bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phytotoxic Compounds Isolated from Leaves of the Invasive Weed Xanthium spinosum
Authors: Yuan Zhuogeng , Zheng Xiangwei , Zhao Yu , Liu Ying , Zhou Shixing , Wei Caixia , Hu Yunxia , Shao Hua
Published: November 2018

The aim of this study was to identify bioactive compounds from leaves of the invasive plant Xanthium spinosum and assess their phytotoxic activity. Activity-guided fractionation led to the isolation of 6 bioactive compounds: xanthatin (1), 1α,5α-epoxyxanthatin (2), 4-epiisoxanthanol (3), 4-epixanthanol (4), loliolide (5) and dehydrovomifoliol (6). Of them, compounds 2–6 were isolated from the X. spinosum for the first time. The structures of 1–6 were elucidated on the basis of extensive NMR studies and ESI-MS measurements as well as comparison with literature data. All of compounds were evaluated for their phytotoxic activity. Among them, compounds 1–4 exhibited stronger activity on 2 receiver plants compared with the other 2 compounds, with xanthatin (1) being the most potent compound, which suppressed root growth of the dicot plant Amaranthus retroflexus by 32.5%, 39.4%, 84.7% when treated xanthatin (1) at 5, 20, and 100 µg/mL, while for the monocot plant, root growth was inhibited by 14.7%, 28.0%, and 40.0%, respectively. Seedling growth was nearly completely inhibited when the concentration of xanthanolides increased to 500 µg/mL, whereas there was still some seedling growth when loliolide (5) and dehydrovomifoliol (6) were applied at the same concentration. Dehydrovomifoliol (6) did not negatively affect seedling growth of P. annua at all tested concentrations, and root length was still 42.0% of the control when the highest concentration 500 µg/mL was used. This is the first report of the phytotoxicity of 1α,5α-epoxyxanthatin (2), 4-epiisxanthanol (3) and 4-epixanthanol (4). These compounds have the potential to be utilized as natural herbicides, especially 4-epiisoxanthanol (3), which exhibited significant selective activity between the dicot and monocot plants. On the other hand, whether these bioactive substances serve as allelochemicals to facilitate the invasion success of X. spinosum needs to be further studied.
Construction of a Quantitative Acetylomic Tissue Atlas in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Li Zhiyong , Wang Yifeng , Bello Babatunde Kazeem , Ajadi Abolore Adijat , Tong Xiaohong , Chang Yuxiao , Zhang Jian
Published: November 2018

PKA (protein lysine acetylation) is a key post-translational modification involved in the regulation of various biological processes in rice. So far, rice acetylome data is very limited due to the highly-dynamic pattern of protein expression and PKA modification. In this study, we performed a comprehensive quantitative acetylome profile on four typical rice tissues, i.e., the callus, root, leaf, and panicle, by using a mass spectrometry (MS)-based, label-free approach. The identification of 1536 acetylsites on 1454 acetylpeptides from 890 acetylproteins represented one of the largest acetylome datasets on rice. A total of 1445 peptides on 887 proteins were differentially acetylated, and are extensively involved in protein translation, chloroplast development, and photosynthesis, flowering and pollen fertility, and root meristem activity, indicating the important roles of PKA in rice tissue development and functions. The current study provides an overall view of the acetylation events in rice tissues, as well as clues to reveal the function of PKA proteins in physiologically-relevant tissues.
Two New Altenusin/Thiazole Hybrids and a New Benzothiazole Derivative from the Marine Sponge-Derived Fungus Alternaria sp. SCSIOS02F49
Authors: Chen Yaping , Chen Ruyan , Xu Jinhuai , Tian Yongqi , Xu Jiangping , Liu Yonghong
Published: November 2018

Two novel altenusin-thiazole hybrids named altenusinoides A and B (1 and 2), a new benzothiazole derivative (3), and three known altenusin derivatives (4–6) have been obtained from the solid culture of the marine sponge-derived fungal strain, Alternaria sp. SCSIOS02F49. The structures of these new compounds were characterized by NMR, HRESIMS, and X-ray single crystal analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 possess an unusual altenusin-thiazole-fused skeleton core (6/6/5), and compound 3 represents the first benzothiazole derivative from fungi. Compounds 4 and 5 showed significant DPPH free-radical-scavenging activities with the prominent IC50 values of 10.7 ± 0.09 μM and 100.6 ± 0.025 μM, respectively. Additionally, compound 5 exhibited COX-2 inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 9.5 ± 0.08 μM.
Heteroepitaxial Growth of T-Nb2O5 on SrTiO3
Authors: Boschker Jos E. , Markurt Toni , Albrecht Martin , Schwarzkopf Jutta
Published: November 2018

