bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity of the regional climate in the Middle East and North Africa to volcanic perturbations
Authors: Dogar Muhammad Mubashar , Stenchikov Georgiy , Osipov Sergey , Wyman Bruce , Zhao Ming 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional climate appears to be extremely sensitive to volcanic eruptions. Winter cooling after the 1991 Pinatubo eruption far exceeded the mean hemispheric temperature anomaly, even causing snowfall in Israel. To better understand MENA climate variability, the climate responses to the El Chichón and Pinatubo volcanic eruptions are analyzed using observations, NOAA/National Centers for Environmental Prediction Climate Forecast System Reanalysis, and output from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory's High‐Resolution Atmospheric Model. A multiple regression analysis both for the observations and the model output is performed on seasonal summer and winter composites to separate out the contributions from climate trends, El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Indian summer monsoon, and volcanic aerosols. Strong regional temperature and precipitation responses over the MENA region are found in both winter and summer. The model and the observations both show that a positive NAO amplifies the MENA volcanic winter cooling. In boreal summer, the patterns of changing temperature and precipitation suggest a weakening and southward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, caused by volcanic surface cooling and weakening of the Indian and West African monsoons. The model captures the main features of the climate response; however, it underestimates the total cooling, especially in winter, and exhibits a different spatial pattern of the NAO climate response in MENA compared to the observations. The conducted analysis sheds light on the internal mechanisms of MENA climate variability and helps to selectively diagnose the model deficiencies.
Modeling and design for electromagnetic surface wave devices
Authors: La Spada Luigi , Haq Sajad , Hao Yang 
Published: July 2017

AbstractA great deal of interest has reemerged recently in the study of surface waves. The possibility to control and manipulate electromagnetic wave propagations at will opens many new research areas and leads to lots of novel applications in engineering. In this paper, we will present a comprehensive modeling and design approach for surface wave cloaks, based on graded‐refractive‐index materials and the theory of transformation optics. It can be also applied to any other forms of surface wave manipulation, in terms of amplitude and phase. In this paper, we will present a general method to illustrate how this can be achieved from modeling to the final design. The proposed approach is validated to be versatile and allows ease in manufacturing, thereby demonstrating great potential for practical applications.
A new detrital mica 40Ar/39Ar dating approach for provenance and exhumation of the Eastern Alps
Authors: Gemignani L. , Sun Xilin , Braun J. , van Gerve T. D. , Wijbrans J. R. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractDetrital thermochronology can be used as a tool to quantitatively constrain exhumation rates and its spatial variability from active mountain belts. Commonly used methods for this purpose assume a steady state relationship between tectonic uplift and erosion. However, this assumption does not account for the transitory response of a dynamic orogenic system to changes in the boundary conditions. We propose a different approach that uses the observed detrital age distributions as “markers” of the past exhumation and of the present‐day erosion and mixing occurring in a river system. In this paper, we present new 40Ar/39Ar biotite and white mica age distributions for 19 modern river sands from the Eastern Alps north of the Periadriatic line. The results present three main clusters of ages at ~0.5–50, ~60–120, and ~250–350 Ma that record the main orogenic phases in this sector of the Alps. We have applied two numerical methods to the cooling ages to (a) linearly compute the spatial variability of the relative present‐day erosion of a set of four detrital mineral samples from drainage basins along the Inn River and (b) quantify the rates of the cooling and erosion in the Tauern Window during Paleocene‐Miocene time of the Alpine orogeny. Our results suggest a 0.34–0.84 mm/yr range of exhumation rates for the Tauern Window since the Miocene. Our estimates of exhumation rates of the western Tauern Window are higher than those for the eastern Tauern Window, which is consistent with the previous studies.
