bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MORPHOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF MEDLAR (MESPILUS GERMANICA L.) FRUITS AND CHANGES IN QUALITY DURING RIPENING
Authors: SULUSOGLU DURUL Melekber , UNVER Hulya
Published: December 2016

Medlar has acquired increasing popularity in recent years for its edible fruits andsome healing properties in modern medicine. Medlar fruits are often stored undernon-cold conditions in straw. This study was conducted to determinemorphological and biochemical characteristics of medlar fruits and changes in fruitquality occurring under ordinary storage conditions. For this purpose, eight typesof medlar trees were evaluated. The trees were at a mature stage and productive.Morphological properties such as the fruit and seed weight (g), length, and width(mm) were measured after the harvest. Fruit soluble solid content (%) and pHvalues were determined at physiological maturity after harvesting, and the fruitsoluble solid content was measured again at ripening (edible stage), after 25 daysof storage under ordinary storage conditions (mean temperature of 10 °C and meanhumidity of 65–70%). Leaf characteristics were also determined. The treeproductivity was very different between the types, and it was determined to rangefrom 5.9 and 17.8 kg. The fruit weight varied from 9.69 to 24.45 g, while the watercontent decreased nearly to the half of the harvest values in some genotypes. Thesoluble solid content changed depending on the water losses and increased duringthe ripening period. The seed numbers ranged from 1.7 to 4.7 among the types, andthe seed weight varied from 0.12 to 0.45 g. The fruits were able to reach ripeningmaturity in three weeks under the ordinary storage conditions depending on thetype. Thus, this method of storage is practical for the medlar producer, but theresults clearly showed that the storage period was too short and that the fruitquality was negatively affected. Cold storage conditions are needed to ensurequality and a long selling time.
DESIGNING OF A VARIABLE VOLUME COLD STORE
Authors: AKDEMIR Serap
Published: December 2016

Cold stores do not work for all time as full loaded during storage period. There isalways empty space when cold store is not fully loaded. Unnecessary energy isconsumed because this empty volume must be cooled even there isn’t any storedagricultural product. In this study a system was developed to adjust cold storevolume according to the amount of stored agricultural product. Therefore, effectivevolume of the cold store where agricultural product stored will only be cooled andenergy saving will be established. In addition, better cold air distribution will beestablished in the cold store and the quality of product will also be better preserved.Developed system is a moving wall-door system located inside of the cold store. Itcan be moved automatically. Sliding-wall door system can be moved by anelectrical engine on a rail located at side walls. Leakage of cold air is prevented bya silicone seal balloon. The silicone seal balloon is located all-around of the slidingwall-door. The sliding wall change volume of cold store due to amount of storedproduct. Sliding wall-door system is a new approach for manufacturing of coldstorage. This system will not be used only for new cold stores, but also can be usedfor old cold stores. Energy saving is expected by using developed system in coldstores. Submission of Petit patent for this developed system was approved byTurkish Patent Institute.
POTATO MINITUBER PRODUCTION UNDER HYDROPONIC SAND CULTURE
Authors: DARVISHI Babak
Published: December 2016

Isolation and use of sterile growing media are two important factors in hydroponicproduction of healthy potato mini-tubers. Sand can be disinfected by solarization,while organic growing media may harbor some pathogenic agents. Underhydroponic condition, number and size of potato tubers are usually controlled bynutritional factors such as nitrogen, phosphorus and pH. The main objective ofpresent study was to find an appropriate combination of N, P and pH (with respectto tuber number) under hydroponic sand culture and to evaluate some physiologicaltraits affected by nutrients and pH. A factorial experiment based on completelyrandomized design with 4 replications was conducted. The experimental factorsincluded N, P and pH. Some morphological and physiological traits including tubernumber, rate of net photosynthesis, concentration of hormones ABA and IAA werestudied. Results showed that higher phosphorus concentration for 10 daysincreased tuber number per plant, but tuberization was not influenced by nitrogeninterruption and intermittent reduction of pH. None of N, P and pH affected totalnitrogen concentration of potato leaf, stem and tuber. Higher phosphorusconcentration increased the level of endogenous ABA and IAA, inducedtuberization and thereby increased net photosynthesis rate of potato plants.
CONSUMING QUALITY OF FRUITS OF NEWSWEET CHERRY FORMS SELECTED IN NIKITA BOTANICAL GARDENS
Authors: TARASOVA Ekaterina , SMYKOV Anatoliy
Published: December 2016

The fruits of sweet cherry are valued for early maturing and high quality of a taste.The sweet cherry likes a warm dry climate. The steppe Crimea (Russia) is afavorable region for cultivation of sweet cherry varieties with high-quality fruits.The aim of research was to evaluate a consuming quality of fruits of new sweetcherry forms selected in Nikita Botanical Gardens. The study included 33perspective forms and control zoned varieties, growing at the plots withoutirrigation in Simferopol region of the Republic of Crimea. As the rootstocks ofstudied forms we used seedlings of Prunus mahaleb L. Mill. The study was carriedout during 2012-2015. Characteristics such as fruits size, attraction of appearance,density and succulence of a pulp, quality of a taste and fragrance of the fruits werevalued. According to the results of evaluation, 12 forms were marked out: № 387,№ 275, № 434, № 767, № 305 and etc. According to the results of evaluation offruits size, all marked samples were evaluated at 4,7-5,0 points (according to 5point scale). The fruits weight was ranging from 7.2 to 8.9 g. The evaluation ofattraction of appearance of marked samples was ranging from 4.8 to 5.0 points. Theevaluation of the quality of taste was 4.8-4.9 points.
INNOVATION DIRECTIONS OF EFFECTIVE AGRO-INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES
Authors: KRASILNIKOVA Ludmila , FOTINA Oksana
Published: December 2016

