bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital monitoring of agro-ecosystems indicators on the basis of space and unmanned technologies
Authors: Olenin Oleg , Zudilin Sergey , Osorgin Yuriy , Shevchenko Sergey , Chernov Alexander
Published: February 2020

The aim of the research is to develop a digital monitoring methodology for agro-ecosystem indicators based on space and unmanned technologies with the conversion of digital aerial photography results into real parameters of agrophytocenosis indicators as physical units. The paper uses the results of research on digital monitoring of agrophytocenosis of single- and poly-species crops of grain and leguminous crops on the experimental field of the Samara State Agrarian University in 2018 (southern forest-steppe of Trans-Volga region). The soil is a typical medium heavy black loamy chernozem (humus content is 5.9 %, easily hydrolysed nitrogen is 80–120 mg/kg, labile phosphorus is 135–145 mg/kg, exchangeable potassium is 150–195 mg/kg, salt extract pH is 6.9). The research conducted in 2018 revealed that the stated aim is achievable in principle. According to the results of 2018, the greatest correlation between the vegetative biomass index NDVI and grain yield for winter and spring cereal crops was detected at the milky stage of the grains (up to r = 0.82).
Study of the influence of the oncoming flow of soil on the screw surface of a subsoiler
Authors: Mukhametshin Ilshat , Valiev Ayrat , Aleshkin Alexey , Ibyatov Ravil , Muhamadyarov Farzutdin
Published: February 2020

Establishing optimal technological and design parameters of tillage tools is essential for ensuring tillage quality and lowest possible energy consumption by the tillage process. For simple plane soil looseners, used on the majority of tillage machines, this task is successfully achieved. In the meanwhile, significant proportion of tillage machines has relatively complex tools, which combine translational motion of the tool with rotation around its axis. This article studies the process of soil interaction with a screw conical subsoiler mounted on bearings. The subsoiler can freely rotate around its axis. The surface of the subsoiler is described by the screw surface equation bounded by a circular cone. External action on the subsoiler body is a resultant of normal and tangential forces applied to screw surface and friction force in the bearings. Theoretical dependencies have been obtained which determine the resultant force of soil on the screw surface of the subsoiler. This force is composed of the sliding friction force and the force appearing due to frontal soil flow after destruction of soil structural cohesion. The article also gives results of numerical calculations. The obtained dependencies allow studying the influence of technological and design parameters of the screw tool on the tillage process and substantiate parameters’ optimal values.
Analysis and selection of parental forms for crossbreeding of early potatoes for the arid conditions of the Middle Volga region
Authors: Molianov Vladimir , Vinogradov Oleg , Ivanayskaya Natalya
Published: February 2020

In the modern changing climate, selective breeding has been essential for increasing production and ensuring stable yields. Potato varieties with different ripening periods are suitable for the conditions of the Middle Volga region. High-yielding varieties resistant to mechanical damage and diseases, varieties with increased heat resistance and a complex of other important features are being created. The emergence of new directions has complicated the solution of breeding programs and required the orgaization of an intermediate stage in this work: the identification and use of special parent forms - carriers of useful qualities. This is a basic, but necessary task when involving a variety of genetic material in the selection process. Research on the topic was carried out in 2017–2019 in the Samara region (RF) in a special shielded area of AGROSTAR LLC in cooperation with experts of the potato farm of VNIIKH FGBNU, MAG LLC (Kinel), Agrocenter Korenevo LLC, and with the participation of experts of Bavaria-Saat GmbH, Germany.
The role of highly silicious rocks in increasing productivity and obtaining ecologically-safe agricultural products
Authors: Kulikova Alevtina , Kozlov Andrei , Zakharov Nikolai , Yashin Evgeny , Khairtdinova Natalya
Published: February 2020

The paper presents results of long-term research on effectiveness of application of highly-siliceous rocks (diatomite and zeolite) in crop cultivation technology in the conditions of leached black soil of the Middle Volga region. Crop yields and content of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni) in products are given in two variants: control and variant with introduction of the highly-siliceous rocks into the soil. It has been established that diatomite from Inza deposit and zeolite from Yushanskiy deposit of Ulyanovsk region are highly effective non-traditional fertilizers due to a complex positive effect on the "soil-plant" system. Thus, the yield increase of sugar beet roots amounted to 6.4 t/ha (+23 %) when diatomite was introduced into the soil at the dose of 5 t/ha, barley – 0.93 t/ha (+52 %), spring wheat – 0, 67 t/ha (+42 %). Highly-siliceous rocks with a highly developed specific surface area, possessing unique physicochemical properties, contribute to production of ecologically safe products. At the same time, the intake of heavy metals in agricultural products for some crops and metals decreased by more than 2 times.
Control of productivity of agrocenosis
Authors: Didovich Svetlana , Gorgulko Tatiana , Didovich Alexander
Published: February 2020

