bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Mycobacterial Ribosomal Proteins as Targets for CD4+T Cells That Enhance Protective Immunity in Tuberculosis
Authors: Kennedy Steven C. , Johnson Alison J. , Bharrhan Sushma , Lindestam Arlehamn Cecilia S. , Xu Jiayong , Garforth Scott J. , Chan John , Jacobs William R. , Sette Alessandro , Almo Steven C. , Porcelli Steven A.
Published: June 2018

Mycobacterium tuberculosisremains a threat to global health, and a more efficacious vaccine is needed to prevent disease caused byM. tuberculosis. We previously reported that the mycobacterial ribosome is a major target of CD4+T cells in mice immunized with a genetically modifiedMycobacterium smegmatisstrain (IKEPLUS) but not in mice immunized withMycobacterium bovisBCG.
Performance of Chlamydia trachomatis OmcB Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay in Serodiagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in Women
Authors: Gupta Kanupriya , Brown LaDraka' , Bakshi Rakesh K. , Press Christen G. , Chi Xiaofei , Gorwitz Rachel J. , Papp John R. , Geisler William M.
Published: June 2018

Chlamydia trachomatis
serological assays with improved sensitivity over commercially available assays are needed to evaluate the burden of
C. trachomatis
infection and the effectiveness of prevention efforts. We evaluated the performance of a
C. trachomatis
outer membrane complex protein B (OmcB) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the detection of anti-
C. trachomatis
antibody responses in
C. trachomatis
-infected women.
Dissecting the Herpesvirus Architecture by Targeted Proteolysis
Authors: Daniel Gina R. , Pegg Caitlin E. , Smith Gregory A.
Published: June 2018

Neuroinvasive alphaherpesviruses produce diseases of clinical and economic significance in humans and veterinary animals but are predominantly associated with less serious recurrent disease. Like all viruses, herpesviruses assemble a metastable particle that selectively dismantles during initial infection. This process is made more complex by the presence of a tegument layer that resides between the capsid surface and envelope. Components of the tegument are essential for particle assembly and also serve as critical effectors that promote infection upon entry into cells. How this dynamic network of protein interactions is arranged within virions is largely unknown. We present a molecular approach to dissect the tegument, and with it we begin to tease apart the protein interactions that underlie this complex layer of the virion architecture.
A Dual Motif in the Hemagglutinin of H5N1 Goose/Guangdong-Like Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Strains Is Conserved from Their Early Evolution and Increases both Membrane Fusion pH and Virulence
Authors: Wessels Ute , Abdelwhab Elsayed M. , Veits Jutta , Hoffmann Donata , Mamerow Svenja , Stech Olga , Hellert Jan , Beer Martin , Mettenleiter Thomas C. , Stech Jürgen
Published: June 2018

Zoonotic highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) have raised serious public health concerns of a novel pandemic. Their prime virulence determinant is the polybasic hemagglutinin (HA) cleavage site. However, required coadaptations in the HA (and other genes) remained uncertain. Here, we identified the dual motif 123R/124I in the HA head that increases the activation pH of HA-mediated membrane fusion, essential for virus genome release into the cytoplasm. This motif is extremely predominant in H5 HPAIV and emerged already in the earliest 1997 H5N1 HPAIV. Reversion to 123S or 124T, characteristic of low-pathogenic strains, attenuated the virus in chicken and mice, accompanied by a decreased HA activation pH. This increased pH sensitivity of H5 HPAIV extends the viral tropism to cells with less-acidic endosomes, e.g., within the respiratory tract. Therefore, early HA adaptation to increased acid sensitivity promoted the emergence of H5 Goose/Guangdong-like HPAIV strains and is required for their zoonotic potential.
The Cellular Coactivator HCF-1 Is Required for Glucocorticoid Receptor-Mediated Transcription of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Immediate Early Genes
Authors: Sawant Laximan , Kook Insun , Vogel Jodi L. , Kristie Thomas M. , Jones Clinton
Published: June 2018

BoHV-1 transcription is rapidly activated during stress-induced reactivation from latency. The immediate early transcription unit 1 (IEtu1) promoter is regulated by the GR via two GREs. The IEtu1 promoter regulates expression of two viral transcriptional regulatory proteins, infected cell proteins 0 and 4 (bICP0 and bICP4), and thus must be stimulated during reactivation. This study demonstrates that activation of the IEtu1 promoter by the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone requires HCF-1. Interestingly, the GRE sites, but not the IE enhancer core element (TAATGARAT), were required for HCF-1-mediated GR promoter activation. The GR and HCF-1 were recruited to the IEtu1 promoter in transfected and infected cells. Collectively, these studies indicate that HCF-1 is critical for GR activation of the viral IE genes and suggest that an HCF-1–GR complex can stimulate the IEtu1 promoter in the absence of the viral IE activator VP16.
Replication Fork Breakage and Restart in Escherichia coli
Authors: Michel Bénédicte , Sinha Anurag K. , Leach David R. F.
Published: June 2018

