bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Campaigning for Jobs and Communities in the 1980s
Authors: Phillips Jim
Published: January 2020

The 1984-85 miners’ strike in defence of collieries, jobs and communities was an unsuccessful attempt to reverse the change in economic direction driven in the UK by Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative governments. The government was committed to removing workforce voice from the industry. Its struggle against the miners was a war against the working class more generally. Mining communities were grievously affected in economic terms by the strike and its aftermath, but in the longer run emerged with renewed solidarity. Gender relations, evolving from the 1960s as employment opportunities for women increased, changed in further progressive ways. This strengthened the longer-term cohesion of mining communities. The strike had a more general and lasting political impact in Scotland. The narrative of a distinct Scottish national commitment to social justice, attacked by a UK government without democratic mandate, drew decisive moral force from the anti-Thatcherite resistance of men and women in the coalfields. This renewed the campaign for a Scottish Parliament, which came to successful fruition in 1999.
Religion, Solitude-in-Solidarity and Snyder’s Bloodlands
Authors: Dombrowski Daniel A.
Published: January 2020

Chapter Abstract: In this chapter the thought of the historian Timothy Snyder is examined, specifically his magisterial work titled Bloodlands. The point is to alert (or remind) readers to the disastrous consequences of illiberal political philosophies of both the right and left. These illiberal tendencies lead us away from reflective equilibrium and hence should be criticized. Alfred North Whitehead's concept of solitariness and Czeslaw Milosz's concept of solidarity will also be examined.
Research for All: Creating Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences Across the Curriculum
Authors: Becker Megan
Published: January 2020

To develop our students’ analytical capabilities and prepare them for the demands of the job market of the 21st century, it is imperative that Political Science faculty incorporate research and data literacy skills into a broader array of courses. Previous work on developing these skills has focused on introductory methods courses and capstone experiences, but this article suggests a scaffolded approach to incorporating accessible research experiences across the curriculum. The project provides a blue-print for the creating applied research courses and infusing existing courses with content and assignments that facilitate students’ understanding of the research process and the use of analytic tools.
«Коли не зберемо що найменше 10000 підписів, то весь наш розмах проти москаля піде на марно…» (участь полонених українців табору Раштат у загальноросійському революційному русі навесні 1917 р.)
Authors: Sribniak Ihor , Nazaruk Julia
Published: January 2020

У статті йдеться про проведення збору підписів полонених вояків-українців з табору Раштат (Німеччина) для уповноваження О. Скорописа-Йолтуховського представляти їх права та інтереси перед російським Тимчасовим урядом. З метою роз’яснення цього у таборовій газеті «Розсвіт» був опублікований заклик до полонених внести своє ім’я та прізвище до спеціальних підписних листів, які прикладались до кожного примірника цього випуску часопису. З табору до робітничих команд виїхали українські активісти, завданням яких стало проведення агітаційної акції у середовищі таборян. Їх заходами уповноваження О. Скоропису-Йолтуховському підписали 8829 полонених, що засвідчило їх достатньо високий рівень національно-громадської освіченості.
Організаційна діяльність українських жіночих товариств Східної Галичини на сторінках регіональної преси (1887-1939 рр.)
Authors: Kochkodan Vira
Published: January 2020

У статті розглянуто жіночу пресу з останньої чверті ХІХ ст. до початку Другої світової війни. Досліджено як вона репрезентувала свої товариства, а також розкрито динаміку розвитку жіночої періодики, зокрема, як вона змінювала висвітлення організаційної діяльності об’єднань: принципи та методи праці у філіях, кружках. Доведено взаємозв’язок між організаційним станом товариств та їх пресовою діяльністю. Завдяки часописам товариства оперативно ознайомлювали своїх членкинь і громадськість у різних куточках краю про працю та пропагували свої ідеї.
Церковна преса другої половини ХІХ – початку ХХ століття як джерело вивчення історії церковного співу у Київській єпархії
Authors: Perepeliuk Olha
Published: January 2020

У статті проаналізовано публікації журналів «Киевские епархиальные ведомости», «Труды Киевской Духовной Академии», «Руководство для сельских пастырей», «Церковно-приходская школа», «Западно-Русская начальная школа», в яких іде мова про церковний спів у Київській єпархії. Виділено теми, які найчастіше піднімалися: літні курси церковного співу для учителів, про заходи для покращення церковного співу у сільських храмах, навчання музиці та нотному співу у школах, про церковні хори.
Періодичні видання кінця ХІХ – початку ХХ ст. про медичне обслуговування населення Уманщини
Authors: Kuznets Tetiana
Published: January 2020

Стаття містить систематизовану інформацію з київських газет «Заря» та «Киевлянин» про стан медичного обслуговування населення одного з найбільших повітів Київської губернії – Уманського. На основі виявлених 25-ти публікацій зроблено висновок про те, що рівень охорони здоров’я населення наприкінці ХІХ – на початку ХХ ст. був низьким. Тільки з утворенням земств і передачі з 1904 р. в їх підпорядкування лікарень, стан медичного обслуговування почав поліпшуватися. Уманське виборне повітове земство, яке було створене у 1911 р., зуміло налагодити співпрацю з міською управою Умані у площині спільної діяльності щодо будівництва міської лікарні, лікарні для хронічно хворих, поліклініки, що значно підвищило рівень надання лікарської допомоги населенню.
«Голодна маса стає чим раз більше апатичною, байдужою до всього…»: життя та повсякдення полонених вояків-українців у таборі Фрайштадт, Австро-Угорщина (зима-літо 1917 р.)
Authors: Sribniak Ihor
Published: January 2020

