bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prácticas alfareras, tecnología y cronología durante los períodos Tardío e Inca en el sector meridional del Valle de Abaucán. Tradiciones y rupturas: el caso de Costa de Reyes N°5 (Tinogasta, Catamarca, Argentina)
Authors: Vera Sergio D. , De La Fuente Guillermo A. , Rasmussen Kaare L.
Published: March 2019

Las prácticas alfareras en perspectiva arqueológica pueden ser estudiadas abordando diferentes aristas concernientes al proceso de producción y los restos materiales asociados a cada etapa. En este trabajo se presentan los resultados obtenidos del análisis tecnológico integral de una muestra extensiva de alfarería procedente del tambo Incaico de Costa de Reyes N°5 (Tinogasta, Catamarca, Argentina). La metodología implementada para lograr los objetivos consiste en la reconstrucción de formas típicas, la observación de cortes frescos en lupa binocular y la petrografía en secciones delgadas, aplicadas a un conjunto alfarero recolectado tanto de contextos superficiales como de excavaciones estratigráficas realizadas en dos recintos del sitio de Costa de Reyes N°5. A través de esta aproximación se han logrado visualizar continuidades y rupturas en el proceso de producción de alfarería y en las recetas aplicadas por los alfareros durante momentos de los períodos Agroalfarero tardío (ca. 900–1450 dC) e Inca (ca. 1480–1532 dC). Mientras que la producción de alfarería durante el período Tardío presenta características heterogéneas y una mayor variabilidad, en momentos Incaicos se observa que las recetas aplicadas por los alfareros para elaborar las pastas cerámicas se homogenizan, lo que se interpreta como un control más estricto sobre las fuentes de materia prima y sobre el proceso de hacer alfarería como un todo.
A Late Postclassic (ca. AD 1350–1521) Border Shrine at the Site of Tayasal, Petén, Guatemala
Authors: Halperin Christina T. , Hruby Zachary X.
Published: March 2019

Shrines were a regular component of ceremonial architecture in the public plazas of Postclassic Maya centers. Small shrines and natural landmarks such as caves and outcrops at the borders of settlements or in wilderness locations also served, and in some cases continue to serve, as important ritual loci for Maya peoples. These more peripheral locales were not only critical access points to the supernatural, but also served to delineate places. Because these border features, which represent only a given moment in a constantly shifting social and political landscape, are sometimes unmodified or are inconspicuous, they are relatively ephemeral and difficult to identify in the archaeological record. This paper documents a Late Postclassic shrine paired with a natural feature, a small hill, from the site of Tayasal in Petén, Guatemala. We argue that it served as a border shrine. Paired with the small hill, the two embodied a liminal frontier, not only between earthly and spiritual realms but also between settled and unsettled space.
Two Trophy Skulls from Pacbitun, Belize
Authors: Wrobel Gabriel , Helmke Christophe , Gibbs Sherry , Micheletti George , Stanchly Norbert , Powis Terry
Published: March 2019

Two modified skulls from Pacbitun, Belize, one with a glyphic text, match ancient Maya depictions of trophies fashioned from war captives and worn by elite warriors.
Living Documents in Transnational Spaces of Migration between El Salvador and the United States
Authors: Mitchell Julie , Coutin Susan Bibler
Published: March 2019

The expansion of immigration enforcement in the United States has increased the documentation requirements to which immigrants are subjected. A case in point is birth certificates, which are used to establish identity, nationality, age, and kin relationships in myriad US immigration cases. This development gives highly localized bureaucratic practices in immigrants’ countries of origin transnational implications. Based on fieldwork in a registry of vital records in El Salvador, interviews with Salvadoran officials, and legal work with immigrants in the United States, this article analyzes birth certificates’ use as immigration documents, focusing on the understandings of legality and authenticity that underpin their circulation. This analysis contributes to theorizing citizenship by detailing the ways that immigration enforcement practices in immigrants’ country of residence can make their relationship to their country of origin both more important (in that they need identity documents) and less accessible (due to distance).
‘We are seeing things’: recognition, risk and reproducing kinship in Botswana's time of AIDS
Authors: Reece Koreen M.
Published: March 2019

This article explores the ways in which families are reproduced in Botswana's time of AIDS. It argues that conjugal relationships are transformed into kin relationships through a gradual process of recognition in which they become visible, spoken about and known to ever wider spheres of kin. For women, this process is often catalysed by pregnancy; for men, by marriage negotiations – and for both, recognition is key to self-making. However, every shift in recognition is risky and tenuous, even reversible, and marked bydikgang– ‘issues’, conflicts or crises – the negotiation of which is crucial to its kin- and self-making capacity. Tswana kinship and personhood, in other words, are constituted in crisis, making them both highly fraught and highly resilient. In this context, HIV becomes one of many risks entailed in intimacy and kin-making – suggesting one explanation for persistently high rates of HIV infection in Botswana, and indicating an unexpected capacity in families to absorb crises such as the AIDS epidemic.
Translating slavery
Authors: Powell Eve M. Troutt
Published: March 2019

“I have heard, Salim,” said my master, “that you are a good dancer and singer. I wish you to show my guests what you can do!”
Under “Attack”
Authors: Al-Harithy Howayda
Published: March 2019

