bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Legal, regulatory, and ethical frameworks for development of standards in artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous robotic surgery
Authors: O'Sullivan Shane , Nevejans Nathalie , Allen Colin , Blyth Andrew , Leonard Simon , Pagallo Ugo , Holzinger Katharina , Holzinger Andreas , Sajid Mohammed Imran , Ashrafian Hutan
Published: November 2018

Background

This paper aims to move the debate forward regarding the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous robotic surgery with a particular focus on ethics, regulation and legal aspects (such as civil law, international law, tort law, liability, medical malpractice, privacy and product/device legislation, among other aspects).

Methods

We conducted an intensive literature search on current or emerging AI and autonomous technologies (eg, vehicles), military and medical technologies (eg, surgical robots), relevant frameworks and standards, cyber security/safety‐ and legal‐systems worldwide. We provide a discussion on unique challenges for robotic surgery faced by proposals made for AI more generally (eg, Explainable AI) and machine learning more specifically (eg, black box), as well as recommendations for developing and improving relevant frameworks or standards.

Conclusion

We classify responsibility into the following: (1) Accountability; (2) Liability; and (3) Culpability. All three aspects were addressed when discussing responsibility for AI and autonomous surgical robots, be these civil or military patients (however, these aspects may require revision in cases where robots become citizens). The component which produces the least clarity is Culpability, since it is unthinkable in the current state of technology. We envision that in the near future a surgical robot can learn and perform routine operative tasks that can then be supervised by a human surgeon. This represents a surgical parallel to autonomously driven vehicles. Here a human remains in the ‘driving seat’ as a ‘doctor‐in‐the‐loop’ thereby safeguarding patients undergoing operations that are supported by surgical machines with autonomous capabilities.
Advances in real‐world applications for legged robots
Authors: Bellicoso C. Dario , Bjelonic Marko , Wellhausen Lorenz , Holtmann Kai , Günther Fabian , Tranzatto Marco , Fankhauser Péter , Hutter Marco
Published: November 2018

This paper provides insight into the application of the quadrupedal robot ANYmal in outdoor missions of industrial inspection (autonomous robot for gas and oil sites [ARGOS] challenge) and search and rescue (European Robotics League (ERL) Emergency Robots). In both competitions, the legged robot had to autonomously and semiautonomously navigate in real‐world scenarios to complete high‐level tasks such as inspection and payload delivery. In the ARGOS competition, ANYmal used a rotating light detection and ranging sensor to localize on the industrial site and map the terrain and obstacles around the robot. In the ERL competition, additional real‐time kinematic–global positioning system was used to colocalize the legged robot with respect to a micro aerial vehicle that creates maps from the aerial view. The high mobility of legged robots allows overcoming large obstacles, for example, steps and stairs, with statically and dynamically stable gaits. Moreover, the versatile machine can adapt its posture for inspection and payload delivery. The paper concludes with insight into the general learnings from the ARGOS and ERL challenges.
Highly Efficient Removal of Suspended Solid Pollutants from Wastewater by Magnetic Fe3O4‐Graphene Oxides Nanocomposite
Authors: Wu Yuchen , Jiang Gaopeng , Cano Zachary P. , Liu Guihua , Liu Wenwen , Feng Kun , Lui Gregory , Zhang Zisheng , Chen Zhongwei
Published: November 2018

In this work, the magnetic Fe3O4‐graphene oxide (Fe3O4‐GO) nanocomposite is synthesized via a facile one‐pot hydrothermal method and used for settling down and removing solid suspended particles in wastewater. Physicochemical characterizations not only confirm the successful in‐situ deposition of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles on GO nanosheets, but also disclose the strong interaction between them. The Fe3O4‐GO nanocomposite demonstrates an excellent capability of accelerating the settling process in the presence of magnetic field. It can reduce the Kaolinite solid particle concentration by an order of magnitude within 30 minutes, which is one time faster than that in the absence of magnetic field. The solid suspension absorbing behavior on the Fe3O4‐GO nanocomposite in the presence of magnetic field is found to fit with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models and the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. The calculated adsorption capacity reaches 58.46 mg⋅mg−1, and the initial adsorption rate reaches as high as 0.0275 mg⋅mg−1⋅min−1. The Fe3O4‐GO nanocomposite is proved to be an effective, efficient and promising magnetic coagulant for the rapid treatment of solid suspended particles in wastewater and natural water.
Iron‐Catalyzed Tandem C‐N and C–C bond Cleavage in Diaryl Methanamines: Use of Electron‐Rich Arenes as Leaving Group to Generate Triaryl Methanes
Authors: Paul Dipankar , Khatua Snehadrinarayan , Chatterjee Paresh N.
Published: November 2018

