bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fast optimization of quasi‐periodic slow‐wave structures with applications to broadband microwave coupler miniaturization
Authors: Kurgan Piotr , Koziel Slawomir 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThis work discusses design optimization of quasi‐periodic slow‐wave structures in the context of wideband branch‐line coupler miniaturization. Size reduction is achieved by using slow‐wave structures as substitutes for conventional transmission lines of the reference circuit. Selection of a specific cell realization as well as determination of a repetition factor of the quasi‐periodic slow‐wave structure is accomplished by optimization‐based theoretical studies. The principal design procedure involves cell optimization using electromagnetic simulations, local response surface approximation modeling of the single cell, and surrogate‐based optimization of the slow‐wave structure composed of cascaded cell approximation models. Surrogate‐assisted design closure is subsequently applied to account for T‐junction effects neglected in the preceding stages of the design process. The final coupler exhibits high‐performance operation over a 31% bandwidth and occupies only one third of the reference circuit area. The component obtained in this work illustrates the highest bandwidth‐to‐size ratio as compared to state‐of‐the‐art structures reported in the literature. In addition, the feasibility of the approach is confirmed by experimental data.
Sex‐specific effects of the Huntington gene on normal neurodevelopment
Authors: Lee Jessica K. , Ding Yue , Conrad Amy L. , Cattaneo Elena , Epping Eric , Mathews Kathy , Gonzalez‐Alegre Pedro , Cahill Larry , Magnotta Vincent , Schlaggar Bradley L. , Perlmutter Joel S. , Kim Regina E.Y. , Dawson Jeffrey D. , Nopoulos Peg 
Published: November 2016

Huntington disease is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a gene (HTT) with a unique feature of trinucleotide repeats ranging from 10 to 35 in healthy people; when expanded beyond 39 repeats, Huntington disease develops. Animal models demonstrate that HTT is vital to brain development; however, this has not been studied in humans. Moreover, evidence suggests that triplet repeat genes may have been vital in evolution of the human brain.Here we evaluate brain structure using magnetic resonance imaging and brain function using cognitive tests in a sample of school‐aged children ages 6 to 18 years old. DNA samples were processed to quantify the number of CAG repeats within HTT. We find that the number of repeats in HTT, below disease threshold, confers advantageous changes in brain structure and general intelligence (IQ): the higher the number of repeats, the greater the change in brain structure, and the higher the IQ. The pattern of structural brain changes associated with HTT is strikingly different between males and females.HTT may confer an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the repeat length, playing a key role in either the evolution of a superior human brain or development of a uniquely human brain disease. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Implications of future climate on water availability in the western Canadian river basins
Authors: Dibike Yonas , Prowse Terry , Bonsal Barrie , O'Neil Hayley 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTPrecipitation, temperature, and evaporative demand are the most dominant factors affecting water availability in a region. This study examines projected changes in these hydro‐climatic variables over western Canada under two greenhouse gas emissions scenarios using statistically downscaled, high resolution climate data generated by six Global Climate Models (GCMs) from the latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). Potential changes in the spatial and seasonal distributions of water availability over nine major western Canadian river basins are examined by computing the 3‐ and 12‐month standardized precipitation and evapotranspiration indices (SPEI‐3 and SPEI‐12). While individual GCM projections vary on the rate and seasonality of changes, they all indicate similar spatial and temporal patterns. The highest projected increases in precipitation and temperature are primarily in the northern basins, with some decreases in summer precipitation in the southern basins. The evolution of the SPEI‐12 values for the southern basins such as Columbia, Saskatchewan, Fraser and Athabasca indicate a gradual increase in the magnitude and duration of water deficit, while the reverse was found for most of the northern basins such as Peel/Lower Mackenzie, Liard, and Northern Pacific that show a gradual increase in water surplus on an annual basis. The SPEI‐3, however, shows that almost all river basins in western Canada, with the exception of Peel/Lower Mackenzie that are located in the extreme north of the study region, are projected to experience decreasing water availability in summer. In general, the study highlights the potential changes in the spatial and seasonal distribution of western Canadian water resources and sets the stage for a more detailed and process based hydro‐climate modelling study to be conducted in the region.
