bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultra-low permittivity ULTCC composite materials
Authors: Nelo Mikko , Vahera Timo , Siponkoski Tuomo , Juuti Jari , Jantunen Heli
Published: April 2021

A method to realize ultra-low temperature co-fireable ceramic composites with ultra-low permittivity is presented in this work. Hollow glass microspheres with a size of 10–100 μm were used as a filler in a tape based on lithium molybdate (Li2MoO4) ceramic to introduce controlled porosity and reduce the relative permittivity of the sintered product. A lamination pressure of only 1.25 MPa was sufficient to produce samples with uniform structure and without delamination. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis were used to optimize the sintering temperature profile of the material. The microstructure of the samples was investigated with field emission scanning electron microscopy, and the dielectric properties with a split post dielectric resonator. Compatibility of the composite ceramic with silver was tested by applying thick-film-printed electrodes and post-firing them on the surface. Samples sintered at 540 °C exhibited a relative permittivity of 1.4–5.40 and a loss tangent of 10−3–10−4 at 5 and 10 GHz. The method shows interesting possibilities to significantly reduce processing temperatures compared to conventional low-temperature co-fired ceramics materials and to obtain the extremely low permittivity that is especially required for future high-frequency applications.
Medicine shortages: there are solutions! Actions to take to reduce medicine shortages
Authors: Ryan Michael J.
Published: April 2021

The aim of this paper is to propose solutions to reduce the number and frequency of medicine shortages in Australia. Some of the many factors that contribute to medicine shortages, such as manufacturers’ production processes and business decisions, are outside the control of Australian stakeholders. But there are many factors that are within the control of stakeholders, including poor communication between stakeholders, incomplete and inaccurate information, unhelpful practices and attitudes of hospital tender authorities, and lack of certainty and incentives for manufacturers in relation to pharmaceutical tenders. The following strategies are designed to address these issues and achieve a significant reduction in the number and frequency of medicine shortages in Australian hospitals. They include improving communication and understanding between stakeholders, providing higher quality information on likely usage, changing practices of hospital tender authorities to better meet stakeholder requirements, and increasing incentives for manufacturers to participate in hospital tenders. The six key actions to implement the medicine shortage-reducing strategies are: (1) initiate a biannual forum for hospitals and industry; (2) establish a medicines substitutes information service operating nationally; (3) share information on likely changes to hospital usage; (4) reform stock allocation strategies; (5) introduce incentives for manufacturers; and (6) change hospital tender authority practices and policies. The first step to reduce medicine shortages is for stakeholders to think differently about the problem, and to act more collaboratively using the proposed strategies and actions, as a framework for change.
Genetic and genomic evaluation of different breeding strategies using stochastic simulation in Iranian buffalo (
Authors: Safari Abbas , Shadparvar Abdol Ahad , Hossein-Zadeh Navid Ghavi , Abdollahi-Arpanahi Rostam
Published: April 2021

Context Despite the importance of buffalos to income and food needs, there has been little attention to the simulation of breeding programs using different strategies in the Iranian buffalo population. Aims The present study aimed to evaluate different breeding strategies in Iranian native buffalo by using stochastic simulation, and to determine the most appropriate strategy for Iranian buffalo breeding. Methods Different breeding scenarios were simulated for sensitivity of outcomes to the nucleus population size and selection design. Two systems of closed and open nucleus breeding schemes were simulated. Three different nucleus sizes, the optimal fraction of nucleus dams born in the base, and the appropriate fraction of base sires born in the nucleus were considered. Four selection designs were considered: random, phenotypic, best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP), and genomic selection. Key results The results indicated that in different population sizes and both open and closed nuclei, the average total genetic value was higher in genomic selection than in other selection designs. The total genetic value was higher in open nucleus than closed nucleus breeding schemes regardless of selection design. The highest mean of total genetic value was estimated at 91.53 in the optimal nucleus size of 15% of base population for the genomic selection approach and the open nucleus breeding system. In all nucleus population sizes, the highest inbreeding was obtained for selection based on BLUP, followed by genomic, phenotype and then random selection. Conclusions Overall, the application of open nucleus breeding schemes along with genomic selection is recommended for improving buffalo productivity. Implications Selection strategies used in Iranian buffaloes have so far been based on phenotypic information; however, obtaining genetic information could improve genetic progress in the Iranian buffalo population.
The pentatricopeptide repeat protein Rmd9 recognizes the dodecameric element in the 3′-UTRs of yeast mitochondrial mRNAs
Authors: Hillen Hauke S. , Markov Dmitriy A. , Wojtas Ireneusz D. , Hofmann Katharina B. , Lidschreiber Michael , Cowan Andrew T. , Jones Julia L. , Temiakov Dmitry , Cramer Patrick , Anikin Michael
Published: April 2021

