bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Composites of Graphitic‐phase Nitrogen Carbon/Lanthanide Coordination Polymers as White Light‐emitting Phosphor
Authors: Bao Wei , Yu Xiao‐Yan , Dong Wen‐Wen , Zhao Jun , Tian Zheng‐Fang , Li Dong‐Sheng
Published: November 2019

Lanthanide coordination polymers (Ln‐CPs) are excellent candidates for designing white light materials due to their adjustable fluorescent characteristic by decorating organic ligands, changing metal centers and including guests. However, low quantum yield, weak blue emission, high prices and supply risks have hindered the application and developments of the pure Ln‐CPs materials. Herein, we have designed a new white color composite material capable of white light‐emission upon excitation at 338 nm, which fabricated by compositing a graphitic‐phase nitrogen carbon (g‐C3N4) treated with nitric acid and lanthanide‐based complexes, with the photoluminescencequantum yield (QY) in solid state reaching 11.7 %. WLEDs constructed by depositing the (g‐C3N4)0.783/Eu0.133/Tb0.083‐dbpt [dbpt = 3‐(3,5‐dicarboxylphenyl)‐5‐(pyrazinyl)‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole] composites on a commercial UV LED chip feature a CIE chromaticity coordinate at (0.33, 0.33), high color rendering index (CRI) of 94.6. Compared to conventional white light‐emission Ln‐CPs materials of La0.928Eu0.045Tb0.027‐dbpt and La0.896Eu0.104‐dbpt reveals that (g‐C3N4)0.783/Eu0.133/Tb0.083‐dbpt composites have higher QY and CRI values.
Leptospirose in Deutschland: Aktuelle Erkenntnisse zu Erregerspezies, Reservoirwirten und Erkrankungen bei Mensch und Tier
Authors: Nau Lisa H. , Emirhar Duygu , Obiegala Anna , Mylius Maren , Runge Martin , Jacob Jens , Bier Nadja , Nöckler Karsten , Imholt Christian , Below Diana , Princk Christina , Dreesman Johannes , Ulrich Rainer G. , Pfeffer Martin , Mayer-Scholl Anne
Published: November 2019

Die Leptospirose ist eine Zoonose, die bei Mensch und Tier eine große Bandbreite von Krankheitssymptomen mit sehr milden bis hin zu sehr schweren Verläufen aufweisen kann. In Deutschland ist der Labornachweis einer akuten Infektion meldepflichtig: beim Menschen gemäß Infektionsschutzgesetz und bei Schweinen und Schafen gemäß der Verordnung über meldepflichtige Tierkrankheiten. Die Übertragung erfolgt über direkten und indirekten Kontakt mit dem Urin infizierter Tiere, wobei Nagetiere als Hauptreservoir gelten. Mit einer durchschnittlichen jährlichen Inzidenz von 0,1 gemeldeten Fällen pro 100.000 Einwohner ist die Leptospirose in Deutschland eine seltene Erkrankung.

Im Rahmen des vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) geförderten Projekts „Verbesserung der Öffentlichen Gesundheit durch ein besseres Verständnis der Epidemiologie nagetierübertragener Krankheiten“ (RoBoPub) werden in diesem Übersichtsartikel aktuelle Kenntnisse zur Leptospirose in Deutschland dargestellt. In einem One-Health-Ansatz werden Informationen zum klinischen Bild, verfügbare Prävalenzdaten bei Mensch und Tier und Erkenntnisse über die Erregerverbreitung, die Wirtsassoziation, die Übertragung des Erregers sowie die Umweltstabilität zusammengefasst. Darüber hinaus werden erste Erkenntnisse zum Einfluss von Populationsschwankungen in Nagetierpopulationen auf das Auftreten der Leptospirose diskutiert. Ziel des Übersichtsartikels ist es, die Wahrnehmung für diese gegenwärtig noch vernachlässigte Erkrankung in Deutschland zu erhöhen.

In Zukunft sollten auch die im Zuge des Klimawandels möglicherweise vermehrt auftretenden erhöhten Temperaturen und starken Regenfälle und die damit einhergehende häufigere Exposition des Menschen mit den Erregern berücksichtigt werden.
Inter-laboratory study on standardized MPS libraries: evaluation of performance, concordance, and sensitivity using mixtures and degraded DNA
Authors: Müller Petra , Sell Christian , Hadrys Thorsten , Hedman Johannes , Bredemeyer Steffi , Laurent Francois-Xavier , Roewer Lutz , Achtruth Sabrina , Sidstedt Maja , Sijen Titia , Trimborn Marc , Weiler Natalie , Willuweit Sascha , Bastisch Ingo , Parson Walther ,   the SeqForSTR-Consortium
Published: November 2019

