bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The pH buffering capacity of Acrisols under cassava production in Southeastern Vietnam, Chau Thanh district
Authors: Nguyen T. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThis study examined the pH buffering capacity (pHBC) of haplic Acrisols under intensive cassava production in an upland area of Southeastern Vietnam where accelerated soil acidification has occurred. Soil samples (0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm) were taken at 12 sites under cassava and three sites under secondary dipterocarp forest as reference. The pH buffer curves were linear in the pHH2O range from 3.97 to 5.24, corresponding to a pHCaCl2 range from 3.74 to 5.20. Soil pHBC were low (1.16 ± 0.13 cmol/kg/pH) and correlated significantly with pH, Aluminium (Al) and Al‐related components. The results suggested that exchange acidity contributes significantly to soil's buffering capacity in acidic soils with low organic carbon. It also pointed to the possibility of using indicators of acidity to estimate soil pHBC. The low pHBC indicated a high risk for further acidification and also pointed to the possibility of using lime to remediate soils. Either acid buffering capacity or lime buffering capacity not pHBC in general should be considered, respectively, in acidification and liming studies. Factors and processes involved in soil acidification and liming need to be addressed as a background for soil remediation in the study area.
A preliminary soil security assessment of agricultural land in middle‐eastern China
Authors: Yang R.‐M. , Minasny B. , Ma Y.‐X. , Field D. , McBratney A. , Wu C.‐F. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractSustainable management of agricultural land requires not only an accurate assessment of the biophysical status of the soil but also estimates of the social and economic aspects of the soil. This paper focuses on soil security mapping of an approximately 80 000 km2 agricultural area in middle‐eastern China. We examined a digital soil assessment framework in mapping soil security and its five dimensions (capability, condition, capital, connectivity and codification) using digital soil maps and environmental variables. The main objective is to improve the understanding of soil protection in agricultural practices. Soil and environmental variables were coded as indicator values based on their functions, and three averaging models were used to integrate the indicators for soil security mapping. Results show that agricultural land in the study area currently has a high potential to achieve the crop production function, while there is still lack of sufficient social connectivity. Most of agricultural land has been properly protected by the public policy. More than half of the agricultural land has high security for cropping, while there is no unsecured soil. In general, most of the agricultural lands have already been well developed for cropping. The low soil security mainly contributes to the lack of proper connection to the soil. The findings suggest that digital soil security assessment is highly recommended for guiding sustainable development of agricultural land, because it could provide the knowledge of factors affecting soil security from complex multifaceted dimensions, and potential solutions to make agriculture soil more secure.
Genomic dissection of pod shattering in common bean: mutations at non‐orthologous loci at the basis of convergent phenotypic evolution under domestication of leguminous species
Authors: Rau Domenico , Murgia Maria L. , Rodriguez Monica , Bitocchi Elena , Bellucci Elisa , Fois Davide , Albani Diego , Nanni Laura , Gioia Tania , Santo Debora , Marcolungo Luca , Delledonne Massimo , Attene Giovanna , Papa Roberto 
Published: November 2018

SummaryThe complete or partial loss of shattering ability occurred independently during the domestication of several crops. Therefore, the study of this trait can provide an understanding of the link between phenotypic and molecular convergent evolution. The genetic dissection of ‘pod shattering’ in Phaseolus vulgaris is achieved here using a population of introgression lines and next‐generation sequencing techniques. The ‘occurrence’ of the indehiscent phenotype (indehiscent versus dehiscent) depends on a major locus on chromosome 5. Furthermore, at least two additional genes are associated with the ‘level’ of shattering (number of shattering pods per plant: low versus high) and the ‘mode’ of shattering (non‐twisting versus twisting pods), with all of these loci contributing to the phenotype by epistatic interactions. Comparative mapping indicates that the major gene identified on common bean chromosome 5 corresponds to one of the four quantitative trait loci for pod shattering in Vigna unguiculata. None of the loci identified comprised genes that are homologs of the known shattering genes in Glycine max. Therefore, although convergent domestication can be determined by mutations at orthologous loci, this was only partially true for P. vulgaris and V. unguiculata, which are two phylogenetically closely related crop species, and this was not the case for the more distant P. vulgaris and G. max. Conversely, comparative mapping suggests that the convergent evolution of the indehiscent phenotype arose through mutations in different genes from the same underlying gene networks that are involved in secondary cell‐wall biosynthesis and lignin deposition patterning at the pod level.
Sunflower resistance to multiple downy mildew pathotypes revealed by recognition of conserved effectors of the oomycete Plasmopara halstedii
Authors: Pecrix Yann , Buendia Luis , Penouilh‐Suzette Charlotte , Maréchaux Maude , Legrand Ludovic , Bouchez Olivier , Rengel David , Gouzy Jérôme , Cottret Ludovic , Vear Felicity , Godiard Laurence 
Published: November 2018

