bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Predictability of Land Surface Fluxes from Meteorological Variables
Authors: Haughton Ned , Abramowitz Gab , Pitman Andy J.
Published: July 2017

Abstract. Previous research has shown that Land Surface Models (LSMs) are performing poorly when compared with rela- tively simple empirical models over a wide range of metrics and environments. Atmospheric driving data appears to provide information about land surface fluxes that LSMs are not fully utilising. Here, we further quantify the information available in the meteorological forcing data that is used by LSMs for predicting land surface fluxes, by interrogating Fluxnet data, and extending the benchmarking methodology used in previous experiments. We show that substantial performance improvement is possible for empirical models using meteorological data alone, thus setting lower bounds on a priori expectations on LSM performance. The process also identifies key meteorological variables that provide predictive power. We provide an ensemble of empirical benchmarks that are simple to reproduce, and provide a range of behaviours and predictive performance, acting as a baseline benchmark set for future studies. We re-analyse previously published LSM simulations, and show that there is more diversity between LSMs than previously indicated, although it remains unclear why LSMs are broadly performing so much worse than simple empirical models.
Variations in the correlation between teleconnections and Taiwan's streamflow
Authors: Chen Chia-Jeng , Lee Tsung-Yu
Published: July 2017

Abstract. Interannual variations in catchment streamflow represent an integrated response to anomalies in regional moisture transport and atmospheric circulations and are ultimately linked to large-scale climate oscillations. This study conducts correlation analysis to calculate how summertime (July–September, JAS) streamflow data derived at 28 upstream and 13 downstream gauges in Taiwan correlate with 14 teleconnection indices in the current or preceding seasons. We find that the western Pacific (WP) and Pacific–Japan (PJ) patterns, both of which play a critical role in determining cyclonic activity in the western North Pacific basin, exhibit the highest concurrent correlations (most significant r = 0. 50) with the JAS flows in Taiwan. Alternatively, the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) averaged over the period from the previous October to June of the current year is significantly correlated with the JAS flows (most significant r = −0. 66), indicating some forecasting utility. By further examining the correlation results using a 20-year moving window, peculiar temporal variations and possible climate regime shifts (CRSs) can be revealed. A CRS test is employed to identify suspicious and abrupt changes in the correlation. The late 1970s and 1990s are identified as two significant change points. During the intermediate period, Taiwan's streamflow and the PJ index exhibit a marked in-phase relationship (r > 0. 8). It is verified that the two shifts are in concordance with the alteration of large-scale circulations in the Pacific basin by investigating the changes in pattern correlation and composite maps before and after the change point. Our results suggest that empirical forecasting techniques should take into account the effect of CRSs on predictor screening.
The Effect of Age on the Ultimate Attainment of English Lexis and Morphosyntax
Authors: Rizg-Allah Jeberedar Ali , Eldouma Salaheldin Adam Ahmed
Published: July 2017

This study investigates the relationship between the age of onset of learning English and the ultimate attainment in that language. To this end, it tests the lexical and morphosyntactic competence of 62 intermediate school students who have different points of onset. They have to do a grammaticality judgment test and a vocabulary test. Using the methods of descriptive statistics, the result showed that late starters have outperformed early starters in all aspects of the language examined. The study also revealed that there is a relatively weak correlation between the age of headstart and the ultimate attainment in both levels of language tested. The correlations between the age of exposure and vocabulary attainment is (r = 0.2), whereas it is (r= 0.18) between the age of exposure and morphosyntactic knowledge. It is also found that there’s a strong positive correlation between ESs and LSs grammar and vocabulary (r= 0.75). This suggests that vocabulary and grammar are interdependent fields in that the abstract morphosyntactic rules would remain null and void without the lexical component at work, and the intrinsic meaning of a vocabulary item can’t be fully grasped without adequate knowledge of the morphosyntactic rules that assign meaning to each word in a sentence.
Tendência de mortalidade por doenças crônicas não transmissíveis no Centro-Oeste do Brasil
Authors: Minasi Lys Bernardes , Curado Maria Paula
Published: July 2017

As doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNTs) representam a maior causa de morte no mundo. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar as tendências de mortalidade por doenças crônicas não transmissíveis no Centro-Oeste do Brasil. Os dados referentes a óbitos foram extraídos do Sistema Informação sobre Mortalidade (SIM), do Ministério da Saúde, disponível no site do Departamento de Informática do SUS (Datasus), para as capitais Goiânia, Cuiabá, Campo Grande e Brasília, no período de 1996 a 2011. As análises foram realizadas por sexo e faixa etária estratificada e agrupada a partir dos 40 anos de idade. Foram registrados, no Centro-Oeste do Brasil, 36.430 óbitos por DCNT no período observado, dos quais, 21.443 indivíduos eram do sexo masculino e 14.987 do feminino. As doenças cardiovasculares foram as mais frequentes, sendo o infarto agudo do miocárdio a principal causa de óbito para ambos os sexos. A tendência de mortalidade para as DCNTs mantiveram-se estáveis no período estudado.
TRÊS TEMPOS DE CARIDADE, ASSISTÊNCIA E FILANTROPIA EM GOIÁS (SÉCULOS XVIII AO XX)
Authors: Moraes Cristina De Cássia Pereira , Tavares Lara Alexandra , Souza Rildo Bento de
Published: July 2017