In this work, the authors used statistical processing of results of the long-term field several pieces of research by the method of multivariate analyze, factor analysis, and visualization of data with the use of the computer program Statistica 10. They created the multivariate Electronic Database for in-depth analysis and description of the effect of microbial preparations based on heterotrophic and phototrophic microorganisms on the efficiency of plant-microbial symbiotic systems in agrocenoses of legumes. Based on the field experiments on southern Chernozem in the steppe zone of the Crimea, the biological activity of the soil and the physiological and biochemical potential of soybean, pea, chickpea, peavine, and lentil were determined. The direction of microbiological and enzymatic processes in the rhizosphere was established, as well as interactive connections in the system “microorganisms – plants – soil”. The use of microbial preparations had a greater impact (2 times, p < 0.05) on the physiological and biochemical status of plants, crop structure, seed productivity, and grain quality. To a lesser extent, it influenced the biological activity of the soil in the agrocenosis of legumes. The advantage of using polyfunctional Cyanobacterial consortium in growing legumes for realizing the potential of plant-microbe interactions compared to monobacterization with Rhizobofit, fungi arbuscular mycorrhizae and biological products Rhizobofit, Phosfoenterin, and Biopolicyd was shown.
Physiological features of aggregation of the main formed elements of blood in calves at the beginning of early ontogenesis
Authors: Glagoleva Tatyana I. , Medvedev Ilya N.
Published: February 2020

The need to intensify milk production urgently dictates the need to continue research on the physiology of cattle of any age. It is customary to attach great importance to blood, consisting of uniform elements and plasma, constantly circulating through the vessels. It provides gas exchange, metabolism and the delivery of hormones and bioregulators in their tissues. The success of hemocirculation strongly determines the completeness of the realization of the genetic growth potential and productivity of the animal and is closely related to the activity of aggregation of blood cells. Purpose: to find out the activity of aggregation of the main formed elements of the blood in newborn calves. The work was carried out on 32 newborn calves of black-motley breed, born of healthy cows after 2–3 pregnancies. The calves were examined on 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–8 and 9–10 days of life. In the work, hematological and statistical research methods are applied. For newborns in calves, a tendency towards increased aggregation activity of red blood cells was revealed. This was combined with a low platelet aggregation, which tended to increase. The low aggregation of neutrophils in these calves also gradually increased. In newborn calves of optimal physiological status, there is a tendency to increase the aggregation of the main formed elements of the blood, which is a response to environmental influences.
Agrarian and economic aspect of food supply and its safety at the regional level
Authors: Rodnina N.V. , Tarasov M.E. , Teryutina M. M. , Kundyaitseva A. N.
Published: February 2020

The article deals with the need of increasing the competitiveness of rural areas in the food market and the share of local products in food supply of the population of the Saha Republic with local products. A system is substantiated that covers the necessity of state protectionist economic and social policy strengthening on the development of the northern regions, the creation of conditions for the agricultural sector of the economy effective functioning and the need to maintain a state support. It is emphasized that a stable economy always plays a crucial role in ensuring food security.
Calculation of thin-walled axisymmetrically loaded structures of the AIC taking into account FEM-based physical nonlinearity
Authors: Dzhabrailov Arsen , Nikolaev Anatoly , Gureeva Natalya
Published: February 2020

The article describes an algorithm for calculating an axisymmetrically loaded shell structure with a branching meridian, taking into account elastic-plastic deformations when loading based on the deformation theory of plasticity without assuming that the material is incompressible during plastic deformations. The correct relations which determine the static conjugation conditions of several revolution shells in the joint assembly are used. A comparative analysis of finite element solutions is presented for various options plasticity matrix development at the loading stage.
Correlation of the distribution of antioxidant enzyme concentrations in blood serum and heart tissue in rats
Authors: Boriskin Pavel , Gulenko Olga , Devyatkin Anatoly , Karimova Rufia , Leonov Victor , Pavlova Olga
Published: February 2020

Cardiovascular diseases have been the leading cause of death worldwide for many years. In recent years, new cardiovascular disease markers have been sought that can improve the diagnosis and treatment of this broad and prognostically unfavorable group of diseases. The efforts of many researchers are aimed at detecting changes in the level of enzymes in the lipid peroxidation system, which are antioxidants, as possible mechanisms underlying the development of cardiovascular disease. The imbalance between the intensification of free-radical oxidation caused by active oxygen forms and the activity of the body’s protective antioxidant system leads to serious disturbances: disorganization of cellular structures, changes in their functional activity. The article presents the study of the interrelation of the concentration distribution of enzymes of the lipid peroxidation system – antioxidants in blood serum and heart tissues of white non-pedigree rats. The correlation coefficients of Spearman, the gamma of correlation and Kendel Tau revealed a reliable presence of weak correlation between the concentration of glutathione peroxidase in blood serum and heart tissues (Spearman R = 0.18 at p ≤ 0.029408, Gamma = 0.14 at p ≤ 0.018701; Kendall Tau = 0.13 at p ≤ 0.018701).
A comparative study of application of multifunctional fertilizers based on amino acids and trace elements for winter wheat
Authors: Shapowal Olga , Mozharova Irina
Published: February 2020

The study of different complexes of new and innovative forms of fertilizers with the same ratio of trace elements applied in Nizhny Novgorod region in 2018 showed that the greatest grain yield increase to 0.45 and 0.435 t/ha or 7.8 and 7.4 % was obtained using trace elements and amino acids in doses of 1.5 and 3.0 l/ha. Similar results were observed when using amino acids in a dose of 2.0 l/ha. The yield Increase was 0.44 t/ha compared to the control one of 2.59 t/ha. In Ryazan region, the maximum yield was obtained using amino acids in a dose 1.0 l/ha; the yield increase was 1.4 t/ha or 28.6 %, while the control yield was 4.9 t/ha. Amino acid with microelements in a dose of 1.5 and 3.0 l/ha gave the high yield; the yield increase was 1 t/ha (20.4 %).
Effectiveness of various types and norms of fertilizers in increasing the productivity of cultivated crops and the fertility of gray forest soil in the Pre-Kama Area of Tatarstan
Authors: Shakirov Rafil C. , Bikhmuhammetov Zakirzhan M. , Khisamiev Fidail F.
Published: February 2020

