Determination of long-term effects of consecutive effective fresh chicken manure with solarization and verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahlia Klebb) on weed and its control in egg plant

The aim of the study was to determine the weed density and the most economical way of weed control in eggplant (Solanum melongena) fields contaminated with Verticillium dahliae (Kleb) after the application of fresh chicken manure and solarization in the second year as the same crop was grown. The effect of solarization on weed and the labor need in weed control continued in a diminishing way in the consecutive observations. With fresh chicken manure (FCM), number of weeds (number m-2) decreased but their green and dry biomass (weights g m-2) increased. The labor need (d ha-1) to control the weeds decreased. Similar results were also recorded for V. dahliae inoculation. As a result of the study, 50% of labor saving was achieved in the plots of solarization and either FCM rate combinations [sol x FCM (12 kg.m-2); sol x FCM (6 kg.m-2)] compared to the control plots. Achieved savings in labor can afford to cover the costs of solarization and FCM.Key words: Soil solarization, fresh chicken manure, Verticillium dahliae, eggplant, weed, weed control

Compensation of B-L charge of matter with relic sneutrinos

We consider massless gauge boson connected to B-L charge with and without compensation to complete the investigation of the gauging of B and L charges. Relic sneutrinos predicted by SUSY and composite models may compensate B-L charge of matter. As a consequence of the possible compensation mechanism we have shown that the available experimental data admit the range of the B-L interaction constant, 10^{-29} < {\alpha}_{B-L} < 10^{-12}, in addition to {\alpha}_{B-L} < 10^{-49} obtained without compensation.Comment: 6 page

Measurement of the electron's electric dipole moment using YbF molecules: methods and data analysis

We recently reported a new measurement of the electron's electric dipole moment using YbF molecules [Nature 473, 493 (2011)]. Here, we give a more detailed description of the methods used to make this measurement, along with a fuller analysis of the data. We show how our methods isolate the electric dipole moment from imperfections in the experiment that might mimic it. We describe the systematic errors that we discovered, and the small corrections that we made to account for these. By making a set of additional measurements with greatly exaggerated experimental imperfections, we find upper bounds on possible uncorrected systematic errors which we use to determine the systematic uncertainty in the measurement. We also calculate the size of some systematic effects that have been important in previous electric dipole moment measurements, such as the motional magnetic field effect and the geometric phase, and show them to be negligibly small in the present experiment. Our result is consistent with an electric dipole moment of zero, so we provide upper bounds to its size at various confidence levels. Finally, we review the prospects for future improvements in the precision of the experiment.Comment: 35 pages, 15 figure

Possibilities of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) use in elite sport

Transcranial direct current stimulation has proven to be the method that can modulate neural activity in various cases. As this method has been shown to be effective in improving muscular strength, reaction time and accuracy, motor learning, it seems to be promising in elite sports.This paper provides an overview of studies on tDCS and its impact on central nervous system functioning, with an emphasis on potential sports utility. This review demonstrates that the basic mechanism of the effect of tDCS on nervous system functioning is its ability to modulate the excitability of neurons.tDCS is able to influence various components of electrocortical potentials, the amplitude of the motor evoked potential, as well as the mechanisms of long-term potentiation and, as a consequence, the cellular mechanisms of motor learning and neuroplasticity in general. The beneficial effect of tDCS on attention selectivity and signal detection has been noted. It is also shown that tDCS can accelerate learning and enhance performance in a range of complex cognitive tasks.In addition, a number of studies showing that tDCS can increase the efficiency of performing arithmetic and problem solving tasks are considered.In the context of sports, the influence of tDCS over motor areas on motor learning and on the accuracy of voluntary movements seems to be important. Its ability to influence speed and strength indicators, namely, the maximum isometric force of various muscle groups and explosive strength, as well as endurance indicators seems promising, too. The review also shows that tDCS is reasonably safe and that serious adverse effects are extremely rare; the most common adverse effect is local skin irritation due to poor electrode placement