In all organisms, replication impairments are an important source of genome rearrangements, mainly because of the formation of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) ends at inactivated replication forks. Three reactions for the formation of dsDNA ends at replication forks were originally described for
Escherichia coli
and became seminal models for all organisms: the encounter of replication forks with preexisting single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) interruptions, replication fork reversal, and head-to-tail collisions of successive replication rounds. Here, we first review the experimental evidence that now allows us to know when, where, and how these three different reactions occur in
E. coli
. Next, we recall our recent studies showing that in wild-type
E. coli
, spontaneous replication fork breakage occurs in 18% of cells at each generation. We propose that it results from the replication of preexisting nicks or gaps, since it does not involve replication fork reversal or head-to-tail fork collisions. In the
recB
mutant, deficient for double-strand break (DSB) repair, fork breakage triggers DSBs in the chromosome terminus during cell division, a reaction that is heritable for several generations. Finally, we recapitulate several observations suggesting that restart from intact inactivated replication forks and restart from recombination intermediates require different sets of enzymatic activities. The finding that 18% of cells suffer replication fork breakage suggests that DNA remains intact at most inactivated forks. Similarly, only 18% of cells need the helicase loader for replication restart, which leads us to speculate that the replicative helicase remains on DNA at intact inactivated replication forks and is reactivated by the replication restart proteins.
Potential Mechanism of Detoxification of Cyanide Compounds by Gut Microbiomes of Bamboo-Eating Pandas
Authors: Zhu Lifeng , Yang Zhisong , Yao Ran , Xu Liangliang , Chen Hua , Gu Xiaodong , Wu Tonggui , Yang Xuyu
Published: June 2018

The giant panda (
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
) and red panda (
Ailurus fulgens
), two obligate bamboo feeders, have distinct phylogenetic positions in the order Carnivora. Bamboo is extraordinarily rich in plant secondary metabolites, such as allied phenolic and polyphenolic compounds and even toxic cyanide compounds. Here, the enrichment of putative cyanide-digesting gut microbes, in combination with adaptations related to morphology (e.g., pseudothumbs) and genomic signatures, show that the giant panda and red panda have evolved some common traits to adapt to their bamboo diet. Thus, here is another story of diet-driven gut microbiota in nature.
Pulseless electrical activity: a misdiagnosed entity during asphyxia in newborn infants?
Authors: Patel Sparsh , Cheung Po-Yin , Solevåg Anne Lee , Barrington Keith J , Kamlin C Omar Farouk , Davis Peter G , Schmölzer Georg M
Published: June 2018

Background

The 2015 neonatal resuscitation guidelines added ECG as a recommended method of assessment of an infant’s heart rate (HR) when determining the need for resuscitation at birth. However, a recent case report raised concerns about this technique in the delivery room.

Objectives

To compare accuracy of ECG with auscultation to assess asystole in asphyxiated piglets.

Methods

Neonatal piglets had the right common carotid artery exposed and enclosed with a real-time ultrasonic flow probe and HR was continuously measured and recorded using ECG. This set-up allowed simultaneous monitoring of HR via ECG and carotid blood flow (CBF). The piglets were exposed to 30 min normocapnic alveolar hypoxia followed by asphyxia until asystole, achieved by disconnecting the ventilator and clamping the endotracheal tube. Asystole was defined as zero carotid blood flow and was compared with ECG traces and auscultation for heart sounds using a neonatal/infant stethoscope.

Results

Overall, 54 piglets were studied with a median (IQR) duration of asphyxia of 325 (200-491) s. In 14 (26%) piglets, CBF, ECG and auscultation identified asystole. In 23 (43%) piglets, we observed no CBF and no audible heart sounds, while ECG displayed an HR ranging from 15 to 80/min. Sixteen (30%) piglets remained bradycardic (defined as HR of <100/min) after 10 min of asphyxia, identified by CBF, ECG and auscultation.

Conclusion

Clinicians should be aware of the potential inaccuracy of ECG assessment during asphyxia in newborn infants and should rather rely on assessment using a combination of auscultation, palpation, pulse oximetry and ECG.
Patient-reported outcome measurements in clinical routine of trauma, spine and craniomaxillofacial surgeons: between expectations and reality: a survey among 1212 surgeons
Authors: Joeris Alexander , Knoll Christian , Kalampoki Vasiliki , Blumenthal Andrea , Gaskell George
Published: June 2018

Objective

To gain information about the advantages/disadvantages of an implementation of patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) into the clinical routine of trauma/orthopaedic surgeons, and to identify the technical constraints confronting a successful implementation of PROMs.

Design

Online survey.

Participants

Surgeons who are members of the AO Foundation.

Measures

Participants answered questions regarding demographics, their familiarity with specific and generic PROMs and the use of PROMs in clinical routine. Furthermore, reasons for/against using PROMs, why not used more often, prerequisites to implement PROMs into clinical routine and whether PROMs would be implemented if adequate tools/technologies were available, were solicited. Χ2tests and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to evaluate the effect of the AO Region, surgeon specialisation, current position, clinical experience, and workplace on the familiarity with disease-specific PROMs, the familiarity with generic PROMs and the current use of PROMs. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify issues underlying the extent of PROM usage.

