bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Restoring lepidopteran diversity in a tropical dry forest: relative importance of restoration treatment, tree identity and predator pressure
Authors: Solis-Gabriel Lizet , Mendoza-Arroyo Wendy , Boege Karina , del-Val Ek
Published: May 2017

Tropical dry forests (TDFs) have been widely transformed by human activities worldwide and the ecosystem services they provide are diminishing. There has been an urgent call for conservation and restoration of the degraded lands previously occupied by TDFs. Restoration experiences aim to recover species diversity and ecological functions. Different restoration strategies have been used to maximize plant performance including weeding, planting or using artificial mulching. In this investigation, we evaluated whether different restoration practices influence animal arrival and the reestablishment of biotic interactions. We particularly evaluated lepidopteran larvae diversity and caterpillar predation on plants established under different restoration treatments (mulching, weeding and control) in the Pacific West Coast of México. This study corroborated the importance of plant host identity for lepidopteran presence in a particular area. Lepidopteran diversity and herbivory rates were not affected by the restoration treatment but they were related to tree species. In contrast, caterpillar predation marks were affected by restoration treatment, with a greater number of predation marks in control plots, while caterpillar predation marks among plant species were not significantly different. This study highlights the importance of considering the introduction of high plant species diversity when planning TDF restoration to maximize lepidopteran diversity and ecosystem functioning.
Subcellular localization of VIP1 is regulated by phosphorylation and 14‐3‐3 proteins
Authors: Takeo Koichi , Ito Takeshi
Published: May 2017

Arabidopsis basic leucine zipper transcription factor VIRE2‐interacting protein 1 (VIP1) changes its localization from the cytosol to the nucleus when cells are subjected to mechanical or hypo‐osmotic stress, although the mechanism of this change is not known. In this study, we show that change in VIP1 subcellular localization is synchronized with a change in the VIP1 phosphorylation state that is induced by mechanical/hypo‐osmotic stress. VIP1 has three phosphorylatable serine residues in HXRXXS motifs, which are 14‐3‐3‐binding targets. Mutations of these residues results in the lack of 14‐3‐3 binding and prevents cytosolic localization of VIP1. These results suggest that dephosphorylation of VIP1 resulting from mechanical or hypo‐osmotic stress induces nuclear localization via 14‐3‐3 dissociation.
Mapping the rheology of the Central Chile subduction zone with aftershocks
Authors: Frank William B. , Poli Piero , Perfettini Hugo
Published: May 2017

The postseismic deformation following a large (Mw >7) earthquake is expressed both seismically and aseismically. Recent studies have appealed to a model that suggests that the aseismic slip on the plate interface following the mainshock can be the driving factor in aftershock sequences, reproducing both the geodetic (afterslip) and seismic (aftershocks) observables of postseismic deformation. Exploiting this model, we demonstrate how a dense catalog of aftershocks following the 2015 Mw 8.3 Illapel earthquake in Central Chile can constrain the frictional and rheological properties of the creeping regions of the subduction interface. We first expand the aftershock catalog via a 19 month continuous matched‐filter search and highlight the log‐time expansion of seismicity following the mainshock, suggestive of afterslip as the main driver of aftershock activity. We then show how the time history of aftershocks can constrain the temporal evolution of afterslip. Finally, we use our dense aftershock catalog to estimate the rate and state rheological parameter (a − b)σ as a function of depth and demonstrate that this low value is compatible either with a nearly velocity‐neutral friction (a≈b) in the regions of the megathrust that host afterslip, or an elevated pore fluid pressure (low effective normal stress σ) along the plate interface. Our results present the first snapshot of rheology in depth together with the evolution of the tectonic stressing rate along a plate boundary. The framework described here can be generalized to any tectonic context and provides a novel way to constrain the frictional properties and loading conditions of active faults.
Mars plasma system response to solar wind disturbances during solar minimum
Authors: Sánchez‐Cano B. , Hall B. E. S. , Lester M. , Mays M. L. , Witasse O. , Ambrosi R. , Andrews D. , Cartacci M. , Cicchetti A. , Holmström M. , Imber S. , Kajdič P. , Milan S. E. , Noschese R. , Odstrcil D. , Opgenoorth H. , Plaut J. , Ramstad R. , Reyes‐Ayala K. I.
Published: May 2017

This paper is a phenomenological description of the ionospheric plasma and induced magnetospheric boundary (IMB) response to two different types of upstream solar wind events impacting Mars in March 2008, at the solar minimum. A total of 16 Mars Express orbits corresponding to five consecutive days is evaluated. Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory‐B (STEREO‐B) at 1 AU and Mars Express and Mars Odyssey at 1.644 AU detected the arrival of a small transient interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME‐like) on the 6 and 7 of March, respectively. This is the first time that this kind of small solar structure is reported at Mars's distance. In both cases, it was followed by a large increase in solar wind velocity that lasted for ~10 days. This scenario is simulated with the Wang‐Sheeley‐Arge (WSA) ‐ ENLIL + Cone solar solar wind model. At Mars, the ICME‐like event caused a strong compression of the magnetosheath and ionosphere, and the recovery lasted for ~3 orbits (~20 h). After that, the fast stream affected the upper ionosphere and the IMB, which radial and tangential motions in regions close to the subsolar point are analyzed. Moreover, a compression in the Martian plasma system is also observed, although weaker than after the ICME‐like impact, and several magnetosheath plasma blobs in the upper ionosphere are detected by Mars Express. We conclude that, during solar minimum and at aphelion, small solar wind structures can create larger perturbations than previously expected in the Martian system.
Foreshock waves as observed in energetic ion flux
Authors: Petrukovich A. A. , Chugunova O. M. , Inamori T. , Kudela K. , Stetiarova J.
Published: May 2017

