bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Plasmodium Infestation and Malarial Complications among Pre-School Going Children in District Lower Dir, Pakistan
Authors: Zeb Jehan , Khan Mian Sayed , Ullah Naseer , Ullah Hamid , Khan Musharaf , Nabi Ghulam , Ali Abid
Published: April 2015

The purpose of this study was to show Plasmodium species burden and symptoms consistent with malaria related complications among pre-school going children in North Western part of Pakistan (Timergara, Munda, Maidan, Samar Bagh and Talash). A total of 1312 blood samples were collected during winter, autumn and summer (2011), from males (808, 61.5%) and females (504, 38.4%). Microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) were used for the detection of plasmodium species. Questionnaires were also designed to collect information about the health conditions of malarial symptomatic children. Overall data revealed that 6.9% samples were infected, with Plasmodium vivax (96.7%), Plasmodium falciparum (2.1%) and mixed species (P. vivax and P. falciparum) (1.0%). Highest infection rate was recorded in autumn (2.87%) followed by summer (2.45%) and winter (1.73%). Among malaria symptomatic children symptoms like severe temperature (9.85%) lower RBS count (3.7%), Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD) deficiency (0.65%), respiratory distress (0.65%), neonatal sepsis (0.64%) and low birth weight (0.42%) were observed. Shortly malaria control efforts should be taken with an emphasis on improving species diagnosis and treatment availability in district Dir Lower.
Comparison of Refractive Error and Central Corneal Thickness in Neonates of Diabetic and Healthy Mothers
Authors: Göncü Tuğba , Çakmak Alpay , Akal Ali , Çakmak Sevim
Published: April 2015

Purpose

To determine the refractive error and central corneal thickness of neonates born to diabetic mothers and to compare these parameters with those of healthy neonates born to healthy mothers.

Methods

This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on 16 consecutive full-term neonates born to diabetic mothers and 17 full-term healthy neonates. The neonates underwent ophthalmic examination within the first week of life. Refractive measurements were assessed by retinoscopy. Central corneal thickness was recorded by using ultrasound pachymeter.

Results

The mean spherical equivalent for both eyes in the diabetic group was +2.9 ± 2.6 and significantly greater than that of the nondiabetic group (+1.3 ± 2.1 D) (p = 0.008). The mean sphere value was +2.6 ± 2.4 D in the diabetic group and +1.0 ± 2.0 D in the nondiabetic group, significantly higher in the diabetic group (p = 0.008). In both groups, mean astigmatism was less than 1.00 D, it was lower in the diabetic group, and there was no statistically significant difference between groups (p = 0.95). There were 2 patients in each group with anisometropia. The mean central corneal thickness in the nondiabetic group was 542.9 ± 21.9 μm whereas it was 592.0 ± 40.2 μm in the diabetic group, which was significantly thicker (p = 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study revealed that neonates of diabetic mothers seem to be more hypermetropic compared to full-term healthy neonates; however, we did not observe any significant astigmatism in either group. Neonates of diabetic mothers had thicker corneas.
Public Interest in the Regulation of Competition: Evidence from Wholesale Internet Access Consultations in Canada
Authors: Rajabiun Reza , Middleton Catherine
Published: April 2015

How do private interests try to shape public interest competition regulations? Focusing on debates about the design of wholesale Internet access obligations, the authors employ Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools to evaluate a multi-stakeholder policymaking process in Canada. Using NLP, they analyze 40 formal interventions in the CRTC's 2013–551 review of its wholesale broadband policy. They classify major interest groups, map key concepts, and quantify asymmetries in stakeholders’ influence. They conclude that by reducing the costs of regulatory participation, deploying NLP technologies can help offset the advantages large incumbent organizations already have in shaping law and policy.
Nietzsche, Genealogy, and Historical Individuals
Authors: Prescott-Couch Alexander
Published: April 2015

In On the Genealogy of Morality, Nietzsche sets out to answer the question of the value of morality by looking at the conditions under which it developed. However, there is a puzzle about why historical investigation should be required for assessing our moral practices, especially if the defining features of those practices have changed over time. The puzzle is that if morality is “historical,” then the features that will be revealed by historical investigation are ones that—ex hypothesi—are unlikely to characterize it now. And if these features do not characterize morality now, then why should a critique of morality need to take them into account? I argue that the solution to the puzzle is that history reveals that morality is a particular kind of entity, which I call a “historical individual.” I then provide an account of why it should matter for our evaluation of morality that it is an entity of this kind.
Nietzsche contra Dennett
Authors: Andresen Joshua
Published: April 2015

I argue that Dennett's indulgence in anthropomorphism in his accounts of evolution and agency has costs that we are better off not paying. To that end, I examine Dennett's algorithmic analysis of evolution by natural selection, paying attention to the status and role of anthropomorphism in his account of the nature of human agency and the order and rationality of the natural world. I argue that Dennett's embrace of the design and intentional stances leads him not only to an untenable conception of agency, but to an account of natural selection that obliterates the distinction between theory and phenomenon. Finally, I show how Nietzsche's perspectival naturalism serves to harness Dennett's unbridled anthropomorphism for more insightful accounts of agency and the natural world.
Brotherly Love
Authors: Cady Jo Ann , Bair Sherry L.
Published: April 2015

