bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Training Schemes for The Future Education in Railway Sector
Authors: Sitányiová Dana , Mašek Jaroslav
Published: November 2018

Railway transport is a sector that is rapidly developing, changing and being influenced to the maximum extent by the technological development and innovation, among others, thus facing problems in staffing its several domains with appropriate and qualified personnel. This fact, makes the need for changes in training and education of future transport professionals. SKILLFUL project vision is to identify the skills and competences needed by the transport workforce of the future and define the training methods and tools to meet them. Paper focuses on mid-term results of the project, with special focus on railway transport.
Methodology for calculation of minimum transfer time in the transport hub
Authors: Vojtek Martin , Skrucany Tomas , Kendra Martin , Ponicky Jan
Published: November 2018

The most important element in railway passenger transport is a customer – traveller, who requires the transport from one place to another. A basic precondition for accomplishing the main requirement – transport, is making the complete offer which provides not only transport, but also other associated services. Practically, there are many associated criteria of transport, for example safety, duration, price, reliability, comfort and complementary services. Passenger transport is generally considered as an activity, which arises as the consequence of spatial division of places, where people are in exact time and their need to move. Motivators for moving could be commuting – job or education, dealing with personal or working matters, travelling for vacation – hiking, sport, health, cultural and social facilities, visiting relatives and friends. Requirements for transport of passengers originate in the need to move, while the passenger transport is dependent on the willingness of travelling. In passenger transport, there are mostly individual passengers, so it is difficult to determine all transport requirements. The paper is focused on one of the key factors of passenger transportation - connectivity of trains. Connectivity of passenger trains and other means of transport can be distinguished also from temporal and spatial point of view. Temporal connectivity is such sequence of arrivals and departures of different passenger trains and other means of transport, which allows changing the different passenger vehicles easily in regard to necessary time. Spatial connectivity means the distance between two passenger vehicles, among which the passenger is moving. In the paper, there is described the general methodology for calculation of minimum transfer time in the railway station. Railway passenger station is some kind of transport hub – a starting and finishing point for flows of passengers. Passengers have the opportunity to change the train type from long-haul train to regional train or contrariwise or simply enter or leave the system of railway transport. In the methodology, all necessary aspects are taken into account.
Analysis of the system of pricing of railway capacity allocation in the Czech Republic
Authors: Siroky Jaromir , Salakova Hana
Published: November 2018

The introducing of legal background for capacity allocation in Czech Republic. The analysis of price for capacity allocation in Czech Republic and in Europe. The proposal of the capacity allocation price which should lead the Railway undertaking’s path request to the suitable product. Possible impact of the price of capacity allocation to Railway undertaking’s decision about the railway transport.
Cost Shock in Public Tenders Impacting the Railway Operator
Authors: Ondřej Špetík
Published: November 2018

The aim of this paper is to find out whether the cost shocks occur in the passenger rail transport, whether it can cause problems of financing as well as to evaluate the ways which are used by the purchaser of public transport to change the subsidy for carriers in case of cost shock.

Results have shown that costs shocks can negatively impact financing of the subsidised passenger railway transport, so purchasers of the transport services must be extremely cautious in setting the tender documentation. So that purchasers avoid time-inconsistency solution, it is necessary to set the change in the subsidy in the contract. None of the tested clauses used by purchasers is ideal. We can see over-/under-compensation. The clause with 55 % of the consumer price index and 35 % of the change in labour costs in the transport sector reaches better results especially in contracts with vehicles purchased by the carrier.
Position of railway passenger transport companies on current liberalized transport market
Authors: Záhumenská Zdenka , Vojtek Martin , Gašparík Jozef
Published: November 2018

Market liberalization is a great contemporary trend in many fields of economy. Liberalized transport market, where the transport demand is meeting with transport offer, is evolving dynamically. Private railway passenger operators want to increase their market share together with national railway passenger transport companies therefore the quality of passenger transportation is getting higher, which positively influences the attractiveness of railway passenger transport. The article is focused on these current trends of liberalization in railway passenger transport market. From operational and economical point of view, there are described some ways, how to make the railway passenger transport system more effective and make the entire transport system more attractive for traveling public.
Potential of Regional Airport in České Budějovice
Authors: Ližbetinová Lenka , Bartuška Ladislav , Průša Petr
Published: November 2018

The objective of the contribution is to analyse the potential of the regional airport in České Budějovice after the modernization and obtaining the status of an international public airport in 2020 for the development of the region and inclusion in the category based on its importance. The South Bohemian region is one of the most visited regions in the Czech Republic. To be able to assess the potential considering its popularity among tourists, it is necessary to assess the need for connection of the airport to the transport infrastructure and thus improve its accessibility and comfort. The results published in the contribution are potential basis for further studies and planning of the territorial development of the region.
Comparative Analysis of the Importance of the Requirements of Passengers and Evaluating the Quality of Air and Bus Transport
Authors: Konečný Vladimír , Berežný Róbert , Kostolná Mária , Šaradín Pavel
Published: November 2018

