bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Looking Back and Looking Ahead in Electrochemical Reduction of CO2
Authors: Lee Seunghwa , Choi Minjun , Lee Jaeyoung
Published: September 2019

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to valuable organic compounds is promising as to recycling of carbon source of CO2 and technical compatibility with systems using renewable energy resources. In recent years, considerable efforts have been devoted to the research field of CO2 conversion using electrocatalysis. This personal account particularly focuses on the recent progress that has been achieved by the Ertl Center and a number of groups in South Korea that becomes one of the larger CO2 emitters. The research trends of catalyst development divided into different categories according to the primary products are presented first. Afterwards, several studies on theoretical calculations and electrolytic reactors are reviewed taking into account the fundamental understanding and feasibility of the CO2 electroreduction. Finally, a perspective on the challenges and needs in achieving the advanced level of research and development is presented.
Methods for analysis of circular RNAs
Authors: Pandey Poonam R. , Munk Rachel , Kundu Gautam , De Supriyo , Abdelmohsen Kotb , Gorospe Myriam
Published: September 2019

Eukaryotic cells express a myriad of circular RNAs (circRNAs), many of them displaying tissue‐specific expression patterns. They arise from linear precursor RNAs in which 5′ and 3′ ends become covalently ligated. Given these features, biochemical and computational approaches traditionally used to study linear RNA must be adapted for analysis of circular RNAs. Such circRNA‐specific methodologies are allowing the systematic identification of circRNAs and the analysis of their biological functions. Here, we review the resources and molecular methods currently utilized to quantify circRNAs, visualize their distribution, identify interacting partners, and elucidate their function. We discuss the challenges of analyzing circRNAs and propose alternative approaches for studying this unique class of transcripts.

This article is characterized under:

RNA Structure and Dynamics > RNA Structure, Dynamics, and Chemistry

RNA Methods > RNA Analyses in vitro and In Silico

RNA Methods > RNA Analyses in Cells
Applying spatially explicit capture–recapture models to estimate black bear density in South Carolina
Authors: Azad Shefali , McFadden Katherine , Clark Joseph D. , Wactor Tammy , Jachowski David S.
Published: September 2019

Population density is an important component of wildlife management decisions, but can be difficult to estimate directly for an itinerant, wide‐ranging species such as the American black bear (Ursus americanus). In South Carolina, USA, where there has been growth in black bear populations and bear–human‐conflict reports during the past several decades, managers need robust estimates of population size to inform management strategies. We used maximum‐likelihood capture–recapture models, using hair snares to collect DNA samples, to estimate density and abundance for a harvested population of black bear in northwestern South Carolina during 2013 to 2014. Models were tested in a spatially explicit framework using the secr package in Program R. Black bear density was estimated at 0.133 bears/km2 (SE = 0.034) in 2013 and 0.179 bears/km2 (SE = 0.043) in 2014. Black bear abundance in our study area was estimated to be 586 bears (SE = 95) in 2013 and 680 bears (SE = 128) in 2014, which are 2–3‐fold lower than previous estimates. We suggest that these estimates be considered a baseline for state biologists to employ in the population's management and in developing future harvest‐regulation strategies. Overall our study highlighted the potential for model choice to influence density estimates, and we concluded that spatially explicit models were appropriate for this study because geographic closure could not be assumed. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
Introduction, Summary, and Some Inferences
Authors: Liu Kung-Chung , Racherla Uday S.
Published: September 2019

India and China make a perfect comparison pair in the area of IT industry, with each having its unique strength and potential for cooperation and synergy. Due to heavy involvement of Indian IT firms in software outsourcing arrangement by MNEs, the IP or patent resources are not important. This is especially true when compared with Chinese IT firms, which have much larger patenting volume (compared with other manufacturing sectors). Film industry in India and China has grown despite piracy. In other words, it prospered with little or no copyright protection. More importantly, piracy in China and India did not kill the content industry, film and music alike, but probably helped in building the customer base and cultivating future demand, which might not be true for a small economy with a sophisticated audience such as Hong Kong. India can look at China to find IT means for delivery and payment of cinematographic content. India and China make a perfect comparison pair in the pharmaceutical industry as well. This time around, China can learn much from India. Although there is an increase in the number of patented drugs in the pharmaceutical industry in China, patents have made relatively low contribution to the industrial value, and IP held by Chinese firms is less competitive compared with that of foreign companies. In contrast, major Indian generic companies continue to invest sizeable shares of their sales turnover in R&D, which was manifest in their patenting behavior. They were more active in filing patent applications in foreign jurisdictions, but significantly less so in domestic patenting. The Indian automobile industry’s absorption of global best practices has been slower than its Chinese counterpart. Strategies of firms in the Chinese auto industry provided a boost to technological learning more quickly and broadly than in India, especially in the electric vehicle sector. India can benefit from learning from China. IP has a relatively limited role in the development of the automobile industry in India and China.
Indian Patent Law and Its Impact on the Pharmaceutical Industry: What Can China Learn from India?
Authors: He Juan
Published: September 2019

