bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interannual Variation of Upper Stratospheric Ozone in the Northern Midlatitudes in Early Winter Caused by Planetary Waves
Authors: Ohyama H. , Sugita T. , Akiyoshi H. , Nagahama T. , Mizuno A.
Published: December 2019

Ozone mixing ratios in the upper stratosphere, observed with a millimeter‐wave radiometer at Rikubetsu (43.46°N, 143.77°E), Japan, from November 1999 to February 2017 showed both interannual and seasonal variation, which was characterized by a winter maximum and a summer minimum. During the study period, the summer minima were nearly constant whereas the winter maxima varied interannually and also displayed short‐term variability. The observed ozone mixing ratios at 1 hPa were anticorrelated with temperature at 1 hPa from MERRA‐2 data. The slope of the relationship between the logarithm of ozone concentration and the reciprocal of temperature differed between winter data and both summer and annual data. Therefore, we inferred that both chemistry and dynamics affect short‐term variation of ozone mixing ratios in winter. We then examined the contribution of the polar vortex to interannual variations in ozone and temperature at 1 hPa. When the polar vortex was strong, wave number‐1 planetary waves at high latitude propagated toward the midlatitudes instead of vertically. The vertical component of the wave number‐1 Eliassen‐Palm flux along 43°N at 1 hPa was strongly correlated with zonal mean zonal wind along 60°N at 50 hPa. When the zonal mean westerly wind was strong in December, upper stratospheric (~1 hPa) temperatures over Rikubetsu and over a point on the opposite side of the globe (by longitude) were significantly lower and higher, respectively, than the climatological temperature. Thus, planetary wave propagation related to zonal mean westerly wind strength induced early winter interannual variation in upper stratospheric ozone in the midlatitudes.
Similar Glacial‐Interglacial δ15N Variations in Two MIS 13–10 Sediment Sequences in the Western North Atlantic Ocean: Changes in Nitrogen Sources, Denitrification, or Diagenesis?
Authors: Meyers Philip A. , Poli Maria Serena , Thunell Robert C.
Published: December 2019

We have determined total organic carbon‐mass accumulation rates (TOC‐MARs) and δ15N values in Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 13–10 sediments from two oligotrophic parts of the western North Atlantic Ocean—Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 1063 on the Bermuda Rise and Site 1058 on the Blake Outer Ridge. Both TOC‐MARs and δ15N values vary significantly in these depositional records. TOC‐MARs are highest in sediments deposited at Site 1063 during MIS 12 and MIS 10, implying marine productivity or TOC preservation increased at this location during glacial stages, and low TOC‐MARs during most of MIS 11 in Site 1063 sediment imply low rates during this warm interval. In contrast to the Site 1063 record, productivity or preservation appears to have been greater at Site 1058 during parts of the MIS 11 interglacial than during the glacial intervals. Unlike the TOC‐MAR records, δ15N values at both locations exhibit similar glacial‐interglacial alternations. Values peak during substage 11.3 and gradually decrease toward the terminations of MIS 12 and MIS 10. The similarity of the δ15N patterns at these two sites implies that nitrogen cycling at these locations is largely independent of changes in local surface production of organic matter, and the higher δ15N values are unlikely to result from denitrification. Instead, the δ15N alternations likely result from glacial‐interglacial alternations between higher rates of sediment delivery to these western North Atlantic locations during glacial periods that favored TOC preservation and lower rates during interglacials that allowed more TOC degradation and associated diagenetic alteration of its nitrogen isotopic composition, leading to higher sediment δ15N values.
Correction: Cultivation and genomics of the first freshwater SAR11 (LD12) isolate
Authors: Henson Michael W , Lanclos V Celeste , Faircloth Brant C , Thrash J Cameron
Published: December 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
CoO-Mo2N hollow heterostructure for high-efficiency electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Su Danni , Zhang Xiaomeng , Wu Aiping , Yan Haijing , Liu Ziyi , Wang Lei , Tian Chungui , Fu Honggang
Published: December 2019

Driving the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with solar-energy cells is considered a green and sustainable way to produce H2. Herein, CoO-Mo2N hollow heterojunctions were designed for effective HER based on the combined virtues of the hollow structure and heterojunctions. The hollow CoMoO4-Co(OH)2precursor was first synthesized via the reaction of Co2+from ZIF-67 with MoO42−and OH−in a Na2MoO4solution. A series of experiments indicate the formation of the hollow Co-Mo-O precursor followed a mechanism analogous to the nanoscale “Kirkendall Effect”. After heating in NH3, the CoO-Mo2N hollow heterostructure was obtained. The Mo species in the precursor played an important role in maintaining the morphology under nitridation treatment. The hollow structure is favorable for contact and diffusion of electrolyte with (in) catalysts, while the CoO in CoO-Mo2N is favorable for the dissociation of water. Both promote the HER. Under optimized conditions, the hollow catalyst exhibited good HER performance with an overpotential of 65 mV at 10 mA cm−2in 1 M KOH. The performance is better than that of many nonprecious metal-based catalysts. An electrolyzer composed of CoO-Mo2N heterojunctions as the cathode and NiFe-LDH as the anode can be driven by a solar cell to achieve effective overall water splitting. The adjudication of MOFs makes the route promising for the design of robust catalysts for advanced application.
Publisher Correction: A 3D geological model of a structurally complex Alpine region as a basis for interdisciplinary research
Authors: Thornton James M. , Mariethoz Gregoire , Brunner Philip
Published: December 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Discovery of increased epidermal DNAH10 expression after regeneration of dermis in a randomized with-in person trial — reflections on psoriatic inflammation
Authors: Lagus Heli , Klaas Mariliis , Juteau Susanna , Elomaa Outi , Kere Juha , Vuola Jyrki , Jaks Viljar , Kankuri Esko
Published: December 2019