We present results from an inter-laboratory massively parallel sequencing (MPS) study in the framework of the SeqForSTRs project to evaluate forensically relevant parameters, such as performance, concordance, and sensitivity, using a standardized sequencing library including reference material, mixtures, and ancient DNA samples. The standardized library was prepared using the ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit (primer mix A). The library was shared between eight European laboratories located in Austria, France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Sweden to perform MPS on their particular MiSeq FGx sequencers. Despite variation in performance between sequencing runs, all laboratories obtained quality metrics that fell within the manufacturer’s recommended ranges. Furthermore, differences in locus coverage did not inevitably adversely affect heterozygous balance. Inter-laboratory concordance showed 100% concordant genotypes for the included autosomal and Y-STRs, and still, X-STR concordance exceeded 83%. The exclusive reasons for X-STR discordances were drop-outs at DXS10103. Sensitivity experiments demonstrated that correct allele calling varied between sequencing instruments in particular for lower DNA amounts (≤ 125 pg). The analysis of compromised DNA samples showed the drop-out of one sample (FA10013B01A) while for the remaining three degraded DNA samples MPS was able to successfully type ≥ 87% of all aSTRs, ≥ 78% of all Y-STRs, ≥ 68% of all X-STRs, and ≥ 92% of all iSNPs demonstrating that MPS is a promising tool for human identity testing, which in return, has to undergo rigorous in-house validation before it can be implemented into forensic routine casework.
Effects of occupational cobalt exposure on the heart in the production of cobalt and cobalt compounds: a 6-year follow-up
Authors: Linna A. , Uitti J. , Oksa P. , Toivio P. , Virtanen V. , Lindholm H. , Halkosaari M. , Sauni R.
Published: November 2019

Objective

It has been suspected that cobalt is toxic to the heart. It can cause cardiotoxicity in heavily exposed humans and in experimental systems. The issue of interest for this study is whether cobalt also affects the myocardium at occupational exposure levels.

Methods

To study the effect of occupational cobalt exposure on the heart, we conducted a follow-up of workers at a cobalt production plant. The workers’ hearts had been examined by echocardiography in 1999–2000. Altogether 93 exposed and 49 non-exposed workers examined in 1999–2000 were re-examined in 2006. Occupational history and health data were collected with a questionnaire. Blood pressure was measured, and electrocardiography (ECG), laboratory tests, Holter registration, and echocardiography were conducted for all participants. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyse the data.

Results

No differences were found between the exposed and unexposed groups for any of the echocardiographic parameters in 2006. There were no differences in the laboratory values, the ECG parameters, or the results of the Holter registration of the exposed and unexposed workers.

Conclusions

Although the previous results in 2000 suggested an association between cumulative exposure to cobalt and echocardiographic findings, the results of this new cross-sectional study with a tissue Doppler 6 years later did not confirm the association in the present cohort. If cobalt exposure affects heart muscle functions at this exposure level, the effects are smaller than those caused by physiological changes due to ageing, medication, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as elevated blood pressure.
Risk Factors for Cholecystectomy After Laparoscopic Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass
Authors: Haal Sylke , Rondagh Djoeke , Hutten Barbara A. , Acherman Yair I. Z. , van de Laar Arnold W. J. M. , Huijgen Roeland , Gerdes Victor E. A. , Voermans Rogier P.
Published: November 2019

Background

Patients who have undergone bariatric surgery are at risk for subsequent cholecystectomy. We aimed to identify risk factors for cholecystectomy after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective case-control study of patients who underwent LRYGB between 2013 and 2015. Cases underwent cholecystectomy because of biliary symptoms after LRYGB. For each case, two controls were selected without subsequent cholecystectomy. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors.

Results

Between 2013 and 2015, 1780 primary LRYGBs were performed. We identified 233 (13.1%) cases who had undergone cholecystectomy after a median (IQR) of 12 (8–17) months, and 466 controls. Female gender (OR (95% CI) 1.83 (1.06–3.17)), Caucasian ethnicity (OR (95% CI) 1.82 (1.10–3.02)), higher percent total weight loss (%TWL) at 12 months (OR (95% CI) 1.06 (1.04–1.09)), and preoperative pain syndrome (OR (95% CI) 2.72 (1.43–5.18)) were significantly associated with an increased risk for cholecystectomy. Older age (OR (95% CI) 0.98 (0.96–0.99)) and preoperative statin use were associated with a reduced risk (OR (95% CI) 0.56 (0.31–1.00)). A dose-effect relationship was found between the intensity of preoperative statin and risk for cholecystectomy.

Conclusions

In our study, higher %TWL and preoperative pain syndrome were associated with an increased risk for cholecystectomy besides the traditional risk factors female gender and Caucasian ethnicity. These factors can be used to identify high-risk patients, who might benefit from preventive measures. Whether statins can protect bariatric patients from developing gallstones should be investigated prospectively.
The epipharynx-kidney axis triggers glomerular vasculitis in immunoglobulin A nephropathy
Authors: Hotta Osamu , Oda Takashi
Published: November 2019

Macroscopic hematuria concomitant with acute pharyngitis is a characteristic feature of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). Although the underlying mechanism of worsening hematuria has not been fully elucidated, activation of the innate immune system of nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue is thought to play an important role. The epipharynx is an immunologically activated site even under normal conditions, and enhanced activation of innate immunity is likely to occur in response to airborne infection. As latent but significant epipharyngitis presents in most IgAN patients, it is plausible that acute pharyngitis due to airway infection may contribute as a trigger of the epipharyngeal innate immune system, which is already upregulated in the chronically inflamed environment. The aim of this review was to discuss the mechanism of epipharynx-kidney axis involvement in glomerular vasculitis responsible for the worsening of hematuria in IgAN.
From the respective expert viewpoints of the ANM specialty editors
Authors: Inubushi Masayuki , Shidahara Miho , Takahashi Yasuyuki , Ogawa Mikako , Kiyono Yasushi
Published: November 2019

