bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasma hollow cathodes
Authors: Goebel Dan M. , Becatti Giulia , Mikellides Ioannis G. , Lopez Ortega Alejandro
Published: August 2021

Hollow cathode plasma discharges are a fundamental part of a large variety of applications in industry, academia, and space. From surface processing and coatings deposition to plasma–surface interaction research and electric propulsion, advances in hollow cathode modeling and performance are critically important to the progress and evolution of these and other areas of technology. This paper describes perspectives on the progress that has been made in recent years in the capabilities and modeling of hollow cathodes used in plasma discharges. While many of the developments have been driven by the demanding requirements of electric propulsion applications, the information provided applies to all thermionic hollow cathodes and their applications. In the paper, we describe the status of 2D global simulations of hollow cathode plasmas, hollow cathode plume instabilities, and the development of higher current cathodes and low-current heaterless cathode technologies. Advances in our understanding and technology in these areas and some of the challenges that still need to be addressed and solved are discussed.
Structural and dynamical changes observed when transitioning from an ionic liquid to a deep eutectic solvent
Authors: Cui Yaowen , Rushing Jeramie C. , Seifert Soenke , Bedford Nicholas M. , Kuroda Daniel G.
Published: August 2021

The microscopic molecular structure and dynamics of a new deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of an ionic liquid (1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) and an amide (trifluoroacetamide) at various molar ratios were investigated using linear and non-linear infrared spectroscopy with a vibrational probe. The use of the ionic liquid allows us to investigate the changes that the system undergoes with the addition of the amide or, equivalently, the changes from an ionic liquid to a DES. Our studies revealed that the vibrational probe in the DES senses a very similar local environment irrespective of the cation chemical structure. In addition, the amide also appears to perceive the same molecular environment. The concentration dependence studies also showed that the amide changes from being isolated from other amides in the ionic liquid environment to an environment where the amide–amide interactions are favored. In the case of the vibrational probe, the addition of the amide produced significant changes in the slow dynamics associated with the making and breaking of the ionic cages but did not affect the rattling-in-cage motions perceived by it. Furthermore, the concentration dependence of slow dynamics showed two regimes which are linked to the changes in the overall structure of the solution. These observations are interpreted in the context of a nanoscopic heterogeneous environment in the DES which, according to the observed dynamical regimes, appears at very large concentrations of the amide (molar ratio of greater than 1:1) since for lower amide molar ratios, the amide appears to be not segregated from the ionic liquid. This proposed molecular picture is supported by small angle x-ray scattering experiments.
A carbon-doping related luminescence band in GaN revealed by below bandgap excitation
Authors: Zimmermann F. , Beyer J. , Beyer F. C. , Gärtner G. , Gamov I. , Irmscher K. , Richter E. , Weyers M. , Heitmann J.
Published: August 2021

Carbon doped GaN grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy was investigated by photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy covering a broad range of carbon concentrations. Above bandgap excitation reveals typical transitions related to CN and CN−Hi that decrease with increasing carbon concentration. Besides the formation of nonradiative defects, the formation of complexes containing more than one carbon atom is proposed to be responsible for this reduction. Below bandgap excitation reveals an intense emission band around 1.62 eV for [C] >1018cm−3 that is shown by photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy to be most efficiently excited at 2.7 eV. The 1.62 eV transition thermally quenches above 80 K. A configuration-coordinate diagram model is proposed to explain the observed emission, excitation, and thermal quenching behavior. Based on the simultaneous increase in the concentration of tri-carbon complexes, this band is tentatively attributed to a transition involving a deep tri-carbon-related charge state transition level in the GaN bandgap.
A rapid compression machine coupled with time-resolved molecular beam mass spectrometry for gas-phase kinetics studies
Authors: Kang Shiqing , Liao Wanxiong , Chu Zhaohan , Yang Bin
Published: August 2021

Rapid compression machines (RCMs) are used to simulate a single stroke of an internal combustion engine. After a high-speed compression process, a high-pressure and low-to-intermediate temperature condition can be obtained, under which ignition processes are usually studied. With the help of different diagnostic methods, the detailed speciation information of the ignition process can be quantified. In this study, the molecular beam mass spectrometry (MBMS) diagnostic method was applied on an RCM to realize time-resolved concentration profile measurements. To realize the combination between RCM and MBMS, particle dampers were adopted to suppress the vibrations of the RCM, and a novel flexible interface was designed to maintain a high vacuum, which ensured the safe and effective operation of a high-repetition-rate time-of-flight mass spectrometer (HRR-TOF-MS). The detailed configuration of this diagnostic method is presented, and the data acquisition system and data analysis method are described. The arrangement was validated through the investigation of the well-studied decomposition of 1,3,5-trioxane at temperatures between 697 and 777 K at 10 bars. The measured concentration profiles of 1,3,5-trioxane and formaldehyde were in good agreement with previous experimental and theoretical calculation results. The experimental results showed that the newly developed RCM coupled with the HRR-TOF-MS has advantages in time-resolved speciation measurements at low-to-intermediate temperatures and high pressures, and it can be applied in low-temperature combustion chemical kinetics studies.
Topological valley states in sonic crystals with Willis coupling
Authors: Qu Hongfei , Liu Xiaoning , Hu Gengkai
Published: August 2021

