bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physical Activity and Screen Time Sedentary Behaviors in College Students
Authors: Fountaine Charles , Liguori Gary , Mozumdar Arupendra , Schuna John
Published: September 2024

It is well established that Americans are not meeting physical activity (PA) guidelines and college students are no exception. Given the lack of regular PA, many health promotion professionals seek to discover what barriers to PA may exist. A common explanation is screen time (ST), which is comprised primarily of television viewing, computer use, and the playing of video games. The purpose of this study was to present descriptive data on college students’ PA and sedentary behavior and to assess if any evidence exists to suggest displacement between sedentary behaviors and PA in college students. Students completed an online health survey specific to time spent in PA and sedentary behavior. Students were categorized into one of three PA groups based on their activity level. Males were significantly more physically active than females in terms of days per week engaged in aerobic exercise (p=.022) and strength training (p<.001). When categorized by activity level, a greater percentage of male students met recommended PA levels than did females (p<.001). Males reported significantly higher levels of overall ST (p=.004) and television viewing (p<.001), whereas females reported significantly higher levels of time spent engaged in homework (p<.001). When categorized by activity level, physically active students reported significantly fewer minutes of total ST than inactive students (p=.047). Implications of this study suggest that within a college population, television and PA are not competing behaviors in either gender.
Effects of Energy Drinks on Metabolism at Rest and During Submaximal Treadmill Exercise in College Age Males
Authors: Nienhueser Janae , Brown Gregory , Shaw Brandon , Shaw Ina
Published: September 2024

Energy drinks are widely available and popular among athletes and non-athletes. However, the effects of energy drinks on resting and exercise energy expenditure and metabolism remain largely unknown. On four separate occasions, baseline measurements of resting metabolic rate (RMR) and Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) were obtained in ten healthy males (21.4 ± 1.6 y, 77.60± 7.5 kg, 180.0 ± 7.1 cm). Then, in a randomly assigned cross-over design, the subjects consumed 473 ml of one of three commercially available energy drinks or a placebo and then RMR and RER were measured 1 hour later. The subjects then engaged in 15 minutes of treadmill exercise at 50% of V02max, during which RER and oxygen consumption (VO2) were measured. RMR was not changed by placebo, but increased (P<0.05, means ± se) above baseline by 10 ± 2.5%, 15.0 ± 2.9%, and 15.3 ± 2.9%, following Energy Drink One, Energy Drink Two, and Energy Drink Three (respectively) with no differences between energy drinks. RER was reduced below baseline (P<0.05) by 4.9 ± 1.5% in the placebo and increased (P<0.05) above baseline by 12.8 ± 1.8%, 9.6 ± 1.3%, and 9.0 ± 1.3% following Energy Drink One, Energy Drink Two, and Energy Drink Three (respectively) with no differences between energy drinks. Oxygen consumption and RER during submaximal exercise were not different between placebo, Energy Drink One, Energy Drink Two, or Energy Drink Three. These data indicate that energy drink consumption increases RMR and carbohydrate use at rest, but metabolism during submaximal exercise remains unchanged.
Child Obesity in Context: Ecology of Family and Community
Authors: Williams Joel
Published: September 2024

Minority and low socioeconomic status groups have the highest rates of overweight and obesity. Children from these families face a greater risk for weight-related health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer as compared to their non-minority and more affluent peers. Factors from the larger physical, social, and cultural environments, and within families, influence weight status among children. Many of these factors are yet to be identified and relationships among known factors are complex and not well understood. The National Institutes of Health and U.S. Department of Agriculture have proposed a research agenda for social and behavioral scientists to “examine how social contexts influence health and elucidate the mechanisms through with those mechanisms operate”, and to “develop ways to intervene on those factors for preventing obesity.” This editorial presents a social ecological view of child obesity and proposes several steps necessary to identify how community and family domain factors affect the weight-regulating behaviors of children. An empirically-based, theoretically-driven approach will lead to efficacious interventions which can be translated and widely disseminated into community-based programs, thus increasing the probability of success of population-based obesity prevention and control interventions.
The Impact of Social Media on Women’s Rights Movements: Empowerment, Challenges and Future Directions
Authors:   Aligarh Muslim University, Alam Nadeem
Published: September 2024

This paper examines how social media affects women's efforts to gain equal rights. Social media platforms have become important tools for women's rights movements worldwide. They help spread messages quickly, raise money for causes, and connect women from different countries. These online spaces allow women to share personal stories, which can change how people think about women's issues. Social media campaigns have also pushed for new laws and forced big companies to treat women better. However, women speaking up online often face bullying and threats. False information about women's rights can spread fast on social media too. The paper looks at these positive and negative aspects of social media for women's rights. It also suggests ways to make online spaces safer and more helpful for women's activism in the future. The research shows that while social media is very useful for advancing women's rights, it's important to address its problems to use it effectively.
Self-Regulation Practices As a Key Determinant of Success in Mathematics Learning
Authors:   Alagappa University, Hyasinth A.Anula , Albina Dr. A. Pio ,   Alagappa University
Published: September 2024

