Cryptic and non-cryptic diversity in New Guinea ground snakes of the genus Stegonotus Duméril,Bibron and Duméril, 1854: a description of four new species (Squamata: Colubridae)

ABSTRACT

The island of New Guinea has been identified as biologically megadiverse but many taxa are still poorly known. This is especially the case for many of the island’s snakes, which by their very nature can be difficult to collect and study. Here we examine the phylogenetic and phylogeographic structure of a poorly studied snake genus, Stegonotus, focusing on the species of New Guinea; until now, Stegonotus has never been examined using modern phylogenetic methods. Using molecular data from 49 individuals representing eight of the ten described species, and including all New Guinea taxa, we estimate a multilocus phylogeny and examine population structure to help identify undescribed taxa. We use morphological data from the corresponding museum vouchered specimens (where available) and also examine additional specimens for taxa not included in the molecular data set to determine morphological differences among putative taxa. We find molecular evidence for four new species of Stegonotus, both morphologically obvious and cryptic, and describe them herein. The recognition of these four species indicates that Stegonotus diversity has been previously underestimated and also suggests that there are likely additional undescribed taxa within the genus. These four taxa increase the number of described species by 40% and further confirm New Guinea as the centre of diversity for the genus.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9E21390E-3FD4-40EB-9442-31BC92A76B4F     

Methods for backcasting,nowcasting and forecasting using factor‐MIDAS: With an application to Korean GDP

We utilize mixed‐frequency factor‐MIDAS models for the purpose of carrying out backcasting, nowcasting, and forecasting experiments using real‐time data. We also introduce a new real‐time Korean GDP dataset, which is the focus of our experiments. The methodology that we utilize involves first estimating common latent factors (i.e., diffusion indices) from 190 monthly macroeconomic and financial series using various estimation strategies. These factors are then included, along with standard variables measured at multiple different frequencies, in various factor‐MIDAS prediction models. Our key empirical findings as follows. (i) When using real‐time data, factor‐MIDAS prediction models outperform various linear benchmark models. Interestingly, the “MSFE‐best” MIDAS models contain no autoregressive (AR) lag terms when backcasting and nowcasting. AR terms only begin to play a role in “true” forecasting contexts. (ii) Models that utilize only one or two factors are “MSFE‐best” at all forecasting horizons, but not at any backcasting and nowcasting horizons. In these latter contexts, much more heavily parametrized models with many factors are preferred. (iii) Real‐time data are crucial for forecasting Korean gross domestic product, and the use of “first available” versus “most recent” data “strongly” affects model selection and performance. (iv) Recursively estimated models are almost always “MSFE‐best,” and models estimated using autoregressive interpolation dominate those estimated using other interpolation methods. (v) Factors estimated using recursive principal component estimation methods have more predictive content than those estimated using a variety of other (more sophisticated) approaches. This result is particularly prevalent for our “MSFE‐best” factor‐MIDAS models, across virtually all forecast horizons, estimation schemes, and data vintages that are analyzed.     

谈“十四五”生态保护与绿色发展的生态关系

 从“十四五”保护与发展的生态关系角度，探讨了生态保护与绿色发展的十大生态关系，阐述了生态保护和绿色发展中的一系列有关生态关系的生态智慧及生态技术，并对长江、黄河等流域的生态保护和修复提出了相关建议。     

Effect of electroslag remelting and homogenization on hydrogen flaking in AMS-4340 ultra-high-strength steels

Hydrogen flakes and elemental segregation are the main causes of steel rejection. To eliminate hydrogen flaking, the present study focuses on the manufacture of AMS-4340 ultra-high-strength steel through an alternate route. AMS-4340 was prepared using three different processing routes. The primary processing route consisted of melting in an electric arc furnace, refining in a ladle refining furnace, and vacuum degassing. After primary processing, the heat processes(D1, D2, and D3) were cast into cylindrical electrodes. For secondary processing, electroslag remelting(ESR) was carried out on the primary heats to obtain four secondary heats: E1, E2, E3, and E4. Homogenization of ingots E1, E2, E3, and E4 was carried out at 1220°C for 14, 12, 12, and 30 h, respectively, followed by an antiflaking treatment at 680°C and air cooling. In addition, the semi-finished ESR ingot E4 was again homogenized at 1220°C for 6–8 h and a second antiflaking treatment was performed at 680°C for 130 h followed by air cooling. The chemical segregation of each heat was monitored through a spectroscopy technique. The least segregation was observed for heat E4. Macrostructure examination revealed the presence of hydrogen flakes in heats E1, E2, and E3, whereas no hydrogen flakes were observed in heat E4. Ultrasonic testing revealed no internal defects in heat E4, whereas internal defects were observed in the other heats. A grain size investigation revealed a finer grain size for E4 compared with those for the other heats. Steel produced in heat E4 also exhibited superior mechanical properties. Therefore, the processing route used for heat E4 can be used to manufacture an AMS-4340 ultra-high-strength steel with superior properties compared with those of AMS-4340 prepared by the other investigated routes.     

