bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic landscape of papillary thyroid carcinoma in the Chinese population
Authors: Liang Jialong , Cai Wanshi , Feng Dongdong , Teng Huajing , Mao Fengbiao , Jiang Yi , Hu Shanshan , Li Xianfeng , Zhang Yujie , Liu Baoguo , Sun Zhong Sheng
Published: November 2017

Improvement in the clinical outcome of human cancers requires characterization of the genetic alterations underlying their pathogenesis. Large‐scale genomic and transcriptomic characterization of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) in Western populations has revealed multiple oncogenic drivers which are essential for understanding pathogenic mechanisms of this disease, while, so far, the genetic landscape in Chinese patients with PTC remains uncharacterized. Here, we conducted a large‐scale genetic analysis of PTCs from patients in China to determine the mutational landscape of this cancer. By performing targeted DNA amplicon and targeted RNA deep‐sequencing, we elucidated the landscape of somatic genetic alterations in 355 Chinese patients with PTC. A total of 88.7% of PTCs were found to harbor at least one candidate oncogenic driver genetic alteration. Among them, around 72.4% of the cases carried BRAF mutations; 2.8% of cases harbored RAS mutations; and 13.8% of cases were characterized with in‐frame gene fusions, including seven newly identified kinase gene fusions. TERT promoter mutations were likely to occur in a sub‐clonal manner in our PTC cohort. The prevalence of somatic genetic alterations in PTC was significantly different between our Chinese cohort and TCGA datasets for American patients. Additionally, combined analyses of genetic alterations and clinicopathologic features demonstrated that kinase gene fusion was associated with younger age at diagnosis, larger tumor size, and lymph node metastasis in PTC. With the analyses of DNA rearrangement sites of RET gene fusions in PTC, signatures of chromosome translocations related to RET fusion events were also depicted. Collectively, our results provide fundamental insight into the pathogenesis of PTC in the Chinese population. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An algorithm to detect unexpected increases in frequency of reports of adverse events in EudraVigilance
Authors: Pinheiro Luis C. , Candore Gianmario , Zaccaria Cosimo , Slattery Jim , Arlett Peter
Published: November 2017

Purpose

The European Medicines Agency developed an algorithm to detect unexpected increases in frequency of reports, to enhance the ability to detect adverse events that manifest as increases in frequency, in particular quality defects, medication errors, and cases of abuse or misuse.

Methods

An algorithm based on a negative binomial time‐series regression model run on 6 sequential observations prior to the monitored period was developed to forecast monthly counts of reports. A heuristic model to capture increases in counts when the previous 4 observations were null supplemented the regression. Count data were determined at drug‐event combination. Sensitivity analyses were run to determine the effect of different methods of pooling or stratifying count data. Positive retrospective detections and positive predictive values (PPVs) were determined.

Results

The algorithm detected 8 of the 13 historical concerns, including all concerns of quality defects. The highest PPV (1.29%) resulted from increasing the lower count threshold from 3 to 5 and including literature reports in the counts. Both the regression model and the heuristic model components to the algorithm contributed to the detection of concerns. Sensitivity analysis indicates that stratification by commercial product reduces the PPV but suggests that pooling counts of related events may improve it.

Conclusion

The results are encouraging and suggest that the algorithm could be useful for the detection of concerns that manifest as changes in frequency of reporting; however, further testing, including in prospective use, is warranted.
Semi‐transparent plastic solar cell based on oxide‐metal‐oxide multilayer electrodes
Authors: Lim Dong Chan , Jeong Jae Hoon , Hong Kihyon , Nho Sungho , Lee Joo‐Yul , Hoang Quoc Viet , Lee Sang Kyu , Pyo Kyunglim , Lee Dongil , Cho Shinuk
Published: November 2017

Semi‐transparent plastic solar cells are currently highly attractive for their potential as the most prominent components for building‐integrated photovoltaics. However, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of semi‐transparent plastic solar cells still lags behind due to the lack of a suitable transparent top electrode which can be easily fabricated. Here, we demonstrate high performance semi‐transparent plastic solar cells by introducing an oxide‐metal‐oxide (OMO) multilayer composed of MoO3 and Ag as a transparent top electrode. Because the conductivity of the OMO electrode is governed by an intermediate Ag layer sandwiched between 2 MoO3 layers, the PCE also strongly depends on the thickness of the intermediate Ag layer in the OMO electrode. By controlling the thickness of Ag layer, we obtained various PCE values from 4.5% with ~50% maximum transparency in the visible region to 9.1% with ~5% maximum transparency in the visible region. In addition, in order to get closer to practical application, 2 sizes of mini‐module devices were fabricated on a larger (10.0 cm × 10.0 cm) substrate for outdoor operation and small‐sized (7.0 cm × 5.0 cm) substrates for indoor operation were demonstrated using 3 materials of different color.
Ab initio quantum chemical calculation of electron density, electrostatic potential, and electric field of biomolecule based on fragment molecular orbital method
Authors: Ishikawa Takeshi
Published: November 2017