Both China and India are developing countries in the pharmaceutical industry, and both need to seek a balance between protecting intellectual property rights and satisfying people’s healthcare needs. They also need to promote innovation and encourage the development of domestic industries. As members of the WTO, China and India have made a series of amendments to their respective intellectual property systems to live up to the TRIPS Agreement’s minimum standards of protection, including recognition of pharmaceutical product patents, introduction of a compulsory licensing system, and Bolar exception. In promoting the development of its domestic pharmaceutical industry, India’s experience in legislation and judicial practice deserves serious attention from China, such as using TRIPS’s flexibility to facilitate access to medicines, implementing compulsory licensing to create more chances for voluntary licensing negotiation, and updating the guidelines for examining pharmaceutical applications to prevent evergreening of pharmaceutical patents. Meanwhile, learning from India, China should start to provide its legal professionals with knowledge of global rules, to better further Chinese interests in the world arena.
Protecting New Plant Varieties in China and Its Major Problems
Authors: Hou Yangkun
Published: September 2019

China has achieved remarkable results for the protection of new plant varieties since it promulgated and implemented “Regulations for the Protection of New Plant Varieties” in 1997. However, as a whole, the level of legislation is still at an early stage, primarily referencing to the UPOV Convention and the legal content of other countries. The legislation has not yet set up the ultimate goal and reasonable protection measures that would meet China’s current actual needs. The chapter discusses the status of protection of new plant varieties in China and characteristics. It then analyzes the major deficiencies and shortcomings of existing laws and explores the main reasons behind. This chapter proposes a number of specific measures for perfecting the legal system for the protection of new plant varieties in China before it ends with a conclusion.
Genetically Modified Plants: The IP and Regulatory Concerns in India
Authors: Lakshmikumaran Malathi
Published: September 2019

The status of patent protection for genetically modified plants is presently uncertain in India and is a debate rife with economic and ethical considerations. The need for consistent public policy and robust frameworks for regulatory control poses significant challenges for the introduction of genetically engineered/modified crop plants in India. This is especially vital considering India’s desire to foster an innovation-based economy. The research questions of this chapter include the following: How is the insertion of different traits, such as insect resistance in plants by methods such as transformation different from introgression/hybridization? Can genetic modification of plants by methods such as transformation be termed as “an essentially biological process”? If not, how can the said process be classified for the purpose of Section 3(j) of the Indian Patents Act, 1970?
Challenges in Reshaping the Sectoral Innovation System of the Chinese Automobile Industry
Authors: Feng Kaidong , Li Junran
Published: September 2019

The aim of this chapter is to analyze and review the progress of China’s technological innovation in the automobile sector. First, the structure of the Chinese automobile industry and its relevant innovation system are characterized by multiple camps of actors – namely, multinationals, large state-owned firms, and new local entrants – with different business goals, innovation objectives, and technological capabilities. Secondly, different camps of actors entered the Chinese automobile sector in different phases of the developmental strategies of China. Thus, China’s policy transition during 2005–2006 to indigenous innovation created a drive among all indigenous firms toward technology and product development, and the demand for electrical vehicles created a valuable opportunity. However, the internal dynamics or rigidities of the different camps of actors appear to show significant path resistance. Only a persistent push by the Chinese government for indigenous innovation will enable a total structural change, particularly involving the large state-owned enterprises.
Development of the Sharing Economy in China: Challenges and Lessons
Authors: Ma Yide , Zhang Haoran
Published: September 2019

With the growing Internet technology, mobile payment, logistics infrastructure, and huge demographic dividends, China’s sharing economy has been leaping forward in recent years, reshaping China’s economic pattern and becoming one of the priorities in China’s economic development in the future. However, with the expansion of the sharing economy and the continuous emergence of various business models, a series of legal risks and challenges are restricting the development of China’s sharing economy. This chapter starts with an analysis of the concepts, features, operating principles, and conditions of the sharing economy. In the second part, we introduce the development process of the internet economy, and the germination and status of the sharing economy in China. We then identify the main challenges that the sharing economy in China is now facing, and propose solutions before we end with a conclusion.
Knowledge Sharing and the Sharing Economy in India
Authors: Scaria Arul George , Ray Shreyashi
Published: September 2019

This chapter argues for the recognition of knowledge sharing as an integral part of the sharing economy, by taking India as a case study. It analyses the attitudes and practices pertaining to knowledge sharing in India through a mixed methods approach. The quantitative data discussed in the chapter include data from two empirical studies – one on sharing practices of researchers in India and their attitudes towards openness, and the other on perceptions of Indian consumers regarding film piracy and copyright protection. The quantitative findings have been contextualised in an analysis of historical exclusionary structures in India which created intellectual monopolies for privileged sections of the society on lines of gender and caste. The chapter challenges dominant narratives which suggest that knowledge sharing was a common practice in ancient India. Further, the chapter examines two prominent and recent Indian policies which have a bearing on shaping incentives for innovation and creativity in the sharing economy, but fail to take balanced and inclusive approaches. Through these analyses, the chapter seeks to establish the need for all stakeholders to recognise the need for equitable knowledge sharing and take appropriate steps to challenge and change thestatus quo.
India’s Information Technology Industry: A Tale of Two Halves
Authors: Dhar Biswajit , Joseph Reji K.
Published: September 2019

This chapter provides an account of the development of the information technology (IT) and information technology-enabled services (ITES) in India. The IT sector was developed from the early 1960s, wherein only the government-owned companies were allowed to operate in this sector. In the later decades, the industry was opened to the private sector, both Indian and foreign. There is, however, no evidence that this open-door policy helped the IT industry to develop.