Academic success is significantly influenced by self-regulated learning (SRL), especially in mathematics. The purpose of this research is to investigate how self-regulated behaviours can improve learning outcomes in mathematics. The study investigates the roles that self-monitoring, goal-setting, self-reflection, and motivational beliefs have in mathematical proficiency. The study emphasises how SRL affects students' capacity to control their learning processes, maintain motivation, and do better academically. According to the review, students who use SRL methods have a higher chance of overcoming obstacles, sticking with their problem-solving and developing a deeper comprehension of mathematical ideas. Additionally, the study proposes Teachers can enable students to take charge of their education by incorporating SRL practices into mathematics lessons. This will increase students' academic performance and equip them with lifetime learning abilities.
Nutritional Status of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients Admitted at Selected Treatment Facilities in Bangladesh
Authors: Forhad C M R Q
Published: September 2024

Background: Every year more than 13.7 million people became an active case of tuberculosis and more than 1.5million cases of TB patients will die. The association between TB and malnutrition is bi-directional. TB leads patient to malnutrition and malnutrition increases the risk of developing active TB by 6-10 times. Therefore, improving the nutrition of individual greatly reduces tuberculosis.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate and follow-up of the nutritional status of pulmonary TB patients based on BMI, laboratory test (CRP), CXR and clinical examination in some selected treatment facilities in addition to age & gender distribution of the respondents.

Method: This prospective follow-up study was carried out during the period from 1st January to 31st December 2010, in the Department of Biochemistry, Sylhet M.A.G Osmani Medical College, and DOT centre, Sylhet M.A.G Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet. A total of 76 subjects, both male & female having 15 and 60 years of age was included in the study. Out of them 46 were smear positive newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patient (cases) and 30 were age-matched healthy subjects (control).

Results: During the study, both patients were presented with weight loss followed by 95.7 percent had cough, fever had 84.8 percent cases, 34.8 percent had haemoptysis, 50 percent had chest pain. Mean (± SD) serum CRP amount (mg/l) is 79.59 (±22.71) and 7.5 (± 1.68) in cases and controls respectively at the time of diagnosis. An unpaired t-test was performed to compare serum level of C-reactive protein between cases and controls. Serum CRP level was slightly higher in cases than controls (p <0.001). 71.7 percent cases had unilateral opacities; 28.3 percent had bilateral opacities. 13 percent had cavity on chest radiograph. Lower levels of TC, TG, LDLC and HDLC were observed in this study.

Conclusion: In patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, the results of this research indicate lower nutritional profile values. This could be linked to high frequency radicals, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. Improved diet and dietary supplements will avoid oxidative stress and further risks in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Nodule Size and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC): A Suitable Choice in Early Diagnosis of Thyroid Malignancy
Authors: Ahmed Q S U
Published: September 2024

Background: Thyroid nodules have been found a very common clinical problem and the size of the nodules including FNAC considered a choice of diagnosis. This study was an attempt to explore the options to be considered suitable in early diagnosis of
said malignancy toward improved quality of life.

Objective: This study is designed to explore thyroid examination features, nodule size with type and sub-type of cancer, nodule size and FNAC findings including histopathological diagnosis of thyroid lesions in particular.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted from November 2015 to April 2016 in Combined Military Hospital Dhaka and Dhaka Medical College Hospital. 100 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for nodular goiters were included in this study. Nodule size was measured by USG and fine needle aspiration of nodules performed.

Results: Out of 100 evaluated nodules, 19 (19%) were cancerous, demonstrating no graded increase in risk beyond the 2 cm threshold. When malignant, the proportion of papillary carcinoma decreased ( nodules, 1.0-1.9 cm, 100%, of cases; 2.0-2.9 cm, 100% ; 3.0-3.9 cm, 80%; ≥ 4cm, 0% ) [ p< 0.02], while follicular carcinoma increased ( 1.0-1.9 cm, 0%; 2.0-2.9 cm, 0%; 3.0- 3.9 cm, 20%; ≥ 4 cm, 66.7% ) [ p< 0.02] as nodules enlarged.

Conclusion: FNAC findings have found suitable for early diagnosis and prognosis of different types of thyroid malignancies. However, increasing nodule size, large, hard and fixed nodule, palpable lymph nodes, hoarseness of voice, as clinical parameters may provide clues for a suspected malignancy. A mass awareness program would have been beneficial for the population towards early diagnosis and intervention in improving quality of life.
Preventive Practice with Hepatitis-B Vaccine among the Lab Technicians of some Selected Hospitals in Dhaka City
Authors: Ahmed S U
Published: September 2024

Background: Hepatitis B, an acute inflammatory disease of the liver or a form of viral hepatitis is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). About 2 billion people worldwide have been infected with the virus and about 350 million live with chronic infection. Hepatitis B is the most important infectious occupational hazard which the lab technicians encounter. Healthcare personnel specially lab technicians represents a high risk population for HBV infection.

