bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local adsorption structure and bonding of porphine on Cu(111) before and after self-metalation
Authors: Duncan D. A. , Casado Aguilar P. , Paszkiewicz M. , Diller K. , Bondino F. , Magnano E. , Klappenberger F. , Píš I. , Rubio A. , Barth J. V. , Pérez Paz A. , Allegretti F.
Published: March 2019

We have experimentally determined the lateral registry and geometric structure of free-base porphine (2H-P) and copper-metalated porphine (Cu-P) adsorbed on Cu(111), by means of energy-scanned photoelectron diffraction (PhD), and compared the experimental results to density functional theory (DFT) calculations that included van der Waals corrections within the Tkatchenko-Scheffler approach. Both 2H-P and Cu-P adsorb with their center above a surface bridge site. Consistency is obtained between the experimental and DFT-predicted structural models, with a characteristic change in the corrugation of the four N atoms of the molecule’s macrocycle following metalation. Interestingly, comparison with previously published data for cobalt porphine adsorbed on the same surface evidences a distinct increase in the average height of the N atoms above the surface through the series 2H-P, Cu-P, and cobalt porphine. Such an increase strikingly anti-correlates the DFT-predicted adsorption strength, with 2H-P having the smallest adsorption height despite the weakest calculated adsorption energy. In addition, our findings suggest that for these macrocyclic compounds, substrate-to-molecule charge transfer and adsorption strength may not be univocally correlated.
High-temperature stable refractory nanoneedles with over 99% solar absorptance
Authors: Rubin Elizabeth B. , Shin Sunmi , Chen Yiming , Chen Renkun
Published: March 2019

Solar absorber coatings have widely been investigated for solar-thermal technologies including concentrated solar power and solar thermochemistry. While various nanostructures such as nanowires and nanotubes have been commonly used for high solar absorptance owing to their potent light trapping effect, the high temperature stability of these nanostructures has yet to be established due to either coarsening of nanostructures or oxidation of certain materials in air (e.g., Si and C). In this work, we developed a nanostructured solar absorber from a family of high-temperature refractory spinel oxides, Co3O4 and CuCo2O4, with ultra-high solar absorptance over 99%. Once coated with a thin layer of HfO2 or SiO2 through atomic layer deposition, the Co3O4 and CuCo2O4 nanoneedles preserve their high aspect ratio and sharp tips, allowing the solar absorbers to maintain the superior absorptivity and excellent thermal stability at an elevated temperature for an extended period (650 °C and 800 °C for 100 h for passivated Co3O4 and Cu1Co2O4, respectively). These results suggest that solar absorbers made from refractory spinel oxide nanoneedles can be used for high-temperature solar thermal applications with ultrahigh absorptance.
Towards a coherent database of thermal boundary conductance at metal/dielectric interfaces
Authors: Blank Maïté , Weber Ludger
Published: March 2019

The thermal boundary conductance (TBC) of metal/dielectric couples was measured for a large variety of metals on silicon, sapphire, and diamond using time domain thermoreflectance and compared to data previously obtained on diamond. In the case of silicon, HF-cleaned and RF-etched surfaces were tested. The detailed structure of these interfaces was studied, allowing distinction of two different cases of M/Si couples: (i) some amount of interfacial reaction exists for both surface terminations, resulting in similar TBCs; and (ii) chemically abrupt interfaces are achieved, resulting in TBC values that are always lower for RF-etched samples. The TBC values obtained on different substrates allowed identifying a tendency of the TBC to scale with the maximum transmission limit. A possible influence of the substrate was evaluated using both the diffuse mismatch model (DMM), which predicts a strong dependence on the substrate properties, and a newly developed approach based on the metal irradiance (IM), which predicts no dependence on the substrate properties. The DMM was implemented using a Debye model with either a linear (DMMLinear) or a Sine-Type (DMMSineType) dispersion, while the IM was implemented using a Sine-Type (IMSineType) dispersion. The DMMLinear and the IMSineType were found to be more suitable than the DMMSineType and to be equally precise in predicting TBC at metal/silicon and metal/sapphire interfaces. The IMSineType is found to be better suited than both the DMMLinear and the DMMSineType to predict TBC at metal/diamond interfaces. IMSineType being the only model tested that is suitable for all three substrates, it appears to be the most appropriate choice. As a corollary, we find that the TBC dependence on substrate properties is much weaker than predicted by the DMM.
Systematic investigation of the threshold voltage modulation of AlGaN/GaN Schottky-gate Fin-HEMTs
Authors: Chang Li-Cheng , Lin Jhih-Hao , Dai Cheng-Jia , Yang Ming , Jiang Yi-Hong , Wu Yuh-Renn , Wu Chao-Hsin
Published: March 2019

