bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Did the transition to plate tectonics cause Neoproterozoic Snowball Earth?
Authors: Stern Robert J. , Miller Nathan R. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractWhen Earth's tectonic style transitioned from stagnant lid (single plate) to the modern episode of plate tectonics is important but unresolved, and all lines of evidence should be considered, including the climate record. The transition should have disturbed the oceans and atmosphere by redistributing continents, increasing explosive arc volcanism, stimulating mantle plumes and disrupting climate equilibrium established by the previous balance of silicate‐weathering greenhouse gas feedbacks. Formation of subduction zones would redistribute mass sufficiently to cause true polar wander if the subducted slabs were added in the upper mantle at intermediate to high latitudes. The Neoproterozoic Snowball Earth climate crisis may reflect this transition. The transition to plate tectonics is compatible with nearly all proposed geodynamic and oceanographic triggers for Neoproterozoic Snowball Earth events, and could also have contributed to biological triggers. Only extraterrestrial triggers cannot be reconciled with the hypothesis that the Neoproterozoic climate crisis was caused by a prolonged (200–250 m.y.) transition to plate tectonics.
Pattern recognition receptors and signaling in plant–microbe interactions
Authors: Saijo Yusuke , Loo Eliza Po‐iian , Yasuda Shigetaka 
Published: December 2017

SummaryPlants solely rely on innate immunity of each individual cell to deal with a diversity of microbes in the environment. Extracellular recognition of microbe‐ and host damage‐associated molecular patterns leads to the first layer of inducible defenses, termed pattern‐triggered immunity (PTI). In plants, pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) described to date are all membrane‐associated receptor‐like kinases or receptor‐like proteins, reflecting the prevalence of apoplastic colonization of plant‐infecting microbes. An increasing inventory of elicitor‐active patterns and PRRs indicates that a large number of them are limited to a certain range of plant groups/species, pointing to dynamic and convergent evolution of pattern recognition specificities. In addition to common molecular principles of PRR signaling, recent studies have revealed substantial diversification between PRRs in their functions and regulatory mechanisms. This serves to confer robustness and plasticity to the whole PTI system in natural infections, wherein different PRRs are simultaneously engaged and faced with microbial assaults. We review the functional significance and molecular basis of PRR‐mediated pathogen recognition and disease resistance, and also an emerging role for PRRs in homeostatic association with beneficial or commensal microbes.
Red blood cell transfusion support and management of secondary iron overload in patients with haematological malignancies in the Netherlands: a survey
Authors: Hoeks M. P. A. , Middelburg R. A. , Romeijn B. , Blijlevens N. M. A. , van Kraaij M. G. J. , Zwaginga J. J. 
Published: December 2017

Background and ObjectivesEvidence‐based guidelines on optimal triggers for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in patients with haematological malignancies exist, but the evidence is weak. Secondary iron overload is an often overlooked chronic complication of RBC transfusions, and also here, guidelines are either lacking or lack international consensus. Our aim was to evaluate the triggers for RBC transfusion support and management of secondary iron overload among haematologists in the Netherlands.Materials and MethodsFor this cross‐sectional study, all haematologists and haematologists in training in the Netherlands were sent a web‐based, 25‐question survey including three clinical scenarios. The survey distribution took place between 19 November 2015 and 26 January 2016.ResultsSeventy‐seven responses were received (24%), well distributed among community and university hospitals. A wide variation in haemoglobin triggers existed: 5·6–9·5 g/dl (median: 8·0 g/dl). Personalization of this trigger was mostly based on (estimated) cardiopulmonary compensation capacity of patients. About 65% of respondents reported two RBC units per transfusion episode (range 1–3). For monitoring secondary iron overload, serum ferritin was most frequently measured (97%), while a value of 1000–1500 μg/l was the most common cut‐off to initiate treatment (39%). For 81% of respondents, phlebotomies were the first choice of treatment, although often the haemoglobin level was considered a limiting factor.ConclusionOur results confirm large reported variation in daily practice among haematologists in the Netherlands regarding RBC transfusion support and management of secondary iron overload. Future studies providing better evidence are needed to improve guidelines specific for patients with haematological malignancies.
Sustainable water use and the nexus of behavioural intentions: the case of four South African communities
Authors: Onyenankeya Kevin , Caldwell Marc , Okoh Anthony I. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractSouth Africa continues to ramp up public campaigns to rein in escalating water demand against the backdrop of dwindling and erratic supply. While the water conservation campaign appears to resonate with commercial and urban water users, it does not seem to have gained traction with rural and periurban residents. Using the sequential mixed methods, this paper explores the water conservation attitudes, behaviour and intentions of rural and periurban respondents in four South African communities. Results reveal respondents consider water conservation important and are favourably disposed to conserving water. Attitude, subjective norm and behavioural control emerged as significant factors influencing respondents’ water conservation intentions. The study concludes that rural and periurban residents are yet to develop a social ethic of water conservation essential in creating sustainability of resource use.
Coalescent species delimitation of a Sumatran parachuting frog
Authors: O'Connell Kyle A , Smith Eric N , Shaney Kyle J , Arifin Umilaela , Kurniawan Nia , Sidik Irvan , Fujita Matthew K 
Published: December 2017

