bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sliding Crack Model for Nonlinearity and Hysteresis in the Triaxial Stress‐Strain Curve of Rock, and Application to Antigorite Deformation
Authors: David Emmanuel C. , Brantut Nicolas , Hirth Greg
Published: September 2020

Under triaxial deviatoric loading at stresses below failure, rocks generally exhibit nonlinearity and hysteresis in the stress‐strain curve. In 1965, Walsh first explained this behavior in terms of frictional sliding along the faces of closed microcracks. The hypothesis is that crack sliding is the dominant mode of rock inelasticity at moderate compressive stresses for certain rock types. Here we extend the model of David et al. (2012, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2012.02.001) to include (i) the effect of the confining stress; (ii) multiple load‐unload cycles; (iii) calculation of the dissipated strain energy upon unload‐reload; (iv) either frictional or cohesive behavior; and (v) either aligned or randomly oriented cracks. Closed‐form expressions are obtained for the effective Young's modulus during loading, unloading, and reloading, as functions of the mineral's Young's modulus, the crack density, the crack friction coefficient and cohesion for the frictional and cohesive sliding models, respectively, and the crack orientation in the case of aligned cracks. The dissipated energy per cycle is quadratic and linear in stress for the frictional and cohesive models, respectively. Both models provide a good fit to a cyclic loading data set on polycrystalline antigorite, based on a compilation of literature and newly acquired data, at various pressures and temperatures. At high pressure, with increasing temperature, the model results reveal a decrease in friction coefficient and a transition from a frictionally to a cohesively controlled behavior. New measurements of fracture toughness and tensile strength provide quantitative support that inelastic behavior in antigorite is predominantly caused by shear crack sliding and propagation without dilatancy.
Gravitational and Finite‐Size Effects On Pressure Saturation Curves During Drainage
Authors: Ayaz Monem , Toussaint Renaud , Schäfer Gerhard , Måløy Knut Jørgen
Published: September 2020

We experimentally and numerically study the influence of gravity and finite‐size effects on the pressure‐saturation relationship in a given porous medium during slow drainage. The effect of gravity is systematically varied by tilting the system relative to the horizontal configuration. The use of a quasi two‐dimensional porous media allows for direct spatial monitoring of the saturation. Exploiting the fractal nature of the invasion structure, we obtain a relationship between the final saturation and the Bond number
using percolation theory. Moreover, the saturation, pressure, and Bond number are functionally related, allowing for pressure‐saturation curves to collapse onto a single master curve, parameterized by the representative elementary volume size and by the Bond and capillary numbers. This allows to upscale the pressure‐saturation curves measured in a laboratory to large representative elementary volumes used in reservoir simulations. The large‐scale behavior of these curves follows a simple relationship, depending on Bond and capillary numbers, and on the flow direction. The size distribution of trapped defending fluid clusters is also shown to contain information on past fluid flow and can be used as a marker of past flow speed and direction.
PolInSAR Coherence and Entropy‐Based Hybrid Decomposition Model
Authors: Shafai Shahid Shuja , Kumar Shashi
Published: September 2020

Target characterization is an essential aspect of polarimetric decomposition. This technique is capable of categorizing polarimetric signatures for different types of targets based on the scattering mechanisms they follow, enabling straightforward physical interpretation of the targets. The geometric anomalies associated with human‐made targets escalate the degree of randomness in the scattering process, which causes scattering ambiguity for such targets. The second‐order model descriptors do not relate to the actual physical structure and yield predominant volume scattering power. Such urban targets are decomposed as natural targets leading to irrelevant decomposition results. The methods developed to curb the problem are unable to maintain the consistency in the decomposition modeling as they underestimate volume scattering powers for natural landcover. A hybrid decomposition model is proposed herein to solve the problem of predominant volume scattering observed from urban targets by preserving volume scattering powers for natural targets. The model uses eigenvalue‐based decomposition parameters and polarimetric interferometric synthetic aperture radar (PolInSAR) coherence to decompose ambiguous targets. The proposed model has been tested on NISAR UAVSAR PolInSAR data acquired over the Greenville region, MS, USA. The proposed model has increased the double‐bounce scattering from the urban targets and enhanced the volume scattering from natural landcover as well. By comparing the results with existing decomposition models, it is observed that the proposed model gives a more robust representation of the landcover than the compared decomposition models.
Galfi Receives 2019 Donald L. Turcotte Award
Authors:   AGU
Published: September 2020

Vera Melinda Galfi received the 2019 Donald L. Turcotte Award at AGU’s Fall Meeting 2019, held 9–13 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award is given annually to a recent Ph.D. recipient for “outstanding dissertation research that contributes directly to nonlinear geophysics.”
Du Receives 2019 Harry Elderfield Student Paper Award
Authors:   AGU
Published: September 2020

Jianghui Du received the 2019 Harry Elderfield Student Paper Award at AGU’s Fall Meeting 2019, held 9–13 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award “recognizes an exemplary manuscript by a graduate student working toward their Ph.D.”
What Controls Maximum Magnitudes of Giant Subduction Earthquakes?
Authors: Muldashev Iskander A. , Sobolev Stephan V.
Published: September 2020

