bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Snow Failure Modes Under Mixed Loading
Authors: Mede Tijan , Chambon Guillaume , Hagenmuller Pascal , Nicot François
Published: December 2018

The mechanical response of snow to mixed‐mode shear and normal loading is the key ingredient for snow avalanche modeling and strongly depends on microstructural characteristics. A discrete element numerical model was developed, which enables the simulation of large‐strain response of snow samples directly described by their full microstructure obtained through X‐ray microtomography. The model offers new insights into the failure mechanism as well as postfailure response of snow in mixed‐mode loading. Three distinct failure modes are identified, depending on the value of applied normal stress. Above a certain threshold normal stress, the failure is characterized by a structural collapse that decomposes the snow sample into a set of cohesionless grains. It is shown that the collapse is a dynamic process, which, once initiated, develops independently of shearing. This behavior was consistently observed for different snow types, including faceted crystals typically composing weak layers.
Thermoelastic Properties of Aluminous Phases in MORB From First‐Principle Calculation: Implications for Earth's Lower Mantle
Authors: Zhao Mengqi , Zhou Huiqun , Yin Kun , Sun Yicheng , Liu Xin , Xu Shijin , Lu Xiancai
Published: December 2018

The mantle dynamics and mineralogy of the deep Earth are fundamentally influenced by the intrusion of subducted mid‐ocean ridge basalt (MORB). Calcium ferrite (CF) structure and calcium titanate (CT) structure phases are probable candidates for the end members of the complex aluminous solid solution in MORB under Earth's lower mantle (LM) conditions. In this paper, we investigate the thermoelastic properties of CF‐type MgAl2O4 (Mg‐CF), CT‐type MgAl2O4 (Mg‐CT), and CF‐type NaMg2Al5SiO12 (NaMg‐CF) under 32 to 142 GPa at 0, 2,000, and 3,000 K by ab initio molecular dynamics calculations. Using the thermal equations of state of the aluminous phases and considering the effects of composition and phase transition, we confirm that MORB is 0.7–1.8% denser than the surrounding mantle and support that oceanic plate could subduct at least to the bottom 200–300 km of the LM. At LM pressure‐temperature conditions, MORB has 0.3% faster VP, 2.2% slower Vs, and 1.9% faster VΦ than does the preliminary reference Earth model. Temperature dependencies of elasticity of Mg‐CF, Mg‐CT, and NaMg‐CF are calculated under LM conditions. We find that the temperature effect on different elastic constant components is complicated and the trend in the changes of derivatives of wave velocities with respect to temperature is contrary to other system (e.g., bridgmanite), so it is worth obtaining the elastic properties of mantle minerals under their relevant conditions. In addition, the significant elastic anisotropy due to the phase transition from CF structure to CT structure may lead to detectable seismic anisotropy at the bottom of the LM.
Wave Boundary Layer Hydrodynamics and Sheet Flow Properties Under Large‐Scale Plunging‐Type Breaking Waves
Authors: Fromant G. , Hurther D. , van der Zanden J. , van der A D. A. , Cáceres I. , O'Donoghue T. , Ribberink J. S.
Published: December 2018

Wave boundary layer (WBL) dynamics are measured with an Acoustic Concentration and Velocity Profiler (ACVP) across the sheet flow‐dominated wave‐breaking region of regular large‐scale waves breaking as a plunger over a developing breaker bar. Acoustic sheet flow measurements are first evaluated quantitatively in comparison to Conductivity Concentration Meter (CCM+) data used as a reference. The near‐bed orbital velocity field exhibits expected behaviors in terms of wave shape, intrawave WBL thickness, and velocity phase leads. The observed fully turbulent flow regime all across the studied wave‐breaking region supports the model‐predicted transformation of free‐stream velocity asymmetry into near‐bed velocity skewness inside the WBL. Intrawave concentration dynamics reveal the existence of a lower pickup layer and an upper sheet flow layer similar to skewed oscillatory sheet flows, and with similar characteristics in terms of erosion depth and sheet flow layer thickness. Compared to the shoaling region, differences in terms of sheet flow and hydrodynamic properties of the flow are observed at the plunge point, attributed to the locally enhanced wave breaker turbulence. The ACVP‐measured total sheet flow transport rate is decomposed into its current‐, wave‐, and turbulence‐driven components. In the shoaling region, the sand transport is found to be fully dominated by the onshore skewed wave‐driven component with negligible phase lag effects. In the outer surf zone, the total net flux exhibits a three‐layer vertical structure typical of skewed oscillatory sheet flows. However, in the present experiments this structure originates from offshore‐directed undertow‐driven flux, rather than from phase lag effects.
Spatial Distribution and Biogeochemical Cycling of Dimethylated Sulfur Compounds and Methane in the East China Sea During Spring
Authors: Zhai Xing , Li Jian‐Long , Zhang Hong‐Hai , Tan Dan‐Dan , Yang Gui‐Peng
Published: December 2018

