bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome editing for disease resistance in livestock
Authors: Proudfoot Chris , Burkard Christine
Published: November 2017

One of the major burdens on the livestock industry is loss of animals and decrease in production efficiency due to disease. Advances in sequencing technology and genome-editing techniques provide the unique opportunity to generate animals with improved traits. In this review we discuss the techniques currently applied to genetic manipulation of livestock species and the efforts in making animals disease resistant or resilient.
Risk associated with off-target plant genome editing and methods for its limitation
Authors: Zhao Hui , Wolt Jeffrey D.
Published: November 2017

Assessment for potential adverse effects of plant genome editing logically focuses on the specific characteristics of the derived phenotype and its release environment. Genome-edited crops, depending on the editing objective, can be classified as either indistinguishable from crops developed through conventional plant breeding or as crops which are transgenic. Therefore, existing regulatory regimes and risk assessment procedures accommodate genome-edited crops. The ability for regulators and the public to accept a product focus in the evaluation of genome-edited crops will depend on research which clarifies the precision of the genome-editing process and evaluates unanticipated off-target edits from the process. Interpretation of genome-wide effects of genome editing should adhere to existing frameworks for comparative risk assessment where the nature and degree of effects are considered relative to a baseline of genome-wide mutations as found in crop varieties developed through conventional breeding methods. Research addressing current uncertainties regarding unintended changes from plant genome editing, and adopting procedures that clearly avoid the potential for gene drive initiation, will help to clarify anticipated public and regulatory questions regarding risk of crops derived through genome editing.
Outage performance for amplify‐and‐forward two‐hop multiple‐access channel with noisy relay and interference‐limited destination
Authors: Su Yuping , Li Ying , Wu Xiaojun , Liu Lei
Published: November 2017

The common outage performance of an amplify‐and‐forward two‐hop two‐user channel is studied in the presence of multiple independent interferers at the destination. First, the exact integral form expression of the common outage probability is derived. Then, in order to decrease the computation complexity, a closed‐form approximation of the common outage probability is derived. Finally, the asymptotic analysis is performed based on the approximation expression. Numerical results demonstrate that the integral form of the common outage probability, the corresponding approximation and the asymptotic results match well with the Monte Carlo simulations.
NN‐based IDF demodulator in band‐limited communication system
Authors: Meng Fan , Chen Peng , Wu Lenan
Published: November 2017

To meet the spectrum requirement in the future wireless communication system, the m‐ary phase position shift keying as a type of the spectrally efficient modulation has been considered in this study. However, the inter‐symbol interference (ISI), the waveform distortion and the non‐white noise are introduced by the band‐pass infinite impulse response filters, which is adopted to limit the signal bandwidth and eliminate the out‐band interference. The traditional demodulation methods based on impacting filter or matched filter cannot work well in these scenarios. Therefore, a neural network (NN)‐based demodulator is proposed to solve the problem of waveform distortion. Additionally, a novel NN‐based iterative decision feedback (IDF) demodulator is also proposed to further reduce the ISI iteratively by using the previous estimated symbol information. Simulation results show that both the NN‐based demodulator and the NN‐based IDF demodulator can greatly outperform the traditional demodulation methods in the band‐limited communication system, and the NN‐based IDF demodulator achieves better performance than the normal NN‐based demodulator.
Ergotherapie im Alltag – Ergotherapie in Praxis oder Hausbesuch – reicht das?
Authors: Schmitt Rainer
Published: November 2017

Reduziert man den Begriff Alltag auf das häusliche Umfeld, verhindert das erfolgversprechende Behandlungsstrategien, findet Ergotherapeut Rainer Schmitt. Er fasst den Begriff weiter und plädiert dafür, Klienten in allen Lebensfeldern behandeln zu dürfen – also beispielsweise auch im Fitnessstudio.
Akzeptanz onlinebasierter Therapieangebote bei Patientinnen und Patienten mit leichten bis mittelgradigen depressiven Störungen
Authors: Dockweiler Christoph , Kupitz Anna , Hornberg Claudia
Published: November 2017

Hintergrund In den vergangenen Jahren lässt sich eine deutliche Zunahme an onlinebasierten Therapieangeboten für Menschen mit depressiven Erkrankungen beobachten. In einer Vielzahl von wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten konnten bereits die Wirksamkeit und Effizienz dieser Programme bestätigt werden. Einen wesentlichen Erfolgsfaktor für eine erfolgreiche Etablierung dieser neuen Versorgungsangebote stellt die Nutzerinnen- und Nutzerakzeptanz dar. Theoriebasierte Akzeptanzanalysen können für eine langfristige Einführung wertvolle Erkenntnisse liefern.

Methoden Im Rahmen einer bundesweiten Onlineerhebung wurden Einstellung und Haltung gegenüber internetgestützten Psychotherapieangeboten bei depressiven Erkrankungen, der aktuelle Wissenstand sowie die Nutzungsintention von 186 Studienteilnehmerinnen und -teilnehmern erfasst. Die Rekrutierung erfolgte über Selbsthilfegruppen für depressive Erkrankungen. Die in die binär logistische Regression einfließenden Determinanten der Nutzungsintention von Onlinetherapie beruhen auf der Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT).

