bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of magnetic field pretreatment on the corrosion behavior of carbon steel in static seawater
Authors: Zhao Shuanzhu , Wang Yaxin , Zhao Yunxiu , Sun Xiaotong , Zhang Huijuan , Piao Hong-Guang , Zhang Yujiao , Huang Yanliang
Published: January 2020

Effect of magnetic field pretreatment on carbon steel corrosion behavior in seawater was investigated by electrochemical methods. This method can inhibit the corrosion behavior and is expected to provide a new way for marine anti-corrosion.
Metallic Ti3O5 hierarchical porous microspheres with an enhanced photothermal property
Authors: Du Ruifeng , Liu Wei , Bai Hua , Wang Hongtao , Xi Guangcheng
Published: January 2020

Metallic γ-Ti3O5 hierarchical porous microspheres with strong localized surface plasmon resonance are reported, which can inhibit cancer cell viability in vitro and disrupt tumor tissue growth in vivo under the irradiation of near infrared light.
A possible unaccounted source of atmospheric sulfate formation: amine-promoted hydrolysis and non-radical oxidation of sulfur dioxide
Authors: Wang Shixian , Zeng Xiao Cheng , Li Hui , Francisco Joseph S.
Published: January 2020

Based onab initiosimulations, we show that dimethylamine molecules can also promote the conversion of atmospheric SO2to sulfate.
A robust photoluminescence screening assay identifies uracil-DNA glycosylase inhibitors against prostate cancer
Authors: Li Guodong , Henry Stuart Adam , Liu Hao , Kang Tian-Shu , Nao Sang-Cuo , Zhao Yichao , Wu Chun , Jin Jianwen , Zhang Jia-Tong , Leung Chung-Hang , Wai Hong Chan Philip , Ma Dik-Lung
Published: January 2020

The discovery of UDG inhibitors against prostate cancer by using a robust photoluminescence screening assay that can avoid false negatives arising from the background fluorescence.
Collision-induced and complex-mediated roaming dynamics in the H + C2H4 → H2 + C2H3 reaction
Authors: Fu Yan-Lin , Lu Xiaoxiao , Han Yong-Chang , Fu Bina , Zhang Dong H. , Bowman Joel M.
Published: January 2020

Collision-induced and complex-mediated roaming mechanisms are revealed for an important bimolecular reaction in combustion.
Motion, deformation and pearling of ferrofluid droplets due to a tunable moving magnetic field
Authors: Paul Gayatri , Das Prasanta Kumar , Manna Indranil
Published: January 2020

Ferrofluid droplets are actuated by a controllable magnetic field over a hydrophobic inclined surface wherein the droplets undergo deformation, dissociation, tearing and pearling.
High mobility of lattice molecules and defects during the early stage of protein crystallization
Authors: Yamazaki Tomoya , Van Driessche Alexander E. S. , Kimura Yuki
Published: January 2020

Dynamic behavior of defects in lysozyme protein crystals reveals that the lattice molecules are mobile throughout the crystal.
Bimetal oxide-derived flower-like heterogeneous Co/MnO@C composites with synergistic magnetic–dielectric attenuation for electromagnetic wave absorption
Authors: Xu Dongmei , Wu Nannan , Le Kai , Wang Fenglong , Wang Zhou , Wu Lili , Liu Wei , Ouyang Ancheng , Liu Jiurong
Published: January 2020

Flower-like heterogeneous Co/MnO@C composites were facilely synthesized for highly efficient electromagnetic wave absorption. The effect of Co contents on the electromagnetic performance and the absorption mechanism was thoroughly investigated.
Peroxocobalt(iii) species activates nitrilesviaa superoxocobalt(ii) diradical state
Authors: Cho Dasol , Choi Seulhui , Cho Jaeheung , Baik Mu-Hyun
Published: January 2020

The dioxygenation of nitriles by [CoIII(TBDAP)(O2)]+(TBDAP =N,N-di-tert-butyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)-pyridinophane) is investigated using DFT-calculations.
MicroRNA-221 is a potential biomarker of myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
Authors: Huang Derong , Chen Zhongxiu , Wang Jie , Chen Yucheng , Liu Daxing , Lin Ke
Published: January 2020

Aim: Circulating microRNA expression has become a biomarker of cardiovascular disease; however, the association of microRNA expression between circulation and myocardium in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy remains unclear. The present study aimed to find a circulating biomarker correlated not only to myocardial expression, but also to cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Method: Forty-two cases of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) diagnosed by echocardiography and magnetic resonance were analysed for microRNA expression in plasma and myocardial tissue. Results: The results showed that myocardial miR-221 was significantly increased (z = −2.249, P = 0.024) and significantly correlated with collagen volume fraction (CVF) (r = 0.516, P < 0.001), late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) (r = 0.307, P = 0.048), and peripheral circulation (r = 0.434, P = 0.004). Moreover, circulating miR-221 expression was significantly correlated with CVF (r = 0.454, P = 0.002), LGE (r = 0.630, P = 0.004), maximum interventricular septal thickness (MIVST) of echocardiography (r = 0.318, P = 0.042), and MIVST of magnetic resonance (r = 0.342, P = 0.027). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of miR-221 was 0.764. Conclusions: Circulating miR-221 is consistent with that in myocardial tissue, and correlated with myocardial fibrosis and hypertrophy. It can be used as a biomarker for evaluating myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis in HOCM.
A susceptibility biomarker identification strategy based on significantly differentially expressed ceRNA triplets for ischemic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Zou Yuqing , Wang Yahui , Rong Zherou , Wei Benliang , Liu Yang , Song Zhaona , Li Wenshuai , Hu Erqiang , Deng Gui , He Yuehan , Lv Junjie , Chen Lina , Li Wan
Published: January 2020

Ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) is a common human heart disease that causes death. No effective biomarkers for ICM could be found in existing databases, which is detrimental to the in-depth study of this disease. In the present study, ICM susceptibility biomarkers were identified using a proposed strategy based on RNA-Seq and miRNA-Seq data of ICM and normal samples. Significantly differentially expressed competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) triplets were constructed using permutation tests and differentially expressed mRNAs, miRNAs and lncRNAs. Candidate ICM susceptible genes were screened out as differentially expressed genes in significantly differentially expressed ceRNA triplets enriched in ICM-related functional classes. Finally, eight ICM susceptibility genes and their significantly correlated lncRNAs with high classification accuracy were identified as ICM susceptibility biomarkers. These biomarkers would contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of ICM. The proposed strategy could be extended to other complex diseases without disease biomarkers in public databases.
Clozapine protects adult neural stem cells from ketamine-induced cell death in correlation with decreased apoptosis and autophagy
Authors: Lundberg Mathias , Curbo Sophie , Bohman Hannes , Agartz Ingrid , Ögren Sven-Ove , Patrone Cesare , Mansouri Shiva
Published: January 2020

Adult neurogenesis, the production of newborn neurons from neural stem cells (NSCs) has been suggested to be decreased in patients with schizophrenia. A similar finding was observed in an animal model of schizophrenia, as indicated by decreased bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labelling cells in response to a non-competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. The antipsychotic drug clozapine was shown to counteract the observed decrease in BrdU-labelled cells in hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). However, phenotypic determination by immunohistochemistry analysis could not reveal whether BrdU-positive cells were indeed NSCs. Using a previously established cell model for analysing NSC protection in vitro, we investigated a protective effect of clozapine on NSCs.

Primary NSCs were isolated from the mouse subventricular zone (SVZ), we show that clozapine had a NSC protective activity alone, as evident by employing an ATP cell viability assay. In contrast, haloperidol did not show any NSC protective properties. Subsequently, cells were exposed to the non-competitive NMDA-receptor antagonist ketamine. Clozapine, but not haloperidol, had a NSC protective/anti-apoptotic activity against ketamine-induced cytotoxicity. The observed NSC protective activity of clozapine was associated with increased expression of the anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2, decreased expression of the pro-apoptotic cleaved form of caspase-3 and associated with decreased expression of the autophagosome marker 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3-II).

Collectively, our findings suggest that clozapine may have a protective/anti-apoptotic effect on NSCs, supporting previous in vivo observations, indicating a neurogenesis-promoting activity for clozapine. If the data are further confirmed in vivo, the results may encourage an expanded use of clozapine to restore impaired neurogenesis in schizophrenia.
Characterization of C3larvinA, a novel RhoA-targeting ADP-ribosyltransferase toxin produced by the honey bee pathogen,Paenibacillus larvae
Authors: Turner Madison , Tremblay Olivier , Heney Kayla A. , Lugo Miguel R. , Ebeling Julia , Genersch Elke , Merrill A. Rod
Published: January 2020

C3larvinA is a putative virulence factor produced by Paenibacillus larvae enterobacterial-repetitive-intergenic-consensus (ERIC) III/IV (strain 11-8051). Biochemical, functional and structural analyses of C3larvinA revealed that it belongs to the C3-like mono-ADP-ribosylating toxin subgroup. Mammalian RhoA was the target substrate for its transferase activity suggesting that it may be the biological target of C3larvinA. The kinetic parameters of the NAD+ substrate for the transferase (KM = 75 ± 10 µM) and glycohydrolase (GH) (KM = 107 ± 20 µM) reactions were typical for a C3-like bacterial toxin, including the Plx2A virulence factor from Paenibacillus larvae ERIC I. Upon cytoplasmic expression in yeast, C3larvinA caused a growth-defective phenotype indicating that it is an active C3-like toxin and is cytotoxic to eukaryotic cells. The catalytic variant of the Q187-X-E189 motif in C3larvinA showed no cytotoxicity toward yeast confirming that the cytotoxicity of this factor depends on its enzymatic activity. A homology consensus model of C3larvinA with NAD+ substrate was built on the structure of Plx2A, provided additional confirmation that C3larvinA is a member of the C3-like mono-ADP-ribosylating toxin subgroup. A homology model of C3larvinA with NADH and RhoA was built on the structure of the C3cer-NADH-RhoA complex which provided further evidence that C3larvinA is a C3-like toxin that shares an identical catalytic mechanism with C3cer from Bacillus cereus. C3larvinA induced actin cytoskeleton reorganization in murine macrophages, whereas in insect cells, vacuolization and bi-nucleated cells were observed. These cellular effects are consistent with C3larvinA disrupting RhoA function by covalent modification that is shared among C3-like bacterial toxins.
Astroglial connexins and cognition: memory formation or deterioration?
Authors: He Jin-Ting , LI Xiao-Yan , Yang Le , Zhao Xin
Published: January 2020