SummaryOver the last 40 years, new sunflower downy mildew isolates (Plasmopara halstedii) have overcome major gene resistances in sunflower, requiring the identification of additional and possibly more durable broad‐spectrum resistances. Here, 354 RXLR effectors defined in silico from our new genomic data were classified in a network of 40 connected components sharing conserved protein domains. Among 205 RXLR effector genes encoding conserved proteins in 17 P. halstedii pathotypes of varying virulence, we selected 30 effectors that were expressed during plant infection as potentially essential genes to target broad‐spectrum resistance in sunflower. The transient expression of the 30 core effectors in sunflower and in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves revealed a wide diversity of targeted subcellular compartments, including organelles not so far shown to be targeted by oomycete effectors such as chloroplasts and processing bodies. More than half of the 30 core effectors were able to suppress pattern‐triggered immunity in N. benthamiana, and five of these induced hypersensitive responses (HR) in sunflower broad‐spectrum resistant lines. HR triggered by PhRXLRC01 co‐segregated with Pl22 resistance in F3 populations and both traits localized in 1.7 Mb on chromosome 13 of the sunflower genome. Pl22 resistance was physically mapped on the sunflower genome recently sequenced, unlike all the other downy mildew resistances published so far. PhRXLRC01 and Pl22 are proposed as an avirulence/resistance gene couple not previously described in sunflower. Core effector recognition is a successful strategy to accelerate broad‐spectrum resistance gene identification in complex crop genomes such as sunflower.
Effect of osteoarthritis on the repeatability of patella tendon angle measurement in dogs
Authors: Homer Laura M. , Gomes Bárbara A. J. , Murphy Megan C. , Hammond Gawain J. C. , Parkin Tim D. H. , Broome Cameron J. A. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the influence of osteoarthritis on the measurement of patella tendon angle (PTA) and determine intraobserver and interobserver variability.Study designRetrospective clinical study.Sample populationEighty‐seven mediolateral radiographs that were obtained prior to tibial tuberosity advancement.MethodsRadiographic osteoarthritis was scored by 2 observers using guidelines derived from the International Elbow Working Group Protocol. Patella tendon angle was measured by 3 observers on 3 occasions, with at least 7 days between measurements. The data were statistically analyzed via weighted κ and Kruskal‐Wallis testing.ResultsA fair strength of agreement was found among observers scoring osteoarthritis, with the same grades in 48% of radiographs. The intraobserver average bias between PTA measurements 1 and 3 ranged from −0.38° to −0.94°. Interobserver bias in angle measurement ranged from −0.92° to −2.00°. Observer 1 had the narrowest range of PTA differences (12.1°), and observer 3 had the highest range of PTA differences (23.5°). Observer 2 had the lowest mean bias (−0.38°). The mean bias was lowest between observers 1 and 2 (−0.92°) and highest between observers 1 and 3 (−2.0°). The mean intraobserver standard deviation of the PTA measurement differences was 2.90°, and interobserver standard deviation of the PTA measurement differences was 2.26°. The degree of osteoarthritis did not influence PTA measurements or their variability.ConclusionThe current study did not find evidence of an influence of osteoarthritis on PTA or on the repeatability of measurements.Clinical significanceOur findings suggest that osteoarthritis should not affect the radiographic planning for tibial tuberosity advancement surgery. The high variances in PTA measurement in less experienced observers may influence the clinical outcome of surgery.
Trends in the use of large wood in UK river restoration projects: insights from the National River Restoration Inventory
Authors: Cashman Matthew Joseph , Wharton Geraldene , Harvey Gemma L. , Naura Marc , Bryden Alexandra 
Published: November 2018

