bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aerobic Oxidation of Primary Amines to Imines in Water using a Cobalt Complex as Recyclable Catalyst under Mild Conditions
Authors: Hazra Susanta , Pilania Priti , Deb Mayukh , Kushawaha Ajay Kishor , Elias Anil J. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractOxidative coupling of primary amines to imines has been achieved by using a water soluble cobalt complex as catalyst and air as the oxidant at near ambient conditions. Aromatic, heteroaromatic and aliphatic amines were successfully converted to the corresponding imines with yields of up to 96 %. A 20 gram scale reaction for the synthesis of imine from benzylamine in good yield is also demonstrated with this method. The catalyst has been found to be reusable with up to five cycles. It is highly efficient, gives a turnover number (TON) of up to 128, and shows chemoselectivity with the only byproducts being water and ammonia. Control experiments and mechanistic studies indicate that the CoII/CoIII catalytic cycle is responsible for these oxidative transformations. Some of the reactive intermediates of this reaction have also been isolated and structurally characterized.
Design trade‐offs of a capacitance‐to‐voltage converter with a zoom‐in technique for grounded capacitive sensors
Authors: Ahmadpour Bijargah Arash , Heidary Ali , Torkzadeh Pooya , Nihtianov Stoyan 
Published: August 2018

SummaryThis paper presents a low‐power, high‐precision capacitance‐to‐voltage converter (CVC) for grounded capacitive sensors. To measure very small capacitance variations in the presence of a large offset capacitance, a new zoom‐in structure is proposed. The major non‐idealities of the CVC such as the settling error, charge injection, and parasitic capacitance of the switches are minimized through an optimized design. Accordingly, it is shown that the zoom‐in technique can significantly reduce many of these errors. The effect of the parasitic capacitances around the sensor capacitance is significantly reduced by using a switched‐capacitor‐based active‐shielding technique. The interface is designed as an integrated circuit using a standard 0.18‐μm CMOS technology. Simulation results show that for a sensor capacitor with a nominal value of 10 pF, variation of only 200 fF, and parasitic capacitance of up to 20 pF, a worst‐case capacitance error of 0.2 fF can be achieved by taking into account the layout mismatches and the interconnection effects. The achieved latency is 100 μs, and the CVC consumes only 80 μA from a 2‐V power supply. The simulated input capacitance resolution for this latency is 123 aF, which is quite close to our calculated resolution (126 aF). This resolution corresponds to an energy efficiency of 9.82 pJ/Step. A temperature sweep simulation has been performed over the temperature range from −45°C to 125°C to demonstrate the small thermal drift of the designed circuit.
The limited link between accommodation space, sediment thickness, and inner platform facies distribution (Holocene–Pleistocene, Bahamas)
Authors: Weij Rieneke , Reijmer John J. G. , Eberli Gregor P. , Swart Peter K. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractCyclic facies variations in shallow‐water carbonate platforms often show repetitive facies patterns that are frequently interpreted to reflect the sedimentary response to variations in sea‐level related to changes in climate linked to orbital variations, the Milankovitch frequencies. Whether these shallow‐marine carbonates represent a complete infill of accommodation space, or are subtidal cycles, has been discussed in numerous papers. The extent to which the thickness of a single depositional cycle is a direct measure of the amplitude of relative sea‐level change is not fully understood. New shallow seismic data from Great Bahama Bank reveal that accommodation space created during the Holocene sea‐level rise is not filled in a predictable way. Three seismic horizons were identified: the seabed, the Pleistocene top, and a horizon within the Pleistocene. Depth surface and thickness maps of the Holocene and Pleistocene layers were combined with 326 in situ water‐depth measurements to assess the upper limit of the present accommodation space. The analysis showed that accommodation space and Holocene sediment thickness, and water depth are not correlated. In addition, the actual water depth and inner platform facies distribution showed no straightforward link. The energy distribution across the shallow‐water platform appears to control the facies type rather than water depth. Mud‐dominated sediments prevail in shallow low‐energy areas protected by a topographic barrier, whereas mud‐free coarse‐grained sediments mainly occur in deeper areas with hydrodynamic energy induced by strong tidal currents, ocean water influx, and winds. Hence, the uneven energy distribution not only results in unpredictable differences in the carbonate‐cycle thickness on the platform but also to a water depth independent facies distribution pattern within the inner platform. Therefore, care should be taken when deducing sea‐level signals from inner platform facies distribution and sediment thickness patterns on ancient platforms.
