bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Growth Stage on Cotton Response to a Sublethal Concentration of Dicamba
Authors: Buol John T. , Reynolds Daniel B. , Dodds Darrin M. , Mills J. Anthony , Nichols Robert L. , Bond Jason A. , Jenkins Johnie N. , DuBien Janice L.
Published: November 2018

The introduction of auxin herbicide weed control systems has led to increased occurrence of crop injury in susceptible soybeans and cotton. Off-target exposure to sublethal concentrations of dicamba can occur at varying growth stages, which may affect crop response. Field experiments were conducted in Mississippi in 2014, 2015, and 2016 to characterize cotton response to a sublethal concentration of dicamba equivalent to 1/16X the labeled rate. Weekly applications of dicamba at 35 g ae ha−1were made to separate sets of replicated plots immediately following planting until 14 wk after emergence (WAE). Exposure to dicamba from 1 to 9 WAE resulted in up to 32% visible injury, and exposure from 7 to 10 WAE delayed crop maturity. Exposure from 8 to 10 and 13 WAE led to increased cotton height, while an 18% reduction in machine-harvested yield resulted from exposure at 6 WAE. Cotton exposure at 3 to 9 WAE reduced the seed cotton weight partitioned to position 1 fruiting sites, while exposure at 3 to 6 WAE also reduced yield in position 2 fruiting sites. Exposure at 2, 3, and 5 to 7 WAE increased the percent of yield partitioned to vegetative branches. An increase in percent of yield partitioned to plants with aborted terminals occurred following exposure from 3 to 7 WAE and corresponded with reciprocal decreases in yield partitioned to positional fruiting sites. Minimal effects were observed on fiber quality, except for decreases in fiber length uniformity resulting from exposure at 9 and 10 WAE.
High‐Resolution Observations and Tracking of a Dual‐Core Anticyclonic Eddy in the Algerian Basin
Authors: Garreau P. , Dumas F. , Louazel S. , Stegner A. , Le Vu B.
Published: November 2018

Mesoscale dynamics in the Mediterranean Sea have been investigated for years, and anticyclonic eddies are regularly observed features in the Algerian Basin. Here we used the AMEDA eddy detection algorithm to track and monitor a particular anticyclonic eddy from its birth to its death. The analysis of remote sensing data sets (AVISO and sea surface temperature) revealed that this anticyclone split from an Algerian eddy, in October 2015, interacted with the North Balearic Front and merged 7 months later, in May 2016, with a similar Algerian eddy. In early spring 2016, a field experiment during the ProtevsMed 2016 cruise thoroughly investigated this eddy, when it was located near the North Balearic Front, taking high‐resolution (Seasoar) hydrological transects, several Conductivity‐Temperature‐Depth (CTD) casts, and Lowered Acoustic Doppler Profiler measurements. In addition, four drifting buoys were released in the eddy core. These in situ measurements revealed that the vertical structure of this anticyclone was made of two water lenses of very different origins (Atlantic Water above and Western Intermediate Water below) spinning together. In the vicinity of the North Balearic Front, which may act as a dynamical barrier to such oceanic structures, the eddy interacted with a subsurface anticyclonic eddy made of modal water, which fostered cross‐front exchanges generating filaments by stirring. The high‐resolution sampling revealed fine‐scale structures both adjacent to the eddy and within its core.
New Insights on Betic Cordillera Structure From Gas Geochemistry
Authors: Lix C. , Zuddas P. , Inguaggiato C. , Guichet X. , Benavente J. , Barbier M.
Published: November 2018

The current lithospheric structure of the Betic Cordillera results from active geodynamic system related to slab retreat slowdown in western Mediterranean. A sharp change in lithospheric thickness has been imaged beneath the Betic Cordillera, potentially resulting from a near‐vertical subduction‐transform‐edge‐propagator fault toward the surface with possible mantle influx. In this study, we use helium isotopic composition of bubbling and dissolved gases in groundwater samples of the central part of the Betic Cordillera to evaluate the origin of gases and to set constraints on its lithospheric structure. We found that helium isotopic composition have a dominant radiogenic component with a mantle‐derived He contribution reaching mainly 1% for the investigated area. Estimation of He diffusion within the ductile crust indicates that this process is potentially to slow to explain the low mantle‐derived He contribution measured at the surface. A new analysis of the available data of the crustal metamorphic complexes allows us to suggest that the crust could be dissociated from the mantle with no evidence of asthenospheric influx. The weak mantle He signature could reflect a mantle material earlier incorporated in the crustal metamorphic complexes of the Betic Cordillera during their exhumation. In light of mass balance calculations, we propose that the slight 3He excess observed in the present‐day fluids might result from a fossil mantle signature diluted by local radiogenic production over time.
Radiogenic Sr and Stable C and O Isotopes Across Precambrian‐Cambrian Transition in Marine Carbonatic Phosphorites of Malyi Karatau (Kazakhstan)—Implications for Paleo‐environmental Change
Authors: Stammeier J. A. , Hippler D. , Nebel O. , Leis A. , Grengg C. , Mittermayr F. , Kasemann S. A. , Dietzel M.
Published: November 2018