Connexins are the membrane proteins that form high-conductance plasma membrane channels and are the important constituents of gap junctions and hemichannels. Among different types of connexins, connexin 43 is the most widely expressed and studied gap junction proteins in astrocytes. Due to the key involvement of astrocytes in memory impairment and abundant expression of connexins in astrocytes, astroglial connexins have been projected as key therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s disease. On the other hand, the role of connexin gap junctions and hemichannels in memory formation and consolidation has also been reported. Moreover, deletion of these proteins and loss of gap junction communication result in loss of short-term spatial memory. Accordingly, both memory formation and memory deteriorating functions of astrocytes-located connexins have been documented. Physiologically expressed connexins may be involved in the memory formation, while pathologically increased expression of connexins with consequent excessive activation of astrocytes may induce neuronal injury and cognitive decline. The present review describes the memory formation as well as memory deteriorating functions of astroglial connexins in memory disorders of different etiology with possible mechanisms.
Couplet medicines of leech and centipede granules improve erectile dysfunction via inactivation of the CaSR/PLC/PKC signaling in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
Authors: Ma Jian Xiong , Wang Bin , Ding Cai Fei , Li Hai Song , Jiang Xue Juan , Wang Chen Ye , Yu Jia , Chen Wang Qiang
Published: January 2020

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the significant complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), and CASR plays an important role in cellular antiapoptosis and NO production in the vascular endothelium by activating PKC. The present study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of Leech and Centipede Granules (LCG) through the CaSR/PLC/PKC signaling. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with streptozotocin to induce the DM model. After 10 weeks, an apomorphine test was used to confirm DMED. Rats with DMED were administrated with LCG and U73122 for 4 weeks. Fasting blood glucose, body weight, insulin and glucagon levels were measured. Erectile function in rats was assessed by apomorphine. Serums were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry, and penile tissues were harvested for histologic and the expression of related targets analyses. After treatment, fasting blood glucose, body weight, insulin, glucagon levels, and erectile function were significantly ameliorated in the LCG groups. The LOX-1, NOX, and EMPs concentrations were significantly decreased with LCG treatment. LCG also continuously increased NO and decreased ET-1 content in penile tissues. LCG and U73122 administration also improved penile fibrosis by significantly decreasing VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and CD62P. The data also showed that LCG reduced the apoptosis level in the penis. Furthermore, the inhibited activation of the CaSR/PLC/PKC pathway was observed in DMED rats with LCG treatment. Collectively, LCG significantly ameliorated erectile function of DMED rats via increased NO generation, inhibiting endothelial cells apoptosis and penile fibrosis, which might benefit from the suppression of CaSR/PLC/PKC pathway in DMED rats.
Intrusion detection using dynamic feature selection and fuzzy temporal decision tree classification for wireless sensor networks
Authors: Nancy Periasamy , Muthurajkumar S. , Ganapathy S. , Santhosh Kumar S.V.N. , Selvi M. , Arputharaj Kannan
Published: January 2020

Intrusion detection systems assume a noteworthy job in the provision of security in wireless Sensor networks. The existing intrusion detection systems focus only on the detection of the known types of attacks. However, it neglects to recognise the new types of attacks, which are introduced by malicious users leading to vulnerability and information loss in the network. In order to address this challenge, a new intrusion detection system, which detects the known and unknown types of attacks using an intelligent decision tree classification algorithm, has been proposed. For this purpose, a novel feature selection algorithm named dynamic recursive feature selection algorithm, which selects an optimal number of features from the data set is proposed. In addition, an intelligent fuzzy temporal decision tree algorithm is also proposed by extending the decision tree algorithm and integrated with convolution neural networks to detect the intruders effectively. The experimental analysis carried out using KDD cup data set and network trace data set demonstrates the effectiveness of this proposed approach. It proved that the false positive rate, energy consumption, and delay are reduced in the proposed work. In addition, the proposed system increases the network performance through increased packet delivery ratio.
WidePLive: a coupled low‐delay overlay construction mechanism and peer‐chunk priority‐based chunk scheduling for P2P live video streaming
Authors: Sina Majid , Dehghan Mehdi , Masoud Rahmani Amir , Reshadi Midia
Published: January 2020

In recent years, peer‐to‐peer (P2P) live streaming is popularised by the scalability and cost‐effectiveness of P2P networks. User satisfaction in P2P live streaming systems depends on several factors, including chunk scheduling techniques and overlay construction mechanisms in these systems. P2P live streaming systems are involved with the peer and chunk selection problems to improve quality parameters of streaming, such as playback continuity, startup delay, and playback latency. In this study, WidePLive as a P2P live video streaming system is proposed. In WidePLive, the authors proposed a low‐delay overlay construction mechanism and a mixed strategy based chunk scheduling scheme which are coupled together by a contribution‐aware peer selection strategy as a coupling feature to improve the quality parameter. The proposed overlay construction mechanism allows new peers to have the opportunity to connect with previous peers near the server and forms a low‐depth and low‐delay overlay. The proposed chunk scheduling scheme uses the benefits of Rarest First and Greedy strategies to trade‐off between quality parameters. The evaluation of WidePLive simulation results demonstrates an acceptable improvement in streaming performance and shows that WidePLive has lower startup delay and playback latency and higher playback continuity compared to previous works.
AN‐aided probabilistic robust and secure beamforming with imperfect LCSI and statistical ECSI
Authors: Xu Jing , Xu Siwen
Published: January 2020

