bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From on high: Geochemistry of alpine springs, Niwot Ridge, Colorado Front Range, USA
Authors: Fields Jordan F. , Dethier David P.
Published: March 2019

Snowmelt‐fed springs and small (0.5 km2) upland catchments in alpine areas of the western United States contribute significantly to the quantity and inorganic chemistry of water delivered to downstream basins but have not been studied extensively. Mineral weathering, transit time, and hydrologic mixing control the solute chemistry of waters that drain the upland zone of Niwot Ridge, Colorado Front Range, and adjacent areas in the granitic core of the Southern Rocky Mountains. Water in 37 springs sampled in this study flows in generally short steep paths (~0.3 km) through shallow regolith with mean transit times (MTT) of weeks to months, producing solutions dominated by Si, Ca2+, Na+, and HCO3−, locally SO42−. Rock type is a significant control on spring, surface, and shallow groundwater chemistry, and plagioclase (oligoclase) is the major source of dissolved Na+and Si. Concentrations of Ca2+exceed stoichiometric predictions of oligoclase weathering by ~3.5×; excess Ca2+likely represents weathering of aeolian material, vein calcite, or trace minerals. Concentrations of base cations and Si increase slowly with estimated MTT of 0.2 years for Niwot Ridge spring waters, and several years for shallow groundwater sampled by wells. Chemical weathering of silicate minerals is slow with estimated rates of ~2.0 and 0.2 pmol·m−2·s−1for oligoclase and microcline, respectively; the most mineralized spring waters are saturated only with respect to kaolinite and montmorillonite. More than 50% of the dissolved base cations + Si measured in Boulder Creek at Orodell (~25 km downstream) accumulate before water emerges from alpine springs on Niwot Ridge. Warming global temperatures are shifting more high‐elevation precipitation to rain, potentially changing run‐off patterns, transit time, and solute loads. Acquisition of solutes by alpine waters thus has implications far beyond small upland catchments.
Cover Image, Volume 94, Issue 4
Authors: Santos Marisa V , Faria Nuno T , Fonseca César , Ferreira Frederico Castelo
Published: March 2019

The cover image is based on the Research Article Production of mannosylerythritol lipids from lignocellulose hydrolysates: tolerance thresholds of Moesziomyces antarcticus to inhibitors by Marisa V. Santos et al., DOI: 10.1002/jctb.5853. Image Credit: Marisa V. Santos. Thanks to FCT grant CRUISE (PTDC/AAG‐TEC/0696/2014).

image
Identification of homogeneous regions of near surface air temperature lapse rates across India
Authors: Ojha Richa
Published: March 2019

Spatial variation of near surface temperature lapse rate is usually analysed by subjectively dividing the study area in to different sub‐regions based on political or physiographic boundaries. This can often lead to unreliable results as near surface temperature lapse rate largely depends on regional conditions. In this study, homogeneous regions of near surface air temperature lapse rate across India have been identified for monthly mean minimum, mean, and mean maximum temperature using a probabilistic Gaussian mixture model clustering approach. For the delineated regions, lapse rates are estimated using weighted linear regression model. The weights corresponding to each station were obtained from the clustering approach. Results indicate that regions with uniform lapse rate vary across different months and a minimum of three regions is obtained for maximum temperature in April month. Further, temperature lapse rate estimates exhibit spatial and temporal variability, and are less steep than the Environmental lapse rate (−6.5°C/km). The maximum spatial variability in lapse rate is observed in May for both maximum and minimum temperature. The delineation of entire India into homogeneous regions improves temperature interpolation when compared to results obtained by considering entire India as one region. A maximum improvement of 34% in root mean square error is observed in prediction of monthly mean temperature in March. The identified regions and the associated lapse rates are expected to improve the prediction of near surface temperature at ungauged locations across India.
Double emulsions for iron encapsulation: is a high concentration of lipophilic emulsifier ideal for physical and chemical stability?
Authors: Duque‐Estrada Patrícia , School Eefje , van der Goot Atze Jan , Berton‐Carabin Claire C
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

Worldwide iron deficiency in diets has led to a growing interest in the development of food‐compatible encapsulation systems for soluble iron, which are able to prevent iron's undesirable off‐taste and pro‐oxidant activity. Here, we explore the use of double emulsions for this purpose, and in particular, how the lipophilic emulsifier (polyglycerol polyricinoleate, PGPR) concentration influences the physicochemical stability of water‐in‐oil‐in‐water (W1/O/W2) double emulsions containing ferrous sulphate in the inner water droplets. Double emulsions were prepared with sunflower oil containing 10 to 70 g kg−1 PGPR in the oil phase, and were monitored for droplet size distribution, morphology, encapsulation efficiency (EE) and oxidative stability over time.

RESULTS

Fresh double emulsions showed an initial EE higher than 88%, but EE decreased upon storage, which occurred particularly fast and to a high extent in the emulsions prepared with low PGPR concentrations. All double emulsions underwent lipid oxidation, in particular those with the highest PGPR concentration, which could be due to the small inner droplet size and thus promoted contact between oil and the internal water phase.

