bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cervical Dystonia Following Injury to the Cerebellar Pontine Angle: An Instructive Case
Authors: Karnik Vikram , Del Gamba Claudia , Jesuthasan Aaron , Latorre Anna
Published: August 2018

A 38‐year‐old woman presented with cervical dystonia in the context of a recent surgery to remove a vestibular schwannoma. She initially presented to neurology with pain in the right arm, and MRI of the brain showed an incidental right‐sided vestibular schwannoma (Video 1, Segment 1). An elective gamma‐knife procedure was performed, which failed. Hydrocephalus requiring ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion developed, and 3 years following the initial procedure the lesion was surgically excised. Surgery was further complicated by right middle cerebellar peduncle injury, extending to the cerebellopontine angle and marginally to the right pontine tegmentum, with subsequent mass effect on cerebellum displayed on follow‐up MRI (Video 1, Segment 2).

Six months later, the patient experienced forced head deviation to the right, with difficulty moving from this position. Examination revealed clear right‐sided torticollis, with hypertrophy of the left sternocleidomastoid muscle. Cervical dystonia worsened with action and nearly resolved with the patient lying down. A clear geste antagoniste, where symptoms improved with the patient touching the side of her head, was present (Video 1, Segment 3). Findings consistent with injury to the cerebellar pathways were additionally exhibited. She demonstrated clear dysarthria, bilateral dysmetria, dysdiadochokinesia (worse on the right), and prominent gait ataxia (Video 1, Segment 4). Although a possible role of the schwannoma itself in the cervical dystonia pathogenesis cannot be entirely ruled out, the timing of signs, occurring soon after the postsurgical injury, suggest a prominent involvement of structures lying within the cerebellar pontine angle.
An evaluation of diagnostic agreement rates between advanced practice physiotherapists and paediatric orthopaedic consultants for children with musculoskeletal complaints
Authors: Ó Mír Marie , O'Sullivan Cliona , Lennon Olive , Blake Catherine
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of the present study was to establish diagnostic agreement rates between orthopaedic consultants and advanced practice physiotherapists (APPs) for paediatric orthopaedic patients, examine the appropriateness of referrals by APPs to consultants and report on the surgical conversion rate (SCR).

Methods

A retrospective review of all patients referred from an APP clinic to orthopaedic consultants was conducted for 2013, with a 3‐year longitudinal follow‐up through to the end of 2016. Study participants were two APPs and four orthopaedic consultants at a single site. Descriptive statistics report the proportion of appropriate onward referrals and SCRs. Raw proportion agreement and kappa coefficients were used to evaluate diagnostic agreement rates.

Results

The mean raw agreement was 82% (95% confidence interval = 73 to 87), with 12 of the 15 individual codes demonstrating agreement rates ≥90% (range 57–100). Good to excellent agreement was demonstrated in almost all categories based on the kappa coefficient. Eighty‐seven per cent of referrals from APPs were deemed to be appropriate by the orthopaedic consultants. The SCR was 23%.

Conclusions

This was the first study to evaluate diagnostic agreement rates between APPs and orthopaedic consultants, the appropriateness of onward referral by APPs and the SCR for paediatric musculoskeletal patients referred from an APP clinic. Good to excellent diagnostic agreement was observed for routine elective paediatric orthopaedic patients, in tandem with agreement levels reported in the adult literature. The study demonstrates that APPs are clinically effective in the diagnosis and onward referral of paediatric orthopaedic patients in a triage setting.
Continued Embryonic Development, Survival, and Growth of Walleye Larvae Following Exposure to Dewatering and Storage in Melting-Ice Temperatures
Authors: Dabrowski Konrad , Wojno Michal , Miller MacKenzie , Kwasek Karolina , Grayson John
Published: August 2018

The tolerance of eyed-stage embryos of Walleye Sander vitreus to cooling at melting-ice temperatures and their subsequent hatching and rearing to advanced juveniles were examined. Embryos (71% viable; 8 d after fertilization) were refrigerated in an insulated transportation Styrofoam box between wet cheesecloth layers and melting ice (1.4°C) for 25, 48, 72, and 120 h. Embryos were then acclimated to 14°C aquaria for hatching and rearing (20°C). The hatching of embryos and their ability to continue development (swim bladder inflation), food acceptance (live nauplii of brine shrimp Artemia spp.), and growth were monitored for 14 d. The duration of exposure to cold storage stress resulted in no significant differences in mean ± SD survival (46.8 ± 8.0, 38.7 ± 8.6, 41.0 ± 4.9, and 36.9 ± 12.5% for 25-, 48-, 72-, 120-h treatments, respectively) at the end of the rearing and feeding period. However, the proportion of fish with inflated swim bladders was the highest in the 120-h cold-delayed fish (mean ± SD = 61 ± 18, 54 ± 8, 64 ± 3.8, and 90.5 ± 8%, respectively). The mean weight of fish was not significantly influenced by cold storage treatments but was significantly influenced by swim bladder status (9.2–11.8 mg, 7.0–9.8 mg, and 5.7–9.5 mg for fully inflated, partially inflated, and uninflated groups, respectively). This experiment provides significant new data to fish culturists regarding the storage of Walleye embryos prior to hatching and the possibility of convenient transportation or delayed stocking of larvae into prepared nursing ponds or indoor rearing tanks for intensive culture.
Inactive individuals with chronic neck pain have changes in range of motion and functional performance of the shoulder
Authors: da Silva Rafaela Maria , Bezerra Mariana Alves , Santos‐de‐Araújo Aldair Darlan , de Paula Gomes Cid André Fidelis , da Silva Souza Cesário , de Souza Matias Priscila Helena Vanin Alves , Dibai‐Filho Almir Vieira
Published: August 2018

Objective

To correlate the range of movement and functional performance of the shoulder with pain measures in inactive individuals with and without neck pain. In addition, comparisons were made between the groups.

