bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Disentangled Ultra‐High Molecular Weight Polyethylene using Vanadium(V)‐Based Catalysts
Authors: Spronck Mitch , Klein Axel , Blom Burgert , Romano Dario
Published: June 2018

Two known imido vanadium(V) trichloride complexes, [Cl3V=N–C6H3‐2,6‐Me2] (1) and [Cl3V=N–C6H3‐2,6‐iPr2] (2), both of which have escaped testing as ethylene polymerization catalyst precursors, were synthesized and their capacity to polymerize ethylene in the presence of the co‐catalyst MAO (methylaluminoxane) (Al:V ratio: 1000:1) at 10 °C is reported. The resulting polymers, from both catalysts, have molecular weights exceeding 1–2 million g/mol as suggested by the insolubility at high temperature and rheological measurements. According to the rheological and DSC annealing characterizations the synthesized Ultra‐High Molecular Weight PolyEthylene from both 1 and 2 show features of a high degree of disentanglement.
On the Analysis of Trajectory-Based Search Algorithms: When is it Beneficial to Reject Improvements?
Authors: Nallaperuma Samadhi , Oliveto Pietro S. , Pérez Heredia Jorge , Sudholt Dirk
Published: June 2018

We investigate popular trajectory-based algorithms inspired by biology and physics to answer a question of general significance: when is it beneficial to reject improvements? A distinguishing factor of SSWM (strong selection weak mutation), a popular model from population genetics, compared to the Metropolis algorithm (MA), is that the former can reject improvements, while the latter always accepts them. We investigate when one strategy outperforms the other. Since we prove that both algorithms converge to the same stationary distribution, we concentrate on identifying a class of functions inducing large mixing times, where the algorithms will outperform each other over a long period of time. The outcome of the analysis is the definition of a function where SSWM is efficient, while Metropolis requires at least exponential time. The identified function favours algorithms that prefer high quality improvements over smaller ones, revealing similarities in the optimisation strategies of SSWM and Metropolis respectively with best-improvement (BILS) and first-improvement (FILS) local search. We conclude the paper with a comparison of the performance of these algorithms and a (1,

$$\lambda $$

λ

) RLS on the identified function. The algorithm favours the steepest gradient with a probability that increases with the size of its offspring population. The results confirm that BILS excels and that the (1,

$$\lambda $$

λ

) RLS is efficient only for large enough population sizes.
Lower genetic diversity and hatchability in amphibian populations isolated by urbanization
Authors: Okamiya Hisanori , Kusano Tamotsu
Published: June 2018

Many amphibian populations worldwide have declined rapidly and been threatened with extinction in the past few decades because of human impacts on the environment. It is well known that urbanization reduces the genetic diversity of isolated populations. The concept that a reduction in genetic diversity leads to lower reproductive fitness has been predominantly supported by studies involving laboratory organisms, but has rarely been tested in wild populations. Here we examined whether genetic diversity affected hatchability, a population parameter related to reproductive success, in the populations of two pond‐breeding amphibian species (Hynobius tokyoensis and Rana ornativentris) affected by urbanization. We surveyed 81 populations in the southwestern Kanto region of Japan. Mean hatchability of the populations was determined and genetic diversities were estimated via mitochondrial or microsatellite DNA analyses. Firstly, Random Forests (an ensemble machine learning method) models were applied to clarify the effects of environmental factors on both hatchability and genetic diversity. Subsequently, the relationships among environmental factors, genetic diversity, and mean hatchability were evaluated using path analysis. Mean hatchability was significantly affected by both urbanization and genetic diversity. This result shows that loss of genetic diversity may decrease a population's reproductive success in the field.
Differential effects of typical and atypical antipsychotics on astroglial cells in vitro
Authors: Bobermin Larissa Daniele , da Silva Amanda , Souza Diogo Onofre , Quincozes‐Santos André
Published: June 2018

Astrocytes are glial cells that are essential for the maintenance of central nervous system functions, modulating neurotransmitters, providing metabolic, trophic and antioxidant support, and producing a wide range of cytokines to modulate the inflammatory response. These cells can be targets for antipsychotics, medications used in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. In this regard, several studies have shown that antipsychotics are able to modulate peripheral cytokine release, but their effects on astroglial inflammatory response need to be further investigated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of risperidone and haloperidol, common atypical and typical antipsychotics, respectively, on cytokine release and redox status in C6 astroglial cells, an astrocyte‐like cell line. Risperidone showed an anti‐inflammatory activity, decreasing the release of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α), interleukins 1β (IL‐1 β) and 6 (IL‐6), and increasing interleukin 10 (IL‐10). This atypical antipsychotic was also able to decrease the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) and improve glutathione content. However, haloperidol induced a pro‐inflammatory response, increasing the extracellular levels of TNF‐α and IL‐1β, in addition to decreasing IL‐10. This typical antipsychotic could induce an inflammatory response by activating p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK)/NFκB pathways. In summary, our results suggest that risperidone and haloperidol present different effects on astroglial cells, in this way being able to differentially affect the neuroinflammation associated with neuropsychiatric disorders.
Did AFP‐L3 save ultrasonography in community screening?
Authors: Yen Chih‐Wei , Kuo Yuan‐Hung , Wang Jing‐Houng , Chang Kuo‐Chin , Kee Kwong‐Ming , Hung Shu‐Feng , Chen Yi , Tsai Lin‐San , Chen Shu‐Chuan , Hung Chao‐Hung , Lu Sheng‐Nan
Published: June 2018

