bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immobilization of lipase in silica gel from rice husk ash and its activity assay to hydrolyze palm oil
Authors: Rizki Krismonalia , Pranowo Deni , Joko Raharjo Tri
Published: December 2020

A free lipase is one of the biocatalysts used for industrial applications, especially to catalyze the hydrolysis of palm oil. However, it is unstable in an extreme condition so it is easy to denature. Immobilization of lipase improve the enzyme's stability since the cage of the immobilization matrix around the lipase can minimalize denaturation. Silica gel is the most chosen matrix because of its high thermal stability and inertness. Lipase was immobilized in silica gel extracted from rice husk ash. Silica gel was prepared in a sodium silicate solution. Sol-gel process occurred when phosphoric acid was added into the sodium silicate solution until it reached a pH of 7. The immobilization process was initiated by reacting lipase in Phosphate Buffer Solution (PBS) added to the sol solution to produce hydrogel. Hydrogel was got into the dry process to form xerogel. The activity assay was conducted in the hydrolysis reaction by titrimetric method. The immobilized lipase resulted had an immobilization percentage of 67.71% and reusability for 6 cycles.
The biofilm inhibition and eradication activity of curcumin againts polymicrobial biofilm
Authors: Hamzah Hasyrul , Hertiani Triana , Utami Tunjung Pratiwi Sylvia , Nuryastuti Titik , Bayu Murti Yosi
Published: December 2020

Curcumin is a polyphenol compound that is a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), which has potential as an antibacterial, antifungal, and polymicrobial antibiofilm on the catheter. Still, its inhibitory activity and eradication of non-catheter polymicrobial antibiotics against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and C. albicans have never been reported. The discovery of a candidate polymicrobial anti-biofilm drug is indispensable for overcoming infections associated with biofilms. This study aims to determine the inhibitory activity and eradication of curcumin on polymicrobial biofilms. Inhibition testing and eradication activity of polymicrobial biofilms were performed using the microtiter broth method. The effectiveness of curcumin on polymicrobial biofilms was analyzed using minimum biofilm inhibition concentration (MBIC50) and minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC50). The mechanism of action of curcumin against polymicrobial biofilms is tested using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Curcumin 1 % b/v gives biofilm inhibition activity in the mid-phase and maturation of 62.23 % ± 0.01, 59.43 % ± 0.01, and can eradicate polymicrobial biofilms by 55.79 % ± 0.01 and not much different with nystatin drug control activity. The results also provide evidence that curcumin can damage the extracellular polymeric matrix (EPS) polymicrobial biofilms of S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and C. albicans and damage the morphology of polymicrobial biofilms. Therefore, curcumin can be developed as a candidate for new antibiofilm drugs against polymicrobial biofilms S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli dan C albicabs.
Environmental effect on corrosion behavior of 9MnSi5 steel pipelines
Authors: Alkhimenko Aleksey , Ermakov Boris , Alekseeva Ekaterina , Davidov Artem , Kovalev Mark , Mushnikova Svetlana
Published: December 2020

The increase in the corrosiveness of the produced fluid forces to reconsider the attitude towards the assessment of the serviceability and reliability of oil pipes, paying attention to the problems of increasing their corrosion resistance. The paper analyses environmental impact on pipeline made of 9MnSi5 steel after 12 months of operation in the oilfield to assess the residual life of pipeline and determine safe operating conditions. It was found that corrosion damage developed according to the mechanisms of general, pitting corrosion and stress corrosion cracking. Metallographic study has shown cracks of stress corrosion cracking that developed in environments containing carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Accelerated method of stress corrosion cracking resistance testing was implemented that allows to understand the tendency of steel to this type of cracking and gives a conclusion about the danger of brittle fracture of the pipeline.
Hydrolysis as a basis for processing vegetable waste into bioplastics
Authors: Ilalova Guzel , Safin Ruslan , Mukhametzyanov Shamil , Gazizullina Albina
Published: December 2020

The greening of processing waste from logging and woodworking industries involves measures to prevent the negative impact of production processes on the natural environment and is enabled by the development of resource-saving techniques that minimize harmful emissions to the environment. These production operations are based on hydrolytic cleavage of glycoside bonds of vegetable biomass polysaccharides with the formation of monosaccharides as the main reaction products.

Despite the wide range of available methods of processing wood into promising materials (heat treatment, pyrolysis, hydrolysis, etc.), one of the most effective methods is to produce sugars by weak acids hydrolysis.

In this regard, the paper describes the technology of high-temperature hydrolysis of pine sawdust with sulfurous acid in order to detect reducing substances (RS) in the hydrolysis residue. The paper considers the effect of sulfurous acid, temperature, and treatment time on the yield of RS.
Frequencies of Genetic Polymorphisms of Clinically Relevant Gene-Drug Pairs in a German Psychiatric Inpatient Population
Authors: Hahn Martina , Müller Daniel J. , Roll Sibylle C.
Published: December 2020

Introduction Genetic variation is known to affect enzymatic activities allowing differentiating various metabolizer types (e. g., slow or rapid metabolizers), in particular CYP2C19 and CYP2D6.