After the cease-fire, I visited villages and towns in South Lebanon that suffered terrible destruction during the July 2006 war and that were facing the challenge of reconstruction. When I arrived to the border town of Bint Jbeil, I saw bulldozers demolishing beautiful, old stone structures. I stopped to inquire why; who authorized such actions and on what bases? With these questions, I approached the workers, the Council of the South (the government agency in charge of damage assessment and rubble removal), local residents, and the municipality. The answers varied: the structures were too damaged to save, we needed to widen the street, to build a better building, to erase the scars of war, to get full compensation, and so forth.
Pensée 2: On the Virtues and Limits of Private Politics in the Middle East
Authors: Haykel Bernard
Published: March 2019

The most glaring aspect of America's failure at democratizing Iraq has been policymakers' inability to take local political culture and values into consideration. Democracy was understood to consist of such trappings as a well-drafted constitution, regular elections, and a vociferous parliament; it seems no thought was given to the influence of tribal affinities and networks or the implications of sectarian identity on politics. Constitutions, elections, and parliaments are important elements in democratic systems, but they do not in and of themselves lessen autocratic rule, as can be witnessed in many Middle Eastern countries. Something else in terms of political practice must exist for autocracy and despotism to be blunted. I argue here that attention should be given to private forms of political engagement that are rooted in tribal and Islamic norms and practices.
POSTREVOLUTIONARY IRAN AND SHIءI LEBANON: CONTESTED HISTORIES OF SHIءI TRANSNATIONALISM
Authors: Shaery-Eisenlohr Roschanack
Published: March 2019

Please open the PDF to view the article.
Time to move beef cattle to a new paddock: forage quality and grazing behaviour
Authors: Leite De Oliveira F. C. , Sanchez J. M. D. , Vendramini J. M. B. , Lima C. G. , Luz P. H. C. , Rocha C. O. , Pereira L. E. T. , Herling V. R.
Published: March 2019

Differences in forage nutritive value between morning and afternoon are related to patterns of dehydration and carbohydrate accumulation throughout the day. In this way, management strategies that maximize grazing time during the afternoon could increase forage nutritive value and consequently nutrient intake. The aim of the current experiment was to evaluate the effect of the time of day (06.00 h [designated AM] or 15.00 h [PM]) that cattle are moved to a new paddock on forage nutritive value, grazing behaviour and animal performance of beef cattle on rotationally stocked Marandu palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu Syn. Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) pastures. A spring and summer study was conducted in Pirassununga, SP, Brazil from October 2012 to March 2013 (182 days). Treatments were distributed in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Herbage mass, morphological composition, herbage allowance and stocking rates were similar between treatments during spring and summer. Moving animals to a new paddock, regardless of the time of day – 06.00 h (AM) or 15.00 h (PM) – stimulated grazing, modifying the distribution of meals throughout the day. However, compensatory mechanisms among grazing time, bite rate and forage nutritive value throughout the day operated in order to generate similar performance between animals offered a new paddock in the morning or in the afternoon.
Small spatial scale effects of wave action exposure on morphological traits of the limpet Lottia subrugosa
Authors: Vieira Edson A. , Bueno Marília
Published: March 2019

Many studies have already assessed how wave action may affect morphology of intertidal species among sites that vary in wave exposure, but few attempted to look to this issue in smaller scales. Using the most common limpet of the Brazilian coast,Lottia subrugosa, and assuming position on rocky boulders as a proxy for wave action at small scale, we tested the hypothesis that waves may also influence limpet morphology at a smaller spatial scale by investigating how individual size, foot area and shell shape vary between sheltered and exposed boulder sides on three shores in the coast of Ubatuba, Brazil. Limpets consistently showed a proportionally larger foot on exposed boulder sides for all shores, indicating that stronger attachment is an important mechanism to deal with wave action dislodgement at a smaller scale. Shell shape also varied in the scale investigated here, with more conical (dissipative) shells occurring in exposed boulder sides in one exposed shore across time and in the other exposed shore in one year. Shell shape did not vary regarding boulder sides across time in the most sheltered shore. Although we did not assess large spatial scale effects of wave action in this study, variations of the effect of waves at small spatial scale observed for shell shape suggest that it may be modulated by the local wave exposure regime. Our work highlights the importance of wave action at small spatial scales, and may help to understand the ecological variability of limpets inhabiting rocky shores.
Parasitic nematodes simultaneously suppress and benefit from coccidian coinfection in their natural mouse host
Authors: Clerc Melanie , Fenton Andy , Babayan Simon A. , Pedersen Amy B.
Published: March 2019

Within-host interactions among coinfecting parasites are common and have important consequences for host health and disease dynamics. However, these within-host interactions have traditionally been studied in laboratory mouse models, which often exclude important variation and use unnatural host–parasite combinations. Conversely, the few wild studies of within-host interactions often lack knowledge of parasite exposure and infection history. Here we exposed laboratory-reared wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) that were derived from wild-caught animals to two naturally-occurring parasites (nematode: Heligmosomoides polygyrus, coccidia: Eimeria hungaryensis) to investigate the impact of coinfection on parasite infection dynamics, and to determine if the host immune response mediates this interaction. Coinfection led to delayed worm expulsion and prolonged egg shedding in H. polygyrus infections and lower peak E. hungaryensis oocyst burdens. By comparing antibody levels between wild and colony-housed mice, we also found that wild mice had elevated H. polygyrus-IgG1 titres even if currently uninfected with H. polygyrus. Using this unique wild-laboratory system, we demonstrate, for the first time, clear evidence for a reciprocal interaction between these intestinal parasites, and that there is a great discrepancy between antibody levels measured in the wild vs those measured under controlled laboratory conditions in relation to parasite infection and coinfection.
Reducing Potentially Inappropriate Medications in Older Adults: A Way Forward
Authors: Bala Sharmin S. , Chen Timothy F. , Nishtala Prasad S.
Published: March 2019