Because molecular memories of past inflammatory events can persist in epidermal cells, we evaluated the long-term epidermal protein expression landscapes after dermal regeneration and in psoriatic inflammation. We first characterized the effects of two dermal regeneration strategies on transplants of indicator split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) in ten adult patients with deep burns covering more than 20% of their body surface area. After fascial excision, three adjacent areas within the wound were randomized to receive a permanent dermal matrix, a temporary granulation-tissue-inducing dressing or no dermal component as control. Control areas were covered with STSG immediately, and treated areas after two-weeks of dermis formation. Epidermis-dermis-targeted proteomics of one-year-follow-up samples were performed for protein expression profiling. Epidermal expression of axonemal dynein heavy chain 10 (DNAH10) was increased 20-fold in samples having had regenerating dermis vs control. Given the dermal inflammatory component found in our dermal regeneration samples as well as in early psoriatic lesions, we hypothesized that DNAH10 protein expression also would be affected in psoriatic skin samples. We discovered increased DNAH10 expression in inflammatory lesions when compared to unaffected skin. Our results associate DNAH10 expression with cell proliferation and inflammation as well as with the epidermal memory resulting from the previous regenerative signals of dermis. This study (ISRCTN14499986) was funded by the Finnish Ministry of Defense and by government subsidies for medical research.
Optically modulated magnetic resonance of erbium implanted silicon
Authors: Hughes Mark A. , Li Heqing , Theodoropoulou Nafsika , Carey J. David
Published: December 2019

Er implanted Si is a candidate for quantum and photonic applications; however, several different Er centres are generated, and their symmetry, energy level structure, magnetic and optical properties, and mutual interactions have been poorly understood, which has been a major barrier to the development of these applications. Optically modulated magnetic resonance (OMMR) gives a spectrum of the modulation of an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal by a tuneable optical field. Our OMMR spectrum of Er implanted Si agrees with three independent measurements, showing that we have made the first measurement of the crystal field splitting of the 4I13/2 manifold of Er implanted Si, and allows us to revise the crystal field splitting of the 4I15/2 manifold. This splitting originates from a photoluminescence (PL) active O coordinated Er centre with orthorhombic C2v symmetry, which neighbours an EPR active O coordinated Er centre with monoclinic C1h symmetry. This pair of centres could form the basis of a controlled NOT (CNOT) gate.
Inherent Surface Properties of Adsorbent-Free Ultrathin Bi2Se3 Topological Insulator Platelets
Authors: Belec Blaž , Ferfolja Katja , Goršak Tanja , Kostevšek Nina , Gardonio Sandra , Fanetti Mattia , Valant Matjaz
Published: December 2019

We report on a hydrothermal synthesis of hexagonal ultra-thin Bi2Se3 platelets, which was performed without any organic reactants. The synthesis resulted in the particles with a surface, clean of any organic adsorbents, which was confirmed with a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, zeta-potential measurements and thermogravimetric measurements coupled with a mass spectroscopy. Due to the absence of the adsorbed organic layer on the Bi2Se3 platelet surface, we were able to measure their inherent surface and optical properties. So far this has not been possible as it has been believed that such hexagonal Bi2Se3 platelets can only be prepared by a solvothermal synthesis, for which it was unable to avoid the organic surface layer. Here we explain the mechanism behind the successful hydrothermal synthesis and show a striking difference in zeta potential behaviour and UV-vis absorption characteristics caused by the adsorbed layer. The surface of the hydrothermally synthesized Bi2Se3 platelets was so clean to enable the occurrence of the localized surface plasmon resonance due to the bulk and topological surface electronic states.
A Nanostructured Microfluidic Artificial Olfaction for Organic Vapors Recognition
Authors: Janfaza Sajjad , Kim Eujin , O’Brien Allen , Najjaran Homayoun , Nikkhah Maryam , Alizadeh Taher , Hoorfar Mina
Published: December 2019

Selective and sensitive detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is of great importance in applications involving monitoring of hazardous chemicals or non-invasive diagnosis. Here, polymethyl methacrylate nanoparticles with acetone recognition sites are synthesized and integrated into a 3D-printed microfluidic platform to enhance the selectivity of the device. The proposed microfluidic-based olfaction system includes two parylene C-coated microchannels, with or without polymer nanoparticles. The two channels are exposed to 200, 400, 800, 2000, and 4000 ppm of VOCs (methanol, ethanol, acetone, acetonitrile, butanone, and toluene), and sensor responses are compared using a 2D feature extraction method. Compared to current microfluidic-based olfaction systems, responses observed between coated and uncoated channels showed an increased recognition capability among VOCs (especially with respect to acetone), indicating the potential of this approach to increase and fine-tune the selectivity of microfluidic gas sensors.
Elucidating molecular interactions of L-nucleotides with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and mechanism of M184V-caused drug resistance
Authors: Hung Magdeleine , Tokarsky E. John , Lagpacan Leanna , Zhang Lijun , Suo Zucai , Lansdon Eric B.
Published: December 2019

