bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
One-step synthesis of a silicon/hematite@carbon hybrid nanosheet/silicon sandwich-like composite as an anode material for Li-ion batteries
Authors: Zhang Lei , Guo Haipeng , Rajagopalan Ranjusha , Hu Xianluo , Huang Yunhui , Dou Shi Xue , Liu Hua Kun
Published: December 2015

Silicon and hematite, both important functional materials with high theoretical capacity, have been intensively investigated separately for application as anode materials in lithium ion batteries (LIBs).
A highly specific graphene platform for sensing collagen triple helix
Authors: Sun Xiuxia , Fan Jun , Ye Weiran , Zhang Han , Cong Yong , Xiao Jianxi
Published: December 2015

We have designed a dye-labeled, highly positively charged single stranded collagen (ssCOL) peptide probe whose adsorption into GO quenches its fluorescence. The hybridization of the ssCOL probe with a complementary target sequence forms a triple stranded collagen (tsCOL) peptide, resulting in the retention of the fluorescence of the probe.
High thermoelectric performance can be achieved in black phosphorus
Authors: Zhang J. , Liu H. J. , Cheng L. , Wei J. , Liang J. H. , Fan D. D. , Jiang P. H. , Sun L. , Shi J.
Published: December 2015

TheZTof black phosphorus can be optimized to much higher value by appropriate isoelectronic substitution, giving strong evidence that high thermoelectric performance can be achieved without using complicated crystal structure or seeking for low-dimensional systems.
Silver nanowires coated on cotton for flexible pressure sensors
Authors: Wei Yong , Chen Song , Lin Yong , Yuan Xue , Liu Lan
Published: December 2015

AgNWs are coated on cotton fibers through a simple method, and conductive cotton sheets are obtained to construct flexible pressure sensors.
Electron-transporting third component modifying cathode for simplified inverted ternary blend solar cells
Authors: Qin Dashan , Cheng Pei , Wang Yifan , Fan Yan , Zhan Xiaowei
Published: December 2015

Electron transporting materials widely used in organic light-emitting diodes, such as Bphen, BCP and TPBI, are used as a third component to serve as a cathode buffer layer for fabricating simplified inverted ternary blend polymer solar cells without an additional cathode-modifying interlayer.
Surface plasmonic spectroscopy revealing the oxidation dynamics of copper nanowires embedded in polycarbonate ion-track templates
Authors: Duan Jinglai , Liu Jie , Zhang Yongliang , Trautmann Christina , Lei Dang Yuan
Published: December 2015

Surface plasmonic spectroscopy reveals the oxidation dynamics of copper nanowires embedded in polycarbonate ion-track templates. A method is proposed to prevent natural oxidation of metal nanostructures in general.
Review of Maxillofacial Hardware Complications and Indications for Salvage
Authors: Hernandez Rosa Jonatan , Villanueva Nathaniel L. , Sanati-Mehrizy Paymon , Factor Stephanie H. , Taub Peter J.
Published: December 2015

From 2002 to 2006, more than 117,000 facial fractures were recorded in the U.S. National Trauma Database. These fractures are commonly treated with open reduction and internal fixation. While in place, the hardware facilitates successful bony union. However, when postoperative complications occur, the plates may require removal before bony union. Indications for salvage versus removal of the maxillofacial hardware are not well defined. A literature review was performed to identify instances when hardware may be salvaged. Articles considered for inclusion were found in the PubMed and Web of Science databases in August 2014 with the keywords maxillofacial trauma AND hardware complications OR indications for hardware removal. Included studies looked at human patients with only facial trauma and miniplate fixation, and presented data on complications and/or hardware removal. Fifteen articles were included. None were clinical trials. Complication data were presented by patient, fractures, and/or plate without consistency. The data described 1,075 fractures, 2,961 patients, and 2,592 plates, nonexclusive. Complication rates varied from 6 to 8% by fracture and 6 to 13% by patient. When their data were combined, 50% of complications were treated with plate removal; this was consistent across the mandible, midface, and upper face. All complications caused by loosening, nonunion, broken hardware, and severe/prolonged pain were treated with removal. Some complications caused by exposures, deformities, and infections were treated with salvage. Exposed plates were treated with flaps, plates with deformities were treated with secondary procedures including hardware revision, and hardware infections were treated with antibiotics alone or in conjunction with soft-tissue debridement and/or tooth extraction. Well-designed clinical trials evaluating hardware removal versus salvage are lacking. Some postoperative complications caused by exposure, deformity, and/or infection may be successfully treated with plate salvage. We propose an algorithm using this review and clinical expertise. We also propose that a national databank be created where surgeons can uniformly compile their patient information and examine it in a standardized format to further our understanding of clinical management.
Mobile Versorgungseinrichtungen zur Stärkung der Versorgungssicherheit im ländlichen Raum? Eine Analyse von Konzepten und Implementationsanforderungen
Authors: Hämel K. , Kutzner J. , Vorderwülbecke J.
Published: December 2015

Hintergrund: Die Sicherstellung einer bedarfsgerechten Versorgung stellt in ländlichen Regionen Deutschlands eine zunehmende Herausforderung dar. Die Entwicklung von Versorgungsmodellen, die gezielt auf Probleme reagieren und besonders den steigenden Bedarf an Versorgungsleistungen für alte Menschen berücksichtigen, ist daher ein wichtiges Anliegen. Ein Modell, das in anderen Ländern bereits Verbreitung gefunden hat, sind mobile Versorgungseinrichtungen. Bisher gibt es aber keinen Überblick über ihre möglichen Ziele, Funktionsweisen und Implementationsanforderungen.