A facile FeCl3 catalyzed tandem C−N and C−C bond cleavage in N‐protected diaryl methanamines has been studied where the C−C bond cleavage, interestingly, results in the release of electron‐rich and sterically bulky arenes such as 1,3,5‐trimethoxybenzene or 3,5‐dimethoxytoluene. The tandem bond cleavage reaction generates triaryl methanes in mild conditions under air atmosphere. We found success in isolating the intermediate, formed through the preliminary C−N bond cleavage, and then converted the isolated intermediate to the final triaryl methanes by affecting the subsequent C−C bond cleavage. Several nucleophiles such as indoles, furans, 4‐methoxythiophenol and 1,3‐dimethoxybenzene were found effective under Lewis acidic conditions to cause the unusual yet facile tandem bond cleavage reaction in the diaryl methanamines. Use of electron‐rich and sterically bulky arenes as leaving groups in the present work highlights an innovative concept, which may potentially open up parallel avenues in organic synthesis.
Direct Visualization of Li Dendrite Effect on LiCoO2 Cathode by In Situ TEM
Authors: Yang Zhenzhong , Ong Phuong‐Vu , He Yang , Wang Le , Bowden Mark E. , Xu Wu , Droubay Timothy C. , Wang Chongmin , Sushko Peter V. , Du Yingge
Published: November 2018

Nonuniform and highly localized Li dendrites are known to cause deleterious and, in many cases, catastrophic effects on the performance of rechargeable Li batteries. However, the mechanisms of cathode failures upon contact with Li metal are far from clear. In this study, using in situ transmission electron microscopy, the interaction of Li metal with well‐defined, epitaxial thin films of LiCoO2, the most widely used cathode material, is directly visualized at an atomic scale. It is shown that a spontaneous and prompt chemical reaction is triggered once Li contact is made, leading to expansion and pulverization of LiCoO2 and ending with the final reaction products of Li2O and Co metal. A topotactic phase transition is identified close to the reaction front, resulting in the formation of CoO as a metastable intermediate. Dynamic structural and chemical imaging, in combination with ab initio simulations, reveal that a high density of grain and antiphase boundaries is formed at the reaction front, which are critical for enabling the short‐range topotactic reactions and long‐range Li propagation. The fundamental insights are of general importance in mitigating Li dendrites related issues and guiding the design principle for more robust energy materials.
Enhanced Sensitivity in Nanopore Sensing of Cancer Biomarkers in Human Blood via Click Chemistry
Authors: Zhang Zehui , Li Ting , Sheng Yingying , Liu Lei , Wu Hai‐Chen
Published: November 2018

Cancer biomarkers are expected to be indicative of the occurrence of certain cancer diseases before the tumors form and metastasize. However, many biomarkers can only be acquired in extremely low concentrations, which are often beyond the limit of detection (LOD) of current instruments and technologies. A practical strategy for nanopore sensing of cancer biomarkers in raw human blood down to the femtomolar level is developed here. This strategy first converts the detection of cancer biomarkers to the quantification of copper ions by conducting a sandwich assay involving copper oxide nanoparticles. The released Cu2+ is then taken to catalyze the “click” reaction which ligates a host–guest modified DNA probe. Finally, this DNA probe is subjected to single‐channel recordings to afford the translocation events that can be used to derive the concentrations of the original biomarkers. Due to the amplification effects of nanoparticle loadings and the “click” reaction, the LOD of this strategy can be as low as the subfemtomolar level. Further, the acid treatment step could effectively eliminate the interferences from plasma proteins in raw human blood and make the strategy highly suitable for the detection of cancer biomarkers in clinical samples.
Evaluating the safe interim use of seismically deficient buildings
Authors: Thiel Charles C. , Zsutty Theodore C.
Published: November 2018

How long can a seismically deficient building be used until the seismic risk becomes too high to be acceptable? A model interim use plan is developed with requirements to abandon the building if retrofit is not completed in the use period. Acceptable seismic performance is keyed to American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 41 levels. The acceptable occupancy or use period is limited to that which results in the same probability of performance as stated for an ASCE 7‐16–compliant building, except that the total risk in the use period is due to all possible earthquakes impacting the site, not just the maximum considered earthquake. The Thiel–Zsutty damage model is used to determine the probabilities for assigned threshold ranges where unacceptable performance can occur. Other response prediction models can be used if they provide an annual probability of a given performance level exceedance. Example applications are given for both marginally and highly deficient buildings located at 17 national sites in high and moderate seismic hazard regions and include ASCE 7 Risk Class I–IV buildings. This approach may be applied to any risk decision‐making issue for which there is an annual probability of damage exceedance.
7D supersymmetric Yang-Mills on a 3-Sasakian manifold
Authors: Rocén Andreas
Published: November 2018

Abstract

In this paper we study 7D maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills on a specific 3-Sasakian manifold that is the total space of an SO(3)-bundle over ℂP
2. The novelty of this example is that the manifold is not a toric Sasaki-Einstein manifold. The hyperkähler cone of this manifold is a Swann bundle with hypertoric symmetry and this allows us to calculate the perturbative part of the partition function of the theory. The result is also verified by an index calculation. We also discuss a factorisation of this result and compare it with analogous results for S
7.
Quality of Life (QoL) Among Ostomized Patients – a cross-sectional study using Stoma-care QoL questionnaire about the influence of some clinical and demographic data on patients’ QoL
Authors: Silva José O. , Gomes Pedro , Gonçalves David , Viana Charlene , Nogueira Fernanda , Goulart André , Leão Pedro , Mota Maria José , Peixoto Palmira , Rodrigues António Mesquita , Martins Sandra F.
Published: November 2018

Introduction In Portugal around 20,000 individuals are ostomized, with all the associated changes in patients’ everyday life that can compromise their Quality of Life (QoL).

