bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A model of force balance in Jupiter's magnetodisc including hot plasma pressure anisotropy
Authors: Nichols J. D. , Achilleos N. , Cowley S. W. H.
Published: November 2015

We present an iterative vector potential model of force balance in Jupiter's magnetodisc that includes the effects of hot plasma pressure anisotropy. The fiducial model produces results that are consistent with Galileo magnetic field and plasma data over the whole radial range of the model. The hot plasma pressure gradient and centrifugal forces dominate in the regions inward of ∼20 RJ and outward of ∼50 RJ, respectively, while for realistic values of the pressure anisotropy, the anisotropy current is either the dominant component or at least comparable with the hot plasma pressure gradient current in the region in between. With the inclusion of hot plasma pressure anisotropy, the ∼1.2 and ∼2.7° shifts in the latitudes of the main oval and Ganymede footprint, respectively, associated with variations over the observed range of the hot plasma parameter Kh, which is the product of hot pressure and unit flux tube volume, are comparable to the shifts observed in auroral images. However, the middle magnetosphere is susceptible to the firehose instability, with peak equatorial values of βh∥e−βh⊥e≃1 − 2, for Kh=2.0 − 2.5 × 107 Pa m T−1. For larger values of Kh,βh∥e−βh⊥e exceeds 2 near ∼25 RJ and the model does not converge. This suggests that small‐scale plasmoid release or “drizzle” of iogenic plasma may often occur in the middle magnetosphere, thus forming a significant mode of plasma mass loss, alongside plasmoids, at Jupiter.
Hunt for slow slip events along the Sumatran subduction zone in a decade of continuous GPS data
Authors: Feng Lujia , Hill Emma M. , Elósegui Pedro , Qiu Qiang , Hermawan Iwan , Banerjee Paramesh , Sieh Kerry
Published: November 2015

Slow slip events (SSEs) have been observed in GPS time series for many subduction zones worldwide but not in decade‐long GPS time series from the Sumatran GPS Array (SuGAr). An outstanding question has been whether SSEs have simply not occurred on the Sunda megathrust or whether they have been obscured by the prodigious number of earthquakes and their ensuing postseismic deformation within the time of geodetic observation. We remove all known tectonic signals from the time series to search for evidence of SSEs. The residuals are essentially flat at the centimeter scale. To search for signals at the millimeter scale we test various filtering and visualization techniques. Despite these efforts, we conclude that it is difficult to confirm that SSEs exist at this scale using the current data, although we do see a few suspicious signals. The lack of evidence for events may reflect SSEs occurring at a magnitude, location, or timescale that renders them undetectable with the current resolution of the SuGAr, that the properties of this megathrust are not conducive to SSEs, or because the megathrust is in an active period of the earthquake cycle.
Regional dependence in the timing of onset of rapid decline in Arctic sea ice concentration
Authors: Close S. , Houssais M.‐N. , Herbaut C.
Published: November 2015

Arctic sea ice concentration from satellite passive microwave measurements is analyzed to assess the form and timing of the onset of decline of recent ice loss, and the regional dependence of the response. The timing of the onset is estimated using an objective method, and suggests differences of up to 20 years between the various subregions. A clear distinction can be drawn between the recent onset times of the Atlantic sector (beginning in 2003) and the much earlier onset times associated with the Pacific sector, where the earliest transition to rapid loss is found in 1992. Rates of decline prior to and following the transition points are calculated, and suggest that the postonset rate of loss is greatest in the Barents Sea, and weakest in the Pacific sector. Covariability between the seasons is noted in the SIC response, both at interannual and longer time scales. For two case regions, potential mechanisms for the onset time transitions are briefly analyzed. In the Barents Sea, the onset time coincides with a redistribution of the pathways of ice circulation in the region, while along the Alaskan coast, the propagation of the regional signal can be traced in the age of the sea ice. The results presented here indicate a series of spatially self‐consistent regional responses, and may be useful in understanding the primary drivers of recent sea ice loss.
Are all runoff processes the same? Numerical experiments comparing a Darcy‐Richards solver to an overland flow‐based approach for subsurface storm runoff simulation
Authors: Ameli A. A. , Craig J. R. , McDonnell J. J.
Published: November 2015

