bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the behavior and reproductive endocrinology of giant river otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) in managed care
Authors: Metrione Lara C. , Bateman Helen L. , Swanson William F. , Penfold Linda M.
Published: August 2018

Propagation of giant river otters (GRO) in zoos is inconsistent: some pairs never reproduce while others are prolific in producing young but can be hindered by low cub survival. Developing effective breeding programs requires understanding normal reproductive parameters and behavior. Fecal samples were collected for 6–16 months from five breeding pairs, two individual females, and one female pair at seven zoos, and analyzed for fecal progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, and glucocorticoid (FGM) metabolites via enzyme immunoassay. Enclosure characteristics and management routines were recorded at six facilities where behavior was assessed over 1 week. Median fecal progestogens during pregnancy and pseudopregnancy were ∼2.5–3.8× greater than basal concentrations. Gestation lasted 66.5 ± 3.5 days (62–70 days); pseudopregnancies lasted 58 ± 11.6 days (41–69 days). Elevated progestogens indicate ovulation but cannot distinguish pregnancy from pseudopregnancy. Periodically sustained, elevated progestogens observed in two females housed without a male indicated spontaneous ovulation. Elevations in fecal estrogens were not associated with estrus, and seasonality in male testosterone was not observed. Wavering scream and contact call vocalizations among reproductively successful males and females, respectively, suggested the importance of social communication. Most facilities housing successful pairs had larger enclosures with more water than land area, vegetation, and limited public exposure. Baseline FGM were negatively correlated with enclosure size and percentage of water area (p < 0.05), and lower baseline FGM were associated with reproductive success (p < 0.05). These results suggest that housing GRO in spacious enclosures with open water and some insulation from disturbance might promote appropriate behavior, lower FGM, and reproduction.
Biodiversity and the Functioning of Ecosystems in the Age of Global Change: Integrating Knowledge Across Scales
Authors: Barboza Francisco R. , Ito Maysa , Franz Markus
Published: August 2018

The dramatic decline of biodiversity worldwide has raised a general concern on the impacts this process could have for the well-being of humanity. Human societies strongly depend on the benefits provided by natural ecosystems, which are the result of biogeochemical processes governed by species activities and their interaction with abiotic compartments. After decades of experimental research on the biodiversity-functioning relationship, a relative agreement has been reached on the mechanisms underlying the impacts that biodiversity loss can have on ecosystem processes. However, a general consensus is still missing. We suggest that the reason preventing an integration of existing knowledge is the scale discrepancy between observations on global change impacts and biodiversity-functioning experiments. The present chapter provides an overview of global change impacts on biodiversity across various ecological scales and its consequences for ecosystem functioning, highlighting what is known and where knowledge gaps still persist. Furthermore, the reader will be introduced to a set of tools that allow a multi-scale analysis of how global change drivers impact ecosystem functioning.
Universal features of BPS strings in six-dimensional SCFTs
Authors: Del Zotto Michele , Lockhart Guglielmo
Published: August 2018

Abstract

In theories with extended supersymmetry the protected observables of UV superconformal fixed points are found in a number of contexts to be encoded in the BPS solitons along an IR Coulomb-like phase. For six-dimensional SCFTs such a role is played by the BPS strings on the tensorial Coulomb branch. In this paper we develop a uniform description of the worldsheet theories of a BPS string for rank-one 6d SCFTs. These strings are the basic constituents of the BPS string spectrum of arbitrary rank six-dimensional models, which they generate by forming bound states. Motivated by geometric engineering in F-theory, we describe the worldsheet theories of the BPS strings in terms of topologically twisted 4d

$$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$

N
=
2

theories in the presence of 1/2-BPS 2d (0, 4) defects. As the superconformal point of a 6d theory with gauge group G is approached, the resulting worldsheet theory flows to an

$$ \mathcal{N}=\left(0,\ 4\right) $$

N
=

0
,

4

NLSM with target the moduli space of one G instanton, together with a nontrivial left moving bundle characterized by the matter content of the six-dimensional model. We compute the anomaly polynomial and central charges of the NLSM, and argue that the 6d flavor symmetry F is realized as a current algebra on the string, whose level we compute. We find evidence that for generic theories the G dependence is captured at the level of the elliptic genus by characters of an affine Kac-Moody algebra at negative level, which we interpret as a subsector of the chiral algebra of the BPS string worldsheet theory. We also find evidence for a spectral flow relating the R-R and NS-R elliptic genera. These properties of the string CFTs lead to constraints on their spectra, which in combination with modularity allow us to determine the elliptic genera of a vast number of string CFTs, leading also to novel results for 6d and 5d instanton partition functions.
Super-cool Dark Matter
Authors: Hambye Thomas , Strumia Alessandro , Teresi Daniele
Published: August 2018

