bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contrasting nest survival patterns for ducks and songbirds in northern mixed‐grass prairie
Authors: Grant Todd A. , Shaffer Terry L. , Madden Elizabeth M. , Nenneman Melvin P.
Published: April 2017

Management actions intended to protect or improve habitat for ducks may benefit grassland‐nesting passerines, but scant information is available to explore this assumption. During 1998–2003, we examined nest survival of ducks and songbirds to determine whether effects of prescribed fire and other habitat features (e.g., shrub cover and distance to habitat edges) were similar for ducks and passerines breeding in North Dakota. We used the logistic‐exposure method to estimate survival of duck and songbird nests (n = 3,171). We used an information‐theoretic approach to identify factors that most influenced nest survival. Patterns of nest survival were markedly different between taxonomic groups. For ducks, nest survival was greater during the first postfire nesting season (daily survival rate [DSR] = 0.957, 85% CI = 0.951–0.963), relative to later postfire nesting seasons (DSR = 0.946, 85% CI = 0.942–0.950). Furthermore duck nest survival and nest densities were inversely related. Duck nest survival also was greater as shrub cover decreased and as distance from cropland and wetland edges increased. Passerines had lower nest survival during the first postfire nesting season (DSR = 0.934, 85% CI = 0.924–0.944), when densities also were low compared to subsequent postfire nesting seasons (DSR = 0.947, 85% CI = 0.944–0.950). Parasitism by brown‐headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) reduced passerine nest survival and this effect was more pronounced during the first postfire nesting season compared to subsequent nesting seasons. Passerine nest survival was greater as shrub cover decreased and perhaps for more concealed nests. Duck and songbird nest survival rates were not correlated during this study and for associated studies that examined additional variables using the same dataset, suggesting that different mechanisms influenced their survival. Based on our results, ducks should not be considered direct surrogates for passerines when predicting effects of prescribed fire, shrub cover, and habitat edges on nest survival. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Greater sage‐grouse habitat selection, survival, and wind energy infrastructure
Authors: LeBeau Chad W. , Johnson Gregory D. , Holloran Matthew J. , Beck Jeffrey L. , Nielson Ryan M. , Kauffman Mandy E. , Rodemaker Eli J. , McDonald Trent L.
Published: April 2017

Increasing concern for environmental sustainability, the demand for domestic energy, and an impetus on reducing dependence on fossil fuels have led to substantial investment in renewable energies including wind energy over the last 2 decades. Increases in wind energy development are especially noticeable in prairie habitats with high wind capacity. This has raised concerns over effects on grouse species including greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). We monitored 346 female greater sage‐grouse via telemetry from 2009 to 2014 in southeastern Wyoming, within a control area and an area influenced by a wind energy development to estimate the potential effects of wind energy infrastructure on greater sage‐grouse habitat selection and demography. We developed resource selection functions by comparing habitats used to habitats available relative to the wind energy development during the nesting, brood‐rearing, and summer periods. In addition, we used survival models to estimate the variability in nest, brood, and female survival relative to the wind energy development. The relative probability of greater sage‐grouse selecting brood‐rearing and summer habitats decreased as percentage of surface disturbance associated with the facility infrastructure increased. We did not, however, detect a negative effect of the wind energy facility on nest site selection or on nest, brood‐rearing, or female survival during the study. Future wind energy developments should consider the potential effects of wind energy development on sage‐grouse habitat selection patterns and survival parameters ≤1.20 km from any occupied sage‐grouse nesting, brood‐rearing, or summer habitats. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
How open access is crucial to the future of science: A reply
Authors: Romesburg H. Charles
Published: April 2017

I explained how publishing wildlife research in open access (OA) journals like PLOS ONE makes wildlife science less reliable. Subsequently, several researchers rejected my explanation, opining that OA journals have top publishing standards and are crucial for the future of wildlife science because researchers in developing countries can access them for free, better enabling them to contribute. Consequently, some opined that research societies should consider remaking their society journals into OA journals, in particular the Journal of Wildlife Management (JWM) sponsored by The Wildlife Society (TWS) becoming an OA journal. In this, my response to them, I show that their opinions are misguided and explain 1) how OA journals unquestionably have inferior publishing standards; 2) why OA is not crucial to the future of wildlife science; 3) why wildlife science's investing its limited resources in certain areas other than OA publishing is crucial to its future; 4) why changing JWM into an OA journal would quite possibly result in losing both TWS and JWM as we know them, leaving us with much less effective replacements; 5) how universities push for open access not because OA leads to better science (it does not) but because OA saves university libraries money, serves egalitarian attitudes among faculty and students, and provides graduate students with the quickest and easiest way of getting their articles into print; and 6) how the goal of growing science in developing countries requires growing the countries’ economies as prerequisite to growing their science, irrespective of the availability of OA articles. As well, these ideas hold beyond wildlife science, including throughout the natural resources and environmental sciences. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Strengthening Phosphoric Acid Doped Polybenzimidazole Membranes with Siloxane Networks for Using as High Temperature Proton Exchange Membranes
Authors: Yang Jingshuai , Gao Liping , Wang Jin , Xu Yixin , Liu Chao , He Ronghuan
Published: April 2017

