bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of controlled energisation of an unloaded power transformer for minimising the level of inrush current and transient voltage distortion using PIR‐CBs
Authors: Bhatt Kunal A. , Bhalja Bhavesh R. , Parikh Urmil B.
Published: March 2018

This study presents an evaluation of the application of the controlled switching device for reducing the level of inrush current and transient voltage dip (TVD) during energisation of an unloaded power transformer using circuit breaker having pre‐insertion resistor (PIR‐CB). This evaluation is achieved by analysing the effect of statistical scatter of mechanical operating time (MOT), tolerance of auxiliary contact used as a feedback for a controlled switching device, and variation in mechanical insertion time (MIT) and electrical insertion time (EIT) of the PIR‐CB. The modelling of a complete system consisting of a power source, PIR‐CB, and two types of power transformers (electrically and magnetically coupled) is carried out using power systems computer‐aided design/electro‐magnetic transient design and control (PSCAD/EMTDC) software package. The results obtained from the simulations are compared with the results obtained during energisation of similar transformers in the real field. Finally, the performance of PIR‐CB‐based proposed methodology has been compared with the conventional methodology (non‐PIR‐CB) with reference to mitigation of inrush and TVD. The close match between field results and that obtained with simulation for both electrically and magnetically coupled transformers authenticate the proposed methodology.
Thorough approach toward cylindrical MMW image reconstruction using sparse antenna array
Authors: Mandi Sanam Pourya , Seyyed Talebi Mohammad Javad , Kazemi Mahmoud , Kavehvash Zahra , Shabany Mahdi
Published: March 2018

In this study, a thorough analysis of image reconstruction in an active millimetre‐wave (MMW) cylindrical imaging system is performed. To improve the system's performance in terms of the total cost as well as the coupling effect, sparse multi‐static arrays are desired. Nevertheless, the existing reconstruction methods fail to operate in sparse multi‐static antenna‐array systems. Therefore, to address these shortcomings, in this study, at first, the existing MMW mono‐static cylindrical image reconstruction methods are modified in both single‐frequency and wideband reconstruction platforms. Moreover, in order to further improve the image quality and the system cost, a sparse multi‐static one‐dimensional antenna array has been proposed. To use this sparse array in the cylindrical MMW imaging system, a novel multi‐static cylindrical image reconstruction method is also proposed. The performances of the proposed reconstruction methods for both mono‐static and sparse multi‐static cylindrical imaging structures are validated through numerical simulations. Through the obtained results, 83% reduction in antenna array cost along with a 25 dB decrease in coupling effect is achieved at the cost of a minor reduction in the reconstructed image quality.
Ensemble classifier‐based off‐line handwritten word recognition system in holistic approach
Authors: Das Gupta Jija , Samanta Soumitra , Chanda Bhabatosh
Published: March 2018

This study presents a novel ensemble classifier‐based off‐line handwritten word recognition system following a holistic approach. Here each handwritten word is recognised using two handcrafted features, namely (i) Arnold transform‐based feature that addresses local directional feature which depends on the stroke orientation distribution of cursive word and (ii) oriented curvature‐based feature which is basically the histogram of curvelet index and one machine generated feature using deep convolution neural network (DCNN). In this study, a new architecture of DCNN is proposed for handwritten word recognition. These features are recognised by three classifiers separately. Finally, the decision of three classifiers is combined to predict the ultimate word class level. To fuse the decision of individual classifiers, the authors have explored three strategies: (i) vote for strongest decision, (ii) vote for majority decision and (iii) vote for the sum of the decisions. The proposed handwritten word recognition system is tested on three handwritten word databases: (i) CENPARMI database, (ii) IAM database and (iii) ISIHWD database. The performance of the proposed system is promising and comparable to state‐of‐the‐art handwriting recognition systems.
Illumination‐based texture descriptor and fruitfly support vector neural network for image forgery detection in face images
Authors: Cristin Rajan , Ananth John Patrick , Cyril Raj Velankanni
Published: March 2018

Forgery detection from the images is gaining remarkable interest as there are a lot of editing tools that enable to cause edition with manipulation or removal of the objects from the images. This study proposes a new forgery detection scheme that is based on the supervised learning approach. The supervised learning is brought about by using the support vector neural network and the optimisation is enabled using the fruit fly optimisation algorithm. Initially, the images are fed to the texture descriptor and the face is detected using the Viola–Jones algorithm. The face detected images are subjected to the feature extraction using the Gabor filter + wavelet + texture operator and the features are concatenated to present the input to the classifier. Then, the classifier which is trained using the fruit fly optimisation classifies the features to detect the presence of the manipulation. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated with the existing methods for the evaluation metrics accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity using two datasets, namely DSO‐1 and DSI‐1. The analysis shows that the proposed scheme attained an accuracy of 0.9523, the sensitivity of 0.94, and the specificity of 0.9583, which are greater when compared to the existing methods.
Minimising the impact of IPv6 neighbour discovery messages on energy consumption in small objects networks
Authors: El Ksimi Ali , Leghris Cherkaoui
Published: March 2018

