bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shape control of hybrid functionally graded plate through smart application of piezoelectric material using simple plate theory
Authors: Bajoria K. M. , Patare S. A.
Published: January 2021

The present study takes its inspiration from notable work in the literature related to the flexural analysis of functionally graded material (FGM) plate along with a smart application of piezoelectric material but maintains its novelty in terms of simple approach, an analytical solution with a wide scope of application. Coupling the plate element with piezoelectric smart material can control deflection, vibration thereby increasing the safety, stability, and life of these elements. Plates made up of functionally graded material further enhances the applicability as two different materials are fused. Analysis of such a system is challenging especially for a closed form mathematical solution along with complex boundary conditions. In the present study, it is proposed to develop a simple analytical model for bending analysis of FGM plate coupled with piezoelectric layers. Polynomial based shear deformation function taken from literature is applied to develop a simple mathematical model. A complete flexural analysis is performed for FGM plate to validate the governing simple mathematical model. Through the smart application of piezoelectric material, the deflection of the FGM plate is controlled in as closed loop feedback system. Analytical solution valid over the entire plate domain is obtained incorporating fixed and simple support types of boundary conditions. The initial part of the study details complete mathematical formulation for the plate under consideration, followed by numerical validation in which results of the present model are compared with notable studies in the literature. Lastly, the smart application through shape control of the FGM plate is demonstrated graphically and numerically. The development and application of the discussed mathematical model presented in this study are complete in all aspects of its mathematical form, solution, and numerical validation.
Numerical and perturbation solutions of cross flow of an Eyring-Powell fluid
Authors: Nazeer Mubbashar
Published: January 2021

This communication presents a comparative analysis of two-dimensional cross flow of non-Newtonian fluid with heat and mass transfer is presented in this article. Eyring-Powell fluid is chosen as the main carrier of heat and nano species through a uniform horizontal channel. Effects of suction are also taken into account by placing porous walls. Main source of the flow is the motion of upper plate that moves with a constant velocity in axial direction. Two different nano flows have been formulated by neglecting and, as well as, applying constant pressure gradient, respectively. In addition to this, the analytical solution is validated with the numerical solution. Perturbation technique is employed to obtain a sustainable solution for the highly nonlinear and coupled differential equations. Further, Range-Kutta method with shooting technique is employed to get an approximate solution. It if inferred that both numerical and series solutions display a complete agreement.
Examining vehicular speed characteristics through divergences from prior distributions
Authors: Kosun Caglar
Published: January 2021

A variety of approaches, within literature, has been conducted to interpret vehicular speed characteristics. This study turns the attention to the entropy-based approaches, and thus focuses on the maximum entropy method of statistical mechanics and the Kullback–Leibler (KL) divergence approach to examining the vehicular speeds. The vehicle speeds at the selected highway are analyzed in order to find out the disparities among them. However, it is turned out that the speed dynamics could not be distinguished over the speed distributions; hence the maximization of Shannon entropy seems insufficient to compare the speed distributions of each data set. For this reason, the KL divergence approach was performed. This approach displays the comparison, among the speed distributions, based on two prior distribution models, i.e., uniform and Gauss. The examination of the trends of KL divergences obtained from both distributions was made. It was concluded that the KL divergence values for the highway speed data sets ranged between about 0.53 and 0.70 for the uniform case, while for the Gaussian case the obtained values are between 0.16 and 0.33. The KL divergence trends for the real speeds were obtained analogous for both cases, but they differed significantly when the synthetic data sets were employed. As a result, the KL divergence approach proves suitable as an appropriate indicator to compare the speed distributions.
Static and dynamic characterization and response analysis of soils from northern India
Authors: Kundu Abhijit , Patra Nihar Ranjan , Bandyopadhyay Srijit , Reddy G. Rami
Published: January 2021

Experimental investigations on soil samples collected from the sites of Baraut, Noida and Mandi in North India have been performed to study the static and cyclic behavior of soil. Liquefaction potential of the sites near Himalayan range is also carried out. The SPT and downhole seismic tests have been performed for the estimation of static and dynamic properties of soil. Strain-controlled cyclic triaxial tests are also carried out on soil samples collected from the borehole at various depths up to 30 m for the evaluation of dynamic soil properties. The study examined the effects of parameters such as cyclic shear strain, loading frequency and overburden pressure on the cyclic behavior of the soil. One- and two-dimensional dynamic response analysis has been performed on three sites. The initiation of initial liquefaction ranged from 202 to 752 cycles for the Baraut site, 212 to 722 cycles for the Noida site, and 121 to 617 cycles for the Mandi sites. The final design response spectra of the sites are obtained from 1D ground response analysis. The results from the response analysis have been compared with the reported results. The soils from the present study areas are prone to liquefaction at 10 m to 15 m from the ground surface.
FEMA P695 methodology for safety margin evaluation of steel moment resisting frames subjected to near-field and far-field records
Authors: Heshmati Mahdi , Khatami Alireza , Shakib Hamzeh
Published: January 2021

