bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcome of Auricular Reconstruction with Porous Polyethylene Frameworks: Our 10 Years of Experience with 113 Children and Adults
Authors: Schrötzlmair Florian , Götz Katharina , Patscheider Martin , Hempel John-Martin
Published: June 2021

This study evaluates the surgical outcome and patient benefit after auricular reconstruction with porous polyethylene frameworks and temporoparietal fascia flaps in both children and adults. A total of 161 patients who had undergone auricular reconstruction between 2003 and 2014 by doctors in our department were asked to answer both a validated health-related quality-of-life questionnaire (Glasgow Benefit Inventory or Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory) and a questionnaire reporting satisfaction, complaints, and complications with the reconstructed pinna. Furthermore, postoperative surgical complications were recorded. A total of 113 patients (89 individuals older than 14 and 24 children under the age of 14) returned the questionnaires. About 80% of the patients were satisfied with the results of their auricular reconstruction. The main complaints concerned scars and the shape. Patients' quality of life was correlated with their postoperative aesthetic satisfaction. Thus, framework extrusion was the principal factor affecting patients' satisfaction, whereas treatable postoperative complications did not interfere with the overall quality of life. Interestingly, children indicated greater benefit from auricular reconstruction than older patients. With regard to the patient's feeling of being physically healthy after auricular reconstruction, partial pinna reconstruction and reconstruction without simultaneous hearing restoration should be very carefully considered. Auricular reconstruction using a porous polyethylene framework significantly increases the patients' health-related quality of life and leads to significant patient satisfaction, especially in the case of younger patients.
Correction to: Running out of steam? A political incentive perspective of FDI inflows in China
Authors: Wang Danqing , Zhu Zhitao , Chen Shuo , Luo Xiaowei Rose
Published: June 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-021-00436-z
Multi-scale methods for reconstructing collective shapes of digital diasporas
Authors: Lobbé Quentin
Published: June 2021

The ICT revolution has impacted the way diasporic groups and individuals communicate and interact with one another. Diasporas are now fueled by unlimited flows of digital contents generated by daily activities or sudden historical events. As a natural result, the science of migration has evolved just as much as its own subject of research. Thus, dedicated branches of research like digital diasporas emerge at the crossroad between fields of social and computational sciences. Thereupon, new types of multi-scale reconstruction methods are developed to investigate the collective shapes of digital diasporas. They allow the researchers to focus on individual interactions before visualizing their global structures and dynamics. In this paper, we present three different multi-scale reconstruction methods applied to reveal the scientific landscape of digital diasporas and to explore the history of an extinct online collective of Moroccan migrants.
Analysis of electrostatic levitation control system and oscillation method for material properties measurement
Authors: Xue Shuqi , Dong Wenbo , Chen Dongyang , Guo Qingyuan , He Huan , Yu Jianding
Published: June 2021

Electrostatic levitation is an important method of studying material properties. Without using a container, a physical object is levitated between electrostatic plates and melted to the liquid state using a laser. Then, measurements are made via fast cooling or oscillation. Control technology is critical to the electrostatic levitation system. Uncertainty regarding the sample charge during the start-up and laser-melting periods often causes disturbances or causes levitation to fail. In this paper, we design a two-step adaptive control strategy with charge estimation and feed-forward control. This method can better adapt to charge uncertainty during the initial stage. In addition, we propose an innovative new method of superimposing oscillation signals via software to measure the material surface tension and viscosity. Unlike the traditional method, this approach does not require extra hardware resources and is flexible with regard to regulating the frequency and amplitude. A control system model with an accurate electric field model is established and used to simulate control progress in order to illustrate the advantage of our control method. Experiments based on a high-speed vision-servo system also validate the effectiveness of the adaptive and oscillation control strategies.
Talbot-Lau x-ray deflectometer: Refraction-based HEDP imaging diagnostic
Authors: Valdivia M. P. , Stutman D. , Stoeckl C. , Theobald W. , Collins G. W. , Bouffetier V. , Vescovi M. , Mileham C. , Begishev I. A. , Klein S. R. , Melean R. , Muller S. , Zou J. , Veloso F. , Casner A. , Beg F. N. , Regan S. P.
Published: June 2021

Talbot-Lau x-ray interferometry has been implemented to map electron density gradients in High Energy Density Physics (HEDP) experiments. X-ray backlighter targets have been evaluated for Talbot-Lau X-ray Deflectometry (TXD). Cu foils, wires, and sphere targets have been irradiated by 10–150 J, 8–30 ps laser pulses, while two pulsed-power generators (∼350 kA, 350 ns and ∼200 kA, 150 ns) have driven Cu wire, hybrid, and laser-cut x-pinches. A plasma ablation front generated by the Omega EP laser was imaged for the first time through TXD for densities >1023 cm−3. Backlighter optimization in combination with x-ray CCD, image plates, and x-ray film has been assessed in terms of spatial resolution and interferometer contrast for accurate plasma characterization through TXD in pulsed-power and high-intensity laser environments. The results obtained thus far demonstrate the potential of TXD as a powerful diagnostic for HEDP.
Frequency response mismatch calibration in 2-channel time-interleaved oscilloscopes
Authors: Pan Zhixiang , Ye Peng , Yang Kuojun , Gao Jian , Huang Wuhuang , Zhao Yu
Published: June 2021