Nowadays, it is important to evaluate the use of IPv6 wireless networks. Indeed, the implementation of IPv6 mechanisms and features must be examined. IPv6 requires many objects exchanges like IPv6 routing information which could be communicated by different messages multicast. These messages are too frequent; they could impact energy consumption related to battery‐powered objects. Therefore, the energy consumption is nowadays, one of the most important issues in small object networks with IPv6. Thus, the aim of this study is to suggest a new algorithm called minimising energy consumption under connectivity constraint. The performance evaluation is based on several parameters that would help in maintaining connectivity between the mobile objects and their default router. The results showed that energy consumption could be minimised by optimising IPv6 multicast messages. Overall, this method results a significant effectiveness and might be used as a future wireless networks improvements.
Economic feasibility of hybrid energy generation with reduced carbon emission
Authors: Kirmani Sheeraz , Jamil Majid , Akhtar Iram
Published: March 2018

Increasing concern about the shortage of energy resources and harmful outcome of fossil fuel emission has initiated new requirement of reliable and cleaner green power sources. Hence, solar photovoltaic and wind power system are fastest developing sources among different renewable energy sources. In the proposed work, the urgency of the national policy to upgrade the existing coal‐based plant as integrated solar, wind and coal‐based power plant to reduce the carbon emission and to evaluate the feasibility of developing grid‐connected hybrid energy system in Ramapuram Chennai, India has been presented. Moreover, the regression models for estimation of global solar radiation using different metrological parameters are developed and compared with the results of other models. In this work, Ramapuram, Chennai, India area is chosen to install the wind and solar photovoltaic systems to feed three types of load (residential, commercial and industrial). In this study, ENNORE thermal power station, Chennai is considered to reduce the carbon emission as the integration of solar photovoltaic system and wind system to the grid reduce the units generation from this plant. Hence, study shows that 110329.56 kg emission is reduced from ENNORE thermal power station by using this system.
Improving combined solar power forecasts using estimated ramp rates: data‐driven post‐processing approach
Authors: Abuella Mohamed , Chowdhury Badrul
Published: March 2018

Several forecasting models are combined together to mitigate the uncertainty associated with the solar power generation resource and improve the power generation forecasts. The common ensemble approach in wind and solar power forecasting is the blending of meteorological data from several sources. In this study, the present and the past solar power forecasts, as well as the associated meteorological data, are incorporated into an ensemble learning tool. Since forecasts based on numerical weather prediction systems are more valuable in horizons longer than 6 h, the proposed approach includes the simple persistence model of hour‐ahead forecasts along with the different models of day‐ahead forecasts so that the combined forecasts become hour‐ahead solar power forecasts. In addition, the proposed approach combines the ramp rates of the forecasts to enhance the ensemble learning. Furthermore, the approach improves the ensemble learning by using two loss functions – the first function to minimise errors of the forecasts, and the second to minimise errors of the ramp rates of the forecasts. The performance of the combined forecasts is evaluated over the entire year and compared with other techniques.
Strong tracking SCKF based on adaptive CS model for manoeuvring aircraft tracking
Authors: Zhang Haowei , Xie Junwei , Ge Jiaang , Lu Wenlong , Liu Bingzhen
Published: March 2018

A novel tracking algorithm is proposed by the integration of the adaptive current statistical (CS) model and the modified strong tracking (ST) square‐root cubature Kalman filter (SCKF) for the manoeuvring aircraft tracking problem. Firstly, the acceleration recursion equation and the acceleration mean input estimation are combined in order to realise the adaptive adjustment of the CS model. Then, the introduced position of the fading factor is relocated from the orthogonality principle and a new formula is put forward. Additionally, the strong manoeuver detection function is established to adjust the manoeuvring frequency of the CS model. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm possesses better tracking accuracy than the multiple‐fading‐factor SCKF based on the CS model, the SCKF‐ST filter based on the modified CS model and the interacting‐multiple‐model (IMM)‐SCKF. Moreover, the proposed algorithm decreases the runtime by 40% compared with the IMM‐SCKF.
Carbon composite coatings on Ti for corrosion protection as bipolar plates of proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Authors: Gao Pingping , Xie Zhiyong , Ouyng Chun , Wu Xiaobo , Lei Ting , Liu Chunbo , Huang Qizhong
Published: March 2018