This study presents the impact of near-field and far-field earthquakes on the seismic design of Intermediate Moment Resisting Frame (IMRF) and Special Moment Resisting Frame (SMRF) structures through FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) P695 methodology to highlight the importance of probabilistic collapse as well as seismic performance factors of these structures. The purpose of this study is to investigate the collapse performance of steel intermediate and special moment resisting frame systems as the most common structural systems in urban areas in order to assess the seismic performance factors used for the design using nonlinear static and dynamic analysis methods. In this regard, as the representatives of low-rise to high-rise buildings, archetypes with 5-, 10- and 15- story of intermediate and special moment resisting frames are designed and then the nonlinear models are developed in OpenSees software. Nonlinear static analyses are performed to assess the overstrength and ductility of these systems. The effects of near-field and far-field ground motions on these frames are investigated through incremental dynamic analysis. These analyses are performed with 22 far-field and 20 near-field ground motion records using FEMA P695 methodology. The results show that near-field earthquakes have serious impacts on the collapse probability of structures. The superiority of special moment resisting frame over intermediate moment resisting frame is quantified in terms of safety margin and median collapse capacity under both near-field and far-field earthquakes. Finally, the results indicate that the response modification factors introduced in seismic design code are acceptable for intermediate moment resisting frame and special moment resisting frame under far-field ground motions. However, in the near-field sites while SMRF system meets the requirements of FEMA P695 methodology, the IMRF system does not satisfy these criteria.
Layerwise learning for quantum neural networks
Authors: Skolik Andrea , McClean Jarrod R. , Mohseni Masoud , van der Smagt Patrick , Leib Martin
Published: January 2021

With the increased focus on quantum circuit learning for near-term applications on quantum devices, in conjunction with unique challenges presented by cost function landscapes of parametrized quantum circuits, strategies for effective training are becoming increasingly important. In order to ameliorate some of these challenges, we investigate a layerwise learning strategy for parametrized quantum circuits. The circuit depth is incrementally grown during optimization, and only subsets of parameters are updated in each training step. We show that when considering sampling noise, this strategy can help avoid the problem of barren plateaus of the error surface due to the low depth of circuits, low number of parameters trained in one step, and larger magnitude of gradients compared to training the full circuit. These properties make our algorithm preferable for execution on noisy intermediate-scale quantum devices. We demonstrate our approach on an image-classification task on handwritten digits, and show that layerwise learning attains an 8% lower generalization error on average in comparison to standard learning schemes for training quantum circuits of the same size. Additionally, the percentage of runs that reach lower test errors is up to 40% larger compared to training the full circuit, which is susceptible to creeping onto a plateau during training.
The Origins of Early Christian Literature
Authors: Walsh Robyn Faith
Published: January 2021

Conventional approaches to the Synoptic gospels argue that the gospel authors acted as literate spokespersons for their religious communities. Whether described as documenting intra-group 'oral traditions' or preserving the collective perspectives of their fellow Christ-followers, these writers are treated as something akin to the Romantic poet speaking for their Volk - a questionable framework inherited from nineteenth-century German Romanticism. In this book, Robyn Faith Walsh argues that the Synoptic gospels were written by elite cultural producers working within a dynamic cadre of literate specialists, including persons who may or may not have been professed Christians. Comparing a range of ancient literature, her ground-breaking study demonstrates that the gospels are creative works produced by educated elites interested in Judean teachings, practices, and paradoxographical subjects in the aftermath of the Jewish War and in dialogue with the literature of their age. Walsh's study thus bridges the artificial divide between research on the Synoptic gospels and Classics.
American Visions of the Netherlands East Indies/Indonesia
Authors: Gouda Frances , Brocades Zaalberg Thijs
Published: January 2021

The result of a Fulbright senior research fellowship celebrating the simultaneous 50th anniversaries of the Fulbright Exchange Foundation and the Indonesian Republic, this book offers a new perspective on American attitudes toward Dutch colonial rule and Indonesia's struggle for independence. Drawing on extensive research in American, Dutch, Indonesian, and Australian diplomatic records and archival documents, as well as the archives of the United Nations, the authors give a new overview of the political background and changing rationale of American foreign policies.
Film Remakes as Ritual and Disguise
Authors: Zanger Anat
Published: January 2021

The first full-length history of the remake in cinema, Film Remakes as Ritual and Disguise is also the first book to explore how and why these stories are told.

Anat Zanger focuses on contemporary retellings of three particular tales' Joanof Arc, Carmen, and Psycho to reveal what she calls the remake's 'rituals of disguise.' Joan of Arc, Zanger demonstrates, later appears as the tough, androgynous Ripley in the blockbuster Alien series and the God-ridden Bess in Lars Von Trier's Breaking the Waves. Ultimately, these remake chains offer evidence of the archetypes of our own age, cultural 'fingerprints' that are reflective of society's own preferences and politics. Underneath the redundancy of the remake, Zanger shows, lies our collective social memory. Indeed, at its core the lowly remake represents a primal attempt to gain immortality, to triumph over death - playing at movie theaters seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Addressing the wider theoretical implications of her argument with sections on contemporary film issues such as trauma, jouissance, and censorship, Film Remakes as Ritual and Disguise is an insightful addition to current debates in film theory and cinema history.
Development of a clean hot water drill to access Subglacial Lake CECs, West Antarctica
Authors: Makinson Keith , Anker Paul G. D. , Garcés Jonathan , Goodger David J. , Polfrey Scott , Rix Julius , Silva Alejandro , Smith Andrew M. , Uribe José A. , Zamora Rodrigo
Published: January 2021

