Robust Bain distortion in the premartensite phase of platinum substituted Ni2MnGa magnetic shape memory alloy

The premartensite phase of shape memory and magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) is believed to be a precursor state of the martensite phase with preserved austenite phase symmetry. The thermodynamic stability of the premartensite phase and its relation to the martensitic phase is still an unresolved issue, even though it is critical to the understanding of the functional properties of MSMAs. We present here unambiguous evidence for macroscopic symmetry breaking leading to robust Bain distortion in the premartensite phase of 10% Pt substituted Ni2MnGa. We show that the robust Bain distorted premartensite (T2) phase results from another premartensite (T1) phase with preserved cubic-like symmetry through an isostructural phase transition. The T2 phase finally transforms to the martensite phase with additional Bain distortion on further cooling. Our results demonstrate that the premartensite phase should not be considered as a precursor state with the preserved symmetry of the cubic austenite phase

Effects of nitrogen limitation on hydrological processes in CLM4-CN

[1] The role of nitrogen limitation on photosynthesis downregulation and stomatal conductance has a significant influence on evapotranspiration and runoff. In the current Community Land Model with coupled Carbon and Nitrogen cycles (CLM4-CN), however, the carbon and water coupling in stomata is not linked to nitrogen limitation. We modify the incomplete linkages between carbon, nitrogen, and water, and examine how nitrogen limitation affects hydrological processes in CLM4-CN. We then evaluate if the modification can improve the simulation of carbon and water fluxes. Applying the effects of nitrogen limitation on stomatal conductance significantly decreases leaf photosynthesis. It leads to a reduction in canopy transpiration, thereby increasing total runoff, mainly due to increasing subsurface runoff. More available soil water for vegetation from the reduced transpiration helps increase gross primary productivity (GPP) in the relatively moisture-limited regions of grassland/steppe and savanna. However, in the tropics and boreal forest regions, changes in soil water by nitrogen limitation are insignificant, and GPP decreases directly by down-regulated leaf photosynthesis. Decreasing canopy transpiration and increasing runoff from nitrogen limitation improve simulating latent heat flux and runoff by reducing high biases for latent heat flux in the tropics and low biases for runoff in the tropics and northern high latitudes. In addition, the CLM4-CN with leaf-level nitrogen limitation reduces model biases in tropical GPP. Nitrogen limitation on the leaf-level significantly affects hydrological processes in CLM4-CN and improves the simulation of carbon and water fluxes. This process should be included with other recent improvements to reduce model biases as much as possible

Physiological responses and phytoremediation ability of Eastern Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) for crude oil contaminated soil

One of the most important anthropogenic pollution types in countries with oil production is soil and water contamination by petroleum. Phytoremediation is an emerging green technology for cleaning up polluted soil. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the effect of oil-contaminated soil on Echinacea purpurea with four concentrations of crude oil - contaminated soil: control = 0, 0.5% = 5000, 1% = 10000, and 2% = 20000 mg kg-1. Morphological and physiological traits were evaluated after 90 days. Gas chromatography determined the removal rate percentage of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in the soil. The results show that this plant has potential for removing TPHs, up to 45.5% at 1% crude oil contamination, while the removal rate by natural attenuation is only 32%. Data from morphological and flowering indices including shoot and root fresh weights, shoot and root dry weights, flower stem length, flower longevity, flower anthocyanin, and visual stress symptoms show significant differences within treatments. Based on the results, E. purpurea can tolerate crude oil concentrations in soil equal to or greater than 5000 and 10000 mg kg-1 (0.5% and 1% w/w). However, flowering was not observed at treatments of 1% and 2% crude oil contamination. As crude oil concentration increased, physiological parameters such as total chlorophyll, protein, and antioxidant capacity significantly decreased, while other parameters including leaf anthocyanin, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, proline, and total carbohydrate all increased. Overall, E. purpurea is a widely - spread species that can be effectively used for phytoremediation of ≤10000 mg kg1 crude oil contaminated soil

Hepcidin and HFE polymorphisms and ferritin level in β-Thalassemia major

Background: Thalassemia patients need repeated transfusion that lead to increased blood ferritin level and iron overload in the heart and liver. Because the roles of hepcidin antimicrobial peptide (HAMP) and hemocromatosis protein (HFE) in iron metabolism have been confirmed, this study investigated the effects of these gene's polymorphisms on blood ferritin levels and iron overload in the heart and liver in patients with beta thalassemia major Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 91 patients referring to the Hajar Hospital in Shahrekord, Iran in 2015. After the blood samples were collected, the ferritin levels were measured, DNA was extracted from the blood cells, and the types of polymorphisms were determined using PCR-RFLP. Data of MRI T2 * in the heart and liver were drawn from the patients' medical files. Data analysis was conducted by t-test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: There was no significant correlation between blood ferritin level and c.-582 A>G polymorphisms of hepcidin gene (p=0.58), and H63D of HFE gene (p=0.818). In addition, there was no significant association between the polymorphisms and heart and liver MRI, but there was a significant association between blood ferritin level and qualitative heart and liver MRI (r=-0.34, p=0.035 and r=-0.001, p=0.609, respectively). Conclusion: In patients with β-thalassemia major, the presence of c.-582A>G HAMP and H63D HFE polymorphisms is not effective on blood ferritin level and iron overload in the heart and liver in the studied region

