bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toward an Abbasid History of Emotions: The Case of Slavery
Authors: Bray Julia
Published: January 2017

The idea that there can be histories of everything or anything has not yet taken root in the field of Islamic history, which is still dominated by political history. There has been a revival of women's history, and gender studies is flourishing, but these developments have brought about only one radical rethinking of mainstream narratives: Nadia Maria El Cheikh'sWomen, Islam, and Abbasid Identity, which argues that Abbasid society's construction of early Islam and of its own self-image is profoundly gendered, because “Women, gender relations, and sexuality are at the heart of the cultural construction of identity, as they are discursively used to fix moral boundaries and consolidate particularities and differences.”
Slavery in the Conquest Period
Authors: Robinson Chase F.
Published: January 2017

Abu ʿUbayda (d. 825) was amawlā(client) of Jewish descent who wrote prolifically about history, religion, and culture. As such, he exemplifies the well-known feature of early Islamic learning that is the Abbasid-eramawlāscholar. His grandfather was a freeborn convert, rather than the more common manumitted slave, and it happens that the grandfather's patron—his sponsor, as it were, for admission into Islamic society—was a slave trader named ʿUbayd Allah b. Maʿmar (d. ca. 665). And ʿUbayd Allah b. Maʿmar, on a conservative estimate, had purchased hundreds of slaves from ʿUmar b. al-Khattab, the caliph who, before his assassination by a slave, had presided over the explosive early phases of the Islamic conquests.
New Radiocarbon Ages of Luzia Woman, Lapa Vermelha IV Site, Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: Fontugne Michel
Published: January 2017

Luzia woman is considered one of the oldest Paleoindian skeletons found in the Americas. Luzia was found at the Lapa Vermelha IV site (Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais, Brazil) in 1975 by the archaeologist Annette Laming-Emperaire (1917–1977) who sent to the Gif laboratory charcoals collected in the vicinity of the skeleton for radiocarbon dating. Twenty-nine charcoal samples were dated from different levels of the stratigraphy of the cave (Délibrias et al. 1986). Recently, new charcoal samples were discovered within Laming-Emperaire's correspondence and were subsequently dated by the Saclay AMS laboratory. The new results confirm the age of Luzia; however, the ages correspond to the younger part of the interval: charcoals found near Luzia's skull give an age of 10,030 ± 6014C yr BP (11,243–11,710 cal BP).
Assessment of Interlaboratory Pretreatment Protocols by Radiocarbon Dating an Elk Bone Found Below Laacher See Tephra at Miesenheim IV (Rhineland, Germany)
Authors: Fiedel Stuart J , Southon John R , Taylor R E , Kuzmin Yaroslav V , Street Martin , Higham Thomas F G , van der Plicht Johannes , Nadeau Marie-Josée , Nalawade-Chavan Shweta
Published: January 2017

Four accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) facilities undertook an interlaboratory exercise designed to examine the reliability and reproducibility of radiocarbon determinations on bone by dating a sample of elk (Alces alces) from Miesenheim IV. This specimen is derived from a secure geological context directly beneath the Laacher See tephra, which provides a preciseterminus ante quernof ∼11,060 yr BP (∼13,050 cal yr BP). Regrettably, the results of the intercomparison exercise were complicated by evident contamination of the bone sample by exogenous organic material. This contaminant, probably humic acid, resulted in a wide span of ages (10,010 ± 30 to 11,100 ± 45 BP). The only method that yielded an accurate determination, consistent with the age of the tephra, was Oxford's single amino acid technique, which targets hydroxyproline. An acid hydrolysis step seems to have been crucial in breaking the bonds between the bone collagen and the contaminant.
Radiocarbon Concentration in Annual Tree Rings from the Salamanca Region, Western Spain
Authors: Rakowski Andrzej Z , Nakamura Toshio , Pazdur Anna , Meadows John
Published: January 2017

Tree-ring samples were taken from a from a pine tree (Pinus pinea) growing in Villar de Peralonso, a rural area 50 km west of the city of Salamanca, Spain. All samples were processed to extract α-cellulose and the radiocarbon concentration in each annual ring was measured using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) at the University of Nagoya, Japan. The data set covers a growth period between 1979 and 2006, and represents the concentrations of 14C in a “clean area.” The average difference between 14C concentrations in Villar de Peralonso and NH zone 1 for the period 1979–1999 is 4.1 ± 1.3%. A sample was taken to obtain the reference level of 14C for the Iberian Peninsula, for a study of anthropogenic emission of CO2 in urban areas. As part of the initial study, 14C concentration data in tree rings from the city of Valladolid were used to recalculate the fossil fuel component (cfoss) using reference data from Villar de Peralonso.
δ13Cp Values from Radiocarbon-Dated Plant Matter as an Important but Underexploited Resource for Terrestrial Paleoclimate Analysis and Archaeology
Authors: Drake Brandon L
Published: January 2017