The bodies of the Russian Federation’s state management, scientific society, agribusinessface the challenges of searching for new directions to provide effectivedevelopment of agro-industrial activities in the modern conditions of increasedcompetition. Severity of problems in development of the Russian agro-industry iscaused by the complex of climatic, historical, economic factors. The need forcreation and justification of conceptual alternatives based on forming innovativedirections for support of effective development causes application of both new andimproved management decisions technologies and updated basis criteria andparameters of their introduction with appropriate adoptive mechanisms onterritorial levels and in the industry. The objective of the paper is to justifyinnovative directions of provision effective agrarian activities. The analysis ofeconomic literature, regulatory basis shows the certain reserve with potential toincrease the efficiency of domestic agro-industrial production. Analysis of theRussian Federation’s agro-industrial complex condition allows assuming that themain hindrance factor in extended introduction of innovations is persistent nonsolvencyof agrarian enterprises and lack of required means at research institutionsto promote their developments. Implementation of innovative directions foreffective development of agro-industrial complex enables proving conceptualalternatives and forecasting result capacity of their use for aspects of ruraldevelopment, improving mechanism of reducing negative anthropogenic influenceon environment and ecosystem rehabilitation.
GENOMIC DETERMINATION OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FATHER LINES OF SLOVAK PINZGAU COWS
Authors: KUKUČKOVÁ Veronika , MORAVČÍKOVÁ Nina , KASARDA Radovan
Published: December 2016

The aim of this study was to assess genetic structure of Slovak Pinzgau populationbased on polymorphism at molecular markers using statistical methods. Femaleoffspring of 12 most frequently used bulls in Slovak Pinzgau breeding programmewere investigated. Pinzgau cattle were found to have a high level of diversity,supported by the number of alleles observed across loci (average 5.31, range 2-11)and by the high within-breed expected heterozygosity (average 0.66, range 0.64-0.73). The state of genetic diversity is satisfying and standard for local populations.Detection of 12 possible subpopulation structures provided us with detailedinformation of the genetic structure. The Bayesian approach was applied, detectingthree, as the most probable number of clusters. The similarity of eachsubpopulation using microsatellites was confirmed also by high-throughputmolecular data. The observed inbreeding (FROH=2.3%) was higher than thatexpected based on pedigree data (FPED=0.4%) due to the limited number ofavailable generations in pedigree data. One of the most important steps indevelopment of efficient autochthonous breed protection programs ischaracterization of genetic variability and assessment of the population structure.The chosen set of microsatellites confirmed the suitability in determination of thesubpopulations of Pinzgau cattle in Slovakia. The state of genetic diversity at moredetailed level was successfully performed using bovineSNP50 BeadChip.
THE EFFECT OF SELENIUM ON MERCURY TRANSPORT ALONG THE FOOD CHAIN
Authors: ZIDAR Primož , KRŽIŠNIK Špela , DEBELJAK Marta , ŽIŽEK Suzana , VOGEL MIKUŠ Katarina
Published: December 2016

More than 500 years of mercury (Hg) production in Idrija (Slovenia) resulted in aconsiderable pollution of Idrija region with Hg. Although the mine is closed formore than 20 years, the total soil concentration of Hg may still reach up to severalhundred mgkg-1dry weightin local gardens and more that thousand inother urbanregions. Hg in soil undergoesdifferent chemical transformations and in someformsit may enterplants and higher trophic levelsin food chains, also withbiomagnification pattern.The local population is, besides air and dust, thus exposedto mercury also via consumption of locally produced food.Several studies showedthat the increased level of selenium in soil may reduce the uptake of mercury inplants but very few include other trophic levels in a food chain as well.In our pilotstudy we followed an impact of Seon Hg transport from soil to plants(Lactucasativa) and further to soil dwelling animals (Porcellioscaber). Lettuce wasplanted in a contaminated soil from Idrija and in soil with added HgCl2. The leavesof half of the plants weresprayed with Sesolution (5μg L-1)threeand five weeksafter planting.After six weeks plants were analyzed for Hg and Se and offered asfood to terrestrial isopods for two weeks. Our preliminary results revealed thatfoliar treatment of plants with Se may affect Hg accumulation in plants andtherefore further transport of Hg across the food chain.
ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN PROVINCE OF USAK IN TURKEY
Authors: ÇOLAK Ayşen Melda , TOPAL Nurdoğan
Published: December 2016

