bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MnO2‐Magnetic Core‐Shell Structured Polyaniline Dependent Enhanced EMI Shielding Effectiveness: A Study of VRH Conduction
Authors: Pal Rishi , Goyal Sneh Lata , Gupta Vinay , Rawal Ishpal
Published: August 2019

The core‐shell structured based Polyaniline/MnO2 composites were synthesized by chemical oxidation method, wherein MnO2 particles acts as a magnetic core while polyaniline chains wrapped over these particles acts as a shell. Four different loading concentrations of MnO2 particles (10, 20, 30 and 40 wt %) were used to investigate the effect of MnO2 concentration on the EMI shielding effectiveness. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) studies performed on pristine MnO2 and composite samples reveal the polycrystalline nature of the MnO2 particles and semi‐crystalline nature of the composites with a sharp peak around 25° over a broad hump. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) studies performed on the pristine MnO2 particles as well composite sample (S4) at higher loading (40 wt %) concentration of MnO2 suggest the ferromagnetic nature at room temperature. The charge transport properties of the prepared samples have been investigated under variable range hopping (VRH) conduction. Mott's three dimensional VRH model has been found to be applicable for conduction in the present samples. The dc conductivity of the prepared samples is found to increase with MnO2 loading concentrations, which suggest their possible validity for EMI shielding applications. Therefore, the prepared samples are analyzed for EMI shielding properties in the frequency range of 8.2 to 12.4 GHz (X‐band). The sample prepared with 30 wt% of MnO2 has as much as 50 dB shielding effectiveness, which is quite higher than that required for industrial application (∼30dB).
New Porous High Surface Area, TiO2 Anatase/SAPO‐35 Mild Brønsted Acidic Nanocomposite: Synthesis, Characterization and Studies on it's Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity.
Authors: Siliveri Suresh , Chirra Suman , Tyagi Chinkit , Gandamalla Ambedkar , Adepu Ajay Kumar , Goskula Srinath , Gujjula Sripal Reddy , Venkatathri Narayanan
Published: August 2019

Anatase TiO2 and Levyne type microporous silico alumino phosphate SAPO‐35 are synthesized by using hydrothermal method. TiO2/SAPO‐35 nanocomposites were prepared by sol‐gel method with different weight ratios. The synthesized materials were characterized by various analytical techniques such as PXRD, SEM/EDAX, TG/DTA, BET‐Surface area, FT‐IR, UV‐Vis, XPS, MAS‐NMR and photocatalytic study. From PXRD results it clearly evidenced that, the TiO2 anatase peaks and SAPO‐35 combined peaks are in the composite. The spherical shaped TiO2 nanoparticles were found to be dispersed over the rhombohedral SAPO‐35 particles, which was analysed by SEM. BET‐surface area analysis revealed that, the calcined SAPO‐35 has the surface area of 448 m2/g, was decreased to 222 m2/g for composite which is due to the presence of TiO2 particles having surface area of 85 m2/g on the surface of SAPO‐35. The oxidation state and co‐ordination of various elements present in nanocomposite was composed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. MAS‐NMR analysis has shown that SAPO‐35 has tetrahedral Al, P and Si oxides. Eventhough Al is unique Si and P are in two different environment namely one in S6R and another in D6R with double intensity. The photocatalytic performance of methylene blue degradation under sunlight radiation by the synthesized TiO2/SAPO‐35 was analyzed. The TiO2/SAPO‐35 composites degrade the methylene blue under sunlight irradiation in 25 minutes against 90 minuts for pure TiO2 anatase. A plausible mechanism on photocatalytic activity is also proposed.
Reduction of Iron Oxides with Hydrogen—A Review
Authors: Spreitzer Daniel , Schenk Johannes
Published: August 2019

This review focuses on the reduction of iron oxides using hydrogen as a reducing agent. Due to increasing requirements from environmental issues, a change of process concepts in the iron and steel industry is necessary within the next few years. Currently, crude steel production is mainly based on fossil fuels, and emitting of the climate‐relevant gas carbon dioxide is integral. One opportunity to avoid or reduce greenhouse gas emissions is substituting hydrogen for carbon as an energy source and reducing agent. Hydrogen, produced via renewable energies, allows carbon‐free reduction and avoids forming harmful greenhouse gases during the reduction process. The thermodynamic and kinetic behaviors of reduction with hydrogen are summarized and discussed in this review. The effects of influencing parameters, such as temperature, type of iron oxide, grain size, etc. are shown and compared with the reduction behavior of iron oxides with carbon monoxide. Different methods to describe the kinetics of the reduction progress and the role of the apparent activation energy are shown and proofed regarding their plausibility.
Reconceptualizing “Home” and “School” Language: Taking a Critical Translingual Approach in the English Classroom
Authors: Seltzer Kate
Published: August 2019

