bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome of the Tasmanian tiger provides insights into the evolution and demography of an extinct marsupial carnivore
Authors: Feigin Charles Y. , Newton Axel H. , Doronina Liliya , Schmitz Jürgen , Hipsley Christy A. , Mitchell Kieren J. , Gower Graham , Llamas Bastien , Soubrier Julien , Heider Thomas N. , Menzies Brandon R. , Cooper Alan , O’Neill Rachel J. , Pask Andrew J.
Published: December 2017

The Tasmanian tiger or thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was the largest carnivorous Australian marsupial to survive into the modern era. Despite last sharing a common ancestor with the eutherian canids ~160 million years ago, their phenotypic resemblance is considered the most striking example of convergent evolution in mammals. The last known thylacine died in captivity in 1936 and many aspects of the evolutionary history of this unique marsupial apex predator remain unknown. Here we have sequenced the genome of a preserved thylacine pouch young specimen to clarify the phylogenetic position of the thylacine within the carnivorous marsupials, reconstruct its historical demography and examine the genetic basis of its convergence with canids. Retroposon insertion patterns placed the thylacine as the basal lineage in Dasyuromorphia and suggest incomplete lineage sorting in early dasyuromorphs. Demographic analysis indicated a long-term decline in genetic diversity starting well before the arrival of humans in Australia. In spite of their extraordinary phenotypic convergence, comparative genomic analyses demonstrated that amino acid homoplasies between the thylacine and canids are largely consistent with neutral evolution. Furthermore, the genes and pathways targeted by positive selection differ markedly between these species. Together, these findings support models of adaptive convergence driven primarily bycis-regulatory evolution.
Author Correction: Lack of NLRP3-inflammasome leads to gut-liver axis derangement, gut dysbiosis and a worsened phenotype in a mouse model of NAFLD
Authors: Pierantonelli Irene , Rychlicki Chiara , Agostinelli Laura , Giordano Debora Maria , Gaggini Melania , Fraumene Cristina , Saponaro Chiara , Manghina Valeria , Sartini Loris , Mingarelli Eleonora , Pinto Claudio , Buzzigoli Emma , Trozzi Luciano , Giordano Antonio , Marzioni Marco , De Minicis Samuele , Uzzau Sergio , Cinti Saverio , Gastaldelli Amalia , Svegliati-Baroni Gianluca
Published: December 2017

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Synthetic integrin-binding immune stimulators target cancer cells and prevent tumor formation
Authors: Brehs Manuel , Pötgens André J. G. , Steitz Julia , Thewes Karine , Schwarz Janett , Conibear Anne C. , Bartneck Matthias , Tacke Frank , Becker Christian F. W.
Published: December 2017

Immuno-oncology approaches mainly utilize monoclonal antibodies or protein-based scaffolds that bind with high affinity to cancer cells and can generate an immune response. Peptides can also bind with high affinity to cancer cells and are intermediate in size between antibodies and small molecules. They are also synthetically accessible and therefore easily modified to optimize their stability, binding affinity and selectivity. Here we describe the design of immune system engagers (ISErs), a novel class of synthetic peptide-based compounds that bind specifically to cancer cells and stimulate the immune system. A prototype, Y9, targets integrin α3, which is overexpressed on several cancer cells, and activates the immune system via a formyl methionine-containing effector peptide. Injection of Y9 leads to immune cell infiltration into tissue and prevents tumor formation in a guinea pig model. The anti-tumor activity and synthetic accessibility of Y9 illustrate that ISErs could be applied to a wide variety of targets and diseases.
The metabolic syndrome- associated small G protein ARL15 plays a role in adipocyte differentiation and adiponectin secretion
Authors: Rocha Nuno , Payne Felicity , Huang-Doran Isabel , Sleigh Alison , Fawcett Katherine , Adams Claire , Stears Anna , Saudek Vladimir , O’Rahilly Stephen , Barroso Inês , Semple Robert K.
Published: December 2017

Common genetic variants at the ARL15 locus are associated with plasma adiponectin, insulin and HDL cholesterol concentrations, obesity, and coronary atherosclerosis. The ARL15 gene encodes a small GTP-binding protein whose function is currently unknown. In this study adipocyte-autonomous roles for ARL15 were investigated using conditional knockdown of Arl15 in murine 3T3-L1 (pre)adipocytes. Arl15 knockdown in differentiated adipocytes impaired adiponectin secretion but not adipsin secretion or insulin action, while in preadipocytes it impaired adipogenesis. In differentiated adipocytes GFP-tagged ARL15 localized predominantly to the Golgi with lower levels detected at the plasma membrane and intracellular vesicles, suggesting involvement in intracellular trafficking. Sequencing of ARL15 in 375 severely insulin resistant patients identified four rare heterozygous variants, including an early nonsense mutation in a proband with femorogluteal lipodystrophy and non classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and an essential splice site mutation in a proband with partial lipodystrophy and a history of childhood yolk sac tumour. No nonsense or essential splice site mutations were found in 2,479 controls, while five such variants were found in the ExAC database. These findings provide evidence that ARL15 plays a role in adipocyte differentiation and adiponectin secretion, and raise the possibility that human ARL15 haploinsufficiency predisposes to lipodystrophy.
Long noncoding RNA expression profile reveals lncRNAs signature associated with extracellular matrix degradation in kashin-beck disease
Authors: Wu Cuiyan , Liu Huan , Zhang Feng’e , Shao Wanzhen , Yang Lei , Ning Yujie , Wang Sen , Zhao Guanghui , Lee Byeong Jae , Lammi Mikko , Guo Xiong
Published: December 2017

Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is a deformative, endemic osteochondropathy involving degeneration and necrosis of growth plates and articular cartilage. The pathogenesis of KBD is related to gene expression and regulation mechanisms, but long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in KBD have not been investigated. In this study, we identified 316 up-regulated and 631 down-regulated lncRNAs (≥ 2-fold change) in KBD chondrocytes using microarray analysis, of which more than three-quarters were intergenic lncRNAs and antisense lncRNAs. We also identified 232 up-regulated and 427 down-regulated mRNAs (≥ 2-fold change). A lncRNA-mRNA correlation analysis combined 343 lncRNAs and 292 mRNAs to form 509 coding-noncoding gene co-expression networks (CNC networks). Eleven lncRNAs were predicted to have cis-regulated target genes, including NAV2 (neuron navigator 2), TOX (thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box), LAMA4 (laminin, alpha 4), and DEPTOR (DEP domain containing mTOR-interacting protein). The differentially expressed mRNAs in KBD significantly contribute to biological events associated with the extracellular matrix. Meanwhile, 34 mRNAs and 55 co-expressed lncRNAs constituted a network that influences the extracellular matrix. In the network, FBLN1 and LAMA 4 were the core genes with the highest significance. These novel findings indicate that lncRNAs may play a role in extracellular matrix destruction in KBD.
Memory-less response and violation of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem in colloids suspended in an active bath
Authors: Maggi Claudio , Paoluzzi Matteo , Angelani Luca , Di Leonardo Roberto
Published: December 2017

We investigate experimentally and numerically the stochastic dynamics and the time-dependent response of colloids subject to a small external perturbation in a dense bath of motile E. coli bacteria. The external field is a magnetic field acting on a superparamagnetic microbead suspended in an active medium. The measured linear response reveals an instantaneous friction kernel despite the complexity of the bacterial bath. By comparing the mean squared displacement and the response function we detect a clear violation of the fluctuation dissipation theorem.
Clinical implications of the plasma EphA2 receptor level in critically ill patients with septic shock
Authors: Lee Su Hwan , Shin Ju Hye , Song Joo Han , Leem Ah Young , Park Moo Suk , Kim Young Sam , Chang Joon , Chung Kyung Soo
Published: December 2017

The Eph/ephrin receptor ligand system is known to play a role in inflammation induced by infection, injury, and inflammatory diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate plasma EphA2 receptor levels in critically ill patients with sepsis. This study was a prospective cohort study evaluating samples and clinical data from the medical intensive care unit (MICU) of a 2000-bed university tertiary referral hospital in South Korea. Positive correlations of the plasma EphA2 receptor level with the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score and the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score were observed. The area under the curve (AUC) for the plasma EphA2 receptor level on a receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.690 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.608–0.764); the AUCs for the APACHE II score and SOFA scores were 0.659 (95% CI, 0.576–0.736) and 0.745 (95% CI, 0.666–0.814), respectively. A Cox proportional hazard model identified an association between an increased plasma EphA2 receptor level (>51.5 pg mL−1) and increased risk of 28-day mortality in the MICU (hazard ratio = 3.22, 95% CI, 1.709–6.049). An increased plasma EphA2 receptor level was associated with sepsis severity and 28-day mortality among sepsis patients.
Characterising the nicotine metabolite ratio and its association with treatment choice: A cross sectional analysis of Stop Smoking Services in England
Authors: Shahab Lion , Mortimer Emily , Bauld Linda , McGowan Jennifer A. , McNeill Ann , Tyndale Rachel F.
Published: December 2017

Pharmacotherapy provision based on Nicotine Metabolite Ratio (NMR) status (slow/normal metabolism) may improve smoking cessation rates. However, it is unclear whether NMR status is consistent across patient characteristics and current treatment choice. Data come from 1,826 participants attending Stop Smoking Services (SSS) across England in 2012/13. Sociodemographic, mental/physical health, smoking and treatment characteristics (nicotine replacement therapy vs. other pharmacotherapy; group vs. one-to-one behavioural support) were assessed. Salivary nicotine metabolites were measured and NMR (3-hydroxycotinine/cotinine) computed, characterising smokers as slow (NMR < 0.31) or normal (NMR ≥ 0.31) metabolisers. Normal metabolisers were older than slow metabolisers (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.49, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.32–1.69) but no other characteristics were associated with NMR status. Overall, predictors accounted for only 7.3% of NMR variance. In adjusted analysis, pharmacotherapy type was not associated with NMR status, but normal metabolisers were less likely to use group support (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.51–0.89). NMR status does not vary substantially across sociodemographic characteristics. Given its impact on pharmacotherapy efficacy, the lack of an association with pharmacotherapy choice suggests there is scope to use NMR status to optimise the selection and efficacy of smoking cessation pharmacotherapy. The unexpected association of NMR status with behavioural support should be explored further.
Nitrogen fixation in two coastal upwelling regions of the Taiwan Strait
Authors: Wen Zuozhu , Lin Wenfang , Shen Rong , Hong Haizheng , Kao Shuh-Ji , Shi Dalin
Published: December 2017