In the community screening, those subjects with elevated serum alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) required further abdomen ultrasonography (US) to detect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, some chronic hepatitis patients might have elevated AFP. AFP‐L3, has been proposed to differentiate HCC and hepatitis in elevated AFP cases in Japan for decades, but the utility is limited outside Japan. We conducted this study to elucidate the role of AFP‐L3 in the community and the possibility of saving unnecessary US. A total of 56,702 subjects underwent a large‐scale healthcare screening in Tainan county in 2004. Among them, 286 residents with AFP more than 20 ng/ml further received US and 169 (59%) had stored baseline sera were enrolled into this study in 2013. Their AFP and AFP‐L3 levels were further detected. HCC patients were initially identified through US and personal history. Among 169 studied sera, only 148 (87.6%) samples still had AFP level more than 20 ng/ml after a 10‐years frozen period. The decrease of AFP level was significant (481.3 ± 2093.8 ng/ml and 456.1 ± 2095.3 ng/ml in paired‐T test, p < 0.001). Focusing on these 148 cases, 23 (15.5%) HCC cases were diagnosed at the baseline screening. There was no difference of AFP‐L3 level between HCC and non‐HCC cases. Using AFP‐L3 to predict HCC, the area under Receiver Operating Characteristic curve was as low as 52%, p = 0.757. Too long frozen period might lower the quality of stored sera. Additionally, AFP‐L3 might not provide more information for HCC identification to save advanced US examinations in the community screening.
A multiscale model for the rupture of linear polymers in strong flows
Authors: Rognin E. , Willis-Fox N. , Aljohani T. A. , Daly R.
Published: June 2018

Polymer-containing solutions used across research and industry are commonly exposed to mechanically harsh fluid processes, for example shear and extensional forces during flow through porous media or rapid microdispensing of biopharmaceutical molecules. These forces are strong enough to break the covalent bonds in the polymer backbone. As this scission phenomenon can change the functional and fluid-flow properties as well as introduce reactive radicals into the solution, it must be understood and controlled. Experiments and models to date have only provided partial or qualitative insights into this behaviour. Here we build a link between the molecular-scale degradation models and the macroscale laminar flow of dilute solutions in any given geometry. A free-draining bead–rod model is used to investigate rupture events at the molecular scale. It is shown by uniaxial extension simulations of an ensemble of chains that scission can be conveniently described at the macroscopic scale as a first-order reaction whose rate is a function of the conformation tensor of the macromolecules and the velocity gradient of the flow. This approach is implemented in the finite volume code OpenFOAM by elaborating an appropriate constitutive equation for the conformation tensor. The macroscopic model is run and analysed for ultra-dilute solutions of poly(methyl methacrylate) in ethyl acetate and polyethylene oxide in water, using the geometry of an abrupt contraction flow and neglecting any viscoelastic effect. This multiscale approach bridges the gap between phenomenological observations of mechanically induced chemical degradation in large-scale applications and the rich field of molecular-scale models of macromolecules under flow.
DIDO, PALLAS, NISUS AND THE NAMELESS MOTHERS INAENEID8–10
Authors: Carstairs-McCarthy Andrew
Published: June 2018

In the so-called ‘Iliadic’Aeneid(Books 7–12), Dido is scarcely mentioned. At first sight, Aeneas’ dalliance at Carthage is forgotten when he gets down to the serious business of establishing the Trojans in Italy. But the poem's last mention of Dido (at 11.74, when Aeneas places a tunic made by her on the dead Pallas) is enmeshed in a network of parallel passages elsewhere in theAeneidrelating to tunics and adoption. In the light of similarities between Aeneas and the superficially unimportant Trojan warrior Nisus, these passages bear crucially (I suggest) on the contrast between Aeneas’ public and privatepietas: his obedience to imposed (or public) commitments and to chosen (or private) ones. In this way, Virgil provides guidance on what motivates Aeneas’ fury in Books 10 and 12.
Sex difference in counts of α4 and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the nasal polyps of adults with or without exposure to tobacco smoke
Authors: Montaño-Velázquez B B , Lara-Sánchez D A , Orozco-Sánchez A , García-Vázquez F J , Mora-Campos M R , Jáuregui-Renaud K
Published: June 2018

Objective

To assess counts of α4 and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in nasal polyps of adults with or without long-term exposure to cigarette tobacco smoke.

Methods

Twenty-two patients with and 22 patients without exposure to cigarette tobacco smoke participated in the study. After endoscopic polypectomy, the fragments of the nasal polyps were analysed by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Compared to patients with no exposure, patients with exposure showed higher counts of α4 and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (t-test, p < 0.05). However, in patients with no exposure, multivariate analysis showed gender dimorphism, with lower counts in males than in females, and no influence from other variables (analysis of covariance, p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Exposure to cigarette tobacco smoke may induce increased counts of α4 and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in nasal polyps of adults, with lower counts in males than females without exposure to tobacco smoke.
Intratympanic gadolinium magnetic resonance imaging supports the role of endolymphatic hydrops in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated inner-ear disease
Authors: Lobo D , Tuñón M , Villarreal I , Brea B , García-Berrocal J R
Published: June 2018

Objective

To evaluate the presence of endolymphatic hydrops in patients with immune-mediated inner-ear disease.

