bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identificación de los factores de atracción de fauna en las proximidades del AeropuertoToncontín
Authors: Matamoros Alex Geovanni , Torres Carlos Alberto
Published: April 2016

La fauna, sobre todo las aves, representan un peligro latente para la aviación especialmente en aquellos ambientes que cuentan con vegetación, agua o fuentes de alimentación para animales que puedan provocar incidentes o accidentes en las operaciones aeronáuticas. Los episodios sobre todo de accidentes provocados por animales no suman grandes cantidades de casos en la industria aeronáutica, pero cuando se dan causan pérdidas multimillonarias y aun muertes, de aquí la importancia de examinar el fenómeno. En particular el presente trabajo propone una caracterización de los sitios de atracción de fauna silvestre con potencial de afectación a las operaciones de las aeronaves en el Aeropuerto Internacional Toncontín en su zona perimetral.Esta investigación se limita a la recolección de alguna de la abundante bibliografía existente sobre el tema y a la propuesta de unos elementos metodológicos que pueden ayudar a encuadrar el tema del peligro aviar y de fauna en la zona indicada; para tener un estudio que incorpore datos de campo se requiere de más tiempo y sobre todo de la colaboración en todo el proceso de investigación de un equipo integrado por especialistas del campo de la biología que profundicen en una serie de temas que sólo fueron mencionados. Se muestra que el principal peligro aviar en el aeropuerto Internacional Toncontín se da por los zopilotes (Coragyps atratus); lo cual no significa que no haya peligros latentes por la presencia de otras especies de menor tamaño y peso que llegan a las cercanías y al recinto del aeropuerto en busca de alimentación, agua y refugio.Revista Ciencias Espaciales, Vol. 7(2) 2014, 96-108
The Usage of CAUSE in Three Branches of Science
Authors: Yang Bei , Chen Bin
Published: April 2016

Semantic prosody is a concept that has been subject to considerable criticism and debate. One big concern is to what extent semantic prosody is domain or register-related. Previous studies reach the agreement that CAUSE has an overwhelmingly negative meaning in general English. Its semantic prosody remains controversial in academic writing, however, because of the size and register of the corpus used in different studies. In order to minimize the role that corpus choice has to play in determining the research findings, this paper uses sub-corpora from the British National Corpus to investigate the usage of CAUSE in different types of scientific writing. The results show that the occurrence of CAUSE is the highest in social science, less frequent in applied science, and the lowest in natural and pure science. Its semantic prosody is overwhelmingly negative in social science and applied science, and mainly neutral in natural and pure science. It seems that the verb CAUSE lacks its normal negative semantic prosody in contexts that do not refer to human beings. The implications of the findings for language learning are also discussed.
The Management of Teachers’ Empowerment of State Madrasah Aliyah in Banten Province
Authors: Fauzi Anis
Published: April 2016

This study aims to describe the form and the effort of empowerment management in enhancing teachers’ competence at three Madarasah Aliyah in Banten province. Meanwhile, the specific objective of this study is to find out the teachers’ responses in the research site about the opportunity of the academic qualification improvement and the improvement of their competence as a teacher, as well as to understand the problems of empowerment management and the improvement of teachers’ competence at three Madrasah Aliyah. Data collecting techniques used in the research were: interview, observation, and documentation study. The study revealed that: the improvement program of academic qualification and teachers’ competence encouraged all teachers to minimally have graduate academic qualification; The improvement of teachers, competence was carried out in integration with the duties and the major functions of teacheras a professional educator and teacher; and the efforts done by the teachers to continue their study to the graduate program which was appropriate with their major.
Vocabulary Teaching Based on Semantic-Field
Authors: Wangru Cao
Published: April 2016

Vocabulary is an indispensable part of language and it is of vital importance for second language learners. Wilkins (1972) points out: “without grammar very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed”. Vocabulary teaching has experienced several stages characterized by grammatical-translation method, audio-lingual method and communicative teaching method before obtaining great attention from second language teachers and researchers finally.

This study states four proposals for the improvement of vocabulary teaching, which refer that: (1) apply componential analysis to vocabulary teaching; (2) foster learners’ awareness of the difference between English and Chinese; (3) introduce lexical phrases; (4) develop effective word meaning acquisition strategies.
Quartz Crystal Microbalance Monitoring of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Sol during the Freeze–Thaw Process
Authors: Seida Yoshimi , Ogawa Mitsuteru
Published: April 2016