O objetivo do presente artigo é analisar a produção historiográfica classificada, como História da Assistência em Goiás e, de forma sucinta e exploratória; expor os pressupostos e interpretações conceituais sobre o medo como o gerador impulsionador da caridade e o assistencialismo a pobreza, a caridade e a filantropia segundo as pesquisas realizadas desde a antiga capital Vila Boa à moderna e atual Goiânia. Em um primeiro momento, apresentaremos o significado dos termos caridade e associações interligados às irmandades no século XVIII e XIX. Por último, buscaremos entender a Sociedade São Vicente de Paula e o Orfanato São José como instituições de caridade e filantropia em fins do dezenove até meados do século XX.
ENTRE A CARIDADE E A ASSISTÊNCIA: A CRIAÇÃO E O FUNCIONAMENTO DO HOSPITAL DA CARIDADE EM VIANA DO CASTELO (SÉCULOS XVIII-XIX)
Authors: Esteves Alexandra
Published: July 2017

O trabalho que nos propomos apresentar resulta da investigação que realizámos sobre o Hospital da Caridade de Viana do Castelo, cidade do norte de Portugal. Trata-se de uma instituição vocacionada para prestar assistência aos idosos que, sendo pobres, já não tinham capacidade física nem anímica para esmolar e, desse modo, angariar o seu sustento. A sua criação está estreitamente associada à iniciativa de um “brasileiro” e à sua preocupação com a condição dos entrevados. Tendo como base a documentação existente sobre a matéria, o nosso artigo, além de referências à temática da velhice, matéria que tem merecido pouca atenção por parte da historiografia portuguesa, ocupar-se-á da fundação e dos primeiros anos do funcionamento do Hospital da Caridade, bem como dos seus beneficiários.
INFÂNCIA E MORTE NA REGIÃO CARBONÍFERA: OS DISCURSOS MÉDICOS SANITÁRIOS SOBRE A MORTALIDADE INFANTIL NO SUL DE SANTA CATARINA
Authors: Alves Ismael Gonçalves
Published: July 2017

O artigo proposto tem por objetivo analisar os discursos médico-sanitários sobre a mortalidade infantil na Região Carbonífera Catarinense. Desde o início do período republicano a infância e a maternidade paulatinamente vinham ocupando destacado espaço entre os discursos de burocratas, médicos, filantropos e empresários, que viam na infância saudável a possibilidade de transformar a nação em uma potência industrial e militar. Não diferente do restante do país, na Região Carbonífera Catarinense em pleno processo de modernização econômica, entre as décadas de 1940 e 1960, a saúde das crianças foi alvo de um importante processo de intervenção que visava inventariar a causa dos elevados números da mortalidade infantil na região, transformando a família trabalhadora e pobre no alvo de inúmeros discursos normativos que os responsabilizava por tal situação médico-sanitária, transformando as mães em principais culpadas pelas mortes que assolavam a população pueril.
A PROVÍNCIA DO ESPÍRITO SANTO VERSUS “EPIDEMIAS REINANTES”: AÇÕES DE ESTADO E MOBILIZAÇÃO POPULAR NA PASSAGEM DA FEBRE AMARELA E DO CÓLERA (1850-1856)
Authors: Franco Sebastião Pimentel , Nogueira André
Published: July 2017

O presente artigo objetiva discutir as práticas de assistência e controle da Província do Espírito Santo no contexto das vagas epidêmicas da febre amarela e do cólera. Em consonância com as argumentações de Rosemberg (1992), a passagem de uma epidemia é uma experiência extrema e desconcertante, forçando uma modificação de hábitos sociais e das formas mais elementares de funcionamento daquela coletividade, além, obviamente, da dor e das mortes que provoca. Da mesma forma, uma epidemia também suscita ações e reflexões – “lições” nos termos do autor – multifacetadas para responder e “se livrar” dela. Assim, nos interessa analisar as ações do governo provincial para enfrentar a visita inconveniente das epidemias de febre amarela e cólera e as formas – igualmente várias e, em nada passivas – de manifestações da população da Província diante dessas doenças. Nossa interpretação está calcada na análise de documentação administrativa (correspondências, relatórios, etc) e nas notícias veiculadas pelo Correio da Victória, único jornal a circular na Província no período em tela.
Maintenance Management and Innovation in Industries: A Survey of Moroccan Companies
Authors: Naji Amal , Beidouri Zitouni , Oumami Mohamed , Bouksour Otmane
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this paper is to present the maintenance management status in Moroccan companies.The first part is based on the literature; it reviews the main maintenance models. The second part is resulted from a pilot survey about management maintenance in Moroccan companies.The study was performed by conducting a survey within 15 Moroccan companies, questionnaires were submitted to maintenance managers or production managers of those companies.The main objectives of this paper are to study the correlation between success factors of maintenance management in Moroccan companies and to give a global picture about maintenance management level in Moroccan companies.
A Percepção dos Consumidores em Relação Às Estratégias De Marketing Desenvolvidas por uma Empresa de Produtos Naturais e Orgânicos
Authors: Nascimento Lucas Medeiros do , Silva Vanessa Almeida da , Pivetta Natalia Pavanelo , Scherer Flavia Luciane
Published: July 2017

