bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OPTIMUM CONDITIONS FOR DIFFERENTIAL SAR INTERFEROMETRY TECHNIQUE TO ESTIMATE HIMALAYAN GLACIER VELOCITY
Authors: Nela B. R. , Singh G. , Kulkarni A. V. , Malik K.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. Differential SAR Interferometry (DInSAR) is the process of differencing two Interferograms for measuring surface movement with an accuracy of millimeter range. The DInSAR process can be applied to observe glacier movement, earthquake deformations, volcanic activities and rate of subsidence or uplift caused due to the extraction of groundwater or coal. By using single pass interferometry technique we can also generate accurate DEM. In this paper, we are presenting the movement of a Chhota Shigri glacier with the help two pass DInSAR technique and mainly we concentrated on the optimum conditions for estimating glacier movement using DInSAR. We got good coherence and Interferogram fringes for L-band sensor with less temporal baseline. Therefore, we generated glacier velocity using ALOS-2 data with 14 days temporal baseline. Initially, we generated Interferogram (defo-pair) by taking 10th March 2015 image as a master and 24th March 2015 image as a slave. But this generated Interferogram also having topographic information and atmospheric errors with the displacement component. Therefore, we used SRTM DEM for removing topographic information from the Interferogram. Because we are using L-band data, results may not be affected by troposphere. Maximum glacier velocity we observed in the accumulation zone as 7.285 cm/day in the month of March and while it’s moving towards ablation zone the glacier velocity is decreasing.
ANALYTICAL HIERARCHY PROCESS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE WATER HARVESTING SITE IN GEOSPATIAL ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Shashikumar B. N. , Garg V. , Nikam B. R.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. Water is the prime requirement for agriculture, domestic uses and industrial production. In India the per capita available of water is decreasing at a higher rate due to impact of climate change and ever-increasing population. Rainwater harvesting is the technique which is being used in effective storing of surface runoff. There are various types of water harvesting structures namely check dam, farm pond, percolation tank, etc. However, identification of potential site for the construction of the particular water harvesting structure is bit difficult as it depends upon numerous parameters such as soil type, slope, water availability, land use and land cover of the site and the surrounding, etc. The guidelines such as Food and Agriculture Organization; Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development are available for selecting suitable site for water harvesting structures. As the site suitability analysis involves multiple parameters for decision making, in the present study, the selection of suitable site for check dam is made through analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in geospatial domain for Hatni watershed, Madhya Pradesh, India. As location for check dam construction is influenced by soil texture, slope of the terrain, land use land cover, stream order and water availability; these parameters were derived from remote sensing data and analysed. The slope and stream network layers were generated from the digital elevation model (DEM). Further, the influence of soil and water availability in identifying the suitable sites was studied through soil texture and curve number. Different parameters influence the site suitability analysis, therefore, in the present study, IMSD guidelines were used to assign weights to each parameter under consideration. The layers were assigned weights by AHP technique based on pairwise comparison. The layers were reclassified according to the weights, then overlay analysis has been done to get the final site suitability map. As remote sensing provides the synoptic coverage of the earth, it has been further utilised to study the impact of water harvesting structure on its surrounding. The land use land cover map of before and after the construction of water harvesting structure was analysed for change in vegetation condition. It was observed that the vegetative cover has increased after implementation of the water conservation measures. It may be concluded that the geospatial technology has immense potential in site suitability studies for water harvesting structures.
GENERATING GIS DATABASE OF STREET TREES USING MOBILE LIDAR DATA
Authors: Yadav M. , Khan P. , Singh A. K. , Lohani B.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. Mobile LiDAR captures complete details of street trees located along roadway and it is most efficient tool for executing large scale projects for road side trees mapping. Information of road-side trees locations and their morphological characteristics are essential for road widening project planning, road safety and autonomous vehicles. We propose a method to generate GIS database of street trees using information of automatically extracted street trees using mobile LiDAR data. Proposed method first organizes mobile LiDAR input data in partially overlapping cylinders and then morphological characteristics of tree crown and trunk, respectively are used to detect trees falling within cylinders. Finally complete tree structure point cloud is recovered from cylinder by vertical cylinders fitting to crown and trunk separately. The proposed method is tested on point cloud data acquired by StreetMapper 360 of 57 m long roadway. Completeness and correctness of 88.24% and 93.75% respectively are obtained in test site.
OIL SPILLS DETECTION BY MEANS OF UAS AND LOW-COST AIRBORNE THERMAL SENSORS
Authors: Al-Shammari A. , Levin E. , Shults R.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. This paper provides an overview of oil spill scenarios and the remote sensing methods used for detection and mapping the spills. It also discusses the different kinds of thermal sensors used in oil spills detection. As UAS is becoming an important player in the oil and gas industry for the low operating costs involved, this research involved working with a cheap thermal airborne sensor mounted on DJI Phantom 4 system. Data were collected in two scenarios, first scenario is collecting data in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula at a petroleum company location and the second scenario was an indoor experiment simulating an offshore spill. The aim of this research is to inspect the capability of Lepton LWIR inexpensive sensor to detect the areas contaminated with oil. Data processing to create classification maps involved using ArcGIS 10.5.1, ERDAS Imagine 2015 and ENVI 5.3. Depending accuracy assessment (confusion matrices) for the classified images and comparing classified images with ground truth, results shows the Lepton thermal sensor worked well in differentiating oil from water and was not a good option when there are many objects in the area of interest. Future research recommendations and conclusions are presented.
GEOSPATIAL MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION BASED SITE SUITABILITY ANALYSIS FOR SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL USING TOPSIS ALGORITHM
Authors: Jaiswal A. K. , Satheesh T A. , Pandey K. , Kumar P. , Saran S.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. The problem of Urban Municipal solid waste disposal is a challenging task faced by civic bodies and planning authorities in almost all the cities of rapidly developing countries like India. A similar situation is being faced by Dehradun, the capital, and the fastest growing city of Uttarakhand, India. In the current study, an attempt has been made to find out the suitable sites for waste disposal in the area around Dehradun city using Geospatial Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) techniques from remote sensing data. Two different decision rules of MCDA are used, namely, Analytical Hierarchical Process based Weighted Linear Combination (AHP – WLC) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). WLC has been used previously for similar studies for its ease and simplicity to apply in raster format but TOPSIS has an advantage over WLC, it orders a set of alternatives on the basis of their separation from the ideal point. It defines the best alternative as the one that is simultaneously closest to the ideal alternative and farthest from the negative ideal point. Raster-based suitability analysis has been done and the results obtained by the two methods are compared. Identical results with minor differences identifying best suitable sites outside the eastern boundary of the city where the existing dumping site is located are obtained. Also, new potential sites are identified in the western part of the city which faces the problem of waste disposal more acutely because of expansion of the city in that direction.
DIGITAL DOCUMENTATION, BRIDGE DECK LINEARITY DEFORMATION AND DECK THICKNESS MEASUREMENT USING TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNER (TLS) AND CLOSE RANGE PHOTOGRAMMETRY (CRP)
Authors: Kushwaha S. K. P. , Pande H. , Raghavendra S.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. Bridges are one of the vital and valuable engineer structure from decades. As they play a major role in the road transportation sector. Few old bridges lacks its documents about the measurements of the structure. The study has been carried out on three different types of bridges like Truss, Beam and Cable bridges. Documenting these bridges can be utilised to reconstruct or renovate the bridge in case of any disaster or damage. 3D documentation is made from the point cloud Dataset acquired from Terrestrial Laser Scanner – TLS (Riegl VZ 400) and Close Range photogrammetry – CRP (Nikon DSLR 5300). TLS and CRP point cloud are merged together to increase the density of points. Over the duration of time the bridge gets older and due to the load on the bridge deck, linearity in the deck effects and this linearity deformation measurement is important to know the present deformation in the deck. To know exactly at which part there is more linearity deformation, deflection is calculated at sample intervals between the present linearity conditions of the deck to the idle linearity conditions of the deck. The bridge deck thickness is also measured with the point cloud dataset. A slice is cut through the deck of point cloud dataset, the difference between the top and bottom layer of the deck gives us the thickness of the deck including the road. This thickness can be used to measure when a new deck layer is constructed or during filling up of any potholes. This study is mainly focused to help the construction and maintenance authority, bridge monitoring department and researchers.
UNDERSTANDING CURRENT AND FUTURE LANDUSE DYNAMICS WITH LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE ALTERATIONS: A CASE STUDY OF CHANDIGARH
Authors: Nimish G. , Chandan M. C. , Bharath H. A.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. Conversion of pervious layer to impervious layer through unplanned urbanization has been a major cause of natural disturbances across the world. However, urbanization is considered a metric that defines the socio-economic value of the city planning and management, if unplanned leads to many serious implications on the environment such as ecological imbalance, increased concentration of pollutants, loss of bio-diversity, etc. A steep increase in population growth, migration to cities and conversion of vegetated lands into other land use classes have been prime factors in expanding urban regions at faster urban growth rates causing sprawl in the periphery and the regions adjacent to the city resulting in increased temperatures. This paper addresses two major facades of urban growth: modelling urban growth pattern with business as usual scenario and understanding the land surface temperature (LST) dynamics with changing patterns of land use. Chandigarh administrative boundary with 10 km buffer has been considered for this analysis to understand the dynamics and sprawl. The outcome indicates that built-up has increased from 3.7% in 1991 to 16.16% in 2017 and the mean LST of the study area has increased by almost 12 °C (months of March–May). Future prediction performed shows that there would be an extensive outgrowth due to saturated infilling in the core of the city. This analysis would be helpful to planners to understand region specific growth and transitions.
TRAINING, EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND CAPACITY BUILDING NEEDS AND FUTURE REQUIREMENTS IN APPLICATIONS OF GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Authors: Thakur P. K. , Aggarwal S. P. , Nikam B. R. , Garg V. , Chouksey A. , Dhote P. R.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. In India, water resources are managed at different levels, i.e. at central level by Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Board, at states level by state water resources departments, and at local level by Municipal Corporation and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). As per India’s national water policy of year 2012 focuses on adaption to climate change, enhancement of water availability, water demand management by efficient water use practices, management of floods and droughts, water supply and sanitation, trans-boundary rivers, conservation of water bodies and infrastructure, and finally research and training needs for each theme. Geospatial technology has unique role in all aforementioned themes. Therefore, research and training in use of Geospatial Technology (GST) in water sector is needed for each theme at different levels of water administration and water utilisation. The current paper discusses the existing framework and content of capacity building in water sector and geospatial technology in use at various government organizations and institutes. The major gap areas and future capacity building requirements are also highlighted, along with duration and timelines of training/capacity building programs. The use of distance learning/educations tools, social media, and e-learning are also highlighted in promoting use of GST in water sector. The emerging technological trends such as, new remote sensing sensors for measuring water cycle components, ground sensors based field instruments, cloud based data integration and computational models, webGIS based water information portals and training needs of new technologies are also emphasised.
Multi-source data integration for soil mapping using deep learning
Authors: Wadoux Alexandre M. J.-C. , Padarian José , Minasny Budiman
Published: November 2018

