bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The geological origins and soil properties of loess-like silty clay: a case study in the jinan area
Authors: Liu Zhenghao , Ma Xianfeng , Zhou Dingyi , Lu Linhai , Zhang Haihua , Bai Yujie , Han Han
Published: June 2024

This study, using Jinan as a case study, systematically investigates the characteristics and geological genesis of loess-like silty clay in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. The primary distribution of loess-like silty clay is revealed through field surveys, laboratory experiments, and previous literature reviews. The chemical and physical properties of the loess-like silty clay were examined, in addition to investigations into its mineral composition, microstructural characteristics, and engineering mechanical properties, in order to enhance comprehension of its attributes and formation mechanisms. The research suggests that the distinctive soil environment in the area has been influenced by numerous instances of the Yellow River overflow and channel shifts over its history, as well as the impacts of climate change, geological factors, and human activities. The primary sources of material for the loess-like silty clay consist of loess, Hipparion Red Clay, and paleosol layers. The discussion also addresses the impact of regional climate on the formation of mineral components. The aforementioned findings hold significant implications for advancing the understanding of historical climatic and paleogeographic shifts, as well as for addressing engineering challenges associated with the distribution of loess-like silty clay.
Zinc and nitrogen mediate the regulation of growth, leading to the upregulation of antioxidant aptitude, physio-biochemical traits, and yield in wheat plants
Authors: Shehzadi Nimra , Mahmood Athar , Kaleem Muhammad , Chishti Muhammad Shahbaz , Bashir Humaira , Hashem Abeer , Abd-Allah Elsayed Fathi , Shahid Hina , Ishtiaq Atiqa
Published: June 2024

An ample amount of water and soil nutrients is required for economic wheat production to meet the current food demands. Nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn) fertigation in soils can produce a substantial wheat yield for a rapidly increasing population and bring a limelight to researchers. The present study was designed to ascertain N and Zn’s synergistic role in wheat growth, yield, and physio-biochemical traits. A pot experiment was laid out under a complete randomized design with four N levels (N1-0, N2-60, N3- 120, and N4-180 kg ha−1), Zn (T1-0, T2-5, T3-10, and T4-15 kg ha−1) with four replications. After the emergence of the plants, N and Zn fertigation was applied in the soil. The growth traits were considerably increased by combined applications as compared to the sole applications of the N and Zn. The photosynthetic pigments were found maximum due to combined applications of N and Zn, which were positively associated with biomass, growth, yield, and wheat grain quality. The combined application also substantially enhances the antioxidant enzyme activities to scavenge the ROS as H2O2 and reduce lipid peroxidation to protect the permeability of the biologic membranes. The combined higher applications of N and Zn were more responsive to ionic balance in a shoot by maintaining the Na+ for osmotic adjustments, accumulating more Ca2+ for cellular signaling; but, combined applications resulted in K+ reduction. Our present results suggest that appropriate sole or combined applications of N and Zn improve wheat's growth, yield, and antioxidant mechanisms. Previous studies lack sufficient information on N and Zn combined fertigation. We intend to investigate both the sole and combined roles of N and Zn to exploit their potential synergistic effects on wheat.
Occurrence and characterization of viruses infecting Amorphophallus in Yunnan, China
Authors: Dong Jiahong , Zhu Ting , Lv Rui , Dong Kun , Li Yu , Zhang Boxin , Zhang Lizhen , Chen Yongdui , Yin Xiangao , Zhang Lei , Yin Jianqing , Lu Jun , Xi Dehui , Wu Kuo
Published: June 2024

Viral diseases are becoming an important problem in Amorphophallus production due to the propagation of seed corms and their trade across regions. In this study, combined-High-Throughput Sequencing, RT-PCR, electron microscopy, and mechanical inoculation were used to analyze virus-like infected Amorphophallus samples in Yunnan province to investigate the distribution, molecular characterization, and diversity and evolution of Amorphophallus-infecting viruses including three isolates of dasheen mosaic virus and three orthotospoviruses: mulberry vein banding associated virus (MVBaV), tomato zonate spot virus (TZSV) and impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV). The results showed that DsMV is the dominant virus infecting Amorphophallus, mixed infections with DsMV and MVBaV to Amorphophallus were quite common in Yunnan province, China. This is the first report on infection of Amorphophallus with MVBaV, TZSV, and impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) in China. This work will help to develop an effective integrated management strategy to control the spread of Amorphophallus viral diseases.
A squalene analog 4,4′-diapophytofluene from coconut leaves having antioxidant and anti-senescence potentialities toward human fibroblasts and keratinocytes
Authors: Dutta Madhurima , Sarkar Swarupa , Karmakar Parimal , Mandal Biswas Suparna
Published: June 2024

