bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis on the impact of new energy automobile industry support policy on regional economy
Authors: Yu Yue , Jiang Jun
Published: April 2020

From 2008 to 2018, the Chinese government has issued more than 200 policies on new energy automobile industry at the national, provincial and municipal levels in the past ten years. These policies systematically guide the new energy automobile industry to develop vigorously from the aspects of comprehensive promotion, energy-saving layout, price, charging equipment and batteries, subsidies, tax exemption, loans and investment, etc. The implementation of the support policy in the relevant areas of the development of new energy automobile industry will have a tremendous impact on the environmental protection, taxation, employment, scientific research, Power industry and related industries in the relevant areas, thus bringing the regional economic development to a new climax.
A dynamic analysis on global biomass energy trade network
Authors: Yang Xu , Li Xingjiang , Yan Fuhai
Published: April 2020

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the development of biomass energy. Global biomass energy trade plays an important role in this development process. However, due to the uneven distribution of biomass energy supply and demand, as well as different policies in different regions, the development of biomass energy, to some extent, has been affected. Thus, it is essential to investigate the evolution mode of global biomass energy trade, so as to promote its balanced development and sustainable growth. In this paper, we analysed the dynamic evolution of global biomass energy trade from 2011 to 2017 based on complex network theory and some conclusions were given. Firstly, the results show that the overall volumes of biomass energy trade is on the rise, but its mode tends to be low density with a large volume of trade concentrated in some countries. Secondly, it is worth noting that European countries and the North America are more active in global biomass energy trade, while only a small number of developing countries, like Brazil, China and India, have certain influence on the biomass energy trade. Thirdly, it seems that most countries prefer to establish biomass energy trade export relationships with other countries rather than import. Finally, given the poor performance of both in-degree and out-degree in the Middle East and North African regions over time, more attention should be paid to the development of biomass energy in these areas. The main contribution of this paper is to understand the market evolution of global biomass energy trade in 2011-2017 from the perspective of complex networks, being a supplement to the existing researches on biomass energy trade.
Economic analysis of natural gas distributed energy system for data center in Shanghai
Authors: Wang Shipeng , Zhao Dazhou , Ke Dongdong
Published: April 2020

Energy consumption of the data center is one of the main constraints for the development of data centers in developed regions. Shanghai has clearly defined the conditions and requirements for the construction of the data center. Through the scheme demonstration and economic analysis of gas distributed energy stations for the data center in Shanghai, the energy economy is the main factor restricting the gas distribution energy supply for the data center. Under the current background, the gas distributed energy station for the data center in Shanghai is more suitable for the construction of third-party investment operation and maintenance entities, which can significantly reduce the power usage effectiveness of the data center, although the annual energy cost of the data center increase significantly. At the same time, gas distributed energy stations need to pay attention to expand winter heat users and improve the equivalent utilization hours of energy stations to achieve greater economic benefits.
Study on heat transfer between the rod and the environment under conditions of forced convection
Authors: Eremin A V
Published: April 2020

Obtaining analytical solutions to unsteady heat conduction problems is of great scientific and practical interest. Such solutions make it possible to do an in-depth analysis of thermal processes, such as isotherm fields analysis, study of the thermally stressed states of structures, parametric identification, etc. This article deals with a simple method for obtaining approximate analytical solutions of one-dimensional heat conduction problems. In particular, an algorithm for solving the problem for a rod (plate) with a given boundary condition of the third kind on one of the surfaces is presented. It is shown that solving the equation at isolated points of the spatial variable allows obtaining the high-precision solutions to this problem with a minimum amount of computational work. The relations for determining the temperature have a simple form and do not contain special functions and parameters. It should be noted that the exact solution to a similar problem based on the Fourier separation method is an infinite series containing eigenvalues (roots of the transcendental equation).The practical application of such solutions is very limited. The paper also contains the convergence analysis of the method, the residuals of the initial differential equation for various approximations. The method developed can be used to solve more complex problems that allow separation of variables in the initial l differential equation.
Preparation of the forecasted fuel and energy balance of a boiler in an inadequate data condition
Authors: Guzhov S V , Gasho E G , Shepel V A
Published: April 2020

The task of fuel and energy balance preparation for heat energy sources in inadequate data conditions is an urgent issue, especially for the outdated boilers. It is difficult to use formulas for physically worn-out systems description, mainly because thermotechnical characteristics of the insulating components have significant deviations from the standard values. Boiler’s equipment physical depreciation increases greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Therefore, dealing with modernization funding feasibility of the heat energy sources, and also for periodic adjustment works that help to reduce harmful substance emissions into the atmosphere, requires the use of a fairly complete mathematical model of a boiler and a heat network. However, the lack of data makes it very difficult to formulate a reliable model. Status analysis of every element in the system is a labor-intensive and expensive task. Another extremely labor-intensive issue is a determination of the forecasted thermal energy demand of the municipal consumers and sector of housing and public utilities. Physically worn-out buildings have low thermal resistance, which increases heat demand. Calculation of the necessary amount of heat generation by the worn-out boilers for the city districts with worn-out buildings is difficult due to lack of a wide range of data about the boiler’s condition, network condition, and heated buildings condition. The paper presents the predictive energy balance preparation method using the statistical method of information processing only.
An elaborated diffusion mathematic model of radiative transfer in an extinction medium
Authors: Kuznetsov V A , Trubaev P A , Ryazancev O A
Published: April 2020

