bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Defining the hydrogeological behavior of karst springs through an integrated analysis: a case study in the Berici Mountains area (Vicenza, NE Italy)
Authors: Torresan Filippo , Fabbri Paolo , Piccinini Leonardo , Dalla Libera Nico , Pola Marco , Zampieri Dario
Published: February 2020

Knowledge of the hydraulic and geological properties of karst systems is particularly valuable to hydrogeologists because these systems represent an important source of potable water in many countries. However, the high heterogeneity that characterizes karst systems complicates the definition of karst hydrogeological properties, and their estimation involves complex and expensive techniques. In this study, a workflow for karst spring characterization was used to analyze two springs, Nanto spring and Mossano spring, located in the Berici Mountains (NE Italy). Based on the data derived from 4 years of continuous hourly monitoring of discharge, water temperature and specific electrical conductivity, a hydrogeological conceptual model for the monitored springs was proposed. Flow rate measurements, which combined recession curve, flow duration curve and autocorrelation function techniques, were used to evaluate the spring discharge variability. Changes in spring discharge can be related both to the degree of karstification/permeability and to the size of the karst aquifer. Moreover, combining monitored parameters and rainfall—analyzed by the cross-correlation function and VESPA (Vulnerability Estimator for Spring Protection Areas) index approach—permitted assessment of the spring response to recharge and the behavior of the drainage system. Although the responses to the recharge events were quite similar, the two springs showed some differences in terms of the degree of karstification. In fact, Mossano spring showed a more developed karst system than Nanto spring. Three systems (two karsts and one matrix/fractured) are outlined for Mossano spring, while two systems (one karst and one matrix/fractured) are outlined for Nanto spring.
Strategyproof and fair matching mechanism for ratio constraints
Authors: Yahiro Kentaro , Zhang Yuzhe , Barrot Nathanaël , Yokoo Makoto
Published: February 2020

We introduce a new type of distributional constraints called ratio constraints, which explicitly specify the required balance among schools in two-sided matching. Since ratio constraints do not belong to the known well-behaved class of constraints called M-convex set, developing a fair and strategyproof mechanism that can handle them is challenging. We develop a novel mechanism called quota reduction deferred acceptance (QRDA), which repeatedly applies the standard DA by sequentially reducing artificially introduced maximum quotas. As well as being fair and strategyproof, QRDA always yields a weakly better matching for students compared to a baseline mechanism called artificial cap deferred acceptance (ACDA), which uses predetermined artificial maximum quotas. Finally, we experimentally show that, in terms of student welfare and nonwastefulness, QRDA outperforms ACDA and another fair and strategyproof mechanism called Extended Seat Deferred Acceptance (ESDA), in which ratio constraints are transformed into minimum and maximum quotas.
United Kingdom Patent Decisions 2019
Authors: Trigg Robyn
Published: February 2020

This report highlights the main UK patent decisions from 2019, including: two Supreme Court decisions, one concerning obviousness and another concerning employee invention compensation; Court of Appeal decisions relating to FRAND, insufficiency, and SPCs; and several High Court decisions relating to the application of the doctrine of equivalents to numerical values, plausibility of second medical use claims, SPCs, public disclosures, and Arrow declarations.
Nanoparticle-Decorated Ultrathin La2O3 Nanosheets as an Efficient Electrocatalysis for Oxygen Evolution Reactions
Authors: Yan Guangyuan , Wang Yizhan , Zhang Ziyi , Dong Yutao , Wang Jingyu , Carlos Corey , Zhang Pu , Cao Zhiqiang , Mao Yanchao , Wang Xudong
Published: February 2020

Electrochemical catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction are a critical component for many renewable energy applications. To improve their catalytic kinetics and mass activity are essential for sustainable industrial applications. Here, we report a rare-earth metal-based oxide electrocatalyst comprised of ultrathin amorphous La2O3 nanosheets hybridized with uniform La2O3 nanoparticles (La2O3@NP-NS). Significantly improved OER performance is observed from the nanosheets with a nanometer-scale thickness. The as-synthesized 2.27-nm La2O3@NP-NS exhibits excellent catalytic kinetics with an overpotential of 310 mV at 10 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 43.1 mV dec−1, and electrochemical impedance of 38 Ω. More importantly, due to the ultrasmall thickness, its mass activity, and turnover frequency reach as high as 6666.7 A g−1 and 5.79 s−1, respectively, at an overpotential of 310 mV. Such a high mass activity is more than three orders of magnitude higher than benchmark OER electrocatalysts, such as IrO2 and RuO2. This work presents a sustainable approach toward the development of highly efficient electrocatalysts with largely reduced mass loading of precious elements.
Metformin Promotes Anti-tumor Biomarkers in Human Endometrial Cancer Cells
Authors: Pabona John Mark P , Burnett Alexander F , Brown Dustin M , Quick Charles M , Simmen Frank A , Montales Maria Theresa E , Liu Shi J , Rose Tyler , Alhallak Iad , Siegel Eric R , Simmen Rosalia CM
Published: February 2020