Methodik: Die vorliegende Überblicksarbeit basiert auf der Auswertung internationaler Literatur und einer Internetrecherche über mobile Versorgungseinrichtungen im ländlichen Raum.

Ergebnisse: Mobile Einrichtungen zielen auf die Vermeidung regionaler Unterversorgung und adressieren besonders vulnerable Bevölkerungsgruppen. In der Literatur werden mobile Einrichtungen beschrieben, die bestimmte Krankheitsbilder fokussieren, ebenso solche, die eine umfassende, teils multiprofessionelle wohnortnahe Primärversorgung leisten. Oft steht die Versorgung von Menschen mit chronischen Krankheiten im Zentrum. Die Implementation mobiler Einrichtungen ist anspruchsvoll; zentrale Anforderungen sind (a) die Ausrichtung am Bedarf der regionalen Bevölkerung, (b) ein nutzerorientierter Zugang und die Förderung der Bekanntheit und Akzeptanz des Angebots sowie (c) die Vernetzung mit bestehenden Versorgungsstrukturen zur Sicherstellung von Versorgungskontinuität. Um diesen Anforderungen gerecht zu werden, ist eine gemeindeorientierte Arbeitsweise bei der Programmentwicklung und -implementation wichtige Grundlage.

Schlussfolgerungen: Mobile Einrichtungen können für die Versorgung ländlicher Regionen Deutschlands ein interessantes Modell darstellen und werden auch hierzulande bereits erprobt. Internationale Erfahrungen stellen einen wichtigen Ausgangspunkt dar und sollten bei der Konzeptentwicklung berücksichtigt werden.
Optimal protection considering fault current characteristic of wind turbines in active distribution networks
Authors: Soleymani Aghdam Tohid , Kazemi Karegar Hossein
Published: December 2015

Wind Turbines (WTs) make the traditional distribution networks act as active distribution networks and change the fault currents behavior and protection system operation. The fault current contribution of WTs depends on the type of WTs generators. This paper shows the impacts of WTs on Over Current Relays (OCRs) operation and proposes a new OCR with voltage dependent curve to tackle protection problems. The proposed relay changes its settings based on the voltage measured at the location of the relay. The capability of the relay is tested on two networks, including different types of WTs by Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm. Two distribution networks with different types of WTs are modeled and simulated in MATLAB\Simulink.
Excited state polarizabilities for CC2 using the resolution-of-the-identity approximation
Authors: Graf Nora K. , Friese Daniel H. , Winter Nina O. C. , Hättig Christof
Published: December 2015

We report an implementation of static and frequency-dependent excited state polarizabilities for the approximate coupled cluster single and doubles model CC2 as analytic second derivatives of an excited state quasienergy Lagrangian. By including appropriate conditions for the normalization and the phase of the eigenvectors, divergent secular terms are avoided. This leads to response equations in a subspace orthogonal to the unperturbed eigenvectors. It is shown how these projected equations can be solved without storage of the double excitation part of the eigenvectors. By exploiting the resolution-of-the-identity approximation and a numerical Laplace transformation, the quadratic scaling of the main memory demands of RI-CC2 with the system size could be preserved. This enables calculations of excited state polarizabilities for large molecules, e.g., linear polyacenes up to decacene with almost 2500 basis functions on a single compute node within a few days. For a test set of molecules where measurements are available as reference data, we compare the orbital-relaxed and unrelaxed CC2 approaches with experiment to validate its accuracy. The approach can be easily extended to other response methods, in particular CIS(D∞). The latter gives results which, in the orbital-relaxed case, are within a few percent of the CC2 values, while coupled cluster singles results deviate typically by about 20% from orbital-relaxed CC2 and experimental reference data.
Reduced strength and extent of dynamic heterogeneity in a strong glass former as compared to fragile glass formers
Authors: Staley Hannah , Flenner Elijah , Szamel Grzegorz
Published: December 2015

We examined dynamic heterogeneity in a model tetrahedral network glass-forming liquid. We used four-point correlation functions to extract dynamic correlation lengths ξ4a(t) and susceptibilities χ4a(t) corresponding to structural relaxation on two length scales a. One length scale corresponds to structural relaxation at nearest neighbor distances and the other corresponds to relaxation of the tetrahedral structure. We find that the dynamic correlation length ξ4a grows much slower with increasing relaxation time than for model fragile glass formers. We also find that χ4a∼(ξ4a)z for a range of temperatures, but z < 3 at the lowest temperatures examined in this study. However, we do find evidence that the temperature where Stokes-Einstein violation begins marks a temperature where there is a change in the character of dynamically heterogeneous regions. Throughout the paper, we contrast the structure and dynamics of a strong glass former with that of a representative fragile glass former.
Experimental investigation on the electrical contact behavior of rolling contact connector
Authors: Chen Junxing , Yang Fei , Luo Kaiyu , Zhu Mingliang , Wu Yi , Rong Mingzhe
Published: December 2015