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the practice of Hepatitis B vaccination among lab technicians working in hospitals. The study also explores the reasons of not taking hepatitis B vaccine by a group of lab technicians. Methods: It was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted through face to face interview using a semi-structured questionnaire among lab technicians in two hospitals of Dhaka city (Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital & City Dental College) from January to June 2010. A total 120 respondents were included purposively as respondents.

Results: Among 120 respondents, most(65.0%) of them received vaccine whereas 35.0% did not take any vaccine. Among the respondents who initiate vaccination about 48.1% finished taking the vaccines whereas 51.9% did not finish taking the vaccines. Negligence was found to be the major cause for not taking the vaccine and very few of them perceived that the prevalence of Hepatitis B remains high among lab technicians.

Conclusion: All hospital personnel including lab technicians should be trained up on the importance of Hepatitis-B vaccination with a view to self motivation and can also motivate their clients, relatives and general population. Scope of orientation courses at interval for the lab technicians can enhance motivation towards wider coverage of hepatitis B vaccination for this group of health care personnel in particular.
Analyzing the impact of foliar spraying of selenium on some growth and biochemical parameters in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)
Authors: Žnidarčić Dragan
Published: September 2024

Being a trace element, selenium (Se) has beneficial effects on vegetables growth and development. Nevertheless, the impact of Se on the lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) characteristics has not been systematically examined. In our study the plants of an autochthonous local Slovenian variety of crisp lettuce ’Ljubljanska ledenka’ were exposed to foliar treatment with an aqueous solution of Na2SeO4. The foliage of target plants underwent two rounds of spraying with a nutrient solution at a 5-day interval. In the first experiment, the concentrations used were 0 (distilled water spray as a control); 1 + 1; 2 + 2, and 5 + 5 mg Se L-1. In the second experiment, the concentrations were 0; 10 + 0, 10 + 10, and 10 + 50 mg Se L-1. First spraying began at 3 fully developed leaves. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design in a plastic greenhouse on a field near Ljubljana (46°04'46.0"N, 14°34'20.0"E). No significant differences in the shoot height, leaf number per plant, and root dry matter were observed between treatments. Leaves in control and 1+1 mg Se L-1 treatment had higher dry matter percentage in comparison with other treatments. The growth analysis revealed that 5+5, 10+0, and 10+10 mg Se L-1 treatments increased the weight of shoots. The shoots yield was reduced after foliar application of strong enlarged doses of selenate (10+10 mg Se L-1). The Se concentration in shoots increased in proportion to the level of the concentration of Na2SeO4 and the highest values were recorded from the plants in which 10+10 mg Se L-1 was applied. The portion of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) decreased from the control group to the treatment with the highest Na2SeO4 solution (10 + 50 mg Se L-1).
CellSeg3D: self-supervised 3D cell segmentation for light-sheet microscopy
Authors: Achard Cyril , Kousi Timokleia , Frey Markus , Vidal Maxime , Paychère Yves , Hofmann Colin , Iqbal Asim , Hausmann Sebastien B , Pagès Stéphane , Mathis Mackenzie Weygandt
Published: September 2024

Understanding the complex three-dimensional structure of cells is crucial across many disciplines in biology and especially in neuroscience. Here, we introduce a novel 3D self-supervised learning method designed to address the inherent complexity of quantifying cells in 3D volumes, often in cleared neural tissue. We offer a new 3D mesoSPIM dataset and show that CellSeg3D can match state-of-the-art supervised methods. Our contributions are made accessible through a Python package with full GUI integration in napari.
Trade-off between training and testing ratio in machine learning for medical image processing
Authors: Sivakumar Muthuramalingam , Parthasarathy Sudhaman , Padmapriya Thiyagarajan
Published: September 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) aim to mimic human intelligence and enhance decision making processes across various fields. A key performance determinant in a ML model is the ratio between the training and testing dataset. This research investigates the impact of varying train-test split ratios on machine learning model performance and generalization capabilities using the BraTS 2013 dataset. Logistic regression, random forest, k nearest neighbors, and support vector machines were trained with split ratios ranging from 60:40 to 95:05. Findings reveal significant variations in accuracies across these ratios, emphasizing the critical need to strike a balance to avoid overfitting or underfitting. The study underscores the importance of selecting an optimal train-test split ratio that considers tradeoffs such as model performance metrics, statistical measures, and resource constraints. Ultimately, these insights contribute to a deeper understanding of how ratio selection impacts the effectiveness and reliability of machine learning applications across diverse fields.
CDMPred: a tool for predicting cancer driver missense mutations with high-quality passenger mutations
Authors: Wang Lihua , Sun Haiyang , Yue Zhenyu , Xia Junfeng , Li Xiaoyan
Published: September 2024