Emtricitabine (FTC) and lamivudine (3TC), containing an oxathiolane ring with unnatural (−)-stereochemistry, are widely used nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) in anti-HIV therapy. Treatment with FTC or 3TC primarily selects for the HIV-1 RT M184V/I resistance mutations. Here we provide a comprehensive kinetic and structural basis for inhibiting HIV-1 RT by (−)-FTC-TP and (−)-3TC-TP and drug resistance by M184V. (−)-FTC-TP and (−)-3TC-TP have higher binding affinities (1/Kd) for wild-type RT but slower incorporation rates than dCTP. HIV-1 RT ternary crystal structures with (−)-FTC-TP and (−)-3TC-TP corroborate kinetic results demonstrating that their oxathiolane sulfur orients toward the DNA primer 3′-terminus and their triphosphate exists in two different binding conformations. M184V RT displays greater (>200-fold) Kd for the L-nucleotides and moderately higher (>9-fold) Kd for the D-isomers compared to dCTP. The M184V RT structure illustrates how the mutation repositions the oxathiolane of (−)-FTC-TP and shifts its triphosphate into a non-productive conformation.
Development of a deep-red fluorescent glucose-conjugated bioprobe for in vivo tumor targeting
Authors: Cheng Yinwei , Shabir Ghulam , Li Xiang , Fang Laiping , Xu Liyan , Zhang Hefeng , Li Enmin
Published: December 2019

A glucose-conjugated fluorescent probe was synthesized, showing similar uptake behaviour to d-glucose, located in mitochondria, and was successfully employed for tumor targeting.
DNAzyme-powered nucleic acid release from solid supports
Authors: Cao Ting , Wang Yongcheng , Tao Ye , Zhang Lexiang , Zhou Ying-Lin , Zhang Xin-Xiang , Heyman John A. , Weitz David A.
Published: December 2019

Here, we demonstrate use of a Mg2+-dependent, site-specific DNA enzyme (DNAzyme) to cleave oligos from polyacrylamide gel beads, which is suitable for use in drop-based assays.
Mechanistic study of the ATP hydrolysis reaction in dynein motor protein
Authors: Manna Rabindra Nath , Dutta Mandira , Jana Biman
Published: December 2019

Our findings suggest the definitive requirement of a proton relay process mediated by a water-chain and the Glu1742 residue in the ATP hydrolysis reaction of a dynein motor.
Molecular mechanism with regard to the binding selectivity of inhibitors toward FABP5 and FABP7 explored by multiple short molecular dynamics simulations and free energy analyses
Authors: Chen Jianzhong , Liu Xinguo , Zhang Shaolong , Chen Junxiao , Sun Haibo , Zhang Lin , Zhang Qinggang
Published: December 2019

Recently, fatty acid binding proteins 5 and 7 (FABP5 and FABP7) have been regarded as the prospective targets for clinically treating multiple diseases related to FABPs.
Breaking bonds over many timescales: in celebration of Robin Perutz's 70th birthday
Authors: Duckett Simon B. , Nicasio M. Carmen , Whittlesey Michael K.
Published: December 2019

We are delighted to present this collection of articles to celebrate Professor Robin Perutz’s 70th birthday.
Extended culture and imaging of normal and regenerating adult zebrafish hearts in a fluidic device
Authors: Yip Joycelyn K. , Harrison Michael , Villafuerte Jessi , Fernandez G. Esteban , Petersen Andrew P. , Lien Ching-Ling , McCain Megan L.
Published: December 2019

Culturing adult zebrafish hearts in a fluidic device reduces morphological and functional declines and enables live imaging of heart regeneration.
Representation of a photosensitive Schottky barrier diode made with hetero-dinuclear cobalt(iii)/sodium building blocks
Authors: Roy Sourav , Halder Soumi , Dey Arka , Harms Klaus , Ray Partha Pratim , Chattopadhyay Shouvik
Published: December 2019

A hetero-dinuclear cobalt(iii)/sodium complex has been synthesized and characterized. The complex which has been used to construct photosensitive Schottky devices, shows interesting C–H⋯π(N3) interactions in the solid state.
Synthesis of mesoporous carbon with tunable pore size for supercapacitors
Authors: Liu Beibei , Liu Lei , Yu Yifeng , Zhang Yue , Chen Aibing
Published: December 2019

Mesoporous carbon (MC) has wide applications, including in drug delivery, catalysis, absorption, energy storage/conversion, etc.
Catalytic systems based on nickel(ii) complexes with bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane – impact of PPh3 on the formation of precatalysts and selective dimerization of ethylene
Authors: Zubkevich S. V. , Tuskaev V. A. , Gagieva S. Ch. , Pavlov A. A. , Khrustalev V. N. , Polyakova O. V. , Zarubin D. N. , Kurmaev D. A. , Kolosov N. A. , Bulychev B. M.
Published: December 2019

Triphenylphosphine facilities ionization of Ni(ii) complexes with bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)metane, which results in highly active catalytic systems for ethylene dimerization.
The Patient-Driven Groupings Model: What It Means for Speech-Language Pathologists Working in Home Health
Authors: Warren Sarah
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Medicare will be fundamentally changing the basis for payment in home health (HH) effective January 1, 2020. Instead of paying for the number of therapy visits provided, Medicare will pay based on the clinical characteristics and needs of the patient under a payment methodology known as the patient-driven groupings model. As a result, there are significant concerns about the delivery of therapy services, such as speech-language pathology services, to HH patients. This technical report describes the rationale for the development of a new payment system, how it will be changing, and what speech-language pathologists can do to be prepared and to successfully navigate the transition.