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) working under cryo-conditions was applied to analyzing the gelation and/or phase behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) sol during repeated freeze–thaw processes. The development of a porous structure with the gelation of PVA sol during the freeze–thaw cycle was examined in terms of the thermal behavior of the water in the sol and the viscoelastic behavior of the sol through thermal and QCM analyses. Water was liberated from the hydrophilic PVA during the freeze–thaw process through the aggregation of PVA. The water decreased the freezing temperature and increased the melting temperature because of the development of the porous structure with gelation by the thermal treatment. The state of the water during the gelation was estimated from the phase transition temperature and enthalpy change of the water during the thermal scan by using water-saturated silica gels with a series of pore size distributions. The viscoelasticity of the PVA sol during the freeze–thaw process was measured by cryo-QCM using admittance analysis (QCM-A). The free water and/or porous structure in the PVA sol was found to increase from the viscoelastic point of view by QCM measurements showing a shift in the resonance parameters (fs, R1). A hard gel was confirmed to form by the decrease in fs and the increase in R1 with the thermal scan treatment. The cryo-QCM was found to be an effective probe for clarifying the gelation and phase behavior of PVA sol in detail with high resolution.
Belowground Influence of Rhizobium Inoculant and Water Hyacinth Composts on Yellow Bean Infested by Aphis fabae and Colletotrichum lindemuthianum under Field Conditions
Authors: Naluyange Victoria , Ochieno Dennis M. W. , Wandahwa Philip , Odendo Martins , Maingi John M. , Amoding Alice , Ombori Omwoyo , Mukaminega Dative , Muoma John
Published: April 2016

Rhizobium inoculant has been developed for bean production in Lake Victoria basin. Two types of compost have been developed, water hyacinth compost with cattle manure culture (H+CMC) or with effective microbes (H+EM). Influence of Rhizobium and composts on Aphis fabae and Colletotrichum lindemuthianum were investigated in the field. Rhizobium and hyacinth composts increased nodulation (×2 to 5); while Aphis fabae population increased (×2) on Rhizobium-inoculated plants with H+EM. Incidence of C. lindemuthianum was high in Rhizobium-inoculated plants. Plants that received diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer had few nodules, reduced germination, slow growth and low yields. In conclusion, the water hyacinth composts contain beneficial microbes that promote root nodulation by Rhizobium, which is necessary for nitrogen fixation, while enhancing tolerance to aboveground infestations by A. fabae and C. lindemuthianum. We raise questions on our results to stimulate research, considering that bean breeding programs in Africa have mainly focused on microbial pathogens, and not insect pests.
Ultra‐Minimally Invasive Ultrasound‐Guided Carpal Tunnel Release
Authors: Rojo-Manaute Jose Manuel , Capa-Grasa Alberto , Chana-Rodríguez Francisco , Perez-Mañanes Ruben , Rodriguez-Maruri Guillermo , Sanz-Ruiz Pablo , Muñoz-Ledesma Jorge , Aburto-Bernardo Mikel , Esparragoza-Cabrera Luis , del Cerro-Gutiérrez Miguel , Vaquero-Martín Javier
Published: April 2016

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of 1‐mm ultra–minimally invasive ultrasound‐guided carpal tunnel release and 2‐cm blind mini–open carpal tunnel release.

Methods

We conducted a single‐center individual parallel‐group controlled‐superiority randomized control trial in an ambulatory office‐based setting at a third‐level referral hospital. Eligible participants had clinical signs of primary carpal tunnel syndrome and positive electrodiagnostic test results and were followed for 12 months. Independent outcome assessors were blinded. Patients were randomized by concealed allocation (1:1) by an independent blocked computer‐generated list. The postoperative score on the Quick–Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire was the primary variable. Grip strength and time for discontinuation of oral analgesics, complete wrist flexion‐extension, relief of paresthesia, and return to normal daily activities (including work) were assessed.

Results

Ninety‐two of 128 eligible patients were randomly allocated and analyzed. QuickDASH scores were 2.2 to 3.3 times significantly lower in the ultra–minimally invasive group for the first 6 months: 23.6 [95% confidence interval (CI), 20.5, 27.4] versus 52.6 [95% CI, 49.4, 57.0] at the first week and 4.09 [95% CI, 1.5, 7.1] versus 13.0 [95% CI, 9.4, 18.9] at 6 months. Return to normal daily activities occurred significantly sooner in the ultra–minimally invasive group: 4.9 [95% CI, 3.2, 6.5] versus 25.4 [95% CI, 18.2, 32.6] days.

Conclusions

Ultra–minimally invasive carpal tunnel release provides earlier functional return and less postoperative morbidity with the same neurologic recovery as mini–open carpal tunnel release for patients with symptomatic primary carpal tunnel syndrome.
Three‐Dimensional Speckle‐Tracking Echocardiographic Monitoring of Acute Rejection in Heart Transplant Recipients
Authors: Du Guo-Qing , Hsiung Ming-Chon , Wu Yan , Qu Shao-Hui , Wei Jeng , Yin Wei-Hsian , Tian Jia-Wei
Published: April 2016

Objectives

This study assessed the use of 3‐dimensional (3D) speckle‐tracking echocardiography for noninvasive monitoring and diagnosis of acute rejection in heart transplant recipients.

Methods

Fifteen heart transplant recipients underwent 32 endomyocardial biopsies; echocardiography was performed within 3 hours before biopsy. Twenty‐four biopsies (acute rejection–negative group) showed grade 0 or 1A rejection, and 8 biopsies (acute rejection–positive group) showed grade 1B or higher rejection (based on the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation criteria). Two‐dimensional, M‐mode, pulsed Doppler, and tissue Doppler echocardiography were performed to assess conventional heart structure and function, and 3D full‐volume echocardiography was recorded and analyzed.