We conduct species delimitation of the widespread parachuting frog species Rhacophorus catamitus using samples from across the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. We use mitochondrial, genomic and morphological data, and find that R. catamitus is composed of three lineages corresponding to northern, central and southern lineages. Mitochondrial and genomic data show admixture or incomplete lineage sorting between the central and southern lineages, but deep divergence from the northern lineage. Coalescent species delimitation supports a three species model for this complex, and we recommend that the northern lineage be described as a new species. Our study highlights the power of coalescent species delimitation in an integrative framework for identifying unrecognised diversity in understudied tropical species complexes. We also emphasise the evolutionary importance of northern Sumatra, a region that harboured montane refugia during Pliocene–Pleistocene climate change, but has also been heavily affected by volcanic activity.
Restoration of metabolic health by decreased consumption of branched‐chain amino acids
Authors: Cummings Nicole E. , Williams Elizabeth M. , Kasza Ildiko , Konon Elizabeth N. , Schaid Michael D. , Schmidt Brian A. , Poudel Chetan , Sherman Dawn S. , Yu Deyang , Arriola Apelo Sebastian I. , Cottrell Sara E. , Geiger Gabriella , Barnes Macy E. , Wisinski Jaclyn A. , Fenske Rachel J. , Matkowskyj Kristina A. , Kimple Michelle E. , Alexander Caroline M. , Merrins Matthew J. , Lamming Dudley W. 
Published: December 2017

Key points
We recently found that feeding healthy mice a diet with reduced levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which are associated with insulin resistance in both humans and rodents, modestly improves glucose tolerance and slows fat mass gain.
In the present study, we show that a reduced BCAA diet promotes rapid fat mass loss without calorie restriction in obese mice.
Selective reduction of dietary BCAAs also restores glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity to obese mice, even as they continue to consume a high‐fat, high‐sugar diet.
A low BCAA diet transiently induces FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) and increases energy expenditure.
We suggest that dietary protein quality (i.e. the precise macronutrient composition of dietary protein) may impact the effectiveness of weight loss diets.
AbstractObesity and diabetes are increasing problems around the world, and although even moderate weight loss can improve metabolic health, reduced calorie diets are notoriously difficult to sustain. Branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs; leucine, isoleucine and valine) are elevated in the blood of obese, insulin‐resistant humans and rodents. We recently demonstrated that specifically reducing dietary levels of BCAAs has beneficial effects on the metabolic health of young, growing mice, improving glucose tolerance and modestly slowing fat mass gain. In the present study, we examine the hypothesis that reducing dietary BCAAs will promote weight loss, reduce adiposity, and improve blood glucose control in diet‐induced obese mice with pre‐existing metabolic syndrome. We find that specifically reducing dietary BCAAs rapidly reverses diet‐induced obesity and improves glucoregulatory control in diet‐induced obese mice. Most dramatically, mice eating an otherwise unhealthy high‐calorie, high‐sugar Western diet with reduced levels of BCAAs lost weight and fat mass rapidly until regaining a normal weight. Importantly, this normalization of weight was mediated not by caloric restriction or increased activity, but by increased energy expenditure, and was accompanied by a transient induction of the energy balance regulating hormone FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21). Consumption of a Western diet reduced in BCAAs was also accompanied by a dramatic improvement in glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Our results link dietary BCAAs with the regulation of metabolic health and energy balance in obese animals, and suggest that specifically reducing dietary BCAAs may represent a highly translatable option for the treatment of obesity and insulin resistance.
Microstructure Stability of Alloy 740H and its Effect on Material Properties
Authors: de Barbadillo John J. , Baker Brian A. , Xie Xishan 
Published: December 2017

