bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
No compromise between metabolism and behavior of decorator crabs in reduced pH conditions
Authors: Rankin Ashley , Seo Kyungah , Graeve Olivia A. , Taylor Jennifer R. A.
Published: April 2019

Many marine calcifiers experience metabolic costs when exposed to experimental ocean acidification conditions, potentially limiting the energy available to support regulatory processes and behaviors. Decorator crabs expend energy on decoration camouflage and may face acute trade-offs under environmental stress. We hypothesized that under reduced pH conditions, decorator crabs will be energy limited and allocate energy towards growth and calcification at the expense of decoration behavior. Decorator crabs, Pelia tumida, were exposed to ambient (8.01) and reduced (7.74) pH conditions for five weeks. Half of the animals in each treatment were given sponge to decorate with. Animals were analyzed for changes in body mass, exoskeleton mineral content (Ca and Mg), organic content (a proxy for metabolism), and decoration behavior (sponge mass and percent cover). Overall, decorator crabs showed no signs of energy limitation under reduced pH conditions. Exoskeleton mineral content, body mass, and organic content of crabs remained the same across pH and decoration treatments, with no effect of reduced pH on decoration behavior. Despite being a relatively inactive, osmoconforming species, Pelia tumida is able to maintain multiple regulatory processes and behavior when exposed to environmental pH stress, which underscores the complexity of responses within Crustacea to ocean acidification conditions.
Abiotic and biotic factors controlling fine root biomass, carbon and nutrients in closed-canopy hybrid poplar stands on post-agricultural land
Authors: Fortier Julien , Truax Benoit , Gagnon Daniel , Lambert France
Published: April 2019

Fine roots (diameter <2 mm) have a pivotal role in resource acquisition, symbiosis development, and for elemental cycling in forests. Various abiotic and biotic factors affect their biomass and nutrient content. Understanding the effect of these factors on root traits could improve biogeochemical modelling, nutrient management and ecosystem services provision in planted forests. Data from 14-year old poplars planted along a fertility/climatic gradient in Southeastern Canada, show that live fine root biomass varied with genotype and environment, was negatively correlated to soil fertility, and uncorrelated to tree size. Dead fine root biomass varied with genotype and peaked during fall and in colder environments with slower element cycling. Root chemistry also varied with environment, genotype and season. The genotype producing recalcitrant leaf litter had the highest root biomass, suggesting a compensation strategy. Along the studied gradient, plasticity level observed for some root traits (biomass, element contents) was genotype-specific and high for some genotypes. Regionally, such plasticity patterns should be considered in elemental budgets, for nutrient management and ecosystem services provision in plantations (carbon storage, nutrient retention). The small inter-site aboveground productivity differences observed suggest that plasticity in fine root growth may contribute to overcome nutrient limitations on less fertile marginal lands.
Improved methods for the detection of histone interactions with peptide microarrays
Authors: Petell Christopher J. , Pham Andrea T. , Skela Jessica , Strahl Brian D.
Published: April 2019

Histone post-translational modifications contribute to chromatin function largely through the recruitment of effector proteins that contain specialized “reader” domains. While a significant number of reader domains have been characterized for their histone binding specificities, many of these domains remain poorly characterized. Peptide microarrays have been widely employed for the characterization of histone readers, as well as modifying enzymes and histone antibodies. While powerful, this platform has limitations in terms of its sensitivity and they frequently miss low affinity reader domain interactions. Here, we provide several technical changes that improve reader domain detection of low-affinity interactions. We show that 1% non-fat milk in 1X PBST as the blocking reagent during incubation improved reader-domain interaction results. Further, coupling this with post-binding high-salt washes and a brief, low-percentage formaldehyde cross-linking step prior to the high-salt washes provided the optimal balance between resolving specific low-affinity interactions and minimizing background or spurious signals. We expect this improved methodology will lead to the elucidation of previously unreported reader-histone interactions that will be important for chromatin function.
Life-stage specific transcriptomes of a migratory endoparasitic plant nematode, Radopholus similis elucidate a different parasitic and life strategy of plant parasitic nematodes
Authors: Huang Xin , Xu Chun-Ling , Yang Si-Hua , Li Jun-Yi , Wang Hong-Le , Zhang Zi-Xu , Chen Chun , Xie Hui
Published: April 2019

Radopholus similis is an important migratory endoparasitic nematode, severely harms banana, citrus and many other commercial crops. Little is known about the molecular mechanism of infection and pathogenesis of R. similis. In this study, 64761 unigenes were generated from eggs, juveniles, females and males of R. similis. 11443 unigenes showed significant expression difference among these four life stages. Genes involved in host parasitism, anti-host defense and other biological processes were predicted. There were 86 and 102 putative genes coding for cell wall degrading enzymes and antioxidase respectively. The amount and type of putative parasitic-related genes reported in sedentary endoparasitic plant nematodes are variable from those of migratory parasitic nematodes on plant aerial portion. There were no sequences annotated to effectors in R. similis, involved in feeding site formation of sedentary endoparasites nematodes. This transcriptome data provides a new insight into the parasitic and pathogenic molecular mechanisms of the migratory endoparasitic nematodes. It also provides a broad idea for further research on R. similis.
Mathematical modelling of the internal circulation anaerobic reactor by Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1, simultaneously combined with hydrodynamics
Authors: Huang Yifeng , Ma Yongwen , Wan Jinquan , Wang Yan
Published: April 2019

