bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the Correction of the Power Factor in Modern Low-Voltage Power Electrical Installations
Authors: Cazacu Emil , Stănculescu Marilena , Andrei Horia 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
The paper presents the main electrical loads that require reactive power, evaluating also its value in different operating states of the industrial installation (permanent sinusoidal or distorted). Also, the effects of reactive power flow in the networks are quantitatively estimated and accordingly, a series of specific power quality indicators (e.g. power factor, crest factor, total harmonic distortion) are highlighted. Different types of solutions dedicated to reduce the level of reactive power are also suggested. The proper design of the power factor correction systems is directly correlated with the consumer power quality parameters. A case-study will round up the work, underling the major importance of the reactive power flow in modern electric installations.
Design, Analysis of 4×4 and 8×8 MIMO System with ZF, MMSE and BF Techniques
Authors: Kumar Arun , Vardhan Piyush , Gupta Manisha 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
This work focuses on studying signal detection using three different equalization techniques, namely: Zero Forcing (ZF), Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) and Beam Forming (BF), for a 4×4 MIMO-system. Results show that ZF equalization is the simplest technique for signal detection, However, Beam Forming (BF) gives better Bit Error Rate (BER) performances at high Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) values with some complexity in design. For more antennas at the base station, it is too complex to design the weight matrix for ZF, however, it is suitable for BF with the help of good quality digital signal processors. Performance of MIMO-system, with 8 antennas at the base station using BF equalization, is analysed to get BER values at different SNR. Results show a considerable improvement in BER for 8 antennas at the base station.
Positioning system in microscopic spaces (μ-GPS)
Authors: Gheorghe A.C. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe study aims for the development of a unique positioning system in the world of microscopy consisting of a transducer and software application. The technology used is based on image processing which creates a special hardware (transducer). The virtual labeling is the essential idea of this system. It synchronizes two essential things: the actual object and a set of exact coordinates to be retained in a database, with the ultimate goal of relocating them by bringing them into the visual field.
A New Breeding Strategy for Pinus radiata in New Zealand and New South Wales
Authors: Dungey H. S. , Brawner J. T. , Burger F. , Carson M. , Henson M. , Jefferson P. , Matheson A. C. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractA new breeding strategy is presented for the Radiata Pine Breeding Company, a New Zealand based research consortium, that drives the breeding program for Pinus radiata for both the New Zealand and New South Wales based Australian forest plantation industry. The new strategy builds on the existing base for P. radiata, and on the last strategy review in 2000. The new strategy comprises a large open-pollinated (OP) Main Population (MP) with 500 female parents and two sublines (250 female parents per subline). The MP will be tested using alpha designs, single-tree plots and incomplete blocks to maximise efficiency. Each subline will be tested on four sites, geographically distant from the other subline. The MP will be managed in discrete generations. Selection of the next generation will be using a combination of backward and forward selection, but the strict control of inbreeding with identified lineage will rely on the development of parental reconstruction for OP progeny. There are alternatives to this, however, such as estimating the group coancestry and accepting some additional increase in inbreeding. This is a new and significant departure from previous breeding strategies for P. radiata in New Zealand. There will also be a single, small Elite Population (EP), tested 50% as progeny and 50% as clones. Twenty four parents will be tested each year as clones and 24 as seedling progeny with some overlap between the two. It is expected that the clonal population will capture the greatest gains in traits with low heritabilities, and the half-sib progeny will capture the greatest gains in traits with high heritabilities. The two sublines will be maintained in the EP, and breeding will be managed as a rolling front with trials established every year, while trials of the MP will be established every 10 years.
