bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonlabor Income and Age at Marriage: Evidence From China’s Heating Policy
Authors: Chu Junhong , Liu Haoming , Png I. P. L.
Published: November 2018

We exploit China’s heating policy to investigate how nonlabor income affects marriage. From the mid-1950s, the policy gave substantial subsidies to urban residents north of the Huai River. Applying geographic regression discontinuity, we find that with the policy, urban men in the north married 15 months earlier than men in the south. The difference is substantial given that the average age at first marriage is 24.9 years for urban men in the south. The effect is larger for later birth cohorts, which is consistent with the progressive implementation of the policy. The effect is smaller among women, consistent with women having less power in the household than men. There is no effect among rural residents, who did not benefit from the heating policy.
A Research Note on the Prevalence of Housing Eviction Among Children Born in U.S. Cities
Authors: Lundberg Ian , Donnelly Louis
Published: November 2018

A growing body of research suggests that housing eviction is more common than previously recognized and may play an important role in the reproduction of poverty. The proportion of children affected by housing eviction, however, remains largely unknown. We estimate that one in seven children born in large U.S. cities in 1998–2000 experienced at least one eviction for nonpayment of rent or mortgage between birth and age 15. Rates of eviction were substantial across all cities and demographic groups studied, but children from disadvantaged backgrounds were most likely to experience eviction. Among those born into deep poverty, we estimate that approximately one in four were evicted by age 15. Given prior evidence that forced moves have negative consequences for children, we conclude that the high prevalence and social stratification of housing eviction are sufficient to play an important role in the reproduction of poverty and warrant greater policy attention.
Existence of mild solutions for fractional non-instantaneous impulsive integro-differential equations with nonlocal conditions
Authors: Meraj Arshi , Pandey Dwijendra N.
Published: November 2018

This paper is concerned with the existence of mild solutions for a class of fractional semilinear integro-differential equations having non-instantaneous impulses. The result is obtained by using noncompact semigroup theory and fixed point theorem. The obtained result is illustrated by an example at the end.
Is Blameworthiness Forever?
Authors: KHOURY ANDREW C. , MATHESON BENJAMIN
Published: November 2018

Many of those working on moral responsibility assume that once blameworthy, always blameworthy. They believe that blameworthiness, like diamonds, is forever. In this article, we argue that blameworthiness is not forever; rather, it can diminish through time. We begin by showing that the view that blameworthiness is forever is best understood as the claim that personal identity is sufficient for diachronic blameworthiness. We argue that this view should be rejected because it entails that blameworthiness for past action is completely divorced from the distinctive psychological features of the person at the later time. This is because on none of the leading accounts of personal identity does identity require the preservation of any distinctive psychological features, but merely requires some form of continuity. The claim that blameworthiness is forever should therefore be rejected. We then sketch an account of blameworthiness over time, and consider two objections.
A collaborative, academic approach to optimizing the national clinical research infrastructure: The first year of the Trial Innovation Network
Authors: Bernard Gordon R. , Harris Paul A. , Pulley Jill M. , Benjamin Daniel K. , Dean Jonathan Michael , Ford Daniel E. , Hanley Daniel F. , Selker Harry P. , Wilkins Consuelo H.
Published: November 2018

Inefficiencies in the national clinical research infrastructure have been apparent for decades. The National Center for Advancing Translational Science—sponsored Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program is able to address such inefficiencies. The Trial Innovation Network (TIN) is a collaborative initiative with the CTSA program and other National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutes and Centers that addresses critical roadblocks to accelerate the translation of novel interventions to clinical practice. The TIN’s mission is to execute high-quality trials in a quick, cost-efficient manner. The TIN awardees are composed of 3 Trial Innovation Centers, the Recruitment Innovation Center, and the individual CTSA institutions that have identified TIN Liaison units. The TIN has launched a national scale single (central) Institutional Review Board system, master contracting agreements, quality-by-design approaches, novel recruitment support methods, and applies evidence-based strategies to recruitment and patient engagement. The TIN has received 113 submissions from 39 different CTSA institutions and 8 non-CTSA Institutions, with projects associated with 12 different NIH Institutes and Centers across a wide range of clinical/disease areas. Already more than 150 unique health systems/organizations are involved as sites in TIN-related multisite studies. The TIN will begin to capture data and metrics that quantify increased efficiency and quality improvement during operations.
IMPROVING DELIBERATIONS BY REDUCING MISREPRESENTATION EFFECTS
Authors: Imbert Cyrille , Boyer-Kassem Thomas , Chevrier Vincent , Bourjot Christine
Published: November 2018

Deliberative and decisional groups play crucial roles in most aspects of social life. But it is not obvious how to organize these groups and various socio-cognitive mechanisms can spoil debates and decisions. In this paper we focus on one such important mechanism: the misrepresentation of views, i.e. when agents express views that are aligned with those already expressed, and which differ from their private opinions. We introduce a model to analyze the extent to which this behavioral pattern can warp deliberations and distort the decisions that are finally taken. We identify types of situations in which misrepresentation can have major effects and investigate how to reduce these effects by adopting appropriate deliberative procedures. We discuss the beneficial effects of (i) holding a sufficient number of rounds of expression of views; (ii) choosing an appropriate order of speech, typically a random one; (iii) rendering the deliberation dissenter-friendly; (iv) having agents express fined-grained views. These applicable procedures help improve deliberations because they dampen conformist behavior, give epistemic minorities more opportunities to be heard, and reduce the number of cases in which an inadequate consensus or majority develops.
Community cognitive interviewing to inform local adaptations of an e-mental health intervention in Lebanon
Authors: Abi Ramia J. , Harper Shehadeh M. , Kheir W. , Zoghbi E. , Watts S. , Heim E. , El Chammay R.
Published: November 2018

Background.

