bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global Properties of Nearby Galaxies
Authors: Capaccioli M. , Caon N. , D'onofrio M.
Published: February 2019

Surface photometry of nearby galaxies is among the research areas that gained
most from the recent advances in ‘wide-field imaging’. In fact, the demand for an
accurate measure of the night-sky level all around the target galaxy — a key step
in galaxy surface photometry; see Fig. 1 in Capaccioli & de Vaucouleurs
(1983) — calls for at least some images covering a field wider than the size of
the object under study. So far, the small field of most CCD cameras attached to
the Cassegrain foci of medium-size telescopes has prevented both the mapping of
the galaxian outskirts and, a fortiori, a direct measurement of the sky background
μs on the galaxy image itself. Indirect methods to
estimate μs — blank-sky exposures, matching of growth curves
to photoelectric integrated magnitudes, assumptions on the shape of the galaxian
light profiles — have proven ineffective and/or methodologically questionable
(Capaccioli 1989). Until large-format CCD chips or mosaics are routinely used, the
only way out of these problems is either the use of focal reducers, whose optical
complexity may however be incompatible with photometric accuracy, or of
large-field photographic plates.
An Efficient Method to Survey Typical Objects in Nearby Galaxies
Authors: Muratorio G. , Azzopardi M.
Published: February 2019

Within the framework of our studies of the stellar populations in nearby
galaxies (Azzopardi 1984, 1993, and references therein), we have shown for some
time that slitless spectroscopy, through either transmission gratings
(grisms/grens) or prisms in combination with suitable intermediate band-pass
interference filters, allows the detection of a number of objects with outstanding
spectral characteristics, even in very crowded fields. We are now carrying out
very deep slitless spectroscopy surveys in selected areas of nearby galaxies using
both the ESO Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera (EFOSC) devices attached at the
Cassegrain foci of either the ESO 3.6 m or the Max Plank Gesellschaft/ESO 2.2 m
telescopes, as well as the ESO Multi-Mode Instrument (EMMI) at the Nasmyth focus
of the ESO New Technology Telescope (NTT). The spectra of interest are searched
for on the CCD frames by means of a semi-automatic procedure developed in the
Munich Image Data Analysis System (MIDAS) environment (Muratorio &
Azzopardi 1992). Each 2D-spectrum, whose position is automatically determined by
means of the direct imaging frame, is background corrected, normalized and
compared with some reference spectra of objects whose nature has been firmly
established. All the objects, that have been identified through impersonal
selection criteria, are then visually scrutinized in order to reject any possibly
spurious objects. As typical examples of our field spectroscopy surveys, we
present some preliminary results concerning the detection of Hα emission-line
stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) as well as the identification of very
faint Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars in the Sculptor group galaxy NGC 300.
Wide-Field Imaging of Nearby Galaxies in Near-Infrared Bands
Authors: Ichikawa T. , Tarusawa K. , Yanagisawa K. , Itoh N. , Ueno M.
Published: February 2019

We present the results of wide-field imaging of nearby galaxies observed in
the near-infrared using a large format array. The total magnitudes and
mass-to-luminosity ratios of NGC 253, M 82, NGC 891, and some cluster members are
discussed.
An Automatic Approach for Selecting New HA Emission-Line Galaxies
Authors: Alonso O. , Zamorano J. , Rego M. , Gallego J. , Vitores A.G.
Published: February 2019

The most unambiguous way to discover new emission-line galaxies (ELGs) is
directly by the presence of their lines, using objective-prism plates of adequate
resolution. The first survey using this technique was developed by Smith in 1975
with the 0.6 m CTIO Curtis Schmidt Telescope. The Universidad Complutense de
Madrid (UCM) is carrying out a survey of ELGs with the Schmidt Telescope at Calar
Alto (Almería, Spain) using the presence of Ha in emission in IIIa-F prism plates
as selection criterion. The observational procedure and results are described in
Rego et al. 1989; Zamorano et al. 1990; Zamorano et al. 1993.
Luminosity Distribution in CD Clusters
Authors: Baier F.W.
Published: February 2019

The ratio of contributions from cannibalism and from cooling flows to the
final cD galaxies in diverse clusters seems to be different. It should be
determined by some general cluster properties as for instance the central mass
concentration. Assuming that mass distribution is tantamount to luminosity
distribution we have analyzed the question of possible luminosity segregation in
the radial galaxy distribution of galaxy clusters (Baier & Schmidt 1992;
Baier & MacGillivray 1994).
The Evolution of Galaxies in the Last 10 GYR
Authors: Rakos K. , Schombert J. , Maindl T. , Unger N. , Obitsch P.
Published: February 2019

Rest-frame Strömgren colours are presented for a large number of galaxies in
rich clusters between z = 0 and z = 1. Our observations confirm a strong,
rest-frame, Butcher-Oemler effect where the fraction of blue galaxies increases
from 20% at z < 0.4 to 80% at z = 0.9. After isolating the red objects in
each cluster we have compared the mean colour of these old, non-star forming
objects with SED models from the literature as a test for passive galaxy evolution
in ellipticals. We find good agreement with single burst models which predict an
epoch of galaxy formation from z = 2 to 5 (Rakos et al. 1988, 1991; Rakos
& Schombert 1993). Although the results demonstrate a great deal of hope
for modelling the fine details of colour evolution when our samples are extended
into the near- and far-IR, there are reasons to believe that galaxies become,
observationally, much more complicated beyond redshifts of 1. The rate of blue
colour evolution between 0.6 and 0.9 suggests that by a redshift of 1.5 it will be
impossible to tell the difference between galaxies which have completed a single
burst at a formation redshift of 2 or ones which are undergoing constant star
formation.
Geometric Optimization of a Delta Type Parallel Robot Using Harmony Search Algorithm
Authors: Mazare Mahmood , Taghizadeh Mostafa
Published: February 2019

