bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distribution and budget of 137Cs in the China Seas
Authors: Wu Junwen , Xiao Xiyu , Sun Jiang
Published: May 2020

Cesium–137 is one of the most abundant anthropogenic radionuclides released by atmospheric nuclear testing and nuclear accidents, and accordingly it may significantly impact the health of humans and marine environmental eco–systems. Documenting the distribution and inventory of 137Cs is thus a crucial task. In this study, we collected a large number of datasets with field observations of 137Cs in the China Seas, in order to provide an in–depth understanding of 137Cs budgets and distributions. The activity and inventory of 137Cs in China Seas’ sediments showed large spatial variations, related to the 137Cs source, sedimentation rates and the mineral composition of sediments. The 137Cs concentration in sediments decreased with distance from the shore, generally tracing the distribution of sedimentation rates. High 137Cs inventories in the water column indicated a high solubility and long mean residence times. The mean residence times of 137Cs in the China Seas were determined to be 45.6 ± 3.8 years for the South China Sea (SCS), 36.8 ± 3.1 years for the East China Sea (ECS), and 12.0 ± 1.0 years for the Yellow Sea (YS). A 137Cs mass balance suggests that oceanic input from the north Pacific is the dominant 137Cs source to the China Seas, contributing about 96.9% of this substance. Furthermore, the bulk of 137Cs remains dissolved in the SCS water column, while 137Cs is mostly deposited to the sediments of the ECS and the YS. This new compilation of the activity level and inventory of 137Cs help to establish background levels for future 137Cs studies in the China Seas.
Isolation and characterisation of novel phages infecting Lactobacillus plantarum and proposal of a new genus, “Silenusvirus”
Authors: Kyrkou Ifigeneia , Carstens Alexander Byth , Ellegaard-Jensen Lea , Kot Witold , Zervas Athanasios , Djurhuus Amaru Miranda , Neve Horst , Franz Charles M. A. P. , Hansen Martin , Hansen Lars Hestbjerg
Published: May 2020

Bacteria of Lactobacillus sp. are very useful to humans. However, the biology and genomic diversity of their (bacterio)phage enemies remains understudied. Knowledge on Lactobacillus phage diversity should broaden to develop efficient phage control strategies. To this end, organic waste samples were screened for phages against two wine-related Lactobacillus plantarum strains. Isolates were shotgun sequenced and compared against the phage database and each other by phylogenetics and comparative genomics. The new isolates had only three distant relatives from the database, but displayed a high overall degree of genomic similarity amongst them. The latter allowed for the use of one isolate as a representative to conduct transmission electron microscopy and structural protein sequencing, and to study phage adsorption and growth kinetics. The microscopy and proteomics tests confirmed the observed diversity of the new isolates and supported their classification to the family Siphoviridae and the proposal of the new phage genus “Silenusvirus”.
Blood-brain barrier disruption and delivery of irinotecan in a rat model using a clinical transcranial MRI-guided focused ultrasound system
Authors: McDannold Nathan , Zhang Yongzhi , Supko Jeffrey G. , Power Chanikarn , Sun Tao , Vykhodtseva Natalia , Golby Alexandra J. , Reardon David A.
Published: May 2020

We investigated controlled blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption using a low-frequency clinical transcranial MRI-guided focused ultrasound (TcMRgFUS) device and evaluated enhanced delivery of irinotecan chemotherapy to the brain and a rat glioma model. Animals received three weekly sessions of FUS, FUS and 10 mg/kg irinotecan, or irinotecan alone. In each session, four volumetric sonications targeted 36 locations in one hemisphere. With feedback control based on recordings of acoustic emissions, 98% of the sonication targets (1045/1071) reached a pre-defined level of acoustic emission, while the probability of wideband emission (a signature for inertial cavitation) was than 1%. BBB disruption, evaluated by mapping the R1 relaxation rate after administration of an MRI contrast agent, was significantly higher in the sonicated hemisphere (P < 0.01). Histological evaluation found minimal tissue effects. Irinotecan concentrations in the brain were significantly higher (P < 0.001) with BBB disruption, but SN-38 was only detected in <50% of the samples and only with an excessive irinotecan dose. Irinotecan with BBB disruption did not impede tumor growth or increase survival. Overall these results demonstrate safe and controlled BBB disruption with a low-frequency clinical TcMRgFUS device. While irinotecan delivery to the brain was not neurotoxic, it did not improve outcomes in the F98 glioma model.
Dengue Virus Capsid Protein Dynamics Reveals Spatially Heterogeneous Motion in Live-Infected-Cells
Authors: Gabriel Manuela , Navarro Guadalupe S. Costa , de Borba Luana , Rossi Andrés H. , Gamarnik Andrea V. , Estrada Laura C.
Published: May 2020

Dengue is the single most important human viral infection transmitted by insects. The function of the viral proteins andtheir interactions with the host cell is under exhaustive investigation with the aim of identifying antiviral strategies. Here,using recombinant full-length dengue virus genomes, carrying a fluorescent mCherry fused to capsid, we studied biophysicalproperties of the viral protein during one infectious cycle in living cells. Dengue virus capsid protein associates to differentcellular compartments but its function in these locations is largely unknown. We evaluated the diffusion of capsid inside the celland determined a higher effective diffusion coefficient in the cytoplasm than in the nucleus. Using advanced fluorescencecorrelation methods, including the recently developed two-dimensional pair correlation analysis, we constructed for the first timehigh resolution maps of capsid mobility in an infected cell. We observed that the motion of capsid in the nucleoplasm-nucleolusinterface was highly organized, indicating an obstacle in this interface. Although nucleoli are membraneless structures, theydisplayed liquid-liquid phase separation. Once inside nucleoli, the protein showed isotropic mobility, indicating free diffusion orimmobilized capsid inside these structures. This is the first study presenting spatial and temporal dynamics of the dengue viruscapsid protein during infection.
Potentials of organic manure and potassium forms on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and production
Authors: Kandil Essam E. , Abdelsalam Nader R. , Mansour Mansour A. , Ali Hayssam M. , Siddiqui Manzer H.
Published: May 2020