Graphene Quantum Dots Downregulate Multiple Multidrug‐Resistant Genes via Interacting with Their C‐Rich Promoters
Authors: Luo Chao , Li Yanfang , Guo Lijuan , Zhang Fangwei , Liu Hui , Zhang Jiali , Zheng Jing , Zhang Jingyan , Guo Shouwu 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMultidrug resistance (MDR) is the major factor in the failure of many forms of chemotherapy, mostly due to the increased efflux of anticancer drugs that mediated by ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Therefore, inhibiting ABC transporters is one of effective methods of overcoming MDR. However, high enrichment of ABC transporters in cells and their broad substrate spectra made to circumvent MDR are almost insurmountable by a single specific ABC transporter inhibitor. Here, this study demonstrates that graphene quantum dots (GQDs) could downregulate the expressions of P‐glycoprotein, multidrug resistance protein MRP1, and breast cancer resistance protein genes via interacting with C‐rich regions of their promoters. This is the first example that a single reagent could suppress multiple MDR genes, suggesting that it will be possible to target multiple ABC transporters simultaneously with a single reagent. The inhibitory ability of the GQDs to these drug‐resistant genes is validated further by reversing the doxorubicin resistance of MCF‐7/ADR cells. Notably, GQDs have superb chemical and physical properties, unique structure, low toxicity, and high biocompatibility; hence, their capability of inhibiting multiple drug‐resistant genes holds great potential in cancer therapy.
A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study of rituximab in patients with stiff person syndrome
Authors: Dalakas Marinos C. , Rakocevic Goran , Dambrosia James M. , Alexopoulos Harry , McElroy Beverly 
Published: July 2017

ObjectiveIn stiff person syndrome (SPS), an antibody‐mediated impaired γ‐aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) neurotransmission is believed to cause muscle stiffness and spasms. Most patients improve with GABA‐enhancing drugs and intravenous immunoglobulin, but some respond poorly and remain disabled. The need for more effective therapy prompted a trial with the anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab.MethodsThis was a placebo‐controlled randomized trial of rituximab (2 biweekly infusions of 1g each). The primary outcome was a change in stiffness scores at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were changes in heightened‐sensitivity and quality of life scores. Enrolling 24 patients was calculated to detect 50% change in stiffness scores.ResultsRandomization was balanced for age, sex, disease duration, and glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibody titers. No significant changes were noted at 6 months after treatment in all outcomes. Specifically, no differences were noted in the stiffness index, the primary outcome, or sensitivity scores, the secondary outcome, at 3 or 6 months. Quality of life scores improved significantly (p < 0.01) at 3 months in both groups, but not at 6 months, denoting an early placebo effect. Blinded self‐assessment rating of the overall stiffness for individual patients revealed improvement in 4 patients in each group. At 6 months, improvement persisted in 1 patient in the placebo group versus 3 of 4 in the rituximab group, where these meaningful improvements were also captured by video recordings.InterpretationThis is the largest controlled trial conducted in SPS patients and demonstrates no statistically significant difference in the efficacy measures between rituximab and placebo. Rituximab's lack of efficacy could be due to a considerable placebo effect; insensitivity of scales to quantify stiffness, especially in the less severely affected patients; or drug effectiveness in only a small patient subset. Ann Neurol 2017;82:271–277
MiR‐429 suppresses glioblastoma multiforme by targeting SOX2
Authors: Dong Huixiao , Hao Xiuzhen , Cui Benliang , Guo Meiling 
Published: July 2017

Accumulating evidence has shown that miR‐429 plays an important role in the development and progression of tumour. However, the role of miR‐429 in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains largely unknown. The present study is designed to investigate the function of miR‐429 in GBM and to explore the molecular mechanism underlying its function. The expression level of miR‐429 was detected in GBM tissues and cell lines by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The effect of overexpression of miR‐429 on in vitro cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasion was examined. Western blot analysis was used to detect the influence of miR‐429 on the expression of target gene, and Pearson analysis was used to calculate the correlation between the expression of targets gene and the miR‐429 in GBM tissues. Our study shows that miR‐429 is downregulated in GBM tissues compared with noncancerous tissues (P < .01). In addition, the expression of miR‐429 in GBM cell lines is also significantly lower (P < .01). Enforced expression of miR‐429 inhibits GBM cells proliferation, induces apoptosis and suppresses invasion and leads to the downregulation of the SOX2 protein. Moreover, the expression level of miR‐429 in GBM tissues shows inverse relationship with the expression level of SOX2 protein. Our findings suggest that miR‐429 represents a potential tumour‐suppressive miRNA and plays an important role in GBM progression by directly targeting SOX2.
