bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CERTAIN MODERN IDEAS AND METHODS: “GEOMETRIC REALITY” IN THE MATHEMATICS OF CHARLOTTE ANGAS SCOTT
Authors: LORENAT JEMMA
Published: March 2019

Charlotte Angas Scott (1858–1932) was an internationally renowned geometer, the first British woman to earn a doctorate in mathematics, and the chair of the Bryn Mawr mathematics department for forty years. There she helped shape the burgeoning mathematics community in the United States. Scott often motivated her research as providing a “geometric treatment” of results that had previously been derived algebraically. The adjective “geometric” likely entailed many things for Scott, from her careful illustration of diagrams to her choice of references and citations. This article will focus on Scott’s striking and consistent use of geometric to describe a reality of dynamic points, lines, planes, and spaces that could be manipulated analogously to physical objects. By providing geometric interpretations of algebraic derivations, Scott committed to an early-nineteenth-century aesthetic vision of a “whole” analytical geometry that she adapted to modern research areas.
Freedom of Religion, the ECtHR and Grassroots Mobilization on Religious Education in Turkey
Authors: Özgül Ceren
Published: March 2019

This paper examines grassroots mobilizations in Turkey against the government's policies on religion and education (RE), and the potential effects of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR or the Court) on their mobilization. Specifically, it follows the ways in which grassroots actors frame their discourses of secularism and freedom of religion in education during a period when the Turkish government is aiming to increase the role of Sunni-Islam in national education, while at the same time refusing to implement ECtHR decisions regarding RE. Drawing on empirical research, it analyzes the role the ECtHR and its case law play in the diverse rights claims and discourses of three different types of mobilizations that is going on in the field of RE: (i) legal mobilization, and right to exemption and freedom from religion, (ii) political mobilization, and new discourses of pluralism and secularism, (iii) monitoring and policy-based mobilization and national and international advocacy for pluralism and equality in education.
Low profile dual band-stop super wideband printed monopole antenna with polarization diversity
Authors: Manohar Murli , Kshetrimayum Rakhesh Singh , Gogoi Anup Kumar
Published: March 2019

A low profile super-wideband polarization diversity printed monopole antenna with dual band-notched characteristics is presented the first time. The designed antenna comprises two arched shaped radiating elements with two triangular tapered microstrip feed lines (TTMFL) and two arched shaped partial ground planes, which covers an enormously wide impedance bandwidth (BW) from 1.2 to 25 GHz (ratio BW of 20.8:3) for reflection coefficient |S11| < −10 dB. To ensure the high port isolation (better than − 30 dB) between two feeding ports over the whole bands, two analogous antennas have been kept perpendicular to each other at a distance of 1 mm. In addition, the dual band-notched performance in wireless local area network (5–6 GHz) and X-band (7.2–8.5 GHz) is generated by employing a pair of open-circuited stubs (L-shaped stub and horizontal stub) to the TTMFL. Envelop correlation coefficient has been computed to study the polarization diversity performance. Finally, the proposed antenna was fabricated and tested successfully. Measured results indicate that the proposed antenna is an appropriate candidate for the polarization diversity applications. The proposed antenna has a compact size of 40 × 70 × 0.787 mm3, high isolation, and occupies a small space compared with the existing antennas.
Do Self-Enhancing and Affiliative Humor Buffer for the Negative Associations of Quantitative and Qualitative Job Insecurity?
Authors: Van den Broeck Anja , Van Hootegem Anahí , Vander Elst Tinne , De Witte Hans
Published: March 2019

The present study examines an important contemporary stressor: Job insecurity, both in terms of losing one’s job as such (i.e. quantitative job insecurity) and losing one’s valued job aspects (i.e., qualitative job insecurity). Moreover, we study whether humor assists in offsetting the negative associations of these types of job insecurity with employee well-being. Specifically, by drawing up the conservation of resources theory, self-enhancing and affiliative humor are framed as personal resources buffering the detrimental relationship of both types of job insecurity with burnout (i.e., exhaustion and cynicism) and work engagement (i.e., vigor and dedication) in a large heterogeneous sample of Belgian employees (N= 3,254). Results evidenced the detrimental main effects of quantitative and qualitative job insecurity as well as the beneficial relations of self-enhancing and affilitative humor on burnout and work engagement. In addition, the buffering role of affiliative humor was supported in the relationships of both quantitative and qualitative job insecurity with burnout. Self-enhancing humor only interacted with qualitative job insecurity in the prediction of exhaustion. The discussion centers around the importance of personal resources attenuating the negative associations of quantitative and quantitative job insecurity, and highlights the different roles of humor for employees’ work-related well-being.
Public Voting and Prosocial Behavior
Authors: Morton Rebecca B. , Ou Kai
Published: March 2019