There is a growing interest in exploiting the functional properties of niobium oxides in general and of the T-Nb2O5 polymorph in particular. Fundamental investigations of the properties of niobium oxides are, however, hindered by the availability of materials with sufficient structural perfection. It is expected that high-quality T-Nb2O5 can be made using heteroepitaxial growth. Here, we investigated the epitaxial growth of T-Nb2O5 on a prototype perovskite oxide, SrTiO3. Even though there exists a reasonable lattice mismatch in one crystallographic direction, these materials have a significant difference in crystal structure: SrTiO3 is cubic, whereas T-Nb2O5 is orthorhombic. It is found that this difference in symmetry results in the formation of domains that have the T-Nb2O5 c-axis aligned with the SrTiO3 <001>s in-plane directions. Hence, the number of domain orientations is four and two for the growth on (100)s- and (110)s-oriented substrates, respectively. Interestingly, the out-of-plane growth direction remains the same for both substrate orientations, suggesting a weak interfacial coupling between the two materials. Despite challenges associated with the heteroepitaxial growth of T-Nb2O5, the T-Nb2O5 films presented in this paper are a significant improvement in terms of structural quality compared to their polycrystalline counterparts.
A Compact and Smooth CH3NH3PbI3 Film: Investigation of Solvent Sorts and Concentrations of CH3NH3I towards Highly Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Chen Liang , Zhang Hao , Zhang Jiyuan , Zhou Yong
Published: November 2018

Four solvents (isopropanol (IPA), n-butyl alcohol (NBA), n-amyl alcohol (NAA), and n-hexyl alcohol (NHA)) were investigated to prepare CH3NH3I (methylammonium iodide, MAI) solutions to transform PbI2 film into CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3) film. It was found that the morphology of the perovskite MAPbI3 film was not only affected by the chain of the solvent molecule, but also by the concentration of MAI. The use of solvents with a long alkyl chain (NAA and NHA) allowed the MAPbI3 to grow via an in situ transformation step, which easily made the perovskite films compact, but with a high surface roughness due to the growth of unexpected nanorods/nanoplates. The solvent with a short alkyl chain (IPA) led to the dissolution−crystallization growth mechanism, resulting in rapid generation of perovskite films with a number of pinholes. A high-quality (compact, smooth, pinhole-free) perovskite film was obtained with NBA and an optimized MAI concentration of 8 mg/mL. The corresponding perovskite solar cells achieved a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16.66% and average PCE of 14.76% (for 40 cells).
Fat Mass and Obesity Associated (FTO) Gene and Hepatic Glucose and Lipid Metabolism
Authors: Mizuno Tooru M.
Published: November 2018

Common genetic variants of the fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene are strongly associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. FTO is ubiquitously expressed. Earlier studies have focused on the role of hypothalamic FTO in the regulation of metabolism. However, recent studies suggest that expression of hepatic FTO is regulated by metabolic signals, such as nutrients and hormones, and altered FTO levels in the liver affect glucose and lipid metabolism. This review outlines recent findings on hepatic FTO in the regulation of metabolism, with particular focus on hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism. It is proposed that abnormal activity of hepatic signaling pathways involving FTO links metabolic impairments such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Therefore, a better understanding of these pathways may lead to therapeutic approaches to treat these metabolic diseases by targeting hepatic FTO. The overall goal of this review is to place FTO within the context of hepatic regulation of metabolism.
Bergamot Polyphenols Boost Therapeutic Effects of the Diet on Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Induced by “Junk Food”: Evidence for Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Authors: Parafati Maddalena , Lascala Antonella , La Russa Daniele , Mignogna Chiara , Trimboli Francesca , Morittu Valeria Maria , Riillo Concetta , Macirella Rachele , Mollace Vincenzo , Brunelli Elvira , Janda Elzbieta
Published: November 2018

Wrong alimentary behaviors and so-called “junk food” are a driving force for the rising incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among children and adults. The “junk food” toxicity can be studied in “cafeteria” (CAF) diet animal model. Young rats exposed to CAF diet become obese and rapidly develop NAFLD. We have previously showed that bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau) flavonoids, in the form of bergamot polyphenol fraction (BPF), effectively prevent CAF diet-induced NAFLD in rats. Here, we addressed if BPF can accelerate therapeutic effects of weight loss induced by a normocaloric standard chow (SC) diet. 21 rats fed with CAF diet for 16 weeks to induce NAFLD with inflammatory features (NASH) were divided into three groups. Two groups were switched to SC diet supplemented or not with BPF (CAF/SC±BPF), while one group continued with CAF diet (CAF/CAF) for 10 weeks. BPF had no effect on SC diet-induced weight loss, but it accelerated hepatic lipid droplets clearance and reduced blood triglycerides. Accordingly, BPF improved insulin sensitivity, but had little effect on leptin levels. Interestingly, the inflammatory parameters were still elevated in CAF/SC livers compared to CAF/CAF group after 10 weeks of dietary intervention, despite over 90% hepatic fat reduction. In contrast, BPF supplementation decreased hepatic inflammation by reducing interleukin 6 (Il6) mRNA expression and increasing anti-inflammatory Il10, which correlated with fewer Kupffer cells and lower inflammatory foci score in CAF/SC+BPF livers compared to CAF/SC group. These data indicate that BPF mediates a specific anti-inflammatory activity in livers recovering from NASH, while it boosts lipid-lowering and anti-diabetic effects of the dietary intervention.
Chronic Ingestion of Sodium and Potassium Bicarbonate, with Potassium, Magnesium and Calcium Citrate Improves Anaerobic Performance in Elite Soccer Players
Authors: Chycki Jakub , Golas Artur , Halz Mateusz , Maszczyk Adam , Toborek Michal , Zajac Adam
Published: November 2018