Pressure tuning of the anomalous Hall effect in the chiral antiferromagnet Mn3Ge

We report on the pressure evolution of the giant anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in the chiral antiferromagnet Mn$_3$Ge. The AHE originating from the non-vanishing Berry curvature in Mn$_3$Ge can be continuously tuned by application of hydrostatic pressure. At room temperature, the Hall signal changes sign as a function of pressure and vanishes completely at $p=1.53$ GPa. Even though the Hall conductivity changes sign upon increasing pressure, the room-temperature saturation value of 23 ${\rm \Omega^{-1}cm^{-1}}$ at 2.85 GPa is remarkably high and comparable to the saturation value at ambient pressure of about 40 ${\rm \Omega^{-1}cm^{-1}}$. The change in the Hall conductivity can be directly linked to a gradual change of the size of the in-plane components of the Mn moments in the non-collinear triangular magnetic structure. Our findings, therefore, provide a route for tuning of the AHE in the chiral antiferromagnetic Mn$_3$Ge.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

The ‘colorblindness’ of climate finance:how climate finance advances racial injustice in cities

The interactions between climate change and financial markets are increasingly becoming a topic of study, yet the ways in which climate finance reinforces new modes of racialization in urban climate adaptation projects remain an under-represented line of questioning in both academic and policy worlds. In order to uncover myriad processes of racialization occurring within financing modes that are mobilized to solve the climate crisis, this paper focuses on three different urban deal-making spaces: Cagayan De Oro City located in Mindanao, in the southern part of the Philippines; Mexico City, the capital of Mexico; and Philadelphia, PA, situated in the northeastern corridor of the United States. Through analysis of the financial deals structuring urban climate endeavors in these three different cultural and environmental milieus, we find that the ‘colorblindness’ of climate finance both reinforces historical environmental injustices and creates new spatialities of environmental racism through its reliance on structures of racial capitalism. In doing so we also show the relevance of the racial capitalism framework beyond its theoretical heartlands

Treatment of third-degree burn wounds in animal specimens: Acellular dermis or partial-thickness skin graft Traitement des brûlures du 3ème degré chez l�animal: Derme acel-lulaire ou greffe semi-épaisse

Several dermal products have been introduced to substitute dermal tissues. In this study we review the effects of these products on repairing third-degree burn wounds and managing complications in animal specimens. Using an interventional approach, rats were randomly assigned to four groups (G1 to G4). Two wounds were created on the back of each rat. An open wound was left on the back of rats in G1; in G2, wounds were covered with a thick rat derived-ADM product and overlying thin skin graft; on G3 rats, similar third degree ulcers were made with one ulcer covered with harvested thin skin graft. In G4, ulcers were covered with a thin rat derived-ADM product and thin graft. Factors such as take rate, histopathological score, wound contracture and graft contracture were compared on the 7th, 15th, 21st and 30th day. Mean graft take rate on the 30th day in the thick ADM, thin ADM and graft group showed a significant difference (p=0.015). Histopathological score on the 30th day in the thin ADM, thick ADM and graft group showed no considerable difference. Mean graft take rate was significantly better in the thin ADM and graft group than in the thick ADM group. Wound contracture was significantly more severe in the thick ADM and control group than in the thin ADM and graft group. © 2018, Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters. All rights reserved

The requirements and challenges in preventing of road traffic injury in Iran. A qualitative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a major public health problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Among middle-income countries, Iran has one of the highest mortality rates from RTIs. Action is critical to combat this major public health problem. Stakeholders involved in RTI control are of key importance and their perceptions of barriers and facilitators are a vital source of knowledge. The aim of this study was to explore barriers to the prevention of RTIs and provide appropriate suggestions for prevention, based on the perceptions of stakeholders, victims and road-users as regards RTIs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty-eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with informants in the field of RTI prevention including: police officers; public health professionals; experts from the road administrators; representatives from the General Governor, the car industry, firefighters; experts from Emergency Medical Service and the Red Crescent; and some motorcyclists and car drivers as well as victims of RTIs. A qualitative approach using grounded theory method was employed to analyze the material gathered.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The core variable was identified as "The lack of a system approach to road-user safety". The following barriers in relation to RTI prevention were identified as: human factors; transportation system; and organizational coordination. Suggestions for improvement included education (for the general public and targeted group training), more effective legislation, more rigorous law enforcement, improved engineering in road infrastructure, and an integrated organization to supervise and coordinate preventive activities.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The major barriers identified in this study were human factors and efforts to change human behaviour were suggested by means of public education campaigns and stricter law enforcement. However, the lack of a system approach to RTI prevention was also an important concern. There is an urgent need for both an integrated system to coordinate RTI activities and prevention and a major change in stakeholders' attitudes towards RTI prevention. The focus of all activities should take place on road users' safety.</p

Large-scale magnetic fields from inflation due to a CPTCPT-even Chern-Simons-like term with Kalb-Ramond and scalar fields

We investigate the generation of large-scale magnetic fields due to the breaking of the conformal invariance in the electromagnetic field through the $CPT$-even dimension-six Chern-Simons-like effective interaction with a fermion current by taking account of the dynamical Kalb-Ramond and scalar fields in inflationary cosmology. It is explicitly demonstrated that the magnetic fields on 1Mpc scale with the field strength of $\sim 10^{-9}$G at the present time can be induced.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, version accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. J.