CONCLUSION

These results show that a too high PGPR concentration is not needed, and sometimes even adverse, when developing double emulsions as iron encapsulation systems. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Ultrasound guidance for sural nerve conduction studies
Authors: Cartwright Michael S. , White David L. , Hollinger Jared S. , Krzesniak‐Swinarska Monika , Caress James B. , Walker Francis O.
Published: March 2019

Introduction: Ultrasound can potentially identify nerves and guide recording and stimulating electrode placement for nerve conduction studies (NCS). This prospective study was performed to determine whether ultrasound guidance of sural NCS results in higher action potential amplitude, fewer stimuli required, lower stimulus strength required, and less pain experienced. Methods: Fourteen healthy individuals underwent bilateral sural NCS, both with and without ultrasound guidance. Studies were separated by at least 48 h, and the order of testing was randomly assigned. Results: Ultrasound guidance resulted in significantly fewer stimuli and lower stimuli strength required to obtain supramaximal responses (P < 0.01–0.03). Ultrasound guidance required significantly more time to perform than standard sural NCS (P < 0.01). There was no difference in sural nerve amplitude or pain rating between the 2 groups. Discussion: Neuromuscular ultrasound can be used effectively to guide electrode placement during sural NCS. Muscle Nerve 59:705–707, 2019
Using a checklist to increase the effectiveness of behavioral therapy for overactive bladder: A prospective randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kilinc Muhammet F. , Doluoglu Omer G. , Yildiz Yildiray , Yuceturk Cem N. , Hascicek Ahmet M.
Published: March 2019

Aim

To evaluate the benefits of a newly established checklist form of behavioral therapy for overactive bladder (OAB).

Methods

Of a total of 180 patients suffering eight or more micturitions, two or more nocturia, seven or more urgency, or four more urinary urgency incontinence (UUI) episodes per day according to a 3‐day bladder diary, 155 were randomly divided into four groups. Group I (n = 29) patients were instructed to apply only behavioral therapy as a written guideline and group II (n = 27) patients were instructed to apply behavioral therapy with a written checklist. Group III (n = 26) patients received medical treatment plus behavioral therapy without a checklist. Group IV (n = 28) patients received medical treatment with a written checklist over a 6‐month period.

Results

A total of 110 participants completed the study period. The demographic data and baseline voiding parameters such as frequency, urgency, nocturia, and UUI of the participants in all four groups were similar (P > 0.05 for all). At the end of the study period, the highest rates of treatment response (64.3%) and adherence (85.7%) were determined for the patients with antimuscarinic drugs plus checklist. The persistence rate of patients using antimuscarinics with the checklist was higher than that of those using antimuscarinics plus a written guideline of behavioral therapy (75.4% vs 60.2%).

Conclusion

The effectiveness of behavioral therapy for OAB can be improved with this newly designed checklist. In addition, the adherence and persistence rate of medical treatment may also improve with the checklist used.
Ammonothermal Synthesis, X‐Ray and Time‐of‐Flight Neutron Crystal‐Structure Determination, and Vibrational Properties of Barium Guanidinate, Ba(CN3H4)2
Authors: Benz Sebastian , Missong Ronja , Ogutu George , Stoffel Ralf P. , Englert Ulli , Torii Shuki , Miao Ping , Kamiyama Takashi , Dronskowski Richard
Published: March 2019

We report the crystal structure of Ba(CN3H4)2 as synthesized from liquid ammonia. Structure solution based on X‐ray diffraction data suffers from a severe pseudo‐tetragonal problem due to extreme scattering contrast, so the true monoclinic symmetry is detectable only from neutron powder diffraction patterns, and structure solution and refinement was greatly aided by density‐functional theory. The symmetry lowering is due to slight deviations of the guanidinate anion from the mirror plane in space group P
b2, a necessity of hydrogen bonding. At 300 K, barium guanidinate crystallizes in P21/c with a=6.26439(2) Å, b=16.58527(5) Å, c=6.25960(2) Å, and a monoclinic angle of β=90.000(1)°. To improve the data‐to‐parameter ratio, anisotropic displacement parameters from first‐principles theory were incorporated in the neutron refinement. Given the correct structural model, the positional parameters of the heavy atoms were also refinable from X‐ray diffraction of a twinned crystal. The two independent guanidinate anions adopt the all‐trans‐ and the anti‐shape. The Ba cation is coordinated by eight imino nitrogens in a square antiprism with Ba−N contacts between 2.81 and 3.04 Å. The IR and Raman spectra of barium guanidinate were compared with DFT‐calculated phonon spectra to identify the vibrational modes.
Synthesis and photophysics of a series of lipophilic phosphazene‐based fluorescent indicators
Authors: Selberg Sigrid , Pagano Todd , Tshepelevitsh Sofja , Haljasorg Tõiv , Vahur Signe , Luik Juhan , Saame Jaan , Leito Ivo
Published: March 2019