One argument against secret ballots is that such procedures lead to more selfish voting behavior and that public voting can increase prosocial voting and the likelihood of prosocial outcomes when voters are not subject to intimidation and coercion from outside interests. We investigate this supposition as well as voter preferences over observability in voting in this context. We find that voters are significantly more likely to choose unselfishly when voting is public. These differences in behavior advantage prosocial choices in elections (by 27%) when voting is public. Moreover, voters appear to recognize these differences and a substantial minority of voters whose selfish preference is not the prosocial choice willingly choose public voting even though the likely outcome will be costly to themselves.
Folate and Vitamin B12 in Morbid Obesity: The Influence of Folate on Anti-Atherogenic Lipid Profile
Authors: Daviddi Giulia , Ricci Maria Anastasia , De Vuono Stefano , Gentili Alessandra , Boni Marcello , Lupattelli Graziana
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Previous studies showed a high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in obese subjects, with low folate and vitamin B12 serum levels and intakes. Correlations between vitamins and lipids have been investigated both in animal and human studies. The aim of our study is to evaluate the influence of dietetic and serum levels of folate and vitamin B12 on lipid pattern in morbidly obese subjects. We also analysed the relationship between serum concentrations and dietary intake of these micronutrients, and compared the intakes to the Recommended Levels of Nutrients and Energy Intakes (LARN). In 122 morbidly obese patients, mean BMI 45 ± 7 kg/m2, we evaluated anthropometric parameters, hepatic, glyco/lipid profile, total folate and vitamin B12, blood pressure, and finally nutritional intakes in a subgroup of 68 patients using a food frequency questionnaire about the frequency of food consumption and daily water intake. These values were determined in obese patients before and one year after sleeve gastrectomy. Both before and after surgery, levels of vitamins and minerals remained in normal range compared to LARN. According to univariate analysis, at baseline folate showed a significantly positive correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.028, ρ = 0.204), apolipoprotein A-I (p = 0.006, ρ = 0.268) and vitamin B12 (p = 0.040, ρ = 0.192), and a significantly negative correlation with triglycerides (p = 0.049, ρ = −0.184). Folate and vitamin B12 levels do not correlate with their nutritional intakes, which remain within recommended range after surgery. In conclusion the correlation between folate and anti-atherogenic lipid profile is confirmed also in a large group of morbid obese patients.
Vitamin D supplementation has no effect on matrix metalloproteinases-2, -9, and tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase-1 in subjects with metabolic syndrome: A pilot study
Authors: Ghezel Aymaral , Salekzamani Shabnam , Mehralizadeh Hossein , Jafarabadi Mohammad Asghari , Gargari Bahram Pourghassem
Published: March 2019

Abstract. The present randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on matrix metalloproteinases-2, -9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Forty-six eligible subjects were randomly assigned to either vitamin D or placebo groups for 16 weeks. The participants were asked to take 50,000 IU vitamin D or matching placebo every week. Metabolic and anthropometric indices, serum MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were assessed before and after intervention. Moreover, dietary intake, sun exposure and physical activity were also determined. The trial was registered at http://www.irct.ir (No. IRCT201409033140N14). Participants were 40.20 ± 4.60 y and 45.50% males. Compared to the baseline values, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 concentrations were decreased after 16 weeks in the intervention group (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). However, the changes of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and hsCRP in the intervention group were not significant compared to the placebo group (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the metabolic or anthropometric indices between two study groups remained unchanged (p > 0.05). The findings of the present study demonstrated no effect of vitamin D supplementation on MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 concentrations in subjects with metabolic syndrome. However, there is a need for more longitudinal trials to investigate the role of vitamin D on atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases in subjects with metabolic syndrome.
Validation of a Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire for a Japanese Population in Hawaii
Authors: Pakseresht Mohammadreza , Earle Maj , Kolahdooz Fariba , Le Marchand Loïc , Sharma Sangita
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Objective: To measure the validity of a quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ). Design : A cross-sectional validation study of the QFFQ against a four-day food record (4DR) using Spearman correlation, cross-classification, kappa statistics, and Bland–Altman plotting. Setting : The Gastroenterology Department of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. Subjects: 76 healthy Japanese American men and women, aged 40–75 years. Results : Somewhat stronger average correlations were observed between the QFFQ and the 4DR for macronutrients compared to micronutrients (Spearman rho of 0.47 vs. 0.35). Moderate correlations between the two tools were observed for macronutrients (including saturated fatty acids and dietary fibre), iron, β-carotene, vitamin C, and ethanol ( rho: 0.38–0.58). Overall, stronger correlations were found among men than women between the two tools (mean rho 0.41 vs. 0.26). In a cross classification analysis, for more than 75% of the observations, a complete to relative agreement between the two methods was observed for fat, α-carotene, folate, vitamin D, and ethanol. Sex difference in agreement was minimal in cross-classification (overall extreme misclassification of 9.80% for men and 12.40% for women). Bland–Altman plots showed over-estimations of dietary fibre and α-carotene intake and an under-estimation of cholesterol intake by the QFFQ at high levels of consumption. However, the QFFQ estimation for fat, dietary fibre, folate, cholesterol, α-carotene, vitamins D and C, and ethanol intake was less than 7% different compared to the 4DR. Conclusions: The QFFQ has an adequate validity for fat, folate, vitamin D, and ethanol and can correctly categorize participants for intakes of cholesterol, dietary fibre, α-carotene, and zinc.
Evolution of Radiation Belt Electron Pitch Angle Distribution Due to Combined Scattering by Plasmaspheric Hiss and Magnetosonic Waves
Authors: Hua Man , Ni Binbin , Li Wen , Gu Xudong , Fu Song , Shi Run , Xiang Zheng , Cao Xing , Zhang Wenxun , Guo Yingjie
Published: March 2019

