bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Induced Mw 5.0 March 2020 West Texas Seismic Sequence
Authors: Skoumal Robert J. , Kaven J. Ole , Barbour Andrew J. , Wicks Charles , Brudzinski Michael R. , Cochran Elizabeth S. , Rubinstein Justin L. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractOn March 26, 2020, a M 5.0 earthquake occurred in the Delaware Basin, Texas, near the border between Reeves and Culberson Counties. This was the third largest earthquake recorded in Texas and the largest earthquake in the Central and Eastern United States since the three M 5.0–5.8 induced events in Oklahoma during 2016. Using multistation waveform template matching, we detect 3,940 earthquakes in the sequence with the first event in the area occurring in May 2018. The M 5.0 earthquake sequence occurred on a ENE (∼082°) normal fault dipping ∼37° toward the south. The earthquake caused 6 mm of oblique surface deformation, and geodetic slip inversion suggests slip was isolated above 6 km depth. We find that the sequence was most likely induced by nearby wastewater disposal operations, and seismicity rates in the region surrounding the M 5.0 will likely continue to increase in the future if disposal operations continue unaltered.
Four‐Dimensional Paleomagnetic Dataset: Plio‐Pleistocene Paleodirection and Paleointensity Results From the Erebus Volcanic Province, Antarctica
Authors: Asefaw H. , Tauxe L. , Koppers A. A. P. , Staudigel H. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractA fundamental assumption in paleomagnetism is that a geocentric axial dipole (GAD) geomagnetic field structure extends to the ancient field. Global paleodirectional compilations that span 0–5‐million year support a GAD dominated field structure with minor non‐GAD contributions, however, the paleointensity data over the same period do not. In a GAD field, higher latitudes should preserve higher intensity, but the current database suggests that intensities are independent of latitude. To determine whether the seemingly “low” intensities from Antarctica reflect the ancient field, rather than low‐quality data or inadequate temporal sampling, we have conducted a new study of the paleomagnetic field in Antarctica. This study focuses on the paleomagnetic field structure over the Plio‐Pleistocene. We combine and reanalyze new and published paleodirectional and paleointensity results from the Erebus volcanic province to recover paleodirections from 98 sites that were both thermally and alternating field demagnetized and then subjected to a set of strict selection criteria and paleointensities from 26 sites from the Plio‐Pleistocene that underwent the IZZI modified Thellier‐Thellier experiment and were also subjected to a strict set of selection criteria. The paleopole (201.85°, 87.65°) and α95 (5.51°) recovered from our paleodirectional study supports the GAD hypothesis and the scatter of the virtual geomagnetic poles falls within the uncertainty of that predicted by TK03 paleosecular variation model. Our time‐averaged field strength estimate, 33.57 ± 2.71 μT, is significantly weaker than that expected from a GAD field estimated by the present field.
Cool Skin Effect and its Impact on the Computation of the Latent Heat Flux in the South China Sea
Authors: Zhang Rongwang , Zhou Fenghua , Wang Xin , Wang Dongxiao , Gulev Sergey K. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe cool skin effect, known as the temperature difference (ΔT) across the skin layer of sea surface, is of vital importance for the accurate computation of the latent heat flux (LHF). The observed features of ΔT in the South China Sea are analyzed using in situ data from a buoy platform over an ∼6‐week period. Only nighttime data are used to exclude the possible warm layer effect. The positive values of ΔT falling into the range of 0–1 K comprise 95% of the data, and the most frequently observed values occur in the range of 0.4–0.6 K (38%). The cool skin model in the Coupled Ocean‐Atmosphere Response Experiment 3.0 algorithm is then validated against those observations. The cool skin model has an efficient but insufficient ability to reduce the overestimation of the LHF. The overestimation of the LHF is reduced to 9.5% from 18.0%, leaving nearly half of the biases in the LHF unresolved. The Saunders constant (λ) in the cool skin model is markedly underestimated, leading to a much weaker prediction of ΔT. A strong linear relationship exists between the mean values of λ and the LHF with a slope of −0.9 W m−2. With an approximately doubled λ, the biases in ΔT and in the LHF could be eliminated. Considering the possible uncertainties in sensors, the value of λ is estimated as 11.6 ± 6.7 in the current study.
The Importance of Organic Content to Fractal Floc Properties in Estuarine Surface Waters: Insights From Video, LISST, and Pump Sampling
Authors: Fall Kelsey A. , Friedrichs Carl T. , Massey Grace M. , Bowers David G. , Smith S. Jarrell 
Published: December 2020

