bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High performance concentration capacitors with graphene hydrogel electrodes for harvesting salinity gradient energy
Authors: Zhan Fei , Wang Zijian , Wu Tingting , Dong Qiang , Zhao Changtai , Wang Gang , Qiu Jieshan
Published: January 2018

Concentration capacitors with graphene hydrogel electrodes are proposed to efficiently harvest salinity gradient energy.
Micropatterned poly(d,l-lactide-co-caprolactone) films entrapped with gelatin for promoting the alignment and directional migration of Schwann cells
Authors: Zhang Deteng , Xu Shengjun , Wu Sai , Gao Changyou
Published: January 2018

Gelatin entrapped and micropatterned poly(d,l-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL) film promotes the alignment and directional migration of Schwann cells.
Soluble phenylenedioxythiophene copolymers via direct (hetero)arylation polymerization: a revived monomer for organic electronics
Authors: Ponder James F. , Schmatz Brian , Hernandez Jeff L. , Reynolds John R.
Published: January 2018

The 3,4-phenylenedioxythiophene (PheDOT) unit has been incorporated into soluble alternating copolymers via direct (hetero) arylation polymerization (DHAP). These polymers are effective electrochromes with vibrantly colored charge neutral states and colorless, transmissive oxidized states.
Cationic half-sandwich rare-earth metal alkyl species catalyzed polymerization and copolymerization of aryl isocyanides possessing polar, bulky, or chiral substituents
Authors: Yan Xinwen , Zhang Shaowen , Peng Deqian , Zhang Pengfei , Zhi Junge , Wu Xiaolu , Wang Lin , Dong Yuping , Li Xiaofang
Published: January 2018

Cationic half-sandwich rare-earth metal alkyl species were first used for the coordination–insertion polymerization and copolymerization of aryl isocyanides.
Restricted HIV-1 Env glycan engagement by lectin-reengineered DAVEI protein chimera is sufficient for lytic inactivation of the virus
Authors: Parajuli Bibek , Acharya Kriti , Bach Harry C. , Parajuli Bijay , Zhang Shiyu , Smith Amos B. , Abrams Cameron F. , Chaiken Irwin
Published: January 2018

We previously reported a first-generation recombinant DAVEI construct, a dual action virus entry inhibitor composed of cyanovirin-N (CVN) fused to a membrane proximal external region or its derivative peptide Trp3. DAVEI exhibits potent and irreversible inactivation of HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) viruses by dual engagement of gp120 and gp41. However, the promiscuity of CVN to associate with multiple glycosylation sites in gp120 and its multivalency limit current understanding of the molecular arrangement of the DAVEI molecules on trimeric spike. Here, we constructed and investigated the virolytic function of second-generation DAVEI molecules using a simpler lectin, microvirin (MVN). MVN is a monovalent lectin with a single glycan-binding site in gp120, is structurally similar to CVN and exhibits no toxicity or mitogenicity, both of which are liabilities with CVN. We found that, like CVN-DAVEI-L2-3Trp (peptide sequence DKWASLWNW), MVN-DAVEI2-3Trp exploits a similar mechanism of action for inducing HIV-1 lytic inactivation, but by more selective gp120 glycan engagement. By sequence redesign, we significantly increased the potency of MVN-DAVEI2-3Trp protein. Unlike CVN-DAVEI2-3Trp, re-engineered MVN-DAVEI2-3Trp(Q81K/M83R) virolytic activity and its interaction with gp120 were both competed by 2G12 antibody. That the lectin domain in DAVEIs can utilize MVN without loss of virolytic function argues that restricted HIV-1 Env (envelope glycoprotein) glycan engagement is sufficient for virolysis. It also shows that DAVEI lectin multivalent binding with gp120 is not required for virolysis. MVN-DAVEI2-3Trp(Q81K/M83R) provides an improved tool to elucidate productive molecular arrangements of Env-DAVEI enabling virolysis and also opens the way to form DAVEI fusions made up of gp120-binding small molecules linked to Trp3 peptide.
Rapamycin activates TGF receptor independently of its ligand: implications for endothelial dysfunction
Authors: Miyakawa Ayumi A. , Girão-Silva Thais , Krieger Jose E. , Edelman Elazer R.
Published: January 2018