Results

Global peak longitudinal strain was significantly lower in the acute rejection–negative group compared to the positive group (mean ± SD, −7.38% ± 1.34% versus −10.88% ± 3.81%; P = .017). Differences in left ventricular global peak radial strain (28.79% ± 10.79% versus 24.32% ± 5.24%; P= .272), global peak circumferential strain (−12.16% ± 4.87% versus −12.61% ± 2.38%; P = .806), and ejection fraction (49.42% ± 12.17% versus 50.68% ± 7.26%; P = .824) between the negative and positive groups were not significant. Significant correlations were observed between the left ventricular ejection fraction and global peak longitudinal, global peak radial, and global peak circumferential (r = −0.72; P < .001; r = 0.60; P < 0.001; and r = −0.69; P < 0.001, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a global peak longitudinal strain cutoff value of less than −9.55% could predict grade 1B or higher rejection with sensitivity of 87.50% and specificity of 54.17%.

Conclusions

Three‐dimensional speckle‐tracking echocardiography–derived global peak longitudinal strain is a useful parameter for detecting acute rejection; thus, 3D speckle‐tracking echocardiography can monitor dynamic and acute rejection (≥1B) in heart transplant recipients.
Sonographic Characterization of Arterial Dissections in Takayasu Arteritis
Authors: Wang Jiong , Lee Yueh Z. , Cheng Yi , Zheng Ye , Gao Junyi , Tang Xiaobin , Wang Tian , Zhang Chun
Published: April 2016

Objectives

Takayasu arteritis is a relatively rare chronic nonspecific form of large‐vessel vasculitis in which the involved vessels develop stenoses, occlusions, dilatations or aneurysms, and dissections. Dissections of the arteries in patients with Takayasu arteritis are not well understood. In this study, we explored the sonographic characterization of these rare complications secondary to Takayasu arteritis.

Methods

We evaluated arterial dissections in 72 patients with a clinical diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis by vascular sonography and transthoracic echocardiography. We analyzed the dissection distribution and morphologic characteristics of the dissected intima/layer and lumen of the involved vessels.

Results

Twelve of 72 patients had arterial dissections, in whom 16 dissected segments were identified. The involved arteries included the carotid, subclavian, vertebral, brachial, celiac, and femoral arteries, aortic arch, and abdominal aorta. The dissection lesions occurred at any age and coexisted with the aforementioned injuries. Evaluation of the dissected intima/layer and the involved lumen by sonography was technically complicated. The morphologic characteristics of the dissected intimae and involved lumens were complex, with most of the dissected intimae/layers having the characteristic “macaroni” sign in the arterial wall. High‐frequency and high‐resolution sonography, color Doppler flow imaging, and other techniques were useful in elucidating greater lesion details.

Conclusions

Arterial dissections in Takayasu arteritis can involve any anatomic vessel location and have complex morphologic characteristics. Sonography is the optimal technique for diagnosis and follow‐up of patients with Takayasu arteritis and dissections.
Four‐fluid MHD simulations of the plasma and neutral gas environment of comet 67P/Churyumov‐Gerasimenko near perihelion
Authors: Huang Zhenguang , Tóth Gábor , Gombosi Tamas I. , Jia Xianzhe , Rubin Martin , Fougere Nicolas , Tenishev Valeriy , Combi Michael R. , Bieler Andre , Hansen Kenneth C. , Shou Yinsi , Altwegg Kathrin
Published: April 2016

The neutral and plasma environment is critical in understanding the interaction of the solar wind and comet 67P/Churyumov‐Gerasimenko (CG), the target of the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission. To serve this need and support the Rosetta mission, we have developed a 3‐D four‐fluid model, which is based on BATS‐R‐US (Block‐Adaptive Tree Solarwind Roe‐type Upwind Scheme) within SWMF (Space Weather Modeling Framework) that solves the governing multifluid MHD equations and the Euler equations for the neutral gas fluid. These equations describe the behavior and interactions of the cometary heavy ions, the solar wind protons, the electrons, and the neutrals. This model incorporates different mass loading processes, including photoionization and electron impact ionization, charge exchange, dissociative ion‐electron recombination, and collisional interactions between different fluids. We simulated the plasma and neutral gas environment near perihelion in three different cases: an idealized comet with a spherical body and uniform neutral gas outflow, an idealized comet with a spherical body and illumination‐driven neutral gas outflow, and comet CG with a realistic shape model and illumination‐driven neutral gas outflow. We compared the results of the three cases and showed that the simulations with illumination‐driven neutral gas outflow have magnetic reconnection, a magnetic pileup region and nucleus directed plasma flow inside the nightside reconnection region, which have not been reported in the literature.
Three‐dimensional surface deformation derived from airborne interferometric UAVSAR: Application to the Slumgullion Landslide
Authors: Delbridge Brent G. , Bürgmann Roland , Fielding Eric , Hensley Scott , Schulz William H.
Published: April 2016