Significance

Respiration-coupled ATP production yields most of the energy in eukaryotic cells and relies on the function of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complexes. Biogenesis of these complexes involves both nuclear and mitochondrial genes, which must be coordinately expressed to assure stoichiometric assembly. The regulatory system that provides this coordination remains poorly understood. Here, we report on the function of a nuclear gene product Rmd9, a feasible component of such a system from yeast. We show that Rmd9 is the factor that binds to the dodecamer element present in mitochondrial mRNAs and provide structural insights into Rmd9-RNA interaction. Combined with previous genetic analyses, our results indicate that Rmd9 controls yeast mitochondrial gene expression by stabilizing and enabling the processing of the mitochondrial mRNAs.
Primate phageomes are structured by superhost phylogeny and environment
Authors: Gogarten Jan F. , Rühlemann Malte , Archie Elizabeth , Tung Jenny , Akoua-Koffi Chantal , Bang Corinna , Deschner Tobias , Muyembe-Tamfun Jean-Jacques , Robbins Martha M. , Schubert Grit , Surbeck Martin , Wittig Roman M. , Zuberbühler Klaus , Baines John F. , Franke Andre , Leendertz Fabian H. , Calvignac-Spencer Sébastien
Published: April 2021

Significance

Mammals harbor diverse communities of gut microbes. The assembly and evolution of the bacterial components of these communities are influenced by host evolutionary histories and social behavior. Little is known about the ecological and evolutionary origins of the phages infecting these bacteria. We explore drivers of phage community assembly and phage lineage evolution in primates. Many phages codiverged with their superhosts. Furthermore, neighboring social groups harbor compositionally and evolutionary distinct phageomes, structured by superhost social behavior. Captive primate phageome composition is intermediate to humans and their wild primate counterparts, with phage phylogenies revealing replacement of wild-associated phages by human-associated lineages. This plasticity makes the long-term associations of phages with their superhosts observed across ecosystems and continents all the more striking.
Alternative splicing redefines landscape of commonly mutated genes in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Rivera Osvaldo D. , Mallory Michael J. , Quesnel-Vallières Mathieu , Chatrikhi Rakesh , Schultz David C. , Carroll Martin , Barash Yoseph , Cherry Sara , Lynch Kristen W.
Published: April 2021

Significance

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic cancer in which malignant myeloid precursor cells impair hematopoiesis and induce bone marrow failure. Most genes associated with AML are mutated in less than 10% of patients, suggesting that alternative mechanisms of gene disruption contribute to this disease. Here, we demonstrate that alternative splicing provides an additional layer of gene dysregulation and mechanism by which gene function is disrupted in AML. These results demonstrate that classical mutation analysis underestimates the burden of functional gene disruption in AML and highlight the importance of assessing the contribution of alternative splicing to gene dysregulation in human disease.
Biological structure and function emerge from scaling unsupervised learning to 250 million protein sequences
Authors: Rives Alexander , Meier Joshua , Sercu Tom , Goyal Siddharth , Lin Zeming , Liu Jason , Guo Demi , Ott Myle , Zitnick C. Lawrence , Ma Jerry , Fergus Rob
Published: April 2021

Significance

Learning biological properties from sequence data is a logical step toward generative and predictive artificial intelligence for biology. Here, we propose scaling a deep contextual language model with unsupervised learning to sequences spanning evolutionary diversity. We find that without prior knowledge, information emerges in the learned representations on fundamental properties of proteins such as secondary structure, contacts, and biological activity. We show the learned representations are useful across benchmarks for remote homology detection, prediction of secondary structure, long-range residue–residue contacts, and mutational effect. Unsupervised representation learning enables state-of-the-art supervised prediction of mutational effect and secondary structure and improves state-of-the-art features for long-range contact prediction.
The contributions of individual countries and regions to the global radiative forcing
Authors: Fu Bo , Li Bengang , Gasser Thomas , Tao Shu , Ciais Philippe , Piao Shilong , Balkanski Yves , Li Wei , Yin Tianya , Han Luchao , Han Yunman , Peng Siyuan , Xu Jing
Published: April 2021

Significance

Radiative forcing (RF) is commonly used to describe the change in net radiative flux because of external drivers. Climate change is caused by human activities of all countries, and mitigating climate change requires global joint efforts. It is important to attribute global RF to country scale. At present, developed countries still have greater responsibilities for climate change. Meanwhile, the contribution of developing countries has increased. It is worth noting that the emissions of developing countries include a large amount of negative RF components such as aerosols, masking RF because of greenhouse gases significantly. However, negative RF components in developing countries will be reduced for air quality in the future, which will affect the ultimate purpose of the Paris Agreement.
Immune cells fold and damage fungal hyphae
Authors: Bain Judith M. , Alonso M. Fernanda , Childers Delma S. , Walls Catriona A. , Mackenzie Kevin , Pradhan Arnab , Lewis Leanne E. , Louw Johanna , Avelar Gabriela M. , Larcombe Daniel E. , Netea Mihai G. , Gow Neil A. R. , Brown Gordon D. , Erwig Lars P. , Brown Alistair J. P.
Published: April 2021

Significance

Macrophages protect against microbial infection, in part by engulfing and killing invading microbes. Fungal pathogens such as
Candida albicans
are known to evade phagocytic killing by forming hyphae that are physically challenging to engulf because of their length. We now find that macrophages can respond by folding the hyphae of
C. albicans
(and other fungal species). Hyphal folding implies that immune cells can continue to apply mechanical force after their cargo has been internalized. The involvement of Dectin-1, β2-integrin, and actin–myosin polymerization provides initial mechanistic insight. Folding damages hyphae, inhibits their growth, and facilitates their complete engulfment. Therefore, hyphal folding represents an additional weapon in the immune cell armory that presumably contributes to fungal clearance.
Heritable variation in telomere length predicts mortality in Soay sheep
Authors: Froy Hannah , Underwood Sarah L. , Dorrens Jennifer , Seeker Luise A. , Watt Kathryn , Wilbourn Rachael V. , Pilkington Jill G. , Harrington Lea , Pemberton Josephine M. , Nussey Daniel H.
Published: April 2021