Two silane compounds, i.e., ((chloromethyl)phenylethyl)trimethoxysilane (Ph‐Si) and 3‐chloropropyltriethoxysilane (Pr‐Si), are employed as covalent crosslinkers to fabricate high temperature proton exchange membranes based on polybenzimidazole (PBI) in order to better understand the correlation between the structure and the property of the crosslinked membranes. All the crosslinked PBI membranes display longer morphology durability over the neat PBI membrane toward the radical oxidation. The crosslinked membranes with the crosslinker containing a rigid group of phenylene (PBI‐Ph) show superior acid doping level, high conductivity, and excellent mechanical strength simultaneously, comparing to those with the crosslinker having a flexible alkyl chain (PBI‐Pr) and the pristine PBI based membrane. The technical feasibility for using as high temperature proton exchange membranes is demonstrated by the acid doped crosslinked PBI‐Ph membranes via fuel cell tests.

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Electrospinning of Xanthan Polysaccharide
Authors: Shekarforoush Elhamalsadat , Faralli Adele , Ndoni Sokol , Mendes Ana C. , Chronakis Ioannis S.
Published: April 2017

Electrospun pure xanthan polysaccharide nanofibers are prepared using formic acid as a solvent. Morphological studies by scanning electron microscopy show that uniform fibers with average diameters ranging from 128 ± 36.7 to 240 ± 80.7 nm are formed depending on the polysaccharide concentration (0.5 to 2.5 wt/vol%). The correlation between the concentration and the rheological properties of xanthan solutions, with the morphology of the nanofibers is investigated. At the polysaccharide concentrations where nanofiber formation is observed, an increase of the elastic modulus and first normal stress differences is observed. The typical “weak gel‐like” and thixotropic properties known for aqueous xanthan solutions, are not observed for the xanthan solutions in formic acid. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic and circular dichroism studies verify that an esterification reaction takes place, where formic acid reacts with the pyruvic acid groups of xanthan. Hence, formate groups neutralize the pyruvic charges which in turn stabilize the helical conformation of xanthan. The results obtained from size‐exclusion chromatography reveal a small difference in the molecular weight of the polysaccharide when dissolved in distilled water or in formic acid.

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Scalable Synthesis and Multi‐Electron Transfer of Aniline/Fluorene Copolymer for Solution‐Processable Battery Cathodes
Authors: Li Fei , Zou Yang , Wang Shaoyang , Fang Lei , Lutkenhaus Jodie L.
Published: April 2017

In this study, the authors report the highly efficient, multigram‐scale synthesis of an ester‐functionalized, poly(aniline‐co‐fluorene) polymer. The excellent solubility and film‐forming ability of this polymer facilitate its application as a reversible battery cathode. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring confirms a multi‐electron transfer process, resulting in a specific discharge capacity of 51 mAh g−1 and a high reversible doping level of 0.69. Galvanostatic cycling at 1 C demonstrates excellent electrode stability with a capacity retention of 95.2% after 100 cycles. Therefore, this work demonstrates a novel electroactive polymer that exemplifies how chemical functionality may be used to properly balance processability and electroactivity of macromolecular battery cathodes.

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A three‐dimensional micromechanically based model
Authors: Xiong H. , Nicot F. , Yin Z. Y.
Published: April 2017

Granular materials react with complicated mechanical responses when subjected to external loading paths. This leads to sophisticated constitutive formulations requiring large numbers of parameters. A powerful and straightforward way consists in developing micro‐mechanical models embedding both micro‐scale and meso‐scale. This paper proposes a 3D micro‐mechanical model taking into account an intermediate scale (meso‐scale) that makes it possible to describe a variety of constitutive features in a natural way. The comparison between experimental tests and numerical simulations reveals the predictive capability of this model. Particularly, several simulations are carried out with different confining pressures and initial void ratios, based on the fact that the critical state is quantitatively described without requiring any critical state formulations and parameter. The model mechanism is also analyzed from a microscopic view, wherein the evolution of some key microscopic parameters is investigated. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanical and structural properties of glass fiber‐reinforced polypropylene (PPGF) composites
Authors: Kossentini Kallel Tasnim , Taktak Rym , Guermazi Noamen , Mnif Nizar
Published: April 2017

This work focuses on the study of mechanical and structural properties of glass fiber‐reinforced polypropylene (PPGF) composites compatiblized with maleic anhydride (MAH) grafted PP (PP‐g‐MAH). Thus, effects of the compatibilizer on the flow capacity, fiber orientation and length distribution, thermal and mechanical properties were evaluated. Combining fiber length and melt flow index (MFI) results, it can be speculated that when the compatibilizer is added, the level of fiber matrix interaction increases and the fluidity of the molten composite material improves, resulting in a better orientation and a lower level of fiber length degradation. Moreover, the mechanical analysis based on the micromechanical model was conducted to estimate the effect of the compatibilizer on the interfacial shear stress, orientation factor, and the tensile strength. The main results indicate that the experimental data have confirmed the validity of the micromechanical model. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:3497–3508, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
SWATH‐ID: An instrument method which combines identification and quantification in a single analysis
Authors: Kang Yang , Burton Lyle , Lau Adam , Tate Stephen
Published: April 2017