La réduction des médicaments potentiellement inappropriés (MPI) chez les personnes âgées est un enjeu important selon de nombreux cliniciens et chercheurs à travers le monde, car ces médicaments accroissent significativement la morbidité et la mortalité dans la population plus âgée. La prévalence des MPI est un problème répandu malgré l’existence de plusieurs critères explicites et implicites de réduction des MPI chez les personnes âgées, les plus courants étant les critères de Beers, les critères STOPP/START et plusieurs critères nationaux spécifiques. Cette revue non systématique visait à examiner les critères de référence pour la réduction des MPI et à clarifier le rôle de certaines mesures, dont la déprescription, pour optimiser la prescription des médicaments chez les personnes âgées. Des recherches par mots-clés et termes MeSH ont été menées dans des bases de données électroniques. Les nombreux critères disponibles ont chacun leurs avantages et inconvénients. La déprescription, qui vise à réduire l’utilisation des MPI, a considérablement gagné en importance dans les initiatives associées à l’amélioration des pratiques de prescription. La déprescription est une approche méthodique qui implique l’arrêt graduel, éclairé et individualisé des médicaments inappropriés, avec un suivi rigoureux des patients pour assurer la détection d’événements indésirables ou de symptômes de rebond. Une approche combinée centrée sur le patient et le soignant favorise la collaboration entre les prescripteurs et les pharmaciens afin de réduire le nombre de MPI chez les personnes âgées.
Unconjugated bilirubin and schizophrenia: a systematic review
Authors: Pommerening Dornelles Erik , Gama Marques João , Ouakinin Sílvia
Published: March 2019

Schizophrenia is a complex syndrome of unknown etiology and difficult to manage. Unconjugated bilirubin has been researched as a potential biological marker of this syndrome. The objective of this review article was to gather the studies published to date on the relationship between this molecule and schizophrenia. Broad inclusion criteria have been used (PRISMA) to include as many relevant studies as possible. Fourteen studies were selected: 3 analyzed the effects of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in animal models; 6 demonstrated an increased incidence of schizophrenia in patients with increased unconjugated bilirubin; 2 reported an increased incidence of the disease in patients with decreased unconjugated bilirubin; and 3 linked an increased incidence of schizophrenia with an increased excretion of the oxidative product of bilirubin, the so-called biopyrrins. Because of apparently contradictory reported results, the hypothesis that the relationship between schizophrenia and unconjugated bilirubin was not linear and that there was an inflammatory dysfunction explaining this was considered. The 2 most accepted models for the pathophysiology of schizophrenia are described, and the possible role of the molecule in each is clarified. The bilirubin buffer system and its role in antioxidant defense was explored. The average levels of unconjugated bilirubin in patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder were also compared, having been hypothesized that these diseases could be different points of a same pathological spectrum. Finally, it was concluded that unconjugated bilirubin is a promising molecule that could be used as a possible biological marker for schizophrenia, and the necessity of subsequent efforts for its research was considered.
Does intolerance of uncertainty mediate improvement in anger during group CBT for GAD? A preliminary investigation
Authors: Laposa Judith M. , Fracalanza Katie
Published: March 2019

Background:

Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have elevated intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and anger, and IU mediates the relationship between GAD symptoms and anger.

Aims:

The current pilot study examined whether group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) improves anger in people with GAD, and the degree to which change in IU mediates improved anger.

Method:

Individuals diagnosed with GAD completed measures of worry, IU, and facets of anger, before and at the end of group CBT for GAD.

Results:

Worry, IU, and internally felt and outwardly expressed anger, reduced significantly over treatment, but anger control (inwardly and outwardly) did not. CBT for GAD led to improvement in both internally felt and outwardly expressed anger, even though anger is not directly targeted in this treatment. Improvement in IU significantly mediated improvement in internally felt and outwardly expressed anger.

Conclusions:

This preliminary study contributes to the literature on the importance of IU in understanding worry and other symptoms such as elevated anger, experienced by people with excessive worry.
Trade Commitments and Data Flows: The National Security Wildcard
Authors: ZHANG NORMAN
Published: March 2019

This paper poses a hypothetical WTO challenge to the Passenger Name Records (PNR) Transfer Agreements the European Union has signed with the United States (as well as Australia and Canada). The focus will be on a possible citation of GATS Article XIV National Security Exception by the EU, and the viability of such a defense. Because of the absence of case law, this paper will also attempt to synthesize an acceptable standard for assessing GATS National Security Exception citations.
The Importance of Cross-Border Regulatory Cooperation in an Era of Digital Trade
Authors: AHMED USMAN
Published: March 2019

