bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Echinacea fruit: phytochemical localization and germination in four species ofEchinacea
Authors: Parsons J.L. , Liu R. , Smith M.L. , Harris C.S.
Published: April 2018

Plants of the genus Echinacea have received extensive research attention, yet relatively little is known about the fruit (cypselae) of this economically important genus. The goal of this study was to investigate and compare the cypselae of four species of Echinacea: E. purpurea (L.) Moench, E. angustifolia DC., E. pallida (Nutt.) Nutt., and E. paradoxa (Norton) Britton, with respect to chemistry and germination. The phytochemical content of various fruit fractions was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection, identifying several alkylamides and caffeic-acid derivatives of medicinal value in all of the tissues. Alkylamides were most concentrated in the perianth and glands, whereas phenolics were generally enriched within the seed. Germination studies of intact cypselae and de-coated seeds demonstrate that the influence of cypsela coatings on germination depends on the growth environment. Removal of the perianth and pericarp resulted in decreased germination in soil, but significantly improved the germination of seeds of all species when sown in a sterile agar medium. In contrast, a higher percentage of intact cypselae of E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida germinated in soil than in sterile agar. These results suggest an ecophysiological role for phytochemicals in seed germination and will inform the cultivation and breeding of less common Echinacea species as well as the development of new products from currently unused plant material.
Influence of long-term feedlot manure amendments on soil hydraulic conductivity, water-stable aggregates, and soil thermal properties during the growing season
Authors: Miller J.J. , Beasley B.W. , Drury C.F. , Larney F.J. , Hao X. , Chanasyk D.S.
Published: April 2018

Long-term application of feedlot manure to cropland may change the physical properties of soils. We measured selected soil (surface) physical properties of a Dark Brown Chernozemic clay loam where different amendments were annually applied for 15 (2013), 16 (2014), and 17 (2015) yr. The treatments were stockpiled (SM) or composted (CM) manure with either straw (ST) or wood-chip (WD) bedding applied at three rates (13, 39, and 77 Mg ha−1) and an unamended control. The effect of selected or all treatments on selected properties was determined in 2013–2015. These properties included field-saturated (Kfs) and near-saturated hydraulic conductivity or K(ψ), bulk density (BD), volumetric water content, soil temperature, soil thermal properties, and wet aggregate stability. The hypotheses that selected soil physical properties would improve more for treatments with greater total carbon in the amendments (SM > CM, WD > ST) was rejected. The exceptions were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower soil BD for SM than CM and WD than ST for certain dates, and lower soil thermal conductivity for WD than ST. Most soil physical properties generally had no response to 15–17 yr of annual applications of these feedlot amendments, but a few showed a positive response.
Evidence-based decision-making in Canada’s protected areas organizations: Implications for management effectiveness
Authors: Lemieux Christopher J. , Groulx Mark W. , Bocking Stephen , Beechey Tom J.
Published: April 2018

Aichi Biodiversity Target 19 calls on Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to improve, share, transfer, and apply knowledge. In this study, we provide an initial assessment of the state of evidence-based decision-making in Canada’s protected areas organizations by examining (1) the value and use of various forms of evidence by managers and (2) the extent to which institutional conditions enable or inhibit the use of evidence in decision-making. Results revealed that although managers value and use many forms of evidence in their decision-making, information produced by staff and their organizations are given priority. Other forms of evidence, such as Indigenous knowledge and peer-reviewed information, are valued and used less. The most significant barriers to evidence-based decision-making were limited financial resources, lack of staff, inadequate timeframes for decision-making, a lack of monitoring programs, and a disconnect between researchers and decision-makers. Overall, our results suggest that the potential benefits of evidence-based approaches are not being maximized in Canada’s protected areas organizations. We propose several recommendations to introduce or improve the use of diverse forms of evidence to enhance management effectiveness of Canada’s protected areas and by extension conservation outcomes.
Generalized Einstein-Scalar-Maxwell theories and locally geometric U-folds
Authors: Lazaroiu C. I. , Shahbazi C. S.
Published: April 2018