The computational method of diffusion approach, used sometimes for simulating the radiative heat transfer, differs in simplicity of its algorithm, but can not take ac-count of radiation anisotropy. The reasons of its insufficient accuracy have been re-vealed; it is shown that inadequate boundary con-ditions produce unpredictable er-rors. Ways for eliminating short-comings of the diffusion method have been developed. The accurate diffusion model has been theoretically elaborated for radiative heat transfer in dust-laden gases. To eliminate singularity of temperature curves on the surface of confining walls, the en-closed extinction medium was hypothetically considered as an unbounded one. The radiation intensity has been expanded in a se-ries and integrated over the spherical solid angle, what has allowed to obtain more precise differential equation for the resulting radiation flux both in the unbounded and enclosed extinction medium. As a result, shortcomings peculiar to the previous method of diffusion approach have been eliminated, and correct Neumann and Robin boundary conditions have been formulated. As a result, the elaborated diffu-sion model got the increased accuracy in simulating radiative heat transfer, and con-currently it offers an advantage of simplicity and universality of the diffusion ap-proach method.
Features of the functional reliability of 0.4-10 kV distribution networks
Authors: Byk F L , Myshkina L S , Sabadash I A
Published: April 2020

The article is devoted to the study of the influence of regime restrictions on the functional reliability of distribution networks of 0.4-10 kV. This level of the network is largely determining the values of indicative indicators of reliability of power supply. In the work, by the example of the analysis of the reliability of power supply of two energy regions, the significance of the influence of the regime factor on the uninterrupted power supply is proved. Due to the complexity of the topology and the variability of the flow distribution, it is proposed to use the decomposition method for calculating the reliability and recoverability of network nodes. The expediency of calculating indicative indicators of the reliability of electricity supply at the stage of network design is shown, since today, in Russia, the economic efficiency of the functioning of territorial network companies is largely determined by the level of reliability due to the existing relationship between reliability indicators and the tariff for the transmission of electric energy.
Energy efficient multi-circuit cogeneration plant
Authors: Stepanov S F , Kovalenko V V , Kovalenko P V , Artyukhov I I , Mirgorodskaya E E , Mityashin N P
Published: April 2020

The paper reviews an energy efficient multi-circuit power plant with three independent power generation circuits and a generator control system. The proposed three-circuit autonomous power plant was constructed in accordance with a modular design. The structural scheme, design, operating modes, and simulation model in the Matlab+Simulink environment is presented. The increase in electrical efficiency at this cogeneration plant is due to the use of low-temperature boiling point heat-transfer fluids. This article proposes the method of increasing the efficiency of an existing installation from 60 kW to 100 kW by equipping it with additional equipment. This equipment provides deeper utilization of flue gas heat. If the base power plant is 60 kW, the heat input is about 200 kWh (an efficiency of the station is 30%), then the total electricity generation will be 100 kW. In this case, an additional 40 kW of power is without increasing fuel consumption.
The usage of organic wastes of malt and lysine-sulphate production for reclamation of soils, contaminated with petroleum products
Authors: Vasilenko T A , Efremova O V
Published: April 2020

This paper presents the research findings of using two organic wastes – from feed additives production and malt production, which can optimize the process of soil remediation from petroleum products. The experiment was performed in situ with applying in the soil, contaminated with petroleum products (industrial oil), the excess sludge of malt production waste biological purification (1.8 or 3.6 kg/m2 was applied). The organic matter content in the sludge was 31.79 %. With account of the high initial concentration of petroleum products (3100−8600 mg/kg) and their degradation during a short-term experiment (21 days), a conclusion was made, that the excess sludge of wastewater biological treatment had the potential for remediating soils from petroleum products. The percent reduction made up from 16.12 to 85.64% (at applying 0.44 kg/m2 of petroleum products) and 20.37; 33.72 and 89.03 % (at applying 0.66 kg/m2 of petroleum products). From the second waste product, which contained 83.0 % of organic matter, − corn-steep extract purification sludge, − a water extract was obtained. It has been determined that the cell colonies, which appeared from this extract (8-fold dilution) in the agarized growth medium in the presence of used petroleum products, are not inhibited, and petroleum products become a source of biogenic carbon for them.
Method development of the integral specific failure rate determination considering time in service and diameter of gas pipelines
Authors: Golovach Yu A , Kornilova N V
Published: April 2020