AbstractTo better understand the nature of flocs of varying organic content in estuarine surface waters, Laser in situ Scattering and Transmissometry, video settling, and pump sampling were deployed in the York River estuary. A new in situ method was developed to simultaneously solve the floc fractal dimension (F), primary particle size (dp), and primary particle density (ρp) by fitting a simple fractal model to observations of effective floc density (Δρ) as a function of floc diameter (df), while ensuring that the integrated particle size distribution was consistent with measurements of bulk apparent density (ρa). When fractal fits were statistically justified, application of the above methods showed the bulk fraction of organic matter (forg) to be well correlated to multiple floc properties. As forg increased, dp and ρa also increased, while ρp, total suspended solids (TSS), and median floc size decreased. Notably for microflocs, neither F nor Δρ was significantly related to either forg or TSS. This indicates that organic matter may partially displace water content within microflocs without fundamentally changing the flocs' inorganic structure. When pooling multiple samples, a marked decrease in F was seen at the transition to macroflocs, and most strongly for high forg cases. This suggested that settling velocities ≥ ∼1 mm/s may produce turbulent stresses that tend to tear macroflocs apart. This study also found that when the fractal theory held, ρp had a near 1:1 correlation with the bulk dry density of filtered TSS, implying that primary particles are tightly bound aggregates of combined mineral and organic components.
Non-metabolic role of UCK2 links EGFR-AKT pathway activation to metastasis enhancement in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Cai Jie , Sun Xuehua , Guo Han , Qu Xiaoye , Huang Hongting , Yu Chang , Wu Hailong , Gao Yueqiu , Kong Xiaoni , Xia Qiang 
Published: December 2020

AbstractUp-regulation of Uridine-cytidine kinase 2 (UCK2), a rate-limiting enzyme of the pyrimidine salvage pathway, has been suggested in HCC, but the detailed molecular mechanisms and therapic role of UCK2 remain elusive. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that UCK2 might be a key up-regulated metabolic gene in HCCs. The expressional pattern and prognostic value of UCK2 were further examined in a large number of clinical samples. Functional assays based on site-directed mutagenesis showed that UCK2 promoted cell proliferation in a metabolic manner, but non-catalytically facilitates HCC metastasis. Mechanistically, in response to EGF, UCK2 interacted with EGFR to block EGF-induced EGFR ubiquitination and degradation, which resulted in elevated EGFR-AKT pathway activation and metastasis enhancement in HCCs. Concurrent pharmacological targeting on UCK2 and EGFR showed synergistic effects on HCC treatment. This study disclosed the non-metabolic role of UCK2 and suggested the therapeutic potential of concurrent blocking the metabolic and non-metabolic roles of UCK2 in HCC treatment.
Experimental test of non-macrorealistic cat states in the cloud
Authors: Ku Huan-Yu , Lambert Neill , Chan Feng-Jui , Emary Clive , Chen Yueh-Nan , Nori Franco 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe Leggett–Garg inequality attempts to classify experimental outcomes as arising from one of two possible classes of physical theories: those described by macrorealism (which obey our intuition about how the macroscopic classical world behaves) and those that are not (e.g., quantum theory). The development of cloud-based quantum computing devices enables us to explore the limits of macrorealism. In particular, here we take advantage of the properties of the programmable nature of the IBM quantum experience to observe the violation of the Leggett–Garg inequality (in the form of a ‘quantum witness’) as a function of the number of constituent systems (qubits), while simultaneously maximizing the ‘disconnectivity’, a potential measure of macroscopicity, between constituents. Our results show that two- and four-qubit ‘cat states’ (which have large disconnectivity) are seen to violate the inequality, and hence can be classified as non-macrorealistic. In contrast, a six-qubit cat state does not violate the ‘quantum witness’ beyond a so-called clumsy invasive-measurement bound, and thus is compatible with ‘clumsy macrorealism’. As a comparison, we also consider un-entangled product states with n = 2, 3, 4 and 6 qubits, in which the disconnectivity is low.
Entropy production in continuously measured Gaussian quantum systems
Authors: Belenchia Alessio , Mancino Luca , Landi Gabriel T. , Paternostro Mauro 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe entropy production rate is a key quantity in nonequilibrium thermodynamics of both classical and quantum processes. No universal theory of entropy production is available to date, which hinders progress toward its full grasping. By using a phase space-based approach, here we take the current framework for the assessment of thermodynamic irreversibility all the way to quantum regimes by characterizing entropy production—and its rate—resulting from the continuous monitoring of a Gaussian system. This allows us to formulate a sharpened second law of thermodynamics that accounts for the measurement back action and information gain from a continuously monitored system. We illustrate our framework in a series of physically relevant examples.
Orbital-enhanced warping effect in px,py-derived Rashba spin splitting of monatomic bismuth surface alloy
Authors: Chen Guan-Yu , Huang Angus , Lin Yen-Hui , Chen Chia-Ju , Lin Deng-Sung , Chang Po-Yao , Jeng Horng-Tay , Bihlmayer Gustav , Hsu Pin-Jui 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSpin-split Rashba bands have been exploited to efficiently control the spin degree of freedom of moving electrons, which possesses a great potential in frontier applications of designing spintronic devices and processing spin-based information. Given an intrinsic breaking of inversion symmetry and sizeable spin–orbit interaction, two-dimensional (2D) surface alloys formed by heavy metal elements exhibit a pronounced Rashba-type spin splitting of the surface states. Here, we have revealed the essential role of atomic orbital symmetry in the hexagonally warped Rashba spin-split surface state of the $$\sqrt 3 \times \sqrt 3 R30^0$$