The probabilistic robust beamforming with the help of artificial noise (AN) is investigated in this study, where a multiple‐input‐single‐output wiretap scenario with K single‐antenna eavesdroppers is considered. Based on a more practical assumption that the transmitter derives imperfect legitimate user's channel state information (LCSI) and statistical eavesdroppers' channel state information (ECSI), secrecy rate maximisation (SRM) under a total transmit power constraint and K probabilistic secrecy outage constraints are studied. To deal with it, the K probabilistic constraints are firstly approximated to the deterministic worst‐case ones by resorting to sphere bounding. Secondly, by introducing a slack variable the approximated worst‐case SRM can be further recast as a series of semi‐definite programmings. In this way, the jointly optimised robust beamforming vector and the AN covariance are determined in a tractable convex fashion. Moreover, the authors can prove that the derived AN‐aided secure robust beamforming actually is the optimal solution to the approximated worst‐case SRM problem. Numerical results reveal that the proposed AN‐aided probabilistic secure robust beamforming could achieve outage secrecy rate improvement in comparison with the existing optimal worst‐case robust beamforming without AN, optimal outage constrained robust beamforming without AN, the non‐robust isotropic AN transmission, and the non‐robust AN‐aided beamforming scheme.
License plate segmentation and recognition system using deep learning and OpenVINO
Authors: Castro‐Zunti Riel D. , Yépez Juan , Ko Seok‐Bum
Published: January 2020

As Intelligent Transportation Systems applications increase in prevalence, Automatic License Plate Recognition solutions must be made continually faster and more accurate. The authors propose an embedded system for fast and accurate license plate segmentation and recognition using a modified single shot detector (SSD) with a feature extractor based on depthwise separable convolutions and linear bottlenecks. The feature extractor requires less parameters than the original SSD + VGG implementation, enabling fast inference. Tested on the Caltech Cars dataset, the proposed model achieves 96.46% segmentation and 96.23% recognition accuracy. Tested on the UCSD‐Stills dataset, the proposed model achieves 99.79% segmentation and 99.79% recognition accuracy. The authors achieve a per‐plate (resized to 300 × 300 px) processing time of 59 ms on an Intel Xeon CPU with 12 cores (2.60 GHz per core), 14 ms using the same CPU and OpenVINO (a neural network acceleration platform), and 66 ms using the proposed low‐cost Raspberry Pi 3 and Intel Neural Compute Stick 2 with OpenVINO embedded system.
Disturbance‐deadbeat inductance observer‐based current predictive control for surface‐mounted permanent magnet synchronous motors drives
Authors: Zhang Xiaoguang , Cheng Yu , Zhang Liang
Published: January 2020

In order to improve the parameter robustness of the model predictive control (MPC), a novel current predictive control method is proposed here. Firstly, the incremental prediction model of the permanent‐magnet synchronous motor is used to predict the current of the next instant, due to the advantage of without permanent‐magnetic flux linkage parameter. Furthermore, the disturbance‐deadbeat inductance observer (DDIO) is proposed, in which the parameter disturbance at the next instant is predicted and is used as the reference to extracted inductance information. Finally, a DDIO + MPC method is developed to improve the parameter sensitivity of the predictive control. The simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Single‐phase current source converter with high reliability and high power density
Authors: Xiong Wenjing , Liu Yonglu , Lin Zhihao , Sun Yao , Su Mei
Published: January 2020

For single‐phase current source converter (SCSC), at least one upper device and one lower device have to be gated on and maintained at any time. Otherwise, an open‐circuit of the DC‐link current would occur and destroy the devices. In addition, a bulky DC‐link inductor is usually required to obtain a smooth DC‐link current. To address these issues, this study proposes a novel SCSC with high reliability and high‐power density. In the proposed circuit, even all the switches are turned on or turned off simultaneously, neither short‐circuit nor open‐circuit will happen. The inductance in DC‐side is reduced significantly byadopting the active power decoupling technique. First, the operation principle of the proposed converter is introduced in detail. Then, a closed‐loop control method is presented to regulate the DC‐link current, maintain the DC component of the decoupling capacitor voltage, and achieve sinusoidal grid current. Besides, the parameter design of the circuit and controller is investigated. Moreover, the efficiency comparison between the proposed and other SCSCs is carried out. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed topology is verified by the experimental results.
Robust, coordinated control of SSO in wind‐integrated power system
Authors: Wang Tong , Yang Jing , Padhee Malhar , Bi Jingtian , Pal Anamitra , Wang Zengping
Published: January 2020