Significance

Telomeres play an important role in aging, and having relatively short telomeres is associated with an increased risk of death in humans and other animals. Telomere length is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, both of which could potentially drive the positive association with survival. We used lifelong telomere length measurements from a population of wild sheep to disentangle this relationship. Our analyses reveal a genetic correlation between telomere length and longevity but no association between telomere shortening and mortality risk. These findings have important implications for our understanding of telomere dynamics and their role in health and lifespan.
Human hand as a powerless and multiplexed infrared light source for information decryption and complex signal generation
Authors: An Shun , Shang Wen , Jiang Modi , Luo Yini , Fu Benwei , Song Chengyi , Tao Peng , Deng Tao
Published: April 2021

Significance

The utilization of electricity-powered light sources as external stimuli is limited by the cost and energy loss. Here we demonstrate that the human hand can be used as a natural IR light source without the need of external power. As each finger can serve as an independent light source, the hand can also be utilized as a multiplexed IR light source. This work provides a different insight on using the hand in a functional system, such as the information encryption and complex signal generation systems demonstrated here, which will help move forward the effort in the integration of human components into various systems to increase the level of intelligence and achieve ultimate control of these systems.
Declining greenness in Arctic-boreal lakes
Authors: Kuhn Catherine , Butman David
Published: April 2021

Significance

Arctic and boreal regions are undergoing dramatic warming and also possess the world’s highest concentration of lakes. However, ecological changes in lakes are poorly understood. We present a continental-scale trend analysis of satellite lake color in the green wavelengths, which shows declining greenness from 1984 to 2019 in Arctic-boreal lakes across western North America. Annual 30-m Landsat composites indicate lake greenness has decreased by 15%. Our findings show a relationship between lake color, rising air temperatures, and increasing precipitation, supporting the theory that warming may be increasing connectivity between lakes and surrounding landscapes. Overall, our results bring a powerful set of observations in support of the hypothesis that lakes are sentinels for global change in rapidly warming Arctic-boreal ecosystems.
Mechanics of two filaments in tight orthogonal contact
Authors: Grandgeorge Paul , Baek Changyeob , Singh Harmeet , Johanns Paul , Sano Tomohiko G. , Flynn Alastair , Maddocks John H. , Reis Pedro M.
Published: April 2021

Significance

Knots, knits, and weaves have been technologically essential across civilizations, and their significance remains undiminished today. In these systems, it is challenging to understand the equilibria of the deformable filaments with their tight contacts due to the intricate geometry of touching tubular volumes of small, but nonvanishing, radius. This article considers a specific canonical context for filaments in contact: the orthogonal clasp. We quantify the significant mismatches between the physical reality of orthogonal clasps and the simplifying assumptions underpinning conventional descriptive models, such as the classic capstan equation. Nevertheless, we show that a simple, geometric model qualitatively captures the striking localization patterns in the observed contact-pressure fields.
Direct coordination of pterin to Fe
II
enables neurotransmitter biosynthesis in the pterin-dependent hydroxylases
Authors: Iyer Shyam R. , Tidemand Kasper D. , Babicz Jeffrey T. , Jacobs Ariel B. , Gee Leland B. , Haahr Lærke T. , Yoda Yoshitaka , Kurokuzu Masayuki , Kitao Shinji , Saito Makina , Seto Makoto , Christensen Hans E. M. , Peters Günther H. J. , Solomon Edward I.
Published: April 2021

Significance

The mononuclear pterin-dependent nonheme iron enzymes catalyze the rate-limiting step in neurotransmitter biosynthesis and are essential in maintaining proper brain function. These enzymes utilize molecular oxygen, a redox active pterin cofactor, and a ferrous active site to generate an Fe
IV
-oxo intermediate that catalyzes substrate oxidation. This study demonstrates that the pterin cofactor directly coordinates to the iron center before oxygen activation and also coordinates to a kinetically generated peroxy-Fe
II
intermediate that is transiently observed in Fe
IV
-oxo formation. The direct coordination of the pterin cofactor to the iron center enables facile electron transfer to promote rapid oxygen reduction that facilitates the biological function of this family of enzymes and thus defines a unified oxygen activation mechanism for the cofactor-dependent nonheme iron enzymes.
Topological defects produce kinks in biopolymer filament bundles
Authors: Slepukhin Valentin M. , Grill Maximilian J. , Hu Qingda , Botvinick Elliot L. , Wall Wolfgang A. , Levine Alex J.
Published: April 2021

Significance

A common structural motif for stress-bearing intracellular structures and tissues is a network of filament bundles. When observed in optical microscopy, these bundles often show localized bends—kinks—in their contour even though the stress-free state of their constituent filaments is straight. Using a combination of analytical mechanics and large-scale, finite-element Brownian dynamics simulations, we show that the optically observable kinks are related to topological defects in the interior, nanoscale structure of the bundle. Moreover, the kinks are more compliant to bending than the rest of the bundle. As a result, defected bundle networks must contain a random distribution of soft hinges, which, being the most compliant elastic elements, control the low-energy excitations of these bundle networks.
Structural basis for
Clostridium perfringens
enterotoxin targeting of claudins at tight junctions in mammalian gut
Authors: Vecchio Alex J. , Rathnayake Sewwandi S. , Stroud Robert M.
Published: April 2021

