bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Honeysuckle essential oil as a potential source of ecofriendly larvicides for mosquito control
Authors: Muturi Ephantus J , Doll Kenneth , Berhow Mark , Flor‐Weiler Lina B , Rooney Alejandro P
Published: January 2019

BACKGROUND

Some plant essential oils have insecticidal properties against mosquitoes and can be harnessed as ecofriendly tools for mosquito control. We conducted bioassays to determine the toxicity of Italian honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium) essential oil and its fractions against larvae of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti.

RESULTS

Sixteen constituents were identified in honeysuckle essential oil compared to 15, 15, 15, and 11 constituents in fractions A, B, C, and E, respectively. The chemical constituents for fraction D were not determined due to lack of enough fraction sample. The two major constituents identified were patchouli alcohol (29.3%) and 6‐acetyl‐1,1,2,4,4,7‐hexamethyltetralin (20.6%) in whole essential oil, alpha‐bulnesene (27.6%) and 6‐acetyl‐1,1,2,4,4,7‐hexamethyltetralin (23.2%) in fraction A, unknown chemical (47.3%) and diethyl phthalate (19.5%) in fraction B, unknown chemical (38.3%) and diethyl phthalate (23.2%) in fraction C, and patchouli alcohol (58.7%) and diethyl phthalate (20.5%) in fraction E. The LC50 for whole essential oil was 34.4 ppm and significantly higher than 20.6, 19.7, 18.6, and 17.7 ppm for fractions B, C, D, and E, respectively. In contrast, fraction A was inactive. At 50 ppm, all individual constituents tested were less toxic than the whole essential oil with exception of patchouli alcohol, which caused 100% mortality.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that patchouli alcohol is one of the chemical constituents responsible for bioactivity of honeysuckle essential oil and some of its fractions. The findings also demonstrate that honey suckle essential oil and its fractions can be exploited as a source of ecofriendly larvicides for mosquito control. Published 2019. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Efficacy and nontarget impact of zinc phosphide‐coated cabbage as a ground squirrel management tool
Authors: Baldwin Roger A , Halbritter Heather , Meinerz Ryan , Snell Laura K , Orloff Steve B
Published: January 2019

BACKGROUND

Effective management of ground squirrels relies on an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. Rodenticides may be included in an IPM program, but they must be efficacious with minimal impact on nontarget species. A zinc phosphide‐coated green bait may meet these requirements. We established a study in northeastern California to test zinc phosphide‐coated cabbage as a management tool for Belding's ground squirrels (Urocitellus beldingi). We specifically addressed factors that would influence the efficacy of a baiting program, as well as potential exposure risk to nontarget species.

RESULTS

We found that prebaiting was an important application strategy, and efficacy increased as ground squirrel abundance increased. Efficacy was also greater in western portions of the study area, likely due to greater bait consumption at western sites. Belding's ground squirrels fed most heavily on cabbage during mid‐morning and late afternoon; bait applications shortly before these time periods would increase bait consumption while minimizing nontarget risk. Bait uptake was greatest around burrow entrances. The only nontarget species observed feeding on cabbage was the California kangaroo rat (Dipodomys californicus), although they were never observed feeding on treated cabbage.

CONCLUSION

Zinc phosphide‐coated cabbage can be an efficacious tool for managing ground squirrels, but there will be limitations on where and how it can be used effectively. It posed a low risk to nontarget species present in our study area, but nontarget risk could vary regionally. The use of a zinc phosphide‐coated green bait should only be one part of an IPM strategy for managing ground squirrels. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Back‐Contacted Back‐Junction Si Solar Cells with Locally Overcompensated Diffusion Regions – Comparison of Buried Emitter and Floating Base Design
Authors: Reichel Christian , Fell Andreas , Hermle Martin , Glunz Stefan W.
Published: January 2019

Back‐contacted back‐junction n‐type Si solar cells with locally overcompensated diffusion regions are investigated in two different designs. In the “buried emitter” design, boron‐doped (B‐doped) emitter diffusions are partially diffused and locally overcompensated by phosphor‐doped (P‐doped) back surface field (BSF) diffusions, leading to n‐type regions that are overlapping the p‐type regions. In the “floating base” design, the B‐diffusions are diffused on the entire rear side, so that the P‐diffusions are separated from the base by the emitter. Hence, p‐type regions exist between the n‐type regions, creating opposing p‐n junctions and a base that is floating. For the latter design with an efficiency of 17.1%, the open‐circuit voltageVoc, the short‐circuit current densityJsc, and the fill factor FF are significantly reduced by about 25 mV, 5 mA cm−2, and 4%, respectively, compared to the buried emitter design where 678 mV, 41.5 mA cm−2, and 76.1%, respectively, and an efficiency of 21.4% can be achieved. Two‐dimensional numerical device simulations reveal that, besides junction and/or shunt leakage currents, recombination at the surface of the emitter and electron transport in the B‐ and P‐diffusions due to the opposing p‐n junctions are detrimental for the performance of the “floating base” solar cell.
Hesperidin, a major flavonoid in orange juice, might not affect lipid profile and blood pressure: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials
Authors: Mohammadi Mohammad , Ramezani‐Jolfaie Nahid , Lorzadeh Elnaz , Khoshbakht Yadollah , Salehi‐Abargouei Amin
Published: January 2019