Ergebnisse Fast zwei Drittel der Befragten können sich vorstellen, Onlinetherapieangebote zukünftig zu nutzen. Als signifikant einflussnehmende Prädiktoren auf die Nutzungsintention erwiesen sich die wahrgenommenen Leistungs- und Aufwandserwartungen. Hierzu zählen insbesondere die Bewertung des Einsatzes von E-Mental-Health als Hilfsmittel zur Krankheitsbewältigung, zur Aktivierung und besseren Einschätzung des eigenen Krankheitsverlaufes.

Schlussfolgerungen Ob E-Mental-Health-Angebote langfristig einen Beitrag zur Verbesserung der psychosozialen und psychotherapeutischen Versorgung leisten können, wird, neben technik- und rechtwissenschaftlichen Begutachtungen, ganz maßgeblich von Fragen der Evidenzbasierung und der Nutzerinnen- und Nutzerorientierung innerhalb von Forschung, Entwicklung und Implementation abhängen. Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse bieten einen ersten theoriegeleiteten Ansatz im Bemühen um eine stärker nutzerinnen- und nutzerorientierte Technikforschung im Gesundheitswesen, innerhalb der zukünftig weitere Diversitätskriterien berücksichtigt werden müssen.
Depression im Alter – Raus aus der Einsamkeit
Authors: Gürtler Klaus
Published: November 2017

Neben demenziellen Erkrankungen gehört die Depression zu den häufigstenpsychischenErkrankungenimhöherenLebensalter. Esgibtverschiedenebiologische, psychologische, existenzielleundsozialeFaktoren, diezueinerAltersdepressionführenkönnen. Dochmankannsiemildern. EineMaximefürdieBehandlunglautet: Hoffnungeinflößen.
Zentrum der Rehabilitation R. Geerlofs – Geht nicht gibt’s nicht
Authors: Dorschner-Geerlofs Daniela
Published: November 2017

Menschen, die zu uns ins Rehazentrum nach Pforzheim kommen, gelten oft als „austherapiert“. Vielleicht müssen wir uns als Therapeuten hinterfragen, ob wir bei einem Stillstand der Rehabilitation einfach noch nicht wissen, wie man es besser machen kann. Diese Herausforderung nehmen wir an. Was uns motiviert? Unsere Erfolge!
Aktuelle diagnostische und therapeutische Vorgehensweise bei Hallux-valgus-Deformität – Ergebnisse einer bundesweiten Umfrage und Vergleich mit der internationalen Literatur
Authors: Arbab Dariusch , Schneider Lisa-Maria , Schnurr Christoph , Bouillon Bertil , Eysel Peer , König Dietmar
Published: November 2017

Hintergrund Die Hallux-valgus-Deformität ist eine der am häufigsten operativ behandelten Erkrankungen in der Fußchirurgie. Trotz zahlreicher wissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen und strukturierter Kursprogramme der Fußgesellschaften besteht hinsichtlich diagnostischer und therapeutischer Verfahren keine einheitliche Vorgehensweise. Ziel unserer bundesweiten Umfrage war es, die aktuellen Versorgungsstrategien in Deutschland zu erfassen.

Material und Methoden Mitglieder der beiden Fußgesellschaften, der Deutschen Assoziation Fuß und Sprunggelenk e. V. (D. A. F.) und der Gesellschaft für Fuß- und Sprunggelenkchirurgie e. V. (GFFC) wurden eingeladen, an einer anonymen Umfrage zur Diagnostik und Therapie bei Hallux valgus per Mail teilzunehmen. Der Onlinefragebogen bestand aus 53 Fragen und 3 klinisch-radiologischen Fällen. Es wurden allgemeine Fragen zu Fachrichtung und Tätigkeitsfeld, diagnostischem Vorgehen, Durchführung der Operation und perioperativem Management gestellt. Die Teilnehmer sollten zudem ihr operatives Vorgehen bei 3 klinisch-radiologischen Fällen unterschiedlichen Schweregrads darstellen.

Ergebnisse Insgesamt nahmen 427 Fußchirurgen an der Umfrage teil, davon 247 als Mitglieder der D. A. F. und 267 als Mitglieder der GFFC. 388 Teilnehmer waren in ihren Fachgesellschaften zertifiziert. Hinsichtlich der diagnostischen Vorgehensweise wurden der Anamnese (78%), der prä- und postoperativen Röntgenuntersuchung (100 und 96%) sowie der präoperativen Winkelbestimmung (78%) ein hoher oder sehr hoher Stellenwert beigemessen. Die Verwendung prä- und postoperativer Scores dagegen wurde von weniger als 50% der Befragten durchgeführt. Operativ sind die offenen Verfahren weiterhin der Goldstandard, lediglich 7% der Befragten gaben an, auch minimalinvasive Hallux-valgus-Chirurgie durchzuführen.