Significance

Clostridium perfringens
causes gas gangrene and is a leading cause of bacterial food poisoning, with 1,000,000 US cases annually. Food-poisoning strains produce an enterotoxin (CpE) that breaks apart tight junctions, protein assemblies composed of claudins that fortify the gut barrier. CpE selectively targets claudins via its C-terminal domain (cCpE) to disrupt the gut barrier—the basis for targeting was unknown. Here, we determine the structure of cCpE bound to human claudin-4, discover the structural origin of CpE targeting, and reveal that the primary CpE receptors differ in mice and humans. These insights elucidate CpE’s mechanism for selective targeting of claudins in mammalian gut and can be applied to aid design of new CpE-based therapeutics to treat claudin-linked diseases.
Integrated mutational landscape analysis of uterine leiomyosarcomas
Authors: Choi Jungmin , Manzano Aranzazu , Dong Weilai , Bellone Stefania , Bonazzoli Elena , Zammataro Luca , Yao Xiaotong , Deshpande Aditya , Zaidi Samir , Guglielmi Adele , Gnutti Barbara , Nagarkatti Nupur , Tymon-Rosario Joan R. , Harold Justin , Mauricio Dennis , Zeybek Burak , Menderes Gulden , Altwerger Gary , Jeong Kyungjo , Zhao Siming , Buza Natalia , Hui Pei , Ravaggi Antonella , Bignotti Eliana , Romani Chiara , Todeschini Paola , Zanotti Laura , Odicino Franco , Pecorelli Sergio , Ardighieri Laura , Bilguvar Kaya , Quick Charles M. , Silasi Dan-Arin , Huang Gloria S. , Andikyan Vaagn , Clark Mitchell , Ratner Elena , Azodi Masoud , Imielinski Marcin , Schwartz Peter E. , Alexandrov Ludmil B. , Lifton Richard P. , Schlessinger Joseph , Santin Alessandro D.
Published: April 2021

Significance

Identification of novel, effective treatment modalities for patients with uterine leiomyosarcomas (uLMS) remains an unmet medical need. Using an integrated whole-genome, whole-exome, and RNA-Seq analysis, we identified recurrently mutated genes and deranged pathways, including the homologous-recombination repair (HRR) pathway deficiency (HRD), alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT), C-MYC/BET, and PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathways as potential targets. Using two fully sequenced patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) harboring deranged C-MYC/BET and PTEN/PIK3CA pathways and/or an HRD signature (i.e., LEY11 and LEY16), we found olaparib (PARPi), GS-626510 (BETi), and copanlisib (PIK3CAi) monotherapy to significantly inhibit in vivo uLMS PDXs growth. Our integrated genetic analysis, combined with in vivo preclinical validation experiments, suggests that a large subset of uLMS may potentially benefit from existing PARPi/BETi/PIK3CAi-targeted drugs.
4E-BP2–dependent translation in parvalbumin neurons controls epileptic seizure threshold
Authors: Sharma Vijendra , Sood Rapita , Lou Danning , Hung Tzu-Yu , Lévesque Maxime , Han Yelin , Levett Jeremy Y. , Wang Peng , Murthy Shravan , Tansley Shannon , Wang Siyan , Siddiqui Nadeem , Tahmasebi Soroush , Rosenblum Kobi , Avoli Massimo , Lacaille Jean-Claude , Sonenberg Nahum , Khoutorsky Arkady
Published: April 2021

Significance

In numerous models of neurodevelopmental disorders and epilepsy, genetic mutations associated with enhanced mTORC1 activity engender an increase in the susceptibility to epileptic seizures. This study shows that the deletion of the mTORC1-downstream translational repressor, 4E-BP2, but not 4E-BP1, promotes epileptogenesis. By deleting 4E-BP2 in different cell types, we reveal that the up-regulation of mTORC1/eIF4E signaling in parvalbumin inhibitory neurons is sufficient to reduce the threshold for the induction of seizures. We conclude that downstream of mTORC1, 4E-BP2 is the main 4E-BP paralog controlling epileptogenesis and propose that parvalbumin inhibitory neurons are a vulnerable cell type in which the aberrant activation of mTORC1-dependent translation contributes to epileptic pathology.
Inherited deficiency of stress granule ZNFX1 in patients with monocytosis and mycobacterial disease
Authors: Le Voyer Tom , Neehus Anna-Lena , Yang Rui , Ogishi Masato , Rosain Jérémie , Alroqi Fayhan , Alshalan Maha , Blumental Sophie , Al Ali Fatima , Khan Taushif , Ata Manar , Rozen Laurence , Demulder Anne , Bastard Paul , Gruber Conor , Roynard Manon , Seeleuthener Yoann , Rapaport Franck , Bigio Benedetta , Chrabieh Maya , Sng Danielle , Berteloot Laureline , Boddaert Nathalie , Rozenberg Flore , Al-Muhsen Saleh , Bertoli-Avella Aida , Abel Laurent , Bogunovic Dusan , Marr Nico , Mansouri Davood , Al Mutairi Fuad , Béziat Vivien , Weil Dominique , Mahdaviani Seyed Alireza , Ferster Alina , Zhang Shen-Ying , Reversade Bruno , Boisson-Dupuis Stéphanie , Casanova Jean-Laurent , Bustamante Jacinta
Published: April 2021