Gas consumption increase and also a large scale of gas-distributing networks create new and ever more challenging problems for the engineers, associated with the development and modernization, safety and reliability improvement of the systems. These problems can be solved only by using new technologies and methods of calculation. Analysis of the statistical data on the underground distributing gas pipeline damages in the Gorlovka city of Donetsk region revealed that most of the failures are from the corrosion damage. Based on the statistical data on all types of the underground gas pipeline damages, which is the source of the gas leak, the determination method of integral specific failure rate was developed considering time in service and diameter of the gas pipelines. This method is based on the determination of the optimal step of the gas pipeline time in service, during which the failure rate is taken as constant, and on the integral specific failure rate calculation. It was discovered that the integral specific failure rate depends on the gas pipeline diameter and its time in service. Due to the fact that the coefficient SDR jumps at the diameter 219x7 mm, the dependence equation of the integral specific failure rate on time in service and diameter of the gas pipeline is derived for two diameter ranges 57-159 mm and 219-530 mm. The diameter decrease and the time in service increase lead to the integral specific failure rate increase.
Trade-off working fluid selection for heat pumps
Authors: Karnaukh V V , Mazur V A , Biryukov A B , Rzhesik K A
Published: April 2020

Nowadays heat pump systems are used to recover the heat from waste water from different sources and produce hot water for household and communal purposes. In this research comparative thermodynamic analysis of performance for a water-to-water single-stage vapor compression heat pump using several HCs, HCFCs and HFCs which belong to refrigerants of different generations is presented. A multi-criteria approach for optimal selection of refrigerants was used as scientific tool. Results of theoretical experiments of vapor compression heat pump system with the evaporator temperature range 0…25°C and condenser temperature 60°C and 83°C showed that the COP of R1234ze was higher than that of R600a, R152b by about 6.7…17.3%, 8.25…20.5%, and 1.7…14.4%, respectively, at condenser temperature 60 °C; however results are different if at condenser temperature is 83°C: the average COP of R600a was higher than that of R1234ze and R152b by about 7.7…14.7%, 9.3…15.8%, and 7.5…15.6%, respectively. COP displays a positive correlation with the evaporator temperature as well as a negative correlation with the condenser temperature. The complete analysis of all factors, including environmental safety, indicates that R1234ze and R600a refrigerants should be preferred as the working fluids for using in the water-to-water single-stage vapor compression heat pump for the hot water supply and heating purposes in industrial applications.
On the potential use of basalt waste as mineral fillers
Authors: Petropavlovskaya V B , Novichenkova T B , Zavadko M Y , Petropavlovskii K S
Published: April 2020

Producing present-day constructional materials on mineral binders is directly connected to the use of micro- and ultra-disperse technogenic modifying agents. They allow to obtain the maximum particle-particle packing in composition, provide rational raw mix design, contribute to structure formation process. The present article is devoted to the investigation of searching the most rational solution for the problem of basalt waste utilization, with the basalt waste being the valuable secondary raw material resource. The studies have shown that it is possible to use basalt dust as admix to gypsum composites. The basalt waste, by changing the composition grain-size distribution, provides the better particle-particle packing both for finegrained and coarse waste fractions, thus having positive effect on modified gypsum rock structure. Optimization of internal structure also contributes to the increase of gypsum rock strength properties. The obtained gypsum composite can be profitably employed for manufacturing small-piece walling gypsum materials by casting process.
Energy efficiency increase of the initial milk processing
Authors: Samarin G N , Vasilyev A N , Normov D A , Eventeva E A , Mamahay A K
Published: April 2020

Condition of the dairy industry in the Russian Federation over the last years is characterized by a long-standing and continuously deepening downtrend in dairy production and cow population decrease. From the present day perspective, main objective for Russian live-stock farmers, in the context of an import phaseout, is a dairy production increase. Presently at dairy farms in the Russian Federation 99% of freshly drawn milk is being cooled to 4.5°C by a refrigeration method. Refrigerators are complex machines that require skilled workforce for maintenance and operation, consume large amount of electrical energy (3.4 kWh per 100 kg of milk to cool down from 40 to 5°C). Price increase for energy resources, including electricity, is happening in all countries. Price increase is an objective process since commercial mineral deposits run short, their extraction decline, and price tag for extraction and delivery to the place where it can be processed and consumed is increasing. Within this context, any research study that focuses on specific energy resources decrease, including energy consumption for milk production and processing, is a critical task for the present day and for the foreseeable future.
Analysis of the effect of detergent additives on fuel on the performance of a diesel engine
Authors: Shabanov A Yu , Galyshev Yu V , Zaitsev A B , Sidorov A A
Published: April 2020

