bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Global and regional trends of atmospheric sulfur
Authors: Aas Wenche , Mortier Augustin , Bowersox Van , Cherian Ribu , Faluvegi Greg , Fagerli Hilde , Hand Jenny , Klimont Zbigniew , Galy-Lacaux Corinne , Lehmann Christopher M. B. , Myhre Cathrine Lund , Myhre Gunnar , Olivié Dirk , Sato Keiichi , Quaas Johannes , Rao P. S. P. , Schulz Michael , Shindell Drew , Skeie Ragnhild B. , Stein Ariel , Takemura Toshihiko , Tsyro Svetlana , Vet Robert , Xu Xiaobin 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe profound changes in global SO2 emissions over the last decades have affected atmospheric composition on a regional and global scale with large impact on air quality, atmospheric deposition and the radiative forcing of sulfate aerosols. Reproduction of historical atmospheric pollution levels based on global aerosol models and emission changes is crucial to prove that such models are able to predict future scenarios. Here, we analyze consistency of trends in observations of sulfur components in air and precipitation from major regional networks and estimates from six different global aerosol models from 1990 until 2015. There are large interregional differences in the sulfur trends consistently captured by the models and observations, especially for North America and Europe. Europe had the largest reductions in sulfur emissions in the first part of the period while the highest reduction came later in North America and East Asia. The uncertainties in both the emissions and the representativity of the observations are larger in Asia. However, emissions from East Asia clearly increased from 2000 to 2005 followed by a decrease, while in India a steady increase over the whole period has been observed and modelled. The agreement between a bottom-up approach, which uses emissions and process-based chemical transport models, with independent observations gives an improved confidence in the understanding of the atmospheric sulfur budget.
Characteristics of drought vulnerability for maize in the eastern part of Northwest China
Authors: Wang Ying , Zhao Wen , Zhang Qiang , Yao Yu-bi 
Published: January 2019

AbstractBased on information distribution and diffusion method theory and combined with the standardized precipitation index and relative meteorological yield data, meteorological factors and social factors were comprehensively considered to assess the vulnerability of maize (Zea mays) to drought. The probability distribution curve of meteorological drought degree (MDD) and relative meteorological yield in the eastern part of Northwest China (Gansu, Ningxia and Shaanxi) from 1978 to 2016 were obtained, using a two-dimensional normal information diffusion method to construct the vulnerability relationship between MDD and relative meteorological yield. The drought vulnerability curve of maize in the study area was obtained. The probability distribution of MDD was multiplied by the fragility curve and summed to obtain the multi-year average risk. The MDD probability distribution curve showed that the probability of moderate drought in Shaanxi was relatively high, followed by Gansu and Ningxia. The probability distribution of Gansu was more discrete. The probability of strong meteorological drought in Ningxia was high, followed by Shaanxi and Gansu. Probability distribution of relative meteorological yield for maize in Gansu Province was highly discrete, with thick tailings, large uncertainties, and more extreme values, which were strongly affected by meteorological conditions, followed by Shaanxi and Ningxia. Taking meteorological drought as the cause and maize damage as the result, the vulnerability relationship between MDD and drought damage was obtained. With an increased MDD, the relative meteorological yield of maize gradually declined. From the average value, when MDD was less than −2.60, the relative meteorological yield of maize was reduced within 15%; when MDD was greater than −2.60, the relative meteorological yield of maize increased within 10%. When the degree of meteorological drought exceeded −2.2, maize was most vulnerable to drought in Shaanxi followed by Ningxia and Gansu. When meteorological drought was less than −2.2, maize was most vulnerable to drought in Shaanxi followed by Gansu and Ningxia. The expected values of relative meteorological production in Gansu, Ningxia, and Shaanxi were 1.36%, 2.48%, and −1.76%, respectively; therefore, Shaanxi had the highest maize drought risk, followed by Gansu and Ningxia. This research had a clear physical background and clear risk connotations. The results provide a data foundation and a theoretical basis for drought disaster reduction for maize in the study area.
Swimming behaviour tunes fish polarization vision to double prey sighting distance
Authors: Novales Flamarique Iñigo 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe analysis of the polarization of light expands vision beyond the realm of colour and intensity and is used for multiple ecological purposes among invertebrates including orientation, object recognition, and communication. How vertebrates use polarization vision as part of natural behaviours is widely unknown. In this study, I tested the hypothesis that polarization vision improves the detection of zooplankton prey by the northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax, the only vertebrate with a demonstrated photoreceptor basis explaining its polarization sensitivity. Juvenile anchovies were recorded free foraging on zooplankton under downwelling light fields of varying percent polarization (98%, 67%, 19%, and 0% - unpolarized light). Analyses of prey attack sequences showed that anchovies swam in the horizontal plane perpendicular, on average, to the polarization direction of downwelling light and attacked prey at pitch angles that maximized polarization contrast perception of prey by the ventro-temporal retina, the area devoted to polarization vision in this animal. Consequently, the mean prey location distance under polarized light was up to 2.1 times that under unpolarized conditions. All indicators of polarization vision mediated foraging were present under 19% polarization, which is within the polarization range commonly found in nature during daylight hours. These results demonstrate: (i) the first use of oriented swimming for enhancing polarization contrast detection of prey, (ii) its relevance to improved foraging under available light cues in nature, and (iii) an increase in target detection distance that is only matched by polarization based artificial systems.
Dynamics of nitric oxide level in liquids treated with microwave plasma-generated gas and their effects on spinach development
Authors: Kang Min Ho , Jeon Seong Sil , Shin So Min , Veerana Mayura , Ji Sang-Hye , Uhm Han-Sup , Choi Eun-Ha , Shin Jae Ho , Park Gyungsoon 
Published: January 2019

