment and elements of the population dynamics of the fished species and makes predictions for population trends using the outputs from global climate models. In contrast, the “empirical approach” examines possible broad scenarios without explicitly identifying mechanisms. Many reviewed studies have found that modifying management strategies to include environmental factors does not improve the ability to achieve management goals much, if at all, and only if the manner in which these factors drive the system is well known. As such, until the skill of stock projection models improves, it seems more appropriate to consider the implications of plausible broad forecasts related to how biological parameters may change in the future as a way to assess the robustness of management strategies, rather than attempting specific predictions per se.
From mountains to sound: modelling the sensitivity of Dungeness crab and Pacific oyster to land–sea interactions in Hood Canal, WA
Authors: Toft J. E. , Burke J. L. , Carey M. P. , Kim C. K. , Marsik M. , Sutherland D. A. , Arkema K. K. , Guerry A. D. , Levin P. S. , Minello T. J. , Plummer M. , Ruckelshaus M. H. , Townsend H. M.
Published: May 2013

Many diagnoses of declining marine species and habitats along US coasts point to upland and freshwater sources of imperilment. Yet, little work has examined how and whether activities on land affect marine resources. Similarly, the impacts of climate change on coastal systems are among the most certain; yet, few studies have explored how alternative management and climate scenarios will affect the delivery of diverse benefits to people from coasts. We estimated how Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) and Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) harvest in Hood Canal, WA, may change given predictions of land uses and effects of climate change. These two marine species are critical components of local commercial and recreational fisheries and thus represent key “ecosystem service” endpoints. We found that Dungeness crab harvest responds strongly to effects of climate change, as mediated by increased ocean temperature, whereas Pacific oyster harvest is more responsive to projected change in land-use/land-cover due to increased nutrient loading to the marine system. These changes vary spatially throughout Hood Canal. These results can be used as a heuristic framework to help decision-makers, planners, and other stakeholders in the region as they work to target conservation and restoration activities and plan for future growth in a changing climate.
Pedicle Screw Combined With Lateral Mass Screw Fixation in the Treatment of Basilar Invagination and Congenital C2–C3 Fusion
Authors: Wang Shenglin , Wang Chao , Leng Huijie , Zhao Weidong , Yan Ming , Zhou Haitao
Published: May 2013

Study Design:

Clinical evaluation of a surgical fixation technique featuring combined use of pedicle screw and lateral mass screw (LMS).

Objective:

Introduction of a novel technique for the treatment of congenital C2–C3 fusion and basilar invagination (BI).

Summary of Background:

Posterior occipitocervical fixation using C2 pedicle screw was widely used for BI. However, in cases where BI is concurrent with congenital C2–C3 fusion, the C2 pedicles tend to be thinner than that in normal population and hence more likely to fail. We prompted to tackle the issue by combining the pedicle screw with the additional use of LMS in attempt to strengthen the fixation.

Methods:

Twenty-five patients who underwent combined pedicle screw with LMS fixation were retrospectively studied. The instrument position, fusion status, and complications were analyzed.

Results:

None had spinal cord or vertebral artery injury. The average follow-up time was 20 months. Solid fusion was achieved in 23 patients (92%) as detected radiologically. Two cases suffered from recurred BI and instrument failure but eventually achieved solid fusion between the occiput and C2 was after revision. Among all 25 patients, 4 suffered from complications including instruments failure, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and intracranial infection.

