bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Connecting Antarctic sea ice to deep‐ocean circulation in modern and glacial climate simulations
Authors: Marzocchi Alice , Jansen Malte F.
Published: June 2017

Antarctic sea‐ice formation plays a key role in shaping the abyssal overturning circulation and stratification in all ocean basins, by driving surface buoyancy loss through the associated brine rejection. Changes in Antarctic sea ice have therefore been suggested as drivers of major glacial‐interglacial ocean circulation rearrangements. Here, the relationship between Antarctic sea ice, buoyancy loss, deep‐ocean stratification, and overturning circulation is investigated in Last Glacial Maximum and preindustrial simulations from the Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project (PMIP). The simulations show substantial intermodel differences in their representation of the glacial deep‐ocean state and circulation, which is often at odds with the geological evidence. We argue that these apparent inconsistencies can largely be attributed to differing (and likely insufficient) Antarctic sea‐ice formation. Discrepancies can be further amplified by short integration times. Deep‐ocean equilibration and sea‐ice representation should, therefore, be carefully evaluated in the forthcoming PMIP4 simulations.
Relation between Human Serum Albumin Structure and Fluorescence Decay Parameters of Tryptophan Residue 214
Authors: Jankeje Kristina , Amiri Megdouda , Albani Jihad René
Published: June 2017

The purpose of this article is to study the relation between fluorescence decay parameters of tryptophan residue in human serum albumin (HSA) and the protein structure. HSA contains a single tryptophan residue, and thus, there will be no ambiguity on the data obtained.

HSA comprises a single polypeptide of 585 amino acid residues with only one tryptophan residue. Tryptophan fluorescence is very sensitive to the local environment. Global form and structure of HSA are pH dependent. Thus, in this article, behavioral changes and fluorescence characteristics of tryptophan within HSA were studied at different pHs (2–12) and in the denatured state in the presence of guanidine hydrochloride solution.

In an environment with a low pH (at pHs 2 and 3), tryptophan emits at a maximum of 330 nm. The peak position shifts to 340 nm at higher pH. Peak position values indicate no protein denaturation but a structural modification. The loss of the tertiary protein structure (complete denaturation) induces a shift in tryptophan fluorescence to 352 nm.

At all pHs, tryptophan residue emits with three lifetimes. Lifetime measurements at different pHs along the emission wavelengths allowed us to differentiate the different forms of HSA.

In the denatured state, tryptophan emission occurs also with three lifetimes. However, values and contributions of these lifetimes to the global emission decay differ between the native and denatured states.

We have considered that fluorescence emission occurs from tryptophan substructures, each substructure is characterized by one lifetime along with its pre‐exponential. Populations of the substructures, characterized by the pre‐exponential values of the fluorescence lifetimes, are dependent on the microenvironment of the fluorophore and on the global protein structure.
The Interaction of Metal Compounds with Protein Targets: New Tools in Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Authors: Miller Jessica J. , Gomes Luiza M. F. , Storr Tim , Casini Angela
Published: June 2017

In cells and organisms, metal complexes can be specifically designed to interact with biomolecules and accordingly alter important biological processes. These interactions have been widely explored for targeting specific biological functions and diseases. In fact, several studies have demonstrated that inorganic chemistry offers significant diversity and versatility for the preparation of highly potent protein modulators (e.g., inhibitors). Moreover, both coordination and organometallic complexes featuring favorable chemico‐physical properties (e.g., luminescence) have proven to be well suited to image proteins and peptides in living cells by various methods. An inherent advantage of metal complexes is the accessibility of multiple oxidation states, and overall charge and geometries, which makes them attractive from the point of view of chemical design. However, these properties can become a disadvantage if not controlled and fine‐tuned in the biological application. In this review, we generally discuss the use of metal compounds, targeting proteins and/or peptides, in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, and then focus on representative recent examples and applications. Furthermore, we highlight future challenges and attractive perspectives in the field, which may stimulate research and define new frontiers in bioinorganic chemistry.
On the significance of craniosynostosis in a case of Kabuki syndrome with a concomitant KMT2D mutation and 3.2 Mbp de novo 10q22.3q23.1 deletion
Authors: Topa Alexandra , Samuelsson Lena , Lovmar Lovisa , Stenman Göran , Kölby Lars
Published: June 2017

Craniosynostosis has rarely been described in patients with Kabuki syndrome. We report here a boy with facial asymmetry due to combined premature synostosis of the right coronal and sagittal sutures as well as several symptoms reminiscent of Kabuki syndrome (KS). Our case supports previous observations and suggests that craniosynostosis is a part of the KS phenotype. The uniqueness of our case is the sporadic co‐occurrence of two genetic disorders, that is, a de novo frameshift variant in the KMT2D gene and a de novo 3.2 Mbp 10q22.3q23.1 deletion. Our findings emphasize the importance of the initial clinical assessment of children with craniosynostosis and that genomic and monogenic disorders, such as Kabuki syndrome, should be considered among the differential diagnoses of syndromic forms of craniosynostosis.
Divergent Reactivity of (Diacyloxyiodo)arenes under Palladium Catalysis: Controlled Allylic C−H Acyloxylation and Vinylic Arylation
Authors: Yue Qiang , Yang Tingting , Yang Yaocheng , Zhang Chuancheng , Zhang Qian , Li Dong
Published: June 2017