Lebanon has a need for innovative approaches to increase access to mental health care to meet the country's current high demand. E-mental health has been included in its national mental health strategy while in parallel the World Health Organization has produced an online intervention called ‘Step-by-Step’ to treat symptoms of depression that is being tested in Lebanon over the coming years.

Aim.

The primary aim of this study is to conduct bottom-up, community-driven qualitative cognitive interviewing from a multi-stakeholder perspective to inform the cultural adaptation of an Internet-delivered mental health intervention based on behavioural activation in Lebanon.

Methods.

National Mental Health Programme staff conducted a total of 11 key informant interviews with three mental health professionals, six front-line workers in primary health care centres (PHCCs) and two community members. Also, eight focus group discussions, one with seven front-line workers and seven others with a total of 66 community members (Lebanese, Syrians and Palestinians) were conducted in several PHCCs to inform the adaptation of Step-by-Step. Results were transcribed and analysed thematically by the project coordinator and two research assistants.

Results.

Feedback generated from the cognitive interviewing mainly revolved around amending the story, illustrations and the delivery methods to ensure relevance and sensitivity to the local context. The results obtained have informed major edits to the content of Step-by-Step and also to the model of provision. Notably, the intervention was made approximately 30% shorter; it includes additional videos of content alongside the originally proposed comic book-style delivery; there is less emphasis on total inactivity as a symptom of low mood and more focus on enjoyable activities to lift mood; the story and ways to contact participants to provide support were updated in line with local gender norms; and many of the suggested or featured activities have been revised in line with suggestions from community members.

Conclusions.

These findings promote and advocate the use of community-driven adaptation of evidence-based psychological interventions. Some of the phenomena recorded mirror findings from other research about barriers to care seeking in the region and so changes made to the intervention should be useful in improving utility and uptake of ‘Step-by-Step’.
Exploring the homolog of a novel proinflammatory microfilarial sheath protein (MfP) of Wuchereria bancrofti in the adult-stage bovine filarial parasite Setaria cervi
Authors: Mukherjee S. , Joardar N. , Sinha Babu S.P.
Published: November 2018

A novel microfilarial sheath protein (MfP) of the human filarial parasite Wuchereria bancrofti and its proinflammatory activity on host macrophages were identified recently. MfP is a homolog of the nematode bestrophin-9 superfamily that acts as a ligand of macrophage Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) to induce inflammation through NF-κB activation. Therefore, the presence and functional implication of this novel protein in adult-stage parasites were open questions to answer. In this study, the bovine filarial parasite Setaria cervi was used to simulate adult W. bancrofti. We detected the presence of MfP in adult-stage S. cervi through clear immunological cross-reactivity and immunolocalization employing an anti-MfP antibody developed in mice. Therefore, our findings put forward S. cervi as a cost-effective source of immunodominant filarial antigen MfP to simulate its future utilization in the immunotherapeutic intervention of lymphatic filariasis.
NGOs and Civil Society: The Politics of Crafting a Civic Welfare Infrastructure in the Hu–Wen Period
Authors: Howell Jude
Published: November 2018

Since 2015 rights-based NGOs, lawyers, feminists and journalists have endured the most stringent crackdown since 1989. Simultaneously the Xi Li administration has pushed forward a series of laws, policies and regulatory changes to enable service-oriented NGOs to apply for government contracts to provide welfare services. This seemingly Janus-like policy of welfarist incorporation can be traced back to the Hu–Wen period, often described as a lacklustre period, despite significant efforts to tackle issues of poverty and inequality. This article argues for a more balanced appraisal of this period by exploring in depth the complex politics underpinning efforts to pluralize welfare provision by involving service-oriented NGOs. It explores three sets of politics influencing this policy process: inter-institutional politics; state/non-state actor politics; and domestic/external politics. Furthermore, it considers processes of gradual institutional change adopted by key political actors to achieve these ends.
A Stellar Perspective on the Magnetic Future of the Sun
Authors: Metcalfe Travis S.
Published: November 2018

