bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Submission and resistance in the English linguistic landscape of Chaoshan
Authors: Yuan Mingming
Published: July 2018

Linguistic landscape (LL), a concept which first emerged in the field of language planning, refers to ‘[t]he language of public road signs, advertising billboards, street names, place names, commercial shop signs, and public signs on government buildings' (Landry & Bourhis, 1997: 25). There are two functions attached to the linguistic landscape of a given territory: an informational function and a symbolic function. The informational function serves to inform people of ‘the linguistic characteristics, territorial limits and language boundaries' of a specific region; whereas the symbolic function serves as an indicator of the status, power relations, and cultural identity of the inhabitants, affecting how individuals feel about their community (Landry & Bourhis, 1997).
It really does take a village: The role of neighbors in the etiology of nonaggressive rule-breaking behavior
Authors: Burt S. Alexandra , Pearson Amber L. , Rzotkiewicz Amanda , Klump Kelly L. , Neiderhiser Jenae M.
Published: July 2018

Although there is growing recognition that disadvantaged contexts attenuate genetic influences on youth misbehavior, it is not yet clear how this dampening occurs. The current study made use of a “geographic contagion” model to isolate specific contexts contributing to this effect, with a focus on nonaggressive rule-breaking behaviors (RB) in the families’ neighbors. Our sample included 847 families residing in or near modestly-to-severely disadvantaged neighborhoods who participated in the Michigan State University Twin Registry. Neighborhood sampling techniques were used to recruit neighbors residing within 5km of a given family (the mean number of neighbors assessed per family was 13.09; range, 1–47). Analyses revealed clear evidence of genotype–environment interactions by neighbor RB, such that sibling-level shared environmental influences on child RB increased with increasing neighbor self-reports of their own RB, whereas genetic influences decreased. Moreover, this moderation appeared to be driven by geographic proximity to neighbors. Sensitivity analyses further indicated that this effect was specifically accounted for by higher levels of neighbor joblessness, rather than elements of neighbor RB that would contribute to neighborhood blight or crime. Such findings provocatively suggest that future genotype–environment interactions studies should integrate the dynamic networks of social contagion theory.
Setting the Stage: Drama, Libretti and the ‘Invention’ of Opera in Leipzig in the 1680s
Authors: Rathey Markus
Published: July 2018

The opera house in Leipzig opened its doors in 1693. Operas had been performed in central Germany for quite some time but they were primarily confined to courts. With the founding of the opera, Leipzig, home of an important trade fair, provided an additional musical attraction that could entertain merchants coming for the fair. While the year 1693 marks the beginning of regular opera performances in Leipzig, the preceding decades saw an increased interest in dramatic genres in the realms of both secular and sacred music. The connection between these dramatic works and the opera house are not just circumstantial. Some of the key players in the opera business in Leipzig were involved in these earlier pieces as well, especially the poet Paul Thymich, the first librettist for the Leipzig opera, who provided the majority of texts for thedrammi per musica, Singspiels and sacred cantatas.
Reaching the Operatic Stage: The Geographical and Social Origins of British and Irish Opera Singers, c.1850–c.1960
Authors: Russell Dave
Published: July 2018

The backgrounds of opera singers have received little systematic study and this article attempts to help redress this situation through analysis of a collective biography of 344 British and Irish-born performers active in the century from 1850. It argues that certain areas, notably London and Wales, made a particularly significant contribution to the operatic profession and notes that certain other patterns of regional under- and over-production are discernible. While singers from a broadly defined middle class were numerically dominant within this sample, this study stresses the unexpectedly strong contribution from those born into the lower-middle and working classes. Such performers were able to build on skills honed in the amateur musical sphere partly as a result of an expanding state-funded higher education system, but also due to an extraordinary variety of forms of patronage. The ‘popular’ social tone of singers, however, is shown to have done little to challenge perceptions of opera as an elitist cultural form.
Non-size increasing graph rewriting for natural language processing
Authors: BONFANTE GUILLAUME , GUILLAUME BRUNO
Published: July 2018

A very large amount of work in Natural Language Processing (NLP) use tree structure as the first class citizen mathematical structures to represent linguistic structures, such as parsed sentences or feature structures. However, some linguistic phenomena do not cope properly with trees; for instance, in the sentence ‘Max decides to leave,’ ‘Max’ is the subject of the both predicates ‘to_decide’ and ‘to_leave’. Tree-based linguistic formalisms generally use some encoding to manage sentences like the previous example. In former papers (Bonfante et al. 2011; Guillaume and Perrier 2012), we discussed the interest to use graphs rather than trees to deal with linguistic structures, and we have shown how Graph Rewriting could be used for their processing, for instance in the transformation of the sentence syntax into its semantics. Our experiments have shown that Graph Rewriting applications to NLP do not require the full computational power of the general Graph Rewriting setting. The most important observation is that all graph vertices in the final structures are in some sense ‘predictable’ from the input data, and so we can consider the framework of Non-size increasing Graph Rewriting. In our previous papers, we have formally described the Graph Rewriting calculus we used and our purpose here is to study the theoretical aspect of termination with respect to this calculus. Given that termination is undecidable in general, we define termination criterions based on weight, we prove the termination of weighted rewriting systems, and we give complexity bounds on derivation lengths for these rewriting systems.
The importance of preconception and prenatal genetic evaluation in heart transplant individuals and fetal and postnatal cardiac monitoring in their offspring
Authors: Liu Yin , Bock Matthew J. , Gold June-Anne
Published: July 2018

