bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Standard of Conduct or Standard of Review? Examination of an African Business Judgment Rule under South Africa's Companies Act 71 of 2008
Authors: Mupangavanhu Brighton M
Published: January 2019

This article highlights that section 76(4)(a) of South Africa's Companies Act, which reflects the business judgment rule (BJR) concept, is a standard of review, providing a means of determining whether a director has met his or her undertakings under section 76(3). The article suggests that section 76 should be titled “Standards of conduct and review” instead of referring only to standards of conduct. It draws a clear distinction between standards of conduct (including the personal financial interests disclosure requirements) on one hand, and a standard of review on the other. After tracing the traditional international requirements of BJR, the article analyses the decision-making requirements under section 76(4)(a). It concludes that, while section 76(4)(a) compares favourably with US and Australian laws, the omission of a good faith requirement is unfortunate since that is a critical component of decision-making. The article proposes that good faith and proper purpose under section 76(3)(a) should form part of the section 76(4)(a) requirements.
Variation in vegetation cover and seedling performance of tree species in a forest-savanna ecotone
Authors: Issifu Hamza , Ametsitsi George K. D. , de Vries Lana J. , Djagbletey Gloria Djaney , Adu-Bredu Stephen , Vergeer Philippine , van Langevelde Frank , Veenendaal Elmar
Published: January 2019

Differential tree seedling recruitment across forest-savanna ecotones is poorly understood, but hypothesized to be influenced by vegetation cover and associated factors. In a 3-y-long field transplant experiment in the forest-savanna ecotone of Ghana, we assessed performance and root allocation of 864 seedlings for two forest (Khaya ivorensis and Terminalia superba) and two savanna (Khaya senegalensis and Terminalia macroptera) species in savanna woodland, closed-woodland and forest. Herbaceous vegetation biomass was significantly higher in savanna woodland (1.0 ± 0.4 kg m−2 vs 0.2 ± 0.1 kg m−2 in forest) and hence expected fire intensities, while some soil properties were improved in forest. Regardless, seedling survival declined significantly in the first-year dry-season for all species with huge declines for the forest species (50% vs 6% for Khaya and 16% vs 2% for Terminalia) by year 2. After 3 y, only savanna species survived in savanna woodland. However, best performance for savanna Khaya was in forest, but in savanna woodland for savanna Terminalia which also had the highest biomass fraction (0.8 ± 0.1 g g−1 vs 0.6 ± 0.1 g g−1 and 0.4 ± 0.1 g g−1) and starch concentration (27% ± 10% vs 15% ± 7% and 10% ± 4%) in roots relative to savanna and forest Khaya respectively. Our results demonstrate that tree cover variation has species-specific effects on tree seedling recruitment which is related to root storage functions.
Hybrid ASP-based Approach to Pattern Mining
Authors: PARAMONOV SERGEY , STEPANOVA DARIA , MIETTINEN PAULI
Published: January 2019

Detecting small sets of relevant patterns from a given data set is a central challenge in data mining. The relevance of a pattern is based on user-provided criteria; typically, all patterns that satisfy certain criteria are considered relevant. Rule-based languages like answer set programming (ASP) seem well suited for specifying such criteria in a form of constraints. Although progress has been made, on the one hand, on solving individual mining problems and, on the other hand, developing generic mining systems, the existing methods focus either on scalability or on generality. In this paper, we make steps toward combining local (frequency, size, and cost) and global (various condensed representations like maximal, closed, and skyline) constraints in a generic and efficient way. We present a hybrid approach for itemset, sequence, and graph mining which exploits dedicated highly optimized mining systems to detect frequent patterns and then filters the results using declarative ASP. To further demonstrate the generic nature of our hybrid framework, we apply it to a problem of approximately tiling a database. Experiments on real-world data sets show the effectiveness of the proposed method and computational gains for itemset, sequence, and graph mining, as well as approximate tiling.

Under consideration in Theory and Practice of Logic Programming.
Semantic DMN: Formalizing and Reasoning About Decisions in the Presence of Background Knowledge
Authors: CALVANESE DIEGO , MONTALI MARCO , DUMAS MARLON , MAGGI FABRIZIO M.
Published: January 2019

The Decision Model and Notation (DMN) is a recent Object Management Group standard for the elicitation and representation of decision models and for managing their interconnection with business processes. DMN builds on the notion of decision tables and their combination into more complex decision requirements graphs (DRGs), which bridge between business process models and decision logic models. DRGs may rely on additional, external business knowledge models, whose functioning is not part of the standard. In this work, we consider one of the most important types of business knowledge, namely, background knowledge that conceptually accounts for the structural aspects of the domain of interest, and propose decision knowledge bases (DKBs), which semantically combine DRGs modeled in DMN, and domain knowledge captured by means of first-order logic with datatypes. We provide a logic-based semantics for such an integration, and formalize different DMN reasoning tasks for DKBs. We then consider background knowledge formulated as a description logic (DL) ontology with datatypes, and show how the main verification tasks for DMN in this enriched setting can be formalized as standard DL reasoning services and actually carried out in ExpTime. We discuss the effectiveness of our framework on a case study in maritime security.
A morphological revision of Keraterpeton, the earliest horned nectridean from the Pennsylvanian of England and Ireland
Authors: MILNER Angela C.
Published: January 2019

