bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two Cultures versus General Education
Authors: David John R.
Published: November 2018

On reading C.P. Snow’s ‘The Two Cultures and The Scientific Revolution’, I was struck by the deep split he describes between scientists and literary intellectuals. One cause he proposes is the age-old specialization of English education, where each of the two cultures has long been segmented into rigidly defined subcultures. I came to learn about UK specialization in the 1980s in Brazil when I mentored a student for his Masters degree based on a study of leishmaniasis and its insect vector, the sand fly. When the student later went to England for his PhD, he was not required to learn about any other parasites – or other any other vectors – to pass his examinations. A different story from what would have happened at the Harvard School of Public Health where, for his PhD, he would have taken a variety of courses and been examined on all the parasites infecting humans as well as all the other insect vectors, not just sand flies.
Hybrid metabolic network completion
Authors: FRIOUX CLÉMENCE , SCHAUB TORSTEN , SCHELLHORN SEBASTIAN , SIEGEL ANNE , WANKO PHILIPP
Published: November 2018

Metabolic networks play a crucial role in biology since they capture all chemical reactions in an organism. While there are networks of high quality for many model organisms, networks for less studied organisms are often of poor quality and suffer from incompleteness. To this end, we introduced in previous work an answer set programming (ASP)-based approach to metabolic network completion. Although this qualitative approach allows for restoring moderately degraded networks, it fails to restore highly degraded ones. This is because it ignores quantitative constraints capturing reaction rates. To address this problem, we propose a hybrid approach to metabolic network completion that integrates our qualitative ASP approach with quantitative means for capturing reaction rates. We begin by formally reconciling existing stoichiometric and topological approaches to network completion in a unified formalism. With it, we develop a hybrid ASP encoding and rely upon the theory reasoning capacities of the ASP system clingo for solving the resulting logic program with linear constraints over reals. We empirically evaluate our approach by means of the metabolic network of Escherichia coli. Our analysis shows that our novel approach yields greatly superior results than obtainable from purely qualitative or quantitative approaches.
The relationship between maternal obesity and diabetes during pregnancy on offspring kidney structure and function in humans: a systematic review
Authors: Lee Y. Q. , Collins C. E. , Gordon A. , Rae K. M. , Pringle K. G.
Published: November 2018

Evidence from animal models indicates that exposure to an obesogenic or hyperglycemic intrauterine environment adversely impacts offspring kidney development and renal function. However, evidence from human studies has not been evaluated systematically. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to synthesize current research in humans that has examined the relationship between gestational obesity and/or diabetes and offspring kidney structure and function. Systematic electronic database searches were conducted of five relevant databases (CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Scopus). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines were followed, and articles screened by two independent reviewers generated nine eligible papers for inclusion. Six studies were assessed as being of ‘neutral’ quality, two of ‘negative’ and one ‘positive’ quality. Observational studies suggest that offspring exposed to a hyperglycemic intrauterine environment are more likely to display markers of renal dysfunction and are at higher risk of end-stage renal disease. There was limited and inconsistent evidence for a link between exposure to an obesogenic intrauterine environment and offspring renal outcomes. Offspring renal outcome measures across studies were diverse, with a large variation in offspring age at follow-up, limiting comparability across studies. The collective current body of evidence suggests that intrauterine exposure to maternal obesity and/or diabetes adversely impacts renal programming in offspring, with an increased risk of kidney disease in adulthood. Further high-quality, longitudinal, prospective cohort studies that measure indicators of offspring renal development and function, including fetal kidney volume and albuminuria, at standardized follow-up time points, are warranted.
Influence of Competitive Duration of Blessed Milkthistle (Silybum marianum) with Wheat
Authors: Rehman Abdul , Qamar Rafi , Safdar Muhammad Ehsan , Rehman Atique-ur , Javeed Hafiz Muhammad Rashad , Shoaib Muhammad , Maqbool Rizwan , Abbas Tasawer
Published: November 2018

Blessed milkthistle is considered to be a noxious weed in irrigated and rainfed areas of Pakistan due to its strong allelopathic effects on food crops. For sustainable wheat production, it is necessary to know the critical time for weed removal (CTWR) for blessed milkthistle to allow wheat growers to get maximum benefit from control of this weed. A field study was conducted in 2014 and 2015 at the College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan, to investigate the CTWR of blessed milkthistle in wheat. The field experiments were designed with seven treatments; weed free (control); 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 wk after emergence (WAE); and weedy check. At 6 WAE, a significant reduction was noted in plant height (8% and 17%), number of productive tillers per square meter (16% and 16%), spike length (23% and 54%), grains per spike (13% and 34%), 1,000-grain weight (14% and 37%), grain yield (20% and 21%), and biological yield (24% and 50%) compared with control (weed-free plots) during 2014 and 2015, respectively. The logistic model supports the field study results and suggests that blessed milkthistle’s CTWR for wheat is 1 to 5 WAE based on acceptable yield losses of 5% to 15% during both years. The experimental results and logistic model indicate that blessed milkthistle should be controlled within 1 to 5 WAE to get better wheat crop harvests without compromising farmers’ profits. To our knowledge, this is the first study ever in Pakistan regarding the CTWR in terms of WAE of blessed milkthistle and could help other scientists create weed control strategies for other areas of the country.
Spezifische Techniken in kognitiv-verhaltenstherapeutischen Ausbildungstherapien
Authors: D’Errico Louisa , Call Manuela , Vogel Eva , Bents Hinrich , Mander Johannes
Published: November 2018