Abstract

In dimension-less theories of dynamical generation of the weak scale, the Universe can undergo a period of low-scale inflation during which all particles are massless and undergo super-cooling. This leads to a new mechanism of generation of the cosmological Dark Matter relic density: super-cooling can easily suppress the amount of Dark Matter down to the desired level. This is achieved for TeV-scale Dark Matter, if super-cooling ends when quark condensates form at the QCD phase transition. Along this scenario, the baryon asymmetry can be generated either at the phase transition or through leptogenesis. We show that the above mechanism takes place in old and new dimension-less models.
Swimming exercise before and during pregnancy: Promising preventive approach to impact offspring's health
Authors: Klein Caroline Peres , dos Santos Rodrigues Karoline , Hözer Régis Mateus , de Sá Couto‐Pereira Natividade , Saccomori André Brum , Dal Magro Bárbara Mariño , Crestani Mariana Scortegagna , Hoppe Juliana Bender , Salbego Christianne Gazzana , Dalmaz Carla , Matté Cristiane
Published: August 2018

Several environmental factors affect child development, such as the intrauterine environment during the embryonic and fetal development and early postnatal environment provided by maternal behavior. Although mechanistic effects of maternal exercise on offspring health improvement are not yet completely understood, the number of reports published demonstrating the positive influence of maternal exercise have increase. Herein, we addressed issues related to early postnatal environment provided by maternal behavior and early developmental physical landmarks, sensorimotor reflexes, and motor movements ontogeny. In brief, adult female rats underwent involuntary swimming exercise, in a moderated intensity, one week before mating and throughout pregnancy, 30 min a day, 5 days a week. Maternal exercised dams have unchanged gestational outcomes compared to sedentary dams. We found no differences concerning the frequency of pup‐directed behavior displayed by dams. However, sedentary dams displayed a poorer pattern of maternal care quality during dark cycle than exercised dams. Physical landmarks and sensorimotor reflexes development of female and male littermates did not differ between maternal groups. Developmental motor parameters such as immobility, lateral head movements, head elevation, pivoting, rearing with forelimb support and crawling frequencies did not differ between groups. Pups born to exercised dams presented higher frequency of walking and rearing on the hind legs. These data suggest that female and male littermates of exercised group present a high frequency of exploratory behavior over sedentary littermates. Taken together, the present findings reinforce that maternal exercise throughout pregnancy represent a window of opportunity to improve offspring's postnatal health.
Hypomethylation of NANOG promoter in colonic mucosal cells of obese patients: a possible role of NF-κB
Authors: Sedaghat Fatemeh , Cheraghpour Makan , Hosseini Seyed Ahmad , Pourvali Katayoun , Teimoori-Toolabi Ladan , Mehrtash Amirhosein , Talaei Ramin , Zand Hamid
Published: August 2018

Obesity and particularly central obesity are the main risk factors of colon cancer. All intestinal cell populations including stem cells, their progenitors and differentiated colonocytes seem to be the origin of colorectal cancer. However, recent data support the role of differentiated cells as cancer origin especially during inflammation. Based on Yamanaka’s seminal work, re-expression of few transcription factors in terminally differentiated cells creates stemness properti'es. Although these transcription factors are involved in tumorigenesis, they are epigenetically repressed in adult tissues. We proposed that obesity might regulate methylation of stemness genes in colonocytes via inflammatory signalling. Obesity-associated inflammation was analysed using Western blot analysis of phospho-IκB (inhibitor of NF-κB). Methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting analysis was performed on colonic mucosal samples of twenty obese and twenty normal-weight men to analyse promoter methylation of POU5F1 (OCT4), NANOG, MYC and CDKN2A. TNF-treated HT-29 cells were used to recapitulate the effect of NF-κB activation on stemness genes methylation. Our results showed that colonic phosphorylation of IκB, as a signal of NF-κB activation, was higher in obese subjects compared with their normal-weight counterparts. Moreover, promoter methylation of NANOG was likely to be lower in obese subjects and correlated with central obesity. HT-29 cells incubated by TNF-α showed hypomethylation of POU5F1 and MYC genes in addition to the NANOG. These results suggest that obesity-induced inflammation might be involved in the regulation of DNA methylation of oncogenic genes such as NANOG in differentiated colonocytes and thus predispose them to later oncogenic alterations.
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels showed strong seasonality but lacked association with vitamin D intake in 3-year-old Japanese children
Authors: Ando Emiko , Morisaki Naho , Asakura Keiko , Sasaki Satoshi , Fujiwara Takeo , Horikawa Reiko
Published: August 2018

Current guidelines provide a universal recommendation on vitamin D intake to prevent insufficiency. However, the relative influence of food, UVB and other factors on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) insufficiency has been poorly investigated in preschool children. We assessed serum 25(OH)D quantities and their association with vitamin D intake using a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire for children aged 3–6 years (BDHQ3y), outdoor playing time and background UVB radiation level among 574 36-month-old Japanese children living at latitude 35°N. The average serum 25(OH)D concentration was 23·5 (sd 6·1) ng/ml, and 170 (29·6 %) children had vitamin D insufficiency (<20 ng/ml) despite high consumption of fish. Multiple logistic regression adjusting for social factors showed that when background UVB radiation level was <15 kJ/m2 (monthly average), there was a 1·89 (95 % CI 1·31, 2·74) times higher risk of vitamin D insufficiency, to which vitamin D intake nor time spent outdoors were significantly associated. ANOVA showed that the contribution of the variability in vitamin D intake on the variability of serum 25(OH)D level was 1·8 % of that of UVB exposure. The correlation between vitamin D intake and serum 25(OH)D level was not stronger when limited to measurements in winter. We found that nearly 30 % of 3-year-old Japanese children had vitamin D insufficiency despite high consumption of fish and living at relatively low latitude. We failed to observe an association between vitamin D intake and the risk of vitamin D insufficiency. This may be due to the extremely limited access to vitamin D-fortified food and supplements for children in Japan.
Entamoeba histolyticainfection in humans, chimpanzees and baboons in the Greater Gombe Ecosystem, Tanzania
Authors: Deere Jessica R. , Parsons Michele B. , Lonsdorf Elizabeth V. , Lipende Iddi , Kamenya Shadrack , Collins D. Anthony , Travis Dominic A. , Gillespie Thomas R.
Published: August 2018

