bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trace Water as Prominent Factor to Induce Peptide Self‐Assembly: Dynamic Evolution and Governing Interactions in Ionic Liquids
Authors: Wang Juan , Yuan Chengqian , Han Yuchun , Wang Yilin , Liu Xiaomin , Zhang Suojiang , Yan Xuehai
Published: October 2017

The interaction between water and biomolecules including peptides is of critical importance for forming high‐level architectures and triggering life's functions. However, the bulk aqueous environment has limitations in detecting the kinetics and mechanisms of peptide self‐assembly, especially relating to interactions of trace water. With ionic liquids (ILs) as a nonconventional medium, herein, it is discovered that trace amounts of water play a decisive role in triggering self‐assembly of a biologically derived dipeptide. ILs provide a suitable nonaqueous environment, enabling us to mediate water content and follow the dynamic evolution of peptide self‐assembly. The trace water is found to be involved in the assembly process of dipeptide, especially leading to the formation of stable noncovalent dipeptide oligomers in the early stage of nucleation, as evident by both experimental studies and theoretical simulations. The thermodynamics of the growth process is mainly governed by a synergistic effect of hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonds. Each step of assembly presents a different trend in thermodynamic energy. The dynamic evolution of assembly process can be efficiently mediated by changing trace water content. The decisive role of trace water in triggering and mediating self‐assembly of biomolecules provides a new perspective in understanding supramolecular chemistry and molecular self‐organization in biology.
Instability of Increased Contact Resistance in Silicon Solar Cells Following Post‐Firing Thermal Processes
Authors: Chan Catherine , Hamer Phillip , Bourret‐Sicotte Gabrielle , Chen Ran , Ciesla Alison , Hallam Brett , Payne David , Bonilla Ruy S. , Wenham Stuart
Published: October 2017

Recently, there have been reports of increased series resistance as a consequence of thermal processes applied after the co‐firing of screen‐printed silicon solar cells. A previous observation of this effect on very heavily diffused emitters concluded that the increased series resistance is the result of a thickening of the glass layer surrounding silver crystallites at the Ag‐Si interface. Here, large increases in the front silver contact resistance after particular thermal anneals are reported that have been used to mitigate carrier‐induced degradation (CID) in multi‐crystalline solar cells that cannot be fully explained by a thickening of the glass layer. Remarkably, under certain conditions the contact resistance immediately after annealing is found to be unstable − decreasing when a forward current is applied to the solar cell, and gradually increasing again once the forward current is removed. It is speculated that the movement of charged particles, most likely hydrogen, could be the cause of this instability.
Elements of a Holistic Theory to Meet the Sustainability Challenge
Authors: Milne Bruce T.
Published: October 2017

Sustainable development needs a holistic theory to justify setting priorities constrained by trade‐offs among environmental, social and economic criteria. Five elements of a holistic theory for sustainability address fundamental philosophical, scientific, psychological and ethical implications for the dominant sustainability paradigm. The elements are openness/closure, thermodynamic basis for economy, universality of organismal experience, cognitive formation of consciousness in humans and possibly machines and narrative legitimacy of each person. Holism entails reciprocal relationships between system parts and the whole. This finds quantitative expression in an empirical scaling relation that connects numbers of people in 195 countries to the sizes of ecological footprints and biocapacities. Patterns of resource allocation support the axiom that the global system allocates resources primarily among individuals whose interactions via networks are at the root of resource capture and distribution. A holistic theory may anticipate how technological and social trends in coming decades will influence the sustainability project. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clarification of the Dissolution of Solid CaO and the Phosphorus‐Enrichment Capability of Calcium Silicates in the Multiphase Slag Based on the Ion and Molecule Coexistence Theory
Authors: Xie Senlin , Wang Wanlin , Huang Daoyuan , Li Hongchao , Du Yong
Published: October 2017

Recently, a new refining method of using a solid/liquid coexistence multiphase slag for dephosphorization of hot metal was proposed, with the aim to improve the utilization efficiency of CaO and the degree of dephosphorization. Based on this method, an ion and molecule coexistence theory (IMCT) based the thermodynamic model has been developed to clarify the behavior of solid CaO dissolution and the phosphorus‐enrichment capability of calcium silicates in the multi‐phase slag in this article. According to the calculated mass action concentration of the related structural units, the reaction mechanism between solid CaO and the liquid slag in the multi‐phase slag is explained. Meanwhile, the phosphorus‐enrichment capability of calcium silicates is probed. The results show that the dissolution of solid CaO into the multi‐phase slag will be enhanced with the addition of the temperature or the increase of the FeO content, the mass percent ratio of FeO to Fe2O3 (m(FeO)/m(Fe2O3)), and the P2O5 content, while the high basicity (CaO/SiO2) will restrict the dissolution of solid CaO. Besides with the increase of basicity and m(FeO)/m(Fe2O3), the phosphorus‐enrichment contribution ratio of 2CaO · SiO2 displays an exponential growth tendency, while it exhibits an asymmetric parabolic relationship with the increase of FeO, and it slightly decreases with the increase of P2O5 and unchanged with the temperature. Those results obtained can provide a fundamental guidance for the dephosphorization by using the CaO‐based solid/liquid coexistence multiphase slag for hot metal treatment.
Prospective evaluation of IOTA logistic regression models LR1 and LR2 in comparison with subjective pattern recognition for diagnosis of ovarian cancer in an outpatient setting
Authors: Nunes N. , Ambler G. , Foo X. , Widschwendter M. , Jurkovic D.
Published: October 2017

Objective

To determine whether International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) logistic regression models LR1 and LR2 developed for the preoperative diagnosis of ovarian cancer could also be used to differentiate between benign and malignant adnexal tumors in the population of women attending gynecology outpatient clinics.

