bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accuracy and application of milk fatty acid estimation with diffuse reflectance near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Melfsen Andreas , Holstermann Max , Haeussermann Angelika , Molkentin Joachim , Susenbeth Andreas , Hartung Eberhard
Published: May 2018

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has the potential to estimate contents of fatty acids (FA) in milk frequently at-farm or during daily milking routine. In this study, a total of 738 raw milk spectra collected from 33 Holstein cows over a period of 30 weeks were recorded. Reference data on FA composition in milk and in milk fat were analysed in laboratory. Calibration models were calculated for single FA and groups of FA in milk and in milk fat. Validation resulted in sufficient Ratio of Prediction to Deviation (RPD) values for some single FA and in higher RPD values for groups of FA when concentrations of FA in milk were predicted. Since the concentrations of most FA in milk are highly correlated with milk fat content, the prediction of FA contents in milk fat is more meaningful when independent predictions are intended. The accuracy of predicting single FA concentrations in milk fat is rather poor for most FA but still comparable to alternative analysing methods such as MIR analysis. The estimation of different groups of FA in milk fat resulted in an improved accuracy based on higher RPD values, which was sufficient to mirror the development in the different lactation phases. The course of cow individual long chain fatty acid (LCFA) concentration in the early lactation stage can be an indicator for body fat mobilisation. The accurate estimation of the extent and duration of body fat mobilisation in cow individuals was rather difficult with NIR predicted LCFA concentrations and would require a higher measuring frequency than applied in this study.
The fatty acid composition of Estonian and Latvian retail milk; implications for human nutrition compared with a designer milk
Authors: Henno Merike , Ariko Tiia , Kaart Tanel , Kuusik Sirje , Ling Katri , Kass Marko , Jaakson Hanno , Leming Ragnar , Givens D Ian , Sterna Vita , Ots Meelis
Published: May 2018

The study reported in this Research Communication compared retail milks’ FA profiles from two neighbouring countries, estimated the potential contributions of these milks and a designer milk (achieved by changing the diet of the dairy cow) to the recommended human dietary intake of FA, and predicted (based on the milk FA profile) methane emission from dairy cows. Retail milks in Estonia and Latvia were purchased from supermarkets monthly for one year. To compare the FA composition of retail milk with designer milk with an increased PUFA content, the bulk milk FA profile from a separate field trial was used. Milk FA concentrations of the two neighbouring countries were affected by state, season and their interaction, while the main influence on all these factors were different feeding practices (grazing availability, forage to concentrate ratio and legume-rich silages vs. maize silages). Three cups (600 mL; fat content 2·5 g/100 g) of Estonian, or Latvian retail milk or designer milk per day contributed more to the recommended intakes of saturated FA (SFA) (42·5, 42·7, 38·7%, respectively) than other FA. Compared to the retail milks, α-linolenic acid estimated intake was almost doubled by designer milk consumption (19·7% of adequate intake) without influencing summed intakes of SFA and trans FA. There were state and seasonal differences in the predicted methane outputs of dairy cattle based on retail milk FA. Although the FA profiles of retail milks in the two neighbouring countries were affected by state and season, an appreciable increase in human dietary intakes of beneficial fatty acids from milk, and concomitant reduction in methane emissions from dairy cows, can be achieved only by targeted feeding.
Molecular characterisation of the buffaloSCAPgene and its association with milk production traits in water buffaloes
Authors: Deng Tingxian , Ma Xiaoya , Pang Chunying , Liang Shasha , Lu Xingrong , Duan Anqin , Liang Xianwei
Published: May 2018

The study reported in this Research Communication was conducted to investigate the molecular characterisation of buffaloSCAPgene, expression analysis, and the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms and milk production traits in 384 buffaloes. Sequence analysis revealed theSCAPgene had an open reading frame of 3837 bp encoding 1279 amino acids. A ubiquitous expression profile ofSCAPgene was detected in various tissues with extreme predominance in the mammary gland during early lactation. Moreover, eleven SNPs in buffaloSCAPgene were identified, six of them (g.1717600A>G, g.1757922C>T, g.1758953G>A, g.1759142C>T, g.1760740G>A, and g.1766036T>C) were found to be significantly associated with 305-day milk yield. Thus, buffaloSCAPcould sever as a candidate gene affecting milk production traits in buffalo and the identified SNPs might potentially be genetic markers.
Characterisation of mango flavoured curd powder developed using spray drying technique
Authors: Basu Akash , Athmaselvi Kathirvelpillai A
Published: May 2018