Efficient quantum chemical calculations of electrostatic properties, namely, the electron density (EDN), electrostatic potential (ESP), and electric field (EFL), were performed using the fragment molecular orbital (FMO) method. The numerical errors associated with the FMO scheme were examined at the HF, MP2, and RI‐MP2 levels of theory using 4 small peptides. As a result, the FMO errors in the EDN, ESP, and EFL were significantly smaller than the magnitude of the electron correlation effects, which indicated that the FMO method provides sufficiently accurate values of electrostatic properties. In addition, an attempt to reduce the computational effort was proposed by combining the FMO scheme and a point charge approximation. The error due to this approximation was examined using 2 proteins, prion protein and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease. As illustrative examples, the ESP values at the molecular surface of these proteins were calculated at the MP2 level of theory.
New theoretical insight on the acid sites distribution, their local structures and acid strength of the SAPO‐11 molecular sieve
Authors: Sierraalta Anibal , Añez Rafael , Coll David S. , Alejos Paola
Published: November 2017

ONIOM(DFT:PM3) calculations were carried out to investigate and characterize possible acid sites of SAPO‐11 molecular sieve. Two functionals were employed: B3LYP and ωB97X‐D. This last functional includes dispersion effects that are absent in the former. Benzene, pyridine, and ammonia interaction energies as well as the OH stretching frequencies of the POH, SiOH, and bridged Si(OH)Al groups were used to characterize the acid sites. This work shows that the adsorption of benzene on the surface is as strong as the adsorptions inside main channel of SAPO‐11. Pyridine adsorption on the surface is weaker than the one corresponding to the main channel. NH3molecule interacts strongly with all OH groups or acid sites present in SAPO‐11. Moreover, the results reveal that it is possible to adsorb two NH3molecules at only one Brønsted site. The adsorption of the second NH3molecule is energetically favorable mainly due to the hydrogen bond formation between the NH3molecules. In general the interaction energy increases with the type of functional used, according to the trend ωB97X‐D > B3LYP. The results show that ONIOM methodology seems to be suited to investigate the acid sites in SAPO‐11.
Regional Differences between the Rate of Change of CO2 Emission Intensity of Chinese Provinces and Implications for Sustainable Development
Authors: Li Hong , Hu Jianbo , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2017

This paper constructs an efficiency model of carbon emission reduction (ECER), and uses provincial panel data from 1995 to 2014 to examine the factors influencing ECER at province level in China. Results show that TA (technical advancement) and SE (scale effect) dominate ECER, but their effects vary across regions. TE (technical efficiency) has the potential to enhance ECER, given the increased TA in the three studied regions. The negative effect of IS (industry structure) on ECER in the West (the western region) is heavier than that in the central region and the East, while the East (the eastern region) has a lower negative effect of ES (energy structure) on ECER than the central region and the West. To increase the efficiency of emission reduction policies, the central and local governments should consider these regionally heterogeneous factors. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Bridging practice and process research to study transient manifestations of strategy
Authors: Mirabeau Laurent , Maguire Steve , Hardy Cynthia
Published: November 2017

Research Summary: At the intersection of Strategy Process (SP) and Strategy‐as‐Practice (SAP) research lies the focal phenomenon they share—strategy, which manifests itself in a variety of ways: intended, realized, deliberate, emergent, unrealized, and ephemeral strategy. We present a methodology comprised of three stages that, when integrated in the manner we suggest, permit a rich operationalization and tracking of strategy content for all manifestations. We illustrate the utility of our methodology for bridging SP and SAP research by theorizing practices that are more likely to give rise to unrealized and ephemeral strategy, identifying their likely consequences, and presenting a research agenda for studying these transient manifestations.

Managerial Summary: Managers know well that, sometimes for good reasons and other times with negative consequences for organizations, not all aspects of strategic plans are implemented with fidelity, resulting in unrealized strategy; and not all bottom‐up projects receive the middle‐management support they need to become realized, resulting in ephemeral strategy making. Surprisingly, however, these transient manifestations of strategy receive little attention in the scholarly literature. Our paper addresses this gap by presenting a methodology for tracking all six manifestations of strategy (intended, realized, deliberate, emergent, unrealized, and ephemeral strategy), highlighting the interdependent relations among them. It also describes strategy making practices that are likely to give rise to the two transient manifestations, i.e., unrealized and ephemeral strategy, as well as their consequences for subsequent strategy making.
Database engines: Evolution of greenness
Authors: Miranskyy A. V. , Al‐zanbouri Z. , Godwin D. , Bener A. B.
Published: November 2017

Information technology consumes up to 10% of the world's electricity generation, contributing to CO2 emissions and high energy costs. Data centers, particularly databases, use up to 23% of this energy. Therefore, building an energy‐efficient (green) database engine could reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The goal of this study is to understand the factors driving databases' energy consumption and execution time throughout their evolution. We conducted an empirical case study of energy consumption by 2 MySQL database engines, InnoDB and MyISAM, across 40 releases. We examined the relationships of 4 software metrics to energy consumption and execution time to determine which metrics reflect the greenness and performance of a database. Our analysis shows that database engines' energy consumption and execution time increase as databases evolve. Moreover, the lines of code (LOC) metric is correlated moderately to strongly with energy consumption and execution time in 88% of cases. Our findings provide insights to practitioners and researchers. Database administrators may use them to select a fast, green release of the MySQL database engine. MySQL developers may use LOC to assess products' greenness and performance. Researchers may use our findings to further develop new hypotheses or build models predicting greenness and performance of databases.
Melatonin improves survival and respiratory activity of yeast cells challenged by alpha‐synuclein and menadione
Authors: Zampol Mariana A. , Barros Mario H.
Published: November 2017