Results

1212 surgeons completed the survey (response rate: 6.8%; margin of error: ±2.72%): 54.2% were trauma/orthopaedic surgeons, 16.6% were spine surgeons, 27.9% were craniomaxillofacial surgeons and 16 had no defined specialty. Working in a certain AO Region, surgical specialisation and current workplace were associated with a higher familiarity of disease-specific PROMs and the use of PROMs in daily clinical routine (p≤0.05). Exploratory factor analysis identified four categories important for the use of PROMs and two categories preventing the use of PROMs. In case of the availability of an adequate tool, 66.2% of surgeons would implement PROMs in clinical routine.

Conclusions

Our survey results provide an understanding of the use of PROMs in clinical routine. There is consensus on the usefulness of PROMs. User-friendly and efficient tools/technologies would be a prerequisite for the daily use of PROMs. Additionally, educational efforts and/or policies might help.
Telemedicine for the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms in long-term care facilities: the DETECT study, methods of a cluster randomised controlled trial to assess feasibility
Authors: Piau Antoine , Nourhashemi Fati , De Mauléon Adélaïde , Tchalla Achille , Vautier Claude , Vellas Bruno , Duboue Maryline , Costa Nadège , Rumeau Pierre , Lepage Benoit , Soto Martin Maria
Published: June 2018

Introduction

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) in elderly patients with dementia are frequent in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and are associated with adverse events. Telemedicine is an emerging way to provide consultation and care to dependent LTCF residents who may not have easy access to specialty services. Several studies have evaluated telemedicine for dementia care but to date, no study has evaluated its impact in the management of NPS in patients with dementia living in LTCF.

Methods and analysis

The Dementia in long-term care facilities: Telemedicine for the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms (DETECT) study is a 24-month multicentre prospective cluster randomised controlled study with two arms: a control arm (usual care) and an intervention arm (telemedicine consultation) for NPSs management. DETECT enrolled 20 LTCFs. The primary outcome is based on the acceptability of the telemedicine among the LTCF staff which will be assessed in the intervention group by quantitative and qualitative indicators. The rate of unscheduled hospitalisations and/or consultations due to disruptive NPSs, psychotropic drug use and health costs will be described in both groups. Approximately, 200 patients are expected to be recruited.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol was approved and sponsored by the French Ministry of Health. The study received ethical approval from the Toulouse University Hospital Institutional Review Board. We will communicate the final results to the public via conferences and results will also be submitted for publication in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Trial registration number

NCT02472015.
The effect of adherence to spectacle wear on early developing literacy: a longitudinal study based in a large multiethnic city, Bradford, UK
Authors: Bruce Alison , Kelly Brian , Chambers Bette , Barrett Brendan T , Bloj Marina , Bradbury John , Sheldon Trevor A
Published: June 2018

Objectives

To determine the impact of adherence to spectacle wear on visual acuity (VA) and developing literacy following vision screening at age 4–5 years.

Design

Longitudinal study nested within the Born in Bradford birth cohort.

Setting and participants

Observation of 944 children: 432 had failed vision screening and were referred (treatment group) and 512 randomly selected (comparison group) who had passed (<0.20 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) in both eyes). Spectacle wear was observed in school for 2 years following screening and classified as adherent (wearing spectacles at each assessment) or non-adherent.

Main outcome measures

Annual measures of VA using a crowded logMAR test. Literacy was measured by Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests-Revised subtest: letter identification.

Results

The VA of all children improved with increasing age, −0.009 log units per month (95% CI −0.011 to −0.007) (worse eye). The VA of the adherent group improved significantly more than the comparison group, by an additional −0.008 log units per month (95% CI −0.009 to −0.007) (worse eye) and −0.004 log units per month (95% CI −0.005 to −0.003) in the better eye.

Literacy was associated with the VA, letter identification (ID) reduced by −0.9 (95% CI −1.15 to −0.64) for every one line (0.10 logMAR) fall in VA (better eye). This association remained after adjustment for socioeconomic and demographic factors (−0.33, 95% CI −0.54 to −0.12). The adherent group consistently demonstrated higher letter-ID scores compared with the non-adherent group, with the greatest effect size (0.11) in year 3.

Conclusions

Early literacy is associated with the level of VA; children who adhere to spectacle wear improve their VA and also have the potential to improve literacy. Our results suggest failure to adhere to spectacle wear has implications for the child’s vision and education.
Emollient prescribing formularies in England and Wales: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Chan Jonathan , Boyd Grace , Quinn Patrick A , Ridd Matthew J
Published: June 2018

Objective

To identify and compare emollient formularies across all clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and local health boards (LHBs) in England and Wales.

Design

Formularies were retrieved via CCG/LHB websites or Google search (October 2016–February 2017). Data on structure and content were extracted, and descriptive analyses were undertaken.

Setting

209 English CCGs and 7 Welsh LHBs.

Main outcome measures

Number and structure of formularies; number, type and name of emollients and bath additive recommendedandnot recommended; and any rationale given.

Results

102formularies were identified, which named 109 emollients and 24 bath additives. Most were structured in an ‘order of preference’ (63%) and/or formulation (51%) format. Creams and ointments were the most commonly recommended types of emollients, and three ointments were the most commonly recommended specific emollients (71%–79% of formularies). However, there was poor consensus over which emollient should be used first line and 4 out of 10 of the most recommended lotions and creams contained antimicrobials or urea. Patient preference (60%) and/or cost (58%) were the most common reasons given for the recommendations. Of the 82% of formularies that recommend the use of bath additives, 75% did not give any reasons for their recommendation.