Metformin (MET) is increasingly implicated in reducing the incidence of multiple cancer types in patients with diabetes. However, similar effects of MET in non-diabetic women with endometrial cancer (EC) remain unknown. In a pilot study, obese non-diabetic women diagnosed with type 1, grade 1/2 EC, and consenting to participate were randomly assigned to receive MET or no MET (control (CON)) during the pre-surgical window between diagnosis and hysterectomy. Endometrial tumors obtained at surgery (MET, n = 4; CON, n = 4) were analyzed for proliferation (Ki67), apoptosis (TUNEL), and nuclear expression of ERα, PGR, PTEN, and KLF9 proteins in tumor glandular epithelial (GE) and stromal (ST) cells. The percentages of immunopositive cells for PGR and for KLF9 in GE and for PTEN in ST were higher while those for ERα in GE but not ST were lower, in tumors of MET vs. CON patients. The numbers of Ki67- and TUNEL-positive cells in tumor GE and ST did not differ between groups. In human Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells, MET treatment (60 μM) decreased cell numbers and elicited distinct temporal changes in ESR1, KLF9, PGR, PGR-B, KLF4, DKK1, and other tumor biomarker mRNA levels. In the context of reduced KLF9 expression (by siRNA targeting), MET rapidly amplified PGR, PGR-B, and KLF4 transcript levels. Our findings suggest that MET acts directly in EC cells to modify steroid receptor expression and signaling network and may constitute a preventative strategy against EC in high-risk non-diabetic women.
Metabolic Lateralization in the Hypothalamus of Male Rats Related to Reproductive and Satiety States
Authors: Kiss David S. , Toth Istvan , Jocsak Gergely , Bartha Tibor , Frenyo Laszlo V. , Barany Zoltan , Horvath Tamas L. , Zsarnovszky Attila
Published: February 2020

The hypothalamus is the main regulatory center of many homeostatic processes, such as reproduction, food intake, and sleep-wake behavior. Recent findings show that there is a strongly interdependent side-linked localization of hypothalamic functions between the left and right hemispheres. The goal of the present study was to trace functional asymmetry of the hypothalamus related to the regulation of food intake and reproduction, in male rodents. Subjects were examined through measurements of mitochondrial metabolism ex vivo. Impact of gonadectomy and scheduled feeding was tested on the modulation of hypothalamic metabolic asymmetry. Results show that in male rats, functional lateralization of the hypothalamus can be attributed to the satiety state rather than to reproductive control. Fasting caused left-sided metabolic dominance, while satiety was linked to the right hemisphere; trends and direction in sided dominance gradually followed the changes in satiety state. Our findings revealed satiety state-dependent metabolic differences between the two hypothalamic hemispheres. It is therefore concluded that, at least in male rats, the hypothalamic hemispheres control the satiety state-related functions in an asymmetric manner.
Does Lent affect rates of deliberate self-harm?
Authors: Moloney N. , Glynn K. , Harding E. , Murphy V. , Gulati G.
Published: February 2020

Background

Research has shown that religious affiliation has a protective effect against deliberate self-harm. This is particularly pronounced in periods of increased religious significance, such as periods of worship, celebration, and fasting. However, no data exist as to whether this effect is present during the Christian period of Lent. Our hypothesis was that Lent would lead to decreased presentations of self-harm emergency department (ED) in a predominantly Catholic area of Ireland.

Methods

Following ethical approval, we retrospectively analysed data on presentations to the ED of University Hospital Limerick during the period of Lent and the 40 days immediately preceding it. Frequency data were compared using Pearson’s chi-squared tests in SPSS.

Results

There was no significant difference in the overall number of people presenting to the ED with self-harm during Lent compared to the 40 days preceding it (χ2 = 0.75, df = 1, p > 0.05), and there was no difference in methods of self-harm used. However, there was a significant increase in attendances with self-harm during Lent in the over 50’s age group (χ2 = 7.76, df = 1, p = 0.005).

Conclusions

Based on our study, Lent is not a protective factor for deliberate self-harm and was associated with increased presentations in the over 50’s age group. Further large-scale studies are warranted to investigate this finding as it has implications for prevention and management of deliberate self-harm.
Nationalism and Communism as Foes and Friends
Authors: Zhou Luyang
Published: February 2020

Sociologists have noted that the ideological inclusiveness of nationalism varies. By comparing the Bolshevik and Chinese communist revolutionary elites, this article explains that such variation depends on the social strength of nationalism. A strong nationalism is (a) undergirded by a widely diffused national culture that can socialize most radical elites into the nation; (b) kept institutionally open to broad social strata so that lower classes can form a nationalist identity through participation; and (c) universally believed to be a geopolitically feasible anti-colonial revolution so that radical elites can think of engagement as worthwhile and necessary. Using a comparative biographical method probing both nationalists and communists, this article demonstrates that nationalism in Tsarist Russia was far weaker than in post-imperial China. In the former, the nationalist movement excluded communists while, in the latter, communists were incorporated. Therefore, the two communist parties had different understandings of Marxism.
Robust Motion Planning in Dynamic Environments Based on Sampled-Data Hamilton–Jacobi Reachability
Authors: Kleff Sébastien , Li Ning
Published: February 2020