Acoustic media with Willis coupling possess intrinsic directionality owing to the vector nature of coupling coefficients in constitutive relations. Here, we report a type of sonic topological insulator that exhibits the valley Hall effect by using an acoustic fluid of the Willis type. We find that the valley Hall phase transition can be triggered by tuning the coupling vector. In addition, the Dirac cones or valley position are displaced away from high symmetry points in the Brillouin zone. The tunability of the valley offset offered by Willis coupling helps to realize equally robust one-way transport for both zigzag and armchair domain walls and for more tortuous wave channels.
Efficient generation of narrowband picosecond pulses from a femtosecond laser
Authors: Liu Xinting , Li Bo-Han , Liang Yu , Zeng Wen , Li Huang , Zhou Chuanyao , Ren Zefeng , Yang Xueming
Published: August 2021

In some applications of broadband ultrafast spectroscopy, such as surface sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy, femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (SRS), and coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy, a narrowband picosecond pulse is required to obtain a high spectral resolution. Here, we present a method to generate narrowband picosecond second harmonic (SH) and fundamental frequency (FF) pulses with high-conversion efficiency from a Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser amplifier. The narrowband picosecond SH pulse was generated based on the group velocity mismatch between the SH and FF pulses in a nonlinear crystal of β-barium borate (BBO). The small SH nonlinear optical coefficient was optimized by changing the azimuth angle of a thick BBO crystal, successfully avoiding the saturation effect in the SH generation process. The SH pulse was then used to pump an optical parametric amplifier to efficiently amplify the narrowband FF seed pulse, which was obtained with an etalon by spectrally filtering the output from the femtosecond laser amplifier. Dual-wavelength output, which could be very useful in femtosecond SRS, was also realized.
Anomalous photo-thermal effects in multi-layered semi-Dirac black phosphorus
Authors: Sengupta Parijat , Jauregui Luis A.
Published: August 2021

The multi-layered potassium-doped black phosphorus (BP) is a gapped semi-Dirac two-dimensional normal insulator (NI), and can be transformed into a time-reversal symmetry broken Chern insulator (CI) through photo-excitation with a high-frequency photon beam. This transition from an NI to CI, modeled within the Floquet theory of periodic perturbations, introduces non-trivial topological features to BP dispersion manifesting in a finite Berry curvature (Ω). We utilize Ω, the dispersion-governed internal momentum-dependent magnetic field, in conjunction with a longitudinal temperature gradient to examine a pair of anomalous thermoelectric effects which pertain to the transverse heat flow in BP in the CI phase in the absence of an external magnetic field. The anomalous variants of the Ettinghausen (EE) and Righi–Leduc effects (RLE) are quantitatively analyzed via their respective coefficients in this work. The strength of anomalous EE and RLE coefficients is found to be a direct outcome of the sum of Berry curvatures over the occupied bands and is shown to drop as the Fermi level (μ) is positioned high in the conduction states or deep in the valence region. In contrast, for a μ placed in the bandgap, much larger values of the coefficients are predicted. The position of μ and the strength of Ω serve as effective regulators for the EE and RLE coefficients. Finally, we point out how beyond the role of Ω and μ, several laboratory accessible methods can be utilized to modulate the EE and RLE coefficients, including an application of strain, variations in dopant concentration, and the energy fluence of incident radiation.
Elasto-hydrodynamics of non-Newtonian droplet collision with convex substrates
Authors: Mishra Soumya Ranjan , Samanta Devranjan , Dhar Purbarun
Published: August 2021

In this article, we report the post-collision elasto-hydrodynamics of non-Newtonian elastic or Boger fluid droplets [polyacrylamide (PAAM) solution in water] on convex or cylindrical targets of various diameters. Both hydrophilic and superhydrophobic (SH) surfaces were studied to deduce the role of wettability. Different governing parameters, such as cylinder diameter, Weber number, and fluid elasticity (different polymer concentrations), were systematically varied to understand various hydrodynamic outcomes. In contrast to the Newtonian water droplets on hydrophilic surfaces, PAAM droplets resisted capillary breakup and exhibited formation of long lasting, slender, fluid filaments. In certain cases, these filaments showed the existence of satellite beads during stretching, which are generated through blistering or pearling instability (known as beads-on-a string). In the case of SH surfaces, PAAM droplets rebound at larger cylindrical diameters and higher Weber number compared to water. Thin transient filaments attached to the cylinder surface eventually suppress droplet rebound. Such rebound suppression is essentially a non-Newtonian feature, as water droplets on a cylindrical SH surface always exhibited rebound and fragmentation. Finally, we illustrate phase maps where the different regimes of post-impact elasto-hydrodynamics are correlated as functions of a proposed elastic Weber number (which incorporates the effects of both the Weber and the Weissenberg numbers) and the non-dimensional diameter D*. We show that distinct scaling regimes appear in the elasto-hydrodynamic behavior of the post-impact droplets of elastic fluids.
Electrically tunable electromagnetically induced transparency in superconducting terahertz metamaterials
Authors: Li Chun , Li Weili , Duan Siyu , Wu Jingbo , Chen Benwen , Yang Shengxin , Su Runfeng , Jiang Chengtao , Zhang Caihong , Jin Biaobing , Jiang Ling , Kang Lin , Xu Weiwei , Chen Jian , Wu Peiheng
Published: August 2021