Methods

The presence of endolymphatic hydrops was prospectively evaluated in 17 patients clinically diagnosed with secondary (n= 5) or primary (n= 12) immune-mediated inner-ear disease, who attended the ENT department of a tertiary care centre for evaluation or treatment over the previous year. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the temporal bone.

Results

Intratympanic gadolinium three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging diagnosed hydrops in 11 of 12 patients with primary immune-mediated inner-ear disease (92 per cent). Of these, seven patients (64 per cent) presented only cochlear (n= 5) or predominantly cochlear (n= 2) hydrops. A positive magnetic resonance imaging result was observed in only one of five patients with secondary immune-mediated inner-ear disease (20 per cent).

Conclusion

This study confirms the presence of endolymphatic hydrops in immune-mediated inner-ear disease patients. The virtual absence of hydrops in patients with secondary immune-mediated inner-ear disease is remarkable, although firm conclusions cannot be drawn; this should be explored in a multicentre study with a larger sample of patients. A different immune reaction without development of endolymphatic hydrops should not be ruled out in secondary immune-mediated inner-ear disease patients.
The Political Geography of Legal Integration
Authors: Kelemen R. Daniel , Pavone Tommaso
Published: June 2018

How are processes of political development structured across space and time by preexisting institutions? This article develops a spatiotemporal theory of institutional change by analyzing the evolving infrastructural power of the European Union's legal order using geospatial methods. Specifically, the authors theorize that the pattern and pace of the domestic spread of EU law has been shaped by preexisting state institutions—particularly by the degree to which national judiciaries are hierarchically organized. To assess this claim, the article compares patterns of domestic judicial enforcement of EU law across France (a unitary state with a centralized judiciary), Italy (a weaker unitary state with a centralized judiciary), and Germany (a federal state with a decentralized judiciary). Developing a geospatial approach to the study of legal integration and historical institutionalism more broadly, the authors leverage an original geocoded data set of cases referred to the European Court of Justice by national courts to visualize how the subnational penetration of Europe's supranational legal order is conditioned by state institutions.
The beginning of herding and animal management: the early development of caprine herding on the Konya plain, central Anatolia
Authors: Middleton Caroline
Published: June 2018

Little is known about the initial appearance of herding in central Anatolia. Although morphologically domestic caprines are present from the foundation of Çatalhöyük East, ca 7,100 cal. BC, how and when domestic caprines became an integral part of the central Anatolian economy, and their Status and relationship with earlier communities, is unclear. This article reports the results of a study in which carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes were used to provide signatures of caprine diet and thus pasturing practices; as an animal's movements are affected by human Intervention, changes in animal diets should be visible through changes in δ15N and δ13C levels. A sequence of seven sites on the Konya piain, covering the period ca 9,000–4,500 cal. BC, provided bone samples for carbon and nitrogen analysis. An unaffected local dietary signature for caprines was created using the fauna from Epipalaeolithic Pınarbaşı and a C3/C4plant baseline. This dietary signature, along with dietary information from the domesticated caprines at later sites, allowed changes in diet resulting from human Intervention to be mapped. Changes in diet are found to have occurred at sites where there is no morphometric or demographic data suggestive of early herding or domesticates. This new dietary data extends our knowledge and under-standing of how and when caprines and cattle came under human control on the Konya piain, central Anatolia.
Phrygians east of the red river: Phrygianisation, migration and desertion
Authors: Summers Geoffrey D.
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this paper is to suggest mechanisms pertaining to the foundation of a new city on the Kerkenes Dağ, in the highlands of central Anatolia in the mid-first millennium BC. Archaeological evidence that Kerkenes was a new foundation is discussed, after which its thoroughly Phrygian culture is outlined. The core of the paper discusses possible explanations for the unexpected appearance of this new capital. Possibilities include Phrygianisation or acculturation, centralisation of pre-existing Phrygian settlements east of the Kızılırmak, eastward expansion of the Kingdom of Phrygia and a large migration from central or western Phrygia. It is proposed that a single large migration provides the most plausible explanation for the founding of the city, for the display of its Phrygian-ness and perhaps also for its ultimate failure.
An analysis of Byzantine burials from Hacımusalar Höyük (Turkey)
Authors: Sulosky Weaver Carrie L.
Published: June 2018

The contents of 118 inhumation burials (seventh to 12th century AD) excavated at Hacımusalar Höyük (ancient Choma) were studied in order to reconstruct the Byzantine population. Overall, the sample is similar to that of other Byzantine populations: burial customs appear typical of contemporary practices, children are overrepresented, males and females are represented roughly equally and heights fall within the average range calculated for Byzantine individuals in the eastern Mediterranean. Individuals from Hacımusalar experienced incidences of skeletal trauma, infections, degenerative joint disease, anaemia, dental diseases, spina bifida occulta and cancer. The dataset presented here is one of the most comprehensive of any Byzantine population in Anatolia and should advance our understanding of the region during this crucial time period.
Nutrient sensing, taste and feed intake in avian species
Authors: Niknafs Shahram , Roura Eugeni
Published: June 2018