The spatial distributions of dimethylsulfide (DMS), dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and methane (CH4) were studied in the East China Sea during May 2017, and the possible controlling factors and biogeochemical cycling processes are discussed. The mean surface concentrations of DMS and CH4 were 10.66 and 9.93 nmol/L in the coastal area and 7.60 and 6.88 nmol/L in the open ocean, respectively. Horizontal and vertical profiles of the dimethylated sulfur compounds and CH4 were largely affected by different water masses, with enhancement observed in the coastal area. Significant correlations were found between CH4 and particulate DMSP (r = 0.609, p < 0.01, n = 42), and between CH4 and dissolved DMSO (r = 0.654, p < 0.01, n = 42). A dissolved DMSP (DMSPd) spike experiment revealed that the bacterial communities had potential to utilize DMSPd, meanwhile producing CH4 under oligotrophic conditions. The average mixing ratio of atmospheric DMS was 109 ± 49 pptv. Variations of marine DMS and wind speed explained 23 and 40% of the variation in the mixing ratios of atmospheric DMS, respectively. The sea‐to‐air fluxes of DMS and CH4 were estimated to be 18.64 ± 14.92 and 13.85 ± 15.03 μmol m−2 d−1, respectively.
Source-device-independent heterodyne-based quantum random number generator at 17 Gbps
Authors: Avesani Marco , Marangon Davide G. , Vallone Giuseppe , Villoresi Paolo
Published: December 2018

Random numbers are commonly used in many different fields, ranging from simulations in fundamental science to security applications. In some critical cases, as Bell’s tests and cryptography, the random numbers are required to be both private and to be provided at an ultra-fast rate. However, practical generators are usually considered trusted, but their security can be compromised in case of imperfections or malicious external actions. In this work we introduce an efficient protocol which guarantees security and speed in the generation. We propose a source-device-independent protocol based on generic Positive Operator Valued Measurements and then we specialize the result to heterodyne measurements. Furthermore, we experimentally implemented the protocol, reaching a secure generation rate of 17.42 Gbit/s, without the need of an initial source of randomness. The security of the protocol has been proven for general attacks in the finite key scenario.
The intralumenal fragment pathway mediates ESCRT-independent surface transporter down-regulation
Authors: McNally Erin Kate , Brett Christopher Leonard
Published: December 2018

Surface receptor and transporter protein down-regulation is assumed to be exclusively mediated by the canonical multivesicular body (MVB) pathway and ESCRTs (Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport). However, few surface proteins are known to require ESCRTs for down-regulation, and reports of ESCRT-independent degradation are emerging, suggesting that alternative pathways exist. Here, using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model, we show that the hexose transporter Hxt3 does not require ESCRTs for down-regulation conferring resistance to 2-deoxyglucose. This is consistent with GFP-tagged Hxt3 bypassing ESCRT-mediated entry into intralumenal vesicles at endosomes. Instead, Hxt3-GFP accumulates on vacuolar lysosome membranes and is sorted into an area that, upon fusion, is internalized as an intralumenal fragment (ILF) and degraded. Moreover, heat stress or cycloheximide trigger degradation of Hxt3-GFP and other surface transporter proteins (Itr1, Aqr1) by this ESCRT-independent process. How this ILF pathway compares to the MVB pathway and potentially contributes to physiology is discussed.
Muc5b overexpression causes mucociliary dysfunction and enhances lung fibrosis in mice
Authors: Hancock Laura A. , Hennessy Corinne E. , Solomon George M. , Dobrinskikh Evgenia , Estrella Alani , Hara Naoko , Hill David B. , Kissner William J. , Markovetz Matthew R. , Grove Villalon Diane E. , Voss Matthew E. , Tearney Guillermo J. , Carroll Kate S. , Shi Yunlong , Schwarz Marvin I. , Thelin William R. , Rowe Steven M. , Yang Ivana V. , Evans Christopher M. , Schwartz David A.
Published: December 2018

The gain-of-function MUC5B promoter variant rs35705950 is the dominant risk factor for developing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Here we show in humans that MUC5B, a mucin thought to be restricted to conducting airways, is co-expressed with surfactant protein C (SFTPC) in type 2 alveolar epithelia and in epithelial cells lining honeycomb cysts, indicating that cell types involved in lung fibrosis in distal airspace express MUC5B. In mice, we demonstrate that Muc5b concentration in bronchoalveolar epithelia is related to impaired mucociliary clearance (MCC) and to the extent and persistence of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. We also establish the ability of the mucolytic agent P-2119 to restore MCC and to suppress bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in the setting of Muc5b overexpression. Our findings suggest that mucociliary dysfunction might play a causative role in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice overexpressing Muc5b, and that MUC5B in distal airspaces is a potential therapeutic target in humans with IPF.
Spatial arrangement of several flagellins within bacterial flagella improves motility in different environments
Authors: Kühn Marco J. , Schmidt Felix K. , Farthing Nicola E. , Rossmann Florian M. , Helm Bina , Wilson Laurence G. , Eckhardt Bruno , Thormann Kai M.
Published: December 2018

Bacterial flagella are helical proteinaceous fibers, composed of the protein flagellin, that confer motility to many bacterial species. The genomes of about half of all flagellated species include more than one flagellin gene, for reasons mostly unknown. Here we show that two flagellins (FlaA and FlaB) are spatially arranged in the polar flagellum ofShewanella putrefaciens, with FlaA being more abundant close to the motor and FlaB in the remainder of the flagellar filament. Observations of swimming trajectories and numerical simulations demonstrate that this segmentation improves motility in a range of environmental conditions, compared to mutants with single-flagellin filaments. In particular, it facilitates screw-like motility, which enhances cellular spreading through obstructed environments. Similar mechanisms may apply to other bacterial species and may explain the maintenance of multiple flagellins to form the flagellar filament.
Controlling polar-toroidal multi-order states in twisted ferroelectric nanowires
Authors: Liu Jianyi , Ji Ye , Yuan Shuai , Ding Lili , Chen Weijin , Zheng Yue
Published: December 2018