The Precambrian‐Cambrian (PЄ‐Є) transition is a unique period in Earth's history known for the “Cambrian Explosion.” Here we present a continuous radiogenic and stable isotope (87Sr/86Sr, δ13CVPDB, carb, and δ18OVPDB, carb) and elemental (including rare earth elements) record across the PЄ‐Є transition, preserved in phosphatic and carbonate shallow‐water deposits from two sections (Koksu and Kyrshabakty) in Kazakhstan. Microstructure, trace, and rare earth elements concentrations reflect near‐primary preservation. δ13CVPDB, carb data (−12.1‰ to 3.3‰) record formation conditions at a time of severe geodynamic changes. Negative δ13CVPDB, carb at the PЄ‐Є boundary resemble the Basal Cambrian Carbon Anomaly. Average δ18OVPDB, carb values of −11.7 ± 3.8‰ are suggested to represent near‐primary signals and can be explained by isotopically lighter past sea water and elevated temperature during precipitation compared to present‐day conditions. Initial 87Sr/86Sr of the carbonate and phosphate fraction are in the range of 0.7086–0.7112 at the Koksu section and 0.7082–0.7136 at the Kyrshabakty section. This is in general agreement with the seawater 87Sr/86Sr evolution during the Early Cambrian. In this study, we present a refined 87Sr/86Sr seawater evolution, highlighting an extreme positive Sr isotope excursion at the PЄ‐Є transition, which is suggested to be indicative for enhanced continental weathering and an increase in nutrient runoff into shallow ocean waters. This extreme geodynamic event may have served as a driving force for enhanced biologic activity in the lead up to the Cambrian Explosion, where phosphatic shallow‐water deposits from Kazakhstan constitute a valuable paleo‐environmental archive.
A Multivariate Probabilistic Framework for Tracking the Intertropical Convergence Zone: Analysis of Recent Climatology and Past Trends
Authors: Mamalakis Antonios , Foufoula‐Georgiou Efi
Published: November 2018

Due to its importance for water availability in the tropics and subtropics, efficient tracking of the seasonal and long‐term shifts of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is of great value. Current approaches, which are based on tracking changes in the annual mean of single variables, ignore the intra‐annual dynamics, while more sophisticated methods are computationally intensive. Here we propose a new probabilistic framework to track the ITCZ, which is based on tracking the location of maximum precipitation and minimum outgoing longwave radiation in overlapping longitudinal windows. Our framework is seasonally and longitudinally explicit, allows for joint consideration of multiple variables to define the ITCZ, and is flexible in its implementation, thus, it can be used in analyses of different scales and scopes. We apply our framework to analyze the recent climatology of the ITCZ and report a southward trend in its location over central Pacific in the late twentieth century.
North Atlantic Versus Global Control on Dansgaard‐Oeschger Events
Authors: Dima M. , Lohmann G. , Knorr G.
Published: November 2018

The classic scenario for the generation of Dansgaard‐Oeschger (DO) events assumes a link to changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) induced by North Atlantic freshwater perturbations. Recent proxy data emphasize the existence of leads and lags between DO fingerprints in Greenland and Antarctic records, highlighting the potential of a Southern Hemisphere control on these events. Investigating this possibility, we provide a conceptual model resulting from phase space reconstructions based on the northern and southern ice core records. The resulting patterns closely resemble AMOC hysteresis, consistent with a northern abrupt warming linked to gradual global temperature changes. This suggests that rapid DO warmings associated with abrupt AMOC transitions from a relatively weak (cold stadial) state to a stronger (warm interstadial) state can be controlled by global forcing that can be linked to the Southern Hemisphere, rather than by the end of a local temporary forcing in the North Atlantic.
Three‐Dimensional Resistivity Structure of Iwo‐Yama Volcano, Kirishima Volcanic Complex, Japan: Relationship to Shallow Seismicity, Surface Uplift, and a Small Phreatic Eruption
Authors: Tsukamoto K. , Aizawa K. , Chiba K. , Kanda W. , Uyeshima M. , Koyama T. , Utsugi M. , Seki K. , Kishita T.
Published: November 2018

Iwo‐yama volcano, part of the Kirishima Volcanic Complex, has recently shown signs of unrest. We conducted a hypocenter relocation of shallow earthquakes and broadband magnetotelluric measurements around Iwo‐yama. Three‐dimensional inversion of magnetotelluric data revealed an electrically conductive layer that is interpreted as a hydrothermally altered clay‐dominated unit. Shallow earthquakes occur beneath this layer, suggesting that it controls the location of seismicity. The base of the layer corresponds to the depth of a pressure source identified by a leveling survey. These observations suggest that the supply of high‐temperature fluids has increased over time beneath Iwo‐yama, causing an increase in pore pressure beneath the clay‐rich layer and resulting in tectonic earthquakes and ground inflation. Increased upwelling of fluids through a fracture in the clay‐rich layer may have caused a vigorous liquid‐gas phase transition near the surface, which in turn might have led to the small phreatic eruption on 19 April 2018.
Receiver Function Investigations of Seismic Anisotropy Layering Beneath Southern California
Authors: Kong Fansheng , Gao Stephen S. , Liu Kelly H. , Song Jianguo , Ding Weiwei , Fang Yinxia , Ruan Aiguo , Li Jiabiao
Published: November 2018