In this letter, we investigate the On/Off switching mechanism of AlGaN/GaN Fin-high-electron-mobility transistors (Fin-HEMTs) comprehensively through experiment and simulation. The “tri-gated fin channel” is characterized by a direct gate-metal/semiconductor contact, that is, a Schottky gate instead of a conventional metal-insulator-semiconductor gate stack. The minimum fin width of our Fin-HEMT is 100 nm with a threshold voltage (Vth) of −0.65 V, and a positive Vth shift with a channel width scaling is also obtained in the experiment. Through the 3-D simulation, it can be found that while the channel width is narrow enough, the carrier in the fin channel is dominated by the side-gate laterally instead of the vertical top-gate control. The band diagram also indicates that the conduction band in the fin channel is pulled up more rapidly than the planar HEMT with a negative gate bias. This result can be attributed to channel pinch-off through the depletion region which is created by the Schottky side-gate. Therefore, a narrow fin channel can lead to the “early pinch-off effect” compared with the planar HEMT.
Schottky barrier diodes fabricated on diamond mosaic wafers: Dislocation reduction to mitigate the effect of coalescence boundaries
Authors: Ohmagari Shinya , Yamada Hideaki , Tsubouchi Nobuteru , Umezawa Hitoshi , Chayahara Akiyoshi , Seki Akinori , Kawaii Fumiaki , Saitoh Hiroaki , Mokuno Yoshiaki
Published: March 2019

Diamond mosaic wafers in which several seed crystals are connected laterally by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are promising large-scale substrates for diamond electronics. One of the prime concerns of the applicability of diamond mosaic wafers is the presence of highly defective coalescence boundaries, which degrade the electrical performance. For Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs), a large leakage current with an inferior Schottky barrier height has been observed at mosaic boundaries. To further improve the device uniformity, high-quality, low-dislocation film growth is required. Here, we introduced a buffer layer to mitigate the influence of coalescence boundaries on diamond mosaic wafers. Diamond film growth by hot-filament CVD accompanied by tungsten incorporation effectively suppressed dislocation propagation from the mosaic substrate to the epilayer. After insertion of the buffer layer, SBDs showed improved rectifying behavior with suppressed leakage current at coalescence boundaries. In addition, the forward/reverse characteristics were essentially identical and high electric breakdown strength exceeding 3 MV cm−1 was demonstrated regardless of the presence of coalescence boundaries when the buffer layer was included.
Structural evolution and dislocation behaviour during nano-rolling process of FCC metals: A molecular dynamics simulation based investigation
Authors: Vijay Reddy K. , Pal Snehanshu
Published: March 2019

Though the structural properties of nanomaterials are significantly influenced by the rolling process, the deformation mechanism at an atomic level is unknown. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations have been applied to investigate the deformation mechanism and structural evolution of single crystal Al and Cu specimens during the room temperature nano-rolling process. Also, the effect of crystallographic orientation and stacking fault energy (SFE) on the nano-rolling behaviour is analyzed. Results from dislocation analysis show that all the Cu specimens have higher dislocation densities when compared with that of the Al specimens. This is attributed to lower SFE of Cu specimens that exhibit a limited recovery process and affect the dislocation mobility causing higher dislocation densities. This phenomenon is also confirmed through atomic strain analysis which has shown a higher volume fraction of slip bands in the Cube oriented Cu specimen when compared with the Cube oriented Al specimen. On the other hand, Brass- and Copper-oriented Al and Cu specimens show strain imbalance between the lower and upper sections of the specimen due to the different slip mechanism, which causes a lag between the movement of both sections and consequent bending of the specimen.
Observation of a dynamical crossover in the shear relaxation processes in supercooled selenium near the glass transition
Authors: Zhu Weidi , Aitken Bruce G. , Sen Sabyasachi
Published: March 2019

Shear relaxation in supercooled selenium liquid near its glass transition over the viscosity range of 106 Pa s–1012 Pa s is studied using oscillatory parallel plate rheometry. The results demonstrate the presence of a slow, Debye-like relaxation process and a fast, cooperative relaxation process that are attributed, respectively, to the Se–Se bond scission/renewal dynamics and the segmental motion of selenium chains. The slow process displays a nearly-Arrhenius temperature dependence, while the fast process is strongly non-Arrhenius, and their combined contribution to viscosity is estimated using the Maxwell relation. The slow process is found to be coupled to viscous flow over the entire viscosity range. In contrast, the fast process becomes a major contributor to viscosity, and hence, to fragility only near Tg. This dynamical crossover is likely a fundamental characteristic of fragile liquids that represents a temperature dependent evolution of their free energy landscape. The fragility of supercooled selenium liquid appears to be remarkably closely linked to the temperature dependence of the shear modulus of the slow process, thus validating the prediction of the elastic shoving model.
High-temperature hohlraum designs with multiple laser-entrance holes
Authors: Farmer W. A. , Tabak M. , Hammer J. H. , Amendt P. A. , Hinkel D. E.
Published: March 2019