Friction-stir-welded overaged 7020-T6 alloy joint: an investigation on the effect of rotational speed on the microstructure and mechanical properties

Commercial A7020-T6 plates in the overaged state were subjected to friction stir welding with four different tool rotational speeds of 500, 710, 1000, and 1400 r/min and a single traverse feed rate of 40 mm/min. The resultant changes in the welding heat input, microstructure, and the mechanical properties of the joints were investigated. The changes were related to the processes of growth, dissolution, and re-formation of precipitates. The precipitate evolution was examined by differential scanning calorimetry, and the microstructural analysis was conducted using optical, scanning, and transmission electron microscopes. The results showed that the grain size in the stirred zone(SZ) decreased substantially compared with the base metal, but increased with tool rotational speed because of the rise in temperature. We found that the width of the heat-affected zone increased with tool rotational speed. The hardness and the tensile strength in the SZ increased with increasing heat input compared with the base metal in the overaged condition. This recovery in mechanical properties of the joints can be attributed to the dissolution and re-formation of precipitates in the SZ and the thermomechanically affected zone. This process is referred to as an "auto-aging treatment."     

Biogenic amino acid methionine-based corrosion inhibitors of mild steel in acidic media

N,N-Diallyl methionine ethyl ester hydrochloride 5 underwent alternating copolymerization with SO_2 via the Butler cyclopolymerization protocol in dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) to give water-soluble cycloterpolymer 6 with a ～1:1 molar ratio of sulfide and sulfoxide groups as a result of oxygen transfer from DMSO. Half of the sulfide groups in 6, upon oxidation with H_2O_2, afforded polymer sulfoxide 7 and polymer sulfone 8. The solution properties of these polymers were determined via a viscometric technique. The thermal stability of these polymers was determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The inhibition efficiency obtained from gravimetric mass loss, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques agreed well with each other. The corrosion efficiencies increase with increasing concentration of the polymers. At a polymer concentration of 175 mM, the maximum inhibition efficiency of copolymer compounds 6–8 was determined to be 92%, 97%, and 95%, respectively. The synthesized polymer compounds acted as mixed-type inhibitors. Polymer compound 7 adsorbed onto the metal surface via chemisorption and physisorption and obeyed Langmuir, Temkin, and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. Analyses by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicated that the adsorbed polymers formed a thin film on the metal surface and prevented further corrosive attack.     

Effect of high anodic polarization on the passive layer properties of superduplex stainless steel friction stir welds at different chloride electrolyte pH values and temperatures

The conditions used for friction stir welding of duplex stainless steels determine the resulting mechanical and corrosion performance of the material.This study investigates the corrosion resistance of UNS S32750 and S32760 superduplex stainless steels(SDSSs)joined by friction stir welding,employing cyclic polarization,Mott–Schottky,and microscopy techniques for analysis.The microscopy images indicated the presence of a deleterious intermetallic phase after electrolytic etching of S32760,as well as decreased corrosion resistance.The presence of molybdenum in the steels promoted better passive behavior at low pH.The Mott–Schottky curves revealed p-n heterojunction behavior of the passive oxide.Images acquired after the polarization test by scanning electron microscopy showed higher passivation propensity with increases of temperature and pH.     

离散空间直接建模的计算流体力学方法

本文提出了一种发展适合多尺度、多物理流动的CFD格式的全新途径,即直接在离散空间利用物理模型的跨尺度演化解来建立数值格式的新方法.与直接离散偏微分方程的传统做法相比,基于离散空间直接建模构造出的数值方法考虑了网格尺度和物理模型之间的匹配,能做到不同尺度上物理模型的连续过渡,从而实现对多尺度流动的高效模拟.Boltzmann方程的模型演化解为直接建模方法提供了重要的支撑.本文提出了直接建模构造计算流体力学方法的理论基础,并给出了在建立统一气体动理学格式中的成功运用,验证了新方法的可行性和优越性.     

Production of HfO2 thin films using different methods: chemical bath deposition,SILAR and sol-gel process

Hafnium oxide thin films (HOTFs) were successfully deposited onto amorphous glasses using chemical bath deposition, successive ionic layer absorption and reaction (SILAR), and sol-gel methods. The same reactive precursors were used for all of the methods, and all of the films were annealed at 300°C in an oven (ambient conditions). After this step, the optical and structural properties of the films produced by using the three different methods were compared. The structures of the films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The optical properties are investigated using the ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopic technique. The film thickness was measured via atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the tapping mode. The surface properties and elemental ratios of the films were investigated and measured by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The lowest transmittance and the highest reflectance values were observed for the films produced using the SILAR method. In addition, the most intense characteristic XRD peak was observed in the diffraction pattern of the film produced using the SILAR method, and the greatest thickness and average grain size were calculated for the film produced using the SILAR method. The films produced using SILAR method contained fewer cracks than those produced using the other methods. In conclusion, the SILAR method was observed to be the best method for the production of HOTFs.