bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An insight into the intermolecular vibrational modes of dicationic ionic liquids through far-infrared spectroscopy and DFT calculations
Authors: Guglielmero Luca , Guazzelli Lorenzo , Toncelli Alessandra , Chiappe Cinzia , Tredicucci Alessandro , Pomelli Christian Silvio
Published: September 2019

The minimal cluster of ions represents a reliable and computationally affordable model for the exploration of the intermolecular interactions of dicationic ionic liquids.
Oxone promoted dehydrogenative Povarov cyclization of N-aryl glycine derivatives: an approach towards quinoline fused lactones and lactams
Authors: More Devidas A. , Shinde Ganesh H. , Shaikh Aslam C. , Muthukrishnan M.
Published: September 2019

Oxone promoted intramolecular dehydrogenative imino Diels–Alder reaction (Povarov cyclization) of alkyne tethered N-aryl glycine esters and amides has been explored, thus affording biologically significant quinoline fused lactones and lactams.
Metal-free, room temperature, acid-K2S2O8 mediated method for the nitration of olefins: an easy approach for the synthesis of nitroolefins
Authors: Ambala Srinivas , Singh Rohit , Singh Maninder , Cham Pankaj Singh , Gupta Ria , Munagala Gurunadham , Yempalla Kushalava Reddy , Vishwakarma Ram A. , Singh Parvinder Pal
Published: September 2019

Here, we have developed a simple, room temperature method for the nitration of olefins by using inexpensive sodium nitrite as a source of nitro groups in the presence of TFA and potassium persulphate under an open atmosphere.
Correction: Mid-infrared spectroscopy and microscopy of subcellular structures in eukaryotic cells with atomic force microscopy – infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Quaroni Luca , Pogoda Katarzyna , Wiltowska-Zuber Joanna , Kwiatek Wojciech M.
Published: September 2019

Correction for ‘Mid-infrared spectroscopy and microscopy of subcellular structures in eukaryotic cells with atomic force microscopy – infrared spectroscopy’ by Luca Quaroni et al., RSC Adv., 2018, 8, 2786–2794.
Characterizing multiple continuous phase transitions at an alloying anode with voltammetric measurements and first-principles calculations
Authors: Choi Yong-Seok , Lee Jae-Chul
Published: September 2019

In this study, a combination of first-principles calculations and voltammetric measurement is used to identify multiple and continuous phase transition behaviors at the Sb anode during the Na–Sb battery cycles.
Hydroxyapatite-binding micelles for the detection of vascular calcification in atherosclerosis
Authors: Chin Deborah D. , Wang Jonathan , Mel de Fontenay Margot , Plotkin Anastasia , Magee Gregory A. , Chung Eun Ji
Published: September 2019

Hydroxyapatite-binding micelles show potential as vascular calcification diagnostic probes in atherosclerotic murine models and diseased human arteriesex vivo.
Analysis of meteorological factors on different stages of heavy haze pollution in Beijing, 2019
Authors: Chen Ansheng
Published: September 2019

. Beijing occurred severe haze events in winter of recent years. To understand the extreme events, the air pollution case from 9 January to 15 January 2019 was selected. The PM2.5concentration of 34 monitoring sites which were hourly measured, the nationwide synoptic conditions at surface and 850hpa, the meteorological factors including temperature, wind speed and humidity and the vertical variation in Planetary boundary layer (PBL) during the case were analyzed. It is found that synoptic condition, meteorological factors and urban PM2.5(fine particles with diameter less than 2.5μm) concentration distribution changed regularly with time. Clean stage, transport stage, cumulative stage and dispersion stage during haze are defined in this study. Three overall research results are: (1) The synoptic variation is distinct. Beijing is alternately dominated by Siberian High-pressure and Western Pacific Subtropical High-pressure system in winter. The transport stage is with predominant Subtropical High-pressure which brings temperature and humidity rise. High humidity facilitates formation of secondary aerosols. The cumulative stage ends along with boosted Siberian High-pressure. (2) The severe haze is characterized by temperature inversion, low wind speed and high humidity, especially nearby surface, and experienced PM2.5explosive growth. The stability of PBL structure will be strengthened with decreased PBL height, which inhibits the dispersion of pollutants. (3) The PM2.5concentrations during different stages had different regional distribution. The southern PM2.5concentration is much high than northern in transport stage. During dispersion stage, urban central PM2.5is the high for the reason that buildings, vehicle exhaust and urban heat island effects all impedehaze disappearing.
Effect of cooling rates on T6 Treatment of B390 Aluminium-Silicon Hypereutectic alloys
Authors: Jiandon Porawit , Talangkun Sukangkana
Published: September 2019