Schlussfolgerung Die Versorgungsstrategien bei Hallux-valgus-Deformität zeigen eine große Variabilität, wobei die diagnostischen Standards (Anamnese und Bildgebung) weitgehend angewendet werden. Das therapeutische Vorgehen weist eine große Heterogenität auf. Die Kombination von knöchernen Korrekturen und distalen, periartikulären Weichteileingriffen findet abhängig vom Schweregrad regelhaft ihre Anwendung. Die achskorrigierende Arthrodese des tarsometatarsalen Gelenks scheint bereits bei moderaten Deformitäten häufig Methode der Wahl. Die minimalinvasive Hallux-valgus-Chirurgie wird derzeit nur von einem geringen Anteil der Befragten durchgeführt, welchen Stellenwert diese Techniken in Zukunft erlangen werden bleibt abzuwarten.
Fast photoresponse and high parallel transport in n-type PbTe/PbEuTe quantum wells
Authors: Pena F. S. , Peres M. L. , Pirralho M. J. P. , Soares D. A. W. , Fornari C. I. , Rappl P. H. O. , Abramof E.
Published: November 2017

We investigated the photoconductivity effect in n-type PbTe/Pb0.88Eu0.12Te quantum wells for a temperature range of 300–10 K using infrared light. The measurements revealed that at high temperatures, the photoresponse has small amplitude. As temperature decreases to T ∼ 75 K, however, the photoconductivity amplitude increases reaching a maximum value 10 times higher than the original value before illumination. From Hall measurements performed under dark and light conditions, we show that this effect is a result of the carrier concentration increase under illumination. Unexpectedly, for further reduction of temperature, the amplitude starts to decrease again. The electrical resistance profiles indicate that the transport occurs through barriers and the well that behave as two parallel channels. For temperatures below 75 K, transport is more effective in the quantum well, where the signal reduction can be associated with the electron-electron scattering due to the increase in the carrier concentration that occurs under illumination. We also used the random potential model to explain the origin of the persistent effect observed in the photoconductivity curves.
Modular injector integrated linear apparatus with motion profile optimization for spatial atomic layer deposition
Authors: Wang Xiaolei , Li Yun , Lin Jilong , Shan Bin , Chen Rong
Published: November 2017

A spatial atomic layer deposition apparatus integrated with a modular injector and a linear motor has been designed. It consists of four parts: a precursor delivery manifold, a modular injector, a reaction zone, and a driving unit. An injector with multi-layer structured channels is designed to help improve precursor distribution homogeneity. During the back and forth movement of the substrate at high speed, the inertial impact caused by jerk and sudden changes of acceleration will degrade the film deposition quality. Such residual vibration caused by inertial impact will aggravate the fluctuation of the gap distance between the injector and the substrate in the deposition process. Thus, an S-curve motion profile is implemented to reduce the large inertial impact, and the maximum position error could be reduced by 84%. The microstructure of the film under the S-curve motion profile shows smaller root-mean-square and scanning voltage amplitude under an atomic force microscope, which verifies the effectiveness of the S-curve motion profile in reducing the residual vibration and stabilizing the gap distance between the injector and the substrate. The film deposition rate could reach 100 nm/min while maintaining good uniformity without obvious periodic patterns on the surface.
Hand-held synchronous scan spectrometer for in situ and immediate detection of live/dead bacteria ratio
Authors: Li Runze , Goswami Umang , Walck Matthew , Khan Kasfia , Chen Jie , Cesario Thomas C. , Rentzepis Peter M.
Published: November 2017

The design, construction, and operation of a hand-held synchronously scanned, excitation-emission, double monochromator spectrometer is described. Data show that it is possible to record and display within minutes the fluorescence spectra and ratio of live/dead bacteria in situ. Excitation emission matrix contour plots display clearly bacteria fluorescence spectra before and after UV inactivation, respectively. The separation of the fluorescence band maxima of molecular components, such as tryptophan, tyrosine, and DNA, may be distinguished in the diffused fluorescence spectra of bacteria and mixtures.
Skyrmion-based multi-channel racetrack
Authors: Song Chengkun , Jin Chendong , Wang Jinshuai , Xia Haiyan , Wang Jianbo , Liu Qingfang
Published: November 2017

Magnetic skyrmions are promising for the application of racetrack memories, logic gates, and other nano-devices, owing to their topologically protected stability, small size, and low driving current. In this work, we propose a skyrmion-based multi-channel racetrack memory where the skyrmion moves in the selected channel by applying voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy gates. It is demonstrated numerically that a current-dependent skyrmion Hall effect can be restrained by the additional potential of the voltage-controlled region, and the skyrmion velocity and moving channel in the racetrack can be operated by tuning the voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy, gate position, and current density. Our results offer a potential application of racetrack memory based on skyrmions.
Parametric dependencies of the experimental tungsten transport coefficients in ICRH and ECRH assisted ASDEX Upgrade H-modes
Authors: Sertoli M. , Angioni C. , Odstrcil T. ,   ASDEX Upgrade Team, and EUROFusion MST1 Team
Published: November 2017

