bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ovipleistophora mirandellae
. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Authors: Minter D. W.
Published: December 2021

A description is provided for
Ovipleistophora mirandellae
, a parasite of various freshwater fish, and as such is found in the same habitats (large lakes, and medium to large rivers, etc.) as its hosts. Some information on its associated organisms and substrata, dispersal and transmission, habitats and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany)).
Pleistophora littoralis
. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Authors: Minter D. W.
Published: December 2021

A description is provided for
Pleistophora littoralis
, one of only 2 microsporidians recorded from
Lipophrys pholis
, the shanny, or smooth or common blenny, a North Atlantic fish of the order Blenniiformes. Some information on its morphology, dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Europe (UK)) and host (
Lipophrys pholis
).
Pleistophora senegalensis
. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Authors: Minter D. W.
Published: December 2021

A description is provided for
Pleistophora senegalensis
, the only microsporidian recorded from
Sparus aurata
, the gilt-head seabream, a North Atlantic fish of the order Perciformes. Some information on its morphology, dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Africa (Senegal)) and host (
Sparus aurata
).
Auricularia auricula-judae
. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Authors: Minter D. W. , Soliman G. S.
Published: December 2021

A description is provided for
Auricularia auricula-judae
, found on dead branches of
Sambucus nigra
. Some information on its morphology, dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Africa (Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Principe, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia), Asia (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Fujian, Hainan, Hong Kong, Manchuria, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Cyprus, Republic of Georgia, India, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Altai Republic, Amur Oblast, Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Khabarovsk Krai, Primorsky Krai, Republic of Sakha, Sakhalin Oblast,, Singapore, Korea Republic, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam), Atlantic Ocean (Portugal, Madeira, Spain, Islas Canarias), Australasia (Australia, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria, New Zealand), Caribbean (American Virgin Islands, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico), Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama), Europe (Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Irish Republic, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Belgorod Oblast, Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Krasnodar Krai, Kursk Oblast, Leningrad Oblast, Moscow Oblast, Republic of Adygea, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK), Indian Ocean (Mauritius), North America (Canada, Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Mexico, USA, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming), Pacific Ocean (French Polynesia, Guam, Norfolk Island, USA, Hawaii), South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Amazonas, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Mato Grosso, Pará, Paraná, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela)) and host (
S. nigra
).
Fomes fomentarius
. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Authors: Minter D. W. , Soliman G. S.
Published: December 2021

A description is provided for
Fomes fomentarius
. Sporophores of this fungus are found on both living and dead trees, where the fungus causes a decay of heartwood. Some information on its associated organisms and substrata, dispersal and transmission, habitats and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Africa (São Tomé and Principe, Somalia, Tunisia), Asia (Azerbaijan, China (Hong Kong), Cyprus, Georgia, India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal), Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan (Akmola, Aktobe, Almaty, East Kazakhstan, Kostanay, North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, South Kazakhstan, West Kazakhstan), Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia (Altai Krai, Altai Republic, Buryatia, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Irkutsk Oblast, Khabarovsk Krai, Novosibirsk Oblast, Primorsky Krai, Sakha Republic, Sakhalin Oblast, Tyumen Oblast, Zabaykalsky Krai), South Korea, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan), Central America (Panama), Atlantic Ocean (Portugal (Madeira)), Europe (Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia (Komi Republic, Krasnodar Krai, Moscow Oblast, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Orenburg Oblast, Republic of Karelia, Saratov Oblast, Voronezh Oblast), Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK), North America (Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan), USA (Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin)), South America (Brazil (Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina), Chile)).
B cell–intrinsic TBK1 is essential for germinal center formation during infection and vaccination in mice
Authors: Lee Michelle S.J. , Inoue Takeshi , Ise Wataru , Matsuo-Dapaah Julia , Wing James B. , Temizoz Burcu , Kobiyama Kouji , Hayashi Tomoya , Patil Ashwini , Sakaguchi Shimon , Simon A. Katharina , Bezbradica Jelena S. , Nagatoishi Satoru , Tsumoto Kouhei , Inoue Jun-Ichiro , Akira Shizuo , Kurosaki Tomohiro , Ishii Ken J. , Coban Cevayir
Published: December 2021

The germinal center (GC) is a site where somatic hypermutation and clonal selection are coupled for antibody affinity maturation against infections. However, how GCs are formed and regulated is incompletely understood. Here, we identified an unexpected role of Tank-binding kinase-1 (TBK1) as a crucial B cell–intrinsic factor for GC formation. Using immunization and malaria infection models, we show that TBK1-deficient B cells failed to form GC despite normal Tfh cell differentiation, although some malaria-infected B cell–specific TBK1-deficient mice could survive by GC-independent mechanisms. Mechanistically, TBK1 phosphorylation elevates in B cells during GC differentiation and regulates the balance of IRF4/BCL6 expression by limiting CD40 and BCR activation through noncanonical NF-κB and AKTT308 signaling. In the absence of TBK1, CD40 and BCR signaling synergistically enhanced IRF4 expression in Pre-GC, leading to BCL6 suppression, and therefore failed to form GCs. As a result, memory B cells generated from TBK1-deficient B cells fail to confer sterile immunity upon reinfection, suggesting that TBK1 determines B cell fate to promote long-lasting humoral immunity.
Human NLRP1: From the shadows to center stage
Authors: Bauernfried Stefan , Hornung Veit
Published: December 2021