Genetic Variation and Structure of native and introduced Casuarina equisetifolia (L. Johnson) Provenances
Authors: Huang G. H. , Zhong C. L. , Su X. H. , Zhang Y. , Pinyopusarerk K. , Franche C. , Bogusz D. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractCasuarina equisetifolia is an important tree species in tropical/subtropical zones of Asia, the Pacific and Africa. In this study, 220 individuals from seven native provenances and eleven introduced provenances of C. equisetifolia were analyzed to assess the genetic variation and structure using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. A total of 465 bands were obtained by eight primer pairs, among which 153 were polymorphic. The mean NEI’s gene diversity H = 0.2113 calculated for 18 provenances and the total gene diversity HT = 0.4065 calculated for native provenances suggested abundant variation within provenances and species. High genetic divergence coefficient (GST = 0.4737) and low gene flow (Nm = 0.5555) detected among native provenances suggesting high differentiation of C. equisetifolia. An AMOVA analysis for native provenances revealed a high proportion (46.07%) of the total genetic variation distributed among provenances. The UPGMA clustering (r = 0.8028) and the Mantel test (r = 0.0716) for native provenances showed there was no correlation among genetic relationships and geographical distribution. The genetic information provided important implications for the future conservation and breeding programs of C. equisetifolia.
Annual Fertility Variation in Clonal Seed Orchards of Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) and its Impact on Seed Crop
Authors: Nicodemus A. , Varghese M. , Nagarajan B. , Lindgren D. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Fertility variation was studied in two clonal seed orchards (CSO) of teak in four consecutive years (2003-2006). Both orchards were raised in 1976 with grafts of phenotypes selected for growth and form. The seed orchards of CSO I (Topslip, Tamil Nadu State) and CSO II (Walayar, Kerala State) have 15 and 20 clones, respectively, with 13 common clones. The proportion of flowering ramets was generally low ranging from 16 to 53% across years. The best fruit yield during the study period was around 18 kg ha-1 in CSO I and 17 kg ha-1 in CSO II. Highly significant clonal variation and clone by year and clone by site interactions were observed for fertility traits. The clonal contribution was more skewed in poor flowering years than in abundant flowering years and in CSO II than in CSO I. Broad sense heritability for flower and fruit production per tree was low to moderate (0.16 to 0.55). Flower and fruit production by individual ramets in successive years were positively correlated. Correlations between reproductive and growth traits were generally low, but correlation was strong between flowering and fruiting. Fertility variation and group coancestry were higher in poor flowering years than in abundant years and in CSO II than CSO I. Restricting seed collection to abundant flowering years, adjusting ramet number to balance contribution of clones and mixing of seeds from successive years are suggested to reduce relatedness among orchard progeny. The usefulness of low input breeding options for teak like seed production areas are also discussed.
Performance and Genetic Parameters of Somatic and Zygotic Progenies of Coastal Douglas-fir at 71/2-Years across Washington and Oregon, USA
Authors: Dean C. A. , Welty D. E. , Herold G. E. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractFive genetic tests involving 37 somatic clones of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii) were planted March 2000 in Weyerhaeuser plantations across western Washington and Oregon States, USA. Four of the tests are in Longview, Twin Harbors and Vail regions of Washington, and one test is in Springfield, Oregon. Each test is based on single-tree plots with 12 randomized complete-blocks. The 37 coastal Douglas-fir clones were propagated by somatic embryogenesis from four full-sib families. Zygotic seedlings from two of these full-sib families were planted across all five tests to allow comparison between somatic and zygotic trees of the same pedigree. Results are reported for survival, stem height, diameter at breast-height (DBH), volume and stem sinuosity at 71/2- years. On average the total population of 37 somatic clones had less stem sinuosity, but grew more slowly than zygotic trees across the five tests studied. However, the best 20% of somatic clones for growth produced 25% greater stem volume at 71/2-years than the zygotic fullsib families. Height had a clonal heritability of 0.61 ± 0.09, DBH 0.64 ± 0.06, volume 0.58 ± 0.08 and stem sinuosity 0.26 ± 0.06. The clonal genetic correlation between height and DBH at 71/2-years was 0.98 ± 0.01, while stem sinuosity was adversely genetically correlated with growth. Clonal performance for growth and stem sinuosity was stable across tests with overall between-test correlations of 0.96 to 0.98. This clonal stability resulted in little variance due to clone x test interactions.