Anaerobic power and anaerobic capacity significantly influence performance in many sport disciplines. These include prolonged sprints in athletics, swimming, or cycling, and other high intensity intermittent sports, such as soccer or basketball. Considering the association of exercise-induced acidosis and fatigue, the ingestion of potential buffering agents such as sodium bicarbonate, has been suggested to attenuate metabolic acidosis and improve anaerobic performance. Since elite soccer players cover from 200 to 350 m while sprinting, performing 40–60 all out sprints during a game, it seems that repeated sprint ability in soccer players is among the key components of success. In our experiment, we evaluated the effectiveness of chronic supplementation with sodium and potassium bicarbonate, fortified with minerals, on speed and speed endurance in elite soccer players. Twenty-six soccer players participated in the study. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group was supplemented with sodium bi-carbonate and potassium di-carbonate fortified with minerals, while the control group received a placebo. The athletes were tested at baseline and after nine days of supplementation. Anaerobic performance was evaluated by the Repeated Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) protocol which involved 6 × 30 m max sprints, separated by 10 s of active recovery. Resting, post ingestion and post exercise concentrations of HCO3− and blood pH were measured as well as lactate concentration. The current investigation demonstrated a significant increase in RAST performance of elite soccer players supplemented with sodium and potassium bicarbonate along with calcium phosphate, potassium citrate, and magnesium citrate ingested twice a day over a nine-day training period. The improvements in anaerobic performance were caused by increased resting blood pH and bicarbonate levels.
Is It Time to Use Probiotics to Prevent or Treat Obesity?
Authors: Brusaferro Andrea , Cozzali Rita , Orabona Ciriana , Biscarini Anna , Farinelli Edoardo , Cavalli Elena , Grohmann Ursula , Principi Nicola , Esposito Susanna
Published: November 2018

In recent years, attention has been given to the role potentially played by gut microbiota in the development of obesity. Several studies have shown that in individuals with obesity, the gut microbiota composition can be significantly different from that of lean individuals, that faecal bacteria can exert a fundamental role in modulating energy metabolism, and that modifications of gut microbiota composition can be associated with increases or reductions of body weight and body mass index. Based on this evidence, manipulation of the gut microbiota with probiotics has been considered a possible method to prevent and treat obesity. However, despite a great amount of data, the use of probiotics to prevent and treat obesity and related problems remains debated. Studies have found that the probiotic effect on body weight and metabolism is strain specific and that only some of the species included in the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera are effective, whereas the use of other strains can be deleterious. However, the dosage, duration of administration, and long-term effects of probiotics administration to prevent overweight and obesity are not known. Further studies are needed before probiotics can be rationally prescribed for the prevention or treatment of obesity. Control of the diet and environmental and life-style factors that favour obesity development remain the best solution to problems related to weight gain.
Study of a Novel Gemini Viscoelastic Surfactant with High Performance in Clean Fracturing Fluid Application
Authors: Zhang Wenlong , Mao Jincheng , Yang Xiaojiang , Zhang Heng , Zhang Zhaoyang , Yang Bo , Zhang Yang , Zhao Jinzhou
Published: November 2018

Gemini surfactant, as a functionally flexible polymer-like material in the aqueous solution, has attracted increased attention in reservoir stimulation of hydraulic fracturing in recent decades. A new Gemini cationic viscoelastic surfactant named JS-N-JS, which has a secondary amine spacer group and two ultra-long hydrophobic tails, was synthesized from erucamidopropyl dimethylamine, diethanolamine, and thionyl chloride as a thickener for hydraulic fracturing fluid. Compared with some Gemini cationic surfactant with methylene spacer, JS-N-JS showed a lower critical micellar concentration (CMC) and higher surface activity due to the hydrogen bond formed between the secondary amine and water molecule intends to reduce electrostatic repulsion, which is more beneficial to be the fracturing fluid thickener. Moreover, the performance of JS-N-JS solution can be further improved by salts of potassium chloride (KCl) or sodium salicylate (NaSal), while organic salt behaved better according to the measurements. The SEM observation confirmed that JS-N-JS/NaSal system owned a tighter network microstructure, and JS-N-JS/NaSal system exhibited a distinct superior viscoelasticity system at a sweep frequency of 0.1–10 Hz. As a fracturing fluid, the solution with a formula of 30 mmol JS-N-JS and 100 mmol NaSal was evaluated according to the petroleum industrial standard and presented excellent viscoelastic properties, the viscosity of which can maintain above 70 mPa·s for 110 min under a shear rate of 170 s−1 at 120 °C. Meanwhile, the drag reducing rate of the formula could reach above 70% with the increase of shear rate. Finally, the viscous fracturing fluid can be broken into the water-like fluid in 1.2 h after being fully exposed to hydrocarbons and the water-like fluid presented a low damage to the tight sand reservoirs according to the core flooding experiments, in which the permeability recovery rate can reach 85.05%. These results fully demonstrate that the JS-N-JS solution fully meets the requirement of the industrial application of hydraulic fracturing.
Invisible Concealment of Invisibility Crypto-Judaism as a Theological Paradigm of Racial Anti-Semitism
Authors: Lapidot Elad
Published: November 2018