To elicit creative student thinking, this open-ended problem asks a computation question.
Palette of Problems
Authors: Amidon Joel , Roscoe Matt
Published: April 2015

A monthly set of problems is aimed at a variety of ability levels.
Irrational Numbers, Square Roots, and Quadratic Equations
Authors: Popovic Gorjana
Published: April 2015

How do we introduce irrational numbers without simply telling students that they are irrationals?
Moving Students to “the Why?”
Authors: Cioe Michael , King Sherryl , Ostien Deborah , Pansa Nancy , Staples Megan
Published: April 2015

Justification is a critical mathematical practice that must play a role in teaching and learning at all grade levels.
Soccer Math
Authors: Engledew Devin J.
Published: April 2015

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world. In the United States, it comes in third, behind basketball and baseball (including softball), of most-played sports.
Imaging crust and upper mantle beneath Mount Fuji, Japan, by receiver functions
Authors: Kinoshita S. M. , Igarashi T. , Aoki Y. , Takeo M.
Published: April 2015

Mount Fuji has ejected a huge amount of basaltic products during the last 100,000 years. Even though the region around Mount Fuji is tectonically active, the seismicity below Mount Fuji is low, resulting in little knowledge about the seismic structure there. To gain more insight into the magma‐plumbing system, we obtain the seismic structure beneath Mount Fuji by the receiver function (RF) technique. RFs at seismic stations around Mount Fuji show positive phases at ~3 and ~6 s, representing the conversion of P to S waves at a positive velocity boundary in the Philippine Sea plate. Cross sections of RF amplitudes reveal two distinct velocity boundaries around Mount Fuji, at depths of 40–50 km and 20–30 km, which we interpret to be the boundary between the crust‐mantle transition layer and the uppermost mantle of the Izu‐Bonin arc and the velocity discontinuity just below the region where low‐frequency earthquakes (LFEs) of Mount Fuji have occurred, respectively. The velocity boundary at about 50 km depth shows a clear gap just beneath Mount Fuji. We suggest that this gap represents a weaker velocity contrast zone through which the magma of Mount Fuji ascends from the Pacific plate. A thorough grid search reveals that a low‐velocity zone at depths of ~13–26 km explains all the characteristics of RFs around Mount Fuji, leading us to interpret the high‐velocity boundary just below the LFE region as the lower boundary of Mount Fuji's magma chamber.
Magnetic anisotropy reveals the depositional and postdepositional history of a loess‐paleosol sequence at Nussloch (Germany)
Authors: Taylor Samuel N. , Lagroix France
Published: April 2015

Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) is employed as a tool to unravel the depositional history of the 17 m thick Nussloch P8 Weichselian loess sequence located 10 km south of Heidelberg, Germany. Through an AMS study, the primary aeolian depositional origin of the magnetic fabrics is evaluated, and overprinting due to postdepositional reworking and/or deformation is identified. Primary fabrics along the P8 sequence are defined by near‐vertical KMIN axes and horizontal foliations. Eight intervals display secondary fabrics, characterized by either prolate orientation distributions or oblate orientation distributions with dipping foliation planes. These postdepositional fabrics are associated with laminated loess and tundra gley horizons. It is proposed that increased moisture (due to higher precipitation or enhanced snowmelt) and repeated cryogenic processes were able to reorganize and rework the accumulated loess. Primary aeolian fabrics are archived within 6.45 m of cumulated depth or 38% of the profile and dominantly within the Upper Pleniglacial units. Even though maximum susceptibility axes of primary fabrics are statistically well resolved at the specimen (ε12 = 10.1° ± 8.6) and population (ε12 = 6°) level, any inferred paleowind directions from the magnetic lineation remains speculative given the low concentration of ferrimagnetic minerals (<0.03 wt %). Tundra gley horizons upprofile display primary magnetic fabrics and no major changes in the degree of anisotropy or AMS orientation distributions. This suggests a weakening in gley‐induced diagenesis and therefore favorable environmental conditions needed (moisture and presence of permafrost active layer) to initiate their formation in loess deposits. Finally, pedogenesis has not played an important role in modifying the magnetic fabric since paleosols display the same magnetic fabrics observed in primary loess.
An initial estimate of the global distribution of diurnal variation in sea surface salinity
Authors: Fine E. C. , Bryan F. O. , Large W. G. , Bailey D. A.
Published: April 2015

Diurnal variations in sea surface salinity (SSS) have been observed at a few selected locations with adequate in situ instrumentation. Such variations result primarily from imbalances between surface freshwater fluxes and vertical mixing of deeper water to the surface. New observations becoming available from satellite salinity remote sensing missions could help to constrain estimates of diurnal variations in air‐sea exchange of freshwater, and provide insight into the processes governing diurnal variability of mixing processes in the upper ocean. Additionally, a better understanding of variation in near surface salinity is required to compare satellite measured SSS with in situ measurements at a few meters depth. The diurnal SSS variations should be reflected as differences between ascending and descending pass retrievals from the Aquarius and SMOS satellites; however, the diurnal signal can be masked by inadequacies of the geophysical corrections used in processing the satellite measurements. In this study, we quantify the expected range of diurnal SSS variations using a model developed for predicting diurnal sea surface temperature variations. We present estimates for the mean and variance of the global diurnal SSS cycle, contrasting it with the diurnal cycle of sea surface temperature. We find the SSS diurnal cycle can be significant throughout the tropics, with mean amplitudes of up to 0.1 psu in areas with heavy precipitation. Predicted maximum diurnal ranges approach 2 psu in select regions. Surface freshening in Aquarius salinity retrievals is shown to be larger for ascending than descending passes, consistent with the expectations from the model simulation.
Surface wave effects in the NEMO ocean model: Forced and coupled experiments
Authors: Breivik Øyvind , Mogensen Kristian , Bidlot Jean‐Raymond , Balmaseda Magdalena Alonso , Janssen Peter A. E. M.
Published: April 2015

