bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cholera Outbreak in Grande Comore: 1998–1999
Authors: Troeger Christopher , Gaudart Jean , Truillet Romain , Sallah Kankoe , Chao Dennis L. , Piarroux Renaud
Published: November 2015

In 1998, a cholera epidemic in east Africa reached the Comoros Islands, an archipelago in the Mozambique Channel that had not reported a cholera case for more than 20 years. In just a little over 1 year (between January 1998 and March 1999), Grande Comore, the largest island in the Union of the Comoros, reported 7,851 cases of cholera, about 3% of the population. Using case reports and field observations during the medical response, we describe the epidemiology of the 1998–1999 cholera epidemic in Grande Comore. Outbreaks of infectious diseases on islands provide a unique opportunity to study transmission dynamics in a nearly closed population, and they may serve as stepping-stones for human pathogens to cross unpopulated expanses of ocean.
Ocean acidification challenges copepod reproductive plasticity
Authors: Vehmaa A. , Almén A.-K. , Brutemark A. , Paul A. , Riebesell U. , Furuhagen S. , Engström-Öst J.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Ocean acidification is challenging phenotypic plasticity of individuals and populations. Calanoid copepods (zooplankton) are shown to be fairly plastic against altered pH conditions, and laboratory studies indicate that transgenerational effects are one mechanism behind this plasticity. We studied phenotypic plasticity of the copepod Acartia bifilosa in the course of a pelagic, large-volume mesocosm study that was conducted to investigate ecosystem and biogeochemical responses to ocean acidification. We measured copepod egg production rate, egg hatching success, adult female size and adult female antioxidant capacity (ORAC) as a function of acidification (fCO2 ~ 365–1231 μatm), and as a function of quantity and quality of their diet. We used an egg transplant experiment to reveal if transgenerational effects can alleviate the possible negative effects of ocean acidification on offspring development. We found significant negative effects of ocean acidification on adult female copepod size and egg hatching success. In addition, we found a threshold of fCO2 concentration (~ 1000 μatm), above which adaptive maternal effects cannot alleviate the negative effects of acidification on egg hatching and nauplii development. We did not find support for the hypothesis that insufficient food quantity (total particulate carbon ~ 55 μm) or quality (C : N) weakens the transgenerational effects. However, females with high ORAC produced eggs with high hatching success. Overall, these results indicate that A. bifilosa could be affected by projected near future CO2 levels.
Immunogenicity Studies with Microbial Fractions of M. tuberculosis H37Rv Total Culture Filtrate
Authors: Kumar Rajnish , Jit Kaur Parminder , Khuller G. K. , Verma Indu
Published: November 2015

Current study investigates the whole secretory proteome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as culture filtrate fractions to identify immunoprotective protein antigens on the basis of protection studies in animal (mouse and guinea pig) models. Secretory culture filtrate proteins (CFPs) of M. tuberculosis H37Rv were fractionated into fifteen narrow molecular mass fractions in the order of increasing molecular size (F1-F15) by electroelution. Immunization studies revealed proteins in the molecular weight range of 20-24kDa (F7), 25-30kDa (F8) and 37-42kDa (F11) as key protective fractions against experimental tuberculosis in both the animal (mice and guinea pig) models. Amongst these fractions, F7 imparted even better protection as compared to BCG. Immunological studies with all the fractions demonstrated that although selected three protective fractions were able to induce significant immune responses in both short term culture filtrate (STCF) immunized and Mtb infected animals, there were number of other non-protective fractions also that were inducing higher immune responses either in immunized animals (e.g.F12-F15) or in Mtb challenged animals (e.g.F1-F6). These results demonstrate that only those mycobacterial proteins that are recognized by the host immune system both during immunization and infection can induce significant protection against experimental tuberculosis, however there is no direct correlation between the level of immune responses and degree of protective efficacy.
Betwixt and between Cultural Milieus: African Female Refugee Adolescents Striving for Scholastic Success in USA
Authors: Mugisha Vincent M.
Published: November 2015

In this article I investigate how three ethnically diverse African refugee female adolescents navigated the intercultural complexity that contextualized their schooling in a small Northeast American city. Using ethnographically contextualized case study methodology, this article explores the participants’ perceptions of the African and American cultural milieus that they straddled as refugee adolescents. Additionally, the article examines the strategies these refugee youth had to develop in order to transcend intercultural complexity and remain academically engaged. The findings suggested that the refugee adolescents demonstrated agency and a considerable degree of intercultural competency, which I conceptually juxtaposed here as Agentic Intercultural Competency in Schooling (AGICS). The findings further suggested that the AGICS concept was critical for these socially disadvantaged female adolescents to maintain high levels of scholastic engagement in the face of intercultural complexity.
Hog Mandibular Lymph Node Abnormalities and Bacteriological Contamination at Slaughter in Canada
Authors: Ravel André , Sidibé Boubacar , Moreau Pascal , Bisaillon Jean-Robert
Published: November 2015