Previous studies have led to conflicting results regarding the effect of hesperidin supplementation on cardiometabolic markers. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of hesperidin supplementation on lipid profile and blood pressure through a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, as well as the reference lists of the identified relevant RCTs, were searched up to May 2018. Effect sizes were pooled by using the random effects model. Ten RCTs (577 participants) were eligible to be included in the systematic review. The meta‐analysis revealed that hesperidin supplementation had no effect on serum total cholesterol (weighted mean difference [WMD] = −1.04 mg/dl; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −5.65, 3.57), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD = −1.96 mg/dl; 95% CI [−7.56, 3.64]), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD = 0.16 mg/dl; 95% CI [−1.94, 2.28]), and triglyceride (WMD = 0.69 mg/dl; 95% CI [−5.91, 7.30]), with no significant between‐study heterogeneity. Hesperidin supplement also had no effect on systolic (WMD = −0.85 mmHg; 95% CI [−3.07, 1.36]) and diastolic blood pressure (WMD = −0.48 mmHg; 95% CI [−2.39, 1.42]). Hesperidin supplementation might not improve lipid profile and blood pressure. Future well‐designed trials are still needed to confirm these results.
A Synthetic median control chart for monitoring the process mean with measurement errors
Authors: Tran Phuong Hanh , Tran Kim Phuc , Rakitzis Athanasios
Published: January 2019

Recent studies show that the Shewhart median chart is widely used for detecting shifts in a process, but it is often rather inefficient in detecting small or moderate process shifts. In order to overcome this problem, a Synthetic chart can be used. This chart outperforms the Shewhart‐type chart because it uses the information about the time interval between two consecutive nonconforming samples. In this paper, we propose and study the Phase II Synthetic median control chart. A Markov chain methodology is used to evaluate the statistical performance of the proposed chart. Moreover, its performance is investigated in the presence of measurement errors, which are modelled by a linear covariate error model. We provide the results of an extensive numerical analysis with several tables and figures in order to show the statistical performance of the investigated chart, for both cases of measurement errors and no measurement errors. Finally, an example illustrates the use of the Synthetic median chart.
A new unspiked K‐Ar dating approach using laser fusion on microsamples
Authors: Wang Fei , Shi Wenbei , Guillou Hervé , Zhang Weibin , Yang Liekun , Wu Lin , Wang Yinzhi , Zhu Rixiang
Published: January 2019

Rationale

Issues induced by neutron irradiation makes40Ar/39Ar dating inapplicable in some cases. The first issue is37Ar and39Ar recoil effects during irradiation that affect fine‐grained minerals (<50 μm), such as lunar rocks, glassy groundmass, supergene minerals (e.g., illite, glauconite, Mg‐oxide, etc.). The second issue from neutron irradiation is the high radioactivity gain of iron‐rich samples such as pyrite, and the third is the production of interference nuclides during irradiation. The inherent drawbacks of conventional K‐Ar and current unspiked K‐Ar dating make it difficult to assess the reliability of age results.

Methods

A new approach is proposed using well‐calibrated40Ar/39Ar standard minerals to directly quantify40Ar,38Ar and36Ar. Fish Canyon sanidine (FCs), B4M muscovite and MMhb‐1 hornblende, the widely used international standard minerals, were analyzed as unknowns to test the approach. Argon isotope analyses were carried out on a noble‐gas mass spectrometer using laser fusion on microsamples (n × 0.01 to n × 0.2 mg). A new isochron – an “inverse isochron” for K‐Ar dating – was designed.

Results

FCs and B4M yielded apparent and inverse isochron ages of 28.1 ± 0.1 and 28.0 ± 0.3 Ma, 18.2 ± 0.1 and 18.2 ± 0.5 Ma, which are consistent with the recommended ages, while the MMhb‐1 presented lower apparent and inverse isochron ages (510.8 ± 4.8 and 512.3 ± 17.0 Ma) than the recommended ones. The initial argon compositions for the three standard minerals are 299.2 ± 205.3 (FCs), 294.0 ± 16.4 (B4M) and 290.9 ± 203.1 (MMhb‐1), agreeing with that of air.

Conclusions

The proposed approach potentially overcomes the issues of40Ar/39Ar rising from irradiation and the drawbacks of K‐Ar. By using laser fusion on multiple microaliquots from a same sample, this approach can produce accurate and precise K‐Ar ages and give an inverse isochron. This new approach may provide an alternate dating method of geochronology based on argon isotopes.
Extreme learning machine Cox model for high‐dimensional survival analysis
Authors: Wang Hong , Li Gang
Published: January 2019

Some interesting recent studies have shown that neural network models are useful alternatives in modeling survival data when the assumptions of a classical parametric or semiparametric survival model such as the Cox (1972) model are seriously violated. However, to the best of our knowledge, the plausibility of adapting the emerging extreme learning machine (ELM) algorithm for single‐hidden‐layer feedforward neural networks to survival analysis has not been explored. In this paper, we present a kernel ELM Cox model regularized by anL0‐based broken adaptive ridge (BAR) penalization method. Then, we demonstrate that the resulting method, referred to as ELMCoxBAR, can outperform some other state‐of‐art survival prediction methods such asL1‐ orL2‐regularized Cox regression, random survival forest with various splitting rules, and boosted Cox model, in terms of its predictive performance using both simulated and real world datasets. In addition to its good predictive performance, we illustrate that the proposed method has a key computational advantage over the above competing methods in terms of computation time efficiency using an a real‐world ultra–high‐dimensional survival data.
Stereoselective Approach towards the Synthesis of 3R, 5 S Gingerdiol and 3 S, 5 S Gingerdiol
Authors: Markad Sachin B. , Bhosale Viraj A. , Bokale Suvarna R. , Waghmode Suresh B.
Published: January 2019

