Adjacent Units Research Articles

Inferential statistical sampling of hyper-heterogeneous lots with hidden structure: the importance of proper Decision Unit definition

Sampling is nothing more than the practical application of statistics. If statistics were not available, then one would have to sample every portion of an entire population to determine one or more parameters of interest. There are many potential statistical tests that could be employed in sampling, but many statistical tests are useful only if certain assumptions about the population are valid. Prior to any sampling event, the operative Decision Unit (DU) must be established. The Decision Unit is the material object that an analytical result makes inference to. In many cases, there is more than one Decision Unit in a population. A lot is a collection (population) of individual Decision Units that will be treated as a whole (accepted or rejected), depending on the analytical results for individual Decision Units. The application of the Theory of Sampling (TOS) is critical for sampling the material within a Decision Unit. However, knowledge of the analytical concentration of interest within a Decision Unit may not provide information on unsampled Decision Units; especially for a hyper-heterogenous lot where a Decision Unit can be of a completely different characteristic than an adjacent Decision Unit. In cases where every Decision Unit cannot be sampled, application of non-parametric statistics can be used to make inference from sampled Decision Units to Decision Units that are not sampled. The combination of the TOS for sampling of individual Decision Units along with non-parametric statistics offers the best possible inference for situations where there are more Decision Units than can practically be sampled.

Geographic distribution patterns of amphibians and reptiles from the Uruguayan Savanna

We assessed the geographic distribution of amphibians and reptiles occurring in the Uruguayan Savanna ecoregion (USE) to find shared distribution patterns, in order to identify chorotypes which could inform the conflicting regionalization of the Pampa province. We compiled nearly 83,000 records of complete geographic distributions of the 58 species of amphibians and 86 species of reptiles with occurrence in the Uruguayan Savanna throughout South America. Endemicity analysis (NDM/VNDM) was implemented to identify shared geographic distribution patterns (chorotypes). We described general diversity patterns for the Uruguayan Savanna in terms of endemic species and the degree of species shared with other ecoregions. We have found five amphibians (anurans) and nine reptiles (six lizards, two amphisbaenians, and one snake) endemic to the USE, while most species from the Uruguayan Savanna ecoregion are shared with other ecoregions. We recovered 38 consensus areas from 68 individual areas resulting in 17 chorotypes after implementing a metaconsensus cluster analysis. Our results indicate a complex pattern of shared geographic distributions between Uruguayan Savanna and adjacent biogeographical units. The limits of the ecoregion coincided with some chorotypes, however, the traditional limits of the Pampa did not align with any chorotype. The tropical affinity of the USE was supported by both the number of species shared with Alto Paraná Atlantic forests, and the pattern of chorotype recovered. Species that occur in temperate pampa and the USE were widely distributed in other ecoregions.

The Tendency of Nature towards Hexagon Shape Formation due to Minimizing Surface Energy

Nature, for instance, bubble and honeycomb, tend to form a hexagon shape naturally. The array of bubbles and honeycomb is formed by merging and sharing the common wall with the adjacent unit. Even though each of the unit shapes size may vary, the noticeable elements that built up the array are hexagons. There are many regular and irregular shapes available in nature, but the shape formation still leads to hexagon at the end of the shape evolving due to surface tension. Based on the phenomenon, this study was carried out to investigate the effect of surface tension, energy, and geometry features, which affect the tendency of hexagon formation. The study was carried out by comparing hexagon with triangle, trapezium, and square. From the result, it is found that the reduction of surface energy ranged from 10-23 percent from the initial shape. As expected, the hexagon shape is packed with the lowest surface parameter and very stable in single unit or array form by showing the lowest energy reduction. The energy content is a reflection to structure equilibrium and its stability for nature tendency.