In work questions of influence of composition of basic diesel fuel on overall performance of the washing additives on the basis of results of motor tests are considered. The received results show need of individual selection of concentration of additive depending on composition of basic fuel. The analysis of results allowed to draw a conclusion on existence of an optimum ratio of concentration of additive and composition of basic fuel at which receiving the maximum effect of input of additive at preservation of the acceptable prime cost of the final product of fuel is possible. This conclusion is supported by the results of comparative stand tests of diesel engine firing fuels that significantly differ in basic physicochemical parameters. The tests have been conducted on laboratory test stand equipped with hydraulic dynamometer coupled with full-sized diesel engine type KAMAZ-740.10. Such arrangement enabled operation at any point within allowed zone of engine load/speed map.
A pigment–filler in rubber compounds based on calcium carbonate containing waste
Authors: Tarasova G I
Published: April 2020

The article presents theoretical background and experimental data on the use of thermally modified waste of the sugar industry – sugar defecate as a black pigment filler in rubber compounds instead of carbon black and chalk. In previous studies, a method for processing calcium carbonate-containing raw material by thermal modification of its surface was suggested. As a result of heat treatment at a temperature of 600°C, a thermolysis sugar defecate TD600 - a fine black powder - was obtained. It was established that on the surface a layer of carbon (soot) coating CaCO3 particles is formed. The purpose of this article is to study the possibility of using the thermolysis defecate TD600 as a pigment-filler in rubber compounds. To establish the possibil-ity of using the TD600 thermolysis defecate as a pigment-filler and an amplifier of polymer compositions, its physicochemical parameters were studied and compared with traditional pig-ments. A comparative analysis of physicochemical properties of fillers used in rubber com-pounds and thermolysis defecate TD600 was carried out. Properties of the pigment filler corre-spond to the parameters of materials used in rubber compounds; its oil absorption (80 ml/100g) is similar to that of classic carbon P514. The use of TD600 a black pigment-filler will solve two problems: saving raw materials and energy and improving the ecological situation.
Synthesis of emission tunable AgInS2/ZnS quantum dots and application for light emitting diodes
Authors: Wei Jiahu , Li Feng , Chang Chun , Zhang Qin
Published: April 2020

Indium-rich environmentally-friendly quantum dots (QDs) have received widespread attention due to the absence of cadmium. In this paper, AgInS2 (AIS) QDs are synthesized by hot injection method. By adjusting the ratio of indium/silver (In/Ag = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), the AIS QDs exhibit a blue shift from 868 nm to 603 nm with the indium composition increases. Therein, the AIS QDs with the ratio of In/Ag = 4 show a highest photoluminescent (PL) quantum yields (QYs) up to 57%. AIS QDs are coated with ZnS shell to passivate the surface defects, and the PL QYs of obtained core/shell AIS/ZnS QDs is increased to 72%. By using these AIS/ZnS QDs as light emitters, light emitting diodes are assembled with a stacked multi-layer structure ITO/PEDOT:PSS/Poly-TPD/QDs/ZnO:Mg/Al. The resulted electroluminescent (EL) device exhibits a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 1.25% and an open circuit voltage of 4.6 V corresponding to a maximum brightness of 1120 cd m−2. Although the performances of the as fabricated AIS/ZnS-based device lag much behind than those of the Cd-based ones, they are expected to be enhanced with much more studies on the synthesis of the QDs and the optimization of device structure.
Toxicity and Sublethal Effect of Triflumezopyrim Against Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhao Fei , Tao Qiuhong , Li Jiayi , Xu Yijuan , Li Zhiqiang , Lu Yongyue
Published: April 2020

The use of insecticide remains the frontline method in controlling red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), one of the worst invasive ants in the world. Neonicotinoids are effective ingredients in toxic baits for suppressing S. invicta population. To search for new and effective insecticides, the toxicity and sublethal effects of triflumezopyrim, a novel neonicotinoid analog, were evaluated against S. invicta. No high mortality of ants was observed after they fed on sugar water containing 120 μg/ml triflumezopyrim for 72 h; however, 100% mortality was achieved after ants fed on sugar water containing 10 μg/ml triflumezopyrim for 2 wk. Furthermore, at 10 μg/ml, triflumezopyrim did not inhibit ant food consumption within the 7-d treatment period. These results indicate that triflumezopyrim is a slow acting toxin and may be qualified as bait toxin for managing red imported fire ants. At 1 μg/ml, triflumezopyrim did not cause any significant effect on colony growth within 56 d and did not inhibit the food consumption during the whole trial period. At 10 μg/ml, triflumezopyrim displayed a significant reduction of aggressiveness during confrontation with native ants, resulting in higher mortality than the ants in the control. However, at 1 μg/ml, triflumezopyrim did not show any significant impact on both aggressiveness and mortality of the red imported fire ants.
The role of soluble sugars during drought in tropical tree seedlings with contrasting tolerances
Authors: O’Brien Michael J , Valtat Annabelle , Abiven Samuel , Studer Mirjam S , Ong Robert , Schmid Bernhard
Published: April 2020

Aims

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) are plant storage compounds used for metabolism, transport, osmoregulation and regrowth following the loss of plant tissue. Even in conditions suitable for optimal growth, plants continue to store NSCs. This storage may be due to passive accumulation from sink-inhibited growth or active reserves that come at the expense of growth. The former pathway implies that NSCs may be a by-product of sink limitation, while the latter suggests a functional role of NSCs for use during poor conditions.

