bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of moisture and thermal degradation on the activation energy of oil–paper insulation in frequency domain spectroscopy measurement
Authors: Gao Jun , Yang Lijun , Wang Youyuan , Liu Xiao , Du Yongyong , Yao Renyun
Published: March 2016

Frequency domain spectroscopy (FDS) is widely used to diagnose the condition of transformer oil–paper insulation. However, FDS measurements are highly temperature dependent. The master curve technique is the most common method to remove the temperature effect on FDS, but the reliability of this method is largely dependent on the value of the activation energy, which can be affected by moisture content and thermal degradation degree. To understand the effects of these two factors on the activation energy, FDS measurements at different temperatures were performed on oil‐impregnated pressboards with different thermal degradation degrees and moisture contents. The activation energies of the pressboards were calculated using the Arrhenius equation. Results show that they vary between 0.88 and 1.06 eV along with thermal degradation degree and moisture. The two‐way ANOVA indicates that the effects of these two factors on activation energy are not significant at 95% confidence level when the degree of polymerisation (DP) changes from 415 to 1300 and when the moisture does not exceed 4%. The average activation energy (0.95 eV) can be utilised to generalise the Arrhenius equation to better eliminate the temperature effects. Finally, FDS measurements on a model transformer are performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
ALARM: average low‐latency medium access control communication protocol for smart feeders
Authors: Heidari Mohammand , Balachandran Thanatheepan , Aravinthan Visvakumar , Namboodiri Vinod , Chen Guo
Published: March 2016

The smart distribution system initiative requires higher usage of a distribution feeder‐level communication infrastructure to improve system automation. This study proposes a hybrid medium access control (MAC) protocol to manage time‐driven and event‐driven distribution system applications. This MAC protocol, ALARM, for high‐priority events/situational awareness requirements is proposed based on the power system properties. ALARM protocol utilises unique properties of radial feeders and reduces average communication congestion, latency to collect all messages and processing time. This work shows the advantage of using cyber and power system properties to improve automation enabled future distribution system operations.
Precise equivalent model of small hydro generator cluster and its parameter identification using improved Grey Wolf optimiser
Authors: Zhou Jianzhong , Zhu Wenlong , Zheng Yang , Li Chaoshun
Published: March 2016

With the total installed capacity of small hydro generator cluster (SHGC) continues to grow rapidly, the effect of SHGC will have affected to the security and stability of the main network in China, especially to power oscillations of passageway of ultra‐high‐voltage AC and DC. Thus, a precise equivalent model of SHGC is proposed in this study. In the proposed model, the fifth‐order model of generator is adopted as the equivalent generator model, the excitation system is simplified into proportional feedback control model and exponential load model is used as equivalent load model. In addition, Grey Wolf optimiser with chaotic local search is designed to identify the parameters of the equivalent model. Finally, the proposed equivalent technique is applied in one simulation experiment and one practical experiment. The experimental results demonstrate that the validity and accuracy of the proposed equivalent model and identification method in solving dynamic equivalent of SHGC in engineering practice.
Investigation and mathematical modelling of the impact of incentive signals to consumers on their consumption, load forecast and network operation
Authors: Konotop Irina , Waczowicz Simon , Klaiber Stefan , Bretschneider Peter , Mikut Ralf , Westermann Dirk
Published: March 2016

Due to increasing contribution of renewable energy sources to the overall energy production, future control of energy consumption should achieve the principle ‘generation following demand’. Within this approach, also known as demand side management, consumers are prompted to alter demands through an incentive signal. This work addresses the use of variable price as such incentive signal to influence power consumption of private households in a controllable manner. The mathematical modelling is based on simulations of optimal power flow and includes several optimisation constraints and criteria, according to which both direct and inverse models are constructed. Therefore, the problem of power signals and price signals is considered as fully‐coupled. The analysis is performed for a model, representing typical conditions and scenarios of a residential network with household customers, including solar and wind power plants. The optimisation criteria are constructed with the emphasis on distribution system operators. The results of computations, performed with simplified and extended optimisation models, show a pronounced effect on the overall power consumption, reduction of the extreme values and minimisation of the peaks. Finally, further steps are proposed to extend the model to target various optimisation constraints.
Three‐layer coordinated control of the hybrid operation of static var compensator and static synchronous compensator
Authors: Li Mingming , Li Wenlei , Zhao Jia , Chen Wei , Yao Wanting
Published: March 2016

Aiming at the problems that static var compensator cannot suppress the voltage flicker and the cost of static synchronous compensator is expensive, a three‐layer hybrid reactive power compensation scheme was proposed in this study based on the expert‐decision, differential‐slope voltage regulation, and the expert‐decision subsystem combining with fuzzy self‐tuning proportional–integral (PI) control. By switching in a dynamic load which can always change the bus voltage, the whole system was simulated under the much reactive power shortage and the less shortage. The simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed coordinated control method in the reactive compensation and the suppression of the voltage flicker.
Thyristor based bridge‐type fault current limiter for fault current limiting capability enhancement
Authors: Ghanbari Teymoor , Farjah Ebrahim , Tashakor Nima
Published: March 2016

