bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Germination asynchrony is increased by dual seed bank presence in two desert perennial halophytes
Authors: Bhatt Arvind , Bhat Narayana R. , Lozano-Isla Flavio , Gallacher David , Santo Andrea , Batista-Silva Willian , Fernandes Denise , Pompelli Marcelo F.
Published: August 2019

Maintaining a viable seed bank throughout the germination season is considered very important for plant recruitment in desert environments, where environmental conditions are unpredictable. Seeds from fully matured Seidlitzia rosmarinus Bunge ex Boiss and Halothamnus iraqensis Botsch. were collected in December 2016, then April, June, and September 2017 from both soil-surface and aerial seed banks. Both of the species were selected mainly by their capacity to rehabilitate saline coastal sites. Germination was analyzed under two photoperiods (0 or 12 h light per day), with winged or dewinged perianths. Seidlitzia rosmarinus had a shorter seasonal range in comparison with H. iraqensis (6 and 9 months, respectively), and the presence of a winged perianth reduced the germination rate of both species. A permanent winged perianth significantly inhibited the germination rate in both species. In the absence of perianth, the germination registered in December 2016 was mostly 100%, but declined to around 20% in September 2017. Seeds are thus more likely to germinate after scarification from wind mobilization, and do not require burial. Our results show that seeds of both the aerial and soil banks are transitory, and viable only during the winter months. Taken together, the combination of aerial and soil seed banks has greatly facilitated germination asynchrony in their environmentally unpredictable desert habitat.
Impact of heterogeneous distribution of immunization probability on recurrent epidemic outbreaks
Authors: Chen Dan-Dan , Lao Jia-Sheng , Gao Ning-Ning , Zhao Ming
Published: August 2019

The heterogeneous distribution of immunization probability has been proven to suppress the recurrent epidemic outbreaks effectively, but the reason for this interesting phenomenon is still unclear. To solve this problem, the effects of immunization probability on the maximal infected density and the average infected density are investigated, and it’s found that large immunization probability will depress the maximal infected density sharply. Moreover, it’s proved that small immunization probability is of great importance, which could not only reduce the cost of immunization at low risk but also decrease the outbreak risk of the next year by making the average infected density larger in the current year. Besides, a generalized immunization strategy is presented, which makes the immunization strategy easy to carry out and meanwhile keeps the maximal and the average infected density almost as good as those in the original dynamic immunization strategy. Moreover, the control effects in eight real networks are also investigated, which proves the usefulness of the modified dynamic immunization strategy. Our work proves the usefulness of the heterogeneous distribution of immunization probability and may present theoretical guidance for the government and the public to control the recurrent epidemic outbreaks.
Mechanism analysis of competitive information asynchronous dissemination on social networks
Authors: Yu Jianye , Lv Junjie , Wang Yuanzhuo , Li Jingyuan
Published: August 2019

Information dissemination groups, especially those disseminating the same kind of information such as advertising, product promotion, etc., compete with each other when their information spread on social networks. Most of the existing methods analyze the dissemination mechanism mainly upon the information itself without considering human characteristics, e.g. relation networks, cooperation/defection, etc. In this paper, we introduce a framework of social evolutionary game (SEG) to investigate the influence of human behaviors in competitive information dissemination. Coordination game is applied to represent human behaviors in the competition of asynchronous information diffusion. We perform a series of simulations through a specific game model to analyze the mechanism and factors of information diffusion, and show that when the benefits of competitive information is around 1.2 times of the original one, it can compensate the loss of reputation caused by the change of strategy. Furthermore, through experiments on a dataset of two films on Sina Weibo, we described the mechanism of competition evolution over real data of social network, and validated the effectiveness of our model.
Dynamical symmetry breaking and negative cosmological constant
Authors: Lu Wei
Published: August 2019

In the context of Clifford functional integral formalism, we revisit the Nambu–Jona-Lasinio-type dynamical symmetry breaking model and examine the properties of the dynamically generated composite bosons. Given that the model with 4-fermion interactions is nonrenormalizable in the traditional sense, the aim is to gain insight into the divergent integrals without resorting to explicit regularization. We impose a restriction on the linearly divergent primitive integrals, thus resolving the long-standing issue of momentum routing ambiguity associated with fermion–antifermion condensations. The removal of the ambiguity paves the way for the possible calculation of the true ratio of Higgs boson mass to top quark mass in the top condensation model. In this paper, we also investigate the negative vacuum energy resulted from dynamical symmetry breaking and its cosmological implications. In the framework of modified Einstein–Cartan gravity, it is demonstrated that the late-time acceleration is driven by a novel way of embedding the Hubble parameter into the Friedmann equation via an interpolation function, whereas the dynamically generated negative cosmological constant only plays a minor role for the current epoch. Two cosmic scenarios are proposed, with one of which suggesting that the universe may have been evolving from an everlasting coasting state towards the accelerating era characterized by the deceleration parameter approaching −0.5 at low redshift. One inevitable outcome of the modified Friedmannian cosmology is that the directly measured local Hubble parameter should in general be larger than the Hubble parameter calibrated from the conventional Friedmann equation. This Hubble tension becomes more pronounced when the Hubble parameter is comparable or less than a characteristic Hubble scale.
Synthesis of graphene-based solid acid for catalytic reducing of p-nitrophenol
Authors: Yang Ping , Nie Taotao , Hu Jun , Ni Huiqiong , Shi Jianjun
Published: August 2019