The aquatic diplocaulid nectridean Keraterpeton galvani is the commonest taxon represented in the Jarrow Coal assemblage from Kilkenny, Ireland. The Jarrow locality has yielded the earliest known Carboniferous coal-swamp fauna in the fossil record and is, therefore, of importance in understanding the history and diversity of the diplocaulid clade. The morphology of Keraterpeton is described in detail with emphasis on newly observed anatomical features. A reconstruction of the palate includes the presence of interpterygoid vacuities and new morphological details of the pterygoid, parasphenoid and basicranial region. The hyoid apparatus comprising an ossified basibranchial element has not been reported previously in nectrideans. The structure of the scapulocoracoid and primitive nature of the humerus is described and the presence of a five-digit manus confirmed. Previously unrecognised accessory dermal ossifications are present in the pectoral girdle. Keraterpeton longtoni from the Bolsovian in Staffordshire, England, is also described and newly figured. The primitive condition in diplocaulids is defined on the basis of the earliest occurrence at Jarrow and discussed in relation to functional morphology and mode of life. The evolution of the diplocaulid clade is assessed in relation to the revised diagnoses that define the primitive condition in Keraterpeton.
Off-Target Movement of Diglycolamine Dicamba to Non-dicamba Soybean Using Practices to Minimize Primary Drift
Authors: Jones Gordon T. , Norsworthy Jason K. , Barber Tom
Published: January 2019

Soybean with resistance to dicamba (DR soybean) and glyphosate and cotton with resistance to glyphosate, glufosinate, and dicamba were recently commercialized in the United States and have been readily adopted. To evaluate results of over-the-top application of dicamba in DR crops, field studies were designed to examine off-target movement using proposed sprayer setup recommendations. Association analysis and nonlinear regression techniques were used to examine the effects of 26 field-scale drift trials conducted in 2014 and 2015 during soybean reproductive development (R1 through R6). The greatest predictors (injury, height reduction) of soybean yield reduction generally occurred and had steeper relationships after drift events at the R1 growth stage than at later stages. Using non-DR soybean as an indicator, dicamba was documented to move as much as 152 m from the application area (distance to 5% injury). Instances of height reduction (5%) differed among growth stages, with the greatest distance occurring at R1 (83.4 m). Soybean yield reduction was erratic, with the greatest distance to 5% loss in yield occurring at 42.8 m after an R1 drift event. Overall, the data suggest flowering-stage soybean is more sensitive than later reproductive soybean to injury, height reductions, and yield loss. Average and maximum wind speeds did not account for the injury documented from dicamba, and it is hypothesized that other meteorological variables also play a notable role in dicamba off-target movement as well as growing conditions following exposure. With concerns surrounding off-target movement of dicamba, proper stewardship of this new technology will be key to its longevity.
Messung der Haltung zur interprofessionellen Zusammenarbeit in einer Operationsabteilung – eine Querschnittsstudie
Authors: Vetter Luzia , Eissler Andrea Barbara , Konrad Christoph
Published: January 2019

Zusammenfassung.Hintergrund: Die interprofessionelle Zusammenarbeit zwischen den Berufsgruppen im Gesundheitswesen ist essenziell für ein gutes Behandlungsergebnis. Das Setting einer Operationsabteilung (OP) stellt innerhalb einer Gesundheitsorganisation besondere Ansprüche an die interprofessionelle Zusammenarbeit (situative Teambildung, wechselnde Arbeitsumgebung, koordinative Verdichtung der Arbeit). Damit gemeinsame Ziele in einem Team erreicht werden können, ist es wichtig, dass die beteiligten Personen unabhängig von ihrer Profession eine vergleichbare Idee und Haltung zur interprofessionellen Zusammenarbeit haben. Fragestellung: Wie ist die interne Konsistenz des in die deutsche Sprache übersetzten Fragebogens Jefferson Scale of Attitudes Toward Interprofessional Collaboration (JeffSATIC) bei Anwendung in einer OP? Wie ist die Haltung bezüglich interprofessioneller Zusammenarbeit der verschiedenen Berufsgruppen in einer OP eines Akutspitals mit Zentrumsfunktion und Ausbildungsauftrag? Gibt es Unterschiede zwischen den einzelnen Berufsgruppen und den Geschlechtern? Methode: Der validierte Fragebogen JeffSATIC wurde in die deutsche Sprache rückwärtsübersetzt und an 283 Personen einer OP mit elf Operationssälen versandt. Die interne Konsistenz des Fragebogens und Unterschiede in der Haltung zur interprofessionellen Zusammenarbeit wurden geprüft. Ergebnisse: Der Fragebogen JeffSATIC in der deutschen Version ist ein reliables Instrument zur Messung der Haltung einzelner Personen bezüglich interprofessioneller Zusammenarbeit. Er wurde erstmals im Setting einer OP eingesetzt. In der untersuchten Institution gibt es keine statistisch signifikanten Unterschiede in Bezug auf die Haltung zur interprofessionellen Zusammenarbeit in den durch den Fragebogen ermittelten Dimensionen „Arbeitsbeziehung“ und „Verantwortung“ zwischen den einzelnen Berufsgruppen und den Geschlechtern. Der Arztdienst der Anästhesie weist die größte Streuung in der Haltung zur interprofessionellen Zusammenarbeit innerhalb einer Berufsgruppe auf. Schlussfolgerungen: In der untersuchten Institution ist die Voraussetzung für eine gelingende interprofessionelle Zusammenarbeit gegeben. Generell wäre weiter zu untersuchen, welche Faktoren die Varianz in der Haltung pro Berufsgruppe beeinflussen, und ob diese Varianzen in der Haltung auch mit der Qualität der tatsächlichen Zusammenarbeit assoziiert sind.
Late Miocene Intensified Tectonic Uplift and Climatic Aridification on the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau: Evidence From Clay Mineralogical and Geochemical Records in the Xining Basin
Authors: Yang Rongsheng , Yang Yibo , Fang Xiaomin , Ruan Xiaobai , Galy Albert , Ye Chengcheng , Meng Qingquan , Han Wenxia
Published: January 2019