An operationally simple and concise stereoselective synthesis of both natural 3R, 5 S gingerdiol and 3 S, 5 S gingerdiol has been achieved from achiral n‐heptanal by employing iterative proline catalysed α‐aminoxylation, followed by Horner−Wadsworth−Emmons or Wittig olefination reactions as key steps. The adducts formed in high enantiopurity as well as syn or anti‐1,3‐diols units were synthesized with excellent diastereoselectivity from γ‐hydroxy aldehyde by using D or L‐ proline.
Synthesis of Si‐Doped CNT and Its Catalytic Ability in Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Bakhshi Pourya , Tavakol Hossein
Published: January 2019

hSilicon doped carbon nanotubes (SiCNTs) have been synthesized using Fe/CaCO3 as catalyst and acetylene and silane as precursors using chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The growth temperature was considered as a variable and its effect on the structure of the product was investigated. All conditions were optimized and the optimum temperature was 650 °C. The insertion of silicon atom in the structure of carbon nanotubes showed some changes in the properties and structure of this product, which have been investigated using FESEM, TEM, XRD, Raman, EDS, DTA and TGA. The produced SiCNTs showed high thermal stabilities, based on the results of TGA and DTA analyses. The electrocatalytic properties of SiCNTs were examined in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and according to the obtained LSV and Tafel diagrams (based on comparing them with the previous reports for non‐metal electrocatalyst), the prepared SiCNTs have shown acceptable values (the second rank for each case) for onset potential, Tafel slope and η, which confirmed its appropriate electrocatalytic ability for HER.
Ultrathin Dual‐Scale Nano‐ and Microporous Membranes for Vascular Transmigration Models
Authors: Salminen Alec T. , Zhang Jingkai , Madejski Gregory R. , Khire Tejas S. , Waugh Richard E. , McGrath James L. , Gaborski Thomas R.
Published: January 2019

Selective cellular transmigration across the microvascular endothelium regulates innate and adaptive immune responses, stem cell localization, and cancer cell metastasis. Integration of traditional microporous membranes into microfluidic vascular models permits the rapid assay of transmigration events but suffers from poor reproduction of the cell permeable basement membrane. Current microporous membranes in these systems have large nonporous regions between micropores that inhibit cell communication and nutrient exchange on the basolateral surface reducing their physiological relevance. Here, the use of 100 nm thick continuously nanoporous silicon nitride membranes as a base substrate for lithographic fabrication of 3 µm pores is presented, resulting in a highly porous (≈30%), dual‐scale nano‐ and microporous membrane for use in an improved vascular transmigration model. Ultrathin membranes are patterned using a precision laser writer for cost‐effective, rapid micropore design iterations. The optically transparent dual‐scale membranes enable complete observation of leukocyte egress across a variety of pore densities. A maximal density of ≈14 micropores per cell is discovered beyond which cell–substrate interactions are compromised giving rise to endothelial cell losses under flow. Addition of a subluminal extracellular matrix rescues cell adhesion, allowing for the creation of shear‐primed endothelial barrier models on nearly 30% continuously porous substrates.
CRISPR/Cas9‐Based Genome Editing and its Applications for Functional Genomic Analyses in Plants
Authors: Li Jun , Li Yan , Ma Ligeng
Published: January 2019

The ability to modify complex genomes precisely to create specific mutants is the holy grail of basic research and applied genetics in the postgenomic era. Programmable sequence‐specific nucleases (e.g., zinc finger nucleases, transcription activator‐like effector nucleases, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated (Cas) systems (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9)), which induce targeted DNA breaks that are then repaired by endogenous repair machinery to generate mutants in a variety of organisms, are being developed at an unprecedented rate. Herein, this paper reviews the history, structure, and biological function of CRISPR/Cas systems, describing how it has been adapted for genome editing (especially CRISPR/Cas9, which has prompted a genome engineering revolution), and emphasizes recent applications and advances in the functional annotation of plant genomes and crop genetic improvement. In addition, the challenges of using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and strategies for improving its specificity are discussed. This review also introduces the creation of CRISPR‐edited DNA‐free plants, which may be more publicly acceptable than other genetically modified organisms. Finally, the future directions and applications of the CRISPR/Cas9 system are speculated on.
K competing queues with customer abandonment: optimality of a generalised $$c \mu $$-rule by the Smoothed Rate Truncation method
Authors: Bhulai S. , Blok H. , Spieksma F. M.
Published: January 2019