Giant earthquakes with magnitudes above 8.5 occur only in subduction zones. Despite the developments made in observing large subduction zone earthquakes with geophysical instruments, the factors controlling the maximum size of these earthquakes are still poorly understood. Previous studies have suggested the importance of slab shape, roughness of the plate interface contact, state of the strain in the upper plate, thickness of sediments filling the trenches, and subduction rate. Here, we present 2‐D cross‐scale numerical models of seismic cycles for subduction zones with various geometries, subduction channel friction configurations, and subduction rates. We found that low‐angle subduction and thick sediments in the subduction channel are the necessary conditions for generating giant earthquakes, while the subduction rate has a negligible effect. We suggest that these key parameters determine the maximum magnitude of a subduction earthquake by controlling the seismogenic zone width and smoothness of the subduction interface. This interpretation supports previous studies that are based upon observations and scaling laws. Our modeling results also suggest that low static friction in the sediment‐filled subduction channel results in neutral or moderate compressive deformation in the overriding plate for low‐angle subduction zones hosting giant earthquakes. These modeling results agree well with observations for the largest earthquakes. Based on our models we predict maximum magnitudes of subduction earthquakes worldwide, demonstrating the fit to magnitudes of all giant earthquakes of the 20th and 21st centuries and good agreement with the predictions based on statistical analyses of observations.
When There Is No Offset: A Demonstration of Seismic Diffraction Imaging and Depth‐Velocity Model Building in the Southern Aegean Sea
Authors: Preine J. , Schwarz B. , Bauer A. , Hübscher C.
Published: September 2020

A vast majority of marine geological research is based on academic seismic data collected with single‐channel systems or short‐offset multichannel seismic cables, which often lack reflection moveout for conventional velocity analysis. Consequently, our understanding of Earth processes often relies on seismic time sections, which hampers quantitative analysis in terms of depth, formation thicknesses, or dip angles of faults. In order to overcome these limitations, we present a robust diffraction extraction scheme that models and adaptively subtracts the reflected wavefield from the data. We use diffractions to estimate insightful wavefront attributes and perform wavefront tomography to obtain laterally resolved seismic velocity information in depth. Using diffraction focusing as a quality control tool, we perform an interpretation‐driven refinement to derive a geologically plausible depth‐velocity model. In a final step, we perform depth migration to arrive at a spatial reconstruction of the shallow crust. Further, we focus the diffracted wavefield to demonstrate how these diffraction images can be used as physics‐guided attribute maps to support the identification of faults and unconformities. We demonstrate the potential of this processing scheme by its application to a seismic line from the Santorini Amorgos Tectonic Zone, located on the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, which is notorious for its catastrophic volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis. The resulting depth image allows a refined fault pattern delineation and, for the first time, a quantitative analysis of the basin stratigraphy. We conclude that diffraction‐based data analysis has a high potential, especially when the acquisition geometry of seismic data does not allow conventional velocity analysis.
Tropical Montane Forest Conversion Is a Critical Driver for Sediment Supply in East African Catchments
Authors: Stenfert Kroese Jaqueline , Jacobs Suzanne R. , Tych Wlodek , Breuer Lutz , Quinton John N. , Rufino Mariana C.
Published: September 2020

Land use change is known to affect suspended sediment fluxes in headwater catchments. There is however limited empirical evidence of the magnitude of these effects for montane catchments in East Africa. We collected a unique 4‐year high‐frequency data set and assessed seasonal sediment variation, water pathways, and sediment response to hydrology in three catchments under contrasting land use in the Mau Forest Complex, Kenya's largest tropical montane forest. Annual suspended sediment yield was significantly higher in a smallholder agriculture‐dominated catchment (131.5 ± 90.6 t km−2 yr−1) than in a tea‐tree plantation catchment (42.0 ± 21.0 t km−2 yr−1) and a natural forest catchment (21.5 ± 11.1 t km−2 yr−1) (p < 0.05). Transfer function models showed that in the natural forest and the tea‐tree plantations subsurface flow pathways delivered water to the stream, while in the smallholder agriculture shallow subsurface and surface runoff were dominant. There was a delayed sediment response to rainfall for the smallholder agriculture and the tea‐tree plantations. A slow depletion in sediment supply suggests that the wider catchment area supplies sediment, especially in the catchment dominated by smallholder farming. In contrast, a fast sediment response and depletion in sediment supply in the natural forest suggests a dominance of temporarily stored and nearby sediment sources. This study shows that the vegetation cover of a forest ecosystem is very effective in conserving soil, whereas catchments with more bare soil and poor soil conservation practices generated six times more suspended sediment yield. Catchment connectivity through unpaved tracks is thought to be the main explanation for the difference in sediment yield.
OXPHOS-dependent metabolic reprogramming prompts metastatic potential of breast cancer cells under osteogenic differentiation
Authors: Hu Yangling , Xu Weimin , Zeng Hui , He Zilong , Lu Xiao , Zuo Daming , Qin Genggeng , Chen Weiguo
Published: September 2020

Background

Microcalcification is one of the most reliable clinical features of the malignancy risk of breast cancer, and it is associated with enhanced tumour aggressiveness and poor prognosis. However, its underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear.

