bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An authenticated re‐encryption scheme for secure file transfer in named data networks
Authors: Tseng Yi‐Fan , Fan Chun‐I , Cho Yan‐Fu
Published: May 2018

With the fast progress of the Internet and communication technologies, the digital communication is increasingly based on the architecture of TCP/IP. Nevertheless, in TCP/IP's architecture, there are limitations such as data uncertainty and flow overloading. In response to this, a novel architecture has been proposed, which is known as the named data network (NDN). Named data network is an alternative network architecture based on the data each user accesses. Users gain accesses to the data by using an adjacent router (node) that verifies the correctness of the data. In NDN, the router has the capability to store and search for the data. Hence, this architecture largely improves the disadvantages in TCP/IP's architecture. Named data network is a new proposal and relatively under‐researched now. Thus far, an adequate secure file transfer protocol is still unavailable for NDN. In some cases, files are broken or the source fails to authenticate, which results in the need to discover the owner of the file. Furthermore, we believe that NDN should involve an authentication mechanism in the secure file transfer protocol. In view of the above, this paper presents an authenticated re‐encryption scheme for NDN, which offers sender authentication, data confidentiality, and support for potential receivers. Finally, we also propose a security model for sender authentication and prove that the proposed scheme is secure.
A novel approach of user existence awareness using adaptive spectrum sensing controllers in emergency‐based cognitive radio adhoc networks
Authors: Sudhakaran Chitra , Suganthi M.
Published: May 2018

Spectrum sharing can be considered as an alternative solution to overcome spectrum limitation. Cognitive radio is the most important spectrum sharing technique in wireless communication system, which aims to enhance the utilization of radio frequency spectrum. Identification of spectrum environments like location of both licensed and unlicensed users has been considered in cognitive radio technology. In this paper, cognitive controller is an emergency repairing unit, which is introduced to maximize the number of connected users in an emergency situation. The analysis shows that the sensing efficiency of fixed sensing controller to identify users is limited to its sensing region. A hybrid technique with overlay and underlay accessing to perform data offloading in emergency situations and to connect the disconnected users is proposed to enhance the location sensing efficiency of the controller. A cognitive user node located at the interference region of controller experiences hidden node problem and causes interference to other users. In order to identify such users, an adaptive and cooperative sensing‐based controller is proposed, and efficiency of which is compared with the efficiency of fixed sensing controller. Theoretical and simulation analysis explores that the sensing capacity of adaptive sensing controller provides 42% of higher efficiency than the fixed sensing method.
Abundance of Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoids on vegetables and cassava plants in Burkina Faso (West Africa)
Authors: Romba Rahim , Gnankine Olivier , Drabo Samuel Fogné , Tiendrebeogo Fidèle , Henri Hélène , Mouton Laurence , Vavre Fabrice
Published: May 2018

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a pest of many agricultural and ornamental crops worldwide and particularly in Africa. It is a complex of cryptic species, which is extremely polyphagous with hundreds of host plants identified around the world. Previous surveys in western Africa indicated the presence of two biotypes of the invasive MED species (MED‐Q1 and MED‐Q3) living in sympatry with the African species SSA and ASL. This situation constitutes one of the rare cases of local coexistence of various genetic entities within the B. tabaci complex. In order to study the dynamics of the distribution and abundance of genetic entities within this community and to identify potential factors that could contribute to coexistence, we sampled B. tabaci populations in Burkina Faso in 2015 and 2016 on various plants, and also their parasitoids. All four genetic entities were still recorded, indicating no exclusion of local species by the MED species. While B. tabaci individuals were found on 55 plant species belonging to eighteen (18) families showing the high polyphagy of this pest, some species/biotypes exhibited higher specificity. Two parasitoid species (Eretmocerus mundus and Encarsia vandrieschei) were also recorded with E. mundus being predominant in most localities and on most plants. Our data indicated that whitefly abundance, diversity, and rate of parasitism varied according to areas, plants, and years, but that parasitism rate was globally highly correlated with whitefly abundance suggesting density dependence. Our results also suggest dynamic variation in the local diversity of B. tabaci species/biotypes from 1 year to the other, specifically with MED‐Q1 and ASL species. This work provides relevant information on the nature of plant–B. tabaci‐parasitoid interactions in West Africa and identifies that coexistence might be stabilized by niche differentiation for some genetic entities. However, MED‐Q1 and ASL show extensive niche overlap, which could ultimately lead to competitive exclusion.
Ecosystem‐based management of coral reefs under climate change
Authors: Harvey Bethany J. , Nash Kirsty L. , Blanchard Julia L. , Edwards David P.
Published: May 2018