We consider a K-competing queues system with the additional feature of customer abandonment. Without abandonment, it is optimal to allocate the server to a queue according to the $$c \mu $$

c
μ

-rule. To derive a similar rule for the system with abandonment, we model the system as a continuous-time Markov decision process. Due to impatience, the Markov decision process has unbounded jump rates as a function of the state. Hence it is not uniformisable, and so far there has been no systematic direct way to analyse this. The Smoothed Rate Truncation principle is a technique designed to make an unbounded rate process uniformisable, while preserving the properties of interest. Together with theory securing continuity in the limit, this provides a framework to analyse unbounded rate Markov decision processes. With this approach, we have been able to find close-fitting conditions guaranteeing optimality of a strict priority rule.
Mating Performance: Exploring Emotional Intelligence, the Dark Triad, Jealousy and Attachment Effects
Authors: Apostolou Menelaos , Paphiti Christiana , Neza Eleni , Damianou Maria , Georgiadou Polyxeni
Published: January 2019

A considerable proportion of the population in post-industrial societies experiences substantial difficulties in the domain of mating. The current research attempted to estimate the prevalence rate of poor mating performance and to identify some of its predictors. Two independent studies, which employed a total of 1,358 Greek-speaking men and women, found that about 40% of the participants experienced poor performance in either starting or keeping an intimate relationship, or in both areas. Furthermore, emotional intelligence, Dark Triad traits, jealousy, and attachment style were found to be significant predictors of mating performance. In particular, higher emotional intelligence and narcissism were associated with higher performance in mating, while higher psychopathy, jealousy and an avoidant attachment style were associated with lower mating performance.
Did family size affect differences in body height in non-urbanized societies? Evidence from the Lemko community in Poland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
Authors: Czapla Zbigniew , Liczbińska Grażyna , Nowak Oskar , Piontek Janusz
Published: January 2019

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of economic changes in the Polish territories under Austrian partition at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries on the trend in adult body height, and to examine the effect of number of children in a family, as a socioeconomic factor, on the differences in heights of males and females. Data collected in a 1939 survey for a group of 350 Lemkos living in Polish lands under the Austrian partition were obtained from archive material. Individual data were obtained for body height and number of siblings, to calculate family size. Linear regression analysis confirmed an increase in body height in males by about 1.2 cm per decade over the period 1860 to 1922. The number of children in a family did not appear to influence the mean body height of men and women. The observed positive mean body height trend probably resulted from the improvement in the economic conditions in the Austrian sector over the survey period.
Venture Capital Communities
Authors: Bubna Amit , Das Sanjiv R. , Prabhala Nagpurnanand
Published: January 2019

Although venture capitalists (VCs) can choose from thousands of potential syndicate partners, many co-syndicate with small groups of preferred partners. We term these groups “VC communities.” We apply computational methods from the physical sciences to 3 decades of syndication data to identify these communities. We find that communities comprise VCs that are similar in age, connectedness, and functional style but undifferentiated in spatial location. Machine-learning tools classify communities into 3 groups roughly ordered by their age and reach. Community VC financing is associated with faster maturation and greater innovation, especially for early-stage firms without an innovation history.
Plasma ion heating by cryogenic pellet injection
Authors: Aleynikov Pavel , Breizman Boris N. , Helander Per , Turkin Yuriy
Published: January 2019

The injection of cryogenic pellets into a magnetically confined plasma is shown to be accompanied by a considerable transfer of thermal energy from the electrons in the background plasma to the ions. The resulting ion heating can be significant, particularly in plasmas with disparate electron and ion temperatures, and can affect the energy balance of the plasma. In recent Wendelstein 7-X experiments, this mechanism can account for a substantial fraction of the ion heating power during pellet injection.
Re-Orienting the Philippines: The KALIBAPI party and the application of Japanese Pan-Asianism, 1942–45
Authors: MATTHIESSEN SVEN
Published: January 2019

During their occupation of the Philippines from 1942 to 1945, the Japanese invaders aimed at making the archipelago become part of the so-called Greater East Asia Co- Prosperity Sphere (GEACPS,Daitōa kyōeiken)—a self-sustaining economic bloc that should act as a bulwark against Western imperialism. The underlying philosophy of the GEACPS was pan-Asianism (Han Ajia-shugi)—an ideology that propagated the liberation and unity of all Asian peoples. In the Philippines, the Japanese administrators faced various problems with the implementation of this ideology. The strong impact of four centuries under Western colonial rule had created a mindset among many Filipinos that they themselves were Westerners and not Asians. Therefore, one of the main purposes of the new Japanese rulers was to change the attitude of the Philippine population and win the Filipinos over to the concept of the GEACPS. One means to this end was the dissolution of all political parties in the Philippines and replacing them with theKapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas(KALIBAPI: lit., ‘Association for Service to the New Philippines’). The Japanese wanted to turn this association into a mass organization with the ultimate goal to create a mass movement towards the establishment of the ‘New Philippines’ among the population. In this article, I will discuss how the Japanese administrators used the KALIBAPI to adopt their pan-Asianism to Philippine circumstances, but also how the organization exemplifies the ultimate failure of Japanese pan-Asianism in the Philippines.
Identifying and improving adherence to the gluten-free diet in people with coeliac disease
Authors: Muhammad H. , Reeves S. , Jeanes Y. M.
Published: January 2019

Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune gastrointestinal disorder whereby the ingestion of gluten, a storage protein found in wheat, barley and rye, causes damage to intestinal mucosa with resultant malabsorption, increased risk of anaemia and osteoporosis. Worldwide estimates suggest 1% of the population have CD. With no cure, the only treatment is a gluten-free diet (GFD). Adhering to a GFD can be very challenging; it requires knowledge, motivation and modified behaviours. Assessing adherence to a GFD is methodologically challenging. This review aims to provide an overview of the literature reporting adherence to a GFD in people with CD and the methodological challenges encountered. From six studies it has been reported that rates of adherence to a GFD range between 45 and 90% in patients of different ethnicities with CD. GF dietary adherence can be influenced by age at diagnosis, coexisting depression, symptoms on ingestion of gluten, nutrition counselling, knowledge of GF foods, understanding of food labels, cost and availability of GF foods, receiving GF foods on prescription and membership of a coeliac society. To date only five intervention studies in adults with CD have been undertaken to improve GF dietary adherence. These have included dietary and psychological counselling, and the use of online training programmes, apps, text messages and telephonic clinics. Future interventions should include people of all ethnicities, consider patient convenience and the cost-effectiveness for the healthcare environment.
Group rumination-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) v. group CBT for depression: phase II trial
Authors: Hvenegaard Morten , Moeller Stine B. , Poulsen Stig , Gondan Matthias , Grafton Ben , Austin Stephen F. , Kistrup Morten , Rosenberg Nicole G. K. , Howard Henriette , Watkins Edward R.
Published: January 2019

Background

Although cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for depression, less than half of patients achieve satisfactory symptom reduction during treatment. Targeting known psychopathological processes such as rumination may increase treatment efficacy. The aim of this study was to test whether adding group rumination-focused CBT (RFCBT) that explicitly targets rumination to routine medical management is superior to adding group CBT to routine medical management in treating major depression.

Methods

A total of 131 outpatients with major depression were randomly allocated to 12 sessions group RFCBT v. group CBT, each in addition to routine medical management. The primary outcome was observer-rated symptoms of depression at the end of treatment measured on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Secondary outcomes were rumination at post-treatment and depressive symptoms at 6 months follow-up (Trial registered: NCT02278224).

Results

RFCBT significantly improved observer-rated depressive symptoms (Cohen's d 0.38; 95% CI 0.03–0.73) relative to group CBT at post-treatment on the primary outcome. No post-treatment differences were found in rumination or in depressive symptoms at 6 months follow-up, although these secondary analyses may have been underpowered.

Conclusions

This is the first randomized controlled trial providing evidence of benefits of RFCBT in major depression compared with CBT. Group RFCBT may be a beneficial alternative to group CBT for major depression.
The SENSE of Nuclear Physics: New Frontiers, Media, and Collaborations
Authors: Brennen J. Scott
Published: January 2019

Argument

This article describes the efforts of one fifty-year-old nuclear physics research center to stay relevant as the boundaries of nuclear physics have expanded and distributed collaborations have become increasingly common. In adapting to these shifts, SENSE, a university-based institute in the United States, has seen notable changes in power relations, forms of legitimation, and social structures. This article recognizes and investigates these changes through an interpretative investigation of four common media objects incorporated into research practice at the institute: collaboration wikis, telephones, computer simulations, and government reports. In doing so, this article adopts an approach from media studies through which hard-to-see changes in social and cultural life can be investigated by observing media objects in research practice. Ultimately, this article tells the story of a research organization and an entire discipline working to adapt to a rapidly changing scientific landscape.
Who Had Faith in Sociology? Scholarly and Ideological Divergences in Belgium around 1900
Authors: Vanderstraeten Raf
Published: January 2019

Argument

This paper examines the early institutionalization of sociology in Belgium. It displays how different intellectual and social contexts bred their own research interests and research approaches. It shows, more particularly, how ideological affiliations and divisions defined the setting within which this new discipline had to develop in Belgium in the decades around 1900. As a consequence of the ideological controversies, sociology had difficulty gaining legitimacy as a theory-driven analysis of society. Most scholars in Belgium could not avoid taking an explicitly normative position on society. This paper also displays how secularization and the reinforcement of the international level and its infrastructure gradually allowed for more academic autonomy for sociology in Belgium.
Development and Concurrent Validity of a Composite Social Isolation Index for Older Adults Using the CLSA
Authors: Wister Andrew , Cosco Theodore , Mitchell Barbara , Menec Verena , Fyffe Ian
Published: January 2019

L’isolement social a retenu l’attention des chercheurs, en particulier dans la recherche concernant les personnes âgées, étant donné les corrélations établies avec la mortalité et le risque de mauvaise santé physique ou mentale. Toutefois, les mesures utilisées jusqu’à maintenant pour l’isolement social ont grandement varié et manquent souvent de clarté conceptuelle. La présente étude s’appuie sur un cadre conceptuel de classification des mesures d’isolement social et explique l’élaboration et la validation d’un indice composite d’isolement social (ELCV-SII) qui a été créé en utilisant les données de l’Étude longitudinale canadienne sur le vieillissement (ELCV). L’échantillon de l’ELCV incluait 21 491 Canadiens âgés de 65 ans ou plus (âge moyen : 72,9 ans; à 53,5 % de sexe féminin) retrouvés dans les données de base des cohortes de suivi et de la cohorte globale de l’ELCV (n = 51 338). Le CLSA-SII a été élaboré en utilisant une méthodologie standard, qui a été suivie pour la création d’autres mesures, dont la résilience à la multimorbidité et les indices de vieillissement efficaces. Les associations entre l’ELCV-SII et quatre variables clés (échelle de satisfaction de vie, dépression, santé mentale perçue et santé perçue) ont été évaluées par des analyses de régression, en tenant compte de l’âge, du sexe, du revenu et de la scolarité. Les associations entre l’indice CLSA-SII et les quatre variables d’intérêt ont donné lieu à des associations modérées statistiquement significatives conformes à la tendance prévue, qui concordent avec les recherches antérieures, ce qui démontre une bonne validité convergente pour l’ELCV-SII.
An enigmatic braincase from Five Points, Ohio (Westphalian D) further supports a stem tetrapod position for aïstopods
Authors: PARDO Jason D. , HOLMES Robert , ANDERSON Jason S.
Published: January 2019