Methods

Clinical data were retrieved to analyse the association between calcification and bone metastasis in patients with breast cancer. Using multiple human breast cancer cell lines, the osteogenic cocktail model was established in vitro to demonstrate calcification-exacerbated metastasis. Migration and invasion characteristics were determined by wound healing and transwell migration. mRNA and protein expression were identified by quantitative PCR and western blotting. Metabolic alterations in breast cancer cells were evaluated using Seahorse Analyser.

Results

The osteogenic differentiation of human breast cancer cells activated the classical TGF-β/Smad signalling pathway and the non-canonical MAPK pathway, which, in turn, exacerbated the progression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). The metabolic programme switched to enhancing mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) upon osteogenic differentiation. Rotenone was used to inhibit the OXPHOS complex during osteogenesis to block mitochondrial function, consequently reversing the EMT phenotype.

Conclusions

This study provides important insights into the mechanisms involved in breast cancer bone metastasis, and outlines a possible strategy to intervene in OXPHOS for the treatment of breast tumours.
Correction: The clinical significance of oestrogen receptor expression in breast ductal carcinoma in situ
Authors: Miligy Islam M. , Toss Michael S. , Shiino Sho , Oni Georgette , Syed Binafsha M. , Khout Hazem , Tan Qing Ting , Green Andrew R. , Macmillan R. Douglas , Robertson John F. R. , Rakha Emad A.
Published: September 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Scheduling of nitrogen fertilizer topdressing during panicle differentiation to improve grain yield of rice with a long growth duration
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhu Xinguang , He Xiaoe , Li Chao , Chang Tiangen , Chang Shuoqi , Zhang Haiqing , Zhang Yuzhu
Published: September 2020

Topdressing at panicle differentiation (PF) according to soil fertility and regularity of rice nutrient absorption is an important agronomic practice used in cultivation of rice cultivars with a long growth duration. We studied the impacts of timing of nitrogen fertilizer application during PF on photosynthesis and yield-related agronomic traits in ‘Y-Liang-You 900’ and ‘Y-Liang-You 6’, which are representative rice cultivars with a long growth duration. Data for two years showed that timing of topdressing application during PF affected panicles per unit area, percentage grain set, spikelets per panicle, and leaf photosynthetic traits during the grain-filling period. Topdressing at the initial stage of flag-leaf extension resulted in higher grain yield (typically by 10.55–19.95%) than in plants without topdressing. Grain yield was significantly correlated with flag leaf photosynthetic rate and leaf SPAD value (r = 0.5640 and r = 0.5589, respectively; p < 0.01) at an advanced grain-filling stage (30 days after heading). Surprisingly, grain yield was not correlated with carbohydrate remobilization from the stem and sheath. For rice cultivars with a long growth duration, nitrogen-fertilizer topdressing must be applied at the initial stage of flag-leaf extension to delay leaf senescence during the grain-filling stage and realize the enhanced yield potential.
Activity-based protein profiling of rice (Oryza sativa L.) bran serine hydrolases
Authors: Dolui Achintya Kumar , Vijayakumar Arun Kumar , Rajasekharan Ram , Vijayaraj Panneerselvam
Published: September 2020

Rice bran is an underutilized agricultural by-product with economic importance. The unique phytochemicals and fatty acid compositions of bran have been targeted for nutraceutical development. The endogenous lipases and hydrolases are responsible for the rapid deterioration of rice bran. Hence, we attempted to provide the first comprehensive profiling of active serine hydrolases (SHs) present in rice bran proteome by activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) strategy. The active site-directed fluorophosphonate probe (rhodamine and biotin-conjugated) was used for the detection and identification of active SHs. ABPP revealed 55 uncharacterized active-SHs and are representing five different known enzyme families. Based on motif and domain analyses, one of the uncharacterized and miss annotated SHs (Os12Ssp, storage protein) was selected for biochemical characterization by overexpressing in yeast. The purified recombinant protein authenticated the serine protease activity in time and protein-dependent studies. Os12Ssp exhibited the maximum activity at a pH between 7.0 and 8.0. The protease activity was inhibited by the covalent serine protease inhibitor, which suggests that the ABPP approach is indeed reliable than the sequence-based annotations. Collectively, the comprehensive knowledge generated from this study would be useful in expanding the current understanding of rice bran SHs and paves the way for better utilization/stabilization of rice bran.
Nanoscaled eutectic NiAl-(Cr,Mo) composites with exceptional mechanical properties processed by electron beam melting
Authors: Förner Andreas , Giese S. , Arnold C. , Felfer P. , Körner C. , Neumeier S. , Göken M.
Published: September 2020

Eutectic NiAl-(Cr,Mo) composites are promising high temperature materials due to their high melting point, excellent oxidation behavior and low density. To enhance the strength, hardness and fracture toughness, high cooling rates are beneficial to obtain a fine cellular-lamellar microstructure. This can be provided by the additive process of selective electron beam melting. The very high temperature gradient achieved in this process leads to the formation of the finest microstructure that has ever been reported for NiAl-(Cr,Mo) in-situ composites. A very high hardness and fracture toughening mechanisms were observed. This represents a feasibility study towards additive manufacturing of eutectic NiAl-(Cr,Mo) in-situ composites by selective electron beam melting.
Neurological disorder-associated genetic variants in individuals with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures
Authors: Leu Costin , Bautista Jocelyn F. , Sudarsanam Monica , Niestroj Lisa-Marie , Stefanski Arthur , Ferguson Lisa , Daly Mark J. , Jehi Lara , Najm Imad M. , Busch Robyn M. , Lal Dennis
Published: September 2020