Land‐use related changes to sedimentary organic matter in tidal creeks of the northern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Darrow Elizabeth S. , Carmichael Ruth H. , Calci Kevin R. , Burkhardt William 
Published: November 2016

AbstractEffects of land use on hydrology, organic matter sources, and processing may be proportionately greater in tidal creeks than large estuaries, yet tidal creek systems have been undervalued in assessments of emerging effects of anthropogenic land use. Through sampling of dated sediment cores, we identified indicators of historical land use change (past 150 yr) in a microtidal northern Gulf of Mexico tidal creek system in the early stages of urbanization. We found that tidal creeks differed from open water sites, and urbanized sites differed from less altered sites, primarily due to changes in carbon sources indicated by differences in sediment stable carbon isotope (δ13C) values, and concentrations of fecal indicator bacterium Clostridium perfringens. Total organic carbon (%TOC) and carbon : nitrogen (C : N) increased twofold in tidal creeks during upstream urbanization in the early 20th century, which led to elevated mid‐century sediment TOC accumulation rates (5–10 mg C cm−2 yr−1), followed by decreases in TOC accumulation in tidal creeks and open waters since the 1960s (0.4–1.8 mg C cm−2 yr−1). C. perfringens and nitrogen stable isotope values (δ15N) were, respectively, 1.8 and 1.5 times higher at wastewater‐influenced sites than at other sites, increasing through time or remaining high at wastewater‐influenced sites from approximately the 1950s‐present, when human populations quadrupled. Hence, urbanization altered estuarine inputs from upland C sources and increased inputs from human‐derived N and microbes. These findings suggest that tidal creeks are more sensitive archives of land‐use change than open water systems due to their proximity and greater connectivity to the watershed.
Dissolved methane in the Beaufort Sea and the Arctic Ocean, 1992–2009; sources and atmospheric flux
Authors: Lorenson Thomas D. , Greinert Jens , Coffin Richard B. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractMethane concentration and isotopic composition was measured in ice‐covered and ice‐free waters of the Arctic Ocean during 11 surveys spanning the years of 1992–1995 and 2009. During ice‐free periods, methane flux from the Beaufort shelf varies from 0.14 mg CH4 m−2 d−1 to 0.43 mg CH4 m−2 d−1. Maximum fluxes from localized areas of high methane concentration are up to 1.52 mg CH4 m−2 d−1. Seasonal buildup of methane under ice can produce short‐term fluxes of methane from the Beaufort shelf that varies from 0.28 mg CH4 m−2 d−1 to 1.01 mg CH4 m−2 d−1. Scaled‐up estimates of minimum methane flux from the Beaufort Sea and pan‐Arctic shelf for both ice‐free and ice‐covered periods range from 0.02 Tg CH4 yr−1 and 0.30 Tg CH4 yr−1, respectively to maximum fluxes of 0.18 Tg CH4 yr−1 and 2.2 Tg CH4 yr−1, respectively. A methane flux of 0.36 Tg CH4 yr−1 from the deep Arctic Ocean was estimated using data from 1993 to 1994. The flux can be as much as 2.35 Tg CH4 yr−1 estimated from maximum methane concentrations and wind speeds of 12 m/s, representing only 0.42% of the annual atmospheric methane budget of ∼ 560 Tg CH4 yr−1. There were no significant changes in methane fluxes during the time period of this study. Microbial methane sources predominate with minor influxes from thermogenic methane offshore Prudhoe Bay and the Mackenzie River delta and may include methane from gas hydrate. Methane oxidation is locally important on the shelf and is a methane sink in the deep Arctic Ocean.
