bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ministerial Politics in Southeastern Europe: Appointment and Portfolio Allocation to Female Ministers
Authors: Rashkova Ekaterina R. , Zankina Emilia 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIn light of the growing scholarship on women's representation in the executive, we examine whether extant theories on the determinants of female ministerial appointments apply to and explain the role of women in the executive in new democracies. We are further interested in better understanding the dynamics of portfolio allocation to female ministers. Given the different meanings that the political left and right carry in new compared with established democracies, we argue that ministerial appointments and portfolio allocations reflect this difference and therefore show diverse results. Presenting data on women ministers in five southeastern European states between 1990 and 2018, we analyze the descriptive representation of women at the highest echelons of political power. We establish that while the standard claim found in the literature that left political parties stage more women and with more progressive views, as shown primarily in scholarship on Western democracies, southeastern European women ministers who are given portfolios traditionally reserved for men are appointed primarily by parties of the right. Moreover, we find little support for the link between legislative and executive representation; rather, we see that the appointment of women ministers is related to the institutionalization level of the parties in power.
Compact QMSIW-based antenna with different resonant frequencies depending on loading of metalized vias
Authors: Chaturvedi Divya , Kumar Arvind , Raghavan S. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIn this work, simple, low profile, compact quarter-mode substrate-integrated waveguide (QMSIW)-based antennas are proposed for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) at 5.2/5.5 GHz and Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) at 5.8 GHz, respectively. By implementing QMSIW technique, the electrical size of the antenna is reduced up to 1/4th of the conventional circular SIW cavities. Thanks to the quarter mode concept, the antenna size is reduced significantly by preserving its dominant mode. The resonant frequency of the dominant mode TM010 is independently tuned at 5.2, 5.5, and 5.8 GHz after loading the QMSIW cavity with metalized via holes, subsequently. The on-body performance of the antenna is verified on pork tissues at 5.8 GHz and it is found to be insensitive with respect to surroundings. The measured gain and simulated efficiency of the proposed antenna at 5.8 GHz in free space are 4.8 dBi and 92%, while in the proximity of pork tissues values are 3.25 dBi and 57%, respectively. Moreover, the measurement results demonstrate a good matching with the simulation results.
Grain and Virtual Water Storage Capacity in the United States
Authors: Ruess Paul J. , Konar Megan 
Published: April 2019

AbstractExtensive research has evaluated virtual water trade, the water embodied in traded commodities. However, relatively little research has examined virtual water storage or the water embodied in stored commodities. Just as in physical hydrology, both flows and stocks of virtual water resources must be considered to obtain an accurate representation of the system. Here we address the following question: How much water can be virtually stored in grain storage in the United States? To address this question, we employ a data‐intensive approach, in which a variety of government databases on agricultural production and grain storage capacities are combined with modeled estimates of grain crop water use. We determine the virtual water storage capacity (VWSC) in grain silos, map the spatial distribution of VWSC, calculate contributions from irrigation and rainwater sources, and assess changes in VWSC over time. We find that 728 km3 of water could be stored as grain in the United States, with roughly 86% coming from precipitation. National VWSC capacities were 777 km3 in 2002, 681 km3 in 2007, and 728 km3 in 2012. This represents a 6% decline in VWSC over the full 10‐year period, mostly attributable to increased water productivity. VWSC represents 62% of U.S. dam storage and accounts for 75–97% of precipitation receipts to agricultural areas, depending on the year. This work enhances our understanding of the food‐water nexus, will enable virtual water trade models to incorporate temporal dynamics, and can be used to better understand the buffering capacity of infrastructure to climate shocks.