Worldwide, maize (Zea maysL.) is considered an important food and fodder crop. Compost as a soil amendment and potassium (K) could enhance the maize yield. Therefore, two field experiments were carried out in the two seasons 2017 and 2018 to study the effects of compost at three levels and four forms of potassium fertilization on the yellow maize hybrid ‘PioneerSC30N11’ yield components. To conduct the field trials, a split plot system in three replications was established. Three compost levels (0, 5 and 10 ton/ha) were in the main plots, and four potassium forms (untreated, nano-potassium fertilizer, humic acid and potassium sulfate) were in the subplots. Plot size was 10.50 m2, with 5 ridges with 3 m length and 0.7 m width. The results indicated that the application of compost (as organic manure) and the potassium forms significantly affected the plant height, ear length, grains number/rows, grains number/ear, 100- grain weight, straw and biological yields, grain protein and K contents in both seasons. Increasing the compost from 5 to 10 ton/ha increased the yield, its components, protein and K contents. The foliar application of nano-potassium followed by humic acid increased all the studied characteristics. The interaction between compost manure (10 ton/ha) and nano-potassium (500 cm3/ha) or humic acid (10 ton/ha) recorded the highest mean values for all parameters during both harvest seasons.
Kefir peptides alleviate high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis by attenuating macrophage accumulation and oxidative stress in ApoE knockout mice
Authors: Tung Min-Che , Lan Ying-Wei , Li Hsin-Han , Chen Hsiao-Ling , Chen Sheng-Yi , Chen Yu-Hsuan , Lin Chi-Chien , Tu Min-Yu , Chen Chuan-Mu
Published: May 2020

In the past decade, the high morbidity and mortality of atherosclerotic disease have been prevalent worldwide. High-fat food consumption has been suggested to be an overarching factor for atherosclerosis incidence. This study aims to investigate the effects of kefir peptides on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE−/−) mice. 7-week old male ApoE−/− and normal C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8). Atherosclerotic lesion development in ApoE−/− mice was established after fed the HFD for 12 weeks compared to standard chow diet (SCD)-fed C57BL/6 and ApoE−/− control groups. Kefir peptides oral administration significantly improved atherosclerotic lesion development by protecting against endothelial dysfunction, decreasing oxidative stress, reducing aortic lipid deposition, attenuating macrophage accumulation, and suppressing the inflammatory immune response compared with the HFD/ApoE−/− mock group. Moreover, the high dose of kefir peptides substantially inhibited aortic fibrosis and restored the fibrosis in the aorta root close to that observed in the C57BL/6 normal control group. Our findings show, for the first time, anti-atherosclerotic progression via kefir peptides consumption in HFD-fed ApoE−/− mice. The profitable effects of kefir peptides provide new perspectives for its use as an anti-atherosclerotic agent in the preventive medicine.
A data-driven framework for selecting and validating digital health metrics: use-case in neurological sensorimotor impairments
Authors: Kanzler Christoph M. , Rinderknecht Mike D. , Schwarz Anne , Lamers Ilse , Gagnon Cynthia , Held Jeremia P. O. , Feys Peter , Luft Andreas R. , Gassert Roger , Lambercy Olivier
Published: May 2020

Digital health metrics promise to advance the understanding of impaired body functions, for example in neurological disorders. However, their clinical integration is challenged by an insufficient validation of the many existing and often abstract metrics. Here, we propose a data-driven framework to select and validate a clinically relevant core set of digital health metrics extracted from a technology-aided assessment. As an exemplary use-case, the framework is applied to the Virtual Peg Insertion Test (VPIT), a technology-aided assessment of upper limb sensorimotor impairments. The framework builds on a use-case-specific pathophysiological motivation of metrics, models demographic confounds, and evaluates the most important clinimetric properties (discriminant validity, structural validity, reliability, measurement error, learning effects). Applied to 77 metrics of the VPIT collected from 120 neurologically intact and 89 affected individuals, the framework allowed selecting 10 clinically relevant core metrics. These assessed the severity of multiple sensorimotor impairments in a valid, reliable, and informative manner. These metrics provided added clinical value by detecting impairments in neurological subjects that did not show any deficits according to conventional scales, and by covering sensorimotor impairments of the arm and hand with a single assessment. The proposed framework provides a transparent, step-by-step selection procedure based on clinically relevant evidence. This creates an interesting alternative to established selection algorithms that optimize mathematical loss functions and are not always intuitive to retrace. This could help addressing the insufficient clinical integration of digital health metrics. For the VPIT, it allowed establishing validated core metrics, paving the way for their integration into neurorehabilitation trials.
Steric occlusion regulates proximal interactions of acyl carrier protein domain in fungal fatty acid synthase
Authors: Lou Jennifer W. , Mazhab-Jafari Mohammad T.
Published: May 2020