Este artigo busca apresentar aspectos relevantes na rea de marketing, tais como, as ferramentas e estratgias utilizadas, bem como impactos positivos e negativos para as empresas. O objetivo principal desse estudo foi analisar a percepo dos consumidores da Nathu, perante suas estratgias de marketing. Alm disto, elencaram-se as estratgias de marketing desenvolvidas pela empresa para conhecer como a Nathu percebida perante seus consumidores, e, por fim, comparar a percepo dos gestores e consumidores perante as estratgias de marketing desenvolvidas pela empresa, com intuito de direcionar os esforos de marketing da organizao. Esta pesquisa se classifica como qualitativa e quantitativa, sendo um estudo de caso e configurando-se como uma pesquisa descritiva. Ao final foi possvel verificar uma boa percepo de seus clientes perante suas estratgias de marketing, tendo um grande resultado no mbito do atendimento. Como melhorias, sugerem-se uma maior divulgao de produtos de marca prpria e uma nova anlise na precificao de produtos disponibilizados para seus consumidores.
Da Qualidade em Serviços à Lealdade: Perspectiva Teórica do Comportamento do Consumidor
Authors: Mangini Eduardo Roque , Urdan André Torres , Santos Ariane
Published: July 2017

Os servios apresentam diferenas relacionadas ao conceito, na forma de produo, como so consumidos e como so avaliados. Essas diferenas ou caractersticas influenciam diretamente na avaliao da qualidade do servio ofertado. Com a avaliao da qualidade dos servios ofertados, possvel observar determinado comportamento do consumidor, que pode levar a total rejeio de compras futuras. Por outro lado, com a satisfao dos resultados, o consumidor tem maior disposio em comprar mais, desenvolver lealdade e inferir lucro para a operao de servios. Para entender a dinmica envolvendo qualidade em servios e formao da lealdade do consumidor, esse artigo, de cunho terico, buscou, na literatura, o subsdio para a criao de proposies que pudessem ampliar os limites da fronteira do conhecimento em marketing de servios. Como resultado, foram desenvolvidas oito proposies que ensejam pesquisas futuras para que os resultados empricos possam corroborar os resultados tericos.
A Psicologia Econômica na Análise do Comportamento do Consumidor
Authors: Correia José Jonas Alves , Silva Filipe Emmanuel Alves da , Silva Valdemir Da , Freitas Maurício Assuero Lima de
Published: July 2017

A Psicologia Econmica aborda questes que vo muito mais alm de pesquisas de mercado. Sendo assim, seus estudos tambm se voltam a observar variveis como trabalho, desemprego, decises sobre compras e poupana, investimentos, financiamentos, respostas publicidade, entre outros. Esta pesquisa foi realizada com o objetivo de analisar, por meio dos fundamentos do comportamento dos consumidores, sua relao propenso de consumo compulsivo ou suprfluo. Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo que relaciona por meio de fenmenos e variveis uma descrio do comportamento dos consumidores por meio da ferramenta estatstica Propensity Score Matching do software Stata. Para coletar os dados, foi utilizado um questionrio semiestruturado que foi aplicado online entre abril e agosto de 2016. A anlise dos dados se deu pela regresso por Mnimos Quadrados Ordinrios (MQO) com variveis dummies controladas (varivel dependente, pertencer ou no ao grupo de consumidores compulsivos) pelo conjunto das variveis explicativas (independentes). Os resultados mostraram que os gastos mdios mensais dos consumidores compulsivos aumentam, e, que quanto mais alta for a renda dos indivduos, maiores sero os gastos com consumos desnecessrios ou suprfluos. Considerando a varivel sexo, os indivduos do sexo masculino possuem maiores nveis de gastos desnecessrios e propensos ao consumo suprfluo. Assim, pode-se dizer que o consumo composto de influncias para a compra e que o consumidor determina o seu consumo, conforme sua posio econmica (fator renda) e cultural (costumes, necessidades, impulsividades) dentro da sociedade.
As Diferenças entre Marketing Multinível e as Pirâmides Financeiras ou “Esquema de Pirâmides”
Authors: Santos Vanessa Braga , Spers Valéria Rueda Elias , Graziano Cremonezi Graziela Oste
Published: July 2017

Esta pesquisa prope analisar e entender a diferena entre o conceito de Marketing Multinvel e as Pirmides Financeiras. O objetivo principal discutir o que o Marketing Multinvel se diferencia das Pirmides Financeiras ou Esquemas de Pirmides. No conceito de Marketing Multinvel, mostra um sistema sustentvel e legalizado, um negcio de venda direta baseado na comercializao de produtos ou servios, onde inclui recrutamento de distribuidores. No conceito Pirmide Financeira, o problema que a sustentao do negcio a prpria rede e, muitas vezes, no se tem produtos a serem comercializados, um negcio insustentvel e ilegal de movimentao financeira. Neste esquema s h lucros se novos membros entrarem no negcio. Hoje em dia, os mercados se sustentam de movimentar produtos, ento, com este estudo, conclui-se que o Marketing Multinvel uma grande oportunidade de negcio para fazer uma renda extra comercializando servios e produtos e, se feito com foco e determinao, pode-se obter sucesso profissional rapidamente. Neste enfoque, ser realizado um estudo de caso com umas das maiores empresas de Marketing Multinvel do mundo, a Mary Kay. A metodologia utilizada para o estudo de caso, ser por meio de entrevista com uma das Diretoras de Vendas Independentes da Mary Kay da cidade de Piracicaba, realizada em outubro de 2016, e, como complemento, ser coletado pesquisas de dados da internet. Esse estudo permitir entender melhor sobre as prticas adotadas pela empresa e o modelo de negcio oferecido para mulheres do mundo todo baseado no sistema Marketing Multinvel.
Effect of freshwater mussels on the vertical distribution of anaerobic ammonia oxidizers and other nitrogen-transforming microorganisms in upper Mississippi river sediment
Authors: Black Ellen M. , Chimenti Michael S. , Just Craig L.
Published: July 2017

