bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The indispensable mental element of justification and the failure of purely objectivist (mostly “revisionist”) just war theories
Authors: Steinhoff Uwe
Published: February 2020

The “right intention” requirement, in the form of a requirement that the agent must have a justified true belief that the mind-independent conditions of the justification to use force are fulfilled, is not anadditionalcriterion, but one thatconstrainsthe interpretation of the other criteria. Without it, the only possible interpretation of the mind-independent criteria is purely objectivist, that is, purely fact-relative. Pure objectivism condemns self-defense and just war theory to irrelevance since it cannot provide proper action guidance: it is impractically demanding. This means that “revisionist” just war theories which base their doctrine of the moralinequality of combatants on the idea that objective justification defeats liability are irrelevant for the real world, where objective justification is virtually inaccessible. Moreover, only the right intention requirement in the form of a knowledge requirement, as opposed to requiring “good intentions” or “acceptable motivations,” can solve this problem.
Aromatase Inhibition Ameliorates Decreased LH Output Found in Obese Women
Authors: Jones Kelsey , Ryan Sarah , Carlson Nichole E , Chosich Justin , Bradford Andrew P. , Santoro Nanette , Polotsky Alex J
Published: February 2020

In obese ovulatory women, serum luteinizing Hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) are lowered compared with normal weight women. This relative hypogonadotropic hypogonadism represents a potential etiology for overall decreased fertility in obesity. The objective was to determine if administration of an aromatase inhibitor (AI) to ovulating obese women would normalize LH and FSH by interrupting estradiol negative feedback. Letrozole (2.5–5 mg) was given daily to 22 women, 12 obese and 10 normal weight, for 7 days. On the last day of administration, 8 h of blood sampling was done every 10 min before and after a bolus of GnRH at 4 h. We obtained data from 21 ovulatory women (10 normal weight and 11 obese) who had undergone a similar protocol of frequent blood sampling but no aromatase inhibitors (AI) treatment. Serum LH and FSH levels and pulse characteristics were measured. Treatment with AI only significantly affected obese women. Further, in women with obesity, LH secretion, prior to the GnRH bolus, was significantly higher in AI treated compared with non-treated (p = 0.011). AI treatment doubled LH pulse amplitude in obese women (p = 0.004). In response to aromatase inhibition, LH secretion in ovulatory women with obesity is increased and similar to levels found in untreated normal weight women. The increase in LH pulse amplitude indicates that the AI effect is mediated at the level of the pituitary. Our results suggest that the hypogonadotropic phenotype of simple obesity is subject to modulation by interruption of estradiol negative feedback.
Poetry, Identity, and Family: An Interview with Amal Kassir Conducted by Nina Zietlow
Authors: Kassir Amal , Zietlow Nina
Published: February 2020

Amal Kassir is a 23-year-old Syrian-American spoken word poet and artist. Kassir has performed in 10 countries and over 45 cities and has conducted workshops, given lectures, and recited her poetry in venues ranging from youth prisons to orphanages, refugee camps to universities, and churches to community spaces. She hopes to take part in the global effort to support literacy in war-struck areas and refugee camps and runs a project called More than Metaphors that focuses on helping to educate displaced Syrian children. Recipient of multiple awards, including the Grand Slam at the Brave New Voices International Youth Competition, Kassir has performed on the TED stage and been featured on the PBS NewsHour.
ENT training amongst general practitioners: results from a questionnaire
Authors: Dimitrov L , Unadkat S , Khanna A , Rennie C , Saleh H
Published: February 2020

Objectives

To evaluate the level of undergraduate and post-graduate ENT exposure amongst general practitioners and their perceived quality of this training. A secondary aim was to examine whether general practitioners believe ENT department based rotations should remain in the undergraduate curriculum.

Method

An online questionnaire-based survey was sent to general practices in England.

Results

A total of 417 general practitioners completed the questionnaire. Sixty-seven per cent had completed an ENT rotation at medical school whereas 27 per cent had undertaken a postgraduate placement in ENT. Fifty-one per cent had received post-graduate teaching in ENT, mainly in the form of lectures. The majority of general practitioners were not satisfied with their training in ENT at undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Eighty-five per cent of general practitioners believed formal hospital-based ENT training should remain in the undergraduate curriculum.

Conclusion

General practitioners reported insufficient exposure to ENT during both post-graduate and undergraduate training. Proposals to outsource undergraduate ENT teaching to affiliated departments such as general practice are of concern.
Effects of modality preference and working memory capacity on captioned videos in enhancing L2 listening outcomes
Authors: Kam Emily Fen , Liu Yeu-Ting , Tseng Wen-Ta
Published: February 2020

Captioned video is widely used to enhance second language (L2) learners’ exposure to oral input beyond the classroom setting, and captioning has been found to provide an instantaneous, useful visual aid for parsing and understanding L2 oral discourse. Nevertheless, a meta-analysis has shown that captioning exerts a selective effect on L2 learners with different profiles. This study investigated whether L2 learners’ modality preferences (visual vs. auditory) and working memory capacity (high vs. low) would modulate the effect of full captions on L2 listening outcome. Results from 60 participants revealed that both cognitive variables affected their L2 listening to different extents. Notably, working memory capacity modulates the impact of L2 learners’ preferred modality on their listening outcome. Modality preference did not exert any significant impact on the listening outcome of L2 learners with lower working memory capacity. For L2 learners with high working memory capacity, their modality preference played a pivotal role in modulating their listening outcome; in this case, auditory learners had the best listening performance viewing the video without captions, whereas visual learners did best when watching the captioned video. These findings speak to the need for taking individual differences into consideration when employing captioned videos.
A new compact and wideband CPW-fed sleeve antenna
Authors: Hasani Peyman , Hashemi Seyed Mohammad , Ghalibafan Javad
Published: February 2020