The acyl carrier protein (ACP) domain shuttles substrates and reaction intermediates in type I fungal fatty acid synthases via transient protein-protein interactions. Here, using electron cryo-microscopy (cryoEM), we report the structure of a fungal FAS stalled at the dehydration reaction, which precedes the final enoyl reduction in the fatty acid biosynthesis cycle. This conformation revealed multiple contact sites between ACP and the dehydratase (DH) and enoyl reductase (ER) domains that occluded the ACP binding to the adjacent ER domain. Our data suggests a minimal path from the DH to the ER reaction site that requires minute changes in the coordinates of the structured N- and C- termini of the ACP domain.
Author Correction: Enhanced 4Pi single-molecule localization microscopy with coherent pupil based localization
Authors: Liu Sheng , Huang Fang
Published: May 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Megahertz single-particle imaging at the European XFEL
Authors: Sobolev Egor , Zolotarev Sergei , Giewekemeyer Klaus , Bielecki Johan , Okamoto Kenta , Reddy Hemanth K. N. , Andreasson Jakob , Ayyer Kartik , Barak Imrich , Bari Sadia , Barty Anton , Bean Richard , Bobkov Sergey , Chapman Henry N. , Chojnowski Grzegorz , Daurer Benedikt J. , Dörner Katerina , Ekeberg Tomas , Flückiger Leonie , Galzitskaya Oxana , Gelisio Luca , Hauf Steffen , Hogue Brenda G. , Horke Daniel A. , Hosseinizadeh Ahmad , Ilyin Vyacheslav , Jung Chulho , Kim Chan , Kim Yoonhee , Kirian Richard A. , Kirkwood Henry , Kulyk Olena , Küpper Jochen , Letrun Romain , Loh N. Duane , Lorenzen Kristina , Messerschmidt Marc , Mühlig Kerstin , Ourmazd Abbas , Raab Natascha , Rode Andrei V. , Rose Max , Round Adam , Sato Takushi , Schubert Robin , Schwander Peter , Sellberg Jonas A. , Sikorski Marcin , Silenzi Alessandro , Song Changyong , Spence John C. H. , Stern Stephan , Sztuk-Dambietz Jolanta , Teslyuk Anthon , Timneanu Nicusor , Trebbin Martin , Uetrecht Charlotte , Weinhausen Britta , Williams Garth J. , Xavier P. Lourdu , Xu Chen , Vartanyants Ivan A. , Lamzin Victor S. , Mancuso Adrian , Maia Filipe R. N. C.
Published: May 2020

The emergence of high repetition-rate X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) powered by superconducting accelerator technology enables the measurement of significantly more experimental data per day than was previously possible. The European XFEL is expected to provide 27,000 pulses per second, over two orders of magnitude more than any other XFEL. The increased pulse rate is a key enabling factor for single-particle X-ray diffractive imaging, which relies on averaging the weak diffraction signal from single biological particles. Taking full advantage of this new capability requires that all experimental steps, from sample preparation and delivery to the acquisition of diffraction patterns, are compatible with the increased pulse repetition rate. Here, we show that single-particle imaging can be performed using X-ray pulses at megahertz repetition rates. The results obtained pave the way towards exploiting high repetition-rate X-ray free-electron lasers for single-particle imaging at their full repetition rate.
Nature of the spin resonance mode in CeCoIn5
Authors: Song Yu , Wang Weiyi , S. Van Dyke John , Pouse Naveen , Ran Sheng , Yazici Duygu , Schneidewind A. , Čermák Petr , Qiu Y. , Maple M. B. , Morr Dirk K. , Dai Pengcheng
Published: May 2020

Spin-fluctuation-mediated unconventional superconductivity can emerge at the border of magnetism, featuring a superconducting order parameter that changes sign in momentum space. Detection of such a sign-change is experimentally challenging, since most probes are not phase-sensitive. The observation of a spin resonance mode (SRM) from inelastic neutron scattering is often seen as strong phase-sensitive evidence for a sign-changing superconducting order parameter, by assuming the SRM is a spin-excitonic bound state. Here we show that for the heavy fermion superconductor CeCoIn5, its SRM defies expectations for a spin-excitonic bound state, and is not a manifestation of sign-changing superconductivity. Instead, the SRM in CeCoIn5 likely arises from a reduction of damping to a magnon-like mode in the superconducting state, due to its proximity to magnetic quantum criticality. Our findings emphasize the need for more stringent tests of whether SRMs are spin-excitonic, when using their presence to evidence sign-changing superconductivity.
3D printed porous titanium cages filled with simvastatin hydrogel promotes bone ingrowth and spinal fusion in rhesus macaques
Authors: Zhang Wen , Sun Chuiguo , Zhu Junxiong , Zhang Weifang , Leng Huijie , Song Chunli
Published: May 2020

Sustainable release of simvastatin from poloxamer 407 hydrogel in 3D-printed porous Ti6Al4V for spinal fusion in rhesus macaques.
The recent advances in surface antibacterial strategies for biomedical catheters
Authors: Liu Lin , Shi Hengchong , Yu Huan , Yan Shunjie , Luan Shifang
Published: May 2020

This review focus on the recent advances in surface modification strategies of biomedical catheters used to prevent CRIs.
A robust poly(N-acryloyl-2-glycine)-based sponge for rapid hemostasis
Authors: Chen Xinyu , Cui Chunyan , Liu Yang , Fan Chuanchuan , Xiao Meng , Zhang Dongfei , Xu Ziyang , Li Yuan , Yang Jianhai , Liu Wenguang
Published: May 2020