Entamoeba histolyticais an enteric parasite that infects approximately 50 million people worldwide. AlthoughE. histolyticais a zoonotic parasite that has the potential to infect nonhuman primates, such transmission is poorly understood. Consequently, this study examined whetherE. histolyticais present among humans, chimpanzees and baboons living in the Greater Gombe Ecosystem (GGE), Tanzania. The primary aims were to determine patterns ofE. histolyticainfection in a system with human-nonhuman primate overlap and to test associations between infection status and potential risk factors of disease.Entamoebaspp. occurred in 60.3% of human, 65.6% of chimpanzee and 88.6% of baboon samples.Entamoeba histolyticaoccurred in 12.1% of human, 34.1% of chimpanzee and 10.9% of baboon samples. HumanE. histolyticainfection was associated with gastrointestinal symptoms. This was the first study to confirm the presence ofE. histolyticain the GGE. The high sample prevalence ofE. histolyticain three sympatric primates suggests that zoonotic transmission is possible and stresses the need for further phylogenetic studies. Interventions targeting better sanitation and hygiene practices for humans living in the GGE can help preventE. histolyticainfection in humans, while also protecting the endangered chimpanzees and other primates in this region.
Does evolutionary cognitive psychology crowd out the better angels of our nature?
Authors: Kam Cindy D.
Published: August 2018

Although Boyer & Petersen's (B&P's) target article provides an exciting framework for political communication studies of framing effects, I raise questions concerning the presumed importance of folk-economic beliefs, the relative utility of identifying such proximate (as opposed to more generalized) drivers of public opinion, and the extent to which their model can explain variability among individuals. I conclude with thoughts on the normative implications of the evolutionary cognitive model for democratic governance.
Comparison of in situ sequence type analysis of Legionella pneumophila in respiratory tract secretions and environmental samples of a hospital in East Jerusalem
Authors: Jaber Lina , Amro Mahmod , Tair Hadeel Abu , Bahader Shereen A. , Alalam Hanna , Butmeh Suha , Hilal Dalia Abu , Brettar Ingrid , Höfle Manfred G. , Bitar Dina M.
Published: August 2018

Legionella pneumophila genotyping is important for epidemiological investigation of nosocomial and community-acquired outbreaks of legionellosis. The prevalence of legionellosis in pneumonia patients in the West Bank was monitored for the first time, and the sequence types (STs) from respiratory samples were compared with STs of environmental samples from different wards of the hospital. Sputum (n = 121) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) (n = 74) specimens were cultured for L. pneumophila; genomic DNA was tested by 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Nested PCR sequence-based typing (NPSBT) was implemented on DNA of the respiratory and environmental PCR-positive samples. Only one respiratory specimen was positive for L. pneumophila by culture. BAL gave a higher percentage of L. pneumophila-positive samples, 35% (26/74) than sputum, 15% (18/121) by PCR. NPSBT revealed the following STs: ST 1 (29%, 7/24), ST 461 (21%, 5/24), ST 1037 (4%, 1/24) from respiratory samples, STs from environmental samples: ST 1 (28.5%, 4/14), ST 187 (21.4%, 3/14) and ST 2070, ST 461, ST 1482 (7.1%, 1/14) each. This study emphasises the advantage of PCR over culture for the detection of L. pneumophila in countries where antibiotics are indiscriminately used prior to hospital admission. ST 1 was the predominant ST in both respiratory and environmental samples.
A Comparison Between Differently Skilled Prehospital Emergency Care Providers in Major-Incident Triage in South Africa
Authors: Alenyo Annet Ngabirano , Smith Wayne P. , McCaul Michael , Van Hoving Daniel J.
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Major-incident triage ensures effective emergency care and utilization of resources. Prehospital emergency care providers are often the first medical professionals to arrive at any major incident and should be competent in primary triage. However, various factors (including level of training) influence their triage performance.

Hypothesis/Problem

The aim of this study was to determine the difference in major-incident triage performance between different training levels of prehospital emergency care providers in South Africa utilizing the Triage Sieve algorithm.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study involving differently trained prehospital providers: Advanced Life Support (ALS); Intermediate Life Support (ILS); and Basic Life Support (BLS). Participants wrote a validated 20-question pre-test before completing major-incident training. Two post-tests were also completed: a 20-question written test and a three-question face-to-face evaluation. Outcomes measured were triage accuracy and duration of triage. The effect of level of training, gender, age, previous major-incident training, and duration of service were determined.