Hillslope runoff theory is based largely on the differentiation between infiltration excess overland flow, saturation excess overland flow, and subsurface stormflow. Here we explore to what extent a 2‐D friction‐based overland flow model is useful for predicting hillslope‐scale subsurface stormflow, posited here as phenomenologically the same as infiltration excess at depth. We compare our results to a 3‐D variably saturated Darcy‐Richards subsurface solver for individual rainfall runoff events. We use field data from the well‐studied Panola Mountain Experimental hillslope in Georgia USA. Our results show that the two models are largely indistinguishable in terms of their ability to simulate the hillslope hydrograph magnitude and timing for a range of slopes and rainfall depths. Furthermore, we find that the descriptive ability of the overland flow model is comparable to the variably saturated subsurface flow model in terms of its ability to represent the spatial distribution of subsurface stormflow and infiltration across the soil‐bedrock interface. More importantly, these results imply that the physics of infiltration excess subsurface stormflow at the soil‐bedrock interface is similar to infiltration excess overland flow at the soil surface, in terms of detention storage, loss along the lower boundary, and threshold‐like activation at the larger hillslope scale. Given the phenomenological similarity of overland flow and subsurface stormflow and the fact that overland flow model predictions are considerably faster to run (particularly as slope and rainfall depth increase), these findings imply that new forms of hillslope‐scale subsurface storm runoff predictions may be possible with the knowledge of bedrock permeability and limited soil information. Finally, this work suggests that the role of soil mantle vis‐à‐vis subsurface stormflow is mainly as a filter that delays the development of patches of saturation along the bedrock surface. Our model results show that simple realizations of soil based on a few soil depth measurements can possibly be enough to characterize this filtering effect.
The Theoretical Foundations of Evolutionary Psychology
Authors: Tooby John , Cosmides Leda
Published: November 2015

The human brain is the most highly organized system yet identified, and natural selection is the only physical process capable of pushing the designs of species uphill against entropy.Consequently, all functional mechanisms present in our species' neural architecture were constructed by selection acting on our ancestors.The design features of our psychological mechanisms are therefore linked directly as cause and effect to the specific structure of ancestral adaptive problems, allowing models of the adaptive problems identified by biologists and anthropologists to serve as maps that accelerate the discovery of previously unknown psychological mechanisms.The brain's function is specifically computational: to regulate behavior, development, and the body in ways that would have produced responses likely to have promoted genetic propagation under ancestral conditions.Evolutionary psychologists and allies are working toward two goals: The first is the progressive mapping of the program architectures (circuit logics) of the neurocomputational adaptations designed to solve ancestral adaptive problems. The second is the reformulation and theoretical unification of the social sciences made possible by an accurate, natural‐science‐based model of human nature.Here we sketch the discipline's theoretical foundations together with illustrative empirical discoveries (in reasoning, emotion and motivational programs, and parametric coordinative adaptations).
Life History Theory and Evolutionary Psychology
Authors: Giudice Marco Del , Gangestad Steven W. , Kaplan Hillard S.
Published: November 2015

In this chapter we present an overview of life history theory and review its main psychological applications. We first discuss basic trade‐offs in life history allocations and introduce the concept of life history strategies. We then consider the evolution of life history strategies at the population level and their development at the individual level. Next, we explore the question of which physiological and psychological mechanisms mediate the development and organization of life history strategies. Finally, we review current applications of life history theory to human growth and development, individual differences in developmental trajectories, personality, and psychopathology. We conclude with a summary of the theoretical and empirical challenges facing future research in this area.
Spatial Navigation and Landscape Preferences
Authors: Silverman Irwin , Choi Jean
Published: November 2015

This chapter reviews evolutionary‐based theories and data on the nature and origins of spatial behaviors, mainly in regard to navigation, in both humans and animals. Comparisons are made between the computational‐representational model of traditional cognitive psychology and evolutionary psychology's competing theory of domain‐specific cognitive mechanisms, as these are applied to navigation. Navigation strategies of various species are defined as eitherEuclideanorgeometric, and the presumed evolutionary bases for these differences are described. Gender differences in the development and use of these strategies in the human case are also described, with competing theories of their evolutionary bases and supporting data. Finally, having discussed the evolutionary origins of navigational strategies, we consider their outcome,that is, the evolutionary bases of landscape preferences and habitat selection in humans and other species.
Adaptations to Dangers From Humans
Authors: Duntley Joshua D.
Published: November 2015

Killing, raping, assaulting, abusing, cuckolding, humiliating, derogating, demeaning, and a host of other cost‐inflicting behaviors were recurrent features of human ancestral environments. Converging evidence from a range of disciplines suggests that our ancestors recurrently faced myriad adaptive problem contexts for which cost‐inflicting behavioral solutions could benefit genetic fitness.Through argument or omission, it is sometimes assumed that the victims of cost‐inflicting behavior passively accept it. This is unlikely. When individuals inflicted costs on their victims recurrently in specific ancestral contexts, it created heavy selection pressure on the victims for the evolution of defenses to avoid the costs. The evolution of victim defenses created selection pressure for refinements in strategies of costinfliction, which created new selection pressure for better victim defenses: adaptation and counteradaptationad infinitum. A perpetual antagonistic coevolutionary arms race propelled through the deep time of human evolutionary history by the powerful fitness gains and losses associated with the success or failure of cost‐inflicting strategies on one side and victim defenses on the other has led to the evolution of increasingly complex, interrelated adaptations on both sides. Adaptations that inflict costs and evolved victim defenses can be fully understood only when illuminated by knowledge of their coevolved design features.
Human Sperm Competition
Authors: Shackelford Todd K. , Goetz Aaron T. , LaMunyon Craig W. , Pham Michael N. , Pound Nicholas
Published: November 2015