Rolling contact connector (RCC) is a new technology utilized in high performance electric power transfer systems with one or more rotating interfaces, such as radars, satellites, wind generators, and medical computed tomography machines. Rolling contact components are used in the RCC instead of traditional sliding contacts to transfer electrical power and/or signal. Since the requirement of the power transmission is increasing in these years, the rolling electrical contact characteristics become more and more important for the long-life design of RCC. In this paper, a typical form of RCC is presented. A series of experimental work are carried out to investigate the rolling electrical contact characteristics during its lifetime. The influence of a variety of factors on the electrical contact degradation behavior of RCC is analyzed under both vacuum and air environment. Based on the surface morphology and elemental composition changes in the contact zone, which are assessed by field emission scanning electron microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope, the mechanism of rolling electrical contact degradation is discussed.
Contrast-to-noise ratio optimization for a prototype phase-contrast computed tomography scanner
Authors: Müller Mark , Yaroshenko Andre , Velroyen Astrid , Bech Martin , Tapfer Arne , Pauwels Bart , Bruyndonckx Peter , Sasov Alexander , Pfeiffer Franz
Published: December 2015

In the field of biomedical X-ray imaging, novel techniques, such as phase-contrast and dark-field imaging, have the potential to enhance the contrast and provide complementary structural information about a specimen. In this paper, a first prototype of a preclinical X-ray phase-contrast CT scanner based on a Talbot-Lau interferometer is characterized. We present a study of the contrast-to-noise ratios for attenuation and phase-contrast images acquired with the prototype scanner. The shown results are based on a series of projection images and tomographic data sets of a plastic phantom in phase and attenuation-contrast recorded with varying acquisition settings. Subsequently, the signal and noise distribution of different regions in the phantom were determined. We present a novel method for estimation of contrast-to-noise ratios for projection images based on the cylindrical geometry of the phantom. Analytical functions, representing the expected signal in phase and attenuation-contrast for a circular object, are fitted to individual line profiles of the projection data. The free parameter of the fit function is used to estimate the contrast and the goodness of the fit is determined to assess the noise in the respective signal. The results depict the dependence of the contrast-to-noise ratios on the applied source voltages, the number of steps of the phase stepping routine, and the exposure times for an individual step. Moreover, the influence of the number of projection angles on the image quality of CT slices is investigated. Finally, the implications for future imaging purposes with the scanner are discussed.
Hybrid capillary-inserted microfluidic device for sheathless particle focusing and separation in viscoelastic flow
Authors: Nam Jeonghun , Tan Justin Kok Soon , Khoo Bee Luan , Namgung Bumseok , Leo Hwa Liang , Lim Chwee Teck , Kim Sangho
Published: December 2015

A novel microfluidic device which consists of two stages for particle focusing and separation using a viscoelastic fluid has been developed. A circular capillary tube was used for three-dimensional particle pre-alignment before the separation process, which was inserted in a polydimethylsiloxane microchannel. Particles with diameters of 5 and 10 μm were focused at the centerline in the capillary tube, and the location of particles was initialized at the first bifurcation. Then, 5 and 10 μm particles were successfully separated in the expansion region based on size-dependent lateral migration, with ∼99% separation efficiency. The proposed device was further applied to separation of MCF-7 cells from leukocytes. Based on the cell size distribution, an approximate size cutoff for separation was determined to be 16 μm. At 200 μl/min, 94% of MCF-7 cells were separated with the purity of ∼97%. According to the trypan blue exclusion assay, high viability (∼90%) could be achieved for the separated MCF-7 cells. The use of a commercially available capillary tube enables the device to be highly versatile in dealing with particles in a wide size range by using capillary tubes with different inner diameters.
Improved thermoelectric properties in heavily doped FeGa3
Authors: Ponnambalam V. , Morelli Donald T.
Published: December 2015

