bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
After the ice: Lateglacial and Holocene landforms and landscape evolution in Scotland
Authors: BALLANTYNE Colin K.
Published: May 2018

During Lateglacial cold periods, permafrost developed throughout Scotland, sediment-mantled slopes were extensively modified by solifluction and other forms of periglacial mass movement, large-scale sorted patterned ground formed on plateaux, and enhanced rockfall resulted in talus accumulation below cliffs. Most rock-slope failures occurred within five millennia following ice-sheet deglaciation, with many probably triggered by uplift-induced earthquakes; numerous debris-free scarps represent sites where Lateglacial rockslide debris was excavated by glaciers during the Younger Dryas Stade (∼12.9–11.7 ka). Sandar and outwash fans deposited by glacial rivers during ice-sheet retreat were incised to form high-level terraces. Under the cool temperate but relatively stable climate of the Holocene, solifluction and patterned ground formation continued to operate on high ground, though accumulation of high-level aeolian deposits on most mountains was terminated by erosion during the Little Ice Age. Drift-mantled slopes and talus slopes have been extensively eroded by translational failures and debris flows, the latter depositing debris cones on upland valley floors. The incidence of Holocene rockslides has been much lower than during the Lateglacial period. Dating of alluvial deposits and low Holocene terraces suggests no consistent pattern of Holocene floodplain evolution: incision has apparently dominated in the Highlands, aggradation in the lowlands, and floodplains in the Southern Uplands have asynchronous histories of incision and aggradation. Studies of floodplain behaviour over the past 200–300 years suggest that though major floods rework the floodplains of braided and piedmont rivers, there is no tendency towards net floodplain aggradation or incision. Most valley-side alluvial fans accumulated episodically in the last 4000 years, many in response to lowering of hillslope stability by woodland clearance. For many postglacial landsystems, disentangling the effects of declining paraglacial sediment supply, climate change and local influences (extreme rainstorm events or anthropogenic impacts) remains challenging.
Some perspectives on preparation
Authors: Yochelson Ellis L.
Published: May 2018

Histories of techniques are seldom written and when written commonly are boring, for there is a dearth of dramatic developments to recount or great practitioners to extol. Study of the preparation of fossils is no exception to this generalization, and it is hard to do more than compile anecdotes which may not even form a coherent theme. On the other hand, this approach could be appropriate, for the techniques of preparation are largely spread by word of mouth and in the main consists of improvement by small increments. Paleontological and museum journals devote a bit of space to preparation techniques, but the field does not have a rich literature and more people still learn by doing than by reading.
Diagenetic alteration of fossil composition
Authors: Boyd Donald W.
Published: May 2018

Most of the nonmineralized organic material that enters the sedimentary record is either destroyed or preserved as an amorphous component. Preservation of nonmineralized plant and animal parts as recognizable fossils depends on exceptional conditions in the depositional environment or unusually resistant material (e.g. wood; spores and pollen; chitinous exoskeletons). Thus, one of the first lessons learned by each student of the fossil record is that it is strongly biased toward taxa with mineralized parts.
X-ray analysis using energy dispersive and wavelength dispersive spectroscopy
Authors: Plotnick Roy E.
Published: May 2018

Scanning electron microscopy has long been used by paleontologists for the detailed morphological study of fossil organisms. Often, however, as in studies of growth or diagenesis, the researcher is also interested in the chemical composition of the specimen. Traditional methods of chemical analysis, such as “wet” chemistry or atomic absorption, require destructive preparation (crushing, grinding, solution) and provide only bulk chemical analyses; there is no measure of the spatial distribution of elements.
Hand-held mechanical preparation tools
Authors: Chaney Dan S.
Published: May 2018

Hand-held mechanical tools used in paleontology range from Jackhammers to high speed grinders. They operate by impact or rotary motion and are powered by air, gasoline, or electricity. These labor-saving devices are used in addition to, not as replacements for, hand tools such as awls, pin vices, chisels, and picks for the collection of and the removal of matrix from fossils.
Techniques for mechanical extraction of smaller fossils
Authors: Palmer Allison R.
Published: May 2018

Preparation of fossil specimens has two goals, the exposure of specimens for research, and the final devel-opment of the best specimens for display or photography.
Stabilizing pyritic material
Authors: Wolberg Donald L.
Published: May 2018

The minerals pyrite and marcasite (broadly termed pyritic minerals) are iron sulfides that are common if not ubiquitous in sedimentary rocks, especially in association with organic materials (Berner, 1970). In most marine sedimentary associations, pyrite and marcasite are associated with organic sediments rich in dissolved sulfate and iron minerals. Because of the rapid consumption of sulfate in freshwater environments, however, pyrite formation is more restricted in nonmarine sediments (Berner, 1983). The origin of the sulfur in nonmarine environments must lie within pre-existing rocks or volcanic detritus; a relatively small, but significant contribution may derive from plant and animal decomposition products.
Casting with resins
Authors: Smith J. , Latimer B.
Published: May 2018

Fossils are characteristically uncommon, making it impossible to distribute original specimens to all interested investigators. Dissemination of information, therefore, often depends upon the circulation of accurate reproductions. Such reproductions or casts can be made from a variety of materials including plasters and two-part resins. Using resins for the casting of paleontological specimens was discussed by a number of authors, including Burke and Jensen, 1961; Madsen, 1974; Parsons, 1973; Schrimper, 1973; Reser, 1981; and Burke et al., 1983 (see additional references in Hannibal, this volume, chapter 6). Plaster casting is covered by Babcock (this volume, chapter 34).
Preparation of hollow casts
Authors: Smith J. , Latimer B.
Published: May 2018