Multiple laser-entrance-hole (LEH) designs are proposed which increase the number of LEHs, n, from two in standard designs. This is done to minimize the laser travel distance in the hohlraum and to obtain algebraically vanishing low order radiation moments, thereby allowing smaller case-to-capsule ratios. This leads to higher coupling efficiencies and temperatures. Symmetry is analyzed using group theory for n ≤ 12 with the LEHs placed at points given by solutions to the Thomson problem. Symmetry is improved beyond the standard n = 2 designs for n corresponding to Platonic solids: the tetrahedron (n = 4), octahedron (n = 6), and icosahedron (n = 12). The first, non-vanishing asymmetry present in the radiation drive is given. Two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations are then performed using Lasnex to assess energetics for n = 4 and n = 12. The simulation domain is a conical section of a sphere with the total solid angle equal to 4π/n. The total LEH area is kept fixed as n increases, reducing the size of an individual LEH and the laser spot size. A foam block is recessed inside the LEH in order to capture all of the incident laser energy and prevent the rays from propagating large distances across the hohlraum. The radiation temperature near the capsule reaches ∼335 eV with a 400 TW peak laser power, and the electron density inside the LEH remains below quarter-critical density.
Cold atom-atom-anion three-body recombination of 4He4HexLi− (x = 6 or 7) systems
Authors: Wang Bin-Bin , Jing Su-Hua , Zeng Ti-Xian
Published: March 2019

Atom-atom-anion three-body recombination (TBR) in mixed 4He and xLi− (x = 6 or 7) is investigated in the adiabatic hyperspherical representation by quantum mechanically solving the Schrödinger equation. The distributions of product states following these TBR processes are found to be relatively different for the two systems when the collision energy is less than roughly 0.6 mK × kB or 0.3 mK × kB for 4He4He6Li− and 4He4He7Li− systems, respectively, with kB being the Boltzmann constant. For 4He4He6Li− systems, the rate of recombination into (v=0) l = 04He6Li− molecular anions is the largest with v and l denoting the rovibrational quantum numbers, while the TBR rate that leads to the formation of l = 14He6Li− molecular anions is a little smaller than that of neutral 4He2 molecules. For 4He4He7Li− systems, neutral 4He2 molecules tend to be the most products, following the yields of l = 0 and 1 4He7Li− molecular anions. However, in spite of these distinctly different distributions, the products of molecular anions, the sum of l = 0 and 1 4HexLi− products, are relatively larger than that of neutral 4He2 molecules for both the two systems.
A novel wideband radial waveguide power combiner using coaxial-to-ridge waveguide transitions
Authors: Deng Jie , Wang Qingyuan , Hu Yiming , Zhao Peng
Published: March 2019

A novel wideband eight-way radial waveguide power combiner has been proposed in this paper. The proposed radial waveguide power combiner consists of a commercial N-type connector, a regular-octagon waveguide cavity, eight matching circuits, and eight coaxial-to-ridge waveguide transitions. The introduction of matching circuits is used to improve matching performance in the regular-octagon waveguide cavity. Besides, in order to guarantee the bandwidth performance and facilitate applications, eight coaxial-to-ridge transitions as output ports were also designed to connect ridge ports of the radial waveguide power combiner. Therefore, the overall performance of the proposed waveguide power combiner is enhanced over the wideband range. For validation, a sample eight-way radial waveguide power combiner has been designed, fabricated, and measured. The measured results show that the return loss (S11) and insertion loss (S21) are better than 20 dB and 0.5 dB, respectively, in the whole frequency range from 4 to 8 GHz (with 66.6% fractional bandwidth). The measured results reasonably agree well with the simulation ones. Compared with some other radial waveguide power combiners, the completed radial waveguide power combiner exhibits lower return loss, lower insertion loss, more compact size, and prominent bandwidth performance.
Boosting the resolution of neutron backscattering spectroscopy
Authors: Miller Johanna L.
Published: March 2019

Replacing silicon crystals with gallium arsenide ones quadruples energy resolution, the biggest jump the technique has seen in its half-century history.
Exoplanet research evolves with statistical and technological advances
Authors: Feder Toni
Published: March 2019

Astronomers, chemists, geologists, astrobiologists, and other scientists are working to decode how planetary systems form and to find extraterrestrial life.
DOE uranium contract raises fairness concerns
Authors: Kramer David
Published: March 2019

Agency is criticized for conducting an apparently piecemeal process to satisfy its future requirements for enriched uranium. Stipulation that material have US origin is also questioned.
Nuclear physics in Reviews of Modern Physics
Authors: Bertsch George , Nazarewicz Witold , Richter Achim
Published: March 2019

Throughout its 90-year history, the journal has elucidated all the major advances in the science of the densest phases of matter.
Mechanisms of potassium release from calcareous soils to different salt, organic acid and inorganic acid solutions
Authors: Najafi-Ghiri M. , Niazi M. , Khodabakhshi M. , Boostani H. R. , Owliaie H. R.
Published: March 2019