Oscillations of energetic ion fluxes with periods 10–100 s are often present in the Earth's foreshock. Detailed analysis of wave properties with Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms data and comparisons with other data sets confirm that these oscillations are the previously unnoticed part of well‐known “30 s” waves but are observed mainly for higher‐speed solar wind. Simultaneous magnetic oscillations have similar periods, large amplitudes, and nonharmonic unstable waveforms or shocklet‐type appearance, suggesting their nonlinearity, also typical for high solar wind speed. Analysis of the general foreshock data set of Interball project shows that the average flux of the backstreaming energetic ions increases more than 1 order of magnitude, when solar wind speed increases from 400 to 500 km/s.
Sensitivity of inorganic aerosol radiative effects to U.S. emissions
Authors: Holt J. I. , Solomon S. , Selin N. E.
Published: May 2017

Between 2005 and 2012, U.S. emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) decreased by 42% and 62%, respectively. These species, as well as ammonia (NH3), are precursors of inorganic fine aerosols, which scatter incoming shortwave radiation and thus affect climate. Scaling aerosol concentrations to emissions, as might be done for near‐term climate projections, neglects nonlinear chemical interactions. To estimate the magnitude of these nonlinearities, we conduct a suite of simulations with a chemical transport model and an off‐line radiative transfer model. We find that the direct radiative effect (DRE) over the North American domain decreases by 59 and 160 mW m−2 in winter and summer, respectively, between 2005 and 2012. The sensitivities of DRE to NOx and SO2 emissions increase, by 11% and 21% in summer, while sensitivity to NH3 emissions decreases. The wintertime sensitivity of DRE to NOx emissions is small in 2005 but is 5 times as large in 2012. Scaling radiative effects from 2005 to 2012 based on 2005 sensitivities overestimates the magnitude of the DRE of 7% and 6% of the U.S. attributable DRE in January and July, respectively. The difference between the changes in DRE and the changes in sensitivity suggests that scaling to SO2 emissions alone has so far been an accurate approximation, but it may not be in the near future. These values represent the level of accuracy that can be expected in adjusting aerosol radiative effects in climate models without chemistry.
Evaluation of SMAP, SMOS, and AMSR2 soil moisture retrievals against observations from two networks on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Chen Yingying , Yang Kun , Qin Jun , Cui Qian , Lu Hui , La Zhu , Han Menglei , Tang Wenjun
Published: May 2017

Two soil moisture and temperature monitoring networks were established in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) during recent years. One is located in a semihumid area (Naqu) of central TP and consists of 56 soil moisture and temperature measurement (SMTM) stations, the other is located in a semiarid area (Pali) of southern TP and consists of 21 SMTM stations. In this study, the station data are used to evaluate soil moisture retrievals from three microwave satellites, i.e., the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) of NASA, the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) of European Space Agency, and the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. It is found that the SMAP retrievals tend to underestimate soil moisture in the two TP networks, mainly due to the negative biases in the effective soil temperature that is derived from a climate model. However, the SMAP product well captures the amplitude and temporal variation of the soil moisture. The SMOS product performs well in Naqu network with acceptable error metrics but fails to capture the temporal variation of soil moisture in Pali network. The AMSR2 products evidently exaggerate the temporal variation of soil moisture in Naqu network but dampen it in Pali network, suggesting its retrieval algorithm needs further improvements for the TP.
Recirculation over complex terrain
Authors: Kutter Eric , Yi Chuixiang , Hendrey George , Liu Heping , Eaton Timothy , Ni‐Meister Wenge
Published: May 2017

This study generated eddy covariance data to investigate atmospheric dynamics leeward of a small, forested hillside in upstate New York. The causes and effects of recirculation eddies were examined to support the larger goal of improving measurement of the exchange of energy, moisture, and trace gases between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere over complex terrain. Sensors operated at five different altitudes on two separate towers—one at the top of the hill and one down the slope to the east—for approximately 8 weeks in the spring of 2013. During the experiment, the vertical potential temperature gradient was found to be the primary factor for determining whether winds interacting with the terrain features caused a recirculating eddy leeward of the hill. The study found evidence that the recirculation influenced carbon dioxide flux and caused the air column to be vertically well mixed.
Hindered erosion: The biological mediation of noncohesive sediment behavior
Authors: Chen X. D. , Zhang C. K. , Paterson D. M. , Thompson C. E. L. , Townend I. H. , Gong Z. , Zhou Z. , Feng Q.
Published: May 2017

