bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multicenter verification of the Sysmex XN‐Series
Authors: Schoorl M. , Schoorl M. , Chevallier M. , van der Ploeg T. , van Pelt J.
Published: May 2017

Introduction

Verification of hemocytometry equipment deviates significantly from that of clinical chemistry equipment due to the absence of appropriate control material and the need for fresh material. In practice, verification is limited to comparison with the previously used equipment and determination of reproducibilities. Particularly in multicenter settings, harmonization of results is necessary. If the same equipment is used in several laboratory departments, calibration and uniformity are important issues.

Methods

In this study, seven Sysmex XN hematology modules distributed over three laboratories were evaluated with the same set of samples (n=160).

Results

Results of each Sysmex XN hematology module were compared with the results of the Sysmex XE‐2100 hematology analyzer using linear regression. Although excellent correlation coefficients were obtained, in many cases the criteria for slope and/or intercept were not met. Therefore, the same data were analyzed with Bland‐Altman difference plots with three times the specified CV% of the parameter as limits of agreement. At least 90% of the determinations per parameter and per module must comply with those limits of agreement. Almost all parameters on each module fulfilled these criteria, and only RBC and Ht from respectively two and four XN modules had to be recalibrated. Reproducibility of each parameter was determined 10 times in patient samples with low, normal, and high levels. Reproducibility of all parameters was within the specifications of the manufacturer and the biological variability.

Conclusion

With this straightforward method, all seven Sysmex XN hematology modules demonstrated uniform results, which were identical to those of the previously used Sysmex XE‐2100 hematology analyzer, the performance of which was well known.
Controlled relative humidity storage for high toughness and strength of binderless green pellets
Authors: Cannon W. Roger , Hoggan Rita E. , Erickson Arnold , Forsmann Bryan , O'Brien Robert C. , Lessing Paul A.
Published: May 2017

An equation was developed to predict fracture toughness of green powder compacts. The model combines crack tip toughness predicted by Kendall's model with crack tip shielding due to bridging of moisture meniscuses across the crack. The model predicts that crack tip shielding due to moisture should be dominant. Fracture tests on ceria green pellets verified that storing pellets at a high relative humidity (98%RH) for an extended period of time led to fracture strength more than double those stored at lowerRH. However, at lowerRHthere is no significant increase in fracture strength with increasedRHas predicted by the model. The lower strength at lowRHis due to insufficient capillary and surface forces but may also be related to the lack of sufficient adsorbed moisture to form bridging meniscuses. The high green strengths achieved by storing pellets at a highRHsuggest a method of strengthening green parts without adding binder.
Orthorhombic‐pseudocubic phase transition and piezoelectric properties of (Na0.5K0.5)(Nb1−xSbx)‐SrZrO3 ceramics
Authors: Lee Ku‐Tak , Kim Dae‐Hyeon , Park Jong‐Seong , Lee Tae‐Gon , Cho Sung‐Hoon , Park Su‐Jin , Kang Jong‐Yoon , Nahm Sahn
Published: May 2017

0.96(Na0.5K0.5)(Nb1−xSbx)‐0.04SrZrO3 ceramics with 0.0≤x≤0.06 were well sintered at 1060°C for 6 hours without a secondary phase. Orthorhombic‐tetragonal transition temperature (TO‐T) and Curie temperature (TC) decreased with the addition of Sb2O5. The decrease in TC was considerable compared to that in TO‐T, and thus the tetragonal phase zone disappeared when x exceeded 0.03. Therefore, a broad peak for orthorhombic‐pseudocubic transition as opposed to that for orthorhombic‐tetragonal transition appeared at 115°C‐78.2°C for specimens with 0.04≤x≤0.06. An orthorhombic structure was observed for specimens with x≤0.03. However, the polymorphic phase boundary structure containing orthorhombic and pseudocubic structures was formed for the specimens 0.04≤x≤0.06. Furthermore, a specimen with x=0.055 exhibited a large piezoelectric strain constant of 325 pC/N, indicating that the coexistence of orthorhombic and pseudocubic structures could improve the piezoelectric properties of (Na0.5K0.5)NbO3‐based lead‐free piezoelectric ceramics.
Non‐parallel divergence across freshwater and marine three‐spined sticklebackGasterosteus aculeatuspopulations
Authors: Pujolar J. M. , Ferchaud A. L. , Bekkevold D. , Hansen M. M.
Published: May 2017