Variation in stable carbon isotope ratios in C3 plants can be influenced by climatic and environmental factors. For archaeologists, who regularly collect the measured values of these data as a part of the radiocarbon date reporting process, there is promise in using these data to create a local record of paleoclimatic change relevant to their study areas. Plant Δ13C can be expressed as δ13C values (carbon isotopic discrimination) that can be used in modern experimental studies for stronger paleoclimatic/paleoenvironmental interpretations. As values of Δ13C vary in different species, taxonomic information is necessary for interpretation. In the present study, a record of Irish oak δ13C data are used to construct a local climate history for Ireland. Wetter periods in Ireland inferred from δ13C data correspond to warmer Northern Hemisphere temperatures, in agreement with climate models. Values of δ13C from other species are used to illustrate the importance of using data from taxa with known relationships between climate and stable carbon isotope fractionation.
The ANSTO Isotope Cycling System
Authors: Watt G C , Boronkay S , Smith A M , Hotchkis M A C
Published: January 2017

A number of electronic systems are used on the ANTARES accelerator at ANSTO to implement its fast cycling accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) capability. The fast cycling system was originally installed and commissioned in 1993 and has recently been updated. This paper describes the more significant of the electronic systems, such as the controller (“sequencer”), the high-voltage power supply (“bouncer”), the fast electrostatic beam chopper, and those used for measurement of the pulsed ion beam current. The sequencer, a programmable 15-bit digital pulse generator, generates the timing and sequencing of the control signals for bouncing voltage selection, beam chopping, Faraday cup current measurement, and rare isotope event measurement. The new sequencer is implemented using a National Instruments FPGA (field programmable gate array) card, programmed using LabVIEW 2010. This device has the benefits of host CPU-independent operation, simple interfacing (PCI), a small footprint, off-the-shelf availability at modest cost, and ease of functionality upgrade. The sequencer provides 15 synchronous digital signals, whose “on” and “off” transitions can be independently specified, in both number and time, with a time resolution of between 0.5 and 128 μs, and with the total duration between repetitions adjustable between 65.5 ms and 8.4 s per cycle. It is hosted by a generic PC because of the low-cost and ubiquity of these. The stand-alone FPGA-based approach ensures that the sequencer determinism is unaffected by processes executing in the host CPU.
A New UV Oxidation Setup for Small Radiocarbon Samples in Solution
Authors: Steier Peter , Fasching Christina , Mair Klaus , Liebl Jakob , Battin Tom , Priller Alfred , Golser Robin
Published: January 2017

The requirements of extracting minute amounts of organic carbon in solution with high yield and minimum background are a prerequisite for radiocarbon dating of microgram amounts of carbon. Samples for biomedical or environmental research often arrive at the accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) lab as concentrates dissolved in 1 mL of water or less. We have developed a new extraction method based on photo-oxidation by ultraviolet (UV) light. The solution is transferred into UV-transparent quartz vials with a head volume of pure oxygen and UV from low-pressure mercury discharge lamps is applied. To exclude the introduction of carbon background, we avoid any additional oxidizing agents. Under these conditions, only the 185 nm line is considered effective. To characterize the yield and the background, we have investigated artificial samples prepared from different materials. The setup developed allows parallel oxidation of 9 samples within typically 2 hr, connected directly to our graphitization setup for extremely small samples. The method was applied successfully for a study on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in ice from 26 Austrian glaciers. A special advantage of the UV oxidation method in this case was that phosphoric acid could be used to remove carbonates, while its low vapor pressure prevented complete lyophilization. We see the most promising field of application in biomed research and compound-specific analysis.
A Study on Trapping CO2 Using Molecular Sieve for 14C AMS Sample Preparation
Authors: Choe Kyumin , Song Sujin , Lee Jang Hoon , Song Young Mi , Kang Jin , Yun Myoung-ho , Kim Jong Chan
Published: January 2017

At the Seoul National University accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) laboratory, we are planning to develop an automated sample preparation system for higher throughput of radiocarbon dating. This system will consist of several sections, including a combustion line, CO2 trap, graphitization system, and so on. We usually collect CO2 by cryogenic trapping. However, since handling liquid nitrogen is expected to be rather difficult, we are interested in replacing the cryogenic method with the molecular sieve method for the collection of CO2. In this study, we compare the performance of the cryogenic trapping method and molecular sieve method. Zeolite 13X is used as a molecular sieve, and as test samples we use the oxalic acid standard (NIST SRM 4990C), high-purity graphite powder, and archaeological charcoals. The pMC values and the radiocarbon ages (BP) obtained from samples prepared by the above 2 methods are very similar. We especially focused on the memory effect of the molecular sieve, meaning the CO2 contamination from a previous sample, which can cause errors in age determination. To reduce this effect, we flowed He gas through a zeolite container for several minutes at a high temperature before the CO2 was introduced. By the adding this step, we have obtained more reliable results.
14C Dating of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) in Loess-Paleosol Using Sequential Pyrolysis and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS)
Authors: Cheng Peng , Zhou Weijian , Wang Hong , Lu Xuefeng , Du Hua
Published: January 2017

The chemical extraction of soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions from soils often does not produce satisfactory results for radiocarbon dating. In this study, a sequential pyrolysis technique was investigated. The soil was pyrolyzed at temperatures of 200, 400, 600, and 800 °C to partition organic carbon into pyrolytic volatile (Py-V) and pyrolytic residue (Py-R) fractions. The preliminary results show that the 14C dates of both fractions become progressively older as the pyrolysis temperature is increased. In addition, the ages of the Py-V fractions are consistently younger than the corresponding Py-R fractions extracted at the same temperature. Experimental results of known-age paleosol samples indicate that the Py-V fractions obtained between 600 and 800 °C yield the most reliable ages. This technique provides a new approach to improve the accuracy of 14C dating of loess-paleosol sequences.
Extraction of Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) from Seawater Samples at CEDAD: Results of an Intercomparison Exercise on Samples from Adriatic Sea Shallow Water
Authors: Macchia M , D'Elia M , Quarta G , Gaballo V , Braione E , Maruccio L , Calcagnile L , Ciceri G , Martinotti V , Wacker L
Published: January 2017