Abstract. With the advances of new proximal soil sensing technologies, soil properties can be inferred by a variety of sensors, each having its distinct level of accuracy. This measurement error affects subsequent modelling and therefore must be integrated when calibrating a spatial prediction model. This paper introduces a deep learning model for contextual Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) using uncertain measurements of the soil property. The deep learning model, called Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), has the advantage that it uses as input a local representation of environmental covariates to leverage the spatial information contained in the vicinity of a location. Spatial non-linear relationships between covariate pixel values and measured soil properties are found by optimizing an objective function, which can be weighted with respect to a measurement error of soil observations. In addition, a single model can be trained to predict a soil property at different soil depths. This method is tested in mapping top- and subsoil organic carbon using laboratory analyzed and spectroscopically inferred measurements. Results show that CNNs significantly increased prediction accuracy as indicated by the coefficient of determination and concordance correlation coefficient, when compared to a conventional DSM technique. Deeper soil layer prediction error decreased, while preserving the interrelation between soil property and depths. The tests conducted using different window size of input covariates matrix to predict organic carbon suggest that CNN benefits from using local contextual information up to 260 to 360 metres. We conclude that CNN is a flexible, effective and promising model to predict soil properties at multiple depths while accounting for contextual covariates information and measurement error.
Organic matter across subsea permafrost thaw horizons on the East Siberian Arctic Shelf
Authors: Wild Birgit , Shakhova Natalia , Dudarev Oleg , Ruban Alexey , Kosmach Denis , Tumskoy Vladimir , Tesi Tommaso , Joß Hanna , Alexanderson Helena , Jakobsson Martin , Mazurov Alexey , Semiletov Igor , Gustafsson Örjan
Published: November 2018