We present an electrically tunable superconducting metamaterial capable of modulating terahertz (THz) waves. The device consists of two concentric ring resonators, which exhibits the electromagnetically induced transparency-like spectral response. A relatively high modulation depth of 86.8% and a group delay of 25.4 ps were achieved at the transmission window. The experimental and simulated transmission spectra show good agreement. The hybrid coupling model could well explain the physical mechanism. The tuning of group delay of THz waves is of great significance to the applications of THz technology.
Mitigating exhalation puffs during oxygen therapy for respiratory disease
Authors: Kudrolli Arshad , Chang Brian , Consalvi Jade , Deti Anton , Frechette Christopher , Scoville Helen , Sheinfeld Geoffrey R. , McGee William T.
Published: August 2021

We investigate the dispersal of exhalations corresponding to a patient experiencing shortness of breath while being treated for a respiratory disease with oxygen therapy. Respiration through a nasal cannula and a simple O2 mask is studied using a supine manikin equipped with a controllable mechanical lung by measuring aerosol density and flow with direct imaging. Exhalation puffs are observed to travel 0.35 ± 0.02 m upward while wearing a nasal cannula, and 0.29 ± 0.02 m laterally through a simple O2 mask, posing a higher direct exposure risk to caregivers. The aerosol-laden air flows were found to concentrate in narrow conical regions through both devices at several times their concentration level compared with a uniform spreading at the same distance. We test a mitigation strategy by placing a surgical mask loosely over the tested devices. The mask is demonstrated to alleviate exposure by deflecting the exhalations from being launched directly above a supine patient. The surgical mask is found to essentially eliminate the concentrated aerosol regions above the patient over the entire oxygenation rates used in treatment in both devices.
Numerical investigation of flows around an axisymmetric body of revolution by using Reynolds-stress model based hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes/large eddy simulation
Authors: Liu Yi , Zhou Zhiteng , Zhu Lixing , Wang Shizhao
Published: August 2021

Flows around an axisymmetric body of revolution at a zero yaw angle were studied using a hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS)/large eddy simulation (LES) approach, which employed a full Reynolds stress model (RSM) in the RANS branch with the aim of accounting for the Reynolds stress anisotropy, streamline curvature, and flow separations in the boundary layer. The SUBOFF model without appendages was applied to conduct the simulations, and the Reynolds number based on the free-stream velocity and the length of the body is ReL=1.2×106. The results, including time-averaged Cp, Cf, and velocity statistics, were compared with the experimental data and wall-resolved LES results available in the literature, and the overall agreement of the comparisons was satisfactory. To assess the performance of the RSM-based hybrid RANS/LES approach, we carried out shear-stress transport-based hybrid RANS/LES approach simulations under identical free-stream conditions for comparison. The sensitivity of the hybrid RANS/LES approach to the RANS models was observed for separated flow with surface curvature and adverse pressure gradient-induced separation. The RSM-based hybrid RANS/LES approach was found to provide a better prediction for the unsteady flows near the stern. That is because the effects of the streamline curvature and the strong interactions between individual stresses can be captured by the exact production terms in the RSM-based hybrid RANS/LES approach. These effects are important for predicting the development of turbulent boundary layers along the stern.
Large magnetocaloric effect and excellent mechanical properties near room temperature in Ni-Co-Mn-Ti non-textured polycrystalline alloys
Authors: Guan Ziqi , Jiang Xinjun , Gu Jianglong , Bai Jing , Liang Xinzeng , Yan Haile , Zhang Yudong , Esling Claude , Zhao Xiang , Zuo Liang
Published: August 2021

Exploring novel materials with large magnetocaloric effect and excellent mechanical properties near room temperature (RT) are highly desired for Ni-Mn based Heusler alloys. In this work, the martensitic transformation, magnetic properties, and mechanical properties of Ni50-xCoxMn50-yTiy (x = 13–15, y = 13–16) alloys were systematically investigated by tuning Co or Ti contents. The magnetism of austenite was enhanced with an increase in Co or Ti content. 5M and 6M martensites were observed in Ni-Co-Mn-Ti alloys by transmission electron microscopy. The Ni36Co14Mn35Ti15 alloy with a large magnetocaloric effect was found near room temperature by tuning composition. The largest magnetization change (ΔM) and magnetic entropy change (ΔSm) in the Ni36Co14Mn35Ti15 non-textured polycrystalline alloy obtained during martensitic transformation under the magnetic field of 5 T were about 106 emu/g and 19.3 J kg−1 K−1, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum compressive strength and ductility for the Ni36Co14Mn35Ti15 as-cast alloy can exceed 1220 MPa and 15%, respectively. The fracture mechanism and bonding interaction were analyzed by a scanning electron microscope and first-principles calculations.
Identifying the high entropy characteristic in La-based metallic glasses
Authors: Zhang Langting , Duan Yajuan , Crespo Daniel , Pineda Eloi , Wada Takeshi , Kato Hidemi , Pelletier Jean-Marc , Qiao Jichao
Published: August 2021