This work investigated whether multiple freshwater populations of three‐spined sticklebackGasterosteus aculeatusin different freshwater catchments in the Jutland Peninsula, Denmark, derived from the same marine populations show repeated adaptive responses. A total of 327G. aculeatuscollected at 13 sampling locations were screened for genetic variation using a combination of 70 genes putatively under selection and 26 neutral genes along with a marker linked to the ectodysplasin gene (eda), which is strongly correlated with plate armour morphs in the species. A highly significant genetic differentiation was found that was higher among different freshwater samples than between marine–freshwater samples. Tests for selection between marine and freshwater populations showed a very low degree of parallelism and no single nucleotide polymorphism was detected as outlier in all freshwater–marine pairwise comparisons, including theeda. This suggests thatG. aculeatusis not necessarily the prime example of parallel local adaptation suggested in much of the literature and that important exceptions exist (i.e.the Jutland Peninsula). While marine populations in the results described here showed a high phenotype–genotype correlation ateda, a low association was found for most of the freshwater populations. The most extreme case was found in the freshwater Lake Hald where all low‐plated phenotypes were either homozygotes for the allele supposed to be associated with completely plated morphs or heterozygotes, but none were homozygotes for the putative low‐plated allele. Re‐examination of data from sevenG. aculeatusstudies agrees in showing a high but partial association between phenotype–genotype atedainG. aculeatusfreshwater populations and that mismatches occur everywhere in the European regions studied (higher in some areas,i.e.Denmark). This is independent of theedamarker used.
Differential effects of exposure to parasites and bacteria on stress response in turbotScophthalmus maximussimultaneously stressed by low water depth
Authors: Rodríguez‐Quiroga J. J. , Otero‐Rodiño C. , Suárez P. , Nieto T. P. , García Estévez J. M. , San Juan F. , Soengas J. L.
Published: May 2017

The stress response of turbotScophthalmus maximuswas evaluated in fish maintained 8 days under different water depths, normal (NWD, 30 cm depth, total water volume 40 l) or low (LWD, 5 cm depth, total water volume 10 l), in the additional presence of infection–infestation of two pathogens of this species. This was caused by intraperitoneal injection of sublethal doses of the bacteriumAeromonas salmonicidasubsp.salmonicidaor the parasitePhilasterides dicentrarchi(Ciliophora:Scuticociliatida). TheLWDconditions were stressful for fish, causing increased levels of cortisol in plasma, decreased levels of glycogen in liver and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) and increased activities ofG6PaseandGSase. The presence of bacteria or parasites in fish underNWDresulted in increased cortisol levels in plasma whereas in liver, changes were of minor importance including decreased levels of lactate andGSaseactivity. The simultaneous presence of bacteria and parasites in fish underNWDresulted a sharp increase in the levels of cortisol in plasma and decreased levels of glucose. Decreased levels of glycogen and lactate and activities ofGSaseand glutathione reductase (GR), as well as increased activities of glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 6‐phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) and levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) occurred in the same fish in liver. Finally, the presence of pathogens inS. maximusunder stressful conditions elicited byLWDresulted in synergistic actions of both type of stressors in cortisol levels. In liver, the presence of bacteria or parasites induced a synergistic action on several variables such as decreased activities ofG6PaseandGSaseas well as increased levels ofNADPandNADPHand increased activities ofGPase,G6PDHand6PGDH.
Detection of vegetation trends in highly variable environments after grazing exclusion in Mongolia
Authors: Kakinuma Kaoru , Terui Akira , Sasaki Takehiro , Koyama Asuka , Jamsran Undarmaa , Okuro Toshiya , Takeuchi Kazuhiko
Published: May 2017

Aims

Environmental variability (e.g. in precipitation) has a large effect on vegetation dynamics, and this often makes it difficult to assess the recovery of vegetation after a disturbance. In this study, we assessed vegetation recovery trends in response to grazing exclusion while considering for the annual environmental variability.

Location

Two regions with highly variable precipitation: a steppe near Mandalgobi, in Mongolia's Central Gobi province, and a desert steppe near Bulgan, in Mongolia's South Gobi province.

Methods

Changes in vegetation were observed along grazing gradients at the above two sites, and vegetation thresholds were identified. We established reference plots in pre‐threshold areas along the grazing gradients. We removed the impact of livestock grazing at various locations along the grazing gradients by establishing exclosures, and investigated vegetation from 2005 to 2013. We developed a smoothed hierarchical model within a Bayesian framework, and examined the effect of grazing exclusion on vegetation, focusing especially on the extent of grass cover recovery. In addition, we compared soil nutrient conditions in the reference plots and inside and outside each exclosure along the grazing gradients.

Results

Temporal trends in the cover of perennial grass in each plot inside and outside of the exclosures largely coincided, irrespective of grazing intensity, and exclosure had no effect (Bulgan) or a negative effect (Mandalgobi) on vegetation recovery. Soil nutrient content was not significantly affected by exclosure at a given distance from the grazing source, but decreased significantly with decreasing grazing intensity. Thus, recovery of the land from a post‐threshold state may not be apparent even after 9 yr of grazing exclusion in environments with highly variable precipitation.

Conclusion

The effect of exclosure duration on perennial grass cover was limited, even after controlling for environmental variability. Once a vegetation threshold has been crossed, merely removing livestock from the landscape may not be sufficient for that area to recover.
Phytophthora cinnamomi
Authors: Hardham Adrienne R. , Blackman Leila M.
Published: May 2017

Phytophthora cinnamomi is one of the most devastating plant pathogens in the world. It infects close to 5000 species of plants, including many of importance in agriculture, forestry and horticulture. The inadvertent introduction of P. cinnamomi into natural ecosystems, including a number of recognized Global Biodiversity Hotspots, has had disastrous consequences for the environment and the biodiversity of flora and fauna.