This study deals with a developed thyristor based bridge‐type fault current limiter (TBFCL), in which the main fault current limiting function is relegated to a limiting circuit controlled by a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR). Since SCR is a reliable power electronic switch and can be found in high ratings, the proposed TBFCL can be utilised in higher ratings in comparison with other proposed BFCLs. The TBFCL limits fault current in two steps; (i) by a fully controlled DC reactor during transient fault interval (ii) by a SCR based current limiting circuit during steady state fault interval. The TBFCL has a bridge‐type DC reactor controlled by an isolated gate bipolar transistor and a current limiting circuit in parallel with the bridge controlled by a thyristor. Upon fault occurrence, the DC reactor limits increasing rate of the fault current, while the generated over voltage activates auto‐triggering control circuit of the SCRs. Therefore, the fault current is limited through the SCR current limiting path and the DC reactor path is interrupted. Analysis of the proposed TBFCL is presented in detail. Simulation and experimental results verify the performance of the TBFCL.
Value‐based reserve market settlement
Authors: Nouri Alireza , Hosseini Seyed Hamid
Published: March 2016

The main focus of this study is on reserve market settlement in an electricity market with marginal pricing scheme as the pricing mechanism. Following a day‐ahead market clearing, the marginal prices are found using the appropriate Lagrange multipliers as the bi‐products of the optimisation process. The payments to energy and reserve providers can then be found based on these prices. However, it is hard to find an appropriate settlement scheme that provides the fair and justifiable consumer payments based on marginal pricing scheme considering the actual reserve functions in power systems. In this study, a reserve marginal pricing that is based on a proper reserve marginal price definition and considers the free market requirements and accounts for the lost opportunity of selling the convertible products is proposed. Also, a value‐based reserve market settlement scheme is proposed in this study that is justifiable for customers and best suits the actual reserve functions in the system. In the proposed settlement scheme, the reserves are eliminated one after the other and the loss of load (LL) and generation is then calculated for market participants in different contingencies via a novel optimal power flow that finds the fair and optimal LLs and generations. The reserve market is then settled based on the LLs and generations in different contingencies. The proposed reserve pricing and settlement schemes are tested on a 3‐bus system, a 6‐bus system, and the 24‐bus reliability test system to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Short‐term reliability evaluation of protection systems in smart substations based on equivalent state spaces following semi‐Markov process
Authors: Li Shenghu , Hua Yuting
Published: March 2016

The reliability analysis of protection systems in smart substations helps to improve their designed functions, whose difficulty lies in the complex configuration with various components. To avoid the dimension disaster, the state spaces of the protection systems may be aggregated to several lumped states. When the states do not satisfy the balance criterion, it is newly found that the lumped states not following the Markov process introduce notable error to the short‐term reliability. To avoid this, an equivalence algorithm based on the semi‐Markov process (SMP) is newly proposed. It is derived that the residence time distributions of the lumped states are the weighted averages of the distributions of the states to be lumped. The kernel matrix of the SMP, the instantaneous probability, and its sensitivity, are derived from the transfer rates and distributions. The numerical results validate accuracy of the proposed algorithm, which shows that the traditional model underestimates the availability. It underestimates sensitivity of the time source (TS), while overestimates those of the others. The probabilities of the proposed algorithm are more sensitive to the TS, while those of the traditional model are more sensitive to the merging unit and the ethernet switch.
Robust multiple‐input multiple‐output radar waveform design in the presence of clutter
Authors: Liu Yuchun , Wang Hongyan , Wang Jun
Published: March 2016

The work presented here addresses the problem of robust waveform design for collocated multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) radar in the presence of clutter. Robust design is needed due to the fact that MIMO radar waveform design is often sensitive to estimation errors in the initial parameter estimates, which tries to systematically ease this sensitivity by including a parameter estimation error model into the optimisation issue. Following the min–max approach, the robust MIMO radar waveform design is considered in this study to improve the worst‐case estimation accuracy in the presence of clutter on the basis of the Cramér–Rao bound. To tackle the resultant NP‐hard problem, a new diagonal loading based iterative method is developed to design the waveform covariance matrix for improving the worst‐case accuracy, each step in which can be formulated into a convex optimisation issue, and hence can be solved efficiently. An optimal solution to the initial issue can be obtained via the least squares fitting of the solution acquired by the iterative algorithm. Numerical simulations show the efficiency of the proposed method.
Measurement of the dynamic response of MEMS thermal actuators based on blurred still images by wavelet transform
Authors: Li Xiuyuan , Zhao Yulong , Hu Tengjiang , Cheng Rongjun , Bai Yingwei
Published: March 2016