Organic agriculture consists of environmental and human friendly productionsystems in order to reestablish the natural balance which is lost as a result ofinaccurate and excessive farming practices. In others words, instead of usingsynthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers, organic agriculture promotes organicand green fertilization, crop rotation, soil conservation, increasing plant resistanceas well as benefitting from parasites and predators. In addition, organic farmingrefers to improving not the amount of production but the quality of it. Due to thespread of diseases caused by pesticide and hormone residue on the products, peopleshow great interest in organic agriculture so as to lead a healthier life. Total organicagricultural production in the world is 4.516.810 tons, while in Turkey it is 353.173tons. As for Turkey’s organic agriculture, Uşak province has little share in itdespite its favourable climate and location. In this study, as a methodology, weanalyzed the existing data on organic agriculture in Uşak province and in Turkey aswell as in the total production in all over the world. And then, we compared thosestatistics with each other, finding that Uşak province, however great potential ithas, hasn’t been able to reach the desired level in terms of organic agriculture. Wefocus on determining the potential of Uşak province for organic agriculture.Furthermore, we aim to define the problems of organic agriculture and to findsolutions to them in order to make organic agriculture more widespread and morepracticable.
AlN and AlGaN layers grown on Si(111) substrate by mixed-source hydride vapor phase epitaxy method
Authors: Jeon Hunsoo , Jeon Injun , Lee Gang Seok , Bae Sung Geun , Ahn Hyung Soo , Yang Min , Yi Sam Nyung , Yu Young Moon , Honda Yoshio , Sawaki Nobuhiko , Kim Suck-Whan
Published: December 2016

High Al-composition AlGaN and AlN epilayers were grown directly on Si(111) substrate by a hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) method with a melted mixed source in a graphite boat set in a source zone with high temperatures of T = 700 and 800 °C, respectively. The presence of the Ga material in the mixed source of Ga and Al promoted the growth of AlN and AlGaN epilayers in the growth zone. When the temperature in the source zone was 800 °C, the crystalline quality of the AlN and AlGaN epilayers increased as the ratio of Ga to Al increased, and the optimum mix ratio of Ga to Al for the growth of AlN epilayers was approximately 0.35–0.42, obtained from a numerical fitting analysis of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) data for these epilayers. It appears that they can be grown directly by our melted-mixed-source HVPE method in a high-temperature source zone.
El Contagio Social y el Recobro Conversacional con Distintos Niveles de Discusión
Authors:   Universidad de Belgrano, Argentina, Muller Felipe , Bermejo Federico ,   Universidad de Belgrano, Argentina
Published: December 2016

En el estudio se investigó cómo varían los niveles de imposición y resistencia en función de la exposición a altos o bajos niveles de discusión sobre el pasado. También se indagó sobre la contribución de la calidad de los recuerdos y los roles conversacionales. Se utilizó un muestreo por conveniencia. Participaron 32 estudiantes de la Universidad de Belgrano, Argentina, que escucharon 4 historias breves (cada sujeto escuchó una versión levemente modificada). Las variables dependientes fueron medidas mediante una prueba de memoria. Se evaluaron 2 niveles de discusión (alto versus bajo). Además, se manipuló la calidad de los recuerdos (fuertes-contexto versus débiles-no contexto). También se evaluó la eficacia de los narradores versus los no narradores. Se utilizaron 2 diseños, uno con dos factores (Discusión, Contexto) y otro con 3 factores (Discusión, Contexto, Narrador). Se emplearon ANOVAs y t de Student. Los resultados indican que: (a) niveles altos de discusión promueven el contagio social, (b) los narradores solo resultan eficaces para imponer sus recuerdos en condiciones de baja discusión y (c) los recuerdos fuertes atenúan los niveles de contagio social.
An Earth's Future Special Collection: Impacts of the coastal dynamics of sea level rise on low‐gradient coastal landscapes
Authors: Kidwell David M. , Dietrich J. Casey , Hagen Scott C. , Medeiros Stephen C.
Published: December 2016

Rising sea level represents a significant threat to coastal communities and ecosystems, including altered habitats and increased vulnerability to coastal storms and recurrent inundation. This threat is exemplified in the northern Gulf of Mexico, where low topography, marshes, and a prevalence of tropical storms have resulted in extensive coastal impacts. The ability to facilitate adaptation and mitigation measures relies, in part, on the development of robust predictive capabilities that incorporate complex biological processes with physical dynamics. Initiated in 2010, the 6‐year Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise—Northern Gulf of Mexico project applied a transdisciplinary science approach to develop a suite of integrated modeling platforms informed by empirical data that are capable of evaluating a range of climate change scenarios. This special issue highlights resultant integrated models focused on tidal hydrodynamics, shoreline morphology, oyster ecology, coastal wetland vulnerability, and storm surges that demonstrate the need for dynamic models to incorporate feedbacks among physical and biological processes in assessments of sea level rise effects on coastal systems. Effects are projected to be significant, spatially variable and nonlinear relative to sea level rise rates. Scenarios of higher sea level rise rates are projected to exceed thresholds of wetland sustainability, and many regions will experience enhanced storm surges. Influenced by an extensive collaborative stakeholder engagement process, these assessments on the coastal dynamics of sea level rise provide a strong foundation for resilience measures in the northern Gulf of Mexico and a transferable approach for application to other coastal regions throughout the world.
Evaluating models of Coulomb stress transfer: Is variable fault geometry important?
Authors: Mildon Zoe K. , Toda Shinji , Faure Walker Joanna P. , Roberts Gerald P.
Published: December 2016

To determine the importance of receiver fault geometry in Coulomb stress calculations a new methodology is presented to model faults with variable geometry. Although most models use planar faults, it is known that these are inaccurate representations of faults observed in the field. The central Italian Apennines are chosen as a straightforward tectonic system with well‐exposed normal faults to investigate the effect of variable geometry. It is shown that the static Coulomb stress transfer is most sensitive to changes in strike of the receiver faults, rather than changes in dip and rake. Therefore, a novel methodology to generate strike‐variable faults composed of discrete rectangular patches is developed. Using the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake (Mw = 6.3) the calculated stress transferred to planar versus variable faults is assessed. The stress transferred to variable faults is sufficiently different when compared to planar cases to merit other earthquake sequences being reassessed with available fault geometry.
The relationship between the Guinea Highlands and the West African offshore rainfall maximum
Authors: Hamilton H. L. , Young G. S. , Evans J. L. , Fuentes J. D. , Núñez Ocasio K. M.
Published: December 2016