Methods

This was a single‐center prospective observational study of consecutive women attending our gynecological diagnostic outpatient unit, recruited between May 2009 and January 2012. All the women were first examined by a Level‐II ultrasound operator. In those diagnosed with adnexal tumors, the IOTA‐LR1/2 protocol was used to evaluate the masses. The LR1 and LR2 models were then used to assess the risk of malignancy. Subsequently, the women were also examined by a Level‐III examiner, who used pattern recognition to differentiate between benign and malignant tumors. Women with an ultrasound diagnosis of malignancy were offered surgery, while asymptomatic women with presumed benign lesions were offered conservative management with a minimum follow‐up of 12 months. The initial diagnosis was compared with two reference standards: histological findings and/or a comparative assessment of tumor morphology on follow‐up ultrasound scans. All women for whom the tumor classification on follow‐up changed from benign to malignant were offered surgery.

Results

In the final analysis, 489 women who had either or both of the reference standards were included. Their mean age was 50 years (range, 16–91 years) and 45% were postmenopausal. Of the included women, 342/489 (69.9%) had surgery and 147/489 (30.1%) were managed conservatively. The malignancy rate was 137/489 (28.0%). Overall, sensitivities of LR1 and LR2 for the diagnosis of malignancy were 97.1% (95% CI, 92.7–99.2%) and 94.9% (95% CI, 89.8–97.9%) and specificities were 77.3% (95% CI, 72.5–81.5%) and 76.7% (95% CI, 71.9–81.0%), respectively (P > 0.05). In comparison with pattern recognition (sensitivity 94.2% (95% CI, 88.8–97.4%), specificity 96.3% (95% CI, 93.8–98.0%)), the specificities of the IOTA models were significantly lower (P < 0.0001). A significantly higher number of women would have been offered surgery for suspected cancer if the women had been assessed using the IOTA models instead of pattern recognition (213/489 (43.6%) vs 142/489 (29.0%); P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The IOTA models maintained their high sensitivity when used in an outpatient setting. Specificity was relatively low, which indicates that a significant proportion of the women would have been offered unnecessary surgery for suspected ovarian cancer. These findings show that the IOTA models could be used as a first‐stage test to diagnose ovarian cancer in an outpatient setting, but a different second‐stage test is required to minimize the number of false‐positive findings. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
A jack of all trades: the RNA‐binding protein vigilin
Authors: Cheng Matthew HK , Jansen Ralf‐Peter
Published: October 2017

The vigilin family of proteins is evolutionarily conserved from yeast to humans and characterized by the proteins’ 14 or 15 hnRNP K homology (KH) domains, typically associated with RNA‐binding. Vigilin is the largest RNA‐binding protein (RBP) in the KH domain‐containing family and one of the largest RBP known to date. Since its identification 30 years ago, vigilin has been shown to bind over 700 mRNAs and has been associated with cancer progression and cardiovascular disease. We provide a brief historic overview of vigilin research and outline the proteins’ different functions, focusing on maintenance of genome ploidy, heterochromatin formation, RNA export, as well as regulation of translation, mRNA transport, and mRNA stability. The multitude of associated functions is reflected by the large number of identified interaction partners, ranging from tRNAs, mRNAs, ribosomes and ribosome‐associated proteins, to histone methyltransferases and DNA‐dependent protein kinases. Most of these partners bind to vigilin's carboxyterminus, and the two most C‐terminal KH domains of the protein, KH13 and KH14, represent the main mRNA‐binding interface. Since the nuclear functions of vigilins in particular are not conserved, we outline a model for the basal functions of vigilins, as well as those which were acquired during the transition from unicellular organisms to metazoa. WIREs RNA 2017, 8:e1448. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1448

This article is categorized under:

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Recognition

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Interactions: Functional Implications

Translation > Translation Regulation
An aerial grid‐based sampling method to estimate nonbreeding duck abundance
Authors: Hennig Jacob D. , Benson Thomas J. , Stafford Joshua D. , Yetter Aaron P. , Hagy Heath M. , Stodola Kirk W.
Published: October 2017