A novel method to experimentally determine the dynamic response of MEMS thermal actuators based on blurred still images of motion is presented. The apex displacement of thermal actuators proves to be a first‐order linear system, whose dynamic response is depended on the system coefficient. In the frequency domain, the system coefficient of actuators excited by sinusoidal wave can be obtained from the fitted curve of vibration amplitude against frequency. An improved wavelet transform detection algorithm is proposed to acquire the vibration amplitude from blurred images taken by an ordinary camera. Compared with the conventional optical measurement method, the proposed method uses only still images instead of complex laser and optical reflecting systems, which has great potential for wide application. For the actuator in this study, the measured response time by blurred images and high‐speed camera method are 14.87 and 15.25 ms with a deviation of 2.5%, which indicates the proposed method can obtain sufficient accurate results without sophisticated equipment and high cost.
2.1 C—C and C—X Bond Formation by Allylic C—H Activation
Authors: Liu G. , Chen P.
Published: March 2016

This chapter documents recent studies into allylic functionalization via C—H activation processes catalyzed by metals such as palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, copper, and iron. The focus is on the formation of C—C, C—N, and C—O bonds reported in the last two decades, but more recent developments involving the formation of other C—X bonds, such as C—F and C—Si are also highlighted.
2.4 C—C Bond Formation Using Radicals
Authors: Chan W.-W. , Yu W.-Y.
Published: March 2016

Direct C>—H carbo-functionalization of (hetero)aromatic rings, as an atom-efficient route for regioselective C>—C bond formation, is receiving current attention. In this review, radical coupling of unfunctionalized (het)arenes for C>—C bond formation is described. Recent progress on the palladium-catalyzed regioselective C>—H acylation of arenes with acyl radicals, as well as the transition-metal-free C>—H arylation using aryl radicals, are presented. Some remarkable advances in the Minisci-type radical C>—H alkylation of heterocycles are also discussed.
2.5 C—C Bond Formation by Double C—H Activation
Authors: Xia J.-B. , You S.
Published: March 2016

This chapter focuses on transition-metal-catalyzed aryl—aryl bond-forming reactions via double C—H activation. Biaryl scaffolds have received much attention as a privileged structure broadly found in biologically active natural products, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and functional molecules in material sciences, etc. Transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are the most general and efficient methods to synthesize biaryls, but both coupling partners need to be preactivated in transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions when compared with simple arenes. Over the past decade, significant advances have been made in transition-metal-catalyzed biaryl synthesis using simple arenes as substrates via C—H activation. This chapter summarizes representative examples of transition-metal-catalyzed biaryl synthesis using two simple arenes as substrates via double C—H activation.
2.6 C—C Bond Formation by C—H Carboxylation or Carbonylation
Authors: Zhang H. , Liu C. , Lei A.
Published: March 2016

The direct C—H carbonylation or carboxylation involving carbon monoxide is an ideal and environmentally friendly method toward the synthesis of carboxylic acids and derivatives. Within this emerging area, a number of significant examples have been reported, which are summarized in this chapter. Additionally, the recent progress on C—H carboxylation utilizing carbon dioxide is included in this review.
2.12 C—B Bond Formation by Arene C—H Activation
Authors: Ros A. , Fernandez R. , Lassaletta J. M.
Published: March 2016

This chapter provides a survey of the most useful available methodologies for the direct borylation of arenes and hetarenes, which proceed in all cases via a C—H activation event mediated by transition metals such as rhodium, iridium, or palladium. The borylation reactions have been organized into two main groups: (1) direct borylations with regioselectivity mainly controlled by steric factors, and (2) site-selective borylation, with regioselectivity driven by directing effects.
Density Functional Computations on 6-Aminouracil: Effect of Amino Group in the 6th Position on the Watson–Crick Base Pair Uridine–Adenosine
Authors: Palafox M. Alcolea , Rastogi V. K.
Published: March 2016

The predicted infrared and Raman spectra of 6-aminouracil in the solid state by density functional theory methods were analyzed and compared with the experimental spectra. The effect of amino substitution in the sixth position of uridine on the stability of the Watson–Crick (WC) base pairs with deoxyadenosine was evaluated. Different WC pairs of 5-aminouridine, 6-aminouridine, and uridine with deoxyadenosine were simulated, and the counterpoise-corrected interaction energies were determined. 6-Aminouridine produces a stronger WC pair than that involving uridine, and its high dipole moment facilitates interaction with water molecules.
Temporal dependence of burn severity assessment in Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) forest of northern Mongolia using remotely sensed data
Authors: Chu Thuan , Guo Xulin , Takeda Kazuo
Published: March 2016

Assessing burn severity is critical for understanding both the short- and long-term effects of fire disturbance on forest ecosystems. This study proposed a methodology to reconstruct burn severity from the Landsat imagery at different time lags after a fire (≤18 years) in Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) forest. The estimated accuracy of the burn severity models we developed indicated strong effects of forest recovery, image acquisition date and remote sensing predictors on the burn severity assessment. In the first several years after the fire, the dNBR (differenced Normalized Burn Ratio) was the most important remotely sensed index for assessing burn severity, followed by the dNDMI (differenced Normalized Difference Moisture Index) and dNDVI (differenced Normalized Difference Vegetation Index). However, the dNDMI was more important than the dNBR and dNDVI in explaining burn severity when larch forest regrowth dominated. The overall accuracy of the classification and regression tree models showed a decrease in accuracy from 83% to 62% depending on the lag times of burn severity assessment. The high severity class had the lowest omission and commission errors, followed by the low and moderate classes among lag times. Our evaluation of model transferability and thresholds of burn severity index demonstrates the advantage of the proposed methodology for rapid assessment of fire effects in boreal larch forest that will assist in understanding the complex relationships among forest fires and ecological processes in Eurasian boreal ecosystems.
Discrete gene replication events drive coupling between the cell cycle and circadian clocks
Authors: Paijmans Joris , Bosman Mark , ten Wolde Pieter Rein , Lubensky David K.
Published: March 2016