The profiles of the W transport coefficients have been experimentally calculated for a large database of identical ASDEX Upgrade H-mode discharges where only the radio-frequency (RF) power characteristics have been varied [Angioni et al., Nucl. Fusion 57, 056015 (2017)]. Central ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) in the minority heating scheme has been compared with central and off-axis electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH), using both localized and broad heat deposition profiles. The transport coefficients have been calculated applying the gradient-flux relation to the evolution of the intrinsic W density in-between sawtooth cycles as measured using the soft X-ray diagnostic. For both ICRH and ECRH, the major player in reducing the central W density peaking is found to be the reduction of inward pinch and, in the case of ECRH, the rise of an outward convection. The impurity convection increases, from negative to positive, almost linearly with RF-power, while no appreciable changes are observed in the diffusion coefficient, which remains roughly at neoclassical levels independent of RF power or background plasma conditions. The ratio vW/DW is consistent with the equilibrium ∇nW/nW prior to the sawtooth crash, corroborating the separate estimates of diffusion and convection. These experimental findings are slightly different from previous results obtained analysing the evolution of impurity injections over many sawtooth cycles. Modelling performed using the drift-kinetic code NEO and the gyro-kinetic code GKW (assuming axisymmetry) overestimates the diffusion coefficient and underestimates the experimental positive convection. This is a further indication that magneto-hydrodynamic/neoclassical models accounting for 3D effects may be needed to characterize impurity transport in sawtoothing tokamak plasmas.
Reconstruction of the current pulse passing through a thick-walled tube
Authors: Khirianova A. I. , Frolov I. N. , Oleinik G. M. , Tkachenko S. I.
Published: November 2017

A method is proposed for reconstructing a current pulse flowing through a thick-walled tube, using the electric field intensity measured on its inner surface. The results are presented for the experimental data obtained on the Angara-5-1 installation. The reconstructed current pulse was used for magnetic hydrodynamic simulation; as a result, we obtained the distribution of the matter parameters over tube thickness. The electric field intensity obtained during numerical simulation is in good agreement with the experimental results.
Identification of F impurities in F-doped ZnO by synchrotron X-ray absorption near edge structures
Authors: Na-Phattalung Sutassana , Limpijumnong Sukit , Min Chul-Hee , Cho Deok-Yong , Lee Seung-Ran , Char Kookrin , Yu Jaejun
Published: November 2017

Synchrotron X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measurements of F K-edge in conjunction with first-principles calculations are used to identify the local structure of the fluorine (F) atom in F-doped ZnO. The ZnO film was grown by pulsed laser deposition with an Nd:YAG laser, and an oxyfluoridation method was used to introduce F ions into the ZnO films. The measured XANES spectrum of the sample was compared against the first-principles XANES calculations based on various models for local atomic structures surrounding F atoms. The observed spectral features are attributed to ZnF2 and FO defects in wurtzite bulk ZnO.
Internal resistance of rear totally diffused solar cells with line shaped contacts
Authors: Meier Sebastian , Saint-Cast Pierre , Wöhrle Nico , Fell Andreas , Greulich Johannes , Wolf Andreas , Glunz Stefan W.
Published: November 2017

We present an analytical model for the internal resistance of passivated emitter and rear totally diffused (PERT) solar cells. First, we apply the model of Saint-Cast for the spreading resistance of a passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) structure with line-shaped contacts. To account for the additional vertical current flow through the silicon wafer and the lateral current flow through the back surface field of a PERT structure, we add a parallel current path using common analytical expressions. We compare the analytical models with two-dimensional numerical simulations based on Quokka 3 and find deviations of less than 6% for the internal resistance. In addition, we compare the analytical model of the internal resistance of PERC and PERT solar cells with experimental data of the series resistance of PERC and PERT solar cells.
A microfluidic sub-critical water extraction instrument
Authors: Sherrit Stewart , Noell Aaron C. , Fisher Anita , Lee Mike C. , Takano Nobuyuki , Bao Xiaoqi , Kutzer Thomas C. , Grunthaner Frank
Published: November 2017

This article discusses a microfluidic subcritical water extraction (SCWE) chip for autonomous extraction of amino acids from astrobiologically interesting samples. The microfluidic instrument is composed of three major components. These include a mixing chamber where the soil sample is mixed and agitated with the solvent (water), a subcritical water extraction chamber where the sample is sealed with a freeze valve at the chip inlet after a vapor bubble is injected into the inlet channels to ensure the pressure in the chip is in equilibrium with the vapor pressure and the slurry is then heated to ≤200 °C in the SCWE chamber, and a filter or settling chamber where the slurry is pumped to after extraction. The extraction yield of the microfluidic SCWE chip process ranged from 50% compared to acid hydrolysis and 80%–100% compared to a benchtop microwave SCWE for low biomass samples.
Electromodulation spectroscopy of heavy-hole, light-hole, and spin-orbit transitions in GaAsBi layers at hydrostatic pressure
Authors: Dybała F. , Kopaczek J. , Gladysiewicz M. , Pavelescu E.-M. , Romanitan C. , Ligor O. , Arnoult A. , Fontaine C. , Kudrawiec R.
Published: November 2017

GaAsBi layers of various Bi concentrations have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy on a GaAs substrate and studied by electromodulation spectroscopy (EM). Optical transitions related to heavy-hole (HH) and light-hole (LH) bands as well as the spin-orbit (SO) split-off band have been observed in EM spectra, and their energies have been found to be in very good agreement with theoretical predictions, which take into account the strain-related shifts obtained from the Bir-Pikus theory implemented to the electronic band structure of GaAsBi obtained after recent density functional theory (DFT) calculations for this alloy. The pressure coefficients for HH, LH, and SO transitions have been determined from photoreflectance measurements performed at various hydrostatic pressures and discussed.
Relaxation processes during high-frequency mechanical loading of metals deformed at low temperatures
Authors: Volchok O. I. , Neklyudov I. M.
Published: November 2017