High temperature deformation was probed in a La-based high entropy metallic glass with an evident slow β relaxation. The correlation between high configurational entropy and high temperature deformation mechanism was analyzed. On the one hand, by increasing the strain rate, the degree of deviation from Newtonian behavior in high entropy metallic glasses is lower than that of conventional metallic glasses, which is ascribed to the high configurational entropy. On the other hand, high configurational entropy leads to a decrease in activation volume in high temperature deformation of metallic glasses. Identifying the influence of high configurational entropy on the deformation mechanism paves the way for further understanding of the mechanical behavior of metallic glasses.
Substrate concavity influenced evaporation mechanisms of sessile droplets
Authors: Paul Arnov , Khurana Gargi , Dhar Purbarun
Published: August 2021

In this article, we probe the morphing of the evaporation kinetics of sessile droplets on curved hydrophilic and superhydrophobic (SH) surfaces. Concave grooves of different radii have been employed, and optical diagnostics of the droplet profile has been carried out to monitor evolution of the evaporation progress. Our observations reveal curtailed evaporation rates on curved hydrophilic surfaces due to the droplet confinement phenomenon, whereas the rates improve for curved SH surfaces. We study the modulation of triple line transients and contact angle dynamics under the influence of substrate curvature. We show that the effective evaporation rate is determined by the interplay of substrate curvature and a proposed confinement ratio. Furthermore, the internal flow field within the evaporating droplet is studied using particle image velocimetry. Our findings show that minor changes in internal velocity occur due to hydrophilic substrate curvature, whereas for a curved SH surface, the circulation velocity is augmented. A mathematical analysis based on diffusion driven evaporation is proposed to predict the transient variation of evaporation for curved hydrophilic substrates. We explain the enhanced evaporation rate on curved SH on the basis of enhanced circulation velocity and increase in liquid–vapor interfacial shear. The model predictions confirm well to the experimental observations.
Revealing the interrelation between C- and A-exciton dynamics in monolayer WS2 via transient absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Li Yuanzheng , Wu Xianxin , Liu Weizhen , Xu Haiyang , Liu Xinfeng
Published: August 2021

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are emerging as a promising complement for traditional semiconductor materials in ultrathin optoelectronic device fields. Developing a better understanding of high-energy C-exciton dynamics is essential for efficiently extracting hot carriers and building high-performance TMD-based light-harnessing devices; however, insight into the C-exciton dynamics remains scarce. To further understand the C-exciton dynamics, here, we have unraveled the interrelation between C-exciton and band edge A-exciton dynamics in monolayer WS2 by transient absorption spectroscopy. It is found that the band edge A-excitons could effectively generate high-energy C-excitons via the many-body process, and, in turn, the hot carriers relaxing from C-excitons to band edge states could compensate and slow the decay of the A-excitons. The comprehensive understanding of the interrelation between C-exciton and A-exciton dynamics in monolayer TMDs may trigger the potential applications for future TMD-based light-harvesting devices.
Round cavity-based vortex sorting of particles with enhanced holding capacity
Authors: Shen Feng , Li Zonghe , Ai Mingzhu , Gao Hongkai , Liu Zhaomiao
Published: August 2021

The sorting of target particles from heterogeneous samples is challenging yet crucial for cell biology research and clinical diagnosis. Among various microfluidic methods, the use of cavity-based laminar vortex combined with inertial focusing is a powerful label-free passive technique for the selective sorting of large rare cells with high purity and concentration from billions of blood cells. However, this technology faces the challenge of improving the cavity holding capacity of trapped particles. This paper describes a round cavity-based vortex sorting method and presents a novel judgment criterion. The proposed round cavity achieves a holding capacity of entrapped target particles that is 2.2–7.8 times higher than that of rectangular cavities. By comparing the particle recirculating orbits and the simulated vortex morphology in round and rectangular cavities, a mechanism whereby particles/cells are held within the cavities is investigated. It is found that the area ratios (S = Ap/Ac) of the particle orbit area (Ap) to the cavity area (Ac) are 0.56 and 0.95 for the rectangular and round cavities, respectively. The results show that the round cavity provides more efficient space for recirculating particles and has better sorting performance. This round cavity-based vortex sorting method will be useful for clinical applications.
Extension of charged-particle spectrometer capabilities for diagnosing implosions on OMEGA, Z, and the NIF
Authors: Lahmann B. , Johnson M. Gatu , Frenje J. A. , Birkel A. J. , Adrian P. J. , Kabadi N. , Kunimune J. H. , Johnson T. M. , Pearcy J. A. , Reichelt B. L. , Séguin F. H. , Sutcliffe G. , Petrasso R. D.
Published: August 2021

