bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of changes in nutrient loading and composition on hypoxia dynamics and internal nutrient cycling of a stratified coastal lagoon
Authors: Zhu Yafei , McCowan Andrew , Cook Perran L. M.
Published: October 2017

Abstract. The effects of changes in catchment nutrient loading and composition on the phytoplankton dynamics, development of hypoxia and internal nutrient dynamics in a stratified coastal lagoon system (the Gippsland Lakes) were investigated using a 3-D coupled hydrodynamic biogeochemical water quality model. The study showed that primary production was equally sensitive to changed dissolved inorganic and particulate organic nitrogen loads, highlighting the need for a better understanding of particulate organic matter bioavailability. Stratification and sediment carbon enrichment were the main drivers for the hypoxia and subsequent sediment phosphorus release in Lake King. High primary production stimulated by large nitrogen loading brought on by a winter flood contributed almost all the sediment carbon deposition (as opposed to catchment loads), which was ultimately responsible for summer bottom-water hypoxia. Interestingly, internal recycling of phosphorus was more sensitive to changed nitrogen loads than total phosphorus loads, highlighting the potential importance of nitrogen loads exerting a control over systems that become phosphorus limited (such as during summer nitrogen-fixing blooms of cyanobacteria). Therefore, the current study highlighted the need to reduce both total nitrogen and total phosphorus for water quality improvement in estuarine systems.
Effects of different reference periods on drought index (SPEI) estimations from 1901 to 2014
Authors: Um Myoung-Jin , Kim Yeonjoo , Park Daeryong , Kim Jeongbin
Published: October 2017

Abstract. This study aims to understand how different reference periods (i.e., calibration periods) of climate data used to estimate drought indices influence regional drought assessments. Specifically, we investigate the influences of different reference periods on historical drought characteristics, such as the trend, frequency, intensity and spatial extent, using the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) with a 12-month lag (SPEI-12), which was estimated from the datasets of the Climate Research Unit (CRU) and the University of Delaware (UDEL). For the 1901–1957 (P1) and 1958–2014 (P2) estimation periods, three different types of reference periods are used to compute the SPEI: P1 and P2 together, P1 and P2 separately and P1 only. Focusing on East Asia, Europe, the United States and West Africa, we find that the influence of the reference period is significant in East Asia and West Africa, with dominant drying trends from P1 to P2. The reference period influenced the assessment of drought characteristics, particularly the severity and spatial extent, whereas the influence on the frequency was relatively small. Finally, self-calibration, which is the most common practice for indices such as the SPEI, tends to underestimate the drought severity and spatial extent relative to the other approaches used in this study. Although the conclusions drawn in this study are limited by the use of two global datasets, they highlight the need for clarification of the reference period in drought assessments to better understand regional drought characteristics and the associated temporal changes, particularly under climate change scenarios.
Big data managing in a landslide early warning system: experience from a ground-based interferometric radar application
Authors: Intrieri Emanuele , Bardi Federica , Fanti Riccardo , Gigli Giovanni , Fidolini Francesco , Casagli Nicola , Costanzo Sandra , Raffo Antonio , Di Massa Giuseppe , Capparelli Giovanna , Versace Pasquale
Published: October 2017

Abstract. A big challenge in terms or landslide risk mitigation is represented by increasing the resiliency of society exposed to the risk. Among the possible strategies with which to reach this goal, there is the implementation of early warning systems. This paper describes a procedure to improve early warning activities in areas affected by high landslide risk, such as those classified as critical infrastructures for their central role in society. This research is part of the project LEWIS (Landslides Early Warning Integrated System): An Integrated System for Landslide Monitoring, Early Warning and Risk Mitigation along Lifelines. LEWIS is composed of a susceptibility assessment methodology providing information for single points and areal monitoring systems, a data transmission network and a data collecting and processing center (DCPC), where readings from all monitoring systems and mathematical models converge and which sets the basis for warning and intervention activities. The aim of this paper is to show how logistic issues linked to advanced monitoring techniques, such as big data transfer and storing, can be dealt with compatibly with an early warning system. Therefore, we focus on the interaction between an areal monitoring tool (a ground-based interferometric radar) and the DCPC. By converting complex data into ASCII strings and through appropriate data cropping and average, and by implementing an algorithm for line-of-sight correction, we managed to reduce the data daily output without compromising the capability for performing.
A procedure to select ground-motion time histories for deterministic seismic hazard analysis from the Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) database
Authors: Huang Duruo , Du Wenqi , Zhu Hong
Published: October 2017

Abstract. In performance-based seismic design, ground-motion time histories are needed for analyzing dynamic responses of nonlinear structural systems. However, the number of ground-motion data at design level is often limited. In order to analyze seismic performance of structures, ground-motion time histories need to be either selected from recorded strong-motion database or numerically simulated using stochastic approaches. In this paper, a detailed procedure to select proper acceleration time histories from the Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) database for several cities in Taiwan is presented. Target response spectra are initially determined based on a local ground-motion prediction equation under representative deterministic seismic hazard analyses. Then several suites of ground motions are selected for these cities using the Design Ground Motion Library (DGML), a recently proposed interactive ground-motion selection tool. The selected time histories are representatives of the regional seismic hazard and should be beneficial to earthquake studies when comprehensive seismic hazard assessments and site investigations are unavailable. Note that this method is also applicable to site-specific motion selections with the target spectra near the ground surface considering the site effect.
Nonlinear analysis of the occurrence of hurricanes in the Gulf of
Mexico and the Caribbean Sea
Authors: Rojo-Garibaldi Berenice , Salas-de-León David Alberto , Monreal-Gómez María Adela , Sánchez-Santillán Norma Leticia , Salas-Monreal David
Published: October 2017