We propose a novel formal approach to robust motion planning (MP) in dynamic environments based on reachability analysis. While traditional MP methods usually fail to provide formal robust safety and performance guarantees, our approach provably ensures safe task achievement in time-varying and adversarial environments under parametric uncertainty. We leverage recent results on Hamilton–Jacobi (HJ) reachability and differential games in order to compute offline guaranteed motion plans that are compatible with the sampled-data (SD) paradigm. Also, we synthesize online provably robust safety-preserving and target-reaching feedback controls. Unlike earlier applications of reachability analysis to MP, our methodology handles arbitrary time-varying constraints, adversarial agents such as pursuing obstacles or evading targets, and takes into account the robot’s configuration. Furthermore, we use HJ projections in order to reduce significantly the computational burden without trading off safety guarantees. The validity of this approach is demonstrated through the case study of a robot arm subject to measurement errors, which is tasked with safely reaching a goal in a known time-varying workspace while avoiding capture by an unpredictable pursuer. Finally, the performance of the approach and research perspectives are discussed.
Speaking the Unspeakable: Buggery, Law, and Community Surveillance in New South Wales, 1788–1838
Authors: Taylor Luke
Published: February 2020

This paper is an empirical and theoretical analysis of buggery charges brought against men in New South Wales in the period 1788—1838. Drawing on a previously unexamined archive, it shows that an irregular pattern of charges in the first forty years of colonization was displaced by a dramatic increase in buggery charges in the period 1828–1838, and a move towards charging accused persons capitally; that the genesis of most complaints was community, rather than official, surveillance; and that throughout the entire period witnesses were far from circumspect in their evidence of unspeakable acts. The paper then argues that the upswing in charges post-1828 was only partly related to the introduction of the Offences Against the Person Act 1828 and its lower evidentiary threshold for proof of buggery. More important, it suggests, was the acute moralism of NSW society in the 1820s and 1830s, generated in part by John Thomas Bigge's 1822 Report into the State of the Colony of New South Wales. The move towards capital charges, however, does appear to bear some relationship to the changes in the Offences Act. The final part of the paper connects social anxiety over buggery to the 1837–38 Molesworth Inquiry into Transportation and the eventual cessation of convict transportation to NSW in 1840.
Performance and modification of EGCRISC among hepatitis C virus high-risk groups
Authors: El-Ghitany E. M. , Alkassabany Y. M. , Farghaly A. G.
Published: February 2020

We have previously shown that the Egyptian Hepatitis C Virus Risk Score (EGCRISC), an Egyptian hepatitis C virus (HCV) risk-based screening tool, to be valid and cost-effective. Certain behaviours, occupations and diseases have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of exposure to HCV infection and constitute a major population reservoir of HCV infection. This study investigated the efficacy of EGCRISC in selected high-risk groups by testing 863 participants from four groups: slaughterhouse workers, illicit drug users (IDUs), female sex workers and human immune deficiency virus (HIV) patients. Data for this study were collected on EGCRISC and another pre-designed risk factor questionnaire. Sera were tested for HCV antibodies by ELISA. EGCRISC, at lower cut-off points, showed significantly good performance (P < 0.05) in all four groups except for females <45 years, but was reliable in detecting HCV cases (sensitivity: 84.21% and negative predictive value: 94.5%). Specific scores for IDUs and HIV patients were developed that showed high accuracy (P < 0.001). A modified EGCRISC for high-risk groups (EGCRISC-HRGs) was shown to be a valid tool that is recommended for use in high-risk populations if no other specific screening tool is available or universal screening is applied. EGCRISC for IDUs (EGCRISC-IDUs) and EGCRISC for HIV patients (EGCRISC-HIV) are useful tools for preselecting potentially HCV-infected cases for further testing in settings where serological analysis is not readily available or accessible.
Co-circulation of influenza A(H1N1), A(H3N2), B(Yamagata) and B(Victoria) during the 2017−2018 influenza season in Zhejiang Province, China
Authors: Mao Haiyan , Sun Yi , Chen Yin , Lou Xiuyu , Yu Zhao , Wang Xinying , Ding Zheyuan , Cheng Wei , Zhang Dan , Zhang Yanjun , Jiang Jianmin
Published: February 2020

Influenza is a major human respiratory pathogen. Due to the high levels of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Zhejiang, China, the control and prevention of influenza was challenging during the 2017–2018 season. To identify the clinical spectrum of illness related to influenza and characterise the circulating influenza virus strains during this period, the characteristics of ILI were studied. Viral sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were conducted to investigate the virus types, substitutions at the amino acid level and phylogenetic relationships between sequences. This study has shown that the 2017/18 influenza season was characterised by the co-circulation of influenza A (H1N1) pdm09, A (H3N2) and B viruses (both Yamagata and Victoria lineage). From week 36 of 2017 to week 12 of 2018, ILI cases accounted for 5.58% of the total number of outpatient and emergency patient visits at the surveillance sites. Several amino acid substitutions were detected. Vaccination mismatch may be a potential reason for the high percentage of ILI. Furthermore, it is likely that multiple viral introductions played a role in the endemic co-circulation of influenza in Zhejiang, China. More detailed information regarding the molecular epidemiology of influenza should be included in long-term influenza surveillance.
Trade and National Security: Rising Risks for the WTO
Authors: Prazeres Tatiana Lacerda
Published: February 2020