A novel graphene-based solid acid was successfully prepared through loading Co and Ni onto the surface of reduced graphene nanosheets with hydrothermal method. After sulfonation of the as-synthesized reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-Ni-Co composites, a kind of solid acid was prepared for reducing p-Nitrophenol (PNP) into p-Aminophenol (PAP). The result shows that the sulfonated rGO-Ni-Co composites have better catalytic ability than rGO-Ni-Co composites. These findings may provide a facile method to prepare solid acid which consists of rGO and metal ion for its application in catalysis fields.
3D porous Ni–Zn catalyst for catalytic hydrolysis of sodium borohydride and ammonia borane
Authors: Wei Lei , Liu Qian , Liu Shuang , Liu Xinrong
Published: August 2019

As promising hydrogen carriers, sodium borohydride (SB) and ammonia borane (AB) can controllably release pure hydrogen by means of catalytic hydrolysis at mild condition. In this work, we introduced a novel and facile method for transformation of commercial nickel foam (NF) to highly active 3D porous Ni–Zn catalyst. The method consisted of three steps including electroplating zinc on NF, alloying treatment and chemical etching. Catalyst microstructure and component were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Hydrogen generation measurement indicates that the prepared Ni–Zn catalyst is highly efficient for catalytic hydrolysis of SB and AB to generate hydrogen. Moreover, recycling performance of the catalyst was also investigated.
Enablers, Barriers, and Critical Success Factors for Effective Adoption of Color-Jet 3D Printing Technology
Authors: Haleem Abid , Javaid Mohd.
Published: August 2019

Color-jet 3D printing (CJP) technology-based machines are now being developed, and there is a need to identify the successful adoption of this technology for additive manufacturing (AM). Extensive literature review complemented with experts’ advice utilized systematically helped in the identification of 12 critical factors for the effective adoption of color-jet printing technology. A hierarchical structural model is developed using interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and analyzed using Matriced Impacts Croise’s Multiplication Appliquée a UN Classement (MICMAC). Identified software and the machine cost are primary drivers for this color-jet 3D printing machines (technology). The value of this technology is to provide the product at a lower cost and give useful applications in the area of medical, engineering and concept building. There is a need for developing better quality core material and post-processing material, further supported by enabling machine hardware and software. Accuracy and color texture of the part produced are essential to provide a technological advantage over existing technologies. Post-processing assists in a big way in imparting necessary properties to the part produced. Presently, the infiltrate/post-processing materials are limited, and for large-scale acceptability, one needs extensive multidisciplinary research and development. This research provides a structural model toward the adoption of color-jet 3D printing technology, which can also help users in evaluating this technology in broader AM framework.
Broadband seismic imaging around the Banda Arc: changes in the anatomy of offshore fold-and-thrust belts
Authors: Baillie Peter , Keep Myra , Duran Pedro Martinez , Carrillo Eduardo , Duval Gregor
Published: August 2019

The complicated geology of the Banda region results from complex collision between the Eurasia, Australia and Pacific plates, ongoing in the region since the Late Oligocene but particularly in the study area since the Middle Miocene (from 15 Ma). Regional 2D broadband seismic data have provided improved imaging of Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary successions in the region. The region comprises the deep and ultra-deep Banda Sea enclosed by a magmatic inner arc and an outer deformed zone, comprising a series of orogens. This outer orogenic zone comprises islands with extended and sometimes hyperextended continental crust, a series of marginal foredeeps and intervening fold-and thrust belts. This paper illustrates how the offshore fold-and-thrust belts that bound the fore-deeps change in size, shape and degree of basement reactivation in a clockwise sense around the Banda Arc.
Multi-objective Optimisation of Online Distributed Software Update for DevOps in Clouds
Authors: Sun Daniel , Chen Shiping , Li Guoqiang , Zhang Yuanyuan , Atif Muhammad
Published: August 2019

This article studies synchronous online distributed software update, also known as rolling upgrade in DevOps, which in clouds upgrades software versions in virtual machine instances even when various failures may occur. The goal is to minimise completion time, availability degradation, and monetary cost for entire rolling upgrade by selecting proper parameters. For this goal, we propose a stochastic model and a novel optimisation method. We validate our approach to minimise the objectives through both experiments in Amazon Web Service (AWS) and simulations.
Testing the difference between appearance and ability customization
Authors: Rogers Ryan , Dunlow Laura
Published: August 2019

Gaming literature largely treats customization as a monolithic concept. This article provides three experiments that test the differences between appearance customization and ability customization. While these three studies provided a degree of replication, they examined between 105 and 147 college students in three different video game scenarios (no game play, non-human avatar, and difficult game). While the results varied slightly based on the scenario, evidence emerged that appearance customization was more likely than ability customization to enhance participant attitude toward the game and likelihood to spend money on the game. The findings of these studies should inform the types of customization used in a variety of domains and should provide guidance on the design process to offer simple and cost-effective methods to improve sales and attitudes toward content. Specifically, appearance customization is a more effective way for organizations to influence users.
Reducing harm by designing discourse and digital tools for opioid users' contexts
Authors: Bivens Kristin Marie
Published: August 2019