In response to infection or cell damage, inflammasomes form intracellular multimeric protein complexes that play an essential role in host defense. Activation results in the maturation and subsequent secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines of the IL-1 family and a specific cell death coined pyroptosis. Human NLRP1 was the first inflammasome-forming sensor identified at the beginning of the millennium. However, its functional relevance and its mechanism of activation have remained obscure for many years. Recent discoveries in the NLRP1 field have propelled our understanding of the functional relevance and molecular mode of action of this unique inflammasome sensor, which we will discuss in this perspective.
Trav15-dv6 family Tcrd rearrangements diversify the Tcra repertoire
Authors: Dauphars Danielle J. , Mihai Ariana , Wang Liuyang , Zhuang Yuan , Krangel Michael S.
Published: December 2021

The Tcra repertoire is generated by multiple rounds of Vα-Jα rearrangement. However, Tcrd recombination precedes Tcra recombination within the complex Tcra-Tcrd locus. Here, by ablating Tcrd recombination, we report that Tcrd rearrangement broadens primary Vα use to diversify the Tcra repertoire in mice. We reveal that use of Trav15-dv6 family V gene segments in Tcrd recombination imparts diversity in the Tcra repertoire by instigating use of central and distal Vα segments. Moreover, disruption of the regions containing these genes and their cis-regulatory elements identifies the Trav15-dv6 family as being responsible for driving central and distal Vα recombinations beyond their roles as substrates for Tcrd recombination. Our study demonstrates an indispensable role for Tcrd recombination in general, and the Trav15-dv6 family in particular, in the generation of a combinatorially diverse Tcra repertoire.
Low cost, contamination-free, and damage-free fabrication of PZT MEMS on SOI substrate
Authors: Tiwari Sudhanshu , Kumar Randhir , Dangi Ajay , Antony Jeyaseelan A , Dutta Soma , Pratap Rudra
Published: December 2021

This paper reports a generalised process flow for the fabrication of lead zirconate titanate based piezoelectric micro electromechanical system devices. The optimised process can be used to realise several devices with different 1D and 2D geometries on a single wafer. All the state-of-the-art fabrication methods introduce some damage to the active piezoelectric material. This damage entails the need for an additional step of recovery anneal in the fabrication process. Our process was designed and optimised to avoid any such damage to the Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) layer. Remnant polarisation and effective transverse piezoelectric coefficient (e
31, f
) were used as metrics to quantify the damage to the PZT layer. It is shown that our process does not damage the PZT thin film during the fabrication, and hence no recovery anneal is required. We observe a ∼3× improvement in remnant polarisation and ∼2× improvement in e
31, f
of PZT thin film compared to the PZT thin film subjected to our previous fabrication process. Moreover, the process explained here uses only wet chemical methods for patterning of contaminating agents (PZT and platinum), making it a cost-effective process.
Multi-wavelength 128 Gbit s−1
λ
−1 PAM4 optical transmission enabled by a 100 GHz quantum dot mode-locked optical frequency comb
Authors: Pan Shujie , Zhang Hongguang , Liu Zizhuo , Liao Mengya , Tang Mingchu , Wu Dingyi , Hu Xiao , Yan Jie , Wang Lei , Guo Mingchen , Wang Zihao , Wang Ting , Smowton Peter M , Seeds Alwyn , Liu Huiyun , Xiao Xi , Chen Siming
Published: December 2021

Semiconductor mode-locked lasers (MLLs) with extremely high repetition rates are promising optical frequency comb (OFC) sources for their usage as compact, high-efficiency, and low-cost light sources in high-speed dense wavelength-division multiplexing transmissions. The fully exploited conventional C- and L- bands require the research on O-band to fulfil the transmission capacity of the current photonic networks. In this work, we present a passive two-section InAs/InGaAs quantum-dot (QD) MLL-based OFC with a fundamental repetition rate of ∼100 GHz operating at O-band wavelength range. The specially designed device favours the generation of nearly Fourier-transform-limited pulses in the entire test range by only pumping the gain section while with the absorber unbiased. The typical integrated relative intensity noise of the whole spectrum and a single tone are −152 and −137 dB Hz−1 in the range of 100 MHz–10 GHz, respectively. Back-to-back data transmissions for seven selected tones have been realised by employing a 64 Gbaud four-level pulse amplitude modulation format. The demonstrated performance shows the feasibility of the InAs QD MLLs as a simple structure, easy operation, and low power consumption OFC sources for high-speed fibre-optic communications.
Effects of interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction on magnetic dynamics
Authors: Shen Maokang , Li Xiangyu , Zhang Yue , Yang Xiaofei , Chen Shi
Published: December 2021