This work explores the 7‐amino‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)coumarin backbone for designing lipophilic fluorescent pH indicators. Four novel fluorescent phosphazene bases with an advantageous combination of properties—high lipophilicity of both neutral and charged forms, lack of localized charges in the cations, and prominent spectral changes upon protonation/deprotonation—were synthesized using the Staudinger reaction. The molecular structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed using attenuated total reflectance Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FT‐IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Fourier‐transform ion‐cyclotron resonance (FT‐ICR) high‐resolution mass spectrometry. The compounds were further characterized by ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐Vis) absorption and fluorescence emission spectra, lipophilicities (logP values) and pKa values in water and acetonitrile, as well as “biphasic” pKa values in the water/1‐octanol solvent system. The bases could potentially be useful as working agents in optical pH sensors and acid‐base indicators for lipophilic membranes.
Protective effect of magnolol on oxaliplatin‐induced intestinal injury in mice
Authors: Xia Ting , Zhang Jingze , Han Liying , Jin Zhaoxiang , Wang Juan , Li Xia , Man Shuli , Liu Changxiao , Gao Wenyuan
Published: March 2019

Oxaliplatin (OXL) is the first line treatment therapy for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers and often combines with other chemotherapy. However, few reports have studied on its GI toxicity. Magnolol (MG), one of the mainly active constituents in Magnolia, has been reported to treat digestive diseases. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the intestinal protective effect of MG in OXL treatment group. OXL administration mice showed body weight loss, diarrhea, and intestinal damage characterized by the shortening of villi and destruction of intestinal crypts, as well as the colon length change. MG significantly reduced body weight loss, alleviated diarrhea, reversed histopathological changes, and prevented colon length reduction. Oxidative stress and inflammation were activated after OXL, and these responses were repressed by MG through increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione, decreasing level of nuclear factor of kappa b and downregulating the following pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Although the expression of tight junction protein occludin and numbers of proliferative crypt cells were reduced on ileum and colon after OXL, MG administration promoted these expressions. The fecal gut microbiota composition disturbed by OXL was significantly reversed by MG. Thus, MG could prevent the development and progression of mucositis induced by oxaliplatin through multipathway.
Short‐term effects in a reduced flow stretch: The case of the Antas River in South Brazil
Authors: Borba Cristina S. , Latini João D. , Baumgartner Matheus T. , Gomes Luiz C. , Agostinho Angelo A.
Published: March 2019

The building of adduction channels (penstocks) that conduct water from reservoirs to turbines, which are located kilometres from the dam, is becoming common, optimizing the electricity generation in small dams. This design creates a river stretch with reduced discharge between the dam and the powerhouse. This study evaluates the short‐term impacts of the below‐dam decrease in river flow on fish assemblages. Samples were collected in the reduced flow stretch of the Castro Alves Hydropower Plant (Antas River, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) before the reservoir started operating (January 2008; mean discharge of 103.7 m3/s) and immediately after operation began (March 2008; mean discharge of 12.4 m3/s). Sampling was conducted in distinct habitats of the reduced flow stretch (slow waters—gillnets, sand beaches—seining nets, structured littoral—electrofishing, and fast waters—cast nets) with a strongly standardized effort. The attributes of the fish assemblages were not negatively affected by the flow reduction in any habitat sampled. However, distinct changes in the spatial structure were observed considering the different types of habitat predominantly used by the species, which represents an entire reorganization of the fish assemblages in the short term. It is fundamental that these short‐term aspects be considered in the licensing of hydropower plants in addition to the long‐term changes.
New research shows completions continue over 8 years
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: March 2019

Although it's common to hear a bachelor's degree referred to as a “four‐year degree,” a new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows that the completion rate rises significantly if it is measured over eight years rather than six. In fact, completion rates rose for students who first enrolled at both two‐year and four‐year institutions between the sixth year after enrollment and the eighth.
Spinning constraints on chaotic large c CFTs
Authors: Chang Chi-Ming , Ramirez David M. , Rangamani Mukund
Published: March 2019

Abstract

We study out-of-time ordered four-point functions in two dimensional conformal field theories by suitably analytically continuing the Euclidean correlator. For large central charge theories with a sparse spectrum, chaotic dynamics is revealed in an exponential decay; this is seen directly in the contribution of the vacuum block to the correlation function. However, contributions from individual non-vacuum blocks with large spin and small twist dominate over the vacuum block. We argue, based on holographic intuition, that suitable summations over such intermediate states in the block decomposition of the correlator should be sub-dominant, and attempt to use this criterion to constrain the OPE data with partial success. Along the way we also discuss the relation between the spinning Virasoro blocks and the on-shell worldline action of spinning particles in an asymptotically AdS spacetime.
Variational B-rep model analysis for direct modeling using geometric perturbation
Authors: Zou Qiang , Feng Hsi-Yung
Published: March 2019

The very recent CAD paradigm of direct modeling gives rise to the need of processing 3D geometric constraint systems defined on boundary representation (B-rep) models. The major issue of processing such variational B-rep models (in the STEP format) is that free motions of a well-constrained model involve more than just rigid-body motions. The fundamental difficulty lies in having a systematic description of what pattern these free motions follow. This paper proposes a geometric perturbation method to study these free motions. This method is a generalization of the witness method, allowing it to directly deal with variational B-rep models represented by the STEP format. This generalization is essentially achieved by using a direct, geometric representation of the free motions, and then expressing the free motions in terms of composites of several basis motions. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, a series of comparisons and case studies are presented.