In the context of meat inspection modernization, the current mandatory incision and visual inspection of all hog mandibular lymph nodes (MLNs) to detect signs of infection by Mycobacterium bovis, a zoonotic infection is examined. Canadian data of MLN pathology and microbial contamination are scarce and the performance of the current regulatory inspection of MLNs in actually detecting lesions and contamination by Mycobacterium bovis has not been documented. A survey of MLN condition in market hogs according to various inspection schemes was undertaken to fill the data gap. One MLN of a representative sample of 149 483 hogs were submitted to standard pathological and bacteriological analyses. Actual abnormal MLNs actually were rare (below 8%). They are often under detected by the current inspection because of limited sensitivity (18%). Such abnormalities, even undetected, have very limited, if any, impact on human health since the pathological and microbiological analyses failed to provide evidence of Mycobacterium bovis infection. On the other hand, MLNs can be contaminated with several bacteria potentially pathogenic to humans, raising the risk of cross-contamination during the inspection with incision. Finally, the current incision and visual inspection of all hog MLNs and the proposed visual-only inspection perform similarly in identifying abnormal MLNs.
A Robotic Solution for the Restoration of Fresco Paintings
Authors: Ceccarelli Marco , Blanco-Moreno Francisco , Carbone Giuseppe , Roig Pilar , Cigola Michela , Regidor Jose Luis
Published: November 2015

In this paper, a service robot solution is presented for the analysis, surveying and restoration of fresco paintings. The proposed design approach integrates robot design and restoration operation. It aims to merge them into a feasible solution that can be both practical and feasible for restorers. The simulation results are reported to show a successful design solution, which has been conceived with the constraints of a low-cost user-oriented design and the consideration of cultural heritage.
Revue de littérature des écrits scientifiques portant sur l’improvisation musicale : identification des concepts clés et des recommandations pédagogiques liés à ce domaine
Authors: Després Jean-Philippe , Dubé Francis
Published: November 2015

Les recherches théoriques et empiriques sur l’improvisation musicale n’offrent toujours pas de réponse satisfaisante à la question qui préoccupe le plus les praticiens, à savoir : « Comment l’improvisation peut-elle être enseignée de manière efficace ? ». Pour répondre à cette question, nous avons effectué une analyse des écrits scientifiques portant sur l’improvisation musicale. Après avoir appliqué la stratégie proposée par Vallerand et Hess (2000) pour sélectionner les écrits pertinents à notre domaine de recherche, nous avons procédé à une analyse de contenu de ces écrits, en suivant le modèle mixte de L’Écuyer (1987). Notre analyse a permis d’identifier les principales composantes cognitives de l’improvisation musicale et applications pédagogiques proposées dans la littérature pour l’enseignement-apprentissage de cette compétence. De plus, cette recension des écrits nous a permis de constater que certaines composantes cognitives de l’improvisation sont mentionnées par plusieurs chercheurs. Pour cette raison, nous croyons qu’elles devraient être prises en compte lors de l’intégration de l’improvisation musicale à la démarche d’apprentissage de l’élève. Par ailleurs, nous avons également constaté que les fondements empiriques des modèles actuels de l’improvisation ne sont pas suffisamment détaillés, ce qui affaiblit leur validité. Ce constat nous amène à conclure que les effets des applications pédagogiques proposées dans la littérature devraient être vérifiés par la recherche scientifique afin de s’assurer de leur efficacité.
Biofield Science: Current physics perspectives
Authors: Kafatos Menas C. , Chevalier Gaétan , Chopra Deepak , Hubacher John , Kak Subhash , Theise Neil D.
Published: November 2015

This article briefly reviews the biofield hypothesis and its scientific literature. Evidence for the existence of the biofield now exists, and current theoretical foundations are now being developed. A review of the biofield and related topics from the perspective of physical science is needed to identify a common body of knowledge and evaluate possible underlying principles of origin of the biofield. The properties of such a field could be based on electromagnetic fields, coherent states, biophotons, quantum and quantum-like processes, and ultimately the quantum vacuum. Given this evidence, we intend to inquire and discuss how the existence of the biofield challenges reductionist approaches and presents its own challenges regarding the origin and source of the biofield, the specific evidence for its existence, its relation to biology, and last but not least, how it may inform an integrated understanding of consciousness and the living universe.
Distant Healing Intention Therapies: An Overview of the Scientific Evidence
Authors: Radin Dean , Schlitz Marilyn , Baur Christopher
Published: November 2015

This article provides a broad overview of “distant healing intention” (DHI) therapies, ie, intentional healing modalities claimed to transcend the usual constraints of distance through space or time. We provide a summary of previous reviews and meta-analyses that have explored a diverse array of DHI modalities, outcome measures, and experimental protocols. While some significant experimental effects have been observed, the evidence to date does not yet provide confidence in its clinical efficacy. The purported “nonlocal” nature of DHI raises significant methodological and theoretical challenges. We recommend several avenues for improving future research.
Challenges for Preclinical Investigations of Human Biofield Modalities
Authors: Gronowicz Gloria , Bengston William , Yount Garret
Published: November 2015

