bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimating gas saturation in a thin layer by using frequency‐dependent amplitude versus offset modelling
Authors: Jin Zhaoyu , Chapman Mark , Wu Xiaoyang , Papageorgiou Giorgos 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTVarious models have been proposed to link partial gas saturation to seismic attenuation and dispersion, suggesting that the reflection coefficient should be frequency‐dependent in many cases of practical importance. Previous approaches to studying this phenomenon typically have been limited to single‐interface models. Here, we propose a modelling technique that allows us to incorporate frequency‐dependent reflectivity into convolutional modelling. With this modelling framework, seismic data can be synthesised from well logs of velocity, density, porosity, and water saturation. This forward modelling could act as a basis for inversion schemes aimed at recovering gas saturation variations with depth. We present a Bayesian inversion scheme for a simple thin‐layer case and a particular rock physics model and show that, although the method is very sensitive to prior information and constraints, both gas saturation and layer thickness theoretically can be estimated in the case of interfering reflections.
Co‐infections and environmental conditions drive the distributions of blood parasites in wild birds
Authors: Clark Nicholas J. , Wells Konstans , Dimitrov Dimitar , Clegg Sonya M. 
Published: August 2016

Summary

Experimental work increasingly suggests that non‐random pathogen associations can affect the spread or severity of disease. Yet due to difficulties distinguishing and interpreting co‐infections, evidence for the presence and directionality of pathogen co‐occurrences in wildlife is rudimentary.

We provide empirical evidence for pathogen co‐occurrences by analysing infection matrices for avian malaria (Haemoproteus and Plasmodium spp.) and parasitic filarial nematodes (microfilariae) in wild birds (New Caledonian Zosterops spp.).

Using visual and genus‐specific molecular parasite screening, we identified high levels of co‐infections that would have been missed using PCR alone. Avian malaria lineages were assigned to species level using morphological descriptions. We estimated parasite co‐occurrence probabilities, while accounting for environmental predictors, in a hierarchical multivariate logistic regression.

Co‐infections occurred in 36% of infected birds. We identified both positively and negatively correlated parasite co‐occurrence probabilities when accounting for host, habitat and island effects. Two of three pairwise avian malaria co‐occurrences were strongly negative, despite each malaria parasite occurring across all islands and habitats. Birds with microfilariae had elevated heterophil to lymphocyte ratios and were all co‐infected with avian malaria, consistent with evidence that host immune modulation by parasitic nematodes facilitates malaria co‐infections. Importantly, co‐occurrence patterns with microfilariae varied in direction among avian malaria species; two malaria parasites correlated positively but a third correlated negatively with microfilariae.

We show that wildlife co‐infections are frequent, possibly affecting infection rates through competition or facilitation. We argue that combining multiple diagnostic screening methods with multivariate logistic regression offers a platform to disentangle impacts of environmental factors and parasite co‐occurrences on wildlife disease.
Enhanced synergistic anti‐Lewis lung carcinoma effect of a DNA vaccine harboring a MUC1‐VEGFR2 fusion gene used with GM‐CSF as an adjuvant
Authors: Ruan Junzhong , Duan Yong , Li Fugen , Wang Zitong 
Published: August 2016