Adjacent vertebral Hounsfield unit value of acute osteoporotic vertebral fracture is a risk factor for concomitant domino osteoporotic vertebral fractures

BackgroundMost patients with acute osteoporotic vertebral fracture (AOVF) are successfully treated conservatively. However, the optimal management method and prognosis for multiple AOVFs are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of multiple AOVFs and identify the associated risk factors. MethodsThis study enrolled 134 hospitalized patients (mean age 83 ± 7.6 years, 66% women) with AOVF treated conservatively between 2017 and 2020. The fractures were diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The AOVFs were divided into two groups; single osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) and domino OVFs (at least two OVFs). The adjacent vertebral Hounsfield unit values (HU) of the OVF and dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the lumbar spine or hip were used to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for domino OVFs. ResultsDomino OVFs were noted in 21 (15.7%) of 134 patients. There were 10 cases of adjacent level and 11 cases of remote level. The BMI (18.5 ± 4.2 vs. 21.2 ± 4.6, p = 0.025) and adjacent vertebral HU value of OVF (57.3 ± 17.5 vs. 76.6 ± 24.1, p = 0.008) were significantly lower in the domino OVFs group than in the single OVF group. Logistic regression analysis revealed the adjacent vertebral HU value of the OVF as an independent risk factor for domino OVFs, (odds ratios (OR) 0.96, p = 0.012). The domino OVF group had a significantly higher decline in gait ability (76% vs. 48%, p = 0.017). ConclusionsThe adjacent vertebral HU value of AOVF is a useful tool for evaluating BMD for domino OVFs. The optimal treatment for osteoporosis should be considered to prevent subsequent domino OVFs.

Genetic variation at mouse and human ribosomal DNA influences associated epigenetic states

BackgroundRibosomal DNA (rDNA) displays substantial inter-individual genetic variation in human and mouse. A systematic analysis of how this variation impacts epigenetic states and expression of the rDNA has thus far not been performed.ResultsUsing a combination of long- and short-read sequencing, we establish that 45S rDNA units in the C57BL/6J mouse strain exist as distinct genetic haplotypes that influence the epigenetic state and transcriptional output of any given unit. DNA methylation dynamics at these haplotypes are dichotomous and life-stage specific: at one haplotype, the DNA methylation state is sensitive to the in utero environment, but refractory to post-weaning influences, whereas other haplotypes entropically gain DNA methylation during aging only. On the other hand, individual rDNA units in human show limited evidence of genetic haplotypes, and hence little discernible correlation between genetic and epigenetic states. However, in both species, adjacent units show similar epigenetic profiles, and the overall epigenetic state at rDNA is strongly positively correlated with the total rDNA copy number. Analysis of different mouse inbred strains reveals that in some strains, such as 129S1/SvImJ, the rDNA copy number is only approximately 150 copies per diploid genome and DNA methylation levels are < 5%.ConclusionsOur work demonstrates that rDNA-associated genetic variation has a considerable influence on rDNA epigenetic state and consequently rRNA expression outcomes. In the future, it will be important to consider the impact of inter-individual rDNA (epi)genetic variation on mammalian phenotypes and diseases.

Monolayer Graphitic Carbon Nitride as Metal-Free Catalyst with Enhanced Performance in Photo- and Electro-Catalysis