The anatomical structure and function of beaks, bills and tongue together with the mechanics of deglutition in birds have contributed to the development of a taste system denuded of macrostructures visible to the human naked eye. Studies in chickens and other birds have revealed that the avian taste system consists of taste buds not clustered in papillae and located mainly (60 %) in the upper palate hidden in the crevasses of the salivary ducts. That explains the long delay in the understanding of the avian taste system. However, recent studies reported 767 taste buds in the oral cavity of the chicken. Chickens appear to have an acute sense of taste allowing for the discrimination of dietary amino acids, fatty acids, sugars, quinine, Ca and salt among others. However, chickens and other birds have small repertoires of bitter taste receptors (T2R) and are missing the T1R2 (related to sweet taste in mammals). Thus, T1R2-independent mechanisms of glucose sensing might be particularly relevant in chickens. The chicken umami receptor (T1R1/T1R3) responds to amino acids such as alanine and serine (known to stimulate the umami receptor in rodents and fish). Recently, the avian nutrient chemosensory system has been found in the gastrointestinal tract and hypothalamus related to the enteroendocrine system which mediates the gut–brain dialogue relevant to the control of feed intake. Overall, the understanding of the avian taste system provides novel and robust tools to improve avian nutrition.
The Real Reason Liberals Drink Lattes
Authors: Mutz Diana C. , Rao Jahnavi S.
Published: June 2018

Are liberals truly more likely to drink lattes than conservatives? In this study, we first use a representative national survey to address this unanswered question. On confirmation, we examine three hypotheses about why this relationship exists. Our results led to a fundamental reinterpretation of what it means to be a “latte liberal.”
Hanseatic Merchants and the Procurement of Palm Oil and Rubber for Wilhelmine Germany’s New Industries, 1850–1918
Authors: Eleazar Wendt Samuel
Published: June 2018

This article analyses the reorientation of Hanseatic merchants’ involvement in world trade during the second half of the nineteenth and first decades of the twentieth centuries. This shift was influenced by the independence of former British and Iberian colonies in the Americas, which caused the implosion of colonial trade monopolies. The abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, and the Scramble for Africa also allowed German commerce to obtain more direct access to markets in and raw materials from tropical regions. An examination of the commodity chains of rubber and palm oil/kernels reveals the great influence of Hanseatic merchant families (e.g. O’Swald, Schramm or Woermann) on determining and shaping the terms by which African and South American regions became incorporated into the emerging world economy.
Knowledge and Power: Rumphius’Ambonese HerbalandAmbonese Curiosity Cabinetas Colonial Contact Zones
Authors: Arens Esther Helena , Kießling Charlotte
Published: June 2018

The early modern books on Ambonese natural history by G.E. Rumphius have mostly been analysed for their aesthetic form and scientific content. However, with the concept of contact zones as introduced by M.L. Pratt, these texts can also be read as historical sources about colonialism and slavery in the late seventeenth-century Moluccas. This article explores the traces of colonialism and slavery in Rumphius’Ambonese Herbal(1740ff.) and theAmbonese Curiosity Cabinet(1705).
Why make political finance transparent? Explaining the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO)’s success in reforming national political finance regulation
Authors: Smirnova Valeria
Published: June 2018

If transparency in political finance is part and parcel of democracy, why do some countries adopt internationally agreed standards to regulate political finance in a more transparent way, while others do not? This paper (a) suggests a theoretical framework to address this question, taking into account international obligations, existing party finance regulation, and demands for greater legitimacy of political institutions; (b) introduces a unique data set of 46 member-countries of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) project operated by the Council of Europe; and (c) concludes that unwillingness to pay the high domestic costs of changing national regulation is the prime impediment to compliance with transparency regulation proposed by GRECO. Right-of-centre cabinets are, on average, associated with a poorer level of compliance. Interestingly, compliance with recommendations which reduce the privileges of parliamentary parties does not deviate from the overall pattern.
Challenging the masters of the treaties: Emerging narratives of constituent power in the European Union
Authors: PATBERG MARKUS
Published: June 2018

There is a growing sense that if the EU is to avoid disintegration, it needs a constitutional renewal. However, a reform negotiated between executives will hardly revitalise the European project. In light of this, commentators have suggested that the EU needs a democratic refounding on popular initiative. But that is easier said than done. Shaping the EU has been an elite enterprise for decades and it is hard to imagine how things could be otherwise. In this article, I map four public narratives of constituent power in the EU to sketch out potential alternatives. Political actors increasingly call into question the conventional role of the states as the ‘masters of the treaties’ and construct alternative stories as to who should be in charge of EU constitutional politics, how the respective subject came to find itself in that position, and how it should invoke its founding authority in the future. These public narratives represent a promising starting point for a normative theory that outlines a viable and justifiable path for transforming the EU in a bottom-up mode.
Structural Evolution of the Rifted Margin off Northern Labrador: The Role of Hyperextension and Magmatism
Authors: Keen C. E. , Dickie K. , Dafoe L. T.
Published: June 2018