A 24-year-old woman with a history of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy status post heart transplant gave birth to a healthy term female infant. At 5 months of age, the infant was diagnosed with severe left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 18% and moderate non-compaction of the left ventricle. She received a heart transplant at 7 months of age. Familial dilated cardiomyopathy was diagnosed. Genetic testing revealed a likely pathogenic variant in the TPM1 gene. Fetal cardiac screening is critical for offspring of heart transplant recipients, especially when the reason for transplant was cardiomyopathy. Early genetic consultation and counselling is necessary for all heart transplant recipients, preferably prenatally. Postnatal screening of offspring is essential at birth, at 3-month intervals until 1 year of age, and then annually until the risk for familial cardiomyopathy is assessed.
ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FISCAL DEVALUATIONS IN A MONETARY UNION
Authors: Lipińska Anna , von Thadden Leopold
Published: July 2018

This paper examines the effects of fiscal devaluations in a model of a monetary union characterized by national fiscal policies and supranational monetary policy. We show that a revenue-neutral permanent tax shift in one country, which raises its consumption tax to finance a cut to labor taxes, increases welfare of the monetary union in the long run. The distribution of gains among countries depends on their degree of financial integration. We also document that price rigidities result in short-run welfare costs.
Food insecurity and anaemia risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Moradi Sajjad , Arghavani Hana , Issah Amos , Mohammadi Hamed , Mirzaei Khadijeh
Published: July 2018

Objective

Increasing evidence has suggested an association between food insecurity and the risk of anaemia. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to examine the associations between food insecurity and anaemia risk.

Setting

Pertinent studies were identified by searching PubMed and EMBASE databases up to August 2017. Data were available from nineteen studies; seventeen studies were cross-sectional and two studies were longitudinal. Risk ratios of 95993 individual participants from twelve different countries in these studies were pooled for the meta-analysis.

Results

The results showed that there was an overall positive relationship between food insecurity and anaemia risk (OR=1·27; 95 % CI 1·13, 1·40). Similar results were observed for Fe-deficiency anaemia (OR=1·45; 95 % CI 1·04, 1·86). These results revealed that food insecurity at two levels, including mild food insecurity (OR=1·15; 95 % CI 1·00, 1·31) and moderate food insecurity (OR=1·36; 95 % CI 1·23, 1·48), increased the risk of anaemia. In addition, it was found that age had an impact on the associations between food insecurity and anaemia risk (OR=1·22; 95 % CI 1·09, 1·36). Age subgroup analysis indicated that food insecurity significantly increased the risk of anaemia among infants/toddlers (OR=1·17; 95 % CI 1·05, 1·29) and adult women (OR=1·35; 95 % CI 1·16, 1·54).

Conclusions

It seems that infants, toddlers and adult women in food-insecure households are at a higher risk of anaemia. To prevent anaemia in food-insecure households, these age groups may require more nutritional support.
Evolutionary Exobiology II: investigating biological potential of synchronously-rotating worlds
Authors: Stevenson David S.
Published: July 2018

Planets that orbit M-class dwarf stars in their habitable zones are expected to become tidally-locked in the first billion years of their history. Simulations of potentially habitable planets orbiting K and G-class stars also suggest that many will become tidally-locked or become pseudo-synchronous rotators in a similar time frame where certain criteria are fulfilled. Simple models suggest that such planets will experience climatic regions organized in broadly concentric bands around the sub-stellar point, where irradiation is maximal. Here, we develop some of the quantitative, as well as the qualitative impacts of such climate on the evolutionary potential of life on such worlds, incorporating the effects of topography and ocean currents on potential biological diversity. By comparing atmospheric circulation models with terrestrial circulation and biological diversity, we are able to construct viable thought models of biological potential. While we await the generation of atmospheric circulation models that incorporate topography and varying subaerial landscape, these models can be used as a starting point to determine the overall evolutionary potential of such worlds. The planets in these thought-models have significant differences in their distribution of habitability that may not be apparent from simple climate modelling.
Vorausplanung am Lebensende – eine kritische Reflexion für die Praxis
Authors: Eychmüller Steffen , Felber Sibylle
Published: July 2018

Zusammenfassung. Die Vorausplanung basiert auf Vorherwissen, und das ist nicht mehr (und nicht weniger) als der Umgang mit Wahrscheinlichkeiten. Hier braucht es medizinisches Prognose-Wissen, und die Kompetenz, dieses zu kommunizieren. In der Medizin wird die Vorausplanung aktuell zunehmend zu einem elementaren Recht als Ausdruck der Umsetzung der Patientenautonomie erkoren – doch welche Inhalte können bzw. müssen in diesem Rahmen diskutiert und definiert werden? Die Terminologie zum Thema gesundheitliche Vorausplanung ist national und international uneinheitlich. In der Schweiz wurde deshalb mit dem neuen «Rahmenkonzept gesundheitliche Vorausplanung» der Versuch unternommen, diesbezüglich zu einem einheitlicheren Verständnis beizutragen. Für die klinische Praxis kann man zusammenfassend sagen: Die Vorausplanung bedarf folgender Attribute: Vertrauen, gemeinsames Erleben gesundheitlicher Krisen und des Umgangs damit, kommunikative Fähigkeiten aller Beteiligten (nicht nur seitens der Medizin!), ein Rollenverständnis der Medizin zwischen Coach und Bergführer, ein systemischer Ansatz mit Einbezug der Angehörigen in wichtige Entscheide, ein etabliertes, und bis zur elektronischen Dokumentation bestens funktionierendes regionales Gesundheitsnetz, eine volle Kostendeckung der teilweise sehr anspruchsvollen Entscheidungsfindungen, Dokumentation und Revision – und von allen das Bewusstsein und Selbstrelativierung, dass es sich bei der Vorausplanung nicht um Gewissheiten sondern um Wahrscheinlichkeiten handelt.
Betreuung von Sterbenden: Was Ärztinnen und Ärzte erfahren und brauchen
Authors: Zambrano Sofia C.
Published: July 2018