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: Zur Frage, was Psychotherapie wirksam macht, wurde in den letzten Jahren viel hinsichtlich Wirkfaktoren und Techniken geforscht. Allerdings besteht weiterhin eine Forschungslücke in der Untersuchung konkreter kognitiv-verhaltenstherapeutischer Interventionen in der Psychotherapieausbildung. Fragestellung: Ziel war die Validierung des Heidelberger Inventars Kognitiv-Behavioraler Interventionen (HIKBI), welches diesbezüglich Facetten zentraler Interventionen aus Sicht von Ausbildungstherapeut_innen erfasst. Methode: In 589 ambulanten Ausbildungstherapien wurden das HIKBI und etablierte Prozess- und Outcome-Fragebögen ausgefüllt. Ergebnisse: Es ergab sich beim HIKBI eine eindeutige Faktorenstruktur, die Subskalen wiesen eingeschränkt akzeptable bis gute Reliabilitäten (.59 ≤ α ≤ .82) auf. Hinweise für die konvergente Validität lagen durch signifikante Zusammenhänge mit allgemeinen Wirkfaktoren vor. Jedoch zeigten sich keine statistisch signifikanten Zusammenhänge mit symptomatischen Outcomes. Schlussfolgerung: Mit dem HIKBI liegt ein psychometrisch akzeptables Messinstrument zur Erfassung spezifischer KVT-Techniken in der verhaltenstherapeutischen Ausbildung vor.
Active Seismotectonic Deformation in Front of the Dolomites Indenter, Eastern Alps
Authors: Reiter F. , Freudenthaler C. , Hausmann H. , Ortner H. , Lenhardt W. , Brandner R.
Published: November 2018

We use earthquake focal mechanisms to study present‐day deformation and stress in the western part of the Eastern European Alps. We define the following regions, based on seismicity and kinematically compatible focal mechanism types: (1) the northern and western parts of the Dolomites indenter, the western and central Tauern Window, and the northern Alpine margin and foreland lack significant seismicity. (2) The indenter boundaries are characterized by strike‐slip faulting. Based on earthquake and geodetic data, the western and northern indenter boundaries are active sinistral and dextral strike‐slip/oblique slip faults. (3) West and north of the indenter corner, we observe normal and strike‐slip faulting in an up to 70 km‐wide zone. From west to east, the minimum horizontal stress rotates clockwise about 10–20°, from NE to ENE. (4) North of (3), east of the Swiss/Austrian border, we find evidence for N to NNW directed thrust faulting, and local orogen‐parallel extension. From our results and geodetic data, we infer that relative to a fixed northern foreland, NNW directed indentation is transferred at depth via the Sub‐Tauern thrust system to this 100‐km‐wide zone of localized thrusting. A lack of evidence for major, active strike‐slip faulting north of the Tauern Window is in line with geodetic data, which show no significant velocity difference between the northern part of the Eastern Alps and their foreland.
An Empirical Examination on the Role of Water User Associations for Irrigation Management in Rural China
Authors: Wang Yahua , Wu Jing
Published: November 2018

Water user associations (WUAs) are commonly considered a beneficial institution to improve irrigation management. As one of the core components of irrigation reform in China, the number of WUAs has increased from a few in 1995 to nearly 100,000 today. This study examines the performance of irrigation management between villages with WUAs and villages without WUAs, with a set of 15,566 households collected in 941 randomly selected villages from 22 provinces in China. It finds that WUAs do not show overall superiority in almost all aspects in terms of improving irrigation management performance compared with traditional management institutions. Using the institutional analysis and development framework, it further demonstrates the diverse factors that jointly contribute to irrigation management performance, among which the WUAs play small role. The unsatisfactory performance of WUAs may be attributed to the absence of the conditions to support the WUAs functioning in China's centralized political system. To activate the WUAs, policies are recommended such as organizing WUAs based on hydrologic boundary, declining the overlap between the leadership of WUAs and that of the villages, endowing the WUA with more autonomy, and encouraging farmers to participate in the decision‐making process. A broader implication of this study is that there are diverse policy options to address water management challenges, which can be selected according to the specific condition. Achieving the congruence between institutional design and local context holds the key for sustainable water management.
Hobiger Receives 2018 Geodesy Section Award
Authors:   AGU
Published: November 2018

Thomas Hobiger will receive the 2018 Geodesy Section Award at AGU’s Fall Meeting 2018, to be held 10–14 December in Washington, D. C. The award is given “in recognition of major advances in geodesy.”
Wuebbles Receives 2018 Bert Bolin Global Environmental Change Award
Authors:   AGU
Published: November 2018

Donald J. Wuebbles has been selected as the 2018 Bert Bolin awardee and lecturer of the AGU Global Environmental Change section. He will receive the award and present this lecture at AGU’s Fall Meeting 2018, to be held 10–14 December in Washington, D. C. The award recognizes an Earth scientist for “groundbreaking research and/or leadership in global environmental change through cross-disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research in the past 10 years.”
Volcanic Hail Detected With GPS: The 2011 Eruption of Grímsvötn Volcano, Iceland
Authors: Grapenthin R. , Hreinsdóttir S. , Van Eaton A. R.
Published: November 2018