Hollow casts are advantageous because they require less casting material and are, therefore, economical. They are also light weight and can be made in a variety of materials including plaster or resins. Although hollow casts can be produced simply and economically using plaster, the fragility of the final product speaks strongly against the use of this medium. Resinous casting compounds require somewhat greater effort but the durability of the casts makes them superior to plaster casts in all respects.
Preparation of paleontological plates
Authors: Feldmann Rodney M.
Published: May 2018

Arrangement of photographic illustrations as they will appear on the published page represents one important aspect in the culmination of the preparation process. Although only a few general conditions need to be met in order to prepare a proper composite illustration, considerable care and attention to detail are necessary to achieve the best results. In general, questions of tone of the illustrations, scale of each of the individual illustrations, and arrangement of the illustrations on the plate are the primary factors that must be considered in preparing the finished product.
Developmental and Gender Differences in the Production of the Past Tense in Spanish Children
Authors: Domínguez Alberto , Izura Cristina , Medina Ana Cecilia
Published: May 2018

This study investigates gender differences in children’s linguistic development of Spanish past tense verbs. Two groups of 30 children, each consisting of 15 girls and 15 boys, were studied: Preschool children (5 years old) and 1st grade (7 years old). Participants carried out an elicitation task where a verbal change from present to past tense was required. Frequency and regularity variables were introduced as experimental factors to study differences between gender and age. The results showed that morphological rules were more successfully applied in 1st grade than in preschool children. Youngest participants showed a greatest influence of lexical variables, such as verb frequency and produced more omission and repetition errors. Gender differences only appeared in the oldest children, with girls being more affected by verb frequency and regularity. Girls also demonstrated a broader vocabulary than boys as shown by the qualitative analyses.
What Doesn’t Work to Reduce Reoffending?
Authors: Barnett Georgia D. , Fitzalan Howard Flora
Published: May 2018

Abstract. This paper describes a review of meta-analyses and systematic reviews, to explore what appears to be ineffective in reducing reoffending among people convicted of crime. The focus of this review is on secondary or tertiary crime prevention initiatives, concentrating on interventions aiming to reduce offending among adults serving sentences in custody or the community. Twenty-one reviews met the inclusion criteria, covering interventions aiming to reduce violence, domestic violence, sexual offending, drug misuse, driving under the influence, and general reoffending. Fourteen of these reviews identified interventions that have no impact on criminal recidivism, and three identified interventions that in at least one study were actively harmful by increasing the risk of recidivism of participants. Findings suggest that ineffective interventions may comprise drug testing as a stand-alone strategy, insight-oriented and behavioral interventions for sexual offending, brief interventions for alcohol misuse, and in prison in the longer-term, agonist pharmacological treatment alone for drug misuse. Those interventions that had demonstrated, in at least one of the evaluations reviewed, that they were associated with negative behaviors were court-mandated treatment for domestic violence, boot camps, incarceration-based agonist drug treatment and custodial (when compared to noncustodial) sanctions. Taken together with the findings of previous reviews in this area, the authors identify features of interventions which are likely to be ineffective in reducing reoffending. Explanations for these interventions’ likely failure to reduce reoffending draw on criminological and social psychological research and behavioral science. The authors also note that this review may not include all relevant evidence and findings should therefore be considered indicative.
How Does Riming Affect Dual‐Polarization Radar Observations and Snowflake Shape?
Authors: Li Haoran , Moisseev Dmitri , von Lerber Annakaisa
Published: May 2018

As an ice particle grows by riming its shape is expected to change, resulting in a more spherical particle at the later stages of riming. This conceptual model is at the core of the current ice microphysical schemes and used for dual‐polarization radar observation based classification of hydrometeors. A quantitative relation between riming and shapes of snowflake aggregates, however, has not been established yet. This study aims to derive this relation by using surface‐based precipitation and coinciding dual‐polarization radar observations. The observations were collected during four winter seasons, 49 snowstorms, at University of Helsinki measurement station in Hyytiälä, Finland. Results show that relation between the differential reflectivity and reflectivity‐weighted rime mass fraction is not monotonic and depends on reflectivity‐weighted mean diameter. This behavior can be explained by the opposing effects of riming on dual‐polarization radar observations. Riming increases particle bulk density, which leads to more pronounced dual‐polarization radar signatures. As riming progresses the aspect ratio of snowflake increases slowly until the rime mass fraction value reaches a certainty value after which the aspect ratio increases more rapidly. Finally, coutilization of Ze, Zdr, and Kdp for inferring riming fraction is analyzed.
Final Subduction Processes of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean in the Alxa Tectonic Belt (NW China): Constraints From Field and Chronological Data of Permian Arc‐Related Volcano‐Sedimentary Rocks
Authors: Song Dongfang , Xiao Wenjiao , Collins Alan S. , Glorie Stijn , Han Chunming , Li Yongchen
Published: May 2018