Results

A total of 129 prehospital providers participated. The mean age was 33.4 years and 65 (50.4%) were male. Most (n=87; 67.4%) were BLS providers. The overall correct triage score pre-training was 53.9% (95% CI, 51.98 to 55.83), over-triage 31.4% (95% CI, 29.66 to 33.2), and under-triage 13.8% (95% CI, 12.55 to 12.22). Post-training, the overall correct triage score increased to 63.6% (95% CI, 61.72 to 65.44), over-triage decreased to 17.9% (95% CI, 16.47 to 19.43), and under-triage increased to 17.8% (95% CI, 16.40 to 19.36). The ALS providers had both the highest likelihood of a correct triage score post-training (odds ratio 1.21; 95% CI, 0.96-1.53) and the shortest duration of triage (median three seconds, interquartile range two to seven seconds; P=.034). Participants with prior major-incident training performed better (P=.001).

Conclusion

Accuracy of major-incident triage across all levels of prehospital providers in South Africa is less than optimal with non-significant differences post-major-incident training. Prior major-incident training played a significant role in triage accuracy indicating that training should be an ongoing process. Although ALS providers were the quickest to complete triage, this difference was not clinically significant. The BLS and ILS providers with major-incident training can thus be utilized for primary major-incident triage allowing ALS providers to focus on more clinical roles.

AlenyoAN, SmithWP, McCaulM, Van HovingDJ. A comparison between differently skilled prehospital emergency care providers in major-incident triage in South Africa. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(6):575–580.
Perceptions of unfairness and a weak universal welfare state in South Korea
Authors: Lim Sijeong
Published: August 2018

Since its democratization, South Korea has widened the population coverage of various social programs, yet the generosity of most programs remains shallow. Existing studies offer state/elite-centered explanations for this move toward a weak universalistic welfare state. I suggest that the move rather accurately reflects citizen attitudes as well: a majority of Koreans across economic classessupportwelfare state expansion, yet a large segment of the self-proclaimed supporters areunwilling to payfor the expansion. I argue that underlying such mixed attitudes is the perceived unfairness of the tax and transfer systems. More specifically, (1) the perception of unfair contribution vis-à-vis other taxpayers and (2) the perception of unfair fiscal exchange with the government significantly lower one's willingness to contribute to the welfare state. My analysis of a nation-wide survey lends support to my argument. My findings have important policy implications for the emerging economies where, despite a growing citizen demand for social protection, the fiscal support base for welfare state expansion is frail.
Fluid–Rock Interaction and Strain Localization in the Picacho Mountains Detachment Shear Zone, Arizona, USA
Authors: Gottardi Raphaël , Schaper Maxwell C. , Barnes Jaime D. , Heizler Matthew T.
Published: August 2018

The Picacho Mountains (SE Arizona, USA) are composed of a variety of Paleogene, Late Cretaceous, and Proterozoic granite and gneisses that were deformed and exhumed along the gently south to southwest dipping detachment shear zone associated with the Picacho metamorphic core complex. The detachment shear zone is divided into three sections that record a progressive deformation gradient, from protomylonites to ultramylonites, and breccia. New thermochronological data from mylonite across the footwall of the detachment shear zone associated with the Picacho metamorphic core complex suggest that the footwall was exhumed through about ~300°C between 22 and 18 Ma by progressive incisement of the footwall of the detachment shear zone. Combined geochronological and oxygen and hydrogen stable isotope data of metamorphic silicate minerals reveal that mylonite recrystallization occurred in the presence of a deep‐seated metamorphic/magmatic fluid, and experienced a late stage meteoric overprint during the development and exhumation of the detachment shear zone. Quartz‐biotite and quartz‐hornblende geothermometry from the base to the top of the detachment shear zone yield equilibrium temperatures ranging from 630 to 415°C, respectively. This temperature trend is attributed to an insulating effect caused by rapid slip and juxtaposition of cool hanging wall on top of a hot footwall. It is suggested that rapid cooling of the top of the detachment shear zone caused strain to migrate toward lower structural level by incisement of the footwall of the shear zone. Progressive strain front migration into the ductile footwall produced hydromechanical anisotropies parallel to the detachment shear zone, effectively saturating the footwall with magmatic/metamorphic fluids and preventing downward flow of meteoric fluids. The combined microstructural, geochronological, and stable isotope results presented in this study provide insight on the dynamic feedback between deformation and fluid flow during the evolution of a detachment shear zone.
The Crustal Domains of the Alboran Basin (Western Mediterranean)
Authors: Gómez de la Peña Laura , Ranero César R. , Gràcia Eulàlia
Published: August 2018

The Alboran Basin in the westernmost Mediterranean hosts the orogenic boundary between the Iberian and African plates. Although numerous geophysical studies of crustal structure onshore Iberia have been carried out during the last decade, the crustal structure of the Alboran Basin has comparatively been poorly studied. We analyze crustal‐scale images of a grid of new and reprocessed multichannel seismic profiles showing the tectonic structure and variations in the reflective character of the crust of the basin. The nature of the distinct domains has been ground‐truthed using available basement samples from drilling and dredging. Our results reveal four different crustal types—domains—of the Alboran Basin: (a) a thin continental crust underneath the West Alboran and Malaga basins, which transitions to (b) a magmatic arc crust in the central part of the Alboran Sea and the East Alboran Basin; (c) the North African continental crust containing the Pytheas and Habibas subbasins; and (d) the oceanic crust in the transition toward the Algero‐Balearic Basin. The Alboran Basin crust is configured in a fore‐arc basin (West Alboran and Malaga basins), a magmatic arc (central and East Alboran), and a back‐arc system in the easternmost part of the East Alboran Basin and mainly Algero‐Balearic Basin. The North African continental crust is influenced by arc‐related magmatism along its edge and was probably affected by strike‐slip tectonics during westward migration of the Miocene subduction system. The distribution of active tectonic structures in the current compressional setting generally corresponds to boundaries between domains, possibly representing inherited lithospheric‐scale weak structures.
Future Drying in Central America and Northern South America Linked With Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
Authors: Chen Y. , Langenbrunner B. , Randerson J. T.
Published: August 2018