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are ubiquitous on tidal flats but their impact on sediment erosion has not been fully understood. Laboratory‐controlled sediment beds were incubated with Bacillus subtilis for 5, 10, 16, and 22 days before the erosion experiments, to study the temporal and spatial variations in sediment stability caused by the bacterial secreted EPS. We found the biosedimentary systems showed different erosional behavior related to biofilm maturity and EPS distribution. In the first stage (5 days), the biosedimentary bed was more easily eroded than the clean sediment. With increasing growth period, bound EPS became more widely distributed over the vertical profile resulting in bed stabilization. After 22 days, the bound EPS was highly concentrated within a surface biofilm, but a relatively high content also extended to a depth of 5 mm and then decayed sharply with depth. The biofilm increased the critical shear stress of the bed and furthermore, it enabled the bed to withstand threshold conditions for an increased period of time as the biofilm degraded before eroding. After the loss of biofilm protection, the high EPS content in the sublayers continued to stabilize the sediment (hindered erosion) by binding individual grains, as visualized by electron microscopy. Consequently, the bed strength did not immediately revert to the abiotic condition but progressively adjusted, reflecting the depth profile of the EPS. Our experiments highlight the need to treat the EPS‐sediment conditioning as a bed‐age associated and depth‐dependent variable that should be included in the next generation of sediment transport models.
Urban responses to restrictive conservation policy during drought
Authors: Palazzo Joseph , Liu Owen R. , Stillinger Timbo , Song Runsheng , Wang Ying , Hiroyasu Elizabeth H. T. , Zenteno Jose , Anderson Sarah , Tague Christina
Published: May 2017

With climate change, the extent, severity, and frequency of droughts around the world are expected to increase. This study analyzed the ability of water districts to meet mandatory urban water conservation targets, which are a common policy response to drought. During California's recent record‐breaking drought, a 25% state‐wide use reduction objective was set and met. However, only 50% of urban water districts analyzed in this study reached their individual conservation target, which offers an opportunity to evaluate the factors associated with successful water use reduction. The findings show that the inclusion of water districts in the polycentric import structure may improve water conservation, but that source diversity may offer water districts a perceived buffer from the need for immediate water use reductions. Drought severity and lower median incomes are associated with greater water conservation, and conservation varies by hydrologic region. This analysis offers insights into institutional design and suggests that local biophysical and economic conditions shape responses in systematic ways that should be addressed by public policy responses to drought.
Relative linkages of stream water quality and environmental health with the land use and hydrologic drivers in the coastal‐urban watersheds of southeast Florida
Authors: Abdul‐Aziz Omar I. , Ahmed Shakil
Published: May 2017

A systematic data analytics was employed to determine the relative linkages of stream water quality and environmental health with the land use and hydrologic drivers in the coastal‐urban watersheds of southeast Florida. Power law‐based partial least squares regression models were developed to reliably estimate the linkages by appropriately resolving multicollinearity (Nash‐Sutcliffe efficiency = 0.72–0.95). The analytics indicated Everglades as the external and the largest source of total nitrogen (TN) in the coastal‐urban streams for both wet (June–October) and dry (November–May) seasons. The “external driver” exhibited 1.5–2 times stronger control on stream TN than that of the watershed “land use,” “hydrology,” and the “upstream reach” contributions. In contrast, Everglades appeared to be a minor source of in‐stream total phosphorus (TP), which was predominantly controlled by the internal watershed processes. TP was most strongly linked with the upstream reach concentrations and watershed land uses in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Despite the predominantly built‐up fraction (74%) of the study area, agricultural land was the most substantial watershed source of in‐stream nutrients. The linkages of algal biomass (Chl a) with the drivers indicated TP as the limiting nutrient. Stream dissolved oxygen was most strongly influenced by the adjacent groundwater depth and watershed land uses, respectively, in the wet and dry seasons. The estimated relative linkages and insights would be useful to identify the management targets and priorities to achieve healthy coastal‐urban stream ecosystems in southeast Florida and around the world.
Generation of lower and upper bands of electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic waves in the Van Allen radiation belts
Authors: Zhou Qinghua , Xiao Fuliang , Yang Chang , Liu Si , He Yihua , Baker D. N. , Spence H. E. , Reeves G. D. , Funsten H. O.
Published: May 2017

Electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) waves generated by the electron loss cone distribution can produce efficient scattering loss of plasma sheet electrons, which has a significant effect on the dynamics in the outer magnetosphere. Here we report two ECH emission events around the same location L≈ 5.7–5.8, MLT ≈ 12 from Van Allen Probes on 11 February (event A) and 9 January 2014 (event B), respectively. The spectrum of ECH waves was centered at the lower half of the harmonic bands during event A, but the upper half during event B. The observed electron phase space density in both events is fitted by the subtracted bi‐Maxwellian distribution, and the fitting functions are used to evaluate the local growth rates of ECH waves based on a linear theory for homogeneous plasmas. ECH waves are excited by the loss cone instability of 50 eV–1 keV electrons in the lower half of harmonic bands in the low‐density plasmasphere in event A, and 1–10 keV electrons in the upper half of harmonic bands in a relatively high‐density region in event B. The current results successfully explain observations and provide a first direct evidence on how ECH waves are generated in the lower and upper half of harmonic frequency bands.
Depletion of ozone and reservoir species of chlorine and nitrogen oxide in the lower Antarctic polar vortex measured from aircraft
Authors: Jurkat T. , Voigt C. , Kaufmann S. , Grooß J.‐U. , Ziereis H. , Dörnbrack A. , Hoor P. , Bozem H. , Engel A. , Bönisch H. , Keber T. , Hüneke T. , Pfeilsticker K. , Zahn A. , Walker K. A. , Boone C. D. , Bernath P. F. , Schlager H.
Published: May 2017