Probability‐based sampling designs for aerial surveys are useful for estimating wintering waterfowl abundances in large areas with contiguous habitat (e.g., Mississippi Alluvial Valley). The effectiveness of these approaches for estimating abundance of nonbreeding waterfowl in small areas with discontinuous habitat has rarely been assessed. Surveys conducted within riverine areas introduce sampling design difficulties because of discontinuous bottomland habitat and irregularity of flooding events. Therefore, we implemented and evaluated a generalizable grid‐based, stratified random sampling design to estimate weekly duck abundance within the Wabash River floodplain in southeastern Illinois and southwestern Indiana, USA, during midwinter and early spring 2012 and 2013. We used aerial and ground‐based counts to generate abundance estimates and evaluate within‐week variation of counts. Peak duck abundance totaled 279,717 (SE = 69,101) in 2012 and 742,027 (SE = 296,563) in 2013. Dabbling ducks were the most abundant duck guild detected and abundance estimates for this group met our precision goal (CV ≤ 0.25) in 4 of 18 surveys ( = 0.33, range = 0.20–0.51). We compared the grid‐based approach with a traditional aerial inventory and found that estimates from the grid‐based approach were on average 75,175 (SE = 46,768) greater than inventory counts. Desired levels of precision were often not met, yet design improvements in 2013 notably increased precision, suggesting that further modifications may allow this method to be useful in riverine areas with discontinuous and ephemeral habitat. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Automated circular assume-guarantee reasoning
Authors: Abd Elkader Karam , Grumberg Orna , Păsăreanu Corina S. , Shoham Sharon
Published: October 2017

Model checking is a successful approach for verifying hardware and software systems. Despite its success, the technique suffers from the state explosion problem which arises due to the large state space of real-life systems. One solution to the state explosion problem is compositional verification, that aims to decompose the verification of a large system into the more manageable verification of its components. To account for dependencies between components,
assume-guarantee
reasoning defines rules that break-up the global verification of a system into local verification of individual components, using
assumptions
about the rest of the system. In recent years, compositional techniques have gained significant successes following a breakthrough in the ability to automate assume-guarantee reasoning. However, automation has been restricted to simple acyclic assume-guarantee rules. In this work, we focus on automating
circular
assume-guarantee reasoning in which the verification of individual components mutually depends on each other. We use a sound and complete circular assume-guarantee rule and we describe how to automatically build the assumptions needed for using the rule. Our algorithm accumulates
joint
constraints on the assumptions based on (spurious) counterexamples obtained from checking the premises of the rule, and uses a SAT solver to synthesize minimal assumptions that satisfy these constraints. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first to fully automate circular assume-guarantee reasoning. We implemented our approach and compared it with established non-circular compositional methods that use learning or SAT-based techniques. The experiments show that the assumptions generated for the circular rule are generally smaller, and on the larger examples, we obtain a significant speedup.
Effect of gluten on the properties of ternary biopolymers based on gluten, whey protein concentrate, and kaolinite
Authors: Wesołowska-Trojanowska Marta , Tomczyńska-Mleko Marta , Terpiłowski Konrad , Sołowiej Bartosz , Nastaj Maciej , Mleko Stanisław
Published: October 2017

The aim of the research was to investigate the effect of different gluten (Gl) concentration on ternary biopolymers with whey protein concentrate (WPC) and kaolinite (KAO). Distilled water dispersions of Gl (10–30%), WPC (7%), and KAO (5%) were heated at 80 °C for 30 min. The concentration of WPC and KAO was based on previous research with montmorillonite. Rheological properties of produced wet biopolymers were evaluated by dynamic rheology and ultrasound viscometry. The obtained biopolymers were dried in the thermostatic cabinet for 24 h at 45 °C. The texture was determined using the puncture test and the microstructure was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Surface properties of dried biopolymers were analyzed by surface wettability and roughness measurements. The increase in gluten concentration caused an increase in moduli and viscosity of the obtained wet biopolymers and in the puncture force for dry biopolymers. For the ternary biopolymer, layers with intercalation and exfoliation are observed in comparison with the biopolymer obtained without KAO. With the increasing Gl content in the biopolymer, the number of surface hydrophobic groups with carbon decreased and the number of surface hydrophilic groups increased. Higher Gl concentration produced less porous structure, although there are differences in the micro and nano-scale roughness. Water contact angle decreased with the increased Gl concentration, which is in agreement with less porous microstructure of the surface. The apparent surface free energy increased with the increasing of Gl concentration. The best plastic properties and the best shape of a pot were obtained for the ternary biopolymer with the 15% Gl concentration.
Isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency
Authors: Claerhout Helena , Witters Peter , Régal Luc , Jansen Katrien , Van Hoestenberghe Marie‐Rose , Breckpot Jeroen , Vermeersch Pieter
Published: October 2017

Isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency (ISOD) is a life‐threatening, autosomal recessive disease characterized by severe neurological impairment. As no long‐term effective treatment is available, distinction from other treatable diseases, such as molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MoCD) type A, should be made. We reviewed 47 patients (45 previously reported in the literature). Cases were reviewed for consanguinity, sex, age at onset, death, clinical findings (including spasticity, seizures, psychomotor retardation, feeding difficulties, ectopia lentis, microcephaly), laboratory findings [urinary sulfite, S‐sulfocysteine (in plasma and urine), plasma cystine, total homocysteine, uric acid, and oxypurines in urine] and radiological findings (including cerebral/cerebellar atrophy, cystic white matter changes, ventriculomegaly). We also aligned the published SUOX gene mutations to the reference sequence NM_000456.2. Onset occurred mostly during the first 72 h of life (57%) and within the first year of life in all but two patients (96%). All patients presented with neurological abnormalities, such as neonatal axial hypotonia and/or peripheral hypertonia (100%), (pharmacoresistant) seizures (84%), or developmental delay (97%). Feeding problems were also common. As found in our review, measurement of homocysteine in plasma, amino acids in plasma/urine, and sulfite in fresh urine supports the diagnosis of ISOD. Analysis of uric acid (plasma) and oxypurines (urine) is useful to rule out MoCD. In all patients in whom brain magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography (MRI/CT) was performed, brain abnormalities were found. The purpose of this literature review is to provide a thorough overview of clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic findings of patients with ISOD.
Isolated aortic root dilation in homocystinuria
Authors: Lorenzini Massimiliano , Guha Nishan , Davison James E. , Pitcher Alex , Pandya Bejal , Kemp Helena , Lachmann Robin , Elliott Perry M. , Murphy Elaine
Published: October 2017

Background

Vascular complications in homocystinuria have been known for many years, but there have been no reports to date on involvement of the ascending aorta.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study of patients with homocystinuria, known to a single metabolic centre, and evaluated in 2016 with a transthoracic echocardiogram. Aortic root dilation was defined as Z‐score ≥ 2.0 SD, and graded mild (Z‐score 2.0–3.0), moderate (Z‐score 3.01–4.0) and severe (Z‐score > 4.0).

Results

The study population included 34 patients, median age of 44.3 years (IQR 33.3–52.2), 50% males, 69% diagnosed aged <18 years and 29% pyridoxine‐responsive. Eight (24%) had a history of hypertension. Seven patients (21%) were found to have a dilation of the aortic root, mild in two cases (6%), moderate in four (12%) and severe in one (3%). None had dilation of the ascending aorta. Significant aortic regurgitation, secondary to moderate aortic root dilation, was documented in two patients. A single patient had significant mitral regurgitation due to prolapse of both valve leaflets, as well as mild aortic root dilation. Comparing patients with a dilation of the aortic root to those without, there were no significant clinical, laboratory or echocardiographic differences, with the only exception being that the diameter of the ascending aorta was larger in the group with a dilated aortic root, albeit within normal limits.

Conclusions

A subset of patients with homocystinuria have isolated dilation of the aortic root similar to that observed in Marfan syndrome.
“My Plate is Full”: Reasons for Declining a Genetic Evaluation of Hearing Loss
Authors: Lesperance Marci M. , Winkler Erin , Melendez Tori L. , Yashar Beverly M.
Published: October 2017

The aim of this study was to obtain patient and parent perspectives on genetic evaluation of hearing loss, in order to identify motivators, expectations, and barriers. Three focus groups were conducted following a semi‐structured discussion guide, led by an independent moderator. Participants were hearing parents of children with permanent hearing loss or deaf adults. Qualitative content analysis was used to develop a codebook and identify major themes and subthemes. Participant views were compared to national guidelines. The 28 participants comprised 23 parents representing 21 unique families and 5 deaf adults. 13/21 families and 0/5 adults reported comorbidities, 4/21 families and 3/5 adults had a positive family history, and 12/21 families versus 0/5 adults had utilized genetics services. A common theme among adults and parents was a curiosity as to the cause of hearing loss. Parents were motivated to detect comorbidities and optimize care for hearing loss. Some parents felt overwhelmed by the hearing loss and unprepared to pursue early genetic evaluation as recommended in guidelines. Several reported positive experiences following genetics consultation, while others reported unease and unmet expectations. Notably, both parents and adults expressed ambivalence regarding the desire for genetic knowledge. Financial concerns and difficulties obtaining a referral were cited as extrinsic barriers. For parents of children with hearing loss, both the presence of comorbidities and a positive family history were drivers of genetics consultation and/or genetic testing. We identified educational opportunities for both patients and providers that would improve informed decision‐making and increase access to genetic services. Consideration of the patient/family perspective and their decision‐making processes, along with flexibility in the approach to genetics evaluation and its timing, will optimize both the development and implementation of guidelines.
Identifying recommendations to promote remanufacturing in Europe
Authors: Karvonen Iris , Jansson Kim , Behm Katri , Vatanen Saija , Parker David
Published: October 2017