Preclinical models for studying the effects of the human biofield have great potential to advance our understanding of human biofield modalities, which include external qigong, Johrei, Reiki, therapeutic touch, healing touch, polarity therapy, pranic healing, and other practices. A short history of Western biofield studies using preclinical models is presented and demonstrates numerous and consistent examples of human biofields significantly affecting biological systems both in vitro and in vivo. Methodological issues arising from these studies and practical solutions in experimental design are presented. Important questions still left unanswered with preclinical models include variable reproducibility, dosing, intentionality of the practitioner, best preclinical systems, and mechanisms. Input from the biofield practitioners in the experimental design is critical to improving experimental outcomes; however, the development of standard criteria for uniformity of practice and for inclusion of multiple practitioners is needed. Research in human biofield studies involving preclinical models promises a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of biofield therapies and will be important in guiding clinical protocols and integrating treatments with conventional medical therapies.
Biofield physiology: A Framework for an emerging discipline
Authors: Hammerschlag Richard , Levin Michael , McCraty Rollin , Bat Namuun , Ives John A. , Lutgendorf Susan K. , Oschman James L.
Published: November 2015

Biofield physiology is proposed as an overarching descriptor for the electromagnetic, biophotonic, and other types of spatially-distributed fields that living systems generate and respond to as integral aspects of cellular, tissue, and whole organism self-regulation and organization. Medical physiology, cell biology, and biophysics provide the framework within which evidence for biofields, their proposed receptors, and functions is presented. As such, biofields can be viewed as affecting physiological regulatory systems in a manner that complements the more familiar molecular-based mechanisms. Examples of clinically relevant biofields are the electrical and magnetic fields generated by arrays of heart cells and neurons that are detected, respectively, as electrocardiograms (ECGs) or magnetocardiograms (MCGs) and electroencephalograms (EEGs) or magnetoencephalograms (MEGs). At a basic physiology level, electromagnetic activity of neural assemblies appears to modulate neuronal synchronization and circadian rhythmicity. Numerous nonneural electrical fields have been detected and analyzed, including those arising from patterns of resting membrane potentials that guide development and regeneration, and from slowly-varying transepithelial direct current fields that initiate cellular responses to tissue damage. Another biofield phenomenon is the coherent, ultraweak photon emissions (UPE), detected from cell cultures and from the body surface. A physiological role for biophotons is consistent with observations that fluctuations in UPE correlate with cerebral blood flow, cerebral energy metabolism, and EEG activity. Biofield receptors are reviewed in 3 categories: molecular-level receptors, charge flux sites, and endogenously generated electric or electromagnetic fields. In summary, sufficient evidence has accrued to consider biofield physiology as a viable scientific discipline. Directions for future research are proposed.
An Overview of Biofield Devices
Authors: Muehsam David , Chevalier Gaétan , Barsotti Tiffany , Gurfein Blake T.
Published: November 2015

Advances in biophysics, biology, functional genomics, neuroscience, psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, and other fields suggest the existence of a subtle system of “biofield” interactions that organize biological processes from the subatomic, atomic, molecular, cellular, and organismic to the interpersonal and cosmic levels. Biofield interactions may bring about regulation of biochemical, cellular, and neurological processes through means related to electromagnetism, quantum fields, and perhaps other means of modulating biological activity and information flow. The biofield paradigm, in contrast to a reductionist, chemistry-centered viewpoint, emphasizes the informational content of biological processes; biofield interactions are thought to operate in part via low-energy or “subtle” processes such as weak, nonthermal electromagnetic fields (EMFs) or processes potentially related to consciousness and nonlocality. Biofield interactions may also operate through or be reflected in more well-understood informational processes found in electroencephalographic (EEG) and electrocardiographic (ECG) data. Recent advances have led to the development of a wide variety of therapeutic and diagnostic biofield devices, defined as physical instruments best understood from the viewpoint of a biofield paradigm. Here, we provide a broad overview of biofield devices, with emphasis on those devices for which solid, peer-reviewed evidence exists. A subset of these devices, such as those based upon EEG- and ECG-based heart rate variability, function via mechanisms that are well understood and are widely employed in clinical settings. Other device modalities, such a gas discharge visualization and biophoton emission, appear to operate through incompletely understood mechanisms and have unclear clinical significance. Device modes of operation include EMF-light, EMF-heat, EMF-nonthermal, electrical current, vibration and sound, physical and mechanical, intentionality and nonlocality, gas and plasma, and other (mode of operation not well-understood). Methodological issues in device development and interfaces for future interdisciplinary research are discussed. Devices play prominent cultural and scientific roles in our society, and it is likely that device technologies will be one of the most influential access points for the furthering of biofield research and the dissemination of biofield concepts. This developing field of study presents new areas of research that have many important implications for both basic science and clinical medicine.
Challenges and Opportunities Faced by Biofield Practitioners in Global Health and Medicine: A White Paper
Authors: Guarneri Erminia , King Rauni Prittinen
Published: November 2015

Biofield therapies (BTs) are increasingly employed in contemporary healthcare. In this white paper, we review specific challenges faced by biofield practitioners resulting from a lack of (1) a common scientific definition of BT; (2) common educational standards for BT training (including core competencies for clinical care); (3) collaborative team care education in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and in integrative health and medicine (IHM); (4) a focused agenda in BT research; and (5) standardized devices and scientifically validated mechanisms in biofield research. We present a description of BT and discuss its current status and challenges as an integrative healthcare discipline. To address the challenges cited and to enhance collaboration across disciplines, we propose (1) standardized biofield education that leads to professional licensure and (2) interprofessional education (IPE) competencies in BT training required for licensed healthcare practitioners and encouraged for other practitioners using these therapies. Lastly, we discuss opportunities for growth and a potential strategic agenda to achieve these goals. The Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) provides a unique forum to facilitate development of this emerging discipline, to facilitate IPE, and to further increase the availability of BT to patients.
Barriers to the Entry of Biofield Healing into “Mainstream” Healthcare
Authors: Hufford David J. , Sprengel Meredith , Ives John A. , Jonas Wayne
Published: November 2015