The time-interleaved (TI) structure has been widely implemented in high speed, wideband data acquisition systems to increase the system sampling rate. However, the frequency responses of each sub-sampling path are not identical. This is named frequency response mismatches (FRMs). In TI-based printed circuit board level systems, due to the impact of the parasitic parameters, the FRMs are more complicated than the mismatches in TI analog-to-digital converters (TIADCs), which degrade the system performance severely. Therefore, the FRM calibration in 2-channel TI acquisition systems with two features is researched. The first one is that the TI system has a larger mismatch range than in most previous research. The second one is that the channel frequency response uses the general model. The calibration structure is established by the analysis of the digital TI model, which implements the TI operation in the digital domain to reconstruct the mismatches in the time domain. Furthermore, the problem of designing an arbitrary frequency response filter is transformed to the question of designing a three-stage cascaded filter group, which gives a method to realize the arbitrary frequency response in a real system. An oscilloscope prototype is proposed to verify the calibration performance. The simulation and experiment show the following: (i) Even though it uses the general frequency response and the FRMs are significant, the proposed method is still effective. (ii) The mismatch range of magnitude and phase responses is highly suppressed, and the spurious-free dynamic range is improved by 16.26 dB after calibration of the prototype.
Simulations of the effects of laser wavelength, pulse duration, and power density on plume pressure generation using a one-dimensional simulation code for laser shock processing
Authors: Heya Manabu , Furukawa Hiroyuki , Tsuyama Miho , Nakano Hitoshi
Published: June 2021

We have developed a one-dimensional simulation code for laser shock processing with an atomic model code, an equation of state code, and a laser ablation peening code, in order to calculate laser-plume interactions during laser shock processing. We calculated the temporal changes of some energy ratios [e.g., the ratio (α′) of the thermal energy of a plume to an incident laser energy] and physical quantities, such as electron temperature, ion temperature, absorbed laser power density, and plume pressure under various laser parameters at the laser wavelengths of 355, 532, and 1064 nm. In the case of shorter pulse durations less than 10 ns, a peak plume pressure can be predicted by using α′ of ∼0.25 for 1064 nm and ∼0.40 for 355 and 532 nm below the power density threshold, at which plume pressures start to saturate. These values of α′ were consistent with those obtained in the previous experiments. In the case of longer pulse durations more than 10 ns, α′ for 1064 nm increased up to ∼0.45 at 15 GW/cm2 and an enhanced plume pressure would generate due to plasma absorption via inverse bremsstrahlung absorption in the partially ionized region far from the initial surface of the metal and due to heat conduction of the thermal energy of the plume near the initial surface of the metal. Thus, we showed the validity of our one-dimensional simulation code for laser shock processing and will investigate laser-plume interactions using double pulses during laser shock processing in the future.
Experimental methods for laboratory measurements of helium spectral line broadening in white dwarf photospheres
Authors: Schaeuble M.-A. , Nagayama T. , Bailey J. E. , Dunlap B. H. , Patel S.
Published: June 2021

White Dwarf (WD) stars are the most common stellar remnant in the universe. WDs usually have a hydrogen or helium atmosphere, and helium WD (called DB) spectra can be used to solve outstanding problems in stellar and galactic evolution. DB origins, which are still a mystery, must be known to solve these problems. DB masses are crucial for discriminating between different proposed DB evolutionary hypotheses. Current DB mass determination methods deliver conflicting results. The spectroscopic mass determination method relies on line broadening models that have not been validated at DB atmosphere conditions. We performed helium benchmark experiments using the White Dwarf Photosphere Experiment (WDPE) platform at Sandia National Laboratories' Z-machine that aims to study He line broadening at DB conditions. Using hydrogen/helium mixture plasmas allows investigating the importance of He Stark and van der Waals broadening simultaneously. Accurate experimental data reduction methods are essential to test these line-broadening theories. In this paper, we present data calibration methods for these benchmark He line shape experiments. We give a detailed account of data processing, spectral power calibrations, and instrument broadening measurements. Uncertainties for each data calibration step are also derived. We demonstrate that our experiments meet all benchmark experiment accuracy requirements: WDPE wavelength uncertainties are <1 Å, spectral powers can be determined to within 15%, densities are accurate at the 20% level, and instrumental broadening can be measured with 20% accuracy. Fulfilling these stringent requirements enables WDPE experimental data to provide physically meaningful conclusions about line broadening at DB conditions.
Molecular dynamics study of water channels in natural and synthetic amyloid-β fibrils
Authors: Natesh S. R. , Hummels A. R. , Sachleben J. R. , Sosnick T. R. , Freed K. F. , Douglas J. F. , Meredith S. C. , Haddadian E. J.
Published: June 2021

