bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Notions of the Universal and Spiritual in Percy Grainger’s Early British Folk-Song Settings
Authors: Forbes Anne-Marie
Published: June 2018

Between 1905 and 1908 Percy Grainger made a major contribution to the corpus of British folk-song, collecting melodies and words of ballads, shanties and work songs, and devoting himself not just to the faithful capture of pitch and rhythm, but also the nuances of performance, with his pioneering use of the phonograph. These folk-songs became for Grainger a wellspring of compositional inspiration to which he returned time and time again. Yet while he was still a student in Frankfurt, Grainger had been making settings of British traditional tunes sourced from published collections. This article contends that these early arrangements hold the key to a deeper understanding of his later persistence in folk-song arranging and collecting, and that they prefigure the recurrent textual themes in the songs he later chose to arrange. It is argued that Grainger’s attraction to folk-song was textual and musical, tied to notions of purity, freedom and an unorthodox spirituality inspired by nature and shaped by the writings of Whitman, whereby Grainger perceived folk-song as a universal utterance. For Grainger, British folk-song was not simply a source of profound melody for appropriation; the window into a nation’s soul became a door into the souls of all humanity.
A post-colonial legal approach to the Chagos case and the (dis)application of land rights norms
Authors: Bhatt Kinnari
Published: June 2018

One way of understanding the exile of the Chagos Islanders and their inability to return to their ancestral land is through a reading of the case from a perspective of post-colonial legal scholarship. Chagossians have strong legal rights to land and remedies of compensation and return through a purposive application of the international legal definition of Indigenous, Magna Carta right to abode and international human rights law that could address their dispossession. Yet, the inability of those rights to be meaningfully applied has been constrained because of the post-colonial way they are legally interpreted, creating a legal vacuum in which basic fairness and substantive equality have been routinely compromised. Drawing attention to the continued legal denial of return in the context of decolonisation, ongoing colonialism and the rule of law makes sense of the legal record and explains the expulsion of the islanders despite the moral merits of return.
The Size and Emergence of Geochemical Heterogeneities in the Hawaiian Mantle Plume Constrained by Sr‐Nd‐Hf Isotopic Variation Over ∼47 Million Years
Authors: Harrison L. N. , Weis D.
Published: June 2018

The Hawaiian‐Emperor chain is the ∼6,000 km long surface expression of the deeply sourced Hawaiian mantle plume active over the past ∼81 Myr. The Hawaiian Islands (<∼6.5 Ma) present two geographically and geochemically distinct trends, Kea and Loa, while the Emperor Seamounts (>81–47 Ma) show only Kea compositions. New Sr‐Nd‐Hf isotope, trace and major element data of 23 Northwest Hawaiian Ridge (∼47–6.5 Ma) shield‐stage tholeiitic basalts analyzed in this study fill a critical gap and show both Kea and Loa compositions. A logistic regression model fit to a high‐quality isotopic database of Hawaiian Island basalts is used to predict Loa‐type or Kea‐type affinity of new NWHR isotope analyses. Daikakuji, Mokumanamana, West Nīhoa, Nīhoa, and Middle Bank erupt Loa‐type compositions, a finding corroborated by their geochemical characteristics (e.g., low Th/La, CaO/Al2O3, and high Sr/Nb, Zr/Nb, SiO2). Participation of the Loa composition gradually increases toward the Hawaiian Islands with time and there is no evidence for the presence of the Lō‘ihi component along the NWHR or before ∼1 Myr. A new Hf‐Nd Hawaiian array is calculated based on an up‐to‐date extended Hawaiian Island basalt database (n = 403). The NWHR array is slightly steeper than the Hawaiian array, suggesting minimal participation of the high Hf isotopic source component present in Hawaiian Island volcanoes before ∼6.5 Ma. This study fills a significant geochemical data gap in the Hawaiian‐Emperor seamount chain, and shows that Hawaiian plume chemistry evolves significantly with time as the plume samples different deep mantle reservoirs.
The Surface Roughness of Large Craters on Mercury
Authors: Susorney Hannah C. M. , Barnouin Olivier S. , Ernst Carolyn M. , Stickle Angela M.
Published: June 2018

This study investigates how individual large craters on Mercury (diameters of 25–200 km) can produce surface roughness over a range of baselines (the spatial horizontal scale) from 0.5 to 250 km. Surface roughness is a statistical measure of change in surface height over a baseline usually after topography has been detrended. We use root mean square deviation as our measure of surface roughness. Observations of large craters on Mercury at baselines of 0.5–10 km found higher surface roughness values at the central uplifts, rims, and exteriors of craters, while the crater floors exhibit the lowest roughness values. At baselines <10 km, the regions exterior to large craters with diameters >80 km have the highest surface roughness values. These regions, which include the ejecta and secondary fields, are the main contributors to the increased surface roughness observed in high‐crater density regions. For baselines larger than 10 km, the crater cavity itself is the main contributor to surface roughness. We used a suite of numerical models, utilizing the measured surface roughness obtained in the study, to model the cumulative effect of adding large craters to a surface. The results indicate that not all of the surface roughness on Mercury is due to fresh large craters but that impact craters likely contribute to the Hurst exponent from baselines of 0.5–1.5 km and the shape of the deviogram. The simulations show that the surface roughness varied around an asymptote at the baselines studied before the surface was covered in impact craters.
Relationship Between Orogenic Gold Mineralization and Crustal Shearing Along Ailaoshan‐Red River Belt, Southeastern Tibetan Plateau: New Constraint From Paleomagnetism
Authors: Gao Liang , Wang Qingfei , Deng Jun , Zhang Shihong , Yang Zhenyu
Published: June 2018