Volcanic plumes are challenging to detect and characterize rapidly, but insights into processes such as hail formation or ash aggregation are valuable to hazard forecasts during volcanic crises. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS, which includes GPS) signals traveling from satellites to ground receivers can be disturbed by volcanic plumes. To date, two effects aiding plume detection from GNSS observations have been described: (a) ash‐rich plumes scatter the signal, lowering the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), and (b) some plumes refract and thus delay GNSS signals. Using GNSS data from the VEI 4 2011 Grímsvötn eruption, we show that tephra and water contents of plumes distinctly affect SNR and phase residuals. The signals suggest high‐altitude freezing of plume water into volcanic hail—corroborated by 1‐D modeling and volcanic hail deposits. Combining GNSS SNR and phase residual analyses is valuable for detecting processes that rapidly scrub fine ash out of the atmosphere.
Late‐July Barrier for Subseasonal Forecast of Summer Daily Maximum Temperature Over Yangtze River Basin
Authors: Yang Jing , Zhu Tao , Gao Miaoni , Lin Hai , Wang Bin , Bao Qing
Published: November 2018

Dynamical subseasonal forecast skill of summer daily maximum temperature (Tmax) over East China was evaluated based on a 20‐year (1995–2014) subseasonal reforecast data set from the European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts. A significant late‐July barrier of subseasonal forecast skill was identified for the Tmax over the Yangtze River Basin, which concurs with a reduction in the prediction skill for the local 500‐hPa geopotential height. This barrier period corresponds to an abrupt transitional phase of the climatological intraseasonal oscillation when the western North Pacific subtropical high abruptly migrates northward from Yangtze River Basin to northern China. The transitional phase of the climatological intraseasonal oscillation features the largest day‐to‐day variance in the position of western North Pacific subtropical high, which may cause the drop of the subseasonal forecast skill for both the geopotential height and Tmax. The results indicate that the atmospheric subseasonal predictability may be strongly affected by the phases of the local climatological intraseasonal variation.
Intraseasonal Variations of Nonmigrating Tides Observed Near the Mesopause
Authors: Liu Guiping , Janches Diego , Lieberman Ruth S.
Published: November 2018

Nonmigrating tides excited in the tropical troposphere by latent heat release from deep convection are known to be responsible for introducing the longitudinal structures in the upper atmosphere and the ionosphere. This study presents for the first time an extensive analysis of the prominent wave‐3 and wave‐4 longitudinal structures using nearly 14 years of temperature observations by the Microwave Limb Sounder instrument operated on the Aura satellite from 2004 to 2017. The observations reveal significant intraseasonal (~30–60 days) periodic variations in the amplitudes of these wave structures at ~97‐km altitude near the mesopause. Some large wave amplitudes accompany strong activity of the Madden‐Julian Oscillation. Rainfall data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission are used as a proxy of latent heating to investigate the source of these variations. Intraseasonal signatures in the wave structures are observed to coincide with the rainfall variations, indicating that the tropospheric 30‐ to 60‐day oscillation is an important driver of the same periodic changes in the upper atmosphere. Given that not all intraseasonal oscillations in the lower atmosphere have corresponding signatures in the longitudinal wave structures, the atmospheric conditions and other influences are important. This study provides evidence on the connection between intraseasonal variations of tides in the upper atmosphere and the changes in the forcing by latent heat release in the troposphere.
Statistical Study on the Occurrences of Postsunset Ionospheric E, Valley, and F Region Irregularities and Their Correlations Over Low‐Latitude Sanya
Authors: Xie Haiyong , Li Guozhu , Zhao Xiukuan , Hu Lianhuan , Wu Baoyuan , Ning Baiqi
Published: November 2018

The coupling of equatorial and low‐latitude ionosphere has been an active area of research for many years. At low latitude, the occurrences of E and valley region irregularities during postsunset hours are obviously different from those around the magnetic equator. In this work, we statistically investigated the occurrences of postsunset ionospheric E, valley, and F region irregularities, the postsunset rise of F layer, and their correlations by using the Sanya (18.4°N, 109.6°E, dip latitude 12.8°N) very high frequency radar and ionosonde observations during equinoctial months of 2012–2016. A statistically significant correlation between the presence of valley region irregularities and that of equatorial spread F (ESF) was found over Sanya. For the days without ESF, valley region irregularity was rarely observed. The Doppler velocities of valley region irregularities were mainly upward which resemble those of simultaneous ESF irregularities. On the other hand, an occurrence peak of E region irregularities was detected around sunset. After sunset, E region irregularity echo was frequently disrupted. The disruption can appear on both ESF and non‐ESF days, when the amplitudes of F layer postsunset rise were significantly different. The effects of polarization electric field associated with ESF and of equatorial ionospheric background condition on the E and valley region irregularities over Sanya are discussed.
Zonal Drift Velocity of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles During Ascending Phase of 24th Solar Cycle Using All‐Sky Imager Over Kolhapur, India
Authors: Gurav O. B. , Sharma A. K. , Ghodpage R. N. , Nade D. P. , Chavan G. A. , Gaikwad H. P. , Patil P. T.
Published: November 2018

