bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen-doped vertical graphene nanosheets by high-flux plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition as efficient oxygen reduction catalysts for Zn–air batteries
Authors: Wu Zhiheng , Zhang Yongshang , Li Lu , Zhao Yige , Shen Yonglong , Wang Shaobin , Shao Guosheng
Published: September 2020

Low temperature deposition of N-doped vertical graphene realized at low temperature lab-built high-flux plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (HPECVD) system, with outstanding catalytic performance enabled for ORR in Zn–air batteries.
Temperature-responsive supramolecular hydrogels
Authors: Xian Sijie , Webber Matthew J.
Published: September 2020

A subclass of hydrogels which are prepared from supramolecular interactions can realized enhanced functionality, especially in the context of biomedical applications, upon the inclusion of temperature-responsive properties.
Delicate modulation of triplet energy levels for activating “hot excitons” channels in deep red AIEgens
Authors: Wan Qing , Zhang Bin , Ma Yao , Wang Zhiming , Zhang Tian , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: September 2020

A delicate modulation of triplet excited-state energy levels in deep-red AIEgens is reported for designing “hot exciton”-type OLED emitters with high performance.
Low-temperature transport properties of n-type layered homologous compounds Bi8−xSbxSe7
Authors: Kumar-Ventrapati Pavan , Misra Shantanu , Delaizir Gaëlle , Dauscher Anne , Lenoir Bertrand , Candolfi Christophe
Published: September 2020

The n-type chalcogenide Bi8Se7 is the parent compound of a new class of highly-efficient thermoelectric materials for near-room-temperature thermoelectric applications.
Toward a unified equation of state for multi-messenger astronomy
Authors: Marczenko M. , Blaschke D. , Redlich K. , Sasaki C.
Published: September 2020

Aims. We aim to present a first step in developing a benchmark equation-of-state (EoS) model for multi-messenger astronomy that unifies the thermodynamics of quark and hadronic degrees of freedom.

Methods. A Lagrangian approach to the thermodynamic potential of quark-meson-nucleon matter was used. In this approach, dynamical chiral-symmetry breaking is described by the scalar mean-field dynamics coupled to quarks and nucleons and their chiral partners, whereby its restoration occurs in the hadronic phase by parity doubling, as well as in the quark phase. Quark confinement was achieved by an auxiliary scalar field that parametrizes a dynamical infrared cut-off in the quark sector, serving as an ultraviolet cut-off for the nucleonic phase space. The gap equations were solved for the isospin-symmetric case, as well as for neutron star (NS) conditions. We also calculated the mass-radius (MR) relation of NSs and their tidal deformability (TD) parameter.

Results. The obtained EoS is in accordance with nuclear matter properties at saturation density and with the flow constraint from heavy ion collision experiments. For isospin-asymmetric matter, a sequential occurrence of light quark flavors is obtained, allowing for a mixed phase of chirally-symmetric nucleonic matter with deconfined down quarks. The MR relations and TDs for compact stars fulfill the constraints from the latest astrophysical observations for PSR J0740+6620, PSR J0030+0451, and the NS merger GW170817, whereby the tension between the maximum mass and compactness constraints rather uniquely fixes the model parameters. The model predicts the existence of stars with a core of chirally restored but purely hadronic (confined) matter for masses beyond 1.8 M⊙. Stars with pure-quark matter cores are found to be unstable against the gravitational collapse. This instability is shifted to even higher densities if repulsive interactions between quarks are included.
A search for the OH 6035 MHz line in high-mass star-forming regions
Authors: Szymczak M. , Wolak P. , Bartkiewicz A. , Aramowicz M. , Durjasz M.
Published: September 2020

Context. The excited states of OH masers detected in the environment of high-mass young stellar objects (HMYSOs) are important for improving our understanding of the physical conditions of these objects and also provide information about their magnetic fields.

Aims. We aim to search for excited-state OH 6035 MHz maser emission in HMYSOs which might have escaped detection in previous surveys or were never searched for.

Methods. A sample of HMYSOs derived from untargeted surveys of the 6668 MHz methanol maser line was observed at 6035 MHz OH transition with the Torun 32 m radio telescope. The 6035 MHz detections were observed in the OH 6031 MHz line. Two-thirds of the detections were observed at least three times over a two-year period.

Results. Out of 445 targets, 37 were detected at 6035 MHz, including seven new discoveries. The 6031 MHz line was detected towards ten 6035 MHz sources, one of which was not previously reported. All the newly detected sources are faint with the peak flux density lower than 4 Jy and show significant or high variability on timescales of 4 to 20 months. Zeeman pair candidates identified in three new sources imply a magnetic field intensity of 2–11 mG. Comparison of our spectra with those obtained ~10 yr ago indicates different degrees of variability but there is a general increase in the variability index on an ~25 yr timescale, usually accompanied by significant changes in the profile shape.
Zoogeographical and stratigraphical distribution of the genusZonocypris: Supportive evidence for Anatolian Diagonal and description of a new species from Turkey
Authors: Külköylüoğlu Okan , Yavuzatmaca Mehmet , Yılmaz Ozan , Tunoğlu Cemal , Akdemir Derya , Nazik Atike , Tuncer Alaettin
Published: September 2020