Objectives Assess and compare QoL of a group of ostomized patients according to sex, age group, type of surgery, primary disease, stoma duration and stoma type.

Material and methods Ostomized patients observed in Stomatherapy department in between January 1st and May 30th 2017 was enrolled. QoL was assessed using the questionnaire Stoma Care QoL Questionnaire). Four domains were evaluated: Self-esteem and Self-image – SeSi Score; relation with Family and Friends – FF Score; relation with Sleep and Fatigue – SF score and ostomy Device Functioning insecurities – DeF score.

Results Urostomy patients had significantly higher Total Scores, SeSi and FF scores than colostomy and ileostomy patients. Regarding SeSi Score, patients aged 70 years old or more and malignant diseases presented significantly higher scores than their younger counterparts and benign causes, respectively. FF Score document that patients with malignant diseases have significantly higher scores than patients with benign diseases.

Conclusions Ileostomy and colostomy patients have a significantly lower QoL than urostomy patients mostly because of its impact on social relations and self-esteem and self-image.
Environmental Heat Exposure and Heat-Related Symptoms in United States Coast Guard Deepwater Horizon Disaster Responders
Authors: Erickson Elizabeth A. , Engel Lawrence S. , Christenbury Kate , Weems Laura , Schwartz Erica G. , Rusiecki Jennifer A.
Published: November 2018

Objectives

The response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill was impacted by heat. We evaluated the association between environmental heat exposure and self-reported heat-related symptoms in US Coast Guard Deepwater Horizon disaster responders.

Methods

Utilizing climate data and postdeployment survey responses from 3648 responders, we assigned heat exposure categories based on both wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and heat index (HI) measurements (median, mean, maximum). We calculated prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) via adjusted Poisson regression models with robust error variance to estimate associations with reported heat-related symptoms. We also evaluated the association between use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and heat-related symptoms.

Results

Those in the highest WBGT median–based heat exposure category had increased prevalence of heat-related symptoms compared to those in the lowest category (PR=2.22 [95% CI: 1.61, 3.06]), and there was a significant exposure-response trend (P<.001). Results were similar for exposure categories based on WBGT and HI metrics. Analyses stratified by use of PPE found significantly stronger associations between environmental heat exposure and heat-related symptoms in those who did not use PPE (PR=2.23 [95% CI: 1.10, 4.51]) than in those who did (PR=1.64 [95% CI: 1.14, 2.36]).

Conclusions

US Coast Guard Deepwater Horizon disaster responders who experienced higher levels of environmental heat had higher prevalences of heat-related symptoms. These symptoms may impact health, safety, and mission effectiveness. As global climate change increases the frequency of disasters and weather extremes, actions must be taken to prevent heat-related health impacts among disaster responders. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:561-569)
Three-dimensional shock wave reflection transition in steady flow
Authors: Surujhlal Divek , Skews Beric W.
Published: November 2018

Three-dimensional shock wave reflection comprises flow physics that is significantly different from the well-documented two-dimensional cases in a number of aspects. The most important differentiating factor is the sweep of the shock system. In particular, this work examines the nature of flow fields in which there is a transition of shock reflection configuration in three-dimensional space. The flow fields investigated have been made to exist in the absence of edge effects influencing the shock interaction and transition, as found previously to exist in conventional double-wedge studies. In general, the shock configurations are those with central regular and peripheral Mach reflection portions. It is shown that the sweep angle of the portions on either side of the transition point is subject to a cusp, as per an analytical model that is developed. This is confirmed with the use of numerical models with additional evidence provided by experimental results using oblique shadow photography. Further application of the principles of three-dimensional shock analysis and those pertaining to the sweep cusp model yield important insights regarding the overall shock geometry and that at transition.
Institutions for survival: The Shargorod ghetto during the Holocaust in Romanian Transnistria
Authors: Ploscariu Iemima D.
Published: November 2018

In 1941, thousands of Jews from the regions of Bukovina and Bessarabia were deported to ghettos and camps in Romanian-occupied Transnistria to join local Ukranian Jews and other deportees. This article is a case study of the Shargorod ghetto, one of the largest ghettos in Transnistria, that reveals how individuals interned there, and in similar ghettos, survived despite their different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. An examination based on regions allows for a better understanding of the diverse Jewish communities in Romania and how these differences influenced the lives of local Jews and deportees during the formidable years in Shargorod. Their major successes, as well as their failures, present a picture of entangled community identity in the face of disease, starvation, and forced labor. The survival of the Jewish population of Shargorod from 1941 to 1944 is analyzed through the selection of leadership by the ghetto inhabitants (specifically, Meier Teich’s role as ghetto leader), the entrepreneurial actions and aid that arose, and the format and agenda adopted by the ghetto’s cultural institutions.
Digestible indispensable amino acid scores of nine cooked cereal grains
Authors: Han Fei , Han Fenli , Wang Yong , Fan Liuping , Song Ge , Chen Xi , Jiang Ping , Miao Haijiang , Han Yangyang
Published: November 2018