The toroidal order of electric dipoles in ferroelectric materials has attracted attention in the past decade due to fascinating properties and great potential for enabling novel memory devices, and functional devices in general. However, facile manipulation of toroidal order in ferroelectrics remains challenging. Here, using first-principles derived simulations, we demonstrate an efficient scheme to control the polar-toroidal multi-order (PTMO) states in ferroelectric nanowires. Two feasible strategies of controlling PTMO states by a combination of homogeneous electric field and torque are carried out in ferroelectric/paraelectric composite nanowires. This is possible based on trilinear coupling between polarization, toroidization and the twist force. As a result, switching of the toroidization of the nanowire can be readily achieved by reversal of the axial polarization. The torque threshold needed to control PTMO states is also calculated and found to be relatively small, indicating the feasibility of this method. Our study demonstrates facile control of PTMO states, including ferroelectric skyrmions, in ferroelectrics and is a step towards designing ferroelectric devices based on multi-order states.
HIF-1α triggers ER stress and CHOP-mediated apoptosis in alveolar epithelial cells, a key event in pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Delbrel Eva , Soumare Abdoulaye , Naguez Adnan , Label Rabab , Bernard Olivier , Bruhat Alain , Fafournoux Pierre , Tremblais Geoffrey , Marchant Dominique , Gille Thomas , Bernaudin Jean-François , Callard Patrice , Kambouchner Marianne , Martinod Emmanuel , Valeyre Dominique , Uzunhan Yurdagül , Planès Carole , Boncoeur Emilie
Published: December 2018

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) is recognized as a key event of cell dysfunction in pulmonary fibrosis (PF). However, the mechanisms leading to AECs ER stress and ensuing unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways in idiopathic PF (IPF) remain unclear. We hypothesized that alveolar hypoxic microenvironment would generate ER stress and AECs apoptosis through the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). Combining ex vivo, in vivo and in vitro experiments, we investigated the effects of hypoxia on the UPR pathways and ER stress-mediated apoptosis, and consecutively the mechanisms linking hypoxia, HIF-1α, UPR and apoptosis. HIF-1α and the pro-apoptotic ER stress marker C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) were co-expressed in hyperplastic AECs from bleomycin-treated mice and IPF lungs, not in controls. Hypoxic exposure of rat lungs or primary rat AECs induced HIF-1α, CHOP and apoptosis markers expression. In primary AECs, hypoxia activated UPR pathways. Pharmacological ER stress inhibitors and pharmacological inhibition or silencing of HIF-1α both prevented hypoxia-induced upregulation of CHOP and apoptosis. Interestingly, overexpression of HIF-1α in normoxic AECs increased UPR pathways transcription factors activities, and CHOP expression. These results indicate that hypoxia and HIF-1α can trigger ER stress and CHOP-mediated apoptosis in AECs, suggesting their potential contribution to the development of IPF.
PhoglyStruct: Prediction of phosphoglycerylated lysine residues using structural properties of amino acids
Authors: Chandra Abel , Sharma Alok , Dehzangi Abdollah , Ranganathan Shoba , Jokhan Anjeela , Chou Kuo-Chen , Tsunoda Tatsuhiko
Published: December 2018

The biological process known as post-translational modification (PTM) contributes to diversifying the proteome hence affecting many aspects of normal cell biology and pathogenesis. There have been many recently reported PTMs, but lysine phosphoglycerylation has emerged as the most recent subject of interest. Despite a large number of proteins being sequenced, the experimental method for detection of phosphoglycerylated residues remains an expensive, time-consuming and inefficient endeavor in the post-genomic era. Instead, the computational methods are being proposed for accurately predicting phosphoglycerylated lysines. Though a number of predictors are available, performance in detecting phosphoglycerylated lysine residues is still limited. In this paper, we propose a new predictor called PhoglyStruct that utilizes structural information of amino acids alongside a multilayer perceptron classifier for predicting phosphoglycerylated and non-phosphoglycerylated lysine residues. For the experiment, we located phosphoglycerylated and non-phosphoglycerylated lysines in our employed benchmark. We then derived and integrated properties such as accessible surface area, backbone torsion angles, and local structure conformations. PhoglyStruct showed significant improvement in the ability to detect phosphoglycerylated residues from non-phosphoglycerylated ones when compared to previous predictors. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, Mathews correlation coefficient and AUC were 0.8542, 0.7597, 0.7834, 0.5468 and 0.8077, respectively. The data and Matlab/Octave software packages are available at https://github.com/abelavit/PhoglyStruct.
Lipofuscin-mediated photodynamic stress induces adverse changes in nanomechanical properties of retinal pigment epithelium cells
Authors: Wiktor Anna , Sarna Michal , Wnuk Dawid , Sarna Tadeusz
Published: December 2018

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is an important part of the blood-retina barrier (BRB) that separates the retina from the choroid. Although melanin granules contribute to the mechanical stability of the BRB complex, it is unknown if the age pigment lipofuscin affects mechanical properties of the tissue. To address this issue the effect of sub-lethal photic stress mediated by phagocytized lipofuscin granules, isolated from RPE of human donors, on morphology and mechanical properties of ARPE-19 cells was investigated. Nanomechanical analysis using atomic force spectroscopy revealed that irradiation of cells containing lipofuscin granules with blue light induced significant softening of the cells, which was accompanied by substantial reorganization of the cell cytoskeleton due to peroxidation of cellular proteins. Our results indicate that lipofuscin-mediated photic stress can cause significant modification of the RPE cells with the potential to disturb biological function of the BRB complex.
Exploring the Holiday Effect on Air Temperatures
Authors: Jiang Shaojing , Wang Kaicun
Published: December 2018