The motif of secret, crypto-Judaism has a history that reaches further back into the theological tradition. It no doubt structurally arises from or closely related to the epistemo-political challenges posed by the unworldliness and absolutely inner being of faith, which in the political or inter-subjective dimension immediately raises the question of evidence. The question of evidence, i.e., for the invisible faith, becomes acute in the case of conversion, where the basic premise is the initial absence of faith. Paradoxically, conversion is consequently the establishment of the convert’s fundamental faithlessness, of her originally non-Christian element, which the convert, in the very same act of conversion, claims no longer exists. It is easy to see the conceptual constellation that would present the convert as structural deception. At the Iberian threshold of modernity, in the face of mass Jewish conversion and assimilation, this paradox appeared in the image of the “new Christians”, the marranos, structurally suspected to be crypto-Jews, to the effect that the ultimate evidence of faith was a certificate of limpieza de sangre, “purity of blood”. This paper will follow the historian Yosef HayimYerushalmi in tracing the conceptual link between the Inquisition’s notion of crypto-Jews and the racialized figure of the Jew in modern anti-Semitism.
Formation Control for a Fleet of Autonomous Ground Vehicles: A Survey
Authors: Soni Aakash , Hu Huosheng
Published: November 2018

Autonomous/unmanned driving is the major state-of-the-art step that has a potential to fundamentally transform the mobility of individuals and goods. At present, most of the developments target standalone autonomous vehicles, which can sense the surroundings and control the vehicle based on this perception, with limited or no driver intervention. This paper focuses on the next step in autonomous vehicle research, which is the collaboration between autonomous vehicles, mainly vehicle formation control or vehicle platooning. To gain a deeper understanding in this area, a large number of the existing published papers have been reviewed systemically. In other words, many distributed and decentralized approaches of vehicle formation control are studied and their implementations are discussed. Finally, both technical and implementation challenges for formation control are summarized.
GPVC: Graphics Pipeline-Based Visibility Classification for Texture Reconstruction
Authors: Huang Xiangxiang , Zhu Quansheng , Jiang Wanshou
Published: November 2018

The shadow-mapping and ray-tracing algorithms are the two popular approaches used in visibility handling for multi-view based texture reconstruction. Visibility testing based on the two algorithms needs a user-defined bias to reduce computation error. However, a constant bias does not work for every part of a geometry. Therefore, the accuracy of the two algorithms is limited. In this paper, we propose a high-precision graphics pipeline-based visibility classification (GPVC) method without introducing a bias. The method consists of two stages. In the first stage, a shader-based rendering is designed in the fixed graphics pipeline to generate initial visibility maps (IVMs). In the second stage, two algorithms, namely, lazy-projection coverage correction (LPCC) and hierarchical iterative vertex-edge-region sampling (HIVERS), are proposed to classify visible primitives into fully visible or partially visible primitives. The proposed method can be easily implemented in the graphics pipeline to achieve parallel acceleration. With respect to efficiency, the proposed method outperforms the bias-based methods. With respect to accuracy, the proposed method can theoretically reach a value of 100%. Compared with available libraries and software, the textured model based on our method is smoother with less distortion and dislocation.
Correlation between the Fluctuations in Worldwide Seismicity and Atmospheric Carbon Pollution
Authors: Carpinteri Alberto , Niccolini Gianni
Published: November 2018

The crucial stages in the geochemical evolution of the Earth’s crust, ocean, and atmosphere could be explained by the assumed low-energy nuclear reactions (LENR) that are triggered by seismic activity. LENR result in the fission of medium-weight elements accompanied by neutron emissions, involving Fe and Ni as starting elements, and C, N, O as resultants. Geochemical data and experimental evidences support the LENR hypothesis. A spectral analysis of the period 1955-2013 shows common cycles between interannual changes in atmospheric CO2 growth rate and global seismic-moment release, whereas the trending behavior of the atmospheric CO2 was in response to the anthropogenic emissions. Assuming a correlation between such seismic and atmospheric fluctuations, the latter could be explained by cycles of worldwide seismicity, which would trigger massively LENR in the Earth’s Crust. In this framework, LENR from active faults could be considered as a relevant cause of carbon formation and degassing of freshly-formed CO2 during seismic activity. However, further studies are necessary to validate the present hypothesis which, at the present time, mainly aims to stimulate debate on the models which regulates atmospheric CO2.
‘If Your Hair Is Relaxed, White People Are Relaxed. If Your Hair Is Nappy, They’re Not Happy’: Black Hair as a Site of ‘Post-Racial’ Social Control in English Schools
Authors: Joseph-Salisbury Remi , Connelly Laura
Published: November 2018

A growing body of literature examines how social control is embedded within, and enacted through, key social institutions generally, and how it impacts disproportionately upon racially minoritised people specifically. Despite this, little attention has been given to the minutiae of these forms of social control. Centring Black hair as a site of social control, and using a contemporary case study to illustrate, this article argues that it is through such forms of routine discipline that conditions of white supremacy are maintained and perpetuated. Whilst our entry into a ‘post-racial’ epoch means school policies are generally thought of as race-neutral or ‘colorblind’, we draw attention to how they (re)produce and normalise surface-level manifestations of anti-Blackness. Situating Black hair as a form of ‘racial symbolism’ and showing Black hairstyles to be significant to Black youth, we show that the governance of hair is not neutral but instead, acts as a form of social control that valorises whiteness and pathologises Blackness.
Q-Filters of Quantum B-Algebras and Basic Implication Algebras
Authors: Zhang Xiaohong , Borzooei Rajab Ali , Jun Young Bae
Published: November 2018