Data‐independent acquisition (DIA) approaches, such as SWATH®‐MS, are showing great potential to reliably quantify significant numbers of peptides and proteins in an unbiased manner. These developments have enhanced interest in developing a single DIA method that integrates qualitative and quantitative analysis, eliminating the need of a prebuilt library of peptide spectra, which are created through data‐dependent acquisition methods or from public repositories. Here, we introduce a new DIA approach, referred to as “SWATH‐ID,” which was developed to allow peptide identification as well as quantitation. The SWATH‐ID method is composed of small Q1 windows, achieving better selectivity and thus significantly improving high‐confidence peptide extractions from data files. Furthermore, the SWATH‐ID approach transmits precursor ions without fragmentation as well as their fragments within the same SWATH acquisition period. This provides a single scan that includes all precursor ions within the isolation window as well as a record of all of their fragment ions, substantially negating the need for a survey scan. In this way all precursors present in a small Q1 window are associated with their fragment ions, improving the identification specificity and providing a more comprehensive and in‐depth view of protein and peptide species in complex samples.
Combining affinity enrichment, cross‐linking with photo amino acids, and mass spectrometry for probing protein kinase D2 interactions
Authors: Häupl Björn , Ihling Christian H. , Sinz Andrea
Published: April 2017

We present a novel approach that relies on the affinity capture of protein interaction partners from a complex mixture, followed by their covalent fixation via UV‐induced activation of incorporated diazirine photoreactive amino acids (photo‐methionine and photo‐leucine). The captured protein complexes are enzymatically digested and interacting proteins are identified and quantified by label‐free LC/MS analysis. Using HeLa cell lysates with photo‐methionine and photo‐leucine‐labeled proteins, we were able to capture and preserve protein interactions that are otherwise elusive in conventional pull‐down experiments. Our approach is exemplified for mapping the protein interaction network of protein kinase D2, but has the potential to be applied to any protein system. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifiers PXD005346 (photo amino acid incorporation) and PXD005349 (enrichment experiments).
Optimization design of the CUSUM and EWMA charts for autocorrelated processes
Authors: Osei‐Aning Richard , Abbasi Saddam Akber , Riaz Muhammad
Published: April 2017

The traditional control charts produce frequent false alarm signals in the presence of autocorrelation. The implementation of the modified chart scheme is a way of handling the problem of autocorrelation in control charts. In modified charts, the standard control limits of the traditional charts are adjusted to offset the influence because of the autocorrelation. The exponentially weighted moving average– and cumulative sum–modified charts are 2 widely used charts for monitoring autocorrelated data. These charts have design parameters in their formulation, and the choice of these parameters play significant roles in the detection of out‐of‐control situations. In reality, the magnitude of the mean shift is uncertain, and this leads to a difficulty in the choice of design parameters by the practitioner. The use of optimal parameters can enhance process performance in such situations. In this paper, we determine optimal design parameters for the charts using an exhaustive search procedure. In the optimization process, we determine the parameters that produce the smallest extra quadratic loss (EQL) value for each autocorrelation coefficient. This criterion measures the anticipated loss attributed to poor quality in the process. The loss in quality is lowered by minimizing the EQL and the combination of parameters in the chart that yields the smallest EQL has a better detection ability over the entire shift range. For the purpose of this work, we concentrate on autocorrelation that can be specifically modelled with autoregressive models. This article provides the practitioner with optimal parameters that can be used to enhance the overall effectiveness of the charts over an entire shift range.
Monte Carlo simulation of a Knudsen effusion mass spectrometer sampling system
Authors: Radke Michael J. , Jacobson Nathan S. , Copland Evan H.
Published: April 2017

Rationale

Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry (KEMS) shows improved performance with the "restricted collimation" method of Chatillon and colleagues, which consists of two apertures between the Knudsen cell orifice and the ionizer. These apertures define the shape and position of the molecular beam independently of the sample and effusion orifice and as a result reduce background and improve sampling from the Knudsen cell. Modeling of the molecular beam in restricted collimation allows optimization of the apertures' diameters and spacing.

Methods

Knudsen flow is easily simulated with a Monte Carlo method. In this study a Visual Basic for Excel (VBA) code is developed to simulate the molecular beam originating from a vaporizing condensed phase in a Knudsen cell and passing through the cell orifice and the two apertures.

Results

The code is able to calculate the transmission coefficient through the cell orifice, through the cell orifice and the first aperture, and through the cell orifice and first and second apertures. Also calculated are the angular distributions of the effusate density emerging from the cell and average number of collisions with the orifice walls.