Novel airborne in situ measurements of inorganic chlorine, nitrogen oxide species, and ozone were performed inside the lower Antarctic polar vortex and at its edge in September 2012. We focus on one flight during the Transport and Composition of the LMS/Earth System Model Validation (TACTS/ESMVal) campaign with the German research aircraft HALO (High‐Altitude LOng range research aircraft), reaching latitudes of 65°S and potential temperatures up to 405 K. Using the early winter correlations of reactive trace gases with N2O from the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment‐Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE‐FTS), we find high depletion of chlorine reservoir gases up to ∼40% (0.8 ppbv) at 12 km to 14 km altitude in the vortex and 0.4 ppbv at the edge in subsided stratospheric air with mean ages up to 4.5 years. We observe denitrification of up to 4 ppbv, while ozone was depleted by 1.2 ppmv at potential temperatures as low as 380 K. The advanced instrumentation aboard HALO enables high‐resolution measurements with implications for the oxidation capacity of the lowermost stratosphere.
Angular normalization of GOME‐2 Sun‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence observation as a better proxy of vegetation productivity
Authors: He Liming , Chen Jing M. , Liu Jane , Mo Gang , Joiner Joanna
Published: May 2017

Sun‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) has been regarded as a promising proxy for gross primary productivity (GPP) over land. Considerable uncertainties in GPP estimation using remotely sensed SIF exist due to variations in the Sun‐satellite view observation geometry that could induce unwanted variations in SIF observation. In this study, we normalize the far‐red Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment‐2 SIF observations on sunny days to hot spot direction (SIFh) to represent sunlit leaves and compute a weighted sum of SIF (SIFt) from sunlit and shaded leaves to represent the canopy. We found that SIFh is better correlated with sunlit GPP simulated by a process‐based ecosystem model and SIFt is better correlated with the simulated total GPP than the original SIF observations. The coefficient of determination (R2) are increased by 0.04 ± 0.03, and 0.07 ± 0.04 on a global average using SIFh and SIFt, respectively. The most significant increases of the R2 (0.09 ± 0.04 for SIFt and 0.05 ± 0.03 for SIFh) appear in deciduous broadleaf forests.
Internal variability in simulated and observed tropical tropospheric temperature trends
Authors: Suárez‐Gutiérrez Laura , Li Chao , Thorne Peter W. , Marotzke Jochem
Published: May 2017

We explore the extent to which internal variability can reconcile discrepancies between observed and simulated warming in the upper tropical troposphere. We compare all extant radiosonde‐based estimates for the period 1958–2014 to simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 multimodel ensemble and the 100 realization Max Planck Institute large ensemble. We consider annual mean temperatures and all available 30‐and 15‐year trends. Most observed trends fall within the ensemble spread for most of the record, and trends calculated over 15‐year periods show better agreement than 30‐year trends, with generally larger discrepancies for the older observational products. The simulated amplification of surface warming aloft in the troposphere is consistent with observations, and the linear correlation between surface and simultaneous tropospheric warming trends decreases with trend length. We conclude that trend differences between observations and simulations of tropical tropospheric temperatures are dominated by observational uncertainty and chaotic internal variability rather than by systematic errors in model performance.
First Na lidar measurements of turbulence heat flux, thermal diffusivity, and energy dissipation rate in the mesopause region
Authors: Guo Yafang , Liu Alan Z. , Gardner Chester S.
Published: May 2017

Turbulence is ubiquitous in the mesopause region, where the atmospheric stability is low and wave breaking is frequent. Measuring turbulence is challenging in this region and is traditionally done by rocket soundings and radars. In this work, we show for the first time that the modern Na wind/temperature lidar located at Andes Lidar Observatory in Cerro Pachón, Chile, is able to directly measure the turbulence perturbations in temperature and vertical wind between 85 and 100 km. Using 150 h of lidar observations, we derived the frequency (ω) and vertical wave number (m) spectra for both gravity wave and turbulence, which follow the power law with slopes consistent with theoretical models. The eddy heat flux generally decreases with altitude from about −0.5 Km s−1 at 85 km to −0.1 Km s−1 at 100 km, with a local maximum of −0.6 Km s−1 at 93 km. The derived mean turbulence thermal diffusivity and energy dissipation rate are 43 m2 s−1 and 37 mW kg−1, respectively. The mean net cooling resulted from the heat transport and energy dissipation is −4.9 ± 1.5 K d−1, comparable to that due to gravity wave transport at −7.9 ± 1.9 K d−1. Turbulence key parameters show consistency with turbulence theories.
Observation of subsecond variations in auroral region total electron content using 100 Hz sampling of GPS observables
Authors: McCaffrey A. M. , Jayachandran P. T.
Published: May 2017