Since its first description from Madagaskar, there are about 16 living (Recent) species of the genusZonocyprisreported from Afrotropical, Neotropical and Palearctic regions. Similarly, there are about 16 fossil with two (sub)species of the genus known from the Early Cretaceous (e.g., India, France, Russia, China, Brazil) to Holocene (e.g., Albania). Among the species, the only species known with fossil and living species isZonocypris costata. In Turkey,Zonocyprismembranaewith two subspecies (Z. m. membranae,Z. m. quadricella) is the only fossil species known while living individuals ofZ. costatawere encountered the southeast Anatolia. Additionally,Zonocyprismardinensisn. sp. is now proposed as a new species which shows clear differences in the soft body parts (e.g., aesthetasc ya in A1, knife-type G2 claw, shapes of clasping organs and hemipenis) and carapace structure (e.g., LV with extension, RV with posterior denticles). Overall, living species reported herein seem to inhabit comparatively warm (15–30 °C) within the ranges of slightly acidic to alkaline (pH 6.81–8.44) and low to well oxygenated waters (3.05–18.8 mg/l) where they can tolerate salinity (electrical conductivity 103–1910 μS/cm) values within a limited elevational range (336–991 m). Our results suggest that geographic distribution of the living species of the genus is limited within southern parts of Turkey while fossil forms seem to exhibit much wider distribution in northern parts. Anatolian Diagonal as physical barrier may be considered to play a critical role on separating fossil (east-north regions) and extant (southeast region) species of the genus in Turkey. This is the first supportive evidence provided by the species of the genusZonocypristhat geographic barrier could have played the main role on its distribution.
Innovative Surgical Concept for Septic Sternoclavicular
Arthritis: Case Presentation of a Simultaneous Joint Resection and Stabilization
with Gracilis Tendon Graft Including Literature Review
Authors: Hanhoff Marek , Jensen Gunnar , Dey Hazra Rony-Orijit , Lill Helmut
Published: September 2020

Introduction Septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) is a
rarity in everyday surgical practice with 0.5 – 1% of all joint infections.
Although there are several risk factors for the occurrence of this disease, also
healthy people can sometimes be affected. The clinical appearance is very
variable and ranges from unspecific symptoms such as local indolent swelling,
redness or restricted movement of the affected shoulder girdle to serious
consequences (mediastinitis, sepsis, jugular vein thrombosis). Together with the
low incidence and the unfamiliarity of the disease among practicing doctors in
other specialties, this often results in a delay in the diagnosis, which in
addition to a significant reduction in the quality of life can also have
devastating consequences for the patient.

Patient and Method According to a stage-dependent procedure, the therapy
strategies range from antibiotic administration only to radical resection of the
SC joint and other affected structures of the chest wall in severe cases with
the following necessity for flap reconstruction. The aspect of possible
post-interventional instability after resection of the SCJ receives little or no
attention in the current literature. In the present case report of a
51-year-old, otherwise healthy gentleman with isolated monoarthritis of the
right SCJ with Escherichia coli (E. coli) shortly after two prostatitis
episodes, the possibility of a new surgical approach with a one-stage
eradication and simultaneous stabilization of the SCJ is presented. Therefore, a
joint resection including extensive debridement is performed while leaving the
posterior joint capsule and inserting an antibiotic carrier. In the same
procedure, the SCJ is then stabilized with an autologous gracilis tendon graft
by using the “figure of eight” technique, which has become well established
particularly for anterior instabilities of the SCJ in recent years.

Results and Conclusion One year after operative therapy, the patient
presented symptom-free with an excellent clinical result (SSV 90%, CS89 points,
CSM 94 points, TF 11 points, DASH 2.5 points). It is concluded that in selected
cases with an infection restricted to the SCJ without major abscessing in the
surrounding soft tissues, the demonstrated procedure leads to good and excellent
clinical results with stability of the joint. If the focus of infection and germ
are known, stabilization using an autologous graft can be carried out under
antibiotic shielding. To the best of the authorsʼ knowledge, this surgical
procedure has not yet been described in the current literature. Depending on the
extent of the resection, an accompanying stabilization of the SCJ should be
considered to achieve stable conditions and an optimal clinical outcome.
Thrombose genähter vs. gekoppelter Anastomosen bei mikrovaskulären Kopf- und Halsrekonstruktionen
Authors: Sievert Matti , Koch Michael , Goncalves Miguel , Richter Daniel , Tamse Rosalie , Mueller Sarina K. , Gostian Antoniu-Oreste , Traxdorf Maximilian , Harréus Uli , Iro Heinrich
Published: September 2020

Hintergrund Die Kupplungsvorrichtung für mikrovaskuläre Anastomosen hat in der freien Gewebetransplantation weite Verbreitung gefunden. Ziel der Arbeit ist der Vergleich der Thromboserate und des Transplantatversagens in Abhängigkeit von der Anastomosentechnik an einem großen Kopf-Hals-Tumorzentrum.

Material und Methoden Retrospektive Auswertung von allen Patienten, die im Zeitraum von 2001–2019 eine freie Lappenrekonstruktion erhalten haben. Rekonstruktionstyp, Empfängergefäße, Anzahl an Venenanastomosen, Coupler-Größe und Operationszeit wurden untersucht. Wir verglichen die Raten an Venenthrombosen zwischen handgenähten und gekoppelten Anastomosen sowie die Rate des Transplantatversagens.

