bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fragility Limits Performance in Complex Networks
Authors: Pasqualetti Fabio , Zhao Shiyu , Favaretto Chiara , Zampieri Sandro 
Published: February 2020

AbstractWhile numerous studies have suggested that large natural, biological, social, and technological networks are fragile, convincing theories are still lacking to explain why natural evolution and human design have failed to optimize networks and avoid fragility. In this paper we provide analytical and numerical evidence that a tradeoff exists in networks with linear dynamics, according to which general measures of robustness and performance are in fact competitive features that cannot be simultaneously optimized. Our findings show that large networks can either be robust to variations of their weights and parameters, or efficient in responding to external stimuli, processing noise, or transmitting information across long distances. As illustrated in our numerical studies, this performance tradeoff seems agnostic to the specific application domain, and in fact it applies to simplified models of ecological, neuronal, and traffic networks.
Functional lateralization of arithmetic processing in the intraparietal sulcus is associated with handedness
Authors: Artemenko Christina , Sitnikova Maria A. , Soltanlou Mojtaba , Dresler Thomas , Nuerk Hans-Christoph 
Published: February 2020

AbstractFunctional lateralization is established for various cognitive functions, but was hardly ever investigated for arithmetic processing. Most neurocognitive models assume a central role of the bilateral intraparietal sulcus (IPS) in arithmetic processing and there is some evidence for more pronounced left-hemispheric activation for symbolic arithmetic. However, evidence was mainly obtained by studies in right-handers. Therefore, we conducted a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) study, in which IPS activation of left-handed adults was compared to right-handed adults in a symbolic approximate calculation task. The results showed that left-handers had a stronger functional right-lateralization in the IPS than right-handers. This finding has important consequences, as the bilateral IPS activation pattern for arithmetic processing seems to be shaped by functional lateralization and thus differs between left- and right-handers. We propose three possible accounts for the observed functional lateralization of arithmetic processing.
A Precision Driver Device for Intraoperative Stimulation of a Bone Conduction Implant
Authors: Ghoncheh Mohammad , Lenarz Thomas , Maier Hannes 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSemi-implantable bone conduction implants (BCI) and active middle ear implants (AMEI) for patients with sensorineural, conductive or mixed hearing loss commonly use an amplitude modulation technology to transmit power and sound signals from an external audio processor to the implant. In patients, the distance dependence of the signal amplitude is of minor importance as the skin thickness is constant and only varies between 3–7 mm. In this range, critical coupling transmission technique sufficiently reduces the variability in amplitude, but fails to provide well-defined amplitudes in many research and clinical applications such as intraoperative integrity tests where the distance range is exceeded by using sterile covers. Here we used the BCI Bonebridge (BB, Med-El, Austria) as an example to develop and demonstrate a system that synthesizes the transmission signal, determines the distance between the transmitter and the receiver implant coil and compensates transmission losses. When compared to an external audio processor (AP304) on an artificial mastoid, our system mainly decreased amplitude variability from over 11 dB to less than 3 dB for audio frequencies (0.1–10 kHz) at distances up to 15 mm, making it adequate for intraoperative and audiometric tests.
Structural and functional differentiation of bacterial communities in post-coal mining reclamation soils of South Africa: bioindicators of soil ecosystem restoration
Authors: Ezeokoli Obinna T. , Bezuidenhout Cornelius C. , Maboeta Mark S. , Khasa Damase P. , Adeleke Rasheed A. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSoil microbial communities are suitable soil ecosystem health indicators due to their sensitivity to management practices and role in soil ecosystem processes. Presently, information on structural and functional differentiation of bacterial communities in post-coal mining reclamation soils of South Africa is sparse. Here, bacterial communities in three post-coal mining reclamation soils were investigated using community-level physiological profiling (CLPP), enzyme activities, and next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. Inferences were drawn in reference to adjacent unmined soils. CLPP-based species diversity and proportionality did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) whereas activities of β-glucosidase, urease and phosphatases were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by site and soil history (reclaimed vs unmined). Bacterial communities were influenced (PERMANOVA, P < 0.05) by soil history and site differences, with several phylotypes differentially abundant between soils. Contrastingly, predicted functional capabilities of bacterial communities were not different (PERMANOVA, P > 0.05), suggesting redundancy in bacterial community functions between reclamation and unmined soils. Silt content, bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity, Na and Ca significantly influenced soil bacterial communities. Overall, results indicate that bacterial community structure reflects underlying differences between soil ecosystems, and suggest the restoration of bacterial diversity and functions over chronological age in reclamation soils.