Association of changes in inflammation with variation in glycaemia, insulin resistance and secretion based on the KORA study
Authors: de las Heras Gala Tonia , Herder Christian , Rutters Femke , Carstensen‐Kirberg Maren , Huth Cornelia , Stehouwer Coen D.A. , Nijpels Giel , Schalkwijk Casper , Flyvbjerg Allan , Franks Paul W. , Dekker Jacqueline , Meisinger Christa , Koenig Wolfgang , Roden Michael , Rathmann Wolfgang , Peters Annette , Thorand Barbara ,   for the IMI DIRECT Consortium
Published: August 2018

AbstractAimsSubclinical systemic inflammation may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, but its association with early progression of glycaemic deterioration in persons without diabetes has not been fully investigated. Our primary aim was to assess longitudinal associations of changes in pro‐inflammatory (leukocytes, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP)) and anti‐inflammatory (adiponectin) markers with changes in markers that assessed glycaemia, insulin resistance, and secretion (HbA1c, HOMA‐IR, and HOMA‐ß). Furthermore, we aimed to directly compare longitudinal with cross‐sectional associations.Materials and methodsThis study includes 819 initially nondiabetic individuals with repeated measurements from the Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) S4/F4 cohort study (median follow‐up: 7.1 years). Longitudinal and cross‐sectional associations were simultaneously examined using linear mixed growth models. Changes in markers of inflammation were used as independent and changes in markers of glycaemia/insulin resistance/insulin secretion as dependent variables. Models were adjusted for age, sex, major lifestyle and metabolic risk factors for diabetes using time‐varying variables in the final model.ResultsChanges of leukocyte count were positively associated with changes in HbA1c and HOMA‐ß while changes in adiponectin were inversely associated with changes in HbA1c. All examined cross‐sectional associations were statistically significant; they were generally stronger and mostly directionally consistent to the longitudinal association estimates.ConclusionsAdverse changes in low‐grade systemic inflammation go along with glycaemic deterioration and increased insulin secretion independently of changes in other risk factors, suggesting that low‐grade inflammation may contribute to the development of hyperglycaemia and a compensatory increase in insulin secretion.
An approach for controlling the timing and order of engineered mutations in mice
Authors: Goodrich Maxwell M. , Talhouk Ramzi , Zhang Xiaojing , Goodrich David W. 
Published: August 2018

SummarySignificant advances in our understanding of normal development and disease have been facilitated by engineered mice in which genes can be altered in a spatially, temporally, or cell type restricted manner using site specific recombinase systems like Cre‐loxP or Flp‐frt. In many circumstances it is important to understand how interactions between multiple genes influence a given phenotype. Robust approaches for precisely controlling multiple genetic alterations independently are limited, however, thus the impact of mutation order and timing on phenotype is generally unknown. Here we describe and validate a novel Gt(ROSA)26Sor targeted transgene allowing precise control over the order and timing of multiple genetic mutations in the mouse. The transgene expresses an optimized, Flp‐estrogen receptor fusion protein (Flpo‐ERT2) under the control of a loxP‐stop‐loxP cassette. In this system, genes modified by loxP sites are altered first upon expression of Cre. Cre also eliminates the loxP‐stop‐loxP cassette, permitting widespread expression of Flpo‐ERT2. Because of the estrogen receptor fusion, Flp activity remains inert until administration of tamoxifen, allowing genes modified by frt sites to be modified subsequently with controllable timing. This mouse transgene will be useful in a wide variety of applications where independent control of different mutations in the mouse is desirable.