Satellite rainfall estimates reveal a consistent rainfall maximum off the West African coast during the monsoon season. An analysis of 16 years of rainfall in the monsoon season is conducted to explore the drivers of such copious amounts of rainfall. Composites of daily rainfall and midlevel meridional winds centered on the days with maximum rainfall show that the day with the heaviest rainfall follows the strongest midlevel northerlies but coincides with peak low‐level moisture convergence. Rain type composites show that convective rain dominates the study region. The dominant contribution to the offshore rainfall maximum is convective development driven by the enhancement of upslope winds near the Guinea Highlands. The enhancement in the upslope flow is closely related to African easterly waves propagating off the continent that generate low‐level cyclonic vorticity and convergence. Numerical simulations reproduce the observed rainfall maximum and indicate that it weakens if the African topography is reduced.
Understanding time scales of diffusive fluxes and the implication for steady state and steady shape conditions
Authors: Jazaei Farhad , Simpson Matthew J. , Clement T. Prabhakar
Published: December 2016

The diffusion equation is one of the most commonly used models for describing environmental problems involving heat, solute, and water transport. A diffusive system can be either transient or steady state. When a system is transient, the dependent variable (e.g., temperature, concentration, or hydraulic head) varies with time; whereas at steady state, the temporal variations are negligible. Here we consider an intermediate state, called steady shape, corresponding to the situation where temporal variations in diffusive fluxes are negligible but the dependent variable may remain transient. We present a general theoretical framework for identifying steady shape conditions and propose a novel method for evaluating the time scale needed for a diffusive system to approach both steady shape and steady state conditions.
A comprehensive suite of suprathermal ion sensors
Authors: Allegrini F. , Ho G. C. , Desai M. I. , Ebert R. W. , Nelson K. , Ogasawara K.
Published: December 2016

Ions with energies from a few times the solar wind plasma thermal energy up to hundreds of keV/e are called suprathermal (ST) ions. ST ions are ubiquitous throughout the heliosphere and comprise material from many sources that vary in time and space. ST ions constitute a key source of material for solar energetic particles and other higher‐energy interplanetary particle populations. Measuring the energy spectra and composition (ionic charge and elemental) of ST ions in the heliosphere has proved to be rather difficult. This is because their energy region lies between that sampled by solar wind instruments, which require long integration times to acquire adequate statistics at these energies, and that by the energetic particle instruments, which typically do not extend down into the lower part of the ST regime due to the low‐energy thresholds (~25–50 keV) of solid‐state detectors. We present two novel concepts that, when combined, measure ST ions with high time, mass, and charge state resolution to address these challenges. Both use electrostatic analyzers that essentially serve as spectrographs. They simultaneously select ions over a broad range of energy‐per‐charge (E/q), thus requiring fewer voltage steps to cover the entire energy range. Their sensitivity is large compared to current instruments because each E/q is sampled for a longer period of time while the geometric factor is comparable. We describe the results obtained with laboratory prototypes. We also present a list of potential options for the detector section.
Saturation effects of the lower ionosphere based on two‐dimensional HF heating model
Authors: Cheng Qi , Guo Li‐xin , Li Hui‐min , Li Jiang‐ting
Published: December 2016

This paper presents a two‐dimensional (2‐D) theoretical model of the lower ionospheric heating by high‐frequency (HF) electromagnetic waves. Compared with the traditional one‐dimensional model, we develop the half‐power width of the heating beam into the theoretical formulations, which dictates the 2‐D distribution characteristics of electron temperature and density perturbations; we also introduce the Sodankylä Ion Chemistry (SIC) model. Based on this numerical model, the saturation effect of ionospheric electron temperature and density is investigated, and simulation is performed by heating at a wave frequency of 6 MHz. Results show that because of energy absorption, the electron temperature peaks at 74 km, and the relative increment of electron density peaks at 94 km in the height direction. Conversely, both the maximum perturbations of electron temperature and density appear on the beam center in the horizontal direction. Second, the saturation time of electron temperature initially increases slowly and then rapidly with increased height. Meanwhile, the saturation time of electron density decreases with increased height. In the horizontal aspect, both the saturation time of electron temperature and density are symmetrical at approximately the position of the beam center owing to the initial Gaussian distribution. Electron temperature far from the beam center results in a long saturation time. Conversely, with increased distance from the beam center, the saturation time of electron density decreases.
Typical values of the electric drift E × B/B2 in the inner radiation belt and slot region as determined from Van Allen Probe measurements
Authors: Lejosne Solène , Mozer F. S.
Published: December 2016