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are diagnosed in approximately 30% of patients referred to tertiary care epilepsy centers. Little is known about the molecular pathology of PNES, much less about possible underlying genetic factors. We generated whole-exome sequencing and whole-genome genotyping data to identify rare, pathogenic (P) or likely pathogenic (LP) variants in 102 individuals with PNES and 448 individuals with focal (FE) or generalized (GE) epilepsy. Variants were classified for all individuals based on the ACMG-AMP 2015 guidelines. For research purposes only, we considered genes associated with neurological or psychiatric disorders as candidate genes for PNES. We observe in this first genetic investigation of PNES that six (5.88%) individuals with PNES without coexistent epilepsy carry P/LP variants (deletions at 10q11.22-q11.23, 10q23.1-q23.2, distal 16p11.2, and 17p13.3, and nonsynonymous variants in NSD1 and GABRA5). Notably, the burden of P/LP variants among the individuals with PNES was similar and not significantly different to the burden observed in the individuals with FE (3.05%) or GE (1.82%) (PNES vs. FE vs. GE (3 × 2 χ2), P = 0.30; PNES vs. epilepsy (2 × 2 χ2), P = 0.14). The presence of variants in genes associated with monogenic forms of neurological and psychiatric disorders in individuals with PNES shows that genetic factors are likely to play a role in PNES or its comorbidities in a subset of individuals. Future large-scale genetic research studies are needed to further corroborate these interesting findings in PNES.
Slow-growing broilers are healthier and express more behavioural indicators of positive welfare
Authors: Rayner Ann C. , Newberry Ruth C. , Vas Judit , Mullan Siobhan
Published: September 2020

Broiler chicken welfare is under increasing scrutiny due to welfare concerns regarding growth rate and stocking density. This farm-based study explored broiler welfare in four conditions representing commercial systems varying in breed and planned maximum stocking density: (1) Breed A, 30 kg/m2; (2) Breed B, 30 kg/m2; (3) Breed B, 34 kg/m2; (4) Breed C, 34 kg/m2. Breeds A and B were ‘slow-growing’ breeds (< 50 g/day), and Breed C was a widely used ‘fast-growing’ breed. Indicators of negative welfare, behavioural indicators of positive welfare and environmental outcomes were assessed. Clear differences between conditions were detected. Birds in Condition 4 experienced the poorest health (highest mortality and post-mortem inspection rejections, poorest walking ability, most hock burn and pododermatitis) and litter quality. These birds also displayed lower levels of behaviours indicative of positive welfare (enrichment bale occupation, qualitative ‘happy/active’ scores, play, ground-scratching) than birds in Conditions 1–3. These findings provide farm-based evidence that significant welfare improvement can be achieved by utilising slow-growing breeds. There are suggested welfare benefits of a slightly lower planned maximum stocking density for Breed B and further health benefits of the slowest-growing breed, although these interventions do not offer the same magnitude of welfare improvement as moving away from fast-growing broilers.
Unveil early-stage nanocytotoxicity by a label-free single cell pH nanoprobe
Authors: Yang Qingbo , Cristea Alexandre , Roberts Charles , Liu Kun , Song Yang , Xiao Hai , Shi Honglan , Ma Yinfa
Published: September 2020

The developed pH nanoprobe unveiled nanomaterial properties that previously unknown (e.g., devastating cytotoxicity) via real-time label-free monitoring on single cells.
A polypyrrole-polydimethylsiloxane sponge-based compressible capacitance sensor with molecular recognition for point-of-care immunoassay
Authors: Chen Jialun , Xue Fangqin , Yu Zhonghua , Huang Lingting , Tang Dianping
Published: September 2020

A highly compressible and all-solid-state polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sponge-based flexible capacitance sensor modified with polypyrrole (PPy) was designed as the signal readout for the sensitive immunoassay of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
Augmented peripheral nerve regeneration through elastic nerve guidance conduits prepared using a porous PLCL membrane with a 3D printed collagen hydrogel
Authors: Yoo Jin , Park Ji Hun , Kwon Young Woo , Chung Justin J. , Choi In Cheul , Nam Jae Joon , Lee Hyun Su , Jeon Eun Young , Lee Kangwon , Kim Soo Hyun , Jung Youngmee , Park Jong Woong
Published: September 2020

Longitudinally oriented, 3D printed collagen hydrogel-grafted elastic nerve guidance conduits to promote nerve regeneration in peripheral nerve defects.
DFT and experimental study of nano red phosphorus anchoring on sulfurized polyacrylonitrile for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Wang Yang , Zuo Pengjian , Ma Shaobo , Xie Bingxing , Yu Zhenjiang , Yin Geping
Published: September 2020