Both magnetosonic (MS) waves and plasmaspheric hiss can resonantly scatter outer radiation belt electrons, leading to various electron pitch angle distribution. Based on electron diffusion coefficients calculations and 2‐D Fokker‐Planck diffusion simulations, we perform a parametric study to quantitatively investigate the net electron scattering effect and the relative contributions of simultaneously occurring hiss and MS waves with groups of different wave amplitude combinations. It is found that the combined scattering effects are dominated by pitch angle scattering due to hiss emissions at L = 4, when their amplitude is comparable to or stronger than that of MS waves, thereby producing the butterfly, top‐hat, flat‐top, and pancake pitch angle distributions, while the butterfly distributions can evolve over a broader energy range when MS waves join the combined scattering effects. Our results demonstrate that the relative intensities of various plasma waves play an essential role in controlling the radiation belt electron dynamics.
Midlevel Cloud‐Base Turbulence: Radar Observations and Models
Authors: Kantha L. , Luce H. , Hashiguchi H.
Published: March 2019

Midlevel Cloud‐base Turbulence (MCT) caused by ice/snow precipitation from midlevel clouds falling into dry air below the cloud base and sublimating is investigated. MCT phenomena in the lower troposphere as revealed by the Middle and Upper atmosphere (MU) radar in Shigaraki, Japan, during the Shigaraki unmanned aerial vehicle and radar Experiment campaigns in the spring‐summer of 2015 and 2016 are described. The MU radar was operated in a high‐resolution (~20‐m) range imaging mode and hence revealed the structure of these MCTs in great detail. These MCT layers grew to hundreds of meters in thickness, often reaching nearly 2,000 m in depth, lasting often for as much as 24 hr. A simple analytical model and a second‐moment closure‐based turbulent mixing model are used to estimate the levels of turbulence kinetic energy and its dissipation rate in the MCT layer and compare them to those measured by the MU radar. The study shows that MCT can give rise to moderate levels of turbulence of potential interest to aviation, confirming conclusions reached by earlier pioneering studies. However, to our knowledge, this important process has not received the attention it deserves by the atmospheric community so far, and therefore, it is the principal goal of this paper to not only present some observations and preliminary modeling results, but also redraw the attention of atmospheric scientists to this important process.
Molecular Hysteresis: Hydrologically Driven Changes in Riverine Dissolved Organic Matter Chemistry During a Storm Event
Authors: Wagner Sasha , Fair Jennifer Hoyle , Matt Serena , Hosen Jacob D. , Raymond Peter , Saiers James , Shanley James B. , Dittmar Thorsten , Stubbins Aron
Published: March 2019

Hydrological events, driven by rainfall, control the amount and composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) mobilized through river networks. In forested watersheds, the concentration, composition, and reactivity of DOM exported changes as baseflow transitions to storm flow, with major implications to downstream biogeochemistry. Hysteresis describes an observed difference between in‐stream solute concentration/signal and discharge. By studying the relationship between DOM and stream discharge, we refine our understanding of the environmental and hydrological factors that influence the quantity and quality of stream DOM. The main objective of this study was to track hysteretic changes in riverine DOM molecular composition during storm events. Samples were collected from nested sites within the Passumpsic River catchment (Vermont, USA), a tributary of the Connecticut River. High‐resolution monitoring of fluorescent DOM (via in situ sensors) and automated collection of discrete samples captured short‐term, hydrologically driven variations in DOM concentration and composition. Ultrahigh‐resolution mass spectrometry revealed an enrichment in aliphatic compounds at storm onset, while aromatic and polyphenolic compounds were more enriched at peak discharge. Molecular hysteresis patterns were similar across stream orders, indicating that fresh, terrigenous DOM is quickly shunted downstream, through the river network, during pulses of high discharge.
The Local Aerosol Emission Effect on Surface Shortwave Radiation and Temperatures
Authors: Freychet N. , Tett S. F. B. , Bollasina M. , Wang K. C. , Hegerl G. C.
Published: March 2019

The local aerosol emission effect is investigated by comparing two numerical simulations (1982–2016) with the U.K. HadGEM3‐GA6 model nudged to the same ERA‐Interim circulation. One includes full historical Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 RCP4.5 aerosol emission changes while the second uses a monthly aerosol climatology from 1982. At global scale, the emission scenario does not change the mean surface energy balance, but it shows strong regional contrasts. Thus, we focus on regions where the change in emission has been the largest: North America, Europe, India, and China. No clear impact on temperature trends is found over China although aerosol emissions have increased in recent decades. This could be explained by a stronger role of meteorology in this region rather than direct surface heating, and also by a more limited change in aerosol optical depth compared to regions such as Europe. Other regions show clearer responses to aerosol effect, consistent with previous studies: cooler maximum temperatures (with historical emission compared to fixed emissions) where emissions have increased (North‐East of India) and warmer maximum temperatures where emissions have decreased (Europe). However, in each region, the interannual variability in temperatures is strongly controlled by the circulation. Precipitation is also locally decreased (0.5 mm/day) over North India during summer due to a reduction of moisture convergence in the boundary layer (where no nudging is applied). Based on these simulations, we suggest that radiation‐driven aerosol emission impacts on local surface temperature and precipitation are not linear and can be mitigated or cancelled by the local dynamics.
Analyses of Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter 1,064‐nm Albedo in Permanently Shadowed Regions of Polar Crater Flat Floors: Implications for Surface Water Ice Occurrence and Future In Situ Exploration
Authors: Qiao Le , Ling Zongcheng , Head James W. , Ivanov Mikhail A. , Liu Bin
Published: March 2019