This research communication describes the production of flavoured (Mango) curd powder. The mango flavoured curd powder was developed in two different temperatures (150 °C and 170 °C) in various ratios with one control curd sample. The final powder was obtained in high quality which can be used directly or as an ingredient. The percentage of lactic acid in the developed powder showed the healthy amount of probiotic present in it. The physical properties and probiotic growth of the mango flavoured curd powder, developed by spray drying technique, have been evaluated in this article. Various properties were analysed, including moisture content, water activity, dispersibility, bulk and tapped density, porosity, particle morphology, colour analysis, pH, functional group identification using FTIR, identification of the pure culture and % of lactic acid for 3 different Curd and Mango ratios (1:0·5, 1:1, 0·5:1), respectively with one control curd sample. The lactobacillus strain found in this newly developed flavoured powder was Lactobacillus curieae. Lactic acid percentage showed the powder to contain appropriate and healthy amount of probiotic and significant flavour. Future studies are focused on storage studies of the produced powder.
Proteomic analysis of the effects of lutein on mammary gland metabolism in dairy cows
Authors: Wang Caihong , Wang Chong , Liu Jianxin , Liu Hongyun
Published: May 2018

The aim of the research reported in this Research Communication was to identify differentially expressed proteins in dairy cows with normal and lutein diet and to elucidate the mechanisms of lutein-induced effects on bovine mammary gland metabolism using a comparative proteomic approach. Thirty-three differentially expressed proteins were identified from mammary gland of control diet-fed and lutein diet-fed dairy cows. Among these proteins, 15 were upregulated and 18 were downregulated in the lutein group. Functional analysis of the differentially expressed proteins showed that increased blood flow, depressed glycolysis, enhanced lactose anabolism, decreased fatty acid oxidation and up-regulated beta lactoglobulin expression were connected with lutein addition. These results suggested that the increased blood flow, reduced glucose catabolism, enhanced capacity for milk lactose synthesis, depressed fatty acid catabolism and increased expression of antioxidantion related protein may be the prime factors contributing to the increased milk production and enhanced immune status in lutein-fed dairy cows. This study provides molecular mechanism of dietary lutein in regulating lactation of dairy cows.
Genomic selection in dairy cattle simulated populations
Authors: Seno Leonardo de Oliveira , Guidolin Diego Gomes Freire , Aspilcueta-Borquis Rusbel Raul , Nascimento Guilherme Batista do , Silva Thiago Bruno Ribeiro da , Oliveira Henrique Nunes de , Munari Danísio Prado
Published: May 2018

Genomic selection is arguably the most promising tool for improving genetic gain in domestic animals to emerge in the last few decades, but is an expensive process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the economic impact related to the implementation of genomic selection in a simulated dairy cattle population. The software QMSim was used to simulate genomic and phenotypic data. The simulated genome contained 30 chromosomes with 100 cm each, 1666 SNPs markers equally spread and 266 QTLs randomly designated for each chromosome. The numbers of markers and QTLs were designated according to information available from Animal QTL (http://www.animalgenome.org/QTLdb) and Bovine QTL (http://bovineqtl.tamu.edu/). The allelic frequency changes were assigned in a gamma distribution with alpha parameters equal to 0·4. Recurrent mutation rates of 1·0e−4 were assumed to apply to markers and QTLs. A historic population of 1000 individuals was generated and the total number of animals was reduced gradually along 850 generations until we obtained a number of 200 animals in the last generation, characterizing a bottleneck effect. Progenies were created along generations from random mating of the male and female gametes, assuming the same proportion of both genders. Than the population was extended for another 150 generations until we obtained 17 000 animals, with only 320 male individuals in the last generation. After this period a 25 year of selection was simulated taking into account a trait limited by sex with heritability of 0·30 (i.e. milk yield), one progeny/cow/year and variance equal to 1·0. Annually, 320 bulls were mated with 16 000 dams, assuming a replacement rate of 60 and 40% for males and females, respectively. Selection and discard criteria were based in four strategies to obtain the EBVs assuming as breeding objective to maximize milk yield. The progeny replaced the discarded animals creating an overlapping generation structure. The selection strategies were: RS is selection based on random values; PS is selection based on phenotypic values; Blup is selection based on EBVs estimated by BLUP; and GEBV is selection based on genomic estimated breeding values in one step, using high (GBlup) and low (GBlupi) density panels. Results indicated that the genetic evaluation using the aid of genomic information could provide better genetic gain rates in dairy cattle breeding programs as well as reduce the average inbreeding coefficient in the population. The economic viability indicators showed that only Blup and GBlup/GBlupi strategies, the ones that used milk control and genetic evaluation were economic viable, considering a discount rate of 6·32% per year.
The monogeneanParadiplozoon ichthyoxanthonbehaves like a micropredator on two of its hosts, as indicated by stable isotopes
Authors: Sures B. , Nachev M. , Gilbert B.M. , Dos Santos Q.M. , Jochmann M.A. , Köster D. , Schmidt T.C. , Avenant-Oldewage A.
Published: May 2018