We describe a new specimen of the aïstopodOestocephalusfrom Five Points, Ohio, which preserves much of the posterior braincase. The specimen, the largest aïstopod skull described, preserves the postorbital region to the occiput. The posterior braincase has coossified the basioccipital, exoccipitals, and opisthotic. The parasphenoid is rostrally restricted, toothless, and highly vaulted along the cultriform process. The lateral walls of the cultriform process are further reinforced by large longitudinally running, ventral flanges from the parietals. Two large endochondral ventral projections from the basioccipital, previously interpreted as basal tuberosities for hypaxial muscle insertion, are here instead interpreted as articulations for the branchial skeleton. This interpretation is further supported by traces of vasculature that is consistent with what is seen in gill-bearing species. A model for the reorganisation of the basicranial region on the transition from hyomandibula to stapes is proposed, which suggests that gills, or gill-support skeletal elements, might be further distributed along the tetrapod stem than previously thought. These data further support the placement of aïstopods in the tetrapod stem group and require a reconsideration of our understanding of early tetrapod evolution.
An End to the Korean War: The Legal Character of the 2018 Summit Declarations and Implications of an Official Korean Peace Treaty
Authors: KIM Angela Semee
Published: January 2019

Global attention to events on the Korean Peninsula has been striking in the past year. With an inter-Korean summit and an unprecedented US-DPRK summit, hopes of a final end to the Korean War have been renewed. Although these summits resulted in declarations which pronounced an end to the Korean War and an establishment of a peace regime, the declarations must not be mistaken as official peace treaties. Unlike a peace treaty, which is governed by international law, the two summit declarations are not governed by international law due to their lack of legality. Therefore, a clear distinction must be drawn between the declarations and a peace treaty. This paper aims to determine the legal status of the declarations and explain how they are merely non-binding political declarations. The paper then identifies and explores some of the legal implications of a Korean peace treaty.
Sensitivity of Seasonal Snowfall Attribution to Atmospheric Rivers and Their Reanalysis‐Based Detection
Authors: Huning Laurie S. , Guan Bin , Waliser Duane E. , Lettenmaier Dennis P.
Published: January 2019

We characterize the sensitivity of atmospheric river (AR)‐derived seasonal snowfall estimates to their atmospheric reanalysis‐based detection over Sierra Nevada, USA. We use an independent snow data set and the ARs identified with a single detection method applied to multiple atmospheric reanalyses of varying horizontal resolutions, to evaluate orographic relationships and contributions of individual ARs to the seasonal cumulative snowfall (CS). Spatial resolution differences have relatively minor effects on the number of ARs diagnosed, with higher‐resolution data sets identifying four more AR days per year, on average, during the 1985–2015 winters. However, this can lead to ~10% difference in AR attribution to the mean domain‐wide seasonal CS and differences up to 47% snowfall attribution at the seasonal scale. We show that identifying snow‐bearing ARs provides more information about the seasonal CS than simply knowing how many ARs occurred. Overall, we find that higher‐resolution atmospheric reanalyses imply greater attribution of seasonal CS to ARs.
Ionospheric Plasma Irregularities Characterized by the Swarm Satellites: Statistics at High Latitudes
Authors: Jin Yaqi , Spicher Andres , Xiong Chao , Clausen Lasse B. N. , Kervalishvili Guram , Stolle Claudia , Miloch Wojciech J.
Published: January 2019

The polar ionosphere is often characterized by irregularities and fluctuations in the plasma density. We present a statistical study of ionospheric plasma irregularities based on the observations from the European Space Agency's Swarm mission. The in situ electron density obtained with the Langmuir probe and the total electron content from the onboard global positioning system receiver are used to detect ionospheric plasma irregularities. We derive the irregularity parameters from the electron density in terms of the rate of change of density index and electron density gradients. We also use the rate of change of total electron content index as the irregularity parameter based on the global positioning system data. The background electron density and plasma irregularities are closely controlled by the Earth's magnetic field, with averaged enhancements close to the magnetic poles. The climatological maps in magnetic latitude/magnetic local time coordinates show predominant plasma irregularities near the dayside cusp, polar cap, and nightside auroral oval. These irregularities may be associated with large‐scale plasma structures such as polar cap patches, auroral blobs, auroral particle precipitation, and the equatorward wall of the ionospheric trough. The spatial distributions of irregularities depend on the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). By filtering the irregularity parameters according to IMF By, we find a clear asymmetry of the spatial distribution in the cusp and polar cap between the Northern (NH) and Southern Hemispheres (SH). For negative IMF By, irregularities are stronger in the dusk (dawn) sector in the NH (SH) and vice versa. This feature is in agreement with the high‐latitude ionospheric convection pattern that is regulated by the IMF By component. The plasma irregularities are also controlled by the solar activity within the current declining solar cycle. The irregularities in the SH polar cap show a seasonal variation with higher values from September to April, while the seasonal variation in the NH is only obvious around solar maximum during 2014–2015.
Calving Induced Speedup of Petermann Glacier
Authors: Rückamp Martin , Neckel Niklas , Berger Sophie , Humbert Angelika , Helm Veit
Published: January 2019