This paper aims to provide an optimal design of geometric parameters of a special architecture of the delta parallel mechanism, in order to improve positioning accuracy, workspace size, and kinematic and dynamic performance characteristics. In the studied 3[P2(US)] robot, the radius of both fixed and moving platforms, length of the connecting rods, and installation angle of the actuators of the manipulator are chosen as the decision variables. These parameters are optimized to maximize the weighted objective function, comprising workspace volume, global dexterity, global mass, global error, and global error sensitivity indices. Optimizations are performed employing two distinct algorithms, Genetic and Harmony Search whose results confirm each other. The optimal design of the robot leads to maximum workspace size, high dexterity, and dynamic performance, with a minimum error of the end-effector position in its reachable workspace.
Rheumatoid arthritis treated with 6-months of first-line biologic or biosimilar therapy: an updated systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Simpson Emma L. , Ren Shijie , Hock Emma S. , Stevens John W. , Binard Aymeric , Pers Yves-Marie , Archer Rachel , Paisley Suzy , Stevenson Matthew D. , Herpin Chloé , Ghabri Salah
Published: February 2019

Objectives

The aim of this study was to estimate the effectiveness of first-line biologic disease modifying drugs(boDMARDs), and their approved biosimilars (bsDMARDs), compared with conventional (csDMARD) treatment, in terms of ACR (American College of Rheumatology) and EULAR (European League against Rheumatism) responses.

Methods

Systematic literature search, on eight databases to January 2017, sought ACR and EULAR data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of boDMARDs / bsDMARDs (in combination with csDMARDs, or monotherapy). Two adult populations: methotrexate (MTX)-naïve patients with severe active RA; and csDMARD-experienced patients with moderate-to-severe active RA. Network meta-analyses (NMA) were conducted using a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation using a random effects model with a probit link function for ordered categorical.

Results

Forty-six RCTs met the eligibility criteria. In the MTX-naïve severe active RA population, no biosimilar trials meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. MTX plus methylprednisolone (MP) was most likely to achieve the best ACR response. There was insufficient evidence that combination boDMARDs was superior to intensive (two or more) csDMARDs. In the csDMARD-experienced, moderate-to-severe RA population, the greatest effects for ACR responses were associated with tocilizumab (TCZ) monotherapy, and combination therapy (plus MTX) with bsDMARD etanercept (ETN) SB4, boDMARD ETN and TCZ. These treatments also had the greatest effects on EULAR responses. No clear differences were found between the boDMARDs and their bsDMARDs.

Conclusions

In MTX-naïve patients, there was insufficient evidence that combination boDMARDs was superior to two or more csDMARDs. In csDMARD-experienced patients, boDMARDs and bsDMARDs were comparable and all combination boDMARDs / bsDMARDs were superior to single csDMARD.
Safe Tug Operations during Ship-Assist Manoeuvres
Authors: Jayarathne Nirman , Ranmuthugala Dev , Leong Zhi
Published: February 2019

The hydrodynamic interaction effects on a tug operating in close proximity to a larger vessel can result in dangerous situations for the tug. To date most studies have focussed on the interaction effects between the vessels when they are operating in parallel, which represent only one of many practical ship-assist manoeuvres. It is therefore necessary to investigate a wide range of tug-ship combinations to obtain a detailed understanding of these effects. This paper discusses the hydrodynamic interaction effects on a tug operating at various relative positions and drift angles to a larger ship, both moving together at the same forward speed. The hydrodynamic effects were determined using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations that were validated using captive model test data. The range of manoeuvres discussed in this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the hydrodynamic interaction effects on a tug enabling tug operators to identify safe operating envelopes for their vessels.
Time-series modelling and forecasting of hand, foot and mouth disease cases in China from 2008 to 2018
Authors: Tian C. W. , Wang H. , Luo X. M.
Published: February 2019

Seasonal autoregressive-integrated moving average (SARIMA) has been widely used to model and forecast incidence of infectious diseases in time-series analysis. This study aimed to model and forecast monthly cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in China. Monthly incidence HFMD cases in China from May 2008 to August 2018 were analysed with the SARIMA model. A seasonal variation of HFMD incidence was found from May 2008 to August 2018 in China, with a predominant peak from April to July and a trough from January to March. In addition, the annual peak occurred periodically with a large annual peak followed by a relatively small annual peak. A SARIMA model of SARIMA (1, 1, 2) (0, 1, 1)12 was identified, and the mean error rate and determination coefficient were 16.86% and 94.27%, respectively. There was an annual periodicity and seasonal variation of HFMD incidence in China, which could be predicted well by a SARIMA (1, 1, 2) (0, 1, 1)12 model.
Parenting style moderates the effects of exposure to natural disaster-related stress on the neural development of reactivity to threat and reward in children
Authors: Kessel Ellen M. , Nelson Brady D. , Finsaas Megan , Kujawa Autumn , Meyer Alexandria , Bromet Evelyn , Carlson Gabrielle A. , Hajcak Greg , Kotov Roman , Klein Daniel N.
Published: February 2019