Sperm competition occurs when a female copulates with two or more males within a sufficiently brief time period, resulting in the sperm of the different males competing to fertilize ova. In this chapter, we present the evidence of sperm competition in humans. We review the literature indicating anatomical, psychological, and physiological adaptations to human sperm competition. These adaptations include traits that produce prudent sperm allocation, copulatory interest, forced in‐pair copulation, sexual fantasy, female orgasm, and semen‐displacing copulatory behavior. Given the evidence of apparently convergent adaptations to sperm competition in humans and nonhumans, we conclude that sperm competition has been a important selection pressure that shaped human nature.
Human Sexuality and Inbreeding Avoidance
Authors: Lieberman Debra , Antfolk Jan
Published: November 2015

In this chapter, we discuss the logic driving the evolution of inbreeding avoidance systems. In addition, we review literature regarding the negative effects of inbreeding, discuss how disparate opportunity costs shaped sex differences regarding the avoidance of inbreeding, and briefly discuss recent research on the information‐processing architecture of systems that evolved to identify and sexually avoid close genetic relatives. Last, we discuss the possible origins of the incest taboo. In particular, we question whether attitudes regarding third‐party inbreeding are evolved adaptations to regulate the behavior of others or merely by‐products of systems designed to guide personal mating decisions.
Kin Selection
Authors: Hames Raymond
Published: November 2015

The concept of inclusive fitness or kin selection developed by W.D. Hamilton in 1964 has provided evolutionary researchers with an important and productive theory for understanding cooperation and putatively altruistic behaviors that characterize so much of human social life. In dealing with the complexity of kin‐based altruism, researchers in evolutionary psychology have tended to focus on kin recognition and emotional valence toward kin, while evolutionary anthropologists research actuarial and field‐based observational models of kin investment. There is now clear evidence of the utility and broad scope of kinship in understanding a variety of behaviors ranging from alloparenting to coalitionary politics. This chapter reviews well‐supported findings, charts the division of labor in examining proximate and ultimate causes of kin biases, and outlines problematic areas ripe for future investigation.
Evolution of Paternal Investment
Authors: Geary David C.
Published: November 2015

Male parental investment is unusual in mammals, occurring in less than 5% of species, including humans. The chapter reviews the cost–benefit trade‐offs that likely contributed to the evolution and maintenance of human paternal investment and the proximate mechanisms that influence individual differences in the expression of this investment. The latter include biological (e.g., hormones), social (e.g., quality of the marital relationship), and wider cultural (e.g., rules for polygynous marriages) mechanisms.
Hunter‐Gatherer Families and Parenting
Authors: Apicella Coren L. , Crittenden Alyssa N.
Published: November 2015

Our species is characterized by extraordinary biological success, which we owe, in large part, to our ability to cooperate. This cooperation extends beyond the pair bond to extended kin, affines, and even unrelated individuals. It has been suggested that one primary factor motivating such widespread cooperation in humans is the need to care for overlapping, energetically expensive offspring with long periods of development and dependency. For this reason, we situate the study of hunter‐gatherer families and parenting within the larger context of human life history and cooperative networks. We argue that large, extended cooperative networks not only aid in meeting the demands of rearing hunter‐gatherer children, but are also deeply rooted in our history.
The Evolutionary Foundations of Status Hierarchy
Authors: van Vugt Mark , Tybur Joshua M.
Published: November 2015

This chapter explores the origins, evolution, and psychology of status and social hierarchy. Given the ubiquitous nature of status hierarchies in both human and nonhuman groups, and the fitness consequences associated with position in hierarchies, natural selection likely favored psychological mechanisms specialized for navigating status hierarchies. This chapter explores these status‐relevant mechanisms in several ways. First, we define and distinguish between relevant concepts, such as status, power, dominance, prestige, and leadership. Then we discuss the selection pressures that might have favored the evolution of specific status strategies and psychologies. We do this partially through using the logic of game theory, which can model status competition. Third, we review the existence of various external and internal cues that allow individuals to (a) assess their relative standing vis‐à‐vis others, (b) make status gains, (c) manage status losses, and (d) convert status into reproductive benefits. We also pay attention to evolved sex differences in status psychologies. Finally, we investigate the origins and evolutionary psychology of one specific high‐status position in human societies, leadership.
The Origins of Religion
Authors: Norenzayan Ara
Published: November 2015

Bringing insights from the cognitive science of religion and cultural evolution together, this chapter describes a process of coevolution between escalating societal size and complexity on one hand, and devotional practices to increasingly powerful and interventionist deities, credible displays of faith, and rituals and practices that promote ingroup solidarity and intergroup competition and conflict. Cultural traditions with such features spread at the expense of rival ones, giving shape to the world religions of today. A variety of empirical evidence is discussed in relation to several hypotheses that are guided by this theoretical synthesis.
Evolutionary Developmental Psychology
Authors: Bjorklund David F. , Blasi Carlos Hernández , Ellis Bruce J.
Published: November 2015