We give the global mathematical formulation of the coupling of four-dimensional scalar sigma models to Abelian gauge fields on a Lorentzian four-manifold, for the generalized situation when the duality structure of the Abelian gauge theory is described by a flat symplectic vector bundle [Formula: see text] defined over the scalar manifold [Formula: see text]. The construction uses a taming of [Formula: see text], which we find to be the correct mathematical object globally encoding the inverse gauge couplings and theta angles of the “twisted” Abelian gauge theory in a manner that makes no use of duality frames. We show that global solutions of the equations of motion of such models give classical locally geometric U-folds. We also describe the groups of duality transformations and scalar-electromagnetic symmetries arising in such models, which involve lifting isometries of [Formula: see text] to the bundle [Formula: see text] and hence differ from expectations based on local analysis. The appropriate version of the Dirac quantization condition involves a discrete local system defined over [Formula: see text] and gives rise to a smooth bundle of polarized Abelian varieties, endowed with a flat symplectic connection. This shows, in particular, that a generalization of part of the mathematical structure familiar from [Formula: see text] supergravity is already present in such purely bosonic models, without any coupling to fermions and hence without any supersymmetry.
Lump waves and breather waves for a (3+1)-dimensional generalized Kadomtsev–Petviashvili Benjamin–Bona–Mahony equation for an offshore structure
Authors: Yin Ying , Tian Bo , Wu Xiao-Yu , Yin Hui-Min , Zhang Chen-Rong
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we investigate a (3[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]1)-dimensional generalized Kadomtsev–Petviashvili Benjamin–Bona–Mahony equation, which describes the fluid flow in the case of an offshore structure. By virtue of the Hirota method and symbolic computation, bilinear forms, the lump-wave and breather-wave solutions are derived. Propagation characteristics and interaction of lump waves and breather waves are graphically discussed. Amplitudes and locations of the lump waves, amplitudes and periods of the breather waves all vary with the wavelengths in the three spatial directions, ratio of the wave amplitude to the depth of water, or product of the depth of water and the relative wavelength along the main direction of propagation. Of the interactions between the lump waves and solitons, there exist two different cases: (i) the energy is transferred from the lump wave to the soliton; (ii) the energy is transferred from the soliton to the lump wave.
Grey Wolf Optimization-Based Artificial Neural Network for Classification of Kidney Images
Authors: Raju Paladugu , Rao Veera Malleswara , Rao Bhima Prabhakara
Published: April 2018

Ultrasound (US) imaging is the initial phase in the preliminary diagnosis for the treatment of kidney diseases, particularly to estimate kidney size, shape and position, to give information about kidney function, and to help in diagnosis of abnormalities like cysts, stones, junctional parenchyma and tumors which is shown in Figs. 7–9. This study proposes Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM)-based Probabilistic Principal Component Analysis (PPCA) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) method for the classification of kidney images. Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) is used to update the current positions of abnormal kidney images in the discrete searching space, thus getting the optimal feature subset for better classification purposes based on Feed Forward Neural Network (FFNN). The scanned image is pre-processed and the required features are extracted by GLCM, among those, some features are selected by PPCA. Feed Forward Back propagation Neural Network (FFBN) is used to classify the normalities and abnormalities in the part of kidney images. The proposed methodology is implemented in MATLAB platform and the analyzed result produces 98% accuracy using GWO-FFBN technique.
Noise Reduction Multi-Carrier Differential Chaos Shift Keying System
Authors: Zhou Hong Min , Zhang Ying , Yu Ying
Published: April 2018

In multi-carrier differential chaos shift keying (MC-DCSK) system, channel noises pollute both the reference and data signals, resulting in deteriorated performance. To reduce noises in received signals in MC-DCSK, a novel noise reduction MC-DCSK (NR-MC-DCSK) system is proposed in this paper. The proposed system utilizes duplicated chaotic samples, rather than different ones, as the reference. At the receiver side, identical samples can be averaged before correlation detection, which helps decrease the noise interferences and thus brings performance improvement. Theoretical bit error rate (BER) expressions are derived and verified by simulation results for additive white Gaussian noise and multipath Rayleigh fading channels. Finally, comparisons to MC-DCSK and other DCSK-based systems are given to confirm the superiority of the proposed system in BER performance.
Internal Projections and L2 Norm for Optimal Digital Filters Model Reduction: A Comparative Study
Authors: Adamou-Mitiche Amel B. H. , Mitiche Lahcène
Published: April 2018

A comparative study based on combined special projections and important frequency-weighted model order reduction (MOR) algorithms to compute optimal approximants for full order digital filters is achieved. It is about the gradient flow (GF) without frequency weighted, the frequency-weighted balanced truncation (FWBT), the GF with frequency weighted (FWGF) and the frequency cross-gramian (CGF) techniques, where special projections of frequency-weighted approximation are used. The obtained low order approximants are expected to follow the original digital filter behavior. With the aim of highlighting the best technique from their implementation, a comparative study is achieved when comparing with a robust MOR technique. Furthermore, two robust performance tools are used namely, the [Formula: see text] norm, and the integral-squared error (ISE) allowed to conclude on the efficiency of the best approximation algorithm.
Dynamics of a New 5D Hyperchaotic System of Lorenz Type
Authors: Zhang Fuchen , Chen Rui , Wang Xingyuan , Chen Xiusu , Mu Chunlai , Liao Xiaofeng
Published: April 2018

Ultimate boundedness of chaotic dynamical systems is one of the fundamental concepts in dynamical systems, which plays an important role in investigating the stability of the equilibrium, estimating the Lyapunov dimension of attractors and the Hausdorff dimension of attractors, the existence of periodic solutions, chaos control, chaos synchronization. However, it is often difficult to obtain the bounds of the hyperchaotic systems due to the complex algebraic structure of the hyperchaotic systems. This paper has investigated the boundedness of solutions of a nonlinear hyperchaotic system. We have obtained the global exponential attractive set and the ultimate bound set for this system. To obtain the ellipsoidal ultimate bound, the ultimate bound of the proposed system is theoretically estimated using Lagrange multiplier method, Lyapunov stability theory and optimization theory. To show the ultimate bound region, numerical simulations are provided.
Algebraic Limit Cycles in Piecewise Linear Differential Systems
Authors: Buzzi Claudio A. , Gasull Armengol , Torregrosa Joan
Published: April 2018