In the “Beyond Moore” era, the information device is expected to exhibit advantages including small sizes, high processing speed, and low power and dissipation. The novel magnetic information device with these advantages is made of heavy metal(HM)/ferromagnet (FM) composite. Owing to the asymmetric structure, the anisotropic exchange coupling named the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (iDMI) is generated at the HM/FM interface. This iDMI influences the magnetic dynamics including ferromagnetic resonance (FMR), spin wave, and the motion of chiral DWs. These magnetic dynamic behaviors are the bases of the functions of novel magnetic information devices. Therefore, the influence of iDMI on the magnetic dynamics has attracted wide attention in recent years. In this topical review, we give a detailed introduction and discussion about recent investigation on the iDMI-relevant magnetic dynamics of the HM/FM bilayer system. This review consists of five sections: (1). the introduction about the background, the basic theory of magnetic dynamics and DMI; (2). the review about the effect of iDMI on the propagation of spin wave. Owing to the iDMI, the dispersion relationship of spin wave is asymmetric. This not only offers a precise method for measuring the iDMI constant, but also gives rise to potential application for novel magnonic devices. (3). the review about the effect of iDMI on the FMR. Unique iDMI-relevant mode was observed in the FMR spectra owing to the nonparallel alignment of magnetic moments. (4). the review about the motion of DWs with chiral structure due to iDMI. The iDMI plays a fundamental role in the high velocity of the chiral DWs. Meanwhile, the iDMI results in the tilting of DW plane, and the mechanism has been widely investigated. The tilting of the DW plane may be depressed by the interlayer exchange coupling. (5). finally, we summarize the review and give an outlook.
Modulation of strain on electronic structure and contact type of BP/SnS van der waals heterostructure
Authors: Chen Jia-Le , Du Jing-Xue , Yang Jing , Shi Li-Jie
Published: December 2021

Vertical van der Waals heterostructures (vdWH) composed of two monolayer (ML) materials can provide new opportunities for layered electronic devices. Here we present a detailed theoretical investigation about the electronic properties of BP/SnS vdWH by applying in-plane uniaxial and biaxial strains. Our first principles calculations suggest that the direct bandgap of BP/SnS vdWH can be maintained within a large range of uniaxial and biaxial strains. We also find that the bandgap, band alignment and contact type of BP/SnS vdWH can be tuned by uniaxial and biaxial strains. In addition, the Poisson’s ratio exhibits an intense anisotropy with respect to the uniaxial strain along zigzag (ZZ) and armchair directions. The easily tunable electronic properties and highly anisotropic character of BP/SnS vdWH make it to be a promising material in the field of photovoltaic cells, photodetectors, and other functional nano devices.
Control of electrostatic self-assembly seeding of diamond nanoparticles on carbon nanowalls
Authors: Huang Lei , Wu Xiangqing , Hijiya Ryota , Teii Kungen
Published: December 2021

Seeding of diamond nanoparticles on vertically-aligned multi-layer graphene, the so-called carbon nanowalls (CNWs), is studied by using deionized water, ethylene glycol, ethanol, and formamide as dispersion mediums. Detonation nanodiamond particles show the smallest mean size and size distribution with a high positive zeta potential when dispersed in ethanol. The contact angle of ethanol on CNWs is almost zero degree, confirming highly wetting behaviour. The diamond nanoparticles dispersed in ethanol are distributed the most uniformly with minimal aggregation on CNWs as opposed to those dispersed in other liquids. The resulting diamond nanoparticle-seeded CNWs, followed by short-term growth in microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition, show a marked decrease in field emission turn-on field down to 1.3 V μm−1 together with a large increase in current density, compared to bare CNWs without diamond seeding. The results provide a way to control the density, size, and uniformity (spacing) of diamond nanoparticles on CNWs and should be applied to fabricate hybrid materials and devices using nanodiamond and nanocarbons.
2D multifunctional SiAs2/GeAs2 van der Waals heterostructure
Authors: Feng Leihao , Zhang Xi , Zheng Quan , Nie Ya , Xiang Gang
Published: December 2021

The structural and electronic properties of two-dimensional (2D) SiAs2/GeAs2 van der Waals heterostructure (vdWH) and its applications are investigated by combing first-principles calculations and Silvaco Atlas simulations. The stable SiAs2/GeAs2 vdWH exhibits an indirect bandgap of 0.99 eV in type II band alignment for light detection and energy harvesting. The vdWH can exhibit a direct bandgap up to 0.66 eV by applying an appropriate electric field (E

ext
). Due to the E

ext
induced charge redistribution, its band alignment can be transformed from type II to type I for light-emitting. Further simulation shows that the band alignment of SiAs2/GeAs2 vdWH can be tuned back and forth between type II and type I by gate voltage in a single field-effect transistor for multiple functional applications. These results may be useful for applications of the SiAs2/GeAs2 heterostructure in future electronic and optoelectronic devices.
Exfoliating silica bilayers via intercalation at the silica/transition metal interface
Authors: Wang Mengen , Boscoboinik J Anibal , Lu Deyu
Published: December 2021

