bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mediações em conflito na demarcação de áreas indígenas em região de colonização no norte do Rio Grande do Sul: dilemas e configurações
Authors: Tedesco João Carlos , Kujawa Henrique
Published: August 2016

Na última década, na Região Norte do Rio Grande do Sul, constituíram-se dezenas de reivindicações de novas terras indígenas em locais de colonização centenária de agricultores familiares. Os conflitos decorrentes desse contexto extrapolam o binômio, historicamente constituído, da luta entre latifúndio/agronegócio versus sem-terra/pequenos agricultores, consequentemente, provocando a reconfiguração da atuação dos movimentos sociais do campo, principalmente da Federação dos Agricultores Familiares, que se articulava ideológica e programaticamente com as causas indigenistas de entidades e de movimentos que a representavam. Esses movimentos que, historicamente, encontravam-se no mesmo campo de luta, agora se encontram em campos distintos. O presente artigo analisa os dilemas enfrentados por esses sujeitos, a forma como reformulam suas práticas discursivas e reconfiguram suas atuações com suas bases e no conjunto da sociedade para dar conta dessa nova realidade. Palavras-chave: Direito territoriais. Conflitos sociais. Indígenas. Agricultores familiares. Políticas públicas.
Uma história ambiental da modernização da agricultura: o norte do Rio Grande do Sul
Authors: Gerhardt Marcos
Published: August 2016

Este artigo descreve e analisa as principais mudanças socioambientais provocadas pela modernização da agricultura no norte do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, em um curto período de tempo, na década de 1970. Utiliza-se como fonte de pesquisa um jornal editado pela Cooperativa Tritícola de Passo Fundo, representando os interesses e projetos de diversas outras cooperativas de produção de municípios próximos. Analisa--se, portanto, as particularidades locais e regionais de um processo de modernização que se desenvolveu em escala nacional e internacional, conhecida como Revolução Verde. Conclui-se, então, que as mudanças foram intensas e profundas, mas não isentas de críticas e da proposição de alternativas. Palavras-chave: História rural. Revolução Verde. Passo Fundo.
Modernización ganadera bovina en el sur de Chile: el rol del médico veterinario Alfredo Neumann, Osorno, siglo XX
Authors: Gallardo Martínez Eduardo
Published: August 2016

Este artículo estudia la figura del médico veterinario chileno-alemán Alfredo Neumann Kuschel, destacándolo como un actor fundamental en el proceso de modernización de la ganadería bovina en Osorno, sur de Chile, durante el siglo XX. Se relaciona a Neumann con conceptos como modernización y transnacionalidad, en un ejercicio de carácter prosopográfico. Palabras clave: Ganadería. Modernización.Transnacionalidad.
Agricultura e desastres no sul de Santa Catarina (1974-2004)
Authors: Ricardo Silva Lopes Alfredo
Published: August 2016

Este trabalho tem por objetivo observar a relação entre os seres humanos e o ambiente na produção agrícola no sul de Santa Catarina, Brasil, que nos últimos quarenta anos potencializou a ocorrência de desastres. Nessa região, constantemente atingida por enchentes, as áreas alagáveis foram utilizadas para o plantio de arroz pré-germinado irrigado. Dessa forma, ao longo dos últimos anos, as áreas que absorviam grande parte da água da chuva passaram a ser protegidas da ação das enchentes, que seguiram para zonas que estavam sendo povoadas. A pesquisa sobre a produção dos desastres elucida uma gama de percepções e ações sobre o mundo natural, que vêm à tona nos momentos em que as forças da natureza suplantam a capacidade de intervenção humana. Palavras-chave: Desastres socioambientais. Agricultura. Sul do estado de Santa Catarina.
Diretrizes principiológicas e aspectos legais dos recursos hídricos no Brasil: uma correlação com a avaliação ambiental estratégica
Authors: Ghilardi Hilariane Teixeira
Published: August 2016

O presente artigo possui como propósito principal a análise das diretrizes principiológicas e dos aspectos legais dos recursos hídricos no Brasil e sua correlação com a avaliação ambiental estratégica. Seu objetivo é analisar a avaliação ambiental estratégica como um instrumento de melhoria da gestão dos recursos hídricos no Brasil. A pesquisa foi dividida em três partes. Na primeira, analisa os princípios basilares aplicáveis à água. Na segunda, analisa-se a regularização do uso da água no Brasil. Na terceira, trata-se da avaliação ambiental estratégica como instrumento de melhoria para a gestão dos recursos hídricos. Este estudo destaca a necessidade urgente do incremento da qualidade na gestão dos recursos hídricos, no âmbito da qual a avaliação ambiental estratégica revela-se um instrumento fundamental.
Efeitos das alterações no preço e na produtividade da produção de leite no Rio Grande do Sul
Authors: Zilli Julcemar Bruno , Candaten Júnior , Nunes Lidiani
Published: August 2016