Methods PGx-testing was conducted in adult major depressive disorder inpatients admitted to the Vitos Klinik Eichberg between 11/2016 and 7/2017 (n=108, 57% female). We conducted a two-sided Z-Test (p=0.05) to analyze and compare frequencies of CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP2C9 metabolizer groups with other European and psychiatric inpatient cohorts. The HLA-A and –B genes were also analyzed.

Results Non-normal metabolizer status of CYP2D6 were present in 47%. More specifically, 35 % were intermediate, 7% poor and 4% ultra-rapid metabolizers. 68% were CYP2C19 non-normal metabolizers. 8% were ultra-rapid and 31% rapid metabolizers. Notably, only 13% were NM for CYP2C19 and NM for CYP2D6 (activity score of 1 or more). For CYP2C9 we found 16% to be intermediate metabolizers, 1.0% poor metabolizer. CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 genetic polymorphisms were present in 25% and 19% respectively. HLA-B TAG- SNPs for *15:01 was positive in 25 patients, showing the need for different Tag-SNPs in Caucasians. HLA-B *57:01 TAG-SNP was positive in 8% of the patients, HLA-A TAG-SNP for *31:01 in Caucasians was positive in 9%. Z-Test showed statistical significance for our results.

Discussion Our results suggest that our psychiatric inpatients were enriched with genotypes consistent with non-normal drug metabolism compared to reference populations. We therefore conclude that pharmacogenetic testing should be implemented in clinical practice to guide drug therapy.
Risk Factors for Extensively Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Neonatal Patients
Authors: Tekin Recep , Yolbaş İlyas , Bozkurt Fatma , Çevik Saliha , Alay Handan , Özcan Nida , Aktar Fesih , Çolak Habibe
Published: December 2020

Introduction Extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections (XDRABIs) are significant causes of mortality and morbidity in neonatal patients due to the treatment difficulties and limitations. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the characteristics and risk factors for XDRABIs acquisition during hospitalization.

Methods We investigated the risk factors of health care-associated infections (HC-AIs) caused by multidrug-resistant A. baumannii in the four neonatal units between January 2008 and December 2018. The patients and the control group's data and culture results were recorded and analyzed on a daily basis.

Results A total of 70 patients infected with XDRABIs and 118 control patients were included in the study. Univariate analysis showed that prematurity, gestation age, birth weight, mechanical ventilation, parenteral nutrition, transfusion, use of glycopeptides, and aminoglycosides were significantly associated with XDRABIs. In the univariate analysis, gestation age, mechanical ventilation, transfusion, parenteral nutrition, use of glycopeptides, carbapenems, and aminoglycosides were significantly associated with mortality. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, gestation age (p = 0.034), transfusion (p < 0.001), and use of glycopeptides (p = 0.019) were determined to be independent predictors of mortality in newborn infants with XDRABIs (R-square = 0.546).

Conclusion Determination of the risk factors, avoiding invasive procedures, rational use of antibiotics will lead to a decrease in the mortality and morbidity rates related to XDRABIs.
A simple approximation to the electron–phonon interaction in population dynamics
Authors: Bustamante Carlos M. , Todorov Tchavdar N. , Sánchez Cristián G. , Horsfield Andrew , Scherlis Damian A.
Published: December 2020

The modeling of coupled electron–ion dynamics including a quantum description of the nuclear degrees of freedom has remained a costly and technically difficult practice. The kinetic model for electron–phonon interaction provides an efficient approach to this problem, for systems evolving with low amplitude fluctuations, in a quasi-stationary state. In this work, we propose an extension of the kinetic model to include the effect of coherences, which are absent in the original approach. The new scheme, referred to as Liouville–von Neumann + Kinetic Equation (or LvN + KE), is implemented here in the context of a tight-binding Hamiltonian and employed to model the broadening, caused by the nuclear vibrations, of the electronic absorption bands of an atomic wire. The results, which show close agreement with the predictions given by Fermi’s golden rule (FGR), serve as a validation of the methodology. Thereafter, the method is applied to the electron–phonon interaction in transport simulations, adopting to this end the driven Liouville–von Neumann equation to model open quantum boundaries. In this case, the LvN + KE model qualitatively captures the Joule heating effect and Ohm’s law. It, however, exhibits numerical discrepancies with respect to the results based on FGR, attributable to the fact that the quasi-stationary state is defined taking into consideration the eigenstates of the closed system rather than those of the open boundary system. The simplicity and numerical efficiency of this approach and its ability to capture the essential physics of the electron–phonon coupling make it an attractive route to first-principles electron–ion dynamics.
The Lunar Cycle Influences Time of Roost Departure in The Common Blossom Bat, Syconycteris australis.
Authors: Law B.S.
Published: December 2020

