bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate structures bison dietary quality and composition at the continental scale
Authors: Jorns Tami , Craine Joseph , Towne E. Gene , Knox Margaret
Published: November 2019

Background

Nutrition is a key determinant of North American plains bison (Bison bison) weight gain and reproduction, yet little is known about what bison eat and the pattern of nutritional stress across their distribution.

Aims

In order to better understand patterns of bison nutrition across broad climatic gradients, bison fecal material was sampled from 50 sites across the United States in June and September of 2018.

Materials and Methods

For each sample, dietary composition and microbial composition were assessed with DNA metabarcoding, along with dietary quality via near‐infrared spectroscopy and elemental composition.

Results

Herds in cool, wet sites typically had diets with high crude protein but not necessarily higher or lower digestible organic matter than in hot, dry sites. Independent of climate and season, on average, 57% and 48% of protein intake was derived from non‐graminoids in June and September, respectively. Cool‐season grass abundance in the diet was greater in cooler climates in June and September, while N2‐fixing plant abundance in the diet was greater in warmer climates in June. Among multivariate patterns, bison eating a high‐quality diet had fecal material with higher concentrations of P, Mg, Mn, and Ca, and a higher relative abundances of cellulose‐digestingRuminococcus.

Discussion

By sampling across broad geographic gradients and across seasons, the drivers of different components of bison diet are becoming clear. Our results show that climate is integral to structuring bison diet quality, diet composition, elemental intake, and their gut microbiomes.

Conclusions

Although future work remains to better understand seasonal patterns and inter‐annual variation in diet, North American plains bison should no longer be considered strict grazers. Also, given current geographic dietary patterns, bison in a warmer climate are likely to suffer increased nutritional stress unless actions are taken to increase protein availability.
Performance of extraction methods for extracellular DNA from sediments across marine habitats
Authors: Geraldi Nathan R. , Díaz‐Rúa Rubén , Shea Lauren A. , Duarte Carlos M.
Published: November 2019

Background

Using environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect taxa is quickly becoming an important technique to determine the distribution and diversity of macroorganisms. Assessing differences in communities based on eDNA extracted from sediment could enhance our understanding of marine communities among the many different marine habitats both from the present and from the past using sediment cores. Although the effect of extraction methods on metabarcoding results has been tested for both water and sediment samples, less is known about how sediment types may affect the extraction and sequencing of eDNA.

Methods and Results

We used two extraction methods to assess if the amount of extracted DNA was different among three marine habitats: coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows. First, an equal amount of DNA was added to sterilized sediment and there was no difference in the DNA extracted from the different habitats. Second, an equal amount of DNA from a species that did not occur naturally was added to the sediment and the number of sequenced reads of this species was not different among habitats. A concomitant test found that a commercial extraction kit, the MO BIO PowerSoil DNA isolation kit, and published extraction protocol from Lever et al. (2015, Frontiers in Microbiology, 6, 476) had similar results.

Conclusions

Although different environmental conditions within the habitats will likely affect the degradation of eDNA, these findings suggest that diverse characteristic of the sediments from different habitats does not affect the extraction of DNA. This is an important step in determining whether eDNA within sediment can be utilized to compare the communities from different marine habitats.
Hydrogen Bonding and Internal or External Lewis or Brønsted Acid Assisted (Thio)urea Catalysts
Authors: Gimeno M. Concepción , Herrera Raquel P.
Published: November 2019

The obtainment of more active organocatalysts has promoted the search for new modes of activation and new organocatalytic systems. Inspired on the mode of activation of enzymes, organocatalysis has recently focused on the challenge to create an enzyme‐like “active site” giving access to hydrogen‐bond donors (HBDs) with enhanced activity. Therefore, the assembly of catalytic species, connected through multiple weak inter‐ or intramolecular interactions, is a young and emerging topic of research which could become in the future a powerful tool for asymmetric catalysis. In the area of (thio)ureas, different alternatives such as internal hydrogen bonds or the use of an internal or an external Lewis or Brønsted acid assisted catalysts have been developed. The pivotal publications recently reported covering this family of organocatalysts are proof of this importance. This review treats to illustrate these important and scarce examples and to show a plausible mode of activation for each one.
Novel Sensing Assembly Comprising Engineered Gold Dendrites and MWCNT‐AuNPs Nanohybrid for Acetaminophen Detection in Human Urine
Authors: Purohit Buddhadev , Kumar Ashutosh , Mahato Kuldeep , Chandra Pranjal
Published: November 2019