A new perspective on the relationship between orogenic gold mineralization and crustal shearing is presented in this case study on the gold deposits along Ailaoshan‐Red River shear zone (ARSZ), southeastern Tibetan Plateau. The sinistral ductile shearing along the zone occurred from ca. 31 to 17 Ma resulting in a displacement of ~1,000 km. A series of orogenic gold deposits, represented by the Zhenyuan and Chang'an deposits, occur on western margin of the ARSZ. The timing of mineralization and its relationship to shearing continues to be debated despite extensive geological and geochemical studies. Here we try to clarify this issue by using paleomagnetism to constrain the paleolatitude of mineralized rocks. High temperature magnetization components were isolated from the mineralized rocks, and they record modification by ore‐forming fluid. Their magnetization yields a paleolatitude of 19.9° ± 3.6°N for the Zhenyuan deposit and 16.2° ± 2.9°N for the Chang'an deposit. The paleolatitudes from these deposits are similar to those of ca. 20 Ma strata (19.0° ± 3.6°N), deposited after the large‐scale shearing. By contrast, they differ significantly from the paleolatitude obtained from ca. 130 to 40 Ma strata (28.4° ± 1.1°N), which formed long before the onset of large‐scale shearing. These observations imply that the orogenic gold mineralization occurred after the main offset and associated ductile deformation of the ARSZ. Gold mineralization is thought to be related to ore‐forming fluids and metals derived from the subcrust, rather than from fluids released from shearing‐induced metamorphism of regional strata.
Simultaneous Regional Detection of Land‐Use Changes and Elevated GHG Levels: The Case of Spring Precipitation in Tropical South America
Authors: Barkhordarian Armineh , von Storch Hans , Behrangi Ali , Loikith Paul C. , Mechoso Carlos R. , Detzer Judah
Published: June 2018

A decline in dry season precipitation over tropical South America has a large impact on ecosystem health of the region. Results here indicate that the magnitude of negative trends in dry season precipitation in the past decades exceeds the estimated range of trends due to natural variability of the climate system defined in both the preindustrial climate and during the 850–1850 millennium. The observed drying is associated with an increase in vapor pressure deficit. The univariate detection analysis shows that greenhouse gas (GHG) forcing has a systematic influence in negative 30‐year trends of precipitation ending in 1998 and later on. The bivariate attribution analysis demonstrates that forcing by elevated GHG levels and land‐use change are attributed as key causes for the observed drying during 1983–2012 over the southern Amazonia and central Brazil. We further show that the effect of GS signal (GHG and sulfate aerosols) based on RCP4.5 scenario already has a detectable influence in the observed drying. Thus, we suggest that the recently observed “drier dry season” is a feature which will continue and intensify in the course of unfolding anthropogenic climate change. Such change could have profound societal and ecosystem impacts over the region.
Identification and Characterization of Dust Source Regions Across North Africa and the Middle East Using MISR Satellite Observations
Authors: Yu Yan , Kalashnikova Olga V. , Garay Michael J. , Lee Huikyo , Notaro Michael
Published: June 2018

Motivated by limitations in current satellite‐based dust source identification techniques, this study examines dust emissions and concentrations over North Africa and the Middle East during 2000–2016 by analyzing stereo and optical products from the Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer instrument on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration polar‐orbiting Terra satellite. Based on the occurrence of fast‐moving, near‐surface dust plumes from the Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer cloud motion vector product, dust sources in the study region are identified in geographical depressions, including the Bodélé Depression, which represents the leading source. The West African El Djouf desert generates substantial dust emissions, which are typically underestimated by aerosol loading‐based dust source identifications. In response to local vegetation cover anomalies, dust emissions and concentrations increased at 15% year−1 over the Middle East and decreased at 12% year−1over the central Sahel during 2001–2013 but partly recovered toward their climatological means afterward.
Geodetic Constraints of the 2017 Mw7.3 Sarpol Zahab, Iran Earthquake, and Its Implications on the Structure and Mechanics of the Northwest Zagros Thrust‐Fold Belt
Authors: Feng Wanpeng , Samsonov Sergey , Almeida Rafael , Yassaghi Ali , Li Junhua , Qiu Qiang , Li Peng , Zheng Wenjun
Published: June 2018

We reveal transient surface deformation following the 2017 Mw7.3 Sarpol Zahab (Iran) earthquake using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) measurements. Based on the coseismic interferograms derived from the Advanced Land Observing Satellite‐2 (ALOS‐2) data, the preferred slip model of the earthquake has a centroid depth of 14.5 ± 4 km and suggests that a basement fault is most likely responsible for the 2017 earthquake in the northwest Zagros fold‐thrust belt zone. Two slip asperities with a maximum slip of 6 m separated by 16 km are observed in the best fitting slip model. The accumulated afterslip in the first month after the mainshock determined from the Sentinel‐1 postseismic interferograms reveals a slip distribution that lies immediately updip of the coseismic slip, implying that frictional properties of the fault vary along the rupture patch. The Bamo Mount in the earthquake area was uplifted by approximately 1 m during the earthquake. We suggest that local topographic growth from both seismic and aseismic faulting behaviors is common within the Zagros fold‐thrust belt zone based on our findings regarding the 2017 earthquake and other significant events in the region.
An Eastward Shift of the North Pacific Oscillation After the Mid‐1990s and Its Relationship With ENSO
Authors: Yeh Sang‐Wook , Yi Dong‐Won , Sung Mi‐Kyung , Kim Young Ho
Published: June 2018