Anthropogenic emissions are generally lower during holidays than they are on workdays, this pattern is expected to result in temperature variations. Variations in the daily maximum (Tmax), mean (Tmean) and minimum (Tmin) air temperatures and the diurnal temperature range (DTR) during the Chinese New Year holiday are evaluated with two methods using daily meteorological observations collected at 2200 stations in China from 1961 to 2015. These two methods yield nearly equivalent results that reflect strong variations in the defined holiday effects. During the period from 1961 to 1980,Tmean,Tmax,Tminand the DTR all exhibit cooling holiday effects, this effect as measured by the DTR disappears during the period from 1981 to 2000. However, during the period from 2001 to 2015 warming holiday effects are observed forTmaxand the DTR. The evaluation shows that the holiday effect is neither unique nor statistically significant. These results indicate that the holiday effect is primarily caused by natural atmospheric oscillations, because ΔT oscillates noticeably with periods of approximately 7.1 days, 8.5 days and 16.2 days, and these oscillations can account for approximately 75.6% of the variance in ΔT. The oscillation identified here is consistent with the fundamental theory of Rossby wave in the atmosphere.
Transcriptome analysis of Aeromonas hydrophila infected hybrid sturgeon (Huso dauricus×Acipenser schrenckii)
Authors: Jiang Nan , Fan Yuding , Zhou Yong , Wang Weiling , Ma Jie , Zeng Lingbing
Published: December 2018

The hybrid sturgeon (Huso dauricus × Acipenser schrenckii) is an economically important species in China. With the increasing aquaculture of hybrid sturgeon, the bacterial diseases are a great concern of the industry. In this study, de novo sequencing was used to compare the difference in transcriptome in spleen of the infected and mock infected sturgeon with Aeromonas hydrophila. Among 187,244 unigenes obtained, 87,887 unigenes were annotated and 1,147 unigenes were associated with immune responses genes. Comparative expression analysis indicated that 2,723 differently expressed genes between the infected and mock-infected group were identified, including 1,420 up-regulated and 1,303 down-regulated genes. 283 differently expressed anti-bacterial immune related genes were scrutinized, including 168 up-regulated and 115 down-regulated genes. Ten of the differently expressed genes were further validated by qRT-PCR. In this study, toll like receptors (TLRs) pathway, NF-kappa B pathway, class A scavenger receptor pathway, phagocytosis pathway, mannose receptor pathway and complement pathway were shown to be up-regulated in Aeromonas hydrophila infected hybrid sturgeon. Additionally, 65,040 potential SSRs and 2,133,505 candidate SNPs were identified from the hybrid sturgeon spleen transcriptome. This study could provide an insight of host immune genes associated with bacterial infection in hybrid sturgeon.
A peptide mimicking the binding sites of VEGF-A and VEGF-B inhibits VEGFR-1/-2 driven angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis
Authors: Farzaneh Behelgardi Maryam , Zahri Saber , Mashayekhi Farhad , Mansouri Kamran , Asghari S. Mohsen
Published: December 2018

Interfering with interactions of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) with their receptors (VEGFRs) effectively inhibits angiogenesis and tumor growth. We designed an antagonist peptide of VEGF-A and VEGF-B reproducing two discontinuous receptor binding regions of VEGF-B (loop 1 and loop3) covalently linked together by a receptor binding region of VEGF-A (loop3). The designed peptide (referred to as VGB4) was able to bind to both VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 on the Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) surface and inhibited VEGF-A driven proliferation, migration and tube formation in HUVECs through suppression of ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation. The whole-animal fluorescence imaging demonstrated that fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-VGB4 accumulated in the mammary carcinoma tumors (MCTs). Administration of VGB4 led to the regression of 4T1 murine MCT growth through decreased expression of p-VEGFR1 and p-VEGFR2 and abrogation of ERK1/2 and AKT activation followed by considerable decrease of tumor cell proliferation (Ki67 expression) and angiogenesis (CD31 and CD34 expression), induction of apoptosis (increased p53 expression, TUNEL staining and decreased Bcl2 expression), and suppression of metastasis  (increased E-cadherin and decreased N-cadherin, NF-κB and MMP-9 expression). These findings indicate that VGB4 may be applicable for antiangiogenic and antitumor therapy.
Patients with anti-Jo1 antibodies display a characteristic IgG Fc-glycan profile which is further enhanced in anti-Jo1 autoantibodies
Authors: Fernandes-Cerqueira Cátia , Renard Nuria , Notarnicola Antonella , Wigren Edvard , Gräslund Susanne , Zubarev Roman A. , Lundberg Ingrid E. , Lundström Susanna L.
Published: December 2018