A robust sponge fabricated by bubble expanding in thermo-initiation polymerization and lyophilization demonstrates H-bonding strengthened compressive strengths, tunable liquid uptake capability and excellent hemostatic activity.
Biological evaluation of native streptococcal competence stimulating peptides reveals potential crosstalk between Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus pneumoniae and a new scaffold for the development of S. pneumoniae quorum sensing modulators
Authors: Milly Tahmina Ahmed , Tal-Gan Yftah
Published: May 2020

Crosstalk between the Streptococcus mitis competence stimulating peptide (CSP) and the Streptococcus pneumoniae competence regulon quorum sensing circuitry was identified.
Reactions of radiation-induced electrons with carbon dioxide in inert cryogenic films: matrix tuning of the excess electron interactions in solids
Authors: Shiryaeva Ekaterina S. , Baranova Irina A. , Tyurin Daniil A. , Feldman Vladimir I.
Published: May 2020

The attachment of radiation-induced electrons to carbon dioxide in inert solid films is controlled by the conduction band energy of quasi-free electrons in the medium.
Self-assembled composite nanoparticles based on zein as delivery vehicles of curcumin: role of chondroitin sulfate
Authors: Liu Chengzhen , Yuan Yongkai , Ma Mengjie , Zhang Shuaizhong , Wang Shuhui , Li Hao , Xu Ying , Wang Dongfeng
Published: May 2020

Composite nanoparticles composed of zein and chondroitin sulfate (CS) were self-assembled by the method of antisolvent precipitation to deliver curcumin (ZCCNPs).
Ultrafast scale-up synthesis of calcium rod/layer MOFs and luminescence detection of water in organic solvents
Authors: Xiao Yonghong , Lin Zhi-Hong , Li Mian , Huang Xiao-Chun
Published: May 2020

General applicability of the ultrafast scale-up synthesis of Ca–MOFs that are inexpensive, eco-friendly and practically useful, is demonstrated.
New volumetric CNT-doped gelatin–cellulose scaffolds for skeletal muscle tissue engineering
Authors: Velasco-Mallorquí Ferran , Fernández-Costa Juan M. , Neves Luisa , Ramón-Azcón Javier
Published: May 2020

Currently, the fabrication of scaffolds for engineered skeletal muscle tissues is unable to reach the millimeter size.
Recent progress in controlled nano/micro cracking as an alternative nano-patterning method for functional applications
Authors: Jung Jinwook , Kim Kyun Kyu , Suh Young. D. , Hong Sukjoon , Yeo Junyeob , Ko Seung Hwan
Published: May 2020

Various cracking methods and its applications for transparent conductors, sensors, and microfluidics.
One-step preparation and characterization of a nanostructured hybrid electrode material via a microwave energy-based approach
Authors: Poyraz Selcuk
Published: May 2020

Nanostructured hybrid electrode materials are prepared in one-step via a MW energy-based approach with promising electrochemical energy storage application performance.
Flavanthrone – a new ligand with accessible radical anion and dianion states: preparation of zwitterionic {(Cp2V)2(flavanthrone)} and {(Cp2V)2(chloranil)} complexes
Authors: Konarev Dmitri V. , Andronov Mikhail G. , Batov Mikhail S. , Kuzmin Alexey V. , Khasanov Salavat S. , Shestakov Alexander F. , Otsuka Akihiro , Yamochi Hideki , Kitagawa Hiroshi , Lyubovskaya Rimma N.
Published: May 2020

Molecular structure, optical and magnetic properties of the radical anions and dianions of flavanthrone dye are presented. Flavanthrone and chloranil coordinate two vanadocenes forming zwitter-ionic {(Cp2V+)2(Flavanthrone2−)} and {(Cp2V+)2(QCl42−)}.
Synthesis of a new solvent-responsive pillar[5]arene-based [1]rotaxane molecular machine
Authors: Tian Huasheng , Li Runan , Lin Po-Han , Meguellati Kamel
Published: May 2020

In this work, we designed a new pillar[5]arene-based molecular machine responsive to the polarity of different solvents, which can exist in an interlocked structure in CDCl3 and CD3OD, and can exist in an extended form in DMSO and was studied by 1H and 2D NMR spectroscopy, HR(MS) and fluorescence spectroscopy.
Simple dissymmetrical and asymmetrical Tröger's bases: photophysical and structural characterization
Authors: Trupp Leandro , Bruttomesso Andrea C. , Barja Beatriz C.
Published: May 2020

Four TBs were studied by NMR, IR and optical spectroscopy, observing solvatochromic effects and communication between the asymmetric molecule's extremes.
Spray-coated PEDOT:OTf films: thermoelectric properties and integration into a printed thermoelectric generator
Authors: Yvenou Etienne , Sandroni Martina , Carella Alexandre , Gueye Magatte N. , Faure-Vincent Jérôme , Pouget Stéphanie , Demadrille Renaud , Simonato Jean-Pierre
Published: May 2020

Spray-coated highly conductive PEDOT material proves efficient for the fabrication of printed thermoelectric generators.
The preparation and characterization of a carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin and EPDM composite using the co-curing method
Authors: Wei BinXiao , Yi XiaoTong , Xiong YongJian , Wei XinJing , Wu YaDong , Huang YuDong , He JinMei , Bai YongPing
Published: May 2020