Abstract. Hurricanes are complex systems that carry large amounts of energy. Their impact produces, the majority of the time, natural disasters involving the loss of human lives and of materials and infrastructure in billions of US dollars. However, not everything is negative, as hurricanes are the main source of rainwater for the regions where they develop. In this study, we perform a nonlinear analysis of the time series obtained from 1749 to 2012 of the occurrence of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. The construction of the hurricane time series was carried out based on the hurricane database of The North Atlantic-basin Hurricane Database (HURDAT), and the published historical information. The Lyapunov exponent indicated that the system presented chaotic dynamics, and the time-series’ spectral analysis along with the nonlinear analysis of the hurricanes time series showed chaotic edge behavior. One possible explanation for this edge is the individual chaotic behavior of hurricanes, either by category or individually, regardless of their category, and their behavior on a regular basis.
Modelling the climate and surface mass balance of
polar ice sheets using RACMO2, Part 1: Greenland
(1958–2016)
Authors: Noël Brice , van de Berg Willem Jan , van Wessem Jan Melchior , van Meijgaard Erik , van As Dirk , Lenaerts Jan T. M. , Lhermitte Stef , Kuipers Munneke Peter , Smeets C. J. P. Paul , van Ulft Lambertus H. , van de Wal Roderik S. W. , van den Broeke Michiel R.
Published: October 2017

Abstract. We evaluate modelled Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) near-surface climate, surface energy balance (SEB) and surface mass balance (SMB) from the updated regional climate model RACMO2 (1958–2016). The new model version, referred to as RACMO2.3p2, incorporates updated glacier outlines, topography and ice albedo fields. Parameters in the cloud scheme governing the conversion of cloud condensate into precipitation have been tuned to correct inland snowfall underestimation; snow properties are modified to reduce drifting snow and melt production in the ice sheet percolation zone. The ice albedo prescribed in the updated model is lower at the ice sheet margins, increasing ice melt locally. RACMO2.3p2 shows good agreement compared to in situ meteorological data and point SEB/SMB measurements, and better resolves SMB patterns than the previous model version, notably in the northeast, southeast, and along the K-transect in southwestern Greenland. This new model version provides updated, high-resolution gridded fields of the GrIS present-day climate and SMB, and will be used for future climate scenario projections in a forthcoming study.
STABLE FREE RADICAL–ASSISTED MECHANICAL DEVULCANIZATION OF CARBON BLACK–FILLED NATURAL RUBBER VULCANIZATES
Authors: Joseph Anu Mary , Madhusoodhanan K. N. , Alex Rosamma , George Benny
Published: October 2017

The issue of recombining of the radicals formed from cross-link scission and the consequent reformation of once-cleaved cross-links during mechanical devulcanization of carbon black–filled NR vulcanizates was investigated in a two-roll mill by the addition of the stable free radical 4-hydroxy-TEMPO (4HT), formerly 4-hydroxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl free radical. The effect of concentration of 4HT (0–6 pounds per hundred of rubber [phr]) and the effect of cure system, that is, conventional, semi-efficient (EV), and EV, used for vulcanization of the original sample on the efficiency of devulcanization were determined from the residual cross-link density of the gel part of the devulcanized rubber and the percent devulcanization, and further from revulcanizate properties. Chemical probe analysis of the devulcanized sample disclosed that (i) mechanical shearing predominantly breaks the majority cross-link type that decides the associated percent devulcanization; (ii) shear-induced chain-shortening reactions of polysulfidic cross-links occur at ambient conditions, increasing the absolute value of monosulfidic links irrespective of the significant reduction in total cross-link density due to cross-link scission; (iii) re–cross-linking of once cleaved bonds is being arrested in the presence of 4HT, thereby increasing the percent devulcanization. Both the bond energy of the cross-link type to be cleaved and the recombining capacity of the broken cross-links seem to play a decisive role in percent devulcanization, and the probable mechanism involved is suggested.
Consecutive case series of 244 age-related macular degeneration patients undergoing implantation with an extended macular vision IOL
Authors: Qureshi Muhammad A. , Robbie Scott J. , Hengerer Fritz H. , Auffarth Gerd U. , Conrad-Hengerer Ina , Artal Pablo
Published: October 2017

Purpose:

To determine safety and visual outcomes in eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) implanted with a novel intraocular lens (IOL) that delivers an optimized retinal image to all macular areas within 10 degrees of retinal eccentricity.

Methods:

This was a consecutive case series of 244 eyes with dry/stable wet AMD and logMAR visual acuity ≥0.3 implanted with iolAMD Eyemax monoTM (London Eye Hospital Pharma), a single-piece, injectable, hydrophobic acrylic IOL sited in the capsular bag. Primary outcome was safety. Secondary outcomes were changes in corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and corrected near visual acuity (CNVA) (logMAR).

