bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increasing net ecosystem biomass production of Canada's boreal and temperate forests despite decline in dry climates
Authors: Hember Robbie A. , Kurz Werner A. , Coops Nicholas C. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractRepeated measurements of tree biomass at field plots describe recovery from disturbances, sampling artifacts, and potential effects of environmental change on forest ecosystems. Challenges in differentiating between intrinsic and extrinsic sources of variation, both in theory and in practice, continue to confound claims of an anthropogenic carbon sink in forest biomass. Here we analyzed observations at 10,307 plots across southern ecozones of Canada to investigate temporal trends in stand‐level biomass growth (G), biomass loss due to mortality (M), and net ecosystem biomass production (NEBP) of intact stands. Net extrinsic forcing (Fex) was expressed by the collective dependence of biomass fluxes on climate anomalies, nitrogen deposition (N), and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (C). Inferences drawn directly from linear mixed‐effects model coefficients only reflect the static behavior of the model specifically at field plot locations. We, therefore, defined a dynamic landscape‐scale net extrinsic forcing (Fex′), which additionally accounted for potential negative feedback responses to anthropogenic growth enhancement. Simulations were performed over 1501–2012 to estimateFex′. Overall,Fex′ was positive, suggesting that environmental changes drove a 90% increase in NEBP. The increase in NEBP was confined to wet regions, while the biomass sink in dry regions decreased, suggesting that large expanses of northern forests, historically located near the boundary between wet and dry climates, may be at high risk of decline under continued increases in evaporative demand. These results have important implications for the greenhouse gas balance of Canada's forest sector.
Profuse activity of blue electrical discharges at the tops of thunderstorms
Authors: Chanrion Olivier , Neubert Torsten , Mogensen Andreas , Yair Yoav , Stendel Martin , Singh Rajesh , Siingh Devendraa 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThunderstorm clouds may reach the lower stratosphere, affecting the exchange of greenhouse gases between the troposphere and stratosphere. This region of the atmosphere is difficult to access experimentally, and our knowledge of the processes taking place here is incomplete. We recently recorded color video footage of thunderstorms over the Bay of Bengal from the International Space Station. The observations show a multitude of blue, kilometer‐scale, discharges at the cloud top layer at ~18 km altitude and a pulsating blue discharge propagating into the stratosphere reaching ~40 km altitude. The emissions are related to the so‐called blue jets, blue starters, and possibly pixies. The observations are the first of their kind and give a new perspective on the electrical activity at the top of tropical thunderstorms; further, they underscore that thunderstorm discharges directly perturb the chemistry of the stratosphere with possible implications for the Earth's radiation balance.
A teleconnection between Atlantic sea surface temperature and eastern and central North Pacific tropical cyclones
Authors: Patricola Christina M. , Saravanan R. , Chang Ping 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThe El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a major source of seasonal tropical cyclone (TC) predictability in both local and remote ocean basins. Unusually warm eastern‐central equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) during El Niño tends to enhance eastern and central North Pacific (ECNP) TCs and suppress Atlantic TCs. Here we demonstrate that Atlantic SST variability likewise influences remote TC activity in the eastern‐central Pacific through a Walker Circulation‐type response analogous to the ENSO‐Atlantic TC teleconnection, using observations and 27 km resolution tropical channel model (TCM) simulations. Observed and simulated ECNP TC activity is reduced during the positive Atlantic Meridional Mode (AMM), which is characterized by warm northern and cool southern tropical Atlantic SST anomalies, and vice versa during the negative AMM. Large ensembles of TCM simulations indicate that SST variability, rather than internal atmospheric variability, drives extreme ECNP hurricane seasons.