Little is known about the effect of natural disasters on children's neural development. Additionally, despite evidence that stress and parenting may both influence the development of neural systems underlying reward and threat processing, few studies have brought together these areas of research. The current investigation examined the effect of parenting styles and hurricane-related stress on the development of neural reactivity to reward and threat in children. Approximately 8 months before and 9 months after Hurricane Sandy, 74 children experiencing high and low levels of hurricane-related stress completed tasks that elicited the reward positivity and error-related negativity, event-related potentials indexing sensitivity to reward and threat, respectively. At the post-Hurricane assessment, children completed a self-report questionnaire to measure promotion- and prevention-focused parenting styles. Among children exposed to high levels of hurricane-related stress, lower levels of promotion-focused, but not prevention-focused, parenting were associated with a reduced post-Sandy reward positivity. In addition, in children with high stress exposure, greater prevention-focused, but not promotion-focused, parenting was associated with a larger error-related negativity after Hurricane Sandy. These findings highlight the need to consider contextual variables such as parenting when examining how exposure to stress alters the development of neural reactivity to reward and threat in children.
The Cultural Construction of Space and Migration in Paiwan, Taiwan
Authors: Chen Maa-ling
Published: February 2019

The establishment and use of space is a culturally constructed dimension of the human experience that is figurative, metaphorical, and analogical in nature. Such phenomena are mapped and encoded in people's spatial and cultural cognition and they are constituted and reconstituted during moments of migration onto new lands. In this paper it is argued that analysing the spatial dimensions that are enacted by a social group during its migration offers scholars a means to ascertain the metaphorical meaning of the lives of its members. Examining such processes also enables archaeologists to identify and interpret the nature of cultural continuity during such movements. The paper presents the results of examining the nature of cultural continuity in the configurations and patterns of ancient house structures and settlements that were established and then abandoned by the Kaushi, a Paiwan group in southern Taiwan, as they migrated and colonized and created a new cultural landscape.
Are land values related to ambient air pollution levels? Hedonic evidence from Mexico City
Authors: Chakraborti Lopamudra , Heres David , Hernandez Danae
Published: February 2019

This article investigates whether residents of Mexico City value air quality. Our results suggest that air quality improvement in PM10 is equivalent to a marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) of US$440.31 per property for the period 2006–2013. The corresponding MWTP for PM2.5 is US$880.63, for O3 is US$623.78, and for SO2 is as much as US$2091.50. These estimates are considerably larger in magnitude compared to the few other studies in similar settings. As a percentage of annual household income, these represent 2.44 per cent for PM10, 4.88 per cent for PM2.5, 3.46 per cent for O3 and 11.59 per cent for SO2. Our estimates of land value–pollution elasticities for PM10 (−0.26 and − 0.58) are within range of hedonic estimates for total suspended particulate matter in US cities around the 1970s. The corresponding elasticities range from − 0.55 to − 0.84 for PM2.5, from − 0.06 to − 0.49 for O3 and from − 0.11 to − 0.34 for SO2.
Tracking Microscope Performance: A Workflow to Compare Point Spread Function Evaluations Over Time
Authors: Klemm Anna H. , Thomae Andreas W. , Wachal Katarina , Dietzel Steffen
Published: February 2019

Routine system checks are essential for supervising the performance of an advanced light microscope. Recording and evaluating the point spread function (PSF) of a given system provides information about the resolution and imaging. We compared the performance of fluorescent and gold beads for PSF recordings. We then combined the open-source evaluation software PSFj with a newly developed KNIME pipeline named PSFtracker to create a standardized workflow to track a system's performance over several measurements and thus over long time periods. PSFtracker produces example images of recorded PSFs, plots full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) measurements over time and creates an html file which embeds the images and plots, together with a table of results. Changes of the PSF over time are thus easily spotted, either in FWHM plots or in the time series of bead images which allows recognition of aberrations in the shape of the PSF. The html file, viewed in a local browser or uploaded on the web, therefore provides intuitive visualization of the state of the PSF over time. In addition, uploading of the html file on the web allows other microscopists to compare such data with their own.
BUNDER’S PARADOX
Authors: CAIE MICHAEL
Published: February 2019

Systems ofillative logicare logical calculi formulated in the untypedλ-calculus supplemented with certain logical constants.1In this short paper, I consider a paradox that arises in illative logic. I note two prima facie attractive ways of resolving the paradox. The first is well known to be consistent, and I briefly outline a now standard construction used by Scott and Aczel that establishes this. The second, however, has been thought to be inconsistent. I show that this isn’t so, by providing a nonempty class of models that establishes its consistency. I then provide an illative logic which is sound and complete for this class of models. I close by briefly noting some attractive features of the second resolution of this paradox.
Der kindliche Schlaf: ein Buch mit sieben Siegeln? Eine Anleitung zur systematischen Problemerkennung und -lösung
Authors: Datta Alexandre N. , Trachsel Daniel
Published: February 2019

Zusammenfassung. Der Schlaf eines Kindes kann durch viele, oft entwicklungsassoziierte Phänomene, verändert und teils auch gestört sein. Daraus resultiert nicht nur eine Belastung für das Kind, sondern häufig auch für die Eltern, die dann in ihrer Not den Rat des/der behandelnden Arztes/Ärztin erfragen. Der kinder- und jugendspezifische Fragebogen BEARS, der von J. Owens und K. Mindell entwickelt wurde, erlaubt es, anhand der wichtigsten Kardinalsymptome Bettzeitprobleme, exzessive Tagesschläfrigkeit, nächtliches Aufwachen, Probleme in der Regelmässigkeit und Schlafdauer sowie nächtliche Atemstörungen erste diagnostische Schritte und Zuordnungen zu machen. Ziel dieses Artikels ist es, dass daraus im Praxisalltag wichtige Schlüsse gezogen werden können, welche Symptome wodurch und mit welcher Dringlichkeit abgeklärt werden müssen, und welche in die Hände eines spezialisierten Schlafzentrums gehören.
Schlafprobleme in der Allgemeinpraxis: Vom Screening zur initialen Therapie – Update 2019
Authors: Acker Jens G. , Cordi Maren J.
Published: February 2019