Conclusions

This code allows the geometry (aperture spacing and diameters) of the sampling system to be optimized for maximum transmission. The calculated effusate distributions and low average number of orifice wall collisions illustrated the advantages of restricted collimation. Calculated transmission factors are also compared to literature values calculated via the analytical method of Chatillon and colleagues. Published in 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
2D/3D reconstruction of the distal femur using statistical shape models addressing personalized surgical instruments in knee arthroplasty: A feasibility analysis
Authors: Cerveri Pietro , Sacco Costanza , Olgiati Gianluca , Manzotti Alfonso , Baroni Guido
Published: April 2017

Background

Personalized surgical instruments (PSI) have gained success in the domain of total knee replacement, demonstrating clinical outcomes similar or even superior to both traditional and navigated surgeries. The key requirement for prototyping PSI is the availability of the digital bony surface. In this paper, we aim at verifying whether the 2D/3D reconstruction of the distal femur, based on statistical shape models (SSM), grants sufficient accuracy, especially in the condylar regions, to support a PSI technique.

Methods

Computed tomographic knee datasets acquired on 100 patients with severe cartilage damage were retrospectively considered in this work. All the patients underwent total knee replacement using the PSI‐based surgical technique. Eighty out of 100 reconstructed distal femur surfaces were used to build the statistical model. The remaining 20 surfaces were used for testing. The 2D/3D reconstruction process was based on digital reconstructed radiographies (DRRs) obtained with a simulated X‐ray projection process. An iterative optimization procedure, based on an evolutionary algorithm, systematically morphed the statistical model to decrease the difference between the DRR, obtained by the original CT dataset, and the DRR obtained from the morphed surface.

Results

Over the 80 variations, the first ten modes were found sufficient to reconstruct the distal femur surface with accuracy. Using three DRR, the maximum Hausdorff and RMS distance errors were lower than 1.50 and 0.75 mm, respectively. As expected, the reconstruction quality improved by increasing the number of DRRs. Statistical difference (P < 0.001) was found in the 2 vs 3, 2 vs 4 and 2 vs 5 DRR, thus proving that adding just a single displaced projection to the two traditional sagittal and coronal X‐ray images improved significantly the reconstruction quality. The effect of the PSI contact area errors on the distal cut direction featured a maximum median error lower than 2° and 0.5° on the sagittal and frontal plane, respectively. Statistical difference was found (P < 0.0001) in the reconstruction accuracy when comparing SSM built using pathologic with respect to non‐pathologic shapes (cadavers), meaning that, to improve the patient‐specific reconstruction, the morphologic anomalies, specific to the pathology, must be embedded into the SSM.

Conclusions

We showed that the X‐ray based reconstruction of the distal femur is reasonable also in presence of pathologic bony conditions, featuring accuracy results similar to earlier reports in the literature that reconstructed normal femurs. This finding discloses the chance of applying the proposed methodology to the reconstruction of bony surfaces used in the PSI surgical approach.
New Life Builders looking for something to do
Authors: McCaughan Dave
Published: April 2017

A few months ago a little known café in Devon England got worldwide coverage on the BBC for hiring a waiter. And yes in writing this article the Cantina café is getting more free publicity. But then they are a rare example of a leading edge business. Huh?? Well they did something that the world is going to have to do a lot more often in the near future: they answered an 89 year old man's advertisement that he wanted a job.
Growth of Silver Nanowires from Controlled Silver Chloride Seeds and Their Application for Fluorescence Enhancement Based on Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance
Authors: Bae Sunwoong , Han Hyeji , Bae Jin Gook , Lee Eun Yeol , Im Sang Hyuk , Kim Do Hyun , Seo Tae Seok
Published: April 2017

A “Polyol” method has granted low‐cost and facile process‐controllability for silver‐nanowire (Ag‐NW) synthesis. Although homogenous and heterogeneous nucleation and growth during Ag‐NW synthesis are possible using polyol methods, heterogeneous nucleation and growth of Ag NW guarantees highly selective growth of nanostructures using silver chloride (AgCl) seeds, which provides a stable source of chloride ions (Cl−) and thermodynamic reversibility. In this paper, a microdroplet has been adopted to synthesize uniform AgCl seeds with different diameter that are used for seed‐mediated Ag‐NW synthesis. The concentration of two precursors (AgNO3 and NaCl) in the droplets is modulated to produce different sizes of AgCl seeds, which determines the diameter and length of Ag NWs. The process of the seed‐mediated growth of Ag NWs has been monitored by observing the peak shift in the time‐resolved UV–vis extinction spectrum. Furthermore, the distinct plasmonic property of Ag NWs for transverse and longitudinal localized‐surface‐plasmon‐resonance (LSPR)‐mediated fluorescence enhancement is utilized. The high aspect ratio and sharp tips work as simple antennas that induce the enhanced fluorescence emission intensity of a fluorophore, which can be applied in the fields of biological tissue imaging and therapy.
Flexible Chirality in Self‐Assembled N‐Annulated Perylenedicarboxamides
Authors: Buendía Julia , Calbo Joaquín , Ortí Enrique , Sánchez Luis
Published: April 2017