A pipeline to link meteorological information and TGFs detected by AGILE
Authors: Ursi A. , Sanò P. , Casella D. , Marisaldi M. , Dietrich S. , Tavani M. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractTerrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGFs) are brief (approximately hundreds of microseconds) intense gamma ray emissions coming from Earth's atmosphere (∼15 km above sea level), correlated with thunderstorms and atmospheric electric activity. Since their unexpected discovery in the early 1990s by the Burst And Transient Source Experiment/Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, TGFs have been further investigated by several satellites devoted to high‐energy astrophysics. The Astrorivelatore Gamma ad Immagini LEggero (AGILE) mission turned out to be particularly suitable to detect these events, due to a very wide energy range (up to 100 MeV), an optimized triggering system, and a unique low‐inclination near‐equatorial orbit (2.5°). We describe a detection system, developed for the AGILE satellite, whose aim is to provide real‐time meteorological information on each detected TGF. We take advantage of data acquired by geostationary satellites to promptly identify the associated storm and follow its evolution in space and time, in order to study its previous onset and development. Data from Low‐Earth Orbit meteorological satellites, such as the Global Precipitation Mission, as well as ground measurements from lightning detection networks, can be integrated in the pipeline. This system allows us a prompt characterization of the ground meteorological conditions at TGF time which will provide instrument‐independent trigger validation, fill in a database for subsequent statistical analysis, and eventually, on a longer term perspective, serve as a real‐time alert service open to the community.
Crustal structure of the southern Okinawa Trough: Symmetrical rifting, submarine volcano, and potential mantle accretion in the continental back‐arc basin
Authors: Arai Ryuta , Kodaira Shuichi , Yuka Kaiho , Takahashi Tsutomu , Miura Seiichi , Kaneda Yoshiyuki 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBack‐arc basins are a primary target to understand lithospheric evolution in extension associated with plate subduction. Most of the currently active back‐arc basins formed in intraoceanic settings and host well‐developed spreading centers where seafloor spreading has occurred. However, rift structure at its initial stage, a key to understand how the continental lithosphere starts to break in a magma‐rich back‐arc setting, is poorly documented. Here we present seismological evidence for structure of the southern Okinawa Trough, an active rift zone behind the Ryukyu subduction zone. We find that the southern Okinawa Trough exhibits an almost symmetric rift system across the rift axis (Yaeyama Rift) and that the sedimentary layers are highly cut by inward dipping normal faults. The rift structure also accompanies a narrow (2–7 km wide) on‐axis intrusion resulted from passive upwelling of magma. On the other hand, an active submarine volcano is located ~10 km away from the rift axis. The P wave velocity (Vp) model derived from seismic refraction data suggests that the crust has been significantly thinned from the original ~25 km thick arc crust and the thinnest part with 12 km thickness occurs directly beneath the rift axis. The velocity model also reveals that there exists a thick layer with Vp of 6.5–7.2 km/s at lower crustal levels and may indicate that mantle materials accreted at the bottom of the crust during the crustal stretching. The abrupt crustal thinning and the velocity‐depth profile suggest that the southern Okinawa Trough is at a transitional stage from continental rifting to seafloor spreading.
Effect of low‐concentration rhamnolipid biosurfactant on Pseudomonas aeruginosa transport in natural porous media
Authors: Liu Guansheng , Zhong Hua , Jiang Yongbing , Brusseau Mark L , Huang Jiesheng , Shi Liangsheng , Liu Zhifeng , Liu Yang , Zeng Guangming 
Published: December 2016

AbstractEnhanced transport of microbes in subsurface is a focus in bioaugmentation applications for remediation of groundwater. In this study, the effect of low‐concentration monorhamnolipid biosurfactant on transport of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 in natural porous media (silica sand and a sandy soil) with or without hexadecane as the nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) was studied with miscible‐displacement experiments using artificial groundwater as the background solution. Transport of two types of cells was investigated, glucose‐grown and hexadecane‐grown cells with lower and higher cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), respectively. A clean‐bed colloid deposition model was used to calculate deposition rate coefficients (k) for quantitative assessment on the effect of the rhamnolipid on the transport. In the absence of NAPLs, significant cell retention was observed in the sand (81% and 82% for glucose‐grown and hexadecane‐grown cells, respectively). Addition of low‐concentration rhamnolipid enhanced cell transport, with 40 mg/L of rhamnolipid reducing retention to 50% and 60% for glucose‐grown and hexadecane‐grown cells, respectively. The k values for both glucose‐grown and hexadecane‐grown cells correlated linearly with rhamnolipid‐dependent CSH quantitatively measured using a bacterial‐adhesion‐to‐hydrocarbon method. Retention of cells by the soil was nearly complete (>99%). Forty milligrams per liter of rhamnolipid reduced the retention to 95%. The presence of NAPLs in the sand enhanced the retention of hexadecane‐grown cells with higher CSH. Transport of cells in the presence of NAPLs was enhanced by rhamnolipid at all concentrations tested, and the relative enhancement was greater than in the absence of NAPLs. This study shows the importance of hydrophobic interaction on bacterial transport in natural porous media and the potential of using low‐concentration rhamnolipid for facilitating cell transport in subsurface for bioaugmentation efforts.