This study assesses the response on ice dynamics of Petermann Glacier, a major outlet glacier in northern Greenland, to the 2012 and a possible future calving event. So far Petermann Glacier has been believed to be dynamically stable as another large calving event in 2010 had no significant impact on flow velocity or grounding line retreat. By analyzing a time series of remotely sensed surface velocities, we find an average acceleration of 10% between winter 2011/2012 and winter 2016/2017. This increase in surface velocity is not linear but can be separated into two parts, starting in 2012 and 2016 respectively. By conducting modeling experiments, we show that the first speedup can be directly connected to the 2012 calving event, while the second speedup is not captured. However, on recent remote sensing imagery newly developing fractures are clearly visible ∼12 km upstream from the terminus, propagating from the eastern fjord wall to the center of the ice tongue, indicating a possible future calving event. By including these fracture zones as a new terminus position in the modeling domain, we are able to reproduce the second speedup, suggesting that surface velocities remain on the 2016/2017 level after the anticipated calving event. This indicates that, from a dynamical point of view, the terminus region has already detached from the main ice tongue.
Spatiotemporal continuum generation in polariton waveguides
Authors: Walker Paul M. , Whittaker Charles E. , Skryabin Dmitry V. , Cancellieri Emiliano , Royall Ben , Sich Maksym , Farrer Ian , Ritchie David A. , Skolnick Maurice S. , Krizhanovskii Dmitry N.
Published: January 2019

We demonstrate the generation of a spatiotemporal optical continuum in a highly nonlinear exciton–polariton waveguide using extremely low excitation powers (2-ps, 100-W peak power pulses) and a submillimeter device suitable for integrated optics applications. We observe contributions from several mechanisms over a range of powers and demonstrate that the strong light–matter coupling significantly modifies the physics involved in all of them. The experimental data are well understood in combination with theoretical modeling. The results are applicable to a wide range of systems with linear coupling between nonlinear oscillators and particularly to emerging polariton devices that incorporate materials, such as gallium nitride and transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers that exhibit large light–matter coupling at room temperature. These open the door to low-power experimental studies of spatiotemporal nonlinear optics in submillimeter waveguide devices.
Predicting responses to platin chemotherapy agents with biochemically-inspired machine learning
Authors: Mucaki Eliseos J. , Zhao Jonathan Z. L. , Lizotte Daniel J. , Rogan Peter K.
Published: January 2019

The selection of effective genes that accurately predict chemotherapy responses might improve cancer outcomes. We compare optimized gene signatures for cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin responses in the same cell lines and validate each signature using data from patients with cancer. Supervised support vector machine learning is used to derive gene sets whose expression is related to the cell line GI50 values by backwards feature selection with cross-validation. Specific genes and functional pathways distinguishing sensitive from resistant cell lines are identified by contrasting signatures obtained at extreme and median GI50 thresholds. Ensembles of gene signatures at different thresholds are combined to reduce the dependence on specific GI50 values for predicting drug responses. The most accurate gene signatures for each platin are: cisplatin: BARD1, BCL2, BCL2L1, CDKN2C, FAAP24, FEN1, MAP3K1, MAPK13, MAPK3, NFKB1, NFKB2, SLC22A5, SLC31A2, TLR4, and TWIST1; carboplatin: AKT1, EIF3K, ERCC1, GNGT1, GSR, MTHFR, NEDD4L, NLRP1, NRAS, RAF1, SGK1, TIGD1, TP53, VEGFB, and VEGFC; and oxaliplatin: BRAF, FCGR2A, IGF1, MSH2, NAGK, NFE2L2, NQO1, PANK3, SLC47A1, SLCO1B1, and UGT1A1. Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) patients with bladder, ovarian, and colorectal cancer were used to test the cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin signatures, resulting in 71.0%, 60.2%, and 54.5% accuracies in predicting disease recurrence and 59%, 61%, and 72% accuracies in predicting remission, respectively. One cisplatin signature predicted 100% of recurrence in non-smoking patients with bladder cancer (57% disease-free; N = 19), and 79% recurrence in smokers (62% disease-free; N = 35). This approach should be adaptable to other studies of chemotherapy responses, regardless of the drug or cancer types.
Lithium intercalation into bilayer graphene
Authors: Ji Kemeng , Han Jiuhui , Hirata Akihiko , Fujita Takeshi , Shen Yuhao , Ning Shoucong , Liu Pan , Kashani Hamzeh , Tian Yuan , Ito Yoshikazu , Fujita Jun-ichi , Oyama Yutaka
Published: January 2019