After decades of effort, the solar magnetic cycle is exceptionally well characterized, but it remains poorly understood. Pioneering work at the Mount Wilson Observatory demonstrated that other Sun-like stars also show regular activity cycles, and identified two distinct relationships between the rotation rate and the length of the cycle. The solar cycle appears to be an outlier, falling between the two stellar relationships, potentially threatening the very foundation of the solar-stellar connection. Recent discoveries emerging from NASA’s Kepler space telescope have started to shed light on this perplexing result, suggesting that the Sun’s rotation rate and magnetic field are currently in a transitional phase that occurs in all middle-aged stars. We have recently identified the manifestation of this magnetic transition in the best available data on stellar cycles. These observations suggest that the solar cycle is currently growing longer on stellar evolutionary timescales, and that the global dynamo may shut down entirely sometime in the next 0.8-2.4 Gyr. Future tests of this hypothesis will come from ground-based activity monitoring of Kepler targets that span the magnetic transition, and from asteroseismology with the TESS mission to determine precise masses and ages for bright stars with known cycles.
Phase difference between long-term magnetic feature activity and flare activity of solar-type stars
Authors: He Han , Wang Huaning , Zhang Mei , Mehrabi Ahmad , Yan Yan , Yun Duo
Published: November 2018

In the light curves of some solar-type stars, both rotational modulation (caused by corotating bright or dark magnetic features) and flare phenomena can be seen simultaneously. Based on these light curve observations, the relation between stellar magnetic feature activity (reflected by the rotational modulation component of the light curves) and flare activity can be investigated. Here, we analyze the light curve data of a flare-abundant solar-type star, KIC 6034120, observed with Kepler space telescope, and describe magnetic feature activity property by fluctuation range of light curves and flare activity property by time occupation ratio of flares. Distinct phase difference between long-term magnetic feature activity and flare activity is found for this star, which indicates that the source regions of stellar flares (e.g., starspots) on this star do not dominate the rotational modulation of light curves, yet they might be related to a same stellar dynamo process.
Geoeffective events through solar cycles
Authors: Schmieder Brigitte , Aulanier Guillaume
Published: November 2018

Extreme solar storms are well known in the historical databases. Since the modern era, it has been possible to associate clearly geomagnetic disturbances with solar events (flares, SEP, CMEs). In the recent solar cycles the geoeffective events (number and strength) are decreasing. As an example, in the 2002 maximum activity year, we present how many flares, and CMEs were geoeffective. Based on observations and simulations, we discuss on the size of sunspots and the field strength to get more energetic flares (> 1032 ergs) in the near future.
Nonlinear Prediction of Solar Cycle 25
Authors: Sarp Volkan , Kılçık Ali
Published: November 2018

Solar activity is a chaotic process and there are various approximations to forecast its long term and short term variations. But there is no prediction method that predicts the solar activity exactly. In this study, a nonlinear prediction approach was applied to international sunspot numbers and performance of predictions was tested for the last 5 solar cycles. These predictions are in good agreement with observed values of the tested solar cycles. According to these results, end of cycle 24 is expected at February, 2020 with 7.7 smoothed monthly mean sunspot number and maximum of cyle 25 is expected at May, 2024 with 119.6 smoothed monthly mean sunspot number.
Long-term optical monitoring of the solar atmosphere in Italy
Authors: Guglielmino S. L. , Ermolli I. , Romano P. , Zuccarello F. , Giorgi F. , Falco M. , Piazzesi R. , Stangalini M. , Murabito M. , Ferrucci M. , Mangano A.
Published: November 2018

Probably, the long-term monitoring of the solar atmosphere started in Italy with the first telescopic observations of the Sun made by Galileo Galilei in the early 17thcentury. His recorded observations and science results, as well as the work carried out by other following outstanding Italian astronomers inspired the start of institutional programs of regular solar observations at the Arcetri, Catania, and Rome Observatories.

These programs have accumulated daily images of the solar photosphere and chromosphere taken at various spectral bands over a time span larger than 80 years. In the last two decades, regular solar observations were continued with digital cameras only at the Catania and Rome Observatories, which are now part of the INAF National Institute for Astrophysics. At the two sites, daily solar images are taken at the photospheric G-band, Blue (λ = 409.4 nm), and Red (λ = 606.9 nm) continua spectral ranges and at the chromospheric Ca II K and Hα lines, with a 2″ spatial resolution.

Solar observation in Italy, which benefits from over 2500 hours of yearly sunshine, currently aims at the operational monitoring of solar activity and long-term variability and at the continuation of the historical series as well. Existing instruments will be soon enriched by the SAMM double channel telescope equipped with magneto-optical filters that will enable the tomography of the solar atmosphere with simultaneous observations at the K I 769.9 nm and Na I D 589.0 nm lines. In this contribution, we present the available observations and outline their scientific relevance.
Seismic signatures of magnetic activity in solar-type stars observed by Kepler
Authors: Santos A. R. G. , Campante T. L. , Chaplin W. J. , Cunha M. S. , Lund M. N. , Kiefer R. , Salabert D. , García R. A. , Davies G. R. , Elsworth Y. , Howe R.
Published: November 2018

The properties of the acoustic modes are sensitive to magnetic activity. The unprecedented long-term Kepler photometry, thus, allows stellar magnetic cycles to be studied through asteroseismology. We search for signatures of magnetic cycles in the seismic data of Kepler solar-type stars. We find evidence for periodic variations in the acoustic properties of about half of the 87 analysed stars. In these proceedings, we highlight the results obtained for two such stars, namely KIC 8006161 and KIC 5184732.
Phase analysis of solar activity indices using wavelet techniques
Authors: Seema C. S. , Prince P. R.
Published: November 2018