Numerical prediction of colloidal phase separation by direct computation of Navier–Stokes equation
Authors: Tateno Michio , Tanaka Hajime 
Published: April 2019

AbstractNumerical prediction of out-of-equilibrium processes in soft and bio matter containing liquids is highly desirable. However, it is quite challenging primarily because the motions of the components at different hierarchical levels (e.g., large colloids and small solvent molecules) are spatio-temporally coupled in a complicated manner via momentum conservation. Here we critically examine the predictability of numerical simulations for colloidal phase separation as a prototype example of self-organization of soft materials containing a liquid. We use coarse-grained hydrodynamic simulations to tackle this problem, and succeed in almost perfectly reproducing the structural and topological evolution experimentally observed by three-dimensional confocal microscopy without any adjustable parameters. Furthermore, comparison with non-hydrodynamic simulations shows the fundamental importance of many-body hydrodynamic interactions in colloidal phase separation. The predictive power of our computational approach may significantly contribute to not only the basic understanding of the dynamical behavior and self-organization of soft, bio and active matter but also the computer-aided design of colloidal materials.
ToF-SIMS depth profiling of altered glass
Authors: Collin Marie , Gin Stéphane , Jollivet Patrick , Dupuy Laurent , Dauvois Vincent , Duffours Laurent 
Published: April 2019

AbstractGlass and mineral corrosion usually leads to the formation of morphologically and compositionally complex surface layers that can be characterized by various analytical techniques to infer rate control mechanisms. In this study, we investigate the capabilities and limitations of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) to better understand chemical processes of glass corrosion. In particular, we focus on the potential impact of the ToF-SIMS ion beam on the distribution of several elements of interest in alteration layers formed on International Simple Glass, a six-oxide reference glass altered in a solution enriched in alkalis and spiked with H218O. A thin flake of glass partially altered on both sides is analyzed entirely from one side to the other to determine whether atoms weakly bonded to the solid are displaced by the beams. We highlight the beam effect on cations weakly bonded to the silicate network (Li, Na, K, and B, Ca, Cs to a lesser extent) affecting the profile shape of these elements. No impact is observed on 18O and H, but it is demonstrated that quantification of isotopic ratios is possible only for a limited range of isotopic enrichment.
Asthma patients’ perception on their care pathway: a qualitative study
Authors: Hannane Anissa , Misane Lilia , Devouassoux Gilles , Colin Cyrille , Letrilliart Laurent 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBecause of insufficient asthma control in many patients, the collaboration between stakeholders is regarded as a promising strategy to improve asthma outcomes. This study explored the perceptions of French adult asthma patients on their care pathway. We conducted a qualitative study based on the interviews of 30 asthma patients aged 18–40 years, recruited in French primary care. We performed a thematic analysis of the data collected, using the NVivo software. According to the patients, the stakeholders involved in asthma management included those visible to healthcare professionals (patient, general practitioner, specialist(s), pharmacist, physiotherapist, family and friends) and those concealed by the patients (complementary and alternative practitioners); other stakeholders, such as nurses and occupational physicians, were not involved. Asthma management at diagnosis and follow-up phases proved to be unstructured, and were associated with poor patient education. This was supported by patients’ ambivalence (in relation to illness and treatments), poor communication between patients and healthcare professionals (lack of listening and use of inappropriate vocabulary by physicians, underreporting of alternative medicine use by patients) and weak cooperation between professionals (limited to interaction between the general practitioner and the specialist, either pulmonologist or allergist). Asthma management would probably benefit from a more coordinated care pathway at each phase of the disease that is consistent with the expectations and goals of the patients. It should be based on improved organization (involvement of other healthcare professionals and the patient as partners) and processes (regular follow-up, specific tools such as peak flow meter or action plan).
Comparative Evaluation of Hydrothermal Carbonization and Low Temperature Pyrolysis of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver for the Production of Solid Biofuel
Authors: Wang Yajun , Qiu Ling , Zhu Mingqiang , Sun Guotao , Zhang Tianle , Kang Kang 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThis study evaluates the feasibility of two thermal pretreatments including hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and low temperature pyrolysis (LTP) on the production of Eucommia ulmoides biochar. The waste wood of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver was pretreated and characterized for fuel applications. The results confirm that both LTP and HTC are promising processes for improving fuel properties. However, for the same char yield, the required temperature for HTC is lower than LTP, as the char yields of H200 and L300 were quite close (66.50% vs. 66.74%). The surface morphology is significantly different between the pyrolytic carbon and the hydrochar. In addition, it was found that the H/C and O/C ratios of H300 were 0.82 and 0.21, respectively, and the H/C and O/C ratios of L340 were 0.77 and 0.22, respectively. They were similar to that of sub-bituminous. Moreover, under the same reaction temperature, hydrochar showed better grindability, hydrophobicity, and reduction in inorganic content. Comparing the integrated combustion characteristic index (S), LTP process had the better performance within the lower temperature under 220 °C while HTC process performed better at temperature higher than 300 °C. The results reveal that HTC has the potential to produce solid carbonized products with better fuel quality.