In this article, a sleeve antenna with a wide impedance bandwidth that consists of a coplanar waveguide line connected to a metallic cylinder is presented. The effect of design parameters on the impedance bandwidth is considered by some simulations. In addition to the wide impedance bandwidth, the omnidirectional pattern, high efficiency, low cost and easy fabrication process, and compact dimensions cause this antenna to be a good choice for some applications at low VHF/UHF frequency bands. Due to the flexible structure of this antenna, it is possible to cover the various frequency bands by changing the parameters of the antenna. In this work a typical model of the proposed antenna for the frequency range of 127 to 586 MHz is fabricated and compared with other previous works. An equivalent circuit model has been proposed to better understand how the antenna works. The proposed antenna has a bandwidth of about 128.7% for a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of less than 3, compact size of 0.274λ × 0.047λ and higher than 90% efficiency.
The Global Distribution of Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Terrestrial Natural Ecosystems
Authors: Davies‐Barnard T. , Friedlingstein P.
Published: February 2020

Biological nitrogen fixation is a key contributor to sustaining the terrestrial carbon cycle, providing nitrogen input that plants require. However, the amount and global distribution of this fixation is highly disputed. Using a comprehensive meta‐analysis of field measurements, we make a new assessment of global biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). We assessed the relationship between BNF in natural terrestrial environments and empirical predictors of BNF commonly used in terrestrial ecosystem and earth system models. We found no evidence for any statistically significant relationship between BNF and evapotranspiration and net or gross primary terrestrial productivity. We assessed the relationship between BNF and 11 other climate variables and soil properties at a global scale. We found that all the variables we considered had little predictive power for BNF. Using averaged biome values upscaled we calculated the median global inputs of BNF in natural ecosystems as 88 Tg N year−1. The range (52–130 Tg N year−1) encompasses most recent estimates and broadly agrees with recent independent top‐down estimates of BNF. The global values indicate a significant role for free living, as opposed to symbiotic, BNF, accounting for at least a third of all BNF. This work provides a new global benchmark and spatial distribution data set of BNF using a bottom‐up methodology.
Prediction of Sequential Organelles Localization under Imbalance using A Balanced Deep U-Net
Authors: Yudistira Novanto , Kavitha Muthusubash , Itabashi Takeshi , Iwane Atsuko H. , Kurita Takio
Published: February 2020

Assessing the structure and function of organelles in living organisms of the primitive unicellular red algae Cyanidioschyzon merolae on three-dimensional sequential images demands a reliable automated technique in the class imbalance among various cellular structures during mitosis. Existing classification networks with commonly used loss functions were focused on larger numbers of cellular structures that lead to the unreliability of the system. Hence, we proposed a balanced deep regularized weighted compound dice loss (RWCDL) network for better localization of cell organelles. Specifically, we introduced two new loss functions, namely compound dice (CD) and RWCD by implementing multi-class variant dice and weighting mechanism, respectively for maximizing weights of peroxisome and nucleus among five classes as the main contribution of this study. We extended the Unet-like convolution neural network (CNN) architecture for evaluating the ability of our proposed loss functions for improved segmentation. The feasibility of the proposed approach is confirmed with three different large scale mitotic cycle data set with different number of occurrences of cell organelles. In addition, we compared the training behavior of our designed architectures with the ground truth segmentation using various performance measures. The proposed balanced RWCDL network generated the highest area under the curve (AUC) value in elevating the small and obscure peroxisome and nucleus, which is 30% higher than the network with commonly used mean square error (MSE) and dice loss (DL) functions. The experimental results indicated that the proposed approach can efficiently identify the cellular structures, even when the contour between the cells is obscure and thus convinced that the balanced deep RWCDL approach is reliable and can be helpful for biologist to accurately identify the relationship between the cell behavior and structures of cell organelles during mitosis.
Structure and morphology of cellulose fibers in garlic skin
Authors: Raimo Maria
Published: February 2020

The knowledge of the texture and morphology of cellulose is essential for reliable modelling of cell growth and mechanical resistance of vegetal systems. Microscopic observations on thin layers of the skin of Allium sativum have shown elongated structures (i.e. cellulose fibers) imbedded in a matrix of more or less rounded cells. Examination by an optical polarizing microscope (OPM) has shown an intermittent high and low birefringence along fibers. Transversal regions with a reduced brightness along fibers are expected to contain a higher amount of amorphous lignin, hemicelluloses and waxes, some of which might also be birefringent, but at a much lower degree than cellulose. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has also evidenced an alternating growth of the fibers. Moreover, the negative sign of birefringence suggests a parallel orientation of cellulose nanofibrils transversally to the fiber axis. The characteristic modulation of intensity along lignocellulosic fibers can be due to variation of the cellulose concentration or orientation, perhaps caused by circadian cycles of temperature and light during growth. Indeed, imperfect orthogonal light can be totally reflected at the interface between regions with different values of the refractive index, contributing to the optical effect of banding.
Phylogenomic analysis of trichomycterid catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes) inferred from ultraconserved elements
Authors: Ochoa Luz E. , Datovo Aléssio , DoNascimiento Carlos , Roxo Fabio F. , Sabaj Mark H. , Chang Jonathan , Melo Bruno F. , Silva Gabriel S. C. , Foresti Fausto , Alfaro Michael , Oliveira Claudio
Published: February 2020