The electric drift E × B/B2 plays a fundamental role for the description of plasma flow and particle acceleration. Yet it is not well‐known in the inner belt and slot region because of a lack of reliable in situ measurements. In this article, we present an analysis of the electric drifts measured below L ~ 3 by both Van Allen Probes A and B from September 2012 to December 2014. The objective is to determine the typical components of the equatorial electric drift in both radial and azimuthal directions. The dependences of the components on radial distance, magnetic local time, and geographic longitude are examined. The results from Van Allen Probe A agree with Van Allen Probe B. They show, among other things, a typical corotation lag of the order of 5 to 10% below L ~ 2.6, as well as a slight radial transport of the order of 20 m s−1. The magnetic local time dependence of the electric drift is consistent with that of the ionosphere wind dynamo below L ~ 2 and with that of a solar wind‐driven convection electric field above L ~ 2. A secondary longitudinal dependence of the electric field is also found. Therefore, this work also demonstrates that the instruments on board Van Allen Probes are able to perform accurate measurements of the electric drift below L ~ 3.
Comb layering monitors decompressing and fractionating hydrous mafic magmas in subvolcanic plumbing systems (Fisher Lake, Sierra Nevada, USA)
Authors: McCarthy Anders , Müntener Othmar
Published: December 2016

Understanding the dynamics of volcanic eruptions requires constraints on the processes of melt extraction in shallow magma reservoirs. This study focuses on the formation of intraplutonic igneous layering known as comb layers and orbicules within the Fisher Lake Pluton, Sierra Nevada. Comb layers are mineralogically and texturally diverse, ranging from plagioclase‐amphibole comb layers to plagioclase‐pyroxene and olivine comb layers. The majority of individual layers are related to the initiation of plagioclase nucleation and growth on preexisting host rocks and remobilized xenoliths. We use simple phase diagrams to illustrate the formation of comb layers through crystal fractionation along conduit walls and xenoliths, with plagioclase as the liquidus phase. Near‐adiabatic ascent of water‐undersaturated melts through the crust will lead to superheating and crystal resorption, which upon saturation of volatiles at shallow depth can induce heterogeneous nucleation of plagioclase. The rarity of orbicules and comb layers worldwide suggests that adiabatic decompression of crystal‐poor, moderately hydrous melts through the crust is rare. Most melts in intermediate/silicic volcanoes crystallize in multiple reservoirs within the crust prior to emplacement at shallow depth as crystal‐bearing melts. Comb layers and orbicules preserve evidence of multiple melt injections where a sequence of texturally and mineralogically similar comb layers and orbicules reflect the timescale of an individual melt pulse. Short timescales on the order of months to years for the growth of these sequences are estimated using experimental plagioclase growth rates and are interpreted as representing the lifetime of a melt injection within a long‐lived, subvolcanic melt extraction zone.
Bidirectional leader development in a preexisting channel as observed in rocket‐triggered lightning flashes
Authors: Qie Xiushu , Pu Yunjiao , Jiang Rubin , Sun Zhuling , Liu Mingyuan , Zhang Hongbo , Li Xun , Lu Gaopeng , Tian Ye
Published: December 2016

Two cases of bidirectional leader, starting almost immediately below a decaying dart or dart‐stepped leader which terminated before reaching the ground, were identified, for the first time, in rocket‐triggered lightning flashes based on high‐speed video, electric field changes, and channel base current, indicating that a bidirectional leader can be excited by a decayed dart leader and propagate in a preexisting discharge channel. The positive end of the bidirectional leader moved upward along the terminated downward dart leader path, and the negative end extended downward along the decayed initial continuous current or preceding stroke path to the ground and culminated in a return stroke. The positive leader propagated with an average speed of 1.3 × 106 m/s and 2.2 × 106 m/s in the two cases, roughly twice as fast as its negative counterpart with speed of 7.8 × 105 m/s and 1.0 × 106 m/s, respectively. The positive end started earlier than the negative end with a preceding time less than 40.3 µs. The bidirectional leader can be regarded as a recoil leader with the positive end retrogressing along a negative leader channel, whose polarity is contrary to the traditional recoil leader with negative leader end retrogressing along an existing positive leader channel. Weak luminosity was continuously observed during the terminated dart leader and bidirectional leader stage, but the channel current was less than the minimum detection capability of 9.3 A.
A study on radiative transfer effects in 3‐D cloudy atmosphere using satellite data
Authors: Okata M. , Nakajima T. , Suzuki K. , Inoue T. , Nakajima T. Y. , Okamoto H.
Published: December 2016

This study evaluates 3‐D cloud effects on the radiation budget with a combined use of active sensor cloud profiling radar/CloudSat and imager Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer/Aqua data on the A‐train. An algorithm is devised for constructing 3‐D cloud fields based on satellite‐observed cloud information. The 3‐D cloud fields thus constructed are used to calculate the broadband solar and thermal radiative fluxes with a 3‐D radiative transfer code developed by the authors. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of cloud morphology on solar radiative transfer in cloudy atmosphere. For this purpose, 3‐D cloud fields are constructed with the new satellite‐based method, to which full 3D‐RT (radiative transfer) simulations are applied. The simulated 3‐D radiation fields are then used to examine and quantify errors of existing typical plane‐parallel approximations, i.e., Plane‐Parallel Approximation, Independent Pixel Approximation and Tilted Independent Pixel Approximation. Such 3D‐RT simulations also serve to address another objective of this study, i.e., to devise an accurate approximation and to characterize the observed specific 3D‐RT effects by the cloud morphology based on knowledge of idealized 3D‐RT effects. We introduce a modified approach based on an optimum value of diffusivity factor to better approximate the radiative fluxes for arbitrary solar zenith angle determined from the results of 3‐D radiative transfer simulations to redeem the overcorrections of these approximations for large solar zenith angles (SZAs). This new approach, called Slant path Independent Pixel Approximation, is found to be better than other approximations when SZA is large for some cloud cases. Based on the SZA dependence of the errors of these approximations relative to 3‐D computations, satellite‐observed real cloud cases are found to fall into either of three types of different morphologies, i.e., isolated cloud type, upper cloud‐roughened type and lower cloud‐roughened type. Such a classification offers a novel insight into error characteristics of the approximations that are interpreted in the context of specific cloud morphology.
Impact of interactive chemistry of stratospheric ozone on Southern Hemisphere paleoclimate simulation
Authors: Noda Satoshi , Kodera Kunihiko , Adachi Yukimasa , Deushi Makoto , Kitoh Akio , Mizuta Ryo , Murakami Shigenori , Yoshida Kohei , Yoden Shigeo
Published: December 2016