The genus Phytophthora belongs to the Class Oomycetes, a group of fungus‐like organisms that initiate plant disease through the production of motile zoospores. Disease control is difficult in agricultural and forestry situations and even more challenging in natural ecosystems as a result of the scale of the problem and the limited range of effective chemical inhibitors. The development of sustainable control measures for the future management of P. cinnamomi requires a comprehensive understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of pathogen development and pathogenicity. The application of next‐generation sequencing technologies to generate genomic and transcriptomic data promises to underpin a new era in P. cinnamomi research and discovery. The aim of this review is to integrate bioinformatic analyses of P. cinnamomi sequence data with current knowledge of the cellular and molecular basis of P. cinnamomi growth, development and plant infection. The goal is to provide a framework for future research by highlighting potential pathogenicity genes, shedding light on their possible functions and identifying suitable targets for future control measures.

Taxonomy

Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands; Kingdom Chromista; Phylum Oomycota or Pseudofungi; Class Oomycetes; Order Peronosporales; Family Peronosporaceae; genus Phytophthora.

Host range

Infects about 5000 species of plants, including 4000 Australian native species. Host plants important for agriculture and forestry include avocado, chestnut, macadamia, oak, peach and pineapple.

Disease symptoms

A root pathogen which causes rotting of fine and fibrous roots, but which can also cause stem cankers. Root damage may inhibit water movement from roots to shoots, leading to dieback of young shoots.

Useful websites

http://fungidb.org/fungidb/; http://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phyci1/Phyci1.home.html; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/GCA_001314365.1; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/GCA_001314505.1
YH12852, a potent and highly selective 5‐HT4 receptor agonist, significantly improves both upper and lower gastrointestinal motility in a guinea pig model of postoperative ileus
Authors: Hussain Z. , Lee Y. J. , Yang H. , Jeong E. J. , Sim J. Y. , Park H.
Published: May 2017

Background

Postoperative ileus (POI) is a transient gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility that commonly develops after abdominal surgery. YH12852, a novel, potent and highly selective 5‐hydroxytryptamine 4 (5‐HT4) receptor agonist, has been shown to improve both upper and lower GI motility in various animal studies and may have applications for the treatment of POI. Here, we investigated the effects and mechanism of action of YH12852 in a guinea pig model of POI to explore its therapeutic potential.

Methods

The guinea pig model of POI was created by laparotomy, evisceration, and gentle manipulation of the cecum for 60 seconds, followed by closure with sutures under anesthesia. Group 1 received an oral administration of vehicle or YH12852 (1, 3, 10 or 30 mg/kg) only, while POI Group 2 was intraperitoneally pretreated with vehicle or 5‐HT4 receptor antagonist GR113808 (10 mg/kg) prior to oral dosing of vehicle or YH12852 (3 or 10 mg/kg). Upper GI transit was evaluated by assessing the migration of a charcoal mixture in the small intestine, while lower GI transit was assessed via measurement of fecal pellet output (FPO).

Key Results

YH12852 significantly accelerated upper and lower GI transit at the doses of 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg and reached its maximal effect at 10 mg/kg. These effects were significantly blocked by pretreatment of GR113808 10 mg/kg.

Conclusion and Inferences

Oral administration of YH12852 significantly accelerates and restores delayed upper and lower GI transit in a guinea pig model of POI. This drug may serve as a useful candidate for the treatment of postoperative ileus.
The incidence and predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms in older adults with vision impairment: a longitudinal prospective cohort study
Authors: Heesterbeek Thomas J. , van der Aa Hilde P. A. , van Rens Ger H. M. B. , Twisk Johannes W. R. , van Nispen Ruth M. A.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent in older adults with vision impairment. Because symptoms of depression and anxiety appear to fluctuate, it is important to identify patients who are at risk of developing these symptoms for early diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the incidence of subthreshold depression and anxiety, and to investigate predictors of developing symptoms of depression and anxiety in older adults with vision impairment who had no subthreshold depression or anxiety at baseline.

Methods

A longitudinal prospective cohort study with a follow‐up of 24 months in 540 older adults with vision impairment (mean age 75 years, 56% female, 48% macular degeneration, 15% glaucoma) from outpatient low‐vision rehabilitation organisations was performed. The cumulative incidences of subthreshold depression and anxiety were calculated and linear mixed models with maximum likelihood estimation were used to determine two prediction models. Main outcome measures were: fluctuations in (i) depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, CES‐D) and (ii) anxiety symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale‐Anxiety subscale, HADS‐A).

Results

The annual cumulative incidences of subthreshold depression and anxiety were 21.3% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 18.7–23.9%) and 9.5% (95% CI 7.4–11.6%), respectively. Risk factors for developing depressive symptoms were: living alone, having just enough money to cover expenses, having macular degeneration, having problems with adaptation to vision loss, reduced health related quality of life, and experiencing symptoms of anxiety. For developing anxiety symptoms, a relatively younger age, experiencing symptoms of depression, not living alone and experiencing hindrance at work proved to be risk factors.