One of the hallmarks of Parkinson disease is α‐synuclein aggregate deposition that leads to endoplasmic reticulum stress, Golgi fragmentation and impaired energy metabolism with consequent redox imbalance. In the last decade, many studies have used Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model in order to explore the intracellular consequences of α‐synuclein overexpression. In this study we propose to evaluate the respiratory outcome of yeast cells expressing α‐synuclein. Cell viability or growth on selective media for respiratory activity was mainly affected in the α‐synuclein‐expressing cells if they were also treated with menadione, which stimulates reactive oxygen species production. We also tested whether melatonin, a natural antioxidant, would counteract the deleterious effects of α‐synuclein and menadione. In fact, melatonin addition improved the respiratory growth of α‐synuclein/menadione‐challenged cells, presented a general improvement in the enzymatic activity of the respiratory complexes and finally elevated the rate of mitophagy, an important cellular process necessary for the clearance of damaged mitochondria. Altogether, our data confirms that α‐synuclein impairs respiration in yeast, which can be rescued by melatonin addition.
Influence of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine on farnesol tolerance in Candida albicans
Authors: Hasim Sahar , Vaughn Elyse N. , Donohoe Dallas , Gordon Donna M. , Pfiffner Susan , Reynolds Todd B.
Published: November 2017

Candida albicans is among the most common human fungal pathogens. The ability to undergo the morphological transition from yeast to hyphal growth is critical for its pathogenesis. Farnesol, a precursor in the isoprenoid/sterol pathway, is a quorum‐sensing molecule produced by C. albicans that inhibits hyphal growth in this polymorphic fungus. Interestingly, C. albicans can tolerate farnesol concentrations that are toxic to other fungi. We hypothesized that changes in phospholipid composition are one of the factors contributing to farnesol tolerance in C. albicans. In this study, we found that loss of enzymes that synthesize the phospholipids phosphatidylserine (PS) and/or phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) compromise the tolerance of C. albicans to farnesol. Compared with wild type, the phospholipid mutant cho1∆/∆ (loss of PS and decreased PE synthesis) shows greater inhibition of growth, loss of ATP production, increased consumption of oxygen, and increased formation of reactive oxygen species in the presence of farnesol. The cho1∆/∆ mutant also exhibits decreased sensitivity to mitochondrial ATPase inhibition, suggesting that cells lacking PS and/or downstream PE rely less on mitochondrial function for ATP synthesis. These data reveal that PS and PE play roles in farnesol tolerance and maintaining mitochondrial respiratory function.
Ore Leashing Processing for Yellow Cake Production and Assay of their Uranium Content by Radiometric Analysis
Authors: Abdel‐Rahman Mohamed A. E. , El‐Mongy Sayed A.
Published: November 2017

In this study, Ore granite samples were collected from Gattar site for leashing of yellow cake. The process involves heap leaching of uranium through four main steps; size reduction, leaching, uranium purification, and finally precipitation and filtration. The separation process has been given in details and as flow chart. Gamma spectrometry based on HpGe detector and energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) were used to assay uranium content and activity before and after separation. The uranium weight percentage value as measured by EDX were found to be 40.5 and 67.5 % before and after purification respectively. The results of the calculations based on gamma measurements show high uranium activity and the uranium activity ratios values are 0.045 ± 4.9, 0.043 ± 4.7, and 0.046 ± 2.3 %, before purification, whereas these values were found to be 0.050 ± 3.3, 0.049 ± 3.3, and 0.050 ± 2.7 %, after purification, respectively. The results are discussed in details in the paper.
Map-based cloning of the fertility restoration locus Rfm1 in cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare)
Authors: Rizzolatti Carine , Bury Paul , Tatara Edouard , Pin Pierre A. , Rodde Nathalie , Bergès Hélène , Budar Françoise , Mireau Hakim , Gielen Jan J. L.
Published: November 2017

Hybridization technology has proven valuable in enhancing yields in many crops, but was only recently adopted in the small grain cereals. Hybrid varieties in barley (Hordeum vulgare) rely on the cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) system msm1 derived from Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum. The major restorer gene described for the msm1 system is known as Rfm1 and maps to the top of chromosome 6H. To gain further insight into mechanisms underlying male fertility restoration in barley, we used a map-based cloning approach to identify the nuclear gene involved in the restoration mechanism of this hybridization system. Taking advantage of the available genomic resources in barley in combination with a custom-made non-gridded BAC library developed from a restorer line, we cloned and sequenced the Rfm1 restorer locus. The characterization and annotation of the nucleotide sequence for the Rfm1 restorer allele allowed for the identification of the candidate gene for Rfm1. The Rfm1 locus carries a tandem repeat of a gene encoding a pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein. Surprisingly, Rfm1 belongs to the PLS-DYW subfamily of PPR genes known for their involvement in RNA editing in plants organelles, but that to date have not been identified as restorer genes.
Divergence-free positive symmetric tensors and fluid dynamics
Authors: Serre Denis
Published: November 2017

We consider

d \times d

tensors

A(x)

that are symmetric, positive semi-definite, and whose row-divergence vanishes identically. We establish sharp inequalities for the integral of