We compared all-atom explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations of three types of Aβ(1–40) fibrils: brain-seeded fibrils (2M4J, with a threefold axial symmetry) and the other two, all-synthetic fibril polymorphs (2LMN and 2LMP, made under different fibrillization conditions). Fibril models were constructed using either a finite or an infinite number of layers made using periodic images. These studies yielded four conclusions. First, finite fibrils tend to unravel in a manner reminiscent of fibril dissolution, while infinite fibrils were more stable during simulations. Second, salt bridges in these fibrils remained stable in those fibrils that contained them initially, and those without salt bridges did not develop them over the time course of the simulations. Third, all fibrils tended to develop a “stagger” or register shift of β-strands along the fibril axis. Fourth and most importantly, the brain-seeded, 2M4J, infinite fibrils allowed bidirectional transport of water in and out of the central longitudinal core of the fibril by rapidly developing gaps at the fibril vertices. 2LMP fibrils also showed this behavior, although to a lesser extent. The diffusion of water molecules in the fibril core region involved two dynamical states: a localized state and directed diffusion in the presence of obstacles. These observations provided support for the hypothesis that Aβ fibrils could act as nanotubes. At least some Aβ oligomers resembled fibrils structurally in having parallel, in-register β-sheets and a sheet-turn-sheet motif. Thus, our findings could have implications for Aβ cytotoxicity, which may occur through the ability of oligomers to form abnormal water and ion channels in cell membranes.
Optimized damping parameters for empirical dispersion corrections to symmetry-adapted perturbation theory
Authors: Schriber Jeffrey B. , Sirianni Dominic A. , Smith Daniel G. A. , Burns Lori A. , Sitkoff Doree , Cheney Daniel L. , Sherrill C. David
Published: June 2021

Symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) has become an invaluable tool for studying the fundamental nature of non-covalent interactions by directly computing the electrostatics, exchange (steric) repulsion, induction (polarization), and London dispersion contributions to the interaction energy using quantum mechanics. Further application of SAPT is primarily limited by its computational expense, where even its most affordable variant (SAPT0) scales as the fifth power of system size [O(N5)] due to the dispersion terms. The algorithmic scaling of SAPT0 is reduced from O(N5)→O(N4) by replacing these terms with the empirical D3 dispersion correction of Grimme and co-workers, forming a method that may be termed SAPT0-D3. Here, we optimize the damping parameters for the -D3 terms in SAPT0-D3 using a much larger training set than has previously been considered, namely, 8299 interaction energies computed at the complete-basis-set limit of coupled cluster through perturbative triples [CCSD(T)/CBS]. Perhaps surprisingly, with only three fitted parameters, SAPT0-D3 improves on the accuracy of SAPT0, reducing mean absolute errors from 0.61 to 0.49 kcal mol−1 over the full set of complexes. Additionally, SAPT0-D3 exhibits a nearly 2.5× speedup over conventional SAPT0 for systems with ∼300 atoms and is applied here to systems with up to 459 atoms. Finally, we have also implemented a functional group partitioning of the approach (F-SAPT0-D3) and applied it to determine important contacts in the binding of salbutamol to G-protein coupled β1-adrenergic receptor in both active and inactive forms. SAPT0-D3 capabilities have been added to the open-source Psi4 software.
Detection of coupling in Duffing oscillator systems
Authors: Brešar Martin , Boškoski Pavle , Horvat Martin
Published: June 2021

In complex dynamical systems, the detection of coupling and its direction from observed time series is a challenging task. We study coupling in coupled Duffing oscillator systems in regular and chaotic dynamical regimes. By observing the conditional mutual information (CMI) based on the Shannon entropy, we successfully infer the direction of coupling for different system regimes. Moreover, we show that, in the weak coupling limit, the values of CMI can be used to infer the coupling parameters by computing the derivative of the conditional mutual information with respect to the coupling strength, called the information susceptibility. The complete numerical implementation is available at https://repo.ijs.si/mbresar/duffing-cmi.
Discharge characteristics of electronegative Mg–CF4 direct current magnetron sputtering by probe measurements
Authors: Kusano Eiji
Published: June 2021

The discharge characteristics of Mg–CF4 direct current (DC) reactive magnetron sputtering, which is assumed to be a typical electronegative discharge, are investigated as a function of CF4/(Ar + CF4) discharge gas ratios using probe measurements. For comparison, the discharge characteristics of Mg–CF4 radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering are also investigated. The results of the probe measurements show that the plasma potentials (Vplasma) of Mg–CF4 DC discharges decrease with increasing CF4/(Ar + CF4) ratios and become negative relative to the ground potential for discharges with CF4/(Ar + CF4) ratios of ≥60% for all discharge pressures investigated (0.40, 1.20, and 2.00 Pa). In contrast, the Vplasma of Mg–CF4 RF discharges remains 30–40 V higher than the ground potential independent of the CF4/(Ar + CF4) ratio. The electron temperature obtained from the logarithmic plot of the probe current–voltage (I–V) characteristics ranges between 1.7 and 6.4 eV, whereas the negative-ion temperature ranges between 2.1 and 5.1 eV. Moreover, a high negative-ion/electron ratio of up to 130 was obtained from the ratio of the saturated negative-ion probe-current to the saturated electron probe-current for high CF4/(Ar + CF4) ratios. Investigations on the changes in Vplasma and cathode potential (Vcathode) reveal that the potential configurations of Mg–CF4 electronegative DC discharges are affected by the compositions of the discharge current fluxes. The conclusions emphasize the characteristics of the electronegative Mg–CF4 DC discharges. The results obtained in this study are valuable for widening the potential applications of electronegative DC magnetron sputtering.
An improved cell mapping method based on dimension-extension for fractional systems
Authors: Yuan Minjuan , Wang Liang , Jiao Yiyu , Xu Wei
Published: June 2021