Zusammenfassung. Ärztinnen und Ärzte stehen im Kontext von Sterben und Tod vor vielfältigen Herausforderungen, die nicht nur fachlicher, sondern auch persönlicher Natur sind. Vielen fällt es schwer, die Endlichkeit des Lebens zu akzeptieren. Sie haben Schwierigkeiten, ihre emotionale Beteiligung und Angst angesichts des Todes von Patientinnen und Patienten im Gleichgewicht zu halten. Viele Spezialistinnen und Spezialisten legen den Schwerpunkt auf die Behandlung dringender physiologischer Probleme zum Zeitpunkt akuter Krisen und können nur schwer akzeptieren, dass die Grenzen der Wirksamkeit ihrer Behandlung erreicht sind. Das Ziel dieser Übersichtsarbeit ist es, einen Überblick über die entscheidenden Aspekte der Einstellungen, Erfahrungen und Bedürfnisse von Ärztinnen und Ärzten beim Umgang mit sterbenden Patientinnen und Patienten zu bieten. Die Übersichtsarbeit soll Informationen zu nützlichen Ansätzen der Kommunikation am Lebensende zur Verfügung stellen sowie die Entwicklung von Strategien fördern, die eine bessere Integration von Gesprächen und Selbstfürsorgepraktiken am Lebensende in die alltägliche Praxis ermöglichen. Die medizinische Ausbildung hat zu lange eine distanzierte Haltung gegenüber Emotionen und eine Sicht von Sterben und Tod als eine isolierende Erfahrung begünstigt. Auch wenn einige Todesfälle von Patientinnen und Patienten schwieriger zu bewältigen sind als andere und einige Gespräche sich schwieriger initiieren lassen als andere, kann eine Selbstreflexion nicht nur zu einem Verständnis der Quelle des eigenen Unbehagens beitragen, sondern auch zu besseren Kommunikationsmustern, einer stabileren Gesundheit und einer höheren Arbeitszufriedenheit. Durch Meinungsaustausch und Kenntnisse des Umgangs von Kolleginnen und Kollegen mit ähnlichen Themen besteht die Möglichkeit, einen umfassenden Ansatz im Umgang mit Sterben und Tod zu entwickeln, ein Ansatz, der persönliche und berufliche Beziehungen verbessern und letztlich zukünftige Generationen von Ärztinnen und Ärzten sowie die gesellschaftlichen Erwartungen beeinflussen kann
Cloud Microphysical Factors Affecting Simulations of Deep Convection During the Presummer Rainy Season in Southern China
Authors: Furtado Kalli , Field Paul R. , Luo Yali , Liu Xi , Guo Zhun , Zhou Tianjun , Shipway Benjamin J. , Hill Adrian A. , Wilkinson Jonathan M.
Published: July 2018

The sensitivity of subtropical deep convection to the parameterization of cloud microphysics is elucidated through high‐resolution modeling of extreme presummer rainfall over southern China. An ensemble of physics configuration experiments is used to identify several drivers of model errors in comparison to radar observations from the South China Monsoon Rainfall Experiment (SCMREX) and remotely sensed estimates of cloud, precipitation, and radiation from satellites in the A‐train constellation. The benefits of increasing the number of prognostic variables in the microphysics scheme is assessed, relative to the effects of the parameterization of cloud microphysical properties and cloud fraction diagnosis. By matching individual parameterizations between the microphysical configurations, it is shown that a small subset of the parameterization changes can reproduce most of the dependence of model performance on physics configuration. In particular, biases that are due to the low‐level clouds and rain are strongly influenced by cloud fraction diagnosis and raindrop size distribution, whereas variations in the effects of high clouds are strongly influenced by differences in the parameterization of ice crystal sedimentation. Hence, for the case studied here, these parameterizations give more insight into the causes of variability in model performance than does the number of model prognostics per se.
Land Use‐Dependent Preferential Flow Paths Affect Hydrological Response of Steep Tropical Lowland Catchments With Saprolitic Soils
Authors: Cheng Yanyan , Ogden Fred L. , Zhu Jianting , Bretfeld Mario
Published: July 2018

Forested catchments in Central Panama can produce more base flow during the dry season compared to pasture catchments—the so‐called “forest sponge effect.” During rainfall events, peak storm runoff rates and storm runoff coefficients can be lower for forested catchments than pasture catchments, even when they have similar topographic characteristics, underlying geology, and soil texture. The internal mechanism of these differences in hydrological response due to land use is yet to be fully understood. A distributed model explicitly simulating preferential flow paths (PFPs), which is referred to as “PFPMod,” is used to explain the hydrological response caused by land use using data from three catchments with distinct land covers in Central Panama. Input parameters of forest and pasture land covers were identified using field observations and literature values. Multiple satisfactory objective criteria demonstrate that the two end‐member land cover parameter sets are adequate to explain the observed difference in dry‐season base flow and storm runoff coefficients. Field measurements of matrix infiltrability using soil cores and plot‐scale infiltration capacity enabled estimating the number of vertical macropores that fully penetrate the root zone. Model simulation results demonstrate that fast drainage through lateral PFPs in the early wet season and high flow in vertical PFPs to recharge deep groundwater in the late wet season contribute to the observed differences in peak storm runoff and the “forest sponge effect” during the dry season. This study provided insights to the mechanism by which reforestation may help to restore ecosystem services and water security in tropical settings.
Cluster Observations of a Dispersive Flapping Event of Magnetotail Current Sheet
Authors: Rong Z. J. , Cai Y. H. , Gao J. W. , Lui A. T. Y. , Shen C. , Petrukovich A. A. , Wei Y. , Wan W. X.
Published: July 2018