У статті відтворено деякі аспекти життя та повсякдення полонених вояків-українців у таборі Фрайштадт (Австро-Угорщина) протягом зими-літа 1917 р. У цей час таборяни потерпали від обмеження норм харчування та використання для приготування їжі невластивих продуктів, наслідком чого її не можна було споживати. У серпні 1917 р. ситуація з харчуванням загострилась настільки, що полонені вдались до «голодного страйку», відмовляючись приймати приготовлені у таборовій кухні обіди та вечері, обмежуючись лише чаєм і хлібом. Лише завдяки спільним зусиллям президії СВУ та українських активістів у таборі, а також заходам комендатури табору, покликаних поліпшити й урізноманітнити харчування таборян – стало можливим припинити страйк і відновити проведення роботи культурно-національного змісту в Фрайштадті.
Український визвольний рух на центрально-східному Поділлі 40-50-х років XX століття у пам’яті українців
Authors: Popovych Oleksiy
Published: January 2020

Розкрито становлення та розвиток українського визвольного руху на центрально-східному Поділлі 40-50-х років ХХ ст. Реконструйовано розбудову оунівського підпілля на Поділлі. Розглянуто методи та шляхи поширення пропаганди, збереження пам’яті про ОУН й УПА в українському суспільстві у період Другої світової війни. Визначено місце та роль факторів формування історичної (національної) пам’яті про українських націоналістів в українському суспільстві. Зокрема охарактеризовано діяльність СБУ та УІНП у формування образу про ОУН та УПА в українському суспільстві.
Развитие Военно-морских сил Ирака в 1958-1973 годах и Кувейтские кризисы
Authors: Pospelov Andrei
Published: January 2020

Статья раскрывает особенности развития и развития военно-морских сил Ирака от Июльской революции 1958 г. к концу второго кувейтского кризиса в феврале-марте 1973 г. Приведены сведения о всех боевых кораблях и катерах, поставленных в Ирак в указанный период, коротко описана деятельность некоторых его командующих и описаны действия ВМС Ирака в ходе первого и второго кувейтских кризисов 1961 и 1973 годов.
Громадянське виховання: радянська практика (1956-1991 рр.)
Authors: Shanovska Olena
Published: January 2020

Представлено загальну модель організації громадянського (комуністичного) виховання у радянській Україні другої половини ХХ ст. Аналізується процес формування у радянських громадян системи соціально-політичних цінностей, установок, що забезпечували легітимність партійно-радянської системи. Увагу акцентовано на процесі політичної соціалізації, що відбувалася впродовж всього життя. Доведено, що політична соціалізація була скерована партією та державними органами, мала комуністично-орієнтовану світоглядну спрямованість і практично була зведена до ідеологічного виховання.
Роль музеїв у контексті реалізації сталого розвитку суспільства
Authors: Hnidyk Iryna
Published: January 2020

У статті представлено аналітику сучасних тенденцій актуалізації діяльності музеїв та історико-культурної спадщини у контексті тематики теоретичної та практичної реалізації популярної концепції сталого (збалансованого) розвитку суспільства. Проаналізовано головні документи та рекомендації міжнародних культурних інституцій у цій площині, актуальні перетини потенціалу музеїв і реалізації цілей і завдань сталого розвитку суспільства, інноваційні підходи на прикладі нових зарубіжних досліджень і практичних проектів.
Urea Ammonium Nitrate Solution Treated with Inhibitor Technology: Effects on Ammonia Emission Reduction, Wheat Yield, and Inorganic N in Soil
Authors: Nikolajsen Michael Thorstein , Pacholski Andreas Siegfried , Sommer Sven Gjedde
Published: January 2020

Urea is the most used fertilizer nitrogen (N), and is often applied as urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), which may be an ammonia (NH3) emission source after application. This study examined whether the addition of urease inhibitors reduced NH3 emission, and, in combination with nitrification inhibitors, enhanced fertilizer N crop uptake. In three experiments, NH3 emission was measured from plots (100 m2) to which UAN was added with and without inhibitors. In March and May, the plots were covered with Triticum aestivum L., Sheriff (var), and in July, the soil was bare. The inhibitor mixed with urea was N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) and a mixture of NBPT and the new nitrification inhibitor DMPSA (3,4-Dimethylpyrazole succinic acid). Ammonia emissions were negligible from all plots after the first application of UAN due to the wet and cold weather while an average of 7% of applied UAN was emitted after application of UAN in April, where no significant effect of additives was observed. The harvest yield was low due to drought from May till August. Yield was highest when UAN was mixed with NBPT and lowest for untreated UAN. The highest emission from the bare plots was obtained from untreated UAN (17% of N), in contrast to 11% of N from the plots with added UAN + NBPT (not significant) and 7% from the plots with added UAN + NBPT + DMPSA (significantly different). Under the conditions of the current study, urease inhibitors reduce NH3 emissions in periods where the risk of emission is high, and the combination of urease and nitrification inhibitors increased yields.
Glyphosate-Resistant Italian Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. spp. Multiflorum) Control and Seed Suppression in Mississippi
Authors: Bararpour Taghi , Bond Jason A. , Singh Gurbir , Hale Ralph R. , Edwards Matt , Lawrence Benjamin H.
Published: January 2020