Alloy 740H was developed specifically for boiler tube and steam transfer pipe for the Advanced-Ultrasupercritical steam boiler application. The composition was formulated to provide creep strength, weldability and oxidation and coal ash corrosion resistance. It is the first nickel-base age-hardened alloy to be approved under Section 1 of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Although a significant amount of microstructure and creep data was submitted to support the code case, it was largely collected on tube and light plate, much of this from pilot-scale material. The data package did not cover other product forms, sizes, hot working methods and weld joint configurations that may be required to construct a power plant. These include large diameter pipe, bends, fittings, heavy section welds, dissimilar metal welds, etc. that have complex thermal cycles and composition gradients. An ongoing effort is underway to characterize the microstructure and properties of alloy 740H under a range of manufacturing processes and to project these results through the potential life cycle of a plant. This paper describes the current status of this work.
Paper published with permission.
Microstructural Stability of Alloy 617 Mod. During Thermal Aging
Authors: Yan Guo , Rongcan Zhou , Liying Tang , Shufang Hou , Bohan Wang 
Published: December 2017

The microstructural stability of Alloy 617 mod. during aging for up to 3000 h at temperatures of 700°C and 750°C was investigated. The precipitates of the aged alloy included M23C6 carbides located both inside grains (intragranular) and at grain boundaries (intergranular) and γ′ phase dispersed within grains. During aging, the intergranular precipitates showed a good stability. Intragranular particles increased substantially after the aging for 3000h at 750°C. Inter and intragranular carbide particles resulted in the precipitation hardening of the aged alloys. The precipitation of γ′ phase particles during aging at 700°C and 750°C is also an important factor for an enhanced hardness and an obvious decrease of the impact absorbed energy. Additionally, the intergranular cracks apparently lead to a decrease in the impact absorbed energy for the aged alloys due to carbide particles at grain boundaries. The impact absorbed energies of the aged alloys were fairly stable within the dwelling time from 300 h to 3000 h and were in the range of 63∼65J and 75∼83J for the 700°C and 750°C aging, respectively.
Paper published with permission.
Biaxial Thermal Creep of Alloy 617 and Alloy 230 for VHTR Applications
Authors: Mo Kun , Lv Wei , Tung Hsiao-Ming , Yun Di , Miao Yinbin , Stubbins James F. 
Published: December 2017

In this study, we employed pressurized creep tubes to investigate the biaxial thermal creep behavior of Inconel 617 (Alloy 617) and Haynes 230 (Alloy 230). Both alloys have been considered to be the primary candidate structural materials for very high temperature reactors (VHTRs) due to their exceptional high-temperature mechanical properties. The current creep experiments were conducted at 900°C for the effective stress range of 15–35 MPa. For both alloys, complete creep strain development with primary, secondary, and tertiary regimes were observed in all studied conditions. The tertiary creep was found to be dominant in the entire creep lives of both alloys. With increasing applied creep stress, the fraction of the secondary creep regime decreases. The nucleation, diffusion, and coarsening of creep voids and carbides on grain boundaries was found to be the main reason for the limited secondary regime, and was also found to be the major cause of creep fracture. The creep curves computed using the adjusted creep equation of the form ε = Aσ cosh−1(1 + rt) + Pσntm agree well with the experimental results for both alloys at the temperatures of 850–950°C.
Paper published with permission.
Alloy Design of Creep- and Oxidation-Resistant 9Cr-Boron Steel Beyond Grades 91, 92 and 122
Authors: Abe Fujio , Tabuchi Masaaki , Tsukamoto Susumu , Kutsumi Hiroyuki 
Published: December 2017