Sulfur atoms can reconstruct the configuration of PAN, which makes the electron transfer more convenient and reduces the energy barriers during Li ion diffusion.
A ratiometric fluorescent probe for the quantitative detection of styrene in air
Authors: Chen Kai , Gao Zhenzhong , Sun Jin , Hou Xianfeng , Chen Jian
Published: September 2020

A ratiometric fluorescent probe for the quantitative detection of styrene in air is demonstrated.
Rhodium-catalyzed cycloisomerization of ester-tethered 1,6-diynes with cyclopropanol moiety leading to tetralone/exocyclic diene hybrid molecules
Authors: Yasui Takeshi , Kikuchi Tomohiro , Yamamoto Yoshihiko
Published: September 2020

Rhodium-catalyzed cycloisomerization of ester-tethered 1,6-diynes bearing a cyclopropanol moiety affords tetralone/exocyclic diene hybrid molecules with thermodynamically unfavorable alkene geometry.
Three-component ruthenium-catalyzed remote C–H functionalization of 8-aminoquinoline amides
Authors: Shi Wei-Yu , Ding Ya-Nan , Liu Ce , Zheng Nian , Gou Xue-Ya , Li Ming , Zhang Zhe , Liu Hong-Chao , Niu Zhi-Jie , Liang Yong-Min
Published: September 2020

Multicomponent reactions can efficiently construct complex molecular structures from simple precursors.
Octanitropyrazolopyrazole: a gem-trinitromethyl based green high-density energetic oxidizer
Authors: Mohammad Khaja , Thaltiri Vikranth , Kommu Nagarjuna , Vargeese Anuj A.
Published: September 2020

Synthesis of a green gem-trinitromethyl-substituted high density energetic-oxidizer 3,6-dinitro-1,4-bis(trinitromethyl)-1,4-dihydropyrazolo[4,3-c]pyrazole with a potential to replace the presently utilized oxidizer ammonium perchlorate is reported.
Visible-light-mediated photoredox minisci C–H alkylation with alkyl boronic acids using molecular oxygen as an oxidant
Authors: Dong Jianyang , Yue Fuyang , Song Hongjian , Liu Yuxiu , Wang Qingmin
Published: September 2020

Direct visible-light-mediated Minisci C–H alkylation reactions of N-heteroarenes with alkyl boronic acids at room temperature with molecular oxygen as an oxidant and boronic acid activation reagent were reported.
New insights into the spatial confinement mechanism of nucleation of biogenic aragonite crystals from bivalve nacre
Authors: Feng Xin , Zhang Gangsheng
Published: September 2020

Nacreous aragonite crystals nucleate on the margin of the underlying tablets: a spatial confinement mechanism.
Robust atomic-structure of the 6 × 2 reconstruction surface of Ge(110) protected by the electronically transparent graphene monolayer
Authors: Chen Wenjing , Wang Xinxin , Li Shujing , Yan Chao , He Lin , Zhang Ping , Yang Yu , Ma Donglin , Nie Jiacai , Dou Ruifen
Published: September 2020

Wafer-scale growth of the unidirectional graphene monolayer on Ge surfaces has rejuvenated the intense study of the surfaces and interfaces of semiconductors underneath graphene.
Theoretical study on the catalytic mechanism of human deoxyhypusine hydroxylase
Authors: Wang Junkai , Ma Yan , Wang Xixi , Zhang Ying , Tan Hongwei , Li Xichen , Chen Guangju
Published: September 2020

Deoxyhypusine hydroxylase is a critical enzyme for hypusination of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A.
Hydrogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: isomerism and aromaticity
Authors: Pla Paula , Wang Yang , Martín Fernando , Alcamí Manuel
Published: September 2020

A simple model based on adjacency matrices is introduced to study the stability of hydrogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Aromaticity governs their relative stability having the most stable isomers the higher number of non-hydrogenated rings.
Polyoxometalate-based complexes as ligands for the study of actinide chemistry
Authors: Auvray Thomas , Matson Ellen M.
Published: September 2020

Complexation of actinide cations by polyoxometalates results in assemblies with exciting electronic properties and highly attractive potential as models for hetereogeneous systems based on actinides supported by metal oxide surfaces.
Two new isolated Zn-ε-Keggin clusters modified by conjugated organic ligands with decent electrocatalytic and third-order NLO properties
Authors: Liu Xiao-Mei , Meng Fan-Qiong , Cheng Wei-Wei , Cao Jia-Peng , Wang Ji-Lei , Zang Ting-Ting , Ping Qing-Dong , Xie Hui , Xu Yan
Published: September 2020

Compound 2 is the first isolated Zn5PMo12 cluster, and the two Zn-ε-Keggin-based compounds display excellent electrocatalytic and third-order NLO properties.
Salt-inclusion chalcogenides: an emerging class of IR nonlinear optical materials
Authors: Yue Qing-Gang , Wei Wen-Bo , Chen Hong , Wu Xin-Tao , Lin Hua , Zhu Qi-Long
Published: September 2020

This frontier article discusses the recent progress and challenges of non-centrosymmetric (NCS) salt-inclusion chalcogenides (SICs) in the infrared nonlinear optical (IR NLO) field.
Gauging aromatic conjugation and charge delocalization in the aryl silanes PhnSiH4−n (n = 0–4), with silicon K-edge XAS and TDDFT
Authors: Phillips Nicholas A. , Smith Patrick W. , Tilley T. Don , Minasian Stefan G.
Published: September 2020