Abstract. Thaw of subsea permafrost across the Arctic Ocean shelves might promote the degradation of organic matter to CO2 and CH4, but also create conduits for transfer of deeper CH4 pools to the atmosphere and thereby amplify global warming. In this study, we describe sedimentary characteristics of three subsea permafrost cores of 21–56 m length drilled near the current delta of the Lena River in the Buor–Khaya Bay on the East Siberian Arctic Shelf, including content, origin and degradation state of organic matter around the current thaw front. Grain size distribution and optically stimulated luminescence dating suggest the alternating deposition of aeolian silt and fluvial sand over the past 160 000 years. Organic matter in 3 m sections across the current permafrost table was characterized by low organic carbon contents (average 0.7 ± 0.2 %) as well as enriched δ13C values and low concentrations of the terrestrial plant biomarker lignin compared to other recent and Pleistocene deposits in the study region. The lignin phenol composition further suggests contribution of both tundra and boreal forest vegetation, at least the latter likely deposited by rivers. Our findings indicate high variability in organic matter composition of subsea permafrost even within a small study area, reflecting its development in a heterogeneous and dynamic landscape. Even with this relatively low organic carbon content, the high rates of observed subsea permafrost thaw in this area yield a thaw-out of 1.6 kg OC m−2 year−1, emphasizing the need to constrain the fate of the poorly described and thawing subsea permafrost organic carbon pool.
Blind test comparison on the wake behind a yawed wind turbine
Authors: Mühle Franz , Schottler Jannik , Bartl Jan , Futrzynski Romain , Evans Steve , Bernini Luca , Schito Paolo , Draper Martín , Guggeri Andrés , Kleusberg Elektra , Henningson Dan S. , Hölling Michael , Peinke Joachim , Adaramola Muyiwa S. , Sætran Lars
Published: November 2018