Seismic azimuthal anisotropy characterized by shear wave splitting analyses using teleseismic XKS phases (including SKS, SKKS, and PKS) is widely employed to constrain the deformation field in the Earth's crust and mantle. Due to the near‐vertical incidence of the XKS arrivals, the resulting splitting parameters (fast polarization orientations and splitting times) have an excellent horizontal but poor vertical resolution, resulting in considerable ambiguities in the geodynamic interpretation of the measurements. Here we use P‐to‐S converted phases from the Moho and the 410‐ (d410) and 660‐km (d660) discontinuities to investigate anisotropy layering beneath Southern California. Similarities between the resulting splitting parameters from the XKS and P‐to‐S converted phases from the d660 suggest that the lower mantle beneath the study area is azimuthally isotropic. Similarly, significant azimuthal anisotropy is not present in the mantle transition zone on the basis of the consistency between the splitting parameters obtained using P‐to‐S converted phases from the d410 and d660. Crustal anisotropy measurements exhibit a mean splitting time of 0.2 ± 0.1 s and mostly NW‐SE fast orientations, which are significantly different from the dominantly E‐W fast orientations revealed using XKS and P‐to‐S conversions from the d410 and d660. Anisotropy measurements using shear waves with different depths of origin suggest that the Earth's upper mantle is the major anisotropic layer beneath Southern California. Additionally, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of applying a set of azimuthal anisotropy analysis techniques to reduce ambiguities in the depth of the source of the observed anisotropy.
The Influence of Convex Particles' Irregular Shape and Varying Size on Porosity, Permeability, and Elastic Bulk Modulus of Granular Porous Media: Insights From Numerical Simulations
Authors: Kerimov Abdulla , Mavko Gary , Mukerji Tapan , Dvorkin Jack , Al Ibrahim Mustafa A.
Published: November 2018

The shapes of particles play a crucial role in the transport and mechanical behavior of granular media. How densely particles of a specific shape can be arranged in a given volume has an enormous practical significance for many scientific and industrial fields. We developed a numerical workflow to investigate the effects of irregularly shaped frictionless, convex particles combined with the polydispersity of particle sizes on the porosity, permeability, and elastic bulk modulus of granular porous media. The workflow is based on the computationally generated three‐dimensional granular assemblies of both regular and irregularly shaped particles and pore‐scale simulation of physics to estimate the absolute permeability and elastic bulk modulus of the generated digital granular porous media. Our numerical results show that the porosity decreases by 14–25%, absolute permeability decreases by 45–76%, and elastic bulk modulus increases by 20–66% as we deviate from the regular‐shaped particle with the specified particle size distribution. How rapidly and to what degree these properties of granular assemblies of irregularly shaped particles change depends on particle size distribution. However, once the maximal densest packings of irregularly shaped particles with the prescribed aspect ratio are generated, any further change in the shape of particles has either a minimal impact or an opposite effects are observed. Overall, our numerical observations suggest that the irregular shape of particles has the greatest effect on permeability and the least effect on porosity in both monodisperse and polydisperse granular media.
Cloud Adiabaticity and Its Relationship to Marine Stratocumulus Characteristics Over the Northeast Pacific Ocean
Authors: Braun Rachel A. , Dadashazar Hossein , MacDonald Alexander B. , Crosbie Ewan , Jonsson Haflidi H. , Woods Roy K. , Flagan Richard C. , Seinfeld John H. , Sorooshian Armin
Published: November 2018

Cloud adiabaticity (α) is defined as the ratio of the actual liquid water path (LWPmeasured) in a cloud to its corresponding adiabatic value (LWPad). Processes such as drizzle and entrainment can lead to subadiabatic LWPmeasured. This study examines α and its relationship to microphysical properties for 86 cloud events over the Northeast Pacific Ocean based on data collected during four separate summertime airborne campaigns. For the study region, α was found to be 0.766 ± 0.134. For most cases, clouds with a low value of α were found to have lower droplet number concentration (Nd), higher droplet effective radius (re), higher relative dispersion (d), and higher rain rate (R). The subcloud aerosol concentration (Na) was often less for the low‐α cases. The relationship between α and the vertical profiles and cloud‐top characteristics for both the cloud droplet‐only spectrum and full spectrum (cloud and rain droplets) is also examined. Inclusion of rain droplets produced a larger change in d for the low‐α clouds as compared to the high‐α clouds. On average, R increased at cloud top for high‐α clouds but decreased at cloud top for low‐α clouds. Accounting for α when estimating Nd from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer retrievals results in better agreement with in situ Nd values. Results of this work motivate the need for additional focus on the factors governing α, such as cloud type, and implications of its value, especially for remote‐sensing retrievals.
Soil Organic Carbon and Isotope Composition Response to Topography and Erosion in Iowa
Authors: Li Xia , McCarty Gregory W. , Karlen Douglas L. , Cambardella Cynthia A. , Effland William
Published: November 2018