In contrast, the ITES sector received a major boost when Indian private companies took advantage of the increasing demand for these services towards the end of the previous millennium. Subsequently, the ITES have expanded phenomenally, establishing India as one of the ITES powerhouses of the world. Although India’s ITES sector was an unqualified success, there is not much evidence that this sector, or its hardware counterpart, contributed to indigenous technology development. India’s R&D spending remained sluggish, which remains a major source of concern.

A major uncertainty faced by the R&D system arose from India’s patent regime. The amendment of India’s patent law undertaken in the year 2000 to bring it in conformity with the TRIPS Agreement excludes “computer programme per se” from patenting. Initially, there was lack of clarity about the interpretation of the phrase. Later, the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, the authority responsible for implementing Patents Act, 1970, and the Judiciary have both provided a degree of clarity as to what “computer programme per se” really means.
Continued Economic Benefit to the Author: Royalties in the Indian Film Industry – Historical Development, Current Status, and Practical Application
Authors: Medury Renuka
Published: September 2019

The chapter traces the stance that Indian copyright law has adopted on the issue of royalty payments to authors of literary and musical works, through the years. It delineates the court judgments that have exerted a significant impact on the subject, the development of the law, and the practical realities and application of the law. The first part of the chapter details the structuring of music production deals in India. The next section explores the relevant judicial precedents and the issues with the copyright societies in India. The third section traces the amendments introduced in 2012, thereby changing the royalties landscape, and the last part assesses the aftermath of these amendments.

The chapter is specific to the Indian law on the subject of royalties and the significance of royalties given the massive scale at which content, i.e., movies, television programs, and now web-based content, is produced and exploited in India. Music production has continued to play an important role in the realm of content production and distribution in India (“In its 103-year-old history, songs have been an integral part of Hindi movies ever since the first talkie, Alam Ara, released in 1931. Over the years, apart from their cultural and aesthetic significance, songs have added tremendous business value to films. …. The industry believes that songs become the identity of films in India, especially due to a marketing culture that relies on film stars and little else.” Is Bollywood still wary of ‘song-less’ films? Mint (April 21, 2016).), and music production, as detailed in the chapter, assumed immense significance in the context of the statutory royalties introduced vide the amendments to the Indian copyright law in 2012.
Factors Associated with Risk of Stroke-Associated Pneumonia in Patients with Dysphagia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Eltringham Sabrina A. , Kilner Karen , Gee Melanie , Sage Karen , Bray Ben D. , Smith Craig J. , Pownall Sue
Published: September 2019

Dysphagia is associated with increased risk of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP). However, it is unclear what other factors contribute to that risk or which measures may reduce it. This systematic review aimed to provide evidence on interventions and care processes associated with SAP in patients with dysphagia. Studies were screened for inclusion if they included dysphagia only patients, dysphagia and non-dysphagia patients or unselected patients that included dysphagic patients and evaluated factors associated with a recorded frequency of SAP. Electronic databases were searched from inception to February 2017. Eligible studies were critically appraised. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I2. The primary outcome was SAP. Eleven studies were included. Sample sizes ranged from 60 to 1088 patients. There was heterogeneity in study design. Measures of immunodepression are associated with SAP in dysphagic patients. There is insufficient evidence to justify screening for aerobic Gram-negative bacteria. Prophylactic antibiotics did not prevent SAP and proton pump inhibitors may increase risk. Treatment with metoclopramide may reduce SAP risk. Evidence that nasogastric tube (NGT) placement increases risk of SAP is equivocal. A multidisciplinary team approach and instrumental assessment of swallowing may reduce risk of pneumonia. Patients with impaired mobility were associated with increased risk. Findings should be interpreted with caution given the number of studies, heterogeneity and descriptive analyses. Several medical interventions and care processes, which may reduce risk of SAP in patients with dysphagia, have been identified. Further research is needed to evaluate the role of these interventions and care processes in clinical practice.
Survivorship, attained diameter, height and volume of three Paulownia species after 9 years in the southern Appalachians, USA
Authors: Berg Erik C. , Zarnoch Stanley J. , McNab W. Henry
Published: September 2019