This research aimed to study an effect of cooling rates on T6 treatment process of B390 aluminium hypereutectic alloy. B390 casting samples were casted with pouring temperature of 710°C and solidified in three different cooling rates of 33.33, 28.60 and 22.22°C/s, respectively using three metal moulds. After that samples were subjected to T6 treatment: solution treated at 510°C for 30 min and aged at 200°C at various times. However, after ageing, hardness values of as-casted samples reduced with increasing cooling rate. It was found that the specimen cooled with the highest cooling rate exhibited the highest hardness. Peak hardness values of samples cooled with cooling rate of 33.33, 28.60 and 22.22°C/s after ageing obtained from ageing time of 3, 6 and 8 hour, respectively. Furthermore, the result showed that morphology of primary silicon, eutectic silicon and Ali5(Mn, Fe)3Si2 phase presented in the aged specimen cooled with the highest cooling rate exhibited more globular, finer and distributed more evenly compared with the slower cooled samples. It can be concluded that rapid cooling rate increases concentration of a-solid solution resulted in shorter aging time.
Optimization of sorting efficiency of size grading machine using oscillating sieve with swing along width direction
Authors: Chungcharoen Thatchapol , Limmun Warunee , Chanpaka Watcharapong , Srisang Naruebodee
Published: September 2019

Grading according to the sizes is an important value adding technique for Robusta green coffee bean. Mechanical grading can increase the sorting efficiency and the need for workers is decreased. Therefore, the sorting efficiency of size grading machine was optimized based on inclined angle and oscillating speed. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) combined with central composite design (CCD) was applied in the optimization of the sorting efficiency of the machine. A quadratic model was suggested for the sorting efficiency of size grading machine. The results showed that the optimum operating parameters for size grading machine using oscillating sieve with swing along width direction were inclined angle of 5.06 degree and oscillating speed of 183.28 rpm with a sorting efficiency of 79.99%. The high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.9676) indicated that the data predicted using RSM were in good agreement with the experimental results.
Fortschritt beim metastasierten Pankreaskrebs
Authors: Arnheim Katharina
Published: September 2019

Beim BRCA-mutierten Pankreaskarzinom hat sich eine neue Therapieoption als vielversprechend erwiesen: Durch die Erhaltungstherapie mit Olaparib wurde das progressionsfreie Überleben (PFS) bei diesem prognostisch ungünstigen Tumor nahezu verdoppelt.
Study on action mechanisms of alloy element for adiabatic shearing sensitivity
Authors: Shi Wentian , Li Jinquan , Wang Chenyu
Published: September 2019

The effect of specific alloy elements on adiabatic shearing sensitivity was studied by cutting experiment for the industrial pure titanium (TA2) and titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) in the level of valence electron structure (VES). The valence electron structure (VES) parameters that affect adiabatic shearing sensitivity were studied in this paper. The results show the electron density of heterophase boundary and the lattice electron density are related to adiabatic shearing sensitivity. The higher the electron density of heterophase boundary, the lower the lattice electron density, the higher adiabatic shearing sensitivity, and the easier the formation of the serrated chips. The electron density of heterophase boundary and the lattice electron density have coupling effect on adiabatic shearing sensitivity. The adding of Al and V elements for Ti-6Al-4V can increase the electron density of heterophase boundary and reduce the lattice electron density, so its adiabatic shearing sensitivity is higher than that of TA2, which would produce easily serrated chips divided evenly by the adiabatic shear band (ASB) and enlarge the degree of serration to exacerbate the tool vibration.
Knee exoskeleton enhanced with artificial intelligence to provide assistance-as-needed
Authors: Lyu Mingxing , Chen Wei-Hai , Ding Xilun , Wang Jianhua
Published: September 2019

Robotic therapy is a useful method applied during rehabilitation of stroke patients (to regain motor functions). To ensure active participation of the patient, assistance-as-needed is provided during robotic training. However, most existing studies are based on a predetermined desired trajectory, which significantly limits the use of this method for more complex scenarios. In this paper, artificial intelligence (AI) agents are introduced to enhance the robot so that a knee exoskeleton can be autonomously controlled. A new assist-as-needed (AAN) method is proposed, where the subjects and agents cooperatively control movements. An electromyographic (EMG)-controlled knee exoskeleton with an interesting screen game is developed. Two different AI agents, modular pipeline and deep Q-network, are introduced; both can control the exoskeleton to play the screen game independently. The human-robot cooperative control is studied with two different assistant strategies, i.e., fixed assistant ratio and AAN. Eight healthy subjects participated in the initial experiment, and four assistant modes were studied. The game scores obtained by the two agents were significantly higher than those obtained by healthy subjects (EMG control), indicating that using the agents to assist stroke rehabilitation is possible. The AAN method demonstrated a better performance than the fixed assistant ratio method, indicated by the higher integral muscle activation level and participant score. Compared to a fully active control (EMG control) and fully fixed guidance (AI control), human-robot cooperative control had significantly higher integral muscle activation levels, i.e., the subjects were more involved and motivated during training. Using AI agents to power rehabilitation robots is a promising way to realize AAN rehabilitation.
Deep-level noise characterization of MOVPE-grown
β
-Ga2O3
Authors: Golz Christian , Galazka Zbigniew , Popp Andreas , Anooz Saud Bin , Wagner Guenter , Hatami Fariba , Masselink W. Ted
Published: September 2019