The timing of final subduction and closure of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean (PAO) is controversial. Located in a key position within the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt, the Alxa Tectonic Belt (ATB) provides a crucial window to evaluate the final subduction processes of the PAO. This study presents field and geochronological data for Permian volcano‐sedimentary rocks from the southwestern ATB. Field observations revealed a syntectonic unconformity between the Middle and Upper Permian strata. Detrital zircon U‐Pb analyses show a major peak at ~273 Ma and a subordinate peak at ~440 Ma for the Middle Permian sample. The Upper Permian samples show consistently unimodal age spectra with single peaks at ~261 and ~263 Ma, respectively. The Permian zircons from the analyzed samples yield predominately positiveεHf(t) values, indicating major juvenile magmatic processes mixed with limited recycled Precambrian basement. The diagnostic zircon U‐Pb‐Hf isotopic characteristics and ubiquitous intermediate and felsic volcanic detritus in these rocks indicate rapid sediments accumulation sourced from a proximal magmatic terrane in a suprasubduction zone environment. The Paleozoic zircon U‐Pb age peaks from this study are comparable to those for the Permian arc‐related sediments along the Solonker Suture Zone, thus linking the Alxa active margin with the northern margin of the North China Craton during Middle‐Late Permian times. Our study thus provides key constraints for the final subduction processes of the PAO, documented within the ATB, before the terminal amalgamation of the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt.
Climate Change Amplifications of Climate‐Fire Teleconnections in the Southern Hemisphere
Authors: Mariani Michela , Holz Andrés , Veblen Thomas T. , Williamson Grant , Fletcher Michael‐Shawn , Bowman David M. J. S.
Published: May 2018

Recent changes in trend and variability of the main Southern Hemisphere climate modes are driven by a variety of factors, including increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases, changes in tropical sea surface temperature, and stratospheric ozone depletion and recovery. One of the most important implications for climatic change is its effect via climate teleconnections on natural ecosystems, water security, and fire variability in proximity to populated areas, thus threatening human lives and properties. Only sparse and fragmentary knowledge of relationships between teleconnections, lightning strikes, and fire is available during the observed record within the Southern Hemisphere. This constitutes a major knowledge gap for undertaking suitable management and conservation plans. Our analysis of documentary fire records from Mediterranean and temperate regions across the Southern Hemisphere reveals a critical increased strength of climate‐fire teleconnections during the onset of the 21st century including a tight coupling between lightning‐ignited fire occurrences, the upward trend in the Southern Annular Mode, and rising temperatures across the Southern Hemisphere.
Internal Versus External Sources of Plasma at Saturn: Overview From Magnetospheric Imaging Investigation/Charge‐Energy‐Mass Spectrometer Data
Authors: Allen R. C. , Mitchell D. G. , Paranicas C. P. , Hamilton D. C. , Clark G. , Rymer A. M. , Vines S. K. , Roelof E. C. , Krimigis S. M. , Vandegriff J.
Published: May 2018

Plasma composition observations provide a useful mechanism for investigating plasma sources and subsequent evolution within planetary magnetospheres. While He++ is the second most abundant ion species in the solar wind, there are no known sources of He++ ions within the magnetosphere of Saturn, allowing He++ to serve as a tracer of solar wind ions within the Kronian magnetosphere. Meanwhile, water group ions (W+, consisting of O+, OH+, H2O+, and H3O+) and H2+, known to originate within the magnetosphere of Saturn, serve as a tracer of internally ionized plasma. In this paper, we investigate the relative abundances and properties of energetic (32–220 keV) ion species originating from sources within the magnetosphere and from the solar wind. Solar wind‐originating ions are observed to have significant relative abundance (up to ~0.05) in the midnight, dawn, and noon local time quadrants at high radial distances (~40, ~45, and ~20 RS, respectively). Several possible entry processes, such as reconnection and Kelvin‐Helmholtz instabilities, are outlined in this paper as well as a discussion of subsequent transport.
Transport Properties of Fe2SiO4 Melt at High Pressure From Classical Molecular Dynamics: Implications for the Lifetime of the Magma Ocean
Authors: Sun Yicheng , Zhou Huiqun , Yin Kun , Zhao Mengqi , Xu Shijin , Lu Xiancai
Published: May 2018

The transport properties of silicate melts played important roles in various geodynamic processes during the evolution of the Earth. The dependence of transport properties on the temperature and pressure of Fe‐bearing melts has not been systematically explored, although Fe‐bearing silicate melts are thought to have represented important portions of the early Earth and Earth's current mantle. Based on large‐scale molecular dynamics calculations, the pressure and temperature dependences of the self‐diffusivity and viscosity of fayalite (Fe2SiO4) from 1600 to 4000 K and up to 50 GPa have been investigated. The results indicate that the self‐diffusion coefficient increases and viscosity decreases with increasing temperature; the calculated temperature dependence of transport coefficients can be fit with an Arrhenian relation below 5 GPa, while viscosity exhibits a crossover from Arrhenius to non‐Arrhenius behavior at pressure higher than 20 GPa. With increasing pressure, the mobility of Fe2SiO4 melt is inhibited along isotherms, and Fe2SiO4 melt is more viscous than Mg2SiO4 melt at high pressures. Combining these results with those from previous studies of magma ocean isentropes, the associated viscosity profiles of Fe2SiO4 melt are discussed. Our results indicate that iron‐rich silicate melts would have decelerated the cooling rate in the lower mantle and had a great influence on the physical properties of the lower mantle portion of the magma ocean.
Experimental Measurement of the Solid Particle Concentration in Geophysical Turbulent Gas‐Particle Mixtures
Authors: Weit A. , Roche O. , Dubois T. , Manga M.
Published: May 2018