Recent studies have demonstrated that dinitrogen fixation can be important in nutrient-rich coastal upwelling regions. During a cruise to the Taiwan Strait in summer 2015, we found that the nitrogen fixation rate in surface waters ranged from below detection limits to 7.51 nmol N L−1 d−1. Higher rates accompanied by low N:P ratios (1–10.4:1) associated with low temperatures occurred in the surface water where the Pingtan and the Dongshan upwelling regions met (the NE area). In contrast, insignificant rates were observed in the southwest area of the Dongshan upwelling region (the SW area) with sufficient N and deficient P, and therefore high N:P ratios (e.g., >43 at station C2) due largely to the influence of the Pearl River plume. Diatom-associated symbionts (het-1; 104–106 copies L−1) that are efficient in organic matter export were found to dominate the other diazotrophic groups that were surveyed, which may represent a direct relationship between new nitrogen input and export in the upwelling regions. Our results suggest a hydrographical influence on the diazotroph community and N2 fixation in coastal upwelling regions.
Instagram, Flickr, or Twitter: Assessing the usability of social media data for visitor monitoring in protected areas
Authors: Tenkanen Henrikki , Di Minin Enrico , Heikinheimo Vuokko , Hausmann Anna , Herbst Marna , Kajala Liisa , Toivonen Tuuli
Published: December 2017

Social media data is increasingly used as a proxy for human activity in different environments, including protected areas, where collecting visitor information is often laborious and expensive, but important for management and marketing. Here, we compared data from Instagram, Twitter and Flickr, and assessed systematically how park popularity and temporal visitor counts derived from social media data perform against high-precision visitor statistics in 56 national parks in Finland and South Africa in 2014. We show that social media activity is highly associated with park popularity, and social media-based monthly visitation patterns match relatively well with the official visitor counts. However, there were considerable differences between platforms as Instagram clearly outperformed Twitter and Flickr. Furthermore, we show that social media data tend to perform better in more visited parks, and should always be used with caution. Based on stakeholder discussions we identified potential reasons why social media data and visitor statistics might not match: the geography and profile of the park, the visitor profile, and sudden events. Overall the results are encouraging in broader terms: Over 60% of the national parks globally have Twitter or Instagram activity, which could potentially inform global nature conservation.
Regulation of hyperoxia-induced social behaviour in Pristionchus pacificus nematodes requires a novel cilia-mediated environmental input
Authors: Moreno Eduardo , Sieriebriennikov Bogdan , Witte Hanh , Rödelsperger Christian , Lightfoot James W. , Sommer Ralf J.
Published: December 2017

Social behaviours are frequently utilised for defence and stress avoidance in nature. BothCaenorhabditis elegansandPristionchus pacificusnematodes display social behaviours including clumping and bordering, to avoid hyperoxic stress conditions. Additionally, both species show natural variation in social behaviours with “social” and “solitary” strains. While the single solitaryC. elegansN2 strain has evolved under laboratory domestication due to a gain-of-function mutation in the neuropeptide receptor genenpr-1,P. pacificussolitary strains are commonplace and likely ancestral.P. pacificustherefore provides an opportunity to further our understanding of the mechanisms regulating these complex behaviours and how they evolved within an ecologically relevant system. Using CRISPR/Cas9 engineering, we show thatPpa-npr-1has minimal influence on social behaviours, indicating independent evolutionary pathways compared toC. elegans. Furthermore, solitaryP. pacificusstrains show an unexpected locomotive response to hyperoxic conditions, suggesting a novel regulatory mechanism counteracting social behaviours. By utilising both forward and reverse genetic approaches we identified 10 genes of the intraflagellar transport machinery in ciliated neurons that are essential for this inhibition. Therefore, a novel cilia-mediated environmental input adds an additional level of complexity to the regulation of hyperoxia-induced social behaviours inP. pacificus, a mechanism unknown inC. elegans.
Effects of maternal obesity on Wharton’s Jelly mesenchymal stromal cells
Authors: Badraiq Heba , Cvoro Aleksandra , Galleu Antonio , Simon Marisa , Miere Cristian , Hobbs Carl , Schulz Reiner , Siow Richard , Dazzi Francesco , Ilic Dusko
Published: December 2017

We investigated whether maternal metabolic environment affects mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) from umbilical cord’s Wharton’s Jelly (WJ) on a molecular level, and potentially render them unsuitable for clinical use in multiple recipients. In this pilot study on umbilical cords post partum from healthy non-obese (BMI = 19–25; n = 7) and obese (BMI ≥ 30; n = 7) donors undergoing elective Cesarean section, we found that WJ MSC from obese donors showed slower population doubling and a stronger immunosuppressive activity. Genome-wide DNA methylation of triple positive (CD73+CD90+CD105+) WJ MSCs found 67 genes with at least one CpG site where the methylation difference was ≥0.2 in four or more obese donors. Only one gene, PNPLA7, demonstrated significant difference on methylome, transcriptome and protein level. Although the number of analysed donors is limited, our data suggest that the altered metabolic environment related to excessive body weight might bear consequences on the WJ MSCs.
Chitosan/PEI patch releasing EGF and the EGFR gene for the regeneration of the tympanic membrane after perforation
Authors: Lee Myung Chul , Seonwoo Hoon , Garg Pankaj , Jang Kyoung Je , Pandey Shambhavi , Park Sang Bae , Kim Hong Bae , Lim Jaewoon , Choung Yun Hoon , Chung Jong Hoon
Published: December 2017