Methods

The sample comprised two groups of inactive adults, aged 18–45 years: chronic neck pain (n = 30) and healthy subjects (n = 30). All participants had no clinical dysfunction in the shoulder joint. Aspects related to neck pain were evaluated with the Numerical Rating Scale, Neck Disability Index, and the Catastrophic Thoughts about Pain Scale. Range of motion and shoulder functionality was evaluated by means of goniometry and the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability (CKCUES) test, respectively.

Results

Individuals with neck pain presented reduction in CKCUES test (absolute score, mean difference [MD] = −1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] [−2.87, −0.12]) and in abduction (MD = −7.36°, 95% CI [−13.84, −0.89]) and lateral rotation (MD = −8.61°, CI [−15.94, −1.28]) range of motion. Moreover, weak, significant, and negative association (p < 0.05, r = −0.262 to −0.384) was observed between the CKCUES test and pain intensity at rest and during active cervical movements, as well as catastrophizing. A weak, significant, and negative association (p < 0.05, r = −0.256 to −0.389) was also observed between the lateral rotation range of motion and catastrophizing, as well as pain intensity both at rest and during active movements.

Conclusion

The greater the neck pain intensity and catastrophizing, the lower the functional performance and lateral rotation range of motion of the shoulder.
Advanced solutions with hot‐rolled sections for economical and durable bridges
Authors: Rademacher Dennis , Ochojski Wojciech , Lorenc Wojciech , Kożuch Maciej
Published: August 2018

Growing problems in terms of damage to bridges correlated with – in some cases huge – long‐term impacts on road traffic have shown how essential it is to ensure the durability of the infrastructure and thus the mobility of people as well as the exchange of goods. Corrosion damage can be sustainably avoided in future by employing alternative protection systems for steel and composite bridges. Both hot‐dip galvanizing with a coating thickness of at least 200 µm and weathering steel offer crucial advantages over traditional coating systems when considering the whole life cycle of a bridge: They require no maintenance, and so traffic disruption can be avoided. When using these systems in combination with hot‐rolled sections, there are further significant advantages as they render composite bridges more economical and durable, particularly when it comes to short and medium spans. Standard higher strengths with steel grade S460 allow for more economical cross‐sections, with weight‐ and cost‐savings of often 20–30 % compared with welded built‐up sections in grade S355. Sophisticated designs employing rolled sections can achieve not only small and medium spans, but also longer ones, e.g. arch bridges with spans > 100 m. This article describes new trends in Europe using hot‐rolled sections in steel and composite bridges.
Mott transition with holographic spectral function
Authors: Seo Yunseok , Song Geunho , Qi Yong-Hui , Sin Sang-Jin
Published: August 2018

Abstract

We show that the Mott transition can be realized in a holographic model of a fermion with bulk mass, m, and a dipole interaction of coupling strength p. The phase diagram contains gapless, pseudo-gap and gapped phases and the first one can be further divided into four sub-classes. We compare the spectral densities of our holographic model with the Dynamical Mean Field Theory (DMFT) results for Hubbard model as well as the experimental data of Vanadium Oxide materials. Interestingly, single-site and cluster DMFT results of Hubbard model share some similarities with the holographic model of different parameters, although the spectral functions are quite different due to the asymmetry in the holography part. The theory can fit the X-ray absorption spectrum (XAS) data quite well, but once the theory parameters are fixed with the former it can fit the photoelectric emission spectrum (PES) data only if we symmetrize the spectral function.
The β-function for Yukawa theory at large Nf
Authors: Alanne Tommi , Blasi Simone
Published: August 2018

Abstract

We compute the β-function for a massless Yukawa theory in a closed form at the order

$$ \mathcal{O}\left(1/{N}_f\right) $$

O

1
/

N
f

in the spirit of the expansion in a large number of flavours N

f
. We find an analytic expression with a finite radius of convergence, and the first singularity occurs at the coupling value K = 3.
Are longer advertising slogans more dangerous? The influence of the length of ad slogans on drivers’ attention and motor behavior
Authors: Harasimczuk Justyna , Maliszewski Norbert E. , Olejniczak-Serowiec Anna , Tarnowski Adam
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this project was to verify whether slogans displayed on roadside advertisements created a distraction for drivers. In order to explain the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, Study 1 examined the impact of slogan length on attentional processing efficiency. Study 2 investigated the relationship between the length of the slogan and the motor behavior of respondents driving a car simulator. We assumed that slogan length would decrease the drivers’ task performance in both studies. Study 1 was conducted on a group of 70 participants, who completed a modified version of the Attention Network Test (ANT; Fan et al. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 14(3), 340–347, 2002). The task consisted of visual ads intended to distract respondents from the primary task. Reaction times were significantly longer when ads had longer slogans compared to shorter slogans. Study 2, involving a car simulator, was conducted on a group of 53 drivers performing a task of driving in a convoy. Participants were shown billboards with ads at the roadside in random order (two pairs of corresponding ads with short and long text on it). Participants’ driving performance decreased when longer slogans were presented in comparison to the short-slogan condition. In conclusion, we interpret the results of Study 1 to indicate that longer slogan leads to a greater load of attentional processing. This subsequently leads to a reduction of the processing efficiency within attentional systems and further increases the amount of time to resist the irrelevant stimulus. A consequence of this, as shown in Study 2 using a car simulator, is a decrease in cognitive resources necessary for safe driving and therefore worse performance on a driving task.
CONTINUITY OF ROOTS, REVISITED
Authors: BUGAJEWSKI DARIUSZ , MAĆKOWIAK PIOTR
Published: August 2018