N‐annulated perylenedicarboxamides 1–3 form supramolecular polymers with a strong tendency to aggregate. The bundles of fibers formed generate a spontaneous anisotropy that conditions the chiroptical features of the described molecules in solution; a strong linear dichroism effect accompanies the circular dichroism (CD) outcome. There is no influence of the point chirality existing at the side chains of 1 and 2, and these molecules present the same chiroptical features as achiral 3. Mechanical rotary stirring increases the CD response and the sign of the dichroic signal changes with the stirring direction. Theoretical calculations indicate that the self‐assembly of 1–3 in helical columnar stacks generates atropisomers by the restricted rotation of the H‐bonded benzamide units. Molecular mechanics/molecular dynamics calculations predict a feasible intrastack stereomutation of the helical aggregates due to the rapid rupture/formation of the amide H‐bonds. This oscillating helicity, together with the fact that right‐ and left‐handed helices are predicted to be mostly isoenergetic, justifies the negligible contribution of the molecular chirality embedded in the paraffinic side chains of 1 and 2. The reported CD behavior contributes to shed light on the physical processes promoting flexible macroscopic chirality that, in turn, can be utilized for the spectroscopic visualization of torsional flows generated in a vortex.
A Free‐Standing and Self‐Healable 2D Supramolecular Material Based on Hydrogen Bonding: A Nanowire Array with Sub‐2‐nm Resolution
Authors: Li Ming , Song Mengyao , Wu Guitai , Tang Zhenyu , Sun Yunfeng , He Yunbin , Li Jinhua , Li Lei , Gu Haoshuang , Liu Xiong , Ma Chuang , Peng Zefei , Ai Zhaoquan , Lewis David J.
Published: April 2017

In many 2D materials reported thus far, the forces confining atoms in a 2D plane are often strong interactions, such as covalent bonding. Herein, the first demonstration that hydrogen (H)‐bonding can be utilized to assemble polydiacetylene (a conductive polymer) toward a 2D material, which is stable enough to be free‐standing, is shown. The 2D material is well characterized by a large number of techniques (mainly different microscopy techniques). The H‐bonding allows splitting of the material into ribbons, which can reassemble, similar to a zipper, leading to the first example of a healable 2D material. Moreover, such technology can easily create 2D, organic, conductive nanowire arrays with sub‐2‐nm resolution. This material may have potential applications in stretchable electronics and nanowire cross‐bar arrays.
Photovoltaic Devices Based on Colloidal PbX Quantum Dots: Progress and Prospects
Authors: Liu Zeke , Yuan Jianyu , Hawks Steven A. , Shi Guozheng , Lee Shuit‐Tong , Ma Wanli
Published: April 2017

A certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 12.0% and an outstanding air stability has been achieved for PbX quantum dots (QDs) solar cells, indicating strong potential for next generation low‐cost solution‐processed photovoltaics. Similar progress has been made in several other solar cell architectures employing PbX QD absorbers. This article aims to review the recent progress in understanding the photovoltaic‐relevant properties of PbX QDs and highlight their application in various types of photovoltaic devices. In doing so, we hope that the unique properties of PbX QDs can be better understood in a broader context, and their potential can be fully realized with the aiding of other photovoltaic materials and novel device structures.
Zinc‐Tin‐Oxide Buffer Layer and Low Temperature Post Annealing Resulting in a 9.0% Efficient Cd‐Free Cu2ZnSnS4 Solar Cell
Authors: Ericson Tove , Larsson Fredrik , Törndahl Tobias , Frisk Christopher , Larsen Jes , Kosyak Volodymyr , Hägglund Carl , Li Shuyi , Platzer‐Björkman Charlotte
Published: April 2017

Zn1−xSnxOy (ZTO) has yielded promising results as a buffer material for the full sulfur Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS), with efficiencies continuously surpassing its CdS‐references. ZTO can be deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD), enabling tuning of the conduction band position through the choice of metal ratio or deposition temperature. Thus, an optimization of the conduction band alignment between ZTO and CZTS can be achieved. The ZTO bandgap is generally larger than that of CdS and can therefore yield higher currents due to reduced losses in the short wavelength region. Another advantage is the possibility to omit the toxic Cd. In this study, the ALD process temperature was varied from 105 to 165 °C. Current‐blocked devices were obtained at 105 °C, while the highest open‐circuit voltage and device efficiency was achieved for 145 °C. The highest fill factor was seen at 165 °C. The best efficiency reached in this study was 9.0%, which, to our knowledge, is the highest efficiency reported for Cd‐free full‐sulfur CZTS. We also show that the effect of heat needs to be taken into account. The results indicate that part of the device improvement comes from heating the absorber, but that the benefit of using a ZTO‐buffer is clear.
Mental rotation: an examination of assumptions
Authors: Searle Jordan A. , Hamm Jeff P.
Published: April 2017