We measure the low-frequency noise in epitaxial β-Ga2O3 grown by MOVPE. Both 1/f and generation-recombination noise components are well resolved. The Hooge parameters characterizing the 1/f noise are 3 × 10–4 at room temperature and 2 × 10–5 at temperatures near 200 K. Mid bandgap trap states result in generation-recombination noise that is analyzed using temperature dependent low-frequency deep-level noise spectroscopy. Trap levels with energies of 165, 127, and 37 meV below the conduction band minimum are characterized in terms of density and activation energy.
Dynamics of piezoelectric micro-machined ultrasonic transducers for contact and non-contact resonant sensors
Authors: Liu Xinxin , Yang Dengfei , Chen Xuying , Le Xianhao , Yang Lei , Wu Changju , Xie Jin
Published: September 2019

The dynamics of piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (pMUTs) are studied, and an envelope method is proposed for measuring the frequency shift when they operate in pulse–echo mode. To understand pMUTs comprehensively, a theoretical model is established and the dynamic equation is solved, and the experimental results match well with the theoretical ones. A pMUT is measured for each stage of its off-resonance dynamic response with pulse excitation. Through the proposed method, the pMUT can work as either (i) a contact resonant sensor to measure the resonance frequency shift induced by an external mass or pressure or (ii) a noncontact ultrasonic transceiver to detect velocity by the Doppler effect. Tests with both electrical and acoustic signal excitation validate the ability to detect a frequency shift through a predictable transient response. In addition, such an envelope-curve measurement can significantly reduce the sampling rate and lower the hardware cost, especially for high-frequency applications.
Separation of variables for quadratic algebras and skew-symmetric classical r-matrices
Authors: Dubrovin B. , Skrypnyk T.
Published: September 2019

We consider the problem of separation of variables for integrable hamiltonian systems possessing gl(n)-valued Lax matrices satisfying quadratic Poisson brackets with skew-symmetric gl(n) ⊗ gl(n)-valued classical r-matrices. We formulate, in terms of the corresponding r-matrices, a sufficient condition that guarantees that the separating functions A(u), B(u) of Sklyanin [Commun. Math. Phys. 150(1), 181 (1992)], Scott [e-print arXiv:hep-th/9403030 (1994)], Diener and Dubrovin (Preprint Report No. SISSA-88-94-FM, 1994), and Gekhtman [Commun. Math. Phys. 167, 593 (1995)] produce a set of canonical coordinates. We consider an example of gl(n) ⊗ gl(n)-valued skew-symmetric trigonometric r-matrix that satisfies the considered condition and find a class of the Lax operators for it for which the obtained set of canonical coordinates is complete, defining in such a way a separation of variables for the corresponding integrable models. For this purpose, we generalize trigonometric Sklyanin algebra from the n = 2 case onto the case of the arbitrary n.
Heterogeneous nucleus-induced crystallization for high-speed phase change memory applications
Authors: Liu Guangyu , Wu Liangcai , Zhang Sifan , Liu Wanliang , Lv Shilong , Zhu Min , Song Sannian , Song Zhitang
Published: September 2019

Phase change memory has high potential for next-generation nonvolatile memory technology. The effect of lower layer Sb2Te (ST) on the crystallization process of Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) is investigated by observing the change of the microstructure. Compared to the GST-based device, this paper achieved a faster operation speed (20 ns) with stable SET and RESET resistances via the addition of ST under the GST. The crystallization of lower layer ST occurs prior to that in the upper layer GST due to lower crystallization temperature, and the crystal grains of ST can supply the heterogeneous nuclei to reduce the nucleation time and enhance the crystallization speed of GST, which accounts for the improved operation speed. In addition, the effect of atomic migration on the GST/ST interface and the device performance is also investigated.
High-pressure integrated synchrotron infrared spectroscopy system at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility
Authors: Goncharov Alexander F. , Kong Lingping , Mao Ho-kwang
Published: September 2019

We describe a new integrated optical spectroscopy facility for high-pressure research in materials research and mineral science located at the beamline BL01B of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The system combines infrared synchrotron Fourier-Transform spectroscopy with broadband laser visible/near infrared and conventional laser Raman spectroscopy in one instrument. The system utilizes a custom-built microscope optics designed for a variety of diamond anvil cell experiments, which include low-temperature and ultrahigh pressure studies. We demonstrate the capabilities of the facility for studies of a variety of high-pressure phenomena such as phase and electronic transitions and chemical transformations.
Role of device architecture and AlOX interlayer in organic Schottky diodes and their interpretation by analytical modeling
Authors: Kumari Nikita , Pandey Manish , Hamada Kengo , Hirotani Daisuke , Nagamatsu Shuichi , Hayase Shuzi , Pandey Shyam S.
Published: September 2019

Considering the pivotal role of interfaces in controlling the performance of organic electronic devices, implications of metal/organic interfacial quality in a Schottky barrier diode (SBD) are investigated. The nature of metal/organic interfaces and the thin film quality of regioregular poly (3-hexylthiophene) based SBDs fabricated in different device architectures are investigated using experimental and theoretical modeling. The importance of oxidized aluminum nanostructures as an interlayer at the Schottky interface for the dramatic enhancement of the rectification ratio (>106 at ±5 V) has been demonstrated, which is attributed to suppressed leakage current due to the oxide layer and the formation of a charge double layer. Furthermore, electrical performances of all the SBDs were modeled in terms of an underlying particular phenomenon solely or with the combination of multiple physical phenomena. The combined modeling equation used in this work fits well for the different device architectures, which validates its generality in order to extract the device parameters.
Construction of molecular beam epitaxy and multi-probe scanning tunneling potentiometry combined system
Authors: Li Luxin , Zheng Cheng , Liu Yaowu , Hu Xiaopeng , Ji Shuai-Hua , Chen Xi , Xue Qi-Kun
Published: September 2019

Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) is a powerful technique to grow high quality thin films with atomic precision, and multiprobe scanning tunneling potentiometry (STP) is an ideal tool to probe electronic transportation in nanometer scale. We combine the two advanced techniques together and successfully construct a unique system of MBE, STP, and four-probe in situ transport measurement. Excellent functions of this system have been demonstrated by experiments on several materials under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. The system provides an ideal platform for in situ study of electronic transport properties of various thin films, such as two-dimensional superconductors and topological insulators.
Interferometric time- and energy-resolved photoemission electron microscopy for few-femtosecond nanoplasmonic dynamics
Authors: Gliserin Alexander , Chew Soo Hoon , Choi Sungho , Kim Kyoungmin , Hallinan Daniel T. , Oh Jin-Woo , Kim Seungchul , Kim Dong Eon
Published: September 2019

We report a time-resolved normal-incidence photoemission electron microscope with an imaging time-of-flight detector using ∼7-fs near-infrared laser pulses and a phase-stabilized interferometer for studying ultrafast nanoplasmonic dynamics via nonlinear photoemission from metallic nanostructures. The interferometer’s stability (35 ± 6 as root-mean-square from 0.2 Hz to 40 kHz) as well as on-line characterization of the driving laser field, which is a requirement for nanoplasmonic near-field reconstruction, is discussed in detail. We observed strong field enhancement and few-femtosecond localized surface plasmon lifetimes at a monolayer of self-assembled gold nanospheres with ∼40 nm diameter and ∼2 nm interparticle distance. A wide range of plasmon resonance frequencies could be simultaneously detected in the time domain at different nanospheres, which are distinguishable already within the first optical cycle or as close as about ±1 fs around time-zero. Energy-resolved imaging (microspectroscopy) additionally revealed spectral broadening due to strong-field or space charge effects. These results provide a clear path toward visualizing optically excited nanoplasmonic near-fields at ultimate spatiotemporal resolution.
First-principle prediction of the electronic property and carrier mobility in boron arsenide nanotubes and nanoribbons
Authors: Dong Yulan , Zeng Bowen , Zhang Xiaojiao , Li Mingjun , He Jun , Long Mengqiu
Published: September 2019

In this work, the electronic structure and carrier mobility of single-walled boron arsenide nanotubes (BAsNTs) have been systematically studied by using Boltzmann transport equation with the relaxation time approximation. We found that the ionic characteristic of B–As bond results in the dipole shells in the optimized BAsNTs. It is predicted that both zigzag BAs nanotubes (ZNTs) and armchair BAs nanotubes are semiconductors, and the strong σ*–π* hybridization in small ZNTs leads to a rapid drop of bandgap with a decrease of radius. Interestingly, as the size (n) of the NTs decreases, the hole mobility (μh) of ZNTs has an evident 3p (p is an integer) oscillation but electron mobility (μe) basically falls down, which falls even faster when the radius gets smaller. Comparing the carrier mobility between BAsNTs and its unzipping nanoribbons, we found that rolling BAs nanoribbons (BAsNRs) into BAsNTs would increase the μe but decrease the μh. The different behavior of the carrier mobility in BAsNRs and BAsNTs results from their distinct bond features of edge states, which vary with different widths (for BAsNRs) or radii (for BAsNTs).
The effect of deformability on the microscale flow behavior of red blood cell suspensions
Authors: Passos Andreas , Sherwood Joseph M. , Kaliviotis Efstathios , Agrawal Rupesh , Pavesio Carlos , Balabani Stavroula
Published: September 2019

Red blood cell (RBC) deformability is important for tissue perfusion and a key determinant of blood rheology. Diseases such as diabetes, sickle cell anemia, and malaria, as well as prolonged storage, may affect the mechanical properties of RBCs altering their hemodynamic behavior and leading to microvascular complications. However, the exact role of RBC deformability on microscale blood flow is not fully understood. In the present study, we extend our previous work on healthy RBC flows in bifurcating microchannels [Sherwood et al., “Viscosity and velocity distributions of aggregating and non-aggregating blood in a bifurcating microchannel,” Biomech. Model. Mechanobiol. 13, 259–273 (2014); Sherwood et al., “Spatial distributions of red blood cells significantly alter local hemodynamics,” PLoS One 9, e100473 (2014); and Kaliviotis et al., “Local viscosity distribution in bifurcating microfluidic blood flows,” Phys. Fluids 30, 030706 (2018)] to quantify the effects of impaired RBC deformability on the velocity and hematocrit distributions in microscale blood flows. Suspensions of healthy and glutaraldehyde hardened RBCs perfused through straight microchannels at various hematocrits and flow rates were imaged, and velocity and hematocrit distributions were determined simultaneously using micro-Particle Image Velocimetry and light transmission methods, respectively. At low feed hematocrits, hardened RBCs were more dispersed compared to healthy ones, consistent with decreased migration of stiffer cells. At high hematocrit, the loss of deformability was found to decrease the bluntness of velocity profiles, implying a reduction in shear thinning behavior. The hematocrit bluntness also decreased with hardening of the cells, implying an inversion of the correlation between velocity and hematocrit bluntness with loss of deformability. The study illustrates the complex interplay of various mechanisms affecting confined RBC suspension flows and the impact of both deformability and feed hematocrit on the resulting microstructure.
Probing changes in secondary electron yield from copper electrodes due to surface defects and changes in crystal orientation
Authors: Nguyen H. K. A. , Sanati M. , Joshi R. P.
Published: September 2019

