bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disrupted rich club organization and structural brain connectome in unmedicated bipolar disorder
Authors: Wang Ying , Deng Feng , Jia Yanbin , Wang Junjing , Zhong Shuming , Huang Huiyuan , Chen Lixiang , Chen Guanmao , Hu Huiqing , Huang Li , Huang Ruiwang
Published: May 2018

Background

Bipolar disorder (BD) has been associated with altered brain structural and functional connectivity. However, little is known regarding alterations of the structural brain connectome in BD. The present study aimed to use diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) and graph theory approaches to investigate the rich club organization and white matter structural connectome in BD.

Methods

Forty-two patients with unmedicated BD depression and 59 age-, sex- and handedness-matched healthy control participants underwent DTI. The whole-brain structural connectome was constructed by a deterministic fiber tracking approach. Graph theory analysis was used to examine the group-specific global and nodal topological properties, and rich club organizations, and then nonparametric permutation tests were used for group comparisons of network parameters.

Results

Compared with healthy control participants, the patients with BD showed abnormal global properties, including increased characteristic path length, and decreased global efficiency and local efficiency. Locally, the patients with BD showed abnormal nodal parameters (nodal strength, nodal efficiency, and nodal betweenness) predominantly in the parietal, orbitofrontal, occipital, and cerebellar regions. Moreover, the patients with BD showed decreased rich club and feeder connectivity density.

Conclusions

Our results may reflect the disrupted white matter topological organization in the whole-brain, and abnormal regional connectivity supporting cognitive and affective functioning in depressed BD, which, in part, be due to impaired rich club connectivity.
Prevalence and determinants of cognitive impairment in the euthymic phase of bipolar disorders: results from the FACE-BD cohort
Authors: Roux Paul , Etain Bruno , Cannavo Anne-Sophie , Aubin Valérie , Aouizerate Bruno , Azorin Jean-Michel , Bellivier Frank , Belzeaux Raoul , Bougerol Thierry , Cussac Iréna , Courtet Philippe , Kahn Jean-Pierre , Leboyer Marion , M'Bailara Katia , Payet Marion Perrin , Olié Emilie ,   the FondaMental Advanced Centers of Expertise in Bipolar Disorders (FACE-BD) Collaborators, Henry Chantal , Passerieux Christine
Published: May 2018

Background

Cognitive deficits are a well-established feature of bipolar disorders (BD), even during periods of euthymia, but risk factors associated with cognitive deficits in euthymic BD are still poorly understood. We aimed to validate classification criteria for the identification of clinically significant cognitive impairment, based on psychometric properties, to estimate the prevalence of neuropsychological deficits in euthymic BD, and identify risk factors for cognitive deficits using a multivariate approach.

Methods

We investigated neuropsychological performance in 476 euthymic patients with BD recruited via the French network of BD expert centres. We used a battery of tests, assessing five domains of cognition. Five criteria for the identification of neuropsychological impairment were tested based on their convergent and concurrent validity. Uni- and multivariate logistic regressions between cognitive impairment and several clinical and demographic variables were performed to identify risk factors for neuropsychological impairment in BD.

Results

One cut-off had satisfactory psychometric properties and yielded a prevalence of 12.4% for cognitive deficits in euthymic BD. Antipsychotics use were associated with the presence of a cognitive deficit.

Conclusions

This is the first study to validate a criterion for clinically significant cognitive impairment in BD. We report a lower prevalence of cognitive impairment than previous studies, which may have overestimated its prevalence. Patients with euthymic BD and cognitive impairment may benefit from cognitive remediation.
Focus on the mechatronics design of a new dexterous robotic hand for inside hand manipulation
Authors: Vulliez P. , Gazeau J. P. , Laguillaumie P. , Mnyusiwalla H. , Seguin P.
Published: May 2018

This paper presents a novel tendon-driven bio-inspired robotic hand design for in-hand manipulation. Many dexterous robot hands are able to produce adaptive grasping, but only a few human-sized hands worldwide are able to produce fine motions of the object in the hand. One of the challenges for the near future is to develop human-sized robot hands with human dexterity. Most of the existing hands considered in the literature suffer from dry friction which creates unwanted backlash and non-linearities. These problems limit the accurate control of the fingers and the capabilities of the hand. Such was the case with our first fully actuated dexterous robot hand: the Laboratoire de Mécanique des Solides (LMS) hand.

The mechanical design of the hand relies on a tendon-based transmission system. Developing a fully actuated dexterous robot hand requires the routing of the tendons through the finger for the actuation of each joint. This paper focuses on the evolution of the tendon routing; from the LMS hand to the new RoBioSS dexterous hand. The motion transmission in the new design creates purely linear coupling relations between joints and actuators. Experimental results using the same protocol for the previous hand and the new hand illustrate the evolution in the quality of the mechanical design. With the improvements of the mechanical behavior of the robotic fingers, the hand control software could be extensively simplified. The choice of a common architecture for all fingers makes it possible to consider the hand as a collaboration of four serial robots. Moreover, with the transparency of the motor-joint transmissions, we could use robust, industrial-grade cascaded feedback loops for the axis controls.