Este artigo tem o objetivo de analisar os impactos da quantidade de animais, da produtividade e do preço na geração do valor de produção do leite, incidente sobre a taxa de crescimento anual do valor da produção estadual nos maiores municípios produtores do estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Para tanto, utilizou-se o método estrutural-diferencial, o modelo shift-share, com dados de produção, produtividade, valor da produção (Fundação de Economia e Estatística Siegfried Emanuel Heuser) e preço do leite (Centro de Estudos Avançados em Economia Aplicada da Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz). Desse modo, constatou-se que o efeito preço é um grande responsável pelo aumento da taxa de crescimento, proporcionado pela contínua elevação da commodity. Entretanto, o efeito produtividade exerce papel importante na oferta de leite no mercado examinado, que apresenta efeito superior e significativo ao verificado no rebanho. Assim, concluiu-se que o aumento na produção leiteira ocorreu devido ao aumento do rebanho e, de forma mais intensa, aos ganhos de produtividade que foram percebidos no período analisado. Palavras-chave: Leite. Shift-share. Rebanho. Produtividade. Preço.
Fontes de risco e medidas de gestão em vinícolas do Rio Grande do Sul: um estudo a partir da percepção dos enólogos
Authors: Farias Cláudio Vinicius Silva , Duschitz Caroline Da Costa , Silva Leonardo Xavier da
Published: August 2016

Este artigo analisa a percepção dos enólogos acerca das fontes de risco no negócio do vinho e as medidas de gestão eleitas no intuito de controlá-las. O estudo caracteriza-se como uma pesquisa exploratória, que, apesar de se utilizar de algumas ferramentas estatísticas de análise, adota uma amostragem não probabilística e intencional. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi aplicado a dezesseis enólogos de vinícolas distintas, localizadas majoritariamente na Serra Gaúcha, no Rio Grande do Sul (RS). As principais considerações dizem respeito à grande relevância que os entrevistados atribuem ao risco mercadológico, elegendo-o como a principal fonte de risco para o negócio do vinho. O estudo também aponta para a vantagem de se empregar a técnica de escalonamentos multidimensionais para compreender as relações existentes entre as diversas fontes de risco, a partir da percepção dos enólogos. Palavras-chave: Vitivinicultura. Risco. Escalonamentos multidimensionais.
Avaliação das críticas relatadas na literatura aos métodos de custeio: percepção dos gestores de médias e grandes empresas industriais catarinenses
Authors: Angonese Rodrigo , Oliveira Araceli Farias de , Scarpin Jorge Eduardo
Published: August 2016

Mudanças no ambiente de negócios exigem da contabilidade de custos uma nova postura a fim de atender as necessidades dos gestores. Métodos de custeio que até pouco tempo eram considerados adequados, agora, são considerados ultrapassados, pois não estão adequados ao atual ambiente de negócios. O objetivo geral desta pesquisa é verificar com gestores de médias e grandes empresas industriais do estado de Santa Catarina se eles reconhecem as críticas encontradas na literatura sobre os métodos de custeio. Para tal, a pesquisa caracterizou-se como descritiva, quantitativa e de levantamento. Os resultados mostram que, de modo geral, as críticas atribuídas aos métodos de custeio são reconhecidas pelos gestores. Aliado a isso, percebe-se também que, embora sejam reconhecidas, as críticas não se constituem impedimento para a utilização do método, mas, sim, uma limitação. Palavras-chave: Críticas. Métodos de custeio. Custos.
Atributos influenciadores no comportamento de consumo de serviços: um estudo no segmento de troca de óleo lubrificante de veículos leves na cidade de Passo Fundo, RS
Authors: Soares Mateus Kellermann , Hermes Lisiane Caroline Rodrigues , Vieira Luciano , Medeiros Janine Fleith de
Published: August 2016

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo identificar quais os atributos mais relevantes para os consumidores na escolha de um estabelecimento de troca de óleo para veículos leves de Passo Fundo, RS, comparando marcas Alfa e Beta. Para tanto, foi realizada uma pesquisa exploratória, com abordagem qualitativa dos dados, procedimento técnico de estudo de casos múltiplos. Os casos foram selecionados pelo critério de conveniência e de forma intencional. A pesquisa em dados primários foi operacionalizada por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas. A amostra foi composta por dezenove consumidores, selecionados pelos critérios de conveniência e julgamento. Os principais resultados obtidos revelaram que o consumidor leva mais em conta, na escolha de um estabelecimento de troca de óleo e de uma marca de óleos lubrificantes, atributos como: bom atendimento, estrutura e recursos adequados, preço e condições de pagamento, pessoal treinado e capacitado, serviço de qualidade, confiança e tradição na marca do óleo lubrificante e do estabelecimento, relacionamento com o estabelecimento de troca de óleo. Palavras-chave: Comportamento do consumidor. Serviços. Óleos lubrificantes.
An Assessment of the Effects of Prior Distributions on the Bayesian Predictive Inference
Authors: Rahman Azizur , Gao Junbin , D'Este Catherine , Ahmed Syed Ejaz
Published: August 2016

Predictive inference is one of the oldest methods of statistical analysis and it is based on observable data. Prior information plays an important role in the Bayesian methodology. Researchers in this field are often subjective to exercise noninformative prior. This study tests the effects of a range of prior distributions on the Bayesian predictive inference for different modelling situations such as linear regression models under normal and Student-t errors. Findings reveal that different choice of priors not only provide different prediction distributions of the future response(s)  but also change the location and/or scale or shape parameters of the prediction distributions.
A Quarter Century Effort Yet to Come of Age: A Survey of Electricity Sector Reform in Developing Countries
Authors: Jamasb Tooraj , Nepal Rabindra , Tmilsina Govinda R.
Published: August 2016