Thioether‐Bearing Hyperbranched Polyether Polyols with Methionine‐Like Side‐Chains: A Versatile Platform for Orthogonal Functionalization
Authors: Seiwert Jan , Herzberger Jana , Leibig Daniel , Frey Holger 
Published: November 2016

The synthesis of thioether‐bearing hyperbranched polyether polyols based on an AB/AB2 type copolymerization (cyclic latent monomers) is introduced. The polymers are prepared by anionic ring‐opening multibranching copolymerization of glycidol and 2‐(methylthio)ethyl glycidyl ether (MTEGE), which is conveniently accessible in a single etherification step. Slow monomer addition provides control over molecular weights. Moderate dispersities (Đ = 1.48–1.85) are obtained, given the hyperbranched structure. In situ 1H NMR copolymerization kinetics reveal reactivity ratios of rG = 3.7 and rMTEGE = 0.27. Using slow monomer addition, copolymer composition can be systematically varied, allowing for the adjustment of the hydroxyl/thioether ratio, the degree of branching (DB = 0.36–0.48), thermal properties, and cloud point temperatures in aqueous solution in the range of 29–75 °C. Thioether oxidation to sulfoxides enables to tailor the copolymers' solubility profile. Use of these copolymers as a versatile, multifunctional platform for orthogonal modification is highlighted. The methyl sulfide groups can be selectively alkoxylated, using propylene oxide, allyl glycidyl ether, or furfuryl glycidyl ether, resulting in functional hyperbranched polyelectrolytes. Reaction of the alcohol groups with benzyl isocyanate demonstrates successful orthogonal functionalization.
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Normal sensorimotor plasticity in complex regional pain syndrome with fixed posture of the hand
Authors: Morgante Francesca , Naro Antonino , Terranova Carmen , Russo Margherita , Rizzo Vincenzo , Risitano Giovanni , Girlanda Paolo , Quartarone Angelo 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTBackgroundMovement disorders associated with complex regional pain syndrome type I have been a subject of controversy over the last 10 years regarding their nature and pathophysiology, with an intense debate about the functional (psychogenic) nature of this disorder. The aim of this study was to test sensorimotor plasticity and cortical excitability in patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I who developed a fixed posture of the hand.MethodsTen patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I in the right upper limb and a fixed posture of the hand (disease duration less than 24 months) and 10 age‐matched healthy subjects were enrolled. The following parameters of corticospinal excitability were recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle of both hands by transcranial magnetic stimulation: resting and active motor thresholds, short‐interval intracortical inhibition and facilitation, cortical silent period, and short‐ and long‐latency afferent inhibition. Sensorimotor plasticity was tested using the paired associative stimulation protocol.ResultsShort‐interval intracortical inhibition and long‐latency afferent inhibition were reduced only in the affected right hand of patients compared with control subjects. Sensorimotor plasticity was comparable to normal subjects, with a preserved topographic specificity.ConclusionsOur data support the view that motor disorder in complex regional pain syndrome type I is not associated with abnormal sensorimotor plasticity, and it shares pathophysiological abnormalities with functional (psychogenic) dystonia rather than with idiopathic dystonia. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Modeling diffusion of intracellular metabolites in the mouse brain up to very high diffusion‐weighting: Diffusion in long fibers (almost) accounts for non‐monoexponential attenuation
Authors: Palombo Marco , Ligneul Clemence , Valette Julien 
Published: November 2016

PurposeTo investigate how intracellular metabolites diffusion measured in vivo up to very high q/b in the mouse brain can be explained in terms of simple geometries.Methods10 mice were scanned using our new STE‐LASER sequence, at 11.7 Tesla (T), up to qmax = 1 μm−1 at diffusion time td = 63.2 ms, corresponding to bmax = 60 ms/µm². We model cell fibers as randomly oriented cylinders, with radius a and intracellular diffusivity
, and fit experimental data as a function of q to estimate
and a.ResultsRandomly oriented cylinders account well for measured attenuation, giving fiber radii and
in the expected ranges (0.5–1.5 µm and 0.30–0.45 µm2/ms, respectively). The only exception is N‐acetyl‐aspartate (NAA) (extracted a∼0), which we show to be compatible with a small fraction of the NAA pool being confined in highly restricted compartments (with short T2).ConclusionThe non‐monoexponential signal attenuation of intracellular metabolites in the mouse brain can be described by diffusion in long and thin cylinders, yielding realistic Dintra and fiber diameters. However, this simple model may require small “corrections” for NAA, in the form of a small fraction of the NAA signal originating from a highly restricted compartment. Magn Reson Med 77:343–350, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Security novel risk assessment framework based on reversible metrics: a case study of DDoS attacks on an E‐commerce web server
Authors: Karoui Kamel 
Published: November 2016