The analysis of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen has been used as a fingerprint for understanding the trophic interactions of organisms. Most of these studies have been applied to free-living organisms, while parasites have largely been neglected. Studies dealing with parasites so far have assessed the carbon and nitrogen signatures in endoparasites or ectoparasites of different hosts, without showing general trends concerning the nutritional relationships within host–parasite associations. Moreover, in most cases such systems involved a single host and parasite species. The present study is therefore the first to detail the trophic interactions of a freshwater monogenean–host model using δ13C and δ15N, where a single monogenean species infects two distinctly different hosts. Host fishes,Labeobarbus aeneusandLabeobarbus kimberleyensisfrom the Vaal Dam, South Africa, were assessed for the monogenean parasiteParadiplozoon ichthyoxanthon, individuals of which were removed from the gills of the hosts. The parasites and host muscle samples were analysed for signatures of δ13C and δ15N using an elemental analyser connected to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Host fish appear to use partly different food sources, withL. aeneushaving slightly elevated δ13C signatures compared toL. kimberleyensis, and showed only small differences with regard to their nitrogen signatures, suggesting that both species range on the same trophic level. Carbon and nitrogen signatures inP. ichthyoxanthonshowed that the parasites mirrored the small differences in dietary carbon sources of the host but, according to δ15N signatures, the parasite ranged on a higher trophic level than the hosts. This relationship resembles predator–prey relationships and therefore suggests thatP. ichthyoxanthonmight act as a micropredator, similar to blood-sucking arthropods such as mites and fleas.
EFFECTS OF PROFICIENCY SUBSKILLS ON PRAGMATIC DEVELOPMENT IN L2 CHINESE STUDY ABROAD
Authors: Xiao Feng , Taguchi Naoko , Li Shuai
Published: May 2018

This study is the first to examine contributions of proficiency subskills to pragmatic development. We used the latent growth curve modeling to reveal the causal relationships between proficiency subskills and pragmatic competence in 109 American learners of Chinese across two data points over three months abroad in China. Proficiency was measured by a standardized Chinese proficiency test with separate scores for listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Pragmatic competence was measured by a computerized oral discourse completion task assessing speech acts. Findings showed that pragmatic competence accrued along with increased proficiency. Changes of proficiency explained 54.1% of the variance in changes of pragmatic competence. Listening and speaking contributed more to pragmatic development than reading and writing did, indicating that when pragmatic competence is measured by an online spoken task, speaking and listening have stronger impacts.
CALL FOR PAPERS: NJL SPECIAL ISSUE: New perspectives on diachronic syntax in North Germanic
Authors: Håkansson David , Petzell Erik Magnusson , Engdahl Elisabet
Published: May 2018

The second issue of Volume 42 (autumn 2019) of the Nordic Journal of Linguistics will be a special issue devoted to diachronic syntax within the framework of generative grammar. The issue will be edited by David Håkansson, Erik Magnusson Petzell and Elisabet Engdahl.
Structural explanations in syntactic variation: The evolution of English negative and polarity indefinites
Authors: Burnett Heather , Koopman Hilda , Tagliamonte Sali A.
Published: May 2018

It is well documented that the study of differences in grammaticality contrasts across the world's languages has implications for the synchronic study of preferential/frequency contrasts within a single language. Our paper extends this observation, arguing that the cross-linguistic study of both grammaticality and frequency contrasts can be crucial to the proper characterization of patterns of diachronic change. As an illustration of this proposal, we investigate patterns of synchronic and diachronic variation in the use of postverbal negative quantifiers (e.g.,nothing, nobody, no book,etc., as in,I knownothing) versus negative polarity items under negation (e.g.,not … anything, not … anybody, not … any book, etc., as in,I don'tknowanything) in English. We show how a detailed comparison with similar patterns found elsewhere in closely related languages can give us a better understanding of which linguistic factors condition the use of these different kinds of indefinites in Modern Spoken English and a new perspective on a well-studied proposed change in progress in the English quantificational system.
A long way from New York City: Socially stratified contact-induced phonological convergence in Ganluo Ersu (Sichuan, China)
Authors: Chirkova Katia , Stanford James N. , Wang Dehe
Published: May 2018

Labov's classic study,The Social Stratification of English in New York City(1966), paved the way for generations of researchers to examine sociolinguistic patterns in many different communities (Bell, Sharma, & Britain, 2016). This research paradigm has traditionally tended to focus on Western industrialized communities and large world languages and dialects, leaving many unanswered questions about lesser-studied indigenous minority communities. In this study, we examine whether Labovian models for age, sex, and social stratification (Labov, 1966, 2001; Trudgill, 1972, 1974) may be effectively applied to a small, endangered Tibeto-Burman language in southwestern China: Ganluo Ersu. Using new field recordings with 97 speakers, we find evidence of phonological change in progress as Ganluo Ersu consonants are converging toward Chinese phonology. The results suggest that when an endangered language undergoes convergence toward a majority language due to intense contact, this convergence is manifested in a socially stratified way that is consistent with many of the predictions of the classic Labovian sociolinguistic principles.
Discourse motivations for pronominal and zero objects across registers in Vera'a
Authors: Schnell Stefan , Barth Danielle
Published: May 2018