Experimental data on the influence of high-frequency (∼20 kHz) mechanical loading (exposure to ultrasound) on hcp and bcc metals that have been pre-deformed under cryogenic conditions are generalized and analyzed. It is shown that under exposure to ultrasound, the energy of the mechanical oscillations is predominantly dissipated at the boundaries of twins and that this determines the processes for redistribution of dislocations in accommodation zones of twinning layers and in the matrix, while ensuring relaxation of internal stresses at these sites. The efficiency of twin boundaries as stress concentrators is balanced and this reduces the cold brittleness of metals and enhances the contribution of polygonization processes during subsequent annealing, thereby delaying recrystallization. These results substantiate ultrasonic irradiation as an analog of local thermal activation and as a method for regulating the degree of conjugation of phase-matrix interfaces.
Effects of N-carbamylglutamate and L-arginine on gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) gene expression and secretion in GT1-7 cells
Authors: Liu Y. , Bai J. H. , Xu X. L. , Chen Z. L. , Spicer L. J. , Feng T.
Published: November 2017

Recent studies have shown that N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) and arginine (ARG) supplementation improves reproductive performance in livestock. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of NCG and ARG on GT1-7 cell gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion, gene expression and cell proliferation. GT1-7 cells were treated in vitro with different concentrations of NCG (0–1.0 mM) or ARG (0–4.0 mM) in serum-free medium for 12 or 24 h. For GnRH secretion and cell proliferation, GT1-7 cells were more sensitive to NCG than ARG. NCG treatment after 12 h increased cell numbers and inhibited GnRH secretion in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05), although there was no significant effect of NCG on these parameters after 24 h culture. ARG treatment decreased GnRH secretion after 24 h (P < 0.05), whereas it had no effect after 12 h. GT1-7 cells express GnRH, Kiss-1 metastasis-suppressor (Kiss1), G-protein coupled receptor 54 (GPR54), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and estrogen receptor α (ERα) genes. High concentrations of NCG (1.0 mM) and ARG (4.0 mM) inhibited (P < 0.05) GnRH and nNOS mRNA abundance in GT1-7 cells. ARG treatment decreased Kiss1 and increased ERα mRNA abundance. Thus, high concentrations of NCG (1.0 mM) and ARG (4.0 mM) may act both directly and indirectly to regulate GnRH neuron function by downregulating genes related to GnRH synthesis and secretion to slow GnRH production while stimulating GT1-7 cell proliferation.
Changes in soil stress during repeated wheeling: A comparison of measured and simulated values
Authors: Naderi-Boldaji Mojtaba , Kazemzadeh Ali , Hemmat Abbas , Rostami Sajad , Keller Thomas
Published: November 2017

Agricultural machinery traffic is one of the main causes of soil compaction in modern agriculture. Soils with weak inherent soil structural stability already have low bearing capacity and, when subjected to intensive tillage with a high frequency of traffic, are susceptible to severe soil compaction. In this study, repeated wheeling experiments were carried out on an Iranian clay soil prepared at two water contents (corresponding to 0.9 and 1.35 × water content at the lower plastic limit), two wheel loads (light and heavy rear wheel loads of a two-wheel-drive tractor) and two vehicle travel speeds (0.5 and 1 m s–1). The experiments tested whether the stress variations due to repeated wheeling are mainly due to variations in rut depth with repeated tyre passes and whether traffic at a higher travel speed has a smaller compaction effect. Mean normal stress was measured at three depths (0.15, 0.25 and 0.35 m) beneath the centre of tyres using cylindrical Bolling probes. Rut depth and cone index were measured after each pass. The results showed a linear increase in rut depth with consecutive tractor passes, with a greater increase on wet soil. However, bulk density increased more in dry soil than in wet soil at 0.15 and 0.25 m depth, most likely due to soil water content being close to the optimum Proctor water content. At 0.35 m depth, the bulk density increase was larger for wet soil, with obvious impacts of wheel load and travel speed (greater increase for slower speed and heavier wheel). Cone index generally increased with repeated tractor passes, with the greatest increase at 0.35 m depth in wet soil under heavy rear wheel traffic. Stress generally increased with increasing rut depth due to repeated wheeling. Reduced distance between the soil–tyre interface and the Bolling probes with increasing rut depth was investigated as a potential reason using analytical stress simulations, but could not fully explain the increase in stress with rut depth. Therefore, additional factors (e.g. soil strength) must have contributed to the stress increase with increasing number of tractor passes.
Minor groups and fossils.
Authors: Rohde K.
Published: November 2017