Zusammenfassung. Das Fachgebiet Schlafmedizin hat sich international als interdisziplinär ausgerichtete Spezialisierung etabliert. Im neuen Diagnosesystem ICD 11 werden aufgrund der vorliegenden Evidenz die schlafmedizinischen Störungen in einem eigenen Kapitel geführt. Es existiert mit der International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-3rd revision) ein eigenständiges Klassifikationssystem. In der Schweiz klagt ein Drittel der Bevölkerung über Schlafstörungen. Problematisch ist bereits die Differenzialdiagnose der Patientenbeschwerden. Der vorliegende Artikel richtet sich an Praktiker, die sehr häufig mit der Angabe von Schlafstörungen konfrontiert sind und ihre Patienten mit einfachen Screeningverfahren einordnen, triagieren und sinnvoll erstbehandeln müssen.
Mach nicht zu viel «blau»
Authors: Suter Paolo M.
Published: February 2019

Zusammenfassung. Unser Leben wird durch die sich rhythmisch abwechselnde Helligkeit und Dunkelheit während eines «Solartages» bestimmt, was die Grundlage für den zirkadianen Rhythmus darstellt. Dies war Millionen von Jahren so, und erst in den vergangenen 20–30 Jahren wird diese Rhythmik infolge einer ubiquitären Verwendung von Licht zunehmend ignoriert. Die zirkadiane Rhythmik stellt allerdings eine der zentralsten Determinanten für Gesundheit und Krankheit dar, und man weiss, dass eine Abweichung vom bzw. Desynchronisation des normalen Rhythmus ein hohes pathophysiologisches Potenzial hat und in der Pathogenese der meisten chronischen Erkrankungen eine zentrale Rolle spielt. Die exzessive Beleuchtung der Umgebung und des Nachthimmels wird als Lichtverschmutzung oder «Light Pollution» bezeichnet, die sich unter anderem auch in Schlafstörungen manifestiert. Dabei darf im Besonderen das blaue Licht aus künstlichen Lichtquellen und Bildschirmen am Abend bei der Entstehung von Schlafstörungen nicht ausser Betracht gelassen werden. In diesem Artikel werden einige Aspekte zum Thema Licht, Schlaf und Gesundheit in Erinnerung gerufen und praxisrelevante Zusammenhänge aufgezeigt. Eine Kontrolle der Lichtverschmutzung ist dringend angezeigt.
Obstruktives Schlafapnoe-Syndrom
Authors: Stöwhas Anne-Christin , Lichtblau Mona , Bloch Konrad E.
Published: February 2019

Zusammenfassung. Das obstruktive Schlafapnoe-Syndrom (OSAS) ist eine Atemregulationsstörung, bei der ein repetitiver Kollaps der oberen Atemwege während des Schlafes zu gehäuften Apnoen/Hypopnoen mit zyklischen Sauerstoffdesaturationen und Weckreaktionen führt. Der Schlaf wird dadurch fragmentiert und ist nicht erholsam. Die betroffenen Patienten leiden unter vermehrter Einschlaftendenz, Konzentrationsstörungen und einer beeinträchtigten Lebensqualität. Zu den Folgen des OSAS gehören zudem ein erhöhtes Risiko, Unfälle durch Einschlafen zu verursachen, sowie Herz- und Kreislauferkrankungen. Die Diagnose des OSAS beruht auf einer typischen Anamnese und der klinischen Untersuchung. Übergewicht, ein grosser Halsumfang und enge Rachenverhältnisse können auf ein OSAS hinweisen. Die Diagnose wird durch eine Schlafuntersuchung bestätigt. Die wichtigste Behandlung des OSAS ist die nächtliche Anwendung von kontinuierlichem Überdruck (CPAP) über eine Nasen- oder Mund-Nasen-Maske, was in der Regel zur raschen Besserung der Symptome führt. Patienten, die eine CPAP-Therapie nicht tolerieren, können mit einer Unterkieferprotrusionsschiene erfolgreich behandelt werden. Unterstützende Massnahmen sind regelmässige und genügend lange Schlafzeiten, das Vermeiden von Rauchen und abendlichem Alkoholkonsum und die Gewichtsreduktion bei Adipositas.
Dynamic Carbon Emission Linkages Across Boundaries
Authors: Chen Shaoqing , Liu Zhu , Chen Bin , Zhu Feiyao , Fath Brian D. , Liang Sai , Su Meirong , Yang Jin
Published: February 2019