This article adds to the growing body of literature that calls for shifts in teachers’ and researchers’ stance and practice toward a re‐seeing and re‐hearing of students for their linguistic assets and expertise. By taking up the theory of translanguaging (García, 2009; García & Li Wei, 2014) to understand students’ language practices, I trouble the labels and terms so often assigned to language minoritized students, particularly those that fall into the larger categories of “home” and “school” language. To do this, I draw on data collected during a yearlong ethnographic study of an 11th‐grade English language arts classroom in New York City. This study took up what I term a critical translingual approach (Seltzer, 2019), engaging language minoritized students—bilingual students as well as those students traditionally viewed as monolingual—in metalinguistic conversations, literacy activities, and writing that delved into the role language played in their identities and lived experiences. By centering students’ talk and writing about their own languages, this article serves as a call to educators and researchers to relinquish conceptualizations of “standard” or “native” language and to embrace those that foster students’ critical integration of new features into their existing linguistic repertoires.
Nonpoint source pollution
Authors: Lian Qiyu , Yao Lunguang , Uddin Ahmad Zaki , Lei Xiaobo , Islam Fahrin , Zappi Mark E. , Gang Daniel Dianchen
Published: August 2019

A comprehensive review of the research papers published in 2018 focusing on nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is presented in this review article. The identification of pollution from different sources and estimation of NPS pollution using various models are summarized in this review paper. Various innovative techniques are also examined to abate NPS pollution.

Practitioner points

The non‐point source pollution in 2018 is systematically reviewed and documented.

This review evaluates and summarizes the identification, quantification, reduction, and management of NPS pollution.

Future perspectives of NPS pollution research are discussed.
The renaissance of yeasts as microbial factories in the modern age of biomanufacturing
Authors: Payen Celia , Thompson Dawn
Published: August 2019

Yeasts are essential for many processes, including the production of some of our most beloved foods and beverages. Less is known to the public about the far‐reaching impacts of yeasts on other products such as biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and industrial products. By leveraging and combining newly discovered yeast genetic diversity with now affordable and efficient genetic engineering and synthetic biology tools, academic and industrial yeast labs have designed yeast cell factories for a wide range of novel applications such as the production of medicines, components of human breast milk, heme for meat substitutes, bioplastics, and other biomaterials. This review covers the newest technologies developed for yeast research including synthetic biology and their use in the engineering of yeast cell factories for emerging applications.
Structural Modulation of Coordination Polymers by Heterometallic Approach
Authors: Hu Bo‐Wen , Zhu Wen‐Qi , Shi Wei‐Wei , Chen Peng , Li Quan‐Wen , Yin Ge‐Ping
Published: August 2019

A series of heterometallic NiII/CoII coordination polymers with 2D networks were synthesized by tetrazole‐1‐acetate ligands and structurally characterized. With increasing concentration of cobalt(II), another different connectivity patterns have been observed. The influence of cobalt(II) is not only on the crystallization, but also on the variation of magnetic properties.
Largely Unchanged Annual Incidence and Overall Survival of Pleural Mesothelioma in the USA
Authors: Keshava Hari B. , Tang Andrew , Siddiqui Hafiz Umair , Raja Siva , Raymond Daniel P. , Bribriesco Alejandro , Stevenson James , Murthy Sudish C. , Ahmad Usman
Published: August 2019

Background

Projections based on regulations curtailing asbestos use in the USA suggest that peak incidence of pleural mesothelioma would occur between 2000 and 2005 and then decline. We analyzed the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to assess current trends in disease incidence, patient demographics, cancer treatment, and survival.

Methods

The NCDB was queried to identify patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma from 2004 through 2014. Clinical and pathologic characteristics, treatments, and survival were analyzed. Risk factors for death were identified by multivariable Cox regression.

Results

A total of 20,988 patients with pleural mesothelioma were reported to the NCDB. The number of cases per year increased from 1783 to 1961, accounting for roughly 0.3% of all reported cancers each year. The proportion of elderly patients increased from 75 to 80%, but distribution by sex remained constant (20% female). The proportion of patients undergoing treatment increased from 34 to 54%. One‐year survival increased from 37 to 47% and 3‐year survival from 9 to 15% (p < 0.001). Factors associated with improved survival included younger age, female sex, epithelioid histology, treatment in an academic center, health insurance, higher income, and multimodality therapy.

Conclusions

The annual incidence of mesothelioma has not declined this century and remains stable. Reporting of histologic and clinical staging has improved. National trends suggest that survival is slowly increasing despite an aging cohort. Multimodal therapy and treatment at academic centers are modifiable risk factors associated with improved survival.
Follow-Up Study Investigating the Effects of a Physically Active Academic Intervention
Authors: Mullender-Wijnsma Marijke Johanna , Hartman Esther , de Greeff Johannes Wilhelmus , Doolaard Simone , Bosker Roel Jan , Visscher Chris
Published: August 2019

In previous studies, the effects of physically active academic lessons on academic achievement have been shown. Less is known about follow-up effects and the effects for disadvantaged groups. The first aim of this study was to examine 7–9 months follow-up effects of a physically active academic intervention on academic achievement. The second aim was to examine the effects of the 2-year intervention for a subgroup of socially disadvantaged children. A cluster-randomized controlled trial with 499 children (113 socially disadvantaged children) from second- and third-grade classes was conducted. Children’s academic achievement was measured before the intervention started, after the first and second intervention year, and 7–9 months after the intervention ended. At the 7–9 months follow-up, the intervention group showed significantly greater gains in math performance in comparison with the control group. No significant follow-up effects were found on language performance. Furthermore, the lessons significantly improved the math and spelling performance of socially disadvantaged children after two intervention years. These children did not benefit more from the lessons than other children. In conclusion, effects of physically active academic lessons on math achievement persist when the lessons are no longer taught, and the lessons are an innovative way to improve the academic achievement of socially disadvantaged children. The findings suggest that physically active academic lessons should be considered for inclusion in school curriculums in order to improve the academic achievement of all children.