This paper reports the statistical analysis of zonal drift velocity of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) inferred from advanced optical technique (all‐sky imager) with OI 630.0‐nm airglow emission from January to April of 2011 to 2013. Over 143 nights of observations have been carried out using all‐sky imager over low‐latitude station Kolhapur (16.8°N, 74.2°E; 10.6°N dip latitude), out of which 58 nights showed signatures of EPBs. We study the hourly, monthly, and seasonal variation in zonal drift velocity of EPBs. Also, the magnetically disturbed nights (Ap > 18) are separately studied. It is observed that (a) the daily peak zonal drift velocity is seen to be positively correlated to corresponding daily averaged 10.7‐cm solar flux. (b) The zonal drift velocity is found to be larger in the equinox months than that of winter months. (c) During the disturbed nights the zonal drift velocity gets slower and one of the disturbed nights showed the latitudinal variation in zonal drift velocity during the development phase of EPBs before midnight hours. We suggest that this variation might be occurred due to the disturbance dynamo electric fields at low latitude, which reduces the EPBs' eastward velocity. (d) The zonal drift velocity of EPBs presented in this paper is in good agreement with the previous studies as well as the HWM‐07 model values.
Investigating Solar Wind‐Driven Electric Field Influence on Long‐Term Dynamics of Jovian Synchrotron Radiation
Authors: Han S. , Murakami G. , Kita H. , Tsuchiya F. , Tao C. , Misawa H. , Yamazaki A. , Nakamura M.
Published: November 2018

Since the first discovery of Jovian Synchrotron Radiation (JSR) from Jovian radiation belt in late 1950s, origin of its time variations has been one of the main subjects of the Jovian radiation belt study. JSR is reported to be strongly correlated with solar wind ram pressure with a possible time lag, which remains an unsolved issue. In our study, the influence of dawn‐to‐dusk electric field modulated with solar wind ram pressure on JSR variations is investigated. Alongside the original diffusion coefficient (DLL(UV)), a new diffusion coefficient (DLL(Elec)) which is dependent on solar wind conditions is applied to a one‐dimensional lossy radial diffusion model, and we reproduce long‐term variations of JSR between 1971 and early 2018. For the specific choice of DLL(UV) = 3.0 × 10−10L3[s−1], the correlation coefficient is found to be 0.6 between the simulated JSR and the ground observation data prior to 2005, and the intermittent observation after 2005 supports our simulation as well. We suggest that while DLL(UV) is the primary mode of diffusion that determines the steady profile of electron population and JSR, DLL(Elec) serves as a secondary mode, which controls long‐term variations of JSR.
Response of Earth's Upper Atmosphere and VLF Propagation to Celestial X‐Ray Ionization: Investigation With Monte Carlo Simulation and Long Wave Propagation Capability code
Authors: Palit Sourav , Raulin Jean‐Pierre , Szpigel Sérgio
Published: November 2018

Ionization of Earth's upper atmosphere by celestial and terrestrial sources of radiation is the driver of most of the significant physical and chemical evolution distributed over a large range of timescales. Part of the atmosphere, called ionosphere, owes its existence to the ionization of neutral molecules by cosmic rays and solar ultraviolet radiation. Solar flares, with extreme ultraviolet and soft X‐rays, modulate the lower part of the ionosphere for few minutes up to few hours. Currently, plenty of signatures of hard X‐ray and gamma ray ionization effects on the middle and upper atmosphere due to extragalactic sources like gamma ray bursts and soft gamma repeaters have been observed. Most of such events, which look like spikes of X‐ray radiation, are manifested in impulsive ionization and gradual decay due to atmospheric recombination processes. Such ionization source profile in form of delta function in time or a spike is the most ideal and simplest candidate to investigate the basics of X‐ray ionization influences on atmospheric chemistry and plasma characteristics. Here with a Monte Carlo simulation and a simple ion chemistry model we investigate numerically the effect of such X‐ray ionization impulses, with different source characteristics, on various layers of the Earth's atmosphere and those on very low frequency (VLF) radio wave propagation. We also justify our assumption that in terms of their effect on atmosphere and VLF, any actual source of ionization may be considered as a bunch of consecutive ionization spikes of varying intensity and spectral characteristics.
Improvement of the IRI Model Using F2 Layer Parameters Derived From GPS/COSMIC Radio Occultation Observations
Authors: Wu M. J. , Guo P. , Fu N. F. , Hu X. G. , Hong Z. J.
Published: November 2018

In this study, an improved ionospheric model is presented by applying self‐specified F2 layer parameters and an adaptive topside model into the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model. Three F2 layer parameters, the critical frequency (foF2), peak height (hmF2), and the scale height (Hsc) obtained from Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) observations, are modeled by spherical harmonics expansion. The empirical orthogonal functions are used to construct the associated parameters in the adaptive topside model. The improved model is validated by incoherent scatter radar (ISR) data of Millstone station and the Global Ionospheric Maps. Results show that the NmF2 and hmF2 of improved model have better agreement with ISR measurements. The vertical total electron content deviation compared with Global Ionospheric Map is discussed in different seasons and levels of solar activity. With radio occultation‐based parameters, the accuracy of original IRI model is improved by 1 total electron content unit globally on average.
Magma Chamber and Crustal Channel Flow Structures in the Tengchong Volcano Area From 3‐D MT Inversion at the Intracontinental Block Boundary Southeast of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Ye Tao , Huang Qinghua , Chen Xiaobin , Zhang Huiqian , Chen Y. John , Zhao Li , Zhang Yong
Published: November 2018