In this article, we describe barriers to the entry of biofield healing into mainstream contemporary science and clinical practice. We focus on obstacles that arise from the social nature of the scientific enterprise, an aspect of science highlighted by the influential work of Thomas Kuhn (1922–1996), one of the most important—and controversial—philosophers of science in the 20th century. Kuhn analyzed science and its revolutionary changes in terms of the dynamics within scientific communities. Kuhn's approach helps us understand unconventional medical theories and practices such as biofield healing. For many years, these were called “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM). However, because most people use nonmainstream approaches in con-junction with conventional treatments, the National Institutes of Health and many practitioners now prefer “Complementary and Integrative Medicine” (CIM) where integrative implies “bringing conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way.”1 Biofield healing fits the integrative model well, provides a novel approach to therapeutic intervention, and is developing in a manner that can integrate with current medical science in simple ways. Yet, it still remains outside the conventional framework because of its conceptual bases, which contrast sharply with conventional assumptions regarding the nature of reality.
A raposa e a águia: J.J. Seabra e Rui Barbosa na política baiana da primeira república
Authors: Noronha Sarmento Silvia
Published: November 2015

Esta obra traz à tona a história de dois importantes personagens da política baiana. Rui Barbosa (1849-1923), a Águia de Haia, foi, segundo a autora, o grande herói baiano e brasileiro do período. Glorificado em vida, celebrado após a morte, Rui concentrou as aspirações de saber, justiça e liberdade de todo o país. Numa palavra, ele representava o bem. Confrontado a essa figura mítica, José Joaquim Seabra (1855-1942) encarnava a imagem do mal, a Raposa. Foi governador da Bahia por dois mandatos e percorreu mais de 50 anos de atividade política, desde o Império até o Estado Novo. Durante essa trajetória, despertou em grandes doses o amor e o ódio dos seus contemporâneos.
An evolving computational platform for biological mass spectrometry: workflows, statistics and data mining with MASSyPup64
Authors: Winkler Robert
Published: November 2015

In biological mass spectrometry, crude instrumental data need to be converted into meaningful theoretical models. Several data processing and data evaluation steps are required to come to the final results. These operations are often difficult to reproduce, because of too specific computing platforms. This effect, known as ‘workflow decay’, can be diminished by using a standardized informatic infrastructure. Thus, we compiled an integrated platform, which contains ready-to-use tools and workflows for mass spectrometry data analysis. Apart from general unit operations, such as peak picking and identification of proteins and metabolites, we put a strong emphasis on the statistical validation of results and Data Mining. MASSyPup64 includes e.g., the OpenMS/TOPPAS framework, the Trans-Proteomic-Pipeline programs, the ProteoWizard tools, X!Tandem, Comet and SpiderMass. The statistical computing language R is installed with packages for MS data analyses, such as XCMS/metaXCMS and MetabR. The R package Rattle provides a user-friendly access to multiple Data Mining methods. Further, we added the non-conventional spreadsheet program teapot for editing large data sets and a command line tool for transposing large matrices. Individual programs, console commands and modules can be integrated using the Workflow Management System (WMS) taverna. We explain the useful combination of the tools by practical examples: (1) A workflow for protein identification and validation, with subsequent Association Analysis of peptides, (2) Cluster analysis and Data Mining in targeted Metabolomics, and (3) Raw data processing, Data Mining and identification of metabolites in untargeted Metabolomics. Association Analyses reveal relationships between variables across different sample sets. We present its application for finding co-occurring peptides, which can be used for target proteomics, the discovery of alternative biomarkers and protein–protein interactions. Data Mining derived models displayed a higher robustness and accuracy for classifying sample groups in targeted Metabolomics than cluster analyses. Random Forest models do not only provide predictive models, which can be deployed for new data sets, but also the variable importance. We demonstrate that the later is especially useful for tracking down significant signals and affected pathways in untargeted Metabolomics. Thus, Random Forest modeling supports the unbiased search for relevant biological features in Metabolomics. Our results clearly manifest the importance of Data Mining methods to disclose non-obvious information in biological mass spectrometry . The application of a Workflow Management System and the integration of all required programs and data in a consistent platform makes the presented data analyses strategies reproducible for non-expert users. The simple remastering process and the Open Source licenses of MASSyPup64 (http://www. bioprocess.org/massypup/) enable the continuous improvement of the system.
Eficiência de herbicidas aplicados em pré-emergência para o controle de Digitaria insularis na cultura do feijão
Authors: Drehmer Mário Henrique , Zagonel Jeferson , Ferreira Camila , Senger Marina
Published: November 2015