Most computational methods for predicting driver mutations have been trained using positive samples, while negative samples are typically derived from statistical methods or putative samples. The representativeness of these negative samples in capturing the diversity of passenger mutations remains to be determined. To tackle these issues, we curated a balanced dataset comprising driver mutations sourced from the COSMIC database and high-quality passenger mutations obtained from the Cancer Passenger Mutation database. Subsequently, we encoded the distinctive features of these mutations. Utilizing feature correlation analysis, we developed a cancer driver missense mutation predictor called CDMPred employing feature selection through the ensemble learning technique XGBoost. The proposed CDMPred method, utilizing the top 10 features and XGBoost, achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value of 0.83 and 0.80 on the training and independent test sets, respectively. Furthermore, CDMPred demonstrated superior performance compared to existing state-of-the-art methods for cancer-specific and general diseases, as measured by AUC and area under the precision-recall curve. Including high-quality passenger mutations in the training data proves advantageous for CDMPred’s prediction performance. We anticipate that CDMPred will be a valuable tool for predicting cancer driver mutations, furthering our understanding of personalized therapy.
A lipidomic study on the lens epithelial cells of patients with age related cataracts
Authors: Gong Yingying , Wei Qingquan , Luo Liying , Qiu Wei , Jiang Yanyun
Published: September 2024

Age related cataracts (ARC) represent the main reason for blindness globally. The lens epithelial cells (LECs) participate not only in the metabolism of many substances in the lens but also in maintaining lens transparency. This study used lipidomics to investigate the metabolic differences in LECs of ARC patients with different severity, aiming at identifying potential metabolic biomarkers of ARC. Patients diagnosed with ARC and underwent cataract surgery at Shanghai Tongren Hospital were selected to participate in this study, which were classified as mild ARC group and severe ARC group. During their cataract surgery, anterior lens capsules(LCs) containing LECs were obtained. The lipidomics of LECs were analyzed using the liquid chromatography‑mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Potential pathways of lipids were searched for using databases such as the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and MetaboAnalyst platform. In LEC lipids, 26 lipids have been identified as potential biomarkers between mild ARC and severe ARC, with AUC values of 0.67–0.94. The pathway analysis results revealed that the Glycerophospholipid (GPL) metabolism was significantly influenced, indicating that these metabolic markers contribute significantly to regulating this pathway. The LEC metabolic spectrum demonstrates a proficient ability to differentiate between patients with varying levels of cataracts. Herein, we have successfully identified potential metabolic biomarkers and pathways that have proven to be valuable in enhancing our understanding of ARC pathogenesis. The finding has translational value for developing new cataract treatment methods in the future.
Efficiency of the Combination of Vermicompost and Zero Valent Iron for the Remediation of Lead, Copper and Aluminum
Authors: Auccahuasi Fernando Antonio Sernaqué , Mandujano Samuel Carlos Reyna
Published: September 2024

Aims: Evaluate the efficiency of the combination of vermicompost and zero -valent iron for the remediation of two types of soil with lead, copper and aluminum.
Study Design: Observational technique and analysis of soil samples contaminated by mining.
Place and Duration of Study: It was applied in the greenhouse in the district of San Juan de Lurigancho and in the Casapalca mining industry located in the district of San Mateo, in the months of February and September 2023.
Methodology: The analysis of soil samples contaminated by mining was carried out through the addition of vermicompost amendments and zero -valent iron, seeking to observe the physicochemical changes of the soil and determine the bioavailability of lead, copper and aluminum in the soil. Using the atomic absorption spectrometer, a pH meter; the loss on ignition method, to determine organic matter; A 1.0mol L-1 ammonium acetate solution was used for the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil and vermicompost and for the determination of total potassium (K) method 3050b acid digestion of sediments, sludge and soils was used.
Results: The highest efficacy for the remediation of lead, copper and aluminium contaminated soils is produced with a vermicompost dose of 3:1, with 3 kilos of soil + 60 LC and Fe ° (45 g LC + 15 Fe °); obtaining the highest reductions in Pb from 942. 6 mg/kg to 698.5 mg/kg in its final concentration, also for Cu from an initial concentration of 462.4 mg/kg, 323.8 mg/kg was obtained in its final concentration and for Al from a concentration of 9190.2 mg/kg resulted in 6823.8 mg/kg. Obtaining a maximum lead removal of 35.57%, copper 29.60% and aluminium 27.62% from the Casapalca soil. The highest efficiency of the dose of zero valent iron for the remediation of contaminated soils was at a ratio of 3:1 with a dose of 3 kg of soil + 60 Fe° and LC (45 g Fe° + 15LC). Likewise, plant uptake from 2 months after harvest of Cucumis sativus (cucumber) in the remediation of contaminated soils was efficient for all three types of metals at a dose ratio of 5:1, with Al showing a higher uptake in all cases.
Conclusion: The effectiveness of remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals through the combination of vermicompost and zero valent iron highlights the importance of considering sustainable and ecological approaches to agricultural soil management, which could have significant implications for the protection of the environment and human health in areas with contaminated soils.
AI in Reproductive Biology: Transforming Fertility Assessment, ART, and Research
Authors: Doultani Shilpa , Sharma Prachi , Makwana Prateek , Patil S.P , Layek S.S , George L.B. , Highland H.N. , Hadiya K.K.
Published: September 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing reproductive biology, transforming fertility assessment, assisted reproductive technologies (ART), and research practices. This review explores AI's impact, highlighting its potential to enhance personalized care and advance scientific understanding. In fertility assessment, AI algorithms analyze vast datasets to predict treatment success, enabling clinicians to tailor personalized treatment plans. In ART, AI improves embryo selection during in vitro fertilization (IVF) by providing objective, data-driven criteria, reducing variability, and increasing success rates.AI also optimizes laboratory workflows, automating tasks such as data analysis and interpretation, enhancing efficiency, and minimizing human error. In research, AI accelerates data analysis, facilitates knowledge discovery, and enables predictive modeling, driving innovation in reproductive biology. However, AI's integration raises ethical concerns, including patient autonomy, informed consent, and data security. Collaborative efforts among stakeholders are essential to ensure responsible AI use, balancing innovation with ethical considerations. This review examines AI's transformative potential in reproductive biology, technological advancements, and the ethical landscape, envisioning a future where AI positively impacts reproductive health and clinical practice.
Variability and Character Relationships in F4 Progenies for Seed Yield in Black Gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]
Authors: Priyanka Bukya , Bala Madhu , Bhattacharya Sampurna , Suresh Guglothu
Published: September 2024