Little is known of the tree and stand dynamics of varied species of plantedPaulownialeft unmanaged until harvest in the southeastern United States. We sought to remedy this lack of information needed by land managers to make informed decisions by investigating differences in survivorship, attained diameter breast height (DBH), diameter at ground level, total height, tree volume and stand-level volume yields of plantedP. elongata, P. fortunei,andP. tomentosain the cool-moist environment of the southern Appalachian Mountains. After 9 years, combined-species survivorship was only 27.3%. Low survivorship was likely related to several inclement weather events.P. fortuneiwas significantly smaller in DBH and total height. Three combined-species stem (bole) volume models were developed as functions of (1) DBH squared, (2) the product DBH squared and total height, and (3) the product diameter ground line squared and total height. Mean total volume production of unmanaged stands was greatest forP. elongataandP. fortunei4 years after planting; by the 9th year, total volume ofP. elongatawas greater than the other two species. Results of our study provide managers information on productivity of three species ofPaulowniathat can be used for estimating plantation yields.
Multiple sevoflurane exposures during pregnancy inhibit neuronal migration by upregulating prostaglandin D2 synthase
Authors: Chai Dongdong , Cheng Yanyong , Sun Yu , Yan Jia , Hu Rong , Zhang Lei , Jiang Hong
Published: September 2019

Background

The second trimester is a period of neurogenesis and neuronal migration, which may be affected by exposure to anesthetics. Studies have suggested that multiple anesthetic exposures may have a significant impact on neuronal migration.

Methods

Pregnant C57BL/6 mice at embryonic day 14.5 were randomly divided into four groups: Con x 1, Sev x 1, Con x 2, and Sev x 2. Cortical neuronal migration in offspring mice was detected by GFP immunostaining, and the number of cells in the cortex was analyzed.

Results

Dual exposure to sevoflurane, not single sevoflurane exposure, caused neuronal migration deficits. Dual exposure to sevoflurane increased the expression of prostaglandin D2 synthase (Ptgds). Furthermore, Ptgds siRNA attenuated neuronal migration deficits induced by dual sevoflurane exposure.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that multiple sevoflurane exposures in pregnant mice may induce neuronal migration deficits in offspring mice. Additional studies comprising long‐term behavioral tests are required to confirm the effects of sevoflurane exposure during pregnancy.
The Surgical Treatment of Peyronie’s Disease in the Older Man: Patient Characteristics and Surgical Outcomes in Men 65 and Older
Authors: Abdelsayed George A. , Setia Shaan A. , Levine Laurence A.
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Surgery remains the gold standard for the correction of penile deformities secondary to Peyronie’s disease (PD). Nevertheless, there is no published data on the surgical treatment of PD in older men.

Aim

Considering the aging national and international population, we sought to evaluate the pre-operative characteristics and surgical outcomes of men aged 65 or older who underwent surgical treatment for PD at our tertiary care institution.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all men 65 years or older who underwent surgery for PD from January 2010 to September 2017. We compared men who underwent penile prosthesis implantation with straightening maneuvers (PP+SMs), tunica albuginea plication (TAP), and plaque partial excision with grafting (PEG).

Main Outcome Measure

The main objective of this study was to find the baseline pre-operative patient characteristics and postoperative patient-reported outcomes.

Results

A total of 86 men with a median age of 68 years underwent surgery during the study period. 39 men underwent PP+SM (45%), 25 men a TAP (29%), and 22 men a PEG (26%). The mean curvature for all men was 59.9 ± 22.0° (range 0−105°). Those who underwent a PEG had a mean ± SD degree of curvature of 78.6 ± 16.6°, significantly higher than those who underwent PP+SM or TAP (49.1 ± 20.2° and 61.4 ± 17.4°, respectively; P < .001). Moreover, men who underwent a PEG had significantly more complex penile deformities (eg, narrowing with hinge effect) and better reported baseline erectile function compared with men who underwent PP+SM or TAP. Overall, 95% of all men reported having a functionally straight penis postoperatively with 94% engaging in penetrative intercourse at last follow-up. Overall, patient-reported satisfaction was 85% with a median follow-up of 43.5 months.

Clinical Implications

Our findings suggest that the surgical treatment of PD in older men is safe, effective, and associated with high patient satisfaction. Although this represents a surgical series susceptible to selection bias, it underscores the importance of patient selection and counseling in achieving good surgical outcomes.

Strengths & Limitations

Our study is the first to report on outcomes of surgical treatment of PD in an elderly patient population with relatively long-term follow-up. Our limitations include a small sample size, single operating surgeon, and the lack of a younger comparison group.

Conclusion

Despite an aging global population, surgery remains a viable and reliable option for the properly selected and counseled older men with PD.
Convergent Richtmyer–Meshkov instability of a heavy gas layer with perturbed outer interface
Authors: Ding Juchun , Li Jianming , Sun Rui , Zhai Zhigang , Luo Xisheng
Published: September 2019