Soil redistribution (erosion and deposition) can greatly affect the fate of soil organic carbon (SOC) in agroecosystems. Landscape topography is one of the key factors controlling erosion processes and creating spatial variability in SOC. We combined carbon (C) isoscape (isotopic landscape) analysis, historic orthophoto interpretation, cesium (137Cs) inventory measurement, and digital terrain analysis to quantify SOC dynamics and soil redistribution relationship and their responses to landscape topography in an Iowa cropland field with soybean/maize (C3/C4) rotation. The historic orthophotos and 137Cs were used to reflect soil redistribution before and after the 1960s, respectively. Topography‐based models were developed to simulate 137Cs inventory, SOC density, and C isotopes using stepwise principal component regression. Spatial patterns of SOC were similar to soil erosion/deposition patterns with high SOC density in depositional areas and low SOC density in eroded areas. Soil redistribution, SOC density, and isotopic signature of SOC (δ13C) were highly correlated with topographic metrics, suggesting that topographic heterogeneity drove the spatial variability in erosion and SOC dynamics. Considering the isotopic composition of SOC, C3‐derived SOC density was strongly controlled by topographic metrics, but C4‐derived SOC density showed weaker expression of spatial pattern and poor correlation to topographic parameters. The resulting topography‐based stepwise principal component regression models captured more than 60% of the variability in SOC density, δ13C, and C3‐derived SOC density but could not reliably predict C4‐derived SOC density. Our results indicate that exploring C isotopes in response to soil erosion is important to understand the fate of eroded SOC within croplands under C3/C4 cultivation.
In Situ Data and Effect Correlation During September 2017 Solar Particle Event
Authors: Jiggens P. , Clavie C. , Evans H. , O'Brien T. P. , Witasse O. , Mishev A. L. , Nieminen P. , Daly E. , Kalegaev V. , Vlasova N. , Borisov S. , Benck S. , Poivey C. , Cyamukungu M. , Mazur J. , Heynderickx D. , Sandberg I. , Berger T. , Usoskin I. G. , Paassilta M. , Vainio R. , Straube U. , Müller D. , Sánchez‐Cano B. , Hassler D. , Praks J. , Niemelä P. , Leppinen H. , Punkkinen A. , Aminalragia‐Giamini S. , Nagatsuma T.
Published: November 2018

Solar energetic particles are one of the main sources of particle radiation seen in space. In the first part of September 2017 the most active solar period of cycle 24 produced four large X‐class flares and a series of (interplanetary) coronal mass ejections, which gave rise to radiation storms seen over all energies and at the ground by neutron monitors. This paper presents comprehensive cross comparisons of in situ radiation detector data from near‐Earth satellites to give an appraisal on the state of present data processing for monitors of such particles. Many of these data sets have been the target of previous cross calibrations, and this event with a hard spectrum provides the opportunity to validate these results. As a result of the excellent agreement found between these data sets and the use of neutron monitor data, this paper also presents an analytical expression for fluence spectrum for the event. Derived ionizing dose values have been computed to show that although there is a significant high‐energy component, the event was not particularly concerning as regards dose effects in spacecraft electronics. Several sets of spacecraft data illustrating single event effects are presented showing a more significant impact in this regard. Such a hard event can penetrate thick shielding; human dose quantities measured inside the International Space Station and derived through modeling for aircraft altitudes are also presented. Lastly, simulation results of coronal mass ejection propagation through the heliosphere are presented along with data from Mars‐orbiting spacecraft in addition to data from the Mars surface.
A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial assessing the effect of tadalafil (Cialis) on the cardiovascular response in men with complete spinal cord injury above the sixth thoracic level: A Pilot Study
Authors: Ethans Karen D. , Casey Alan , Tarhoni Mohamed , Nankar Mayur , Entcheva Stella
Published: November 2018

Study design

Double-blind, randomized cross-over placebo-controlled pilot study.

Objectives

To determine the effects of tadalafil on systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), and dizziness of men with American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale-A (AIS-A) spinal cord injury (SCI) between cervical-4 (C4) and thoracic-5 (T5) levels.

Setting

Outpatient rehabilitation clinic.

Design

Double-blind, randomized cross-over placebo-controlled pilot study.

Methods

20 males with AIS-A SCI, C4-T5 received either tadalafil 20 mg or placebo for the first arm, and then were crossed-over after 1 week to the second arm. SBP, HR, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for dizziness upon sitting up from lying were measured at baseline and again 1, 2, 4, 12, 22, 29, and 36 h post dose administration. The change in each outcome measure (SBP, HR, VAS dizziness) was observed from pre-dose to each time point. A change in VAS dizziness of 2 cm or greater (scale 0–10 cm) was considered positive.

Results

SBP did not change significantly in either group. However, HR increased significantly in the tadalafil group at several time points (12 h p < 0.05, 22 h p <0.05, 29 h p <0.01, and 36 h p <0.05), with no change in the placebo group. The VAS dizziness significantly increased (range 2–6 cm changes) at some time point in 1/4 of the subjects after tadalafil, but not in the placebo group; all reports of dizziness were at 12 h or later.

Conclusions

Tadalafil use in people with SCI above T6 is safe with respect to not causing hypotension; hemodynamic changes that occurred 12–36 h post administration were compensated for by elevations in HR.

Sponsorship

The Manitoba Medical Services Foundation and the Health Sciences Centre Foundation.
Passive directional sub-ambient daytime radiative cooling
Authors: Bhatia Bikram , Leroy Arny , Shen Yichen , Zhao Lin , Gianello Melissa , Li Duanhui , Gu Tian , Hu Juejun , Soljačić Marin , Wang Evelyn N.
Published: November 2018

Demonstrations of passive daytime radiative cooling have primarily relied on complex and costly spectrally selective nanophotonic structures with high emissivity in the transparent atmospheric spectral window and high reflectivity in the solar spectrum. Here, we show a directional approach to passive radiative cooling that exploits the angular confinement of solar irradiation in the sky to achieve sub-ambient cooling during the day regardless of the emitter properties in the solar spectrum. We experimentally demonstrate this approach using a setup comprising a polished aluminum disk that reflects direct solar irradiation and a white infrared-transparent polyethylene convection cover that minimizes diffuse solar irradiation. Measurements performed around solar noon show a minimum temperature of 6 °C below ambient temperature and maximum cooling power of 45 W m–2. Our passive cooling approach, realized using commonly available low-cost materials, could improve the performance of existing cooling systems and enable next-generation thermal management and refrigeration solutions.
Understanding dynamics of coherent Ising machines through simulation of large-scale 2D Ising models
Authors: Böhm Fabian , Inagaki Takahiro , Inaba Kensuke , Honjo Toshimori , Enbutsu Koji , Umeki Takeshi , Kasahara Ryoichi , Takesue Hiroki
Published: November 2018