An inside-hand manipulation task concerning the manipulation of a bottle cap is presented at the end of the paper. As proof of the robustness of the hand, demonstrations of the hand's capabilities were carried out continuously over three days at SPS IPC Drives international exhibition in Nuremberg, in November 2016.
Cubical geometry in the polygonalisation complex
Authors: BELL MARK C. , DISARLO VALENTINA , TANG ROBERT
Published: May 2018

We introduce the polygonalisation complex of a surface, a cube complex whose vertices correspond to polygonalisations. This is a geometric model for the mapping class group and it is motivated by works of Harer, Mosher and Penner. Using properties of the flip graph, we show that the midcubes in the polygonalisation complex can be extended to a family of embedded and separating hyperplanes, parametrised by the arcs in the surface.

We study the crossing graph of these hyperplanes and prove that it is quasi-isometric to the arc complex. We use the crossing graph to prove that, generically, different surfaces have different polygonalisation complexes. The polygonalisation complex is not CAT(0), but we can characterise the vertices where Gromov's link condition fails. This gives a tool for proving that, generically, the automorphism group of the polygonalisation complex is the (extended) mapping class group of the surface.
IZAPAN WRITING: CLASSIFICATION AND PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
Authors: Mora-Marín David F.
Published: May 2018

This paper reviews the limited evidence for the classification of the script attested at the site of Izapa. Sufficient data for assessing the nature of key formal traits exists, thanks to the more recent documentation of the sculptural corpus (Clark and Moreno 2007). After a review of the archaeological and historical linguistic context, the paper examines the history of research on the classification of the writing systems of Mesoamerica (Justeson 1986; Justeson and Mathews 1990; Justeson et al. 1985; Prem 1973), focusing on the Southeastern Tradition. Three diagnostic traits allow for a narrow assignation of Izapa's script, perhaps unsurprisingly, to the Greater Izapan or Maya-Izapa sub-tradition (Justeson and Mathews 1990; Justeson et al. 1985) of the Southeastern Tradition: the superfixed placement of the bar-and-dot numeral with respect to the day sign cartouche, positional notation for counting, and the use of day sign pedestals. Other traits include the conflation and embedding of signs. The paper concludes that the evidence is, at present, insufficient to distinguish between the two likely options, Mixe-Zoquean and Mayan. Finally, a preliminary signary is provided in the Appendix.
HOUSEHOLDERS AS WATER MANAGERS: A COMPARISON OF DOMESTIC-SCALE WATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FROM TWO CENTRAL MAYA LOWLAND SITES
Authors: Brewer Jeffrey L.
Published: May 2018

Multiple studies conducted over the past few decades have recognized the necessity of rainwater collection and storage as a critical aspect in the evolution of Maya civilization. Few of these efforts, however, have emphasized the importance of managing water resources at the household level. Data are presented from two central lowland sites—the dispersed hinterland community of Medicinal Trail and the urban center of Yaxnohcah—that elucidate the function of small reservoirs and associated landscape modifications in residential water management. Despite differing physical geographies and trajectories of urban development, residents of both communities were clearly engaged in water management activities based, at least in part, on the creation and use of small reservoirs. Decentralized household water management practices appear to have been temporally and spatially widespread components of Maya civilization beginning in the Preclassic period.
Treasure Found on Consecrated Ground
Authors: Guest A G
Published: May 2018

Finds of treasure in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are currently governed by the Treasure Act 1996. The definition of ‘treasure’ in the Act is complex, but in broad and general terms an object of treasure may be said to be an object of value, at least 300 years old, which has usually, but not necessarily, been found buried in the earth, the true owner of which is unknown or cannot be traced. Treasure belongs neither to the finder nor to the owner or occupier of the land on which it was found, but to the Crown or to its franchisee to whom the Crown has granted the right to treasure. A find of an object which the finder believes or has reasonable grounds for believing is treasure must be reported to the coroner for the area in which the object was found. He or she will hold an inquest to determine whether or not the object is treasure. Until the nineteenth century, treasure was regarded simply as a source of revenue for the Crown or its franchisee. But from that time the law of treasure came to be regarded as the means by which valuable objects of historical, archaeological, or cultural interest might be preserved for the nation.
October 2017–January 2018
Authors: Cranmer Frank
Published: May 2018

In November, the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator issued a joint publication, ‘Reporting of relevant matters of interest to UK charity regulators’, urging auditors and independent examiners to be more proactive about reporting concerns that may arise during their examination of charity accounts. This is in addition to the guidance on matters of material significance that must be reported as a legal duty: the new publication provides examples of the matters that may be reported to the charity regulators if an auditor or independent examiner has any cause for concern. The regulators’ basic message is, ‘If in doubt, report it’.
Evaluation of mobile applications related to nutrition
Authors: Braz Vitória Negri , Lopes Maria Helena Baena de Moraes
Published: May 2018

Objective

To verify the reliability of information, the sources of information used and the user opinions of the free mobile applications (apps) with nutritional information available in Brazil.

Design

Descriptive, cross-sectional study.

Setting

We evaluated the content about nutrition of free apps available on the App Store of iPhone 5S with software iOS 8.4.1 and on the Play Store of the Android platform, version 2.3.6. For this, we compared the nutrition information provided by the app with (i) the Brazilian Food Composition Table (TACO), of 2011; (ii) food composition table: support for nutritional decision, of 2002; and (iii) the National Study of Family Expenditure: food composition tables, of 1999. The evaluation included the description and quantity of macro- and micronutrients in foods. In addition, we evaluated the trustworthiness of information about food energy values and analysed the comments and ratings made by users.