Cities are increasingly linked to domestic and foreign markets during rapid globalization of trade. While transboundary carbon footprints of cities have been recently highlighted, we still have limited understanding of how carbon emission linkages between sectors are reshaping urban carbon footprints through time. In this study, we propose an integrated input‐output approach to trace the dynamics of various types of carbon emission linkages associated with a city. This approach quantifies full linkages in the urban carbon system from both production‐ and consumption‐based perspectives. We assess the dynamic roles that economic sectors and activities play in manipulating multiscale linkages induced by local, domestic, and international inputs. Using Beijing as a case study, we find that imports from domestic and foreign markets have an increasing impact on the city's carbon footprint with more distant linkages during the period from 1990 to 2012. The manufacturing‐related carbon emission linkages have been increasingly transferred outside the urban boundary since 2005, while the linkages from the energy sector to services sectors remain important in Beijing's local economy. Applying systems thinking to input‐output linkage analysis provides important details on when and how carbon emission linkages evolved in cities, whereby sector‐oriented and activity‐oriented carbon mitigation policies can be formulated.
Cloud Cover Feedback Moderates Fennoscandian Summer Temperature Changes Over the Past 1,000 Years
Authors: Young Giles H. F. , Gagen Mary H. , Loader Neil J. , McCarroll Danny , Grudd Håkan , Jalkanen Risto , Kirchhefer Andreas , Robertson Iain
Published: February 2019

Northern Fennoscandia has experienced little summer warming over recent decades, in stark contrast to the hemispheric trend, which is strongly linked to greenhouse gas emissions. A likely explanation is the feedback between cloud cover and temperature. We establish the long‐ and short‐term relationships between summer cloud cover and temperature over Northern Fennoscandia, by analyzing meteorological and proxy climate data. We identify opposing feedbacks operating at different timescales. At short timescales, dominated by internal variability, the cloud cover‐temperature feedback is negative; summers with increased cloud cover are cooler and sunny summers are warmer. However, over longer timescales, at which forced climate changes operate, this feedback is positive, rising temperatures causing increased regional cloud cover and vice versa. This has occurred both during warm (Medieval Climate Anomaly and at present) and cool (Little Ice Age) periods. This two‐way feedback relationship therefore moderates Northern Fennoscandian temperatures during both warm and cool hemispheric periods.
The Role of Mineral Composition on the Frictional and Stability Properties of Powdered Reservoir Rocks
Authors: Zhang Fengshou , An Mengke , Zhang Lianyang , Fang Yi , Elsworth Derek
Published: February 2019

The growing hazard of induced seismicity driven by the boom in unconventional resources exploitation is strongly linked to fault activation. We perform laboratory measurements on simulated fault gouges comprising powdered reservoir rocks from major oil and gas production sites in China, to probe the control of mineral composition on fault friction and stability responses during reservoir stimulation. Double direct shear experiments were conducted on gouges with phyllosilicate content ranging from 0 to 30 wt.% and grain sizes <150 μm, at constant normal stresses of 10–40 MPa and conditions of room temperature and water saturation. The velocity step and slide‐hold‐slide sequences were employed to evaluate frictional stability and static healing, respectively. Results indicate that the mineralogy of the gouges exhibit a strong control on the frictional strength, stability, and healing. Phyllosilicate‐rich samples show lower frictional strength μ and higher values of (a − b), promoting stable sliding. For the gouges studied, the frictional strength decreases monotonically with increasing phyllosilicate content, and a transition from velocity weakening to velocity strengthening behavior is evident at 15 wt.% phyllosilicates. Intermediate healing rates are common in gouges with higher content of phyllosilicates, with high healing rates predominantly in phyllosilicate‐poor gouges. As an indispensable component in reservoir rocks, the carbonates are shown to affect both the frictional stability and healing response. These findings can have important implications for understanding the effects of mineralogy on fault behavior and induced seismic potential in geoengineering activities, particularly in reservoirs in China.
Grain‐Displacive Gas Migration in Fine‐Grained Sediments
Authors: Sun Zhonghao , Santamarina J. Carlos
Published: February 2019

Gas migration mechanisms control the release of gas from seafloor sediments. We study underlying phenomena using transparent sediments subjected to controlled effective stress; this experimental approach allows high‐resolution real‐time monitoring of gas migration through cohesionless granular materials under 3‐D boundary conditions. Observed migration patterns depend on the effective stress at the time of injection and the stress history. Gas migration transitions from pore invasive to grain displacive when the capillary pressure for air entry ΔPAE is greater than the effective stress σ′. This study focuses on grain‐displacive gas migration. The morphology of grain‐displacive gas bodies changes with depth as the sediment stiffness G increases and the effect of surface tension γ vanishes: spheroidal gas bubbles form in the near‐surface, faceted cavities further down, and eventually open‐mode fractures develop at depth. The gas injection pressure is proportional to the effective stress in grain‐displacive migration. Preloading and overconsolidation cause the rotation of principal stresses and gas‐driven openings align with the new minimum principal stress direction. Cyclic loading promotes the upward migration of gas‐filled openings, and there is mechanical memory of previous gas pathways in sediments.
Structures of the Sea‐Breeze Front in Dual‐Doppler Lidar Observation and Coupled Mesoscale‐to‐LES Modeling
Authors: Chen Guixing , Iwai Hironori , Ishii Shoken , Saito Kazuo , Seko Hiromu , Sha Weiming , Iwasaki Toshiki
Published: February 2019

Sea‐breeze front (SBF) can cause dramatic changes in weather and air quality near the coast. However, the observation and forecast of its three‐dimensional (3‐D) fine‐scale structures have been challenging. Using mesoscale‐to‐large eddy simulations (LES) models and high‐resolution lidar measurement over Sendai Airport, here we perform a successful simulation of the observed 3‐D structures of an SBF for the first time. We show that frontal structures are characterized by a series of lobes (spaced ~500 m apart) aligned along the raised sea‐breeze head, where the shear between sea breeze and alongshore ambient flow aloft is evident. Local strong updrafts occur both in the frontal lobes of marine cold air and in the prefrontal warm air ascending the wedge of windward lobes. Downdrafts form behind the lifted marine cold air and trap air pollutants. These fine‐scale structures and vertical motions are repeatedly strengthened by the short‐term disturbances of gravity currents that move onshore and collide with the SBF. They are also affected by buildings and determine the detailed variations of surface winds. We conclude that advanced observation and modeling systems can potentially improve the prediction of coastal weather and environment.
Estimation and Uncertainty Analysis of Secondary Organic Carbon Using 1 Year of Hourly Organic and Elemental Carbon Data
Authors: Wu Cheng , Wu Dui , Yu Jian Zhen
Published: February 2019

