bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Um Catecismo Amazônico
Authors: Arenz Karl , Barros Cândida , Gauz Valeria
Published: June 2019

Jesuit João Felipe Bettendorff (1625-1698) from Luxembourg was the author of the Compêndio da Doutrina Christam (1687). This catechism is the last work in Tupi language printed by the Society of Jesus in colonial times and the first, whose author was a Jesuit working in the Amazon. The analysis of Bettendorff’s trajectory and the contexts of the late seventeenth century help to understand the reasons for the publication of this catechism, being different from the one in use in the Jesuit missions. The two copies of the princeps edition still accessible allow a linguistic, historical and anthropological deepening of Jesuit evangelization in the Portuguese Amazon.
An Instruction Manual Would Be Perfect!
Authors: Colson Alicia J. M.
Published: June 2019

The Algonquian-speaking peoples create, used, and made images which are subdivided into three groups. These images were occurred on a variety of objects to communicate information, meanings. It is known that only the Midé, their ritual and medicinal specialists (shaman), used a specific group of these images, those on birch bark scrolls. Four birchbark scrolls were examined using the same techniques that were applied to the pictograph sites (rock art sites) of Lake of the Woods to establish whether images should be understood as groups or individual elements as they serve as an illustration to counterpoint the pictograph sites.
Photographs as Artifacts
Authors: Fiore Dánae
Published: June 2019

This article presents key concepts and methods used to develop a visual archaeology of two Indigenous societies of Tierra del Fuego (Shelk’nam, Yámana/Yagan). Photographs are conceived as artifacts, which condense the traces of at least two agents: photographers and photographed subjects. These visual records are not only biased by the different photographers who took them, but also shed light on the different material culture patterns produced by each Indigenous society, which are visible on the images when studied in large samples. The article discusses some results of systematic investigations carried out on a corpus of 847 photographs taken by 39 photographers of Shelk’nam and Yámana/Yagan persons (19th and early 20th centuries). These are compared to materials found in the archaeological record in order to generate new data about the material culture used by Fueguian hunter-gatherers.
In the News
Authors: Free David
Published: June 2019

Welcome to the June 2019 issue of C&RL News. Open educational resources (OER) were featured as one of the top trends in academic libraries in last June’s issue and were still at the forefront of conversation at the recent ACRL 2019 conference. Steven J. Bell and Annie Johnson of Temple University discuss using a campus textbook listening tour to promote OER adoption in their article “We’re listening.”
The Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness: An Empathy-Driven Approach to Solving Problems, Preventing Conflict, and Serving Everyone by Ryan J. Dowd
Authors: Young Megan
Published: June 2019

Every public librarian, or library staff member, has interacted with a patron suffering from homelessness. Some of the interactions are favorable, while others are less than savory, and some might even be down-right dangerous and involve the police. Dowd, as a lawyer and director of Hesed House, a shelter for the homeless, takes his experience and presents the reader with tools and suggestions to build a more amiable relationship with the homeless population who attend the library. The style of this book is more storytime-esque rather than being a dry how-to guide. At the beginning of each section Dowd gives the reader personal experience, or a story about a coworker, which shows his investment and dedication, making the book a more enjoyable, and credible, read.
Choose Privacy Week 2018: Big Data is Watching You
Authors: Marden William , Griffey Jason , Berman Erin , Houghton Sarah , West Jessamyn , Hellman Eric , Lamanna T.J. , Beckstrom Matt
Published: June 2019

Five months ago, when the members of ALA’s Privacy Subcommittee met to decide on this year’s [2018] “Choose Privacy Week” (CPW) theme, it’s a fair bet to say that only a tiny percentage of the general public had ever heard of Cambridge Analytica, Aleksandr Kogan, the SCL Group, or of a fairly obscure app called “thisisyourdigitallife.”And yet, there were warnings about Cambridge Analytica’s program as early as December 2015, when the London Guardian first reported on this data-collection program and its integration with Facebook as part of Ted Cruz’s 2016 bid for the US presidency. Michael Zimmer, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee associate professor and a member of ALA’s Privacy Subcommittee, was quoted by the Guardian about why the use of such data was highly problematic. “It’s one thing for a marketer to try to predict if people like Coke or Pepsi,” said Zimmer, “but it’s another thing for them to predict things that are much more central to our identity, and what’s more personal in how I interact with the world in terms of social and cultural issues?”In the wake of Mark Zuckerberg’s Congressional testimony last week [in April 2018] and the related explosion of public interest in how online personal data is collected, stored, shared, used, and sometimes misused, this year’s CPW theme—“Big Data is Watching You”—could not be more perfectly timed.
Hate Speech on Campus: Reframing the Discourse
Authors: McDowall Matt
Published: June 2019

College campuses have long grappled with the question of allowing controversial speakers on campus. In the half-century since the Free Speech Movement at Berkeley, such events have become a fairly typical aspect of campus life. In recent years, however, increasingly divisive public figures have been invited—and, on occasion, disinvited. Being “deplatformed” has become a badge of honor for public figures like Ben Shapiro, Ann Coulter, and Milo Yiannapolous.
Updates
Authors: Stone David R.
Published: June 2019

Freedom to Read Foundation Report to CouncilIntellectual Freedom Committee Report to Council
Is It Legal?
Authors: Stone David R.
Published: June 2019