Targeted qPCR and non-targeted amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes within sediment layers identified the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) niche and characterized microbial community changes attributable to freshwater mussels. Anammox bacteria were normally distributed (Shapiro-Wilk normality test, W-statistic =0.954, p = 0.773) between 1 and 15 cm depth and were increased by a factor of 2.2 (p < 0.001) at 3 cm below the water-sediment interface when mussels were present. Amplicon sequencing of sediment at depths relevant to mussel burrowing (3 and 5 cm) showed that mussel presence reduced observed species richness (p = 0.005), Chao1 diversity (p = 0.005), and Shannon diversity (p < 0.001), with more pronounced decreases at 5 cm depth. A non-metric, multidimensional scaling model showed that intersample microbial species diversity varied as a function of mussel presence, indicating that sediment below mussels harbored distinct microbial communities. Mussel presence corresponded with a 4-fold decrease in a majority of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) classified in the phyla Gemmatimonadetes, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Plantomycetes, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Crenarcheota, and Verrucomicrobia. 38 OTUs in the phylum Nitrospirae were differentially abundant (p < 0.001) with mussels, resulting in an overall increase from 25% to 35%. Nitrogen (N)-cycle OTUs significantly impacted by mussels belonged to anammmox genus Candidatus Brocadia, ammonium oxidizing bacteria family Nitrosomonadaceae, ammonium oxidizing archaea genus Candidatus Nitrososphaera, nitrite oxidizing bacteria in genus Nitrospira, and nitrate- and nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidizing organisms in the archaeal family “ANME-2d” and bacterial phylum “NC10”, respectively. Nitrosomonadaceae (0.9-fold (p < 0.001)) increased with mussels, while NC10 (2.1-fold (p < 0.001)), ANME-2d (1.8-fold (p < 0.001)), and Candidatus Nitrososphaera (1.5-fold (p < 0.001)) decreased with mussels. Co-occurrence of 2-fold increases in Candidatus Brocadia and Nitrospira in shallow sediments suggests that mussels may enhance microbial niches at the interface of oxic–anoxic conditions, presumably through biodeposition and burrowing. Furthermore, it is likely that the niches of Candidatus Nitrososphaera and nitrite- and nitrate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidizers were suppressed by mussel biodeposition and sediment aeration, as these phylotypes require low ammonium concentrations and anoxic conditions, respectively. As far as we know, this is the first study to characterize freshwater mussel impacts on microbial diversity and the vertical distribution of N-cycle microorganisms in upper Mississippi river sediment. These findings advance our understanding of ecosystem services provided by mussels and their impact on aquatic biogeochemical N-cycling.
Concentric traveling ionospheric disturbances triggered by the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket
Authors: Lin Charles C. H. , Shen Ming‐Hsueh , Chou Min‐Yang , Chen Chia‐Hung , Yue Jia , Chen Po‐Cheng , Matsumura Mitsuru
Published: July 2017

We report the first observation of concentric traveling ionospheric disturbances (CTIDs) triggered by the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on 17 January 2016. The rocket‐triggered ionospheric disturbances show shock acoustic wave signature in the time rate change (time derivative) of total electron content (TEC), followed by CTIDs in the 8–15 min band‐pass filtering of TEC. The CTIDs propagated northward with phase velocity of 241–617 m/s and reached distances more than 1000 km away from the source on the rocket trajectory. The wave characteristics of CTIDs with periods of 10.5–12.7 min and wavelength ~ 200–400 km agree well with the gravity wave dispersion relation. The optimal wave source searching and gravity wave ray tracing technique suggested that the CTIDs have multiple sources which are originated from ~38–120 km altitude before and after the ignition of the second‐stage rocket, ~200 s after the rocket was launched.
Permafrost collapse shifts alpine tundra to a carbon source but reduces N2O and CH4 release on the northern Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Mu C. C. , Abbott B. W. , Zhao Q. , Su H. , Wang S. F. , Wu Q. B. , Zhang T. J. , Wu X. D.
Published: July 2017

Important unknowns remain about how abrupt permafrost collapse (thermokarst) affects carbon balance and greenhouse gas flux, limiting our ability to predict the magnitude and timing of the permafrost carbon feedback. We measured monthly, growing‐season fluxes of CO2, CH4, and N2O at a large thermokarst feature in alpine tundra on the northern Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Thermokarst formation disrupted plant growth and soil hydrology, shifting the ecosystem from a growing‐season carbon sink to a weak source but decreasing feature level CH4 and N2O flux. Temperature‐corrected ecosystem respiration from decomposing permafrost soil was 2.7 to 9.5‐fold higher than in similar features from Arctic and Boreal regions, suggesting that warmer and dryer conditions on the northern QTP could accelerate carbon decomposition following permafrost collapse. N2O flux was similar to the highest values reported for Arctic ecosystems and was 60% higher from exposed mineral soil on the feature floor, confirming Arctic observations of coupled nitrification and denitrification in collapsed soils. Q10 values for respiration were typically over 4, suggesting high‐temperature sensitivity of thawed carbon. Taken together, these results suggest that QTP permafrost carbon in alpine tundra is highly vulnerable to mineralization following thaw, and that N2O production could be an important noncarbon permafrost climate feedback. Permafrost collapse altered soil hydrology, shifting the ecosystem from a carbon sink to carbon source but decreasing CH4 and N2O flux. Little to no vegetation recovery after stabilization suggests potentially large net carbon losses. High N2O flux compared to Arctic and Boreal systems suggests noncarbon permafrost climate feedback.
Tropical Pacific climate variability over the last 6000 years as recorded in Bainbridge Crater Lake, Galápagos
Authors: Thompson Diane M. , Conroy Jessica L. , Collins Aaron , Hlohowskyj Stephan R. , Overpeck Jonathan T. , Riedinger‐Whitmore Melanie , Cole Julia E. , Bush Mark B. , Whitney H. , Corley Timothy L. , Kannan Miriam Steinitz
Published: July 2017