Methods

Using 13C pulse labelling, we traced the source of soluble sugars in stem and root organs during drought and everwet conditions for seedlings of two tropical tree species that differ in drought tolerance to estimate the relative allocation of NSCs stored prior to drought versus NSCs assimilated during drought. We monitored growth, stomatal conductance, stem water potential and NSC storage to assess a broad carbon response to drought.

Important Findings

We found that the drought-sensitive species had reduced growth, conserved NSC concentrations in leaf, stem and root organs and had a larger proportion of soluble sugars in stem and root organs that originated from pre-drought storage relative to seedlings in control conditions. In contrast, the drought-tolerant species maintained growth and stem and root NSC concentrations but had reduced leaf NSCs concentrations with a larger proportion of stem and root soluble sugars originated from freshly assimilated photosynthates relative to control seedlings. These results suggest the drought-sensitive species passively accumulated NSCs during water deficit due to growth inhibition, while the drought-tolerant species actively responded to water deficit by allocating NSCs to stem and root organs. These strategies seem correlated with baseline maximum growth rates, which supports previous research suggesting a trade-off between growth and drought tolerance while providing new evidence for the importance of plasticity in NSC allocation during drought.
Vietnam’s response to COVID-19: prompt and proactive actions
Authors: Dinh Linh , Dinh Phuc , Nguyen Phuong D M , Nguyen Duy H N , Hoang Thang
Published: April 2020

Sharing 1281 miles of land border with China, Vietnam imported COVID-19 cases early. With its dense population and limited resources, Vietnam is at a high risk of widespread virus transmission. However, with the government’s proactive responses and the public’s social distancing and mass masking, the outbreak is kept under control.
China’s energy policies and strategies for climate change and energy security
Authors: Deng Haifeng , Farah Paolo Davide
Published: April 2020

National energy security, parallel with the ultimate goal of emissions reductions, is of utmost priority for the Chinese government. In order to comply with the requirements set by the Kyoto Protocol, the Chinese government announced, on 25 November 2009, that 2020’s CO2 emissions would be reduced by 40–45 per cent in accordance with the data collected from 2005. Said goal was met three years ahead of schedule. Even in light of such an accomplishment, however, commentators suggest that the overall nationally determined contributions (NDCs) made by the Parties belonging to the Paris agreement are not enough to reduce global warming by even 2°C.

This article focuses on the concept of energy security in assessing whether, and how, the priorities related to climate change are gradually changing. After analysing climate change’s impact on China, conducted via an analysis of the study’s available literature and through the support of international data, this article mainly focuses on the concept of energy security, itself. Under the second section, based on the examination of China’s efforts to transition towards a low-carbon economy, the authors provide a holistic definition of energy security through the lens of three dimensions: energy supply security, energy economy and energy ecological security. The third section, in turn, addresses the relationship between energy security and climate change. The results presented in the conclusion insist that, in order to strengthen environmental protection in China, it is crucial to reform the highly inefficient and strictly regulated national energy market. In doing so, China’s transition to a low-carbon society and economy could prove less painful, as China’s available resources offer the potential for a strengthened ecological dimension and sustained socio-economic development.
The Gene and Gene Expression (GAGE) Species Concept: An Universal Approach for All Eukaryotic Organisms
Authors: Seifert Bernhard
Published: April 2020

The Gene and Gene Expression (GAGE) species concept, a new version of the Pragmatic Species Concept of Seifert (2014), is proposed as a concept applicable to any described recent or fossil eukaryotic organism independent from its mode of reproduction or evolutionary history. In addition to presenting the concept as such, the article also provides practical recommendations for taxonomists when delimiting species and describing taxa. The wording of the new concept contains a heading core sentence plus five attached sentences addressing essential conditions for its translation into a sound taxonomic practice: “Species are separable clusters that have passed a threshold of evolutionary divergence and are exclusively defined by nuclear DNA sequences and/or their expression products. Nuclear DNA sequences and their expression products are different character systems but have a highly correlated indicative function. Character systems with the least risk of epigenetic or ontogenetic modification have superior indicative value when conflicts between character systems of integrative studies arise. All character systems have to be described by an adequate numerics allowing cluster formation and determination of thresholds. Thresholds for each character system should be fixed by consensus among the experts under the principle of avoiding oversplitting or lumping. Clusters must not be the expression of intraspecific polymorphism.” Recognizing the distortions and conflicts caused to taxonomy through barcoding or through assessment on the basis of association with other organisms, the GAGE species concept strongly downgrades the use of cytoplasmic DNA of endosymbiotic origin (mtDNA, cpDNA) or DNA of closely associated microbes (e.g., Wolbachia bacteria) for final taxonomic decision-making. Recognizing the distortion of phylogenies by the high frequency of reticulate evolution, it is argued that delimiting and naming species has to be separated from constructing bifurcating phylogenetic trees. [Cytoplasmic DNA; lumping; nuclear DNA; numeric taxonomy; oversplitting; reticulate evolution.]
Current Understanding of the History, Global Spread, Ecology, Evolution, and Management of the Corn Bacterial Leaf Streak Pathogen, Xanthomonas vasicola pv. vasculorum
Authors: Ortiz-Castro Mary , Hartman Terra , Coutinho Teresa , Lang Jillian M. , Korus Kevin , Leach Jan E. , Jackson-Ziems Tamra , Broders Kirk
Published: April 2020