Technology is transforming global trade. The global trading system, however, has struggled to keep up with changes in technology. One of the major challenges for the trading system is that the issues raised by digitally enabled commerce are largely regulatory in nature. The issues that are at the forefront of digital trade increasingly relate to citizens’ most fundamental interactions, including speech, finance, energy, and transportation. This paper argues that resolving these international regulatory issues will require reforming the approach that has been taken to global trade negotiations. International discussions around the most challenging issues in the digital economy ought to move away from the ‘horse-trading’ nature of traditional trade negotiations and towards a strategy focused on regulatory cooperation. Failure to achieve regulatory cooperation could further fragment digital services based upon national borders. The Internet has the potential to positively impact the global economy precisely because it is global, decentralized, and bottom-up in nature. International policymaking through regulatory cooperation can maintain those principles, while protecting fundamental national concerns such as stability, privacy, and security.
Making Friends and Making Out:The Social and Romantic Lives of Young Communists in Chile (1958–1973)
Authors: Salgado Alfonso
Published: March 2019

“B. D. Q. C.,” as he signed his letter, must have felt pretty special that New Year's Eve of 1973. Some time that evening, the 15-year-old Communist boy from Santiago de Chile kissed a 17-year-old Communist girl admired for her beauty by all the young Communists from the local headquarters of the Juventudes Comunistas de Chile (JJCC), or Jota, as the youth wing of the Partido Comunista de Chile (PCCH) was nicknamed. He had never dated an older woman before, and though he bragged about having kissed thousands of other girls, he had never truly fallen in love until then. “I dated her for only 13 days. We broke up, but every day that goes by I love her more and more,” he confessed in a letter to the editor of the young Communists’ magazine a few days later. To make matters worse for our lovelorn teenager, the object of his affection did not stay single for long. “She is now dating another guy from the Jota. Every day that goes by I grow more jealous of him and of everyone who talks to her, because even though I'm not with her any more, I dream we are still together, and I have hopes to be with her again.” The existence of a place like the JJCC local headquarters, which all the people involved in this romantic affair visited regularly, was the cause of both solace and affliction for this young man: “I waste the whole afternoon in the headquarters waiting for her to arrive and greet her, so my eyes can take her in. I think about her every minute, while she has thousands of things to think about, and I have only one.”
Horror on the Periphery of Modernity:The Invention of the Baixada Fluminense and the Legendary Tenório Cavalcanti
Authors: Ralston Tyler
Published: March 2019

The 1950s stand out as the “Golden Years” in the collective memory of many Brazilians. Sandwiched between the authoritarian periods of the Estado Novo dictatorship led by Getúlio Vargas (1937–45) and a military dictatorship (1964–85), the decade was a time of great optimism for the country's future. Many hoped that the country would enjoy a lasting democratic system accompanied by the ever-increasing trappings of modernity. Indeed, a surge of economic growth and industrial development during Vargas's return as a democratically elected president (1951–54), followed by a massive industrialization program crowned by the construction of the ultramodern capital of Brasília under Juscelino Kubitschek (1956–61), gave true believers reason for optimism.
Using Saha‐Boltzmann Plot to Diagnose Lightning Return Stroke Channel Temperature
Authors: Liu Guorong , Yuan Ping , An Tingting , Sun Duixiong , Cen Jianyong , Wang Xuejuan
Published: March 2019

Based on the high time‐resolved spectra of a cloud‐to‐ground lightning flash with seven return strokes captured by a high‐speed slitless spectrograph, this work was the first to use the Saha‐Boltzmann plot method for the determination of the lightning return stroke channel temperature. The channel temperatures of the seven return strokes ranged from 21370 to 26500 K. Compared with the traditional Boltzmann plot method, the Saha‐Boltzmann plot method can provide more reliable temperature estimation for lightning channel. Analysis of several strong return strokes along the channel showed that the temperature changed little and there was no obvious tendency with increasing height. In addition, it was found that the channel temperature in the late stage of a return stroke was only about 3000–4000 K lower than in the initial stage. This means the channel remains >20000 K during nearly the entire period of the return stroke. This sustained high temperature could be the main cause of lightning‐related disasters.
Timing and Pacing of Indonesian Throughflow Restriction and Its Connection to Late Pliocene Climate Shifts
Authors: Auer Gerald , De Vleeschouwer David , Smith Rebecca A. , Bogus Kara , Groeneveld Jeroen , Grunert Patrick , Castañeda Isla S. , Petrick Benjamin , Christensen Beth , Fulthorpe Craig , Gallagher Stephen J. , Henderiks Jorijntje
Published: March 2019