Hourly particulate matter 2.5 organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) ambient concentrations were measured from February 2012 to January 2013 at a suburban site in the city of Guangzhou, China. The major primary OC and EC sources at this site are vehicular exhaust and regional combustion sources. The annual average OC and EC concentrations (±1SD) were 7.30 ± 5.68 and 2.67 ± 2.28 μgC/m3, respectively. Taking advantage of this large data set of more than 7,000 measurements, we examined the diurnal variation dynamics of the primary OC‐to‐EC ratio ([OC/EC]pri), derived using the minimum R squared (MRS) method, which deploys an algorithm that calculates (OC/EC)pri by exploring the assumed independency between EC and secondary OC (SOC). The MRS‐derived hour‐by‐hour (OC/EC)pri was the lowest (1.8–2.0) for the morning hours while higher (2.4–3.0) for the afternoon and evening hours. Cumulative evidence from other pollutant measurements suggests that the increase in MRS‐derived (OC/EC)pri in the afternoon and evening was a result of SOC formation from photooxidation of precursors that covary with EC (e.g., vehicular exhaust) and thereby inflate (OC/EC)pri. We subsequently separate SOC into two categories based on their correlations with EC, that is, SOCa that covary with EC and SOCb that is unassociated with EC variations. SOCa and SOCb make comparable contributions to SOC, demonstrating that their separation is essential for a more accurate SOC estimation. Otherwise, SOCa would be mistakenly accounted as primary OC. This approach in estimating SOC may underestimate SOCa and subject to bias stemming from OC emissions from cooking and biomass burning.
Development and Evaluation of a Long‐Term Data Record of Planetary Boundary Layer Profiles From Aircraft Meteorological Reports
Authors: Zhang Yuanjie , Li Dan , Lin Zekun , Santanello Joseph A. , Gao Zhiqiu
Published: February 2019

High‐quality measurements of planetary boundary layer (PBL) profiles are important for advancing our understanding of land‐atmosphere coupling and PBL processes and improving the predictive capability of numerical models. Now with more than 10 years of observations from Aircraft Meteorological Data Reports (AMDAR), a decade‐long (from 2007 to 2016) data record of hourly PBL profiles is developed over 54 U.S. airports. Comparisons between the derived hourly profiles and nearby radiosonde data, which are typically only available twice a day (at 00 and 12 UTC), show good agreement between the two data sets. The root‐mean‐square errors (RMSEs) between the AMDAR and radiosonde data are found to be dependent on the distance between the two data sets, especially at lower levels. The RMSEs of temperature generally decrease as the altitude increases, while the RMSEs of specific humidity and wind are positively correlated with the measurement magnitude. At perfect collocations (i.e., the separation distance is zero), the seasonal RMSEs at measurement levels with pressure larger than 850 hPa are 1.16–1.52 K, 0.64–1.25 g/kg, and 2.00–2.26 m/s for temperature, humidity, and wind components, respectively. Compared to the RMSEs, the mean biases of AMDAR profiles are much smaller and are less dependent on the separation distance. The RMSEs show little dependence on flight phases (ascent or descent) in the lower troposphere. Overall, our results indicate that the aircraft measurements are accurate enough to be an alternative to the radiosonde data and are better suited for investigating the diurnal variation of PBL due to their higher temporal resolution.
Phase Equilibria Modeling of Low‐Grade Metamorphic Martian Rocks
Authors: Semprich J. , Schwenzer S. P. , Treiman A. H. , Filiberto J.
Published: February 2019

Hydrous phases have been identified to be a significant component of Martian mineralogy. Particularly, prehnite, zeolites, and serpentine are evidence for low‐grade metamorphic reactions at elevated temperatures in mafic and ultramafic protoliths. Their presence suggests that at least part of the Martian crust is sufficiently hydrated for low‐grade metamorphic reactions to occur. A detailed analysis of changes in mineralogy with variations in fluid content and composition along possible Martian geotherms can contribute to determine the conditions required for subsurface hydrous alteration, fluid availability, and rock properties in the Martian crust. In this study, we use phase equilibria models to explore low‐grade metamorphic reactions covering a pressure‐temperature range of 0–0.5 GPa and 150–450 °C for several Martian protolith compositions and varying fluid content. Our models replicate the detected low‐grade metamorphic/hydrothermal mineral phases like prehnite, chlorite, analcime, unspecified zeolites, and serpentine. Our results also suggest that actinolite should be a part of lower‐grade metamorphic assemblages, but actinolite may not be detected in reflectance spectra for several reasons. By gradually increasing the water content in the modeled whole‐rock composition, we can estimate the amount of water required to precipitate low‐grade metamorphic phases. Mineralogical constraints do not necessarily require an elevated geothermal gradient for the formation of prehnite. However, restricted crater excavation depths even for large impact craters are not likely sampling prehnite along colder gradients, suggesting either a geotherm of ~20 °C/km in the Noachian or an additional heat source such as hydrothermal or magmatic activity.
Considerations for Globigerinoides ruber (White and Pink) Paleoceanography: Comprehensive Insights From a Long‐Running Sediment Trap
Authors: Richey Julie N. , Thirumalai Kaustubh , Khider Deborah , Reynolds Caitlin E. , Partin Judson W. , Quinn Terrence M.
Published: February 2019