High‐quality seismic reflection data from the offshore northern Labrador rifted margin allow imaging of the extended and rifted crust both along and across the continental margin and are described in conjunction with available seismic velocity and gravity data. The margin formed within cold, thick cratonic lithosphere. Both Archean continental basement and a discrete, undulating, high‐amplitude, deep reflection about 10 km below basement are observed. The deeper reflection can be correlated with the crust‐mantle boundary as measured on previous wide‐angle seismic data in the region. This reflection, termed here the L‐reflection, appears to be the equivalent to other top‐mantle detachments found elsewhere on magma‐poor rifted margins. However, normal mantle velocities have been observed to lie just below the reflection, suggesting that it may not be related to the formation of weak serpentinized mantle. A high‐velocity and density zone occupies the outer shelf seaward of the L‐reflection where basement is transparent, which may represent highly mafic crust or serpentinized mantle. A crustal reconstruction of this margin and its conjugate shows marked asymmetry, with a wider zone of crustal thinning on the Greenland margin. These crustal thinning profiles are comparable to those on other conjugate margins within cratonic lithosphere. While some of the attributes of this margin are those of a magma‐poor system, at the ocean‐continent transition, thick igneous crust created a magma‐rich zone in Paleocene time when a hot spot was active in the Davis Strait to the north. Thus, this margin exhibits characteristics of both magma‐rich and magma‐poor systems.
Profound Changes in the Physical Environment of Lake Taihu From 25 Years of Long‐Term Observations: Implications for Algal Bloom Outbreaks and Aquatic Macrophyte Loss
Authors: Zhang Yunlin , Qin Boqiang , Zhu Guangwei , Shi Kun , Zhou Yongqiang
Published: June 2018

The global environment has experienced rapid changes over the past three decades, including global warming, global dimming and brightening, and abnormal climate fluctuations. However, direct evidence of global change in the regional physical environment of a lake is rare especially in China because long‐term observations are lacking. Here we demonstrate the profound changes in the physical environment of Lake Taihu using 25 years of long‐term meteorological, hydrological, and limnological observations and elucidate the potential implications for algal bloom outbreaks and aquatic macrophyte loss. We document significant increasing rates of 0.36 and 0.37°C/decade for the yearly mean air and water temperatures, respectively. In addition, significant increases are observed for the yearly total sunshine duration and yearly mean water level with the rates of 165.0 hr/decade and 0.15 m/decade. In contrast, significant decreases are documented for the yearly mean wind speed and Secchi disk depth with the rates of 0.27 m/(s · decade) and 0.21 m/decade for the macrophyte‐dominated regions, respectively. Therefore, the significant increasing ratio of temperature to wind promoted algal bloom formation and outbreaks, while the decreasing ratio of Secchi disk depth to water level resulted in the loss of aquatic macrophytes, which accelerated the shift from a clear macrophyte‐dominated state to a turbid phytoplankton‐dominated state in Lake Taihu. Forecasts of increased climatic variability in the future pose serious ramifications for both the ecosystem diversity and service functions of large shallow lakes. Our findings highlight the importance of long‐term physical environment monitoring data for understanding ecosystem response to global climate change.
Asthenosphere Flow Modulated by Megathrust Earthquake Cycles
Authors: Barbot Sylvain
Published: June 2018

Subduction megathrusts develop the largest earthquakes, often close to large population centers. Understanding the dynamics of deformation at subduction zones is therefore important to better assess seismic hazards. Here I develop consistent earthquake cycle simulations that incorporate localized and distributed deformation based on laboratory‐derived constitutive laws by combining boundary and volume elements to represent the mechanical coupling between megathrust slip and solid‐state flow in the oceanic asthenosphere and in the mantle wedge. The model is simplified, in two dimensions, but may help the interpretation of geodetic data. Megathrust earthquakes and slow‐slip events modulate the strain rate in the upper mantle, leading to large variations of effective viscosity in space and time and a complex pattern of surface deformation. While fault slip and flow in the mantle wedge generate surface displacements in the same, that is, seaward, direction, the viscoelastic relaxation in the oceanic asthenosphere generates transient surface deformation in the opposite, that is, landward, direction above the rupture area of the mainshock. Aseismic deformation above the seismogenic zone may be challenging to record, but it may reveal important constraints about the rheology of the subducting plate.
Strengthened Indonesian Throughflow Drives Decadal Warming in the Southern Indian Ocean
Authors: Zhang Ying , Feng Ming , Du Yan , Phillips Helen E. , Bindoff Nathaniel L. , McPhaden Michael J.
Published: June 2018

Remarkable warming of the Southern Indian Ocean during the recent two decades is assessed using a heat budget analysis based on the Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean version 4 release 3 model results. The annual mean temperature averaged in the upper‐700 m Southern Indian Ocean during 1998–2015 has experienced significant warming at a rate of 1.03 × 10−2 °C/year. A heat budget analysis indicates that the increase is mostly driven by decreased cooling from net air‐sea heat flux and increased warming from heat advection. Increased Indonesian Throughflow advection is the largest contributor to warming the upper 700 m of the Southern Indian Ocean, while the reduction of surface turbulent heat flux is of secondary importance. These results expand our understanding of the decadal heat balance in the Indian Ocean and of Indo‐Pacific decadal climate variability.
A New Magnetic Field Activity Proxy for Mars From MAVEN Data
Authors: Mittelholz A. , Johnson C. L. , Morschhauser A.
Published: June 2018