In order to provide surface geodetic measurements with “landslide‐wide” spatial coverage, we develop and validate a method for the characterization of 3‐D surface deformation using the unique capabilities of the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) airborne repeat‐pass radar interferometry system. We apply our method at the well‐studied Slumgullion Landslide, which is 3.9 km long and moves persistently at rates up to ∼2 cm/day. A comparison with concurrent GPS measurements validates this method and shows that it provides reliable and accurate 3‐D surface deformation measurements. The UAVSAR‐derived vector velocity field measurements accurately capture the sharp boundaries defining previously identified kinematic units and geomorphic domains within the landslide. We acquired data across the landslide during spring and summer and identify that the landslide moves more slowly during summer except at its head, presumably in response to spatiotemporal variations in snowmelt infiltration. In order to constrain the mechanics controlling landslide motion from surface velocity measurements, we present an inversion framework for the extraction of slide thickness and basal geometry from dense 3‐D surface velocity fields. We find that the average depth of the Slumgullion Landslide is 7.5 m, several meters less than previous depth estimates. We show that by considering a viscoplastic rheology, we can derive tighter theoretical bounds on the rheological parameter relating mean horizontal flow rate to surface velocity. Using inclinometer data for slow‐moving, clay‐rich landslides across the globe, we find a consistent value for the rheological parameter of 0.85 ± 0.08.
Lagrangian transport simulations of volcanic sulfur dioxide emissions: Impact of meteorological data products
Authors: Hoffmann L. , Rößler T. , Griessbach S. , Heng Y. , Stein O.
Published: April 2016

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from strong volcanic eruptions are an important natural cause for climate variations. We applied our new Lagrangian transport model Massive‐Parallel Trajectory Calculations to perform simulations for three case studies of volcanic eruption events. The case studies cover the eruptions of Grímsvötn, Iceland, Puyehue‐Cordón Caulle, Chile, and Nabro, Eritrea, in May and June 2011. We used SO2 observations of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS/Aqua) and a backward trajectory approach to initialize the simulations. Besides validation of the new model, the main goal of our study was a comparison of simulations with different meteorological data products. We considered three reanalyses, i.e., ERA‐Interim, Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA), and National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Reanalysis Project as well as the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) operational analysis. Qualitatively, the SO2 distributions from the simulations compare well not only with the AIRS data but also with Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization and Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding aerosol observations. Transport deviations and the critical success index (CSI) are analyzed to evaluate the simulations quantitatively. During the first 5 or 10 days after the eruptions we found the best performance for the ECMWF analysis (CSI range of 0.25–0.31), followed by ERA‐Interim (0.25–0.29), MERRA (0.23–0.27), and NCAR/NCEP (0.21–0.23). High temporal and spatial resolution of the meteorological data does lead to improved performance of Lagrangian transport simulations of volcanic emissions in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere.
Climatology and temporal evolution of the atmospheric semidiurnal tide in present‐day reanalyses
Authors: Díaz‐Argandoña J. , Ezcurra A. , Sáenz J. , Ibarra‐Berastegi G. , Errasti I.
Published: April 2016

The solar semidiurnal atmospheric tide (S2) was extracted from seven reanalysis data sets, including current data sets, such as CFSR (Climate Forecast System Reanalysis), MERRA (Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications), ERA‐Interim (ECMWF Reanalysis), and 20CR (Twentieth Century Reanalysis), and older frozen products, such as NCEP/NCAR (National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research), ERA‐40 (ECMWF Reanalysis), and JRA‐25 (Japanese 25 year Reanalysis). In this calculation, we emphasized the temporal variation of the tide. We also calculated the tidal error, which was sizable at high latitudes and over short averaging periods and large for 20CR at all latitudes. Because of the four standard daily samples, the interpolation scheme of van den Dool et al. (1997) was used when necessary. We found this method to be accurate for zonally averaged tides only. Comparing the climatology from the MERRA and CFSR S2 with a recent empirical tide model showed that MERRA better represented the geographical structure of the tide, especially its phase. We found a bias in the phase in all of the reanalysis data sets except for MERRA. The temporal evolution of the tide was inconsistent between the different data sets, although similar seasonal variations were observed. The seasonal cycle was also better depicted in MERRA. The S2 calculated from MERRA and satellite precipitation measurements from TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) presented results that were inconsistent with the hypothesis in which rainfall latent heat release represents S2 forcing and functions as a source of S2 seasonal variability.
Evaluating N2O5 heterogeneous hydrolysis parameterizations for CalNex 2010
Authors: Chang Wayne L. , Brown Steven S. , Stutz Jochen , Middlebrook Ann M. , Bahreini Roya , Wagner Nicholas L. , Dubé William P. , Pollack Ilana B. , Ryerson Thomas B. , Riemer Nicole
Published: April 2016