Abstract. This article summarizes the results of the “Blind test 5”
workshop, which was held in
Visby, Sweden, in May 2017. This study compares the numerical predictions of
the wake flow behind a model wind turbine operated in yaw to experimental
wind tunnel results. Prior to the workshop, research groups were invited to
predict the turbine performance and wake flow properties using computational
fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. For this purpose, the power, thrust, and yaw
moments for a 30∘ yawed model turbine, as well as the wake's mean and
turbulent streamwise and vertical flow components, were measured in the wind
tunnel at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). In order
to increase the complexity, a non-yawed downstream turbine was added in a
second test case, while a third test case challenged the modelers with a new
rotor and turbine geometry. Four participants submitted predictions using different flow solvers, three
of which were based on large eddy simulations (LES) while another one used an
improved delayed detached eddy simulation (IDDES) model. The performance of a
single yawed turbine was fairly well predicted by all simulations, both in
the first and third test cases. The scatter in the downstream turbine
performance predictions in the second test case, however, was found to be
significantly larger. The complex asymmetric shape of the mean streamwise and
vertical velocities was generally well predicted by all the simulations for
all test cases. The largest improvement with respect to previous blind tests
is the good prediction of the levels of TKE in the wake, even for the complex
case of yaw misalignment. These very promising results confirm the mature
development stage of LES/DES simulations for wind turbine wake modeling,
while competitive advantages might be obtained by faster computational
methods.
Sustainable Enjoyment of Economic and Social Rights in Times of Crisis
Authors: Alkiviadou Natalie
Published: November 2018

Sustainable Enjoyment of Economic and Social Rights in Times of Crisis: Obstacles to Overcome and Bridges to Cross

In 2008, the European Union was hit by the most severe financial downturn since the Great Recession of the 1930s. One of the major consequences of this phenomenon was the deterioration in the enjoyment of human rights, in particular economic and social rights. While it is indisputable that the crisis itself was directly correlated to the erosion of such rights, the conditions attached to the loan agreements between defaulting countries and the three lending institutions, namely the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Central Bank and the European Commission, have negatively affected the rights under consideration. Loans came with strict austerity measures, such as public expenditure cuts in the realm of, inter alia, public services, benefits and social security. This article considers the deterioration in the enjoyment of economic and social rights by Union inhabitants and particularly the anti-crisis strategy adopted by the European Union, which, as will be demonstrated, directly contributed to this deterioration. The stance of the three institutions was facilitated by the less than proactive, but improving, positioning of the Court of Justice of the European Union in case law, which will be assessed. It must be noted that it is not the three institutions acting alone in this process; the Member States are the ones who agree to the loans and their conditions and implement austerity measures on the ground. However, as will be reflected, the practical role and actual input of the countries themselves in this procedure is limited. The central theoretical tenet of the article is that the European Union is re-shifting its direction to the almost absolute adoption of an economic constitution, with little regard to its social counterpart. Within the aforementioned framework, this article seeks to assess the status of economic and social rights in a crisis-hit Union, provide a theoretical explanation for this occurrence and put forth possibilities for positive change, placing the protection and promotion of economic and social rights at the heart of any responses to crisis as a method to ensure their sustainable protection effectively.
The Suprema Lex of Malta
Authors: Aquilina Kevin
Published: November 2018

The Suprema Lex of Malta: A Forgotten Law in Legislative Drafting, Statutory Interpretation and Law Making?

Although the Constitution of Malta is the supreme law of the land, yet, in practice, the three principal organs of the state – the legislature, executive and judiciary – have, in certain respects exemplified in this article, tended to close their eyes to the provisions of the supreme law of the land to such an extent that legislation, government action and judicial pronouncements have breached the basic law. Without attempting to be all-inclusive, the article discusses a few illustrations where this has been the case and reflects upon this institutional behaviour where the Constitution is not upheld as the supreme law of Malta but is instead derided and disparaged. Consequently, fundamental principles of state governance such as the tenets of a democratic society and the rule of law end up being threatened and imperilled by those same institutions which are called upon to respect them. Nevertheless, the Constitution proclaims itself supreme over any other law and the organs it establishes, including the three principal organs of the state which are assaulting it, and embodies within its fold the rule of law which at the current state of play is passing through a critical phase in the state of Malta.
Smart Enforcement
Authors: Blanc Florentin , Faure Michael
Published: November 2018

Smart Enforcement: Theory and Practice

There is an increasing attention both on how inspections and enforcement efforts with respect to regulatory breaches can be made as effective as possible. Regulatory breaches refer to violations of norms that have been prescribed in public regulation, such as, for example, environmental regulation, food safety regulation or regulation aiming at occupational health and safety. The enforcement of this regulation is qualified as regulatory enforcement. It has been claimed that inspections should not be random, but based on risk and target-specific violators and violations. Such a “smart” enforcement policy would be able to increase the effectiveness of enforcement policy. Policy makers are enthusiastic about this new strategy, but less is known about the theoretical foundations, nor about the empirical evidence. This article presents the theoretical foundations for smart enforcement as well as some empirics. Moreover, the conditions under which smart enforcement could work are identified, but also a few potential limits are presented.
Hedonic processing in humans is mediated by an opioidergic mechanism in a mesocorticolimbic system
Authors: Buchel Christian , Miedl Stephan , Sprenger Christian
Published: November 2018