Rapamycin, the macrolide immunosuppressant and active pharmaceutic in drug-eluting stents (DES), has a well-recognized antiproliferative action that involves inhibition of the mTOR pathway after binding to the cytosolic protein FKBP12. TGF receptor-type I (TGFRI) spontaneous activation is inhibited by the association with FKBP12. We hypothesized that rapamycin, in addition to inhibition of mTOR signaling, activates TGFRI independent of TGFβ. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with rapamycin (10 nmol/l) and/or TGFβ RI kinase inhibitor (TGFRIi, 100 nmol/l) for 24 h. Rapamycin induced SMAD phosphorylation (SMAD1, SMAD2, and SMAD5) and PAI-1 up-regulation, which was specifically abrogated by SMAD2 knockdown. TGFRIi efficiently blocked phosphorylation of SMAD2, but not SMAD1/5. Interestingly, the inhibitor did not alter cell proliferation arrest induced by rapamycin. Active TGFβ secretion was not affected by the treatment. Neutralizing TGFβ experiments did not influence SMAD2 phosphorylation or PAI-1 expression indicating that activation of this pathway is independent of the ligand. In addition, rapamycin induction of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) was potentiated by IL-1β and efficiently blocked by TGFRIi. In vivo, the prothrombogenic effects of rapamycin and up-regulation of PAI-1 in murine carotid arteries were reduced by TGFRIi treatment. In conclusion, we provide evidence that rapamycin activates TGF receptor independent of its ligand TGFβ, in concert with promotion of PAI-1 expression and changes in endothelial phenotype. These undesirable effects, the prothrombogenic state, and activation of EndMT are SMAD2-dependent and independent of the therapeutic rapamycin-induced cell proliferation arrest.
Compact planar array antenna with electrically beam steering from backfire to endfire based on liquid crystal
Authors: Ma Shuang , Zhang Shao‐Qing , Ma Lei‐Qiang , Meng Fan‐Yi , Erni Daniel , Zhu Lei , Fu Jia‐Hui , Wu Qun
Published: January 2018

In this study, a novel electrically steerable planar array antenna based on liquid crystal (LC) is elaborately designed, fabricated and measured. The occupied area and undesired coupling of the meander line phase shifter are reduced by chamfering appropriately. Combined with the electrically tunable LC material, the miniaturised phase shifter achieves 146° phase shift and 122.7°/dB frequency‐dependent figure‐of‐merit. Utilising in series phase shifters, power dividers and in parallel patches, the proposed antenna features compact configuration 41° continuous wide beam scanning range from forward to backward at the satellite communication band 12.5 GHz. At the same time, it maintains satisfactory reflection coefficient and impedance bandwidth at each angle. Finally, the measurements validate the scanning of the beam by electrically tuning the phase shift between the radiating elements.
Mass and energy supply of a cool coronal loop near its apex
Authors: Yan Limei , Peter Hardi , He Jiansen , Xia Lidong , Wang Linghua
Published: January 2018

Context. Different models for the heating of solar corona assume or predict different locations of the energy input: concentrated at the footpoints, at the apex, or uniformly distributed. The brightening of a loop could be due to the increase in electron density ne, the temperature T, or a mixture of both.

Aim. We investigate possible reasons for the brightening of a cool loop at transition region temperatures through imaging and spectral observation.

Methods. We observed a loop with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) and used the slit-jaw images together with spectra taken at a fixed slit position to study the evolution of plasma properties in and below the loop. We used spectra of Si iv, which forms at around 80 000 K in equilibrium, to identify plasma motions and derive electron densities from the ratio of inter-combination lines of O IV. Additional observations from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) were employed to study the response at coronal temperatures (Atmospheric Imaging Assembly, AIA) and to investigate the surface magnetic field below the loop (Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager, HMI).

Results. The loop first appears at transition region temperatures and later also at coronal temperatures, indicating a heating of the plasma in the loop. The appearance of hot plasma in the loop coincides with a possible accelerating upflow seen in Si IV, with the Doppler velocity shifting continuously from ~−70 km s−1 to ~−265 km s−1. The 3D magnetic field lines extrapolated from the HMI magnetogram indicate possible magnetic reconnection between small-scale magnetic flux tubes below or near the loop apex. At the same time, an additional intensity enhancement near the loop apex is visible in the IRIS slit-jaw images at 1400 Å. These observations suggest that the loop is probably heated by the interaction between the loop and the upflows, which are accelerated by the magnetic reconnection between small-scale magnetic flux tubes at lower altitudes. Before and after the possible heating phase, the intensity changes in the optically thin (Si IV) and optical thick line (C II) are mainly contributed by the density variation without significant heating.

Conclusions. We therefore provide evidence for the heating of an envelope loop that is affected by accelerating upflows, which are probably launched by magnetic reconnection between small-scale magnetic flux tubes underneath the envelope loop. This study emphasizes that in the complex upper atmosphere of the Sun, the dynamics of the 3D coupled magnetic field and flow field plays a key role in thermalizing 1D structures such as coronal loops.
Anisotropy of the galaxy cluster X-ray luminosity–temperature relation
Authors: Migkas Konstantinos , Reiprich Thomas H.
Published: January 2018