Coral reefs provide food and livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people as well as harbour some of the highest regions of biodiversity in the ocean. However, overexploitation, land‐use change and other local anthropogenic threats to coral reefs have left many degraded. Additionally, coral reefs are faced with the dual emerging threats of ocean warming and acidification due to rising CO2 emissions, with dire predictions that they will not survive the century. This review evaluates the impacts of climate change on coral reef organisms, communities and ecosystems, focusing on the interactions between climate change factors and local anthropogenic stressors. It then explores the shortcomings of existing management and the move towards ecosystem‐based management and resilience thinking, before highlighting the need for climate change‐ready marine protected areas (MPAs), reduction in local anthropogenic stressors, novel approaches such as human‐assisted evolution and the importance of sustainable socialecological systems. It concludes that designation of climate change‐ready MPAs, integrated with other management strategies involving stakeholders and participation at multiple scales such as marine spatial planning, will be required to maximise coral reef resilience under climate change. However, efforts to reduce carbon emissions are critical if the long‐term efficacy of local management actions is to be maintained and coral reefs are to survive.
Spatiotemporal and gender‐specific parasitism in two species of gobiid fish
Authors: Karvonen Anssi , Lindström Kai
Published: May 2018

Parasitism is considered a major selective force in natural host populations. Infections can decrease host condition and vigour, and potentially influence, for example, host population dynamics and behavior such as mate choice. We studied parasite infections of two common marine fish species, the sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus) and the common goby (Pomatoschistus microps), in the brackish water Northern Baltic Sea. We were particularly interested in the occurrence of parasite taxa located in central sensory organs, such as eyes, potentially affecting fish behavior and mate choice. We found that both fish species harbored parasite communities dominated by taxa transmitted to fish through aquatic invertebrates. Infections also showed significant spatiotemporal variation. Trematodes in the eyes were very few in some locations, but infection levels were higher among females than males, suggesting differences in exposure or resistance between the sexes. To test between these hypotheses, we experimentally exposed male and female sand gobies to infection with the eye flukeDiplostomum pseudospathaceum. These trials showed that the fish became readily infected and females had higher parasite numbers, supporting higher susceptibility of females. Eye fluke infections also caused high cataract intensities among the fish in the wild. Our results demonstrate the potential of these parasites to influence host condition and visual abilities, which may have significant implications for survival and mate choice in goby populations.
Longevity and population age structure of the arroyo southwestern toad (Anaxyrus californicus) with drought implications
Authors: Fisher Robert N. , Brehme Cheryl S. , Hathaway Stacie A. , Hovey Tim E. , Warburton Manna L. , Stokes Drew C.
Published: May 2018

The arroyo southwestern toad is a specialized and federally endangered amphibian endemic to the coastal plains and mountains of central and southern California and northwestern Baja California. It is largely unknown how long these toads live in natural systems, how their population demographics vary across occupied drainages, and how hydrology affects age structure. We used skeletochronology to estimate the ages of adult arroyo toads in seven occupied drainages with varying surface water hydrology in southern California. We processed 179 adult toads with age estimates between 1 and 6 years. Comparisons between skeletochronological ages and known ages of PIT tagged toads showed that skeletochronology likely underestimated toad age by up to 2 years, indicating they may live to 7 or 8 years, but nonetheless major patterns were evident. Arroyo toads showed sexual size dimorphism with adult females reaching a maximum size of 12 mm greater than males. Population age structure varied among the sites. Age structure at sites with seasonally predictable surface water was biased toward younger individuals, which indicated stable recruitment for these populations. Age structures at the ephemeral sites were biased toward older individuals with cohorts roughly corresponding to higher rainfall years. These populations are driven by surface water availability, a stochastic process, and thus more unstable. Based on our estimates of toad ages, climate predictions of extreme and prolonged drought events could mean that the number of consecutive dry years could surpass the maximum life span of toads making them vulnerable to extirpation, especially in ephemeral freshwater systems. Understanding the relationship between population demographics and hydrology is essential for predicting species resilience to projected changes in weather and rainfall patterns. The arroyo toad serves as a model for understanding potential responses to climatic and hydrologic changes in Mediterranean stream systems. We recommend development of adaptive management strategies to address these threats.
On the relationship between phylogenetic diversity and trait diversity
Authors: Tucker Caroline M. , Davies T. Jonathan , Cadotte Marc W. , Pearse William D.
Published: May 2018

Niche differences are key to understanding the distribution and structure of biodiversity. To examine niche differences, we must first characterize how species occupy niche space, and two approaches are commonly used in the ecological literature. The first uses species traits to estimate multivariate trait space (so‐called functional trait diversity, FD); the second quantifies the amount of time or evolutionary history captured by a group of species (phylogenetic diversity, PD). It is often—but controversially—assumed that these putative measures of niche space are at a minimum correlated and perhaps redundant, since more evolutionary time allows for greater accumulation of trait changes. This theoretical expectation remains surprisingly poorly evaluated, particularly in the context of multivariate measures of trait diversity. We evaluated the relationship between phylogenetic diversity and trait diversity using analytical and simulation‐based methods across common models of trait evolution. We show that PD correlates with FD increasingly strongly as more traits are included in the FD measure. Our results indicate that phylogenetic diversity can be a useful surrogate for high‐dimensional trait diversity, but we also show that the correlation weakens when the underlying process of trait evolution includes variation in rate and optima.
Electromembrane extraction and capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection: Multi‐extraction capabilities to analyses trace metals from saline samples
Authors: Silva Macarena , Mendiguchía Carolina , Moreno Carlos , Kubáň Pavel
Published: May 2018