Trial Registration: This study is registered at www.isrctn.com (No. ISRCTN17021806).
An ADMM-based scheme for distance function approximation
Authors: Belyaev Alexander , Fayolle Pierre-Alain
Published: August 2019

A novel variational problem for approximating the distance function (to a domain boundary) is proposed. It is shown that this problem can be efficiently solved by ADMM. A review of several other variational and PDE-based methods for distance function estimation is presented. Advantages of the proposed distance function estimation method are demonstrated by numerical experiments. Applications of the method to the problems of surface curvature estimation and computing the skeleton of a binary image are shown.
The Potential Interaction Between Time Perception and Gaming: A Narrative Review
Authors: Nuyens Filip M. , Kuss Daria J. , Lopez-Fernandez Olatz , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: August 2019

Compromised time control is a variable of interest among disordered gamers because time spent on videogames can directly affect individuals’ lives. Although time perception appears to be closely associated with this phenomenon, previous studies have not systematically found a relationship between time perception and gaming. Therefore, the purpose of this narrative review is to explore how gaming disorder may be associated with time perception. It has been found that gamers exhibit a stronger attentional focus as well as an improved working memory compared with non-gamers. However, gamers (and especially disordered gamers) exhibit a stronger reaction to gaming cues which—coupled with an altered emotion regulation observed among disordered gamers—could directly affect their time perception. Finally, “'flow states”' direct most of the attentional resources to the ongoing activity, leading to a lack of resources allocated to the time perception. Therefore, entering a flow state will result in an altered time perception, most likely an underestimation of duration. The paper concludes that the time loss effect observed among disordered gamers can be explained via enhanced emotional reactivity (facilitated by impaired emotion regulation).
Malnutrition is associated with dynamic physical performance
Authors: Ramsey Keenan A. , Meskers Carel G. M. , Trappenburg Marijke C. , Verlaan Sjors , Reijnierse Esmee M. , Whittaker Anna C. , Maier Andrea B.
Published: August 2019

Background

Malnutrition and poor physical performance are both conditions that increase in prevalence with age; however, their interrelation in a clinically relevant population has not been thoroughly studied.

Aims

This study aimed to determine the strength of the association between malnutrition and measures of both static and dynamic physical performance in a cohort of geriatric outpatients.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 286 older adults (mean age 81.8, SD 7.2 years, and 40.6% male) who were referred to geriatric outpatient mobility clinics. The presence of malnutrition was determined using the Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (SNAQ, cut-off ≥ 2 points). Measures of dynamic physical performance included timed up and go (TUG), 4-m walk test, and chair stand test (CST). Static performance encompassed balance tests and hand grip strength (HGS). Physical performance was standardized into sex-specific Z-scores. The association between malnutrition and each individual measure of physical performance was assessed using linear regression analysis.

Results

19.9% of the cohort was identified as malnourished. Malnutrition was most strongly associated with CST and gait speed; less strong but significant associations were found between malnutrition and TUG. There was no significant association between malnutrition and HGS or balance.

Discussion

Physical performance was associated with malnutrition, specifically, dynamic rather than static measures. This may reflect muscle power being more impacted by nutritional status than muscle strength; however, this needs to be further addressed.

Conclusions

Malnutrition is associated with dynamic physical performance in geriatric outpatients, which should inform diagnosis and treatment/prevention strategies.
Shear strength of steel fiber/polyepoxide resin interface using single fiber pull-out tests
Authors: Ismael Mustafa K. , Abdulrazaq Ekhlas A. , Hassoni Safaa M. , Haleem Ali Hubi
Published: August 2019

Thermoset polymer has considerable useful properties in structure, energy and marine industries. Polyepoxide or epoxy is widely used in composite matrix materials, and therefore, the adhesion between the reinforcement and the matrix is crucial. In order to enhance the adhesion conceptually, single steel fiber reinforcement polymer (SRP) was used in a polyepoxide matrix. The fiber pull-out test (FPO) was used to evaluate the adhesion properties by using thin films of copper for the wire fiber. For comparison, the results of the FPO for uncoated fiber with an average surface roughness of Ra = 0.03 μm were obtained. The results show an increase in toughness and strength compared with uncoated rougher fiber. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) clearly show that copper debonding requires an interface fracture energy and there is a possibility of copper diffusion, which is confirmed by point EDX. The energy absorption of the wire thin film copper increased by 42%, and the maximum force pull-out increased by 14%. The modeling of the current study shows the crack initiation starts from the side of the fiber pull-out direction, and the maximum stress component was just near the free non-encompassed wire.
Demystifying the role of AI for better network security
Authors: Kurpjuhn Thorsten
Published: August 2019