(\mathrm{\det }⁡A)^{\frac{1}{d−1}}

. We apply them to models of compressible inviscid fluids: Euler equations, Euler–Fourier, relativistic Euler, Boltzman, BGK, etc. We deduce an
a priori
estimate for a new quantity, namely the space–time integral of

\rho ^{\frac{1}{n}}p

, where

ρ

is the mass density,

p

the pressure and

n

the space dimension. For kinetic models, the corresponding quantity generalizes Bony's functional.
“It is definitely not the priority”: A postcolonial inquiry of social studies education in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Authors: Misco Thomas
Published: November 2017

This study employs a postcolonial lens to explore social studies education curriculum in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). By using a web-based open-ended questionnaire and an exhaustive recruitment strategy, every middle and high school social studies teacher in the CNMI had an opportunity to participate in this study. Questionnaire responses and follow-up interviews reveal the ways in which social studies education in the CNMI is convergent and divergent with mainland iterations of social studies and the complexity of continual normative renegotiation of education given its colonial relationship with the United States.
SOCIAL NETWORKS AND NORTHERN IROQUOIAN CONFEDERACY DYNAMICS
Authors: Birch Jennifer , Hart John P.
Published: November 2017

The Wendat (Huron) and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) confederacies of northeastern North America are often presented as functionally equivalent political formations despite their having distinct cultural traits and unique geopolitical and developmental histories. In this article we employ social network analysis of collar decoration on ceramic vessels both to examine organizational differences in the social network that composed each group and to evaluate women's participation in political activities as potters who produced and transmitted social and political signals. The concept of social capital and the dimensions along which it varies are employed to understand variability in network statistics and topologies. Our results indicate that the Wendat confederacy formed a “complete” network characterized by bonding ties of social capital, whereas the Haudenosaunee confederacy was a “coalitional” network characterized by bridging ties. The results suggest that women's signaling networks were integral to how each confederacy functioned and the norms of reciprocity, trust, and information-sharing that defined each political formation.
Prevalence of Genetic Disorders and GLUT1 Deficiency in a Ketogenic Diet Clinic
Authors: Hewson Stacy , Brunga Ledia , Ojeda Matilde Fernandez , Imhof Elizabeth , Patel Jaina , Zak Maria , Donner Elizabeth J. , Kobayashi Jeff , Salomons Gajja S. , Mercimek-Andrews Saadet
Published: November 2017

Between July of 2012 and December of 2014, 39 patients were enrolled prospectively to investigate the prevalence of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) deficiency in a ketogenic diet clinic. None of them had GLUT1 deficiency. All patients seen in the same clinic within the same period were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 18 of these 85 patients had a genetic diagnosis, including GLUT1 deficiency, pathogenic copy number variants, congenital disorder of glycosylation, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type II, mitochondrial disorders, tuberous sclerosis, lissencephaly, and SCN1A-, SCN8A-, and STXBP1-associated epileptic encephalopathies. The prevalence of genetic diagnoses was 21% and prevalence of GLUT1 deficiency was 2.4% in our retrospective cohort study.
Explorer la structure interne des constructions causatives du français
Authors: Hu Xiaoshi
Published: November 2017

Le présent article porte sur la structure interne des constructions causatives du français. Son argumentation se base sur deux idées essentielles : que l'interprétation derespectivementrévélerait l'effet d'intervention dans les constructions bi-propositionnelles, et que la montée du quantifieur serait soumise à la minimalité et à la Condition d'impénétrabilité des phases. J'utiliserai ces deux phénomènes comme tests pour justifier d'une part la relation morpho-syntaxique entre le verbe causatiffaireet le verbe causativisé, et d'autre part la dérivation de l'ordre VOS (verbe-objet-sujet) du complément defaire. Je compte démontrer que les constructions causatives du français sont analogues aux constructions ECM (Exceptional Case Marking), qui impliquent un TP défectif enchâssé; et que l'ordre VOS du complément defaire, dans la constructionfaire-àet dans la constructionfaire-par, impliquent deux dérivations différentes. Le premier est dérivé parObject Shift, tandis que le deuxième est dérivé parSmuggling.
Modeling the mechanical properties of ultra-thin polymer films
Authors: Espinosa-Loza Francisco , Stadermann Michael , Aracne-Ruddle Chantel , Casey Rebecca , Miller Philip , Whitesides Russel
Published: November 2017

A modeling method to extract the mechanical properties of ultra-thin films (10–100 nm thick) from experimental data generated by indentation of freestanding circular films using a spherical indenter is presented. The relationship between the mechanical properties of the film and experimental parameters including load, and deflection are discussed in the context of a constitutive material model, test variables, and analytical approaches. Elastic and plastic regimes are identified by comparison of finite element simulation and experimental data.
THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE FORMATIVE TO CLASSIC PERIOD TRANSITION AT IZAPA: A REEVALUATION
Authors: Mendelsohn Rebecca R.
Published: November 2017