The concept of quantum B-algebra was introduced by Rump and Yang, that is, unified algebraic semantics for various noncommutative fuzzy logics, quantum logics, and implication logics. In this paper, a new notion of q-filter in quantum B-algebra is proposed, and quotient structures are constructed by q-filters (in contrast, although the notion of filter in quantum B-algebra has been defined before this paper, but corresponding quotient structures cannot be constructed according to the usual methods). Moreover, a new, more general, implication algebra is proposed, which is called basic implication algebra and can be regarded as a unified frame of general fuzzy logics, including nonassociative fuzzy logics (in contrast, quantum B-algebra is not applied to nonassociative fuzzy logics). The filter theory of basic implication algebras is also established.
Methods for Multiple Attribute Group Decision Making Based on Intuitionistic Fuzzy Dombi Hamy Mean Operators
Authors: Li Zengxian , Gao Hui , Wei Guiwu
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we extended the Hamy mean (HM) operator, the Dombi Hamy mean (DHM) operator, the Dombi dual Hamy mean (DDHM), with the intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (IFNs) to propose the intuitionistic fuzzy Dombi Hamy mean (IFDHM) operator, intuitionistic fuzzy weighted Dombi Hamy mean (IFWDHM) operator, intuitionistic fuzzy Dombi dual Hamy mean (IFDDHM) operator, and intuitionistic fuzzy weighted Dombi dual Hamy mean (IFWDDHM) operator. Following this, the multiple attribute group decision-making (MAGDM) methods are proposed with these operators. To conclude, we utilized an applicable example for the selection of a car supplier to prove the proposed methods.
RNA Virus Fidelity Mutants: A Useful Tool for Evolutionary Biology or a Complex Challenge?
Authors: Kautz Tiffany F. , Forrester Naomi L.
Published: November 2018

RNA viruses replicate with low fidelity due to the error-prone nature of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which generates approximately one mutation per round of genome replication. Due to the large population sizes produced by RNA viruses during replication, this results in a cloud of closely related virus variants during host infection, of which small increases or decreases in replication fidelity have been shown to result in virus attenuation in vivo, but not typically in vitro. Since the discovery of the first RNA virus fidelity mutants during the mid-aughts, the field has exploded with the identification of over 50 virus fidelity mutants distributed amongst 7 RNA virus families. This review summarizes the current RNA virus fidelity mutant literature, with a focus upon the definition of a fidelity mutant as well as methods to confirm any mutational changes associated with the fidelity mutant. Due to the complexity of such a definition, in addition to reports of unstable virus fidelity phenotypes, the future translational utility of these mutants and applications for basic science are examined.
The Natural Compound Homoharringtonine Presents Broad Antiviral Activity In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Dong Hui-Jun , Wang Zhao-Hua , Meng Wen , Li Cui-Cui , Hu Yan-Xin , Zhou Lei , Wang Xiao-Jia
Published: November 2018

To complement traditional antivirals, natural compounds that act via host targets and present high barriers to resistance are of increasing interest. In the work reported here, we detected that homoharringtonine (HHT) presents effective antiviral activity. HHT completely inhibited infections of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) at concentrations of 50, 100, and 500 nM in cell cultures, respectively. Treatment with HHT at doses of 0.05 or 0.2 mg/kg significantly reduced viral load and relieved severe symptoms in PEDV- or NDV-infected animals. HHT treatment, however, moderately inhibited avian influenza virus (AIV) infection, suggesting its potent antiviral action is restricted to a number of classes of RNA viruses. In this study, we also observed that HHT actively inhibited herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 139 nM; the treatment with HHT at 1000 nM led to reductions of three orders of magnitude. Moreover, HHT antagonized the phosphorylation level of endogenous and exogenous eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (p-eIF4E), which might regulate the selective translation of specific messenger RNA (mRNA). HHT provides a starting point for further progress toward the clinical development of broad-spectrum antivirals.
Evaluating the Tradeoffs between Groundwater Pumping for Snow-Melting and Nearshore Fishery Productivity in Obama City, Japan
Authors: Burnett Kimberly M. , Wada Christopher A. , Taniguchi Makoto , Sugimoto Ryo , Tahara Daisuke
Published: November 2018

Groundwater is used in Obama City, Japan, to melt snow (~13% of total groundwater use) during the winter, the remainder being used for mostly domestic purposes, such as drinking water. Due to concern about the impacts of this snow-melting practice on nearshore marine resources, we estimate the benefits and costs of increasing the volume of the groundwater used for snow-melting by 50%. Assuming that the outcome is the same for all possible snow-melting techniques—snow effectively removed from roads—the primary benefit of the use of groundwater for snow-melting is the avoided cost of, or cost savings relative to, alternative technologies. The costs include losses to nearshore fishery productivity, due to a decline in submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), and increased energy expenditures on groundwater pumping, used to supply the snow-melting system. Our results suggest that the net benefit of increasing the use of groundwater to melt snow by 1.5 times its current rate in Obama is positive, and that the annual net benefit ranges from 10.9 million JPY/year to 547.7 million JPY/year. Because the cost of operating the groundwater system is relatively low, the net benefit of continuing to use groundwater for snow-melting becomes negative only if the impact on fishery productivity is substantial.
Correction and Informed Regionalization of Precipitation Data in a High Mountainous Region (Upper Indus Basin) and Its Effect on SWAT-Modelled Discharge
Authors: Khan Asim , Koch Manfred
Published: November 2018