True ileal digestibility (TID) values of amino acid (AA) obtained using growing rats are often used for the characterisation of protein quality in different foods and acquisition of digestible indispensable amino acid scores (DIAAS) in adult humans. Here, we conducted an experiment to determine the TID values of AA obtained from nine cooked cereal grains (brown rice, polished rice, buckwheat, oats, proso millet, foxtail millet, tartary buckwheat, adlay and whole wheat) fed to growing Sprague–Dawley male rats. All rats were fed a standard basal diet for 7 d and then received each diet for 7 d. Ileal contents were collected from the terminal 20 cm of ileum. Among the TID values obtained, whole wheat had the highest values (P<0·05), and polished rice, proso millet and tartary buckwheat had relatively low values. The TID indispensable AA concentrations in whole wheat were greater than those of brown rice or polished rice (P<0·05), and polished rice was the lowest total TID concentrations among the other cereal grains. The DIAAS was 68 for buckwheat, 47 for tartary buckwheat, 43 for oats, 42 for brown rice, 37 for polished rice, 20 for whole wheat, 13 for adlay, 10 for foxtail millet and 7 for proso millet. In this study, the TID values of the nine cooked cereal grains commonly consumed in China were used for the creation of a DIAAS database and thus gained public health outcomes.
Kinematic Post-processing of Ship Navigation Data Using Precise Point Positioning
Authors: DeSanto John B. , Chadwell C. David , Sandwell David T.
Published: November 2018

Seafloor geodetic studies such as Global Positioning System (GPS)-Acoustic experiments often require the measurement platform on the sea surface to be positioned accurately to within a few centimetres. In this paper, we test the utility of Precise Point Positioning (PPP) for this application with two experiments. The first fixed platform experiment is a comparison between three independent processing software packages: Positioning and Navigation Data Analyst (PANDA), Global Navigation Satellite System-Inferred Positioning System and Orbit Analysis Simulation Software (GIPSY-OASIS), and the Canadian Spatial Reference System (CSRS)) and a more accurate solution based on conventional differential processing of a remote GPS station in the Aleutian Islands. The second moving platform experiment is a comparison among the three PPP software packages using 40 hours of ship navigation data collected during theRoger RevelleRR1605 cruise 170 nautical miles southwest of Palau in May 2016. We found the PPP solutions were repeatable to 5·49 cm in the horizontal components and 12·4 cm in the vertical component. This demonstrates not only that PPP is a useful tool for positioning marine platforms in remote locations, but also that modern ship navigation instruments such as the Kongsberg Seapath 330 + are suitable for seafloor geodetic application.
A Combinatorial Approach to Small Ball Inequalities for Sums and Differences
Authors: LI JIANGE , MADIMAN MOKSHAY
Published: November 2018

Small ball inequalities have been extensively studied in the setting of Gaussian processes and associated Banach or Hilbert spaces. In this paper, we focus on studying small ball probabilities for sums or differences of independent, identically distributed random elements taking values in very general sets. Depending on the setting – abelian or non-abelian groups, or vector spaces, or Banach spaces – we provide a collection of inequalities relating different small ball probabilities that are sharp in many cases of interest. We prove these distribution-free probabilistic inequalities by showing that underlying them are inequalities of extremal combinatorial nature, related among other things to classical packing problems such as the kissing number problem. Applications are given to moment inequalities.
Recovery of Stress During the Interseismic Period Around the Seismogenic Fault of the 1995 Mw 6.9 Kobe Earthquake, Japan
Authors: Nishiwaki Takafumi , Lin Aiming , Lin Weiren
Published: November 2018

We analyzed the current stress state on the Nojima Fault, the source of the 1995 Mw 6.9 Kobe (Japan) earthquake, using breakouts in a borehole through the fault to a depth of ~1,000 m in 2017. The main fault was found at a depth of 529.3 m, with a damage zone ~60 m thick. Statistical analysis shows that the maximum horizontal stress (σHmax) in the depths shallower than 500 m rotates counterclockwise with depth toward the fault and reaches 138° at a depth of 500 m approximately perpendicular to the fault, coinciding with that measured in 1997. In the depths of ~650–1,000 m, the σHmax is oriented 241°, closely matching the regional tectonic stress direction. Our results reveal an accumulation of compressive stress, the driving force of faulting in the deep seismogenic zone since the 1995 earthquake, implying the fault zone has been healing continuously throughout the 22‐year postseismic period.
Resolving Shelf Break Exchange Around the European Northwest Shelf
Authors: Graham Jennifer A. , Rosser Jonathan P. , O'Dea Enda , Hewitt Helene T.
Published: November 2018

Shelf seas act as a significant sink of carbon within the global ocean. This occurs as carbon is exported beneath the permanent oceanic thermocline through the downwelling circulation across the shelf break. This downwelling circulation is quantified here using two regional ocean model configurations of the European northwest shelf, with differing resolution (7‐ and 1.5‐km grid spacing). The dominant mechanisms and impact of model resolution are assessed along the length of the shelf break. The total downwelling circulation is stronger at higher resolution, due to an increased on‐shelf transport at internal depths (20–150 m) and increased off‐shelf transport at the base of the water column. At internal depths, these differences increase seasonally, influenced by stratification. Key processes in cross‐shelf exchange only begin to be resolved at O(1 km), implying that global models currently used to assess the carbon cycles will be missing these processes.
Corotation of Bright Features in the Io Plasma Torus
Authors: Suzuki F. , Yoshioka K. , Hikida R. , Murakami G. , Tsuchiya F. , Kimura T. , Yoshikawa I.
Published: November 2018