Conclusions

Emollient formularies in England and Wales vary widely in their structure, recommendations and rationale. The reasons for such inconsistencies are unclear, risk confusion and make for inequitable regional variation. There is poor justification for multiple different, conflicting formularies.
Survival in B-Cell Primary Ocular Lymphoma 1997–2014: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Liu Deliang L , Zheng Zhuojun J
Published: June 2018

This study sought to explore the prognostic factors in a large retrospective cohort of patients with B-cell primary ocular lymphoma (POL) from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. There were 2778 patients with B-cell POL whose complete clinical information was listed in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 1997 and 2014. The epidemiology, therapeutic measures, and clinical characteristics were listed as descriptive statistics. Survival analysis was conducted by univariate and multivariable Cox regression models. Multivariate analysis identified age, lymphoma subtype, primary lesion, and radiation status as independent prognostic factors. For indolent lymphoma, radical treatment, especially intravenous chemotherapy, should be avoided. For invasive lymphoma, chemotherapy combined with full orbital irradiation is recommended. Radiotherapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy is superior to chemotherapy alone. These differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). Radiation brings benefits, with tolerable neurotoxicity, to patients with invasive B-cell POL. Radical tumor treatment may not be needed for patients with indolent B-cell POL.
Improving the use of treatment escalation plans: a quality-improvement study
Authors: Sayma Meelad , Nowell George , O’Connor Aedamar , Clark Gemma , Gaukroger Andrew , Proctor Dominic , Walsh Jamie , Rigney Brian , Norman Storm , Adedeji Andrew , Wilson David , O’hagan Darren , Cook Victoria , Carrington Robbie , Sekaran Preshgena , Wehbe Maya , Paterson Duncan , Welchman Sophie , Over Jay , Payne Sheila
Published: June 2018

Objectives

Treatment escalation plans (TEPs) are vital in communicating a ceiling of care. However, many patients still deteriorate and die without a pre-established ceiling of care for attending clinicians to rely on. We aimed to increase the proportion of suitable patients that have TEPs in place in a rural district general hospital.

Methods

We undertook three ‘Plan-Do-Study-Act’ (PDSA) cycles between 1 December 2016 and 9 June 2017. These cycles aimed to assess the problem, implement a solution and monitor its sustainability. We sampled all acute medical admissions at different time points, focusing on the acute medical unit. We identified patients requiring TEP forms using SupportiveandPalliative Care Indicators Tool. Stakeholders were surveyed during the project, and a process communication map was developed to understand the human interfaces that occur when producing a TEP.

Results

We sampled a total of 323 patients (PDSA 1, n=128; PDSA 2, n=95; PDSA 3, n=100). Following implementation of a ‘talking to your doctor about treatment’ leaflet, the proportion of patients who did not have a TEP but required one fell from 43% (n=38, PDSA 1) to 27% (n=20, PDSA 3) then to 23% (n=77, PDSA 3) (CI 0.6631 to 39.917, p=0.028).

Conclusions

This study highlights the challenges of TEP form completion. The impact of our intervention appeared to raise awareness of advanced care planning. The information contained in our leaflet could be distributed in more innovative ways to ensure patients unable to access textual information are able to receive this message.
Acute modulation in dietary behavior following glycogen depletion and postexercise supplementation in trained cyclists
Authors: Wan Hsuan-Yu , Stickford Jonathon L. , Dawkins Emily J. , Lindeman Alice K. , Stager Joel M.
Published: June 2018

We investigated the influence of immediate postexercise dietary supplementation on the subsequent food consumption pattern and endurance exercise performance in physically trained individuals. On 2 occasions, trained male cyclists performed a glycogen-depleting exercise bout followed by a 2-h nutritional supplementation period, 28 h of free-living recovery, and a subsequent 40-km cycling time trial. During the 2-h postexercise supplementation, the subjects consumed equal volumes of reduced-fat chocolate milk (CM) or a sports beverage (SB) in a single-blind, randomized design. Thereafter, the cyclists maintained a food log during the free-living recovery period. Dietary and exercise performance parameters were compared between the treatment beverage visits. No differences in total caloric and macronutrient intakes were detected between the CM and SB trials over the course of the free-living recovery. However, a significant interaction (treatment × time) was detected for caloric and macronutrient intakes during the early phase of free-living recovery, such that significantly larger proportions were consumed shortly after SB as compared with CM. No difference was observed in completion time of the 40-km cycling time trial (CM: 66.9 ± 4.1 vs SB: 66.9 ± 3.7 min). Hence, the cyclists achieved similar levels of recovery during the prolonged, free-living period despite the different acute, postexercise nutrient intake rates. We suggest that given adequate time, athletes appear to subconsciously modify their food consumption in response to varied postexercise supplementation such that subsequent-day exercise performance is equivalent.
Pericarp development in fruit of epiphytic cacti: implications for fruit classification and macro-morphology in the Cactaceae
Authors: de Almeida Odair José Garcia , de Souza Luiz Antonio , Paoli Adelita Aparecida Sartori , Davis Arthur R. , Cota-Sánchez J. Hugo
Published: June 2018