Highlights A new method to analyze geometric constraint systems for direct modeling. A generalization of the witness configuration method. A new method to characterize the constraint states of variational B-rep models.
Disaster Early Warning Systems: The Potential Role and Limitations of Emerging Text and Data Messaging Mitigation Capabilities
Authors: Goniewicz Krzysztof , Burkle Frederick M.
Published: March 2019

Objective

The increased risk of mass accidents or major catastrophes taking place necessitates the organization of remedial measures to help protect against these unusual events and adequate preparation in order to minimize their effects. One such initiative is the early notification of residents within a specific area about the risk of a particular calamity. Nowadays, the prevalence of mobile devices enables the installation of various mobile applications allowing for the communication and receiving of information about potential dangers. In many countries there are variously developed systems of notification in place based specifically on text messages.

Methods

Currently, new laws introduced in Poland establish that it is the obligation of operators of mobile networks to send text messages to all customers of these networks who are within the area where there is a serious risk of a catastrophe. Such messages are in the form of a short alert, to be sent only in extraordinary situations when there is an immediate threat to health or life. The alert is intended to help in the avoidance of danger or to mitigate its impact.

Results

This article presents the potential implementation of the early warning system based on text message alerts in Poland, and in particular focuses on decreasing the risks associated with natural disasters.

Conclusions

While early text messaging is essential to disaster communications and mitigation, the article further states that means must be found to ensure equal access to the most vulnerable populations and all those, vulnerable and not, who do not have immediate access to text messaging systems. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:709–712)
Investigating prototyping approaches of Ghanaian novice designers
Authors: Deininger Michael , Daly Shanna R. , Sienko Kathleen H. , Lee Jennifer C. , Kaufmann Elsie Effah
Published: March 2019

Increasingly, products are designed for global markets, yet studies of design practices primarily investigate designers from high-income countries. Specifically, the use of prototypes during design is likely affected by the background of the designer and the environment in which they are designing. To broaden our understanding of the extent to which prototyping best practices are used beyond Western designers, in this study, we conducted interviews with novice designers from Ghana, a middle-income country (MIC), to examine how Ghanaian novice designers (upper-level undergraduate students) used prototypes throughout their design courses. We compared the reported use of prototypes to best practice behaviors and analyzed the types of prototypes used. We found evidence that these Ghanaian novice designers used some critical prototyping best practice behaviors, while other behaviors were underutilized, specifically during the front-end phases of design and for the purpose of engaging with stakeholders. Additionally, virtual models dominated their prototyping choices. We discuss likely reasons for these trends based on participants’ design experiences and design contexts.
Malacca Portuguese Creole
Authors: Pillai Stefanie , Baxter Alan N. , Soh Wen-Yi
Published: March 2019

Malacca Portuguese Creole (MPC) (ISO 639-3; code: mcm), popularly known as Malacca Portuguese or locally as (Papiá) Cristang, belongs to the group of Portuguese-lexified creoles of (South)east Asia, which includes the extinct varieties of Batavia/Tugu (Maurer 2013) and Bidau, East Timor (Baxter 1990), and the moribund variety of Macau (Baxter 2009). MPC has its origins in the Portuguese presence in Malacca, and like the other creoles in this subset, it is genetically related to the Portuguese Creoles of South Asia (Holm 1988, Cardoso, Baxter & Nunes 2012).
Digital health and disability claims
Authors: Groyer A. , Campbell R.
Published: March 2019

Digital technology is starting to enable new and improved modes of healthcare delivery. The healthcare and disability claims spaces are closely intertwined. Disability claimants certainly have healthcare needs but disability claims management has the added dimension of supporting return to work.

In this paper, we explain what is meant by the term “Digital Health.” We then compare the challenges in the healthcare and disability claims management spaces where digital technology may improve outcomes. We touch briefly on how the efficacy of digital technology may be evaluated. The later parts of the paper focus on Digital Health technology providers who have engaged with the insurance industry and we conclude with some learnings around the challenges of implementing these technology-based opportunities.

This paper focuses on interventions once a policyholder’s health has failed to the extent that they need to claim. There are many opportunities to improve wellness and prevent claim using digital technology, as noted by the IFoA Wearables and Internet of Things Working Party,1 and we do not discuss these further this paper.
Multi-Energy X-Ray Tomography of an Optical Fiber: The Role of Spatial Averaging
Authors: Levine Zachary H. , Peskin Adele P. , Garboczi Edward J. , Holmgren Andrew D.
Published: March 2019