This paper is devoted to study the algebraic limit cycles of planar piecewise linear differential systems. In particular, we present examples exhibiting two explicit hyperbolic algebraic limit cycles, as well as some one-parameter families with a saddle-node bifurcation of algebraic limit cycles. We also show that all degrees for algebraic limit cycles are allowed.
Seizure Dynamics of Coupled Oscillators with Epileptor Field Model
Authors: Zhang Honghui , Xiao Pengcheng
Published: April 2018

The focus of this paper is to investigate the dynamics of seizure activities by using the Epileptor coupled model. Based on the coexistence of seizure-like event (SLE), refractory status epilepticus (RSE), depolarization block (DB), and normal state, we first study the dynamical behaviors of two coupled oscillators in different activity states with Epileptor model by linking them with slow permittivity coupling. Our research has found that when one oscillator in normal states is coupled with any oscillator in SLE, RSE or DB states, these two oscillators can both evolve into SLE states under appropriate coupling strength. And then these two SLE oscillators can perform epileptiform synchronization or epileptiform anti-synchronization. Meanwhile, SLE can be depressed when considering the fast electrical or chemical coupling in Epileptor model. Additionally, a two-dimensional reduced model is also given to show the effect of coupling number on seizures. Those results can help to understand the dynamical mechanism of the initiation, maintenance, propagation and termination of seizures in focal epilepsy.
Self-Organization, Resilience and Robustness of Complex Systems Through an Application to Financial Market from an Agent-Based Approach
Authors: Lucas Iris , Cotsaftis Michel , Bertelle Cyrille
Published: April 2018

This paper introduces the implementation of a computational agent-based financial market model in which the system is described on both microscopic and macroscopic levels. This artificial financial market model is used to study the system response when a shock occurs. Indeed, when a market experiences perturbations, financial systems behavior can exhibit two different properties: resilience and robustness. Through simulations and different scenarios of market shocks, these system properties are studied. The results notably show that the emergence of collective herding behavior when market shock occurs leads to a temporary disruption of the system self-organization. Numerical simulations highlight that the market can absorb strong mono-shocks but can also be led to rupture by low but repeated perturbations.
Hubble trouble or Hubble bubble?
Authors: Romano Antonio Enea
Published: April 2018

The recent analysis of low-redshift supernovae (SN) has increased the apparent tension between the value of [Formula: see text] estimated from low and high redshift observations such as the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. At the same time other observations have provided evidence of the existence of local radial inhomogeneities extending in different directions up to a redshift of about [Formula: see text]. About [Formula: see text] of the Cepheids used for SN calibration are directly affected because they are located along the directions of these inhomogeneities. We compute with different methods the effects of these inhomogeneities on the low-redshift luminosity and angular diameter distance using an exact solution of the Einstein’s equations, linear perturbation theory and a low-redshift expansion. We confirm that at low redshift the dominant effect is the nonrelativistic Doppler redshift correction, which is proportional to the volume averaged density contrast and to the comoving distance from the center. We derive a new simple formula relating directly the luminosity distance to the monopole of the density contrast, which does not involve any metric perturbation. We then use it to develop a new inversion method to reconstruct the monopole of the density field from the deviations of the redshift uncorrected observed luminosity distance respect to the [Formula: see text]CDM prediction based on cosmological parameters obtained from large scale observations. The inversion method confirms the existence of inhomogeneities whose effects were not previously taken into account because the [Formula: see text] [G. Lavaux and M. J. Hudson, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 416 (2011) 2840] density field maps used to obtain the peculiar velocity [J. Carrick et al., Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 450 (2015) 317] for redshift correction were for [Formula: see text], which is not a sufficiently large scale to detect the presence of inhomogeneities extending up to [Formula: see text]. The inhomogeneity does not affect the high redshift luminosity distance because the volume averaged density contrast tends to zero asymptotically, making the value of [Formula: see text] obtained from CMB observations insensitive to any local structure. The inversion method can provide a unique tool to reconstruct the density field at high redshift where only SN data is available, and in particular to normalize correctly the density field respect to the average large scale density of the Universe.
Deformation properties of the even–even rare-earth Er–Os isotopes for N = 100
Authors: Al-Jubbori Mushtaq Abed , Kassim Huda H. , Sharrad Fadhil I. , Hossain I.
Published: April 2018