The family Cactaceae exhibits an assortment of fleshy and dry fruit types with various shapes dictated by the gynoecium outline and surrounding pericarpel. Consequently, conflicting terminology exists regarding cactus fruit classification because the fruit is a complex structure in which various floral parts participate in development. We examined fruit morphogenesis in four epiphytic cacti and provided a description of developmental events from post-anthesis to fruit maturation, which unveiled new structures valuable in fruit characterisation and taxonomy of the Hylocereeae and Rhipsalideae. Succinctly, the cactus fruit is a carpellar ovary embedded in a long-shoot (pericarpel). The pericarp originates from five components: internal ovarian epidermis that delimits the fruit locule, ovary (proper), collateral vascular bundles, pericarpel (receptacular origin), and external pericarpel epidermis. In addition, cell expansion and stored mucilage, a sticky substance involved in seed dispersal, occurs during fruit development. We propose the term cactidium, a complex fruit with accessory structures of pericarpellar origin surrounding the gynoecial boundary, to describe the cactus fruit. This term is appropriate because members of the Cactaceae bear unique traits, such as areoles in the reproductive structures (pericarpel), which may produce scale-leaves, bristles, and spines.
Quark–antiquark entropic force and diffusion constant in a Yang–Mills-like theory
Authors: Tahery S. , Sadeghi J.
Published: June 2018

The entropic force experienced by a moving quarkonia in a plasma is computed in a hyperscaling violation background by holography approach. In that case, the axis of the moving quarkonia has an arbitrary angle with wind. We use the results for HSV parameters, which are obtained in our paper,1as appropriate values satisfying condition [Formula: see text]. We will show that, in this background, the entropic force of the meson shows a decreasing behavior corresponding to increasing dissociation length. Results of this paper are in agreement with our mentioned work. In addition, we will find diffusion constant in an exact case and by an exact approach2which satisfies the mentioned condition in there.
Finite groups with certain normalizers of Sylow subgroups
Authors: Lu Jiakuan , Meng Wei
Published: June 2018

In this paper, we prove that a finite group [Formula: see text] is nilpotent if and only if for every [Formula: see text] the normalizer of each Sylow [Formula: see text]-subgroup of [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]-nilpotent, where [Formula: see text] is a prime [Formula: see text] there exists some maximal subgroup [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] divides [Formula: see text].
A New Method for Solving Dual DEA Problems with Fuzzy Stochastic Data
Authors: Ebrahimnejad Ali , Tavana Madjid , Nasseri Seyed Hadi , Gholami Omid
Published: June 2018

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a widely used mathematical programming technique for measuring the relative efficiency of decision-making units which consume multiple inputs to produce multiple outputs. Although precise input and output data are fundamentally used in classical DEA models, real-life problems often involve uncertainties characterized by fuzzy and/or random input and output data. We present a new input-oriented dual DEA model with fuzzy and random input and output data and propose a deterministic equivalent model with linear constraints to solve the model. The main contributions of this paper are fourfold: (1) we extend the concept of a normal distribution for fuzzy stochastic variables and propose a DEA model for problems characterized by fuzzy stochastic variables; (2) we transform the proposed DEA model with fuzzy stochastic variables into a deterministic equivalent linear form; (3) the proposed model which is linear and always feasible can overcome the nonlinearity and infeasibility in the existing fuzzy stochastic DEA models; (4) we present a case study in the banking industry to exhibit the applicability of the proposed method and feasibility of the obtained solutions.
Needle pigment responses of
Pinus massoniana L.
to soils polluted with the heavy metals Zn, Pb and Cu
Authors: Wang Zhenghai , Qin Haoyan , Wang Juan
Published: June 2018

The effects of high Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations on pigments of
Pinus massoniana L. (
PML
)
growing near the Dabaoshan Pb-Zn polymetallic mine were evaluated. A total of 19 samples of PML needles and 15 samples of soil were collected near the mine and at a nearby background site to compare heavy metal (HM; Zn, Cu, Pb) accumulations. A 2D scatter plot was used to study the relationships between the pigments and each metal element. PML needles collected from the mining area had a significantly higher content of Pb (24.5 mg/kg) and Cu (26.1 mg/kg) than needles collected from the background site (Pb: 2.8 mg/kg, Cu: 6.7 mg/kg). The HM concentrations in the needles were positively correlated with the pigment contents (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids) . This suggests that PML can adapt to HM stress and even promote growth within a certain range. In contrast, when the HM content in needles reached very high values (Cu: 50 mg/kg, Pb: 60 mg/kg, and Zn: 110 mg/kg), the normal physiological and biochemical functions were hindered. PML is highly resistant to HM pollution, making it a candidate for reforestation and restoration of Pb and other HMs in mine areas.
Geology, mineral paragenesis and fluid inclusion studies of the Yueyang Ag-Au-Cu deposit, South China: implications for ore genesis and exploration
Authors: Chi Zhe , Ni Pei , Pan Jun-Yi , Ding Jun-Ying , Wang Yu-Quan , Li Su-Ning , Bao Tan , Xue Kai , Wang Wen-Bin
Published: June 2018

