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Biological invasions are an increasing agent of change in aquatic systems, and ballast-water transfer in ships is a leading pathway of these invasions. During sequential stages of ballast transfer (uptake, transport, and release), the density and diversity of the plankton assemblage is selectively filtered, determining the pool of potential invaders. Understanding taxon-specific patterns of mortality along the invasion pathway is key to understanding and predicting successful invasions. We quantified taxon-specific trends in plankton mortality during a 16 d trans-Atlantic ballast water voyage. In the ballast tanks, we collected a miminum of 50 live taxa. Over 50% of taxa and >98% of organisms collected in initial samples were not detected at the end of the voyage. No ballasted organisms survived experimental transfer to coastal harbor water. We suggest that the invasion success of a particular taxon may be predicted both by high density at the end of a voyage (which is comparatively easy to measure) and by low mortality during a voyage (which may indicate good body condition, but is harder to measure). These 2 predictors were not, however, correlated across taxa. Mid-ocean exchange, the most widely used method for reducing ballast-mediated invasion risk, alters the pool of potential invaders. In an experimental test of mid-ocean exchange, 93 to 100% of the coastal water and 80 to 100% of the coastal organisms were removed. However, the total density and diversity of plankton in the ballast tanks increased significantly following exchange and in laboratory experiments ocean water was not lethal to coastal organisms.

Standard business training programsaimto boost the incomes of the millions of self-employed business owners in developing countries by teaching basic financial and marketing practices, yet the impacts of such programs are mixed. We tested whether a psychology-based personal initiative training approach, which teaches a proactive mindset and focuses on entrepreneurial behaviors, could have more success. A randomized controlled trial in Togo assigned microenterprise owners to a control group (n = 500), a leading business training program (n = 500), or a personal initiative training program (n = 500). Four follow-up surveys tracked outcomes for firms over 2 years and showed that personal initiative training increased firm profits by 30%, compared with a statistically insignificant 11% for traditional training. The training is cost-effective, paying for itself within 1 year.

Despite instructors' belief that class readings are integral to the learning process, only 20-30% of undergraduate students complete required readings. Failure to complete course reading has been associated with declines in exam and research performance. This article first offers a brief review of the literature on why students do not complete course readings: 1) unpreparedness, 2) lack of motivation, 3) time constraints, and 4) an underestimation of reading importance. We then identify approaches that encourage students to read, enjoy reading, and develop metacognitive knowledge, shown to improve learning.

This paper contributes to the discussion on contingencies of process innovations by focusing on and introducing organizational-level constructs of climate for initiative and psychological safety. We argue that process innovations, defined as deliberate and new organizational attempts to change production and service processes, need to be accompanied by climates that complement the adoption and implementation of such innovations. Our study of 47 mid-sized German companies examines the relation between process innovations, climates for initiative and psychological safety, and firm performance. Results show that climates for initiative and psychological safety were positively related to two measures of firm performance-longitudinal change in return on assets (holding prior return on assets constant) and firm goal achievement-and moderated the relation between process innovations and firm performance.

This project was carried out to derive the characteristic bending strength of beech glulam. 47 full size glulam beams with combined symmetrical lay-up were produced. For this purpose mechanical grading was used to classify the lamellae according to the dynamic MOE. The beams were tested according to EN 408. The bending strength exceeds 44.5 N/mm. The structural properties of beech boards were determined as input for a finite-element-based computer model. It was specifically developed to predict the bending strength of beech glulam. Comparisons between the experimental data and the analytical results from the computer model show a good agreement. Depending on the bending strength of finger joints and the tensile strength of boards design proposals were numerically derived taking into account visual and/or mechanical grading.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), in conjunction with the Cardiovascular & Pulmonary and Acute Care sections of APTA, have developed this clinical practice guideline to assist physical therapists in their decision-making process when treating patients at risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) or diagnosed with a lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (LE DVT). No matter the practice setting, physical therapists work with patients who are at risk for or have a history of VTE. This document will guide physical therapist practice in the prevention of, screening for, and treatment of patients at risk for or diagnosed with LE DVT. Through a systematic review of published studies and a structured appraisal process, key action statements were written to guide the physical therapist. The evidence supporting each action was rated, and the strength of statement was determined. Clinical practice algorithms, based on the key action statements, were developed that can assist with clinical decision making. Physical therapists, along with other members of the health care team, should work to implement these key action statements to decrease the incidence of VTE, improve the diagnosis and acute management of LE DVT, and reduce the long-term complications of LE DVT.

We investigated the impact of mental fatigue on exploration in a complex computer task. The exploration behavior of participants who underwent a fatigue manipulation (N = 36) was compared with that of a control (nonfatigued) group (N = 32). A distinction was also made between participants with high or low levels of general computer experience. Results showed that fatigued participants used significantly less systematic exploration and made more errors than did nonfatigued participants. Fatigued participants with low computer experience also showed significantly more rigid behavior than did the other participants. No differences were found on the number of subtasks solved. Compared with low-experience participants, highly experienced participants showed significantly more systematic exploration, less unsystematic trial and error, solved more subtasks, and made fewer errors (marginally significant p = .056). Findings were interpreted as the result of reduced task engagement under fatigue and reduced involvement of executive control on behavior. Actual or potential applications of this research include guidelines to prevent detrimental effects of mental fatigue on exploration behavior.

BackgroundThe treatment of lupus nephritis is still an unmet medical need requiring new therapeutic approaches. Our group found recently that irinotecan, a camptothecin derivate and inhibitor of topoisomerase I (topo I), reversed proteinuria and prolonged survival in mice with advanced lupus nephritis. Irinotecan stabilizes the complex of topo I and DNA and is shown to decrease the binding of lupus-typical anti-dsDNA autoantibodies. The enzyme tyrosyl-DNA-phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1) functions opposite to irinotecan by releasing topo I from DNA.ObjectivesWe tested whether the TDP1 inhibitor furamidine has an additional effect in suppressing murine lupus nephritis when used in combination with the topo I inhibitor irinotecan. Furthermore, we investigated if TDP1 increases the binding of anti-dsDNA antibodies.MethodsNZB/NZW mice were treated with low-dose irinotecan and furamidine either alone or in combination beginning at 26 weeks of age. DNA relaxation was visualized by gel electrophoresis. Binding of anti-dsDNA antibodies to DNA modified by topo I, TDP1 and the topo I inhibitor camptothecin was determined by ELISA.ResultsCompared to either agent alone, the simultaneous treatment with low-dose irinotecan and furamidine significantly improved survival of NZB/NZW mice. Similar to what has been shown before for irinotecan alone, the combinatorial treatment with low-dose irinotecan and furamidine remained the levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies unchanged. In vitro, recombinant TDP1 increased topo I-mediated DNA relaxation resulting in enhanced binding of anti-dsDNA antibodies. In combination with topo I and camptothecin, TDP1 reversed the inhibitory effects of camptothecin on DNA relaxation and anti-dsDNA binding.ConclusionsAffecting DNA relaxation by the enzymes topo I and TDP1 and its inhibitors may be a promising approach for the development of new targeted therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus.Disclosure of InterestNone declared