The Pliocene was characterized by a gradual shift of global climate toward cooler and drier conditions. This shift fundamentally reorganized Earth's climate from the Miocene state toward conditions similar to the present. During the Pliocene, the progressive restriction of the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) is suggested to have enhanced this shift toward stronger meridional thermal gradients. Reduced ITF, caused by the northward movement of Australia and uplift of Indonesia, impeded global thermohaline circulation, also contributing to late Pliocene Northern Hemisphere cooling via atmospheric and oceanographic teleconnections. Here we present an orbitally tuned high‐resolution sediment geochemistry, calcareous nannofossil, and X‐ray fluorescence record between 3.65 and 2.97 Ma from the northwest shelf of Australia within the Leeuwin Current. International Ocean Discovery Program Site U1463 provides a record of local surface water conditions and Australian climate in relation to changing ITF connectivity. Modern analogue‐based interpretations of nannofossil assemblages indicate that ITF configuration culminated ~3.54 Ma. A decrease in warm, oligotrophic taxa such as Umbilicosphaera sibogae, with a shift from Gephyrocapsa sp. to Reticulofenestra sp., and an increase of mesotrophic taxa (e.g., Umbilicosphaera jafari and Helicosphaera spp.) suggest that tropical Pacific ITF sources were replaced by cooler, fresher, northern Pacific waters. This initial tectonic reorganization enhanced the Indian Oceans sensitivity to orbitally forced cooling in the southern high latitudes culminating in the M2 glacial event (~3.3 Ma). After 3.3 Ma the restructured ITF established the boundary conditions for the inception of the Sahul‐Indian Ocean Bjerknes mechanism and increased the response to glacio‐eustatic variability.
The Penetration of Draped Magnetic Field Into the Martian Upper Ionosphere and Correlations With Upstream Solar Wind Dynamic Pressure
Authors: Fowler C. M. , Lee C. O. , Xu S. , Mitchell D. L. , Lillis R. , Weber T. , Halekas J. , Andersson L. , Espley J. , Ergun R. E. , Mazelle C. , Luhmann J.
Published: March 2019

Open and draped magnetic field topologies are important at Mars because they can provide ionospheric particles a path to escape to space. Four years of Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN data are analyzed in this study, demonstrating that the altitude at which the ionospheric density drops below 102 cm−3 is essentially coincident with the altitude down to which open and draped magnetic field lines are observed in the ionosphere. During times of enhanced solar wind dynamic pressure, a greater fraction of the magnetic topology was observed as open or draped (as opposed to closed) above densities of 102 cm−3. The altitudes at which the ionospheric density fell below 102 cm−3, and the magnetic field topology transitioned from closed to open or draped, also decreased during higher dynamic pressure conditions. Times of enhanced solar wind dynamic pressure thus appear to drive greater penetration of draped magnetic field into the ionosphere, enhancing the rate of reconnection between draped and crustal magnetic fields and producing more open field. Such observations may have implications for the long‐term evolution of the Martian ionosphere; the historic solar wind is thought to have been denser and faster than present‐day conditions, and “quiet time” conditions may have been equivalent to extreme dynamic pressure events today. Depending on past atmospheric conditions at Mars, draped topology may have routinely penetrated deep into the ionosphere, and quiet time rates of ionospheric escape to space may thus have been much greater for early Mars than today.
Systematic benchmarking of omics computational tools
Authors: Mangul Serghei , Martin Lana S. , Hill Brian L. , Lam Angela Ka-Mei , Distler Margaret G. , Zelikovsky Alex , Eskin Eleazar , Flint Jonathan
Published: March 2019

Computational omics methods packaged as software have become essential to modern biological research. The increasing dependence of scientists on these powerful software tools creates a need for systematic assessment of these methods, known as benchmarking. Adopting a standardized benchmarking practice could help researchers who use omics data to better leverage recent technological innovations. Our review summarizes benchmarking practices from 25 recent studies and discusses the challenges, advantages, and limitations of benchmarking across various domains of biology. We also propose principles that can make computational biology benchmarking studies more sustainable and reproducible, ultimately increasing the transparency of biomedical data and results.
Synthesis, optical imaging, and absorption spectroscopy data for 179072 metal oxides
Authors: Stein Helge S. , Soedarmadji Edwin , Newhouse Paul F. , Dan Guevarra  , Gregoire John M.
Published: March 2019

Optical absorption spectroscopy is an important materials characterization for applications such as solar energy generation. This data descriptor describes the to date (Dec 2018) largest publicly available curated materials science dataset for near infrared to near UV (UV-Vis) light absorbance, composition and processing properties of metal oxides. By supplying the complete synthesis and processing history of each of the 179072 samples from 99965 unique compositions we believe the dataset will enable the community to develop predictive models for materials, such as prediction of optical properties based on composition and processing, and ultimately serve as a benchmark dataset for continued integration of machine learning in materials science. The dataset is also a resource for identifying materials composition and synthesis to attain specific optical properties.
Accurate regional influenza epidemics tracking using Internet search data
Authors: Ning Shaoyang , Yang Shihao , Kou S. C.
Published: March 2019

Accurate, high-resolution tracking of influenza epidemics at the regional level helps public health agencies make informed and proactive decisions, especially in the face of outbreaks. Internet users’ online searches offer great potential for the regional tracking of influenza. However, due to the complex data structure and reduced quality of Internet data at the regional level, few established methods provide satisfactory performance. In this article, we propose a novel method named ARGO2 (2-step Augmented Regression with GOogle data) that efficiently combines publicly available Google search data at different resolutions (national and regional) with traditional influenza surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for accurate, real-time regional tracking of influenza. ARGO2 gives very competitive performance across all US regions compared with available Internet-data-based regional influenza tracking methods, and it has achieved 30% error reduction over the best alternative method that we numerically tested for the period of March 2009 to March 2018. ARGO2 is reliable and robust, with the flexibility to incorporate additional information from other sources and resolutions, making it a powerful tool for regional influenza tracking, and potentially for tracking other social, economic, or public health events at the regional or local level.
Biosurfactant Production by Lactic Acid Bacterium Pediococcus dextrinicus SHU1593 Grown on Different Carbon Sources: Strain Screening Followed by Product Characterization
Authors: Ghasemi Abouzar , Moosavi-Nasab Marzieh , Setoodeh Payam , Mesbahi Gholamreza , Yousefi Gholamhossein
Published: March 2019