Dilute gas‐particle mixtures in which the particles are carried by the turbulent fluid are found in various geophysical contexts, from cold snow avalanches to hot pyroclastic density currents. Though previous studies suggest that such mixtures have maximum particle concentrations of a few volume percent, the dependence of this maximum concentration on the Reynolds number is unclear. We addressed this issue through laboratory experiments in a vertical pipe, where dilute gas‐particle mixtures were created by injecting a turbulent air flow from below. Nearly monodisperse mixtures of glass beads of different grain sizes (77 to 1,550 μm) were used with varying bulk concentrations from 0.025 to 8 vol. %. To create quasi‐static mixtures, the mean air velocity matched the terminal settling velocity for the grain sizes investigated. The maximum Reynolds numbers of the mixtures were ~104–106. The air pressure indicated full support of the particle weight at concentrations down to 0.025 vol. %. Above a critical particle concentration, at which all the particles were suspended, subsequent additional particles were not maintained in the mixture and led to the formation of clusters that settled downward in the pipe to form a dense fluidized bed. Maximum mean particle concentrations of the dilute mixtures increased from ~1 to ~2.8 vol. % and reached a plateau at increasing mixture Reynolds number. These results give insights into the maximum particle concentrations of geophysical turbulent gas‐particle mixtures and may serve to constrain observations as well as the input and output data of models.
Polarization insensitive frequency conversion for an atom-photon entanglement distribution via a telecom network
Authors: Ikuta Rikizo , Kobayashi Toshiki , Kawakami Tetsuo , Miki Shigehito , Yabuno Masahiro , Yamashita Taro , Terai Hirotaka , Koashi Masato , Mukai Tetsuya , Yamamoto Takashi , Imoto Nobuyuki
Published: May 2018

Long-lifetime quantum storages accessible to the telecom photonic infrastructure are essential to long-distance quantum communication. Atomic quantum storages have achieved subsecond storage time corresponding to 1000 km transmission time for a telecom photon through a quantum repeater algorithm. However, the telecom photon cannot be directly interfaced to typical atomic storages. Solid-state quantum frequency conversions fill this wavelength gap. Here we report on the experimental demonstration of a polarization-insensitive solid-state quantum frequency conversion to a telecom photon from a short-wavelength photon entangled with an atomic ensemble. Atom–photon entanglement has been generated with a Rb atomic ensemble and the photon has been translated to telecom range while retaining the entanglement by our nonlinear-crystal-based frequency converter in a Sagnac interferometer.
Interpretable dimensionality reduction of single cell transcriptome data with deep generative models
Authors: Ding Jiarui , Condon Anne , Shah Sohrab P.
Published: May 2018

Single-cell RNA-sequencing has great potential to discover cell types, identify cell states, trace development lineages, and reconstruct the spatial organization of cells. However, dimension reduction to interpret structure in single-cell sequencing data remains a challenge. Existing algorithms are either not able to uncover the clustering structures in the data or lose global information such as groups of clusters that are close to each other. We present a robust statistical model, scvis, to capture and visualize the low-dimensional structures in single-cell gene expression data. Simulation results demonstrate that low-dimensional representations learned by scvis preserve both the local and global neighbor structures in the data. In addition, scvis is robust to the number of data points and learns a probabilistic parametric mapping function to add new data points to an existing embedding. We then use scvis to analyze four single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets, exemplifying interpretable two-dimensional representations of the high-dimensional single-cell RNA-sequencing data.
Large quantum-spin-Hall gap in single-layer 1T′ WSe2
Authors: Chen P. , Pai Woei Wu , Chan Y.-H. , Sun W.-L. , Xu C.-Z. , Lin D.-S. , Chou M. Y. , Fedorov A.-V. , Chiang T.-C.
Published: May 2018

Two-dimensional (2D) topological insulators (TIs) are promising platforms for low-dissipation spintronic devices based on the quantum-spin-Hall (QSH) effect, but experimental realization of such systems with a large band gap suitable for room-temperature applications has proven difficult. Here, we report the successful growth on bilayer graphene of a quasi-freestanding WSe2 single layer with the 1T′ structure that does not exist in the bulk form of WSe2. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS), we observe a gap of 129 meV in the 1T′ layer and an in-gap edge state located near the layer boundary. The system′s 2D TI characters are confirmed by first-principles calculations. The observed gap diminishes with doping by Rb adsorption, ultimately leading to an insulator–semimetal transition. The discovery of this large-gap 2D TI with a tunable band gap opens up opportunities for developing advanced nanoscale systems and quantum devices.
Continuous addition of progenitors forms the cardiac ventricle in zebrafish
Authors: Felker Anastasia , Prummel Karin D. , Merks Anne M. , Mickoleit Michaela , Brombacher Eline C. , Huisken Jan , Panáková Daniela , Mosimann Christian
Published: May 2018