Although it may not be well known, the Annals of Nuclear Medicine (ANM) Editorial Committee includes one specialty editor of nuclear medicine physics, one of nuclear medicine technology, one of molecular imaging, and two of radiopharmacology. In addition, a statistics editor and a language editor are also on the committee. Manuscripts submitted to ANM can be peer-reviewed by such specialty editors similar to those submitted to highly ranked journals, which is a great pride and joy to us. To offer our readers a condensed global view on the high-quality research work in the field of nuclear medicine, we have published a mini-review article every year under the joint authorship of the ANM associate editors since 2016. This is our fourth serial review article written by the ANM specialty editors from their respective expert viewpoints.
Water Vapor Transport Properties of Polyurethane Films for Packaging of Respiring Foods
Authors: Turan Deniz
Published: November 2019

Thermoplastic polyurethane (PU) polymers with different chemical compositions were synthesized and casted to films, and their water vapor barrier properties at different range of relative humidity (RH) were characterized. The water vapor permeability (WVP) of packaging films is one of their most important properties to identify their suitability for use as packaging materials and is rather a complicated phenomena if the polymer has polar nature. The WVPs of PU films are determined both by permeation measurements which are a steady-state method and water vapor sorption measurements which are a non-steady-state method. Effective permeability (Peff), solubility (Seff), and diffusion (Deff) coefficients of PU films were determined at 23 °C within the RH range of 0–97%. It was found that Peff, Seff, and Deff increased with increasing RH gradient due to water vapor and polymer interactions. Microscopic images showed that 1,4-butanediol (BDO) helped to improve porous structure. Castor oil (CO) caused a decrease in the intensity of active absorption sites, namely, the C=O···H-N hydrogen bonds between chains. Results of two methods were yielded in the same magnitude of order. In most cases, the non-steady-state (sorption) method yields higher WVP values than steady state. At 0➔85% RH, the difference was up to 8-fold. Conditioning and equilibrating of films at 50% RH helped to reach sorption data approximate to permeation data. It was suitable to use sorption measurements to estimate the WVP which is a considerable simplification for polar polymers, e.g., developed PU film.
The information content of operations-related disclosures
Authors: Ma Guang
Published: November 2019

This study examines the information content of firms’ operations-related disclosures (ORDs) and the importance of these disclosures as an information source to stock markets relative to other commonly examined sources of information. I find that ORDs constitute a large portion of corporate press releases. These disclosures are associated with significant stock price reactions and trading volume. The stock price reactions to ORDs are greater than the reactions to 10-K/Q reports and are of similar magnitudes to the reactions to 8-K filings. On average, ORDs explain variation in firms’ quarterly returns to a similar degree as management earnings forecasts and 10-K/Q reports for the full sample and to a greater degree for small firms and firms with lower earnings quality.
Digital identity: solving the problem of trust
Authors: Goode Alan
Published: November 2019

The question of how we effectively and securely identify people online and enable them to perform digital tasks in a safe and secure manner is one of the fundamental issues of our time. The first challenge to overcome is that there are multiple definitions of what digital identity is. The market for identity solutions is also complex and fragmented, with many competing technologies being used to solve some of the problems facing our digital lives. Even NIST in its Digital Identity Guidelines struggles to pin down identity, stating that: “Without context, it is difficult to land on a single definition that satisfies all.”
Infection prevention and control and antibiotic stewardship practices in pediatric long-term care facilities
Authors: Johnson Candace L. , Hill-Ricciuti Alexandra , Grohs Emily , Saiman Lisa
Published: November 2019

Pediatric long-term care facilities were surveyed to assess infection control and antimicrobial stewardship practices. Policies mandated by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) were included. Only 40% of sites reported implementing >90% of surveyed CMS policies. The survey also identified several gaps in non–CMS-mandated policies.
A full Stokes ice-flow model to assist the interpretation of millennial-scale ice cores at the high-Alpine drilling site Colle Gnifetti, Swiss/Italian Alps
Authors: Licciulli Carlo , Bohleber Pascal , Lier Josef , Gagliardini Olivier , Hoelzle Martin , Eisen Olaf
Published: November 2019

The high-Alpine ice-core drilling site Colle Gnifetti (CG), Monte Rosa, Swiss/Italian Alps, provides climate records over the last millennium and beyond. However, the full exploitation of the oldest part of the existing ice cores requires complementary knowledge of the intricate glacio-meteorological settings, including glacier dynamics. Here, we present new ice-flow modeling studies of CG, focused on characterizing the flow at two neighboring drill sites in the eastern part of the glacier. The3-D full Stokes ice-flow model is thermo-mechanically coupled and includes firn rheology, firn densification and enthalpy transport, and is implemented using the finite element software Elmer/Ice. Measurements of surface velocities, accumulation, borehole inclination, density and englacial temperatures are used to validate the model output. We calculate backward trajectories and map the catchment areas. This constrains, for the first time at this site, the so-called upstream effects for the stable water isotope time series of the two ice cores drilled in 2005 and 2013. The model also provides a 3-D age field of the glacier and independent ice-core chronologies for five ice-core sites. Model results are a valuable addition to the existing glaciological and ice-core datasets. This especially concerns the quantitative estimate of upstream conditions affecting the interpretation of the deep ice-core layers.
Change in incidence rates for psychosis in different ethnic groups in south London: findings from the Clinical Record Interactive Search-First Episode Psychosis (CRIS-FEP) study
Authors: Oduola Sherifat , Das-Munshi Jayati , Bourque Francois , Gayer-Anderson Charlotte , Tsang Jason , Murray Robin M. , Craig Tom K. J , Morgan Craig
Published: November 2019

Background

A higher incidence of psychotic disorders has been consistently reported among black and other minority ethnic groups, particularly in northern Europe. It is unclear whether these rates have changed over time.