Observations of radio-tagged Common Blossom Bats Syconycteris australis on the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland indicate that the time of departure from roost areas is related to the lunar cycle. During the dark phase of the moon, bats leave their roost between 5-20 mins after dark. Departure times are delayed up to 4 hrs between the period of the first quarter and full moon when the moon is bright after dusk. The predatory role of owls at night is suggested as the probable cause of this behavioural change.
The Fluctuating Abundance of Endangered Mammals on Bernier And Dorre Islands, Western Australia - Conservation Implications.
Authors: Short J. , Turner B. , Majors C.
Published: December 2020

Bernier and Dorre Islands in Shark Bay, Western Australia, provide refuge to populations of five species of threatened mammals that are extinct on the mainland other than as reintroduced or captive populations. This paper provides estimates of changes in population size of four species over three years from 1988-9 to 1991-2. The period from November 1986 to March 1989 was one of below average rainfall intensifying to severe drought on the islands; the period from mid 1989 to 1992 was one of average to above-average rainfall. Three of the four species (L. hirsutus, B. lesueur and P. bougainville) showed substantial and significant increases and one species (L. fasciatus) showed a small but non-significant increase in abundance. Combined estimates of minimum population size for both islands in 1991-2 vary from c. 4,000 P. bougainville to c. 10,000 L. fasciatus. If these densities are regarded as typical of average rainfall years then the drought in the late 1980s reduced populations of P. bougainville by up to 75%, B. lesueur by 65%, and L. hirsutus by up to 60%. Combined estimates for the four species give densities for the community of medium-sized mammals which vary between 160 km-2 in drought and 260 km-2 in years of average to above average rainfall.
Causes of Morbidity and Mortality in Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) From Tasmania, With
Particular Reference to Mucor amphibiorum infection.
Authors: Connolly J.H. , Obendorf D.L. , Whittington R.J. , Muir D.B.
Published: December 2020

Over a twelve month period, 25 platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) were presented for necropsy. The most common causes of mortality were dog predation (40%), road trauma (28%), starvation and/or exposure (16%) and Mucor-mycosis (8%). Mucor amphibiorum is the only disease agent known to cause significant morbidity and mortality in free-living O. anatinus in Tasmania. This fungus causes a severe, granulomatous, commonly ulcerative, skin condition in this species. A study was conducted to define the nature and extent of the granulomatous dermatitis caused by M. amphibiorum. The mycotic granulomatous dermatitis of O. anatinus appears to be confined to streams in the north and midlands. The prevalence of the disease at two infected sites was 36% (n=36) and 66% (n=3). Lesions included abscesses, ulcers, granulation tissue and nodules. Of the 17 diseased animals captured, II were adult male, 5 were adult female and 1 was a juvenile female. Thirteen isolates of M. amphibiorum were cultured from skin lesions, all were of the positive mating type. Mucor amphibiorum was not isolated from 40 faecal or 8 skin samples from O. anatinus. No M. amphibiorum was isolated from 14 environmental samples. Mucor circinelloides and M. saturninus were isolated from soil, and M. circinelloides and M. hiemalis were isolated from faecal samples from O. anatinus.
Diet and Winter Foraging Behaviour of The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) In Alpine and Subalpine New South Wales.
Authors: Bubela T.M. , Dickman C.R. , Newsome A.E.
Published: December 2020

Foxes were studied from January 1991 to January 1993 in 167 square kilometres of the alpine and subalpine areas of Kosciusko National Park, New South Wales, Australia (36 24' S, 148 26' E, 1260-2238 m altitude). The study area encompassed two ski resorts. This study confirmed the varied nature of the diet of the red fox. Foxes are mainly insectivorous during snow-free months, but also prey upon three small mammal species, Antechinus swainsonii, Mastacomys fuscus and Rattus fuscipes. Direct observations indicate that human refuse from ski resorts is food for foxes in winter. It is probable that this supplementary food source sup- ports a higher density fox population than would occur in its absence. The management implications for populations of native small mammals of predation and supplementary food for foxes are discussed. We recommend that the impact of red fox predation on small mammals, particularly M. fuscus be assessed and that action be taken to limit the availability of human refuse to foxes in winter.
The Mulgara Dasycercus cristicauda (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) at Uluru National Park, Northern Territory.
Authors: Masters P.
Published: December 2020

Since the turn of the century, a third of the mammal species of arid Australia have suffered a drastic decline in distribution and abundance. Uluru National Park has not escaped the massive loss of mammals, with over 15 species being lost from the Park in the last century, and some, including the brush-tailed possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, becoming locally extinct in the last twenty years (Baynes and Baird 1992, Reid, Kerle and Morton 1993). This suggests that the processes causing the decline are still operating. The mulgara Dasycercus cristicauda, remains extant in the vicinity of Uluru National Park but has suffered extensive range reductions and is believed to be less abundant in areas which it still occupies (Kennedy 1990, Gibson and Cole 1992, Woolley 1995). Very little is known about the field ecology of D. cristicauda and this has hindered the conservation management of the remaining populations. I report here on ecological data collected from a population at Uluru National Park between 1987 and 1990. This information was collected during a study of the effects of fire on small mammals of the area (Masters 1993).
Health services for sexually transmitted infections: Where are we at in New Zealand? A narrative literature review
Authors: Smith Alesha J , Wilby Kyle J
Published: December 2020