Mechanisms of potassium (K) release and fixation in calcareous soils may differ from non-calcareous soils. In the current investigation, four soils with different properties were extracted three and 10 times (45 and 150min, defined as short- and long-term respectively) with 0.025molL−1 CaCl2, HCl and oxalic and citric acid solutions and the contents of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), aluminium (Al) and K in the extracts were determined. Immediately after K extraction, 500mg kg–1 of K (as KCl) was added to the remaining soils and shaken for 24h and K-fixation capacity was determined. No significant difference was observed between CaCl2 and HCl solutions in K extraction from soils in the short- and long-term experiments; the concentrations of Ca, Mg and Al in the extractants showed that HCl was not able to dissolve soil minerals and the soils released K via exchange reaction of Ca (originated from CaCO3 dissolution by HCl) with interlayer K. The organic acids had similar behaviour to each other in the short-term experiment; however, partial dissolution of minerals by citric acid was observed. Oxalic acid extracted less K than other solutions in the short-term experiment due to precipitation of soluble Ca as oxalate salt and thereby less exchange of soluble Ca with non-exchangeable K. Oxalic and citric acids dissolved K-bearing minerals and released K in the long-term experiment, but oxalic acid was more effective. The K-fixation capacity of soils was lower when treated with organic acids than with CaCl2 and HCl, possibly due to the dissolution of K-fixing minerals like smectite and illite by oxalate and citrate. Long-term treatment of soils with different solutions decreased K-fixation capacity of soils due to dissolution of K-fixing minerals or flocculation of minerals by Ca and slower K diffusion to the interlayer. With respect to the highly calcareous nature of the studied soils, the soluble cations in calcareous soils (predominantly Ca and Mg) may have been exchanged with non-exchangeable K of clay minerals and buffered soluble K as well as organic acids produced by plant roots and microorganisms.
Cryo-electron microscopy structure of the filamentous bacteriophage IKe
Authors: Xu Jingwei , Dayan Nir , Goldbourt Amir , Xiang Ye
Published: March 2019

The filamentous bacteriophage IKe infects
Escherichia coli
cells bearing IncN pili. We report the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the micrometer-long IKe viral particle at a resolution of 3.4 Å. The major coat protein [protein 8 (p8)] consists of 47 residues that fold into a ∼68-Å-long helix. An atomic model of the coat protein was built. Five p8 helices in a horizontal layer form a pentamer, and symmetrically neighboring p8 layers form a right-handed helical cylinder having a rise per pentamer of 16.77 Å and a twist of 38.52°. The inner surface of the capsid cylinder is positively charged and has direct interactions with the encapsulated circular single-stranded DNA genome, which has an electron density consistent with an unusual left-handed helix structure. Similar to capsid structures of other filamentous viruses, strong capsid packing in the IKe particle is maintained by hydrophobic residues. Despite having a different length and large sequence differences from other filamentous phages, π–π interactions were found between Tyr9 of one p8 and Trp29 of a neighboring p8 in IKe that are similar to interactions observed in phage M13, suggesting that, despite sequence divergence, overall structural features are maintained.
Infection by the parasitic helminthTrichinella spiralisactivates a Tas2r-mediated signaling pathway in intestinal tuft cells
Authors: Luo Xiao-Cui , Chen Zhen-Huang , Xue Jian-Bo , Zhao Dong-Xiao , Lu Chen , Li Yi-Hong , Li Song-Min , Du Ya-Wen , Liu Qun , Wang Ping , Liu Mingyuan , Huang Liquan
Published: March 2019

Significance

Intestinal tuft cells are sentinels monitoring the luminal contents and play a critical role in type 2 immunity. In this work,Trichinella spiralisexcretion–secretion and extract were shown to directly induce interleukin 25 (IL-25) release from the intestinal villi, evoke calcium responses in tuft cells, and activate Tas2r bitter-taste receptors, whereas the bitter compound salicin was shown to activate and induce tuft cells to release IL-25. Gα-gustducin/Gβ1γ13 and/or Gαo/Gβ1γ13, Plcβ2, Ip3r2, and Trpm5 comprise the signal transduction pathways that tuft cells utilize to initiate type 2 immune responses. Potentiation of Trpm5 by a natural sweet compound, stevioside, can enhance the tuft cell–ILC2 circuit’s activity, indicating that modulating these signaling components can help devise new means of combating parasites.
Synergy with TGFβ ligands switches WNT pathway dynamics from transient to sustained during human pluripotent cell differentiation
Authors: Massey Joseph , Liu Yida , Alvarenga Omar , Saez Teresa , Schmerer Matthew , Warmflash Aryeh
Published: March 2019

WNT/β-catenin signaling is crucial to all stages of life. It controls early morphogenetic events in embryos, maintains stem cell niches in adults, and is dysregulated in many types of cancer. Despite its ubiquity, little is known about the dynamics of signal transduction or whether it varies across contexts. Here we probe the dynamics of signaling by monitoring nuclear accumulation of β-catenin, the primary transducer of canonical WNT signals, using quantitative live cell imaging. We show that β-catenin signaling responds adaptively to constant WNT signaling in pluripotent stem cells, and that these dynamics become sustained on differentiation. Varying dynamics were also observed in the response to WNT in commonly used mammalian cell lines. Signal attenuation in pluripotent cells is observed even at saturating doses, where ligand stability does not affect the dynamics. TGFβ superfamily ligands Activin and BMP, which coordinate with WNT signaling to pattern the gastrula, increase the β-catenin response in a manner independent of their ability to induce new WNT ligand production. Our results reveal how variables external to the pathway, including differentiation status and cross-talk with other pathways, dramatically alter WNT/β-catenin dynamics.
Human cytomegalovirus haplotype reconstruction reveals high diversity due to superinfection and evidence of within-host recombination
Authors: Cudini Juliana , Roy Sunando , Houldcroft Charlotte J. , Bryant Josephine M. , Depledge Daniel P. , Tutill Helena , Veys Paul , Williams Rachel , Worth Austen J. J. , Tamuri Asif U. , Goldstein Richard A. , Breuer Judith
Published: March 2019