Black gram is a vital pulse crop, used for its high protein content and nutritional value. It plays a crucial role in diverse culinary traditions and contributes significantly to food security. The objective of this research was to assess the variability resulting from hybridisation for F4 generation by employing multiple parameters, comprising variability, correlation and path analysis. In this study, 100 F4 progenies resulting from the cross between NUK-15-02 and NUK-15-07 were assessed using Augmented Block Design, alongside four standard check varieties. High GCV and PCV values observed for traits such as branches per plant, clusters per plant, pods per plant, and seed yield per plant (g). High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for branches per plant, clusters per plant, pods per plant, pod length (cm), 100 seed weight (g), days to maturity, harvest index (%) and seed yield per plant (g). Seed yield per plant (g) exhibited strong positive associations with plant height (cm), pod length (cm), seeds per pod, clusters per plant, pods per plant, and harvest index (%). Path analysis highlighted that the highest positive direct effects on seed yield per plant were attributed to pods per plant, followed by clusters per plant and seeds per pod. The study highlights significant variability among black gram progenies, which can guide breeding programs to enhance yield and traits through targeted selection.
Environmental rock‐magnetism of Cenozoic red clay in the South Pacific Gyre
Authors: Shimono Takaya , Yamazaki Toshitsugu
Published: March 2016

Nonfossiliferous red clay can be used for elucidating long‐range environmental changes, although such studies were limited so far because of the difficulty in precise age estimation and extremely low sedimentation rates. We conducted an environmental rock‐magnetic study of Cenozoic red clay at the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Site U1365 in the South Pacific Gyre. Magnetostratigraphy could be established only above ∼6 m below the seafloor (mbsf) (∼5 Ma). Below ∼6 mbsf, the ages of the cores were transferred from the published ages of nearby Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 596, which is based mainly on a constant Cobalt flux model, by intercore correlation using magnetic susceptibility and rare earth element content variation patterns. Rock‐magnetic analyses including first‐order reversal curve diagrams, the ratio of anhysteretic remanent magnetization susceptibility to saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM), and IRM component analyses revealed that magnetic minerals consist mainly of biogenic magnetite and terrigenous maghemite, and that the proportion of the terrigenous component increased since ∼23 Ma. We consider that the increase reflects a growth of eolian dust flux associated with a northward shift of Australia and the site to an arid region of the middle latitudes. The increase of the terrigenous component accelerated after ∼5 Ma, which may be associated with a further growth of the Antarctic glaciation at that time. This is coeval with the onset of the preservation of magnetostratigraphy, suggesting that the primary remanent magnetization is carried by the terrigenous component.
Jarosite occurrence in the Deccan Volcanic Province of Kachchh, western India: Spectroscopic studies on a Martian analog locality
Authors: Bhattacharya Satadru , Mitra Souvik , Gupta Saibal , Jain Nirmala , Chauhan Prakash , Parthasarathy G. , Ajai
Published: March 2016

The sulfate mineral jarosite is considered a key indicator of hydrous, acidic, and oxidizing conditions on the surface of early Mars. Here we report an analog terrestrial locality hosting jarosite from Matanumadh, Kachchh, western India, using detailed spectroscopic studies on weathered basalts of the Deccan Volcanic Province and overlying tuffaceous shales and sandstones of the Matanumadh Formation. Hyperspectral data in the visible/near‐infrared (350–2500 nm) to midinfrared (4000–400 cm−1) region of the electromagnetic spectrum and X‐ray diffraction patterns have been acquired on samples collected from the field to detect and characterize the hydrous sulfate and phyllosilicate phases present at the studied site. Hydrous sulfates occur in association with Al‐rich phyllosilicates (kaolinite) that overlie a zone of Fe/Mg smectites in altered basalts. Jarosite is found within both saprolitic clay horizons altered from the basalt and within variegated sandstone and shale/clay units overlying the saprolite; it mostly occurs as secondary veins with or without gypsum. Jarosite is also seen as coatings on kaolinite clasts of varying shapes and sizes within the tuffaceous variegated sandstone unit. We argue that the overall geological setting of the Matanumadh area, with this unusual mineral assemblage developing within altered basalts and in the overlying sedimentary sequence, mimics the geological environment of many of the identified jarosite localities on Mars and can be considered as a Martian analog from this perspective.
Transitions in Arctic ecosystems: Ecological implications of a changing hydrological regime
Authors: Wrona Frederick J. , Johansson Margareta , Culp Joseph M. , Jenkins Alan , Mård Johanna , Myers‐Smith Isla H. , Prowse Terry D. , Vincent Warwick F. , Wookey Philip A.
Published: March 2016