A series of numerical simulations of the mid‐Holocene (6 kyr B.P.) climate are performed by using an Earth System Model of the Meteorological Research Institute of the Japan Meteorological Agency to investigate the impact of stratospheric ozone distribution, which is modulated by the change in orbital elements of the Earth, on the surface climate. The results of interactive ozone chemistry calculations for the mid‐Holocene and preindustrial periods are compared with those of the corresponding experiments in the fifth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5), in which the ozone distribution was prescribed to the 1850 Common Era level. The contribution of the interactive ozone chemistry in a quasi‐equilibrium state reveals a significant anomaly of up to +1.7 K in the Antarctic region for the annual mean zonal mean surface air temperature. This impact on the surface climate is explained by a similar mechanism to the cooling influence of the Antarctic ozone hole but opposite in sign: Weakening of the westerly jet associated with the Southern Annular Mode provides weakening of equatorward ocean surface current, sea ice retreat, and then warm sea surface temperature and surface air temperature. All the mid‐Holocene runs by CMIP5 models with the prescribed ozone had cold bias in sea surface temperature when compared with geological proxy data, whereas the bias is reduced in our simulations by using interactive ozone chemistry. We recommend that climate models include interactive sea ice and ozone distribution that are consistent with paleosolar insolation.
Quantifying the low bias of CALIPSO's column aerosol optical depth due to undetected aerosol layers
Authors: Kim Man‐Hae , Omar Ali H. , Vaughan Mark A. , Winker David M. , Trepte Charles R. , Hu Yongxiang , Liu Zhaoyan , Kim Sang‐Woo
Published: December 2016

The Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) data processing scheme only retrieves extinction profiles in those portions of the return signal where cloud or aerosol layers have been identified by the CALIOP layer detection scheme. In this study we use 2 years of CALIOP and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data to quantify the aerosol optical depth of undetected weakly backscattering layers. Aerosol extinction and column‐averaged lidar ratio is retrieved from CALIOP level 1B (version 4) profile using MODIS aerosol optical depth (AOD) as a constraint over oceans from March 2013 to February 2015. To quantify the undetected layer AOD (ULA), an unconstrained retrieval is applied globally using a lidar ratio of 28.75 sr estimated from constrained retrievals during the daytime over the ocean. We find a global mean ULA of 0.031 ± 0.052. There is no significant difference in ULA between land and ocean. However, the fraction of undetected aerosol layers rises considerably during daytime, when the large amount of solar background noise lowers the signal‐to‐noise ratio. For this reason, there is a difference in ULA between day (0.036 ± 0.066) and night (0.025 ± 0.021). ULA is larger in the northern hemisphere and relatively larger at high latitudes. Large ULA for the polar regions is strongly related to the cases where the CALIOP level 2 product reports zero AOD. This study provides an estimate of the complement of AOD that is not detected by lidar and bounds the CALIOP AOD uncertainty to provide corrections for science studies that employ the CALIOP level 2 AOD.
Investigation of gust‐seismic relationships and applications to gust detection
Authors: Hu W. , Pryor S. C. , Letson F. , Tytell J. , Barthelmie R. J.
Published: December 2016

Seismic and wind data from 27 stations are used to evaluate the generalizability of gust‐seismic response functions and determine whether gust occurrence and magnitudes can be retrieved from seismic time series. Using wavelet analyses it is shown that there is a well‐defined gust signature in a seismic frequency band of 0.01 Hz–0.1 Hz. The magnitude of this seismic response scales with the wind gust magnitude, so a gust‐seismic relationship is developed using a least‐squares polynomial fit wherein the variance of the acceleration of the horizontal seismic components is related to the gust intensity. A new gust detection method is then developed using the threshold obtained from the polynomial fit. Contingency tables indicate that the average proportion correct and hit rates for gust detection are 84% and 80%, respectively. This approach could be applied to high‐resolution seismic arrays to detect, characterize, and quantify wind gusts with unprecedented spatial and temporal details.
Highly Efficient Green ZnAgInS/ZnInS/ZnS QDs by a Strong Exothermic Reaction for Down‐Converted Green and Tripackage White LEDs
Authors: Ko Minji , Yoon Hee Chang , Yoo Heeyeon , Oh Ji Hye , Yang Heesun , Do Young Rag
Published: December 2016