Conclusion

The success of speech-language pathologists in the HH setting is tied to their ability to use their clinical judgment to advocate on behalf of their patients and demonstrate their value (e.g., outcomes) that prevent negative financial consequences for their employers.
Distributed regular polygon formation control and obstacle avoidance for non‐holonomic wheeled mobile robots with directed communication topology
Authors: Wang Zhuping , Wang Lei , Zhang Hao , Chen Qijun , Liu Jingcheng
Published: December 2019

This study investigates distributed regular polygon formation control and obstacle avoidance problem for multi‐robot systems with the leader–follower structure. The communication topology of the networked multi‐robot system is modelled by a directed graph. Firstly, a distributed state observer is designed such that only part of the follower robots need to know the desired distance between the leader and followers. Based on the state observer, distributed obstacle avoidance can be realised. Then, an improved state transformation is designed such that the formation control of multiple non‐holonomic wheeled mobile robots with observed states can be converted into a consensus‐like problem. Based on the state transformation, novel controllers are proposed to achieve the formation control objectives. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control laws is verified by simulations.
Non‐fragile sliding mode control of discrete switched singular systems with time‐varying delays
Authors: Han Yueqiao , Su Chun‐Yi , Kao Yonggui , Gao Cunchen
Published: December 2019

This study tends to solve the finite‐time boundedness (FTB) problems for discrete switched singular systems with time‐varying delays via a non‐fragile sliding mode approach. The remarkable feature of the provided method is that a new sliding surface function is constructed such that a full‐order dynamic system is acquired. Thus, a non‐fragile sliding mode controller can be proposed to guarantee the FTB of the dynamic system. Therein, by employing the multiple Lyapunov‐like functions and dwell time (DT) method, sufficient conditions and the DT of switching signal are given to ensure the FTB of the sliding mode dynamics. These results are then applied to the FTB issue, being expressed as a solvable optimisation problem. Furthermore, by employing a discrete reaching condition, the proposed sliding mode controller can guarantee the reachability of the quasi‐sliding mode. The validity of the proposed theorems is verified through a numerical example.
Assessment of additional phase energy losses caused by phase imbalance for data‐scarce LV networks
Authors: Fang Lurui , Ma Kang
Published: December 2019

Unbalanced phase currents, which flow in transformer windings and distribution wires, cause a significant increase (∼33%) of phase energy losses in low voltage (LV, 415 V) networks. However, these additional phase energy losses (APELs) are hard to calculate for most LV networks. A key challenge is that these LV networks are data‐scarce, with only yearly average and maximum phase currents. To estimate the APEL for data‐scarce LV networks, this study proposes a statistical approach that effectively overcomes the above challenge. Firstly, the approach calculates APEL for a sample set of data‐rich networks with year‐round time‐series phase current data. Secondly, features are extracted from these networks by considering: (i) whether the features are strongly correlated to APELs; and (ii) whether the features can be derived from available data (e.g. yearly average and maximum phase currents) from data‐scarce networks. Thirdly, to approximate mappings from the features (derived in stage 2) to the APEL (derived in stage 1), a kernel‐based regression model is developed, using the above customised features. Given any data‐scarce network, its APEL is then estimated by applying the regression model. Cross‐validation shows that the statistical approach incurs an average error of 13% for 90% of the data‐scarce LV networks, excluding the networks with very low APEL values.
Blind video quality assessment via spatiotemporal statistical analysis of adaptive cube size 3D‐DCT coefficients
Authors: Cemiloglu Enes , Yilmaz Gokce Nur
Published: December 2019

There is an urgent need for a robust video quality assessment (VQA) model that can efficiently evaluate the quality of a video content varying in terms of the distortion and content type in the absence of the reference video. Considering this need, a novel no reference (NR) model relying on the spatiotemporal statistics of the distorted video in a three‐dimensional (3D)‐discrete cosine transform (DCT) domain is proposed in this study. While developing the model, as the first contribution, the video contents are adaptively segmented into the cubes of different sizes and spatiotemporal contents in line with the human visual system (HVS) properties. Then, the 3D‐DCT is applied to these cubes. Following that, as the second contribution, different efficient features (i.e. spectral behaviour, energy variation, distances between spatiotemporal frequency bands, and DC variation) associated with the contents of these cubes are extracted. After that, these features are associated with the subjective experimental results obtained from the EPFL‐PoliMi video database using the linear regression analysis for building the model. The evaluation results present that the proposed model, unlike many top‐performing NR‐VQA models (e.g. V‐BLIINDS, VIIDEO, and SSEQ), achieves high and stable performance across the videos with different contents and distortions.
Image encryption using a combination of Grain‐128a algorithm and Zaslavsky chaotic map
Authors: Balaska Nawel , Ahmida Zahir , Belmeguenai Aissa , Boumerdassi Selma
Published: December 2019