Abstract
INTRODUCTIONSexually transmitted infection (STI) rates continue to rise in New Zealand. To effectively prevent, test and diagnose STIs in a timely manner to limit their health effects, health services must be appropriate and accessible for all.
AIMThe aim of this review was to identify and collate the existing literature and identify gaps in research relating to STI health service delivery in New Zealand.
METHODSA critical narrative literature review was conducted. A keyword search of PubMed (2010 to October 2020), EMBASE (2010 to October 2020) and Google Scholar (2010 to October 2020) was conducted. The electronic search was supplemented with manual screening of references from identified articles. Eligible studies reported on STI service delivery in New Zealand. Articles not meeting these criteria were excluded. Articles solely reporting on the human papillomavirus vaccine or condom use statistics or perceptions were also excluded. Data extracted included study year, authors, aim, methods and outcome results.
RESULTSA total of 179 articles were identified, including 16 that met study inclusion criteria. Nine studies focused on STI testing, five on health-seeking behaviours and two had other foci. The results reflected substantial gaps in the funding and delivery of best-practice STI management across all New Zealand.
DISCUSSIONNew strategies are needed to improve access to low-cost or free services for sexual health care in general and clinic-wide systems implemented to enable routine delivery of advice about STI prevention and testing by clinicians to patients.
Global evidence for ultraviolet radiation decreasing COVID-19 growth rates
Authors: Carleton Tamma , Cornetet Jules , Huybers Peter , Meng Kyle C. , Proctor Jonathan
Published: December 2020

Significance

There is interest in whether COVID-19 cases respond to environmental conditions. If an effect is present, seasonal changes in local environmental conditions could alter the global spatial pattern of COVID-19 and inform local public health responses. Using a comprehensive global dataset of daily COVID-19 cases and local environmental conditions, we find that increased daily ultraviolet (UV) radiation lowers the cumulative daily growth rate of COVID-19 cases over the subsequent 2.5 wk. Although statistically significant, the implied influence of UV seasonality is modest relative to social distancing policies. Temperature and specific humidity cumulative effects are not statistically significant, and total COVID-19 seasonality remains to be established because of uncertainty in the net effects from seasonally varying environmental variables.
Social contact and speech act strategies in a Chinese study abroad context
Authors: Tang Xiaofei , Taguchi Naoko , Li Shuai
Published: December 2020

This study examined the relationship between reported amounts of social contact and speech act strategies among 70 learners of Chinese enrolled in a study abroad program in Beijing. The participants completed a computer-delivered spoken discourse completion task (spoken DCT) eliciting three speech acts: requests, refusals, and compliment responses. Speech act strategies were compared between two groups of learners who reported different amounts of social contact (high and low social contact) as assessed via a self-report survey. Results showed that both high and low social contact groups favored using similar strategies to achieve the three speech acts. However, the high social contact group produced speech acts in a more sophisticated way: with a wider variety of request strategies, multiple refusal strategies used in combination and more deflecting strategies in compliment responses, compared with the low social contact group. The findings suggest that social contact helped learners expand their pragmalinguistic repertoire and employ more varied speech act strategies.
Sweet cherry pruning fundamentals.
Authors: Long Lynn E. , Lang Gregory A. , Kaiser Clive
Published: December 2020

This chapter focuses on the fundamentals of pruning sweet cherry orchards. The fundamentals of training and pruning contemporary sweet cherry orchards usually incorporate plant materials or techniques that promote: early fruiting for a more rapid return on investment; optimization of light interception and distribution, with minimal intra-canopy shading; greater precision in, and/or simplification of, canopy development for balancing yields with fruit size and quality, as well as ease of teaching to less experienced labor forces; and systematic processes for annual renewal of fruiting wood to maintain consistent yields of high fruit quality as trees age.
Fruit ripening and harvest.
Authors: Long Lynn E. , Lang Gregory A. , Kaiser Clive
Published: December 2020

This chapter provides information on the processes that occur in the sweet cherry fruit during ripening prior to harvest. Some pre-harvest disorders, such as fruit cracking, and their management are presented. Some factors to consider during the harvesting of the fruits are also discussed, along with various harvesting techniques. Some postharvest fruit quality considerations are highlighted and the importance of postharvest temperature and humidity control and safe transport of fruits from the orchard to the packing house are pointed out.
Managing orchard pests.
Authors: Long Lynn E. , Lang Gregory A. , Clive Kaiser
Published: December 2020