Methods

We identified all individuals with a first episode psychosis who presented to adult mental health services between 1 May 2010 and 30 April 2012 and who were resident in London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark. We estimated age-and-gender standardised incidence rates overall and by ethnic group, then compared our findings to those reported in the Aetiology and Ethnicity of Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses (ÆSOP) study that we carried out in the same catchment area around 10 years earlier.

Results

From 9109 clinical records we identified 558 patients with first episode psychosis. Compared with ÆSOP, the overall incidence rates of psychotic disorder in southeast London have increased from 49.4 (95% confidence interval (CI) 43.6–55.3) to 63.1 (95% CI 57.3–69.0) per 100 000 person-years at risk. However, the overall incidence rate ratios (IRR) were reduced in some ethnic groups: for example, IRR (95% CI) for the black Caribbean group reduced from 6.7 (5.4–8.3) to 2.8 (2.1–3.6) and the ‘mixed’ group from 2.7 (1.8–4.2) to 1.4 (0.9–2.1). In the black African group, there was a negligible difference from 4.1 (3.2–5.3) to 3.5 (2.8–4.5).

Conclusions

We found that incidence rates of psychosis have increased over time, and the IRR varied by the ethnic group. Future studies are needed to investigate more changes over time and determinants of change.
European English in the EFL classroom?
Authors: Mohr Susanne , Jansen Sandra , Forsberg Julia
Published: November 2019

The UK is facing important changes in the near future, with Brexit, i.e. the UK leaving the European Union (EU), looming ever more closely on the horizon. These important political and economic changes will certainly have an influence on Europe as a whole, and have had linguistic consequences for the English language, such as Brexit-related neologisms (Lalić-Krstin & Silaški, 2018). As Modiano (2017a) suggests, Brexit might also have an influence on the status of the English language in the EU, in particular with regard to the dominance of native speaker varieties. In this article, we discuss the possibility of the use of a neutral European English variety in the EFL classrooms of two EU member states, i.e. Sweden and Germany. Based on a survey among 80 practitioners in secondary schools (first results were presented in Forsberg, Mohr & Jansen, 2019), the study investigates attitudes towards target varieties of English in general, and European English or ‘Euro-English’ (cf. Jenkins, Modiano & Seidlhofer, 2001; Modiano 2003) in particular, after the referendum in June 2016.
‘You are missing a note’
Authors: Dai Yuanjun , Wu Zhiwei
Published: November 2019

A growing number of countries internationalise their curriculum by switching to English-medium Instruction (EMI). This strategy is particularly popular in China, where more and more universities offer English-medium courses to raise their international profile (Macaro et al., 2018). Sociolinguistic accounts have been reported on how EMI is perceived and enacted in China as a whole (Hu & Lei, 2014; Fang, 2018), or in particular disciplines, such as the humanities, business (Botha, 2014), medicine and surgery (Botha, 2016). However, relatively little attention has been given to EMI in China's music education, where English is used differently from the educational settings previously studied. In music education, instructors invariably use both verbal and non-verbal communication to explain and demonstrate a musical technique (Long et al., 2012).
Bureaucratic Slack in China: The Anti-corruption Campaign and the Decline of Patronage Networks in Developing Local Economies
Authors: Wang Peng , Yan Xia
Published: November 2019

This article presents a qualitative empirical study of the impact of corruption and anti-corruption on the efficiency of China's bureaucratic system in developing a local economy. Drawing on 40 in-depth interviews and 98 days of participant observation, it first investigates the significance of extravagant position-related consumption in building personalized bureaucratic ties (patronage networks) and mobilizing resources for local economic development. It then examines the causal link between President Xi's campaign against corruption and extravagance and the rise of bureaucratic slack in local governments. The anti-extravagance campaign reduces the level of corruption in local government but it discourages local officials, who are motivated primarily by the desire to avoid risk and ensure political survival, from using banquets and gift-giving to build patronage networks, attract investment and mobilize development resources. The article concludes that corruption may contribute positively to the efficiency of a fragmented Chinese bureaucracy in fostering development at the local level, while the anti-corruption campaign compels local cadres to develop a new coping strategy – bureaucratic slack – for implementing policies and developing local economies.
TheUnion Versionand theSigao Bible: An Analysis and Comparison of Two Chinese Bibles
Authors: DE GRUTTOLA RAISSA
Published: November 2019