A precise knowledge of solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance is of great importance for better understanding of Earth′s ionosphere and thermosphere. The search for an ideal solar EUV proxy is vital since the ionospheric and thermospheric models are based on the solar proxies of EUV radiation. In this study, the phase asynchrony analysis of solar EUV data with other solar activity indices during solar cycle 23 is done. The cross-wavelet transform (XWT) technique is used to reveal the phase difference between the two time series of solar indices. Analysis reveals that the phase relationship between the indices is both time and frequency dependent. The solar indices F10.7 and Mg II core-to-wing index are found to be more synchronous with solar EUV data for low frequency components.
The Sun’s polar magnetic field: datasets, proxies and theoretical issues
Authors: Choudhuri Arnab Rai
Published: November 2018

The polar magnetic field of the Sun is a manifestation of certain aspects of the dynamo process and is a good precursor for predicting a sunspot cycle before its onset. Although actual synoptic measurements of this field exist only from the mid-1970s, it has now been possible to determine its evolution from the beginning of the twentieth century with the help of various proxies. The recently developed 3D kinematic dynamo model can study the build-up of the Sun’s polar magnetic field more realistically than the earlier surface flux transport model.
A wavelet analysis of F2 layer critical frequency over solar cycle 23
Authors: Seema C. S. , Prince P. R.
Published: November 2018

Temporal oscillations of F2 layer critical frequency are direct outcome of solar EUV variability. The hourly data of F2 layer critical frequency (foF2) during solar cycle 23 over eight ionosonde stations which falls within same longitudinal span are evaluated using Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) to estimate the ionospheric variations. The quasi triennial, annual, semiannual, 27 day and diurnal variations of foF2 are clearly evident in the wavelet power spectra of all the stations. Quasi triennial oscillations which show a clear latitudinal dependence is more evident in southern stations. A strong quasi biennial oscillation (QBO) is also noticed in higher latitudes which was not observable in equatorial latitude. The present study reveals that the semiannual variations are more obvious over the annual variation in the equatorial and low latitude stations while the annual variations are prominent in higher latitudes.
A Three dimensional Babcock-Leighton Solar Dynamo Model with Non-axisymmetric Convective Flows
Authors: Hazra Gopal , Miesch Mark S.
Published: November 2018

The observed convective flows on the photosphere (e.g., supergranulation, granulation) play a key role in the Babcock-Leighton (BL) process to generate large scale polar fields from sunspots fields. In most surface flux transport (SFT) and BL dynamo models, the dispersal and migration of surface fields is modeled as an effective turbulent diffusion. We present the first kinematic 3D FT/BL model to explicitly incorporate realistic convective flows based on solar observations. The results obtained are generally in good agreement with the observed surface flux evolution and with non-convective models that have a turbulent diffusivity on the order of 3 × 1012 cm2 s−1 (300 km2 s−1). However, we find that the use of a turbulent diffusivity underestimates the dynamo efficiency, producing weaker mean fields and shorter cycle.
Forbush decrease caused by interacting and non-interacting passing CME
Authors: Ismaiel Mohamed
Published: November 2018

On 5-6 Aug. 2011 two short-time consecutive M-class solar flares led to profile of multiple Forbush Decreases showing the possible interaction of long-time passing of ICME.
Where do running penumbral waves emerge in chromosphere?
Authors: Priya T. G. , Su Jiangtao , Erd̎elyi Robertus
Published: November 2018

The earlier work on the oscillatory phenomena in sunspot structures have supported in validating the detection of long-period oscillations, which are generated by the photospheric umbral response to the five minute p-mode global oscillations. We report here on the events of 3- min umbral oscillations which are detected within a duration of one hour from a single-polarity sunspot of active region NOAA 12132. The umbral oscillations that appear first around umbral boundaries is speculated to be excited by the wavefronts at the umbral-penumbral boundaries due to sub-photospheric or photospheric granular buffetings. The appearance of the wavefronts in spiral structures suggests that the wave guides are twisted. In addition, the newly formed running penumbral waves (RPWs) appears to be connected with the preceding RPWs.
First results from Automated Imaging Routine for Compact Arrays for Radio Sun
Authors: Mondal Surajit , Mohan Atul , Oberoi Divya , Benkevitch Leonid , Lonsdale Colin J. , Morgan John , Crowley Meagan , Cairns Iver
Published: November 2018

At low radio frequencies the solar corona is very dynamic in both spectral and temporal domains. To capture the fine details of this complex dynamics, imaging studies at high temporal and spectral resolution are necessary. The advent of the new instruments like the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA; Tingay et al. 2013, Bowman et al. 2013), is now making this possible.
A study on the variations in long-range dependence of solar energetic particles during different solar cycles
Authors: Vipindas V. , Gopinath Sumesh , Girish T. E.
Published: November 2018

Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) are high-energy particles ejected by the Sun which consist of protons, electrons and heavy ions having energies in the range of a few tens of keVs to several GeVs. The statistical features of the solar energetic particles (SEPs) during different periods of solar cycles are highly variable. In the present study we try to quantify the long-range dependence (or long-memory) of the solar energetic particles during different periods of solar cycle (SC) 23 and 24. For stochastic processes, long-range dependence or self-similarity is usually quantified by the Hurst exponent. We compare the Hurst exponent of SEP proton fluxes having energies (>1MeV to >100 MeV) for different periods, which include both solar maximum and minimum years, in order to find whether SC-dependent self-similarity exist for SEP flux.
Variation of the meteor count rate and echo height during solar cycle 23 and 24
Authors: Premkumar B. , Reddy K. Chenna , Yellaiah G.
Published: November 2018

The meteoroid ablation is an important source of upper atmosphere metal atoms. Many meteoroids ablate between 70 - 110 km and form an ionized plasma trail which is detected by radar technique. It is also known that the ablation heights of the meteors depend on various factors such as velocity, mass, and its composition, etc. The meteor ablation height provides new opportunities to gather information on the neutral atmosphere in the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere (MLT) region. In this study, we analysed the 11 years of meteor radar data (2005 - 2015), i.e., descending phase of solar cycle 23, and ascending phase of solar cycle 24, detected by all sky meteor radar at Thumba. We found that the solar activity influences the meteor ablation height, here, during the solar maxima meteor peak detection height rise to few hundred meters higher altitudes. We also examined the long term pattern of the meteor count rate which shows a decreasing trend and has good agreement with the sunspot number (SSN).
The potential of Ca II K observations for solar activity and variability studies
Authors: Ermolli Ilaria , Chatzistergos Theodosios , Krivova Natalie A. , Solanki Sami K.
Published: November 2018

Several observatories around the globe started regular full-disc imaging of the solar atmosphere in the Ca II K line in the early decades of the 20th century. These observations are continued today at a few sites with either old spectroheliographs or modern telescopes equipped with narrow-band filters. The Ca II K time series are unique in representing long-term variations of the Sun’s chromospheric magnetic field. However, meaningful results from their analysis require accurate processing of the available data and robust merging of the information stored in different archives. This paper provides an overview of the historical and modern full-disc Ca II K observations, with focus on their quality and the main results obtained from their analysis over the last decade.
Synoptic Magnetic Fields Measurements of the Solar Chromosphere from SOLIS/VSM at NSO
Authors: Gosain Sanjay ,   SOLIS Team
Published: November 2018

Full disk magnetic field measurements of the photosphere and chromosphere have been performed at National Solar Observatory (NSO), USA for many decades. Here we briefly describe recent upgrades made to this synoptic observing program. In particular, we present the full Stokes polarimetry observations made using the chromospheric Ca II 854.2 nm spectral line. These new observations have the potential to probe vector nature of magnetic field in the chromosphere above the active regions and provide improved estimates of magnetic free-energy, which is released during flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). We emphasize that these observations could improve estimates of polar fields, as compared to photospheric observations, due to magnetic field expansion in higher layers and perspective effect near the polar regions. The global coronal potential field models and solar wind speed estimates depend critically on polar field measurements.
C-1.4 class flare and an associated peculiar coronal jet
Authors: Solanki Ritika , Srivastava Abhishek K. , Dwivedi B. N.
Published: November 2018

Using HINODE/XRT, GOES, SDO/AIA observations, we study a compact C-1.4 class flare outside a major sunspot of AR 12178 on 4 October 2014. This flare is associated with a peculiar coronal jet, which is erupted in two stages in the overlying corona above the compact flaring region. At the time of flare maximum, the first stage of the jet eruption occurs above the flare energy release site, and thereafter in the second stage its magneto-plasma system interacts with the overlying distinct magnetic field domain in its vicinity to build further the typical jet plasma column.
Energetics of Magnetosphere-Ionosphere system during Main Phase of Intense Geomagnetic Storms over three Solar Cycles
Authors: Suji K. J. , Prince P. R.
Published: November 2018

Solar wind kinetic energy gets transferred into the Earth’s magnetosphere as a result of dynamo action between magnetosphere and solar wind. Energy is then dissipated among various dissipation channels in the MI system. In the present study, energetics of 59 intense geomagnetic storms are analyzed for the period between 1986 and 2015, which covers the three consecutive solar cycles SC 22, 23 and 24. The average solar wind energy impinging the MI system is estimated using Epsilon parameter, the coupling function. Moreover, the relative importance of different energy sinks in the MI system are quantified and is found that more than 60% of solar wind energy is dissipated in the form of ionospheric Joule heating.
Century long study of sunspot activity using the Kodaikanal white-light data
Authors: Amareswari K. , Sankarasubramanian K. , Ravindra B.
Published: November 2018

Sunspots are the most obvious and high contrast observable feature of solar magnetic activity in the photosphere. The morphological and kinematic behavior of sunspots on the solar surface need to be studied over a long time period to understand solar magnetic activity. For this, it is important to understand the long term emergence patterns, and developments, decay of the sunspots on the solar surface over many cycles. The long time sequence of the Kodaikanal white-light images provide a consistent data set for this study. The digitized images were calibrated for relative plate density and aligned in such a way that the solar north is in upward direction. A sunspot detection technique was used to identify the sunspots on the digitized images. In addition to describing the calibration procedure and availability of the data, we here present results on the sunspot, umbral and penumbral area measurements and their variation with time.
Quantifying weak non-thermal meterwave solar emission using non-imaging techniques
Authors: Sharma Rohit , Oberoi Divya , Suresh Akshay , Arjunwadkar Mihir
Published: November 2018