Si K-edge X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) have been measured experimentally and calculated using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) to investigate electronic structure in aryl silanes, PhnSiH4−n (n = 0–4).
Effects of BAC-filtration, disinfection, and temperature on water quality in simulated reclaimed water distribution systems
Authors: Zhu Ni , Ghosh Sudeshna , Strom Laurel , Pruden Amy , Edwards Marc A.
Published: September 2020

The distinct characteristics of reclaimed versus potable water have important implications for design and operation of reclaimed water distribution systems (RWDSs).
Biogenic nanomaterials for photocatalytic degradation and water disinfection: a review
Authors: Bandala Erick R. , Stanisic Danijela , Tasic Ljubica
Published: September 2020

This paper provides a review of the state-of-the-art processes to generate biogenic NMs and their characterization, and an analysis of their use in the photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants and inactivation of pathogens in water.
Detection of nitrous oxide using infrared optical plasmonics coupled with carbon nanotubes
Authors: Allsop Thomas , Al Araimi Mohammed , Neal Ron , Wang Changle , Culverhouse Phil , Ania-Castañón Juan D. , Webb David J. , Davey Paul , Gilbert James M. , Rozhin Alex
Published: September 2020

Interest in gas sensing using functionalised carbon nanotubes is a major area of research that up until now have utilised their electrical properties, here the optical properties are exploited and used to detect a specific gas.
Formation and manipulation of ferrofluid droplets with magnetic fields in a microdevice: a numerical parametric study
Authors: Amiri Roodan Venoos , Gómez-Pastora Jenifer , Karampelas Ioannis H. , González-Fernández Cristina , Bringas Eugenio , Ortiz Inmaculada , Chalmers Jeffrey J. , Furlani Edward P. , Swihart Mark T.
Published: September 2020

Integrated computational fluid dynamics and magnetics simulation is employed to analyze the effects of magnetic force on the formation and manipulation of ferrofluid droplets within a flowing non-magnetic continuous phase in a microfluidic device.
Development of coinage metal nanoclusters as antimicrobials to combat bacterial infections
Authors: Li Dan , Kumari Beena , Makabenta Jessa Marie , Tao Bailong , Qian Kun , Mei Xifan , Rotello Vincent M.
Published: September 2020

Infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria have caused huge economic loss and numerous deaths over the past decades.
Atomic structures of high Miller index surfaces of NiO
Authors: Xing Wandong , Yu Rong
Published: September 2020

The two kinds of high Miller index surfaces of NiO.
Mechanisms of detoxification of high copper concentrations by the microalga Chlorella sorokiniana
Authors: Vojvodić Snežana , Stanić Marina , Zechmann Bernd , Dučić Tanja , Žižić Milan , Dimitrijević Milena , Danilović Luković Jelena , Milenković Milica R. , Pittman Jon K. , Spasojević Ivan
Published: September 2020

Microalgae have evolved mechanisms to respond to changes in copper ion availability, which are very important for normal cellular function, to tolerate metal pollution of aquatic ecosystems, and for modulation of copper bioavailability and toxicity to other organisms. Knowledge and application of these mechanisms will benefit the use of microalgae in wastewater processing and biomass production, and the use of copper compounds in the suppression of harmful algal blooms. Here, using electron microscopy, synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, we show that the microalga Chlorella sorokiniana responds promptly to Cu2+ at high non-toxic concentration, by mucilage release, alterations in the architecture of the outer cell wall layer and lipid structures, and polyphosphate accumulation within mucilage matrix. The main route of copper detoxification is by Cu2+ coordination to polyphosphates in penta-coordinated geometry. The sequestrated Cu2+ was accessible and could be released by extracellular chelating agents. Finally, the reduction in Cu2+ to Cu1+ appears also to take place. These findings reveal the biochemical basis of the capacity of microalgae to adapt to high external copper concentrations and to serve as both, sinks and pools of environmental copper.
Amelioration of cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression during treatment to rats with breast cancer through low-intensity pulsed ultrasound
Authors: Wang Wei , Luo Dong , Chen Junlin , Chen Jinyun , Xia Yi , Chen Wenzhi , Wang Yan
Published: September 2020

To investigate the alleviating effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on myelosuppression of Sprague–Dawley rats with breast cancer induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX). Breast cancer in rats was triggered by intragastric gavage with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (150 mg/kg). Then, the rats with breast cancer were randomly allocated to the LIPUS group (n=50) and the control group (n=50). The LIPUS group was injected intraperitoneally with CTX (50 mg/kg) for 4 consecutive days and underwent LIPUS treatment at femoral metaphysis 20 min per day from the first day of injection for 7 consecutive days. The control group was injected with CTX (50 mg/kg) and treated with LIPUS without energy output. Blood, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining, and scanning electron microscopy were applied to detect the changes. The results indicated that LIPUS significantly promoted the proliferation of bone marrow nucleated cells, white blood cells (WBCs), IgA, IgG, and IgM in the peripheral blood (P<0.05) without the damage to liver and kidney function simultaneously. The mechanisms may result from the LIPUS alleviation effect on bone marrow hematopoietic function through regulating cytokines such as LIPUS can increase the expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), stem cell factor, transforming growth factor-β, and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1, meanwhile LIPUS will decrease the expression of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. LIPUS has potential to be a new adjuvant therapy method in clinic for ameliorating chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression.
GTF2IRD1 overexpression promotes tumor progression and correlates with less CD8+ T cells infiltration in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Zhuang Hongkai , Zhang Chuanzhao , Hou Baohua
Published: September 2020