Results:

Mean age at surgery was 80 years. Mean duration of follow-up was 3 months (range 1-16 months). No eyes had worsening of CDVA. Frequency of perioperative complications was equivalent to standard IOL implantation. Postoperative refractive outcomes were within ±1 D of the target refraction in 88% of cases. Mean preoperative CDVA improved from 1.06 to 0.71 postoperatively (mean of differences -0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.3886 to -0.3223; p<0.0001), equating to an approximate Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study gain of 18 letters. Mean preoperative CNVA (N-point; logMAR conversion) improved from 1.36 to 0.88 postoperatively (mean of differences -0.48; 95% CI -0.53 to -0.44; p<0.0001).

Conclusions:

This novel IOL appears safe in the short to medium term. Improvements in postoperative CDVA and CNVA exceed those observed with standard implants.
Infection and failure rates following total hip arthroplasty for septic arthritis: a case-controlled study
Authors: Papanna Madhavan C. , Chebbout Ryad , Buckley Simon , Stockley Ian , Hamer Andrew
Published: October 2017

Introduction:

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is performed as a 2-stage or single stage procedure in patients with a history of septic arthritis of the native hip joint. The decision is based on whether the infection is active or quiescent in the joint. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of total hip arthroplasty for septic arthritis of the native hip to a control series of patients treated for primary osteoarthritis of the hip with standard THA.

Methods:

Between March 2000 and March 2013, 18 cases of septic arthritis of the hip treated with THA were retrospectively identified. During the same time period, 18 control cases of THA for degenerative osteoarthritis were identified. Cases and controls were comparable in age, gender, body mass index, type of anaesthesia and American Society of Anesthesiologists score.

Results:

11 and 7 cases received 2-stage and single stage total hip arthroplasty respectively for septic arthritis. There was a mean interval of 4 months between 1st and 2nd-stage operations. Cases and controls were followed up for a mean of 70 and 72 months respectively. There was no reinfection or implant failure in the cases, and comparable functional outcomes between cases and controls.

Conclusions:

Two-stage and single-stage THA for active and quiescent native hip infection respectively, achieved similar outcomes to THA for primary osteoarthritis in controls.
Metallisation of Biolox Delta® Ceramic Head: What's Wrong?
Authors: Sanz-Ruiz Pablo , Calvo-Haro Jose A. , Villanueva-Martinez Manuel , Vaquero-Martín Javier
Published: October 2017

Introduction

Since the recent failure of certain coating models, hybrid implants (coated acetabular inserts with conventional stems) and stems with modular necks, there has been growing interest in the consequences of the generation and release of metal particles at the prosthetic interfaces. The use of ceramic heads has recently been described as an option for reducing the production of metal ions and their consequences.

Case report

The present case report describes the first complete metallisation of a ceramic head secondary to an excessive release of metal ions at the head-neck junction.

Conclusions

We believe this to have occurred due to the use of 12/14 cones of different manufacturers.
Effect of tranexamic acid use on blood loss and thromboembolic risk in hip fracture surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Baskaran Dinnish , Rahman Syed , Salmasi Yousuf , Froghi Saied , Berber Onur , George Marc
Published: October 2017

Introduction:

Intravenous tranexamic acid (IV TXA) is a recognised pharmaceutical intervention utilised to minimise blood loss and allogenic blood transfusion. However, the use of IV TXA in hip fracture surgery remains inconclusive. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the role of TXA in operative hip fracture management on operative and total blood loss, allogenic blood transfusion requirements and impact on venous thromboembolic (VTE) event incidence.

Methods:

A systematic computerised literature search of PubMed, Medline, Embase, Ovid, The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Trip and Google was conducted. We reviewed the efficacy of IV TXA on perioperative blood loss, total blood loss, pre- and postoperative haemoglobin differences, duration of surgery, allogenic blood transfusion requirements and VTE events.

Results:

8 studies were eligible including 6 randomised control trials and 2 cohort studies. Patients receiving IV TXA had reduced mean total blood loss of 442.9 mls (95% CI, 426.5-459.3; p<0.00001), reduced operative blood loss of 88.5 mls (95% CI, 59.9-117.2; p<0.00001), a decrease in the need for allogenic blood transfusion (OR 0.37; 95% CI, 0.26-0.53; p<0.00001) and a reduction in pre- and postoperative haemoglobin difference (p = 0.013.) There was no significant increase in VTE risk (OR 1.59; 95% CI 0.67-3.75; p>0.29) or significant difference on duration of surgery seen with IV TXA usage (p>0.06).

Conclusions:

Our review demonstrated the efficacy of IV TXA in minimising perioperative, reducing total blood loss and lowering the necessity for allogenic blood transfusions with no significant increased risk in VTE events.
LncRNA GHET1 Promotes Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells Proliferation and Invasion via Induction of EMT
Authors: Liu Hongfen , Zhen Qiang , Fan Yakun
Published: October 2017

Background

Recent studies have shown that long noncoding RNA (IncRNA) gastric carcinoma highly expressed transcript 1 (GHET1) was involved in the progression of tumors. However, the role of GHET1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear.