Highly efficient bright green‐emitting ZnAgInS (ZAIS)/ZnInS (ZIS)/ZnS alloy core/inner‐shell/shell quantum dots (QDs) are synthesized using a multistep hot injection method with a highly concentrated zinc acetate dihydrate precursor. ZAIS/ZIS/ZnS QD growth is realized via five sequential steps: a core growth process, a two‐step alloying–shelling process, and a two‐step shelling process. To enhance the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), a ZIS inner‐shell is synthesized and added with a band gap located between the ZAIS alloy‐core and ZnS shell using a strong exothermic reaction. The synthesized ZAIS/ZIS/ZnS QDs shows a high PLQY of 87% with peak wavelength of 501 nm. Tripackage white down‐converted light‐emitting diodes (DC‐LEDs) are realized using an InGaN blue (B) LED, a green (G) ZAIS/ZIS/ZS QD‐based DC‐LED, and a red (R) ZnCuInS/ZnS QD‐based DC‐LED with correlated color temperature from 2700 to 10 000 K. The red, green, and blue tripackage white DC‐LEDs exhibit high luminous efficacy of 72 lm W−1 and excellent color qualities (color rendering index (CRI, Ra) = 95 and the special CRI for red (R9) = 93) at 2700 K.
Controlled Microfabrication of High‐Aspect‐Ratio Structures in Silicon at the Highest Etching Rates: The Role of H2O2 in the Anodic Dissolution of Silicon in Acidic Electrolytes
Authors: Cozzi Chiara , Polito Giovanni , Kolasinski Kurt W. , Barillaro Giuseppe
Published: December 2016

In this work the authors report on the controlled electrochemical etching of high‐aspect‐ratio (from 5 to 100) structures in silicon at the highest etching rates (from 3 to 10 µm min−1) at room temperature. This allows silicon microfabrication entering a previously unattainable region where etching of high‐aspect‐ratio structures (beyond 10) at high etching rate (over 3 µm min−1) was prohibited for both commercial and research technologies. Addition of an oxidant, namely H2O2, to a standard aqueous hydrofluoric (HF) acid electrolyte is used to dramatically change the stoichiometry of the silicon dissolution process under anodic biasing without loss of etching control accuracy at the higher depths (up to 200 µm). The authors show that the presence of H2O2 reduces the valence of the dissolution process to 1, thus rendering the electrochemical etching more effective, and catalyzes the etching rate by opening a more efficient path for silicon dissolution with respect to the well‐known Gerischer mechanism, thus increasing the etching speed at both shorter and higher depths.
A Mineralized High Strength and Tough Hydrogel for Skull Bone Regeneration
Authors: Xu Bing , Zheng Pengbin , Gao Fei , Wang Wei , Zhang Hongtao , Zhang Xuran , Feng Xuequan , Liu Wenguang
Published: December 2016

Over the past decade, high strength hydrogels have been intensively investigated. However, developing high strength biofunctional hydrogels for eliciting bone regeneration has been rarely reported. In this work, a mineralized high strength and tough hydrogel is synthesized by one‐step copolymerization of acrylonitrile, 1‐vinylimidazole, and polyethylene glycol diacrylate, followed by in situ precipitation mineralization. It is demonstrated that the CNCN dipole–dipole pairings combined with the interaction of CaP nanocrystals with polymer chains contribute to tremendous increase of tensile/compressive strength, modulus, and fracture energy up to 6.1 MPa, 11.5 MPa, 6.47 MPa, and 7935 J m−2, respectively. The biomineralization is shown to facilitate the attachment and proliferation of C2C12 cells in vitro. This biomineralized hydrogel scaffold is implanted into an 8 mm diameter critical‐size of calvarial defect of rats to evaluate the bone regeneration. 12 week postsurgery results reveal that the mineralized hydrogel exhibits the highest bone volume and density within the defect as measured by computed tomography and histology. This mineralized high strength and tough hydrogel offers a broad range of possibilities to be developed as biofunctional scaffold to promote the reconstruction and regeneration of not only bone, but also load‐bearing connective tissue.
Controllably Switched Drug Release from Successively Dual‐Targeted Nanoreservoirs
Authors: Tang Zhaomin , Gao Yuqian , Li Dan , Zhou Shaobing
Published: December 2016

The development of a nanocarrier with a capacity of releasing therapeutic agent “on demand” is of great importance for enhancing drug efficacy and reducing its side effect. Here, a multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticle is presented for cancer therapy. This nanoparticle can not only successively target tumor tissue and tumor cells but also has a function of controllably switching the drug release. Low molecular weight poly(ethyleneimine) segments, which are decorated on the surface of magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticle with disulfide bonds, are chemically cross‐linked, leading to the mesopores being “closed” in blood circulation but being “open” via taking off the coating in cytoplasm. As a result, the encapsulated drug can be kept in nanoparticles in the normal conditions, while be rapidly released in a reduction condition. In vivo antitumor activity demonstrates that this nanoparticle has the highest safety to body and the best therapeutic efficacy against tumors. Therefore, this work presents a good example of rational design of nanocarriers for highly effective cancer therapy.
Quercetin‐Based Modified Porous Silicon Nanoparticles for Enhanced Inhibition of Doxorubicin‐Resistant Cancer Cells
Authors: Liu Zehua , Balasubramanian Vimalkumar , Bhat Chinmay , Vahermo Mikko , Mäkilä Ermei , Kemell Marianna , Fontana Flavia , Janoniene Agne· , Petrikaite Vilma , Salonen Jarno , Yli‐Kauhaluoma Jari , Hirvonen Jouni , Zhang Hongbo , Santos Hélder A.
Published: December 2016