Background: General Transcription Factor II-I Repeat Domain-Containing Protein 1 (GTF2IRD1) is a member of the GTF21 gene family, which encodes a set of multifunctional transcription factors. However, the potential function of GTF2IRD1 in pancreatic cancer (PC) still remains unknown. Study on GTF2IRD1 might provide a new insight into the carcinogenesis and therapeutics of PC.

Methods: In the current study, the clinical significance and potential biological of GTF2IRD1 were evaluated by bioinformatics analysis. The oncogenic role of GTF2IRD1 in PC was also determined using in vitro studies. Possible associations between GTF2IRD1 expression and tumor immunity were analyzed using ESTIMATE algorithm and single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA).

Results: GTF2IRD1 expression was significantly up-regulated in tumor tissues, and positively associated with higher histologic grade, higher American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, and worse prognosis. Function enrichment analysis demonstrated that GTF2IRD1 may be involved in pancreatic adenocarcinoma pathway, TGF-β signaling pathway, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) related biological functions, such as T-cell receptor signaling pathway, leukocyte transendothelial migration, resistin as a regulator of inflammation, and regulation of leukocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. Knockdown of GTF2IRD1 expression inhibited cancer cell proliferation, colony formation, and invasion in vitro. ESTIMATE algorithm and ssGSEA demonstrated that GTF2IRD1 expression negatively correlated with the infiltration and anti-tumor activity of TILs, especially for CD8+ T cells.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates that GTF2IRD1 overexpression promotes tumor progression and correlates with less CD8+ T cells infiltration in PC.
Event‐triggered scheme for fault detection and isolation of non‐linear system with time‐varying delay
Authors: Aslam Muhammad Shamrooz , Ullah Rizwan , Dai Xisheng , Sheng Andong
Published: September 2020

In this article, we investigate a new way of dealing with fault detection and isolation (FDI) for a class of delayed non‐linear systems with an event‐triggered mechanism (ETM). This article is based on 1) To estimate the dynamics of the nonlinear plant, Sliding Mode Observers (SMO's) is manipulated with Luenberger. 2) Under the ETM, sampled data is released only when the plant's measurement (sampled) violate the specific threshold of the event condition. 3) First, transform into two subsystems. In subsystem‐A contains uncertainties without sensor fault and vice‐versa in subsystem‐B. To handle the uncertainties that appeared in subsystem‐A, a new SMO's implemented while traditional Luenberger is employed to detect the sensor fault. Then, by using a new Lyapunov‐Krasovskii function approach performance index is proposed. Based on stability criteria, sufficient conditions are provided in the account of Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs). The simulation example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of our design method.
Distinguishing polymeric insulators PD sources through RF PD measurement
Authors: Abedini‐Livari Ali , Firuzi Keyvan , Vakilian Mehdi
Published: September 2020

A better performance and consequently the widespread use of polymeric insulators in different parts of the power grid can increase their role in the grid reliability. The accumulation of contamination and housing‐erosion are the two most effective factors in undermining the performance of this type of insulators. Therefore, electric utilities need to identify contaminated insulators for washing and cracks in polymeric housing to replace them with healthy specimens. This paper discusses the impact of contamination layer and housing‐erosion of polymeric insulators on the partial discharges (PD) at the insulator surface, through RF‐PRPD (phase resolved partial discharge) patterns. The existence of different sources of PDs in a real environment (transmission line or station) makes it difficult to use the PRPD patterns to distinguish them from each other. Therefore, using a conical monopole antenna, the simultaneous PD signals and the related RF‐PRPD pattern of samples under test are captured. The grayscale image was obtained using the time‐frequency matrix of the PD signals transform, by wavelet. Then, features are extracted and selected from grayscale image. By clustering of the PD signals, the resulted RF‐PRPD sub‐patterns are well separated and provided the necessary means to distinguish among the status of different samples under test.
Knowledge‐based artificial neural network for power transformer protection
Authors: Li Zongbo , Jiao Zaibin , He Anyang
Published: September 2020

Data‐driven and artificial intelligence based transformer protection has attracted increasing attention but not been widely applied in the power system owing to the poor generalisation ability. In this study, a feature transferring method is proposed for a knowledge‐based artificial neural network (ANN) to develop a transformer protection with an improved generalisation ability. Normally, power experts can reliably identify the running states based on the professional knowledge of only focusing on the unsaturated parts of equivalent magnetisation curve (voltage of magnetising branch‐differential current). In order to imitate the power experts, the images of equivalent magnetisation curves whose saturated parts are removed are defined as source domain and the original samples are target domain. An ANN named as S:ANN is firstly trained through the source domain where the extracted features are equivalent to the professional knowledge. Then another ANN with the same structure as S:ANN is trained through the target domain and named as T:ANN. It is specially designed for T:ANN that adaptive layers are employed between S:ANN and T:ANN to reduce the feature differences. Finally, simulations and experiments reveal that the knowledge‐based ANN namely the determined T:ANN shows a better generalisation ability through paying more attention to the unsaturated parts.
Experimentally validated smart card ultra‐high frequency tag antenna for free space and near body scenarios
Authors: Riaz Mahreen , Ghavami Mohammad , Dudley Sandra
Published: September 2020