This chapter consists of many sections dealing with a great variety of taxa: Porifera (sponges); Cnidaria and Ctenophora (cnidarians and comb jellies); Mesozoa Orthonectida (orthonectids); Mesozoa Dicyemida (dicyemids); Myzostomida (myzostomids); Polychaeta (bristle worms); Hirudinea (leeches); Cycliophora (wheel wearers); Nemertea (ribbon worms); Rotifera and Seison (rotifers); Nematomorpha (horse-hair worms); Acari (mites and ticks); Pycnogonida (pycnogonids); Insecta (insects); Tardigrada (water bears); Pentastomida (tongue worms); Mollusca (molluscs); Echiura (spoon worms); Echinodermata (echinoderms); Parasitic marine fishes (lampreys, Ceratioidei, cleaner fish mimics, Fangblennies (Plagiotremus spp.), scale feeders, cookiecutters, coral reef and deep-sea browsers, pearlfishes). Some taxa contain few parasites that have been little studied, others contain parasites with well-known and fascinating adaptations to a parasitic way of life. The approach chosen by different authors reflects this diversity: some sections out of necessity contain brief descriptions of morphological characters, others go into great detail in discussing behavioural adaptations, complex life cycles or epidemiological patterns. Parasitism is a very ancient way of life, but few parasite fossils are known because most parasites are small and soft-bodied and do not easily fossilise. Most evidence is indirect, based on galls, cysts and drill holes interpreted as resulting from parasite activity. Nevertheless, some parasites have fossilised, including larval pentastomids and crustaceans. The section on fossil parasites in this chapter covers the literature up to 2003.
Behavioural aspects of parasitism.
Authors: Rohde K.
Published: November 2017

The behavioural aspects discussed in this chapter are not unique to marine parasites. Parasites do change the behaviour of their hosts in all environments, and cleaning symbiosis is widespread on land and in fresh water. The ability of some parasites to drastically change a host's behaviour, often leading to behaviour patterns favouring the parasite and ensuring its transmission to other hosts, has been known for some time. It is a fascinating area of research that deserves much greater attention in future work. As pointed out by the authors of this section, numerous examples of host manipulation by parasites remain to be discovered, but the examples already known show that manipulation has the potential to interfere with ecological and evolutionary processes. Research in this area may resolve important issues relating to ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. With regard to cleaning symbiosis, various birds pick off parasites from terrestrial mammals, and there are many freshwater cleaning fish. However, cleaning symbiosis has been best studied in the sea. Reasons are that diversity of cleaning associations that can easily be observed is greatest in the ocean and particularly in tropical seas; and that scuba diving, the method most widely used for studying cleaning behaviour, is best suited to clear subtropical and tropical marine waters. Numerous postgraduate students have, therefore, become involved in these studies, leading to a vast literature on cleaning symbiosis, which is very competently reviewed in this chapter. This section not only discusses current knowledge but also points the way to future studies.
Medical importance.
Authors: Rohde K.
Published: November 2017

Over 100 species of eukaryotic parasite species have been reported from humans. Some of them are among the most important agents of human disease. However, almost all important species have terrestrial and/or freshwater life cycles. Examples include the malaria parasites, blood flukes and various nematodes, infecting hundreds of millions of people with often fatal consequences. Nevertheless, many marine parasite species have been reported from humans as well, although all of them can complete their life cycle without involvement of humans. They include a few cestodes, many trematodes, some nematodes and many protistans. For most of these, humans are accidental hosts and the typical life cycle is either completed in marine mammals or birds, or they live primarily in fresh water and have only secondarily become marine, or infections are entirely or largely restricted to immunocompromised persons. Among the first group are many larval trematodes, some cestodes and nematodes, among the second group are also many trematode larvae, cestodes and nematodes, and among the third are an ever increasing number of protistans such as apicomplexans and microsporidians. Most important agents of disease are nematodes causing anisakiasis, acquired by eating raw or undercooked marine fish and invertebrates, and the nematode Trichinella acquired by eating undercooked marine mammals such as walrus. Schistosome cercariae may cause a severe dermatitis in marine and brackish waters, lungworms of the genus Angiostrongylus occur mainly in fresh water but may use marine invertebrates as transport hosts and cause severe symptoms and even death in infected persons, and cestodes and trematodes accidentally acquired may occasionally also cause symptoms of varying degrees of severity.
Energy and agriculture at the crossroads of a new future.
Authors: Collins K. J. , Duffield J. A.
Published: November 2017

This chapter first examines the evolution of today's energy risks, and the challenge of energy risk for US agriculture. It continues with an overview of US agriculture as an energy producer and consumer. Sections discuss: the interaction between agriculture and energy markets; agriculture's response to energy market developments; agriculture's contribution to energy security; and the role of farm and energy policies. The chapter concludes with a brief summary of the major issues discussed at the conference entitled 'Agriculture as a producer and consumer of energy', held on 24-25 June 2004.
Ethanol policies, programmes and production in Canada.
Authors: Klein K. K. , Romain R. , Olar M. , Bergeron N.
Published: November 2017

This chapter reviews the policies and programmes initiated in Canada to increase production of ethanol, and their progress to date. Fuel ethanol production capacity is examined, as well as the feedstock used, co-products, and ethanol production cost. It is revealed that although biodiesel is likely to become an important alternative fuel in the future, to date, little activity to develop biodiesel has taken place in Canada.
The supply of maize stover in the midwestern United States.
Authors: Nelson R. G. , Walsh M. E. , Sheehan J. J.
Published: November 2017

This chapter presents a methodology to estimate the supply (quantity at a given price) of maize stover available for producing bioenergy and bioproducts, taking into consideration the need to limit to a tolerable level the soil erosion impacts that result from stover removal. Also discussed are the results of an application of the methodology to estimate stover supply from continuous maize rotation and three tillage practices (conventional, reduced/mulch, and no-till) by soil type for the 10 largest maize producing states in the USA. This analysis indicates that up to 98 million dt of stover (equivalent to 1.37 quads of primary energy or 1.5% of US current use) could be collected at costs less than $35/dt and 35 million dt (0.49 quads) could be collected at costs of less than $20/dt. Farmer premiums, transportation and storage costs are not included and could add an additional $10/dt to $40/dt to the cost of the stover.
Livestock watering with renewable energy systems.
Authors: Clark R. N. , Vick B. D.
Published: November 2017