This study presents a robust, coordinated control methodology for damping sub‐synchronous oscillations (SSOs) while considering power output variations from multiple wind farms. The proposed damping control strategy utilises the mixed H2/H∞ control with regional pole placement to suppress the oscillations. For ensuring applicability over a wider operating range, the convex polytopic theory is utilised by using different operating points as the vertices of a convex polytope. The centralised, coordinated controller for damping SSOs is designed using linear matrix inequalities. Furthermore, unmeasurable state variables, if present, are represented by corresponding output variables. The damping signal is implemented as active power and reactive power modulation of the rotor‐side converter of the doubly fed induction generators. A 4‐machine, 2‐area system and a 39‐machine New England system are used to demonstrate the performance of the proposed control. The simulation results show that the polytopic controller can not only provide requisite damping to the SSO modes of interest, but also has good control performance when the wind power outputs change over a wide range.
Optimal operation of AC–DC distribution network with multi park integrated energy subnetworks considering flexibility
Authors: Geng Qi , Hu Yan , He Jianzong , Zhou Yongyan , Zhao Wei , Xu Xinxing , Wei Wei
Published: January 2020

In order to improve the utilisation rate of renewable energy and flexibility of the system, the AC–DC distribution network with multiple park integrated energy subnetwork (PIESN) based on multi‐port power electronic transformer (MPPET) is proposed. First, a power‐sharing model of interconnected PIESNs based on MPPET is built, in which the port power of MPPET can be controlled. Then the flexibility demand and supply of electricity, heat and cooling are analysed and a flexibility‐sharing model among multi‐PIESN is established. Multi‐energy flexibility conversion mechanism is proposed and the flexibility index is established. Moreover, the optimal operation problem is formulated and solved. The objective function is the comprehensive operation cost, which includes generation cost, energy cost of PIESN, network loss cost, MPPET loss cost, carbon emission cost and electricity storage system operation cost. Finally, simulation on the modified IEEE33 system shows that the proposed model can make the system be in an adequate flexibility, improve the utilisation rate of renewable energy, reduce load shedding and realise the power sharing among multi‐PIESNs.
Identification of specific microRNA–messenger RNA regulation pairs in four subtypes of breast cancer
Authors: Guo Ling , Zhang Aihua , Xiong Jie
Published: January 2020

Four subtypes of breast cancer, luminal A, luminal B, basal‐like, human epidermal growth factor receptor‐enriched, have been identified based on gene expression profiles of human tumours. The goal of this study is to find whether the same groups' genes would exhibit different networks among the four subtypes. Differential expressed genes between each of the four subtypes and the normal samples were identified. The overlaps between the four groups of differentially expressed genes were used to construct regulations networks for each of the four subtypes. Univariate and multivariate Cox regressions were employed to test the genes in the four regulation networks. This study demonstrated that the common genes in four subtypes showed different regulation. Also, the hsa‐miR‐182 and decorin pair performs different functions among the four subtypes of breast cancer. The result indicated that heterogeneity of breast cancer is not only reflected in the different expression patterns among different genes, but also in the different regulatory networks of the same group of genes.
Cold gas and dust: Hunting spiral-like structures in early-type galaxies
Authors: Yıldız M. K. , Peletier R. F. , Duc P.-A. , Serra P.
Published: January 2020

Context. Observations of neutral hydrogen (H I) and molecular gas show that 50% of all nearby early-type galaxies contain some cold gas. Molecular gas is always found in small gas discs in the central region of the galaxy, while neutral hydrogen is often distributed in a low-column density disc or ring typically extending well beyond the stellar body. Dust is frequently found in early-type galaxies as well.

Aims. The goal of our study is to understand the link between dust and cold gas in nearby early-type galaxies as a function of H I content.

Methods. We analyse deep optical g − r images obtained with the MegaCam camera at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope for a sample of 21 H I-rich and 41 H I-poor early-type galaxies.

Results. We find that all H I-rich galaxies contain dust seen as absorption. Moreover, in 57% of these H I-rich galaxies, the dust is distributed in a large-scale spiral pattern. Although the dust detection rate is relatively high in the H I-poor galaxies (∼59%), most of these systems exhibit simpler dust morphologies without any evidence of spiral structures. We find that the H I-rich galaxies possess more complex dust morphology extending to almost two times larger radii than H I-poor objects. We measured the dust content of the galaxies from the optical colour excess and find that H I-rich galaxies contain six times more dust (in mass) than H I-poor ones. In order to maintain the dust structures in the galaxies, continuous gas accretion is needed, and the substantial H I gas reservoirs in the outer regions of early-type galaxies can satisfy this need for a long time. We find that there is a good correspondence between the observed masses of the gas and dust, and it is also clear that dust is present in regions further than 3 Reff.

Conclusions. Our findings indicate an essential relation between the presence of cold gas and dust in early-type galaxies and offer a way to study the interstellar medium in more detail than what is possible with H I observations.
Solar photosphere magnetization
Authors: Bommier Véronique
Published: January 2020

Context.A recent review shows that observations performed with different telescopes, spectral lines, and interpretation methods all agree about a vertical magnetic field gradient in solar active regions on the order of 3 G km−1, when a horizontal magnetic field gradient of only 0.3 G km−1is found. This represents an inexplicable discrepancy with respect to the divB = 0 law.