IgG Fc-glycans affect IgG function and are altered in autoimmune diseases and autoantibodies. Anti-histidyl tRNA synthetase autoantibodies (anti-Jo1) are frequent in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS) with associated interstitial lung disease (ILD). Thus, we hypothesized that the total-IgG Fc-glycans from Jo1+ versus Jo1− patients and anti-Jo1-IgG would show characteristic differences, and that particular Fc-glycan features would be associated with specific clinical manifestations. By proteomics based mass spectrometry we observed a high abundance of agalactosylated IgG1 Fc-glycans in ASS/IIM patients (n = 44) compared to healthy age matched controls (n = 24). Using intra-individual normalization of the main agalactosylated glycan (FA2) of IgG1 vs FA2-IgG2, ASS/IIM and controls were distinguished with an area under the curve (AUC) of 79 ± 6%. For Jo1+ patients (n = 19) the AUCs went up to 88 ± 6%. Bisected and afucosylated Fc-glycans were significantly lower in Jo1+ compared to Jo1− patients. Anti-Jo1-IgG enriched from eleven patients contained even significantly lower abundances of bisected, afucosylated and galactosylated forms compared to matched total-IgG. ASS and ILD diagnosis, as well as lysozyme and thrombospondin correlated with Jo1+ characteristic Fc-glycan features. These results suggest that the anti-Jo1+ patient Fc-glycan profile contains phenotype specific features which may underlie the pathogenic role of Jo1 autoantibodies.
Key role of singlet oxygen and peroxynitrite in viral RNA damage during virucidal effect of plasma torch on feline calicivirus
Authors: Yamashiro Risa , Misawa Tatsuya , Sakudo Akikazu
Published: December 2018

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma torch has been used to evaluate the mechanism underlying inactivation of feline calicivirus (FCV) by plasma treatment. Plasma treatment of cell lysate infected with FCV F9 strain reduced the viral titer of the median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50). The D value (treatment time required to lower the viral titer to 1/10) was 0.450 min, while the viral titer dropped below the detection limit within 2 min. FCV was not significantly inactivated by heat or UV applied at levels corresponding to those generated from the DBD plasma torch after 2 min (38.4 °C and 46.79 mJ/cm2 UV, respectively). However, TCID50 was reduced by 2.47 log after exposure to 4.62 mM ONOO−, corresponding to the concentration generated after 2 min of plasma treatment. Radical scavengers, including superoxide dismutase, dimethyl sulfoxide, and catalase, did not significantly affect viral titers; however, sodium azide, uric acid, and ascorbic acid, which are scavengers of 1O2 radicals, ONOO−, and peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH; produced from ONOO− under acidic conditions), respectively, significantly increased TCID50 and intact viral RNA. These findings suggest that ONOO− and 1O2 play an important role in FCV inactivation by attacking viral RNA during DBD plasma torch treatment.
Role of ILK/p38 pathway in mediating the enhanced osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on amorphous carbon coating
Authors: Yue Guangna , Song Wen , Xu Shuyu , Sun Yao , Wang Zuolin
Published: December 2018

Amorphous carbon (a-C) film is a promising candidate for metallic implant surface coatings to improve corrosion resistance and osteogenesis in vivo.
Gigantic enhancement of electricity generation in piezoelectric semiconductors by creating pores as a universal approach
Authors: Su Yu-Lun , Gupta Kapil , Hsiao Yu-Liang , Wang Ruey-Chi , Liu Chuan-Pu
Published: December 2018

A versatile approach to significantly enhance the piezopotential of one-dimensional piezoelectric semiconductors, demonstrated by theoretical simulations and experimental results, using ZnO as a model system.
Highly stable single Pt atomic sites anchored on aniline-stacked graphene for hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Ye Shenghua , Luo Feiyan , Zhang Qianling , Zhang Pingyu , Xu Tingting , Wang Qi , He Dongsheng , Guo Licheng , Zhang Yu , He Chuanxin , Ouyang Xiaoping , Gu Meng , Liu Jianhong , Sun Xueliang
Published: December 2018

Single-atom Pt sites stabilized by aniline stacked on graphene exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity and durability for the hydrogen evolution reaction.
Housefly (Musca domestica) larvae powder, preventing oxidative stress injuryviaregulation of UCP4 and CyclinD1 and modulation of JNK and P38 signaling in APP/PS1 mice
Authors: He Yinru , Yang Xia , Jiao Mengya , Anoopkumar-Dukie Shailendra , Zeng Yu , Mei Hanfang
Published: December 2018

Housefly (Musca domestica) Larvae powder (HL) is rich in antioxidants.
Cyanofluorination of vinyl ethers enabled by electron donor–acceptor complexes
Authors: Liu Jia-Li , Zhu Ze-Fan , Liu Feng
Published: December 2018

The reaction is operationally simple and conducted under ambient conditions, allowing the access to highly functionalized α-alkoxy-β-fluoronitriles bearing quaternary carbons that are difficult to access by existing methods.
Modifying spin current filtering and magnetoresistance in a molecular spintronic device
Authors: Zhao Guo-Dong , Li Li-Meng , Wang Yin , Stroppa Alessandro , Zhang Ji-Hua , Ren Wei
Published: December 2018

Three general factors of the molecule device were investigated to enhance its spin filtering efficiency.
The soil chemical properties of reclaimed land in an arid grassland dump in an opencast mining area in China
Authors: Huang Yuhan , Kuang Xinyu , Cao Yingui , Bai Zhongke
Published: December 2018

We studied a south dump after 4 years of reclamation, a north dump after 8 years of reclamation, and undamaged land to identify changes in the soil profile after mining and reclamation.
A fluorescent sensor constructed from nitrogen-doped carbon nanodots (N-CDs) for pH detection in synovial fluid and urea determination
Authors: Chen Min , Wu Wen , Chen Yuyuan , Pan Qingqing , Chen Yongzhong , Zheng Zongfu , Zheng Yanjie , Huang Liying , Weng Shaohuang
Published: December 2018