The Yueyang epithermal Ag-Au-Cu deposit is located in the Zijinshan ore district in western Fujian Province, South China. Orebodies are predominately hosted by the Jurassic Zijinshan granite batholith and controlled by a group of NW-trending faults. Roughly all minerals were deposited in a single extended period, and three stages can be further defined: (1) the early sphalerite stage; (2) the base metal-silver stage; and (3) the post-mineralization stage. Microthermometric measurements on quartz- and sphalerite-hosted, liquid-rich fluid inclusions indicate that mixing and dilution of the ore forming fluids took place from early to late stages. However, fluid boiling may locally occur and lead to silver participation, as suggested by the presence of fluid inclusion assemblage consisting of coexisting liquid-rich and vapour-rich inclusions, and also indicated by adularia in Ag-bearing veins and the breccia type ore of bonanza grade. Compared with typical low-sulphidation epithermal deposits, the higher Ag/Au ratios and fluid salinities, Fe-poor sphalerite and large proportion of sulphide minerals suggest that the Yueyang deposit is best classified as an intermediate-sulphidation epithermal deposit. Since intermediate-sulphidation epithermal deposits favour a magmatic affinity and usually exhibit spatial and temporal association with high-sulphidation and porphyry deposits, mineral exploration at the adjacent area of the Yueyang deposit is promising.
Gold in Stream Sediments from the Sardinia Crystalline Basement (Italy)
Authors: Valera P. , Sanna A. , Marcello A. , Pretti S.
Published: June 2018

From the first half of the 1970s to the early 2000s, more than 33 000 samples of stream sediments have been collected in Sardinia over the course of several mineral prospecting campaigns. The sets of elements determined in each campaign varied, although analyses for most of the ore-related metals were normally performed. On this basis, the distribution of gold was studied because, in the set of metals known in the metallogeny of Sardinia, this metal was the last to prove economically recoverable.

For this study, the territory of the whole island was subdivided into 110 districts and 26 sectors. This subdivision takes into account both the overall geological–lithological characteristics of each district and the total number of samples collected inside its limits.

The results show that the metamorphic-dominated areas display a number of samples containing more than 20 ppb Au. This number is much higher than that observed in the granitic areas, not only as an absolute value, but also in relative frequency, which is more than twice that in the granitic areas. These high Au values are clearly clustered and related to ore-bearing structures.
Thermal evolution in the exhumed basement of a stratovolcano: case study of the Miocene Mátra Volcano, Pannonian Basin
Authors: Arató Róbert , Dunkl István , Takács Ágnes , Szebényi Géza , Gerdes Axel , von Eynatten Hilmar
Published: June 2018

The thermal influence of a Miocene stratovolcano (Mátra Volcano) on its basement was studied by apatite and zircon (U–Th)/He thermochronometry. The pre-Miocene substratum of the volcano contains Mesozoic sedimentary units in addition to the nearby exhumed igneous Recsk Complex. The Oligocene emplacement age of the Recsk Complex is constrained by zircon U–Pb geochronology to be 29.6 Ma, which serves as a benchmark for the beginning of its thermal history. All measured apatite (U–Th)/He ages (19.9–5.9 Ma) and most of the zircon (U–Th)/He ages (26.2–17.7 Ma) are considerably younger than the emplacement age of the Oligocene Recsk Complex, implying thermal overprinting by the adjacent Miocene Mátra Volcano. The apatite and zircon He ages of the Oligocene complex increase from south to north, providing clear evidence of a northwards-weakening thermal overprint. The post-Oligocene thermal history of the basement was reconstructed via one-dimensional subsidence/thermal modelling. According to zircon He modelling, the thickness of the covering units above the Recsk Complex was estimated to be 1000–1500 m and the heat flux was
c.
200 mW m
−2
during the Miocene volcanism. Thermal modelling based on apatite He data suggests that the Miocene volcanism was followed by intensive erosion and the exposure of the Recsk Complex by the Late Miocene.

Supplementary material:
The locality, petrography and age yield of the dated samples of the Recsk Igneous Complex and details of the laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry dating of zircons from the Recsk Complex are available at:
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4127444
The Carnian Pluvial Episode and the first global appearance of amber
Authors: Seyfullah Leyla J. , Roghi Guido , Corso Jacopo Dal , Schmidt Alexander R.
Published: June 2018

Amber (fossil resin) is not common throughout the fossil record, and previously the only globally significant deposits were thought to occur during the Cretaceous, Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene periods. Recent finds of Late Triassic (Carnian) ambers highlight a significantly older set of deposits. Here we review these ambers that appear coincident with the Carnian Pluvial Episode, a time interval of major climate change and biotic turnover. Much of the amber is found in a palaeolatitudinal belt between 5° and 30° N, and covers Italian, Austrian, Swiss, Hungarian, Spanish and Arizona (USA) deposits, with one exception from Lesotho, Southern Africa (
c.
40° S). Most deposits are small and allochthonous, with the major exception of the autochthonous–parautochthonous amber deposit found as droplets in a palaeosol from the Dolomites (Italy). In some of these deposits there is even direct evidence of the source plants that produced the preserved resin. The oldest confirmed organisms found preserved in amber are from Carnian droplets from the Dolomites in Italy and include arthropods and microorganisms. The occurrence of amber in different localities and within the same time interval suggests a widespread stressed flora, and major biological turnover in the terrestrial ecosystems during the Carnian Pluvial Episode.
Insights into the evolution of the Hindu Kush–Kohistan–Karakoram from modern river sand detrital geo- and thermochronological studies
Authors: Zhuang Guangsheng , Najman Yani , Tian Yuntao , Carter Andrew , Gemignani Lorenzo , Wijbrans Jan , Jan M. Qasim , Khan M. Asif
Published: June 2018