EGF and EGFR gene-releasing PEI/chitosan patch (EErP-CPs) was developed to increase the regeneration of tympanic membrane perforations.
A comprehensive study of catalytic, morphological and electronic properties of ligand-protected gold nanoclusters using XPS, STM, XAFS, and TPD techniques
Authors: Wu Qiyuan , Cen Jiajie , Zhao Yue , Tong Xiao , Li Yuanyuan , Frenkel Anatoly I. , Zhao Shen , Orlov Alexander
Published: December 2017

A combination of microscopy and spectroscopy techniques comprehensively elucidates the unique properties of distinct ligand-protected gold nano clusters.
The effect of Ho3+ doping on 13C dynamic nuclear polarization at 5 T
Authors: Sirusi Ali A. , Suh Eul Hyun , Kovacs Zoltan , Merritt Matthew E.
Published: December 2017

2 mM Ho-DOTA enhances the 13C DNP polarization and decreases the buildup time at 5 T and 1.2 K.
Ab initiomodeling of MAX phase solid solutions using the special quasirandom structure approach
Authors: Jiang C. , Chroneos A.
Published: December 2017

SQS cells were used to model the phase stability of 211 MAX phase solid solutions.
Neutral two-dimensional organometallic–organic hybrid polymers based on pentaphosphaferrocene, bipyridyl linkers and CuCl
Authors: Elsayed Moussa M. , Attenberger B. , Peresypkina E. V. , Scheer M.
Published: December 2017

The reaction of the Pn ligand complex [Cp*Fe(η5-P5)] (1: Cp* = η5-C5Me5) with CuCl in the presence of 4,4′-bipyridine or 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene leads to the formation of three unprecedented neutral 2D organometallic–organic hybrid networks.
Prospects for efficient solar energy upconversion using metalloporphyrins as dual absorber-upconverters
Authors: Steer Ronald P.
Published: December 2017

Can metalloporphyrins be used in a dual absorber-upconverter capacity to improve photovoltaic efficiency?
An isolable magnesium diphosphaethynolate complex
Authors: Gilliard Robert J. , Heift Dominikus , Benkő Zoltán , Keiser Jerod M. , Rheingold Arnold L. , Grützmacher Hansjörg , Protasiewicz John D.
Published: December 2017

The reaction of magnesium chloride with two equivalents of sodium phosphaethynolate, Na[OCP]·(dioxane)2.5 (1), yields a magnesium diphosphaethynolate complex, [(THF)4Mg(OCP)2] (3 ).
Yellowish and blue luminescent graphene oxide quantum dots prepared via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal route using H2O2 and KMnO4 as oxidizing agents
Authors: Hu Chechia , Su Tzer-Rurng , Lin Tzu-Jen , Chang Chien-Wei , Tung Kuo-Lun
Published: December 2017

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesized GOQDs exhibit yellowish-green and blue light emission with quantum yields of 15.1% and 8.4%, respectively.
Self-assembled thermoresponsive nanostructures of hyaluronic acid conjugates for osteoarthritis therapy
Authors: Maudens Pierre , Meyer Sophie , Seemayer Christian Alexander , Jordan Olivier , Allémann Eric
Published: December 2017

Hyaluronic acid conjugates self-assemble as thermoresponsive nanoparticles to treat osteoarthritis.
Authentication ofPanax ginsengfrom different regions
Authors: Yin Juxin , Wang Liwu , Huang Yi , Mu Ying , Lv Shaowu
Published: December 2017

The correlation of gene expressions of HMGR and DS with total ginsenoside content was significant.
Optimization of mechanical and dielectric properties of poly(urethane–urea)-based dielectric elastomers via the control of microstructure
Authors: Xiang Dong , Liu Miao , Chen Guanliang , Zhang Teng , Liu Li , Liang Yongri
Published: December 2017

In this work, we fabricated hydroxyl-terminated butadiene–acrylonitrile copolymer-based poly(urethane–urea) dielectric elastomers, and investigated the relationship between multi-length scale structure and dielectric, mechanical properties.
Superparamagnetic nanoparticles as a recyclable catalyst: a new access to phenol esters via cross dehydrogenative coupling reactions
Authors: Nguyen Chung K. , Vu Hoang H. , Dang Ha V. , Nguyen Ngon N. , Le Nhan T. H. , Phan Nam T. S.
Published: December 2017

CuFe2O4 superparamagnetic nanoparticles were utilized as a recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the direct synthesis of chemical structures containing both phenol ester and benzothiazole moieties via cross dehydrogenative coupling reactions.
Shaping of porous metal–organic framework granules using mesoporous ρ-alumina as a binder
Authors: Valekar Anil H. , Cho Kyung-Ho , Lee U-Hwang , Lee Ji Sun , Yoon Ji Woong , Hwang Young Kyu , Lee Seung Gwan , Cho Sung June , Chang Jong-San
Published: December 2017