The paper deals with the comparison of the importance of passengers’ requirements for the quality of the services provided and the quality assessment of air and bus transport. Individual quality criteria and their importance from the point of view of passengers vary depending on the mode of transport. It is also possible to observe the differing importance of quality criteria in relation to groups of passengers. The paper is processed comparison of the importance of individual quality criteria in air and bus services to the research in this area. In the paper is processed IPA matrix for air and bus transport. These are simple matrices that serve to highlight and understand important customer requirements.
Clinical outcomes of the “resect and discard” strategy using magnifying narrow-band imaging for small (< 10 mm) colorectal polyps
Authors: Tsuji Shigetsugu , Takeda Yasuhito , Tsuji Kunihiro , Yoshida Naohiro , Takemura Kenichi , Yamada Shinya , Doyama Hisashi
Published: November 2018

Background and study aim The “resect and discard” strategy is a new paradigm for the management of small colorectal polyps that reduces the cost and effort related to pathological diagnosis after polypectomy. This retrospective study aimed to clarify the clinical outcome of the “resect and discard” strategy for small colorectal polyps.

Patients and methods The clinical records were reviewed from 501 consecutive patients who underwent the “resect and discard” strategy for colorectal polyps smaller than 10 mm at our hospital between January 2008 and December 2010. All colorectal lesions were evaluated onsite under magnifying narrow-band imaging after careful conventional white-light imaging. In cases of low grade adenoma predicted with high confidence, colonoscopists selected the “resect and discard” option without formal histopathology. The mid-term outcomes were evaluated to validate the curability of the “resect and discard” strategy.

Results The present study included 501 consecutive patients with 816 lesions. The mid-term outcomes were examined for 476 (95 %) patients who received follow-up for at least 1 year after undergoing the “resect and discard” strategy. The median observation period was 83 months (range 12 – 117 months). No patient died from colorectal cancer related to the procedure, resulting in a disease-specific survival rate of 100 %. There were no local and/or distant recurrences detected during follow-up.

Conclusions The “resect and discard” strategy for small colorectal polyps under strict preoperative diagnosis achieves excellent mid-term outcome.
Behandlung eines Patienten mit Lungenfibrose
Authors: Chattopadhyay Sibylle
Published: November 2018

Der Fallbericht beschreibt die Behandlung eines an Lungenfibrose erkrankten Patienten mit Arsenicum jodatum.
Safranal Attenuates Excitotoxin-Induced Oxidative OLN-93 Cells Injury
Authors: Alavi Mohaddeseh Sadat , Fanoudi Sahar , Fard Ameneh Veisi , Soukhtanloo Mohammad , Hosseini Mahmoud , Barzegar Hanif , Sadeghnia Hamid R.
Published: November 2018

Objectives Researches have been shown that glutamic acid (GA) or quinolinic acid (QA) can play role in neuroinflammatory and demyelinating diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), mainly via oligodendrocytes activation and extreme free radicals generation. Recent studies have demonstrated that safranal, an active constituent of Crocus sativus, has several pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Since there is no data about the impact of safranal on MS, this study was designed to investigate the protective effect of safranal on OLN-93 oligodendrocytes injury induced by GA or QA.

Materials and Methods At first, the potential toxic effect of safranal on OLN-93 viability was evaluated. Also, the cells were pretreated with safranal (0.1, 1, 10, 50, 100 and 200 μM) for 2 h and then subjected to GA (16 mM) or QA (8 mM) toxicity for 24 h, in which the same treatments were applied. The cell viability and parameters of redox status such as the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation were measured.

Results Safranal at concentration ranges of 1–800 μM had no toxic effect on cell viability (p>0.05). Treatment with safranal significantly increased cell viability following GA or QA insults at concentrations higher than 1 μM (p<0.01). The cytoprotective potential of safranal was also accompanied by decreased ROS accumulation (p<0.001) and malondialdehyde level (p<0.001) following GA or QA insults.

Conclusion The data suggests that safranal exhibits oligoprotection potential by means of inhibiting oxidative stress parameters.
Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Ketone α-Alkylation and Alkenylation with Simple Alkenes and Alkynes through a Dual Activation Strategy
Authors: Dong Guangbin , Lim Hee , Xing Dong
Published: November 2018

In this personal account, we summarize our investigations on the α-alkylation and α-alkenylation reactions of ketones with nonactivated alkenes and alkynes, respectively. The serendipitous discovery of C–H alkylation/alkenylation of cyclic 1,2-diketones provided a proof of concept for a dual activation strategy. Extension to the α-alkylation and α-alkenylation of regular ketones was achieved by using 7-azaindoline as a bifunctional ligand. Subsequently, intramolecular coupling ­between ketones and olefins was achieved with Rh- and Ru-based systems, respectively. Finally, branched-selective α-alkylation was achieved through an Ir-catalyzed enamide-mediated C–H alkylation.

1 Introduction

2 Serendipitous Discovery of α-Alkylation and α-Alkenylation of 1,2-Diketones through Enamine-Mediated C–H Activation

3 Intermolecular Ketone α-Alkylation of Regular Ketones with Nonactivated Olefins

4 Intermolecular Ketone α-Alkenylation of Regular Ketones with Nonactivated Alkynes

5 Intramolecular Ketone α-Alkylation of Regular Ketones with Nonactivated Olefins

6 Branched-Selective α-Alkylation of Regular Ketones with Non­activated Olefins

7 Conclusions and Outlook
Directed C–H Functionalization of the Adamantane Framework
Authors: Hrdina Radim
Published: November 2018

This review summarizes the synthetic approaches towards 1,2-substitution pattern on the adamantane framework. Selected are the works containing the directed C–H functionalization step.