First ever auroral region total electron content (TEC) measurements at 100 Hz using a Septentrio PolaRxS Pro receiver are analyzed to discover ionospheric signatures which would otherwise be unobtainable with the frequently used lower sampling rates. Two types of variations are observed: small‐magnitude (amplitude) variations, which are present consistently throughout the data set, and larger‐magnitude (amplitude) variations, which are less frequent. Small‐amplitude TEC fluctuations are accounted for by the receiver phase jitter. However, estimated secondary ionospheric effects in the calculation of TEC and the receiver phase jitter were unable to account for the larger‐amplitude TEC fluctuations. These variations are also accompanied by fluctuations in the magnetic field, which seems to indicate that these fluctuations are real and of geophysical significance. This paper presents a technique and the capability of high‐rate TEC measurements in the study of auroral dynamics. Further detailed study is needed to identify the cause of these subsecond TEC fluctuations and associated magnetic field fluctuations.
Global‐scale external magnetic fields at Mars measured at satellite altitude
Authors: Mittelholz A. , Johnson C. L. , Lillis R. J.
Published: May 2017

The Martian magnetic field is unique among those of the terrestrial planets. It is the net result of the interaction of the solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) with crustal remnant magnetization and a planetary ionosphere. Internal fields of crustal origin have been the subject of extensive studies; the focus of our work is identification and characterization of contributions from external magnetic fields using the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) vector magnetic field data. We investigate the magnitude, average spatial structure, and temporal variability of the external magnetic field at MGS mapping altitude of 400 km by first subtracting the expected contributions from crustal fields using existing global crustal field models. We identify periodicities and spatial structure in the field related to the day‐night cycle and Carrington rotations, as well as variations corresponding to an annual cycle and short aperiodic signals. We suggest that ionospheric currents driven by upper atmosphere winds contribute to the observed zonal structure in the daily variation in the external magnetic field. Finally, we discuss the potential for magnetic sounding studies using time‐varying external fields and surface magnetometry measurements from the InSight mission to be launched in 2018.
Dynamic linear models to explore time‐varying suspended sediment‐discharge rating curves
Authors: Ahn Kuk‐Hyun , Yellen Brian , Steinschneider Scott
Published: May 2017

This study presents a new method to examine long‐term dynamics in sediment yield using time‐varying sediment‐discharge rating curves. Dynamic linear models (DLMs) are introduced as a time series filter that can assess how the relationship between streamflow and sediment concentration or load changes over time in response to a wide variety of natural and anthropogenic watershed disturbances or long‐term changes. The filter operates by updating parameter values using a recursive Bayesian design that responds to 1 day‐ahead forecast errors while also accounting for observational noise. The estimated time series of rating curve parameters can then be used to diagnose multiscale (daily‐decadal) variability in sediment yield after accounting for fluctuations in streamflow. The technique is applied in a case study examining changes in turbidity load, a proxy for sediment load, in the Esopus Creek watershed, part of the New York City drinking water supply system. The results show that turbidity load exhibits a complex array of variability across time scales. The DLM highlights flood event‐driven positive hysteresis, where turbidity load remained elevated for months after large flood events, as a major component of dynamic behavior in the rating curve relationship. The DLM also produces more accurate 1 day‐ahead loading forecasts compared to other static and time‐varying rating curve methods. The results suggest that DLMs provide a useful tool for diagnosing changes in sediment‐discharge relationships over time and may help identify variability in sediment concentrations and loads that can be used to inform dynamic water quality management.
Efficacy of Mycophenolate Mofetil and Oral Cyclophosphamide on Skin Thickness: Post Hoc Analyses From Two Randomized Placebo‐Controlled Trials
Authors: Namas Rajaie , Tashkin Donald P. , Furst Daniel E. , Wilhalme Holly , Tseng Chi‐Hong , Roth Michael D. , Kafaja Suzanne , Volkmann Elizabeth , Clements Philip J. , Khanna Dinesh ,   Participants in the Scleroderma Lung Study I and members of the Scleroderma Lung Study II Research Group
Published: May 2017

Objective

To assess the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and cyclophosphamide (CYC) on modified Rodnan skin score (MRSS) in participants enrolled in the Scleroderma Lung Study (SLS) I and II.

Methods

SLS I participants received daily oral CYC or matching placebo for 1 year, whereas SLS II participants received daily MMF for 2 years or daily oral CYC for 1 year followed by placebo for second year. We assessed the impact of MMF and CYC on the MRSS in SLS II over a 24‐month period. We also compared the change in MRSS in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) assigned to CYC and MMF in SLS II and SLS I versus placebo in SLS I over a 24‐month period using a linear mixed model.