The evolution of an $\text{SF}_{6}$ layer surrounded by air is experimentally studied in a semi-annular convergent shock tube by high-speed schlieren photography. The gas layer with a sinusoidal outer interface and a circular inner interface is realized by the soap-film technique such that the initial condition is well controlled. Results show that the thicker the gas layer, the weaker the interface–coupling effect and the slower the evolution of the outer interface. Induced by the distorted transmitted shock and the interface coupling, the inner interface exhibits a slow perturbation growth which can be largely suppressed by reducing the layer thickness. After the reshock, the inner perturbation increases linearly at a growth rate independent of the initial layer thickness as well as of the outer perturbation amplitude and wavelength, and the growth rate can be well predicted by the model of Mikaelian (Physica D, vol. 36, 1989, pp. 343–357) with an empirical coefficient of 0.31. After the linear stage, the growth rate decreases continuously, and finally the perturbation freezes at a constant amplitude caused by the successive stagnation of spikes and bubbles. The convergent geometry constraint as well as the very weak compressibility at late stages are responsible for this instability freeze-out.
Long-term observations of supraglacial streams on an Arctic glacier
Authors: St Germain Sarah L. , Moorman Brian J.
Published: September 2019

Supraglacial streams are a significant part of the glacial hydrological system and important for understanding glacial hydrology and dynamics. Here we infer factors that influence the long-term development of perennial supraglacial streams, particularly in reference to canyon, incised and surface stream formation. Orthophotos and digital elevation models generated from high-resolution aerial imagery taken with unmanned aerial vehicles or piloted helicopters between 2010 and 2017 were used to compare seven streams on Fountain Glacier, Bylot Island, Canada over time. Results show canyon formation occurs from a combination of fluvial processes and the impact of solar radiation. The greater the discharge or slope, the faster the incision and higher the sinuosity. With greater sinuosity, the distance between the top of the valley banks increases, and cutoffs cause trapezoidal canyon-like valleys to form. Solar radiation causes the backward migration of the valley walls, further enhancing canyon area. Canyons are less likely to occur in areas of low discharge and slope. Less incised channels are also more likely to have water flow jumping the channel banks, changing the channel path. The presence of medial moraines and crevasses also increases rerouting of small streams. Lastly, windblown created snow-plugs may lead to stream diversion.
Effects of energy sources and inclusion levels of concentrate in sugarcane silage-based diets of finishing Nellore young bulls: Feeding behaviour, performance and blood parameters
Authors: Ferrari V. B. , Cônsolo N. R. B. , Sousa R. T. , Souza J. M. , Santana M. H. A. , Silva L. F. P.
Published: September 2019

Replacing ground maize (GM) with steam-rolled maize typically increases feed efficiency in maize-silage-based diets. However, little is known about optimal carbohydrate supplementation in sugarcane silage-based diets. The objective was to quantify the effect of partially replacing GM with steam-rolled maize (SRM) or pelleted citrus pulp (PCP) at two concentrate levels (600 or 800 g/kg DM) in sugarcane-based diets on feeding behaviour, performance and blood parameters of finishing Nellore bulls. One hundred and eight young bulls were allocated to 36 pens in a randomized block design and fed for 84 d. Feeding 800 g/kg concentrate decreased time spending eating and ruminating, but improved G:F ratio, hot carcass weight and carcass dressing, compared to 600 g/kg concentrate. Bulls fed SRM and PCP diets with 600 g/kg concentrate had lower intake compared to GM. Both final weight and average daily gain decreased when bulls were fed PCP and SRM with 600 g/kg concentrate compared to GM diets, and when fed with PCP and 800 g/kg concentrate. Substituting PCP for GM decreased gain efficiency, carcass weight, rumination time and intake efficiency, indicating that the bulls consumed less feed per hour spent eating. Substituting SRM for GM increased backfat thickness and blood urea concentration. In conclusion, the replacement of GM with PCP reduces intake and enhances selection against large particles, decreasing rumination, performance and final carcass weight and dressing. Replacement of GM with SRM increases blood urea and fat deposition, with no impact on performance.
Optimists and Pessimists in (In)Complete Markets
Authors: Branger Nicole , Konermann Patrick , Schlag Christian
Published: September 2019

We study the effects of market incompleteness on speculation, investor survival, and asset pricing moments when investors disagree about the likelihood of jumps and have recursive preferences. We consider two models. In a model with jumps in aggregate consumption, incompleteness barely matters because the consumption claim resembles an insurance product against jump risk and effectively reproduces approximate spanning. In a long-run risk model with jumps in the long-run growth rate, market incompleteness affects speculation and investor survival. Jump and diffusive risks are more balanced regarding their importance, and therefore the consumption claim cannot reproduce approximate spanning.
‘More Ingenious than Learned’? Examining the Quest for the Non-Historical Jesus
Authors: Meggitt Justin J.
Published: September 2019

This paper seeks to scrutinise the debate about the historicity of Jesus and identify aspects that merit critical reflection by New Testament scholars. Although the question is regularly dismissed, it is a salient one that was formative in the development of the discipline, and has become increasingly visible since the turn of the century. However, the terminology employed by the protagonists is problematic, and the conventional historiography of the debate misleading. The characteristic tropes evident in the contributions are also indicative of substantive issues within the discipline of New Testament studies itself.
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ (Rev 17.14; 19.16) in Light of the Numismatic Record
Authors: Theophilos Michael P.
Published: September 2019