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) leaves, an unutilized resource, enriched with valuable bioactive compounds. Spectral analysis of purified pentane fraction of coconut leaves revealed the presence of a squalene analog named 4,4′-diapophytofluene or in short 4,4′-DPE (C30H46). Pure squalene standard (PSQ) showed cytotoxicity after 8 µg/ml concentration whereas 4,4′-DPE exhibited no cytotoxic effects up to 16 µg/ml concentration. On senescence-induced WI38 cells, 4,4′-DPE displayed better percentage of cell viability (164.5% at 24 h, 159.4% at 48 h and 148% at 72 h) compared to PSQ and BSQ (bio-source squalene) with same time duration. Similar trend of result was found in HaCaT cells. SA-β-gal assay showed that number of β-galactosidase positive cells were significantly decreased in senescent cells (WI38 and HaCaT) after treated with 4,4′-DPE than PSQ, BSQ. Percentage of ROS was increased to 60% in WI38 cells after olaparib treatment. When PSQ, BSQ and 4,4′-DPE were applied separately on these oxidative-stress-induced cells for 48 h, the overall percentage of ROS was decreased to 39.3%, 45.6% and 19.3% respectively. This 4,4′-DPE was found to be more effective in inhibiting senescence by removing ROS as compared to squalene. Therefore, this 4,4′-DPE would be new potent senotherapeutic agent for pharmaceuticals and dermatological products.
A static precise single-point positioning method based on carrier phase zero-baseline self-differencing
Authors: Lv Kaihui , Cai Chenglin , Cai Yihao , Guan Wenhui , Li Zexian , Wu Mingjie , Cheng Lingfeng
Published: June 2024

Satellite navigation positioning has become an indispensable component of everyday life, where precise pinpointing and rapid convergence are crucial in delivering timely and accurate location information. However, due to the damping of integer ambiguities and system residual errors, the rapid convergence of Precise Point Positioning (PPP) implementation is a significant challenge. To address this, this paper proposes a novel Carrier Phase Zero-Baseline Self-Differencing Precise Point Positioning (CZS-PPP) technique and its ionosphere-free fusion model. By employing the proposed CZS-PPP approach in separate scenarios involving BDS-3, GPS, and dual-system settings, we systematically validate the efficacy of the method. The experimental results indicate that the convergence time of the method is less than 4 min in a single-system scenario. Furthermore, in a dual-system scenario, the method can achieve rapid convergence in less than 3 min. The CZS-PPP technique presented demonstrates the elimination of integer ambiguities and the effective suppression of system residuals, in comparison to the conventional method. The proposed approach has demonstrated remarkable performance across different systems, offering a promising new pathway for achieving PPP fast convergence in BDS/GNSS.
Observations of enhanced rainfall variability in Kenya, East Africa
Authors: Kotikot Susan M. , Smithwick Erica A. H. , Greatrex Helen
Published: June 2024

Understanding local patterns of rainfall variability is of great concern in East Africa, where agricultural productivity is dominantly rainfall dependent. However, East African rainfall climatology is influenced by numerous drivers operating at multiple scales, and local patterns of variability are not adequately understood. Here, we show evidence of substantial variability of local rainfall patterns between 1981 and 2021 at the national and county level in Kenya, East Africa. Results show anomalous patterns of both wetting and drying in both the long and short rainy seasons, with evidence of increased frequency of extreme wet and dry events through time. Observations also indicate that seasonal and intraseasonal variability increased significantly after 2013, coincident with diminished coherence between ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation) and rainfall. Increasing frequency and magnitude of rainfall variability suggests increasing need for local-level climate change adaptation strategies.
Physical inconsistencies in the representation of the ocean heat-carbon nexus in simple climate models
Authors: Séférian Roland , Bossy Thomas , Gasser Thomas , Nichols Zebedee , Dorheim Kalyn , Su Xuanming , Tsutsui Junichi , Santana-Falcón Yeray
Published: June 2024

The Ocean Heat-Carbon Nexus, linking ocean heat and carbon uptake, is crucial for understanding climate responses to cumulative carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and to net zero CO2 emissions. It results from a suite of processes involving the exchange of heat and carbon across the sea-air interface as well as their storage below the mixed layer and redistribution by the ocean large-scale circulation. The Ocean Heat and Carbon Nexus is assumed to be consistently represented across two modelling platforms used in the latest IPCC assessments: the Earth System Models (ESMs) and the Simple Climate Models (SCMs). However, our research shows significant deficiencies in state-of-the-art SCMs in replicating the ocean heat-carbon nexus of ESMs due to a crude treatment of the ocean thermal and carbon cycle coupling. With one SCM, we show that a more realistic heat-to-carbon uptake ratio exacerbates the projected warming by 0.1  °C in low overshoot scenarios and up to 0.2  °C in high overshoot scenarios. It is therefore critical to explore how SCMs’ physical inconsistencies, such as the representation of the ocean heat-carbon nexus, can affect future warming projections used in climate assessments, not just by SCMs in Working Group 3 but also by ESMs in Working Group 1 via SCM-driven emission-to-concentration translation.
Casirivimab-imdevimab monoclonal antibody treatment for an immunocompromised patient with persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case report
Authors: Sam Karun Saathveeg , Khosla Pooja , Taneja Vinus , Dessai Rishikesh
Published: June 2024

Background

Persistent acute SARS-CoV- 2 infection is characterised by the persistence of symptoms of a COVID-19 illness and a persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR result. It is often seen in immunocompromised individuals. Currently, there are no approved treatment regimens or guidelines for management.