The family Trichomycteridae is one of the most diverse groups of freshwater catfishes in South and Central America with eight subfamilies, 41 genera and more than 300 valid species. Its members are widely distributed throughout South America, reaching Costa Rica in Central America and are recognized by extraordinary anatomical specializations and trophic diversity. In order to assess the phylogenetic relationships of Trichomycteridae, we collected sequence data from ultraconserved elements (UCEs) of the genome from 141 specimens of Trichomycteridae and 12 outgroup species. We used a concatenated matrix to assess the phylogenetic relationships by Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) searches and a coalescent analysis of species trees. The results show a highly resolved phylogeny with broad agreement among the three distinct analyses, providing overwhelming support for the monophyletic status of subfamily Trichomycterinae includingItuglanisandScleronema. Previous relationship hypotheses among subfamilies are strongly corroborated, such as the sister relationship between Copionodontinae and Trichogeninae forming a sister clade to the remaining trichomycterids and the intrafamilial clade TSVSG (Tridentinae-Stegophilinae-Vandelliinae-Sarcoglanidinae-Glanapteryginae). Monophyly of Glanapteryginae and Sarcoglanidinae was not supported and the enigmaticPotamoglanisis placed outside Tridentinae.
Model-based Respondent-driven sampling analysis for HIV prevalence in brazilian MSM
Authors: Robineau Olivier , Gomes Marcelo F. C. , Kendall Carl , Kerr Ligia , Périssé André , Boëlle Pierre-Yves
Published: February 2020

Respondent Driven Sampling study (RDS) is a population sampling method developed to study hard-to-reach populations. A sample is obtained by chain-referral recruitment in a network of contacts within the population of interest. Such self-selected samples are not representative of the target population and require weighing observations to reduce estimation bias. Recently, the Network Model-Assisted (NMA) method was described to compute the required weights. The NMA method relies on modeling the underlying contact network in the population where the RDS was conducted, in agreement with directly observable characteristics of the sample such as the number of contacts, but also with more difficult-to-measure characteristics such as homophily or differential characteristics according to the response variable. Here we investigated the use of the NMA method to estimate HIV prevalence from RDS data when information on homophily is limited. We show that an iterative procedure based on the NMA approach allows unbiased estimations even in the case of strong population homophily and differential activity and limits bias in case of preferential recruitment. We applied the methods to determine HIV prevalence in men having sex with men in Brazilian cities and confirmed a high prevalence of HIV in these populations from 3.8% to 22.1%.
Targeting Plk1 with siRNNs in primary cells from pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients
Authors: Goroshchuk Oksana , Vidarsdottir Linda , Björklund Ann-Charlotte , Hamil Alexander S. , Kolosenko Iryna , Dowdy Steven F. , Palm-Apergi Caroline
Published: February 2020

B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) accounts for nearly one fifth of all childhood cancers and current challenges in B-ALL treatment include resistance, relapse and late-onset side effects due to the chemotherapy. To overcome these hurdles, novel therapies need to be investigated. One promising target is Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), a key regulator of the cell cycle. In this study, the Plk family expression is investigated in primary peripheral blood and bone marrow mononuclear cells from ten pediatric B-ALL patients. For the first time, short interfering RiboNucleic Neutrals (siRNNs) that enter cells without a transfection reagent are used to target Plk1 mRNA in primary cells from pediatric B-ALL patients. Our results show that the expression of Plk1 and Plk4 is significantly higher in pediatric B-ALL patients compared to healthy donors. Moreover, treatment of primary peripheral blood and bone marrow mononuclear cells from pediatric B-ALL patients, culturedex vivo, with Plk1-targeting siRNNs results in cleavage of Plk1 mRNA. Importantly, the Plk1 knockdown is specific and does not affect other Plk members in contrast to many small molecule Plk1 inhibitors. Thus, Plk1 is a potential therapeutic target in pediatric B-ALL and selective targeting of Plk1 can be achieved by the use of siRNNs.
Author Correction: Suppression of glioblastoma by a drug cocktail reprogramming tumor cells into neuronal like cells
Authors: Gao Longfei , Huang Shichao , Zhang Hong , Hua Wei , Xin Shunmei , Cheng Lin , Guan Wuqiang , Yu Yongchun , Mao Ying , Pei Gang
Published: February 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Author Correction: A new common functional coding variant at the DDC gene change renal enzyme activity and modify renal dopamine function
Authors: Miramontes-Gonzalez Jose Pablo , Hightower C. Makena , Zhang Kuixing , Kurosaki Hiroki , Schork Andrew J. , Biswas Nilima , Vaingankar Sucheta , Mahata Manjula , Lipkowitz Michael S. , Nievergelt Caroline M. , Baker Dewleen G. , Ziegler Michael G. , León-Jiménez David , González-Sarmiento Rogelio , Ichinose Hiroshi , O’Connor Daniel T.
Published: February 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Author Correction: Quantitative measurement of post-concussion syndrome Using Electrovestibulography
Authors: Suleiman Abdelbaset , Lithgow Brian , Dastgheib Zeinab , Mansouri Behzad , Moussavi Zahra
Published: February 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Author Correction: Genome-wide analyses of long non-coding RNA expression profiles and functional network analysis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Ma Junliang , Xiao Yuhang , Tian Bo , Chen Shaolin , Zhang Baihua , Wu Jie , Wu Zhining , Li Xu , Tang Jinming , Yang Desong , Zhou Yong , Wang Hui , Su Min , Wang Wenxiang
Published: February 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
High-contrast, synchronous volumetric imaging with selective volume illumination microscopy
Authors: Truong Thai V. , Holland Daniel B. , Madaan Sara , Andreev Andrey , Keomanee-Dizon Kevin , Troll Josh V. , Koo Daniel E. S. , McFall-Ngai Margaret J. , Fraser Scott E.
Published: February 2020