3

×

3

R
3

0

0

BiCu2 monatomic alloy by scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) and density functional theory (DFT). From dI/dU spectra and calculated band structures, three hole-like Rashba-split bands hybridized from distinct orbital symmetries have been identified in the unoccupied energy region. Because of the hexagonally deformed Fermi surface, quasi-particle interference (QPI) mappings have resolved scattering channels opened from interband transitions of px,py (mj = 1/2) band. In contrast to the s,pz-derived band, the hexagonal warping is predominately accompanied by substantial out-of-plane spin polarization Sz up to 24% in the dispersion of px,py (mj = 1/2) band with an in-plane orbital symmetry.
A RCT for assessment of active human-centred learning finds teacher-centric non-human teaching of evolution optimal
Authors: Buchan Loredana , Hejmadi Momna , Abrahams Liam , Hurst Laurence D. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractCurrent educational discourse holds that effective pedagogy requires engagement through active student participation with subject matter relating to them. The lack of testing of lessons in series is recognized as a potential weakness in the evidence base, not least because standard parallel designs cannot capture serial interaction effects (cf. drug interactions). However, logistic issues make large-scale replicated in situ assessment of serial designs challenging. The recent introduction of evolution into the UK primary school curriculum presents a rare opportunity to overcome this. We implemented a randomised control 2 × 2 design with four inexpensive schemes of work, comparable to drug interaction trials. This involved an initial test phase (N = 1152) with replication (N = 1505), delivered by teachers, after training, in their classrooms with quantitative before-after-retention testing. Utilising the “genetics-first” approach, the schemes comprised four lessons taught in the same order. Lessons 1 (variation) and 3 (deep-time) were invariant. Lesson 2 (selection) was either student-centred or teacher-centred, with subject organism constant, while lesson 4 (homology) was either human-centred or not, with learning mode constant. All four schemes were effective in replicate, even for lower ability students. Unexpectedly, the teacher-focused/non-human centred scheme was the most successful in both test and replicate, in part owing to a replicable interaction effect but also because it enabled engagement. These results highlight the importance of testing lessons in sequence and indicate that there are many routes to effective engagement with no “one-size fits all” solution in education.
Feature replacement methods enable reliable home video analysis for machine learning detection of autism
Authors: Leblanc Emilie , Washington Peter , Varma Maya , Dunlap Kaitlyn , Penev Yordan , Kline Aaron , Wall Dennis P. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAutism Spectrum Disorder is a neuropsychiatric condition affecting 53 million children worldwide and for which early diagnosis is critical to the outcome of behavior therapies. Machine learning applied to features manually extracted from readily accessible videos (e.g., from smartphones) has the potential to scale this diagnostic process. However, nearly unavoidable variability in video quality can lead to missing features that degrade algorithm performance. To manage this uncertainty, we evaluated the impact of missing values and feature imputation methods on two previously published autism detection classifiers, trained on standard-of-care instrument scoresheets and tested on ratings of 140 children videos from YouTube. We compare the baseline method of listwise deletion to classic univariate and multivariate techniques. We also introduce a feature replacement method that, based on a score, selects a feature from an expanded dataset to fill-in the missing value. The replacement feature selected can be identical for all records (general) or automatically adjusted to the record considered (dynamic). Our results show that general and dynamic feature replacement methods achieve a higher performance than classic univariate and multivariate methods, supporting the hypothesis that algorithmic management can maintain the fidelity of video-based diagnostics in the face of missing values and variable video quality.
Structural characterization and in vitro lipid binding studies of non-specific lipid transfer protein 1 (nsLTP1) from fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds
Authors: Megeressa Mekdes , Siraj Bushra , Zarina Shamshad , Ahmed Aftab 
Published: December 2020