An improved understanding of the solar corona is crucial for making progress on long-standing problems like coronal heating and the origin of the solar wind. Metrewave radio emissions arise in the coronal regions and form a unique diagnostic probe of this, otherwise hard to study region. The background radio emission at these wavelengths comes from the slowly varying thermal free-free emission and on it are superposed a variety of nonthermal emissions arising from a range of plasma emission processes. The latter are coherent in nature and hence lead to a much larger observational contrast, as compared to that in EUV or X-ray, for emissions involving similar energetics. One of the prevalent hypotheses for explaining coronal heating is based on the presence of an energetically weak population of ‘nanoflares’ (Parker 1988). A necessary requirement for nanoflares based coronal heating to be effective is that their occurrence rate slopes must be <-2 (Hudson 1991). There is hence a lot of interest in studies of weak nonthermal emissions. Existing studies in EUV and X-ray bands have detected ‘microflares’ with slopes >-2 (e.g. Hannah et al. 2011). Some of the weak meterwave emissions detected are, however, believed to correspond to energies in the ‘picoflare’ range (Ramesh et al. 2013). It is hence, very interesting to study weak nonthermal emissions at metric wavelengths.
Study of Stealth CMEs and associated ICMEs
Authors: Bhatt Miral , Srivastava Nandita , Jadhav Ravindra
Published: November 2018

Generally Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are large eruptions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun into interplanetary space. CMEs are most frequently associated with a variety of phenomena occurring in the lower corona before, during and after onset of eruption and generally are visible in coronagraph observation. Stealth CMEs do not obviously exhibit any of the low-coronal signatures (LCS) like solar flares, flows, jets, coronal dimmings or brightenings, filament eruptions or the formation of flare loop arcades. In this study, five stealth CMEs are selected using LASCO/SOHO CME catalogue and associated ICMEs (Interplanetaty CMEs) are identified using data from STEREO, ACE and WIND.
Stochastic soil moisture dynamic modelling: a case study in the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: WANG Cong , WANG Shuai , FU Bojie , ZHANG Lu , LU Nan , JIAO Lei
Published: November 2018

Soil moisture is a key factor in the ecohydrological cycle in water-limited ecosystems, and it integrates the effects of climate, soil, and vegetation. The water balance and the hydrological cycle are significantly important for vegetation restoration in water-limited regions, and these dynamics are still poorly understood. In this study, the soil moisture and water balance were modelled with the stochastic soil water balance model in the Loess Plateau, China. This model was verified by monitoring soil moisture data of black locust plantations in the Yangjuangou catchment in the Loess Plateau. The influences of a rainfall regime change on soil moisture and water balance were also explored. Three meteorological stations were selected (Yulin, Yan'an, and Luochuan) along the precipitation gradient to detect the effects of rainfall spatial variability on the soil moisture and water balance. The results showed that soil moisture tended to be more frequent at low levels with decreasing precipitation, and the ratio of evapotranspiration under stress in response to rainfall also changed from 74.0% in Yulin to 52.3% in Luochuan. In addition, the effects of a temporal change in rainfall regime on soil moisture and water balance were explored at Yan'an. The soil moisture probability density function moved to high soil moisture in the wet period compared to the dry period of Yan'an, and the evapotranspiration under stress increased from 59.5% to 72% from the wet period to the dry period. The results of this study prove the applicability of the stochastic model in the Loess Plateau and reveal its potential for guiding the vegetation restoration in the next stage.
M.Flandia: A Newly-Discovered Society of Strong Women and Helpful Men
Authors: Dondelinger Mary Frances
Published: November 2018

Discovered 12 metres (40 feet) below the surface in the Santa Rosa Island region, this rare and unprecedented archaeological cache of pottery and sculpture has flummoxed the archaeological community. Some scientists debate the authenticity of this newly-discovered society because of the apparent gender equality. But former native-Californian artist M F Dondelinger says sometimes it's hard to get our minds around new concepts and images to understand their meanings. ‘What we need now is to be open to interpreting this unusual society. I think it requires a whole paradigm shift on how some early communities are interpreted.’
Primary English and Modern Foreign Languages Impact Study: Latin Microteaching
Authors: Poulter Veronica
Published: November 2018

This case study will describe a project undertaken with 2nd year students on a three year BA QTS course to learn and then teach elementary Latin in Key Stage 2. There were 22 students, 11 of whom are studying modern foreign languages (MfL) as their specialism, and the other 11, English. The inspiration for this came from a Primary Latin Taster Day for Liverpool teachers run by the Classics for All-funded Liverpool Classics Hub in February 2017, and we would like to thank Alice Case and Sue Balmer amongst others for many of the ideas that we used.
Autumn in the Arctic
Authors: Thomson Jim
Published: November 2018

With refreezing in the western Arctic Ocean shifting later into the autumn, field research on changing air-ocean-ice interactions suggests that the Arctic is shifting to a more seasonal system.
Long‐Term and Seasonal Changes of Large Whale Call Frequency in the Southern Indian Ocean
Authors: Leroy Emmanuelle C. , Royer Jean‐Yves , Bonnel Julien , Samaran Flore
Published: November 2018