Numerous international scientific assessments and related articles have, during the last decade, described the observed and potential impacts of climate change as well as other related environmental stressors on Arctic ecosystems. There is increasing recognition that observed and projected changes in freshwater sources, fluxes, and storage will have profound implications for the physical, biogeochemical, biological, and ecological processes and properties of Arctic terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. However, a significant level of uncertainty remains in relation to forecasting the impacts of an intensified hydrological regime and related cryospheric change on ecosystem structure and function. As the terrestrial and freshwater ecology component of the Arctic Freshwater Synthesis, we review these uncertainties and recommend enhanced coordinated circumpolar research and monitoring efforts to improve quantification and prediction of how an altered hydrological regime influences local, regional, and circumpolar‐level responses in terrestrial and freshwater systems. Specifically, we evaluate (i) changes in ecosystem productivity; (ii) alterations in ecosystem‐level biogeochemical cycling and chemical transport; (iii) altered landscapes, successional trajectories, and creation of new habitats; (iv) altered seasonality and phenological mismatches; and (v) gains or losses of species and associated trophic interactions. We emphasize the need for developing a process‐based understanding of interecosystem interactions, along with improved predictive models. We recommend enhanced use of the catchment scale as an integrated unit of study, thereby more explicitly considering the physical, chemical, and ecological processes and fluxes across a full freshwater continuum in a geographic region and spatial range of hydroecological units (e.g., stream‐pond‐lake‐river‐near shore marine environments).
The observational influence of the North Atlantic SST tripole on the early spring atmospheric circulation
Authors: Han Zhe , Luo Feifei , Wan Jianghua
Published: March 2016

This study investigated the forcing of the North Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) tripole on the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)‐like circulation in early spring (February–April) in observations. Corresponding to an SST tripole forcing in early spring, the atmospheric circulation is very weak and insignificant. However, further analyses indicate that the observational effect of the SST anomalies on the NAO‐like circulation is disturbed by the concomitant sea ice anomalies. With the linear effects of sea ice anomalies removed, there is an equivalent barotropic NAO‐like circulation in early spring related to a North Atlantic SST tripole.
Thermally Tunable Absorption‐Induced Transparency by a Quasi 3D Bow‐Tie Nanostructure for Nonplasmonic and Volumetric Refractive Index Sensing at Mid‐IR
Authors: Hasan Dihan , Ho Chong Pei , Lee Chengkuo
Published: March 2016

A nonresonant transmission process namely absorption‐induced transparency (AIT) is demonstrated in a quasi 3D bow‐tie nanostructure at mid‐IR spectrum for the first time. The quasi 3D structure is formed by self‐aligning two metasurfaces obtained by the Babinet's principle which are linked to each other through a patterned layer of PMMA. It is shown that the vibrational absorption of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) at 5.79 μm can strongly influence the propagation characteristics of the quasi 3D structure and generate the absorption‐induced transmission peak. A detailed parametric study is conducted on the process and its nonplasmonic characteristics are confirmed. Later, the usefulness of the quasi 3D nanochannels of the geometry is addressed and volumetric refractive index sensing (refractive index unit (RIU) shift of 123.33 nm) by the AIT effect is experimentally demonstrated for the first time. Lastly, the thermal responsiveness of the metal–dielectric hybrid platform is exploited and a thermal tuning up to 25 nm for a moderate range of temperature increase (100°) is obtained. It is believed that the hybrid system with 3D nanochannels assisted transparency can be a new avenue for volumetric plasmonic sensing and stimuli responsive device operating solely on the principle of changing molecular conformation of material.
Modeling infection transmission in primate networks to predict centrality‐based risk
Authors: Romano Valéria , Duboscq Julie , Sarabian Cécile , Thomas Elodie , Sueur Cédric , MacIntosh Andrew J. J.
Published: March 2016