Schools, Colleges and Universities, Privacy, International
Success Stories
Authors: Stone David R.
Published: June 2019

Libraries, Schools, International
Drag Queen Storytimes
Authors: Stone David R.
Published: June 2019

EDITOR’S NOTE: Unlike many other forms of censorship, challenges to drag queen storytimes generally don’t target authors, titles, or content, but rather the method in which stories are presented to children. This compilation is by no means an exhaustive list of recent library events with drag queen readers, but a look at some that generated a significant level of controversy.
La marca territorio, o la mundialización de lo nuestro
Authors: Caligiuri Francisco José , Baquero Lazcano Cristian Gabriel
Published: June 2019

Con la llegada de los nuevos tiempos, las ciudades, las provincias y los países cada vez se encuentran sumergidos en un mundo donde las fronteras tienden a desaparecer.La internacionalización de las relaciones a nivel global, genera una influencia intercultural que estimula y hace necesario el reconocimiento y la diferenciación de los territorios, para lo cual la sinergia de las comunicaciones es fundamental.La marca territorio es una política de estado, una construcción social, define lo que a los ojos de otro habitante del mundo “somos”. En ella, el imaginario colectivo crea acuerdos básicos sobre su identidad, sobre lo que es y sobre cómo quiere ser vista, acuerdo en el que participan tanto el sector público como el privado.De esta manera el territorio se posiciona logrando la “mundialización de lo nuestro”________________________With the arrival of new times, cities, provinces and countries are increasingly submerged in a world where borders tend to disappear.The internationalization of relations at the global level generates an intercultural influence that stimulates and makes necessary the recognition and differentiation of territories, for which the synergy of communications is fundamental.The territory brand is a state policy, a social construction, defines what in the eyes of another inhabitant of the world "we are". In it, the collective imaginary creates basic agreements about its identity, about what it is and about how it wants to be seen, an agreement in which both the public and private sectors participate.In this way the territory is positioned achieving the "globalization of what is ours"
Análise da atuação fisioterapêutica nas sequelas motoras da Síndrome de Guillain-Barré: uma revisão bibliográfica
Authors: Costa Paula Roberta Ferreira , Rodrigues Chirley Silva , Silva Karla Camila Correia da
Published: June 2019

A Síndrome de Guillain-Barré é uma polineuropatia desmielinizante que acomete o Sistema Nervoso Periférico (SNP), de etiologia desconhecida, e que ocasiona fraqueza motora ascendente. Tem como principais manifestações clínicas a parestesia, ou paralisia distal; alteração da sensibilidade tátil, dolorosa e proprioceptiva; fraqueza muscular; alterações posturais; comprometimento da marcha; e em casos graves, pode evoluir para insuficiência respiratória; taquicardia sinusal; variações de pressão arterial; e retenção urinária, podendo surgir ainda sudorese profunda, e em decorrência desses, o paciente pode necessitar de ventilação mecânica. A literatura descreve tratamentos fisioterapêuticos de maneiras distintas, sendo que cada fisioterapeuta com sua metodologia visa um objetivo em comum, que é o de promover e melhorar de forma geral a qualidade de vida dos pacientes acometidos pela Síndrome de Guillain-Barré. Os resultados adquiridos neste estudo demonstram que não existe um protocolo específico de tratamento na Síndrome de Guillain-Barré, sendo que os dados obtidos não podem ser generalizados. Portanto, é necessário a realização de estudos a respeito da atuação fisioterapêutica na Síndrome Guillain-Barré, afim de se criar intervenções de reabilitação que visem melhorar a qualidade de vida desses pacientes.
The effect of reverse transcription enzymes and conditions on high throughput amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA
Authors: Šťovíček Adam , Cohen-Chalamish Smadar , Gillor Osnat
Published: June 2019

It is assumed that the sequencing of ribosomes better reflects the active microbial community than the sequencing of the ribosomal RNA encoding genes. Yet, many studies exploring microbial communities in various environments, ranging from the human gut to deep oceans, questioned the validity of this paradigm due to the discrepancies between the DNA and RNA based communities. Here we focus on an often neglected key step in the analysis, the reverse transcription (RT) reaction. Previous studies showed that RT may introduce biases when expressed genes and ribosomes are quantified, yet its effect on microbial diversity and community composition was never tested. High throughput sequencing of ribosomal RNA is a valuable tool to understand microbial communities as it better describes the active population than DNA analysis. However, the necessary step of RT may introduce biases that have so far been poorly described. In this manuscript, we compare three reverse transcription enzymes, commonly used in soil microbiology, in two temperature modes to determine a potential source of bias due to non-standardized reverse transcription conditions. In our comparisons, we have observed up to 6 fold differences in bacterial class abundance. A temperature induced bias can be partially explained by G-C content of the affected bacterial groups, thus pointing towards a need for higher reaction temperatures. However, another source of bias was due to enzyme processivity differences. This bias is potentially hard to overcome and thus mitigating it might require the use of one enzyme for the sake of cross-study comparison.
Genetic diversity of CHC22 clathrin impacts its function in glucose metabolism
Authors: Fumagalli Matteo , Camus Stephane M , Diekmann Yoan , Burke Alice , Camus Marine D , Norman Paul J , Joseph Agnel , Abi-Rached Laurent , Benazzo Andrea , Rasteiro Rita , Mathieson Iain , Topf Maya , Parham Peter , Thomas Mark G , Brodsky Frances M
Published: June 2019