Results

In SLS II, the baseline mean ± SD MRSS was 14.0 ± 10.6 units for CYC and 15.3 ± 10.4 units for MMF; 58.5% were classified as dcSSc. CYC and MMF were associated with statistically significant improvements in MRSS from baseline over the period of 24 months in dcSSc (P < 0.05 at each time point), but there were no differences between the 2 groups. In the dcSSc subgroup, the change in MRSS from baseline to all 6‐month visits was similar in SLS II groups (MMF, CYC, pooled cohort [MMF + CYC]) and in the SLS I CYC group and showed statistically significant improvements compared to SLS I placebo at 12, 18, and 24 months (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

In SLS II, MMF and CYC treatment resulted in improvements in MRSS in patients with dcSSc over 24 months. In addition, MMF and CYC treatment resulted in statistically significant improvements in MRSS in patients with dcSSc when compared with the SLS I placebo group.
Suppressing Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Does Patient Global Assessment Blur the Target? A Practice‐Based Call for a Paradigm Change
Authors: Ferreira Ricardo J. O. , Duarte Cátia , Ndosi Mwidimi , de Wit Maarten , Gossec Laure , da Silva J. A. P.
Published: May 2017

Objective

In current management paradigms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), patient global assessment (PGA) is crucial to decide whether a patient has attained remission (target) or needs reinforced therapy. We investigated whether the clinical and psychological determinants of PGA are appropriate to support this important role.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional, single‐center study including consecutive ambulatory RA patients. Data collection comprised swollen 28‐joint count (SJC28), tender 28‐joint count (TJC28), C‐reactive protein (CRP) level, PGA, pain, fatigue, function, anxiety, depression, happiness, personality traits, and comorbidities. Remission was categorized using American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Boolean‐based criteria: remission, near‐remission (only PGA >1), and nonremission. A binary definition without PGA (3v‐remission) was also studied. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to identify explanatory variables of PGA in each remission state.

Results

A total of 309 patients were included (remission 9.4%, near‐remission 37.2%, and nonremission 53.4%). Patients in near‐remission were indistinguishable from remission regarding disease activity, but described a disease impact similar to those in nonremission. In multivariable analyses, PGA in near‐remission was explained (R2adjusted = 0.50) by fatigue, pain, anxiety, and function. Fatigue and pain had no relationship with disease activity measures.

Conclusion

In RA, a consensually acceptable level of disease activity (SJC28, TJC28, and CRP level ≤1) does not equate to low disease impact: a large proportion of these patients are considered in nonremission solely due to PGA. PGA mainly reflects fatigue, pain, function, and psychological domains, which are inadequate to define the target for immunosuppressive therapy. This consideration suggests that clinical practice should be guided by 2 separate remission targets: inflammation (3v‐remission) and disease impact.
Depression Risk in Young Adults With Juvenile‐ and Adult‐Onset Lupus: Twelve Years of Followup
Authors: Knight Andrea M. , Trupin Laura , Katz Patricia , Yelin Edward , Lawson Erica F.
Published: May 2017

Objective

To compare major depression risk among young adults with juvenile‐onset and adult‐onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to determine demographic and health‐related predictors of depression.

Methods

Young adults with SLE ages 18–45 years (n = 546) in the Lupus Outcomes Study completed annual telephone surveys from 2002–2015, including assessment of depression using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D), and self‐report measures of sociodemographics and health characteristics. Juvenile‐onset SLE was defined as age <18 years at diagnosis (n = 115). Repeated‐measures analysis was performed to assess the risk for major depression (CES‐D ≥24) at any point in study, and logistic regression was used to assess for recurrent (present on ≥2 assessments) major depression.

Results

Major depression was experienced by 47% of the cohort at least once during the 12‐year study period. In adjusted analyses, juvenile‐onset SLE patients had an increased risk of having a major depressive episode (odds ratio [OR] 1.7 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.0–2.7]) and recurrent episodes (OR 2.2 [95% CI 1.2–4.3]), compared to participants with adult‐onset SLE. Older age, lower educational attainment, and physical function, higher disease activity, and a history of smoking were associated with an increased depression risk. Juvenile‐onset SLE patients had a higher risk of major depression across all educational groups.

Conclusion

Young adults with SLE, particularly those with juvenile‐onset disease, are at high risk for major depression, which is associated with increased disease activity, poorer physical functioning, and lower educational attainment. Early depression intervention in young adults with SLE has the potential to improve both medical and psychosocial outcomes.
Association of Fibrosing Myopathy in Systemic Sclerosis and Higher Mortality
Authors: Paik Julie J. , Wigley Fredrick M. , Shah Ami A. , Corse Andrea M. , Casciola‐Rosen Livia , Hummers Laura K. , Mammen Andrew L.
Published: May 2017

Objective

To determine if a unique subtype of scleroderma muscle disease exists by comparing the clinical features of systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) patients with predominant fibrosis on muscle biopsy to those with inflammatory muscle histopathology.

Methods

This retrospective, cross‐sectional study included SSc patients with muscle weakness and an available muscle biopsy. Biopsies with fibrosis but without inflammation/necrosis were designated as “fibrosing myopathy,” and those with inflammation and/or necrosis were assigned a category of “inflammatory myopathy.” Clinical data, including features of SSc, serum creatine kinase (CK) levels, electromyography, autoantibody profile, and survival, were compared between the 2 groups.

Results

The study population consisted of 37 weak SSc patients, 8 with fibrosing myopathy and 29 with inflammatory myopathy. Compared to those with inflammatory myopathy, patients with fibrosing myopathy were more likely to have diffuse SSc skin subtype (87% versus 62%; P = 0.18), African American race (62.5% versus 37.9%; P = 0.20), and a lower mean ± SD forced vital capacity (55.5 ± 31.9 versus 66.4 ± 17.6; P = 0.23). They also had lower mean ± SD CK values (516 ± 391 versus 2,477 ± 3,511 IU/liter; P = 0.007) and lower aldolase values (13.8 ± 4.7 versus 27.3 ± 4.7; P = 0.01). Patients with fibrosing myopathy had a significantly higher mortality (5 of 8 [62.5%] versus 4 of 29 [14.3%]; P = 0.005).