A layered nanohybrid comprising of multi walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNT)‐gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has been designed as a matrix for the development of Au dendritic nanostructures (AuDN) with enhanced catalytic activity. The developed sensor matrix was thoroughly characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX). The developed sensor probe MWCNT‐AuNPs/AuDN over glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was used for the label free detection of acetaminophen (AP), a commonly used drug associated with hepatotoxicity when overdosed, as a model molecule. The final sensor probe was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The sensor shows excellent analytical performances with a linear dynamic range (LDR) of 100 to 7500 nM, and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 2.12 (±0.03) nM, which is better than recently reported AP sensors. The practical application / clinical possibilities of the final sensor were evaluated by real sample analysis in human urine by spike and recovery method, where the AP recoveries were found in between 92 % to 96 %. The sensor probe shows negligible response towards co‐existing interfering molecules like glucose, urea, uric acid and various amino acids, which are commonly found in real samples (p<0.001, n=3). The shelf life of the sensor probe was evaluated and found to be stable for 8 weeks. The fabricated sensor probe using MWCNT‐AuNPs/AuDN is easy to fabricate, simple, robust, and able to detect AP in urine with high recoveries shows its possibilities to be used in clinical settings.
Scaling law analysis of electrohydrodynamics and dielectrophoresis for isomotive dielectrophoresis microfluidic devices
Authors: Rashed Mohamed Z. , Green Nicolas G. , Williams Stuart J.
Published: November 2019

Isomotive dielectrophoresis (isoDEP) is a unique DEP geometrical configuration where the gradient of the field‐squared () is constant. IsoDEP analyzes polarizable particles based on their magnitude and direction of translation. Particle translation is a function of the polarizability of both the particles and suspending medium, the particles’ size and shape, and the frequency of the electric field. However, other electrokinetics act on the particles simultaneously, including electrothermal hydrodynamics. Hence, to maximize the DEP force relative to over electrokinetic forces, design parameters such as microchannel geometry, fabrication materials, and applied electric field must be properly tuned. In this work, scaling law analyses were developed to derive design rules, relative to particle diameter, to reduce unwanted electrothermal hydrodynamics relative to DEP‐induced particle translation. For a particle suspended in 10 mS/m media, if the channel width and height are below ten particle diameters, the electrothermal‐driven flow is reduced by ∼500 times compared to a channel that is 250 particles diameters in width and height. Replacing glass with silicon as the device's underlying substrate for an insulative‐based isoDEP reduces the electrothermal induced flow approximately 20 times less.
Quantifying long‐term post‐fire sediment delivery and erosion mitigation effectiveness
Authors: Robichaud Peter R. , Lewis Sarah A. , Wagenbrenner Joseph W. , Brown Robert E. , Pierson Fredrick B.
Published: November 2019

Large wildfires can have profound and lasting impacts not only from direct consumption of vegetation but also longer‐term effects such as persistent soil erosion. The 2002 Hayman Fire burned in one of the watersheds supplying water to the Denver metropolitan area; thus there was concern regarding hillslope erosion and sedimentation in the reservoirs. The efficacy of various treatments for reducing erosion was tested, including hand scarification on contour, agricultural straw mulch, wood mulch, burned controls and unburned reference plots. Simulated rill erosion experiments were used both immediately after the fire and again 10 years post fire. To better understand untreated recovery, the same experiments were applied to control plots in post‐fire years 1, 2, 3 and 4, and in unburned reference plots in years 4 and 10. Results indicate that control and scarified plots produced significantly greater sediment flux rates – 1.9 and 2.8 g s−1 respectively – than the straw and wood mulch treatments – 0.9 and 1.1 g s−1 – immediately after the fire. Mulch treatments reduced runoff rate, runoff velocity, and sediment concentration and flux rate. The straw mulch cover was no longer present, whereas the wood mulch was still there in year 10. Vegetation regrowth was slow and mulch treatments provided effective cover to reduce sediment right after the fire. In post‐fire year 10, there were no significant differences in sediment flux rates across treatments; it is notable, however, that the wood mulch treatment (0.09 g s−1) most closely approached the unburned condition (0.07 g s−1). The burned control plots had high sediment flux rates until post‐fire year 3, when flux rates significantly decreased and were statistically no longer higher than the unburned levels from year 4 and 10. These results will inform managers of the longer‐term post‐fire sediment delivery rates and of the ability of post‐fire emergency hillslope treatments to mitigate erosion rates. Published 2019. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
City sicker? A meta‐analysis of wildlife health and urbanization
Authors: Murray Maureen H , Sánchez Cecilia A , Becker Daniel J , Byers Kaylee A , Worsley‐Tonks Katherine EL , Craft Meggan E
Published: November 2019

Urban development can alter resource availability, land use, and community composition, which, in turn, influences wildlife health. Generalizable relationships between wildlife health and urbanization have yet to be quantified and could vary across different measures of health and among species. We present a phylogenetic meta‐analysis of 516 comparisons of the toxicant loads, parasitism, body condition, or stress of urban and non‐urban wildlife populations reported in 106 studies spanning 81 species in 30 countries. We found a small but significant negative relationship between urbanization and wildlife health, driven by considerably higher toxicant loads and greater parasite abundance, greater parasite diversity, and/or greater likelihood of infection by parasites transmitted through close contact. Invertebrates and amphibians were particularly affected, with urban populations having higher toxicant loads and greater physiological stress than their non‐urban counterparts. We also found strong geographic and taxonomic bias in research effort, highlighting future research needs. Our results suggest that some types of health risks are more pronounced for wildlife in urban areas, which could have important implications for conservation.
Investigation of fractal market hypothesis and forecasting time series stock returns for Tehran Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange
Authors: Moradi Mahdi , Jabbari Nooghabi Mehdi , Rounaghi Mohammad Mahdi
Published: November 2019