Using a commercial X-ray tomography instrument, we have obtained reconstructions of a graded-index optical fiber with voxels of edge length 1.05 µm at 12 tube voltages. The fiber manufacturer created a graded index in the central region by varying the germanium concentration from a peak value in the center of the core to a very small value at the core-cladding boundary. Operating on 12 tube voltages, we show by a singular value decomposition that there are only two singular vectors with significant weight. Physically, this means scans beyond two tube voltages contain largely redundant information. We concentrate on an analysis of the images associated with these two singular vectors. The first singular vector is dominant and images of the coefficients of the first singular vector at each voxel look are similar to any of the single-energy reconstructions. Images of the coefficients of the second singular vector by itself appear to be noise. However, by averaging the reconstructed voxels in each of several narrow bands of radii, we can obtain values of the second singular vector at each radius. In the core region, where we expect the germanium doping to go from a peak value at the fiber center to zero at the core-cladding boundary, we find that a plot of the two coefficients of the singular vectors forms a line in the two-dimensional space consistent with the dopant decreasing linearly with radial distance from the core center. The coating, made of a polymer rather than silica, is not on this line indicating that the two-dimensional results are sensitive not only to the density but also to the elemental composition.
Removing Stripes, Scratches, and Curtaining with Nonrecoverable Compressed Sensing
Authors: Schwartz Jonathan , Jiang Yi , Wang Yongjie , Aiello Anthony , Bhattacharya Pallab , Yuan Hui , Mi Zetian , Bassim Nabil , Hovden Robert
Published: March 2019

Highly-directional image artifacts such as ion mill curtaining, mechanical scratches, or image striping from beam instability degrade the interpretability of micrographs. These unwanted, aperiodic features extend the image along a primary direction and occupy a small wedge of information in Fourier space. Deleting this wedge of data replaces stripes, scratches, or curtaining, with more complex streaking and blurring artifacts—known within the tomography community as “missing wedge” artifacts. Here, we overcome this problem by recovering the missing region using total variation minimization, which leverages image sparsity-based reconstruction techniques—colloquially referred to as compressed sensing (CS)—to reliably restore images corrupted by stripe-like features. Our approach removes beam instability, ion mill curtaining, mechanical scratches, or any stripe features and remains robust at low signal-to-noise. The success of this approach is achieved by exploiting CS's inability to recover directional structures that are highly localized and missing in Fourier Space.
Sensitivity of Dry Bean to Herbicides Applied Preplant for Glyphosate-Resistant Horseweed Control in a Strip-Tillage Cropping System
Authors: Soltani Nader , Shropshire Christy , Sikkema Peter H.
Published: March 2019

During 2016 and 2017, four field experiments were conducted at Huron Research Station near Exeter, ON, to evaluate the sensitivity of dry bean grown under a strip-tillage cropping system, to potential herbicides for the control of glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed. At 8 wk after emergence (WAE), saflufenacil, metribuzin, saflufenacil+metribuzin, 2,4-D ester, flumetsulam, cloransulam-methyl, and chlorimuron-ethyl caused 13% to 32%, 8% to 52%, 32% to 53%, 5% to 7%, 13% to 21%, 16% to 29%, and 23% to 43% visible injury in dry beans, respectively. Saflufenacil decreased aboveground biomass 65% in kidney bean and 80% in white bean. Metribuzin decreased biomass 82% in kidney bean and 50% in white bean. Saflufenacil+metribuzin decreased biomass 88% in kidney bean, 68% in small red bean, and 80% in white bean. Chlorimuron-ethyl decreased biomass 40% in white bean. There was no decrease in dry bean biomass with the other herbicides evaluated. Metribuzin and saflufenacil+metribuzin reduced kidney bean seed yield 72% and 76%, respectively. Saflufenacil+metribuzin, flumetsulam, cloransulam-methyl, and chlorimuron-ethyl reduced small red bean seed yield 39%, 27%, 30%, and 54%, respectively. Saflufenacil, metribuzin, saflufenacil+metribuzin, flumetsulam, cloransulam-methyl, and chlorimuron-ethyl reduced seed yield of white bean 52%, 32%, 62%, 33%, 42%, and 62%, respectively. There was no decrease in dry bean yield with the other herbicides evaluated. Among herbicides evaluated, 2,4-D ester caused the least crop injury with no effect in dry bean seed yield.
Response of Soybean Offspring to a Dicamba Drift Event the Previous Year
Authors: Jones Gordon T. , Norsworthy Jason K. , Barber Tom
Published: March 2019

In the occurrence of dicamba drift, it is not well understood what measurements from soybean plants would correlate with damage to soybean offspring; therefore, possible relationships are of great interest. Sixteen drift trials were established in 2014 and 2015 at the Northeast Research and Extension Center in Keiser, AR. A single 8-m-wide by 30- or 60-m-long pass with a high-clearance sprayer was made in each soybean field, resulting in a dicamba drift event. Seeds were collected from plants in each drift trial and planted in the field in 2015 and 2016. Data were subjected to correlation analysis to determine pairwise associations among parent and offspring observations. Auxin-like symptomology in offspring consistent with dicamba, primarily as leaf cupping, appeared in plots at the unifoliate and first trifoliate stages. Auxin-like symptoms were more prevalent in offspring collected from plants from later reproductive stages as opposed to early reproductive stages. The highest correlation coefficients occurred when parent plants were treated at the R5 growth stage. Parent mature pod malformation was correlated with offspring emergence (r=−0.37, P=0.0082), vigor (r=−0.57, P ≤ 0.0001), injury (r=0.93, P ≤ 0.0001), and percent of plants injured (r=0.92, P ≤ 0.0001). This research documents that soybean damaged from dicamba drift during the R1 to R6 growth stages can negatively affect offspring and that occurrence of pod malformation after dicamba drift at the R5 growth stage may be indicative of injury to the offspring.
Soil moisture and nitrate-nitrogen dynamics and economic yield in the greenhouse cultivation of tomato and cucumber under negative pressure irrigation in the North China Plain
Authors: Li Yinkun , Xue Xuzhang , Guo Wenzhong , Wang Lichun , Duan Minjie , Chen Hong , Chen Fei
Published: March 2019