The NEMO general circulation ocean model is extended to incorporate three physical processes related to ocean surface waves, namely the surface stress (modified by growth and dissipation of the oceanic wavefield), the turbulent kinetic energy flux from breaking waves, and the Stokes‐Coriolis force. Experiments are done with NEMO in ocean‐only (forced) mode and coupled to the ECMWF atmospheric and wave models. Ocean‐only integrations are forced with fields from the ERA‐Interim reanalysis. All three effects are noticeable in the extratropics, but the sea‐state‐dependent turbulent kinetic energy flux yields by far the largest difference. This is partly because the control run has too vigorous deep mixing due to an empirical mixing term in NEMO. We investigate the relation between this ad hoc mixing and Langmuir turbulence and find that it is much more effective than the Langmuir parameterization used in NEMO. The biases in sea surface temperature as well as subsurface temperature are reduced, and the total ocean heat content exhibits a trend closer to that observed in a recent ocean reanalysis (ORAS4) when wave effects are included. Seasonal integrations of the coupled atmosphere‐wave‐ocean model consisting of NEMO, the wave model ECWAM, and the atmospheric model of ECMWF similarly show that the sea surface temperature biases are greatly reduced when the mixing is controlled by the sea state and properly weighted by the thickness of the uppermost level of the ocean model. These wave‐related physical processes were recently implemented in the operational coupled ensemble forecast system of ECMWF.
A basal stress parameterization for modeling landfast ice
Authors: Lemieux Jean‐François , Tremblay L. Bruno , Dupont Frédéric , Plante Mathieu , Smith Gregory C. , Dumont Dany
Published: April 2015

Current large‐scale sea ice models represent very crudely or are unable to simulate the formation, maintenance and decay of coastal landfast ice. We present a simple landfast ice parameterization representing the effect of grounded ice keels. This parameterization is based on bathymetry data and the mean ice thickness in a grid cell. It is easy to implement and can be used for two‐thickness and multithickness category models. Two free parameters are used to determine the critical thickness required for large ice keels to reach the bottom and to calculate the basal stress associated with the weight of the ridge above hydrostatic balance. A sensitivity study was conducted and demonstrates that the parameter associated with the critical thickness has the largest influence on the simulated landfast ice area. A 6 year (2001–2007) simulation with a 20 km resolution sea ice model was performed. The simulated landfast ice areas for regions off the coast of Siberia and for the Beaufort Sea were calculated and compared with data from the National Ice Center. With optimal parameters, the basal stress parameterization leads to a slightly shorter landfast ice season but overall provides a realistic seasonal cycle of the landfast ice area in the East Siberian, Laptev and Beaufort Seas. However, in the Kara Sea, where ice arches between islands are key to the stability of the landfast ice, the parameterization consistently leads to an underestimation of the landfast area.
Biodegradation of subsurface oil in a tidally influenced sand beach: Impact of hydraulics and interaction with pore water chemistry
Authors: Geng Xiaolong , Boufadel Michel C. , Lee Kenneth , Abrams Stewart , Suidan Makram
Published: April 2015

The aerobic biodegradation of oil in tidally influenced beaches was investigated numerically in this work using realistic beach and tide conditions. A numerical model BIOMARUN, coupling a multiple‐Monod kinetic model BIOB to a density‐dependent variably saturated groundwater flow model 2‐D MARUN, was used to simulate the biodegradation of low‐solubility hydrocarbon and transport processes of associated solute species (i.e., oxygen and nitrogen) in a tidally influenced beach environment. It was found that different limiting factors affect different portions of the beach. In the upper intertidal zone, where the inland incoming nutrient concentration was large (1.2 mg N/L), oil biodegradation occurred deeper in the beach (i.e., 0.3 m below the surface). In the midintertidal zone, a reversal was noted where the biodegradation was fast at shallow locations (i.e., 0.1 m below the surface), and it was due to the decrease of oxygen with depth due to consumption, which made oxygen the limiting factor for biodegradation. Oxygen concentration in the midintertidal zone exhibited two peaks as a function of time. One peak was associated with the high tide, when dissolved oxygen laden seawater filled the beach and a second oxygen peak was observed during low tides, and it was due to pore oxygen replenishment from the atmosphere. The effect of the capillary fringe (CF) height was investigated, and it was found that there is an optimal CF for the maximum biodegradation of oil in the beach. Too large a CF (i.e., very fine material) would attenuate oxygen replenishment (either from seawater or the atmosphere), while too small a CF (i.e., very coarse material) would reduce the interaction between microorganisms and oil in the upper intertidal zone due to rapid reduction in the soil moisture at low tide.
Thermodynamics of protein aqueous solutions: From the structure factor to the osmotic pressure
Authors: Franco Luís Fernando Mercier , de Oliveira Cristiano Luis Pinto , de Alcântara Pessôa Filho Pedro
Published: April 2015

