bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Girls negotiating sexuality and violence in the primary school
Authors: Bhana Deevia
Published: December 2017

Girls’ vulnerability to sexual violence and harassment is a recurrent theme in much of the literature on schooling in sub‐Saharan Africa. Within this research, girls are often framed as passive victims of violence. By drawing on a case study, this paper focuses on 12 to 13‐year‐old South African school girls as they mediate and participate in heterosexual cultures that are simultaneously privileging and damaging. Set against the wider social context where violent gender relations are key to the building blocks of patriarchy, the paper examines how heterosexuality underscores the formation of femininity as girls engage with and participate with each other and boys in informal school relations. To this end, Butler's concept of the ‘heterosexual matrix’ is deployed to examine how girls navigate the wall of male power, where the ‘real’ expression of femininity is embedded within heterosexuality. The paper explores girls’ investment in heterosexual cultures in the school playground and on ‘dress‐up Friday’ to examine how gender power inequalities and violent relations manifest. In expanding the analysis of heterosexuality to primary school contexts, the paper broadens the focus of school‐based gender and sexualities research in sub‐Saharan Africa to address a neglected area of younger girls’ femininity and their active agency. The paper argues for the importance of addressing primary school girls, femininity and the power of heterosexuality through which relations of inequalities operate.
Gold Nanoparticle‐based Novel Biosensors for Detecting Glycated Hemoglobin
Authors: Kwak Jiwon , Park Hyeoun Ji , Lee Soo Suk
Published: December 2017

We report here on novel biosensors for the highly sensitive and specific enzymatic analysis of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), which we measured primarily to identify three‐month average plasma glucose concentrations. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was generated in this enzymatic measuring of glycated hemoglobin from oxidative cleavage of fructosyl valine by fructosyl amino acid oxidase, and we then used the generated hydrogen peroxide as a reducing agent of gold (III) ion to synthesize gold (0) as a nanoparticle. We were able to measure the gold nanoparticles obtained from this novel approach using colorimetry under a UV–VIS spectrophotometer. For this colorimetric detection, we analyzed 96‐well plates for glycated hemoglobin, and this system worked very well, with a detection limit of 0.142% and coefficient of variation below 10%. Finally, this method can measure glycated hemoglobin in patients with diabetes.
CO2 Capture on a Novel Porous Silicate Material from Coal Gangue: Equilibrium, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Studies
Authors: Gao Yajun , Du Hong , Wu Yu , Liu Kai , Zhang Jianbin
Published: December 2017

The adsorption of CO2 on a novel porous silicate material (PSM) from coal gangue at T = (288.15, 303.15, and 318.15) K was thoroughly characterized, and the experimental results showed that the adsorption capacity increased with the increasing pressures. Furthermore, the isotherm data were well fitted to Double–Langmuir model, and the adsorption process was found to be exothermic in nature with a decrease in entropy. Meanwhile, thermodynamic results also showed that the adsorption occurred via a spontaneous and enthalpy driven process and controlled by physisorption. In addition, the adsorption performance was still stable after 10 times adsorption—desorption cycles, which indicated that the PSM had a positive regeneration performance.
Fragmentation Pathways of Tadalafil and Its Analogues in Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Lee Jung‐min , Hong Jongki , Oh Han Bin , Moon Bongjin
Published: December 2017

Tadalafil is one of the most potent inhibitors against Type V phosphodiesterase (PDE‐5) along with sildenafil and vardenafil exhibiting high efficacy in treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). Due to their high ED efficacy, many illegal attempts to add their derivatives in dietary supplements have been made and LC‐ESI‐MS/MS has proven to be a powerful tool to expose such malfeasance. In contrast to sildenafil or vardenafil‐based analogues, tadalafil analogues have limited structural variation mainly localized at N2‐position to maintain their pharmacological activity. Therefore, it is probable that even the illegal yet unknown tadalafil analogues have similar structural aspect. After careful examination of ESI‐MS/MS spectra of tadalafil and its eight analogues, a detailed fragmentation mechanism with three major pathways was identified. Based on this mechanism, four distinct common ions [m/z 135 (C1), m/z 262 (C2), m/z 197 (C3), m/z 169 (C4)] and additional identifier ions (I1~I7) that reflect the structural variations were assigned.
Simultaneous analysis of oral anticancer drugs for renal cell carcinoma in human plasma using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Takasaki Shinya , Tanaka Masaki , Kikuchi Masafumi , Maekawa Masamitsu , Kawasaki Yoshihide , Ito Akihiro , Arai Yoichi , Yamaguchi Hiroaki , Mano Nariyasu
Published: December 2017