The growth of the silica (SiO2) bilayer (BL) films on transition metal (TM) surfaces creates a new class of two-dimensional (2D) crystalline, self-contained materials that interact weakly with the TM substrate. The BL-silica/TM heterojunction has shown unique physical and chemical properties that can lead to new chemical reaction mechanisms under the sub-nm confinement and broad potential applications ranging from surface protection, nano transistors, molecular sieves to nuclear waste removal. Novel applications of BL-silica can be further explored as a constituent of van der Waals assembly of 2D materials. Key to these applications is an unmet technical challenge to exfoliate and transfer BL-silica films in a large area from one substrate to another without material damage. In this study, we propose a new exfoliation mechanism based on gas molecule intercalation from density functional theory studies of the BL-silica/TM heterojunction. We found that the intercalation of O atoms and CO molecules at the BL-silica/TM interface weakens the BL-silica—TM hybridization, which results in an exponential decrease of the exfoliation energy against the interface distance as the coverage of interfacial species increases. This new intercalation mechanism opens up the opportunity for non-damaging exfoliation and transfer of large area silica bilayers.
Asymptotics of the Hausdorff dimensions of the Julia sets of McMullen maps with error bounds*
Authors: Lu Hongbin , Qiu Weiyuan , Yang Fei
Published: December 2021

For McMullen maps f

λ
(z) = z

p
+ λ/z

p
, where

λ
∈
C
\

{

0

}

, it is known that if p ⩾ 3 and λ is small enough, then the Julia set J(f

λ
) of f

λ
is a Cantor set of circles. In this paper we show that the Hausdorff dimension of J(f

λ
) has the following asymptotic behavior

dim

H

J

(

f

λ

)

=
1
+

log

2

log

p

+
O

(

|
λ

|

2
−
4
/
p

)

,

as

λ
→
0
.

An explicit error estimation of the remainder is also obtained. We also observe a ‘dimension paradox’ for the Julia set of Cantor set of circles.
Relay interlayer synchronisation: invariance and stability conditions
Authors: Rakshit Sarbendu , Parastesh Fatemeh , Nag Chowdhury Sayantan , Jafari Sajad , Kurths Jürgen , Ghosh Dibakar
Published: December 2021

In this paper, the existence (invariance) and stability (locally and globally) of relay interlayer synchronisation (RIS) are investigated in a chain of multiplex networks. The local dynamics of the nodes in the symmetric positions layers on both sides of the non-identical middlemost layer(s) are identical. The local and global stability conditions for this synchronisation state are analytically derived based on the master stability function approach and by constructing a suitable Lyapunov function, respectively. We propose an appropriate demultiplexing process for the existence of the RIS state. Then the variational equation transverse to the RIS manifold for demultiplexed networks is derived. In numerical simulations, the impact of interlayer and intralayer coupling strengths, variations of the system parameter in the relay layers and demultiplexing on the emergence of RIS in triplex and pentaplex networks are explored. Interestingly, in this multiplex network, enhancement of RIS is observed when a type of impurity via parameter mismatch in the local dynamics of the nodes is introduced in the middlemost layer. A common time-lag with small amplitude shift between the symmetric positions and central layers plays an important role for the enhancing of relay interlayer synchrony. This analysis improves our understanding of synchronisation states in multiplex networks with nonidentical layers.
Unstable entropies and dimension theory of partially hyperbolic systems
Authors: Tian Xueting , Wu Weisheng
Published: December 2021

In this paper we define unstable topological entropy for any subsets (not necessarily compact or invariant) in partially hyperbolic systems as a Carathéodory–Pesin dimension characteristic, motivated by the work of Bowen and Pesin etc. We then establish some basic results in dimension theory for Bowen unstable topological entropy, including an entropy distribution principle and a variational principle in general setting. As applications of this new concept, we study unstable topological entropy of saturated sets and extend some results in Bowen (1973 Trans. Am. Math. Soc.
184 125–36); Pfister and Sullivan (2007 Ergod. Theor. Dynam. Syst.
27 929–56). Our results give new insights to the multifractal analysis for partially hyperbolic systems.
Controlling the dynamics of ultracold polar molecules in optical tweezers
Authors: Sroczyńska Marta , Dawid Anna , Tomza Michał , Idziaszek Zbigniew , Calarco Tommaso , Jachymski Krzysztof
Published: December 2021