Methods

The expression of IncRNA GHET1 was examined in 55 paired ESCC tissues and adjacent nontumor tissues. Molecular and cellular techniques were used to explore the role of GHET1 on ESCC cells.

Results

Our data showed that GHET1 expression was significantly increased in ESCC tissues and cell lines. High GHET1 expression in ESCC tissues was significantly associated with poor differentiation, advanced tumor nodes metastasis stage, and lymph node metastasis. GHET1 showed high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing ESCC. Our data from in vitro assays showed that GHET1 inhibition suppressed ESCC cells proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induced cells apoptosis. Furthermore, western blot showed that GHET1 inhibition significantly decreased the expression of vimentin and N-cadherin while it increased the expression of E-cadherin.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that GHET1 acts as an oncogene in ESCC and may represent a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of ESCC patients.
Predicting tissue plasminogen activator use and success in in-center hemodialysis patients
Authors: Kosa Sarah Daisy , Ye Chenglin , Thabane Lehana , Gafni Amiram , Lok Charmaine E.
Published: October 2017

Introduction:

Hemodialysis catheter malfunction is problematic. We aimed to determine clinical, catheter, and hemodialysis variables that predict: (i) catheter malfunction requiring recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (TPA) treatment and (ii) the success of TPA administration.

Methods:

Clinical, catheter, and hemodialysis variables were collected from a cohort of 559 catheters (141,526 catheter days) in 175 hemodialysis patients (2008-2011). Time to, and predictors of, catheter malfunction were determined for all catheters and primary catheters only, analyzed by Cox-proportional hazard model, multi-variable logistic regression model, and mixed-effect logistic regression models. Success of TPA use was determined immediately, next day, and two weeks after use.

Results:

Shorter time to first TPA administration in all patient’s catheters was associated with increased body mass index (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.06, 1.01-1.11, p = 0.03) and being of black race (HR = 3.05, 1.65-5.67, p<0.01). Primary TPA administration success at two weeks among primary catheters was associated with increased mean peak venous pressure before TPA administration (odds ratio [OR] = 1.03, 1.01-1.06, p<0.01) and decreased mean of the lowest systolic blood pressure measure for the three dialysis sessions prior to TPA administration (OR = 0.95, 0.91-0.99, p = 0.02). TPA administration success at two weeks among all catheters was associated with decreasing body mass index (OR = 0.84, CI 0.73-0.96, p = 0.01) and having diabetes (OR = 7.19, 1.40-36.81, p = 0.02).

Conclusions:

Both patient and dialysis predictors of TPA use and success were identified in this study, which may be useful for fine-tuning catheter management protocols to target hemodialysis patients at high risk of catheter malfunction.
Left axillary to right atrium anterior chest wall graft using bovine carotid artery conduit
Authors: Zubair Muhammad Mujeeb , Bennett Matthew E. , Peden Eric K.
Published: October 2017

Introduction:

Central venous occlusive (CVO) disease involving the superior vena cava (SVC) and inferior vena cava (IVC) can occur frequently in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on chronic dialysis. Dialysis access is essential for the survival of these patients.

Case description:

We report a case of a chest wall graft creation using bovine carotid artery conduit in a patient who was experiencing life-threatening loss of dialysis access secondary to her SVC and IVC occlusion along with a hypercoagulable state. We did a subcutaneous anterior chest wall graft from the left axillary artery to the right atrium (RA) using a mini thoracotomy incision.

Conclusions:

ESRD patients with CVO pose a unique challenge. We believe our approach can provide an excellent option for dialysis access in patients with exhausted conventional access options.
The comprehension of passives in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Durrleman Stephanie , Delage Hélène , Prévost Philippe , Tuller Laurice
Published: October 2017

This study investigates the comprehension of passives in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Subsets of children with ASD have been previously found to present linguistic profiles reminiscent of Specific Language Impairment (SLI), a condition including difficulties with certain constructions displaying noncanonical word orders. However, research on one such construction, passives, is sparse and remains inconclusive. Furthermore, studies on typical development of passives in French are lacking. Twenty French-speaking children with ASD (mean age 9;3), including children with both normal and delayed nonverbal levels, were compared to 20 age-matched typically-developing (TD) children and to 65 younger TD children split into groups of children aged 4–5, 6–7 and 8–9 years. Various passive types were assessed via a sentence-picture matching task: eventive versus psychological, and short versus long. Most children with ASD showed difficulties on passive constructions as compared to age controls, although with the same basic pattern of performance. More subtle delay on passives was evident in a subgroup who was otherwise unimpaired on standardized assessments of vocabulary and morphosyntax, while a pronounced delay on passives was detectable in another subgroup also displaying more general lexical and morphosyntactic impairment. Difficulties with passives were dissociated from nonverbal abilities and working memory. The findings reveal that the syntax of passives is delayed in ASD, not deviant. This delay was attested even in the subgroup with seemingly intact general language skills as revealed by standardized assessments, suggesting that subtle difficulties with this construction may be present and go undetected by global language tests. Performance on passives was unrelated to nonverbal abilities, in line with work suggesting that the linguistic phenotype of some children with ASD resembles SLI. This underscores the importance of careful assessment of the language abilities of children with ASD, including those within normal IQ range.
GÊNERO, QUALIDADE E AS ORGANIZAÇÕES NAS BARREIRAS DO PRECONCEITO
Authors: MELLO HÉLIO RUBENS ALVES DE , Natel Jan Paulo Vicari , Franco Maura Regina , Moraes Paulo Eduardo Sobreira
Published: October 2017