There is a lot of excitement and expectation around the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in business. From website chatbots that offer an enhanced customer experience, to biometric recognition and customer data analysis, AI has much to offer the small to medium-size business (SMB) community. Indeed, many businesses are already using it in one form or another – some without even realising it.
Triple Oxygen Isotopes
Authors: Bao Huiming
Published: August 2019

The 'detective' power of stable isotopes for processes that occurred in the past, and for elucidating mechanisms at the molecular level, has impressed researchers over the past 100 years, since the time when isotopes of elements were first discovered. While most are interested in the normalized abundance ratios of two isotopes of an element, further power was unleashed when researchers investigated the relationship of three or more isotopes of the same element, e.g. 16O, 17O, and 18O for oxygen. This Element focuses on the history of discovery of triple isotope effects, the conceptual framework behind these effects, and major lines of development in the past few years of triple oxygen isotope research.
Investigative Delegations: Predictable Predicaments
Authors: Combs Nancy Amoury
Published: August 2019

When a Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) dismissed the court's very first case before trial, it made headlines worldwide. The Trial Chamber dismissed the case because the prosecutor repeatedly failed to disclose exculpatory evidence. He did so because he had obtained the evidence from the UN and NGOs pursuant to confidentiality agreements that prevented disclosure without permission, which the UN and NGOs had not granted. The prosecutor, stuck between two competing obligations—the disclosure obligation that he owed the accused and the confidentiality obligation that he owed the UN—adhered to the latter, a decision that the Trial Chamber deemed to “rupture” the trial process to such a degree that a fair trial was impossible.
“Half the Truth is Often a Great Lie”: Deep Fakes, Open Source Information, and International Criminal Law
Authors: Koenig Alexa
Published: August 2019

The video opens with a man—now known to be Commander Al-Werfalli of the elite Libyan Special Forces team al Saiqa—throwing a quick glance over his shoulder as a black SUV rolls off camera. Cradling a gun, he saunters towards three men kneeling on a sidewalk, hands bound behind their backs, faces turned toward the wall. He raises the gun in his left hand. Without pausing, he walks methodically down the row, a bullet punctuating every other step. The men slump forward as they fall. Werfalli's first hint of emotion is visible only when he unloads multiple bullets into the final body.
Investigation of Health-Related Consequences of Landmine Explosions During the Past 4 Decades (1979-2016): A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study, Kurdistan, Iran
Authors: Fathollahi Soraya , Yari Arezoo , Fatemi Farin , Ardalan Ali , Bidarpoor Farzam , Esmailnasab Nader
Published: August 2019

Objectives:

Landmines remain a potential public health concern in the western and southern border regions of Iran. The aim of this study was to assess the health-related consequences of landmine explosions in Kurdistan Province during the past 4 decades.

Methods:

This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in Kurdistan Province of Iran in 2016-2017. The data gathering process was questionnaire based. Survivors, or a member of the deceased’s family, were interviewed, and 410 questionnaires were completed. Data analysis was performed by using descriptive or analytical tests in SPSS software V.22.

Results:

Antipersonnel landmines caused death immediately after the explosion 32.1% of the time, and 67.9% survived with various disabilities, such as blindness, deafness, and limb amputation. Sixty-three percent of the injuries were related to limb amputation, which was the most prevalent injury among survivors. The adjusted regression test revealed a significant relationship between severity of injury and variables such as living in the villages, education, and occupation (P-value < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Recognizing the mined areas and intensifying clearance measures are crucial for Kurdistan Province. Providing landmine awareness programs is likely to yield useful results in reducing casualties. Also, landmine survivors should have access to physical and social rehabilitation programs.
Large-scale motions in a plane wall jet
Authors: Gnanamanickam Ebenezer P. , Bhatt Shibani , Artham Sravan , Zhang Zheng
Published: August 2019

The plane wall jet (PWJ) is a wall-bounded flow in which a wall shear layer develops in the presence of extremely energetic flow structures of the outer free-shear layer. The structure of a PWJ, developing in still air, was studied with the focus on the large scales in the flow. Wall-normal hot-wire anemometry (HWA) measurements along with double-frame particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements (wall-normal–streamwise plane) were carried out at streamwise distances up to $162b$, where $b$ is the slot width of the PWJ exit. The nominal PWJ Reynolds number based on exit parameters was $Re_{j}\approx 5940$. Comparisons with a zero-pressure-gradient boundary layer (ZPGBL) at nominally matched friction Reynolds number $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}$ were also carried out as appropriate, to highlight key features of the PWJ structure. Consistent with previous work, the PWJ showed a dependence of the peak turbulent stresses on the jet exit Reynolds number. The turbulent production showed a peak corresponding to the near-wall cycle similar to the peak seen in the ZPGBL. However, another turbulent production peak was observed in the outer free-shear layer that was an order of magnitude larger than the inner one. Along with the change in sign of the viscous and Reynolds shear stresses, the PWJ was shown to have a region of very low turbulent production between these two peaks. The dissipation rate increased over the PWJ layer with a peak also in the outer region. Visualizations of the flow and two-point correlations reveal that the most energetic large-scale structures within a PWJ are vortical motions in the wall-normal–streamwise plane similar to those structures seen in free-shear layers. These structures are referred to as J (for jet) type structures. In addition two-point correlations reveal the existence of large-scale structures in the wall region which have a signature similar to those structures seen in canonical boundary layers. These structures are referred to as W (for wall) type structures. Instantaneous PIV realizations and flow visualizations reveal that these W type large-scale features are consistent with the paradigm of hairpin vortex packets in the wall region. The J type structures were seen to intrude well into the wall region while the W type structures were also seen to extend into the outer shear layer. Further, these large-scale structures were shown to modulate the amplitude of the finer scales of the flow.
DISCRETE METRIC SPACES: STRUCTURE, ENUMERATION, AND 0-1 LAWS
Authors: MUBAYI DHRUV , TERRY CAROLINE
Published: August 2019