The divergent reactivity of (diacyloxyiodo)arenes in the palladium‐catalyzed allylic C−H acyloxylation and vinylic arylation reactions of various alkenes has been established. These reactions proceed under simple, mild, and ligand‐free conditions to give C−H acyloxylation and vinylic arylation products in moderate to good yields with high regioselectivities. This reaction can employ a broad scope of substrates and has good functional group compatibility. This method will greatly broaden the applications for (diacyloxyiodo)arenes in organic synthesis.
In Silico Development of Quorum‐Sensing Inhibitors
Authors: Byeon Jae‐Young , Sim Jun , Ryu Eun‐Ju , Sim Jaehyun , Lee Hwan , Cho Kwang‐Hwi , Choi Bong‐Kyu , Lee Julian
Published: June 2017

Quorum sensing (QS) is a chemical communication between bacteria, with which bacteria sense the population of their own species. Autoinducer‐2 (AI‐2) is a class of universal quorum‐sensing molecules, which is used by both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria. The inhibition of AI‐2‐mediated QS has various practical applications, including the prevention of the formation of biofilm in dental gums. In this work, we develop a computational protocol for developing AI‐2 inhibitors. A challenging aspect of such an endeavor is that the receptor undergoes a large conformational change upon ligand binding. We combine several methods such as molecular docking with multiple conformations, molecular dynamics simulations, and molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann computation, in order to estimate binding affinity of candidate molecules to a quorum‐sensing receptor. We apply our method to rank the substances in a chemical library. We indeed find a molecule that has a higher affinity than previously known ligands, thus showing the feasibility of the protocol for the development of quorum‐sensing inhibitors.
Highly Active Ruthenium Supported on Magnetically Recyclable Chitosan‐Based Nanocatalyst for Nitroarenes Reduction
Authors: Liew Kin Hong , Rocha Mariana , Pereira Clara , Pires Ana L. , Pereira André M. , Yarmo Mohd Ambar , Juan Joon Ching , Yusop Rahimi M. , Peixoto Andreia F. , Freire Cristina
Published: June 2017

A Ru supported on a magnetically separable chitosan‐based nanomaterial (Mn@CS@Ru) was prepared by wet impregnation based on ionic gelation using sodium tripolyphosphate as a cross‐linking agent. The ionic gelation of chitosan leads to a supporting matrix to promote the embedding of manganese(II) ferrite and Ru nanoparticles (NPs) by electrostatic interactions. The effects of the formulation and method parameters on the fabrication process were investigated, and the resulting as‐prepared Mn@CS@Ru nanocatalyst was characterized. The catalytic activity of the Mn@CS@Ru nanomaterial was evaluated in the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) and 4‐nitroaniline (4‐NA) in the presence of sodium borohydride as a reducing agent at room temperature. The turnover frequency values in the reduction of 4‐NP and 4‐NA were 273.9 and 336.5 min−1, respectively, which were attributed to the very small size of the hybrid nanomaterial (32.0±2.8 nm with 3.9±0.1 nm Ru NPs) that provided a large surface‐area‐to‐volume ratio for the chemical reaction. Furthermore, the hybrid nanocatalyst was recovered easily by magnetic separation after the catalytic reaction and could be reused in at least 10 cycles without a loss of catalytic activity, which confirms its high stability. The present route is a new approach to synthesize highly active magnetic heterogeneous catalysts for the reduction of nitroarenes based on metallic NPs with easy accessibility, excellent activity, and convenient recovery.
Alternating Copolymer of Double Four Ring Silicate and Dimethyl Silicone Monomer–PSS‐1
Authors: Smet Sam , Vandenbrande Steven , Verlooy Pieter , Kerkhofs Stef , Breynaert Eric , Kirschhock Christine E. A. , Martineau‐Corcos Charlotte , Taulelle Francis , Van Speybroeck Veronique , Martens Johan A.
Published: June 2017

A new copolymer consisting of double four ring (D4R) silicate units linked by dimethylsilicone monomer referred to as polyoligosiloxysilicone number one (PSS‐1) was synthesized. The D4R building unit is provided by hexamethyleneimine cyclosilicate hydrate crystals, which were dehydrated and reacted with dichlorodimethylsilane. The local structure of D4R silicate units and dimethyl silicone monomers was revealed by multidimensional solid‐state NMR, FTIR and modeling. On average, D4R silicate units have 6.8 silicone linkages. Evidence for preferential unidirectional growth and chain ordering within the PSS‐1 copolymer was provided by STEM and TEM. The structure of PSS‐1 copolymer consists of twisted columns of D4R silicate units with or without cross‐linking. Both models are consistent with the spectroscopic, microscopic and physical properties. PSS‐1 chains are predicted to be mechanically strong compared to silicones such as PDMS, yet more flexible than rigid silica materials such as zeolites.
Inhibition of angiogenesis impairs bone healing in an in vivo murine rapid resynostosis model
Authors: Hyzy Sharon L. , Kajan Illya , Wilson D. Scott , Lawrence Kelsey A. , Mason Devon , Williams Joseph K. , Olivares‐Navarrete Rene , Cohen David J. , Schwartz Zvi , Boyan Barbara D.
Published: June 2017