Aims.The objective of this paper is to explain these observations through the lawB = μ0(H+M) in magnetized media.

Methods.Magnetization is due to plasma diamagnetism, which results from the spiral motion of free electrons or charges about the magnetic field. Their usual photospheric densities lead to very weak magnetizationM, four orders of magnitude lower thanH. It is then assumed that electrons escape from the solar interior, where their thermal velocity is much higher than the escape velocity, in spite of the effect of protons. They escape from lower layers in a quasi-static spreading, and accumulate in the photosphere. By evaluating the magnetic energy of an elementary atom embedded in the magnetized medium obeying the macroscopic lawB = μ0(H+M), it is shown that the Zeeman Hamiltonian is due to the effect ofH. Thus, what is measured isH.

Results.The decrease in density with height is responsible for non-zero divergence ofM, which is compensated for by the divergence ofH, in order to ensure div B = 0. The behavior of the observed quantities is recovered.

Conclusions.The problem of the divergence of the observed magnetic field in solar active regions finally reveals evidence of electron accumulation in the solar photosphere. This is not the case of the heavier protons, which remain in lower layers. An electric field would thus be present in the solar interior, but as the total charge remains negligible, no electric field or effect would result outside the star.
A compendium of distances to molecular clouds in the Star Formation Handbook
Authors: Zucker Catherine , Speagle Joshua S. , Schlafly Edward F. , Green Gregory M. , Finkbeiner Douglas P. , Goodman Alyssa , Alves João
Published: January 2020

Accurate distances to local molecular clouds are critical for understanding the star and planet formation process, yet distance measurements are often obtained inhomogeneously on a cloud-by-cloud basis. We have recently developed a method that combines stellar photometric data withGaiaDR2 parallax measurements in a Bayesian framework to infer the distances of nearby dust clouds to a typical accuracy of ∼5%. After refining the technique to target lower latitudes and incorporating deep optical data from DECam in the southern Galactic plane, we have derived a catalog of distances to molecular clouds in Reipurth (2008, Star Formation Handbook, Vols. I and II) which contains a large fraction of the molecular material in the solar neighborhood. Comparison with distances derived from maser parallax measurements towards the same clouds shows our method produces consistent distances with ≲10% scatter for clouds across our entire distance spectrum (150 pc−2.5 kpc). We hope this catalog of homogeneous distances will serve as a baseline for future work.
Hot Exoplanet Atmospheres Resolved with Transit Spectroscopy (HEARTS)
Authors: Bourrier V. , Ehrenreich D. , Lendl M. , Cretignier M. , Allart R. , Dumusque X. , Cegla H. M. , Suárez-Mascareño A. , Wyttenbach A. , Hoeijmakers H. J. , Melo C. , Kuntzer T. , Astudillo-Defru N. , Giles H. , Heng K. , Kitzmann D. , Lavie B. , Lovis C. , Murgas F. , Nascimbeni V. , Pepe F. , Pino L. , Segransan D. , Udry S.
Published: January 2020

Ultra-hot Jupiters offer interesting prospects for expanding our theories on dynamical evolution and the properties of extremely irradiated atmospheres. In this context, we present the analysis of new optical spectroscopy for the transiting ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-121b. We first refine the orbital properties of WASP-121b, which is on a nearly polar (obliquity ψNorth = 88.1 ± 0.25° or ψSouth = 91.11 ± 0.20°) orbit, and exclude a high differential rotation for its fast-rotating (P < 1.13 days), highly inclined (i⋆North = 8.1−2.6+3.0° or i⋆South = 171.9−3.4+2.5°) star. We then present a new method that exploits the reloaded Rossiter-McLaughlin technique to separate the contribution of the planetary atmosphere and of the spectrum of the stellar surface along the transit chord. Its application to HARPS transit spectroscopy of WASP-121b reveals the absorption signature from metals, likely atomic iron, in the planet atmospheric limb. The width of the signal (14.3 ± 1.2 km s−1) can be explained by the rotation of the tidally locked planet. Its blueshift (−5.2 ± 0.5 km s−1) could trace strong winds from the dayside to the nightside, or the anisotropic expansion of the planetary thermosphere.
The X-shooter Spectral Library (XSL): Data release 2
Authors: Gonneau A. , Lyubenova M. , Lançon A. , Trager S. C. , Peletier R. F. , Arentsen A. , Chen Y.-P. , Coelho P. R. T. , Dries M. , Falcón-Barroso J. , Prugniel P. , Sánchez-Blázquez P. , Vazdekis A. , Verro K.
Published: January 2020