The uplift of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) during the late Cenozoic is thought to be one of crucial factors controlling Asian climate. However, the complex interaction between tectonics and climate change is still unclear. Here we present the first record of clay mineralogy and elemental geochemistry covering ~12.7–4.8 Ma in a fluvial‐lacustrine sequence in the Xining Basin. Geochemical provenance proxies (Th/Sc, Zr/Sc, and Cr/Zr) in the <2‐μm fraction show a significant provenance change at ~8.8 Ma. Silicate‐based weathering indexes (CIA, CIW, and PIA) displayed coeval changes with provenance but discrepant changes with regional climate. Since the clay mineralogy exhibits significant change at ~7.8 Ma uncorrelated with modifications in provenance, it can be employed to reveal regional climate change. The rise in illite and associated decrease in the sum of smectite and illite/smectite mixed layers reflect gradual and slow aridification since ~12.7 Ma with intensified drying since ~7.8 Ma until approaching the modern climate status. Our results, together with other regional climatic and tectonic records, clearly illustrate that accelerated uplift of the northeastern TP since ~8–9 Ma has mainly modulated the regional erosion, weathering, transportation, and sedimentation and amplified the global cooling and drying trend toward the regional climate of modern conditions. Our study suggests that in the tectonically active northeastern TP, a comprehensive mineralogical and geochemical investigation of the fine‐grained fraction of the basin sediments could retrieve the interactions between tectonics and climate behind the complex change in exhumed lithology and sedimentary routing systems.
Determination of the Refractive Contribution to GPS Phase “Scintillation”
Authors: McCaffrey A. M. , Jayachandran P. T.
Published: January 2019

As L‐band radio waves travel through the ionosphere, such as those transmitted by the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, changes in the electron density along the ray path may induce refractive and/or diffractive variations in the signal's phase; where refractive variations are deterministic and diffractive variations are stochastic. Typically, the refractive component of these variations is thought to be slow varying, associated with frequencies less than 0.1 Hz. Therefore, if the refractive contribution is assumed to be associated with frequencies less than 0.1 Hz, the frequencies greater than 0.1 Hz are then assumed and treated as diffractive. These variations are usually referred to as scintillation. In scintillation studies the deterministic refractive variations are very often ignored. We propose that rapid changes in the electron density, and therefore changes in the refractive index along the ray path of the GPS signal, can induce dominantly refractive variations at frequencies greater than 0.1 Hz. The increased drift speeds observed in the high‐latitude region create conditions suitable for these high‐frequency refractive variations; the GPS ray path will sweep through large‐scale irregularities at higher speeds, resulting in high‐frequency refractive variations. Using recent advances in GPS, most importantly an improved signal tracking technique, we present examples of rapid refractive variations in the GPS signal's phase. These high‐frequency variations are shown to be refractive using a combination of techniques, one adapted from a previous technique used for the low‐frequency refractive contributions and a new technique only possible with advances in GPS tracking.
Linking Structural and Transport Properties in Three‐Dimensional Fracture Networks
Authors: Hyman J. D. , Dentz M. , Hagberg A. , Kang P. K.
Published: January 2019

We investigate large‐scale particle motion and solute breakthrough in sparse three‐dimensional discrete fracture networks characterized by power law distributed fracture lengths. The three networks we consider have the same fracture intensity values but exhibit different percolation densities, geometric properties, and topological structures. We considered two different average transport models to predict solute breakthrough, a streamtube model and a Bernoulli continuous time random walk model, both of which provide insights into the flow fields within the networks. The streamtube model provides acceptable predictions at short distances in two of the networks but fails in all cases to predict breakthrough times at the outlet plane, which indicates that particle motion in such fracture networks cannot be characterized by a constant velocity between the inlet and control plane at which the breakthrough curve is detected. Rather, the structure of the network requires that frequent velocity transitions be made as particles move through the system. Despite the relatively broad distribution of fracture radii and relatively small number of independent velocity transitions, the continuous time random walk approach conditioned on the initial velocity distribution provides reasonable predictions for the breakthrough curves at different distances from the inlet. The application of these averaged transport models provides a richer understanding of the link from the fracture network structure to flow and transport properties.
P Wave Teleseismic Traveltime Tomography of the North American Midcontinent
Authors: Bollmann Trevor A. , van der Lee Suzan , Frederiksen Andrew W. , Wolin Emily , Revenaugh Justin , Wiens Douglas A. , Darbyshire Fiona A. , Stein Seth , Wysession Michael E. , Jurdy Donna
Published: January 2019