Biologics can improve bone formation, but may diffuse away from sites of therapeutic need. We developed a click‐chemistry hydrogel that rapidly polymerizes in situ to control delivery of biologics during post‐suturectomy resynostosis in 21‐day‐old male mice. Here, we used this model to determine the role of angiogenesis in post‐suturectomy resynostosis and examine whether controlled release of angiogenesis inhibitors could delay bone regeneration. Hydrogels [DB‐co‐PEG/poly (TEGDMA)‐co‐(N3‐TEGDMA)] were produced containing anti‐angiogenic compounds [anti‐VEGFA‐antibody or hypoxia inducible factor 1α‐inhibitor topotecan]. Bioactivity in vitro was assessed by tube length and branching points of endothelial cells in hydrogel‐conditioned media. In vivo effects were examined 14 day post‐suturectomy, based on the temporal analysis of angiogenic mRNAs during resynostosis following posterior frontal suture removal. MicroCT was used to quantify angiogenesis in contrast‐agent‐perfused blood vessels and bone defect size in defects receiving hydrogel, anti‐VEGFA/hydrogel, or topotecan/hydrogel. Shorter endothelial tube length and less branching were seen in inhibitor‐conditioned media (topotecan > AbVEGFA). In vivo, both compounds inhibited angiogenesis compared with hydrogel‐only. Anti‐VEGFA/hydrogel reduced resynostosis compared with empty defects, but topotecan/hydrogel blocked bone regeneration. We demonstrate that anti‐angiogenic compounds can be incorporated into a spontaneously polymerizing hydrogel and remain active over 14 days in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, bone formation can be delayed by inhibiting neovascularization, suggesting possible use as a therapeutic to control resynostosis following suturectomies and potential applications in other conditions where rapid osteogenesis is not desired. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2742–2749, 2017.
Progress and Application of CRISPR/Cas Technology in Biological and Biomedical Investigation
Authors: Lin Jiachen , Zhou Yangzhong , Liu Jiaqi , Chen Jia , Chen Weisheng , Zhao Sen , Wu Zhihong , Wu Nan
Published: June 2017

Based on the tremendous progress of the understanding on the CRISPR‐Cas systems, the application CRISPR/Cas technology has been extended into increasing scenarios in biological and biomedical investigation. The potency of gene editing has been greatly improved by the rapid development of engineered Cas9 variants and modified CRISPR platforms. As advanced sequencing technology identified vast causative genetic basis for human diseases, CRISPR toolkits are now able to mediate precise genetic disruption or correction in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we have discussed the recent development of the CRISPR/Cas gene‐editing technology and the extensive applications of the CRISPR platforms in biological and biomedical investigation, including disease modeling in animal and human cell line, development of gene therapy, as well as high‐throughput genetic screening. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 3061–3071, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Safety and efficacy of laryngeal mask airway ventilation in obese patients with airway stenosis
Authors: Pourciau D. Cole , Hotard D. Peter , Hayley Schuylor , Hayley Kasey , Sutton Collin , McWhorter Andrew J. , Fink Daniel S.
Published: June 2017

Objective

To assess the efficacy of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) ventilation in obese patients with airway stenosis.

Study Design

A retrospective chart review was conducted in an academic practice in a tertiary care center.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed our experience using LMA ventilation in obese patients with airway stenosis. Lowest intraoperative O2 saturation and maximum‐end tidal carbon dioxide (CO2) levels were recorded. Complications including intubation, unplanned admission, re‐admission, postoperative pain, dysphonia, oral trauma, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and tracheostomy were recorded.

Results

Fourteen bronchoscopies with laser incisions and dilation were performed in patients with airway stenosis exclusively using LMA ventilation. Thirteen of 14 procedures were performed on patients who had body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2. Mean BMI was noted to be 38 kg/m2 (range 25–54). All patients underwent successful laser incisions and dilation via LMA anesthesia without major or minor adverse events. The mean lowest O2 saturation level was noted to be 92%; the mean highest CO2 level was noted to be 56 mm Hg; and no patients required endotracheal intubation.

Conclusion

In this small series of obese patients with airway stenosis, LMA anesthesia was effectively used without major or minor complications.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 127:2582–2584, 2017
Rapid sediment mapping and in situ geotechnical characterization in challenging aquatic areas
Authors: Albatal Ali , Stark Nina
Published: June 2017