A field experiment was carried out for two years to investigate the benefits of negative pressure water supply on surface soil water content, nitrate-nitrogen (NO3−-N) distribution in the soil profile, economic yield and water and fertilizer use efficiency of tomato and cucumber under greenhouse cultivation in the North China Plain. The experiment included two irrigation treatments: drip irrigation with nutrient solution (DIN) and negative pressure irrigation with nutrient solution (NIN). The results showed that the NIN treatment had a relatively stable soil moisture (about 87% of field capacity), and the fluctuation of soil water content in the 0–20 cm soil layer was 20.6%–25.0% during the experiment period in 2014–2015, which was less than the range of 19.2%–28.1% in the DIN treatment. In both the DIN and NIN treatments, the NO3−-N at the end of the four growing seasons was mainly distributed in the 0–40 cm soil layer and showed a gradually increasing trend as the number of cultivation years increased. Compared with the DIN treatment, the NO3−-N content in the 0–60 cm layer of the NIN treatment was significantly decreased by 19.7%–28.0% after the fourth growing season. The NIN treatment produced the highest economic yield with lower water and nutrient input than the DIN treatment, however, no significant difference was observed in tomato and cucumber yield in the two years. Average irrigation water use efficiency (WUEi) and partial factor productivity of fertilizer (PFPf) over the study period were all significantly improved under the NIN treatment relative to the DIN treatment, with increases of 26.2% and 25.7% (P < 0.05), respectively. Negative pressure water supply not only maintained a high fruit yield, but significantly increased WUEi and PFPf, indicating a great advantage in water and fertilizer saving compared with drip irrigation.
Identification of QTL underlying the leaf length and area of different leaves in barley
Authors: Du Binbin , Liu Lipan , Wang Qifei , Sun Genlou , Ren Xifeng , Li Chengdao , Sun Dongfa
Published: March 2019

Leaf is the main organ of photosynthesis, which significantly impacts crop yield. A high-density linkage map containing 1894 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and 68 simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers was used to identify quantitative trait locus (QTL) for flag leaf length (FLL), second leaf length (SLL), third leaf length (TLL), fourth leaf length (FOLL), flag leaf area (FLA), second leaf area (SLA), third leaf area (TLA) and fourth leaf area (FOLA). In total, 57 QTLs underlying the top four leaf length and area traits were identified and mapped on chromosome 2H, 3H, 4H and 7H. Individual QTL accounted for 5.17% to 37.11% of the phenotypic variation in 2015 and 2016. A major stable QTL qFLL2-2 close to the marker 2HL_25536047 was identified on the long arm of chromosome 2H. The most important QTL clustered region at M_256210_824 - 2HL_23335246 on chromosome 2H was associated with FLL, SLL, FLA and SLA and explained high phenotypic variation. These findings provide genetic basis for improving the leaf morphology of barley. In addition, our results suggested that the top four leaves were significantly positively correlated with plant height and some yield-related traits.
The Post-Synaptic Function of Brca2
Authors: Wang Charles X. , Jimenez-Sainz Judit , Jensen Ryan B. , Mazin Alexander V.
Published: March 2019

Homologous Recombination (HR) is a high-fidelity process with a range of biologic functions from generation of genetic diversity to repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). In mammalian cells, BRCA2 facilitates the polymerization of RAD51 onto ssDNA to form a presynaptic nucleoprotein filament. This filament can then strand invade a homologous dsDNA to form the displacement loop (D-loop) structure leading to the eventual DSB repair. Here, we have found that RAD51 in stoichiometric excess over ssDNA can cause D-loop disassembly in vitro; furthermore, we show that this RAD51 activity is countered by BRCA2. These results demonstrate that BRCA2 may have a previously unexpected activity: regulation of HR at a post-synaptic stage by modulating RAD51-mediated D-loop dissociation. Our in vitro results suggest a mechanistic underpinning of homeostasis between RAD51 and BRCA2, which is an important factor of HR in mammalian cells.
Broadband and high-power terahertz radiation source based on extended interaction klystron
Authors: Li Renjie , Ruan Cunjun , Fahad Ayesha Kosar , Zhang Chenyu , Li Shasha
Published: March 2019