The importance of theMandarin Union Versionfor the Protestant Churches in China can be compared to the relevance acquired by theSigao Shengjing 思高聖經for Chinese speaking Catholics soon after its publication. The 1919Union Versionwas the result of a collaboration among Protestants after a century of separation and many lone translations, while the 1968Sigao Biblewas the first version of the Bible in Chinese completed by Catholics.1This translation project was undertaken in 1935 by the Franciscan missionary Gabriele Allegra.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze and compare these two noteworthy versions. A brief introduction will present the translation process of theUnion Versionand of the Sigao Bible. Subsequently, some handwritten documents of Gabriele Allegra will be analyzed, to outline his attitude towards the missionary activity and the translations of the Protestants. Thereafter, some passages from the Gospel of John in the two versions will be examined and compared to analyze the features of the two translations.
“What Has Jesus to Do with Socialism”? Protestant Intellectuals, Political Use of the Mandarin Union Version, and the Remaking of a Socialistic Jesus in Republican China
Authors: WANG ZHIXI
Published: November 2019

This article explores the ways Chinese Protestant intellectuals, when facing up to the challenge of socialism, interpreted and appropriated Chinese Gospel texts to refashion the image of Jesus. It argues that Protestant intellectuals’ political use of the Chinese Bible remade a socialistic Jesus with some religious qualifications. Both the reading of the Chinese Bible and the interaction of Chinese biblical texts with the socio-political milieus dramatically influenced the textual practice of Chinese Protestant communities in the Republican era.
Financial health and the valuation of corporate pension plans
Authors: Cai Jun , Luo Miao , Marcus Alan J.
Published: November 2019

We return to the long-standing question ‘Who owns the assets in a defined benefit pension plan?’ Unlike earlier studies, we condition the market's assessment of implicit property rights on the sponsoring firm's financial health. Valuations of financially strong firms, and those that are strengthening, are more responsive to pension plan funding. For these firms, each extra dollar of net plan assets is valued at between $0.50 and $1.00. In contrast, for weak and weakening firms, valuation effects are statistically indistinguishable from zero. This result is consistent with the higher likelihood that they will renege on their pension obligations.
Four reflections on the new global mental health priorities
Authors: Caldas-de-Almeida José Miguel
Published: November 2019

The discussion of the achievements and limitations of the strategies prioritised in global mental health that has taken place in recent years contributed to a unified vision for action that addresses the gaps still existing on prevention, treatment, quality of care and human rights protection. This editorial presents four reflections on the impact of this vision on the definition of future priorities, particularly in the areas of policy implementation, services reconfiguration and organisation, human rights and research. It concludes that further debate is needed to redefine the balance between priorities and strategies that can better promote an effective response to the needs of low and middle income countries, and to ensure an efficient coordination of efforts in the future.
Reflections on the next ten years of research, policy and implementation in global mental health
Authors: Lund Crick
Published: November 2019

Since the World Health Report 2001 focused on mental health for the first time, the field of global mental health has seen unprecedented growth in policy commitments and research. Yet many challenges remain, including a lack of substantial new financial investments from governments, ongoing human rights abuses suffered by people living with mental illness, weak health systems in low resource settings and large gaps in our knowledge regarding aetiology, prevention of mental illness and mental health promotion. Stark inequalities persist between high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) in research knowledge and service resources. This editorial sets out to reflect on progress to date, and suggest priorities and possible future trends for research, policy and service implementation, especially in LMIC.
New ways in fostering self-regulated learning at university: How effective are web-based courses when compared to regular attendance-based courses?
Authors: van der Beek Sophie , Bellhäuser Henrik , Karlen Yves , Hertel Silke
Published: November 2019

Abstract. Self-regulated learning is essential for studying successfully at university. However, students often show deficits in their ability to learn in a self-regulated way. Consequently, it has become crucial to foster students' self-regulated learning at university. The effectiveness of such courses has primarily been investigated in regular class contexts that require physical attendance. However, web-based course formats are currently gaining in importance. Web-based courses have several advantages (e. g., that students can decide when and where they want to study). The question of whether a web-based course is as effective as an attendance-based one has yet to be answered. In a randomized intervention study (N = 186 university students) with two different treatments (attendance-based and web-based courses), it was investigated whether students in the web-based format profited to the same extent as students in the attendance-based course. Kirkpatrick's model was implemented for evaluation. The results showed that the students were very satisfied with both course formats, self-regulated learning was considered useful for studying, and the subjective and objective increases in learning were high. Furthermore, the results showed that self-regulated learning can be fostered in the web-based course as effectively as in the attendance-based course.
Localized Anisotropic Domains Beneath Eastern North America
Authors: Li Yiran , Levin Vadim , Elkington Stephen , Hlavaty Janine
Published: November 2019

Seismic anisotropy beneath eastern North America likely reflects both the remnant lithospheric fabrics and the present‐day deformation of the asthenosphere. We report new observations of splitting in core‐refracted shear phases observed over 3–5 years at 33 sites in New Jersey, New York, and states in the New England region and also include data from eight previously studied locations. Our data set emphasizes back azimuthal coverage necessary to capture the directional variation of splitting parameters expected from vertically varying anisotropy. We report single‐phase splitting parameters as well as station‐averaged values based on splitting intensity technique that incorporates all observed records regardless of whether they showed evidence of splitting or not. Trends of averaged fast shear wave polarizations appear coherent and are approximately aligned with absolute plate motion direction. The general disparity between the fast axes and the trend of surface tectonic features suggests a dominant asthenosphere contribution for the observed seismic anisotropy. Averaged delay values systematically increase from ~0.5 s in New Jersey to ~1.4 s in Maine. Splitting parameters vary at all sites, and neighboring stations often show similar patterns of directional variation. We developed criteria to group stations based on their splitting patterns and identified four domains with distinct anisotropic properties. Splitting patterns of three domains suggest a layered anisotropic structure that is geographically variable, outlining distinct regions in the continental mantle, for example, the Proterozoic lithosphere of the Adirondack Mountains. A domain coincident with the North Appalachian Anomaly displays virtually no splitting, implying that the lithospheric fabric was locally erased.
Drying in the Middle East During Northern Hemisphere Cold Events of the Early Glacial Period
Authors: Carolin S. A. , Ersek V. , Roberts W. H. G. , Walker R. T. , Henderson G. M.
Published: November 2019