CHC22 clathrin plays a key role in intracellular membrane traffic of the insulin-responsive glucose transporter GLUT4 in humans. We performed population genetic and phylogenetic analyses of the CHC22-encoding CLTCL1 gene, revealing independent gene loss in at least two vertebrate lineages, after arising from gene duplication. All vertebrates retained the paralogous CLTC gene encoding CHC17 clathrin, which mediates endocytosis. For vertebrates retaining CLTCL1, strong evidence for purifying selection supports CHC22 functionality. All human populations maintained two high frequency CLTCL1 allelic variants, encoding either methionine or valine at position 1316. Functional studies indicated that CHC22-V1316, which is more frequent in farming populations than in hunter-gatherers, has different cellular dynamics than M1316-CHC22 and is less effective at controlling GLUT4 membrane traffic, altering its insulin-regulated response. These analyses suggest that ancestral human dietary change influenced selection of allotypes that affect CHC22’s role in metabolism and have potential to differentially influence the human insulin response.
Species specific differences in use of ANP32 proteins by influenza A virus
Authors: Long Jason S , Idoko-Akoh Alewo , Mistry Bhakti , Goldhill Daniel , Staller Ecco , Schreyer Jocelyn , Ross Craig , Goodbourn Steve , Shelton Holly , Skinner Michael A , Sang Helen , McGrew Michael J , Barclay Wendy
Published: June 2019

Influenza A viruses (IAV) are subject to species barriers that prevent frequent zoonotic transmission and pandemics. One of these barriers is the poor activity of avian IAV polymerases in human cells. Differences between avian and mammalian ANP32 proteins underlie this host range barrier. Human ANP32A and ANP32B homologues both support function of human-adapted influenza polymerase but do not support efficient activity of avian IAV polymerase which requires avian ANP32A. We show here that the gene currently designated as avian ANP32B is evolutionarily distinct from mammalian ANP32B, and that chicken ANP32B does not support IAV polymerase activity even of human-adapted viruses. Consequently, IAV relies solely on chicken ANP32A to support its replication in chicken cells. Amino acids 129I and 130N, accounted for the inactivity of chicken ANP32B. Transfer of these residues to chicken ANP32A abolished support of IAV polymerase. Understanding ANP32 function will help develop antiviral strategies and aid the design of influenza virus resilient genome edited chickens.
Compound-V formations in shorebird flocks
Authors: Corcoran Aaron J , Hedrick Tyson L
Published: June 2019

Animal groups have emergent properties that result from simple interactions among individuals. However, we know little about why animals adopt different interaction rules because of sparse sampling among species. Here, we identify an interaction rule that holds across single and mixed-species flocks of four migratory shorebird species spanning a seven-fold range of body masses. The rule, aligning with a one-wingspan lateral distance to nearest neighbors in the same horizontal plane, scales linearly with wingspan but is independent of nearest neighbor distance and neighbor species. This rule propagates outward to create a global flock structure that we term the compound-V formation. We propose that this formation represents an intermediary between the cluster flocks of starlings and the simple-V formations of geese and other large migratory birds. We explore multiple hypotheses regarding the benefit of this flock structure and how it differs from structures observed in other flocking species.
Communication between distinct subunit interfaces of the cohesin complex promotes its topological entrapment of DNA
Authors: Guacci Vincent , Chatterjee Fiona , Robison Brett , Koshland Douglas E
Published: June 2019

Cohesin mediates higher order chromosome structure. Its biological activities require topological entrapment of DNA within a lumen(s) formed by cohesin subunits. The reversible dissociation of cohesin’s Smc3p and Mcd1p subunits is postulated to form a regulated gate that allows DNA entry and exit into the lumen. We assessed gate-independent functions of this interface in yeast using a fusion protein that joins Smc3p to Mcd1p. We show that in vivo all the regulators of cohesin promote DNA binding of cohesin by mechanisms independent of opening this gate. Furthermore, we show that this interface has a gate-independent activity essential for cohesin to bind chromosomes. We propose that this interface regulates DNA entrapment by controlling the opening and closing of one or more distal interfaces formed by cohesin subunits, likely by inducing a conformation change in cohesin. Furthermore, cohesin regulators modulate the interface to control both DNA entrapment and cohesin functions after DNA binding.
The Development of the Journal Evaluation Tool to Evaluate the Credibility of Publication Venues
Authors: Blas Nataly , Rele Shilpa , Kennedy Marie R.
Published: June 2019

INTRODUCTION A shared concern among librarians who work in an academic environment is finding effective mechanisms to help faculty identify suitable publication venues. Determining the suitability is now also complicated by the need to determine the credibility of the venue itself, to ensure that faculty select a venue that is held in esteem. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT At Loyola Marymount University (LMU), a medium-sized, private institution in the United States, three librarians developed a tool to assist faculty in determining the credibility of a publication venue, specifically for open access journals. This article outlines the development of a tool to evaluate journals, the pilot testing process, and some of the measures taken for the promotion, outreach, and implementation of the tool. The goal of the tool is to inform publishing decisions using an objective measure of credibility and to empower authors to make publishing decisions for themselves. NEXT STEPS The authors have released the tool with a Creative Commons CC-BY license in order to enable the broad dissemination, use, and enhancement of it by anyone interested in using or developing the tool further. It will be valuable to understand the adapted use cases of the tool and learn about experiences from other librarians using this tool at their institutions.
Biochar prepared at different pyrolysis temperatures affects urea-nitrogen immobilization and N2O emissions in paddy fields
Authors: Gao Jiping , Zhao Yanze , Zhang Wenzhong , Sui Yanghui , Jin Dandan , Xin Wei , Yi Jun , He Dawei
Published: June 2019

