The Influence of Oxygen Plasma on Methylammonium Lead Iodide (MAPbI3) Film Doped with Lead Cesium Triiodide (CsPbI3)

In recent years, the study of organic–inorganic halide perovskite as an optoelectronics material has been a significant line of research, and the power conversion efficiency of solar cells based on these materials has reached 25.5%. However, defects on the surface of the film are still a problem to be solved, and oxygen plasma is one of the ways to passivate surface defects. In order to avoid destroying the methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3), the influence of plasma powers on film was investigated and the cesium triiodide (CsPbI3) quantum dots (QDs) were doped into the film. In addition, it was found that oxygen plasma can enhance the mobility and carrier concentration of the MAPbI3 film.

Insufficient Anthrax Lethal Toxin Neutralization Is Associated with Antibody Subclass and Domain Specificity in the Plasma of Anthrax-Vaccinated Individuals

Anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA) is a significant line of defense against bioterrorist attack from Bacillus anthracis spores. However, in a subset of individuals, this vaccine may produce a suboptimal quantity of anti-protective antigen (PA), antibodies that are poorly neutralizing, and/or antibody titers that wane over time, necessitating annual boosters. To study individuals with such poor responses, we examine the properties of anti-PA in a subset of vaccinated individuals that make significant quantities of antibody but are still unable to neutralize toxin. In this cohort, characterized by poorly neutralizing antibody, we find that increased IgG4 to IgG1 subclass ratios, low antibody avidity, and insufficient antibody targeting domain 4 associate with improper neutralization. Thus, future vaccines and vaccination schedules should be formulated to improve these deficiencies.

44 Inbreeding levels of the Line 1 and Line 4 Hereford cattle populations

The Line 1 and Line 4 Hereford populations have been linebred for decades. Since these populations share origins but have been managed differently, they offer a unique opportunity to understand molecular mechanisms contributing to inbreeding depression. The study attempted to identify areas of the genome impacting inbreeding depression. Inbreeding was estimated using a complete pedigree (FPED), genomic inbreeding (FG), and genomic pedigree inbreeding (FGPED). Average rate of change in inbreeding per year was evaluated. Runs of homozygosity (ROH) analyses were performed in Golden Helix SVS software, and ROH were defined as a minimum length of 2,500 kb, 250 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) appearing in 20 samples. Expected phenotypes for five traits were calculated by adjusting each animal’s individual phenotype with published negative impacts of inbreeding depression. Regression association analyses were performed (Golden Helix) on phenotype and genotype data. Markers above 5 x 10–4 genome-wide significance were considered strongly significant. Line 1 FPED, FG, and FGPED average inbreeding was 42.1% (range 0–71%), 14.4% (range 0–46%), and 31.0% (range 0–63%), respectively. Line 4 FPED, FG, and FGPED average inbreeding was 12.6% (range 0–36%), 12.3% (range 0–49%), and 17.7% (range 0–29%), respectively. Average rate of change in inbreeding per year for Line 1 was -0.03% over 83 yr and 0.03% over 55 yr for Line 4. Fifty ROH regions, 93 strongly significant SNP, three strongly significant SNP within ROH, and some significant SNP within 11 previously identified genes were identified for Line 1. Forty-five ROH regions, 35 strongly significant SNP, three strongly significant SNP within ROH, and some significant SNP within 12 previously identified genes were identified for Line 4. Variation in identified regions of the genome of both lines indicate management is impacting results of inbreeding and the expressed inbreeding depression.