This chapter provides information on the various economically important insect and arthropod pests causing damage to cherry production, such as Rhagoletis indifferens, Drosophila suzukii, Choristoneura rosaceana, Tetranychus urticae and Caliroa cerasi, among others. Notes on their life cycle, damage and management methods are also presented.
Removal of Anabaena sp. bloom and microcystin-LR by coculturing with Mucor rouxii pellets
Authors: Al-Mamoori Ayad M.J. , Al-Shammari Rana H. H. , Al-amari Moayed J.Y. , Al-Juboori Maher M. K.
Published: December 2020

In this study, biocontrol of harmful effect of cyanobacterial blooms and their toxins by “flocculation-biosorption” was achieved. Five fungal species were isolated from decayed cyanobacterial bloom which are: Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, Penicillium, Trichoderma ressei and Mucor rouxii. We chose the last species’ pellets because they are the most stable and cocultured with Anabeana sp. (1:5 fungal: cyanobacteria ratio) of dry weight, Harvest Efficacy HE% by fungal pellets started after 12h of co-culturing about (4%) and almost complete harvesting after 48h with (98%), then we add 0.1g of Magnetite nano Fe3o4 to facilitate removing cyanobacterial blooms. Microcystin-LR extracted from Anabaena sp. were purified and collected by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was 75.1 (µg ml-1), M. rouxii pellet absorbed about 85% of Microcystin-LR after 72 h of incubation at 25 °C.
Water quality assessment and monitoring of Kashmir Himalayan freshwater springs-A case study
Authors: Bhat Sami Ullah , Pandit Ashok K.
Published: December 2020

The present study envisages the importance of monitoring and management of freshwater springs of Kashmir Himalaya due to role they play in meeting ever-increasing drinking water demands and maintaining various ecosystem services. Therefore, some of the most pressing issues fundamental to the existence of springs is their monitoring and management because of their geological, ecological, scientific, cultural, religious and societal importance. Despite the key role that they play, springs are today continuously facing various types of threats. Springs have attained recently an extraordinary importance as they play role in providing drinking water, irrigation, sustaining habitats for fisheries, aquatic biodiversity, endemism, spiritual enrichment, recreation, aesthetics etc. especially in scenario of climate change threat predicted for Himalayas. In this backdrop a study directed to assess water quality status and potential of springs to offer the solution to ever-increasing water shortages was carried out. Identification of main threats to spring ecosystems and their subsequent monitoring and management in Kashmir Himalaya has been pleaded in this article. Major research highlights of the work revealed very well to excellent water quality class and Piper trilinear diagram of spring water depicted Ca–Mg–HCO3 water type. ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) revealed significant variations whilst Principal Component Analysis (PCA) generated four principal components (PC1, PC2, PC3 and PC4) with higher Eigen values of 1.0 or more (1.4-9.5) accounting for 34.34, 30.03, 18.50 and 12.4% of the total variance respectively. Consequently, majority of the physico-chemical parameters (95.28%) loaded under PC1 and PC2 were having strong positive loading (>0.60) and are mainly responsible for regulating the hydrochemistry of spring waters. Cluster analysis revealed that springs like Kokernag, Achabal, Sherebagh, and Cheshmashahi and Dobinag fall in same cluster having 47-78% similarity while Verinag, Indraznag and Dobinag fall almost in same cluster showing similarity range of 61-80%.
Investigation of stalk formation, frequency of dividing cells and gene expression in periphyton mats dominated by Didymosphenia geminata
Authors: Larsen Krista M. , Jackson Leland J. , Rogers Sean M.
Published: December 2020

The diatom Didymosphenia geminata can produce thick benthic mats along river bottoms, possibly in association with soluble reactive phosphorus mat-forming genetic variants, or gene expression associated with environmental variation. We isolated cells collected from mat-forming and non-mat-forming sites in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada and compared soluble reactive phosphorus, frequency of dividing cells and gene expression via RNA sequencing. Frequency of dividing cells and soluble reactive phosphorus were higher at the non-mat-forming site and there was no significant difference in frequency of dividing cells between Alberta and British Columbia sites, with one exception. Sixty-six gene products from reference diatom (Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Thalassiosira pseudonana) and bacterial (Caulobacter crescentus) genomes were expressed only in the mat-forming sample and many were related to phosphorus metabolism. One hundred seventy two genes were expressed only in the non-mat-forming sample and many were related to cell division and silica metabolism. Differential gene expression in the periphyton communities suggests that there might be different periphyton molecular phenotypes, including D. geminata, related to P acquisition and polysaccharide metabolism at the low P site and cell division and growth at the high P site.
A low-cost and effective seeding technique using protective core for restoration of Zostera marina habitats
Authors: Xie Kun-Xiu , Li Zheng , Li Chao , Liu Yan-Shan , Li Wen-Tao , Zhang Pei-Dong
Published: December 2020