AbstractNon-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are cationic proteins involved in intracellular lipid shuttling in growth and reproduction, as well as in defense against pathogenic microbes. Even though the primary and spatial structures of some nsLTPs from different plants indicate their similar features, they exhibit distinct lipid-binding specificities signifying their various biological roles that dictate further structural study. The present study determined the complete amino acid sequence, in silico 3D structure modeling, and the antiproliferative activity of nsLTP1 from fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds. Fennel is a member of the family Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. It is used as a spice medicine and fresh vegetable. Fennel nsLTP1 was purified using the combination of gel filtration and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Its homogeneity was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The purified nsLTP1 was treated with 4-vinyl pyridine, and the modified protein was then digested with trypsin. The complete amino acid sequence of nsLTP1 established by intact protein sequence up to 28 residues, overlapping tryptic peptides, and cyanogen bromide (CNBr) peptides. Hence, it is confirmed that fennel nsLTP1 is a 9433 Da single polypeptide chain consisting of 91 amino acids with eight conserved cysteines. Moreover, the 3D structure is predicted to have four α-helices interlinked by three loops and a long C-terminal tail. The lipid-binding property of fennel nsLTP1 is examined in vitro using fluorescent 2-p-toluidinonaphthalene-6-sulfonate (TNS) and validated using a molecular docking study with AutoDock Vina. Both of the binding studies confirmed the order of binding efficiency among the four studied fatty acids linoleic acid > linolenic acid > Stearic acid > Palmitic acid. A preliminary screening of fennel nsLTP1 suppressed the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50value of 6.98 µM after 48 h treatment.
Dynamic wavelet correlation analysis for multivariate climate time series
Authors: Polanco-Martínez Josué M. , Fernández-Macho Javier , Medina-Elizalde Martín 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe wavelet local multiple correlation (WLMC) is introduced for the first time in the study of climate dynamics inferred from multivariate climate time series. To exemplify the use of WLMC with real climate data, we analyse Last Millennium (LM) relationships among several large-scale reconstructed climate variables characterizing North Atlantic: i.e. sea surface temperatures (SST) from the tropical cyclone main developmental region (MDR), the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the North Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), and tropical cyclone counts (TC). We examine the former three large-scale variables because they are known to influence North Atlantic tropical cyclone activity and because their underlying drivers are still under investigation. WLMC results obtained for these multivariate climate time series suggest that: (1) MDRSST and AMO show the highest correlation with each other and with respect to the TC record over the last millennium, and: (2) MDRSST is the dominant climate variable that explains TC temporal variability. WLMC results confirm that this method is able to capture the most fundamental information contained in multivariate climate time series and is suitable to investigate correlation among climate time series in a multivariate context.
Short chain fatty acids produced by Cutibacterium acnes inhibit biofilm formation by Staphylococcus epidermidis