SummaryIn order to achieve a synergistic effect on anti‐tumour and anti‐angiogenesis activity, we designed and constructed a DNA vaccine that expresses MUC1and VEGFR2 in the same reading frame. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti‐tumour activity of this DNA vaccine. Furthermore, we also investigated the enhanced synergistic anti‐Lewis lung carcinoma effect of this DNA vaccine by using GM‐CSF as an adjuvant. A series of DNA plasmids encoding MUC1, VEGFR2, GM‐CSF, and their conjugates were constructed and injected into mice intramuscularly (i.m.) followed by an electric pulse. The humoral and cellular immune responses after immunization were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and enzyme‐linked immunospot (ELISPOT), respectively. To evaluate the anti‐tumour efficacy of these plasmids, murine models with MUC1‐expressing tumours were generated. After injection into the tumour‐bearing mouse model, the plasmid carrying the fusion gene of MUC1 and VEGFR2 showed stronger inhibition of tumour growth than the plasmid expressing MUC1 or VEGFR2 alone, which indicated that MUC1 and VEGFR2 could exert a synergistic anti‐tumour effect. Furthermore, mice vaccinated with the combination of the GM‐CSF expressing plasmid and the plasmid carrying the fusion gene of MUC1 and VEGFR2 showed an increased inhibition in the growth of MUC1‐expressing tumours and prolonged mouse survival. These observations emphasize the potential of the synergistic anti‐tumour and anti‐angiogenesis strategy used in DNA vaccines, and the potential of the GM‐CSF gene as an adjuvant for DNA vaccines, which could represent a promising approach for tumour immunotherapy.
Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) improved novel object recognition task and increased cerebral vesicular glutamate transporter type 3 in sub‐chronic phencyclidine rat model of schizophrenia
Authors: Piyabhan Pritsana , Wannasiri Supaporn , Naowaboot Jarinyaporn 
Published: August 2016

SummaryReduced vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1) and 2 (VGLUT2) indicate glutamatergic hypofunction leading to cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. However, VGLUT3 involvement in cognitive dysfunction has not been reported in schizophrenia. Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) might be a new treatment and prevention for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia by acting on cerebral VGLUT3 density. We aimed to study cognitive enhancement‐ and neuroprotective‐effects of Brahmi on novel object recognition and cerebral VGLUT3 immunodensity in sub‐chronic (2 mg/kg, Bid, ip) phencyclidine (PCP) rat model of schizophrenia. Rats were assigned to three groups for cognitive enhancement effect study: Group 1, Control; Group 2, PCP administration; Group 3, PCP+Brahmi. A neuroprotective‐effect study was also carried out. Rats were again assigned to three groups: Group 1, Control; Group 2, PCP administration; Group 3, Brahmi+PCP. Discrimination ratio (DR) representing cognitive ability was obtained from a novel object recognition task. VGLUT3 immunodensity was measured in the prefrontal cortex, striatum and cornu ammonis fields 1–3 (CA1–3) using immunohistochemistry. We found reduced DR in the PCP group, which occurred alongside VGLUT3 reduction in all brain areas. PCP+Brahmi showed higher DR score with increased VGLUT3 immunodensity in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. Brahmi+PCP group showed a higher DR score with increased VGLUT3 immunodensity in the prefrontal cortex, striatum and CA1–3. We concluded that reduced cerebral VGLUT3 was involved in cognitive deficit in PCP‐administrated rats. Receiving Brahmi after PCP restored cognitive deficit by increasing VGLUT3 in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. Receiving Brahmi before PCP prevented cognitive impairment by elevating VGLUT3 in prefrontal cortex, striatum and CA1–3. Therefore, Brahmi could be a new frontier of restoration and prevention of cognitive deficit in schizophrenia.
Antipodean agricultural and resource economics at 60: agricultural adjustment
Authors: Edwards Geoff , Bates Winton 
Published: August 2016