Based on magnetotelluric (MT) array data, we have obtained the first three‐dimensional (3‐D) electrical resistivity model at the Gaoligong intracontinental block boundary in southeastern Tibetan Plateau where the Quaternary intraplate Tengchong volcanism and seismic activities occur. Comparing with results of previous geophysical studies in the area, our MT model clearly reveals three conductive bodies in the depth ranges of 10–30 km in the Tengchong volcano area, which we interpret as three middle‐lower crustal magma chambers associated with the Tengchong volcanism. Seismogenic faults in the Gaoligong Shear Zone (GLGSZ) are characterized by subvertical conductive zones bounded by resistive upper crustal layer on both sides. Earthquakes of moderate magnitudes near the GLGSZ have all occurred within the conductive fault zones at the bottom of the upper resistive crust. More importantly, one large resistive body was imaged at middle‐lower crustal depth beneath the GLGSZ, which seems to block the previously proposed horizontal crustal channel flow along this intracontinental block boundary. Our 3‐D model indicates that crustal channel flow could take place east of the GLGSZ. The current study provides evidence from electrical resistivity structure for the middle‐lower crustal magma chambers in the Tengchong volcano area and detailed 3‐D electrical structure of crustal channel flow in this active tectonic region.
Analysis of a Record‐Breaking Strong Wind Event at Syowa Station in January 2015
Authors: Yamada K. , Hirasawa N.
Published: November 2018

Syowa Station in Antarctica observed a January record strong surface wind on 17 January 2015 with a maximum mean wind speed of 41.8 m/s. The strong wind event is studied here using the Weather Research and Forecasting model. The event occurred under the influence of enhanced northerly wind associated with an intense synoptic‐scale depression that approached the west of Syowa station. The northerly wind turned easterly along the coast of the ice sheet with remarkable near‐surface acceleration. The acceleration of the surface wind at Syowa Station was connected with the establishment of the easterly low‐level jet that formed as a result of orographic blocking as follows: (1) Air with low potential temperature around the southern end of the northerly wind was forced to ascend by the slope of the ice sheet; (2) the upwelling transported air from the lower atmosphere, resulting in the establishment of a cold region along the slope; (3) the deformed temperature structure generated a strengthening horizontal pressure gradient; and (4) the negative pressure gradient ∂p/∂y was larger at lower altitudes, resulting in stronger easterly wind in the lower layer, consistent with thermal wind balance. During the strong wind event, katabatic wind was enhanced by the greater katabatic force associated with the stronger negative pressure gradient. Another interesting feature was a local warming at surface level in Lutzow‐Holm Bay. The warming was driven by a foehn mechanism. The other branch of the downslope wind upwelled again above the bay, and this upwelling extended up to the tropopause.
Increase in Precipitation Efficiency With Surface Warming in Radiative‐Convective Equilibrium
Authors: Lutsko Nicholas J. , Cronin Timothy W.
Published: November 2018

The precipitation efficiency of convection (ε) plays an important role in simple models of the tropical atmosphere as well as in global climate models' projections of future climate changes, but remains poorly understood and poorly constrained. A particularly urgent question is how ε will change in warmer climates. To address these issues, this study investigates the precipitation efficiency in simulations of radiative‐convective equilibrium with a cloud‐resolving model forced by a wide range of sea surface temperatures (SSTs). Two different domains are considered: a small, doubly periodic domain, and a 2‐D (x‐z) “mock‐Walker” domain with a sinusoidal SST profile that resembles the equatorial Pacific, and the sensitivities of the results to the microphysical scheme and to the horizontal resolution are also explored. It is found that ε generally increases with warming in the small domain simulations because of increases in the efficiency with which cloud condensate is converted into precipitation, with changes in the re‐evaporation of falling precipitation playing a secondary role. This picture is complicated in the 2‐D simulations by substantial changes in the degree of convective organization as the underlying SSTs are varied. ε is found to decrease as convection becomes more organized, because convective organization results in relatively more low clouds, which have small (≤0.1) precipitation efficiencies, and relatively less high clouds, which have larger (∼0.4) precipitation efficiencies.
ISGF3 with reduced phosphorylation is associated with constitutive expression of interferon-induced genes in aging cells
Authors: Yamagami Mari , Otsuka Motoyuki , Kishikawa Takahiro , Sekiba Kazuma , Seimiya Takahiro , Tanaka Eri , Suzuki Tatsunori , Ishibashi Rei , Ohno Motoko , Koike Kazuhiko
Published: November 2018

During cellular aging, many changes in cellular functions occur. A hallmark of aged cells is secretion of inflammatory mediators, which collectively is referred to as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). However, the mechanisms underlying such changes are unclear. Canonically, the expression of interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs) is induced by IFNs through the formation of the tripartite transcriptional factor ISGF3, which is composed of IRF9 and the phosphorylated forms of STAT1 and STAT2. However, in this study, the constitutive expression of ISGs in human-derived senescent fibroblasts and in fibroblasts from a patient with Werner syndrome, which leads to premature aging, was mediated mainly by the unphosphorylated forms of STATs in the absence of INF production. Under homeostatic conditions, STAT1, STAT2, and IRF9 were localized to the nucleus of aged cells. Although knockdown of JAK1, a key kinase of STAT1 and STAT2, did not affect ISG expression or IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE)-mediated promoter activities in these senescent cells, knockdown of STAT1 or STAT2 decreased ISG expression and ISRE activities. These results suggest that the ISGF3 complex without clear phosphorylation is required for IFN-independent constitutive ISG transcription in senescent cells.
Improving analytical reasoning and argument understanding: a quasi-experimental field study of argument visualization
Authors: Cullen Simon , Fan Judith , van der Brugge Eva , Elga Adam
Published: November 2018