In this study, the hydrodynamic characteristic of a lab-scale internal circulation (IC) anaerobic reactor was investigated. We found that the gradual Increasing-Size Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactors (ISC) model is desirable to describe the hydraulic character of the reactor. As a generalized anaerobic digestion model, Anaerobic Digestion Model No.1 (ADM1) was combined simultaneously with the ISC model to simulate the effluent of the IC reactor. Both the stable running and overloading shock tests were carried out to validate the simulation. The mathematical simulation results agreed well with the experimental observation. This proposed model may be valuable to simulate the performance of the IC reactor effectively and to supply a useful tool to for designing and operating other anaerobic reactors.
A first adrenalone electrochemical sensor using a gold-nanoparticle/poly(pyrrole) composite-modified graphite electrode
Authors: Jahandari Shokoofe , Taher Mohammad Ali , Karimi-Maleh Hassan
Published: April 2019

In this study, a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) modified with a composite of polypyrrole and Au nanoparticles (Au-NPs/PP/PGE) was developed and evaluated as a novel electrochemical sensor for the determination of adrenalone for the first time.
Dual-selective photodynamic therapy with a mitochondria-targeted photosensitizer and fiber optic cannula for malignant brain tumors
Authors: Kang Ji Hee , Ko Young Tag
Published: April 2019

In vivo application of dual-selective photodynamic therapy with a mitochondria-targeted photosensitizer and fiber optic cannula to orthotopic GBM-xenografted mice.
Iron carbide or iron carbide/cobalt nanoparticles for magnetically-induced CO2 hydrogenation over Ni/SiRAlOx catalysts
Authors: Kale Sumeet S. , Asensio Juan M. , Estrader Marta , Werner Mayke , Bordet Alexis , Yi Deliang , Marbaix Julien , Fazzini Pier-Francesco , Soulantica Katerina , Chaudret Bruno
Published: April 2019

Magnetic nanoparticles have been used as heating agents in CO2 methanation under continuous flow catalyzed by nickel nanoparticles (Ni/SiRAlOx).
Managing transport properties in composite electrodes/electrolytes for all-solid-state lithium-based batteries
Authors: Falco Marisa , Ferrari Stefania , Appetecchi Giovanni Battista , Gerbaldi Claudio
Published: April 2019

In the global competition for ultimate electrochemical energy storage systems, proper tailoring of the ionic/electronic conductive pathways connecting solid electrolyte and active material particles in the electrodes is essential for achieving full capacity output of Li-based secondary batteries.
Rapid analytical characterization of high-throughput chemistry screens utilizing desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Sawicki James W. , Bogdan Andrew R. , Searle Philip A. , Talaty Nari , Djuric Stevan W.
Published: April 2019

Application of high-speed DESI-MS analysis for the identification of optimal reaction conditions through high-throughput experimentation screening.
High and energy-efficient reversible SO2 uptake by a robust Sc(iii)-based MOF
Authors: Zárate J. Antonio , Sánchez-González Elí , Williams Daryl R. , González-Zamora Eduardo , Martis Vladimir , Martínez Ana , Balmaseda Jorge , Maurin Guillaume , Ibarra Ilich A.
Published: April 2019

MFM-300(Sc) was demonstrated to be an optimal adsorbent for SO2 capture combining high uptake, good stability and excellent cyclability (facile regeneration at only room temperature). A drastic enhancement on its SO2 uptake (40%) was achieved when a small amount of EtOH was preliminary adsorbed.
A descriptive model of thermoelectric transport in a resonant system of PbSe doped with Tl
Authors: Pan Zhenyu , Wang Heng
Published: April 2019

Transport properties in resonant system PbSe:Tl are now quantitatively explained with Boltzmann transport equations.
An underwater, self-sensing, conductive composite coating with controllable wettability and adhesion behavior
Authors: Ding Guomin , Jiao Weicheng , Wang Rongguo , Chu Zhenming , Huang Yifan
Published: April 2019

A composite coating with a micro–nanoscale hierarchical structure, which has controllable wettability and adhesion behavior, is fabricated by a one-step method and shows an enhanced underwater self-sensing capability.
OFF–ON nanodiamond drug platform for targeted cancer imaging and therapy
Authors: Wei Shiguo , Li Lin , Du Xiangbin , Li Yingqi
Published: April 2019

The pH-responsive drug delivery system (NPGD) can act as a direct OFF–ON mechanism for activatable bioimaging and cancer therapy.
The crystal structure of visible light absorbing piezoelectric semiconductor SrNb2V2O11revisited: high-resolution X-ray diffraction, vibrational spectroscopy and computational study
Authors: Odynets Ievgen V. , Khainakov Sergiy , Garcia-Granda Santiago , Gumeniuk Roman , Zschornak Matthias , Soloviova Natalia , Slobodyanik Nikolay S. , Horcajada Patricia , Babaryk Artem A.
Published: April 2019

The crystal lattice of piezoelectric semiconductor Sr2Nb2V2O11adoptsCcordering due toΓ2−mode distortion.
Butterfly-shaped π-extended benzothiadiazoles as promising emitting materials for white OLEDs
Authors: Wang Zaibin , Peng Zhixing , Huang Kai , Lu Ping , Wang Yanguang
Published: April 2019