The WTO is exposed to significant political risks deriving from both the abusive employment of the national security argument, as well as the use of the WTO dispute settlement system to address this problem. This article explores the implications of the first WTO panel decision, adopted in April 2019, in which the argument of ‘essential security interests’ was employed to justify trade restrictions. Article XXI of the GATT 1994 now tends to be invoked in other ongoing disputes, notably by the United States in the dispute settlement cases involving its barriers to steel and aluminum. The article argues that pathways other than WTO litigation should be explored to deal with trade barriers adopted under the argument of national security and, despite the absence of simple solutions, it considers some possible alternatives.
The First WTO's Ruling on National Security Exception: Balancing Interests or Opening Pandora's Box?
Authors: Boklan Daria , Bahri Amrita
Published: February 2020

For a multilateral system to be sustainable, it is important to have several escape clauses which can allow countries to protect their national security concerns. However, when these escape windows are too wide or ambiguous, defining their ambit and scope becomes challenging yet crucial to ensure that they are not open to misuse. The recent Panel Ruling inRussia – Measures Concerning Traffic in Transitis the very first attempt by the WTO to clarify the scope and ambit of National Security Exception. In this paper, we argue that the Panel has employed a combination of an objective and a subjective approach to interpret this exception. This hybrid approach to interpret GATT Article XXI (b) provides a systemic balance between the sovereign rights of the members to invoke the security exception and their right to free and open trade. But has this Ruling opened Pandora's box? In this paper, we address this issue by providing an in-depth analysis of the Panel's decision.
Multiple herbicide–resistant Lolium spp. is prevalent in wheat production in Texas Blacklands
Authors: Singh Vijay , Maity Aniruddha , Abugho Seth , Swart James , Drake David , Bagavathiannan Muthukumar
Published: February 2020

Field surveys were conducted across the Blacklands region of Texas during 2016 and 2017 to document the distribution of herbicide-resistant Lolium spp. infesting winter wheat production fields in the region. A total of 68 populations (64 Italian ryegrass, four perennial ryegrass) were evaluated in a greenhouse for sensitivity to herbicides of three different modes of action: an acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor (mesosulfuron-methyl), two acetyl-coenzyme-A carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors (diclofop-methyl and pinoxaden), and a 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) inhibitor (glyphosate). Herbicides were applied at twice the label-recommended rates for mesosulfuron-methyl (29 g ai ha−1), diclofop-methyl (750 g ai ha−1), and pinoxaden (118 g ai ha−1); and at the recommended rate for glyphosate (868 g ae ha−1). The herbicide screenings were followed by dose-response assays of the most-resistant ryegrass population for each herbicide at eight rates (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64×), compared with a susceptible population at six rates (0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2×). The initial screening and dose-response experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications and two experimental runs. Survivors (<80% injury) were characterized as highly resistant (0% to 20% injury) or moderately resistant (21% to 79%). Results showed that 97%, 92%, 39%, and 3% of the Italian ryegrass populations had survivors to diclofop-methyl, mesosulfuron-methyl, pinoxaden, and glyphosate treatments, respectively. Of the four perennial ryegrass populations, three were resistant to diclofop-methyl and mesosulfuron-methyl, and one was resistant to pinoxaden as well. Perennial ryegrass populations did not exhibit any resistance to glyphosate. Dose-response assays revealed 37-, 196-, and 23-fold resistance in Italian ryegrass to mesosulfuron-methyl, diclofop-methyl, and pinoxaden, respectively, compared with a susceptible standard. One Italian ryegrass population exhibited three-way multiple resistance to ACCase-, ALS-, and EPSPS-inhibitors. The proliferation of multiple herbicide–resistant ryegrass is a challenge to sustainable wheat production in Texas Blacklands and warrants diversified management strategies.
Multi‐instrumental Observations of the Quasi‐16‐Day Variations From the Lower Thermosphere to the Topside Ionosphere in the Low‐Latitude Eastern Asian Sector During the 2017 Sudden Stratospheric Warming Event
Authors: Liu Jing , Zhang Donghe , Hao Yongqiang , Xiao Zuo
Published: February 2020

Variations of the low‐latitude ionosphere in the eastern Asian sector during the 2017 sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) were studied with multi‐instrumental observations that correspond to different altitudes. Specifically, the variations of the topside ionosphere as high as over 830 km were investigated with data from the Swarm B satellite (~500 km), the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F15 satellite (~830 km), and the Meteorological Operational satellite‐A (~830 km). The main results are as follows. (1) Simultaneous variations were detected in the ionospheric parameters from the E region to the topside ionosphere around the first peak warming of the 2017 SSW. (2) These variations exhibited similar quasi‐16‐day (Q16D; ~14.5‐day) periods, and these periods were most significant just before the first peak warming. (3) These simultaneous Q16D variations were not due to the solar extreme ultraviolet irradiance or geomagnetic activities but were probably driven from below, by planetary waves or semidiurnal lunar tides that enhanced during the SSW. (4) The Q16D variation of the topside ionospheric electron density at ~830 km was probably driven not only by the upward mapping electric field modulated in the E region dynamo but also by the electric field modulated in the F region dynamo.
Inversion of Time‐Lapse Seismic Reservoir Monitoring Data Using CycleGAN: A Deep Learning‐Based Approach for Estimating Dynamic Reservoir Property Changes
Authors: Zhong Zhi , Sun Alexander Y. , Wu Xinming
Published: February 2020