The choice between pronominal and zero form for objects in the Oceanic language Vera'a is investigated quantitatively in texts from two registers with discourse topics of three different ontological class memberships. Discourse topicality is found to predict best the choice between pronoun and zero, outranking the factors of ontological class membership, antecedent form, and antecedent function. Contrary to current models of referent tracking, antecedent distance does not show any effect at all. It is concluded that (a) discourse structure and activation are not universally the most significant factors in referential choice and (b) ontological class and discourse topicality can be teased apart through appropriate text sampling, and it is the latter that is most significant. This bears important implications for the grammaticalization of object agreement and the typology of differential object marking.
Gerschenkron, Amsden, and Japan: The State in Late Development
Authors: KASZA GREGORY J.
Published: May 2018

The concept of late development is ubiquitous in political science. Scholars generally use the term to explain the state's role in the economy based upon the timing of a country's industrialization. Many consider Japan a quintessential example of state-driven late development. This article surveys the late development theories of Alexander Gerschenkron and Alice Amsden. It then appraises these theories based upon Japan's experience, demonstrating that neither accurately describes the state's role in Japan's industrialization.

To be clear, the argument is not that the state played no part in Japan's economic development. The question is whether late development offers an effective conceptual tool for explaining the causes, content, and timing of state action. There are many possible explanations of Japan's industrialization. Late development is only one of them, and not a very good one.
Party Institutions and Authoritarian Power-Sharing: Evidence from China's Provincial Leader Appointment
Authors: ZENG QINGJIE
Published: May 2018

Recent scholarship of comparative authoritarianism suggests that party institutions contribute to regime resilience by facilitating power-sharing among the party elites and preventing the paramount leaders’ abuse of power that undermines political stability. Existing studies tend to focus on the empirical association between party organizations and regime resilience, whereas the actual effects of institutions on elite behavior receive less attention. This paper conducts an in-depth study of China's appointment system to examine whether the CCP's power-sharing institutions indeed constrain the person- nel authority of the party's paramount leader. Using a unique dataset of provincial leadership appointment from 1992 to 2014, the empirical analysis reveals that the General Secretary enjoys what can be described as ‘constrained supremacy’ in the making of personnel decisions: the leader can boost his own position by providing favorable treatment to key supporters, but the formal arrangement of collective decision-making constrains rampant reward of patronage that would unsettle the balance among the regime's top elites. The findings of the paper lay bare the diffculty of capturing the inner workings of authoritarian politics with broad, cross-national indicators of regime type; they also illustrate the complicated interaction between formal institutions and informal, personal logic of exercising power in authoritarian regimes.
How Global Citizenries Think about Democracy: An Evaluation and Synthesis of Recent Public Opinion Research
Authors: SHIN DOH CHULL , KIM HANNAH JUNE
Published: May 2018

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, individual scholars and research institutes have conducted numerous public opinion surveys to monitor how global citizenries react to the process of democratization taking place in their own countries and elsewhere. This article reviews the various issues surrounding the divergent conceptions of democracy among political scientists and ordinary citizens, and synthesizes significant findings of the conceptual and empirical research based on these surveys. It also raises a set of new questions that future surveys should address to broaden and deepen our knowledge about citizen conceptions of democracy.
Why Election Monitoring Does Not Always Lead to Democratization: from the Perspective of Information on the International Standards of Electoral Integrity
Authors: YUKAWA TAKU
Published: May 2018

This paper theoretically presents a new structure from the perspective of information on international standards with regards to the actual impact that election monitoring has on political change. Specifically, there is the point of view that after the election monitoring, a report is published, and as a result information relating to international standards of electoral integrity becomes clear in the countries subject to monitoring. Then if it becomes clear, for example, to one country that it is unable to meet the standards required by the international community then that country might abandon trying to meeting international requirements and its inclination toward authoritarianism might strengthen. Therefore, the clarification of information on the international standards of fair electoral integrity as a result of election monitoring could result in a shift toward authoritarianism. Through a case study, this paper shows that new interpretations of democratization in Africa can be advanced by its theoretical framework. Many African countries started to get rid of one-party systems or military dictatorships in the 1990s and to introduce multi-party elections. As a result, they held founding elections. What is often pointed out is that compared to the founding elections, the degree of fraud increased at the second elections. Although there has been no appropriate explanation, this paper suggests a theoretical explanation for this puzzling trend.
Comprehensive Retrospective Voting in Mixed Electoral Systems: Evidence from the 2016 Korean Legislative Election
Authors: SHIN JUNGSUB
Published: May 2018