The article discusses the effectiveness of various types and norms of organic fertilizers in improving soil fertility, productivity and crop production quality, as well as crop rotation productivity in a comparative aspect with the estimated norms of mineral fertilizers for obtaining the planned yield. Various norms of thermally dried granulated chicken manure were studied, its suitability as an environmentally safe complex organic fertilizer and its effectiveness in increasing yields, produce quality, soil fertility and crop rotation productivity compared with traditional manure, buckwheat green manure crop, mineral fertilizers and natural nutritional background were established. The economic efficiency of the use of various types of fertilizers in crop rotation is determined and its increase to a profitability level of 74–222 % depending on the type and norms of fertilizers is established.
The effect of metabolism on the course of labor and the postpartum period in highly productive cows
Authors: Baimishev Murat , Eremin Sergey , Plemyashov Kirill , Baimishev Hamidulla , Konopeltsev Igor , Yesengaliev Kairly
Published: February 2020

The purpose of the research is to determine the etiopathogenesis of reproductive dysfunction in highly productive cows. For this, one group of cows was formed on the principle of paranalogs in the amount of 37 animals inseminated in the first sexual hunt after calving, followed by taking blood samples from them using the Monovet system, considering the duration of pregnancy. During the start-up period, blood was taken 1–4 days before calving and on the first day after calving. A total of 253 blood samples were examined. Subsequently, depending on the effectiveness of insemination, animals were divided into two groups. The first group included inseminated cows after the first insemination (20 animals), the second group included 17 unfertilized cows after the first insemination. Subsequently, blood was taken from animals considering the course of childbirth and the postpartum period. Blood counts were studied according to generally accepted methods using certified equipment. The study found that at an early stage of pregnancy, cows have a significant difference in lipid metabolism and in their peroxidation, in the state of antioxidant systems compared to unstable animals. In the process of pregnancy development in cows, there is a decrease in the level of total lipids and their class, and the accumulation of products of transoxidation of lipids is reduced. In animals with retention of the placenta, a low lipid metabolism and a higher level of peroxidation were established already in the dry period. After calving, this difference increases. The obtained data can be used to develop an algorithm for the prevention of postpartum complications in cows by using substances with antioxidant properties.
Typische Probleme und Fehler im radiologischen Nachtdienst
Authors: Storjohann Svea , Pusch Anika , Kessler Rebecca , Kirsch Michael
Published: February 2020

Außerhalb der Regelarbeitszeit wird der Präsenzdienst in den meisten Krankenhäusern von Weiterbildungsassistenten geleistet. Sie sind gut beraten, einerseits die wichtigsten Krankheitsbilder zu kennen, die in dieser Übersichtsarbeit dargestellt werden, und andererseits die Fälle, die sie nicht lösen können, an ihren Hintergrund weiterzuleiten.
Die Zukunft der Nuklearkardiologie
Authors: Rischpler Christoph , Bengel Frank Michael
Published: February 2020

Die Nuklearkardiologie ist im Wandel. Die Zeiten, in denen man als Nuklearkardiologe ähnlich einem reinen Dienstleister Myokardperfusionsszintigrafien durchführte und befundete, haben sich zugunsten einer größeren Vielseitigkeit geändert. Es tun sich neue, vielversprechende Anwendungsfelder auf, die eine enge Kooperation mit den klinischen Partnern erfordern. Zu diesen Anwendungsfeldern gehören insbesondere Infektions- und Inflammationserkrankungen sowie die kardiale Amyloidose. Des Weiteren ist die künstliche Intelligenz auf dem Vormarsch. Wird der Nuklearmediziner dann noch gebraucht? Quo vadis, Nuklearkardiologie?
Koronare Herzkrankheit: Aktueller Stand der klinischen Anwendung der Myokardperfusionsszintigrafie im Rahmen des chronischen Koronarsyndroms
Authors: Goetz Christian , Meyer Philipp T. , Mühlen Constantin von zur
Published: February 2020

Die Myokardperfusionsszintigrafie (MPS) hat sich im Bereich der klinischen Anwendung und Methodik in Deutschland in den 10 letzten Jahren kontinuierlich entwickelt. Die neue europäische Leitlinie zur Diagnostik und Behandlung des neu definierten chronischen Koronarsyndroms hat die Rolle der nicht invasiven Bildgebung und damit der nuklearmedizinischen Verfahren bestätigt und gestärkt. Die MPS liefert wertvolle Beiträge zur klinischen Prognoseeinschätzung und Therapieentscheidung aufgrund des Zusammenhanges von szintigrafisch nachgewiesener Perfusionsstörung mit der Häufigkeit von kardiovaskulärem Tod und nicht tödlichem Herzinfarkt.