Recent drilling successes on Rutford Ice Stream in West Antarctica demonstrate the viability of hot water drilling subglacial access holes to depths >2000 m. Having techniques to access deep subglacial environments reliably paves the way for subglacial lake exploration beneath the thick central West Antarctic Ice Sheet. An ideal candidate lake, overlain by ~2650 m of ice, identified by Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), Chile, has led to collaboration with British Antarctic Survey to access Subglacial Lake CECs (SLCECs). To conform with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research code of conduct, which provides a guide to responsible scientific exploration and stewardship of these pristine systems, any access drilling must minimise all aspects of contamination and disturbance of the subglacial environment. To meet these challenges, along with thicker ice and 2000 m elevation, pumping and water treatment systems developed for the Subglacial Lake Ellsworth project, together with new diesel generators, additional water heating and longer drill hose, are currently being integrated with the BEAMISH hot water drill. A dedicated test season near SLCECs will commission the new clean hot water drill, with testing and validation of all clean operating procedures. A subsequent season will then access SLCECs cleanly.
Deference and Ideals of Practical Agency
Authors: Knutzen Jonathan
Published: January 2021

This paper develops a moderate pessimist account of moral deference. I argue that while some pessimist explanations of the puzzle of moral deference have been misguided in matters of detail, they nevertheless share an important insight, namely that there is a justified moral agency ideal grounded in pro tanto reasons against moral deference. This thought is unpacked in terms of a set of values associated with the practice of morality. I conclude by suggesting that the solution to the puzzle of moral deference developed here gives us a plausible recipe for generalizing to certain cases of nonmoral deference as well.
Performance of the BinaxNOW coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Antigen Card test relative to the severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay among symptomatic and asymptomatic healthcare employees
Authors: James Allison E. , Gulley Trent , Kothari Atul , Holder Kasey , Garner Kelley , Patil Naveen
Published: January 2021

The sensitivity of the BinaxNOW coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Ag Card test (BinaxNOW) was 51.6% among asymptomatic healthcare employees relative to real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). The odds of a positive BinaxNOW test decreased as cycle threshold value increased. BinaxNOW could facilitate rapid detection and isolation of asymptomatically infected persons in some settings while rRT-PCR results are pending.
ON GOOD APPROXIMATIONS AND THE BOWEN–SERIES EXPANSION
Authors: MARCHESE LUCA
Published: January 2021

We consider the continued fraction expansion of real numbers under the action of a nonuniform lattice in

$\text {PSL}(2,{\mathbb R})$
and prove metric relations between the convergents and a natural geometric notion of good approximations.
“Between Ownership and the Highway”: Property, Persons, and Freeways in Karen Tei Yamashita'sTropic of Orange
Authors: BALACHANDRAN ORIHUELA SHARADA
Published: January 2021

“‘Between Ownership and the Highway’: Property, Persons, and Freeways in Karen Tei Yamashita's Tropic of Orange” examines the place of the Los Angeles freeway system in the creation and maintenance of the egalitarian communities imagined in the novel. As I show, the freeway serves as an instrument for the economic growth, securitization, and increased powers of the state. Thus, in misusing the freeway, the migrants, narcotraffickers, and homeless stage a resistance to the freeway as metonym for modernity, efficiency, progress, and economic advancement. However, given that the threat posed by the ascendance of the homeless in particular must be understood through discourses regarding the public threat of unlawful migration and narcotrafficking, the homeless represent a population critical both to unmaking the extant state and replacing it with a more equitable society. I reanimate discussions of the novel by proposing that rather than examine transnational migration, and the mutations of time and space figured so prominently in the text as the novel's primary mode of critique, scholars instead turn their attention to the homeless encampment atop the LA freeway system as the boldest insight into how a new political system might be conceived.
The Bangladesh Maternal Health Voucher Scheme: impact on completeness of antenatal care provision
Authors: Mia Mohammad Nahid , Mahmood Shehrin Shaila , Iqbal Mohammad , Bhuiya Abbas , Pallikadavath Saseendran , Stones William
Published: January 2021