Recent sequencing efforts have led to estimates of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) genome-wide intrahost diversity that rival those of persistent RNA viruses [Renzette N, Bhattacharjee B, Jensen JD, Gibson L, Kowalik TF (2011)PLoS Pathog7:e1001344]. Here, we deep sequence HCMV genomes recovered from single and longitudinally collected blood samples from immunocompromised children to show that the observations of high within-host HCMV nucleotide diversity are explained by the frequent occurrence of mixed infections caused by genetically distant strains. To confirm this finding, we reconstructed within-host viral haplotypes from short-read sequence data. We verify that within-host HCMV nucleotide diversity in unmixed infections is no greater than that of other DNA viruses analyzed by the same sequencing and bioinformatic methods and considerably less than that of human immunodeficiency and hepatitis C viruses. By resolving individual viral haplotypes within patients, we reconstruct the timing, likely origins, and natural history of superinfecting strains. We uncover evidence for within-host recombination between genetically distinct HCMV strains, observing the loss of the parental virus containing the nonrecombinant fragment. The data suggest selection for strains containing the recombinant fragment, generating testable hypotheses about HCMV evolution and pathogenesis. These results highlight that high HCMV diversity present in some samples is caused by coinfection with multiple distinct strains and provide reassurance that within the host diversity for single-strain HCMV infections is no greater than for other herpesviruses.
Recent applications of the MODIS sensor for soybean crop monitoring and deforestation detection in Mato Grosso, Brazil.
Authors: Chaves M. E. D. , Alves M. de C.
Published: March 2019

The intensive and dynamic land-use and land-cover changes in Mato Grosso, Brazil, and the environmental costs of adopted agricultural practices over the years have attracted the attention of researchers and institutions. In order to evaluate these aspects, moderate resolution remote sensing data and techniques have been applied. Using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor, compatible with the farm size and seasonal dynamic of Mato Grosso agriculture, it is possible to acquire data for a large coverage, repeatedly and freely. In the context of Mato Grosso, which is a large geographical area with dynamic processes operating at multiple scales, this sensor allows vegetation monitoring and seasonal detection of changes in canopy. This review paper presents the use of MODIS sensor data to improve soybean crop detection, yield prediction and deforestation monitoring in Mato Grosso over time. Different data from this sensor were collected over several years, especially vegetation indices, and a large number of methods were developed through the MODIS-derived information. The presented results show how the MODIS sensor was successfully applied to local and regional soybean crop and deforestation monitoring, offering new opportunities for land-cover mapping in Mato Grosso.
The Fourth Master Trope, Antithesis
Authors: Harris Randy Allen
Published: March 2019

The Four Master Tropes—metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, and irony—are a significant theme in the history of rhetoric, but this grouping is wrong in fundamental ways—irony is not a trope at all properly understood, and the bulk of the arguments in this tradition suggest, along with a few new ones of my own, that the fourth Master Trope should be antithesis.
Isocrates’Panphilosophicus: Reading thePanathenaicusas a Rapprochement with Academic Philosophy
Authors: Jasso John J.
Published: March 2019

The Panathenaicus is often referred to as one of the weakest and most enigmatic of Isocrates’ orations. It has been criticized for lacking innovation, coherence, and rhetorical style. Furthermore, it concludes with a curious use of dialogue otherwise foreign to Isocrates. In this article, I read the dialogue alongside the apparently digressive proemium and argue not only for the speech’s internal unity, but for its creativity and intellectual complexity. I demonstrate how the Panthenaicus connects Isocrates’ Panhellenic project with his civic-minded paideia in a way that simultaneously identifies Academic philosophy and attempts to subordinate it to Isocratean philosophia.
“Salmonella, meet mycobacteria.”
Authors: Lovell-Read Stephanie R. , de Carvalho Luiz Pedro Sorio
Published: March 2019

In this issue of JEM, Reinink et al. (https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20181812) use comparative lipidomics to identify a new family of trehalose-containing cell wall lipids that are enriched in virulent Salmonella serovars. These lipids are structurally related to the important mycobacterial immunogen cord factor.
The Weird, the Ontological, and the Normal
Authors: Strombeck Andrew
Published: March 2019

Benjamin J. Robertson’s None of This Is Normal (2018) addresses the entire fictional project of the New Weird writer Jeff VanderMeer. In doing so, Robertson intervenes within recent discussions of new materialism, accounts of which have been entwined with the New Weird. Robertson finds VanderMeer querying the normalizing discourses of capitalism and colonialism, showing how the New Weird can serve as a site to extend and challenge the sometimes-limiting frameworks of the new materialisms. As its critics have shown, object-oriented ontology and other new materialisms risk reinforcing problems of primitivism and positivism. For Robertson, VanderMeer evades such problems by foregrounding the liberal, humanist frameworks marginalizing planet and colonized subject alike. Examining what he calls VanderMeer’s fantastic materiality, Robertson contends that VanderMeer supersedes what Darko Suvin calls cognitive estrangement; VanderMeer asks readers to encounter a world that is estranged but not cognitively recoverable. And yet, by reminding readers of VanderMeer’s poststructuralist attention to language and narrative, Robertson avoids the often-masculinist tendency to posit a primitive world beyond human cognition. None of This Is Normal will be useful to scholars interested in pushing past new materialism’s limits while retaining the field’s insights for questions of climate change and nonhuman agency.
Genome-wide association study reveals genomic regions controlling root and shoot traits at late growth stages in wheat
Authors: Li Long , Peng Zhi , Mao Xinguo , Wang Jingyi , Chang Xiaoping , Reynolds Matthew , Jing Ruilian
Published: March 2019

Background and Aims

Root system morphology is important for sustainable agriculture, but the genetic basis of root traits and their relationship to shoot traits remain to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to dissect the genetic basis of root traits at late growth stages and its implications on shoot traits in wheat.