Many climate models from the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project predict decreases in precipitation in Central America and northern South America by the year 2100 for the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 scenario. Here we show that the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project models able to more accurately simulate warm North Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SSTs) for the present climate (strong Atlantic meridional overturning circulation models) are more likely to project a larger precipitation decrease. Drought amplification from the slowdown of Atlantic meridional overturning circulation is more significant during the wet season in the Northern Hemisphere, with an SST‐constrained model estimate yielding a 73% larger decrease in precipitation (−1.11 mm/day) than the multimodel mean (−0.64 mm/day). Since most Earth system models underestimate contemporary SSTs in the North Atlantic, the use of the multimodel mean for impact analysis likely underestimates drought stress and the vulnerability of neotropical forests to increasing drought from climate change.
Long‐Term Trends of Direct and Indirect Anthropogenic Effects on Changes in Ocean pH
Authors: Watanabe Y. W. , Li B. F. , Wakita M.
Published: August 2018

Anthropogenic atmospheric CO2 uptake by the ocean is causing a global ocean pH decline, resulting in direct anthropogenic ocean acidification (Ed‐anth). However, indirect anthropogenic effects of changes in biological and physical processes in the ocean also influence ocean pH (Ei‐anth). Therefore, distinguishing between Ed‐anth and Ei‐anth is essential for predicting the progress of overall ocean acidification. We demonstrate long‐term trends of Ed‐anth and Ei‐anth in the subarctic North Pacific using a parameterization technique with an observed pH (pHobs) time series. All Ei‐anth in the ocean interior under 150 m cause a pH decrease of 0.0012 ± 0.0003 per year superimposed on an 18‐year oscillation. Subtracting the pH decrease by Ei‐anth from the pHobs trend for the same region yields a net linear pH decreasing trend of 0.0021 ± 0.0003 per year by Ed‐anth for the whole ocean, indicating that pH decreases by Ei‐anth account for ~40% of total ocean acidification.
First Observed Temporal Development of a Noctilucent Cloud Ice Void
Authors: Megner Linda , Stegman Jacek , Pautet Pierre‐Dominique , Taylor Michael J.
Published: August 2018

Noctilucent clouds are thin ice clouds that appear around the summer polar mesopause. Recently, the Cloud Imaging and Particle Size instrument on the AIM satellite discovered nearly circular ice free regions within the clouds—denoted as “ice voids.” The origin of these ice voids is not known. Their existence has so far only been reported by Cloud Imaging and Particle Size, which only can give very limited information of the time scales involved. On 4 July 2010, such an ice void was registered by our ground‐based camera taking images with 30‐s time interval. We thus here present the first full temporal development of an ice void. Surprisingly, the void did not drift with the prevailing wind as cloud features around it, but instead remained notably stationary for its entire existence of approximately 1 hr. This indicates that that the origin is of stationary character, rather than a rapid change of the local atmosphere.
Contrail Formation: Analysis of Sublimation Mechanisms
Authors: Kärcher B. , Kleine J. , Sauer D. , Voigt C.
Published: August 2018

We study losses of ice crystals in a persistent, soot‐rich contrail in the wake behind a medium‐sized aircraft at cruise. Constraining a model covering ice nucleation, growth, and sublimation phases with an aircraft data set, we track the sublimation history over 2 min of contrail age and relate ice crystal numbers to the number of soot particles emitted by the aircraft engines. We analyze the observed vertical distribution of ice numbers, estimating an exponential scale height in the range 50–100 m and wake‐averaged ice numbers (1.3–1.7) × 1015 (kg‐fuel)−1 after sublimation, removing 60% of the ice crystals that originally nucleated on emitted soot particles. We define soot emission‐ and ice supersaturation‐dependent contrail depths, affecting estimates of horizontal spreading rates of contrails. Our findings have ramifications for the representation of long‐lived contrails in global models.
Author Correction: Higher dialysate calcium concentration is associated with incident myocardial infarction among diabetic patients with low bone turnover: a longitudinal study
Authors: Tagawa Miho , Hamano Takayuki , Sueta Shinichi , Ogata Satoshi , Saito Yoshihiko
Published: August 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Tumor evolution and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer
Authors: Kim Soochi , Han Youngjin , Kim Se Ik , Kim Hee-Seung , Kim Seong Jin , Song Yong Sang
Published: August 2018