In diesem Artikel wird ein Überblick über die Einsatzbereiche, die aktuellen Leitlinien und den momentanen Stellenwert der MPS sowie eine kurze Zusammenfassung der praktischen Anwendung des Verfahrens gegeben.
Verschiedene Untersuchungsprotokolle und Möglichkeiten der Strahlenreduktion bei der Myocardperfusionsszintigrafie
Authors: Kranz Stephan , Glawe Matthias
Published: February 2020

Die Myocardperfusionsszintigrafie stellt unverändert eine wichtige diagnostische Methode zur Evaluation der hämodynamischen Relevanz einer koronaren Herzkrankheit dar. Mit der Einführung der CZT-Kameras sowie anderer technischer Neuerungen auch bei konventionellen Gammakameras wie z. B. die IQ-SPECT-Technologie sowie verbesserte Auswertealgorithmen, konnte die Strahlenbelastung pro Untersuchung kontinuierlich gesenkt werden, sodass sich die moderne nuklearmedizinische Perfusionsbildgebung sowohl hinsichtlich der diagnostischen Spezifität und Sensitivität als auch der Strahlenbelastung gegenüber den konkurrierenden Methoden nicht zu verstecken braucht.
Entwicklungen nach Einführung des OPS 8-98h („spezialisierte palliativmedizinische Komplexbehandlung durch einen Palliativdienst“) – eine erste Bilanz Palliativmedizinischer Dienste in Bayern
Authors: Anneser Johanna , Brown Anna , Thurn Tamara
Published: February 2020

Hintergrund DRG-abhängige Zusatzentgelte bilden aktuell eine wichtige Finanzierungsgrundlage der in Krankenhäusern tätigen, multiprofessionellen Palliativdienste. Neben dem Zusatzentgelt (ZE 60) des OPS 8-982 besteht seit Januar 2017 die Möglichkeit, über den neu eingeführten OPS 8-98h krankenhausindividuelle Zusatzentgelte abzurechnen. Eine wesentliche Neuerung war hierbei, dass im Gegensatz zum OPS 8-982, für dessen Erlös eine Mitbetreuung des Patienten von mindestens sechs Stunden pro Woche und eine Mindestbehandlungsdauer von sieben Tagen erforderlich ist, der Wochenbezug zugunsten einer gestaffelten, aufwandsbezogenen Vergütung fallengelassen wurde.

Methodik Wir führten von November bis Dezember 2018 eine Online-Befragung der vom Bayerischen Staatsministerium für Gesundheit und Pflege genehmigten Palliativmedizinischen Dienste (PMD) durch. Es wurden besonders Entwicklungen infolge der Einführung des OPS 8-98h bezüglich finanzieller, struktureller und organisatorischer Charakteristika untersucht. Als Vergleich dienten Daten von Befragungen der bayerischen PMD aus den Jahren 2011 und 2015.

Ergebnisse Der Rücklauf betrug 52 % (30 Fragebögen). Elf PMD (37 %) rechneten den OPS 8-98h ab. Bei größeren (> 400 Betten) Krankenhäusern (59 %) war dies signifikant häufiger der Fall als bei kleineren (< 400 Betten) Häusern (15 %). Erlöst wurden bis Ende 2018 ausschließlich Pauschalen pro Patient (durchschnittlich 592 €). Die Mehrheit dieser Dienste (N = 9/11; 82 %) finanzierte sich neben dem OPS 8-98h auch durch den älteren OPS 8-982. Insgesamt konnten sich nur 13 Dienste (43 %) ausschließlich durch die Zusatzentgelte des OPS 8-982 und/oder 8-98h finanzieren. Keinem Dienst gelang dies allein durch den OPS 8-98h. Strukturell zeigte sich seit 2011 eine signifikante Abnahme des Prozentsatzes der Dienste, die über fest im Team integrierte Seelsorger und Psychologen verfügen.

Diskussion Die Einführung des OPS 8-98h ist ein wichtiger Schritt in Richtung einer praxisnahen und adäquaten Finanzierung der in Krankenhäusern tätigen multiprofessionellen Palliativdienste. Unsere Befragung zeigte jedoch, dass folgende Punkte verbesserungsbedürftig sind:

1. Vergütung des OPS 8-98h: Die Höhe der aktuellen krankenhausindividuellen Zusatzentgelte ist für eine kostendeckende Finanzierung der PMD nicht ausreichend.

2. Abrechenbarkeit des OPS 8-98h in kleineren Krankenhäusern: Der neue Komplexcode scheint gegenwärtig für kleinere Häuser wenig attraktiv zu sein.

3. Multiprofessionalität der PMD: Die Einschränkung der erlösrelevanten Leistungen auf die im OPS definierten Berufsgruppen ist für eine den Patientenbedürfnissen entsprechende Palliativversorgung nachteilig.
Schritt für Schritt zur Blutentnahme
Authors: Sengebusch Jürgen , Herzog Michael
Published: February 2020

Um eine sichere Diagnose zu stellen, ist eine Blutentnahme oft unerlässlich. Dafür muss in der Regel eine Vene, zum Beispiel V. cephalica, punktiert werden. Vor der Venenpunktion ist es wichtig, die rechtlichen Vorschriften wie die Aufklärung des Patienten zu erfüllen sowie sorgfältig die benötigten Materialien vorzubereiten. Begleitend zu einer Venenpunktion (zur Blutentnahme oder Injektion/Infusion) ist eine ordnungsgemäße Dokumentation zu leisten.
Optically enhanced trap assisted hysteretic I-V characteristics of nanocrystalline silicon based p-i-n heterostructure
Authors: Chakrabarty Sudipta , Das Gourab , Ray Mallar , Hossain Syed Minhaz
Published: February 2020