The United States is struggling with an opioid overdose (OD) crisis. The opioid OD epidemic includes legally prescribed and illicitly acquired opioids. Regardless of if an opioid is legal, understanding users' contexts of use is essential to design effective methods for individuals to reverse opioid OD. In other words, if health information is not designed to be contextually relevant, the opioid OD health information will be unusable. To demonstrate these distinct healthcare design contexts, I extend Patient Experience Design (PXD) to include community-based and technology-based contexts of use by analyzing two case examples of the Chicago Recovery Alliance's and PwrdBy's attempts to decrease deaths by opioid OD. Next, I discuss implications of community-based and technology-based PXD within communities of opioid users, critiquing each method and suggesting four contexts of use-heuristic categories to consider when designing health communication information for users in these contexts.
How developers use API documentation
Authors: Meng Michael , Steinhardt Stephanie , Schubert Andreas
Published: August 2019

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) play a crucial role in modern software engineering. However, learning to use a new API often is a challenge for developers. In order to support the learning process effectively, we need to understand how developers use documentation when starting to work with a new API. We report an exploratory study that observed developers while they solved programming tasks involving a simple API. The results reveal differences regarding developer activities and documentation usage that a successful design strategy for API documentation needs to accommodate. Several guidelines to optimize API documentation are discussed.
Renal oxygenation during the early stages of adenine-induced chronic kidney disease
Authors: Ullah Md Mahbub , Ow Connie P. C. , Hilliard Krause Lucinda M. , Evans Roger G.
Published: August 2019

To assess whether renal hypoxia is an early event in adenine-induced chronic kidney disease, adenine (100 mg) or its vehicle was administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats by daily oral gavage for 7 days. Kidney oxygenation was assessed by 1) blood oximetry and Clark electrode in thiobutabarbital-anesthetized rats, 2) radiotelemetry in unanesthetized rats, and 3) expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and HIF-2α protein. After 7 days of treatment, under anesthesia, renal O2delivery was 51% less, whereas renal O2consumption was 65% less, in adenine-treated rats than in vehicle-treated rats. Tissue Po2measured by Clark electrode was similar in the renal cortex but 44% less in the medulla of adenine-treated rats than in that of vehicle-treated rats. In contrast, in unanesthetized rats, both cortical and medullary tissue Po2measured by radiotelemetry remained stable across 7 days of adenine treatment. Notably, anesthesia and laparotomy led to greater reductions in medullary tissue Po2measured by radiotelemetry in rats treated with adenine (37%) than in vehicle-treated rats (16%), possibly explaining differences between our observations with Clark electrodes and radiotelemetry. Renal expression of HIF-1α was less after 7 days of adenine treatment than after vehicle treatment, whereas expression of HIF-2α did not differ significantly between the two groups. Renal dysfunction was evident after 7 days of adenine treatment, with glomerular filtration rate 65% less and serum creatinine concentration 183% greater in adenine-treated rats than in vehicle-treated rats. Renal cortical tissue hypoxia may not precede renal dysfunction in adenine-induced chronic kidney disease and so may not be an early pathological feature in this model.
Potential Complications of Percutaneous Vertebroplasty Combined with Interstitial Implantation of 125I Seeds for Metastatic Spinal Tumors: A Case Report and Literary Review
Authors: Xie Lunli , Yan Zhenlin , Zhu Jun , Chen Xudong , Yang Changyuan , Su Xing , Quan Keqin , Pu Dan
Published: August 2019

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is often used to acquire the stability of the spine and relieve the pain caused by osteoporotic vertebral compressive fracture (OVCF). 125I seeds have been used for application of local therapy for tumors. A combined treatment was reported in previous literatures. Thus, this case report is aimed at reporting a patient with an occurrence of delayed radioactive myelopathy, who accepted percutaneous vertebroplasty combined with interstitial implantation of 125I seeds for metastatic spinal tumors, and at reviewing the published literatures.
Analysis of the Gale in the Bohai Sea Caused by Tropical Cyclone “Yagi”
Authors: Hu Tiantian , Liu Binxian , Wu Di , Yi Xiaoyuan
Published: August 2019