The vertebrate heart develops from several progenitor lineages. After early-differentiating first heart field (FHF) progenitors form the linear heart tube, late-differentiating second heart field (SHF) progenitors extend the atrium and ventricle, and form inflow and outflow tracts (IFT/OFT). However, the position and migration of late-differentiating progenitors during heart formation remains unclear. Here, we track zebrafish heart development using transgenics based on the cardiopharyngeal gene tbx1. Live imaging uncovers a tbx1 reporter-expressing cell sheath that continuously disseminates from the lateral plate mesoderm towards the forming heart tube. High-speed imaging and optogenetic lineage tracing corroborates that the zebrafish ventricle forms through continuous addition from the undifferentiated progenitor sheath followed by late-phase accrual of the bulbus arteriosus (BA). FGF inhibition during sheath migration reduces ventricle size and abolishes BA formation, refining the window of FGF action during OFT formation. Our findings consolidate previous end-point analyses and establish zebrafish ventricle formation as a continuous process.
Tomographic and multimodal scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy with peak force tapping mode
Authors: Wang Haomin , Wang Le , Jakob Devon S. , Xu Xiaoji G.
Published: May 2018

Scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM) enables nanoscale spectroscopic imaging and has been instrumental for many nano-photonic discoveries and in situ studies. However, conventional s-SNOM techniques with atomic force microscopy tapping mode operation and lock-in detections do not provide direct tomographic information with explicit tip−sample distance. Here, we present a non-traditional s-SNOM technique, named peak force scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (PF-SNOM), by combination of peak force tapping mode and time-gated light detection. PF-SNOM enables direct sectioning of vertical near-field signals from a sample surface for both three-dimensional near-field imaging and spectroscopic analysis. Tip-induced relaxation of surface phonon polaritons are revealed and modeled by considering tip damping. PF-SNOM also delivers a spatial resolution of 5 nm and can simultaneously measure mechanical and electrical properties together with optical near-field signals. PF-SNOM is expected to facilitate three-dimensional nanoscale near-field characterizations and correlative in situ investigations on light-induced mechanical and electrical effects.
A unified formulation of dichroic signals using the Borrmann effect and twisted photon beams
Authors: Collins Stephen P. , Lovesey Stephen W.
Published: May 2018

Dichroic X-ray signals derived from the Borrmann effect and a twisted photon beam with topological charge l = 1 are formulated with an effective wavevector. The unification applies for non-magnetic and magnetic materials. Electronic degrees of freedom associated with an ion are encapsulated in multipoles previously used to interpret conventional dichroism and Bragg diffraction enhanced by an atomic resonance. A dichroic signal exploiting the Borrmann effect with a linearly polarized beam presents charge-like multipoles that include a hexadecapole. A difference between dichroic signals obtained with a twisted beam carrying spin polarization (circular polarization) and opposite winding numbers presents charge-like atomic multipoles, whereas a twisted beam carrying linear polarization alone presents magnetic (time-odd) multipoles. Charge-like multipoles include a quadrupole, and magnetic multipoles include a dipole and an octupole. We discuss the practicalities and relative merits of spectroscopy exploiting the two remarkably closely-related processes. Signals using beams with topological charges l ≥ 2 present additional atomic multipoles.
Molecular Size Modulates Pharmacokinetics, Biodistribution, and Renal Deposition of the Drug Delivery Biopolymer Elastin-like Polypeptide
Authors: Kuna Marija , Mahdi Fakhri , Chade Alejandro R. , Bidwell Gene L.
Published: May 2018

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELP) are engineered proteins that consist of repetitions of a five amino acid motif, and their composition is easily modified to adjust their physical properties and attach therapeutics. Because of the repetitive nature of the ELP sequence, polymer size is particularly amenable to manipulation. ELP fusion proteins are being actively developed as therapeutics for many disease applications, and how the ELP size and shape affects its pharmacokinetics and biodistribution is a critical question for the general field of ELP drug delivery. To address this, we generated a library of ELPs ranging in size from 25 kDa to 110 kDa. Terminal plasma half-life was directly proportional to polymer size, and organ biodistribution was also size dependent. The kidneys accumulated the highest levels of ELP of all sizes, followed by the liver. Within the kidney, most ELP was found in the proximal tubule, but intra-renal localization shifted from exclusively cortical to a mixture of cortical and medullary as ELP size increased.
Metabolic Reprogramming in Leaf Lettuce Grown Under Different Light Quality and Intensity Conditions Using Narrow-Band LEDs
Authors: Kitazaki Kazuyoshi , Fukushima Atsushi , Nakabayashi Ryo , Okazaki Yozo , Kobayashi Makoto , Mori Tetsuya , Nishizawa Tomoko , Reyes-Chin-Wo Sebastian , Michelmore Richard W. , Saito Kazuki , Shoji Kazuhiro , Kusano Miyako
Published: May 2018

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are an artificial light source used in closed-type plant factories and provide a promising solution for a year-round supply of green leafy vegetables, such as lettuce (Lactuca sativaL.). Obtaining high-quality seedlings using controlled irradiation from LEDs is critical, as the seedling health affects the growth and yield of leaf lettuce after transplantation. Because key molecular pathways underlying plant responses to a specific light quality and intensity remain poorly characterised, we used a multi-omics–based approach to evaluate the metabolic and transcriptional reprogramming of leaf lettuce seedlings grown under narrow-band LED lighting. Four types of monochromatic LEDs (one blue, two green and one red) and white fluorescent light (control) were used at low and high intensities (100 and 300 μmol·m−2·s−1, respectively). Multi-platform mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and RNA-Seq were used to determine changes in the metabolome and transcriptome of lettuce plants in response to different light qualities and intensities. Metabolic pathway analysis revealed distinct regulatory mechanisms involved in flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathways under blue and green wavelengths. Taken together, these data suggest that the energy transmitted by green light is effective in creating a balance between biomass production and the production of secondary metabolites involved in plant defence.
Dark septate endophytes isolated from a xerophyte plant promote the growth of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus under drought condition
Authors: Li Xia , He Xueli , Hou Lifeng , Ren Ying , Wang Shaojie , Su Fang
Published: May 2018