AbstractIn this study, we generated water and phosphate buffer treated with microwave plasma-generated gas in which the major component was nitric oxide (PGNO), and investigated the efficiency of the treated water and buffer in fertilization and sanitation. Real time NO level monitored by an electrode sensor was linearly increased over PGNO injection time, and removal of O2 from liquid before PGNO injection accelerated NO assimilation into liquids. Residual NO was still present 16 h after PGNO injection was stopped. H2O2, NO2−, and NO3− were also detected in PGNO-treated liquids. Spinach plants applied with 10 and 30 times diluted PGNO-treated water and 0.5 mM phosphate buffer showed slightly higher height and dry weight than control after 5 weeks. Plants grown with 10 and 30 times diluted PGNO-treated water exhibited the increased tolerance to water deficiency. Significant anti-microbial activity within 1 h was observed in un-diluted and in half-diluted PGNO-treated water and 0.5 mM phosphate buffer. Our results suggest that water or phosphate buffer containing NO, H2O2, NO2−, and NO3− can be produced by PGNO treatment, and that PGNO-treated water or buffer can be used as a potential fertilizer enhancing plant vitality with sanitation effect.
Mitochondrial ancestry of medieval individuals carelessly interred in a multiple burial from southeastern Romania
Authors: Rusu Ioana , Modi Alessandra , Radu Claudia , Mircea Cristina , Vulpoi Adriana , Dobrinescu Cătălin , Bodolică Vitalie , Potârniche Tiberiu , Popescu Octavian , Caramelli David , Kelemen Beatrice 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe historical province of Dobruja, located in southeastern Romania, has experienced intense human population movement, invasions, and conflictual episodes during the Middle Ages, being an important intersection point between Asia and Europe. The most informative source of maternal population histories is the complete mitochondrial genome of archaeological specimens, but currently, there is insufficient ancient DNA data available for the medieval period in this geographical region to complement the archaeological findings. In this study, we reconstructed, by using Next Generation Sequencing, the entire mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of six medieval individuals neglectfully buried in a multiple burial from Capidava necropolis (Dobruja), some presenting signs of a violent death. Six distinct maternal lineages (H11a1, U4d2, J1c15, U6a1a1, T2b, and N1a3a) with different phylogenetic background were identified, pointing out the heterogeneous genetic aspect of the analyzed medieval group. Using population genetic analysis based on high-resolution mitochondrial data, we inferred the genetic affinities of the available medieval dataset from Capidava to other ancient Eurasian populations. The genetic data were integrated with the archaeological and anthropological information in order to sketch a small, local piece of the mosaic that is the image of medieval European population history.
Fluid-solid phase transition of n-alkane mixtures: Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations and diffusion-ordered spectroscopy nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Shahruddin S. , Jiménez-Serratos G. , Britovsek G. J. P. , Matar O. K. , Müller E. A. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractWax appearance temperature (WAT), defined as the temperature at which the first solid paraffin crystal appears in a crude oil, is one of the key flow assurance indicators in the oil industry. Although there are several commonly-used experimental techniques to determine WAT, none provides unambiguous molecular-level information to characterize the phase transition between the homogeneous fluid and the underlying solid phase. Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations employing the statistical associating fluid theory (SAFT) force field are used to interrogate the incipient solidification states of models for long-chain alkanes cooled from a melt to an arrested state. We monitor the phase change of pure long chain n-alkanes: tetracosane (C24H50) and triacontane (C30H62), and an 8-component surrogate n-alkane mixture (C12-C33) built upon the compositional information of a waxy crude. Comparison to Diffusion Ordered Spectroscopy Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (DOSY NMR) results allows the assessment of the limitations of the coarse-grained models proposed. We show that upon approach to freezing, the heavier components restrict their motion first while the lighter ones retain their mobility and help fluidize the mixture. We further demonstrate that upon sub-cooling of long n-alkane fluids and mixtures, a discontinuity arises in the slope of the self-diffusion coefficient with decreasing temperature, which can be employed as a marker for the appearance of an arrested state commensurate with conventional WAT measurements.
Risk of biodiversity collapse under climate change in the Afro-Arabian region
Authors: Soultan Alaaeldin , Wikelski Martin , Safi Kamran 
Published: January 2019