FeGa3, a hybridization gap semiconductor, has been substituted with an n-type dopant Ge to form a series of compositions FeGa3−xGex. Electrical and thermal transport properties of these compositions have been studied. Change in carrier density (n) is evident from the Hall measurements. The carrier density (n) can be as high as ∼1021 cm−3 in these compositions. In order to study the role of heavy doping on the thermoelectric properties of FeGa3, an alloy series Fe1−yCoyGa3−xGex has also been synthesized with higher concentrations of Ge (x = 0.1–0.35) and Co (y = 0.1–0.5). From resistivity and Seebeck coefficient measurements, it appears that heavy doping is accomplished by the simultaneous substitutions of Ge and Co. The systematic change in both resistivity (ρ) and Seebeck coefficient (α) is possibly due to change in the carrier density (n). The power factor (PF) α2/ρ improves steadily with increasing carrier density and the best PF ∼1.1 mW/m K2 is observed for the heavily doped compositions at 875 K. In the alloy series Fe1−yCoyGa3−xGex, thermal conductivity is also reduced substantially due to point defect scattering. Due to higher power factors, the figure of merit ZT improves to 0.25 at 875 K for the heavily doped compositions.
Intermediate regime of charged particle scattering in the field-reversal configuration
Authors: Shustov P. I. , Artemyev A. V. , Yushkov E. V.
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we investigate the charged particle scattering in the magnetic field configuration with stretched magnetic field lines. This scattering results from the violation of the adiabaticity of charged particle motion in the region with the strong gradient of the magnetic field. We consider the intermediate regime of charged particle dynamics, when the violation of the adiabaticity is significant enough, but particle motion is not chaotic. We demonstrate and describe the significant scattering of particles with large adiabatic invariants (magnetic moment). We discuss a possible application of obtained results for description of the peculiarities of pitch-angle diffusion of relativistic electrons in the Earth radiation belts.
Adsorption and isolation of nucleic acids on cellulose magnetic beads using a three-dimensional printed microfluidic chip
Authors: Zhang Lei , Deraney Rachel N. , Tripathi Anubhav
Published: December 2015

While advances in genomics have enabled sensitive and highly parallel detection of nucleic acid targets, the isolation and extraction of the nucleic acids remain a critical bottleneck in the workflow. We present here a simple 3D printed microfluidic chip that allows for the vortex and centrifugation free extraction of nucleic acids. This novel microfluidic chip utilizes the presence of a water and oil interface to filter out the lysate contaminants. The pure nucleic acids, while bound on cellulose particles, are magnetically moved across the oil layer. We demonstrated efficient and rapid extraction of spiked Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 18 plasmids in specimen transport medium, in under 15 min. An overall extraction efficiency of 61% is observed across a range of HPV plasmid concentrations (5 × 101 to 5 × 106 copies/100 μl). The magnetic, interfacial, and viscous drag forces inside the microgeometries of the chip are modeled. We have also developed a kinetics model for the adsorption of nucleic acids on cellulose functionalized superparamagnetic beads. We also clarify here the role of carrier nucleic acids in the adsorption and isolation of nucleic acids. Based on the various mechanistic insights detailed here, customized microfluidic devices can be designed to meet the range of current and emerging point of care diagnostics needs.
Coloration and structure of Taiwanese bronze scarab (Anomala expansa)
Authors: Wu Min-Nan , Chen Chien-Yen , Pan Wei
Published: December 2015

The structure and optical properties of the elytra of Taiwanese bronze scarabs (Anomala expansa) were investigated. The elytron is composed by a scale-like texture on the surface and a repeated bi-layers underneath. The reflectivity spectrum shows iridescence that the peaks shifts from yellow to green color regions as long as the incident angle (θ) increases. A shoulder peak at 600 nm (θ = 20o) is absent after gently scraping the surface, which indicates that the yellow color is contributed by the scale-like texture. The remaining peak at 550 nm (θ = 20o) in the spectrum resembles the simulated spectrum by assuming the refractive index of n = 1.54 and n = 1 for the adjacent bi-layered structure. This implies that the multi-layered structure contributes to the green coloration as well as the iridescent effect.
Hole mobility enhancement of MEH-PPV film by heat treatment at Tg
Authors: Kajiya Daisuke , Koganezawa Tomoyuki , Saitow Ken-ichi
Published: December 2015

The hole mobility of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) film was measured using the time-of-flight method. The hole mobility was enhanced 4-fold after annealing at around the glass transition temperature (Tg). Optical, atomic force, and Kelvin force microscopies, and grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction measurements indicate the enhancement can be attributed to a homogeneous film structure, a homogeneous Fermi level energy, and a face-on oriented structure, all of which were established by annealing at Tg.
The discovery of HTLV-1, the first pathogenic human retrovirus
Authors: Coffin John M.
Published: December 2015

After the discovery of retroviral reverse transcriptase in 1970, there was a flurry of activity, sparked by the “War on Cancer,” to identify human cancer retroviruses. After many false claims resulting from various artifacts, most scientists abandoned the search, but the Gallo laboratory carried on, developing both specific assays and new cell culture methods that enabled them to report, in the accompanying 1980 PNAS paper, identification and partial characterization of human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV; now known as HTLV-1) produced by a T-cell line from a lymphoma patient. Follow-up studies, including collaboration with the group that first identified a cluster of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cases in Japan, provided conclusive evidence that HTLV was the cause of this disease. HTLV-1 is now known to infect at least 4–10 million people worldwide, about 5% of whom will develop ATL. Despite intensive research, knowledge of the viral etiology has not led to improvement in treatment or outcome of ATL. However, the technology for discovery of HTLV and acknowledgment of the existence of pathogenic human retroviruses laid the technical and intellectual foundation for the discovery of the cause of AIDS soon afterward. Without this advance, our ability to diagnose and treat HIV infection most likely would have been long delayed.
Adaptation to climate change impacts on agriculture and agricultural water management - a review.
Authors: Maskey S. , Bhatt D. , Uhlenbrook S. , Prasad K. C. , Babel M. S.
Published: December 2015