Methods

Our patient is a middle-aged male who had received chemotherapy prior to the onset of his SARS- CoV-2 infection and subsequently was diagnosed with a persistent and acute SARS- CoV-2 infection after presenting to us with a pyrexia of unknown origin. He was treated on an off-label basis following informed consent with casirivimab-imdevimab monoclonal antibody therapy, comprising two IgG1 neutralising human monoclonal antibodies at a dose of 600 mg each.

Results

Our patient had significant clinical improvement on treatment with the monoclonal antibody therapy and it was well tolerated without any adverse effects. He is currently doing well during follow up.

Conclusions

Casirivimab-imdevimab monoclonal antibody therapy could be beneficial for people with persistent acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therapy is warranted on a case-to-case basis. This highlights the need to identify immunocompromised individuals who are at risk of developing persistent acute SARS-CoV-2 infection to enable their prompt treatment.
Exogenous photocatalyst-free aryl radical generation from diaryliodonium salts and use in metal-catalyzed C–H arylation
Authors: Galicia Jonathan , McDonald Nicholas R. , Bennett Christopher W. , He Jiajun , Glossbrenner Mark D. , Romero Erik A.
Published: June 2024

We reveal that (1) observable halogen bonding between Lewis bases and Ar2I salts is not critical for enabling light-driven radical generation and (2) radicals generated by this route can be captured by transition-metals for C–H arylation reactions.
Molecular design and architectonics towards film-based fluorescent sensing
Authors: Huang Rongrong , Liu Taihong , Peng Haonan , Liu Jing , Liu Xiaogang , Ding Liping , Fang Yu
Published: June 2024

This review meticulously traces the development of film-based fluorescent sensors, spotlighting key advancements in molecular design and film structural engineering.
Solvent vapour-responsive structural transformations in molecular crystals composed of a luminescent mononuclear aluminium(iii) complex
Authors: Kobayashi Fumiya , Yoshida Azuki , Gemba Misato , Takatsu Yuta , Tadokoro Makoto
Published: June 2024

Solvent vapour-induced structural transformations have been demonstrated in molecular crystals constructed by a luminescent mononuclear aluminum(iii) complex.
Quantitative performance improvement using beam shaping plasma modulation for uranium detection in di-uranate using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Authors: Ji Jianxun , Hou Zongyu , Song Weiran , Yu Xiang , Wang Zhe
Published: June 2024

LIBS with beam shaping plasma modulation technology can reduce spectral interference and improve the quantitative performance of uranium in di-uranate.
Preparation of a nanocellulose gelatin-based ion-conducting hydrogel for flexible strain sensors
Authors: Huang Xinmin , Wang Yaning , Tan Xiaobin , Yang Lianhe
Published: June 2024

In this study, to improve the anti-freezing performance without affecting the tensile properties and conductive properties, a free radical graft polymerization method is used.
Quinoxaline-based azamacrocycles: synthesis, AIE behavior and acidochromism
Authors: Kharlamova Alisa D. , Ermakova Elizaveta V. , Abel Anton S. , Gontcharenko Victoria E. , Cheprakov Andrei V. , Averin Alexei D. , Beletskaya Irina P. , Andraud Chantal , Bretonnière Yann , Bessmertnykh-Lemeune Alla
Published: June 2024

Quinoxaline-based AIEgens with flexible receptor units were prepared using macrocyclization through the Pd-catalyzed amination reaction. They were then used to prepare AIE-exhibiting test strips for measuring acidity in vapors and aqueous media.
Attention is currency: how surface features of Lewis structures influence organic chemistry student reasoning about stability
Authors: Rotich Fridah , Ward Lyniesha , Beck Carly , Popova Maia
Published: June 2024

Despite representations’ central role in conveying chemical phenomena, mastering them is not trivial, given the wide variety of different conventions to interpret and use them. Furthermore, instructional approaches and materials may overlook explicit discussion on how students should reason with representations. To gather evidence that could guide improvements in teaching strategies and the creation of more effective instructional materials, we explored how students use Lewis structures to make inferences about stability. Through interviews with twenty-eight organic chemistry students, we have captured a range of resources that they employed, including the features of Lewis structures they paid attention to, the conceptual resources they activated, and the sophistication of their explanations. We found that students referenced all the explicit features of the provided Lewis structures but primarily attributed stability to the unique eye-catching features of each representation. Importantly, the surface features to which students attended impacted the conceptual resources they activated and their reasoning. Specifically, some students misapplied chemical principles to make justifications that fit their correct or incorrect claims about stability. Moreover, students primarily relied on lower-level reasoning and heuristics when constructing explanations. These findings underscore the importance of probing student reasoning so that instruction and assessments can be tailored to enhance students' ability to effectively use representations to reason about chemical phenomena. By understanding the reasoning patterns students adopt, educators can develop targeted strategies that promote deeper understanding and productive use of chemical representations.
Local changes in protein filament properties drive large-scale membrane transformations involved in endosome tethering and fusion
Authors: Ghosh Ashesh , Spakowitz Andrew J.
Published: June 2024