We present the second data release (DR2) of the X-shooter Spectral Library (XSL), which contains all the spectra obtained over the six semesters of that program. This release supersedes our first data release from Chen et al. (2014, A&A, 565, A117), with a larger number of spectra (813 observations of 666 stars) and with a more extended wavelength coverage as the data from the near-infrared arm of the X-shooter spectrograph are now included. The DR2 spectra then consist of three segments that were observed simultaneously and, if combined, cover the range between ∼300 nm and ∼2.45 μm at a spectral resolving power close to R = 10 000. The spectra were corrected for instrument transmission and telluric absorption, and they were also corrected for wavelength-dependent flux-losses in 85% of the cases. On average, synthesized broad-band colors agree with those of the MILES library and of the combined IRTF and Extended IRTF libraries to within ∼1%. The scatter in these comparisons indicates typical errors on individual colors in the XSL of 2−4%. The comparison with 2MASS point source photometry shows systematics of up to 5% in some colors, which we attribute mostly to zero-point or transmission curve errors and a scatter that is consistent with the above uncertainty estimates. The final spectra were corrected for radial velocity and are provided in the rest-frame (with wavelengths in air). The spectra cover a large range of spectral types and chemical compositions (with an emphasis on the red giant branch), which makes this library an asset when creating stellar population synthesis models or for the validation of near-ultraviolet to near-infrared theoretical stellar spectra across the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
Differential abundances of open clusters and their tidal tails: Chemical tagging and chemical homogeneity
Authors: Casamiquela L. , Tarricq Y. , Soubiran C. , Blanco-Cuaresma S. , Jofré P. , Heiter U. , Tucci Maia M.
Published: January 2020

Context. Well studied open clusters (OCs) of the solar neighborhood are frequently used as reference objects to test galactic and stellar theories. For that purpose, their chemical composition needs to be known with a high level of confidence. It is also important to clarify if each OC is chemically homogeneous and if it has a unique chemical signature.

Aims. The aims of this work are (1) to determine accurate and precise abundances of 22 chemical species (from Na to Eu) in the Hyades, Praesepe, and Rupecht 147 by using a large number of stars at different evolutionary states, (2) to evaluate the level of chemical homogeneity of these OCs, and (3) to compare their chemical signatures.

Methods. We gathered ∼800 high resolution and high signal-to-noise spectra of ∼100 members in the three clusters, which were obtained with the latest memberships based on Gaia DR2 data. We built a pipeline, which computes atmospheric parameters and strictly line-by-line differential abundances among twin stars in our sample. With this method, we were able to reach a very high precision in the abundances (0.01–0.02 dex in most of the elements).

Results. We find large differences in the absolute abundances in some elements, which can be attributed to diffusion, non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) effects, or systematics in the analysis. For the three OCs, we find strong correlations in the differential abundances between different pairs of elements. According to our experiment with synthetic data, this can be explained by some level of chemical inhomogeneity. We compare differential abundances of several stars from the Hyades and Praesepe tails: The stars that differ more in chemical abundances also have distinct kinematics, even though they have been identified as members of the tail.

Conclusions. It is possible to obtain high precision abundances using a differential analysis even when mixing spectra from different instruments. With this technique, we find that the Hyades and Preasepe have the same chemical signature when G dwarfs and K giants are considered. Despite a certain level of inhomogeneity in each cluster, it is still possible to clearly distinguish the chemical signature of the older cluster Ruprecht 147 when compared to the Hyades and Praesepe.
Magnitude and direction of the local interstellar magnetic field inferred from Voyager 1 and 2 interstellar data and global heliospheric model
Authors: Izmodenov Vladislav V. , Alexashov Dmitry B.
Published: January 2020

In this Letter, we provide constraints on the direction and magnitude of the pristine (i.e., unperturbed by the interaction with the Sun) local interstellar magnetic field. The constraints are based on analysis of the interstellar magnetic field components at the heliopause measured by magnetometer instruments on board Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft. The analysis was performed with the help of our kinetic-magnetohydrodynamical model of the global heliosphere. The model shows that the solar-induced disturbances of the interstellar magnetic field are extended relatively far from the Sun up to 400−500 AU. The field is draped around the heliopause and compressed. By comparison of the model results with Voyager data we found that the model provides results comparable with the data for the interstellar magnetic field of BLISM = 3.7−3.8 μG in magnitude and directed towards ≈125° in longitude, and ≈37° in latitude in the heliographic inertial coordinate system.
Carbon Footprint Analysis of Napier Pakchong 1 Grass Plantation in Prachinburi Province
Authors: Somjai Thanutyot , Suwan Chalita
Published: January 2020

This study aimed to analyze the holistic amount of greenhouse gas emission of Napier Pakchong 1 grass plantation in Prachinburi Province, Thailand, in a term of carbon footprint. The carbon footprint of Napier plantation from irrigation plot and non-irrigation plot was 17.182 and 19.138 kg CO2e/ton of Napier Pakchong 1 grass, respectively. The largest contribution to the greenhouse gas emission came from the fertilizer application. The irrigation to the crop significantly increased the crop yield resulting in the reduction of greenhouse gas emission per unit weight of the crop. The suitable type and the optimal quantity of fertilizer application, as well as the most efficient irrigation system with the least environmental impact, were suggested for further study.
Investigation of Morphology and Photocatalytic Activities of Electrospun Chicken Feather Keratin/PLA/TiO2/Clay Nanofibers
Authors: Siriorn Isarankura Na Ayutthaya , Jatuphorn Wootthikanokkhan
Published: January 2020