Development of novel strategies to overcome chemoresistance is central goal in ovarian cancer research. Natural history of the cancer development and progression is being reconstructed by genomic datasets to understand the evolutionary pattern and direction. Recent studies suggest that intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH) is the main cause of treatment failure by chemoresistance in many types of cancers including ovarian cancer. ITH increases the fitness of tumor to adapt to incompatible microenvironment. Understanding ITH in relation to the evolutionary pattern may result in the development of the innovative approach based on individual variability in the genetic, environment, and life style. Thus, we can reach the new big stage conquering the cancer. In this review, we will discuss the recent advances in understanding ovarian cancer biology through the use of next generation sequencing (NGS) and highlight areas of recent progress to improve precision medicine in ovarian cancer.
The Healthy Pregnancy Research Program: transforming pregnancy research through a ResearchKit app
Authors: Radin Jennifer M. , Steinhubl Steven R. , Su Andrew I. , Bhargava Hansa , Greenberg Benjamin , Bot Brian M. , Doerr Megan , Topol Eric J.
Published: August 2018

Although maternal morbidity and mortality in the US is among the worst of developed countries, pregnant women have been under-represented in research studies, resulting in deficiencies in evidence-based guidance for treatment. There are over two billion smartphone users worldwide, enabling researchers to easily and cheaply conduct extremely large-scale research studies through smartphone apps, especially among pregnant women in whom app use is exceptionally high, predominantly as an information conduit. We developed the first pregnancy research app that is embedded within an existing, popular pregnancy app for self-management and education of expectant mothers. Through the large-scale and simplified collection of survey and sensor generated data via the app, we aim to improve our understanding of factors that promote a healthy pregnancy for both the mother and developing fetus. From the launch of this cohort study on 16 March 2017 through 17 December 2017, we have enrolled 2058 pregnant women from all 50 states. Our study population is diverse geographically and demographically, and fairly representative of US population averages. We have collected 14,045 individual surveys and 107,102 total daily measurements of sleep, activity, blood pressure, and heart rate during this time. On average, women stayed engaged in the study for 59 days and 45 percent who reached their due date filled out the final outcome survey. During the first 9 months, we demonstrated the potential for a smartphone-based research platform to capture an ever-expanding array of longitudinal, objective, and subjective participant-generated data from a continuously growing and diverse population of pregnant women.
Reductive activation of neptunyl and plutonyl oxo species with a hydroxypyridinone chelating ligand
Authors: Carter Korey P. , Jian Jiwen , Pyrch Mikaela M. , Forbes Tori Z. , Eaton Teresa M. , Abergel Rebecca J. , de Jong Wibe A. , Gibson John K.
Published: August 2018

Neptunyl(vi) and plutonyl(vi) oxo-activation with reduction to tetravalent hydroxides was investigated in gas and condensed phases, and by density functional theory.
Controlling reactive pathways in complex one-pot reactions using a novel shape-selective catalyst with multifunctional active-sites
Authors: Li Junhui , Meng Yongtao , Hu Chao , Xiang Hao , Cui Luhao , Hao Zhixian , Zhu Zhirong
Published: August 2018

The reactive pathways of complex one-pot reactions are effectively controlled by using a novel shape-selective zeolite catalyst with multifunctional active-sites.
Conformational restraint as a strategy for navigating towards lysosomes
Authors: Liang Xing-Guang , Cheng Juan , Qin Siyao , Shao Ling-Xiao , Huang Ming-Zhu , Wang Gang , Han Yifeng , Han Feng , Li Xin
Published: August 2018

Using the conformational restraint strategy, we developed a hydrazonate-derived coumarin into a lysosome targeting probe for imaging native formaldehyde at the subcellular level.
The first thieno[3,4-b]pyrazine based small molecular acceptor with a linear A2–A1–D–A1–A2 skeleton for fullerene-free organic solar cells with a high Voc of 1.05 V
Authors: Li Jianfeng , Yang Jing , Hu Junyi , Chen You , Xiao Bo , Zhou Erjun
Published: August 2018

The first thieno[3,4-b]pyrazine (TP) based non-fullerene acceptor was designed and synthesized, which could realize a moderate power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.81% with a high open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.05 V by using J61 as a donor polymer.
Direct insight into the formation driving force, sensitivity and detonation performance of the observed CL-20-based energetic cocrystals
Authors: Duan Binghui , Shu Yuanjie , Liu Ning , Wang Bozhou , Lu Xianming , Lu Yingying
Published: August 2018

This work elucidated the underlying mechanism of the dramatic and divergent physicochemical properties of CL-20-based energetic cocrystals.
Statistical thermodynamics for the unexpectedly large difference between disaccharide stereoisomers in terms of solubility in water
Authors: Hikiri Simon , Hayashi Tomohiko , Ikeguchi Mitsunori , Kinoshita Masahiro
Published: August 2018

We unravel the physical origins of the large difference between cellobiose and maltose, which consist of two β-1,4 and α-1,4 linked d-glucose units, respectively, in terms of the solubility in water.
The H2sensing properties of facets-dependent Pd nanoparticles-supported ZnO nanorods
Authors: Tang Zhilei , Zhang Yi , Deng Xiaochuan , Dai Yujie , Zhang Wending , Fan Faying , Qing Binju , Zhu Chaoliang , Fan Jie , Shi Yifei
Published: August 2018