The ability to analyze arguments is critical for higher-level reasoning, yet previous research suggests that standard university education provides only modest improvements in students’ analytical-reasoning abilities. What pedagogical approaches are most effective for cultivating these skills? We investigated the effectiveness of a 12-week undergraduate seminar in which students practiced a software-based technique for visualizing the logical structures implicit in argumentative texts. Seminar students met weekly to analyze excerpts from contemporary analytic philosophy papers, completed argument visualization problem sets, and received individualized feedback on a weekly basis. We found that seminar students improved substantially more on LSAT Logical Reasoning test forms than did control students (d = 0.71, 95% CI: [0.37, 1.04], p < 0.001), suggesting that learning how to visualize arguments in the seminar led to large generalized improvements in students’ analytical-reasoning skills. Moreover, blind scoring of final essays from seminar students and control students, drawn from a parallel lecture course, revealed large differences in favor of seminar students (d = 0.87, 95% CI: [0.26, 1.48], p = 0.005). Seminar students understood the arguments better, and their essays were more accurate and effectively structured. Taken together, these findings deepen our understanding of how visualizations support logical reasoning and provide a model for improving analytical-reasoning pedagogy.
Psychophysiological correlates between emotional response inhibition and posttraumatic stress symptom clusters
Authors: Duan Hongxia , Wang Li , Wu Jianhui
Published: November 2018

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is characterized by diverse executive function impairments as well as abnormal emotion processing. The goal of the present study was to examine the relationships between emotional response inhibition and distinct PTSD symptom clusters from a six-factor DSM-5 model. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured in an emotional Go/NoGo task among 58 adult survivors from a deadly earthquake. Overall, the commission errors were lower and reaction time was faster for negative pictures compared to neutral pictures. The negative pictures elicited a smaller N2 but larger P3 amplitude compared to neutral and positive pictures, and larger P3 amplitude was further associated with a faster response. Multivariate regression models showed that the PCL score was related to smaller NoGo-N2 amplitude in the negative context, suggesting that the severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms is associated with worse conflict detection. Furthermore, the severity of anhedonia symptom cluster rather than negative affect symptom cluster was associated with fewer commission errors in the positive context, and this result provided electrophysiological evidence for the six-factor model, i.e., a distinction should be made between negative affect symptom cluster and anhedonia symptom cluster.
Structural Basis for Binding of Allosteric Drug Leads in the Adenosine A1 Receptor
Authors: Miao Yinglong , Bhattarai Apurba , Nguyen Anh T. N. , Christopoulos Arthur , May Lauren T.
Published: November 2018

Despite intense interest in designing positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) as selective drugs of the adenosine A1 receptor (A1AR), structural binding modes of the receptor PAMs remain unknown. Using the first X-ray structure of the A1AR, we have performed all-atom simulations using a robust Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) technique to determine binding modes of the A1AR allosteric drug leads. Two prototypical PAMs, PD81723 and VCP171, were selected. Each PAM was initially placed at least 20 Å away from the receptor. Extensive GaMD simulations using the AMBER and NAMD simulation packages at different acceleration levels captured spontaneous binding of PAMs to the A1AR. The simulations allowed us to identify low-energy binding modes of the PAMs at an allosteric site formed by the receptor extracellular loop 2 (ECL2), which are highly consistent with mutagenesis experimental data. Furthermore, the PAMs stabilized agonist binding in the receptor. In the absence of PAMs at the ECL2 allosteric site, the agonist sampled a significantly larger conformational space and even dissociated from the A1AR alone. In summary, the GaMD simulations elucidated structural binding modes of the PAMs and provided important insights into allostery in the A1AR, which will greatly facilitate the receptor structure-based drug design.
Androgen induced cellular proliferation, neurogenesis, and generation of GnRH3 neurons in the brain of mature female Mozambique tilapia
Authors: Narita Yasuto , Tsutiya Atsuhiro , Nakano Yui , Ashitomi Moe , Sato Kenjiro , Hosono Kohei , Kaneko Toyoji , Chen Ruo-Dong , Lee Jay-Ron , Tseng Yung-Che , Hwang Pung-Pung , Ohtani-Kaneko Ritsuko
Published: November 2018

The neuroplastic mechanisms in the fish brain that underlie sex reversal remain unknown. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone 3 (GnRH3) neurons control male reproductive behaviours in Mozambique tilapia and show sexual dimorphism, with males having a greater number of GnRH3 neurons. Treatment with androgens such as 11-ketotestosterone (KT), but not 17β-estradiol, increases the number of GnRH3 neurons in mature females to a level similar to that observed in mature males. Compared with oestrogen, the effect of androgen on neurogenesis remains less clear. The present study examined the effects of 11-KT, a non-aromatizable androgen, on cellular proliferation, neurogenesis, generation of GnRH3 neurons and expression of cell cycle-related genes in mature females. The number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells was increased by 11-KT. Simultaneous injection of bromodeoxyuridine and 11-KT significantly increased the number of newly-generated (newly-proliferated) neurons, but did not affect radial glial cells, and also resulted in newly-generated GnRH3 neurons. Transcriptome analysis showed that 11-KT modulates the expression of genes related to the cell cycle process. These findings suggest that tilapia could serve as a good animal model to elucidate the effects of androgen on adult neurogenesis and the mechanisms for sex reversal in the fish brain.
Employing a spatio-temporal contingency table for the analysis of cork oak cover change in the Sa Serra region of Sardinia
Authors: Dettori Sandro , Filigheddu Maria Rosaria , Deplano Giovanni , Molgora Juan Escamilla , Ruiu Maddalena , Sedda Luigi
Published: November 2018