The current study applied a new approach for the interpolation and regionalization of observed precipitation series to a smaller spatial scale (0.125° by 0.125° grid) across the Upper Indus Basin (UIB), with appropriate adjustments for the orographic effect and changes in glacier storage. The approach is evaluated and validated through reverse hydrology, and is guided by observed flows and the available knowledge base. More specifically, the generated corrected precipitation data is validated by means of SWAT-modelled responses of the observed flows to the different input precipitation series (original and corrected ones). The results show that the SWAT-simulated flows using the corrected, regionalized precipitation series as input are much more in line with the observed flows than those using the uncorrected observed precipitation input for which significant underestimations are obtained.
Recognition of Patterns of Benthic Diatom Assemblages within a River System to Aid Bioassessment
Authors: Mao Shuxin , Guo Shuhan , Deng Hongbing , Xie Zhicai , Tang Tao
Published: November 2018

Benthic algae, especially diatoms, are commonly used to assess water quality in rivers. However, algal-based assessments are challenging at the river system scale because longitudinal variation in physical habitat conditions may obscure algal responses to changes in water quality. In the present study, we surveyed benthic diatoms and environmental variables from a mountainous Chinese river system. Hierarchical clustering, discrimination analysis, and indicator species analysis were used together to explore associations between distribution patterns of diatom assemblages and water quality variables. Study sites were clustered into five groups based on their diatom community composition, with sites grouped by the sampling months. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), elevation, and total nitrogen (TN) were the most important predictors for site classification. Site groups with higher elevations had higher TN concentrations; however, COD concentrations were higher in lower elevation groups. Moreover, COD concentrations significantly differed between temporally separated groups. In total, 49 indicator species were identified for individual groups, with most taxa indicating the eutrophic condition. Additionally, we found that European diatom indices are not closely associated with water quality variables. We conclude that the identification of algal patterns and their driving forces can provide valuable information to aid bioassessment at the river system scale.
A new cryptic species of Anolis lizard from northwestern South America (Iguanidae, Dactyloinae)
Authors: Yánez-Muñoz Mario H. , Reyes-Puig Carolina , Reyes-Puig Juan Pablo , Velasco Julián A. , Ayala-Varela Fernando , Torres-Carvajal Omar
Published: November 2018

A new species ofAnolislizard from the Andean slopes of southwestern Colombia and northwestern Ecuador, from between 1187 and 2353 m in elevation, is described. The new species can be distinguished from otherAnolisin squamation, cranial osteology, hemipenial morphology, and nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. The new species is sister toAnolisaequatorialis, and it is suggested that previous records ofA.aequatorialisin Colombia correspond to the new species described herein.
Les pratiques électorales entre classe, genre et race
Authors: Barrault-Stella Lorenzo , Berjaud Clémentine , Dahani Safia
Published: November 2018

Cet article analyse précisément les pratiques électorales de trois femmes des classes populaires racisées en 2017. Mobilisant des observations dans le quartier et des entretiens répétés avant, pendant et après la séquence électorale, l’analyse localisée au sein d’un quartier très ségrégué restitue leurs votes contrastés dans leurs conditions de production en donnant à voir le poids des appartenances de classe, de genre et des rapports sociaux de race. Bien que ces trois femmes vivant dans le même contexte résidentiel votent pour des candidats politiquement très divers (des candidats du Front national à ceux du Parti socialiste), dans les trois cas, leurs positions relatives au sein des classes populaires locales, leur condition de femmes et leurs relations intra-familiales comme leurs appartenances ethno-raciales (et religieuses) sont intriquées pour expliquer non seulement leur mobilisation électorale statistiquement improbable, mais aussi la variabilité de leurs pratiques de votes qui est tendanciellement indexée à des rapports sociaux différenciés et conflictuels au sein du quartier.
SUSTAINABLE MICRO-VILLAGES AND THE CARWOOLA HOUSE PROJECT IN CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA
Authors: Barnett Paul
Published: November 2018

INTRODUCTION

Our needs as social and familial beings change over the course of our lives; however, it has become common practice to build as though these needs remain static through time. The needs of a child, young adult, family, middle age and the elderly are dynamic between generations, and adding to these evolving life needs is the crisis of housing affordability. Three decades ago a house could cost 3–4 times an individual's annual income, today that cost is closer to 10–12 times. In response to these challenges, this article explores the concept of Sustainable Micro-Villages, providing insight into a new approach to energy-efficient housing with reference to our case-study project—Carwoola House.

Sustainable Micro-Villages can be defined as a cluster of integrated dwellings, referred to here as Living Pods. Essentially a “single house” on a single site, these micro-villages can be comprised of two or more smaller buildings that provide private dwelling space for a single person, couples, couples with children, parents, elderly, friends and any combination of social groups. Living pods cluster around a natural garden setting, enhanced by water-harvesting, and are connected with covered, open or enclosed links depending on the climate of the site. The recent iterations of this type of dwelling also incorporate solar passive design, passive house and greenhouse technology.