Proteomics of rimmed vacuoles define new risk allele in inclusion body myositis
Authors: Güttsches Anne‐Katrin , Brady Stefen , Krause Kathryn , Maerkens Alexandra , Uszkoreit Julian , Eisenacher Martin , Schreiner Anja , Galozzi Sara , Mertens‐Rill Janine , Tegenthoff Martin , Holton Janice L. , Harms Matthew B. , Lloyd Thomas E. , Vorgerd Matthias , Weihl Conrad C. , Marcus Katrin , Kley Rudolf A. 
Published: December 2016

ObjectiveSporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) pathogenesis is unknown; however, rimmed vacuoles (RVs) are a constant feature. We propose to identify proteins that accumulate within RVs.MethodsRVs and intact myofibers were laser microdissected from skeletal muscle of 18 sIBM patients and analyzed by a sensitive mass spectrometry approach using label‐free spectral count‐based relative protein quantification. Whole exome sequencing was performed on 62 sIBM patients. Immunofluorescence was performed on patient and mouse skeletal muscle.ResultsA total of 213 proteins were enriched by >1.5 ‐fold in RVs compared to controls and included proteins previously reported to accumulate in sIBM tissue or when mutated cause myopathies with RVs. Proteins associated with protein folding and autophagy were the largest group represented. One autophagic adaptor protein not previously identified in sIBM was FYCO1. Rare missense coding FYCO1 variants were present in 11.3% of sIBM patients compared with 2.6% of controls (p = 0.003). FYCO1 colocalized at RVs with autophagic proteins such as MAP1LC3 and SQSTM1 in sIBM and other RV myopathies. One FYCO1 variant protein had reduced colocalization with MAP1LC3 when expressed in mouse muscle.InterpretationThis study used an unbiased proteomic approach to identify RV proteins in sIBM that included a novel protein involved in sIBM pathogenesis. FYCO1 accumulates at RVs, and rare missense variants in FYCO1 are overrepresented in sIBM patients. These FYCO1 variants may impair autophagic function, leading to RV formation in sIBM patient muscle. FYCO1 functionally connects autophagic and endocytic pathways, supporting the hypothesis that impaired endolysosomal degradation underlies the pathogenesis of sIBM. Ann Neurol 2017;81:227–239
Synthesis and properties of hybrid materials obtained by in situ copolymerization of ethylene and propylene in the presence of Al2O3 nanofibers (NafenTM) on catalytic system rac‐Et(2‐MeInd)2ZrMe2/isobutylalumoxane
Authors: Bravaya Natalia M. , Galiullin Al'bert N. , Saratovskikh Stanislav L. , Panin Andrei N. , Faingol'd Еvgenyi E. , Vasil'ev Sergei G. , Bubnova Maria L. , Volkov Vitalii I. 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACTNanofibers of Al2O3 (commercial product NafenTM) with characteristic length of ∼100 nm and diameter of ∼10 nm were used to create new hybrid materials based on copolymer of ethylene and propylene. Nanocomposites were obtained by in situ catalytic copolymerization on the system rac‐Et(2‐MeInd)2ZrMe2/isobutylalumoxane. Formation of the nanocomposites with uniform distribution of Nafen nanoparticles in polymer matrix was confirmed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. According to dynamic mechanical analysis data, introduction of the nanofiller in an amount of up to 3 wt % leads to an increase in glass transition temperature by 10 °C (E″) and by 21 °C (tan δ). The nanocomposites exhibit improved physico‐mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation at break). It is shown that the nanofiller significantly improves resistance of the nanocomposite to the thermo‐oxidative and thermal degradation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44678.