The remains of the 1.1‐Ga Midcontinent Rift (MCR) lie in the middle of the tectonically stable portion of North America. Previous and ongoing studies have imaged strong heterogeneity associated with the MCR in the crust but have not imaged such within the mantle. It is unclear whether this is due to the absence of rift‐related mantle structures or these studies had insufficient resolution to image them. To address this issue, we measured 46,374 teleseismic P wave delay times from seismograms recorded by the USArray Transportable Array, Superior Province Rifting EarthScope Experiment, and surrounding permanent stations. We included these and 54,866 delay times from prior studies in our tomographic inversion. We find that high‐velocity anomalies are widespread in our study area, but there are also prominent low‐velocity anomalies. Two of these are coincident with high‐Bouguer gravity anomalies associated with the MCR in Iowa and the Minnesota/Wisconsin border at 50‐ to 150‐km depth. Extensive resolution testing shows that these anomalies could be the result of downward vertical smearing of relatively low velocities from rift‐related material that “underplated" the crust, although we cannot exclude that the subcrustal mantle lithosphere beneath the MCR is anomalously enriched, hydrated, or warm. Other anomalies occur at syntaxes of the Penokean Orogen. One with the Superior Province and Marshfield Terrane in southern Minnesota and another with the Yavapai and Mazatzal Terranes, both at 100‐ to 250‐km depth. In the midmantle, we image two linear high‐velocity anomalies, interpreted as subducted fragments of the Farallon and Kula plates.
PhaseLink: A Deep Learning Approach to Seismic Phase Association
Authors: Ross Zachary E. , Yue Yisong , Meier Men‐Andrin , Hauksson Egill , Heaton Thomas H.
Published: January 2019

Seismic phase association is a fundamental task in seismology that pertains to linking together phase detections on different sensors that originate from a common earthquake. It is widely employed to detect earthquakes on permanent and temporary seismic networks and underlies most seismicity catalogs produced around the world. This task can be challenging because the number of sources is unknown, events frequently overlap in time, or can occur simultaneously in different parts of a network. We present PhaseLink, a framework based on recent advances in deep learning for grid‐free earthquake phase association. Our approach learns to link phases together that share a common origin and is trained entirely on millions of synthetic sequences of P and S wave arrival times generated using a 1‐D velocity model. Our approach is simple to implement for any tectonic regime, suitable for real‐time processing, and can naturally incorporate errors in arrival time picks. Rather than tuning a set of ad hoc hyperparameters to improve performance, PhaseLink can be improved by simply adding examples of problematic cases to the training data set. We demonstrate the state‐of‐the‐art performance of PhaseLink on a challenging sequence from southern California and synthesized sequences from Japan designed to test the point at which the method fails. For the examined data sets, PhaseLink can precisely associate phases to events that occur only ∼12 s apart in origin time. This approach is expected to improve the resolution of seismicity catalogs, add stability to real‐time seismic monitoring, and streamline automated processing of large seismic data sets.
Short‐Term Variations in the Surface Upwelling off Northeastern Taiwan Observed via Satellite Data
Authors: Yin Wenbin , Huang Daji
Published: January 2019

Short‐term biweekly variations in the surface upwelling off northeastern Taiwan are well documented. However, due to limitations in the spatiotemporal resolution and coverage of the observed data, the lifecycle and associated dynamics are poorly understood. In this study, a gradient‐based edge detection algorithm is proposed to detect the surface upwelling. The sea surface temperature data of geostationary satellite Himawari‐8 were used to explore a complete short‐term process as a case study. The evolution was analyzed in terms of an upwelling index measured via the temperature difference between upwelled and surrounding water and the area and shape of the surface upwelling. The process lasted approximately 17 days as the upwelling moved northeastward under the advection of the Kuroshio Current and included two stages: intensification and decay. The last 8 years (2010–2017) of multisatellite combined sea surface temperature data were examined to verify the results obtained in the case study. A statistical analysis shows that most of the short‐term processes occur in the summer with an average lifecycle of approximately 15 ± 5 days. The trajectories of the upwelling center can be grouped into three types: quasi‐stationary near the shelf break, moving northward across the shelf break, and moving northeastward along the shelf break. A preliminary discussion suggests that the observed variations may be caused by the collective effects of multiple dynamical mechanisms, such as fluctuations in the Kuroshio Current, surface wind curl, and typhoons. This study furthers our knowledge of the surface upwelling off northeastern Taiwan and provides constraints for numerical simulations.
Timescale for Detecting the Climate Response to Stratospheric Aerosol Geoengineering
Authors: MacMartin Douglas G. , Wang Wenli , Kravitz Ben , Tilmes Simone , Richter Jadwiga H. , Mills Michael J.
Published: January 2019

Stratospheric aerosol geoengineering could be used to maintain global mean temperature despite increased atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations, for example, to meet a 1.5 or 2 °C target. While this might reduce many climate change impacts, the resulting climate would not be the same as one with the same global mean temperature due to lower GHG concentrations. The primary question we consider is how long it would take to detect these differences in a hypothetical deployment. We use a 20‐member ensemble of stratospheric sulfate aerosol geoengineering simulations in which SO2 is injected at four different latitudes to maintain not just the global mean temperature, but also the interhemispheric and equator‐to‐pole gradients. This multiple‐latitude strategy better matches the climate changes from increased GHG, while the ensemble allows us both to estimate residual differences even when they are small compared to natural variability and to estimate the statistics of variability. We first construct a linear emulator to predict the model responses for different scenarios. Under an RCP4.5 scenario in which geoengineering maintains a 1.5 °C target (providing end‐of‐century cooling of 1.7 °C), the projected changes in temperature, precipitation, and precipitation minus evaporation (P − E) at a grid‐scale are typically small enough that in many regions the signal‐to‐noise ratio is still less than one at the end of this century; for example, for P − E, only 30% of the land area reaches a signal‐to‐noise ratio of one. These results provide some context for the projected magnitude of climate changes associated with a limited deployment of stratospheric aerosol cooling.
Recent Trends in Stratospheric Chlorine From Very Short‐Lived Substances
Authors: Hossaini Ryan , Atlas Elliot , Dhomse Sandip S. , Chipperfield Martyn P. , Bernath Peter F. , Fernando Anton M. , Mühle Jens , Leeson Amber A. , Montzka Stephen A. , Feng Wuhu , Harrison Jeremy J. , Krummel Paul , Vollmer Martin K. , Reimann Stefan , O'Doherty Simon , Young Dickon , Maione Michela , Arduini Jgor , Lunder Chris R.
Published: January 2019