Performance-based retrospective voting is a fundamental mechanism of democracy. A good deal of scholarship has examined this electoral mechanism, but the extant studies have two omissions. First, there is little research that considers several retrospective evaluations together using an incumbent voting model. Second, there is little research that examines the difference in the effects of voters’ retrospective evaluations on two different ballots in mixed electoral systems. To fill these omissions, this article tests a comprehensive retrospective performance voting model in a mixed electoral system. Specifically, this article examines the effects of voters’ retrospective economic evaluations of economic performance at the national and personal levels, human rights, corruption, welfare protection, and foreign policy on vote choice for the incumbent party in the 2016 Korean legislative election in which voters had two ballots: one for the party list vote and one for the district vote. By using multinomial logistic regression models, this article finds that among the six retrospective evaluation categories, judgments of national economic performance at the national level, human rights, and foreign policy have a statistically significant impact on the likelihood of voting for the incumbent party in party list vote choice, whereas only voters’ evaluation of foreign policy matter in the district level vote decision. The results imply that Korean voters consider various aspects of government performance, such as the conditions of human rights and relationships with other countries, rather than just focusing on the economy. The retrospective voting behavior of Korean voters differs between party list and district level ballots.
Developmental Dynamics in Real Time
Authors: Carmichael Stephen W
Published: May 2018

Embryologic development is a dynamic process that has been previously studied by examining static (usually chemically-fixed) specimens at different time periods and then extrapolating results by assembling a series of static images. Recently, Amy McMahon, Willy Supatto, Scott Fraser, and Angelike Stathopoulos have developed new methods to look at developmental migration patterns in real time. They used an optimized imaging approach and quantitative methods to analyze a two hour period during which gastrulation occurred in the embryos of fruitflies (Drosophila). Specifically, they characterized the complex interactions between cells of the ectoderm and mesoderm by tracking the movements of over 1,500 cells, which involved the analysis of over 100,000 cell positions for each embryo!
Phase Identification and Mapping Based on Valence Loss EELS and ELNES
Authors: Twesten RD
Published: May 2018

Much of analytical TEM is based on elemental analysis of core-shell ionizations and their role in electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). In these techniques, integrals of the primary or secondary ionization signals (typically over many tens of eV in energy) are used to measure and map the elemental composition of probed sample areas.

In contrast, present-day STEM EELS systems are able to reveal spectral details with resolution in the range 0.1-1.0 eV. This means that EELS provides access to electronic structure and response information that goes beyond the simple elemental composition information of the integrated core-loss signals.
The Electron Gun its Saturation and Alignment—An Old Man's Saga
Authors: Chapman Steve
Published: May 2018

It was in October of 1964 when I first used a TEM, it was at the Siemens training school run by their agent Aeon Laboratories. A service engineer (we didn't call them technicians in those days), Robin Willis ran the course, five days for just alignment and cleaning! Robin, by the way, moved to University College London, Anatomy department and became the first person to publish on the tilting of biological samples. He actually invented tomography without knowing it! He used a fish tank within which he hung the negatives of his +60 to -60 tilt series. This procedure created a three dimensional image of the thin section, again I would guess, for the first time.
A Colorful New Way to Look at the Nuclear Pore!
Authors: Carmichael Stephen W
Published: May 2018

Light microscopy has many advantages and several disadvantages. One of the advantages is that different wavelengths are perceived as different colors, and with the proper use of dyes, filters, etc. several different structures can be imaged in the same object. One the major disadvantages is that the resolution is limited by the wavelength, a limit known as the diffraction barrier. Several recently-developed techniques have allowed light microscopy to “break” the diffraction barrier, a phenomenon known as “super-resolution.” Lothar Schermelleh, Peter Carlton, Sebastian Haase, Lin Shao, Lukman Winoto, Peter Kner, Brian Burke, Cristina Cardoso, David Agard, Mats Gustafsson, Heinhrich Leonardt, and John Sedat have created a new microscope that not only achieves super-resolution, but creates images in 3 dimensions and multiple colors. Not only that, but preparing specimens to examine with this microscope uses conventional methods, and they claim the microscope is easy to use!
Pushing the Envelope in Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Heaton Monteith G , Cleveland Jason P
Published: May 2018

Over the past decade, Atomic Force/Scanning Probe Microscopy (AFM/SPM) has emerged as the leading tool for investigations at the nanoscale – doing everything from imaging, to compositional differentiation, to explorations of molecular forces. However, aside from some interesting tweaks, add-ons and repackaging, the field has seen no fundamentally new instruments for several years. For the extremely high-resolution AFM/SPMs, there has literally been no completely new microscope for well over a decade. We report here on the new CypherTM AFM from Asylum Research (Figure 1). that delivers upgrades from the existing field of older AFM/SPMs on a variety of levels.
TEM Sample Preparation: An Interdisciplinary Website
Authors: Ayache Jeanne , Beaunier Luc , Boumendil Jacqueline , Ehret Gabrielle , Laub Danièle
Published: May 2018

Sample preparation is of central importance for the characterization of materials by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As a guide to researchers seeking practical help on the use of all types of TEM sample preparation techniques, we have created an Internet website. This website has been designed in French and is now translated into English. The website is accessible free of charge.