The site of Izapa, though famous for its unique “Izapan” style monuments, has lagged behind many other Mesoamerican centers in archaeological research. As revisions of important Mesoamerican chronologies are underway, Inomata and colleagues (2014) have questioned whether monument production at Izapa has been misplaced chronologically. This article applies new data from the Izapa Household Archaeology Project to assess Inomata and colleagues’ (2014) proposal for a shift in the chronology at Izapa. It specifically assesses the chronology for the Formative to Classic period transition at Izapa, from 100 BC to AD 400, with new excavation data, ceramic cross-dating, and Bayesian modeling of AMS dates from the southern periphery of the site. These data generally support the chronology developed by Gareth Lowe following the 1960s excavations at the site, though a temporal overlap appears possible for the Terminal Formative Hato and Itstapa ceramic complexes. Although results do not support Inomata and colleagues’ proposal for a shift in the Izapa chronology, ceramic cross-ties proposed between the Hato phase at Izapa and the Verbena phase at Kaminaljuyu support Inomata and colleagues’ (2014) revision for the chronology of Kaminaljuyu.
Tracing the Evolution of Dust Obscured Star Formation and Accretion Back to the Reionisation Epoch withSPICA
Authors: Gruppioni C. , Ciesla L. , Hatziminaoglou E. , Pozzi F. , Rodighiero G. , Santini P. , Armus L. , Baes M. , Braine J. , Charmandaris V. , Clements D.L. , Christopher N. , Dannerbauer H. , Efstathiou A. , Egami E. , Fernández-Ontiveros J.A. , Fontanot F. , Franceschini A. , González-Alfonso E. , Griffin M. , Kaneda H. , Marchetti L. , Monaco P. , Nakagawa T. , Onaka T. , Papadopoulos A. , Pearson C. , Pérez-Fournon I. , Peréz-González P. , Roelfsema P. , Scott D. , Serjeant S. , Spinoglio L. , Vaccari M. , van der Tak F. , Vignali C. , Wang L. , Wada T.
Published: November 2017

Our current knowledge of star formation and accretion luminosity at high redshift (z> 3–4), as well as the possible connections between them, relies mostly on observations in the rest-frame ultraviolet, which are strongly affected by dust obscuration. Due to the lack of sensitivity of past and current infrared instrumentation, so far it has not been possible to get a glimpse into the early phases of the dust-obscured Universe. Among the next generation of infrared observatories,SPICA, observing in the 12–350 µm range, will be the only facility that can enable us to trace the evolution of the obscured star-formation rate and black-hole accretion rate densities over cosmic time, from the peak of their activity back to the reionisation epoch (i.e., 3 <z≲ 6–7), where its predecessors had severe limitations. Here, we discuss the potential of photometric surveys performed with theSPICAmid-infrared instrument, enabled by the very low level of impact of dust obscuration in a band centred at 34 µm. These unique unbiased photometric surveys thatSPICAwill perform will fully characterise the evolution of AGNs and star-forming galaxies after reionisation.
Quantifying episodic erosion and transient storage on the western margin of the Tibetan Plateau, upper Indus River
Authors: Jonell Tara N. , Owen Lewis A. , Carter Andrew , Schwenniger Jean-Luc , Clift Peter D.
Published: November 2017

Transient storage and erosion of valley fills, or sediment buffering, is a fundamental but poorly quantified process that may significantly bias fluvial sediment budgets and marine archives used for paleoclimatic and tectonic reconstructions. Prolific sediment buffering is now recognized to occur within the mountainous upper Indus River headwaters and is quantified here for the first time using optically stimulated luminescence dating, petrography, detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology, and morphometric analysis to define the timing, provenance, and volumes of prominent valley fills. This study finds that climatically modulated sediment buffering occurs over 103–104yr time scales and results in biases in sediment compositions and volumes. Increased sediment storage coincides with strong phases of summer monsoon and winter westerlies precipitation over the late Pleistocene (32–25 ka) and mid-Holocene (~8–6 ka), followed by incision and erosion with monsoon weakening. Glacial erosion and periglacial frost-cracking drive sediment production, and monsoonal precipitation mediates sediment evacuation, in contrast to the arid Transhimalaya and monsoonal frontal Himalaya. Plateau interior basins, although volumetrically large, lack transport capacity and are consequently isolated from the modern Indus River drainage. Marginal plateau catchments that both efficiently produce and evacuate sediment may regulate the overall compositions and volumes of exported sediment from the Himalayan rain shadow.
A Survey of the 14C Content of Dissolved Inorganic Carbon in Chinese Lakes
Authors: Liu Taibei , Zhou Weijian , Cheng Peng , Burr G S
Published: November 2017

We present radiocarbon (14C) measurements of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) from surface waters of 11 lakes, widely distributed in China. Surface lake water DIC F14C values show distinct differences, and we relate these to the physical exchange character (“open” or “closed”) of each lake. Open lakes studied here generally have lower DIC F14C values than closed lakes. We present a simple model of a lake water cycle to calculate an average residence time for each lake. Comparisons between lake DIC F14C and average residence time shows that the DIC F14C increases with the average residence time and reflects a steady-state.
Reservoir Correction for the Central and North Kuril Islands in North Pacific Context
Authors: Fitzhugh Ben , Brown William A
Published: November 2017