Many problems in mathematics, statistical mechanics, and computer science are computationally hard but can often be mapped onto a ground-state-search problem of the Ising model and approximately solved by artificial spin-networks of coupled degenerate optical parametric oscillators (DOPOs) in coherent Ising machines. To better understand their working principle and optimize their performance, we analyze the dynamics during the ground state search of 2D Ising models with up to 1936 mutually coupled DOPOs. For regular as well as frustrated and disordered 2D lattices, the machine finds the correct solution within just a few milliseconds. We determine that calculation performance is limited by freeze-out effects and can be improved by controlling the DOPO dynamics, which allows to optimize performance of coherent Ising machines in various tasks. Comparisons with Monte Carlo simulations reveal that coherent Ising machines behave like low temperature spin systems, thus making them suitable for optimization tasks.
Megadomains and superloops form dynamically but are dispensable for X-chromosome inactivation and gene escape
Authors: Froberg John E. , Pinter Stefan F. , Kriz Andrea J. , Jégu Teddy , Lee Jeannie T.
Published: November 2018

The mammalian inactive X-chromosome (Xi) is structurally distinct from all other chromosomes and serves as a model for how the 3D genome is organized. The Xi shows weakened topologically associated domains and is instead organized into megadomains and superloops directed by the noncoding loci, Dxz4 and Firre. Their functional significance is presently unclear, though one study suggests that they permit Xi genes to escape silencing. Here, we find that megadomains do not precede Xist expression or Xi gene silencing. Deleting Dxz4 disrupts the sharp megadomain border, whereas deleting Firre weakens intra-megadomain interactions. However, deleting Dxz4 and/or Firre has no impact on Xi silencing and gene escape. Nor does it affect Xi nuclear localization, stability, or H3K27 methylation. Additionally, ectopic integration of Dxz4 and Xist is not sufficient to form megadomains on autosomes. We conclude that Dxz4 and megadomains are dispensable for Xi silencing and escape from X-inactivation.
NF1 heterozygosity fosters de novo tumorigenesis but impairs malignant transformation
Authors: Brosseau Jean-Philippe , Liao Chung-Ping , Wang Yong , Ramani Vijay , Vandergriff Travis , Lee Michelle , Patel Amisha , Ariizumi Kiyoshi , Le Lu Q.
Published: November 2018

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal genetic disorder. Patients with NF1 are associated with mono-allelic loss of the tumor suppressor gene NF1 in their germline, which predisposes them to develop a wide array of benign lesions. Intriguingly, recent sequencing efforts revealed that the NF1 gene is frequently mutated in multiple malignant tumors not typically associated with NF1 patients, suggesting that NF1 heterozygosity is refractory to at least some cancer types. In two orthogonal mouse models representing NF1- and non-NF1-related tumors, we discover that an Nf1+/− microenvironment accelerates the formation of benign tumors but impairs further progression to malignancy. Analysis of benign and malignant tumors commonly associated with NF1 patients, as well as those with high NF1 gene mutation frequency, reveals an antagonistic role for NF1 heterozygosity in tumor initiation and malignant transformation and helps to reconciliate the role of the NF1 gene in both NF1 and non-NF1 patient contexts.
TRIM28 protects TRIM24 from SPOP-mediated degradation and promotes prostate cancer progression
Authors: Fong Ka-wing , Zhao Jonathan C. , Song Bing , Zheng Bin , Yu Jindan
Published: November 2018

TRIM24 is an effector substrate of the E3 ubiquitin ligase adaptor SPOP and becomes stabilized in prostate cancer (PCa) with SPOP mutations. However, how TRIM24 protein is regulated in the vast majority of SPOP-wildtype PCa is unknown. Here we report TRIM28 as a critical upstream regulator of TRIM24. TRIM28 protein interacts with TRIM24 to prevent its ubiquitination and degradation by SPOP. Further, TRIM28 facilitates TRIM24 occupancy on the chromatin and, like TRIM24, augments AR signaling. TRIM28 promotes PCa cell proliferation in vitro and xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Importantly, TRIM28 is upregulated in aggressive PCa and associated with elevated levels of TRIM24 and worse clinical outcome. TRIM24 and AR coactivated gene signature of SPOP-mutant PCa is similarly activated in human PCa with high TRIM28 expression. Taken together, this study provides a novel mechanism to broad TRIM24 protein stabilization and establishes TRIM28 as a promising therapeutic target.
Copper and other heavy metals in grapes: a pilot study tracing influential factors and evaluating potential risks in China
Authors: Li Xiaomin , Dong Shujun , Su Xiaoou
Published: November 2018