The TEMSAMPREP website, figure 1 http://temsamprep.in2p3.fr/, is the result of a synergistic effort of an atypical team of five electron microscopy scientists having different research specialties in physics, mineralogy, material science, and biology. They shared five years of human adventure in creating the website to transmit their 30 years of TEM experience to the international community.
New Ultra-Thin Pure Silicon Window Grids for Transmission Electron Microscopy Samples
Authors: Roussie James
Published: May 2018

Traditional sample preparation supports for electron microscopy have usually been thin films of amorphous or holey carbon stretched over a metallic grid. More recently introduced formats include organic polymers over metallic grids or silicon nitride and silicon oxide membranes over silicon frames. Here, the application of a nanofabricated silicon membrane technology as a novel sample preparation support for electron microscopy is described. These new supports offer several unique characteristics, including nanoscale thickness and pores, which may improve imaging and analysis of materials and biological molecules.

Recently developed technology permits the fabrication of pure silicon membranes that are among the world's thinnest materials—only 5 to 15 nm thick. See Striemer et al., Nature (2007) 445: 749-751 for more details. These silicon membranes are also among the world's first membrane technologies to offer nanoscale pores of 5 to 50 nm. This combination of characteristics is unique and not shared by the materials currently employed as sample supports. Moreover, it suggests that these silicon membranes could overcome many of the problems associated with current generation materials. For example, the holes of lacey and holey carbon grids (1-5 micron diameter) are incompatible with the size of most nanotubes and nanoparticles (2-40 nm). Obtaining background-free images of the entire nanostructure is rarely possible with this incompatible combination of sizes. Another significant issue is the inability to vigorously plasma clean samples on carbon grids. In some cases, this inability to remove organic contaminants can prevent high-resolution imaging of samples.
Preparing Biological Samples for Analysis by High Vacuum Techniques
Authors: Ostrowski SG , Paxon TL , Denault L , McEvoy KP , Smentkowski VS
Published: May 2018

Time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provide valuable complementary information about the molecular composition and morphology of biological samples, but both techniques are performed under high vacuum, which is not compatible with hydrated samples. Designing a suitable method to prepare biological (hydrated) samples for high vacuum conditions is important to obtain reliable and scientifically meaningful results from ToF-SIMS and SEM and to enable the routine use of these techniques for characterization. This article will compare freeze-drying and critical point drying for preparing adherent and nonadherent cells for ToF-SIMS and SEM analyses.
Pioneers in Optics: Friedrich Johann Karl Becke and Anders Jöns Ångström
Authors: Davidson Michael W
Published: May 2018

Friedrich Johann Karl Becke (1855-1931) was an Austrian geologist, mineralogist and petrologist from the University of Prague, who developed a method for determining the relationship between light refraction and refractive index differences observed in microscopic specimens. The phenomenon, which is now referred to as the formation of Becke lines, has been named for him. Becke also conducted important work on metamorphic rock recrystallization, and later contributed to the development of a descriptive terminology and classification of mineral assemblages in metamorphic rocks.
Tiny Bubbles
Authors: Carmichael Stephen W
Published: May 2018

This is not an article about the song made famous by the late (great) Don Ho. This is about a breakthrough in the understanding of how micrometer-sized bubbles can be stabilized for long periods of time. This can influence the taste, smell, and consistency of consumer products including food and cosmetics.

In two-phase systems, which can include air (as bubbles) suspended within a liquid, the structures of the dispersed (bubbles) and continuous (liquid) phases play a critical role in determining the properties of the material. There is also the function of time in that the microstructure of the dispersed phase continuously evolves toward a state of lower energy by minimizing the surface area between the two phases (referred to as the interfacial area). In the long term, this time evolution diminishes the usefulness of two-phase systems. Emilie Dressaire, Rodney Bee, David Bell, Alex Lips, and Howard Stone have devised a way to stabilize a two-phase system for time periods of a year or longer.
New Large Area Silicon Drift Detectors - Fast Analysis without Compromise
Authors: Collins Clair , Rowlands Neil , Statham Peter , Holland James
Published: May 2018

Recent advances in silicon drift detector (SDD) design have set a new benchmark for Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Not only do these detectors offer all the benefits users have come to expect from SDD—high count rates, liquid nitrogen-free analysis and excellent resolution—but large active areas and unique technology allow the user to collect EDS data at normal imaging beam currents and lower accelerating voltages in seconds.

Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS) has been used for many years to analyse the chemical composition of materials. Historically, EDS detectors used a bulk silicon crystal drifted with lithium. Although such Si(Li) detectors had exceptionally good performance, they had limited count rate capability and operated at very low temperatures thus requiring cooling with liquid nitrogen.
Remote Microscopy for Education and Outreach
Authors: Seraphin Supapan , Hernandez Steven , Chandler Gary , Bentley David , Dorame Kristina , Sellers Marilee
Published: May 2018

Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray analysis are standard tools in the nanotechnology world, but access to them by students is limited by high cost and lack of equipment. For this reason, among others, we have developed an on-demand remote access system to The University Spectroscopy and Imaging Facilities (USIF) of The University of Arizona (UA), by using Quartz PCI-Taipan. In general, Taipan is an online server based program that enables spectroscopy laboratories to store, organize, and manage data as well as users. Significantly, the Taipan system allows users, operators and researches to create their own online collaborations, which will, in many ways, fuse their research and outreach efforts. Therefore, we have incorporated the Taipan software to our recently installed Hitachi S-4800 FESEM and S-3400N variable-pressure SEM. With a high-speed internet connection, from any remote setting, the system allows students real-time access to view state-of-the-art microscopes, acquire data, and interact with the instrument operator. What is more, remote users can view up to six different screens including SEM image, SEM control screen, EDS, Raman spectrum, chamber scope, and microscope room as shown in Fig. 1. This offers a significant reduction of time, travel expenses, and more importantly, equipment cost.
Family networks and healthy behaviour: evidence from Nepal
Authors: Skordis Jolene , Pace Noemi , Vera-Hernandez Marcos , Rasul Imran , Fitzsimons Emla , Osrin David , Manandhar Dharma , Costello Anthony
Published: May 2018

Models of household decision-making commonly focus on nuclear family members as primary decision-makers. If extended families shape the objectives and constraints of households, then neglecting the role of this network may lead to an incomplete understanding of health-seeking behaviour. Understanding the decision-making processes behind care-seeking may improve behaviour change interventions, better intervention targeting and support health-related development goals. This paper uses data from a cluster randomised trial of a participatory learning and action cycle (PLA) through women’s groups, to assess the role of extended family networks as a determinant of gains in health knowledge and health practice. We estimate three models along a continuum of health-seeking behaviour: one that explores access to PLA groups as a conduit of knowledge, another measuring whether women’s health knowledge improves after exposure to the PLA groups and a third exploring the determinants of their ability to act on knowledge gained. We find that, in this context, a larger network of family is not associated with women’s likelihood of attending groups or acquiring new knowledge, but a larger network of husband’s family is negatively associated with the ability to act on that knowledge during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Some reflections on the IFRC's approach to migration and displacement
Authors: Moretti Sebastien , Bonzon Tiziana
Published: May 2018

This article provides an overview of the development of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) approach to migration and displacement. The focus of the IFRC and its member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (National Societies) in this regard has traditionally been on refugees and other so-called “displaced persons” – that is, people who have been compelled to flee their place or country of origin and for this reason are deemed to be particularly vulnerable. However, this focus has been extended recently, in the course of the past decade, to cover all people who find themselves in a vulnerable situation in the context of migration. The IFRC Migration Policy, which was adopted in 2009, has offered much-needed guidance to National Societies in dealing with all migrants, including irregular migrants. However, it is argued that there is a need today – taking into consideration the increasing number of displaced people worldwide and the numerous contexts in which National Societies are dealing with refugees, internally displaced persons or cross-border disaster-displaced persons – to better understand the programmatic aspects that are specific to displacement compared with migration. This is a necessary condition in view of the development of more adequate and effective responses to the vulnerabilities and needs of migrants and displaced persons.
Seismically Detected Ground Tilts Induced by Precipitation and Fluvial Processes: An Example From Taiwan
Authors: Yang Chu‐Fang , Chi Wu‐Cheng , Lai Ying‐Ju
Published: May 2018

Shear strains, among other ground motions, can be induced by weather‐related processes. As a result, broadband seismic data offer a unique tool for understanding these natural weather events. Here we used continuous seismic, meteorological, and stream data to analyze weather‐related ground motions during typhoons and rainy seasons in Taiwan. In addition to high‐frequency signals, we detected ultralong period seismic signals at the station Mahsi (MASB) during three meteorological events: Typhoon Kalmaegi in 2008, Typhoon Morakot in 2009, and the East Asian rainy season in 2012. Seismic velocity signals with frequencies lower than 0.3 mHz correlate with precipitation and with the time derivative of the water level in a nearby river. We converted the seismic signals to ground tilt and found that the tilt correlates with the time history of river water level, which fluctuates with precipitation. The seismically derived tilt ranges from 10−8 to 10−7 radians, consistent with an analytic circular loading model, indicating water level fluctuations of higher than 1 m in the small river 30 m away from MASB. To quantify precipitation using seismic data, we successfully modeled seismic waveforms using an empirical Green's function method, which gives good fits to both main event seismic waveforms and precipitation time history. This work demonstrates that continuous recordings from broadband seismometers may help determine local fluvial water load and could be useful for decadal rainfall change research.
Analysis of the Economic Ripple Effect of the United States on the World due to Future Climate Change
Authors: Zhang Zhengtao , Li Ning , Xu Hong , Chen Xi
Published: May 2018