New designs and a new analysis technique have been developed for an existing compact charged-particle spectrometer on the NIF and OMEGA. The new analysis technique extends the capabilities of this diagnostic to measure arbitrarily shaped ion spectra down to 1 MeV with yields as low as 106. Three different designs are provided optimized for the measurement of DD protons, T3He deuterons, and 3He3He protons. The designs are highly customizable, and a generalized framework is provided for optimizing the design for alternative applications. Additionally, the understanding of the detector’s response and uncertainties is greatly expanded upon. A new calibration procedure is also developed to increase the precision of the measurements.
A history of Australian pasture genetic resource collections
Authors: Smith R. W. , Harris C. A. , Cox K. , McClements D. , Clark S. G. , Hossain Z. , Humphries A. W.
Published: August 2021

The introduction of exotic pasture germplasm has formed the foundation of many Australian grazing systems. Scientists have searched the world for plants to improve the feedbase, amassing collections of diverse genetic material, creating genebanks that have made a large contribution to feedbase productivity. These genebanks contain a vast range of legumes, grasses, herbs and shrubs with growth habits ranging from small herbaceous plants to woody trees and life cycles from annuals to short- and long-term perennial plants. They have been collected from cool temperate to tropical climates and arid to high-rainfall zones. Hundreds of cultivars have been developed from material either collected by Australian plant breeders overseas or introduced from overseas genebanks. The collection of this germplasm has enabled plant breeders to extend the area of adaptation of species into climates, soils and systems previously considered marginal. The importance to Australian and world agriculture is increasing as plant breeders seek traits to meet the challenges of a changing climate and animal production systems. Furthermore, urbanisation, landscape degradation and political instability are making it increasingly difficult to collect pasture and forage germplasm from native grasslands in many countries. This emphasises the need to maintain and improve the capacity of the Australian Pastures Genebank (APG). The APG houses ~85 000 accessions and is a modern, online source of diversity for plant scientists around the world. This paper summarises the history of the founding genebank collections, their environment and farming systems focus, and the visionary and resourceful individuals that built them.
Effects of heat extremes on wheat yields in Australia
Authors: Hague Ben , Braganza Karl , Jones David
Published: August 2021

Many agricultural studies have identified that wheat yield is sensitive to seasonal rainfall and extreme high temperatures. We investigate the impact of extreme heat events, in particular on wheat yields in South-East Australia (SEA) and South-West Western Australia (SWWA).We define a 'heat-day' as a day where the daily maximum temperature exceeds the 1911–2013 90th percentile for the respective calendar month. We find that the number of heat-days has experienced statistically significant increases across most months across much of Australia, particularly in South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania. The trends are especially marked in winter, including in key wheat-growing regions. The temperatures recorded on these hottest days have also shown a statistically significant increase over the last 100 years.We find that, while wheat yields are more strongly correlated with rainfall than with the number of heat-days, there is substantial evidence to suggest that during drought conditions wheat yields are sensitive to the number of heat-days recorded in August and September in SEA and September and October in SWWA. Extreme heat and rainfall have a stronger association with below-average yields than above-average yields.Extreme temperatures and rainfall in these regions are related to major Australian climate drivers which form the basis of seasonal prediction models and are important for natural variability and long-term climate change. Here we assess the degree to which wheat yields in both regions can be related to the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and Southern Annular Mode (SAM). We find that positive IOD events and El Niño events are both associated with reductions in wheat yields in SEA, but that the co-incidence of these events have no additional wheat yield reductions than would be expected if either a positive IOD or El Niño event occurs. The average annual wheat yield loss associated with El Niño state and/or positive IOD state in SEA is estimated to around sixteen to twenty one per cent.This paper provides insights into the historical relationships between wheat yields, extreme heat and climatic modes of variability in Australia, and discusses the possibilities for changes in wheat yields under a future climate change scenario.
Evaluation of TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis during the passage of Tropical Cyclones over Fiji
Authors: Deo Anil , Walsh Kevin J. E.
Published: August 2021

Fiji is prone to the devastating effects of heavy rainfall during the passage of tropical cyclones (TCs) and as such accurate measurement of rainfall during such events is urgent for effective disaster mitigation and risk analysis. Fiji, however, has a sparse distribution of rain gauges, thus there is a deficiency in the accurate measurement of rainfall. This gap could be filled by satellite-based rainfall estimates but before they are used, they need to be validated against a reference dataset for their accuracy and limitations. This study thus validates the TRMM based Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) estimates over the island of Fiji. The study shows that TMPA has moderate skill in estimating rainfall during the passage of TCs over the island of Fiji. This skill is also highly variable as it decreases with an increase in rainfall intensity, increase in distance from the cyclone centre and increasing terrain elevation. The ability of TMPA also varies case by case but we report a general underestimation of rainfall by TMPA during the passage of TCs with a larger rainfall rate (defined in our case as those TCs with average daily rainfall greater than 25 mm day-1).
Annual climate summary Australia (2016): strong El Niño gives way to strong negative IOD.
Authors: Tobin Skie , Reid Phillip , Miles Elaine
Published: August 2021