According to a recent study conducted by the European Remanufacturing Network – project, remanufacturing can contribute significantly to the wellbeing in Europe. The study defined three future scenarios of which the most ambitious transformation scenario foresees the potential to triple the volume of remanufacturing in Europe until 2030 up to about 100 billion Euro employing over half a million people. The transformation, however, will not happen by itself, but important promotion actions need to be taken by various stakeholders, like policy-makers, industrial companies, research and academic community as well as the general public. These stakeholders need to be supported and fed with recommendations to promote remanufacturing in Europe. The paper describes a process applied in the European Remanufacturing Network -project to identify and sort out central barriers that currently prevent large scale capitalisation of remanufacturing potential. The study was based on literature and industrial and expert participation in surveys and workshops. Respectively recommendations to extend remanufacturing were identified and the barriers and recommendations were mapped against each other to assess the sufficiency of the recommendations. After prioritization, finally targeted recommendations for the key stakeholders were defined and reported in this paper: nine for policy makers, four for research & education, one multi-stakeholder recommendation and seven recommendations for business and industry.
Whose Authority? Perceptions of Science Education in Black and Latino Churches
Authors: Bolger Daniel , Ecklund Elaine Howard
Published: October 2017

Recent scholarship argues that beliefs in biblical literalism might keep conservative Protestants out of STEM. Two of the groups that are most underrepresented in STEM, black Americans and Latinos, are also two of the most religious populations in the United States, and specifically overrepresented in theologically conservative Christian traditions. Yet, prior work also suggests that churches help promote positive educational outcomes. To interrogate the potential relationship between STEM educational aspirations and religious faith, we explore how black and Latino Christians perceive the potential impact of science education on religious faith. Analysis of 40 interviews reveals that both black Americans and Latinos have concerns about science teachers being biased. Yet, the groups differ in their assessment of the danger of anti-religious bias. Black Americans put confidence in the Christian community to incubate children from harm to their faith; therefore, they believe the effect of science education on religious faith is either neutral or positive. Latinos, however, raise concerns about the authority of science educators, rather than science curriculum. Overall, the results shift the conversation on conservative religion and science education from solely discussing content to exploring issues of bias and authority.
A Comparison of China’s Risk Communication in Response to SARS and H7N9 Using Principles Drawn From International Practice
Authors: Qiu Wuqi , Chu Cordia , Hou Xiaohui , Rutherford Shannon , Zhu Bin , Tong Zhendong , Mao Ayan
Published: October 2017

Background

China’s emergency management of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was heavily criticized, whereas the H7N9 response was praised by the international community.

Aims

The aims of this study were to examine and compare the strengths and weaknesses of risk communication conducted in response to SARS and H7N9 and their associated social impacts on affected communities in China.

Method

A qualitative comparative case study approach was employed in the present study, using a set of 8 risk communication principles selected from international literature to suit the Chinese context for the comparative analysis of emergency responses of SARS and H7N9.

Results

The study found significant differences in the risk communication conducted in the 2 cases. The SARS outbreak fully exposed China’s lack of experience in public health risk communication. By contrast, the Chinese government’s risk communication strategies had improved significantly during the H7N9 outbreak.

Discussion

Trust is the basis for communication. Maintaining an open and honest attitude and actively engaging stakeholders to address their risk information needs will serve to build trust and facilitate multi-sector collaborations in dealing with a public health crisis.

Conclusions

From SARS to H7N9, risk communication practices in China greatly improved, which, in turn, lessened adverse social impacts and improved outcomes in emergency management of public health crises. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:587–598)
Sensitivity of grounding line dynamics to the choice of the friction law
Authors: BRONDEX JULIEN , GAGLIARDINI OLIVIER , GILLET-CHAULET FABIEN , DURAND GAËL
Published: October 2017

Basal slip accounts for a large part of the flow of ice streams draining ice from Antarctica and Greenland into the ocean. Therefore, an appropriate representation of basal slip in ice flow models is a prerequisite for accurate sea level rise projections. Various friction laws have been proposed to describe basal slip in models. Here, we compare the influence on grounding line (GL) dynamics of four friction laws: the traditional Weertman law and three effective pressure-dependent laws, namely the Schoof, Tsai and Budd laws. It turns out that, even when they are tuned to a common initial reference state, the Weertman, Budd and Schoof laws lead to thoroughly different steady-state positions, although the Schoof and Tsai laws lead to much the same result. In particular, under certain circumstances, it is possible to obtain a steady GL located on a reverse slope area using the Weertman law. Furthermore, the predicted transient evolution of the GL as well as the projected contributions to sea level rise over a 100-year time horizon vary significantly depending on the friction law. We conclude on the importance of choosing an appropriate law for reliable sea level rise projections and emphasise the need for a coupling between ice flow models and physically based subglacial hydrological models.
A simple model of snow albedo decay using observations from the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow-Albedo (CoCoRaHS-Albedo) Network
Authors: AMARAL TRISTAN , WAKE CAMERON P. , DIBB JACK E. , BURAKOWSKI ELIZABETH A. , STAMPONE MARY
Published: October 2017