Electron energy distribution in the Io plasma torus (IPT) is non‐Maxwellian. The “hot” components induce extreme ultraviolet radiation, although their energy source remains unknown. One potential mechanism that may preserve the energy of hot electrons is inwardly directed plasma motion in the Jovian magnetosphere. Therefore, understanding the high‐energy component of the electron energy distribution is important. The extreme ultraviolet spectrometer onboard the HISAKI satellite has started the observation of the IPT. We show that bright transient features in one ansa of the IPT correlate with those in the other ansa after 5 hr. Because it takes 5 hr (one half of the rotation cycle of Jupiter) for a batch of plasma to move from one ansa to the other, the correlation indicates that the transient features are identical and that they survive for greater than 5 hr. Since the time scale of the radiative cooling process is ~3 hr, this fact suggests that injected hot electrons survive against cooling via Coulomb collision with ambient electrons for greater than 2 hr. Assuming the relationship with the cooling time, we can deduce the hot electron temperature from the brightening duration. Here we report the occasional hot electron injections, presumed to exceed 150 up to 650 eV, into the IPT (approximately 15% out of all events). For the most of events, the temperature of injected electron is lower than 150 eV.
Critical Evaluation of the Impact of Disturbance Dynamo on Equatorial Ionosphere During Daytime
Authors: Pandey Kuldeep , Chakrabarty D. , Sekar R.
Published: November 2018

Based on careful analysis of 16 years of hourly variations of the strength of equatorial electrojet (EEJ) derived using the ground‐based magnetometers over the Indian sector, the role played by disturbance dynamo electric field disturbances on equatorial ionosphere is identified. It is found that most prominent cases of the effects of disturbance dynamo occurred during equinoctial months in high solar activity period. In three extreme cases, the reduction in EEJ strength from quiet time average values of the respective month is more than twice the standard deviations for at least 3 hr. Based on the methodology described in Pandey et al. (2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2017.03.012), it is found that the westward electric field perturbations are as large as 0.7 ± 0.2 to 1.2 ± 0.3 mV/m around noon hours for these three cases. In contrast to the expectation of disturbance dynamo electric field perturbations over equatorial latitudes from the earlier models, these values during daytime are significantly larger and even caused reversals of EEJ on two occasions. A possible additional source to augment the reduction in the electric field is indicated.
Variations of Field Line Eigenfrequencies With Ring Current Intensity
Authors: Sandhu J. K. , Yeoman T. K. , Rae I. J.
Published: November 2018

We present results from the closed magnetosphere (5.9≤L < 9.5 over all magnetic local times) to demonstrate and assess the variations in field line eigenfrequency with geomagnetic activity. Using the time‐of‐flight technique with realistic magnetic field and mass density models, the spatial distributions of field line eigenfrequencies are determined for a range of different geomagnetic activity levels, as defined by the Dst index. The results indicate that during geomagnetically active conditions, the eigenfrequency of a given field line is generally decreased compared to quiet times, in addition to variations in local asymmetries. By comparing the dependence to changes in the magnetic field and mass density distribution, it is established that the inflation and weakening of the geomagnetic field outweighs decreased plasma mass density and is the sole contributor to decreased eigenfrequencies with increased geomagnetic activity. We highlight the importance of considering the magnetic field, mass density, and average ion mass contributions when using observed eigenfrequencies to probe magnetospheric conditions. Furthermore, the estimates significantly improve upon existing time‐of‐flight results, through a consideration of mass density changes with geomagnetic activity. We also provide estimates of eigenfrequencies for a comparatively extended spatial region than available from prior direct observations of field line resonances. The results have clear implications for furthering our understanding of how wave energy propagates throughout the magnetosphere during geomagnetic storms.
Simulations of Van Allen Probes Plasmaspheric Electron Density Observations
Authors: De Pascuale S. , Jordanova V. K. , Goldstein J. , Kletzing C. A. , Kurth W. S. , Thaller S. A. , Wygant J. R.
Published: November 2018

We simulate equatorial plasmaspheric electron densities using a physics‐based model (Cold PLasma, CPL; used in the ring current‐atmosphere interactions model) of the source and loss processes of refilling and erosion driven by empirical inputs. The performance of CPL is evaluated against in situ measurements by the Van Allen Probes (Radiation Belt Storm Probes) for two events: the 31 May to 5 June and 15 to 20 January 2013 geomagnetic storms observed in the premidnight and postmidnight magnetic local time (MLT) sectors, respectively. Overall, CPL reproduces the radial extent of the plasmasphere to within a mean absolute difference of
 L. The model electric field responsible for E × B convection and the parameterization of geomagnetic conditions (under the Kp‐index and solar wind properties) implemented by CPL did not account for localized enhancements in the duskward electric field during increased activity. Rather, it was found to be largely dependent on the measure of the quiet time background. This property indicates that the agreement between these simulations and observations does not account for the complete set of physical processes during extreme (strong or weak) geomagnetic conditions impacting the plasmasphere. Nevertheless, at the presented resolution of the model CPL does provide good agreement in reproducing Radiation Belt Storm Probes observations of plasmaspheric density and plasmapause location.
Geodetic Observations of Weak Determinism in Rupture Evolution of Large Earthquakes
Authors: Goldberg D. E. , Melgar D. , Bock Y. , Allen R. M.
Published: November 2018