Dark septate endophytes (DSE) may facilitate plant growth and stress tolerance in stressful ecosystems. However, little is known about the response of plants to non-host DSE fungi isolated from other plants, especially under drought condition. This study aimed to seek and apply non-host DSE to evaluate their growth promoting effects in a desert species, Ammopiptanthus mongolicus, under drought condition. Nine DSE strains isolated from a super-xerophytic shrub, Gymnocarpos przewalskii, were identified and used as the non-host DSE. And DSE colonization rate (30–35%) and species composition in the roots of G. przewalskii were first reported. The inoculation results showed that all DSE strains were effective colonizers and formed a strain-dependent symbiosis with A. mongolicus. Specifically, one Darksidea strain, Knufia sp., and Leptosphaeria sp. increased the total biomass of A. mongolicus compared to non-inoculated plants. Two Paraconiothyrium strains, Phialophora sp., and Embellisia chlamydospora exhibited significantly positive effects on plant branch number, potassium and calcium content. Two Paraconiothyrium and Darksidea strains particularly decreased plant biomass or element content. As A. mongolicus plays important roles in fixing moving sand and delay desertification, the ability of certain DSE strains to promote desert plant growth indicates their potential use for vegetation recovery in arid environments.
Highly Bactericidal Macroporous Antimicrobial Polymeric Gel for Point-of-Use Water Disinfection
Authors: Kumar Amit , Boyer Cyrille , Nebhani Leena , Wong Edgar H. H.
Published: May 2018

Access to clean and safe water supply remains inadequate in many developing countries. One of the key challenges is to remove pathogenic bacteria from the water supply via effective water disinfection technologies to prevent the spread of diseases and to ensure the safety of consumers. Herein, a highly effective point-of-use (on-demand) water disinfection technology, in the form of a polymeric scaffold called macroporous antimicrobial polymeric gel (MAPG), is demonstrated. MAPG is easy to fabricate, completely organic and possess inherent antimicrobial property which makes it non-reliant on inorganic compounds such as silver where the long-term toxicity remains unknown. MAPG is highly bactericidal and can disinfect bacteria-contaminated water (ca. 108 CFU mL−1) at a capacity of about >50 times the mass of the organic material used, inactivating >99% of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria including Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae and Staphylococcus aureus within 20 minutes of treatment. When fabricated in a syringe, MAPG eliminates E. coli from contaminated water source by >8.0 log10 reduction in bacteria counts (i.e., no viable bacteria were detected after treatment), and the syringe can be reused multiple times without losing potency. The MAPG technology is not only restricted to water disinfection but may also be applicable in other bacteria inactivation applications.
Well-protected quantum state transfer in a dissipative spin chain
Authors: Behzadi Naghi , Ektesabi Abbas , Ahansaz Bahram
Published: May 2018

In this work, a mechanism is investigated for improving the quantum state transfer efficiency in a spin chain, which is in contact with a dissipative structured reservoir. The efficiency of the method is based on the addition of similar non-interacting auxiliary chains into the reservoir. In this way, we obtain the exact solution for the master equation of the spin chain in the presence of dissipation. It is found out that entering more auxiliary chains into the reservoir causes, in general, the better improvement of the fidelity of state transfer along the mentioned chain. Furthermore, it is reveal that the protocol has better efficiency for a chain with longer length. Therefore, by this method, quantum state transfer along a linear chain with an arbitrary number of qubits, can be well-protected against the dissipative noises.
Whole-genome analysis of Mustela erminea finds that pulsed hybridization impacts evolution at high latitudes
Authors: Colella Jocelyn P. , Lan Tianying , Schuster Stephan C. , Talbot Sandra L. , Cook Joseph A. , Lindqvist Charlotte
Published: May 2018

At high latitudes, climatic shifts hypothetically initiate recurrent episodes of divergence by isolating populations in glacial refugia—ice-free regions that enable terrestrial species persistence. Upon glacial recession, populations subsequently expand and often come into contact with other independently diverging populations, resulting in gene flow. To understand how recurrent periods of isolation and contact may have impacted evolution at high latitudes, we investigated introgression dynamics in the stoat (Mustela erminea), a Holarctic mammalian carnivore, using whole-genome sequences. We identify two spatio-temporally distinct episodes of introgression coincident with large-scale climatic shifts: contemporary introgression in a mainland contact zone and ancient contact ~200 km south of the contemporary zone, in the archipelagos along North America’s North Pacific Coast. Repeated episodes of gene flow highlight the central role of cyclic climates in structuring high-latitude diversity, through refugial divergence and introgressive hybridization. When introgression is followed by allopatric isolation (e.g., insularization) it may ultimately expedite divergence.
The electronic Rothamsted Archive (e-RA), an online resource for data from the Rothamsted long-term experiments
Authors: Perryman Sarah A. M. , Castells-Brooke Nathalie I. D. , Glendining Margaret J. , Goulding Keith W. T. , Hawkesford Malcolm J. , Macdonald Andy J. , Ostler Richard J. , Poulton Paul R. , Rawlings Christopher J. , Scott Tony , Verrier Paul J.
Published: May 2018