We introduce a new test to study the cosmological principle with galaxy clusters. Galaxy clusters exhibit a tight correlation between the luminosity and temperature of the X-ray-emitting intracluster medium. While the luminosity measurement depends on cosmological parameters through the luminosity distance, the temperature determination is cosmology-independent. We exploit this property to test the isotropy of the luminosity distance over the full extragalactic sky, through the normalization a of the LX–T scaling relation and the cosmological parameters Ωm and H0. To this end, we use two almost independent galaxy cluster samples: the ASCA Cluster Catalog (ACC) and the XMM Cluster Survey (XCS-DR1). Interestingly enough, these two samples appear to have the same pattern for a with respect to the Galactic longitude. More specifically, we identify one sky region within l ~ (−15°, 90°) (Group A) that shares very different best-fit values for the normalization of the LX–T relation for both ACC and XCS-DR1 samples. We use the Bootstrap and Jackknife methods to assess the statistical significance of these results. We find the deviation of Group A, compared to the rest of the sky in terms of a, to be ~2.7σ for ACC and ~3.1σ for XCS-DR1. This tension is not significantly relieved after excluding possible outliers and is not attributed to different redshift (z), temperature (T), or distributions of observable uncertainties. Moreover, a redshift conversion to the cosmic microwave background (CMB) frame does not have an important impact on our results. Using also the HIFLUGCS sample, we show that a possible excess of cool-core clusters in this region, is not able to explain the obtained deviations. Furthermore, we tested for a dependence of the results on supercluster environment, where the fraction of disturbed clusters might be enhanced, possibly affecting the LX–T relation. We indeed find a trend in the XCS-DR1 sample for supercluster members to be underluminous compared to field clusters. However, the fraction of supercluster members is similar in the different sky regions, so this cannot explain the observed differences, either. Constraining Ωm and H0 via the redshift evolution of LX–T and the luminosity distance via the flux–luminosity conversion, we obtain approximately the same deviation amplitudes as for a. It is interesting that the general observed behavior of Ωm for the sky regions that coincide with the CMB dipole is similar to what was found with other cosmological probes such as supernovae Ia. The reason for this behavior remains to be identified.
NGC 6705 a young α-enhanced open cluster from OCCASO data
Authors: Casamiquela L. , Carrera R. , Balaguer-Núñez L. , Jordi C. , Chiappini C. , Anders F. , Antoja T. , Miret-Roig N. , Romero-Gomez M. , Blanco-Cuaresma S. , Pancino E. , Aguado D. S. , del Pino A. , Diaz-Perez L. , Gallart C.
Published: January 2018

Context. The stellar [α/Fe] abundance is sometimes used as a proxy for stellar age, following standard chemical evolution models for the Galaxy, as seen by different observational results. Aim. In this work, we aim to show that the open cluster NGC 6705/M 11 has a significant α-enhancement [α/Fe] > 0.1 dex, despite its young age (~300 Myr), challenging the current paradigm.

Methods. We used high resolution (R > 65 000) high signal-to-noise (~70) spectra of eight red clump stars, acquired within the OCCASO survey. We determined very accurate chemical abundances of several α elements, using an equivalent width methodology (Si, Ca and Ti), and spectral synthesis fits (Mg and O).

Results. We obtain [Si/Fe] = 0.13 ± 0.05, [Mg/Fe] = 0.14 ± 0.07, [O/Fe] = 0.17 ± 0.07, [Ca/Fe] = 0.06 ± 0.05, and [Ti/Fe] = 0.03 ± 0.03. Our results place these clusters within the group of young [α/Fe]-enhanced field stars recently found by several authors in the literature. The ages of our stars have an uncertainty of around 50 Myr, much more precise than for field stars. By integrating the cluster’s orbit in several non-axisymmetric Galactic potentials, we establish the M 11’s most likely birth radius as lying between 6.8–7.5 kpc from the Galactic centre, not far from its current position.

Conclusions. With the robust open cluster age scale, our results prove that a moderate [α/Fe]-enhancement is no guarantee for a star to be old, and that not all α-enhanced stars can be explained with an evolved blue straggler scenario. Based on our orbit calculations, we further argue against a Galactic bar origin of M 11.
Juvenile Angiofibroma: Current Management Strategies
Authors: Safadi Ahmad , Schreiber Alberto , Fliss Dan , Nicolai Piero
Published: January 2018

Juvenile angiofibroma (JA) is a benign, highly vascular tumor which is diagnosed on the basis of clinical and imaging features. It has a characteristic pattern of spread commonly involving the pterygopalatine fossa and pterygoid base. The mainstay of treatment is surgery, while radiotherapy is rarely used for the treatment of recurrent lesion. Endoscopic endonasal surgery is currently the treatment of choice for small to intermediate size JAs, and is feasible even for advanced lesions; however, this should only be practiced in well-experienced centers.
Photoreflectance and photoreflectance excitation study of optical transitions in GaAsBi/GaAs heterostructure
Authors: Zhang Bin , Qiu Wei-Yang , Chen Ping-Ping , Wang Xing-Jun
Published: January 2018

Photoreflectance (PR) and photoreflectance excitation (PRE) techniques are employed to investigate the optical properties of the GaAs1-xBix(x = 0%–3.7%)/GaAs heterostructure grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The relations between broadenings and intensities of E0 and E0 + ΔSO transitions in PR as a function of Bi content are disclosed. Both PR and PRE experimental techniques independently show that the oscillator strength of the E0 + ΔSO transition becomes larger compared to that of the fundamental gap as the Bi content increases. Such results suggest that the incorporation of Bi into GaAs leads to an increase of the effective masses for the spin-orbit split-off band.
Effect of ablation geometry on the dynamics, composition, and geometrical shape of thin film plasma
Authors: Mondal Alamgir , Singh R. K. , Kumar Ajai
Published: January 2018