Conclusions

This study shows that the incidence of subthreshold depression and anxiety in older adults with vision impairment is twice as high compared with older adults in general and confirms that depression and anxiety symptoms fluctuate over time. It is of great importance that low vision rehabilitation staff monitor older adults with vision impairment who are most vulnerable for developing these symptoms, based on the risk factors that were found in this study, to be able to offer early interventions to prevent and treat mental health problems in this population.
Applying Behavioral Insights in Policy Analysis: Recent Trends in the United States
Authors: Gopalan Maithreyi , Pirog Maureen A.
Published: May 2017

An understanding of human nature and of the motivations that drive human behavior have always informed public policies. The use of behavioral research in public policy analysis, which flows largely from social and cognitive psychology, behavioral economics, and other behavioral sciences, came into sharp focus in the last decade. Since then, policy initiatives incorporating behavioral insights have flourished, and thousands of research articles have been published on that topic. A lot of this research has focused on how behavioral insights used by governments at all levels can improve the delivery of governmental services and improve compliance and use of government services by the public. We review recent trends in policy initiatives that specifically incorporate behavioral insights in the United States and outline a framework for further integrating behavioral insights into the various stages of policy analysis and policy design.
Integrated Uncertainty Analysis for Ambient Pollutant Health Risk Assessment: A Case Study of Ozone Mortality Risk
Authors: Smith Anne E. , Glasgow Garrett
Published: May 2017

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses health risk assessment to help inform its decisions in setting national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). EPA's standard approach is to make epidemiologically‐based risk estimates based on a single statistical model selected from the scientific literature, called the “core” model. The uncertainty presented for “core” risk estimates reflects only the statistical uncertainty associated with that one model's concentration‐response function parameter estimate(s). However, epidemiologically‐based risk estimates are also subject to “model uncertainty,” which is a lack of knowledge about which of many plausible model specifications and data sets best reflects the true relationship between health and ambient pollutant concentrations. In 2002, a National Academies of Sciences (NAS) committee recommended that model uncertainty be integrated into EPA's standard risk analysis approach. This article discusses how model uncertainty can be taken into account with an integrated uncertainty analysis (IUA) of health risk estimates. It provides an illustrative numerical example based on risk of premature death from respiratory mortality due to long‐term exposures to ambient ozone, which is a health risk considered in the 2015 ozone NAAQS decision. This example demonstrates that use of IUA to quantitatively incorporate key model uncertainties into risk estimates produces a substantially altered understanding of the potential public health gain of a NAAQS policy decision, and that IUA can also produce more helpful insights to guide that decision, such as evidence of decreasing incremental health gains from progressive tightening of a NAAQS.
Recommendations for approaches to meticillin‐resistant staphylococcal infections of small animals: diagnosis, therapeutic considerations and preventative measures.
Authors: Morris Daniel O. , Loeffler Anette , Davis Meghan F. , Guardabassi Luca , Weese J. Scott
Published: May 2017

Background

Multiple drug resistance (MDR) in staphylococci, including resistance to the semi‐synthetic penicillinase‐resistant penicillins such as meticillin, is a problem of global proportions that presents serious challenges to the successful treatment of staphylococcal infections of companion animals.

Objectives

The objective of this document is to provide harmonized recommendations for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of meticillin‐resistant staphylococcal infections in dogs and cats.

Methods

The authors served as a Guideline Panel (GP) and reviewed the literature available prior to September 2016. The GP prepared a detailed literature review and made recommendations on selected topics. The World Association of Veterinary Dermatology (WAVD) provided guidance and oversight for this process. A draft of the document was presented at the 8th World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology (May 2016) and was then made available via the World Wide Web to the member organizations of the WAVD for a period of three months. Comments were solicited and posted to the GP electronically. Responses were incorporated by the GP into the final document.

Conclusions

Adherence to guidelines for the diagnosis, laboratory reporting, judicious therapy (including restriction of use policies for certain antimicrobial drugs), personal hygiene, and environmental cleaning and disinfection may help to mitigate the progressive development and dissemination of MDR staphylococci.
Patient Blood Management initiatives on a global level: the results of an International Society of Blood Transfusion Survey
Authors: So‐Osman C. , van der Wal D. E. , Allard S. ,   the ISBT Working Party Clinical Transfusion
Published: May 2017

Background and Objectives

Patient Blood Management (PBM) optimises the care of patients in need of transfusion using the best available evidence. ISBT's Clinical Transfusion Working Party conducted an international survey to benchmark PBM activities.

Material and Methods

Members of the working party developed a survey on hospital‐based PBM activities that was electronically sent to all ISBT members who were encouraged to complete the survey if they were actively involved in PBM.