A dedicated sample processing line for the extraction of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) from seawater and groundwater for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon analysis has been developed at CEDAD, the Center for Dating and Diagnostic of the University of Salento, Lecce, Italy. The features of the new system are presented together with tests carried out to determine its functionality and background levels. The first results obtained at CEDAD for analyzing seawater samples taken from the Northern Adriatic compare well with results obtained for the same samples analyzed at ETH Zurich.
Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Modeling in the Context of Releases of 14C as a Consequence of Nuclear Activities
Authors: Limer Laura , Klos Ryk , Walke Russell , Shaw George , Nordén Maria , Xu Shulan
Published: January 2017

The need to address radiological impacts from radiocarbon released to the biosphere has been recognized for some time. In 2011, the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) commissioned a study to develop a 14C model of the soil-plant-atmosphere system that would provide them with an independently developed assessment capability. This paper summarizes that study, which comprised a review of contemporary models, the development of a new conceptual model, SSPAM14C, and the application of SSPAM14C to a set of experimental data relating to the atmospheric exposure of cabbages.
Dendrochronological Potential ofFraxinus Uhdeiand Its Use as Bioindicator of Fossil CO2Emissions Deduced from Radiocarbon Concentrations in Tree Rings
Authors: Beramendi-Orosco Laura E , Hernandez-Morales Sergio , Gonzalez-Hernandez Galia , Constante-Garcia Vicenta , Villanueva-Diaz Jose
Published: January 2017

Dendrochronological studies are limited in tropical regions because not many tree species form annual growth rings. This work reports an evaluation of the dendrochronological potential of tropical ash (Fraxinus uhdei) and its use as a bioindicator of fossil CO2concentration in urban areas by means of radiocarbon analysis on growth rings. We analyzed a cross-section of a tree that grew during the period 1932–2007 in San Luis Potosí, one of the most industrialized cities in Mexico. The Δ14C values obtained follow the same variation pattern as the calibration curve of the Northern Hemisphere (NH) zone 2 (Hua and Barbetti 2004), with the peak centered in 1964, but they are lower by up to 124′. The high correlation coefficient (r= 0.990,p< 0.001) between the variation patterns indicates that this species does form annual growth rings, and the lower values can be attributed to the14C dilution caused by fossil CO2emissions. The magnitude of the Suess effect varied between −6.9% and −0.5%, equivalent to fossil CO2concentrations ranging between 21.9 and 1.5 ppmv. The Suess effect and fossil CO2values have significant variations with no apparent monotone increasing trend, suggesting that the CO2emissions during the studied period have diverse sources. It is concluded thatF. uhdeihas potential for dendrochronological studies in tropical areas because its growth rings are formed annually and, furthermore, it can be used as a bioindicator of atmospheric14C variations and fossil CO2concentration in urban areas.
Radiocarbon Variability in Groundwater in an Extremely Arid Zone—The Arava Valley, Israel
Authors: Burg Avihu , Zilberbrand Michael , Yechieli Yoseph
Published: January 2017

Radiocarbon values of groundwater in main aquifers of the extremely arid Negev Desert and the Arava Valley, southern Israel, are used for studying the underground flow regime, particularly the complex connections between different aquifers and mixing of water bodies. The study shows that 14C can serve as a hydrological tracer in arid environments and that groundwater dating may be possible (although not very accurate) even in this extremely arid environment (precipitation, <50 mm/yr), where there is almost no vegetation. There are several aquifers in this region, some of which are deep (deeper than 500 m) and regional and contain mainly fossil water, while others are local and restricted to the Arava, much shallower (50–200 m) and are thought to contain historical to recent waters. Most of the current recharge to these shallow unconsolidated aquifers comes from flash floods that flow from the mountains rising on both sides of the valley. The groundwater in the deep aquifers has low 14C values (usually <5 pMC), implying old ages (preliminary ages >26,000 yr). Groundwater in the shallow aquifers characterized by higher 14C values (up to 60–70 pMC) imply younger ages and faster groundwater flow (recent recharge). This is also supported by the presence of tritium in some of the samples. A few exceptional values are explained by the unique mixing of water from different sources; another is due to a technical failure in the well.
Refining the Sarliève Paleolake (France) Neolithic Chronology by Combining Several Radiocarbon Approaches
Authors: Hatté Christine , Bréhéret Jean-Gabriel , Jacob Jérémy , Argant Jacqueline , Macaire Jean-Jacques
Published: January 2017