The addition of boron and nitrogen without the formation of any boron nitrides during normalizing heat treatment at high temperature improves long-term creep strength and rupture ductility of base metal and suppresses Type IV fracture in welded joints of 9Cr ferritic power plant steel at 650°C. The enrichment of soluble boron near prior austenite grain boundaries (PAGBs) by the segregation is essential for the stabilization of fine distribution of M23C6 carbides along boundaries in the vicinity of PAGBs, enhancing the boundary and subboundary hardening. 9Cr-3W-3Co-VNb steel (MARBN) with 120–150 ppm boron and 60–90 ppm nitrogen, in which no boron nitride formed during normalizing, exhibits not only much higher creep strength and rupture ductility of base metal than Gr.92 but also substantially no degradation in creep strength due to Type IV fracture in welded joints at 650°C. The formation of protective Cr2O3-rich oxide scale is achieved on the surface of MARBN by pre-oxidation treatment in argon gas, which significantly improves the oxidation resistance in steam. The present results suggest that MARBN is superior to Gr.91, Gr.92, and Gr.122 in terms of creep strength of base metal and welded joints and can be applied to boiler components in next-generation USC power plant.
Paper published with permission.
Prediction of Long-Term Creep Rupture Life of Grade 122 Steel by Multi-Region Analysis
Authors: Maruyama K. , Nakamura J. , Yoshimi K. 
Published: December 2017

Conventional time-temperature-parameter (TTP) methods often overestimate long-term rupture life of creep strength enhanced ferritic steels. Decrease in activation energy Q for rupture life in long-term creep is the cause of the overestimation, since the TTP methods cannot deal with the change in Q. Creep rupture data of a heat of Gr.122 steel (up to 26200h) were divided into several data sets so that Q was unique in each divided data set. Then a TTP method was applied to each divided data set for rupture life prediction. This is the procedure of multi-region analysis of creep rupture data. The predicted rupture lives have been reported in literature. Long-term rupture lives (up to 51400h) of the same heat of the steel have been published in 2013. The multi-region analysis of creep rupture life can predict properly the long-term lives reported. Stress and temperature dependences of rupture life show similar behavior among different heats. Therefore, database on results of the multi-region analyses of various heats of the steel is helpful for rupture life estimation of another heat.
Paper published with permission.
New Ferritic Steel Beyond Grade 92 and its Creep Degradation Assessment by Hardness Method for Grade 91
Authors: Masuyama Fujimitsu , Yamaguchi Tomiko 
Published: December 2017

The alloy development R&D activities for weld construction components, such as boiler piping and headers of high-efficient fossil-fired power plants have been conducted to introduce creep strength enhanced ferritic (CSEF) steels, grades 91, 92, 122, 911, 23 and 24 for last three decades. The grade 92 among these CSEF steels has the highest creep rupture strength to increase the steam temperature up to 620°C however the weld heat affected zone is much weaker in creep than the base metal due to the Type IV failure. Alloy design trials or proposal of the candidate steels in laboratory level has been conducted to improve the creep rupture strength than that of grade 92. Presently it is becoming possible in a very near future to introduce the new high strength ferritic steels beyond grade 92 on the commercial basis, and also the new steels could mitigate the Type IV failure at the welds to be applicable at the maximum use temperature of 625°C and above. But the creep degradation behavior in such new advanced steels is not yet well investigated and it is not verified that the creep degradation/life assessment techniques studied for the existing CSEF steels are applicable. Therefore the creep degradation and softening behavior of new advanced CSEF steels were studied and the hardness creep life assessment technique developed using grade 91 was applied to investigate the similarity of degradation process with the conventional CSEF steels. The present paper introduces the development status of new advanced steels beyond grade 92 in Japan and deals with the creep degradation and softening behavior of the new steels in comparison with grades 91 and 92.
Paper published with permission.
A Combined Experimental-Computational Approach to Design Optimization of High Temperature Alloys
Authors: Jha Rajesh , Dulikravich George S. , Pettersson Frank , Saxén Henrik , Chakraborti Nirupam 
Published: December 2017