Global analysis of fractional systems is a challenging topic due to the memory property. Without the Markov assumption, the cell mapping method cannot be directly applied to investigate the global dynamics of such systems. In this paper, an improved cell mapping method based on dimension-extension is developed to study the global dynamics of fractional systems. The evolution process is calculated by introducing additional auxiliary variables. Through this treatment, the nonlocal problem is localized in a higher dimension space. Thus, the one-step mappings are successfully described by Markov chains. Global dynamics of fractional systems can be obtained through the proposed method without memory losses. Simulations of the point mapping show great accuracy and efficiency of the method. Abundant global dynamics behaviors are found in the fractional smooth and discontinuous oscillator.
Kinetic energy released in the vibrational autodetachment of sulfur hexafluoride anion
Authors: Concina Bruno , Montagne Guillaume , Martin Serge , Bordas Christian
Published: June 2021

The kinetic energy release distribution (KERD) in the vibrational autodetachment (VAD) from sulfur hexafluoride anion SF6− has been measured in a velocity map imaging spectrometer for delays in the range of a few tens of microseconds. The experimental KERD is analyzed within the framework of the detailed-balance: first using the standard Langevin model and subsequently using a more refined and realistic model based on the experimental attachment cross section. A discussion on the processes involved in the attachment and the VAD is presented based on an empirical fit of the attachment cross section. The lifetime derived from the model is in good agreement with the experimental time window, strengthening this theoretical approach for this model system.
Thermal noise in contact atomic force microscopy
Authors: Ma Chengfu , Zhou Chenggang , Peng Jinlan , Chen Yuhang , Arnold Walter , Chu Jiaru
Published: June 2021

As one of the fundamental sources of noise in atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermal fluctuations of the cantilever have been studied for the case of a free tip but not much for cantilevers in contact. In this paper, using the equipartition theorem, we calculated the thermal deflection amplitude for all normal modes of an elastically supported AFM cantilever, including the free cantilever as a special case. With increasing contact stiffness, the mean thermal fluctuation amplitude decreases for all cantilever modes when in the elastic contact. In addition, considering the optical lever detection scheme used in most AFMs, we calculated the corresponding output thermal noise amplitude. The experiments validated our theoretical calculations. Our investigation facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of the thermal noise in AFM. It provides guidance for thermally excited contact-resonance AFM, which is promising for quantitative viscoelastic measurements.
Charge-order dynamics in underdoped La1.6−xNd0.4SrxCuO4 revealed by electric pulses
Authors: Pokharel Bal K. , Wang Yuxin , Jaroszynski J. , Sasagawa T. , Popović Dragana
Published: June 2021

The dynamics of the charge-order domains has been investigated in La1.48Nd0.4Sr0.12CuO4, a prototypical stripe-ordered cuprate, using pulsed current injection. We first identify the regime in which nonthermal effects dominate over simple Joule heating and then demonstrate that, for small enough perturbation, pulsed current injection allows access to nonthermally induced resistive metastable states. The results are consistent with the pinning of the fluctuating charge order, with fluctuations being most pronounced at the charge-order onset temperature. The nonequilibrium effects are revealed only when the transition is approached from the charge-ordered phase. Our experiment establishes pulsed current injection as a viable and effective method for probing the charge-order dynamics in various other materials.
Introduction to Focus Issue: Dynamical disease: A translational approach
Authors: Bélair Jacques , Nekka Fahima , Milton John G.
Published: June 2021

The concept of Dynamical Diseases provides a framework to understand physiological control systems in pathological states due to their operating in an abnormal range of control parameters: this allows for the possibility of a return to normal condition by a redress of the values of the governing parameters. The analogy with bifurcations in dynamical systems opens the possibility of mathematically modeling clinical conditions and investigating possible parameter changes that lead to avoidance of their pathological states. Since its introduction, this concept has been applied to a number of physiological systems, most notably cardiac, hematological, and neurological. A quarter century after the inaugural meeting on dynamical diseases held in Mont Tremblant, Québec [Bélair et al., Dynamical Diseases: Mathematical Analysis of Human Illness (American Institute of Physics, Woodbury, NY, 1995)], this Focus Issue offers an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of the field in traditional areas as well as contemporary data-based methods.
Comment on Davies
Authors: Bridgewater Peter
Published: June 2021