This study aimed to assess completeness of antenatal care coverage following implementation of a voucher scheme for maternal health in Bangladesh. The investigation used interview data from a survey conducted in Bangladesh in 2017 of 2400 randomly selected women aged 15–49 with children aged 0–23 months in four geographical areas where voucher scheme implementation was underway. Of these women, 1944 had attended at least one antenatal clinic visit so were included in the analysis. A ‘completeness index’ for antenatal visits was constructed as an outcome variable based on recall of thirteen elements of care. Bivariate analysis against independent variables of interest was carried out and multivariate linear regression models developed to examine the influence of voucher scheme participation on completeness of antenatal care adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics. Voucher scheme membership was associated with higher ‘completeness index’ scores, with a mean score of 185.2±101.0 for voucher recipients and 139.6 ± 93.3 for non-recipients (p<0.001). Scheme membership reduced the differentials associated with health facility type and socioeconomic status. Women from the lowest socioeconomic group who were voucher recipients received substantially more components of antenatal care (mean score: 159.6±82.1) compared with non-recipients (mean score: 115.7±83.0). This favourable effect of voucher scheme membership on the most vulnerable socioeconomic group remained significant after adjusting for educational status. The Bangladesh voucher scheme model has the potential to maximize gains in maternal and newborn health through enhancing the completeness of service provision.
Trapped into Reverse Asymmetry: Public Employment Services Dealing with Employers
Authors: RASPANTI DARIO , SARUIS TATIANA
Published: January 2021

Although often neglected, the availability of employment opportunities is central to the effectiveness of active labour market policies. Employers play a crucial role in this policy field as they are both clients and co-producers of public employment services (PES). This study focuses on that relationship and reports qualitative research conducted in Tuscany (central Italy) from a street-level perspective. The findings show how public job-brokers manage this asymmetrical relationship and develop specific strategies to obtain employers’ cooperation and accomplish the PES mandate. The strategies identified here involve language adaptation, curricula “creaming”, and control of the bureaucratic procedure. These are shaped through a variable mix of four components that will be defined as relational, perceptive, technical, and tactical. This study contributes to the debate on activation policies, analysing in detail how PES frontline workers interact with employers, dealing with market logic in the public encounter.
ON PROJECTIVE MANIFOLDS WITH PSEUDO-EFFECTIVE TANGENT BUNDLE
Authors: Hosono Genki , Iwai Masataka , Matsumura Shin-ichi
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we develop the theory of singular Hermitian metrics on vector bundles. As an application, we give a structure theorem of a projective manifold X with pseudo-effective tangent bundle; X admits a smooth fibration
$X \to Y$
to a flat projective manifold Y such that its general fibre is rationally connected. Moreover, by applying this structure theorem, we classify all the minimal surfaces with pseudo-effective tangent bundle and study general nonminimal surfaces, which provide examples of (possibly singular) positively curved tangent bundles.
Constraints on the Geometry of the Subducted Gorda Plate From Converted Phases Generated by Local Earthquakes
Authors: Gong Jianhua , McGuire Jeffrey J.
Published: January 2021

The largest slip in great megathrust earthquakes often occurs in the 10–30 km depth range, yet seismic imaging of the material properties in this region has proven difficult. We utilize a dense onshore‐offshore passive seismic dataset from the southernmost Cascadia subduction zone where seismicity in the mantle of the subducted Gorda Plate produces S‐to‐P and P‐to‐S conversions generated within a few km of the plate interface. These conversions typically occur in the 10–20 km depth range at either the top or bottom of a ∼5 km thick layer with a high Vp/Vs that we infer to be primarily the subducted crust. We use their arrival times and amplitudes to infer the location of the top and bottom of the subducted crust as well as the velocity contrasts across these discontinuities. Comparing with both the Slab1.0 and the updated Slab2 interface models, the Slab2 model is generally consistent with the converted phases, while the Slab1.0 model is 1–2 km deeper in the 2–20 km depth range and ∼6–8 km too deep in the 10–20 km depth range between 40.25°N and 40.4°N. Comparing the amplitudes of the converted phases to synthetics for simplified velocity structures, the amplitude of the converted phases requires models containing a ∼5 km thick zone with at least a ∼10%–20% reduction in S wave velocity. Thus, the plate boundary is likely contained within or at the top of this low velocity zone, which potentially indicates a significant porosity and fluid content within the seismogenic zone.
Regulation of Bcl-XL by non-canonical NF-κB in the context of CD40-induced drug resistance in CLL
Authors: Haselager Marco , Thijssen Rachel , West Christopher , Young Louise , Van Kampen Roel , Willmore Elaine , Mackay Simon , Kater Arnon , Eldering Eric
Published: January 2021

In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the lymph node (LN) microenvironment delivers critical survival signals by inducing the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 members Bcl-XL, Bfl-1, and Mcl-1, resulting in apoptosis blockade. We determined previously that resistance against various drugs, among which is the clinically applied BH3 mimetic venetoclax, is dominated by upregulation of the anti-apoptotic regulator Bcl-XL. Direct clinical targeting of Bcl-XL by, e.g., Navitoclax is however not desirable due to induction of thrombocytopenia. Since the actual regulation of Bcl-XL in CLL in the context of the LN microenvironment is not well elucidated, we investigated various candidate LN signals to drive Bcl-XL expression. We found a dominance for NF-κB signaling upon CD40 stimulation, which results in activation of both the canonical and non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathways. We demonstrate that expression of Bcl-XL is first induced by the canonical NF-κB pathway, and subsequently boosted and continued via non-canonical NF-κB signaling through stabilization of NIK. NF-κB subunits p65 and p52 can both bind to the Bcl-XL promoter and activate transcription upon CD40 stimulation. Moreover, canonical NF-κB signaling was correlated with Bfl-1 expression, whereas Mcl-1 in contrast, was not transcriptionally regulated by NF-κB. Finally, we applied a novel compound targeting NIK to selectively inhibit the non-canonical NF-κB pathway and showed that venetoclax-resistant CLL cells were sensitized to venetoclax. In conclusion, protective signals from the CLL microenvironment can be tipped towards apoptosis sensitivity by interfering with non-canonical NF-κB signaling.
Pan-cancer analysis of transcripts encoding novel open-reading frames (nORFs) and their potential biological functions
Authors: Erady Chaitanya , Boxall Adam , Puntambekar Shraddha , Suhas Jagannathan N. , Chauhan Ruchi , Chong David , Meena Narendra , Kulkarni Apurv , Kasabe Bhagyashri , Prathivadi Bhayankaram Kethaki , Umrania Yagnesh , Andreani Adam , Nel Jean , Wayland Matthew T. , Pina Cristina , Lilley Kathryn S. , Prabakaran Sudhakaran
Published: January 2021