Background

Food safety has become a major issue, with serious environmental pollution resulting from losses of nitrogen (N) fertilizers. N is a key element for plant growth and is often one of the most important yield-limiting nutrients in paddy soil. Urea-N immobilization is an important process for restoring the levels of soil nutrient depleted by rice production and sustaining productivity. The benefits of biochar application include improved soil fertility, altered N dynamics, and reduced nutrient leaching. However, due to high variability in the quality of biochar, the responses of N loss and rice productivity to biochar amendments, especially those prepared at different pyrolysis temperatures, are still unclear. The main objectives of the present study were to examine the effects of biochar prepared at different pyrolysis temperatures on fertilizer N immobilization in paddy soil and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

Two biochar samples were prepared by pyrolysis of maize straw at 400 °C (B400) and 700 °C (B700), respectively. The biochar was applied to paddy soil at three rates (0, 0.7, and 2.1%, w/w), with or without N fertilization (0, 168, and 210 kg N ha–1). Pot experiments were performed to determine nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and 15N recovery from paddy soil using a 15N tracer across the rice growing season.

Results

Compared with the non-biochar control, biochar significantly decreased soil bulk density while increasing soil porosity, irrespective of pyrolysis temperature and N fertilizer level. Under B400 and B700, a high biochar rate decreased N loss rate to 66.42 and 68.90%, whereas a high N level increased it to 77.21 and 76.99%, respectively. Biochar also markedly decreased N2O emissions to 1.06 (B400) and 0.75 kg ha−1 (B700); low-N treatment caused a decrease in N2O emissions under B400, but this decrease was not observed under B700. An application rate of biochar of 2.1% plus 210 kg ha−1 N fertilizer substantially decreased the N fertilizer-induced N2O emission factor under B400, whereas under B700 no significant difference was observed. Biochar combined with N fertilizer treatment decreased rice biomass and grain yield by an average of 51.55 and 23.90 g pot–1, respectively, but the yield reduction under B700 was lower than under B400.

Conclusion

Irrespective of pyrolysis temperature, biochar had a positive effect on residual soil 15N content, while it negatively affected the 15N recovery of rice, N2O emissions from soil, rice biomass, and grain yield in the first year. Generally, a high application rate of biochar prepared at high or low pyrolysis temperature reduced the N fertilizer-induced N2O emission factor considerably. These biochar effects were dependent on N fertilizer level, biochar application rate, and their interactions.
Future CO2-induced seawater acidification mediates the physiological performance of a green alga Ulva linza in different photoperiods
Authors: Yue Furong , Gao Guang , Ma Jing , Wu Hailong , Li Xinshu , Xu Juntian
Published: June 2019

Photoperiods have an important impact on macroalgae living in the intertidal zone. Ocean acidification also influences the physiology of macroalgae. However, little is known about the interaction between ocean acidification and photoperiod on macroalgae. In this study, a green alga Ulva linza was cultured under three different photoperiods (L: D = 8:16, 12:12, 16:8) and two different CO2 levels (LC, 400 ppm; HC, 1,000 ppm) to investigate their responses. The results showed that relative growth rate of U. linza increased with extended light periods under LC but decreased at HC when exposed to the longest light period of 16 h compared to 12 h. Higher CO2 levels enhanced the relative growth rate at a L: D of 8:16, had no effect at 12:12 but reduced RGR at 16:8. At LC, the L: D of 16:8 significantly stimulated maximum quantum yield (Yield). Higher CO2 levels enhanced Yield at L: D of 12:12 and 8:16, had negative effect at 16:8. Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) increased with increasing light period. High CO2 levels did not affect respiration rate during shorter light periods but enhanced it at a light period of 16 h. Longer light periods had negative effects on Chl a and Chl b content, and high CO2 level also inhibited the synthesis of these pigments. Our data demonstrate the interactive effects of CO2 and photoperiod on the physiological characteristics of the green tide macroalga Ulva linza and indicate that future ocean acidification may hinder the stimulatory effect of long light periods on growth of Ulva species.
Effects of Aqueous Extract of Ocimum gratissimum Leaves and Vitamin C on Lead Acetate-induced Changes in the Thymus of Adult Wistar Rats
Authors: Okechukwu G. N. , Ezor E. , Finbarrs-Bello E. , Ebube L. N. , Uzomba G. C. , Ibegbu A. O.
Published: June 2019