The identification of magnetically quiet or noisy observations is important for data selection in a wide range of studies, including crustal field modeling and investigations of the ionosphere. However this remains a challenge when studying the magnetic field of Mars, as no continuous magnetic activity index is available. Such indices are widely used for studies of Earth's magnetic field, and they are largely based on data from ground observatories. We suggest a martian magnetic activity proxy based on satellite data, from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft (MAVEN). MAVEN has been in orbit since November 2014, providing measurements of the magnetic field that extend those from the Mars Global Surveyor mission. The proxy uses the magnitude of the interplanetary magnetic field upstream of the bow shock and is motivated by the correlation of the interplanetary magnetic field amplitude with the nightside magnetic field at 150‐ to 600‐km altitude, measured on the same MAVEN orbit. We demonstrate the utility of the proxy, by producing a model of the surface crustal field in a previously mapped low‐amplitude region in the vicinity of the InSight landing site. The proposed proxy successfully separates quiet and noisy data and will facilitate MAVEN data selection for higher‐resolution crustal field models. Other applications include data selection for magnetic sounding studies using the InSight magnetometer, or studies of the ionosphere. The deployment of a ground‐based magnetometer by InSight will also allow the refinement of the proxy, using simultaneous satellite and surface magnetic field measurements.
Effect of Dispersive Soil on the Electromagnetic Response of Buried Wires in the UHF Range
Authors: Pantoja John J. , Vega Felix , Román Francisco , Rachidi Farhad
Published: June 2018

In this paper, we analyze the effect of the soil on the induced current in a buried wire excited by an external field in the ultrahigh frequency range. We use an extended version of the Messier model, which provides the electromagnetic (EM) properties of dispersive soils. Based on comparisons of the Messier model and experimental data, it is verified that this model can be used up to a frequency of about 4 GHz for wet soils. A buried straight wire is used for analyzing the soil effect on the EM coupling with an external plane wave impinging from the air. It is shown that the effects of the soil on the EM response of a wire are mainly (i) to modify its electrical length and (ii) to attenuate the incident wave and, as a consequence, the induced current in the wire. The accuracy of the path decomposition method is assessed. It is shown that this method can be used to estimate with reasonable accuracy the behavior of the induced current. Finally, we study the influence of the frequency‐dependence of the soil parameters on the EM coupling to a buried wire. We show that the dispersive nature of the soils affects the spectral content of induced currents in buried wires. Therefore, it can be concluded that the frequency dependence of the soil parameters should not be neglected in EM coupling calculations in the UHF range, especially for low resistivity soils (ρ < 300 Ωm, corresponding to wet soils).
Single-breath-hold photoacoustic computed tomography of the breast
Authors: Lin Li , Hu Peng , Shi Junhui , Appleton Catherine M. , Maslov Konstantin , Li Lei , Zhang Ruiying , Wang Lihong V.
Published: June 2018

We have developed a single-breath-hold photoacoustic computed tomography (SBH-PACT) system to reveal detailed angiographic structures in human breasts. SBH-PACT features a deep penetration depth (4 cm in vivo) with high spatial and temporal resolutions (255 µm in-plane resolution and a 10 Hz 2D frame rate). By scanning the entire breast within a single breath hold (~15 s), a volumetric image can be acquired and subsequently reconstructed utilizing 3D back-projection with negligible breathing-induced motion artifacts. SBH-PACT clearly reveals tumors by observing higher blood vessel densities associated with tumors at high spatial resolution, showing early promise for high sensitivity in radiographically dense breasts. In addition to blood vessel imaging, the high imaging speed enables dynamic studies, such as photoacoustic elastography, which identifies tumors by showing less compliance. We imaged breast cancer patients with breast sizes ranging from B cup to DD cup, and skin pigmentations ranging from light to dark. SBH-PACT identified all the tumors without resorting to ionizing radiation or exogenous contrast, posing no health risks.
Strong lowering of ionization energy of metallic clusters by organic ligands without changing shell filling
Authors: Chauhan Vikas , Reber Arthur C. , Khanna Shiv N.
Published: June 2018

Alkali atoms have unusually low ionization energies because their electronic structures have an excess electron beyond that of a filled electronic shell. Quantum states in metallic clusters are grouped into shells similar to those in atoms, and clusters with an excess electron beyond a closed electronic may also exhibit alkali character. This approach based on shell-filling is the way alkali species are formed as explained by the periodic table. We demonstrate that the ionization energy of metallic clusters with both filled and unfilled electronic shells can be substantially lowered by attaching ligands. The ligands form charge transfer complexes where the electronic spectrum is lifted via crystal field like effect. We demonstrate that the effect works for the weakly bound ligand, N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone (EP = C6H11NO), and that the effect leads to a dramatic lowering of the ionization energy independent of the shell occupancy of the cluster.
Carbon nitride supported Fe2 cluster catalysts with superior performance for alkene epoxidation
Authors: Tian Shubo , Fu Qiang , Chen Wenxing , Feng Quanchen , Chen Zheng , Zhang Jian , Cheong Weng-Chon , Yu Rong , Gu Lin , Dong Juncai , Luo Jun , Chen Chen , Peng Qing , Draxl Claudia , Wang Dingsheng , Li Yadong
Published: June 2018