Results

Of the 277 ISBT members who responded to the survey, 194 were actively involved in PBM and completed the survey. The majority came from Europe and the Western Pacific (63·9%) and mostly from either university (43·8%) or large general hospitals (20·1%). Most (63·9%) respondents came from high‐income countries. 61·9% of respondents indicated that audits were performed and their hospitals participated in accreditation programs, 75·3% performed informed consent before transfusion. In 78·4%, a transfusion committee was present. In 84%, institution‐wide transfusion guidelines were implemented and 63·4% offered outpatient preoperative risk screening. In 38·1%, a protocol to diagnose preoperative anaemia was used, 51% collected autologous blood transfusions, and in 50%, tranexamic acid was used in the perioperative setting. Overall, the highest percentages were found in university and large general hospitals and in high‐income countries.

Conclusion

PBM initiatives have been implemented to different degrees at hospitals around the world.
Survey for bacterial testing of platelet components in Latin America
Authors: Ramirez‐Arcos S. , McDonald C. P. , Benjamin R. J. ,   the ISBT Working Party Transfusion‐Transmitted Infectious Diseases Bacterial Subgroup
Published: May 2017

Introduction

Bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates (PCs) poses the highest post‐transfusion infectious risk in developed countries. However, there is not extensive information about similar strategies implemented in Latin America.

Aim

To assess the status of platelet screening for bacterial contamination in Latin American blood banks.

Methods

An online‐based survey with 10 comprehensive questions was sent to 46 blood banks in five countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras and Mexico. The centres were asked about PC production and shelf life, and strategies to improve PC safety. Centres were also surveyed regarding postsampling quarantine, results interpretation and haemovigilance data.

Results

Ten centres(21·8%) in four countries answered the survey. Annual PC production ranges from 600 to 19 200. All sites store PCs for 5 days, and eight sites use leucocyte reduction. Five centres(50%) produce apheresis and platelet‐rich‐plasma PCs, one centre(10%) produces buffy coat (BC) PCs, one centre(10%) produces apheresis PCs, and three centres(30%) produce apheresis and BC PCs. Nine sites reported using established donor skin donor disinfection protocols, eight employ first aliquot diversion, and two visually inspect PCs. Eight sites screen PCs for bacterial contamination with culture methods: three sites(37·5%) test 1% of outdated PCs and five sites(62·5%) test 100% of PCs 20‐24 h after blood collection. Of these five sites, two quarantine PCs for 24 h after sampling. Three sites have haemovigilance data, which are unavailable to the public. No sites have implemented pathogen reduction technologies.

Conclusions

Screening practices and mitigation strategies vary considerably between sites highlighting the need for standardisation of procedures in Latin America.
A New Mathematical Model to Understand the Convective Heat Transfer Mechanism in Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage Process
Authors: Zhang Zhaoxiang , Liu Huiqing , Dong Xiaohu , Jiang Huanli
Published: May 2017

Steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process has been an optimized method to explore heavy oil reservoirs in the world. The oil viscosity reduction and gravity force near the interface of steam–chamber are the main development mechanisms. In classical models, conductive heat transfer plays the only or dominant role in the heat transmission from high-temperature steam to low-temperature oil sands. Although some mathematical studies have paid attention to the convective heat transfer, the role of heat transfer by flowable oil normal to the steam–chamber interface has been given little attention. In SAGD, the viscosity of bitumen can be reduced by several orders of magnitude by the release of latent heat from injected steam. In this study, an analytical model is developed for the heat transfer process induced by flowable oil. Also, in order to accurately simulate the oil viscosity characteristics in steam–chamber, a correlation between oil viscosity and pressure is proposed. Results indicate that the oil mobility plays an important role on the flow normal to interface when the distance is smaller than 6 m. Even under the most extreme circumstances (μw = 0.1127 cp), the flowing of oil normal to steam–chamber interface also cannot be ignored. Comparing to Irani and Ghannadi model, it can be easy to draw the conclusion that the new model consists with the underground test facility (UTF) field data much better. This new analytical model will benefit to understanding the convective heat transfer mechanism in SAGD process.
Optimum Structural Design of Thermal Protection for Supersonic Aircraft by Using Photonic Crystal Material
Authors: Zhang Hao-Chun , Wei Yan-Qiang , Su Cheng-Shuai , Xie Gong-Nan , Lorenzini Giulio
Published: May 2017

With the rapid development of the supersonic aircraft technology, the aircraft Mach number continues increasing, but on the other hand, the working condition becomes progressively poor. The photonic crystals (PCs) material could reflect the energy of the thermal radiation effectively and prevent heat transferring into the substrate due to its low thermal conductivity. Consequently, the PCs material could be applied to thermal protection for the supersonic aircraft. In this paper, the aircraft state of Mach 5 is set as the target operating condition, and the PC thermal protection ability is simulated by the method of computational fluid dynamics. Based on the theory of the electromagnetics, the characteristics of the photonic band gaps for three-dimensional PCs are calculated and the effects of PCs' medium radius, refractive index, and lattice constant are fully taken into account. For the three-dimensional diamond PCs' structure, two major categories and totally five optimized design schemes are proposed, through combining the condition of supersonic aircraft aerodynamic heating. Results show that the temperature is reduced by 948.4 K when the heat passes through thermal protection layer and reduced by 930.4 K when the heat passes through PC layer. By the method of “coupled optimization strategy (COS),” the energy density which enters into substrate material would decrease by 7.99%. In conclusion, the thermal protection capacity for supersonic aircraft could be effectively improved by using the PCs.
A new species and a new record of Cosmolaelaps Berlese (Acari: Laelapidae) from the Pacific Islands
Authors: Joharchi Omid , Fan Qing-Hai , Arjomandi Elham
Published: May 2017