Lead is a heavy metal found in earth’s crust. It is a widespread and insidious environmental toxin known as a severe and aggressive contaminant to human and animal organisms’ health status. This work is aimed at evaluating the effect of aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum (OG) on lead induced changes in the thymus of adult albino wistar rats. Thirty five male Wistar rats were used in the study and were randomly divided into seven groups with five rats in each group. The rats in Group one (G1) served as the Control and received distilled water. Group 2 received 120 mg/kg body weight (bwt) of lead acetate, G3 received 375 mg/kg bwt of OG only. G4 received 120 mg/kg bwt of lead acetate and OG extract at 375 mg/kg bwt., G5 received 120 mg/kg bwt of lead and OG at 750 mg/kg bwt. G6 received 375 mg/kg bwt of OG in two weeks followed by 120 mg/kg bwt of lead acetate for one week, while G7 received 120 mg/kg bwt of lead acetate and Vitamin C at 11900 mg/kg. All the administrations were carried out orally for twenty one (21) days. At the end of the administration, the rats were fasted for 24 hours. They weighted and humanely sacrificed via cervical dislocation. The thymus were harvested in all the groups and prepared for histological studies using routine haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining techniques. The result of the present study shows that lead possessed a distortive effect in the histoarchitecture of thymus of the wistar rat in G2 when compared with G1. Treatment of these experimental animals with vitamin C prove to posses more ameliorative effect in restoring the histoarchitecture on lead toxicity in the thymus closed to normal than OG. Therefore, it is suggested that aqueous extract OG can act via the same pathway as vitamin C, in maintaining the normal histological structures of the thymus of adult albino wistar rat exposed to lead toxicity.
Time Series and Empirical Orthogonal Transformation Using Meteorological Parameters across the Climatic Zones in Nigeria
Authors: Akpootu D. O. , Tijjani B. I. , Gana U. M.
Published: June 2019

Time series and empirical orthogonal transformation analysis was carried out for four (4) selected tropical sites, which are situated across the four different climatic zones, viz. Sahelian, Midland, Guinea savannah and Coastal region in Nigeria using measured monthly average daily global solar radiation, maximum and minimum temperatures, sunshine hours, rainfall, wind speed, cloud cover and relative humidity meteorological data during the period of thirty one years (1980-2010). Seasonal Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models were developed along with their respective statistical indicators of coefficient of determination (R2), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). The results indicated that the models were found suitable for one step ahead global solar radiation forecast for the studied locations. Furthermore, the results of the time series analysis revealed that the model type for all the meteorological parameters show a combination of simple seasonal with one or more of either ARIMA, winter’s additive and winter’s multiplicative with the level been more significant as compared to the trend and seasonal variations for the exponential smoothing model parameters in all the locations. The results of the correlation matrix revealed that the global solar radiation is more correlated to the mean temperature except for Akure where it is more correlated to the sunshine hours; the mean temperature is more correlated to the global solar radiation; the rainfall is more correlated to the relative humidity and the relative humidity is more correlated to the rainfall in all the locations. The results of the component matrix revealed that three seasons are identified in Nguru located in the Sahelian region namely, the rainy, the cool dry (harmattan) and the hot dry seasons while in Zaria, Makurdi and Akure located in the Midland, Guinea savannah and Coastal zones two distinct seasons are identified namely, the rainy and dry seasons.
Impact of Yam Postharvest Activities on Standard of Living of Yam Farming Households in North-East Zone of Benue State, Nigeria
Authors: Agba Solomon Arumun , Ode Idu , Ugbem Comfort , Nwafor Solomon Chimela
Published: June 2019

Aims: The aim of the study was to identify postharvest activities of yam farming households in North-East Zone of Benue State, Nigeria and to assess the impact of losses from the yam postharvest activities on standard of living of yam farming households in North-East Zone of Benue State, Nigeria.

Study Design: Survey research design was adopted for the study.

Place and Duration of Study: North-East Zone of Benue State, Nigeria.

Methodology: The study purposively selected three (3) local government areas (Ukum, Katsina-Ala and Logo) that are most prominent in yam production in North-East Zone of Benue State  from where a total  sample size of two hundred and four (204) yam farming households were drawn from three local government areas of North-East Zone of Benue state using multi-stage cluster sampling technique.

Results: Almost all the farmers 99% (202) store their yams and majority of the farmers are also involved in yam marketing. Majority of the famers 84% (172) always need to transport their yams. This could be in order to access distant markets which make for more gain. The few who do not need to transport their produce could be those who sale at farm gates. This could also be the reason why only a few 64% (130) majority take time to sort, grade and clean their produce. With the computed f-statistic value of 512.110 which was significantly higher than the tabulated f-value of 16.26 at 1% level of significance and 5.05 at 5% level of significance, therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected. This implies that, yam loss from yam postharvest activities noted above has a significant negative impact on the standard of living of yam farming households in the study area by reducing their household income (99%), affecting their access to health care services (89%), access to education (64%), access to good housing (84%) and access to sufficient quality food (98%).

Conclusion: The study thus concludes that, yam loss during postharvest activities such as: yam handling, yam storage, yam transportation, yam sorting / grading / cleaning and yam marketing has significant negative impact on the standard of living of yam farming households in the study area, by reducing their household income, affecting their access to health care services, access to education, access to good housing and access to sufficient quality food. The study recommends communication of knowledge on modern yam storage methods to yam farmers in the study area by agricultural extension agents and building of yam processing factories in the study area so as to add economic value to yam and consequently improve the standard of living of yam farming households in the study area.
Larvicidal Activity of Two Cymbopogon Species Leaf Extracts and Essential Oils against Anopheles gambiae Gilles (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Batti Aurore Christelle Sengue , Younoussa Lame , Nukenine Elias Nchiwan , Oumarou Mallam Kary , Fomena Abraham
Published: June 2019

Aims: The present investigation aimed to assess the toxic effect of hexane, acetone and methanol extracts of Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon giganteus against 3rd and 4th instar of Anopheles gambiae larvae under laboratory conditions.