There is considerable interest in mitigating secondary electron emission (SEE) from surfaces and electrodes produced by incident electrons, due to the deleterious effects of SEE in vacuum electron devices, accelerators, and other technologies. Since surface conditions are known to affect SEE, here the role played by crystal orientation and a vacancy (which is a simple example of a surface defect) is probed through Monte Carlo simulations. The effect of the lattice imperfection on the frequency-dependent permittivity, which then influences inelastic energy losses, mean free paths, and secondary generation profiles, is obtained on the basis of density-functional theory. The Monte Carlo simulations are in good agreement with previous experimental reports. The results indicate that the secondary electron yield for pure copper is the highest for the 110 orientation and the lowest for the 111 case, with a relatively higher differential predicted between a single vacancy and ideal copper for the 111 orientation. The results underscore the benefit of annealing or reducing inhomogeneities through laser or charged particle beam surface treatments.
Direct imaging of vortex pinning at artificial antidots with different geometries
Authors: Zhang An-Lei , Xue Cun , Ge Jun-Yi
Published: September 2019

Introducing artificial antidots into superconductors is an efficient way to improve the superconducting properties for application. However, besides the pioneering theoretical studies, the fundamental question concerning how many vortices can be trapped by the antidot still needs to be further clarified from an experimental point of view. In this study, by the e-beam lithography, antidots with different sizes and shapes are fabricated in a superconducting Pb film. The vortex distribution at antidots has been directly imaged using the low-temperature scanning Hall probe microscope. A universal scaling behavior is found that the number of trapped vortices mainly depends on the size of the antidots, irrespective of the shape of antidots. The results shed light on the study of vortex pinning at artificial pinning centers, which is important for practical applications.
Temperature distribution in a photovoltaic module at various mounting and wind conditions: A complete CFD modeling
Authors: Dabaghzadeh N. , Eslami M.
Published: September 2019

In this study, a complete three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation of fluid flow and heat transfer from a Photovoltaic (PV) module is developed. Since the electrical efficiency of photovoltaic modules is a function of its temperature, the present research tries to calculate the temperature distribution in the module by numerically solving the governing momentum and energy equations with the finite element method. The three dimensional wind flow field around the system is simulated in different geometrical and ambient conditions to account for realistic and nonuniform convection heat transfer from the module surfaces. The electrical output power is calculated as a function of PV module temperature and is modeled as a negative source term in the energy equation. Results show that the present method is very successful in predicting the temperature distribution and output power of photovoltaic modules at various geometrical and environmental conditions. Specifically, the effect of wind direction and tilt angle of the PV module is investigated. By increasing the tilt angle at wind velocities higher than 1 m/s, the average PV temperature increases by about 4 K; as a result, its efficiency decreases. The most favorable wind direction is 90° as a 3 K cooling in the average PV module temperature can be achieved. The proper choice of mounting orientation is also important, and it depends on the wind direction. In most cases, the horizontal mounting (i.e., the longer side of the panel is parallel to the ground) results in better cooling.
Ideal phonon-scattering-limited mobility in inversion channels of 4H-SiC(0001) MOSFETs with ultralow net doping concentrations
Authors: Sometani Mitsuru , Hosoi Takuji , Hirai Hirohisa , Hatakeyama Tetsuo , Harada Shinsuke , Yano Hiroshi , Shimura Takayoshi , Watanabe Heiji , Yonezawa Yoshiyuki , Okumura Hajime
Published: September 2019

The phonon-limited mobility in 4H-silicon carbide (SiC) inversion channels was precisely evaluated by employing ultralow net doping concentrations. The measured mobility in the inversion channels of these samples was comparable to the electron mobility in bulk 4H-SiC, and the temperature dependence indicated that the mobility can be ascribed to phonon-scattering-limited mobility. The strong dependence of the mobility on the net doping concentration cannot be explained by Coulomb scattering by dopant impurities. This indicates the existence of scattering origins at the SiO2/SiC interface. Comparison of dry oxidized samples and samples subjected to postoxidation annealing in nitric oxide revealed that the scattering origins were not attributable to trapped electrons at the SiO2/SiC interface states, although the nature of the scattering origins remains unclear.
A sinusoidal model to assess PV generation from daily irradiation data
Authors: Brito Miguel C. , Amaro e Silva Rodrigo
Published: September 2019