It has been hypothesized that the pleasure of a reward in humans is mediated by an opioidergic system involving the hypothalamus, nucleus accumbens and the amygdala. Importantly, enjoying the pleasure of a reward is distinct from incentive salience induced by cues predicting the reward. We investigated this issue using a within subject, pharmacological challenge design with the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone and fMRI. Our data show that blocking opioid receptors reduced pleasure associated with viewing erotic pictures more than viewing symbols of reward such as money. This was paralleled by a reduction of activation in the ventral striatum, lateral orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, hypothalamus and medial prefrontal cortex. Crucially, the naloxone induced activation decrease was observed at reward delivery, but not during reward anticipation, indicating that blocking opioid receptors decreases the pleasure of rewards in humans.

Editorial note: This article has been through an editorial process in which the authors decide how to respond to the issues raised during peer review. The Reviewing Editor's assessment is that all the issues have been addressed (see decision letter).
Serotonin 5-HT1A receptor binding and self-transcendence in healthy control subjects—a replication study using Bayesian hypothesis testing
Authors: Griffioen Gina , Matheson Granville J. , Cervenka Simon , Farde Lars , Borg Jacqueline
Published: November 2018

Objective

A putative relationship between markers for the serotonin system and the personality scale self-transcendence (ST) and its subscale spiritual acceptance (SA) has been demonstrated in a previous PET study of 5-HT1A receptor binding in healthy control subjects. The results could however not be replicated in a subsequent PET study at an independent centre. In this study, we performed a replication of our original study in a larger sample using Bayesian hypothesis testing to evaluate relative evidence both for and against this hypothesis.

Methods

Regional 5-HT1A receptor binding potential (BPND) was examined in 50 healthy male subjects using PET with the radioligand [11C]WAY100635. 5-HT1Aavailability was calculated using the simplified reference tissue model (SRTM) yielding regional BPND. ST and SA were measured using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) questionnaire. Correlations between ST/SA scores and 5-HT1ABPND in frontal cortex, hippocampus and raphe nuclei were examined by calculation of default correlation Bayes factors (BFs) and replication BFs.

Results

There were no significant correlations between 5-HT1A receptor binding and ST/SA scores. Rather, five of six replication BFs provided moderate to strong evidence for no association between 5-HT1A availability and ST/SA, while the remaining BF provided only weak evidence.

Conclusion

We could not replicate our previous findings of an association between 5-HT1A availability and the personality trait ST/SA. Rather, the Bayesian analysis provided evidence for a lack of correlation. Further research should focus on whether other components of the serotonin system may be related to ST or SA. This study also illustrates how Bayesian hypothesis testing allows for greater flexibility and more informative conclusions than traditional p-values, suggesting that this approach may be advantageous for analysis of molecular imaging data.
Enhancement of a protocol purifying T1 lipase through molecular approach
Authors: Che Hussian Che Haznie Ayu , Raja Abd. Rahman Raja Noor Zaliha , Thean Chor Adam Leow , Salleh Abu Bakar , Mohamad Ali Mohd Shukuri
Published: November 2018

T1 Lipase is a thermostable secretary protein ofGeobacillus zalihaestrain previously expressed in a prokaryotic system and purified using three-step purification: affinity 1, affinity 2, and ion exchange chromatography (IEX). This approach is time consuming and offers low purity and recovery yield. In order to enhance the purification strategy of T1 lipase, affinity 2 was removed so that after affinity 1, the cleaved Glutathione S-transferase (GST) and matured T1 lipase could be directly separated through IEX. Therefore, a rational design of GST isoelectric point (pI) was implemented by prediction using ExPASy software in order to enhance the differences of pI values between GST and matured T1 lipase. Site-directed mutagenesis at two locations flanking the downstream region of GST sequences (H215R and G213R) was successfully performed. Double point mutations changed the charge on GST from 6.10 to 6.53. The purified lipase from the new construct GST tag mutant-T1 was successfully purified using two steps of purification with 6,849 U/mg of lipase specific activity, 33% yield, and a 44-fold increase in purification. Hence, the increment of the pI values in the GST tag fusion T1 lipase resulted in a successful direct separation through IEX and lead to successful purification.
A new microvertebrate assemblage from the Mussentuchit Member, Cedar Mountain Formation: insights into the paleobiodiversity and paleobiogeography of early Late Cretaceous ecosystems in western North America
Authors: Avrahami Haviv M. , Gates Terry A. , Heckert Andrew B. , Makovicky Peter J. , Zanno Lindsay E.
Published: November 2018