Place and Duration of Study: Plant products were extracted from November 2017 to February 2018 in the Chemistry laboratory, while the larvicidal tests were conducted from April to June 2018 in the laboratory of Applied Zoology of the Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon.

Methodology: Twenty five (25) 3rd and 4th instars of An. gambiae were subjected to methanol, acetone and methanol plant extracts of the two plants at doses of 1000, 500, 250 and 125 mg/L each while their essential oils were tested at concentrations of 200, 100, 50 and 25 mg/L. Dichlovos tested at the recommended dose of 1000 mg/L was performed as positive control while 1mL of tween-80 in 99 mL of natural breeding site water was used as negative control. Larval mortality was recorded after 24 h post treatment for plant extracts and after 1, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h post-exposure for plant essential oils.

Results: At the highest concentration of 1000 mg/L, C. citratus extract caused 100% mortality of mosquito larvae while 84, 81 and 88% mortality of larvae were recorded with hexane, acetone and methanol leaf extract of C. giganteus, respectively. C. citratus (LC50=58.32 mg/L) and C. giganteus (LC50=372.36 mg/L) hexane extracts were more potent than acetone and methanol extracts of the plants. C. citratus extracts were the most effective against larvae compared to C. giganteus extracts. Essential oil of C. citratus (LC50=27.98 mg/L after 1h) was also the most toxic on mosquito larvae compared to C. giganteus (LC50=180.07 mg/L after 1h) essential oil.

Conclusion: C. citratus plant and specially its hexane extract and essential oil could be taken into consideration as a new source of botanical insecticide and may be used in the mosquito control programs for An. gambiae larvae elimination in their breeding sites.
Comparative Study of Herbicides for Pre-Emergence Weed Control in Maize (Zea mays L.) in Derived Savanna of Nigeria
Authors: Aluko O. A.
Published: June 2019

Aims: To evaluate and compare the efficiency of candidate herbicides and  increase the latitude of herbicides for pre-emergence weed control in maize.

Study Design: Randomized Complete Block Design, with three replicates was used in the study.

Place and Duration of the Study: Candidate herbicides were obtained Rainbow Nig. Limited for evaluation. The study was carried out between June – September, 2014 and 2015 at Ibadan (0.7.38N; 003.84E) and Ilora (07.81N; 003.82E) research stations of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan.

Methodology: Weed flora composition was taken with 1sqm quadrat placed randomly before land preparation. Acetochlor 500 g/L, Acetochlor 900 g/L, Metholachlor 720 g and Ametryn 80 WP were applied randomly at three rates of active ingredient (a.i) at maize sowing, while Atrazine (reference), weed-free and weedy check were the control. Agronomic and weed data were taken, analysed and means separated using Duncans Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at p≤ 0.05.

Results: Result showed that weed flora composition before land preparation was dominated by annual weeds {broadleaves (80%) and grass (20%)}. At 6 weeks after sowing (WAS), weed flora composition comprised of 8% spiderwort, 8% sedge, 25% grass weeds and 59% broadleaf weed species. Weed flora dynamics after treatments application might have been influenced by types of herbicides, herbicidal activities and previous cultural practices. Herbicides application resultantly increased plant height (50%) and grain yield (46 - 60%) relative to plant height in weedy check at both locations. These might have accrued from minimal weed interference hence, high weed control efficiency (WCE) recorded in herbicides applied (WCE ≥80%) and significant reduction in cumulative weed dry matter of about 80%.

Conclusion: Herbicides applied significantly reduced weed growth and enhanced maize grain yield. Notwithstanding, investigation of the benefit cost ratio and the environmental impact assessment of herbicides applied are imperative for sustainability of maize production and agro-ecology.
Relative importance of landscape and species characteristics on extinction debt, immigration credit and relaxation time after habitat turnover
Authors: Lalechère Etienne , Archaux Frédéric , Jabot Franck
Published: June 2019

Habitat turnover concomitantly causes destruction and creation of habitat patches. Following such a perturbation, metapopulations harbor either an extinction debt or an immigration credit, that is the future decrease or increase in population numbers due to this disturbance. Extinction debt and immigration credit are rarely considered simultaneously and disentangled from the relaxation time (time to new equilibrium). In this contribution, we test the relative importance of two potential drivers of time‐delayed metapopulation dynamics: the spatial configuration of the habitat turnover and species dispersal ability. We provide a simulation‐based investigation projecting metapopulation dynamics following habitat turnover in virtual landscapes. We consider two virtual species (a short‐distance and a long‐distance disperser) and five scenarios of habitat turnover depending on net habitat loss or gain and habitat aggregation. Our analyses reveal that (a) the main determinant of the magnitude of the extinction debt or immigration credit is the net change in total habitat area, followed by species dispersal distance and finally by the post‐turnover habitat aggregation; (b) relaxation time weakly depends on the magnitude of the immigration credit or of the extinction debt; (c) the main determinant of relaxation time is dispersal distance followed by the net change in total habitat area and finally by the post‐turnover habitat aggregation. These results shed light on the relative importance of dispersal ability and habitat turnover spatial structure on the components of time‐delayed metapopulation dynamics.
Trypanosoma brucei centrin5 is enriched in the flagellum and interacts with other centrins in a calcium‐dependent manner
Authors: Shan Fangzhen , Yang Xiao , Diwu Yating , Ma Haoyu , Tu Xiaoming
Published: June 2019