Objetivou-se avaliar a eficiência de herbicidas aplicados em pré-emergência para o controle de Digitaria insularis resistente ao glyphosate na cultura do feijão. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos constituíram de sete diferentes manejos de D. insularis: testemunha capinada, testemunha sem capina, s-metolachlor (1440 g ha-1 i.a.), clomazone (648 g ha-1 i.a.), imazethapyr (106 g ha-1 i.a.), flumioxazin (50 g ha-1 i.a.), imazethapyr+ flumioxazin (106 + 50 g ha-1 i.a.). As sementes de D. insularis foram semeadas a lanço, em área total, na proporção de 300 sementes m-2. Dois dias após a semeadura da D. insularis houve a aplicação dos herbicidas. Uma hora antes da aplicação dos herbicidas de pré-emergência houve a aplicação de 1440 g ha-1 de glyphosate, exceto nas testemunhas devido à reinfestação de plantas daninhas. A cultivar de feijão BRS-Estilo foi semeada quatro dias após a instalação do experimento. Avaliou-se porcentagem de controle e de fitotoxidade e produtividade da cultura do feijão. Os herbicidas s-metolachlor e imazethapyr + flumioxazin foram eficientes no controle da D. insularis e seletivos à cultura do feijão. A produtividade da cultura do feijão foi maior e similar à testemunha capinada nos tratamentos com os herbicidas s-metolachlor, imazethapyr e imazethapyr + flumioxazin.
Controle químico de milho voluntário resistente ao herbicida glyphosate
Authors: Marca Vinicius , Procópio Sérgio De Oliveira , Silva Alessandro Guerra da , Volf Marcelo
Published: November 2015

Com a introdução na agricultura nacional de híbridos de milho resistentes ao herbicida glyphosate, o manejo de plantas daninhas, principalmente, de gramíneas, foi favorecido. No entanto, plantas voluntárias de milho oriundas dos grãos perdidos na colheita mecanizada podem causar perdas significativas na cultura semeada subsequente, que frequentemente tem sido a soja. Desse modo, o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência de diferentes herbicidas no controle de plantas voluntárias de milho resistente ao herbicida glyphosate. O experimento foi conduzido no munícipio de Nova Xavantina–MT, entre os meses de julho e setembro de 2014, em área com sistema de irrigação do tipo pivô central. Foi utilizado para as avaliações grãos da geração F2 do híbrido AG 8061 VT PRO2®. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram da aplicação de treze diferentes herbicidas, haloxyfop-p-methyl 54g i.a. ha-1; tepraloxydim 87,5g i.a. ha-1; cyhalofop-butyl 247,5g i.a ha-1; fluazifop-p-butyl 156,25g i.a ha-1; sethoxydim 207g i.a ha-1;fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 96,25g i.a ha-1; chlorimuron-ethyl 15g i.a ha-1; imazethapyr 100g i.a ha-1; carfentrazone-ethyl 45g i.a ha-1; fomesafen 237,5g i.a ha-1; saflufenacil 35g i.a ha-1; flumioxazin 60g i.a ha-1a e paraquat 450g i.a ha-1, no estádio V3 do milho e uma testemunha sem aplicação. Os herbicidas paraquat, haloxyfop-p-methyl, tepraloxydim, cyhalofop-butyl, fluazifop-p-butyl, sethoxydim, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl e imazethapyr foram eficientes no controle de plantas de milho resistentes ao herbicida glyphosate. Não apresentaram eficiência satisfatória os herbicidas, chlorimuron-ethyl, carfentrazone-ethyl, fomesafen, saflufenacil e flumioxazin.
Formation process of relativistic electron flux through interaction with chorus emissions in the Earth's inner magnetosphere
Authors: Omura Yoshiharu , Miyashita Yu , Yoshikawa Masato , Summers Danny , Hikishima Mitsuru , Ebihara Yusuke , Kubota Yuko
Published: November 2015

We perform test particle simulations of energetic electrons interacting with whistler mode chorus emissions. We compute trajectories of a large number of electrons forming a delta function with the same energy and equatorial pitch angle. The electrons are launched at different locations along the magnetic field line and different timings with respect to a pair of chorus emissions generated at the magnetic equator. We follow the evolution of the delta function and obtain a distribution function in energy and equatorial pitch angle, which is a numerical Green's function for one cycle of chorus wave‐particle interaction. We obtain the Green's functions for the energy range 10 keV–6 MeV and all pitch angles greater than the loss cone angle. By taking the convolution integral of the Green's functions with the distribution function of the injected electrons repeatedly, we follow a long‐time evolution of the distribution function. We find that the energetic electrons are accelerated effectively by relativistic turning acceleration and ultrarelativistic acceleration through nonlinear trapping by chorus emissions. Further, these processes result in the rapid formation of a dumbbell distribution of highly relativistic electrons within a few minutes after the onset of the continuous injection of 10–30 keV electrons.
Effects of solar wind high‐speed streams on the high‐latitude ionosphere: Superposed epoch study
Authors: Grandin M. , Aikio A. T. , Kozlovsky A. , Ulich T. , Raita T.
Published: November 2015