A p-i-n heterostructure containing electrochemically synthesized silicon (Si) nanorods embedded in a nonstoichiometric silicon oxide matrix sandwiched as i-layer between p-Si and n-type hydrogeneted amorphous Si shows hysteresis in both forward and reverse biases with an additional switching in forward bias. Conductivity in the trace path is lesser than the retrace path. Hysteresis in the reverse bias has been found to get enhanced up to three orders of magnitude under illumination by laser sources of different intensities and wavelengths showing the potential of the structure as an effective memory device. Hysteresis area and conductivity become maximum for red light and gradually decrease for green and violet light for fixed intensity. It is well known that the Si nanocrystal–silicon oxide interface contains a lot of electron and hole trap levels within the bandgap. Trapping and detrapping of photogenerated carriers at the trap/defect states are expected to affect the band bending at the junctions. The observed optically enhanced hysteresis has been explained through formation and destruction of the potential barrier at junctions during trace and retrace paths, respectively. The potential has been estimated by solving Poisson's equation, and the current–voltage (I–V) relation for trace and retrace paths has been derived where the rate of trapping and detrapping becomes different resulting in the observed hysteresis. Theoretically obtained I–V characteristics match well with the experimentally obtained results. The trap density in the i-layer estimated to be ∼1011/cm2 is in good agreement for the trap density in similar systems.
A comparative computational study of tunneling transistors based on vertical graphene–hBCN heterostructures
Authors: Ebrahimi Mahsa , Horri Ashkan , Sanaeepur Majid , Tavakoli Mohammad Bagher
Published: February 2020

In this paper, the electrical characteristics of tunneling transistors based on vertical graphene and a hexagonal boron-carbon-nitrogen (hBCN) heterostructure are studied and compared theoretically. We have considered three different types of hBCN, i.e., BC2N, BC2N′, and BC6N as a tunneling barrier. Our simulation is based on the nonequilibrium Green’s function formalism along with an atomistic tight-binding (TB) model. The TB parameters are obtained by fitting the band structure to first-principles results. By using this method, electrical characteristics of the device, such as the ION/IOFF ratio, subthreshold swing, and intrinsic gate-delay time, are investigated. For a fair comparison, the effects of geometrical variations and number of tunneling barrier layers on the electrical parameters of the device are simulated and investigated. We show that, by an appropriate design, the device can be used for low-power or high-performance applications. The device allows current modulation exceeding 106 at room temperature for a 0.6 V bias voltage.
Strong and wide microwave absorption of SrFe12−2xNixRuxO19 enhanced by dislocation stripes
Authors: Chang Yidi , Zhang Yanan , Meng Chao , Liu Shunquan , Chang Hong , Liu Zhi
Published: February 2020

SrFe12−2xNixRuxO19 become promising microwave absorbing materials at 0.1–18 GHz with Ni and Ru doping. Regular lattice dislocation stripes are observed in high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images of x = 0.5 and 0.7. The observed strong microwave absorption is mainly contributed by natural magnetic resonance, which is widened by local magnetic fields at dislocation stripes. At dislocation stripes, interface polarization also forms. Both the x = 0.5 and 0.7 samples are excellent single-layer microwave absorbers. In x = 0.5, the bandwidth of reflection loss (RL) < −10 dB is broader than 11.31 GHz of 6.69 GHz to >18 GHz. In x = 0.7, an ultra-low RL = −82 dB is observed with a fairly wide bandwidth (RL < −10 dB) of over 8.8 GHz in the range of 9.2 GHz to >18 GHz. As the thickness and the doping content vary, the absorption is able to cover the full range of 3.5–18 GHz. The excellent microwave absorption is based on the collaboration of good impedance matching and high attenuation factor. The quarter-wavelength criteria explain the relationship between the optimum thickness and the frequency. Compared to the advanced materials reported, both the absorption strength and the bandwidth of SrFe12−2xNixRuxO19 are very competitive.
High-quality tuning of cholesteric liquid crystal lasers based on polymer composite system
Authors: Inoue Yo , Sasaki Shunta , Moritake Hiroshi
Published: February 2020

Electrically fine tuning is demonstrated in a cholesteric liquid crystal (ChLC) laser based on the polymer composite system. Photo-polymerization in the mixture of LC monomer and LC hardly causes phase separation due to miscibility, forming a microscopically well-mixed polymer-LC composite structure like gel. Light scattering in the polymer-LC composite system decreases with increasing the polymer component, and the composite of equal parts of the polymer and LC exhibits high transparency in electric modulation of the selective reflection band, resulting in high-quality tuning of lasing wavelength in ChLC laser. In tuning operation, the ChLC laser retains a high slope efficiency greater than 19%, a low threshold smaller than 3 nJ/pulse, and a spectral linewidth narrower than 0.13 nm, while the change in lasing wavelength is fully continuous and reaches 13 nm.
Phase-dependent electronic and magnetic properties of Ti2C monolayers
Authors: Akgenc B. , Mogulkoc A. , Durgun E.
Published: February 2020