Carbon capture and storage is being pursued globally as a geoengineering measure for reducing the emission of anthropogenic
into the atmosphere. Comprehensive monitoring, verification, and accounting programs must be established for demonstrating the safe storage of injected CO
. One of the most commonly deployed monitoring techniques is time‐lapse seismic reservoir monitoring (also known as 4‐D seismic), which involves comparing 3‐D seismic survey data taken at the same study site but over different times. Analyses of 4‐D seismic data volumes can help improve the quality of storage reservoir characterization, track the movement of injected CO
plume, and identify potential CO
spillover/leakage from the storage reservoirblue. However, the derivation of high‐resolution CO
saturation maps from 4‐D seismic data is a highly nonlinear and ill‐posed inverse problem, often requiring significant computational effort. In this research, we apply a physics‐based deep learning method to facilitate the solution of both the forward and inverse problems in seismic inversion while honoring physical constraints. A cycle generative adversarial neural network (CycleGAN) model is trained to learn the bidirectional functional mappings between the reservoir dynamic property changes and seismic attribute changes, such that both forward and inverse solutions can be obtained efficiently from the trained model. We show that our CycleGAN‐based approach not only improves the reliability of 4‐D seismic inversion but also expedites the quantitative interpretation. Our deep learning‐based workflow is generic and can be readily used for reservoir characterization and reservoir model updates involving the use of 4‐D seismic data.
Ice Nucleation by Marine Aerosols Over the North Atlantic Ocean in Late Spring
Authors: Wilbourn Elise K. , Thornton Daniel C. O. , Ott Catherine , Graff Jason , Quinn Patricia K. , Bates Timothy S. , Betha Raghu , Russell Lynn M. , Behrenfeld Michael J. , Brooks Sarah D.
Published: February 2020

Here we report the ice nucleating temperatures of marine aerosols sampled in the subarctic Atlantic Ocean during a phytoplankton bloom. Ice nucleation measurements were conducted on primary aerosol samples and phytoplankton isolated from seawater samples. Primary marine aerosol samples produced by a specialized aerosol generator (the Sea Sweep) catalyzed droplet freezing at temperatures between −33.4 °C and − 24.5 °C, with a mean freezing temperature of −28.5 °C, which was significantly warmer than the homogeneous freezing temperature of pure water in the atmosphere (−36 °C). Following a storm‐induced deep mixing event, ice nucleation activity was enhanced by two metrics: (1) the fraction of aerosols acting as ice nucleating particles (INPs) and (2) the nucleating temperatures, which were the warmest observed throughout the project. Seawater samples were collected from the ocean's surface and phytoplankton groups, including Synechococcus, picoeukaryotes, and nanoeukaryotes, were isolated into sodium chloride sheath fluid solution using a cell‐sorting flow cytometer. Marine aerosol containing Synechococcus, picoeukaryotes, and nanoeukaryotes serves as INP at temperatures significantly warmer than the homogeneous freezing temperature of pure water in the atmosphere. Samples containing whole organisms in 30 g L−1 NaCl had freezing temperatures between −33.8 and − 31.1 °C. Dilution of samples to representative atmospheric aerosol salt concentrations (as low as 3.75 g L−1 NaCl) raised freezing temperatures to as high as −22.1 °C. It follows that marine aerosols containing phytoplankton may have widespread influence on marine ice nucleation events by facilitating ice nucleation.
Feedbacks Between Surface Deformation and Permafrost Degradation in Ice Wedge Polygons, Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska
Authors: Abolt Charles J. , Young Michael H. , Atchley Adam L. , Harp Dylan R. , Coon Ethan T.
Published: February 2020

In the past three decades, an abrupt, pan‐Arctic acceleration of ice wedge melting has transformed tundra landscapes, spurring the formation of hummock‐like features known as high‐centered polygons (HCPs). This rapid geomorphic transition profoundly alters regional hydrology and influences surface emissions of CO2 and CH4. In Arctic Alaska, most recent instances of ice wedge degradation have arrested within 15–20 years of inception, stabilizing HCP microtopography. However, feedbacks between ground surface deformation and permafrost stability are incompletely understood, limiting our capacity to predict trajectories of landscape evolution in a still warmer future. Here, we use field data from a site near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to develop a modeling‐based framework for assessing the strength of positive (i.e., exacerbating) feedbacks on ice wedge degradation, focusing on the importance of heterogeneity in surface drainage and microtopographic conditions. Our simulations suggest that, when troughs are narrow, positive feedbacks on ice wedge melting (associated with thermokarst pool formation) are relatively weak. Positive feedbacks are markedly stronger beneath wide troughs, such as those that form above older, larger ice wedges. Seasonal thaw abruptly accelerates once a talik begins to form beneath wide and deep thermokarst pools. Once a talik initiates, winter severity and snowpack thickness increase in importance as predictors of thaw intensity in summer. Our results indicate that meter‐scale heterogeneity in polygonal microtopography potentially exerts strong, nonlinear controls on thermokarst trajectories. These findings are useful for predicting future thermokarst dynamics and for interpreting the results from coarser‐resolution land surface models operating at greater spatial and temporal scales.
Evolutionary conservation of within-family biodiversity patterns
Authors: Laiolo Paola , Pato Joaquina , Jiménez-Alfaro Borja , Obeso José Ramón
Published: February 2020