Terahertz applications require high performance and high reliability terahertz radiation sources, especially the urgent demands of high output power and broad bandwidth. The extended interaction klystron (EIK) has the great potential to generate hundreds of watt output power in terahertz band. The terahertz EIK adopts multiple gap cavities and unequal-width slots structure is proposed with methodological improvement of bandwidth and output power. The unequal-width slots are the key design of the multiple gap cavity, and the influences of unequal-width slots on the electromagnetic field distribution and beam-wave interaction are analyzed in detail. With multiple gap cavities and unequal-width slots structure, EIK has advantages of wider frequency separation and larger effective characteristic impedance. Particle in cell (PIC) simulation indicates that the bandwidth of unequal-width slots structure can reach to 550 MHz in our initial G-band EIK design. Then, we utilize two kinds of resonance cavities with different width ratios to build a six-cavity beam-wave interaction system and make it operate at the state of stagger-tuning, the bandwidth can be extended to 1–1.5 GHz. Our research shows that the unequal-width slots structure has wider tuning frequency range. Furthermore, the bandwidth can be further broadened to over 2 GHz when dynamic-tuning is adopted, while maintains a high output power of 560 W with efficiency of 11.3% and gain of 47.5 dB. Thus, the methods of multiple gap cavities with unequal-width slots structure, stagger-tuning and dynamic-tuning are much important for the bandwidth improvement of EIK in terahertz band.
Thermal sensors improve wrist-worn position tracking
Authors: Son Jake J. , Clucas Jon C. , White Curt , Krishnakumar Anirudh , Vogelstein Joshua T. , Milham Michael P. , Klein Arno
Published: March 2019

Wearable devices provide a means of tracking hand position in relation to the head, but have mostly relied on wrist-worn inertial measurement unit sensors and proximity sensors, which are inadequate for identifying specific locations. This limits their utility for accurate and precise monitoring of behaviors or providing feedback to guide behaviors. A potential clinical application is monitoring body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), recurrent, injurious behaviors directed toward the body, such as nail biting and hair pulling, which are often misdiagnosed and undertreated. Here, we demonstrate that including thermal sensors achieves higher accuracy in position tracking when compared against inertial measurement unit and proximity sensor data alone. Our Tingle device distinguished between behaviors from six locations on the head across 39 adult participants, with high AUROC values (best was back of the head: median (1.0), median absolute deviation (0.0); worst was on the cheek: median (0.93), median absolute deviation (0.09)). This study presents preliminary evidence of the advantage of including thermal sensors for position tracking and the Tingle wearable device’s potential use in a wide variety of settings, including BFRB diagnosis and management.
Neural oscillations in the primate caudate nucleus correlate with different preparatory states for temporal production
Authors: Suzuki Tomoki W. , Tanaka Masaki
Published: March 2019

When measuring time, neuronal activity in the cortico-basal ganglia pathways has been shown to be temporally scaled according to the interval, suggesting that signal transmission within the pathways is flexibly controlled. Here we show that, in the caudate nuclei of monkeys performing a time production task with three different intervals, the magnitude of visually-evoked potentials at the beginning of an interval differed depending on the conditions. Prior to this response, the power of low frequency components (6–20 Hz) significantly changed, showing inverse correlation with the visual response gain. Although these components later exhibited time-dependent modification during self-timed period, the changes in spectral power for interval conditions qualitatively and quantitatively differed from those associated with the reward amount. These results suggest that alteration of network state in the cortico-basal ganglia pathways indexed by the low frequency oscillations may be crucial for the regulation of signal transmission and subsequent timing behavior.
Liquid Non-aqueous Electrolytes for High Voltage Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Xing Lidan , Li Weishan
Published: March 2019

The instability of the electrode/electrolyte interphase in lithium-ion batteries mainly causes gas generation, increase of cell resistance and capacity fading, especially at high operating voltage. Searching for novel electrolytes that match the developed high specific capacity and high voltage cathode materials is critical for the practical application of next generation lithium-ion batteries. We describe in this chapter the major research on understanding the specific electrolyte component of the high voltage electrode/electrolyte interphase, the influence of the lithium salt anion on the oxidation stability and the decomposition mechanism of the interphasal electrolyte and developing novel electrolytes for next generation lithium-ion batteries.
Advancements in Manufacturing
Authors: Kendrick Emma
Published: March 2019

Lithium ion battery (LIB) manufacturing was established in the 1990s by Sony; however, advancements in the processes and the scientific understanding of those processes upon the final cell performances are still being understood. A standard process for LIB manufacturing includes: ink mixing, coating and drying, cell construction and design, and the formation and conditioning steps. The material properties determine the mixing methodologies, and hence the dispersion of the particles in a mix or a slurry. Advancements in mixing technologies have been observed at large scale with a continuous process, however at small scale high energy and high torque mixing are still the main mixing methods. The main coating technology for thick electrode lithium ion cells is the slot die or comma bar techniques; alternative techniques such as electrostatic sprayings, and electrophoretic coatings are still mainly used for thinner electrode coatings. Advancements are being made in electrostatic dry coating and laser technologies. One of the most costly manufacturing procedures is the formation and conditioning step, and this process can be shortened by short high voltage cycling rather than complete cycles. Due to the complex interplay of each process upon the final design, structure and hence properties of the lithium ion battery, when one parameter is changed, it can affect the final performance of the cell. The knock-on effects of the parameter changes are not completely understood until a cell has been manufactured and tested. This chapter discusses the manufacturing aspects of lithium and sodium ion batteries and the recent advancements in technology.
Lithium-ion Battery Safety
Authors: Walker William Q. , Ali Omar A. , Theriot Dwight H.
Published: March 2019