Over the last 60 years, Australian and New Zealand agricultural economists have promoted a better understanding of agricultural adjustment pressures and opportunities among farmers and policy makers. They have emphasised that adjustment pressures faced by farmers are linked to economy‐wide growth processes and that adjustment problems have been aggravated by past government policies, including closer settlement and measures distorting markets for agricultural outputs and inputs. Economists who argued that provision of adjustment assistance would be preferable to price support policies helped to change the focus of agricultural policy toward facilitating adjustment. When rural adjustment schemes were established in the early 1970s, the case for them was made largely in terms of impediments to efficient adjustment in capital and labour markets. However, the schemes involved elements of ‘government failure’, especially concessional interest rates. Over the following decades, as economists became increasingly sceptical about market failure rationales, adjustment assistance schemes gradually became decreasingly important. Nevertheless, there is ongoing support for the view that adjustment assistance can sometimes enable less efficient and less equitable polices to be avoided.
The 2016 Referendum, Brexit and the Left Behind: An Aggregate‐level Analysis of the Result
Authors: Goodwin Matthew J. , Heath Oliver 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWhy did Britain vote for Brexit? What was the relative importance of factors such as education, age, immigration and ethnic diversity? And to what extent did the pattern of public support for Brexit across the country match the pattern of public support in earlier years for eurosceptic parties, notably the UK Independence Party (UKIP)? In this article we draw on aggregate‐level data to conduct an initial exploration of the 2016 referendum vote. First, we find that turnout was generally higher in more pro‐Leave areas. Second, we find that public support for Leave closely mapped past support for UKIP. And third, we find that support for Leave was more polarised along education lines than support for UKIP ever was. The implication of this finding is that support for euroscepticism has both widened and narrowed—it is now more widespread across Britain but it is also more socially distinctive.
Facebook, the Conservatives and the Risk to Fair and Open Elections in the UK
Authors: Moore Martin 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe Conservative party spent £1.2 million on Facebook during the UK 2015 general election campaign. This enabled the party to target specific voters in marginal constituencies with tailored messages. Their use of Facebook in 2015 shows how central digital media had become to their campaign communication. It also shows, however, that this communication may be compromising the principles of fair and open elections in the UK, for example by allowing parties to effectively bypass constituency spending limits and avoid transparency. Unless electoral legislation and regulation are changed to take account of developments in digital media they are liable to become increasingly anachronistic and ineffective.
Water‐, pH‐ and temperature relations of germination for the extreme xerophiles Xeromyces bisporus (FRR 0025), Aspergillus penicillioides (JH06THJ) and Eurotium halophilicum (FRR 2471)
Authors: Stevenson Andrew , Hamill Philip G. , Dijksterhuis Jan , Hallsworth John E. 
Published: August 2016

SummaryWater activity, temperature and pH are determinants for biotic activity of cellular systems, biosphere function and, indeed, for all life processes. This study was carried out at high concentrations of glycerol, which concurrently reduces water activity and acts as a stress protectant, to characterize the biophysical capabilities of the most extremely xerophilic organisms known. These were the fungal xerophiles: Xeromyces bisporus (FRR 0025), Aspergillus penicillioides (JH06THJ) and Eurotium halophilicum (FRR 2471). High‐glycerol spores were produced and germination was determined using 38 media in the 0.995–0.637 water activity range, 33 media in the 2.80–9.80 pH range and 10 incubation temperatures, from 2 to 50°C. Water activity was modified by supplementing media with glycerol+sucrose, glycerol+NaCl and glycerol+NaCl+sucrose which are known to be biologically permissive for X. bisporus, A. penicillioides and E. halophilicum respectively. The windows and rates for spore germination were quantified for water activity, pH and temperature; symmetry/asymmetry of the germination profiles were then determined in relation to supra‐ and sub‐optimal conditions; and pH‐ and temperature optima for extreme xerophilicity were quantified. The windows for spore germination were ~1 to 0.637 water activity, pH 2.80–9.80 and > 10 and < 44°C, depending on strain. Germination profiles in relation to water activity and temperature were asymmetrical because conditions known to entropically disorder cellular macromolecules, i.e. supra‐optimal water activity and high temperatures, were severely inhibitory. Implications of these processes were considered in relation to the in‐situ ecology of extreme conditions and environments; the study also raises a number of unanswered questions which suggest the need for new lines of experimentation.
Imaging features of immunoglobulin G4‐related disease
Authors: Dillon Jonathan , Dart Andrea , Sutherland Tom 
Published: August 2016