Yakutat Bay, Southeast Alaska, is characterized by significant spatial variations in sediment type and dynamics. The northwestern side is supplied by sediments from the nearby glaciers, and is affected by longshore sediment transport processes, while the southeastern side has no direct sediment input, and is affected by human activities. In situ seabed investigations can be difficult, and expensive, due to logistical challenges in such remote locations. A portable free fall penetrometer (PFFP) was deployed 149 times along 16 transects in water depths of 2–48 m. The deceleration and pore pressure records during the probe's penetration into the seabed were used to characterize the surficial sediments. Equivalents of quasi‐static bearing capacity were determined using the deceleration‐depth signatures, and yielded strong variabilities ranging from 5 to 107 kPa at sediment depths of 10.3–41.9 cm. Correlating the PFFP results to visual field observations and literature, a regional classification scheme, and an updated sediment distribution map were derived. The pore pressure response was correlated to the different sediment types, and was used to assess the sediment's consolidation state. At the northwestern side, an increasing pore pressure trend indicated underconsolidated cohesive sediments. At the southeastern side, clayey sediments appeared to be more consolidated except of sediments of high organic content near the populated areas. The use of the pore pressure measurements represents a novel way for rapid sediment characterization using PFFP. The presented approach to create rapidly a regional sediment classification scheme offers a time‐ and cost‐effective method to derive seabed sediment maps in areas of difficult access and logistics.
Robust EPI Nyquist ghost removal by incorporating phase error correction with sensitivity encoding (PEC‐SENSE)
Authors: Xie Victor B. , Lyu Mengye , Liu Yilong , Feng Yanqiu , Wu Ed X.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The existing approach of Nyquist ghost correction by parallel imaging in echo planar imaging (EPI) can suffer from image noise amplification. We propose a method that estimates a phase error map from multi‐channel data itself and incorporates it into the sensitivity encoding (SENSE) reconstruction for Nyquist ghost correction without compromising the image SNR.

Methods

This method first reconstructs two ghost‐free images from positive and negative echoes using SENSE, respectively, from which the phase error map is computed. This map is then incorporated into the coil sensitivity maps for the negative echo image during the joint SENSE reconstruction of all k‐space data to obtain the final ghost‐free image. Phantom and in vivo EPI experiments at 7 T and 3 T were performed to evaluate the proposed method.

Results

Nyquist ghost was effectively removed in all images even under oblique imaging and poor eddy current conditions. Resulting image signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) was comparable to that by the traditional linear phase error correction method and higher than that by a previous SENSE‐based parallel imaging correction approach.

Conclusion

The proposed correction method can robustly eliminate Nyquist ghost while preserving the image SNR. This approach requires no additional calibration data beyond standard coil sensitivity maps and can be readily applied to all EPI applications. Magn Reson Med 79:943–951, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
The vehicle routing problem with drones: Extended models and connections
Authors: Poikonen Stefan , Wang Xingyin , Golden Bruce
Published: June 2017

The vehicle routing problem with drones (VRPD) is inspired by the increasing interest in commercial drone delivery by companies such as Amazon, Google, DHL, and Walmart. In our model, a fleet of m homogeneous trucks each carries k drones with a speed of α times that of the truck. Each drone may dispatch from the top of the truck and carry a package to a customer location. The drone then returns to the top of its truck to recharge or swap batteries (we assume instantaneously). The truck itself is allowed to move and deliver packages, but must be stationary at a delivery location or the depot when launching or retrieving drones. The goal is to minimize the completion time to deliver all packages and return all vehicles back to the central depot. In this article, we review and extend several worst‐case results from an earlier paper and we make connections with another practical variant of the vehicle routing problem and with Amdahl's Law. We find that the VRPD model offers some important practical advantages. The drones allow the truck to parallelize tasks and they are able to take advantage of crow‐fly distances. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 70(1), 34–43 2017
Thermal, Electrical, and Gas Transport Properties of New Aromatic Poly(Ether Ether Ketone)/Silica Hybrid Films
Authors: Hamciuc Corneliu , Hamciuc Elena , Rusu Daniela , Asandulesa Mihai , Wolinska‐Grabczyk Aleksandra
Published: June 2017

New hybrid films were prepared through a sol–gel process starting from a poly(ether ether ketone)‐containing pendant carboxyl groups (PEEK‐R) and various alkoxysilanes (tetraethoxysilane, methyltrietoxysilane, and phenyltriethoxysilane) as precursors of the inorganic network. PEEK‐R was synthesized from 4,4′‐difluorobenzophenone and a mixture of phenolphthalein and phenolphthalin. Owing to the presence of polar phthalide and carboxyl groups in the PEEK‐R structure, the hybrid films showed homogeneous morphologies. The films exhibited good thermal stability, having initial decomposition temperature over 440°C and a glass transition of 180–218°C. The contact angle values of film surfaces with water and ethylene glycol increased by the introduction of silica. The dielectric spectroscopy analysis at lower temperature evidenced two secondary relaxation processes, γ and β. At higher temperature, a conductivity relaxation was observed. The thermal activation energy of conductivity was in the range of 0.6–1.02 eV, confirming the electronic conduction via hopping. Gas permeation tests using small molecules (He, N2, O2, and CO2) indicated that hybrid films showed higher permeability than pure polymer film for all tested gases. The permeability increase was accompanied by a slight reduction in selectivity, but CO2/N2 selectivity remained significantly high making this type of hybrid materials promising candidate for gas separation membranes. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E1544–E1553, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Microscopic electronic and structural analysis of femtosecond laser sulfur hyperdoped silicon
Authors: Sickel J. , Ahrens A. , Baumann A. L. , Schade W. , Kontermann S. , Seibt M.
Published: June 2017

Sulfur hyperdoping by fs laser irradiation is a promising process for improving absorption properties of crystalline silicon which indicates its suitability for manufacturing intermediate band silicon solar cells. Here, first results of a novel approach to study the electrical and structural properties of sulfur hyperdoped regions of p‐type silicon substrates are presented. In addition to electron beam induced current (EBIC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in cross‐section geometry, shallow‐angle bevel polishing is used to employ surface sensitive techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Kelvin force microscopy (KFM). The latter reveals high lateral electric fields in regions beneath the crests of the surface topography, while EBIC shows an enhanced recombination activity at the location of the voltage drops. Both these effects are related to extended defects revealed by TEM and a possible lateral variation of sulfur concentrations.