Large-scale cellular transformations are triggered by subtle physical and structural changes to individual biomacromolecular and membrane components.
A lightweight tomato leaf disease identification method based on shared‐twin neural networks
Authors: Linfeng Wang , Jiayao Liu , Yong Liu , Yunsheng Wang , Shipu Xu
Published: June 2024

Automatic detection of tomato leaf spot disease is essential for control and loss reduction. Traditional algorithms face challenges such as large amount of data, multiple training and heavy computation. In this study, a lightweight shared Siamese neural network method was proposed for tomato leaf disease identification, which is suitable for resource‐limited environments. Experiments on Plant‐Village, Taiwan and Taiwan ++ datasets show that the accuracy fluctuates very little even when trained with only 60% of the data, which confirms the effectiveness of the proposed method in the small data environment. In addition, compared with the mainstream algorithms, it improves the accuracy by up to 35.3%on Plant‐Village and two Taiwan datasets respectively. The experimental results also show that the proposed method still performs well when the data is imbalanced and the sample size is small.
Broad observation area and high resolution using identifier for synthetic aperture radars
Authors: Furuno Takayoshi
Published: June 2024

To achieve broad observation areas and high resolution, synthetic aperture radars adopt wavelet‐transformed observation areas that contain information on position and velocity. The observation area adopts pseudosignals with scattering information about the position and velocity in three dimensions. The wavelet transform (WT) is applied to micromoving targets to obtain a pseudosignal, and each micromoving target is defined by an Identifier (ID) of parameter scale a and parameter shift b. Because the interval of each micromoving target is minimised by the WT, the array of all micromoving targets becomes a continuum that can be represented by straight or curved lines. Every micromoving target can be identified by an ID as long as the micromoving targets do not overlap. Every moving signal in a three‐dimensional space can be identified by the abovementioned ID. The results demonstrated that the observation area can be broadened by employing the minimum number of units with micromoving targets. In addition, micromoving targets in the observation area can be obtained at a high resolution (3 cm), and the position of the ID does not change owing to noise. The developments presented can contribute to the fast detection of earthquakes.
Distributed multi‐station target tracking based on unscented particle filter and Dempster‐Shafer theory
Authors: Du Haoxuan , Feng Dazheng , Wang Meng , Shen Xuqi , Ye Duo
Published: June 2024

In a distributed multi‐station system, the observations received by local radar nodes for a single target will have a large signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) bias due to inconsistent radar cross‐sections from distinct angles, different distances from the target, various local interference such as harsh weather, and dissimilar background noise. Integrating heterogeneous information in dynamic and uncertain environments can be challenging for the fusion centre. Moreover, the particles in the basic particle filter (PF) may degrade after many iterations, making it difficult to achieve accurate target state estimation in the local tracking process. To address these issues, the authors propose a novel method named DS‐UPF based on the Dempster–Shafer (DS) theory and the unscented particle filter (UPF). By updating the important density function, the UPF efficiently suppresses particle degradation. The weighted Basic Probability Assignments (BPAs) are proposed and integrated under the new synthesis formula. The weight‐modified DS method restrains the impact of significant local estimation errors on weighted BPAs fusion result, improving robustness without local interference prior knowledge. The experimental results demonstrate that the DS‐UPF outperforms the unscented Kalman filter, PF, and UPF in tracking tasks under various local interference. This indicates that the proposed algorithm can improve estimation precision in dynamic and uncertain environments.
The robustness in identifying and quantifying high-redshift bars using JWST observations
Authors: Liang Xinyue , Yu Si-Yue , Fang Taotao , Ho Luis C.
Published: June 2024

Understanding the methodological reliability in identifying and quantifying high-redshift bars is essential for studying their evolution with theJames WebbSpace Telescope (JWST). We used nearby spiral galaxies to generate simulated images at various resolutions and signal-to-noise ratios, and obtained the simulated galaxy images observed in the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science (CEERS) survey. Through a comparison of measurements before and after image degradation, we show that the bar measurements for massive galaxies remain robust against noise. While the measurement of the bar position angle remains unaffected by resolution, the measured bar ellipticity is significantly underestimated in low-resolution images. The size measurement is barely affected on average as long as the intrinsic bar sizeabar,  true > 2 × FWHM. To address these effects, correction functions are derived. We also find that bar detections remain effective at ∼100% when theabar,  true/FWHMis above 2, below which the rate drops sharply, quantitatively validating the effectiveness of usingabar,  true > 2 × FWHMas a bar detection threshold. We analyzed a set of simulated CEERS images and took into account observational effects and plausible galaxy (and bar-size) evolution models. We show that a significant (and misleading) reduction in the detected bar fraction with increasing redshift would apparently result even if the true bar fraction remained constant. Our results underscore the importance of disentangling the true bar fraction evolution from resolution effects and bar size growth.
The statistics of Rayleigh-Levy flight extrema
Authors: Bernardeau Francis , Pichon Christophe
Published: June 2024