Since first presented by Shepard and Metzler, Science 1971, 171: 701–703, mental rotation has been described as a rotary transformation of a visual stimulus allowing it to be represented in a new orientation. For a given stimulus, the transformation is thought to occur at a constant speed, though speed may vary between stimuli; three‐dimensional abstract shapes made out of blocks tend to be rotated much more slowly than alphanumeric characters or line drawings of common objects. Rotation is also presumed to be performed through the shortest angle. These assumptions are based upon the fact that response times tend to increase with angle of rotation, peaking at 180° of separation for abstract block figures or from upright for common objects and alphanumeric stimuli. The symmetry about 180° provides evidence supporting rotation through the shortest angle. In order to determine the shortest direction, the current orientation of the stimulus is assumed to be known prior to mental rotation. Moreover, in order to determine the current orientation of a common object or alphanumeric stimulus, it is assumed the stimulus is identified prior to mental rotation because the current orientation is defined by what the object is. In mirror/normal discriminations or left/right facing discriminations of rotated stimuli response times are often examined by collapsing over response options as this variable is assumed to be uninteresting in terms of mental rotation. This article examines these assumptions, and suggests that many of them are not entirely safe. WIREs Cogn Sci 2017, 8:e1443. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1443

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Theory and Methods
Proximity‐dependent labeling methods for proteomic profiling in living cells
Authors: Chen Chiao‐Lin , Perrimon Norbert
Published: April 2017

Characterizing the proteome composition of organelles and subcellular regions of living cells can facilitate the understanding of cellular organization as well as protein interactome networks. Proximity labeling‐based methods coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) offer a high‐throughput approach for systematic analysis of spatially restricted proteomes. Proximity labeling utilizes enzymes that generate reactive radicals to covalently tag neighboring proteins with biotin. The biotinylated endogenous proteins can then be isolated for further analysis by MS. To analyze protein–protein interactions or identify components that localize to discrete subcellular compartments, spatial expression is achieved by fusing the enzyme to specific proteins or signal peptides that target to particular subcellular regions. Although these technologies have only been introduced recently, they have already provided deep insights into a wide range of biological processes. Here, we describe and compare current methods of proximity labeling as well as their applications. As each method has its own unique features, the goal of this review is to describe how different proximity labeling methods can be used to answer different biological questions. WIREs Dev Biol 2017, 6:e272. doi: 10.1002/wdev.272

This article is categorized under:

Technologies > Analysis of Proteins
Targeted nanoparticles for head and neck cancers: overview and perspectives
Authors: Zhao Yuying , Chen Haolin , Chen Xing , Hollett Geoffrey , Gu Zhipeng , Wu Jun , Liu Xiqiang
Published: April 2017

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is common in several regions and is associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. This review summarizes the recent progress in the development of targeted nanoparticle systems for HNC therapy. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2017, 9:e1469. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1469

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Novel basin modelling concept for simulating deformation from mechanical compaction using level sets
Authors: McGovern Sean , Kollet Stefan , Bürger Claudius M. , Schwede Ronnie L. , Podlaha Olaf G.
Published: April 2017

As sedimentation progresses in the formation and evolution of a depositional geologic basin, the rock strata are subject to various stresses. With increasing lithostatic pressure, compressional forces act to compact the porous rock matrix, leading to overpressure buildup, changes in the fluid pore pressure and fluid flow. In the context of petroleum systems modelling, the present study concerns the geometry changes that a compacting basin experiences subject to deposition. The purpose is to track the positions of the rock layer interfaces as compaction occurs. To handle the challenge of potentially large geometry deformations, a new modelling concept is proposed that couples the pore pressure equation with a level set method to determine the movement of lithostratigraphic interfaces. The level set method propagates an interface according to a prescribed speed. The coupling term for the pore pressure and level-set equations consists of this speed function, which is dependent on the compaction law. The two primary features of this approach are the simplicity of the grid and the flexibility of the speed function. A first evaluation of the model concept is presented based on an implementation for one spatial dimension accounting for vertical effective stress. Isothermal conditions with a constant fluid density and viscosity were assumed. The accuracy of the implemented numerical solution for the case of a single stratigraphic unit with a linear compaction law was compared to the available analytical solution [38]. The multi-layer setup and the nonlinear case were tested for plausibility.
Simultaneous Component Analysis by Means of Tucker3
Authors: Stegeman Alwin
Published: April 2017

A new model for simultaneous component analysis (SCA) is introduced that contains the existing SCA models with common loading matrix as special cases. The new SCA-T3 model is a multi-set generalization of the Tucker3 model for component analysis of three-way data. For each mode (observational units, variables, sets) a different number of components can be chosen and the obtained solution can be rotated without loss of fit to facilitate interpretation. SCA-T3 can be fitted on centered multi-set data and also on the corresponding covariance matrices. For this purpose, alternating least squares algorithms are derived. SCA-T3 is evaluated in a simulation study, and its practical merits are demonstrated for several benchmark datasets.
Gender-gaps and glass ceilings: A survey of gender-specific publication trends in Psychiatry between 1994 and 2014
Authors: Süßenbacher S. , Amering M. , Gmeiner A. , Schrank B.
Published: April 2017

Background:

Within academic psychiatry, women are underrepresented in the higher academic ranks. However, basic determinants of women's lack of academic advancement such as publication activity are poorly understood. The present study examines women's publication activity in high-impact psychiatry journals over two decades and reports developments in the numbers of male and female authorship over time and across cultural areas.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective bibliometric review of all articles published in 2004 and 2014 in three high-ranking general psychiatry journals. Statistical comparisons were made between the two years and with results from a baseline assessment in 1994.