1 Introduction

2 Access to 1,2-Disubstituted Derivatives via C–H Insertion Reactions of Electrophilic Organic Species

3 Access to 1,2-Disubstituted Derivatives through Hydrogen Radical Abstraction Reactions

4 Access to 1,2-Disubstituted Derivatives Exploiting Metal-Catalyzed (Promoted) C–H Activations

5 Access to 1,2-Disubstituted Derivatives via Hydride Shift

6 Conclusion

7 Acronyms
Understanding Six-Membered NHC-Copper(I) Allylic Borylation Selectivity by Comparison with other Catalysts and Different Substrates
Authors: Shatruk Michael , McQuade D. , Jo Minyoung , Rivalti Daniel , Ehle Andrew , Dragulescu-Andrasi Alina , Hartweg Manuel
Published: November 2018

We recently introduced a family of 6-NHC-Cu(I) catalysts that exhibit highest selectivities (regio- and enantio-) exclusively when aryl ethers are used as the leaving group. Understanding the match ­between a catalyst and leaving group remains elusive. We sought to increase our understanding of this system by comparing our catalyst’s ­activity with other catalysts using substrates that contain different leaving groups. Our objective is to better understand the regioselectivity–leaving group combinations. We also observed that our catalyst functioned best when methanol was used as an additive. We examined the selectivities as a function of other protic additives. Finally, we wanted to understand the regioselectivity–enantioselectivity relationship with regards to internal versus terminal leaving groups. Overall, we demonstrate that matching leaving group and catalyst is important and that for our extended aromatic ligand the use of aromatic leaving groups is a unique pairing. We also demonstrate that the leaving group is also critical for controlling both types of selectivity.
Enantioselective Synthesis of 4-Amino-3-hydroxybenzopyran Flavanol Derivatives from Chalcones
Authors: Aldrich Leslie , Gao Qiwen , Xu Lianyan , Parise Vincent , Mehta Yash
Published: November 2018

A concise method that is easily amenable for analogue synthesis has been developed to enantioselectively access 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzopyrans from chalcones. Epoxy alcohols were formed from chalcones through a Corey–Bakshi–Shibata reduction of the enone and subsequent Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation of the allylic alcohol. The epoxy alcohols were protected, regioselectively opened with various amines using catalytic europium(III) triflate, and the resulting free alcohols were orthogonally protected. Concomitant deprotection and intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution provided the benzopyran core, which is poised to undergo additional reactions to provide a diverse chemical library with ideal properties for biological evaluation.
Heterogeneous Presentation of Neonatal Hemochromatosis in Dichorionic Twins
Authors: Chee Yee , Wong Siu Chun , Wong Ming Sum
Published: November 2018

Acute liver failure (ALF) in neonates is rare. Although the incidence is reported to be rare, neonatal hemochromatosis (NH) has to be considered as one of the causes of neonatal ALF. We present a pair of dichorionic twin who had a diverse clinical presentation of NH. One twin passed away despite medical treatment with exchange transfusion and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), whereas the other twin suffered from only mildly deranged liver function, which normalized spontaneously. Early identification of liver failure and clinical awareness of this disease entity are essential to its timely diagnosis and treatment. Antenatal management using IVIg prevents the recurrence of NH in subsequent pregnancies.
Asymmetric cluster and chimera dynamics in globally coupled systems
Authors: Cano A. V. , Cosenza M. G.
Published: November 2018

We investigate the emergence of chimera and cluster states possessing asymmetric dynamics in globally coupled systems, where the trajectories of oscillators belonging to different subpopulations exhibit different dynamical properties. In an asymmetric chimera state, the trajectory of an element in the synchronized subset is stationary or periodic, while that of an oscillator in the desynchronized subset is chaotic. In an asymmetric cluster state, the periods of the trajectories of elements belonging to different clusters are different. We consider a network of globally coupled chaotic maps as a simple model for the occurrence of such asymmetric states in spatiotemporal systems. We employ the analogy between a single map subject to a constant drive and the effective local dynamics in the globally coupled map system to elucidate the mechanisms for the emergence of asymmetric chimera and cluster states in the latter system. By obtaining the dynamical responses of the driven map, we establish a condition for the equivalence of the dynamics of the driven map and that of the system of globally coupled maps. This condition is applied to predict parameter values and subset partitions for the formation of asymmetric cluster and chimera states in the globally coupled system.
Graphene used as a lateral force microscopy calibration material in the low-load non-linear regime
Authors: Boland Mathias J. , Hempel Jacob L. , Ansary Armin , Nasseri Mohsen , Strachan Douglas R.
Published: November 2018