Fix an integer $r \ge 3$. We consider metric spaces on n points such that the distance between any two points lies in $\left\{ {1, \ldots ,r} \right\}$. Our main result describes their approximate structure for large n. As a consequence, we show that the number of these metric spaces is $\left\lceil {{{r + 1} \over 2}} \right\rceil ^{\left( {\matrix{ n \cr 2 \cr } } \right) + o\left( {n^2 } \right)} .$

Related results in the continuous setting have recently been proved by Kozma, Meyerovitch, Peled, and Samotij [34]. When r is even, our structural characterization is more precise and implies that almost all such metric spaces have all distances at least $r/2$. As an easy consequence, when r is even, we improve the error term above from $o\left( {n^2 } \right)$ to $o\left( 1 \right)$, and also show a labeled first-order 0-1 law in the language ${\cal L}_r $, consisting of r binary relations, one for each element of $[r]$ . In particular, we show the almost sure theory T is the theory of the Fraïssé limit of the class of all finite simple complete edge-colored graphs with edge colors in $\left\{ {r/2, \ldots ,r} \right\}$.

Our work can be viewed as an extension of a long line of research in extremal combinatorics to the colored setting, as well as an addition to the collection of known structures that admit logical 0-1 laws.
Interfering ACE on comprehending embodied meaning in action-related Chinese counterfactual sentences
Authors: WANG HUILI , YAN XIAOLI , CAO SHUO , LI LINXI , KRITIKOS ADA
Published: August 2019

abstract

The present study explores whether embodied meaning is activated in comprehension of action-related Mandarin counterfactual sentences. Participants listened to action-related Mandarin factual or counterfactual sentences describing transfer events (actions towards or away from the participant), and then performed verb-compatible or -incompatible motor action after a transfer verb (action towards or away from the participant) onset. The results demonstrated that motor simulation, specifically the interfering action-sentence compatibility effect (ACE), was obtained in both factual and counterfactual sentences. Additionally, the temporal course of motor resonance was slightly different between factual and counterfactual sentences. We concluded that embodied meaning was activated in action-related Chinese counterfactual sentences. The results supported a neural network model of Chersi, Thill, Ziemke, and Borghi (2010), proposed within the embodiment approach, which explains the interaction between processing action-related sentences and motor performance. Moreover, we speculated that the neural network model of Chersi et al. was also applicable to action-related Mandarin counterfactual comprehension.
Importance of phosphorus and potassium in soil-specific nutrient management for wet-season rice in Cambodia
Authors: Kong Kea , Hin Sarith , Seng Vang , Ismail Abdelbagi M. , Vergara Georgina , Choi Il-Ryong , Ehara Hiroshi , Kato Yoichiro
Published: August 2019

Rice is widely grown in rainfed lowlands during the wet season in the Mekong region. Limited nutrient availability is a common constraint on crop yield, and the optimal rate of fertilizer application depends on the soil type. The objective of our study was to evaluate rice productivity and the economic feasibility of various nutrient management regimes in Cambodia. We conducted field experiments on three soil types (Prey Khmer, Prateah Lang, and Toul Samroung, equivalent to Psamments, Plinthustalfs, and Endoaqualfs, respectively) in four provinces (Battambang, Kampong Thom, Pursat, and Siem Reap) during the 2016 and 2017 wet seasons to compare nine (2016) and seven (2017) N–P–K combinations. Grain yield ranged from 0.9 to 4.8 t ha−1 in 2016 and from 1.0 to 5.2 t ha−1 in 2017, depending on soil type and nutrient management. The Prey Khmer soil contained around 80% sand, and rice yield responded most weakly to nutrient management. The moderate fertilizer input in the current soil-specific recommendation was effective on this soil type. However, on more fertile soils with a higher clay content and a higher cation-exchange capacity (Toul Samroung and Prateah Lang), an additional 20 kg N ha−1 combined with adding 15 kg ha−1 of P2O5 or 20 kg ha−1 of K2O significantly increased yield and economic return. Although P and K use during Cambodia’s wet season is uncommon, our results demonstrate the importance of these nutrients in improving the country’s rice production.
Role of staphylococci in mastitis in sheep
Authors: Vasileiou Natalia G. C. , Chatzopoulos Dimitris C. , Sarrou Stela , Fragkou Ilektra A. , Katsafadou Angeliki I. , Mavrogianni Vasia S. , Petinaki Efthimia , Fthenakis George C.
Published: August 2019