More than two decades have passed since the start of the worldwide market- oriented electricity sector reforms. The reforms have varied in terms of structure, market mechanisms, and regulation. However, the passage of time calls for taking stock of the performance of the reforms in developing countries. This paper surveys the empirical literature on electricity sector reforms and draws some conclusions with a view to the future. Overall, the reforms have tended to improve the technical efficiency of the sector. The macroeconomic benefits of reforms are less clear and remain difficult to identify. Also, the gains from the reforms have often not trickled down to consumers because of institutional and regulatory weaknesses. In order to achieve lasting benefits, reforms need to adopt measures that align their pursuit of economic efficiency with those of equity and provision of access. Reforms can deliver more economic benefits and alleviate poverty when the poor have access to electricity. New technologies and institutional capacity building can help improve the performance of reforms.
Operator, Operator?
Authors: Lancaster Ron
Published: August 2016

Short items from the media focus mathematics appropriate for classroom study.
Coding and Calculators
Authors: Smith Scott G.
Published: August 2016

Suggestions for incorporating calculator programming into the mathematics curriculum.
Effect of Acid Treatment on the Recovery of Valuable Metals from Steel Plant Exhaust
Authors: Zeeshan A. Hameed  , Junaid Saleem  , Hira Lal  , Ahsan Abdul Ghani  , Muhammad Shoaib
Published: August 2016

The response of different metals such as Zn, Fe, Pb, Cr and Mn during leaching of Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) dust in acid medium has been investigated. The major proportion of EAF dust constitutes of these metals and their recovery by means of a chemical process is not only economical but also imparts positive impact on the environment. The leaching of metals from dust is achieved using different concentration of sulphuric acid, and the dust samples have been characterized both before and after leaching. Based on the results, several recommendations have been suggested for the optimization of H2SO4 concentration,that lead to the maximum recovery of these metals. Under the optimized conditions, it has been determined that the satisfactory leaching yield of Zn (95%) can be obtained at a concentration of 1M.
Uniting functional network topology and oscillations in the fronto-parietal single unit network of behaving primates
Authors: Dann Benjamin , Michaels Jonathan A , Schaffelhofer Stefan , Scherberger Hansjörg
Published: August 2016

The functional communication of neurons in cortical networks underlies higher cognitive processes. Yet, little is known about the organization of the single neuron network or its relationship to the synchronization processes that are essential for its formation. Here, we show that the functional single neuron network of three fronto-parietal areas during active behavior of macaque monkeys is highly complex. The network was closely connected (small-world) and consisted of functional modules spanning these areas. Surprisingly, the importance of different neurons to the network was highly heterogeneous with a small number of neurons contributing strongly to the network function (hubs), which were in turn strongly inter-connected (rich-club). Examination of the network synchronization revealed that the identified rich-club consisted of neurons that were synchronized in the beta or low frequency range, whereas other neurons were mostly non-oscillatory synchronized. Therefore, oscillatory synchrony may be a central communication mechanism for highly organized functional spiking networks.
Odd-paired controls frequency doubling in Drosophila segmentation by altering the pair-rule gene regulatory network
Authors: Clark Erik , Akam Michael
Published: August 2016

The Drosophila embryo transiently exhibits a double-segment periodicity, defined by the expression of seven 'pair-rule' genes, each in a pattern of seven stripes. At gastrulation, interactions between the pair-rule genes lead to frequency doubling and the patterning of 14 parasegment boundaries. In contrast to earlier stages of Drosophila anteroposterior patterning, this transition is not well understood. By carefully analysing the spatiotemporal dynamics of pair-rule gene expression, we demonstrate that frequency-doubling is precipitated by multiple coordinated changes to the network of regulatory interactions between the pair-rule genes. We identify the broadly expressed but temporally patterned transcription factor, Odd-paired (Opa/Zic), as the cause of these changes, and show that the patterning of the even-numbered parasegment boundaries relies on Opa-dependent regulatory interactions. Our findings indicate that the pair-rule gene regulatory network has a temporally modulated topology, permitting the pair-rule genes to play stage-specific patterning roles.
A systematic view on influenza induced host shutoff
Authors: Bercovich-Kinori Adi , Tai Julie , Gelbart Idit Anna , Shitrit Alina , Ben-Moshe Shani , Drori Yaron , Itzkovitz Shalev , Mandelboim Michal , Stern-Ginossar Noam
Published: August 2016

Host shutoff is a common strategy used by viruses to repress cellular mRNA translation and concomitantly allow the efficient translation of viral mRNAs. Here we use RNA-sequencing and ribosome profiling to explore the mechanisms that are being utilized by the Influenza A virus (IAV) to induce host shutoff. We show that viral transcripts are not preferentially translated and instead the decline in cellular protein synthesis is mediated by viral takeover on the mRNA pool. Our measurements also uncover strong variability in the levels of cellular transcripts reduction, revealing that short transcripts are less affected by IAV. Interestingly, these mRNAs that are refractory to IAV infection are enriched in cell maintenance processes such as oxidative phosphorylation. Furthermore, we show that the continuous oxidative phosphorylation activity is important for viral propagation. Our results advance our understanding of IAV-induced shutoff, and suggest a mechanism that facilitates the translation of genes with important housekeeping functions.
PDZD7-MYO7A complex identified in enriched stereocilia membranes
Authors: Morgan Clive P , Krey Jocelyn F , Grati M'hamed , Zhao Bo , Fallen Shannon , Kannan-Sundhari Abhiraami , Liu Xue Zhong , Choi Dongseok , Müller Ulrich , Barr-Gillespie Peter G
Published: August 2016