Potential water ice concentrated within the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) near lunar poles is both scientifically significant and of value for future explorations. However, after decades of observations, the existence and characteristics of PSR water ice remain controversial. The 1,064‐nm laser reflectance measurements collected by the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) provide a unique opportunity to detect and characterize PSR water ice. In this work, we focus on all major PSRs on the flat floors of lunar polar craters and analyze their detailed LOLA 1,064‐nm albedo and then compare this with the adjacent flat non‐PSRs. We find that the LOLA albedo of the majority of these PSRs is systematically higher than their adjacent non‐PSRs. Potential contributions of various factors to the observed LOLA albedo are individually quantitatively evaluated; we show that each of them is unable to account for the observed LOLA albedo anomalies and that the presence of surface water ice is the most likely explanation. Combined characterization of LOLA albedo and substrate impact cratering records (crater populations and depths) reveals that the inferred PSR water ices are in very small quantity (probably in the form of a surface frost layer or admixture with regolith) and are laterally heterogeneous in model ice concentration, ranging from negligible to ~6%. We recommend that these PSRs as priority targets for future surface in situ exploration endeavors, and a case assessment of Amundsen crater is presented.
Energy Range of Electron Rolling Pin Distribution Behind Dipolarization Front
Authors: Zhao M. J. , Fu H. S. , Liu C. M. , Chen Z. Z. , Xu Y. , Giles B. L. , Burch J. L.
Published: March 2019

The electron rolling pin distribution, showing electron pitch angles primarily at 0°, 90°, and 180°, has recently been observed behind dipolarization fronts (DFs) and explained using an analytical model. However, the energy range of such distribution has been unknown so far, owing to the low‐resolution data in previous spacecraft missions. Here using the high‐resolution measurements of Magnetospheric Multiscale, we reveal the energy range of electron rolling pin distribution behind DFs for the first time. We find that such distribution appears only above 1.7 keV, falling well into the suprathermal energy range. Below 1.7 keV, electrons exhibit a Maxwell distribution, while above 1.7 keV, they exhibit a power law distribution. In addition, such distribution appears primarily in the growing phase of the flow and disappears quickly in the decaying phase. During the formation of the rolling pin distribution, electrons are gyrotropic. These findings have greatly improved our knowledge of electron dynamics around DFs.
Soil HONO emissions at high moisture content are driven by microbial nitrate reduction to nitrite: tackling the HONO puzzle
Authors: Wu Dianming , Horn Marcus A , Behrendt Thomas , Müller Stefan , Li Jingsong , Cole Jeff A , Xie Baohua , Ju Xiaotang , Li Guo , Ermel Michael , Oswald Robert , Fröhlich-Nowoisky Janine , Hoor Peter , Hu Chunsheng , Liu Min , Andreae Meinrat O , Pöschl Ulrich , Cheng Yafang , Su Hang , Trebs Ivonne , Weber Bettina , Sörgel Matthias
Published: March 2019

Nitrous acid (HONO) is a precursor of the hydroxyl radical (OH), a key oxidant in the degradation of most air pollutants. Field measurements indicate a large unknown source of HONO during the day time. Release of nitrous acid (HONO) from soil has been suggested as a major source of atmospheric HONO. We hypothesize that nitrite produced by biological nitrate reduction in oxygen-limited microzones in wet soils is a source of such HONO. Indeed, we found that various contrasting soil samples emitted HONO at high water-holding capacity (75–140%), demonstrating this to be a widespread phenomenon. Supplemental nitrate stimulated HONO emissions, whereas ethanol (70% v/v) treatment to minimize microbial activities reduced HONO emissions by 80%, suggesting that nitrate-dependent biotic processes are the sources of HONO. High-throughput Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA as well as functional gene transcripts associated with nitrate and nitrite reduction indicated that HONO emissions from soil samples were associated with nitrate reduction activities of diverse Proteobacteria. Incubation of pure cultures of bacterial nitrate reducers and gene-expression analyses, as well as the analyses of mutant strains deficient in nitrite reductases, showed positive correlations of HONO emissions with the capability of microbes to reduce nitrate to nitrite. Thus, we suggest biological nitrate reduction in oxygen-limited microzones as a hitherto unknown source of atmospheric HONO, affecting biogeochemical nitrogen cycling, atmospheric chemistry, and global modeling.
Distinct representations of basic taste qualities in human gustatory cortex
Authors: Chikazoe Junichi , Lee Daniel H. , Kriegeskorte Nikolaus , Anderson Adam K.
Published: March 2019