The title βασιλεὺς βασιλέων in the Apocalypse (Rev 17.14; 19.16) has generated a variety of interpretations in regard to its identification, symbolism and background. Commentators regularly note that joining a singular noun with its genitive plural is a common way to express the superlative in Hebrew. Others find special relevance of the phrase to the time of Domitian when it is said ‘he dictated the form of a letter to be used by his procurators, he began: “Our lord and god commands so and so”’ (Suetonius,Domitian, 13). The present analysis argues that inscriptions on relevant coinage confirm that the title was a clear allusion to the tradition of the Parthian kings, Rome's historic enemy. Within the context of the Apocalypse, the title is applied to Jesus Christ, presented triumphantly conquering Rome in the image of Rome's feared Parthian enemy. Included in the analysis is an extensive tabulation of relevant numismatic evidence.
Nearly free curves and arrangements: a vector bundle point of view
Authors: MARCHESI SIMONE , VALLÈS JEAN
Published: September 2019

Over the past forty years many papers have studied logarithmic sheaves associated to reduced divisors, in particular logarithmic bundles associated to plane curves. An interesting family of these curves are the so-called free ones for which the associated logarithmic sheaf is the direct sum of two line bundles. Terao conjectured thirty years ago that when a curve is a finite set of distinct lines (i.e. a line arrangement) its freeness depends solely on its combinatorics, but this has only been proved for sets of up to 12 lines. In looking for a counter-example to Terao’s conjecture, the nearly free curves introduced by Dimca and Sticlaru arise naturally. We prove here that the logarithmic bundle associated to a nearly free curve possesses a minimal non-zero section that vanishes on one single point, P say, called the jumping point, and that this characterises the bundle. We then give a precise description of the behaviour of P. Based on detailed examples we then show that the position of P relative to its corresponding nearly free arrangement of lines may or may not be a combinatorial invariant, depending on the chosen combinatorics.
Don’t Republicans Tweet Too? Using Twitter to Assess the Consequences of Political Endorsements by Celebrities
Authors: Zilinsky Jan , Vaccari Cristian , Nagler Jonathan , Tucker Joshua A.
Published: September 2019

Michael Jordan supposedly justified his decision to stay out of politics by noting that Republicans buy sneakers too. In the social media era, the name of the game for celebrities is engagement with fans. So why then do celebrities risk talking about politics on social media, which is likely to antagonize a portion of their fan base? With this question in mind, we analyze approximately 220,000 tweets from 83 celebrities who chose to endorse a presidential candidate in the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign to assess whether there is a cost—defined in terms of engagement on Twitter—for celebrities who discuss presidential candidates. We also examine whether celebrities behave similarly to other campaign surrogates in being more likely to take on the “attack dog” role by going negative more often than going positive. More specifically, we document how often celebrities of distinct political preferences tweet about Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, and Hillary Clinton, and we show that followers of opinionated celebrities do not withhold engagement when entertainers become politically mobilized and do indeed often go negative. Interestingly, in some cases political content from celebrities actually turns out to bemorepopular than typical lifestyle tweets.
The Pathological Narcissism Inventory: Measurement Invariance Across	Serbian and USA Samples and Further Validation
Authors: Dinić Bojana M. , Vujić Aleksandar
Published: September 2019

Abstract. The aim of this research was to explore measurement invariance across samples from Serbia and the USA (Study 1) and to further validate the Serbian adaptation of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory – PNI (Study 2). The results supported the original seven-factor first-order structure as well as the hierarchical structure of the PNI with Narcissistic grandiosity and vulnerability as the second-order factors. Further, scalar invariance between the two versions of the PNI was achieved. Relations between Narcissistic grandiosity and vulnerability and other measures of grandiose and hypersensitive narcissism supported the validity of their scores. Among HEXACO traits, both Narcissistic grandiosity and vulnerability showed substantial negative correlations with Honesty-Humility. The main distinctions between the two aspects of narcissism lie in the positive relations with Neuroticism and negative relations with self-esteem, both of which are higher for Narcissistic vulnerability. The results support good psychometric properties of the PNI scores and add to the PNI’s cross-cultural validity.
Hurricanes, Climate Change, and Other Good Reads
Authors:   AGU
Published: September 2019

What Earth and space science stories are we recommending this week?
Influence of Ocean Circulation and Benthic Exchange on Deep Northwest Atlantic Nd Isotope Records During the Past 30,000 Years
Authors: Pöppelmeier F. , Blaser P. , Gutjahr M. , Süfke F. , Thornalley D. J. R. , Grützner J. , Jakob K. A. , Link J. M. , Szidat S. , Lippold J.
Published: September 2019