While more than 70 genes have been linked to deafness, most of which are expressed in mechanosensory hair cells of the inner ear, a challenge has been to link these genes into molecular pathways. One example is Myo7a (myosin VIIA), in which deafness mutations affect the development and function of the mechanically sensitive stereocilia of hair cells. We describe here a procedure for the isolation of low-abundance protein complexes from stereocilia membrane fractions. Using this procedure, combined with identification and quantitation of proteins with mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that MYO7A forms a complex with PDZD7, a paralog of USH1C and DFNB31. MYO7A and PDZD7 interact in tissue-culture cells, and co-localize to the ankle-link region of stereocilia in wild-type but not Myo7a mutant mice. Our data thus describe a new paradigm for the interrogation of low-abundance protein complexes in hair cell stereocilia and establish an unanticipated link between MYO7A and PDZD7.
The aspartyl protease DDI2 activates Nrf1 to compensate for proteasome dysfunction
Authors: Koizumi Shun , Irie Taro , Hirayama Shoshiro , Sakurai Yasuyuki , Yashiroda Hideki , Naguro Isao , Ichijo Hidenori , Hamazaki Jun , Murata Shigeo
Published: August 2016

In response to proteasome dysfunction, mammalian cells upregulate proteasome gene expression by activating Nrf1. Nrf1 is an endoplasmic reticulum-resident transcription factor that is continually retrotranslocated and degraded by the proteasome. Upon proteasome inhibition, Nrf1 escapes degradation and is cleaved to become active. However, the processing enzyme for Nrf1 remains obscure. Here we show that the aspartyl protease DNA-damage inducible 1 homolog 2 (DDI2) is required to cleave and activate Nrf1. Deletion of DDI2 reduced the cleaved form of Nrf1 and increased the full-length cytosolic form of Nrf1, resulting in poor upregulation of proteasomes in response to proteasome inhibition. These defects were restored by adding back wild-type DDI2 but not protease-defective DDI2. Our results provide a clue for blocking compensatory proteasome synthesis to improve cancer therapies targeting proteasomes.
Fast injection of the relativistic electrons into the inner zone and the formation of the split‐zone structure during the Bastille Day storm in July 2000
Authors: Kim Kyung‐Chan , Shprits Yuri Y. , Blake J. Bernard
Published: August 2016

During the July 2000 geomagnetic storm, known as the Bastille Day storm, Solar, Anomalous, and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX)/Heavy Ion Large Telescope (HILT) observed a strong injection of ~1 MeV electrons into the slot region (L ~ 2.5) during the storm main phase. Then, during the following month, electrons were clearly seen diffusing inward down to L = 2 and forming a pronounced split structure encompassing a narrow, newly formed slot region around L = 3. SAMPEX observations are first compared with electron and proton observations on HEO‐3 and NOAA‐15 to validate that the observed unusual dynamics was not caused by proton contamination of the SAMPEX instrument. The time‐dependent 3‐D Versatile Electron Radiation Belt (VERB) simulation of 1 MeV electron flux evolution is compared with the SAMPEX/HILT observations. The results show that the VERB code predicts overall time evolution of the observed split structure. The simulated split structure is produced by pitch angle scattering into the Earth atmosphere of ~1 MeV electrons by plasmaspheric hiss.
Illuminating hydrological processes at the soil‐vegetation‐atmosphere interface with water stable isotopes
Authors: Sprenger Matthias , Leistert Hannes , Gimbel Katharina , Weiler Markus
Published: August 2016

Water stable isotopes (18O and 2H) are widely used as ideal tracers to track water through the soil and to separate evaporation from transpiration. Due to the technical developments in the last two decades, soil water stable isotope data have become easier to collect. Thus, the application of isotope methods in soils is growing rapidly. Studies that make use of soil water stable isotopes often have a multidisciplinary character since an interplay of processes that take place in the vadose zone has to be considered. In this review, we provide an overview of the hydrological processes that alter the soil water stable isotopic composition and present studies utilizing pore water stable isotopes. The processes that are discussed include the water input as precipitation or throughfall, the output as evaporation, transpiration, or recharge, and specific flow and transport processes. Based on the review and supported by additional data and modeling results, we pose a different view on the recently proposed two water world hypothesis. As an alternative to two distinct pools of soil water, where one pool is enriched in heavy isotopes and used by the vegetation and the other pool does not undergo isotopic fractionation and becomes recharge, the water gets successively mixed with newly introduced rainwater during the percolation process. This way, water initially isotopically enriched in the topsoil loses the fractionation signal with increasing infiltration depth, leading to unfractionated isotopic signals in the groundwater.
Century‐long increasing trend and variability of dissolved organic carbon export from the Mississippi River basin driven by natural and anthropogenic forcing
Authors: Ren Wei , Tian Hanqin , Cai Wei‐Jun , Lohrenz Steven E. , Hopkinson Charles S. , Huang Wei‐Jen , Yang Jia , Tao Bo , Pan Shufen , He Ruoying
Published: August 2016