The energies of the ground, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] bands as well as the associated [Formula: see text] values have been calculated using interacting boson model (IBM). We have developed a new method called “new empirical equation” for each even–even rare-earth Er–Os for [Formula: see text]. Also, the relation of the gamma energy over spin as a function of the spin [Formula: see text] (E-GOS) has been drawn. The ratio between the energies of the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] states as a function of [Formula: see text] has been drawn to determine the property of the ground-state band, these curves indicated that these isotopes have a rotational property SU(3), with the [Formula: see text] property for [Formula: see text]Os isotopes. The contour plots of the potential energy surface for Er–Os for [Formula: see text] are studied using the simplified form of interacting boson model with an intrinsic coherent state. The critical points have been determined for [Formula: see text]Os isotopes. The behaviors of energy and [Formula: see text] ratios in the ground-state band are examined.
A Model of Trust Based on Uncertainty Theory
Authors: Ashtiani Mehrdad , Hakimi-Rad Shima , Azgomi Mohammad Abdollahi
Published: April 2018

In trust management systems, the trustor should be able to select a trustee candidate that has the maximum trustworthiness degree toward a specific goal and an amount of risk consistent with her/his risk acceptance degree. In this research, a novel computational trust model based on the principles of uncertainty theory is introduced. In the proposed model, trust is considered to be constructed of trustworthiness components. To calculate each of these trustworthiness components, empirical distributions of recommenders and trustor’s opinions about the existing trustworthiness and risk degrees of the trustee candidates are aggregated. In the decision making stage, the trustee candidate with the optimum trustworthiness and risk degrees is selected according to uncertain goal programming. Based on this method, trustworthiness and risk degrees of the trustee candidates are calculated according to the amount of negative and positive deviations from the optimal state. To verify the accuracy of the model’s behavior, a series of simulation scenarios are constructed. The results of these simulations demonstrate that the proposed model effectively selects the best trustee candidate according to parameters such as context, priorities of the trustworthiness components, trustor’s constraints and the trustworthiness and risk acceptance degrees. Finally, by comparing the model with other commonly used computational trust modeling approaches, it is shown that the proposed model has a lower mean absolute error (MAE) and produces more accurate results.
Age Sequence Recursive Models for Long Time Evaluation Problems
Authors: Wang Jian , Shen LingLing , Jin LeSheng , Qian Gang
Published: April 2018

The evaluation models for long time historical data is important in many applications. In this study, based on Age measure defined by Yager, we propose the definitions of Age Sequence and Age Series. Then, we provide a Generalized Recursive Smoothing method. Some classical smoothing models in evaluation problems can be seen as special cases of Generalized Recursive Smoothing method. In order to obtain more reasonable and effective aggregation results of the historical data, we propose some different Age Sequences, e.g., the Generalized Harmonic Age Sequence and p Age Sequence, which theoretically can provide infinite more recursive smoothing methods satisfying different preferences of decision makers.
Thermally induced optical nonlinearity and optical power limiting action of 2,4,5-trimethoxy-4′-nitrochalcone under CW laser regime
Authors: Fadhul Zainab S. M. M. M. , Ali Eman A. H. F. , Maidur Shivaraj R. , Patil Parutagouda Shankaragouda , Shkir M. , Henari Fryad Z.
Published: April 2018

In the present work, we report the results of thermally induced third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of 2,4,5-trimethoxy-4[Formula: see text]-nitrochalcone (abbreviated as 2,4,5TMNC) investigated by [Formula: see text]-scan technique using continuous wave (CW) Argon ion laser at a wavelength of 488[Formula: see text]nm with adjusted power ranging from 2.5[Formula: see text]mW to 20[Formula: see text]mW. The experiments were performed by varying the concentration of the molecules in solution. The sample demonstrated strong reverse saturable absorption (RSA) and self-defocusing effect (negative nonlinear refractive index). The estimated values of the NLO absorption coefficient ([Formula: see text], nonlinear refraction ([Formula: see text] and absolute nonlinear susceptibility [Formula: see text] are found to be of the order of 10[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m/W, 10[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m2/W and 10[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]esu, respectively. The magnitude of the nonlinear absorption coefficient ([Formula: see text] was found to increase with concentration. The linear absorption spectrum of 2,4,5TMNC was measured using UV–Vis–NIR spectrometer. The optical band gap (Eg) value of title chalcone is obtained from the tauc’s plot of ([Formula: see text] versus [Formula: see text]. The optical limiting performance of 2,4,5TMNC is also investigated for device application. In addition to the above, the computation studies are also carried out to attain the ground state molecular geometry which is found in close to experimental results. Time-Dependent- Density Function Theory (TD-DFT) was used to determine the UV–Vis spectrum at B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory and found to be comparable with experimental data. The HOMO–LUMO energy gap was also determined and discussed. The results promote this chalcone derivative as a promising candidate for optical limiting and optical switching applications.
An Experimental Study of the Run-Up Process of Breaking Bores Generated by Dam-Break Under Dry- and Wet-Bed Conditions
Authors: Lu Senxun , Liu Haijiang , Deng Xiaohu
Published: April 2018