Ultracold molecules trapped in optical tweezers show great promise for the implementation of quantum technologies and precision measurements. We study a prototypical scenario where two interacting polar molecules placed in separate traps are controlled using an external electric field. This, for instance, enables a quantum computing scheme in which the rotational structure is used to encode the qubit states. We estimate the typical operation timescales needed for state engineering to be in the range of few microseconds. We further underline the important role of the spatial structure of the two-body states, with the potential for significant gate speedup employing trap-induced resonances.
Removal of selected pesticides from water using granular activated carbon
Authors: Ilavský J , Barloková D , Marton M.
Published: December 2021

Pesticides are intensively used for the protection of field crops, orchards and vineyards, but they are also used in the removal of undesirable stands on non-agricultural land (railway embankments, playgrounds, handling areas, etc.), in water management (in coastal management, destruction of growths in irrigation canals), in forestry, etc. Regular application of pesticides increases their content in the aquatic environment and agricultural products. Their occurrence in water is relatively common and it follows that these substances are used in large quantities. Residues of these substances can persist in soils for 2 to 12 weeks. Due to their good solubility in water, they are easily transported from the soil to aquifers.

Several methods can be used to remove pesticides from water, e.g., coagulation, filtration, precipitation, ozonation, adsorption, ion exchange, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation processes. Their effectiveness varies considerably and depends mainly on the chemical nature of the pesticide being removed.

This article studies adsorption on two granular activated carbons Filtrasorb 400 and Norit 1240. Mixture of the pesticide standards (acetochlor, alachlor, dimethachlor, propachlor, metazachlor and metolachlor) was added to drinking water with concentration of approximately 1 µg/L. The experiments were performed in the glass bottles with the volume of 200 mL of water. The granular activated carbons (200 mg) were added to the bottles. Subsequently these bottles were regularly stirred, and the samples were taken out at times 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240 and 360 minutes. Samples were taken by pipette into the 40 ml glass vials with added thiosulphate for preservation. Analyses of target pesticides were performed in laboratories of ALS Czech Republic in Prague. LC-MS using the internal standard method was used to determine chlorinated pesticides in water samples. The adsorption efficiency of pesticides removal and the adsorption capacity of granular activated carbon depends on the time of contact of water with the material. The results showed that the efficiency of selected pesticides removal and adsorption capacity for two granular activated carbons used varied. Filtrasorb F400 proved to be a better sorption material than Norit 1240. The efficiency of this material ranged from 18 to 60%, while the efficiency of Norit 1240 was significantly lower.

Adsorption capacity of activated carbons for selected pesticides and reaction kinetics of 0th, 1st, 2nd and 3rd order was also studied.
Assessment of environmental impacts and costs during life cycle stages of selected family houses
Authors: Kridlova Burdova E , Vilcekova S
Published: December 2021

According to the European Green Deal, climate change and environmental degradation pose an existential threat to Europe and the world. Therefore, Europe needs a new “green” strategy to transform the EU into a modern and competitive, resource-intensive economy, with zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. As a result, economic growth will be decoupled from resource use. The ever-increasing requirements for the urban environment to be carbon neutral lead to the rising needs for buildings from three dimensions of sustainability. It is well known that the construction and operation of buildings are the primary consumers of energy and material resources and significant polluters of the environment during all stages of their life cycle. This paper deals with analysing environmental impacts and life cycle cost of two family houses located in Kosice, eastern Slovakia. The total greenhouse gas emissions for family house 1 generates 45.89% more CO2 emissions during its life cycle. Discounted life cycle cost of a family house 1 is 74.33% higher and nominal even 77.22% higher than the nominal life cycle cost of a family house 2.
Comparison of standard methods for determining the color of water in several countries
Authors: Kubínová T , Kyncl M
Published: December 2021

Determination of water color is one of the important indicators in assessing water quality. This article compares the available methods used to determine water color according to the international standard ISO 7887 or according to standard methods published by American organizations. The comparison takes into account the specific application of the legislation in the selected countries.
Monitoring the effectiveness of selected sorption materials in removing diclofenac from water
Authors: Moravcikova S , Biela R
Published: December 2021

One of the contemporary problems is the widespread use of medicaments, which leads to an increased occurrence of these substances in the environment. The efficiency of conventional treatment processes for removing drugs from water is in most cases very little, if not zero. Treatment processes for removal of drugs include adsorption on activated carbon, membrane processes, and advanced oxidation processes. Within a specific university research project, a laboratory test was performed at the Institute of Municipal Water Management of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology, to monitor the effectiveness of diclofenac removal by selected sorption materials. Diclofenac was chosen for this experiment as a representative of one of the most widespread groups of drugs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The removal of diclofenac from water was performed using columns filled with sorption materials Filtrasorb F100, GEH and Bayoxide E33. The aim of the test was to compare the selected sorption materials in terms of their effectiveness in removing diclofenac from water. From analyses of water taken at predetermined time intervals after filtration through said materials, it was found that the most suitable material for removing diclofenac from water is Filtrasorb F100.
Enzyme production by soilborne fungal strains of Aspergillus niger isolated from different localities affected by mining
Authors: Nosalj S , Šimonovičová A , Vojtková H
Published: December 2021