Solar wind high‐speed streams (HSSs) are the most important source of geomagnetic disturbances during the declining phase of the solar cycle. Their ionospheric response, especially at high latitudes, is not fully understood yet. We carried out a phase‐locked superposed epoch analysis to study the effects of HSSs on the high‐latitude ionospheric F region, using data from the Sodankylä ionosonde (L = 5.25) during 2006–2008. We found that the F layer critical frequency foF2 decreases between 12 and 23 magnetic local time (MLT) in summer and around equinoxes for several days. Our interpretation, supported by numerical estimations, is that increased electric fields in the evening sector of the auroral and subauroral regions create ion‐neutral frictional heating. Frictional heating will increase the loss rate of O+ due to two reasons. The first one is neutral heating producing thermal expansion of the atmosphere and enhancing N2 and O2 contents at the F region peak. The second one is ion heating which may occur under strong enough electric fields (about 50–60 mV/m), leading to enhancement of the reaction coefficients. An increase in foF2 is observed in two different MLT sectors. First, a short‐lived foF2 increase is visible during all seasons near noon on the first day after the arrival of the HSS, possibly triggered by the compressed solar wind plasma pressure pulse, which may produce particle precipitation from the dayside central plasma sheet. Second, foF2 is enhanced for several days in the morning sector during equinoxes and in winter. We suggest that this is caused by the low‐energy tail of particle precipitation.
Comparative compressibility of hydrous wadsleyite and ringwoodite: Effect of H2O and implications for detecting water in the transition zone
Authors: Chang Yun‐Yuan , Jacobsen Steven D. , Bina Craig R. , Thomas Sylvia‐Monique , Smyth Joseph R. , Frost Daniel J. , Boffa Ballaran Tiziana , McCammon Catherine A. , Hauri Erik H. , Inoue Toru , Yurimoto Hisayoshi , Meng Yue , Dera Przemyslaw
Published: November 2015

Review of recent mineral physics literature shows consistent trends for the influence of Fe and H2O on the bulk modulus (K0) of wadsleyite and ringwoodite, the major phases of Earth's mantle transition zone (410–660 km). However, there is little consensus on the first pressure derivative, K0′ = (dK/dP)P=0, which ranges from about 4 to >5 across experimental studies and compositions. Here we demonstrate the importance of K0′ in evaluating the bulk sound velocity of the transition zone in terms of water content and provide new constraints on the effect of H2O on K0′ for wadsleyite and ringwoodite by conducting a comparative compressibility study. In the experiment, multiple crystals of hydrous Fo90 wadsleyite containing 2.0 and 0.25 wt % H2O were loaded into the same diamond anvil cell, along with hydrous ringwoodite containing 1.4 wt % H2O. By measuring their pressure‐volume evolution simultaneously up to 32 GPa, we constrain the difference in K0′ independent of the pressure scale, finding that H2O has no effect on K0′, whereas the effect of H2O on K0 is significant. The fitted K0′ values of hydrous wadsleyite (0.25 and 2.0 wt % H2O) and hydrous ringwoodite (1.4 wt % H2O) examined in this study were found to be identical within uncertainty, with K0′ ~3.7(2). New secondary‐ion mass spectrometry measurements of the H2O content of these and previously investigated wadsleyite samples shows the bulk modulus of wadsleyite is reduced by 7.0(5) GPa/wt % H2O, independent of Fe content for upper mantle compositions. Because K0′ is unaffected by H2O, the reduction of bulk sound velocity in very hydrous regions of transition zone is expected to be on the order of 1.6%, which is potentially detectible in high‐resolution, regional seismology studies.
Latest Miocene to Quaternary deformation in the southern Chaiwopu Basin, northern Chinese Tian Shan foreland
Authors: Lu Honghua , Wang Zhen , Zhang Tianqi , Zhao Junxiang , Zheng Xiangmin , Li Youli
Published: November 2015

Basinward propagation of fold and thrust belts is a crucial geological process accommodating Cenozoic crustal shortening within the India‐Eurasia collision zone. Anticlinal growth strata in the southern Chaiwopu Basin (a piggyback basin) of the northern Chinese Tian Shan foreland record basinward encroachment of the Tian Shan along the Junggar Frontal Thrust Fault. A new magnetostratigraphic section constrains the onset of syntectonic growth strata at circa 6.4 Ma and suggests synchronous basinward thrusting and propagation of the Tian Shan. The intense alluviation in the southern Chaiwopu Basin ceased at circa 0.55 Ma due to significant anticlinal growth and its resultant river incision. More recent anticlinal growth and deformation during the late Quaternary are revealed by folded river terraces developing across the anticline. The terrace height profile indicates that terrace T1Hhas been vertically offset about 0.6 m by thrust faulting since its formation at about 7 Ka. The stratigraphic and geomorphic data presented in this work are helpful to understand the initiation of thrust‐related folding, as well as aggradation and subsequent incision, in foreland basins of the Tian Shan in relation to the India‐Asia collision.
Hydrous state of the subducting Philippine Sea plate inferred from receiver function image using onshore and offshore data
Authors: Akuhara Takeshi , Mochizuki Kimihiro
Published: November 2015