Conclusion

Fibrosing myopathy is a unique histologic subtype of muscle disease among weak patients with SSc and is associated with significantly worse mortality compared to those with inflammation and/or necrosis on muscle biopsy.
A Patterned Graphene/ZnO UV Sensor Driven by Integrated Asymmetric Micro‐Supercapacitors on a Liquid Metal Patterned Foldable Paper
Authors: Yun Junyeong , Lim Yein , Lee Hanchan , Lee Geumbee , Park Heun , Hong Soo Yeong , Jin Sang Woo , Lee Yong Hui , Lee Sang‐Soo , Ha Jeong Sook
Published: May 2017

A foldable array of patterned graphene/ZnO nanoparticle UV sensor and asymmetric micro‐supercapacitors (AMSCs) integrated on a paper substrate with patterned liquid metal interconnections is reported. The resistor type UV sensor based on graphene/ZnO nanoparticles is patterned to be driven by the stored energy of the integrated AMSCs. The AMSC consists of MnO2 nanoball deposited multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and V2O5 wrapped MWNTs as positive and negative electrodes, respectively. As an electrolyte, propylene carbonate‐poly(methyl methacrylate)‐LiClO4, an organic solvent‐based gel, is used. The UV sensor and AMSCs can be easily integrated on a liquid metal, Galinstan, patterned, waterproof mineral paper and show a mechanically stable UV sensing, regardless of repetitive folding cycles. This work demonstrates a novel foldable nanomaterial based sensor system driven by integrated energy storage devices, applicable to future wearable and portable electronics.
Holey Carbon Nanotubes from Controlled Air Oxidation
Authors: Lin Yi , Funk Michael R. , Campbell Caroline J. , Kim Jae‐Woo , Han Xiaogang , Lacey Steven D. , Xie Hua , Hu Liangbing , Connell John W.
Published: May 2017

Defects in various nanomaterials are often desirable to enable enhanced functional group attachments and attain properties that are not available with their intact counterparts. A new paradigm in the defective low‐dimensional carbon nanomaterials is to create holes on the graphitic surfaces via partial etching. For example, holey graphene, graphene sheets with through‐thickness holes, is synthesized using several different partial etching approaches and found useful for various applications such as field‐effect transistors, sensors, energy storage devices, and separation membranes. In these applications, the presence of holes leads to unique advantages, such as bandgap widening, chemical functionalization of hole edges, and improved accessible surface area. Here, a facile and scalable method to prepare holey carbon nanotubes via controlled air oxidation is presented. Although no additional catalyst is added, the residual iron nanocatalysts encapsulated in the nanotube cavity from nanotube manufacturing significantly contributed to the hole generation through the nanotube walls. The holey carbon nanotube products exhibit enhanced surface area, pore volume, and oxygen‐containing functional groups, which lead to their much enhanced electrochemical capacitive properties (increased over 100% in capacitance). Synthesis and characterization details of this novel class of holey carbon nanomaterials are presented, and their potential applications are discussed.
One‐Step Synthesis of Highly Oxygen‐Deficient Lithium Titanate Oxide with Conformal Amorphous Carbon Coating as Anode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Nasara Ralph Nicolai , Tsai Ping‐chun , Lin Shih‐kang
Published: May 2017

The lithium titanate defect spinel, Li4Ti5O12 (LTO), is a promising “zero‐strain” anode material for lithium‐ion batteries in cycling‐demanding applications. However, the low‐rate capability limits its range of applications. Surface modifications, for example, coating and defect engineering, play an intriguing role in interfacial electrochemical processes. Herein, a novel synthesis of highly oxygen‐deficient “defective‐LTO” anode material with high‐rate performance is reported. It is synthesized using conventional precursors via a one‐pot thermal reduction process. A high level of oxygen vacancies of ≈6.5 at% and conformal amorphous carbon coating are achieved simultaneously, resulting in a compounding effect for a high discharge capacity of 123 mAh g−1 with Coulombic efficiency of 99.8% at 10 C‐rate. Ab initio calculations foresight that oxygen vacancies increase the electron donor density of the neighboring titanium atoms, while conformal amorphous carbon significantly lowers interfacial charge‐transfer resistance. The formation mechanism, as well as the origin of enhanced electrochemical properties, is elaborated in this paper.
Fully Biodegradable Microsupercapacitor for Power Storage in Transient Electronics
Authors: Lee Geumbee , Kang Seung‐Kyun , Won Sang Min , Gutruf Philipp , Jeong Yu Ra , Koo Jahyun , Lee Sang‐Soo , Rogers John A. , Ha Jeong Sook
Published: May 2017