In this study, we analyzed the meteorological processes associated with 2018 tropical cyclone No. 14, “Yagi.” TC Yagi continued moving northeastward after losing its numerical designation from the National Meteorological Center of the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) because of weakening and then restrengthened when it moved over the Bohai Sea, inducing an ocean gale on 14-15 August 2018. The results of our investigation revealed that the continued northeastward movement of Yagi on 14 August was related to the divergence of the upper-level westerly jet stream, the northward shift of the subtropical high in the midtroposphere, as well as the steering flow and asymmetrical air flow around the disturbance itself in the lower troposphere. The enhancement of Yagi over the Bohai Sea on the night of 14 August was related to the decrease of friction over the ocean and the increase of diabatic heating from the sea surface flux. The wind speed increased to a maximum when the depression moved over the Bohai Sea, an occurrence that was not only due to the enhancement of the cyclone itself but also due to the flow of cold air from high latitudes along the north side of the Bohai Sea. The behavior of the cold air was related to the shift of the convergence zone in the upper-level westerly jet at 200 hPa, long-wave troughs and ridges at 500 hPa, and terrain effects. Thus, the gale development in the Bohai Sea was due to both the enhancement of tropical cyclone Yagi after it moved over the ocean and the flow of cold air from high latitudes.
Isotopic Composition of Abiogenic Gas Produced in Closed-System Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis: Implications for the Origins of the Deep Songliao Basin Gases in China
Authors: Wei Zhifu , Wang Yongli , Wang Gen , Ma Xueyun , He Wei , Zhang Ting , Yu Xiaoli , Zou Yan-Rong
Published: August 2019

In this study, closed-system Fischer-Tropsch synthesis was conducted at 380°C and 30 MPa for 72 h with magnetite as a catalyst. The isotopic composition of the closed-system Fischer-Tropsch synthesis gas and the composition of known abiogenic gas were systematically studied, and the deep Songliao Basin gas was also investigated. The results show that closed-system Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of gaseous hydrocarbon isotopes exhibits a partial reverse order, which includes the reverse order of methane and ethane such as δ13C-C1>δ13C-C2<δ13C-C3 and δ2H-C1>δ2H-C2<δ2H-C3. Furthermore, experimental data on the control of NaBH4 content indicates that the carbon isotopes demonstrate a reverse order on condition that the H2/CO2 (mole ratio) is equal to or greater than 4.0; meanwhile, the hydrogen isotopes show a normal order. The deep Songliao Basin hydrocarbon gas component is similar to thermogenic gas and has a trend of a transition to oceanic hydrothermal system abiogenic gas. In addition, the deep Songliao Basin gas isotopic pattern is different from both Lost City and Kidd Creek where the deep Basin gas carbon isotopic pattern has a reverse order, and the hydrogen isotopic pattern has a normal order. Therefore, the deep Basin gas might be a mixture of the oil-type gas and the coal-formed gas, which could be the cause of the isotopic reverse.
miR-29a Negatively Affects Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion and MIN6 Cell Proliferation via Cdc42/β-Catenin Signaling
Authors: Duan Jing , Qian Xian-Ling , Li Jun , Xiao Xing-Hua , Lu Xiang-Tong , Lv Lin-Chen , Huang Qing-Yun , Ding Wen , Zhang Hong-Yan , Xiong Li-Xia
Published: August 2019

Background. Diabetes is a progressive metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia. Functional impairment of islet β cells can occur to varying degrees. This impairment can initially be compensated for by proliferation and metabolic changes of β cells. Cell division control protein 42 (Cdc42) and the microRNA (miRNA) miR-29 have important roles in β-cell proliferation and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), which we further explored using the mouse insulinoma cell line MIN6. Methods. Upregulation and downregulation of miR-29a and Cdc42 were accomplished using transient transfection. miR-29a and Cdc42 expression was detected by real-time PCR and western blotting. MIN6 proliferation was detected using a cell counting kit assay. GSIS under high-glucose (20.0 mM) or basal-glucose (5.0 mM) stimulation was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The miR-29a binding site in the Cdc42 mRNA 3′-untranslated region (UTR) was determined using bioinformatics and luciferase reporter assays. Results. miR-29a overexpression inhibited proliferation (P<0.01) and GSIS under high-glucose stimulation (P<0.01). Cdc42 overexpression promoted proliferation (P<0.05) and GSIS under high-glucose stimulation (P<0.05). miR-29a overexpression decreased Cdc42 expression (P<0.01), whereas miR-29a downregulation increased Cdc42 expression (P<0.01). The results showed that the Cdc42 mRNA 3′-UTR is a direct target of miR-29a in vitro. Additionally, Cdc42 reversed miR-29a-mediated inhibition of proliferation and GSIS (P<0.01). Furthermore, miR-29a inhibited β-catenin expression (P<0.01), whereas Cdc42 promoted β-catenin expression (P<0.01). Conclusion. By negatively regulating Cdc42 and the downstream molecule β-catenin, miR-29a inhibits MIN6 proliferation and insulin secretion.
Optimization for Stop Plan of Passenger‐Like Container Train with Container Distributions and Train Utilization Rates
Authors: Xia Yang , Wei Yuguang , Lai Yihuan , Zhang Qi
Published: August 2019

The railway container transportation is attracting more and more attention in China. In order to improve the service quality, a novel concept of passenger‐like container train is proposed, which can reduce the accumulation time of containers at the origin station and increase the train frequency compared with the traditional container through train. With the aim of generating optimal operation strategies for passenger‐like container trains, this paper establishes an optimization model for the train stop plan problem, in which the objective is to minimize the total number of stops. In addition, the specific container‐to‐train distribution and the utilization rate of each individual train are considered. The proposed model is a mixed‐integer linear programming one, which can be solved by using the CPLEX solver. Finally, the numerical experiments are performed to test the effectiveness of our model by using a simple railway line and the China Railway Express corridor as examples. The results prove the advantages of our method.
Proximal Tubular Development Is Impaired with Downregulation of MAPK/ERK Signaling, HIF-1α, and Catalase by Hyperoxia Exposure in Neonatal Rats
Authors: Xu Xuewen , You Kai , Bu Renge
Published: August 2019