Significance

Huygens famously showed that two mechanically connected clocks tend to tick in synchrony. We uncovered a generic mechanism that can similarly phase-lock two rhythmic systems present in many living cells: the cell cycle and the circadian clock. DNA replication during the cell cycle causes protein synthesis rates to show sharp, periodic jumps that can entrain the clock. To faithfully keep time in the face of these disturbances, circadian clocks must incorporate specific insulating mechanisms. We argue that, in cyanobacteria, the presence of multiple, identical chromosome copies and the clock’s core protein-modification oscillator together play this role. Our results shed new light on the complex factors that constrain the design of biological clocks.
GOLDEN 2-LIKE transcription factors for chloroplast development affect ozone tolerance through the regulation of stomatal movement
Authors: Nagatoshi Yukari , Mitsuda Nobutaka , Hayashi Maki , Inoue Shin-ichiro , Okuma Eiji , Kubo Akihiro , Murata Yoshiyuki , Seo Mitsunori , Saji Hikaru , Kinoshita Toshinori , Ohme-Takagi Masaru
Published: March 2016

Significance

Stomata regulate the efficiency of photosynthesis and affect plants’ resistance to air pollutants. However, the transcriptional regulation of the genes modulating stomatal movement has not been well characterized. Using chimeric repressor gene-silencing technology (CRES-T), we identified another function of the previously studied regulators of chloroplast development GOLDEN 2-LIKE1 (GLK1) and GLK2, as positive regulators of stomatal movement and K
+
in
channel genes. The chimeric GLK repressors induce closed stomata and tolerance to ozone exposure and reduced gene expression and activity of K
+
in
channels in guard cells. Guard cell-specific expression of the chimeric GLK repressor may be a useful tool to confer resistance to air pollutants.
Defects in lysosomal maturation facilitate the activation of innate sensors in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Monteith Andrew J. , Kang SunAh , Scott Eric , Hillman Kai , Rajfur Zenon , Jacobson Ken , Costello M. Joseph , Vilen Barbara J.
Published: March 2016

Significance

Activation of innate sensors by self-antigen contributes to autoimmunity, although how intracellular sensors are chronically exposed to self-antigen has remained unknown. Here, we identify a previously unidentified defect in which lupus-prone macrophages fail to mature the lysosome, promoting the accumulation of apoptotic debris-containing IgG–immune complexes (IgG-ICs). Interestingly, macrophages from other autoimmune diseases accumulate IgG-ICs, indicating that lysosomal defects may underlie multiple autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, the prolonged intracellular residency chronically activates Toll-like receptors and permeabilizes the phagolysosomal membrane, allowing activation of cytosolic sensors. These findings identify lysosomal maturation as a unique defect in MRL/lpr mice that impacts multiple events known to underlie SLE, including pathogenic cytokine secretion.
Conditional vulnerability of plant diversity to atmospheric nitrogen deposition across the United States
Authors: Simkin Samuel M. , Allen Edith B. , Bowman William D. , Clark Christopher M. , Belnap Jayne , Brooks Matthew L. , Cade Brian S. , Collins Scott L. , Geiser Linda H. , Gilliam Frank S. , Jovan Sarah E. , Pardo Linda H. , Schulz Bethany K. , Stevens Carly J. , Suding Katharine N. , Throop Heather L. , Waller Donald M.
Published: March 2016

Significance

Human activities have elevated nitrogen (N) deposition and there is evidence that deposition impacts species diversity, but spatially extensive and context-specific estimates of N loads at which species losses begin remain elusive. Across a wide range of climates, soil conditions, and vegetation types in the United States, we found that 24% of >15,000 sites were susceptible to N deposition-induced species loss. Grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands were susceptible to species losses at lower loads of N deposition than forests, and susceptibility to species losses increased in acidic soils. These findings are pertinent to the protection of biodiversity and human welfare and should be considered when establishing air quality standards.
Coastal landforms and accumulation of mangrove peat increase carbon sequestration and storage
Authors: Ezcurra Paula , Ezcurra Exequiel , Garcillán Pedro P. , Costa Matthew T. , Aburto-Oropeza Octavio
Published: March 2016