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries dominate the global energy storage market. Unfortunately, safety concerns for the utilization and transportation of these advanced energy storage devices exist due to the inherent possibility of thermal runaway. This chapter provides a detailed description of what Li-ion battery thermal runaway is and how it is characterized. Discussion is given on several high visibility field failure incidents. An introduction is provided on the modeling methods and primary testing techniques used to characterize thermal runaway. Last, a brief discussion is given on future trends and expectations associated with Li-ion battery safety.
Electric field-responsive photoluminescence color switching and reversible propertiesviaTb/Eu co-doped ergodic relaxor ferroelectrics
Authors: Sun Hailing , Chan Yi Lok , Kwok K. W.
Published: March 2019

Optimizing ergodicityviacreating dynamic PNRs, discovering totally reversible photoluminescence color switching by electric field stimuli in multifunctional inorganic materials.
A highly luminescent Mn4+ activated LaAlO3 far-red-emitting phosphor for plant growth LEDs: charge compensation induced Mn4+ incorporation
Authors: Chen Yibo , Yang Conghua , Deng Meiping , He Jin , Xu Yiqin , Liu Zhao-Qing
Published: March 2019

A highly luminescent far-red-emitting phosphor LaAlO3:Mn4+,Mg2+ with a quantum yield of 78.6% synthesized with the assistance of MgF2.
Bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine-functionalized alizarin: an efficient and simple colorimetric sensor for fluoride and a fluorescence turn-on sensor for Al3+ in an organic solution
Authors: Zhu Ling , Bai Yue-Ling , Zhao Yongmei , Xing Feifei , Li Ming-Xing , Zhu Shourong
Published: March 2019

Bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine-functionalized alizarin (H2L) can visibly sense F− and fluorescence-turn-on sense Al3+ sensitively in organic solvents. The presence of NiCl2 increases the chromic sensitivity to F−.
Elucidating the structural properties of gold selenide nanostructures
Authors: Machogo Lerato F. E. , Mthimunye Musa , Sithole Rudo K. , Tetyana Phumlani , Phao Neo , Ngubeni Grace N. , Mlambo Mbuso , Mduli Phumlane S. , Shumbula Poslet M. , Moloto Nosipho
Published: March 2019

Noble transition metal chalcogenide gold selenide is a relatively unexplored layered material.
Pronounced activity of aromatic selenocyanates against multidrug resistant ESKAPE bacteria
Authors: Nasim Muhammad Jawad , Witek Karolina , Kincses Annamária , Abdin Ahmad Yaman , Żesławska Ewa , Marć Małgorzata Anna , Gajdács Márió , Spengler Gabriella , Nitek Wojciech , Latacz Gniewomir , Karczewska Elżbieta , Kieć-Kononowicz Katarzyna , Handzlik Jadwiga , Jacob Claus
Published: March 2019

Selenocyanates demonstrate pronounced activity against bacteria of the ESKAPE family, yeast and nematodes with limited cytotoxicity against human cells.
Disordered intestinal microbes are associated with the activity of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Li Yao , Wang Hai-Fang , Li Xin , Li Hai-Xia , Zhang Qiong , Zhou Hong-Wei , He Yan , Li Pan , Fu Chen , Zhang Xiao-He , Qiu Yu-Rong , Li Ji-Liang
Published: March 2019

Intestinal dysbiosis is implicated in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). However, the evidence of gut microbiome changes in SLE is limited, and the association of changed gut microbiome with the activity of SLE, as well as its functional relevance with SLE still remains unknown. Here, we sequenced 16S rRNA amplicon on fecal samples from 40 SLE patients (19 active patients, 21 remissive patients), 20 disease controls (Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients), and 22 healthy controls (HCs), and investigated the association of functional categories with taxonomic composition by Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt). We demonstrated SLE patients, particularly the active patients, had significant dysbiosis in gut microbiota with reduced bacterial diversity and biased community constitutions. Amongst the disordered microbiota, the genera Streptococcus, Campylobacter, Veillonella, the species anginosus and dispar, were positively correlated with lupus activity, while the genus Bifidobacterium was negatively associated with the disease activity. PICRUSt analysis showed metabolic pathways were different between SLE and HCs, and also between active and remissive SLE patients. Moreover, we revealed that a random forest model could distinguish SLE from RA and HCs (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.792), and another random forest model could well predict the activity of SLE patients (AUC = 0.811). In summary, SLE patients, especially the active patients, show an apparent dysbiosis in gut microbiota and its related metabolic pathways. Amongst the disordered microflora, four genera and two species are associated with lupus activity. Furthermore, the random forest models are able to diagnose SLE and predict disease activity.