An analytical method using high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry has been developed and validated for simultaneous measurement of four tyrosine kinase inhibitors used for renal cell carcinoma and their metabolites in human plasma. Despite their similar structures, it is difficult to measure plasma levels of these compounds simultaneously using optimal MS parameters for each compound because a quantitative range exceeding 50,000‐fold is required. To overcome this problem, we used a linear range shift technique using in‐source collision‐induced dissociation. Linearity ranges of sorafenib, sorafenib N‐oxide, sunitinib, N‐desethyl sunitinib, axitinib and pazopanib were 100–10,000, 10–1,000, 1–100, 1–100, 1–100 and 500–50,000 ng/mL, respectively. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy were high, and coefficients of variation and relative error were <10.3% and within ±11.8%, respectively. The matrix effects of all analytes ranged from 87.7 to 114.8%. Extraction recoveries and overall recoveries showed small extraction loss (<15.0%) for all analytes. Moreover, all cancer patient samples used in this study were successfully quantified and fell within the linear range of measurement. Therefore, this novel analytical system using in‐source collision‐induced dissociation has sufficient performance to measure plasma concentrations of these four tyrosine kinase inhibitors and their metabolites for therapeutic drug monitoring.
Designing a course for smart healthcare engineering education
Authors: Rodić‐Trmčić Branka , Labus Aleksandra , Barać Dušan , Popović Snežana , Radenković Božidar
Published: December 2017

Smart healthcare is an emerging concept that relies on the synergy of various engineering concepts and intelligent technical innovations applicable to healthcare. Demand for smart healthcare engineers is anticipated to grow, hence, arising a need to educate profile engineers. The goal of this paper is to introduce an approach to designing a course for smart healthcare engineering education. Through the key topics of the course, students acquired new skills and knowledge from emerging technologies underlying smart healthcare. The proposed approach was evaluated at a graduate course at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Belgrade. The results indicate that there was a positive impact on the learning process as well as a positive learning experience.
Analysis of long‐term survival in multiple myeloma after first‐line autologous stem cell transplantation: impact of clinical risk factors and sustained response
Authors: Lehners Nicola , Becker Natalia , Benner Axel , Pritsch Maria , Löpprich Martin , Mai Elias Karl , Hillengass Jens , Goldschmidt Hartmut , Raab Marc‐Steffen
Published: December 2017

The widespread use of high‐dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as well as the introduction of novel agents have significantly improved outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM) enabling long‐term survival. We here analyze factors influencing survival in 865 newly diagnosed MM patients who underwent first‐line ASCT at our center between 1993 and 2014. Relative survival and conditional survival were assessed to further characterize long‐term survivors. Achievement of complete response (CR) post‐ASCT was associated with prolonged progression‐free survival (PFS) in the whole cohort and with significantly superior overall survival (OS) in the subgroup of patients receiving novel agent‐based induction therapy. Landmark analyses performed at 1, 3, and 5 years post‐ASCT revealed that sustainment of any response had a highly significant influence on survival with no significant differences between sustained CR and sustained inferior responses. Furthermore, outcome was independently improved by administration of maintenance therapy. A subset of patients did experience long‐term survival >15 years. However, conditional survival demonstrated a persistent risk of myeloma‐associated death and cumulative relative survival curves did not show development of a clear plateau, even in prognostically advantageous groups. In conclusion, in this large retrospective study, sustained response after first‐line ASCT was found to be a major prognostic factor for OS independent of depth of sustained response. Administration of maintenance therapy further improved outcome, supporting the hypothesis that interventions to prolong responses achieved post‐ASCT may be essential to reach long‐term survival, especially in the setting of persisting residual disease.
Chemical Composition of Essential Oils from Thymus vulgaris, Cymbopogon citratus, and Rosmarinus officinalis, and Their Effects on the HIV‐1 Tat Protein Function
Authors: Feriotto Giordana , Marchetti Nicola , Costa Valentina , Beninati Simone , Tagliati Federico , Mischiati Carlo
Published: December 2017

New drugs would be beneficial to fight resistant HIV strains, in particular those capable of interfering with essential viral functions other than those targeted by highly active antiretroviral therapy drugs. Despite the central role played by Tat protein in HIV transcription, a search for vegetable extracts able to hamper this important viral function was never carried out. In this work, we evaluated the chemical composition and possible interference of essential oil from Thymus vulgaris, Cananga odorata, Cymbopogon citratus, and Rosmarinus officinalis with the Tat/TAR‐RNA interaction and with Tat‐induced HIV‐1 LTR transcription. GC/MS Analysis demonstrated the biodiversity of herbal species translated into essential oils composed of different blends of terpenes. In all of them, 4 – 6 constituents represent from 81.63% to 95.19% of the total terpenes. Essential oils of Thymus vulgaris, Cymbopogon citratus, and Rosmarinus officinalis were active in interfering with Tat functions, encouraging further studies to identify single terpenes responsible for the antiviral activity. In view of the quite different composition of these essential oils, we concluded that their interference on Tat function depends on specific terpene or a characteristic blend.
Compared proteomic analysis of 8‐ and 32‐week‐old postnatal porcine ovaries
Authors: Hou Lin , Wang Jian , Wang Yinjuan , Hua Xiuguo , Wu Ji
Published: December 2017

Pigs share many anatomical and physiological features with humans, offering a unique and viable model for biomedical research. Tandem mass tag method followed by mass spectrometry analysis was utilized to identify peptides (47,405), proteins (14,701), and protein groups (7634) in ovaries of 8‐ and 32‐week‐old postnatal Banna miniature pigs. After annotation and analysis by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway and Gene Ontology, the proteins were identified as being involved in hormone metabolic pathways and maintenance, proliferation, and regulation of stem cells. In addition, we found 638 differentially expressed proteins between ovaries of 8‐ and 32‐week‐old postnatal Banna miniature pigs. We used Interactive Pathway Explorer to produce an overview of pig ovarian proteomics. Compared with those of the 8‐week‐old group, the proteins enriched in metabolism of steroid hormones, metabolism of lipids, and energy metabolism pathway were upregulated in the 32‐week‐old group, indicating physiological characteristics of sexual maturity. These findings have implications in applications of biomedicine.