The characteristics of plasma plume produced by front and back ablation of thin films have been investigated using fast imaging and optical emission spectroscopy. Ablation geometry dependence of the plume dynamics, its geometrical aspect and composition is emphasized. Also, the effect of an ambient environment and the beam diameter of an ablating laser on the front and back ablations is briefly discussed. Analysis of time resolved images and plasma parameters indicates that the energetic and spherical plasma formed by front ablation is strikingly different in comparison to the slow and nearly cylindrical plasma plume observed in the case of back ablation. Further shock formation, plume confinement, thermalization and validity of different expansion models in these two ablation geometries are also presented. The present study demonstrates the manipulation of kinetic energy, shape, ion/neutral compositions and directionality of the expanding plume by adjusting the experimental configuration, which is highly relevant to its utilization in various applications e.g., generation of energetic particles, tokamak edge plasma diagnostics, thin film deposition, etc.
Magnetism in Mn-nanowires and -clusters as δ-doped layers in group IV semiconductors (Si, Ge)
Authors: Simov K. R. , Glans P.-A. , Jenkins C. A. , Liberati M. , Reinke P.
Published: January 2018

Mn doping of group-IV semiconductors (Si/Ge) is achieved by embedding nanostructured Mn-layers in group-IV matrix. The Mn-nanostructures are monoatomic Mn-wires or Mn-clusters and capped with an amorphous Si or Ge layer. The precise fabrication of δ-doped Mn-layers is combined with element-specific detection of the magnetic signature with x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The largest moment (2.5 μB/Mn) is measured for Mn-wires with ionic bonding character and a-Ge overlayer cap; a-Si capping reduces the moment due to variations of bonding in agreement with theoretical predictions. The moments in δ-doped layers dominated by clusters is quenched with an antiferromagnetic component from Mn–Mn bonding.
Effects of topologies on signal propagation in feedforward networks
Authors: Zhao Jia , Qin Ying-Mei , Che Yan-Qiu
Published: January 2018

We systematically investigate the effects of topologies on signal propagation in feedforward networks (FFNs) based on the FitzHugh-Nagumo neuron model. FFNs with different topological structures are constructed with same number of both in-degrees and out-degrees in each layer and given the same input signal. The propagation of firing patterns and firing rates are found to be affected by the distribution of neuron connections in the FFNs. Synchronous firing patterns emerge in the later layers of FFNs with identical, uniform, and exponential degree distributions, but the number of synchronous spike trains in the output layers of the three topologies obviously differs from one another. The firing rates in the output layers of the three FFNs can be ordered from high to low according to their topological structures as exponential, uniform, and identical distributions, respectively. Interestingly, the sequence of spiking regularity in the output layers of the three FFNs is consistent with the firing rates, but their firing synchronization is in the opposite order. In summary, the node degree is an important factor that can dramatically influence the neuronal network activity.
Pattern transition from dense branching morphology to fractal for copper and β′ brass electrodeposition in thin gap geometry
Authors: Gupta Raveena , Ghosh Souradeep , Choudhury Soumi , Ghosh Subhankar
Published: January 2018

Copper and β′ brass are electrodeposited in thin gap geometry and a clear transition from dense branching to fractal like pattern is observed with the variation of electric potential and concentration. The transition electric potential is 6V – 5V for copper and 25V for β′ brass. The explanation of the pattern transition is done first using the Laplacian growth as in the Di-electric Breakdown Model (DBM) and then on the basis of ion dynamics in terms of viscosity, ionic mobility, drift and thermal velocity. The fractal growth is more likely at higher electric potential as the electric field dominates and more likely to be dense branched at lower electric field when thermal motion dominates. This work inspires for further studies on modification of our model for the two ions electrodeposition and their compositional variation with different deposition parameters.
Vector MO magnetometry for mapping microwave currents
Authors: Višňovský Š. , Lišková-Jakubisová E. , Harward I. , Celinski Z.
Published: January 2018

Magneto-optic (MO) effects in magnetic multilayers (MML) can be employed in non-invasive 2D mapping of microwave (mw) radiation on the surface of semiconductor chips. A typical sensor configuration consists of Fe nanolayers sandwiched with dielectrics on a thin Si substrate transparent to mw radiation. To extend the observation bandwidth, Δf, up to 100 GHz range the sensor works at ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) frequency in applied magnetic flux density, Bappl. The mw currents excite the precession of magnetization, M, in magnetic nanolayers proportional to their amplitude. The MO component reflected on the sensor surface is proportional to the amplitude of M component, M⊥. The laser source operates at the wavelength of 410 nm. Its plane of incidence is oriented perpendicular to the M⊥ plane. M⊥ oscillates between polar and transverse configurations. A substantial improvement of MO figure of merit takes place in aperiodic MML. More favorable Δf vs. Bappl dependence and MO response can potentially be achieved in MML imbedding hexagonal ferrite or Co nanolayers with in-plane magnetic anisotropy.
Controlling the anomalous Hall effect by electric-field-induced piezo-strain in Fe40Pt60/(001)-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.67Ti0.33O3 multiferroic heterostructures
Authors: Yang Yuanjun , Yao Yingxue , Chen Lei , Huang Haoliang , Zhang Benjian , Lin Hui , Luo Zhenlin , Gao Chen , Lu Y. L. , Li Xiaoguang , Xiao Gang , Feng Ce , Zhao Y. G.
Published: January 2018