Nighttime chemistry in the troposphere is closely tied to the dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) budget, but high uncertainties remain regarding the model representation of the heterogeneous hydrolysis of N2O5 on aerosol particles. In this study we used the community model WRF‐Chem to simulate a 3‐day period during the California Nexus (CalNex) Campaign in 2010. We extended WRF‐Chem to include the heterogeneous hydrolysis of N2O5 and contrasted the impact of different published parameterizations of N2O5 heterogeneous hydrolysis on the spatial distribution of uptake coefficients and the resulting N2O5 concentrations. For all the cases, modeled N2O5 uptake coefficients showed strong spatial variability, with higher values in the nocturnal boundary layer compared to the residual layer, especially in environments with high relative humidities, such as over the ocean and along the coast. The best agreement of modeled and observed uptake coefficients was obtained using the parameterization by Davis et al. (2008) combined with the treatment of organic coating by Riemer et al. (2009). For this case the temporal evolution of lower boundary layer N2O5 mixing ratios was reproduced well, and the predictions of surface mixing ratios of ozone and NOx were improved. However, the model still overpredicted the uptake coefficients in the residual layer and consequently underpredicted N2O5 concentrations in the residual layer. This study also highlights that environments with low relative humidities pose a challenge for aerosol thermodynamic models in calculating aerosol water uptake, and this impacts N2O5 heterogeneous hydrolysis parameterizations.
Performance of ionospheric maps in support of long baseline GNSS kinematic positioning at low latitudes
Authors: Park J. , Sreeja V. , Aquino M. , Cesaroni C. , Spogli L. , Dodson A. , De Franceschi G.
Published: April 2016

Ionospheric scintillation occurs mainly at high and low latitude regions of the Earth and may impose serious degradation on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) functionality. The Brazilian territory sits on one of the most affected areas of the globe, where the ionosphere behaves very unpredictably, with strong scintillation frequently occurring in the local postsunset hours. The correlation between scintillation occurrence and sharp variations in the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) in Brazil is demonstrated in Spogli et al. (2013). The compounded effect of these associated ionospheric disturbances on long baseline GNSS kinematic positioning is studied in this paper, in particular when ionospheric maps are used to aid the positioning solution. The experiments have been conducted using data from GNSS reference stations in Brazil. The use of a regional TEC map generated under the CALIBRA (Countering GNSS high‐Accuracy applications Limitations due to Ionospheric disturbances in BRAzil) project, referred to as CALIBRA TEC map (CTM), was compared to the use of the Global Ionosphere Map (GIM), provided by the International GNSS Service (IGS). Results show that the use of the CTM greatly improves the kinematic positioning solution as compared with that using the GIM, especially under disturbed ionospheric conditions. Additionally, different hypotheses were tested regarding the precision of the TEC values obtained from ionospheric maps, and its effect on the long baseline kinematic solution evaluated. Finally, this study compares two interpolation methods for ionospheric maps, namely, the Inverse Distance Weight and the Natural Neighbor.
What can moist thermodynamics tell us about circulation shifts in response to uniform warming?
Authors: Shaw Tiffany A. , Voigt Aiko
Published: April 2016

Aquaplanet simulations exhibit a robust expansion of the Hadley cell and poleward jet shift in response to uniform warming of sea surface temperature. Here moist thermodynamic and dynamic frameworks are combined to make predictions of circulation responses to warming. We show Clausius‐Clapeyron (CC) scaling of specific humidity with warming predicts an expansion of the Hadley circulation according to convective quasi‐equilibrium dynamics. A poleward jet shift follows from the control‐climate relationship between the Hadley cell edge and jet stream position. CC scaling of specific humidity with warming also predicts decreased diffusivity and a poleward shift of the latitude of maximum latent and dry static energy transport according to mixing‐length theory. Finally, atmospheric cloud radiative changes shift the latitude of maximum energy transport poleward in most models. Our results show moist thermodynamics can predict meridional shifts of the circulation when combined with dynamical frameworks; however, additional feedbacks are important for the simulated response.
Identification and interpretation of nonnormality in atmospheric time series
Authors: Proistosescu Cristian , Rhines Andrew , Huybers Peter
Published: April 2016

Nonnormal characteristics of geophysical time series are important determinants of extreme events and may provide insight into the underlying dynamics of a system. The structure of nonnormality in winter temperature is examined through the use of linear filtering of radiosonde temperature time series. Filtering either low or high frequencies generally suppresses what is otherwise statistically significant nonnormal variability in temperature. The structure of nonnormality is partly attributable to geometric relations between filtering and the appearance of skewness, kurtosis, and higher order moments in time series data, and partly attributable to the presence of nonnormal temperature variations at the highest resolved frequencies in the presence of atmospheric memory. A nonnormal autoregressive model and a multiplicative noise model are both consistent with the observed frequency structure of nonnormality. These results suggest that the generating mechanism for nonnormal variations does not necessarily act at the frequencies at which greatest nonnormality is observed.
Longitudinal and local time asymmetries of magnetospheric turbulence in Saturn's plasma sheet
Authors: von Papen Michael , Saur Joachim
Published: April 2016

Based on earlier studies that have shown Saturn's middle magnetosphere to contain turbulent magnetic field fluctuations, we analyze the spatial and temporal variations of the magnetic fluctuations and turbulent heating rate as a function of local time and magnetic phase. The region of study is Saturn's plasma sheet at a distance of 6–20 Rs, where Rs is Saturn's equatorial radius. The data set consists of magnetic field data measured during 92 orbits (revolutions) from the equatorial phases of Cassini covering 9 years from 2004 to 2012. We find asymmetries in the magnetosphere with enhanced fluctuations around noon. With respect to longitude we find increased fluctuations at 65° southern and 250° northern magnetic phase. This leads to an increased turbulent heating rate in these regions and is consistent with regions of increased plasma density and maximum downward field‐aligned currents according to the quasi‐dipolar perturbation fields. Analysis of single orbits reveals that the heating rate of 79% of all analyzed inbound and outbound legs is significantly (statistical error less than 1%) sinusoidally modulated. The modulation of the turbulent heating rate is predominantly observed during times when Cassini is located between dusk and midnight and additionally at dawn.
Present‐day kinematics of the eastern Tibetan Plateau and Sichuan Basin: Implications for lower crustal rheology
Authors: Rui X. , Stamps D. S.
Published: April 2016