Significance of the study

Pigs share many anatomical and physiological features with humans, offering a unique and viable model for biomedical research. In this study, we used tandem mass tag quantitative proteomics to describe, for the first time, protein expression patterns of postnatal pig ovaries. Proteins involved in hormone metabolic pathways and maintenance, proliferation, and regulation of stem cells were identified. With further analysis by Interactive Pathway Explorer, proteins enriched in metabolism of steroid hormones, metabolism of lipids, and energy metabolism pathway were upregulated in the 32‐week‐old group, indicating physiological characteristics of sexual maturity. These findings have implications in applications of biomedicine.
Ti‐Catalyzed Hydroamination for the Synthesis of Amine‐Containing π‐Conjugated Materials
Authors: Hao Han , Thompson Kyle A. , Hudson Zachary M. , Schafer Laurel L.
Published: December 2017

A series of conjugated enamines were prepared by Ti catalyzed anti‐Markovnikov hydroamination. The synthetic route is efficient with yields of up to 94 % and the 100 % atom efficiency of the reaction means that these products are easily isolated and purified. Due to the extended conjugated system, the enamine tautomers were observed exclusively in both solid and solution phases, as determined by X‐ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. These new conjugated molecules, with N incorporated into the backbone, show interesting photophysical properties including photo‐luminescent quantum yields of up to 0.26. Notably, through the incorporation of B to give a donor–acceptor π‐conjugated system, a redshift of approximately 100 nm is observed for the emission maximum along with the anticipated solvatochromic shifts.
Why Bond Critical Points Are Not “Bond” Critical Points
Authors: Shahbazian Shant
Published: December 2017

Equating (3,−1) critical points (CPs), derived from the topological analysis of the electron densities, to chemical bonds has triggered a lot of confusion in recent years. Part of this confusion stems from calling these CPs “bond” CPs (BCPs). While the origin of this terminology is traceable to the late seventies and beginning of eighties, when it sounded reasonable, new computational studies conducted on molecular electron densities cast serious doubt on the supposed universal equivalence between the chemical bonds and (3,−1) CPs. Herein, recent computational studies are briefly reviewed to demonstrate why (3,−1) CPs are not indicators of chemical bonds. It is discussed why this confusing terminology needs to be changed and reemphasized that (3,−1) CPs should be called “line” critical points (LCPs). The proposed terminology detaches the topological properties of molecular electron densities from any a priori chemical interpretation. Such detachment, if adopted by other authors, will hopefully prevent further misinterpretation of the data emerging from the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM).
Synthetic Glycans and Glycomimetics: A Promising Alternative to Natural Polysaccharides
Authors: Zhang Gao‐Lan , Ye Xin‐Shan
Published: December 2017

A large quantity of polysaccharide‐derived conjugate vaccines have been developed to combat various pathogenic infections. Another prominent polysaccharide, heparin, is listed as an essential drug by the World Health Organization (WHO) to treat thrombus. One of their common problems is that they all derive from natural polysaccharides. Specifically, capsular polysaccharides are mainly obtained from bacterial fermentation and unfractionated heparin is extracted from animal tissues such as porcine mucosa. The quality of natural polysaccharides is inconsistent and traces of contamination would cause a disaster. By contrast, the use of chemical or chemoenzymatic methods could provide structurally homogeneous and quality‐controlled glycans. To date, large numbers of polysaccharide fragments and their analogues have been synthesized and evaluated. Some of them even showed comparable activities to their corresponding natural polysaccharides. Here, the latest advances in these synthetic glycan analogues ranging from carbohydrate‐based vaccines, heparin‐related therapeutics and glycomimetics of polysaccharides are summarized.
Tunable Performance of Manganese Oxide Nanostructures as MRI Contrast Agents
Authors: Bañobre‐López Manuel , García‐Hevia Lorena , Cerqueira M. Fatima , Rivadulla Francisco , Gallo Juan
Published: December 2017

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Manuel Bañobre‐López and Juan Gallo at the INL‐International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory in Braga (Portugal). Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201704861.
Global Structural Flexibility of Metalloproteins Regulates Reactivity of Transition Metal Ion in the Protein Core: An Experimental Study Using Thiol‐subtilisin as a Model Protein
Authors: Matsuo Takashi , Kono Takamasa , Shobu Isamu , Ishida Masaya , Gonda Katsuya , Hirota Shun
Published: December 2017