An alternative investment theory to the widely utilized efficient market hypothesis, fractal market hypothesis analyses the daily randomness of the market and the turbulence witnessed during crashes and crises. The framework of the fractal market hypothesis proposes a clear explanation of investor behaviour throughout a market cycle, including booms and busts. Nowadays, the importance and advantages of forecasting in decision and policy making from different dimensions are undeniably accepted. Naturally, the techniques that face the lowest forecasting errors are capable of survival and proper function. Successful structural models have not been recently employed in the field of forecasting; therefore, other tests have been proposed among which L‐Co‐R algorithm is the most notably known for time series analysis. The present study applies L‐Co‐R coevolutionary algorithm for forecasting and analysis of time series stock returns. The current study examines daily, monthly, and yearly time series stock returns on Tehran Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange over a period from 2007 to 2013. The statistical analysis in London Stock Exchange shows that the L‐Co‐R algorithm outperforms to the other methods, regardless of the horizon, and is capable of predicting short, medium, or long horizons using real known values. The statistical analysis in Tehran Stock Exchange shows that the L‐Co‐R algorithm outperforms to the other methods and is capable of predicting only short and medium terms. Thus, fractal market hypothesis was accepted for Tehran Stock Exchange and rejected for London Stock Exchange.
“Surface,” “satellite” or “simulation”: Mapping intra‐urban microclimate variability in a desert city
Authors: Zhou Bin , Kaplan Shai , Peeters Aviva , Kloog Itai , Erell Evyatar
Published: November 2019

Mapping spatial and temporal variability of urban microclimate is pivotal for an accurate estimation of the ever‐increasing exposure of urbanized humanity to global warming. This particularly concerns cities in arid/semi‐arid regions which cover two fifths of the global land area and are home to more than one third of the world's population. Focusing on the desert city of Be'er Sheva Israel, we investigate the spatial and temporal patterns of urban–rural and intra‐urban temperature variability by means of satellite observation, vehicular traverse measurement, and computer simulation. Our study reveals a well‐developed nocturnal canopy layer urban heat island in Be'er Sheva, particularly in the winter, but a weak diurnal cool island in the mid‐morning. Near surface air temperature exhibits weak urban–rural and intra‐urban differences during the daytime (<1°C), despite pronounced urban surface cool islands observed in satellite images. This phenomenon, also recorded in some other desert cities, is explained by the rapid increase in surface skin temperature of exposed desert soils (in the absence of vegetation or moisture) after sunrise, while urban surfaces are heated more slowly. The study highlights differences among the three methods used for describing urban temperature variability, each of which may have different applications in fields such as urban planning, climate change mitigation, and epidemiological research.
Validation of the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System Treatment Response Criteria After Thermal Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Cools Katherine S. , Moon Andrew M. , Burke Lauren M. B. , McGinty Katrina A. , Strassle Paula D. , Gerber David A.
Published: November 2019

Single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors can be successfully eradicated with thermal ablation (TA). We assessed the validity of the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System Treatment Response (LR‐TR) criteria with a retrospective analysis of a single‐center database of patients with small HCC tumors (<3 cm in diameter) who underwent both laparoscopic TA and liver transplantation (LT) from 2004 to 2018. Postablation MRIs were assigned LR‐TR categories (nonviable, equivocal, and viable) for ablated lesions and Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI‐RADS) categories (probable or definite HCC) for untreated lesions. Interpretations were compared with the histopathology of the post‐LT explanted liver. There were 45 patients with 81 tumors (59 ablated and 22 untreated; mean size, 2.2 cm), and 23 (39%) of the ablated tumors had viable HCC on histopathology. The sensitivity/specificity of LR‐TR categories (nonviable/equivocal versus viable) of ablated tumors was 30%/99%, with a positive predictive value (PPV)/negative predictive value (NPV) of 93%/69%. The sensitivity varied with residual tumor size. The sensitivity/specificity of LI‐RADS 4 and 5 diagnostic criteria at detecting new HCC was 65%/94%, respectively, with a PPV/NPV of 85%/84%. The interrater reliability (IRR) was high for LR‐TR categories (90% agreement, Cohen’s ĸ = 0.75) and for LI‐RADS LR‐4 and LR‐5 diagnostic categories (91% agreement, Cohen’s ĸ = 0.80). In patients with HCC <3 cm in diameter, LR‐TR criteria after TA had high IRR but low sensitivity, suggesting that the LR‐TR categories are precise but inaccurate. The low sensitivity may be secondary to TA’s disruption in the local blood flow of the tissue, which could affect the arterial enhancement phase on MRI. Additional investigation and new technologies may be necessary to improve imaging after ablation.
Pseudodominant inheritance of autosomal recessive congenital stationary night blindness in one family with three co‐segregating deleterious GRM6 variants identified by next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Liu Hong‐Yan , Huang Jia , Xiao Hai , Zhang Ming‐Jie , Shi Fei‐Fei , Jiang Ying‐Hai , Du Han , He Qingzhong , Wang Zheng‐Yuan
Published: November 2019