Light-field fluorescence microscopy uniquely provides fast, synchronous volumetric imaging by capturing an extended volume in one snapshot, but often suffers from low contrast due to the background signal generated by its wide-field illumination strategy. We implemented light-field-based selective volume illumination microscopy (SVIM), where illumination is confined to only the volume of interest, removing the background generated from the extraneous sample volume, and dramatically enhancing the image contrast. We demonstrate the capabilities of SVIM by capturing cellular-resolution 3D movies of flowing bacteria in seawater as they colonize their squid symbiotic partner, as well as of the beating heart and brain-wide neural activity in larval zebrafish. These applications demonstrate the breadth of imaging applications that we envision SVIM will enable, in capturing tissue-scale 3D dynamic biological systems at single-cell resolution, fast volumetric rates, and high contrast to reveal the underlying biology.
An isothermal shift assay for proteome scale drug-target identification
Authors: Ball Kerri A. , Webb Kristofor J. , Coleman Stephen J. , Cozzolino Kira A. , Jacobsen Jeremy , Jones Kevin R. , Stowell Michael H. B. , Old William M.
Published: February 2020

Most small molecule drugs act on living systems by physically interacting with specific proteins and modulating target function. Identification of drug binding targets, within the complex milieu of the human proteome, remains a challenging task of paramount importance in drug discovery. Existing approaches for target identification employ complex workflows with limited throughput. Here, we present the isothermal shift assay (iTSA), a mass spectrometry method for proteome-wide identification of drug targets within lysates or living cells. Compared with prevailing methods, iTSA uses a simplified experimental design with increased statistical power to detect thermal stability shifts that are induced by small molecule binding. Using a pan-kinase inhibitor, staurosporine, we demonstrate improved performance over commonly used thermal proteome profiling methods, identifying known targets in cell lysates and living cells. We also demonstrate the identification of both known targets and additional candidate targets for the kinase inhibitor harmine in cell and tissue lysates.
Scaffold channel size influences stem cell differentiation pathway in 3-D printed silica hybrid scaffolds for cartilage regeneration
Authors: Li Siwei , Tallia Francesca , Mohammed Ali A. , Stevens Molly M. , Jones Julian R.
Published: February 2020

We report that 3-D printed scaffold channel size can direct bone marrow derived stem cell differentiation, e.g. ∼200–250 μm channels promote hyaline-like cartilage matrix production.
Examining the correlation between quantifiable SVOCs and organic carbon content or particulate size in benthic sediments as a function of ocean stratum
Authors: Otim Ochan
Published: February 2020

Stratum-directed correlation between DDT, PAH or PCB levels and TOC or % fines.
Electrical transport properties and ultrafast optical nonlinearity of rGO–metal chalcogenide ensembles
Authors: Rahaman Abdulla Bin , Sarkar Atri , Singha Tara , Chakraborty Koushik , Dutta Snehasish , Pal Tanusri , Ghosh Surajit , Datta Prasanta K. , Banerjee Debamalya
Published: February 2020

Photosensitive hybrid composites (rGO–ZnSe and rGO–ZnTe) have been synthesized by a solvothermal method. Comparative study on change in mobility (dark to illumination), photosensitivity and nonlinear optical properties indicate that rGO–ZnTe performs better than rGO–ZnSe.
Novel polyimides containing flexible carbazole blocks with electrochromic and electrofluorescencechromic properties
Authors: Zheng Rongrong , Huang Tao , Zhang Zhipeng , Sun Zhiyao , Niu Haijun , Wang Cheng , Wang Wen
Published: February 2020

Polyimides prepared by polycondensation of new diamine with different anhydrides have electrochromic and electrofluorochromic properties.
Agmatine-grafted bioreducible poly(l-lysine) for gene delivery with low cytotoxicity and high efficiency
Authors: Zhao Jing , Ullah Ihsan , Gao Bin , Guo Jintang , Ren Xiang-kui , Xia Shihai , Zhang Wencheng , Feng Yakai
Published: February 2020

Agmatine-grafted bioreducible poly(l-lysine) for gene delivery with low cytotoxicity and high efficiency.
A silver nanoparticle-assisted signal amplification electrochemiluminescence biosensor for highly sensitive detection of mucin 1
Authors: Wei Yu-Ping , Zhang Yi-Wen , Mao Chang-Jie
Published: February 2020

A novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor was developed in this study, which was based on the Ag-NP modified tetrahedral DNA nanostructure.
The construction of helicate metal–organic nanotubes and enantioselective recognition
Authors: Zhao Yan-Wu , Zhang Xian-Ming
Published: February 2020

Self-assembling metal–organic nanotubes (HMOF-2) acts as an excellent fluorescence sensor for fast, convenient, sensitive and enantioselective recognition of d/l-tartaric acid and d- or l-lactic acid with adverse properties in the food industry.
Structure–activity relationships of sulfonamides derived from carvacrol and their potential for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: de Souza Márcia Maria , Andreolla Marina Corrêa , Ribeiro Thaís Cecília , Gonçalves Ana Elisa , Medeiros Alex Rogério , de Souza Anacleto Silva , Ferreira Leonardo Luiz Gomes , Andricopulo Adriano Defini , Yunes Rosendo Augusto , de Oliveira Aldo Sena
Published: February 2020

We investigated the potential of sulfonamides derived from carvacrol as candidates for treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The results are very promising for the molecular target investigated as well as for the phenotypic assays.
Enhanced triethylamine sensing performance of metal–organic framework derived nest-type Fe-doped NiO nanostructure
Authors: Wang Dongxue , Zhai Chengbo , Du Liyong , Gu Kuikun , Zhang Mingzhe
Published: February 2020

The response of our Fe-doped NiO TEA sensor was about 21 times higher than that of the pure sensor. The quick response time and recovery time, good selectivity and stability, and enhanced gas sensing properties could be attributed to Fe-doping.
Effect of surface oxidation on the electronic transport properties of phosphorene gas sensors: a computational study
Authors: Marmolejo-Tejada Juan M. , Jaramillo-Botero Andres
Published: February 2020

Computational study of surface oxidation effects on phosphorene-based gas sensors, and potential for nM L−1 detection and measurement of nitrogen–oxygen moieties.
Theoretical modeling of electrochemical nucleation and growth of a single metal nanocluster on a nanoelectrode
Authors: Isaev Vladimir A. , Grishenkova Olga V. , Zaykov Yurii P.
Published: February 2020

The models of formation and growth of a single nanocluster on a nanoelectrode are presented for three basic electrochemical methods (cyclic voltammetry, potentiostatic and galvanostatic electrodeposition).
Two 1D homochiral heterometallic chains: crystal structures, spectra, ferroelectricity and ferromagnetic properties
Authors: Zhou Zhuoqiang , Li Ming-Xing , Sui Yan , Nfor Emmanuel N. , Wang Zhao-Xi
Published: February 2020

Two homochiral 1D heterometallic chains are potential multifunctional molecules coexisting optical activity, ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties.
Correction: Recent advances in the synthesis and synthetic applications of Betti base (aminoalkylnaphthol) and bis-Betti base derivatives
Authors: Olyaei Abolfazl , Sadeghpour Mahdieh
Published: February 2020

Correction for ‘Recent advances in the synthesis and synthetic applications of Betti base (aminoalkylnaphthol) and bis-Betti base derivatives’ by Olyaei et al., RSC Adv., 2019, 9, 18467–18497.
Biodegradable nano-organosilica gene carrier for high-efficiency gene transfection
Authors: Zeng Kun , Ma Li , Yang Wenxiu , Lei Shan , Wang Mozhen , You Yezi , Zhao Yu , Ge Xuewu
Published: February 2020

Guanidinated-fluorinated α-polylysine-modified organosilica nanoparticles can form a novel raisin-bread-like gene vector, which is disintegrated in cells by GSH to show high transfection efficiency.
Fast transformation of a rare-earth doped luminescent sub-microcrystal via plasmonic nanoislands
Authors: Kong Ting , Zhang Chengyun , Gan Xuetao , Xiao Fajun , Li Jinping , Fu Zhengkun , Zhang Zhenglong , Zheng Hairong
Published: February 2020

Efficient and fast micro-crystal transformation by plasmonic catalysis of Au nanoislands.
Highly efficient near-UV-excitable Ca2YHf2Al3O12:Ce3+,Tb3+green-emitting garnet phosphors with potential application in high color rendering warm-white LEDs
Authors: Wang Shaoying , Devakumar Balaji , Sun Qi , Liang Jia , Sun Liangling , Huang Xiaoyong
Published: February 2020

Novel near-UV-excitable Ca2YHf2Al3O12:Ce3+,Tb3+green phosphors with a highest internal quantum efficiency of 86.6% and external quantum efficiency of 63.1% were reported for high-CRI warm-white LEDs.
Experimental studies on effects of surface morphologies on corona characteristics of conductors subjected to positive DC voltages
Authors: Jie Zhu , Zichen He , Jiale Wu , Xingming Bian
Published: February 2020