The present study focused on producing and characterizing a type of biosurfactant (BS) derived from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and its potential applications in pharmaceutical and food industries due to the preference of employing nonpathogenic organisms in bioprocesses. To this aim, several screening approaches were applied to identify an efficient BS-producing strain from a set of LAB, and Pediococcus dextrinicus SHU1593 was selected as the most operative one. The BS produced by P. dextrinicus was isolated and structurally characterized as a lipoprotein with an approximately equal ratio of lipids (~52% (w/w)) and proteins (47% (w/w)). It reduced the surface tension (ST) of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) from 72.80 ± 0.10 to 39.01 ± 0.32 mN/m. The results also indicated the potential of developing low-cost strategies aimed at the production of efficient LAB-derived BSs which are structurally and quantitatively similar to the ones obtained from conventional media. Finally, given the physical and functional characterization (i.e. critical micelle concentration (CMC), emulsification index (%E24), stability, as well as antimicrobial and anti-adhesive activities) of the BS produced in the present study, it can be introduced as a promising candidate to be employed in plenty of areas in pharmaceutical and food industries.
OHC-TRECK: A Novel System Using a Mouse Model for Investigation of the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Outer Hair Cell Death in the Inner Ear
Authors: Matsuoka Kunie , Wada Kenta , Miyasaka Yuki , Yasuda Shumpei P. , Seki Yuta , Nishito Yasumasa , Yonekawa Hiromichi , Taya Choji , Shitara Hiroshi , Kikkawa Yoshiaki
Published: March 2019

Outer hair cells (OHCs) are responsible for the amplification of sound, and the death of these cells leads to hearing loss. Although the mechanisms for sound amplification and OHC death have been well investigated, the effects on the cochlea after OHC death are poorly understood. To study the consequences of OHC death, we established an OHC knockout system using a novel mouse model, Prestin-hDTR, which uses the prestin promoter to express the human diphtheria toxin (DT) receptor gene (hDTR). Administration of DT to adult Prestin-hDTR mice results in the depletion of almost all OHCs without significant damage to other cochlear and vestibular cells, suggesting that this system is an effective tool for the analysis of how other cells in the cochlea and vestibula are affected after OHC death. To evaluate the changes in the cochlea after OHC death, we performed differential gene expression analysis between the untreated and DT-treated groups of wild-type and Prestin-hDTR mice. This analysis revealed that genes associated with inflammatory/immune responses were significantly upregulated. Moreover, we found that several genes linked to hearing loss were strongly downregulated by OHC death. Together, these results suggest that this OHC knockout system is a useful tool to identify biomarkers associated with OHC death.
Land Surface Temperature Response to Irrigated Paddy Field Expansion: a Case Study of Semi-arid Western Jilin Province, China
Authors: Liu Tingxiang , Yu Lingxue , Zhang Shuwen
Published: March 2019

The irrigated paddy fields have expanded greatly at semi-arid western Jilin province of China in recent over ten years, the sources of which are rain-fed cornfields, swamp meadow and saline alkali land mainly. Based on regional land use data, remote sensing data and meteorological data, this paper evaluates the land surface temperature changes response to land surface biophysical processes changes resulting from land use change (LUC), and dissociates the effect of radiative change (albedo) and non-radiative change (evapotranspiration and turbulent process) quantitatively using the energy redistribution factor. The results show that, the total land surface temperature changes based on energy redistribution factor are consistent with that based on remote sensing data on the whole, which have significant and different seasonal variations for agriculture adjustment of rain-fed cornfields to irrigated paddy fields and nature land reclamation. Generally, the largest Land surface temperature changes (ΔTs) are most pronounced in May and June for agriculture adjustment of rain-fed cornfields to irrigated paddy fields, which is −1.85 K averagely. Notable decline of albedo from saline alkali land to irrigated paddy fields in April to June greatly counteracts the cooling effect of non-radiative processes changes, while the largest ΔTs is found of −2. 54 K in dry summer months of July and August. For swamp meadows to irrigated paddy fields, non-radiative process is strengthened from June to September, the cooling effect of which is −1.69 K averagely. This study provides a case reference of local temperature change and obvious changes of land surface non-radiative terms at semi-arid area for adjustment of agricultural activities and land use changes.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Combination of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) agonist and antiviral drug: a potential therapy against pathogenic influenza virus
Authors: Zhao Jiangnan , Zhu Meiying , Jiang Hao , Shen Simen , Su Xin , Shi Yi
Published: March 2019