A lateral force microscopy (LFM) calibration technique utilizing a random low-profile surface is proposed that is successfully employed in the low-load non-linear frictional regime using a single layer of graphene on a supporting oxide substrate. This calibration at low loads and on low friction surfaces like graphene has the benefit of helping to limit the wear of the LFM tip during the calibration procedure. Moreover, the low-profiles of the calibration surface characteristic of these layered 2D materials, on standard polished oxide substrates, result in a nearly constant frictional, adhesive, and elastic response as the tip slides over the surface, making the determination of the calibration coefficient robust. Through a detailed calibration analysis that takes into account non-linear frictional response, it is found that the adhesion is best described by a nearly constant vertical orientation, rather than the more commonly encountered normally directed adhesion, as the single asperity passes over the low-profile graphene-coated oxide surface.
SOC estimation for lithium batteries based on the full parallel nonlinear autoregressive neural network with external inputs
Authors: Li Jianhua , Liu Mingsheng
Published: November 2018

Lithium-ion batteries are the core element in electric-vehicle systems. Because they provide a power source for the entire electric vehicle, their state of charge (SOC) is crucial to ensure the proper operation of the vehicle. Thus, a more precise estimate of the SOC should significantly improve the safety and utility of these batteries. Toward this end, we propose herein novel nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous input (NARX) and full-parallel (dual-close loop) structure NARX (FPNARX) networks to overcome the disadvantage of the traditional series-parallel (open-closed loop) structure NARX (SPNARX) network for estimating the SOC. To test the performance of the FPNARX network, we use the dynamic stress test and the urban dynamometer driving schedule discharge profiles in battery-discharge experiments. Furthermore, feed-forward neural networks and other time-series neural networks, including the time-delay neural network and SPNARX, are also implemented for the same experiments. The experimental results show that the time-series networks can estimate the SOC more precisely than the feed-forward network under non-constant-current discharge. Moreover, the applicability of the time-series networks depends on the current amplitude and frequency. However, the FPNARX network always gives the best results.
A scalable hardware and software control apparatus for experiments with hybrid quantum systems
Authors: Perego Elia , Pomponio Marco , Detti Amelia , Duca Lucia , Sias Carlo , Calosso Claudio E.
Published: November 2018

Modern experiments with fundamental quantum systems — like ultracold atoms, trapped ions, and single photons — are managed by a control system formed by a number of input/output electronic channels governed by a computer. In hybrid quantum systems, where two or more quantum systems are combined and made to interact, establishing an efficient control system is particularly challenging due to the higher complexity, especially when each single quantum system is characterized by a different time scale. Here we present a new control apparatus specifically designed to efficiently manage hybrid quantum systems. The apparatus is formed by a network of fast communicating Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), the action of which is administrated by a software. Both hardware and software share the same tree-like structure, which ensures a full scalability of the control apparatus. In the hardware, a master board acts on a number of slave boards, each of which is equipped with an FPGA that locally drives analog and digital input/output channels and radiofrequency outputs up to 400 MHz. The software is designed to be a general platform for managing both commercial and home-made instruments in a user-friendly and intuitive graphical user interface. The architecture ensures that complex control protocols can be carried out, such as performing of concurrent commands loops by acting on different channels, the generation of multi-variable error functions, and the implementation of self-optimization procedures. Although designed for managing experiments with hybrid quantum systems, in particular with atom-ion mixtures, this control apparatus can in principle be used in any experiment in atomic, molecular, and optical physics.
Amplitude of jump motion signatures in classical vibration-jump dynamics
Authors: Townsend Peter S. M. , Ellis John
Published: November 2018

The classical Langevin dynamics of a particle in a periodic potential energy landscape are studied via the intermediate scattering function (ISF). By construction, the particle performs coupled vibrational and activated jump motion with a wide separation of the vibrational period and the mean residence time between jumps. The long time limit of the ISF is a decaying tail proportional to the function that describes ideal jump motion in the absence of vibrations. The amplitude of the tail is unity in idealized jump dynamics models but is reduced from unity by the intra-well motion. Analytical estimates of the amplitude of the jump motion signature are provided by assuming a factorization of the conditional probability density of the particle position at long times, motivated by the separation of time scales associated with inter-cell and intra-cell motion. The assumption leads to a factorization of the ISF at long correlation times, where one factor is an ideal jump motion signature and the other component is the amplitude of the signature. The amplitude takes the form of a single-particle anharmonic Debye-Waller factor. The factorization approximation is exact at the diffraction conditions associated with the periodic potential. Numerical simulations of the Langevin equation in one and two spatial dimensions confirm that for a strongly corrugated potential the analytical approximation provides a good qualitative description of the trend in the jump signature amplitude, between the points where the factorization is exact.
Electrical properties of α-Ir2O3/α-Ga2O3 pn heterojunction diode and band alignment of the heterostructure
Authors: Kan Shin-ichi , Takemoto Shu , Kaneko Kentaro , Takahashi Isao , Sugimoto Masahiro , Shinohe Takashi , Fujita Shizuo
Published: November 2018