Few paleoclimate records exist to assess the central Middle East's response to natural forcing beyond the instrumental record. Here, we present a multiproxy stalagmite‐based climate reconstruction from Iran's semiarid northeast that spans 100–70,000 years before present. During severe cold (stadial) events in the North Atlantic at ≈88, 77, and 73 ka, stalagmite trace‐element data indicate anomalously dry periods at this location. Stadial event increases in the stalagmite oxygen isotopes mirror those in a published Iranian stalagmite 800 km to the west. A global climate model simulates drying across the Middle East region in response to stadial event forcing, in agreement with oxygen isotope enrichments in both Iranian records, caused by a smaller fractional loss of moisture on the trajectory upstream. The paleoproxies and model experiments are consistent in indicating a drier Middle East climate during the cold North Atlantic stadials.
The Impact of the Extreme 2015–2016 El Niño on the Mass Balance of the Antarctic Ice Sheet
Authors: Bodart J.A. , Bingham R.J.
Published: November 2019

Interannual variations associated with El Niño‐Southern Oscillation can alter the surface‐pressure distribution and moisture transport over Antarctica, potentially affecting the contribution of the Antarctic ice sheet to sea level. Here, we combine satellite gravimetry with auxiliary atmospheric data sets to investigate interannual ice‐mass changes during the extreme 2015–2016 El Niño. Enhanced precipitation during this event contributed positively to the mass of the Antarctic Peninsula and West Antarctic ice sheets, with the mass gain on the peninsula being unprecedented within GRACE's observational record. Over the coastal basins of East Antarctica, the precipitation‐driven mass loss observed in recent years was arrested, with pronounced accumulation over Terre Adélie dominating this response. Little change was observed over Central Antarctica where, after a brief pause, enhanced mass‐loss due to weakened precipitation continued. Overall, precipitation changes over this period were sufficient to temporarily offset Antarctica's usual (approximately 0.4 mm yr−1) contribution to global mean sea level rise.
High‐Arsenic Groundwater in the Southwestern Bengal Basin Caused by a Lithologically Controlled Deep Flow System
Authors: Khan M. R. , Michael H. A. , Nath B. , Huhmann B. L. , Harvey C. F. , Mukherjee A. , Choudhury I. , Chakraborty M. , Ullah M. S. , Ahmed K. M. , Goodbred S. L. , Schlosser P. , Bostick B. C. , Mailloux B. J. , Ellis T. , van Geen A.
Published: November 2019

Elevated arsenic in Bengal Basin aquifers threatens human health. Most deep (>150 m) groundwater in Pleistocene aquifers is low in arsenic; however higher concentrations have been reported in the southwest border region. Here, we establish that this extensive arsenic contamination at depth is not associated with well failure. A combination of geochemistry and flow modeling constrains the factors that contribute to arsenic contamination at depth in this region. Deep groundwater in the affected area is younger (2.0 ± 0.6 kyr) than deep, low‐arsenic groundwater elsewhere (12.0 ± 4.0 kyr) based on radiocarbon. Stratigraphic data indicate pre‐Holocene deposition of the contaminated aquifers, but few low‐permeability strata. Numerical modeling indicates that this stratigraphic anomaly permits a natural flow system that transports shallow groundwater to depth. Thus, in areas lacking low‐permeability layers, arsenic contamination can occur in pre‐Holocene aquifers and is probably not an early sign of future deep contamination in regions with interbedded low‐permeability strata.
Viewing Forced Climate Patterns Through an AI Lens
Authors: Barnes Elizabeth A. , Hurrell James W. , Ebert‐Uphoff Imme , Anderson Chuck , Anderson David
Published: November 2019

Many problems in climate science require extracting forced signals from a background of internal climate variability. We demonstrate that artificial neural networks (ANNs) are a useful addition to the climate science “toolbox” for this purpose. Specifically, forced patterns are detected by an ANN trained on climate model simulations under historical and future climate scenarios. By identifying spatial patterns that serve as indicators of change in surface temperature and precipitation, the ANN can determine the approximate year from which the simulations came without first explicitly separating the forced signal from the noise of both internal climate variability and model uncertainty. Thus, the ANN indicator patterns are complex, nonlinear combinations of signal and noise and are identified from the 1960s onward in simulated and observed surface temperature maps. This approach suggests that viewing climate patterns through an artificial intelligence (AI) lens has the power to uncover new insights into climate variability and change.
Impacts of Mesoscale Eddies on Phytoplankton Size Structure
Authors: Waga Hisatomo , Hirawake Toru , Ueno Hiromichi
Published: November 2019