As the surface conditions play a significant role on corona discharge and its related effects of the conductors, the influence of fine particulate matter on positive‐polarity, direct‐current conductors was studied experimentally in this study. The surface morphologies of the conductor could be discovered from the experiments. The typical morphologies are the parallel chains of particles. To evaluate the surface condition quantitively, the surface roughness of the conductors is measured. It is found that the applied voltage and testing time have a great influence on the surface condition. After that, the corona characteristics of conductors are tested. It reveals that the total ground level electric field and ion flow density increases with the surface roughness growing.
Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS)
Authors: Taquet V. , Codella C. , De Simone M. , López-Sepulcre A. , Pineda J. E. , Segura-Cox D. , Ceccarelli C. , Caselli P. , Gusdorf A. , Persson M. V. , Alves F. , Caux E. , Favre C. , Fontani F. , Neri R. , Oya Y. , Sakai N. , Vastel C. , Yamamoto S. , Bachiller R. , Balucani N. , Bianchi E. , Bizzocchi L. , Chacón-Tanarro A. , Dulieu F. , Enrique-Romero J. , Feng S. , Holdship J. , Lefloch B. , Jaber Al-Edhari A. , Jiménez-Serra I. , Kahane C. , Lattanzi V. , Ospina-Zamudio J. , Podio L. , Punanova A. , Rimola A. , Sims I. R. , Spezzano S. , Testi L. , Theulé P. , Ugliengo P. , Vasyunin A. I. , Vazart F. , Viti S. , Witzel A.
Published: February 2020

Context. Low-mass protostars drive powerful molecular outflows that can be observed with millimetre and submillimetre telescopes. Various sulfuretted species are known to be bright in shocks and could be used to infer the physical and chemical conditions throughout the observed outflows.

Aims. The evolution of sulfur chemistry is studied along the outflows driven by the NGC 1333-IRAS4A protobinary system located in the Perseus cloud to constrain the physical and chemical processes at work in shocks.

Methods. We observed various transitions from OCS, CS, SO, and SO2 towards NGC 1333-IRAS4A in the 1.3, 2, and 3 mm bands using the IRAM NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array and we interpreted the observations through the use of the Paris-Durham shock model.

Results. The targeted species clearly show different spatial emission along the two outflows driven by IRAS4A. OCS is brighter on small and large scales along the south outflow driven by IRAS4A1, whereas SO2 is detected rather along the outflow driven by IRAS4A2 that is extended along the north east–south west direction. SO is detected at extremely high radial velocity up to + 25 km s−1 relative to the source velocity, clearly allowing us to distinguish the two outflows on small scales. Column density ratio maps estimated from a rotational diagram analysis allowed us to confirm a clear gradient of the OCS/SO2 column density ratio between the IRAS4A1 and IRAS4A2 outflows. Analysis assuming non Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium of four SO2 transitions towards several SiO emission peaks suggests that the observed gas should be associated with densities higher than 105 cm−3 and relatively warm (T > 100 K) temperatures in most cases.

Conclusions. The observed chemical differentiation between the two outflows of the IRAS4A system could be explained by a different chemical history. The outflow driven by IRAS4A1 is likely younger and more enriched in species initially formed in interstellar ices, such as OCS, and recently sputtered into the shock gas. In contrast, the longer and likely older outflow triggered by IRAS4A2 is more enriched in species that have a gas phase origin, such as SO2.
Assessment of the Quality of Soil and Groundwater of the Agricultural Area of Sidi Yahya Region, Morocco
Authors: Lahmar M. , El Khodrani N. , Omrania S. , Dakak H. , Moussadek R. , Douaik A. , Iaaich H. , El Azzouzi M. , Mekkaoui M. , Zouahri A.
Published: February 2020

The Gharb plain is the largest agricultural area in Morocco. It is characterized by fertile soils and the availability of water either from surface or groundwater which allowed intensive agriculture. The aim of this research work is to study the impact of this land management on the quality of water and soil. The study was done for the irrigated perimeter of Sidi Yahya belonging to the province of Sidi Slimane, Gharb (Morocco). Depth of water table and water pH were measured in situ while water and soil samples were collected and brought to the laboratory for their physico-chemical analyses. Sampling of 33water wells and soil samples, from six different zones, was done between May and October 2018. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to check if mean water and soil parameters differed between zones. The results showed that the minimal and maximal water table depth were 6 and 96 m, respectively. Also, slightly more than half of the wells (51.5%) were inadequate for irrigation since they were either highly or extremely saline. Furthermore, soils were poor to moderately poor in organic matter but very rich in potassium and the phosphorus content was highly variable. Based on the statistical analysis, it is clear that the six zones had significantly different means for CaCO3, pH, OM, and exchangeable sodium percentage. Soil degradation like pollution and salinization may occur in this region if poor quality water is used for irrigation and if land is mismanaged. This research work can be considered as a first step towards a program for monitoring the quality of soil and water for adapting the land management with the final objective of securing high productivity and sustainable use of soil and water resources.
Climate Change Observations and Trends Overview: Focus on Morocco With a Case-Study of A Future Reservoir’s Response to Climate Change
Authors: El Harraki Wafae , Ouazar Driss , Bouziane Ahmed , Hasnaoui Driss
Published: February 2020