The estimation of photovoltaic (PV) efficiency depends on the solar cell temperature, which varies with ambient temperature and solar irradiation. When only daily averages are available, for instance, when assessing solar potential in a future climate, the standard procedure leads to a non-negligible error in the estimation of PV generation, as it disregards the fact that changes in efficiency at low irradiance are less relevant than changes in efficiency at high irradiance. A correction factor based on a sinusoidal model for solar irradiation and temperature is proposed and tested for locations with diverse latitudes and climates. The results show that this approach features random and bias errors below 2%, at least three times smaller than the standard averaging method, thus validating its application for estimation of PV generation.
Large enhancement of thermoelectric performance of InTe compound by sintering and CuInTe2 doping
Authors: Huang Richang , Huang Yi , Zhu Bin , He Mingkai , Ge Zhen-Hua , Fu Liangwei , He Jiaqing
Published: September 2019

InTe is a newly emerging thermoelectric material working at a middle temperature range with an ultralow thermal conductivity. Nevertheless, the figure of merit (ZT) of InTe currently is way too inappreciable compared with other material systems. In this work, we present that a peak ZT as high as ∼0.8 is achieved at 723 K in InTe composited with 1.02% of CuInTe2 prepared by spark plasma sintering. The large improvement of thermoelectric performance in sintered InTe mainly comes from the enhancement of conductivity. The reasons for this phenomenon are investigated as well. We find that extra In vacancies which lead to an increment of hole concentration and the energy barrier at grain boundaries are responsible for the behavior of electrical properties. Besides, a small amount of CuInTe2 also contributes to the improvement of power factor, which leads to higher ZT.
Structure and domain wall dynamics in lead-free KNN-based ceramics
Authors: Ding Yi , Zheng Ting , Zhao Chunlin , Wu Jiagang
Published: September 2019

This paper comprehensively studied the effect of BaHfO3 doping on crystal structure, domain structure, and electrical properties of potassium sodium niobate ceramics, and especially analyzed the intrinsic structural characteristics of the R-O phase boundary, which can be successfully constructed through composition modification. Rietveld refinement and the piezoresponse force microscopy technique were combined to analyze the crystal structure and domain configuration of the material system. Comparative studies indicate that multiple phase coexistence will disturb the zigzag domains of the pure O phase into complex irregular domains, which are easier to switch under an external electric field, thus leading to improved electrical properties. Furthermore, the stabilized polarization state can be maintained under the thermal excitation due to the dominated O phase at high temperatures, which is beneficial for the temperature stability improvement. We believe that the structural analysis can give us a deeper understanding of the relationship among structural symmetry, domain dynamics, and electrical properties of potassium sodium niobate (KNN)-based ceramics.
Intrinsic anomalous scaling of epitaxial vanadium dioxide thin films on titanium dioxide
Authors: Creeden Jason A. , Madaras Scott E. , Beringer Douglas B. , Novikova Irina , Lukaszew Rosa A.
Published: September 2019

We present dynamic scaling studies during growth of epitaxial vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin films deposited on titanium dioxide TiO2(002). The main goal was to evaluate the evolution of the VO2 surfaces using films of different thicknesses to extract a series of growth exponents which determine the surface morphology and microstructure. We applied this evaluation for thin (∼5nm) to thick (∼100nm) films and determined the growth dynamics at thicknesses of interest for VO2 thin film applications. By analyzing the evolution of surface roughness, power spectral density, and correlation functions over the film thicknesses, we obtained the growth exponents that allowed us to characterize these films as belonging to the intrinsic anomalous scaling class. Such growth behavior suggests that nonlocal effects play a significant role during film growth, as these nonlocal effects arise from the growth method, strain dynamics at the film/substrate epitaxial heterojunction and the resulting grain structure of our films.
Supraferromagnetic correlations in clusters of magnetic nanoflowers
Authors: Bender P. , Honecker D. , Fernández Barquín L.
Published: September 2019

Magnetic nanoflowers are densely packed aggregates of superferromagnetically coupled iron oxide nanocrystallites, which excel during magnetic hyperthermia experiments. Here, we investigate the nature of the moment coupling within a powder of such nanoflowers using spin-resolved small-angle neutron scattering. Within the powder, the nanoparticles are agglomerated to clusters, and we can show that the moments of neighboring nanoflowers tend to align parallel to each other. Thus, the whole system resembles a hierarchical magnetic nanostructure consisting of three distinct levels, i.e., (i) the ferrimagnetic nanocrystallites as building blocks, (ii) the superferromagnetic nanoflowers, and (iii) the supraferromagnetic clusters of nanoflowers. We surmise that such a supraferromagnetic coupling explains the enhanced magnetic hyperthermia performance in the case of interacting nanoflowers.
A comparative analysis of surface hopping acceptance and decoherence algorithms within the neglect of back-reaction approximation
Authors: Smith Brendan , Akimov Alexey V.
Published: September 2019