Conclusions:

The clinical outcome indicates that the technique is reliable for the treatment of BI with congenital C2–C3 fusion.
Genetic characterization of novel putative rhabdovirus and dsRNA virus from Japanese persimmon
Authors: Ito Takao , Suzaki Koichi , Nakano Masaaki
Published: May 2013

Deep-sequencing analysis of nucleic acids from leaf tissue of Japanese persimmon trees exhibiting fruit apex disorder in some fruits detected two molecules that were graft transmitted to healthy seedlings. One of the complete genomes consisted of 13 467 nt and encoded six genes similar to those of plant rhabdoviruses. The virus formed a distinct cluster in the genus Cytorhabdovirus with lettuce necrotic yellows virus, lettuce yellow mottle virus and strawberry crinkle virus in a phylogenetic tree based on the L protein (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, RdRp). The other consisted of 7475 nt and shared a genome organization similar to those of some insect and fungal viruses having dsRNA genomes. In a phylogenetic tree using the RdRp sequence of several unassigned dsRNA viruses, the virus formed a possible new genus cluster with two insect viruses, Circulifer tenellus virus 1 and Spissistilus festinus virus 1, and one plant virus, cucurbit yellows-associated virus.
The genomic landscape of cohesin-associated chromatin interactions
Authors: DeMare Laura E. , Leng Jing , Cotney Justin , Reilly Steven K. , Yin Jun , Sarro Richard , Noonan James P.
Published: May 2013

Cohesin is implicated in establishing tissue-specific DNA loops that target enhancers to promoters, and also localizes to sites bound by the insulator protein CTCF, which blocks enhancer-promoter communication. However, cohesin-associated interactions have not been characterized on a genome-wide scale. Here we performed chromatin interaction analysis with paired-end tag sequencing (ChIA-PET) of the cohesin subunit SMC1A in developing mouse limb. We identified 2264 SMC1A interactions, of which 1491 (65%) involved sites co-occupied by CTCF. SMC1A participates in tissue-specific enhancer-promoter interactions and interactions that demarcate regions of correlated regulatory output. In contrast to previous studies, we also identified interactions between promoters and distal sites that are maintained in multiple tissues but are poised in embryonic stem cells and resolve to tissue-specific activated or repressed chromatin states in the mouse embryo. Our results reveal the diversity of cohesin-associated interactions in the genome and highlight their role in establishing the regulatory architecture of development.
Blood pressure regulation via the epithelial sodium channel: From gene to kidney and beyond
Authors: Büsst Cara J
Published: May 2013

The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) has long been recognized as playing a vital role in blood pressure (BP) regulation due to its involvement in fluid balance. The genes encoding the three ENaC subunits are likewise important contributors to hypertension, both in rare monogenic diseases and in the general population.

The unusually high numbers of genetic variants associated with complex traits, including BP, that are located in non‐coding areas suggest an involvement of these variants in regulatory functions. This may involve differential regulation of expression in different tissues.

Emerging evidence indicates that the ENaC plays an important role in BP determination not only via its actions in the kidney, but also in other tissues commonly involved in BP regulation. The ENaC in the central nervous system is proposed to regulate BP via sympathetic nervous system activity. Recent evidence suggests that the ENaC contributes to vascular function and the myogenic response. Additional roles potentially include initiation of the baroreceptor reflex via ENaC in the baroreceptors and driving high salt intake with a ‘taste for salt’ via ENaC in the tongue.

The present review describes the involvement of the ENaC in the determination of BP at a genetic and physiological level, detailing recent evidence for its role in the kidney and in other pertinent tissues.
When Mayors Go Global: International Strategies, Urban Governance and Leadership
Authors: Beal Vincent , Pinson Gilles
Published: May 2013

An enigma lies at the heart of this article. In December 2006, the mayor of Saint‐Étienne, Michel Thiollière, was elected as the fifth best mayor in the world by the internet site City Mayors. Yet no publicity was made locally around this award. Taking this anecdote as a starting point, this article deals with the motivations that can lead a city mayor to become involved in urban international relationships' policy (city twinning, participation in cities networks, study trips, etc.). On the one hand these activities provide resources for building up political legitimacy and for electoral control, and on the other they provide resources for policy solutions to urban problems in the public realm. Nevertheless, in a context of transformation of the process of legitimization of urban elected officials, the second kind of resources seems to be the most sought after in mayoral involvement in international activities.
Preterm birth time trends in Europe: a study of 19 countries
Authors: Zeitlin J , Szamotulska K , Drewniak N , Mohangoo AD , Chalmers J , Sakkeus L , Irgens L , Gatt M , Gissler M , Blondel B ,   The Euro‐Peristat Preterm Study Group
Published: May 2013

Objective

To investigate time trends in preterm birth in Europe by multiplicity, gestational age, and onset of delivery.