The albedo of seasonal snow cover plays an important role in the global climate system due to its influence on Earth's radiation budget and energy balance. Volunteer Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow-Albedo (CoCoRaHS-Albedo) observers collected 3249 individual daily albedo, snow depth and density measurements using standardized techniques at dozens of sites across New Hampshire, USA over four winter seasons. The data show that albedo increases rapidly with snow depth up to ~0.14 m. Multiple linear regression models using snowpack age, snow depth or density, and air temperature provide reasonable approximations of surface snow albedo during times of albedo decay. However, the linear models also reveal systematic biases that highlight an important non-linearity in snow albedo decay. Modeled albedo values are reasonably accurate within the range of 0.6–0.9, but exhibit a tendency to overestimate lower albedo values and underestimate higher albedo values. We hypothesize that rapid reduction in high albedo fresh snow results from a decrease in snow specific surface area, while during melt-events the presence of liquid water in the snowpack accelerates metamorphism and grain growth. We conclude that the CoCoRaHS-Albedo volunteer observer network provides useful snow albedo, depth and density measurements and serves as an effective model for future measurement campaigns.
Cremation Practices and the Creation of Monument Complexes: The Neolithic Cremation Cemetery at Forteviot, Strathearn, Perth & Kinross, Scotland, and its comparanda
Authors: Noble Gordon , Brophy Kenneth , Hamilton Derek , Leach Stephany , Sheridan Alison
Published: October 2017

Around the beginning of the 3rd millennium cal bc a cremation cemetery was established at Forteviot, central Scotland. This place went on to become one of the largest monument complexes identified in Mainland Scotland, with the construction of a palisaded enclosure, timber structures, and a series of henge monuments and other enclosures. The cemetery was established between 3080 and 2900 cal bc, probably in the 30th century cal bc, which is contemporary with the cremation cemetery at Stonehenge. Nine discrete deposits of cremated bone, representing the remains of at least 18 people, were identified. In most instances they were placed within cut features and, in one case, a series of cremation deposits was associated with a broken standing stone. This paper includes the first detailed assessment of the cremated remains at Forteviot and the features associated with the cemetery, and explores how the establishment of this cemetery may have been both a catalyst and inspiration for the elaborate monument building and prolonged acts of remembrance that occurred at this location over a period of almost 1000 years. The paper also outlines the parallels for Forteviot across Britain and, for the first time, draws together the dating evidence (including Bayesian modelling) for this major category of evidence for considering the nature of late 4th/early 3rd millennium cal bc society. The results and discussion have wide implications and resonances for contemplating the establishment and evolution of monument complexes in prehistoric Britain and beyond.
Eels, Beavers, and Horses: Human Niche Construction in the European Late Upper Palaeolithic
Authors: Brown Antony G. , Basell Laura S. , Farbstein Rebecca
Published: October 2017

This paper examines interactions between co-occupants of riverine niches in north-west Europe during the Late Upper Palaeolithic using both ecological and archaeological data. It is argued that consideration of both the Lateglacial record and autecology of eel, beaver and horse supports a reinterpretation of some famous but enigmatic panels of Magdalenian mobiliary art as representations of eel fishing, along with horse and beaver exploitation in disturbed riverine habitats. It is further suggested that this constitutes a humanly co-constructed niche in ecological, nutritional, and symbolic terms, which was also particularly advantageous for human well-being and social development in this time and place.
ON PERFECT -RATIONAL CUBOIDS
Authors: BREMNER ANDREW
Published: October 2017

Let $K$ be an algebraic number field. A cuboid is said to be $K$-rational if its edges and face diagonals lie in $K$. A $K$-rational cuboid is said to be perfect if its body diagonal lies in $K$. The existence of perfect $\mathbb{Q}$-rational cuboids is an unsolved problem. We prove here that there are infinitely many distinct cubic fields $K$ such that a perfect $K$-rational cuboid exists; and that, for every integer $n\geq 2$, there is an algebraic number field $K$ of degree $n$ such that there exists a perfect $K$-rational cuboid.
LYAPUNOV EXPONENTS ON METRIC SPACES
Authors: MORALES C. A. , THIEULLEN P. , VILLAVICENCIO H.
Published: October 2017

We use the pointwise Lipschitz constant to define an upper Lyapunov exponent for maps on metric spaces different to that given by Kifer [‘Characteristic exponents of dynamical systems in metric spaces’, Ergodic Theory Dynam. Systems3(1) (1983), 119–127]. We prove that this exponent reduces to that of Bessa and Silva on Riemannian manifolds and is not larger than that of Kifer at stable points. We also prove that it is invariant along orbits in the case of (topological) diffeomorphisms and under topological conjugacy. Moreover, the periodic orbits where this exponent is negative are asymptotically stable. Finally, we estimate this exponent for certain hyperbolic homeomorphisms.
CLASSIFICATION OF REFLECTION SUBGROUPS MINIMALLY CONTAINING -SYLOW SUBGROUPS
Authors: TOWNSEND KANE DOUGLAS
Published: October 2017