We present new marine reservoir ΔR correction terms for the central and northern Kuril Islands. We estimate ΔR from a series of archaeological charcoal-shell pairs from two archaeological sites using standard calibration procedures and Monte Carlo simulation. The combined ΔR estimate for all paired samples for the Kuril samples is 508±127 yr. In the context of available North Pacific Rim ΔR estimates, the new Kuril data support the interpretation of a well-mixed, 14C-depleted North Pacific Subarctic Gyre. For the broader subarctic North Pacific region, a ΔR estimate in the range of 440±127 yr is a reasonable correction for any coastal marine shell date, and may be applied to fish and marine mammal dates for taxa known to reside within these waters throughout their life-histories. This generalization fails as one moves south from Hokkaido along the East Asian coast. There, well-equilibrated subtropical water minimize the ΔR offset.
Influence of Aquatic Plant Photosynthesis on the Reservoir Effect of Genggahai Lake, Northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Li Yuan , Qiang Mingrui , Jin Yanxiang , Liu Li , Zhou Aifeng , Zhang Jiawu
Published: November 2017

Terrestrial plant remains in the sediments of lakes from semi-arid and arid regions are rare and therefore the establishment of a sediment chronology depends on accurate assessment of the reservoir effect of the lake water. In a study of Genggahai Lake in the Gonghe Basin, northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, we used accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon (AMS 14C) dating to determine the age of (1) dissolved inorganic carbon in the water (DICLW), (2) macrophyte remains in the uppermost samples of core sediments, (3) living P. pectinatus in the lake, and (4) dissolved inorganic carbon of spring water in the catchment. The results show that the ages of the DICLW (910 14C yr BP on average) were much younger than the ages of the groundwater (6330 14C yr BP on average), which may result mainly from CO2 exchange between the lake water and the atmosphere. In addition, the 14C ages of DICLW and macrophyte remains in the uppermost core sediments varied from site to site within the lake, which we ascribe to the different photosynthesis rates of Chara spp. and vascular plants. The higher photosynthesis rate of Chara spp. decreases lake-water pCO2, which leads to more atmospheric CO2 being absorbed by the lake water, and thereby greatly reducing the age of carbon species in areas dominated by Chara spp. Although Genggahai Lake is well mixed, the differences between the apparent ages of the lake water are significantly modulated by the photosynthesis intensity of submerged plants.
Pasture intake and grazing behaviour of growing European wild boar (Sus scrofaL.) and domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus, Landrace×Large White) in a semi-extensive production system
Authors: HODGKINSON S. M. , POLANCO C. , ACEITON L. , LOPEZ I. F.
Published: November 2017

The objective of the present study was to determine the pasture intake of European wild boar and domestic pigs throughout their growth period (from 60 to 207 days of age). The proportion of time that each animal type spent grazing was also determined. Twelve 60-day-old pure-bred European wild boar (six castrated males and six females, average live-weight (±s.e.m.) 6·8 ± 0·37 kg) and 12 70-day-old domestic pigs (Large White × Landrace, six castrated males and six females, average live-weight [ ±s.e.m.] 24·1 ± 0·66 kg) were used in the study. Each day during the study, the animals grazed from 08·00 until 16·00 h, after which they hadad-libitumaccess to a supplemental diet for 1 h. Every 14 days throughout the study (a total of ten determinations), the pasture consumption was determined as the difference between the pasture dry matter (DM) availability pre- and post-grazing. The supplemental diet consumption was also determined. Three times during the study (age of animals 85, 140 and 198 days), the behaviour of each animal was observed over four consecutive days while grazing. When considered on a metabolic bodyweight basis, the pasture consumption of the European wild boar was greater than that in the domestic pigs. Approximately 0·20 of the total DM intake by the wild boar was pasture, whereas only 0·10 of the total DM intake by the domestic pigs was pasture. However, domestic pigs consumed a greater quantity of supplemental diet than the wild boar. The wild boar obtained 0·20 of their total daily dietary apparent energy intake from pasture, compared with 0·07 in the domestic pigs. Wild boar were more active during 8-h grazing periods spending 0·54 of their time grazing or moving around, compared with 0·32 of the time in domestic pigs.
Classification of confectionary sunflower genotypes based on morphological characters
Authors: HLADNI N. , TERZIĆ S. , MUTAVDŽIĆ B. , ZORIĆ M.
Published: November 2017

Knowledge of genetic diversity of confectionary sunflower can have a large impact on its use in breeding programmes. However, levels and distribution of genetic variation within the confectionary sunflower gene pool are still not adequately explored. The aim of the present paper was to describe the diversity of 68 confectionary sunflower genotypes: open-pollinated varieties, lines and hybrids. A total of 32 morphological traits were used for characterization. The Shannon & Weaver diversity index (H) was estimated as a measure of morphological diversity. The mean value of the Shannon index was 0·71, which indicates a high morphological diversity. The lowest diversity was found for leaf descriptors, moderately high to high for seed traits, while the highest values were found for disc flowers and ray florets. The highest individual descriptor diversity was found for: head attitude, the angle of leaf lateral nerves and ray floret disposition. The homogeneity analysis (HOMALS) multivariate reduction technique for nominal categorical data proved to be an efficient method for a comprehensive overview of genotype diversity and group homogeneity. Besides diversity, the number of categories and uniformity of genotype distribution determines discriminative power of descriptors. Traits that contributed the most to the distinction of genotypes were identified, enabling differentiation of genotypes with similar phenotypic attributes. The highest discriminative power was observed in traits such as anthocyanin colouration of stigma (DFIA), seed colour of stripes and seed main colour. The genotypes tested formed two distinctive major groups of varieties and hybrids with inbred lines widely dispersed along both axes. A separate grouping was obtained per the most discriminative traits based on HOMALS analysis, while the best separation was obtained using DFIA. Isolated genotypes that may not be representative by yield or seed-specific traits can be useful sources of traits for breeding. Morphological characterization can be used to improve description and classification of confectionary sunflower germplasm when evaluating diversity.
A new allele of the kappa-casein gene in local zebu cattle breeds
Authors: Ahmad Tauseef , Atkulwar Ashwin , Farah Sameera , Singh Vijendra , Baig Mumtaz
Published: November 2017