The mammalian tongue contains gustatory receptors tuned to basic taste types, providing an evolutionarily old hedonic compass for what and what not to ingest. Although representation of these distinct taste types is a defining feature of primary gustatory cortex in other animals, their identification has remained elusive in humans, leaving the demarcation of human gustatory cortex unclear. Here we used distributed multivoxel activity patterns to identify regions with patterns of activity differentially sensitive to sweet, salty, bitter, and sour taste qualities. These were found in the insula and overlying operculum, with regions in the anterior and middle insula discriminating all tastes and representing their combinatorial coding. These findings replicated at super-high 7 T field strength using different compounds of sweet and bitter taste types, suggesting taste sensation specificity rather than chemical or receptor specificity. Our results provide evidence of the human gustatory cortex in the insula.
Connection between Mott physics and crystal structure in a series of transition metal binary compounds
Authors: Lanatà Nicola , Lee Tsung-Han , Yao Yong-Xin , Stevanović Vladan , Dobrosavljević Vladimir
Published: March 2019

The choice that a solid system “makes” when adopting a crystal structure (stable or metastable) is ultimately governed by the interactions between electrons forming chemical bonds. Here we analyze six prototypical binary transition metal compounds and shed light on the connection between Mott physics and the behavior of the energy as a function of the spatial arrangement of the atoms in these systems. Remarkably, we find that the main qualitative features of this complex behavior in the Mott phase of these systems can be traced back to the fact that the strong d-electron correlations influence substantially the charge transfer mechanism, which, in turn, controls the electrostatic interactions. This result advances our understanding of the influence of strong correlations on the crystal structure, opens a new avenue for extending structure prediction methodologies to strongly correlated materials, and paves the way for predicting and studying metastability and polymorphism in these systems.
A controlled-NOT gate for frequency-bin qubits
Authors: Lu Hsuan-Hao , Lukens Joseph M. , Williams Brian P. , Imany Poolad , Peters Nicholas A. , Weiner Andrew M. , Lougovski Pavel
Published: March 2019

The realization of strong photon–photon interactions has presented an enduring challenge across photonics, particularly in quantum computing, where two-photon gates form essential components for scalable quantum information processing (QIP). While linear-optic schemes have enabled probabilistic entangling gates in spatio-polarization encoding, solutions for many other useful degrees of freedom remain missing. In particular, no two-photon gate for the important platform of frequency encoding has been experimentally demonstrated, due in large part to the additional challenges imparted by the mismatched wavelengths of the interacting photons. In this article, we design and implement an entangling gate for frequency-bin qubits, a coincidence-basis controlled-NOT (CNOT), using line-by-line pulse shaping and electro-optic modulation. We extract a quantum unitary fidelity of 0.91 ± 0.01 via a parameter inference approach based on Bayesian machine learning, which enables accurate gate reconstruction from measurements in the two-photon computational basis alone. Our CNOT imparts a single-photon frequency shift controlled by the frequency of another photon—an important capability in itself—and should enable new directions in fiber-compatible QIP.
Association between eating behavior and poor glycemic control in Japanese adults
Authors: Iwasaki Takahiro , Hirose Akiko , Azuma Tetsuji , Ohashi Tamie , Watanabe Kazutoshi , Obora Akihiro , Deguchi Fumiko , Kojima Takao , Isozaki Atsunori , Tomofuji Takaaki
Published: March 2019

This study investigated the relationship between eating behavior and poor glycemic control in 5,479 Japanese adults with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) <6.5% who participated in health checks. Respondents to a 2013 baseline survey of eating behavior, including skipping breakfast and how quickly they consumed food were followed up until 2017. We defined poor glycemic control after follow-up as HbA1c ≥6.5%, or increases in HbA1c of ≥0.5% and/or being under medication to control diabetes. We identified 109 (2.0%) respondents who met these criteria for poor glycemic control. After adjusting for sex, age, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), and eating behavior, the risk of poor glycemic control was increased in males (odds ratio [OR], 2.38; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37–4.12;p < 0.01), and associated with being older (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04–1.11;p < 0.001), having a higher BMI (OR, 1.29; 95% CI 1.23–1.35;p < 0.001), skipping breakfast ≥3 times/week (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.35–4.41;p < 0.01), and changing from eating slowly or at medium speed to eating quickly (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.04–4.26;p < 0.05). In conclusion, Japanese adults who were male, older, had a high BMI, skipped breakfast ≥3 times/week and ate quickly were at increased risk for poor glycemic control.
Selection and Validation of Reference Genes for Gene Expression Studies by RT-PCR in Dalbergia odorifera
Authors: Meng Hui , Yang Yun , Gao Zhi-Hui , Wei Jian-He
Published: March 2019

Perennial tree Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen could form the precious heartwood used to produce chinese traditional medicine, rosewood furniture and fragrances. However the formation of heartwood is time-consuming and low efficient, leading to the severe destruction of its wild resources. Thus, it is urgent to study the molecular mechanism of heartwood formation in D. odorifera. But till now, there is no report about the reference gene selection in this species. In this study, the expression stability of nine candidate reference genes were evaluated across different tissues and stems treated by wound and chemical stimulators. Four algorithms were applied to obtain the robust genes. The results support HIS2, GAPDH, and CYP to be the most stable reference genes in samples under different wound treatments while DNAj was the least stable. In different tissues, HIS2, UBQ, and RPL were the most stable reference genes while DNAj was the least stable. The selected reference genes were validated through the normalization of the qRT-PCR data of six heartwood related genes in terpene biosynthesis pathway and ethylene signal pathway. The results showed that their expression levels were accurate when they were normalized by the most stable reference gene HIS2, or by the combination of the two or three most stable reference genes. These results demonstrated that these selected reference genes are reliable.
Anderson localization of flexural waves in disordered elastic beams
Authors: Ángel Jesús Calleja , Guzmán José Concepción Torres , de Anda Alfredo Díaz
Published: March 2019