A kink‐like flapping event of Earth magnetotail current sheet, which consists of two frequency bands successively, is studied by the multipoint observations of Cluster. The multipoint analysis of Cluster observations demonstrates that the higher frequency band (period is about 10 min) has faster propagation velocity (about 30 km/s), shorter wavelength (about 3 RE), and smaller amplitude (1–1.5 RE). In contrast, the lower frequency band (period is about 22 min) shows slower propagation velocity (about 21 km/s), longer wavelength (about 4.4 RE), and larger amplitude (2–3 RE). Comparison with the flapping models demonstrates that the dispersion of theoretical models does not show consistency with the results of this event, which suggests that new or more advanced kink‐like flapping theories or models in the future have to consider the constraints of the dispersive properties demonstrated by this event.
The Meridional Magnetic Field Lines of Saturn
Authors: Carbary J. F.
Published: July 2018

The magnetometer data for the Cassini mission (2004–2016) are used to derive a model of Saturn's meridional magnetic field lines. Using a bin map of the Bρ and Bz field components, the field lines can be traced from the equator to high latitudes in the inner magnetosphere. The traces reveal a magnetic field greatly compressed on the dayside and highly elongated on the nightside, which are presumably the effects of solar wind compression and viscous flow around the magnetosphere. A model of the traced field lines can accommodate this day‐night asymmetry and offer a way to connect various places in the magnetosphere. This model can be adjusted for magnetodisk warping by using solar latitude. The field line traces can be mapped down to the ionosphere using an offset dipole. The dayside magnetopause (L = 21) is mapped to colatitudes of ~13° in the north and ~16° in the south, while for L > 25 on the nightside, the mapped field lines approach asymptotic limits of ~16° in the north and ~18° in the south.
Internal Waves in the Arctic: Influence of Ice Concentration, Ice Roughness, and Surface Layer Stratification
Authors: Cole Sylvia T. , Toole John M. , Rainville Luc , Lee Craig M.
Published: July 2018

The Arctic ice cover influences the generation, propagation, and dissipation of internal waves, which in turn may affect vertical mixing in the ocean interior. The Arctic internal wavefield and its relationship to the ice cover is investigated using observations from Ice‐Tethered Profilers with Velocity and Seaglider sampling during the 2014 Marginal Ice Zone experiment in the Canada Basin. Ice roughness, ice concentration, and wind forcing all influenced the daily to seasonal changes in the internal wavefield. Three different ice concentration thresholds appeared to determine the evolution of internal wave spectral energy levels: (1) the initial decrease from 100% ice concentration after which dissipation during the surface reflection was inferred to increase, (2) the transition to 70–80% ice concentration when the local generation of internal waves increased, and (3) the transition to open water that was associated with larger‐amplitude internal waves. Ice roughness influenced internal wave properties for ice concentrations greater than approximately 70–80%: smoother ice was associated with reduced local internal wave generation. Richardson numbers were rarely supercritical, consistent with weak vertical mixing under all ice concentrations. On decadal timescales, smoother ice may counteract the effects of lower ice concentration on the internal wavefield complicating future predictions of internal wave activity and vertical mixing.
Subsurface Fine‐Scale Patterns in an Anticyclonic Eddy Off Cap‐Vert Peninsula Observed From Glider Measurements
Authors: Kolodziejczyk Nicolas , Testor Pierre , Lazar Alban , Echevin Vincent , Krahmann Gerd , Chaigneau Alexis , Gourcuff Claire , Wade Malick , Faye Saliou , Estrade Philippe , Capet Xavier , Mortier Laurent , Brehmer Patrice , Schütte Florian , Karstensen Johannes
Published: July 2018

Glider measurements acquired along four transects between Cap‐Vert Peninsula and the Cape Verde archipelago in the eastern tropical North Atlantic during March–April 2014 were used to investigate fine‐scale stirring in an anticyclonic eddy. The anticyclone was formed near 12°N off the continental shelf and propagated northwest toward the Cape Verde islands. At depth, between 100 and –400 m, the isolated anticyclone core contained relatively oxygenated, low‐salinity South Atlantic Central Water, while the surrounding water masses were saltier and poorly oxygenated. The dynamical and thermohaline subsurface environment favored the generation of fine‐scale horizontal and vertical temperature and salinity structures in and around the core of the anticyclone. These features exhibited horizontal scales of O(10–30 km) relatively small with respect to the eddy radius of O(150 km). The vertical scales of O(5–100 m) were associated to density‐compensated gradient. Spectra of salinity and oxygen along isopycnals revealed a slope of around k−2 in the 10‐ to 100‐km horizontal scale range. Further analyses suggest that the fine‐scale structures are likely related to tracer stirring processes. Such mesoscale anticyclonic eddies and the embedded fine‐scale tracers in and around them could play a major role in the transport of South Atlantic Central Water masses and ventilation of the North Atlantic Oxygen Minimum Zone.
Dissolved Carbon Dynamics in Meltwaters From the Russell Glacier, Greenland Ice Sheet
Authors: Andrews M. Grace , Jacobson Andrew D. , Osburn Magdalena R. , Flynn Theodore M.
Published: July 2018

Melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) has accelerated in recent decades. Given the close association between the water and carbon (C) cycles, melting of the GrIS may also drive local and global C cycle feedback. However, few studies have quantified such feedback, which may have important implications for predicting future climate or understanding linkages between ice sheet destabilization and climate change in the geologic past. Here we investigate seasonal and interannual dissolved C cycling at the margin of the Russell Glacier, west Greenland. By synthesizing isotopic analyses of water (δ18O) and C (δ13C and Δ14C) with geomicrobiological observations, we present evidence for previously unknown connections between the GrIS's supraglacial and subglacial dissolved C cycles. Supraglacial streams have variable concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and are the dominant source of DOC in subglacial discharge. Supraglacial stream dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations are uniform and sourced from a spatially and temporally constant mixture of organic C (~25%) respired by aerobic heterotrophs inhabiting the GrIS surface and dissolved atmospheric C (~75%). Supraglacial inputs account for ~50% of subglacial discharge DIC. The remaining subglacial DIC derives from carbonate weathering and microbial CO2 production, with the latter attributable to abundant anaerobic heterotrophic communities observed in subglacial discharge. Furthermore, we find that supraglacial streams deliver young DOC to the subglacial environment during snowmelt and rain events. These pulses of organic C may drive heterotrophic microbial respiration, with the cumulative effect being a seasonal shift in the source of basal DIC, from microbial‐ to carbonate‐dominated.
Genetic variants in SEC16B are associated with body composition in black South Africans
Authors: Sahibdeen Venesa , Crowther Nigel J. , Soodyall Himla , Hendry Liesl M. , Munthali Richard J. , Hazelhurst Scott , Choudhury Ananyo , Norris Shane A. , Ramsay Michèle , Lombard Zané
Published: July 2018

Objective

The latest genome-wide association studies of obesity-related traits have identified several genetic loci contributing to body composition (BC). These findings have not been robustly replicated in African populations, therefore, this study aimed to assess whether European BC-associated gene loci played a similar role in a South African black population.

Methods

A replication and fine-mapping study was performed in participants from the Birth to Twenty cohort (N = 1,926) using the Metabochip. Measurements included body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), total fat mass, total lean mass and percentage fat mass (PFM).

Results

SNPs in several gene loci, including SEC16B (Padj <  9.48 × 10−7), NEGR1 (Padj < 1.64 × 10−6), FTO (Padj < 2.91 × 10−5), TMEM18 (Padj < 2.27 × 10−5), and WARS2(Padj < 3.25 × 10−5) were similarly associated (albeit not at array-wide signficance (P ≤ 6.7 × 10−7) with various phenotypes including fat mass, PFM, WHR linked to BC in this African cohort, however the associations were driven by different sentinel SNPs. More importantly, DXA-derived BC measures revealed stronger genetic associations than simple anthropometric measures. Association signals generated in this study were shared by European and African populations, as well as unique to this African cohort. Moreover, sophisticated estimates like DXA measures enabled an enhanced characterisation of genetic associations for BC traits.

Conclusion

Results from this study suggest that in-depth genomic studies in larger African cohorts may reveal novel SNPs for body composition and adiposity, which will provide greater insight into the aetiology of obesity.
Liver-enriched Genes are Associated with the Prognosis of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Li Binghua , Xu Tiancheng , Liu Chaohui , Meng Gang , Sun Yuchen , Qian Liyuan , Wang Shaohe , Wei Jiwu , Yu Decai , Ding Yitao
Published: July 2018

Tissue-enriched genes are highly expressed in one particular tissue type and represent distinct physiological processes. The dynamic profile of tissue-enriched genes during tumorigenesis and progression remains largely unstudied. Here, we identified tissue-enriched genes from 12 tissue types based on RNA sequencing data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and found that the liver had the largest number of such genes among the 12 tissue types. The characteristics of liver-enriched genes were further investigated. Most liver-enriched genes were downregulated and metabolism-related genes, which were associated with pathological stage and dedifferentiation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hypermethylation might be a mechanism underlying the downregulation of liver-enriched genes. We constructed a liver-enriched gene set and demonstrated that it is associated with the prognosis of the patients with HCC both in the TCGA cohort and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Moreover, we discovered that the degree of the dissimilarity between tumors and normal tissues was correlated with the prognosis of patients with HCC and the biological behaviours of the tumors. These results will help identify prognostic biomarkers of patients with HCC, and enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis and progression.
Massively parallel sequencing of cell-free DNA in plasma for detecting gynaecological tumour-associated copy number alteration
Authors: Nakabayashi Makoto , Kawashima Akihiro , Yasuhara Rika , Hayakawa Yosuke , Miyamoto Shingo , Iizuka Chiaki , Sekizawa Akihiko
Published: July 2018