The moment evolution of large earthquakes is a subject of fundamental interest to both basic and applied seismology. Specifically, an open problem is when in the rupture process a large earthquake exhibits features dissimilar from those of a lesser magnitude event. The answer to this question is of importance for rapid, reliable estimation of earthquake magnitude, a major priority of earthquake and tsunami early warning systems. Much effort has been made to test whether earthquakes are deterministic, meaning that observations in the first few seconds of rupture can be used to predict the final rupture extent. However, results have been inconclusive, especially for large earthquakes greater thanMw7. Traditional seismic methods struggle to rapidly distinguish the size of large‐magnitude events, in particular near the source, even after rupture completion, making them insufficient to resolve the question of predictive rupture behavior. Displacements derived from Global Navigation Satellite System data can accurately estimate magnitude in real time, even for the largest earthquakes. We employ a combination of seismic and geodetic (Global Navigation Satellite System) data to investigate early rupture metrics, to determine whether observational data support deterministic rupture behavior. We find that while the earliest metrics (~5 s of data) are not enough to infer final earthquake magnitude, accurate estimates are possible within the first tens of seconds, prior to rupture completion, suggesting a weak determinism. We discuss the implications for earthquake source physics and rupture evolution and address recommendations for earthquake and tsunami early warning.
Effect of Fault Architecture and Permeability Evolution on Response to Fluid Injection
Authors: Yehya Alissar , Yang Zhuo , Rice James R.
Published: November 2018

Injection‐induced seismicity is thought to be due primarily to increase in fluid pore pressure, which reduces the shear strength of a nearby fault. We address the modeling and prediction of the hydromechanical response due to fluid injection, mainly as wastewater disposal. We consider the full poroelastic effects, including the changes in porosity and permeability of the medium due to changes in local volumetric strains. Our results consider effects of the fault architecture (low‐permeability fault core and anisotropic high‐permeability damage zones) on the pressure diffusion and the fault poroelastic response. We show that the high‐permeable damage zone, the poroelastic response, and the permeability evolution can accelerate the pore pressure diffusion process during and after wastewater injection. By studying a geologically based model of the Guy‐Greenbrier fault and of the earthquake sequence induced along it in Arkansas, United States, from October 2010 to July 2011, we show that the existence of highly permeable damage zones facilitates the pressure diffusion and results in a sharp increase in pore pressure at levels much deeper than the injection wells, while the anisotropic permeability in the damage zone can act as a barrier to cross‐fault fluid flow. Furthermore, by computing the change ΔCFS of Coulomb failure stress, our simulations show that ΔCFS increases starting from the top of the Guy‐Greenbrier fault and then propagates toward greater depth and toward the southwest direction, which is consistent with the seismicity migration.
Formation of Concentrated Benthic Suspension in a Time‐Dependent Salt Wedge Estuary
Authors: Ge Jianzhong , Zhou Zaiyang , Yang Wanlun , Ding Pingxing , Chen Changsheng , Wang Zheng Bing , Gu Jinghua
Published: November 2018

The concentrated benthic suspension (CBS) of mud, as a major contributor of sediment transport in the turbidity maximum of the estuary, is of great challenge to be correctly monitored through field measurements, and its formation mechanism is not well understood. A tripod system equipped with multiple instruments was deployed to measure the near‐bed hydrodynamics and sediments in the North Passage of the Changjiang Estuary, with the aim at determining the formation mechanisms of CBS. The measurements detected a significant dominance of high sediment concentration in the near‐bed 1‐m layer: ~20 g/L at the southern site and ~47 g/L at the northern site. Strong CBS occurred under weak tidal mixing condition and was directly relevant to the sediment‐induced suppression of turbulent kinetic energy and the enhanced water stratification due to saltwater intrusion and sediment suspension. During the weak‐mixing neap period, the typical thickness of CBS was about 0.2–0.3 m, with a life time of ~2.83 hr (suspended‐sediment concentration > 15.0 g/L). Enhanced water stratification reduced vertical mixing and confined the sediment entrainment from the near‐bed layer to the upper column. This enhancement was due to the suppression of turbulent kinetic energy as a result of the sediment accumulation in the near‐bottom column during the slack waterand also due to the appearance of a two‐layer salinity structure in the vertical as a result of saltwater intrusion near the bottom. These physical processes worked as a positive feedback loop during the formation of CBS and can be simulated with a process‐oriented, one‐dimensional vertical CBS model.
Prediction of Tsunami Waves by Uniform Slip Models
Authors: An Chao , Liu Hua , Ren Zhiyuan , Yuan Ye
Published: November 2018