Italian ryegrass is a major weed problem in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production worldwide. Two separate studies were conducted in Stoneville, Mississippi to evaluate: (1) the efficacy of herbicides available to Mississippi producers for controlling glyphosate-resistant (GR) Italian ryegrass (control study), and (2) fall burndown herbicide seed suppression study. Results of the control study showed that flufenacet/metribuzin EPOST followed by (fb) pinoxaden LPOST (standard treatment) provided 93% control of GR Italian ryegrass. Some other treatments provided comparable Italian ryegrass control (92% to 97%) as the standard treatment in 2017. Italian ryegrass control in the seed suppression study was 100%, 100%, 67.5%, 97%, and 99.5% from the application of the following treatments: (1) S-metolachlor + flumioxazin + paraquat in October–November fb glyphosate + clethodim in January–February fb gramoxone as needed (weed-free check); (2) S-metolachlor + flumioxazin + paraquat in October–November; (3) field cultivator (disk) in October–November; (4) glyphosate + clethodim in January–February; and (5) field cultivator in October–November fb glyphosate + clethodim in January–February, respectively. The remaining Italian ryegrass from the application of treatments 3, 4, and 5 produced 65,700; 1008; and 9 seeds m−2, respectively. Seed suppression study highlights the importance of 100% control that is required to manage GR Italian grass.
Fruit Yield and Quality of ‘Valencia’ Orange Trees under Long-Term Partial Rootzone Drying
Authors: Mossad Amr , Farina Vittorio , Lo Bianco Riccardo
Published: January 2020

Climate, soil and tree water status, fruit yields and quality of ‘Valencia’ orange trees were monitored over five consecutive seasons (2007–2012) to study the effects of irrigation placement or volume. Three irrigation treatments were imposed: conventional irrigation (CI, 100% of crop evapotranspiration on both sides of the rootzone), partial rootzone drying (PRD, 50% of CI water only on one alternated side of the rootzone) and continuous deficit irrigation (DI, 50% of CI water on both sides of the rootzone). Yield parameters were generally not affected by PRD, and only yield per tree was lower in DI than CI trees. Fruit size and juice content were also reduced by DI, and not by PRD. Both PRD and DI increased juice soluble solids and acidity, vitamin C and carotenoid concentrations, as well as fruit, juice and sugar productivity per unit of irrigation water. Overall, the straight reduction of irrigation volumes by ~55% (DI) induced an average of 4.4% leaf dehydration, which caused significant fruit size reductions and a 3.4% reduction in juice yield, corresponding to a loss of about 2.6 tons of juice and 261 kg of sugars per hectare and year. On the other hand, water savings of about 2 mega liters per hectare and year with PRD caused a mild 2.3% leaf dehydration and mainly fruit quality improvements, indicating that PRD is a sustainable irrigation strategy for ‘Valencia’ orange.
Cellular Aging Characteristics and Their Association with Age-Related Disorders
Authors: Rudzińska Magdalena , Parodi Alessandro , Balakireva Anastasia V. , Chepikova Olga E. , Venanzi Franco M. , Zamyatnin Andrey A.
Published: January 2020

Different molecular signaling pathways, biological processes, and intercellular communication mechanisms control longevity and are affected during cellular senescence. Recent data have suggested that organelle communication, as well as genomic and metabolic dysfunctions, contribute to this phenomenon. Oxidative stress plays a critical role by inducing structural modifications to biological molecules while affecting their function and catabolism and eventually contributing to the onset of age-related dysfunctions. In this scenario, proteins are not adequately degraded and accumulate in the cell cytoplasm as toxic aggregates, increasing cell senescence progression. In particular, carbonylation, defined as a chemical reaction that covalently and irreversibly modifies proteins with carbonyl groups, is considered to be a significant indicator of protein oxidative stress and aging. Here, we emphasize the role and dysregulation of the molecular pathways controlling cell metabolism and proteostasis, the complexity of the mechanisms that occur during aging, and their association with various age-related disorders. The last segment of the review details current knowledge on protein carbonylation as a biomarker of cellular senescence in the development of diagnostics and therapeutics for age-related dysfunctions.
Sediment Dynamics of the Neretva Channel (Croatia Coast) Inferred by Chemical and Physical Proxies
Authors: Giglio Federico , Romano Stefania , Albertazzi Sonia , Chiarini Francesca , Ravaioli Mariangela , Ligi Marco , Capotondi Lucilla
Published: January 2020

We examined the transport of sediments and their surficial pathways from the mouth of Neretva River, through the Neretva Channel, toward the Adriatic Sea. This research was based on twelve box-cores and five grab samples collected within the Neretva Channel. Sediment dynamics were evaluated using several proxies, such as organic matter, radiochemical isotopes and select metal concentrations and physical parameters. The data analysis showed that the influence of the river on particle distribution along the Neretva Channel decreases northward, with an estimated sediment accumulation rate ranging from 1.9 to 8.5 mm/yr. The lowest accumulation rate was found in the sector not influenced by river inflow, whereas the preferential sediment accumulation area is in the center of the basin. We speculate that dispersion and accumulation of sediments are both driven by an eddy in the waters of the Neretva Channel triggered/or intensified seasonally by the interaction of karstic springs, river input and Adriatic Sea waters. Our results indicate that the anthropogenic factor does not affect the concentration of metals within the channel and that the river particles dynamics determine the Pb areal distribution, while Cr and Ni have a possible source located to the northwest of the river-mouth.
EvoBot: An Open-Source, Modular, Liquid Handling Robot for Scientific Experiments
Authors: Faiña Andres , Nejati Brian , Stoy Kasper
Published: January 2020