Centrin is an evolutionarily conserved EF‐hand‐containing protein, which is present in eukaryotic organisms as diverse as algae, yeast, and humans. Centrins are associated with the microtubule‐organizing center and with centrosome‐related structures, such as basal bodies in flagellar and ciliated cells, and the spindle pole body in yeast. Five centrin genes have been identified in Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei), a protozoan parasite that causes sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in cattle in sub‐Saharan Africa. In the present study, we identified that centrin5 of T. brucei (TbCentrin5) is localized throughout the cytosol and nucleus and enriched in the flagellum. We further identified that TbCentrin5 binds Ca2+ ions with a high affinity and constructed a model of TbCentrin5 bound by Ca2+ ions. Meanwhile, we observed that TbCentrin5 interacts with TbCentrin1, TbCentrin3, and TbCentrin4 and that the interactions are Ca2+‐dependent, suggesting that TbCentrin5 is able to form different complexes with other TbCentrins to participate in relevant cellular processes. Our study provides a foundation for better understanding of the biological roles of TbCentrin5.
Nanosecond Pulsed Laser Ablation on Stainless Steel − Combining Finite Element Modeling and Experimental Work
Authors: Zhang Jun‐Jie , Zhao Liang , Rosenkranz Andreas , Song Cheng‐Wei , Yan Yong‐Da , Sun Tao
Published: June 2019

In the present work, finite element simulations to investigate nanosecond pulsed laser ablation of stainless steel under low laser fluence conditions is performed. The laser has a wavelength of 1064 nm as well as a Gaussian spatial and temporal energy distribution. The utilized model of heat transfer consists of thermal conduction, thermal convection, and thermal irradiation. Temperature‐dependent material's properties including absorptivity and the instantaneous material removal by evaporation are considered. Corresponding laser ablation experiments on stainless steel are also conducted, demonstrating good agreement in the widths of the evaporated area and the heat affected zone obtained by simulation results. The 2D simulation results of single pulse laser ablation demonstrate that low laser fluences ranging from 26.53 to 46.42 J cm−2 have a significant impact on both temperature distribution and material removal profile. Particularly for the width of the evaporated area, the maximum deviation of predicted values from experimental results is smaller than 10%. The 3D simulation results of groove texturing using multiple laser pulses also shows an excellent agreement with the experimental work in terms of the resulting groove morphology.
Precious‐Metal‐Free Electrocatalysts for Activation of Hydrogen Evolution with Nonmetallic Electron Donor: Chemical Composition Controllable Phosphorous Doped Vanadium Carbide MXene
Authors: Yoon Yeoheung , Tiwari Anand P. , Choi Min , Novak Travis G. , Song Wooseok , Chang Hyunju , Zyung Taehyoung , Lee Sun Sook , Jeon Seokwoo , An Ki‐Seok
Published: June 2019

The insufficient strategies to improve electronic transport, the poor intrinsic chemical activities, and limited active site densities are all factors inhibiting MXenes from their electrocatalytic applications in terms of hydrogen production. Herein, these limitations are overcome by tunable interfacial chemical doping with a nonmetallic electron donor, i.e., phosphorization through simple heat‐treatment with triphenyl phosphine (TPP) as a phosphorous source in 2D vanadium carbide MXene. Through this process, substitution, and/or doping of phosphorous occurs at the basal plane with controllable chemical compositions (3.83–4.84 at%). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that the PC bonding shows the lowest surface formation energy (ΔGSurf) of 0.027 eV Å−2 and Gibbs free energy (ΔGH) of –0.02 eV, whereas others such as P‐oxide and PV (phosphide) show highly positive ΔGH. The P3–V2CTx treated at 500 °C shows the highest concentration of PC bonds, and exhibits the lowest onset overpotential of –28 mV, Tafel slope of 74 mV dec−1, and the smallest overpotential of ‐163 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in 0.5 m H2SO4. The first strategy for electrocatalytically accelerating hydrogen evolution activity of V2CTx MXene by simple interfacial doping will open the possibility of manipulating the catalytic performance of various MXenes.
Bis(imidazolidine)pyridine‐CoCl2: A Novel, Catalytically Active Neutral Complex for Asymmetric Michael Reaction of 1,3‐Carbonyl Compounds with Nitroalkenes
Authors: Arai Takayoshi , Iimori Yuko , Shirasugi Mayu , Shinohara Ryota , Takagi Yuri , Suzuki Takumi , Ma Junma , Kuwano Satoru , Masu Hyuma
Published: June 2019

A neutral bis(imidazolidine)pyridine (PyBidine)‐CoCl2 complex showed catalytic activity for the Michael reaction of malonates with nitroalkenes. The results indicated that a weak amine base aided enolate formation from the neutral complex, in which the N−H proton of the imidazolidine ligand played a significant role.