AbstractFor 107 endemic mammal species in the Afro-Arabian region, Sahara-Sahel and Arabian Desert, we used ensemble species distribution models to: (1) identify the hotspot areas for conservation, (2) assess the potential impact of the projected climate change on the distribution of the focal species, and (3) assign IUCN threat categories for the focal species according to the predicted changes in their potential distribution range. We identified two main hotspot areas for endemic mammals: the Sinai and its surrounding coastal area in the East, and the Mediterranean Coast around Morocco in the West. Alarmingly, our results indicate that about 17% of the endemic mammals in the Afro-Arabian region under the current climate change scenarios could go extinct before 2050. Overall, a substantial number of the endemic species will change from the IUCN threat category “Least Concern” to “Critically Endangered” or “Extinct” in the coming decades. Accordingly, we call for implementing an urgent proactive conservation action for these endemic species, particularly those that face a high risk of extinction in the next few years. The results of our study provide conservation managers and practitioners with the required information for implementing an effective conservation plan to protect the biodiversity of the Afro-Arabian region.
87Sr/86Sr age determination by rapidly formed spherical carbonate concretions
Authors: Yoshida Hidekazu , Asahara Yoshihiro , Yamamoto Koshi , Katsuta Nagayoshi , Minami Masayo , Metcalfe Richard 
Published: January 2019

AbstractIsolated spherical carbonate concretions are frequently observed in finer grained marine sediments of widely varying geological age. Recent studies on various kinds of spherical carbonate (CaCO3) concretions revealed that they formed very rapidly under tightly constrained conditions. However, the formation ages of the isolated spherical carbonate concretions have never been determined. Here we use 87Sr/86Sr ratios to determine the ages of these spherical concretions. The studied concretions formed in the Yatsuo Group of Miocene age in central Japan. Some formed post-mortem around tusk-shells (Fissidentalium spp.), while other concretions have no shell fossils inside. The deformation of sedimentary layers around the concretions, combined with geochemical analyses, reveal that Sr was incorporated into the CaCO3 concretions during their rapid formation. Strontium isotopic stratigraphy using 87Sr/86Sr ratios of all concretions indicates an age of 17.02 ± 0.27 Ma, with higher accuracy than the ages estimated using micro-fossils from the Yatsuo Group. The results imply that the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of isolated spherical carbonate concretions can be applied generally to determine the numerical ages of marine sediments, when concretions formed soon after sedimentation. The 87Sr/86Sr age determinations have high accuracy, even in cases without any fossils evidence.
Engineering enzyme catalysis: an inverse approach
Authors: Megarity Clare F. 
Published: January 2019

Abstract
Enzymes’ inherent chirality confers their exquisite enantiomeric specificity and makes their use as green alternatives to chiral metal complexes or chiral organocatalysts invaluable to the fine chemical industry. The most prevalent way to alter enzyme activity in terms of regioselectivity and stereoselectivity for both industry and fundamental research is to engineer the enzyme. In a recent article by Keinänen et al., published in Bioscience Reports 2018, ‘Controlling the regioselectivity and stereoselectivity of FAD-dependent polyamine oxidases with the use of amine-attached guide molecules as conformational modulators’, an inverse approach was presented that focuses on the manipulation of the enzyme substrate rather than the enzyme. This approach not only uncovered dormant enantioselectivity in related enzymes but allowed for its control by the use of guide molecules simply added to the reaction solution or covalently linked to an achiral scaffold molecule.
Responses of apoptosis and matrix metabolism of annulus fibrosus cells to different magnitudes of mechanical tension in vitro
Authors: Jiang Yanhai , Fu Lianqiang , Song Yeliang 
Published: January 2019