Commercial liquid handling robots are rarely appropriate when tasks change often, which is the case in the early stages of biochemical research. In order to address it, we have developed EvoBot, a liquid handling robot, which is open-source and employs a modular design. The combination of an open-source and a modular design is particularly powerful because functionality is divided into modules with simple, well-defined interfaces, hence customisation of modules is possible without detailed knowledge of the entire system. Furthermore, the modular design allows end-users to only produce and assemble the modules that are relevant for their specific application. Hence, time and money are not wasted on functionality that is not needed. Finally, modules can easily be reused. In this paper, we describe the EvoBot modular design and through scientific experiments such as basic liquid handling, nurturing of microbial fuel cells, and droplet chemotaxis experiments document how functionality is increased one module at a time with a significant amount of reuse. In addition to providing wet-labs with an extendible, open-source liquid handling robot, we also think that modularity is a key concept that is likely to be useful in other robots developed for scientific purposes.
Cymbopogon Citratus Functionalized Green Synthesis of CuO-Nanoparticles: Novel Prospects as Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Agents
Authors: Cherian Tijo , Ali Khursheed , Saquib Quaiser , Faisal Mohammad , Wahab Rizwan , Musarrat Javed
Published: January 2020

Chemically synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) involve the generation of toxic products, which narrowed its biological application. Hence, we have developed a one-pot, green method for CuONP production employing the leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus (CLE). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis confirmed the capping of CuONPs by CLE esters (CLE-CuONPs). Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) showed phenolics, sugars, and proteins mediated nucleation and stability of CLE-CuONPs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed CLE-CuONPs between 11.4 to 14.5 nm. Staphylococcus aureus-1 (MRSA-1), Staphylococcus aureus-2 (MSSA-2) exposed to CLE-CuONPs (1500 µg/mL) showed 51.4%, 32.41% survival, while Escherichia coli-336 (E. coli-336) exposed to 1000 µg/mL CLE-CuONPs showed 45.27% survival. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of CLE-CuONPs treated E. coli-336, MSSA-2 and MRSA-1 showed morphological deformations. The biofilm production by E. coli-336 and MRSA-1 also declined to 33.0 ± 3.2% and 49.0 ± 3.1% at 2000 µg/mL of CLE-CuONPs. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) showed 22.80 ± 2.6%, 19.2 ± 4.2%, and 16.2 ± 3.6% accumulation of Cu2+ in E. coli-336, MSSA-2, and MRSA-1. Overall, the data exhibited excellent antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacies of esters functionalized CLE-CuONPs, indicating its putative application as a novel nano-antibiotic against multi drug resistance (MDR) pathogenic clinical isolates.
Tautomerism of Guanine Analogues
Authors: Štoček Jakub Radek , Dračínský Martin
Published: January 2020

Tautomerism of nucleic acid (NA) bases is a crucial factor for the maintenance and translation of genetic information in organisms. Only canonical tautomers of NA bases can form hydrogen-bonded complexes with their natural counterparts. On the other hand, rare tautomers of nucleobases have been proposed to be involved in processes catalysed by NA enzymes. Isocytosine, which can be considered as a structural fragment of guanine, is known to have two stable tautomers both in solution and solid states. The tautomer equilibrium of isocytosine contrasts with the remarkable stability of the canonical tautomer of guanine. This paper investigates the factors contributing to the stability of the canonical tautomer of guanine by a combination of NMR experiments and theoretical calculations. The electronic effects of substituents on the stability of the rare tautomers of isocytosine and guanine derivatives are studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Selected derivatives are studied by variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy. Rare tautomers can be stabilised in solution by intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions with suitable partners. These intermolecular interactions give rise to characteristic signals in proton NMR spectra, which make it possible to undoubtedly confirm the presence of a rare tautomer.
Cardiac Evaluation Using Two-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography and Conventional Echocardiography in Taiwanese Patients with Mucopolysaccharidoses
Authors: Lin Hsiang-Yu , Chuang Chih-Kuang , Lee Chung-Lin , Chen Ming-Ren , Sung Kuo-Tzu , Lin Shan-Miao , Hou Charles , Niu Dau-Ming , Chang Tung-Ming , Hung Chung-Lieh , Lin Shuan-Pei
Published: January 2020