Exploring the hydrous state of subducting oceanic crust is intriguing because it is considered to affect the strength of megathrust faults that cause various types of earthquakes; however, its state beneath offshore regions remains unclear. In this study, we investigated fluid contents along the subducting Philippine Sea plate around the Kii Peninsula by receiver function (RF) analysis using data from both on‐land stations and ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs). The vertical component of OBS records contains dominant water reverberations, and thus, conventional methods fail to estimate RFs correctly. We therefore developed a method to calculate RFs that removes such reverberations. The RFs calculated by our method showed considerable improvement for later phase identification, compared with those obtained using a conventional method. Resultant RF amplitudes suggest the existence of low‐velocity zones directly beneath the plate interface of both onshore and offshore regions. We interpreted this as evidence of hydrous oceanic crust, which extends from 5 km to 35 km depth to the plate interface. Reduction of RF amplitudes beneath the Kii Peninsula suggests that dehydration of the oceanic crust increases the seismic velocity, and the accompanying densification makes the plate interface permeable. This permeable plate interface may characterize the location of non‐volcanic tremors. This contrasts with long‐term slow slip events because it is believed that they occur along the sealed plate interface. Comparison between the plate geometry and local earthquakes reveals the paucity of earthquakes in the oceanic crust below a certain depth, which provides further insight into the dehydration process in the oceanic crust.
Mechanism of formation of wiggly compaction bands in porous sandstone: 2. Numerical simulation using discrete element method
Authors: Liu Chun , Pollard David D. , Gu Kai , Shi Bin
Published: November 2015

Wiggly compaction bands in porous aeolian sandstone vary from chevron shape to wavy shape to nearly straight. In some outcrops these variations occur along a single band. A bonded close‐packed discrete element model is used to investigate what mechanical properties control the formation of wiggly compaction bands (CBs). To simulate the volumetric yielding failure of porous sandstone, a discrete element shrinks when the force state of one of its bonds reaches the yielding cap defined by the failure force and the aspect ratio (k) of the yielding ellipse. A Matlab code “MatDEM3D” has been developed on the basis of this enhanced discrete element method. Mechanical parameters of elements are chosen according to the elastic properties and the strengths of porous sandstone. In numerical simulations, the failure angle between the band segment and maximum principle stress decreases from 90° to approximately 45° as k increases from 0.5 to 2, and compaction bands vary from straight to chevron shape. With increasing strain, subsequent compaction occurs inside or beside compacted elements, which leads to further compaction and thickening of bands. The simulations indicate that a greater yielding stress promotes chevron CBs, and a greater cement strength promotes straight CBs. Combined with the microscopic analysis introduced in the companion paper, we conclude that the shape of wiggly CBs is controlled by the mechanical properties of sandstone, including the aspect ratio of the yielding ellipse, the critical yielding stress, and the cement strength, which are determined primarily by petrophysical attributes, e.g., grain sorting, porosity, and cementation.
Dust interannual variability and trend in Central Asia from 2000 to 2014 and their climatic linkages
Authors: Xi Xin , Sokolik Irina N.
Published: November 2015

We present a comprehensive analysis of the interannual variability and trend of dust aerosol in Central Asia (37°–55°N, 50°–80°E) from 2000 to 2014, based on a set of dust emission simulations using the WRF‐Chem‐DuMo modeling system, observations of dust frequency derived from surface station synoptic weather records, and dust optical depth (DOD) derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Sea‐viewing Wide Field‐of‐view Sensor (SeaWiFS) aerosol optical depth (AOD) products. Model simulations reveal that the soil grain size distribution has little impact on the interannual variability of dust fluxes but strongly affects their magnitude. The two physically based dust schemes based on Marticorena and Bergametti (1995) (MB) and Shao et al. (1996) (Shao) produce large differences in the dust flux magnitude and spatiotemporal distributions, largely due to different sensitivities of the threshold friction velocity to vegetation‐induced surface roughness. By using a fixed threshold velocity, the dust scheme of Tegen and Fung (1995) (TF) relies on the dynamic dust source function to capture the dust variability associated with vegetation changes. Through a correlation analysis, the simulated dust fluxes show good consistency with the observed dust frequency, whereas only the Shao and TF dust fluxes are consistent with the MODIS Collection 5.1 and SeaWiFS DOD. The dust fluxes, dust frequency, and DOD (except MODIS Collection 6) are highly correlated with the frequency of strong surface winds but show different sensitivities to drought and soil erodibility factors (i.e., precipitation, soil moisture, and vegetation) which are influenced by El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). In general, La Niña years are associated with reduced precipitation, drier soils, less vegetation, and, consequently, more severe drought and enhanced dust activity in Central Asia. The averaged dust flux of the MB and Shao experiments shows a significant negative trend of −2.00 ± 0.59 × 10−3 g m−2 yr−1 from 2000 to 2014, which is consistent with the trends in the TF dust flux (−1.74 ± 0.34 × 10−3 g m−2 yr−1), dust frequency (−0.63 ± 0.21 × 10−3 yr−1), and SeaWiFS AOD (−3.3 ± 1.3 × 10−3 AOD yr−1), as well as the decreasing tendency in the MODIS AOD after the ENSO effect is removed. The negative dust trend is driven by a decline in the surface winds, which is likely due to changes in large‐scale atmospheric circulation rather than the local effect of vegetation‐induced surface roughness.
Sex Differences in Furniture Assembly Performance: An Experimental Study
Authors: Wiking Susanne , Brattfjell Maria L. , Iversen Eric E. , Malinowska Kasia , Mikkelsen Reidun L. , Røed Lars Petter , Westgren Jørgen E.
Published: November 2015