Uncharacterized and unannotated open-reading frames, which we refer to as novel open reading frames (nORFs), may sometimes encode peptides that remain unexplored for novel therapeutic opportunities. To our knowledge, no systematic identification and characterization of transcripts encoding nORFs or their translation products in cancer, or in any other physiological process has been performed. We use our curated nORFs database (nORFs.org), together with RNA-Seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Expression (GTEx) consortiums, to identify transcripts containing nORFs that are expressed frequently in cancer or matched normal tissue across 22 cancer types. We show nORFs are subject to extensive dysregulation at the transcript level in cancer tissue and that a small subset of nORFs are associated with overall patient survival, suggesting that nORFs may have prognostic value. We also show that nORF products can form protein-like structures with post-translational modifications. Finally, we perform in silico screening for inhibitors against nORF-encoded proteins that are disrupted in stomach and esophageal cancer, showing that they can potentially be targeted by inhibitors. We hope this work will guide and motivate future studies that perform in-depth characterization of nORF functions in cancer and other diseases.
Nutrients exported from upland stream water enlarge perennial biomass crops
Authors: Chiwa Masaaki , Utsumi Yasuhiro , Tashiro Naoaki , Yasuda Yuko , Shinozuka Ken’ichi , Ru Yang , Nagano Nao , Murata Shusuke , Nakamura Takuma , Yamauchi Kohei , Kabemura Yuji , Ando Tatsuro , Sawamura Hiroshi
Published: January 2021

Rawanbuki, a variety of Japanese butterbur (Petasites japonicus subsp. giganteus), grow naturally along the Rawan River, Hokkaido, northern Japan. Most plants reach 2–3 m in height and 10 cm in diameter in 2 months and are much larger than those grown along other rivers. We examined the hypothesis that nutrients exported from upland streams enhance the growth of the Rawanbuki. Nutrient concentrations, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and base cations, in the Rawan River were much higher than those in rivers of adjacent watersheds. High nutrient concentrations and moisture contents were found in soil along the Rawan River and a significant relationship was found between physicochemical soil conditions and aboveground biomass of butterburs. This indicates that extremely large Rawanbuki plants could be caused by these high nutrient concentrations and moisture contents in the soils. A manipulation experiment showed that fertilization simulated the growth environment along the Rawan River and enhanced the stem height and stem diameter of butterburs. This study concluded that the extremely large butterburs are caused by a large amount of nutrients exported from upland areas. These results are the first demonstration of the role of stream water nutrients in enlarging agricultural crops.
Ribosome-mediated incorporation of fluorescent amino acids into peptides in vitro
Authors: Lee Joongoo , Schwarz Kevin J. , Yu Hao , Krüger Antje , Anslyn Eric V. , Ellington Andrew D. , Moore Jeffrey S. , Jewett Michael C.
Published: January 2021

We expand the substrate scope of ribosome-mediated incorporation to α-amino acids with a variety of fluorescent groups on the sidechain.
Asymmetric hydrogenation catalyzed by first-row transition metal complexes
Authors: Wen Jialin , Wang Fangyuan , Zhang Xumu
Published: January 2021

This review focuses on asymmetric direct and transfer hydrogenation with first-row transition metal complexes. The reaction mechanisms and the models of enantiomeric induction were summarized and emphasized.
Iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of N-phosphinoylimine
Authors: Yin Congcong , Pan Yingmin , Zheng Longsheng , Lin Bijin , Wen Jialin , Zhang Xumu
Published: January 2021

On catalysis with an iridium tridentate catalyst, prochiral N-phosphinoylimines were hydrogenated with high enantioselectivity and reactivity. An outer-sphere reaction model was proposed in this hydrogenation of CN bonds.
Lithium–bromine exchange reaction on C60: first theoretical proposal of a stable singlet fullerene carbene without the heteroatom
Authors: Li Mengyang , Zhao Yaoxiao , Yuan Kun , Han Yanbo , Zhang Jie , Wu Yong , Ehara Masahiro , Nagase Shigeru , Zhao Xiang
Published: January 2021