A new hyperpolarized 13C ketone body probe reveals an increase in acetoacetate utilization in the diabetic rat heart
Authors: Abdurrachim Desiree , Woo Chern Chiuh , Teo Xing Qi , Chan Wei Xin , Radda George K. , Lee Philip Teck Hock 
Published: April 2019

AbstractEmerging studies have recently shown the potential importance of ketone bodies in cardio-metabolic health. However, techniques to determine myocardial ketone body utilization in vivo are lacking. In this work, we developed a novel method to assess myocardial ketone body utilization in vivo using hyperpolarized [3-13C]acetoacetate and investigated the alterations in myocardial ketone body metabolism in diabetic rats. Within a minute upon injection of [3-13C]acetoacetate, the production of [5-13C]glutamate and [1-13C] acetylcarnitine can be observed real time in vivo. In diabetic rats, the production of [5-13C]glutamate was elevated compared to controls, while [1-13C]acetylcarnitine was not different. This suggests an increase in ketone body utilization in the diabetic heart, with the produced acetyl-CoA channelled into the tricarboxylic acid cycle. This observation was corroborated by an increase activity of succinyl-CoA:3-ketoacid-CoA transferase (SCOT) activity, the rate-limiting enzyme of ketone body utilization, in the diabetic heart. The increased ketone body oxidation in the diabetic hearts correlated with cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction, suggesting a potential coupling between ketone body metabolism and cardiac function. Hyperpolarized [3-13C]acetoacetate is a new probe with potential for non-invasive and real time monitoring of myocardial ketone body oxidation in vivo, which offers a powerful tool to follow disease progression or therapeutic interventions.
Assessing yield gap in high productive countries by designing wheat ideotypes
Authors: Senapati Nimai , Semenov Mikhail A. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractDesigning crop ideotypes in silico is a powerful tool to explore the crop yield potential and yield gap. We defined yield gap as the difference between yield potential of a crop ideotype optimized under local environment and yield of an existing cultivar under optimal management. Wheat ideotypes were designed for the current climate using the Sirius model for both water-limited and irrigated conditions in two high wheat-productive countries viz. the United Kingdom (UK) and New Zealand (NZ) with the objective of estimating yield gap. The mean ideotype yields of 15.0–19.0 t ha−1 were achieved in water-limited conditions in the UK and NZ, whereas 15.6–19.5 t ha−1 under irrigated conditions. Substantial yield gaps were found in both water-limited, 28–31% (4–6 t ha−1), and irrigated conditions, 30–32% (5–6 t ha−1) in the UK and NZ. Both yield potential (25–27%) and yield gap (32–38%) were greater in NZ than the UK. Ideotype design is generic and could apply globally for estimating yield gap. Despite wheat breeding efforts, the considerable yield gap still potentially exists in high productive countries such as the UK and NZ. To accelerate breeding, wheat ideotypes can provide the key traits for wheat improvement and closing the yield gap.