AFM image (top) and KFM map (bottom) showing a voltage drop on the surface of a terrace produced by bevel polishing of sulfur hyperdoped silicon.
Ion exchange resin for PFAS removal and pilot test comparison to GAC
Authors: Woodard Steve , Berry John , Newman Brandon
Published: June 2017

Amec Foster Wheeler and Emerging Compounds Treatment Technologies, Inc. tested pilot‐scale ex situ treatment technologies for treatment of poly‐ and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater. The pilot test compared ion exchange resin to granular activated carbon (GAC) and evaluated in‐place regeneration of the resin to restore PFAS removal capacity. During the pilot test, both resin and GAC removed perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) below U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) health advisories (HAs) of 0.070 micrograms per liter (μg/L) combined. Compared at a common empty bed contact time (EBCT) of five minutes, the resin treated over eight times as many bed volumes (BVs) of groundwater as GAC before PFOS exceeded the USEPA HA and six times as many BVs for PFOA. On a mass‐to‐mass basis, resin removed over four times as much total PFAS per gram as GAC before breakthrough was observed at the USEPA HA. A solution of organic solvent and brine was used to regenerate the resin in the lead vessel, which had treated water up to the point of PFOS and PFOA breakthrough exceeding the USEPA HAs. The pilot test demonstrated successful in‐place regeneration of the resin to near‐virgin conditions. The regenerated resin was then used to treat the contaminated groundwater up to the same breakthrough point. Compared to the virgin resin loading cycles, PFAS removal results for the regenerated resin were consistent with virgin resin.
Semiconducting Conjugated Microporous Polymer: An Electrode Material for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting and Oxygen Reduction
Authors: Jayanthi Swetha , Muthu D. V. S. , Jayaraman N. , Sampath S. , Sood A. K.
Published: June 2017

Intriguing structural design and inherent nanoporosity of conjugated microporous polymers (CMP) with extended π‐conjugation have stimulated research interest in exploring their applications to solve challenging environmental and energy problems. However, only few attempts are made so far to identify the semiconducting properties of these CMP networks having direct relevance to energy conversion, electronic devices and photocatalysis. The present study identifies the semiconducting properties of a conjugated microporous polymer, namely, poly(1,3,5‐triethynylbenzene) (PTEB) in detail using photoluminescence, UV‐Visible absorption, Kelvin probe force microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, Mott‐Schottky analysis and photoelectrochemical studies. Integration of heteroatoms such as nitrogen into the polymer network by post‐thermal treatment is shown to enhance significantly the activities towards oxygen reduction reaction. A drastic improvement in the activity of PTEB observed on nitrogen incorporation into the carbon skeleton is attributed to an increase in the number of electrochemical active sites and increase in its pore size. The systematic evaluation of conducting properties of CMP materials promises future development of electronic, electrochemical and photoelectrochemical devices.
Irish droughts in newspaper archives: rediscovering forgotten hazards?
Authors: Murphy Conor , Noone Simon , Duffy Catriona , Broderick Ciaran , Matthews Tom , Wilby Robert L.
Published: June 2017

Irish newspaper collections are a rich source of information on historical droughts. Following a search of 250 years of such archives, this paper brings to light four newspaper articles describing three drought events that convey the cultural impacts and unusual societal responses to drought in nineteenth century Ireland. Amongst the archives we find two poems from 1806 and 1893, a call to pray for rain in 1887, and a suggestion for weather modification in 1893. These records demonstrate that, contrary to recent experience, Ireland is surprisingly prone to drought.
Stress intensity factor for multiple inclined or curved cracks problem in circular positions in plane elasticity
Authors: Rafar R. A. , Nik Long N. M. A. , Senu N. , Noda N. A.
Published: June 2017

The problems of multiple inclined or curved cracks in circular positions is treated by using the hypersingular integral equation method. The cracks center are placed at the edge of a virtual circle with radius R. The first crack is fixed on the x‐axis while the second crack is located on the boundary of a circle with the varying angle, θ. A system of hypersingular integral equations is formulated and solved numerically for the stress intensity factor (SIF). Numerical examples demonstrate the effect of interaction between two cracks in circular positions are given. It is found that, the severity at the second crack tips are significant when the ratio length of the second to the first crack is small and it is placed at a small angle of θ.
Histories of Human Engineering
Authors: Derksen Maarten
Published: June 2017