Subjects

Mobile apps related to nutrition.

Results

We assessed sixteen apps for mobile devices. Considering the foods selected (a basic Brazilian food basket for the month of August 2015), the apps presented partially adequate or inadequate information about food composition (macro- and micronutrients). The adequacy of the food energy values ranged from 0 to 57·1 %. Despite this, the apps received positive ratings by users.

Conclusions

The mobile apps about nutrition currently available and evaluated in the present study in Brazil are not useful for nutritional guidance because most of them are not based on reliable sources of information.
New constraints on Lyman-α opacity using 92 quasar lines of sight
Authors: Bosman Sarah E. I. , Fan Xiaohui , Jiang Linhua , Reed Sophie , Matsuoka Yoshiki , Becker George , Rorai Alberto
Published: May 2018

The large scatter in Lyman-α opacity at z > 5.3 has been an ongoing mystery, prompting a flurry of numerical models. A uniform ultra-violet background has been ruled out at those redshifts, but it is unclear whether any proposed models produce sufficient inhomogeneities. In this paper we provide an update on the measurement which first highlighted the issue: Lyman-α effective optical depth along high-z quasar lines of sight. We nearly triple on the previous sample size in such a study thanks to the cooperation of the DES-VHS, SHELLQs, and SDSS collaborations as well as new reductions and spectra. We find that a uniform UVB model is ruled out at 5.1 < z < 5.3, as well as higher redshifts, which is perplexing. We provide the first such measurements at z ∼ 6. None of the numerical models we confronted to this data could reproduce the observed scatter.
Foreground Mitigation in the Epoch of Reionization
Authors: Chapman Emma
Published: May 2018

The EoR foregrounds can be up to three magnitudes greater than the cosmological signal we wish to detect. Multiple methods have been developed in order to extract the cosmological signal, falling roughly into three categories: foreground removal, foreground suppression and foreground avoidance. These main approaches are briefly discussed in this review and consideration taken to the future application of these methods as a multi-layered approach.
Analysing 21cm signal with artificial neural network
Authors: Shimabukuro Hayato , Semelin Benoit
Published: May 2018

The 21cm signal at epoch of reionization (EoR) should be observed within next decade. We expect that cosmic 21cm signal at the EoR provides us both cosmological and astrophysical information. In order to extract fruitful information from observation data, we need to develop inversion method. For such a method, we introduce artificial neural network (ANN) which is one of the machine learning techniques. We apply the ANN to inversion problem to constrain astrophysical parameters from 21cm power spectrum. We train the architecture of the neural network with 70 training datasets and apply it to 54 test datasets with different value of parameters. We find that the quality of the parameter reconstruction depends on the sensitivity of the power spectrum to the different parameter sets at a given redshift and also find that the accuracy of reconstruction is improved by increasing the number of given redshifts. We conclude that the ANN is viable inversion method whose main strength is that they require a sparse extrapolation of the parameter space and thus should be usable with full simulation.
Intensity Mapping Foreground Cleaning with Generalized Needlet Internal Linear Combination
Authors: Olivari L. C. , Remazeilles M. , Dickinson C.
Published: May 2018

Intensity mapping (IM) is a new observational technique to survey the large-scale structure of matter using spectral emission lines. IM observations are contaminated by instrumental noise and astrophysical foregrounds. The foregrounds are at least three orders of magnitude larger than the searched signals. In this work, we apply the Generalized Needlet Internal Linear Combination (GNILC) method to subtract radio foregrounds and to recover the cosmological HI and CO signals within the IM context. For the HI IM case, we find that GNILC can reconstruct the HI plus noise power spectra with 7.0% accuracy forz= 0.13 − 0.48 (960 − 1260 MHz) and ℓ ≲ 400, while for the CO IM case, we find that it can reconstruct the CO plus noise power spectra with 6.7% accuracy forz= 2.4 − 3.4 (26 − 34 GHz) and ℓ ≲ 3000.
EoR imaging with the SKA: the challenge of foreground removal
Authors: Bonaldi Anna
Published: May 2018

21-cm observations of the Cosmic dawn (CD) and Epoch of Reionization (EoR) are one of the high priority science objectives for SKA Low. One of the most difficult aspects of the 21-cm measurement is the presence of foreground emission, due to our Galaxy and extragalactic sources, which is about four orders of magnitude brighter than the cosmological signal. While end-to-end simulations are being produced to investigate in details the foreground subtraction strategy, it is useful to complement this thorough but time-consuming approach with simpler, quicker ways to evaluate performance and identify possible critical steps. In this work, I present a forecast method, based on Bonaldi et al. (2015), Bonaldi & Ricciardi (2011), to understand the level of residual contamination after a component separation step, and its impact on our ability to investigate CD and EoR.
Resolving the structure of the Galactic foreground using Herschel measurements and the Kriging technique
Authors: Pinter S. , Bagoly Z. , Balázs L. G. , Horvath I. , Racz I. I. , Zahorecz S. , Tóth L. V.
Published: May 2018