We present a detailed analysis of the seasonal distribution, size, morphological variability, and geochemistry of co‐occurring pink and white chromotypes of Globigerinoides ruber from a high‐resolution (1–2 weeks) and long‐running sediment trap time series in the northern Gulf of Mexico. We find no difference in the seasonal flux of the two chromotypes. Although flux of G. ruber is consistently lowest in winter, the flux‐weighted signal exported to marine sediments represents mean annual conditions in the surface mixed layer. We observe the same morphological diversity among pink specimens of G. ruber as white. Comparison of the oxygen and carbon isotopic composition (δ18O and δ13C) of two morphotypes (sensu stricto and sensu lato) of pink G. ruber reveals the isotopes to be indistinguishable. The test size distribution within the population varies seasonally, with the abundance of large individuals increasing (decreasing) with increasing (decreasing) sea surface temperature. We find no systematic offsets in the Mg/Ca and δ18O of co‐occurring pink and white G. ruber. The sediment trap data set shows that the Mg/Ca‐temperature sensitivity for both chromotypes is much lower than the canonical 9%/°C, which can likely be attributed to the secondary influence of both salinity and pH on foraminiferal Mg/Ca. Using paired Mg/Ca and δ18O, we evaluate the performance of a suite of published equations for calculating sea surface temperature, sea surface salinity, and isotopic composition of seawater (δ18Osw), including a new salinity‐δ18Osw relationship for the northern Gulf of Mexico from water column observations.
Implementation and security analysis of practical quantum secure direct communication
Authors: Qi Ruoyang , Sun Zhen , Lin Zaisheng , Niu Penghao , Hao Wentao , Song Liyuan , Huang Qin , Gao Jiancun , Yin Liuguo , Long Gui-Lu
Published: February 2019

Rapid development of supercomputers and the prospect of quantum computers are posing increasingly serious threats to the security of communication. Using the principles of quantum mechanics, quantum communication offers provable security of communication and is a promising solution to counter such threats. Quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) is one important branch of quantum communication. In contrast to other branches of quantum communication, it transmits secret information directly. Recently, remarkable progress has been made in proof-of-principle experimental demonstrations of QSDC. However, it remains a technical feat to bring QSDC into a practical application. Here, we report the implementation of a practical quantum secure communication system. The security is analyzed in the Wyner wiretap channel theory. The system uses a coding scheme of concatenation of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes and works in a regime with a realistic environment of high noise and high loss. The present system operates with a repetition rate of 1 MHz at a distance of 1.5 kilometers. The secure communication rate is 50 bps, sufficient to effectively send text messages and reasonably sized files of images and sounds.
Genomic insights from Monoglobus pectinilyticus: a pectin-degrading specialist bacterium in the human colon
Authors: Kim Caroline C , Healey Genelle R , Kelly William J , Patchett Mark L , Jordens Zoe , Tannock Gerald W , Sims Ian M , Bell Tracey J , Hedderley Duncan , Henrissat Bernard , Rosendale Douglas I
Published: February 2019

Pectin is abundant in modern day diets, as it comprises the middle lamellae and one-third of the dry carbohydrate weight of fruit and vegetable cell walls. Currently there is no specialized model organism for studying pectin fermentation in the human colon, as our collective understanding is informed by versatile glycan-degrading bacteria rather than by specialist pectin degraders. Here we show that the genome of Monoglobus pectinilyticus possesses a highly specialized glycobiome for pectin degradation, unique amongst Firmicutes known to be in the human gut. Its genome encodes a simple set of metabolic pathways relevant to pectin sugar utilization, and its predicted glycobiome comprises an unusual distribution of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) with numerous extracellular methyl/acetyl esterases and pectate lyases. We predict the M. pectinilyticus degradative process is facilitated by cell-surface S-layer homology (SLH) domain-containing proteins, which proteomics analysis shows are differentially expressed in response to pectin. Some of these abundant cell surface proteins of M. pectinilyticus share unique modular organizations rarely observed in human gut bacteria, featuring pectin-specific CAZyme domains and the cell wall-anchoring SLH motifs. We observed M. pectinilyticus degrades various pectins, RG-I, and galactan to produce polysaccharide degradation products (PDPs) which are presumably shared with other inhabitants of the human gut microbiome (HGM). This strain occupies a new ecological niche for a primary degrader specialized in foraging a habitually consumed plant glycan, thereby enriching our understanding of the diverse community profile of the HGM.
The gut microbiota is largely independent of host genetics in regulating fat deposition in chickens
Authors: Wen Chaoliang , Yan Wei , Sun Congjiao , Ji Congliang , Zhou Qianqian , Zhang Dexiang , Zheng Jiangxia , Yang Ning
Published: February 2019