Experimental data were used to develop metamodels to predict high temperature alloy chemistry trends influencing stress-to-rupture and time-to-rupture of Nickel based superalloys. Chemistry optimization utilized evolutionary neural networks, bi-objective genetic programming and pruning algorithm. Optimization results were compared with the experimental data and IOSO optimization algorithm. Response surfaces were developed through various modules available in a commercial optimization package. Pareto optimized chemistries were tested using thermodynamic database, FactSage™, by studying the phase distribution as a function of temperature of manufacture and exposure. Uniformity in the amount of critical phases over 0–1200 °C range confirmed high temperature stability for optimized alloys.
Paper published with permission.
Improvement of Creep Performance of Creep Strength Enhanced Ferritic (CSEF) Steel Weldments Through Non-Standard Heat Treatments
Authors: Yamamoto Yukinori , Yu Xinghua , Babu Sudarsanam Suresh 
Published: December 2017

Significant improvement of creep-rupture life was observed in Grade 91 (modified 9Cr-1Mo) steel weldments when a non-standard heat-treatment was applied prior to welding. A lower temperature pre-weld tempering (LTT) than the typical heat-treatment resulted in a complete dissolution of M23C6 carbides in the fine-grained heat affected zone (FGHAZ) during welding, which allowed re-precipitation of the M23C6 as strengthening carbides after post-weld heat treatment. However, the LTT also raised the ductile-brittle transition temperature of the base metal above room temperature. A thermo-mechanical treatment (TMT) has been proposed in the present study as a way of balancing the need for improved creep properties in the weld region and an acceptable level of room temperature ductility in the base metal. Aus-forging and subsequent aus-aging promotes MX formation prior to martensitic transformation which effectively increases the creep resistance, even in the FGHAZ. The application of the standard tempering after the TMT process improves the room temperature ductility without losing the advantage of improved strength. Preliminary results indicate a successful improvement of the cross-weld creep properties of the TMT sample similar to the LTT sample.
Paper published with permission.
A Method to Evaluate the Temper Embrittlement From Step Cooling Test
Authors: Hankui Wang , Tong Xu , Binan Shou 
Published: December 2017

A new mathematic approach is proposed to evaluate the temper embrittlement from the step cooling test. The approach is composed of two parts. A nonlinear model, which acts as weight factor, is used to fit the variance at different test temperatures, and the maximum likelihood method is used to determine the curve parameters. In the ASME specification SA-542, there is no instruction provided on how to determine the transition temperature from the test results. This method could be adopted as an additional supplementary requirement to assess the temper embrittlement of Chromium-Molybdenum steel.
Paper published with permission.
The Microstructure Stability of the 10Cr9MoW2VNbBN Heat Resistant Steel
Authors: Baolan Gu , Binan Shou , Tong Xu , Zhiying Wu 
Published: December 2017

In this paper, the microstructure of 9%Cr steel 10Cr9MoW2VNbBN under different heat treatment or creep testing was investigated. The morphology of tempered martensite microstructure varies after different heat treatment. After the creep test at 620°C or 650°C, the martensite lath microstructure kept unchanged, although the amounts and the sizes of precipitates, such as the carbides M23C6, carbonitrides MX, and Laves phase, increased with the creep time. The martensite laths microstructure morphology changed after the creep test at 700°C, with the carbides coarsened severely at grain boundaries.
Paper published with permission.