Significance

Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD) is defined by selective vulnerability to weakly virulent mycobacteria. The 32 known inborn errors of IFN-γ immunity account for MSMD in about half of the patients, and for a smaller proportion of cases of tuberculosis (TB). We report homozygous
ZNFX1
variants in two families in which the index cases had MSMD or TB with intermittent monocytosis. Upon overexpression, the two variants encode truncated proteins. We show that human ZNFX1 is localized in ribonucleoprotein granules called stress granules. The patients’ production of and response to IFN-γ are apparently intact, and the patients have not experienced severe viral illnesses. Inherited deficiency of stress granule-associated ZNFX1 is a genetic etiology of MSMD or TB with intermittent monocytosis.
Trifolium angustifolium (narrow-leaf clover).
Authors: Makale Fenadis
Published: April 2021

The narrow-leaf clover Trifolium angustifolium is an annual legume native to central, southern and Eastern Europe, western Asia and North Africa. It has been introduced elsewhere and is valued for forage and pasture improvement. It has become an environmental weed in a few countries such as Australia, Japan and Chile but has not been reported as an aggressive invader. It is included in the IUCN Red List (Least Concern) for its value as a genetic resource for forage legumes.
Claviceps fusiformis (pearl millet ergot).
Authors:   USA, USDA-ARS
Published: April 2021

C. fusiformis is widespread in Africa and India, where the host crop, pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), has been grown for thousands of years. The ergot disease it causes became a major yield constraint in India with the introduction of open-pollinated hybrid lines (Thukar and Rai, 2003). Conidia are spread from plant to plant by wind, rain-splash, and insects. Wild Pennisetum spp. are alternative hosts that may serve as reservoirs of inoculum. Ergot infection can have a significant impact on yields, with up to 70% loss in susceptible varieties (Natarajan et al., 1974). There are reports of the pathogen in the western hemisphere (San Martin et al., 1997; Velásquez-Valle et al., 1998). If the fungus has been introduced, then the use of clean seed and cultivation under particular climate conditions may prevent ergot from appearing as a significant problem in the Americas.
Phragmidium bulbosum (blackberry rust).
Authors:   USA, USDA-ARS
Published: April 2021

There is little published information on this plant pathogenic fungus, which has limited geographic distribution. As hosts exist in other regions of the world with similar environmental conditions, this species may pose a threat to native or agricultural plants if introduced.
Alectra vogelii (yellow witchweed).
Authors: Riches Charlie
Published: April 2021

A. vogelii is an annual parasitic weed of legume crops, particularly cowpea and groundnut, in semi-arid areas of East, West, Central and Southern Africa. It is closely associated with cultivation, is occasionally found associated with weeds of fallows but rarely in natural vegetation. Copious seed production and a long-lived seed-bank allow the rapid build up of infestations when susceptible crop cultivars are planted. Tiny seeds are easily spread by wind, surface water flow or in crop seed. The genus Alectra is on the USDA Federal Noxious Weed list. Despite the similar life cycle to Striga species which are listed, and potential for crop damage, A. vogelii does not appear on Noxious weed lists in Australia. An assessment of its global invasive potential is given by Mohamed et al. (2006).
Cecropia peltata (trumpet tree).
Authors: Pasiecznik Nick
Published: April 2021

C. peltata is an important pioneer species in its native range Americas following forest clearance. It has also been introduced into coffee plantations as a shade tree and into botanical gardens in Africa. However, its presence on the ISSG list of the 100 worst invasive species (ISSG, 2003) means that its notoriety as an invasive species may limit further introductions.
Melaleuca quinquenervia (paperbark tree).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa , Acevedo-Rodríguez Pedro
Published: April 2021

M. quinquenervia is a moderately fast-growing, fire-tolerant tree capable of growing on nutrient-deficient sites with continuous or periodic flooding in the humid and sub-humid tropics. It is moderately salt-tolerant. This species is most likely to be grown on relatively short coppice rotations that maximize the production of small-sized logs. M. quinquenervia makes excellent fuelwood, provides useful timber, and is a good source of honey and medicinal niaouli oil. The botany, cultivation, weed management, insect pests, biomass and oil yields, breeding, oil distillation and oil properties of Melaleuca spp., and niaouli oil of M. quinquenervia are covered by Southwell and Lowe (1999).
Pinus caribaea (Caribbean pine).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa , Acevedo-Rodríguez Pedro
Published: April 2021

P. caribaea, especially P. caribaea var. hondurensis, is widely planted throughout the American, Asian, and African tropics and subtropics. It is fast growing and has very versatile wood. P. caribaea var. hondurensis is the most productive of the three varieties of P. caribaea. P. caribaea var. hondurensis grows on a wide variety of sites in the tropics and subtropics at altitudes below 800 m (Whitmore and Liegel, 1980), although it also grows well up to altitudes of 1500 m or more. Worldwide interest has been focused on rapid-growing selections and provenances of the variety hondurensis. It has been found that var. hondurensis crossed naturally with P. oocarpa, and P. oocarpa var. ochoterenai produces progeny that have better form and are faster growers than their parents (Perry, 1991). P. elliottii crossed with P. caribaea var. hondurensis has made a major contribution to the success of commercial forestry in Queensland, Australia. These successes have also stimulated interest in hybrids in other countries such as South Africa, Brazil and Fiji.
Detecting Coached Feigning of Schizophrenia with the Inventory of Problems – 29 (IOP-29) and Its Memory Module (IOP-M): A Simulation Study on a French Community Sample
Authors: Banovic Ingrid , Filippi Federica , Viglione Donald J. , Scrima Fabrizio , Zennaro Alessandro , Zappalà Angelo , Giromini Luciano
Published: April 2021