Corundum-structured iridium oxide (α-Ir2O3), showing p-type conductivity, is a strong candidate to form high-quality pn heterojunctions with α-Ga2O3. We fabricated α-Ir2O3/α-Ga2O3 pn heterojunction diodes and they showed well-defined rectifying current-voltage (I-V) characteristics with the turn-on voltage of about 2.0 V. The band alignment at the α-Ir2O3/α-Ga2O3 interface was investigated by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, revealing a staggered-gap (type-II) with the valence- and conduction-band offsets of 3.34 eV and 1.04 eV, respectively. The total barrier height for electrons was about 2.4 eV, which reasonably agreed with the turn-on voltage in the I-V characteristics. This means that electrons are mainly attributed to electrical conduction around the turn-on voltage.
Perspective: (Beyond) spin transport in insulators
Authors: Tserkovnyak Yaroslav
Published: November 2018

Insulating materials with dynamical spin degrees of freedom have recently emerged as viable conduits for spin flows. Transport phenomena harbored therein are, however, turning out to be much richer than initially envisioned. In particular, the topological properties of the collective order-parameter textures can give rise to conservation laws that are not based on any specific symmetries. The emergent continuity relations are thus robust against structural imperfections and anisotropies, which would be detrimental to the conventional spin currents (that rely on approximate spin-rotational symmetries). The underlying fluxes thus supersede the notion of spin flow in insulators, setting the stage for nonequilibrium phenomena termed topological hydrodynamics. Here, we outline our current understanding of the essential ingredients, based on the energetics of the electrically-controlled injection of topological flows through interfaces, along with a reciprocal signal generation by the outflow of the conserved quantity. We will focus on two examples for the latter: winding dynamics in one-dimensional systems, which supplants spin superfluidity of axially-symmetric easy-plane magnets, and skyrmion dynamics in two-dimensional Heisenberg-type magnets. These examples will illustrate the essential common aspects of topological flows and hint on generic strategies for their generation and detection in spintronic systems. Generalizations to other dimensions and types of order-parameter spaces will also be briefly discussed.
Comprehensive classical analysis of partition function and some observables for weakly interacting polyatomic dimers
Authors: Chistikov Daniil N. , Finenko Artem A. , Lokshtanov Sergei E. , Petrov Sergey V. , Vigasin Andrey A.
Published: November 2018

This paper presents the systematic classical consideration of a statistical averaging procedure that permits the calculation of partition function, equilibrium constant, and some observables for polyatomic dimers composed of weakly interacting rigid monomers. It was shown that the number of independent internal coordinates in a body-fixed frame is a crucial parameter that largely determines the temperature dependence of the partition function irrespective of the kinematic coupling within various degrees of freedom. The kinetic energy was derived for the molecular pair of arbitrary complexity in the body-fixed frame. Rigorous expression was obtained for the partition function over a pre-selected domain in the phase space. A similar expression was applicable to perform statistical averaging of some observables. Taking a linear molecule–atom as an example, it was shown how the suggested general approach permits the calculation of the equilibrium constant for true bound dimer formation or zeroth spectral moment of a collision-induced absorption band.
Temporal variation of the spatial density distribution above a nanosecond pulsed dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator in quiescent air
Authors: Ukai Takahiro , Russell Andrew , Zare-Behtash Hossein , Kontis Konstantinos
Published: November 2018

The thermal perturbation caused by a nanosecond pulsed dielectric barrier discharge (ns-DBD) plasma actuator may lead to boundary layer transition. Hence, understanding of the thermal flow induced by the ns-DBD plasma actuator will contribute to the development of an efficient flow control device for various engineering applications. In this study, the spatial density distribution related to the thermal flow was experimentally investigated using both qualitative and quantitative schlieren techniques. The focus of this study is to understand the initial temporal variation of the spatial density distribution above the ns-DBD plasma actuator in quiescent air. The quantitative visualisation showed that a hot plume is generated from the edge of the exposed electrode and moves slightly towards the ground electrode. A possible explanation is that an ionic wind and/or an induced jet leads to the movement of the hot plume. However, the plasma-induced flow (the ionic wind and the induced jet) is generated after the primary plasma discharges; namely, the hot plume does not move immediately after the first plasma discharge. At almost the same time as the movement of the hot plume, consecutive plasma discharges enhance the density of the hot plume; thereafter, the density reaches almost a steady state.
Highly bright and stable all-inorganic perovskite light-emitting diodes with methoxypolyethylene glycols modified CsPbBr3 emission layer
Authors: Wu Songquan , Zhao Suling , Xu Zheng , Song Dandan , Qiao Bo , Yue Huanxin , Yang Jian , Zheng Xugang , Wei Peng
Published: November 2018

Modifying the inorganic perovskite emission layer (EML) with polymer materials is one of the key strategies to improve the performance of perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs). However, the reported polymers, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), typically have poor solubility in solvents [like dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)] of perovskite precursors, which requires a pre-heating process to dissolve them. Here, methoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG), which possesses high solubility in DMSO, is introduced into the perovskite precursors without pre-heating. The highest luminance of 33 500 cd m−2 and the maximum current efficiency of 3.14 cd A−1 are achieved in the prepared PeLED by optimizing the mPEG content in the CsPbBr3 EML, which are even better than those of the PeLEDs modified with PEG. Moreover, the optimized PeLED shows a sub-bandgap turn-on voltage of 2.3 V, which is among the lowest values of single polymer-assisted all-inorganic PeLEDs. The device stability of PeLEDs is also improved by mPEG doping in the CsPbBr3 EML, which shows no obvious decay after operating at an initial luminance of 100 cd m−2 for more than 150 min and 24 h for bare and encapsulated devices, respectively. Our work reveals the great potential of the polymer, mPEG, in modifying the CsPbBr3 EML film for highly bright and stable PeLEDs.
Role of resistivity and viscosity in the excitation of stable m = 0 modes during the RFP sawtooth crash
Authors: Futch A. M. , Craig D. , Hesse R. , Jacobson C. M.
Published: November 2018