The CFRP/EPDM composite was prepared by a one-step co-curing method, which was very convenient and energy effective.
Metal-free syntheses of new azocinesviaaddition reactions of enaminones with acenaphthoquinone followed by oxidative cleavages of the corresponding vicinal diols
Authors: Mousavi S. Hekmat , Mohammadizadeh Mohammad Reza , Arimitsu Satoru , Saberi Dariush , Poorsadeghi Samira , Genta Kojya
Published: May 2020

One-pot metal-free periodic acid-mediated syntheses of azocine rings with high yields under mild reaction conditionsviathe addition reactions of enaminones and acenaphthoquinone.
Green and facile synthesis of water-soluble carbon dots from ethanolic shallot extract for chromium ion sensing in milk, fruit juices, and wastewater samples
Authors: Sakaew Chinawooth , Sricharoen Phitchan , Limchoowong Nunticha , Nuengmatcha Prawit , Kukusamude Chunyapuk , Kongsri Supalak , Chanthai Saksit
Published: May 2020

Self-functionalized carbon dots (CDs) were prepared from ethanolic shallot extract to obtain a total phenolic precursor.
Ionic liquids of superior thermal stability. Validation of PPh4+ as an organic cation of impressive thermodynamic durability
Authors: Soltani Mohammad , McGeehee Jimmie L. , Stenson Alexandra C. , O'Brien Richard A. , Duranty Edward R. , Salter E. Alan , Wierzbicki Andrzej , Glover T. Grant , Davis James H.
Published: May 2020

When appended to the tetraphenylphosphonium cation, organic groups containing aliphatic C–H bonds are burned away at high temperatures in the presence of O2. However, the parent cation remains unscathed, demonstrating its remarkable thermal stability.
Tiny amounts of fluorinated carbon nanotubes remove sodium dendrites for high-performance sodium–oxygen batteries
Authors: Mao Yangjun , Cheng Hao , Xie Jian , Zheng Wenquan , Zhang Genlin , Zhao Xinbing
Published: May 2020

Tiny amounts of fluorinated-CNT-modified sodium realize in situ formation of a LiF-rich SEI and eliminate sodium dendrites.
An alternative biorefinery approach to address microalgal seasonality: blending with spent coffee grounds
Authors: Pereira Andre Prates , Dong Tao , Knoshaug Eric P. , Nagle Nick , Spiller Ryan , Panczak Bonnie , Chuck Christopher J. , Pienkos Philip T.
Published: May 2020

An effective method for the production of fuels and chemicals from microalgae is to ferment the carbohydrate fraction, extract the lipids and convert the resulting solids through hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL).
The effect of single atom substitution (O, S or Se) on photocatalytic hydrogen evolution for triazine-based conjugated porous polymers
Authors: Yu Jie , Chang Shufang , Xu Xiaoxiang , He Xiaoming , Zhang Chi
Published: May 2020

The one-atom substitution (O, S, Se) strategy shows great importance in the design of D–A type organic porous conjugated polymers for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.
Deep learning method for rain streaks removal from single image
Authors: Wang Meihua , Chen Lunbao , Liang Yun , Huang Han , Cai Ruichu
Published: May 2020

In this study, a deep learning method for rain streaks removal from a single image is proposed. The main idea is to reuse the original image in the network because the original image can provide more details of the background. These details can be useful for the restoration of the image after rain streaks removal. The authors concatenate the input image of the network and the feature maps generated by the former layers before entering the subsequent layers. The convolutional layers reusing the original image are called ROIC (Reusing Original Image Convolutional) layers. They take the original image as a part of their inputs. The network consists of five convolutional layers: one regular convolutional layer and four ROIC layers. Despite the fact that the network is trained on the synthetic data, experimental results show that the proposed method has comparable performance on both synthetic images and real‐world images to the state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Optimized amorphous silicon nitride layers for the front side passivation of c-Si PERC solar cells
Authors: Mohamed Okasha Mohamed Okasha Asmaa , Kafle Bishal , Torda Benjamin , Teßmann Christopher , Hofmann Marc
Published: May 2020

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) SiNx is the typical choice as anti-reflection coating (ARC) for Silicon based solar cells. However, there still exists a room for improvement in passivation quality of SiNx while maintaining good optics for the front side of a solar cell. In this paper, we studied in detail the optical and electrical properties of SiNx layers by varying the chamber pressure and substrate temperature in an industrially used inline PECVD tool. Both the optical as well as electrical properties of SiNx layers were found to be significantly influenced by the chamber pressure and substrate temperature. A trade-off between excellent optics and low surface recombination is observed with an increase in chamber pressure, whereas higher substrate temperature generally led to better passivation quality. The Si-H bond density, which is expected to directly influence the quality of surface passivation, increased at high pressure and at low substrate temperature. Based on our investigations, a good compromise between optics and surface passivation is struck to prepare optimized SiNx layers and apply them as passivation layers for the front side of passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) solar cells. The best solar cells show high short-circuit current density (jSC) of 39.9 mA/cm2 corresponding to the SiNx layers with low parasitic absorption, good antireflection property, and excellent passivation of the surface and bulk silicon. The current-voltage (I-V) results are found to be in agreement with internal quantum efficiency (IQE) measurements of the solar cells.
Neuroscientific tools in the cockpit: towards a meaningful decision support system for fatigue risk management
Authors: Papanikou Maria C. , Frantzidis Christos A. , Nikolaidou Anna , Plomariti Christina , Karagianni Maria , Nigdelis Vasilis , Karkala Aliki , Nday Christiane , Ntakakis Giorgos , Krachtis Akis , Bamidis Panagiotis D. , Kourtidou-Papadeli Chrysoula
Published: May 2020