Ergebnisse Insgesamt wurden 403 freie Lappenrekonstruktionen über einen Zeitraum von 17 Jahren durchgeführt. Die venöse Anastomose wurde bei 113 Lappen in Einzelknopftechnik genäht und in 290 Fällen mittels Coupler durchgeführt. Die Rate der Venenthrombosen, die eine umgehende chirurgische Revision erforderten, betrug in der genähten Gruppe 6,2 % (7/113), verglichen mit 7,6 % in der gekoppelten Gruppe (22/290; p = 0,627). Bei einer allgemeinen Erfolgsrate von 95,0 % (383/403) lag die Rate des Transplantatversagens jeweils bei 3,6 % (4/113) und 5,5 % (16/290; p = 0,421). Die Operationszeit war mit 680 ± 144 Minuten in der handgenähten Gruppe und 688 ± 167 Minuten in der Coupler-Gruppe vergleichbar (p = 0,678).

Schlussfolgerungen Bei ähnlichen Erfolgsraten ist der Coupler als wirksame Alternative zur venösen Anastomose in Einzelnahttechnik zu sehen. Aufgrund der allgemein niedrigen Rate an Stielthrombosen in beiden Gruppen können wir den Einfluss der Anastomosentechnik nicht von möglichen Störvariablen trennen.
A Retrospective Review of Differences in Complication Rates between Dorsal Percutaneous and Mini-Open Surgical Fixation of Scaphoid Fractures
Authors: Dodds Seth D. , Zalikha Abdul K. , Rush Augustus J. , Fullerton Natalia
Published: September 2020

Objective We retrospectively reviewed the complications of 80 cases of scaphoid screw fixation in acute fractures and early nonunions comparing dorsal percutaneous and mini-open approaches.

Methods We performed a chart review of all patients who underwent surgical fixation of a scaphoid fracture or a nascent nonunion using a dorsal percutaneous or dorsal mini-open technique by a single surgeon. We collected data on patient demographics, including age and smoking status, time to surgery, fracture type, union, and the major and minor complications that occurred in each group. Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the complication rates between the groups.

Results We identified 80 patients who underwent surgical fixation. Of these, 44 underwent percutaneous fixation and 36 underwent mini-open fixation. All fractures went on to heal. There was a total of five complications identified. There were no major complications in the percutaneous group, but one major complication in the mini-open group (a delayed union that eventually healed at 6 months). There were two minor complications in each group. There was no statistically significant difference in total, major, or minor complication rates between the groups.

Conclusions This study suggests that a dorsal percutaneous surgical technique for scaphoid fracture repair does not affect the complication rate despite prior literature to the contrary. Both techniques analyzed produce excellent rates of union with very low complication rates. Surgeon-specific technique rather than operative approach or exposure may be responsible for previously reported complication rates in the fixation of scaphoid fractures.

Level of Evidence This is a level III, therapeutic study.
Z-POEM as a Treatment Option for Zenker’s Diverticulum: Our Experience at a Tertiary Care Centre in India
Authors: Desai Pankaj N. , Kabrawala Mayank V. , Patel Chintan N. , Mehta Rajiv M. , Nandwani Subhash K. , Prajapati Ritesh , Patel Nisharg , Parekh Krishna K.
Published: September 2020

Background This study was aimed to evaluate efficacy and safety of Z–peroral endoscopic myotomy (Z-POEM; submucosal tunneling endoscopic myotomy) for Zenker’s diverticulum (ZD).

Methods This is a retrospective study at a single tertiary care center in India. The Z-POEM technique was performed using principles of submucosal tunneling endoscopy with prior experience from POEM technique for achalasia cardia

Results Sixteen patients (male, 62.5%; mean age, 73.2 ± 5.2 years) were included with a mean Charleson’s comorbidity index of 4.32. The mean size of ZD was 34.8 ± 10.0 mm. The technical success rate was 100%. Clinical success was achieved in 100% (16/16) with a decrease in mean dysphagia score from 2.9 to 0.2 (p <0.0001). The mean procedure time was 47 ± 7.9 minutes and mean length of septotomy was 31.9 ± 9.4 mm. The mean length of hospital stay was 1.2 ± 0.4 days. No major adverse events were noted. Capnomediastinum was noted in two cases on follow-up Gastrografin study after 24 hours (12.5%). This did not merit any treatment. One patient had intraprocedural bleed which was controlled easily. At the 18-month follow-up, two (12.5%) patients reported dysphagia recurrence (Dakkak and Bennett score 1) but did not require repeat intervention.

Conclusion Endoscopic management of ZD using the POEM technique is a promising technique with improved efficacy and safety. However, long-term follow-up is needed to ensure the durability of response.
Drug–Drug, Drug–Disease and Disease–Disease Interactions in COVID-19 with Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs)
Authors: Jyotsna M. , Hemalatha Y.
Published: September 2020

Coronaviruses are a large family of single positive-stranded, enveloped RNA viruses that can infect many animal species and humans. Human coronaviruses can be divided based on their pathogenicity. Globally so far, over nine million people have tested COVID-19 positive, of which, 4, 25,000 are in India. The FDA for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 has approved no drugs or biologics. Numerous other antiviral agents, immunotherapies, and vaccines continue to be investigated and developed as potential therapies. Searching for effective therapies for COVID-19 infection is a complex process. The cardiovascular disease (CVD) drugs and the COVID-19 treating drugs show potent drug–drug interactions (DDI), disease–drug interactions, and disease–disease interactions.
Structural and piezoelectric properties of ultra-thin ScxAl1−xN films grown on GaN by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Casamento Joseph , Chang Celesta S. , Shao Yu-Tsun , Wright John , Muller David A. , Xing Huili (Grace) , Jena Debdeep
Published: September 2020