We have implemented a Python-based software package within the Libra software for performing nonadiabatic molecular dynamics (NA-MD) within the neglect of back reaction approximation (NBRA). Available in the software are a wide variety of proposed hop acceptance (PHA) and decoherence methodologies. Using Libra, a comparative analysis of PHA schemes and decoherence methods is performed to examine thermal equilibrium in NA-MD simulations within the NBRA. The analysis is performed using 3 model systems, each of which highlights the effects of the different decoherence methods and PHA schemes on NA transitions. We find that the interplay between decoherence and PHA schemes is important for achieving detailed balance in the NBRA and discuss the conditions by which the detailed balance is achieved for each model. We discuss the qualitative features of NA dynamics computed using various combinations of decoherence and PHA schemes for a wide range of model and condition parameters such as temperature, energy gap magnitude, and dephasing times. Furthermore, we extend the analysis to include the Boltzmann corrected Ehrenfest methodology of Bastida and co-workers and compare the dynamics produced with it with that obtained using the surface hopping-based approach.
Study of the relationship between field lodging and stem quality traits of winter wheat in the north China plain
Authors: Feng Su-Wei , Ru Zhen-Gang , Ding Wei-Hua , Hu Tie-Zhu , Li Gan
Published: September 2019

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the North China Plain (NCP) is threatened by wheat lodging. Therefore, enhancing plant lodging resistance by improving stem quality traits is crucial to maintaining high stable yields of winter wheat. A consecutive 7-year field experiment was conducted to study the effects of stem traits on lodging resistance and the yield of four winter wheat cultivars (Bainong 418, Aikang 58, Wenmai 6 and Zhoumai 18). The results indicated that rainfall is often accompanied by strong winds that can cause lodging in the field. Stalk bending strength and wall thickness of the second internode showed significant negative correlations with lodging index, and a higher lodging index indicated increased lodging risk, which, in turn, could seriously affect the grain yield of wheat. Significant regression relationships were observed between lodging index and population lodging resistance strength, as measured using a crop lodging resistance electronic measuring device. Statistical analysis revealed that yield components and the grain yield of Bainong 418 were higher than those of the other cultivars; there was no significant difference between Bainong 418 and Aikang 58 in lodging index, stalk bending strength or single-stalk and population lodging resistance strengths at anthesis and the middle filling stages, but the mean plant height of Bainong 418 was significantly higher than that of Aikang 58. These results provide a new and reliable method for assessing lodging resistance capacity and indicate that greater lodging resistance, as determined by simultaneously considering plant height and basal stem strength, is an important way to achieve high, stable yield in winter wheat.
The thermal insulation properties of oak (Quercus mongolica) bark and the applicability of stem heating models
Authors: Wei Rui , Yang Guang , Zhang Jili , Wang Xiaohong , Zhou Xin
Published: September 2019

The survival probability of a tree exposed to surface fire varies widely depending on its bark. To advance the understanding of insulation properties of bark, mean thickness (BT), moisture content (MCb), surface structure (BS) and density (ρb) of bark samples of Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica) (n=395) for four diameter classes were investigated. In addition, data from 158 heating experiments simulating low-intensity surface fires in the laboratory were used to assess the relative importance of these properties affecting thermal insulation and evaluate the applicability of two stem heating models, an analytical, one-dimensional model and the FireStem2D model. Overall, BT is the best predictor of bark insulation capacity and MCb only contributes significantly to explain the residence time of cambial temperature >60°C (τ>60), whereas ρb and BS have minor effects. Although the two stem heating models overestimate the time required for cambium temperatures to reach 60°C (τ60), FireStem2D performed better than analytical model. Furthermore, FireStem2D provides good predictions of τ>60 and maximal cambial temperature (Tmax). In addition, errors in FireStem2D may be driven mainly by the errors in temperature measurement and the limitation of a two-dimensional model. The study provides a better knowledge of interactions between bark properties and heat transfer, which may improve the predictability of fire-caused stem injury for Mongolian oak and other species with similar bark properties.
Challenging judicial impartiality
Authors: Plug H. José
Published: September 2019

Impartiality is one of the core values underlying the administration of justice. A complaint about a judge’s supposed lack of impartiality may be filed on the grounds of the judge’s verbal behavior. In this article I will analyze complaints that concern the judge’s use of rhetorical questions during court hearings. I will explore what role these complaints may play in the strategic maneuvering of a party who seeks the judge’s disqualification.
Low temperature traps myosin motors of mammalian muscle in a refractory state that prevents activation
Authors: Caremani Marco , Brunello Elisabetta , Linari Marco , Fusi Luca , Irving Thomas C. , Gore David , Piazzesi Gabriella , Irving Malcolm , Lombardi Vincenzo , Reconditi Massimo
Published: September 2019