Background

The congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) affects the patients' dim light vision or dark adaption by impairing the normal function of retina. It is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder and can be inherited in an X‐linked, autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive pattern. Several genetic alterations to the genes involved in visual signal transduction of photoreceptors and/or bipolar cells underlie its pathogenesis.

Methods

In this study, we used Sanger sequencing and next‐generation sequencing (NGS)‐based gene panel screening to investigate a family of three patients with CSNB inherited in an apparent autosomal dominant pattern. We expected to find out the disease‐causing gene defects carried by this family.

Results

We found that the patients in this family did not carry the RHO, GNAT1, or PDE6B mutation, but carried compound heterozygotes mutations of GRM6. Three deleterious GRM6 variants, p.Arg621Ter, p.Gly51Val, and p.Gly464Arg, were found to be co‐segregating with the disease, causing a pseudodominant inheritance of GRM6‐related autosomal recessive complete CSNB.

Conclusion

This study presents a rare case of autosomal recessive CSNB (arCSNB) pseudodominant inheritance, which potentially leads us to expand our gene candidate list in future genetic testing for apparent dominant pedigrees. The discovery of the two novel likely pathogenic variants p.Gly51Val and p.Gly464Arg could broaden our knowledge about the genetics of CSNB and provide insights into the structure and function of the GRM6 protein.
RF heating of deep brain stimulation implants in open‐bore vertical MRI systems: A simulation study with realistic device configurations
Authors: Golestanirad Laleh , Kazemivalipour Ehsan , Lampman David , Habara Hideta , Atalar Ergin , Rosenow Joshua , Pilitsis Julie , Kirsch John
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Patients with deep brain stimulation (DBS) implants benefit highly from MRI, however, access to MRI is restricted for these patients because of safety hazards associated with RF heating of the implant. To date, all MRI studies on RF heating of medical implants have been performed in horizontal closed‐bore systems. Vertical MRI scanners have a fundamentally different distribution of electric and magnetic fields and are now available at 1.2T, capable of high‐resolution structural and functional MRI. This work presents the first simulation study of RF heating of DBS implants in high‐field vertical scanners.

Methods

We performed finite element electromagnetic simulations to calculate specific absorption rate (SAR) at tips of DBS leads during MRI in a commercially available 1.2T vertical coil compared to a 1.5T horizontal scanner. Both isolated leads and fully implanted systems were included.

Results

We found 10‐ to 30‐fold reduction in SAR implication at tips of isolated DBS leads, and up to 19‐fold SAR reduction at tips of leads in fully implanted systems in vertical coils compared to horizontal birdcage coils.

Conclusions

If confirmed in larger patient cohorts and verified experimentally, this result can open the door to plethora of structural and functional MRI applications to guide, interpret, and advance DBS therapy.
Analyzing Leap Characteristics and Water Escape Velocities of Silver Carp Using In Situ Video Analysis
Authors: Stell E. , Hoover J. J. , Fuller L. , Parsons G. R.
Published: November 2019

Measuring the burst speeds of fish has long been problematic due to the lack of in situ measurements. Using boat-mounted cameras, we recorded video of invasive Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix in the field as they were leaping from the water and measured their leap height, horizontal distance, and angle of escape and estimated their escape velocity. Leap characteristics, fish morphometrics, and environmental data were measured from populations of carp in Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois. The means for leap height and distance (±SE) across all of the study areas were 125 ± 5.54 and 209 ± 9.10 cm, respectively. The maximum leap height that was recorded was 276.08 cm (in Ramsey Creek, Missouri), and the maximum distance was 482.34 cm (in DeSoto Lake, Mississippi), both more than double the mean values. The majority of carp (66.1%) leaped at angles between 46° and 65°. The mean water escape velocities (WEV) varied across the three study sites. The velocities in Missouri, 628.4 ± 31.6 cm/s, were significantly higher than they were in Mississippi, 471.2 ± 16.9 cm/s or in Illinois, 551.7 ± 20.6 cm/s. The maximum measured escape velocity was 771 cm/s, but the maximum estimated WEV was substantially higher at 1,280 cm/s. Larger Silver Carp were captured at lower latitudes: 54.79 ± 0.74 cm in Illinois, 60.86 ± 0.75 cm in Missouri, and 73.09 ± 1.03 cm in Mississippi. A regression analysis indicated that leap distance and height were correlated with fish size, escape velocity, and angle of escape and that escape velocity was correlated with streamflow velocity, fish size, and water temperature. This study provides a first-time quantification of the leap characteristics and escape velocities of Silver Carp, which we believe approximates their maximum burst swim speeds. Therefore, these data can be used to develop or refine effective vertical and hydraulic barriers to the dispersal of Silver Carp. The data also demonstrate that the leaping and high-speed swimming capabilities of Silver Carp are greater than has been assumed previously.
Synthesis of Millimeter‐Scale Continuous WS2 Film by Mitigating Poisoning of H2 on WO2.9 Precursor
Authors: Wan Zhichen , Wu Yingjie , Yu Wenzhi , Dong Yemin , Huang Yamin , Bao Qiaoliang
Published: November 2019

Atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) exhibit vast variety of intriguing properties such as direct bandgap and strong spin‐orbit coupling, and thus are widely regarded by the scientific community as potential novel materials for the future semiconductor industry. One challenge for utilizing the materials is to synthesize samples with large size, which is needed to realize practical applications. Understanding of the role of hydrogen, an important gas in the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reaction for producing layered crystals of TMDs due to its reduction nature, remains elusive. Herein, the successful synthesis of millimeter‐scale continual WS2 film by delicately mitigating the poisoning effect of H2 on the WO2.9 precursor is reported. It is found that at above 450 °C hydrogen can transform WO2.9 into species that are harder to sublime and feed the growth of layered WS2. The unraveling of poisoning mechanism of hydrogen may provide useful guidance for the growth of other TMDs in large size so as to meet the needs of variant applications.
Proteomic analysis of rat kidney under maleic acid treatment by SWATH‐MS technology
Authors: Chien Han‐Ju , Xue Yu‐Ting , Chen Hsin‐Chang , Wu Kuen‐Yuh , Lai Chien‐Chen
Published: November 2019

Rationale

Maleic acid is an industrial‐grade chemical that is often used in adhesives, stabilizers, and preservatives. It is unknown whether long‐term consumption of maleic acid modified starch is harmful to humans. However, many studies have indicated that maleic acid causes renal tubular damage in animal models, even as the associated pathways remain unclear. Sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion spectra (SWATH) is the most innovative of the label‐free quantitative technologies which have better quantification performance. Therefore, SWATH technology was used to investigate the effect of maleic acid on the rat kidney proteome in this study.

Methods

Sprague‐Dawley(SD) rats were treated with 0 mg/kg (control), 6 mg/kg (low‐dose), 10 mg/kg (medium‐dose), and 60 mg/kg (high‐dose) of maleic acid. After kidney protein extraction, 28% SDS‐PAGE was used, followed by in‐gel digestion and desalting. Next, the samples were analyzed with ultra‐performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (Q‐TOF MS), and data‐dependent acquisition (DDA) and SWATH technology were also used. The gene ontology and pathway analysis were accomplished. Ultimately, these protein biomarkers were validated by using scheduled high‐resolution multiple reaction monitoring (sMRMHR).

Results

Comparisons of the control group with the other three groups revealed that 95, 130, and 103 proteins were expressed at significantly different levels in the control group and in the low‐dose, medium‐dose, and high‐dose groups, respectively. According to the gene ontology analysis, the major processes that these proteins were involved in were metabolic processes, biological regulation, cellular processes, and responses to stimuli; the major functions that these proteins were involved in were binding, hydrolase activity, catalytic activity, and oxidoreductase activity; and the major cellular components hat they were involved in were the cytoplasm, extracellular region, membrane, and mitochondria. According to the KEGG pathway analysis, these proteins were involved in 35 pathways, five of which, the carbohydrate metabolism, folate biosynthesis, renal tubular resorption, amino acid metabolism, and Ras signaling pathways, are discussed in this study. Ultimately, 19 proteins involved in 12 important pathways were validated by sMRMHR.

Conclusions

It was demonstrated that maleic acid caused insufficient energy production, which might lead to a decrease in the activity of the sodium‐potassium ATP pump and hydrogen ion ATP pump, which could in turn have caused renal tubular resorption and hydrogen ion regulation to be blocked, thus leading to the accumulation of hydrogen ions in the renal tubules, which would then result in renal tubular acidification followed finally by Fanconi syndrome.
SmartArm: Integration and validation of a versatile surgical robotic system for constrained workspaces
Authors: Marinho Murilo Marques , Harada Kanako , Morita Akio , Mitsuishi Mamoru
Published: November 2019

Background: With the increasing presence of surgical robots minimally invasive surgery, there is a growing necessity of a versatile surgical system for deep and narrow workspaces.

Methods: We developed a versatile system for constrained workspaces called SmartArm. It has two industrial‐type robotic arms with flexible tools attached to its distal tip, with a total of nine active degrees‐of‐freedom. The system has a control algorithm based on constrained optimization that allows the safe generation of task constraints and intuitive teleoperation.