Blue luminescent nitrogen-doped carbon nanodots (N-CDs) with pH-dependent properties were prepared from citric acid (CA), glutathione (GSH), and polyethylene polyamine (PEPA) using a two-step pyrolytic route.
Incorporation of potassium halides in the mechanosynthesis of inorganic perovskites: feasibility and limitations of ion-replacement and trap passivation
Authors: El Ajjouri Yousra , Chirvony Vladimir S. , Sessolo Michele , Palazon Francisco , Bolink Henk J.
Published: December 2018

Potassium halides are used for cation-exchange, anion-exchange and trap passivation of mechanosynthesized perovskites.
Role of graphene oxide in mitigated toxicity of heavy metal ions on Daphnia magna
Authors: Ni Lingfeng , Li Yi
Published: December 2018

Graphene oxide nanoparticles mitigates the biotoxicity of heavy metal ions (Cu(ii), Cd(ii), and Zn(ii)) on aquatic animals (Daphnia magna).
Rhodamine–Hoechst positional isomers for highly efficient staining of heterochromatin
Authors: Bucevičius Jonas , Keller-Findeisen Jan , Gilat Tanja , Hell Stefan W. , Lukinavičius Gražvydas
Published: December 2018

Nuclei of living cells fluoresce brighter after staining with rhodamine–Hoechst 5-isomers.
Stress-dependent amplification of active forces in nonlinear elastic media
Authors: Ronceray Pierre , Broedersz Chase P. , Lenz Martin
Published: December 2018

Forces generated by molecular motors and contractile cells can be dramatically amplified by the nonlinear elasticity of the surrounding medium.
Ultralow thermal conductivity in graphene–silica porous ceramics with a special saucer structure of graphene aerogels
Authors: Fan Junmei , Hui Si , Bailey Trevor P. , Page Alexander , Uher Ctirad , Yuan Fangli
Published: December 2018

Graphene aerogels grown on hollow silica spheres through spark plasma sintering lead to ultralow thermal conductivity and high compressive strength.
Ag2ZnSnS4/Mo-mesh photoelectrode prepared by electroplating for efficient photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation
Authors: Liang Xizhuang , Wang Peng , Huang Baibiao , Zhang Qianqian , Wang Zeyan , Liu Yuanyuan , Zheng Zhaoke , Qin Xiaoyan , Zhang Xiaoyang , Dai Ying
Published: December 2018

Ag2ZnSnS4/Mo-mesh photoanode was prepared by a simple electrodeposition andin situsulfurization method, which had lower onset potential and higher photocurrent density.
An all-small-molecule organic solar cell derived from naphthalimide for solution-processed high-efficiency nonfullerene acceptors
Authors: Yadagiri B. , Narayanaswamy K. , Revoju Srikanth , Eliasson Bertil , Sharma Ganesh D. , Singh Surya Prakash
Published: December 2018

Two small molecules BYG-1 and BYG-2 with fluorene donor and benzothiadiazole acceptor units connected to the terminal naphthamide group via ethyne linker were designed and synthesized.
Bronchial epithelial cells of young and old mice directly regulate the differentiation of Th2 and Th17
Authors: Liu Da , He Long , Ding Ning , Sun Wenjin , Qiu Lulu , Xu Li , Jia Aijun , Peng Cong , Zhang Dongshan , Xiang Xudong
Published: December 2018

To determine whether or not house dust mite (HDM) and HDM+lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure causes a difference in T-cell subsets from young and old mice. The bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) from young and old mice were divided into three groups (PBS (control), HDM, and HDM+LPS). CD4+ naive T cells from the spleen and lymph nodes were collected after 24 h of co-culture with BECs. The number of Th2 and Th17 cells was elevated in the HDM and HDM+LPS groups compared with the control group; these responses were exacerbated when exposed to HDM+LPS. The number of HDM- and HDM+LPS-specific Th2/Th17 cells in young mice was higher than old mice; however, the Th2:Th17 cell ratio was greater in young mice, whereas the Th17:Th2 cell ratio was greater in old mice. The expression of GATA-3 and RORc was increased in the HDM+LPS and HDM groups compared with the PBS group and exhibited most in HDM+LPS group. The expression of HDM+LPS-specific GATA-3 in young mice was higher, while the expression of HDM+LPS-specific RORc in old mice was higher. Murine BECs directly regulated CD4+ naive T-cell differentiation under allergen exposure.
Quadrature‐carrier amplitude phase shift keying
Authors: Öztekin Abdulkerim , Erçelebi Ergun
Published: December 2018

Amplitude phase shift keying (APSK) is the emerging modulation scheme used in deep satellite communications and known to have a high spectral and energy efficiency among other two‐dimensional (2‐D) M‐ary schemes. Besides, it provides a robust transmission in non‐linear wireless channels and therefore it has been adopted and employed in the state‐of‐the‐art digital video broadcasting standards DVB.S2/S2X. However, APSK is still away from utilising all available space dimensions such as its other counter‐parts, where this potential gap provides the motivation to develop spectrally a more efficient modulation scheme. In this respect, a novel digital modulation scheme called quadrature‐carrier APSK (QC‐APSK) was proposed. QC‐APSK uses two orthogonal carriers to convey ordinary APSK modulated signals to increase the spectral efficiency via doubling the transmission rate. It can be regarded as two orthogonal 2‐D constellations which occupy 4‐D signal space. This study covers the theoretical analysis of the proposed approach and further considers the effect of pulse shaping. The proposed scheme improves spectral efficiency by one‐third and achieves better error performance against conventional APSK. Simulation results show that the obtained bit error rate and symbol error rate performances comply with the derived theoretical background which validates the effective use of the proposed modulation scheme.
Unbalanced biclique cryptanalysis of a full round Midori
Authors: Han Guoyong , Zhang Wenying , Xing Zhaohui , Zhao Hongluan , Lian Jian
Published: December 2018