We explore the field of
evolutionary‐developmental psychology
, the application of the basic principles of evolution to explain contemporary human development. Human infants are “prepared” by evolution to process some information more readily than others, and natural selection has shaped adaptations of infancy and childhood, adapting young organisms to the niche of childhood and disappearing when they were no longer needed (
ontogenetic adaptations
) and/or preparing them for future environments (
deferred adaptations
). Examples of infant and childhood adaptations are provided from the social domain, including infants' biases to orient to social stimuli and view others as intentional agents, social learning, and prosociality. We discuss the role of
developmental plasticity and adaptive individualdifferences
and how such plasticity can serve to anticipate future environments, entraining development that reliably matches those features during a species' natural selective history (
conditional adaptations
). We discuss developmental plasticity from the perspective of
life history theory
, examining environmental factors that influence the adoption of different life history strategies. We argue that “development matters,” and this should be reflected in how evolutionary psychologists theorize about what is inherited and how.
The Evolution of Cognitive Bias
Authors: Haselton Martie G. , Nettle Daniel , Murray Damian R.
Published: November 2015

On the surface, cognitive biases appear to be puzzling when viewed through an evolutionary lens. Because they depart from standards of logic and accuracy, they appear to be design flaws instead of examples of good evolutionary engineering. Biases are often ascribed to cognitive “constraints” or flaws in the design of the mind that were somehow not overcome by evolution. To the evolutionary psychologist, however, evolved psychological mechanisms are expected to solve particular problems well, in ways that contributed to fitness ancestrally. Viewed in this way, cognitive biasescould have evolved because they positively impacted fitness. They are, then, not necessarily
designflaws
—instead, they could be
design features
. This chapter describes research documenting adaptive biases across many domains. These include inferences about danger, the cooperativeness of others, and the sexual and romantic interests of prospective mates. This chapter also addresses the question of why biases often seem to be implemented at the cognitive level, producing genuine misperceptions, rather than merely biases in enacted behavior.
Evolutionary Psychology and Evolutionary Anthropology
Authors: Fessler Daniel M. T. , Clark Jason A. , Clint Edward K.
Published: November 2015

This chapter offers a selective survey of the contributions that evolutionary anthropology (EA) can make to research in evolutionary psychology (EP). Drawing on paleoanthropology, we underscore the importance of phylogeny in understanding adaptations, including the kludgy nature of many, and the conflicts that arise among them. This approach underscores the trait‐specific nature of environments of evolutionary adaptedness (EEAs), directing attention to the differential phylogenetic depth of different adaptations. Paleoanthropology is complemented by studies of small‐scale societies, demonstrating, for example, that social dynamics in such groups indicate that mechanisms governing human cooperation likely did not stem from kin selection and reciprocal altruism. Central to anthropology is the recognition of the variation in ecologies and social structures characteristic of humans. Such variation selects for adaptations that either facultatively adjust output in light of local environment, or facilitate cultural acquisition. We examine the parasite‐stress theory (PST) account of cross‐cultural variation in light reconstructions of past societies, arguing against a strong evoked‐culture explanation, and in favor of a transmitted‐culture account wherein learning mechanisms are hijacked by cultural evolution. We close by discussing (a) ways to interpret cross‐cultural variation or uniformity; and (b) contributions of EP to EA. Finally, we offer a brief roadmap for applying EA in EP.
Evolutionary Genetics
Authors: Arslan Ruben C. , Penke Lars
Published: November 2015

Evolutionary forces of selection, mutation, migration, and genetic drift interact to maintain heritable individual differences. Resolving the ostensible paradox posed by the fact that heritable differences in personality and intelligence, in spite of their links to mortality and fertility, have not been driven to fixation, is within the purview of evolutionary genetics. We introduce the tool kit available to psychologists who want to understand these forces. It assembles complementary tools from molecular and behavior genetics, as well as classical evolutionary psychology, including the study of genome‐wide associations, paternal age effects, inbreeding depression, developmental stability, and of course twins and families. We identify an unfortunate lack of cross‐pollination, but map ways in which these disciplines, which share a common evolutionary metatheory, could test the tacit assumptions inherent in much of our work. Although it may take some time and may in some cases be impossible to identify the causative genes behind individual differences, we make the case that understanding the evolutionary forces involved in their maintenance is a worthy task in its own right, permitting us to understand and predict the effects of changing mores, policy, and demographic trends.
Organocatalyzed Formal [4+2] Cycloaddition of in situ Generated Azoalkenes with Arylacetic Acids: An Efficient Approach to the Synthesis of 4,5‐Dihydropyridazin‐3(2H)‐ones
Authors: Li Xuanyi , Gai Kuo , Yuan Zhenbo , Wu Jie , Lin Aijun , Yao Hequan
Published: November 2015

An unprecedented [4+2] cycloaddition of in situ generated azoalkenes with arylacetic acids has been developed under the catalysis of isothiourea. The reaction provided an efficient approach to the synthesis of 4,5‐dihydropyridazin‐3(2H)‐one derivatives in moderate to good yields (up to 95%).

magnified image
Cross‐Dehydrogenative Coupling of Tertiary Amines and Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed by Copper Nanoparticles on Zeolite
Authors: Alonso Francisco , Arroyo Adrián , Martín‐García Iris , Moglie Yanina
Published: November 2015