Results: The SmartArm system is evaluated in a master‐slave experiment in which a medically untrained user operates the robot to suture the dura mater membrane at the skull base of a realistic head phantom. Our results show that the user could accomplish the task proficiently, with speed and accuracy comparable to manual suturing by surgeons.

Conclusions We demonstrated the integration and validation of the SmartArm.
Moments of Pause: Understanding Students’ Shifting Perceptions During a Muslim Young Adult Literature Learning Experience
Authors: Ginsberg Ricki , Glenn Wendy J.
Published: November 2019

Although scholarship has examined the representation of Muslim characters and/or followers of Islam in literature for children and young adults and provided reference materials for classroom instruction, the incorporation of Muslim literature in classroom contexts has been largely unexplored. Drawing from Braun and Clarke's conception of thematic analysis as a methodological approach, the authors describe the shifting perceptions of a high school English class as student participants read and discussed young adult texts centered on Muslim protagonists and the religion of Islam. Findings offer a graphic display for understanding the participants’ shifting perceptions and how the learning experience ultimately resulted in students’ ability and willingness to challenge their initial beliefs about Muslim cultures and Islam.
Introduction
Authors: Valpey Kenneth R.
Published: November 2019

The Introduction to Cow Care in Hindu Animal Ethics serves as an overview of the book, initially identifying three attitudes toward cows as essentially objectifying them. The starting point for an ethics of cow care that follows Hindu tradition wherein the subjective personhood of cows (and all living beings, as non-temporal beings–atman) is valued, is indicated in a key stanza of the teaching on bhakti, the Bhagavad Gita. In this text, “equal vision” points the way toward ethical reflection and practice that is identified with “Hinduism” and yet, simultaneously, this vision subverts identification of persons with any temporal designations such as “Hindu.” The remainder of the Introduction provides brief overviews of each of the five chapters, with their varying literary, historical, ethnographic, and philosophical concerns.
Symmetric and asymmetric cryptographic key exchange protocols in the octonion algebra
Authors: Lipiński Z.
Published: November 2019

We propose three cryptographic key exchange protocols in the octonion algebra. Using the totient function, defined for integral octonions, we generalize the RSA public-key cryptosystem to the octonion arithmetics. The two proposed symmetric cryptographic key exchange protocols are based on the automorphism and the derivation of the octonion algebra.
Transcript expression of inward rectifier potassium channels of Kir2 subfamily in Arctic marine and freshwater fish species
Authors: Hassinen Minna , Korajoki Hanna , Abramochkin Denis , Krivosheya Pavel , Vornanen Matti
Published: November 2019

Inward rectifier K+(Kir2) channels are critical for electrical excitability of cardiac myocytes. Here, we examine expression of Kir2 channels in the heart of three Gadiformes species, polar cod (Boreogadus saida) and navaga (Eleginus nawaga) of the Arctic Ocean and burbot (Lota lota) of the temperate lakes to find out the role of Kir2 channels in cardiac adaptation to cold. Five boreal freshwater species: brown trout (Salmo trutta fario), arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), roach (Rutilus rutilus), perch (Perca fluviatilis) and pike (Esox lucius), and zebrafish (Danio rerio), were included for comparison. Transcript expression of genes encoding Kir2.1a, − 2.1b, − 2.2a, − 2.2b and − 2.4 was studied from atrium and ventricle of thermally acclimated or acclimatized fish by quantitative PCR. Kir2 composition in the polar cod was more diverse than in other species in that all Kir2 isoforms were relatively highly expressed. Kir2 composition of navaga and burbot differed from that of the polar cod as well as from those of other species. The relative expression of Kir2.2 transcripts, especially Kir2.2b, was higher in both atrium and ventricle of navaga and burbot (56–89% from the total Kir2 pool) than in other species (0.1–11%). Thermal acclimation induced only small changes in cardiac Kir2 transcript expression in Gadiformes species. However, Kir2.2b transcripts were upregulated in cold-acclimated navaga and burbot hearts. All in all, the cardiac Kir2 composition seems to be dependent on both phylogenetic position and thermal preference of the fish.
The genetic landscape of the human solute carrier (SLC) transporter superfamily
Authors: Schaller Lena , Lauschke Volker M.
Published: November 2019