Electric-field control of the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) was investigated in Fe40Pt60/(001)-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.67Ti0.33O3 (FePt/PMN-PT) multiferroic heterostructures at room temperature. It was observed that a very large Hall resistivity change of up to 23.9% was produced using electric fields under a magnetic field bias of 100 Oe. A pulsed electric field sequence was used to generate nonvolatile strain to manipulate the Hall resistivity. Two corresponding nonvolatile states with distinct Hall resistivities were achieved after the electric fields were removed, thus enabling the encoding of binary information for memory applications. These results demonstrate that the Hall resistivity can be reversibly switched in a nonvolatile manner using programmable electric fields. Two remanent magnetic states that were created by electric-field-induced piezo-strain from the PMN-PT were attributed to the nonvolatile and reversible properties of the AHE. This work suggests that a low-energy-consumption-based approach can be used to create nonvolatile resistance states for spintronic devices based on electric-field control of the AHE.
Surface profilometry using the incoherent self-imaging technique in reflection mode
Authors: Hassani Khosrow , Nahal Arashmid , Tirandazi Negin
Published: January 2018

In this paper, we introduce a highly sensitive and cost-effective surface profilometry technique based on the Lau self-imaging phenomenon in reflection mode, combined with the Moiré technique. Standard incoherent grating imaging with two Ronchi rulings is deployed to produce localized Fresnel pseudoimages, except that the light wavefront gets modulated after reflecting off the surface under test and before the final image forms. A third grating is superimposed on the pseudoimage to take advantage of the magnification property of the Moiré fringes and enhance the surface-induced modulations. A five-step phase-shifting technique is used to extract the 2D surface profile of the sample from the recorded Moiré patterns. To demonstrate our technique, we measure the profile of a 250 nm step-like metallic sample. The results show a few nanometer uncertainties, very good reproducibility, and agreement with other known optical and mechanical surface profilometry methods.
Efficient reactive Brownian dynamics
Authors: Donev Aleksandar , Yang Chiao-Yu , Kim Changho
Published: January 2018

We develop a Split Reactive Brownian Dynamics (SRBD) algorithm for particle simulations of reaction-diffusion systems based on the Doi or volume reactivity model, in which pairs of particles react with a specified Poisson rate if they are closer than a chosen reactive distance. In our Doi model, we ensure that the microscopic reaction rules for various association and dissociation reactions are consistent with detailed balance (time reversibility) at thermodynamic equilibrium. The SRBD algorithm uses Strang splitting in time to separate reaction and diffusion and solves both the diffusion-only and reaction-only subproblems exactly, even at high packing densities. To efficiently process reactions without uncontrolled approximations, SRBD employs an event-driven algorithm that processes reactions in a time-ordered sequence over the duration of the time step. A grid of cells with size larger than all of the reactive distances is used to schedule and process the reactions, but unlike traditional grid-based methods such as reaction-diffusion master equation algorithms, the results of SRBD are statistically independent of the size of the grid used to accelerate the processing of reactions. We use the SRBD algorithm to compute the effective macroscopic reaction rate for both reaction-limited and diffusion-limited irreversible association in three dimensions and compare to existing theoretical predictions at low and moderate densities. We also study long-time tails in the time correlation functions for reversible association at thermodynamic equilibrium and compare to recent theoretical predictions. Finally, we compare different particle and continuum methods on a model exhibiting a Turing-like instability and pattern formation. Our studies reinforce the common finding that microscopic mechanisms and correlations matter for diffusion-limited systems, making continuum and even mesoscopic modeling of such systems difficult or impossible. We also find that for models in which particles diffuse off lattice, such as the Doi model, reactions lead to a spurious enhancement of the effective diffusion coefficients.
Thickness measurement by two-sided step-heating thermal imaging
Authors: Li Xiaoli , Tao Ning , Sun J. G. , Zhang Cunlin , Zhao Yuejin
Published: January 2018

Infrared thermal imaging is a promising nondestructive technique for thickness prediction. However, it is usually thought to be only appropriate for testing the thickness of thin objects or near-surface structures. In this study, we present a new two-sided step-heating thermal imaging method which employed a low-cost portable halogen lamp as the heating source and verified it with two stainless steel step wedges with thicknesses ranging from 5 mm to 24 mm. We first derived the one-dimensional step-heating thermography theory with the consideration of warm-up time of the lamp, and then applied the nonlinear regression method to fit the experimental data by the derived function to determine the thickness. After evaluating the reliability and accuracy of the experimental results, we concluded that this method is capable of testing thick objects. In addition, we provided the criterions for both the required data length and the applicable thickness range of the testing material. It is evident that this method will broaden the thermal imaging application for thickness measurement.
Experimental demonstration of a terahertz extended interaction oscillator driven by a pseudospark-sourced sheet electron beam
Authors: Shu G. X. , Zhang L. , Yin H. , Zhao J. P. , Phelps A. D. R. , Cross A. W. , Liu G. , Luo Y. , Qian Z. F. , He W.
Published: January 2018

We have recently proposed to combine the advantages of a pseudospark-sourced sheet electron beam (PS-SEB) with a planar slow wave structure to generate high power terahertz radiation. To verify this idea, experimental investigation of an extended interaction oscillator based on the PS-SEB has been conducted and presented. A PS-SEB of approximately 1.0 mm × 0.17 mm in size with 21.5 A peak current (1.26 × 104 A/cm2 beam current density) and 34.5 kV peak voltage was measured after propagating a distance of 10-mm without the need of an external focusing magnetic field. A radiation pulse of ∼35 ns in duration and an output power of over 10 W at a frequency of ∼0.2 THz were measured.
Defects induced by solid state reactions at the tungsten-silicon carbide interface
Authors: Tunhuma S. M. , Diale M. , Legodi M. J. , Nel J. M. , Thabete T. T. , Auret F. D.
Published: January 2018