An analytical expression for the structure factor for globular proteins in aqueous solution is presented. This expression was obtained considering a potential given by the sum of a hard core, a van der Waals attractive, and a screened Coulomb contribution. Experimental data of small angle x‐ray scattering for bovine serum albumin (BSA) in aqueous solutions containing sodium salts at different protein concentrations and pH values are also presented. The developed expression for the structure factor describes accurately these experimental data provided a dependence of the attractive parameter on protein concentration is established. An expression for the osmotic pressure was derived from the structure factor. With attractive parameters adjusted from x‐ray scattering data, the osmotic pressure of BSA aqueous solutions could be predicted with very good agreement with experimental data. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2871–2880, 2015
On the simultaneous description of h‐bonding and dipolar interactions with point charges in force field models
Authors: Langenbach Kai , Engin Cemal , Reiser Steffen , Horsch Martin , Hasse Hans
Published: April 2015

H‐bonding and polar interactions occur together in real fluids, but are of different nature and have different effects on macroscopic properties. Nevertheless, both are usually described by point charges in force field models. Despite this, the two effects can be separated. A simple model fluid is studied: a single Lennard‐Jones (LJ) site with two opposing point charges q placed in the center of the LJ site and at a distance d. By suitably varying both d and q, the dipole moment μ is kept constant. Both μ and d are systematically varied to study the properties of the resulting models, including H‐bonding, which is determined using a geometric criterion from literature. d can be used for tuning the H‐bonding strength and, thus, polarity and H‐bonding can be adjusted individually. The study of a second related model with symmetrically positioned point charges does not reveal this separation. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2926–2932, 2015
Numerical study of turbulent liquid‐liquid dispersions
Authors: Komrakova Alexandra E. , Eskin Dmitry , Derksen J. J.
Published: April 2015

A numerical approach is developed to gain fundamental insight in liquid‐liquid dispersion formation under well‐controlled turbulent conditions. The approach is based on a free energy lattice Boltzmann equation method, and relies on detailed resolution of the interaction of the dispersed and continuous phase at the microscopic level, including drop breakup and coalescence. The capability of the numerical technique to perform direct numerical simulations of turbulently agitated liquid‐liquid dispersions is assessed. Three‐dimensional simulations are carried out in fully periodic cubic domains with grids of size
. The liquids are of equal density. Viscosity ratios (dispersed phase over continuous phase) are in the range 0.3–1.0. The dispersed phase volume fraction varies from 0.001 to 0.2. The process of dispersion formation is followed and visualized. The size of each drop in the dispersion is measured in‐line with no disturbance of the flow. However, the numerical method is plagued by numerical dissolution of drops that are smaller than 10 times the lattice spacing. It is shown that to mitigate this effect it is necessary to increase the resolution of the Kolmogorov scales, such as to have a minimum drop size in the range 20–30 lattice units [lu]. Four levels of Kolmogorov length scale resolution have been considered
, 2.5, 5, and 10 [lu]. In addition, the numerical dissolution reduces if the concentration of the dispersed phase is increased. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2618–2633, 2015
Toward economical purification of styrene monomers: Eggshell Mo2C for front‐end hydrogenation of phenylacetylene
Authors: Pang Min , Shao Zhengfeng , Wang Xinkui , Liang Changhai , Xia Wei
Published: April 2015

An eggshell Mo2C catalyst which is designed from the rapid combination of molybdate with melamine is described. In contrast to Pd‐based catalysts, the eggshell Mo2C operates effectively with a wide‐concentration window in high‐temperature gas phase hydrogenation of phenylacetylene, thus, an economical and energy‐efficient front‐end purification of styrene monomers might be possible. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2522–2531, 2015
Simultaneous integration of water and energy in heat‐integrated water allocation networks
Authors: Liu Zuming , Luo Yiqing , Yuan Xigang
Published: April 2015

This article proposes a new methodology for simultaneous integration of water and energy in heat‐integrated water allocation networks (WAHEN). A novel disjunctive model is first developed to determine an optimal water allocation network (WAN) where water and energy are integrated in one step. Based on the optimal WAN, a detailed heat exchanger network (HEN) to satisfy the utility target is then synthesized. Although the final network structure is obtained through two steps, the targets of freshwater and utility are optimized simultaneously. The proposed method has specific advantages. First of all, it can capture a tradeoff among freshwater usage, utility consumption, and direct heat transfer by nonisothermal mixing. Second, it can greatly reduce the complexity of subsequent HEN design. Finally, it is effective for simultaneous water and energy integration in large‐scale WAHEN systems. The advantages and applicability of this new method are illustrated by three examples from literature. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2202–2214, 2015
Einfluss der Wärmespeicherfähigkeit auf die energetische Flexibilität von Gebäuden
Authors: Hall Monika , Geissler Achim
Published: April 2015

Üblicherweise speisen Gebäude mit Photovoltaikanlagen einen Großteil des Ertrags in das öffentliche Stromnetz ein. Um den Eigenverbrauch zu erhöhen, bietet es sich bei gut gedämmten Gebäuden an, die Laufzeit der Wärmepumpe auf die Tageszeit zu limitieren. Dabei muss der thermische Komfort gewährleistet bleiben. In diesem Zusammenhang wird der Einfluss der Wärmespeicherfähigkeit des Gebäudes auf die operativen Temperaturen in Abhängigkeit von verschiedenen Laufzeiten der Wärmepumpe mit einer thermischen Gebäudesimulation untersucht und mit Messwerten von einem kleinen Mehrfamilienhaus validiert.