Significance

Despite their small height and stunted appearance, mangroves along the desert coasts of Baja California have compensated for sea-level rise during the last two millennia by accreting on their own root remains. In doing so, they have accumulated very large amounts of carbon in their sediments (900–3,000 Mg C/ha), often higher than that accumulated under tall, lush, tropical mangrove forests. Mangroves represent the largest carbon sink per unit area in Mexico’s northern drylands. Our results highlight the global importance of mangrove conservation in this region.
Oral activity of a nature-derived cyclic peptide for the treatment of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Thell Kathrin , Hellinger Roland , Sahin Emine , Michenthaler Paul , Gold-Binder Markus , Haider Thomas , Kuttke Mario , Liutkevičiūtė Zita , Göransson Ulf , Gründemann Carsten , Schabbauer Gernot , Gruber Christian W.
Published: March 2016

Significance

Multiple sclerosis (MS) imposes substantial economic burdens on patients, their families, and society. Until now, there are few therapies available, but often unattractive parenteral application or severe side effects are serious issues. This study highlights the use of circular peptides as orally active T-cell-specific immunosuppressive therapeutics against the MS model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, without inducing major adverse effects. Our work provides a proof of principle that nature-derived cyclic peptides serve as oral active therapeutics, utilizing their intrinsic bioactivity and stable three-dimensional structure. Cyclotides are considered a combinatorial peptide library and they can be anticipated to complement the existing collections of natural products that are used in drug discovery.
Global fishery prospects under contrasting management regimes
Authors: Costello Christopher , Ovando Daniel , Clavelle Tyler , Strauss C. Kent , Hilborn Ray , Melnychuk Michael C. , Branch Trevor A. , Gaines Steven D. , Szuwalski Cody S. , Cabral Reniel B. , Rader Douglas N. , Leland Amanda
Published: March 2016

Significance

What would extensive fishery reform look like? In addition, what would be the benefits and trade-offs of implementing alternative approaches to fisheries management on a worldwide scale? To find out, we assembled the largest-of-its-kind database and coupled it to state-of-the-art bioeconomic models for more than 4,500 fisheries around the world. We find that, in nearly every country of the world, fishery recovery would simultaneously drive increases in food provision, fishery profits, and fish biomass in the sea. Our results suggest that a suite of approaches providing individual or communal access rights to fishery resources can align incentives across profit, food, and conservation so that few trade-offs will have to be made across these objectives in selecting effective policy interventions.
Electric field-induced superconducting transition of insulating FeSe thin film at 35 K
Authors: Hanzawa Kota , Sato Hikaru , Hiramatsu Hidenori , Kamiya Toshio , Hosono Hideo
Published: March 2016

Significance

One of the key strategies for obtaining higher superconducting critical temperature (
T
c
) is to dope carriers into an insulator parent material with strong electron correlation. Here, we examined electrostatic carrier doping to insulator-like thin (∼10-nm-thick) FeSe epitaxial films using an electric double-layer transistor (EDLT) structure. The maximum
T
c
obtained is 35 K, which is 4× higher than that of bulk FeSe. This result demonstrates that EDLTs are useful tools to explore the ultimate
T
c
for insulating parent materials, and opens a way to explore high-
T
c
superconductivity, where carrier doping is difficult by conventional chemical substitution.
Spatial patterns of cutaneous vibration during whole-hand haptic interactions
Authors: Shao Yitian , Hayward Vincent , Visell Yon
Published: March 2016

Significance

In animals and machines, our understanding of tactile function has hitherto been based primarily on information collected at, or near to, the region of contact of a tactile probe with an object. Using the human hand as a case in point, we show that during natural interactions with ordinary objects, mechanical energy originating at finger contact propagates through the whole hand, and that vibration signals that are captured remotely contain sufficient information to discriminate between gestures and between the touched objects. Our results shed light on possible tactile processes in humans and animals and may yield advances in tactile sensing for robotic manipulation or lead to novel paradigms for wearable computing.
CRF binding protein facilitates the presence of CRF type 2α receptor on the cell surface
Authors: Slater Paula G. , Cerda Cledi A. , Pereira Luis A. , Andrés María E. , Gysling Katia
Published: March 2016

Significance

Corticotropin releasing factor binding protein (CRF-BP) belongs to the CRF family that is fundamental in the stress response and in the interaction between stress and addiction. The mechanisms by which CRF-BP regulates the CRF system are not fully understood. Most G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are located mainly intracellularly and depend on specific escort proteins for their trafficking to the cell surface. CRF
2α
R is also located intracellularly; however, no escort protein regulating its presence on the cell surface has been described. We show that CRF-BP interacts with CRF
2α
R, acting as an escort protein, increasing the presence of the receptor on the cell surface.
Measuring and modeling diffuse scattering in protein X-ray crystallography
Authors: Van Benschoten Andrew H. , Liu Lin , Gonzalez Ana , Brewster Aaron S. , Sauter Nicholas K. , Fraser James S. , Wall Michael E.
Published: March 2016

Significance

The structural details of protein motions are critical to understanding many biological processes, but they are often hidden to conventional biophysical techniques. Diffuse X-ray scattering can reveal details of the correlated movements between atoms; however, the data collection historically has required extra effort and dedicated experimental protocols. We have measured 3D diffuse intensities in X-ray diffraction from CypA and trypsin crystals using standard crystallographic data collection techniques. Analysis of the resulting data is consistent with the protein motions resembling diffusion in a liquid or vibrations of a soft solid. Our results show that using diffuse scattering to model protein motions can become a component of routine crystallographic analysis through the extension of commonplace methods.
Predation risk drives social complexity in cooperative breeders
Authors: Groenewoud Frank , Frommen Joachim Gerhard , Josi Dario , Tanaka Hirokazu , Jungwirth Arne , Taborsky Michael
Published: March 2016