Evaluating the credibility of the respondent’s cognitive and psychological complaints is a core component of forensic mental health assessment. The Inventory of Problems-29 (IOP-29) and a new IOP-Memory module (IOP-M) are designed specifically for that purpose. Initial research suggests that they might provide practitioners with a quick and thus potentially efficient check of an examinee’s presentation credibility, based on the integration of both symptom and performance validity indicators. To contribute to emerging research on this topic, this study used a simulation design to examine the validity of the IOP-29 and IOP-M and their robustness in detecting coached feigning of schizophrenia. It is the first to extend this duo of measures to a French sample. Results from 115 volunteers supported the effectiveness of both IOP instruments. Because all participants were male, however, our findings may not generalize to females.
On the structural and optical properties investigation of annealed Zn nanorods in the oxygen flux*
Authors: Abdi Fatemeh
Published: April 2021

Zn nano rods were produced on glass substrates using oblique angle deposition method at different deposition angles. For oxidation, the samples were placed in a furnace under oxygen flux. AFM and FESEM images were used to morphology analysis of the structures. The results showed that with increasing the angle of deposition, the grain size decreases and the porosity of the structures increases. XRD pattern and XPS depth profile analysis were used to crystallography and oxide thickness investigations, respectively. The XRD results confirmed oxide phase formation, and the XPS results analyzed the oxide layer thickness. The result showed that as the deposition angle of the nanorods increases, the thickness of the oxide layer increases. The reason for the increase in the thickness of the oxide layer with increasing deposition angle was investigated and attributed to the increase in the porosity of the thin films. The optical spectra of the structures for p polarized light at 10° incident light angle were obtained using single beam spectrophotometer in the 300 nm to 1000 nm wavelengths. The results showed that the formed structures although annealed in oxygen flux, tend to behave like metal. To calculate the optical constant of the structures, the reverse homogenization theory was used and the void fraction and complex refractive index of the structures were obtained. Finally, by calculating permittivity and optical conductivity of the structures, their changes with the deposition angle were investigated.
Zero-field skyrmions in FeGe thin films stabilized through attaching a perpendicularly magnetized single-domain Ni layer*
Authors: Zhang Zi-Bo , Hu Yong
Published: April 2021

A numerical study reports that the zero-field skyrmions in FeGe thin films are stabilized when a FeGe layer is exchange coupled to a single-domain Ni layer, which has been magnetized perpendicularly. Due to the small thickness, an easy-plane anisotropy in the FeGe layer is taken into account, and the skyrmion-crystal state is favored to appear for low anisotropies and intermediate FeGe/Ni interlayer exchange couplings, and finally transformed from a labyrinth-like and into an out-of-plane uniform state for the large couplings or into an in-plane state for the high anisotropies. Furthermore, the maximum skyrmion charge number is bigger for the periodic and fixed boundary conditions with an out-of-plane magnetization; on the contrary, the Bloch-type skyrmions can be frozen and stabilized for the larger couplings on the fixed boundary with an in-plane magnetization, similar to the experimental results of the magnetic-field-induced skyrmions. Finally, the skyrmion charge number and diameter both decrease if the nonmagnetic defects exist, and the skyrmion centers are prone to being captured by defect sites. This work evidences that the ensembles of homochiral skyrmions stabilized in the multilayers fabricated by well-established technologies present a roadmap to design new classes of the materials that can host skyrmions.
Effect of pulse duration on generation of attosecond pulse with coherent wake emission*
Authors: Chen Siyu , Zeng Zhinan , Li Ruxin
Published: April 2021

High-order harmonics and attosecond pulse generation with coherent wake emission are theoretically investigated for the effect of pulse duration and carrier envelope phase (CEP) of few-cycle laser pulse. We find that short pulse duration will cause the negative chirp for the high harmonics. When the laser pulse is shortened to a few cycles, the influence of the laser CEP on the chirp of the harmonics will also become more prominent.
Phonon dispersion relations of crystalline solids based on LAMMPS package*
Authors: Wei Zhiyong , Qi Tianhang , Chen Weiyu , Chen Yunfei
Published: April 2021