Results:

The overall percentage of female authors increased from 24.6% in 1994 to 33.2% in 2004 to 38.9% in 2014. Though increases in female authorship were statistically significant for both decades, there was less difference between 2004 and 2014, indicating a possible ceiling effect. Rates of female first authors increased between 1994 and 2014, though to a lesser degree between 2004 and 2014. Numbers of female corresponding authors plateaued between 2004 and 2014. Within Europe, Scandinavia displayed the most balanced gender-wise first author ratios. Western European and Central European countries increased their rates of female first authors substantially between 2004 and 2014.

Conclusions:

Despite gains in some areas, our study reveals considerable deficits in the diversity of the current academic psychiatric landscape. Ongoing efforts and interventions to enhance the participation of underrepresented groups on institutional, political and editorial levels are necessary to diversify psychiatric research.
Circulating Tumor DNA as Biomarkers for Cancer Detection
Authors: Han Xiao , Wang Junyun , Sun Yingli
Published: April 2017

Detection of circulating tumor DNAs (ctDNAs) in cancer patients is an important component of cancer precision medicine ctDNAs. Compared to the traditional physical and biochemical methods, blood-based ctDNA detection offers a non-invasive and easily accessible way for cancer diagnosis, prognostic determination, and guidance for treatment. While studies on this topic are currently underway, clinical translation of ctDNA detection in various types of cancers has been attracting much attention, due to the great potential of ctDNA as blood-based biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment of cancers. ctDNAs are detected and tracked primarily based on tumor-related genetic and epigenetic alterations. In this article, we reviewed the available studies on ctDNA detection and described the representative methods. We also discussed the current understanding of ctDNAs in cancer patients and their availability as potential biomarkers for clinical purposes. Considering the progress made and challenges involved in accurate detection of specific cell-free nucleic acids, ctDNAs hold promise to serve as biomarkers for cancer patients, and further validation is needed prior to their broad clinical use.
Lirex: A Package for Identification of Long Inverted Repeats in Genomes
Authors: Wang Yong , Huang Jiao-Mei
Published: April 2017

Long inverted repeats (LIRs) are evolutionarily and functionally important structures in genomes because of their involvement in RNA interference, DNA recombination, and gene duplication. Identification of LIRs is highly complicated when mismatches and indels between the repeats are permitted. Long inverted repeat explorer (Lirex) was developed and introduced in this report. Written in Java, Lirex provides a user-friendly interface and allows users to specify LIR searching criteria, such as length of the region, as well as pattern and size of the repeats. Recombinogenic LIRs can be selected on the basis of mismatch rate and internal spacer size from identified LIRs. Lirex, as a cross-platform tool to identify LIRs in a genome, may assist in designing following experiments to explore the function of LIRs. Our tool can identify more LIRs than other LIR searching tools. Lirex is publicly available at http://124.16.219.129/Lirex.
Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Sandoval-Sus Jose D. , Sotomayor Eduardo M. , Shah Bijal D.
Published: April 2017

Mantle cell lymphoma is a clinically heterogeneous disease occurring within a heterogeneous patient population, highlighting a need for personalized therapy to ensure optimal outcomes. It is therefore critical to understand the benefits and risks associated with both intensive and deintensified approaches. In the following review we provide a therapeutic roadmap to strategically guide treatment for newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory patients highlighting pivotal and recently published results involving known and novel therapies.
Prevalence of homeopathy use by the general population worldwide: a systematic review
Authors: Relton Clare , Cooper Katy , Viksveen Petter , Fibert Philippa , Thomas Kate
Published: April 2017

Aim: To systematically review surveys of 12-month prevalence of homeopathy use by the general population worldwide.

Methods: Studies were identified via database searches to October 2015. Study quality was assessed using a six-item tool. All estimates were in the context of a survey which also reported prevalence of any complementary and alternative medicine use.

Results: A total of 36 surveys were included. Of these, 67% met four of six quality criteria.

Twelve-month prevalence of treatment by a homeopath was reported in 24 surveys of adults (median 1.5%, range 0.2–8.2%). Estimates for children were similar to those for adults. Rates in the USA, UK, Australia and Canada all ranged from 0.2% to 2.9% and remained stable over the years surveyed (1986–2012).

