Which Aspects of Social Support Enhance Positive Mental Health in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence?

While there is evidence that social support can mitigate mental illness symptoms associated with intimate partner violence (IPV), there is a need to explore if social support can promote positive mental health. In this New Zealand (NZ) population-based study of women who had experienced physical and/or sexual violence (n = 453), structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that most facets of social support (friends, family, and neighbors) had a significant correlation with each dimension of positive mental health, as measured by Keyes’ Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF). Safety from IPV (no recent IPV experience) is a prerequisite before social support can assist women to attain positive mental health. Further work is required to ensure friends, family, and communities have the knowledge and resources to provide effective social support

Conservation by trans-border cooperation: population genetic structure and diversity of geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus) at its north-western european range edge

In the European Union, all bat species are strictly protected and member states must ensure their conservation. However, if populations are genetically structured, conservation units that correspond to whole countries may be too large, putting small populations with specific conservation requirements at risk. Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus) has undergone well-documented declines at its north-western European range edge between the 1960 and 1990s and is considered to be negatively affected by habitat fragmentation. Here we analysed the species’ genetic population structure and diversity to identify subpopulations with reduced genetic diversity and to scientifically inform conservation management. We generated 811 microsatellite-based genetic profiles obtained from 42 European nursery colonies and analysed a total of 932 sequences of the hypervariable region II of the mitochondrial control region sampled from across Europe. While two geographically widespread genetic populations were inferred to be present in north-western Europe, both nuclear and mitochondrial genetic diversity were lowest in the areas that had experienced a decline during the last century. A microsatellite-based analysis of demographic history did not permit, however, to unequivocally link that reduced genetic diversity to the population contraction event. Given the large geographic extent of the genetic populations, preserving the connectivity of mating sites requires concerted conservation efforts across multiple political jurisdictions. Genetic monitoring ought to be done on a regular basis to ensure that large-scale connectivity is maintained and further loss of genetic diversity is prevented

Spectral correlations in a random distributed feedback fibre laser

Random distributed feedback fibre lasers belong to the class of random lasers, where the feedback is provided by amplified Rayleigh scattering on sub-micron refractive index inhomogenities randomly distributed over the fibre length. Despite the elastic nature of Rayleigh scattering, the feedback mechanism has been insofar deemed incoherent, which corresponds to the commonly observed smooth generation spectra. Here, using a real-time spectral measurement technique based on a scanning Fabry-Pérot interferometer, we observe long-living narrowband components in the random fibre laser's spectrum. Statistical analysis of the ∼104 single-scan spectra reveals a preferential interspacing for the components and their anticorrelation in intensities. Furthermore, using mutual information analysis, we confirm the existence of nonlinear correlations between different parts of the random fibre laser spectra. The existence of such narrowband spectral components, together with their observed correlations, establishes a long-missing parallel between the fields of random fibre lasers and conventional random lasers

Influence of Differential Calcification in the Descending Thoracic Aorta on Aortic Pulse Pressure

Purpose: Multiple studies have shown pulse pressure (PP) to be a strong predictor of aortic calcification. However, no studies are available that correlate PP with aortic calcification at the segmental level. Methods: We identified 37 patients with aortic PP measured during cardiac catheterization. Their noncontrast chest computed tomography scans were evaluated for the presence of calcium in different segments (ascending aorta, arch of aorta [arch], descending aorta) and quantified. Patients with calcification (Calcified Group A) were compared against patients without calcification (Noncalcified Group B) in terms of PP, calcification and compliance. Results: The mean of the total calcium score was higher in the descending aorta than the arch or ascending aorta (691 vs 571 vs 131, respectively, P < 0.0001). PP had the strongest correlation with calcification in the descending aorta (r = 0.47, P = 0.004). Calcified Group A had a much higher PP than Noncalcified Group B, with the greatest difference in the descending aorta (20 mmHg, P < 0.0001), lesser in the ascending aorta (10 mmHg, P = 0.12) and the least in the arch (5 mmHg, P = 0.38). Calcified Group A patients also had much lower compliance than Noncalcified Group B patients, with the greatest difference among groups seen in the descending aorta (0.7 mL/mmHg, P = 0.002), followed by the ascending aorta, then arch. Conclusions: These are the first data to evaluate the relative impact of aortic segments in PP. Finding the greatest amount of calcification along with greatest change in PP and compliance in the descending aorta makes a case that the descending aorta plays a major role in PP as compared to other segments of the thoracic aorta