Bacterial leaf streak of corn, caused by Xanthomonas vasicola pv. vasculorum, has been present in South Africa for over 70 years, but is an emerging disease of corn in North and South America. The only scientific information pertaining to this disease on corn came from work done in South Africa, which primarily investigated host range on other African crops, such as sugarcane and banana. As a result, when the disease was first reported in the United States in 2016, there was very limited information on where this pathogen came from, how it infects its host, what plant tissue(s) it is capable of infecting, where initial inoculum comes from at the beginning of each crop season, how the bacterium spreads from plant to plant and long distance, what meteorological variables and agronomic practices favor disease development and spread, how many other plant species X. vasicola pv. vasculorum is capable of infecting or using as alternate hosts, and if the bacterium will be able to persist in all corn growing regions of the United States. There were also no rapid diagnostic assays available which initially hindered prompt identification prior to the development of molecular diagnostic tools. The goal of this synthesis is to review the history of X. vasicola pv. vasculorum and bacterial leaf streak in South Africa and its movement to North and South America, and highlight the recent research that has been done in response to the emergence of this bacterial disease.
Mid-term Patient-reported Outcomes After Lateral Versus Crossed Pinning of Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures
Authors: Eguia Francisco , Gottlich Caleb , Lobaton Gilberto , Vora Molly , Sponseller Paul D. , Lee R. Jay
Published: April 2020

Background:

Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning in a crossed or lateral configuration is the standard treatment for supracondylar humerus (SCH) fractures. We compared mid-term patient-reported outcomes (PROs), radiographic outcomes, and complication rates between patients treated with crossed versus lateral pinning.

Methods:

We reviewed 508 pediatric patients treated surgically for Gartland type-III SCH fractures from 2008 to 2017. We included patients aged 5 to 17 years at the time of telephone interviews, who had available radiographs. We excluded those unable to be reached by telephone; those who declined to be surveyed; and those lost to follow-up. Our sample comprised 142 participants (28%) (mean±SD age at surgery, 5.2±2.0 y), 93 (65%) of whom were treated with lateral pinning and 49 (35%) with crossed pinning. Participants’ parents completed the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Parent Proxy at a mean 4.4 years (range: 2 to 10 y) postoperatively. Postoperative radiographs were reviewed to assess reduction. Bivariate analysis was performed to determine whether outcomes differed by pinning technique (α=0.05).

Results:

The proportions of participants achieving complete reduction were not significantly different between pin configuration groups (P=0.71). At follow-up, the 2 groups did not differ significantly in any PRO scores (all, P>0.05).

Conclusion:

We found no differences between crossed and lateral pinning of Gartland type-III SCH fractures in terms of radiographic reduction, PROs, or complication rates at mid-term follow-up.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
Beyond Early Adversity: The Role of Parenting in Infant Physical Health
Authors: Stern Jessica A. , Beijers Roseriet , Ehrlich Katherine B. , Cassidy Jude , de Weerth Carolina
Published: April 2020

Objective:

Although ample evidence indicates that child health is compromised by early adversity (e.g., abuse and poverty), less is known about the contribution of parenting in low-stress contexts to child health, especially in infancy. This longitudinal study extends previous research on early adversity to ask the question: Does quality of parental care predict infant health in a low-risk community sample?

Method:

Participants were 187 healthy mothers and their full-term infants (86 girls) from the Netherlands, followed from birth to age 1. Home observations of mothers' behavior were conducted during a naturalistic task (bathing session) when infants were 5 weeks old. Trained researchers interviewed mothers about the infants' health and prescribed antibiotic use every month for 12 months. Infant health problems were categorized into 4 domains according to the International Classification of Primary Care to capture a range of outcomes: respiratory, digestive, skin, and general illnesses and symptoms.

Results:

Controlling for health-related covariates (e.g., maternal smoking and breastfeeding), maternal sensitivity predicted reduced rates of infant respiratory symptoms and skin conditions and marginally lower prescribed antibiotic use over the first year. Maternal behavior was unrelated to infant digestive and general illnesses.