Conventional tsunami warning systems for local and far‐field areas utilize uniform slip models to predict tsunami waves. The reasons are twofold. First, it is challenging to develop accurate finite‐fault slip models in a short time after an earthquake. Second, tsunami waves are long waves, and hence, the main feature may be predicted without knowing earthquake rupture details. Still, there have been few studies that quantitatively analyze the errors caused by uniform slip models. In this paper, we evaluate if and how such models may be applied for tsunami warnings. For the 2011 Tohoku, 2014 Iquique, and 2015 Illapel tsunamis, we first construct optimum uniform slip models with minimum tsunami waveform misfit and then compare the synthetic tsunami waves with finite‐fault model predictions. Predictions from both type of models match the tsunami data very well, indicating that the prediction errors caused by neglecting slip heterogeneity are insignificant. Further, we derive a common relation between the rupture area and earthquake magnitude. Additionally, the optimum rupture length and width ratio in terms of predicting tsunami waves is determined to be 1 for the three earthquakes. Lastly, we find that moving the uniform slip model to the center of global Centroid Moment Tensor solution produces reasonably small errors in the predicted waveforms. Applying the methodology to three more historic tsunamis shows that uniform slip models can well recover the Deep‐ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis system recordings, but the rupture center can differ from the global Centroid Moment Tensor solution. Our findings can potentially prompt more reliable tsunami warning strategies for future events.
Topological Persistence for Relating Microstructure and Capillary Fluid Trapping in Sandstones
Authors: Herring A. L. , Robins V. , Sheppard A. P.
Published: November 2018

Results from a series of two‐phase fluid flow experiments in Leopard, Berea, and Bentheimer sandstones are presented. Fluid configurations are characterized using laboratory‐based and synchrotron based 3‐D X‐ray computed tomography. All flow experiments are conducted under capillary‐dominated conditions. We conduct geometry‐topology analysis via persistent homology and compare this to standard topological and watershed‐partition‐based pore‐network statistics. Metrics identified as predictors of nonwetting fluid trapping are calculated from the different analytical methods and are compared to levels of trapping measured during drainage‐imbibition cycles in the experiments. Metrics calculated from pore networks (i.e., pore body‐throat aspect ratio and coordination number) and topological analysis (Euler characteristic) do not correlate well with trapping in these samples. In contrast, a new metric derived from the persistent homology analysis, which incorporates counts of topological features as well as their length scale and spatial distribution, correlates very well (R2 = 0.97) to trapping for all systems. This correlation encompasses a wide range of porous media and initial fluid configurations, and also applies to data sets of different imaging and image processing protocols.
Pathway-based subnetworks enable cross-disease biomarker discovery
Authors: Haider Syed , Yao Cindy Q. , Sabine Vicky S. , Grzadkowski Michal , Stimper Vincent , Starmans Maud H. W. , Wang Jianxin , Nguyen Francis , Moon Nathalie C. , Lin Xihui , Drake Camilla , Crozier Cheryl A. , Brookes Cassandra L. , van de Velde Cornelis J. H. , Hasenburg Annette , Kieback Dirk G. , Markopoulos Christos J. , Dirix Luc Y. , Seynaeve Caroline , Rea Daniel W. , Kasprzyk Arek , Lambin Philippe , Lio’ Pietro , Bartlett John M. S. , Boutros Paul C.
Published: November 2018

Biomarkers lie at the heart of precision medicine. Surprisingly, while rapid genomic profiling is becoming ubiquitous, the development of biomarkers usually involves the application of bespoke techniques that cannot be directly applied to other datasets. There is an urgent need for a systematic methodology to create biologically-interpretable molecular models that robustly predict key phenotypes. Here we present SIMMS (Subnetwork Integration for Multi-Modal Signatures): an algorithm that fragments pathways into functional modules and uses these to predict phenotypes. We apply SIMMS to multiple data types across five diseases, and in each it reproducibly identifies known and novel subtypes, and makes superior predictions to the best bespoke approaches. To demonstrate its ability on a new dataset, we profile 33 genes/nodes of the PI3K pathway in 1734 FFPE breast tumors and create a four-subnetwork prediction model. This model out-performs a clinically-validated molecular test in an independent cohort of 1742 patients. SIMMS is generic and enables systematic data integration for robust biomarker discovery.
Human adipose glycerol flux is regulated by a pH gate in AQP10
Authors: Gotfryd Kamil , Mósca Andreia Filipa , Missel Julie Winkel , Truelsen Sigurd Friis , Wang Kaituo , Spulber Mariana , Krabbe Simon , Hélix-Nielsen Claus , Laforenza Umberto , Soveral Graça , Pedersen Per Amstrup , Gourdon Pontus
Published: November 2018