The aim of this note is to give a simple topological proof of the well-known result concerning continuity of roots of polynomials. We also consider a more general case with polynomials of a higher degree approaching a given polynomial. We then examine the continuous dependence of solutions of linear differential equations with constant coefficients.
NOTE ON THE NUMBER OF DIVISORS OF REDUCIBLE QUADRATIC POLYNOMIALS
Authors: DUDEK ADRIAN W. , PAŃKOWSKI ŁUKASZ , SCHARASCHKIN VICTOR
Published: August 2018

Lapkova [‘On the average number of divisors of reducible quadratic polynomials’,J. Number Theory 180(2017), 710–729] uses a Tauberian theorem to derive an asymptotic formula for the divisor sum$\sum _{n\leq x}d(n(n+v))$where$v$is a fixed integer and$d(n)$denotes the number of divisors of $n$. We reprove this result with additional terms in the asymptotic formula, by investigating the relationship between this divisor sum and the well-known sum$\sum _{n\leq x}d(n)d(n+v)$.
-ASYMPTOTICALLY PERIODIC SOLUTIONS FOR ABSTRACT EQUATIONS WITH STATE-DEPENDENT DELAY
Authors: HERNÁNDEZ EDUARDO , PIERRI MICHELLE
Published: August 2018

We study the existence and uniqueness of${\mathcal{S}}$-asymptotically periodic solutions for a general class of abstract differential equations with state-dependent delay. Some examples related to problems arising in population dynamics are presented.
REPRESENTATION FUNCTIONS ON ABELIAN GROUPS
Authors: MA WU-XIA , CHEN YONG-GAO
Published: August 2018

Let$G$be a finite abelian group,$A$a nonempty subset of$G$and$h\geq 2$an integer. For$g\in G$, let$R_{A,h}(g)$denote the number of solutions of the equation$x_{1}+\cdots +x_{h}=g$with$x_{i}\in A$for$1\leq i\leq h$. Kisset al. [‘Groups, partitions and representation functions’,Publ. Math. Debrecen85(3) (2014), 425–433] proved that (a) if$R_{A,h}(g)=R_{G\setminus A,h}(g)$for all$g\in G$, then$|G|=2|A|$, and (b) if$h$is even and$|G|=2|A|$, then$R_{A,h}(g)=R_{G\setminus A,h}(g)$for all$g\in G$. We prove that$R_{G\setminus A,h}(g)-(-1)^{h}R_{A,h}(g)$does not depend on$g$. In particular, if$h$is even and$R_{A,h}(g)=R_{G\setminus A,h}(g)$for some$g\in G$, then$|G|=2|A|$. If$h>1$is odd and$R_{A,h}(g)=R_{G\setminus A,h}(g)$for all$g\in G$, then$R_{A,h}(g)=\frac{1}{2}|A|^{h-1}$for all$g\in G$. If$h>1$is odd and$|G|$is even, then there exists a subset$A$of$G$with$|A|=\frac{1}{2}|G|$such that$R_{A,h}(g)\not =R_{G\setminus A,h}(g)$for all$g\in G$.
ENTIRE SOLUTIONS OF A CURVATURE FLOW IN AN UNDULATING CYLINDER
Authors: YUAN LIXIA , LOU BENDONG
Published: August 2018

We consider a curvature flow $V=\unicode[STIX]{x1D705}+A$ in a two-dimensional undulating cylinder $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}$ described by $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}:=\{(x,y)\in \mathbb{R}^{2}\mid -g_{1}(y)<x0$ is a constant and $g_{1}(y),g_{2}(y)$ are positive smooth functions. If $g_{1}$ and $g_{2}$ are periodic functions and there are no stationary curves, Matano et al. [‘Periodic traveling waves in a two-dimensional cylinder with saw-toothed boundary and their homogenization limit’, Netw. Heterog. Media1 (2006), 537–568] proved the existence of a periodic travelling wave. We consider the case where $g_{1},g_{2}$ are general nonperiodic positive functions and the problem has some stationary curves. For each stationary curve $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$ unstable from above/below, we construct an entire solution growing out of it, that is, a solution curve $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}_{t}$ which increases/decreases monotonically, converging to $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$ as $t\rightarrow -\infty$ and converging to another stationary curve or to $+\infty /-\infty$ as $t\rightarrow \infty$.
Defense Cooperation Agreements and the Emergence of a Global Security Network
Authors: Kinne Brandon J
Published: August 2018