Very short‐lived substances (VSLS), including dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), chloroform (CHCl3), perchloroethylene (C2Cl4), and 1,2‐dichloroethane (C2H4Cl2), are a stratospheric chlorine source and therefore contribute to ozone depletion. We quantify stratospheric chlorine trends from these VSLS (VSLCltot) using a chemical transport model and atmospheric measurements, including novel high‐altitude aircraft data from the NASA VIRGAS (2015) and POSIDON (2016) missions. We estimate VSLCltot increased from 69 (±14) parts per trillion (ppt) Cl in 2000 to 111 (±22) ppt Cl in 2017, with >80% delivered to the stratosphere through source gas injection, and the remainder from product gases. The modeled evolution of chlorine source gas injection agrees well with historical aircraft data, which corroborate reported surface CH2Cl2 increases since the mid‐2000s. The relative contribution of VSLS to total stratospheric chlorine increased from ~2% in 2000 to ~3.4% in 2017, reflecting both VSLS growth and decreases in long‐lived halocarbons. We derive a mean VSLCltot growth rate of 3.8 (±0.3) ppt Cl/year between 2004 and 2017, though year‐to‐year growth rates are variable and were small or negative in the period 2015–2017. Whether this is a transient effect, or longer‐term stabilization, requires monitoring. In the upper stratosphere, the modeled rate of HCl decline (2004–2017) is −5.2% per decade with VSLS included, in good agreement to ACE satellite data (−4.8% per decade), and 15% slower than a model simulation without VSLS. Thus, VSLS have offset a portion of stratospheric chlorine reductions since the mid‐2000s.
Coupling Mass Extraction and Downstream Fining With Fluvial Facies Changes Across the Sylhet Basin of the Ganges‐Brahmaputra‐Meghna Delta
Authors: Sincavage R. S. , Paola C. , Goodbred S. L.
Published: January 2019

Quantitative interrogation of grain sizes in sedimentary systems has the potential to improve predictions of stratigraphic architecture, facies distributions, and downstream reservoir characteristics. To quantify these relationships, downstream fining data are coupled with rates of mass extraction, with input grain‐size distribution, accommodation, and sediment input from multiple transport pathways providing primary controls on resulting sediment dispersal patterns. We spatially apportioned mass distribution along three sediment delivery pathways with distinct accommodation characteristics within the Ganges‐Brahmaputra‐Meghna Delta to calculate chi (χ), the total fraction of supplied sediment flux lost to deposition at any given point. Low rates of downstream fining and sand‐rich channel facies characterize a bypass‐dominant pathway along the western margin of Sylhet basin, whereas two splay deposits that prograde into the underfilled basin interior exhibit higher rates of fining and preservation of mud‐rich facies. Both splay deposits show a shift from sand‐dominated to mixed sand and mud facies and increased mud preservation (above 30%) at a χ value of ∼0.8. No comparable increase in mud preservation occurs along the bypass‐dominated pathway, suggesting that this course operated in an inherently different extraction mode due to limited mid‐Holocene accommodation. A similarity solution model effectively reproduces most of the spatial patterns of mass extraction observed in Sylhet basin, except in one location receiving lateral sediment input from a distributary channel. These field and modeling results indicate that grain‐size data and sediment volume measurements can be used to not only reconstruct paleodynamics of transport networks and resulting stratigraphy but also lead to predictive insights on subsurface heterogeneity, and thus improved reservoir and aquifer characterization.
Aizebeokhai Receives 2018 Africa Award for Research Excellence in Earth Sciences
Authors:   AGU
Published: January 2019

Ahzegbobor Philips Aizebeokhai received the Africa Award for Research Excellence in Earth Sciences at the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held 12 December 2018 in Washington, D. C. The award recognizes an individual “for completing significant work that shows the focus and promise of making outstanding contributions to research in Earth sciences.”
The association between midlife serum high-density lipoprotein and mild cognitive impairment and dementia after 19 years of follow-up
Authors: Svensson Thomas , Sawada Norie , Mimura Masaru , Nozaki Shoko , Shikimoto Ryo , Tsugane Shoichiro
Published: January 2019

A third of dementia cases could be attributable to modifiable risk-factors. Midlife high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is a measure which could help identify individuals at reduced risk of developing age-related cognitive decline. The Japan Public Health Centre-based prospective (JPHC) Study is a large population-based cohort which started in 1990. This study included 1299 participants from Saku area in Nagano prefecture. Participants had HDL-C measured in 1995–1996, and underwent a mental health screening in 2014–2015. Of these, 1114 participants were included in MCI analyses, and 781 participants were included in dementia analyses. Logistic regression models were used to determine odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between HDL-C quartiles and MCI and dementia, respectively. For dementia analysis, quartiles 2–4 were collapsed due to low number of cases. Missing data was addressed through multiple imputations. There were 386 cases of MCI and 53 cases of dementia. Compared to the lowest HDL-C quartile, the highest HDL-C quartile was significantly inversely associated with MCI (OR = 0.47, 95% CI, 0.28–0.79) in the multivariable analysis. High HDL-C (quartiles 2–4) was inversely associated with dementia compared to low HDL-C (quartile 1) (OR = 0.37, 95% CI, 0.16–0.88). This study has found that high midlife HDL-C levels are inversely associated with both late-life MCI and dementia in a Japanese population.
Direct conversion of pig fibroblasts to chondrocyte-like cells by c-Myc
Authors: Shi Jun-Wen , Zhang Ting-Ting , Liu Wei , Yang Jie , Lin Xiao-Lin , Jia Jun-Shuang , Shen Hong-Fen , Wang Sheng-Chun , Li Jing , Zhao Wen-Tao , Gu Wei-Wang , Sun Yan , Xiao Dong
Published: January 2019