The impact of mesoscale eddies on phytoplankton communities attracts considerable research attention because phytoplankton play numerous roles in marine ecosystems. Using remote sensing techniques, this study considered a synoptic relationship between phytoplankton size structure, which is a determinant of energy transfer efficiency in marine ecosystems, and mesoscale eddies, which are ubiquitous ocean features. We found clear spatial variation in the impacts of mesoscale eddies on phytoplankton size structure; phytoplankton communities with larger cell sizes were supported by anticyclonic eddies in oligotrophic regions and by cyclonic eddies in eutrophic regions. Differences in the phytoplankton size structure within these two types of mesoscale eddies became greater, accompanied by interannual trends in the phytoplankton size structure for 2003–2014. Our findings are the first to demonstrate the important linkage between mesoscale eddies and phytoplankton size structure on a global scale; this new knowledge might help better predict variability in marine ecosystems.
Gravity‐Induced Bubble Ripening in Porous Media and Its Impact on Capillary Trapping Stability
Authors: Xu Ke , Mehmani Yashar , Shang Luoran , Xiong Qingrong
Published: November 2019

Capillary or residual trapping is considered one of the safest geologic CO2 storage mechanisms due to its hydrodynamic stability. We present a first study of the impact of gravity on Ostwald ripening in porous media and show it may render capillary trapping thermodynamically unstable. Gravity induces a vertical chemical potential gradient that leads to the upwards diffusion of CO2. Thus, bubbles at shallower depths grow at the expense of bubbles in deeper strata, leading to the formation of an overriding gas cap. We first develop a pore‐scale model for two bubbles trapped within adjacent pores and then upscale it to obtain a one‐dimensional continuum model. We use the latter to predict the macroscopic evolution of a trapped bubble population. Factors controlling the ripening process are isolated to assist in selecting CO2 storage sites. Gravity‐induced ripening may also play a role in geologic fluid emplacement and migration over millions of years.
A Parametric Numerical Analysis of Factors Controlling Ground Ruptures Caused by Groundwater Pumping
Authors: Frigo Matteo , Ferronato Massimiliano , Yu Jun , Ye Shujun , Galloway Devin , Carreón‐Freyre Dora , Teatini Pietro
Published: November 2019

A modeling analysis is used to investigate the relative susceptibility of various hydrogeologic configurations to aseismic rupture generation due to deformation of aquifer systems accompanying groundwater pumping. An advanced numerical model (GEPS3D) is used to simulate rupture generation and propagation for three typical processes: (i) reactivation of a preexisting fault, (ii) differential compaction due to variations in thickness of aquifer/aquitard layers constituting the aquifer system, and (iii) tensile fracturing above a bedrock ridge that forms the base of the aquifer system. A sensitivity analysis is developed to address the relative importance of various factors, including aquifer depletion, aquifer thickness, the possible uneven distribution and depth below land surface of the aquifer/aquitard layers susceptible to aquifer‐system compaction, and the height of bedrock ridges beneath the aquifer system which contributes to thinning of the aquifer system. The rupture evolution is classified in two occurrences. In one, the rupture develops at either the top of the aquifer or at land surface and does not propagate. In the other, the developed rupture propagates from the aquifer top toward the land surface and/or from the land surface downward. The aquifer depth is the most important factor controlling rupture evolution. Specifically, the probability of a significant rupture propagation is higher when the aquifer top is near land surface. The numerical results are processed by a statistical regression analysis to provide a general methodology for a preliminary evaluation of possible ruptures development in exploited aquifer systems susceptible to compaction and accompanying land subsidence. A comparison with a few representative case studies in Arizona, USA, China, and Mexico supports the study outcomes.
Historic Flood Reconstruction With the Use of an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Bomers A. , van der Meulen B. , Schielen R. M. J. , Hulscher S. J. M. H.
Published: November 2019

The uncertainty in flood frequency relations can be decreased by adding reconstructed historic flood events to the data set of measured annual maximum discharges. This study shows that an artificial neural network trained with a 1‐D/2‐D coupled hydraulic model is capable of reconstructing river floods with multiple dike breaches and inundations of the hinterland with high accuracy. The benefit of an artificial neural network is that it reduces computational times. With this network, the maximum discharge of the 1809 flood event of the Rhine River and its 95% confidence interval was reconstructed. The study shows that the trained artificial neural network is capable of reproducing the behavior of the hydraulic model correctly. The maximum discharge during the flood event was predicted with high accuracy even though the underlying input data are, due to the fact that the event occurred more than 200 years ago, uncertain. The confidence interval of the prediction was reduced by 43% compared to earlier predictions that did not use hydraulic models.
Novel role for mineralocorticoid receptors in control of a neuronal phenotype
Authors: McCann Katharine E. , Lustberg Daniel J. , Shaughnessy Emma K. , Carstens Kelly E. , Farris Shannon , Alexander Georgia M. , Radzicki Daniel , Zhao Meilan , Dudek Serena M.
Published: November 2019

Mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) in the brain play a role in learning and memory, neuronal differentiation, and regulation of the stress response. Within the hippocampus, the highest expression of MRs is in area CA2. CA2 pyramidal neurons have a distinct molecular makeup resulting in a plasticity-resistant phenotype, distinguishing them from neurons in CA1 and CA3. Thus, we asked whether MRs regulate CA2 neuron properties and CA2-related behaviors. Using three conditional knockout methods at different stages of development, we found a striking decrease in multiple molecular markers for CA2, an effect mimicked by chronic antagonism of MRs. Furthermore, embryonic deletion of MRs disrupted afferent inputs to CA2 and enabled synaptic potentiation of the normally LTP-resistant synaptic currents in CA2. We also found that CA2-targeted MR knockout was sufficient to disrupt social behavior and alter behavioral responses to novelty. Altogether, these results demonstrate an unappreciated role for MRs in controlling CA2 pyramidal cell identity and in facilitating CA2-dependent behaviors.
Inhibition of PTP1B blocks pancreatic cancer progression by targeting the PKM2/AMPK/mTOC1 pathway
Authors: Xu Qi , Wu Ning , Li Xiangqian , Guo Chuanlong , Li Chao , Jiang Bo , Wang Huaizhi , Shi Dayong
Published: November 2019

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant cancer and lacks effective therapeutic targets. Protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), a validated therapeutic target for diabetes and obesity, also plays a critical positive or negative role in tumorigenesis. However, the role of PTP1B in pancreatic cancer remains elusive. Here, we initially demonstrated that PTP1B was highly expressed in pancreatic tumors, and was positively correlated with distant metastasis and tumor staging, and indicated poor survival. Then, inhibition of PTP1B either by shRNA or by a specific small-molecule inhibitor significantly suppressed pancreatic cancer cell growth, migration and colony formation with cell cycle arrest in vitro and inhibited pancreatic cancer progression in vivo. Mechanism studies revealed that PTP1B targeted the PKM2/AMPK/mTOC1 signaling pathway to regulate cell growth. PTP1B inhibition directly increased PKM2 Tyr-105 phosphorylation to further result in significant activation of AMPK, which decreased mTOC1 activity and led to inhibition of p70S6K. Meanwhile, the decreased phosphorylation of PRAS40 caused by decreased PKM2 activity also helped to inhibit mTOC1. Collectively, these findings support the notion of PTP1B as an oncogene and a promising therapeutic target for PDAC.
Biological and practical implications of genome-wide association study of schizophrenia using Bayesian variable selection
Authors: Rowe Benazir , Chen Xiangning , Wang Zuoheng , Chen Jingchun , Amei Amei
Published: November 2019

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over 100 loci associated with schizophrenia. Most of these studies test genetic variants for association one at a time. In this study, we performed GWAS of the molecular genetics of schizophrenia (MGS) dataset with 5334 subjects using multivariate Bayesian variable selection (BVS) method Posterior Inference via Model Averaging and Subset Selection (piMASS) and compared our results with the previous univariate analysis of the MGS dataset. We showed that piMASS can improve the power of detecting schizophrenia-associated SNPs, potentially leading to new discoveries from existing data without increasing the sample size. We tested SNPs in groups to allow for local additive effects and used permutation test to determine statistical significance in order to compare our results with univariate method. The previous univariate analysis of the MGS dataset revealed no genome-wide significant loci. Using the same dataset, we identified a single region that exceeded the genome-wide significance. The result was replicated using an independent Swedish Schizophrenia Case–Control Study (SSCCS) dataset. Based on the SZGR 2.0 database we found 63 SNPs from the best performing regions that are mapped to 27 genes known to be associated with schizophrenia. Overall, we demonstrated that piMASS could discover association signals that otherwise would need a much larger sample size. Our study has important implication that reanalyzing published datasets with BVS methods like piMASS might have more power to discover new risk variants for many diseases without new sample collection, ascertainment, and genotyping.
State-independent contextuality in classical light
Authors: Li Tao , Zeng Qiang , Zhang Xiong , Chen Tian , Zhang Xiangdong
Published: November 2019

State-independent contextuality is a fundamental phenomenon in quantum mechanics, which has been demonstrated experimentally in different systems in recent years. Here we show that such contextuality can also be simulated in classical optical systems. Using path and polarization degrees of freedom of classical optics fields, we have constructed the classical trit (cetrit), here the term ‘cetrit’ is the classical counterpart of a qutrit in quantum systems. Furthermore, in classical optical systems we have simulated the violations of several Yu-Oh-like noncontextual inequalities in a state-independent manner by implementing the projection measurements. Our results not only provide new physical insights into the contextuality and also show the application prospects of the concepts developed recently in quantum information science to classical optical systems and optical information processes.
Strain-rate sensitive ductility in a low-alloy carbon steel after quenching and partitioning treatment
Authors: Frint Philipp , Kaiser Till , Mehner Thomas , Bruder Enrico , Scholze Mario , Mašek Bohuslav , Lampke Thomas , Wagner Martin F.-X.
Published: November 2019

We investigate an extraordinarily high ductility in a low alloy carbon steel at an elevated temperature after a quenching and partitioning (Q&P) treatment. The conventional (quenched and tempered) reference material does not show similar behavior. Interestingly, the Q&P treated material’s ductility is considerably reduced at increasing strain rates while strength remains almost constant. These results indicate the presence of a diffusion-controlled deformation mechanism at elevated temperatures. Our research shows that interlath retained austenite is more stable during deformation at higher temperatures, resulting in a delayed transformation to martensite and therefore to a more pronounced contribution to plastic deformation at (and in the vicinity of) the many interfaces inherently present in this multi-phase steel.