Bilateral defense cooperation agreements, or DCAs, are now the most common form of institutionalized defense cooperation. These formal agreements establish broad defense-oriented legal frameworks between signatories, facilitating cooperation in such fundamental areas as defense policy coordination, research and development, joint military exercises, education and training, arms procurement, and exchange of classified information. Although nearly a thousand DCAs are currently in force, with potentially wide-ranging impacts on national and international security outcomes, DCAs have been largely ignored by scholars. Why have DCAs proliferated? I develop a theory that integrates cooperation theory with insights from social network analysis. Shifts in the global security environment since the 1980s have fueleddemandfor DCAs. States use DCAs to modernize their militaries, respond to shared security threats, and establish security umbrellas with like-minded states. Yet, demand alone cannot explain DCA proliferation; to cooperate, governments must also overcome dilemmas of mistrust and distributional conflicts. I show that network influences increase thesupplyof DCAs by providing governments with information about the trustworthiness of partners and the risk of asymmetric distributions of gains. DCAs become easier to sign as more states sign them. I identify two specific network influences—preferential attachmentandtriadic closure—and show that these influences are largely responsible for the post-Cold War diffusion of DCAs. Novel empirical strategies further indicate that these influences derive from the proposed informational mechanism. States use the DCA ties of others to glean information about prospective defense partners, thus endogenously fueling further growth of the global DCA network.
On the Scales of Dynamic Topography in Whole‐Mantle Convection Models
Authors: Arnould M. , Coltice N. , Flament N. , Seigneur V. , Müller R. D.
Published: August 2018

Mantle convection shapes Earth's surface by generating dynamic topography. Observational constraints and regional convection models suggest that surface topography could be sensitive to mantle flow for wavelengths as short as 1,000 and 250 km, respectively. At these spatial scales, surface processes including sedimentation and relative sea‐level change occur on million‐year timescales. However, time‐dependent global mantle flow models do not predict small‐scale dynamic topography yet. Here we present 2‐D spherical annulus numerical models of mantle convection with large radial and lateral viscosity contrasts. We first identify the range of Rayleigh number, internal heat production rate and yield stress for which models generate plate‐like behavior, surface heat flow, surface velocities, and topography distribution comparable to Earth's. These models produce both whole‐mantle convection and small‐scale convection in the upper mantle, which results in small‐scale (<500 km) to large‐scale (>104 km) dynamic topography, with a spectral power for intermediate scales (500 to 104 km) comparable to estimates of present‐day residual topography. Timescales of convection and the associated dynamic topography vary from five to several hundreds of millions of years. For a Rayleigh number of 107, we investigate how lithosphere yield stress variations (10–50 MPa) and the presence of deep thermochemical heterogeneities favor small‐scale (200–500 km) and intermediate‐scale (500–104 km) dynamic topography by controlling the formation of small‐scale convection and the number and distribution of subduction zones, respectively. The interplay between mantle convection and lithosphere dynamics generates a complex spatial and temporal pattern of dynamic topography consistent with constraints for Earth.
Signatures of the Existence of Frontal and Lateral Ramp Structures Near the Kishtwar Window of the Jammu and Kashmir Himalaya: Evidence From Microseismicity and Source Mechanisms
Authors: Paul Himangshu , Priestley Keith , Powali Debarchan , Sharma Swati , Mitra Supriyo , Wanchoo Sunil
Published: August 2018

We study the Kashmir seismic gap using data from a network of local broadband stations spanning southeastern Kashmir Valley and Jammu. We detected and located several hundred earthquakes using continuous data recorded in our network. The earthquakes (ML 1.0–5.0) were relocated using probabilistic and relative location methods to obtain a subset of events with depth and spatial uncertainty ≤1.5 km. The earthquakes were found to cluster along two adjacent lines parallel to the strike of the Himalaya but at different depths. The SW cluster was found to be shallower (4–15 km) than the NE cluster (13–18 km). The events in the SW cluster shallowed toward NW from SE. We calculated the source mechanism of larger earthquakes (ML≥3.0) using global and local data sets. The source mechanism results show dominant thrust motion of the earthquakes in the NE cluster. Considering nodal planes dipping to the northeast as fault planes, we obtained the model of a steep frontal ramp close to the locked portion of the Main Himalayan Thrust. The model obtained for SW cluster of seismicity showed the presence of a lateral ramp dipping to the SE. Normal faulting was observed in the SW cluster. Our analysis shows two possible causes for the existence of these normal faults—the existing strike‐slip motion loading/unloading stresses on the lateral heterogeneities within the decollement or the transfer of potential energy by sediment yield of the river Chenab. The elevated flat situated northwest of the lateral ramp gives rise to very shallow microseismicity (4–7 km).
Nightside ULF Waves Observed in the Topside Ionosphere by the DEMETER Satellite
Authors: Ouyang X. Y. , Zong Q. G. , Bortnik J. , Wang Y. F. , Chi P. J. , Zhou X. Z. , Yue C. , Hao Y. Q.
Published: August 2018

