bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reproducibility of CO2 Absorption Method for measurement of Radiocarbon using a PARR Bomb and LSC
Authors: Vagner Irina , Varlam Carmen , Faurescu Denisa , Bogdan Diana , Faurescu Ionut 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACTThe CO2 absorption and liquid scintillation counting (LSC) are methods used in radioactivity monitoring programs of nuclear facilities for 14C measurements due to high number of samples and relatively high expected level of 14C concentration. The paper describes the chemical sample preparation applied to a quality control material (IAEA-C3 Cellulose), in order to evaluate the reproducibility of CO2 absorption method for this type of material. Consequently, in the experiments we used two home-made scintillation cocktails, containing two amines, 2-methoxyethylamine (MEA) and 3-methoxypropyl amine (MPA), which detained CO2 as carbamates. Due to the fact that the material used in the dedicated experiments is cellulose (contained in all vegetable materials), the method can be considered as appropriate for 14C determination from biological and vegetable materials.
Anti-Ascaris suumimmunoglobulin Y as a novel biotechnological tool for the diagnosis of human ascariasis
Authors: Lopes C.A. , de Faria L.S. , de Sousa J.E.N. , Borges I.P. , Ribeiro R.P. , Bueno L.L. , Rodrigues Ávila V.M. , Ferreira Júnior Á. , Costa-Cruz J.M. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractHuman ascariasis is a neglected tropical disease of great relevance to public health and is considered the most frequent helminthiasis in poor regions. Accurately diagnosing this parasite has been challenging due to limitations of current diagnostic methods. Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) technology is a very effective alternative for the production of highly specific and profitable antibodies. This study aimed to produce and apply anti-Ascaris suumIgY antibodies in the immunodiagnosis of human ascariasis. Five immunizations comprising total saline extract fromA. suumadult life forms were given at 14-day intervals toGallus gallus domesticushens of the Isa Brown line. Eggs and blood samples were collected weekly and fortnightly, respectively, to monitor the production of antibodies. The specificity of antibodies was confirmed by dot-blot, kinetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), avidity ELISA, immunoblotting and indirect immunofluorescence antibody tests. The application for disease diagnosis was performed through the detection of immune complexes in human serum samples by sandwich ELISA. Peaks of IgY anti-A. suumproduction occurred at weeks 6 and 8. IgY showed high avidity levels after the second dose of immunization, ranging from 64% to 93%, with a mean avidity index of 78.30%. Purified IgY recognized 12 bands of proteins fromA. suumsaline extract. Eggs, the uterine portion and cuticles ofA. suumfemale adult are reactive in immunofluorescence. The detection of immune complexes showed diagnostic values of 80% sensitivity and 90% specificity. In conclusion, specific IgY have been shown to be a potential immunodiagnostic tool with promising future applications in human ascariasis.
Effects of habitat fragmentation on the bats of Kakamega Forest, western Kenya
Authors: Webala Paul W. , Mwaura Jeremiah , Mware Joseph M. , Ndiritu George G. , Patterson Bruce D. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractHabitat loss and fragmentation are major threats to biodiversity worldwide, and little is known about their effects on bats in Africa. We investigated effects of forest fragmentation on bat assemblages at Kakamega Forest, western Kenya, examining captures at edge and interior locations in three forest fragments (Buyangu, 3950 ha; Kisere, 400 ha; and Malava, 100 ha) varying in forest area and human-use regimes. Basal area, canopy cover, tree density and intensity of human use were used as predictors of bat abundance and species richness. A total of 3456 mist-net hours and 3168 harp-trap hours resulted in the capture of 4983 bats representing 26 species, eight families and four foraging ensembles (frugivores, forest-interior insectivores, forest-edge insectivores and open-space insectivores). Frugivores were frequently captured at the edges of the larger, better-protected forests, but also in the interior of the smaller, more open fragment. Forest-interior insectivores and narrow-space foragers predominated in the interiors of larger fragments but avoided the smallest one. Forest specialists showed positive associations with forest variables (canopy cover, basal area and tree density), whereas frugivores responded positively to the human-use indicators. On these bases, specialist species appear to be especially vulnerable to forest fragmentation.