The tendency for species to retain their ancestral biological properties has been widely demonstrated, but the effect of phylogenetic constraints when progressing from species to ensemble-level properties requires further assessment. Here we test whether community-level patterns (environmental shifts in local species richness and turnover) are phylogenetically conserved, assessing whether their similarity across different families of lichens, insects, and birds is dictated by the relatedness of these families. We show a significant phylogenetic signal in the shape of the species richness-elevation curve and the decay of community similarity with elevation: closely related families share community patterns within the three major taxa. Phylogenetic influences are partly explained by similarities among families in conserved traits defining body plan and interactions, implying a scaling of phylogenetic effects from the organismal to the community level. Consequently, the phylogenetic signal in community-level patterns informs about how the historical legacy of a taxon and shared responses among related taxa to similar environments contribute to community assembly and diversity patterns.
Free log-likelihood as an unbiased metric for coherent diffraction imaging
Authors: Favre-Nicolin Vincent , Leake Steven , Chushkin Yuriy
Published: February 2020

Coherent Diffraction Imaging (CDI), a technique where an object is reconstructed from a single (2D or 3D) diffraction pattern, recovers the lost diffraction phases without a priori knowledge of the extent (support) of the object. The uncertainty of the object support can lead to over-fitting and prevents an unambiguous metric evaluation of solutions. We propose to use a ‘free’ log-likelihood indicator, where a small percentage of points are masked from the reconstruction algorithms, as an unbiased metric to evaluate the validity of computed solutions, independent of the sample studied. We also show how a set of solutions can be analysed through an eigen-decomposition to yield a better estimate of the real object. Example analysis on experimental data is presented both for a test pattern dataset, and the diffraction pattern from a live cyanobacteria cell. The method allows the validation of reconstructions on a wide range of materials (hard condensed or biological), and should be particularly relevant for 4th generation synchrotrons and X-ray free electron lasers, where large, high-throughput datasets require a method for unsupervised data evaluation.
Gut microbial taxa as potential predictive biomarkers for acute coronary syndrome and post-STEMI cardiovascular events
Authors: Gao Jing , Yan Kun-Tao , Wang Ji-Xiang , Dou Jing , Wang Jie , Ren Min , Ma Jing , Zhang Xu , Liu Yin
Published: February 2020

Plasma trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is associated with coronary atherosclerotic plaque and cardiovascular disease risk, but associations between gut microbes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and post-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (post-STEMI) events are unknown. We investigated associations between gut microbial taxa and systemic TMAO levels and the possible TMAO contribution to incident post-STEMI cardiovascular events. Patients and Methods. A total of 60 patients, including 30 with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), 30 post-STEMI and 30 healthy controls, were enrolled from June to November 2017. Metagenomic sequencing was performed and TMAO and IL-6 were detected. Results. Minimal discriminators of gut microbial taxa (top 40) distinguished ACS patients from controls. Serum TMAO levels were positively associated with increased abundance of Aerococcaceae, Ruminococcaceae_UCG.005, Ruminococcaceae_UCC.014 and X. Eubacterium_fissicatena, and decreased abundance of Lachnospiraceae_FCS020 (P < 0.05). Elevated serum TMAO levels correlated independently with ACS (P < 0.05). Risk stratification for incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) improved at one year in patients with serum TMAO levels ≦2.19 µM. Serum interleukin-6 levels were not significantly increased in patients with ACS and post-STEMI MACE. Conclusions. ACS and incident post-STEMI MACE may be associated with the gut bacteria choline metabolite TMAO. The specific gut microbial taxa identified in association with serum TMAO levels may be potential predictive biomarkers for accurate diagnosis of ACS onset.
Protein design under competing conditions for the availability of amino acids
Authors: Nerattini Francesca , Tubiana Luca , Cardelli Chiara , Bianco Valentino , Dellago Christoph , Coluzza Ivan
Published: February 2020

Isolating the properties of proteins that allow them to convert sequence into the structure is a long-lasting biophysical problem. In particular, studies focused extensively on the effect of a reduced alphabet size on the folding properties. However, the natural alphabet is a compromise between versatility and optimisation of the available resources. Here, for the first time, we include the impact of the relative availability of the amino acids to extract from the 20 letters the core necessary for protein stability. We present a computational protein design scheme that involves the competition for resources between a protein and a potential interaction partner that, additionally, gives us the chance to investigate the effect of the reduced alphabet on protein-protein interactions. We devise a scheme that automatically identifies the optimal reduced set of letters for the design of the protein, and we observe that even alphabets reduced down to 4 letters allow for single protein folding. However, it is only with 6 letters that we achieve optimal folding, thus recovering experimental observations. Additionally, we notice that the binding between the protein and a potential interaction partner could not be avoided with the investigated reduced alphabets. Therefore, we suggest that aggregation could have been a driving force in the evolution of the large protein alphabet.
In-Situ Electron Channeling Contrast Imaging under Tensile Loading: Residual Stress, Dislocation Motion, and Slip Line Formation
Authors: Nakafuji Keiichiro , Koyama Motomichi , Tsuzaki Kaneaki
Published: February 2020