Rayleigh-Levy flights have played a significant role in cosmology as simplified models for understanding how matter distributes itself under gravitational influence. These models also exhibit numerous remarkable properties that enable predictions of a wide range of characteristics. Here, we derive the one- and two-point statistics for extreme points within Rayleigh-Levy flights, spanning one to three dimensions (1D–3D) and stemming directly from fundamental principles. In the context of the mean field limit, we provide straightforward closed-form expressions for Euler counts and their correlations, particularly in relation to their clustering behaviour over long distances. Additionally, quadratures allow for the computation of extreme value number densities. A comparison between theoretical predictions in 1D and Monte Carlo measurements shows remarkable agreement. Given the widespread use of Rayleigh-Levy processes, these comprehensive findings offer significant promise not only in astrophysics, but also in broader applications beyond the field.
Online reviews and spillover effects in the dual-channel supply chain: a choice strategy of sales format
Authors: You Tian-Hui , Liu Chun-Yi , Cao Bing-Bing
Published: June 2024

We investigate strategy choice of sales format considering online reviews and the spillover effect in a dual-channel supply chain. Generally, online and offline consumers read online reviews before purchasing, and thus offline retailers will be subjected to the spillover effect of online reviews. We develop joint product quality and service level decision models in reselling and agency selling with online reviews and the spillover effect. There are some interesting findings: first, the optimal service level and product quality increase with online reviews and spillover effect. Second, counterintuitively, the spillover effect of online reviews benefits not only the offline retailer and manufacturer but also the online retailer in some circumstances. Moreover, the win–win sales format for the manufacturer and online and offline retailers exists in some circumstances. Finally, it is interesting to find that consumers’ channel preference in the agency sales format is more important than in the resales.
Synergizing Architectural Design, Structural Restoration, and Civil Engineering for Sustainable Urban Development
Authors: Zhou Jun
Published: June 2024

This article delves into the synergistic integration of architectural design, structural restoration, and civil engineering, highlighting their pivotal role in fostering sustainable urban development. It explores cutting-edge methodologies and innovative practices that synergize to bolster building efficiency, fortify structural integrity, and advance environmental sustainability within urban landscapes. By delving into the latest trends in architectural design, addressing challenges and breakthroughs in structural restoration, and illuminating the evolving responsibilities of civil engineering in urban planning, this paper provides a comprehensive panorama of the intricate interplay among these disciplines. Furthermore, it ventures into the profound ramifications of technological advancements and sustainable strategies, underscoring their transformative influence on the urban environments of tomorrow. This holistic examination underscores the collective efforts of these fields in shaping resilient and eco-conscious cities poised for a sustainable future.
Research on the application status and countermeasures of traditional architectural elements in architectural environment design
Authors: Yuan Yifan , Ren Hao
Published: June 2024

Traditional architectural elements carry our excellent traditional culture, contain rich connotation, and are the valuable wealth of modern architectural environment design research and reference. However, the application of traditional architectural elements in the architectural environment design has some problems, such as homogenization and does not reflect the connotation of traditional architectural elements. The effective integration of traditional architectural elements and architectural environment design is of great significance to the development, inheritance of traditional architectural elements and the development of architectural environment design engineering. On the basis of understanding the design characteristics of the architectural environment art, this paper analyzes the current situation of the traditional architectural elements in the architectural environment design, and puts forward the countermeasures to effectively integrate the traditional architectural elements and the architectural environment design. In order to combine the traditional architectural elements with the development needs and use functions of architectural environment design in the new era, enrich the connotation of architecture and improve the artistic aesthetic level of architectural environment design.
Electrifying Innovation: The Transformative Impact of Power Electronics in Modern Infrastructure
Authors: Cang Tianyu
Published: June 2024

This article delves into the transformative role of electric power electronics in shaping modern infrastructure across diverse domains. It comprehensively explores the applications of these technologies in energy distribution, transportation infrastructure, and communication networks. The discussion begins with how power electronics enable the integration of renewable energy sources into smart grids, enhance the efficiency of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems, and facilitate advanced energy storage solutions. In transportation, the focus shifts to electric vehicles, railway systems, and intelligent transportation systems, highlighting how power electronics contribute to sustainability and efficiency. The article further explores the role of power electronics in communication networks, including broadband power line communication, power supply in data centers, and wireless power transfer. Each section underscores the significance of power electronics in driving efficiency, sustainability, and technological advancement in infrastructure development. The article emphasizes the need for ongoing innovation in power electronics to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving global landscape and ensure resilient, adaptive, and environmentally responsible infrastructure.
Anisotropic remixing of a phase separated binary colloidal system with particles of different sizes in an external modulation
Authors: Pal Suravi , Chakrabarti Jaydeb , Chakrabarty Srabani
Published: June 2024