The Sichuan Province comprises the cratonic Sichuan Basin and the eastern Tibetan Plateau separated by the recently activated Longmen Shan fault zone, thus providing a natural laboratory to study interseismic and postseismic processes. In this work we compute a new regional geodetic velocity solution from most of the continuous Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)/GPS data available in the Sichuan Province that we assess for transient postseismic deformation. For 11 continuous sites in close proximity to the Wenchuan 2008 event epicenter that were operational during the Wenchuan event we find an average short‐term relaxation time of 11 days with maximum amplitude of 6.6 mm for the postseismic transient and no resolvable long‐term transient. Using tests for block rigidity guided by previous kinematic studies we elucidate a longer‐term transient in GNSS/GPS observations collected after the Wenchuan event that spans an extensive region of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. We correct for transients, produce an updated secular velocity field, and revise the kinematics of the region using elastic block modeling. Our results indicate that predicted slip rates are in good agreement with both geological and GNSS/GPS velocity profile‐derived results, and we resolve two independent blocks with the expanded GNSS/GPS data set. Our constraints on the spatial extent of long‐term postseismic deformation support models of ductile lower crust in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.
Investigation of a marine magnetic polarity reversal boundary in cross section at the northern boundary of the Kane Megamullion, Mid‐Atlantic Ridge, 23°40′N
Authors: Xu Min , Tivey M. A.
Published: April 2016

Near‐bottom magnetic field measurements made by the submersible Nautile during the 1992 Kanaut Expedition define the cross‐sectional geometry of magnetic polarity reversal boundaries and the vertical variation of crustal magnetization in lower oceanic crust exposed along the Kane Transform Fault (TF) at the northern boundary of the Kane Megamullion (KMM). The KMM exposes lower crust and upper mantle rocks on a low‐angle normal fault that was active between 3.3 Ma and 2.1 Ma. The geometry of the polarity boundaries is estimated from an inversion of the submarine magnetic data for crustal magnetization. In general, the polarity boundaries dip away from the ridge axis along the Kane TF scarp, with a west dipping angle of ~45° in the shallow (<1 km) crust and <20° in the deeper crust. The existence of the magnetic polarity boundaries (e.g., C2r.2r/C2An.1n, ~2.581 Ma) indicates that the lower crustal gabbros and upper mantle serpentinized peridotites are able to record a coherent magnetic signal. Our results support the conclusion of Williams (2007) that the lower crust cools through the Curie temperature of magnetite to become magnetic, with the polarity boundaries representing both frozen isotherms and isochrons. We also test the effects of the rotation of this isotherm structure and/or footwall rotation and find that the magnetic polarity boundary geometry is not sensitive to these directional changes.
A multistatic HF beacon network for ionospheric specification in the Peruvian sector
Authors: Hysell D. L. , Milla M. A. , Vierinen J.
Published: April 2016

A small network of HF beacon transmitters and receivers has been deployed in Peru for specifying the F region ionosphere in the sector. The effort is motivated by ionospheric disturbances associated with equatorial spread F (ESF) and specifically disturbances arising under inauspicious conditions for ESF as determined by numerical simulations. The beacons operate at dual frequencies (2.72 and 3.64 MHz). They are CW but incorporate pseudorandom noise (PRN) coding so that the group delays of the links can be measured. Other observables are power, Doppler shift, bearing, and polarization. A transmitter is currently deployed at Ancon (11°46'37''S, 77°09'1''W, 51 m above sea level (asl)), while receivers are at Jicamarca (11°57'5.8''S, 76°52'27''W, 510 m asl) and Huancayo (12°02'30''S, 75°19'15''W, 3315 m asl). An algorithm for inverting the beacon data combined with electron density profiles from Jicamarca is described. Data and representative solutions from an experimental campaign held in August 2015 are presented and evaluated.
Evaluation and design of actuator fault diagnosability for nonlinear affine uncertain systems with unknown indeterminate inputs
Authors: Xing Zirui , Xia Yuanqing
Published: April 2016

In this paper, the evaluation and design scheme of fault diagnosability are investigated by differential geometry theories for a class of nonlinear affine uncertain systems with unknown indeterminate inputs. Considering two coupling relationships of outputs with uncertainties and faults, the sufficient and necessary conditions of fault detectability and isolability are established. For the problem that uncertainties influence the system outputs and make the faults undetectable, a design scheme of fault diagnosability is proposed. For nonlinear affine uncertain systems, a relatively complete theoretical system of the evaluation and design of fault diagnosability comes into being. An illustrative example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed evaluation and design scheme of fault diagnosability. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flexible Sodium‐Ion Pseudocapacitors Based on 3D Na2Ti3O7 Nanosheet Arrays/Carbon Textiles Anodes
Authors: Dong Shengyang , Shen Laifa , Li Hongsen , Pang Gang , Dou Hui , Zhang Xiaogang
Published: April 2016