Physicochemical and thermodynamic study of malachite green adsorption on raw and modified corn straw
Authors: Lima Diana R. , Sellaoui Lotfi , Klein Laura , Reis Glaydson S. , Lima Éder C. , Dotto Guilherme L. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPhysicochemical and thermodynamic interpretations of malachite green (MG) adsorption on raw (RCS) and modified corn straw (MCS) are detailed in this work. Experimental isotherms were constructed at different temperatures (from 298 to 328 K). To interpret these curves, three models named multilayer model with saturation, double layer model with two energies, and monolayer model with one energy were developed based on the principle of grand canonical ensemble in statistical physics. The double layer model with two energies was the more adequate to represent the adsorption process. Thermodynamic functions such as configurational entropy (Sa), free adsorption enthalpy (G), and internal energy (Eint) were studied. The number of MG molecules per site (n) ranged from 0.33 to 2.33 and the adsorbed quantity at saturation (Qasat) ranged from 164.15 to 528.19 mg g−1 and both increased with the temperature. The density of the receptor sites (NM) ranged from 248.71 to 104.88 and decreased with the temperature. For RCS and MCS, the first and second energies, ϵ1 and ϵ2, increased with the temperature, with ϵ1 being higher than ϵ2. The adsorption energies of MCS (7.77–11.19 kJ mol−1) were higher than the adsorption energies of RCS (6.17–10.88 kJ mol−1). The adsorption process occurred by physisorption and the disorder increased at low equilibrium concentrations, but decreased at high concentrations. The free enthalpy and internal energy described with care the spontaneity of the studied system.
The evolutionary consequences of habitat fragmentation: Body morphology and coloration differentiation among brook trout populations of varying size
Authors: Zastavniouk Carol , Weir Laura K. , Fraser Dylan J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractA reduction in population size due to habitat fragmentation can alter the relative roles of different evolutionary mechanisms in phenotypic trait differentiation. While deterministic (selection) and stochastic (genetic drift) mechanisms are expected to affect trait evolution, genetic drift may be more important than selection in small populations. We examined relationships between mature adult traits and ecological (abiotic and biotic) variables among 14 populations of brook trout. These naturally fragmented populations have shared ancestry but currently exhibit considerable variability in habitat characteristics and population size (49 < Nc < 10,032; 3 < Nb < 567). Body size, shape, and coloration differed among populations, with a tendency for more variation among small populations in both trait means andCVwhen compared to large populations. Phenotypic differences were more frequently and directly linked to habitat variation or operational sex ratio than to population size, suggesting that selection may overcome genetic drift at small population size. Phenotype–environment associations were also stronger in females than males, suggesting that natural selection due to abiotic conditions may act more strongly on females than males. Our results suggest that natural and sexual‐selective pressures on phenotypic traits change during the process of habitat fragmentation, and that these changes are largely contingent upon existing habitat conditions within isolated fragments. Our study provides an improved understanding of the ecological and evolutionary consequences of habitat fragmentation and lends insight into the ability of some small populations to respond to selection and environmental change.