Elastoplastic phenomena, such as plastic deformation and failure, are multi-scale, deformation-path-dependent, and mechanical-field-sensitive problems associated with metals. Accordingly, visualization of the microstructural deformation path under a specific mechanical field is challenging for the elucidation of elastoplastic phenomena mechanisms. To overcome this problem, a dislocation-resolved in-situ technique for deformation under mechanically controllable conditions is required. Thus, we attempted to apply electron channeling contrast imaging (ECCI) under tensile loading, which enabled the detection of lattice defect motions and the evolution of elastic strain fields in bulk specimens. Here, we presented the suitability of ECCI as an in-situ technique with dislocation-detectable spatial resolution. In particular, the following ECCI-visualized plasticity-related phenomena were observed: (1) pre-deformation-induced residual stress and its disappearance via subsequent reloading, (2) heterogeneous dislocation motion during plastic relaxation, and (3) planar surface relief formation via loading to a higher stress.
Transparent Body-Attachable Multifunctional Pressure, Thermal, and Proximity Sensor and Heater
Authors: Seok Jo Hong , An Seongpil , Kwon Hyuk-Jin , Yarin Alexander L. , Yoon Sam S.
Published: February 2020

A multifunctional sensor capable of simultaneous sensing of temperature, pressure, and proximity has been developed. This transparent and body-attachable device is also capable of providing heat under low voltage. The multi-sensor consists of metal fibers fabricated by electrospinning and electroplating. The device comprises randomly deposited metal fibers, which not only provide heating but also perform as thermal and proximity sensors, and orderly aligned metal fibers that act as a pressure sensor. The sensor is fabricated by weaving straight rectangular electrodes on a transparent substrate (a matrix). The sensitivity is readily enhanced by installing numerous matrices that facilitate higher sensing resolution. The convective heat transfer coefficient of the heater is h = 0.014 W·cm−2·°C−1. The temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) and pressure sensitivity (ηP) are 0.038 °C−1 and 5.3 × 10−3 kPa−1, respectively. The superior sensitivity of the device is confirmed via quantitative comparison with similar devices. This multifunctional device also has a superior convective heat transfer coefficient than do other heaters reported in the literature.
Cats with thermal burn injuries from California wildfires show echocardiographic evidence of myocardial thickening and intracardiac thrombi
Authors: Sharpe Ashley N. , Gunther-Harrington Catherine T. , Epstein Steven E. , Li Ronald H. L. , Stern Joshua A.
Published: February 2020

Recent increases in the prevalence and severity of wildfires in some regions have resulted in an increased frequency of veterinary burn patients. Few studies exist regarding diagnostics and management of burn wounds in veterinary patients and current knowledge is extrapolated from human literature and research models. Post-burn cardiac injury is a common finding and predictor of mortality in human patients and echocardiography is an important tool in monitoring response to therapy and predicting outcome. We describe the notable findings from cats naturally exposed to California wildfires in 2017 and 2018. Domestic cats (n = 51) sustaining burn injuries from the Tubbs (2017) and Camp (2018) wildfires were prospectively enrolled and serial echocardiograms and cardiac troponin I evaluations were performed. Echocardiograms of affected cats revealed a high prevalence of myocardial thickening (18/51) and spontaneous echocardiographic contrast and thrombi formation (16/51). Forty-two cats survived to discharge and 6 died or were euthanized due to a possible cardiac cause. For the first time, we describe cardiovascular and coagulation effects of thermal burn and smoke inhalation in cats. Further studies in veterinary burn victims are warranted and serve as a translational research opportunity for uncovering novel disease mechanisms and therapies.
Hidden parasite diversity in a European freshwater system
Authors: Selbach Christian , Soldánová Miroslava , Feld Christian K. , Kostadinova Aneta , Sures Bernd
Published: February 2020

Parasites comprise a huge part of the biodiversity on earth. However, on a local scale, not much is known about their diversity and community structure. Here, we assess the diversity of larval trematode communities in an interconnected freshwater system of the River Ruhr in Germany and analyse how the parasites are spatially and temporally distributed in the ecosystem. A total of 5347 snail hosts belonging to six species revealed a highly diverse parasite fauna with 36 trematode species. More abundant snail species harboured more species-rich trematode faunas and communities, with the two dominant snail species,Radix auriculariaandGyraulus albus, accounting for almost 90% of the trematode diversity and harbouring spatially and temporally stable parasite communities. The results highlight the important role of stable keystone host populations for trematode transmission, structure and diversity. This local trematode diversity reveals information on definitive host occurrence and trophic interactions within ecosystems.
Access to pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoindolediones from oxime acetates and ninhydrin via Cu(i)-mediated domino annulations
Authors: Upare Atul , Chouhan Neeraj Kumar , Ramaraju Andhavaram , Sridhar Balasubramanian , Bathula Surendar Reddy
Published: February 2020

A copper-mediated domino condensation reaction of easily accessible oxime acetates with ninhydrin to give pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoindolediones is reported.
Unravelling humidity-gated, temperature responsive bilayer actuators
Authors: Verpaalen Rob C. P. , Souren Anne E. J. , Debije Michael G. , Engels Tom A. P. , Bastiaansen Cees W. M. , Schenning Albertus P. H. J.
Published: February 2020

By spraying liquid crystal mixtures onto stretched polyamide 6 (PA6) substrates, dual-responsive heat/humidity bilayer actuators are generated.
The Role of Behavioral Inhibition for Conversational Speech and Language Characteristics of Preschool-Age Children Who Stutter
Authors: Tumanova Victoria , Woods Carly , Razza Rachel
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether preschool-age children who stutter (CWS) were more likely to exhibit a temperamental trait of behavioral inhibition (BI), a correlate of shyness, than children who do not stutter (CWNS) and whether this temperamental trait affected preschool-age children's speech fluency and language complexity during a conversation with an unfamiliar adult.