This study examined sex differences in furniture assembly performance by manipulating the availability of instructions. Two groups of participants with an equal number of men and women assembled a kitchen trolley from IKEA. One group received step‐by‐step instructions, and the other group a diagram of the finished product. In addition, individual spatial ability was measured with the mental rotation test (MRT) and added to the analyses. Our results showed that men assembled the furniture faster (d = 0.78) and more accurately (d = 0.65) than women. Overall, participants performed better with step‐by‐step instructions than without (d = 0.61), and the time spent on instructions was negatively related to MRT scores, r = −.428, p = .006. Aside from the time spent on instructions, women assembled the furniture nearly as fast as men did, and the sex difference in assembly score could be explained by differences in individual spatial ability. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Persistence of Erroneous Information in Memory: The Effect of Valence on the Acceptance of Corrected Information
Authors: Guillory Jimmeka J. , Geraci Lisa
Published: November 2015

People often have difficulty changing previously held, but erroneous, beliefs. This finding is particularly worrisome in politics where misinformation is regularly distributed about political candidates. We examined whether initial inferences about a fictional political candidate could be corrected, and whether people's willingness to accept a correction was influenced by the valence of the information being corrected. Participants read a list of statements describing a politician running for re‐election in which a negative, positive or neutral piece of information about the politician was later corrected. Results showed that receiving a correction reduced reliance on the original information for all types of information: positive, negative and neutral. Results also showed that participants tended to rely on negative information the most when answering inference questions, regardless of whether it was corrected or not. Results have implications for decision‐making in politics and other applied areas.Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microstructural Evolution and Micro‐Compression in High‐Purity Copper Processed by High‐Pressure Torsion
Authors: Li Jianwei , Xu Jie , Wang Chuan Ting , Shan Debin , Guo Bin , Langdon Terence G.
Published: November 2015

Pure copper is subjected to severe plastic deformation at room temperature using quasi‐constrained high‐pressure torsion through 1/4 to 10 turns. The evolution of the microstructure is monitored using X‐ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction. Specimens are analyzed both before and after micro‐compression of ≈50%. The results show that after 10 turns there is a homogeneous ultrafine‐grained (UFG) microstructure with an average grain size of ≈250 nm and with a simple shear texture. The micro‐compression testing shows that UFG specimens exhibit a better surface quality after compression thereby demonstrating an excellent potential for using UFG copper in micro‐forming.
Solution‐Processed Crystalline n‐Type Organic Transistors Stable against Electrical Stress and Photooxidation
Authors: Yi Hee Taek , Chen Zhihua , Facchetti Antonio , Podzorov Vitaly
Published: November 2015

The field of organic electronics is still lacking ubiquitous organic transistors with an efficient electron (n‐type) transport that are environmentally and electrically robust. Here, solution‐processed n‐type N,N′‐1H,1H‐perfluorobutyldicyanoperylene‐carboxydi‐imide organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) are reported and it is demonstrated that they are highly stable while operating both in vacuum and in the air at least up to temperatures as high as ≈100 °C. In addition, these crystalline thin‐film transistors are found to be resilient to photooxidation under intense illumination in oxygen atmosphere. The performance of these environmentally stable n‐type OFETs is on par with the commercial amorphous Si transistors: the highest electron mobility obtained in this study is μmax ≈ 0.6 cm2 V−1 s−1, while the average reproducible mobility is ⟨μ⟩ = 0.4 cm2 V−1 s−1. Importantly, no parasitic gate voltage VG sweep rate dependence of the nominal mobility in these devices is observed. In addition, the charge carrier mobility has been found to be temperature independent in the range T ≈ 250–373 K. The observed great operational stability and resilience against photooxidation, as well as a temperature‐independent mobility in these solution‐processed n‐type OFETs are beneficial for furthering practical applications of organic semiconductor devices.
Overcoming the Cut‐Off Charge Transfer Bandgaps at the PbS Quantum Dot Interface
Authors: El‐Ballouli Ala'a O. , Alarousu Erkki , Kirmani Ahmad R. , Amassian Aram , Bakr Osman M. , Mohammed Omar F.
Published: November 2015

Light harvesting from large size of semiconductor PbS quantum dots (QDs) with a bandgap of less than 1 eV is one of the greatest challenges precluding the development of PbS QD‐based solar cells because the interfacial charge transfer (CT) from such QDs to the most commonly used electron acceptor materials is very inefficient, if it occurs at all. Thus, an alternative electron‐accepting unit with a new driving force for CT is urgently needed to harvest the light from large‐sized PbS QDs. Here, a cationic porphyrin is utilized as a new electron acceptor unit with unique features that bring the donor–acceptor components into close molecular proximity, allowing ultrafast and efficient electron transfer for QDs of all sizes, as inferred from the drastic photoluminescence quenching and the ultrafast formation of the porphyrin anionic species. The time‐resolved results clearly demonstrate the possibility of modulating the electron transfer process between PbS QDs and porphyrin moieties not only by the size quantization effect but also by the interfacial electrostatic interaction between the positively charged porphyrin and the negatively charged QDs. This approach provides a new pathway for engineering QD‐based solar cells that make the best use of the diverse photons making up the Sun's broad irradiance spectrum.