We explore the phase behavior of a binary colloidal system under external spatially periodic modulation. We perform Monte Carlo simulations on a binary mixture of big and small repulsive Lennard-Jones particles with a diameter ratio of 2:1. We characterize structure by isotropic and anisotropic pair correlation functions, cluster size distribution, bond angle distribution, order parameter, and specific heat. We observe the demixing of the species in the absence of external modulation. However, the mixing of the species gets enhanced with increasing potential strength along with the alignment of the particles transverse to the modulation. The de-mixing order parameter shows discontinuity with increasing modulation strength, characterizing a first order phase transition. The peak in specific heat increases linearly with the size of the system. We also look into the dynamical behavior of the system via computing Mean Square Displacement (MSD) along both parallel and perpendicular directions to the modulation. We observe a decrease in the diffusion coefficient for both types of particles as we increase the strength of the modulation.
Deep convection drives oceanic overturning
Authors: Gayen Bishakhdatta , Klocker Andreas
Published: June 2024

Research that combines fluid dynamics and climate science is uncovering the inner workings of the North Atlantic’s overturning circulation. Future changes to that circulation system could trigger major disruptions to global weather patterns.
Image-based recognition of parasitoid wasps using advanced neural networks
Authors: Shirali Hossein , Hübner Jeremy , Both Robin , Raupach Michael , Reischl Markus , Schmidt Stefan , Pylatiuk Christian
Published: June 2024

Hymenoptera has some of the highest diversity and number of individuals among insects. Many of these species potentially play key roles as food sources, pest controllers and pollinators. However, little is known about the diversity and biology and ~80% of the species have not yet been described. Classical taxonomy based on morphology is a rather slow process but DNA barcoding has already brought considerable progress in identification. Innovative methods such as image-based identification and automation can further speed up the process. We present a proof of concept for image data recognition of a parasitic wasp family, the Diapriidae (Hymenoptera), obtained as part of the GBOL III project. These tiny (1.2–4.5 mm) wasps were photographed and identified using DNA barcoding to provide a solid ground truth for training a neural network. Taxonomic identification was used down to the genus level. Subsequently, three different neural network architectures were trained, evaluated and optimised. As a result, 11 different genera of diaprids and one mixed group of ‘other Hymenoptera’ can be classified with an average accuracy of 96%. Additionally, the sex of the specimen can be classified automatically with an accuracy of >97%.
Assessing the effectiveness of reservoir operation and identifying reallocation opportunities under climate change
Authors: Longyang Qianqiu , Zeng Ruijie
Published: June 2024

Reservoirs are designed and operated to mitigate hydroclimatic variability and extremes to fulfill various beneficial purposes. Existing reservoir infrastructure capacity and operation policies derived from historical records are challenged by hydrologic regime change and storage reduction from sedimentation. Furthermore, climate change could amplify the water footprint of reservoir operation (i.e. non-beneficial evaporative loss), further influencing the complex interactions among hydrologic variability, reservoir characteristics, and operation decisions. Disentangling and quantifying these impacts is essential to assess the effectiveness of reservoir operation under future climate and identify the opportunities for adaptive reservoir management (e.g. storage reallocation). Using reservoirs in Texas as a testing case, this study develops data-driven models to represent the current reservoir operation policies and assesses the challenges and opportunities in flood control and water supply under dynamically downscaled climate projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6. We find that current policies are robust in reducing future flood risks by eliminating small floods, reducing peak magnitude, and extending the duration for large floods. Current operation strategies can effectively reduce the risk of storage shortage for many reservoirs investigated, but reservoir evaporation and sedimentation pose urgent needs for revisions in the current guidelines to enhance system resilience. We also identify the opportunities for reservoir storage reallocation through seasonal-varying conservation pool levels to improve water supply reliability with negligible flood risk increase. This study provides a framework for stakeholders to evaluate the effectiveness of the current reservoir operation policy under future climate through the interactions among hydroclimatology, reservoir infrastructure, and operation policy.
Parcel level temporal variance of remotely sensed spectral reflectance predicts plant diversity
Authors: Rossi Christian , McMillan Nicholas A , Schweizer Jan M , Gholizadeh Hamed , Groen Marvin , Ioannidis Nikolaos , Hauser Leon T
Published: June 2024