One of the most challenging obstacles in nanoparticle's surface modification is to achieve the concept that one ligand can accomplish multiple purposes. Upon such consideration, 3‐aminopropoxy‐linked quercetin (AmQu), a derivative of a natural flavonoid inspired by the structure of dopamine, is designed and subsequently used to modify the surface of thermally hydrocarbonized porous silicon (PSi) nanoparticles. This nanosystem inherits several advanced properties in a single carrier, including promoted anticancer efficiency, multiple drug resistance (MDR) reversing, stimuli‐responsive drug release, drug release monitoring, and enhanced particle−cell interactions. The anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) is efficiently loaded into this nanosystem and released in a pH‐dependent manner. AmQu also effectively quenches the fluorescence of the loaded DOX, thereby allowing the use of the nanosystem for monitoring the intracellular drug release. Furthermore, a synergistic effect with the presence of AmQu is observed in both normal MCF‐7 and DOX‐resistant MCF‐7 breast cancer cells. Due to the similar structure as dopamine, AmQu may facilitate both the interaction and internalization of PSi into the cells. Overall, this PSi‐based platform exhibits remarkable superiority in both multifunctionality and anticancer efficiency, making this nanovector a promising system for anti‐MDR cancer treatment.
Development of Polymer Microcapsules Functionalized with Fucoidan to Target P‐Selectin Overexpressed in Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Li Bo , Juenet Maya , Aid‐Launais Rachida , Maire Murielle , Ollivier Véronique , Letourneur Didier , Chauvierre Cédric
Published: December 2016

New tools for molecular imaging and targeted therapy for cardiovascular diseases are still required. Herein, biodegradable microcapsules (MCs) made of polycyanoacrylate and polysaccharide and functionalized with fucoidan (Fuco‐MCs) are designed as new carriers to target arterial thrombi overexpressing P‐selectin. Physicochemical characterizations demonstrated that microcapsules have a core–shell structure and that fucoidan is present onto the surface of Fuco‐MCs. Furthermore, their sizes range from 2 to 6 µm and they are stable on storage over 30 d at 4 °C. Flow cytometry experiments evidenced the binding of Fuco‐MCs for human activated platelets as compared to MCs (mean fluorescence intensity: 12 008 vs. 9, p < 0.001) and its absence for nonactivated platelets (432). An in vitro flow adhesion assay showed high specific binding efficiency of Fuco‐MCs to P‐selectin and to activated platelet aggregates under arterial shear stress conditions. Moreover, both types of microcapsules reveal excellent compatibility with 3T3 cells in cytotoxicity assay. One hour after intravenous injection of microcapsules, histological analysis revealed that Fuco‐MCs are localized in the rat abdominal aortic aneurysm thrombotic wall and that the binding in the healthy aorta is low. In conclusion, these microcapsules appear as promising carriers for targeting of tissues characterized by P‐selectin overexpression and for their molecular imaging or treatment.
Mimosa Pudica Leaf‐Like Rapid Movement and Actuation of Organosoluble Polyimide Blending with Sulfonated Polyaniline
Authors: Tseng I‐Hsiang , Li Jheng‐Jia , Chang Po‐Ya
Published: December 2016

Like the thigmonastic responses of the leaves of Mimosa pudica, the curling of organosoluble and free‐standing polyimide (PI) films under the stimuli of fingertip‐touching or air‐blowing is discovered for the first time. The authors discover that the PI films at the dry status can rapidly and reversibly attract and release water molecules at the interface of the thin film in response to the changes of environmental humidity. The moisture‐triggered heterogeneous deformation across the film leads to self‐curling of PI films. With the blending of suitable amounts of sulfonated‐polyaniline (PANI‐S) to the PI matrix, the resultant PANI‐S/PI film can more effectively breath water from the air and simultaneously create more significant deformation and faster recovery. With the suitable designed patterns on the film, it can serve a highly sensitive and reliable actuator to grasp and release subjects as well as to fold into 3D structures, and to roll like a tank tread by providing trace moisture gradients. This robust PANI‐S/PI film can be cast into any shape or coated on various substrates and thus is a promising material for smart delivery systems in industrial applications.
Slot Die Coated and Flexo Printed Highly Efficient SMOLEDs
Authors: Raupp Sebastian , Daume Dominik , Tekoglu Serpil , Merklein Lisa , Lemmer Uli , Hernandez‐Sosa Gerardo , Sauer Hans Martin , Dörsam Edgar , Scharfer Philip , Schabel Wilhelm
Published: December 2016

A basic solution‐processable organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) stack comprising two organic layers is presented in this study. The hole injection layer (poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)‐poly(styrenesulfonate), PEDOT:PSS) is slot die coated and flexographically printed for process comparison in terms of film homogeneity and the device performance. The emissive layer consisting of a small molecule host–guest system with a green triplet emitter is slot die coated. The single layer thicknesses are mapped by an in‐house developed imaging color reflectometry enabling the precise measurement of the layer thicknesses over the whole coating area (>50 cm2). Luminance, current density, and light and current efficiency are defined for two different pixel sizes with the active area of 6 × 4 and 14 × 14 mm2. A total of 100 OLEDs are measured showing a very low standard deviation for the different pixels. The solely slot die coated OLEDs show much higher current and power efficiency than the OLEDs with flexographically printed PEDOT:PSS. Small molecule OLEDs reach efficiencies up to 30 cd A−1 and 8 lm W−1. Additionally OLED demonstrators with an active area of ≈27 cm2 are fabricated.