The North Pacific Oscillation (NPO), which is characterized by a north‐south dipole‐like pattern of sea level pressure (SLP) in the North Pacific, is an atmospheric circulation that is a key to understanding tropical‐extratropical interactions in the Pacific. We show that the center of the southern lobe SLP in the NPO during boreal winter (December‐January‐February) is shifted to the east after the mid‐1990s compared to before the mid‐1990s. This leads to the change in the relationship between the NPO and El Niño and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The NPO is closely associated with the convective forcing in the tropical Pacific during boreal winter before the mid‐1990s. After the mid‐1990s, in contrast, the simultaneous relationship of the NPO and ENSO during boreal winter becomes weak. However, an eastward shift of the NPO's southern lobe SLP during boreal winter causes a close relationship with the ENSO in the winter of the following year through atmosphere‐ocean coupled processes after the mid‐1990s. These results indicate that atmospheric circulation in the North Pacific characterized by the NPO becomes more influential in the tropical Pacific with a lagged time after the mid‐1990s, likely due to the eastward shift in the NPO's structure. We also briefly discuss which processes cause an eastward shift in the NPO's southern lobe SLP.
An Entrogram‐Based Approach to Describe Spatial Heterogeneity With Applications to Solute Transport in Porous Media
Authors: Bianchi Marco , Pedretti Daniele
Published: June 2018

The recently introduced geological entropy concept evaluates spatial order/disorder in the structure of the hydraulic conductivity (K) field to explain and predict certain characteristics of transport behavior. This concept is expanded in this work by introducing a novel tool for spatial analysis called entrogram from which a metric called entropic scale (HS) can be calculated to measure the overall persistency of patterns of spatial association in a distributed field and to allow robust comparisons between different spatial structures. The entrogram and the entropic scale concepts are applied here to investigate the link between solute transport behavior and the spatial structure of K fields modeled as the distribution of three hydrofacies in alluvial aquifers. Accurate empirical relationships are found between HS and key transport quantities confirming the clear correlation between transport and the structure of the K field described in terms of its entropic scale. The entrogram analysis is also applied to continuous 2‐D and 3‐D fields having identical lognormal K distributions, but with different connectivity. Comparisons between the entrograms and the calculated HS values for these fields, as well as for their corresponding flow velocity distributions, shed light on the key differences among these structures in 2‐D and in 3‐D, which in turn explain their dissimilar impact on solute transport. The entrogram‐based interpretation of the transport simulations seems to confirm that the geological entropy is a promising approach for predicting solute transport behavior simply from a description of the K field heterogeneity.
Carbamoylated erythropoietin modulates cognitive outcomes of social defeat and differentially regulates gene expression in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus
Authors: Sathyanesan Monica , Watt Michael J , Haiar Jacob M , Scholl Jamie L , Davies Shaydel R , Paulsen Riley T , Wiederin Jayme , Ciborowski Pawel , Newton Samuel S
Published: June 2018

Cognitive deficits are widespread in psychiatric disorders and frequently as debilitating as the affective component. Widely prescribed antidepressants for treating depressive disorders have limited efficacy in normalizing cognitive function. Erythropoietin (Epo) has been shown to improve cognitive function in schizophrenia and treatment resistant depressed patients. However, the potent elevation of red blood cell counts by Epo can cause hematological complications in non-anemic patients. We investigated a chemically engineered, posttranslational modification of Epo, carbamoylation, which renders it non-erythropoietic. We conducted mass-spectrometry-based peptide mapping of carbamoylated Epo (Cepo) and tested its ability to improve cognitive function after social defeat stress. Gene expression analysis in discrete brain regions was performed to obtain mechanistic insight of Cepo action. Cepo reversed stress-induced spatial working memory deficits while affecting long-term (24 h) novel object recognition in these rats. Contextual fear conditioning following defeat was enhanced by Cepo, but attenuated in controls. However, Cepo improved fear extinction in all rats compared to vehicle treatment. Cepo induced differential gene expression of BDNF, VGF, Arc, TH. and neuritin in the mPFC and discrete hippocampal subfields, with strongest induction in the dorsal hippocampus. Analysis of gene–brain region–behavior interactions showed that Cepo-induced neurotrophic mechanisms influence cognitive function. Carbamoylated erythropoietin can be developed as a therapeutic neurotrophic agent to treat cognitive dysfunction in neuropsychiatric diseases. Due to its distinct mechanism of action, it is unlikely to cross react with the activity of currently prescribed small molecule drugs and can be used as an add-on biologic drug.
Biallelic mutations of EGFR in a compound heterozygous state cause ectodermal dysplasia with severe skin defects and gastrointestinal dysfunction
Authors: Hayashi Shion , Yokoi Takayuki , Hatano Chihiro , Enomoto Yumi , Tsurusaki Yoshinori , Naruto Takuya , Kobayashi Masahisa , Ida Hiroyuki , Kurosawa Kenji
Published: June 2018