Methods

Among 323 wheat accessions, we investigated phenotypic differences in root traits at booting and mid-grain fill stages in PVC tubes, shoot traits including plant height (PH), canopy temperature (CT) and grain yield per plant (YPP) in a field experiment, and performed a genome-wide association study with a Wheat 660K SNP Array.

Key Results

Deep-rooted accessions had lower CT and higher YPP than those with shallow roots, but no significant relationship was identified between root dry weight and shoot traits. Ninety-three significantly associated loci (SALs) were detected by the mixed linear model, among which three were hub SALs (Co-6A, Co-6B and Co-6D) associated with root depth at both booting and mid-grain fill stages, as well as CT and YPP. Minirhizotron system scanning results suggested that the causal genes in the three SALs may regulate root elongation in the field. The heritable independence between root depth and PH was demonstrated by linkage disequilibrium analysis. The YPP was significantly higher in genotypes which combined favourable marker alleles (FMAs) for root depth and PH, suggesting that a deep root and shorter plant height are suitable traits for pyramiding target alleles by molecular marker-assisted breeding.

Conclusions

These results uncovered promising genomic regions for functional gene discovery of root traits in the late growth period, enhanced understanding of correlation between root and shoot traits, and will facilitate intensive study on root morphology and breeding through molecular design.
Informatively empty clusters with application to multigenerational studies
Authors: McGee Glen , Weisskopf Marc G , Kioumourtzoglou Marianthi-Anna , Coull Brent A , Haneuse Sebastien
Published: March 2019

Exposures with multigenerational effects have profound implications for public health, affecting increasingly more people as the exposed population reproduces. Multigenerational studies, however, are susceptible to informative cluster size, occurring when the number of children to a mother (the cluster size) is related to their outcomes, given covariates. A natural question then arises: what if some women bear no children at all? The impact of these potentially informative empty clusters is currently unknown. This article first evaluates the performance of standard methods for informative cluster size when cluster size is permitted to be zero. We find that if the informative cluster size mechanism induces empty clusters, standard methods lead to biased estimates of target parameters. Joint models of outcome and size are capable of valid conditional inference as long as empty clusters are explicitly included in the analysis, but in practice empty clusters regularly go unacknowledged. In contrast, estimating equation approaches necessarily omit empty clusters and therefore yield biased estimates of marginal effects. To resolve this, we propose a joint marginalized approach that readily incorporates empty clusters and even in their absence permits more intuitive interpretations of population-averaged effects than do current methods. Competing methods are compared via simulation and in a study of the impact of in-utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol on the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among 106 198 children to 47 540 nurses from the Nurses Health Study.
Does Gender Affect the Number and Type of Charges Laid in Intimate Partner Violence Cases?
Authors: Bader Danielle , Dawson Myrna , Walters David
Published: March 2019

Pro-charging policies were implemented in Canada in the 1980s to denounce intimate partner violence (IPV). Since pro-charging policies were implemented, the proportion of men charged remains higher than women charged; however, the proportion of women charged increased dramatically. Little is known about the gendered differences in charging decisions in IPV cases. Utilizing a sample of 1,708 accused charged in IPV cases, logistic regression was employed to examine the influence of accused gender on the number of charges laid and the type of primary offence accused were charged with. The findings reveal there are differences between male- and female-perpetrated violence or responses to their violence, requiring more investigation.
Comparison of wormlion behavior under man-made and natural shelters: urban wormlions more strongly prefer shaded, fine-sand microhabitats, construct larger pits and respond faster to prey
Authors: Samocha Yehonatan , Scharf Inon
Published: March 2019

Urban habitats differ from their natural surroundings in various aspects, such as a higher temperature and a distinct species composition. It is therefore not surprising that animal behavior too differs between these habitat types. We studied the foraging and habitat selection behavior of a pit-building predator, a wormlion, originating from either an urban or a more natural site. Wormlions occur in nature under structures that provide shelter from sunlight and rain, such as caves, and are also common in cities, occurring under artificial shelters. Wormlions construct pit-traps to hunt arthropods, and the pits constructed by urban wormlions were larger than those constructed by wormlions from caves. Urban wormlions responded faster to prey falling into their pit, probably leading to a higher capture success. We suggest that these 2 findings indicate the higher investment of urban wormlions in foraging, resulting from the higher abundance of potential prey in the city. Urban wormlions were choosier regarding their preferred microhabitat. While both fine sand and shaded microhabitats were preferred by wormlions, urban wormlions demonstrated a greater preference for such conditions. We suggest that relocation is more likely to lead wormlions in cities to find microhabitats of a higher quality compared with wormlions inhabiting caves. This is probably due to the larger areas in the city available for wormlions. Wormlions from the caves possessed more lipids, suggesting that they employ a conservative growth strategy, intended to contend with the uncertainty of prey arrival, in contrast to the city, where potential prey are more abundant.
Oral anticoagulation among atrial fibrillation patients with anaemia: an observational cohort study
Authors: Bonde Anders Nissen , Blanche Paul , Staerk Laila , Gerds Thomas Alexander , Gundlund Anna , Gislason Gunnar , Torp-Pedersen Christian , Lip Gregory Y H , Hlatky Mark A , Olesen Jonas Bjerring
Published: March 2019