Visco-resistive magnetohydrodynamic simulations are used to investigate the role of resistivity and viscosity in the reversed field pinch sawtooth crash. Specifically, we examine the temporal behavior of the linearly stable (m, n) = (0, 1) mode. Both volume-averaged dissipation and dissipation levels in the region near the m = 0 resonance are found to influence characteristic time scales. Increasing resistivity causes the mode rise time, fall time, and total crash duration to decrease, while increasing viscosity has the opposite effect. Examination of energy flow during the sawtooth crash reveals that despite the linear stability of the (0, 1) mode, it receives most of its energy from the mean current profile during the crash rather than from nonlinear interactions with other modes. Resistivity and viscosity do not impact mode behavior directly through dissipative energy loss but rather through modification of the large scale current profile evolution and radial structure of the mode. Computational results are compared to experimental data from the Madison Symmetric Torus and found to largely agree when resistivity and viscosity are similar.
Efficient generation of nitrogen-vacancy center inside diamond with shortening of laser pulse duration
Authors: Kurita Torataro , Mineyuki Nobuya , Shimotsuma Yasuhiko , Fujiwara Masanori , Mizuochi Norikazu , Shimizu Masahiro , Miura Kiyotaka
Published: November 2018

We investigated the effect of laser pulse duration on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center generation inside a single crystal diamond. We compared pulse durations of 40 fs (femtosecond laser) and 1 ps (picosecond laser). We found that in both cases, ensemble NV centers could be generated inside the diamond. However, the maximum photoluminescence intensity of the NV center without graphitization for the 40 fs duration was higher than that for the 1 ps duration. This indicated that the femtosecond laser was harder to graphitize diamond and could generate more NV centers without graphitization. This difference may be due to the difference in the photo-absorption process and the resulting lattice dynamics.
Coupling of skyrmions mediated by the RKKY interaction
Authors: Cacilhas R. , Carvalho-Santos V. L. , Vojkovic S. , Carvalho E. B. , Pereira A. R. , Altbir D. , Núñez Á. S.
Published: November 2018

A discussion on the interaction between skyrmions in a bi-layer system connected by a non-magnetic metal is presented. Using a free charge carrier model, we have shown that, depending on the spacer thickness, the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interaction can induce attractive or repulsive interactions. We have also shown that due to an increase in the RKKY energy when the skyrmions are far from each other, their widths are diminished. Finally, we have obtained analytical solutions to the skyrmion position when the in-plane distance between the skyrmions is small. In this case, an attractive RKKY interaction yields a skyrmion precessional motion. This RKKY-induced coupling could be used as a skyrmion drag mechanism to displace skyrmions in multilayers.
An alternative derivation of the dielectric tensor for perpendicular wave propagation in magnetised plasmas modelled with kappa velocity distributions
Authors: Mace R. L.
Published: November 2018

A new derivation of the dielectric tensor elements for the special case of wave propagation perpendicular to a constant, uniform magnetic field in a collisionless, non-relativistic, multi-species magnetised plasma modelled with isotropic kappa distributions is presented. The new approach is consistent with the one commonly used for parallel propagation, unifying the starting point for each special case. The results obtained agree with those of previous calculations, verifying their correctness, but, in addition, alternative forms of the dielectric tensor elements are given as by-products of the new calculation. The generality of the method used and its aptness for use with the kappa distribution should make it suitable for similar calculations using kappa distribution variants, such as a bi-kappa distribution.
Reviewing past progress and future potential of therapeutic nanoparticles
Authors: Patrick Chris
Published: November 2018

Authors analyze recent research in search of guidelines to improve the design of therapeutic ligand-functionalized inorganic nanoparticles.
Assessment of the nutritive value of urea–calcium hydroxide-treated rice straw by in sacco technique
Authors: Polyorach Sineenart , Wanapat Metha , Cherdthong Anusorn , Gunun Pongsatorn , Gunun Nirawan , Kang Sungchhang
Published: November 2018

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of urea–lime treatment on nutritive value and rumen degradability of rice straw by using the nylon-bag technique. Straw was assigned to treatments according to a 2 × 3 × 5 factorial arrangement in a completely randomised design. Factor A comprised two storage times (10 and 20 days), Factor B comprised three levels of lime addition (0%, 1% and 2%) and Factor C comprised five levels of urea treatment (1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5%). Two ruminal fistulated beef steers (410 ± 10 kg) were used to determine in situ DM degradability. The results showed that increasing the urea treatment level increased crude protein and organic matter concentrations, while concentrations of neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre decreased linearly with an increasing lime treatment level (P < 0.05). Moreover, urea and lime treatment increased the soluble fractions at time zero (a), insoluble degradability fractions (b), rate of degradation (c), potential degradability (a+b) and the effective degradability of DM (P < 0.05). Furthermore, rice-straw treatment at 20 days showed a better straw chemical composition and rumen degradability (P < 0.05) than that at 10 days. In conclusion, treatment with urea and lime improved the quality and ruminal degradability of rice straw. The present study suggested that urea treatment can improve the nutritional value of rice straw, especially, treatment with 3% urea together with 2% lime.
Getting value from artificial intelligence in agriculture
Authors: Smith Matthew J.
Published: November 2018

Artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to live up to its promise of delivering real value, driven by recent advances in the availability of relevant data, computation and algorithms. In the present paper, I discuss the value to agriculture from AI over the next decade. The more immediate applications will be to improve precision information about what is happening on the farm by improving what is being detected and measured. A consequence of this are more accurate alerts to farmers. Another is an increased ability to understand why phenomena occur in farm systems, so as to improve their management. From improved data and understanding come improved predictions, enabling more optimal decisions about how to manage farm systems and stimulating the development of decision support and recommender systems. In many cases, robotics and automated systems will remove much of the need for human decision-making and improve farm efficiencies and farm health. Artificial intelligence will also be needed to enable organisations to harness the value of information distributed throughout supply chains, including farm data. Digital twins will also emerge as an important paradigm to improve how information about farm entities is organised to support decision-making. There are also likely to be negative impacts from AI, such as disruption to the roles and skills needed from farm workers, indicating the need to consider the social and ethical impacts of AI each time a new capability is introduced. I conclude that understanding these challenges more deeply tends to highlight new opportunities for positive change.
Positional variations in chalky occurrence within a rice panicle and its relation to grain nutritional quality
Authors: Cheng Fangmin , Liu Yi , Liu Zhenghui , Zhao Ningchun , Wang Feng , Zhang Qifang , Zhang Guoping
Published: November 2018

The effect of grain position within a panicle on chalky occurrence, and its relation to phytic acid and protein content, were studied using 6 Japonica rice cultivars with compact panicles and through leaf and floret removal treatments to alter source-sink ratio. There were significant differences in total chalky grain (TCG), white core grain (WCG), white belly grain (WBG), and WCG/WBG among grains within a panicle, with the top and primary rachides having higher WBG than the bottom and secondary rachides. Alteration of source-sink ratio had a remarkable influence on chalky grain occurrence and its positional distribution within a panicle, and the extent of the influence varied greatly with cultivars. In comparison with WCG, WBG occurrence was more susceptible to the alteration of source-sink ratio. No significant correlation was found between chalky percentage and phytic acid and protein contents for the grains in the different positions within a panicle. Chalky occurrence had little effect on the nutritional quality.
Across population genetic parameters for wool, growth, and reproduction traits in Australian Merino sheep. 2. Estimates of heritability and variance components
Authors: Safari E. , Fogarty N. M. , Gilmour A. R. , Atkins K. D. , Mortimer S. I. , Swan A. A. , Brien F. D. , Greeff J. C. , van der Werf J. H. J.
Published: November 2018

Precise estimates of genetic parameters are required for genetic evaluation systems. This study combined data from 7 research resource flocks across Australia to estimate variance components and genetic parameters for production traits in the Australian Merino sheep. The flocks were maintained for several generations and represented contemporary Australian Merino fine, medium, and broad wool bloodlines over the past 30 years. Over 110 000 records were available for analysis for each of the major wool traits, and 50 000 records for reproduction and growth traits with over 2700 sires and 25 000 dams. A linear mixed animal model was used to analyse 6 wool traits comprising clean fleece weight (CFW), greasy fleece weight (GFW), fibre diameter (FD), yield (YLD), coefficient of variation of fibre diameter (CVFD), and standard deviation of fibre diameter (SDFD), 4 growth traits comprising birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT), yearling weight (YWT), and hogget weight (HWT), and 4 reproduction traits comprising fertility (FER), litter size (LS), lambs born per ewe joined (LB/EJ), and lambs weaned per ewe joined (LW/EJ). The range of direct heritability estimates for the wool traits was 0.42 ± 0.01 for CFW to 0.68 ± 0.01 for FD. For growth traits the range was 0.18 ± 0.01 for BWT to 0.38 ± 0.01 for HWT, and for reproduction traits 0.045 ± 0.01 for FER to 0.074 ± 0.01 for LS. Significant maternal effects were found for wool and growth, but not reproduction traits. There was significant covariance between direct and maternal genetic effects for all wool and growth traits except for YWT. The correlations between direct and maternal effects ranged from –0.60 ± 0.02 for GFW to –0.21 ± 0.10 for SDFD in the wool traits and from –0.21 ± 0.03 for WWT to 0.25 ± 0.08 for HWT in the growth traits. Litter effects were significant for all wool and growth traits and only for LS in reproduction traits. The mating sire was fitted in the models for reproduction traits and this variance component accounted for 21, 17, and 8% of the total phenotypic variation for FER, LB/EJ, and LW/EJ, respectively. The implications of additional significant variance components for the estimation of heritability are discussed.
Cryptic genetic diversity in Solanum elaeagnifolium (Solanaceae) from South America
Authors: Chiarini Franco E. , Scaldaferro Marisel A. , Bernardello Gabriel , Acosta M. Cristina
Published: November 2018