In this study, grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) were systematically sampled across the main grape-producing areas in a nationwide survey of China. Grapes from special regions, such as heavy metal polluted areas (e-waste dismantling area) and pesticide free areas (courtyard) were also collected to make a comparison. Grape skins and pulps were separated to evaluate influence of accumulation behavior, environmental transport and water cleaning efficiency to heavy metals. Levels of copper in grape skins (5.02 ± 3.18 μg/g) were higher than in pulps (3.74 ± 1.48 μg/g). Only high level of copper in two grape skins (sampled from an e-waste dismantling area) showed obvious decrease during water clean-up procedure, indicating the influence of air deposition. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in the copper levels of grapes from markets, courtyards and e-waste dismantling areas. Concentrations and sources of chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) were also analyzed. Higher levels of these heavy metals were observed in grape skins than pulps. Finally, we evaluated the risk of ingesting heavy metal through grapes using the estimated daily intake (EDI). No health risk was found by consuming grapes according to the data from this study.
β-diversity decreases with increasing trophic rank in plant – arthropod food chains on lake islands
Authors: Zalewski Marcin , Hajdamowicz Izabela , Stańska Marzena , Dudek-Godeau Dorota , Tykarski Piotr , Sienkiewicz Paweł , Ciurzycki Wojciech , Ulrich Werner
Published: November 2018

Contrasting trophic theories of island biogeography try to link spatial patterns in species distribution and richness with dietary preferences, arguing that the spatial turnover of species among habitat patches changes with trophic rank causing a systematic change in the proportion of plants, herbivores, and predators across habitats of different size. Here we test these predictions using quantitative surveys of plants, spiders, and herbivores as well as of omnivorous and predatory ground beetles on undisturbed Polish lake islands. We found decreased proportions of predators and habitat generalists on larger islands. Environmental niches and niche overlap were highest in predators. Variability in environmental niche width among species increased at higher trophic levels. Our results confirm models that predict a decrease in spatial species turnover (β-diversity) with increasing trophic level. We speculate that the major trigger for these differences is a reduced dispersal ability in plants at basal trophic ranks when compared to higher trophic levels.
Partitioning beta diversity in a tropical karst seasonal rainforest in Southern China
Authors: Guo Yili , Xiang Wusheng , Wang Bin , Li Dongxing , Mallik Azim U. , Chen Han Y. H. , Huang Fuzhao , Ding Tao , Wen Shujun , Lu Shuhua , Li Xiankun
Published: November 2018

Both deterministic and stochastic processes have been linked to forest community assembly; however, their contribution to beta diversity has not been properly explored, and no studies to date have investigated their impacts on sparse depleted soils in forests that contain widespread exposed limestone karst. We found that the pairwise differences in species composition between quadrates was determined by a balanced variation in abundance, whereby the individuals of some species at one site were substituted by an equivalent number of individuals of different species at another site. Both the total beta diversity and its balanced variation in abundance declined with increasing sampling grain size. Our research indicated that environmental differences exert a strong influence on beta diversity, particularly total beta diversity and its balanced abundance variation in larger grain sizes. It was evident that deterministic and stochastic processes worked together, and that deterministic processes were more important than stochastic processes in the regulation of beta diversity in this heterogeneous tropical karst seasonal rainforest of Southern China. However, in future research a functional trait based approach will be required to tease out the relative degree of deterministic and stochastic processes toward an assessment of the temporal changes in species composition.
Architecture and subunit arrangement of the complete Saccharomyces cerevisiae COMPASS complex
Authors: Wang Yanxing , Ding Zhanyu , Liu Xiangyang , Bao Yu , Huang Min , Wong Catherine C. L. , Hong Xiaoyu , Cong Yao
Published: November 2018

Methylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) is catalyzed by the multi-component COMPASS or COMPASS-like complex, which is highly conserved from yeast to human, and plays essential roles in gene expression and transcription, cell cycle progression, and DNA repair. Here we present a cryo-EM map of the complete S. cerevisiae COMPASS complex. Through tag or Fab labeling strategy combined with cryo-EM 3D reconstruction and cross-linking and mass spectrometry (XL-MS) analysis, we uncovered new information on the subunit arrangement: Cps50, Cps35, and Cps30 were determined to group together to form the face region in the head of the complex, and Cps40 and the N-terminal portion of Set1 reside on the top of the head. Our map reveals the location of the active center and a canyon in the back of the head. Together, our study provides the first snapshot of the complete architecture of yeast COMPASS and a picture of its subunit interaction network, which could facilitate our understanding of the COMPASS machinery and its functionality.
Comparative assessment shows the reliability of chloroplast genome assembly using RNA-seq
Authors: Osuna-Mascaró Carolina , Rubio de Casas Rafael , Perfectti Francisco
Published: November 2018

Chloroplast genomes (cp genomes) are widely used in comparative genomics, population genetics, and phylogenetic studies. Obtaining chloroplast genomes from RNA-Seq data seems feasible due to the almost full transcription of cpDNA. However, the reliability of chloroplast genomes assembled from RNA-Seq instead of genomic DNA libraries remains to be thoroughly verified. In this study, we assembled chloroplast genomes for three Erysimum (Brassicaceae) species from three RNA-Seq replicas and from one genomic library of each species, using a streamlined bioinformatics protocol. We compared these assembled genomes, confirming that assembled cp genomes from RNA-Seq data were highly similar to each other and to those from genomic libraries in terms of overall structure, size, and composition. Although post-transcriptional modifications, such as RNA-editing, may introduce variations in the RNA-seq data, the assembly of cp genomes from RNA-seq appeared to be reliable. Moreover, RNA-Seq assembly was less sensitive to sources of error such as the recovery of nuclear plastid DNAs (NUPTs). Although some precautions should be taken when producing reference genomes in non-model plants, we conclude that assembling cp genomes from RNA-Seq data is a fast, accurate, and reliable strategy.
PT symmetry protected non-Hermitian topological systems
Authors: Yuce C. , Oztas Z.
Published: November 2018