Genetic Diversity of an Australian Santalum album Collection – Implications For Tree Improvement Potential
Authors: Jones C. G. , Plummer J. A. , Barbour E. L. , Byrne M. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe Forest Products Commission of Western Australia manages a sandalwood (Santalum spp.) core germplasm collection at Kununurra in the states far north. This collection serves as a significant seed source for sandalwood plantations in the area and remains an important resource for ongoing research. The collection contains S. album trees sourced from Indian arboreta, along with a few trees from West Timor, Indonesia. Also present are representatives of S. macgregorii from Papua New Guinea and S. austrocaledonicum from Vanuatu and/or New Caledonia. Despite the apparently diverse seed origins, the genetic background of many of the accessions remains vague. In this study, diversity and relatedness was assessed by nuclear and chloroplast RFLPs and a phylogeny was inferred. Nuclear RFLPs revealed very low levels of genetic diversity for a tree species, with an observed and expected heterozygosity (Ho and He) of 0.047. Nineteen genotypes were identified within the 233 S. album individuals sampled, with only one tree known to have originated from Timor being differentiated from Indian material. Other trees thought to have come from Timor grouped with those believed to be from India, indicating they were either incorrectly labelled or sourced from heavily modified populations. Despite the poor sample size, chloroplast RFLP analysis revealed no genetic distinction between the Timorese and Indian S. album, which supports the theory of human mediated seed dispersal from Timor to India. The structure of the phylogeny and associated relatedness has assisted in the establishment of seed orchards, designed to ensure maximum diversity is maintained through limiting the proximity of highly related trees. Finally, in light of these and other findings, a hypothesis concerning the evolution of S. album is proposed.
Efficiencies of Clonally Replicated and Seedling Testing for Spruce Breeding and Deployment Strategies
Authors: Weng Y. H. , Park Y. S. , Simpson D. , Mullin T. J. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Genetic gains based on a genetic test using clonal replicates were compared to those based on a test using seedlings at the same gene diversity and testing effort levels using POPSIM™ Simulator. Three testing and deployment strategies targeting for white spruce (P. glauca [Moench] Voss) and black spruce (P. mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) in New Brunswick were compared: seedling test with clonal seed orchard deployed as seedlings (CSO_ST), clonally replicated test with clonal seed orchard deployed as seedlings (CSO_CRT), and clonally replicated test deployed as a clone mix (MVF). The breeding populations (BP) were formed by balanced within-family selection and the production populations (PP) were selected by strong restriction on relatedness, i.e., no parent in common. Compared to the seedling test, the clonally replicated test resulted in faster accumulation of additive effects but quicker loss of additive variance in the BP, and this is particular true in the case of lower narrow-sense heritability or less non-additive genetic variance. The quicker loss in BP additive variance was overcompensated for by its faster accumulation in BP additive effect, resulting in higher gain in the clonally replicated test based PPs. Compared to the CSO_ST, the gain superiority of the CSO_CRT increased with generations, decreasing narrow-sense heritability or reducing the amount of non-additive variance. Implementing MVF was the most effective in terms of gain in most simulated cases and its superiority over the CSO_ST increased with generations, decreasing narrowsense heritability, or increasing non-additive genetic variance. Overall results demonstrated significant advantages of using clonally replicated test both for BP advancement and PP selection in most of the scenarios, suggesting that clonally replicated test should be incorporated into current spruce breeding strategies.
The Right Temporoparietal Junction Supports Speech Tracking During Selective Listening: Evidence from Concurrent EEG-fMRI
Authors: Puschmann Sebastian , Steinkamp Simon , Gillich Imke , Mirkovic Bojana , Debener Stefan , Thiel Christiane M. 