Promulgation of a Declaration of Rights for Wetlands to improve their conservation and management has superficial attraction. However, difficulties with defining what a wetland is and confusing human rights with ecosystem rights suggest there are more problems than opportunities inherent in such a Declaration. Involving Indigenous and local knowledge in the discussion without a clear vision for access to and use of that knowledge also has problems. A better solution to stemming the tide of wetland loss is to rethink the problem in terms of landscape stewardship and to use the existing governance and legislative systems, especially the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Ecosystem Approach in tandem with the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Iran, 1971), more effectively.
Evaluation of an educational mediation programme in primary education: M-Educa (Evaluación de un programa de mediación educativa en Educación Primaria: M-Educa)
Authors: Fuertes María , Vieira María-José , Ferreira Camino
Published: June 2021

The concern with conflict in our schools has increased in recent years. For this reason, initiatives aimed at dealing with conflicts like educational mediation have emerged. The goal of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of the M-Educa programme in its student training phase via an evaluative study of the pre- and post-measures of the CUVE3-EP questionnaire on school violence administered to 118 students in the fifth and sixth grades of primary school at a public school in the region of Madrid, and to analyse the records of the mediating students and the interviews of the tutors involved. The main conclusions of this study are that administering the M-Educa programme has had positive effects on coexistence at this school and was especially useful in the perception of the overall reduction in violence in the classes where most mediations took place. Specifically, it had the greatest repercussions on lowering the levels of verbal and physical violence, as well as social exclusion.
GULFMET EM-S3 comparison of AC-DC voltage transfer standards
Authors: Arifovic Mehedin , Kanatoğlu Naylan , AlJomaie Ahmed N , Alrobaish Abdullah M , Halawa Mamdouh , Golovins Eugene
Published: June 2021

Main text

A comparison of AC-DC Voltage Transfer Standards between TÜBİTAK (Turkey), NMCC SASO (Saudi Arabia), NIS (Egypt) and NMISA (South Africa) conducted between February 2018 and April 2019. Fluke 792A is used as the traveling standard and TÜBİTAK acted as the pilot laboratory. Measurements are performed at 10 mV, 3 V @ 10 Hz, 55 Hz, 1 kHz, 20 kHz, 100 kHz and 1 MHz, and 1000 V @ 55 Hz, 1 kHz and 20 kHz.

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCEM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
COOMET supplementary comparison on wavelength for fiber optics
Authors: Kravtsov Vladimir , Mitiurev Aleksei
Published: June 2021

Main text

BelGIM, NIM, NIS, NMISA, PTB and VNIIOFI carried out the supplementary comparison on the wavelength for fibre optics. The aim of this comparison is to examine the equivalence of the wavelength for fibre optics among participating laboratories and to provide supporting evidence for the associated CMC claims in BIPM KCDB.

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCPR, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Optimization and analysis of a low-energy injector for high-intensity proton beam
Authors: Zhou B. , Zhang H. , Zhang P. , Li W. , Hou R. , An S.
Published: June 2021

Nanjing University and local government are pushing ahead with a high-intensity proton linac project called Nanjing Proton Source (NPS). At the first stage, a low-energy injector including an ion source and a low-energy beam transport (LEBT) will be set up to provide 65 keV, 28 mA proton beam. A duoplasmatron source with triode electrodes and a two-solenoid magnetic focusing LEBT is our favorable choice. As we know, the most important role of the LEBT is to minimize the emittance growth and optimize the Twiss parameters into radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ). This paper clearly introduces the optimization procedure that sets effective solenoid fields as two free parameters to search for the minimum rms emittance and the best-matched Twiss parameters by plotting contour maps. The detailed LEBT layout and solenoids design are completed based on the optimization. The robustness and stability of the LEBT are also analyzed in the end. The beam phase-space distribution and beam qualities are discussed under a range of space charge compensation degrees and different initial beam distribution types. Besides, the LEBT is designed to eliminate the vast majority of beam contaminants by using two collimators.
Long-term temperature and sea-level rise stabilization before and beyond 2100: Estimating the additional climate mitigation contribution from China’s recent 2060 carbon neutrality pledge
Authors: Chen Jiewei , Cui Huijuan , Xu Yangyang , Ge Quansheng
Published: June 2021

As the largest emitter in the world, China recently pledged to reach a carbon peak before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060, which could accelerate the progress of mitigating negative climate change effects. In this study, we used the Minimum Complexity Earth Simulator and a semi-empirical statistical model to quantify the global mean temperature and sea-level rise (SLR) response under a suite of emission pathways that are constructed to cover various carbon peak and carbon neutrality years in China. The results show that China will require a carbon emission reduction rate of no less than 6%/year and a growth rate of more than 10%/year for carbon capture capacity to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Carbon peak years and peak emissions contribute significantly to mitigating climate change in the near term, while carbon neutrality years are more influential in the long term. Mitigation due to recent China’s pledge alone will contribute a 0.16 °C–0.21 °C avoided warming at 2100 and also lessen the cumulative warming above 1.5 °C level. When accompanied by coordinated international efforts to reach global carbon neutrality before 2070, the 2 °C target can be achieved. However, the 1.5 °C target requires additional efforts, such as global scale adoption of negative emission technology for CO2, as well as a deep cut in non-CO2 GHG emissions. Collectively, the efforts of adopting negative emission technolgy and curbing all greenhouse gas emissions will reduce global warming by 0.9 °C −1.2 °C at 2100, and also reduce SLR by 49–59 cm in 2200, compared to a baseline mitigation pathway already aiming at 2 °C. Our findings suggest that while China’s ambitious carbon-neutral pledge contributes to Paris Agreement’s targets, additional major efforts will be needed, such as reaching an earlier and lower CO2 emission peak, developing negative emission technology for CO2, and cutting other non-CO2 GHGs such as N2O, CH4, O3, and HFCs.
Impact of the reemergence of North Pacific subtropical mode water on the multi-year modulation of marine heatwaves in the North Pacific Ocean during winter and early spring
Authors: Tak Yong-Jin , Song Hajoon , Cho Yang-Ki
Published: June 2021