In this study, a protective seed core method for planting seeds of the common eelgrass Zostera marina was developed and evaluated through laboratory and field experiments. We studied the suitable desiccation period of the protective seed cores, and their effect on seed germination and seedling establishment in a laboratory experiment. New patches established by seeds planted with the protective seed cores were evaluated through an 11-month-seed-sowing field experiment. Observations of the stability of the protective seed cores and the change in viability of Z. marina seeds placed in the protective seed cores demonstrated that the optimum desiccation period was 2 days. Seed germination and seedling establishment of Z. marina were promoted by the protective seed cores during the 90-day laboratory experiment. The field experiment showed that the seedling establishment of Z. marina seeds was significantly enhanced by the protective cores, ranging from 12% to 64%, with an average of 30%, 6 months after seeding. New patches were successfully established by protective seed cores with a maximum shoot density of 367 shoots m−2 11 months after planting. The average planting cost per Z. marina seed was $0.03; thus, $14,820 would be incurred for planting 1 ha of Z. marina beds using this method. These results indicate that the protective seed core method is an efficient and cost-effective restoration technique with a potential in facilitating large-scale restoration projects.
Judicial Impact and Factual Allegations: How the Supreme Court Changed Civil Procedure through the Plausibility Standard
Authors: Hazelton Morgan L. W.
Published: December 2020

Researchers often study the impact of legal change by investigating judges’ decisions and ignoring litigants. Many scholars believe the Supreme Court’s decisions in Twombly and Iqbal increased how specific factual allegations must be to avoid dismissal, but studies generally fail to find an effect. Using text analysis, I find evidence that litigants and their lawyers changed the information they provided after the decisions in certain types of cases. These results call into question prior studies and illustrate the need to consider the behavior of litigants. They also help shed light on issues of access to courts and separation of powers.
Point cloud simplification algorithm based on the feature of adaptive curvature entropy
Authors: Wang Guolin , Wu Lushen , Hu Yun , Song Minjie
Published: December 2020

Considering the diversity of point cloud features, the simplification effects of traditional point cloud simplification algorithms (such as curvature, random and isometry simplification algorithms) are poor. To overcome these drawbacks, a point cloud simplification method based on adaptive curvature entropy is proposed. Points with large curvatures are extracted to construct the initial point cloud boundary by defining a given proportion. The point cloud is clustered using the dichotomy clustering method. Subsequently, a preliminary simplification based on an adaptive random algorithm is performed for each clustered point cloud to reduce the point cloud capacity. The curvature entropy of each clustered point cloud is calculated to remove redundant points and preserve feature points so that the simplified point cloud is eventually obtained. The extracted initial point cloud boundary and simplified point cloud constitute the final simplified result. The classic Stanford rabbit model is introduced to verify the effect of the proposed approach. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively reflect the details of the point cloud despite a simplification proportion of up to 90%. Compared to traditional curvature simplification algorithms, the proposed method has the lowest deviation and highest accuracy at the same simplicity level, as numerous feature points are preserved, which facilitates the point cloud processing.
Configuration interaction study on low-lying states of AlCl molecule*
Authors: Ren Xiao-Ying , Xiao Zhi-Yu , Liu Yong , Yan Bing
Published: December 2020

High-level ab initio calculations of the Λ–S states for aluminum monoiodide (AlCl) molecule are performed by utilizing the explicitly correlated multireference configuration interaction (MRCI-F12) method. The Davidson correction and scalar relativistic correction are investigated in the calculations. Based on the calculation by the MRCI-F12 method, the spin–orbit coupling (SOC) effect is investigated with the state-interacting technique. The adiabatic potential energy curves (PECs) of the 13 Λ–S states and 24 Ω states are calculated. The spectroscopic constants of bound states are determined, which are in accordance with the results of the available experimental and theoretical studies. Finally, the transition properties of 0+(2)–X0+, 1(1)–X0+, and 1(2)–X0+ transitions are predicted, including the transition dipole moments (TDMs), Franck–Condon factors (FCFs), and the spontaneous radiative lifetimes.
First principles study of behavior of helium at Fe(110)–graphene interface*
Authors: Jing Yan-Mei , Huang Shao-Song
Published: December 2020

Recently, metal–graphene nanocomposite system has aroused much interest due to its radiation tolerance behavior. However, the related atomic mechanism for the metal–graphene interface is still unknown. Further, stainless steels with Fe as main matrix are widely used in nuclear systems. Therefore, in this study, the atomic behaviors of point defects and helium (He) atoms at the Fe(110)–graphene interface are investigated systematically by first principles calculations. The results indicate that graphene interacts strongly with the Fe(110) substrate. In comparison with those of the original graphene and bulk Fe, the formation energy values of C vacancies and Fe point defects decrease significantly for Fe(110)–graphene. However, as He atoms have a high migration barrier and large binding energy at the interface, they are trapped at the interface once they enter into it. These theoretical results suggest that the Fe(110)–graphene interface acts as a strong sink that traps defects, suggesting the potential usage of steel–graphene with multiply interface structures for tolerating the radiation damage.
Small molecule donors with different conjugated π linking bridges: Synthesis and photovoltaic properties
Authors: Dong Xiyue , Hu Dingqin , Chen Pengyu , Dai Xuexin , Hu Chao , Xiao Zeyun , Lu Shirong
Published: December 2020