This chapter reviews the global literature on impacts of climate change on agriculture and prospects for adaptation. Sensitivity of agriculture to climate change varies across the globe. Developing countries, where more than 800 million people are already undernourished, will be hardest hit. We review approaches for assessing the impact of climate change on agriculture and irrigation water requirements, and present recent progress in the assessment of adaptation measures. The challenges and constraints associated with climate change impact and adaptation research are critically discussed. The review leads to the conclusion that warmer temperatures will tend to reduce the crop yields in many regions, mainly due to reduction of crop duration associated with water stress during the critical stages of crop development. Although efforts have been made to understand better the climate-crop relationships, there is still limited understanding of the interactions between and relative importance of factors such as elevated ozone and CO2 levels, extreme weather conditions, weed variety, socio-economic changes and adaptation responses. Evaluation of diverse adaptation options from farm to policy level, and covering a range of scales and issues, including availability of resources, constraints and associated uncertainties, are essential to address adequately the impacts of climate and other changes on agriculture. Most of the published studies on adaption focus on modification of existing management practices to improve crop yield, using process-based models. Trade-offs between crop production and resource availability, which influence the farmer's decision making and profitability, have not received substantial attention. More effort is required to incorporate constraints (such as social, financial, institutional, technical and resources) and adaptive responses into the model frameworks that most studies used.
Global water requirements of future agriculture: using WATERSIM.
Authors: Sood A.
Published: December 2015

Currently, agriculture is the biggest consumer of water globally. About 60% of global consumptive water demand is from the agriculture sector. With the world population increasing to about 9 billion, and the per capita GDP rising, the demand for domestic and industrial water will increase in future and compete with the agriculture water demand. Changing climate will exert additional pressure on the agriculture sector. For this study, WATERSIM, a water accounting and global food trade model, was run for three socio-economic scenarios and two climate change scenarios to analyse the water demand of the agriculture sector till 2050. The changes in the agriculture sector's consumptive water demand due to changing population and GDP is examined in relation to other sectors (domestic, industrial and livestock). The increase in water requirement of the agriculture sector under different climate change scenarios is also analysed at regional and global scales.
Impacts of climate change on crop water requirements in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, China.
Authors: Liu Qin Liu Qin , Yan ChangRong Yan ChangRong , Yang JianYing Yang JianYing , Mei XuRong Mei XuRong , Hao WeiPing Hao WeiPing , Ju Hui Ju Hui
Published: December 2015

Climate change will have important implications in the agriculture of water-short regions, such as Huang-Huai-Hai Plain (3H Plain), where expected warmer and drier conditions might augment crop water requirement (ETc). To evaluate the effect of climate change, a data set consisting of observed daily values of air temperature, relative humidity, sunshine duration and wind speed from five selected weather stations in the 3H Plain and covering the period 1981-2009 was used for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ET0). ET0 was calculated using FAO-56 Penman-Monteith equation; then sensitivity coefficient of ETc of major climatic variables and regional responses of precipitation deficit to climate change were conducted in the 3H Plain. The results showed that a clear drop in solar radiation (SR) was detected and temperatures increased, especially the minimum temperature. Wind speed (WS) decreased significantly in most of the stations, especially from seeding to jointing stages for wheat. No significant change was detected for relative humidity (RH) in 1981-2009. Temperature was the most sensitive variable in general for the plain, followed by SR, WS and RH. The decrease of sensitivity coefficient of solar radiation (SSR) mainly occurred in seeding to jointing stages and heading to maturity stages of winter wheat. Sensitivity coefficient of temperatures (ST) increased in Beijing, Xinxiang, Xuzhou and Yanzhou stations, which means that an increase in temperatures may lead to a larger increase of ETc in these four stations. However, ST decreased in the Shijiazhuang station. With the decrease of WS, ETc will decrease due to the positive coefficient in Beijing and Xinxiang stations. Trends of SRH showed no significant changes in the time series analysis. A positive relationship was detected between precipitation deficit and relative humidity, and the latter was considered the most correlative factor for precipitation deficit.
Impacts of climate change and adaptation in agricultural water management in North China.
Authors: Xia Jun Xia Jun , Mo XingGuo Mo XingGuo , Wang JinXia Wang JinXia , Luo XinPing Luo XinPing
Published: December 2015