Encryption is a very important way to secure data in storage and communication, and it is a process of encoding messages or information in such a manner that only authorised persons can access it. Different techniques are used to protect confidential image data against illicit access. In image encryption using chaotic systems, most authors use or design algorithms to generate the initial parameters’ values from the secret key. However, as the key size depends on the number of these parameters, the used algorithms show little sensitivity to small changes in the key. To enhance both security and sensitivity in the choice of the initial parameters, this work combines the use of the Grain‐128a stream cipher algorithm with two‐dimensional Zaslavsky chaotic map. Firstly, the Grain‐128a algorithm is applied to generate the required parameters of Zaslavsky's chaotic map from a fixed length 256‐bit secret key. Secondly, the sequences generated by the chaotic map are used to encrypt the image using a bit confusion and diffusion process. The simulation results on greyscale, colour, binary, indexed, and medical images together with the scores obtained in the evaluation of the algorithm show that the proposed method is very sure and effective in encrypting images of any size and any type.
Flow driven attention network for video salient object detection
Authors: Zhou Feng , Shuai Hui , Liu Qingshan , Guo Guodong
Published: December 2019

Salient object detection has been revolutionised by convolutional neural network (CNN) recently. However, it is hard to transfer the state‐of‐the‐art still‐image based saliency detectors to videos directly, owing to the neglect of temporal contexts between frames. In this study, the authors propose a flow‐driven attention network (FDAN) to exploit motion information for video salient object detection. FDAN consists of an appearance feature extractor, a motion‐guided attention module and a saliency map regression module. It extracts the appearance feature per frame, refines appearance feature with optical flow and infers the ultimate saliency map, respectively. Motion‐guided attention module is the core of FDAN, which extracts motion information in the form of attention. This attention mechanism is a two‐branch CNN, fusing optical flow and appearance features. In addition, a shortcut connection is applied to the attention multiplied feature map for noise suppression intensively. Experimental results show that the proposed method can achieve performance on par with the state‐of‐the‐art method flow‐guided recurrent neural encoder on challenging benchmarks of Densely Annotated Video Segmentation and Freiburg–Berkeley Motion Segmentation while being two times faster in detection.
Robust image hashing with visual attention model and invariant moments
Authors: Tang Zhenjun , Zhang Hanyun , Pun Chi‐Man , Yu Mengzhu , Yu Chunqiang , Zhang Xianquan
Published: December 2019

Image hashing is an efficient technique of multimedia processing for many applications, such as image copy detection, image authentication, and social event detection. In this study, the authors propose a novel image hashing with visual attention model and invariant moments. An important contribution is the weighted DWT (discrete wavelet transform) representation by incorporating a visual attention model called Itti saliency model into LL sub‐band. Since the Itti saliency model can efficiently extract saliency map reflecting regions of attention focus, perceptual robustness of the proposed hashing is achieved. In addition, as invariant moments are robust and discriminative features, hash construction with invariant moments extracted from the weighted DWT representation ensures good classification performance between robustness and discrimination. Extensive experiments with open image datasets are done to validate the performances of the proposed hashing. The results demonstrate that the proposed hashing is robust and discriminative. Performance comparisons with some hashing algorithms are also conducted, and the receiver operating characteristic results illustrate that the proposed hashing outperforms the compared hashing algorithms in classification performance between robustness and discrimination.
Traits for chemical evolution in solar twins
Authors: Jofré Paula , Jackson Holly , Tucci Maia Marcelo
Published: December 2019

The physical processes driving chemical evolution in the Milky Way can be probed using the distribution of abundances in low-mass FGK type stars in space phase at different times. During their final stages of evolution, stars experience nucleosynthesis several times, each at different timescales and producing different chemical elements. Finding abundance ratios that have simple variations across cosmic times therefore remains a challenge. Using the sample of 80 solar twins for which ages and abundances of 30 elements have been measured with high precision, we searched for all possible abundance ratio combinations that show linear trends with age. We found 55 such ratios, all combining an n-capture element and another element produced by different nucleosynthesis channels. We recovered the ratios of [Y/Mg], [Ba/Mg], and [Al/Y] that have been reported previously in the literature, and found that [C/Ba] depends most strongly on age, with a slope of 0.049 ± 0.003 dex Gyr−1. This imposes constraints on the magnitude of the time dependency of abundance ratios in solar twins. Our results suggest that s-process elements, in lieu of Fe, should be used as a reference for constraining chemical evolution models of the solar neighbourhood. Our study illustrates that a wide variety of chemical elements measured in high-resolution spectra is key to meeting the current challenges in understanding the formation and evolution of our Galaxy.
Varikozele im Kindes- und Jugendalter
Authors: Stein Raimund , Zahn Katrin , Younsi Nina Friederike
Published: December 2019

Die Behandlung einer Varikozele im Kindes- und Jugendalter wird sehr kontrovers gesehen und diskutiert. Trotz des recht häufigen Befundes – früher wurde die Varikozele insbesondere im Rahmen der Musterung diagnostiziert; heute fällt die Varikozele zumeist im Rahmen der J1-Untersuchung auf – gibt es wenig evidenzbasierte Empfehlungen zur Behandlung. Dies bedeutet, dass Urologen und Kinderurologen zunehmend früher mit der Frage konfrontiert werden, ob eine Intervention notwendig ist oder nicht, ohne dass es hier klare Empfehlungen gibt.