We study, both experimentally and numerically, the Anderson localization phenomenon in flexural waves of a disordered elastic beam, which consists of a beam with randomly spaced notches. We found that the effect of the disorder on the system is stronger above a crossover frequency fc than below it. For a chosen value of disorder, we show that above fc the normal-mode wave functions are localized as occurs in disordered solids, while below fc the wave functions are partially and fully extended, but their dependence on the frequency is not governed by a monotonous relationship, as occurs in other classical and quantum systems. These findings were corroborated with the calculation of the participation ratio, the localization length and a level statistics. In particular, the nearest spacing distribution is obtained and analyzed with a suitable phenomenological expression, related to the level repulsion.
Inflammatory cytokines in highly myopic eyes
Authors: Yuan Jianshu , Wu Shanjun , Wang Yuewen , Pan Suqi , Wang Pengyun , Cheng Lingyun
Published: March 2019

Currently, myopic retinopathy is the most common irreversible blinding disease but its pathophysiology is not completely clear. A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in a single center to analyze aqueous samples from highly myopic eyes (axial length >25 mm, n = 92) and ametropic or mild myopic eyes (n = 88) for inflammatory cytokines. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IL-6 and MMP-2 were significantly higher in the highly myopic eyes than in the non-high myopic eyes (IL-6: 11.90 vs. 4.38 pg/mL, p < 0.0001; MMP-2: 13.10 vs. 8.82 ng/mL, p = 0.0003) while adjusting for age, gender, and intraocular pressure. There was a significant positive association between levels of IL-6 and MMP-2 in aqueous humor and the axial lengths of the eye globes (IL-6, β = 0.065, p < 0.0001, n = 134; MMP-2, β = 0.097, p < 0.0001, n = 131). Conversely, VEGF in aqueous humor was significantly lower in the highly myopic eyes than in the non-high myopic eyes (45.56 vs. 96.90 pg/mL, p < 0.0001, n = 153) while age, gender, and intraocular pressure were adjusted. The results suggest that low-grade intraocular inflammation may play an important role in the development and progression of high myopia and myopic retinopathy.
Reflective color filter with precise control of the color coordinate achieved by stacking silicon nanowire arrays onto ultrathin optical coatings
Authors: Song Han Sung , Lee Gil Ju , Yoo Dong Eun , Kim Yeong Jae , Yoo Young Jin , Lee Dong-Wook , Siva Vantari , Kang Il-Suk , Song Young Min
Published: March 2019

The engineering of structural colors is currently a promising, rapidly emerging research field because structural colors of outstanding spatial resolution and durability can be generated using a sustainable production method. However, the restricted and saturated color range in micro/nano-fabricated structural ‘pigments’ has hindered the dissemination of structural color printing. Here, this article presents a spectral mixing color filter (SMCF), which is the concept of fine-tunable color systems, capable of addressing the current issues in structural color engineering, by stacking a vertical silicon nanowire array embedded in a transparent polymer onto ultrathin optical coating layers. These two photonic structures enable independent tuning the optical resonance of each structure, depending on geometrical parameters, such as the diameter of nanowires and thickness of absorbing medium. Hence, the SMCF facilitates the linear combination of two resonant spectra, thereby enabling fine-tuning and widening of the color gamut. Theoretical studies and experimental results reveal the detailed working mechanisms and extraordinary mechanical feature of the SMCF. Based on the analyses, the concept of flexible optical device, e.g., a reflective anti-counterfeiting sticker, is demonstrated. Successful characterization demonstrates that the proposed strategy can promote the color controllability/purity of structural color and the applicability as flexible optical device.
The Immunogenicity of OMP31 Peptides and Its Protection Against Brucella melitensis Infection in Mice
Authors: Zhang Fengbo , Li Zhiwei , Jia Bin , Zhu Yuejie , Pang Pan , Zhang Chuntao , Ding Jianbing
Published: March 2019

Given brucellosis is a widespread zoonosis in the world, a safe and effective vaccine is urgently needed. Recent trend in vaccine design has shifted to epitope-based vaccines that are safe and specific. In this study, peptide containing both T-cell and B-cell epitopes of OMP31 was synthesized and used to immunize the mice by nasal administration. The protective efficacy was evaluated. Mice immunized with the B epitope or TB epitope peptides of OMP31 had higher levels of IgG1 and IgG2a in the serum. While the BALB/c mice immunized with peptides containing T cell epitope or TB epitope of OMP31 showed high degree of IFN-γ-producing T cells in the lymphocytes from the respiratory draining lymph nodes and spleen. After intranasally challenged with 5 × 105CFU ofBrucella melitensis(strain 16 M), the bacterial loads in lung of the immunized mice were significantly lower than control group. These data demonstrate for the first time that peptides of OMP31 containing T epitope, B epitope or TB epitopes are of high immunogenicity and thus can protect host fromBrucella melitensisinfection in lung.
Dynamics and orientation selectivity in a cortical model of rodent V1 with excess bidirectional connections
Authors: Rao Shrisha , Hansel David , van Vreeswijk Carl
Published: March 2019