AbstractLarge Wood (LW) is increasingly employed in river restoration to promote physical habitat heterogeneity and ecological diversity. To explore how LW has been used in restoration schemes across the United Kingdom in recent decades, we analysed data on 912 LW projects archived in the UK’s National River Restoration Inventory (NRRI). The number of LW schemes has continued to increase following the earliest records in the 1990s, largely tracking overall trends in river restorations. LW projects have been predominantly located in lowland, rural streams, although there has been a notable cluster in and around London. LW projects have mainly revolved around the desire to deliver hydromorphological improvements and specifically the creation of fish habitat. Most schemes used LW in simple deflector forms despite the growing scientific evidence of the benefits of using structurally complex LW. Post project monitoring has been limited and mostly restricted to photographic records. This type of database analysis can provide important insights and help guide future restoration practice.
Cultural conceptualizations of business negotiations in the Expanding Circle
Authors: Mendes de Oliveira Milene 
Published: November 2018

AbstractFollowing recents calls for the inclusion of conceptual aspects into world Englishes research, I report in this article on conceptualizations of business negotiations by Brazilian and German business people. I conducted semi‐structured interviews in English with nine participants from each country. Subsequently, I analyzed conceptualizations of respect, success, and conflict in business negotiations by looking at ‘conceptual scripts’ underlying interviewees’ answers. Results point to differences in how the Brazilian and the German interviewees conceptualize business negotiations.
Kinematic analysis on reaching activity for hemiparetic stroke subjects using simplified video processing method
Authors: Zainal Abidin Shaiful Bahri , Wan Jusoh Wan Nor Izzati , Beng Gan Kok 
Published: November 2018

The purpose of the conducted study is to compare and analyse the trajectory and the kinematic variables (displacement, velocity, acceleration) of reaching activity of the upper limb part for hemiparetic stroke patient for normal side and affected side using a low cost video processing method. The research is conducted in three different categories which are recovery, half recovery and non-recovery stroke patient group. Six subjects were divided equally in the respective categories and they performed three trials for each reaching task, the trial was conducted by a qualified physiotherapist while the subjects were sitting on a straight-back chair or on their wheel chair. A GoPro video cameras were used to record the reaching movement in two dimensional perspective and from the recorded video, the comparison analysis was done and evaluated based on the maximum, mean and the standard deviation, kinematics performance and reaching trajectory. With this technique, was achieved implement a system that allows viewing kinematic variables as which detected in the cycle of reaching gait. The results showed a significant different between these three group and were consistence with those reported in the previous literature
Evaluation of environmental natural radioactivity levels in soil and ground water of Barkin Ladi, Plateau state, Nigeria
Authors: Abba Habu Tela , Wan Hassan Wan Muhammad Saridan , Aziz saleh Muneer 
Published: November 2018

Gamma spectrometry was used to measure gamma dose rate in air and to determine the activity concentration of naturally occurring radionuclides viz. 226Ra 232Th and 40K in soil samples collected across the geological formations of Barkin Ladi. Dose rates measured in-situ ranged from 5 nGy h−1 to 1265 nGy h−1 with a mean value of 325 nGy h−1. The activity concentrations of 226Ra ranged from 27 to 327 Bq kg−1, 34 to 457 Bq kg−1 for 232Th and 43 to 1055 Bq kg−1 for 40K. Their mean values are significantly higher than their corresponding global average values. Annual effective dose due to exposure to gamma dose is calculated at 0.34 mSv y−1. Mass concentrations of uranium (238U) and thorium (232Th) determined in groundwater samples using Inductive Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) ranged from 2.5 to 35 µg l−1 for 238U and 0.5 to 15 µg l−1 for 232Th. Ingestion effective dose varies between 10.5 and 142 mSv y−1 for 238U and between 0.34 and 10.2 mSv y−1 for 232Th. Mass concentration of three water samples exceed the toxicity limit of U in groundwater provided by WHO. The result revealed that human risk due to ingestion of groundwater is from chemical toxicity rather than radiological effects. The results of this work will be useful for radio-geochemical investigation and groundwater resources management.
Weather Analysis Using Neural Networks for Modular Data Centers
Authors: Adejokun Feyisola , Siddarth Ashwin , Guhe Abhishek , Agonafer Dereje 
Published: November 2018