Die Literatur hierzu ist sehr widersprüchlich. Systematische Reviews und Metaanalysen zeigten zuletzt, dass sich durch eine Intervention nur ein mäßiger Vorteil in Bezug auf die Hodengröße und die Qualität des Spermiogramms ergibt. Solide Daten bez. einer positiven Auswirkung auf die Vaterschaftsraten gibt es weiterhin nicht. Es zeigte sich jedoch, dass die Lymphgefäß-schonenden Techniken im Falle einer Intervention deutliche Vorteile haben.

Mögliche Indikationen für eine Intervention stellen eine persistierende Größendifferenz der Hoden (> 20 % über mindestens 6 Monate), eine symptomatische Varikozele (sehr subjektives Kriterium), ein (besser 2) pathologische Spermiogramme sowie ggf. das Vorhandensein von zusätzlich die Fertilität einschränkenden Faktoren dar.
Avaliação de custo e segurança da Artroplastia Total do Joelho Bilateral Simultânea versus Unilateral
Authors: Borges José Humberto de Souza , Lobo Júnior Paulo , Dias Darlan Malba , Silva Miguel Fernando Ferreira da , Freitas Anderson , Araújo Thaiane
Published: December 2019

Objetivo Medir o custo das artroplastias totais de joelho simultâneas, assim como o tempo de internação total e em unidade de tratamento intensivo (UTI), complicações perioperatórias e necessidade de hemotransfusão comparativamente ao procedimento unilateral, num hospital de referência, no Distrito Federal, Brasil.

Método O presente artigo trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo de análise dos prontuários de pacientes admitidos para a realização de artroplastia total de joelho uni ou bilateral realizadas entre junho de 2011 e março de 2017. Foram incluídos para o estudo 74 prontuários de pacientes para avaliação de dados como custo total do procedimento, comorbidades, complicações, dias de internação e necessidade de hemotransfusão.

Resultados Uma incidência significativamente maior de trombose venosa profunda (TVP) foi encontrada nos procedimentos unilaterais. Em relação aos outros dados não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significantes nos custos relativos, nem na necessidade de hemotransfusão.

Conclusão Não houve aumento nos custos nem nas complicações do procedimento de substituição articular bilateral do joelho num mesmo momento em relação ao procedimento unilateral, corroborando com a maioria da literatura.
Ressecção artroscópica do cisto sinovial volar do punho: Técnica cirúrgica e série de casos
Authors: Oliveira Ricardo Kaempf de , Brunelli João Pedro Farina , Bayer Leohnard Roger , Aita Márcio , Mantovani Gustavo , Delgado Pedro José
Published: December 2019

Objetivo Descrever a técnica e os resultados da artroscopia no tratamento cirúrgico dos cistos sinoviais volares no punho.

Materiais e Métodos Foram incluídos e analisados neste trabalho 21 pacientes submetidos a artroscopia para o tratamento de cisto sinovial volar no punho, no período entre janeiro de 2015 e maio de 2017, com avaliação completa e mínima de 6 meses. A técnica descrita foi indicada para os pacientes com dor e incapacidade funcional com duração de mais de quatro meses, sem melhora com o tratamento conservador, ou para aqueles com queixas estéticas e que apresentavam o cisto havia mais de três meses.

Resultados A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 43,6 anos, sendo 16 (76%) do sexo feminino, e 5 (24%) do masculino. O tempo de seguimento médio entre a cirurgia e a avaliação final foi de 10,9 meses. Um total de 2 (9,6%) pacientes apresentaram dor leve e uma restrição da mobilidade no pós-operatório. Nos 18 (90,4%) pacientes restantes, houve melhora das queixas estéticas, recuperação funcional completa, e melhora completa da dor. Não houve recidivas ou infecções. Nenhum paciente necessitou ser submetido a nova cirurgia.

Conclusões A ressecção artroscópica do cisto sinovial volar mostrou-se uma técnica útil e segura. É um procedimento minimamente invasivo, com baixa morbidade e poucas complicações, sendo uma boa alternativa à técnica aberta.
Locality and causality in perturbative algebraic quantum field theory
Authors: Rejzner Kasia
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we discuss how seemingly different notions of locality and causality in quantum field theory can be unified using a non-Abelian generalization of the Hammerstein property (originally introduced as a weaker version of linearity). We also prove a generalization of the main theorem of renormalization, in which we do not require field independence.
Manipulating the rumen microbiome to address challenges facing Australasian dairy farming
Authors: Stanton Catherine , Leahy Sinead , Kelly Bill , Ross R. Paul , Attwood Graeme
Published: December 2019

As dairy production systems expand globally, there is an increasing need to reduce the impact of dairy wastes on the environment by decreasing urinary N output and reducing emissions of green-house gasses (GHG). An understanding of rumen microbiome composition can result in the development of strategies that reduce methane emissions and nitrogen leakage, ultimately lowering the impact of dairying on the environment, while improving animal productivity. The strongest driver of the composition of the rumen microbiome was found to be the diet of the host animal. Thus, dietary manipulation offers a viable solution to alter the microbiome to address present-day challenges faced by the dairy industry. In the present review, we discuss such strategies and provide insight into rumen microbiome changes that have resulted in reduced GHG emissions and improved animal productivity.
Biological control in Latin America and the Caribbean: information sources, organizations, types and approaches in biological control.
Authors: Lenteren J. C. van , Bueno V. H. P. , Luna M. G. , Colmenarez Y. C.
Published: December 2019