SummaryImmunoglobulin G4‐related disease (IgG4‐RD) is a fibroinflammatory condition that was first recognised as a systemic disease in 2003, when patients with autoimmune pancreatitis were found to have extrapancreatic manifestations. Since 2003, IgG4‐RD has been described in a diverse range of other organs including the biliary tree, orbits, lacrimal glands, salivary glands, lungs, kidneys, aorta, retroperitoneum, lymph nodes, pachymeninges, prostate and pituitary gland. The disease frequently occurs in the absence of pancreatic involvement. The imaging manifestations of IgG4‐RD are broad and variable depending on the organ involved. The majority of individual organ appearances are non‐specific and differentiation between IgG4‐RD and potentially more serious conditions is not usually possible based on radiological findings in one organ alone. However, if there are simultaneous findings typical of IgG4‐RD in multiple organs then this is a key diagnostic clue and IgG4‐RD should be considered as one of the main differentials. This review article examines the spectrum of imaging appearances of IgG4‐RD. Increased awareness of the spectrum of radiological appearances of IgG4‐RD throughout the body and subsequent consideration of the condition may potentially avoid invasive treatment and lead to more prompt corticosteroid therapy.
Research on Formation Mechanisms of Hot Dry Rock Resources in China
Authors: Guiling WANG , Wenjing LIN , Wei ZHANG , Chuan LU , Feng MA , Haonan GAN 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAs an important geothermal resource, hot dry rock (HDR) reserves have been studied in many countries. HDR resources in China have huge capacity and have become one of the most important resources for the potential replacement of fossil fuels. However, HDR resources are difficult to develop and utilise. Technologies for use with HDR, such as high‐temperature drilling, reservoir characterisation, reservoir fracturing, microseismic monitoring and high‐temperature power stations, originate from the field of oil and drilling. Addressing how to take advantage of these developed technologies is a key factor in the development of HDR reserves. Based on the thermal crustal structure in China, HDR resources can be divided into four types: high radioactive heat production, sedimentary basin, modern volcano and the inner‐plate active tectonic belt. The prospective regions of HDR resources are located in South Tibet, West Yunnan, the southeast coast of China, Bohai Rim, Songliao Basin and Guanzhong Basin. The related essential technologies are relatively mature, and the prospect of HDR power generation is promising. Therefore, analysing the formation mechanisms of HDR resources and promoting the transformation of technological achievements, large‐scale development and the utilisation of HDR resources can be achieved in China.
Understanding the Interactions between Climate Change, Landscape Evolution, Surface Processes and Tectonics in the Earth System: What Can the Studies of Chinese Deserts Contribute?
Authors: Xiaoping YANG , EITEL Bernhard 
Published: August 2016

AbstractDue to large deserts on Earth surface a thorough understanding of climate change, landscape evolution and geomorphological processes having occurred in deserts is crucial for Earth System Science. The landscapes in deserts are, however, diverse and different over the globe with regard to their geomorphological nature, human activities and geological histories. In the last decades a great number of efforts have been put to the investigation of the initial timing of the occurrence of arid climate, e. g. in northwestern China. Silty sediments in the downwind directions have been used to deduce the histories of deserts. In general, there is a lack of knowledge about processes and landscapes in Chinese drylands between the initial Miocene silt sedimentation at desert margins and the late Quaternary multiple occurrences of wetter climate with assumed large lakes in many of the deserts in northern China. The geomorphological concept of three primary triggering factors, i.e., the sediment supply, sediment availability and transport capacity of wind, and additionally the underground geology need to be fully considered for a better understanding of the environmental histories of sand seas which should not be viewed as equivalent for deserts because sand seas cover between < 1% and ca. 45% of the desert areas in various continents dependent on a complex interaction between various processes of both exogenous and endogenous origins.
Building Damage Extraction from Post‐earthquake Airborne LiDAR Data
Authors: Aixia DOU , Zongjin MA , Shusong HUANG , Xiaoqing WANG 
Published: August 2016