Aims

To investigate the risk of stroke/thromboembolism (TE) and major bleeding associated with anaemia among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Also, to assess the effects of oral anticoagulation (OAC) and time in therapeutic range (TTR) with vitamin K antagonists according to level of haemoglobin (Hb).

Methods and results

Through administrative registry databases, we identified all Danish patients diagnosed with AF from 1997 to 2012. We included 18 734 AF patients with recent available data on Hb. Multiple Cox regression analyses were used to estimate hazard ratios and to compute standardized absolute 1-year risks of stroke/TE and major bleeding. Among included patients, 3796 (20%) had mild anaemia (Hb 6.83–7.45 mmol/L for women and Hb 6.83–8.03 mmol/L for men) and 2562 (14%) had moderate/severe anaemia (Hb <6.83 mmol/L). Moderate/severe anaemia was associated with increased risk of major bleeding and 9.1% lower median TTR compared with no anaemia. Use of OAC was associated with reduced risk of stroke/TE among patients without anaemia [standardized absolute 1-year difference −2.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI) −3.8 to −1.7%] or with mild anaemia (−2.3%, 95% CI −2.8 to −1.8%), but not with moderate/severe anaemia, (0.03%, −1.8 to +2.8%, interaction P = 0.01). Oral anticoagulation was associated with a 5.3% (95% CI 2.1–8.7%) increased standardized absolute risk of major bleeding among AF patients with moderate/severe anaemia.

Conclusion

Anaemia was common in patients with AF and associated with major bleeding and lower TTR. Oral anticoagulation was associated with more major bleeding, but no reduction in risk of stroke/TE among AF patients with moderate/severe anaemia.
Rapid estimation of earthquake locations using waveform traveltimes
Authors: Vasco D W , Nakagawa Seiji , Petrov Petr , Newman Greg
Published: March 2019

We introduce a new approach for locating earthquakes using arrival times derived from waveforms. The most costly computational step of the algorithm scales as the number of stations in the active seismographic network. In this approach, a variation on existing grid search methods, a series of full waveform simulations are conducted for all receiver locations, with sources positioned successively at each station. The traveltime field over the region of interest is calculated by applying a phase picking algorithm to the numerical wavefields produced from each simulation. An event is located by subtracting the stored traveltime field from the arrival time at each station. This provides a shifted and time-reversed traveltime field for each station. The shifted and time-reversed fields all approach the origin time of the event at the source location. The mean or median value at the source location thus approximates the event origin time. Measures of dispersion about this mean or median time at each grid point, such as the sample standard error and the average deviation, are minimized at the correct source position. Uncertainty in the event position is provided by the contours of standard error defined over the grid. An application of this technique to a synthetic data set indicates that the approach provides stable locations even when the traveltimes are contaminated by additive random noise containing a significant number of outliers and velocity model errors. It is found that the waveform-based method out-performs one based upon the eikonal equation for a velocity model with rapid spatial variations in properties due to layering. A comparison with conventional location algorithms in both a laboratory and field setting demonstrates that the technique performs at least as well as existing techniques.
Responsible innovation in human germline gene editing. Background document to the recommendations of ESHG and ESHRE†‡
Authors: de Wert Guido , Heindryckx Björn , Pennings Guido , Clarke Angus , Eichenlaub-Ritter Ursula , van El Carla G , Forzano Francesca , Goddijn Mariëtte , Howard Heidi C , Radojkovic Dragica , Rial-Sebbag Emmanuelle , Dondorp Wybo , Tarlatzis Basil C , Cornel Martina C ,   on behalf of the European Society of Human Genetics and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Published: March 2019

Technological developments in gene editing raise high expectations for clinical applications, including editing of the germline. The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) together developed a Background document and Recommendations to inform and stimulate ongoing societal debates. This document provides the background to the Recommendations. Germline gene editing is currently not allowed in many countries. This makes clinical applications in these countries impossible now, even if germline gene editing would become safe and effective. What were the arguments behind this legislation, and are they still convincing? If a technique could help to avoid serious genetic disorders, in a safe and effective way, would this be a reason to reconsider earlier standpoints? This Background document summarizes the scientific developments and expectations regarding germline gene editing, legal regulations at the European level, and ethics for three different settings (basic research, pre-clinical research and clinical applications). In ethical terms, we argue that the deontological objections (e.g. gene editing goes against nature) do not seem convincing while consequentialist objections (e.g. safety for the children thus conceived and following generations) require research, not all of which is allowed in the current legal situation in European countries. Development of this Background document and Recommendations reflects the responsibility to help society understand and debate the full range of possible implications of the new technologies, and to contribute to regulations that are adapted to the dynamics of the field while taking account of ethical considerations and societal concerns.
Amplifier linearity accounts for discrepancies in echo-integration measurements from two widely used echosounders
Authors: De Robertis Alex , Bassett Christopher , Andersen Lars Nonboe , Wangen Ivar , Furnish Scott , Levine Michael
Published: March 2019