A series of butterfly-shaped D–A–D and D–A–A compounds composed of a benzothiadiazole core and corresponding terminal alkynes were synthesized.
Capillary-bridge mediated assembly of aligned perovskite quantum dots for high-performance photodetectors
Authors: Dai Zhigao , Ou Qingdong , Wang Chujie , Si Guangyuan , Shabbir Babar , Zheng Changxi , Wang Ziyu , Zhang Yupeng , Huang Yamin , Dong Yemin , Jasieniak Jacek J. , Su Bin , Bao Qiaoliang
Published: April 2019

A liquid bridge induced assembly strategy to align perovskite QDs in one direction for high-performance photodetectors.
Junction-free copper wires with submicron linewidth for large-area high-performance transparent electrodes
Authors: Zhong Wei , Li Yanan , Zhang Qin , Chang Chun , Wang Fajun , Xiao Jianhua
Published: April 2019

Electrospinning and wet etching facilitate large-area fabrication of junction-free copper wires with the smallest linewidth of 550 nm.
Epitaxial growth via anti-solvent-induced deposition towards a highly efficient and stable Mn4+ doped fluoride red phosphor for application in warm WLEDs
Authors: Jiang Chunyan , Li Lihua , Brik Mikhail G. , Lin Litian , Peng Mingying
Published: April 2019

We report epitaxial growth via simple ethanol-induced deposition to enhance the luminescence and moisture resistance of K2SiF6:Mn4+.
Adaptive fault‐tolerant control of mobile robots with actuator faults and unknown parameters
Authors: Jin Xiao‐Zheng , Zhao Ye‐Xing , Wang Hai , Zhao Zhen , Dong Xue‐Ping
Published: April 2019

This study deals with the fault‐tolerant control problem for a class of two independent wheeled mobile robot systems with actuator faults and unknown robot parameters. Partial loss of control effectiveness and bias‐actuator faults are addressed without knowing eventually faulty information of actuators. Adaptive schemes are developed to estimate unknown faulty parameters of actuator faults and unknown robot parameters of viscous friction factor and driving gain. Then, the backstepping control technique is utilised to construct the state feed‐back control strategy based on the adaptive estimations. By using the Lyapunov stability theory, it is shown that the forward speed and azimuthal angle of wheeled mobile robots can track the given trajectory asymptotically in the case of actuator faults and unknown parameters. The effectiveness of the proposed designs is illustrated via a mobile robot system.
Copy‐for‐duplication forgery detection in colour images using QPCETMs and sub‐image approach
Authors: Hosny Khalid M. , Hamza Hanaa M. , Lashin Nabil A.
Published: April 2019

Most of the existing copy‐move forgery detection (CMFD) methods utilised time‐consuming overlapped block‐based approach. Here, a novel sub‐image approach is proposed for extremely fast and highly accurate detecting of the duplicated forged objects in colour images. The proposed approach consists of few steps. The input coloured images are converted into the hue‐saturation‐value (HSV) colour model. Then, the edges of all objects in the forged image are detected using the Sobel operator. Morphological opening operator and median filter are used in removing unnecessary small objects. The boundaries of the duplicated objects are accurately detected. A bounding rectangle is drawn around the detected object to form a sub‐image. The features of this sub‐image are extracted by using the quaternion polar complex exponential transform moments (QPCETMs) and their invariants to rotation, scaling, and translation. Finally, the duplicated regions are matched via calculating the Euclidian distances and the correlation between the feature vectors. Experiments are performed using different types of duplicated regions. The obtained results of the proposed method are much accurate when compared with the results of the existing methods. Also, the proposed method exhibits high robustness against different attacks such as additive white Gaussian noise, JPEG compression, scaling, and rotation.
Detecting sleep in drivers during highly automated driving: the potential of physiological parameters
Authors: Wörle Johanna , Metz Barbara , Thiele Christian , Weller Gert
Published: April 2019

Driver monitoring is added as a primary safety measure in the EuroNCAP roadmap 2025. Especially with the introduction of automated driving systems into the market, new requirements are set to driver monitoring systems (DMSs). When not being actively involved in driving, the risk of drivers becoming drowsy and even falling asleep at the wheel increases. Modern DMSs will have to be able to detect a driver falling asleep or sleeping in order for the automation to take appropriate actions. Conventional measures for detecting the driver state such as analysing the driving behaviour are not available in automated driving. The aim of the study was to identify potential physiological measures as a basis for the development of systems that are able to detect sleep in drivers during automated driving. A within‐subjects study with N = 21 subjects was conducted in a high‐fidelity driving simulator. Electromyography, electrodermal activity (EDA), respiration and electrocardiography (ECG) were measured in drivers during states of wakefulness and sleep. Sleep stages were assigned with the electroencephalography as a ground truth. The results indicate the potential of EDA and ECG parameters to differentiate between sleep and wakefulness. Implications for the implementation in DMS are discussed.
New unified NR power flow algorithm for initialising fixed speed wind generation system with turbine characteristics
Authors: Vardhan Varma Pothuri Vishnu , Kalyan Kumar Boddeti
Published: April 2019