Achieving tunable magnetism in low-dimensions is an essential step to realize novel spintronic applications. In this manner, two-dimensional transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes) with intrinsic magnetism have attracted significant interest. In this study, we extensively examine the structural and magnetic properties of 1T- and 2H-Ti2C monolayers by using first-principles techniques. We reveal the dynamical stability of both phases by using phonon spectra analysis and abinitio molecular dynamics simulations. The magnetic ground state is determined by considering all possible spin configurations and taking into account spin–orbit coupling effects, strong onsite Coulomb interaction, and corrected self-interaction terms. Our results indicate that while 1T-Ti2C is anti-ferromagnetic, 2H-Ti2C exhibits ferromagnetism, which is stable at/above room temperature. The electronic structure analysis demonstrates that 1T-Ti2C is an indirect bandgap semiconductor and 2H-Ti2C is a half-metal with 100% spin-polarization. Additionally, it is shown that the magnetic state is robust against low mechanical deformations and fundamental bandgap (also half-metallic bandgap) can be tuned by compressive/tensile strain. Phase-dependent and tunable electronic and magnetic properties of Ti2C monolayers offer new opportunities in the field of low-dimensional magnetism.
Radically tunable ultrafast photonic oscillators via differential pumping
Authors: Kominis Yannis , Bountis Anastasios , Kovanis Vassilios
Published: February 2020

We present the controllability capabilities for the limit cycles of an extremely tunable photonic oscillator, consisting of two coupled semiconductor lasers. We show that this system supports stable limit cycles with frequencies ranging from a few to more than a hundred GHz that are characterized by a widely varying degree of asymmetry between the oscillations of the two lasers. These dynamical features are directly controllable via differential pumping as well as optical frequency detuning of the two lasers, suggesting a multi-functional oscillator for chip-scale radio-frequency photonics applications.
A new approach to studying the cathodoluminescence spectra of free quasicrystalline and crystalline inert-element clusters
Authors: Vakula V. L. , Danylchenko O. G. , Doronin Yu. S. , Kamarchuk G. V. , Konotop O. P. , Samovarov V. N. , Tkachenko A. A.
Published: February 2020

The paper proposes a new approach to the quantitative analysis of the cathodoluminescence spectra of free clusters of inert elements produced in a supersonic jet exhausting into a vacuum. This approach takes into account the level of substance clustering in the jet, and is used to analyze the luminescence band intensities of the neutral and charged (Rg2)* and (Rg4+)* excimer complexes measured for the nanoclusters of three inert gases (Rg = Ar, Kr, and Xe), with the average size ranging from 100 to 18000 atoms per cluster (diameters varying from 2 to 13 nm). The concentration of the clustered substance, which affects the absolute values of the integrated intensity of the spectral bands, is shown to be proportional to the logarithm of the average size of the clusters in the jet. Analysis of the normalized intensities allowed us to use our cathodoluminescence spectra to establish two ranges of average nanocluster size which, according to the electron diffraction studies, can be identified as those corresponding to the quasicrystalline icosahedral and crystalline fcc structures in clusters of argon, krypton, and xenon, as well as to find an intermediate area in which both structures coexist. It is shown that in fcc clusters the luminescence of the (Rg2)* neutral molecules comes from within the volume of the cluster, while the charged (Rg4+)* excimer complexes emit mostly from a subsurface layer.
Trapping sites of Li atom in the rare gas crystals Ar, Kr, and Xe: Analysis of stability and manifestation in the EPR spectra
Authors: Tarakanova A. S. , Buchachenko A. A. , Bezrukov D. S.
Published: February 2020

The classical model of an ideal crystal, parametrized according to non-empirical calculations, is used to determine the structure and geometry of the atomic lithium trapping sites in solid inert gases RG = Ar, Kr, and Xe, and to define their thermodynamic stability. The diversity of the observed stable sites reduces to four highly symmetric structures corresponding to the interstitial introduction of an Li atom, its substitution of an inert gas atom, or its incorporation into tetrahedral and octahedral vacancies formed by the removal of four and six inert gas atoms from the crystal lattice. The non-empirically calculated dependences of the isotropic hyperfine coupling constant tensor on the distance in the diatomic Li@RG complex are used to estimate the shifts of the electron paramagnetic resonance signals in the predicted thermodynamically stable sites. A comparison with published data does not contradict the assignment of the observed multiple signals to certain types of stable sites, taking into account the spectral features of samples that were prepared by thermal deposition and laser ablation in three different inert gases.
Public attitudes to animal welfare and landholder resource limitations: implications for total grazing pressure management in the southern rangelands of Australia
Authors: Sinclair K. , Curtis A. L. , Atkinson T. , Hacker R. B.
Published: February 2020