Finely laminated sediments within Bainbridge Crater Lake, Galápagos, provide a record of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events over the Holocene. Despite the importance of this sediment record, hypotheses for how climate variability is preserved in the lake sediments have not been tested. Here we present results of long‐term monitoring of the local climate and limnology and a revised interpretation of the sediment record. Brown‐green, organic‐rich, siliciclastic laminae reflect warm, wet conditions typical of El Niño events, whereas carbonate and gypsum precipitate during cool, dry La Niña events and persistent dry periods, respectively. Applying this new interpretation, we find that ENSO events of both phases were generally less frequent during the mid‐Holocene (~6100–4000 calendar years B.P.) relative to the last ~1500 calendar years. Abundant carbonate laminations between 3500 and 3000 calendar years B.P. imply that conditions in the Galápagos region were cool and dry during this period when the tropical Pacific E‐W sea surface temperature (SST) gradient likely strengthened. The frequency of El Niño and La Niña events then intensified dramatically around 1750–2000 calendar years B.P., consistent with a weaker SST gradient and an increased frequency of ENSO events in other regional records. This strong interannual variability persisted until ~700 calendar years B.P., when ENSO‐related variability at the lake decreased as the SST gradient strengthened. Persistent, dry conditions then dominated between 300 and 50 calendar years B.P. (A.D. 1650–1900, ± ~100 years), whereas wetter conditions and frequent El Niño events dominated in the most recent century.
Plant Cell Walls
Authors: Srivastava Vaibhav , McKee Lauren S , Bulone Vincent
Published: July 2017

Common to all plant species, the cell wall is the tough outer coat that protects the plant cell. The cell wall is mostly carbohydrate‐based, comprising three major classes of polysaccharides: cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin. There are also important structural proteins as well as phenolic and aliphatic polymers. The cell wall provides mechanical strength to the plant body, allowing upright growth and structure formation, and also plays important roles in cellular processes such as cell expansion, tissue differentiation, intercellular communication, water movement and defence responses against pests or pathogens. Cell walls may even be involved in signal sensing during pattern formation in plant development.

Key Concepts

The cell wall is the outermost layer of the plant cell.

The cell wall consists essentially of three major types of carbohydrates – cellulose, hemicellulose and pectins – and proteins.

Some specialised cell wall types, for example woody cell walls also contain phenolic and aliphatic polymers in addition to carbohydrate polymers.

The cell wall is a dynamic structure whose composition changes during cell, tissue and plant development and in response to various stresses.

The cell wall provides mechanical strength to the plant body.

The cell wall plays important roles in processes such as cell expansion, tissue differentiation, intercellular communication, water movement and defence responses against pests or pathogens.
Plant Cell Walls: Improved Resources for Biofuels and Value‐Added Products through Genetic Engineering
Authors: Hao Zhangying , Loqué Dominique
Published: July 2017

To mitigate fossil‐fuel shortages and the environmental impact of excess fossil‐fuel consumption, bioconversion of biomass into biofuels has emerged as a clean and sustainable alternative. During the past decade, a significant amount of progress has been made in understanding and improving the production of second‐generation biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass. While some challenges still need to be overcome, some of advancements led to the development of improved feedstocks to boot sugar release and incorporate functional groups into lignins to support the production of high‐value‐added by‐products.

Key Concepts

Plants sequester CO
2
and sunlight energy in their cell walls.

The largest resource of sugars is stored in plant cell walls.

Plant cell walls can be biologically converted into biofuels.

Processes of plant cell walls into biofuels and value‐added products need optimisation.

Every cell‐wall components need to be valorised: ‘No waste policy’.

Plants can be engineered to optimise cell‐wall conversion efficiency.
Role of Nonmotor Microtubule‐Associated Proteins in Mitotic Spindle Assembly
Authors: Drpic Danica , Maiato Helder
Published: July 2017

The assembly of a microtubule (MT)‐based bipolar spindle is a distinct hallmark of mitosis. Mitotic spindle assembly is tightly controlled in order to ensure proper chromosome attachment and segregation during mitosis. This regulation is achieved by the coordinated action of many motor and nonmotor MT‐associated proteins (MAPs). Owing to the distinctive capacity of MAPs to associate with the MT minus and/or plus ends, as well as with the MT lattice, they play an essential role in the spatial and temporal regulation of MT behaviour during mitotic spindle assembly.

Key Concepts

The mitotic spindle is a dynamic structure composed of microtubules, motor and nonmotor proteins.

Proper chromosome alignment and segregation during mitosis requires bipolar spindle assembly.

Nonmotor microtubule‐associated proteins are involved in spindle pole focusing, microtubule dynamics, kinetochore‐microtubule attachment stability and cytokinesis.

Nonmotor microtubule‐associated proteins associate with microtubule plus and minus ends (+TIPs and −TIPs, respectively) as well as with the microtubule lattice.