Dating sedimentary series spanning the past few tens of thousands of years is often problematic due to the quality of radiocarbon data obtained from organic matter (OM), including bulk OM. This problem recently arose when establishing the chronology of a sediment infill at the Sarliève paleolake (French Massif Central). In the studied section of the cores that covers the Neolithic, Ruppia seeds yielded consistent ages for the lower part (7195 ± 75 to 6050 ± 60 yr BP). A reservoir age of 82 ± 42 14C yr was estimated through the comparison of ages derived from charcoal, Ruppia seeds, and charophyte oogonia sampled on a single level. The upper part of the cores lacks macrofossils and bulk OM dating yields unusable data because of a significant contribution of aged OM derived from the Oligocene substratum in the catchment. We therefore performed dating of lipids extracted from the sediments. The age of the lipids was 2880 ± 30 yr BP near the top of the section, i.e. much younger than the age estimated from previous correlations based on pollen assemblages. These new data call into question previous paleoenvironmental interpretations. The combined dating methodology used for the Neolithic series of Sarliève is a rather uncommon approach that may help to refine chronologies of Holocene sedimentary series.
Origin of Subsoil Carbon in a Chinese Paddy Soil Chronosequence
Authors: Bräuer Tino , Grootes Pieter M , Nadeau Marie-Josée
Published: January 2017

Rice paddies are highly important agricultural soils in view of their relevance as major staple food provider in the world and their key role in the global carbon cycle, caused by special management practices. A soil chronosequence, consisting of paddy and upland soils, developed on reclaimed estuarine sediments in the Province of Zhejiang, China, was sampled to investigate the influence of duration of agricultural use (50 to 2000 yr) on soil composition. The uniform composition of the parent material provides the unique opportunity to compare the effects of different land management practices (paddy and non-paddy) on soil carbon dynamics and the origin of organic carbon (OC) in top- and subsoils, using 14C measurements by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The total soil organic carbon (TOC) was split into chemically defined pools of different mobility, namely the acid- and water-soluble fulvic acids (FA), the alkali-soluble humic acids (HA), and insoluble humin fraction. The more mobile HA and FA fractions contain significantly more 14C than the corresponding TOC and humin, indicating a downward transport of OC in the subsoil. Plant roots with 14C concentrations up to 128% of the modern standard, found far below the plough pan, reveal plant roots and root exudates as other direct sources of subsoil OC in paddy soils.
Dentate gyrus and hilar region revisited
Authors: Houghton Conor
Published: January 2017

It is suggested that the dentate gyrus and hilar region in the hippocampus perform memory selection and that the selectivity of the gating of memory by this circuit is modulated by the norepinephrine–glutamate loop described by Mather et al.
The weakened Weibel instability of collimated fast electron beam in nanotube array
Authors: Liao L. , Zhao R. , Bie Y. , Zhang H. , Hu C.
Published: January 2017

The Weibel instability of the collimated MeV fast electron beams in a nanotube array target is researched in this work. It is found that the filamentation of the fast electrons is significantly suppressed. When fast electrons propagate the nanotube array, a strong magnetic field is created near the surface of tubes to obstruct the transverse movement of the fast electrons and bend them into the inner vacuum spaces between the successive tubes. In consequence, the positive feedback loop between the magnetic field perturbation and the electrons density perturbation is broken and the Weibel instability is thus weakened. Furthermore, the calculated results by a hybrid particle-in-cell code have also proven this weakening effect on the Weibel instability. Because of the high-energy density delivered by the MeV electrons, these results indicate some significant applications in the high-energy physics, such as radiography, fast-electron beam focusing, and perhaps fast ignition.
A Novel Approach for Pathway Analysis of GWAS Data Highlights Role of BMP Signaling and Muscle Cell Differentiation in Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility
Authors: Mishra Aniket , MacGregor Stuart
Published: January 2017

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revolutionized the field of gene mapping. As the GWAS field matures, it is becoming clear that for many complex traits, a proportion of the missing heritability is attributable to common variants of individually small effect. Detecting these small effects individually can be difficult, and statistical power would be increased if relevant variants could be grouped together for testing. Here, we propose a VEGAS2Pathway approach that aggregates association strength of individual markers into pre-specified biological pathways. It accounts for gene size and linkage disequilibrium between markers using simulations from the multivariate normal distribution. Pathway size is taken into account via a resampling approach. Importantly, since the approach only requires summary data, the method can easily be applied in all GWASs, including meta-analysis, singleton-based, family-based, and DNA-pooling-based designs. This approach is implemented in a user-friendly web page https://vegas2.qimrberghofer.edu.au and a command line tool. The web implementation uses gene-sets from the gene ontology (GO), curated gene-sets from MSigDB (containing canonical pathways and gene-sets from BIOCARTA, REACTOME, KEGG databases), PANTHER, and pathway commons databases, enabling analysis of a wide range of complex traits. We applied this method on a colorectal cancer GWAS meta-analysis data set (10,934 cases, 12,328 controls) from the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium (GECCO). We report statistically significant enrichment of association signal for the ‘BMP signaling’ and ‘muscle cell differentiation’ pathways, suggesting a possible role for these pathways onto the risk of colorectal cancer.
Embracing the gut microbiota: the new frontier for inflammatory and infectious diseases
Authors: van den Elsen Lieke WJ , Poyntz Hazel C , Weyrich Laura S , Young Wayne , Forbes‐Blom Elizabeth E
Published: January 2017