Unexpectedly, we found that c-Myc-expressing porcine embryonic fibroblasts (PEFs) subcutaneously implanted into nude mice formed cartilage-like tissues in vivo, while previous studies revealed the direct conversion of mouse and human somatic cells into chondrocytes by the combined use of several defined factors, including c-Myc, which prompted us to explore whether PEFs can be reprogrammed to become pig induced chondrocyte-like cells (piCLCs) via ectopic expression of c-Myc alone. In this study, c-Myc-expressing PEFs, designated piCLCs, which exhibited a significantly enhanced proliferation ability in vitro, displayed a chondrogenic phenotypes in vitro, as shown by the cell morphology, toluidine blue staining, alcian blue staining and chondrocyte marker gene expression. Additionally, piCLCs with a polygonal chondrocyte-like morphology were readily and efficiently converted from PEFs by enforced c-Myc expression within 10 days, while piCLCs maintained the chondrocytic phenotype and normal karyotype during long-term subculture. piCLC-derived single clones with a chondrogenic phenotype in vitro exhibited homogeneity in cell morphology and staining intensity compared with mixed piCLCs. Although the mixtures of cartilaginous tissues and tumorous tissues accounted for ~12% (6/51) of all xenografts (51), piCLCs generated stable, homogenous, hyaline cartilage-like tissues without tumour formation at 45 out of the 51 injected sites when subcutaneously injected into nude mice. The hyaline cartilage-like tissues remained for at least 16 weeks. Taken together, these findings demonstrate for the first time the direct induction of chondrocyte-like cells from PEFs with only c-Myc.
Electron correlation driven non-adiabatic relaxation in molecules excited by an ultrashort extreme ultraviolet pulse
Authors: Marciniak A. , Despré V. , Loriot V. , Karras G. , Hervé M. , Quintard L. , Catoire F. , Joblin C. , Constant E. , Kuleff A. I. , Lépine F.
Published: January 2019

The many-body quantum nature of molecules determines their static and dynamic properties, but remains the main obstacle in their accurate description. Ultrashort extreme ultraviolet pulses offer a means to reveal molecular dynamics at ultrashort timescales. Here, we report the use of time-resolved electron-momentum imaging combined with extreme ultraviolet attosecond pulses to study highly excited organic molecules. We measure relaxation timescales that increase with the state energy. High-level quantum calculations show these dynamics are intrinsic to the time-dependent many-body molecular wavefunction, in which multi-electronic and non-Born−Oppenheimer effects are fully entangled. Hints of coherent vibronic dynamics, which persist despite the molecular complexity and high-energy excitation, are also observed. These results offer opportunities to understand the molecular dynamics of highly excited species involved in radiation damage and astrochemistry, and the role of quantum mechanical effects in these contexts.
Earthquake lubrication and healing explained by amorphous nanosilica
Authors: Rowe Christie D. , Lamothe Kelsey , Rempe Marieke , Andrews Mark , Mitchell Thomas M. , Di Toro Giulio , White Joseph Clancy , Aretusini Stefano
Published: January 2019

During earthquake propagation, geologic faults lose their strength, then strengthen as slip slows and stops. Many slip-weakening mechanisms are active in the upper-mid crust, but healing is not always well-explained. Here we show that the distinct structure and rate-dependent properties of amorphous nanopowder (not silica gel) formed by grinding of quartz can cause extreme strength loss at high slip rates. We propose a weakening and related strengthening mechanism that may act throughout the quartz-bearing continental crust. The action of two slip rate-dependent mechanisms offers a plausible explanation for the observed weakening: thermally-enhanced plasticity, and particulate flow aided by hydrodynamic lubrication. Rapid cooling of the particles causes rapid strengthening, and inter-particle bonds form at longer timescales. The timescales of these two processes correspond to the timescales of post-seismic healing observed in earthquakes. In natural faults, this nanopowder crystallizes to quartz over 10s–100s years, leaving veins which may be indistinguishable from common quartz veins.
The effect of publishing peer review reports on referee behavior in five scholarly journals
Authors: Bravo Giangiacomo , Grimaldo Francisco , López-Iñesta Emilia , Mehmani Bahar , Squazzoni Flaminio
Published: January 2019