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a receptor that recognizes epidermal growth factor, is a very important regulator of cell proliferation and differentiation. To date, three cases of severe ectodermal dysplasia were reported to be caused by an inherited germline homozygous loss-of-function missense mutation of EGFR. This is the first report of a patient with biallelic compound heterozygous mutations in EGFR.
Inducing Kondo screening of vacancy magnetic moments in graphene with gating and local curvature
Authors: Jiang Yuhang , Lo Po-Wei , May Daniel , Li Guohong , Guo Guang-Yu , Anders Frithjof B. , Taniguchi Takashi , Watanabe Kenji , Mao Jinhai , Andrei Eva Y.
Published: June 2018

In normal metals the magnetic moment of impurity-spins disappears below a characteristic Kondo temperature which marks the formation of a cloud of conduction-band electrons that screen the local-moment. In contrast, moments embedded in insulators remain unscreened at all temperatures. What then is the fate of magnetic-moments in intermediate, pseudogap systems, such as graphene? Theory predicts that coupling to the conduction-band electrons will drive a quantum phase transition between a local-moment phase and a Kondo-screened phase. However, attempts to experimentally confirm this prediction and its intriguing consequences, such as electrostatically tunable magnetic-moments, have been elusive. Here we report the observation of Kondo-screening and the quantum phase-transition between screened and unscreened phases of vacancy magnetic moments in graphene. Using scanning tunneling spectroscopy and numerical renormalization-group calculations we show that this transition enables to control the screening of local moments by tuning the gate voltage and the local curvature of the graphene membrane.
Multi-material Additive Manufacturing of Metamaterials with Giant, Tailorable Negative Poisson’s Ratios
Authors: Chen Da , Zheng Xiaoyu
Published: June 2018

Nature has evolved with a recurring strategy to achieve unusual mechanical properties through coupling variable elastic moduli from a few GPa to below KPa within a single tissue. The ability to produce multi-material, three-dimensional (3D) micro-architectures with high fidelity incorporating dissimilar components has been a major challenge in man-made materials. Here we show multi-modulus metamaterials whose architectural element is comprised of encoded elasticity ranging from rigid to soft. We found that, in contrast to ordinary architected materials whose negative Poisson’s ratio is dictated by their geometry, these type of metamaterials are capable of displaying Poisson’s ratios from extreme negative to zero, independent of their 3D micro-architecture. The resulting low density metamaterials is capable of achieving functionally graded, distributed strain amplification capabilities within the metamaterial with uniform micro-architectures. Simultaneous tuning of Poisson’s ratio and moduli within the 3D multi-materials could open up a broad array of material by design applications ranging from flexible armor, artificial muscles, to actuators and bio-mimetic materials.
Deep Transcriptomic Analysis of Black Rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) Provides New Insights on Responses to Acute Temperature Stress
Authors: Lyu Likang , Wen Haishen , Li Yun , Li Jifang , Zhao Ji , Zhang Simin , Song Min , Wang Xiaojie
Published: June 2018

In the present study, we conducted an RNA-Seq analysis to characterize the genes and pathways involved in acute thermal and cold stress responses in the liver of black rockfish, a viviparous teleost that has the ability to cope with a wide range of temperature changes. A total of 584 annotated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in all three comparisons (HT vs NT, HT vs LT and LT vs NT). Based on an enrichment analysis, DEGs with a potential role in stress accommodation were classified into several categories, including protein folding, metabolism, immune response, signal transduction, molecule transport, membrane, and cell proliferation/apoptosis. Considering that thermal stress has a greater effect than cold stress in black rockfish, 24 shared DEGs in the intersection of the HT vs LT and HT vs NT groups were enriched in 2 oxidation-related gene ontology (GO) terms. Nine important heat-stress-reducing pathways were significantly identified and classified into 3 classes: immune and infectious diseases, organismal immune system and endocrine system. Eight DEGs (early growth response protein 1, bile salt export pump, abcb11, hsp70a, rtp3, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin d(3) 24-hydroxylase, apoa4, transcription factor jun-b-like and an uncharacterized gene) were observed among all three comparisons, strongly implying their potentially important roles in temperature stress responses.
A computational model of excitation and contraction in uterine myocytes from the pregnant rat
Authors: Testrow Craig P. , Holden Arun V. , Shmygol Anatoly , Zhang Henggui
Published: June 2018

Aberrant uterine myometrial activities in humans are major health issues. However, the cellular and tissue mechanism(s) that maintain the uterine myometrium at rest during gestation, and that initiate and maintain long-lasting uterine contractions during delivery are incompletely understood. In this study we construct a computational model for describing the electrical activity (simple and complex action potentials), intracellular calcium dynamics and mechanical contractions of isolated uterine myocytes from the pregnant rat. The model reproduces variant types of action potentials – from spikes with a smooth plateau, to spikes with an oscillatory plateau, to bursts of spikes – that are seen during late gestation under different physiological conditions. The effects of the hormones oestradiol (via reductions in calcium and potassium selective channel conductance), oxytocin (via an increase in intracellular calcium release) and the tocolytic nifedipine (via a block of L-type calcium channels currents) on action potentials and contractions are also reproduced, which quantitatively match to experimental data. All of these results validated the cell model development. In conclusion, the developed model provides a computational platform for further investigations of the ionic mechanism underlying the genesis and control of electrical and mechanical activities in the rat uterine myocytes.
Relativistic Doppler-boosted γ-rays in High Fields
Authors: Capdessus Remi , King Martin , Del Sorbo Dario , Duff Matthew , Ridgers Christopher P. , McKenna Paul
Published: June 2018