HighlightsThe g-C3N4 monolayer in the perfect 2D limit was successfully realized, for the first time, by the well-defined chemical strategy based on the bottom-up process.The most striking evidence was made from Cs–high resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements by observing directly the atomic structure of g-C3N4 unit cell, which was again supported by the corresponding high resolution transmission electron microscopy image simulation results.We demonstrated that the newly prepared g-C3N4 monolayer showed outstanding photocatalytic activity for H2O2 generation as well as excellent electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction.The exfoliation of bulk graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) into monolayer has been intensively studied to induce maximum surface area for fundamental studies, but ended in failure to realize chemically and physically well-defined monolayer of g-C3N4 mostly due to the difficulty in reducing the layer thickness down to an atomic level. It has, therefore, remained as a challenging issue in two-dimensional (2D) chemistry and physics communities. In this study, an “atomic monolayer of g-C3N4 with perfect two-dimensional limit” was successfully prepared by the chemically well-defined two-step routes. The atomically resolved monolayer of g-C3N4 was also confirmed by spectroscopic and microscopic analyses. In addition, the experimental Cs-HRTEM image was collected, for the first time, which was in excellent agreement with the theoretically simulated; the evidence of monolayer of g-C3N4 in the perfect 2D limit becomes now clear from the HRTEM image of orderly hexagonal symmetry with a cavity formed by encirclement of three adjacent heptazine units. Compared to bulk g-C3N4, the present g-C3N4 monolayer showed significantly higher photocatalytic generation of H2O2 and H2, and electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction. In addition, its photocatalytic efficiency for H2O2 production was found to be the best for any known g-C3N4 nanomaterials, underscoring the remarkable advantage of monolayer formation in optimizing the catalyst performance of g-C3N4.

Improving hygroscopic stability of palmatine by replacing Clˉ and preparing single crystal of palmatine-salicylic acid

In order to improve the hygroscopic stability of palmatine (PMT), an unreported single crystal of palmatine-salicylic acid (PMT-SA, [C21H22NO4]C7H5O3) was designed and synthesized by replacing Clˉ of PMTCl, and the hygroscopic stability of PMT was remarkably improved. The crystal structures and intermolecular interactions were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, NMR (1H and 13C), FT-IR, PXRD, TGA-DSC and Hirshfeld surface analysis, and its properties were studied. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that asymmetric unit of PMT-SA contains one PMT and one SA, and adjacent asymmetric unit are connected via hydrogen bond C6-H6A…O6 to form an annular synthon R44(22). Adjacent synthons form 1D chain by intermolecular hydrogen bond C25-H25…O5 and π…π packing, as if PMT+ are sandwiched between SAˉ chains. Furthermore, 1D chains are interwoven through C27-H27…O5 of SAˉ chains on the both sides to fabricate 2D layers, then 2D layers overlaps into a fascinating 3D framework. Comprehensive structural analysis and Hirshfeld surface analysis reveal that the weak interaction force of hydrogen bonds formed between H atom of aromatic ring in PMT and carboxylic acid group of SA can promote stable crystal structure. Hygroscopic stability and DVS experiments show that hygroscopic stability of PMT-SA is tremendously enhanced, which might attribute to the replacement of Clˉ by SAˉ and the preparation of PMT-SA with a stable crystal structure. This successful work implies that a new approach to design protoberberines pharmaceutical salt with good hygroscopic stability by replacing anions, and provides inspiration for improving physicochemical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Further to this, antibacterial activities of PMT-SA resist Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus albus, and Escherichia coli are higher than PMTCl in vitro at gradient concentrations.

Rhinopoièses esthétiques triplan de l’unité de l’aile après ablation de lésions basocellulaires évoluées. À propos de 26 cas

The aesthetic reconstruction of full thickness defects of the entire ala is difficult because of its complex tridimensional anatomy. The triplan reconstruction of this unit which includes: -a lining with a mucosal flap, -a sculptured cartilage framework imitating the anatomy of the opposite ala -and a skin coverage by an immediate defatted forehead flap, gives regularly a very good aesthetic results, superior to the ones obtained by other techniques. From may 2008 to December 2020, 26 patients aged between 49 and 78 years old have benefited from this triplan aesthetic reconstruction after an excision of evolved basal cell carcinomas interesting the ala unit. The defects resulting were located in the entire ala with slight extension to the adjacent units. In all cases, the lining was reconstructed by the BURGET'S homolateral septal mucosal flap. The shape of the ala was obtained by a precise sculpture of conqual cartilage, taking the opposite ala as the model. The cutaneous coverage was provided by a paramedian forehead flap tailored exactly to the defect's size and immediately defatted. With a mean follow up of 8 years, all the reconstructed ala were quasi symmetrical to the opposite ones with a very good shape of the new nostrils. No complications and no tumoral recurrence are reported. This triplan reconstruction of the entire ala's defects is really aesthetic and gives a natural look for the lower third of the nose.