Fixed speed induction machine‐based wind generators are widely used. Proper initialisation of the models representing fixed speed induction machine‐based wind generators connected to grid is of primary concern for stability analysis. The initialisation of fixed speed induction generators (FSIG) has been performed using conventional power flow techniques, but there exists a reactive power mismatch which makes initialisation imprecise. Moreover, turbine characteristics along with control mechanisms are not properly included for initialising the dynamics for stability analysis. A unified Newton–Raphson (NR) method was proposed in literature to include turbine characteristics and control methods for accurate initialisation of FSIG. However, this method creates an extra node for every induction machine causing an increase in the size of the Jacobian and time of execution of power flow algorithm. A new unified‐NR method, which does not need an extra node, for initialisation of grid‐connected FSIG is proposed in the present work. The proposed unified NR method has been validated on 14‐bus, 41‐bus, 203‐bus, and 1336‐bus test systems. The results of the proposed new unified‐NR method are compared with existing unified‐NR method. The results clearly demonstrate that the proposed method initialisation is accurate with considerably less computational time as compared to existing unified‐NR.
Okuläre Syphilis kann zu bleibender Seheinschränkung führen
Authors: Hamann Timothy , Al-Sheikh Mayss , Zweifel Sandrine , Meier Fabio , Barthelmes Daniel , Böni Christian
Published: April 2019

Zweck Bei Patienten mit okulärer Syphilis wurde das Spektrum der intraokulären und der systemischen Befunde beschrieben. Es wurde analysiert, wie häufig persistierende Seheinschränkungen trotz Therapie auftraten und welches morphologische Korrelat den visuellen Dysfunktionen zugrunde lag.

Methoden Eingeschlossen wurden Patienten, die zwischen 2010 und 2018 mit okulärer Syphilis im UniversitätsSpital Zürich behandelt wurden. Allgemeine Charakteristika, okuläre Präsentation, visuelle Funktionen (bestkorrigierter Visus, Gesichtsfeld) vor und nach Therapie wurden retrospektiv analysiert.

Ergebnisse Bei 17 Patienten (1 weiblich, 16 männlich) mit einem medianen Alter von 42 Jahren (Spannweite 22 – 53), wurde eine okuläre Syphilis diagnostiziert. In 11 Fällen zeigte sich eine bilaterale Entzündung, es waren 28 von 34 Augen betroffen (82%). Anteriore (n = 3), intermediäre (n = 4), posteriore Uveitis (n = 10), Panuveitis (n = 5) und Papillitis (n = 6) lagen vor. Bei 8 Patienten fand sich ein abnormaler Liquorbefund (47%). Sechs von 17 Patienten (35%) waren HIV-positiv (HIV: human immunodeficiency virus). Bei allen Patienten sprach die intraokuläre Entzündung auf die intravenöse antibiotische Therapie mit Benzylpenicillin an. Die initiale Sehschärfe aller betroffenen Augen (n = 28) lag im Median bei 0,1 logMAR (0,8 dezimal), Spannweite 2,8 bis − 0,1 logMAR (Lichtperzeption bis 1,25 dezimal). Im letzten Follow-up lag die mediane Sehschärfe bei 0 logMAR, Spannweite 0,4 bis − 0,1 logMAR (0,4 – 1,25 dezimal). Die mediane Follow-up-Dauer lag bei 11 Monaten (Spannweite 3 – 60 Monate). Bei 4 Augen von 3 Patienten wurde beim letzten Follow-up ein korrigierter Visus von ≤ 0,6 erreicht. Sechs Augen von 5 Patienten zeigten ein persistierendes Skotom mit zentralen Gesichtsfelddefekten. Als morphologisches Korrelat der persistierenden Sehdysfunktionen fanden sich Alteration und Desintegration der äußeren Netzhautschichten und/oder eine Atrophie der peripapillären Nervenfaserschicht in Patienten, in denen sich die syphilitische Uveitis als Panuveitis mit Retinitis (n = 3 Augen), als posteriore Uveitis (n = 2 Augen) oder als Papillitis (n = 4 Augen) manifestierte.

Schlussfolgerungen Das Spektrum der Manifestationen bei okulärer Syphilis ist breit. Trotz Therapie führte die okuläre Syphilis in über einem Drittel der betroffenen Augen zu persistierenden visuellen Einschränkungen. Besonders Patienten mit Retinitis oder Papillitis hatten ein Risiko für bleibende visuelle Dysfunktionen.
Positiver Effekt von Laktobazillen auf die Prävalenz von
Metritiden und Expression verschiedener Entzündungsparameter
Authors: Ganz Sebastian
Published: April 2019

Genis S, Cerri RLA, Bach A et al. Pre-calving intravaginal administration of
lactic acid bacteria reduces metritis prevalence and regulates blood neutrophile
gene expression after calving in dairy cattle. Front Vet Sci 2018; 5: 135

Aufgrund der Resistenzentwicklung von Antibiotika wird nach Alternativen bei
der Therapie von Metritiden nach der Kalbung gesucht. Die antibiotische
Behandlung führt bei 67–77 % der Fälle zu einer Verminderung klinischer
Symptome (Fiebersenkung, Reduzierung von geruchlich abweichendem Ausfluss).
Der Einsatz von Probiotika könnte eine vielversprechende Alternative in der
Metritisbehandlung darstellen. Damit könnten Tiere vor Infektion und
Entzündung geschützt, die Genexpression von Entzündungszellen und -markern
moduliert und somit die immunologische Situation der Kuh im postpartalen
Zeitraum verbessert werden.
Contribution of Palmar Radiocarpal and Ulnocarpal Ligaments to the Stability of the Canine Antebrachiocarpal Joint
Authors: Milgram Joshua , Stockman Jonathan , Segev Gilad , Meiner Yaron , Shipov Anna
Published: April 2019

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of the palmar radiocarpal ligament and the palmar ulnocarpal ligament to canine antebrachiocarpal joint stability.