The relativistic Doppler effect is one of the most famous implications of the principles of special relativity and is intrinsic to moving radiation sources, relativistic optics and many astrophysical phenomena. It occurs in the case of a plasma sail accelerated to relativistic velocities by an external driver, such as an ultra-intense laser pulse. Here we show that the relativistic Doppler effect on the high energy synchrotron photon emission (~10 MeV), strongly depends on two intrinsic properties of the plasma (charge state and ion mass) and the transverse extent of the driver. When the moving plasma becomes relativistically transparent to the driver, we show that the γ-ray emission is Doppler-boosted and the angular emission decreases; optimal for the highest charge-to-mass ratio ion species (i.e. a hydrogen plasma). This provides new fundamental insight into the generation of γ-rays in extreme conditions and informs related experiments using multi-petawatt laser facilities.
The effects of printing orientation on the electrochemical behaviour of 3D printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)/carbon black electrodes
Authors: Bin Hamzah Hairul Hisham , Keattch Oliver , Covill Derek , Patel Bhavik Anil
Published: June 2018

Additive manufacturing also known as 3D printing is being utilised in electrochemistry to reproducibly develop complex geometries with conductive properties. In this study, we explored if the electrochemical behavior of 3D printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)/carbon black electrodes was influenced by printing direction. The electrodes were printed in both horizontal and vertical directions. The horizsontal direction resulted in a smooth surface (HPSS electrode) and a comparatively rougher surface (HPRS electrode) surface. Electrodes were characterized using cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry. For various redox couples, the vertical printed (VP) electrode showed enhanced current response when compared the two electrode surfaces generated by horizontal print direction. No differences in the capacitive response was observed, indicating that the conductive surface area of all types of electrodes were identical. The VP electrode had reduced charge transfer resistance and uncompensated solution resistance when compared to the HPSS and HPRS electrodes. Overall, electrodes printed in a vertical direction provide enhanced electrochemical performance and our study indicates that print orientation is a key factor that can be used to enhance sensor performance.
Corrosion inhibition of mild steel in sulfuric acid solution by loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) leaves extract
Authors: Zheng Xingwen , Gong Min , Li Qiang , Guo Lei
Published: June 2018

The inhibition performance and mechanism of loquat leaves extract (LLE) for the corrosion of mild steel in 0.5 M H2SO4 were investigated using weight loss method, electrochemical measurements and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results revealed that LLE acted as a modest cathodic inhibitor, its inhibition efficiency increased with the concentration of LLE and reached a maximum value of 96% at the 100% V/V concentration, but decreased with incremental temperature. Besides, it was found that the adsorption of LLE on steel surface obeyed Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and then the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were further determined accordingly. Furthermore, LLE was preliminarily separated by pH-gradient sedimentation and the synergistic inhibition between the isolates was investigated.
Study of the absorption coefficient of graphene-polymer composites
Authors: Zeranska-Chudek K. , Lapinska A. , Wroblewska A. , Judek J. , Duzynska A. , Pawlowski M. , Witowski A. M. , Zdrojek M.
Published: June 2018

In this work, we have prepared a series of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composites containing various graphene flakes loadings (0.02–2 wt%), and their broadband optical properties are being investigated. We demonstrate the tunability and evolution of transmittance and reflection spectra of the composites in a wide spectral range (0.4–200 μm) as a function of graphene content. Using these data we derive the broadband wavelength-dependent absorption coefficient (α) values. Our results show that α is roughly constant in the visible and IR ranges, and, surprisingly, is approximately one order of magnitude lower in the terahertz regime, suggesting different terahertz radiation scattering mechanism in our composite. Our material could be useful for applications in optical communication, sensing or ultrafast photonics.
The relationship between reinforcement and explicit control during visuomotor adaptation
Authors: Codol Olivier , Holland Peter J. , Galea Joseph M.
Published: June 2018

The motor system’s ability to adapt to environmental changes is essential for maintaining accurate movements. Such adaptation recruits several distinct systems: cerebellar sensory-prediction error learning, success-based reinforcement, and explicit control. Although much work has focused on the relationship between cerebellar learning and explicit control, there is little research regarding how reinforcement and explicit control interact. To address this, participants first learnt a 20° visuomotor displacement. After reaching asymptotic performance, binary, hit-or-miss feedback (BF) was introduced either with or without visual feedback, the latter promoting reinforcement. Subsequently, retention was assessed using no-feedback trials, with half of the participants in each group being instructed to stop aiming off target. Although BF led to an increase in retention of the visuomotor displacement, instructing participants to stop re-aiming nullified this effect, suggesting explicit control is critical to BF-based reinforcement. In a second experiment, we prevented the expression or development of explicit control during BF performance, by either constraining participants to a short preparation time (expression) or by introducing the displacement gradually (development). Both manipulations strongly impaired BF performance, suggesting reinforcement requires both recruitment and expression of an explicit component. These results emphasise the pivotal role explicit control plays in reinforcement-based motor learning.
Resurrecting Darwin’s Niata - anatomical, biomechanical, genetic, and morphometric studies of morphological novelty in cattle
Authors: Veitschegger Kristof , Wilson Laura A. B. , Nussberger Beatrice , Camenisch Glauco , Keller Lukas F. , Wroe Stephen , Sánchez-Villagra Marcelo R.
Published: June 2018