We present facile route for the shaping of MOFs (MIL-100(Fe), MIL-101(Cr), UiO-66(Zr), and UiO-66(Zr)_NH2) using mesoporous ρ-alumina (MRA) as a binder.
Influence from the types of surface functional groups of RGO on the performances of thermal interface materials
Authors: Sun Yunfei , He Yanfeng , Tang Bo , Tao Chongben , Ban Jianmin , Jiang Li
Published: December 2017

RGO nanosheets-modified epoxy resin (ER) is a major research interest because of the high thermal performance of the resulting thermal interface materials (TIMs).
Comparing the birth rate of stellar black holes in binary black hole mergers and long gamma-ray bursts
Authors: Atteia J.-L. , Dezalay J.-P. , Godet O. , Klotz A. , Turpin D. , Bernardini M. G.
Published: December 2017

Context. Gravitational wave interferometers have proven the existence of a new class of binary black hole (BBH) weighing tens of solar masses, and have provided the first reliable measurement of the rate of coalescing black holes (BHs) in the local Universe. Furthermore, long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected with gamma-ray satellites are believed to be associated with the birth of stellar-mass BHs, providing a measure of the rate of these events across the history of the Universe, thanks to the measure of their cosmological redshift. These two types of sources, which are subject to different detection biases and involve BHs born in different environments with potentially different characteristics, provide complementary information on the birth rate of stellar BHs.

Aims. We compare the birth rates of BHs found in BBH mergers and in long GRBs.

Methods. We construct a simple model that makes reasonable assumptions on the history of GRB formation, and takes into account some major uncertainties, like the beaming angle of GRBs or the delay between the formation of BBHs and their coalescence. We use this model to evaluate the ratio of the number of stellar mass BHs formed in BBH mergers to those formed in GRBs.

Results. We find that in our reference model the birth rate of stellar BHs in BBH mergers represents a significant fraction of the rate of long GRBs and that comparable birth rates are favored by models with moderate beaming angles. These numbers, however, do not consider subluminous GRBs, which may represent another population of sources associated with the birth of stellar mass BHs. We briefly discuss this result in view of our understanding of the progenitors of GRBs and BBH mergers, and we emphasize that this ratio, which will be better constrained in the coming years, can be directly compared with the prediction of stellar evolution models if a single model is used to produce GRBs and BBH mergers with the same assumptions.
Synthesis of Asparagusic Acid Modified Lysine and its Application in Solid-Phase Synthesis of Peptides with Enhanced Cellular Uptake
Authors: Rivera-Fuentes Pablo , Tirla Alina , Hansen Moritz
Published: December 2017

Cyclic disulfides, such as asparagusic acid, enhance the uptake of a variety of cargoes into live cells. Here, we report a robust and scalable synthesis of an asparagusic acid modified lysine. This amino acid can be used in solid-phase peptide synthesis. We confirmed that incorporation of this building block into the sequence of a peptide increases its cellular uptake substantially.
A 2-Year-Old Child with Bilateral Ectopis Lentis and a Novel FBN1 Gene Variant Cys129Ser
Authors: Mohammad Ahmed , Atwal Paldeep
Published: December 2017

Marfan syndrome and dominant ectopia lentis are part of type 1 fibrillinopathies that are caused by FBN1 pathogenic variants. Making a diagnosis could be challenging due to the clinical overlap between these disorders. The revised Ghent criteria used for Marfan syndrome diagnosis helped in resolving some of the confusion, especially in younger children. We report on a case of bilateral ectopia lentis in a 2-year-old child with a normal echocardiogram. FBN1 sequencing revealed a novel likely pathogenic variant described as c.385T > A (p.Cys129Ser). The patient's father also has a history of bilateral ectopia lentis and his genetic analysis detected the same FBN1 variant as the proband.
An Alaska case study: Diesel generator technologies
Authors: Green Nathan , Mueller-Stoffels Marc , Whitney Erin
Published: December 2017

Diesel generators are the main source of electrical generation in remote Alaska communities; they also help to maintain grid frequency and voltage. In an analysis of key performance metrics for diesel generators in Alaska, we found that the size of the installed system directly affects capital costs, that is, larger systems are more cost-effective per kilowatt. However, appropriately sizing a system for a community is more cost-effective overall than significantly oversizing the system. Capacity factors range from below 5% to over 25%. The low values are typically for diesel-hydroelectric hybrid systems, for which this measure is not entirely accurate. In addition, rural diesel plants may have low capacity factors since typically there are three to four generators in-house. These generators are sized so that one to two generators provide power at any given time; the remaining generators are available as backup. Generators of this size can be expected to operate for approximately 60 000–100 000 h, with larger engine blocks tending to have longer lifespans. An appropriately maintained generator operating for 35% of the time will last approximately 20 years, or 60,000 hours. The technology continues to see advances in power output, efficiency, noise reduction, and emission control. The shapes of combustion chambers in newer engines are designed to maximize the combustion rate of fuel, thus increasing output power and fuel efficiency. The common-rail fuel system can maintain high pressure from the fuel tank to injection, which allows for finer vaporization of fuel and more complete combustion. Nitrous oxide can be reduced through exhaust gas recirculation and selective catalytic reduction. Control systems have also seen advancement. Mechanical control systems have been slowly phased out in favor of electronic control systems, which allow for offsite monitoring of a system and reduction in the number of necessary service calls. Diesel generators in rural Alaska communities remain difficult to maintain to the degree necessary for smooth operation. Additionally, supervisory control and data acquisition systems with remote control capabilities require continuous Internet connection, which is not always available in rural communities.
Comparison of different dynamic models for floating wind turbines
Authors: Chen Jiahao , Hu Zhiqiang , Liu Geliang , Tang Yougang
Published: December 2017