Social structure can theoretically regulate disease risk by mediating exposure to pathogens via social proximity and contact. Investigating the role of central individuals within a network may help predict infectious agent transmission as well as implement disease control strategies, but little is known about such dynamics in real primate networks. We combined social network analysis and a modeling approach to better understand transmission of a theoretical infectious agent in wild Japanese macaques, highly social animals which form extended but highly differentiated social networks. We collected focal data from adult females living on the islands of Koshima and Yakushima, Japan. Individual identities as well as grooming networks were included in a Markov graph‐based simulation. In this model, the probability that an individual will transmit an infectious agent depends on the strength of its relationships with other group members. Similarly, its probability of being infected depends on its relationships with already infected group members. We correlated: (i) the percentage of subjects infected during a latency‐constrained epidemic; (ii) the mean latency to complete transmission; (iii) the probability that an individual is infected first among all group members; and (iv) each individual's mean rank in the chain of transmission with different individual network centralities (eigenvector, strength, betweenness). Our results support the hypothesis that more central individuals transmit infections in a shorter amount of time and to more subjects but also become infected more quickly than less central individuals. However, we also observed that the spread of infectious agents on the Yakushima network did not always differ from expectations of spread on random networks. Generalizations about the importance of observed social networks in pathogen flow should thus be made with caution, since individual characteristics in some real world networks appear less relevant than they are in others in predicting disease spread. Am. J. Primatol. 78:767–779, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quantifying variation in human scalp hair fiber shape and pigmentation
Authors: Lasisi Tina , Ito Shosuke , Wakamatsu Kazumasa , Shaw Colin N.
Published: March 2016

Objectives

This study aims to evaluate the use of quantitative methods of measuring variation in scalp hair fiber shape and pigmentation and carry out exploratory data analysis on a limited sample of individuals from diverse populations in order to inform future avenues of research for the evolution of modern human hair variation.

Methods

Cross‐sectional area and shape and average curvature of scalp hair fibers were quantified using ImageJ. Pigmentation was analyzed using chemical methods estimating total melanin content through spectrophotometric methods, and eumelanin and pheomelanin content through HLPC analysis of melanin‐specific degradation products.

Results

The initial results reinforced findings from earlier, traditional studies. African and African Diaspora scalp hair was significantly curled, (East) Asian hair was significantly thick, and European hair was significantly lighter in color. However, pigmentation analyses revealed a high level of variability in the melanin content of non‐European populations and analysis of curvature found a large range of variation in the average curvature of East African individuals.

Conclusions

Overall, these results suggest the usefulness of chemical methods for the elucidation of nonperceptible differences in scalp hair color and highlight the need for improvements in our assessment and understanding of hair fiber curvature. Am J Phys Anthropol 160:341–352, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bandgap Engineering of Titanium–Oxo Clusters: Labile Surface Sites Used for Ligand Substitution and Metal Incorporation
Authors: Liu Jin‐Xiu , Gao Mei‐Yan , Fang Wei‐Hui , Zhang Lei , Zhang Jian
Published: March 2016

Through the labile coordination sites of a robust phosphonate‐stabilized titanium–oxo cluster, 14 O‐donor ligands have been successfully introduced without changing the cluster core. The increasing electron‐withdrawing effect of the organic species allows the gradual reduction of the bandgaps of the {Ti6} complexes. Transition‐metal ions are then incorporated by the use of bifunctional O/N‐donor ligands, organizing these {Ti6} clusters into polymeric structures. The coordination environments of the applied metal ions show significant influence on their visible‐light adsorption. Both the above structural functionalizations also tune the photocatalytic H2 production activities of these clusters. This work provides a systematic bandgap engineering study of titanium–oxo clusters, which is important not only for their future photocatalytic applications, also for the better understanding of the structure–property relationships.
Enhancing antifouling performance of poly(l‐lactide) membranes by TiO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Jiang Bin , Wang Baoyu , Zhang Luhong , Sun Yongli , Xiao Xiaoming , Hao Li , Yang Na
Published: March 2016

Poly(l‐lactide) (PLLA)/TiO2 composite membranes were fabricated by immersion precipitation method. The resulting membranes were characterized using various methods including XRD, ATR‐FTIR, TGA, DSC, SEM, goniometer, and molecular weight cut‐off. The antifouling performance of the membrane was investigated through the filtration experiments of the oil/water emulsion. XRD, SEM, and ATR‐FTIR results indicated that TiO2 was successfully introduced into the membrane, while DSC and TGA indicated the enhancement of thermal stability of membrane. The improvement of membrane hydrophilicity was confirmed by goniometer. In addition, the pore size and porosity on the membrane surface varied obviously with increasing the TiO2 loading. It was concluded that PLLA/TiO2 composite membranes had better antifouling and recycling performance compared with the pure PLLA membrane. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43542.
Rubber‐based acrylate resins: An alternative for tire recycling and carbon neutral thermoset materials design
Authors: Tran Thi Kieu Nhung , Colomines Gaël , Leroy Eric , Nourry Arnaud , Pilard Jean‐François , Deterre Rémi
Published: March 2016