The Hindu Kush–Kohistan–Karakoram region is critical to understanding the long-term accretion history of the south Asian margin pre- and post-India–Asia collision and the impact of these collisions on the development of high topography. However, knowledge about this region remains incomplete owing to sparse studies. Here, we present a study comprising detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology, detrital muscovite
40
Ar/
39
Ar thermochronology and numerical modelling on
40
Ar/
39
Ar dates. The study identifies zircon U–Pb age peaks at 200, 110–130, 60–80 and 28–40 Ma, supporting the polyphase collisions and crustal growth in the south Asian margin. The modelling study reveals fast cooling–erosion at 115–129, 69–71, 27–35 and <8 Ma, synchronous with collision-related crustal growth, indicating the significant impact of accretion both prior to and post-India–Asia collision. This study, along with studies in eastern Karakoram, reveals along-strike variations in erosion and exhumation with young (since late Miocene) intense erosion focusing on the east–central Karakoram. We suggest that this east–west spatial variation in exhumation may have been associated with more intense crustal shortening, and thus the greater crustal thickness, topographic relief and altitude observed in the eastern compared with the western Karakoram.

Supplementary material:
Detrital zircon U–Pb ages, detrital muscovite single-crystal
40
Ar/
39
Ar ages and modelling results are available at:
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4124573
Eocene ultra-high temperature (UHT) metamorphism in the Gruf complex (Central Alps): constraints by LA-ICPMS zircon and monazite dating in petrographic context
Authors: Nicollet Christian , Bosse Valérie , Spalla Maria Iole , Schiavi Federica
Published: June 2018

The Gruf complex in the Lepontine Alps is one of the rare occurrences of Phanerozoic ultra-high temperature (UHT) metamorphism in the world, but its age is still a matter of debate. Here we present LA-ICPMS dating in a petrographic context of zircon and monazite from a UHT restitic granulite. Zircons and monazites are both included in large crystals and in retrograde symplectites. In such restitic rocks, partial melting or fluid interactions are unlikely, precluding resetting of the monazite chronometers. Zircon cores yield Permian ages, which are interpreted as the age of charnockitization. They are sometimes surrounded by a narrow rim at 32 Ma. Monazites are strongly zoned, but all yield a 31.8 ± 0.3 Ma age interpreted as the time of complete (re-)crystallization during the UHT paragenesis. We propose that the zircons dated a post-Hercynian metamorphism which is responsible for the widespread formation of granulites in the Southern Alps and the crust differentiation. This fluid-absent melting event produced refractory lithologies, such as restites in charnockites. We suggest that Gruf UHT paragenesis is alpine in age and crystallized from these refractory lithologies. We conclude that the lower restitic crust produced in the Permian had the ability to achieve UHT conditions during the fast exhumation and heating related to lithospheric thinning in Alpine time.

Supplementary material:
Analytical procedures for monazite analysis and dating, plus details of the major elements of the minerals, isotope data and trace element measurements in zircon are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4123619
The deep history of Earth's biomass
Authors: McMahon Sean , Parnell John
Published: June 2018

The subsurface ‘deep biosphere’ represents one-tenth to one-third of Earth's total global present-day biomass. The rest is dominated by land plants, a relatively recent development in geological history. Before
c.
400 Ma, a relatively low surface biomass with high productivity and fast turnover supplied carbon to a deep biosphere with high biomass but low productivity and slow turnover. Here, we argue that the deep biosphere outweighed the surface biosphere by about one order of magnitude for at least half of the history of life on Earth. This result offers a new perspective on the history of life on Earth with important implications for the search for life on other worlds.
Mechanical properties of expansive clay stabilized with lignosulphonate
Authors: Noorzad Reza , Ta'negonbadi Bahram
Published: June 2018

In this research, a by-product of paper and timber industries, lignosulphonate (LS), was used to enhance the properties of expansive clay. Laboratory tests included Atterberg limits, Proctor compaction, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), free swell and unconsolidated–undrained (UU) triaxial compression tests, which were conducted on LS-treated and untreated specimens. Moreover, effects of moisture content changes and cyclic wetting and drying on soil properties were assessed. To illustrate strength creation owing to LS-stabilization, scanning electron microscopy was conducted on unstabilized and LS-stabilized clay. The strength properties of the soil improved with LS-stabilization. For both the treated and untreated soils, strength parameters decreased with increase in compaction moisture content. The swell per cent and swell pressure of the expansive clay reduced owing to LS-stabilization. The reduction of plasticity index of the soil because of stabilization changed the category of soil expansivity from high to moderate. These improvements in soil properties are related to the electrostatic reaction that occurs between the LS–water mixture and soil particles, thus leading to soil aggregation.
Reprocessing and interpretation of deep structures in a regional transect of the Parnaíba Basin, Brazil
Authors: Manenti Rafael R. , Souza Wilker E. , Porsani Milton J.
Published: June 2018