The dream of control over human behaviour is an old dream, shared by many cultures. This fascinating account of the histories of human engineering describes how technologies of managing individuals and groups were developed from the nineteenth century to the present day, ranging from brainwashing and mind control to Dale Carnegie's art of dealing with people. Derksen reveals that common to all of them is the perpetual tension between the desire to control people's behaviour and the resistance this provokes. Thus to influence other people successfully, technology had to be combined with tact: with a personal touch, with a subtle hint, or with outright deception, manipulations are made palatable or invisible. Combining psychological history and theory with insights from science and technology studies and rhetorical scholarship, Derksen offers a fresh perspective on human engineering that will appeal to those interested in the history of psychology and the history of technology.
Intellectual Property Rights and Climate Change
Authors: Zhuang Wei
Published: June 2017

As the world confronts global warming, there is a growing consensus that the TRIPS Agreement could be a more effective instrument for mitigating climate change. In this innovative work, Wei Zhuang systematically examines the contextual elements that can be used in the interpretation of the TRIPS Agreement with a view to enhancing innovation and transfer of environmentally sound technologies. Zhuang proposes a balanced and pro-competitive interpretation that could be pursued by policy makers and negotiators. This comprehensive, multidisciplinary study will help academics and policymakers improve their understanding of the contemporary international legal regimes governing intellectual property rights and innovation and transfer of environmentally sound technologies. It also offers practical guidance for further developing a legal system capable of responding to the challenges posed by climate change.
Physiological effects of stress related to helicopter travel in Federal Emergency Management Agency search-and-rescue canines
Authors: Perry E. , Gulson N. , Liu Cross T.-W. , Swanson K. S.
Published: June 2017

Working canines are deployed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of a National Disaster Response Plan. Stress associated with helicopter flight and the resulting physical effects on the dog are unknown. Our objective was to test the hypotheses that (1) helicopter travel affects the physiology and faecal microbiota of working canines, but that (2) physiological consequences of helicopter travel will not negatively affect their work performance. A total of nine FEMA canines were loaded onto helicopters and flown for 30 min in July 2015. Rectal temperature, behavioural stress indicators and saliva swabs (for cortisol) were collected at baseline, loading, mid-flight and post-flight. After flight, canines completed a standardised search exercise to monitor work performance. Faecal samples were collected for microbial DNA extraction and Illumina sequencing. All canines were on a standardised diet (CANIDAE®Grain Free PURE Land®) for 3 weeks prior to the study. Visible indicators of stress were observed at loading and at mid-flight and corresponded with an increase (P < 0·05) in salivary cortisol from 5·4 µg/l (baseline) to 6·4 µg/l (loading). Additionally, rectal temperature increased (P< 0·05) from 38·61°C (baseline) to 39·33°C (mid-flight) and 39·72°C (post-flight). Helicopter travel did not affect search performance (P > 0·05). We found that α- and β-diversity measures of faecal microbiota were not affected (P > 0·05). Our data suggest that although helicopter travel may cause physiological changes that have been associated with stress in working dogs, it does not make an impact on their search performance or the stability of faecal microbiota.
Monuments of Ruination in Postwar Berlin and Warsaw: The Architectural Projects of Bohdan Lachert and Daniel Libeskind
Authors: Meng Michael
Published: June 2017

This essay provides an interpretation of parallel attempts to represent ruination in the cities of Warsaw and Berlin after the Holocaust—the architectural projects of Bohdan Lachert and Daniel Libeskind. Lachert strove to represent the ruination of Jewish life in Warsaw through a modernist housing project, whereas Libeskind sought to represent Jewish ruination in a museum. While these two projects might seem different, they come together around a shared aspiration: to represent absence and ruination. Both projects endeavored to create a new kind of memorial that moved away from the conventional form. Rather than turning away from ruination and suffering as the conventional monument has done, Libeskind and Lachert sought to develop a new, non-salvific kind of monument that would reflect on death, suffering, and emptiness. This essay emphasizes the novelty of their attempts to create a different relationship to the absence that is the past, while it also explores some of the central challenges—both historical and theoretical—that both architects faced in implementing their artistic visions.
Politics of Nationhood and the Displacement of the Founding Moment: Contending Histories of the Turkish Nation
Authors: Çinar Alev , Taş Hakki
Published: June 2017

This study examines the conception of nationhood developed by a political movement referred to as Ulusalcılık (nationalism), which emerged at the turn of the century. We focus on ways in which the Ulusalcı movement makes use of nation-building techniques to establish and propagate its own version of Turkish nationhood as one that is primordially secular and patriotic. This is expressed in its opposition to Islamism, Ottomanism, and what it sees as imperialist Western powers. We argue that the most significant technique Ulusalcı nationalists use to rebuild Turkish nationhood is a relocation of the nation's founding moment, from the official Kemalist one marked by the founding of the Republic in 1923 to the War of Independence fought against the European powers between 1919 and 1922. Our premise is that nationhood is ultimately the product of storytelling, and that the politics of nationhood involves the contentious production, dissemination, and negotiation of different stories and their corresponding founding moments. We analyze the story of Turkish nationhood told in the bestselling book Those Crazy Turks, which became the bible of the Ulusalcı movement. We argue that the Ulusalcı narration of Turkish nationhood interpellates a new national subject that is primordially secular, militaristically patriotic, and adamantly anti-Western. These are projected as essential qualities that must, at all cost, be upheld and defended against Islamist, Ottomanist, and Western powers that are conspiring to bring Turkey down.
Transplanted Slavery, Contested Freedom, and Vernacularization of Rights in the Reform Era Ottoman Empire
Authors: Karamursel Ceyda
Published: June 2017