Landscape position strongly affects the resistance and resilience to water deficit anomaly of floodplain vegetation community
Authors: Wen Li , Powell Megan , Saintilan Neil 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe continuous provision of ecological services by wetlands is largely dependent on the stability of ecosystem functions such as biomass production. Biomass production is in turn strongly impacted by the frequency, duration, and intensity of climate extremes such as droughts and floods. This is particularly true for the floodplain wetlands in the Murray–Darling basin, Australia, which exhibits high interannual and interdecal climatic variability. In this study, we evaluated the ecological resistance and resilience to water deficit anomalies in terms of biomass production for the major woody floodplain vegetation community types (VCT) in the semiarid northern‐west of New South Wales including River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) forest, Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens), Coolibah (Eucalyptuscoolabah) woodlands, and Lignum (Duma florulenta) shrublands. Our hypothesis is that different VCTs have different trends of biomass production over time by virtue of their landscape position. Landscape position was defined by the weighted distance to water courses (DIST) and local deviation of elevation from global mean. Biomass production stability in response to water deficit anomalies was modelled using time series (2000–2016) of the normalized difference vegetation index and hydrological and meteorological drought indices. We found that (a) River Red Gum forest exhibits higher resistance and resilience than other VCTs, (b) vegetation located closer to water courses has significantly higher resilience, (c) the resistance to drought indices is not significantly different across landscape positions, and (d) distance to water course is more important than topography in terms of effects on ecological resistance and resilience.
Determinants of invasive species policy: Print media and agriculture determine U.S. invasive wild pig policy
Authors: Miller Ryan S. , Opp Susan M. , Webb Colleen T. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractConflicts between wildlife, invasive species, and agricultural producers are increasing. Although direct management actions taken to mitigate these conflicts remain controversial, most stakeholders agree that better policies are needed to balance socioeconomic considerations with invasive species management, wildlife conservation, and agriculture. However, the interaction between societal and biological drivers that influence human–invasive species–wildlife conflict mitigation policy is poorly understood. We identify factors influencing policy leading to the establishment of a new federal program to control invasive wild pigs (IWPs) in the United States. We fit generalized linear models relating frequency of congressional policy activity, such as congressional hearings and reports, to frequency of print newspaper media and percent of the U.S. agricultural industry co‐occurring with IWPs for 29 yr preceding the establishment of the federal program in 2013. Our models explained 89% of the deviance in congressional policy activity indicating a strong linkage between congressional IWP policy activity and predictors representing the number of negative of newspaper articles, geographic distribution of print media, and percent of agricultural producers co‐occurring with IWPs. These effects translated to 3.7% increase in the number of congressional policy actions for every additional five states with negative news media. Invasive wild pig congressional policy activity increased 6.7% for every additional 10 negative newspaper articles. Increases in co‐occurrence of agriculture and IWPs had the largest effect; for every 1% increase in co‐occurrence, there was a 41% increase in congressional policy activity. Invasive wild pig congressional policy activity that explicitly addressed livestock increased at nearly twice the rate of policy activity addressing crop agriculture. These results suggest that agriculture and media coverage may act as determinants for invasive species policy. Our approach may provide early insight into emerging policy areas enabling proactive policy development by agencies or early engagement by scientists to find solutions before the policy area becomes gridlocked. Our results can also support policy and program evaluation providing a means of determining if the implemented policies match the original policy determinants ensuring best alignment with public, environmental, and stakeholder interests.
Decision support algorithm for the selection of analytical methods in organic compounds detection for future extraterrestrial exploratory missions
Authors: Mátyás Bence , Bautista Gabriela , Szarka Máté , Serrano Vanessa , Morales Arteaga Juan , Loja David , Yaguana Stalin Gabriel , Gómez Francisco , Ramírez‐Cando Lenin J. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe search for biotic compounds beyond planet Earth is among the highest priorities in space discovery. We sought to detect organic molecules in various earth soil samples collected from environments with extreme climatic conditions comparable to extraterrestrial environments using HPLC, spectrophotometry (UV, IR), GC/MS and vertical gel electrophoresis analyses systems. The applied methods in the study were compared using a self‐developed software tool that was designed to evaluate the viability of instrument selection for organics detection in any given exploratory mission. The tool was created to aid further development and refinements of rapidly improving technological solutions such as MCE and MS instruments. Such comparison can be done quickly and easily, acting as a decision support tool when choosing between analytical methods during any planning phase of future exploration missions led by space agencies (i.e., NASA).