Published: October 2017

Listening selectively to one out of several competing speakers in a “cocktail party” situation is a highly demanding task. It relies on a widespread cortical network, including auditory sensory, but also frontal and parietal brain regions involved in controlling auditory attention. Previous work has shown that, during selective listening, ongoing neural activity in auditory sensory areas is dominated by the attended speech stream, whereas competing input is suppressed. The relationship between these attentional modulations in the sensory tracking of the attended speech stream and frontoparietal activity during selective listening is, however, not understood. We studied this question in young, healthy human participants (both sexes) using concurrent EEG-fMRI and a sustained selective listening task, in which one out of two competing speech streams had to be attended selectively. An EEG-based speech envelope reconstruction method was applied to assess the strength of the cortical tracking of the to-be-attended and the to-be-ignored stream during selective listening. Our results show that individual speech envelope reconstruction accuracies obtained for the to-be-attended speech stream were positively correlated with the amplitude of sustained BOLD responses in the right temporoparietal junction, a core region of the ventral attention network. This brain region further showed task-related functional connectivity to secondary auditory cortex and regions of the frontoparietal attention network, including the intraparietal sulcus and the inferior frontal gyrus. This suggests that the right temporoparietal junction is involved in controlling attention during selective listening, allowing for a better cortical tracking of the attended speech stream.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTListening selectively to one out of several simultaneously talking speakers in a “cocktail party” situation is a highly demanding task. It activates a widespread network of auditory sensory and hierarchically higher frontoparietal brain regions. However, how these different processing levels interact during selective listening is not understood. Here, we investigated this question using fMRI and concurrently acquired scalp EEG. We found that activation levels in the right temporoparietal junction correlate with the sensory representation of a selectively attended speech stream. In addition, this region showed significant functional connectivity to both auditory sensory and other frontoparietal brain areas during selective listening. This suggests that the right temporoparietal junction contributes to controlling selective auditory attention in “cocktail party” situations.
Seizures and Sleep in the Thalamus: Focal Limbic Seizures Show Divergent Activity Patterns in Different Thalamic Nuclei
Authors: Feng Li , Motelow Joshua E. , Ma Chanthia , Biche William , McCafferty Cian , Smith Nicholas , Liu Mengran , Zhan Qiong , Jia Ruonan , Xiao Bo , Duque Alvaro , Blumenfeld Hal 
Published: October 2017

The thalamus plays diverse roles in cortical-subcortical brain activity patterns. Recent work suggests that focal temporal lobe seizures depress subcortical arousal systems and convert cortical activity into a pattern resembling slow-wave sleep. The potential simultaneous and paradoxical role of the thalamus in both limbic seizure propagation, and in sleep-like cortical rhythms has not been investigated. We recorded neuronal activity from the central lateral (CL), anterior (ANT), and ventral posteromedial (VPM) nuclei of the thalamus in an established female rat model of focal limbic seizures. We found that population firing of neurons in CL decreased during seizures while the cortex exhibited slow waves. In contrast, ANT showed a trend toward increased neuronal firing compatible with polyspike seizure discharges seen in the hippocampus. Meanwhile, VPM exhibited a remarkable increase in sleep spindles during focal seizures. Single-unit juxtacellular recordings from CL demonstrated reduced overall firing rates, but a switch in firing pattern from single spikes to burst firing during seizures. These findings suggest that different thalamic nuclei play very different roles in focal limbic seizures. While limbic nuclei, such as ANT, appear to participate directly in seizure propagation, arousal nuclei, such as CL, may contribute to depressed cortical function, whereas sleep spindles in relay nuclei, such as VPM, may interrupt thalamocortical information flow. These combined effects could be critical for controlling both seizure severity and impairment of consciousness. Further understanding of differential effects of seizures on different thalamocortical networks may lead to improved treatments directly targeting these modes of impaired function.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTTemporal lobe epilepsy has a major negative impact on quality of life. Previous work suggests that the thalamus plays a critical role in thalamocortical network modulation and subcortical arousal maintenance, but its precise seizure-associated functions are not known. We recorded neuronal activity in three different thalamic regions and found divergent activity patterns, which may respectively participate in seizure propagation, impaired level of conscious arousal, and altered relay of information to the cortex during focal limbic seizures. These very different activity patterns within the thalamus may help explain why focal temporal lobe seizures often disrupt widespread network function, and can help guide future treatments aimed at restoring normal thalamocortical network activity and cognition.