Mendelian Randomization Analysis Support Causal Associations of HbA1c with Circulating Triglyceride, Total and Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in a Chinese Population
Authors: Jia Xu , Hou Yanan , Xu Min , Zhao Zhiyun , Xuan Liping , Wang Tiange , Li Mian , Xu Yu , Lu Jieli , Bi Yufang , Wang Weiqing , Chen Yuhong 
Published: April 2019

AbstractPrevious observational studies supported a positive association of glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level with serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). However, the causal relationship between HbA1c and either one of them was unclear in the East Asians. We performed a Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis in a community-based study sample in Shanghai, China (n = 11,935). To clarify the cause-and-effect relationships of HbA1c with the four interested lipids, an Expanded HbA1c genetic risk score (GRS) with 17 HbA1c-related common variants and a Conservative score by excluding 11 variants were built and adopted as the Instrumental Variables (IVs), respectively. The Expanded HbA1c-GRS was associated with 0.19 unit increment in log-TG (P = 0.009), 0.42 mmol/L TC (P = 0.01), and 0.33 mmol/L LDL-C (P = 0.01); while the Conservative HbA1c-GRS was associated with 0.22 unit in log-TG (P = 0.03), 0.60 mmol/L TC (P = 0.01), and 0.51 mmol/L LDL-C (P = 0.007). No causal relationship was detected for HDL-C. Sensitivity analysis supported the above findings. In conclusions, MR analysis supports a causal role of increased HbA1c level in increment of circulating TG, TC, and LDL-C in a Chinese population.
Real Time Microwave Biochemical Sensor Based on Circular SIW Approach for Aqueous Dielectric Detection
Authors: Mohd Bahar Amyrul Azuan , Zakaria Z. , Md. Arshad M. K. , Isa A. A. M. , Dasril Y. , Alahnomi Rammah A. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIn this study, a critical evaluation of analyte dielectric properties in a microvolume was undertaken, using a microwave biochemical sensor based on a circular substrate integrated waveguide (CSIW) topology. These dielectric properties were numerically investigated based on the resonant perturbation method, as this method provides the best sensing performance as a real-time biochemical detector. To validate these findings, shifts of the resonant frequency in the presence of aqueous solvents were compared with an ideal permittivity. The sensor prototype required a 2.5 µL volume of the liquid sample each time, which still offered an overall accuracy of better than 99.06%, with an average error measurement of ±0.44%, compared with the commercial and ideal permittivity values. The unloaded Qu factor of the circular substrate-integrated waveguide (CSIW) sensor achieved more than 400 to ensure a precise measurement. At 4.4 GHz, a good agreement was observed between simulated and measured results within a broad frequency range, from 1 to 6 GHz. The proposed sensor, therefore, offers high sensitivity detection, a simple structural design, a fast-sensing response, and cost-effectiveness. The proposed sensor in this study will facilitate real improvements in any material characterization applications such as pharmaceutical, bio-sensing, and food processing applications.
Phosphate deficiency induced biofilm formation of Burkholderia on insoluble phosphate granules plays a pivotal role for maximum release of soluble phosphate
Authors: Ghosh Ranjan , Barman Soma , Mandal Narayan Chandra 
Published: April 2019

AbstractInvolvement of biofilm formation process during phosphate (P) solubilization by rhizobacterial strains is not clearly understood. Scanning electron microscopic observations revealed prominent biofilm development on tricalcium phosphate as well as on four different rock phosphate granules by two P solubilizing rhizobacteria viz. Burkholderia tropica P4 and B. unamae P9. Variation in the biofilm developments were also observed depending on the total P content of insoluble P used. Biofilm quantification suggested a strong correlation between the amounts of available P and degrees of biofilm formation. Lower concentrations of soluble P directed both the organisms towards compact biofilm development with maximum substratum coverage. Variation in the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the similar pattern also suggested its close relationship with biofilm formation by the isolates. Presence of BraI/R quorum sensing (QS) system in both the organisms were detected by PCR amplification and sequencing of two QS associated genes viz. braR and rsaL, which are probably responsible for biofilm formation during P solubilization process. Overall observations help to hypothesize for the first time that, biofilm on insoluble P granules creates a close environment for better functioning of organic acids secreted by Burkholderia strains for maximum P solubilization during P deficient conditions.