In this study, a series of dam-break laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the run-up process of breaking bores under dry- and wet-bed conditions. Detailed measurements were conducted to reveal differences in the run-up hydrodynamic characteristics under these two conditions, e.g. the bore front profile, the maximum run-up height and duration, and the instantaneous bore front velocity. Two successive bores were observed under the wet-bed run-up process, while multiple bores (three bores in general) were generated during the dry-bed run-up process due to the significant bottom friction effect. A linear relationship with the uniform gradient is found between the maximum run-up height and the initial water head for both dry- and wet-bed conditions, indicating that difference in the maximum run-up height between the dry- and specified wet-bed cases or among various wet-bed cases is not sensitive to the initial water head. Under the same initial water head, although the dry-bed run-up process takes a longer duration than that of wet-bed cases, the maximum run-up height is smallest for the dry-bed case and gradually increases with the increase of the initial downstream water depth for wet-bed cases. Under the wet-bed conditions, temporal variation of the bore front run-up velocity can be classified into two stages, i.e. the acceleration stage induced by the relatively large incident bore front water depth (large onshore hydrostatic pressure gradient) and the deceleration stage governed by the offshore-directed gravity force and bottom friction. Nevertheless, due to the small incident bore front water depth, run-up process under the dry-bed conditions does not show the acceleration stage.
Improving the Assessment of Potential and Actual Impacts of Climate Change and Extreme Events Through a Parallel Modeling of Climatic and Societal Changes at Different Scales
Authors: Greiving Stefan , Arens Sophie , Becker Dennis , Fleischhauer Mark , Hurth Florian
Published: April 2018

Any adaptation activity needs a reliable evidence basis for the climate itself as well as for the exposition and sensitivity of the social, economic or ecological system and its elements. This requires an assessment of recent climate impacts as well as potential future climate change impacts in order to select tailor-made adaptation measures. For a methodologically coherent assessment, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had introduced the requirement of a parallel modeling approach which means that demographic and socioeconomic changes are projected in parallel to the changes of the climatic system. This paper discusses a conceptual framework of a parallel modeling approach and presents its application in four case studies of climate change impact assessments in Germany, covering the national, regional and local scale. The results from the different applications prove the hypothesis that the change in sensitivity (i.e., demographic change, economic change and change in land-use patterns) often determines the magnitude of climate- and weather-related impacts in the near future significantly. The case studies, however, also show that adaptation processes have to be organized in a collaborative way, which takes the knowledge, and also the concerns of the addressees into full account. A broad mandate from all social groups is especially needed when political decisions are based on uncertain knowledge — which is the case whenever climate change impacts are assessed.
Identifying ore-related anomalies using singularity mapping of stream sediment geochemical data, a case study of Pb mineralization in the Qinling region, China
Authors: Tan Qin-Ping , Wang Xueqiu , Xia Yong , Liu Qingqing , Zhou Jian
Published: April 2018

The Qinling region is located in the central part of the China mainland and carries abundant mineral resources. Stream sediment and rock geochemical data of the Qinling region collected from the Regional Geochemistry-National Reconnaissance Project of China and the China Geochemical Baselines Project, respectively, were used to identify the Pb distribution pattern and to explain the geogenic sources of geochemical anomalies. The singularity mapping technique was applied to extract local Pb ore-related geochemical anomalies from complicated geochemical backgrounds. One geochemical mega-province, one geochemical province, and three regional anomalies were delineated in a Pb geochemical map of the Qinling region. The spatial distributions of the regional anomalies are all consistent with that of known Pb metallogenic districts, but only local high anomalous areas in the geochemical province and mega-province contain economic Pb ore deposits. Regions with singularity indices of less than 1.884 occupy 2.70% of the total study area, but contain 60% of the total known Pb deposits in a Pb singularity map of the Qinling region. Targets delineated in the Pb singularity map not only highlighted known areas of Pb mineralization, but also identified areas of high potential for undiscovered ore deposits in the Qinling region.
Fifty-one chemical elements in till from the Oppdal region, Mid-Norway: relation to mineralization, Quaternary and bedrock geology
Authors: Andersson Malin , Eggen Ola A. , Gasser Deta , Reimann Clemens , Høgaas Fredrik , Dalslåen Bjørgunn H.
Published: April 2018

The study presents data from a geochemical till survey conducted in the Oppdal/Berkåk area of Central Norway. Using a 1 × 2.5 km grid, 877 samples were taken to cover a 2000-km
2
survey area (one site per 2.2 km
2
). The samples were air dried, sieved to <2 mm and analysed for 51 elements following an aqua regia extraction. A number of geochemical anomalies, related to lithology, a prominent fault zone, mineralization or environmental processes, are delineated for a large number of elements. Four main anomalies are outlined. A large, elongated (40 km long) multi-element anomaly is associated with normal faults and adjacent rhyolitic-andesitic rocks occurring in the area. Elements associated with gold (As, Sb) form an anomaly on the central high-altitude area just to the east of the fault related anomaly. Two further areas that display high concentrations for many elements are located around Orkelsjøen and Soknedal. Climatic/topographic conditions have a strong influence on the Hg and Se distribution. Several areas that display geochemical anomalies, where more detailed studies could be conducted were also identified.