Water scarcity is one of the key problems in northern China. Efficient use and management of agricultural water resources is an important challenge in China's agricultural food production under a background of climate change. This chapter addresses issues of impacts of climate change and adaptation in agricultural water management in North China. The goal is to understand better the impacts of climate change on agricultural water resources and what measures should be taken to deal with the adverse effects in the North China Plain (NCP). First, the status of agricultural water resources in NCP was analysed. Second, considering that climate change is likely to exacerbate water stress in this area, and exploring the regional crop response to climate change, this study analysed the spatial variability and evolution of crop yield, evapotranspiration (ET) and water use efficiency (WUE) with a process-based crop model in the NCP and identified the contribution of climate change to their enhancement. Third, the impacts of future climate changes under A2 and B1 scenarios (described later in this chapter) on the wheat-maize double-cropping system are assessed. The results show that under IPCC SRES A2 and B1 scenarios, production of winter wheat will increase with slightly intensified ET; in contrast, summer maize production will slightly decline with a significant increase of ET. Also, with agricultural management, maize is more productive than wheat, in that wheat relies more on irrigation than maize, yield level of maize is higher than that of wheat, the water consumption of maize is lower, and the response of maize yield is larger than that of wheat yield to agricultural management. However, the simulation also suggests that wheat is more resilient to climate change than maize. Therefore to say if wheat or maize is more favourable in the NCP depends on the conditions in the future. Finally, in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change on agricultural water use and realize its sustainable utilization, the key adaptive water management strategies in the agriculture sector and how to improve efficiency of agricultural water use through reforming agricultural water management and policies were examined. The following measures can be implemented to reform agricultural water management and policies: improving the performance of participatory irrigation management reform, establishing a water rights system, reforming agricultural water price, and promoting the adoption of agricultural water-saving technology.
Adaptation strategies to address the climate change impacts in three major river basins in India.
Authors: Kakumanu K. R. , Kuppannan Palanisami Kuppannan Palanisami , Aggarwal P. K. , Ranganathan C. R. , Nagothu U. S.
Published: December 2015

The agriculture sector is highly vulnerable to climate change in many parts of the world. There is an increasing concern among farmers, researchers and policy makers about the potential impacts of climate change on food security and livelihoods. Researchers are using several climate change models to make an assessment of the impacts and identify adaptation strategies. The present chapter reviews the current state of understanding of the climate change impacts on irrigation water in South Asia and specifically on the crop yield and relevant adaptation measures in three major river basins (Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery) in India. Optimization model was used to evaluate the different adaptation practices and their potential to maximize rice production and income, and minimize water use for the mid- and end-century climate-change scenarios. Adaptation practices such as systems of rice intensification, machine transplantation, alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and direct seeding could reduce the water and labour use by 10-15% and stabilize rice production in the long term. The study suggests the need for technology upscaling, which should be backed up with well-planned capacity-building programmes for the farmers.
Water management for agricultural production in a coastal province of the Mekong River Delta under sea-level rise.
Authors: Ngo Dang Phong Ngo Dang Phong , Chu Thai Hoanh Chu Thai Hoanh , Tran Quang Tho Tran Quang Tho , Nguyen Van Ngoc Nguyen Van Ngoc , Tran Duc Dong Tran Duc Dong , To Phuc Tuong To Phuc Tuong , Nguyen Huy Khoi Nguyen Huy Khoi , Nguyen Xuan Hien Nguyen Xuan Hien , Nguyen Trung Nam Nguyen Trung Nam
Published: December 2015

Bac Lieu province, a low-lying coastal province in the Ca Mau peninsula of the Mekong River Delta (MRD) of Vietnam, is recognized as an area strongly affected by sea-level rise (SLR) accompanying global climate change. SLR will aggravate inundation and salinity intrusion and hence exert a strong influence on agriculture and aquaculture production in the province. The study presented in this chapter aims to quantify the impacts of SLR on agriculture in this province and to propose adaptive options. The 'Vietnam River Systems and Plains' (VRSAP) model was used for simulation of water level, flow and salinity in the canal network of the MRD for 3 years of low, average and high water volume from upstream of the MRD and different levels of SLR (12, 17, 30, 50 and 75 cm). Under present sea level conditions, the western part of the province faces the highest flooding risk in October during the rainy season. In the dry season, salinity is high in the western part where farmers grow brackish water shrimp, while it is low in the eastern part where rice is grown. The inundation depth increases with the level of the SLR. For SLR less than 30 cm, salinity is expected to decrease slightly due to more fresh water from the Bassac River. When SLR is higher than 30 cm, salinity in the eastern part will also increase because the saline water intrudes into freshwater intake canals along the Bassac River. In the near future, adjustment of the cropping calendar as well as the operations of existing water control structures will be required. In the distant future, additional structures will be needed to cope with aggravated inundation and salinity.
Aquaculture adaptation to climate change in Vietnam's Mekong Delta.
Authors: Suan Pheng Kam Suan Pheng Kam , Tran Nhuong Tran Nhuong , Hoanh C. T. , Nguyen Xuan Hien Nguyen Xuan Hien
Published: December 2015

Most of the aquaculture production in South-east Asia occurs in the floodplains and coastal areas that are highly exposed and vulnerable to climate change impacts and sea-level rise (SLR). This chapter presents an example of economic estimation of autonomous adaptation by shrimp and catfish farms in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. It illustrates how planned adaptation measures can help defray catfish farmers' escalating costs of raising pond dykes in response to increased flooding in the delta. It also indicates that government policy and public investment into planned adaptation towards climate change impacts, particularly for water resources management, would necessarily take account of socio-economic development targets of the aquaculture industry. From these analyses, broader implications of plans for water resources management in the delta on the prospects and challenges to the aquaculture sector are discussed. In the long term, a 'no-regrets' strategy of reducing the high dependence on shrimp and catfish culture and diversifying into more ecologically oriented production systems can also hedge the aquaculture industry against the increasing risks and uncertainties brought about by climate change.
Irrigated crop production in the Syr Darya Basin: climate change rehearsal in the 1990s.
Authors: Savoskul O. , Shevnina E.
Published: December 2015