Local zebu cattle breeds in Indian villages are crossbred with exotic breeds at an unprecedented rate without utilising the full potential of genomic technologies. In addition to agriculture produce, livestock, particularly cattle, constitute a vital source of livelihood for farmers in India. Age-old agricultural practices, errant monsoon, and frequent crop failures have resulted in Maharashtra having the highest number of farmer suicides in the country. Local cattle breeds are considered low-yield breeds and thus are primarily used as beasts of burden. Information on functional gene variants in Indian cattle breeds is scant and limited to PCR-RFLP study in few breeds. In this study, 32 samples from 8 cattle breeds were obtained from remote villages of Maharashtra state. By using the re-sequencing technology, we sequenced 403 bp of the exon IV CSN3 allele and inferred its haplotypes. From 32 samples, 14 genotypes (G1–G14) defined by 7 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP's) were identified. From these 14 genotypes, we reconstructed 3 haplotypes (H01, H02, and H03) and estimated their frequencies. Of the 3 haplotypes, two (H01 and H03) corresponded to CSN3*B4 and CSN3*B and CSN3*H and CSN3*G alleles, respectively. The third haplotype H02 was identified as a new allele and differed from CSN3*B4 and CSN3*B and CSN3*H and CSN3*G alleles by one nonsynonymous mutation at the position C5306T-Ile100Thr. The neighbour-joining tree reconstruction revealed haplotype sharing or hybridisation between B. t. indicus and B. t. taurus because the 3 haplotypes originated in this study clustered with A1, B2, B4, B, G, and H alleles, which were reported previously in both the subspecies of B. taurus. The occurrence of one new allele in a small sample size highlights the urgency to screen local zebu cattle breeds by using genomic tools for circumventing genetic erosion that is widespread in Indian villages in India.
A filtration-based rapid test using a partially purified third-stage larval antigen to detect specific antibodies for the diagnosis of gnathostomiasis
Authors: Ma A. , Wang Y. , Liu X.L. , Zhang H.M. , Eamsobhana P. , Yong H.S. , Gan X.X.
Published: November 2017

Human gnathostomiasis is an emerging food-borne parasitic disease caused by nematodes of the genusGnathostoma. Currently, serological tests are commonly applied to support clinical diagnosis. In the present study, a simple and rapid filtration-based test, dot immune–gold filtration assay (DIGFA) was developed using a partially purified antigen ofGnathostomathird-stage larvae (L3). A total of 180 serum samples were tested to evaluate the diagnostic potential of DIGFA for gnathostomiasis. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 96.7% (29/30) and 100% (25/25), respectively. The cross-reactivity with sera from other helminthiasis patients ranged from 0 to 4%, with an average of 1.6% (2/125). DIGFA using a partially purified L3 antigen was not only simple and rapid, but also more accurate than standard assays for the diagnosis of human gnathostomiasis. DIGFA may represent a promising tool for application in laboratories or in the field, without requiring any instrumentation.
The ‘Franklins of Colombia’: Immigration Schemes and Hemispheric Solidarity in the Making of a Civilised Colombian Nation
Authors: BASSI ERNESTO
Published: November 2017

During the 1820s, Colombia's diplomats in London, Washington and Philadelphia worked hard to obtain diplomatic recognition for their nascent republic. Their efforts were also geared towards making Colombia attractive to European and North American settlers whose industry and work ethic would, they hoped, turn it into a civilised and modern Euro-Atlantic nation. The immigration schemes they promoted enable us to understand the type of nations the nation-makers of post-independence Spanish America envisioned and how, by appealing to sentiments of hemispheric solidarity – among other means – they sought to turn their visions into reality. A comparison with similar eighteenth-century schemes promoted by the Bourbons, moreover, reveals the persistence, albeit with some critical modifications, of late-colonial ways of thinking and envisioning society.
IUCN's encounter with 007: safeguarding consensus for conservation
Authors: Stuart Simon N. , Al Dhaheri Shaikha , Bennett Elizabeth L. , Biggs Duan , Bignell Andrew , Byers Onnie , Cooney Rosie , Donaldson John , Dublin Holly T. , Eggermont Hilde , Engels Barbara , van Havre Basile , Hoffmann Michael , Horie Masahiko , Hutton Jon , Khosla Ashok , Launay Frédéric , Lees Caroline , Mace Georgina M. , Marton-Lefèvre Julia , Menon Vivek , Mittermeier Russell A. , Pataridze Tamar , Pellerano Miguel , Perez Gil Ramon , Robinson John G. , Rodríguez Jon Paul , Te Pareake Mead Aroha , Thomas Spencer , von Weissenberg Marina
Published: November 2017