We study ultralow‐frequency (ULF) waves at frequencies 17–100 mHz observed in the topside ionosphere by the DEMETER satellite in an ~5‐year period from January 2006 to November 2010. Our results show that two types of ULF oscillations occur on the nightside in the L < 2 region. These two kinds of ULF oscillations are separated based on cross‐covariance analysis between electric field in the DC/ULF range and electron density. Type I ULF oscillations, accompanied by electron density perturbations (average |δNe/Ne0| > 5%), are found to lag behind density variations, and the longitudinal distribution of type I ULF oscillations is quite similar to the longitudinal distribution of plasma irregularities at ~600 km. These signatures suggest that type I ULF oscillations are related to plasma irregularities that are common phenomena in the nightside F region ionosphere. The characteristics of type II ULF oscillations (without significant electron density perturbations) agree well with those features of midlatitude ionospheric electric field fluctuations, which are not thought to be related to magnetospheric origins.
Kinematic Parameter Inversion of the Slumgullion Landslide Using the Time Series Offset Tracking Method With UAVSAR Data
Authors: Wang Changcheng , Cai Jiehua , Li Zhiwei , Mao Xiaokang , Feng Guangcai , Wang Qijie
Published: August 2018

The Slumgullion landslide in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado is a translational debris slide whose active part has been moving for at least 300 years. To further study the kinematic characteristics of the spatiotemporal domain of landslides, we establish a kinematic model based on the behavior of the Slumgullion landslide. The kinematic parameters are inverted with 45 sets of surface displacement fields measured by the time series offset tracking method using uninhabited aerial vehicle synthetic aperture radar (UAVSAR) data obtained for the period from August 2011 to November 2013. The inversion results indicate that the Slumgullion landslide moves with an average velocity of up to 1.2 cm/day and presents obvious seasonal changes in velocity. According to the change of sliding velocity, the head and tail of the Slumgullion landslide tend to be stable, whereas the neck of the landslide is accelerating. The topography has an important influence on the kinematic parameters. Based on the kinematic parameters, we identify the main geological structures of the Slumgullion landslide, including tension cracks, strike‐slip faults, and thrust faults. The geological structures inferred by the kinematic parameters are consistent with a geological interpretive map. We derive more detailed kinematic characteristics for these structures using the obtained the kinematic parameters and infer two previously unmapped thrust faults. Additionally, we also analyze the relationship between the meteorology and the seasonal velocity of the Slumgullion landslide. The consistency between the periodic changes in meteorology (mainly including precipitation and snowmelt) and the seasonal velocity further verifies the rationality of using the kinematic model.
Relocation of River Storage From Global Hydrological Models to Georeferenced River Channels for Improved Load‐Induced Surface Displacements
Authors: Dill R. , Klemann V. , Dobslaw H.
Published: August 2018

Variations in terrestrial surface water storage cause elastic crustal displacements of several millimeters in the vertical direction on daily to seasonal time scales. Locally, strong signals with exceptionally high amplitudes can be observed along the major river channels. As the horizontal resolution of global hydrological models is typically limited to 0.5° × 0.5°, the generalized model drainage network leads to simulated river mass distributions that are not necessarily collocated with the real courses of the rivers. Moreover, the spreading of locally concentrated surface water on the coarse model grids leads to substantially underestimated amplitudes of simulated hydrologically induced surface displacements. We therefore develop a relocation procedure to improve such hydrological loading estimates, especially at locations near the river banks. We separate the water masses stored in the modeled river network from the total water storage and relocate them on a georeferenced river map with higher resolution. Applying the relocated river masses, simulated hydrological loading amplitudes increase by 0.2–5 mm for the vertical load‐induced surface displacement along the major rivers, at the Amazon even up to additional 15 mm. The amplitudes for the horizontal load‐induced surface displacements are slightly increased, up to maximum 3 mm. Besides changes in the distance to the mass loads, the horizontal displacement fields is also heavily affected by significant changes in the directions to the relocated river mass load. The comparison of modeled hydrologically induced surface displacement time series with Global Positioning System observations shows a significantly improved fit for stations in close proximity to larger rivers when applying the relocation procedure.
Radiosonde‐Derived Temperature Inversions and Their Association With Fog Over 37 Melt Seasons in East Greenland
Authors: Gilson Gaëlle F. , Jiskoot Hester , Cassano John J. , Nielsen Tyrell R.
Published: August 2018

We present temperature inversion characteristics during fog and nonfog conditions at three east Greenland coastal weather stations during Arctic melt seasons 1980–2016. For this purpose, we developed a novel automated method to extract fog‐top height (FTH) from Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive data, which is applicable to any fog thermodynamic profile and includes an improved interpolation of saturation between sounding levels. From the analysis of >22,000 melt‐season soundings we conclude that inversions occur 85–95% of the time, are predominantly elevated, and have median depths >200 m. Fog at high‐Arctic locations often penetrates the inversion layer, especially in the late melt season, and is commonly several hundred meters thick. At low‐Arctic locations fog is thinner and generally restricted to the mixed layer. Inversions during fog are deeper and stronger compared to nonfog conditions. This effect is more pronounced at higher latitudes, which we attribute to distinct local boundary layer conditions and large‐scale processes. The Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive‐extracted FTHs have a cumulative error of 56 m and are in reasonable agreement with retrievals from Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation satellite cloud top data. The novel FTH extraction method can be applied to any polar sounding with >5 significant levels below 700 hPa and can be extended to boundary layer clouds other than fog, which represent the majority of cloud occurrence in the Arctic melt season. This study advances the understanding of interactions between low clouds and temperature inversions and improves retrieval of cloud geometrical thickness from radiosondes: both have important implications for the Arctic surface energy budget.
Mars Thermospheric Variability Revealed by MAVEN EUVM Solar Occultations: Structure at Aphelion and Perihelion and Response to EUV Forcing
Authors: Thiemann E. M. B. , Eparvier F. G. , Bougher S. W. , Dominique M. , Andersson L. , Girazian Z. , Pilinski M. D. , Templeman B. , Jakosky B. M.
Published: August 2018