Defects introduced by the solid state reactions between tungsten and silicon carbide have been studied using deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) and Laplace DLTS. W/4H-SiC Schottky barrier diodes were isochronally annealed in the 100–1100 °C temperature range. Phase composition transitions and the associated evolution in the surface morphology were investigated using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After annealing at 1100 °C, the E0.08, E0.15, E0.23, E0.34, E0.35, E0.61, E0.67, and E0.82 defects were observed. Our study reveals that products of thermal reactions at the interface between tungsten and n-4H-SiC may migrate into the semiconductor, resulting in electrically active defect states in the bandgap.
Electromechanics of suspended spiral capacitors and inductors
Authors: Khorasani Sina Ataollah
Published: January 2018

Most electromechanical devices are in two-dimensional metallic drums under high tensile stress, which causes increased mechanical frequency and quality factor. However, high mechanical frequencies lead to small zero-point displacements xzp, which limits the single-photon interaction rate g0. For applications which demand large g0, any design with increased xzp is desirable. It is shown that a patterned drum by a spiral shape can resolve this difficulty, which is obtained by a reduction of mechanical frequency while the motion mass is kept almost constant. An order of magnitude increase in g0 and agreement between simulations and interferometric measurements is observed.
Effects of electronic excitation in 150 keV Ni ion irradiation of metallic systems
Authors: Zarkadoula Eva , Samolyuk German , Weber William J.
Published: January 2018

We use the two-temperature model in molecular dynamic simulations of 150 keV Ni ion cascades in nickel and nickel-based alloys to investigate the effect of the energy exchange between the atomic and the electronic systems during the primary stages of radiation damage. We find that the electron-phonon interactions result in a smaller amount of defects and affect the cluster formation, resulting in smaller clusters. These results indicate that ignoring the local heating due to the electrons results in the overestimation of the amount of damage and the size of the defect clusters. A comparison of the average defect production to the Norgett-Robinson-Torrens (NRT) prediction over a range of energies is provided.
Numerical study at moderate Reynolds number of peristaltic flow of micropolar fluid through a porous-saturated channel in magnetic field
Authors: Ahmed Bilal , Javed Tariq , Ali N.
Published: January 2018

This paper analyzes the MHD flow of micropolar fluid induced by peristaltic waves passing through the porous saturated channel at large Reynolds number. The flow model is formulated in the absence of assumptions of lubrication theory which yields the governing equations into a non-linear set of coupled partial differential equations which allows studying the peristaltic mechanism at non-zero Reynolds and wave numbers. The influence of other involved parameters on velocity, stream function and microrotation are discussed through graphs plotted by using Galerkin’s finite element method. Besides that, the phenomena of pumping and trapping are also analyzed in the later part of the paper. To ensure the accuracy of the developed code, obtained results are compared with the results available in the literature and found in excellent agreement. It is found that the peristalsis mixing can be enhanced by increasing Hartmann number while it reduces by increasing permeability of the porous medium.
Solitary states for coupled oscillators with inertia
Authors: Jaros Patrycja , Brezetsky Serhiy , Levchenko Roman , Dudkowski Dawid , Kapitaniak Tomasz , Maistrenko Yuri
Published: January 2018

Networks of identical oscillators with inertia can display remarkable spatiotemporal patterns in which one or a few oscillators split off from the main synchronized cluster and oscillate with different averaged frequency. Such “solitary states” are impossible for the classical Kuramoto model with sinusoidal coupling. However, if inertia is introduced, these states represent a solid part of the system dynamics, where each solitary state is characterized by the number of isolated oscillators and their disposition in space. We present system parameter regions for the existence of solitary states in the case of local, non-local, and global network couplings and show that they preserve in both thermodynamic and conservative limits. We give evidence that solitary states arise in a homoclinic bifurcation of a saddle-type synchronized state and die eventually in a crisis bifurcation after essential variation of the parameters.
Active learning machine learns to create new quantum experiments
Authors: Melnikov Alexey A. , Poulsen Nautrup Hendrik , Krenn Mario , Dunjko Vedran , Tiersch Markus , Zeilinger Anton , Briegel Hans J.
Published: January 2018

Significance

Quantum experiments push the envelope of our understanding of fundamental concepts in quantum physics. Modern experiments have exhaustively probed the basic notions of quantum theory. Arguably, further breakthroughs require the tackling of complex quantum phenomena and consequently require complex experiments and involved techniques. The designing of such complex experiments is difficult and often clashes with human intuition. We present an autonomous learning model which learns to design such complex experiments, without relying on previous knowledge or often flawed intuition. Our system not only learns how to design desired experiments more efficiently than the best previous approaches, but in the process also discovers nontrivial experimental techniques. Our work demonstrates that learning machines can offer dramatic advances in how experiments are generated.
Foot strike pattern in preschool children during running: sex and shod–unshod differences
Authors: Latorre‐Román Pedro Á. , Párraga‐Montilla Juan A. , Guardia‐Monteagudo Ignacio , García‐Pinillos Felipe
Published: January 2018