Nonmotor microtubule‐associated proteins are tightly regulated during the cell cycle.
Selective Association Between Tetris Game Play and Visuospatial Working Memory: A Preliminary Investigation
Authors: Lau‐Zhu Alex , Holmes Emily A. , Butterfield Sally , Holmes Joni
Published: July 2017

Recent experimental and clinical research has suggested that Tetris game play can disrupt maladaptive forms of mental imagery because Tetris competes for limited cognitive resources within visuospatial working memory (WM) that contribute to imagery. Whether or not Tetris performance is selectively associated with visuospatial WM remains to be tested. In this study, young adults (N = 46) completed six standardized measures indexing verbal and non‐verbal reasoning, verbal and visuospatial short‐term memory, and verbal and visuospatial WM. They also played Tetris. Consistent with the hypothesis that visuospatial WM resources support Tetris game play, there was a significant moderate positive relationship between Tetris scores and visuospatial WM performance but no association with other cognitive ability measures. Findings suggest that Tetris game play involves both storage and processing resources within visuospatial WM. These preliminary results can inform interventions involving computer games to disrupt the development of maladaptive visual imagery, for example, intrusive memories of trauma. © 2017 The Authors. Applied Cognitive Psychology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Enzyme Prodrug Therapy Engineered into Electrospun Fibers with Embedded Liposomes for Controlled, Localized Synthesis of Therapeutics
Authors: Chandrawati Rona , Olesen Morten T. J. , Marini Thatiane C. C. , Bisra Gurpal , Guex Anne Géraldine , de Oliveira Marcelo G. , Zelikin Alexander N. , Stevens Molly M.
Published: July 2017

Enzyme prodrug therapy (EPT) enables localized conversion of inert prodrugs to active drugs by enzymes. Performance of EPT necessitates that the enzyme remains active throughout the time frame of the envisioned therapeutic application. β‐glucuronidase is an enzyme with historically validated performance in EPT, however it retains its activity in biomaterials for an insufficiently long period of time, typically not exceeding 7 d. Herein, the encapsulation of β‐glucuronidase in liposomal subcompartments within poly(vinyl alcohol) electrospun fibers is reported, leading to the assembly of biocatalytically active materials with activity of the enzyme sustained over at least seven weeks. It is further shown that liposomes provide the highly beneficial stabilization of the enzyme when incubated in cell culture media. The assembled biocatalytic materials successfully produce antiproliferative drugs (SN‐38) using externally administered prodrugs (SN‐38‐glucuronide) and effectively suppress cell proliferation, with envisioned utility in the design of cardiovascular grafts.
Phospholipid Capped Mesoporous Nanoparticles for Targeted High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation
Authors: Yildirim Adem , Chattaraj Rajarshi , Blum Nicholas T. , Shi Dennis , Kumar Kaushlendra , Goodwin Andrew P.
Published: July 2017

The mechanical effects of cavitation can be effective for therapy but difficult to control, thus potentially leading to off‐target side effects in patients. While administration of ultrasound active agents such as fluorocarbon microbubbles and nanodroplets can locally enhance the effects of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), it has been challenging to prepare ultrasound active agents that are small and stable enough to accumulate in tumors and internalize into cancer cells. Here, this paper reports the synthesis of 100 nm nanoparticle ultrasound agents based on phospholipid‐coated, mesoporous, hydrophobically functionalized silica nanoparticles that can internalize into cancer cells and remain acoustically active. The ultrasound agents produce bubbles when subjected to short HIFU pulses (≈6 µs) with peak negative pressure as low as ≈7 MPa and at particle concentrations down to 12.5 µg mL−1 (7 × 109 particles mL−1). Importantly, ultrasound agents are effectively uptaken by cancer cells without cytotoxic effects, but HIFU insonation causes destruction of the cells by the acoustically generated bubbles, as demonstrated by (2,3‐bis‐(2‐methoxy‐4‐nitro‐5‐sulfophenyl)‐2H‐tetrazolium‐5‐carboxanilide (XTT) and lactate dehydrogenase assays and flow cytometry. Finally, it is showed that the HIFU dose required to effectively eliminate cancer cells in the presence of ultrasound agents causes only a small temperature increase of ≈3.5 °C.
Controlled 3D Carbon Nanotube Architecture Coated with MoOx Material by ALD Technique: A High Energy Density Lithium‐Ion Battery Electrode
Authors: Dhara Arpan , Sarkar Shaibal K. , Mitra Sagar
Published: July 2017

Due to its high theoretical capacity, energy density, and excellent reversibility with Li/Li+, molybdenum oxide is one of the vastly studied electrode material in lithium‐ion batteries. However, like most of the oxides, it also suffers from poor cyclic stability because of its low electrical conductivity. In 3D core–shell structure prepared by atomic layer deposition coating, it can provide superiority in nanoscale decoration than other deposition methods because of its extreme conformality and precise thickness control on high aspect ratio surfaces. This report illustrates the electrochemical activity of 3D core–shell type amorphous MoOx material coated by atomic layer deposition technique on conducting carbon nanotubes (CNT) scaffold which exhibits excellent overall cell capacity. The obtained capacity is manifold higher than its planar 2D counterpart and that can become an advanced nanoscale fabrication methodology of such 3D nanostructures for electrode preparation. Such binder free MoOx/CNT core–shell electrode structure shows very high and stable electrochemical activity toward Li/Li+ system. An optimal thickness of MoOx on CNT is also found out in order to attain the most stable cyclic performance of this nanostructure. A stable reversible areal capacity of 645 µAh cm−2 with specific capacity of 915 mAh g−1 is achieved from optimized MoOx/CNT assembly.
Mechanical recycling simulation of polylactide using a chain extender
Authors: Cosate de Andrade Marina Fernandes , Fonseca Gustavo , Morales Ana Rita , Mei Lucia Helena Innocentini
Published: July 2017