There has been considerable debate as to how natural forcing and anthropogenic activities alter the timing and magnitude of the delivery of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to the coastal ocean, which has ramifications for the ocean carbon budget, land‐ocean interactions, and coastal life. Here we present an analysis of DOC export from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico during 1901–2010 as influenced by changes in climate, land use and management practices, atmospheric CO2, and nitrogen deposition, through the integration of observational data with a coupled hydrologic/biogeochemical land model. Model simulations show that DOC export in the 2000s increased more than 40% since the 1900s. For the recent three decades (1981–2010), however, our simulated DOC export did not show a significant increasing trend, which is consistent with observations by U.S. Geological Survey. Our factorial analyses suggest that land use and land cover change, including land management practices (LMPs: i.e., fertilization, irrigation, tillage, etc.), were the dominant contributors to the century‐scale trend of rising total riverine DOC export, followed by changes in atmospheric CO2, nitrogen deposition, and climate. Decadal and interannual variations of DOC export were largely attributed to year‐to‐year climatic variability and extreme flooding events, which have been exacerbated by human activity. LMPs show incremental contributions to DOC increase since the 1960s, indicating the importance of sustainable agricultural practices in coping with future environmental changes such as extreme flooding events. Compared to the observational‐based estimate, the modeled DOC export was 20% higher, while DOC concentrations were slightly lower. Further refinements in model structure and input data sets should enable reductions in uncertainties in our prediction of century‐long trends in DOC.
Two centuries of coherent decadal climate variability across the Pacific North American region
Authors: Sanchez S. C. , Charles C. D. , Carriquiry J. D. , Villaescusa J. A.
Published: August 2016

The decadal variability of the Pacific Ocean and North American hydroclimate are subjects of immediate concern for society, yet the length of the instrumental record limits full mechanistic understanding of this variability. Here we introduce a 178 year, seasonally resolved coral oxygen isotopic record from Clarion Island (18°N, 115°W), a sampling a subtropical region that is strongly influenced by the decadal‐scale fluctuations of the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation and a region that serves as a critical locus for the communication of climate anomalies with the tropics. This Mexican Pacific coral record is highly correlated to coral records from the central tropical Pacific and tree ring records from western North America. Significant changes in the amplitude of oceanic decadal variability in the early nineteenth century are mirrored in the drought reconstructions in western North America. The spatial manifestation of this relationship was relatively invariant, despite notable changes in the climatic mean state.
An efficient repeating signal detector to investigate earthquake swarms
Authors: Skoumal Robert J. , Brudzinski Michael R. , Currie Brian S.
Published: August 2016

Repetitive earthquake swarms have been recognized as key signatures in fluid injection induced seismicity, precursors to volcanic eruptions, and slow slip events preceding megathrust earthquakes. We investigate earthquake swarms by developing a Repeating Signal Detector (RSD), a computationally efficient algorithm utilizing agglomerative clustering to identify similar waveforms buried in years of seismic recordings using a single seismometer. Instead of relying on existing earthquake catalogs of larger earthquakes, RSD identifies characteristic repetitive waveforms by rapidly identifying signals of interest above a low signal‐to‐noise ratio and then grouping based on spectral and time domain characteristics, resulting in dramatically shorter processing time than more exhaustive autocorrelation approaches. We investigate seismicity in four regions using RSD: (1) volcanic seismicity at Mammoth Mountain, California, (2) subduction‐related seismicity in Oaxaca, Mexico, (3) induced seismicity in Central Alberta, Canada, and (4) induced seismicity in Harrison County, Ohio. In each case, RSD detects a similar or larger number of earthquakes than existing catalogs created using more time intensive methods. In Harrison County, RSD identifies 18 seismic sequences that correlate temporally and spatially to separate hydraulic fracturing operations, 15 of which were previously unreported. RSD utilizes a single seismometer for earthquake detection which enables seismicity to be quickly identified in poorly instrumented regions at the expense of relying on another method to locate the new detections. Due to the smaller computation overhead and success at distances up to ~50 km, RSD is well suited for real‐time detection of low‐magnitude earthquake swarms with permanent regional networks.
Observations of the connection of positive and negative leaders in meter‐scale electric discharges generated by clouds of negatively charged water droplets
Authors: Kostinskiy A. Yu. , Syssoev V. S. , Bogatov N. A. , Mareev E. A. , Andreev M. G. , Bulatov M. U. , Makal'sky L. M. , Sukharevsky D. I. , Rakov V. A.
Published: August 2016

Detailed observations of the connection between positive and negative leaders in meter‐scale electric discharges generated by clouds of negatively charged water droplets are presented, and their possible implications for the attachment process in lightning are discussed. Optical images obtained with three different high‐speed cameras (visible range with image enhancement, visible‐range regular, and infrared) and corresponding current recordings were used. Two snapshots of the breakthrough phase of the leader connection, showing significant leader branching inside the common streamer zone, are presented for the first time. Positive and negative leader speeds inside the common streamer zone for two events were found to be similar. Higher leader speeds were generally associated with higher leader currents. In the case of head‐to‐head leader connection, the infrared brightness of the junction region (probably representing the gas temperature and, hence, the energy input) was typically a factor of 5 or so higher than for channel sections either below or above that region. In 16% of cases, the downward negative leader connected to the upward positive leader below its tip (attached to the lateral surface of the positive leader), with the connection being accomplished via a channel segment that appeared to be perpendicular to one or both of the leader channels.
Characteristics and controls of extremely large wildfires in the western Mediterranean Basin
Authors: Fernandes Paulo M. , Barros Ana M. G. , Pinto Anita , Santos João A.
Published: August 2016