In the past decades, in the context of a changing ocean submitted to an increasing human activity, a progressive decrease in the frequencies (pitch) of blue whale vocalizations has been observed worldwide. Its causes, of natural or anthropogenic nature, are still unclear. Based on 7 years of continuous acoustic recordings at widespread sites in the southern Indian Ocean, we show that this observation stands for five populations of large whales. The frequency of selected units of vocalizations of fin, Antarctic, and pygmy blue whales has steadily decreased at a rate of a few tenths of hertz per year since 2002. In addition to this interannual frequency decrease, blue whale vocalizations display seasonal frequency shifts. We show that these intra‐annual shifts correlate with seasonal changes in the ambient noise near their call frequency. This ambient noise level, in turn, shows a strong correlation with the seasonal presence of icebergs, which are one of the main sources of oceanic noise in the Southern Hemisphere. Although cause‐and‐effect relationships are difficult to ascertain, wide‐ranging changes in the acoustic environment seem to have a strong impact on the vocal behavior of large baleen whales. Seasonal frequency shifts may be due to short‐term changes in the ambient noise, and the interannual frequency decline to long‐term changes in the acoustic properties of the ocean and/or in postwhaling changes in whale abundances.
Lipid accumulation facilitates mitotic slippage-induced adaptation to anti-mitotic drug treatment
Authors: Wong Alex , Chen Sixun , Yang Lay Kien , Kanagasundaram Yoganathan , Crasta Karen
Published: November 2018

Aberrant lipid accumulation is a hallmark of cancer known to contribute to its aggressiveness and malignancy. Emerging studies have demonstrated context-dependent changes in lipid metabolism during chemotherapy. However, there is little known regarding the mechanisms linking lipid metabolism to chemotherapy-induced cell fates. Here, we describe lipid accumulation in cells following antimitotic drug treatment. Cells arrested in mitosis, as well as cells that escaped mitotic arrest and underwent mitotic slippage, showed elevated cytoplasmic lipid droplets. Interestingly, we found that TOFA, a lipid biosynthesis inhibitor that targets acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and blocks lipid accumulation, promoted early slippage, reduced cellular stress and enhanced survival of antimitotic-treated cells. Our work previously revealed that cells that survive after mitotic slippage can become senescent and confer pro-tumourigenic effects through paracrine signalling. Modulating lipid biosynthesis in cells post slippage by TOFA amplified their inflammatory secretion profiles and accelerated the development of tumourigenic behaviour, particularly cell migration and invasion, in a paracrine-dependent manner. In contrast to TOFA, inhibition of lipid accumulation by C75, a drug targeting fatty acid synthase (FASN), significantly reduced the production of pro-tumourigenic factors and associated phenotypic effects. This suggests that discrete lipid biosynthesis pathways could contribute differentially to the regulation of pro-tumourigenic inflammation. The divergent effects of TOFA and C75 may be attributed to the opposing regulation of Malonyl-CoA, an intermediate in fatty acid synthesis that serves as a mediator of fatty acid oxidation. Taken together, our data reveal a previously unappreciated role for lipid accumulation in the cellular adaptation to antimitotic drug treatment. Targeting lipid biosynthesis in cells post slippage may reprogramme its secretory profile such that it not only negates tumour-promoting effects, but may also promote anti-tumour inflammation for clearance of post-slippage senescent cells.
High-throughput brain activity mapping and machine learning as a foundation for systems neuropharmacology
Authors: Lin Xudong , Duan Xin , Jacobs Claire , Ullmann Jeremy , Chan Chung-Yuen , Chen Siya , Cheng Shuk-Han , Zhao Wen-Ning , Poduri Annapurna , Wang Xin , Haggarty Stephen J. , Shi Peng
Published: November 2018

Technologies for mapping the spatial and temporal patterns of neural activity have advanced our understanding of brain function in both health and disease. An important application of these technologies is the discovery of next-generation neurotherapeutics for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Here, we describe an in vivo drug screening strategy that combines high-throughput technology to generate large-scale brain activity maps (BAMs) with machine learning for predictive analysis. This platform enables evaluation of compounds’ mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic uses based on information-rich BAMs derived from drug-treated zebrafish larvae. From a screen of clinically used drugs, we found intrinsically coherent drug clusters that are associated with known therapeutic categories. Using BAM-based clusters as a functional classifier, we identify anti-seizure-like drug leads from non-clinical compounds and validate their therapeutic effects in the pentylenetetrazole zebrafish seizure model. Collectively, this study provides a framework to advance the field of systems neuropharmacology.
Chromatogram libraries improve peptide detection and quantification by data independent acquisition mass spectrometry
Authors: Searle Brian C. , Pino Lindsay K. , Egertson Jarrett D. , Ting Ying S. , Lawrence Robert T. , MacLean Brendan X. , Villén Judit , MacCoss Michael J.
Published: November 2018