Simultaneous electromembrane extraction (EME) of six trace metal cations (Cu2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Cd2+) from saline samples was investigated. CE with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) was used to determine the metals in acceptor solutions due to its excellent compatibility with the minute volumes of acceptor solutions. Bis(2‐ethylhexyl)phosphate (DEHPA) was selected as a suitable nonselective modifier for EME transport of target metal cations. Both, the individual effect of each major inorganic cation (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and their synergistic effect on EME of the trace metal cations were evaluated. In both cases, a decrease in extraction efficiency was observed when major inorganic cations were present in the sample. This effect was more significant for Ca2+ and Mg2+. The system was optimized for simultaneous extractions of the six target metals from saline samples (50 mM Na+, 5 mM Mg2+, 1 mM K+, and 1 mM Ca2+) and following EME conditions were applied. Organic phase consisted of 1‐nonanol containing 1% (v/v) DEHPA, acceptor solution was 1 M acetic acid (HAc) and sample pH was adjusted to 5. Sample was stirred at 750 rpm and EMEs were carried out at extraction potential of 10 V for 20 min. The method presented a repeatability between 8 and 21.8% (n = 5), good linearity in 0.5–10 μM concentration range (R2 = 0.987‐0.999) and LOD better than 2.6 nM. Applicability of the EME–CE–C4D method to the analyses of metal cations in drinking water, seawater, and urine samples was also demonstrated.
A simple strategy for dynamic substructuring: I. Concept and development
Authors: Stefanaki Aikaterini , Sivaselvan M. V.
Published: May 2018

Dynamic substructuring refers to physical testing with computational models in the loop. This paper presents a new strategy for such testing. The key feature of this strategy is that it decouples the substructuring controller from the physical subsystem. Unlike conventional approaches, it does not explicitly include a tracking controller. Consequently, the design and implementation of the substructuring controls are greatly simplified. This paper motivates the strategy and discusses the main concept along with details of the substructuring control design. The focus is on configurations that use shake tables and active mass drivers. An extensive experimental assessment of the new strategy is presented in a companion paper, where the influence of various factors such as virtual subsystem dynamics, control gains, and nonlinearities is investigated, and it is shown that robustly stable and accurate substructuring is achieved.
Modeling RC column flexural failure modes under intensive seismic loading
Authors: Gkimousis Ilias , Koumousis Vlasis
Published: May 2018

The aim of this work is to model beam‐column behavior in a computationally effective manner, revealing reliably the overall response of reinforced concrete members subjected to intensive seismic loading. In this respect, plasticity and damage are considered in the predominant longitudinal direction, allowing for fiber finite element modeling, while in addition the effect of inelastic buckling of longitudinal rebars, which becomes essential at later stages of intensive cyclic loading, is incorporated. Α smooth plasticity‐damage model is developed for concrete, accounting for unilateral compressive and tensile behavior, nonlinear unloading and crack closure phenomena. This is used to address concrete core crushing and spalling, which triggers the inelastic buckling of longitudinal rebars. For this reason, a uniaxial local stress‐strain constitutive relation for steel rebars is developed, which is based on a combined nonlinear kinematic and isotropic hardening law. The proposed constitutive model is validated on the basis of existing experimental data and the formulation of the buckling model for a single rebar is developed. The cross section of rebar is discretized into fibers, each one following the derived stress‐strain uniaxial law. The buckling curve is determined analytically, while equilibrium is imposed at the deformed configuration. The proposed models for concrete and rebars are embedded into a properly adjusted fiber beam‐column element of reinforced concrete members and the proposed formulation is verified with existing experimental data under intensive cyclic loading.
Chemical composition and functional properties of roe concentrates from skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) by cook‐dried process
Authors: Yoon In Seong , Lee Gyoon‐Woo , Kang Sang In , Park Sun Young , Lee Jung Suck , Kim Jin‐Soo , Heu Min Soo
Published: May 2018

The objective of this study was to investigate physicochemical properties of protein concentrate from skipjack tuna roe by a cook‐dried (boiled or steamed‐dried) process, and to evaluate their food functional properties. The yields of boil‐dried concentrate (BDC) and steam‐dried concentrate (SDC) prepared from skipjack tuna roe were 22.4 for BDC and 24.4% for SDC. Their protein yields were 16.8 and 18.4%, respectively. In terms of major minerals of the BDC and SDC, sulfur (853.2 and 816.6 mg/100 g) exhibited the highest levels followed by potassium, sodium and phosphorus. The prominent amino acids of roe protein concentrates (RPCs) were Glu, Asp, Leu and Val. The BDC and SDC showed a higher buffer capacity than egg white (EW) at the pH‐shift range. The pH‐shift treatment significantly improved the water holding capacities of RPCs, except pH 6. But they had a low solubility across the pH‐shift range. The foaming capacities (104%–119%) of BDC and SDC were significantly lower than those of EW (p < .05), and their foam stabilities were not observed. Emulsifying activity index (m2/g protein) of RPCs and EW was 2.3 for BDC, 11.1 for SDC and 18.0 for EW. RPCs in the food and seafood processing industries will be available as egg white alternative protein sources and will be available as ingredients of surimi‐based products in particular.
Good jump, bad jump, and option valuation
Authors: Yang Xinglin
Published: May 2018