A highly corrosion resistant and conductive composite coating on Ti bipolar plates was prepared by the hydrothermal and impregnation method. The composite coating consisted of amorphous carbon immersed in suspension solution [polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) 10 wt.% + TiN nanoparticles 3 g/l]. The surface of coating was completely smooth and nano‐holes on the surface of coatings were filled by PTFE and TiN particles. TiN particles were uniformly distributed in the coating when 0.1 mol/l of glucose was used as carbon source. The composite coating exhibited excellent conductivity and corrosion resistivity. It was revealed that corrosion current density, interfacial contact resistance, and contact angle were 0.009 µA/cm2, 13 mΩ cm2, and 115.53°, respectively. Meanwhile, it was shown that the corrosion current density of the coating was below 1 µA/cm2 with a potentiostatic polarisation test (0.6 and −0.1 V). In summary, the Ti substrate with a carbon composite film immersed in suspension solution showed a great potential application in bipolar plates of proton exchange membrane fuel cells.
Clues about the scarcity of stripped-envelope stars from the evolutionary state of the sdO+Be binary systemφPersei
Authors: Schootemeijer A. , Götberg Y. , de Mink S. E. , Gies D. , Zapartas E.
Published: March 2018

Stripped-envelope stars form in binary systems after losing mass through Roche-lobe overflow. They bear astrophysical significance as sources of UV and ionizing radiation in older stellar populations and, if sufficiently massive, as stripped supernova progenitors. Binary evolutionary models predict that they are common, but only a handful of subdwarfs with B-type companions are known. The question is whether a large population of such systems has evaded detection as a result of biases, or whether the model predictions are wrong. We reanalyze the well-studied post-interaction binaryφPersei. Recently, new data have improved the orbital solution of the system, which contains an ~1.2M⊙stripped-envelope star and a rapidly rotating ~9.6M⊙Be star. We compare with an extensive grid of evolutionary models using a Bayesian approach and constrain the initial masses of the progenitor to 7.2 ± 0.4M⊙for the stripped star and 3.8 ± 0.4M⊙for the Be star. The system must have evolved through near-conservative mass transfer. These findings are consistent with earlier studies. The age we obtain, 57 ± 9 Myr, is in excellent agreement with the age of theαPersei cluster. We note that neither star was initially massive enough to produce a core-collapse supernova, but mass exchange pushed the Be star above the mass threshold. We find that the subdwarf is overluminous for its mass by almost an order of magnitude, compared to the expectations for a helium core burning star. We can only reconcile this if the subdwarf resides in a late phase of helium shell burning, which lasts only 2–3% of the total lifetime as a subdwarf. Assuming continuous star formation implies that up to ~50 less evolved, dimmer subdwarfs exist for each system similar toφPersei, but have evaded detection so far. Our findings can be interpreted as a strong indication that a substantial population of stripped-envelope stars indeed exists, but has so far evaded detection because of observational biases and lack of large-scale systematic searches.
Withdrawn: Comment on [J. Math. Phys. 58, 101701 (2017)]
Authors: Tian Roger
Published: March 2018

This comment is not in line with AIP Publishing’s policies as it did not address a scientific issue. As a result it has been withdrawn.
Water-like anomalies as a function of tetrahedrality
Authors: Russo John , Akahane Kenji , Tanaka Hajime
Published: March 2018

Significance

Water is the most common and yet least understood material on Earth. Despite its simplicity, water tends to form tetrahedral order locally by directional hydrogen bonding. This structuring is known to be responsible for a vast array of unusual properties, e.g., the density maximum at 4 °C, which play a fundamental role in countless natural and technological processes, with the Earth’s climate being one of the most important examples. By systematically tuning the degree of tetrahedrality, we succeed in continuously interpolating between water-like behavior and simple liquid-like behavior. Our approach reveals what physical factors make water so anomalous and special even compared with other tetrahedral liquids.
Scapular kinematics during scaption in competitive swimmers
Authors: Blache Y. , Gillet B. , Selin J. , Sevrez V. , Rogowski I.
Published: March 2018

This study aimed (1) to describe and compare scapular kinematics between three groups of swimmers of different levels and a group of non‐swimmers, and (2) to assess whether swimming practice alters the asymmetries in scapular kinematics between the dominant and non‐dominant sides, both during unilateral arm raising and lowering in the scapular plane. Scapular kinematics were assessed bilaterally during arm raising and lowering in the scapular plane using an electromagnetic system in 42 healthy males, which were split into four groups: control (n = 11), adolescent elite swimmers (n = 11), adult elite swimmers (n = 10), and club‐level adult swimmers (n = 10). One‐Way ANOVA SPM(t) on two repeated measures showed that the three groups of swimmers had more protracted shoulder between 30° and 90° of arm raising and lowering (p < .001). The three groups of swimmers presented no bilateral difference in scapular upward rotation, while the dominant scapula was more upwardly rotated than the non‐dominant one between 74° and 104° of arm elevation in the control group (p < .001). The scapula of adult elite swimmers was more internally rotated between 67° and 116° of humeral elevation during arm raising, and between 81° and 54° during arm lowering in comparison to the other swimming and control groups (p ≤ .02), who presented similar scapular positioning in internal rotation. In conclusion, the findings of the study pointed out that swimming practice generated protracted shoulders and removed bilateral differences in scapular upward rotation during scaption, while accumulation of swimming practice at elite level enlarged scapular internal rotation.
Oxidative stress in elite athletes training at moderate altitude and at sea level
Authors: León‐López Josefa , Calderón‐Soto Carmen , Pérez‐Sánchez Matías , Feriche Belén , Iglesias Xavier , Chaverri Diego , Rodríguez Ferran A.
Published: March 2018