Supplemental oxygen therapy (hyperoxia) is a widely used treatment for alveolar hypoxia in preterm infants. Despite being closely monitored, hyperoxia exposure is believed to undermine neonatal nephrogenesis and renal function caused by elevated oxidative stress. Previous studies have mostly focused on the hyperoxia-induced impairment of glomerular development, while the long-term impact of neonatal hyperoxia on tubular development and the regulatory component involved in this process remain to be clarified. Here, we examined tubular histology and apoptosis, along with the expression profile of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), and catalase, following hyperoxia exposure in neonatal rats. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining revealed the early disappearance of the nephrogenic zone, as well as dilated lumens and reduced epithelial cells, of mature proximal tubules following neonatal hyperoxia. A robust increase in tubular cell apoptosis caused by neonatal hyperoxia was found using a TUNEL assay. Moreover, neonatal hyperoxia altered renal MAPK/ERK signaling activity and downregulated the expression of HIF-1α and catalase in the proximal tubules throughout nephrogenesis from S-shaped bodies to mature proximal tubules. Cell apoptosis in the proximal tubules was positively correlated with HIF-1α expression on the 14th postnatal day. Our data indicates that proximal tubular development is impaired by neonatal hyperoxia, which is accompanied by altered MAPK/ERK signaling as well as downregulated HIF-1α and catalase. Therapeutic management that targets MAPK/ERK signaling, HIF-1α, or catalase may serve as a protective agent against hyperoxia-induced oxidative damage to neonatal proximal tubules.
Antioxidant and Cardioprotective Effects of EPA on Early Low-Severity Sepsis through UCP3 and SIRT3 Upholding of the Mitochondrial Redox Potential
Authors: Leger Thibault , Azarnoush Kasra , Traoré Amidou , Cassagnes Lucie , Rigaudière Jean-Paul , Jouve Chrystèle , Pagès Guilhem , Bouvier Damien , Sapin Vincent , Pereira Bruno , Bonny Jean-Marie , Demaison Luc
Published: August 2019

Sepsis still causes death, often through cardiac failure and mitochondrial dysfunction. Dietaryω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are known to protect against cardiac dysfunction and sepsis lethality. This study set out to determine whether early low-severity sepsis alters the cardiac mitochondrial function in animals fed a Western-type diet and whether dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) administration protects the myocardium against the deleterious effects of sepsis and if so to seek possible mechanisms for its effects. Rats were divided into two groups fed either anω3 PUFA-deficient diet (“Western diet,” DEF group) or an EPA-enriched diet (EPA group) for 5 weeks. Each group was subdivided into two subgroups: sham-operated rats and rats subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).In vivocardiac mechanical function was examined, and mitochondria were harvested to determine their functional activity. Oxidative stress was evaluated together with several factors involved in the regulation of reactive oxygen species metabolism. Sepsis had little effect on cardiac mechanical function but strongly depressed mitochondrial function in the DEF group. Conversely, dietary EPA greatly protected the mitochondria through a decreased oxidative stress of the mitochondrial matrix. The latter was probably due to an increased uncoupling protein-3 expression, already seen in the sham-operated animals. CLP rats in the EPA group also displayed increased mitochondrial sirtuin-3 protein expression that could reinforce the upholding of oxidative phosphorylation. Dietary EPA preconditioned the heart against septic damage through several modifications that protect mitochondrial integrity. This preconditioning can explain the cardioprotective effect of dietary EPA during sepsis.
Miro2 Regulates Inter-Mitochondrial Communication in the Heart and Protects Against TAC-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction
Authors: Cao Yangpo , Xu Chunling , Ye Jingjing , He Qihua , Zhang Xingzhong , Jia Shi , Qiao Xue , Zhang Chenglin , Liu Ruxia , Weng Lin , Liu Yingying , Liu Limei , Zheng Ming
Published: August 2019

Rationale:

The constrained mitochondria in cardiomyocytes communicate with each other, through mitochondrial kissing or nanotunneling, forming a dynamically continuous network to share content and transfer signals. However, the molecular mechanism of cardiac inter-mitochondrial communication is unclear.

Objective:

To determine the molecular mechanism underlying the robust inter-mitochondrial communication and its pathophysiological relevance in the heart.