Rubber is a widely available potential carbon neutral resource, both as native natural rubber state and as vulcanized state in waste tires. Herein, we describe a model synthesis of acrylate telechelic natural rubber (AcTNR) oligomers and the use of such oligomers to prepare novel acrylate resins. AcTNR oligomers are synthesized according to a two steps procedure implying a controlled C = C bond's scission of high‐molecular‐weight natural rubber and a further chain ends functionalization. The molar mass of the resulting AcTNR is found to be 2300 g/mol as determined by 1H NMR. AcTNR‐based resins are then prepared by mixing AcTNR oligomers with various reactive diluents (RD) such as styrene, 1,4‐butanediol ether, tri(propylene glycol) diacrylate, 1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate (AcTNR:RD weight ratio 7:3). These bio‐based resins are afterward cured in the presence of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide as initiator and cobalt octoate as accelerator at 80 °C and postcured at 120 °C. The cured resins offer a wide range of mechanical, thermal, and dynamic‐mechanical performances. This approach could be extended to rubber tire wastes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43548.
Assessing geographic relevance for mobile search: A computational model and its validation via crowdsourcing
Authors: Reichenbacher Tumasch , De Sabbata Stefano , Purves Ross S. , Fabrikant Sara I.
Published: March 2016

The selection and retrieval of relevant information from the information universe on the web is becoming increasingly important in addressing information overload. It has also been recognized that geography is an important criterion of relevance, leading to the research area of geographic information retrieval. As users increasingly retrieve information in mobile situations, relevance is often related to geographic features in the real world as well as their representation in web documents. We present 2 methods for assessing geographic relevance (GR) of geographic entities in a mobile use context that include the 5 criteria topicality, spatiotemporal proximity, directionality, cluster, and colocation. To determine the effectiveness and validity of these methods, we evaluate them through a user study conducted on the Amazon Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform. An analysis of relevance ranks for geographic entities in 3 scenarios produced by two GR methods, 2 baseline methods, and human judgments collected in the experiment reveal that one of the GR methods produces similar ranks as human assessors.
High‐Oxygen‐Balance Furazan Anions: A Good Choice for High‐Performance Energetic Salts
Authors: Huang Haifeng , Shi Yameng , Liu Yanfang , Yang Jun
Published: March 2016

3,4‐Diaminofurazan was conveniently converted into energetic salts of 3,4‐dinitraminofurazan that were paired with nitrogen‐rich cations in fewer than three steps. Seven energetic salts were prepared and fully characterized by multinuclear (1H, 13C) NMR and IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and elemental analysis. In addition, the structures of the ammonium salt (2), hydrazinium salt (4), hydroxylammonium salt (5), aminoguanidinium salt (7), diaminoguanidinium salt (8) and triaminoguanidinium salt of 3,4‐dinitraminofurazan (9) were further confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The densities of these salts were between 1.673 (8) and 1.791 g cm−3 (5), whilst their oxygen balances were between −48.20 % (9) and −6.25 % (5). These salts showed high thermal stabilities, with decomposition temperatures between 179 (5) and 283 °C (6). Their sensitivities towards impact and friction were measured by BAM equipment to be between <1 J (9) and >40 J (6–8) and 64 N (9) and >360 N (6), respectively. The detonation performance of these compounds, which was calculated by using the EXPLO5 program, revealed detonation pressures of between 28.0 (6) and 40.5 GPa (5) and detonation velocities of between 8404 (6) and 9407 m s−1 (5).
Shape Engineering of Oxide Nanoparticles for Heterogeneous Catalysis
Authors: Zhou Yan , Li Yong , Shen Wenjie
Published: March 2016

The fabrication of oxide particles with tunable sizes and shapes at the nanoscale is one of the most crucial issues for the design and development of highly efficient heterogeneous catalysts. The shape of oxide nanoparticles has been demonstrated to affect their catalytic properties remarkably. Tuning the shape of oxide particles allows preferential exposure of specific reactive facets; this can maximize the number of active sites available to the reactants, which can improve the activity and also mediate the reaction route to a specific channel to achieve higher selectivity for a particular chemical reaction. In addition, the shape of the oxide particles affects their interaction with metal particles or clusters, and this involves interfacial strain and charge transfer. Metal particles or clusters dispersed on the reactive or polar facets of the oxide support often provide superior catalytic performance, primarily because of strong metal–support interactions. However, the geometric and electronic features of the metal‐oxide interface may change during the course of the reaction, induced by chemisorption of reactive molecules at elevated temperatures, which should be taken into account in proposing a structure–reactivity relationship.
Facile Syntheses of N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Precursors through I2‐ or NIS‐Promoted Amidiniumation of N‐Alkenyl Formamidines
Authors: Li Jing , Jiao Jiajun , Zhang Caiyun , Shi Min , Zhang Jun
Published: March 2016

We have developed I2‐ or N‐iodosuccinimide (NIS)‐mediated amidiniumation of N‐alkenyl formamidines for the syntheses of cyclic formamidinium salts, some of which could be directly used as N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors. Treatment of iodine‐containing formamidinium salts with Al2O3 led to the formation of cyclic formamidinium salts with an unsaturated backbone. A rhodium(I) complex ligated by a representative NHC was prepared by the reaction of [Rh(cod)Cl]2 (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) with the free carbene obtained in situ from deprotonation of the corresponding formamidinium salts. The NHCs prepared in situ can also react with S8 to afford the corresponding thiones.