The phonon dispersion relations of crystalline solids play an important role in determining the mechanical and thermal properties of materials. The phonon dispersion relation, as well as the vibrational density of states, is also often used as an indicator of variation of lattice thermal conductivity with the external stress, defects, etc. In this study, a simple and fast tool is proposed to acquire the phonon dispersion relation of crystalline solids based on the LAMMPS package. The theoretical details for the calculation of the phonon dispersion relation are derived mathematically and the computational flow chart is present. The tool is first used to calculate the phonon dispersion relation of graphene with two atoms in the unit cell. Then, the phonon dispersions corresponding to several potentials or force fields, which are commonly used in the LAMMPS package to modeling the graphene, are obtained to compare with that from the DFT calculation. They are further extended to evaluate the accuracy of the used potentials before the molecular dynamics simulation. The tool is also used to calculate the phonon dispersion relation of superlattice structures that contains more than one hundred of atoms in the unit cell, which predicts the phonon band gaps along the cross-plane direction. Since the phonon dispersion relation plays an important role in the physical properties of condensed matter, the proposed tool for the calculation of the phonon dispersion relation is of great significance for predicting and explaining the mechanical and thermal properties of crystalline solids.
MobLen Model for Enhancing Scientific Creativity of Physics Students: An Alternative in the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Dwikoranto  , Jatmiko B , Hariyono E , Lestari N A , Prahani B K , Suyidno
Published: April 2021

The development of scientific creativity (SC) is critical in physics education because students must have the improved-scientific-creativity to become superior graduates, including prospective physics teachers. Many prospective physics teachers lack scientific creativity. The focus of this research was to analyse the effectiveness of the MobLen model in increasing the scientific creativity of future physics teachers as an alternative to online learning models in the COVID-19 pandemic. This research used a pre-experiment design with one group pre-test and post-test of 62 prospective physics teachers. The data was collected using a scientific creativity test, then analysed using inferential statically with the Paired Sample Test and N-gain. The results showed that the MobLen model proved effective in increasing the scientific creativity of prospective physics teachers. This research implies that the MobLen learning model can increase the scientific creativity of prospective physics teachers as an alternative to online learning in the COVID-19 pandemic.
High Order Thinking Skills Students Through Multi-Representation Test on Newtons Law Study
Authors: Puspitaningrum H Z , Wasis  , Prastowo T
Published: April 2021

This study aims to describe higher-order thinking skills in Newton’s law study based on a multi-representation test. The methods used quantitative descriptive and implemented on one of the class X High School in Surabaya academic year 2019/2020. The questions that tested were verbal, graphic, visual, or mathematically representations consist of the ability to analyse, evaluate, and create adjusted cognitive domain in Bloom’s taxonomy revised. Validity and reliability instrument test in this study with help Winstep software. Based on the result of the analysis, it was found high order thinking skill student in the high category of 42 %, high order thinking skill student in the middle category of 16 %, and high order thinking skill student in the low category of 42 %. Higher-order thinking skills had categorized as enough. Average value person logit equals -0.95 which means that more students answered incorrectly on the questions were tested. Student’s ability in representing physics knowledge shows how the student’s level of understanding.
The Role of C-dots/(MnO2)x (x = 0, 2, 4, mM) on Enhancing The Ion Transport in Poly (Ethylene Oxide) Based Solid Polymer Electrolytes: The Optical and Electrical Characteristics
Authors: Putro P A , Sulaeman A S , Maddu A
Published: April 2021

In this work, solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) based poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) have been prepared with carbon dots (C-dots) and C-dots/manganese oxide or C-dots/(MnO2)x (x = 0, 2, 4 mM) addition. C-dots synthesized by low-temperature heating oven using cassava peels as a carbon source. Furthermore, C-dots/(MnO2)x prepared with C-dots solution as media for reducing potassium permanganate (KMnO4) into MnO2. C-dots/(MnO2)x solutions were characterized by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The SPE samples with C-dots/(MnO2)x addition were characterized by electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). We provided the information that the presence of C-dots/(MnO2)x has accelerated and facilitated the ionic transport in the SPE. These results reveal that C-dots/(MnO2)x nanocomposite is a good candidate for SPE.
Analysis of IMF Orientation and Pc5 Power During St. Patrick Geomagnetic Storm on 17 March 2015
Authors: Filawati S
Published: April 2021

Solar storms have a hazardous effect on the Earth, one of the most powerful is Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). St. Patrick geomagnetic storm is a severe geomagnetic storm which is caused by partial halo CME. Propagation of CME at interplanetary space is detected by solar wind parameters by speed and magnetic field. Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) has orientation to determine the shift of solar wind particle. IMF orientation can be classified by IMF cone angle and IMF clock angle. Both can be used as an indicator of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. This study aims to determine the flow of solar wind to the magnetosphere. The solar wind will enter the magnetosphere can be detected by THEMIS satellite orbits at ∼100 km to ∼12 RE at magnetotail and ground-based Fluxgate Magnetometer at LAPAN Pasuruan. Meanwhile, the geomagnetic storm is observed by Dst index. We combine data from interplanetary space, magnetosphere, and ground-based magnetometer and processed to Pc5 power. The results are IMF clock angle was closer to zero and IMF cone angle got wider on 15-18 March 2015, FM and FGM Pc5 power surged since March 16, 2015. Finally, a severe geomagnetic storm observed on March 17, 2015 with Dst index was -222 nT.
Characteristics Analysis of Archimedes Screw Turbine Micro Hydro Power Plants with Variations in Water Discharge
Authors: Indarto B , Ramazhoni D A , Bustomi M A
Published: April 2021