Laser Cooling of Optically Trapped Molecules

Calcium monofluoride (CaF) molecules are loaded into an optical dipole trap (ODT) and subsequently laser cooled within the trap. Starting with magneto-optical trapping, we sub-Doppler cool CaF and then load $150(30)$ CaF molecules into an ODT. Enhanced loading by a factor of five is obtained when sub-Doppler cooling light and trapping light are on simultaneously. For trapped molecules, we directly observe efficient sub-Doppler cooling to a temperature of $60(5)$ $\mu\text{K}$. The trapped molecular density of $8(2)\times10^7$ cm$^{-3}$ is an order of magnitude greater than in the initial sub-Doppler cooled sample. The trap lifetime of 750(40) ms is dominated by background gas collisions.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Reconfigurable halide perovskite nanocrystal memristors for neuromorphic computing

Many in-memory computing frameworks demand electronic devices with specific switching characteristics to achieve the desired level of computational complexity. Existing memristive devices cannot be reconfigured to meet the diverse volatile and non-volatile switching requirements, and hence rely on tailored material designs specific to the targeted application, limiting their universality. “Reconfigurable memristors” that combine both ionic diffusive and drift mechanisms could address these limitations, but they remain elusive. Here we present a reconfigurable halide perovskite nanocrystal memristor that achieves on-demand switching between diffusive/volatile and drift/non-volatile modes by controllable electrochemical reactions. Judicious selection of the perovskite nanocrystals and organic capping ligands enable state-of-the-art endurance performances in both modes – volatile (2 × 10$^{6}$ cycles) and non-volatile (5.6 × 10$^{3}$ cycles). We demonstrate the relevance of such proof-of-concept perovskite devices on a benchmark reservoir network with volatile recurrent and non-volatile readout layers based on 19,900 measurements across 25 dynamically-configured devices

Secondary somatic mutations restoring RAD51C and RAD51D associated with acquired resistance to the PARP inhibitor rucaparib in high-grade ovarian carcinoma

High-grade epithelial ovarian carcinomas (OC) containing mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) homologous recombination (HR) genes are sensitive to platinum-based chemotherapy and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi), while restoration of HR function due to secondary mutations in BRCA1/2 has been recognized as an important resistance mechanism. We sequenced core HR pathway genes in 12 pairs of pre-treatment and post-progression tumor biopsy samples collected from patients in ARIEL2 Part 1, a phase 2 study of the PARPi rucaparib as treatment for platinum-sensitive, relapsed OC. In six of 12 pre-treatment biopsies, a truncation mutation in BRCA1, RAD51C or RAD51D was identified. In five of six paired post-progression biopsies, one or more secondary mutations restored the open reading frame. Four distinct secondary mutations and spatial heterogeneity were observed for RAD51C. In vitro complementation assays and a patient-derived xenograft (PDX), as well as predictive molecular modeling, confirmed that resistance to rucaparib was associated with secondary mutations

Bottom mixed layer oxygen dynamics in the Celtic Sea

The seasonally stratified continental shelf seas are highly productive, economically important environments which are under considerable pressure from human activity. Global dissolved oxygen concentrations have shown rapid reductions in response to anthropogenic forcing since at least the middle of the twentieth century. Oxygen consumption is at the same time linked to the cycling of atmospheric carbon, with oxygen being a proxy for carbon remineralisation and the release of CO2. In the seasonally stratified seas the bottom mixed layer (BML) is partially isolated from the atmosphere and is thus controlled by interplay between oxygen consumption processes, vertical and horizontal advection. Oxygen consumption rates can be both spatially and temporally dynamic, but these dynamics are often missed with incubation based techniques. Here we adopt a Bayesian approach to determining total BML oxygen consumption rates from a high resolution oxygen time-series. This incorporates both our knowledge and our uncertainty of the various processes which control the oxygen inventory. Total BML rates integrate both processes in the water column and at the sediment interface. These observations span the stratified period of the Celtic Sea and across both sandy and muddy sediment types. We show how horizontal advection, tidal forcing and vertical mixing together control the bottom mixed layer oxygen concentrations at various times over the stratified period. Our muddy-sand site shows cyclic spring-neap mediated changes in oxygen consumption driven by the frequent resuspension or ventilation of the seabed. We see evidence for prolonged periods of increased vertical mixing which provide the ventilation necessary to support the high rates of consumption observed