Using a controlled parallel group longitudinal trial design, we investigated the effects of different training interventions on the prooxidant/antioxidant status of elite athletes: living and training at moderate altitude for 3 (Hi‐Hi3) and 4 weeks (Hi‐Hi), and for 4 weeks too, living high and training high and low (Hi‐HiLo) and living and training at sea level (Lo‐Lo). From 61 swimmers, 54 completed the study. Nitrites, carbonyls, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were assessed in plasma. Enzymatic antioxidants glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GRd), and non‐enzymatic antioxidants total glutathione (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were analysed in the erythrocyte fraction. At the end of the intervention, nitrites levels were similar in all altitude groups but higher than in the Lo‐Lo controls (P = .02). Hi‐HiLo had greater GPx activity than Hi‐Hi and Hi‐Hi3 during most of the intervention (P ≤ .001). GRd activity was higher in Lo‐Lo than in Hi‐Hi at the end of the training camp (P ≤ .001). All groups showed increased levels of LPO, except Lo‐Lo, and carbonyls at the end of the study (P ≤ .001). Training at altitude for 3 or 4 weeks drives oxidative stress leading to cellular damage mainly by worsening the antioxidant capacities. The GSSG/GSH ratio appears to be related to perceived exertion and fatigue. The stronger antioxidant defence showed by the Hi‐HiLo group suggests an inverse relationship between redox alterations and performance. Further studies are required to investigate the role of oxidative stress in acclimatization, performance, and health.
Alteration of transporter activities in the epididymides of infertile initial segment-specific Pten knockout mice†
Authors: Xu Bingfang , Turner Stephen D , Hinton Barry T
Published: March 2018

A fully functional initial segment, the most proximal region of the epididymis, is important for male fertility. Our previous study generated a mouse model to investigate the importance of initial segment function in male fertility. In that model, phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) was conditionally removed from the initial segment epithelium, which resulted in epithelial de-differentiation. When spermatozoa progressed through the de-differentiated epithelial duct, they developed angled flagella, suggesting compromised sperm maturation, which eventually resulted in male infertility. To understand the molecular mechanisms, by which PTEN regulates epididymal sperm maturation, we compared the transcriptome profile of the initial segment between controls and initial segment-specific Pten knockouts and revealed that water, ion, and organic solute transporter activities were one of the top molecular and cellular functions altered following loss of Pten. Alteration in protein levels and localization of several transporters following loss of Pten were also observed by immunofluorescence analysis. Epithelial cells of the initial segment from knockouts were more permeable to fluorescein isothiocyanate–dextran (4000 Da) compared to controls. Interestingly, conditional deletion of Pten from other organs also resulted in changes in transporter activity, suggesting a common role of PTEN in regulation of transporter activity. Taken together, our data support the hypothesis that loss of Pten from the initial segment epithelium results in changes in the transporting and permeability characteristics of the epithelium, which in turn altered the luminal fluid microenvironment that is so important for sperm maturation and male fertility.
Surfactant protein A suppresses preterm delivery induced by live Escherichia coli in mice†
Authors: Agrawal Varkha , Jaiswal Mukesh K , Beaman Kenneth D , Hirsch Emmet
Published: March 2018

Preterm birth accounts for the majority of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the developed world. A significant proportion of cases of spontaneous preterm labor are attributable to infections within gestational tissues. Surfactant protein A (SP-A), a collectin produced in the fetal lung and other tissues, has been shown previously in mice to suppress preterm delivery due to intrauterine (IU) instillation of sterile proinflammatory substances. Here we report a powerful antilabor effect for SP-A after IU infection with live Escherichia coli. SP-A abolished preterm birth (rate reduced from 100% to 0%) when it was administered into the uterus simultaneously with bacterial infection, reducing it by 75% when administered intravenously at the same time as IU bacterial inoculation, and by 48% when administered intravenously 4 h after IU bacterial infection. This effect on preterm delivery was accompanied by a parallel benefit on fetal survival in utero. SP-A had no effect on bacterial growth but reversed several major consequences of infection, including increased production of inflammatory mediators and a shift in macrophage polarization to the M1 phenotype. These findings suggest that exogenous SP-A has potential use to counteract infection-induced labor by reversing its proinflammatory consequences.
The Ups and Downs of Cognitive Function: Neuroticism and Negative Affect Drive Performance Inconsistency
Authors: Munoz Elizabeth , Stawski Robert S , Sliwinski Martin J , Smyth Joshua M , MacDonald Stuart W S
Published: March 2018

Objectives

Response time inconsistency (RTI)—or trial-to-trial variability in speeded performance—is increasingly recognized as an indicator of transient lapses of attention, cognitive health status, and central nervous system integrity, as well as a potential early indicator of normal and pathological cognitive aging. Comparatively, little research has examined personality predictors of RTI across adulthood.