Solanum elaeagnifolium is a global invasive weed that is polyploid in the South American range. Our aim was to establish the origin and distribution of these polyploid lineages, together with their relationship with the invasion of new habitats. Ploidy level was determined in 26 natural populations using chromosomal counts, and two non-coding plastid regions trnL-trnF and rpl32F-trnL were sequenced. Relationships among haplotypes were examined by a median-joining network, and groups of populations were identified by employing a spatial analysis of molecular variance. Phylogenetic relationships among haplotypes were reconstructed using Bayesian inference, and divergence times were estimated using BEAST. We found 21 haplotypes structured into three lineages: one with diploids in North America and invaded areas, and two in South America that developed independent polyploidisation events. The separation of lineages took place during the Pliocene with more recent divergences in the Early Pleistocene. The existence of three lineages can be attributed to the uplift of the Andes and the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama. Diversification within each lineage may be related to the recent cyclical glacial variation throughout the Pleistocene creating haplotype diversity and recurrent polyploidy. Thus, the South American populations of S. elaeagnifolium did not originate from a recent colonisation but are established ancient lineages.
An Approach to 2,3-Diaminosuccinic Acid Derivatives—Synthesis of 2-Thioxo-1,3-Imidazolidines by a Mannich Reaction
Authors: Cież Dariusz , Kalinowska-Tłuścik Justyna , Marchewka Jakub
Published: November 2018

The article deals with a new synthesis of 2-thioxo-1,3-imidazolidine derivatives, masked 2,3-diaminosuccinic acids. The described procedure leads to the designed products by an intermolecular Mannich reaction between aldimine (ethyl iminoacetate) and enolates derived from 2-isothiocyanatocarboxylic esters. The prepared heterocyclic products having two stereogenic centers can be easily separated into cis- and trans- diastereoisomers. The reactivity of titanium(iv), lithium, and potassium enolates and the influence of ester groups on the yields and diastereoselectivities of the Mannich reactions are discussed.
Kinetic Studies on the Reactions of [(TLtBu)PtCl]+ and [Pt(tpdm)Cl]+ Complexes with Some Thiols and Thioethers
Authors: Selimović Enisa , Petrović Biljana , Čcanović Dragan , Bugarčić Živadin D. , Bogojeski Jovana
Published: November 2018

Substitution reactions of the complexes [(TLtBu)PtCl]+ and [Pt(tpdm)Cl]+, where TLtBu = 2,6-bis[(1,3-di-tert-butylimidazolin-2-imino)methyl]pyridine and tpdm = terpyridinedimethane, with nucleophiles: S-methyl-L-cysteine (S-Met-L-Cys), L-cysteine (L-Cys), glutathione (GSH) and L-methionine (L-Met) were studied in aqueous 0.1 M NaClO4 solution in the presence of 10 mM NaCl using variable-temperature UV-vis spectrophotometry. The higher reactivity of the complex with the tpdm ligand could be attributed to the influence of the bulkiness of the tert-butyl-groups from the [(TLtBu)PtCl]+ complex. The order of reactivity of the studied ligands is: S-Met-L-Cys > L-Met > GSH > L-Cys. The thioethers (S-Met-L-Cys and L-Met) are more reactive than the thiols (GSH and L-Cys). This order of reactivity is in relation with their electron properties and structures. The negative values reported for the entropy of activation confirmed the associative mode.
The Palladium-Catalysed Intramolecular Alder-ene (IMAE) Reactions of Certain Heteroatom-Linked 1,6-Enynes: The Formation of Hexahydro-Indoles and -Benzofurans
Authors: Crisp Antony L. , Li Jiwen , Lan Ping , Nugent Jeremy , Matoušová Eliška , Banwell Martin G.
Published: November 2018

A short review of the literature on palladium-catalysed intramolecular Alder-ene reactions of C-, N-, and O-linked 1,6-enynes is provided with a particular focus on the use of the latter two processes in the authors’ laboratories for the purposes of constructing various alkaloids.
Catalysis by hydrogen halides in the gas phase. XVIII. Methyl formate and hydrogen bromide
Authors: Kairaitis DA , Stimson VR
Published: November 2018

Hydrogen bromide catalyses
the decomposition of methyl formate into carbon monoxide and
methanol at 390-460�. The radical chain decomposition product, methane, is
formed in only a small amount that is further reduced by the addition of
inhibitor. The reaction is homogeneous and molecular, is first order in each
reactant, and follows the Arrhenius equation:

k2 = 1012.50exp(-32200/RT)sec-1
ml mole-1

It is not reversed by added
methanol.
Furoquinoline alkaloids from Evodia elleryana F. Muell. The structure of evellerine
Authors: Johns SR , Lamberton JA , Sioumis AA
Published: November 2018

Two new alkaloids, evellerine (V) and 7-O-demethylevolitrine (IIb),
together with the known furoquinoline alkaloid skimmianine, have been isolated from Evodia elleryana F. Muell.
(family Rutaoeae).