Biological control with arthropod natural enemies and microbial control agents has been applied since the year 1895 in Latin America and the Caribbean and is currently used on a very large scale. Sources about the history and current situation of biocontrol in this region were not easy to trace and are, therefore, presented in this chapter. Next, organizations working on biocontrol in this region are listed. This is followed by a description of natural, conservation, classical and augmentative biocontrol with some regional examples. Then, an approach to find, evaluate and use biocontrol agents is sketched, as guidance for research projects. Often, tens to a hundred biocontrol candidates are found in association with a pest. A well organized research approach using evaluation criteria allows for quick exclusion of unsuitable or problematic candidate species. Biocontrol research has limited funding and early elimination of poor candidates results in spending more money on promising candidates. Regulations concerning import and release of agents that have been implemented during the past 30 years are summarized. Effects of these regulations are that prospecting for exotic natural enemies is now very difficult and that fewer new biocontrol agents have become available. Finally, the structure of the book is explained.
Biological control in Belize.
Authors: Sosa E. E. , Blanco F. , Lenteren J. C. van
Published: December 2019

Parasitoids were first introduced into Belize in 1969 for control of Anastrepha spp. fruit flies, but although this and other classical biocontrol attempts sometimes resulted in establishment, control was insufficient. During the same period, natural control of the West Indian cane fly was documented. In 2003, the International Regional Organization for Health in Agriculture (OIRSA) built a laboratory for the mass production of the parasitoid Anagyrus kamali for biocontrol of the pink hibiscus mealybug. The pest was successfully brought under classical biocontrol in the entire country. The laboratory also provides the parasitoids to OIRSA member countries. Recently, classical biocontrol of the Asian citrus psyllid has been initiated and a mass rearing of Tamarixia radiata was started at the OIRSA laboratory for releases in Belize, as well as in other countries. An entomopathogenic fungus is currently being tested for control of the sugarcane froghopper.
Biological control in Brazil.
Authors: Bueno V. H. P. , Parra J. R. P. , Bettiol W. , Lenteren J. C. van
Published: December 2019

Classical biological control attempts from 1921 to 1944 were not effective. During the 1960s, an important success was obtained by controlling the rhodesgrass scale in thousands of hectares of pastures with an introduced parasitoid. Also biocontrol of wheat aphids by introduction of parasitoids and predators appeared effective. Further, classical biocontrol of sirex wood wasps in pine plantations was achieved with parasitoids and entomopathogenic nematodes. Augmentative biocontrol of the sugarcane borer by native dipteran parasitoids started in the 1960s, later followed by importation and release of Cotesia flavipes parasitoids. In the 1980s, biocontrol of soybean caterpillars was realized on more than 2 million hectares by application of on-farm produced AgMNPV virus. Predatory mites are used for augmentative biocontrol of spider mites in apple orchards and greenhouse crops; predators and parasitoids are used for control of lepidopterans in eucalyptus plantations and field crops such as sugarcane. Parasitoids are released in soybean for control of stink bugs. Trichoderma spp. are applied on 5.5 million hectares for control of soil-borne diseases in many crops. Recent successful classical biocontrol programmes deal with control of cassava mealybug, citrus leaf miner, and Asian citrus psyllid. Brazil has become one of the pioneer countries worldwide in the production and use of microbial control agents and natural enemies to control pests and diseases on millions of hectares. Brazil currently has 26 facilities producing microbial agents and 21 for mass rearing natural enemies. More than 80 microbial products are registered for control of arthropods, while fewer than ten natural enemies have been registered to date.
Biological control in Cuba.
Authors: Márquez M. E. , Vázquez L. L. , Rodríguez M. G. , Ayala Sifontes J. L. , Fuentes F. , Ramos M. , Hidalgo L. , Herrera L.
Published: December 2019

The first biological control project in Cuba concerned the introduction of the parasitoid Eretmocerus serius in 1929, resulting in successful classical biocontrol of citrus blackfly in citrus. The subsequent biocontrol success that is still in use on large areas today was obtained in the 1940s by mass rearing and releasing the native dipteran parasitoid Lixophaga diatraeae for control of the sugarcane borer. Nowadays, many native and exotic Trichogramma species are successfully applied against lepidopteran defoliators in the field. Other current augmentative biocontrol programmes involve the use of microbial agents, nematodes, parasitoids and predators for pest and disease management in various crops. A network of 175 mass rearing centres for entomophages and entomopathogens (CREE) and four industrial plants belonging to the Enterprise System of the Ministry of Agriculture, guarantee the mass production of native strains of microbial control agents, such as Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Lecanicillium lecanii, Bacillus thuringiensis, Trichoderma spp. and Heterorhabditis spp. Each year these microbial control agents are applied on about 2,400,000 ha of field crops. Conservation biocontrol practices to increase natural enemy populations and the promotion of natural reservoirs of Pheidole megacephala predatory ants, along with capturing and re-release of the coccinellids Cycloneda sanguinea, Coleomegilla cubensis, Hippodamia convergens and Chilocorus cactus L. in urban agriculture, are widely applied by farmers in Cuba.
Biological control in Mexico.
Authors: Arredondo-Bernal H. C. , Rodríguez-Vélez B.
Published: December 2019