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An environmentally friendly FeTiSOx catalyst with a broad operation‐temperature window for the NH3‐SCR of NOx
Authors: Song Lei , Ma Kui , Tian Wen , Ji Junyi , Liu Changjun , Tang Siyang , Jiang Wei , Yue Hairong , Liang Bin
Published: June 2019

A novel FeTiSOx catalyst prepared by a simple hydrolysis coprecipitation method was used for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx with NH3, which exhibited high catalytic activity (NOx conversion of >97% and N2 selectivity of >95%) and tolerance for both H2O and SO2 at a broad temperature window of ~325–475°C. The characterization results showed that the formation of Fe–O–Ti and Fe–O–S species could significantly enhance the acidic sites of the catalyst, which play an important role in NH3 absorption and their catalytic activity. The Fe3+ ions in the bulk anatase TiO2 could significantly enhance the redox properties for the SCR reaction and suppress the side reaction of NH3 oxidation to NO or N2O. In addition, the reaction mechanism was discussed based on in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy measurements and kinetic investigation, indicating that the reaction was dominated by the Eley–Rideal mechanism over the FeTiSOx catalyst.
Intraspecific polyploidy correlates with colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Heuchera cylindrica
Authors: Anneberg Thomas J. , Segraves Kari A.
Published: June 2019

Premise

Polyploidy is known to cause physiological changes in plants which, in turn, can affect species interactions. One major physiological change predicted in polyploid plants is a heightened demand for growth‐limiting nutrients. Consequently, we expect polyploidy to cause an increased reliance on the belowground mutualists that supply these growth‐limiting nutrients. An important first step in investigating how polyploidy affects nutritional mutualisms in plants, then, is to characterize differences in the rate at which diploids and polyploids interact with belowground mutualists.

Methods

We used Heuchera cylindrica (Saxifragaceae) to test how polyploidy influences interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Here we first confirmed the presence of AMF in H. cylindrica, and then we used field‐collected specimens to quantify and compare the presence of AMF structures while controlling for site‐specific variation.

Results

Tetraploids had higher colonization rates as measured by total, hyphal, and nutritional‐exchange structures; however, we found that diploids and tetraploids did not differ in vesicle colonization rates.

Conclusions

The results suggest that polyploidy may alter belowground nutritional mutualisms with plants. Because colonization by nutritional‐exchange structures was higher in polyploids but vesicle colonization was not, polyploids might form stronger associations with their AMF partners. Controlled experiments are necessary to test whether this pattern is driven by the direct effect of polyploidy on AMF colonization.
Effects of maternal source and progeny microhabitat on natural selection and population dynamics in Alliaria petiolata
Authors: Stinson Kristina , Carley Lauren , Hancock Laura , Donohue Kathleen
Published: June 2019

Premise

The success or failure of propagules in contrasting microhabitats may play a role in biological invasion. We tested for variation in demographic performance and phenotypic trait expression during invasion by Alliaria petiolata in different microhabitats.

Methods

We performed a reciprocal transplant experiment with Alliaria petiolata from edge, intermediate, and forest understory microhabitats to determine the roles of the environment and maternal source on traits, fecundity, population growth rates (λ), and selection.

Results

Observations of in situ populations show that edge populations had the highest density and reproductive output, and forest populations had the lowest. In experimental populations, population growth rates and reproductive output were highest in the edge, and the intermediate habitat had the lowest germination and juvenile survival. Traits exhibited phenotypic plasticity in response to microhabitat, but that plasticity was not adaptive. There were few effects of maternal source location on fitness components or traits.

Conclusions

Alliaria petiolata appears to be viable, or nearly so, in all three microhabitat types, with edge populations likely providing seed to the other microhabitats. The intermediate microhabitat may filter propagules at the seed stage, but discrepancies between in situ observations and experimental transplants preclude clear conclusions about the role of each microhabitat in niche expansion. However, edge microhabitats show the highest seed output in both analyses, suggesting that managing edge habitats might reduce spread to the forest understory.
Molecular and Structural Characterization of a Promiscuous C‐Glycosyltransferase from Trollius chinensis
Authors: He Jun‐Bin , Zhao Peng , Hu Zhi‐Min , Liu Shuang , Kuang Yi , Zhang Meng , Li Bin , Yun Cai‐Hong , Qiao Xue , Ye Min
Published: June 2019

Herein, the catalytic promiscuity of TcCGT1, a new C‐glycosyltransferase (CGT) from the medicinal plant Trollius chinensis is explored. TcCGT1 could efficiently and regio‐specifically catalyze the 8‐C‐glycosylation of 36 flavones and other flavonoids and could also catalyze the O‐glycosylation of diverse phenolics. The crystal structure of TcCGT1 in complex with uridine diphosphate was determined at 1.85 Å resolution. Molecular docking revealed a new model for the catalytic mechanism of TcCGT1, which is initiated by the spontaneous deprotonation of the substrate. The spacious binding pocket explains the substrate promiscuity, and the binding pose of the substrate determines C‐ or O‐glycosylation activity. Site‐directed mutagenesis at two residues (I94E and G284K) switched C‐ to O‐glycosylation. TcCGT1 is the first plant CGT with a crystal structure and the first flavone 8‐C‐glycosyltransferase described. This provides a basis for designing efficient glycosylation biocatalysts.