Methods and Results:

By mitochondria-targeted expressing the photoactivatable green fluorescent protein, we revealed that most mitochondrial nanotubes bridge communicating mitochondrial pairs were associated with microtubules. Miro2 (mitochondrial Rho GTPase), the outer mitochondrial membrane protein which usually mediates mitochondrial transport within cells, accompanied with mitochondrial nanotubes along microtubules in adult cardiomyocytes. Adenovirus mediated expression of Miro2 in cardiomyocytes accelerated inter-mitochondrial communication through increasing mitochondrial nanotunneling and mitochondrial kissing between adjacent mitochondrial pairs. In transverse aortic constriction-induced hypertrophic mouse hearts Miro2 protein was declined, accompanied with decreased inter-mitochondrial communication. Miro2 transgenic mice showed ameliorated cardiac function, increased mitochondrial nanotube formation and inter-mitochondrial communication, and improved mitochondrial function after transverse aortic constriction. E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin was increased in transverse aortic constriction mouse hearts and phenylephrine stimulation-induced hypertrophic cardiomyocytes. Inhibition of proteasome blocked phenylephrine-induced decrease of Miro2, and Parkin overexpression led to the decrease of Miro2.

Conclusions:

Mitochondrial Miro2 expression levels regulate inter-mitochondrial communication along microtubules in adult cardiomyocytes, and degradation of Miro2 through Parkin-mediated ubiquitination contributes to impaired inter-mitochondrial communication and cardiac dysfunction during hypertrophic heart diseases.Visual Overview: An online visual overview is available for this article.
Cosmopolitanism, Pluralism and Self-Orientalisation in the Modern Mystical World of Java
Authors: Schlehe Judith
Published: August 2019

At present, a great deal of the scholarly research on Indonesia focuses on the processes of Islamisation. This paper will discuss a phenomenon that seems to point in a different direction, namely the contemporary reconfiguration of dukun/spiritual experts called paranormal. These mystics indicate a peculiar form of pluralism. They are an assemblage of tradition and modernity, locality and translocality, religion and mysticism, spirituality and business, and global esotericism and popular psychology. Most of them belong to the urban middle class, are highly professional, and make extensive use of modern mass media to advertise their supernatural skills. Yet, how do they position themselves in Indonesian and global cultural contexts? This paper identifies the ongoing ambivalence between cosmopolitan ideas and their rupture in polarising, orientalist, and occidentalist imaginaries. Finally, a new understanding of cosmopolitanism is suggested that expands the reference beyond the world of humans by also including a plurality of supernatural powers.
Epistolary Pilgrimage and Eldership in G.E.H. Palmer’s Correspondence with Fr. Nikon Strandtman
Authors: Johnson Christopher D.L.
Published: August 2019

Between the years 1948 and 1963, British spiritual seeker Gerald Palmer, who edited the English Philokalia, carried on a written correspondence with the Russian hieromonk and Athonite elder Fr. Nikon Strandtman. Through a regular exchange of letters, these men were able to build a bridge between their disparate worlds and establish a close lifelong relationship. Their letters functioned devotionally to extended the practices of pilgrimage and spiritual direction and supplement their face-to-face encounters with virtual interactions, which allowed Palmer to maintain a continuous link to the place of Athos and the person of Fr. Nikon.
Notes on the circumscription of Pterygota (Malvaceae, Sterculioideae) with special reference to a Brazilian taxon with a misapplied name

Authors: COLLI-SILVA MATHEUS , PIRANI JOSÉ RUBENS
Published: August 2019

Pending taxonomic problems regarding Pterygota Schott & Endl. are related to troublesome circumscription and historical-nomenclatural issues. For instance, Pterygota brasiliensis Allemão is cited as Basiloxylon brasiliensis (Allemão) K.Schum in some publications, e.g. the Catalog of Plants and Fungi of Brazil (Forzza et al. 2010) and the Checklist of Vascular Plants of the Americas (Ulloa-Ulloa et al. 2017). Conversely, it is referred as P. brasiliensis in other works, such as the checklist of species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (Dutra et al. 2015) and now in the Brazilian Flora 2020 Project (Ferreira-Júnior 2018). Here, we review and standardize taxonomical issues regarding Pterygota, something which has not been addressed since the end of the 1960s, focusing on the Brazilian species P. brasiliensis.
Autotomy of rays of Heliaster helianthus (Asteroidea: Echinodermata)*
Authors: LAWRENCE JOHN M. , GAYMER CARLOS F.
Published: August 2019

In species of the family Heliasteridae, the ossicles of the proximal parts of the sides of each ray are joined by connective tissue to those of the adjacent rays to form interradial septa. These provide support to the extensive disc. Only a relatively small part of the ray is free. Autotomy of rays occurs in Heliaster helianthus in response to predatory attack by the asteroid Meyenaster gelatinosus. Autotomy of the ray does not occur at the base of the free part of the ray (arm) but near the base of the ray. In addition to the plane of autotomy at this location, a longitudinal plane of autotomy occurs in the connec­tive tissue between the ossicles of the interradial septa. This indicates a plane of mutable collagenous tissue is present. Autotomy of the ray involves all these planes of autotomy and results in loss of most of the ray.
Adaptative morphology for living in shallow water environments in spatangoid echinoids*