Australian climate patterns and associated anomalies during 2016 are reviewed, with reference to relevant climate drivers for the Australian region. 2016 was the fourth-warmest year on record for Australia (annual anomaly of +0.87 °C), and the warmest year on record for the globe (the third year running that a new record has been set). Annual rainfall was above average for most of Australia, but below average for areas of the northern coasts between the Gascoyne in Western Australia and Townsville in Queensland, and pockets of coastal southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales.The very strong 2015–16 El Niño contributed to a very warm and dry first quarter. Autumn was the warmest on record nationally, with a significant nationwide heatwave occurring in late February to mid-March and bushfires at the start of the year in Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia. In May the El Niño broke down and rainfall increased as a very strong negative Indian Ocean Dipole developed, lasting until November. While the central tropical Pacific approached La Niña thresholds during spring, a La Niña did not develop. The Southern Annual Mode commenced the year in a generally positive phase, was strongly positive in June and September, and was following by a strongly negative phase from late October until the end of the year.The period from May to September was record wet, relieving areas of drought in Queensland and southeastern Australia, but also causing flooding in multiple states. The last three months of the year saw a return to near-average rainfall and, while October and November were cooler than average for large areas, December was very warm for the eastern states.Ocean temperatures were also record warm for the Australian region during 2016, with an annual anomaly of +0.73 °C. Temperatures were particularly high during the first half of the year and resulted in widespread severe coral bleaching.
ACCESS-S1 The new Bureau of Meteorology multi-week to seasonal prediction system
Authors: Hudson Debra , Alves Oscar , Hendon Harry H. , Lim Eun-Pa , Liu Guoqiang , Luo Jing-Jia , MacLachlan Craig , Marshall Andrew G. , Shi Li , Wang Guomin , Wedd Robin , Young Griffith , Zhao Mei , Zhou Xiaobing
Published: August 2021

ACCESS-S1 will be the next version of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's seasonal prediction system, due to become operational in early 2018. The multiweek and seasonal performance of ACCESS-S1 has been evaluated based on a 23-year hindcast set and compared to the current operational system, POAMA. The system has considerable enhancements compared to POAMA, including higher vertical and horizontal resolution of the component models and state-ofthe-art physics parameterisation schemes. ACCESS-S1 is based on the UK Met Office GloSea5-GC2 seasonal prediction system, but has enhancements to the ensemble generation strategy to make it appropriate for multi-week forecasting, and a larger ensemble size.ACCESS-S1 has markedly reduced biases in the mean state of the climate, both globally and over Australia, compared to POAMA. ACCESS-S1 also better predicts the early stages of the development of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (through the predictability barrier) and the Indian Ocean Dipole, as well as multi-week variations of the Southern Annular Mode and the Madden-Julian Oscillation — all important drivers of Australian climate variability. There is an overall improvement in the skill of the forecasts of rainfall, maximum temperature (Tmax) and minimum temperature (Tmin) over Australia on multi-week timescales compared to POAMA. On seasonal timescales the differences between the two systems are generally less marked. ACCESS-S1 has improved seasonal forecasts over Australia for the austral spring season compared to POAMA, with particularly good forecast reliability for rainfall and Tmax. However, forecasts of seasonal mean Tmax are noticeably less skilful over eastern Australia for forecasts of late autumn and winter compared to POAMA.The study has identified scope for improvement of ACCESS-S in the future, particularly 1) reducing rainfall errors in the Indian Ocean and Maritime Continent regions, and 2) initialising the land surface with realistic soil moisture rather than climatology. The latter impacts negatively on the skill of the temperature forecasts over eastern Australia and is being addressed in the next version of the system, ACCESS-S2.
Telomerase RNA recruits RNA polymerase II to target gene promoters to enhance myelopoiesis
Authors: García-Castillo Jesús , Alcaraz-Pérez Francisca , Martínez-Balsalobre Elena , García-Moreno Diana , Rossmann Marlies P. , Fernández-Lajarín Miriam , Bernabé-García Manuel , Pérez-Oliva Ana B. , Rodríguez-Cortez Virginia C. , Bueno Clara , Adatto Isaac , Agarwal Suneet , Menéndez Pablo , Zon Leonard I. , Mulero Victoriano , Cayuela María L.
Published: August 2021

Significance

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a rare inherited bone marrow failure and cancer predisposition syndrome caused by mutations in telomerase or telomeric proteins. Although all patients show telomere shortening, the symptoms are highly variable and, therefore, other mechanisms have to be involved. Here, we report that telomerase RNA component (
TERC
) regulates the expression of master myeloid genes in zebrafish and humans by recruiting the transcription machinery. Induced pluripotent stem cells derived from DC patients with a
TERC
mutation in a specific domain, the CR4-CR5, shows impaired myelopoiesis, while those from DC patients with mutation in telomerase catalytic subunit differentiated normally. Our findings reveal a target for personalized and precision medicine approaches for DC patients.
Inhibition of elastase enhances the adjuvanticity of alum and promotes anti–SARS-CoV-2 systemic and mucosal immunity
Authors: Kim Eunsoo , Attia Zayed , Woodfint Rachel M. , Zeng Cong , Kim Sun Hee , Steiner Haley E. , Shukla Rajni Kant , Liyanage Namal P. M. , Ghimire Shristi , Li Jianrong , Renukaradhya Gourapura J. , Satoskar Abhay R. , Amer Amal O. , Liu Shan-Lu , Cormet-Boyaka Estelle , Boyaka Prosper N.
Published: August 2021