The pandemic 2009 influenza A H1N1 virus is associated with significant mortality. Targeting S1PR1, which is known to modulate the immune response, provides protection against pathogenic influenza virus. The functional role and molecular mechanism of S1PR1 were analysed by generating inducible endothelial cell-specific S1PR1 knockout mice and assessing the therapeutic efficacy of the selective S1PR1 agonist CYM5442 against acute lung injury (ALI) induced by the 2009 influenza A H1N1 virus. Immune-mediated pulmonary injury is aggravated by the absence of endothelial S1PR1 and alleviated by treatment with CYM-5442, suggesting a protective function of S1PR1 signaling during H1N1 infection. S1PR1 signaling does not affect viral clearance in mice infected with influenza. Mechanistically, the MAPK and NF-kB signaling pathways are involved in the ALI mediated by S1PR1 in infected mice. Combined administration of the S1PR1 agonist CYM-5442 and the antiviral drug oseltamivir provides maximum protection from ALI. Our current study provides insight into the molecular mechanism of S1PR1 mediating the ALI induced by H1N1 infection and indicates that the combination of S1PR1 agonist with antiviral drug could potentially be used as a therapeutic remedy for future H1N1 virus pandemics.
High-performance supercapacitors based on hierarchically porous carbons with a three-dimensional conductive network structure
Authors: Zou Jizhao , Tu Wenxuan , Zeng Shao-Zhong , Yao Yuechao , Zhang Qi , Wu Hongliang , Lan Tongbin , Liu Shiyu , Zeng Xierong
Published: March 2019

Novel clews of carbon nanobelts (CsCNBs), which have high specific surface area, three-dimensional conductive network structure, hierarchically porous framework and excellent hydrophilicity, have been successfully prepared by carbonization and KOH activation.
MnIV-Oxo complex of a bis(benzimidazolyl)-containing N5 ligand reveals different reactivity trends for MnIV-oxo than FeIV-oxo species
Authors: Denler Melissa C. , Massie Allyssa A. , Singh Reena , Stewart-Jones Eleanor , Sinha Arup , Day Victor W. , Nordlander Ebbe , Jackson Timothy A.
Published: March 2019

Investigations of a MnIV-oxo adduct supported by an N5 ligand with mixed pyridyl and benzimidazolyl ligation uncovers distinct reactivity trends for MnIV-oxo and FeIV-oxo adducts at parity of coordination sphere.
Deprotonation, insertion and isomerisation in the post-functionalisation of tris-pyridyl aluminates
Authors: Plajer Alex J. , Kopf Sara , Colebatch Annie L. , Bond Andrew D. , Wright Dominic S. , García-Rodríguez Raúl
Published: March 2019

Reactions of aluminate anions [EtAl(6-R-2-py)3]−(6-R-2-py = 6-R-2-pyridyl, R = Me or Br) with aldehydes (RCHO) or carboxylic acids (RCO2H) reveal how these species can be used to sense chirality and show a new aspect of isomerism in this area.
A Mediterranean diet does not alter plasma trimethylamineN-oxide concentrations in healthy adults at risk for colon cancer
Authors: Griffin Laura E. , Djuric Zora , Angiletta Chris J. , Mitchell Cassie M. , Baugh Mary E. , Davy Kevin P. , Neilson Andrew P.
Published: March 2019

A Mediterranean diet does not reduce circulating TMAO, a metabolite that is associated with chronic disease risks.
Modulating the electronic structure of a semiconductor to optimize its electrochemiluminescence performance
Authors: Wang Xiaohong , Zhang Miao , Huo Xiaolei , Zhao Wei , Kang Bing , Xu Jing-Juan , Chen Hongyuan
Published: March 2019

How the band gap and relaxation dynamics of a semiconductor affect its electrochemiluminescence performance was investigated.
Neutral and defect-induced exciton annihilation in defective monolayer WS2
Authors: Liu Huan , Wang Chong , Liu Dameng , Luo Jianbin
Published: March 2019

Fluorescence lifetime imaging technology is used to reveal the interaction between defects and exciton annihilation in monolayer WS2.
Mild and regioselective azol-halogenation of alkenes
Authors: Sun Kai , Luan Baixue , Liu Zhenhua , Zhu Jiali , Du Jikang , Bai Enqi , Fang Yu , Zhang Bing
Published: March 2019

An economical, practical, and environmentally benign azol-halogenation protocol of alkenes was developed, which provides a general approach to construct a series of structurally diverse β-halogenated amine derivatives.
Pd-Catalyzed directedCH-(hetero)arylation of cyclic α-amino acids: effects of substituents and the ring size
Authors: Hutskalova Valeriia , Mykhailiuk Pavel K.
Published: March 2019

A systematic study on the directed Pd-catalyzed (hetero)arylation of 26 substituted cyclic α-amino acids at the C(3)-atom was performed. For the first time, the 7- and 8-membered cyclic amino acids were introduced to C–H activation. 8–Aminoquinoline was used as a directing group.
Update on Preservice Training in Augmentative and Alternative Communication for Speech-Language Pathologists
Authors: Johnson Rachel K. , Prebor Jessica
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This is a report of the data from a current survey of academic programs in the United States, which provide preservice training in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for speech-language pathologists in the United States. A comparison of these findings to the last reported survey was made to identify changes and areas in need of further improvement following implementation of the recent changes to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Certification Standards of Clinical Practice.

Method

A survey was distributed to 279 speech-language pathology graduate training programs in the United States identified from the Council on Academic Accreditation program list.