Significance

It is widely accepted that high predation risk may select for group living, but predation is not regarded as a primary driver of social complexity. This view neglects the important effect of predation on dispersal and offspring survival, which may require cooperation among group members. The significance of predation for the evolution of social complexity can be well illustrated by behavioral and morphological adaptations of highly social animals showing division of labor, such as eusocial insects and cooperatively breeding fishes. By examining the diversity of social organization in a cooperative cichlid in relation to ecological variation, we show that predation risk has the greatest explanatory power of social complexity. This stresses the significance of predation for social evolution.
Simultaneous single-molecule epigenetic imaging of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation
Authors: Song Chun-Xiao , Diao Jiajie , Brunger Axel T. , Quake Stephen R.
Published: March 2016

Significance

DNA epigenetic modifications in the forms of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxylmethylcytosine (5hmC) play crucial regulatory functions in the mammalian genome. Here we developed an ultrasensitive single-molecule epigenetic imaging technology for detecting and quantifying 5hmC and 5mC. By conducting single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments, we discovered high levels of adjacent and opposing methylated and hydroxymethylated CpG sites in the mouse genome, a previously unappreciated structure which may play an important role in gene regulation.
Endocrine vasculatures are preferable targets of an antitumor ineffective low dose of anti-VEGF therapy
Authors: Zhang Yin , Yang Yunlong , Hosaka Kayoko , Huang Guichun , Zang Jingwu , Chen Fang , Zhang Yun , Samani Nilesh J. , Cao Yihai
Published: March 2016

Significance

Defining targets and functional impacts of systemic treatment with antiangiogenic drugs on tumors and healthy tissues are crucial for understanding their therapeutic efficacy, drug resistance, adverse effects, and timeline of therapy. In the present study, we used both mouse and human tumor models to recapitulate clinical situations in which antiangiogenic drugs were systemically delivered to mice. Antiangiogenic drugs at low dosages produced broad effects on vessel regression in several endocrine organs. Prolonged treatment with the nonantitumor low dose of antiangiogenic drugs causes endocrine dysfunction in thyroid and adrenal gland. In fact, clinically manifested adverse effects, including hypertension, hypothyroidism, and glucocorticoid dysfunction, have been reproduced in our preclinical models by a low dose of an anti-VEGF drug.
Engineering a long-acting, potent GLP-1 analog for microstructure-based transdermal delivery
Authors: Yang Peng-Yu , Zou Huafei , Chao Elizabeth , Sherwood Lance , Nunez Vanessa , Keeney Michael , Ghartey-Tagoe Esi , Ding Zhongli , Quirino Herlinda , Luo Xiaozhou , Welzel Gus , Chen Guohua , Singh Parminder , Woods Ashley K. , Schultz Peter G. , Shen Weijun
Published: March 2016

Significance

Many therapeutic peptides suffer from short plasma half-lives and, as a consequence, require frequent injections to be therapeutically effective; this in turn can adversely affect patient compliance. Here, we describe the development of a novel peptide engineering strategy that incorporates a serum protein binding motif into a covalent side-chain staple. This approach was used to generate stapled long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs with potency comparable to exendin-4 and significantly enhanced pharmacokinetic properties. Administration by a dissolvable microstructure-based transdermal system resulted in sustained therapeutic blood concentrations with glucose lowering activity in guinea pigs. This approach likely provides a general, straightforward platform for generating stapled long-acting peptide hormones for a range of therapeutic applications.
Land-use policies and corporate investments in agriculture in the Gran Chaco and Chiquitano
Authors: le Polain de Waroux Yann , Garrett Rachael D. , Heilmayr Robert , Lambin Eric F.
Published: March 2016

Significance

A growing global demand for agricultural products such as soybeans and beef is causing agriculture to expand into forest ecosystems. Many countries are tightening environmental regulations as a response. Because agricultural companies can move, there is a risk that stringent land-use regulations might just displace land conversion geographically. A better understanding of how these regulations affect companies’ movements is therefore crucial for designing effective conservation policies. Here we analyze the determinants of siting choices by agricultural companies. We find that companies that tend to clear more forest prefer areas with lower deforestation restrictions, and that all companies prefer areas with low enforcement. However, these effects are less important than the availability of forestland or the proximity to current investments.
Rise, stagnation, and rise of Danish women’s life expectancy
Authors: Lindahl-Jacobsen Rune , Rau Roland , Jeune Bernard , Canudas-Romo Vladimir , Lenart Adam , Christensen Kaare , Vaupel James W.
Published: March 2016