Investigating the distant extragalactic Universe requires a subtraction of the Galactic foreground. One of the major difficulties deriving the fine structure of the galactic foreground is the embedded foreground and background point sources appearing in the given fields. It is especially so in the infrared. We report our study subtracting point sources from Herschel images with Kriging, an interpolation method where the interpolated values are modelled by a Gaussian process governed by prior covariances. Using the Kriging method on Herschel multi-wavelength observations the structure of the Galactic foreground can be studied with much higher resolution than previously, leading to a better foreground subtraction at the end.
Reionization and Cosmic Dawn: theory and simulations
Authors: Mesinger Andrei
Published: May 2018

We highlight recent progress in the sophistication and diversification of the simulations of cosmic dawn and reionization. The application of these modeling tools to recent observations has allowed us narrow down the timing of reionization. The midpoint of reionization is constrained to z = 7.6−0.7+0.8 (1 σ), with the strongest constraints coming from the optical depth to the CMB measured with the Planck satellite and the first detection of ongoing reionization from the spectra of the z = 7.1 QSOs ULASJ1120+0641. However, we still know virtually nothing about the astrophysical sources during the first billion years. The revolution in our understanding will be led by upcoming interferometric observations of the cosmic 21-cm signal. The properties of the sources and sinks of UV and X-ray photons are encoded in the 3D patterns of the signal. The development of Bayesian parameter recovery techniques, which tap into the wealth of the 21-cm signal, will soon usher in an era of precision astrophysical cosmology.
Foreground mitigation strategy for measuring the 21 cm-LAE cross-correlation
Authors: Yoshiura Shintaro , Line Jack L. B. , Kubota Kenji , Hasegawa Kenji , Takahashi Keitaro
Published: May 2018

The cross power spectrum of the 21 cm signal and Lyman-α emitters (LAEs) is a probe of the Epoch of Reionization. Astrophysical foregrounds do not correlate with the LAE distribution, though the foregrounds contribute to the error. To study the impact of foregrounds on the measurement, we assume realistic observation by the Murchison Widefield Array using a catalogue of radio galaxies, a LAE survey by the Subaru Hyper Supreme-Cam and the redshift of LAEs is determined by the Prime Focus Spectrograph. The HI distribution is estimated from a radiative transfer simulation with models based on results of radiation hydrodynamics simulation. Using these models, we found that the error of cross power spectrum is dominated by foreground terms. Furthermore, we estimate the effects of foreground removal, and find 99% of the foreground removal is required to detect the 21 cm-LAE signal at k ∼ 0.4 h Mpc−1.
Precision Calibration for HERA and 21 cm Cosmology
Authors: Dillon Joshua S.
Published: May 2018

Here I discuss progress in both the theory and practice of data analysis for the Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA), focusing on techniques to calibrate the instrumental response and preserve the spectral smoothness that is essential to separating the cosmological 21 cm signal from foregrounds that are five orders of magnitude brighter. I explain how mis-calibration can create ruinous spectral structure and how we take advantage of HERA’s highly-redundant configuration for calibration. This proceeding draws from a talk I gave on October 3, 2017. Slides for it and all my talks are available atjoshdillon.net.
Full-Sky Maps of the VHF Radio Sky with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory Long Wavelength Array
Authors: Eastwood Michael W. , Hallinan Gregg
Published: May 2018

21-cm cosmology is a powerful new probe of the intergalactic medium at redshifts 20 ≳ z ≳ 6 corresponding to the Cosmic Dawn and Epoch of Reionization. Current observations of the highly-redshifted 21-cm transition are limited by the dynamic range they can achieve against foreground sources of low-frequency (<200 MHz) of radio emission. We used the Owens Valley Radio Observatory Long Wavelength Array (OVRO-LWA) to generate a series of new modern high-fidelity sky maps that capture emission on angular scales ranging from tens of degrees to ∼15 arcmin, and frequencies between 36 and 73 MHz. These sky maps were generated from the application of Tikhonov-regularized m-mode analysis imaging, which is a new interferometric imaging technique that is uniquely suited for low-frequency, wide-field, drift-scanning interferometers.
Using low-frequency pulsar observations to study the 3-D structure of the Galactic magnetic field
Authors: Sobey C. ,   the LOFAR and MWA collaborations
Published: May 2018

The Galactic magnetic field (GMF) plays a role in many astrophysical processes and is a significant foreground to cosmological signals, such as the Epoch of Reionization (EoR), but is not yet well understood. Dispersion and Faraday rotation measurements (DMs and RMs, respectively) towards a large number of pulsars provide an efficient method to probe the three-dimensional structure of the GMF. Low-frequency polarisation observations with large fractional bandwidth can be used to measure precise DMs and RMs. This is demonstrated by a catalogue of RMs (corrected for ionospheric Faraday rotation) from the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), with a growing complementary catalogue in the southern hemisphere from the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). These data further our knowledge of the three-dimensional GMF, particularly towards the Galactic halo. Recently constructed or upgraded pathfinder and precursor telescopes, such as LOFAR and the MWA, have reinvigorated low-frequency science and represent progress towards the construction of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which will make significant advancements in studies of astrophysical magnetic fields in the future. A key science driver for the SKA-Low is to study the EoR, for which pulsar and polarisation data can provide valuable insights in terms of Galactic foreground conditions.
Fine structure of Galactic foreground ISM towards high-redshift AGN – utilizing Herschel PACS and SPIRE data
Authors: Perger K. , Pinter S. , Frey S. , Tóth L. V.
Published: May 2018