Materials and Methods The right carpus of four dog cadavers, free of musculoskeletal pathology, was stripped of muscle. Each specimen was placed into a custom-made joint testing machine and tested at 15° extension, and 0° and 15° flexion. A single motion tracking sensor was fixed to the metacarpal bones. All specimens were tested with all ligaments intact and after transection of the palmar radiocarpal and ulnocarpal ligaments. A range of weights between 0.2 and 2.0 kg was used to test the carpi in three directions (axial, medial/lateral and cranial/caudal) and two moments (pronation/supination and valgus/varus).

Results No differences were found between the translations and rotations of the manus relative to the radius and ulna with the ligaments intact and the ligaments transected at any of the carpal angles tested, except at 15° of flexion. Increasing the angle of flexion resulted in a significant increase in cranial and caudal translation of the manus relative to the radius and ulna both in the intact and transected specimens.

Clinical relevance Antebrachiocarpal joint position plays a more important role in craniocaudal antebrachiocarpal joint stability than the palmar radiocarpal and ulnocarpal ligaments.
TEM and electron diffraction analysis of ω-Fe to cementite transformation in quenched and tempered high carbon steels
Authors: Liu Tianwei , Li Tong , Liu Xingfa
Published: April 2019

Quenching and tempering are mostly employed to tune the mechanical properties of the high-carbon steels. In the present study, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) are used to examine the microstructural evolution in quenched and tempered high carbon steels. In quenched specimens, the ω-Fe(C) phase is a common substructure in twinned martensite and its diffraction spots are located at 1/3 and 2/3 (21¯1)α-Fe positions along the [011]α-Fe zone axis (ZA). When specimens are in-situ heated in TEM, few additional diffraction spots are observed at 1/6, 3/6 and 5/6 (21¯1)α-Fe positions along the [011]α-Fe ZA. Moreover, martensite decomposes into a lamellar structure and ω-Fe(C) phase transforms into θ-Fe3C cementite during tempering. The TEM and electron diffraction analysis reveals that diffraction spots of θ-Fe3C cementite phase are located at 1/6, 2/6, 3/6, 4/6 and 5/6 (222¯)α-Fe and (21¯1)α-Fe along [112]α-Fe and [011]α-Fe ZAs. Furthermore, the orientation relationships between θ-Fe3C cementite and α-Fe are indexed as: [013]θ//[112]α-Fe, [001]θ//[011]α-Fe, [1¯13]θ//[111]α-Fe and [1¯02]θ//[131]α-Fe, which are related to the transformation of ω-Fe to θ-Fe3C cementite. The current study provides a baseline to understand the microstructural evolution in high carbon steels during heat treatment processes.
The Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR)
Authors: Coombs Geoffrey , Daley Denise , Bell Jan , Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance on behalf of the
Published: April 2019

The Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR) is a collaboration of clinicians and scientists working in diagnostic medical microbiology laboratories located across Australia. The group gathers information on the level of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria causing important and life threatening infections and is a key component of Australia's response to the problem of increasing AMR. It defines where Australia stands with regard to antimicrobial resistance in human health.
Distinguishing disturbance from perturbations in fire-prone ecosystems
Authors: Keeley Jon E. , Pausas Juli G.
Published: April 2019

Fire is a necessary ecosystem process in many biomes and is best viewed as a natural disturbance that is beneficial to ecosystem functioning. However, increasingly, we are seeing human interference in fire regimes that alters the historical range of variability for most fire parameters and results in vegetation shifts. Such perturbations can affect all fire regime parameters. Here, we provide a brief overview of examples where anthropogenically driven changes in fire frequency, fire pattern, fuels consumed and fire intensity constitute perturbations that greatly disrupt natural disturbance cycles and put ecosystems on a different trajectory resulting in type conversion. These changes are not due to fire per se but rather anthropogenic perturbations in the natural disturbance regime.
The opt out paradigm
Authors: Spit Sybren , Andringa Sible , Rispens Judith , Aboh Enoch O.
Published: April 2019

A common assumption is that children learn a language implicitly and without conscious awareness of form and grammar, but this assumption has virtually never been tested experimentally. We propose a novel experimental method to examine if children’s ability to acquire linguistic regularities relates to awareness of these regularities. Traditional methods investigating awareness often rely on learners’ abilities to verbalize their awareness. For young children, such methods are not adequate because they often cannot reflect explicitly on their acquired knowledge, although they might be aware of it in a way they cannot verbalize. To test this, we adapted a method that is used to investigate awareness in animals, because it does not rely on verbalization for demonstrating awareness. Pilot results with 26 adults and 48 kindergartners show some important procedural prerequisites are met. In future research, this procedure could be used to investigate the development of meta-linguistic awareness in children.
Substitution of sedentary time with light physical activity is related to increased bone density in U.S. women over 50 years old. An iso‐temporal substitution analysis based on the National health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Ricci Cristian , Gervasi Federico , Havemann Nel Lize , Smuts Cornelius M. , Kruger Salome H. , Leitzmann Michael F.
Published: April 2019