A controversy at the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress on the topic of closing domestic ivory markets (the 007, or so-called James Bond, motion) has given rise to a debate on IUCN's value proposition. A cross-section of authors who are engaged in IUCN but not employed by the organization, and with diverse perspectives and opinions, here argue for the importance of safeguarding and strengthening the unique technical and convening roles of IUCN, providing examples of what has and has not worked. Recommendations for protecting and enhancing IUCN's contribution to global conservation debates and policy formulation are given.
Microbial protein targets: towards understanding and intervention
Authors: DENNY PAUL W.
Published: November 2017

The rise of antimicrobial resistance, coupled with a lack of industrial focus on antimicrobial discovery over preceding decades, has brought the world to a crisis point. With both human and animal health set to decline due to increased disease burdens caused by near untreatable microbial pathogens, there is an urgent need to identify new antimicrobials. Central to this is the elucidation of new, robustly validated, drug targets. Informed by industrial practice and concerns, the use of both biological and chemical tools in validation is key. In parallel, repurposing approved drugs for use as antimicrobials may provide both new treatments and identify new targets, whilst improved understanding of pharmacology will help develop and progress good ‘hits’ with the required rapidity. In recognition of the need to increase research efforts in these areas, in 14–16 September 2017, the British Society for Parasitology (BSP) Autumn Symposium was hosted at Durham University with the title: Microbial Protein Targets: towards understanding and intervention. Staged in collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Chemistry Biology Interface Division (CBID), the core aim was to bring together leading researchers working across disciplines to imagine novel approaches towards combating infection and antimicrobial resistance. Sessions were held on: ‘Anti-infective discovery, an overview’; ‘Omic approaches to target validation’; ‘Genetic approaches to target validation’; ‘Drug target structure and drug discovery’; ‘Fragment-based approaches to drug discovery’; and ‘Chemical approaches to target validation’. Here, we introduce a series of review and primary research articles from selected contributors to the Symposium, giving an overview of progress in understanding antimicrobial targets and developing new drugs. The Symposium was organized by Paul Denny (Durham) for the BSP and Patrick Steel (Durham) for RSC CBID.
Building machines that learn and think for themselves
Authors: Botvinick Matthew , Barrett David G. T. , Battaglia Peter , de Freitas Nando , Kumaran Darshan , Leibo Joel Z , Lillicrap Timothy , Modayil Joseph , Mohamed Shakir , Rabinowitz Neil C. , Rezende Danilo J. , Santoro Adam , Schaul Tom , Summerfield Christopher , Wayne Greg , Weber Theophane , Wierstra Daan , Legg Shane , Hassabis Demis
Published: November 2017

We agree with Lake and colleagues on their list of “key ingredients” for building human-like intelligence, including the idea that model-based reasoning is essential. However, we favor an approach that centers on one additional ingredient: autonomy. In particular, we aim toward agents that can both build and exploit their own internal models, with minimal human hand engineering. We believe an approach centered on autonomous learning has the greatest chance of success as we scale toward real-world complexity, tackling domains for which ready-made formal models are not available. Here, we survey several important examples of the progress that has been made toward building autonomous agents with human-like abilities, and highlight some outstanding challenges.
Theories or fragments?
Authors: Chater Nick , Oaksford Mike
Published: November 2017

Lake et al. argue persuasively that modelling human-like intelligence requires flexible, compositional representations in order to embody world knowledge. But human knowledge is too sparse and self-contradictory to be embedded in “intuitive theories.” We argue, instead, that knowledge is grounded in exemplar-based learning and generalization, combined with high flexible generalization, a viewpoint compatible both with non-parametric Bayesian modelling and with sub-symbolic methods such as neural networks.
Thinking like animals or thinking like colleagues?
Authors: Dennett Daniel C. , Lambert Enoch
Published: November 2017

We comment on ways in which Lake et al. advance our understanding of the machinery of intelligence and offer suggestions. The first set concerns animal-level versus human-level intelligence. The second concerns the urgent need to address ethical issues when evaluating the state of artificial intelligence.
Building machines that adapt and compute like brains
Authors: Kriegeskorte Nikolaus , Mok Robert M.
Published: November 2017

Building machines that learn and think like humans is essential not only for cognitive science, but also for computational neuroscience, whose ultimate goal is to understand how cognition is implemented in biological brains. A new cognitive computational neuroscience should build cognitive-level and neural-level models, understand their relationships, and test both types of models with both brain and behavioral data.
If priming is graded rather than all-or-none, can reactivating abstract structures be the underlying mechanism?
Authors: Feldman Laurie Beth , Milin Petar
Published: November 2017

In our commentary on Branigan & Pickering (B&P), we start by arguing that the authors implicitly adopt several assumptions, the consequence of which is to make further claims necessary and/or sufficient. Crucially, the authors assume the existence of discrete units at various levels of linguistic granularity that then must be operated upon by combinatorial mechanisms and rules (i.e., decomposition/recomposition). They further argue that structural priming provides a powerful tool to study abstract, structural representations. We provide evidence that priming effects in production are characterized better as graded than as all-or-none and that priming need not arise from a mechanism that (re)activates a shared but abstract internal structure.