Neste artigo buscou-se explorar os estudos sobre Gênero, Organizações e a Gestão da Qualidade. Através da bibliografia utilizada, foi possível discorrer sobre os temas e os unir para embasar a problemática da pesquisa, que visou conhecer a opinião de um público específico. O meio utilizado foi através de entrevista semiestruturada, coletando as respostas dos discentes do Curso Superior de Tecnologia em Gestão da Qualidade da Universidade Federal do Paraná e dos Docentes do mesmo curso, sobre a questão se “Existe um jeito masculino de se fazer Gestão da Qualidade diferente do jeito feminino de se fazer Gestão da Qualidade?”. O objetivo da pesquisa foi fazer um levantamento teórico sobre a percepção do profissional quanto a sua capacidade de gerir relacionado ou não ao gênero masculino e feminino.Palavras-Chave: Gênero; Organizações; Gestão; Qualidade. ABSTRACT In this article looked for to explore the studies about Gender, Organizations and the Quality Management. Through the literature used it was possible to discourse about the themes and unit them to base a set of problems of the inquiry which aimed to know the opinion for a specific audience. The means utilized were the semi-structured interview collecting the answers of students of the Degree in Technology in Quality Management from the Universidade Federal do Paraná and the same course teachers, about the question if “There is a masculine way of doing quality management different from the female way of doing quality management? ”, in which wasn’t possible obtain absolute certainty, taking the research had a qualitative nature of exploitation andnot quantitative, but certainly can serve as inspiration and base for deepen in this theme in future dissertations, Postgraduate Courses, Masters and/or Doctorate Degree.Key-Words: Gender; Organizations; Management; Quality.
A APRENDIZAGEM POR PROJETOS COMO UMA VIA POSSÍVEL A PRODUÇÃO DE CONHECIMENTOS NO ENSINO SUPERIOR
Authors: ALENCASTRO LUCIA HELENA
Published: October 2017

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo abordar a aprendizagem por projetos como uma perspectiva teórico-metodológica capaz de contribuir para a formação de estudantes no ensino superior. Trata-se de uma discussão teórica que inicialmente analisará o contexto formativo universitário, especialmente as práticas didático pedagógicas predominantes no cenário brasileiro, e os fatores que intervém nessas práticas e nas suas escolhas. Retoma-se ainda os fundamentos históricos da aprendizagem por projetos com ênfase nas proposições teóricas de seus precursores John Dewey e William Heard Kilpatrick, assim como as principais discussões e práticas contemporâneas. Finalmente, nas considerações finais, infere-se sobre a necessidade de revisão do que se tem desenvolvido em termos didáticos e pedagógicos no contexto universitário brasileiro e identificam-se os principais aspectos mobilizados na aprendizagem por projetos.
How to Ground Animal Rights on African Values: Reply to Horsthemke
Authors: Metz Thaddeus
Published: October 2017

I seek to advance plausible replies to the several criticisms Kai Horsthemke (2015) makes of “African modal relationalism,” his label for my theory of animal rights with a sub-Saharan pedigree. Central to this view is the claim that, roughly, a being has a greater moral status the more it is in principle capable of relating communally with characteristic human beings. Horsthemke maintains that this view is anthropocentric and speciesist, is poorly motivated relative to his egalitarian-individualist approach, and does not have the implications that I contend. I aim to rebut these and related criticisms, contending that African modal relationalism is in fact a promising way to philosophically ground animal rights.
Animal Rights and African Ethics: Congruence or Conflict?
Authors: Galgut Elisa
Published: October 2017

In his new book Animals and African Ethics, Kai Horsthemke (2015) examines whether an African morality can be extended to include animal rights. He argues that the African ethical systems of ubuntu and ukama, because they are anthropocentric at heart, do not adequately make space for animal rights. In his defense of animal rights, Horsthemke responds to arguments claiming that there is a difference between racism and speciesism, and that the latter is morally justifiable even though the former is not. I examine this discussion and agree with Horsthemke that the arguments in favor of speciesism are weak. I defend the claim that—like racism—speciesism is morally unjustifiable.
Biocentrism, Ecocentrism, and African Modal Relationalism: Etieyibo, Metz, and Galgut on Animals and African Ethics
Authors: Horsthemke Kai
Published: October 2017

In this brief reply to the essays by Edwin Etieyibo (2017), Thad Metz (2017), and Elisa Galgut (2017), I argue (a) that African morality is neither biocentric nor ecocentric in the sense of accepting that “there is no significant moral difference between animal and human slaughter and rituals,” and (b) that African modal relationalism is problematic in both its empirical assumptions and its normative counsel. I concede that anthropocentrism, whether this involves the view that only human beings merit moral treatment or the view that any human is necessarily superior to or more significant morally than any other animal, is not essential to African morality. There exist several resources in African philosophical thinking for deriving a nonanthropocentric and nonspeciesist ethical orientation. The task, however, is a formidable one that requires imagination as well as intellectual consistency and honesty.
C’mon, You Reds: The U.S. Communist Party’s Workers’ Soccer Association, 1927–35
Authors: Logan Gabe
Published: October 2017