Aseismic mid-crustal magma reservoir at Cleveland Volcano imaged through novel receiver function analyses
Authors: Janiszewski Helen A. , Wagner Lara S. , Roman Diana C. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractProcesses related to eruptions at arc volcanoes are linked by structures that transect the entire crust. Imaging the mid- to lower-crustal portions (here, ~5–15 km and >15 km respectively) of these magmatic systems where intermediate storage may occur has been a longstanding challenge. Tomography, local seismic source studies, geodetic, and geochemical constraints, are typically most sensitive to shallow (<5 km) storage and/or have insufficient resolution at these depths. Geophysical methods are even further limited at frequently-erupting volcanoes where well-developed trans-crustal magmatic systems are likely to exist, due to a lack of deep seismicity. Here we show direct evidence for mid-crustal magma storage beneath the frequently erupting Cleveland volcano, Alaska, using a novel application of seismic receiver functions. We use P-s scattered waves from the Moho as virtual sources to investigate S-wave velocities between the Moho and the surface. Our forward modeling approach allows us to provide direct constraints on the geometry of low velocity regions beneath volcanoes despite having a comparatively sparse seismic network. Our results show clear evidence of mid-crustal magma storage beneath the depths of located volcanic seismicity. Future work using similar approaches will enable an unprecedented comparative examination of magmatic systems beneath sparsely instrumented volcanoes globally.
Genetic regulation of diapause and associated traits in Chilo partellus (Swinhoe)
Authors: Dhillon Mukesh K. , Hasan Fazil , Tanwar Aditya K. , Jaba Jagdish , Singh Naveen , Sharma Hari C. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractDiapause is an endocrine controlled arrested metabolic state to delay development or reproduction under unfavorable conditions. To gain an understanding of importance of diapause for ecological adaptation, it is important to study regulation of diapause in insects. We examined genetics of diapause in Chilo partellus by crossing the hibernating (HD), aestivating (AD), post-hibernating (PHD), post-aestivating (PAD), and nondiapause (ND) strains. Reciprocal crosses were also made to gain full understanding of diapause regulation and the maternal effects, if any. Data were recorded on fecundity, egg hatching, larval survival, diapause induction and termination, adult emergence, and morphometrics of larvae, pupae and adults in the parents (P1, P2), F1 hybrids, and the reciprocal crosses. Genetic analysis showed that AD strain is general combiner, which also improved egg hatching, larval survival, diapause termination, adult emergence and proportion of females in the progenies. Incidence of diapause was highest in HD × AD, whereas termination was greatest in PHD × AD. However, ND strain and its reciprocal crosses with other strains did not exhibit any noticeable developmental response associated with diapause. Specific combining ability analysis suggested that where PHD and AD strains exist together there will be likely reduction in diapause incidence, increased survival with greater fitness and faster multiplication of their progenies resulting in outbreak of C. partellus. Degree of dominance estimates revealed that diapause, developmental and morphometric traits in C. partellus are governed by over dominance gene effects, and mainly depend on parental diapause history.
Accounting for soil respiration variability – Case study in a Mediterranean pine-dominated forest
Authors: Pantani Ottorino-Luca , Fioravanti Fabrizio , Stefanini Federico M. , Berni Rossella , Certini Giacomo 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe number of spots to monitor to evaluate soil respiration (Rs) is often chosen on an empirical or conventional basis. To obtain an insight into the necessary number of spots to account for Rs variability in a Mediterranean pine-dominated mixed forest, we measured Rs all year long on sixteen dates with a portable gas-analyser in 50 spots per date within an area 1/3 ha wide. Linear mixed-effects models with soil temperature and litter moisture as descriptors, were fitted to the collected data and then evaluated in a Monte Carlo simulation on a progressively decreasing number of spots to identify the minimum number required to estimate Rs with a given confidence interval. We found that monitoring less than 14 spots would have resulted in a 10% probability of not fitting the model, while monitoring 20 spots would have reduced the same probability to about 5% and was the best compromise between field efforts and quality of the results. A simple rainfall index functional to select sampling dates during the summer drought is proposed.