Flexible energy storage devices are critical components for emerging flexible and wearable electronics. Improving the electrochemical performance of flexible energy storage devices depends largely on development of novel electrode architectures and new systems. Here, a new class of flexible energy storage device called flexible sodium‐ion pseudocapacitors is developed based on 3D‐flexible Na2Ti3O7 nanosheet arrays/carbon textiles (NTO/CT) as anode and flexible reduced graphene oxide film (GFs) as cathode without metal current collectors or conducting additives. The NTO/CT anode with advanced electrode architectures is fabricated by directly growing Na2Ti3O7 nanosheet arrays on carbon textiles with robust adhesion through a simple hydrothermal process. The flexible GF//NTO/CT configuration achieves a high energy density of 55 Wh kg−1 and high power density of 3000 W kg−1. Taking the fully packaged flexible sodium‐ion pseudocapacitors into consideration, the maximum practical volumetric energy density and power density reach up to 1.3 mWh cm−3 and 70 mW cm−3, respectively. In addition, the flexible GF//NTO/CT device demonstrates a stable electrochemical performances with almost 100% capacitance retention under harsh mechanical deformation.
Mussel‐Inspired Approach to Constructing Robust Multilayered Alginate Films for Antibacterial Applications
Authors: Kim Suyeob , Moon Jung‐Mi , Choi Joon Sig , Cho Woo Kyung , Kang Sung Min
Published: April 2016

The exceptional mechanical properties of the byssus—the fibrous holdfast of mussels that provides underwater adhesion—have potential applications in medicine and technology. The catechol–Fe3+–catechol interaction underlies the unique properties of mussel byssus and has emerged as a tool for developing functional hybrid materials such as pH‐responsive, self‐healing gels. Herein, the construction of functional alginate (Alg) film on a solid substrate inspired by mussel byssus is reported. The approach consists of spin‐coating‐assisted deposition of Alg catechols onto a solid substrate and their subsequent crosslinking via catechol–Fe3+–catechol interactions. This yields robust and multilayered Alg films that are resistant to protein adsorption and suppress bacterial adhesion. This method can be used to create antibacterial films for coating implanted medical devices.
Toughening of syndiotactic polypropylene with chalk
Authors: Pietrzak Lukasz , Sowinski Przemyslaw , Bojda Joanna , Piorkowska Ewa , Galeski Andrzej
Published: April 2016

We hypothesized that polymer crystal anisotropy is advantageous for toughening of polymer composites involving easy slip network of oriented crystalline layers around filler particles. To this end, composites of syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) with high concentration of submicrometer calcium carbonate particles were prepared and examined because usual sPP crystals exhibit high packing anisotropy. The specific orientation of sPP lamellae around chalk grains was found, which is supposed to facilitate the plastic deformation of polymer matrices. The compression molded bars of the composite exhibited markedly higher Izod impact strength than those of neat sPP. Toughening was even enhanced in the injection molded composite, for which 4.5‐fold increase in the impact strength was achieved. Injection‐induced orientation of the disordered form I sPP crystals was enhanced in the composite. The injection molded tensile specimens exhibited also a good drawability. Debonding at chalk–sPP interface occurred both during the impact and tensile tests facilitating the plastic deformation of sPP matrix. Chalk did not have any significant influence on the thermal properties of the composites but it affected the rheological behavior, increasing the loss and storage moduli, and the viscosity. Highly filled sPP composite exhibited solid‐like behavior in a molten state with the storage modulus exceeding the loss modulus in the entire frequency range. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43651.
Molecular and Digital Biomarker Supported Decision Making in Clinical Studies in Cardiovascular Indications
Authors: Kramer Frank , Dinh Wilfried
Published: April 2016

Although a large number of pharmaceutical therapies are available to treat cardiovascular diseases like heart failure, in many medical conditions treatment is still not optimal and, therefore, the need for innovative, safe and efficacious drugs is still very high in this indication. Biomarkers are an important tool in the preclinical and clinical drug development process; they allow patient selection for clinical studies as well as therapy monitoring during studies. Biomarker concepts in cardiovascular indications differ very much from those in oncology and are very diverse. The present article gives an overview of the pathomechanisms of heart failure and describes the socioeconomic impact of the disease and the biomarker strategies being applied in the development of new heart failure drugs. The focus lies on protein biomarkers that can be measured in the blood and on functional biomarkers that can be derived from implanted and wearable medical devices.
HPLC enantioseparation of racemic bupropion, baclofen and etodolac: modification of conventional ligand exchange approach by pre‐column formation of chiral ligand exchange complexes
Authors: Singh Manisha , Bhushan Ravi
Published: April 2016