Sustainable grazing in the nationally iconic southern rangelands of Australia requires landholders to actively manage the grazing pressure from both domestic livestock and non-domestic herbivores. Landholders have primary responsibility for controlling the non-domestic herbivores. In doing so, they must meet the Australian public’s expectations for resource conservation (mainly a public good) and animal welfare. Governments are also involved in the management of non-domestic herbivores via native and feral animal legislation and control programs. The Australian public will not accept cruelty to animals, perceived or otherwise. In this paper we explore the challenges faced by landholders in their attempts to manage the grazing pressure from native herbivores, particularly kangaroos, feral goats and feral pigs, while meeting the Australian public’s expectations for animal welfare. Landholders typically live on extensive properties and their capacity to manage these is influenced by high climate variability, low labour availability, commodity price fluctuations and limited capital available for investment in new technologies. The additional requirement to reduce the grazing pressure from kangaroos, feral goats and feral pigs is a significant burden on already time-poor landholders. Hence, there is a critical disparity between landholders’ capacity and their responsibility to effectively manage the non-domestic herbivores on their properties. We suggest that current expectations of landholders to deliver public benefits by publicly acceptable practices are unreasonable. Further, we suggest that governments should accept more responsibility for managing non-domestic grazing pressure. The concept of duty of care to land management provides a means by which a more appropriate division of responsibilities between landholders and government could be achieved to ensure that valued attributes of this iconic Australian landscape are retained.
Progressive or not progressive?
Authors: Rautionaho Paula , Deshors Sandra C.
Published: February 2020

This multifactorial analysis of progressive marking contrasts native English to two Asian Englishes and Dutch English.
Specifically, we (i) model writers’ constructional choices (progressive vs. non-progressive) across Englishes based on several
linguistic predictors simultaneously, (ii) assess how those factors impact the progressive vs. non-progressive alternation, (iii)
how several linguistic factors determine, simultaneously, writers’ constructional choices and (iv) how those choices differ across
varieties and genres. Based on 4,661 verb constructions from five comparable multi-genre corpora, we ran a logistic regression
analysis to determine which factors cause English-speaking populations to differ in their constructional choices and in which
specific contexts. While the model strongly predicts speakers’ choices, within individual genres, tense and modality are found to
influence speakers’ choices differently. Overall, our results yield nuanced insights into the (dis)similarities among and within
ESL/EFL varieties and contribute to the broader issue of the native-foreign-second language continuum across genres.
The use of stative progressives by school-age learners of English and the importance of the variable context
Authors: Fuchs Robert , Werner Valentin
Published: February 2020

Previous studies indicate that even Advanced learners of English as a Foreign Language and speakers of English as a Second
Language extend the progressive to stative verbs, contrary to the predictions of the Aspect Hypothesis (AH). We test this
claim based on a corpus of beginning and lower intermediate learner writing produced by speakers of three languages with and
three without a progressive. In contrast to previous studies, we measure the frequency of stative progressives using the
variable context method, which is frequently used in research on dialectal variation. Results reveal that stative progressives
are very rare at the beginning/lower intermediate level, regardless of the presence of a progressive in the learners’ L1,
confirming the claim of the AH for beginning and lower intermediate learners. Moreover, stative progressives mostly occur in
contexts that are grammatical in native usage, especially in the interlanguage of learners with a progressive in their L1.
The basic unit of spoken language and the interfaces between prosody, discourse and
syntax
Authors: Izre'el Shlomo
Published: February 2020

Looking at spoken language as an integrative whole, where prosody,
syntax and discourse features interplay as to conveying information, I will try to figure out
the best methodology for its research by advocating that the best candidate to be regarded
as the basic unit of spoken discourse is the utterance. Arguments brought
will be mainly phonetic, phonological (prosodic), informational, and syntactic. In addition,
arguments from pragmatics and conversation analysis will be mentioned.
Design and annotation of two-level utterance units in Japanese
Authors: Maruyama Takehiko , Den Yasuharu , Koiso Hanae
Published: February 2020

We introduce an annotation scheme of two-level utterance units in
Japanese speech, thus identifying utterance units in two different levels, which are called
“short utterance-unit” (SUU) and “long utterance-unit” (LUU). SUUs are divided by acoustic
and prosodic boundaries, corresponding to Intonation Units (Chafe, 1994), considered as basic units of speakers’ planning. LUUs,
on the other hand, correspond to Clausal Units (Biber,
Johansson, Leech, Conrad, & Finegan, 1999), being divided by major syntactic
breaks and/or communicative interactions. Those are basic units of syntactic chunks and/or
participants’ interaction. We show a design of SUU and LUU consisting of prosodic, clausal
and non-clausal units. Annotating SUU and LUU in 12 dialogs of two hours altogether, we
examine their characteristics and distribution in the corpus.
Analysis of two English spontaneous speech examples with the dependency incremental
prosodic structure model
Authors: Martin Philippe
Published: February 2020

Two examples of English spontaneous speech are analyzed
prosodically, using the dependency incremental prosodic structure model. Instead of
annotating prosodic events with the ToBI system, stressed accent phrases and final
syllables are described in terms of rising or falling melodic contours, characterized by
their melodic change above or below the glissando threshold. These contours
indicate dependency relations between accent phrases, which in turn define the sentence
prosodic structure.
Basic units of speech segmentation
Authors: Mithun Marianne
Published: February 2020

The segmentation of the monologue Navy and the
dialogue Hearts described here is based solely on the acoustic signal. The
unit of reference is the intonation unit as defined in the work of Chafe, characterized by a
single, coherent pitch contour. Units defined by pitch often coincide with intensity,
pauses, rhythm, and phonation type, though not always. In English they typically begin with
a pitch reset followed by declination. Series of intonation units often form larger prosodic
sentences, which can show an overall declination in pitch, often with intermediate pitch
resets at the beginning of each unit. As shown by Chafe (1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2000,
2018), each unit tends to convey one new idea or
focus of consciousness. They often correlate with syntactic constituents or sentences,
though not always.
Segmentation of the English texts Navy and Hearts
with SUU and LUU
Authors: Maruyama Takehiko
Published: February 2020