This investigation primarily promotes a ultra‐high frequency radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag antenna for complex environment applications of smart card in free space and near body scenarios. It also considers other high dielectric materials such as water and metallic objects. A dual dipole antenna with T‐match structure is chosen due to the advantage of providing high resilience towards change in impedance of high dielectrics, and to ensure the reception of maximum signals at the blind spots of the antenna. The proposed geometry facilitates placement of other off‐the‐shelf high and low‐frequency antennas on the card, enabling more features, higher performance, and minimum field interaction between different frequencies. A presented RLC equivalent circuit model estimates the impact of body layers on antenna impedance. A high read range of 7.7 m in free space, 5.2 m near body and 2.8 m at the blind spots is obtained. The novelty is shown by testing the antenna near metals and water, achieving high read range without any design modifications. The proposed tag aims to provide new RFID applications that demand small size, less volume, low cost and multifunctionality over various constraints while showing good agreement with sensitivity, impedance matching and the read range.
Control and performance analysis of grid‐connected variable speed wind turbine with dual stator‐winding induction generator for the contribution of both stator windings in active power transmission
Authors: Safaeinejad Ali , Rahimi Mohsen
Published: September 2020

Recently, variable speed wind turbines (WTs) employing dual stator‐winding induction generators (DSWIGs) have gained interest in related kinds of literature. A DSWIG has two sets of stator windings known as power‐winding (PW) and control‐winding (CW), where CW is connected to a pulse‐width modulation converter called semiconductor excitation controller (SEC). This study, first, presents a topology for connection of DSWIG‐based WT to the grid, in which unlike most of the related kinds of literature, both the PW and CW contribute in transmission of active power to the grid. In the study system, PW is connected to the diode rectifier‐boost converter and CW to the SEC, and thus PW and CW active powers are controlled by the related boost converter and SEC, respectively. Hence, this study extends theoretical expression and presents a new relation for the generator torque as a function of the CW and boost converter currents, and then develops control structures for the study system. Next, mathematical expressions are presented for the selection of excitation capacitor at the PW terminals. Besides, the presented control strategy of the system is modified to enhance the WT‐low voltage ride‐through capability. In the end, simulation results are presented for examining the system performance and verifying the theoretical analyses.
Hybrid uncertainty‐based offering strategy for virtual power plants
Authors: Alahyari Arman , Ehsan Mehdi , Pozo David , Farrokhifar Meisam
Published: September 2020

This study proposes an optimal day‐ahead (DA) electricity market offering model for a virtual power plant (VPP) formed by a mix of renewable distributed energy resources along with energy storage, such as electric vehicles. Two sources of uncertainty are considered, namely, wind power generation, modelled by an uncertainty set, and DA market price, modelled by scenarios. Opposite to classical robust optimisation approaches, the authors model maps minimal (worst‐case) profits to a conservativeness parameter, while the classical robust optimisation maps conservativeness parameter to worst‐case profits. In this regard, by using their optimisation framework, a VPP operator only deals with setting a minimum‐profit constraint, which is more sensible and easy for interpretation, while the required conservativeness is endogenously determined. The proposed mathematical model for constructing the offering curve is a hierarchical four‐level robust optimisation problem. The first level represents the optimal decision on the price–quantity offer bids; the second‐ and third‐level relate to the optimal identification of conservativeness parameter; and the fourth‐level represents the optimal operation of the VPP managed assets. The four‐level model is reformulated as a single‐level mixed‐integer linear programming problem. The proposed approach and its applicability are verified using numerical simulations.
Sliding mode control for a fractional‐order non‐linear glucose‐insulin system
Authors: Khan Muhammad Waleed , Abid Muhammad , Khan Abdul Qayyum , Mustafa Ghulam , Ali Muzamil , Khan Asifullah
Published: September 2020

By providing the generalisation of integration and differentiation, and incorporating the memory and hereditary effects, fractional‐order modelling has gotten significant attention in the past few years. One of the extensively studied and utilised models to describe the glucose–insulin system of a human body is Bergman's minimal model. This non‐linear model comprises of integer‐order differential equations. However, comparison with the experimental data shows that the fractional‐order version of Bergman's minimal model is a better representative of the glucose–insulin system than its original integer‐order model. To design a control law for an artificial pancreas for a diabetic patient using a fractional‐order model, different techniques, including feedback linearisation, have been applied in the literature. The authors’ previous work shows that the fractional‐order version of Bergman's model describes the glucose–insulin system in a better way than the integer‐order model. This study applies the sliding mode control technique and then compares the obtained simulation results with the ones obtained using feedback linearisation.