Separation of racemic mixture of (RS)‐bupropion, (RS)‐baclofen and (RS)‐etodolac, commonly marketed racemic drugs, has been achieved by modifying the conventional ligand exchange approach. The Cu(II) complexes were first prepared with a few l‐amino acids, namely, l‐proline, l‐histidine, l‐phenylalanine and l‐tryptophan, and to these was introduced a mixture of the enantiomer pair of (RS)‐bupropion, or (RS)‐baclofen or (RS)‐etodolac. As a result, formation of a pair of diastereomeric complexes occurred by ‘chiral ligand exchange’ via the competition between the chelating l‐amino acid and each of the two enantiomers from a given pair. The diastereomeric mixture formed in the pre‐column process was loaded onto HPLC column. Thus, both the phases during chromatographic separation process were achiral (i.e. neither the stationary phase had any chiral structural feature of its own nor did the mobile phase have any chiral additive). Separation of diastereomers was successful using a C18 column and a binary mixture of MeCN and TEAP buffer of pH 4.0 (60:40, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL/min and UV detection at 230 nm for (RS)‐Bup, 220 nm for (RS)‐Bac and 223 nm for (RS)‐Etd. Baseline separation of the two enantiomers was obtained with a resolution of 6.63 in <15 min. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous quantification of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide in mouse plasma by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Liu Jinqiu , Meng Fanhua , Li Zhaofeng , Yu Lin , Peng Shuangqing , Guo Jifen , Xu Haiyan
Published: April 2016

Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is a broad‐spectrum antimicrobial agent. Tizoxanide (T) and tizoxanide glucuronide (TG) are the major circulating metabolites after oral administration of NTZ. A rapid and specific LC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of T and TG in mouse plasma was developed and validated. A simple acetonitrile‐induced protein precipitation method was employed to extract two analytes and the internal standard glipizide from 50 μL of mouse plasma. The purified samples were resolved using a C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 5 mm ammonium formate buffer (containing 0.05% formic acid) following a gradient elution. An API 3000 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was operated under multiple reaction‐monitoring mode with electrospray ionization. The precursor‐to‐product ion transitions m/z 264 → m/z 217 for T and m/z 440 → m/z 264 for TG were used for quantification. The developed method was linear in the concentration ranges of 1.0–500.0 ng/mL for T and 5.0–1000.0 ng/mL for TG. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy of the quality control samples at low, medium and high concentrations exhibited an RSD of <13.2% and the accuracy values ranged from −9.6 to 9.3%. We used this validated method to study the pharmacokinetics of T and TG in mice following oral administration of NTZ. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metabolic profiling of tenacigenin B, tenacissoside H and tenacissoside I using UHPLC‐ESI‐Orbitrap MS/MS
Authors: Zhao Can , Han Ling‐Yu , Ren Wei , Zhao Hai‐Yu , Han Shu‐Yan , Zheng Wen‐Xian , Pang Li‐Na , Li Xiao‐Hong , Li Ping‐Ping
Published: April 2016

Marsdenia tenacissima, which is widely used as an anticancer herb in traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to possess anticancer activity. However, its metabolic profile is poorly investigated. Tenacigenin B is the major steroidal skeleton of C‐21 steroids in M. tenacissima. Tenacissoside H and Tenacissoside I are detected at relatively high levels in M. tenacissima. Therefore, we studied their metabolic characteristics in human liver microsomes by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution mass spectrometry. Fourteen metabolites were tentatively identified by accurate mass measurement and MS/MS fragmentation behavior. It was found that hydroxylation reactions were the major metabolic pathway of Tenacissoside H and Tenacissoside I in human liver microsomes, whereas the metabolic pathway of Tenacigenin B involved dehydrogenation reactions. This is the first time that the metabolic profile of C‐21 steroids from M. tenacissima has been explored in human liver microsomes, which is of great significance for subsequent pharmacokinetic and interaction research. Biotransformation in vivo or in vitro may influence the structure of a compound and change its activity. Identification of their fragmentation behaviors and metabolites provides valuable and new information for further understanding the anti‐tumor activity of M. tenacissima. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Magnetic resonance imaging atlas of the cervical spine musculature
Authors: Au John , Perriman Diana M. , Pickering Mark R. , Buirski Graham , Smith Paul N. , Webb Alexandra L.
Published: April 2016

The anatomy of the cervical spine musculature visible on magnetic resonance (MR) images is poorly described in the literature. However, the correct identification of individual muscles is clinically important because certain conditions of the cervical spine, for example whiplash associated disorders, idiopathic neck pain, cervical nerve root avulsion and cervical spondylotic myelopathy, are associated with different morphological changes in specific muscles visible on MR images. Knowledge of the precise structure of different cervical spine muscles is crucial when comparisons with the contralateral side or with normal are required for accurate description of imaging pathology, management and assessment of treatment efficacy. However, learning the intricate arrangement of 27 muscles is challenging. A multi‐level cross‐sectional depiction combined with three‐dimensional reconstructions could facilitate the understanding of this anatomically complex area. This paper presents a comprehensive series of labeled axial MR images from one individual and serves as a reference atlas of the cervical spine musculature to guide clinicians, researchers, and anatomists in the accurate identification of these muscles on MR imaging. Clin. Anat. 29:643–659, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.