The importance of threading dislocations on the motion of domain boundaries in thin films

Thin films often present domain structures whose detailed evolution is a subject of debate. We analyze the evolution of copper films, which contain both rotational and stacking domains, on ruthenium. Real-time observation by low-energy electron microscopy shows that the stacking domains evolve in a seemingly complex way. Not only do the stacking boundaries move in preferred directions, but their motion is extremely uneven and they become stuck when they reach rotational boundaries. We show that this behavior occurs because the stacking-boundary motion is impeded by threading dislocations. This study underscores how the coarse-scale evolution of thin films can be controlled by defects.     

Pathogenicity evaluation of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum race 4 on ginger by leaf-clipping inoculation

Journal of General Plant Pathology - An easy, rapid method has been needed to test the pathogenicity of strains of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, the cause of serious bacterial wilt on ginger...     

Volatile analysis of ground almonds contaminated with naturally occurring fungi

Aflatoxigenic aspergilli inflict major economic damage to the tree nut industry of California, with the highest negative impact to almonds. Aspergilli and fungi in general are known to emit volatiles in varying quantity and composition dependent upon their growth media. The goal of the study was to determine the volatile emission of whole and blanched almonds that had been picked out and labeled as inedible by processors. The aflatoxin content and number of colony forming units of each sample were also determined. A total of 23 compounds were consistently detected and identified. Several volatiles from the blanched almonds demonstrated significant increases when compared to the emissions of whole almonds. Several of these volatiles are considered fatty acid decomposition products and included hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, 3-octen-2-one, tetramethylpyrazine, and decanal. The almond samples investigated were characteristic of a typical postharvest environment and illustrative of potential contamination within a stockpile or transport container. Volatiles indicative of fatty acid decomposition were predominant in the samples that underwent some form of blanching. The emission amounts of hexanal, heptanal, octanal, and hexanoic acid increased 3-fold in samples contaminated with aflatoxin; however, due to variability between samples they could not be considered as indicator volatiles for aflatoxin content. The emission profile of volatiles from almond kernels contaminated with naturally occurring aspergilli and associated fungi is heretofore unreported.     

DNA Protective Effect of Ginseng and the Antagonistic Effect of Chinese Turnip: A Preliminary Study

The genoprotective effect of American and Asian ginseng on human lymphocytic DNA was studied. Using the comet assay, aqueous extracts of both types of ginseng were shown to diminish hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage. In contrast, and in accordance with traditional Chinese medicine beliefs, addition of the juice from Chinese turnip counteracted the beneficial effect of ginseng. Results showed that incubating ginseng along with turnip juice abolished the DNA protective effect of both American and Asian ginseng. Although the exact mechanism has not been elucidated, the counteracting effect of turnip on ginseng seems unlikely to be mediated by enzymatic action as the effect was seen with boiled as well as unboiled turnip extract.     

Effects of mycorrhizal Bermuda grass on low-range soil matric suction

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Soil matric suction, or negative water potential, contributes to soil physical stability (e.g., slope). Plants retain soil matric suction as they take up and...     

Genome size variation among sex types in dioecious and trioecious Caricaceae species

Caricaceae is a small family consisting of 35 species of varying sexual systems and includes economically important fruit crop, Carica papaya, and other species of “highland papayas”. Flow cytometry was used to obtain genome sizes for 11 species in three genera of Caricaceae to determine if genome size differences can be detected between sexes. Genome sizes ranged from 442.5 to 625.9 megabases (Mb) likely due to variation in the accumulation of retrotransposons in the genomes. The C. papaya genome size was estimated to be 442.5 Mb, larger than previously reported. Significant differences were detected between male and female samples in Jacaratia spinosa, Vasconcellea horovitziana, and V. stipulata, and between male and hermaphrodite samples of V. cundinamarcensis, suggesting the presence of sex chromosomes for these species. The small size differences between genomes of the papaya sexes were not detected using flow cytometry. Vasconcellea horovitziana was discovered to have a larger female genome size than male, suggesting the possibility of a ZW sex chromosome system in the family. The estimated genome sizes of these 11 species will be used in sequencing their genomes and in sex chromosome research for this family.     

Case studies of Asian dust storm impacts on a coastal site: implication of a good dust storm tracer

Significant dust storm impacts have seldom been recorded and reported in Hong Kong. Herein, four cases which occurred in Hong Kong during the spring times of recent years are examined using back-trajectory computation and chemical analysis of air-borne samples. All of the cases show that the dust was transported from the source to Hong Kong in 2–5 days and that PM₁₀ concentrations approached or exceeded the European Union air quality criteria and the USA National Ambient Air Quality Standard. The chemical characteristics of the samples taken in these events agreed both with those from the source regions and with those archived from selected Hong Kong datasets. The concentrations of the crustal constituents (Al, Fe, Mn, Ca) of the Hong Kong samples on the episode days were at least three times higher than the concentrations measured on non-episode days. The mass ratios of Fe/Al and Mn/Al (but not Ca/Al) can act as good tracers of Asian dust storms to this coastal site where sea-salt and other anthropogenic species are normally dominant. Furthermore, unusually high Mg levels indicated a mainly crustal origin for this element, rather than the marine origin normally found at this coastal location. Particulate nitrate exhibited more elevated concentrations in all of the dust storm samples than in non-dust-storm and local samples.     

Restoration of Plant and Animal Communities in a Sanitary Landfill: A 10‐year Case Study in Hong Kong

This study was conducted in the South East New Territories landfill in Hong Kong, with the objectives to (i) investigate the plant and animal communities' establishment and performance within 10 years after restoration and (ii) provide important information on pioneer plants species selection recommendations for restoring sanitary landfills. The studying sites were re‐vegetated in 2003, with 14 pioneer plant species, including Acacia auriculiformis, A. confusa and Schefflera heptaphylla, planted. In total, four permanent quadrats (10 m × 10 m) were used for monitoring at three restored sites (sites E, N and S) and the control site C. The soil properties and plant and animal communities inside plots were investigated annually in summer and winter between 2003 and 2014. The similarity of plant and animal communities between the restored and control sites was compared using Jaccard's index. Ten years after restoration, animal and plant communities were gradually established at all sites. No animal was introduced into the restored sites in 2003; however, there were 29, 31 and 44 animal species recorded at sites E, N and S, respectively, between 2003 and 2012. Within the studying period, 38 plant species (trees: 52·63%, shrub: 21·05%, herbs: 23·68% and climber: 2·63%) were recorded in all sites and 17 (36·84%) of them were self‐seeding. Exotic species, such as those from the family Acacia and Mimosaceae, were dominant at all restored sites, which implies that exotic species are more competitive and suitable to be used as pioneer species in sanitary landfill restoration. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.