The vertebrate fauna of the Late Cretaceous Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation has been studied for nearly three decades, yet the fossil-rich unit continues to produce new information about life in western North America approximately 97 million years ago. Here we report on the composition of the Cliffs of Insanity (COI) microvertebrate locality, a newly sampled site containing perhaps one of the densest concentrations of microvertebrate fossils yet discovered in the Mussentuchit Member. The COI locality preserves osteichthyan, lissamphibian, testudinatan, mesoeucrocodylian, dinosaurian, metatherian, and trace fossil remains and is among the most taxonomically rich microvertebrate localities in the Mussentuchit Member. To better refine taxonomic identifications of isolated theropod dinosaur teeth, we used quantitative analyses of taxonomically comprehensive databases of theropod tooth measurements, adding new data on theropod tooth morphodiversity in this poorly understood interval. We further provide the first descriptions of tyrannosauroid premaxillary teeth and document the earliest North American record of adocid remains, extending the appearance of this ancestrally Asian clade by 5 million years in western North America and supporting studies of pre-Cenomaninan Laurasian faunal exchange across Beringia. The overabundance of mesoeucrocodylian remains at the COI locality produces a comparatively low measure of relative biodiversity when compared to other microvertebrate sites in the Mussentuchit Member using both raw and subsampling methods. Much more microvertebrate research is necessary to understand the roles of changing ecology and taphonomy that may be linked to transgression of the Western Interior Seaway or microhabitat variation.
An emerging viral pathogen truncates population age structure in a European amphibian and may reduce population viability
Authors: Campbell Lewis J. , Garner Trenton W.J. , Tessa Giulia , Scheele Benjamin C. , Griffiths Amber G.F. , Wilfert Lena , Harrison Xavier A.
Published: November 2018

Infectious diseases can alter the demography of their host populations, reducing their viability even in the absence of mass mortality. Amphibians are the most threatened group of vertebrates globally, and emerging infectious diseases play a large role in their continued population declines. Viruses belonging to the genus Ranavirus are responsible for one of the deadliest and most widespread of these diseases. To date, no work has used individual level data to investigate how ranaviruses affect population demographic structure. We used skeletochronology and morphology to evaluate the impact of ranaviruses on the age structure of populations of the European common frog (Rana temporaria) in the UK. We compared ecologically similar populations that differed most notably in their historical presence or absence of ranavirosis (the acute syndrome caused by ranavirus infection). Our results suggest that ranavirosis may truncate the age structure of R. temporaria populations. One potential explanation for such a shift might be increased adult mortality and subsequent shifts in the life history of younger age classes that increase reproductive output earlier in life. Additionally, we constructed population projection models which indicated that such increased adult mortality could heighten the vulnerability of frog populations to stochastic environmental challenges.
Influencing factors and health risk assessment of microcystins in the Yongjiang river (China) by Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Xiao Chan-Chan , Chen Mao-Jian , Mei Fan-Biao , Fang Xiang , Huang Tian-Ren , Li Ji-Lin , Deng Wei , Li Yuan-Dong
Published: November 2018

The Yongjiang river is a large, shallow, hyper-trophic, freshwater river in Guangxi, China. To investigate the presence of microcystin-RR, microcystin-LR, and microcystin-YR (MC-RR, MC-LR, and MC-YR) in the Yongjiang river and describe their correlation with environmental factors, as well as, assess health risk using Monte Carlo simulation, 90 water samples were collected at three sample points from March to December 2017. Results showed that during the monitoring period, total concentrations of MC-RR (TMC-RR), MC-YR (TMC-YR), and MC-LR (TMC-LR) varied from 0.0224 to 0.3783 μg/L, 0.0329 to 0.1433 μg/L, and 0.0341 to 0.2663 μg/L, respectively. Total phosphorus (TP) content appeared to be related to TMC-LR and the total concentrations of microcystins (TMCs), while pH and total nitrogen (TN)/TP ratio appeared to be related to TMC-RR and TMC-YR, respectively. Using the professional health risk assessment software @Risk7.5, the risks of dietary intake of microcystins (MCs), including the carcinogenic risk and non-carcinogenic risk, were evaluated. It was found that the carcinogenic risk of MC-RR from drinking water was higher than MC-LR and MC-YR, and the presence of MCs would lead to high potential health risks, especially in children. The carcinogenic risk of MC-RR to children was >1 × 10−4, the maximum allowance level recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency; as for adults, it was >5 × 10−5, the maximum allowance level recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI) of MC-RR, MC-YR, and MC-LR increased successively, indicating that MC-LR was more hazardous to human health than MC-YR and MC-RR, but its HI was <1. This suggests that MCs pose less risk to health. However, it is necessary to strengthen the protection and monitoring of drinking water source for effective control of water pollution and safeguarding of human health.
Pirin: a potential novel therapeutic target for castration‐resistant prostate cancer regulated by miR‐455‐5p
Authors: Arai Takayuki , Kojima Satoko , Yamada Yasutaka , Sugawara Sho , Kato Mayuko , Yamazaki Kazuto , Naya Yukio , Ichikawa Tomohiko , Seki Naohiko
Published: November 2018