Optical Co-registration of MRI and On-scalp MEG
Authors: Zetter Rasmus , Iivanainen Joonas , Parkkonen Lauri 
Published: April 2019

AbstractTo estimate the neural generators of magnetoencephalographic (MEG) signals, MEG data have to be co-registered with an anatomical image, typically an MR image. Optically-pumped magnetometers (OPMs) enable the construction of on-scalp MEG systems providing higher sensitivity and spatial resolution than conventional SQUID-based MEG systems. We present a co-registration method that can be applied to on-scalp MEG systems, regardless of the number of sensors. We apply a structured-light scanner to create a surface mesh of the subject’s head and the sensor array, which we fit to the MR image. We quantified the reproducibility of the mesh and localised current dipoles with a phantom. Additionally, we measured somatosensory evoked fields (SEFs) to median nerve stimulation and compared the dipole positions between on-scalp and SQUID-based systems. The scanner reproduced the head surface with <1 mm error. Phantom dipoles were localised with 2.1 mm mean error. SEF dipoles corresponding to the P35m response for OPMs were well localised to the somatosensory cortex, while SQUID dipoles for two subjects were erroneously localised to the motor cortex. The developed co-registration method is inexpensive, fast and can easily be applied to on-scalp MEG. It is more convenient than traditional co-registration methods while also being more accurate.
Environmental interactions are regulated by temperature in Burkholderia seminalis TC3.4.2R3
Authors: Gonçalves Priscila Jane Romano de Oliveira , Hume Carmen C. Denman , Ferreira Almir José , Tsui Sarina , Brocchi Marcelo , Wren Brendan W. , Araujo Welington Luiz 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBurkholderia seminalis strain TC3.4.2R3 is an endophytic bacterium isolated from sugarcane roots that produces antimicrobial compounds, facilitating its ability to act as a biocontrol agent against phytopathogenic bacteria. In this study, we investigated the thermoregulation of B. seminalis TC3.4.2R3 at 28 °C (environmental stimulus) and 37 °C (host-associated stimulus) at the transcriptional and phenotypic levels. The production of biofilms and exopolysaccharides such as capsular polysaccharides and the biocontrol of phytopathogenic fungi were enhanced at 28 °C. At 37 °C, several metabolic pathways were activated, particularly those implicated in energy production, stress responses and the biosynthesis of transporters. Motility, growth and virulence in the Galleria mellonella larvae infection model were more significant at 37 °C. Our data suggest that the regulation of capsule expression could be important in virulence against G. mellonella larvae at 37 °C. In contrast, B. seminalis TC3.4.2R3 failed to cause death in infected BALB/c mice, even at an infective dose of 107 CFU.mL−1. We conclude that temperature drives the regulation of gene expression in B. seminalis during its interactions with the environment.
ADAM17-dependent proteolysis of L-selectin promotes early clonal expansion of cytotoxic T cells
Authors: Mohammed Rebar N. , Wehenkel Sophie C. , Galkina Elena V. , Yates Emma-Kate , Preece Graham , Newman Andrew , Watson H. Angharad , Ohme Julia , Bridgeman John S. , Durairaj Ruban R. P. , Moon Owen R. , Ladell Kristin , Miners Kelly L. , Dolton Garry , Troeberg Linda , Kashiwagi Masahide , Murphy Gillian , Nagase Hideaki , Price David A. , Matthews R. James , Knäuper Vera , Ager Ann 
Published: April 2019

AbstractL-selectin on T-cells is best known as an adhesion molecule that supports recruitment of blood-borne naïve and central memory cells into lymph nodes. Proteolytic shedding of the ectodomain is thought to redirect activated T-cells from lymph nodes to sites of infection. However, we have shown that activated T-cells re-express L-selectin before lymph node egress and use L-selectin to locate to virus-infected tissues. Therefore, we considered other roles for L-selectin proteolysis during T cell activation. In this study, we used T cells expressing cleavable or non-cleavable L-selectin and determined the impact of L-selectin proteolysis on T cell activation in virus-infected mice. We confirm an essential and non-redundant role for ADAM17 in TCR-induced proteolysis of L-selectin in mouse and human T cells and show that L-selectin cleavage does not regulate T cell activation measured by CD69 or TCR internalisation. Following virus infection of mice, L-selectin proteolysis promoted early clonal expansion of cytotoxic T cells resulting in an 8-fold increase over T cells unable to cleave L-selectin. T cells unable to cleave L-selectin showed delayed proliferationin vitrowhich correlated with lower CD25 expression. Based on these results, we propose that ADAM17-dependent proteolysis of L-selectin should be considered a regulator of T-cell activation at sites of immune activity.