The objective of this work is to introduce the application of an artificial neural network (ANN) to assist in the evaporative cooling in data centers. To achieve this task, we employ the neural network algorithms to predict weather conditions outside the data center for direct evaporative cooling (DEC) operations. The predictive analysis helps optimize the cooling control strategy for maximizing the usage of evaporative cooling thereby improving the efficiency of the overall data center cooling system. A typical artificial neural network architecture is dynamic in nature and can perform adaptive learning in minimal computation time. A neural network model of a data center was created using operational historical data collected from a data center cooling control system. The neural network model allows the control of the modular data center (MDC) cooling at optimum configuration in two ways. First way is that the network model minimizes time delay for switching the cooling from one mode to the other. Second way, it improves the reaction behavior of the cooling equipment if an unexpected ambient condition change should come. The data center in consideration is a test bed modular data center that comprises of information Technology (IT) racks, Direct Evaporative cooling (DEC) and Indirect Evaporative Cooling (IEC) modules; the DEC/IEC are used together or in alternative mode to cool the data center room. The facility essentially utilizes outside ambient temperature and humidity conditions that are further conditioned by the DEC and IEC to cool the electronics, a concept know as air-side economization.
Various parameters are related to the cooling system operation such as outside air temperature, IT heat load, cold aisle temperature, cold aisle humidity etc. are considered. Some of these parameters are fed into the artificial neural network as inputs and some are set as targets to train the neural network system. After the training the process is completed, certain bucket of data is tested and further used to validate the outputs for various other weather conditions. To make sure the analysis represents real world scenario, the operational data used are from real time data logged on the MDC cooling control unit. Overall, the neural network model is trained and is used to successfully predict the weather conditions and cooling control parameters. The prediction models have been demonstrated for the outputs that are static in nature (Levenberg Marquardt method) as well as the outputs that are dynamic in nature i.e., step-ahead & multistep ahead techniques.
Creep Response of Assemblies Bonded With Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA)
Authors: Huang Hao , Jiang Qian , Dasgupta Abhijit , Mirbagheri Ehsan , Darbha Krishna 
Published: November 2018

Creep response of joints bonded with single-layered pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) was investigated in this study. PSAs are becoming more and more popular in the electronic industry as bonding media because of their ease of design, fast accurate bonding, environmentally-friendly bonding and ease of reworking. Such adhesive bonds are expected to experience complex, sustained loading conditions in service; e.g. loading due to large mass components, shock, temperature, or alignment mismatch of substrates. Stress-strain behavior of PSA bonding assembly has been extensively studied through experiments and simulations, including the effects of loading conditions (loading rate and temperature), PSA configurations (thickness of adhesive and single/double-layered PSAs), and bonding substrate surface properties (substrate material and surface roughness). However, the literature regarding the creep response of PSA-bonded assemblies is lacking and there is no literature on modeling methodologies for the creep response of such bonding systems.
Similar to the stress-strain behavior of PSA-bonded assemblies, the creep response includes transitions between multiple hardening and softening phases. Experimental results indicate that the secondary creep rate can change by up to two orders of magnitude after each transition, which is too significant to ignore when estimating the creep deformation of joints bonded with this material system. The number of transitions is related to the configuration of the PSA system, i.e. the single-layered PSA has one transition while double-layers PSAs may have multiple transitions due to the additional interface(s) introduced by the carrier layer. This unique secondary creep behavior comes from the competition between hydrostatic stress relaxation and strain hardening, caused by cavitation and fibrillation processes, respectively. The total stress applied on the joint is equal to the summation of deviatoric stress and hydrostatic stress. An advanced model based on the stress-strain ‘block’ model [5–7] is developed for evaluating the creep response. This model has the capability to control the initiation and growth of cavities in the bulk of the PSA and at the interface between PSA and substrate. This model is able to capture the nonlinear visco-plastic behavior of the PSA fibrils and estimate the effects of flexible carrier layer on the transitions in creep curves. The model prediction shows reasonable agreement with experimental results in terms of the characteristic features in creep strain histories.
Investigation of Active Power Cycling Combined With Passive Thermal Cycles on Discrete Power Electronic Devices for Automotive Applications
Authors: Otto Alexander , Rzepka Sven , Wunderle Bernhard 
Published: November 2018