Blend modification of feather keratin‐based films using sodium alginate
Authors: He Ming , Zhang Buning , Dou Yao , Yin Guoqiang , Cui Yingde 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACTFeather keratin (FK), which can be extracted from waste feathers, is a kind of biodegradable and renewable protein resource and it has a great potential in the field of materials such as keratin sponges, films, and microcapsules. The aim of the current study was to investigate the blend modification of FK‐based films using sodium alginate (SA). A series of FK‐based films blended with different ratios of SA were prepared by the casting process. The cross‐section of blend films had a compact and homogeneous structure and no distinct phase separation was observed, indicating the favorable compatibility between FK and SA. The result of DSC analysis, in which there was a change in crystal structure, confirmed the interaction between FK and SA in the blend films. The FTIR spectra pointed out that the main interaction between the two components would be through the formation of hydrogen bonds. The incorporation of SA to FK significantly enhanced the strength and maintained the extensibility of the resultant films. The water vapor permeability reached its lowest level when the ratio of FK to SA was 7:3. Moreover, the blend films exhibited a relatively high level of transparency with SA content below 30%. These improvements by incorporation of SA provided the potential to expand the application of FK‐based films in packing and bio‐medical industries. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44680.
Fabrication of polysulfone nanocomposite membranes with silver‐doped carbon nanotubes and their antifouling performance
Authors: Khalid Arsalan , Ibrahim Ahmed , Al‐Hamouz Othman Charles S. , Laoui Tahar , Benamor Abdelbaki , Atieh Mautaz Ali 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACTIn this study, polysulfone (PSf)/silver‐doped carbon nanotube (Ag‐CNT) nanocomposite membranes were prepared by a phase‐inversion technique; they were characterized and evaluated for fouling‐resistant applications with bovine serum albumin (BSA) solutions. Carbon nanotubes were doped with silver nanoparticles via a wet‐impregnation technique. The prepared Ag‐CNT nanotubes were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The fabricated flat‐sheet PSf/Ag‐CNT nanocomposite membranes with different Ag‐CNT loadings were examined for their surface morphology, roughness, hydrophilicity, and mechanical strength with SEM, atomic force microscopy, contact angle measurement, and tensile testing, respectively. The prepared composite membranes displayed a greater rejection of BSA solution (≥90%) and water flux stability during membrane compaction with a 10% reduction in water flux values (up to 0.4% Ag‐CNTs) than the pristine PSf membrane. The PSf nanocomposite membrane with a 0.2% Ag‐CNT loading possessed the highest flux recovery of about 80% and the lowest total membrane resistance of 56% with a reduced irreversible fouling resistance of 21%. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44688.
Effect of ingredient ratios of rigid polyurethane foam on foam core panels properties
Authors: Choupani Chaydarreh Kamran , Shalbafan Ali , Welling Johannes 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACTOne‐step manufacturing process (in‐situ foaming) provide great potential for the production of foam core panels. Polyurethane (PU) foam showed good applicability for use for in‐situ foaming. Here, the effect of ingredient ratios of rigid PU foam on foam performance and panel properties is investigated. It was observed that the isocyanate (ISO) content and polyols (PO) type and content significantly change the foam and panel properties. Foam cell density, as the most important factor influencing the foam characteristics, was higher in foams with higher ISO and polyether content. Bending strength, internal bond and screw withdrawal resistance of the foam core panels were significantly enhanced when the ISO and polyether content was increased in the foam formulation. Varying the ISO content had no influence on panel properties with higher content of polyester (60%) in the PO blend. Varying the foam ingredient ratios did not change the thickness swelling, while the water absorption was dependent on the foam components ratios. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44722.