Significance

Life expectancy is the most commonly used measure of health status in a population. Life expectancy has increased rapidly in most western populations over the past two centuries. There has been an ongoing debate about the relative contribution of cohort and period effects on a nation’s life expectancy, but few concrete examples of strong cohort effects exist. In this study, we use demographic approaches to study cohort effects on the life expectancy of Danish women. We identify a clear-cut and strong cohort effect: the case of the interwar generations of Danish women.
Individual variability in human blood metabolites identifies age-related differences
Authors: Chaleckis Romanas , Murakami Itsuo , Takada Junko , Kondoh Hiroshi , Yanagida Mitsuhiro
Published: March 2016

Significance

Human blood provides a rich source of information about metabolites that reflects individual differences in health, disease, diet, and lifestyle. The coefficient of variation for human blood metabolites enriched in red blood cells or plasma was quantified after careful preparation. We identified 14 age-related metabolites. Metabolites that decline strikingly in the elderly include antioxidants and compounds involved in high physical activity, including carnosine, UDP-acetyl-glucosamine, ophthalmic acid,1,5-anhydroglucitol, NAD
+
, and leucine. Metabolites that increase significantly in the elderly include compounds related to declining renal and liver function. Statistical analysis suggests that certain age-related compounds that either increased or decreased in the elderly are correlated. Individual variability in blood metabolites may lead to identify candidates for markers of human aging or relevant diseases.
Genome-wide kinetics of DNA excision repair in relation to chromatin state and mutagenesis
Authors: Adar Sheera , Hu Jinchuan , Lieb Jason D. , Sancar Aziz
Published: March 2016

Significance

Nucleotide excision repair is the sole mechanism for removing bulky adducts from the human genome, including those formed by UV radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs. We used eXcision Repair-sequencing, a genomic assay for measuring DNA repair, to map the kinetics of repair after UV treatment. These genome-wide repair maps, in turn, allowed us to infer how excision repair is influenced by DNA packaging. Active and open chromatin regions were repaired more rapidly than other genomic regions. Repair in repressed and heterochromatic regions is slower and persists for up to 2 d. Furthermore, late-repaired regions are associated with a higher level of cancer-linked somatic mutations, highlighting the importance of efficient DNA repair and linking chromatin organization to cancer mutagenesis.
Anabolic actions of Notch on mature bone
Authors: Liu Peng , Ping Yilin , Ma Meng , Zhang Demao , Liu Connie , Zaidi Samir , Gao Song , Ji Yaoting , Lou Feng , Yu Fanyuan , Lu Ping , Stachnik Agnes , Bai Mingru , Wei Chengguo , Zhang Liaoran , Wang Ke , Chen Rong , New Maria I. , Rowe David W. , Yuen Tony , Sun Li , Zaidi Mone
Published: March 2016

Significance

Notch is a critical regulator of skeletal development, but its role in remodeling of the adult skeleton is unclear. Using genetically modified mice, we show that Notch stimulates skeletal mineralization by bone-building osteoblasts. Thus, overexpression of the Notch intracellular domain in mice results in an increase in bone mass, prevents bone loss following ovariectomy and during aging, and promotes fracture healing. Notch is therefore a potential therapeutic target for conditions of bone loss, including osteoporosis.
Myofibroblasts are distinguished from activated skin fibroblasts by the expression of AOC3 and other associated markers
Authors: Hsia Lin-ting , Ashley Neil , Ouaret Djamila , Wang Lai Mun , Wilding Jennifer , Bodmer Walter F.
Published: March 2016

Significance

Myofibroblasts surround the epithelial cells of the crypts that form the surface of the gut. They play an important role in controlling the normal epithelium and influence the development of colorectal and other epithelial cancers. The definition of myofibroblasts previously depended almost entirely on the expression of smooth muscle actin. We identified the surface enzyme AOC3 (amine oxidase, copper containing 3) as a new marker of myofibroblasts and as a result have discovered additional highly distinctive markers for myofibroblasts, including the transcription factor NKX2-3. The discovery of these new markers should greatly enhance the proper definition of myofibroblasts and related cell types and thus should contribute to the improved treatment of the many diseases, including cancer, that involve these cell types.
Towards a pragmatic analysis of product discourse
Authors: Tseng Ming-Yu
Published: March 2016

This study addresses Chinese discourse creativity in product discourse within Taiwan’s creative industries. Product discourse not merely introduces creative products but also does it creatively. Based on a corpus of 20 examples, this paper proposes the notion of creative force, a chain of acts contributing to discourse creativity, and argues that five types of acting work together in the design of creativity exemplified in such discourse. They are acts of telling or invoking a story, constructing identity and stance, making multiple meanings, blending, and performing culture. This paper also investigates metapragmatic performance in relation to creative force, i.e., how creative discourse which performs creative force is made possible and acceptable in society. Three metapragmatic aspects are under scrutiny: shared knowledge, metalinguistic awareness, and indexicality. All in all, this study aims to further substantiate our understanding of creativity and discourse in pragmatic and metapragmatic terms.
Humanities and the public sphere
Authors: Verschueren Jef
Published: March 2016