This article focuses on the jurisdictional conflicts that emerged at the juncture of the transplanted legalities that followed the Caucasian expulsion in the 1850s and 1860s, the proclamation of the proto-constitution known as the Ottoman Reform Edict of 1856, and the internationally enforced ban on trading in African slaves in 1857. Starting with the Caucasian expulsion, it traces how legal practices were carried over with Caucasian refugees to the Ottoman domains and how the judicial management of slavery-related conflicts determined not only the limits of slavery, but also how such liberal “fictions” as freedom or equality before the law were vernacularized by local agents in the Ottoman Empire. Navigating within a set of what were labeled as freedom suits (hürriyet davaları), I examine how enslaved refugees built their claims in relation to different legal terrains, problems, and concepts. I argue that while Caucasian-Ottoman slavery was economically marginal, it nonetheless posed serious challenges to the new political order the Ottomans aspired to establish, and the abolition that never came continued to bend categories of ethnicity, race, and gender in the decades after expulsion.
X-ray powder diffraction data for 3-amino-5-(aminocarbonyl)-2,4,6-triiodobenzoic acid methanol solvate
Authors: Maixner J. , Kindl M. , Kačer P.
Published: June 2017

X-ray powder diffraction data, unit-cell parameters, and space group for a C9H9I3N2O4 are presented [a = 17.000 (1) Å, b = 13.896 (1) Å, c = 12.597 (1) Å, unit-cell volume V = 2975.9 Å3, MW = 589.89, Tm (melting point) = 300(1) °C, ρc = 2.641 g cm−3, ρm = 2.66(3) g cm−3, Z = 8, space group Pbca]. All measured lines were indexed and are consistent with the Pbca space group. No detectable impurities were observed.
Constitutional bargaining and the quality of contemporary African institutions: a test of the incremental reform hypothesis
Authors: CONGLETON ROGER D. , YOO DONGWOO
Published: June 2017

The incremental reform hypothesis implies that constitutions are rarely adopted whole cloth but instead emerge gradually from a series of reforms. The starting point, scope for bargaining, and number of reforms thus jointly determine the trajectory of constitutional history. We test the relevance of this theory for Africa by analysing the formation and reform of the independence constitutions negotiated and adopted during the 1950s and early 1960s. We provide historical evidence that independence occurred in a manner consistent with the incremental reform hypothesis. After independence, constitutional bargaining continued, although the alignment of interests inside and outside government initially favoured illiberal reforms. Liberal trends re-emerged a few decades later. We provide statistical evidence of incremental reform during both post-independence sub-periods. In general, the African countries that experienced the fewest constitutional moments and the narrowest domain of bargaining in the first decades of independence tend to have better contemporary institutions than states that began with less restrictive constitutional rules and experienced more constitutional moments.
The signalling receptor MCAM coordinates apical-basal polarity and planar cell polarity during morphogenesis
Authors: Gao Qian , Zhang Junfeng , Wang Xiumei , Liu Ying , He Rongqiao , Liu Xingfeng , Wang Fei , Feng Jing , Yang Dongling , Wang Zhaoqing , Meng Anming , Yan Xiyun
Published: June 2017

The apical–basal (AB) polarity and planar cell polarity (PCP) provide an animal cell population with different phenotypes during morphogenesis. However, how cells couple these two patterning systems remains unclear. Here we providein vivoevidence that melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) coordinates AB polarity-driven lumenogenesis and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/PCP-dependent ciliogenesis. We identify that MCAM is an independent receptor of fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4), a membrane anchor of phospholipase C-γ (PLC-γ), an immediate upstream receptor of nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) and a constitutive activator of JNK. We find that MCAM-mediated vesicular trafficking towards FGF4, while generating a priority-grade transcriptional response of NFAT determines lumenogenesis. We demonstrate that MCAM plays indispensable roles in ciliogenesis through activating JNK independently of FGF signals. Furthermore,mcam-deficient zebrafish andXenopusexhibit a global defect in left-right (LR) asymmetric establishment as a result of morphogenetic failure of their LR organizers. Therefore, MCAM coordination of AB polarity and PCP provides insight into the general mechanisms of morphogenesis.
Ultra-bright and highly efficient inorganic based perovskite light-emitting diodes
Authors: Zhang Liuqi , Yang Xiaolei , Jiang Qi , Wang Pengyang , Yin Zhigang , Zhang Xingwang , Tan Hairen , Yang Yang , Wei Mingyang , Sutherland Brandon R. , Sargent Edward H. , You Jingbi
Published: June 2017