The gut microbiota provides essential signals for the development and appropriate function of the immune system. Through this critical contribution to immune fitness, the gut microbiota has a key role in health and disease. Recent advances in the technological applications to study microbial communities and their functions have contributed to a rapid increase in host–microbiota research. Although it still remains difficult to define a so‐called ‘normal’ or ‘healthy’ microbial composition, alterations in the gut microbiota have been shown to influence the susceptibility of the host to different diseases. Current translational research combined with recent technological and computational advances have enabled in‐depth study of the link between microbial composition and immune function, addressing the interplay between the gut microbiota and immune responses. As such, beneficial modulation of the gut microbiota is a promising clinical target for many prevalent diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic abnormalities such as obesity, reduced insulin sensitivity and low‐grade inflammation, allergy and protective immunity against infections.
Phylogenomics of Rhodobacteraceae reveals evolutionary adaptation to marine and non-marine habitats
Authors: Simon Meinhard , Scheuner Carmen , Meier-Kolthoff Jan P , Brinkhoff Thorsten , Wagner-Döbler Irene , Ulbrich Marcus , Klenk Hans-Peter , Schomburg Dietmar , Petersen Jörn , Göker Markus
Published: January 2017

Marine Rhodobacteraceae (Alphaproteobacteria) are key players of biogeochemical cycling, comprise up to 30% of bacterial communities in pelagic environments and are often mutualists of eukaryotes. As ‘Roseobacter clade’, these ‘roseobacters’ are assumed to be monophyletic, but non-marine Rhodobacteraceae have not yet been included in phylogenomic analyses. Therefore, we analysed 106 genome sequences, particularly emphasizing gene sampling and its effect on phylogenetic stability, and investigated relationships between marine versus non-marine habitat, evolutionary origin and genomic adaptations. Our analyses, providing no unequivocal evidence for the monophyly of roseobacters, indicate several shifts between marine and non-marine habitats that occurred independently and were accompanied by characteristic changes in genomic content of orthologs, enzymes and metabolic pathways. Non-marine Rhodobacteraceae gained high-affinity transporters to cope with much lower sulphate concentrations and lost genes related to the reduced sodium chloride and organohalogen concentrations in their habitats. Marine Rhodobacteraceae gained genes required for fucoidan desulphonation and synthesis of the plant hormone indole 3-acetic acid and the compatible solutes ectoin and carnitin. However, neither plasmid composition, even though typical for the family, nor the degree of oligotrophy shows a systematic difference between marine and non-marine Rhodobacteraceae. We suggest the operational term ‘Roseobacter group’ for the marine Rhodobacteraceae strains.
A robust and tuneable mid-infrared optical switch enabled by bulk Dirac fermions
Authors: Zhu Chunhui , Wang Fengqiu , Meng Yafei , Yuan Xiang , Xiu Faxian , Luo Hongyu , Wang Yazhou , Li Jianfeng , Lv Xinjie , He Liang , Xu Yongbing , Liu Junfeng , Zhang Chao , Shi Yi , Zhang Rong , Zhu Shining
Published: January 2017

Pulsed lasers operating in the mid-infrared (3–20 μm) are important for a wide range of applications in sensing, spectroscopy, imaging and communications. Despite recent advances with mid-infrared gain platforms, the lack of a capable pulse generation mechanism remains a significant technological challenge. Here we show that bulk Dirac fermions in molecular beam epitaxy grown crystalline Cd3As2, a three-dimensional topological Dirac semimetal, constitutes an exceptional ultrafast optical switching mechanism for the mid-infrared. Significantly, we show robust and effective tuning of the scattering channels of Dirac fermions via an element doping approach, where photocarrier relaxation times are found flexibly controlled over an order of magnitude (from 8 ps to 800 fs at 4.5 μm). Our findings reveal the strong impact of Cr doping on ultrafast optical properties in Cd3As2 and open up the long sought parameter space crucial for the development of compact and high-performance mid-infrared ultrafast sources.
Rapid adaptive phenotypic change following colonization of a newly restored habitat
Authors: Lo Cascio Sætre Camilla , Coleiro Charles , Austad Martin , Gauci Mark , Sætre Glenn-Peter , Voje Kjetil Lysne , Eroukhmanoff Fabrice
Published: January 2017

Real-time observation of adaptive evolution in the wild is rare and limited to cases of marked, often anthropogenic, environmental change. Here we present the case of a small population of reed warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) over a period of 19 years (1996–2014) after colonizing a restored wetland habitat in Malta. Our data show a population decrease in body mass, following a trajectory consistent with a population ascending an adaptive peak, a so-called Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process. We corroborate these findings with genetic and ecological data, revealing that individual survival is correlated with body mass, and more than half of the variation in mean population fitness is explained by variation in body mass. Despite a small effective population size, an adaptive response has taken place within a decade. A founder event from a large, genetically variable source population to the southern range margin of the reed warbler distribution likely facilitated this process.
Selective gating to vibrational modes through resonant X-ray scattering
Authors: Couto Rafael C. , Cruz Vinícius V. , Ertan Emelie , Eckert Sebastian , Fondell Mattis , Dantz Marcus , Kennedy Brian , Schmitt Thorsten , Pietzsch Annette , Guimarães Freddy F. , Ågren Hans , Gel’mukhanov Faris , Odelius Michael , Kimberg Victor , Föhlisch Alexander
Published: January 2017