Methods

We evaluated the association between the personality trait neuroticism and RTI in a community-dwelling sample of 317 adults between the ages of 19–83 and tested for two indirect pathways through negative affect (NA) and cognitive interference (CI).

Results

The personality trait neuroticism predicted greater RTI independent of mean response time performance and demographic covariates; the results were age-invariant. Furthermore, NA (but not CI) accounted for this association and moderated mediation model results indicated that older adults were more vulnerable to the adverse effects of NA.

Discussion

Neuroticism predicts greater RTI irrespective of mean performance and this effect is driven largely by heightened negative emotionality that may be particularly detrimental for older adults.
The Epidemiology of Social Isolation: National Health and Aging Trends Study
Authors: Cudjoe Thomas K M , Roth David L , Szanton Sarah L , Wolff Jennifer L , Boyd Cynthia M , Thorpe Roland J
Published: March 2018

Objectives

Social isolation among older adults is an important but under-recognized risk for poor health outcomes. Methods are needed to identify subgroups of older adults at risk for social isolation.

Methods

We constructed a typology of social isolation using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and estimated the prevalence and correlates of social isolation among community-dwelling older adults. The typology was formed from four domains: living arrangement, core discussion network size, religious attendance, and social participation.

Results

In 2011, 24% of self-responding, community-dwelling older adults (65+ years), approximately 7.7 million people, were characterized as socially isolated, including 1.3 million (4%) who were characterized as severely socially isolated. Multinomial multivariable logistic regression indicated that being unmarried, male, having low education, and low income were all independently associated with social isolation. Black and Hispanic older adults had lower odds of social isolation compared with white older adults, after adjusting for covariates.

Discussion

Social isolation is an important and potentially modifiable risk that affects a significant proportion of the older adult population.
The first whole transcriptomic exploration of pre-oviposited early chicken embryos using single and bulked embryonic RNA-sequencing
Authors: Hwang Young Sun , Seo Minseok , Choi Hee Jung , Kim Sang Kyung , Kim Heebal , Han Jae Yong
Published: March 2018

Background

The chicken is a valuable model organism, especially in evolutionary and embryology research because its embryonic development occurs in the egg. However, despite its scientific importance, no transcriptome data have been generated for deciphering the early developmental stages of the chicken because of practical and technical constraints in accessing pre-oviposited embryos.

Findings

Here, we determine the entire transcriptome of pre-oviposited avian embryos, including oocyte, zygote, and intrauterine embryos from Eyal-giladi and Kochav stage I (EGK.I) to EGK.X collected using a noninvasive approach for the first time. We also compare RNA-sequencing data obtained using a bulked embryo sequencing and single embryo/cell sequencing technique. The raw sequencing data were preprocessed with two genome builds, Galgal4 and Galgal5, and the expression of 17,108 and 26,102 genes was quantified in the respective builds. There were some differences between the two techniques, as well as between the two genome builds, and these were affected by the emergence of long intergenic noncoding RNA annotations.

Conclusion

The first transcriptome datasets of pre-oviposited early chicken embryos based on bulked and single embryo sequencing techniques will serve as a valuable resource for investigating early avian embryogenesis, for comparative studies among vertebrates, and for novel gene annotation in the chicken genome.
Classifying Spaces for the Family of Virtually Cyclic Subgroups of Braid Groups
Authors: Flores Ramón , González-Meneses Juan
Published: March 2018

We prove that, for n ≥ 3, the minimal dimension of a model of the classifying space of the braid group $B_{n}$, and of the pure braid group $P_{n}$, with respect to the family of virtually cyclic groups is n.
The Impact of Environmental Cooperation on Peacemaking: Definitions, Mechanisms, and Empirical Evidence
Authors: Ide Tobias
Published: March 2018

The literature on environmental peacemaking claims that groups in conflict can put aside their differences and cooperate in the face of shared environmental challenges, thereby facilitating more peaceful relations between them. This study provides the first comprehensive review of the widely dispersed empirical evidence on such environment-peace links. In order to do so, it distinguishes three understandings of peace and identifies four mechanisms connecting environmental cooperation to peace. The results suggest that environmental cooperation can facilitate the absence of violence within states as well as symbolic rapprochement within and between states, although such links are strongly dependent on the presence of several contextual factors. The most relevant mechanisms connecting environmental cooperation to peace are an increase in understanding and trust and especially the build-up of institutions. By contrast, environmental peacemaking is unlikely to have an impact on substantial integration between states or groups. Based on these findings, the article offers four suggestions for future research: (i) assess the relevance of environmental cooperation vis-à-vis other (presumably less context-dependent) drivers of peacemaking, (ii) pay more attention to the mechanisms connecting environmental cooperation to peacemaking, (iii) focus on the interactions between and the different time horizons of the three understandings of peace, and (iv) study the downside of environmental peacemaking to provide a more nuanced assessment and identify further relevant contextual factors.
The Principle of Proportionality and the Problem of Indeterminacy in International Investment Treaties
Authors: N Jansen Calamita
Published: March 2018