Es wird gezeigt, dass auch bei einem sehr gut gedämmten Gebäude eine mittlere bis hohe Wärmespeicherfähigkeit vorhanden sein muss, damit die Laufzeit der Wärmepumpe ohne Komforteinbuße auf die Tagesstunden limitiert werden kann. Mit einem Leichtbau ist die gewählte Strategie nicht möglich. Die lange tägliche Sperrzeit bedingt, dass gegenüber dem kontinuierlichen Betrieb die operative Temperatur größeren Schwankungen unterworfen ist. Das Niveau und die Breite des zulässigen Temperaturbandes müssen mit den normativen Anforderungen für die Behaglichkeit abgestimmt sein. Die Diskussion über normative Behaglichkeitsanforderungen versus energetische Flexibilität des Gebäudes muss lanciert werden.

Influence of thermal mass on the energy flexibility of buildings. Usually Buildings with photovoltaic systems feed a large amount of electricity into the public grid. Shifting duty cycles of the heat pump into the daytime would therefore be a possible means to greatly increase the self‐consumption of a well isolated building. However, thermal comfort should not deteriorate. The impact of the thermal capacity of the construction and the limitations of reducing heat pump run‐times on operative temperatures are investigated by transient thermal building simulation. The simulation is validated with monitored data from a small residential building.

The results obtained show that a well insulated building must have a middle or high thermal capacity to be able to limit the run‐time of the heat pump to daytime without incurring a non‐negligible loss of thermal comfort. The run‐time limitation proves to not be possible with a lightweight construction (low thermal capacity). Due to the long daily intervals without heat input, the fluctuation of the operative temperature is higher than with continuous heat pump operation. The level and fluctuation width of the operative temperatures should be in accordance with requirements from comfort standards. Results from the work described herein clearly show that a discussion about requirements in comfort standards versus energy flexibility of buildings must be initiated.
Polarized trafficking provides spatial cues for planar cell polarization within a tissue
Authors: Galic Milos , Matis Maja
Published: April 2015

Planar cell polarity, the polarization of cells within the plane of the epithelium, orthogonal to the apical‐basal axis, is essential for a growing list of developmental events, and – over the last 15 years – has evolved from a little‐studied curiosity in Drosophila to the subject of a substantial research enterprise. In that time, it has been recognized that two molecular systems are responsible for polarization of most tissues: Both the “core” Frizzled system and the “global” Fat/Dachsous/Four‐jointed system produce molecular asymmetry within cells, and contribute to morphological polarization. In this review, we discuss recent findings on the molecular mechanism that links “global” directional signals with local coordinated polarity.
Proximity Effect on the Induced Geoelectric Field at the Lateral Interface of Different Conductivity Structures During Geomagnetic Storms
Authors: Bo DONG , Ze‐Zhong WANG , Lian‐Guang LIU , Li‐Ping LIU , Chun‐Ming LIU
Published: April 2015

The induced geoelectric fields and telluric currents generated during geomagnetic storms will be distorted by lateral variations of the Earth conductivity. The Galerkin finite element method (FEM) is a useful tool to analyze complicated electromagnetic field problems. In this paper, a uniform thin sheet current with infinite width located at 100 km above the Earth's surface is assumed to represent the source of geomagnetic variations. It is harmonic with the amplitude of 1 A/m at different frequencies. Three Earth conductivity structures are modelled where the basic model is horizontally uniform for comparisons. The second and third structures have the same exact thicknesses and conductivity values with the basic one on one side and five times greater or lower values on the other side to represent conductivity variation from low to high and from high to low. The computational results show that the abrupt changes of conductivities have influences on the induced telluric currents, which can be classified as the proximity effect and the skin effect. For GIC research in power systems, especially in systems located at coastal areas, the geoelectric field and GIC should be determined taking the directions of the transmission lines and of the coast into consideration. Both the proximity effect and the skin effect should be considered along with the coast effect in research of GIC impacts during geomagnetic disturbances. Boundary conditions discussed in this paper can be varied depending on different modelling techniques and on the scales of conductivity structure models.
A Multi‐Scale Scratch Analysis Method for Quantitative Interpretation of Regional Gravity Fields
Authors: Wen‐Cai YANG , Yan‐Yun SUN , Zun‐Ze HOU , Chang‐Qing YU
Published: April 2015