Abstract
Background: Annulus fibrosus (AF) is important to confine disc nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue during mechanical load experience. However, the knowledge on AF cell biology under mechanical load is much limited compared with disc NP. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate responses of apoptosis and matrix metabolism of AF cells to different magnitudes of mechanical tension in vitro. Methods: Rat AF cells were subjected to different magnitudes (5, 10, and 20% elongations at a frequency of 1.0 Hz for 6 h per day) of mechanical tension for 7 days. Control AF cells were cultured without mechanical tension. Cell apoptosis ratio, caspase-3 activity, gene/protein expression of apoptosis-related molecules (Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3/cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP), matrix macromolecules (aggrecan and collagen I) and matrix metabolism-related enzymes (TIMP-1, TIMP-3, MMP-3, and ADAMTS-4) were analyzed. Results: Compared with 5% tension group and control group, 10 and 20% tension groups significantly increased apoptosis ratio, caspase-3 activity, up-regulated gene/protein expression of Bax, caspase-3/cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, MMP-3, and ADAMTS-4, whereas down-regulated gene/protein expression of Bcl-2, aggrecan, collagen I, TIMP-1, and TIMP-3. No significant difference was found in these parameters apart from Bcl-2 expression between the control group and 5% tension group. Conclusion: High mechanical tension promotes AF cell apoptosis and suppresses AF matrix synthesis compared with low mechanical tension. The present study indirectly indicates how mechanical overload induces disc degeneration through affecting AF biology.
Detecting ovarian cancer using extracellular vesicles: progress and possibilities
Authors: Carollo Emanuela , Paris Bianca , Samuel Priya , Pantazi Paschalia , Bartelli Thais Fernanda , Dias-Neto Emmanuel , Brooks Susan Ann , Pink Ryan Charles , Carter David Raul Francisco 
Published: January 2019

Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the deadliest gynecological malignancy. Most patients are diagnosed when they are already in the later stages of the disease. Earlier detection of OC dramatically improves the overall survival, but this is rarely achieved as there is a lack of clinically implemented biomarkers of early disease. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small cell-derived vesicles that have been extensively studied in recent years. They contribute to various aspects of cancer pathology, including tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. EVs are released from all cell types and the macromolecular cargo they carry reflects the content of the cells from which they were derived. Cancer cells release EVs with altered cargo into biofluids, and so, they represent an excellent potential source of novel biomarkers for the disease. In this review, we describe the latest developments in EVs as potential biomarkers for earlier detection of OC. The field is still relatively young, but many studies have shown that EVs and the cargo they carry, including miRNAs and proteins, can be used to detect OC. They could also give insights into the stage of the disease and predict the likely therapeutic outcome. There remain many challenges to the use of EVs as biomarkers, but, through ongoing research and innovation in this exciting field, there is great potential for the development of diagnostic assays in the clinic that could improve patient outcome.
Dissecting metabolism using zebrafish models of disease
Authors: Salmi Talhah M. , Tan Vicky W. T. , Cox Andrew G. 
Published: January 2019

Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are becoming an increasingly powerful model organism to study the role of metabolism in disease. Since its inception, the zebrafish model has relied on unique attributes such as the transparency of embryos, high fecundity and conservation with higher vertebrates, to perform phenotype-driven chemical and genetic screens. In this review, we describe how zebrafish have been used to reveal novel mechanisms by which metabolism regulates embryonic development, obesity, fatty liver disease and cancer. In addition, we will highlight how new approaches in advanced microscopy, transcriptomics and metabolomics using zebrafish as a model system have yielded fundamental insights into the mechanistic underpinnings of disease.
A distant OB association around RAFGL 5475
Authors: Comerón F. , Djupvik A. A. , Torra J. , Schneider N. , Pasquali A. 
Published: January 2019

Context. Observations of the galactic disk at mid-infrared and longer wavelengths reveal a wealth of structures indicating the existence of complexes of recent massive star formation. However, little or nothing is known about the stellar component of those complexes.
Aims. We have carried out observations aiming at the identification of early-type stars in the direction of the bright infrared source RAFGL 5475, around which several interstellar medium structures usually associated with the presence of massive stars have been identified. Our observations have the potential of revealing the suspected but thus far unknown stellar component of the region around RAFGL 5475.
Methods. We have carried out near-infrared imaging observations (JHKs bands) designed to reveal the presence of early-type stars based on their positions in color–color and color–magnitude diagrams centered on the location of RAFGL 5475. We took into account the possibility that candidates found might belong to a foreground population physically related either to M 16 or M 17, two giant HII regions lying midway between the Sun and RAFGL 5475.
Results. The near-infrared color–color diagram shows clear evidence for the presence of a moderately obscured population of early-type stars in the region imaged. By studying the distribution of extinction in their direction and basic characteristics of the interstellar medium we show that these new early-type stars are most likely associated with RAFGL 5475.
Conclusions. By investigating the possible existence of massive early-type stars in the direction of RAFGL 5475 we have discovered the existence of a new OB association. A very preliminary assessment of its contents suggests the presence of several O-type stars, some of them likely to be associated with structures in the interstellar medium. The new association is located at 4 kpc from the Sun in the Scutum-Centaurus arm.