Staphylococci have been isolated from various sites of the body of healthy sheep, as well as from many infections of those animals, the main one being mastitis. The objective of this review is to appraise the importance and significance of staphylococci in causing mastitis in ewes. The review includes a brief classification and taxonomy of staphylococci and describes the procedures for their isolation and identification, as well as their virulence determinants and the mechanisms of resistance to antibacterial agents. Various staphylococcal species have been implicated in staphylococcal mastitis and the characteristics of isolates are discussed with regards to potential virulence factors. Staphylococcal mastitis is explicitly described, with reference to sources of infection, the course of the disease and the relevant control measures. Finally, the potential significance of staphylococci present in ewes’ milk for public health is discussed briefly.
Stock discrimination of Chelidonichthys obscurus (Triglidae) in the central Mediterranean Sea using morphometric analysis and parasite markers
Authors: Boudaya L. , Feki M. , Mosbahi N. , Neifar L.
Published: August 2019

Assessing fish stocks has important implications for fisheries management and conservation biology. Gurnards are marine demersal fish that commonly occur in the Mediterranean, but their population in this region remains to be quantified. This study examines the population structure of the longfin gurnard Chelidonichthys obscurus (Walbaum, 1792) in waters off eastern Tunisia, using morphometry and parasite assemblages. A total of 134 fish are investigated from two studied zones – the Gulf of Hammamet and the Gulf of Gabès. Discriminant analysis is used to compare gurnard populations in the two studied zones using 13 morphometric characters and the infection parameters of seven parasites. Morphometric analysis reveals strong spatial variations between the studied zones, providing evidence for the existence of an ecological differentiation along the eastern Tunisian coast. Mahalanobis distances show that body height, pectoral fin length and first dorsal fin length are the most salient morphometric characters for determining the position of samples from the Gulf of Gabès. The effectiveness of using parasites to study longfin gurnard stocks is uncertain. The use of short-lived parasites as biological tags is questionable, at least in the present case. Future research, based on complementary approaches such as otolith microchemistry and genetics, may improve our understanding of the global stock structure of longfin gurnard to suitably inform regional organizations involved in fisheries management.
Primary laryngeal lymphoma in China: a retrospective study of the last 25 years
Authors: Zhao P , Zhou Y , Li J
Published: August 2019

Objective

To retrospectively study the primary laryngeal lymphoma cases in China reported in Chinese-language literature.

Method

Chinese-language literature was searched for papers on primary laryngeal lymphoma published in the last 25 years.

Results

The selected papers comprised a total of 115 cases. The male-to-female ratio was 3.4:1. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was the exclusive pathological type. The estimated 3-year, 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 70.9 ± 6.4 per cent, 63.4 ± 7.6 per cent and 56.4 ± 9.5 per cent respectively, as determined by Kaplan–Meier analysis. B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients had a better prognosis than T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients (p= 0.032). Patients with lymph node involvement at diagnosis had a poorer prognosis (p< 0.01).

Conclusion

Primary laryngeal lymphoma is a rare disease with no specific clinical features. More than one biopsy might be needed to obtain the correct diagnosis. Proper treatment could lead to promising outcomes. The T-cell subtype and lymph node involvement at diagnosis might indicate worse prognosis.
A Two-Stage State Feedback Controller Supported by Disturbance-State Observer for Vibration Control of a Flexible-Joint Robot
Authors: Pham Minh-Nha , Hamelin Philippe , Hazel Bruce , Liu Zhaoheng
Published: August 2019

Joint flexibility introduces additional degrees of freedom and vibration modes, thus limiting the performance of the manipulator. To improve control bandwidth, this paper proposes an enhanced two-stage state feedback (SFB) controller, which combines two parts. The first is a SFB loop, which considers the motor position as a virtual control input for the link side dynamics. The second is a disturbance-state observer, which compensates disturbances and reconstructs indirect measurements. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed controller in terms of position tracking, link vibration, and rejection of the kinematic error from the joint’s harmonic drive reducer.
Phraséologismes spécifiques dans les romans historiques et les romans de littérature blanche
Authors: Gonon Laetitia , Sorba Julie
Published: August 2019

RESUME

Dans l’objectif de contraster deux sous-genres du roman contemporain, l’article analyse les réalisations lexicales, syntaxiques, sémantiques et discursives de 8 constructions lexico-syntaxiques (CLS) dans un corpus français constitué de romans historiques (HIST) et de romans de littérature blanche (GEN) postérieurs à 1950. Ces unités phraséologiques récurrentes ont été repérées grâce à la technique des ALR développée dans le Lexicoscope, un outil de linguistique de corpus créé pour fouiller des textes. Les 8 CLS retenues pour cette étude interviennent dans (ou initient) une interaction verbale. Notre propos est de démontrer que ces CLS représentent bien des motifs qui occupent des fonctions discursives (FD) précises dans chaque genre sous-romanesque qu’elles permettent de mieux définir. Nous verrons ainsi que ces motifs de l’interaction verbale peuvent occuper des FD narrative, descriptive et pragmatique dans HIST et GEN mais que seule la FD cognitive est représentée dans GEN.
Pilot biodiversity assessment of the Hkakabo Razi passerine avifauna in northern Myanmar – implications for conservation from molecular genetics
Authors: PÄCKERT MARTIN , MILENSKY CHRISTOPHER M. , MARTENS JOCHEN , KYAW MYINT , SUAREZ-RUBIO MARCELA , THAW WIN NAING , OO SAI SEIN LIN , WOLFGRAMM HANNES , RENNER SWEN C.
Published: August 2019