Vimentin binds to G-quadruplex repeats found at telomeres and gene promoters.

G-quadruplex (G4) structures that can form at guanine-rich genomic sites, including telomeres and gene promoters, are actively involved in genome maintenance, replication, and transcription, through finely tuned interactions with protein networks. In the present study, we identified the intermediate filament protein Vimentin as a binder with nanomolar affinity for those G-rich sequences that give rise to at least two adjacent G4 units, named G4 repeats. This interaction is supported by the N-terminal domains of soluble Vimentin tetramers. The selectivity of Vimentin for G4 repeats versus individual G4s provides an unprecedented result. Based on GO enrichment analysis performed on genes having putative G4 repeats within their core promoters, we suggest that Vimentin recruitment at these sites may contribute to the regulation of gene expression during cell development and migration, possibly by reshaping the local higher-order genome topology, as already reported for lamin B.

A novel flavone-based ESIPT ratiometric fluorescent probe for selective sensing and imaging of hydrogen polysulfides

Hydrogen polysulfides (H2Sn) as an important member of reactive sulfur species is closely relevant to many physiological functions in redox homeostasis and metabolism. Dual-channel monitor the changes of H2Sn level in vivo is highly desired. Herein we design a simple ratiometric fluorescent probe based on flavone skeleton for highly selective detection of H2Sn. The probe HF-NA-MC bearing 2-fluoro-5-nitrobenzoic acid group inhibited the intramolecular ESIPT process, which show the blue fluorescence of adjacent naphthalene unit. In the presence of H2Sn, the enol form of probe is converted to conjugated keto form, resulted in a 90 nm red-shift of fluorescence emission from 450 nm to 540 nm. The ratiometric intensity (I540/I450) of the probe exhibits a good linear relationship toward H2Sn in the range of 0–120 μM, and the detection limit is estimated to be 0.63 μM. The ratiometric fluorescent probe shows high specificity and anti-interference ability for H2Sn over other related reactive sulfur species. The probe HF-NA-MC shows promising outlook and could be applied to the confocal imaging of H2Sn by dual emission channels in Hela cells.

Singlet fission in colloid nanoparticles of amphipathic 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene derivatives

Three 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl) anthracene derivatives with zero (BPEA), one (BPEA-COOH) and two (BPEA-(COOH)2) carboxylic groups are synthesized and prepared into colloidal nanoparticles in the aqueous solution. Scanning electron microscopy shows different morphologies of these three nanoparticles due to the different driving forces for the self-assembly process. Steady-state absorption and fluorescence spectra reveal the presence of the strong intermolecular interaction between the adjacent anthracene units in these three nanoparticles, and the interactions in BPEA-COOH and BPEA-(COOH)2 nanoparticles are larger than that in BPEA. Singlet fission (SF) could be conducted in these three nanoparticles as revealed by the transient absorption experiment, but with different efficiencies. Triplet yields of BPEA-COOH (109%) and BPEA-(COOH)2 (98%) nanoparticles decreased a lot compared to that of BPEA nanoparticles (122%), which is caused by the more endothermic SF in BPEA-COOH and BPEA-(COOH)2 nanoparticles due to the decreased singlet state energy.

Slow Magnetic Relaxation and Luminescent Properties of Mononuclear Lanthanide-Substituted Keggin-Type Polyoxotungstates with Compartmental Organic Ligands.