Marine heatwaves (MHWs), which are characterized by extremely warm water, can harm the marine ecosystem and fishing industry; improving the prediction of such events could reduce their harmful impact. In this study, we examined MHWs occurring in the North Pacific in winter/early spring, and their relationship with North Pacific subtropical mode water (STMW), based on the data analysis and numerical experiments. The time-lagged correlation between the cumulative intensity of MHWs and volume of STMW in March of each year suggests that STMW can modulate MHWs for up to three years after its formation. A patch of statistically significant negative correlation initially appeared in the formation region of the STMW but was found to the east of it near the Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front (TZCF) after one year. This patch stagnated near this remote site in the second winter and early spring. Passive tracer experiments using a numerical model indicate that the STMW, formed near the Kuroshio Extension in March, moves to the east underneath the mixed layer and is entrained to the surface in the following winter while altering the properties of STMW. The STMW reemerges in the second winter, after stagnating under the mixed layer near the TZCF. This suggests that the reemergence of STMW can suppress MHWs in the North Pacific during winter and early spring by reducing the sea surface temperature; if the volume of STMW is anomalously low, there is a greater likelihood of the occurrence of MHWs near the TZCF in the following two winters and early springs. Our results indicate that understanding STMW formation is crucial for predicting MHWs in the North Pacific Ocean during winter and early spring.
Survey of Fungal contamination in imported poultry meat (Akafil Products) in the city of Al-Diwaniyah/Iraq
Authors: Kadhim AL-Ziadi Saba Abdulameer , Lahmood Walaa Yas , Hatem Rasha Muzahem
Published: June 2021

The study included the investigation of the presence of fungal contamination in frozen poultry meat from the products of the imported Alkafil, which are sold in the centers of the Alkafil products in most of the governorates of Iraq. 40 samples were collected from the different alkafil products centers in Diwaniyah governorate including 3 centers (Alkafil products centers 84, Alkafil products centers 95, alkafil products centers70), which was randomly selected for the period from 1/11/2017 to 1/5/2018. Results: The results showed that all samples collected for the study were contaminated with different types and in varying numbers of human pathogenic fungi, including Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium solani, Pencilliumsp, Cladosporium sp. Conclusions: The findings showed that the highest isolated was Aspergillusin most samples collected for the study and all fungal species Isolated of poultry meatare a human pathogen andcause food poisoning. These fungal fungi are mandatory and elective. Their nutritional needs are simple and produce large numbers of reproductive units, most of which cause health and environmental problems. As a result of the increasing demand for the products of the alkafil, we decided to investigate the existence of an accidental contamination of the seriousness of fungi on health in general. The study pointed out that the extent to which poultry meat is contaminated with human pathogens that cause health problems.
Major oxides study of the Euphrates River bed sediments from north Hilla to the Shatt Al-Arab at Basrah cities
Authors: Hussein Mohammed L. , Al-Owaidi Mohanad R. A.
Published: June 2021

The major oxides of the terrigenousbed sediments in the Euphrates River described in the present paper, was carried out through the field work during 2018; thus about 25 core samples from eight river bed sediment sites (from S1 to S12) along the course of the river to the Shatt Al-Arab River from Hilla to Basrah cities. The coordinate number of these sites are between 38°41°32.48″N–38°14′24.10″N latitude and 39°56′4.59″E–39°8°13.41′′E longitude. Ten of major oxides were determined by XRF technique, these are SiO2, CaO, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO, Na2O, K2O, TiO2, SO3 and P2O5 in addition to LOI. SiO2is the highest abundance, whileP2O5is the lowest; however SiO2, and TiO2 decrease from Hilla to Basrah cities, whereas CaO, and MgO increase in the same direction. The mean abundance of the major oxides of the Euphrates River bed sediments may order as following; SiO2 >CaO>Al2O3>Fe2O3>MgO>K2O >Na2O >TiO2> SO3> P2O5. The source rocks of these sediments is mafic, and its geochemical classification is Fe-sand extends to Fe-shale. The geochemical weathering restricted between moderate to low degree. According to the elemental ratio, CaO, SiO2, Fe2O3, MgO, and TiO2are enrichment, whereas Al2O3, K2O, P2O5, and SO3 are depletion. The paleoclimatic condition of the clastic bed sediments is arid coincide with low to moderate chemical maturity. the tectonic setting of clasts sediment fall in the island arc field.
Soil Pollution - Causes and Effects
Authors: Hassan Al-Taai Suaad Hadi
Published: June 2021