Conclusion:

Even in the absence of adversity, quality of maternal care may have implications for the development of physical health, beginning as early as the first year of life. That such findings emerge in a low-risk sample helps rule out potential confounders and underscores the importance of parenting for physical and psychological health outcomes.
Itch intensity and characteristics in fibromyalgia patients in an outpatient rheumatology clinic
Authors: Shah Serena M. , Golpanian Rachel S. , Hashimoto Takashi , Rosen Jordan D. , Nattkemper Leigh , Albornoz Christian , Chan Yiong H. , Yosipovitch Gil
Published: April 2020

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disease characterized by chronic widespread pain and tenderness for at least 3 months and is associated with various dermatologic symptoms including itch. This study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of itch in female FM patients and whether or not it correlated to their pain. Our data revealed that 60% of FM patients in an outpatient rheumatology clinic suffered from chronic itch. Itch intensity had no correlation with pain intensity, but it was associated with both sleep disturbance and quality of life impairment. Also, itch intensity had no correlation with the intake of gamma aminobutyric acidergic or antidepressant drugs.
The impact of lesion complexity on no-reflow phenomenon and predictors of reversibility in patients treated with primary percutaneous intervention
Authors: Durmaz Eser , Karadag Bilgehan , Ikitimur Baris , Atici Adem , Koca Damla , Mutlu Deniz , Soysal Ali Uğur , Raimoglu Utku , Ozmen Emre , Ohtaroglu Tokdil Kardelen , Incesu Gunduz , Ongen Zeki
Published: April 2020

Objectives

Complex coronary lesions are more prone to complications; however, the relationship between complex coronary lesions and no-reflow phenomenon in patients undergoing primary percutaneous intervention (pPCI) is still not clarified. Previous studies reported the association of total coronary artery complexity with no-reflow; however, impact of culprit lesion complexity on no-reflow is not known. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of culprit lesion complexity on no-reflow phenomenon. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate the factors that are related to reversibility of no-reflow.

Methods

We prospectively included 424 patients treated with pPCI. Patients’ baseline characteristics and clinical variables were recorded. Reversibility of no-reflow was decided according to final angiography or ST resolution during the first hour following pPCI. There were 90 patients with a diagnosis of no-reflow constituted group 1 and patients without no-reflow constituted group 2. Complexity of coronary artery disease was assessed with SYNTAX score and culprit lesion complexity was assessed with both American College of Cardiology/Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions lesion classification and SYNTAX score.

Results

Complexity of culprit lesion was significantly higher in group 1 patients (type C lesion 76.6 vs. 27.8%; P < 0.001 and SYNTAX score 8.7 ± 3.0 vs. 6.2 ± 2.6; P < 0.001, respectively, group 1 vs. 2). Multivariate analyses revealed that lesion complexity is independently associated with no-reflow. Among 90 patients of group 1, 43 patients were classified as reversible no-reflow. Logistic regression analysis revealed that only ischaemia duration is independently associated with reversibility of no-reflow.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that culprit lesion complexity is independently associated with no-reflow phenomenon and short ischaemic duration is significantly associated with reversibility of no-reflow.
Desulfobotulus mexicanus sp. nov., a novel sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from the sediment of an alkaline crater lake in Mexico
Authors: Pérez-Bernal Maria Fernanda , Brito Elcia M. S. , Bartoli Manon , Aubé Johanne , Ollivier Bernard , Guyoneaud Rémy , Hirschler-Réa Agnès
Published: April 2020

A novel Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, vibrio-shaped, anaerobic, alkaliphilic, sulfate-reducing bacterium, designated strain PAR22NT, was isolated from sediment samples collected at an alkaline crater lake in Guanajuato (Mexico). Strain PAR22NT grew at temperatures between 15 and 37 °C (optimum, 32 °C), at pH between pH 8.3 and 10.1 (optimum, pH 9.0–9.6), and in the presence of NaCl up to 10 %. Pyruvate, 2-methylbutyrate and fatty acids (4–18 carbon atoms) were used as electron donors in the presence of sulfate as a terminal electron acceptor and were incompletely oxidized to acetate and CO2. Besides sulfate, both sulfite and elemental sulfur were also used as terminal electron acceptors and were reduced to sulfide. The predominant fatty acids were summed feature 10 (C18 : 1
 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω9t and/or C18 : 1 ω12t), C18 : 1
 ω9c and C16 : 0. The genome size of strain PAR22NT was 3.8 Mb including 3391 predicted genes. The genomic DNA G+C content was 49.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that it belongs to the genus

Desulfobotulus

within the class

Deltaproteobacteria

. Its closest phylogenetic relatives are

Desulfobotulus alkaliphilus

(98.4 % similarity) and

Desulfobotulus sapovorans

(97.9 % similarity). Based on phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, we propose that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus

Desulfobotulus

with the name Desulfobotulus mexicanus sp. nov. The type strain is PAR22NT (=DSM 105758T=JCM 32146T).
Cortical Hierarchy, Dual Counterstream Architecture and The Importance of Top-Down Generative Networks
Authors: Vezoli Julien , Magrou Loïc , Goebel Rainer , Wang Xiao-Jing , Knoblauch Kenneth , Vinck Martin , Kennedy Henry
Published: April 2020