Active power cycling is a standardized and well-established method for reliability assessment and product qualification in power electronics technologies. Repetitive pulses of load current are applied to cause cyclic thermal swings in the p-n junction and in the whole semiconductor device. They induce thermo-mechanical stresses, which ultimately leads to the typical interconnect failure in the ‘devices under test’.
However, these tests are insensitive with respect to new automotive system architectures, in which power electronics devices are exposed to additional loads besides the intrinsic thermal swings. The trends in power electronics towards miniaturization, higher power density, heterogeneous system integration, and the deployment of power electronics in harsher environments combined with longer lifetime and higher uptime requirements strongly increase the reliability demands in general and the need for more improved reliability assessment methodologies in particular. The new testing methods shall be more comprehensive and more efficient, i.e., they shall simultaneously cover the real service conditions better and reduce testing time. One promising approach is the combination of loading factors — such as the superposition of active power cycling by passive thermal cycles. Both loading factors are well-known to cause most relevant failure mechanisms in power electronics. In reality, the power electronic devices are exposed to both factors simultaneously. Hence, this load case should also be replicated in the test.
The paper will report a systematic investigation of such superimposed test schemes, which cover the case of self-heating and passive heating (from neighboring elements) of the power electronics devices under real service conditions. Typical discrete power electronics components in TO-200 packages are selected as test vehicles as they are likewise relevant for the domains of consumer or automotive electronics. The paper details the test concept and discuss the quantitative and qualitative test results.
Premature small for gestational age infants fed an exclusive human milk-based diet achieve catch-up growth without metabolic consequences at 2 years of age
Authors: Visuthranukul Chonnikant , Abrams Steven A , Hawthorne Keli M , Hagan Joseph L , Hair Amy B 
Published: November 2018

ObjectiveTo compare postdischarge growth, adiposity and metabolic outcomes of appropriate for gestational age (AGA) versus small for gestational age (SGA) premature infants fed an exclusive human milk (HM)-based diet in the neonatal intensive care unit.DesignPremature infants (birth weight ≤1250 g) fed an exclusive HM-based diet were examined at 12–15 months corrected gestational age (CGA) (visit 1) for anthropometrics, serum glucose and non-fasting insulin, and at 18–22 months CGA (visit 2) for body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.ResultsOf 51 children, 33 were AGA and 18 were SGA at birth. The SGA group had weight gain (g/day) equal to AGA group during the follow-up period. SGA had a significantly greater body mass index (BMI) z-score gain from visit 1 to visit 2 (0.25±1.10 vs −0.21±0.84, p=0.02) reflecting catch-up growth. There were no significant differences in total fat mass (FM) and trunk FM between groups. SGA had significantly lower insulin level (5.0±3.7 vs 17.3±15.1 µU/mL, p=0.02) and homeostatic model of assessment-insulin resistance (1.1±0.9 vs 4.3±4.1, p=0.02). Although regional trunk FM correlated with insulin levels in SGA (r=0.893, p=0.04), they had lower insulin level compared with AGA and no difference in adiposity.ConclusionsSGA premature infants who received an exclusive HM-based diet exhibited greater catch-up growth without increased adiposity or elevated insulin resistance compared with AGA at 2 years of age. An exclusive HM-based diet may improve long-term body composition and metabolic outcomes of premature infants with ≤1250 g birth weight, specifically SGA.