The Mars thermosphere holds clues to the evolution of the Martian climate and has practical implications for spacecraft visiting Mars, which often use it for aerobraking upon arrival, or for landers, which must pass through it. Nevertheless, it has been sparsely characterized, even when past accelerometer measurements and remote observations are taken into account. The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) orbiter, which includes a number of instruments designed to characterize the thermosphere, has greatly expanded the available thermospheric observations. This paper presents new and unanticipated measurements of density and temperature profiles (120–200 km) derived from solar occultations using the MAVEN Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Monitor (EUVM). These new measurements complement and expand MAVEN's intended thermospheric measurement capacity. In particular, because the local time is inherently fixed to the terminator, solar occultations are ideally suited for characterizing long‐term and latitudinal variability. Occultation measurements are made during approximately half of all orbits, resulting in thousands of new thermospheric profiles. The density retrieval method is presented in detail, including an uncertainty analysis. Altitude‐latitude maps of thermospheric density and temperature at perihelion and aphelion are presented, revealing structures that have not been previously observed. Tracers of atmospheric dynamics are also observed, including (1) a high altitude polar warming feature at intermediate latitudes, (2) cooler temperatures coinciding with increased gravity wave activity, and (3) an apparent thermostatic response to solar EUV heating during a solar rotation, which shows heating at high altitudes that is accompanied by cooling at lower altitudes.
The IRE1α-XBP1s pathway promotes insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes by increasing PPARγ activity
Authors: Cho Yoon Mi , Kim Dong Hee , Lee Kyung Hye , Jeong Seong-Whan , Kwon Oh-Joo
Published: August 2018

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) improves whole-body insulin sensitivity by regulating the adipogenic and metabolic functions of mature adipocytes. We have previously demonstrated that an active splice variant of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1s) enhances PPARγ expression during adipogenesis. In this study, we investigated the role of XBP1s, particularly with respect to PPARγ, in the mechanisms underlying insulin sensitivity in mature adipocytes. Insulin was able to stimulate XBP1s generation by activating inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) α and was also able to increase its transcriptional activity by inducing nuclear translocation. XBP1s also upregulated the levels of phosphorylated IRS1 and AKT, demonstrating a positive feedback regulatory mechanism linking insulin and XBP1s. XBP1s enhanced the expression of fibroblast growth factor 21 and, in turn, increased PPARγ activity, translocation of GLUT4 to the cell surface, and glucose uptake rate in adipocytes. In addition, XBP1s abolished palmitate-induced insulin resistance in adipocytes by increasing adiponectin secretion, repressing the secretion of pro-inflammatory adipokines such as leptin, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and tumor necrosis factor α, and decreasing fatty acid release. These findings provide a novel mechanism by which XBP1s stimulate insulin sensitivity in adipocytes through fibroblast growth factor 21 induction and PPARγ activation.
Transcriptional activation of glucose transporter 1 in orthodontic tooth movement-associated mechanical response
Authors: Wang Yu , Li Qian , Liu Fuliang , Jin Shanshan , Zhang Yimei , Zhang Ting , Zhu Yunyan , Zhou Yanheng
Published: August 2018

The interplay between mechanoresponses and a broad range of fundamental biological processes, such as cell cycle progression, growth and differentiation, has been extensively investigated. However, metabolic regulation in mechanobiology remains largely unexplored. Here, we identified glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1)—the primary glucose transporter in various cells—as a novel mechanosensitive gene in orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). Using an in vivo rat OTM model, we demonstrated the specific induction of Glut1 proteins on the compressive side of a physically strained periodontal ligament. This transcriptional activation could be recapitulated in in vitro cultured human periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs), showing a time- and dose-dependent mechanoresponse. Importantly, application of GLUT1 specific inhibitor WZB117 greatly suppressed the efficiency of orthodontic tooth movement in a mouse OTM model, and this reduction was associated with a decline in osteoclastic activities. A mechanistic study suggested that GLUT1 inhibition affected the receptor activator for nuclear factor-κ B Ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) system by impairing compressive force-mediated RANKL upregulation. Consistently, pretreatment of PDLCs with WZB117 severely impeded the osteoclastic differentiation of co-cultured RAW264.7 cells. Further biochemical analysis indicated mutual regulation between GLUT1 and the MEK/ERK cascade to relay potential communication between glucose uptake and mechanical stress response. Together, these cross-species experiments revealed the transcriptional activation of GLUT1 as a novel and conserved linkage between metabolism and bone remodelling.
Gestational Weight Gain per Pre-Pregnancy Body Mass Index and Birth Weight in Twin Pregnancies: A Cohort Study in Wuhan, China
Authors: Chen Yawen , Liu Yan , Zhang Yiming , Hu Ronghua , Qian Zhengmin , Xian Hong , Vaughn Michael G. , Liu Mingzhu , Cao Shiyi , Gan Yong , Zhang Bin
Published: August 2018