Authors: SAITOH MASAYA , KANAZAWA KEN’ICHI
Published: August 2019

Six spatangoid species living in an area about 1 km2 at depths of 5–18 m were investigated in the Oki-Islands in the Japan Sea. The spatangoids capable of burrowing deeply principally adapt to unstable environment where the sediment surface is disturbed by storms. They are confined to the respective habitats depending on their functional morphology; apical tuft spines and fascioles for respiration, inflated plastron and stern-like postero-ventral shape for deep-burrowing. An excep­tional spatangoid, Lovenia elongata, has specific morphologies for quick burrowing and rapid righting against disturbance of superficial sediment, which make it possible for it to live in fine- to coarse-grained sand at various water depths in spite of its burrowing just below the sediment surface.
Crinoid diversity in the Upper Cretaceous Yezo Supergroup, Hokkaido, northern Japan*

Authors: HUNTER AARON W.
Published: August 2019

New data, principally from ‘local’ encrinites in the Yezo Supergroup of Hokkaido, northern Japan, suggest that many relict ‘Jurassic-type faunas’ identified in Europe and central Japan might have persisted in the Late Cretaceous deep-water (> 100 m) muddy sandstone facies found throughout the island of Hokkaido. For example, Isocrinus and Balanocrinus occur in the outer shelf sandy mudstone facies of the Turonian-Coniacian Saku Formation and the Coniacian- Campanian Haborogawa Formation, of the Mikasa area (central Hokkaido), respectively. Isocrinus is also found in the Turonian-Coniacian deep-water siltstones and sandy siltstones of the Nishi-chirashinai Formation of the Nakagawa area (northern Hokkaido). In contrast, Isselicrinus, which belongs to ‘Late Cretaceous type-faunas’, occurs in the uppermost Creta­ceous (Campanian) outer shelf mudstone facies of the Upper Yezo Supergroup around Hobetsu (south-central Hokkaido). Although collections of crinoids from the chalks of northern Europe are themselves largely free from sampling biases, Cretaceous crinoid diversity data have been markedly influenced by fossils preserved in the relatively homogeneous chalk facies where the faunal differences between the deep-water Danish, English and north German chalks (> 250 m) and the shallow-water facies found around Maastricht, the Netherlands (< 50 m) are slight. The results of this preliminary report on the crinoid faunas of Hokkaido suggest that global crinoid diversity reported from the Upper Cretaceous might be influenced by sampling and facies biases.
The reclassification of Sophiodela and other tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) based on the structure of the everted internal sac of the male genitalia
Authors: FUKUDA YUKI , OGAWA RYO , HORI MICHIO
Published: August 2019

All members of Sophiodela Nakane 1955, hitherto a subgenus of Cicindela Linnaeus, 1758, are reviewed based on the structure of the everted internal sac of the male genitalia. In addition, many species of other genera and subgenera such as the genera Cosmodela Rivalier, 1961, Calochroa Hope, 1838, and Cicindela and its subgenus Pancallia Rivalier, 1961, are also reviewed regarding their reproductive structures. Their relationships are discussed using a comparison between morphological and molecular analyses. Through this study, the taxonomic rank of Sophiodela is raised from a subgenus to a genus as it is demonstrated to be a distinct monophyletic group by both the morphological and molecular analyses. Amongst the species of Sophiodela, S. cyanea Fabricius, 1787 is changed to the subgenus Pancallia. We conclude that the everted internal sac is a useful tool for grouping the genera and subgenera and can be used as a taxonomic character.
1. What is Conservation Biology?
Authors: Wilson John , Primack Richard
Published: August 2019

Conservation biology has three goals: (a) to document Earth’s biological diversity; (b) to investigate how humans influence species, evolution, and ecosystem processes; and (c) to investigate approaches to protect and restore biological communities, maintain genetic diversity, and prevent the extinction of species. Due to the fact that conservation is multidisciplinary and requires a deep understanding of natural processes and human society, conservation biologists must take on multiple roles. Specifically, they must be curious, good communicators, effective educators, law-abiding citizens, and effective managers and practitioners of conservation projects. They also generally agree that biodiversity should be preserved, untimely extinctions should be prevented, ecological complexity should be maintained, evolution should continue, and biodiversity has intrinsic value. Conservation biology relies on scientific evidence and ethical principles that underpins the preservation of biodiversity. Science provides conservation biologists with useful tools that guide the setting of clear, achievable, and measurable goals, to monitor conservation actions to assess whether goals have been met, and to communicate in a clear and unbiased manner. Meanwhile, environmental ethics holds that biodiversity must also be protected because human well-being and economic opportunities are linked to a healthy environment. It appeals to people of different walks to life to preserve biodiversity.
8. Extinction Is Forever
Authors: Wilson John , Primack Richard
Published: August 2019