Background: Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are a group of rare inherited metabolic disorders that can damage various organs, including the heart. Cardiac abnormalities have been observed in patients with all MPS types, with the most documented abnormalities being cardiac valvular regurgitation and stenosis, valvular thickening, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Methods: Cardiac features of 53 Taiwanese patients with MPS (31 men and 22 women; age range 1.1–34.9 years; seven with MPS I, 16 with MPS II, nine with MPS III, 14 with MPS IVA, and seven with MPS VI) were evaluated using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography and conventional echocardiography. Results: The mean z scores of the global longitudinal strain (GLS), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), interventricular septum diameter in diastole (IVSd), left ventricular posterior wall diameter in diastole (LVPWd), and aortic diameter of the 53 patients with MPS were 1.71, 0.35, 1.66, 1.03, and 3.15, respectively. Furthermore, z scores >2 were identified in 45%, 13%, 40%, 13%, and 70% of the GLS, LVMI, IVSd, LVPWd, and aortic diameter, respectively. The most severe GLS was observed in those with MPS VI, followed by in those with MPS II and MPS I. The GLS z score was positively correlated with the LVMI z score (p < 0.01). Moreover, diastolic dysfunction (reversed ratio between early and late (atrial) ventricular filling velocity (E/A ratio < 1)) was identified in 12 patients (23%). Ejection and shortening fractions were abnormal in four (8%) and seven (13%) patients, respectively. Mitral regurgitation (MR) (92%) was the most common valvular heart disease, followed by aortic regurgitation (AR) (57%), mitral stenosis (MS) (21%), and aortic stenosis (AS) (15%). The z scores of the GLS and LVMI and severity scores of the MS, MR, AS, and AR were all positively correlated with increasing age (p < 0.05). Twenty patients (38%) had a left ventricular remodeling pattern. Conclusions: The most significant left ventricular myocardial deformation, hypertrophy and valvular heart disease were observed in the patients with MPS VI, II, and I, followed by those with MPS IV; in contrast, patients with MPS III had the mildest manifestations. Cardiac abnormalities in patients with MPS worsened with increasing age in accordance with the progressive nature of this disease.
Use of Aerial Laser Scanning to Assess the Effect on C Sequestration of Oak (Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota [Desf.]Samp-Q. suber L.) Afforestation on Agricultural Land
Authors: Lara-Gómez Miguel A. , Navarro-Cerrillo Rafael M. , Ceacero Carlos J. , Ruiz-Goméz Francisco J. , Díaz-Hernández José Luis , Palacios Rodriguez Guillermo
Published: January 2020

Conversion of agricultural lands to forest plantations to mitigate rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) has been proposed, but it depends on accurate estimation of the on-site carbon (C) stocks distribution. The use of aerial laser scanning (ALS) data is a rapidly evolving technology for the quantification of C stocks. We evaluated the use of allometric models together with high-density ALS data for the quantification of biomass and soil C stocks in a 14-year-old Quercus ilex and Q. suber plantation in Southwestern Spain. In 2010, a field survey was performed and tree dasometric and biomass variables were measured. Forty-five soil profiles (N = 180 soil samples) were taken systematically and the soil organic C content (SOC) was determined. Biomass and soil organic C values were regressed against individual dasometric variables and total tree height was used as a predictor variable. Aerial laser scanning data were acquired with a point density of 12 points m−2. Relationships among ALS metrics and tree height were determined using stepwise regression models and used in the allometric models to estimate biomass and SOC C stocks. Finally, a C stock map of the holm-cork oak cover in the study area was generated. We found a tree total biomass of 27.9 kg tree−1 for holm oak and 41.1 kg tree−1 for cork oak. In the holm oak plantation, the SOC content was 36.90 Mg ha−1 for the layer 0–40 cm (SOC40) under the tree crown and 29.26 Mg ha−1 for the inter-planted area, with significant differences from the reference agricultural land (33.35 Mg ha−1). Linear regression models were developed to predict the biomass and SOC at the tree scale, based on tree height (R2 > 0.72 for biomass, and R2 > 0.62 for SOC). The overall on-site C stock in the holm-cork oak plantation was 35.11 Mg ha−1, representing a net C stock rise of 0.47 Mg ha−1 yr−1. The ALS data allows a reliable estimation of C stocks in holm and cork oak plantations and high-resolution maps of on-site C stocks are useful for silvicultural planning. The cost of ALS data acquisition has decreased and this method can be generalised to plantations of other Mediterranean species established on agricultural lands at regional scales. However, an increase of filed data and the availability of local biomass and, in particular, SOC will improve accurate quantification of the C stocks from allometric equations, and extrapolation to large planted areas.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Horticulturae in 2019
Authors: Horticulturae Editorial Office
Published: January 2020

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing. The editorial team greatly appreciates the reviewers who contributed their knowledge and expertise to the journal’s editorial process over the past 12 months [...]
Toxic Effects of the Mixture of Phthalates and Bisphenol A—Subacute Oral Toxicity Study in Wistar Rats
Authors: Baralić Katarina , Buha Djordjevic Aleksandra , Živančević Katarina , Antonijević Evica , Anđelković Milena , Javorac Dragana , Ćurčić Marijana , Bulat Zorica , Antonijević Biljana , Đukić-Ćosić Danijela
Published: January 2020