Midori is a family of lightweight block ciphers presented by Banik et al. at Asiacrypt 2015. Biclique cryptanalysis is a typical key‐recovery attack that is proposed to attack the full AES by Bogdanov et al. in ASIACRYPT 2011. The method can attack a great deal of ciphers utilising the main idea of MITM attack and the basic principle of the biclique structure. In this study, the authors first provide an unbalanced biclique attack on full round Midori with partial matching and precomputation. They demonstrate that full round Midori64/128 are not secure against unbalanced biclique attacks. They construct a five‐round unbalanced biclique on Midori64, with data complexity of and time complexity of by investigating the simple key schedule and the encryption structure. Furthermore, they present a four‐round unbalanced biclique on Midori128 with data complexity of and computational complexity of . To the best of authors' knowledge, the result is the best single‐key cryptanalytic result of Midori.
Optimisation of secrecy rate in cooperative device to device communications underlaying cellular networks
Authors: Alibeigi Maryam , Taherpour Abbas
Published: December 2018

In this study, the optimisation of cooperation level and uplink spectrum sharing are analysed by employing physical layer security concept in the device to device communications underlaying cellular networks. It is assumed that two transmitting devices communicate with the same receiving device in the presence of a passive eavesdropper. Also, it is assumed that one of the two transmitting devices aids the other one as a relay node. The optimum cooperation level and channel assignment schemes are obtained through maximizing the secrecy rate under constraints of satisfying the quality of services for cellular users (CUs) and the receiving device. In this sense, the selected CU which shares its resource block acts as a friendly jammer to interfere the eavesdropper. Although the proposed approach initially leads to a non‐convex optimization problem, it can be solved efficiently by using GloptiPloy (global optimum polynomial) and SeDuMi software packages. Simulation results are provided to evaluate the performance of the proposed optimum cooperation level scheme and demonstrate the superiority of the proposed approach compared to the conventional fixed cooperation level schemes.
Uplink spectral efficiency for small‐cells with dual‐hop amplify‐and‐forward relaying at 28 GHz
Authors: Merino Henry W. , Camara Carlos E. , de Almeida Celso
Published: December 2018

In this study, the performance, cellular coverage and average spectral efficiency are analysed for the uplink of small cells with dual‐hop amplify‐and‐forward relaying. Specifically, a cellular network with an optimum combiner at a destination, multiple‐antennas relays and multiple‐antennas destination affected by multiple interferers is considered. The techniques of multiple relays transmission (MRT) and relay selection with transmit antenna selection (RS‐TAS) are analysed and compared. The moment‐generating function of the signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratio is derived in order to obtain the average bit‐error rate for both transmission techniques. Then, an adaptive scheme modulation and different transmission power levels are used to obtain the coverage and the average cellular spectral efficiency by considering a path‐loss model at 28 GHz. Results show that using a relay is so efficient compared to a non‐relay system. Moreover, RS‐TAS outperforms MRT in both coverage and efficiency.
EIMO‐ESOLSR: energy efficient and security‐based model for OLSR routing protocol in mobile ad‐hoc network
Authors: Kanagasundaram Hamela , Kathirvel A.
Published: December 2018

In numerous areas mobile ad hoc network (MANET) has plenteous mobile nodes that are allowed to communicate independently. In optimised link state routing protocols (OLSR), multi‐point relays (MPR) are unique nodes that are chosen by different nodes to relay their traffic information which may prompt to MPR nodes high energy consumption. However, misbehaving MPR nodes tend to protect their energy by dropping different nodes packets as opposed to sending them. This prompts to huge energy loss and debasement of execution in many existing energy efficient MPR selection plans. In this work, an energy and security aware routing model is introduced for MANET including an enhanced intellects‐masses optimiser (EIMO). At first, by methods of MPR selection the route discovery is advanced. In this approach, parameters, for example, available bandwidth, queue occupancy, and lifetime are considered as willingness nodes and misbehaving probability, power factor and forwarding behavior are considered as Composite Eligibility Index (CEI). Contrasted with other energy models this approach has less energy and secured. The accomplished simulation upshot exhibits that the EIMO‐energy‐efficient and secure optimised link state routing (ESOLSR) outperforms other state of art with respect to the performance metrics like energy consumption, total remaining time, average network lifetime, and a variance of energy.
Frequency control strategy of multi‐area hybrid power system based on frequency division and sliding mode algorithm
Authors: Mi Yang , He Xingtang , Hao Xuezhi , Li Zhenkun , Fu Yang , Wang Chengshan , Wang Jianhui
Published: December 2018