The Niata was a cattle variety from South America that figured prominently in writings on evolution by Charles Darwin. Its shortened head and other aspects of its unusual morphology have been subject of unsettled discussions since Darwin’s time. Here, we examine the anatomy, cranial shape, skull biomechanics, and population genetics of the Niata. Our results show that the Niata was a viable variety of cattle and exhibited anatomical differences to known chondrodysplastic forms. In cranial shape and genetic analysis, the Niata occupies an isolated position clearly separated from other cattle. Computational biomechanical model comparison reveals that the shorter face of the Niata resulted in a restricted distribution and lower magnitude of stress during biting. Morphological and genetic data illustrate the acquisition of novelty in the domestication process and confirm the distinct nature of the Niata cattle, validating Darwin’s view that it was a true breed.
Real-time multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of multiple species from environmental DNA: an application on two Japanese medaka species
Authors: Tsuji Satsuki , Iguchi Yuka , Shibata Naoki , Teramura Iori , Kitagawa Tadao , Yamanaka Hiroki
Published: June 2018

Information about species distribution is crucial to ecological studies. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has recently been used to estimate the distribution of aquatic organisms. Several analytical methods including metabarcoding and species-specific PCR are being used for eDNA analysis. However, when only a few species are targeted, metabarcoding is not cost-effective because of the wasted consumption of read due to amplification of non-target species DNA. On the other hand, species-specific PCR requires tests to be repeated multiple times resulting in consuming more DNA templates, and experimental consumables. Here we propose a methodological framework for simultaneously detecting a few species using real-time multiplex PCR. We developed the species-specific primer-probe sets for two species of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes and o. sakaizumii), and we used them in the real-time multiplex PCR. In aquarium experiment, even when the species abundances were biased, both species were simultaneously detected in all samples. In a field survey, eDNA analysis and capture survey produced consistent results in all sampling sites, including sites with low fish densities. eDNA analysis using real-time multiplex PCR can be easily applied to other aquatic organisms, enabling a more cost-effective distribution survey of multiple target organisms.
Comprehensive metabolic and transcriptomic profiling of various tissues provide insights for saponin biosynthesis in the medicinally important Asparagus racemosus
Authors: Srivastava Prabhakar Lal , Shukla Anurag , Kalunke Raviraj M.
Published: June 2018

Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari), belongs to the family Asparagaceae and is known as a “curer of hundred diseases” since ancient time. This plant has been exploited as a food supplement to enhance immune system and regarded as a highly valued medicinal plant in Ayurvedic medicine system for the treatment of various ailments such as gastric ulcers, dyspepsia, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, as a galactogogue and against several other diseases. In depth metabolic fingerprinting of various parts of the plant led to the identification of 13 monoterpenoids exclusively present in roots. LC-MS profiling led to the identification of a significant number of steroidal saponins (33). However, we have also identified 16 triterpene saponins for the first time in A. racemosus. In order to understand the molecular basis of biosynthesis of major components, transcriptome sequencing from three different tissues (root, leaf and fruit) was carried out. Functional annotation of A. racemosus transcriptome resulted in the identification of 153 transcripts involved in steroidal saponin biosynthesis, 45 transcripts in triterpene saponin biosynthesis, 44 transcripts in monoterpenoid biosynthesis and 79 transcripts in flavonoid biosynthesis. These findings will pave the way for better understanding of the molecular basis of steroidal saponin, triterpene saponin, monoterpenoids and flavonoid biosynthesis in A. racemosus.
Hydroclimatic changes of Lake Bosten in Northwest China during the last decades
Authors: Yao Junqiang , Chen Yaning , Zhao Yong , Yu Xiaojing
Published: June 2018

Bosten Lake, the largest inland freshwater lake in China, has experienced drastic change over the past five decades. Based on the lake water balance model and climate elasticity method, we identify annual changes in the lake’s water components during 1961–2016 and investigate its water balance. We find a complex pattern in the lake’s water: a decrease (1961–1987), a rapid increase (1988–2002), a drastic decrease (2003–2012), and a recent drastic increase (2013–2016). We also estimated the lake’s water balance, finding that the drastic changes are caused by a climate-driven regime shift coupled with human disturbance. The changes in the lake accelerated after 1987, which may have been driven by regional climate wetting. During 2003 to 2012, implementation of the ecological water conveyance project (EWCP) significantly increased the lake’s outflow, while a decreased precipitation led to an increased drought frequency. The glacier retreating trend accelerated by warming, and caused large variations in the observed lake’s changes in recent years. Furthermore, wastewater emissions may give rise to water degradation, human activity is completely changing the natural water cycle system in the Bosten Lake. Indeed, the future of Bosten Lake is largely dependent on mankind.
Biological Impact of Silicon Nitride for Orthopaedic Applications: Role of Particle Size, Surface Composition and Donor Variation
Authors: Lal Saurabh , Caseley Emily A. , Hall Richard M. , Tipper Joanne L.
Published: June 2018