ScxAl1−xN (x = 0.18–0.40) thin films of ∼28 nm thickness grown on metal polar GaN substrates by molecular beam epitaxy are found to exhibit smooth morphology with less than 0.5 nm roughness and predominantly single-phase wurtzite crystal structure throughout the composition range. Measurement of the piezoelectric d33 coefficient shows a 150% increase for lattice-matched Sc0.18Al0.82N relative to pure aluminum nitride, whereas higher Sc contents exhibit lower piezoelectric coefficients. The electromechanical response of the epitaxial films correlates with the crystal quality and the presence of zinc blende inclusions, as observed by high-resolution electron microscopy. It is further found that the polarity of the epitaxial ScxAl1−xN layers is locked to the underlying substrate. The measured electromechanical properties of epitaxial ScxAl1−xN, their relation to the atomic crystal structure and defects, and its crystal polarity provide useful guidance toward the applications of this material.
Milliwatt power 233 nm AlGaN-based deep UV-LEDs on sapphire substrates
Authors: Lobo-Ploch Neysha , Mehnke Frank , Sulmoni Luca , Cho Hyun Kyong , Guttmann Martin , Glaab Johannes , Hilbrich Katrin , Wernicke Tim , Einfeldt Sven , Kneissl Michael
Published: September 2020

Deep UV-LEDs (DUV-LEDs) emitting at 233 nm with an emission power of (1.9 ± 0.3) mW and an external quantum efficiency of (0.36 ± 0.07) % at 100 mA are presented. The entire DUV-LED process chain was optimized including the reduction of the dislocation density using epitaxially laterally overgrown AlN/sapphire substrates, development of vanadium-based low resistance n-metal contacts, and employment of high thermally conductive AlN packages. Estimated device lifetimes above 1500 h are achieved after a burn-in of 100 h. With the integration of a UV-transparent lens, a strong narrowing of the far-field pattern was achieved with a radiant intensity of 3 mW/sr measured at 20 mA.
The Bloch correction, key to heavy-ion stopping
Authors: Sigmund Peter , Schinner Andreas
Published: September 2020

The Bloch correction is known as the link between Bethe’s quantum theory of the stopping of charged particles in matter and Bohr’s classical theory. Less well-known and underestimated in the literature, is its role as the link between the energy loss of heavy vs light ions. At the same time, the role of another key parameter, the ion charge, has been unclear until a few years ago, not the least due to the almost universal use of the competing effective-charge concept. We show that proper account of the Bloch correction and the ion charge forms the key to a qualitative and quantitative description of the electronic energy loss of heavy ions. In the standard textbook versions, neither Bohr nor Bethe stopping provide a valid description below the Bragg maximum, since logarithmic dependencies on the velocity cause the stopping cross section to become negative. Although this obstacle can easily be repaired by more accurate evaluation of the underlying integrals, we found the Bloch correction to be more tightly connected with these logarithms than expected. This requires caution in practical applications.
Optical signatures of type I–type II band alignment transition in Cd(Se,Te)/ZnTe self-assembled quantum dots
Authors: Baranowski Piotr , Szymura Małgorzata , Karczewski Grzegorz , Aleszkiewicz Marta , Rodek Aleksander , Kazimierczuk Tomasz , Kossacki Piotr , Wojtowicz Tomasz , Kossut Jacek , Wojnar Piotr
Published: September 2020

Self-assembled Cd(Se,Te) quantum dots with various Se compositions embedded in the ZnTe matrix are grown by molecular beam epitaxy. A huge redshift of the near band edge emission, from 2.1 eV to 1.5 eV, with an increasing Se content in the dots is observed. It is accompanied by an increase in the excitonic lifetime by the factor of 10. We associate these effects with a gradual change from the direct type I confinement character in CdTe/ZnTe quantum dots to the staggered type II band alignment in the case of Cd(Se,Te)/ZnTe dots. This interpretation is consistent with the micro-photoluminescence study of several individual quantum dots, which reveals a gradual decrease in the biexciton–exciton energy difference with the increasing content of Se in the dots, which leads ultimately to the change from the binding to antibinding character of biexcitons. The latter effect originates, most likely, from the increasing Coulomb repulsion between excitons forming dipoles at the dot/barrier interface.
Effects of grain boundary structures on primary radiation damage and radiation-induced segregation in austenitic stainless steel
Authors: Gao Jing , Chen Feida , Tang Xiaobin , Ge Guojia , Lin Jiwei , Shen Shangkun
Published: September 2020