Spin-orbit Torque Switching of Perpendicular Magnetization in Ferromagnetic Trilayers
Authors: Lee Dong-Kyu , Lee Kyung-Jin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn ferromagnetic trilayers, a spin-orbit-induced spin current can have a spin polarization of which direction is deviated from that for the spin Hall effect. Recently, magnetization switching in ferromagnetic trilayers has been proposed and confirmed by the experiments. In this work, we theoretically and numerically investigate the switching current required for perpendicular magnetization switching in ferromagnetic trilayers. We confirm that the tilted spin polarization enables field-free deterministic switching at a lower current than conventional spin-orbit torque or spin-transfer torque switching, offering a possibility for high-density and low-power spin-orbit torque devices. Moreover, we provide analytical expressions of the switching current for an arbitrary spin polarization direction, which will be useful to design spin-orbit torque devices and to interpret spin-orbit torque switching experiments.
Reduced Transition Temperature in Al:ZnO/VO2 Based Multi-Layered Device for low Powered Smart Window Application
Authors: Behera Makhes K. , Williams Leslie C. , Pradhan Sangram K. , Bahoura Messaoud 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) closest to room temperature of 68–70 °C as shown by vanadium oxide (VO2), compared with other transition metal oxides, makes it a potential candidate for smart window coating. We have successfully fabricated a potential smart window device after the optimum design of a multilayered thin film structure made out of transparent conducting oxide (aluminum doped zinc oxide) and pure VO2 using pulsed laser deposition technique. This comprehensive study is based on two different configurations for multi-layered structure approach, with the intention to reduce the transition temperature, as well as to maintain the MIT properties that would strengthen the potential of the structure to be used for a smart window device. By creating a multi-layered structure, we were able to create a low powered device that can operate less than 15 V that leads to significant decline in the infrared transmission by a magnitude of over 40% and provided sufficient heat to trigger the MIT at a temperature around 60 °C, which is almost 10 °C lower than its bulk counterpart. This finding would positively impact the research on VO2 thin films, not only as smart windows but also for numerous other applications like bolometers, infrared detectors, Mott transistors and many more.
Parabolic dependence of the drag coefficient on wind speed from aircraft eddy-covariance measurements over the tropical Eastern Pacific
Authors: Gao Zhiqiu , Peng Wenwu , Gao Chloe Y. , Li Yubin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn this study, we examine and present the relationship between drag coefficient and wind speed. We used an observational dataset that consists of 806 estimates of the mean flow and fluxes from aircraft eddy-covariance measurements over the tropical Eastern Pacific. To estimate the saturated wind speed threshold, we regressed the drag coefficients for wind speed scope from 10 ms−1 to 28 ms−1. Results show that the relationship between drag coefficient and wind speed is parabolic. Additionally, the saturated wind speed threshold is 22.33 ms−1 when regressed from drag coefficient, and it is 22.65 ms−1 when regressed from the medium number of drag coefficient for each bin.
The Intercontinental phylogeography of neustonic daphniids
Authors: Taylor Derek J. , Connelly Sandra J. , Kotov Alexey A. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractOrganisms that live at the freshwater surface layer (the neuston) occupy a high energy habitat that is threatened by human activities. Daphniids of the genera Scapholeberis and Megafenestra are adapted to the neuston but are poorly studied for biogeography and diversity. Here we assess the global phylogeography of neustonic daphniids. We obtained 402 new multigene sequences from the 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and tRNA (val) regions of the mitochondrial genomes of daphniids from 186 global sites. We assessed the intercontinental origins and boundaries of mitochondrial lineages and the relative rates of evolution in neustonic and planktonic daphniids. We identified 17 divergent lineages in the neustonic daphniids that were associated with biogeographic regions. Six of these lineages had intercontinental ranges – four of these were Transberingian. Patagonian populations of Scapholeberis rammneri were monophyletic and nested within a closely related clade of western North American haplotypes, suggesting an introduction from the Western Nearctic to South America. The Eastern Palearctic was more diverse than other regions, containing eight of the major lineages detected in the Scapholeberinae. The Genus Scapholeberis had high levels of divergence compared to non-neustonic daphniids. Neustonic daphniids have more divergent biogeographic lineages than previously appreciated.