There are different approaches utilized to establish dynamic models for floating offshore wind turbines, but their distinction and applicability are often confusing. This paper presents the theories about four different dynamic models developed for simulating floating wind turbines, including a single-rigid-body model, a corrected single-rigid-body model, a multi-rigid-body model, and a multi-rigid-flexible-body model. Subsequently, a series of comparisons between the four dynamic models are conducted to assess their differences and applicability for simulating floating offshore wind turbines. The results show that the multi-rigid-flexible-body model is most accurate but most time-consuming. In most cases, the multi-rigid-body model and the multi-rigid-flexible-body model can be performed, except for the aeroelastic effects and global dynamic responses caused by the vibration of the tower and blades. In contrast, the single-rigid-body model has simpler dynamical methodologies and less computational cost. However, it has some internal limitations, for instance, limited degrees of freedom, neglecting aeroelastic effects, neglecting gyroscopic effects, etc. Hence, the corrected single-rigid-body model is proposed and performs better than the original single-rigid-body model at the cost of a little time-consumption.
Stability analysis of rimming flow inside a horizontally rotating cylinder in the presence of an insoluble surfactant
Authors: Kumawat Tara Chand , Tiwari Naveen
Published: December 2017

Two-dimensional base state solutions for rimming flows and their stability analysis to small axial perturbations are analyzed numerically. A thin liquid film which is uniformly covered with an insoluble surfactant flows inside a counterclockwise rotating horizontal cylinder. In the present work, a mathematical model is obtained which consists of coupled thin film thickness and surfactant concentration evolution equations. The governing equations are obtained by simplifying the momentum and species transport equations using the thin-film approximation. The model equations include the effect of gravity, viscosity, capillarity, inertia, and Marangoni stress. The concentration gradients generated due to flow result in the surface tension gradient that generates the Marangoni stress near the interface region. The oscillations in the flow due to inertia are damped out by the Marangoni stress. It is observed that the Marangoni stress has stabilizing effect, whereas inertia and surface tension enhance the instability growth rate. In the presence of low diffusion of the surfactant or large value of the Péclet number, the Marangoni stress becomes more effective. The analytically obtained eigenvalues match well with the numerically computed eigenvalues in the absence of gravity.
Fullerene-water nanofluid confined in graphene nanochannel
Authors: Liu Zhen , Zhang Zhong-Qiang
Published: December 2017

The flow behaviors and boundary slip of the fullerene-water nanofluids (NFs) confined in graphene nanochannels are first investigated by using classical molecular dynamics simulations. The influences of the shear rate in Couette model, the driving force in Poiseuille model, the volume fraction, and the charge magnitude on the motion behaviors and the boundary slip are explored with considering the dynamics and the accumulation of the fullerene within the NFs. The results show that the boundary slip velocity increases almost linearly with the shear rate below a threshold of the shear rate while it increases sharply above the threshold. The relatively large driving force in Poiseuille model and the large shear rate in Couette model can reduce the accumulation of the fullerenes. The increase in the volume fraction of the fullerene in NFs can enhance the shear viscosity, and interestingly, it can increase the boundary slip velocity of the NFs in graphene channels. As the charge magnitude of the graphene channel increases, the boundary slip of fullerene NFs first increases to a threshold and then decreases slightly. The findings may be helpful to the design and fabrication of the low dimensional carbon materials-based nano-apparatus.
Enhanced spin wave propagation in magnonic rings by bias field modulation
Authors: Venkat G. , Venkateswarlu D. , Joshi R. S. , Franchin M. , Fangohr H. , Anil Kumar P. S. , Prabhakar A.
Published: December 2017

We simulate the spin wave (SW) dynamics in ring structures and obtain the ω − k dispersion relations corresponding to the output waveguide. Different bias field configurations affect the transfer of SW power from one arm of the structure to the other arm. To this end, we show that circular or radial bias fields are more suitable for energy transfer across the ring than the conventional horizontal bias field Hx. The SW dispersion shows that modes excited, when the bias field is along the ring radius, are almost 10 dB higher in power when compared to the modal power in the case of Hx. This is also corroborated by the SW energy density in the receiving stub.
Tuning the tunneling magnetoresistance by using fluorinated graphene in graphene based magnetic junctions
Authors: Meena Shweta , Choudhary Sudhanshu
Published: December 2017