I develop a new class of closed‐form option pricing models that incorporate variance risk premium and symmetric or asymmetric double exponential jump diffusion. These models decompose the jump component into upward and downward jumps using two independent exponential distributions and thus capture the impact of good and bad news on asset returns and option prices. The empirical results show that the model with an asymmetric double exponential jump diffusion improves the fit on Shanghai Stock Exchange 50ETF returns and options and provides relatively better in‐ and out‐of‐sample pricing performance.
A hybrid information approach to predict corporate credit risk
Authors: Bu Di , Kelly Simone , Liao Yin , Zhou Qing
Published: May 2018

This study proposes a hybrid information approach to predict corporate credit risk. In contrast to the previous literature that debates which credit risk model is the best, we pool information from a diverse set of structural and reduced‐form models to produce a model combination based on credit risk prediction. Compared with each single model, the pooled strategies yield consistently lower average risk prediction errors over time. We also find that while the reduced‐form models contribute more in the pooled strategies for speculative‐grade names and longer maturities, the structural models have higher weights for shorter maturities and investment grade names.
A univariate perspective of multivariate genome‐wide association analysis
Authors: Guo Xiaobo , Zhu Junxian , Fan Qiao , He Mingguang , Wang Xueqin , Zhang Heping
Published: May 2018

Multiple correlated phenotypes are frequently collected in genome‐wide association studies (GWASs), and a systematic, simultaneous analysis of multiple phenotypes can integrate the signals from single phenotypes, therefore increasing the power of detecting genetic signals. However, fundamental questions remain open, including the conditions and reasons under which the multivariate analysis is beneficial, how a highly significant signal arises in the multivariate analysis. To understand these issues, we propose to decompose the multivariate model into a series of simple univariate models. This transformation offers a clearer quantitative analysis of the circumstances under which a multivariate approach can be beneficial for the bivariate phenotypes case. A real data analysis is employed to illustrate how to interpret how the signals arising from multivariate GWASs.
MicroRNA‐26‐5p functions as a new inhibitor of hepatoblastoma by repressing lin‐28 homolog B and aurora kinase a expression
Authors: Zhang Yutong , Zhao Yulan , Wu Jianguo , Liangpunsakul Suthat , Niu Junqi , Wang Li
Published: May 2018

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common liver tumor in children. Despite recent improvements in treatment strategies, the survival of children with hepatoblastoma remains poor. In this study, we identified a novel role of microRNA‐26a‐5p (miR‐26a‐5p), lin‐28 homolog B (LIN28B), Ras‐related nuclear protein (RAN), and aurora kinase A (AURKA) in HB. The expression of LIN28B, RAN, and AURKA was significantly up‐regulated in human HB livers and cell lines. Knockdown of LIN28B and RAN by small interfering RNAs inhibited HB tumor cell proliferation and foci formation. We also elucidated miR‐26a‐5p‐mediated translational inhibition of LIN28B and AURKA in HB. Overexpression of miR‐26a‐5p markedly decreased LIN28B and AURKA 3′‐untranslated region activities and protein expression and repressed HB cell proliferation and colony formation. In contrast, re‐expression of LIN28B and AURKA rescued miR‐26a‐5p‐mediated suppression of HB cell growth and clonality. Importantly, a decreased miR‐26a‐5p expression correlated with the poor outcome of patients with HB. Conclusion: miR‐26a‐5p is a newly identified repressor of HB growth through its inhibition of the oncogenic LIN28B–RAN–AURKA pathway. (Hepatology Communications 2018;2:481‐491)
Hippocampal place cell encoding of sloping terrain
Authors: Porter Blake S. , Schmidt Robert , Bilkey David K.
Published: May 2018

Effective navigation relies on knowledge of one's environment. A challenge to effective navigation is accounting for the time and energy costs of routes. Irregular terrain in ecological environments poses a difficult navigational problem as organisms ought to avoid effortful slopes to minimize travel costs. Route planning and navigation have previously been shown to involve hippocampal place cells and their ability to encode and store information about an organism's environment. However, little is known about how place cells may encode the slope of space and associated energy costs as experiments are traditionally carried out in flat, horizontal environments. We set out to investigate how dorsal‐CA1 place cells in rats encode systematic changes to the slope of an environment by tilting a shuttle box from flat to 15 ° and 25 ° while minimizing external cue change. Overall, place cell encoding of tilted space was as robust as their encoding of flat ground as measured by traditional place cell metrics such as firing rates, spatial information, coherence, and field size. A large majority of place cells did, however, respond to slope by undergoing partial, complex remapping when the environment was shifted from one tilt angle to another. The propensity for place cells to remap did not, however, depend on the vertical distance the field shifted. Changes in slope also altered the temporal coding of information as measured by the rate of theta phase precession of place cell spikes, which decreased with increasing tilt angles. Together these observations indicate that place cells are sensitive to relatively small changes in terrain slope and that terrain slope may be an important source of information for organizing place cell ensembles. The terrain slope information encoded by place cells could be utilized by efferent regions to determine energetically advantageous routes to goal locations.
Measuring inequalities in the demographical and geographical distribution of physicians in China: Generalist versus specialist
Authors: Wu Jingxian
Published: May 2018