Inorganic perovskites such as CsPbX3 (X=Cl, Br, I) have attracted attention due to their excellent thermal stability and high photoluminescence quantum efficiency. However, the electroluminescence quantum efficiency of their light-emitting diodes was <1%. We posited that this low efficiency was a result of high leakage current caused by poor perovskite morphology, high non-radiative recombination at interfaces and perovskite grain boundaries, and also charge injection imbalance. Here, we incorporated a small amount of methylammonium organic cation into the CsPbBr3 lattice and by depositing a hydrophilic and insulating polyvinyl pyrrolidine polymer atop the ZnO electron-injection layer to overcome these issues. As a result, we obtained light-emitting diodes exhibiting a high brightness of 91,000 cd m−2 and a high external quantum efficiency of 10.4% using a mixed-cation perovskite Cs0.87MA0.13PbBr3 as the emitting layer. To the best of our knowledge, this is the brightest and most-efficient green perovskite light-emitting diodes reported to date.
Antisense oligonucleotide-mediated Dnm2 knockdown prevents and reverts myotubular myopathy in mice
Authors: Tasfaout Hichem , Buono Suzie , Guo Shuling , Kretz Christine , Messaddeq Nadia , Booten Sheri , Greenlee Sarah , Monia Brett P. , Cowling Belinda S. , Laporte Jocelyn
Published: June 2017

Centronuclear myopathies (CNM) are non-dystrophic muscle diseases for which no effective therapy is currently available. The most severe form, X-linked CNM, is caused by myotubularin 1 (MTM1) loss-of-function mutations, while the main autosomal dominant form is due to dynamin2 (DNM2) mutations. We previously showed that genetic reduction of DNM2 expression in Mtm1 knockout (Mtm1KO) mice prevents development of muscle pathology. Here we show that systemic delivery of Dnm2 antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) into Mtm1KO mice efficiently reduces DNM2 protein level in muscle and prevents the myopathy from developing. Moreover, systemic ASO injection into severely affected mice leads to reversal of muscle pathology within 2 weeks. Thus, ASO-mediated DNM2 knockdown can efficiently correct muscle defects due to loss of MTM1, providing an attractive therapeutic strategy for this disease.
Dynamic alterations in decoy VEGF receptor-1 stability regulate angiogenesis
Authors: Boucher Joshua M. , Clark Ryan P. , Chong Diana C. , Citrin Kathryn M. , Wylie Lyndsay A. , Bautch Victoria L.
Published: June 2017

Blood vessel expansion is driven by sprouting angiogenesis of endothelial cells, and is essential for development, wound healing and disease. Membrane-localized vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (mVEGFR1) is an endothelial cell-intrinsic decoy receptor that negatively modulates blood vessel morphogenesis. Here we show that dynamic regulation of mVEGFR1 stability and turnover in blood vessels impacts angiogenesis. mVEGFR1 is highly stable and constitutively internalizes from the plasma membrane. Post-translational palmitoylation of mVEGFR1 is a binary stabilization switch, and ligand engagement leads to depalmitoylation and lysosomal degradation. Trafficking of palmitoylation enzymes via Rab27a regulates mVEGFR1 stability, as reduced levels of Rab27a impaired palmitoylation of mVEGFR1, decreased its stability, and elevated blood vessel sprouting and in vivo angiogenesis. These findings identify a regulatory axis affecting blood vessel morphogenesis that highlights exquisite post-translational regulation of mVEGFR1 in its role as a molecular rheostat.
Universal emulsion stabilization from the arrested adsorption of rough particles at liquid-liquid interfaces
Authors: Zanini Michele , Marschelke Claudia , Anachkov Svetoslav E. , Marini Emanuele , Synytska Alla , Isa Lucio
Published: June 2017

Surface heterogeneities, including roughness, significantly affect the adsorption, motion and interactions of particles at fluid interfaces. However, a systematic experimental study, linking surface roughness to particle wettability at a microscopic level, is currently missing. Here we synthesize a library of all-silica microparticles with uniform surface chemistry, but tuneable surface roughness and study their spontaneous adsorption at oil–water interfaces. We demonstrate that surface roughness strongly pins the particles’ contact lines and arrests their adsorption in long-lived metastable positions, and we directly measure the roughness-induced interface deformations around isolated particles. Pinning imparts tremendous contact angle hysteresis, which can practically invert the particle wettability for sufficient roughness, irrespective of their chemical nature. As a unique consequence, the same rough particles stabilize both water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions depending on the phase they are initially dispersed in. These results both shed light on fundamental phenomena concerning particle adsorption at fluid interfaces and indicate future design rules for particle-based emulsifiers.
Seepage from an arctic shallow marine gas hydrate reservoir is insensitive to momentary ocean warming
Authors: Hong Wei-Li , Torres Marta E. , Carroll JoLynn , Crémière Antoine , Panieri Giuliana , Yao Haoyi , Serov Pavel
Published: June 2017

Arctic gas hydrate reservoirs located in shallow water and proximal to the sediment-water interface are thought to be sensitive to bottom water warming that may trigger gas hydrate dissociation and the release of methane. Here, we evaluate bottom water temperature as a potential driver for hydrate dissociation and methane release from a recently discovered, gas-hydrate-bearing system south of Spitsbergen (Storfjordrenna, ∼380 m water depth). Modelling of the non-steady-state porewater profiles and observations of distinct layers of methane-derived authigenic carbonate nodules in the sediments indicate centurial to millennial methane emissions in the region. Results of temperature modelling suggest limited impact of short-term warming on gas hydrates deeper than a few metres in the sediments. We conclude that the ongoing and past methane emission episodes at the investigated sites are likely due to the episodic ventilation of deep reservoirs rather than warming-induced gas hydrate dissociation in this shallow water seep site.