Method

Sixty-eight preschool-age children (31 CWS, 37 CWNS) participated. The degree of BI was assessed by measuring the latency to their sixth spontaneous comment and the number of all spontaneous comments during a conversation with an unfamiliar examiner (following Kagan et al.'s [1987] methodology). Parent report of shyness from the Children's Behavior Questionnaire served as an indirect measure of BI. Children's language complexity was assessed by measuring their mean length of utterance and the number of words spoken. For CWS, the frequency of stuttering and the negative impact of stuttering were also assessed.

Results

First, we found no between-group differences in the degree of BI across the behavioral observation measures. However, CWS were rated shyer by parents than CWNS. Second, for CWS only, higher BI was associated with less complex utterances and fewer words spoken. Third, for CWS, higher BI was associated with fewer stuttered disfluencies produced.

Conclusions

This study provides empirical evidence that BI to the unfamiliar may have salience for childhood stuttering as it affected the quantity and quality of language spoken with an unfamiliar adult. Clinical implications of high BI for the assessment and treatment of preschool-age stuttering are discussed.
Traffic modelling of smart city internet of things architecture
Authors: Ibrahim Amin S. , Youssef Khaled Y. , Kamel Hesham , Abouelatta Mohamed
Published: February 2020

Internet of things (IoT) is one of the modern technologies, developing existing cellular communication networks to the emerging fifth‐generation technology. The traffic modelling of IoT applications is different from the recommended traffic modelling of a Human‐type communication. Numerous unstructured data arise from rapid growth of IoT heterogeneous networks and services. One of challenges occurs by diverse IoT unstructured data is a variety of IoT data characteristics, which increase traffic modelling influences. The study of IoT characteristics has a crucial role in modelling data bursts of IoT use cases. This study proposes an enhanced ON/OFF traffic modelling technique to model IoT data characteristics of diverse applications, especially the IoT smart city. A novel modelling technique categorises and analyses characteristics of IoT smart city use case into five major traffic patterns. In this study, realistic smart home networks were built as a part of IoT smart city in an experimental model. Massive traffic profiles are generated from a pilot according to a proposed IoT smart city architecture model. Various traffic profiles of a pilot are modelled into theoretical models by Easy‐Fit tool. Traffic modelling concept of a novel technique and their five traffic patterns are proven in the pilot results.
Parametric control to a type of descriptor quasi‐linear systems based on dynamic compensator and multi‐objective optimisation
Authors: Gu Da‐Ke , Zhang Da‐Wei
Published: February 2020

This study investigates the parametric approach for a type of descriptor quasi‐linear systems by utilising dynamic compensator and multi‐objective optimisation. Based on the solutions of generalised Sylvester matrix equation, the generally parameterised expressions of dynamic compensator and the left and right eigenvector matrices are both established, meanwhile, a group of arbitrary parameters are obtained. With the parametric approach, the closed‐loop system can be transformed into a linear time‐invariant one with an expected eigenstructure by using a group of canonical matrix pairs. Simultaneously, it also presents a novel technique to design multi‐objective optimisation for descriptor quasi‐linear systems. Multiple performance indexes such as low sensitivity, disturbance attenuation, robustness degree, and low gains are formulated by arbitrary parameters. Based on the above indexes, robustness criteria and low gain criteria can be expressed by a synthetic objective function which includes each performance index weighted. By utilising the degrees of freedom in arbitrary parameters, a dynamic compensator can be obtained by solving a multi‐objective optimisation problem. Finally, two examples are proposed to prove that the parametric approach is effective.
Input‐to‐state stability‐based adaptive control for spacecraft fly‐around with input saturation
Authors: Wang Yu , Ji Haibo
Published: February 2020

This study is concerned with the six degrees‐of‐freedom (6‐DOF) tracking control problem for spacecraft fly‐around mission in the presence of input saturation and external disturbances. First, to describe the fly‐around mission, a coupled 6‐DOF relative motion dynamic model is established. Subsequently, a basic controller is designed based on input‐to‐state stability. To address the input saturation problem, a novel dead‐zone operator‐based model is introduced. Then, employing input‐to‐state practical stability theory, a saturated control scheme is technically proposed by incorporating the adaptive technique into backstepping design, which needs no prior knowledge of the external disturbances' bounds. Under this scheme, the system tracking errors can be stabilised to a small domain of convergence around zero. Moreover, the convergence domain can be adjusted by adjusting the control parameters. Finally, comparative simulation examples are carried out to validate the superiority of the proposed control approach.