The research focused on the enzyme production/activity of sixteen Aspergillus niger strains isolated from different localities. The soils vary mainly in their pH value, which ranges from an ultra-acidic (< 3.5) to a very strongly alkaline (> 9.0) environment. Contamination caused by several centuries of mining activities at old mining sites persists at all the localities. The concentrations of toxic elements, such as As, Sb, Zn, Cu and Pb, very often exceed the common limit values. Presence of toxic elements in contaminated sites may affect microscopic fungi and cause changes of their physiology, including the production of different metabolites, such as enzymes. Production of esterase, cellulase, lipase and protease was investigated. Changes in physiological properties, such as the growth and enzymatic activity of the sixteen A. niger wild type strains, were determined. Esterase, cellulase and lipase activity was not determined in the sixteen strains tested. Considerable differences were recorded in the size of the colonies also within strains cultivated on the same nutrient medium. The control strain from locality Gabčíkovo formed the smallest colonies when tracking LA, EA and PA compared with the other strains. Lipase production was determined for several strains at different intensities and was highest in the strain isolated from the uncontaminated locality Gabčíkovo. The enzymatic activity of the other strains isolated from contaminated sites was very low. The achieved results confirmed the direct influence of environmental factors on the physiological properties of the studied strains of Aspergillus niger.
Treatment and utilization of artificial aggregate in the production of cement composites
Authors: Papesch R , Macalova K , Charvat J , Dvorsky T , Vaclavik V
Published: December 2021

The aim of the work is to find a suitable way of treatment of steel ladle slag for subsequent use as a partial replacement of the binder component in cement composites. The goal is based on the raw materials policy of the Czech Republic. Within this work is solved the issue of possible use of steel slag as the largest by-product of steel production. The work is focused on a specific ladle slag from ladle furnaces, by which are equipped the modern steel plants. Ladle slag is similar in chemical composition to Portland cement. However, its mineralogical composition should be taken into account in relation to its expansion reactions and lower hydraulic activity. One of the goals is the research of effect of particle size in cement-slag mixtures. The slag was ground for research on two different specific surfaces - coarsely in a vibrating mill and finely in a ball mill. The research within the experimental part of the work verified the positive influence of ladle slag on the properties of fresh and hardened mortar mixtures. Tensile bending strengths and compressive strengths are for some mixtures with ladle slag even higher than the strengths of the reference mixtures.
Effective combination of management methods suppresses invasive Jerusalem artichoke
Authors: Švehláková H , Turčová B , Rajdus T , Plohák P , Nováková J
Published: December 2021

The main intention of our research is to determine an effective method to suppress invasive plant populations of Helianthus tuberosus spreading uncontrollably in the territory of the Poodří Protected Landscape Area (PLA) in the Czech Republic. This article brings together the results of selected management methods from 2017-2019 (mechanical, chemical and their combination) and their effect on the growth and reproductive characteristics of Helianthus tuberosus as well as the biodiversity of the local habitats. The combination of mowing and application herbicide based on clopyralid, fluroxypyr and MCPA proves to be the most effective. The partial results have been published before [1,2]. We present a complete research overview of the Helianthus tuberosus disposal.
The dynamic coastal evidence of Jakarta Bay during Late Pleistocene-Recent
Authors: Novico F , Endyana C , Menier D , Mathew M , Kurniawan I , Bachtiar H , Ranawijaya D , Hendarmawan H
Published: December 2021

Some significant indication identifying a coastal dynamic during Late Pleistocene to Recent is the evolution of isochrone patterns throughout glacial-interglacial stages. This study aims to identify the sediments stratification of Jakarta Bay during the Late Pleistocene – Recent in the framework of coastal dynamic triggered by the sea-level changes of last prominent climatic stages. The several high-resolution seismic records in Jakarta Bay lines were interpreted to illustrate the different sequences from the top down to the oldest by line-drawing the more robust seismic reflectors as a sequence limit surface. Furthermore, the isochrone map series of unit boundary (UB) were reconstructed to delineate isochrone contour patterns from the oldest until modern. The selected isochrones map of UB-3 and UB-5 with their unit facies are somehow favorable to be compared for observing the coastal dynamic of Jakarta Bay during the last climatic variability. Finally, the coastal dynamic of Jakarta Bay is discovered by the movement series of isochrones contour patterns that correspond to the sea-level changes during the last prominent glacial-interglacial stages.
New single vortex generation method for flame/vortex interaction using flow behind a rotating cylinder
Authors: Hazel Soufyane , Huang Yong , Ait Amirat Mokhtar
Published: December 2021