Objective

The equitable distribution of both generalist and specialist physicians is vital in establishing a fair and efficient health care system. The presents study aims at comparatively measuring the demographical and geographical distribution of generalist and specialist physicians in China from 2012 to 2016.

Methods

The data were obtained from China Health and Family Planning Statistics and China Statistical Yearbooks 2013 to 2017. Descriptive statistical methods were used to address the quantity and density of physicians, and Gini coefficient was adopted as inequality indicator to trace their distribution inequalities.

Results

The quantity and density of total physicians, generalist, and specialist physicians increased during the last 5 years. The demographic distribution inequalities of total physicians, generalist, and specialist physicians are decent with Gini coefficients of approximately 0.3, whereas the corresponding geographical distribution inequalities are severe with Gini coefficients higher than 0.6. Compared with generalist physicians, specialist physicians not only had a higher geographical and geographical density but also maintained a more equitable distribution.

Conclusion

The present study compares the distribution inequalities between generalist and specialist physicians in China for the first time. Despite the rapid increase in quantity and density of these physicians, the whole nation faces a severe shortage and maldistribution of generalist physicians. The increase in the number of physicians has not necessarily eliminated the geographical distribution inequalities. The government should consider all influencing factors when allocating health workers and continue promoting the development of primary health care to alleviate these inequalities in physician distribution.
Examining Japanese women's preferences for a new style of postnatal care facility and its attributes
Authors: Shen Junyi , Nakashima Takako , Karasawa Izumi , Furui Tatsuro , Morishige Kenichiro , Saijo Tatsuyoshi
Published: May 2018

Perinatal care in rural Japan is currently facing a crisis because of the lack of medical staff, especially obstetricians. In this study, a new style of postnatal care facility that combines both medical and nonmedical support is considered. Contrary to most postnatal care facilities in Japan, this new postnatal care facility accepts a puerperant from the cooperating maternity facility soon after birth (≤2 days). We conducted a hypothetical choice experiment to investigate whether this new postnatal care facility could be accepted by women in Gero City, Hida, Gifu Prefecture and how these women evaluate different kinds of postnatal care services. The results show that after a 2‐day hospital stay, women from Gero City preferred to move to the new postnatal care facility over the other alternatives (continued hospitalization or discharge home). In addition, the estimated choice probabilities for selecting the postnatal care facility under different scenarios show a high level of acceptance for this new postnatal care facility.
Adverse selection and supply‐side factors in the enrollment in community‐based health insurance in Northwest Ethiopia: A mixed methodology
Authors: Atafu Asmamaw , Kwon Soonman
Published: May 2018

Background

Since 2010, the Ethiopian government introduced different measures to implement community‐based health insurance (CBHI) schemes to improve access to health service and reduce the catastrophic effect of health care costs.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine the determinants of enrollment in CBHI in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

In this study, we utilized a mix of quantitative (multivariate logistic regression applied to population survey linked with health facility survey) and qualitative (focus group discussion and in‐depth interview) methods to better understand the factors that affect CBHI enrollment.

Results

The study revealed important factors, such as household, informal association, and health facility, as barriers to CBHI enrollment. Age and educational status, self‐rated health status, perceived quality of health services, knowledge, and information (awareness) about CBHI were among the characteristics of individual household head, affecting enrollment. Household size and participation in an informal association, such as local credit associations, were also positively associated with CBHI enrollment. Additionally, health facility factors like unavailability of laboratory tests were the main factor that hinders CBHI enrollment.

Conclusions

This study showed a possibility of adverse selection in CBHI enrollment. Additionally, perceived quality of health services, knowledge, and information (awareness) are positively associated with CBHI enrollment. Therefore, policy interventions to mitigate adverse selection as well as provision of social marketing activities are crucial to increase enrollment in CBHI. Furthermore, policy interventions that enhance the capacity of health facilities and schemes to provide the promised services are necessary.
Season‐based rainfall–runoff modelling using the probability‐distributed model (PDM) for large basins in southeastern Brazil
Authors: Zhang Rong , Cuartas Luz Adriana , de Castro Carvalho Luiz Valerio , Reis Deusdará Leal Karinne , Mendiondo Eduardo Mário , Abe Narumi , Birkinshaw Stephen , Samprogna Mohor Guilherme , Seluchi Marcelo Enrique , Nobre Carlos Afonso
Published: May 2018