Over the last two decades, considerable research has built on remote sensing of spectral diversity to assess plant diversity. The spectral variation hypothesis (SVH) proposes that spatial variation in reflectance data of an area is positively associated with plant diversity. While the SVH has exhibited validity in dense forests, it performs poorly in highly fragmented and temporally dynamic agricultural landscapes covered mainly by grasslands. Such underperformance can be attributed to the mosaic-like spatial structure of human-dominated landscapes with fields in varying phenological and management stages. Therefore, we argued for re-evaluating SVH’s flawed window-based spatial analysis and underutilized temporal component. In particular, we captured the spatial and temporal variation in reflectance and assessed the relationships between spatial and temporal components of spectral diversity and plant diversity at the parcel level as a unit that relates to management patterns. Our investigation spanned three grasslands on two continents covering a wide spectrum of agricultural usage intensities. To calculate different components of spectral diversity, we used multi-temporal spaceborne Sentinel-2 data. We showed that plant diversity was negatively associated with the temporal component of spectral diversity across all sites. In contrast, the spatial component of spectral diversity was related to plant diversity in sites with larger parcels. Our findings highlighted that in agricultural landscapes, the temporal component of spectral diversity drives the spectral diversity-plant diversity associations. Consequently, our results offer a novel perspective for remote sensing of plant diversity globally.
Mechanical properties of jabon (Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser) wood 13 years old and its potential utilization as a structural material
Authors: Herawati E , Anna N , Dabukke F
Published: June 2024

Jabon (Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser) is a type of fast-growing tree that is expected to meet the national demand for wood because it has fast-growing properties. This study’s objective was to examine the mechanical properties of 13 years old jabon wood based on its position in the stem. The preparation of mechanical properties test samples and their tests refer to the British Standard (BS) 373 Methods of testing small clear specimens of timber and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D143 Standard test method for small clear specimens of timber. Based on the results of the study, the stem parts (bottom, middle, and top) had no significant effect on the mechanical properties of wood except for the compressive strength parallel to the grain and hardness. In general, the mechanical properties showed an increase from the bottom to the top of the stem and from the pith toward the bark, although there were some differences. The mechanical properties of jabon wood obtained from this study generally showed higher values than jabon wood used in other studies with younger ages, although in general, it did not change the category of jabon wood from strength class III-IV. However, its use as a structural material would be more profitable than using a younger age of jabon wood, as it is usually harvested so far.
Extraction of essential oil from cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii) bark using microwave assisted extraction method
Authors: Hasibuan R , Hidayati J , Iqbal M , Pratama M F D , Fazillah R , Pramananda V
Published: June 2024

Cinnamon is one of the essential commodities that is very prospective and rich in benefits. The demand for cinnamon bark essential oil is always increasing every year. This condition indicates that the potential utilization of cinnamon bark essential oil is still wide open along with the development of the food, cosmetic and drug industries. The goal of this research is to extract the essential oil from cinnamon bark using Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE) method, as well as to determine the best operation condition that can result the optimum yield of essential oil. This research was carried out with a variation of solvents of aquadest, 70% ethanol and ethyl acetate; variations of microwave power of 180, 300 and 450 W; and variations in extraction time of 60, 75 and 90 minutes. The results showed that the best solvent for extracting cinnamon bark essential oil was 70% ethanol. Furthermore, the best operating conditions were obtained using a microwave power of 300 W and an extraction time of 90 minutes, with an essential oil yield of 6.92 %. The physical properties of the essential oil obtained are a density of 1.1041 g/mL; refractive index 1.416; pH 6, light yellow color and a distinctive cinnamon aroma.
Antibacterial activity of lactic acid bacteria from black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae fed with empty fruit bunch and tofu waste
Authors: Siregar D J S , Julianti E , Tafsin M , Suryanto D
Published: June 2024

Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGP) are prohibited for use in livestock due to their detrimental effects on consumer safety and livestock productivity. Probiotics are an alternative to AGP because they offer microorganisms that are beneficial to the livestock health. In this investigation, Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae’s will be isolated, tested for their antimicrobial activities and molecularly identified using 16S rRNA gene with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. The larvae are fed with empty fruit bunch and tofu wastes as a source of prebiotics to the indigenous LAB. The LAB isolates were enumerated and morpho-biochemically characterized. Disk diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial efficacy of LAB isolates against pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella enterica serotype Pullorum, Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium ATCC® 14028, and Escherichia coli ATCC® 8739. Nine bacterial isolates were purified from a population density of log 6 Colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL on de Man Rogosa Sharp (MRS) agar. Four LAB isolates were confirmed through (-) catalase activity and acids production (homofermentative). Two LAB isolates namely 5P3i3 and 5P3i5 were designated as the most potential strains against three pathogenic bacteria with the strongest inhibitory activities against E. coli, followed by S. enterica ser. Typhimurium and S. enterica ser. Pullorum. By using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the two LAB isolates were assigned to Lactiplantibacillus pentosus and submitted to GenBank as L. pentosus strain 5P3i3 (OP445834.1) and L. pentosus strain 5P3i5 (OP445835.1). The results of this study will be further investigated with the characterization of potential isolates as probiotic candidates to be supplemented in poultry.
The application of fertilizer subsidies in the context of coffee plantations in Pollung Sub-District, Humbang Hasundutan District, North Sumatra Province
Authors: Saraan M I K , Rambe R F A K , Syam A M , Suhendar A , Dalimunthe M A , Sinaga R P K
Published: June 2024