Moderation of parenting by inhibitory control in the prediction of the common and unique variance of hyperactivity-impulsivity and inattention
Authors: Rioux Charlie , Murray Julie , Castellanos-Ryan Natalie , Séguin Jean R. , Tremblay Richard E. , Parent Sophie 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThis study examined whether the interaction between parenting and inhibitory control predicts hyperactivity-impulsivity and inattention in 195 children. Observation data of positive parenting were collected at 4 years, and mother reports of coercive parenting at 5 years, inhibitory control at 6 years, and hyperactivity-impulsivity/inattention at 7 years were obtained. The common and unique variance of hyperactivity-impulsivity and inattention symptoms were examined as outcomes using a bifactor model. Results indicated that positive parenting practices predicted lower levels of hyperactivity-impulsivity/inattention behaviors at age 7 only when children's inhibitory control was high. These results support the vantage sensitivity model, which posits that some individuals show an increased sensitivity to positive experiences exclusively, and support the appropriateness of a targeted prevention approach in early childhood.
Impact of the adoption of vegetative soil conservation measures on farm profit, revenue and variable cost in Darjeeling district, India
Authors: Singha Chandan 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThis study evaluates the effects of vegetative soil conservation practices (afforestation and/or bamboo planting) on farm profit and its components, revenue and variable cost. Since farmers self-select themselves as adopters of conservation measures, there could be a problem of selection bias in evaluating their soil conservation practices. We address the selection bias by using propensity score matching. We also check if there exists spatial spillover in adoption of vegetative conservation measures and how it affects matching. We use primary survey data from the Darjeeling district of the Eastern Himalayan region for the year 2013. Our results suggest strong spatial correlation. We find that the propensity score estimated from the spatial model provides better matches than the non-spatial model. While the results show that vegetative soil conservation can lead to significant gains in revenue, it also increases costs so that no significant gains in profit accrue to farmers.
Maladaptation and global indeterminacy
Authors: Antoci Angelo , Gori Luca , Sodini Mauro , Ticci Elisa 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThis article analyzes a general equilibrium growth model with overlapping generations and (production-induced) environmental degradation. Individuals react to environmental damages through mitigation or adaptation. In the former case, they reduce production and its environmental impact. In the latter, they do not tackle the causes of the problem but rather its consequences (i.e., the wellbeing loss due to environmental degradation) by increasing defensive expenditures. Despite its simplicity, the model can generate different long-term outcomes: convergence to a stationary state following a unique trajectory or local/global indeterminacy. In the last scenario, initial conditions (history) and individual expectations matter and the model can generate coordination failures and endogenous fluctuations. Results cast doubt on solutions to environmental problems relying on the role of individual behavior change or adaptation.
Changes in Seismicity Pattern Due to the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes Identify a Highly Stressed Area on the Hinagu Fault Zone
Authors: Nanjo K.Z. , Izutsu J. , Orihara Y. , Kamogawa M. , Nagao T. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractA highly stressed area where eventual ruptures have often been observed to nucleate is characterized by low b values of earthquake frequency‐size distribution. Crustal deformation due to the occurrence of large earthquakes causes stress perturbation in nearby regions, so an investigation into spatiotemporal b values can play a crucial role in the distribution of postseismic hazards after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence along the Futagawa‐Hinagu fault zone, which culminated in the magnitude 7.3 mainshock. Together with an analysis of aftershock decay p value that can be used to infer stressing history, a highly stressed area with a characteristic dimension of 10 km at the southern end of the causative faults was found. Our observation is explained by postseismic deformation due to an afterslip on the causative faults and viscoelastic relaxation model. Similar to the Kumamoto mainshock rupture, which started at a low‐b‐value area, the observed highly stressed area shows a high likelihood of future earthquake ruptures.