Southeastern Brazil is characterized by seasonal rainfall variability. This can have a great social, economic, and environmental impact due to both excessive and deficient water availability. During 2014 and 2015, the region experienced one of the most severe droughts since 1960. The resulting water crisis has seriously affected water supply to the metropolitan region of São Paulo and hydroelectric power generation throughout the entire country. This research considered the upstream basins of the southeastern Brazilian reservoirs Cantareira (2,279 km2; water supply) and Emborcação (29,076 km2), Três Marias (51,576 km2), Furnas (52,197 km2), and Mascarenhas (71,649 km2; hydropower) for hydrological modelling. It made the first attempt at configuring a season‐based probability‐distributed model (PDM‐CEMADEN) for simulating different hydrological processes during wet and dry seasons. The model successfully reproduced the intra‐annual and interannual variability of the upstream inflows during 1985–2015. The performance of the model was very satisfactory not only during the wet, dry, and transitional seasons separately but also during the whole period. The best performance was obtained for the upstream basin of Furnas, as it had the highest quality daily precipitation and potential evapotranspiration data. The Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency and logarithmic Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency were 0.92 and 0.93 for the calibration period 1984–2001, 0.87 and 0.88 for the validation period 2001–2010, and 0.93 and 0.90 for the validation period 2010–2015, respectively. Results indicated that during the wet season, the upstream basins have a larger capacity and variation of soil water storage, a larger soil water conductivity, and quicker surface water flow than during the dry season. The added complexity of configuring a season‐based PDM‐CEMADEN relative to the traditional model is well justified by its capacity to better reproduce initial conditions for hydrological forecasting and prediction. The PDM‐CEMADEN is a simple, efficient, and easy‐to‐use model, and it will facilitate early decision making and implement adaptation measures relating to disaster prevention for reservoirs with large‐sized upstream basins.
Translational safety biomarkers of colonic barrier integrity in the rat
Authors: Erkens Tim , Bueters Ruud , van Heerden Marjolein , Cuyckens Filip , Vreeken Rob , Goeminne Nick , Lammens Lieve
Published: May 2018

The intestinal barrier controls intestinal permeability, and its disruption has been associated with multiple diseases. Therefore, preclinical safety biomarkers monitoring barrier integrity are essential during the development of drugs targeting the intestines, particularly if starting treatment early after onset of disease. Classical toxicology endpoints are not sensitive enough and therefore our objective was to identify non‐invasive markers enabling early in vivo detection of colonic barrier perturbation. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were dosed intracolonically via the rectum, using sodium caprate or ibuprofen as tool compounds to alter barrier integrity. Several potentially translational biomarkers and probe molecules related to permeability, inflammation or tissue damage were evaluated, using various analytical platforms, including immunoassays, targeted metabolomics and highly sensitive ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Several markers were identified that allow early in vivo detection of colonic barrier integrity changes, before histopathological evidence of tissue damage. The most promising permeability markers identified were plasma fluorescein isothiocyanate‐dextran 4000 and a lactulose/mannitol/sucralose mixture in urine. These markers showed maximum increases over 100‐fold or approximately 10–50‐fold, respectively. Intracolonic administration of the above probe molecules outperformed oral administration and inflammatory or other biomarkers, such as α2‐macroglobulin, calprotectin, cytokines, prostaglandins and a panel of metabolic molecules to identify early and subtle changes in barrier integrity. However, optimal timing of probe administration and sample collection is important for all markers evaluated. Inclusion of these probe molecules in preclinical toxicity studies might aid in risk assessment and the design of a clinical biomarker plan, as several of these markers have translational potential.
Fabrication of single gel with different mechanical stiffness using three‐dimensional mold
Authors: Kazi Gulsan Ara Sathi , Rahman Kazi Anisur , Farahat Mahmoud , Matsumoto Takuya
Published: May 2018

The hydrogel is considering as functional substrates for three‐dimensional (3D) environment mimicking the native tissue in vitro. To get the cell or tissue culture result in different stiffness, researchers used separate gel at different times. Sometimes these results are manipulated by surrounding environment. To overcome this, we prepared a single hydrogel with different young modulus using a 3 D printed mold and cell culture and tissue culture was performed to check the functional capacity. In this proposed device we successfully produced a multiproperties agarose hydrogel on a single platform. We designed different mold pattern to confirm that this gel formation technique can be used for any types of design and many different concentrated hydrogels can be combined together. The cell and tissue culture results showed that even in same planer surface, each gel solely maintains their own physical properties and control the cell and tissue adherence and proliferation behavior. The protocol is fairly simple and reproducible. The design helps to produce consistent gel thickness, shape, and size. This 3 D mold has provided a new way tostudy the fundamental cellular responses to engineered microenvironments that may have a high implementation in both biological and healthcare‐related applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 6–11, 2019.
LncRNA MEG3 repressed malignant melanoma progression via inactivating Wnt signaling pathway
Authors: Li Peng , Gao Ying , Li Jun , Zhou Yu , Yuan Jing , Guan Huiwen , Yao Peng
Published: May 2018