The adverse biological impact of orthopaedic wear debris currently limits the long-term safety of human joint replacement devices. We investigated the role of particle size, surface composition and donor variation in influencing the biological impact of silicon nitride as a bioceramic for orthopaedic applications. Silicon nitride particles were compared to the other commonly used orthopaedic biomaterials (e.g. cobalt-chromium and Ti-6Al-4V alloys). A novel biological evaluation platform was developed to simultaneously evaluate cytotoxicity, inflammatory cytokine release, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity potential of particles using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) from individual human donors. Irrespective of the particle size, silicon nitride did not cause any adverse responses whereas cobalt-chromium wear particles caused donor-dependent cytotoxicity, TNF-α cytokine release, oxidative stress, and DNA damage in PBMNCs after 24 h. Despite being similar in size and morphology, silicon dioxide nanoparticles caused the release of significantly higher levels of TNF-α compared to silicon nitride nanoparticles, suggesting that surface composition influences the inflammatory response in PBMNCs. Ti-6Al-4V wear particles also released significantly elevated levels of TNF-α cytokine in one of the donors. This study demonstrated that silicon nitride is an attractive orthopaedic biomaterial due to its minimal biological impact on human PBMNCs.
LncRNA expression profiling of BMSCs in osteonecrosis of the femoral head associated with increased adipogenic and decreased osteogenic differentiation
Authors: Wang Qingyu , Yang Qiwei , Chen Gaoyang , Du Zhenwu , Ren Ming , Wang Ao , Zhao Haiyue , Li Zhaoyan , Zhang Guizhen , Song Yang
Published: June 2018

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are critical gene expression regulators and are involved in several bone diseases. To explore the potential roles of lncRNAs in osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), we investigated for the first time the lncRNA expression profile of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) from patients with steroid-induced ONFH (SONFH) with microarray and bioinformatics analysis. A total of 1878 lncRNAs and 838 mRNAs were significantly up-regulated while 1842 lncRNAs and 1937 mRNAs were statistically down-regulated in the SONFH group compared with control group. The results validated by qRT-PCR were consistent with the microarray profiling data, especially involved in upregulation and downregulation of critical lncRNAs as well as mRNAs expression related to adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation. Pathway analyses revealed 40 signaling pathways with significant differences, especially the signaling pathways to regulate stem cell pluripotency. The CNC and ceRNA network indicated that lncRNA RP1-193H18.2, MALAT1 and HOTAIR were associated with abnormal osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs in the patients with SONFH. Our results suggest the lncRNA expression profiles were closely associated with the abnormal adipogenic and osteogenic transdifferentiation of BMSCs during the development of SONFH and explore a new insight into the molecular mechanisms of SONFH.
Phase diagrams and multistep condensations of spin-1 bosonic gases in optical lattices
Authors: Zan Xiaolei , Liu Jing , Han Jinsen , Wu Jianhua , Li Yongqiang
Published: June 2018

Motivated by recent experimental processes, we systemically investigate strongly correlated spin-1 ultracold bosons trapped in a three-dimensional optical lattice in the presence of an external magnetic field. Based on a recently developed bosonic dynamical mean-field theory (BDMFT), we map out complete phase diagrams of the system for both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions, where various phases are found as a result of the interplay of spin-dependent interaction and quadratic Zeeman energy. For antiferromagnetic interactions, the system demonstrates competing magnetic orders, including nematic, spin-singlet and ferromagnetic insulating phase, depending on longitudinal magnetization, whereas, for ferromagnetic case, a ferromagnetic-to-nematic-insulating phase transition is observed for small quadratic Zeeman energy, and the insulating phase demonstrates the nematic order for large Zeeman energy. Interestingly, at low magnetic field and finite temperature, we find an abnormal multi-step condensation of the strongly correlated superfluid, i.e. the critical condensing temperature of the m
F
 = −1 component with antiferromagnetic interactions demonstrates an increase with longitudinal magnetization, while, for ferromagnetic case, the Zeeman component m
F
 = 0 demonstrates a local minimum for the critical condensing temperature, in contrast to weakly interacting cases.
A novel species of the marine cyanobacterium Acaryochloris with a unique pigment content and lifestyle
Authors: Partensky Frédéric , Six Christophe , Ratin Morgane , Garczarek Laurence , Vaulot Daniel , Probert Ian , Calteau Alexandra , Gourvil Priscillia , Marie Dominique , Grébert Théophile , Bouchier Christiane , Le Panse Sophie , Gachenot Martin , Rodríguez Francisco , Garrido José L.
Published: June 2018

All characterized members of the ubiquitous genus Acaryochloris share the unique property of containing large amounts of chlorophyll (Chl) d, a pigment exhibiting a red absorption maximum strongly shifted towards infrared compared to Chl a. Chl d is the major pigment in these organisms and is notably bound to antenna proteins structurally similar to those of Prochloron, Prochlorothrix and Prochlorococcus, the only three cyanobacteria known so far to contain mono- or divinyl-Chl a and b as major pigments and to lack phycobilisomes. Here, we describe RCC1774, a strain isolated from the foreshore near Roscoff (France). It is phylogenetically related to members of the Acaryochloris genus but completely lacks Chl d. Instead, it possesses monovinyl-Chl a and b at a b/a molar ratio of 0.16, similar to that in Prochloron and Prochlorothrix. It differs from the latter by the presence of phycocyanin and a vestigial allophycocyanin energetically coupled to photosystems. Genome sequencing confirmed the presence of phycobiliprotein and Chl b synthesis genes. Based on its phylogeny, ultrastructural characteristics and unique pigment suite, we describe RCC1774 as a novel species that we name Acaryochloris thomasi. Its very unusual pigment content compared to other Acaryochloris spp. is likely related to its specific lifestyle.
Publisher Correction: Optimizing the fragment complementation of APEX2 for detection of specific protein-protein interactions in live cells
Authors: Xue Miaomiao , Hou Junjie , Wang Linlin , Cheng Dongwan , Lu Jingze , Zheng Li , Xu Tao
Published: June 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Erratum: Heat, temperature and Clausius inequality in a model for active Brownian particles
Authors: Marconi Umberto Marini Bettolo , Puglisi Andrea , Maggi Claudio
Published: June 2018