One of the most certain ways to determine star formation rate in galaxies is based on far infrared (FIR) measurements. To decide the origin of the observed FIR emission, subtracting the Galactic foreground is a crucial step. We utilized Herschel photometric data to determine the hydrogen column densities in three galactic latitude regions, at b = 27°, 50° and −80°. We applied a pixel-by-pixel fit to the spectral energy distribution (SED) for the images aquired from parallel PACS-SPIRE observations in all three sky areas. We determined the column densities with resolutions 45” and 6’, and compared the results with values estimated from the IRAS dust maps. Column densities at 27° and 50° galactic latitudes determined from the Herschel data are in a good agreement with the literature values. However, at the highest galactic latitude we found that the column densities from the Herschel data exceed those derived from the IRAS dust map.
21SSD: a new public 21-cm EoR database
Authors: Eames Evan , Semelin Benoît
Published: May 2018

With current efforts inching closer to detecting the 21-cm signal from the Epoch of Reionization (EoR), proper preparation will require publicly available simulated models of the various forms the signal could take. In this work we present a database of such models, available at 21ssd.obspm.fr. The models are created with a fully-coupled radiative hydrodynamic simulation (LICORICE), and are created at high resolution (10243). We also begin to analyse and explore the possible 21-cm EoR signals (with Power Spectra and Pixel Distribution Functions), and study the effects of thermal noise on our ability to recover the signal out to high redshifts. Finally, we begin to explore the concepts of ‘distance’ between different models, which represents a crucial step towards optimising parameter space sampling, training neural networks, and finally extracting parameter values from observations.
Bayesian component separation: The Planck experience
Authors: Wehus Ingunn Kathrine , Eriksen Hans Kristian
Published: May 2018

Bayesian component separation techniques have played a central role in the data reduction process of Planck. The most important strength of this approach is its global nature, in which a parametric and physical model is fitted to the data. Such physical modeling allows the user to constrain very general data models, and jointly probe cosmological, astrophysical and instrumental parameters. This approach also supports statistically robust goodness-of-fit tests in terms of data-minus-model residual maps, which are essential for identifying residual systematic effects in the data. The main challenges are high code complexity and computational cost. Whether or not these costs are justified for a given experiment depends on its final uncertainty budget. We therefore predict that the importance of Bayesian component separation techniques is likely to increase with time for intensity mapping experiments, similar to what has happened in the CMB field, as observational techniques mature, and their overall sensitivity improves.
Cosmic evolution of AGN with moderate-to-high radiative luminosity in the COSMOS field
Authors: Ceraj L. , Smolčić V. , Delvecchio I. , Delhaize J. , Novak M.
Published: May 2018

We study the moderate-to-high radiative luminosity active galactic nuclei (HLAGN) within the VLA-COSMOS 3 GHz Large Project. The survey covers 2.6 square degrees centered on the COSMOS field with a 1σ sensitivity of 2.3 μJy/beam across the field. This provides the simultaneously largest and deepest radio continuum survey available to date with exquisite multi-wavelength coverage. The survey yields 10,830 radio sources with signal-to-noise ratios ≥5. A subsample of 1,604 HLAGN is analyzed here. These were selected via a combination of X-ray luminosity and mid-infrared colors. We derive luminosity functions for these AGN and constrain their cosmic evolution out to a redshift of z ∼ 6, for the first time decomposing the star formation and AGN contributions to the radio continuum emission in the AGN. We study the evolution of number density and luminosity density finding a peak at z ∼ 1.5 followed by a decrease out to a redshift z ∼ 6.
Average radio spectral energy distribution of highly star-forming galaxies
Authors: Tisanić K. , Smolčić V. , Delhaize J. , Novak M. , Intema H. , Delvecchio I. , Schinnerer E. , Zamorani G.
Published: May 2018

The infrared-radio correlation (IRRC) offers a way to assess star formation from radio emission. Multiple studies found the IRRC to decrease with increasing redshift. This may in part be due to the lack of knowledge about the possible radio spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of star-forming galaxies. We constrain the radio SED of a complete sample of highly star-forming galaxies (SFR > 100 M⊙/ yr) based on the VLA-COSMOS 1.4 GHz Joint and 3 GHz Large Project catalogs. We reduce archival GMRT 325 MHz and 610 MHz observations, broadening the rest-frame frequency range to 0.3-15 GHz. Employing survival analysis and fitting a double power law SED, we find that the slope steepens from a spectral index of α1 = 0.51±0.04 below 4.5 GHz to α2 = 0.98±0.07 above 4.5 GHz. Our results suggest that the use of a K-correction assuming a single power-law radio SED for star forming galaxies is likely not the root cause of the IRRC trend.
Tracing Cosmic Dawn
Authors: Fialkov Anastasia
Published: May 2018