U.S. women are ageing. This is causing rises in osteoporosis prevalence and risk of fracture with related increases in health care costs. Replacing sedentary time with light physical activity may represent a cost effective public health solution to osteoporosis in elderly women. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted over the period 2003–2006 provided cross‐sectional data on bone mineral density and objectively assessed physical activity among 1,052 women aged 50–85 years old. Substitution analysis was applied to estimate increased bone mineral density and reduced osteoporosis for those women replacing 30 min of sedentary time with an equivalent amount of light physical activity. Substitution of 30 min of sedentary time with an equal amount of light physical activity was associated with increased bone mineral density of about 3 mg/cm2 and a 12% reduced risk of osteoporosis in the spine. When considering overweight women and women over 65 years of age, this association was reinforced and it extended to the pelvis, legs and trunk, resulting in a consistent bone mineral density increase of about 3–6 mg/cm2. The substitution of 30 min of sedentary time with an equal amount of light physical activity appears a possible primary prevention method to reduce osteoporosis and related increases in risk of fracture, mortality, and health care costs in women over 50 years old.
Spatio-temporal variation of crop loss in the United States from 2001 to 2016
Authors: Reyes Julian J , Elias Emile
Published: April 2019

Crop insurance loss data can illuminate variations in agricultural impacts from exposure to weather and climate-driven events, and can improve our understanding of agricultural vulnerabilities. Here we perform a retrospective analysis of weather and climate-driven reasons for crop loss (i.e. cause of loss) obtained from the Risk Management Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture. The federal crop insurance program has insured over $440 billion in liabilities representing farmers’ crops from 2001 to 2016. Specifically, we examine the top ten weather and climate-driven causes of loss from 2001 to 2016 across the nation comprising at least 83% of total indemnities (i.e. insurance payouts provided to farmers after crop loss events). First, we analyzed the relative fraction of indemnities by causes of loss, over different spatial and temporal resolutions. We found that drought and excess precipitation comprised the largest sources of crop loss across the nation. However, these causes varied strongly over space and time. We applied two additional normalization techniques to indemnities using (1) insurance premia and the gross domestic product implicit price deflator, and (2) liabilities to calculate the loss cost. We conducted trend analyses using the Mann–Kendall statistical test on loss cost over time. Differential trends and patterns in loss cost demonstrated the importance of spatio-temporal resolution in assessing causes of loss. The majority of monthly significant trends (p < 0.05) showed increasing loss cost (i.e. increasing indemnities or decreasing liabilities) in response to weather events. Finally, we briefly discuss an online portal (AgRisk Viewer) to make these data accessible at multiple spatial scales and sub-annual time steps to support both research and outreach efforts promoting adaptation and resilience in agricultural systems.
An Experimental Comparison of Enriched Biogas and CNG on Dual Fuel Operation of a Diesel Engine
Authors: Verma Saket , Das L.M. , Kaushik S.C. , Tyagi S.K.
Published: April 2019

In the present work CNG and enriched biogas (93% CH4 by vol.) have been experimentally compared for performance and emission characteristics in a dual fuel diesel engine. The diesel is used as the pilot fuel, which is directly injected into the engine cylinder. The CNG and biogas are used as the main fuels, which are inducted with the intake air in the intake manifold. The experimental observations are taken for steady state conditions at varying engine loads for maximum pilot fuel substitution conditions. The performance of the engine is evaluated based on energy and exergy analyses. The emission characteristics are shown for oxides of nitrogen (NOx), hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke emissions. It was found that enriched biogas showed the performance similar to that with CNG, whereas slight variations in the emissions were observed. The exergy efficiencies of 27.8% and 26.9% were calculated for CNG and biogas dual fuel operations respectively at the full load. Similarly, maximum pilot fuel substitutions were found 73.4% and 71.4% for the above conditions respectively.
Unconventional anomalous Hall effect driven by oxygen-octahedra-tailoring of the SrRuO3 structure
Authors: Ziese M , Jin L , Lindfors-Vrejoiu I
Published: April 2019

The anomalous Hall effect of SrRuO3 is of special interest, since Weyl nodes appear in the band structure and lead to an unconventional temperature dependence of the anomalous Hall constant. Moreover, it has been proposed that coupling of SrRuO3 films to materials with strong spin–orbit coupling or with ferroelectric or ferromagnetic order might lead to the formation of skyrmions and a topological contribution to the Hall effect. This latter conjecture is strongly debated. We probed this proposal by interfacing thin SrRuO3 layers to Pr0.7Ca0.3MnO3, since it is known that the strong antiferromagnetic coupling between these two ferromagnets leads to complex magnetization states. Superlattices with sharp interfaces were grown by pulsed-laser deposition. The epitaxial interfacing with the Pr0.7Ca0.3MnO3 layers led to major modifications of the structural symmetry of the SrRuO3 layers. High resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy revealed that the individual SrRuO3 layers of the superlattices had heterogeneous structure with varying oxygen octahedral tilt angles across the layers, turning their structure to be tetragonal-like, with largely suppressed octahedral tilts when the thickness of the neighboring Pr0.7Ca0.3MnO3 layers was increased. These structural modifications were accompanied by major changes in the field dependence of the Hall signal with the mainly tetragonal SrRuO3 layers showing features strongly reminiscent of a topological Hall effect. However, since there was an intimate link between Hall effect and structure, the Hall data were interpreted as arising from a superposition of Hall effect contributions from tetragonal and orthorhombic SrRuO3 sub-layers.
On proper holomorphic maps between bounded symmetric domains
Authors: Chan Shan Tai
Published: April 2019

We study proper holomorphic maps between bounded symmetric domains

D
D

and

Ω
\Omega

. In particular, when

D
D

and

Ω
\Omega

are of the same rank

≥
2

\ge 2

such that all irreducible factors of

D
D

are of rank

≥
2

\ge 2

, we prove that any proper holomorphic map from

D
D

to

Ω
\Omega

is a totally geodesic holomorphic isometric embedding with respect to certain canonical Kähler metrics of