The Parnaíba cratonic basin is located in the NE of Brazil and its sedimentation started in the Silurian with the Serra Grande Group. Deep reflection seismic data were acquired along a 1400 km-long profile, with 20 s of two-way travel time (TWT) across the basin. Using these data, we were able to interpret and conjecture about the composition complexity level of the crust and mantle from the features presented in the lower crust, Moho reflector and upper mantle. In addition, the presence of basaltic intrusions from the Sardinha and Mosquito formations are mapped as outcrops and magnetic anomalies on the geological map, and by correlating these areas of occurrence with the lack of the Moho in the seismic section may suggest that these igneous bodies, in some way, contribute to the lack of signal seen in parts of the data.
Content-Based Music Information Retrieval (CB-MIR) and Its Applications toward the Music Industry
Authors: Murthy Y. V. Srinivasa , Koolagudi Shashidhar G.
Published: June 2018

A huge increase in the number of digital music tracks has created the necessity to develop an automated tool to extract the useful information from these tracks. As this information has to be extracted from the contents of the music, it is known as content-based music information retrieval (CB-MIR). In the past two decades, several research outcomes have been observed in the area of CB-MIR. There is a need to consolidate and critically analyze these research findings to evolve future research directions. In this survey article, various tasks of CB-MIR and their applications are critically reviewed. In particular, the article focuses on eight MIR-related tasks such as vocal/non-vocal segmentation, artist identification, genre classification, raga identification, query-by-humming, emotion recognition, instrument recognition, and music clip annotation. The fundamental concepts of Indian classical music are detailed to attract future research on this topic. The article elaborates on the signal-processing techniques to extract useful features for performing specific tasks mentioned above and discusses their strengths as well as weaknesses. This article also points to some general research issues in CB-MIR and probable approaches toward their solutions so as to improve the efficiency of the existing CB-MIR systems.
A Survey and Taxonomy of Self-Aware and Self-Adaptive Cloud Autoscaling Systems
Authors: Chen Tao , Bahsoon Rami , Yao Xin
Published: June 2018

Autoscaling system can reconfigure cloud-based services and applications, through various configurations of cloud software and provisions of hardware resources, to adapt to the changing environment at runtime. Such a behavior offers the foundation for achieving elasticity in a modern cloud computing paradigm. Given the dynamic and uncertain nature of the shared cloud infrastructure, the cloud autoscaling system has been engineered as one of the most complex, sophisticated, and intelligent artifacts created by humans, aiming to achieve self-aware, self-adaptive, and dependable runtime scaling. Yet the existing Self-aware and Self-adaptive Cloud Autoscaling System (SSCAS) is not at a state where it can be reliably exploited in the cloud. In this article, we survey the state-of-the-art research studies on SSCAS and provide a comprehensive taxonomy for this field. We present detailed analysis of the results and provide insights on open challenges, as well as the promising directions that are worth investigated in the future work of this area of research. Our survey and taxonomy contribute to the fundamentals of engineering more intelligent autoscaling systems in the cloud.
Digital Behaviour Change Interventions to Break and Form Habits
Authors: Pinder Charlie , Vermeulen Jo , Cowan Benjamin R. , Beale Russell
Published: June 2018

Digital behaviour change interventions, particularly those using pervasive computing technology, hold great promise in supporting users to change their behaviour. However, most interventions fail to take habitual behaviour into account, limiting their potential impact. This failure is partly driven by a plethora of overlapping behaviour change theories and related strategies that do not consider the role of habits. We critically review the main theories and models used in the research to analyse their application to designing effective habitual behaviour change interventions. We highlight the potential for Dual Process Theory, modern habit theory, and Goal Setting Theory, which together model how users form and break habits, to drive effective digital interventions. We synthesise these theories into an explanatory framework, the Habit Alteration Model, and use it to outline the state of the art. We identify the opportunities and challenges of habit-focused interventions.
Scalable Graph Processing Frameworks
Authors: Heidari Safiollah , Simmhan Yogesh , Calheiros Rodrigo N. , Buyya Rajkumar
Published: June 2018

The world is becoming a more conjunct place and the number of data sources such as social networks, online transactions, web search engines, and mobile devices is increasing even more than had been predicted. A large percentage of this growing dataset exists in the form of linked data, more generally, graphs, and of unprecedented sizes. While today's data from social networks contain hundreds of millions of nodes connected by billions of edges, inter-connected data from globally distributed sensors that forms the Internet of Things can cause this to grow exponentially larger. Although analyzing these large graphs is critical for the companies and governments that own them, big data tools designed for text and tuple analysis such as MapReduce cannot process them efficiently. So, graph distributed processing abstractions and systems are developed to design iterative graph algorithms and process large graphs with better performance and scalability. These graph frameworks propose novel methods or extend previous methods for processing graph data. In this article, we propose a taxonomy of graph processing systems and map existing systems to this classification. This captures the diversity in programming and computation models, runtime aspects of partitioning and communication, both for in-memory and distributed frameworks. Our effort helps to highlight key distinctions in architectural approaches, and identifies gaps for future research in scalable graph systems.