Supplementary material:
Geochemical maps for all elements, boxplots showing till samples grouped in tectonic units, and boxplots showing till samples grouped by main lithologies are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4038950
Shift of a rift by a transform zone: a case from the Northern Rift Zone and Tjörnes Fracture Zone of Iceland
Authors: Khodayar Maryam
Published: April 2018

Transform zones present fascinating geometry and tectonic deformation, some of which can be confusing, especially, when rift and transform zones interact, and rift structures are displaced by transform fractures. A case study from north Iceland includes the transform zone of Tjörnes (the Tjörnes Fracture Zone) and the Theistareykir Fissure Swarm of the Northern Rift Zone. This fissure swarm contains two north-trending central graben that are apparently shifted in a sinistral motion across a WNW-trending fault of the transform zone (the Stórihver Fault). The present analysis takes into account the number of faults and their relative displacement as criteria, and demonstrates that the configuration of the north-trending rift structures is compatible with the dextral slip on this WNW blind leaky fault of the transform zone. The dextral motion along the WNW fault explains more coherently the greater number and greater throw of the north-trending normal faults in two of the blocks on the shoulder of the graben, as well as with the formation of the central graben themselves. A dextral motion is also compatible with the regional tectonics and the mechanism of transform faulting. The apparent displacement of tectonic structures at diverging plate boundaries can be misleading. Therefore, identifying the correct sense of motion is essential for exploration and structural drilling targets where rift and transform of any age interact.
The ‘Black Band’: local expression of a global event
Authors: Hart Malcolm B.
Published: April 2018

The organic-rich, black mudstones that were initially described as the Black Band in Lincolnshire, Humberside and Yorkshire are known to be a local representation of the Cenomanian–Turonian Boundary Event (CTBE). This world-wide event is known as Oceanic Anoxic Event ll (OAEll) and it marks a distinctive extinction event within the Cretaceous biota. Since some of the original work on the benthic foraminifera that are found in both the Black Band and coeval sedimentary rocks, there has been a significant increase in the understanding of the biology of foraminifera, and their response to both modern and fossil low-O
2
environments. While the overall event is clearly global, the local response appears to be a function of both geological setting and water depth with the occurrence of organic-rich sediments as a combination of this setting, plankton productivity and preservation.
Sedimentology and stratigraphy of the Kellaways Sand Member (Lower Callovian), Burythorpe, North Yorkshire, UK
Authors: Powell John H. , Rawson Peter F. , Riding James B. , Ford Jonathan R.
Published: April 2018

In the Burythorpe area of the Howardian Hills, located on the northern margin of the Market Weighton High, the Callovian succession is represented only by Lower Callovian sediments. These belong to the Kellaways Sand Member (Kellaways Formation), up to 12 m thick, but thinning southwards to 5 m. This contrasts with the more complete Callovian succession (Osgodby Formation) on the Yorkshire coast (Cleveland Basin) which is up to 32.5 m thick. At Burythorpe Quarry the Kellaways Sand Member has yielded palynomorphs and ammonites confirming an Early Callovian (Koenigi Zone) age with depositional hiatuses above and below. The sequence consists of a yellow-white, poorly cemented, fine-to medium grained, unimodal uncemented sand (moulding sand) with sparse grey clay beds and laminae, in marked contrast to the broadly coeval Red Cliff Rock Member (Osgodby Formation) of the Cleveland Basin.

The depositional environment is interpreted as a tidally influenced shallow sea on the margin of the Market Weighton High, in a shallow sub-tidal regime, similar to the sub-tidal sand-mud lithofacies in the Heligoland region of the present-day North Sea. Winnowing of the sand in highly mobile substrate resulted in a unimodal grain size, lack of impurities, and sparse shelly- and ichnofaunas. However, during quieter water phases, grey clay laminae were deposited at the base of channels, allowing colonization of the substrate by burrowing ichnofauna and deposition of palynomorphs. Sparse, calcite-cemented tabular beds with a benthic shelly fauna, ammonites,
Planolites
burrows and mudstone rip-up clasts are interpreted as the deposits of periodic storm events. The marked local variation in thickness of the Kellaways Sand Member in the Howardian Hills is probably due to synsedimentary east–west-trending faulting related to the Flamborough Fault Zone.
Advances in groundwater system measurement and monitoring documented in 50 years of
QJEGH
Authors: Streetly Mike , Heathcote John
Published: April 2018

Papers published in
QJEGH
illustrate advances in the monitoring and measurement of groundwater systems over the last 50 years. The emphasis of
QJEGH
over the years has tended to be towards practice in hydrogeology in the UK, rather than theory, and therefore we refer also to some seminal work published elsewhere. The range of measurements and monitoring reviewed includes from laboratory to regional scale, physical measurement of groundwater flow and transport within groundwater, geophysical, chemical and thermal properties, and applies both to resources and pollution. Several themes can be recognized: groundwater resource development (especially in the early days), groundwater quality protection, initially focused on landfill but now including industrial and diffuse pollution, groundwater management integrated into wider environmental management since the European Water Framework Directive in 2000, and latterly novel uses of groundwater, in part driven by a desire for ‘clean’ energy. We conclude by looking at future drivers and technologies to consider how the practice of monitoring and measurement of groundwater systems may evolve in coming years and some of the challenges that we will need to overcome.
Using stereo aerial photography and satellite InSAR to help assess slope hazards for a hydropower project in mountainous southern Albania
Authors: Hearn G. J. , Duncumb R. W.
Published: April 2018