This research has focused on the fabrication of electro spun-keratin base composite nanofiber, in order to develop the organic dye removal filters. The filters were prepared from a keratin-base material, which was extracted from chicken feathers. A biodegradable polymer including Poly (lactic acid) was blended into keratin to improve fibre process-ability. Titanium dioxide (anatase) and clay (Na-montmorillonite) were mixed into the PLA/Keratin blended solution prior to fabrication into non-woven fibre using the electro-spinning process. The objective of this research was to study the effect of TiO2 and clay on the process-ability, the morphology, and the filter efficiency (methylene blue removal) of the fibres. SEM images showed the morphology of small PLA/Keratin/clay-base fibres. SEM-scan mapping EDX technique showed a good dispersion of keratin, clay and TiO2 along the fibres. XRD pattern also showed the existence of PLA, keratin and TiO2. But the peak of clay was not strong enough. However, the evidence of clay was clearly shown by SEM-EDX technique as reported above. The capability to remove organic dye (methylene blue) was investigated by using UV-Vis spectrophotometer technique. From all of our results, it can be concluded that PLA/Keratin/TiO2/clay is an effective filter for the removal of organic dye from wastewater.
Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis of Fuel Oil for Hydrocarbons Upgrading
Authors: Amornraksa Suksun , Sritangthong Thanida
Published: January 2020

By-product upgrading is crucial in hydrocarbon processing industries as it can increase the competitiveness of the business. This research investigated opportunity to upgrade fuel oil by-product obtained from olefins production by using microwave pyrolysis. A lab-scale quartz reactor filled with placed inside a 1,200 watts household microwave oven was used for the experiments. Coconut-based activated carbon was used as a microwave receptor. Microwave powers were varied at 600 W, 840 W and 1,200 W to adjust cracking temperature between 800°C and 900°C. The effect of residence time was investigated by adjusting flow rate of N2 carrier gas. The chemical compositions and product yields were analyzed by using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). It was revealed that hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon gaseous product (alkanes, naphthenics and alkenes) were produced as the main products. For liquid products, the main compositions were cycloalkenes and polycyclic aromatic groups.
Utilization of Egg Albumen: Application and Optimization of Gelatin and Carrageenan for Pudding Production via Response Surface Methodology (RSM)
Authors: Eadmusik Sunee , Chaiya Daungporn , Soichuen Supaporn
Published: January 2020

This study was aimed to develop an albumen pudding by application and optimization of gelatin and carrageenan as food additives using response surface methodology (RSM). Albumen pudding was produced from 55% (v/v) albumen concentration. Effect of concentrations of gelatin (2, 4 and 6% (w/v)) and carrageenan (0.3, 0.5 and 0.7% (w/v)) on pudding’s physical and sensorial properties was investigated. Results revealed that a concentration of food additives correlated with syneresis, springiness, hardness, firmness and overall liking scores (R2= 0.932, 0.821, 0.956, 0.854 and 0.864, respectively). The higher gelatin and carrageenan concentrations added, the lower syneresis, springiness, hardness, firmness and overall liking scores were observed. The overall liking score ranged from 5.9-6.7 (slightly-liked to moderately-liked) compare to 7.5 (moderately-liked) of the control sample. From RSM analysis, the suitable concentrations of gelatin and carrageenan were 1.5-5.6% (w/v) and 0.25-0.61% (w/v), respectively.
Start-ups, bearers of innovation in globalizing environment and their valuation
Authors: Achimská Veronika
Published: January 2020

The paper presents chosen methods of star-up valuation. In the context of globalization, innovations are clearly bearers of a potential enterprises’ competitiveness, start-ups are consider as their most important sources. Start-ups are mainly based on the human capital designed to create novel products, services, processes, and bring them to the markets. The basic precondition for meaningful growth of start-ups is favourable business environment (legal and administrative point of view) and framework supporting innovative entrepreneurship including access to external sources of financing. Start-ups are investments with a significant degree of uncertainty, lacking any characteristics pointing to their financial and economic performance from a historical perspective, which restricts the use of “traditional” business valuation methods. It should also be pointed out that, as there is no uniform valuation for maturity enterprises, there is no uniform procedure for valuing of a business even in the case of start-ups. The presented approaches take into account decisive criteria of start-ups, including a life cycle of a start-up in which an investment is made, and other factors affecting valuation. Their use from a theoretical point of view is generalized, the practical use is already determined by specific conditions under which the valuation takes place.
A Global View of Psychology in the Manager´s Work
Authors: Gresakova Emilia , Chlebikova Darina
Published: January 2020

The aim of the paper is to define a global view of the role of psychology in the manager´s work. By analyzing managerial work in terms of psychology and research in the field of application knowledge of psychology between managers and employees of the world’s leading IT company. We reviewed their views on selected areas to improve their internal motivation and satisfaction, which leads to improvements in their work. To explore the motivation of our employees, we decided to use the knowledge of the International Model of Job Characteristics, which is one of the most popular in this area. This model and related survey method come from the 1970s. The model was designed by Richard Hackman and Greg Oldham. It is based on previous approaches called Job extensions based on adding responsibilities of the same difficulty. Oldham and Hackman tried to identify the global characteristics of internal motivation work in these older models and to explore their implications. Oldham and Hackman believed that employees were doing well under the influence of these factors while being internally motivated having a sense of happiness and happiness. This feeling motivates them to perform better. Characteristic model work presents five global aspects influencing internal motivation: skills variability, job identity, job importance, autonomy, feedback.