Phthalates and bisphenol A, classified as endocrine disruptors, have weak estrogenic, anti-androgenic properties, and affect thyroid hormone regulation. The aim of this study on male rats was to compare the subacute toxic effects of low doses of single compounds (bis (2 –ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and bisphenol A (BPA)) with the effects of their mixture through different biochemical, hormonal, and hematological parameters. Rats were divided into five experimental groups: Control (corn oil), DEHP (50 mg/kg b.w./day), DBP (50 mg/kg b.w./day), BPA (25 mg/kg b.w./day), and MIX (50 mg/kg b.w./day DEHP + 50 mg/kg b.w/day DBP + 25 mg/kg b.w./day BPA). Animals were sacrificed after 28 days of oral treatment and blood was collected for further analysis. The results demonstrated that the mixture produced significant changes in lipid profile, liver-related biochemical parameters, and glucose level. Furthermore, the opposite effects of single substances on the thyroxine level have been shown in comparison with the mixture, as well as a more pronounced effect of the mixture on testosterone level. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on the toxicology of mixtures and gives one more evidence of the paramount importance of mixture toxicity studies, especially in assessing the endocrine disruptive effects of chemicals.
Effect of Bortezomib on Global Gene Expression in PC12-Derived Nerve Cells
Authors: Łuczkowska Karolina , Rogińska Dorota , Ulańczyk Zofia , Machaliński Bogusław
Published: January 2020

Peripheral neuropathy is one of the main side-effects of novel therapeutics used in oncohematological diseases, but the molecular basis underlying its development and progression as well as neurotoxicity mechanisms induced by the use of these therapeutics are still not fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of bortezomib on global gene and miRNA expression on PC12-derived nerve cells. Microarray analysis showed that expression of 1383 genes was downregulated at least two fold and 671 genes were upregulated at least two fold in PC12-derived nerve cells treated with bortezomib compared to untreated/control cells. Analysis of functional annotations mainly identified downregulated processes (e.g., regulation of cell cycle, DNA replication and repair, regulation of cell migration, neuron projection morphogenesis and neurotransmitter secretion). The result of miRNA expression analysis demonstrated only 11 significantly downregulated miRNAs (at least two fold) in bortezomib-treated PC12-derived nerve cells vs. control cells. MiRNAs regulate gene expression, therefore we decided to conduct an analysis comparing the outcomes of miRNA microarray expression data to the obtained mRNA data. The most interesting miRNA–target gene correlation is downregulated expression of miR-130a-3p and miR-152-3p and as a result of this downregulation the expression of the Gadd45 increased. This gene is a member of a group of genes, the transcript expression of which is enhanced after stressful growth arrest conditions and treatment with DNA-damaging agents like drugs or mutagens.
Constitutive Activation of Guanylate Cyclase by the G86R GCAP1 Variant Is Due to “Locking” Cation-π Interactions that Impair the Activator-to-Inhibitor Structural Transition
Authors: Abbas Seher , Marino Valerio , Bielefeld Laura , Koch Karl-Wilhelm , Dell’Orco Daniele
Published: January 2020

Guanylate Cyclase activating protein 1 (GCAP1) mediates the Ca2+-dependent regulation of the retinal Guanylate Cyclase (GC) in photoreceptors, acting as a target inhibitor at high [Ca2+] and as an activator at low [Ca2+]. Recently, a novel missense mutation (G86R) was found in GUCA1A, the gene encoding for GCAP1, in patients diagnosed with cone-rod dystrophy. The G86R substitution was found to affect the flexibility of the hinge region connecting the N- and C-domains of GCAP1, resulting in decreased Ca2+-sensitivity and abnormally enhanced affinity for GC. Based on a structural model of GCAP1, here, we tested the hypothesis of a cation-π interaction between the positively charged R86 and the aromatic W94 as the main mechanism underlying the impaired activator-to-inhibitor conformational change. W94 was mutated to F or L, thus, resulting in the double mutants G86R+W94L/F. The double mutants showed minor structural and stability changes with respect to the single G86R mutant, as well as lower affinity for both Mg2+ and Ca2+, moreover, substitutions of W94 abolished “phase II” in Ca2+-titrations followed by intrinsic fluorescence. Interestingly, the presence of an aromatic residue in position 94 significantly increased the aggregation propensity of Ca2+-loaded GCAP1 variants. Finally, atomistic simulations of all GCAP1 variants in the presence of Ca2+ supported the presence of two cation-π interactions involving R86, which was found to act as a bridge between W94 and W21, thus, locking the hinge region in an activator-like conformation and resulting in the constitutive activation of the target under physiological conditions.
Toxicity of Deltamethrin to Zebrafish Gonads Revealed by Cellular Biomarkers
Authors: Petrovici Adriana , Strungaru Stefan-Adrian , Nicoara Mircea , Robea Madalina Andreea , Solcan Carmen , Faggio Caterina
Published: January 2020