Climate change impacts are being unequivocal on societies, natural resources and economic development. Observations and trends of climate features have been tackled by many scientists through analysis of historical series of temperature and precipitation and projections of theses parameters and of their extremes under different scenarios. This paper gives an overview of climate change observations and trends based on some latest works with focus on impacts on water resources and specifically in Morocco belonging to a vulnerable continent to climate change and to the Mediterranean region qualified as a “hot spot”. A case-study from Sebou Basin was conducted through an assessment of water supply from a future reservoir for different sizes under climate change scenarios for the mid and end of the 21st century. Simulations of the future multi-objective dam showed a decrease of total average supply between 9% to 12% for the mid-term scenario and 20% to 27% for the long-term scenario. The biggest size was found to have better reliability permitting approaching the fulfillment of all water needs for the log-term. Some adaptation options are recommended in occurrence water demand management, reservoir operation optimization and raising users „awareness and participation in climate change adaptation.
The performance assessment of Khouribga waste water treatment plant: diagnostics, gaps and operating guide
Authors: Rajhy Ghalia , Khomsi Driss
Published: February 2020

This article presents an evaluation’s results about performances of Khouribga’s Wastewater Treatment plant. In general, the purpose of proposed model for the performances evaluation being is to check the quality and quantity of the system goals compared to the design data and the legislation. The quality goals being not verified in our case, the plant operation’s diagnosis is deployed to detect the different meanings impacts caused by some points of controls and to raise the causes of these anomalies. Through a feedback experience, some corrective and preventive actions will be proposed to treat the dysfunction. A follow up of the evolution of the performance is proved to be necessary and adds up as an experience feedback in a Moroccan context.
Extraction of cadmium from phosphoric acid by a synthesized extracting agent
Authors: Berkalou Kaoutar , Nounah Abderrahman , Khamar Mohamed , Boussen Ratiba , Cherkaoui Essediya
Published: February 2020

The Purification of phosphoric acid used several extractants from the family of oxygenates, sulfurous or amino compounds. In this work, we were interested in the synthesis, physico-chemical and spectroscopic characterization, and use of the product C11H18N2O as an extractant of cadmium from phosphoric acid. The synthesized product was characterized by: infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectroscopy. Solubility tests in different solvents have been carried out. Subsequently, liquid-liquid extraction of cadmium from phosphoric acid was carried out using C11H18N2O as an extractant diluted in benzene. The study investigated the influence of concentration of phosphoric acid and the extracting agent. The result obtained ensure that our synthesized product is promising. The percentage of cadmium extraction from phosphoric acid reached 98.58% at a concentration of 2.5M phosphoric acid and an optimal concentration of 0.5×10-2 M of synthesized extractant.
Alumina-hydroxyapatite nanocomposites and their applications for the removal of phenolic compounds from water: A comparative study
Authors: Bouiahya Khadija , Oulguidoum A. , Laghzizil Abdelaziz
Published: February 2020

This study develops cost-effective adsorbents for the treatment of water contaminated with phenolic compounds, including Phenol (Ph), 2-Chlorophenol (2-CPh), and 2-Nitrophenol (2-NPh). Therefore, Alumina-Hydroxyapatite composites were prepared from natural phosphate in the presence of Al3+ ions characterized by various techniques and then the supplementary active sites on their surface may make a better contribution to the phenols remediation. It was concluded that the specific surface area, surface charge and Al content were very suitable for the more adsorptive removal. Results show that the 2-chlorophenol is the more affinity versus hydroxyapatite and its formed composites compared to 2-NPh and Ph in order 2-CPh>2-NPh>Ph.
Domestic wastewater treatment by vertical filter planted with Papyrus Cyperus: the plant adaptation in the new environment
Authors: El Hafidi Mustapha , Mouhir Latifa , Laaouan Mohamed , Kabbour Amal , Saafadi Laila
Published: February 2020

The wastewater from rural areas or small agglomerations usually discharged in an unsuitable manner requires an appropriate treatment. The constructed wetland has revealed a great potential due to the good performance, reasonable investment and easier management. The aim of this article is to present the results of the adaptation period (45 days) of a substitute plant, Papyrus Cyperus, in the new environment. Investigations were carried out on a concrete vertical filter of 12 m2 filled with gravel available on the local market. Monitoring was provided mainly through two squares of 1 m2 each. The results were compared with a control square planted in natural soil. The filter and the control square were planted with a density of 3 plants / m2 and were fed by necessary water needs. At the completion of the adaptation phase, the density increased by 26 stems at each Square of the filter. The stems exceeded 1 m in height (Square 1: 110 cm ± 0.9, Square 2: 123.5 cm ± 0.7 and control Square: 113 cm ± 0.9). The mean perimeter exceeded 5 cm at the filter (square 1: 5.6 cm ± 0.5 and square 2: 5.5 cm ± 0.1) and almost 4 cm in the control square (3.7 cm ± 0, 2). The shoots reached during the last half of the adaptation period 20 shoots in the Squares of the filter and 16 shoots in the control square. It should be noted that the young stems are adapted quickly than the older ones. Papyrus Cyperus plants have completed this phase with good health (absence of disease symptoms) and organ development similar to control plants.
Design of a computer tool for the optimization of solid waste collection circuits
Authors: Haddoun Nezha , Khomsi Driss
Published: February 2020

The optimization of solid waste collection circuits is one of the applications of the Capacited Arc Routing Problem. This article addresses this topic, summarizes and compares the different research and methods that have been used to solve this famous problem. And concluded with an effective method on which will be based the design of a computer optimization tool.
A Study related to the management of medical and pharmaceutical wastes in Beni Mellal-Khenifra region: Beni Mellal city as a case of study
Authors: Msaad Said , Abbadi Nouredine. , Mbarki Mohamed. , Rabi Souad. , Belkhouya Najat. , Gamouh Ahmed.
Published: February 2020