Toward community standards and software for whole-cell modeling

Whole-cell (WC) modeling is a promising tool for biological research, bioengineering, and medicine. However, substantial work remains to create accurate, comprehensive models of complex cells. Methods: We organized the 2015 Whole-Cell Modeling Summer School to teach WC modeling and evaluate the need for new WC modeling standards and software by recoding a recently published WC model in SBML. Results: Our analysis revealed several challenges to representing WC models using the current standards. Conclusion: We, therefore, propose several new WC modeling standards, software, and databases. Significance:We anticipate that these new standards and software will enable more comprehensive models

Evaluation of the capability of SPOT5-HRG data for predicting tree density in the northern Zagros forests

Quantitative attributes of forest stands are valuable data that are very important for the evaluation of forest resources. Regarding to unique structure of Zagros forests, we tried to predict tree density using SPOT5-HRG satellite data in this study. A systematic random grid consisting of 319 circle plots (0.1 ha) were used to collect field data. Spectral values related to field plots were extracted from original and the artificial bands composed of vegetation indices and principle component analysis. Ancillary data such as slope, aspect and elevation were also used. Multiple regression and stepwise method were used to predict tree density from 4 original spectral bands and 16 artificial bands as independent variables. Ancillary data didn' t improve the results. For considering geographic aspects effects, the study also was done for different aspects, separately. In the general model, predictive variables were PCAC2 (the 2nd component of PCA) and B2 (Red band) with the adjusted coefficient of determination of 0.26%. In the suggested models for the northern, southern, eastern and western forests, independent variables are PCAC2, Ratio, PCAC2, AVI, B1 and PVI, AVI, B3, with the adjusted coefficient of determination of 31%, 34%, 19% and 42%, respectively. The Results of model validation tests showed that all of the presented equations had a reliable validation and are useful for this area, however, for better estimation of tree density, we should find the other approaches

Membrane transporter engineering in industrial biotechnology and whole cell biocatalysis

Because they mainly do not involve chemical changes, membrane transporters have been a Cinderella subject in the biotechnology of small molecule production, but this is a serious oversight. Influx transporters contribute significantly to the flux towards product, and efflux transporters ensure the accumulation of product in the much greater extracellular space of fermentors. Programmes for improving biotechnological processes might therefore give greater consideration to transporters than may have been commonplace. Strategies for identifying important transporters include expression profiling, genome-wide knockout studies, stress-based selection, and the use of inhibitors. In addition, modern methods of directed evolution and synthetic biology, especially those effecting changes in energy coupling, offer huge opportunities for increasing the flux towards extracellular product formation by transporter engineering

Extraction of forest roads network map by Fuzzy theory and mathematical morphology

Road is one of the most important and obvious extractable feature in satellite imagery. Automatic road extraction from satellite imagery has many advantages such as updating data bases by spending less time and cost. The aim of present research is the automatic extraction of forest roads map using Liss_IV sensor imagery of IRS_P6 satellite. Because of frequent irregular objects in forest, roads are very complicated for extracting automatically. Therefore, the designed methodology for this research was in a way that can deal with this problem. For this aim, image of the study area was classified into two road and non road areas by a fuzzy logic. Then, morphological mathematic algorithm was used to extract the existed roads. By this method, forest roads map was extracted automatically with 88% overall accuracy. Also, morphological mathematic algorithm showed a great ability for recovering road line that was hidden or was cut off under forest canopy