The functions of metal‐containing proteins (metalloproteins) are determined by the reactivities of transition metal ions at their active sites. Because protein macromolecular structures have several molecular degrees of freedom, global structural flexibility may also regulate the properties of metalloproteins. However, the influence of this factor has not been fully delineated in mechanistic studies of metalloproteins. Accordingly, we have investigated the relationship between global protein flexibility and the characteristics of a transition metal ion in the protein core using thiol‐subtilisin (tSTL) with a Cys‐coordinated Cu2+ ion as a model system. Although tSTL has two Ca2+‐binding sites, the Ca2+‐binding status hardly affects its secondary structure. Nevertheless, guanidinium‐induced denaturation and amide H/D exchange indicated the increase in the structural flexibility of tSTL by the removal of bound Ca2+ ions. Electron paramagnetic resonance and absorption spectral changes have revealed that the protein flexibility determines the characteristics of a Cu2+ ion in tSTL. Therefore, global protein flexibility should be recognized as an important factor that regulates the properties of metalloproteins.
Laterally and Temporally Controlled Intracellular Staining by Light‐Triggered Release of Encapsulated Fluorescent Markers
Authors: Kantner Karsten , Rejman Joanna , Kraft Karl V. L. , Soliman Mahmoud G. , Zyuzin Mikhail V. , Escudero Alberto , del Pino Pablo , Parak Wolfgang J.
Published: December 2017

Fluorescent molecular markers were encapsulated. The capsules were additionally modified with plasmonic nanoparticles. The encapsulated markers were endocytosed by cells. Upon light stimulation the plasmonic nanoparticles generated heat, which opened the encapsulation and transiently perforated the endosomal/lysosomal membrane surrounding the capsule, thus allowing for release of the marker into the cytosol. Fluorescence labeling of different intracellular compartments was demonstrated in this way. Most important, the cells do not need to be fixed and perforated, as the molecular markers are introduced into cells by endocytosis and subsequent light‐induced release. Thus this technique allows for intracellular fluorescence labeling of living cells.
The effect of fasting status on lipids, lipoproteins, and inflammatory biomarkers assessed after hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome: Insights from PROVE IT–TIMI 22
Authors: Steen Dylan L. , Umez‐Eronini Amarachi A. , Guo Jianping , Khan Naseer , Cannon Christopher P.
Published: December 2017

Background

For decades, fasting for 8 to 12 hours has been recommended for measurement of lipid profiles. The effect of fasting on low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) and triglycerides (TG) has been described in healthy cohorts and those with stable disease states. Recently, guidelines suggested that fasting may not be necessary due to its small effect on lipid measures. Little is known, however, regarding whether the impact of fasting is altered in the setting of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that the post‐ACS period would minimally effect the impact of fasting status on lipid measurements.

Methods

We evaluated the association of fasting on lipid and other biomarkers at the randomization visit, which occurred at a median of 7 days after the onset of an ACS, as well as during follow‐up, in a cohort of 4177 subjects from the Pravastatin or Atorvastatin Evaluation and Infection Therapy–Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 22 (PROVE IT–TIMI 22) trial.

Results

Fasting samples were independently associated with a higher LDL‐C of 4.1 mg/dL and apolipoprotein‐B 100 of 2.6 mg/dL as well as a lower TG of 21.0 mg/dL and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein of 0.48 mg/dL. The relative difference was 3.8% for LDL‐C and −11.3% for TG. Fasting did not change total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A‐I, lipoprotein(a), or apolipoprotein C‐III.

Conclusions

Although fasting does impact lipid measurements, the effect on LDL‐C is small (about 4 mg/dL), both early after ACS and during follow‐up. These data provide support for recent guidelines that no longer advocate for fasting lipid samples, including in the setting of ACS.
Improved Free‐Energy Landscape Quantification Illustrated with a Computationally Designed Protein–Ligand Interaction
Authors: Van Patten William J. , Walder Robert , Adhikari Ayush , Okoniewski Stephen R. , Ravichandran Rashmi , Tinberg Christine E. , Baker David , Perkins Thomas T.
Published: December 2017

The front cover artwork is provided by the groups of David Baker (Univ. of Washington and HHMI) and Thomas Perkins (JILA, NIST and Univ. of Colorado). The image shows an AFM cantilever pulling on a computationally designed protein bound to digoxigenin attached to the end of a short DNA molecule with a conceptual free‐energy landscape as background. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/cphc.201701147.
Connection between Lithium Coordination and Lithium Diffusion in [Pyr12O1][FTFSI] Ionic Liquid Electrolytes
Authors: Giffin Guinevere A. , Moretti Arianna , Jeong Sangsik , Pilar Kartik , Brinkkötter Marc , Greenbaum Steven G. , Schönhoff Monika , Passerini Stefano
Published: December 2017