Observational effort is on the way to probe the 21-cm of neutral hydrogen from the epochs of Reionization and Cosmic Dawn. Our current poor knowledge of high redshift astrophysics results in a large uncertainty in the theoretically predicted 21-cm signal. A recent parameter study that is highlighted here explores the variety of 21-cm signals resulting from viable astrophysical scenarios. Model-independent relations between the shape of the signal and the underlying astrophysics are discussed. Finally, I briefly note on possible alternative probes of the high redshift Universe, specifically Fast Radio Bursts.
Understanding the impact of Light cone effect on the EoR/CD 21-cm power spectrum
Authors: Datta Kanan K. , Mondal Rajesh , Ghara Raghunath , Bharadwaj Somnath , Choudhury T. Roy
Published: May 2018

Redshifted HI 21-cm signal from the cosmic dawn and epoch of reionization evolve considerably along the LoS. We study the impact of this evolution (so called the light cone effect) on the HI 21-cm power spectrum. It is found that the LC effect has a significant impact on the 3D power spectrum and the change could be up to a factor of few. The LC effect is particularly strong during the cosmic dawn near the ‘peaks’ and ‘dips’ in the power spectrum when plotted with redshift. We also show that the 3D power spectrum, which could fully describe ergodic and periodic signal, losses out some information regarding the second order statistics of the signal as the EoR/CD 21-cm signal is non-ergodic and non-periodic along the line of sight. We show that the multi-frequency angular power spectrum (MAPS)${\mathcal {C}}_{\ell }(\nu _1, \nu _2)$captures all the information regarding the second order statistics of the signal even in the presence of the LC effect.
Prospects of detection of the first sources with SKA using matched filters
Authors: Ghara Raghunath , Choudhury T. Roy , Datta Kanan K. , Mellema Garrelt , Choudhuri Samir , Majumdar Suman , Giri Sambit K.
Published: May 2018

The matched filtering technique is an efficient method to detect H ii bubbles and absorption regions in radio interferometric observations of the redshifted 21-cm signal from the epoch of reionization and the Cosmic Dawn. Here, we present an implementation of this technique to the upcoming observations such as the SKA1-low for a blind search of absorption regions at the Cosmic Dawn. The pipeline explores four dimensional parameter space on the simulated mock visibilities using a MCMC algorithm. The framework is able to efficiently determine the positions and sizes of the absorption/H ii regions in the field of view.
Results from the MWA EoR Experiment
Authors: Webster Rachel L. ,   the MWA EoR Collaboration
Published: May 2018

The MWA EoR is one of a small handful of experiments designed to detect the statistical signal from the Epoch of Reionisation. Each of these experiments has reached a level of maturity, where the challenges, in particular of foreground removal, are being more fully understood. Over the past decade, the MWA EoR Collaboration has developed expertise and an understanding of the elements of the telescope array, the end-to-end pipelines, ionospheric conditions, and and the foreground emissions. Sufficient data has been collected to detect the theoretically predicted EoR signal. Limits have been published regularly, however we still several orders of magnitude from a possible detection. This paper outlines recent progress and indicates directions for future efforts.
ACCURACY AND UR-PRIOR CONDITIONALIZATION
Authors: DAS NILANJAN
Published: May 2018

Recently, several epistemologists have defended an attractive principle of epistemic rationality, which we shall callUr-Prior Conditionalization. In this essay, I ask whether we can justify this principle by appealing to the epistemic goal of accuracy. I argue that any such accuracy-based argument will be in tension withEvidence Externalism, i.e., the view that agent’s evidence may entail nontrivial propositions about the external world. This is because any such argument will crucially require the assumption that, independently of all empirical evidence, it is rational for an agent to be certain that her evidence will always include truths, and that she will always have perfect introspective access to her own evidence. This assumption is incompatible withEvidence Externalism. I go on to suggest that even if we don’t acceptEvidence Externalism, the prospects for any accuracy-based justification forUr-Prior Conditionalizationare bleak.
Fast and Slow Slip Events Emerge Due to Fault Geometrical Complexity
Authors: Romanet Pierre , Bhat Harsha S. , Jolivet Romain , Madariaga Raúl
Published: May 2018

Active faults release elastic strain energy via a whole continuum of modes of slip, ranging from devastating earthquakes to slow slip events (SSEs) and persistent creep. Understanding the mechanisms controlling the occurrence of rapid, dynamic slip radiating seismic waves (i.e., earthquakes) or slow, silent slip (i.e., SSEs) is a fundamental point in the estimation of seismic hazard along subduction zones. Using the numerical implementation of a simple rate‐weakening fault model, we show that the simplest of fault geometrical complexities with uniform rate‐weakening friction properties give rise to both SSEs and fast earthquakes without appealing to complex rheologies or mechanisms. We argue that the spontaneous occurrence, the characteristics and the scaling relationship of SSEs and earthquakes emerge from geometrical complexities. The geometry of active faults should be considered as a complementary mechanism to current numerical models of SSEs and fast earthquakes.
Abnormal Elasticity of Fe‐Bearing Bridgmanite in the Earth's Lower Mantle
Authors: Fu Suyu , Yang Jing , Zhang Yanyao , Okuchi Takuo , McCammon Catherine , Kim Hyo‐Im , Lee Sung Keun , Lin Jung‐Fu
Published: May 2018