Androgen deprivation therapy is frequently used to treat prostate cancer (PCa), but resistance can occur, a condition known as castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Thus, novel approaches for identification of CRPC are important for designing effective PCa treatments. Analysis of microRNA (miRNA) expression signatures by RNA sequencing showed that both passenger and guide strands of the miR‐455‐duplex (miR‐455‐5p and miR‐455‐3p, respectively) acted as antitumor miRNAs in PCa cells. The involvement of miRNA passenger strands in cancer pathogenesis is a novel concept for miRNA functionality. Based on a large patient cohort in The Cancer Genome Atlas, expression of eight miR‐455‐5p/‐3p target genes (PIR: P = 0.0137, LRP8: P = 0.0495, IGFBP3: P = 0.0172, DMBX1: P = 0.0175, CCDC64: P = 0.0446, TUBB1: P = 0.0149, KIF21B: P = 0.0336, and NFAM1: P = 0.0013) was significantly associated with poor prognosis of PCa patients. Here, we focused on PIR (pirin), a highly conserved member of the cupin superfamily. PIR expression was directly regulated by miR‐455‐5p, and PIR overexpression was detected in hormone‐sensitive prostate cancer (HSPC) surgical specimens and CRPC autopsy specimens. Loss‐of‐function assays using siRNA or an inhibitor (bisamide) showed that downregulation of PIR expression blocked cancer cell migration and invasion. Moreover, the miR‐455‐5p/PIR axis contributed to cancer cell aggressiveness. These results suggest that PIR might be a promising diagnostic marker for HSPC and CRPC. Furthermore, CRPC treatment strategies targeting PIR may be possible in the future. Identification of antitumor miRNAs, including miRNA passenger strands, may contribute to the development of new diagnostic markers and therapeutic strategies for CRPC.
AGPsThrough Time and Space
Authors: Ma Yingxuan , Zeng Wei , Bacic Antony , Johnson Kim
Published: November 2018

The enigmatic arabinogalactan‐proteins (AGPs) have fascinated and challenged researchers for decades. In the 1960s, AGPs were being readily extracted from a large number of species due to their water solubility. At the time, research was focused on the carbohydrate component and the existence of protein core was largely unknown. The association of glycans with hydroxyproline‐containing proteins was alluded to as early as 1965, and nearly 10 years later an arabinogalactan‐peptide from wheat was isolated that conclusively showed the covalent association of protein and glycans. A further 50 years of research has provided insight into the diversity of the protein backbones and glycan structures; their presence across evolutionary ‘time’ and the ‘space’ they occupy at the plasma membrane‐cell wall interface that, combined with tissue specificity, can have important signalling functions. This article highlights recent developments that are enabling insights into the evolution, biological roles, and molecular mechanisms of this diverse family.
Field Phenotyping for the Future
Authors: Atkinson Jonathan A. , Jackson Robert J. , Bentley Alison R. , Ober Eric , Wells Darren M.
Published: November 2018

Global agricultural production has to double by 2050 to meet the demands of an increasing population and the challenges of a changing climate. Plant phenomics (the characterisation of the full set of phenotypes of a given species) has been proposed as a solution to relieve the ‘phenotyping bottleneck’ between functional genomics and plant breeding studies. In this article, we survey current approaches and describe recent technological and methodological advances for phenotyping under field conditions and discuss the prospects for these emerging technologies in addressing the challenges of future plant research.
Underdosing of methadone still a concern in OTPs, new national data indicate
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: November 2018

A significant proportion of methadone patients still are not receiving daily dosing levels that conform to evidence‐based standards of practice, according to data in a new study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. The study's lead researcher, who has looked at this topic over a span of nearly 30 years, believes that even within the nation's opioid treatment programs (OTPs), stigma among some professionals toward use of medication‐assisted treatment (MAT) contributes to dosing that may prove too low to encourage treatment retention and reduce illicit drug use.
New York bill would require MAT for all jails and prisons
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: November 2018

Last week, a NY coalition of harm‐reduction organizations, drug policy reformers and treatment providers joined state lawmakers in calling for medication‐assisted treatment (MAT) in all New York jails and prisons. We spoke to Allegra Schorr, president of the Coalition of Medication‐Assisted Treatment Providers and Advocates of New York State (COMPA), on the need for all three medications — methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone — to be available in all state and county facilities.
Heteroatom‐Doped Carbon Materials for Hydrazine Oxidation
Authors: Zhang Tao , Asefa Tewodros
Published: November 2018