Deltamethrin is responsible for health and reproduction problems both in mammals and aquatic organisms. In this study, zebrafish adults were exposed for 15 days to 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 μg L−1 non-lethal concentrations of deltamethrin, knowing that is used worldwide on agricultural crops. We investigated the chronic effects of deltamethrin on gonads by histopathological examination, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence using biomarkers for apoptosis (anti-p53, anti-H2A.XS139ph antibodies, and TUNEL assay), oxidative stress (anti-Cox4i1 antibody) and proliferation (anti-PCNA antibody). Among the histopathological changes, the apoptotic response was elevated in ovary and testis of deltamethrin exposed groups as it was seen in the IHC and IF for p53, H2A.XS139ph, and confirmed by TUNEL assay. These were observed in the case of all studied concentrations compared with the control group. Thereby, the gonadal tissue exhibited an up-regulated activity of this cell-death signaling markers, while the proliferation marker (PCNA) increased in the ovary due to its presence not only in primary growth and cortical-alveolar stage follicles but also in atretic follicles, meanwhile decreased notably in the testis. Cox4i1, a mitochondrial marker, decreased both in ovary and testis during deltamethrin treatment, probably inhibited by the overproduction of the free radicals after pesticide exposure.
Impact of Agrochemicals on Soil Microbiota and Management: A Review
Authors: Meena Ram , Kumar Sandeep , Datta Rahul , Lal Rattan , Vijayakumar Vinod , Brtnicky Martin , Sharma Mahaveer , Yadav Gulab , Jhariya Manoj , Jangir Chetan , Pathan Shamina , Dokulilova Tereza , Pecina Vaclav , Marfo Theodore
Published: January 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that in developing nations, there are three million cases of agrochemical poisoning. The prolonged intensive and indiscriminate use of agrochemicals adversely affected the soil biodiversity, agricultural sustainability, and food safety, bringing in long-term harmful effects on nutritional security, human and animal health. Most of the agrochemicals negatively affect soil microbial functions and biochemical processes. The alteration in diversity and composition of the beneficial microbial community can be unfavorable to plant growth and development either by reducing nutrient availability or by increasing disease incidence. Currently, there is a need for qualitative, innovative, and demand-driven research in soil science, especially in developing countries for facilitating of high-quality eco-friendly research by creating a conducive and trustworthy work atmosphere, thereby rewarding productivity and merits. Hence, we reviewed (1) the impact of various agrochemicals on the soil microbial diversity and environment; (2) the importance of smallholder farmers for sustainable crop protection and enhancement solutions, and (3) management strategies that serve the scientific community, policymakers, and land managers in integrating soil enhancement and sustainability practices in smallholder farming households. The current review provides an improved understanding of agricultural soil management for food and nutritional security.
A Strategy for Combinatorial Cavity Design in De Novo Proteins
Authors: Karas Christina , Hecht Michael
Published: January 2020

Protein sequence space is vast; nature uses only an infinitesimal fraction of possible sequences to sustain life. Are there solutions to biological problems other than those provided by nature? Can we create artificial proteins that sustain life? To investigate these questions, we have created combinatorial collections, or libraries, of novel sequences with no homology to those found in living organisms. Previously designed libraries contained numerous functional proteins. However, they often formed dynamic, rather than well-ordered structures, which complicated structural and mechanistic characterization. To address this challenge, we describe the development of new libraries based on the de novo protein S-824, a 4-helix bundle with a very stable 3-dimensional structure. Distinct from previous libraries, we targeted variability to a specific region of the protein, seeking to create potential functional sites. By characterizing variant proteins from this library, we demonstrate that the S-824 scaffold tolerates diverse amino acid substitutions in a putative cavity, including buried polar residues suitable for catalysis. We designed and created a DNA library encoding 1.7 × 106 unique protein sequences. This new library of stable de novo α-helical proteins is well suited for screens and selections for a range of functional activities in vitro and in vivo.
Additive Manufacturing: Alloy Design and Process Innovations
Authors: Prashanth Konda Gokuldoss , Wang Zhi
Published: January 2020

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is an emerging manufacturing technique of immense engineering and scientific importance and is also regarded as the technique of the future [...]
Accelerated Life Test Method for the Doubly Truncated Burr Type XII Distribution
Authors: Xin Hua , Liu Zhifang , Lio Yuhlong , Tsai Tzong-Ru
Published: January 2020

The Burr type XII (BurrXII) distribution is very flexible for modeling and has earned much attention in the past few decades. In this study, the maximum likelihood estimation method and two Bayesian estimation procedures are investigated based on constant-stress accelerated life test (ALT) samples, which are obtained from the doubly truncated three-parameter BurrXII distribution. Because computational difficulty occurs for maximum likelihood estimation method, two Bayesian procedures are suggested to estimate model parameters and lifetime quantiles under the normal use condition. A Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach using the Metropolis–Hastings algorithm via Gibbs sampling is built to obtain Bayes estimators of the model parameters and to construct credible intervals. The proposed Bayesian estimation procedures are simple for practical use, and the obtained Bayes estimates are reliable for evaluating the reliability of lifetime products based on ALT samples. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to evaluate the performance of these two Bayesian estimation procedures. Simulation results show that the second Bayesian estimation procedure outperforms the first Bayesian estimation procedure in terms of bias and mean squared error when users do not have sufficient knowledge to set up hyperparameters in the prior distributions. Finally, a numerical example about oil-well pumps is used for illustration.
Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids (MAAs) in Zooplankton
Authors: Hylander Samuel
Published: January 2020