The Hkakabo Razi region located in northern Myanmar is an Important Bird Area and part of the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot. Within the framework of the World Heritage Convention to enlist the site under criterion (ix) and (x), we conducted a biodiversity assessment for passerine birds using DNA barcoding and other molecular markers. Of the 441 bird species recorded, we chose 16 target species for a comparative phylogeographic study. Genetic analysis was performed for a larger number of species and helped identifying misidentified species. We found phylogeographic structure in all but one of the 16 study species. In 13 species, populations from northern Myanmar were genetically distinctive and local mitochondrial lineages differed from those found in adjacent regions by 3.9–9.9% uncorrected genetic distances (cytochrome-b). Since the genetic distinctiveness of study populations will be corroborated by further differences in morphology and song as in other South-East Asian passerines, many of them will be candidates for taxonomic splits, or in case an older taxon name is not available, for the scientific description of new taxa. Considering the short time frame of our study we predict that a great part of undetected faunal diversity in the Hkakabo Razi region will be discovered.
Immunolocalization of antioxidant enzymes in testis of rams submitted to long-term heat stress
Authors: Hamilton Thais Rose dos Santos , Duarte Gabriela Esteves , Visintin José Antonio , Assumpção Mayra Elena Ortiz D’Ávila
Published: August 2019

Long-term heat stress (HS) induced by testicular insulation generates oxidative stress (OS) on the testicular environment; consequently activating antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The aim of this work was to immunolocalize antioxidant enzymes present in different cells within the seminiferous tubule when rams were submitted to HS. Rams were divided into control (n= 6) and treated group (n= 6), comprising rams subjected to testicular insulation for 240 h. After the testicular insulation period, rams were subjected to orchiectomy. Testicular fragments were submitted to immunohistochemistry for staining against SOD, GR and GPx enzymes. We observed immunolocalization of GPx in more cell types of the testis after HS and when compared with other enzymes. In conclusion, GPx is the main antioxidant enzyme identified in testicular cells in an attempt to maintain oxidative balance when HS occurs.
A population study of prolonged grief in refugees
Authors: Bryant R. A. , Edwards B. , Creamer M. , O'Donnell M. , Forbes D. , Felmingham K. L. , Silove D. , Steel Z. , McFarlane A. C. , van Hooff M. , Nickerson A. , Hadzi-Pavlovic D.
Published: August 2019

Aims

Despite the frequency that refugees suffer bereavement, there is a dearth of research into the prevalence and predictors of problematic grief reactions in refugees. To address this gap, this study reports a nationally representative population-based study of refugees to determine the prevalence of probable prolonged grief disorder (PGD) and its associated problems.

Methods

This study recruited participants from the Building a New Life in Australia (BNLA) prospective cohort study of refugees admitted to Australia between October 2013 and February 2014. The current data were collected in 2015–2016, and comprised 1767 adults, as well as 411 children of the adult respondents. Adult refugees were assessed for trauma history, post-migration difficulties, probable PGD, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental illness. Children were administered the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.

Results

In this cohort, 38.1% of refugees reported bereavement, of whom 15.8% reported probable PGD; this represents 6.0% of the entire cohort. Probable PGD was associated with a greater likelihood of mental illness, probable PTSD, severe mental illness, currently unemployed and reported disability. Children of refugees with probable PGD reported more psychological difficulties than those whose parents did not have probable PGD. Probable PGD was also associated with the history of imprisonment, torture and separation from family. Only 56.3% of refugees with probable PGD had received psychological assistance.

Conclusions

Bereavement and probable PGD appear highly prevalent in refugees, and PGD seems to be associated with disability in the refugees and psychological problems in their children. The low rate of access to mental health assistance for these refugees highlights that there is a need to address this issue in refugee populations.
Twin Registries Moving Forward and Meeting the Future: A Review
Authors: Baird Paul N. , Hysi Pirro
Published: August 2019

Twin registries have developed as a valuable resource for the study of many aspects of disease and society over the years in many different countries. A number of these registries include large numbers of twins with data collected at varying information levels for twin cohorts over the past several decades. More recent expansion of twin datasets has allowed for the collection of genetic data, together with many other levels of ‘omic’ information along with multiple demographic, physiological, health outcomes and other measures typically used in epidemiologic research. Other twin data sources outside these registries reflect research interests in particular aspects of disease or specific phenotypic assessment. Twin registries have the potential to play a key role in many aspects of the artificial intelligence/machine learning-driven projects of the future and will continue to keep adapting to the changing research landscape.
Net Additions of Recalcitrant Dissolved Organic Carbon in the Deep Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Romera‐Castillo Cristina , Álvarez Marta , Pelegrí Josep L. , Hansell Dennis A. , Álvarez‐Salgado Xosé Antón
Published: August 2019