We measured the effect of pressure on the compressional and shear wave velocity (VP, VS) as well as density of Fe‐bearing bridgmanite, Mg0.96(1)Fe2+0.036(5)Fe3+0.014(5)Si0.99(1)O3, using impulsive stimulated light scattering, Brillouin light scattering, and X‐ray diffraction, respectively, in diamond anvil cells up to 70 GPa at 300 K. A drastic softening of VP by ~6(±1)% is observed between 42.6 and 58 GPa, while VS increases continuously with increasing pressure. A significant reduction in Poisson's ratio from 0.24 to 0.16 occurs at ~42.6–58 GPa, while VS increases by ~3(±1)% above ~40 GPa compared to MgSiO3‐bridgmanite. Thermoelastic modeling of the experimental results shows that the observed elastic anomaly of Fe‐bearing bridgmanite is consistent with a spin transition of octahedrally coordinated Fe3+ in bridgmanite. These results challenge traditional views that Fe enrichment will reduce seismic velocities, suggesting that seismic heterogeneities in the mid‐lower mantle may be due to a spin transition of Fe in Fe‐bearing bridgmanite.
Targeting MUC1-C suppresses BCL2A1 in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Hiraki Masayuki , Maeda Takahiro , Mehrotra Neha , Jin Caining , Alam Maroof , Bouillez Audrey , Hata Tsuyoshi , Tagde Ashujit , Keating Amy , Kharbanda Surender , Singh Harpal , Kufe Donald
Published: May 2018

B-cell lymphoma 2-related protein A1 (BCL2A1) is a member of the BCL-2 family of anti-apoptotic proteins that confers resistance to treatment with anti-cancer drugs; however, there are presently no agents that target BCL2A1. The MUC1-C oncoprotein is aberrantly expressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, induces the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and promotes anti-cancer drug resistance. The present study demonstrates that targeting MUC1-C genetically and pharmacologically in TNBC cells results in the downregulation of BCL2A1 expression. The results show that MUC1-C activates the BCL2A1 gene by an NF-κB p65-mediated mechanism, linking this pathway with the induction of EMT. The MCL-1 anti-apoptotic protein is also of importance for the survival of TNBC cells and is an attractive target for drug development. We found that inhibiting MCL-1 with the highly specific MS1 peptide results in the activation of the MUC1-C→NF-κB→BCL2A1 pathway. In addition, selection of TNBC cells for resistance to ABT-737, which inhibits BCL-2, BCL-xL and BCL-W but not MCL-1 or BCL2A1, is associated with the upregulation of MUC1-C and BCL2A1 expression. Targeting MUC1-C in ABT-737-resistant TNBC cells suppresses BCL2A1 and induces death, which is of potential therapeutic importance. These findings indicate that MUC1-C is a target for the treatment of TNBCs unresponsive to agents that inhibit anti-apoptotic members of the BCL-2 family.
Stepwise heating in Stille polycondensation toward no batch-to-batch variations in polymer solar cell performance
Authors: Lee Sang Myeon , Park Kwang Hyun , Jung Seungon , Park Hyesung , Yang Changduk
Published: May 2018

For a given π-conjugated polymer, the batch-to-batch variations in molecular weight (Mw) and polydispersity index (Ð) can lead to inconsistent process-dependent material properties and consequent performance variations in the device application. Using a stepwise-heating protocol in the Stille polycondensation in conjunction with optimized processing, we obtained an ultrahigh-quality PTB7 polymer having high Mw and very narrow Ð. The resulting ultrahigh-quality polymer-based solar cells demonstrate up to 9.97% power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), which is over 24% enhancement from the control devices fabricated with commercially available PTB7. Moreover, we observe almost negligible batch-to-batch variations in the overall PCE values from ultrahigh-quality polymer-based devices. The proposed stepwise polymerization demonstrates a facile and effective strategy for synthesizing high-quality semiconducting polymers that can significantly improve device yield in polymer-based solar cells, an important factor for the commercialization of organic solar cells, by mitigating device-to-device variations.
Cell of origin and mutation pattern define three clinically distinct classes of sebaceous carcinoma
Authors: North Jeffrey P. , Golovato Justin , Vaske Charles J. , Sanborn J. Zachary , Nguyen Andrew , Wu Wei , Goode Benjamin , Stevers Meredith , McMullen Kevin , Perez White Bethany E. , Collisson Eric A. , Bloomer Michele , Solomon David A. , Benz Stephen C. , Cho Raymond J.
Published: May 2018

Sebaceous carcinomas (SeC) are cutaneous malignancies that, in rare cases, metastasize and prove fatal. Here we report whole-exome sequencing on 32 SeC, revealing distinct mutational classes that explain both cancer ontogeny and clinical course. A UV-damage signature predominates in 10/32 samples, while nine show microsatellite instability (MSI) profiles. UV-damage SeC exhibited poorly differentiated, infiltrative histopathology compared to MSI signature SeC (p = 0.003), features previously associated with dissemination. Moreover, UV-damage SeC transcriptomes and anatomic distribution closely resemble those of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), implicating sun-exposed keratinocytes as a cell of origin. Like SCC, this UV-damage subclass harbors a high somatic mutation burden with >50 mutations per Mb, predicting immunotherapeutic response. In contrast, ocular SeC acquires far fewer mutations without a dominant signature, but show frequent truncations in the ZNF750 epidermal differentiation regulator. Our data exemplify how different mutational processes convergently drive histopathologically related but clinically distinct cancers.
Global genetic differentiation of complex traits shaped by natural selection in humans
Authors: Guo Jing , Wu Yang , Zhu Zhihong , Zheng Zhili , Trzaskowski Maciej , Zeng Jian , Robinson Matthew R. , Visscher Peter M. , Yang Jian
Published: May 2018