The reaction of mid to late lanthanide ions with the N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-bis(2-hydroxy-3-formyl-5-bromobenzyl)ethylene-diamine organic ligand and monolacunary Keggin type [α-SiW11O39]8– anion affords a series of isostructural compounds, namely, K5[LnIII(α-SiW11O39)(C20H22Br2N2O4)]·14H2O (1-Ln, Ln = Sm to Lu). The molecular structure of these sandwich-type complexes is formed by the LnIII ion in a biaugmented trigonal prismatic geometry, which occupies the external O4 site of the organic ligand and the vacant site of the lacunary polyoxometalate (POM) unit. The empty N2O2 coordination site of the organic ligand allows its unprecedented folding, which displays a relative perpendicular arrangement of aromatic groups. Weak Br···Br and π–π interactions established between adjacent molecular units govern the crystal packing, which results in the formation of assemblies containing six hybrid species assembled in a chairlike conformation. 1-Gd and 1-Yb display slow relaxation of the magnetization after the application of an external magnetic field with maxima in the out-of-phase magnetic susceptibility plots below ∼5–6 K, which is ascribed to the presence of various relaxation mechanisms. Moreover, photoluminescent emission is sensitized for 1-Sm and 1-Eu in the visible region and 1-Er and 1-Yb in the NIR. In contrast, the quenching of metal-centered luminescence in the 1-Tb derivative has been attributed to the out-of-pocket coordination mode of the lanthanide center within the POM fragment. It is demonstrated that the 1-Yb dual magneto-luminescent material represents the first lanthanide-containing POM reported to date with simultaneous slow magnetic relaxation and NIR emission. Solution stability of the hybrid molecular species in water is also confirmed by ESI-mass spectrometry experiments carried out for 1-Tb and 1-Tm.

Synthesis of a Substituted [10]Cycloparaphenylene through [2+2+2] Cycloaddition

AbstractHerein, we report the synthesis and investigation of a substituted [10]cycloparaphenylene (CPP) incorporating a diethylphthalane unit. An efficient strategy relying on a symmetric built‐up starting with propargyl ether as [2+2+2] cycloaddition precursor was developed. The straightforward synthesis required overcoming unexpected obstacles within the [2+2+2] cycloaddition, protection and aromatization. These results give valuable insights for accessing CPPs with highly substituted subunits. Finally, a seven‐step synthesis with an overall yield of 8 % provided the target nanoring, including good to excellent yields for the critical macrocyclization and aromatization. The synthesized nanohoop exhibits a hypsochromic shift in fluorescence and absorption, compared to the unsubstituted [10]CPP. This observation is proposedly caused by an increased torsion angle between the bivalent substituted phenyl moieties and the adjacent units.

U–Pb age constraints on the Jurassic succession and paleoflora of Mount Flora, Antarctic Peninsula

The spectacular fossil plant assemblage preserved in the non-marine Mount Flora Formation of the northern Antarctic Peninsula represents the diverse Jurassic flora that once covered the Gondwanan continents at high paleolatitudes. The depositional facies of the formation plays a key role in the tectonic interpretations and basin evolution models that attempt to reconcile large igneous province magmatism, continental break up, and magmatic arc development throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous. Limited U–Pb in situ geochronology reported from the Mount Flora Formation and adjacent units lack the necessary resolution to overcome ambiguous correlations and biostratigraphic discrepancies. We present two high-precision U–Pb zircon ages (CA-ID-TIMS method) from a distinct tuffaceous interval of the Mount Flora Formation at Hope Bay, which document a terminal Middle Jurassic age (Callovian Stage) for the formation and its paleoflora. In excess of 1400 new collected fossil plant specimens exhibit a highly diverse Jurassic plant association that dominated the Antarctic Peninsula nearly 17 million years after its disappearance from northern Patagonia. This suggests similar paleoecological conditions were established diachronously throughout basins of southern Gondwana, possibly facilitating floral migrations in response to local climate change. The depositional facies of the Mount Flora Formation, its age proximity to the marine Nordenskjöld Formation in the Antarctic Larsen Basin and its coincidence with a regional unconformity in the northern Patagonia point out to a complex interplay among magmatic arc development, tectonic extension and continental break up that dominated the geologic and paleoenvironmental evolution of southern Gondwana near the end of the Middle Jurassic.