Myosin motors in the thick filament of resting striated (skeletal and cardiac) muscle are trapped in an OFF state, in which the motors are packed in helical tracks on the filament surface, inhibiting their interactions with actin and utilization of ATP. To investigate the structural changes induced in the thick filament of mammalian skeletal muscle by changes in temperature, we collected x-ray diffraction patterns from the fast skeletal muscle extensor digitorum longus of the mouse in the temperature range from near physiological (35°C) to 10°C, in which the maximal isometric force (T0) shows a threefold decrease. In resting muscle, x-ray reflections signaling the OFF state of the thick filament indicate that cooling produces a progressive disruption of the OFF state with motors moving away from the ordered helical tracks on the surface of the thick filament. We find that the number of myosin motors in the OFF state at 10°C is half of that at 35°C. At T0, changes in the x-ray signals that report the fraction and conformation of actin-attached motors can be explained if the threefold decrease in force associated with lowering temperature is due not only to a decrease in the force-generating transition in the actin-attached motors but also to a twofold decrease in the number of such motors. Thus, lowering the temperature reduces to the same extent the fraction of motors in the OFF state at rest and the fraction of motors attached to actin at T0, suggesting that motors that leave the OFF state accumulate in a disordered refractory state that makes them unavailable for interaction with actin upon stimulation. This regulatory effect of temperature on the thick filament of mammalian skeletal muscle could represent an energetically convenient mechanism for hibernating animals.
Actin and myosin dynamics are independent duringDrosophilaembryonic wound repair
Authors: Kobb Anna B. , Rothenberg Katheryn E. , Fernandez-Gonzalez Rodrigo
Published: September 2019

Collective cell movements play a central role in embryonic development, tissue repair, and metastatic disease. Cell movements are often coordinated by supracellular networks formed by the cytoskeletal protein actin and the molecular motor nonmuscle myosin II. During wound closure in the embryonic epidermis, the cells around the wound migrate collectively into the damaged region. In Drosophila embryos, mechanical tension stabilizes myosin at the wound edge, facilitating the assembly of a supracellular myosin cable around the wound that coordinates cell migration. Here, we show that actin is also stabilized at the wound edge. However, loss of tension or myosin activity does not affect the dynamics of actin at the wound margin. Conversely, pharmacological stabilization of actin does not affect myosin levels or dynamics around the wound. Together, our data suggest that actin and myosin are independently regulated during embryonic wound closure, thus conferring robustness to the embryonic wound healing response.
Research Priorities in Family Caregiving: Process and Outcomes of a Conference on Family-Centered Care Across the Trajectory of Serious Illness
Authors: Harvath Theresa A , Mongoven Jennifer M , Bidwell Julie T , Cothran Fawn A , Sexson Kathryn E , Mason Diana J , Buckwalter Kathleen
Published: September 2019

The number of older adults living with functional decline and serious illness is growing exponentially at a time when availability of both family and professional caregivers is strained. Achieving optimal outcomes for this vulnerable population involves advancing the knowledge needed to improve the quality of care delivered by families, health professionals, and community programs. Recent reports from National Institute of Health and the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine have called for the identification of gaps in key areas of family caregiving intervention research. In March 2018, the Family Caregiving Institute at UC Davis convened an invitational meeting of over 50 thought leaders in family caregiving—representing service agencies, funding organizations, and academia—to participate in the Research Priorities in Caregiving Summit: Advancing Family-Centered Care across the Trajectory of Serious Illness. Using an iterative process, attendees identified the top 10 research priorities and created research priority statements that incorporated a definition of the priority topic, rationale for the priority; problem(s) to address; priority population(s); and example research topics. The research priority statements serve as a roadmap for research development that will address the most significant gaps in the caregiving field.
Mucosal Biomarker of Innate Immune Activation Predicts Response to Vedolizumab in Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Osterman Mark T , Gordon Ilyssa O , Davis Elisabeth M , Ciorba Matthew , Glover Sarah C , Abraham Bincy , Khan Freeha , Guo Xueyan , Yee Eric U , Allard Felicia D , Claggett Brian , Shen Bo , Liu Julia J
Published: September 2019

Objective

Mucosal barrier dysfunction plays a crucial role in intestinal inflammation in Crohn’s disease (CD). Intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) death resulting from innate immune activation, termed pyroptosis, was recently found to be a cause of this barrier defect. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of pretreatment ileal biopsy pyroptosis as a biomarker for clinical response to vedolizumab in CD.

Design

Crohn’s disease patients ranging 18 to 80 years old from 5 IBD centers with pre-vedolizumab ileal biopsies during colonoscopy were enrolled. Biopsies were stained for activated caspases, and levels of ileal IEC pyroptosis levels were quantified. The primary outcome was clinical response 6 months after therapy, defined as a reduction of Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI) of ≥5 points from baseline. Secondary outcomes included clinical remission, defined as HBI <5, and endoscopic improvement, as measured by the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s Disease (SES-CD).

Results

One hundred CD patients (45 male, 55 female), median age 47 (19, 78) years, were included; clinical response rate was 60%, and clinical remission was 36%. The response rate in patients with ileal pyroptosis <14 positive cells per 1000 IECs was significantly higher than those above the threshold: 89% (25 of 28) vs 49% (35 of 72), odds ratio (OR) 8.8 (95% CI, 2.3–48.6; P < 0.001). Corresponding remission rates were 54% (15 of 28) vs 29% (21 of 72; OR 2.8 [1.03–7.59; P = 0.036]). For endoscopic improvement, ileal pyroptosis of 22 positive cells per 1000 IECs was the optimal threshold that determines the magnitude SES-CD change.

Conclusions

Ileal biopsy IEC pyroptosis was predictive of clinical response and endoscopic improvement to vedolizmab in CD patients.