A stable singlet fullerene carbene without heteroatom is firstly proposed, and two indexes are firstly suggested to estimate the occurrence of carbene insertion or addition. The interaction betweenLiBrand carbon atom inLiBr-compounds is explored.
Examining the sources of high school chemistry teachers’ practical knowledge of teaching with practical work: from the teachers’ perspective
Authors: Chen Bo , Chen Lijun
Published: January 2021

This research aimed to examine the contributions of different sources in developing high school chemistry teachers’ practical knowledge of teaching with practical work in China. The examination was conducted on a theoretical framework in which the conceptualization of PCK and nine sources of teachers’ PCK were involved. Through a questionnaire survey of 323 chemistry teachers, the findings included the following aspects. Firstly, among the nine sources, overall, ‘teaching practices’, ‘curriculum materials’, ‘classroom observations’, and ‘peer coaching’ were recognized as the core sources, whereas ‘learning experience’ was regarded as the peripheral source. Secondly, for the five components of PCK of teaching with practical work, the contributions of the nine sources are different. Thirdly, three sources were found to be significantly different among teachers who have different years of teaching experience: ‘pre-service training experience’, ‘classroom observations’, and ‘peer coaching’. In the last part of this paper, the implications of the findings and the suggestions for the further studies were discussed.
Influence of process conditions on hydrothermal liquefaction of eucalyptus biomass for biocrude production and investigation of the inorganics distribution
Authors: Seehar Tahir Hussain , Toor Saqib Sohail , Sharma Kamaldeep , Nielsen Asbjørn Haaning , Pedersen Thomas Helmer , Rosendahl Lasse Aistrup
Published: January 2021

In the present study, eucalyptus biomass was processed to produce biocrude via hydrothermal liquefaction.
σ or π? Bonding interactions in a series of rhenium metallotetrylenes
Authors: Ouellette Erik T. , Carpentier Ambre , Joseph Brackbill I. , Lohrey Trevor D. , Douair Iskander , Maron Laurent , Bergman Robert G. , Arnold John
Published: January 2021

Salt metathesis reactions between a low-valent rhenium(i) complex and a series of amidinate-supported tetrylenes led to rhenium metallotetrylenes with varying extents of Re–E multiple bonding.
Nanobody generation and structural characterization of Plasmodium falciparum 6-cysteine protein Pf12p
Authors: Dietrich Melanie H. , Chan Li-Jin , Adair Amy , Keremane Sravya , Pymm Phillip , Lo Alvin W. , Cao Yi-Chun , Tham Wai-Hong
Published: January 2021

Surface-associated proteins play critical roles in the Plasmodium parasite life cycle and are major targets for vaccine development. The 6-cysteine (6-cys) protein family is expressed in a stage-specific manner throughout Plasmodium falciparum life cycle and characterized by the presence of 6-cys domains, which are β-sandwich domains with conserved sets of disulfide bonds. Although several 6-cys family members have been implicated to play a role in sexual stages, mosquito transmission, evasion of the host immune response and host cell invasion, the precise function of many family members is still unknown and structural information is only available for four 6-cys proteins. Here, we present to the best of our knowledge, the first crystal structure of the 6-cys protein Pf12p determined at 2.8 Å resolution. The monomeric molecule folds into two domains, D1 and D2, both of which adopt the canonical 6-cys domain fold. Although the structural fold is similar to that of Pf12, its paralog in P. falciparum, we show that Pf12p does not complex with Pf41, which is a known interaction partner of Pf12. We generated 10 distinct Pf12p-specific nanobodies which map into two separate epitope groups; one group which binds within the D2 domain, while several members of the second group bind at the interface of the D1 and D2 domain of Pf12p. Characterization of the structural features of the 6-cys family and their associated nanobodies provide a framework for generating new tools to study the diverse functions of the 6-cys protein family in the Plasmodium life cycle.
Negative regulators of TGF-β1 signaling in renal fibrosis; pathological mechanisms and novel therapeutic opportunities
Authors: Gifford Cody C. , Tang Jiaqi , Costello Angelica , Khakoo Nidah S. , Nguyen Tri Q. , Goldschmeding Roel , Higgins Paul J. , Samarakoon Rohan
Published: January 2021

Elevated expression of the multifunctional cytokine transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is causatively linked to kidney fibrosis progression initiated by diabetic, hypertensive, obstructive, ischemic and toxin-induced injury. Therapeutically relevant approaches to directly target the TGF-β1 pathway (e.g., neutralizing antibodies against TGF-β1), however, remain elusive in humans. TGF-β1 signaling is subjected to extensive negative control at the level of TGF-β1 receptor, SMAD2/3 activation, complex assembly and promoter engagement due to its critical role in tissue homeostasis and numerous pathologies. Progressive kidney injury is accompanied by the deregulation (loss or gain of expression) of several negative regulators of the TGF-β1 signaling cascade by mechanisms involving protein and mRNA stability or epigenetic silencing, further amplifying TGF-β1/SMAD3 signaling and fibrosis. Expression of bone morphogenetic proteins 6 and 7 (BMP6/7), SMAD7, Sloan–Kettering Institute proto-oncogene (Ski) and Ski-related novel gene (SnoN), phosphate tensin homolog on chromosome 10 (PTEN), protein phosphatase magnesium/manganese dependent 1A (PPM1A) and Klotho are dramatically decreased in various nephropathies in animals and humans albeit with different kinetics while the expression of Smurf1/2 E3 ligases are increased. Such deregulations frequently initiate maladaptive renal repair including renal epithelial cell dedifferentiation and growth arrest, fibrotic factor (connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2), plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), TGF-β1) synthesis/secretion, fibroproliferative responses and inflammation. This review addresses how loss of these negative regulators of TGF-β1 pathway exacerbates renal lesion formation and discusses the therapeutic value in restoring the expression of these molecules in ameliorating fibrosis, thus, presenting novel approaches to suppress TGF-β1 hyperactivation during chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression.
From Auto-encoders to Capsule Networks: A Survey
Authors: El Alaoui-Elfels Omaima , Gadi Taoufiq
Published: January 2021