AbstractBuilding collapse is a significant cause of earthquake‐related casualties; therefore, the rapid assessment of buildings damage is important for emergency management and rescue. Airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) can acquire point cloud data in combination with height values, which in turn provides detailed information on building damage. However, the most previous approaches have used optical images and LiDAR data, or pre‐ and post‐earthquake LiDAR data, to derive building damage information. This study applied surface normal algorithms to extract the degree of building damage. In this method, the angle between the surface normal and zenith (0) is used to identify damaged parts of a building, while the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean absolute deviation () of θ is used to obtain the degree of building damage. Quantitative analysis of 85 individual buildings with different roof types (i.e., flat top or pitched roofs) was conducted, and the results confirm that post‐earthquake single LiDAR data are not affected by roof shape. Furthermore, the results confirm that θ is correlated to building damage, and that represents an effective index to identify the degree of building damage.
Quantitative Geoscience and Geological Big Data Development: A Review
Authors: Jianping CHEN , Jie XIANG , Qiao HU , Wei YANG , Zili LAI , Bin HU , Wei WEI 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAfter long‐term development, mathematical geology has today become an independent discipline. Big Data science, which has become a new scientific paradigm in the 21st century, gives rise to the geological Big Data, i.e. mathematical geology and quantitative geoscience. Thanks to a robust macro strategy for big data, China's quantitative geoscience and geological big data's rapid development meets present requirements and has kept up with international levels. This paper presents China's decade‐long achievements in quantitative prediction and assessment of mineral resources, geoscience information and software systems, geological information platform development, etc., with an emphasis on application of geological big data in informatics, quantitative mineral prediction, geological environment and disaster management, digital land survey, digital city, etc. Looking ahead, mathematical geology is moving towards “Digital Geology”, “Digital Land” and “Geological Cloud”, eventually realizing China's grand “Digital China” blueprint, and these valuable results will be showcased on the international academic arena.
The Role of Cities in Shaping Transnational Law in Climate Governance
Authors: Fraundorfer Markus 
Published: August 2016

AbstractToday, many human rights norms are promoted and reinforced as transnational law in transnational settings involving a multiplicity of state and non‐state actors. Over the last few years, debates about constitutionalising a human right to an adequate environment as a legal instrument to confront the devastating consequences of climate change have steadily grown. While the role of states and non‐state actors from civil society in promoting human rights legislation is widely acknowledged, the role of cities remains largely unexplored. Cities are major greenhouse gas emitters, profoundly affected by the various consequences of climate change, with more than half of the world population living in urban environments. By providing a brief overview of the principal activities of the largest city networks on climate action, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the C40 Climate Action Leadership Group – the article argues that cities have turned into crucial actors in shaping and promoting environmental rights, essentially a human right to an adequate environment.
A two‐dimensional pooling approach towards efficient detection of parasitoid and pathogen DNA at low infestation rates
Authors: Sint Daniela , Sporleder Marc , Wallinger Corinna , Zegarra Octavio , Oehm Johannes , Dangi Naresh , Giri Yagya P. , Kroschel Jürgen , Traugott Michael 
Published: August 2016

Summary

Molecular methods are facing increasing application on a broad remit in ecological studies, including work on parasites, parasitoids and pathogens. These studies can entail the screening of large sample numbers to monitor the establishment of parasitoid and pathogen infection rates over extended periods of time. However, when infection or parasitism rates are low, testing many samples individually quickly becomes tedious and costly. To optimize the application of molecular diagnostics in such situations, we developed a pooling approach that is applicable to any host–pathogen and host–parasite/parasitoid system.

In a first step, host individuals are pooled along the two axes of a grid and screened for pathogen/parasite DNA via multiplex PCR. Already from these results a rough estimation of the pathogen/parasitism rate in the pooled samples is possible. To determine the exact infection/parasitism rate in the sample or if it is relevant to identify the respective infected/parasitized individuals, only those samples belonging to two pathogen/parasitoid DNA‐positive pools need to be retested individually. The efficacy of the pooling approach was statistically and empirically evaluated for different infestation levels using three host–parasitoid systems and a newly developed diagnostic multiplex PCR assay.

The established multiplex PCR assay allows to reliably identifying three agro‐economically important lepidopteran pest species (Phthorimaea operculella, Symmetrischema tangolias and Tuta absoluta) and five relevant parasitoids (Copidosoma koehleri, Apanteles subandinus, Orgilus lepidus, Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris and Diadegma mollipla). Compared to individual testing and even to standard one‐dimensional pooling approaches, the new method reduces the number of PCRs substantially. At parasitism rates <10%, the pooling approach allowed for a reduction in the screening effort for up to 90%. In general, its efficacy decreases with increasing parasitism rates with a breakeven point at about 20%.

As such the pooling approach presents an efficient and sensitive means for screening of large sample numbers at low parasitism and infection rates. Since it drastically reduces time and costs in diagnostic screenings, it is especially suited for studies with limited financial resources, allowing for extended investigations and routine monitoring screenings when infection/parasitism rates are low.