Obesity is a major threat to global health and metabolically associated with glycerol homeostasis. Here we demonstrate that in human adipocytes, the decreased pH observed during lipolysis (fat burning) correlates with increased glycerol release and stimulation of aquaglyceroporin AQP10. The crystal structure of human AQP10 determined at 2.3 Å resolution unveils the molecular basis for pH modulation—an exceptionally wide selectivity (ar/R) filter and a unique cytoplasmic gate. Structural and functional (in vitro and in vivo) analyses disclose a glycerol-specific pH-dependence and pinpoint pore-lining His80 as the pH-sensor. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate how gate opening is achieved. These findings unravel a unique type of aquaporin regulation important for controlling body fat mass. Thus, targeting the cytoplasmic gate to induce constitutive glycerol secretion may offer an attractive option for treating obesity and related complications.
Genotype specific pathogenicity of hepatitis E virus at the human maternal-fetal interface
Authors: Gouilly Jordi , Chen Qian , Siewiera Johan , Cartron Géraldine , Levy Claude , Dubois Martine , Al-Daccak Reem , Izopet Jacques , Jabrane-Ferrat Nabila , El Costa Hicham
Published: November 2018

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection, particularly HEV genotype 1 (HEV-1), can result in fulminant hepatic failure and severe placental diseases, but mechanisms underlying genotype-specific pathogenicity are unclear and appropriate models are lacking. Here, we model HEV-1 infection ex vivo at the maternal-fetal interface using the decidua basalis and fetal placenta, and compare its effects to the less-pathogenic genotype 3 (HEV-3). We demonstrate that HEV-1 replicates more efficiently than HEV-3 both in tissue explants and stromal cells, produces more infectious progeny virions and causes severe tissue alterations. HEV-1 infection dysregulates the secretion of several soluble factors. These alterations to the cytokine microenvironment correlate with viral load and contribute to the tissue damage. Collectively, this study characterizes an ex vivo model for HEV infection and provides insights into HEV-1 pathogenesis during pregnancy that are linked to high viral replication, alteration of the local secretome and induction of tissue injuries.
Neural mechanisms for learning self and other ownership
Authors: Lockwood Patricia L. , Wittmann Marco K. , Apps Matthew A. J. , Klein-Flügge Miriam C. , Crockett Molly J. , Humphreys Glyn W. , Rushworth Matthew F. S.
Published: November 2018

Sense of ownership is a ubiquitous and fundamental aspect of human cognition. Here we used model-based functional magnetic resonance imaging and a novel minimal ownership paradigm to probe the behavioural and neural mechanisms underpinning ownership acquisition for ourselves, friends and strangers. We find a self-ownership bias at multiple levels of behaviour from initial preferences to reaction times and computational learning rates. Ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and anterior cingulate sulcus (ACCs) responded more to self vs. stranger associations, but despite a pervasive neural bias to track self-ownership, no brain area tracked self-ownership exclusively. However, ACC gyrus (ACCg) specifically coded ownership prediction errors for strangers and ownership associative strength for friends and strangers but not for self. Core neural mechanisms for associative learning are biased to learn in reference to self but also engaged when learning in reference to others. In contrast, ACC gyrus exhibits specialization for learning about others.
Author Correction: GePMI: a statistical model for personal intestinal microbiome identification
Authors: Wang Zicheng , Lou Huazhe , Wang Ying , Shamir Ron , Jiang Rui , Chen Ting
Published: November 2018

In the original version of this Article some funding information was missing from the Acknowledgements. This has now been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Minimal memory for details in real life events
Authors: Misra Pranav , Marconi Alyssa , Peterson Matthew , Kreiman Gabriel
Published: November 2018

The extent to which the details of past experiences are retained or forgotten remains controversial. Some studies suggest massive storage while others describe memories as fallible summary recreations of original events. The discrepancy can be ascribed to the content of memories and how memories are evaluated. Many studies have focused on recalling lists of words/pictures, which lack the critical ingredients of real world memories. Here we quantified the ability to remember details about one hour of real life. We recorded video and eye movements while subjects walked along specified routes and evaluated whether they could distinguish video clips from their own experience from foils. Subjects were minimally above chance in remembering the minutiae of their experiences. Recognition of specific events could be partly explained by a machine-learning model of video contents. These results quantify recognition memory for events in real life and show that the details of everyday experience are largely not retained in memory.
Cyclosporine A binding to COX-2 reveals a novel signaling pathway that activates the IRE1α unfolded protein response sensor
Authors: Groenendyk Jody , Paskevicius Tautvydas , Urra Hery , Viricel Clement , Wang Kui , Barakat Khaled , Hetz Claudio , Kurgan Lukasz , Agellon Luis B. , Michalak Marek
Published: November 2018

Cyclosporine, a widely used immunosuppressant in organ transplantation and in treatment of various autoimmune diseases, activates the unfolded protein response (UPR), an ER stress coping response. In this study we discovered a new and unanticipated cyclosporine-dependent signaling pathway, with cyclosporine triggering direct activation of the UPR. COX-2 binds to and activates IRE1α, leading to IRE1α splicing of XBP1 mRNA. Molecular interaction and modeling analyses identified a novel interaction site for cyclosporine with COX-2 which caused enhancement of COX-2 enzymatic activity required for activation of the IRE1α branch of the UPR. Cyclosporine-dependent activation of COX-2 and IRE1α in mice indicated that cyclosporine-COX-2-IRE1α signaling pathway was functional in vivo. These findings identify COX-2 as a new IRE1α binding partner and regulator of the IRE1α branch of the UPR pathway, and establishes the mechanism underlying cytotoxicity associated with chronic cyclosporine exposure.