To increase transparency in science, some scholarly journals are publishing peer review reports. But it is unclear how this practice affects the peer review process. Here, we examine the effect of publishing peer review reports on referee behavior in five scholarly journals involved in a pilot study at Elsevier. By considering 9,220 submissions and 18,525 reviews from 2010 to 2017, we measured changes both before and during the pilot and found that publishing reports did not significantly compromise referees’ willingness to review, recommendations, or turn-around times. Younger and non-academic scholars were more willing to accept to review and provided more positive and objective recommendations. Male referees tended to write more constructive reports during the pilot. Only 8.1% of referees agreed to reveal their identity in the published report. These findings suggest that open peer review does not compromise the process, at least when referees are able to protect their anonymity.
A selective inhibitor of mitofusin 1-βIIPKC association improves heart failure outcome in rats
Authors: Ferreira Julio C. B. , Campos Juliane C. , Qvit Nir , Qi Xin , Bozi Luiz H. M. , Bechara Luiz R. G. , Lima Vanessa M. , Queliconi Bruno B. , Disatnik Marie-Helene , Dourado Paulo M. M. , Kowaltowski Alicia J. , Mochly-Rosen Daria
Published: January 2019

We previously demonstrated that beta II protein kinase C (βIIPKC) activity is elevated in failing hearts and contributes to this pathology. Here we report that βIIPKC accumulates on the mitochondrial outer membrane and phosphorylates mitofusin 1 (Mfn1) at serine 86. Mfn1 phosphorylation results in partial loss of its GTPase activity and in a buildup of fragmented and dysfunctional mitochondria in heart failure. βIIPKC siRNA or a βIIPKC inhibitor mitigates mitochondrial fragmentation and cell death. We confirm that Mfn1-βIIPKC interaction alone is critical in inhibiting mitochondrial function and cardiac myocyte viability using SAMβA, a rationally-designed peptide that selectively antagonizes Mfn1-βIIPKC association. SAMβA treatment protects cultured neonatal and adult cardiac myocytes, but not Mfn1 knockout cells, from stress-induced death. Importantly, SAMβA treatment re-establishes mitochondrial morphology and function and improves cardiac contractility in rats with heart failure, suggesting that SAMβA may be a potential treatment for patients with heart failure.
Author Correction: Task-dependent representations of stimulus and choice in mouse parietal cortex
Authors: Pho Gerald N. , Goard Michael J. , Woodson Jonathan , Crawford Benjamin , Sur Mriganka
Published: January 2019

In the original version of this Article, the Acknowledgements section was inadvertently omitted. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Site-directed spin labelling of proteins by Suzuki–Miyaura coupling via a genetically encoded aryliodide amino acid
Authors: Kugele Anandi , Braun Theresa Sophie , Widder Pia , Williams Lara , Schmidt Moritz Johannes , Summerer Daniel , Drescher Malte
Published: January 2019

Kugele et al. report site-directed spin labelling via Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of a nitroxide boronic acid label with the genetically encoded amino acid 4-iodo-l-phenylalanine.
A cyanide-bridged wheel featuring a seven-coordinate Mo(iii) center
Authors: Kempe David K. , Dolinar Brian S. , Vignesh Kuduva R. , Woods Toby J. , Saber Mohamed R. , Dunbar Kim R.
Published: January 2019

A new, cyanide-bridged Mo6Ni12 wheel shows ferromagnetic coupling.
Aggregation/dispersion-mediated peroxidase-like activity of MoS2quantum dots for colorimetric pyrophosphate detection
Authors: Xia Wanqiang , Zhang Pu , Fu Wensheng , Hu Lianzhe , Wang Yi
Published: January 2019

Peroxidase-like activity of MoS2quantum dots can be manipulated by aggregation/dispersion in the presence of Fe3+or a mix of Fe3+and pyrophosphate (PPi). Based on this finding, a simple and reliable method for colorimetric PPi detection is developed.
Homogeneously-catalysed hydrogen release/storage using the 2-methylindole/2-methylindoline LOHC system in molten salt-organic biphasic reaction systems
Authors: Søgaard Alexander , Scheuermeyer Marlene , Bösmann Andreas , Wasserscheid Peter , Riisager Anders
Published: January 2019

Hydrogenation/dehydrogenation is effectively catalyzed by a molten salt immobilized Ir-complex in a temperature range of 120 to 140 °C in a 2-methylindole/2-methylindoline Liquid Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) system.
Seeded growth of bulk ZnO crystals in a horizontal tubular furnace
Authors: Fan Long , Xiao Tingting , Zhong Changjie , Wang Jin , Chen Jie , Wang Xuemin , Peng Liping , Wu Weidong
Published: January 2019

A pedestal is designed to minimize contact areas and suppress stress for CVT growth of bulk ZnO crystals.
Impact of fluoride for hydroxide substitution on the magnetic properties of a Co-based single-ion magnet imbedded in the barium apatite crystal lattice
Authors: Zykin Mikhail A. , Eliseev Artem A. , Pogosova Mariam A. , Trusov Lev A. , Schnelle Walter , Felser Claudia , Jansen Martin , Kazin Pavel E.
Published: January 2019

The atomic group O–Co–O persists in the apatite channel and retains a high energy barrier for magnetization reversal.
Interactions between a water molecule and C60 in the endohedral fullerene H2O@C60
Authors: Rashed Effat , Dunn Janette L.
Published: January 2019

Symmetry arguments → explanation of changes in energy levels of water upon encapsulation inside C60.
Intermediate states approach for adsorption studies in flexible metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Rogacka Justyna , Formalik Filip , Triguero Azahara L. , Firlej Lucyna , Kuchta Bogdan , Calero Sofia
Published: January 2019

Adsorption studies in flexible metal–organic frameworks are challenging and time-consuming.
Intrinsic effects of strain on low-index surfaces of platinum: roles of the five 5d orbitals
Authors: Zheng Xingqun , Li Li , Li Jing , Wei Zidong
Published: January 2019