Data independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry is a powerful technique that is improving the reproducibility and throughput of proteomics studies. Here, we introduce an experimental workflow that uses this technique to construct chromatogram libraries that capture fragment ion chromatographic peak shape and retention time for every detectable peptide in a proteomics experiment. These coordinates calibrate protein databases or spectrum libraries to a specific mass spectrometer and chromatography setup, facilitating DIA-only pipelines and the reuse of global resource libraries. We also present EncyclopeDIA, a software tool for generating and searching chromatogram libraries, and demonstrate the performance of our workflow by quantifying proteins in human and yeast cells. We find that by exploiting calibrated retention time and fragmentation specificity in chromatogram libraries, EncyclopeDIA can detect 20–25% more peptides from DIA experiments than with data dependent acquisition-based spectrum libraries alone.
All-optical field-free three-dimensional orientation of asymmetric-top molecules
Authors: Lin Kang , Tutunnikov Ilia , Qiang Junjie , Ma Junyang , Song Qiying , Ji Qinying , Zhang Wenbin , Li Hanxiao , Sun Fenghao , Gong Xiaochun , Li Hui , Lu Peifen , Zeng Heping , Prior Yehiam , Averbukh Ilya Sh. , Wu Jian
Published: November 2018

Orientation and alignment of molecules by ultrashort laser pulses is crucial for a variety of applications and has long been of interest in physics and chemistry, with the special emphasis on stereodynamics in chemical reactions and molecular orbitals imaging. As compared to the laser-induced molecular alignment, which has been extensively studied and demonstrated, achieving molecular orientation is a much more challenging task, especially in the case of asymmetric-top molecules. Here, we report the experimental demonstration of all-optical field-free three-dimensional orientation of asymmetric-top molecules by means of phase-locked cross-polarized two-color laser pulse. This approach is based on nonlinear optical mixing process caused by the off-diagonal elements of the molecular hyperpolarizability tensor. It is demonstrated on SO2 molecules and is applicable to a variety of complex nonlinear molecules.
Paternal grandfather’s access to food predicts all-cause and cancer mortality in grandsons
Authors: Vågerö Denny , Pinger Pia R. , Aronsson Vanda , van den Berg Gerard J.
Published: November 2018

Studies of animals and plants suggest that nutritional conditions in one generation may affect phenotypic characteristics in subsequent generations. A small number of human studies claim to show that pre-pubertal nutritional experience trigger a sex-specific transgenerational response along the male line. A single historical dataset, the Överkalix cohorts in northern Sweden, is often quoted as evidence. To test this hypothesis on an almost 40 times larger dataset we collect harvest data during the pre-pubertal period of grandparents (G0, n = 9,039) to examine its potential association with mortality in children (G1, n = 7,280) and grandchildren (G2, n = 11,561) in the Uppsala Multigeneration Study. We find support for the main Överkalix finding: paternal grandfather’s food access in pre-puberty predicts his male, but not female, grandchildren’s all-cause mortality. In our study, cancer mortality contributes strongly to this pattern. We are unable to reproduce previous results for diabetes and cardiovascular mortality.
Long-term experimental hybridisation results in the evolution of a new sex chromosome in swordtail fish
Authors: Franchini Paolo , Jones Julia C. , Xiong Peiwen , Kneitz Susanne , Gompert Zachariah , Warren Wesley C. , Walter Ronald B. , Meyer Axel , Schartl Manfred
Published: November 2018

The remarkable diversity of sex determination mechanisms known in fish may be fuelled by exceptionally high rates of sex chromosome turnovers or transitions. However, the evolutionary causes and genomic mechanisms underlying this variation and instability are yet to be understood. Here we report on an over 30-year evolutionary experiment in which we tested the genomic consequences of hybridisation and selection between two Xiphophorus fish species with different sex chromosome systems. We find that introgression and imposing selection for pigmentation phenotypes results in the retention of an unexpectedly large maternally derived genomic region. During the hybridisation process, the sex-determining region of the X chromosome from one parental species was translocated to an autosome in the hybrids leading to the evolution of a new sex chromosome. Our results highlight the complexity of factors contributing to patterns observed in hybrid genomes, and we experimentally demonstrate that hybridisation can catalyze rapid evolution of a new sex chromosome.
Coralline algal metabolites induce settlement and mediate the inductive effect of epiphytic microbes on coral larvae
Authors: Gómez-Lemos Luis A. , Doropoulos Christopher , Bayraktarov Elisa , Diaz-Pulido Guillermo
Published: November 2018

Settlement of invertebrates is a key process affecting the structure of marine communities and underpins the ability of benthic ecosystems to recover from disturbance. While it is known that specific crustose coralline algae (CCA) are important for settlement of some coral species, the role of algal chemical compounds versus surface microbial biofilms has long been ambiguous. Using a model system - a CCA of a genus that has been shown to induce high levels of settlement of Acropora corals (Titanoderma cf. tessellatum) and an abundant coral species (Acropora millepora)- we show that chemical effects of CCA are stronger than those from CCA surface microbial biofilms as drivers of coral settlement. Biofilms contributed to some extent to larval settlement via synergistic effects, where microbial cues were dependent on the CCA primary metabolism (production of dissolved organic carbon). We propose that optimal coral settlement is caused by complex biochemical communications among CCA, their epiphytic microbial community and coral larvae.