Grain boundary (GB) engineering is crucial in the austenitic stainless steel (ASS) design for nuclear energy applications. In this work, the influence of different GB structures on radiation defect recombination and radiation-induced segregation (RIS) at different temperatures were investigated using molecular dynamics simulation. Four typical GBs in ASSs were selected as model structures. Results showed that GBs remained stable at various temperatures and they all exhibited better self-healing performance than single crystals in terms of radiation defects. However, except Σ3(112) GB, other three GBs cannot inhibit the radiation induced segregation, while promoting the radiation defect recombination. Calculation results showed that the higher Σ value of GBs can lead to a greater lattice mismatch near GBs, which not only results in stronger sink strength for radiation induced defects, but also provides more sites for solute atoms and causes greater segregations eventually. Owing to the intrinsic low Σ and large inclination angle characteristic, Σ3(112) GB achieves an excellent balance between the defect-absorption and RIS. This phenomenon provides a feasible route for the future GB design in ultra-high radiation tolerant materials.
Enhanced etch rate of deep-UV laser induced etching of diamond in low pressure conditions
Authors: Baldwin C. G. , Downes J. E. , Mildren R. P.
Published: September 2020

Ultraviolet laser-induced etching is a method of machining and nanostructuring diamond surfaces in which carbon is removed from the surface via a photochemical process involving oxygen. We show here that using a dry source of oxygen at pressures in the range of 0.01–1 Torr leads to a 10-fold increase in the etch rate compared to etching in atmospheric air. The enhanced etch rate is also found to be accompanied by a marked change in the nanopatterned surface morphology. We developed a rate equation model for the etch rate that provides good agreement with measurements for pressures up to approximately 0.1 Torr. For higher pressures, the reduced etch rate and departure from the model are attributed to the contamination of the diamond surface by trace amounts of water vapor, introduced as an impurity from the gas sources. The results provide a method for markedly increasing the etch rate, as well as a better understanding of the role of gas impurities on the etch mechanism and emergent nanopattern formation.
Single quantum dot-in-a-rod embedded in a photonic nanowire waveguide for telecom band emission
Authors: Haffouz S. , Poole P. J. , Jin J. , Wu X. , Ginet L. , Mnaymneh K. , Dalacu D. , Williams R. L.
Published: September 2020

Bright emission from non-classical light sources is a key requirement for their practical use in quantum optics. In this Letter, we report on an alternative approach to realize high-brightness nanowire emitters in the telecom band. We discuss the growth and optical properties of a single InAs0.68P0.32 quantum dot in an InAs0.50P0.50 quantum rod, all embedded in an InP nanowire waveguide. Modifying the bandgap energy of the matrix surrounding the quantum dot by inserting it into an InAs0.50P0.50 quantum rod, instead of InP, reduces the barrier height for carriers in the dot. As a result, light emission at λ = 1310 nm is reached from an InAs0.68P0.32 dot grown with the same deposition conditions as that used for λ = 950 nm emission in the conventional structure. We demonstrate that the dot-in-a-rod (DROD) configuration increases (up to fivefold) the emission rate of the emitters at 1310–1550 nm as compared to those grown with the higher dot aspect ratio required when not using the DROD structure. Carrier generation localized to the dot (quasi-resonant scheme) is achieved by optically pumping the rod below the InP bandgap.
Saturn-ring proton backlighters for the National Ignition Facility
Authors: Zylstra A. B. , Craxton R. S. , Rygg J. R. , Li C.-K. , Carlson L. , Manuel M. J.-E. , Alfonso E. L. , Mauldin M. , Gonzalez L. , Youngblood K. , Garcia E. M. , Browning L. T. , Le Pape S. , Lemos N. Candeias , Lahmann B. , Gatu Johnson M. , Sio H. , Kabadi N.
Published: September 2020

Proton radiography is a well-established technique for measuring electromagnetic fields in high-energy-density plasmas. Fusion reactions producing monoenergetic particles, such as D3He, are commonly used as a source, produced by a capsule implosion. Using smaller capsules for radiography applications is advantageous as the source size decreases, but on the National Ignition Facility (NIF), this can introduce complications from increasing blow-by light, since the phase plate focal spot size is much larger than the capsules. We report a demonstration of backlighter targets where a “Saturn” ring is placed around the capsule to block this light. The nuclear performance of the backlighters is unperturbed by the addition of a ring. We also test a ring with an equatorial cutout, which severely affects the proton emission and is not viable for radiography applications. These results demonstrate the general viability of Saturn ring backlighter targets for use on the NIF.
Excitation wavelength-dependent SERS and DFT study to probe Herzberg–Teller selection rules on charge-transfer effect
Authors: Prakash Om
Published: September 2020

In the present work, Herzberg–Teller selection rules on the charge-transfer (CT) effect in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are explored for the 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI) adsorbed on the Ag nano-island film (AgNIF) using several Raman excitation wavelengths. The UV/VIS/NIR spectrum of PTCDI adsorbed on the AgNIF indicates that excitation wavelengths of 514.5 nm, 633 nm, and 785 nm are in resonance with CT states of the complex, PTCDI adsorbed on the AgNIF. This CT resonance results in intensity enhancement of non-totally symmetric vibrational modes with b1 symmetry in SERS. The three resonances (molecular, localized surface plasmon, and charge transfer) are observed for SERS with 514.5 nm. The totally symmetric Raman bands with symmetry a1 exhibit maximum enhancement in SERS with a 514.5 nm wavelength and suggest the maximum electromagnetic mechanism in SERS with 514.5 nm. Few Raman-forbidden modes and silent modes are allowed in the SERS spectra due to the reduced symmetry of PTCDI in the proximity of the AgNIF. Moreover, density functional theory computation is also carried out to calculate vibrational modes and electronic transitions.
Pine afforestation, herriza and wildfire: a tale of soil erosion and biodiversity loss in the Mediterranean region
Authors: Ojeda Fernando
Published: September 2020