This article starts from the observation of current changes in the nature of a globalizing public sphere for which older structural boundaries have lost much of their relevance. Though the public sphere has traditionally been a topic for social scientists (and philosophers), a redefinition in terms of the realm of publicly accessible meaning, and of struggles over socially and politically important meaning, necessitates a contribution from the humanities. In particular, linguistic pragmatics, providing tools for an analysis of the way in which explicit and implicit forms of meaning interact in the process of generating meanings, is argued to be a useful instrument. The argument is supported with an analysis of the differences in meaning landscapes that emerge even in different-­language versions of the ‘same’ text, illustrating how dependent publicly available meaning is on basic pragmatic processes. The article concludes that a maturing science of language use is therefore needed to understand variations in the accounts of social and political reality that people in a globalizing public sphere live by.
Influence of solid state fermentation by Trichoderma spp. on solubility, phenolic content, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of commercial turmeric
Authors: Mohamed Saleh A , Saleh Rashad M , Kabli Saleh A , Al-Garni Saleh M
Published: March 2016

The influence of solid state fermentation (SSF) by Trichoderma spp. on the solubility, total phenolic content, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of turmeric was determined and compared with unfermented turmeric. The solubility of turmeric was monitored by increase in its phenolic content. The total phenolic content of turmeric extracted by 80% methanol and water after SSF by six species of Trichoderma spp. increased significantly from 2.5 to 11.3–23.3 and from 0.5 to 13.5–20.4 GAE/g DW, respectively. The antioxidant activities of fermented turmeric were enhanced using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The antibacterial activity of fermented turmeric against human-pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, Entreococcus faecalis, Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosae showed a broad spectrum inhibitory effect. In conclusion, the results indicated the potentials of using fermented turmeric as natural antioxidant and antimicrobial material for food applications.
The preventive effect of fish oil on abdominal aortic aneurysm development
Authors: Kugo Hirona , Zaima Nobuhiro , Mouri Youhei , Tanaka Hiroki , Yanagimoto Kenichi , Urano Tetsumei , Unno Naoki , Moriyama Tatsuya
Published: March 2016

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a vascular disease involving gradual dilation of the abdominal aorta and high rupture-related mortality rates. AAA is histologically characterized by oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and extracellular matrix degradation in the vascular wall. We previously demonstrated that aortic hypoperfusion could cause the vascular inflammation and AAA formation. However, the preventive method for hypoperfusion-induced AAA remains unknown. In this study, we evaluated the effect of fish oil on AAA development using a hypoperfusion-induced AAA animal model. Dilation of the abdominal aorta in the fish oil administration group was smaller than in the control group. Collagen destruction and oxidative stress were suppressed in the fish oil administration group than in the control group. These results suggested that fish oil could prevent the development of AAA induced by hypoperfusion.
Difference in the action mechanism of radon inhalation and radon hot spring water drinking in suppression of hyperuricemia in mice
Authors: Etani Reo , Kataoka Takahiro , Kanzaki Norie , Sakoda Akihiro , Tanaka Hiroshi , Ishimori Yuu , Mitsunobu Fumihiro , Yamaoka Kiyonori
Published: March 2016

Although radon therapy is indicated for hyperuricemia, the underlying mechanisms of action have not yet been elucidated in detail. Therefore, we herein examined the inhibitory effects of radon inhalation and hot spring water drinking on potassium oxonate (PO)–induced hyperuricemia in mice. Mice inhaled radon at a concentration of 2000 Bq/m 3 for 24 h or were given hot spring water for 2 weeks. Mice were then administrated PO at a dose of 500 mg/kg. The results obtained showed that serum uric acid levels were significantly increased by the administration of PO. Radon inhalation or hot spring water drinking significantly inhibited elevations in serum uric acid levels through the suppression of xanthine oxidase activity in the liver. Radon inhalation activated anti-oxidative functions in the liver and kidney. These results suggest that radon inhalation inhibits PO-induced hyperuricemia by activating anti-oxidative functions, while hot spring water drinking may suppress PO-induced elevations in serum uric acid levels through the pharmacological effects of the chemical compositions dissolved in it.
Introduction to gout
Authors: Dalbeth Nicola
Published: March 2016

Gout is a chronic condition of monosodium urate crystal deposition. It is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in adults, and leads to recurrent flares of severe joint damage and musculoskeletal disability. Although treatment targets are well defined, gout management is currently poor, with low levels of treatment targets achieved. The last decade has seen major advances in the understanding and treatment of gout. This handbook summarizes key scientific advances, including new insights into mechanisms of hyperuricaemia, acute gouty arthritis, and joint damage. Principles of gout diagnosis and management are discussed in detail, with practical information about use of well-established agents and also newer therapies. Gout-specific research tools are outlined to assist clinicians with interpretation of the latest scientific literature in gout. Future strategies for improved gout management are also discussed.
Aetiopathogenesis
Authors: Dalbeth Nicola
Published: March 2016

Gout is a common and treatable cause of musculoskeletal disability. There have been major advances in scientific understanding and treatment of gout in the last decade. Despite these advances, gout is often neglected and poorly managed. This handbook summarizes recent progress and provides a framework for effective gout management.