Hierarchy is a major organizational principle of the cortex and underscores modern computational theories of cortical function. The local microcircuit amplifies long-distance inter-areal input, which show distance-dependent changes in their laminar profiles. Statistical modeling of these changes in laminar profiles demonstrates that inputs from multiple hierarchical levels to their target areas show remarkable consistency, allowing the construction of a cortical hierarchy based on a principle of hierarchical distance. The statistical modeling that is applied to structure can also be applied to laminar differences in the oscillatory coherence between areas thereby determining a functional hierarchy of the cortex. Close examination of the anatomy of inter-areal connectivity reveals a dual counterstream architecture with well-defined distance-dependent feedback and feedforward pathways in both the supra- and infragranular layers, suggesting a multiplicity of feedback pathways with well-defined functional properties. These findings are consistent with feedback connections providing a generative network involved in a wide range of cognitive functions. A dynamical model constrained by connectivity data shed insights into the experimentally observed signatures of frequency-dependent Granger causality for feedforward versus feedback signaling. Concerted experiments capitalizing on recent technical advances and combining tract-tracing, high-resolution fMRI, optogenetics and mathematical modeling hold the promise of a much improved understanding of lamina-constrained mechanisms of neural computation and cognition. However, because inter-areal interactions involve cortical layers that have been the target of important evolutionary changes in the primate lineage, these investigations will need to include human and non-human primates comparisons.

Plan

Introduction

Hierarchy – signatures of inputs to the local circuits.

Models of hierarchy

Hierarchy – input consistency

Dual stream architecture.

Functional characteristics of FF and FB pathways.

The predictive brain and the importance of top-down generative networks.

Conclusion.
Synthesis, crystal structure, DFT calculations and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 3-butyl-2,6-bis(4-fluorophenyl)piperidin-4-one
Authors: Anitha K. , Sivakumar S. , Arulraj R. , Rajkumar K. , Kaur Manpreet , Jasinski Jerry P.
Published: April 2020

The title compound, C21H23F2NO, consists of two fluorophenyl groups and one butyl group equatorially oriented on a piperidine ring, which adopts a chair conformation. The dihedral angle between the mean planes of the phenyl rings is 72.1 (1)°. In the crystal, N—H...O and weak C—H...F interactions, which form R
2
2[14] motifs, link the molecules into infinite C(6) chains propagating along [001]. A weak C—H...π interaction is also observed. A Hirshfeld surface analysis of the crystal structure indicates that the most significant contributions to the crystal packing are from H...H (53.3%), H...C/C...H (19.1%), H...F/F...H (15.7%) and H...O/O...H (7.7%) contacts. Density functional theory geometry-optimized calculations were compared to the experimentally determined structure in the solid state and used to determine the HOMO–LUMO energy gap and compare it to the UV–vis experimental spectrum.
Crystal structure ofN′-[4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene]furan-2-carbohydrazide monohydrate
Authors: Sylla-Gueye Rokhaya , Thiam Ibrahima Elhadji , Orton James , Coles Simon , Gaye Mohamed
Published: April 2020

The condensation of 2-furoic hydrazide and 4-dimethyl aminobenzaldehyde in ethanol yielded a yellow solid formulated as the title compound, C14H15N3O2·H2O. The crystal packing is stabilized by intermolecular O(water)—H...O,N(carbohydrazide) and N—H...O(water) hydrogen bonds, which form a two-dimensional network along thebcplane. Additional C—H...O interactions link the molecules into a three-dimensional network. The dihedral angle between the mean planes of the benzene and the furan ring is 34.47 (6)°. The carbohydrazide moiety,i.e., the C=N—N—C=O fragment and the benzene ring are almost coplanar, with an angle of 6.75 (9)° between their mean planes.
Printed array antenna with an elephant trunk shape radiating patch for Bluetooth and WLAN applications
Authors: Zehforoosh Yashar , Zavvari Mehdi
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This purpose of this study is to present a novel four-element array antenna in combination with a modified Wilkinson power divider feeding network.

Design/methodology/approach

The two covering bands of this planar array antenna are achieved by an Elephant trunk shape (ETS) radiating element; therefore, two frequency bands for Bluetooth (2.4 GHz) and the wireless local area network (WLAN) band (5.15-5.825 GHz) are obtained.

Findings

An improved design of the power divider with curved corners rather than the sharp edges and certain new modifications in the length of matching stubs are implemented.

Originality/value

This paper describes an improved four-way Wilkinson power divider with excellent loss of insertion and adequate return loss for all ports and good isolation performance within two frequency bands (2.4 and 5.5 GHz) and when loaded with array components; the modified power divider complies with the design requirements. To comprehend its behavior, numerical and experimental results are provided. The simulated and measured results indicate a proper bandwidth coverage of the suggested antenna, stable radiation patterns and high gain.