D
D

and

Ω
\Omega

. We also obtain some results regarding holomorphic maps

F
:
D
→
Ω

F:D\to \Omega

which map minimal disks of

D
D

properly into rank-

1
1

characteristic symmetric subspaces of

Ω
\Omega

. On the other hand, we obtain new rigidity results regarding semi-product proper holomorphic maps between

D
D

and

Ω
\Omega

under a certain rank condition on

D
D

and

Ω
\Omega

.
A note on the bilinear Bogolyubov theorem: Transverse and bilinear sets
Authors: Bienvenu Pierre-Yves , González-Sánchez Diego , Martínez Ángel
Published: April 2019

A set

P
⊂

F

p
n

×

F

p
n

P\subset \mathbb {F}_p^n\times \mathbb {F}_p^n

is called bilinear when it is the zero set of a family of linear and bilinear forms and transverse when it is stable under vertical and horizontal sums. A theorem of the first author provides a generalization of Bogolyubov’s theorem to the bilinear setting. Roughly speaking, it implies that any dense transverse set

P
⊂

F

p
n

×

F

p
n

P\subset \mathbb {F}_p^n\times \mathbb {F}_p^n

contains a large bilinear set. In this paper, we elucidate the extent to which a transverse set is forced to be (and not only contain) a bilinear set.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of African Historiography: Methods and Sources
Authors: Spear Thomas
Published: April 2019

The difficulties of exploring African history, especially for earlier periods, have spurred the development of a wide range of methodologies and approaches, such that Wyatt McGaffey once termed it “the decathlon of the social sciences.” Historians have long utilized archaeology, ethnography, historical linguistics, and oral traditions, but are only beginning to explore the possibilities of genetics or many of the new techniques used by archaeology and other sciences. And as digital sources—from historical documents and statistics to cartographic, climatic, demographic, and environmental modeling—proliferate, so do the problems in using them. The Oxford Encyclopedia of African Historiography: Methods and Sources discusses these sources and methods, and examines how these developments have influenced the scholarship that historians produce. Such methods continue to evolve, demanding that historians develop basic understandings of them. Thus, the Encyclopedia builds a theoretical foundation for the field, expanding the ways that Africa can be studied, and recovering the histories of the continent that often appear outside of the documentary record.
A Dictionary of Sikh Studies
Authors: Singh Pashaura
Published: April 2019

Over 350 entries

This new dictionary provides accessible definitions of the terms that the growing number of students of Sikhism will encounter. It covers beliefs, practices, festivals, sacred sites, and principal languages, as well as the social and religious processes through which Sikhism has evolved. A major focus is the teachings of the founder of Sikhism, Gurū Nānak, and doctrinal developments under subsequent Gurūs. Incorporating the 500-year history of Sikhism, from its birth in northern India to its more recent spread around the world, it covers the interplay between the Sikh tradition and other religious traditions, including Hindu and Sufi. It is an invaluable first reference for students and teachers of Sikhism, religious studies, South Asian studies, philosophy, and the related disciplines of history, sociology, and anthropology, as well as for all practising Sikhs and anyone with an interest in Sikh religion and culture.
Incentives and the Diffusion of Agricultural Knowledge: Experimental Evidence from Northern Uganda
Authors: Shikuku Kelvin Mashisia , Pieters Janneke , Bulte Erwin , Läderach Peter
Published: April 2019

We present results of a randomized evaluation that assesses the effects of different incentives for diffusion of agricultural knowledge by smallholders in northern Uganda. Randomly‐selected disseminating farmers (DFs) from a large sample of villages are assigned to one of three experimental arms: (a) training about climate smart agriculture, (b) training plus a material reward for knowledge diffusion, and (c) training plus a reputational gain for knowledge diffusion. We find that leveraging somebody's reputation (or social recognition) has a positive impact on DFs' experimentation and diffusion effort. This impact is stronger than that measured in the private material rewards treatment.
Insulin Resistance and Renal Sodium Handling Influence Arterial Stiffness in Hypertensive Patients with Prevailing Sodium Intake
Authors: Cwynar Marcin , Gąsowski Jerzy , Gryglewska Barbara , Głuszewska Anna , Kwater Aleksander , Królczyk Jarosław , Fołta Maria , Bartoń Henryk , Grodzicki Tomasz
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUND

Insulin resistance and renal tubular sodium handling influence arterial structure and function and play an essential role in salt-sensitive forms of hypertension.

METHODS

In a population with prevailing sodium consumption, we assessed the relationship between cardiovascular phenotypes (peripheral and central blood pressures, elastic properties of large arteries, the left ventricular structure) and sodium handling parameters (daily urinary sodium excretion, fractional urinary lithium excretion in proximal—FELi and distal tubules), as a function of insulin sensitivity—measured by homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), leptin-to-adiponectin (L/A) ratio, and homeostasis model assessment–adiponectin (HOMA-AD).