To assess the relationship between gestational weight gain (GWG) of twin-pregnancy women and twin birth weights, as well as to evaluate whether pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) influences this relationship. A cohort study was conducted in Wuhan, China, between 1/01/2011 and 8/31/2017. Women with twin pregnancies who delivered live and non-malformed twins were included (6,925 women and 13,850 infants), based on the Wuhan Maternal and Child Health Management Information System. Logistic regression models were employed to examine the association between GWG and paired small for gestational age (SGA, defined as birth weight <10th percentile for gestational age and sex)/SGA and linear regression models were utilized to explore the relationship between GWG and sum of birth weights. The associations of GWG based on both the IOM and Chinese recommendations and SGA/SGA pairs were obtained, as well as the stratified analyses by pre-pregnancy BMI. Additionally, the sum birth weight of one twin pair increased by 15.88 g when the GWG increased by 1 kg. GWG below the IOM and Chinese recommendations was associated with an increased risk of SGA/SGA pairs in all pre-pregnancy BMI categories. However, in underweight, overweight, and obese women, the association between GWG above the IOM and Chinese recommendations and SGA/SGA pairs changed with adjustment.
Geographic differences in obesity prevalence and its risk factors among Asian Americans: findings from the 2013–2014 California Health Interview Survey
Authors: Gong Shaoqing , Wang Kesheng , Li Ying , Alamian Arsham
Published: August 2018

Geography disparities exist in obesity and obesity related conditions. This study aimed to examine the geographic differences in obesity prevalence and its risk factors among Asian Americans in California. Data (n = 4,000) from the 2013–2014 California Health Interview Survey were used. Obesity (≥27.5 kg/m2) was defined according to the World Health Organization Asian body mass index cut points in Asian groups. Results suggest that 66.5% of Asians lived in urban areas. Among Asian adults, obesity prevalence was highest in Filipinos (33.8%) and lowest in Koreans (12.8%). Compared to rural Vietnamese, obesity prevalence was higher for urban Vietnamese (8.3% vs. 20.2%, p = 0.0318). Weighted multiple logistic regression analyses showed that being 45–64 years (vs. 65 years or above), being Japanese, Filipino, or other Asians (vs. Chinese) were associated with a higher odds of obesity among urban residents; whereas being 18–44 years and being 45–64 years (vs. 65 years or older), being male, having high school education (vs. having graduate education) were associated with a higher odds of obesity among rural residents. Being Vietnamese (vs. Chinese) was associated with 64% decreased odds of obesity only among rural residents (95% confidence interval = 0.14–0.94). The findings show geography disparities in obesity among Asians in California.
Role of an external electric field on hybrid halide perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 band gaps
Authors: Ji Denghui , Na Mula , Wang Shuling , Zhang Hong , Zhu Kun , Zhang CongMin , Li Xiuling
Published: August 2018

The organic-inorganic perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 has attracted much attention due to their power conversion efficiency as a potential photovoltaic material, but the role of an external electric field has not been well understood. Based on first-principles calculations, the effects of an external electric field (E) applied along the [111] direction of the orthorhombic perovskite, CH3NH3PbI3, on its electronic structure and optical properties are investigated. Our results indicate that the electric field strength affects the band gap (Eg) of CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3, MA = CH3NH3). The energy difference between the two peaks closest to the Fermi level in the density of states diagram decreases with increasing applied electric field strength along the [111] direction, indicating that the covalent character increases between A-sites cations and I-sites anions. Both the cell volume and the final energy show the same increasing trend. The absorption peaks move toward the visible-frequency range, with the optimal band gap of 1.1–1.45 eV and E = 0.04–0.06 eV/Å/e. In particular, the non-linear change of the second-order Stark effect causes a non-linear change in the band gap.
Comprehensive panicle phenotyping reveals that qSrn7/FZP influences higher-order branching
Authors: Fujishiro Yasuko , Agata Ayumi , Ota Sadayuki , Ishihara Ryota , Takeda Yasumi , Kunishima Takeshi , Ikeda Mayuko , Kyozuka Junko , Hobo Tokunori , Kitano Hidemi
Published: August 2018

Rice grain number directly affects crop yield. Identifying alleles that improve panicle architecture would greatly aid the development of high-yield varieties. Here, we show that the quantitative trait locus qSrn7 contains rice FRIZZY PANICLE (FZP), a previously reported gene encoding an ERF transcription factor that promotes floral transition. Reduced expression of FZP in the reproductive stage increases the extent of higher order branching of the panicle, resulting in increased grain number. Genotype analysis of this gene in cultivars from the publicly available National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS) Core Collection demonstrated that the extent of higher order branching, especially in the upper panicle, was increased in those cultivars carrying the FZP allele associated with qSrn7. Furthermore, chromosome segment substitution lines resulting from a cross between Koshihikari and Kasalath, the latter of which carries qSrn7/FZP, also showed that upper panicle higher order branching and grain yield were increased by qSrn7/FZP. Our findings indicate that qSrn7/FZP influences panicle branching pattern and is thus useful in the breeding of high-yield rice varieties.
Single Trial Plasticity in Evidence Accumulation Underlies Rapid Recalibration to Asynchronous Audiovisual Speech
Authors: Simon David M. , Nidiffer Aaron R. , Wallace Mark T.
Published: August 2018