Accumulating evidence has indicated that MEG3 can serve as a tumor suppressive lncRNA in various tumors. It is aberrantly expressed in multiple cancers. However, the biological roles of MEG3 in melanoma are poorly understood. Therefore, in our study, we concentrated on the biological mechanism of MEG3 in melanoma progression. First, we observed that MEG3 was obviously decreased in melanoma cells including A375, SK‐MEL‐1, B16, and A2058 cells compared to human epidermal melanocytes HEMa‐LP. MEG3 was restored by transfecting LV‐MEG3 in to A375 and A2058 cells. Subsequently, we found that overexpression of MEG3 was able to inhibit cell proliferation and colony formation capacity. Meanwhile, melanoma cell apoptosis was induced by up‐regulation of MEG3. Overexpression of MEG3 greatly repressed melanoma cell migration and invasion ability. In addition, Wnt signaling pathway has been identified in the progression of various cancers. Here, in our study, it was indicated that Wnt signaling was highly activated in melanoma cells with β‐catenin expression significantly increased and GSK‐3β decreased. Interestingly, MEG restoration strongly inactivated Wnt signaling pathway by reducing β‐catenin and CyclinD1, elevating GSK‐3β levels in vitro. Finally, in vivo experiments were carried out to confirm the inhibitory roles of MEG3 in vivo. Taken these together, we suggested that MEG3 can inhibit melanoma development through blocking Wnt signaling pathway.
Attachment‐based interventions for families with young children
Authors: Woodhouse Susan S.
Published: May 2018

Given a large body of research indicating links between child attachment and later mental health outcomes, interventions that promote children's secure attachment to their caregivers have the potential to contribute to prevention of psychopathology and promotion of well‐being. A number of attachment‐based interventions have been developed to support parents, enhance caregiving quality, and promote children's attachment security with the aim of improving children's mental health. There is now a growing evidence base to support the efficacy of a number of these interventions. The present literature review and introduction to the special issue on attachment‐based interventions for families with young children describes key aspects of attachment theory and research that form the theoretical and empirical background for attachment‐based interventions, and introduces seven case studies illustrating five different attachment‐based interventions. The case studies represent a variety of attachment‐based models, including both group and individual treatments, and show applications across a range of caregiver contexts.
Family social capital mediates the effect of poverty on children's anxiety and depression
Authors: Li Chunkai , Liang Zurong , Yin Xican , Zhang Qiunv
Published: May 2018

This study aims to examine how family social capital mediates the relationship between poverty and children's anxiety and depression in mainland China. Data were collected with multistage cluster random sampling method in Xiushui City in mainland China. The sample comprised 1,314 school‐aged children (Grades 4–9). Data included children's basic demographics, internalizing symptoms, and parenting process. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model. The results demonstrated a good fit for the sample. The overall model explained 12.7% and 16.1% of the variance for children's anxiety and depression, respectively. Poverty had a significantly direct effect on children's anxiety and depression, and family social capital could partially mediate the influence of poverty on children's internalizing symptoms. Family social capital plays an important mediating role between poverty and children's mental health. Our findings provide strong evidence for social work intervention. Family social capital is essential for parent–child interactions, especially in underprivileged families.
Validation of an abbreviated Sociopolitical Control Scale for Youth among a sample of underresourced urban youth of color
Authors: Lardier David T. , Reid Robert J. , Garcia‐Reid Pauline
Published: May 2018

Empowerment is a higher order multilevel framework that is used to understand and evaluate individuals, groups, organizations, and communities as they engage in the practice and execution of the participatory process. The intrapersonal component of psychological empowerment has been examined through sociopolitical control and occupies two dimensions: leadership competence and policy control. Though the Sociopolitical Control Scale for Youth (SPCS‐Y) has been examined using a 17‐item scale, Christens, Krauss, and Zeldin (2016) recently assessed the factorial validity of an abbreviated SPCS‐Y among a sample of Malaysian adolescents. Yet, there is a need to further examine this abbreviated SPCS‐Y among a sample of U.S adolescents. This study tested the factor structure of the abbreviated SPCS‐Y among a sample of urban youth of color (N = 383). Using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) we examined the relationship leadership competence and policy control had with conceptually related variables. Analyses supported the bidimensional factor structure and the factorial validity of the abbreviated SPCS‐Y. MANOVA results also indicate that participants with both higher leadership competence and policy control also had higher composite scores among conceptually related variables.
The development of the Systems and Individual Responsibility for Poverty (SIRP) Scale
Authors: Shor Rachel , Calton Jenna M. , Cattaneo Lauren B.
Published: May 2018