In this work, cubic Pd-loaded ZnO shows high and fast sensing response to H2owing to the strong adsorption of the H2by cubic Pd enclosed by (100) facets.
The mechanism and origin of the regioselectivity of cobalt-catalyzed annulation of allenes with benzamide: a computational study
Authors: Wu Xiajun , Wen Xiuling , Li Juan
Published: August 2018

DFT calculations were performed to investigate the mechanism and origin of the regioselectivity of cobalt-catalyzed annulation of allenes with benzamide.
A novel Cs2NbOF5:Mn4+ oxyfluoride red phosphor for light-emitting diode devices
Authors: Ming Hong , Zhang Junfei , Liu Lili , Peng Jiaqing , Du Fu , Ye Xinyu , Yang Youming , Nie Huaping
Published: August 2018

A brand-new Mn4+-activated Cs2NbOF5 oxyfluoride phosphor was developed for light-emitting diode devices.
Group 15 biradicals: synthesis and reactivity of cyclobutane-1,3-diyl and cyclopentane-1,3-diyl analogues
Authors: Schulz Axel
Published: August 2018

Synthesis, structure and reactivity of cyclobutane-1,3-diyl and cyclopentane-1,3-diyl analogues are discussed along with their application as molecular switches or reagents to activate or trap small molecules with single or multiple bonds.
Deprotonation of a formato ligand by a cis-coordinated carbyne ligand within a bis(phenolate) tungsten complex
Authors: Schindler Tobias , Paparo Albert , Nishiyama Haruka , Spaniol Thomas P. , Tsurugi Hayato , Mashima Kazushi , Okuda Jun
Published: August 2018

Deprotonation of a formato ligand by cis-coordinated carbyne resulted in the formation of a dioxo complex, CO, ethylene and propylene.
Rationally designing hydrophobic UiO-66 support for the enhanced enzymatic performance of immobilized lipase
Authors: Hu Yingli , Dai Lingmei , Liu Dehua , Du Wei
Published: August 2018

The immobilization of Aspergillus niger lipase (ANL) on UiO-66 (a typical MOF), the effect of support hydrophobicity on lipase's immobilization as well as the enzymatic performance for biodiesel preparation was explored in this enzyme/MOF system.
Electrochemical sulfonylation of thiols with sulfonyl hydrazides: a metal- and oxidant-free protocol for the synthesis of thiosulfonates
Authors: Mo Zu-Yu , Swaroop Toreshettahally R. , Tong Wei , Zhang Yu-Zhen , Tang Hai-Tao , Pan Ying-Ming , Sun Hong-Bin , Chen Zhen-Feng
Published: August 2018

We have developed a new metal- and oxidant-free method for the synthesis of anticancer thiosulfonates via sulfonylation of thiols.
Syntheses, crystal structures, DNA binding, DNA cleavage and DFT study of Co(iii) complexes involving azo-appended Schiff base ligands
Authors: Banerjee Saikat , Patra Roumi , Ghorai Pravat , Brandão Paula , Chowdhury Sougata Ghosh , Karmakar Parimal , Saha Amrita
Published: August 2018

Herein, we have reported three new Co(iii) complexes involving azo-appended Schiff base ligands.
A molecularly imprinted polymer coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-UV for the determination of albendazole in plasma and urine samples: CCD-RSM design
Authors: Abidi Hassan , Ghaedi Mehrorang , Rafiei Abdollah , Jelowdar Ali , Arabi Maryam , Ostovan Abbas , Asfaram Arash
Published: August 2018

The present study attempted to develop a fast and sensitive ultrasound-assisted-dispersive-micro-solid phase extraction method for the separation and preconcentration of albendazole from plasma and urine samples.
Single-sensing-unit 3D quantum dot sensors for the identification and differentiation of mucopolysaccharides
Authors: Miao Yanming , Sun Xiaojie , Yang Qi , Yan Guiqin
Published: August 2018

Principle of Mn–ZnS+ QDs 3D sensors used to identify and differentiate MPSs.
Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of a chiral aziridine aldehyde
Authors: Lee Jaedeok , Singh Deepak , Ha Hyun-Joon
Published: August 2018

The Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of chiral aziridine-2-carbaldehyde with alkyl acrylate was carried out under various conditions by changing bases and alcohol additives.
Organic dye-photocatalyzed fluoroalkylation of heteroarene-N-oxide derivatives
Authors: Lantaño Beatriz , Barata-Vallejo Sebastián , Postigo Al
Published: August 2018

A direct CHet–H perfluoroalkylation reaction of heteroaromatic-N-oxides has been achieved. Acid-catalyzed transformation of the perfluoroalkylated-N-oxides leads to 2-(perfluoroalkyl)benzo[f][1,3]oxazepines. De-oxygenation of the perfluoroalkylated heteroaromatic-N-oxides affords a regioselective radical perfluoroalkylation protocol.
Potentiation of the activation of cholinergic receptors by multivalent presentation of ligands supported on gold nanoparticles
Authors: Mattern A. , Machka F. , Wickleder M. S. , Ilyaskina O. S. , Bünemann M. , Diener M. , Pouokam E.
Published: August 2018

The multivalent presentation of carbachol-functionalized gold nanoparticles leads to a strong potentiation of native agonist effects on the corresponding cholinergic receptors.
Studies on sugar puckering and glycosidic stabilities of 3′-amino-5′-carboxymethyl-3′,5′-dideoxy nucleoside mimics
Authors: Pal Chandan , Velusamy Arventh , Sunkari Yashoda Krishna , Chakraborty Tushar Kanti
Published: August 2018