Genetic differentiation and inferred dynamics of a hybrid zone between Northern Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) and California Spotted Owls (S. o. occidentalis) in northern California
Authors: Miller Mark P. , Mullins Thomas D. , Forsman Eric D. , Haig Susan M. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractGenetic differentiation among Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) subspecies has been established in prior studies. These investigations also provided evidence for introgression and hybridization among taxa but were limited by a lack of samples from geographic regions where subspecies came into close contact. We analyzed new sets of samples from Northern Spotted Owls (NSO:S. o. caurina) and California Spotted Owls (CSO:S. o. occidentalis) in northern California using mitochondrialDNAsequences (mtDNA) and 10 nuclear microsatellite loci to obtain a clearer depiction of genetic differentiation and hybridization in the region. Our analyses revealed that aNSOpopulation close to the northern edge of theCSOrange in northern California (theNSOContact Zone population) is highly differentiated relative to otherNSOpopulations throughout the remainder of their range. Phylogenetic analyses identified a unique lineage of mtDNAin theNSOContact Zone, and Bayesian clustering analyses of the microsatellite data identified the Contact Zone as a third distinct population that is differentiated fromCSOandNSOfound in the remainder of the subspecies' range. Hybridization betweenNSOandCSOwas readily detected in theNSOContact Zone, with over 50% of individuals showing evidence of hybrid ancestry. Hybridization was also identified among 14% ofCSOsamples, which were dispersed across the subspecies' range in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The asymmetry of hybridization suggested that the hybrid zone may be dynamic and moving. Although evidence of hybridization existed, we identified no F1 generation hybrid individuals. We instead found evidence for F2 or backcrossed individuals among our samples. The absence of F1 hybrids may indicate that (1) our 10 microsatellites were unable to distinguish hybrid types, (2) primary interactions between subspecies are occurring elsewhere on the landscape, or (3) dispersal between the subspecies' ranges is reduced relative to historical levels, potentially as a consequence of recent regional fires.
Quantifying marine mammal hotspots in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Harvey Gillian K. A. , Nelson Trisalyn A. , Fox Caroline H. , Paquet Paul C. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractGlobal biodiversity is undergoing rapid decline due to direct and indirect anthropogenic impacts to species and ecosystems. Marine species, in particular, are experiencing accelerated population declines leading to many species being considered at risk by regional, national, and international standards. As one conservation approach, decisions made using spatially explicit information on marine wildlife populations have the potential to facilitate recovery and contribute to national and international commitments toward conservation targets. Delineating areas of intense use by species at risk can inform future marine spatial planning and conservation efforts, including the identification of marine protected areas. Methods for detecting hotspots (e.g., areas with high density and/or abundance) enable categorical mapping of the most intensely used areas. Yet, many of the current methods for delineating hotspots, such as the top 5% threshold, are subjective and fail to account for spatial patterns. Our goal was to map spatially continuous distributions of marine mammal densities and employ quantitative statistical methods to extract hotspot locations on the northern coast of British Columbia. We integrated systematically surveyed species information with environmental variables using generalized additive models to predict marine mammal distribution and density. Hotspots were identified from the density surfaces using two approaches: aspatial top 5% method and spatially localGi* statistic using three neighborhood definitions. Heterogeneous density patterns were observed for all species, and high‐density regions were generally clustered in areas exhibiting oceanographic characteristics that may promote concentrated food resources. Combining species density surfaces and extracting hotspot locations identified regions important to multiple species and present candidate locations for future conservation efforts. Contributions from this research provide robust statistical methods to objectively map hotspot locations and generateGISdata products for informing coastal conservation decisions.
Interpreting differentiation landscapes in the light of long-term linked selection
Authors: Burri Reto 
Published: July 2017

Abstract
Identifying genomic regions underlying adaptation in extant lineages is key to understanding the trajectories along which biodiversity evolves. However, this task is complicated by evolutionary processes that obscure and mimic footprints of positive selection. Particularly, the long-term effects of linked selection remain underappreciated and difficult to account for. Based on patterns emerging from recent research on the evolution of differentiation across the speciation continuum, I illustrate how long-term linked selection affects the distribution of differentiation along genomes. I then argue that a comparative population genomics framework that exploits emergent features of long-term linked selection can help overcome shortcomings of traditional genome scans for adaptive evolution, but needs to account for the temporal dynamics of differentiation landscapes.