From a western society’s perspective, wildfires are catastrophic events that jeopardise biodiversity and cause soil erosion, not to mention risk to human lives and properties. However, many Mediterranean-type ecosystems are not only resilient to wildfires but sensitive to the lack of wildfires. This communication focuses on the Mediterranean heathland or herriza as a paradigmatic fire-prone ecosystem to illustrate how most negative impacts allegedly attributed to wildfires actually occur in commercial forestry plantations. They are caused by aggressive forestry practices prior to the wildfire. In natural Mediterranean habitats, such as the herriza, complete wildfire suppression may actually pose a serious threat to biodiversity. The large existing body of scientific knowledge on the relationships of Mediterranean ecosystems with fire should be incorporated into plans and policies dealing with wildfire and conservation to make them more appropriate and efficient. Finally, burned natural areas should not be regarded, or treated, as dead pieces of nature and destroyed ecosystems, but as a transitional stage within the dynamics of Mediterranean-type ecosystems.
How many vowels are there in Lhasa Tibetan?
Authors: Gong Xun
Published: September 2020

Lhasa Tibetan is described in a number of independent research traditions which give different accounts of its phonology.
To what extent do these discrepancies reflect real dialectal or idiolectal differences? To what extent do they reflect different analyses of
the same system?

In this paper, we examine one aspect of Lhasa Tibetan phonology on which different descriptions show substantial
discrepancies: vowels. Different descriptions of Lhasa Tibetan transcribe from 8 to more than 16 vowel qualities, ascribing to them
different degrees of phonemicity. A detailed comparison of the transcription systems shows that all reflect the same underlying system of 12
vowel sounds, which agrees with the transcription conventions of the Seattle Tibetanists. The discrepancies among the systems mostly concern
four vowels, namely ɔ, ə, ɪ and ʊ. These vowels, which started as allophonic variants of other vowels, later appear in a set of words which
cannot be explained as allophony, and hence are unambiguous phonemes in contemporary Lhasa Tibetan.
The origin of the causative and simulative suffix -ter in Hakha Lai and Falam Chin
Authors: Bik Kenneth Van
Published: September 2020

This paper investigates the origin of the causative (CAUS) and simulative (SML) suffix -ter in two
varieties of Lai language, Hakha Lai and Falam Chin. It also shows that Proto Central Chin (PCC) full verbs *tiir ‘to send
someone to do an errand’ and *der ‘to pretend to’ grammaticalized and merged into the Lai CAUS and SML suffix
-ter due to frequency pressure, the first time this type of argument for semantic change is used in Kuki-Chin (KC).
Mitophagy pathways in health and disease
Authors: Killackey Samuel A. , Philpott Dana J. , Girardin Stephen E.
Published: September 2020

Mitophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process involving the autophagic targeting and clearance of mitochondria destined for removal. Recent insights into the complex nature of the overlapping pathways regulating mitophagy illustrate mitophagy’s essential role in maintaining the health of the mitochondrial network. In this review, we highlight recent studies that have changed the way mitophagy is understood, from initiation through lysosomal degradation. We outline the numerous mitophagic receptors and triggers, with a focus on basal and physiologically relevant cues, offering insight into why they lead to mitochondrial removal. We also explore how mitophagy maintains mitochondrial homeostasis at the organ and system levels and how a loss of mitophagy may play a role in a diverse group of diseases, including cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases. With disrupted mitophagy affecting such a wide array of physiological processes, a deeper understanding of how to modulate mitophagy could provide avenues for numerous therapies.
Rescaled Range Permutation Entropy: A Method for Quantifying the Dynamical Complexity of Extreme Volatility in Chaotic Time Series
Authors: Zhang Jia-Chen , Ren Wei-Kai , Jin Ning-De
Published: September 2020

Information entropy, as a quantitative measure of complexity in nonlinear systems, has been widely researched in a variety of contexts. With the development of a nonlinear dynamic, the entropy is faced with severe challenges in dealing with those signals exhibiting extreme volatility. In order to address this problem of weighted permutation entropy, which may result in the inaccurate estimation of extreme volatility, we propose a rescaled range permutation entropy, which selects the ratio of range and standard deviation as the weight of different fragments in the time series, thereby effectively extracting the maximum volatility. By analyzing typical nonlinear systems, we investigate the sensitivities of four methods in chaotic time series where extreme volatility occurs. Compared with sample entropy, fuzzy entropy, and weighted permutation entropy, this rescaled range permutation entropy leads to a significant discernibility, which provides a new method for distinguishing the complexity of nonlinear systems with extreme volatility.
Verification of Energetic-Particle-Induced Geodesic Acoustic Mode in Gyrokinetic Particle Simulations
Authors: Chen Yang , Zhang Wenlu , Bao Jian , Lin Zhihong , Dong Chao , Cao Jintao , Li Ding
Published: September 2020