This paper investigates a new experimental method to generate a single two-dimensional translated vortex for flame/vortex interaction studies. A rotating cylinder is immersed in a uniform flow and, its rotating speed is impulsively reduced. This sudden action triggers the generation of a single vortex when both the initial and the final rotation speeds are in the range of a steady-state regime. Flow visualization allows confirming the applicability of this method, while a complementary two-dimensional numerical simulation is conducted to understand the vortex formation process. A vorticity layer is detached from the cylinder, initiating a feeding process and gradual growth of a single leading vortex. The feeding process is saturated at a specific distance from the cylinder and, vortex separation from the vorticity layer is observed. At the final stage of the formation process, the generated vortex is advected away and, a steady-state regime is again established behind the cylinder. The vortex characteristics appear to be related to the normalized reduction in the rotation rate

Δ
α

, defined as the initial and final rotation rates difference normalized by the initial rotation rate. Several combinations of initial and final rotation rates corresponding to different normalized reductions are investigated experimentally and numerically. The results allow understanding the effect of this parameter; a higher normalized reduction generates a stronger, more rapidly growing vortex. However, its trajectory is related to the wake deviation corresponding to the final rotation rate.
Focusing on the relationship between the precipitated phases and the pitting corrosion of ZL101A aluminum alloy
Authors: Liu Chao , Li Qinglin , Zhang Tianyi , Ding Xiaoming , Li Xiaorong , Li Xiaogang
Published: December 2021

The pitting corrosion behavior of ZL101A aluminum alloy in simulated marine environment was investigated for guiding the composition design. The Volta potential of the precipitated phases was mainly characterized via the in situ SKPFM technique. The obtained results indicated that the precipitated phases of ZL101A were composed of Al–Si phase, Si–Mg–Fe phase and Si-rich/Al-poor phase, accelerating the formation of corrosion pits during immersion test. Both Al–Si phase and Si–Mg–Fe phase accelerated the corrosion process through the self-dissolution and the galvanic effect, respectively, which can be contributed to the high corrosion sensitivity of the two phases. Si-rich/Al-poor phase presented high corrosion resistance, which should be related to the deficiency of impure elements such as Mg and Fe.
On the derivation of a Nonlinear Generalized Langevin Equation
Authors: Di Cairano Loris
Published: December 2021

We recast the Zwanzig’s derivation of a nonlinear generalized Langevin equation (GLE) for a heavy particle interacting with a heat bath in a more general framework. We show that it is necessary to readjust the Zwanzig’s definitions of the kernel matrix and noise vector in the GLE in order to recover the correct definition of fluctuation-dissipation theorem and to be able performing consistently the continuum limit. As shown by Zwanzig, the nonlinear feature of the resulting GLE is due to the nonlinear dependence of the equilibrium map by the heavy particle variables. Such an equilibrium map represents the global equilibrium configuration of the heat bath particles for a fixed (instantaneous) configuration of the system. Following the same derivation of the GLE, we show that a deeper investigation of the equilibrium map, considered in the Zwanzig’s Hamiltonian, is necessary. Moreover, we discuss how to get an equilibrium map given a general interaction potential. Finally, we provide a renormalization procedure which allows to divide the dependence of the equilibrium map by coupling coefficient from the dependence by the system variables yielding a more rigorous mathematical structure of the nonlinear GLE.
Numerical evaluation of the residual stresses in shot peening of alloy steels
Authors: Patanaik Mahenk Kumar , Tiwari Gaurav , Govande Akshay R , Sunil B Ratna , Dumpala Ravikumar
Published: December 2021

In the present numerical study, the residual stresses generated during the shot peening process were evaluated using the finite element method. The influence of shot velocity on the residual stress distribution due to the indentation of a rigid shot over the target plate of alloy steel was studied. The finite element package ABAQUS 6.20 is used for simulating the shot peening process considering the target plate to be deformable. A parametric study was performed by introducing strain hardening rate as H1 = 800 MPa, keeping the dimension of target plate same with variation in shot velocity 20, 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 m s−1 to check the behavior of residual stress distribution. As the indentation takes place over the metallic target plate, elastic-plastic deformation was observed. The indentation of the shot with a different velocity range causes the difference in the depth and size of the dent and induces the compressive residual stress. For perfectly plastic and the strain hardened material, the residual stress contour was simulated. The simulated results for strain hardened material show the significant change in the compressive residual stress in the sub-surface region of the target plate. It is evident from the results that the shot velocity has a significant effect on the residual stress distribution. The maximum compressive residual stress is achieved when the shot is indented at a velocity of 125 m s−1.
Watkins’s conjecture for elliptic curves with non-split multiplicative reduction
Authors: Caro Jerson , Pasten Hector
Published: December 2021

Let

E
E

be an elliptic curve over the rational numbers. Watkins [Experiment. Math. 11 (2002), pp. 487–502 (2003)] conjectured that the rank of

E
E

is bounded by the

2
2

-adic valuation of the modular degree of

E
E

. We prove this conjecture for semistable elliptic curves having exactly one rational point of order