Authors: Nakamura Kouki , O’Neill Alan M. , Williams Michael R. , Cau Laura , Nakatsuji Teruaki , Horswill Alexander R. , Gallo Richard L. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBiofilm formation by bacterial pathogens is associated with numerous human diseases and can confer resistance to both antibiotics and host defenses. Many strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis are capable of forming biofilms and are important human pathogens. Since S. epidermidis coexists with abundant Cutibacteria acnes on healthy human skin and does not typically form a biofilm in this environment, we hypothesized that C. acnes may influence biofilm formation of S. epidermidis. Culture supernatants from C. acnes and other species of Cutibacteria inhibited S. epidermidis but did not inhibit biofilms by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Bacillus subtilis, and inhibited biofilms by S. aureus to a lesser extent. Biofilm inhibitory activity exhibited chemical properties of short chain fatty acids known to be produced from C. acnes. The addition of the pure short chain fatty acids propionic, isobutyric or isovaleric acid to S. epidermidis inhibited biofilm formation and, similarly to C. acnes supernatant, reduced polysaccharide synthesis by S. epidermidis. Both short chain fatty acids and C. acnes culture supernatant also increased sensitivity of S. epidermidis to antibiotic killing under biofilm-forming conditions. These observations suggest the presence of C. acnes in a diverse microbial community with S. epidermidis can be beneficial to the host and demonstrates that short chain fatty acids may be useful to limit formation of a biofilm by S. epidermidis.
The novel method to reduce the silica content in lignin recovered from black liquor originating from rice straw
Authors: Do Nghi H. , Pham Hieu H. , Le Tan M. , Lauwaert Jeroen , Diels Ludo , Verberckmoes An , Do Nga H. N. , Tran Viet T. , Le Phung K. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractDifficulties in the production of lignin from rice straw because of high silica content in the recovered lignin reduce its recovery yield and applications as bio-fuel and aromatic chemicals. Therefore, the objective of this study is to develop a novel method to reduce the silica content in lignin from rice straw more effectively and selectively. The method is established by monitoring the precipitation behavior as well as the chemical structure of precipitate by single-stage acidification at different pH values of black liquor collected from the alkaline treatment of rice straw. The result illustrates the significant influence of pH on the physical and chemical properties of the precipitate and the supernatant. The simple two-step acidification of the black liquor at pilot-scale by sulfuric acid 20w/v% is applied to recover lignin at pH 9 and pH 3 and gives a percentage of silica removal as high as 94.38%. Following the developed process, the high-quality lignin could be produced from abundant rice straw at the industrial-scale.
Longitudinal changes in reproductive hormones through the menopause transition in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)
Authors: Soares Ana Goncalves , Kilpi Fanny , Fraser Abigail , Nelson Scott M. , Sattar Naveed , Welsh Paul I. , Tilling Kate , Lawlor Deborah A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe characterised changes in reproductive hormones—LH, FSH, SHBG and AMH—by chronological age and time around the menopause (reproductive age) in mid-life women and explored their associations with lifestyle and reproductive factors. We used data from 1608 women from a UK cohort who had repeat hormone measures and experienced a natural menopause. Multilevel models were used to assess: (i) changes in hormones (outcomes) by reproductive age and chronological age (these age variables being the key exposures) and (ii) associations of body mass index (BMI), smoking, alcohol intake, parity and age at menarche with changes in hormones by reproductive age. Both LH and FSH increased until ~ 5 and 7 years postmenopause, respectively, after which they declined, but not to premenopausal levels. SHBG decreased slightly until ~ 4 years postmenopause and increased thereafter. AMH decreased markedly before menopause and remained low subsequently. For all hormones, the best fitting models included both reproductive and chronological age. BMI, smoking and parity were associated with hormone changes; e.g., higher BMI was associated with slower increase in LH and FSH and decrease in AMH. Reproductive and chronological age contribute to changes in LH, FSH, SHBG and AMH across mid-life in women, and BMI, smoking and parity are associated with these hormone changes.