Results

A total of 79 survey responses were received for a 28.4% response rate. There was a statistically significant increase in the percentage of programs reported to provide at least 1 course with primary content in AAC compared to the last survey performed. The reported inclusion of AAC content in other courses has also increased, and several programs report multiple AAC courses are now offered for specialized training. The majority of the programs report that less than half of the students graduate with clinical hours in AAC. The number of training grants and doctoral training remains limited to a few programs.

Conclusion

Academic programs have increased the preservice training in AAC over the past decade. Data indicate a critical need for clinical experience and doctoral training to meet the growing demands of speech-language pathologists.
Performance of model predictive control approach for single‐phase distributed energy grid integration with PQ control
Authors: Azab Mohamed
Published: March 2019

This study investigates the performance of finite control set–model predictive control (FCS–MPC) strategy employed for the control of active (P) and reactive power (Q) injected to the grid from a distributed energy resource using a single‐phase grid‐tied inverter. In the study, three different computational methods are utilised to create the orthogonal components of grid current and voltage in the stationary reference frame that are required for PQ computations. The obtained results indicate that FCS–MPC approach is effective to provide flexible control of the power injected to the grid. Moreover, the steady state and transient performance of P and Q components are affected by the method of creating the imaginary quadrature component. Owing to the results, the second‐order generalised integrator method provides the best steady state performance in terms of the lowest total harmonic distortion of grid current and minimum resultant peak–peak power ripple. While the quarter cycle phase delay method results in the worst transient behaviour owing to an unavoidable time delay of 0.005 s in case of 50 Hz supply system. In addition, the robustness of the FCS–MPC system is examined against parameters variation over a wide range. The overall FCS–MPC system is studied using PSIM® software.
New level doubling architecture of cascaded multilevel inverter
Authors: Yahya Ashraf , Usman Ali Syed M. , Ghani Arfan
Published: March 2019

This study presents a new topology of single‐phase cascaded multilevel inverter (CMLI). The proposed topology offers an optimised DC source utilisation, reduced switch count and curtailment of active switches in the conduction path for minimising power losses. It can produce almost twice the number of output voltage steps in comparison to the cascaded H‐bridge, hence named level‐doubling architecture, and can be operated as both symmetric and asymmetric CMLIs. Identical modules of proposed CMLI precludes requirement of a variety of semiconductors and provides ease for spare management. The modular design also facilitates mass production and enhances system reliability. Furthermore, the proposed topology can be easily extended to high‐voltage applications. The proposed design is tested for its practicability by simulations in MATLAB/Simulink and results are verified by experimental set up of a scaled prototype single‐phase model.
Multi‐port DC–DC converter for bipolar medium voltage DC micro‐grid applications
Authors: Kolahian Pouya , Tarzamni Hadi , Nikafrooz Amir , Hamzeh Mohsen
Published: March 2019

In this study, a new bipolar DC–DC converter based on the combination of a multi‐port dual active bridge and a neutral point clamp topology is proposed. This topology provides the integration of multiple renewable energy sources, with different types and capacities, to a bipolar medium voltage DC micro‐grid. The main advantages of the proposed topology are its high power density and the reduced number of switches with respect to the combination of different converters. Moreover, it provides isolation which is crucial for some micro‐grid power conditioning converters. The proposed converter is employed for a typical hybrid generation system consisting of a photovoltaic (PV) system, a fuel cell (FC), and a battery (BAT) considering the characteristics of each power generation system like maximum power point tracking of PV, optimum operating region of FC and over‐charge/discharge of BAT. In addition, the proposed converter is simulated in different power sharing modes in MATLAB/Simulink software environment. Eventually, the theoretical and simulation analyses are validated by experimental prototype results.
Initiierung klinischer Multicenter-Studien mit lokaler
Radiotracer-Herstellung
Authors: Zippel Claus , Neels Oliver C. , Hennrich Ute , Giesel Frederik L. , Kopka Klaus
Published: March 2019

Ziel des Aufsatzes ist es, wesentliche gesetzliche und regulatorische Aspekte zu
beleuchten, die bei multizentrischen klinischen Prüfungen mit kurzlebigen
PSMA-PET-Radiopharmaka im Hinblick auf die Etablierung einer dezentralen
Herstellung des klinischen Prüfpräparats zu beachten sind. Solche prospektiven
Studien spielen in der nuklearmedizinischen Forschung und Entwicklung eine
zunehmend wichtige Rolle. Um PSMA-PET-Tracer mit kurzer Halbwertzeit für die
Prostatakrebsdiagnostik weiter im behördlichen Zulassungsverfahren und
schließlich im Gesundheitssystem etablieren zu können, schließen sich
nuklearmedizinische Zentren zunehmend standortübergreifend zusammen, um in
angemessener Zeit hierfür die notwendige Anzahl von Studienpatienten zu
erreichen. Im Folgenden gehen wir auf das regulatorische Umfeld zur Herstellung
von PSMA-PET-Radiopharmaka als klinisches Prüfpräparat (engl. Investigational
Medicinal Product, IMP) ein, und führen am Beispiel der frühen multizentrischen
klinischen Prüfung der Phasen-I und -II „[68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 in
high-risk Prostate Cancer“ wesentliche Aspekte an, die bei der Initiierung einer
prospektiven Studie mit dezentraler PSMA-Tracer-Herstellung aus
radiopharmazeutisch-organisatorischer Sicht zu berücksichtigen und im Vorfeld
abzustimmen sind.