The chapter shows segmentation analyses of two English texts
according to the criteria of the SUU (Short Utterance-Unit) and the LUU (Long
Utterance-Unit). Our basic idea of segmentation is to identify utterance boundaries at two
different levels. SUUs represent small information chunks, which are related to speakers’
planning and hearers’ understanding in a short time, and roughly correspond to prosodic and
intonational units. LUUs, on the other hand, are basic chunks of interaction between the
speaker and the hearer, corresponding to syntactic, discourse, and interactional units.
Acoustic, prosodic, syntactic, and interactional boundaries were used as cues for segmenting
utterances at two different levels. The technique of segmentation offers a way to view the
multi-layered structure of spontaneous speech.
Some notes on the Hearts and Navy excerpts according
to the Language into Act Theory
Authors: Cresti Emanuela , Moneglia Massimo
Published: February 2020

The paper sketches the Language into Act Theory and how it catches
the difference between the Navy monologue and the Hearts
dialogue. According to L-AcT, two types of reference units, both ending with a prosodic
terminal break are identified: utterance matching with a single speech act
and stanza expressing a flow of thought through an adjunction process.
Navy is a sequence of two narrative stanzas with a
complex informational organization, while Hearts is organized in 11
utterances showing high illocutionary variation. The core of the
information pattern is the Comment accomplishing the illocutionary force. The information
structure, expressing a closed set of functions, is in one-to-one correspondence with the
prosodic structure. The linguistic content is not compositional across information units.
Comparing annotations for the prosodic segmentation of spontaneous speech
Authors: Panunzi Alessandro , Gregori Lorenzo , Rocha Bruno
Published: February 2020

This chapter reports a quantitative and qualitative comparison of
seven annotations performed on the same two American English texts: a monologue and a
dialogue. The analysis of these data is complex, since the annotations have been made
independently by each research group on the basis of their own theoretical frameworks.
Despite this difference, the fundamental role of prosody in the analysis of speech emerges
clearly in every annotation. Prosodic breaks can be then viewed as theory independent
entities. After summarizing the key features of theoretical models, we derived a unified
tagset and developed a web application (SLAC) to compare different annotations. Finally,
agreement on prosodic breaks has been measured in different ways, reporting promising
results in terminal break identification.
α-Tubulin detyrosination impairs mitotic error correction by suppressing MCAK centromeric activity
Authors: Ferreira Luísa T. , Orr Bernardo , Rajendraprasad Girish , Pereira António J. , Lemos Carolina , Lima Joana T. , Guasch Boldú Clàudia , Ferreira Jorge G. , Barisic Marin , Maiato Helder
Published: February 2020

Incorrect kinetochore–microtubule attachments during mitosis can lead to chromosomal instability, a hallmark of human cancers. Mitotic error correction relies on the kinesin-13 MCAK, a microtubule depolymerase whose activity in vitro is suppressed by α-tubulin detyrosination—a posttranslational modification enriched on long-lived microtubules. However, whether and how MCAK activity required for mitotic error correction is regulated by α-tubulin detyrosination remains unknown. Here we found that detyrosinated α-tubulin accumulates on correct, more stable, kinetochore–microtubule attachments. Experimental manipulation of tubulin tyrosine ligase (TTL) or carboxypeptidase (Vasohibins-SVBP) activities to constitutively increase α-tubulin detyrosination near kinetochores compromised efficient error correction, without affecting overall kinetochore microtubule stability. Rescue experiments indicate that MCAK centromeric activity was required and sufficient to correct the mitotic errors caused by excessive α-tubulin detyrosination independently of its global impact on microtubule dynamics. Thus, microtubules are not just passive elements during mitotic error correction, and the extent of α-tubulin detyrosination allows centromeric MCAK to discriminate correct vs. incorrect kinetochore–microtubule attachments, thereby promoting mitotic fidelity.
The silicon photomultiplier: fundamentals and applications of a modern solid-state photon detector
Authors: Gundacker Stefan , Heering Arjan
Published: February 2020

The silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) is an established device of choice for a variety of applications, e.g. in time of flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET), lifetime fluorescence spectroscopy, distance measurements in LIDAR applications, astrophysics, quantum-cryptography and related applications as well as in high energy physics (HEP).

To fully utilize the exceptional performances of the SiPM, in particular its sensitivity down to single photon detection, the dynamic range and its intrinsically fast timing properties, a qualitative description and understanding of the main SiPM parameters and properties is necessary. These analyses consider the structure and the electrical model of a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) and the integration in an array of SPADs, i.e. the SiPM. The discussion will include the front-end readout and the comparison between analog-SiPMs, where the array of SPADs is connected in parallel, and the digital SiPM, where each SPAD is read out and digitized by its own electronic channel.

For several applications a further complete phenomenological view on SiPMs is necessary, defining several SiPM intrinsic parameters, i.e. gain fluctuation, afterpulsing, excess noise, dark count rate, prompt and delayed optical crosstalk, single photon time resolution (SPTR), photon detection effieciency (PDE) etc. These qualities of SiPMs influence directly and indirectly the time and energy resolution, for example in PET and HEP. This complete overview of all parameters allows one to draw solid conclusions on how best performances can be achieved for the various needs of the different applications.