The discovery of circulating tumour DNA molecules created a paradigm shift in tumour biomarkers as predictors of recurrence. Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) to detect circulating cell-free foetal DNA in maternal plasma is increasingly recognised as a valuable substitute to perceive foetal copy number variation (CNV). This study aimed to determine whether the copy number detection in plasma samples using NIPT platform could be used as a prognostic biomarker in patients with gynaecological cancer. We conducted a prospective study using samples containing preoperative plasma from 100 women with gynaecological cancers. Samples were randomly rearranged and blindly sequenced using a low-coverage whole-genome sequencing plasma DNA, NIPT platform. The NIPT pipeline identified copy number alterations (CNAs) were counted in plasma as a gain or loss if they exceeded 10 Mb from the expected diploid coverage. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analysed according to the presence of CNA in plasma using Kaplan–Meier analyses. The NIPT pipeline detected 19/100 cases of all gynaecological cancers, including 6/36 ovarian cancers, 3/11 cervical cancers, and 10/53 endometrial cancers. Patients with CNA in plasma had a significantly poorer prognosis in all stages concerning PFS and OS. Therefore, low-coverage sequencing NIPT platform could serve as a predictive marker of patient outcome.
Metagenomics of pigmented and cholesterol gallstones: the putative role of bacteria
Authors: Kose S. H. , Grice K. , Orsi W. D. , Ballal M. , Coolen M. J. L.
Published: July 2018

There is growing evidence for bacteria playing a role in the pathogenesis and formation of pigmented gallstones from humans. These studies mainly involved cultivation of gallstone-associated bacteria and 16S rRNA profiling, providing an indirect link between processes involved in gallstone formation by the bacteria in-situ. Here, we provide functional metagenomic evidence of a range of genes involved in bile stress response, biofilm formation, and anaerobic energy metabolism by Gram-negative Klebsiella in pigmented gallstones from a 76-year-old male patient. Klebsiella was also present in one cholesterol-type stone in a 30-year-old female patient who had additional cholesterol gallstones characterised by Gram-positive bacteria. Pigmented stones further revealed a predominance of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, whilst cholesterol stones indicated a profile dominanted by protein metabolism possibly reflecting known chemical differences between Gram-negative and Gram-positive biofilm matrices. Archaeal genes were not detected. Complementary carbon and hydrogen isotopic analyses of cholesterol within the patients’ stones revealed homogeneity, suggesting a common diet or cholesterol biosynthesis pathway that has little influence on microbial composition. This pilot study provides a framework to study microbial processes that play a potential role in gallstone formation across markedly different types of stones and patient backgrounds.
Role of Gated Myocardial Glucose Metabolic Imaging in Assessing Left Ventricular Systolic Dyssynchrony after Myocardial Infarction and the Influential Factors
Authors: Shao Xiaoliang , Wang Jianfeng , Tian Yi , Fan Shengdeng , Zhang Feifei , Yang Wei , Xin Wenchong , Wang Yuetao
Published: July 2018

In this study, we investigated the role of gated myocardial glucose metabolic imaging in assessing left ventricular (LV) systolic dyssynchrony after myocardial infarction (MI) and explored the influencing factors. Bama mini-pigs were divided into normal group and MI group and subjected to gated myocardial metabolic imaging (GMMI) and gated myocardial perfusion imaging (GMPI). The phase bandwidth (BW), standard deviation (SD) and the latest activation site of left ventricle were obtained using program Cedars QGS. The results showed that (1) BW and SD obtained in GMMI and GMPI showed significant correlation in pigs with MI, but not in the normal pigs, (2) BW and SD obtained in GMMI and GMPI had good consistency in both normal pigs and MI pigs, (3) GMMI and GMPI had a 66.7% identity in determining the latest activation site of left ventricle in the normal pigs and 77.8% identity in determining the latest activation site of left ventricle in pigs with MI. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that total perfusion deficit and summed motion score were independent factors affecting BW and SD in GMMI. In conclusion, phase analysis of GMMI images could objectively reflect LV systolic dyssynchrony resulted from interactions of multiple factors.
Water solubility is essential for fluorescent probes to image hypochlorous acid in live cells
Authors: Xing Panfei , Zhang Zhe , Niu Yiming , Qi Yaning , Dong Lei , Wang Chunming
Published: July 2018

Our findings, for the first time, highlight the importance of water-solubility of fluorescent probes for HClO imaging.
Dihydrogen phosphate-containing dinuclear double assemblies that demonstrate phosphate reactivity to the tetrafluoroborate anion
Authors: Faulkner Robert A. , Patmore Nathan J. , Rice Craig R. , Slater Christopher
Published: July 2018

LigandsL1andL2both form dinuclear assemblies with Cu(ii) and these react with dihydrogen phosphate to give [Cu2L2(H2PO4)]3+. However, in the presence of tetrafluoroborate anions the phosphate undergoes reaction with the anion forming [Cu3(L1)3(O3POBF3)]3+and [Cu2(L2)2(O2P(OBF3)2)]+.
Diversity-oriented synthesis of imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines
Authors: Mai Shaoyu , Luo Yixin , Huang Xianyun , Shu Zhenghao , Li Bingnan , Lan Yu , Song Qiuling
Published: July 2018

Herein, we report an efficient and practical strategy for the synthesis of five types of imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines via Cp*RhIII-catalyzed [4+2] annulation of 2-arylimidazoles and α-diazoketoesters, whose structural and substituted diversity at 5- or 6-position can be precisely controlled by the α-diazoketoester coupling partners.
Exploring the scope of capacitance-assisted electrochemical carbon dioxide capture
Authors: Dowsett Mark R. , Lewis Cassandra M. , North Michael , Parkin Alison
Published: July 2018