In Australia, new house designs are evaluated as part of an approvals process for their energy rating. 1 The Australian Building Code requires a minimum 6-star rating, ranging up to 10 stars for any new home to be built. A 6-star rating provides a good level of insulation and energy performance if built correctly, while 10 stars represent the highest level of energy performance and refers to a dwelling that needs no heating or cooling. Sustainable Micro-Villages consistently achieve an 8 to 10-star rating by combining Solar Passive Design principles (good orientation, thermal mass and thermal performance) and Passive House Technology (high thermally performing building with low air leakage, no thermal bridging, high performance glazing and heat recovery ventilation) in various combinations to suit the climate, context and budget.
La notion de climat dans le discours de la presse anglophone : le traitement de la question climatique de 2010 à 2017
Authors: Peynaud Caroline
Published: November 2018

La presse joue un rôle de médiation, de transmission des connaissances scientifiques pour le grand public. Ce rôle est essentiel dans un domaine comme celui du climat, dont les enjeux doivent être saisis par le plus grand nombre pour que des actions soient entreprises. Cette étude se propose d’analyser la manière dont la question du climat est traitée dans deux journaux anglophones, le New York Times et le Daily Telegraph, lors de deux périodes, 2010 et 2017. L’objectif est double : le traitement du climat dans la presse renseigne tout d’abord sur l’état de l’opinion à propos du climat à une période et dans une aire géographique données ; il met également en évidence la manière dont la presse se saisit d’une question scientifique complexe pour l’intégrer dans le discours fortement normé qu’elle produit. Dans cette optique, des analyses statistiques de cooccurrences ont été conduites à l’aide du logiciel TXM, afin d’obtenir des résultats quantifiables, qui ont ensuite été mis en perspective par une étude plus qualitative des contextes de climate.
UK Sale of Goods Legislation 1893-2015: Towards Plain(er) Language?
Authors: Taylor Simon
Published: November 2018

Cet article analyse l’évolution du style des textes législatifs au Royaume-Uni portant sur la vente des biens à partir de la loi initiale de 1893. Il retrace les évolutions du style dans les réformes des années 1970 et 1990, jusqu’à la loi de 2015 sur les droits des consommateurs. L’analyse se concentre sur les dispositions relatives à la qualité des biens vendus dans les contrats de vente. L’étude examine l’évolution du style législatif dans les différents textes et se concentre sur les procédés mis en œuvre pour obtenir un style plus lisible et plus clair. L’étude du corpus met ainsi en évidence une évolution progressive vers une plus grande lisibilité de la législation. L’article explore également les limites de cette lisibilité, les textes restant difficilement abordables pour le non-initié , le travail de simplification des règles législatives ayant été délégué à une association de protection des consommateurs.
HUMAN HERPESVIRUS 8 AND LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISEASES
Authors: Calabrò Maria Luisa , Sarid Ronit
Published: November 2018

The spectrum of lymphoproliferative disorders linked to human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection has been constantly increasing since the discovery of its first etiologic association with primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). PEL is a rapidly progressing non-Hodgkin’s B-cell lymphoma that develops in body cavities in an effusional form. With the increase in the overall survival of PEL patients, as well as the introduction of HHV-8 surveillance in immunocompromised patients, the extracavitary, solid counterpart of PEL was later identified. Moreover, virtually all plasmablastic variants of multicentric Castleman’s disease (MCD) developing in HIV-1-infected individuals harbor HHV-8, providing a strong etiologic link between MCD and this oncogenic herpesvirus. Two other pathological conditions develop in HIV-1-infected persons concomitantly with MCD: MCD with plasmablastic clusters and MCD-associated plasmablastic lymphoma, the first likely representing an intermediate stage preceding the full neoplastic stage. MCD in leukemic phase has also been described, albeit much less commonly. The germinotropic lymphoproliferative disorder (GLPD) may resemble extracavitary PEL, but develops in immune competent HHV8-infected individuals, and, unlike the disorders described above, it responds well to conventional therapies. Almost all HHV-8-mediated lymphoproliferative disorders are the result of an interaction between HHV-8 infection and a dysregulated immunological system, leading to the formation of inflammatory niches in which B cells, at different developmental stages, are infected, proliferate and may eventually shift from a polyclonal state to a monoclonal/neoplastic disorder. Herein, we describe the association between HHV-8 and lymphoproliferative disorders and highlight the predominant distinctive features of each disease.
Conversations in a professional learning community: An analysis of teacher learning opportunities in mathematics
Authors: Chauraya Million , Brodie Karin
Published: November 2018

The growing perception of professional learning communities as an effective professional development approach needs to be supported with knowledge of how such communities create learning opportunities for teachers. Activities in professional learning communities are underpinned by collegial conversations that foster learning, and in this article we analysed such conversations for learning opportunities in one professional learning community of mathematics teachers. Data consisted of audio-recorded community conversations. The focus of the conversations was to understand the thinking behind learners’ errors, and teachers engaged in a number of activities related to learner errors and learner reasoning. Our analyses show how opportunities for learning were created in identifying the origins of learners’ errors as well as learners’ thinking underlying their errors. Results also showed that the teachers had opportunities for learning how to identify learners’ learning needs and in turn the teachers’ own learning needs. The teachers also had opportunities for deepening their own understanding of the conceptual meaning of ratio. The learning opportunities were supported by the following: having a learning focus, patterns of engagement that were characterised by facilitator questioning, teacher responses and explanations, and sharing knowledge. Such mutual engagement practices in professional learning communities resulted in new and shared meanings about teachers’ classroom practices. Our findings also show the critical role of a facilitator for teacher learning in professional learning communities.
Relatively extra-large Artin groups
Authors: Juhász Arye
Published: November 2018