The energetic-particle-induced geodesic acoustic mode (EGAM) is studied using gyrokinetic particle simulations in tokamak plasmas. In our simulations, exponentially growing EGAMs are excited by energetic particles with a slowing-down distribution. The frequencies of EGAMs are always below the frequencies of GAMs, which is due to the non-perturbative contribution of energetic particles (EPs). The mode structures of EGAMs are similar to the corresponding mode structures of GAMs. Our gyrokinetic simulations show that a high EP density can enhance the EGAM growth rate, due to high EP free energy, and that EPs' temperature and the pitch angle of the distribution modify the EGAM frequency/growth rate by means of the resonance condition. Kinetic effects of the thermal electrons barely change the EGAM frequency, and have a weak damping effect on the EGAM. Benchmarks between the gyrokinetic particle simulations and a local EGAM dispersion relation exhibit good agreement in terms of EGAM frequency and growth rate.
Phase-Gradient Metasurfaces Based on Local Fabry–Pérot Resonances
Authors: Cao Yanyan , Yu Bocheng , Fu Yangyang , Gao Lei , Xu Yadong
Published: September 2020

In this work, we present a new mechanism for designing phase-gradient metasurfaces (PGMs) to control an electromagnetic wavefront with high efficiency. Specifically, we design a transmission-type PGM, formed by a periodic subwavelength metallic slit array filled with identical dielectrics of different heights. It is found that when Fabry–Pérot (FP) resonances occur locally inside the dielectric regions, in addition to the common phenomenon of complete transmission, the transmitted phase differences between two adjacent slits are exactly the same, being a nonzero constant. These local FP resonances ensure total phase shift across a supercell, fully covering a range of 0 to 2π, satisfying the design requirements of PGMs. Further research reveals that, due to local FP resonances, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the phase difference and the permittivity of the filled dielectric. A similar approach can be extended to the reflection-type case and other wavefront transformations, creating new opportunities for wave manipulation.
Boosting the coercivity of SrFe12O19 nanocrystalline powders obtained using the citrate combustion synthesis method
Authors: Guzmán-Mínguez J C , Moreno-Arche L , Granados-Miralles C , López-Sánchez J , Marín P , Fernández J F , Quesada A
Published: September 2020

Strontium hexaferrite nanocrystalline powders were synthesized using a citrate combustion method and subsequently subjected to post-synthesis processing with the aim of tuning the micro-nanostructure to improve the magnetic properties. Firstly, the synthesis thermal treatments were optimized in order to minimize the formation of secondary phases, mainly hematite. Secondly, the as-synthesized powders were conditioned by a two-step process: ball milling in wet medium (ethanol) and high-speed mixing. The final processed powders exhibited a saturation magnetization of 74 emu g−1 and a coercivity of 6450 Oe. Following a low-temperature combustion synthesis, the coercivity is one of the largest values reported for strontium ferrites. The combination of the two-step conditioning procedure results in a useful methodology to obtain SrFe12O19 nanocrystalline powders with competitive properties. The morphological, structural and magnetic properties of the processed material make it a promising candidate for hard-soft ferrite-based composite magnets, where large coercivity values are highly desirable.
Dynamic analysis of absorbance behavior and peak shift of RONS in plasma-activated water by UV absorption spectroscopy: dependency on gas impurity, pulse polarity, and solution pH
Authors: Liu Zhijie , Gao Yuting , Liu Dingxin , Pang Bolun , Wang Sitao , Zhou Chunxi , Zhang Hao , Xu Dehui , Kong Michael G
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we employ UV absorption spectroscopy to monitor the generation and permeation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in plasma-activated water (PAW) to revealthe dynamic variation mechanism of RONS chemistry. Parameters including gas impurity, pulse polarity and solution pH value are varied to explore their effects on the absorbance behavior and peak shift of absorption spectra as well as the permeation distribution of RONS. Regarding the absorbance behavior, experimental results show that introducing air and N2 into He working gas would effectively improve RONS absorbance, proportions of about 0.2% air and 0.5% N2 would result in the maximum absorbance, while the addition of O2 would result in a significant decrease in RONS absorbance. Under positive polarity, the RONS absorbance is about 20% higher than that under negative polarity. Changing the solution pH from acidic to alkaline is beneficial in increasing RONS absorbance, indicating that alkaline solution could effectively promote RONS formation. Regarding the characteristic peak shift, different parameter conditions seriously affect the shift of the absorption peak toward low wavelength or high wavelength due to the change in the ratio of the concentration of each component of RONS in PAW. Furthermore, with respect to the permeation distribution of H2O2 and NO2
−, the results show that the addition of O2 would result in the fastest production rate of H2O2 and introducing air and N2 would generate the fastest rate of NO2
− production. Interestingly, the NO2
− permeation distribution displays a ‘columnar mode’ and a ‘filamentous mode’ under positive and negative polarity, respectively. An alkaline solution promotes the formation of NO2
− while having an obvious inhibiting effect on the NO2
− permeation; conversely, an acidic solution has a promotional effect on NO2
−. This study provides a new in-depth understanding of the dynamic evolutionary behavior of RONS in PAW, helping to reveal the network relationship between RONS, and assisting in the development of applications of PAW.
Impact of growth conditions on the domain nucleation and domain wall propagation in Pt/Co/Pt stacks
Authors: Quinteros Cynthia P , José Cortés Burgos María , Albornoz Lucas J , Gómez Javier E , Granell Pablo , Golmar Federico , Luján Ibarra María , Bustingorry Sebastian , Curiale Javier , Granada Mara
Published: September 2020