Three small molecule (SM) donors, namely B-T-CN, B-TT-CN and B-DTT-CN, with different π conjugated bridges were synthesized in this research. Interestingly, with the conjugated fused rings of the π linking bridge increasing, the SM HOMO levels exhibit a decline tendency with –5.27 eV for B-T-CN, –5.31 eV for B-TT-CN and –5.40 eV for B-DTT-CN. After blending the SM donors with the fullerene acceptor PC71BM, the all SM organic solar cells (OSCs) achieved high V
ocs of 0.90 to 0.96 V. However, the phase separation morphology and molecule stacking are also unexpectedly changed together with the enhancement of conjugated degree of π bridges, resulting in a lower power conversion efficiency (PCE) for the B-DTT-CN:PC71BM device. Our results demonstrate and provide a useful way to enhance OSC V
oc and the morphology needs to be further optimized.
Comprehensive study of crystalline AlN/sapphire templates after high-temperature annealing with various sputtering conditions
Authors: Gu Wen , Liu Zhibin , Guo Yanan , Wang Xiaodong , Jia Xiaolong , Liu Xingfang , Zeng Yiping , Wang Junxi , Li Jinmin , Yan Jianchang
Published: December 2020

High-quality AlN/sapphire templates were fabricated by the combination of sputtering and high-temperature (HT) annealing. The influence of sputtering parameters including nitrogen flux, radio frequency power, and substrate temperature on the crystalline quality and surface morphology of annealed AlN films were investigated. With lower substrate temperature, lower power, and lower N2 flux, the full width at half maximum of the X-ray rocking curve for AlN (0002) and (10

2) were improved to 97.2 and 259.2 arcsec after high-temperature annealing. This happens because the increased vacancy concentration of sputtered AlN films can facilitate the annihilation of dislocations by increasing the recovery rate during HT annealing. Step and step-bunching morphologies were clearly observed with optimized sputtering conditions.
Extreme sea level variability dominates coastal flood risk changes at decadal time scales
Authors: Rashid M M , Wahl T , Chambers D P
Published: December 2020

Coastal flood risk assessments typically ignore interannual to multidecadal variability stemming from mean sea level, storm surges, and long period tides (i.e. 4.4 year perigean and 18.6 year nodal cycles), although combined these can lead to significant variations in extreme sea levels (ESL). Here, we examine the effects of ESL variability on the amplification of flood frequencies and risks for 17 major U.S. coastal cities. We also quantify the relative importance of ESL variability compared to long-term relative sea level rise (RSLR). Results show that, depending on the region, observed ESL variability can lead to amplification factors of up to 79, indicating that the 100 year return period event can become a 1.26 year event during certain time periods when ESL variability peaks high. Additionally, depending on the RSLR scenario considered, the observed range of ESL variability is equivalent to the RSLR projected to occur over the next few years in some locations and several decades (up to 2100) in others. These ESL fluctuations also modulate flood risk estimates, with the aggregated 100 year flood losses for the 17 major U.S. coastal cities changing by up to US$ 141 979 million (or 28%). This study demonstrates the importance of including ESL variability in regional coastal flood risk assessments; it highlights the importance of being aware and vigilant of these variations when observed and projected ESL situations are quantified assuming that certain sea level components are stationary.
Majority of German citizens, US citizens and climate scientists support policy advocacy by climate researchers and expect greater political engagement
Authors: Cologna Viktoria , Knutti Reto , Oreskes Naomi , Siegrist Michael
Published: December 2020

Scientists’ role in outreach and advocacy has been debated extensively, but empirical evidence on its perceived legitimacy is scarce. We contacted scientists researching climate change to investigate scientists’ engagement levels, as well as expectations regarding political and public engagement. We then compared how scientists (N = 1107) and German and US citizens (N = 884) view scientists’ engagement and how scientists’ advocacy affects their credibility. We find that perceptions differ across countries, with scientists perceiving more strongly than the public that scientists should politically and publicly engage. However, the public agrees that scientists should engage, and that they should increase these efforts. The majority of citizens agrees that scientists should advocate for climate-related policies and work closely with policymakers but refrain from endorsing climate protests. Further, openly supporting climate policies does not adversely affect scientists’ perceived trustworthiness or honesty, while it negatively affects perceptions of scientists’ objectivity. Our study provides empirical evidence that can help climate change researchers to better understand the public’s demand for, and perceived legitimacy of, different engagement activities.
One step replica symmetry breaking and overlaps between two temperatures
Authors: Derrida Bernard , Mottishaw Peter
Published: December 2020