The human solute carrier (SLC) superfamily of transporters is comprised of over 400 membrane-bound proteins, and plays essential roles in a multitude of physiological and pharmacological processes. In addition, perturbation of SLC transporter function underlies numerous human diseases, which renders SLC transporters attractive drug targets. Common genetic polymorphisms in SLC genes have been associated with inter-individual differences in drug efficacy and toxicity. However, despite their tremendous clinical relevance, epidemiological data of these variants are mostly derived from heterogeneous cohorts of small sample size and the genetic SLC landscape beyond these common variants has not been comprehensively assessed. In this study, we analyzed Next-Generation Sequencing data from 141,456 individuals from seven major human populations to evaluate genetic variability, its functional consequences, and ethnogeographic patterns across the entire SLC superfamily of transporters. Importantly, of the 204,287 exonic single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) which we identified, 99.8% were present in less than 1% of analyzed alleles. Comprehensive computational analyses using 13 partially orthogonal algorithms that predict the functional impact of genetic variations based on sequence information, evolutionary conservation, structural considerations, and functional genomics data revealed that each individual genome harbors 29.7 variants with putative functional effects, of which rare variants account for 18%. Inter-ethnic variability was found to be extensive, and 83% of deleterious SLC variants were only identified in a single population. Interestingly, population-specific carrier frequencies of loss-of-function variants in SLC genes associated with recessive Mendelian disease recapitulated the ethnogeographic variation of the corresponding disorders, including cystinuria in Jewish individuals, type II citrullinemia in East Asians, and lysinuric protein intolerance in Finns, thus providing a powerful resource for clinical geneticists to inform about population-specific prevalence and allelic composition of Mendelian SLC diseases. In summary, we present the most comprehensive data set of SLC variability published to date, which can provide insights into inter-individual differences in SLC transporter function and guide the optimization of population-specific genotyping strategies in the bourgeoning fields of personalized medicine and precision public health.
Diagnostic trajectories in child and adolescent mental health services: exploring the prevalence and patterns of diagnostic adjustments in an electronic mental health case register
Authors: O’Connor Cliodhna , Downs Johnny , Shetty Hitesh , McNicholas Fiona
Published: November 2019

Community-based epidemiological studies show transitions between psychiatric disorders are common during child development. However, little research has explored the prevalence or patterns of the diagnostic adjustments that occur in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). Understanding diagnostic trajectories is necessary to inform theory development in developmental psychopathology and clinical judgements regarding risk and prognosis. In this study, data from CAMHS clinical records were extracted from a British mental health case register (N = 12,543). Analysis calculated the proportion of children whose clinical records showed a longitudinal diagnostic adjustment (i.e. addition of a subsequent diagnosis of a different diagnostic class, at > 30 days’ distance from their first diagnosis). Regression analyses investigated typical diagnostic sequences and their relationships with socio-demographic variables, service use and standardised measures of mental health. Analysis found that 19.3% of CAMHS attendees had undergone a longitudinal diagnostic adjustment. Ethnicity, diagnostic class and symptom profiles significantly influenced the likelihood of a diagnostic adjustment. Affective and anxiety/stress-related disorders longitudinally predicted each other, as did hyperkinetic and conduct disorders, and hyperkinetic and pervasive developmental disorders. Results suggest that approximately one in five young service users have their original psychiatric diagnosis revised or supplemented during their time in CAMHS. By revealing the most common diagnostic sequences, this study enables policy makers to anticipate future service needs and clinicians to make informed projections about their patients’ likely trajectories. Further research is required to understand how young people experience diagnostic adjustments and their psychological and pragmatic implications.
Optimal dynamic control of predator–prey models
Authors: Becker Otwin , Leopold-Wildburger Ulrike
Published: November 2019

This paper combines work to use a decision support tool for sustainable economic development, while acknowledging interdependent dynamics of population density, and interferences from outside. We get new insights derived from experimental approaches: analytical models (optimal dynamic control of predator–prey models) provide optimal dynamic strategies and interventions, depending on different objective functions. Our economic experiments are able to test the applicability of these strategies, and in how far decision-makers can learn to improve decision-making by repeated applications. We aim to analyse a sustainable environment with diametrical goals to harvest as much as possible while allowing optimal population growth. We find interesting insights from those who manage the dynamic system. With the methodology of experimental economics, the experiment at hand is developed to analyse the capability of individual persons to handle a complex system, and to find an economic, stable equilibrium in a neutral setting. We have developed a most interesting simulation model, where it will turn out that prices play a less important role than availability of the goods. This aspect could become a new important aspect in economics in general and in sustainable environments especially.
Characteristics of saw-tooth bars on the ebb-tidal deltas of the Wadden Islands
Authors: Brakenhoff Laura , Ruessink Gerben , van der Vegt Maarten
Published: November 2019

Saw-tooth bars are shore-oblique sand bars that are found along most ebb-tidal deltas of the Frisian Wadden Islands. Although they might significantly affect sediment transport pathways and volumes on the deltas, their general characteristics and dynamics are largely unknown. The main aim of this paper is to determine the typical saw-tooth bar heights, wave lengths, widths, orientations, migration rates and depths of occurrence. To this end, we analysed bathymetries from the Dutch and German Frisian Wadden Islands between 1970 and 2015. Bar heights range between 0.5 and 2 m, and wave lengths range between 300 and 900 m, with an average of 670 m, and the bar crests have a down contour orientation of approximately 25°. The bars are between 800 and 2200 m wide. Saw-tooth bars are located at depths from 3 to 12 m, depending on the slope of the area. Migration speeds of up to 112 m/year were found, using a spatial correlation method. Bar height and migration speed are positively linearly correlated, as well as bar wave length and bar width, bar height and the orientation of the depth contours and migration speed and the orientation of the area. The derived characteristics are compared to those of other bar types to evaluate hypotheses regarding the formation mechanism of the bars.
Assessing the quality of ionospheric models through GNSS positioning error: methodology and results
Authors: Rovira-Garcia Adrià , Ibáñez-Segura Deimos , Orús-Perez Raul , Juan José Miguel , Sanz Jaume , González-Casado Guillermo
Published: November 2019