We study PT symmetry protected topological phase in non-Hermitian 1D and 2D systems. We show that topological phase exist in non-Hermitian PT symmetric systems for both gapped and gapless systems and discuss appearance of exceptional points. We apply our formalism to a complex extension of the SSH model, topological semimetals and nodal superconductors.
One-pot synthesis of Pd-promoted Ce–Ni mixed oxides as efficient catalysts for imine production from the direct N-alkylation of amine with alcohol
Authors: Zhang Mengyuan , Wu Shipeng , Bian Longchun , Cao Qiue , Fang Wenhao
Published: November 2018

Pd-promoted CeNiXOY mixed oxides showed high production of imines through the oxidative coupling of amines with alcohols due to the synergistic effect between Pd0 species and redox properties of CeNiXOY.
3D heterostructured cobalt oxide@layered double hydroxide core–shell networks on nickel foam for high-performance hybrid supercapacitor
Authors: Zhang Luojiang , Hui K. N. , Hui K. S. , Or Siu Wing
Published: November 2018

3D heterostructured Co3O4@LDH networks were grown directly on nickel foam for the positive electrode of a high-performance hybrid supercapacitor.
Cytotoxic homoleptic Ti(iv) compounds of ONO-type ligands: synthesis, structures and anti-cancer activity
Authors: Manne Rajesh , Miller Maya , Duthie Andrew , Guedes da Silva M. Fátima C. , Tshuva Edit Y. , Basu Baul Tushar S.
Published: November 2018

Reacting variously substituted dianionic tridentate ONO-type acylhydrazone ligands with titanium(iv) tetra(isopropoxide) gave a new class of eight homoleptic titanium(iv) compounds showing exceptional stability and promising cytotoxicity.
A robust and water-stable two-fold interpenetrated metal–organic framework containing both rigid tetrapodal carboxylate and rigid bifunctional nitrogen linkers exhibiting selective CO2 capture
Authors: Gupta Vijay , Mandal Sanjay K.
Published: November 2018

A robust and water-stable two-fold interpenetrated metal–organic framework containing both rigid tetrapodal carboxylate and rigid bifunctional nitrogen linkers exhibiting selective CO2 capture is reported.
Slow magnetization dynamics in Co(ii)/Co(iii) triethanolamine/pivalate complexes
Authors: Sarto Carolina , Rouzières Mathieu , Liu Jun-Liang , Bamberger Heiko , van Slageren Joris , Clérac Rodolphe , Alborés Pablo
Published: November 2018

We report a combined computational and experimental study of SMM properties of two new pivalate cobalt complexes.
Metalation behavior of a bis-saturated NHC ligand with a flexible m-xylyl linker
Authors: Quezada-Miriel Magdalena , Ochoa-Sanfelice J. Rubén , Mendoza-Tellez Sebastian , Martinez-Otero Diego , Asay Matthew
Published: November 2018

The final bis saturated N-heterocyclic carbene pincer proligand has been synthesized but refuses attempts at C–H activation.
Dissociation of fluorescently labeled lipids from liposomes in biological environments challenges the interpretation of uptake studies
Authors: Münter Rasmus , Kristensen Kasper , Pedersbæk Dennis , Larsen Jannik Bruun , Simonsen Jens Bæk , Andresen Thomas Lars
Published: November 2018

Many commonly used fluorescently labeled lipids were found to dissociate from liposomes during incubation in blood plasma.
Tunable colloidal quantum dot distributed feedback lasers integrated on a continuously chirped surface grating
Authors: Jung Hyunho , Han Changhyun , Kim Hanbit , Cho Kyung-Sang , Roh Young-Geun , Park Yeonsang , Jeon Heonsu
Published: November 2018

Continuously tunable colloidal quantum dot distributed feedback lasers are fabricated on a chirped surface grating generated by a laser interference lithography apparatus equipped with a cylindrical Lloyd's mirror.
Synthesis of uniform ordered mesoporous TiO2 microspheres with controllable phase junctions for efficient solar water splitting
Authors: Zhang Wei , He Haili , Tian Yong , Lan Kun , Liu Qi , Wang Changyao , Liu Yang , Elzatahry Ahmed , Che Renchao , Li Wei , Zhao Dongyuan
Published: November 2018

Mesoporous TiO2 microspheres with controllable phase junctions have been synthesized by a facile coordination-mediated self-assembly method.
Coordination of eukaryotic cilia and flagella
Authors: Wan Kirsty Y.
Published: November 2018

Propulsion by slender cellular appendages called cilia and flagella is an ancient means of locomotion. Unicellular organisms evolved myriad strategies to propel themselves in fluid environments, often involving significant differences in flagella number, localisation and modes of actuation. Remarkably, these appendages are highly conserved, occurring in many complex organisms such as humans, where they may be found generating physiological flows when attached to surfaces (e.g. airway epithelial cilia), or else conferring motility to male gametes (e.g. undulations of sperm flagella). Where multiple cilia arise, their movements are often observed to be highly coordinated. Here I review the two main mechanisms for motile cilia coordination, namely, intracellular and hydrodynamic, and discuss their relative importance in different ciliary systems.
Range profile‐based vehicle‐length estimation using automotive FMCW radar
Authors: Lee J. , Kim D. , Jeong S. , Kim Y.
Published: November 2018