We obtain an exact analytic expression for the average distribution, in the thermodynamic limit, of overlaps between two copies of the same random energy model (REM) at different temperatures. We quantify the non-self averaging effects and provide an exact approach to the computation of the fluctuations in the distribution of overlaps in the thermodynamic limit. We show that the overlap probabilities satisfy recurrence relations that generalise Ghirlanda–Guerra identities to two temperatures. We also analyse the two temperature REM using the replica method. The replica expressions for the overlap probabilities satisfy the same recurrence relations as the exact form. We show how a generalisation of Parisi’s replica symmetry breaking ansatz is consistent with our replica expressions. A crucial aspect to this generalisation is that we must allow for fluctuations in the replica block sizes even in the thermodynamic limit. This contrasts with the single temperature case where the extremal condition leads to a fixed block size in the thermodynamic limit. Finally, we analyse the fluctuations of the block sizes in our generalised Parisi ansatz and show that in general they may have a negative variance.
Unitary matrix decompositions for optimal and modular linear optics architectures
Authors: Kumar Shreya P , Dhand Ish
Published: December 2020

We introduce procedures for decomposing N × N unitary matrices into smaller M × M unitary matrices. Our procedures enable designing modular and optimal architectures for implementing arbitrary discrete unitary transformations on light. Such architectures rely on systematically combining the M-mode linear optical interferometers together to implement a given N-mode transformation. Thus this work enables the implementation of large linear optical transformations using smaller modules that act on the spatial or the internal degrees of freedom of light such as polarization, time or orbital angular momentum. The architectures lead to a rectangular gate structure, which is optimal in the sense that realizing arbitrary transformations on these architectures needs a minimal number of optical elements and minimal circuit depth. Moreover, the rectangular structure ensures that each of the different optical modes incurs balanced optical losses, so the architectures promise substantially enhanced process fidelities as compared to existing schemes.
Class
Authors: Balthaser Benjamin
Published: December 2020

Class is not a term like style that refers to a quality inherent in the literature itself, or genre, that while historically produced, nonetheless is imagined to have formal properties. Class is rather a way of seeing, an analysis of how literature has been constituted by capitalist social relations and also has responded to—and been seized by—working class movements, from the abolition of slavery to the archipelago of movements against neoliberalism in our post-Fordist age. “Class” understands working class literature in a US context, as literature that was once about working class people, from the mediated publication of slave narratives, to the middle class gaze of realism, to its transformation in the 20th century into literature about the subjectivity of working class people themselves. As Hungarian Marxist theorist Georg Lukacs notes, class has both an objective and a subjective quality: workers are both reified as alienated commodities while at the same time perceives their interests as qualitatively different from those of the capitalist who purchases their labor power. Or as Marx put it, “abstract labor” is always in conflict and in contradiction with “living labor,” the real embodied lives of workers whose persons are part of the commodity circulation process. Thus the novels that arose out of the working class revolutions of the 20th century often focus on the first person process of subjectivization, as the working class protagonist realizes their own alienation and strives to transform it in the process of personal and often social struggle. Of particular interest in the US context is the way in which race and class often function as double and mutually reinforcing forms of alienation. At the height of the working class literary movement in the mid-20th century, novels such as Carlos Bulosan’s America Is the Heart and Richard Wright’s Native Son offered engagements with this double question, while Ann Petry’s The Street and Tillie Olsen’s Yonnondio furthered this question with the gendering of labor. In the post-Fordist era, the question of class and subjectivity has fragmented even further, without working class parties and large industrial unions to offer a totalized countervision of working class subjectivity. Novels such as Helena Viramontes’s Under the Feet of Jesus and Karen Tei Yamashita’s Tropic of Orange offer a fragmented and transnational vision of new working class subjectivities, while novels such as Philip Meyer’s American Rust pose a reification of whiteness as a way to shore up a declining working class control over their labor and fragmenting subjectivity.
Anonymity
Authors: Griffin Robert J.
Published: December 2020

Anonymity is defined as the absence of the author’s name on a title page, or in any other paratext of a publication such as a preface or dedication or manuscript colophon; pseudonymity is included because it presents a false name to the reader while concealing the author’s name. A theory of anonymity establishes the general conditions of possibility for anonymous authorship, and thus has a different object than a literary history that describes the variable causes of anonymity: the decisions of authors, editors, or publishers, or the fact that the author was either originally unknown or has come to be unknown over time. In the most general sense, the conditions of anonymity are inherent in language itself, and especially so in writing; the writer is separated from the written. While writers have always exploited this knowledge in practice, the fullest theory of the anonymity of language was developed extensively by the linguists, critics, philosophers, and historians of culture associated with structuralism and poststructuralism in mid-twentieth century France. While the concerns of the problematic of enunciation—who is speaking, and from what place?—were central to this group of thinkers, and are indeed familiar under the headings of the critique of the cogito and the relation between writing and death, it is less widely recognized that an explicit theory of anonymity as a condition of speech and writing was constructed in the movement that can be traced economically from Benveniste to Barthes, and then to Derrida and Foucault.