This chapter focuses on the principle of proportionality, examining its potential
to act as a unifying guiding framework for the application and interpretation of
investment treaties. It addresses threshold concerns about the legitimacy of
introducing without state consent a concept that is not a general principle of
law or customary norm, and then addresses whether proportionality can really be
used to develop coherent treaty interpretations in the absence of fundamental
agreement on questions regarding the relative strength of the rights and
interests to be balanced in the analysis. It also considers the potential
inutility of proportionality as a mode of analysis without agreement on the
standard of review employed by tribunals in their application of a
proportionality standard.
International Investment Agreements, 2015–2016
Authors: Jesse Coleman , Lise Johnson , Lisa Sachs , Kanika Gupta
Published: March 2018

This chapter considers developments in 2015 and 2016 that illustrate trends and features in recent treaty drafting. It first discusses the expanded awareness of, and interest in, the investment regime that has emerged in recent years, followed by the role of ratification in the context of investment treaty drafting and policy. It then discusses four drafting trends: (1) constraining investor access to dispute settlement and limiting arbitral discretion; (2) better protecting the right to regulate; (3) establishing investor obligations; and (4) introducing codes of conduct for decision makers in investment disputes. Finally, the chapter provides a brief overview of new provisions regarding the conduct and qualifications of arbitrators, including a glimpse at the EU proposal for a multilateral court.
Notable Developments in International Investment Arbitration Case Law
Authors: Kendra Magraw
Published: March 2018

The years 2015 and 2016 saw dynamic and significant developments in international investment law and arbitration. This chapter discusses some notable decisions and developments in the case law that occurred during this period. It focuses on decisions that: are novel; address topical issues; may impact subsequent case law as a result of, amongst others, the interpretation of multilateral treaties or the development of legal doctrines; were particularly high-profile or garnered significant public attention; and/or may shape the development of the investor–state arbitration regime. The chapter is divided into six parts: security for costs; disclosure of third-party funding; strategic investment structuring to benefit from investment treaty protection; the first decisions issued in the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) disputes against Spain; host states' right to regulate; and the enforcement and set-aside of arbitral awards.
Investment law’s Roots in Customary International law
Authors: Shu XU , Yingying WU , Henry Hailong JIA
Published: March 2018

The existing regimes of international investment law and trade law both face a prominent issue, namely, the balance between investment protection/trade liberalization on the one hand and the right of host states/importing countries to regulate for non-economic purposes on the other hand. However, investment law has taken an approach that is different from that of trade law in dealing with the issue. In addressing the balancing issue, this chapter finds investment law has deep roots in customary international law and argues that the roots of investment law in customary international law can partially explain why investment law is kept apart from trade law in this context.
Upholding Corrupt Investors’ Claims against Complicit or Compliant Host States—Where Angels should not Fear to Tread
Authors: Kevin Lim
Published: March 2018

This chapter examines tribunals' response to investor corruption. It argues that it is tempting for tribunals to adopt the traditional legal response to investor illegality and dismiss all claims tainted by investor corruption, whether on the basis of lack of jurisdiction, inadmissibility of the investors' claims, or their failure on the merits. However, the corrupt investor is merely one side of the equation. On the other side of the equation, there will frequently be a participating host country government and, in some cases, a condoning one. A host country government may participate in an investor's corrupt acts by soliciting and receiving bribes from the investor. Thus, tribunals ought to entertain some claims brought by corrupt investors. While this approach apparently endorses universally condemned practices by investors, this is not a path that tribunals should fear to tread.
A new ultraluminous X-ray source in the galaxy NGC 5907
Authors: Pintore F , Belfiore A , Novara G , Salvaterra R , Marelli M , De Luca A , Rigoselli M , Israel G , Rodriguez G , Mereghetti S , Wolter A , Walton D J , Fuerst F , Ambrosi E , Zampieri L , Tiengo A , Salvaggio C
Published: March 2018

We report on the serendipitous discovery of a new transient in NGC 5907, at a peak luminosity of 6.4 × 1039  erg s−1. The source was undetected in previous 2012 Chandra observations with a 3σ upper limit on the luminosity of 1.5 × 1038  erg s−1, implying a flux increase of a factor of >35. We analysed three recent 60 ks/50 ks Chandra and 50 ks XMM–Newton observations, as well as all the available Swift/XRT observations performed between 2017 August and 2018 March. Until the first half of 2017 October, Swift/XRT observations did not show any emission from the source. The transient entered the ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) regime in less than two weeks and its outburst was still on-going at the end of 2018 February. The 0.3–10 keV spectrum is consistent with a single multicolour blackbody disc (kT ∼ 1.5 keV). The source might be an ∼30 M⊙ black hole accreting at the Eddington limit. However, although we did not find evidence of pulsations, we cannot rule out the possibility that this ULX hosts an accreting NS.
Role of communication network topology in controlling microbial population in consortia
Authors: Ren Xinying , Murray Richard M.
Published: March 2018