The Simrad EK60 echosounder is widely used in acoustic-trawl surveys. It has recently been replaced by the EK80, which can be configured to operate in a manner similar to the EK60. To examine whether EK80s can be substituted for EK60s, the echosounders were configured to alternate transmissions from common transducers at four frequencies during three acoustic-trawl surveys. Significant differences between echo-integration measurements of fish were observed at 18, 38, and 70 kHz. EK80 measurements were 3–12% lower than those from EK60. At 120 kHz EK80/EK60 ratios were less than, but not statistically different from one. The EK80/EK60 discrepancy increased with range. The observed discrepancies were identified to be related to slight over-amplification of low-power signals (<−90 dB re 1 W) by EK60. EK80 amplified signals linearly over a wider range of measured powers. After accounting for over-amplification of weak signals by the EK60, the range dependence was removed and both echosounders produced equivalent results. The impact of over-amplification by the EK60 will be relatively small for surveys of strong scatters (fishes with swimbladders) at short ranges, but has the potential to be greater for surveys of weak scatterers and/or long observation ranges.
Perioperative ischaemic reperfusion injury and allograft function in the early post-transplantation period
Authors: Nakamura Yuki , Saito Shunsuke , Miyagawa Shigeru , Yoshikawa Yasushi , Hata Hiroki , Yoshioka Daisuke , Toda Koichi , Sawa Yoshiki
Published: March 2019

OBJECTIVES

Ischaemic reperfusion injury (IRI) is an inevitable complication of heart transplantation (HTX) and is observed as a pathological finding in biopsies from transplanted allografts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the severity of IRI and determine the clinical outcomes of HTX in patients with severe IRI.

METHODS

We enrolled 74 consecutive patients who had undergone HTX since 2007. Endomyocardial biopsy samples were obtained from the right ventricle of the transplanted heart. IRI was graded as ‘trivial’, ‘mild’, ‘moderate’ or ‘severe’ according to the extent of IRI-specific findings in the samples. The cohort was divided into a moderate-to-severe IRI group with 21 patients [IRI(+)] and a low-grade group with 53 patients [IRI(−)].

RESULTS

The frequency of mechanical circulatory support and duration of catecholamine dependence in the early postoperative period were significantly higher in the IRI(+) group compared to the IRI(−) group. However, overall survival after HTX and mid-term cardiac allograft function were not significantly different between the groups. Among perioperative factors, cardiac ischaemic time was significantly different between the groups [IRI(−) vs IRI(+), 199 ± 38 min vs 239 ± 39 min; P < 0.001]. Incremental increases in cardiac ischaemic time were correlated with increases in IRI severity. Serum troponin T levels 3 h after donor heart reperfusion was significantly correlated with cardiac ischaemic time (r = 0.418, P = 0.0007).

CONCLUSIONS

IRI is associated with a complicated clinical course in the early post-HTX period due to temporary deterioration of allograft function. This may be attributable to myocardial stunning caused by long donor heart ischaemic time during HTX.
Total arterial myocardial revascularization using bilateral internal mammary arteries and the role of postoperative sternal stabilization to reduce wound infections in a large cohort study
Authors: Albert Marc , Nagib Ragi , Ursulescu Adrian , Franke Ulrich F W
Published: March 2019

OBJECTIVES

Total arterial myocardial revascularization using bilateral internal mammary arteries shows improved results for mortality, long-term survival and superior graft patency. It has become the standard technique according to recent guidelines. However, these patients may have an increased risk of developing sternal wound infections, especially obese patients or those with diabetes. One reason for the wound complications may be early sternum instability. This situation could be avoided by using a thorax support vest (e.g. Posthorax® vest). This retrospective study compared the wound complications after bilateral internal mammary artery grafting including the use of a Posthorax vest.

METHODS

Between April 2015 and May 2017, 1613 patients received total arterial myocardial revascularization using bilateral internal mammary artery via a median sternotomy. The Posthorax support vest was used from the second postoperative day. We compared those patients with 1667 patients operated on via the same access in the preceding 26 months. The end points were the incidence of wound infections, when the wound infection occurred and how many wound revisions were needed until wound closure.

RESULTS

The demographic data of both groups were similar. A significant advantage for the use of a thorax support vest could be seen regarding the incidence of wound infections (P = 0.036) and the length of hospital stay when a wound complication did occur (P = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

As seen in this retrospective study, the early perioperative use of a thorax stabilization vest, such as the Posthorax vest, can reduce the incidence of sternal wound complications significantly. Furthermore, when a wound infection occurred, and the patient returned to the hospital for wound revision, patients who were given the Posthorax vest postoperatively had a significantly shorter length of stay until wound closure.