Future inflow to the irrigation scheme of the Syr Darya Basin is modelled under two climate scenarios, based on outputs of International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) core models run under IPCC-SRES A2 emission scenario. Under the GFDL99-R30-based scenario, the mean annual flow (MAF) is likely to increase by 10-20%. Under HadCM3-based scenario, MAF is supposed to decrease by 10-20%. Simulating water allocation in the basin in 2070-2099 shows that 14-21% of water demands in the agriculture sector in a normal hydrological year and 28-51% in a dry year are likely to be unmet. The challenges expected from future climate change can be paralleled to those resulting from the political change due to the collapse of the USSR, which left 18% (normal year) and 46% (dry year) of agricultural water demands unmet in 1992-2001. The study stresses the point that the adaptation measures employed in the post-Soviet transitional period are likely to serve as a basis for the future climate change adaptation strategies, since the development of the agriculture sector under climate change impact will remain handicapped without a more efficient water management at all hierarchical levels.
Youth as Tactical Agents of Peacebuilding and Development in the Sahel
Authors: Agbiboa Daniel Egiegba
Published: December 2015

One of the major lacunas in the field of youth studies is the lack of attention to, and thorough documentation of, the positive contributions of young people, especially in developing societies. The vast bulk of studies are skewed towards the view of youth as enfants terribles, without any attempt to understand and explain tactical ways in which youth have created and continue to create alternative lives for themselves under great adversity. Drawing on case studies from Northern Nigeria (youth as agents of counter-terrorism) and Northern Mali (youth as tactical agents of development), the burden of this article is to identify the multiple challenges facing youth in West Africa's Sahel region and, especially, to show how Sahelian youth are coping with these everyday challenges in tactical, ingenious and creative ways that underscore both their considerable social agency and their inherent capacity to make telling contributions to peacebuilding and development in their local communities.
My Brother's Keeper: The Double Experience of Refugee Aid-Workers
Authors: Malkin Noga
Published: December 2015

The language of development and humanitarian ‘interventions’ suggests a binary relationship between an active, intervening agent and a passive victim, a recipient. This article examines what happens when the lines blur and subjects of intervention — the ‘beneficiaries’ in need of ‘saving’ — become the agents of intervention, the aid-workers: when refugees, recipients of aid, are also aid givers. Through ethnographic research at a community centre on the Turkish–Syrian border, where Syrian refugees worked as aid-workers assisting other refugees as part of the centre's ‘participatory approach’, I explore the unintentional ‘side effects’ of a participatory approach to a refugee assistance project and look at the productive effects of participation. Through the stories of several such refugee aid-workers I explore the ways in which including refugees in aid delivery may reinforce existing class structures, as posited by the approach's critics, and the unexpected opportunities, such as social mobility, that crisis creates.
Prevalence of poor sleep quality, sleepiness and obstructive sleep apnoea risk factors in athletes
Authors: Swinbourne Richard , Gill Nicholas , Vaile Joanna , Smart Daniel
Published: December 2015

Purpose: Despite the perceived importance of sleep for athletes, little is known regarding athlete sleep quality, their prevalence of daytime sleepiness or risk factors for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) such as snoring and witnessed apnoeic episodes. The purpose of the present study was to characterise normative sleep quality among highly trained team sport athletes.

Methodology:175 elite or highly trained rugby sevens, rugby union and cricket athletes completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS) and Quality of Life questionnaires and an OSA risk factor screen.

Results: On average, athletes reported 7.9 ± 1.3 h of sleep per night. The average PSQI score was 5.9 ± 2.6, and 50% of athletes were found to be poor sleepers (PSQI > 5). Daytime sleepiness was prevalent throughout the population (average global score of 8.5) and clinically significant (ESS score of ≥10) in 28% of athletes. OSA may be an important clinical consideration within athletic populations, as a considerable number of athletes (38%) defined themselves as snorers and 8% reported having a witnessed apnoeic episode. The relationship between self‐rated sleep quality and actual PSQI score was strong (Pearson correlation of 0.4 ± 0.1, 90% confidence limits).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that this cohort of team sport athletes suffer a preponderance of poor sleep quality, with associated high levels of daytime sleepiness. Athletes should receive education about how to improve sleep wake schedules, extend total sleep time and improve sleep quality.
Immunometabolism governs dendritic cell and macrophage function
Authors: O’Neill Luke A.J. , Pearce Edward J.
Published: December 2015

Recent studies on intracellular metabolism in dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages provide new insights on the functioning of these critical controllers of innate and adaptive immunity. Both cell types undergo profound metabolic reprogramming in response to environmental cues, such as hypoxia or nutrient alterations, but importantly also in response to danger signals and cytokines. Metabolites such as succinate and citrate have a direct impact on the functioning of macrophages. Immunogenicity and tolerogenicity of DCs is also determined by anabolic and catabolic processes, respectively. These findings provide new prospects for therapeutic manipulation in inflammatory diseases and cancer.
Control of genetic stability by a new heterochromatin compaction pathway involving the Tip60 histone acetyltransferase
Authors: Grézy Aude , Chevillard-Briet Martine , Trouche Didier , Escaffit Fabrice
Published: December 2015