Direct Recording of Dendrodendritic Excitation in the Olfactory Bulb: Divergent Properties of Local and External Glutamatergic Inputs Govern Synaptic Integration in Granule Cells
Authors: Pressler R. Todd , Strowbridge Ben W. 
Published: October 2017

The olfactory bulb contains excitatory principal cells (mitral and tufted cells) that project to cortical targets as well as inhibitory interneurons. How the local circuitry in this region facilitates odor-specific output is not known, but previous work suggests that GABAergic granule cells plays an important role, especially during fine odor discrimination. Principal cells interact with granule cells through reciprocal dendrodendritic connections that are poorly understood. While many studies examined the GABAergic output side of these reciprocal connections, little is known about how granule cells are excited. Only two previous studies reported monosynaptically coupled mitral/granule cell connections and neither attempted to determine the fundamental properties of these synapses. Using dual intracellular recordings and a custom-built loose-patch amplifier, we have recorded unitary granule cell EPSPs evoked in response to mitral cell action potentials in rat (both sexes) brain slices. We find that the unitary dendrodendritic input is relatively weak with highly variable release probability and short-term depression. In contrast with the weak dendrodendritic input, the facilitating cortical input to granule cells is more powerful and less variable. Our computational simulations suggest that dendrodendritic synaptic properties prevent individual principal cells from strongly depolarizing granule cells, which likely discharge in response to either concerted activity among a large proportion of inputs or coactivation of a smaller subset of local dendrodendritic inputs with coincidence excitation from olfactory cortex. This dual-pathway requirement likely enables the sparse mitral/granule cell interconnections to develop highly odor-specific responses that facilitate fine olfactory discrimination.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe olfactory bulb plays a central role in converting broad, highly overlapping, sensory input patterns into odor-selective population responses. How this occurs is not known, but experimental and theoretical studies suggest that local inhibition often plays a central role. Very little is known about how the most common local interneuron subtype, the granule cell, is excited during odor processing beyond the unusual anatomical arraignment of the interconnections (reciprocal dendrodendritic synapses). Using paired recordings and two-photon imaging, we determined the properties of the primary input to granule cells for the first time and show that these connections bias interneurons to fire in response to spiking in large populations of principal cells rather than a small group of highly active cells.
Cortical Regulation of Nociception of the Trigeminal Nucleus Caudalis
Authors: Castro Alberto , Raver Charles , Li Ying , Uddin Olivia , Rubin David , Ji Yadong , Masri Radi , Keller Asaf 
Published: October 2017

Pain perception is strongly influenced by descending pathways from “higher” brain centers that regulate the activity of spinal circuits. In addition to the extensively studied descending system originating from the medulla, the neocortex provides dense anatomical projections that directly target neurons in the spinal cord and the spinal trigeminal nucleus caudalis (SpVc). Evidence exists that these corticotrigeminal pathways may modulate the processing of nociceptive inputs by SpVc, and regulate pain perception. We demonstrate here, with anatomical and optogenetic methods, and using both rats and mice (of both sexes), that corticotrigeminal axons densely innervate SpVc, where they target and directly activate inhibitory and excitatory neurons. Electrophysiological recordings reveal that stimulation of primary somatosensory cortex potently suppresses SpVc responses to noxious stimuli and produces behavioral hypoalgesia. These findings demonstrate that the corticotrigeminal pathway is a potent modulator of nociception and a potential target for interventions to alleviate chronic pain.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTMany chronic pain conditions are resistant to conventional therapy. Promising new approaches to pain management capitalize on the brain's own mechanisms for controlling pain perception. Here we demonstrate that cortical neurons directly innervate the brainstem to drive feedforward inhibition of nociceptive neurons. This corticotrigeminal pathway suppresses the activity of these neurons and produces analgesia. This corticotrigeminal pathway may constitute a therapeutic target for chronic pain.