The key in designing efficient direct liquid fuel cells (DLFCs), which can offer some solutions to society's grand challenges associated with sustainability and energy future, currently lies in the development of cost‐effective electrocatalysts. Among the many types of fuel cells, direct hydrazine fuel cells (DHFCs) are of particular interest, especially due to their high theoretical cell voltages and clean emission. However, DHFCs currently use noble‐metal‐based electrocatalysts, and the scarcity and high cost of noble metals are hindering these fuel cells from finding large‐scale practical applications. In order to replace noble‐metal‐based electrocatalysts with sustainable ones and help DHFCs become widely usable, great efforts are being made to develop stable heteroatom (e.g., B, N, O, P and S)‐doped carbon electrocatalysts, the activities of which are comparable to, or better than, those of noble metals. Here, the recent research progress and the advancements made on the development of heteroatom‐doped carbon materials, their general properties, their electrocatalytic activities toward the HzOR, and their dopant‐ and structure‐related electrocatalytic properties for the HzOR are summarized. Perspectives on the different directions that the research endeavors in this field need to take in the future and the challenges associated with DHFCs are included.
Adhesion‐Free Thin‐Film‐Like Curvature Sensors Integrated on Flexible and Wearable Electronics for Monitoring Bending of Joints and Various Body Gestures
Authors: Liu Hao , Zhao Hongyu , Li Shuang , Hu Jianqiao , Zheng Xinran , Li Rui , Chen Yuli , Su Yewang
Published: November 2018

Flexible and wearable electronics integrated with various sensors have great potential for applications in monitoring human activities and personal health. Bending and tension/compression dominate the deformation modes yielded by flexure of joints and diverse body gestures. A key challenge now is to sense the curvature/bending angle, while much research has been focused on the strain sensors for tension/compression. Alternative approaches by strain sensors or noncontact optical methods for curvature sensing are not practical for wearable electronics. A novel adhesion‐free thin‐film‐like curvature sensor that can monitor bending activities is introduced for flexible and wearable electronics. This study presents comprehensive design, fabrication, mechanism, structural analysis, performance characterization, and device‐level demonstrations for bending of joints, gesture recognition, and real‐time sitting posture correction. The most prominent advantage of the present sensor is that the measurement is independent of the strain of the target surface and the interfacial slippage, thus the perfect adhesion between the sensor and the surface is unnecessary. The features of adhesion‐free, simple mechanical principle, low cost, and satisfactory monitoring results highlight the superiority of the present curvature sensors for practical applications to flexible and wearable electronics.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Propargylic [n+2] Cycloaddition: An Efficient Strategy for Construction of Benzo‐Fused Medium‐Sized Heterocycles
Authors: Liu Zhen‐Ting , Hu Xiang‐Ping
Published: November 2018

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Effects of subject‐oriented visualization tools on search by novices and intermediates
Authors: Wu I‐Chin , Vakkari Pertti
Published: November 2018

This study explores how user subject knowledge influences search task processes and outcomes, as well as how search behavior is influenced by subject‐oriented information visualization (IV) tools. To enable integrated searches, the proposed WikiMap
+ integrates search functions and IV tools (i.e., a topic network and hierarchical topic tree) and gathers information from Wikipedia pages and Google Search results. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed interfaces, we design subject‐oriented tasks and adopt extended evaluation measures. We recruited 48 novices and 48 knowledgeable users, that is, intermediates, for the evaluation. Our results show that novices using the proposed interface demonstrate better search performance than intermediates using Wikipedia. We therefore conclude that our tools help close the gap between novices and intermediates in information searches. The results also show that intermediates can take advantage of the search tool by leveraging the IV tools to browse subtopics, and formulate better queries with less effort. We conclude that embedding the IV and the search tools in the interface can result in different search behavior but improved task performance. We provide implications to design search systems to include IV features adapted to user levels of subject knowledge to help them achieve better task performance.
When to stop making relevance judgments? A study of stopping methods for building information retrieval test collections
Authors: Losada David E. , Parapar Javier , Barreiro Alvaro
Published: November 2018

In information retrieval evaluation, pooling is a well‐known technique to extract a sample of documents to be assessed for relevance. Given the pooled documents, a number of studies have proposed different prioritization methods to adjudicate documents for judgment. These methods follow different strategies to reduce the assessment effort. However, there is no clear guidance on how many relevance judgments are required for creating a reliable test collection. In this article we investigate and further develop methods to determine when to stop making relevance judgments. We propose a highly diversified set of stopping methods and provide a comprehensive analysis of the usefulness of the resulting test collections. Some of the stopping methods introduced here combine innovative estimates of recall with time series models used in Financial Trading. Experimental results on several representative collections show that some stopping methods can reduce up to 95% of the assessment effort and still produce a robust test collection. We demonstrate that the reduced set of judgments can be reliably employed to compare search systems using disparate effectiveness metrics such as Average Precision, NDCG, P@100, and Rank Biased Precision. With all these measures, the correlations found between full pool rankings and reduced pool rankings is very high.