Spin polarized properties of fluorinated graphene as tunnel barrier with CrO2 as two HMF electrodes are studied using first principle methods based on density functional theory. Fluorinated graphene with different fluorine coverages is explored as tunnel barriers in magnetic tunnel junctions. Density functional computation for different fluorine coverages imply that with increase in fluorine coverages, there is increase in band gap (Eg) of graphene, Eg ∼ 3.466 e V was observed when graphene sheet is fluorine adsorbed on both-side with 100% coverage (CF). The results of CF graphene are compared with C4F (fluorination on one-side of graphene sheet with 25% coverage) and out-of-plane graphene based magnetic tunnel junctions. On comparison of the results it is observed that CF graphene based structure offers high TMR ∼100%, and the transport of carrier is through tunneling as there are no transmission states near Fermi level. This suggests that graphene sheet with both-side fluorination with 100% coverages acts as a perfect insulator and hence a better barrier to the carriers which is due to negligible spin down current (I↓) in both Parallel Configuration (PC) and Antiparallel Configuration (APC).
“If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti people”
Authors: Adedara Ayodeji A.
Published: December 2017

Based on the idea that the quality of a democracy may be measured against the quality of its public communication, this paper deploys Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to investigate a Nigerian gubernatorial concession speech in discursive terms. It argues that as an uncommon genre in political discourse in an emerging democracy this hybridised speech both indexes a growing culture of ‘fair competition’ in Nigeria’s eighteen-year-old civilian rule and presents the incumbent as a deft political actor who strategically claims political capital. The paper examines the text’s generic structure, the political and other actors mentioned or implied in it, its manipulation of pronominal references for rhetorical effect, as well as the epistemic uncertainty implied by a query-concession sequence noticed in it. Drawing on the concession speech literature, the paper charts a course for studying the concession speech as an emerging genre in a neonatal democracy like Nigeria.
Problematizing mirativity
Authors: Peterson Tyler
Published: December 2017

There are many excellent descriptions of mirativity in various language grammars, and more recently there has been a flurry of research refining mirativity to include how languages linguistically realize surprise and related concepts such as ‘unexpectedness’ and ‘new information’. However, there is currently no commonly accepted set of independently motivated diagnostics for testing mirativity that utilizes the best practices and first principles of semantic and pragmatic investigation. As such, the goal of this paper is to go back to basics and examine mirativity from the point of view of a field linguist who has been given the task of discovering and documenting how a speaker of a language linguistically expresses her surprise. This approach rests on two premises: first, mirativity is about surprise in the psychological sense. The second premise is that we take seriously that mirativity involves a kind of meaning, and that all languages have the linguistic resources for communicating mirative (surprise) meaning. The outcome is a set of tests that can be used to probe mirative meanings in any language.
Degrees of mirativity
Authors: Sahoo Kalyanamalini , Lemmens Maarten
Published: December 2017

This paper studies degrees of mirativity as grammaticalised in the Indo-Aryan language Odia by four light verb constructions, asymmetric complex predicates combining a lexical verb with a (partially) bleached light verb. As such, these light verb constructions can be considered non-parasitic expressions of mirativity. The present paper adds a number of important new insights to the discussion of mirativity. Firstly, we show that mirativity is a complex category which, next to the prototypical notion of surprise, also comprises the notion of “unsupposedness”. Secondly, we demonstrate that the four constructions vary in the degree of mirativity they express. These differences can be related to features of transitivity, such as volitionality or control and affectedness (as contextually realised by the process size, impact, force, or scope). This hypothesis is confirmed by two corpus studies: a collostructional analysis (based on verb types) and a comparison of contexts for constructional minimal pairs.
La sceneggiatura teatrale inedita di “La Virtù di Checchina”
Authors: Killander Cariboni Carla
Published: December 2017

Sommario

This article deals with a comparison between Matilde Serao’s short story “Checchina’s Virtue” (1884) and the homonymous unpublished theatrical script written by Massimo Franciosa (1995), of which a summary is provided. The comparison between the source text and the adaptation draws on the debate about the narrativity of drama in which many scholars have engaged in the last decades: Richardson (1987), Chatman (1990), Jahn (2001), Fludernik (2008) and Nünning & Sommer (2008). The analysis focuses on two forms of diegetic narrativity that appear in the short story, i. e. free indirect discourse and the iterative mode, in order to see how the theatrical script deals with them. The analysis shows that the script preserves the narrative contents of the source text and highlights how diegetic and mimetic narrativity collaborate to the reworking and redistribution of those contents.
Certification systems for verifying carbon trading from forestry and other land uses and their effectiveness to deliver non-carbon benefits.
Authors: Savilaakso S. , Petrokofsky G.
Published: December 2017

We review seven certification systems for verifying carbon trading from forestry and other land uses, and evaluate evidence of their effectiveness in generating social and environmental co-benefits. Published research on non-carbon co-benefits was located by searching the three principal bibliographic databases in this area of science: CABI, ISI Web of Science Core Collection and SCOPUS. We included studies published in English from 2000 to 2016. Our searches yielded 679 studies after duplicates were removed. Of these 11 studies presented relevant results from projects that had been certified by one of the carbon certification standards. Although there is some evidence of positive impacts related to land use governance, local livelihoods and non-carbon ecosystem services, there were studies reporting negative aspects of carbon certification. Overall the evidence-base is very limited and there is a real need for more research on the social and environmental impacts of carbon certification standards.
Outlier detection for improved differential splicing quantification from RNA-Seq experiments with replicates
Authors: Norton Scott S , Vaquero-Garcia Jorge , Lahens Nicholas F , Grant Gregory R , Barash Yoseph
Published: December 2017

Motivation

A key component in many RNA-Seq-based studies is contrasting multiple replicates from different experimental conditions. In this setup, replicates play a key role as they allow to capture underlying biological variability inherent to the compared conditions, as well as experimental variability. However, what constitutes a ‘bad’ replicate is not necessarily well defined. Consequently, researchers might discard valuable data or downstream analysis may be hampered by failed experiments.