Fatigued pilots are prone to experience cognitive disorders that degrade their performance and adherence to high safety standards. In light of the current challenging context in aviation, we report the early phase of our ongoing project on the re-evaluation of human factors research for flight crew. Our motivation stems from the need for aviation organisations to develop decision support systems for operational aviation settings, able to feed-in in the organisations’ fatigue risk management efforts. Key criteria to this end are the need for the least possible intrusiveness and the added information value for a safety system. Departing from the problems in compliance-focused fatigue risk management and the intrusive nature of clinical studies, we report a neuroscientific methodology able to yield markers that can be easily integrated in a decision support system at the operational level. Reporting the preliminary phase of our live project, we evaluate the tools suitable for the development of a system that tracks subtle pilot states, such as drowsiness and micro-sleep episodes.
Brownout Simulations of Model-Rotors In Ground Effect
Authors: Rovere F. , Barakos G.N. , Steijl R.
Published: May 2020

In this work computational fluid dynamics is used to validate experimental results for a two-bladed small rotor In Ground Effect conditions. The paper focuses on the evaluation and prediction of the rotor outwash generated in ground effect. Time-averaged outflow velocities are compared with experimental results, and the simulated flow field is used for safety studies using the PAXman model and particle tracking methods. The aircraft weights have been studied, evaluating scaling factors to define how helicopter weight can affect the outflow forces and the particle paths. Results show how the wake generated by heavier helicopters can lead to stronger forces on ground personnel and push the particles farther away from the rotor.
Horizontal flight trajectory optimization considering RTA constraints
Authors: Murrieta-Mendoza Alejandro , Ruiz Hugo , Mihaela Botez Ruxandra
Published: May 2020

The increasing of flights around the world has led to various problems for the aeronautical industry such as saturated air space and higher levels of fossil fuel consumption. The way in which en-route flights are handled should be improved in order to increase airways’ capacity. A solution is to make aircraft to arrive at specific waypoints at a time constraint called Required Time of Arrival (RTA). Fossil fuel brings as a consequence the release of polluting particles to the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. It is thus desirable to compute the most economical trajectory in terms of fuel burn while fulfilling the RTA constraint. This article proposes a horizontal reference trajectory optimization algorithm based on the Particle Swarm Optimization technique in order to reduce fuel burn while fulfilling the RTA constraint. Results showed that for a flight without RTA constraint, up to 4% of fuel can be saved comparing against the trajectory of reference. The algorithm was normally able to meet the RTA constrain. However, aggressive RTA constraints might reduce the optimization levels of fuel compared with flights without RTA constraint.
Exergo-economic cost accounting for PW4000 turbofan engine and its components
Authors: Aygun Hakan , Cilgin Mehmet E. , Turan Onder
Published: May 2020

You The several series of PW4000 high bypass turbofan engine have used so far in many aircrafts. These commercial engines have played a crucial role on passenger and freight transportations. Namely, these engines are closely related to the environment impacts and security of energy supply. In this article, exergoeconomic analysis which is useful tool to investigate existing potential for improvement of the a system efficiency were carried out. The assesment, design and optimization of energy consuming systems are performed by means of these analyses. Therefore, thermo-economic costs were assigned to existing exergetic values of PW400 engine. Also exergo-economic performance parameters were evaluated. Finally, exergoeconomic deputy parameters were examined to understand relations with exergo-economic parameters. Based on the results of exergo-economics analysis, for Fan and exhaust, specific thrust costs are estimated 5.7051 $/hkN and 68.45$/hkN respectively. Also exergo-economics factor of PW4000 is found 7.958 % , while relative cost difference is determined at highest rate with 24.458 % for combustion chamber . With examination relations between economic variables and exergo-economic performance parameters, the change between 0.6 and 1.2 $/kg in the fuel price leads to increase the exhaust and fan specific thrust costs with 82.4701 $/hkN and 5.4332 $/hkN respectively. It is expected that conclusions of this study are helpful to notify exergo-economic impact of PW4000 engine Also, it may be benchmarking for similar gas turbine engines.
Very high energy proton peak flux model
Authors: Raukunen Osku , Paassilta Miikka , Vainio Rami , Rodriguez Juan V. , Eronen Timo , Crosby Norma , Dierckxsens Mark , Jiggens Piers , Heynderickx Daniel , Sandberg Ingmar
Published: May 2020

Solar energetic particles (SEPs) pose a serious radiation hazard to spacecraft and astronauts. The highest energy SEPs are a significant threat even in heavily shielded applications. We present a new probabilistic model of very high energy differential peak proton fluxes. The model is based on GOES/HEPAD observations between 1986 and 2018, i.e., covering very nearly three complete solar cycles. The SEP event list for the model was defined using a statistical criterion derived by setting the possibility of false detection of an event to 1%. The peak flux distributions were calculated for the interpolated energies 405 MeV, 500 MeV and 620 MeV, and modelled with exponentially cut off power law functions. The HEPAD data were cleaned and corrected using a “bow-tie” method which is based on the response functions of the HEPAD channels P8–P10 found in the instrument calibration reports. The results of the model are available to the Space Weather community as a web-based tool at the ESA’s Space Situational Awareness Programme Space Weather Service Network.
Was wissen Sie über…Druck?
Authors: Schmid Eva C.
Published: May 2020