The inconsistent change in five 5d orbitals on strained Pt low-index induces abnormal species adsorption behaviours.
Flexible GaAs solar cells on roll-to-roll processed epitaxial Ge films on metal foils: a route towards low-cost and high-performance III–V photovoltaics
Authors: Dutta P. , Rathi M. , Khatiwada D. , Sun S. , Yao Y. , Yu B. , Reed S. , Kacharia M. , Martinez J. , Litvinchuk A. P. , Pasala Z. , Pouladi S. , Eslami B. , Ryou J.-H. , Ghasemi H. , Ahrenkiel P. , Hubbard S. , Selvamanickam V.
Published: January 2019

Single-junction GaAs solar cells were developed on metal foils, laying the foundation for scalable manufacturing of low-cost, lightweight and high-efficiency flexible III–V solar cells.
Chlorogenic acid relieves lead-induced cognitive impairments and hepato-renal damage via regulating the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in mice
Authors: Cheng Dai , Li He , Zhou Jiaping , Wang Shuo
Published: January 2019

Lead (Pb), a heavy metal which is widely recognized as an environmental toxicant, is transported from the earth's crust into the human body to a significant extent.
Sensitive and rapid oxygen isotopic analysis of nephrite jade using large-geometry SIMS
Authors: Schmitt Axel K. , Liu Ming-Chang , Kohl Issaku E.
Published: January 2019

High-spatial resolution O-isotope analysis of nephrite by SIMS allows rapid identification of provenance with applications in geology, archaeometry, and gemmology.
The syntheses, crystal structures, electrochemical and magnetic properties of tri-nuclear cyanide-bridged complexes [cis-MII(bpy)2(CN)2]2MnIII(salcy) (PF6) (M = Fe, Ru, Os)
Authors: Liu Ming , Hu Jianmei , Yu Meng , Fan Weiwei , Ding Wenwen , Wang Yong
Published: January 2019

Three cyanide-bridged heteronuclear complexes, [cis-M(bpy)2(CN)2]2Mn(salcy) (PF6) (M = Fe,1; M = Ru,2; M = Os,3; bis(salicylideneiminato) dianion) were synthesized and fully characterized. Complexes1and2show low temperature antiferromagnetic order.
Highly stable and bright fluorescent chlorinated polymer dots for cellular imaging
Authors: Mo Daize , Chen Zhe , Han Liang , Lai Hanjian , Chao Pengjie , Zhang Qingwen , Tian Leilei , He Feng
Published: January 2019

Chlorinated semiconducting polymer dots (Pdots) are reported. The Pdots showed a quantum yield of 20.3%, which is about two times higher than that of non-chlorinated Pdots (8.5%).
Molecular-weight dependence of the formation of highly ordered lamellar structures of poly(N-dodecyl acrylamide) by humid annealing
Authors: Ebata Kazuki , Hashimoto Yuki , Ebara Kohei , Tsukamoto Mayu , Yamamoto Shunsuke , Mitsuishi Masaya , Nagano Shusaku , Matsui Jun
Published: January 2019

Highly oriented lamellar films of poly(N-dodecylacrylamide) with high molecular weights were formed by nanosegregation between alkyl side chains and a water-adsorbed main chain.
Optimization of a bioelectrochemical system for 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene transformation using response surface methodology
Authors: Chen Hui , Lu Donghui , Wang Caiqin , Chen Linlin , Xu Xiangyang , Zhu Liang
Published: January 2019

In the present study, a bioelectrochemical system (BES) was developed for 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene (DClNB) transformation.
Nucleic acid functionalized fiber optic probes for sensing in evanescent wave: optimization and application
Authors: Zhu Xiyu , Wang Ruoyu , Xia Kaidong , Zhou Xiaohong , Shi Hanchang
Published: January 2019

Reliable DNA-functionalized optic probes for sensing in evanescent wave have been developed based a series of optimizations on the etching solution and immobilization chemistry.
The coupling of in-flow reaction with continuous flow seedless tubular crystallization
Authors: Rimez Bart , Septavaux Jean , Scheid Benoit
Published: January 2019

The direct coupling between a continuous flow-assisted acetylation reaction of salicylic acid and the subsequent crystallisation of aspirin in a continuous flow tubular reactor or nucleator is investigated. A mean crystal size between 3 and 300 μm is obtained upon changing the nucleation temperature.
Electrochemical oxidative C–H/S–H cross-coupling between enamines and thiophenols with H2 evolution
Authors: Li Dandan , Li Shuaibing , Peng Chong , Lu Lijun , Wang Shengchun , Wang Pan , Chen Yi-Hung , Cong Hengjiang , Lei Aiwen
Published: January 2019

Electrochemical oxidative C–H/S–H cross-coupling has been developed to construct the C–S bond in a highly straightforward and efficient manner.
Flow of wormlike micellar solutions around microfluidic cylinders with high aspect ratio and low blockage ratio
Authors: Haward Simon J. , Kitajima Naoyuki , Toda-Peters Kazumi , Takahashi Tsutomu , Shen Amy Q.
Published: January 2019

We employ time-resolved flow velocimetry and birefringence imaging methods to study the flow of a well-characterized shear-banding wormlike micellar solution around a novel glass-fabricated microfluidic circular cylinder.
Electroadhesion with application to touchscreens
Authors: Sirin Omer , Ayyildiz Mehmet , Persson B. N. J. , Basdogan Cagatay
Published: January 2019

There is growing interest in touchscreens displaying tactile feedback due to their tremendous potential in consumer electronics.