Electrochemical carbon mineralisation is facilitated by the separation of the graphite and aluminium anode components.
Controlled synthesis of up-conversion luminescent Gd/Tm-MOFs for pH-responsive drug delivery and UCL/MRI dual-modal imaging
Authors: Liu Yana , Zhang Cheng , Xu Chen , Lin Caixue , Sun Keke , Wang Jie , Chen Xueli , Li Ling , Whittaker Andrew K. , Xu Hai-Bing
Published: July 2018

Using a facile one-step hydrothermal method, a series of metal–organic frameworks containing Gd/Tm (Gd/Tm-MOFs) were prepared successfully.
Stoichiometry of An(iii)–DMDOHEMA complexes formed during solvent extraction
Authors: Weßling Patrik , Trumm Michael , Geist Andreas , Panak Petra J.
Published: July 2018

N,N′-Dimethyl,N,N′-dioctylhexylethoxymalonamide (DMDOHEMA) is used to separate An(iii) and Ln(iii) from fission products in several liquid–liquid extraction processes that aim at recycling actinides.
Emerging investigators series: occurrence and fate of emerging organic contaminants in wastewater treatment plants with an enhanced nitrification step
Authors: Xing Yue , Yu Yaochun , Men Yujie
Published: July 2018

The goal of this study is to investigate the occurrence and removal of emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) during wastewater treatment processes and understand the role of enhanced nitrification treatment in removing EOCs.
High Curie-temperature intrinsic ferromagnetism and hole doping-induced half-metallicity in two-dimensional scandium chlorine monolayers
Authors: Wang Bing , Wu Qisheng , Zhang Yehui , Guo Yilv , Zhang Xiwen , Zhou Qionghua , Dong Shuai , Wang Jinlan
Published: July 2018

Two-dimensional scandium chlorine monolayers: high Curie-temperature intrinsic ferromagnetism and hole doping-induced half-metallicity.
Spent alkaline battery-derived manganese oxides as efficient oxygen electrocatalysts for Zn–air batteries
Authors: Meng Jing , Liu Fangming , Yan Zhenhua , Cheng Fangyi , Li Fujun , Chen Jun
Published: July 2018

The discharged cathode from depleted primary Zn–MnO2batteries can be recyclably utilized as efficient oxygen reduction/evolution electrocatalysts to build Zn–air batteries.
Mechanistic insights into the ruthenium-catalyzed site-selective oxidation of alcohols
Authors: Wang Bing , Jiang Julong , Yu Haizhu , Fu Yao
Published: July 2018

We presented a theoretical study on the Ru-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols and illustrated the origin of site-selectivity.
Facile synthesis of a hollow Ni–Fe–B nanochain and its enhanced catalytic activity for hydrogen generation from NaBH4hydrolysis
Authors: Guo Jie , Hou Yongjiang , Li Bo
Published: July 2018

A hollow Ni–Fe–B nanochain is successfully synthesized by a galvanic replacement method using a Fe–B nanocomposite and a NiCl2solution as the template and additional reagent, respectively.
Aligned N-doped carbon nanotube bundles with interconnected hierarchical structure as an efficient bi-functional oxygen electrocatalyst
Authors: Tian Weiliang , Wang Cheng , Chen Ruida , Cai Zhao , Zhou Daojin , Hao Yongchao , Chang Yingna , Han Nana , Li Yaping , Liu Junfeng , Wang Feng , Liu Wen , Duan Haohong , Sun Xiaoming
Published: July 2018

A hierarchical structure containing aligned CNTs/graphene/transition-metal was fabricated and worked as a highly active bifunctional catalyst for Zn–air batteries.
Accelerated aging and degradation mechanism of LiFePO4/graphite batteries cycled at high discharge rates
Authors: Sun Shun , Guan Ting , Cheng Xinqun , Zuo Pengjian , Gao Yunzhi , Du Chunyu , Yin Geping
Published: July 2018

Effects of different discharge rates on the aging of LiFePO4/graphite batteries are researched, and changes in degradation mechanism at high discharge rates are investigated.
Ultrasensitive enzyme-free fluorescent detection of VEGF165 based on target-triggered hybridization chain reaction amplification
Authors: Zhou Qingzhen , Yan Hongxia , Ran Fengying , Cao Jianjun , Chen Long , Shang Bing , Chen Hao , Wei Jian , Chen Qinhua
Published: July 2018

Sensitive detection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) is important for early cancer disease diagnosis in the clinic.
3D-printed zeolite monoliths with hierarchical porosity for selective methanol to light olefin reaction
Authors: Li Xin , Rezaei Fateme , Rownaghi Ali A.
Published: July 2018

Herein, we report the rapid synthesis of customized zeolite monoliths with various compositions and hierarchical porosity (macro–meso–micro) using a 3D printing technique.
Thermoformed fluoropolymer tubing for in-line mixing
Authors: Wang Kai , Zhang Haomiao , Shen Yi , Adamo Andrea , Jensen Klavs F.
Published: July 2018

We present a thermoforming method to make in-line micromixer in commercial fluoropolymer tubing.
Effect of chain architecture on the swelling and thermal response of star-shaped thermo-responsive (poly(methoxy diethylene glycol acrylate)-block-polystyrene)3 block copolymer films
Authors: Zhong Qi , Mi Lei , Metwalli Ezzeldin , Bießmann Lorenz , Philipp Martine , Miasnikova Anna , Laschewsky Andre , Papadakis Christine M. , Cubitt Robert , Schwartzkopf Matthias , Roth Stephan V. , Wang Jiping , Müller-Buschbaum Peter
Published: July 2018