L × T Analysis in F5 Lines of RGR Population Derived through Exploitation of Heterotic Groups in Gossypium Species

The combining ability studies assist in choosing the desirable parents for crossing in hybrid development. Forty derived hybrids generated by crossing ten F5 lines to the four testers for assessing combining ability. Hybrids along with the parents were planted in randomized block design and analysis of variance suggested that lines had significant differences for all the characters studied except number of monopodia per plant, reproductive points on sympodia and ginning outturn. Significant line effect of seed cotton yield and lint yield was revealed by ANOVA for combining ability. Variance of sca was higher than Variance of gca for all characters apart from seed cotton yield and lint yield. RGR F6 9 and RGR F6 7 lines were recorded to be the highest seed cotton yielding lines. The gca effects were highly significant for seed cotton yield and lint yield in RGR F5 1 and RGR F5 5 lines. RGR F5 1 x DR-8, RGR F5 7 x DR-8 and RGR F5 8 x DR-8 were the top three hybrids for seed cotton yield. The sca effect was positively significant in hybrids RGR F5 7 × DR-8 and RGR F5 1 × DR-8 for seed cotton yield.

The Herschel SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectrometer Spectral Feature Finder I. The Spectral Feature Finder and Catalogue

ABSTRACT We provide a detailed description of the Herschel/SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) Spectral Feature Finder (FF). The FF is an automated process designed to extract significant spectral features from SPIRE FTS data products. Optimizing the number of features found in SPIRE-FTS spectra is challenging. The wide SPIRE-FTS frequency range (447–1568 GHz) leads to many molecular species and atomic fine structure lines falling within the observed bands. As the best spectral resolution of the SPIRE-FTS is ∼1.2 GHz, there can be significant line blending, depending on the source type. In order to find, both efficiently and reliably, features in spectra associated with a wide range of sources, the FF iteratively searches for peaks over a number of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) thresholds. For each threshold, newly identified features are rigorously checked before being added to the fitting model. At the end of each iteration, the FF simultaneously fits the continuum and features found, with the resulting residual spectrum used in the next iteration. The final FF products report the frequency of the features found and the associated SNRs. Line flux determination is not included as part of the FF products, as extracting reliable line flux from SPIRE-FTS data is a complex process that requires careful evaluation and analysis of the spectra on a case-by-case basis. The FF results are 100 per cent complete for features with SNR greater than 10 and 50–70 per cent complete at SNR of 5. The FF code and all FF products are publicly available via the Herschel Science Archive.

The spin rates of O stars in WR+O Magellanic Cloud binaries

ABSTRACT Some massive, merging black holes (BHs) may be descendants of binary O stars. The evolution and mass transfer between these O stars determine the spins of their progeny BH. These will be measurable with future gravitational wave detectors, incentivizing the measurement of the spins of O stars in binaries. We previously measured the spins of O stars in Galactic Wolf–Rayet (WR)+O binaries. Here we measure the ve sin i of four Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and two Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) O stars in WR+O binaries to determine whether lower metallicity might affect the spin rates. We find that the O stars in Galactic and Magellanic WR+O binaries display average ve sin i = 258 ± 18 and 270 ± 15 km s−1, respectively. Two LMC O stars measured on successive nights show significant line width variability, possibly due to differing orbital phases exhibiting different parts of the O stars illuminated differently by their WR companions. Despite this variability, the ve sin i are highly supersynchronous but distinctly subcritical for the O stars in all these binaries; thus we conclude that an efficient mechanism for shedding angular momentum from O stars in WR+O binaries must exist. This mechanism, probably related to Roche lobe overflow (RLOF)-created dynamo magnetic fields, prevents nearly 100 per cent breakup spin rates, as expected when RLOF operates, as it must, in these stars. A Spruit–Tayler dynamo and O star wind might be that mechanism.