Weak Near‐Field Behavior of a Tsunami Earthquake: Toward Real‐Time Identification for Local Warning
Authors: Sahakian V.J. , Melgar D. , Muzli M. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractTsunami earthquakes produce some of the most devastating tsunamis. These rare events have comparatively modest magnitudes but rupture the shallowest portion of a subduction zone megathrust with exceptionally large seafloor displacements. Previous teleseismic observations found that they radiate seismic waves weakly. They should therefore not be strongly felt in the near field, but to date no near‐source seismic recordings of these events exist that confirm this. Here we analyze near‐field records of a tsunami earthquake, the 2010 M7.7 Mentawai, Indonesia event, which show remarkably weak shaking. This is strong evidence that this earthquake does indeed have a weakly radiating or inefficient source process, in spite of its large slip. Finally, we find that, when combined with near‐source Global Navigation Satellite System displacement recordings it is possible to correctly characterize tsunami earthquakes in real‐time and to provide local tsunami warning which is currently out of reach today for monitoring agencies.
Pressure and Composition Effects on Sound Velocity and Density of Core‐Forming Liquids: Implication to Core Compositions of Terrestrial Planets
Authors: Terasaki Hidenori , Rivoldini Attilio , Shimoyama Yuta , Nishida Keisuke , Urakawa Satoru , Maki Mayumi , Kurokawa Fuyuka , Takubo Yusaku , Shibazaki Yuki , Sakamaki Tatsuya , Machida Akihiko , Higo Yuji , Uesugi Kentaro , Takeuchi Akihisa , Watanuki Tetsu , Kondo Tadashi 
Published: August 2019

AbstractA compositional variety of planetary cores provides insight into their core/mantle evolution and chemistry in the early solar system. To infer core composition from geophysical data, a precise knowledge of elastic properties of core‐forming materials is of prime importance. Here, we measure the sound velocity and density of liquid Fe‐Ni‐S (17 and 30 at% S) and Fe‐Ni‐Si (29 and 38 at% Si) at high pressures and report the effects of pressure and composition on these properties. Our data show that the addition of sulfur to iron substantially reduces the sound velocity of the alloy and the bulk modulus in the conditions of this study, while adding silicon to iron increases its sound velocity but has almost no effect on the bulk modulus. Based on the obtained elastic properties combined with geodesy data, S or Si content in the core is estimated to 4.6 wt% S or 10.5 wt% Si for Mercury, 9.8 wt% S or 18.3 wt% Si for the Moon, and 32.4 wt% S or 30.3 wt% Si for Mars. In these core compositions, differences in sound velocity profiles between an Fe‐Ni‐S and Fe‐Ni‐Si core in Mercury are small, whereas for Mars and the Moon, the differences are substantially larger and could be detected by upcoming seismic sounding missions to those bodies.
Venus as a Laboratory for Exoplanetary Science
Authors: Kane Stephen R. , Arney Giada , Crisp David , Domagal‐Goldman Shawn , Glaze Lori S. , Goldblatt Colin , Grinspoon David , Head James W. , Lenardic Adrian , Unterborn Cayman , Way Michael J. , Zahnle Kevin J. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe current goals of the astrobiology community are focused on developing a framework for the detection of biosignatures, or evidence thereof, on objects inside and outside of our solar system. A fundamental aspect of understanding the limits of habitable environments (surface liquid water) and detectable signatures thereof is the study of where the boundaries of such environments can occur. Such studies provide the basis for understanding how a once inhabitable planet might come to be uninhabitable. The archetype of such a planet is arguably Earth's sibling planet, Venus. Given the need to define the conditions that can rule out bio‐related signatures of exoplanets, Venus provides a unique opportunity to explore the processes that led to a completely uninhabitable environment by our current definition of the term. Here we review the current state of knowledge regarding Venus, particularly in the context of remote‐sensing techniques that are being or will be employed in the search for and characterization of exoplanets. We discuss candidate Venus analogs identified by the Kepler and TESS exoplanet missions and provide an update to exoplanet demographics that can be placed in the potential runaway greenhouse regime where Venus analogs are thought to reside. We list several major outstanding questions regarding the Venus environment and the relevance of those questions to understanding the atmospheres and interior structure of exoplanets. Finally, we outline the path toward a deeper analysis of our sibling planet and the synergy to exoplanetary science.