SummaryNetwork security management is a complex and costly task. This is due to the diversity and the large number of assets to protect from potential threats. It is difficult for enterprises to ensure complete security of their information technology resources. They need to give priority to critical and vulnerable assets. Thus, for each asset, they assess the risks associated with various threats. Then, depending on risk level, they can decide which asset needs a particular security treatment. In this paper, we propose a novel risk assessment framework based on a set of reversible metrics. It is based on new metrics for the likelihood and impact parameters. These metrics have as a primary objective to solve the problem of weighting the risk factors that lead to different risk values. The proposed metrics are classified and aggregated to provide a unique risk metric. We are using a new bitwise method for aggregating called ‘bit alternation’. This method ensures the reversibility of the likelihood and impact metrics. It has many advantages: unifying metrics, diagnosing the cause of high risks, comparing the values of the risk calculated with different weighting strategies, exchanging standard risk values, etc. To illustrate our method, we have applied it to assess risks of some distributed denial of service attacks for an e‐commerce enterprise that wants to see the level of security of its retail web server. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our results, we have compared them with those obtained by the weighted average method. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developing a coherent narrative for conserving freshwater and wetland habitats: experiences in the UK
Authors: Mainstone Chris P. 
Published: November 2016

The interface between biodiversity and water management (i.e., conserving freshwater and wetland biodiversity) is a complex area in which to operate. The clash of decision‐making cultures arising from the separate evolution of biodiversity and water legislation and policy creates tensions that are not easily resolved. The complexity of the human pressures and stresses acting on freshwater and wetland ecosystems, and the multiplicity of specialisms and stakeholders required to address them, increase the challenges of working at this interface. There are therefore many people who need to have a common view of what we as a society are trying to achieve for freshwater ecosystems, and how each interested party best contributes to achieving this. There is a critical need for an ecological narrative that cuts through the legislative, operational, and technical complexity, providing a rationale for how biodiversity and water management can work together to achieve their respective objectives. Narratives provide an important function in circumstances where cultural mindsets drive decision making. They encourage decision making to be approached from a more holistic and strategic perspective without attempting to prescribe the outcome at a local level. The concept of natural ecosystem function provides a common language within which biodiversity and water objectives can be framed, and a coherent narrative has been developed in England with this concept at its heart. Allowing water to move through catchments as naturally as possible, in the most natural condition possible, lies at the heart of both biodiversity‐ and water‐based aspirations for freshwater and wetland ecosystems. WIREs Water 2017, 4:e1189. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1189This article is categorized under:

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness
Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems
Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems
Completely Thoracoscopic Diaphragmatic Plication
Authors: Kocher Gregor J. , Zehnder Adrian , Schmid Ralph A. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBackgroundThoracoscopic diaphragmatic plication for diaphragmatic paralysis with consecutive eventration and respiratory compromise is a desirable alternative to standard thoracotomy. Since minimally invasive techniques usually involve suturing of the diaphragm, most surgeons use a video‐assisted approach with a minithoracotomy. Herein we describe our completely thoracoscopic technique for diaphragmatic plication including outcome.MethodsWe present our technique and experience for completely thoracoscopic diaphragmatic plication for the treatment of symptomatic diaphragmatic paralysis in six consecutive patients. The surgical technique basically consisted of stapling of the abundant diaphragm and reinforcement of the staple line using a self‐locking thread. Primary outcome measure was the postoperative result (flattened diaphragm) and resolution of symptoms. Secondary outcome was improvement of lung function values 3 months after surgery.ResultsBetween June 2015 and March 2016, six patients have been operated for symptomatic diaphragmatic paralysis, with one of them suffering from additional transdiaphragmatic hernia. Flattening of the diaphragm was achieved in all 6 patients with resolution of their pre‐existing symptoms within days after surgery and without any surgical complications. Lung function volumes measured 3 months postoperative improved markedly with an increase in FEV1 as well as FVC of 540 ml (SD ± 193 ml) and 776 ml (SD ± 121 ml), respectively.ConclusionsIn our experience, the presented technique is a safe and simple minimally invasive way to perform a completely thoracoscopic diaphragmatic plication with excellent results so far.