Nucleoside amino acids and their dimers show a predilection of these backbone modified molecules towards an N-type conformation with a slightly weaker glycosidic linkage.
An appeal to magic? The discovery of a non-enzymatic metabolism and its role in the origins of life
Authors: Ralser Markus
Published: August 2018

Until recently, prebiotic precursors to metabolic pathways were not known. In parallel, chemistry achieved the synthesis of amino acids and nucleotides only in reaction sequences that do not resemble metabolic pathways, and by using condition step changes, incompatible with enzyme evolution. As a consequence, it was frequently assumed that the topological organisation of the metabolic pathway has formed in a Darwinian process. The situation changed with the discovery of a non-enzymatic glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway. The suite of metabolism-like reactions is promoted by a metal cation, (Fe(II)), abundant in Archean sediment, and requires no condition step changes. Knowledge about metabolism-like reaction topologies has accumulated since, and supports non-enzymatic origins of gluconeogenesis, the S-adenosylmethionine pathway, the Krebs cycle, as well as CO2 fixation. It now feels that it is only a question of time until essential parts of metabolism can be replicated non-enzymatically. Here, I review the ‘accidents’ that led to the discovery of the non-enzymatic glycolysis, and on the example of a chemical network based on hydrogen cyanide, I provide reasoning why metabolism-like non-enzymatic reaction topologies may have been missed for a long time. Finally, I discuss that, on the basis of non-enzymatic metabolism-like networks, one can elaborate stepwise scenarios for the origin of metabolic pathways, a situation that increasingly renders the origins of metabolism a tangible problem.
Metabolic engineering of mammalian cells to produce heparan sulfates
Authors: Thacker Bryan E. , Sharfstein Susan T.
Published: August 2018

Heparan sulfate (HS) is a glycosaminoglycan produced by all mammalian cells that plays important roles in physiology and various pathologies. Heparin is a highly sulfated form of HS that is used clinically as an anticoagulant. Heparin and HSs may also have therapeutic benefits for a wide variety of other indications. Cultured mammalian cells produce HS and, through genetic modification, have been used to elucidate the biosynthetic pathway. Recently, metabolic engineering has been used to produce HS from cultured mammalian cells for clinical purposes. This review describes the HS biosynthetic pathway and its manipulation through metabolic engineering to produce bioengineered HSs. We also discuss current challenges and opportunities to advance the field of HS metabolic engineering.
An Application of Network Science to Phonological Sequence Learning in Children With Developmental Language Disorder
Authors: Benham Sara , Goffman Lisa , Schweickert Richard
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Network science has been a valuable tool in language research for investigating relationships between complex linguistic elements but has not yet been applied to sound sequencing in production. In the present work, we used standard error-based accuracy and articulatory kinematic approaches as well as novel measures from network science to evaluate variability and sequencing errors in speech production in children with developmental language disorder (DLD; akaspecific language impairment).

Method

Twelve preschoolers with DLD and 12 age-matched controls participated in a 3-day novel word learning study. Transcription and articulatory movement data were collected to measure accuracy and variability of productions, and networks of speech productions were generated to analyze syllable co-occurrence patterns.

Results

Results indicated that children with DLD were less accurate than children with typical language at the segmental level. Crucially, these findings did not align with performance at the articulatory level, where there were no differences in movement variability between children with DLD and those with typical language. Network analyses revealed characteristics that were not captured by standard measures of phonetic accuracy, including a larger inventory of syllable forms, more connections between the forms, and less consistent production patterns.

Conclusions

Network science provides significant insights into phonological learning trajectories in children with DLD and their typically developing peers. Importantly, errors in word production by children with DLD do not surface as a result of weakness in articulatory control. Instead, results suggest that speech errors in DLD may relate to deficits in sound sequencing.
Protection of inverter‐based microgrids from ground faults by an innovative directional element
Authors: Mahamedi Behnam , Zhu Jian Guo , Eskandari Mohsen , Fletcher John Edward , Li Li
Published: August 2018

The complicated response of inverter‐interfaced distributed generators (IIDG) to faults has been reported, which severely affects all parts of relaying, i.e. fault sensing and polarisation, and faulted phase selection. Given this, the root causes of difficulties in dealing with the protection of inverter‐based microgrids are explained. Then, the study describes a directional element using unique features of zero‐sequence components that retains satisfactory performance even in IIDG‐based microgrids. The zero‐sequence component is the only sequence component that can be calculated in the time domain without time delay and thus can cause less delay in the outcome of protective schemes compared with the other two sequences. With this, instantaneous zero‐sequence power is defined and one term derived from it, zero‐sequence reactive power, is utilised to polarise ground faults. It is proven that the zero‐sequence reactive power is negative for forwarding ground faults and positive for reverse ground faults. An interesting feature is that the zero‐sequence reactive power is calculated by averaging a new quantity in the time domain over half a power cycle. Hence, the time delay is half that of the conventional phasor‐based methods. A sample microgrid is simulated in MATLAB/SIMULINK to evaluate the directional element and the results demonstrate the improvements.