The mite family Laelapidae has been little studied in the Pacific Islands. This paper presents a new species and a new record of the genus Cosmolaelaps Berlese, 1903 from Fiji and Tonga. Cosmolaelaps dioscorea sp. nov. was collected from yam (Plantae: Dioscoreaceae: Dioscorea sp.) in Fiji and Cosmolaelaps paulista Freire & Moraes, 2007 from taro (Plantae: Araceae: Colocasia Schott) in Fiji and Tonga. The new species is described.
Dicarboxylic acids analysed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Part VI - octanedioic acid anhydrous
Authors: Ferreira Jose M. , Trindade Gustavo F. , Watts John F. , Baker Mark A.
Published: May 2017

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) was carried out to analyse a commercially available octanedioic acidpowder.XPSspectra were obtained using incident monochromatic Al Kα radiation at 1486.6 eV. Snapshots and scans of C 1s and O 1s core level spectra are presented. The presence of characteristiccarbon and oxygen photoelectrons allows the use these results as a reference for dicarboxylic acids.
The timetable of evolution
Authors: Knoll Andrew H. , Nowak Martin A.
Published: May 2017

An increasingly well-resolved timetable of evolution provides new challenges and opportunities for evolutionary theory.
The pain of exile
Authors: Underwood Emily
Published: May 2017

Long-persecuted Yezidis unite to cope with the mental stress of forced migration.
Chew on this
Evolution's Bite: A Story of Teeth, Diet, and Human Origins
Peter S. Ungar
Princeton University Press, 2017. 248 pp.
Authors: Beard K. Christopher
Published: May 2017

A paleoecological exploration probes the evolution of human diets
Multiscale measurements for materials modeling
Authors: Suter Robert
Published: May 2017

Tracking defect motion in polycrystalline materials can help model emergent
properties
Migration—the choices we face
Authors: Hassan Mohamed H. A.
Published: May 2017

More than 1 million refugees and migrants arrived in Europe in 2015, and nearly 390,000 more in 2016, many fleeing conflict in the Middle East and North Africa. European leaders have often accommodated the migrants with admirable generosity, even while facing stiff political opposition. Yet, if developed countries focus only on immediate domestic impacts of mass migration, they will miss a critical point: When thousands of people, including many researchers, leave their home countries, the exodus perpetuates instability in those countries and damages prospects for future development.
Differential Disease Susceptibilities in Experimentally Reptarenavirus-Infected Boa Constrictors and Ball Pythons
Authors: Stenglein Mark D. , Sanchez-Migallon Guzman David , Garcia Valentina E. , Layton Marylee L. , Hoon-Hanks Laura L. , Boback Scott M. , Keel M. Kevin , Drazenovich Tracy , Hawkins Michelle G. , DeRisi Joseph L.
Published: May 2017

Inclusion body disease (IBD) is an infectious disease originally described in captive snakes. It has traditionally been diagnosed by the presence of large eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions and is associated with neurological, gastrointestinal, and lymphoproliferative disorders. Previously, we identified and established a culture system for a novel lineage of arenaviruses isolated from boa constrictors diagnosed with IBD. Although ample circumstantial evidence suggested that these viruses, now known as reptarenaviruses, cause IBD, there has been no formal demonstration of disease causality since their discovery. We therefore conducted a long-term challenge experiment to test the hypothesis that reptarenaviruses cause IBD. We infected boa constrictors and ball pythons by cardiac injection of purified virus. We monitored the progression of viral growth in tissues, blood, and environmental samples. Infection produced dramatically different disease outcomes in snakes of the two species. Ball pythons infected with Golden Gate virus (GoGV) and with another reptarenavirus displayed severe neurological signs within 2 months, and viral replication was detected only in central nervous system tissues. In contrast, GoGV-infected boa constrictors remained free of clinical signs for 2 years, despite high viral loads and the accumulation of large intracellular inclusions in multiple tissues, including the brain. Inflammation was associated with infection in ball pythons but not in boa constrictors. Thus, reptarenavirus infection produces inclusions and inclusion body disease, although inclusions
per se
are neither necessarily associated with nor required for disease. Although the natural distribution of reptarenaviruses has yet to be described, the different outcomes of infection may reflect differences in geographical origin.