Translating crustacean biological responses from CO2 bubbling experiments into population‐level predictions
Authors: Grear Jason S. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractMany studies of animal responses to ocean acidification focus on uniformly conditioned age cohorts that lack complexities typically found in wild populations. These studies have become the primary data source for predicting higher level ecological effects, but the roles of intraspecific interactions in re‐shaping biological, demographic and evolutionary responses are not commonly considered. To explore this problem, I assessed responses in the mysid Americamysis bahia to bubbling of CO2‐enriched and un‐enriched air into the seawater supply in flow‐through aquariums. I conducted one experiment using isolated age cohorts and a separate experiment using intact populations. The seawater supply was continuously input from Narragansett Bay (Rhode Island, USA). The 28‐day cohort study was maintained without resource or spatial limitations, whereas the 5‐month population study consisted of stage‐structured populations that were allowed to self‐regulate. These differences are common features of experiments and were intentionally retained to demonstrate the effect of methodological approaches on perceptions of effect mechanisms. The CO2 treatment reduced neonate abundance in the cohort experiment (24% reduction due to a mean pH difference of −0.27) but not in the population experiment, where effects were small and were strongest for adult and stage 1 survival (3% change due to a mean pH difference of −0.25). I also found evidence of competition in the population experiment, further complicating relationships with cohort experiments. These results point to limitations of standard cohort tests. Such experiments should be complimented by studies of intact populations where responses may be affected by evolution, acclimation, and competition.
Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of an Internet Support Group for Parents of a Child with Neurofibromatosis Type 1: a Pilot Study
Authors: Martin S. , Roderick M. C. , Lockridge R. , Toledo‐Tamula M. A. , Baldwin A. , Knight P. , Wolters P. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThis pilot study investigated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an Internet Support Group (ISG) for parents of children with NF1. Eligible parents were recruited by email and completed baseline questionnaires assessing social support, self‐efficacy, depression, and anxiety. The ISG involved eight weekly 90‐min chat sessions and a discussion forum open 24 h/day for 8 weeks. Follow‐up measures were completed immediately post‐intervention and 3 months later. Parents from 33 families (29 mothers, 4 fathers) completed baseline measures. Over half of parents (52 %) rated their child's disease severity as mild, 33 % moderate, and 15 % severe. Among 21 parents who completed post‐intervention measures, ratings of perceived emotional (p = .0008) and informational (p = .0003) support increased. There were no significant changes in self‐efficacy, depression, or anxiety (ps > .05). The mean satisfaction rating was moderately high (7.6/10; range 4–10). Some parents commented that the chat sessions were at inconvenient times, which may have limited participation. Preliminary evidence in this small sample of parents suggests that ISGs may be a feasible and potentially efficacious method of providing support to parents of children with NF1. Having multiple weekly chat sessions held at various days and times may improve accessibility and participation. Clinicians are encouraged to help parents access online support resources.