The electronic Rothamsted Archive, e-RA (www.era.rothamsted.ac.uk) provides a permanent managed database to both securely store and disseminate data from Rothamsted Research’s long-term field experiments (since 1843) and meteorological stations (since 1853). Both historical and contemporary data are made available via this online database which provides the scientific community with access to a unique continuous record of agricultural experiments and weather measured since the mid-19th century. Qualitative information, such as treatment and management practices, plans and soil information, accompanies the data and are made available on the e-RA website. e-RA was released externally to the wider scientific community in 2013 and this paper describes its development, content, curation and the access process for data users. Case studies illustrate the diverse applications of the data, including its original intended purposes and recent unforeseen applications. Usage monitoring demonstrates the data are of increasing interest. Future developments, including adopting FAIR data principles, are proposed as the resource is increasingly recognised as a unique archive of data relevant to sustainable agriculture, agroecology and the environment.
Field-recorded data on the diet of six species of European Hydromantes cave salamanders
Authors: Lunghi Enrico , Cianferoni Fabio , Ceccolini Filippo , Mulargia Manuela , Cogoni Roberto , Barzaghi Benedetta , Cornago Lorenzo , Avitabile Domenico , Veith Michael , Manenti Raoul , Ficetola Gentile Francesco , Corti Claudia
Published: May 2018

The availability of data on the feeding habits of species of conservation value may be of great importance to develop analyses for both scientific and management purposes. Stomach flushing is a harmless technique that allowed us to collect extensive data on the feeding habits of six Hydromantes species. Here, we present two datasets originating from a three-year study performed in multiple seasons (spring and autumn) on 19 different populations of cave salamanders. The first dataset contains data of the stomach content of 1,250 salamanders, where 6,010 items were recognized; the second one reports the size of the intact prey items found in the stomachs. These datasets integrate considerably data already available on the diet of the European plethodontid salamanders, being also of potential use for large scale meta-analyses on amphibian diet.
A pair of datasets for microRNA expression profiling to examine the use of careful study design for assigning arrays to samples
Authors: Qin Li-Xuan , Huang Huei-Chung , Villafania Liliana , Cavatore Magali , Olvera Narciso , Levine Douglas A.
Published: May 2018

We set out to demonstrate the logistic feasibility of careful experimental design for microarray studies and its level of scientific benefits for improving the accuracy and reproducibility of data inference. Towards this end, we conducted a study of microRNA expression using endometrioid endometrial tumours (n=96) and serous ovarian tumours (n=96) that were primary, untreated, and collected from 2000 to 2012 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The same set of tumour tissue samples were profiled twice using the Agilent microRNA microarrays: once under an ideal experimental condition with balanced array-to-sample allocation and uniform handling; a second time by mimicking typical practice, with arrays assigned in the order of sample collection and processed by two technicians in multiple batches. This paper provides a detailed description of the generation and validation of this unique dataset pair so that the research community can re-use it to investigate other statistical questions regarding microarray study design and data analysis, and to address biological questions on the relevance of microRNA expression in gynaecologic cancer.
HYSOGs250m, global gridded hydrologic soil groups for curve-number-based runoff modeling
Authors: Ross C. Wade , Prihodko Lara , Anchang Julius , Kumar Sanath , Ji Wenjie , Hanan Niall P.
Published: May 2018

Hydrologic soil groups (HSGs) are a fundamental component of the USDA curve-number (CN) method for estimation of rainfall runoff; yet these data are not readily available in a format or spatial-resolution suitable for regional- and global-scale modeling applications. We developed a globally consistent, gridded dataset defining HSGs from soil texture, bedrock depth, and groundwater. The resulting data product—HYSOGs250m—represents runoff potential at 250 m spatial resolution. Our analysis indicates that the global distribution of soil is dominated by moderately high runoff potential, followed by moderately low, high, and low runoff potential. Low runoff potential, sandy soils are found primarily in parts of the Sahara and Arabian Deserts. High runoff potential soils occur predominantly within tropical and sub-tropical regions. No clear pattern could be discerned for moderately low runoff potential soils, as they occur in arid and humid environments and at both high and low elevations. Potential applications of this data include CN-based runoff modeling, flood risk assessment, and as a covariate for biogeographical analysis of vegetation distributions.
Microfluidic technologies for circulating tumor cell isolation
Authors: Cho Hyungseok , Kim Jinho , Song Hanjung , Sohn Keun Yong , Jeon MinHyon , Han Ki-Ho
Published: May 2018

Metastasis is the main cause of tumor-related death, and the dispersal of tumor cells through the circulatory system is a critical step in the metastatic process.
Synthesis of hydrogel-bearing phenylboronic acid moieties and their applications in glucose sensing and insulin delivery
Authors: Elshaarani Tarig , Yu Haojie , Wang Li , Zain-ul-Abdin Zain-ul-Abdin , Ullah Raja Summe , Haroon Muhammad , Khan Rizwan Ullah , Fahad Shah , Khan Amin , Nazir Ahsan , Usman Muhammad , Naveed Kaleem-ur-Rahman
Published: May 2018