Engineering microbial consortia is an important new frontier for synthetic biology given its efficiency in performing complex tasks and endurance to environmental uncertainty. Most synthetic circuits regulate populational behaviors via cell-to-cell communications, which are affected by spatially heterogenous environments. Therefore, it is important to understand the limits on controlling system dynamics that are determined by interconnections among cell agents and provide a control strategy for engineering consortia. Here, we build a network model for a fractional population control circuit in two-strain consortia, and characterize the cell-to-cell communication network by topological properties, such as symmetry, locality and connectivity. Using linear network control theory, we relate the network topology to system output’s tracking performance. We analytically and numerically demonstrate that the minimum network control energy for accurate tracking depends on locality difference between two cell population’s spatial distributions and how strongly the controller node contributes to communication strength. To realize a robust consortia, we can manipulate the communication network topology and construct strongly connected consortia by altering chemicals in environments. Our results ground the expected cell population dynamics in its spatially organized communication network, and inspire directions in cooperative control in microbial consortia.
Can you make morphometrics work when you know the right answer? Pick and mix approaches for apple identification
Authors: Christodoulou Maria D. , Battey Nicholas H. , Culham Alastair
Published: March 2018

Morphological classification of living things has challenged science for several centuries and has led to a wide range of objective morphometric approaches in data gathering and analysis. In this paper we explore those methods using apple cultivars, a model biological system in which discrete groups are pre-defined but in which there is a high level of overall morphological similarity. The effectiveness of morphometric techniques in discovering the groups is evaluated using statistical learning tools. No one technique proved optimal in classification on every occasion, linear morphometric techniques slightly out-performing geometric (72.6% accuracy on test set versus 66.7%). The combined use of these techniques with post-hoc knowledge of their individual successes with particular cultivars achieves a notably higher classification accuracy (77.8%). From this we conclude that even with pre-determined discrete categories, a range of approaches is needed where those categories are intrinsically similar to each other, and we raise the question of whether in studies where potentially continuous natural variation is being categorised the level of match between categories is routinely set too high.
Counteracting estimation bias and social influence to improve the wisdom of crowds
Authors: Kao Albert B. , Berdahl Andrew M. , Hartnett Andrew T. , Lutz Matthew J. , Bak-Coleman Joseph B. , Ioannou Christos C. , Giam Xingli , Couzin Iain D.
Published: March 2018

Aggregating multiple non-expert opinions into a collective estimate can improve accuracy across many contexts. However, two sources of error can diminish collective wisdom: individual estimation biases and information sharing between individuals. Here we measure individual biases and social influence rules in multiple experiments involving hundreds of individuals performing a classic numerosity estimation task. We first investigate how existing aggregation methods, such as calculating the arithmetic mean or the median, are influenced by these sources of error. We show that the mean tends to overestimate, and the median underestimate, the true value for a wide range of numerosities. Quantifying estimation bias, and mapping individual bias to collective bias, allows us to develop and validate three new aggregation measures that effectively counter sources of collective estimation error. In addition, we present results from a further experiment that quantifies the social influence rules that individuals employ when incorporating personal estimates with social information. We show that the corrected mean is remarkably robust to social influence, retaining high accuracy in the presence or absence of social influence, across numerosities, and across different methods for averaging social information. Utilizing knowledge of estimation biases and social influence rules may therefore be an inexpensive and general strategy to improve the wisdom of crowds.
csuWGCNA: a combination of signed and unsigned WGCNA to capture negative correlations
Authors: Dai Rujia , Xia Yan , Liu Chunyu , Chen Chao
Published: March 2018

Network analysis helps us to understand how genes jointly affect biological functions. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) is a frequently used method to build gene co-expression networks. WGCNA may be calculated with signed or unsigned correlations, with both methods having strengths and weaknesses, but both methods fail to capture weak and moderate negative correlations, which may be important in gene regulation. Combining the advantages and removing the disadvantages of both methods in one analysis would be desirable. In this study, we present a combination of signed and unsigned WGCNA (csuWGCNA), which combines the signed and unsigned methods and improves the detection of negative correlations. We applied csuWGCNA in 14 simulated datasets, six ground truth datasets and two large human brain datasets. Multiple metrics were used to evaluate csuWGCNA at gene pair and gene module levels. We found that csuWGCNA provides robust module detection and captures more negative correlations than the other methods, and is especially useful for non-coding RNA such as microRNA (miRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). csuWGCNA enables detection of more informative modules with biological functions than signed or unsigned WGCNA, which enables discovery of novel gene regulation and helps interpretations in systems biology.
Crystal structure of arginine-bound lysosomal transporter SLC38A9 in the cytosol-open state
Authors: Lei Hsiang-Ting , Ma Jinming , Martinez Silvia Sanchez , Gonen Tamir
Published: March 2018