Significance

We report that suppression of the serine protease elastase reshapes innate responses induced by injected vaccines containing alum adjuvant. This reprogramming improves the induction of protective antibodies in the bloodstream and stimulates innate signals, which support the development of antibody responses in mucosal tissues. Our findings identify elastase as the innate regulator that blunts the adjuvant activity of alum. They also demonstrate that vaccination via mucosal routes is not an absolute requirement for antibody responses in mucosal tissues and secretions. Supplementation of an alum-based vaccine containing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein subunit 1 as antigen increased anti–SARS-CoV-2 immunity in the blood and mucosal secretions in mice. Thus, this strategy could help in the development of future protein-based vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
Interactions among diameter, myelination, and the Na/K pump affect axonal resilience to high-frequency spiking
Authors: Zang Yunliang , Marder Eve
Published: August 2021

Significance

The reliability of spike propagation in axons is determined by complex interactions among ionic currents, ion pumps, and morphological properties. We use compartment-based modeling to reveal that interactions of diameter, myelination, and the Na/K pump determine the reliability of high-frequency spike propagation. By acting as a “reservoir” of nodal Na
+
influx, myelinated compartments efficiently increase propagation reliability. Although spike broadening was thought to oppose fast spiking, its effect on spike propagation is complicated, depending on the balance of Na
+
channel inactivation gate recovery, Na
+
influx, and axial charge. Our findings suggest that slow Na
+
removal influences axonal resilience to high-frequency spike propagation and that different strategies may be required to overcome this constraint in different neurons.
Scopulariopsis brevicaulis
. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Authors: UK, CAB International  , Onions A. H. S.
Published: August 2021

A description is provided for
Scopulariopsis brevicaulis
. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Occurs in soil and on stored grain, forage products and decaying vegetation. Also on animal products such as leather, wool, bone, cheese, on insects, and from skin and nail infections. See Raper & Thom, pp. 702-703, 1949. DISEASES: Onychomycosis (mycoses). This fungus is most commonly encountered as a parasite causing onychomycosis in man, in which the nails become brittle, thickened and white. The condition is fully described by Martin-Scott (RMVM 2, 841). It also causes dermatomycosis of the feet and other parts of the body (Raper & Thom, 1949, p. 704) and has been recorded from hair, tonsils, appendix and tongue. A short summary of pathogenicity is given by Raper & Thom (1949, p. 703-704). It has been recorded from insects, cattle, llama, dog, mouse, pelicans and rodents. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Widespread in soil, and diseases have been reported from Asia, Europe, N., C. and S. America.
Absidia ramosa
. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Authors: UK, CAB International  , Sarbhoy A. K.
Published: August 2021

A description is provided for
Absidia ramosa
. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: A common saprophyte in soil, compost, and vegetable debris but also pathogenic for man and warm-blooded animals (causing mycoses). DISEASES: This species is a common cause of phycomycosis (syn. mucormycosis). It has been recorded from the human ear, the horse (nose) and swine (generalized infection); see Dodge (1936, p. 113). In cattle it is a cause of mycotic abortion (Ainsworth & Austwick, 1959, p. 53) and has been recorded from the rumen (RMVM 4, 1850) and causing abomasal ulcers (Gitter & Austwick, 1957). Infection of the guineapig results in an enlargement of the lymph nodes which simulates pseudotuberculosis (2, 1721; Ainsworth & Austwick, 1959, p. 48). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: World-wide. TRANSMISSION: Infection occurs from airborne spores which are a characteristic component of the airspora of farm buildings.
Gilbertella persicaria
. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Authors: UK, CAB International  , Sarbhoy A. K.
Published: August 2021

A description is provided for
Gilbertella persicaria
. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: On peach, mulberry, flowers of
Thevetia neriifolia
, sewage and soils. DISEASE: Causing rot of peaches and also mulberry. The rot reported by Hesseltine (1960) was strikingly different from that of
Rhizopus
after three days in a moist chamber. There was no aerial mycelium but the peaches were covered rather uniformly with sporangiophores in eleven days. The flesh was completely brown but firm and the shape of the fruit was not affected. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Argentina, Panama city, Brazil, Jawa and India. TRANSMISSION: By air borne sporangiospores.
Rhizopus microsporus
. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Authors: UK, CAB International  , Sarbhoy A. K.
Published: August 2021

A description is provided for
Rhizopus microsporus
. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: In soil and plant debris, also pathogenic for animals (causing mycoses). DISEASES:
Man and Animals
. A cause of phycomycosis (syn. 'mucormycosis') in man; see Neame & Rayner (RMVM 4, 882). On the horse, swine (generalized infection) and bovine fetus (
fide
Dodge (1936, p. 115) as
R. equinus
) and gastric infection in the pig (Gitter & Austwick,
Vet. Rec
. 71: 6-11, 1959). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: European countries and South Africa. TRANSMISSION: By air-borne sporangiospores.
Rhizopus oryzae
. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Authors: UK, CAB International  , Sarbhoy A. K.
Published: August 2021