Simple and efficient delivery of cell-impermeable organic fluorescent probes into live cells for live-cell superresolution imaging
Authors: Zhang Meng , Li Meihua , Zhang Wenting , Han Yubing , Zhang Yu-Hui 
Published: August 2019

AbstractNumerous commercial organic fluorophores with excellent optical properties are precluded from live-cell superresolution imaging due to poor cell permeability. Here, we develop a simple but effective strategy that renders cells permeable to cell-impermeable, organic fluorescent probes by using a novel peptide vehicle, PV-1. By simple coincubation with PV-1, 22 different cell-impermeable, organic fluorescent probes were efficiently delivered into live cells and specifically labeled a variety of organelles. Moreover, PV-1 can simultaneously transfer up to three different probes into live cells. By using PV-1 and these cell-impermeable fluorescent probes, we obtained multicolor, long-term, live-cell superresolution images of various organelles, which allowed us to study the dynamic interactions between them. PV-1, together with these organic fluorescent probes, will greatly broaden the applications of superresolution imaging technology in diverse live-cell studies and opens up a new avenue in the design and application of peptide vehicles.
A versatile route to fabricate single atom catalysts with high chemoselectivity and regioselectivity in hydrogenation
Authors: He Xiaohui , He Qian , Deng Yuchen , Peng Mi , Chen Hongyu , Zhang Ying , Yao Siyu , Zhang Mengtao , Xiao Dequan , Ma Ding , Ge Binghui , Ji Hongbing 
Published: August 2019

AbstractPreparation of single atom catalysts (SACs) is of broad interest to materials scientists and chemists but remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we develop an efficient approach to synthesize SACs via a precursor-dilution strategy, in which metalloporphyrin (MTPP) with target metals are co-polymerized with diluents (tetraphenylporphyrin, TPP), followed by pyrolysis to N-doped porous carbon supported SACs (M1/N-C). Twenty-four different SACs, including noble metals and non-noble metals, are successfully prepared. In addition, the synthesis of a series of catalysts with different surface atom densities, bi-metallic sites, and metal aggregation states are achieved. This approach shows remarkable adjustability and generality, providing sufficient freedom to design catalysts at atomic-scale and explore the unique catalytic properties of SACs. As an example, we show that the prepared Pt1/N-C exhibits superior chemoselectivity and regioselectivity in hydrogenation. It only converts terminal alkynes to alkenes while keeping other reducible functional groups such as alkenyl, nitro group, and even internal alkyne intact.
Effect of pre-coagulation using different aluminium species on crystallization of cake layer and membrane fouling
Authors: Yu Wenzheng , Liu Mengjie , Zhang Xuejia , Graham Nigel , Qu Jiuhui 
Published: August 2019

AbstractPre-coagulation could mitigate the membrane fouling, and thus we used different Al coagulants as a pre-treatment for ultrafiltration to explore their effects on the morphology of the membrane cake layer and fouling. Parallel bench-scale tests, using three different species of Al (AlCl3, PACl15, and PACl25), with and without humic acid, were operated continuously for a long period to investigate the effects of floc aging (~13 days). Specifically, the presence of humic acid affects the cake layer by influencing the rate and extent of floc crystallization, as greater crystallization leads to greater fouling (bio-fouling was excluded in this study). The fouling rate (indicated by the trans-membrane pressure at constant flux) varied with Al species and was found to increase as follows: PACl15 < PACl25 < AlCl3. The presence of humic acid also intensify membrane flouling. The results showed that three species of Al induced different sizes of primary nanoparticles and fractal dimensions of flocs, and therefore produced cake layers with different thickness/structure. Analysis of flocs with different ages indicated a crystallization process in the cake layer. Crystallization exacerbate membrane fouling by decreasing the porosity of the cake layer, and the situation became severe in the presence of humic acid.
A Cell Density-Dependent Reporter in the Drosophila S2 Cells
Authors: Romine Matthew L. , Li Mo , Liu Kevin Jiayang , Patel Sapna K. , Nelson Julie G. , Shen Ping , Cai Haini N. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractCell density regulates many aspects of cell properties and behaviors including metabolism, growth, cytoskeletal structure and locomotion. Importantly, the responses by cultured cells to density signals also uncover key mechanisms that govern animal development and diseases in vivo. Here we characterized a density-responsive reporter system in transgenic Drosophila S2 cells. We show that the reporter genes are strongly induced in a cell density-dependent and reporter-independent fashion. The rapid and reversible induction occurs at the level of mRNA accumulation. We show that multiple DNA elements within the transgene sequences, including a metal response element from the metallothionein gene, contribute to the reporter induction. The reporter induction correlates with changes in multiple cell density and growth regulatory pathways including hypoxia, apoptosis, cell cycle and cytoskeletal organization. Potential applications of such a density-responsive reporter will be discussed.