Sub-nano metal clusters often exhibit unique and unexpected properties, which make them particularly attractive as catalysts. Herein, we report a “precursor-preselected” wet-chemistry strategy to synthesize highly dispersed Fe2 clusters that are supported on mesoporous carbon nitride (mpg-C3N4). The obtained Fe2/mpg-C3N4 sample exhibits superior catalytic performance for the epoxidation of trans-stilbene to trans-stilbene oxide, showing outstanding selectivity of 93% at high conversion of 91%. Molecular oxygen is the only oxidant and no aldehyde is used as co-reagent. Under the same condition, by contrast, iron porphyrin, single-atom Fe, and small Fe nanoparticles (ca. 3 nm) are nearly reactively inert. First-principles calculations reveal that the unique reactivity of the Fe2 clusters originates from the formation of active oxygen species. The general applicability of the synthesis approach is further demonstrated by producing other diatomic clusters like Pd2 and Ir2, which lays the foundation for discovering diatomic cluster catalysts.
Effect of temperature on Burkholderia pseudomallei growth, proteomic changes, motility and resistance to stress environments
Authors: Paksanont Suporn , Sintiprungrat Kitisak , Yimthin Thatcha , Pumirat Pornpan , Peacock Sharon J. , Chantratita Narisara
Published: June 2018

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a flagellated, gram-negative environmental bacterium that causes melioidosis, a severe infectious disease of humans and animals in tropical areas. We hypothesised that B. pseudomallei may undergo phenotypic adaptation in response to an increase in growth temperature. We analysed the growth curves of B. pseudomallei strain 153 cultured in Luria–Bertani broth at five different temperatures (25 °C–42 °C) and compared the proteomes of bacteria cultured at 37 °C and 42 °C. B. pseudomallei exhibited the highest growth rate at 37 °C with modest reductions at 30 °C, 40 °C and 42 °C but a more marked delay at 25 °C. Proteome analysis revealed 34 differentially expressed protein spots between bacterial cultures at 42 °C versus 37 °C. These were identified as chaperones (7 spots), metabolic enzymes (12 spots), antioxidants (10 spots), motility proteins (2 spots), structural proteins (2 spots) and hypothetical proteins (1 spot). Of the 22 down-regulated proteins at 42 °C, redundancy in motility and antioxidant proteins was observed. qRT-PCR confirmed decreased expression of fliC and katE. Experiments on three B. pseudomallei strains demonstrated that these had the highest motility, greatest resistance to H2O2 and greatest tolerance to salt stress at 37 °C. Our data suggest that temperature affects B. pseudomallei motility and resistance to stress.
Comparison of Two Protocols of Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Cirrhosis in Rats – Improving Yield and Reproducibility
Authors: Fortea José I , Fernández-Mena Carolina , Puerto Marta , Ripoll Cristina , Almagro Jorge , Bañares Juan , Bellón José M. , Bañares Rafael , Vaquero Javier
Published: June 2018

Despite being a cardinal experimental model, the induction of cirrhosis in rats by repeated exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) has low reproducibility. Here, we compared two models of cirrhosis induced by orogastric administration of CCl4 once (CCl4-1xWk) or twice a week (CCl4-2xWk) for 12 weeks in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Control rats received water instead of CCl4. Both CCl4 protocols similarly attenuated body weight gain (p < 0.01 vs. Control). Although both CCl4 protocols increased hepatic fibrosis, portal hypertension and splenomegaly, the magnitude of these alterations was higher and more consistent in CCl4-2xWk rats. Importantly, two CCl4-1xWk rats did not develop cirrhosis versus a 100% yield of cirrhosis in CCl4-2xWk rats. The CCl4-2xWk protocol consistently induced liver atrophy together with hematological, biochemical and coagulation abnormalities characteristic of advanced cirrhosis that were absent in CCl4-1xWk rats. Ascites occurred in 20% and 80% of rats in theCCl4-1xWk and CCl4-2xWk groups (p < 0.01). All rats showed normal renal function, arterial blood gases and stable systemic hemodynamics. The total dose of CCl4 and mortality rate were similar in both protocols. The CCl4-2xWk protocol, therefore, was highly reproducible and effective for the induction of experimental cirrhosis within a confined time, representing a valuable advance for liver research.
Acceptability of placebo multiparticulate formulations in children and adults
Authors: Lopez Felipe L. , Mistry Punam , Batchelor Hannah K. , Bennett Joanne , Coupe Alastair , Ernest Terry B. , Orlu Mine , Tuleu Catherine
Published: June 2018