After having conducted an investigation about landfill in Beni Mellal city, Medical and Pharmaceutical Wastes (MPWs) are unloaded mixed with household and similar wastes. The objective of the present study is to analyze the management system of medical and pharmaceutical wastes at the level of Beni Mellal city in order to ameliorate the quality of collecting and handling these wastes and consequently minimizing the management costs vis a vis this service. First of all, we have created database concerning the location of health centers (HC). After, we have conducted a survey with the help of a questionnaire in different public and private health centers. Then we have carried out a research on MPWs in Dustbins existing around the health centers. We have also made an analysis of the management system of MPWs inside The Regional Hospital Center (RHC) in Beni Mellal. Afterwards, we have made a comparison between some hospital centers in Morocco when it comes to the management costs of MPWs.Based on the results obtained; we have suggested some solutions to master the management system of MPWs in addition to the scenarios for optimizing the costs linked with this service.
Comparison of analytical and numerical methods in the analysis of the stability of an excavation of the high-speed line in northern Morocco
Authors: Ardouz Ghizlane , Baba Khadija , Bahi Lahcen , Cherradi Choukri
Published: February 2020

The deformation and failure mechanisms on slopes and in particular the excavations, are very complex. Slope stability analysis is performed using two types of methods: analytical and numerical, which are compared in this article to evaluate their efficiency. The excavation object of this study is situated on the high-speed line between Kenitra and Tangier, specifically in the rural commune of Hjar Nhal, Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region. It extends for a 1170 m length, its maximum height is 62 m at the axis. The soil of the site is characterized by pelitic formations with the existence of numerous water sources at the base of the excavation. Modelling by analytical methods showed that the excavation did not present a stability problem, contrary to numerical modelling. Firstly, the analysis of the results shows that before the failure, the soil is continuous and that its behaviour cannot be analysed by analytical methods, because a fracture surface cannot be established. It is then necessary to consider numerical methods that take into account the entire volume to analyze the movements and their evolution over time. Secondly, hypotheses have been made about the possibility of a poor estimation of the mechanical characteristics of the soils that constitute the excavation. The review of geotechnical investigations has shown that these soils are coarse with discontinuities that favour water infiltration, and are difficult to characterize, which can lead to an overestimation of their mechanical characteristics.
Geophysical prospecting in the Doukkala area (Swalah commune) in Morocco
Authors: Soussi Halima , Bahi Lahcen , Ouadif Latifa , Chibout Mohamed , Aghazzaf Brahim , El Kasri Jada , Jaouda Imane
Published: February 2020

The collapse of the subsoil creates a risk for the population whether it is urban or rural. Each year, the damage caused by these collapses has considerable socio-economic consequences, and the damage costs are very high. Thus, the detection of these areas of collapse in urban and rural areas is important to prevent and avoid socio-economic consequences, and to establish a preventive risk planning to have a better protection of people and goods. The commune of Swalah, study area, belongs to the province of El Jadida which is part of those areas of Doukkala exposed to the risk of collapse due to the presence of underground cavities. These cavities are potentially dangerous for humans, especially in urban areas. They have different extensions that can be caused by natural or anthropic origin. Their size, as well as the physical properties of the external environment in which they are located, allow the use of different geophysical methods. The use of these geophysical methods is the best to detect and delineate cavities in this region. The present study was based on a geophysical compaign of vertical electrical soundings. Indeed, 50 electrical soundings were modeled and reinterpreted and allowed to detect and delineate any potential cavities in the region.
Research of suitability area of agriculture in Coastal CHAOUIA by integration the AHP, IDW, and MCDA to GIS
Authors: Souidi Hanane , Ouadif Latifa , Bahi Lahcen , Edderkaoui Raounak , Jaouda Imane , Bahi Yassine , Belhaj Siham
Published: February 2020

Agricultural expansion in developing countries requires a strategy to develop the agricultural sector in a sustainable and rational manner, despite its complexity to be achieved. The objective of this work is to develop an agricultural Suitability map, based on a flexible and interactive model between several methods, which are the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW), and the multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA),integrated into the GIS. The factors selected in this study are slope, elevation, land use, minimum and maximum temperature,also rainfall for both the dry and rainy periods. The analysis of the suitability map revealed the effectiveness of this model, which allowed the detection of areas unsuitable for agricultural development. the Comparison of the suitability map with the 2019 classified map shows that agricultural expansion is highly developed and covers almost the total area, which has had negative consequences on the groundwater quality of the Coastal CHAOUIA aquifer.
Study and evaluation the Marshes and surrounding areas in south of Iraq
Authors: Al-Nussairi Husam , Hassan Khalida
Published: February 2020

In this study, the marshlands in southern Iraq were investigated, focusing on the Hawizeh Marshlands and adjacent areas, by studying the scenario and quantities of water, in addition to the hydraulic and hydrochemical characteristics. To accomplish the objects of this study the researcher visited some fields, made interview with farmers, specialists, authorities and directorates related to this study. The results of this study indicate that there are a huge problem existed in the drainage systems with absence of natural outlets, the discharges of drainage water is towards Al- Hawizeh marsh which flow back its water into Tigris river through several canals, increasing salinity, scare of water, miss-use of land, lack of governments efforts to promote agricultural production leads to loss of soil productivity and land degradation.