The use of highly concentrated ionic liquid‐based electrolytes results in improved rate capability and capacity retention at 20 °C compared to Li+‐dilute systems in Li‐metal and Li‐ion cells. This work explores the connection between the bulk electrolyte properties and the molecular organization to provide insight into the concentration dependence of the Li+ transport mechanisms. Below 30 mol %, the Li+‐containing species are primarily smaller complexes (one Li+ cation) and the Li+ ion transport is mostly derived from the vehicular transport. Above 30 mol %, where the viscosity is substantially higher and the conductivity lower, the Li+‐containing species are a mix of small and large complexes (one and more than one Li+ cation, respectively). The overall conduction mechanism likely changes to favor structural diffusion through the exchange of anions in the first Li+ solvation shell. The good rate performance is likely directly influenced by the presence of larger Li+ complexes, which promote Li+‐ion transport (as opposed to Li+‐complex transport) and increase the Li+ availability at the electrode.
Neutral gas simulation on the influence of rotating spokes on gas rarefaction in high‐power impulse magnetron sputtering
Authors: Trieschmann Jan
Published: December 2017

High‐power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) relies on electrical power deposition constricted to very short time intervals for the generation of intense plasmas. Typically, this leads to a substantial “background gas” rarefaction immanent to the harsh discharge conditions. Experimental observations, in addition, suggest the presence of localized ionization zones rotating in an azimuthal direction, with typical angular frequencies ofωsp ≥ 100 kHz, for example, observed for discharges using small laboratory targets. To understand the gas dynamics within these discharges, a three‐dimensional kinetic neutral particle model, building on the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, is utilized. By considering solely neutral particles, the influence of accompanying plasma phenomena (e.g., depletion due to ionization) is neglected. For a generic discharge setup, the rarefaction and relaxation dynamics of sputtered aluminium and “background” argon is investigated. Subsequently, the implications of a localized rotating sputtering pattern onto the respective transport dynamics are considered. With sole regards to neutral particles, it is found that the presence of fast spoke‐like dynamics is of subordinate relevance due to the inherent collisional and transport time scales. These results present only approximate solutions compared to the case when plasma dynamics are comprehensively considered. The latter scenario, however, is presently inaccessible in terms of three‐dimensional kinetic simulations.
Equation of state and transport properties of metals in warm dense matter regime
Authors: Khomkin A.L. , Shumikhin A.S.
Published: December 2017

The equation of state, composition, and electrical conductivity are calculated for the supercritical ionized fluid of aluminium. For calculation, we used the previously proposed chemical plasma model called “3+”‐component. The model includes atoms, immersed in jellium, and thermal electrons and ions. Part of the bound states electron density is referred to as jellium. The density of electron jellium increases with the compression of atomic gas and does not depend on temperature directly. The emergence of jellium can be termed the process of ionization in the full sense of the word. The conductivity of dense vapours is determined by the sum of the conductivity of the thermal electrons, calculated according to the Frost formula, and the conductivity of jellium, calculated according to the Regel–Ioffe formula. At compression, the electrical conductivity passes through the minimum from the conductivity of thermal electrons to the conductivity of electrons of jellium accordingly. Calculations of the equation of state and the electrical conductivity of supercritical metal vapours agree well with physical and numerical experimental data.
An adaptive network traffic prediction approach for LDoS attacks detection
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Wu Zhijun , Zhang Junwei , Chen Jiusheng
Published: December 2017

Low‐rate denial of service (LDoS) attacks reduce throughput and degrade quality of service (QoS) of network services by sending out attack packets with relatively low average rate. LDoS attack flows are difficult to detect from normal traffic since it has the property of low average rate. The research on network traffic analysis and modeling shows that network traffic measurement data are irregular nonlinear time series. To characterize and analyze network traffic between attack and non‐attack situations, the adaptive normal and abnormal ν‐support vector regression (ν‐SVR) prediction models are constructed on the basis of the reconstructed phase space. In this paper, the dimension of reconstructed phase space for ν‐SVR is optimized by Bayesian information criteria method, and the parameter in the radial basis function is adaptively adjusted by minimizing the within‐class distance and maximizing the between‐class distance in the feature space. The nonthreshold decision function is obtained through calculating the prediction error of adaptive normal and abnormal ν‐SVR prediction models, which is adopted to detect LDoS attacks. Experiments in NS‐2 environment show that the adaptive ν‐SVR prediction model can effectively predict the network traffic measurement time series, and the probability distribution of time series generated by the adaptive ν‐SVR prediction model is quite similar to that of the network traffic measurement data. Experiments also clearly demonstrate the superiority of the proposed approach in LDoS attacks detection.
Vegetation cover in relation to socioeconomic factors in a tropical city assessed from sub‐meter resolution imagery
Authors: Martinuzzi Sebastián , Ramos‐González Olga M. , Muñoz‐Erickson Tischa A. , Locke Dexter H. , Lugo Ariel E. , Radeloff Volker C.
Published: December 2017