2
2

, provided that they have an odd number of primes of non-split multiplicative reduction or no primes of split multiplicative reduction.
Quantitative form of Ball’s cube slicing in ℝⁿ and equality cases in the min-entropy power inequality
Authors: Melbourne James , Roberto Cyril
Published: December 2021

We prove a quantitative form of the celebrated Ball’s theorem on cube slicing in

R

n

\mathbb {R}^n

and obtain, as a consequence, equality cases in the min-entropy power inequality. Independently, we also give a quantitative form of Khintchine’s inequality in the special case

p
=
1

p=1

.
On minimal kernels and Levi currents on weakly complete complex manifolds
Authors: Bianchi Fabrizio , Mongodi Samuele
Published: December 2021

A complex manifold

X
X

is weakly complete if it admits a continuous plurisubharmonic exhaustion function

ϕ
\phi

. The minimal kernels

Σ
X
k

,
k
∈
[
0
,
∞
]

\Sigma _X^k, k \in [0,\infty ]

(the loci where all

C

k

\mathcal {C}^k

plurisubharmonic exhaustion functions fail to be strictly plurisubharmonic), introduced by Slodkowski-Tomassini, and the Levi currents, introduced by Sibony, are both concepts aimed at measuring how far

X
X

is from being Stein. We compare these notions, prove that all Levi currents are supported by all the

Σ
X
k

\Sigma _X^k

’s, and give sufficient conditions for points in

Σ
X
k

\Sigma _X^k

to be in the support of some Levi current.

When

X
X

is a surface and

ϕ
\phi

can be chosen analytic, building on previous work by the second author, Slodkowski, and Tomassini, we prove the existence of a Levi current precisely supported on

Σ
X
∞

\Sigma _X^\infty

, and give a classification of Levi currents on

X
X

. In particular, unless

X
X

is a modification of a Stein space, every point in

X
X

is in the support of some Levi current.
The special values of the standard 𝐿-functions for 𝐺𝑆𝑝_{2𝑛}×𝐺𝐿₁
Authors: Horinaga Shuji , Pitale Ameya , Saha Abhishek , Schmidt Ralf
Published: December 2021

We prove the expected algebraicity property for the critical values of character twists of the standard

L
L

-function associated to vector-valued holomorphic Siegel cusp forms of archimedean type

(

k
1

(k_1

,

k
2

k_2

, …,

k
n

)

k_n)

, where

k
n

≥
n
+
1

k_n \ge n+1

and all

k
i

k_i

are of the same parity. For the proof, we use an explicit integral representation to reduce to arithmetic properties of differential operators on vector-valued nearly holomorphic Siegel cusp forms. We establish these properties via a representation-theoretic approach.
A model of actin-driven endocytosis explains differences of endocytic motility in budding and fission yeast
Authors: Nickaeen Masoud , Berro Julien , Pollard Thomas D. , Slepchenko Boris M.
Published: December 2021

A mathematical model, which links actin nucleation and polymerization in endocytic patches to generation of forces driving elongation of the invagination, explains differences in elongation rates and invagination depths in budding and fission yeasts by different turgor pressure in the two yeasts.
Photochemical performance of reproductive structures in Great Basin bunchgrasses in response to soil-water availability
Authors: Hamerlynck Erik P , O’Connor Rory C
Published: December 2021

Active restoration, especially seeding, is necessary in sagebrush steppe rangelands degraded by the spread and dominance of exotic invasive annual grasses, in part due to low, episodic seed production of native perennial bunchgrasses. In contrast, the widespread exotic bunchgrass, crested wheatgrass, readily produces viable seed cohorts. How soil-water availability affects the ecophysiology of the reproductive structures that may underlie these differences are unclear. To address this, we measured pre- and post-anthesis chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of optimal (Fv/Fm) and light-adapted PSII quantum yield (ϕ PSII) and ϕ PSII-derived electron transport rate (ETR) response to photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) in seed heads and flag leaves of watered and unwatered crested wheatgrass and squirreltail wild rye. Watering increased Fv/Fm in the sampled structures of both species, but ϕ PSII was similar between watering treatments. Pre- to post-anthesis Fv/Fm levels were maintained in crested wheatgrass seed heads but declined in flag leaves, with the opposite pattern apparent in squirreltail. Watering did not affect the ETR–PPFD response, but crested wheatgrass seed heads maintained higher ETR across saturating PPFD than did squirreltail. These findings suggest (i) photochemical efficiency is expressed in structures most closely associated with reproductive effort, and (ii) documented differences in seed head photosynthetic characteristics likely include some degree of allocation to individual floret photosynthetic capacity in addition to structural characteristics. We concluded that these physiological and structural differences may contribute to the differential ability of these species to establish from seed, and may help in effective plant material selection needed to improve restoration and conservation success in sagebrush steppe rangelands.