In this work, the authors report materials, fabrication strategies, and applications of biodegradable microsupercapacitors (MSCs) built using water‐soluble (i.e., physically transient) metal (W, Fe, and Mo) electrodes, a biopolymer, hydrogel electrolyte (agarose gel), and a biodegradable poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) substrate, encapsulated with polyanhydride. During repetitive charge/discharge cycles, the electrochemical performance of these unusual MSCs is dramatically enhanced, following from the role of pseudocapacitance that originates from metal‐oxide coatings generated by electrochemical corrosion at the interface between the water‐soluble metal electrode and the hydrogel electrolyte. Systematic studies reveal the dissolution kinetics/behaviors of each individual component of the MSCs, as well as those of the integrated devices. An encapsulation strategy that involves control over the thickness, chemistry, and molecular weight of the constituent materials provides a versatile means to engineer desired functional lifetimes. Demonstration experiments illustrate potential applications of these biodegradable MSCs as transient sources of power in the operation of light‐emitting diodes and as charging capacitors in integrated circuits for wireless power harvesting.
Carbon Coated Bimetallic Sulfide Hollow Nanocubes as Advanced Sodium Ion Battery Anode
Authors: Chen Jingwei , Li Shaohui , Kumar Vipin , Lee Pooi See
Published: May 2017

Sodium ion battery (SIB) as a next‐generation battery has been drawing much attention due to the abundance and even distribution of sodium source. Metal sulfides with high theoretical capacity and good electrical conductivity are promising anode candidates for SIB, however, the structural collapse caused by severe volume change during the de/sodiation process typically results in a fast capacity decay, limited rate capability, and cycling stability. In this work, by careful composition and structure design, polydopamine coated Prussian blue analogs derived carbon coated bimetallic sulfide hollow nanocubes (PBCS) are prepared with distinguished morphology, higher surface area, smaller charge transfer resistance, and higher sodium diffusion coefficient than the uncoated bimetallic sulfides. An optimum carbon coated bimetallic sulfide hollow nanocube anode delivers a specific capacity of ≈500 mA h g−1 at 50 mA g−1 with ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate (1:1, vol%) electrolyte in the presence of fluoroethylene carbonate additives. A capacity of 122.3 mA h g−1 can be realized at 5000 mA g−1, showing good rate performance. In addition the carbon coated bimetallic sulfide hollow nanocubes can maintain capacity of 87 mA h g−1 after being cycled at 500 mA g−1 for 150 times, indicating its good cycling stability. The structure integrity, high specific capacity, good rate performance, and cycling stability of PBCS render it a promising anode material for advanced SIB.
Monolithic Photoassisted Water Splitting Device Using Anodized Ni‐Fe Oxygen Evolution Catalytic Substrate
Authors: Dong Wan Jae , Song Young Jin , Yoon Hansub , Jung Gwan Ho , Kim Kisoo , Kim Sungjoo , Lee Jong‐Lam
Published: May 2017

Large‐scale industrial application of solar‐driven water splitting has called for the development of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts that deliver high catalytic activity and stability. Here it is shown that an efficient OER catalytic substrate can be developed by roll‐to‐roll fabrication of electrodeposited Ni‐Fe foils, followed by anodization. An amorphous oxyhydroxide layer directly formed on Ni‐Fe foils exhibits high catalytic activity toward water oxidation in 1 m KOH solution, which requires an overpotential of 0.251 V to reach current density of 10 mA cm–2. The developed catalytic electrode shows the best OER activity among catalysts with film structure. The catalyst also shows prolonged stability at vigorous gas evolution condition for 36 h. To demonstrate the monolithic photoassisted water splitting device, an amorphous silicon solar cell is fabricated on Ni‐Fe catalytic substrate, resulting in lowering OER overpotential under light illumination. This monolithic device is the first demonstration that the OER catalytic substrates and the solar cells are integrated and can be easily applied for industrial scale solar‐driven water electrolysis.
Ultrathin Co3O4 Layers with Large Contact Area on Carbon Fibers as High‐Performance Electrode for Flexible Zinc–Air Battery Integrated with Flexible Display
Authors: Chen Xu , Liu Bin , Zhong Cheng , Liu Zhi , Liu Jie , Ma Lu , Deng Yida , Han Xiaopeng , Wu Tianpin , Hu Wenbin , Lu Jun
Published: May 2017

A facile and binder‐free method is developed for the in situ and horizontal growth of ultrathin mesoporous Co3O4 layers on the surface of carbon fibers in the carbon cloth (ultrathin Co3O4/CC) as high‐performance air electrode for the flexible Zn–air battery. In particular, the ultrathin Co3O4 layers have a maximum contact area on the conductive support, facilitating the rapid electron transport and preventing the aggregation of ultrathin layers. The ultrathin feature of Co3O4 layers is characterized by the transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectra, and X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. Benefiting from the high utilization degree of active materials and rapid charge transport, the mass activity for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions of the ultrathin Co3O4/CC electrode is more than 10 times higher than that of the carbon cloth loaded with commercial Co3O4 nanoparticles. Compared to the commercial Co3O4/CC electrode, the flexible Zn–air battery using ultrathin Co3O4/CC electrode exhibits excellent rechargeable performance and high mechanical stability. Furthermore, the flexible Zn–air battery is integrated with a flexible display unit. The whole integrated device can operate without obvious performance degradation under serious deformation and even during the cutting process, which makes it highly promising for wearable and roll‐up optoelectronics.