RESULTS

In patients with FELi below the median value (corresponding to the group with increased proximal sodium reabsorption) and higher insulin resistance as measured by HOMA-IR, pulse wave augmentation indexes were significantly higher—AIxP (99.4% vs. 86.2%; P = 0.007), AIxC1 (159.4% vs. 144.2%; P = 0.04), and AIxC2 (36.1% vs. 28.3%; P = 0.02), than in patients with lower insulin resistance. The same trend was observed in relation to L/A ratio—AIxP (98.7% vs. 87.1%; P = 0.005), AIxC1 (158.6% vs. 144.5%; P = 0.02), and AIxC2 (35.6% vs. 28.5%; P = 0.01) and HOMA-AD—AIxP (99.7% vs. 83.8%; P = 0.001), AIxC1 (160.5% vs. 140.3%; P = 0.007), and AIxC2 (36.6% vs. 26.3%; P = 0.003). Such relationships were not observed in patients with FELi above the median value.

CONCLUSIONS

In the hypertensive population with prevailing sodium intake, insulin resistance and increased sodium reabsorption in proximal tubules may affect arterial wall function.
Lung Ultrasound-Guided Dry-Weight Reduction in Hemodialysis Patients Does Not Affect Short-Term Blood Pressure Variability
Authors: Loutradis Charalampos , Sarafidis Pantelis A , Theodorakopoulou Marieta , Ekart Robert , Alexandrou Maria Eleni , Pyrgidis Nikolaos , Angeloudi Elena , Tzanis Georgios , Toumpourleka Maria , Papadopoulou Dorothea , Mallamaci Francesca , Zoccali Carmine , Papagianni Aikaterini
Published: April 2019

Background

Increased short-term blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) in hemodialysis is associated with increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Studies on the impact of BP-lowering interventions on BPV are scarce. This study examined the effect of dry-weight reduction with a lung ultrasound-guided strategy on short-term BPV in hemodialysis patients with hypertension.

Methods

This is a prespecified analysis of a randomized clinical trial in 71 hemodialysis patients with hypertension, assigned in a 1:1 ratio in the active group, following a strategy for dry-weight reduction guided by pre-hemodialysis lung ultrasound and the control group following standard-of-care treatment. All patients underwent 48-hour ambulatory BP monitoring at baseline and after 8 weeks. BPV was calculated with validated formulas for the 48-hour interval and the 2 daytime and nighttime periods.

Results

Dry-weight changes were –0.71 ± 1.39 in active vs. +0.51 ± 0.98 kg in the control group (P < 0.001), generating a between-group difference of 5.9/3.5 mm Hg (P < 0.05) in 48-hour BP at study end. All brachial BPV indices [SD, weighted SD, coefficient of variation, and average real variability (ARV)] did not change significantly from baseline to study end in the active [systolic blood pressure (SBP)-ARV: 12.58 ± 3.37 vs. 11.91 ± 3.13, P = 0.117; diastolic blood pressure (DBP)-ARV: 9.14 ± 1.47 vs. 8.80 ± 1.96, P = 0.190] or control (SBP-ARV: 11.33 ± 2.76 vs. 11.07 ± 2.51, P = 0.544; DBP-ARV: 8.38 ± 1.50 vs. 8.15 ± 1.49, P = 0.295) group (between-group comparison P = 0.211/0.117). Aortic BPV indices followed a similar pattern. Likewise, no significant changes in BPV indices for the daytime and nighttime periods were noted in both groups during follow-up.

Conclusions

This study is the first to evaluate the effects of a nonpharmacological intervention on short-term BPV in hemodialysis, showing no effect of dry-weight reduction on BPV, despite BP decrease.
Shadow banking and the financial side of financialisation
Authors: Caverzasi Eugenio , Botta Alberto , Capelli Clara
Published: April 2019

This paper sheds some light on the nature and functioning of shadow banking, with a special focus on its role in the evolution of financialisation as well as in sharpening income and wealth inequality. On the one hand, it discusses how securitisation has allowed traditional banks to expand their business, providing the financial system with the ‘raw materials’ for the manufacturing of complex structured financial products. On the other hand, it questions the view of traditional and shadow banks as two parallel and alternative systems, claiming that financialisation did not alter the role of commercial banks as money creators, but rather diverted endogenously created money to the financial sphere, feeding its expansion. Finally, our work discusses some policy options for the de-financialisation of the economy through more progressive taxation of the financial sector, as well as a stronger engagement to reduce income and wealth inequality.
Understanding and Measuring User Experience in Conversational Interfaces
Authors: Kocaballi Ahmet Baki , Laranjo Liliana , Coiera Enrico
Published: April 2019

Although various methods have been developed to evaluate conversational interfaces, there has been a lack of methods specifically focusing on evaluating user experience. This paper reviews the understandings of user experience (UX) in conversational interfaces literature and examines the six questionnaires commonly used for evaluating conversational systems in order to assess the potential suitability of these questionnaires to measure different UX dimensions in that context. The method to examine the questionnaires involved developing an assessment framework for main UX dimensions with relevant attributes and coding the items in the questionnaires according to the framework. The results show that (i) the understandings of UX notably differed in literature; (ii) four questionnaires included assessment items, in varying extents, to measure hedonic, aesthetic and pragmatic dimensions of UX; (iii) while the dimension of affect was covered by two questionnaires, playfulness, motivation, and frustration dimensions were covered by one questionnaire only. The largest coverage of UX dimensions has been provided by the Subjective Assessment of Speech System Interfaces (SASSI). We recommend using multiple questionnaires to obtain a more complete measurement of user experience or improve the assessment of a particular UX dimension.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Varying understandings of UX in conversational interfaces literature. A UX assessment framework with UX dimensions and their relevant attributes. Descriptions of the six main questionnaires for evaluating conversational interfaces. A comparison of the six questionnaires based on their coverage of UX dimensions.