A wide range of catalysts based on supported copper nanoparticles have been prepared and tested in the cross‐dehydrogenative coupling of tertiary amines and terminal alkynes. Copper nanoparticles on zeolite Y were found to be the most effective catalyst in the presence of tert‐butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidant. Contrary to the previously reported methodologies involving copper catalysts, reactions have been accomplished without the need of an inert atmosphere and in the absence of solvent, using 1.5 mol% catalyst. A variety of tertiary amines, including aromatic, benzylic and aliphatic ones, have been coupled with both aromatic and aliphatic alkynes to furnish the corresponding propargylamines in moderate‐to‐excellent yields. The procedure has been successfully scaled‐up to 12 mmol with a high conversion (93%). Moreover, the catalyst has been reused in seven cycles maintaining a good performance. Its catalytic activity has been compared with that of an array of commercial copper catalysts, being superior as regards the conversion and minimizing the alkyne homocoupling as a side reaction. The negative filtration test points to a heterogeneous nature of the process. Based on compelling experimental evidence, a novel reaction mechanism has been delineated which outlines the essential role of free radicals and the couple copper(I)/copper(II).

magnified image
Ferroelectric Domain Structures in Low‐Strain BaTiO3
Authors: Everhardt Arnoud S. , Matzen Sylvia , Domingo Neus , Catalan Gustau , Noheda Beatriz
Published: November 2015

Epitaxial strain in ferroelectric films offers the possibility to enhance the piezoelectric performance utilizing low crystal symmetries and high density of domain walls. Ferroelectric BaTiO3 has been predicted to order in a variety of phases and domain configurations when grown under low strain on low mismatched substrates, but little experimental evidence of that region of the phase diagram exist. Here, epitaxial BaTiO3 thin films are grown on NdScO3 substrates under ≈0.1% strain. A monoclinic ca1/ca2 phase, with 90° periodic in‐plane domain configuration and small additional out‐of‐plane component of polarization, is stabilized at room temperature and investigated using piezoelectric force microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Above 50 °C, this phase is transformed into an a/c phase with alternating in‐plane and out‐of‐plane polarizations and forming zigzag domain walls between up‐polarized and down‐polarized superdomains. Both types of domain patterns are highly anisotropic, giving rise to very long domain walls. Above 130 °C, the paraelectric phase is observed. The occurrence of a phase transition close to room temperature, a low symmetry ca1/ca2 phase, and the formation of periodic domains make of this material a promising candidate for high piezoelectric response.
Highly Efficient Far Red/Near‐Infrared Solid Fluorophores: Aggregation‐Induced Emission, Intramolecular Charge Transfer, Twisted Molecular Conformation, and Bioimaging Applications
Authors: Lu Hongguang , Zheng Yadan , Zhao Xiaowei , Wang Lijuan , Ma Suqian , Han Xiongqi , Xu Bin , Tian Wenjing , Gao Hui
Published: November 2015

The development of organic fluorophores with efficient solid‐state emissions or aggregated‐state emissions in the red to near‐infrared region is still challenging. Reported herein are fluorophores having aggregation‐induced emission ranging from the orange to far red/near‐infrared (FR/NIR) region. The bioimaging performance of the designed fluorophore is shown to have potential as FR/NIR fluorescent probes for biological applications.
A Rhodium Nanoparticle–Lewis Acidic Ionic Liquid Catalyst for the Chemoselective Reduction of Heteroarenes
Authors: Karakulina Alena , Gopakumar Aswin , Akçok İsmail , Roulier Bastien L. , LaGrange Thomas , Katsyuba Sergey A. , Das Shoubhik , Dyson Paul J.
Published: November 2015

We describe a catalytic system composed of rhodium nanoparticles immobilized in a Lewis acidic ionic liquid. The combined system catalyzes the hydrogenation of quinolines, pyridines, benzofurans, and furan to access the corresponding heterocycles, important molecules present in fine chemicals, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The catalyst is highly selective, acting only on the heteroaromatic ring, and not interfering with other reducible functional groups.
Efficient Room‐Temperature, Au+‐Mediated Coupling of a Carbene Ligand with Methane To Generate C2Hx (x=4, 6)
Authors: Zhou Shaodong , Li Jilai , Wu Xiao‐Nan , Schlangen Maria , Schwarz Helmut
Published: November 2015

The thermal reactions of the closed‐shell, “naked” gold–carbene complex [Au(CH2)]+ with methane have been explored by using FTICR mass spectrometry complemented by quantum chemical (QC) calculations at the CCSD(T)//BMK level of theory. Mechanistic aspects for this unprecedentedly efficient carbene insertion in the CH bond of methane have been addressed and the origin of the counterintuitive high reactivity of [Au(CH2)]+ towards this most inert hydrocarbon is discussed.
Birth of the eukaryotes by a set of reactive innovations: New insights force us to relinquish gradual models
Authors: Speijer Dave
Published: November 2015