Land cover change analyses are common and, especially in the absence of explanatory variables, they are mainly carried out by employing qualitative methods such as transition matrices or raster operations. These methods do not provide any estimation of the statistical significance of the changes, or the uncertainty of the model and data, and are usually limited in supporting explicit biological/ecological interpretation of the processes determining the changes. Here we show how the original nearest-neighbour contingency table, proposed by Dixon to evaluate spatial segregation, has been extended to the temporal domain to map the intensity, statistical significance and uncertainty of land cover changes. This index was then employed to quantify the changes in cork oak forest cover between 1998 and 2016 in the Sa Serra region of Sardinia (Italy). The method showed that most statistically significant cork oak losses were concentrated in the centre of Sa Serra and characterised by high intensity. A spatial binomial-logit generalised linear model estimated the probability of changes occurring in the area but not the type of change. We show how the spatio-temporal Dixon’s index can be an attractive alternative to other land cover change analysis methods, since it provides a robust statistical framework and facilitates direct biological/ecological interpretation.
Genome sequence analysis of an extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii indigo-pigmented strain depicts evidence of increase genome plasticity
Authors: Traglia German , Chiem Kevin , Quinn Brettni , Fernandez Jennifer S. , Montaña Sabrina , Almuzara Marisa , Mussi María Alejandra , Tolmasky Marcelo E. , Iriarte Andres , Centrón Daniela , Ramírez María Soledad
Published: November 2018

Acinetobacter baumannii is a multidrug resistant nosocomial pathogen that shows an outstanding ability to undergo genetic exchange, thereby acquiring different traits that contribute to its success. In this work, we identified genetic features of an indigo-pigmented A. baumannii strain (Ab33405) that belongs to the clonal complex CC113B/CC79P. Ab33405 possesses a high number of genes coding for antibiotic resistance and virulence factors that may contribute to its survival, not only in the human host, but also in the hospital environment. Thirteen genes conferring resistance to different antibiotic families (trimethoprim, florfenicol, β-lactams, aminoglycosides and sulfonamide) as well as the adeIJK genes and the capsule locus (KL) and outer core locus (OCL) were identified. Ab33405 includes 250 unique genes and a significant number of elements associated with Horizontal Gene Transfer, such as insertion sequences and transposons, genomic islands and prophage sequences. Also, the indigo-pigmented uncommon phenotype that could be associated with the monooxygenase or dioxygenase enzyme coded for by the iacA gene within the iac cluster was probably conferred by insertion of a 18-kb DNA fragment into the iacG gene belonging to this cluster. The Ab33405 genome includes all type VI secretion system genes and killing assays showed the ability of Ab33045 to kill Escherichia coli. In addition, Ab33405 can modulate susceptibility antibiotics when exposed to blue light.
Merging metabolomics and lipidomics into one analytical run
Authors: Schwaiger Michaela , Schoeny Harald , El Abiead Yasin , Hermann Gerrit , Rampler Evelyn , Koellensperger Gunda
Published: November 2018

Dual HILIC and RP chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry for the simultaneous analysis of metabolites and lipids.
Facile fabrication of fluorescent Fe-doped carbon quantum dots for dopamine sensing and bioimaging application
Authors: Zhuo Shujuan , Guan Yuanyuan , Li Hui , Fang Jing , Zhang Ping , Du Jinyan , Zhu Changqing
Published: November 2018

A facile Fe-doped carbon quantum dot based fluorescent sensor for dopamine sensing and bioimaging was constructed.
An insight into key volatile compounds in acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) pulp based on their odour activity values and chemometric evaluation
Authors: Nogueira Juliete Pedreira , Pires de Siqueira Airla Carla , Dutra Sandes Rafael Donizete , de Sousa Galvão Mércia , Santos Leite Neta Maria Terezinha , Narain Narendra
Published: November 2018

HS-SPME and purge-and-trap were employed for the extraction of volatiles from acerola pulp and suggested key aroma compounds by their OAVs.
Fluorescence ELISA based on CAT-regulated fluorescence quenching of CdTe QDs for sensitive detection of FB1
Authors: Lu Tianying , Zhan Shengnan , Zhou Yaofeng , Chen Xirui , Huang Xiaolin , Leng Yuankui , Xiong Yonghua , Xu Yang
Published: November 2018

A competitive fluorescence enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cFELISA) was developed for the highly sensitive detection of fumonisin B1 (FB1) based on the catalase (CAT)-regulated fluorescence quenching of mercaptopropionic acid-modified CdTe quantum dots (MPA-QDs).
A simple lateral flow biosensor for rapid detection of lead(ii) ions based on G-quadruplex structure-switching
Authors: Wang Dou , Ge Chenchen , Lv Kongpeng , Zou Qingshuang , Liu Quan , Liu Liping , Yang Qinhe , Bao Shiyun
Published: November 2018

A novel strip biosensor equipped with a colorimetric card shows great promise for in-field Pb2+ detection.
Taming a silyldiium cation and its reactivity towards sodium phosphaethynolate
Authors: Hermannsdorfer André , Stephan Douglas W. , Driess Matthias
Published: November 2018