The use of small-scale and large-scale aerial photograph interpretation (API) in the assessment of reservoir slope stability at a proposed hydropower scheme in Albania is described. Large-scale photography yielded greater ground detail and aided site-specific interpretation while the small-scale photography provided important overview. Ground deformation monitoring using satellite InSAR analysis largely vindicated the findings of the API. Combined, API and InSAR analysis yield a potentially extremely powerful tool for geohazard assessment for civil engineering purposes.
Decreased epithelial and sputum miR-221-3p associates with airway eosinophilic inflammation and CXCL17 expression in asthma
Authors: Zhang Kan , Liang Yuxia , Feng Yuchen , Wu Wenliang , Zhang Huilan , He Jianguo , Hu Qinghua , Zhao Jianping , Xu Yongjian , Liu Zheng , Zhen Guohua
Published: April 2018

Airway eosinophilic inflammation is a key feature of type 2 high asthma. The role of epithelial microRNA (miR) in airway eosinophilic inflammation remains unclear. We examined the expression of miR-221-3p in bronchial brushings, induced sputum, and plasma from 77 symptomatic, recently diagnosed, steroid-naive subjects with asthma and 36 healthy controls by quantitative PCR and analyzed the correlation between miR-221-3p expression and airway eosinophilia. We found that epithelial, sputum, and plasma miR-221-3p expression was significantly decreased in subjects with asthma. Epithelial miR-221-3p correlated with eosinophil in induced sputum and bronchial biopsies, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, blood eosinophil, epithelial gene signature of type 2 status, and methacholine provocative dosage required to cause a 20% decline in forced expiratory volume in the first second in subjects with asthma. Sputum miR-221-3p also correlated with airway eosinophilia and was partially restored after inhaled corticosteroid treatment. Inhibition of miR-221-3p expression suppressed chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL) 24 (eotaxin-2), CCL26 (eotaxin-3), and periostin (POSTN) expression in BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cells. We verified that chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL) 17, an anti-inflammatory chemokine, is a target of miR-221-3p, and epithelial CXCL17 expression significantly increased in asthma. CXCL17 inhibited CCL24, CCL26, and POSTN expression via the p38 MAPK pathway. Airway overexpression of miR-221-3p exacerbated airway eosinophilic inflammation, suppressed CXCL17 expression, and enhanced CCL24, CCL26, and POSTN expression in house dust mite-challenged mice. Taken together, epithelial and sputum miR-221-3p are novel biomarkers for airway eosinophilic inflammation in asthma. Decreased epithelial miR-221-3p may protect against airway eosinophilic inflammation by upregulating anti-inflammatory chemokine CXCL17.
Glutamate dehydrogenase: role in regulating metabolism and insulin release in pancreatic β-cells
Authors: Wilson David F. , Cember Abigail T. J. , Matschinsky Franz M.
Published: April 2018

Regulation of insulin release and glucose homeostasis by pancreatic β-cells is dependent on the metabolism of glucose by glucokinase (GK) and the influence of that activity on oxidative phosphorylation. Genetic alterations that result in hyperactivity of mitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH-1) can cause hypoglycemia-hyperammonemia following high protein meals, but the role of GDH-1 remains poorly understood. GDH-1 activity is strongly inhibited by GTP, to near zero in the absence of ADP, and cooperatively activated ( n = 2.3) by ADP. The dissociation constant for ADP is near 200 µM in vivo, but leucine and its nonmetabolized analog 2-amino-2-norbornane-carboxylic acid (BCH) can activate GDH-1 by increasing the affinity for ADP. Under physiological conditions, as [ADP] increases GDH-1 activity remains very low until ~35 µM (threshold) and then increases rapidly. A model for GDH-1 and its regulation has been combined with a previously published model for glucose sensing that coupled GK activity and oxidative phosphorylation. The combined model (GK-GDH-core) shows that GK activity determines the energy state ([ATP]/[ADP][Pi]) in β-cells for glucose concentrations > 5 mM ([ADP] < 35 µM). As glucose falls < 5 mM the [ADP]-dependent increase in GDH-1 activity prevents [ADP] from rising above ~70 µM. Thus, GDH-1 dynamically buffers β-cell energy metabolism during hypoglycemia, maintaining the energy state and the basal rate of insulin release. GDH-1 hyperactivity suppresses the normal increase in [ADP] in hypoglycemia. This leads to hypoglycemia following a high protein meal by increasing the basal rate of insulin release (β-cells) and decreasing glucagon release (α-cells).