Pericentric heterochromatin is a highly compacted structure required for accurate chromosome segregation in mitosis. In mammals, it relies on methylation of histone H3K9 by Suv39H enzymes, which provides a docking site for HP1 proteins, therefore mediating heterochromatin compaction. Here we show that, when this normal compaction pathway is defective, the histone acetyltransferase Tip60 is recruited to pericentric heterochromatin, where it mediates acetylation of histone H4K12. Furthermore, in such a context, depletion of Tip60 leads to derepression of satellite transcription, decompaction of pericentric heterochromatin, and defects in chromosome segregation in mitosis. Finally, we show that depletion of BRD2, a double bromodomain–containing protein that binds H4K12ac, phenocopies the Tip60 depletion with respect to heterochromatin decompaction and defects in chromosome segregation. Taking the results together, we identify a new compaction pathway of mammalian pericentric heterochromatin relying on Tip60 that might be dependent on BRD2 recruitment by H4K12 acetylation. We propose that the underexpression of Tip60 observed in many human tumors can promote genetic instability via defective pericentric heterochromatin.
Confirmation of First Report of Orchid fleck virus in Phalaenopsis Hybrid Orchids in the USA
Authors: Bratsch S. A. , Lockhart B. E. , Ishimaru C.
Published: December 2015

The results also suggest one-step RT-PCR from Phalaenopsis plants and Orchid fleck virus (OFV) isolates can give false negatives for asymptomatic plants. Further work on detection methods for OFV is under way. This is the first confirmation of OFV infecting orchids in the United States.

Accepted for publication 24 September 2015. Published 30 September 2015.
First Report of Target Spot Caused by Corynespora cassiicola in Louisiana Cotton
Authors: Price Trey , Singh Raghuwinder , Fromme Dan
Published: December 2015

During the summer of 2014, Louisiana cotton producers in 13 parishes experienced an outbreak of what appeared to be target spot caused by Corynespora cassiicola. Defoliation due to the suspected disease was observed up to 75% in isolated areas. An isolate of the suspected causal agent was obtained, and Koch's postulates were subsequently completed. This is the first report of this disease in Louisiana.

Accepted for publication 30 November 2015. Published 3 December 2015.
Virus Decline of Strawberry in California and the Role of Insect Vectors and Associated Viruses
Authors: Dara Surendra K.
Published: December 2015

Greenhouse white fly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood); western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande); and strawberry aphid, Chaetosiphon fragaefolii (Cockerell), are common pests of strawberries in California and are vectors of one or more viruses. Most of the viruses transmitted by these vectors do not cause symptoms on strawberry when the infection occurs individually. However, when one of the viruses (Beet pseudoyellows virus or Strawberry pallidosis-associated virus) transmitted by T. vaporariorum is present along with one of the viruses transmitted by F. occidentalis, C. fragaefolii, or other sources, it results in a virus decline of strawberry, which can cause significant crop losses. Stunted root and plant growth, purple coloration of foliage, and dieback of the plant are some of the symptoms associated with virus decline. Increases in T. vaporariorum infestations during the past few years significantly elevated the risk of whitefly as a crop pest and a disease vector. This article reviews virus decline of strawberry, symptoms of infection, and the current status of insect vectors in California strawberries.

Accepted for publication 17 November 2015. Published 20 November 2015.
Root-knot Control and Yield Response of Corn with Seed Treatment and Granular Nematicides
Authors: Hagan Austin K. , Miller H. Brad , Burkett Jason , Burch Katherine
Published: December 2015

In Coastal Plain soils of the southeastern United States, the root-knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne incognita race 3 causes significant yield loss in corn. Impact of abamectin + thiamethoxam and clothianidin + Bacillus firmus I-1582 nematicide seed treatments along with terbufos granular nematicide on RKN reproduction, plant populations, plant growth, and yield was assessed at two Alabama sites. Thiamethoxam and clothianidin insecticide seed treatments were included as controls. A factorial arranged as split-split plot with year as the main plot, seed treatment as the split plot, and granular nematicide as the split-split-plot treatment was used. Lower plant populations were noted for terbufos-treated corn at one study site. Reduced RKN reproduction was observed with terbufos granular nematicide at both study sites. Fresh seedling weights and yields were usually higher for the terbufos- than non-terbufos-treated corn. At both sites, both nematicide seed treatments and their insecticide seed treatment counterparts had similar plant populations, RKN reproduction rate, and fresh seedling weights. Yield differences were noted at both locations between abamectin + thiamethoxam and thiamethoxam but not clothianidin + Bacillus firmus I-1582 and clothianidin. With mean yield gains up to 13.5%, terbufos was superior to both of the nematicide seed treatments for managing RKN and protecting corn yields.

Accepted for publication 19 October 2015. Published 1 November 2015.