The study of soil pollution has occupied the attention of a large number of researchers because of its continuity and effect on humans, animals and plants alike. Soil pollution occurs as a result of the entry of elements that change the composition and organism of the soil, and reduce its fertility, making it more vulnerable to drought, and unsuitable for agriculture. The research addresses the most important soil pollutants before radioactive uranium pollution, pollution by industrial and household waste, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and others. Most of the agricultural lands are irrigated by rivers polluted with factory wastewater. Also, the research discusses the most important sources of pollution represented by pesticides and chemical fertilizers that contain toxic substances and seep into the soil to remain for a long time, and contribute to eliminate soil fertility. The research deals with the impact of logging the desertification of agricultural areas and their transformation into a vast desert that is unsuitable for agriculture, and pollutes the soil with hydrocarbons. The research refers to the method of soil protection and agricultural lands from pollution by using organic agriculture, fertilizers, organic and bio-pesticides, and forest planting..
The Physical And Chemical Properties Of Soils For Environments Of Three Different Land/Iraq
Authors: Alhashimi Iman S. M. , Abdul-Jabbar Riad A. , Issa Salman K.
Published: June 2021

The current study performed for the period of March 2019 to February 2020 on three different land ecosystems in three Iraqi governorates which are Sulaymaniyah, Kirkuk, and Anbar. The samples of soil are collected from nine stations that close to the pollution sources. The stations are Bazian cement plant, North Oil concentration area, the main street in the modern desert which located between longitude and latitude of (45.062554-35.577087), (44.217077 - 34.406426), (42.269622 -34.8764) respectively. Some physical and chemical factors for soils are studied where their values ranged from the electrical conductivity of (0.13 - 2.86 EC dS/m), pH (7.21 - 7.97), organic matter of (0.31 - 10.89 g/kg), the total calcium carbonate of (164.16 - 390.10 g/kg), and the positive exchange capacitance of (3.03- 25.82 (centimol+Kg-1)). While values of the exchanged positive ions are ranged (Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+1 and Potassium K+2) ((0.10 (-8.43) and (1.0 –0.01), (1.93- 0.04), (0.04). (3.79 - cimmol/kg) respectively. Whereas the values of the dissolved positive ions (Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+1 and Potassium K+1) are recorded (0.03- (3.61, (1.82-0.01), (0.01-0.67), 0.55-0.01))/L) respectively. As for negative ions, their values are recorded (dissolved bicarbonate HCO3-and dissolved chlorine (Cl-1 (0.09 (1.65-, 0.76-0.05)) centimol/L).
Air Pollution in Iraq Sources and Effects
Authors: Al-Kasser Mohammed K.
Published: June 2021

The current study came to clarify the air pollution in different regions in Iraq. This study reviewed most of the Iraqi studies that dealt with the issue of air pollution and found that pollutants released into the atmosphere include gaseous pollutants of various kinds, especially CO, CO2, NOx, SOx, O3, suspended particles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals. The study showed that the main sources for release these pollutants into the atmosphere included fossil fuels combustion, industry, energy production, transportation, heating, brick and cement industry, oil industries, transportation, agriculture fires and dust storms in addition to domestic and public generators. The result showed that these pollutants in many regions exceeded the national and international standard criteria.
A Review: The Tectonic Perspective and seismic response of Darbandikhan Dam Stability and potential solutions
Authors: Mahdi Karrar S.
Published: June 2021

Darbandikhan dam is a rockfill dam constructed northwest of Iraq in the early sixties. Even though the dam is located in a mountain zone with high seismic influence, the dam was not designed to resist a high seismic motion. This study is a review of Darbandikhan dam current situation and the possible factors of its potential failure. The dam can be regarded as a vulnerable condition. Due to the unstable geologic formations and the existence of limestone and anhydrite which can impact the dam stability. On the other hand, rainfall dwindling and the temperature rising affected the hydrological system in the area. Climate change causes drought, desertification followed by a flood in a very short period. Therefore, the dam reservoir elevation has been diminished due to the reduction of the inflow. The dam has experienced a strong seismic motion in November 2017, it causes serious fissures on the dam road, failure on the left side slope and rocks toppling. The sliding of soil and the falling rocks in the dam lake when the earthquake hit the dam location, lead to clay accumulation which has prevented the gates to be opened. Serious and fast maintenance have to be implemented to fix the landslides and dam safety against earthquakes.
Toxic Contamination, Distribution Of Trace Metals Elements In Some Crops And Land Along The ALGhatara River For Al-Shafieiah District, Al-Diwaniyah Governorate
Authors: Hussein Haider Mashkoor , Kadhum Safaa A. , Abed Salwan Ali , Al-Ansari Nadhir
Published: June 2021