Single-frequency users of the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) must correct for the ionospheric delay. These corrections are available from global ionospheric models (GIMs). Therefore, the accuracy of the GIM is important because the unmodeled or incorrectly part of ionospheric delay contributes to the positioning error of GNSS-based positioning. However, the positioning error of receivers located at known coordinates can be used to infer the accuracy of GIMs in a simple manner. This is why assessment of GIMs by means of the position domain is often used as an alternative to assessments in the ionospheric delay domain. The latter method requires accurate reference ionospheric values obtained from a network solution and complex geodetic modeling. However, evaluations using the positioning error method present several difficulties, as evidenced in recent works, that can lead to inconsistent results compared to the tests using the ionospheric delay domain. We analyze the reasons why such inconsistencies occur, applying both methodologies. We have computed the position of 34 permanent stations for the entire year of 2014 within the last Solar Maximum. The positioning tests have been done using code pseudoranges and carrier-phase leveled (CCL) measurements. We identify the error sources that make it difficult to distinguish the part of the positioning error that is attributable to the ionospheric correction: the measurement noise, pseudorange multipath, evaluation metric, and outliers. Once these error sources are considered, we obtain equivalent results to those found in the ionospheric delay domain assessments. Accurate GIMs can provide single-frequency navigation positioning at the decimeter level using CCL measurements and better positions than those obtained using the dual-frequency ionospheric-free combination of pseudoranges. Finally, some recommendations are provided for further studies of ionospheric models using the position domain method.
Quantitative Raman spectroscopy for the Ioncell™ process. Part 1: comparison of univariate and multivariate calibration methods for the quantification of water and protic ionic liquid components
Authors: Guizani Chamseddine , Hellstén Sanna , Witos Joanna , Sixta Herbert
Published: November 2019

We investigate in this paper the potential of Raman spectroscopy for the quantification of protic ionic liquid components (acid and base) and water, in ionic liquid/water mixtures, taking 1.5-Diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-enium acetate ([DBNH][OAc]) as a case study. We show that the combination of Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics is quite successful for the quantitative analysis of the ionic liquid components and water in mixtures over wide concentration ranges. The finding of the present work suggest that Raman spectroscopy should be considered more universally for the in-line monitoring and control of processes involving ionic liquid/H2O mixtures.
Study on liquid sloshing characteristics of a swaying rectangular tank with a rolling baffle
Authors: Wang Jing-Han , Sun Shi-Li
Published: November 2019

This study addresses the sloshing characteristics of a liquid contained in a tank with a vertical baffle mounted at the bottom of the tank. Liquid sloshing characteristics are studied through an analytical solution procedure based on the linear velocity potential theory. The tank is forced to sway horizontally and periodically, while the baffle is fixed to the tank or rolling around a hinged point. The rectangular tank flow field is divided into a few sub-domains. The potentials are solved by a separate variable method, and the boundary conditions and matching requirements between adjacent sub-domains are used to determine the sole solution. The free surface elevations with no baffle or a low fixed baffle are compared with those in published data, and the correctness and reliability of the present method are verified. Then the baffle is forced to rotate around the bottom-mounted point. It is found that the baffle’s motion, including the magnitude and the phase together, can be adjusted to suppress the free surface elevation, and even the sloshing wave can be almost eliminated.
Gender differences in agricultural productivity: evidence from maize farm households in southern Ethiopia
Authors: Gebre Girma Gezimu , Isoda Hiroshi , Rahut Dil Bahadur , Amekawa Yuichiro , Nomura Hisako
Published: November 2019

This study examines the impact of gender differences on maize productivity in Dawuro Zone, southern Ethiopia. Our study addressed the limitations of the previous studies in two ways. First, the study separately assessed gender differences in productivity between de facto female-headed households and de jure female-headed households and revealed that female-headed households are not homogenous. Second, the study separately examined the impacts of the covariates on male-headed households and female-headed households using an exogenous switching treatment effect model. We find the existence of gender differences in maize productivity between male-headed households and female-headed households. The maize productivity of male-headed households was overall 44.3% higher than that of female-headed households. However, if female-headed households received the same return on their resources as male-headed households, their productivity would increase by 42.3%. This suggests agricultural policy should target female-headed households to help reduce the productivity gap between male-headed households and female-headed households. Finally, the distributions of the gender differentials between male-headed households and female-headed households are more pronounced at mid-levels of productivity.