This chapter reports on research conducted in the USA (i) to develop wind-powered and solar-PV-powered water pumping systems (for livestock watering) that are reliable, low maintenance and cost competitive compared with current water pumping systems; and (ii) to design a controller that allows the use of standard electric motors and pumps when powered by remote wind or solar systems. Performance data are presented from two wind-electric pumping tests and two solar-PV pumping tests.
Life cycle assessment of integrated biorefinery-cropping systems: all biomass is local.
Authors: Kim S. D. , Dale B. E.
Published: November 2017

This chapter compares the environmental performance of different cropping systems providing raw materials to an integrated biorefinery. The base case is continuous maize cultivation under no-tillage conditions. The effects of maize stover removal and planting winter cover crops are also included in the analysis. Two biobased products, ethanol and polyhydroxyalkanoates are considered.
The CAP/RDP in the context of EU spatial policy.
Authors: Shucksmith M. , Thomson K. J. , Roberts D.
Published: November 2017

This chapter assesses the relationship between the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Rural Development Policy (RDP) on the one hand, and the EU spatial policy (as set out in the European Spatial Development Perspective) on the other hand. In particular, it examines: (1) to what extent the objectives and instruments of the CAP and RDP are compatible with the concepts of balanced polycentric urban development and new urban-rural partnerships; (2) to what extent the outcomes of CAP and RDP measures are in conformity with the EU cohesion objectives; (3) to what extent the CAP and RDP instruments support sustainable development, prudent management and protection of nature and cultural heritage; and (4) to what extent EU measures to promote parity of access to infrastructure and knowledge are compatible with the CAP and RDP.
Introduction.
Authors: Oskam A. , Burrell A.
Published: November 2017

The study published in this book was completed at the end of November 2004 and examines Turkey's readiness to meet EU requirements in relation to agriculture, food and the rural economy. Information contained in this study constitutes a benchmark against which progress achieved by Turkey's agrifood sector during the pre-accession period can be gauged. The study's objective and research questions, the macroeconomic context, the evidence from other studies, the areas of uncertainty, the approach and structure of the study, and its limits, are discussed in this introductory chapter.
The institutional framework of Turkey and Turkish agriculture.
Authors: Temel T.
Published: November 2017

This chapter covers institutional developments that have implications for the alignment of Turkish agricultural institutions with those of the EU. The first part of the chapter provides a brief history of the development of the institutional environment of modern Turkey. It describes formal and informal rules relating to political, social and economic development, competition, property rights, and education and science. The next section presents the institutional arrangements in three areas of Turkish agriculture: agricultural resources; agricultural research, technology and innovation; and agricultural markets and trade. The chapter concludes by highlighting potential institutional problems in light of Turkey's future EU accession.
Periphyton and aquatic production: an introduction.
Authors: Azim M. E. , Beveridge M. C. M. , Dam A. A. van , Verdegem M. C. J.
Published: November 2017

Periphyton community comprises bacteria, fungi, protozoa, phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic organisms, organic detritus and a range of other invertebrates and their larvae. This introductory paper discusses the contribution of periphyton to aquatic productivity and the status of world aquaculture in terms of culture systems, production and trends. Three basic ecological processes in aquaculture can be distinguished: production, consumption and decomposition. The role of periphyton in aquaculture ponds and the three basic food webs (phytoplankton-based, periphyton-based and detritus-based) are reviewed, giving more emphasis on the periphyton-based food web. Fishes and crustaceans can also exploit the detritus-based food webs.
Utility of added substrates in shrimp culture.
Authors: Tidwell J. H. , Bratvold D.
Published: November 2017

This paper reviews the status of research on substrate additions in shrimp and prawn culture for human consumption. Shrimp natural habitat, diet and culture systems are different for the nursery and juvenile grow-out stages of the life cycle. Freshwater shrimp exhibit strong territoriality, which can be substantially minimized by providing layers of horizontal surface that increase the available territory per unit volume of water. In contrast, marine shrimp do not exhibit such strong territorial behaviour. Therefore, surface conditions in marine shrimp systems have more commonly been vertical, to roughly mimic sea grass structures and enhance natural production associated with periphyton. Substrate orientation and densities in relation to shrimp stocking densities are discussed. Marine benthic diatoms (periphyton) play a key role in the growth and development of abalone. Substrates are the essential factor for larval settlement of abalone.
Periphyton ecology, exploitation and management: knowledge gaps and directions for future research.
Authors: Verdegem M. C. J. , Dam A. A. van , Azim M. E. , Beveridge M. C. M.
Published: November 2017

This chapter discusses the role of periphyton in aquatic ecosystems, periphyton structure, grazing pressure, periphyton assimilation by aquatic animals, nutritive quality, regeneration, periphyton-based aquaculture, polyculture, water quality, environmental health, dissemination of periphyton technology and ecological approaches in periphyton-based aquaculture.
The impact of heavy metals on the microbial diversity of podzolic soils in the Kola Peninsula.
Authors: Evdokimova G. A.
Published: November 2017