Of two contending models for eukaryotic evolution the “archezoan“ has an amitochondriate eukaryote take up an endosymbiont, while “symbiogenesis“ states that an Archaeon became a eukaryote as the result of this uptake. If so, organelle formation resulting from new engulfments is simplified by the primordial symbiogenesis, and less informative regarding the bacterium‐to‐mitochondrion conversion. Gradualist archezoan visions still permeate evolutionary thinking, but are much less likely than symbiogenesis. Genuine amitochondriate eukaryotes have never been found and rapid, explosive adaptive periods characteristic of symbiogenetic models explain this. Mitochondrial proteomes, encoded by genes of “eukaryotic origin“ not easily linked to host or endosymbiont, can be understood in light of rapid adjustments to new evolutionary pressures. Symbiogenesis allows “expensive” eukaryotic inventions via efficient ATP generation by nascent mitochondria. However, efficient ATP production equals enhanced toxic internal ROS formation. The synergistic combination of these two driving forces gave rise to the rapid evolution of eukaryotes.

Also watch the Video Abstract.
An ultra scale‐down approach identifies host cell protein differences across a panel of mAb producing CHO cell line variants
Authors: Hogwood Catherine E.M. , Ahmad Shahina S. , Tarrant Richard D. , Bracewell Daniel G. , Smales C. Mark
Published: November 2015

During the manufacture of biopharmaceutical products, the final product must lie within strict pre‐set specifications, for example the host cell protein (HCP) content. A number of specific HCPs have been identified in particular products and the interactions between product/HCPs have also been recently investigated; however, a comparison of the HCP dynamics between related cell lines and their response to early downstream processing to aid process development and cell line selection has not been published. We have utilised a proteomic approach coupled with an ultra scale‐down study to determine the HCP profile dynamics, at harvest and during early downstream processing, across a panel of recombinant GS‐CHOK1SV antibody producing cell lines. The results reveal that cell culture viability upon harvest has the greatest impact upon shear sensitivity and HCP concentration. Whilst the general HCP population/profile was broadly similar across the cell lines, the actual amounts of some specific HCPs in the supernatant differed and a number of cell line specific differences in the response to early downstream processing were observed. We anticipate that such knowledge can now be applied to cell line selection and downstream processing development to target reduction/removal of general and specific problematic HCPs before and during downstream processing.
Pro‐region engineering for improved yeast display and secretion of brain derived neurotrophic factor
Authors: Burns Michael L. , Malott Thomas M. , Metcalf Kevin J. , Puguh Arthya , Chan Jonah R. , Shusta Eric V.
Published: November 2015

Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a promising therapeutic candidate for a variety of neurological diseases. However, it is difficult to produce as a recombinant protein. In its native mammalian context, BDNF is first produced as a pro‐protein with subsequent proteolytic removal of the pro‐region to yield mature BDNF protein. Therefore, in an attempt to improve yeast as a host for heterologous BDNF production, the BDNF pro‐region was first evaluated for its effects on BDNF surface display and secretion. Addition of the wild‐type pro‐region to yeast BDNF production constructs improved BDNF folding both as a surface‐displayed and secreted protein in terms of binding its natural receptors TrkB and p75, but titers remained low. Looking to further enhance the chaperone‐like functions provided by the pro‐region, two rounds of directed evolution were performed, yielding mutated pro‐regions that further improved the display and secretion properties of BDNF. Subsequent optimization of the protease recognition site was used to control whether the produced protein was in pro‐ or mature BDNF forms. Taken together, we have demonstrated an effective strategy for improving BDNF compatibility with yeast protein engineering and secretion platforms.
Development and application of a UPLC‐MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of fenofibric acid and berberine in rat plasma: application to the drug–drug pharmacokinetic interaction study of fenofibrate combined with berberine after oral administration in rats
Authors: Li Guofei , Yang Fan , Liu Mei , Su Xianying , Zhao Mingming , Zhao Limei
Published: November 2015

With the purpose of carrying out pharmacokinetic interaction studies ofnberberine (BBR) and fenofibrate (FBT), an UPLC‐MS/MS method has been developed and validated. The analytes, BBR and fenofibric acid (FBA, metabolite of FBT) and the internal standard, tetrahydropalmatine, were extracted with dichloromethane–diethyl ether (3:2, v/v) and separated on an Agilent Eclipse XDB C18 column using a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and water. With positive ion electrospray ionization, the analytes were monitored on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Linear calibration curves were obtained over the concentration ranges of 0.1–100.0 ng/mL for BBR and 10.0–50,000.0 ng/mL for FBA. For BBR and FBA, the intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were <11.5 and 11.9%, respectively. The accuracy was within 11.7% and 11.3%. The mean recoveries of BBR at three concentrations of 0.2, 20.0, 80.0 ng/mL were >85.6%, and those of FBA at three concentrations of 20.0, 2500.0, 40,000.0 ng/mL were >87.9%. Consequently, the proposed method was applied to the pharmacokinetic interaction study of FBT combined with BBR after oral administration in rats and was proved to be sensitive, specific and reliable to analyze BBR and FBA in biological samples simultaneously. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An HPLC method for the determination of a novel anti‐hypertension agent 6,7‐dimethoxy‐3‐[4‐(4‐fluorobenzyloxy)‐3‐methoxyphenylmethyl]quinazolin‐4(3H)‐one in rat plasma: application to pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Chang Rui‐Miao , Zeng Ai‐Guo , Du Wei , Xu Xin‐Ya , Zuo Sai‐Jie , Chang Chun , Fu Qiang
Published: November 2015