There are mean differences in complex traits among global human populations. We hypothesize that part of the phenotypic differentiation is due to natural selection. To address this hypothesis, we assess the differentiation in allele frequencies of trait-associated SNPs among African, Eastern Asian, and European populations for ten complex traits using data of large sample size (up to ~405,000). We show that SNPs associated with height ($$P = 2.46 \times 10^{ - 5}$$
P
=
2.46
×
1

0

-
5

), waist-to-hip ratio ($$P = 2.77 \times 10^{ - 4}$$
P
=
2.77
×
1

0

-
4

), and schizophrenia ($$P = 3.96 \times 10^{ - 5}$$
P
=
3.96
×
1

0

-
5

) are significantly more differentiated among populations than matched “control” SNPs, suggesting that these trait-associated SNPs have undergone natural selection. We further find that SNPs associated with height ($$P = 2.01 \times 10^{ - 6}$$
P
=
2.01
×
1

0

-
6

) and schizophrenia ($$P = 5.16 \times 10^{ - 18}$$
P
=
5.16
×
1

0

-
18

) show significantly higher variance in linkage disequilibrium (LD) scores across populations than control SNPs. Our results support the hypothesis that natural selection has shaped the genetic differentiation of complex traits, such as height and schizophrenia, among worldwide populations.
Parental haplotype-specific single-cell transcriptomics reveal incomplete epigenetic reprogramming in human female germ cells
Authors: Vértesy Ábel , Arindrarto Wibowo , Roost Matthias S. , Reinius Björn , Torrens-Juaneda Vanessa , Bialecka Monika , Moustakas Ioannis , Ariyurek Yavuz , Kuijk Ewart , Mei Hailiang , Sandberg Rickard , van Oudenaarden Alexander , Chuva de Sousa Lopes Susana M.
Published: May 2018

In contrast to mouse, human female germ cells develop asynchronously. Germ cells transition to meiosis, erase genomic imprints, and reactivate the X chromosome. It is unknown if these events all appear asynchronously, and how they relate to each other. Here we combine exome sequencing of human fetal and maternal tissues with single-cell RNA-sequencing of five donors. We reconstruct full parental haplotypes and quantify changes in parental allele-specific expression, genome-wide. First we distinguish primordial germ cells (PGC), pre-meiotic, and meiotic transcriptional stages. Next we demonstrate that germ cells from various stages monoallelically express imprinted genes and confirm this by methylation patterns. Finally, we show that roughly 30% of the PGCs are still reactivating their inactive X chromosome and that this is related to transcriptional stage rather than fetal age. Altogether, we uncover the complexity and cell-to-cell heterogeneity of transcriptional and epigenetic remodeling in female human germ cells.
Self-organizing layers from complex molecular anions
Authors: Warneke Jonas , McBriarty Martin E. , Riechers Shawn L. , China Swarup , Engelhard Mark H. , Aprà Edoardo , Young Robert P. , Washton Nancy M. , Jenne Carsten , Johnson Grant E. , Laskin Julia
Published: May 2018

The formation of traditional ionic materials occurs principally via joint accumulation of both anions and cations. Herein, we describe a previously unreported phenomenon by which macroscopic liquid-like thin layers with tunable self-organization properties form through accumulation of stable complex ions of one polarity on surfaces. Using a series of highly stable molecular anions we demonstrate a strong influence of the internal charge distribution of the molecular ions, which is usually shielded by counterions, on the properties of the layers. Detailed characterization reveals that the intrinsically unstable layers of anions on surfaces are stabilized by simultaneous accumulation of neutral molecules from the background environment. Different phases, self-organization mechanisms and optical properties are observed depending on the molecular properties of the deposited anions, the underlying surface and the coadsorbed neutral molecules. This demonstrates rational control of the macroscopic properties (morphology and size of the formed structures) of the newly discovered anion-based layers.
Hygroscopic compounds in spider aggregate glue remove interfacial water to maintain adhesion in humid conditions
Authors: Singla Saranshu , Amarpuri Gaurav , Dhopatkar Nishad , Blackledge Todd A. , Dhinojwala Ali
Published: May 2018

Adhesion in humid environments is fundamentally challenging because of the presence of interfacial bound water. Spiders often hunt in wet habitats and overcome this challenge using sticky aggregate glue droplets whose adhesion is resistant to interfacial failure under humid conditions. The mechanism by which spider aggregate glue avoids interfacial failure in humid environments is still unknown. Here, we investigate the mechanism of aggregate glue adhesion by using interface-sensitive spectroscopy in conjunction with infrared spectroscopy. We demonstrate that glycoproteins act as primary binding agents at the interface. As humidity increases, we observe reversible changes in the interfacial secondary structure of glycoproteins. Surprisingly, we do not observe liquid-like water at the interface, even though liquid-like water increases inside the bulk with increasing humidity. We hypothesize that the hygroscopic compounds in aggregate glue sequester interfacial water. Using hygroscopic compounds to sequester interfacial water provides a novel design principle for developing water-resistant synthetic adhesives.