In past few years, phenylboronic acids (PBAs) have attracted researcher's attention due to their unique responsiveness towards diol-containing molecules such as glucose.
Polymer-augmented liposomes enhancing antibiotic delivery against intracellular infections
Authors: Su Fang-Yi , Chen Jasmin , Son Hye-Nam , Kelly Abby M. , Convertine Anthony J. , West T. Eoin , Skerrett Shawn J. , Ratner Daniel M. , Stayton Patrick S.
Published: May 2018

A simplified liposome formulation with three functionalities to enhance antibiotic bioavailability to cytosolic bacteria: carbohydrate-mediated targeting; pH-responsive release; endosomal-release activity.
Au–Pd bimetallic nanoparticles supported on a high nitrogen-rich ordered mesoporous carbon as an efficient catalyst for room temperature Ullmann coupling of aryl chlorides in aqueous media
Authors: Karimi Babak , Barzegar Hossein , Vali Hojatollah
Published: May 2018

An ionic liquid derived highly nitrogen-rich mesoporous carbon supported Au–Pd alloy was found to be an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the Ullmann coupling reaction of various aryl chlorides at room temperature.
Fluorescence/phosphorescence-conversion in self-assembled organic microcrystals
Authors: Tao Yi-Chen , Li Zhi-Zhou , Wang Xue-Dong , Xiao Lu , Fu Hongbing , Liao Liang-Sheng
Published: May 2018

Self-assembled fluorescent organic microcrystals of 4-(2,2-difluoro-6-(4-iodophenyl)-2H-1′,3,2′-dioxaborinin-4-yl)benzonitrile (DIDB) can be modulated to phosphorescent microcrystals by doping into the 4-iodobenzonitrile matrix.
A supramolecular photosensitizer system based on the host–guest complexation between water-soluble pillar[6]arene and methylene blue for durable photodynamic therapy
Authors: Yang Kui , Wen Jia , Chao Shuang , Liu Jing , Yang Ke , Pei Yuxin , Pei Zhichao
Published: May 2018

A supramolecular photosensitizer system WP6–MB that can efficiently overcome photobleaching and reduce the dark toxicity of MB was constructed for durable PDT.
Application of lanthanide luminescence in probing enzyme activity
Authors: Hewitt Sarah H. , Butler Stephen J.
Published: May 2018

Assays to monitor enzyme reactions are vital for studying enzyme mechanism, function and inhibition. We focus on recent progress in the development of enzyme activity assays using lanthanide(iii) luminescence, covering Ln(iii)-labelled biomolecules, Ln(iii) ion encapsulation within peptide sequences, reactivity-based Ln(iii) probes and discrete Ln(iii) complexes.
Low temperature solution synthesis of silicon, germanium and Si–Ge axial heterostructures in nanorod and nanowire form
Authors: Flynn G. , Stokes K. , Ryan K. M.
Published: May 2018

Herein, we report the formation of silicon, germanium and more complex Si–SixGe1−x and Si–Ge axial 1D heterostructures, at low temperatures in solution. The incorporation of a reducing agent into the reaction is shown to be effective to lower precursor decomposition temperatures.
Highlights from the Faraday Discussion on Ionic Liquids: From Fundamental Properties to Practical Applications, Cambridge, UK, September 2017
Authors: Aldous Leigh , Bendova Magdalena , Gonzalez-Miquel Maria , Swadźba-Kwaśny Małgorzata
Published: May 2018

For the third time, a Faraday Discussion addressed ionic liquids.
New insights into the origin of hysteresis behavior in perovskite solar cells
Authors: Li Xin , Wang Yichao , Tai Meiqian , Zhao Xingyue , Gu Youchen , Han Jianhua , Shen Heping , Li Jianbao , Lin Hong
Published: May 2018

Explaining the origin of hysteresis by analyzing the electrical processes after changing the external electrical bias: the compensating electric field to the scanning voltage induced by drifting carriers.
Non-covalent interactions of uranyl complexes: a theoretical study
Authors: Platts James A. , Baker Robert J.
Published: May 2018

Ab initio and DFT data quantify the ability of model uranyl complexes to engage in hydrogen- and halogen-bonding, quantifying the weakness of U–Oyl as an acceptor but the strength of equatorial OH2 as a donor.
Molecular-based upconversion in homo/heterogeneous liquids and in micro/nanostructured solid materials
Authors: Latterini L. , Massaro G. , Penconi M. , Gentili P. L. , Roscini C. , Ortica F.
Published: May 2018

A step-by-step investigation to move TTA-UC from homogeneous solutions to nanostructured solid materials for new technological perspectives.
Post-functionalization of a photoactive hybrid polyoxotungstate
Authors: Cameron Jamie M. , Fujimoto Satomi , Wei Rong-Jia , Newton Graham N. , Oshio Hiroki
Published: May 2018

A new approach to the development of photoactive hybrid polyoxometalates is reported, combining inorganic and organic functionalisation strategies.
Food-grade monoglyceride oil foams: the effect of tempering on foamability, foam stability and rheological properties
Authors: Heymans Robbe , Tavernier Iris , Danthine Sabine , Rimaux Tom , Van der Meeren Paul , Dewettinck Koen
Published: May 2018

The time-temperature history of monoglyceride-oleogels has a large influence on the foamability and foam stability of the corresponding oil foams.