6,7‐Dimethoxy‐3‐[4‐(4‐fluorobenzyloxy)‐3‐methoxyphenylmethyl] quinazolin‐4(3H)‐one (DFMQ‐19), a novel analog of 3‐benzylquinazolin‐4(3H)‐ones, may be considered as a drug candidate for the treatment of hypertension. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography to determine the DFMQ‐19 in plasma and demonstrate its application in pharmacokinetic studies. Separation of DFMQ‐19 and IS (structural analog of DFMQ‐19) was performed using a Shim‐Pack VP‐ODS column and a mixture of acetonitrile and water as mobile phase. The HPLC method was validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The limit of detection and lower limit of quantitation were 0.05 and 0.1 μg/mL, respectively. The recovery rate of DFMQ‐19 from blood samples was >81% of the spiked amount. The RSD of the intra‐ and inter‐day precisions was within 7.5%, and RE of accuracy was between −14.4 and 4.5%. This method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study after administration of DFMQ‐19. The pharmacokinetic parameters, such as half‐life, mean residence time and maximum concentration were determined. Based on these pharmacokinetic parameters, the oral bioavailability of DFMQ‐19 was calculated to be 13.42% in rat. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhance campus safety with social‐media monitoring
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: November 2015

Many people feel free to post whatever is on their minds on social media. They mention what they're eating for lunch, where they're going, and what crimes they're planning to commit.
Gasification of Microalgae Using Supercritical Water and the Potential of Effluent Recycling
Authors: Elsayed Sherif , Boukis Nikolaos , Patzelt Dominik , Hindersin Stefan , Kerner Martin , Sauer Jörg
Published: November 2015

The gasification of microalgae in supercritical water was investigated in this work. The product gas contained mainly H2, CO2, CH4, and C2H6. Operation at high temperatures and lower biomass concentrations resulted in the highest carbon gasification efficiency and the lowest total organic carbon levels in the residual water. Due to its content of inorganic nutrients, the residual water was applied as cultivation medium for microalgae. However, algal growth in the untreated residual water was inhibited by the existence of potentially toxic substances evolved from gasification. Upon treatment by activated carbon filtration and ultraviolet light degradation, these substances were eliminated and cultivation in the residual water was possible. The major fraction of inorganic residues from gasification was recovered by means of water purging, increasing the potential of nutrient recycling for cultivation.
Mid‐Infrared Spectroscopy for Monitoring of Anaerobic Digestion Processes – Prospects and Challenges
Authors: Eccleston Robin , Wolf Christian , Balsam Matthias , Schulte Franziska , Bongards Michael , Rehorek Astrid
Published: November 2015

To develop an online probe that is not only sufficiently robust, but also able to measure crucial process variables in biogas plants is a tough challenge. Therefore, a mid‐infrared (MIR) spectroscopic attenuated total reflection (ATR) probe and robust probe fitting were established. A fully automated probe control, calibration after probe cleaning, and analysis of the absorption spectra using machine learning were implemented in order to reduce maintenance of the probe to a minimum. The relevant wavelengths in the MIR spectrum for organic acids, total alkalinity, and ammonium nitrogen concentration were identified. Finally, intensive lab testing was carried out, followed by operation of the complete online measurement system at an industrial biogas plant. In order to improve signal strength and sensitivity, microelectronic mechanical system (MEMS)‐based Fabry‐Pérot interferometers were also investigated.
Crystallisation from a Water‐in‐Oil Emulsion as a Route to Enantiomer Separation: The Case of dl‐Threonine
Authors: Gilks Sara E. , Davey Roger J.
Published: November 2015

The use of crystalliation as a means of separating enantiomers is well known. The utility of commonly applied seeding approaches is limited by the ultimate crystallisation of the antipode. Here we demonstrate how the combination of colloid science and crystal chemistry can lead to an emulsion based process yielding robust separation of a purified solid and impure liquid phases with ultimate product ee of up to 90 %. Threonine is used as a model to demonstrate the viability of the method but it is clear that extension to include, for example, simultaneous racemisation within the disperse phase is easily possible and would transform this from a separation to a preparation process.
Reversed Crystal Growth of RHO Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework (ZIF)
Authors: Self Katherine , Telfer Michael , Greer Heather F. , Zhou Wuzong
Published: November 2015

RHO zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF), Zn1.33(O.OH)0.33(nim)1.167(pur), crystals with a rhombic dodecahedral morphology were synthesized by a solvothermal process. The growth of the crystals was studied over time using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analyses, and a reversed crystal growth mechanism was revealed. Initially, precursor materials joined together to form disordered aggregates, which then underwent surface recrystallization forming a core–shell structure, in which a disordered core is encased in a layer of denser, less porous crystal. When the growth continued, the shell became less and less porous, until it was a layer of true single crystal. The crystallization then extended from the surface to the core over a six‐week period until, eventually, true single crystals were formed.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Lactimidomycin and Its Analogues
Authors: Larsen Brian J. , Sun Zhankui , Lachacz Eric , Khomutnyk Yaroslav , Soellner Matthew B. , Nagorny Pavel
Published: November 2015