A Group of Olfactory Receptor Alleles that Encode Full Length Proteins are Down-Regulated as Olfactory Sensory Neurons Mature
Authors: Krolewski Richard C. , Lin Brian , Stampfer Samuel , Packard Adam , Schwob James E. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe family of olfactory receptors (ORs) subserves the sense of smell and includes both functional alleles and pseudogenes, the latter identified by mutations resulting in frame shift or premature truncation. During neuronal differentiation, nonfunctional ORs are expressed initially but then are switched out, and/or the olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) expressing them die. We carried out a transcriptomic analysis of FACS-isolated cells from ΔSox2-eGFP, Neurog1-eGFP BAC and ΔOMP-eGFP strains of uninjured and olfactory bulbectomized transgenic mice that correspond to distinct stages in the progression from globose basal cell stem cells to fully mature OSNs. We analyzed the expression pattern of 1094 unique receptors across this progression and found that the vast majority were characterized by a typical and expected pattern of expression; i.e., levels of OR mRNA peaking in mature OSNs. However, 43 ORs, including several known pseudogenes, were different, such that mRNA expression declined in the mature OSNs relative to earlier stages. Protein and promoter sequence analysis of the atypical group did not uncover any obvious differences between them and more typical ORs. Nonetheless, the pattern of expression suggests that atypical ORs may be non-functional despite the lack of any obvious abnormality in the sequence analyses.
Culture dependent and independent analyses suggest a low level of sharing of endospore-forming species between mothers and their children
Authors: Avershina Ekaterina , Larsen Marte Gro , Aspholm Marina , Lindback Toril , Storrø Ola , Øien Torbjørn , Johnsen Roar , Rudi Knut 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSpore forming bacteria comprise a large part of the human gut microbiota. However, study of the endospores in gut microbiota is limited due to difficulties of culturing and numerous unknown germination factors. In this study we propose a new method for culture-independent characterization of endospores in stool samples. We have enriched DNA of spore-forming bacterial species from stool samples of 40 mother-child pairs from a previously described mother-child cohort. The samples were exposed to a two-step purification process comprising ethanol and ethidium monoazide (EMA) treatment to first kill vegetative cells and to subsequently eliminate their DNA from the samples. The composition of the ethanol-EMA resistant DNA was characterized by 16S rRNA marker gene sequencing. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to the Clostridia class (OTU1: Romboutsia, OTU5: Peptostreptococcaceae and OTU14: Clostridium senso stricto) and one belonging to the Bacillus class (OTU20: Turicibacter) were significantly more abundant in the samples from mothers and children after ethanol-EMA treatment than in those treated with ethanol only. No correlation was observed between ethanol-EMA resistant OTUs detected in children and in their mothers, which indicates that a low level of spore-forming species are shared between mothers and their children. Anaerobic ethanol-resistant bacteria were isolated from all mothers and all children over 1 year of age. Generally, in 70% of the ethanol-treated samples used for anaerobic culturing, 16S rRNA gene sequences of bacterial isolates corresponded to OTUs detected in these samples after EMA treatment. We report a new DNA-based method for the characterization of endospores in gut microbiota. Our method has high degree of correspondence to the culture-based method, although it requires further optimization. Our results also indicate a high turnover of endospores in the gut during the first two years of life, perhaps with a high environmental impact.