Several types of vehicles including sedans, trucks, and buses simultaneously navigate roads. Information on the length and width of vehicles can be useful for tracking in scenarios such as autonomous driving. In this Letter, a vehicle‐length estimation method using data from automotive frequency‐modulated continuous‐wave (FMCW) radars is proposed. Based on the similarity of the range profile between up‐ and down‐chirp spectra, the authors can consistently determine the vehicle length. In addition, they consider the generation of different targets for long vehicles. Therefore, the proposed method can adaptively estimate the vehicle length. The authors verify the feasibility of the proposed method using on‐road measurement data.
Dual‐mode charge pump with second‐harmonic readout for antenna alignment in wireless power transfer system
Authors: Zhang Hao , Guo Yong‐Xin , Wu Wen
Published: November 2018

A charge pump is presented by integrating two identical voltage doublers and a modified rat‐race coupler to enable its dual‐mode operations: radio‐frequency (RF)‐to‐direct current (dc) power conversion and second‐harmonic readout. Due to the property of the modified rat‐race coupler, it is able to differentially divide incident RF signals for successive voltage doublers’ high‐efficiency rectification, and couple second harmonics for readout in two highly isolated channels. Output dc voltages are combined in parallel on a single load resistance for more practicality. Experimental validations are demonstrated by both simulation and measurement with a maximum RF‐to‐dc power conversion efficiency of 71.3% and −14.2 dBm second‐harmonic generation with an incident signal power of 19 dBm. This dual‐mode charge pump brings a prospect for antenna alignment in the wireless power transfer system by further exploiting second harmonics.
Partial row address prefetch and auto‐activate using precharge command for high density DRAM
Authors: Lee M.‐K. , Chung K.‐S.
Published: November 2018

Dynamic RAM (DRAM) is mainly used as the main memory. As the DRAM density increases, the address bus width required for a DRAM device is also increased. However, in a high‐speed DRAM interface, as the address bus becomes wider, not only the routing area and power consumption increase but also the timing margin to maintain signal integrity also decreases. Furthermore, without increasing the address bus pins, row addressing may need multiple cycles, which will lead to significant performance degradation. In this Letter, the authors propose a novel row addressing scheme to issue single‐cycle row addressing without extra address bus pins for high‐density DRAM devices. The proposed scheme prefetches a part of the target row address for the next activate command using unused address bus of a precharge command. The proposed scheme also enables an auto‐activate operation which activates automatically after precharge without explicitly issuing an activate command. As a result, the proposed row addressing scheme reduces the performance degradation due to multi‐cycle row addressing and the power consumption on the memory bus due to explicit activate command.
Fully‐differential second‐order tunable bandstop filter based on source follower
Authors: Almutairi F.T. , Karsilayan A.I.
Published: November 2018

A new design method for a second‐order bandstop filter is presented. The proposed filter is based on the source follower configuration with a partial positive feedback. The positive feedback is used to increase the quality factor of the filter, and the feed‐forward paths are used to create complex zeros. The proposed bandstop filter has electronically tunable centre frequency, bandwidth and attenuation with low power consumption. The proposed design has been simulated in TSMC 180 nm CMOS technology. The filter achieves input‐referred noise density. For a 2 GHz input signal, the filter achieves a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 60 dB for 238 input signal amplitude. The simulated results show that the centre frequency tuning range is between 1.6 and 3 GHz and the bandwidth is tunable from 0.6 to 1 GHz. The filter consumes about 2.5 mW for a supply voltage of 1.8 V at a centre frequency of 2.3 GHz.
Internally positive representations and stability analysis of linear differential systems with multiple time‐varying delays
Authors: De Iuliis Vittorio , D'Innocenzo Alessandro , Germani Alfredo , Manes Costanzo
Published: November 2018

This work introduces the internally positive representation of linear time‐varying delay differential systems, in the general case of multiple time‐varying delays. The technique, previously established for the delay‐free case and recently extended to various classes of linear delay systems, aims at building a positive representation of systems whose dynamics is, in general, not definite in sign, in order to export results that only hold for positive systems to arbitrary ones. In the special case of constant matrices, this leads to a simple and easy to check condition for the delay‐independent stability of differential systems with multiple time‐varying delays. The condition is shown to be less conservative than some well‐known conditions available in the literature. Numerical examples are proposed to validate the theoretical results.
Simplified predictive torque control for permanent magnet synchronous motor with discrete duty cycle control
Authors: Xiao Meng , Shi Tingna , Gu Xin , Xia Changliang
Published: November 2018

Here, a simplified predictive torque control strategy based on discrete duty cycle technology is proposed for the voltage source inverter permanent magnet synchronous motor drive system. Combining the discrete duty cycle technology, the candidate vectors are synthesised by two adjacent active vectors and zero vectors, and meanwhile, the duty cycles of the two adjacent active vectors and zero vectors are generated directly. Afterwards, an extended control set is constructed to improve the control accuracy of torque and flux. An inverted triangular matrix is constructed to store the duty cycle information, which corresponds to the row and column number of the elements. Also, the inverted triangle matrix is divided into three subregions according to the value of duty ratios. A cost function containing only the stator voltage vector error term is constructed and based on the geometric position of the reference voltage vector, the target region in the inverted triangle matrix is determined and the optimal vector is selected. So, the optimal vector prediction process and the duty cycle calculation process are combined into one, reducing the complexity of obtaining the optimal vector. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm are verified by experiments.