Fine‐scale information about urban vegetation and social‐ecological relationships is crucial to inform both urban planning and ecological research, and high spatial resolution imagery is a valuable tool for assessing urban areas. However, urban ecology and remote sensing have largely focused on cities in temperate zones. Our goal was to characterize urban vegetation cover with sub‐meter (<1 m) resolution aerial imagery, and identify social‐ecological relationships of urban vegetation patterns in a tropical city, the San Juan Metropolitan Area, Puerto Rico. Our specific objectives were to (1) map vegetation cover using sub‐meter spatial resolution (0.3‐m) imagery, (2) quantify the amount of residential and non‐residential vegetation, and (3) investigate the relationship between patterns of urban vegetation vs. socioeconomic and environmental factors. We found that 61% of the San Juan Metropolitan Area was green and that our combination of high spatial resolution imagery and object‐based classification was highly successful for extracting vegetation cover in a moist tropical city (97% accuracy). In addition, simple spatial pattern analysis allowed us to separate residential from non‐residential vegetation with 76% accuracy, and patterns of residential and non‐residential vegetation varied greatly across the city. Both socioeconomic (e.g., population density, building age, detached homes) and environmental variables (e.g., topography) were important in explaining variations in vegetation cover in our spatial regression models. However, important socioeconomic drivers found in cities in temperate zones, such as income and home value, were not important in San Juan. Climatic and cultural differences between tropical and temperate cities may result in different social‐ecological relationships. Our study provides novel information for local land use planners, highlights the value of high spatial resolution remote sensing data to advance ecological research and urban planning in tropical cities, and emphasizes the need for more studies in tropical cities.
Mosquito vector‐associated microbiota: Metabarcoding bacteria and eukaryotic symbionts across habitat types in Thailand endemic for dengue and other arthropod‐borne diseases
Authors: Thongsripong Panpim , Chandler James Angus , Green Amy B. , Kittayapong Pattamaporn , Wilcox Bruce A. , Kapan Durrell D. , Bennett Shannon N.
Published: December 2017

Vector‐borne diseases are a major health burden, yet factors affecting their spread are only partially understood. For example, microbial symbionts can impact mosquito reproduction, survival, and vectorial capacity, and hence affect disease transmission. Nonetheless, current knowledge of mosquito‐associated microbial communities is limited. To characterize the bacterial and eukaryotic microbial communities of multiple vector species collected from different habitat types in disease endemic areas, we employed next‐generation 454 pyrosequencing of 16S and 18S rRNA amplicon libraries, also known as metabarcoding. We investigated pooled whole adult mosquitoes of three medically important vectors, Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus, collected from different habitats across central Thailand where we previously characterized mosquito diversity. Our results indicate that diversity within the mosquito microbiota is low, with the majority of microbes assigned to one or a few taxa. Two of the most common eukaryotic and bacterial genera recovered (Ascogregarina and Wolbachia, respectively) are known mosquito endosymbionts with potentially parasitic and long evolutionary relationships with their hosts. Patterns of microbial composition and diversity appeared to differ by both vector species and habitat for a given species, although high variability between samples suggests a strong stochastic element to microbiota assembly. In general, our findings suggest that multiple factors, such as habitat condition and mosquito species identity, may influence overall microbial community composition, and thus provide a basis for further investigations into the interactions between vectors, their microbial communities, and human‐impacted landscapes that may ultimately affect vector‐borne disease risk.
To feed or not to feed? Bioenergetic impacts of fear‐driven behaviors in lactating dolphins
Authors: Srinivasan Mridula , Swannack Todd M. , Grant William E. , Rajan Jolly , Würsig Bernd
Published: December 2017

In mammals, lactation can be the most energetically expensive part of the reproductive cycle. Thus, when energy needs are compromised due to predation risk, environmental disturbance, or resource scarcity, future reproductive success can be impacted. In marine and terrestrial environments, foraging behavior is inextricably linked to predation risk. But quantification of foraging energetics for lactating animals under predation risk is less understood. In this study, we used a spatially explicit individual‐based model to study how changes in physiology (lactating or not) and the environment (predation risk) affect optimal behavior in dolphins. Specifically, we predicted that an adult dolphin without calf would incur lower relative energetic costs compared to a lactating dolphin with calf regardless of predation risk severity, antipredator behavior, or prey quality consumed. Under this state‐dependent analysis of risk approach, we found predation risk to be a stronger driver in affecting total energetic costs (foraging plus locomotor costs) than food quality for both dolphin types. Further, contrary to our hypothesis, after accounting for raised energy demands, a lactating dolphin with calf does not necessarily have higher relative‐to‐baseline costs than a dolphin without calf. Our results indicate that both a lactating (with calf) and non‐lactating dolphin incur lowered energetic costs under a risk‐averse behavioral scheme, but consequently suffer from lost foraging calories. A lactating dolphin with calf could be particularly worse off in lost foraging calories under elevated predation risk, heightened vigilance, and increased hiding time relative to an adult dolphin without calf. Further, hiding time in refuge could be more consequential than detection distance for both dolphin types in estimated costs and losses incurred. In conclusion, our study found that reproductive status is an important consideration in analyzing risk effects in mammals, especially in animals with lengthy lactation periods and those exposed to both biological and nonbiological stressors.
From population connectivity to the art of striping Russian dolls: the lessons from Pocillopora corals
Authors: Gélin Pauline , Fauvelot Cécile , Bigot Lionel , Baly Joseph , Magalon Hélène
Published: December 2017