Mineralogy, zircon U–Pb–Hf isotopes, and whole‐rock geochemistry of Late Cretaceous–Eocene granites from the Tengchong terrane, western Yunnan, China: Record of the closure of the Neo‐Tethyan Ocean
Authors: Cao Hua‐Wen , Zhang Yun‐Hui , Santosh M. , Zhang Shou‐Ting , Tang Li , Pei Qiu‐Ming 
Published: July 2017

New data from mineralogy, geochemistry, zircon U–Pb dating, and Hf isotopes have revealed Late Cretaceous to Eocene magmatic intrusions in the Tengchong terrane and constrained the origin, tectonic setting, and characteristics of tin‐bearing and barren granitoids. We divide the studied granitoids into two groups: (a) the Late Cretaceous Zhinaxiang (70 Ma) and Early Paleocene Dazhupeng (65 Ma) S‐type barren granites and (b) the Eocene Lailishan A2‐type tin‐bearing granite (50 Ma). All these granitoids display Si‐ and K‐rich and calc‐alkaline characteristics and have similar chondrite‐normalized rare earth element patterns. However, geochemical differences do exist between the two groups of granites. The Zhinaxiang and Dazhupeng S‐type granites are slightly peraluminous, enriched in large‐ion lithophile elements (e.g., Rb and K), and depleted in high‐field‐strength elements (e.g., Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf), whereas the Lailishan A2‐type granite has higher TFe2O3, high‐field‐strength element content, and Ga/Al ratios. The geochemical and Hf isotopic data indicate that the granites in this study were generated by partial melting of Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks. Due to the subduction of the Neo‐Tethyan Ocean beneath the Eurasian plate, the Zhinaxiang and Dazhupeng S‐type granites were formed in a thickened‐crustal environment, whereas the Lailishan A2‐type granite was emplaced in a post‐collisional extensional setting attributed to slab break‐off. By comparison between tin‐bearing and barren granites, we propose that the Sn mineralization could be related to relatively high‐temperature and low‐pressure crystallization conditions.
Migmatization and intrusion of “S‐type” granites in the trans‐Himalayan Ladakh Magmatic Arc of north India and their bearing on Indo‐Eurasian collisional tectonics
Authors: Sen Koushik , Adlakha Vikas , Singhal Saurabh , Chaudhury Reetam 
Published: July 2017

The Ladakh Magmatic Arc (LMA) of trans‐Himalaya was formed due to subduction of the Tethyan Ocean beneath the Eurasian continental plate. This was followed by the Indo‐Eurasian continental collision that gave rise to the Himalayan orogen. In this work, we present results from U–Pb geochronology of zircon of 2 samples from a previously unknown migmatite body within the LMA and one two‐mica granite body that lies adjacent to this migmatite and intrudes the LMA. One sample of mesosome from this migmatite gives a crystallization age of 66.9 ± 1.5 Ma (n = 11 zircon) along with a younger population of zircon (n = 24) giving an age of 62.1 ± 1.3 Ma. This sample also shows the presence of a younger cluster of zircon (n = 7) giving a concordant age of 50.0 ± 2.9 Ma. The other sample of one leucosome contains a cluster of inherited zircon (n = 5) giving a concordant age of 72.86 ± 0.83 Ma. However, the majority of the population (n = 10) gives a concordant crystallization age of 55.31 ± 1.5 Ma. Limited Hf isotopic analysis of the leucosome shows positive εHft values ranging from 7 to 15, comparable to that of the LMA. High and positive εHft values and absence of any Palaeozoic xenocrystic zircon help us infer that the Indian continental crust was not involved in the partial melting and leucosome generation process. Therefore, this event of migmatization predates Indo‐Eurasian collision. By comparing Th/U ratio versus age for both the mesosome and leucosome and their respective age spectra, we infer that this part of the LMA underwent pronounced partial melting between 55 and 60 Ma and generated leucosome till ~50 Ma. The two‐mica granite contains muscovite, indicating its crustal origin. It gives 2 closely spaced age spectra of 38.1 ± 1.1 Ma (n = 7) and 34.31 ± 0.48 Ma (n = 4). This two‐mica granite also contains xenocrysts of Palaeozoic ages. By integrating our studies with earlier works, we infer that this migmatization of the LMA indicates its collision with the Indian plate, prior to Indo‐Eurasian continental accretion, at 55–50 Ma. The two‐mica granite contains xenocrystic material from both the LMA and the Indian continental crust and indicates S‐type granite magmatism related to India–Eurasia continental collision at 35–40 Ma.