The geography of sobriety checkpoints and alcohol-impaired driving.

Sobriety checkpoints are an effective strategy to reduce alcohol-impaired driving, motor vehicle crashes, injuries and fatalities. The aim of this study was to identify the geographic extent over which individual sobriety checkpoints affect alcohol-impaired driving. Spatial ecological panel analysis using geolocated breath test data from the Queensland Police Service, Australia, for January 2012 to June 2018. Data were aggregated over 338 weeks within 528 Statistical Area level 2 (SA2) units (n = 178 464 SA2-weeks) and 84 Statistical Area level 3 (SA3) units (n = 28 392 SA3-weeks). SA2 units in Queensland contain a mean population of 8883.5 (SD = 55 018.3) and encompass 468.9 roadway kilometers (SD = 1490.0); SA3 units contain a mean population of 57 201.6 (SD = 29521.6) and encompass 2936.0 roadway kilometers (SD = 7025.0). Independent measures were the density of sobriety checkpoints conducted per 500 roadway kilometers within local and spatially adjacent space-time units. The dependent measure was the rate of tests that detected breath alcohol concentration (a proxy for blood alcohol concentration [BAC]) greater than the legal maximum value of 0.05% for fully licensed drivers in Queensland. Bayesian hierarchical spatial negative binomial models-related sobriety checkpoints to the rate of breath tests with BAC ≥ 0.05% within and between space-time units. One additional sobriety checkpoint conducted per 500 roadway kilometers was associated with 2.5% reduction in the rate of breath tests with BAC ≥ 0.05% within local SA2 units (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.975; 95% credibility interval (CrI): 0.973-0.978), and with 5.5% reduction in the rate of breath tests with BAC ≥ 0.05% within local SA3 units (IRR = 0.945; 95%CrI: 0.937-0.953). Associations were attenuated towards null in spatially adjacent units and in temporally lagged units (e.g. SA3-weeks; adjacent lagged 1week: IRR = 0.969; 95%CrI: 0.937-1.003). Individual sobriety checkpoints appear to be associated with reductions in nearby alcohol-impaired driving. Relationships decay after approximately 1week and beyond local areas containing approximately 60 000 residents and 3000 kilometers of roadway.

Monitoring Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene (BTEX) Levels in Mixed-Use Residential-Commercial Buildings in Shiraz, Iran: Assessing the Carcinogenicity and Non-Carcinogenicity Risk of Their Inhabitants.

The aim of this study is to investigate the concentration of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene (BTEX) compounds in the indoor air of residential-commercial complexes and to compare it with other residential buildings (control) as well as to assess the carcinogenicity and non-carcinogenicity risk of these pollutants. BTEX concentration was investigated in the indoor air of 30 ground floor restaurants, 30 upper residential units of the complexes, 20 adjacent residential units (control), and their corridors. The mean BTEX concentration measured in the upper residential units was reported higher than in the control residential units, though they were not significantly different. The lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) value calculated for benzene in the upper residential units was lower than 10−4 and higher than 10−6 across all ages, indicating a carcinogenicity risk. Furthermore, the mean hazard quotient (HQ) for all compounds was obtained lower than 1, suggesting no concern about the non-carcinogenicity risk of these compounds in the studied region. Nevertheless, considering the sources of benzene production in the indoor air as well as the carcinogenicity of these pollutants and the risk they pose in human health, application towards the reduction of the sources and concentration of benzene in the indoor air are necessary.