Organisms have different adaptations to avoid damage from ultraviolet radiation and one such adaptation is the accumulation of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). These compounds are common in aquatic taxa but a comprehensive review is lacking on their distribution and function in zooplankton. This paper shows that zooplankton MAA concentrations range from non-detectable to ~13 µg mgDW−1. Copepods, rotifers, and krill display a large range of concentrations, whereas cladocerans generally do not contain MAAs. The proposed mechanisms to gain MAAs are via ingestion of MAA-rich food or via symbiotic bacteria providing zooplankton with MAAs. Exposure to UV-radiation increases the concentrations in zooplankton both via increasing MAA concentrations in the phytoplankton food and due to active accumulation. Concentrations are generally low during winter and higher in summer and females seem to deposit MAAs in their eggs. The concentrations of MAAs in zooplankton tend to increase with altitude but only up to a certain altitude suggesting some limitation for the uptake. Shallow and UV-transparent systems tend to have copepods with higher concentrations of MAAs but this has only been shown in a few species. A high MAA concentration has also been shown to lead to lower UV-induced mortality and an overall increased fitness. While there is a lot of information on MAAs in zooplankton we still lack understanding of the potential costs and constraints for accumulation. There is also scarce information in some taxa such as rotifers as well as from systems in tropical, sub(polar) areas as well as in marine systems in general.
Recent Advances in Turning Processes Using Coated Tools—A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Sousa Vitor F. C. , Silva Francisco J. G.
Published: January 2020

Turning continues to be the largest segment of the machining industry, which highlights the continued demand for turned parts and the overall improvement of the process. The turning process has seen quite an evolution, from basic lathes using solid tools, to complex CNC (Computer Numerical Control) multi-process machines, using, for the most part, coated inserts and coated tools. These coatings have proven to be a significant step in the production of high-quality parts and a higher tool life that have captivated the industry. Continuous improvement to turning coated tools has been made, with many researches focusing on the optimization of turning processes that use coated tools. In the present paper, a presentation of various recently published papers on this subject is going to be made, mentioning the various types of coatings that have recently been used in the turning process, the turning of hard to machine materials, such as titanium alloys and Inconel, as well as the interaction of these coatings with the turned surfaces, the wear patterns that these coatings suffer during the turning of materials and relating these wear mechanisms to the coated tool’s life expectancy. Some lubrication conditions present a more sustainable alternative to current methods used in the turning process; the employment of coated tool inserts under these conditions is a current popular research topic, as there is a focus on opting for more eco-friendly machining options.
A CMOS-Thyristor Based Temperature Sensor with +0.37 °C/−0.32 °C Inaccuracy
Authors: Li Jing , Lin Yuyu , Ye Siyuan , Wu Kejun , Ning Ning , Yu Qi
Published: January 2020

This paper describes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) based temperature sensor. The VCOs are composed of complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) thyristor with the advantage of low power consumption. The period of the VCO is temperature dependent and is function of the transistors’ threshold voltage and bias current. To obtain linear temperature characteristics, this paper constructed the period ratio between two different-type VCOs. The period ratio is independent of the temperature characteristics from current source, which makes the bias current generator simplified. The temperature sensor was designed in 130 nm CMOS process and it occupies an active area of 0.06 mm2. Based on the post-layout simulation results, after a first-order fit, the sensor achieves an inaccuracy of +0.37/−0.32 °C from 0 °C to 80 °C, while the average power consumption of the sensor at room temperature is 156 nW.
Reliability of Gridded Precipitation Products in the Yellow River Basin, China
Authors: Yang Yanfen , Wu Jing , Bai Lei , Wang Bing
Published: January 2020

Gridded precipitation products are the potential alternatives in hydrological studies, and the evaluation of their accuracy and potential use is very important for reliable simulations. The objective of this study was to investigate the applicability of gridded precipitation products in the Yellow River Basin of China. Five gridded precipitation products, i.e., Multi-Source Weighted-Ensemble Precipitation (MSWEP), CPC Morphing Technique (CMORPH), Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis 3B42, and Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN), were evaluated against observations made during 2001−2014 at daily, monthly, and annual scales. The results showed that MSWEP had a higher correlation and lower percent bias and root mean square error, while CMORPH and GSMaP made overestimations compared to the observations. All the datasets underestimated the frequency of dry days, and overestimated the frequency and the intensity of wet days (0–5 mm/day). MSWEP and TRMM showed consistent interannual variations and spatial patterns while CMORPH and GSMaP had larger discrepancies with the observations. At the sub-basin scale, all the datasets performed poorly in the Beiluo River and Qingjian River, whereas they were applicable in other sub-basins. Based on its superior performance, MSWEP was identified as more suitable for hydrological applications.
3D Trajectory Planning Method for UAVs Swarm in Building Emergencies
Authors: Madridano Ángel , Al-Kaff Abdulla , Martín David , de la Escalera and Arturo de la
Published: January 2020

The development in Multi-Robot Systems (MRS) has become one of the most exploited fields of research in robotics in recent years. This is due to the robustness and versatility they present to effectively undertake a set of tasks autonomously. One of the essential elements for several vehicles, in this case, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), to perform tasks autonomously and cooperatively is trajectory planning, which is necessary to guarantee the safe and collision-free movement of the different vehicles. This document includes the planning of multiple trajectories for a swarm of UAVs based on 3D Probabilistic Roadmaps (PRM). This swarm is capable of reaching different locations of interest in different cases (labeled and unlabeled), supporting of an Emergency Response Team (ERT) in emergencies in urban environments. In addition, an architecture based on Robot Operating System (ROS) is presented to allow the simulation and integration of the methods developed in a UAV swarm. This architecture allows the communications with the MavLink protocol and control via the Pixhawk autopilot, for a quick and easy implementation in real UAVs. The proposed method was validated by experiments simulating building emergences. Finally, the obtained results show that methods based on probability roadmaps create effective solutions in terms of calculation time in the case of scalable systems in different situations along with their integration into a versatile framework such as ROS.