In dieser Ausgabe beschäftigen sich alle Wissensquiz-Fragen mit dem Thema Druck.
Hand drauf!
Authors: Tetling Christiane
Published: May 2020

Tuina zählt als traditionelle chinesische Manualtechnik zu den fünf Säulen der TCM und reicht von muskulärer Massage über Faszienbehandlung bis hin zu Akupressur und chiropraktischer Manipulation. Entsprechend der TCM-Diagnose soll die Zirkulation von Qi und Blut reguliert werden, wobei Techniken wie Reiben, Schieben, Pressen, Kneten oder Kneifen zur Anwendung kommen. Die Behandlung eignet sich insbesondere bei Schmerzen, muskulären Verspannungen, Menstruations-, Verdauungs- und Schlafstörungen sowie zur Entspannung.
Die Heilpraktiker-Frage
Authors: Liebau Karl Friedrich
Published: May 2020

Ein Kommentar zur geschichtlichen Entwicklung und dem aktuellen Stand des Heilpraktikers.
“In the evening, I don’t walk in the park”: The interplay between street lighting and greenery in perceived safety
Authors: Rahm Johan , Sternudd Catharina , Johansson Maria
Published: May 2020

Walking as a means of transportation is a key feature in sustainable urban design, but few studies have examined the influence of micro-level environmental features, such as vegetation and street lighting, on perceived safety and people’s choice to walk. This study applied a non-explicit approach to examine the relationship between greenery, street lighting, perceived safety, and walking in an urban context. Participants from three neighbourhoods in Malmö, Sweden, took part in focus group discussions concerning neighbourhood qualities related to walking.

A qualitative analysis revealed four inter-related themes relevant for perceived safety after dark: avoidance, entrapment, presence of others, and prospect (visual overview of the nearby surroundings). The quality of urban greenery and street lighting impacted people’s route choices after dark, and some participants felt compelled to make detours. Entrapment, partly due to unkempt greenery in combination with darkness, contributed to avoidance, whereas the presence of other people had the opposite effect. The results indicate that urban greenery and street lighting must be considered together, since their interaction influences perceived safety and impacts the walkability of the neighbourhood.
Theoretical studies on dihedral angle-bending isomers of
M2Pt20/− clusters
Authors: Cao Guo-jin , Jia Xiu-dong
Published: May 2020

The structures and electronic properties of the gaseous M2Pt20/− clusters (M represents the alkaline earth metal) were investigated using the density functional theory (B3LYP and PBE0) and wave function theory (SCS-MP2, CCSD and CCSD (T)). The results indicate that the D2h isomers with the planar structures are more stable than the C2v isomers with smaller dihedral angles and shorter Pt-Pt bond lengths. The mutual competition of M(s,p)-Pt(5d) interaction and Pt-Pt covalent bonding contributes to the different stabilizations of the two kinds of isomers. The M(s,p)-Pt(5d) interaction favors the planar isomers with D2h symmetry, while the Pt-Pt covalent bonding leads to the C2v isomers with bending structures. Two different crossing points are determined in the potential energy curves of Be2Pt2 with the singlet and triplet states. But there is just one crossing point in potential energy curves of Ra2Pt2 and Ca2Pt2− because of flatter potential energy curves of Ra2Pt2 with the triplet state or Ca2Pt2− with quartet state. The results reveal a unique example of dihedral angle-bending isomers with the smallest number of atoms and may help the understanding of the bonding properties of other potential angle-bending isomers.
Large-scale synthesis of porous Bi2O3 with oxygen vacancies for efficient photodegradation of methylene blue
Authors: Wang Li-rong , Hou Ting-ting , Xin Yue , Zhu Wen-kun , Yu Shu-yi , Xie Zi-cheng , Liang Shu-quan , Wang Liang-bing
Published: May 2020

Photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants has become a hot research topic because of its low energy consumption and environmental-friendly characteristics. Bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) nanocrystals with a bandgap ranging from 2.0 eV to 2.8 eV have attracted increasing attention due to high activity of photodegradation of organic pollutants by utilizing visible light. Though several methods have been developed to prepare Bi2O3-based semiconductor materials over recent years, it is still difficult to prepare highly active Bi2O3 catalysts in large scale with a simple method. Therefore, developing simple and feasible methods for the preparation of Bi2O3 nanocrystals in large scale is important for the potential applications in industrial wastewater treatment. In this work, we successfully prepared porous Bi2O3 in large scale via etching commercial BiSn powders, followed by thermal treatment with air. The acquired porous Bi2O3 exhibited excellent activity and stability in photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. Further investigation of the mechanism witnessed that the suitable band structure of porous Bi2O3 allowed the generation of reactive oxygen species, such as O2−· and ·OH, which effectively degraded MB.
Emergent swarming states in active particles system with opposite
anisotropic interactions
Authors: Gou Yong-liang , Jiang Hui-jun , Hou Zhong-huai
Published: May 2020