Recent experiments have revealed fine structure in cortical microcircuitry. In particular, bidirectional connections are more prevalent than expected by chance. Whether this fine structure affects cortical dynamics and function has not yet been studied. Here we investigate the effects of excess bidirectionality in a strongly recurrent network model of rodent V1. We show that reciprocal connections have only a very weak effect on orientation selectivity. We find that excess reciprocity between inhibitory neurons slows down the dynamics and strongly increases the Fano factor, while for reciprocal connections between excitatory and inhibitory neurons it has the opposite effect. In contrast, excess bidirectionality within the excitatory population has a minor effect on the neuronal dynamics. These results can be explained by an effective delayed neuronal self-coupling which stems from the fine structure. Our work suggests that excess bidirectionality between inhibitory neurons decreases the efficiency of feature encoding in cortex by reducing the signal to noise ratio. On the other hand it implies that the experimentally observed strong reciprocity between excitatory and inhibitory neurons improves the feature encoding.
The harmful effects of acute PM2.5 exposure to the heart and a novel preventive and therapeutic function of CEOs
Authors: Dong Lu , Sun Wenping , Li Fasheng , Shi Min , Meng Xianzong , Wang Chunyuan , Meng Meiling , Tang Wenqi , Liu Hui , Wang Lili , Song Laiyu
Published: March 2019

Epidemiological researches have demonstrated the relationship between PM2.5 exposure and increased morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular injury. However, no effective therapeutic method was established. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of acute PM2.5 exposure on the mice heart tissue and explore the therapeutic effects of compound essential oils (CEOs) in this model. In this study, after mice were exposed to PM2.5 intratracheally, some obvious histopathological changes as well as some great alterations of proinflammatory cytokines were observed in the heart tissue. The imbalance of oxidative stress, the altered Ca2+ channel related proteins and the increased intracellular free Ca2+ were all involved in the heart impairment and would also be investigated in this model. The CEOs alleviated the heart impairment via its antioxidant effect rather than its anti-inflammatory function because our results revealed that oxidative stress related indicators were restored after CEOs administration. At the same time, increased concentration of intracellular free Ca2+ and ROS induced by PM2.5 were reduced after NAC (N-Acetyl-L-cysteine) administration. These data suggested that the acute PM2.5 exposure would damage heart tissue by inducing the inflammatory response, oxidative stress and intracellular free Ca2+ overload. PM2.5-induced oxidative stress probably increase intracellular free Ca2+ via RYR2 and SERCA2a. CEOs have the potential to be a novel effective and convenient therapeutic method to prevent and treat the acute heart impairment induced by PM2.5 via its antioxidant function.
Current-driven coherent skyrmion generation
Authors: Deger C. , Yavuz I. , Yildiz F.
Published: March 2019

The next-generation logic and memory devices using magnetic skyrmions as spintronic information carriers are frequently studied, thanks to their remarkable magnetic stability, extremely compact size and very-low-cost driving forces within nanotracks. In order to realize skyrmion-based spintronic devices, understanding the skyrmion generation and their dynamics are essential. In this study, we have carried out a systematic micromagnetic simulation study on coherent magnetic skyrmion generation in which we theoretically engineered nanotracks by embedding an anti-notch to a channel of certain width. We found that the drift velocity and the skyrmion generation frequency can be tailored by the applied spin-polarized DC current density. Moreover, skyrmion generation is crucially affected by both damping and nonadiabaticity parameters, as well as the geometry of the anti-notch. We anticipate that our predictions provide rational basis for skyrmion-based devices in which skyrmions are used as information carriers, and influence future discussions.
Examination of the temporal and spatial dynamics of the gut microbiome in newborn piglets reveals distinct microbial communities in six intestinal segments
Authors: Liu Ying , Zheng Zhijun , Yu Lihuai , Wu Sen , Sun Li , Wu Shenglong , Xu Qian , Cai Shunfeng , Qin Nan , Bao Wenbin
Published: March 2019

Intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in immune development and disease progression in mammals from birth onwards. The gastrointestinal tract of newborn mammals is rapidly colonized by microbes with tremendous biomass and diversity. Understanding how this complex of segmental communities evolves in different gastrointestinal sites over time has great biological significance and medical implications. However, most previous reports examining intestinal microbiota have focused on fecal samples, a strategy that overlooks the spatial microbial dynamics in different intestinal segments. Using intestinal digesta from six intestinal segments (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon and rectum) of newborn piglets, we herein conducted a large-scale 16S rRNA gene sequencing-based study to characterize the segmental dynamics of porcine gut microbiota at eight postnatal intervals (days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 120 and 180). A total of 4,465 OTUs were obtained and showed that the six intestinal segments could be divided into three parts; in the duodenum-jejunum section, the most abundant genera included Lactobacillus and Bacteroides; in the ileum, Fusobacterium and Escherichia; and in the cecum-rectum section, Prevotella. Although the microbial communities of the piglets were similar among the six intestinal segments on postnatal day 1, they evolved and quickly differentiated at later intervals. An examination of time-dependent alterations in the dominant microbes revealed that the microbiome in the large intestine was very different from and much more stable than that in the small intestine. The gut microbiota in newborn piglets exhibited apparent temporal and spatial variations in different intestinal segments. The database of gut microbes in piglets could be a referable resource for future studies on mammalian gut microbiome development in early host growth phases.
Spatial variation of yield response and fertilizer requirements on regional scale for irrigated rice in China
Authors: Xu Xinpeng , He Ping , Pampolino Mirasol F. , Qiu Shaojun , Zhao Shicheng , Zhou Wei
Published: March 2019