Twelve-month prevalence of all use of homeopathy (purchase of over-the-counter homeopathic medicines and treatment by a homeopath) was reported in 10 surveys of adults (median 3.9%, range 0.7–9.8%) while a further 11 surveys which did not define the type of homeopathy use reported similar data. Rates in the USA and Australia ranged from 1.7% to 4.4% and remained stable over the years surveyed. The highest use was reported by a survey in Switzerland where homeopathy is covered by mandatory health insurance.

Conclusions: This review summarises 12-month prevalence of homeopathy use from surveys conducted in eleven countries (USA, UK, Australia, Israel, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, South Korea, Japan and Singapore). Each year a small but significant percentage of these general populations use homeopathy. This includes visits to homeopaths as well as purchase of over-the-counter homeopathic medicines.
Agenda Crossover
Authors: Treul Sarah A.
Published: April 2017

Agenda Crossover updates our understanding of state delegations, exploring how they influence representation and responsiveness in Congress today. The theory of agenda crossover posits that members of the House and Senate have much to gain from monitoring the legislative agendas of other members of the delegation, especially those in the opposite chamber. Treul clearly demonstrates that individual members of delegations still utilize their fellow delegates in order to help them respond to constituents and enhance their own electoral success. It is argued that on certain issues - particularly the ones most relevant to a state's economy - members of Congress are willing to set aside partisan differences and work across the aisle. In this way, these bicameral connections between members of a state delegation - even across party lines - can, at times, trump the power of party in Congress.
Is Globalisation Yesterday’s News?
Authors: Hopkins A. G.
Published: April 2017

Globalisation is now a fashionable topic of historical research. Books and articles routinely use the term, though often in a loose manner that has yet to realise the full potential of the subject. The question arises as to whether globalisation, as currently applied by historians, is sufficiently robust to resist inevitable changes in historiographical fashion. The fact that globalisation is a process and not a single theory opens the way, not only to over-general applications of the term, but also to rich research possibilities derived in particular from other social sciences. One such prospect, which ought to be at the centre of all historians’ interests, is how to categorise the evolution of the process. This question, which has yet to stimulate the lively debate it needs, is explored here by identifying three successive phases or sequences between the eighteenth century and the present, and joining them to the history of the empires that were their principal agents. These phases, termed proto-globalisation, modern globalisation, and postcolonial globalisation provide the context for reviewing the history of the West, including the United States, and in principle of the wider world too.
Differences in Polio Mortality by Socioeconomic Status in Two Southern Ontario Counties, 1900–1937
Authors: Battles Heather T.
Published: April 2017

The collective polio literature of the mid-twentieth century developed a model centered on age at infection. In this model, known as the hygiene hypothesis, risk of severe polio increased with socioeconomic status (SES) because higher SES was associated with older age at infection. Rural residence was also linked to increased polio risk due to older age at infection. Crowding and larger family size were associated with earlier age at infection and thus reduced the risk of severe polio. In contrast, according to the intensive-exposure hypothesis proposed by Nielsen and colleagues (2001, 2002), exposure to the poliovirus within the home was linked to increased severity of infection, making larger family size and crowding important risk factors. Data for polio deaths in Wentworth and York counties, including the cities of Hamilton and Toronto, from 1900 to 1937 were gathered from a variety of archival sources and socioeconomic class was coded using the five-point composite score scale from Hauser (1982). The results provide support for the intensive-exposure hypothesis as an addition to the traditional polio model. Age at death increased with status score during the earlier 1900–1929 period, but not in the 1930–1937 period. The overall proportions of polio deaths in the various status scores were stable over both periods and disproportionately prevalent in status score three (skilled blue collar). This analysis of polio mortality provides a more nuanced picture of the disease and its relation to SES in a time of rapidly changing socioecological conditions.
Plump or Corpulent? Lean or Gaunt? Historical Categories of Bodily Health in Nineteenth-Century Thought
Authors: Hutson David J.
Published: April 2017

Although “excess” weight today is usually associated with poor health, nineteenth-century classifications present an interesting historical puzzle: Physician concern with “corpulence,” on the one hand, was balanced by praise for “plumpness,” on the other. This is quite different from contemporary understandings of weight, where the focus is overwhelmingly on overweight and obesity. Through an analysis of nineteenth-century medical, health reform, and popular journals, I find that there was concern with weight on both ends of the spectrum—thin bodies and fat bodies were potential states of health, as well as illness, through the categories of plumpness, corpulence, leanness, and gauntness. In this way, body weight held multiple symbolic positions up until the early twentieth century when plumpness receded as a category of health. Such findings problematize the standard historical narrative of valued-to-stigmatized fatness, and suggest that the symbolic position held by body weight constitutes a more complicated phenomenon than previously believed.
High Arctic Emissions of a Strong Greenhouse Gas
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: April 2017

Isotope data bring scientists one step closer to revealing the microbial processes behind nitrous oxide emission in the tundra.
Geosciences Make Modest Gains but Still Struggle with Diversity
Authors: Sidder Aaron
Published: April 2017

A new report reveals that increasing numbers of women are studying and working in the geosciences, but the field continues to lag in attracting underrepresented groups.