Most dissolved organic carbon (DOC) sequestered in the deep ocean has residence times of decades to thousands of years, with clear implications for climate regulation, though some net removal is typically observed with increasing water mass age. Here, a high‐quality‐high‐resolution data set has allowed us to identify net additions of recalcitrant DOC in specific water masses of the deep South Atlantic. Overall, the South Atlantic is a net source of recalcitrant DOC, adding 0.027 ± 0.019 Pg C/year, while the North Atlantic is a net sink that removes 0.298 ± 0.141 Pg C/year. We find that the balance of addition/removal of recalcitrant DOC depends not only on the origin but also on the temperature, age, and depth of the water masses that circulate and mix in the Atlantic Ocean. Future changes in the water mass composition and circulation patterns due to climate change would eventually affect that balance, altering the carbon cycle.
Hydraulic Characterization of River Networks Based on Flow Patterns Simulated by 2‐D Shallow Water Modeling: Scaling Properties, Multifractal Interpretation, and Perspectives for Channel Heads Detection
Authors: Costabile Pierfranco , Costanzo Carmelina , De Bartolo Samuele , Gangi Fabiola , Macchione Francesco , Tomasicchio Giuseppe R.
Published: August 2019

This paper is focused on the contribution that the two‐dimensional Shallow Water Equations could provide in respect to the fields of research devoted to the river networks analysis. The novelty introduced in this work is represented, in particular, by the hydraulic characterization of the river drainage networks, starting from flow patterns simulated by the two‐dimensional Shallow Water Equations on high‐resolution digital elevation model (DEM) through the analysis of water depths flowing down the hillslopes, channelized in both the main river and in all the tributaries or stored in small depressions. The first finding of this research is the determination of scaling laws that describe the relations between the water depth threshold, used to identify the network cells, and a dimensionless area, related to the total area of the network cells themselves. The observed bimodal scaling behavior has been considered as representative of the flow patterns belonging to the channel networks (CN) and hillslope plus channel networks (HCN), the physical and geomorphological interpretation of which has been provided from a multifractal point of view. In particular, the analysis of the multifractal spectra highlights significant variations in the multifractal signatures, between the CN and the HCN structures, leading to the proposal of a novel criterion for channels heads detection that has provided encouraging predictions of field observations.
A Spatially Explicit Assessment of Growing Water Stress in China From the Past to the Future
Authors: Liu Xingcai , Tang Qiuhong , Liu Wenfeng , Veldkamp Ted I.E. , Boulange Julien , Liu Junguo , Wada Yoshihide , Huang Zhongwei , Yang Hong
Published: August 2019

In this study, we examine the spatial and temporal characteristics of water stress in China for the historical (1971–2010) and the future (2021–2050) periods using a multimodel simulation approach. Three water stress indices (WSIs), that is, the ratios of water withdrawals to locally generated runoff (WSIR), to natural streamflow (WSIQ), and to natural streamflow minus upstream consumptive water withdrawals (WSIC), are used for the assessment. At the basin level, WSIR estimates generally match the reported data and indicate severe water stress in most northern basins. At the grid cell level, the WSIs show distinct spatial patterns of water stress wherein WSIR (WSIQ) estimates higher (lower) water stress compared to WSIC. Based on the WSIC estimates, 368 million people (nearly one third of the total population) are affected by severe water stress annually during the historical period, while WSIR and WSIQ suggest 595 and 340 million, respectively. Future projections of WSIC indicate that more than 600 million people (43% of the total) might be affected by severe water stress, and half of China's land area would be exposed to stress. The found aggravating water stress conditions could be partly attributed to the elevated future water withdrawals. This study emphasizes the necessity of considering explicit upstream and downstream relations with respect to both water availability and water use in water stress assessment and calls for more attention to increasing levels of water stress in China in the coming decades.
Reconciling Observation and Model Trends in North Atlantic Surface CO2
Authors: Lebehot Alice D. , Halloran Paul R. , Watson Andrew J. , McNeall Doug , Ford David A. , Landschützer Peter , Lauvset Siv K. , Schuster Ute
Published: August 2019

The North Atlantic Ocean is a region of intense uptake of atmospheric CO2. To assess how this CO2 sink has evolved over recent decades, various approaches have been used to estimate basin‐wide uptake from the irregularly sampled in situ CO2 observations. Until now, the lack of robust uncertainties associated with observation‐based gap‐filling methods required to produce these estimates has limited the capacity to validate climate model simulated surface ocean CO2 concentrations. After robustly quantifying basin‐wide and annually varying interpolation uncertainties using both observational and model data, we show that the North Atlantic surface ocean fugacity of CO2 (fCO2−ocean) increased at a significantly slower rate than that simulated by the latest generation of Earth System Models during the period 1992–2014. We further show, with initialized model simulations, that the inability of these models to capture the observed trend in surface fCO2−ocean is primarily due to biases in the models' ocean biogeochemistry. Our results imply that current projections may underestimate the contribution of the North Atlantic to mitigating increasing future atmospheric CO2 concentrations.