Attention Neural Network for Biomedical Word Sense Disambiguation

In order to improve the disambiguation accuracy of biomedical words, this paper proposes a disambiguation method based on the attention neural network. The biomedical word is viewed as the center. Morphology, part of speech, and semantic information from 4 adjacent lexical units are extracted as disambiguation features. The attention layer is used to generate a feature matrix. Average asymmetric convolutional neural networks (Av-ACNN) and bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) networks are utilized to extract features. The softmax function is applied to determine the semantic category of the biomedical word. At the same time, CNN, LSTM, and Bi-LSTM are applied to biomedical WSD. MSH corpus is adopted to optimize CNN, LSTM, Bi-LSTM, and the proposed method and testify their disambiguation performance. Experimental results show that the average disambiguation accuracy of the proposed method is improved compared with CNN, LSTM, and Bi-LSTM. The average disambiguation accuracy of the proposed method achieves 91.38%.

Spatial and temporal patterns of soil salinization in shallow groundwater environments of the Bahía Blanca estuary: Influence of topography and land use

AbstractSoil salinization is considered an environmental threat as high salt content hinders plant growth. Soil salinity is usually associated with climate aridity at a regional scale, while topography, subsurface hydrology, and land use combine with climate to produce salinization patterns at landscape scale. In this study, the first such assessment for the study area, we investigated the relationship between climate, groundwater level (GWL) changes, and soil salinity. For comparison, two adjacent vegetation units used as marginal grazing lands were selected: thickets of Allenrolfea patagonica (Ap thicket), located at the base of a scarp, and bushes of Cyclolepis genistoides (Cg bush), located away from the topographic discontinuity. Electrical conductivity (ECrs) maps derived from LANDSAT‐8/OLI were used to analyze salinity patterns. The results showed that GWL rose in coincidence with precipitation events and fell during dryer and warmer periods. GWL was always closer to the surface in the Ap thicket, and level changes were more likely to occur there. ECrs showed a seasonal pattern with significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) values in the Ap thicket during summer. Within the Cg bush, relatively higher ECrs appeared around a permanent water trough. Within this zone, ECrs values during summer were significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05). Coupled evaluation of GWL dynamics and soil salinization patterns showed that GWL changes interact with land use practices to produce local‐scale patterns of salinization. Topography played an important role in controlling soil surface properties through its influence on groundwater dynamics and small topographic changes produced largely different conditions for vegetation growth.

Structure, electrical properties, and conduction mechanism of new germanate mixed Zn-doped In2Ge2O7 conductors

A new germanate mixed electronic and oxide ionic conductor In1.8Zn0.2Ge2O6.9 was developed, which exhibits two-dimensional anisotropic transport nature by oxygen exchange between adjacent Ge2O7 units, with a conductivity of 1.62 × 10–2 S cm−1 at 1000 °C.

Spring coherence in dissolved organic carbon export dominates total coherence in Boreal Shield forested catchments

The wide range of forested landscapes in boreal environments store and cycle substantial amounts of carbon, although the capacity of these systems to act as either a carbon sink or source is uncertain under a changing climate. While there are clear reports of regional-scale increases in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in streams and lakes, there remains substantial watershed-scale variability in these patterns. Coherence is a framework for examining if variables of interest within adjacent spatial units change synchronously or asynchronously through time and has been widely applied in the context of lentic hydrochemistry, and which can shed light on the relative importance of regional- vs. local-scale controls. The objective of this research was to quantify coherence in discharge, DOC concentrations, and DOC loads in forested boreal watersheds, and to what extent coherence varied by season. Coherence was assessed using data from three long-term ecological research sites spanning boreal forest environments (IISD-Experimental Lakes Area, Turkey Lakes Watershed Study, and Dorset Environmental Science Centre) that included 29 829 DOC measurements across 739 stream-years, examining correlation between stream-pairs within each site, but not between sites. Seasonal coherence in DOC export was consistent across the three sites; coherence was significantly greater in spring than all other seasons, and was strongly related to discharge coherence. Currently, the season with the greatest loads (spring) is also the most coherent season, suggesting that annual between-stream coherence may be reduced if spring becomes proportionally less important in hydrologic budgets under a changing climate. This research aids in determining which factors contribute to synchronous watershed behaviour, and which factors may contribute to the timing and extent of individual watershed-scale deviations from landscape-level patterns.