Purpose: This study aims to determine the foot strike patterns (FSPs) and neutral support (no inversion [INV]/eversion [EVE] and no foot rotation) in preschool children, as well as to determine the influence of shod/unshod conditions and sex. Methods: A total of 1356 children aged 3–6 years (673 boys and 683 girls) participated in this study. A sagittal and frontal‐plane video (240 Hz) was recorded using a high‐speed camcorder to record the following variables: rearfoot strike (RFS), midfoot strike (MFS), forefoot strike (FFS), inversion/ eversion (INV/EVE) and foot rotation on initial contact. Results: There were no between‐sex significant differences in both shod and unshod conditions in RFS. In the unshod condition, there was a significant reduction (p < 0.001) of RFS prevalence in both boys (shod condition = 44.2% vs. 34.7% unshod condition) and girls (shod condition = 48.5% vs. 36.1% unshod condition). As for neutral support, there were no between‐sex differences in both shod and unshod conditions or in the shod–unshod comparison. Conclusion: In preschool children, no between‐sex differences were found in relation to prevalence of RFS and neutral support (no INV/EVE). Shod running alters FSP of running barefoot, producing a significant increase of RFS prevalence.
Bao-Liang Song: Loving biology in the time of cholesterol
Authors: O’Donnell Marie Anne
Published: January 2018

Song studies the trafficking and biological activities of cholesterol.
Abundance trends of highly migratory species in the Atlantic Ocean: accounting for water temperature profiles
Authors: Lynch Patrick D , Shertzer Kyle W , Cortés Enric , Latour Robert J
Published: January 2018

Relative abundance trends of highly migratory species (HMS) have played a central role in debates over the health of global fisheries. However, such trends have mostly been inferred from fishery catch rates, which can provide misleading signals of relative abundance. While many biases are accounted for through traditional catch rate standardization, pelagic habitat fished is rarely directly considered. Using a method that explicitly accounts for temperature regimes, we analysed data from the US pelagic longline fishery to estimate relative abundance trends for 34 HMS in the Atlantic Ocean from 1987 through 2013. This represents one of the largest studies of HMS abundance trends. Model selection emphasized the importance of accounting for pelagic habitat fished with water column temperature being included in nearly every species’ model, and in extreme cases, a temperature variable explained 50–60% of the total deviance. Our estimated trends represent observations from one fishery only, and a more integrated stock assessment should form the basis for conclusions about stock status overall. Nonetheless, our trends serve as indicators of stock abundance and they suggest that a majority of HMS (71% of analysed species) are either declining in relative abundance or declined initially with no evidence of rebuilding. Conversely, 29% of the species exhibited stable, increasing, or recovering trends; however, these trends were more prevalent among tunas than either billfishes or sharks. By estimating the effects of pelagic habitat on fishery catch rates, our results can be used in combination with ocean temperature trends and forecasts to support bycatch avoidance and other time-area management decisions.
Modified Scattering for the One-Dimensional Cubic NLS with a Repulsive Delta Potential
Authors: Masaki Satoshi , Murphy Jason , Segata Jun-Ichi
Published: January 2018

We consider the initial-value problem for the one-dimensional cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a repulsive delta potential. We prove that small initial data in a weighted Sobolev space lead to global solutions that decay in $L^{\infty }$ and exhibit modified scattering.
A survey of healthcare-seeking practices and related stigma among community- and street-based children in Cambodia
Authors: Rivenbark Joshua , Martyn Lily , Whetten Kathryn , Vasudevan Lavanya
Published: January 2018

Background

Globally, street children comprise a growing population of vulnerable children. Understanding how they interact with healthcare systems is fundamental to efforts to improve their health and well-being.

Methods

We surveyed 75 street- and community-based children in Battambang, Cambodia regarding their healthcare-seeking practices and related stigma.

Results

For demographically similar street and community children, hospitals and pharmacies were preferred healthcare institutions, with this choice being motivated by the caretaker’s decision or cost. Street children reported increased fear of being refused treatment.

Conclusions

Street children and demographically similar community children have similar healthcare-seeking practices and preferences, although street children face increased stigmatization.
Introduction
Authors: Blaustein George
Published: January 2018

As “American dream” became a cliché in the twentieth century, the contrary refrain of American nightmare was probably inevitable. This book adopts the phrase “nightmare envy” to capture an atmosphere of transatlantic disparity, projection, recrimination, and longing. But the phrase’s ambiguity is deliberate: it isn’t always clear who is envying whom, or for what reason. Examples from Margaret Mead, David Potter, Mary McCarthy, Simone de Beauvoir, and William Faulkner offer variations on the theme. Nightmare Envy and Other Stories proposes an “Americanist century” that stands in curious tension with the American Century heralded by Henry Luce in 1941. The protagonists are the Americanists who negotiated the imperatives of military occupation and cultural diplomacy in Europe, as well as Japan. The introduction closes with one of the paradigmatic figures of the Americanist century, Ralph Ellison, and offers an interpretation of his European fictions, as well as previously unpublished manuscripts.
The Predicament of National Character
Authors: Blaustein George
Published: January 2018