From 1927 to 1935, the United States Communist Party established the Labor Sport Union, a coalition of worker athletic clubs, primarily located in the urban Northeast and Midwest. One of their successful sporting accomplishments was the Workers’ Soccer Association (WSA), which organized leagues in New York City, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. This communist soccer league played two seasons per year and competed for city, regional, and national championships. This paper recounts the history of the WSA and explains an overlooked aspect of U.S. soccer that intersected political ideology, labor, and athletics.
Mud in the Tracks and Soviet Wax: Nikolai Vasil’ev at Russia’s First International Ski Race, 1913
Authors: Frank William D.
Published: October 2017

On February 22, 1913, Russia held its first international ski race in St. Petersburg. Participating was Nikolai Vasil’ev, the country’s teenaged national champion; competing against him were three Finnish skiers fresh from the Nordiska Spelen held in östersund, Sweden, three weeks before. Why did this group travel to St. Petersburg from Virolahti, and how was their presence in Russia significant to their compatriots watching the race? What impact did this ski race have on Vasil’ev, who published a memoir about it in 1950 at the behest of the Stalinist regime during the depths of the Cold War? This paper analyzes the various strata embedded in Vasil’ev’s narrative: his mental process during the ski race; how this experience determined Vasil’ev’s future expertise as a master wax technician; the important historical context of 1913; and how the USSR manipulated the story to promote its return to international competition at the 1952 Olympics.
Determination and Safety Assessment of Residual Spirotetramat and Its Metabolites in Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) and Soil by Liquid Chromatography Triple-Quadrupole Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Chen Xiao-Jun , Meng Zhi-Yuan , Ren Li , Song Yue-Yi , Ren Ya-Jun , Chen Jian-Shu , Guan Ling-Jun
Published: October 2017

With the purpose of guaranteeing the safe use of spirotetramat and preventing its potential health threats to consumers, a QuEChERS extraction method coupled with LC triple-quadrupole tandem MS was applied in this study to determine residual spirotetramat metabolites in different tissues of amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) and in soil. The results indicate that the spirotetramat degraded into different types of metabolites that were located in different tissues of amaranth and in soil. B-keto, B-glu, and B-enol were the three most representative degradation products in the leaf of amaranth, and B-glu and B-enol were the two major degradation products found in the stem of amaranth; however, only B-enol was detected in the root of amaranth. B-keto and B-mono were the two products detected in the soil in which the amaranth grew. The cytotoxicity results demonstrate that spirotetramat and its metabolite B-enol inhibited cellular growth, and the toxicity of spirotetramat and its metabolite B-enol exceeded than that of the metabolites B-keto, B-mono, and B-glu. This investigation is of great significance to the safe use of spirotetramat in agriculture.
New knowledge on the winter season and migration of Baltic gull Larus fuscus fuscus Linnaeus, 1758 (Charadriiformes: Laridae) in Spain
Authors: García-Barcelona Salvador , Gutiérrez Antonio , Koskinen Hannu , Báez José Carlos , Martín Gabriel
Published: October 2017

La gaviota sombría, Larus fuscus (Linnaeus, 1758), es una especie politípica cuya situación taxonómica sigue siendo revisada por parte de algunos científicos. La subespecie nominal Larus fuscus fuscus o “gaviota báltica” está considerada rareza en España, aunque desde hace más de una década cada año es observado algún ejemplar anillado. Esto nos ha llevado a actualizar su distribución espacial y temporal en España, usando datos de aves cuyos registros han sido aprobados o están bajo revisión del Comité de Rarezas de la Sociedad Española de Ornitología. Nuestros resultados sugieren que España constituye un área de invernada para una parte muy pequeña de la población, especialmente el área de Málaga, y que el período con mayor probabilidad de avistamientos es el de noviembre a marzo.

The Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus (Linnaeus, 1758), is a polytypical species whose taxonomic status is still being reviewed by some scientists. The nominal subspecies Larus fuscus fuscus or Baltic gull is considered a rarity in Spain. However, during the de­cade every year some individuals are observed, fact that has led to update the existing information on its spatial and temporal distribution in Spain, using data of both, ringed birds and birds without ring approved and/or under consideration of the Rarity Committee of the Spanish Society of Ornithology. Our results suggest that Spain is a wintering area for a very small part of the population, especially Malaga area, and that the period with the highest probability of sightings is from November to March.
Sleep homeostasis regulated by 5HT2b receptor in a small subset of neurons in the dorsal fan-shaped body of drosophila
Authors: Qian Yongjun , Cao Yue , Deng Bowen , Yang Guang , Li Jiayun , Xu Rui , zhang Dandan , Huang Juan , Rao Yi
Published: October 2017

Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying sleep homeostasis is limited. We have taken a systematic approach to study neural signaling by the transmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in drosophila. We have generated knockout and knockin lines for Trh, the 5-HT synthesizing enzyme and all five 5-HT receptors, making it possible for us to determine their expression patterns and to investigate their functional roles. Loss of the Trh, 5HT1a or 5HT2b gene decreased sleep time whereas loss of the Trh or 5HT2b gene diminished sleep rebound after sleep deprivation. 5HT2b expression in a small subset of, probably a single pair of, neurons in the dorsal fan-shaped body (dFB) is functionally essential: elimination of the 5HT2b gene from these neurons led to loss of sleep homeostasis. Genetic ablation of 5HT2b neurons in the dFB decreased sleep and impaired sleep homeostasis. Our results have shown that serotonergic signaling in specific neurons is required for the regulation of sleep homeostasis.
Ligand modulation of sidechain dynamics in a wild-type human GPCR
Authors: Clark Lindsay D , Dikiy Igor , Chapman Karen , Rödström Karin EJ , Aramini James , LeVine Michael V , Khelashvili George , Rasmussen Søren GF , Gardner Kevin H , Rosenbaum Daniel M
Published: October 2017

GPCRs regulate all aspects of human physiology, and biophysical studies have deepened our understanding of GPCR conformational regulation by different ligands. Yet there is no experimental evidence for how sidechain dynamics control allosteric transitions between GPCR conformations. To address this deficit, we generated samples of a wild-type GPCR (A2AR) that are deuterated apart from 1H/13C NMR probes at isoleucine δ1 methyl groups, which facilitated 1H/13C methyl TROSY NMR measurements with opposing ligands. Our data indicate that low [Na+] is required to allow large agonist-induced structural changes in A2AR, and that patterns of sidechain dynamics substantially differ between agonist (NECA) and inverse agonist (ZM241385) bound receptors, with the inverse agonist suppressing fast ps-ns timescale motions at the G protein binding site. Our approach to GPCR NMR creates a framework for exploring how different regions of a receptor respond to different ligands or signaling proteins through modulation of fast ps-ns sidechain dynamics.
YTHDC1 mediates nuclear export of N6-methyladenosine methylated mRNAs
Authors: Roundtree Ian A , Luo Guan-Zheng , Zhang Zijie , Wang Xiao , Zhou Tao , Cui Yiquang , Sha Jiahao , Huang Xingxu , Guerrero Laura , Xie Phil , He Emily , Shen Bin , He Chuan
Published: October 2017

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal modification of eukaryotic messenger RNA (mRNA) and plays critical roles in RNA biology. The function of this modification is mediated by m6A-selective ‘reader’ proteins of the YTH family, which incorporate m6A-modified mRNAs into pathways of RNA metabolism. Here, we show that the m6A-binding protein YTHDC1 mediates export of methylated mRNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in HeLa cells. Knockdown of YTHDC1 results in an extended residence time for nuclear m6A-containing mRNA, with an accumulation of transcripts in the nucleus and accompanying depletion within the cytoplasm. YTHDC1 interacts with the splicing factor and nuclear export adaptor protein SRSF3, and facilitates RNA binding to both SRSF3 and NXF1. This role for YTHDC1 expands the potential utility of chemical modification of mRNA, and supports an emerging paradigm of m6A as a distinct biochemical entity for selective processing and metabolism of mammalian mRNAs.
To rebound or not to rebound
Authors: Stahl Bethany A , Keene Alex C
Published: October 2017

Sexual arousal in flies counteracts the effects of sleep deprivation.
Enhanced conflict monitoring via a short-duration, video-assisted deep breathing in healthy young adults: an event-related potential approach through the Go/NoGo paradigm
Authors: Cheng Kok Suen , Chang Yun Fah , Han Ray P.S. , Lee Poh Foong
Published: October 2017

Objectives

Practitioners of mindfulness are reported to have greater cognitive control especially in conflict monitoring, response inhibition and sustained attention. However, due to the various existing methods in each mindfulness practices and also, the high commitment factor, a barrier still exists for an individual to pick up the practices. Therefore, the effect of short duration deep breathing on the cognitive control is investigated here.

Methods

Short duration guided deep breathing videos consisting of 5, 7 and 9 min respectively were created and used on subjects training. The effect on cognitive control was assessed using a Go/NoGo task along with event-related potential (ERP) measurements at Fz, Cz, and Pz.

Results

From the study, the significant outcome showed at the follow-up session in which participants engaged for 5 min deep breathing group showed a profound NoGo N2 amplitude increment as compared to the control group, indicating an enhanced conflict monitoring ability. An inverse relationship between the NoGo N2 amplitude and the breathing duration is observed as well at the follow-up session.

Conclusion

These results indicated the possibility of performing short duration deep breathing guided by a video to achieve an enhanced conflict monitoring as an alternative to other mindfulness practices and 5 min is found to be the optimum practice duration.

Significant

This study is the first to establish a relationship between deep breathing and conflict monitoring through ERP. The study population of young adults taken from the same environment reduces the variance in ERP results due to age and environment.