The gut microbiota has an important role in animal health and performance, but its contribution is difficult to determine, in particular given the effects of host genetic factors. Here, whole-genome sequencing of the hosts and 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the microbiota were performed to separate the effects between host genetics and the microbiota in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum and faeces on fat deposition in 206 yellow broilers reared under identical conditions. Despite the notable spatial variation in the diversity, composition and potential function of the gut microbiota, host genetics exerted limited effects on the gut microbial community. The duodenal and caecal microbiota made greater contributions to fat deposition and could separately account for 24% and 21% of the variance in the abdominal fat mass after correcting for host genetic effects. We further identified two caecal microbial taxa, Methanobrevibacter and Mucispirillum schaedleri, which were significantly correlated with fat deposition. Chickens with a lower Methanobrevibacter abundance had significantly lower abdominal fat content than those with a higher abundance of Methanobrevibacter (35.51 vs. 55.59 g), and the body weights of these chickens did not notably differ. Chickens with a higher M. schaedleri abundance exhibited lower abdominal fat accumulation (39.88 vs. 55.06 g) and body weight (2.23 vs. 2.41 kg) than those with a lower abundance of this species. These findings may aid the development of strategies for altering the gut microbiota to control fat deposition during broiler production.
Epigenetic regulation of NfatC1 transcription and osteoclastogenesis by nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase in the pathogenesis of arthritis
Authors: Li Xuanan , Islam Shamima , Xiong Min , Nsumu Ndona N. , Lee Mark W. , Zhang Li Qin , Ueki Yasuyoshi , Heruth Daniel P. , Lei Guanghua , Ye Shui Qing
Published: February 2019

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) functions in NAD synthesis, apoptosis, and inflammation. Dysregulation of NAMPT has been associated with several inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose of this study was to investigate NAMPT’s role in arthritis using mouse and cellular models. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA/1JNampt+/−mice was evaluated by ELISA, micro-CT, and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). In vitro Nampt loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies on osteoclastogenesis were examined by TRAP staining, nascent RNA capture, luciferase reporter assays, and ChIP-PCR. Nampt-deficient mice presented with suppressed inflammatory bone destruction and disease progression in a CIA mouse model. Nampt expression was required for the epigenetic regulation of the Nfatc1 promoter and osteoclastogenesis. Finally, RNA-seq identified 690 differentially expressed genes in whole ankle joints which associated (P < 0.05) with Nampt expression and CIA. Selected target was validated by RT-PCR or functional characterization. We have provided evidence that NAMPT functions as a genetic risk factor and a potential therapeutic target to RA.
Publisher Correction: Understanding dynamic friction through spontaneously evolving laboratory earthquakes
Authors: Rubino V. , Rosakis A. J. , Lapusta N.
Published: February 2019

The HTML version of this Article incorrectly omits Supplementary Movie 1. Supplementary Movie 1 can be found as Supplementary Information associated with this Correction.
Large piezoelectric response in a family of metal-free perovskite ferroelectric compounds from first-principles calculations
Authors: Wang Hui , Liu Huihui , Zhang Zeyu , Liu Zihan , Lv Zhenlong , Li Tongwei , Ju Weiwei , Li Haisheng , Cai Xiaowu , Han Han
Published: February 2019

Metal-free organic perovskite ferroelectric materials have been shown recently to have a number of attractive properties, including high spontaneous polarization and piezoelectric coefficients. In particular, slow evaporation of solutions containing organic amines, inorganic ammoniums, and dilute hydrohalogen acid has been shown to produce several attractive materials in the MDABCO-NH4-I3 family (MDABCO is N-methyl-N’-diazabicyclo[2,2,2] octonium). In the present work, we study by first-principles calculations the origin of polarizaiton, electronic density of state, piezoelectric response, and elastic properties of MDABCO-NH4-X3 (X = Cl, Br, I). We find that the dipole moments of the MDABCO and NH4 groups are negligible, and the large spontaneous polarization of MDABCO-NH4-I3 mainly results from MDABCO and NH4 being off-center relative to I ions. Although the piezoelectric response of organic materials is usually very weak, we observe large piezoelectric strain components, dx4 and dx5; the calculated dx5 is 119 pC/N for MDABCO-NH4-Cl3, 248 pC/N for MDABCO-NH4-Br3 and 178 pC/N for MDABCO-NH4-I3. The large value of dx5 is found to be closely related with the large value of elastic compliance tensor, s44. These results show that MDABCO-NH4-X3 metal-free organic perovskites have large piezoelectric response with soft elastic properties.
Increased Diagnostic Yield of Tuberculous Serositis by Using Serous Fluid Drainage Flocky Precipitate (SFDFP) as a Testing Sample
Authors: Liu Xuhui , Xia Lu , Zhang Aimei , Zhang Yao , Liu Yuhong , Lu Shuihua , Song Yuanlin , Li Shanqun
Published: February 2019

A definitive diagnosis of tuberculosis serositis (TS) is still challenging. Our preliminary practice found that Serous Fluid Drainage Flocky Precipitate (SFDFP) was a useful testing sample to diagnose TS. We designed this study to assess the diagnostic performance of SFDPF for TS compared with conventional bacteriology methods on serous fluid (SF). A cohort study was conducted from July 2014 to April 2016. Patients with suspected TS were consecutively screened. SF and SFDFP were collected and tested by Ziehl-Neelsen stain, MTB culture, and Xpert/RIF assay. We compared the diagnostic performance of SF and SFDFP in several test settings. Through this study, 85 patients were enrolled, of whom 70 (82.4%) were confirmed TS or highly probable TS, 13 (15.3%) were none-TS and 2 (2.4%) indeterminate results were ruled out. The overall sensitivity using both SFDFP and SF was significantly higher than each (60% vs. 48% and 41%, p < 0.05). SFDFP and SF samples had similar diagnostic performance (p < 0.05). No false positive was detected in this study. We concluded that SFDFP is a reliable testing sample for diagnosing tuberculous serositis. SFDFP may significantly improve the diagnostic yield as a supplement to conventional tests.