The rates of species extinction are currently 1,000 times greater than natural background levels, but this may soon increase to 10,000 times. Over 99% of modern extinctions, all of which are leading to the rapid loss of ecosystem services, can be attributed to human activity. The IUCN has developed quantitative criteria that assign species to nine conservation categories based on their risk of extinction. Species that are Extinct in the Wild (EW), Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), and Vulnerable (VU) are officially considered “threatened with extinction”. The five other categories are Extinct (EX), Near Threatened (NT), Least Concern (LC), Data Deficient (DD), and Not Evaluated (NE). Furthermore, species with the following characteristics are particularly vulnerable to extinction: species with small populations, species with declining populations, species with restricted distribution ranges, species with one or only a few small populations, species that are exploited by people, and species with critical symbiotic relationships. Small populations are at high risk of extinction because they are vulnerable to several deleterious genetic factors, as well as demographic and environmental stochasticity. Such populations often require intensive management to prevent them from becoming a victim of an extinction vortex. De-extinction as a scientific field aims to revive extinct species using methods such as selective breeding and cloning. But this practice is controversial, and not practical with current technology.
15. An Agenda for the Future
Authors: Wilson John , Primack Richard
Published: August 2019

The field of conservation biology has set itself some imposing tasks: to describe Earth’s biological diversity, to protect what remains, and to restore what is damaged. It is also a crisis discipline because decisions often need to be made under pressure, with limited resources, and under tight deadlines. That said, a long-term conservation vision is also needed that extends beyond the immediate crisis. Efforts to preserve biodiversity while overcoming conflicting human needs can be accomplished by striving towards sustainable development—economic development that satisfies both present and future needs without unsustainable economic growth that is compromising the natural world. But emerging threats are never solved by people who defend the status quo or resist change, but by individuals who rapidly respond to new challenges as soon as they arise. One of the biggest challenges facing conservation biologists is inadequate funding. Fortunately, an increasing number of mechanisms are being established to fill funding voids, including multilateral funding consortiums, debt-for-nature swaps, payments for ecosystem services, and a range of grassroots initiatives. To avoid leaving urban citizens detached from nature, conservation biologists need to reach out and educate the public, and particularly children, about their work. This can be achieved through citizen science projects, field programmes for the public, and writing materials suitable for adults and children for newspapers, magazines, and websites.
Lower-Tropospheric Influences on the Timing and Intensity of Afternoon Severe Convection over Modest Terrain in a Convection-Allowing Ensemble
Authors: Trier Stanley B. , Romine Glen S. , Ahijevych David A. , Sobash Ryan A.
Published: August 2019

A 50-member convection-allowing ensemble is used to examine effects of daytime PBL evolution and ambient flow interacting with modest terrain features on convection initiation (CI) in the lee of the Rocky Mountains. The examined case (4 June 2015) has isolated supercell storms that initiate during mid- to late afternoon along the northern portion of the Palmer Lake Divide, which is a ~0.5-km-deep zonally oriented terrain feature in east-central Colorado that extends eastward from the Rocky Mountains. To diagnose factors most crucial to storm development, two 10-member subensembles are constructed from the full 50-member ensemble. One subensemble (STRONG) has storm locations with mature storm intensities, and average timing of CI similar to that observed. The other subensemble (WEAK) has fewer storms, with generally weaker intensity, and delayed CI. Environmental composites constructed from these subensembles reveal a stronger surface horizontal convergence zone and moisture gradient in STRONG, resulting from 2–3.5 m s−1 stronger southerly winds on the south flank of the convergence zone. The stronger southerlies result from accelerated PBL growth and momentum mixing in the presence of strong low-to-midtropospheric vertical shear, which is facilitated by reduced above-PBL static stability in the composite STRONG initial condition. Stronger time-averaged low-to-midtropospheric upward motion coincides with the surface convergence zone in STRONG, and individual CI locations occur at the northeastern edge of the composite vertical motion maximum. Trajectory analysis with STRONG members confirms that the CI locations are consistent with large vertical displacements, and corresponding relative humidity increases leading to decreases in convective inhibition, as the southerly airstream ascends across the convergence zone.
Does Media Literacy Help Identification of Fake News? Information Literacy Helps, but Other Literacies Don’t
Authors: Jones-Jang S. Mo , Mortensen Tara , Liu Jingjing
Published: August 2019

Concerns over fake news have triggered a renewed interest in various forms of media literacy. Prevailing expectations posit that literacy interventions help audiences to be “inoculated” against any harmful effects of misleading information. This study empirically investigates such assumptions by assessing whether individuals with greater literacy (media, information, news, and digital literacies) are better at recognizing fake news, and which of these literacies are most relevant. The results reveal that information literacy—but not other literacies—significantly increases the likelihood of identifying fake news stories. Interpreting the results, we provide both conceptual and methodological explanations. Particularly, we raise questions about the self-reported competencies that are commonly used in literacy scales.
The Process of Academic Validation Within a Comprehensive College Transition Program
Authors: Hallett Ronald E. , Reason Robert D. , Toccoli Jonathan , Kitchen Joseph A. , Perez Rosemary J.
Published: August 2019

Postsecondary institutions often create support programs to encourage the academic success of underserved students. Comprehensive college transition programs have been posited as one approach that provides wraparound support for the first 2 years students attend college. In this article, we use validation theory to explore how a Comprehensive college transition programs can create academically validating experiences for underserved students, many of whom are first-generation and racially minoritized. Our study confirms that how program elements are implemented is more important that what elements are included within a support program. The overarching finding that emerged is that programs can be designed to provide reassurance along with allowing second chances, which creates the space for vulnerability and risk taking to occur. This process creates the context for academically validation experiences for underserved students.