This paper presents new systematic methods of regional gravity data processing that combine theories based on multi‐scale wavelet analysis, spectral analysis of potential fields, geophysical inversion, and information extraction. We call this data processing system as the multi‐scale scratch analysis for delineation of crustal structures, deformation belts and division of continental tectonic units. The multi‐scale scratch analysis contains four modules; they are spectral analysis for division of density layers, decomposition of the field by using wavelet transformation and multi‐scale analysis, depth estimation and density inversion of decomposed gravity anomalies, and scratch analysis. The basic principles, application techniques and examples for each module are explained. As a complicated and sophisticated process, the multi‐discipline research on regional geophysics from geophysical investigation to tectonic results requires combination of new methods and techniques coming from different disciplines, to build a wide and thick theoretic base for supporting the multi‐discipline research. The multi‐scale scratch analysis combines supporting bases coming from applied mathematics, geophysics, and information science respectively.
Terrain Evolution of China Seas and Land Since the Indo‐China Movement and Characteristics of the Stepped Landform
Authors: Xun‐Hua ZHANG , Zhong‐Lei WANG , Fang‐Hui HOU , Jin‐Yu YANG , Xing‐Wei GUO
Published: April 2015

Terrain is the situation of the ground rising and falling, which is controlled by both the endogenetic and exogenic forces of the earth. The terrain reflects the internal structure, construction, and evolution of the curst. Free‐air gravity anomalies are related to topography and geomorphology. It is considered that the curst that under mountains is thicker than that under plains by the equalization principle. There is a mirror image relationship between crust thickness and terrain relief. The map series of geology and geophysics of China seas and land include figures of tectonic framework and evolution of tectonic framework. The temporal evolution of the main blocks is studied in both of the maps, which elaborate the evolution of China's terrain as a “Seesaw”. This paper analyzes the geomorphological features by the free‐air gravity anomaly map and Moho depth distribution map. In accordance with the principle of tectonic landform classification, the general characteristics of China seas and land is viewed as a whole which shows five terrain steps from west to east on the basis of three geomorphological ladders of Chinese land.
A New Understanding on the Pattern of Deep Faults in Xizang and the Southwestern Sanjiang Area
Authors: Sheng‐Qing XIONG , Yan‐Yun DING , Zhan‐Kui LI
Published: April 2015

Extremely complicated fault structures characterize Xizang and the Sanjiang (Jinsha River, Lancang River, Nujiang River) region in southwest China. In spite of many years' study, different recognitions to this issue remain present. Based on new aeromagnetic data and gravity data, and from the view of combining gravity and magnetic characteristics with geological structure, we compile a new map of fault structures in Xizang and the southwestern Sanjiang region. The results show that the deep faults along the Jinsha River, Lancang River and Nujiang River are independent NW‐striking faults which extend from the south to the northwest, not connecting with the arc‐like faults in Xizang which extend from the east to the west. These faults are newly discovered NW‐striking faults in the Tethys fault system and belong to a different fault system relative to EW‐striking faults in Xizang. This opinion is different from the previous view that the suture zones of Jinsha River, Lungmu Co‐Lancang River and Bangong Co‐Nujiang River extend towards NW and EW in arc distribution. This discovery of the faults has changed the recognition of fault structure framework of Xizang‐Sanjiang areas, which lends light on the geotectonic research in the future. In this paper, the west extending characteristics of deep fault belt developed in Xizang and southwest Sanjiang River area are mainly explained, and the intersection relationship of faults between the Sanjiang River and Xizang is also discussed, which indicates that gravity and magnetic data are significant for the research on fault structures.
Mining drug–disease relationships as a complement to medical genetics‐based drug repositioning: Where a recommendation system meets genome‐wide association studies
Authors: Wang H , Gu Q , Wei J , Cao Z , Liu Q
Published: April 2015

A novel recommendation‐based drug repositioning strategy is presented to simultaneously determine novel drug indications and side effects in one integrated framework. This strategy provides a complementary method to medical genetics‐based drug repositioning, which reduces the occurrence of false positives in medical genetics‐based drug repositioning, resulting in a ranked list of new candidate indications and/or side effects with different confidence levels. Several new drug indications and side effects are reported with high prediction confidences.
Mitochondrially‐Imported RNA in Drug Discovery
Authors: Cannon Matthew V. , Irwin Michael H. , Pinkert Carl A.
Published: April 2015

Preclinical Research

The import of nuclear transcribed RNAs into mitochondria is an emerging area that presents a tremendous opportunity to develop human metabolic therapeutics. However, our knowledge base is quite limited. Much remains to be discovered regarding specific RNA localization and mechanisms of import. To identify novel RNAs imported into mitochondria, all RNAs within the mitochondria were characterized using next generation sequencing technology. Several nuclear transcribed RNAs were found within mitochondrial RNA (mtRNA) samples, including nuclear ribosomal RNAs, gamma satellite RNA and VL30 retroelement RNA. The presence of these RNAs within mitochondria coupled with RNA sequencing data from other laboratories investigating mtRNA processing, lead us to hypothesize that nuclease treatment of mitoplasts is insufficient for removing contaminating cytoplasmic RNAs. In contrast to traditional methodology, mitochondrial import was evaluated by qRT‐PCR after stepwise removal of the outer mitochondrial membrane and subsequent lysis of mitochondria. This allowed identification of RNAs lost from the mitochondria with the same kinetics as mitochondrial DNA‐transcribed RNAs. This approach provided an improved evaluation of nuclear RNA enrichment within mitochondrial membranes to characterize nuclease protection and mitochondrial import and identify false‐positive detection errors. qRT‐PCR results confirmed the presence of VL30 retroelement RNA within mitochondria and question the hypothesis that the RNA component of RNase P is imported. These results illustrate a reliable approach for evaluating the presence of RNAs within mitochondria and open new avenues of investigation relating to mtRNA biology and in targeting mitochondrial based therapeutics. Drug Dev Res 76 : 8261–71, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Antioxidant‐Mediated Reversal of Oxidative Damage in Mouse Modeling of Complex I Inhibition
Authors: Parameshwaran Kodeeswaran , Irwin Michael H. , Steliou Kosta , Suppiramaniam Vishnu , Pinkert Carl A.
Published: April 2015