Here, we examined the genetic variability in the coral genus Pocillopora, in particular within the Primary Species Hypothesis PSH09, identified by Gélin, Postaire, Fauvelot and Magalon (2017) using species delimitation methods [also named Pocillopora eydouxi/meandrina complex sensu, Schmidt‐Roach, Miller, Lundgren, & Andreakis (2014)] and which was found to split into three secondary species hypotheses (SSH09a, SSH09b, and SSH09c) according to assignment tests using multi‐locus genotypes (13 microsatellites). From a large sampling (2,507 colonies) achieved in three marine provinces [Western Indian Ocean (WIO), Tropical Southwestern Pacific (TSP), and Southeast Polynesia (SEP)], genetic structuring analysis conducted with two clustering analyses (Structure and DAPC) using 13 microsatellites revealed that SSH09a was restricted to the WIO while SSH09b and SSH09c were almost exclusively in the TSP and SEP. More surprisingly, each SSH split into two to three genetically differentiated clusters, found in sympatry at the reef scale, leading to a pattern of nested hierarchical levels (PSH > SSH > cluster), each level hiding highly differentiated genetic groups. Thus, rather than structured populations within a single species, these three SSHs, and even the eight clusters, likely represent distinct genetic lineages engaged in a speciation process or real species. The issue is now to understand which hierarchical level (SSH, cluster, or even below) corresponds to the species one. Several hypotheses are discussed on the processes leading to this pattern of mixed clusters in sympatry, evoking formation of reproductive barriers, either by allopatric speciation or habitat selection.
Community composition in mangrove ponds with pulsed hypoxic and acidified conditions
Authors: Gedan Keryn B. , Altieri Andrew H. , Feller Ilka , Burrell Rebecca , Breitburg Denise
Published: December 2017

The potential resilience of biological communities to accelerating rates of global change has received considerable attention. We suggest that some shallow aquatic ecosystems, where temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH can exhibit extreme variation on short timescales of hours or days, provide an opportunity to develop a mechanistic understanding of species persistence and community assembly under harsh environmental conditions. Extreme diel swings in DO and pH have been observed in eutrophic temperate ecosystems, and here, we describe a similar phenomenon consistently occurring across tropical sites that included relatively remote atolls on the Meso‐American barrier reefs in Belize and oligotrophic coastal lagoons in Panama. In particular, we documented large daily swings in temperature, DO, and pH within shallow ponds of Caribbean mangrove forests. Water in seven of 13 ponds went hypoxic (<2 mg/L DO) during the multiday sampling period, and pH dipped nightly to low levels, falling below 7.0 in some ponds. Minimum pH and minimum DO were correlated, and showed a similar relationship in Belize and Panama, suggesting a common mechanism produced diel cycles. Remarkably, most ponds exhibited high abundance of macroalgae, macroinvertebrates, and fish, despite potentially stressful abiotic conditions. Although fish diversity was negatively correlated with pH range, our overall results from the ponds suggest that many species are sufficiently resistant such that a functionally complex community can persist in the midst of pulsed stressful conditions. We propose that the mangrove ponds could serve as a model ecosystem for investigating resistance and resilience of coastal marine communities to global change factors such as climate change, hypoxia, and ocean acidification.
Bottom‐up processes mediated by social systems drive demographic traits of coral‐reef fishes
Authors: Taylor Brett M. , Brandl Simon J. , Kapur Maia , Robbins William D. , Johnson Garrett , Huveneers Charlie , Renaud Phil , Choat John Howard
Published: December 2017

Ectotherms exhibit considerable plasticity in their life‐history traits. This plasticity can reflect variability in environmental and social factors, but the causes of observed patterns are often obscured with increasing spatial scales. We surveyed dichromatic parrotfishes across the northern Great Barrier Reef to examine variation in body size distributions and concomitant size at sex change (L∆50) against hypotheses of directional influence from biotic and abiotic factors known to affect demography. By integrating top‐down, horizontal, and bottom‐up processes, we demonstrate a strong association between exposure regimes (which are known to influence nutritional ecology and mating systems) and both body size distribution and L∆50 (median length at female‐to‐male sex change), with an accompanying lack of strong empirical support for other biotic drivers previously hypothesized to affect body size distributions. Across sites, body size was predictably linked to variation in temperature and productivity, but the strongest predictor was whether subpopulations occurred at sheltered mid and inner shelf reefs or at wave‐exposed outer shelf reef systems. Upon accounting for the underlying influence of body size distribution, this habitat‐exposure gradient was highly associated with further L∆50 variation across species, demonstrating that differences in mating systems across exposure gradients affect the timing of sex change beyond variation concomitant with differing overall body sizes. We posit that exposure‐driven differences in habitat disturbance regimes have marked effects on the nutritional ecology of parrotfishes, leading to size‐related variation in mating systems, which underpin the observed patterns. Our results call for better integration of life‐history, social factors, and ecosystem processes to foster an improved understanding of complex ecosystems such as coral reefs.
The dimensionality of individual niche variation
Authors: Ingram Travis , Costa‐Pereira Raul , Araújo Márcio S.
Published: December 2017