“National character” has a curious history in the twentieth century. Margaret Mead wrote the first anthropological account of the United States in 1942, but the history of national character as a concept runs through social psychology and anthropology between the wars, the cultivation of “morale” during the Second World War, and the deployment of social science in postwar American military occupations. That history is the subject of this chapter: what “American character” revealed and obscured, both nationally and internationally. Mead was the Henry Luce of anthropology: her life and writings offer a miniature of the science of characterology in the American Century. The chapter begins as an institutional and intellectual history, but concludes with new readings of three postwar texts. Characterology was indeed a science, of a kind, but it was also an art. Ruth Benedict’s The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, a remote ethnography of Japan, is a parable of American power and its limits. Mead’s New Lives for Old, recounting her return to New Guinea in 1953, becomes a sermon about a Polynesian city upon a hill. David Riesman’s classic of sociology, The Lonely Crowd, closes one frontier of national character but opens another. To consider national character as narrative and ideology illuminates American character’s imprint on the world.
Exploratory Factor Analysis
Authors: Haig Brian D.
Published: January 2018

Chapter 6 argues that exploratory factor analysis is an abductive method of theory generation that exploits a principle of scientific inference known as the principle of the common cause. Factor analysis is an important family of multivariate statistical methods that is widely used in the behavioral and social sciences. The best known model of factor analysis is common factor analysis, which has two types: exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. A number of methodological issues that arise in critical discussions of exploratory factor analysis are considered. It is suggested that exploratory factor analysis can be profitably employed in tandem with confirmatory factor analysis.
Conclusion
Authors: Haig Brian D.
Published: January 2018

Chapter 7 takes stock of previous chapters by highlighting some of the most important general ideas that shape the character of the book. It is suggested that some of the major lessons learned from the debates on tests of statistical significance hold for research methods more generally and that they complement what is said in this concluding chapter. Eight points made in this book are discussed. They relate to the philosophy of quantitative methods; scientific realism resources; methodology; lack of a “best” scientific method; distinctions between data, phenomena, and theory; quantitative versus qualitative methods; and future study in the philosophy of quantitative methods.
Introduction
Authors: Fung C. Victor
Published: January 2018

This chapter provides rationales for a philosophy of music education based on classic Chinese philosophies. The philosophy contributes to an array of ways of thinking in music education and emphasizes the quintessence of the human spirit that transcends time and space. The author points to the significance of early Chinese philosophies as postulated in Yijing (The Book of Changes), classic Confucianism (represented by ideologies of Confucius and Mencius), and classic Daoism (represented by ideologies of Laozi and Zhuangzi). Understanding these early classics is critical to understand a characteristically Chinese philosophy. An organismic worldview and a unique perspective in harmony characterize this philosophical inquiry. The author cautions readers about the developments of Confucianism and Daoism evolved after the classics, because their doctrines could be far removed from those of the classics, especially those indicated by prefixes such as “neo-,” “new,” and “contemporary,” or the adjective “religious.”
Foundations of Classic Confucianism
Authors: Fung C. Victor
Published: January 2018

Confucius (551–479 BC) solidified Confucianism as a school of philosophy. Mencius (372–289 BC) took it to a deeper level. Being human-centric is essential to both. Classic Confucianism focuses on the cultivation of the self as a way of bringing forth a better society filled with exemplary persons. Everyone should work hard at achieving sincerity (cheng誠‎), which must be coupled with kindness (shan善‎), so benevolence (ren仁‎) can be attained. The constant practice of these principles enables one to be an exemplary person (junzi君子‎), who would also help others to achieve the same. In classic Confucianism, music is integrated into everyone’s life and in every society. As one makes policies, designs curricula, plans lessons, grades assignments, meets parents, discusses issues, advocates for music, and so forth, the qualities of an exemplary person is expected.
Complementary Bipolar Continua in Music Education
Authors: Fung C. Victor
Published: January 2018

Classic Confucianism and classic Daoism were inspired by Yijing and were established during a period of nihilism. Both philosophical schools value human lives, expect individuals to improve continuously by self-cultivation, and recognize the world as a living organism. Despite their different emphases of dao, they are compatible to a great extent. For most people, it is necessary to utilize the different emphases to maintain a healthy diet, much like eating different types of food at different times of the day. Based on principles of yin and yang, the author proposes four complementary bipolar continua: active and passive musical motions, music teacher and learner roles, high-energy and low-energy activities, and familiar and unfamiliar musical experiences. The chapter ends with an explanation on how the complementary bipolar continua are connected among themselves and with the broader life.
Balance
Authors: Fung C. Victor
Published: January 2018

Balance is the second part of the change-balance-liberation trilogy. He (和‎harmony) is its key approach, which infers a condition in which each element should exert its strengths to make the bigger whole stronger or better. A dynamic flexibility is required in maintaining a continuous balance for all. A musical balance should be connected to the state of balance in broader life. In music education, the teacher needs to pay attention to the changing needs of the learner and of the society. The four complementary bipolar continua and the three musical zones presented in earlier chapters are used as a framework for discussion. Everyone should search for a state of balance to meet their changing needs throughout life. Music educators, being exemplary persons and musicians, have an added obligation to guide those who are unable to search for, and maintain, that balance.