Electrical energy has a very important role in human life, but the electricity supply still does not fully meet the needs of the community. Many potential energy resources can be converted into electrical energy. One of the potential energy resources is the flow of water that can be used for micro-hydropower plants for remote areas. This paper presents the results of research on micro-hydro power plants using Archimedes screw turbines. This power generation system has several advantages, namely low maintenance costs, does not damage the water ecosystem, does not require extensive land. The purpose of this research is to study the characteristics of the Archimedes micro-hydro power plant on variations in water discharge. These characteristics include mechanical characteristics such as the maximum torque and rpm and electrical characteristics such as voltage, current and electric power. The determination of characteristics is carried out on the prototype of the micro hydropower plant Archimedes screw turbine with the specifications of the turbine screw having 2 blades, the turbine elevation angle of 30°, 2.5: 1 gearbox ratio using four variations of water discharge, namely 1.18 l/s, 2.33 l/s, 2.55 l/s, and 2.64 l/s. The determination results of the micro hydropower plant Archimedes screw turbine characteristics show that an increase in water flow will cause an increase in mechanical characteristics such as large torque and rpm and electrical characteristics such as voltage, current and electric power. However, the increase in the magnitude of these characteristics is not directly proportional to the increase in water discharge.
Expert System Using Dempster Shafer Method for Pre-Eclampsia Detection
Authors: Purwanti E , Achmadi N W , Ernawati  , Bustomi M A
Published: April 2021

Pre-eclampsia is a complication in pregnancy that is often diagnosed by hypertension and proteinuria in the second tri-semester of pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia could cause suffering for mother and fetus and also increase the risk of mother and child death. The main objective of this research is to develop an expert system to identify the risk of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. The device was designed with 16 inputs in the form of symptoms and risk factors that influence the disease. This system uses the Dempster Shafer method for classification of 2 classes: there is a risk of pre-eclampsia and no risk of pre-eclampsia. The test consists of 2 aspects, namely the performance test and user satisfaction test. The results of the research for the performance test showed that the system accuracy reached 88.18% with sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive Value, and Negative Predictive Value were 92.72%, 83.63%, 85%, and 92%. User satisfaction test results show “good” in all aspects.
The Response of (Mg0.6Zn0.4)TiO3 Ceramic System as A Dielectric Resonator Oscillator at C-Band
Authors: Ermawati F U
Published: April 2021

Magnesium titanate (MgTiO3) with the ilmenite structure has been recognized as a potential dielectric ceramic material for modern cellular technology, satellite communications in the microwave frequency region, radar systems, filters, resonators and antennas in global positioning systems. This paper demonstrates the response of magnesium zinc titanate (Mg0.6Zn0.4)TiO3 ceramic system when it was mounted as a dielectric resonator element in a dielectric resonator oscillator (DRO) circuit when the circuit was tuned in a transverse electric (TE)01δ resonant mode operating at the frequency range of 3 – 12 GHz. The discussion is related to the structure, microstructure and dielectric characteristics.
VLH Development as Implementation Support for SFH (Study from Home) Policy During Covid-19 Pandemic: Analysis of Validity and Effectivity
Authors: Kholiq A , Sucahyo I , Dzulkiflih  , Yantidewi M
Published: April 2021

There has been a paradigm shift due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has hit the world, including Indonesia, therefore the Indonesian government issues policies of working from home, studying from home, and worshipping at home. The developing V-learn HOTS is in line with the studying from home policy launched by the Indonesian government. V-Learn HOTS was developed by combining v-learn and high order thinking (HOTS) which was useful for supporting 21st century skill. The objective of this research is to analyse the feasibility level of developed VLH in terms of the validity and effectivity of VLH use in long distance lecture in order to obtain appropriate VLH media that can be used in lectures for students. This study used a development research method with the DDD-E design which could be defined as decide, design, develop, and evaluate [1]. Data collection techniques used validation data collection techniques with validation instruments and assessment of student HOTS skills improvement, pre-test and post-test instruments which were then analysed using quantitative descriptive data analysis. Based on the data analysis that had been performed, it was found that the developed VLH had an average validity level of 79.44% with valid criteria. As for effectiveness, it was obtained from the results of the pre-test and post-test analysis so that the n-gain results were 0.43 in the moderate category. The conclusion that can be drawn from the analysis is that the VLH is valid and effective so as it is suitable for long distance lecture on basic electronics 1 in accordance with the Indonesian government policies in handling Covid-19.
Analysis of Air Temperature and Humidity in Kedunggalar Against BMKG Data Based on DHT11 Sensor
Authors: Saputro A D , Yantidewi M
Published: April 2021

This research was conducted to compare the temperature and humidity data presented by the BMKG against realtime data based on the DHT11 sensor readings in Kedunggalar, Ngawi. Data was collected for 14 days (8-21 September 2020) at the same time interval between 07-10 AM according to the data update on the BMKG website. Temperature and humidity readings are recorded periodically with the DHT11 sensor every second for one minute, so that 60 data generated every one day. The average temperature and humidity data produced by the DHT11 sensor is 29.18 °C and 68.16% with a comparison of the average data from the BMKG website 28.79 °C and 65.36%. So that from the comparison of direct measurements of DHT11 and from the website it has a sensor reading error against a temperature of 1.59 °C and a humidity of 5.24%. The conclusion is that the measurement of temperature and humidity in Kedunggalar with the DHT11 sensor is very valid against the data on the BMKG website. Even though the humidity exceeds the accuracy limit of the DHT11 sensor which is a maximum tolerance value of 5%, on the other hand the temperature reading is very accurate because the tolerance value is less than 2 °C.