The real capacity of graphene and the lithium-storage process in graphite are two currently perplexing problems in the field of lithium ion batteries. Here we demonstrate a three-dimensional bilayer graphene foam with few defects and a predominant Bernal stacking configuration, and systematically investigate its lithium-storage capacity, process, kinetics, and resistances. We clarify that lithium atoms can be stored only in the graphene interlayer and propose the first ever planar lithium-intercalation model for graphenic carbons. Corroborated by theoretical calculations, various physiochemical characterizations of the staged lithium bilayer graphene products further reveal the regular lithium-intercalation phenomena and thus fully illustrate this elementary lithium storage pattern of two-dimension. These findings not only make the commercial graphite the first electrode with clear lithium-storage process, but also guide the development of graphene materials in lithium ion batteries.
Interferon lambda protects the female reproductive tract against Zika virus infection
Authors: Caine Elizabeth A. , Scheaffer Suzanne M. , Arora Nitin , Zaitsev Konstantin , Artyomov Maxim N. , Coyne Carolyn B. , Moley Kelle H. , Diamond Michael S.
Published: January 2019

Although Zika virus (ZIKV) can be transmitted sexually and cause congenital birth defects, immune control mechanisms in the female reproductive tract (FRT) are not well characterized. Here we show that treatment of primary human vaginal and cervical epithelial cells with interferon (IFN)-α/β or IFN-λ induces host defense transcriptional signatures and inhibits ZIKV infection. We also assess the effects of IFNs on intravaginal infection of the FRT using ovariectomized mice treated with reproductive hormones. We find that mice receiving estradiol are protected against intravaginal ZIKV infection, independently of IFN-α/β or IFN-λ signaling. In contrast, mice lacking IFN-λ signaling sustain greater FRT infection when progesterone is administered. Exogenous IFN-λ treatment confers an antiviral effect when mice receive both estradiol and progesterone, but not progesterone alone. Our results identify a hormonal stage-dependent role for IFN-λ in controlling ZIKV infection in the FRT and suggest a path for minimizing sexual transmission of ZIKV in women.
Compound-specific radiocarbon dating and mitochondrial DNA analysis of the Pleistocene hominin from Salkhit Mongolia
Authors: Devièse Thibaut , Massilani Diyendo , Yi Seonbok , Comeskey Daniel , Nagel Sarah , Nickel Birgit , Ribechini Erika , Lee Jungeun , Tseveendorj Damdinsuren , Gunchinsuren Byambaa , Meyer Matthias , Pääbo Svante , Higham Tom
Published: January 2019

A skullcap found in the Salkhit Valley in northeast Mongolia is, to our knowledge, the only Pleistocene hominin fossil found in the country. It was initially described as an individual with possible archaic affinities, but its ancestry has been debated since the discovery. Here, we determine the age of the Salkhit skull by compound-specific radiocarbon dating of hydroxyproline to 34,950–33,900 Cal. BP (at 95% probability), placing the Salkhit individual in the Early Upper Paleolithic period. We reconstruct the complete mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) of the specimen. It falls within a group of modern human mtDNAs (haplogroup N) that is widespread in Eurasia today. The results now place the specimen into its proper chronometric and biological context and allow us to begin integrating it with other evidence for the human occupation of this region during the Paleolithic, as well as wider Pleistocene sequences across Eurasia.
An automated Bayesian pipeline for rapid analysis of single-molecule binding data
Authors: Smith Carlas S. , Jouravleva Karina , Huisman Maximiliaan , Jolly Samson M. , Zamore Phillip D. , Grunwald David
Published: January 2019

Single-molecule binding assays enable the study of how molecular machines assemble and function. Current algorithms can identify and locate individual molecules, but require tedious manual validation of each spot. Moreover, no solution for high-throughput analysis of single-molecule binding data exists. Here, we describe an automated pipeline to analyze single-molecule data over a wide range of experimental conditions. In addition, our method enables state estimation on multivariate Gaussian signals. We validate our approach using simulated data, and benchmark the pipeline by measuring the binding properties of the well-studied, DNA-guided DNA endonuclease, TtAgo, an Argonaute protein from the EubacteriumThermus thermophilus. We also use the pipeline to extend our understanding of TtAgo by measuring the protein’s binding kinetics at physiological temperatures and for target DNAs containing multiple, adjacent binding sites.
Smallest near-infrared fluorescent protein evolved from cyanobacteriochrome as versatile tag for spectral multiplexing
Authors: Oliinyk Olena S. , Shemetov Anton A. , Pletnev Sergei , Shcherbakova Daria M. , Verkhusha Vladislav V.
Published: January 2019

From a single domain of cyanobacteriochrome (CBCR) we developed a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent protein (FP), termed miRFP670nano, with excitation at 645 nm and emission at 670 nm. This is the first CBCR-derived NIR FP evolved to efficiently bind endogenous biliverdin chromophore and brightly fluoresce in mammalian cells. miRFP670nano is a monomer with molecular weight of 17 kDa that is 2-fold smaller than bacterial phytochrome (BphP)-based NIR FPs and 1.6-fold smaller than GFP-like FPs. Crystal structure of the CBCR-based NIR FP with biliverdin reveals a molecular basis of its spectral and biochemical properties. Unlike BphP-derived NIR FPs, miRFP670nano is highly stable to denaturation and degradation and can be used as an internal protein tag. miRFP670nano is an effective FRET donor for red-shifted NIR FPs, enabling engineering NIR FRET biosensors spectrally compatible with GFP-like FPs and blue–green optogenetic tools. miRFP670nano unlocks a new source of diverse CBCR templates for NIR FPs.