Circulating serum HBsAg level is a biomarker for HBV-specific T and B cell responses in chronic hepatitis B patients
Authors: Kim Jin Hyang , Ghosh Alip , Ayithan Natarajan , Romani Sara , Khanam Arshi , Park Jang-June , Rijnbrand Rene , Tang Lydia , Sofia Michael J. , Kottilil Shyam , Moore Chris B. , Poonia Bhawna 
Published: February 2020

AbstractChronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection functional cure is defined as sustained loss of HBsAg and several therapeutic strategies are in clinical development designed to pharmacologically reduce serum HBsAg, break immune tolerance, and increase functional cure rates. However, little is known about pre-treatment HBsAg levels as an indicator of HBV immune potential. Here, we compared the phenotypes and HBV-specific response of lymphocytes in CHB patients stratified by serum HBsAg levels <500 (HBslo) or >50,000 IU/ml (HBshi) using immunological assays (flow cytometry, ICS, ELISPOT). HBshi patients had significantly higher expression of inhibitory PD-1 on CD4+ T cells, particularly among TEMRA subset, and higher FcRL5 expression on B cells. Upon HBcAg(core) or HBsAg(env)-stimulation, 85% and 60% of HBslo patients had IFNγ+TNFα+ and IFNγ+ IL2+ CD4+ T cell responses respectively, in comparison to 33% and 13% of HBshi patients. Checkpoint blockade with αPD-1 improved HBV-specific CD4+ T cell function only in HBslo patients. HBsAg-specific antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) response was not different between these groups, yet αPD-1 treatment resulted in significantly higher fold change in ASCs among patients with HBsAg <100 IU/ml compared to patients with HBsAg >5,000 IU/ml. Thus, serum HBsAg correlates with inhibitory receptor expression, HBV-specific CD4+ T cell responses, and augmentation by checkpoint blockade.
Precipitous Declines in Northern Gulf of Mexico Invasive Lionfish Populations Following the Emergence of an Ulcerative Skin Disease
Authors: Harris Holden E. , Fogg Alexander Q. , Allen Micheal S. , Ahrens Robert N. M. , Patterson William F. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractInvasive Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans/miles have become well-established in many western Atlantic marine habitats and regions. However, high densities and low genetic diversity could make their populations susceptible to disease. We examined changes in northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) lionfish populations following the emergence of an ulcerative skin disease in August 2017, when estimated disease prevalence was as high as 40%. Ulcerated female lionfish had 9% lower relative condition compared to non-ulcerated females. Changes in lionfish size composition indicated a potential recruitment failure in early summer 2018, when the proportion of new recruits declined by >80%. Remotely operated vehicle surveys during 2016–2018 indicated lionfish population density declined in 2018 by 75% on natural reefs. The strongest declines (77–79%) in lionfish density were on high-density (>25 lionfish per 100 m2) artificial reefs, which declined to similar levels as low-density (<15 lionfish per 100 m2) artificial reefs that had prior lionfish removals. Fisheries-dependent sampling indicated lionfish commercial spearfishing landings, commercial catch per unit effort (CPUE), and lionfish tournament CPUE also declined approximately 50% in 2018. Collectively, these results provide correlative evidence for density-dependent epizootic population control, have implications for managing lionfish and impacted native species, and improve our understanding of biological invasions.
Lymelight: forecasting Lyme disease risk using web search data
Authors: Sadilek Adam , Hswen Yulin , Bavadekar Shailesh , Shekel Tomer , Brownstein John S. , Gabrilovich Evgeniy 
Published: February 2020

AbstractLyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. Existing estimates of Lyme disease spread are delayed a year or more. We introduce Lymelight—a new method for monitoring the incidence of Lyme disease in real-time. We use a machine-learned classifier of web search sessions to estimate the number of individuals who search for possible Lyme disease symptoms in a given geographical area for two years, 2014 and 2015. We evaluate Lymelight using the official case count data from CDC and find a 92% correlation (p < 0.001) at county level. Importantly, using web search data allows us not only to assess the incidence of the disease, but also to examine the appropriateness of treatments subsequently searched for by the users. Public health implications of our work include monitoring the spread of vector-borne diseases in a timely and scalable manner, complementing existing approaches through real-time detection, which can enable more timely interventions. Our analysis of treatment searches may also help reduce misdiagnosis of the disease.