The dynamics of fragmentation and vibration of molecular systems with a large number of coupled degrees of freedom are key aspects for understanding chemical reactivity and properties. Here we present a resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) study to show how it is possible to break down such a complex multidimensional problem into elementary components. Local multimode nuclear wave packets created by X-ray excitation to different core-excited potential energy surfaces (PESs) will act as spatial gates to selectively probe the particular ground-state vibrational modes and, hence, the PES along these modes. We demonstrate this principle by combining ultra-high resolution RIXS measurements for gas-phase water with state-of-the-art simulations.
Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding Among Dabigatran Users – A Self Controlled Case Series Analysis
Authors: Tang Wenze , Chang Hsien-Yen , Zhou Meijia , Singh Sonal
Published: January 2017

This article aims to evaluate the real world risk of gastrointestinal bleeding among users naïve to dabigatran. We adopted a self-controlled case series design. We sampled 1215 eligible adult participants who were continuous insured users between July 1, 2010 and March 31, 2012 with use of dabigatran and at least one gastrointestinal bleeding episode. We used a conditional Poisson regression to estimate incidence rate ratios. The population consisted of 64.69% of male and 60.25% patients equal to or greater than age 65 at start of observation. After adjustment for time-variant confounders, the incidence rate of gastrointestinal bleeding was similar during dabigatran risk period and non-exposed period (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.90, 1.15). There was no significant difference in GI incidence rate between periods of dabigatran and warfarin (IRR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.75–1.31). Among this database of young and healthy participants, dabigatran was not associated with increased incidence rate of GI bleeding compared with non-exposed period among naïve dabigatran users. We did not detect an increased risk of GI bleeding over dabigatran vs warfarin risk period. Along with other studies on safety and effectiveness, this study should help clinicians choose the appropriate anticoagulant for their patients.
The association of bacterial C9-based TTX-like compounds with Prorocentrum minimum opens new uncertainties about shellfish seafood safety
Authors: Rodríguez Inés , Alfonso Amparo , Alonso Eva , Rubiolo Juan A. , Roel María , Vlamis Aristidis , Katikou Panagiota , Jackson Stephen A. , Menon Margassery Lekha , Dobson Alan , Botana Luis M.
Published: January 2017

In 2012, Tetrodotoxin (TTX) was identified in mussels and linked to the presence of Prorocentrum minimum (P. minimum) in Greece. The connexion between TTX and P. minimum was further studied in this paper. First, the presence of TTX-producer bacteria, Vibrio and Pseudomonas spp, was confirmed in Greek mussels. In addition these samples showed high activity as inhibitors of sodium currents (INa). P. minimum was before associated with neurotoxic symptoms, however, the nature and structure of toxins produced by this dinoflagellate remains unknown. Three P. minimum strains, ccmp1529, ccmp2811 and ccmp2956, growing in different conditions of temperature, salinity and light were used to study the production of toxic compounds. Electrophysiological assays showed no effect of ccmp2811 strain on INa, while ccmp1529 and ccmp2956 strains were able to significantly reduce INa in the same way as TTX. In these samples two new compounds, m/z 265 and m/z 308, were identified and characterized by liquid chromatography tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry. Besides, two TTX-related bacteria, Roseobacter and Vibrio sp, were observed. These results show for the first time that P. minimum produce TTX-like compounds with a similar ion pattern and C9-base to TTX analogues and with the same effect on INa.
Insecticidal toxicities of carvacrol and thymol derived from Thymus vulgaris Lin. against Pochazia shantungensis Chou & Lu., newly recorded pest
Authors: Park Jun-Hwan , Jeon Ye-Jin , Lee Chi-Hoon , Chung Namhyun , Lee Hoi-Seon
Published: January 2017

The insecticidal toxicities of five essential oils against Pochazia shantungensis adults and nymphs, newly recorded pests, were evaluated. The LC50 values of Thymus vulgaris, Ruta graveolens, Citrus aurantium, Leptospermum petersonii and Achillea millefolium oils were recorded as 57.48, 84.44, 92.58, 113.26 and 125.78 mg/L, respectively, against P. shantungensis nymphs using the leaf dipping bioassay, and 75.80, 109.86, 113.26, 145.06 and 153.74 mg/L, respectively, against P. shantungensis adults using the spray bioassay method. Regarding volatile components identified in T. vulgaris oil, the LC50 values of carvacrol and thymol using the leaf dipping bioassay against P. shantungensis nymphs were 56.74 and 28.52 mg/L, respectively. The insecticidal action of T. vulgaris oil against P. shantungensis could be attributed to carvacrol and thymol. Based on the structure-toxicity relationship between thymol analogs and insecticidal toxicities against P. shantungensis nymphs similar to the LC50 values against P. shantungensis adults, the LC50 values of thymol, carvacrol, citral, 2-isopropylphenol, 3-isopropylphenol, and 4-isopropylphenol were 28.52, 56.74 and 89.12, 71.41, 82.49, and 111.28 mg/L, respectively. These results indicate that the insecticidal mode of action of thymol analogs may be largely attributed to the methyl functional group. Thymol analogues have promising potential as first-choice insecticides against P. shantungensis adults and nymphs.
Broadband unidirectional behavior of electromagnetic waves based on transformation optics
Authors: Zang XiaoFei , Zhu YiMing , Ji XueBin , Chen Lin , Hu Qing , Zhuang SongLin
Published: January 2017