Understanding the effect of fabrication conditions on domain wall (DW) motion in thin films with perpendicular magnetization is a mandatory issue in order to tune their properties aiming to design spintronics devices based on such phenomenon. In this context, the present work intends to show how different growth conditions may affect DW motion in the prototypical system Pt/Co/Pt. The trilayers were deposited by dc sputtering, and the parameters varied in this study were the Co thickness, the substrate roughness and the base pressure in the deposition chamber. Magneto-optical Kerr effect-based magnetometry and microscopy combined with x-ray reflectometry, atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were adopted as experimental techniques. This permitted us to elucidate the impact on the hysteresis loops and on the DW dynamics, produced by different growth conditions. As other authors, we found that Co thickness is strongly determinant for both the coercive field and the DW velocity. On the contrary, the topographic roughness of the substrate and the base pressure of the deposition chamber evidence a selective impact on the nucleation of magnetic domains and on DW propagation, respectively, providing a tool to tune these properties.
Switching of majority charge carriers by Zn doping in NdNiO3 thin films
Authors: Soni Kavita , S Harisankar , Chandra Mahesh , Rajput Parasmani , Mavani K R
Published: September 2020

We have studied the effects of Zn doping on the structural and electronic properties of epitaxial NdNiO3 thin films grown on single-crystal LaAlO3 (001) (LAO) substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The films are deposited in two sets, one with variation in Zn doping, and another with variation in thickness for undoped and 2% Zn doping. The experimental investigations show that Zn occupies Ni-site and that the films are grown with an in-plane compressive strain on LAO. All the films show metal-to-insulator transitions with a thermal hysteresis in the temperature-dependent resistivity curves except 5% Zn-doped film, which remains metallic. The theoretical fits show non-Fermi liquid behaviour, which gets influenced by Zn doping. The Hall resistance measurements clearly show that Zn doping causes injection of holes in the system which affects the electronic properties as follows: i) the metallic conduction increases by two factors just by 0.5% Zn doping whereas, 5% doping completely suppresses the insulating state, ii) a reversal of the sign of Hall coefficient of resistance is observed at low temperature.
Guidelines for first responders based on results from deploying a mockup radiological dispersal device
Authors: Rojas-Palma Carlos , Steinhäusler Friedrich , Kuča Petr , Češpírová Irena , Ďuran Juraj , Mann Cameron , Sneyers Liesel , Smits Katrien , Bruggeman Michel
Published: September 2020

During the past 7th Security Framework Program the European Commission funded a research project called CATO (CBRN Crisis management, Architectures, Technologies and Operational procedures) to develop a prototype decision support system for crisis management in addition to providing a suite of guidelines for first responders and incident commanders when dealing with chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incidents. In order to derive these guidelines a proof-of-concept experiment was setup during which several passive agent (Stable CsCl) dispersions with improvised explosive devices and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices were carried out. Each dispersion was thoroughly characterised by a number of monitoring devices, including high-volume air samplers and size-segregated air samplers. All environmental and forensic samples were collected by the UK counter terrorism police, following strict labelling and chain-of-custody protocols. The samples were analysed at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center suing the k0 method for instrumental neutron activation technique. A full consequence assessment analysis was carried out assuming that the observed concentration of Cs-133 in samples was Cs-137 instead and use was made of the specific activity of Cs-137. Due to the sensitivity of the information the European Commission classified this research. The resulted reported on in this work have been unclassified and are released to assist emergency planners and first responders to take the necessary precautions. The results indicate that, up to distances of 50 m from ground zero radiation levels will be considerable and therefore live-saving actions must be performed by fire/rescue wearing full protective gear. In addition, low-wind conditions will favor a long airborne residence time and therefore the use of full-face protective gear is a must. In order to protect first responders, a radiation protection specialist is to determine how long people can enter and remain in the contaminated area. The recovery of evidence in the case of a car-bomb will be hard or even impossible due to the high level of radioactive material remaining inside the vehicle.
Aptasensor based on a flower-shaped silver magnetic nanocomposite enables the sensitive and label-free detection of troponin I (cTnI) by SERS
Authors: Alves Raisa Siqueira , Sigoli Fernando Aparecido , Mazali Italo Odone
Published: September 2020

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is nowadays the leading death cause worldwide. For that reason, the early diagnosis of AMI is of central importance to reduce the risk of death. In this sense, aptamer-based sensors for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS aptasensors) emerged as an interesting alternative for future high-performance diagnostic tools. SERS aptasensors combine the fast, precise, and sensitive nature of SERS measurements with the selectivity of aptamers for specific biological targets. Herein, we report an efficient SERS aptasensor for the detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), a gold-standard biomarker for AMI. Our SERS platform comprises a magnetite core with an intermediate silica shell, and a flower-shaped silver layer (Fe3O4@SiO2@Ag) to confer excellent plasmonic properties and ease of collection by magnetism. The branched silver structure combined with magnetic aggregation offers a high near-field amplification to superior SERS performance. Additionally, a tailored DNA aptamer with high specificity for cTnI was anchored to the silver surface to produce the aptasensor with increased sensing capability towards cTnI. With our SERS aptasensor, a cTnI concentration as low as 10 ng ml−1 (10–11 mol l−1) could be detected. This value is ten times lower than the upper threshold of the typical concentration range of cTnI of AMI patients. Hence, our SERS aptasensor holds great promise to be explored in AMI diagnosis.