Scientific Reports 7: Article number: 46496; published online: 21 April 2017; updated: 08 June 2018 The original version of this Article contained an error in the Accepted date ‘17 March 2017’ which was incorrectly given as ‘17 March 2015’. This error has now been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Correction: Corrigendum: Purification of High Salinity Brine by Multi-Stage Ion Concentration Polarization Desalination
Authors: Kim Bumjoo , Kwak Rhokyun , Kwon Hyukjin J. , Pham Van Sang , Kim Minseok , Al-Anzi Bader , Lim Geunbae , Han Jongyoon
Published: June 2018

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 31850; published online: 22 August 2016; updated: 08 June 2018 In this Article, Van Sang Pham is incorrectly affiliated with ‘Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre, Singapore’. The correct affiliations for Van Sang Pham are listed below:
Determination of an accurate size distribution of nanoparticles using particle tracking analysis corrected for the adverse effect of random Brownian motion
Authors: Matsuura Yusuke , Ouchi Naoko , Nakamura Ayako , Kato Haruhisa
Published: June 2018

The particle tracking analysis (PTA) method has been widely used to determine the size of nanoparticles from their Brownian motion, using the Stokes–Einstein assumption.
Fluorescence activation with switchable oxazines
Authors: Zhang Yang , Tang Sicheng , Thapaliya Ek Raj , Sansalone Lorenzo , Raymo Françisco M.
Published: June 2018

Activatable fluorophores allow the spatiotemporal control of fluorescence required to acquire subdiffraction images, highlight cancer cells and monitor dynamic events
Mercury nanoladders: a new method for DNA amplification, signal identification and their application in the detection of Hg(ii) ions
Authors: Feng Yuxiang , Shao Xiangli , Huang Kunlun , Tian Jingjing , Mei Xiaohong , Luo Yunbo , Xu Wentao
Published: June 2018

A biosensor based on Hg(ii) nanoladders integrated with graphene oxide (GO) for Hg(ii) detection was developed.
Correction: A microporous Cu-MOF with optimized open metal sites and pore spaces for high gas storage and active chemical fixation of CO2
Authors: Gao Chao-Ying , Tian Hong-Rui , Ai Jing , Li Lei-Jiao , Dang Song , Lan Ya-Qian , Sun Zhong-Ming
Published: June 2018

Correction for ‘A microporous Cu-MOF with optimized open metal sites and pore spaces for high gas storage and active chemical fixation of CO2’ by Chao-Ying Gao et al., Chem. Commun., 2016, 52, 11147–11150.
Liquid flow deposition of PbS films on GaAs(100)
Authors: Murza Vera , Friedman Ofir , Vradman Leonid , Golan Yuval
Published: June 2018

Liquid flow deposition of PbS thin films was studied using a custom-made flow reactor.
Lanthanide-induced relaxation anisotropy
Authors: Suturina Elizaveta A. , Mason Kevin , Geraldes Carlos F. G. C. , Chilton Nicholas F. , Parker David , Kuprov Ilya
Published: June 2018

Lanthanide-induced nuclear spin relaxation in liquid state is anisotropic in the molecular frame.
Enhancement of field electron emission in topological insulator Bi2Se3 by Ni doping
Authors: Mazumder Kushal , Sharma Alfa , Kumar Yogendra , Bankar Prashant , More Mahendra A. , Devan Rupesh , Shirage Parasharam M.
Published: June 2018

Nanostructures of bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3), a 3D topological insulator material, and nickel (Ni) doped Bi2Se3 samples were prepared by a hydrothermal method to explore the field emission properties.
Direct measurement of Ni incorporation into Fe3O4(001)
Authors: Ryan P. T. P. , Jakub Z. , Balajka J. , Hulva J. , Meier M. , Küchle J. T. , Blowey P. J. , Thakur P. Kumar , Franchini C. , Payne D. J. , Woodruff D. P. , Rochford L. A. , Allegretti F. , Lee T.-L. , Parkinson G. S. , Duncan D. A.
Published: June 2018

The normal incidence X-ray standing wave (NIXSW) technique has been used to follow the evolution of the adsorption geometry of Ni adatoms on the Fe3O4(001)-(√2 × √2)R45° surface as a function of temperature.
Bi2Se3 topological insulator at the 2D-limit: role of halide-doping on Dirac point
Authors: Khatun Salma , Bhunia Hrishikesh , Pal Amlan J.
Published: June 2018

The Dirac point of 2D Bi2Se3 could be tuned by halogen substitution due to a change in the spin–orbit coupling parameter.