Plants are important toxicity markers as well as important foods for both humans and animals, so this analysis aimed to identify trace element contaminants in some of the ALGhatara River water, and the soil and plant life in the district of Al-Shafieiah on both sides of the river. There was nickel in the soil, and the nickel concentration was 3.46 mg/L, so the concentration of nickel in irrigation water was 315 mg/L. switch to a higher value of 105 As compared The World Health Organisation (WHO) was called into being as a result. criteria, the degree of quality of some elements in the surface layer of soil surpassed the WHO’s guidelines, although at the same time, the concentration rate of most of the elements in the soil’s surface layer was higher in the majority of botanicial Sample, The limit is 1.057, 1. 374, 1. 765, 1. 594 mg/kg for both Parsley, Onions, Barley and Alfalfa, respectively, so increased consumption of these contaminated plants before society may cause health problems in the future.
Pollution and its Impact on Sustainable Development
Authors: Mohammed Al-Dulaimi Waleed Abood , Hassan Al-Taai Suaad Hadi
Published: June 2021

Pollution and its direct and indirect negative effects on humans, and animals is one of the most important issues that researchers have been studying and searching for radical solutions. Therefore, the research sheds light on the definition of pollution, its causes and environmental effects, its most important types, especially radioactive, industrial and household waste, and their levels of risk. The research focuses on the issue of air pollution resulting from fumes, smoke, and gases emitted from cars, factories, volcanic eruptions, and others. It also absorbs the problem of soil and water pollution due to the failure to properly treat factory, household and other waste, and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides harmful to water, air and soil. The research addresses the topic of noise pollution, and its causes by limiting loud noises from radio, television, cars, airplanes, music, etc.
Structure of Bacterial Communities Associated with Some Aquatic Plants
Authors: Lafta Alzurfi Sadiq Kadhum , Katia Israa latif
Published: June 2021

This study was the first of its kind on the Euphrates river in Iraq to study of the composition of the epiphytic bacterial community of an three aquatic plants (Hydrilla verticillata, Phragmitesaustralis and Eichhorniacrassipes) was investigated. The study was conducted to how are bacterial assemblages in the rhizosphere for sediment different from those in bulk and surface sediments and aquatic plant during 2020 two sites in Kufa river were chosen. Total organic material, pH and EC of sediment were measured. Eighteen taxon were found in current study. The bacterial communities on three aquatic plants were distinct, such that Aeromonassobria, Pseudomonas putida, Enterobactercloacae andAcinetobacterbaumanniiwere found on H.verticillata and in the sediment, while Acinetobacterlwoffii, Enterobacter cloacae ssp cloacae, Escherichia coli and klebsiellapneumoniaessp pneumonia on E. crassipes in site 2. Either on P. australisand sediment the Enterobactercloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Pseudomonas putida were found in site 1 and Granulicatellaelegans, Proteus penneri, and Pseudomonas putida in site 2. While the Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia andSerratiamarcescens were found in water at site 1.Aeromonassobriadominance in sediment of H. verticillata while Escherichia colidominance in sediment of E. crassipes, eitherPseudomonas putidawas dominanced inP. australisroot. Number of bacteria were recorded in sediment of P. australis higher proportion was 28% than other. The indexes of diversity were recorded in sediment of P. australis higher than other except Domancy index recorded in sediment of E.crassipes was 0.025 higher than other. Our results indicated differences between the epiphyticbacterial community on the three plants and the water column at the species level, but an even representation of the mostabundant phylogenetic taxa in sediment of P. australis was revealed. Statistical comparison of the retrieved sequencesconfirmed that the three libraries did differ significantly at the community level.
Planktonic Foraminiferal biostratigraphy of Jaddala Formation in well (K-152), Northern Iraq
Authors: Al-Wazan Alaa Mahmood , Altaee Noor Talal
Published: June 2021

Many species of planktonic foraminifera were identified from the Jaddala Formation from well (K-152)of depth (1010-900 m.) northern Iraq. The recorded planktonic foraminifera assemblages permits the recognition of four biozones these are (from top to bottom):Globigerinatheka subconglobata biozone (p11), Acarinina bullbrooki biozone (p10), Acarinina Pentacamerata biozone (p9) 1- Morozovell aragonensi biozone (p8) and On the basis of biocorrelation with previous works Early to Middle Eocene age confirmed for the Jaddala Formation at the studied section.
Preparation, Characterization and Prevention Biological pollution of 4 (4-Benzophenylazo) Pyrogallol and their Metal Complexes
Authors: Abid Alradaa Zainab A. , Kadam Zeina M.
Published: June 2021

New azo reagent was synthesized by reaction dizonium salt of Para aminobenzoic acid with Pyrogallol, also prepared three Chelate complexes of this reagent with the metal ions of Co(II), Ni(II), and Ag(I). This reagent was characterized by FTIR(Fourier Transform Infrared), UV. Visible spectrophotometer, FESEM and HNMR proton. The antibacterial activities of the compounds were studied and evaluated using gram positive and negative gram bacteria. The purity of the dye was checked by thin layer chromatography (TLC) using solvent system (Toluene-Methanol) (2:3).The melting point of the purified dye was measured in an open capillary tube. The results showed that some of these compounds have high levels of antibacterial activity.