The effect of chain architecture on swelling and thermal response of (PMDEGA-b-PS)3 films is investigated by in situ neutron reflectivity.
All-small molecule solar cells based on donor molecule optimization with highly enhanced efficiency and stability
Authors: Guo Jie , Bin Haijun , Wang Wei , Chen Bingcai , Guo Jing , Sun Rui , Zhang Zhi-Guo , Jiao Xuechen , Li Yongfang , Min Jie
Published: July 2018

A small molecule donor BDT(TVT-SR)2 is developed and used in all-small molecule solar cells, and it exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 11.1% for BDT(TVT-SR)2:IDIC solar cells, and good device stability.
Bridging Mo2C–C and highly dispersed copper by incorporating N-functional groups to greatly enhance the catalytic activity and durability for carbon dioxide hydrogenation
Authors: Xiong Kun , Zhou Guilin , Zhang Haidong , Shen Yu , Zhang Xianming , Zhang Yuhua , Li Jinlin
Published: July 2018

We report a facile and controllable method to enhance the catalytic activity and stability of Mo2C–C for CO2 hydrogenation by incorporating N-functional groups on the interface of Mo2C–C.
Reduced expansion and improved full-cell cycling of a SnOx#C embedded structure for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Yang Lie , Sun Liu-Yang , Zhang Rong-Rong , Xu Ya-Wen , Ning Xiao-Hui , Qin Yuan-Bin , Narayan R. Lakshmi , Li Ju , Shan Zhi-Wei
Published: July 2018

Embedded SnOx#C composite, with excellent structural robustness, exhibits stable full-cell performance and enhanced gravimetric/volumetric capacity.
A low-cost Mg2+/Na+ hybrid aqueous battery
Authors: Cao Xi , Wang Lulu , Chen Jitao , Zheng Junrong
Published: July 2018

A Mg2+/Na+ hybrid aqueous battery with high energy density is constructed using commercial Mn3O4 as a cathode and NaTi2(PO4)3 as an anode.
Vanadium oxide nanoparticles supported on cubic carbon nanoboxes as highly active catalyst precursors for hydrogen storage in MgH2
Authors: Wang Zeyi , Ren Zhuanghe , Jian Ni , Gao Mingxia , Hu Jianjiang , Du Fang , Pan Hongge , Liu Yongfeng
Published: July 2018

Vanadium oxide nanoparticles supported on cubic carbon nanoboxes with high catalytic activity for hydrogen storage in MgH2 were successfully synthesized.
Electrical characteristics of heterogeneous polymer layers in PEDOT:PSS films
Authors: Kim Yunryeol , Cho Wonseok , Kim Youngno , Cho Hangyeol , Kim Jung Hyun
Published: July 2018

(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), a representative conducting polymer, is environment-friendly and offers easy processing and flexibility owing to its hydro-dispersive properties.
SNARE dynamics during melanosome maturation
Authors: Ohbayashi Norihiko , Fukuda Mitsunori
Published: July 2018

Historically, studies on the maturation and intracellular transport of melanosomes in melanocytes have greatly contributed to elucidating the general mechanisms of intracellular transport in many different types of mammalian cells. During melanosome maturation, melanosome cargoes including melanogenic enzymes (e.g. tyrosinase) are transported from endosomes to immature melanosomes by membrane trafficking, which must require a membrane fusion process likely regulated by SNAREs [soluble NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor) attachment protein receptors]. In the present study, we review the literature concerning the expression and function of SNAREs (e.g. v-SNARE vesicle-associated membrane protein 7 and t-SNAREs syntaxin-3/13 and synaptosomal-associated protein-23) in melanocytes, especially in regard to the fusion process in which melanosome cargoes are finally delivered to immature melanosomes. We also describe the recent discovery of the SNARE recycling system on mature melanosomes in melanocytes. Such SNARE dynamics, especially the SNARE recycling system, on melanosomes will be useful in understanding as yet unidentified SNARE dynamics on other organelles.
Practical approach to testing the transformer differential protection for internal and external faults, CT saturation and inrush transients
Authors: Rocha Danielly C. G. , Batista Wesley H. , Coelho Aurélio L. M. , Araujo Marcos R.
Published: July 2018

This study presents a methodology that allows examining the differential protection of power transformers through computational simulations and numerical relay tests. Using that purpose, the alternative transient program (ATP) was used as a computational tool to perform several different events, which the power transformers are submitted to, and that can cause mal‐operation of its differential protection, such as: external and internal faults, inrush current and saturation of current transformers (CTs). A testing system was implemented in laboratory, which consisted in simulating the power system in ATP (power transformer, CTs and faults modes) and applying the simulated signals through a programmable test set to a commercial relay to evaluate their response to these events. The main results of the behaviour of transformer protection relay under the tested transients are presented and discussed in this work.
Comparison of CT secondary open‐circuit protection system technologies
Authors: Robertson Jeff
Published: July 2018

Should a current transformer (CT) secondary winding be left in or inadvertently become open circuited while the primary is energised, then damage may occur to the CT – leaving it inoperable or seriously effecting its measurement accuracy. If the CTs are being utilised in particularly difficult places to access, such as in a gas insulated substation or in a power transformer bushing, this can then lead to an expensive repair to a relatively inexpensive component. To prevent damage occurring to open‐circuited CT's, a range of products are available. These devices are based either on a silicon carbide varistor‐based technology or on a gas discharge tube‐based technology. The purpose of this study is to compare the performance of these devices.