Amino acid-dependent activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is essential to reflect nutrient availabilities in cells for cell growth and metabolism1. Solute carrier 38 family A member 9 (SLC38A9) is the lysosomal transporter responsible for amino acid sensing in the mTORC1 signaling pathway2–4. Here we present the first crystal structure of SLC38A9 from Danio rerio in complex with arginine. As captured in the cytosol-open state, the bound arginine was locked in a transitional state stabilized by the transmembrane helix 1 (TM1) of SLC38A9 which was anchored at the grove between transmembrane helix 5 and 7 inside the transporter. The key motif WNTMM on TM1, contributing to the anchoring interactions, is highly conserved in various species. Mutations in WNTMM motif abolished arginine transport by SLC38A9. The underlying mechanism of substrate binding is critical for both sensitizing mTORC1 signaling pathway to amino acids and for maintaining amino acid homeostasis across lysosomal membranes2.
PP-2, a src-kinase inhibitor, is a potential corrector for F508del-CFTR in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Wang Yunguan , Arora Kavisha , Yang Fanmuyi , Shin Woong-Hee , Chen Jing , Kihara Daisuke , Naren Anjaparavanda P. , Jegga Anil G.
Published: March 2018

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. The most common mutation in CF, an in-frame deletion of phenylalanine 508, leads to a trafficking defect and endoplasmic reticulum retention of the protein where it becomes targeted for degradation. Successful clinical deployments of ivacaftor and ivacaftor/lumacaftor combination have been an exciting translational development in treating CF. However, their therapeutic effects are variable between subjects and remain insufficient. We used the Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) database as our chemical pool to screen for candidates. For in silico screening, we integrated connectivity mapping and CF systems biology to identify candidate therapeutic compounds for CF. Following in silico screening, we validated our candidate compounds with (i) an enteroid-based compound screening assay using CF (ΔF508/ΔF508-CFTR) patient-derived enteroids, (ii) short-circuit current analysis using polarized CF primary human airway epithelial cells and (iii) Western blots to measure F508-del-CFTR protein maturation. We identified 184 candidate compounds with in silico screening and tested 24 of them with enteroid-based forskolin-induced swelling (FIS) assay. The top hit compound was PP2, a known src-kinase inhibitor that induced swelling in enteroid comparable to known CF corrector (lumacaftor). Further validation with Western blot and short-circuit current analysis showed that PP-2 could correct mutant CFTR mis-folding and restore CFTR-mediated transmembrane current. We have identified PP2, a known src-kinase inhibitor, as a novel corrector of ΔF508-CFTR. Based on our studies and previous reports, src kinase inhibition may represent a novel paradigm of multi-action therapeutics – corrector, anti-inflammatory, and anti-infective – in CF.
Reducing effects of particle adsorption to the air-water interface in cryoEM
Authors: Noble Alex J. , Wei Hui , Dandey Venkata P. , Zhang Zhening , Potter Clinton S. , Carragher Bridget
Published: March 2018

Most protein particles prepared in vitreous ice for single particle cryo-electron microscopy are adsorbed to air-water or substrate-water interfaces, potentially causing particles to adopt preferred orientations. Using the Spotiton robot and nanowire grids, we can significantly reduce air-water interface issues by decreasing the dwell time of particles in thin liquid films. We demonstrate this by using single particle cryoEM and cryoET on three biological samples.
The rhesus monkey hippocampus critically contributes to scene memory retrieval, but not new learning
Authors: Froudist-Walsh Sean , Browning Philip G. F. , Croxson Paula L. , Murphy Kathy L. , Shamy Jul Lea , Veuthey Tess L. , Wilson Charles R. E. , Baxter Mark G.
Published: March 2018

Humans can recall a large number of memories years after the events that triggered them. Early studies of humans with amnesia led to the hippocampus being viewed as the critical structure for episodic memory, but human lesions are imprecise, making it difficult to identify the anatomical structures underlying memory impairments. Rodent studies enable great temporal and anatomical precision in hippocampal manipulations, but not investigation of the rich assortment of interleaved memories that occurs in humans. Thus it is not known how lesions restricted to the hippocampus affect the retrieval of multiple sequentially encoded memories. Furthermore, disagreement exists as to whether hippocampal inactivations lead to a temporally graded, or ungraded amnesia, which could be a consequence of different types hippocampal disruption observed in rodent and human studies. In the current study, four rhesus monkeys received bilateral neurotoxic lesions of the hippocampus, and were compared to thirteen unoperated controls on recognition and new learning of visual object-in-place scenes. Monkeys with hippocampal lesions were significantly impaired compared to controls at remembering scenes that were encoded before the lesion. We did not observe any temporal gradient effect of the lesion on memory recognition, with recent and remote memories being equally affected by the lesion. Monkeys with hippocampal lesions showed no deficits in learning and later recognising new scenes. Thus, the hippocampus, like other cortical regions, may be engaged in the acquisition and storage of new memories, but its role can be taken over by spared regions following a lesion. These findings illustrate the utility of experimental paradigms for studying retrograde and anterograde amnesia that make use of the capacity of nonhuman primates to rapidly acquire many distinct visual memories.