High directive antennas are fundamental elements for microwave communication and information processing. Here, inspired by the method of transformation optics, we propose and demonstrate a transformation medium to control the transmission path of a point source, resulting in the unidirectional behavior of electromagnetic waves (directional emitter) without any reflectors. The network of inductor-capacitor transmission lines is designed to experimentally realize the transformation medium. Furthermore, the designed device can work in a broadband frequency range. The unidirectional-manner-based device demonstrated in this work will be an important step forward in developing a new type of directive antennas.
Effect of gallium environment on infrared emission in Er3+-doped gallium– antimony– sulfur glasses
Authors: Jiao Qing , Li Ge , Li Lini , Lin Changgui , Wang Guoxiang , Liu Zijun , Dai Shixun , Xu Tiefeng , Zhang Qinyuan
Published: January 2017

Gallium-based Ga–Sb–S sulfide glasses was elaborated and studied. A relationship between the structure, composition, and optical properties of the glass has been established. The effects of the introduction of Ga on the structure using infrared and Raman spectroscopies and on the Er3+-doped IR emission have been discussed. The results show that incorporation of Ga induced the dissociation of [SbS3] pyramids units and the formation of tetrahedral [GaS4] units. The dissolved rare earth ions are separated around the Ga–S bonding and the infrared emission quenching are controlled. Moreover, continuous introduction of Er ions into the glass forms more Er–S bonds through the further aggregation surrounding the [GaS4] units. In return, the infrared emission intensity decreased with excessive Er ion addition. This phenomenon is correlated with the recurrence concentration quenching effect induced by the increase of [GaS4] units.
Contribution of the phenolic composition to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor potential of Equisetum giganteum L. and Tilia platyphyllos Scop.
Authors: Jabeur Inés , Martins Natália , Barros Lillian , Calhelha Ricardo C. , Vaz Josiana , Achour Lotfi , Santos-Buelga Celestino , Ferreira Isabel C. F. R.
Published: January 2017

Naturally-occurring phytochemicals have received pivotal attention in the last few years, due to the increasing evidence of biological activities.
Phosphoric acid recovery from concentrated aqueous feeds by a mixture of di-isopropyl ether (DiPE) and tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP): extraction data and modelling
Authors: Assuncao M. Campos , Cote G. , Andre M. , Halleux H. , Chagnes A.
Published: January 2017

This paper reports experimental data and modelling about the extraction of H3PO4 from concentrated aqueous feeds (3 to 14 M) by the mixture of DiPE and TBP at 25 °C: distribution ratios of H3PO4 and water, and associated change of phase volume ratio.
Ionicity and birefringence of α-LiNH4SO4crystals: ab initio DFT study, X-ray spectroscopy measurements
Authors: Rudysh M. Ya. , Brik M. G. , Khyzhun O. Y. , Fedorchuk A. O. , Kityk I. V. , Shchepanskyi P. A. , Stadnyk V. Yo. , Lakshminarayana G. , Brezvin R. S. , Bak Z. , Piasecki M.
Published: January 2017

The structural, electronic properties and ionicity of the α-LiNH4SO4dielectric crystals are examined using a complex approach: experimental studies of X-ray spectroscopy and the first principles band structure techniques within a framework of DFT.
A smart NIR fluorescent probe for the highly selective detection of palladium
Authors: Tan Hui-ya , Liu Jing-gong , Zhou Lin-fu , Li Yu-kun , Yan Jin-wu , Zhang Lei
Published: January 2017

A tailor-made colorimetric and NIR fluorescent probe for Pd0 was developed by introducing allyl chloroformate into the methylene blue (MB) fluorophore.
Long wavelength excitable near-infrared fluorescent nanoparticles with aggregation-induced emission characteristics for image-guided tumor resection
Authors: Liu Jie , Chen Chao , Ji Shenglu , Liu Qian , Ding Dan , Zhao Dan , Liu Bin
Published: January 2017

Two series of long wavelength excitable near infrared (NIR) fluorescent molecules with aggregation-induced emission characteristics are developed to prepare NIR AIE nanoparticles for accurate tumor detection and image-guided tumor resection.
Optimization in structure population models through the Escalator Boxcar Train
Authors: Colombo Rinaldo M. , Gwiazda Piotr , Rosińska Magdalena
Published: January 2017

The Escalator Boxcar Train (EBT) is a tool widely used in the study of balance laws motivated by structure population dynamics. This paper proves that the approximate solutions defined through the EBT converge to exact solutions. Moreover, this method is rigorously shown to be effective also in computing optimal controls. As preliminary results, the well posedness of classes of PDEs and of ODEs comprising various biological models is also obtained. A specific application to welfare policies illustrates the whole procedure.
A comparative study of the filamentation and two-stream instabilities in weakly relativistic counter-streaming plasmas
Authors: Ghorbanalilu M. , Sadegzadeh S.
Published: January 2017