The diversity of frequently occurring genera and species of microorganisms in soils polluted by heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Co) and sulfur compounds was investigated at various distances (0.2-50 km) from the Severonikel enterprise in the Kola Peninsula (Russia). The 4 zones studied are described as the epicentre, impact zone (woody vegetation mostly destroyed, with only depressed regeneration of Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii), and the buffer and background zones (dwarf shrub pine forests). A decrease of species diversity of fungi, algae and especially the prokaryotic component of microbial communities (viz. the non-spore-forming gram-negative bacteria, cyanobacteria and streptomycetes) was established along the background to epicentre gradient. The homeostasis of the microbial communities of podzolic soils has been changed as a result of heavy metal concentrations in the soils amounting to 300-400 mg kg-1 for copper and 600-700 mg kg-1 for nickel.
Landscape degradation by smelter emissions near Sudbury, Canada, and subsequent amelioration and restoration.
Authors: Winterhalder K.
Published: November 2017

A century of sulfur dioxide fumigation, copper and nickel particulate deposition, fire, soil erosion and enhanced frost action resulting from mining and smeltering has created 17, 00 ha of barren land and 72 000 ha of stunted, open birch-maple (Betula/Acer) woodland in the Sudbury area of Ontario, Canada. The primary factor limiting plant colonization is the acidic, aluminium-, copper- and nickel-toxic properties of the soils, although certain plant species have developed genetically based metal tolerance. In the revegetation programme, manual surface application of ground limestone, with or without an accompanying fertilizer and/or grass-legume seed application, leads to immediate colonization by woody species including birch (Betula spp.), aspen (Populus tremuloides) and willows (Salix spp.), and more than 3000 ha have been treated in this way by the Regional Municipality of Sudbury since 1978. Native coniferous species (Pinus spp.) have also been planted in groups to form a seed source for future colonization.
Ozone impacts on California forests.
Authors: Miller P. R. , Arbaugh M. J.
Published: November 2017

The history of ozone effects on the forests of southern California (USA) can be traced by records of crown condition or stem growth. For example, during the period from 1945 to 1972 the growth increment of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) near the town of Blue Jay in the San Bernardino Mountains decreased every year and then began to recover to pre-1945 levels between 1973 and 1991. The growth recovery was coincident with an improvement of ozone air quality in the nearby South Coast Air Basin of California. Ozone injury on ponderosa pine in the southern Sierra Nevada was first discovered in the early 1970s. Despite general improvements of air quality in upwind urban regions, crown injury to sensitive ponderosa pines was detectable and measurable at numerous locations in the California mountains by the mid-1990s. This paper describes the methods for evaluating ozone injury and interpreting effects at the individual tree and ecosystem levels.
Ozone in the Mediterranean region: evidence of injury to vegetation.
Authors: Sanz M. J. , Millán M. M.
Published: November 2017

Over the last 25 yr, the Mediterranean basin has become heavily industrialized, and as a consequence, reports of air pollution damage to forested areas in southern European countries have increased since the late 1970s. Among pollutants, ozone appears to be one of the most potentially dangerous, both because the meteorological conditions present in the Mediterranean region are particularly favourable to its formation and persistence, and because it is the most ubiquitous. The available evidence strongly suggests that ozone occurs at sufficient concentrations to cause injury to sensitive plant species, including trees. Foliar injury caused by ambient ozone exposures has been clearly identified on native herbs, shrubs and tree species within several areas in southern Europe. However, ozone uptake and response are modulated by environmental factors such as drought. Recent studies suggest a complex interaction between high radiation, drought and ozone response in Mediterranean tree species such as Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis). More data are required before a full evaluation of the impact of ozone on Mediterranean forests can be achieved. Furthermore, additional research is needed to better understand and characterize the response of the Mediterranean ecosystems.
Revitalization and restoration of boreal and temperate forests damaged by air pollution.
Authors: Kozlov M. V. , Haukioja E. , Niemelä P. , Zvereva E. , Kytö M.
Published: November 2017

The influence of industrial pollution on the health of boreal and temperate forests has long been recognized as a serious scientific and applied problem. Numerous field experiments have been established to determine practical measures for both the alleviation of pollution impacts on stand vitality and the rehabilitation of forest ecosystems. At the incipient stages of forest damage, the impacts of acidic deposition and heavy metals can be mitigated by the application of limestone and other compensatory fertilizers and by the adoption of silvicultural measures which increase tree vigour. In clearcuts and areas of extensive tree mortality surrounding major sources of pollution, the regeneration of forests is hindered by the unfavourable abiotic environment and soil toxicity, which requires soil detoxification and other site preparation measures. Under conditions of continuous pollution impact, it is possible to reduce soil erosion in deforested habitats by planting native, metal-tolerant woody plants such as willows (Salix borealis [Salix myrsinifolia]) and birches (Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii). Both the vigour of stands impacted by pollution and the establishment of trees in heavily polluted sites can be enhanced by the removal or reduction of co-occurring environmental stressors such as wind and/or drought. Although a large number of studies have been carried out in the field of forest restoration, the large-scale practical application of these to boreal and temperate forests damaged by pollution is still restricted to a very few areas.