Asynchronous arrival of audiovisual information at the peripheral sensory organs is a ubiquitous property of signals in the natural environment due to differences in the propagation time of light and sound. As these cues are constantly changing their distance from the observer, rapid adaptation to asynchronies is crucial for their appropriate integration. We investigated the neural basis of rapid recalibration to asynchronous audiovisual speech in humans using a combination of psychophysics, drift diffusion modeling, and electroencephalography (EEG). Consistent with previous reports, we found that perception of audiovisual temporal synchrony depends on the temporal ordering of the previous trial. Drift diffusion modelling indicated that this recalibration effect is well accounted for by changes in the rate of evidence accumulation (i.e. drift rate). Neural responses as indexed via evoked potentials were similarly found to vary based on the temporal ordering of the previous trial. Within and across subject correlations indicated that the observed changes in drift rate and the modulation of evoked potential magnitude were related. These results indicate that the rate and direction of evidence accumulation are affected by immediate sensory history and that these changes contribute to single trial recalibration to audiovisual temporal asynchrony.
Effects of NH4F and distilled water on structure of pores in TiO2 nanotube arrays
Authors: Kim Jaegyu , Kim Bongsoo , Oh Chungik , Ryu Jeongjae , Kim Hongjun , Park Eugene , No Kwangsoo , Hong Seungbum
Published: August 2018

In this study, we report the influences of distilled water and ammonium fluoride (NH4F) on morphology of pores in honeycomb-like titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotube arrays. We observed the structure and arrangement of pores in the TiO2nanotube arrays based on scanning electron microscopy images and analyzed the spatial distribution of the pores using fast Fourier transform and Voronoi diagram. We studied the individual pore properties including pore diameter, wall thickness, and interpore distance and found that locally connected ordering defects decreased with increasing distilled water concentration. Furthermore, we found that the optimum conditions of well-ordered hexagonal pore arrangement were 2 and 10 vol% distilled water with 0.2 and 0.4 wt% NH4F, respectively. Throughout this study, we provide a better understanding about the roles of distilled water and NH4F in forming well-ordered nanoscale pore structure with less ordering defects in the honeycomb-like TiO2nanotube arrays.
Externally-Triggered Activation and Inhibition of Optical Pulsating Regimes in Quantum-Dot Mode-locked Lasers
Authors: Robertson Joshua , Ackemann Thorsten , Lester Luke F. , Hurtado Antonio
Published: August 2018

Controlled generation and inhibition of externally-triggered picosecond optical pulsating regimes are demonstrated experimentally in a quantum dot mode locked laser (QDMLL) subject to external injection of an amplitude modulated optical signal. This approach also allows full control and repeatability of the time windows of generated picosecond optical pulses; hence permitting to define precisely their temporal duration (from <1 ns spans) and repetition frequency (from sub-Hz to at least hundreds of MHz). The use of a monolithic QDMLL, operating at 1300 nm, provides a system with a very small footprint that is fully compatible with optical telecommunication networks. This offers excellent prospects for use in applications requiring the delivery of ultrashort optical pulses at precise time instants and at tunable rates, such as optical imaging, time-of-flight diagnostics and optical communication systems.
Drug treatment efficiency depends on the initial state of activation in nonlinear pathways
Authors: Doldán-Martelli Victoria , Míguez David G.
Published: August 2018

An accurate prediction of the outcome of a given drug treatment requires quantitative values for all parameters and concentrations involved as well as a detailed characterization of the network of interactions where the target molecule is embedded. Here, we present a high-throughput in silico screening of all potential networks of three interacting nodes to study the effect of the initial conditions of the network in the efficiency of drug inhibition. Our study shows that most network topologies can induce multiple dose-response curves, where the treatment has an enhanced, reduced or even no effect depending on the initial conditions. The type of dual response observed depends on how the potential bistable regimes interplay with the inhibition of one of the nodes inside a nonlinear pathway architecture. We propose that this dependence of the strength of the drug on the initial state of activation of the pathway may be affecting the outcome and the reproducibility of drug studies and clinical trials.
Regional variations in stiffness in live mouse brain tissue determined by depth-controlled indentation mapping
Authors: Antonovaite Nelda , Beekmans Steven V. , Hol Elly M. , Wadman Wytse J. , Iannuzzi Davide
Published: August 2018

The mechanical properties of brain tissue play a pivotal role in neurodevelopment and neurological disorders. Yet, at present, there is no consensus on how the different structural parts of the tissue contribute to its stiffness variations. Here, we have gathered depth-controlled indentation viscoelasticity maps of the hippocampus of acute horizontal live mouse brain slices. Our results confirm the highly viscoelestic nature of brain tissue. We further show that the mechanical properties are non-uniform and at least related to differences in morphological composition. Interestingly, areas with higher nuclear density appear to be softer than areas with lower nuclear density.
No time at the end of the tunnel
Authors: Sokolovski D. , Akhmatskaya E.
Published: August 2018

Modern atto-second experiments seek to provide an insight into a long standing question: “how much time does a tunnelling particle spend in the barrier?” Traditionally, quantum theory relates this duration to the delay with which the particle emerges from the barrier. The link between these two times is self-evident in classical mechanics, but may or may not exist in the quantum case. Here we show that it does not, and give a detailed explanation why. The tunnelling process does not lend itself to classical analogies, and its duration cannot, in general, be guessed by observing the behaviour of the transmitted particle.