Let a prime $p$ divide the order of a finite real reflection group. We classify the reflection subgroups up to conjugacy that are minimal with respect to inclusion, subject to containing a $p$-Sylow subgroup. For Weyl groups, this is achieved by an algorithm inspired by the Borel–de Siebenthal algorithm. The cases where there is not a unique conjugacy class of reflection subgroups minimally containing the $p$-Sylow subgroups are the groups of type $F_{4}$ when $p=2$ and $I_{2}(m)$ when $m\geq 6$ is even but not a power of $2$ for each odd prime divisor $p$ of $m$. The classification significantly reduces the cases required to describe the $p$-Sylow subgroups of finite real reflection groups.
ON GRADED -ALGEBRAS
Authors: RAEBURN IAIN
Published: October 2017

We show that every topological grading of a $C^{\ast }$-algebra by a discrete abelian group is implemented by an action of the compact dual group.
NARRATIVES OF DECLINE IN THE DUTCH NATIONAL SOCIALIST MOVEMENT, 1931–1945
Authors: KUNKELER CELESTINE S.
Published: October 2017

Generic fascism scholarship, which has turned strongly towards cultural political history in recent years, has focused heavily on themes of rebirth in fascist culture, but rebirth's counterpart of decline remains under-researched. After emphasizing the existence of several distinct and even mutually exclusive ideological strands in the NSB, this article shows how ideological difference was marked by narratives of decline. But they were equally used to generate a coherent political message about the contemporary state of the Netherlands. Central to their functionality as a unifying tool was party newspaper Volk en Vaderland, which served to promote a patriotic, news-focused, and peculiarly Dutch narrative of decline that overarched ideological difference. Yet more than just tying ends together, one narrative in particular served as a crucial ideological constant in the Movement, namely the Leider Anton Mussert's narrative of decline since the early modern Golden Age of the Dutch Republic, which tied traditional liberal patriotic themes into fascist discourse. Where other historians have emphasized Mussert's lack of moral and ideological leadership, the article impresses how narratives of decline functioned as moral support, and rallied NSB loyalists throughout the German occupation of the Netherlands, until Mussert's own death.
Did Saving Wall Street Really Save Main Street? The Real Effects of TARP on Local Economic Conditions
Authors: Berger Allen N. , Roman Raluca A.
Published: October 2017

We investigate whether saving Wall Street through TARP really saved Main Street during the recent financial crisis. Our difference-in-difference analysis suggests that TARP statistically and economically significantly increased net job creation and net hiring establishments and decreased business and personal bankruptcies. The results are robust, including accounting for endogeneity. The main mechanisms driving the results appear to be increases in commercial real estate lending and off-balance-sheet real estate guarantees. These results suggest that saving Wall Street via TARP may have helped save Main Street, complementing the TARP literature and contributing to the cost–benefit debate.
The natural compound 7-epiclusianone inhibits superoxide dismutase activity inSchistosoma mansoni
Authors: Silva M.S. , Castro A.P. , de Castro A.T. , Souza I.M.M. , Martins-Souza R.L. , Colombo F.A. , Elias T.C. , Santos M.H. , Marques M.J.
Published: October 2017

Schistosomiasis – caused by trematodes from the genusSchistosoma– affects more than 200 million people worldwide. Growing resistance to therapy with praziquantel (PZQ) has encouraged the search for novel treatments against this neglected disease. The compound 7-epiclusianone (7-epi) – isolated from ‘bacupari’ (the fruit of theGracinia brasiliensistree) – has promising activity againstSchistosoma mansoni in vitro, damaging the parasite's tegument. However, the target and mechanism of action of 7-epi have not been identified. Here, we examined the possibility that 7-epi harms the tegument by inhibiting parasite superoxide dismutase (SOD), which protects the tegument from damage by reactive oxygen species produced by host immune cells. Molecular docking analysisin silicosuggested strong interactions between 7-epi andS. mansonicytosolic superoxide dismutase (SmCtSOD) at allosteric cavities.Schistosoma mansonicouples were cultivatedex vivowith 12.44–198.96 μm7-epi for 24 h, and then parasite extracts were tested for lipid peroxidation (as a surrogate for oxidative stress), and SOD activity and expression. Lipid peroxidation levels increased after incubation with concentrations ≥99.48 μm7-epi, and this compound reduced SOD activity at concentrations ≥24.87 μm. However, contact with 7-epi did not alter SOD expression, by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Our results show that the inhibition of SmCtSOD is partly responsible for the tegument detachment observed after incubation with 7-epi, but is not the only cause of the antiparasitic action of this compoundin vitro.
The taxonomic and phylogenetic status of digeneans from the genusTimoniella(Digenea: Cryptogonimidae) in the Black and Baltic seas
Authors: Kvach Y. , Bryjová A. , Sasal P. , Winkler H.M.
Published: October 2017