Let

n\geq 2

be an integer and let

N

be an

n \times n

symmetric matrix with 1's on the main diagonal and natural numbers

n_{ij}\neq 1

as off-diagonal entries. (0 is a natural number). Let

X=\{x_1,\ldots ,x_n\}

and let

F

be the free group on

X

. For every non-zero off-diagonal entry

n_{ij}

of

N

define a word

R_{ij}:=UV^{-1}

in

F

, where

U

is the initial subword of

(x_ix_j)^{n_{ij}}

of length

n_{ij}

and

V

is the initial subword of

(x_jx_i)^{n_{ij}}

of length

n_{ij}

,

1\leq i,j \leq n

. Let

A

be the group given by the presentation

\langle X\mid R_{ij},\,n_{ij}\geq 2 \rangle

.

A

is called the

Artin group defined by

N

, with standard generators

X

. Let

Y=\{x_1,\ldots ,x_k\}, k<n

and let

N_Y

be the submatrix of

N

corresponding to

Y

. Let

H=\langle Y \rangle

. We call

A

extra-large relative to

H

if

N

subdivides into submatrices

N_Y,B,C

and

D

of sizes

k\times k,k\times l,l\times k,l\times l

, respectively

(l+k=n)

such that every non zero element of

B

and

C

is at least 4 and every off-diagonal non-zero entry of

D

is at least 3. No condition on

N_Y

. In this work we solve the word problem for such

A

, show that

A

is torsion free and show that

A

has property

K(\pi,1)

, provided that

H

has these properties, correspondingly. We also compute the homology and cohomology of

A

, relying on that of

H

. The two main tools used are Howie diagrams corresponding to relative presentations of

A

with respect to

H

and small cancellation theory with mixed small cancellation conditions.
On irreducibility of Koopman representations corresponding to measure contracting actions
Authors: Dudko Artem
Published: November 2018

We introduce a notion of measure contracting actions and show that Koopman representations corresponding to ergodic measure contracting actions are irreducible. We also show that the actions of Higman–Thompson groups on intervals equipped with Lebesgue measure and the actions of weakly branch groups on the boundaries of rooted trees equipped with non-uniform Bernoulli measures are measure contracting. This gives a new point of view on irreducibility of the corresponding Koopman representations.
Games orbits play and obstructions to Borel reducibility
Authors: Lupini Martino , Panagiotopoulos Aristotelis
Published: November 2018

We introduce a new, game-theoretic approach to anti-classification results for orbit equivalence relations. Within this framework, we give a short conceptual proof of Hjorth’s turbulence theorem. We also introduce a new dynamical criterion providing an obstruction to classification by orbits of CLI groups. We apply this criterion to the relation of equality of countable sets of reals, and the relations of unitary conjugacy of unitary and selfadjoint operators on the separable infinite-dimensional Hilbert space.
Modular groups, Hurwitz classes and dynamic portraits of NET maps
Authors: Floyd William , Parry Walter , Pilgrim Kevin M.
Published: November 2018

An orientation-preserving branched covering

f: S^2 \to S^2

is a
nearly Euclidean Thurston
(NET) map if each critical point is simple and its postcritical set has exactly four points. Inspired by classical, non-dynamical notions such as Hurwitz equivalence of branched covers of surfaces, we develop invariants for such maps. We then apply these notions to the classification and enumeration of NET maps. As an application, we obtain a complete classification of the dynamic critical orbit portraits of NET maps.
Sofic boundaries of groups and coarse geometry of sofic approximations
Authors: Alekseev Vadim , Finn-Sell Martin
Published: November 2018

Sofic groups generalise both residually finite and amenable groups, and the concept is central to many important results and conjectures in measured group theory. We introduce a topological notion of a sofic boundary attached to a given sofic approximation of a finitely generated group and use it to prove that coarse properties of the approximation (property A, asymptotic coarse embeddability into Hilbert space, geometric property (T)) imply corresponding analytic properties of the group (amenability, a-T-menability and property (T)), thus generalising ideas and results present in the literature for residually finite groups and their box spaces. Moreover, we generalise coarse rigidity results for box spaces due to Kajal Das, proving that coarsely equivalent sofic approximations of two groups give rise to a uniform measure equivalence between those groups. Along the way, we bring to light a coarse geometric viewpoint on ultralimits of a sequence of finite graphs first exposed by Ján Špakula and Rufus Willett, as well as proving some bridging results concerning measure structures on topological groupoid Morita equivalences that will be of interest to groupoid specialists.
Big Ramsey degrees and topological dynamics
Authors: Zucker Andy
Published: November 2018

We consider Fraïssé structures whose objects have finite big Ramsey degree and ask what consequences this has for the dynamics of the automorphism group. Motivated by a theorem of D. Devlin about the partition properties of the rationals, we define the notion of a
big Ramsey structure
, a single structure which codes the big Ramsey degrees of a given Fraïssé structure. This in turn leads to the definition of a
completion flow
; we show that if a Fraïssé structure admits a big Ramsey structure, then the automorphism group admits a unique universal completion flow. We also discuss the problem of when big Ramsey structures exist and explore connections to the notion of oscillation stability defined by Kechris, Pestov, and Todorčević.