Large fires account for a disproportionally high percentage of area burned with potentially severe environmental and socioeconomic impacts. This study characterizes extremely large fires (ELFs; 2500–24,843 ha) in Portugal (1998–2013) and the concomitant fuel and weather conditions, analyzing the response of ELF size to their variation. ELF burned less shrubland‐grassland (33% of the total ELF area) than forest (59% of total), the latter primarily composed by pine and pine‐eucalypt. High fuel hazard was the norm, as indicated by median values of 0.98 for fuel load as a fraction of potential (maximum) load and time since fire >14 years over 91% of the burned area. ELF occurred under anticyclonic circulation patterns, especially ridging, and 78% of them coincided with extreme fire danger days (corresponding to infrequent conditions) in conjunction with unstable atmosphere. Containment time, fire growth rate, and energy release metrics varied by 1 more order of magnitude than ELF size, hence indicating that size alone is insufficient to describe extreme fires. Distinct combinations between ambient weather conditions, atmospheric instability, and drought defined three categories of ELF as defined by size. Quantile regression indicated that increasingly larger fires showed gradually stronger responses to fire weather severity, highlighting the difficulty in restraining fire spread in flammable landscapes in the absence of extensive fuel treatments. Data limitations inherent to the methods used are discussed, and improvements to further advance the understanding of extreme fires are suggested.
Catalytic promiscuity of an iron(II)–phenanthroline complex
Authors: De Abhranil , Garai Mamoni , Yadav Hare Ram , Choudhury Angshuman Roy , Biswas Bhaskar
Published: August 2016

A mononuclear iron(II) complex, [Fe(phen)3]Cl2 (1) (phen =1,10‐phenanthroline), has been synthesized in crystalline phase and characterized using various spectroscopic techniques including single crystal X‐ray diffraction. Crystal structure analysis revealed that 1 crystallizes in a monoclinic system with C2/m space group. Complex 1 acts as a functional model for a biomimetic catalyst promoting the aerobic oxidation of 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylcatechol (3,5‐DTBC) through radical pathways with a significant turnover number (kcat =3.55 × 103 h−1) and exhibits catechol dioxygenase activity towards the same 3,5‐DTBC substrate at room temperature in oxygen‐saturated ethanol medium. The existence of an isobestic point at 610 nm from spectrophotometric data indicates the presence of Fe3+ −3,5‐DTBC adduct favouring an enzyme–substrate binding phenomenon. Upon stoichiometric addition of 3,5‐DTBC pretreated with two equivalents of triethylamine to the iron complex, two catecholate‐to‐iron(III) ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer bands (575 and 721 nm) are observed and the in situ generated catecholate intermediate reacts with dioxygen (kobs =9.89 × 10−4 min−1) in ethanol medium to afford exclusively intradiol cleavage products along with a small amount of benzoquinone, and a small amount of extradiol cleavage products, which provide substantial evidence for a substrate activation mechanism. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet and Sodium Intake on Serum Uric Acid
Authors: Juraschek Stephen P. , Gelber Allan C. , Choi Hyon K. , Appel Lawrence J. , Miller Edgar R.
Published: August 2016

Objective

Randomized trial data guiding dietary recommendations to lower serum uric acid (UA), the etiologic precursor of gout, are scarce. We undertook this study to examine the effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet (a well‐established diet that lowers blood pressure) and levels of sodium intake on serum UA.

Methods

We conducted an ancillary study of a randomized, crossover feeding trial in 103 adults with prehypertension or stage I hypertension. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either the DASH diet or a control diet (typical of the average American diet) and were further fed low, medium, and high levels of sodium for 30 days, each in random order. Body weight was kept constant. Serum UA levels were measured at baseline and following each feeding period.

Results

Trial participants were 55% women and 75% black with a mean ± SD age of 51.5 ± 9.7 years and a mean ± SD serum UA level of 5.0 ± 1.3 mg/dl. The DASH diet reduced serum UA (−0.35 mg/dl [95% confidence interval (95% CI) −0.65, −0.05], P = 0.02), with a higher effect (−1.29 mg/dl [95% CI −2.50, −0.08]) among participants (n = 8) with a baseline serum UA level of ≥7 mg/dl. Increasing sodium intake from the low level decreased serum UA during the medium sodium intake period (−0.3 mg/dl [95% CI −0.5, −0.2], P < 0.001) and during the high sodium intake period (−0.4 mg/dl [95% CI −0.6, −0.3], P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The DASH diet lowered serum UA, and this effect was greater among participants with hyperuricemia. Moreover, we found that higher sodium intake decreased serum UA, which enhances our knowledge of urate pathophysiology and risk factors for hyperuricemia.
Boil‐Off Gas Two‐Stage Compression and Recondensation Process at a Liquefied Natural Gas Receiving Terminal
Authors: Li Yajun , Wen Mingyang
Published: August 2016

Due to ship unloading and the change of downstream gas consumption, the boil‐off gas (BOG) and liquefied natural gas outputs fluctuate constantly, causing difficulties in both the design and operation of the BOG handling process. The high energy consumption, instability, and inflexibility of the original process affect the operation cost and running safety of the terminal to a large extent. To address these problems, a two‐stage compression and recondensation process is designed and optimized, based on the original one. Compared with the original process through dynamic simulation, the design process has better stability, benefiting from lower operating pressure and smaller fluctuations of both the pressure and the liquid level in the recondenser. In addition, the power and BOG emission are remarkably reduced, which will soon bring great benefit and recovery of investment cost.
Dynamic Modeling of Fixed‐Bed Fischer‐Tropsch Reactors with Phase Change Material Diluents
Authors: Odunsi Ademola O. , O'Donovan Tadhg S. , Reay David A.
Published: August 2016