Poverty is a widespread social problem that affects a substantial number of Americans each year. Attitudes can affect a range of judgments, behavioral intentions, and actions related to addressing this problem. However, existing tools that measure attitudes toward those in poverty do not fully capture the deficit ideology that is a critical component of beliefs about social class. We developed the Systems and Individual Responsibility for Poverty (SIRP) Scale to address this gap. This article describes the development of an initial pool of 20 items, and then the refinement and validation of the final 17‐item measure. Exploratory factor analysis (N = 260) and confirmatory factor analysis (N = 280) yielded 2 factors: Individual Responsibility and Systems Responsibility. The Individual Responsibility factor comprises two subscales, differentiating between reasons for getting into and not getting out of poverty. The SIRP is a new tool for evaluating community psychologists’ efforts to shift deficit‐oriented thinking about poverty, and is likely to be particularly useful in education contexts. In future work, community psychologists might adapt the measure to assess deficit oriented thinking about other problems, and to explore how such attitudes are related to behavior.
Cavities shield birds from effects of artificial light at night on sleep
Authors: Raap Thomas , Pinxten Rianne , Eens Marcel
Published: May 2018

Light pollution is an ever increasing worldwide problem disrupting animal behavior. Artificial light at night (ALAN) has been shown to affect sleep in wild birds. Even cavity‐nesting bird species may be affected when sleeping inside their cavity. Correlational studies suggest that light from outside the cavity/nest box, for example from street lights, may affect sleep. We used an experimental design to study to what extent nest boxes shield animals from effects of ALAN on sleep. We recorded individual sleep behavior of free‐living great tits (Parus major) that were roosting in dark nest boxes and exposed their nest box entrance to ALAN the following night (1.6 lux white LED light; a similar light intensity as was found at nest boxes near street lights). Their behavior was compared to that of control birds sleeping in dark nest boxes on both nights. Our experimental treatment did not affect sleep behavior. Sleep behavior of birds in the control group did not differ from that of individuals in the light treated group. Our results suggest that during winter cavities shield birds from some effects of ALAN. Furthermore, given that effects of ALAN and exposure to artificial light are species‐, sex‐, and season‐dependent, it is important that studies using wild animals quantify individual exposure to light pollution, and be cautious in the interpretation and generalization of the effects, or lack thereof, from light pollution. Rigorous studies are necessary to examine individual light exposure and its consequences in cavity‐ and open‐nesting birds.
Developmental plasticity in reptiles: Insights from temperature‐dependent gene expression in wall lizard embryos
Authors: Feiner Nathalie , Rago Alfredo , While Geoffrey M. , Uller Tobias
Published: May 2018

Many features of the development of reptiles are affected by temperature, but very little is known about how incubation temperature affects gene expression. Here, we provide a detailed case study of gene expression profiles in common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) embryos developing at stressfully low (15°C) versus benign (24°C) temperature. For maximum comparability between the two temperature regimes, we selected a precise developmental stage early in embryogenesis defined by the number of somites. We used a split‐clutch design and lizards from four different populations to evaluate the robustness of temperature‐responsive gene expression profiles. Embryos incubated at stressfully low incubation temperature expressed on average 20% less total RNA than those incubated at benign temperatures, presumably reflecting lower rates of transcription at cool temperature. After normalizing for differences in total amounts of input RNA, we find that approximately 50% of all transcripts show significant expression differences between the two incubation temperatures. Transcripts with the most extreme changes in expression profiles are associated with transcriptional and translational regulation and chromatin remodeling, suggesting possible epigenetic mechanisms underlying acclimation of early embryos to cool temperature. We discuss our findings in light of current advances in the use of transcriptomic data to study how individuals acclimatize and populations adapt to thermal stress.
Egr2 mediates the differentiation of mouse uterine stromal cells responsiveness to HB‐EGF during decidualization
Authors: Yue Liang , Yu Hai‐Fan , Yang Zhan‐Qing , Tian Xue‐Chao , Zheng Lian‐Wen , Guo Bin
Published: May 2018

Although Egr2 is involved in regulating the folliculogenesis and ovulation, there is almost no data describing its physiological function in embryo implantation and decidualization. Here, we showed that Egr2 mRNA was distinctly accumulated in subluminal stromal cells around implanting blastocyst on day 5 of pregnancy as well as in estrogen‐activated implantation uterus. Estrogen induced the expression of Egr2 in uterine epithelia. Elevated expression of Egr2 mRNA was also observed in the decidual cells. Silencing of Egr2 by specific siRNA weakened the proliferation of uterine stromal cells and reduced the expression of Ccnd1, Ccnd3, Cdk4, and Cdk6. Furthermore, Egr2 advanced the expression of Prl8a2, Prl3c1, and Pgr, the well‐established differentiation markers for decidualization. Administration of exogenous recombinant heparin‐binding EGF‐like growth factor (rHB‐EGF) to uterine stromal cells resulted in an increase in the level of Egr2 mRNA. Moreover, siRNA‐mediated attenuation of Egr2 impeded the stimulation of HB‐EGF on stromal cell differentiation. Knockdown of Egr2 led to a reduction in the expression of Cox‐2, mPGES‐1, Vegf, Trp53, and Mmp2. Further analysis found that Egr2 may serve as an intermediate to mediate the regulation of HB‐EGF on Cox‐2, mPGES‐1, Vegf, Trp53, Mmp2, and Ccnd3. Collectively, Egr2 may play an important role during embryo implantation and decidualization.