Evaluation of seismic displacement demands from the September 19, 2017 Puebla‐Morelos (Mw = 7.1) earthquake in Mexico City
Authors: Ruiz‐García Jorge , Miranda Eduardo 
Published: August 2018

SummaryThis short communication presents the assessment of seismic inelastic and elastic displacement demands computed from earthquake ground motions (EQGMs) recorded in Mexico City during the intermediate‐depth intraslab Puebla‐Morelos earthquake on 19 September 2017 (Mw = 7.1). Evaluation is conducted by means of peak elastic and inelastic displacement demand spectra, inelastic displacement ratio, CR, spectra, and generalized interstory drift spectra computed for selected recording stations located in different soil sites of Mexico City, including those located in areas of reported collapsed buildings. Results of this study confirm previous observations made from interplate (subduction) EQGMs that peak inelastic displacement demands are greater than corresponding elastic counterparts for short‐to‐medium period structures, while the opposite is true for medium‐to‐long period structures. Possible basin site effects were identified from generalized interstory drift spectra. It is also shown that an equation introduced in the literature to obtain estimates of CR developed from interplate EQGMs provides also a good estimate for mean CR computed from the intermediate‐depth intraslab EQGMs.
Lineages evolved under stronger sexual selection show superior ability to invade conspecific competitor populations
Authors: Godwin Joanne L. , Spurgin Lewis G. , Michalczyk Łukasz , Martin Oliver Y. , Lumley Alyson J. , Chapman Tracey , Gage Matthew J. G. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDespite limitations on offspring production, almost all multicellular species use sex to reproduce. Sex gives rise to sexual selection, a widespread force operating through competition and choice within reproduction, however, it remains unclear whether sexual selection is beneficial for total lineage fitness, or if it acts as a constraint. Sexual selection could be a positive force because of selection on improved individual condition and purging of mutation load, summing into lineages with superior fitness. On the other hand, sexual selection could negate potential net fitness through the actions of sexual conflict, or because of tensions between investment in sexually selected and naturally selected traits. Here, we explore these ideas using a multigenerational invasion challenge to measure consequences of sexual selection for the overall net fitness of a lineage. After applying experimental evolution under strong versus weak regimes of sexual selection for 77 generations with the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, we measured the overall ability of introductions from either regime to invade into conspecific competitor populations across eight generations. Results showed that populations from stronger sexual selection backgrounds had superior net fitness, invading more rapidly and completely than counterparts from weak sexual selection backgrounds. Despite comprising only 10% of each population at the start of the invasion experiment, colonizations from strong sexual selection histories eventually achieved near-total introgression, almost completely eliminating the original competitor genotype. Population genetic simulations using the design and parameters of our experiment indicate that this invasion superiority could be explained if strong sexual selection had improved both juvenile and adult fitness, in both sexes. Using a combination of empirical and modeling approaches, our findings therefore reveal positive and wide-reaching impacts of sexual selection for net population fitness when facing the broad challenge of invading competitor populations across multiple generations.