This study aims to evaluate the application of fertilizer subsidies used by coffee farmers in the Humbang Hasundutan Regency. The research method used was qualitative. Three people became informants in this study, and data were collected through qualitative interviews. The results showed that coffee farmers in the Humbang Hasundutan District received high-quality subsidized fertilizer. However, there are some cases where fertilizer distribution is inadequate. For example, (1) the application of the type of fertilizer provided is good because farmers can apply for orders according to their needs in developing coffee farming, (2) the application of the amount of fertilizer distributed is also good because it is by the land area used by farmers, (3) but the application of fertilizer prices is not good because farmers have to pay additional costs that cause fertilizer prices to exceed the Highest Retail Price (HET), and (4) the distribution of fertilizer is not good because it often experiences delays. Thus, the government has a vital role in making national policies, local governments, agricultural agencies, and fertilizer producers or distributors in implementing and distributing fertilizer subsidies for coffee farmers in the Humbang Hasundutan Regency.
Utilization of Acacia auriculiformis tannins as a biomordant material for fabrics in the natural dyeing process using the ecoprint technique
Authors: Risnasari I , Nuryawan A , Sinaga A S
Published: June 2024

The ecoprint coloring techniques has the disadvantage that they fade easily. so a mordant is needed which functions as a color binder between the media and natural dyes so that they do not fade easily. Research was conducted to analyze the effect of acacia tannin compounds on color fastness. Tracing the chemical content in acacia bark powder was carried out by phytochemical screening methods. The stages of making ecoprint include mordanting. pattern and color printing and fixation. The results of phytochemical screening showed that acacia bark powder contains flavonoids. tannins. alkaloids. glycosides and triterpenoids. The yield of acacia tannins obtained from the extraction results was 22.47% with a tannin content of 19.61%. The ΔE value obtained in the color fading test against fabric washing produces a small (ΔE = 1-3). medium (ΔE = 3-6) and large (ΔE > 6) effects. Color coloring tests on fabric ironing produced little effect (ΔE=1-3). Based on the tests carried out. acacia tannins can be used as mordant materials.
Improvement of physical and mechanical properties of belangke bamboo (Gigantochloa pruriens) laminated boards using boric acid immersion
Authors: Hartono R , Rahmayani A , Sutiawan J , Sumardi I , Rofii M N
Published: June 2024

A laminate board is a composite board formed from a combination of several laminates and glued together using adhesives in the parallel direction of the fibers. Belangke bamboo, as a substitute for wood, can be used as raw material for making laminated boards. Belangke bamboo has fairly good strength but has a weakness, namely, being vulnerable to attacks by destructive agents. Adding boric acid immersion treatment is one of the modifications to laminated boards to increase their strength and durability against attacks by destructive organisms. This study aims to analyze the physical and mechanical properties of laminated boards from striped bamboo with the effect of immersion treatment from 0 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours. The laminated board consists of 3 layers measuring 30 cm long, 15 cm wide, and 0.5 cm thick, which are glued using 280 g/m2 isocyanate adhesive and cold pressed for 24 hours with conditioning for ten days. The results of the physical properties test of this study obtained the average value in the weight percent gain (WPG) test ranged from 2.66-3.33%, density ranged from 0.79-0.97 g/cm3, moisture content ranged from 12.67%-13.40%, and delamination ranged from 2.37-7.77%. The results of mechanical properties testing showed the average value of modulus of elasticity (MOE) testing of 112383.20-127377.74 kg/cm2, modulus of rupture (MOR) of 371.69-578.95 kg/cm2, and shear strength ranged from 14.61–27.73 kg/cm2. From the analysis of variance, the best-laminated board is found in the 6-hour boric acid immersion time.
Design and fabrication of UASB-HCPB reactor assisted UF membrane for POME treatment to produce biogas
Authors: Adriani L , Trisakti B , Irvan I , Sidabutar R , Manurung J F , Passa R , Simbolon D K , Barasa J M
Published: June 2024

Anaerobic process is one of the biological wastewater treatment to produce biogas as renewable energy. Sludge is produced as the main characteristic of UASB (Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) which distinguishes it from other anaerobic technologies to produce biogas. A new design of UASB-HCPB (Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket - Hollow Centered Packed Bed) is used to overcome operational problems in UASB. This research has designed, manufactured, and installed a UASB-HCPB bioreactor with a heating system. UASB-HCPB was designed and fabricated with acrylic material and caldnes used for HCPB. The bioreactor was filled with water to determine the working volume of the bioreactor. The peristaltic pump as the process pump was calibrated; the liquid volume was measured for a certain time span. The jacket heating system was simultaneously controlled with a controller to obtain the temperature of the bioreactor. The working volume of the bioreactor was 5.49 liters. A further modification of the POME treatment is the use of membranes. The membrane used is the cross flow membrane type. The combination of anaerobic bioreactor and the use of membrane can separate the solid biomass from the digester suspension and recycle it to the digester. In this study, biogas production with fresh POME will be carried out using a UASB-HCPB reactor with a combination of ultrafiltration membranes under mesophilic conditions.