IMPORTANCE
New DNA sequencing technologies have made it easier than ever to identify the sequences of microorganisms in diseased tissues, i.e., to identify organisms that appear to cause disease, but to be certain that a candidate pathogen actually causes disease, it is necessary to provide additional evidence of causality. We have done this to demonstrate that reptarenaviruses cause inclusion body disease (IBD), a serious transmissible disease of snakes. We infected boa constrictors and ball pythons with purified reptarenavirus. Ball pythons fell ill within 2 months of infection and displayed signs of neurological disease typical of IBD. In contrast, boa constrictors remained healthy over 2 years, despite high levels of virus throughout their bodies. This difference matches previous reports that pythons are more susceptible to IBD than boas and could reflect the possibility that boas are natural hosts of these viruses in the wild.
Transposon Mutagenesis of the Zika Virus Genome Highlights Regions Essential for RNA Replication and Restricted for Immune Evasion
Authors: Fulton Benjamin O. , Sachs David , Schwarz Megan C. , Palese Peter , Evans Matthew J.
Published: May 2017

The molecular constraints affecting Zika virus (ZIKV) evolution are not well understood. To investigate ZIKV genetic flexibility, we used transposon mutagenesis to add 15-nucleotide insertions throughout the ZIKV MR766 genome and subsequently deep sequenced the viable mutants. Few ZIKV insertion mutants replicated, which likely reflects a high degree of functional constraints on the genome. The NS1 gene exhibited distinct mutational tolerances at different stages of the screen. This result may define regions of the NS1 protein that are required for the different stages of the viral life cycle. The ZIKV structural genes showed the highest degree of insertional tolerance. Although the envelope (E) protein exhibited particular flexibility, the highly conserved envelope domain II (EDII) fusion loop of the E protein was intolerant of transposon insertions. The fusion loop is also a target of pan-flavivirus antibodies that are generated against other flaviviruses and neutralize a broad range of dengue virus and ZIKV isolates. The genetic restrictions identified within the epitopes in the EDII fusion loop likely explain the sequence and antigenic conservation of these regions in ZIKV and among multiple flaviviruses. Thus, our results provide insights into the genetic restrictions on ZIKV that may affect the evolution of this virus.

IMPORTANCE
Zika virus recently emerged as a significant human pathogen. Determining the genetic constraints on Zika virus is important for understanding the factors affecting viral evolution. We used a genome-wide transposon mutagenesis screen to identify where mutations were tolerated in replicating viruses. We found that the genetic regions involved in RNA replication were mostly intolerant of mutations. The genes coding for structural proteins were more permissive to mutations. Despite the flexibility observed in these regions, we found that epitopes bound by broadly reactive antibodies were genetically constrained. This finding may explain the genetic conservation of these epitopes among flaviviruses.
Phylogenetic Analyses Suggest that Factors Other Than the Capsid Protein Play a Role in the Epidemic Potential of GII.2 Norovirus
Authors: Tohma Kentaro , Lepore Cara J. , Ford-Siltz Lauren A. , Parra Gabriel I.
Published: May 2017

Noroviruses are a major cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. Currently, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral available to treat norovirus disease. Multiple norovirus strains infect humans, but a single genotype (GII.4) has been regarded as the most important cause of viral gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. Its persistence and predominance have been explained by the continuous replacement of variants that present new antigenic properties on their capsid protein, thus evading the herd immunity acquired to the previous variants. Over the last three seasons, minor genotypes have displaced the GII.4 viruses as the predominant strains. One of these genotypes, GII.2, reemerged as predominant during 2016 to 2017. Here we show that factors such as minor changes in the polymerase may have driven the reemergence of GII.2 during the last season. A better understanding of norovirus diversity is important for the development of effective treatments against noroviruses.
My week
Authors: Russell Helen
Published: May 2017

May is VN Awareness Month, which aims to highlight the valuable work VNs do in practice. Here, Helen Russell, a registered veterinary nurse and co‐joint venture partner (JVP) of Vets4Pets Byfleet, describes what she did over the course of one week recently
Ore characteristics of the sandstone-type Daying uranium deposit in the Ordos Basin, northwestern China
Authors: Dai Mingjian , Peng Yunbiao , Wu Chenjun , Jiao Yangquan , Liu Lu , Miao Aisheng , Zhang Chengyong , Zhang Zilong , Chen Shuang
Published: May 2017

The Ordos Basin is one of the top oil-, gas-, and coal-producing basins in China and is increasingly recognized as an important uranium mineralization province. Uranium deposits occur near the margin of the basin and are mainly hosted in the sandstones of the Jurassic Zhiluo Formation. The Daying uranium deposit in the Ordos Basin is one of the most important large sandstone-type uranium deposits in China. Based on thin section analysis and electron microprobe measurements, we used analytical chemical data to study the characteristics of the Daying uranium deposit, including the type, structure, particle size, material composition, chemical composition, form, and valence state of the uranium. The uranium mainly exists in three forms: an absorbed form, independent minerals, and uranium-bearing minerals. Most of the uranium in the ore is U4+, and the proportion of U6+ ranges from 18% to 55%, with an average of 33%. The proportion of U6+ is relatively high in the cores containing low-grade ore. This study provides a reference for determining the best smelting technology with which to further develop this deposit.
Structural analysis of a dimeric trinuclear zinc(II) complex based on a preorganized yet flexible strap porphyrin
Authors: Najjari Btissam , Roisnel Thierry , Boitrel Bernard
Published: May 2017