Patient acceptability is an important consideration in the design of medicines for children. The aim of this study was to investigate acceptability of multiparticulates in healthy children and adults. A randomised, single-blind acceptability testing was performed involving 71 children (4–12 years) and 61 adults (18–37 years). Each participant received three 500 mg samples of microcrystalline cellulose pellets administered on a medicine spoon with water at 5–10 minutes intervals. Acceptability was measured based on voluntary intake of the samples, facial expressions, ratings on hedonic scales and reported willingness to take multiparticulates everyday as a medicine. Multiparticulates were voluntarily swallowed by 92% of children and 100% of adults. However, palatability issues were identified, with emphasis on textural aspects. Grittiness perception received negative ratings on hedonic scales by 60% of children and 51% of adults. Researcher observations revealed that 72% of children and 42% of adults displayed negative facial expressions towards the samples. Children reported their willingness to take multiparticulates as a medicine in 30% of the cases, compared to 74% in adults. This study demonstrates that multiparticulates may be a suitable formulation platform for children and adults, although palatability concerns have been highlighted. Additional work is required to define acceptability criteria and to standardise methodologies.
Identification of rice landraces with promising yield and the associated genomic regions under low nitrogen
Authors: Rao I. Subhakara , Neeraja C. N. , Srikanth B. , Subrahmanyam D. , Swamy K. N. , Rajesh K. , Vijayalakshmi P. , Kiran T. Vishnu , Sailaja N. , Revathi P. , Rao P. Raghuveer , Rao L. V. Subba , Surekha K. , Babu V. Ravindra , Voleti S. R.
Published: June 2018

With the priority of the low input sustainable rice cultivation for environment friendly agriculture, NUE of rice becomes the need of the hour. A set of 472 rice genotypes comprising landraces and breeding lines were evaluated for two seasons under field conditions with low and recommended nitrogen and >100 landraces were identified with relative higher yield under low nitrogen. Donors were identified for higher N uptake, N translocation into grains and grain yield under low N. Grains on secondary branches, N content in grain and yield appears to be the selection criterion under low N. Through association mapping, using minimum marker set of 50 rice SSR markers, 12 genomic regions were identified for yield and yield associated traits under low nitrogen. Four associated genomic regions on chromosomes 5, 7 and 10 were fine mapped and QTL for yield under low N were identified from the marker delimited regions. Three candidate genes viz., 2-oxoglutarate /malate translocator (Os05g0208000), alanine aminotransferase (Os07g0617800) and pyridoxal phosphate-dependent transferase (Os10g0189600) from QTL regions showed enhanced expression in the genotypes with promising yield under low N. Marker assisted selection using SSR markers associated with three candidate genes identified two stable breeding lines confirmed through multi-location evaluation.
Fish mitigate trophic depletion in marine cave ecosystems
Authors: Bussotti Simona , Di Franco Antonio , Bianchi Carlo Nike , Chevaldonné Pierre , Egea Lea , Fanelli Emanuela , Lejeusne Christophe , Musco Luigi , Navarro-Barranco Carlos , Pey Alexis , Planes Serge , Vieux-Ingrassia Jean Vincent , Guidetti Paolo
Published: June 2018

Dark marine habitats are often characterized by a food-limited condition. Peculiar dark habitats include marine caves, characterized by the absence of light and limited water flow, which lead to reduced fluxes of organic matter for cave-dwelling organisms. We investigated whether the most abundant and common cave-dwelling fish Apogon imberbis has the potential to play the role of trophic vector in Mediterranean marine caves. We first analysed stomach contents to check whether repletion changes according to a nycthemeral cycle. We then identified the prey items, to see whether they belong to species associated with cave habitats or not. Finally, we assessed whether A. imberbis moves outside marine caves at night to feed, by collecting visual census data on A. imberbis density both inside and outside caves, by day and by night. The stomach repletion of individuals sampled early in the morning was significantly higher than later in the day. Most prey were typical of habitats other than caves. A. imberbis was on average more abundant within caves during the day and outside during the night. Our study supports the hypothesis regarding the crucial trophic role of A. imberbis in connecting Mediterranean marine caves with external habitats.
A gene co-expression network model identifies yield-related vicinity networks in Jatropha curcas shoot system
Authors: Govender Nisha , Senan Siju , Mohamed-Hussein Zeti-Azura , Wickneswari Ratnam
Published: June 2018

The plant shoot system consists of reproductive organs such as inflorescences, buds and fruits, and the vegetative leaves and stems. In this study, the reproductive part of the Jatropha curcas shoot system, which includes the aerial shoots, shoots bearing the inflorescence and inflorescence were investigated in regard to gene-to-gene interactions underpinning yield-related biological processes. An RNA-seq based sequencing of shoot tissues performed on an Illumina HiSeq. 2500 platform generated 18 transcriptomes. Using the reference genome-based mapping approach, a total of 64 361 genes was identified in all samples and the data was annotated against the non-redundant database by the BLAST2GO Pro. Suite. After removing the outlier genes and samples, a total of 12 734 genes across 17 samples were subjected to gene co-expression network construction using petal, an R library. A gene co-expression network model built with scale-free and small-world properties extracted four vicinity networks (VNs) with putative involvement in yield-related biological processes as follow; heat stress tolerance, floral and shoot meristem differentiation, biosynthesis of chlorophyll molecules and laticifers, cell wall metabolism and epigenetic regulations. Our VNs revealed putative key players that could be adapted in breeding strategies for J. curcas shoot system improvements.