Timoniellaspp. are cryptogonimid flukes (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae) that parasitize the guts of fish in brackish waters.Timoniella imbutiforme, a species from the Mediterranean Sea, is recorded in the Black Sea, whileT. balthicahas been described from the Baltic Sea. In this paper, we clarify the taxonomic status ofTimoniellapopulations in the Baltic and Black seas. Adults and metacercariae ofTimoniellaspp. were sampled from localities in the Mediterranean Sea (France), Black Sea (Ukraine) and Baltic Sea (Germany) and subjected to molecular and morphological analysis, including Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction based on concatenated sequences of ITS1–ITS2–28S. This allowed us to construct a new key to species of the genusTimoniella. Our results suggest thatT. balthicaforms part of the Boreal–Atlantic relict fauna of the Black Sea and should now be considered a junior synonym ofT. imbutiforme.
Helminth parasites of the endangered hooded grebe,Podiceps gallardoi, from Patagonia Argentina, with the description of two new digenean species
Authors: Núñez V. , Drago F. , Jones S. , Lunaschi L.
Published: October 2017

In March 2011, a predator killed 33 hooded grebes,Podiceps gallardoiRumboll (Podicipedidae), a critically endangered species, in a nesting colony at El Cervecero Lake, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. The viscera of ten birds were examined for helminths. Two new species of Trematoda were recovered from the intestines. The plagiorchidPlagiorchis patagonensisn. sp. is mainly characterized by the larger size of the oral sucker relative to the ventral sucker, and by the distribution of the vitellarium in two lateral fields, confluent between the caecal bifurcation and the ventral sucker. The echinostomatidEuparyphium tobianumn. sp. is mainly characterized by possessing a head collar with 37–39 spines (4 angle spines on each ventral lappet, 4 lateral spines in a single row on each side, and 21–23 dorsal spines in a double row). An unidentified cestode, a tetramerid nematode and a notocotylid trematode were also recovered from the birds. This is the first record of helminths parasitizing the hooded grebe.
In vitro study of disinfectants on the embryonation and survival of Toxascaris leonina eggs
Authors: El-Dakhly Kh.M. , Aboshinaf A.S.M. , Arafa W.M. , Mahrous L.N. , El-Nahass E. , Gharib A.F. , Holman P.J. , Craig T.M.
Published: October 2017

The effect of six available and commercial disinfectants on the embryonation and larval development of Toxascaris leonina eggs was studied. Dettol® and Virkon® both induced a 100% reduction in larval development (P ≤ 0.05). Dettol® resulted in deformed eggshells and a halt in embryonal development at 1 week post exposure. All Virkon®-treated eggs showed an early embryonic lysis 24 h post exposure. TH4+ and 70% ethanol both significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected larval development, with 58.8 and 85.8% reduction, respectively. Neither sodium hypochlorite nor phenol significantly affected larval development (2.8 and 21.0%, respectively). Sodium hypochlorite treatment caused a visible decortication of the eggshell; however, phenol-treated embryonated Toxascaris eggs appeared more or less morphologically normal. In conclusion, the disinfectants tested induced variable degrees of decortication and suppression of larval development. Virkon®S was the most effective disinfectant against Toxascaris eggs, suggesting that it is the most advisable one to use. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of Virkon®S as an ovicide and/or larvicide of helminths, particularly Toxascaris leonina.
The role of the descriptor ‘broken English’ in ideologies about nonnative speech
Authors: Lindemann Stephanie , Moran Katherine
Published: October 2017

This study investigates how the descriptor ‘broken English’ is used to construct speakers as nonnative within standard language ideology. In-depth analysis of examples found through WebCorp, used to search US websites, and the Corpus of Contemporary American English found that the term was largely used to refer to comprehensible English identified as nonnative. Users of such English were constructed as Other, usually highly negatively. The rarer cases of more positive descriptions referred to encounters outside English-speaking countries, consistent with monolingualist ideology, and when used for a more distantly superior person, made them more attractive through greater apparent accessibility. Four mechanisms are discussed by which use of the term naturalizes ideologies. Crucially, its ambiguity promotes slippage between ‘neutral’ and negative uses, allowing any English identified as nonnative to be characterized as ‘broken’, slipping into ‘not English’, with such descriptions treated as an acceptable way to identify nonnative speakers as public menace. (Standard language ideology, ideology of nativeness, monolingualist ideology, Othering, corpus-informed research)*
Rules to Identify Persons with Frailty in Administrative Health Databases
Authors: Urquhart Robin , Giguere Anik M.C. , Lawson Beverley , Kendell Cynthia , Holroyd-Leduc Jayna M. , Puyat Joseph H. , Kazanjian Arminee , Straus Sharon , Johnston Grace M.
Published: October 2017

This study sought to develop frailty “identification rules” using population-based health administrative data that can be readily applied across jurisdictions for living and deceased persons. Three frailty identification rules were developed based on accepted definitions of frailty, markers of service utilization, and expert consultation, and were limited to variables within two common population-based administrative health databases: hospital discharge abstracts and physician claims data. These rules were used to identify persons with frailty from both decedent and living populations across five Canadian provinces. Participants included persons who had died and were aged 66 years or older at the time of death (British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia) and living persons 65 years or older (British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec). Descriptive statistics were computed for persons identified using each rule. The proportion of persons identified as frail ranged from 58.2-78.1 per cent (decedents) and 5.1-14.7 per cent (living persons).