We report the solid-state structure of an unexpected trinuclear zinc dimeric porphyrin complex resulting of zinc insertion into a single strap porphyrin. The latter bears an overhanging carboxylic acid which usually interacts with metal cations either in out-of-plane (OOP) or in hanging-atop (HAT) coordination mode by changing its location above the porphyrin coordination site. However, in the present studies, the overhanging carboxylic group acts as a bidentate ligand and binds the OOP-bound zinc cation together with another zinc cation bridging two porphyrin units.
Seeking Habitable Environments in Our Solar System: Curiosity on Mars
Authors: Leshin Laurie ,   the Mars Science Laboratory Science Team
Published: May 2017

Exploring space is one of humankind’s great endeavors, leading to technological innovation and discoveries that have the potential to answer the most fundamental human questions such as: Are We Alone in the Universe? NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover landed on Mars in 2012. With its highly advanced suite of cameras and sensors, Mars Curiosity has revealed an ancient Mars that billions of years ago would have been a hospitable habitat for simple life. Although we haven’t yet discovered that life previously existed on Mars, Curiosity continues to provide a window into our neighboring planet’s history that motivates expanded exploration by future robotic spacecraft as well as eventual crewed missions.
Application of attribute-based inversion and spectral decomposition with red–green–blue colour blending for visualization of geological features: a case study from the Kalol Field, Cambay Basin, India
Authors: Gorain Surajit , Shalivahan
Published: May 2017

The Kalol Field in the Cambay Basin of India was discovered in 1961 and has been producing through more than 608 wells from Kalol reservoirs but the cumulative production up until 2008 was only 95.19 MMbbl. Reasons for low recovery have been ascribed to poor reservoir facies and limited reservoir thicknesses. In the Kalol Field, several thin clastic reservoirs are sandwiched within the main reservoir and exhibit lateral variations in lithology.

Attribute-based inversion (ABI) is effective at delineating potentially prospective areas and reveals the existence of a good reservoir facies cluster in the south, SE and NW corners of our study area, near the Kalol Field. However, this method cannot decipher the depositional setting or the finer details of facies elements. To obtain a smooth and fine-tuned facies model, geostatistical modelling is adopted taking the ABI output (seismic-facies model) as the initial model. The advantage of geostatistical modelling is that it always honours the input data and respects the positional variograms of the geology.

Adding spectral decomposition with red–green–blue (SD-RGB) colour blending reveals the existence of a meandering river in the study area. This river is interpreted to have deposited crevasse splays and channel facies along the river banks. These two facies are the main producing contributors to a well that has maintained a higher production than any other well in this field. This facies-based approach is also effective in determining the reservoir geometry and quality consistent with the interpretation of the depositional environment.

In ABI, 3D attribute volumes of petrophysical properties are calculated using a genetic algorithm inversion and artificial neural network using a non-linear correlation between seismic and log properties. The calculated 3D attribute volumes of petrophysical properties are subsequently utilized for seismic facies classification. In contrast to ABI, SD-RGB colour blending has been solely utilized for co-visualization of different band-limited amplitude volumes from spectral decomposition. Conventional seismic inversion has now been replaced by an integrated approach combining ABI, geostatistical modelling and SD-RGB colour blending in an effort to delineate the remaining potential of the field, and to improve the geological success and ultimate recovery.
Impact of acetaminophen consumption and resistance exercise on extracellular matrix gene expression in human skeletal muscle
Authors: Patel Shivam H. , D’Lugos Andrew C. , Eldon Erica R. , Curtis Donald , Dickinson Jared M. , Carroll Chad C.
Published: May 2017

Acetaminophen (APAP) given during chronic exercise reduces skeletal muscle collagen and cross-linking in rats. We propose that the effect of APAP on muscle extracellular matrix (ECM) may, in part, be mediated by dysregulation of the balance between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of APAP consumption during acute resistance exercise (RE) on several regulators of the ECM in human skeletal muscle. In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover design, recreationally active men ( n = 8, 25 ± 2 yr) performed two trials of knee extension. Placebo (PLA) or APAP (1,000 mg/6 h) was given for 24 h before and immediately following RE. Vastus lateralis biopsies were taken at baseline and 1 and 3 h post-RE. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to determine differences in mRNA expression. MMP-2, type I collagen, and type III collagen mRNA expression was not altered by exercise or APAP ( P > 0.05). When compared with PLA, TIMP-1 expression was lower at 1 h post-RE during APAP conditions but greater than PLA at 3 h post-RE ( P < 0.05). MMP-9 expression and protein levels were elevated at 3 h post-RE independent of treatment ( P < 0.05). Lysyl oxidase expression was greater at 3 h post-RE during APAP consumption ( P < 0.05) compared with PLA. MMP-2 and TIMP-1 protein was not altered by RE or APAP ( P > 0.05). Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38-MAPK increased ( P < 0.05) with RE but was not influenced by APAP. Our findings do not support our hypothesis and suggest that short-term APAP consumption before RE has a small impact on the measured ECM molecules in human skeletal muscle following acute RE.