Variability of the near-infrared extinction curve towards the Galactic centre

Context. Due to the extreme extinction towards the Galactic centre (AV ∼ 30 mag), its stellar population is mainly studied in the near-infrared (NIR) regime. Therefore, a proper analysis of the NIR extinction curve is necessary to fully characterise the stellar structure and population of the inner part of the galaxy. Aims. We studied the dependence of the extinction index (αλ) in the NIR on the line of sight, wavelength, and extinction. Methods. We used the GALACTICNUCLEUS imaging survey, a high angular resolution catalogue (0.2″) for the inner part of the Galaxy in JHKs, and studied the spatial variation in the extinction index. We also applied two independent methods based on red clump stars to compute the extinction index between different bands and its variation with wavelength. Results. We did not detect any significant line-of-sight or extinction variation in α within the studied region in the nuclear stellar disc. The extinction index between JH and HKs differs by 0.19 ± 0.05. We obtained mean values for the extinction indices αJH = 2.43 ± 0.03 and αHKs = 2.23 ± 0.03. The dependence of the extinction index on the wavelength could explain the differences obtained for αλ in the literature since it was assumed constant for the NIR regime.

Probabilistic System Availability Model and Prevailing Factors for 33kV Primary Power Distribution Feeders in Nigeria

Outage and complimentary load flow analyses of a selected 33kV primary distribution network in Ughelli Delta State, Nigeria, were carried out to depict feeder availability obtainable in the country. Outage and load flow analyses were carried out using parametric statistics and Newton-Raphson computation algorithm respectively. The results provide model distribution of monthly feeder availability, contributions of outage factors and normal load flow values. It was concluded that: monthly feeder availability represented using normal probability distribution function of; shows that overcurrent and earth faults contribute to outage duration, taking 5% to 12% of the month outage duration respectively; coupled with significant line losses and weak voltage profile. Recommendations proposed include: replacement of weak or failed elements and insulations in the systems with new and modern ones to mitigate especially earth faults in the short term; planning for immediate increase in system capacity to accommodate the power demand effectively for present and forecast periods to eliminate load shedding, overload events, and high technical losses; maintenance practice at the planning and execution stages to mitigate failure events and repair time. Keywords – fault, outage, probability, load flow, availability, distribution network.

Global-Local Dynamics and the Rise of Chinese Corporate Lawyers

Although the rise of China as an economic powerhouse has attracted considerable academic attention, until recently, the role of Chinese corporate lawyers in this age of economic prosperity and the growth of the Chinese corporate bar have been under-explored in the field. Over the last few years, a small but growing academic literature on Chinese corporate lawyers has started to appear and has shed valuable light on our understanding of the Chinese corporate bar in the era of globalization. Inspired by both U.S. theoretical paradigms and local practice patterns, this literature mainly focuses on the global-local dynamics of the Chinese legal profession and the Chinese corporate legal services market, investigating the relationship between the global diffusion of corporate lawyering and the local logics of the corporate law market. This article reviews this increasingly significant line of research and develops new inquiries about Chinese corporate lawyers.

Differential growth performance and intestinal immune gene expression in diverse genetic lines of growing chickens fed a high concentration of supplemental phytase

The objective of the current experiment was to determine the effects of high-concentration phytase (5000 FTU/kg) feeding to diverse lines of chickens fed phosphorus (P) adequate maize–soybean meal diets (4.5 g/kg non-phytate P) on the performance and intestinal immune function. Performance was measured for outbred broiler (Ross 308) and inbred Fayoumi lines over 0–21 days, and duodenum and ileum were harvested for the determination of mucin-2, interleukin (IL)-1βand IgA mRNA by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Over the 0–7-day period, there was a significant line × diet interaction, as high phytase supplementation increased broiler average daily gain (ADG), but had no effect on Fayoumi ADG. Treatment of diets with phytase increased expression of the mucin-2 gene in the duodenum mucosa. There were significant interactions between line and age, and line, diet and age on duodenal expression of the IL-1βgene as phytase supplementation of the broiler line reduced IL-1βin comparison to control fed broilers without change in the Fayoumi line. Overall, the addition of a high concentration of phytase to broilers fed adequate concentrations of non-phytate P resulted in improved growth performance early with a reduction in this effect over time. Mucosal mucin-2 expression was increased with high-concentration phytase feeding across both lines, but IL-1βmRNA expression was reduced in the duodenum of broilers fed high concentrations of phytase, suggesting that the increased performance noted might be related to decreased inflammation.