Convolutional Neural Networks are a very powerful Deep Learning structure used in image processing, object classification and segmentation. They are very robust in extracting features from data and largely used in several domains. Nonetheless, they require a large number of training datasets and relations between features get lost in the Max-pooling step, which can lead to a wrong classification. Capsule Networks(CapsNets) were introduced to overcome these limitations by extracting features and their pose using capsules instead of neurons. This technique shows an impressive performance in one-dimensional, two-dimensional and three-dimensional datasets as well as in sparse datasets. In this paper, we present an initial understanding of CapsNets, their concept, structure and learning algorithm. We introduce the progress made by CapsNets from their introduction in 2011 until 2020. We compare different CapsNets series architectures to demonstrate strengths and challenges. Finally, we quote different implementations of Capsule Networks and show their robustness in a variety of domains. This survey provides the state-of-theartof Capsule Networks and allows other researchers to get a clear view of this new field. Besides, we discuss the open issues and the promising directions of future research, which may lead to a new generation of CapsNets.
Simple method for the estimation of solar spectral radiation
Authors: Dahr Fatima-ezzahra , El Alani Omaima , Bah Abdellah , Ghennioui Abdellatif
Published: January 2021

In order to know the energy production of photovoltaic modules, it is necessary to have an idea of the spectral distribution of solar radiation, because each technology is characterized by a different spectral resolution. The objective of this work is to determine the irradiance in ultraviolet, visible, and infrared from the triangular shape of the global solar spectrum for any sky state. According to statistical indicators, the coefficient of determination R² varies between 97% and 99%.
Technico-Economic Study of a Photovoltaic Pumping System Using a Variable-Frequency Drive Converter
Authors: Elmahni L. , Assalaou K. , Aitiaz E. , Benachir B. , Bouhouch L.
Published: January 2021

This paper presents a technical-economic study of a photovoltaic pumping system using an inverter with a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) to improve system efficiency. We propose a comparative study between two pumping station projects located in places very close to each other, in order to consider that they are exposed to the same meteorological data. One of the projects has the maximum power tracking technique (MPPT), while the other project does not have this technique. The study will compare the various experimental surveys carried out in the field with modeling results using Matlab Simulink.
Observer Design for Simultaneous State and Fault Estimation for a Class of Discrete-time Descriptor Linear Models
Authors: Ouarid Kaoutar , El Assoudi Abdellatif , Soulami Jalal , El Yaagoubi El Hassane
Published: January 2021

This paper investigates the problem of observer design for simultaneous states and faults estimation for a class of discrete-time descriptor linear models in presence of actuator and sensor faults. The idea of the present result is based on the second equivalent form of implicit model [1] which permits to separate the differential and algebraic equations in the considered singular model, and the use of an explicit augmented model structure. At that stage, an observer is built to estimate simultaneously the unknown states, the actuator faults, and the sensor faults. Next, the explicit structure of the augmented model is established. Then, an observer is built to estimate simultaneously the unknown states, the actuator faults, and the sensor faults. By using the Lyapunov approach, the convergence of the state estimation error of the augmented system is analyzed, and the observer’s gain matrix is achieved by solving only one linear matrix inequality (LMI). At long last, an illustrative model is given to show the performance and capability of the proposed strategy.
A Review of the Different Levels of Abstraction for Systems-on-Chip (SoC)
Authors: Aamali Kaoutar , Alali Abdelhakim , Sadik Mohamed , El Hariti Zineb
Published: January 2021

Simulating systems on a chip (SoC) even before starting its productivity makes it possible to validate the correct functioning of the systems, also avoiding the manufacture of defective chips. However, low-level design and system complexity makes verification and simulation more complicated and time consuming. The classification of the different levels of abstraction from lowest to highest generally depends on the estimation accuracy of the system performance and the speed of simulation. The RTL (Register Transfer Level) abstraction level allows efficient description at gate level with good precision. Therefore, RTL program are slowly simulated. Simulation speed usually depends on the size of the platform used, which is not the case for transaction level modeling (TLM) to achieve simulation speed based on the exchange of transactions between system modules. This work aims to give a detailed description of the different levels of abstraction with the main advantages, and disadvantages on the performances estimation side such as, energy consumption, precision, and speed. Furthermore, an overview of the most adequate memory architectures and interconnection networks, to aim the most suitable virtual platforms of simulation for SoC.
Embedded Generation Using Shared Solar
Authors: Obar Eric Akpoviroro , Touati Abdelwahed , Rabbah Nabila
Published: January 2021