Neodymium (Nd) isotopes extracted from authigenic sediment phases are increasingly used as a proxy for past variations in water mass provenance. To better constrain the controls of water mass provenance and nonconservative effects on the archived Nd isotope signal, we present a new depth transect of Nd isotope reconstructions from the Blake Bahama Outer Ridge along the North American continental margin covering the past 30 ka. We investigated five sediment cores that lie directly within the main flow path of the Deep Western Boundary Current, a major advection route of North Atlantic Deep Water. We found offsets between core tops and seawater Nd isotopic compositions that are observed elsewhere in the Northwest Atlantic. A possible explanation for this is the earlier suggested redistribution of sediment by nepheloid layers at intermediate as well as abyssal depths, transporting material downslope and along the continental margin. These processes potentially contributed to Nd isotope excursions recorded in Northwest Atlantic sediment cores during the Bølling‐Allerød and early Holocene. An Atlantic‐wide comparison of Nd isotope records shows that the early Holocene excursions had an additional contribution from conservative advection of unradiogenic dissolved Nd. Nevertheless, the trends of the Nd isotope records are in general agreement with previous reconstructions of water mass provenance from the entire Atlantic and also reveal millennial‐scale changes during the last deglaciation in temporal high resolution, which have rarely been reported before. Further, the new records confirm that during cold periods the Northwest Atlantic was bathed by an increased contribution of southern sourced water.
First‐principles Investigation of Frictional Characteristics of Brucite: An Application to Its Macroscopic Frictional Characteristics
Authors: Okuda Hanaya , Kawai Kenji , Sakuma Hiroshi
Published: September 2019

Because sheet‐structure minerals are often observed in natural faults and have lower friction coefficients than the other common rocks and rock‐forming minerals, it has been suggested that their frictional characteristics are related to fault strength. Despite their importance for understanding fault dynamics, what controls their frictional characteristics has not been clarified yet. Because the friction coefficients of these minerals depend on the mineral species, the atomic‐scale crystal structure can be a clue for understanding the mechanism. In this study, the variation of potential energy on the brucite (0001) shear plane (potential energy surface, PES) was calculated by using first‐principles calculations based on density functional theory. The shear stress along the sliding path is calculated by computing the displacement derivative of the PES. According to the adhesion theory of friction, we found that the atomic‐scale frictional parameters obtained by using the PES could explain the macroscopic friction coefficients when taking the experimental indentation strength into account. Then, we propose how to estimate the constitutive parameter a of the rate‐ and state‐dependent friction law from the PES of sheet‐structure minerals. The estimated value is consistent with the typical range for minerals investigated by previous experiments. The difference in the PES among sheet‐structure minerals can therefore be a key property to explain their frictional characteristics such as the tendency for frictional instability of natural faults.
New Cloud System Metrics to Assess Bulk Ice Cloud Schemes in a GCM
Authors: Stubenrauch Claudia J. , Bonazzola Marine , Protopapadaki Sofia E. , Musat Ionela
Published: September 2019

Bulk microphysical properties of ice clouds, such as fall speed and ice crystal size distribution, strongly impact the life time and the radiative effects of these clouds. Three coherent bulk ice schemes, with fall speed and effective ice crystal diameter depending on both ice water content and temperature, have been constructed from published parameterizations. We present a novel upper tropospheric cloud system concept to study the impact of these schemes on the LMDZ climate simulations. For this evaluation, cloud data from hyperspectral infrared sounders Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder and IR Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer are used, because they include cirrus with visible optical depths as low as 0.2. The analogous satellite observation simulator, developed for this purpose, is also presented. The cloud system concept, applied to the data and to the simulator outputs, allows a process‐oriented evaluation. In general, the new bulk ice schemes lead to a better agreement with the cloud data, in particular concerning the cloud system property distributions and the relation between cloud system properties and proxies mimicking the life stage and the convective depth. Sensitivity studies have demonstrated that both the introduction of the new schemes as well as the necessary adjustment of the relative width of the upper tropospheric subgrid water distribution lead to these improvements. Our studies also suggest to revise the formulation of the latter.
Metagenomic and chemical characterization of soil cobalamin production
Authors: Lu Xinda , Heal Katherine R , Ingalls Anitra E , Doxey Andrew C , Neufeld Josh D
Published: September 2019

Cobalamin (vitamin B12) is an essential enzyme cofactor for most branches of life. Despite the potential importance of this cofactor for soil microbial communities, the producers and consumers of cobalamin in terrestrial environments are still unknown. Here we provide the first metagenome-based assessment of soil cobalamin-producing bacteria and archaea, quantifying and classifying genes encoding proteins for cobalamin biosynthesis, transport, remodeling, and dependency in 155 soil metagenomes with profile hidden Markov models. We also measured several forms of cobalamin (CN-, Me-, OH-, Ado-B12) and the cobalamin lower ligand (5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole; DMB) in 40 diverse soil samples. Metagenomic analysis revealed that less than 10% of soil bacteria and archaea encode the genetic potential for de novo synthesis of this important enzyme cofactor. Predominant soil cobalamin producers were associated with the Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Nitrospirae, and Thaumarchaeota. In contrast, a much larger proportion of abundant soil genera lacked cobalamin synthesis genes and instead were associated with gene sequences encoding cobalamin transport and cobalamin-dependent enzymes. The enrichment of DMB and corresponding DMB synthesis genes, relative to corrin ring synthesis genes, suggests an important role for cobalamin remodelers in terrestrial habitats. Together, our results indicate that microbial cobalamin production and repair serve as keystone functions that are significantly correlated with microbial community size, diversity, and biogeochemistry of terrestrial ecosystems.
An ancestral NB-LRR with duplicated 3′UTRs confers stripe rust resistance in wheat and barley
Authors: Zhang Chaozhong , Huang Lin , Zhang Huifei , Hao Qunqun , Lyu Bo , Wang Meinan , Epstein Lynn , Liu Miao , Kou Chunlan , Qi Juan , Chen Fengjuan , Li Mengkai , Gao Ge , Ni Fei , Zhang Lianquan , Hao Ming , Wang Jirui , Chen Xianming , Luo Ming-Cheng , Zheng Youliang , Wu Jiajie , Liu Dengcai , Fu Daolin
Published: September 2019

Wheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a global threat to wheat production. Aegilops tauschii, one of the wheat progenitors, carries the YrAS2388 locus for resistance to Pst on chromosome 4DS. We reveal that YrAS2388 encodes a typical nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR). The Pst-resistant allele YrAS2388R has duplicated 3’ untranslated regions and is characterized by alternative splicing in the nucleotide-binding domain. Mutation of the YrAS2388R allele disrupts its resistance to Pst in synthetic hexaploid wheat; transgenic plants with YrAS2388R show resistance to eleven Pst races in common wheat and one race of P. striiformis f. sp. hordei in barley. The YrAS2388R allele occurs only in Ae. tauschii and the Ae. tauschii-derived synthetic wheat; it is absent in 100% (n = 461) of common wheat lines tested. The cloning of YrAS2388R will facilitate breeding for stripe rust resistance in wheat and other Triticeae species.
Magnetoelectric behavior via a spin state transition
Authors: Chikara Shalinee , Gu Jie , Zhang X.-G. , Cheng Hai-Ping , Smythe Nathan , Singleton John , Scott Brian , Krenkel Elizabeth , Eckert Jim , Zapf Vivien S.
Published: September 2019

In magnetoelectric materials, magnetic and dielectric/ferroelectric properties couple to each other. This coupling could enable lower power consumption and new functionalities in devices such as sensors, memories and transducers, since voltages instead of electric currents are sensing and controlling the magnetic state. We explore a different approach to magnetoelectric coupling in which we use the magnetic spin state instead of the more traditional ferro or antiferromagnetic order to couple to electric properties. In our molecular compound, magnetic field induces a spin crossover from the S = 1 to the S = 2 state of Mn3+, which in turn generates molecular distortions and electric dipoles. These dipoles couple to the magnetic easy axis, and form different polar, antipolar and paraelectric phases vs magnetic field and temperature. Spin crossover compounds are a large class of materials where the spin state can modify the structure, and here we demonstrate that this is a route to magnetoelectric coupling.
Similarities and differences in patterns of germline mutation between mice and humans
Authors: Lindsay Sarah J. , Rahbari Raheleh , Kaplanis Joanna , Keane Thomas , Hurles Matthew E.
Published: September 2019

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) studies have estimated the human germline mutation rate per basepair per generation (~1.2 × 10−8) to be higher than in mice (3.5–5.4 × 10−9). In humans, most germline mutations are paternal in origin and numbers of mutations per offspring increase with paternal and maternal age. Here we estimate germline mutation rates and spectra in six multi-sibling mouse pedigrees and compare to three multi-sibling human pedigrees. In both species we observe a paternal mutation bias, a parental age effect, and a highly mutagenic first cell division contributing to the embryo. We also observe differences between species in mutation spectra, in mutation rates per cell division, and in the parental bias of mutations in early embryogenesis. These differences between species likely result from both species-specific differences in cellular genealogies of the germline, as well as biological differences within the same stage of embryogenesis or gametogenesis.
A second open reading frame in human enterovirus determines viral replication in intestinal epithelial cells
Authors: Guo Haoran , Li Yan , Liu Guanchen , Jiang Yunhe , Shen Siyu , Bi Ran , Huang Honglan , Cheng Tong , Wang Chunxi , Wei Wei
Published: September 2019

Human enteroviruses (HEVs) of the family Picornaviridae, which comprises non-enveloped RNA viruses, are ubiquitous worldwide. The majority of EV proteins are derived from viral polyproteins encoded by a single open reading frame (ORF). Here, we characterize a second ORF in HEVs that is crucial for viral intestinal infection. Disruption of ORF2p expression decreases the replication capacity of EV-A71 in human intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). Ectopic expression of ORF2p proteins derived from diverse enteric enteroviruses sensitizes intestinal cells to the replication of ORF2p-defective EV-A71 and respiratory enterovirus EV-D68. We show that the highly conserved WIGHPV domain of ORF2p is important for ORF2p-dependent viral intestinal infection. ORF2p expression is required for EV-A71 particle release from IECs and can support productive EV-D68 infection in IECs by facilitating virus release. Our results indicate that ORF2p is a determining factor for enteric enterovirus replication in IECs.