A simplified transient model for fixed‐bed reactors was extended to account for the heat sink effect of the phase change material diluent in the Fischer‐Tropsch reactor energy balance. The resulting model was found to accurately approximate the more rigorous two‐dimensional model with significantly less computational requirements even at the hotspot, where the reactor enthalpy balance is most sensitive. As anticipated, the presence of the encapsulated phase change material in the reactor induced thermal inertia, thereby restricting the temperature ramp rate in the reactor to acceptably safe operational limits for the catalyst. Although there was a reduction in both the CH4 and C5+ productivity, the reduction in CH4 production was up to four times that of the C5+ at the same coolant temperature.
Operation of a Small‐Scale Demonstration Plant for Biodiesel Synthesis under Supercritical Conditions
Authors: Schürer Jochen , Bersch Daniel , Schlicker Sebastian , Thiele Richard , Wiborg Ole , Ziogas Athanassios , Zapf Ralf , Kolb Gunther
Published: August 2016

A small‐scale demonstration plant was designed, set up, and operated for the heterogeneously catalyzed synthesis of biodiesel under supercritical conditions. An Aspen Plus® model was applied to minimize the energy demand for the product purification stages. Vacuum distillation followed by a small rectification column was identified as the optimum solution. The determination of the energy demand of the plant revealed the economic viability of the process as far as the energy consumption is concerned. The catalyst incorporated into the plant was selected through a screening procedure applying tricaprin as model substance. γ‐Al2O3 modified by acid treatment and La2O3 supported by γ‐Al2O3 proved to be the most promising candidates. The stability of these formulations was proven by long‐term stability tests.
Correlative analyses of RET and RAS mutations in a phase 3 trial of cabozantinib in patients with progressive, metastatic medullary thyroid cancer
Authors: Sherman Steven I. , Clary Douglas O. , Elisei Rossella , Schlumberger Martin J. , Cohen Ezra E. W. , Schöffski Patrick , Wirth Lori J. , Mangeshkar Milan , Aftab Dana T. , Brose Marcia S.
Published: August 2016

BACKGROUND

Cabozantinib significantly prolonged progression‐free survival (PFS) versus a placebo in patients with progressive, metastatic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC; P < .001). An exploratory analysis of phase 3 trial data evaluated the influence of rearranged during transfection (RET) and RAS (HRAS, KRAS, and NRAS) mutations on cabozantinib clinical activity.

METHODS

Patients (n = 330) were randomized to cabozantinib (140 mg/day) or a placebo. The primary endpoint was PFS. Additional outcome measures included PFS, objective response rates (ORRs), and adverse events in RET and RAS mutation subgroups.

RESULTS

Among all study patients, 51.2% were RET mutation–positive (38.2% with RET M918T), 34.8% were RET mutation–unknown, and 13.9% were RET mutation–negative. Sixteen patients were RAS mutation–positive. Cabozantinib appeared to prolong PFS versus the placebo in the RET mutation–positive subgroup (hazard ratio [HR], 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14‐0.38; P < .0001), the RET mutation–unknown subgroup (HR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.16‐0.57; P = .0001), and the RAS mutation–positive subgroup (HR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.02‐1.10; P = .0317). The RET M918T subgroup achieved the greatest observed PFS benefit from cabozantinib versus the placebo (HR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.08‐0.28; P < .0001). The ORRs for RET mutation–positive, RET mutation–negative, and RAS mutation–positive patients were 32%, 22%, and 31%, respectively. No PFS benefit was observed in patients lacking both RET and RAS mutations, although the ORR was 21%. The safety profile for all subgroups was similar to that for the overall cabozantinib arm.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that cabozantinib provides the greatest clinical benefit to patients with MTC who have RET M918T or RAS mutations. However, a prospective trial is needed to confirm the relation between genetic variation and the response to cabozantinib. Cancer 2016;122:3856–3864. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Precision, accuracy, and resolution—Dose selection of oral anticancer agents
Authors: Beardslee Tyler J. , Harvey R. Donald
Published: August 2016

To refine and individualize regimens, the dosing of oral anticancer agents in populations and in patients has to evolve. Additional tools to help refine doses should be used early in drug development. See also pages 3456–63.
Synthesis, characterization and monoamine transporter activity of the new psychoactive substance mexedrone and its N‐methoxy positional isomer, N‐methoxymephedrone
Authors: McLaughlin Gavin , Morris Noreen , Kavanagh Pierce V. , Power John D. , Dowling Geraldine , Twamley Brendan , O'Brien John , Talbot Brian , Walther Donna , Partilla John S. , Baumann Michael H. , Brandt Simon D.
Published: August 2016