Preclinical Research

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key component of various aging‐related pathologies of the brain that result in dementia. As such, it provides an important avenue in development of therapeutic interventions for a host of neurological disorders. A requirement for functional mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I (CI), to accomplish the normal physiological processes regulating memory, seems intuitive. In the present study, a synthetic lipoylcarnitine antioxidant (PMX‐500FI; 100 mg/kg/day po) was administered to female ICR mice (3–4‐month old) that were subsequently treated with the mitochondrial CI inhibitor, rotenone (400 mg/kg/day). After 1 week, rotenone‐induced impairment of neuronal function was evaluated in the hippocampus, a brain region that is involved in regulating memory formation. Electrophysiological recordings in live brain slices showed that long‐term potentiation (LTP) was reduced by rotenone exposure (P < 0.05) while pretreatment with PMX‐500FI maintained LTP similar to control levels (P > 0.05). Potentiation during theta burst stimulation (TBS) was similar among treatment groups (P > 0.05); however, neurotransmitter release, which increased in control mice after TBS, was lower in rotenone treated mice (P < 0.05), and was accompanied by reduced basal synaptic transmission (P < 0.05), increased proapoptotic signaling and decreased extracellular signal‐regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation (P < 0.05). For each of these determinations, pretreatment with PMX‐500FI alleviated the harmful effects of rotenone. These results illustrate that treatment with antioxidant PMX‐500FI is protective against rotenone‐induced impairment of neuronal bioenergetics in the mouse hippocampus, in regard to both excitatory synaptic physiology and proapoptotic signaling. The protective effect of PMX‐500FI against rotenone‐induced disruption of cellular bioenergetics may have important therapeutic implications for treating aging‐related dementia and other diseases related to mitochondrial dysfunction and/or oxidative damage. Drug Dev Res 76 : 8272–81, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Phosphate and Thiophosphate Biphenyl Analogs as Steroid Sulfatase Inhibitors
Authors: Demkowicz Sebastian , Kozak Witold , Daśko Mateusz , Masłyk Maciej , Kubiński Konrad , Rachon Janusz
Published: April 2015

Preclinical Research

In the present work, we report convenient methods for the synthesis and biological evaluation of phosphate and thiophosphate biphenyl derivatives exhibiting steroid sulfatase (STS) activity. The described synthesis is based on straightforward preparation of biphenyl‐4‐ol and 4′‐hydroxy‐biphenyl‐4‐carboxylic acid ethyl ester modified with various phosphate or thiophosphate moieties. The inhibitory effects of these compounds were tested on STS isolated from human placenta and led to two compounds of interest, 5a and 5d with IC50 values of 28.0 and 22.1 µM, respectively and that had interesting new binding modes in the STS active site. Drug Dev Res 76 : 8294–104, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Contractile activity is required for Z‐disc sarcomere maturation in vivo
Authors: Geach Timothy J. , Hirst Elizabeth M.A. , Zimmerman Lyle B.
Published: April 2015

Sarcomere structure underpins structural integrity, signaling, and force transmission in the muscle. In embryos of the frog Xenopus tropicalis, muscle contraction begins even while sarcomerogenesis is ongoing. To determine whether contractile activity plays a role in sarcomere formation in vivo, chemical tools were used to block acto‐myosin contraction in embryos of the frog X. tropicalis, and Z‐disc assembly was characterized in the paralyzed dicky ticker mutant. Confocal and ultrastructure analysis of paralyzed embryos showed delayed Z‐disc formation and defects in thick filament organization. These results suggest a previously undescribed role for contractility in sarcomere maturation in vivo. genesis 53:299–307, 2015. © 2015 The Authors. Genesis Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Plasma miRNAs as early biomarkers for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wen Yang , Han Jing , Chen Jianguo , Dong Jing , Xia Yongxiang , Liu Jibin , Jiang Yue , Dai Juncheng , Lu Jianhua , Jin Guangfu , Han Jiali , Wei Qingyi , Shen Hongbing , Sun Beicheng , Hu Zhibin
Published: April 2015