For renewable energy penetration, a frequency control strategy is proposed to assure the multi‐area hybrid power system stable operation. The load frequency control (LFC) and the battery energy storage system (BESS) are used together to design the frequency control strategy. Furthermore, in order to improve the control accuracy and reduce the battery capacity, the area control error and active power disturbance are divided into low‐frequency components and high‐frequency components. Therefore, LFC is designed by using sliding mode algorithm for the low‐frequency deviation and BESS is adjusted by using the designed disturbance observer for the high‐frequency disturbance. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed frequency control strategy is proved by the real‐time digital simulator which can optimise the frequency quality and reduces the capacity of the BESS.
Evaluation of EHV and AC/DC technologies for integration of large‐scale renewable generation in Saudi Arabian network
Authors: Arif Mohammed , Ahmad Firoz , Kashyap Ravi , Abdel‐Galil Tarek K. , Othman Mahmoud M. , El‐Amin Ibrahim , Al‐Mubarak Ahmed
Published: December 2018

Renewable energy is a rapidly growing environmental‐friendly alternative for electricity generation, which will supersede using fossil fuels in the near future. Renewable‐based generation is usually located at remote areas, and the large‐scale generated power is required to be transmitted to the main load centres; thus, the main challenge facing the bulk power transmission is the precise determination of the most appropriate transmission option. This study presents a comprehensive techno‐economic study for the selection of the adequate transmission option for large‐scale power transmission. The proposed work aims to study different transmission alternatives to transfer 10,000 MW of renewable generated power to the load centres in the central region of Saudi Arabia. Different high‐voltage AC (HVAC) voltage levels such as 725 and 500 kV, and high‐voltage DC (HVDC) technologies are considered as alternatives, and a techno‐economic evaluation of each option is presented. Moreover, detailed comparisons between different HVAC and HVDC technologies are introduced from technical, economic, and environmental perspective. The presented study, comparisons, and the subsequent recommendations are helpful for the network planner to evaluate different extra high‐voltage (EHV) and AC/DC transmission options in terms of accessibility, load‐carrying capability, efficiency, reliability, stability, environmental impact, and economics.
New method of preventing ice disaster in power grid using expanded conductors in heavy icing area
Authors: Jiang Xingliang , Fan Caijin , Xie Yanbin
Published: December 2018

Considering continuous power supply conditions, there is currently no effective method for preventing ice disaster, and also some deficiencies of the existing completed short‐circuit ice melting method has been found. Here, taking typical bundled and expanded conductors as the sample, its icing performance was tested and the combined ice‐wind load of tested lines was analysed. Then, a new method of substituting expanded conductors with the same conductive cross‐sectional area for bundled conductors to prevent ice disasters is proposed. Research results showed that: from stagnation point to both sides of crescent‐shaped conductors, local collision rate gradually reduce to 0; under various meteorological factors, there is still a power function relationship between ice thickness of conductors (Dc) and the diameter of conductors (D); the ice amount of six tested conductors gradually increases with the increase of ice thickness of Rotating Single‐Cylinder Ice Collector (Dr), while the ice amount reduction rate reduces first and then increases with Dr; the combined ice‐wind load ratio of bundled and expanded conductors increases with the increase of wind speed and Dr. Therefore, it is a low‐cost method for improving the anti‐icing capacity of transmission lines and preventing icing disaster once and for all.
Stackelberg game‐based energy management for a microgrid with commercial buildings considering correlated weather uncertainties
Authors: Wang Jiaying , Feng Changsen , Xu Yan , Wen Fushuan , Zhang Lijun , Xu Chengbo , Salam Abdus
Published: December 2018

This paper proposes a Stackelberg game‐based optimal energy management model for a microgrid with commercial buildings (CBs), which include a cluster of flexible loads, such as a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and a lighting system. In particular, the microgrid operator (MGO) determines the optimal energy management scheme while the CBs enjoy a dynamic pricing tariff to adjust their consumption patterns for cost saving. The interactions between MGO and CBs are formulated as a bi‐level optimisation problem where the MGO behaves as a leader and CBs act as followers. The proposed model is transformed into a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) problem by jointly using the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) condition and the strong duality theory. Besides, the effects of correlated solar irradiance and solar illuminance uncertainties on the load profile are taken into account through invoking the Nataf transformation‐based 2M  + 1 point estimate method (PEM). Finally, case studies are served for demonstrating the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed method.
Contributions to the sequence‐decoupling compensation power flow method for distribution system analysis
Authors: Fernandes Thiago R. , Ricciardi Tiago R. , da Silva Rafael S. , de Almeida Madson C.
Published: December 2018

Many applications of Distribution Management Systems (DMSs) are based on power flow solutions. Fast and robust power flow methods capable of accommodating systems of general topologies and the most common models of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are, therefore, becoming indispensable. In this context, this paper proposes contributions for the symmetrical component‐based three‐phase power flow methods for distribution system analysis. The introduction of symmetrical components in the three‐phase power flow problem allows it to be decomposed into three single‐phase problems, which can be solved iteratively. Such decomposition significantly expedites the power flow solution problem, simplifies implementation complexity, and makes way for parallel computing techniques. The accuracy and validity of the proposed method were tested on distribution test feeders of different sizes and topologies and the results of several case studies were compared with those obtained by the Sequence Newton–Raphson method, and by the OpenDSS. Contributions of the paper include: (i) A new formulation of the Sequence‐Decoupling Compensation method in terms of real‐valued matrices; (ii) a novel modelling for PV buses; (iii) a simple procedure to tackle convergence issues related to delta and ungrounded‐wye connected transformers; and (iv) a modelling for wye, closed‐ and open‐delta connected step‐voltage regulators in the sequence frame of reference.