Raman G and D band in strongly photoexcited carbon nanotubes

We observe clear differences in the spectral shift of the Raman D and G bands when heating double wall carbon nanotubes through intense photon irradiation and by varying the temperature in a thermostat. These spectral differences are attributed to modifications of the defect induced double-resonance Raman process, and are consistent with Stokes–anti-Stokes anomalies observed for single and double wall carbon nanotubes, not present in graphite. We find that the Raman intensity for double wall carbon nanotubes increases superlinearly in the red spectral region and sublinearly in the UV spectral region

A High-Density Linkage Map of the Ancestral Diploid Strawberry, Fragaria iinumae, Constructed with Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers from the IStraw90 Array and Genotyping by Sequencing

Fragaria iinumae Makino is recognized as an ancestor of the octoploid strawberry species, which includes the cultivated strawberry, Fragaria ×ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier. Here we report the construction of the first high-density linkage map for F. iinumae. The F. iinumae linkage map (Fii map) is based on two high-throughput techniques of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping: the IStraw90 Array (hereafter “Array”), and genotyping by sequencing (GBS). The F2 generation mapping population was derived by selfing F. iinumae hybrid F1D, the product of a cross between two divergent F. iinumae accessions collected from Hokkaido, Japan. The Fii map consists of seven linkage groups (LGs) and has an overall length of 451.7 cM as defined by 496 loci populated by 4173 markers: 3280 from the Array and 893 from GBS. Comparisons with two versions of the Fragaria vesca ssp. vesca L. ‘Hawaii 4’ pseudo-chromosome (PC) assemblies reveal substantial conservation of synteny and colinearity, yet identified differences that point to possible genomic divergences between F. iinumae and F. vesca, and/or to F. vesca genomic assembly errors. The Fii map provides a basis for anchoring a F. iinumae genome assembly as a prerequisite for constructing a second diploid reference genome for Fragaria

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in older Syrian refugees : Preliminary findings from an ongoing study

Funding source This work was supported by ELRHA’s Research for Health in Humanitarian Crisis (R2HC) Programme, which aims to improve health outcomes by strengthening the evidence base for public health interventions in humanitarian crises. R2HC is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Wellcome, and the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The views expressed herein should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of the NRC or ELRHA. The funding agency was not involved in the data collection, analysis or interpretation.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Light scattering of double wall carbon nanotubes under hydrostatic pressure: pressure effects on the internal and external tubes

We report high-pressure Raman light scattering studies up to 10 GPa on double walled carbon nanotubes using two pressure transmitting media. In alcohol, a clear splitting of the G band is observed up to 10 GPa. This splitting is evidence for both discontinuous tangential stress and continuous radial stress. A structural distortion seems to be present at 3 GPa, revealed by a spectroscopic signature at 1480 cm–1. With argon as the pressure transmitting medium, the nanotubes bundles show a transition at 6 GPa which corresponds to a collapse to a flattened structure and removes the splitting. The comparison of the pressure coefficients before the transition for the two pressure transmitting media shows that the ratio of the two coefficients associated with internal and external tubes, is the same but the absolute values are different

NiII^{II}36_{36}-Containing 54-Tungsto-6-Silicate: Synthesis, Structure, Magnetic and Electrochemical Studies

The 36-Ni$^{II}$-containing 54-tungsto-6-silicate, [Ni$_{36}$(OH)$_{18}$(H$_{2}$O)$_{36}$(SiW$_{9}$O$_{34}$)$_{6}$]$^{6-}$ (Ni$_{36}$) was synthesized by a simple one-pot reaction of the Ni$_{2}$-pivalate complex [Ni$_{2}$(μ-OH$_{2}$)(O$_{2}$CCMe$_{3}$)$_{4}$(HO$_{2}$CCMe$_{3}$)$_{4}$] with the trilacunary [SiW$_{9}$O$_{34}$]$^{10-}$ polyanion precursor in water and structurally characterized by a multitude of physicochemical techniques including single-crystal XRD, FTIR, TGA, elemental analysis, magnetic and electrochemical studies. Polyanion Ni$_{36}$ comprises six equivalent {Ni$^{II}$$_{36}$SiW$_{9}$} units which are linked by Ni−O−W bridges forming a macrocyclic assembly. Magnetic studies demonstrate that the {Ni$_{6}$} building blocks in Ni$_{36}$ remain magnetically intact while forming a hexagonal ring with antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between adjacent {Ni6} units. Electrochemical studies indicate that the first reduction is reversible and associated with the WVI/V couple, whereas the second reduction is irreversible attributed to the Ni$^{II/0}$ couple