The synthesis of a (bis)NHC-silyldiium cation is reported and its reactivity towards sodium phosphaethynolate is shown to enable access to seven-membered heterocycles with P–X moieties (X = Si, P).
Understanding the effect of solvent polarity on the polymorphism of octadecanoic acid through spectroscopic techniques and DFT calculations
Authors: Lobato Silva Luiz F. , Paschoal Waldomiro , Pinheiro Gardênia S. , da Silva Filho José G. , Freire Paulo T. C. , de Sousa Francisco F. , Moreira Sanclayton G. C.
Published: November 2018

In this work, the polymorphism of octadecanoic acid (C18H36O2, stearic acid) was studied as a function of organic solvent polarity.
Green-amber emission from high indium content InGaN quantum wells improved by interface modification of semipolar (112̄2) GaN templates
Authors: Wu Zhengyuan , Lu Shiqiang , Yang Peng , Tian Pengfei , Hu Laigui , Liu Ran , Kang Junyong , Fang Zhilai
Published: November 2018

Green-amber-emitting high indium content InGaN quantum wells improved by interface modification of semipolar (112̄2) GaN templates.
Probing the binding mode and unbinding mechanism of LSD1 inhibitors by combined computational methods
Authors: Sun Xudong , Ding Lina , Liu Hong-Min
Published: November 2018

A computational study of the binding mode for LSD1 inhibitors combining docking, MD and steered MD simulations.
Excited interatomic potential energy surfaces of Rb + He that correlate with Rb terms 52S through 72S
Authors: Sharma Amit R. , Weeks David E.
Published: November 2018

The excited state, spin-free, and spin–orbit interatomic potential energy surfaces of Rb + He which correlate with the Rb atomic terms 52S, 52P, 42D, 62S, 62P, 52D, and 72S, are calculated at multi-reference configuration interaction level of theory using all-electron basis sets of triple and quadruple-zeta quality that have been contracted for Douglas–Kroll–Hess (DKH) Hamiltonian and includes core-valence correlation. Important features of the potential energy surfaces are discussed with implications for alkali laser spectroscopy.
Patterned formation of enolate functional groups on the graphene basal plane
Authors: Cassidy Andrew , Pedersen Stine , Bluhm Hendrik , Calisti Valentin , Angot Thierry , Salomon Eric , Bisson Régis , Hornekær Liv
Published: November 2018

O atoms selectivley bind at one type of site on the graphene basal plane, creating a long-range patterned distribution of graphene oxide nano-islands.
Localized molecular orbitals for calculation and analysis of vibrational Raman optical activity
Authors: Luber Sandra
Published: November 2018

First calculations of vibrational Raman optical activity based on localized molecular orbitals are presented, which pave the way for novel insight into spectroscopic signatures of chiral systems.
Structural isomers and low-lying electronic states of gas-phase M+(N2O)n (M = Co, Rh, Ir) ion–molecule complexes
Authors: Cunningham Ethan M. , Gentleman Alexander S. , Beardsmore Peter W. , Mackenzie Stuart R.
Published: November 2018

The structures of gas-phase group nine cation–nitrous oxide metal–ligand complexes, M+(N2O)n (M = Co, Rh, Ir; n = 2–7) have been determined by a combination of infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and density functional theory.
Electron transfer mediates vibrational relaxation of CO in collisions with Ag(111)
Authors: Wagner Roman J. V. , Krüger Bastian C. , Park G. Barratt , Wallrabe Mareike , Wodtke Alec M. , Schäfer Tim
Published: November 2018

We report vibrational relaxation probabilities for CO(v = 17) scattered from Ag(111) and compare our results to studies on other molecule–surface systems, which indicates a clear dependence of the relaxation probability on the work function of the surface and the electron binding energy of the molecule.
Stability of small cationic platinum clusters
Authors: Ferrari Piero , Hansen Klavs , Lievens Peter , Janssens Ewald
Published: November 2018

The relative stability of small cationic platinum clusters is investigated by photofragmentation experiments and density functional theory calculations.
Ionization dynamics of a phenylenediamine derivative in solutions as revealed by femtosecond simultaneous and stepwise two-photon excitation
Authors: Koga Masafumi , Yoneda Yusuke , Sotome Hikaru , Miyasaka Hiroshi
Published: November 2018

Photoionization dynamics of TMPD in solution has been investigated by means of multi-photon excitation techniques.
A comparative study of the structure, stability and energetic performance of 5,5′-bitetrazole-1,1′-diolate based energetic ionic salts: future high energy density materials
Authors: Abraham B. Moses , Ghule Vikas D. , Vaitheeswaran G.
Published: November 2018

The structure–property–performance interrelationship of energetic ionic salts based on 5,5′-bitetrazole-1,1′-diolate was thoroughly investigated using ab initio calculations.
A high performance asymmetric supercapacitor based onin situprepared CuCo2O4nanowires and PPy nanoparticles on a two-ply carbon nanotube yarn
Authors: Liang Xiao , Wang Qiufan , Ma Yun , Zhang Daohong
Published: November 2018

A two-ply CNT yarn asymmetric supercapacitor was fabricated by assembling a CuCo2O4nanowire positive electrode and a PPy nanoparticle negative electrode. The full cell exhibits a high specific capacitance of 59.55 mF cm−2and a high energy density of 0.02 mW h cm−2.