A description is provided for
Rhizopus oryzae
. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: In soil and compost and also pathgenic for plants and man (causing mycoses). DISEASES:
Plants
: Causing a rot of sweet potatoes (Harter
et al.
, 1921; Lauritzen & Harter, 1925), sugar-beet (Hildebrand & Koch; 1943, Gaskill & Saliskar, 1962) and seed-bed losses in groundnuts (Gibson & Clinton, 1953).
Man
. A cause of phycomycosis (syn. 'mucormycosis'); see Emmons
et al.
(1963, p. 194). Cerebral infection is not uncommon (RMVM 2, 1627, 1628, 2148) and a fatal case of rhinocerebral infection has been fully described by La Touche
et al.
(RMVM 4, 2028; 5, 390). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: World-wide. TRANSMISSION: By air-borne sporangiospores.
Erwinia stewartii
. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Authors: UK, CAB International  , Bradbury J. F.
Published: August 2021

A description is provided for
Erwinia stewartii
[Pantoea stewartii
subsp.
stewartii]
. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: On
Zea mays, Euchlarna mexicana
and
Tripsacum dactyloides
. Artificial inoculation has been successful on
Coix lachryma-jobi, Euchlaena perennis, Schlerachne punctata
and
Setaria lutescens
[Setaria pumila]
. Poos (19: 467), using insects, showed that various common plants could act as symptomless hosts. DISEASE: Stewart's disease or bacterial wilt of maize. A vascular disease in which the vessels become plugged with bright yellow slime. If stems are cut across the slime will often exude. Affected plants are dwarfed, have pale stripes on the leaves, and may have prematurely developed tassels which wither and die before the rest of the plant. Some plants wilt progressively and die, others survive and bear seed which may be infected. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in North and Central America, but has also been reported from Italy, Poland, Rumania, U.S.S.R., Yugoslavia, China, Peru and, recently, from Thailand (45, 3508). (CMI Map 41, ed. 2, 1965). TRANSMISSION: Mainly by insects. In the United States spread of the disease is chiefly due to
Chaetocnerna pulicaria
, which conveys the bacteria from leaf to leaf and also retains the bacteria during hibernation. After mild winters this insect is responsible for the early infection of much young maize. Various other insects have been shown either to harbour the pathogen or to be able to transmit it. These include the larvae of
Diabrotica longicornis
and
Phorbia cilicrura
[Delia platura]
which can carry the bacteria from root to root and from infected to healthy seed (12: 364; 16: 167). The bacteria are also carred into new areas in infected seed.
Pseudomonas lachrymans
. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Authors: UK, CAB International  , Bradbury J. F.
Published: August 2021

A description is provided for
Pseudomonas lachrymans
. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: On
Cucumis sativus
and
C. anguria
. It may also attack
C. melo
var.
inodorus
(26: 140) and some other cucurbits. Elliott (31: 105) lists 10 hosts, all in the
Cucurbitaceae
. DISEASE: Angular leaf spot of cucumber. Small water-soaked spots appear on the leaves, petioles, stems, and fruits. On leaves they enlarge and become angular as they are delimited by veins They become tan to brown and the necrotic centres may fall out. On petioles, stems, and fruit spots develop white crusty bactenal exudate. A fruit rot develops if the bacteria penetrate deeply. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: North and parts of Central America, most of Europe, U.S.S.R., China, Japan, W. Australia, Israel, southern Africa. (CMI Map 355, ed. 2, 1964). TRANSMISSION: The pathogen is seed-borne and infects the cotyledons dunng germination. It can overwinter on infected crop residue in the soil and has been found viable in dry leaf matenal after two and a half years (36: 677). The bacteria are carried from plant to plant within a crop by rain splash and probably by insects (Carsner, 1918; 31: 272). Workers can also spread the disease, particularly when foliage is wet with rain or dew (35: 810).
Pseudomonas pisi
. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Authors: UK, CAB International  , Bradbury J. F.
Published: August 2021

A description is provided for
Pseudomonas pisi
. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: On
Pisum sativum, P. sativum
var.
arvense, Lathyrus odoratus, L. latifolius, Vicia benghalensis, Lablab niger
and
Vigna
sp. DISEASE: Bacterial blight of peas. The dark green water-soaked lesions may appear on any of the above ground parts of infected plants. They enlarge and coalesce if humidity is high. Older lesions are brown and papery, especially on the pods. In badly infected pods the seed may be covered with bacterial slime, and the organisms may penetrate the seed by way of the funicle and micropyle (7: 214). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Found in many of the world's pea growing areas and on all continents (CMI Map 253, ed. 3, 1963). The disease has recently been reported from Armenia (42: 505). TRANSMISSION: The bacteria are carried and mav overwinter on and within the seed, where they remain viable for at least 10 months (7: 214). The pattern of local spread suggests that the organism travels in drainage water. Water droplets on plant surfaces probably also play a part, as infection takes place through both wounds and stomata.