Alkaline serine proteases from Helicoverpa armigera: potential candidates for industrial applications
Authors: Akbar Shaik Mohammad , Sharma Hari Chand 
Published: December 2016

AbstractWe characterized trypsin‐ and chymotrypsin‐like serine alkaline proteases from cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, for their probable potential application as additives in various bio‐formulations. Purification was achieved by using hydroxylapatite, DEAE sephadex and CM sephadex columns, which resulted in increased enzyme activity by 13.76‐ and 14.05‐fold for trypsin and chymotrypsin, respectively. Michaelis–Menten constants (Km) for substrates of trypsin and chymotrypsin, BApNA and SAAPFpNA, were found to be 1.25 and 0.085 mM, correspondingly. Fluorescent zymogram analysis indicated the presence of five trypsin bands with molecular masses of ∼21, 25, 38, 40, and 66 kDa and two chymotrypsin bands with molecular masses of ∼29 and 34 kDa in SDS‐PAGE. The optimum pH was 10.0 and optimum temperature was 50°C for proteolytic activity for the purified proteases. The proteases were inhibited by synthetic inhibitors such as PMSF, aprotonin, leupeptin, pefabloc, and antipain. TLCK and TPCK inhibited about 94 and 90% of trypsin and chymotrypsin activity, respectively, while EDTA, EGTA, E64, pepstatin, idoacetamide, and bestatin did not affect the enzymes. The purified enzymes exhibited high stability and compatibility with metal ions; oxidizing, reducing, and bleaching agents; organic solvents; and commercial detergents. Short life cycles, voracious feeding behavior, and production of multiple forms of proteases in the midgut with rapid catalytic activity and chemostability can serve H. armigera as an excellent alternative source of industrially important proteases for use as additives in stain removers, detergents, and other bio‐formulations. Identification of enzymes with essential industrial properties from insect species could be a bioresource.
Solution Growth of Modified Ultrathin W18O49 Nanobelts with Enhanced Chemical Activity against Alkylamine Radicals
Authors: Zhu Wenjuan , Huang Feng , Chen Erxia , Wu Qingping , Xu Ju , Lu Canzhong , Wang Yuansheng 
Published: December 2016

AbstractGroup IVB ions (Ti4+ and Zr4+) are employed to modify solution growth of W18O49 nanocrystals. In the presence of group IVB ions, the morphology of the produced monoclinic W18O49 nanocrystals can be modulated from inhomogeneous shapes to uniform an ultrathin nanobelt with the (
01) lattice plane being the main exposure surface. Interestingly, the ultrathin W18O49 nanobelts exhibit a unique chemical activity against alkylamine radicals, probably originated from the highly increased exposure of the (
01) plane with extra tungsten and oxygen atoms inserted in the regular lattice, which makes this nanomaterial an active photocatalyst for the N‐de‐ethylation reaction of the rhodamine B molecules, as well as a promising gas sensor matrix with selective responses to alkylamine molecules, including diethylamine, dimethylamine, triethylamine and trimethylamine. These results could provide useful inspiration for developing other functional nanomaterials with technical significance via modification of their morphologies and chemical properties.
Deep Eutectic Solvents Enable More Robust Chemoenzymatic Epoxidation Reactions
Authors: Zhou Pengfei , Wang Xuping , Zeng Chaoxi , Wang Weifei , Yang Bo , Hollmann Frank , Wang Yonghua 
Published: December 2016

AbstractA chemoenzymatic method for the production of epoxidized vegetable oils was developed. The unique combination of the commercial lipase G from Penicillieum camembertii with certain deep eutectic solvents enabled the efficient production of epoxidized vegetable oils.
Determination of enantiomeric excess of nipecotic acid as 1‐(7‐nitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazol‐4‐yl) derivatives
Authors: Schmidt Simone K. , Höfner Georg , Wanner Klaus T. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractFor the enantiopure synthesis of novel chiral GABA uptake inhibitors, nipecotic acid (1) is an important key precursor. To characterize accurately the pharmacological activity of these interesting target compounds, the determination of the correct enantiomeric purity of nipecotic acid as the starting material is indispensable. In this report, a sensitive high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) based method for the separation and quantitation of both enantiomers of nipecotic acid as 1‐(7‐nitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazol‐4‐yl) derivatives (5) on a Chiralpak ID‐3 column (Daicel, Illkirch, France) was established. UV/Vis‐detection at 490 nm was chosen to ensure a selective determination of even highly enantioenriched samples. Reliability was demonstrated by validation of specificity, linearity, lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), accuracy, and precision. By spiking highly enantiopure samples with small amounts of racemic rac‐5, it was proven that the established HPLC method is able to detect even slight changes in enantiomeric excess (ee) values. Thus, accurate determination of ee values up to 99.87% ee for (R)‐5 and 99.86% ee for (S)‐5 over a linear concentration range of 1–1500 μM for (R)‐5 and of 1–1455 μM for (S)‐5 could be demonstrated.