Limitation

A larger sample size would provide a greater statistical power. A longer duration of deep breathing should be investigated to further clarify the relationship between the practice duration and the NoGo N2 amplitude. The result can be split by gender and analyzed separately due to the different brain structure of males and females.
voomDDA: discovery of diagnostic biomarkers and classification of RNA-seq data
Authors: Zararsiz Gokmen , Goksuluk Dincer , Klaus Bernd , Korkmaz Selcuk , Eldem Vahap , Karabulut Erdem , Ozturk Ahmet
Published: October 2017

RNA-Seq is a recent and efficient technique that uses the capabilities of next-generation sequencing technology for characterizing and quantifying transcriptomes. One important task using gene-expression data is to identify a small subset of genes that can be used to build diagnostic classifiers particularly for cancer diseases. Microarray based classifiers are not directly applicable to RNA-Seq data due to its discrete nature. Overdispersion is another problem that requires careful modeling of mean and variance relationship of the RNA-Seq data. In this study, we present voomDDA classifiers: variance modeling at the observational level (voom) extensions of the nearest shrunken centroids (NSC) and the diagonal discriminant classifiers. VoomNSC is one of these classifiers and brings voom and NSC approaches together for the purpose of gene-expression based classification. For this purpose, we propose weighted statistics and put these weighted statistics into the NSC algorithm. The VoomNSC is a sparse classifier that models the mean-variance relationship using the voom method and incorporates voom’s precision weights into the NSC classifier via weighted statistics. A comprehensive simulation study was designed and four real datasets are used for performance assessment. The overall results indicate that voomNSC performs as the sparsest classifier. It also provides the most accurate results together with power-transformed Poisson linear discriminant analysis, rlog transformed support vector machines and random forests algorithms. In addition to prediction purposes, the voomNSC classifier can be used to identify the potential diagnostic biomarkers for a condition of interest. Through this work, statistical learning methods proposed for microarrays can be reused for RNA-Seq data. An interactive web application is freely available at http://www.biosoft.hacettepe.edu.tr/voomDDA/.
Genome methylation and regulatory functions for hypoxic adaptation in Tibetan chicken embryos
Authors: Zhang Yawen , Gou Wenyu , Ma Jun , Zhang Hongliang , Zhang Ying , Zhang Hao
Published: October 2017

Tibetan chickens have unique adaptations to the extreme high-altitude environment that they inhabit. Epigenetic DNA methylation affects many biological processes, including hypoxic adaptation; however, the regulatory genes for DNA methylation in hypoxic adaptation remain unknown. In this study, methylated DNA immunoprecipitation with high-throughput sequencing (MeDIP-seq) was used to provide an atlas of the DNA methylomes of the heart tissue of hypoxic highland Tibetan and lowland Chahua chicken embryos. A total of 31.2 gigabases of sequence data were generated from six MeDIP-seq libraries. We identified 1,049 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and 695 related differentially methylated genes (DMGs) between the two chicken breeds. The DMGs are involved in vascular smooth muscle contraction, VEGF signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, and other hypoxia-related pathways. Five candidate genes that had low methylation (EDNRA, EDNRB2, BMPR1B, BMPRII, and ITGA2) might play key regulatory roles in the adaptation to hypoxia in Tibetan chicken embryos. Our study provides significant explanations for the functions of genes and their epigenetic regulation for hypoxic adaptation in Tibetan chickens.
Benchmark datasets for phylogenomic pipeline validation, applications for foodborne pathogen surveillance
Authors: Timme Ruth E. , Rand Hugh , Shumway Martin , Trees Eija K. , Simmons Mustafa , Agarwala Richa , Davis Steven , Tillman Glenn E. , Defibaugh-Chavez Stephanie , Carleton Heather A. , Klimke William A. , Katz Lee S.
Published: October 2017

Background

As next generation sequence technology has advanced, there have been parallel advances in genome-scale analysis programs for determining evolutionary relationships as proxies for epidemiological relationship in public health. Most new programs skip traditional steps of ortholog determination and multi-gene alignment, instead identifying variants across a set of genomes, then summarizing results in a matrix of single-nucleotide polymorphisms or alleles for standard phylogenetic analysis. However, public health authorities need to document the performance of these methods with appropriate and comprehensive datasets so they can be validated for specific purposes, e.g., outbreak surveillance. Here we propose a set of benchmark datasets to be used for comparison and validation of phylogenomic pipelines.

Methods

We identified four well-documented foodborne pathogen events in which the epidemiology was concordant with routine phylogenomic analyses (reference-based SNP and wgMLST approaches). These are ideal benchmark datasets, as the trees, WGS data, and epidemiological data for each are all in agreement. We have placed these sequence data, sample metadata, and “known” phylogenetic trees in publicly-accessible databases and developed a standard descriptive spreadsheet format describing each dataset. To facilitate easy downloading of these benchmarks, we developed an automated script that uses the standard descriptive spreadsheet format.

Results

Our “outbreak” benchmark datasets represent the four major foodborne bacterial pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter jejuni) and one simulated dataset where the “known tree” can be accurately called the “true tree”. The downloading script and associated table files are available on GitHub: https://github.com/WGS-standards-and-analysis/datasets.

Discussion

These five benchmark datasets will help standardize comparison of current and future phylogenomic pipelines, and facilitate important cross-institutional collaborations. Our work is part of a global effort to provide collaborative infrastructure for sequence data and analytic tools—we welcome additional benchmark datasets in our recommended format, and, if relevant, we will add these on our GitHub site. Together, these datasets, dataset format, and the underlying GitHub infrastructure present a recommended path for worldwide standardization of phylogenomic pipelines.