From the organization of animal flocks to the emergence of swarming behaviors in bacterial suspension, populations of motile organisms at all scales display coherent collective motion. Recent studies showed that the anisotropic interaction between active particles plays a key role in the phase behaviors. Here we investigate the collective behaviors of based-active Janus particles that experience an anisotropic interaction of which the orientation is opposite to the direction of active force by using Langevin dynamics simulations in two dimensional space. Interestingly, the system shows emergence of collective swarming states upon increasing the total area fraction of particles, which is not observed in systems without anisotropic interaction or activity. The threshold for emergence of swarming states decreases as particle activity or interaction strength increases. We have also performed basic kinetic analysis to reproduce the essential features of the simulation results. Our results demonstrate that anisotropic interactions at the individual level are sufficient to set homogeneous active particles into stable directed motion.
Stretching and folding sustain microscale chemical gradients in porous media
Authors: Heyman Joris , Lester Daniel R. , Turuban Régis , Méheust Yves , Le Borgne Tanguy
Published: May 2020

Significance

Porous media flows are central to environmental, industrial, and biological systems, where they transport molecules, particles, and microorganisms and trigger important biogeochemical reactions. There is increasing evidence that many of these processes are highly sensitive to chemical gradients below the pore-scale. However, it is unknown how porous architectures control microscale concentration heterogeneities. Here, we provide high-resolution experimental images that fully resolve three-dimensional pore-scale mixing dynamics. We show that grain contacts control the folding of fluid elements in the pore space, which, in addition to fluid stretching at stagnation points, leads to the exponential enhancement of microscale concentration gradients. We use these insights to derive a kinematic model linking mixing rates to pore geometry, opening perspectives for reactive transport modeling.
Nonlinear effects in superconducting thin film microwave resonators
Authors: Thomas C N , Withington S , Sun Z , Skyrme T , Goldie D J
Published: May 2020

We discuss how reactive and dissipative nonlinearities affect the intrinsic response of superconducting thin-film resonators. We explain how most, if not all, of the complex phenomena commonly seen can be described by a model in which the underlying resonance is a single-pole Lorentzian, but whose centre frequency and quality factor change as external parameters, such as readout power and frequency, are varied. What is seen during a vector-network-analyser measurement is series of samples taken from an ideal Lorentzian that is shifting and spreading as the readout frequency is changed. According to this model, it is perfectly proper to refer to, and measure, the resonant frequency and quality factor of the underlying resonance, even though the swept-frequency curves appear highly distorted and hysteretic. In those cases where the resonance curve is highly distorted, the specific shape of the trajectory in the Argand plane gives valuable insights into the second-order physical processes present. We discuss the formulation and consequences of this approach in the case of nonlinear kinetic inductance, two-level-system loss, quasiparticle generation, and a generic model based on a power-law form. The generic model captures the key features of specific dissipative nonlinearities, but additionally leads to insights into how general dissipative processes create characteristic forms in the Argand plane. We provide detailed formulations in each case, and indicate how they lead to the wide variety of phenomena commonly seen in experimental data. We also explain how the properties of the underlying resonance can be extracted from this data. Overall, our paper provides a self-contained compendium of behaviour that will help practitioners interpret and determine important parameters from distorted swept-frequency measurements.
Optimization condition of fluoride adsorption using activated clay
Authors: Mustakim Z , Purwaningtyas F Y , Leksono E B , Sarto  , Prasetya A
Published: May 2020

Drinking water which contain high concentration of fluoride can be harmful to teeth and bones. Clay was cleaned from its impurities then treated for 30 minutes at 700 oC and dissolved in HCl solution for 60 minutes. This research focused on the search for process conditions for absorbing fluoride dissolved in water bodies using local material-based adsorption methods using activated clay. The batch sorption experiment was carried out in 50 ml stirred glass contained 12.17 mg/L fluoride solution at operation temperature 25 oC, 35 oC and 45 oC, pH of 4, with 0.75 gr, 1 gr, and 1.25 gr of adsorbent weight. The solution samples were analysed by using visible spectrophotometer at 570 nm of the wavelength. From this research, the equilibrium reached in 60 minutes with 1.25 gr of adsorbent weight at operation temperature 45 oC with maximum 78% fluoride adsorbed. The isotherm models of fluoride removal mechanism fitted well of the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models and followed the pseudo second-order kinetics model.
Steel column planning using the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) 2010 method
Authors: Wahyuni  , Zein K C S , Muchlis
Published: May 2020

The latest SNI rules for steel structure building has been published namely SNI 1729-2015 which refers to the AISC 2010. In AISC 2010, there is a new design method called Direct Analysis Method (DAM) as an alternative to the Effective Length Method (ELM). The aim of the study is to plan steel columns using the AISC 2010 method and calculate and also analyse the steel column capacity. In this study, ETABS computer analysis program that have been whole integrated includes the modelling, analysis and design were used, so as to produce safe and economical modelling, analysis and design. The results of trial and error showed that dimensions for the 1st and 2nd floor columns WF profile, 3rd and 4th floor columns used WF 250x250x9x14 profile, and the 5th floor column used WF 175x175x7.5x11 profile. The load that applied was only dead load and live load. ETABS analysis results obtained output in the column design in the form of axial force (P) 1688,971 kN, moment (Mux) 60,257 kN.m, moment (Muy) 23,009 kN.m. The calculation results of steel column design analysis using DAM method obtained the value of the ratio of the strengths of columns 1st and 2nd floors for 0.42, columns 3rd and 4th floors for 0.33 and the 5th floor for 0.15. The steel column material requirements for each 1st and 2nd floor are 352.66 kg, 2nd and 3rd floors are 271.35 kg, and the 5th floor is 150.75 kg. The design of steel columns by means of DAM results in a higher profile capacity, so that the profile designs used can be more economical.