The early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a challenge because of the lack of specific biomarkers. Serum/plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) can discriminate HCC patients from controls. We aimed to identify and evaluate HCC‐associated plasma miRNAs originating from the liver as early biomarkers for detecting HCC. In this multicenter three‐phase study, we first performed screening using both plasma (HCC before and after liver transplantation or liver hepatectomy) and tissue samples (HCC, para‐carcinoma and cirrhotic tissues). Then, we evaluated the diagnostic potential of the miRNAs in two case–control studies (training and validation sets). Finally, we used two prospective cohorts to test the potential of the identified miRNAs for the early detection of HCC. During the screening phase, we identified ten miRNAs, eight of which (miR‐20a‐5p, miR‐25‐3p, miR‐30a‐5p, miR‐92a‐3p, miR‐132‐3p, miR‐185‐5p, miR‐320a and miR‐324‐3p) were significantly overexpressed in the HBV‐positive HCC patients compared with the HBV‐positive cancer‐free controls in both the training and validation sets, with a sensitivity of 0.866 and specificity of 0.646. Furthermore, we assessed the potential for early HCC detection of these eight newly identified miRNAs and three previously reported miRNAs (miR‐192‐5p, miR‐21‐5p and miR‐375) in two prospective cohorts. Our meta‐analysis revealed that four miRNAs (miR‐20a‐5p, miR‐320a, miR‐324‐3p and miR‐375) could be used as preclinical biomarkers (pmeta < 0.05) for HCC. The expression profile of the eight‐miRNA panel can be used to discriminate HCC patients from cancer‐free controls, and the four‐miRNA panel (alone or combined with AFP) could be a blood‐based early detection biomarker for HCC screening.
Disulfiram/copper‐disulfiram Damages Multiple Protein Degradation and Turnover Pathways and Cytotoxicity is Enhanced by Metformin in Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines
Authors: Jivan Rupal , Damelin Leonard Howard , Birkhead Monica , Rousseau Amanda Louise , Veale Robin Bruce , Mavri‐Damelin Demetra
Published: April 2015

Disulfiram (DSF), used since the 1950s in the treatment of alcoholism, is reductively activated to diethyldithiocarbamate and both compounds are thiol‐reactive and readily complex copper. More recently DSF and copper‐DSF (Cu‐DSF) have been found to exhibit potent anticancer activity. We have previously shown that the anti‐diabetic drug metformin is anti‐proliferative and induces an intracellular reducing environment in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines. Based on these observations, we investigated the effects of Cu‐DSF and DSF, with and without metformin, in this present study. We found that Cu‐DSF and DSF caused considerable cytotoxicity across a panel of OSCC cells, and metformin significantly enhanced the effects of DSF. Elevated copper transport contributes to DSF and metformin‐DSF‐induced cytotoxicity since the cell‐impermeable copper chelator, bathocuproinedisulfonic acid, partially reversed the cytotoxic effects of these drugs, and interestingly, metformin‐treated OSCC cells contained higher intracellular copper levels. Furthermore, DSF may target cancer cells preferentially due to their high dependence on protein degradation/turnover pathways, and we found that metformin further enhances the role of DSF as a proteasome inhibitor. We hypothesized that the lysosome could be an additional, novel, target of DSF. Indeed, this acid‐labile compound decreased lysosomal acidification, and DSF‐metformin co‐treatment interfered with the progression of autophagy in these cells. In summary, this is the first such report identifying the lysosome as a target of DSF and based on the considerable cytotoxic effects of DSF either alone or in the presence of metformin, in vitro, and we propose these as novel potential chemotherapeutic approaches for OSCC. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 2334–2343, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Accuracy of multiecho magnitude‐based MRI (M‐MRI) for estimation of hepatic proton density fat fraction (PDFF) in children
Authors: Zand Kevin A. , Shah Amol , Heba Elhamy , Wolfson Tanya , Hamilton Gavin , Lam Jessica , Chen Joshua , Hooker Jonathan C. , Gamst Anthony C. , Middleton Michael S. , Schwimmer Jeffrey B. , Sirlin Claude B.
Published: April 2015

Purpose

To assess accuracy of magnitude‐based magnetic resonance imaging (M‐MRI) in children to estimate hepatic proton density fat fraction (PDFF) using two to six echoes, with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) ‐measured PDFF as a reference standard.

Methods

This was an IRB‐approved, HIPAA‐compliant, single‐center, cross‐sectional, retrospective analysis of data collected prospectively between 2008 and 2013 in children with known or suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Two hundred eighty‐six children (8–20 [mean 14.2 ± 2.5] years; 182 boys) underwent same‐day MRS and M‐MRI. Unenhanced two‐dimensional axial spoiled gradient‐recalled‐echo images at six echo times were obtained at 3T after a single low‐flip‐angle (10°) excitation with ≥ 120‐ms recovery time. Hepatic PDFF was estimated using the first two, three, four, five, and all six echoes. For each number of echoes, accuracy of M‐MRI to estimate PDFF was assessed by linear regression with MRS‐PDFF as reference standard. Accuracy metrics were regression intercept, slope, average bias, and R2.

Results

MRS‐PDFF ranged from 0.2–40.4% (mean 13.1 ± 9.8%). Using three to six echoes, regression intercept, slope, and average bias were 0.46–0.96%, 0.99–1.01, and 0.57–0.89%, respectively. Using two echoes, these values were 2.98%, 0.97, and 2.72%, respectively. R2 ranged 0.98–0.99 for all methods.

Conclusion

Using three to six echoes, M‐MRI has high accuracy for hepatic PDFF estimation in children. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;42:1223–1232.