This work studied the commercial chain extender effectiveness on the mechanical recycling simulation of a pristine PLA using a single‐screw extruder. We processed the material by two extrusion cycles to simulate a recycling process. In the second extrusion, part of the material was processed with chain extender and we evaluated its molecular weight, thermal degradation, melt flow index (MFI), thermal transitions, and mechanical properties. The molecular weight for the extruded neat PLA decreased and the MFI and crystallinity degree increased while the mechanical properties worsened. The onset thermal degradation occurred at lower temperature for the processed material. With the introduction of the chain extender, there was a recovery of properties with the increase in the polymer molecular weight, decrease in the MFI and crystallinity degree, and an improvement in both thermal stability and mechanical properties in relation to recycled PLA without this component.
Quantifying the uncertainty introduced by discretization and time‐averaging in two‐fluid model predictions
Authors: Syamlal Madhava , Celik Ismail B. , Benyahia Sofiane
Published: July 2017

The two‐fluid model (TFM) has become a tool for the design and troubleshooting of industrial fluidized bed reactors. To use TFM for scale up with confidence, the uncertainty in its predictions must be quantified. Here, we study two sources of uncertainty: discretization and time‐averaging. First, we show that successive grid refinement may not yield grid‐independent transient quantities, including cross‐section–averaged quantities. Successive grid refinement would yield grid‐independent time‐averaged quantities on sufficiently fine grids. Then a Richardson extrapolation can be used to estimate the discretization error, and the grid convergence index gives an estimate of the uncertainty. Richardson extrapolation may not work for industrial‐scale simulations that use coarse grids. We present an alternative method for coarse grids and assess its ability to estimate the discretization error. Second, we assess two methods (autocorrelation and binning) and find that the autocorrelation method is more reliable for estimating the uncertainty introduced by time‐averaging TFM data. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 5343–5360, 2017
POEMSsyndrome: 2017 Update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management
Authors: Dispenzieri Angela
Published: July 2017

Disease Overview

POEMS syndrome is a paraneoplastic syndrome due to an underlying plasma cell neoplasm. The major criteria for the syndrome are polyradiculoneuropathy, clonal plasma cell disorder (PCD), sclerotic bone lesions, elevated vascular endothelial growth factor, and the presence of Castleman disease. Minor features include organomegaly, endocrinopathy, characteristic skin changes, papilledema, extravascular volume overload, and thrombocytosis. Diagnoses are often delayed because the syndrome is rare and can be mistaken for other neurologic disorders, most commonly chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. POEMS syndrome should be distinguished from the Castleman disease variant of POEMS syndrome, which has no clonal PCD and typically little to no peripheral neuropathy but has several of the minor diagnostic criteria for POEMS syndrome.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of POEMS syndrome is made with 3 of the major criteria, two of which must include polyradiculoneuropathy and clonal plasma cell disorder, and at least one of the minor criteria.

Risk Stratification

Because the pathogenesis of the syndrome is not well understood, risk stratification is limited to clinical phenotype rather than specific molecular markers. The number of clinical criteria is not prognostic, but the extent of the plasma cell disorder is. Those patients with an iliac crest bone marrow biopsy that does not reveal a plasma cell clone are candidates for local radiation therapy; those with a more extensive or disseminated clone will be candidates for systemic therapy

Risk‐Adapted Therapy

For those patients with a dominant sclerotic plasmacytoma, first‐line therapy is irradiation. Patients with diffuse sclerotic lesions or disseminated bone marrow involvement and for those who have progression of their disease 3–6 months after completing radiation therapy should receive systemic therapy. Corticosteroids are temporizing, but alkylators are the mainstay of treatment, either in the form of low‐dose conventional therapy or high dose with stem cell transplantation. Lenalidomide shows promise with manageable toxicity. Thalidomide and bortezomib also have activity, but their benefit needs to be weighed against their risk of exacerbating the peripheral neuropathy. The benefit of anti‐VEGF antibodies is conflicting. Prompt recognition and institution of both supportive care measures and therapy directed against the plasma cell result in the best outcomes.
Agreement between specific measures of adiposity and associations with high blood pressure in black South African women
Authors: Kruger Herculina S. , Botha‐Ravyse Chrisna , Havemann‐Nel Lize , Doubell Maretha , van Rooyen Johannes M.
Published: July 2017

Objectives

To derive percentage body fat (%BF) cut‐points according to body mass index (BMI) categories for adult black South African women and to investigate the agreement between adiposity classifications according to WHO BMI and %BF cut‐points. The secondary aim was to determine the association between these different adiposity measures and high blood pressure.

Methods

Black women aged 29–65 years (n = 435) from Ikageng, South Africa, were included in this cross‐sectional study. Socio‐demographic and anthropometric data were collected (weight, height and BMI). %BF using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry and blood pressure were measured.