The socio-economic development of a country (especially a developing one) is inextricably linked with the availability and affordability of electricity in that country. However most African countries have failed to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of electricity in their country owing either to the non-availability of power or the lack of synergy between the various disciplines that make up the power sector. Bedevilled with the current Covid-19 pandemic which ushers in the digital era of E-learning and virtual trade activities, Africa cannot afford to lag behind as a result of poor electricity supply. Our case study in this paper will be Africa’s most populous country; Nigeria. We would look at the aged long practice of a centralized system of energy production which generates and transmits electricity over long distances (thereby incurring colossal losses), the limitations of the National grid which covers only some parts of the country, the legal constraints, the resort to self-help by Nigerians who seek to produce their own electricity using generators that emit GHG which pollute the atmosphere and the economic implication of running generators, while proffering an eco-friendly solution in distributed or dispersed generation using Shared Solar Energy aimed at resolving the disparity between the demand and supply of Electricity. A solution which will invariably unlock economic growth especially during this Covid-19 pandemic.
Why are we not always witnessing a take-off of the Moroccan cooperative model?
Authors: Bouhazzama Malak , Said Mssassi
Published: January 2021

In a context of globalization, the capitalist economy is no longer immune to the deluge of crises that have followed one another since the crisis subprime in the United States until the Japanese stock market crisis influencing the global economic fabric.Thus, several countries with great economic strength like France have turned to the social and solidarity economy as an alternative banning the single search for financial gain by introducing additional social and environmental components.At this advanced stage and after 10 years of launching the INDH in its second phase, why associations and cooperatives still do not manage to be autonomous, responsible and independent? Why the various training, support and communication actions remain inefficient and inoperative? Why several projects that have emerged are still overdue despite the availability of financial funds? Why is Morocco still not witnessing the emergence of this great economic model?
Towards robotics and artificial intelligence for the prevention of Covid 19 pandemic
Authors: Senhaji Saloua , Faquir Sanaa , Ouazzani Jamil Mohammed
Published: January 2021

In times of medical crisis, robotics and artificial intelligence helps humans manage emergencies and ensure a fast and efficient decontamination process. In this paper, we propose a robot with temperature detection, Corona virus checker using new biosensors, and artificial intelligence facial mask detection based on the deep convolutional neural network. Our robot can sterilize and patrol any type of area. In particular, airports, the train station and transport facilities which are the routes of transmission of the virus from one country to another.
Long wavelength Infrared Detection, Bands Structure and effective mass in InAs/GaSb Nanostructure Superlattice
Authors: Benaadad Merieme , Nafidi Abdelhakim , Melkoud Samir , Boutramine Abderrazak , khalal Ali
Published: January 2021

We have investigated in the bands structure and the effective mass, respectively, along the growth axis and in the plane of InAs (d1=48.5Å)/GaSb(d2=21.5Å) type II superlattice (SL), performed in the envelop function formalism. We studied the semiconductor to semimetal transition and the evolutions of the optical band gap, Eg(Γ), as a function of d1, the valence band offset Λ and the temperature. In the range of 4.2–300 K, the corresponding cutoff wavelength ranging from 7.9 to 12.6 µm, which demonstrates that this sample can be used as a long wavelength infrared detector. The position of the Fermi level, EF = 512 meV, and the computed density of state indicates that this sample is a quasi-two-dimensional system and exhibits n type conductivity. Further, we calculated the transport scattering time and the velocity of electrons on the Fermi surface. These results were compared and discussed with the available data in the literature.
Mathematical modeling of re-electrification by green hydrogen storage through the PEM fuel cell integrating a 10-year economic study applied to a hotel
Authors: Laince Pierre Moulebe , Abdelwahed Touati , Eric Akpoviroro Obar , Nabila Rabbah
Published: January 2021

The energy transition to prevent global warming is the main concern. Climatic change effects show a catastrophic view to the word through the increase of temperature which promotes fire like in Siberia or ices melts by trigging the extinction of polar bears in the future, also adding the flooding in Norway. Thus, it is important to trait sectors the most polluters such as transport, industries, and residential tertiary sectors. In the perspective to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. However, the frequently used sources of energy are unstable. They require an appropriate clean storage system and the technology of energy storage relevant as green hydrogen. In this article, we focus first on the creation complete of the model of production chain for green hydrogen by the fuel cell PEM. Then, the application of the model in one technical-economic study for energetic consumption HVAC for a hotel. We will consider the usage of thermic power resulting from the chemical reaction of the system, those powers allow us to demonstrate that the fuel cell PEM presents the brilliant performance compare to electrolysis. Through that thermic power from the fuel cells, we will expose the fact it is possible to avoid the utilization of natural gas and electricity structure for domestic hot water. This technical-economic study show that green hydrogen technology can be worthwhile for the short or middle term for the hotel industry.