NEW & NOTEWORTHY A model of β-cell metabolism and regulation of insulin release is presented. The model integrates regulation of oxidative phosphorylation, glucokinase (GK), and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH-1). GDH-1 is near equilibrium under physiological conditions, but the activity is inhibited by GTP. In hypoglycemia, however, GK activity is low and [ADP], a potent activator of GDH-1, increases. Reducing equivalents from GDH dynamically buffers the intramitochondrial [NADH]/[NAD+], and thereby the energy state, preventing hypoglycemia-induced substrate deprivation.
Surface Renewal Application for Estimating Evapotranspiration: A Review
Authors: Hu Yongguang , Buttar Noman Ali , Tanny Josef , Snyder Richard L. , Savage Michael J. , Lakhiar Imran Ali
Published: April 2018

The estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) is essential for meteorological modeling of surface exchange processes, as well as for the agricultural practice of irrigation management. Hitherto, a number of methods for estimation of ET at different temporal scales and climatic conditions are constantly under investigation and improvement. One of these methods is surface renewal (SR). Therefore, the premise of this review is to present recent developments and applications of SR for ET measurements. The SR method is based on estimating the turbulent exchange of sensible heat flux between plant canopy and atmosphere caused by the instantaneous replacement of air parcels in contact with the surface. Additional measurements of net radiation and soil heat flux facilitate extracting ET using the shortened energy balance equation. The challenge, however, is the calibration of SR results against direct sensible heat flux measurements. For the classical SR method, only air temperature measured at high frequency is required. In addition, a new model suggests that the SR method could be exempted from calibration by measuring additional micrometeorological variables. However, further improvement of the SR method is required to provide improved results in the future.
Cybercrimes: A Proposed Taxonomy and Challenges
Authors: Brar Harmandeep Singh , Kumar Gulshan
Published: April 2018

Cybersecurity is one of the most important concepts of cyberworld which provides protection to the cyberspace from various types of cybercrimes. This paper provides an updated survey of cybersecurity. We conduct the survey of security of recent prominent researches and categorize the recent incidents in context to various fundamental principles of cybersecurity. We have proposed a new taxonomy of cybercrime which can cover all types of cyberattacks. We have analyzed various cyberattacks as per the updated cybercrime taxonomy to identify the challenges in the field of cybersecurity and highlight various research directions as future work in this field.
The Unified Strength Theory for Plastic Limit Load Analysis of Vertical Shaft Lining
Authors: Zhao Guangsi , Ren Minghui , Qiu Xianhao , Xue Qinghua
Published: April 2018

Plastic limit analysis is a significant application for structural design and failure prediction, implying that the potential bearing capacity of material can be fully considered. Meanwhile, the failure process of structures usually occurs in the deformation of the plastic stage. Hence, it is important to investigate the mechanical properties of structures in the plastic state through proper mechanical models and principles. In this paper, the analytical stress expression and formulas for computing plastic limit load have been deduced based on the unified strength theory. Additionally, the relationships between plastic limit load of the shaft lining and the strength differential (SD) of structural material, the geometrical characteristic (R0/R) and the intermediate principal shear stress (b) have been discussed. Finally, the method of the plastic limit load is adopted for the safety evaluation of the shaft lining through a practical case.
Biotransformation of Geniposide into Genipin by ImmobilizedTrichoderma reeseiand Conformational Study of Genipin
Authors: Yang Yishun , Ding Yue , Zhang Tong
Published: April 2018

Trichoderma reeseiQM9414,Trichoderma viride3.316,Aspergillus nigerM85, andAspergillus nigerM92 were screened for hydrolyzing geniposide into genipin.T. reeseiwas selected according to theβ-glucosidase activity of the fermentation broths using geniposide as a substrate.T. reeseiwas immobilized by embedding method using sodium alginate as the carrier. Geniposide was hydrolyzed by immobilizedT. reeseiat 28°C (200 rpm) for 34 h, and the yield of genipin was 89%. The product was purified and identified by UV, IR, EIMS, and1H-NMR. Since there were two sets of signals in1H-NMR spectra, a series of experiments were performed and verified that the existence of two conformations was the main reason. Generally, biotransformation of geniposide into genipin by immobilizedT. reeseiprovides a promising solution to the genipin production.
Synthesis, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Graphene Quantum Dots and Iron Oxide Nanocomposites
Authors: Sajjad M. , Makarov V. , Sultan M. S. , Jadwisienczak W. M. , Weiner B. R. , Morell G.
Published: April 2018

The combination of nanomaterial graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with magnetic nanoparticles offers a unique set of optical and magnetic properties for future energy and medical applications. We report on the synthesis and engineering of GQDs and iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanocomposites (NCs) by using a pulsed laser discharge technique. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images showed a high yield of pure GQDs with 2–10 nm diameter. The hexagonal structures and lattice fringes associated with the C–C bond in GQDs were clearly identifiable. The structural and optical changes in GQDs and GQDs‐Fe3O4 NC samples induced by UV light were investigated by the absorption and emission spectroscopy over the deep UV–visible spectral range. The photoluminescence spectra have shown subband π→π  ∗ transitions in GQDs‐Fe3O4 NC. Magnetic properties of the GQDs‐Fe3O4 NC samples have shown room temperature ferromagnetism induced by pure Fe3O4 nanoparticles and from the substantial spin polarized edges of GQD nanoparticles. It is concluded that the observed optical and magnetic properties could be further tailored in the studied nanocomposites for prospective medical applications.