Detecting Recent Crop Phenology Dynamics in Corn and Soybean Cropping Systems of Kentucky

Accurate phenological information is essential for monitoring crop development, predicting crop yield, and enhancing resilience to cope with climate change. This study employed a curve-change-based dynamic threshold approach on NDVI (Normalized Differential Vegetation Index) time series to detect the planting and harvesting dates for corn and soybean in Kentucky, a typical climatic transition zone, from 2000 to 2018. We compared satellite-based estimates with ground observations and performed trend analyses of crop phenological stages over the study period to analyze their relationships with climate change and crop yields. Our results showed that corn and soybean planting dates were delayed by 0.01 and 0.07 days/year, respectively. Corn harvesting dates were also delayed at a rate of 0.67 days/year, while advanced soybean harvesting occurred at a rate of 0.05 days/year. The growing season length has increased considerably at a rate of 0.66 days/year for corn and was shortened by 0.12 days/year for soybean. Sensitivity analysis showed that planting dates were more sensitive to the early season temperature, while harvesting dates were significantly correlated with temperature over the entire growing season. In terms of the changing climatic factors, only the increased summer precipitation was statistically related to the delayed corn harvesting dates in Kentucky. Further analysis showed that the increased corn yield was significantly correlated with the delayed harvesting dates (1.37 Bu/acre per day) and extended growing season length (1.67 Bu/acre per day). Our results suggested that seasonal climate change (e.g., summer precipitation) was the main factor influencing crop phenological trends, particularly corn harvesting in Kentucky over the study period. We also highlighted the critical role of changing crop phenology in constraining crop production, which needs further efforts for optimizing crop management practices

The enrichment of an alkaliphilic biofilm consortia capable of the anaerobic degradation of isosaccharinic acid from cellulosic materials incubated within an anthropogenic, hyperalkaline environment.

Anthropogenic hyper-alkaline sites provide an environment that is analogous to proposed cementitious geological disposal facilities (GDF) for radioactive waste. Under anoxic, alkaline conditions cellulosic wastes will hydrolyse to a range of cellulose degradation products (CDP) dominated by isosaccharinic acids (ISA). In order to investigate the potential for microbial activity in a cementitious GDF, cellulose samples were incubated in the alkaline (∼pH 12), anaerobic zone of a lime kiln waste site. Following retrieval, these samples had undergone partial alkaline hydrolysis and were colonised by a Clostridia dominated biofilm community, where hydrogenotrophic, alkaliphilic methanogens were also present. When these samples were used to establish an alkaline CDP fed microcosm, the community shifted away from Clostridia, methanogens became undetectable and a flocculate community dominated by Alishewanella sp. established. These flocs were composed of bacteria embedded in polysaccharides and protein stabilised by extracellular DNA. This community was able to degrade all forms of ISA with >60% of the carbon flow being channelled into extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production. This study demonstrated that alkaliphilic microbial communities can degrade the CDP associated with some radioactive waste disposal concepts at pH 11. These communities divert significant amounts of degradable carbon to EPS formation, suggesting that EPS has a central role in the protection of these communities from hyper-alkaline conditions

Defects in CD4+ T cell LFA‐1 integrin‐dependent adhesion and proliferation protect Cd47−/− mice from EAE

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141316/1/jlb0493.pd

Probing Mechanical Properties of Graphene with Raman Spectroscopy

The use of Raman scattering techniques to study the mechanical properties of graphene films is reviewed here. The determination of Gruneisen parameters of suspended graphene sheets under uni- and bi-axial strain is discussed and the values are compared to theoretical predictions. The effects of the graphene-substrate interaction on strain and to the temperature evolution of the graphene Raman spectra are discussed. Finally, the relation between mechanical and thermal properties is presented along with the characterization of thermal properties of graphene with Raman spectroscopy.Comment: To appear in the Journal of Materials Scienc