Solomon Hsiang's study, which was recently published in Science, has caused extensive discussion by indicating that future climate change may exert influences on the agricultural yield, labor supply, and energy demand, among others of the United States. Based on the above study, we use an optimized input‐output model to evaluate the economic ripple effect (ERE) of the United States on the world due to climate change under Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 with different increases in the annual mean temperature (AMT; 1, 1.5, and 2°C) between 2020 and 2100. The results show that if a loss of gross domestic product of 0.88% occurs with a 1°C AMT increase in the United States, the ERE of approximately 0.12% will be generated onto the global gross domestic product; with a 2°C increase, the ERE will triple. The time variation trend of the ERE conforms to the future variations in AMT. The degree of this effect on other regions of the world is closely related to the trade links between the United States and economic aggregates. Among these regions, Canada shows the greatest impact, followed by China. The ERE that China suffers may increase by 4.5 times as the AMT in the United States increases from 1 to 2°C. In cold regions, the benefit from global warming will decrease due to the ERE from other regions, which will inhibit their economic development. This paper aims to provide new perspectives and data‐based support for regions around the world to cope with climate change and to develop policies by studying the ERE behind international trade.
Faster Lava Flows, Explosive Eruptions Begin at Kīlauea
Authors: Loomis Ilima
Published: May 2018

Scientists say the dramatic increase in flows is likely due to the arrival of younger, hotter magma in the system.
Effects of Oblique Wave Normal Angle and Noncircular Polarization of Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves on the Pitch Angle Scattering of Relativistic Electrons
Authors: Lee Dae‐Young , Shin Dae‐Kyu , Choi Cheong‐Rim
Published: May 2018

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves have long been considered major plasma waves that can cause the atmospheric precipitation of electrons. In this work, we perform test particle calculations of the interactions between relativistic electrons and EMIC waves with oblique wave normal angle (WNA) and noncircular polarization. We demonstrate advective and diffusive changes in electron pitch angle (PA) under a uniform background magnetic field for broad ranges of kinetic energy (KE), PA, WNA, and ellipticity. First, we find that the direction of advective PA changes can be of either sign, being positive (negative) for a lower (higher) initial PA. Second, an oblique WNA can enhance the advection effects on PA changes, particularly for KE ~2.5–4 MeV and a broad range of initial PAs. In contrast, a more linear polarization can decrease advection for a broad range of KE and initial PAs. Third, phase space trajectories depend strongly on specific values of WNA, ellipticity, KE, and PA. Sometimes a phase‐averaged PA change is a net result of a time‐dependent mixture of the phase trapping, untrapping, and bunching effects. Lastly, the overall effect of finite WNA and ellipticity on diffusive PA changes is less systematic than on advection. Nevertheless, we identify a range of KE and PA where the diffusion tends to increase for a larger WNA and decrease for a more linear polarization. The results in this work emphasize a strong necessity for incorporating precise information on WNA and ellipticity into evaluations of electron scattering by EMIC waves.
Antarctic Cloud Macrophysical, Thermodynamic Phase, and Atmospheric Inversion Coupling Properties at McMurdo Station: I. Principal Data Processing and Climatology
Authors: Silber Israel , Verlinde Johannes , Eloranta Edwin W. , Cadeddu Maria
Published: May 2018

Polar cloud radiative forcing plays a crucial role in the determination of the surface and atmospheric energy balance through processes which are not yet fully understood. While there is a broad and fairly complete database of cloud measurements from several Arctic sites and field campaigns through the past two decades, the recent one‐year long U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) West Antarctic Radiation Experiment (AWARE) field campaign at McMurdo Station has provided a hitherto unmatched multiple‐instrument set of ground‐based Antarctic cloud measurements. These observations are processed and used to derive the main cloud and liquid containing layer properties: occurrence fraction, cloud persistence and boundaries, and configuration relative to temperature and moisture inversions. The results are compared to previous Arctic observations. It is concluded that clouds and liquid‐bearing layers over McMurdo Station are essentially less prevalent and persistent than their Arctic counterparts. However, they typically have higher bases and show a weaker temperature dependence than in the Arctic, suggesting a more “pristine” Antarctic atmosphere. In addition, the clouds (including both water phases) typically extend toward relatively lower altitudes, and their relation to inversions near cloud top is often similar to those observed in the Arctic.