Assessment of risk to hoary squash bees (Peponapis pruinosa) and other ground-nesting bees from systemic insecticides in agricultural soil
Authors: Willis Chan D. Susan , Prosser Ryan S. , Rodríguez-Gil Jose L. , Raine Nigel E. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractUsing the hoary squash bee (Peponapis pruinosa) as a model, we provide the first probabilistic risk assessment of exposure to systemic insecticides in soil for ground-nesting bees. To assess risk in acute and chronic exposure scenarios inCucurbitaand field crops, concentrations of clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid (neonicotinoids) and chlorantraniliprole (anthranilic diamide) in cropped soil were plotted to produce an environmental exposure distribution for each insecticide. The probability of exceedance of several exposure endpoints (LC50s) was compared to an acceptable risk threshold (5%). InCucurbitacrops, under acute exposure, risk to hoary squash bees was below 5% for honey bee LC50s for all residues evaluated but exceeded 5% for clothianidin and imidacloprid using a solitary bee LC50. ForCucurbitacrops in the chronic exposure scenario, exposure risks for clothianidin and imidacloprid exceeded 5% for all endpoints, and exposure risk for chlorantraniliprole was below 5% for all endpoints. In field crops, risk to ground-nesting bees was high from clothianidin in all exposure scenarios and high for thiamethoxam and imidacloprid under chronic exposure scenarios. Risk assessments for ground-nesting bees should include exposure impacts from pesticides in soil and could use the hoary squash bee as an ecotoxicology model.
White Light Emission from a Simple Mixture of Fluorescent Organic Compounds
Authors: Muhamad Sarih Norfatirah , Myers Peter , Slater Anna , Slater Ben , Abdullah Zanariah , Tajuddin Hairul Anuar , Maher Simon 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThree fluorescent organic compounds—furocoumarin (FC), dansyl aniline (DA), and 7-hydroxycoumarin-3-carboxylic acid (CC)—are mixed to produce almost pure white light emission (WLE). This novel mixture is immobilised in silica aerogel and applied as a coating to a UV LED to demonstrate its applicability as a low-cost, organic coating for WLE via simultaneous emission. In ethanol solution and when immobilised in silica aerogel, the mixture exhibits a Commission Internationale d’Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity index of (0.27, 0.33). It was observed that a broadband and simultaneous emission involving coumarin carboxylic acid, furocoumarin and dansyl aniline played a vital role in obtaining a CIE index close to that of pure white light.
Flux balance analysis with or without molecular crowding fails to predict two thirds of experimentally observed epistasis in yeast
Authors: Alzoubi Deya , Desouki Abdelmoneim Amer , Lercher Martin J. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractComputational predictions of double gene knockout effects by flux balance analysis (FBA) have been used to characterized genome-wide patterns of epistasis in microorganisms. However, it is unclear how in silico predictions are related to in vivo epistasis, as FBA predicted only a minority of experimentally observed genetic interactions between non-essential metabolic genes in yeast. Here, we perform a detailed comparison of yeast experimental epistasis data to predictions generated with different constraint-based metabolic modeling algorithms. The tested methods comprise standard FBA; a variant of MOMA, which was specifically designed to predict fitness effects of non-essential gene knockouts; and two alternative implementations of FBA with macro-molecular crowding, which account approximately for enzyme kinetics. The number of interactions uniquely predicted by one method is typically larger than its overlap with any alternative method. Only 20% of negative and 10% of positive interactions jointly predicted by all methods are confirmed by the experimental data; almost all unique predictions appear to be false. More than two thirds of epistatic interactions are undetectable by any of the tested methods. The low prediction accuracies indicate that the physiology of yeast double metabolic gene knockouts is dominated by processes not captured by current constraint-based analysis methods.