Counter-streaming plasma structures are ubiquitous in astrophysical sources of non-thermal radiations. We discuss the dispersion properties and the stability of this non-thermal particle distribution, which is modeled on the basis of the relativistic Jüttner-Maxwell distribution function in the correct laboratory frame of reference. In this work, we aim to construct analytical solutions of the dispersion relations and investigate the properties of the growth rate of the filamentation and two-stream instabilities in an unmagnetized and homogeneous counter-propagating plasma. The Maxwell and the relativistic Vlasov equations are used to derive the covariant dispersion relations that are valid in any (conveniently chosen) reference frame. Aperiodic solutions (ℜ(ω)≃0) to the covariant dispersion relations of the growing modes (ℑ(ω)>0) are demonstrated with the aid of analytical calculations. The dependence of the growth rate on the normalized bulk velocity β0=V0/c and thermal parameter μ=mc2/KBT is shown in graphic illustrations. We found that for both kinds of instabilities, growth rates are decreased by increasing the temperature and decreasing the bulk velocity. Therefore, the electrons at sufficiently low temperatures and with relativistic streams are capable of increasing the range of unstable wave numbers and consequently prevent the instability to cease at small wave numbers. The results indicate that under the same condition and in contrast to the non-relativistic regime, the filamentation instability has the largest growth rate and the electrostatic two-stream instability is in the next place.
Behavioural adjustments of wild-caught kangaroos to captivity
Authors: Munn A. J. , Phelan S. , Rigby M. , Roberts J. A.
Published: January 2017

It is important to understand how wild-caught animals may respond to captivity, and whether their behaviours in captivity are reflective of their wild counterparts. We observed the behaviour of wild-caught western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) and red kangaroos (Osphranter rufus; formerly M. rufus) that were transferred to a large naturally vegetated enclosure. Observations were made on the first day of captivity and again after 7–10 days, and were compared with the behaviour of free-living kangaroos at the same locality and over the same period. We quantified feeding, moving, grooming and non-alert behaviours. Of these, grooming was higher in captive kangaroos than in free-living animals on the first day of captivity only, and was no different to that of wild animal by 7–10 days’ captivity. Such self-directed behaviour may be indicative of heightened distress for kangaroos on the first day of captivity, but it may also be indicative of grooming to eliminate contamination of human smells or debris following capture by darting and recovery. Overall, our findings indicate that after a short period of captivity, wild-caught kangaroos adjust to a novel environment relatively quickly, and animals from each species showed behaviour patterns comparable with free-ranging counterparts within 7–10 days after capture and captivity.
UNUSUAL SEROUS RETINAL DETACHMENT IN A PATIENT WITH WALDENSTROM MACROGLOBULINEMIA: A CASE REPORT
Authors: Lin Albert B. , Sheyman Alan T. , Jampol Lee M.
Published: January 2017

Background/Purpose:

To report an unusual appearance of severe bilateral serous detachments in a patient with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.

Methods:

A case report of a Fifty-six–year-old female patient with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.

Results:

A patient with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia presented with serous retinal detachments at the time of diagnosis with Waldenstrom. The patient's IgM levels remained abnormally elevated in the initial stages of her disease course, leading to dramatic ocular findings and images on optical coherence tomography. Chemotherapy was initiated and IgM levels slowly declined, with some improvement in macular fluid as IgM normalized.

Conclusion:

Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia may lead to dramatic retinal pathology if IgM levels remain elevated. Prompt chemotherapy and reduction of immunoglobulin levels should be undertaken to preserve retinal architecture.
Mutation of a palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC18-like gene is responsible for the minute wing mutation in the silkworm (Bombyx mori)
Authors: Yu Ye , Liu Xiaojing , Ma Xiao , Zhang Zhongjie , Liu Na , Hou Chengxiang , Li Muwang
Published: January 2017

Pulpal- and adult-stage minute wing (mw) mutants of the silkwormBombyx morihave much smaller wings than those of the wild type. Herein, we report the genetic and molecular mechanisms underling the formation of the minute wing. Fine mapping and positional cloning revealed that a palmitoyltransferaseZDHHC18-likegene (BmAPP）was responsible for themwmutation. CRISPR/Cas9 screening of theBmAPPgene in wild-type embryos revealed that a significant proportion of adults had themwmutation. In anmwmutant strain, u11, a 10-bp insertion in the promoter of a novel gene resulted in low-level translation of a protein belonging to the DHHC family. A PiggyBac-based transgenic analysis showed that the promoter induced the expression of aBmAPPgene promoter in the wild type but not themwmutant. These findings indicate that functional deletion of this gene promoter accounts for themwmutation in silkworm. The possibility thatBmAPPgene is involved in Hippo signalling pathway, an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that controls organ size, is discussed.
Crystal structure of bis(1-ethylpyridinium) dioxonium hexacyanidoferrate(II)
Authors: Tanaka Rikako , Matsushita Nobuyuki
Published: January 2017

The title compound, (C7H10N)2(H3O)2[Fe(CN)6] or (Etpy)2(H3O)2[Fe(CN)6] (Etpy+is 1-ethylpyridinium), crystallizes in the space groupPnnm. The FeIIatom of the [Fe(CN)6]4−anion lies on a site with site symmetry ..2/m, and has an octahedral coordination sphere defined by six cyanido ligands. Both the Etpy+and the oxonium cations are located on a mirror plane. In the crystal, electron-donor anions of [Fe(CN)6]4−and electron-acceptor cations of Etpy+are each stacked parallel to thebaxis, resulting in a columnar structure with segregated moieties. The crystal packing is stabilized by a three-dimensional O—H...N hydrogen-bonding network between the oxonium ions and the cyanide ligands of [Fe(CN)6]4−.