Results

Here we develop a probability model to weigh a given RNA-Seq sample as a representative of an experimental condition when performing alternative splicing analysis. We demonstrate that this model detects outlier samples which are consistently and significantly different compared with other samples from the same condition. Moreover, we show that instead of discarding such samples the proposed weighting scheme can be used to downweight samples and specific splicing variations suspected as outliers, gaining statistical power. These weights can then be used for differential splicing (DS) analysis, where the resulting algorithm offers a generalization of the MAJIQ algorithm. Using both synthetic and real-life data, we perform an extensive evaluation of the improved MAJIQ algorithm in different scenarios involving perturbed samples, mislabeled samples, same condition groups, and different levels of coverage, showing it compares favorably to other tools. Overall, this work offers an outlier detection algorithm that can be combined with any splicing pipeline, a generalized and improved version of MAJIQ for DS detection, and evaluation metrics with matching code and data for DS algorithms.

Availability and implementation

Software and data are accessible via majiq.biociphers.org/norton_et_al_2017/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Gender Differences in the Association Between Leisure Activity in Adulthood and Cognitive Function in Old Age: A Prospective Longitudinal Population-Based Study
Authors: Hassing Linda B
Published: December 2017

Objectives

To examine the long-term association between leisure activities in adulthood and cognitive function in old age while recognizing gender differences in activity profiles.

Methods

The sample included 340 cognitively healthy twins enrolled in the OCTO-Twin Study, a longitudinal study on cognitive aging. Leisure activity was measured in midlife and cognitive function in old age (mean age 83). Leisure activities covered the domains of domestic, intellectual–cultural, and self-improvement activities. The cognitive assessments comprised 5 measurement occasions (2-year intervals) covering verbal ability, spatial ability, memory, and speed. The association between leisure activity and cognitive function was estimated separately for the genders using growth curve models, adjusting for age and education.

Results

Men and women had the same level of total leisure activity but differed in activity profiles and in the associations between activity and cognitive function. Higher engagement in self-improvement among men was related to higher level of cognitive functioning. Among women, intellectual–cultural activity was related to better verbal ability and memory. Concerning trajectories of cognitive function, domestic activity among men was related to less decline in speed, whereas for women it was related to steeper decline in spatial ability and memory. Further, higher intellectual–cultural activity among women was related to steeper decline in memory.

Discussion

Cognitively stimulating activities (i.e., self-improvement and intellectual–cultural), might increase cognitive reserve whereas less cognitively stimulating activities (i.e., domestic) do not. Gender differences should be considered when examining lifestyle factors in relation to cognitive aging.
Ambient Lipschitz Equivalence of Real Surface Singularities
Authors: Birbrair Lev , Gabrielov Andrei
Published: December 2017

We present a series of examples of pairs of singular semialgebraic surfaces (germs of real semialgebraic sets of dimension two) in ${\mathbb R}^{3}$ and ${\mathbb R}^{4}$ which are bi-Lipschitz equivalent with respect to the outer metric, ambient topologically equivalent, but not ambient Lipschitz equivalent. For each singular semialgebraic surface $S\subset{\mathbb R}^{4}$, we construct infinitely many semialgebraic surfaces which are bi-Lipschitz equivalent with respect to the outer metric, ambient topologically equivalent to S, but pairwise ambient Lipschitz nonequivalent.
What Is the Safety and Efficacy of Chemical Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Following Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery?
Authors: Casazza Geoffrey C. , Bowers Christian A. , MacDonald Joel D. , Couldwell William T. , Shelton Clough , Gurgel Richard K.
Published: December 2017

Objective:

The benefit of routine chemical prophylaxis use for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention in skull base surgery is controversial. Chemical prophylaxis can prevent undue morbidity and mortality, however there are risks for hemorrhagic complications.

Study Design:

Retrospective case-control.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent surgery for vestibular schwannoma from 2011 to 2016 was performed. Patients were divided by receipt of chemical VTE prophylaxis. Number of VTEs and hemorrhagic complications (intracranial hemorrhage, abdominal hematoma, and postauricular hematoma) were recorded.

Results:

One hundred twenty-six patients were identified, 55 received chemical prophylaxis, and 71 did not. All the patients received mechanical prophylaxis. Two patients developed a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and one patient developed a pulmonary embolism (PE). All patients who developed a DVT or PE received chemical prophylaxis. There was no difference in DVT (p = 0.1886) or PE (p = 0.4365) between those who received chemical prophylaxis and those who did not. Five patients developed a hemorrhagic complication, two intracranial hemorrhage, three abdominal hematoma, and zero postauricular hematoma. All five patients with a complication received chemical prophylaxis (p = 0.00142). The relative risk of a hemorrhagic complication was 14.14 (95% CI = 0.7987–250.4307; p = 0.0778).

Conclusion:

There was a significant difference between the number of hemorrhagic complications but not between numbers of DVT or PE. Mechanical and chemical prophylaxis may lower the risk of VTE but in our series, hemorrhagic complications were observed. These measures should be used selectively in conjunction with early ambulation.