Results

There was significant agreement between three %BF categories: low/normal (<35.8% age 29–49 years; or <38% age 50–65 years), overweight range (35.8–40.7% age 29–49 years; or 38–42.1% age 50–65 years) and obese (≥40.7% age 29–49 years; or ≥42.1% age 50–65 years) and three BMI categories: low/normal (<25 kg/m2), overweight range (25–29.9 kg/m2) and obese (≥30kg/m2); (κ = 0.62, P < .0001). Despite statistically significant agreement between groups, more than half of overweight individuals were misclassified as having either a normal (30.2%) or obese %BF (25.5%). %BF misclassification was low in the low/normal and obese BMI ranges. After adjustment for confounders, obesity (BMI ≥ 30kg/m2), as well as high %BF were significantly associated with high blood pressure (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.09–2.81 versus OR = 1.92, 95% CI 1.15–3.23, respectively).

Conclusion

Despite significant agreement between BMI and %BF categories, considerable misclassification occurred in the overweight range. Participants with excessive %BF had a greater odds of high blood pressure than those in the highest BMI category.
Indolizine–Squaraines: NIR Fluorescent Materials with Molecularly Engineered Stokes Shifts
Authors: McNamara Louis E. , Rill Tana A. , Huckaba Aron J. , Ganeshraj Vigneshraja , Gayton Jacqueline , Nelson Rachael A. , Sharpe Emily Anne , Dass Amala , Hammer Nathan I. , Delcamp Jared H.
Published: July 2017

The development of deep red and near infrared emissive materials with high quantum yields is an important challenge. Several classes of squaraine dyes have demonstrated high quantum yields, but require significantly red‐shifted absorptions to access the NIR window. Additionally, squaraine dyes have typically shown narrow Stokes shifts, which limits their use in living biological imaging applications due to dye emission interference with the light source. Through the incorporation of indolizine heterocycles we have synthesized novel indolizine squaraine dyes with increased Stokes shifts (up to >0.119 eV, >50 nm increase) and absorptions substantially further into the NIR region than an indoline squaraine benchmark (726 nm versus 659 nm absorption maxima). These materials have shown significantly enhanced water solubility, which is unique for squaraine dyes without water‐solubilizing substituents. Absorption, electrochemical, computational, and fluorescence studies were undertaken and exceptional fluorescence quantum yields of up 12 % were observed with emission curves extending beyond 850 nm.
To Avoid Chasing Incorrect Chemical Structures of Chiral Compounds: Raman Optical Activity and Vibrational Circular Dichroism Spectroscopies
Authors: Polavarapu Prasad L. , Covington Cody L. , Raghavan Vijay
Published: July 2017

A chemical structure (CS) identifies the connectivities between atoms, and the nature of those connections, for a given elemental composition. For chiral molecules, in addition to the identification of CS, the identification of the correct absolute configuration (AC) is also needed. Several chiral natural products are known whose CSs were initially misidentified and later corrected, and these errors were often discovered during the total synthesis of natural products. In this work, we present a new and convenient approach that can be used with Raman optical activity (ROA) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopies, to distinguish between the correct and incorrect CSs of chiral compounds. This approach involves analyzing the spectral similarity overlap between experimental spectra and those predicted with advanced quantum chemical theories. Significant labor needed for establishing the correct CSs via chemical syntheses of chiral natural products can thus be avoided.
Practical Recommendations for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Kinase Inhibitors in Oncology
Authors: Verheijen Remy B. , Yu Huixin , Schellens Jan H.M. , Beijnen Jos H. , Steeghs Neeltje , Huitema Alwin D.R.
Published: July 2017

Despite the fact that pharmacokinetic exposure of kinase inhibitors (KIs) is highly variable and clear relationships exist between exposure and treatment outcomes, fixed dosing is still standard practice. This review aims to summarize the available clinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data into practical guidelines for individualized dosing of KIs through therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). Additionally, we provide an overview of prospective TDM trials and discuss the future steps needed for further implementation of TDM of KIs.
Lucerastat, an Iminosugar for Substrate Reduction Therapy: Tolerability, Pharmacodynamics, and Pharmacokinetics in Patients With Fabry Disease on Enzyme Replacement
Authors: Guérard Nicolas , Oder Daniel , Nordbeck Peter , Zwingelstein Christian , Morand Olivier , Welford Richard W.D. , Dingemanse Jasper , Wanner Christoph
Published: July 2017

Lucerastat is a glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor aimed at reducing production of glycosphingolipids (GSLs), including those accumulating in Fabry disease. The safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of oral lucerastat were evaluated in an exploratory study in patients with Fabry disease. In this single‐center, open‐label, randomized study, 10 patients received lucerastat 1,000 mg b.i.d. for 12 weeks in addition to enzyme replacement therapy (ERT; the lucerastat group). Four patients with Fabry disease received ERT only. Eight patients reported 17 adverse events (AEs) in the lucerastat group. No clinically relevant safety abnormalities were observed. The mean (SD) levels of the plasma GSLs, glucosylceramide, lactosylceramide, and globotriaosylceramide, were significantly decreased from baseline in the lucerastat group (‐49.0% (16.5%), ‐32.7% (13.0%), and ‐55.0% (10.4%), respectively). Lucerastat 1,000 mg b.i.d. was well tolerated in patients with Fabry disease over 12 weeks. A marked decrease in plasma GSLs was observed, suggesting clinical potential for lucerastat in patients with Fabry disease.
Cross‐collaboration as an approach to disability services
Authors: Russo Stephanie
Published: July 2017

Disability services offices have such a large focus on legal compliance, processes, and medical documents that it is easy to overlook the student as a whole. Each student has a story that goes beyond a diagnosis. Those stories affect academic and social success in higher education. Yes, we must be compliant and follow a documentation process to determine accommodations. However, there are additional components to consider when determining what accommodations and supports are appropriate.