Design

Analysis of aggregate data from routine sources.

Setting

Nineteen European countries.

Population

Live births in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008.

Methods

Annual risk ratios of preterm birth in each country were estimated with year as a continuous variable for all births and by subgroup using log‐binomial regression models.

Main outcome measures

Overall preterm birth rate and rate by multiplicity, gestational age group, and spontaneous versus non‐spontaneous (induced or prelabour caesarean section) onset of labour.

Results

Preterm birth rates rose in most countries, but the magnitude of these increases varied. Rises in the multiple birth rate as well as in the preterm birth rate for multiple births contributed to increases in the overall preterm birth rate. About half of countries experienced no change or decreases in the rates of singleton preterm birth. Where preterm birth rates rose, increases were no more prominent at 35–36 weeks of gestation than at 32–34 weeks of gestation. Variable trends were observed for spontaneous and non‐spontaneous preterm births in the 13 countries with mode of onset data; increases were not solely attributed to non‐spontaneous preterm births.

Conclusions

There was a wide variation in preterm birth trends in European countries. Many countries maintained or reduced rates of singleton preterm birth over the past 15 years, challenging a widespread belief that rising rates are the norm. Understanding these cross‐country differences could inform strategies for the prevention of preterm birth.
Two new subspecies of carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in Korea
Authors: Park Jong Kyun , Park Jinyoung
Published: May 2013

Coptolabrus smaragdinus sungkii ssp. nov. and Eucarabus sternbergi gureopensis ssp. nov. are reported as new subspecies in Korea. Descriptions, photographs, distributional map, genitalic characteristics, and keys of each subspecies are provided.
Predicting haemorrhage in pre‐hospital traumatic patients: evaluation of the novel heart‐to‐arm time index
Authors: VETTORELLO M. , SANTAMBROGIO S. M. , CALINI A. R. , TIZZONI L. , MARCONI G. , LIPPI M. G. , SESANA G. , CHIARA O. , FUMAGALLI R.
Published: May 2013

Background

Early recognition of hypovolaemia in trauma patients is very important. However, the most often used clinical signs, such as hypotension and tachycardia, lack specificity and sensitivity.

Methods

We propose a non‐invasive index of hypovolaemia, the heart to arm time (iHAT), based on a modified pulse transit time indexed to heart rate. Pulse transit time is the sum of pre‐ejection period and vascular transit time. Following pre‐load reductions due to hypovolaemia, ventricular diastolic filling time increases causing an increase in pre‐ejection‐period, pulse transit time, and hence iHAT. One hundred and four consecutive patients with suspected major trauma were enrolled. The primary aim was to evaluate the use of the iHAT for detecting haemorrhage in major trauma. The secondary end point was to compare the specificity and sensitivity of iHAT compared to commonly used indexes.

Results

iHAT was calculated in 84 subjects, 11 of whom were haemorrhagic. iHAT discriminated haemorrhagic from non‐haemorrhagic group (46.8% vs. 66.9%, P < 0.0001). The cut‐off for iHAT with the best compromise between sensitivity (90.9%) and specificity (100%) was reached at the 58.78% level. Comparing haemorrhagic and non‐haemorrhagic patients, the area under the ROC curve was 0.952 for iHAT, 0.835 for heart rate, and 0.911 for systolic blood pressure, showing no significant differences.

Conclusions

iHAT is a non‐invasive index that can identify haemorrhage in trauma patients with high sensitivity and specificity. These data should be considered as an exploration, but any conclusion should be validated in a new set of consecutive patients.