A large number of on-farm experiments (n = 5556) were collected for the period 2000–2015 from the major rice (Oryza sativa L.) producing regions in China, to study the spatial variability of attainable yield, yield response, relative yield and fertilizer requirements at regional scale, by coupling geographical information system with the Nutrient Expert for Rice decision support system. Results indicated that average attainable yield was 8.8 t ha−1 across all sites, with 18.3% variation. There were large variations in yield response to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizer application with coefficients of variation of 39.2%, 57.0%, and 53.4%, and the sites of 73.4%, 85.8%, and 87.6% in the study area ranged from 2.0 to 3.0, from 0.7 to 1.3, and from 0.7 to 1.3 t ha−1, respectively. Mapping the spatial variability of relative yield to N, P, and K indicated that the sites of 78.6%, 92.4%, and 88.7% in the study area ranged from 0.65 to 0.75, from 0.80 to 0.92, and from 0.84 to 0.92, respectively. The high yield response and low relative yield to N and P were mainly located in the Northeast (NE), Northwest (NW), and north of the Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River (MLYR) regions. The spatial distribution of N, P, and K fertilizer requirements ranged 140–160 kg N ha−1, 50–70 kg P2O5 ha−1 and 35–65 kg K2O ha−1 which accounted for 66.4%, 85.5% and 73.0% of sites in the study area, respectively. This study analyzed the spatial heterogeneity of attainable yield, soil nutrient supply capacity and nutrient requirements based on a large database at regional or national scale by means of geographical information systems and fertilizer recommendation systems, which provided a useful tool to manage natural resources, increase efficiency and productivity, and minimize environmental risk.
Non-volatile particle emissions from aircraft turbine engines at ground-idle induce oxidative stress in bronchial cells
Authors: Jonsdottir Hulda R. , Delaval Mathilde , Leni Zaira , Keller Alejandro , Brem Benjamin T. , Siegerist Frithjof , Schönenberger David , Durdina Lukas , Elser Miriam , Burtscher Heinz , Liati Anthi , Geiser Marianne
Published: March 2019

Aircraft emissions contribute to local and global air pollution. Health effects of particulate matter (PM) from aircraft engines are largely unknown, since controlled cell exposures at relevant conditions are challenging. We examined the toxicity of non-volatile PM (nvPM) emissions from a CFM56-7B26 turbofan, the world’s most used aircraft turbine using an unprecedented exposure setup. We combined direct turbine-exhaust sampling under realistic engine operating conditions and the Nano-Aerosol Chamber for In vitro Toxicity to deposit particles onto air–liquid-interface cultures of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) at physiological conditions. We evaluated acute cellular responses after 1-h exposures to diluted exhaust from conventional or alternative fuel combustion. We show that single, short-term exposures to nvPM impair bronchial epithelial cells, and PM from conventional fuel at ground-idle conditions is the most hazardous. Electron microscopy of soot reveals varying reactivity matching the observed cellular responses. Stronger responses at lower mass concentrations suggest that additional metrics are necessary to evaluate health risks of this increasingly important emission source.
Nanoceria-based reactive species scavenging activity of antioxidants using N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DMPD) probe
Authors: Kamer Gozde , Demirata Birsen , Bayraktar Reva , Ozyurt Dilek , Apak Resat
Published: March 2019

The aim of this work was to develop a fast and low-cost method to measure the reactive species formed in an aqueous suspension utilizing nanoceria as a peroxidase-like catalyst.
Dynamics of proteins confined in non-ionic bicontinuous microemulsions: a FCS study
Authors: Wrede Oliver , Großkopf Sören , Seidel Thorsten , Hellweg Thomas
Published: March 2019

In our present work we confine fluorescent proteins and a fluorescent dye in structurally nearly identical bicontinuous microemulsions allowing to control confinement by systematically decreasing the water domain size. In this way the transition towards sub-diffusional transport is revealed.
Detection of adsorbates on emissive MOF surfaces with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Authors: Yan Jingjing , Carl Alexander D. , Maag Alex R. , MacDonald John C. , Müller Peter , Grimm Ronald L. , Burdette Shawn C.
Published: March 2019

The luminescence of azobenzene chromophore struts in a metal organic framework is quenched by nitroaromatic guests. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic methods verify the emission changes are due to the surface adsorption of the guest molecules rather than encapsulation.
An organocatalytic hydroalkoxylation/Claisen rearrangement/Michael addition tandem sequence: divergent synthesis of multi-substituted 2,3-dihydrofurans and 2,3-dihydropyrroles from cyanohydrins
Authors: Sun Zhen , Li Zheng , Liao Wei-Wei
Published: March 2019

A divergent synthesis of functionalized 2,3-dihydrofuran and 2,3-dihydropyrrole derivativesviaa LB-catalysed hydroalkoxylation/Claisen rearrangement/Michael addition tandem sequence is described.