The inherently multidimensional nature of the niche has not yet been integrated into the investigation of individual niche specialization within populations. We propose a framework for modeling the between‐ and within‐individual components of the population niche as a set of variance‐covariance matrices, which can be visualized with ellipses or ellipsoids. These niche components can be inferred using multiple response mixed models, and can incorporate diverse types of data, including diet composition, stable isotopes, spatial location, and other continuous measures of niche dimensions. We outline how considering both individual and population niches in multiple dimensions may enhance our understanding of key concepts in ecology and evolution. Considering multiple dimensions as well as the within‐individual component of variation can lead to more meaningful measures of niche overlap between species. The impact of a population on its food web or ecosystem can depend on the degree of individual variation (via Jensen's inequality), and we suggest how the dimensionality of individual specialization could amplify this effect. Finally, we draw from concepts in quantitative genetics and the study of animal personalities to propose new hypotheses about the ecological and evolutionary basis of niche shifts in multiple dimensions. We illustrate key ideas using empirical data from sea otters, wetland frogs, and threespine stickleback, and discuss outstanding questions about the consequences of multidimensional niche variation. Setting variation among individuals in an explicitly multivariate framework has the potential to transform our understanding of a range of ecological and evolutionary processes.
IL‐12/IL‐18‐preactivated donor NK cells enhance GVL effects and mitigate GvHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Song Yuan , Hu Bo , Liu Yonghao , Jin Ziqi , Zhang Yinsheng , Lin Dandan , Zhu Ying , Lei Lei , Gong Huanle , Mei Yu , Teo Huey Yee , Wu Depei , Liu Haiyan
Published: December 2017

Adoptive transfer of donor NK cells has the potential of mediating graft‐versus‐leukemia (GVL) effect while suppressing acute graft‐versus‐host‐disease (aGVHD) during allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT). However, these beneficial effects are limited by the transient function of adoptively transferred NK cells. Previous studies demonstrate that cytokine‐induced memory‐like NK cells that are preactivated by IL‐12, IL‐15, and IL‐18 have enhanced effector functions and long life span in vivo. Here, we investigated the effects of IL‐12/18‐preactivated and IL‐12/15/18‐preactivated donor NK cells on GVL and aGVHD in a murine model of allo‐HSCT. We found that both IL‐12/18‐ and IL‐12/15/18‐preactivated NK cells mediated stronger GVL effect than control NK cells mainly due to their elevated activation/cytotoxicity and sustained proliferative potential. Interestingly, we observed that although both IL‐12/18‐ and IL‐12/15/18‐preactivated NK cells significantly inhibited severe aGVHD, only the IL‐12/18‐preactivated NK cells maintained the beneficial effect of donor NK cells on mild aGVHD. The IL‐12/15/18‐preactivated NK cell infusion accelerated aGVHD in the fully‐mismatched mild aGVHD model. Our results demonstrated that IL‐12/18‐preactivated NK cells displayed sustained and enhanced GVL functions, and could mitigate aGVHD despite the severity of the disease. IL‐12/18‐preactivated donor NK cell infusion may be an effective and safe adoptive therapy after allo‐HSCT.
Synthesis of the Aglycon of the Antibiotic Disciformycin
Authors: Wolling Michael , Kirschning Andreas
Published: December 2017

The synthesis of the aglycon of disciformycin, a new secondary metabolite from Pyxidicoccus fallax, is reported. The disciformycins are highly potent antibiotics including inhibitory activity towards methicillin‐ and vancomycin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The stereocontrolled installation of the olefinic double bonds at C2–C3/C3–C4 and C12–C13, respectively, as well as the orthogonal differentiation of the oxy functionalities turned out to be key challenges of our approach.
Seismic drift demands in multi‐storey cross‐laminated timber buildings
Authors: Demirci Cagatay , Málaga‐Chuquitaype Christian , Macorini Lorenzo
Published: December 2017

This paper investigates the seismic response of multi‐storey cross‐laminated timber (CLT) buildings and its relationship with salient ground‐motion and building characteristics. Attention is given to the effects of earthquake frequency content on the inelastic deformation demands of platform CLT walled structures. The response of a set of 60 CLT buildings of varying number of storeys and panel fragmentation levels representative of a wide range of structural configurations subjected to 1656 real earthquake records is examined. It is shown that, besides salient structural parameters like panel aspect ratio, design behaviour factor, and density of joints, the frequency content of the earthquake action as characterized by its mean period has a paramount importance on the level of nonlinear deformations attained by CLT structures. Moreover, the evolution of drifts as a function of building to ground‐motion periods ratio is different for low‐ and high‐rise buildings. Accordingly, nonlinear regression models are developed for estimating the global and interstorey drifts demands on multi‐storey CLT buildings. Finally, the significance of the results is highlighted with reference to European seismic design procedures and recent assessment proposals.