3‐Methoxy‐2‐(methylamino)‐1‐(4‐methylphenyl)propan‐1‐one (mexedrone) appeared in 2015 and was advertised by UK Internet retailers as a non‐controlled mephedrone derivative (2‐(methylamino)‐1‐(4‐methylphenyl)propan‐1‐one), which was of particular interest to countries who operate generic drugs legislation. This study describes the synthesis and analytical characterization of mexedrone and the differentiation from its isomer, N‐methoxymephedrone, which was predicted to be a suitable candidate before the identity of mexedrone was revealed. A full analytical characterization is described using various chromatographic, spectroscopic and mass spectrometric platforms and X‐ray crystal structure analysis. The analytical data obtained for a vendor sample were consistent with the synthesized mexedrone reference standard and analytical differentiation between the mexedrone and N‐methoxymephedrone positional isomers was achieved. Furthermore, α‐chloromethylmephedrone was identified as a by‐product during mexedrone synthesis. All three substances were also studied for their uptake and releasing properties at dopamine transporters (DAT), norepinephrine transporters (NET) and serotonin transporters (SERT) using in vitro monoamine transporter assays in rat brain synaptosomes and compared to mephedrone. Mexedrone was a weak non‐selective uptake blocker with IC50 values in the low μM range. It was also devoid of releasing activity at DAT and NET but displayed weak releasing activity at SERT (EC50 = 2.5 μM). The isomer N‐methoxymephedrone was found to be a weak uptake blocker at DAT, NET and SERT, as well as a fully efficacious substrate‐type releasing agent across all three transporters with EC50 values in the low micromolar range. The synthesis by‐product α‐chloromethylmephedrone was inactive in all assays. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Environmental versus geographical effects on genomic variation in wild soybean (Glycine soja) across its native range in northeast Asia
Authors: Leamy Larry J. , Lee Cheng‐Ruei , Song Qijian , Mujacic Ibro , Luo Yan , Chen Charles Y. , Li Changbao , Kjemtrup Susanne , Song Bao‐Hua
Published: August 2016

A fundamental goal in evolutionary biology is to understand how various evolutionary factors interact to affect the population structure of diverse species, especially those of ecological and/or agricultural importance such as wild soybean (Glycine soja). G. soja, from which domesticated soybeans (Glycine max) were derived, is widely distributed throughout diverse habitats in East Asia (Russia, Japan, Korea, and China). Here, we utilize over 39,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyped in 99 ecotypes of wild soybean sampled across their native geographic range in northeast Asia, to understand population structure and the relative contribution of environment versus geography to population differentiation in this species. A STRUCTURE analysis identified four genetic groups that largely corresponded to the geographic regions of central China, northern China, Korea, and Japan, with high levels of admixture between genetic groups. A canonical correlation and redundancy analysis showed that environmental factors contributed 23.6% to population differentiation, much more than that for geographic factors (6.6%). Precipitation variables largely explained divergence of the groups along longitudinal axes, whereas temperature variables contributed more to latitudinal divergence. This study provides a foundation for further understanding of the genetic basis of climatic adaptation in this ecologically and agriculturally important species.
Synthesis of Symmetrical Diaryl Ketones by Cobalt‐Catalyzed Reaction of Arylzinc Reagents with Ethyl Chloroformate
Authors: Rérat Alice , Michon Christophe , Agbossou‐Niedercorn Francine , Gosmini Corinne
Published: August 2016

Symmetrical diaryl ketones were prepared by a cross‐coupling reaction between aryl bromides and ethyl chloroformate. This new method, which uses a catalyst composed of CoBr2 and a bipyridine ligand along with readily available starting materials, allows for the synthesis of a variety of symmetrical diaryl ketones in moderate to excellent yields (37–99 %) under mild conditions. This reaction, in which ethyl chloroformate acts as a surrogate of carbon monoxide in the presence of cobalt and zinc, represents an interesting alternative to previously known approaches for the synthesis of diarylmethanones.
Synthesis of a Ribose‐Incorporating Medium Ring Scaffold via a Challenging Ring‐Closing Metathesis Reaction
Authors: Rankin Stuart S. , Caldwell John J. , Cronin Nora B. , van Montfort Rob L. M. , Collins Ian
Published: August 2016

A practical synthesis of a novel oxabicyclo[6.2.1]undecenetriol useful as a medicinal chemistry scaffold has been developed starting from l‐ribose. The sequence involves an oxidation/Grignard addition sequence and a challenging ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) reaction as the ring forming step. Exploration of the RCM substrate protecting groups revealed the key factor for successful nine‐membered medium ring formation to be conformational bias of the reacting alkenes of the RCM substrate by very bulky silyl ether protecting groups. The synthesis also allowed access to an epimeric triol and saturated and unsaturated variants of the nine‐membered ring. The medium ring conformation of the oxabicyclo[6.2.1]undecenetriol was determined by X‐ray crystallography and correlated to the solution state conformation by NMR experiments.
Verification of a rheological constitutive model for shotcrete through back‐analysis
Authors: Paternesi Alessandra , Schweiger Helmut F. , Schubert Peter
Published: August 2016

Tunnel excavation represents a particularly challenging problem from the design point of view, mainly due to the uncertainties characterising the soil or rock mass behaviour and to the difficulties in the prediction of the stress state on the structural supports. This explains why tunnel designers mostly rely on observational data, adapting excavation sequences and support measures during the construction phase (at least in the case of traditionally excavated tunnels), especially for deep tunnels, where the geological and geotechnical uncertainties can be significant. However, the observational method requires a reliable monitoring system as well as considerable work to interpret and back‐analyse data measured during construction. On the other hand, this interpretation and back‐analysis represent an important step in gaining better understanding of the system response and allowing improvement of the design, thus avoiding excessively conservative and uneconomical solutions. In this paper, a back‐analysis of stress and displacement measurements is presented for a NATM tunnel excavation in rock, carried out using a rheological model for shotcrete. It is shown, consistently with the previous literature on the topic, that the use of an advanced model improves the prediction of tunnel behaviour compared to the common practice of using quasi‐elastic E‐moduli.