Early Jurassic high‐Mg andesites in the Quxu area, southern Lhasa terrane: Implications for magma evolution related to a slab rollback of the Neo‐Tethyan Ocean
Authors: Wang Chao , Ding Lin , Zhang Li‐Yun , Ding Xiang‐Li , Yue Ya‐Hui 
Published: August 2018

Over the past few years, an increasing number of Early Jurassic magmatic rocks have been found in the southern Lhasa terrane and well studied; however, high‐Mg andesitic rocks are considerably rare, and the Mesozoic palaeotectonic framework of Neo‐Tethyan Ocean remains controversial. The present study focuses on Early Jurassic high‐Mg andesites that outcropped in the Quxu area, southern Lhasa terrane. In the Quxu area, the Early Jurassic (189 Ma) volcanic sequences are mainly composed of andesites and basaltic andesites and are unconformably in contact with Late Triassic diorites (226 Ma). These volcanic rocks are characterized by SiO2 (49–58 wt.%), MgO (6.2–11.1 wt.%) and Mg# (61–69), TiO2 (0.48–0.76 wt.%) and TFeO/MgO ratios (0.80–1.13), with geochemical features similar to those of high‐Mg andesites. Their depleted mantle‐type Nd (εNd(t) = +4.9 to +6.9) and Hf (εHf(t) = +9.6 to +14.9) isotopic compositions, together with their geochemical characteristics, suggest that the Quxu high‐Mg andesites were most likely produced by the interaction between the asthenospheric mantle and lithospheric mantle that metasomatized by slab‐derived fluids. The diorites belong to metaluminous calc‐alkaline series with highly positive εHf(t) values (+13.4 to +15.8) and are interpreted to be produced mainly by partial melting of the juvenile crustal basaltic rocks with minor input from the depleted mantle. We speculate that, in combination with the distribution of the Mesozoic magmatic rocks in the southern Lhasa terrane, the rollback of the subducting Neo‐Tethyan Ocean was the prime reason for the Early Jurassic tectono‐magmatic evolution in the southern Lhasa terrane. This process facilitated a rapid linear upwelling of the asthenospheric mantle beneath the southern Lhasa terrane and ultimately led to the large‐scale magmatic flare‐ups. Furthermore, events associated with slab rollback likely played an important role in crustal growth in the southern Lhasa terrane.
Discriminatory Demands by Patients
Authors: Rosoff Philip M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractMost of us working in health care are concerned—perhaps even appalled—when patients make demands for doctors or nurses or other caregivers that accord with their bigoted sentiments. Even though there may be some reasons to believe that matching certain characteristics of doctors with those of their patients (whether the latter ask for them or not) may produce both more patient satisfaction and even some health benefits, how does one tease apart or distinguish requests that are potentially beneficial from those we find abhorrent? What facts might make it acceptable for an African American patient to request an African American doctor or a Chinese Mandarin‐speaking patient to request a physician who is fluent in Mandarin and is also of Chinese ethnicity? At the same time, why do we recoil or find it objectionable that the father of the baby under Tonya Battle's care in Michigan might want a nurse caring for his child with whom he identifies ethnically, or racially or religiously, or based on any other superficial trait(s) that we use to characterize people?
When Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking in Advanced Dementia Is No Longer Voluntary
Authors: Chuang Elizabeth , Flicker Lauren Sydney 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIn “On Avoiding Deep Dementia,” Norman Cantor astutely notes that, for some individuals, the concept of “protracted maintenance during progressive cognitive dysfunction and helplessness is an intolerably degrading prospect.” This cannot be argued with. Cantor's solution, however—that in the wake of a dementia diagnosis, patients should have the option to direct, in advance, instructions for voluntary stopping of eating and drinking should they develop a state of deep dementia—is more ethically challenging than it may first appear.Respect for autonomy is one of the most fundamental principles of bioethics, and it requires that we allow patients with capacity to refuse life‐sustaining treatment, even when that treatment is something as seemingly innocuous as nutrition and hydration. If a capacitated person uses an advance directive to prospectively refuse artificial nutrition or hydration, then that treatment must be withheld if the person develops dementia and loses the ability or willingness to eat. Cantor is incorrect, however, in suggesting that an advance directive can require that nutrition and hydration be withheld from a patient with dementia who actively requests to eat or drink. Regardless of the language in an advance directive, caregivers cannot be compelled to abandon their duty to attend to the person's human dignity, nor can physicians be compelled to sedate a person with moderate or severe dementia because that person continues to be receptive to eating and drinking.