The studies culminating in the total synthesis of the glutarimide‐containing eukaryote translation elongation inhibitor lactimidomycin are described. The optimized synthetic route features a ZnII‐mediated intramolecular Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) reaction resulting in a highly stereoselective formation of the strained 12‐membered macrolactone of lactimidomycin on a 423 mg scale. The presence of the E,Z‐diene functionality was found to be key for effective macrocyclizations as a complete removal of these unsaturation units resulted in exclusive formation of the dimer rather than monocyclic enoate. The synthetic route features a late‐stage installation of the glutarimide functionality via an asymmetric catalytic Mukaiyama aldol reaction, which allows for a quick generation of lactimidomycin homolog 55 containing two additional carbons in the glutarimide side chain. Similar to lactimidomycin, this analog was found to possess cytotoxicity against MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells (GI50=1–3 μM) using in vitro 2D and 3D assays. Although lactimidomycin was found to be the most potent compound in terms of anticancer activity, 55 as well as truncated analogues 50–52 lacking the glutarimide side‐chain were found to be significantly less toxic against human mammary epithelial cells.
Removal of Cadmium and Manganese by an Ecofriendly Biomass
Authors: Tunali Akar Sibel , Sayin Fatih , Yilmazer Dilek , Akar Tamer
Published: November 2015

Borago officinalis has successfully been evaluated as a biosorbent for the removal of cadmium and manganese from aqueous solutions in batch and column systems. Maximum biosorption for Cd and Mn ions was obtained at original pH values of the solutions. The temperature‐independent and fast biosorption of Cd and Mn onto B. officinalis could be observed. The biosorption data were successfully correlated with the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. The maximum monolayer biosorption capacities were found to be 40.26 and 20.42 mg g−1 for Cd and Mn, respectively. Column studies were carried out at the optimum flow rate of 1.0 and 0.5 mL min−1 for Cd and Mn, respectively. The highest desorption yield could be achieved using 0.01 M HNO3 as desorbing agent. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer, Emmett and Teller analysis and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy showed that the biosorption of Cd and Mn onto B. officinalis involved different mechanisms mainly electrostatic interaction, complexation and chemical‐ion exchange. As a conclusion, this study indicated that B. officinalis could be an ecofriendly biosorbent and could effectively remove Cd and Mn from aqueous solutions.
Determination of sperm concentration using flow cytometry with simultaneous analysis of sperm plasma membrane integrity in zebrafish Danio rerio
Authors: Yang Huiping , Daly Jonathan , Tiersch Terrence R.
Published: November 2015

Control of sperm concentration is required to ensure consistent and reproducible results for cryopreservation and in vitro fertilization protocols. Determination of sperm concentration is traditionally performed with a counting chamber (e.g., hemocytometer), or more recently with a spectrophotometer. For small‐sized biomedical model fishes, the availability of sperm sample is limited to microliters, so it is desirable to develop fast and accurate approaches for concentration determination that also minimize sample use. In this study, a new approach was developed for sperm concentration determination using a flow cytometer (Accuri C6, BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA) with simultaneous measurement of sperm membrane integrity after fluorescent staining with SYBR®−14 and propidium iodide (PI) in sperm from Zebrafish Danio rerio. The goal was to develop a protocol for simultaneous determination of sperm quality and quantity by flow cytometry. The objectives were to (1) determine the effects of sample volume (250 and 500 µl) and analysis volume (10 and 50 µl) on the accuracy of particle counting using standard volumetric validation beads; (2) identify the effective range of sperm concentrations that flow cytometry can measure; (3) test the precision and reproducibility of the sperm concentration measurements; and (4) verify the flow cytometry approach by comparison with measurement with a hemocytometer and a microspectrophotometer. Sample volumes of 250 and 500 µl and analysis volumes of 10 and 50 µl did not affect bead count with the factory‐set flow rates of “medium” or “fast,” and the precision and accuracy was retained across a concentration range of 1 × 103−1 × 107 cells/ml. The approach developed in this study was comparable to traditional methodologies such as hemocytometer or microspectrophotometer. This study provides an efficient, accurate, and rapid method for determination of sperm concentration using flow cytometry while providing simultaneous assessment of sperm membrane integrity. Such approaches can reduce the time needed for quantity assessment and maximize the use of valuable sperm samples. © 2015 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Ruling acknowledges trauma can qualify as disability for students
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: November 2015

A federal judge ruled in a preliminary hearing for a class action lawsuit by five students and three teachers from the Compton Unified School District that students who have experienced trauma could be eligible for some of the same protections as students with disabilities. Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald was presented with evidence that students who suffer trauma can struggle to learn in much the same way that a student with disabilities might struggle with learning. The lawsuit aims to establish “complex trauma” as a type of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.