During the 1940s and 1950s, the number of native and exotic species of biocontrol agents used in Mexico amounted to 59 and most of these were parasitoids. Classical biocontrol was dominant and included control of hemipteran pests such as the woolly apple aphid, scales, citrus mealybugs, spittlebug, and the rhodesgrass mealybug. One of the globally recognized successes was classical biocontrol of the citrus blackfly with an imported parasitoid. In the 1960s, construction of mass-production centres for biocontrol organisms took place, for rearing of Trichogramma spp., among others. More recent cases of classical biocontrol, sometimes in combination with augmentative biocontrol, are the control of grasshoppers, pink hibiscus mealybug, velvet soybean worm, eucalyptus psyllid, Asian citrus psyllid, brown citrus aphid, and fruit flies. Examples of augmentative control are control of the Mexican bollworm with a native parasitoid, of diamondback moth with native and exotic parasitoids and of aphids with predators and an entomopathogenic fungus. Augmentative biocontrol is particularly popular for control of aphids, thrips, leaf miners, mites and whiteflies in vegetables and ornamentals, where several species of predators, parasitoids and microbial agents are used. Examples of today's large-scale augmentative programmes are control of sugarcane borers with Trichogramma spp., of sugarcane aphids with predators in soybean and of several species of locusts and grasshoppers with an entomopathogenic fungus. Currently, there are 65 companies producing and marketing 40 species of beneficial organisms, and more than 50 species of arthropods produced outside Mexico are authorized for importation to be used in specific pest control programmes.
Biological control in Nicaragua.
Authors: Castillo P.
Published: December 2019

Biological control started in Nicaragua in 1957 with a study of parasitoids of the fall armyworm and augmentative releases of parasitoids and predators against pests in cotton. In the 1970s, cotton production was no longer profitable due to the high costs of frequent pesticide sprays. With assistance from FAO, an IPM programme for cotton pests was developed, which included biocontrol. Universities started to teach fundamentals of pest ecology and initiated prospecting for native natural enemies. Among others, a native strain of Trichogramma pretiosum was found and a mass rearing system was developed. The parasitoid has since been released in several crops. The predator Chrysoperla carnea was also mass produced and applied in the field. At the end of the 1980s, prospecting for entomopathogenic nematodes, fungi and viruses started, resulting in the production of several of these biocontrol agents, in particular five virus products for control of lepidopterans in various crops. In the mid 1990s, augmentative biocontrol of diamondback moth was developed by releasing native and exotic parasitoids. Currently there are several biofactories in Nicaragua that produce parasitoids, predators, entomopathogenic nematodes, fungi and viruses, and phytopathogenic fungi.
Biological control in Panama.
Authors: Zachrisson B. , Barba A.
Published: December 2019

The first activity in biological control in Panama concerned import and release of a parasitoid of citrus blackfly in 1931. Later, the development of biocontrol programmes was targeted mainly against pests in sugarcane, vegetables, cantaloupes, watermelons, coffee and rice. In the 1970s, the releases of Cotesia flavipes and Paratheresia claripalpis for the control of Diatraea saccharalis guaranteed the cost effectiveness of the crop. Subsequently, Diadegma semiclausum, Cotesia plutellae and Microplitis plutellae were imported in the 1990s for biocontrol of Plutella xylostella in cruciferous crops. This was followed in the 2000s by the introduction of Prorops nasuta and Phymastichus coffea for the management of Hyphotenemus hampei. Prospecting programmes were executed in Panama to collect and identify natural enemies of, among others, whiteflies, leaf miners, thrips, mites and rice stink bug. Also a large number of entomopathogenic fungal strains were collected and identified. Several of the natural enemies and entomopathogens that were found to be promising as biocontrol agents are now mass produced and tested in the field. Ongoing work on artificial diets for mass rearing of pests that serve as hosts/prey for natural enemies is expected to result in cheaper production of biocontrol agents. Recently a conservation biocontrol programme was started for control of the rice stink bug by studying how weeds in and near rice fields can attract and stimulate populations of parasitoids of the stink bug.
Biological control in Peru.
Authors: Mujica N. , Whu M.
Published: December 2019

In Peru, the first introduction of six species of beneficials occurred in 1904 for control of cotton white scale. By 1969, more than 20 other beneficial species had been imported for control of scales, aphids and lepidopterans in important crops. Many species established and still control pests today. In 1961, the Center for Introduction and Rearing of Useful Insects was created for biocontrol of the most economically important pests. Identification of parasitoids and predators, study of their biology and development of mass-production methods were executed to optimize their use. From 1979, research concentrated on the behaviour of parasitoids and predators of mealybugs, scales and lepidopteran pests. Also, collection and investigation of entomopathogenic fungi was initiated. In the late 1990s, a National Program for Biological Control was created to intensify biocontrol in important crops through training of professionals and promotion and sale of biocontrol agents to farmers. Biocontrol agents were supplied to different agricultural valleys via a network of production laboratories, which reared 42 species of biocontrol agents to control pests in more than 45 crops. The area under augmentative biocontrol increased from 10,000 ha to 253,000 ha in a 6-year period. By 2015, 177 exotic species of biocontrol agents had been introduced into Peru and 53 of these introductions resulted in complete or substantial classical or augmentative control of the pest. In Peru, the use of biocontrol agents has grown due to the increased demand by producers for safe and healthy products for internal and external markets, by consumers for products free of pesticide residues and by the government to achieve greater sustainability in agricultural production.