bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cysteine Disulfides (Cys-ss-X) as Sensitive Plasma Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress
Authors: Fu Xiaoyun , Cate Shelby A. , Dominguez Melissa , Osborn Warren , Özpolat Tahsin , Konkle Barbara A. , Chen Junmei , López José A.
Published: January 2019

We developed a high-throughput mass spectrometry–based method to simultaneously quantify numerous small-molecule thiols and disulfides in blood plasma. Application of this assay to analyze plasma from patients with known oxidative stress (sickle cell disease and sepsis) and from a patient with sickle cell disease treated with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine suggests that cysteine disulfides, in particular protein-bound cysteine, serve as sensitive plasma biomarkers for the extent of oxidative stress and effectiveness of antioxidant treatment.
The bile salt glycocholate induces global changes in gene and protein expression and activates virulence in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Joffre Enrique , Nicklasson Matilda , Álvarez-Carretero Sandra , Xiao Xue , Sun Lei , Nookaew Intawat , Zhu Baoli , Sjöling Åsa
Published: January 2019

Pathogenic bacteria use specific host factors to modulate virulence and stress responses during infection. We found previously that the host factor bile and the bile component glyco-conjugated cholate (NaGCH, sodium glycocholate) upregulate the colonization factor CS5 in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). To further understand the global regulatory effects of bile and NaGCH, we performed Illumina RNA-Seq and found that crude bile and NaGCH altered the expression of 61 genes in CS5 + CS6 ETEC isolates. The most striking finding was high induction of the CS5 operon (csfA-F), its putative transcription factor csvR, and the putative ETEC virulence factor cexE. iTRAQ-coupled LC-MS/MS proteomic analyses verified induction of the plasmid-borne virulence proteins CS5 and CexE and also showed that NaGCH affected the expression of bacterial membrane proteins. Furthermore, NaGCH induced bacteria to aggregate, increased their adherence to epithelial cells, and reduced their motility. Our results indicate that CS5 + CS6 ETEC use NaGCH present in the small intestine as a signal to initiate colonization of the epithelium.
A Novel Method for Automatic Identification of Breathing State
Authors: Niu Jinglong , Cai Maolin , Shi Yan , Ren Shuai , Xu Weiqing , Gao Wei , Luo Zujin , Reinhardt Joseph M.
Published: January 2019

Sputum deposition blocks the airways of patients and leads to blood oxygen desaturation. Medical staff must periodically check the breathing state of intubated patients. This process increases staff workload. In this paper, we describe a system designed to acquire respiratory sounds from intubated subjects, extract the audio features, and classify these sounds to detect the presence of sputum. Our method uses 13 features extracted from the time-frequency spectrum of the respiratory sounds. To test our system, 220 respiratory sound samples were collected. Half of the samples were collected from patients with sputum present, and the remainder were collected from patients with no sputum present. Testing was performed based on ten-fold cross-validation. In the ten-fold cross-validation experiment, the logistic classifier identified breath sounds with sputum present with a sensitivity of 93.36% and a specificity of 93.36%. The feature extraction and classification methods are useful and reliable for sputum detection. This approach differs from waveform research and can provide a better visualization of sputum conditions. The proposed system can be used in the ICU to inform medical staff when sputum is present in a patient’s trachea.
Predicting Hemodynamic Shock from Thermal Images using Machine Learning
Authors: Nagori Aditya , Dhingra Lovedeep Singh , Bhatnagar Ambika , Lodha Rakesh , Sethi Tavpritesh
Published: January 2019

Proactive detection of hemodynamic shock can prevent organ failure and save lives. Thermal imaging is a non-invasive, non-contact modality to capture body surface temperature with the potential to reveal underlying perfusion disturbance in shock. In this study, we automate early detection and prediction of shock using machine learning upon thermal images obtained in a pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital. 539 images were recorded out of which 253 had concomitant measurement of continuous intra-arterial blood pressure, the gold standard for shock monitoring. Histogram of oriented gradient features were used for machine learning based region-of-interest segmentation that achieved 96% agreement with a human expert. The segmented center-to-periphery difference along with pulse rate was used in longitudinal prediction of shock at 0, 3, 6 and 12 hours using a generalized linear mixed-effects model. The model achieved a mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 75% at 0 hours (classification), 77% at 3 hours (prediction) and 69% at 12 hours (prediction) respectively. Since hemodynamic shock associated with critical illness and infectious epidemics such as Dengue is often fatal, our model demonstrates an affordable, non-invasive, non-contact and tele-diagnostic decision support system for its reliable detection and prediction.
A highly sensitive and selective fluorescent probe for nitroxyl based on a naphthalene derivative
Authors: Ma Qiujuan , Xu Junhong , Mao Guojiang , Guo Xiaoyu , Liang Beibei , Bai Yu , Wang Chunyan
Published: January 2019

In this work, we developed a novel fluorescent probe 1 for quantitative detection of nitroxyl (HNO).
Paper spray ionization and portable mass spectrometers: a review
Authors: Silva Lidya Cardozo da , Pereira Igor , Carvalho Thays Colletes de , Allochio Filho João Francisco , Romão Wanderson , Gontijo Vaz Boniek
Published: January 2019

A review of the development and application of paper spray ionization and portable mass spectrometers.
A novel fluorescent turn-on probe for imaging biothiols based on SNAr substitution-skeletal rearrangement strategy
Authors: Ren Aishan , Zhu Dongjian , Zhong Xing , Xiong Yuhao , Duan Zhenhua
Published: January 2019

2is a novel fluorescent turn-on probe for imaging biothiols based on SNAr substitution-skeletal rearrangement strategy with dramatic fluorescence enhancement and high sensitivity.
Highly sensitive optical biosensing of Staphylococcus aureus with an antibody/metal–organic framework bioconjugate
Authors: Bhardwaj Neha , Bhardwaj Sanjeev K. , Bhatt Deepanshu , Tuteja Satish K. , Kim Ki-Hyun , Deep Akash
Published: January 2019

In this research, a new luminescent bioprobe was developed for the detection of S. aureus based on bio-conjugation of an amine functionalized metal–organic framework (NH2-MIL-53(Fe)) with an anti-S. aureus antibody (Ab).
Coupling of a novel electrospun polyacrylonitrile/amino-Zr-MOF nanofiber as a thin film for microextraction-corona discharge-ion mobility spectrometry for the analysis of chlorpyrifos in water samples
Authors: Bahrami Hajar , Rezaei Behzad , Jafari Mohammad T.
Published: January 2019

In this research, PAN/amino-Zr-MOF nanofiber film was prepared by electrospinning technique and evaluated as a new adsorbent for thin film microextraction before analysis by CD-IMS.
Simple label-free fluorescence detection of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 activity and its inhibitor using the abasic site-binding fluorophore
Authors: Li Xuejun , Xiong Mei , Huang Yufeng , Zhang Liangliang , Zhao Shulin
Published: January 2019

A label-free fluorescence detection method for apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 activity was reported based on the abasic site-binding fluorophore.
Diethyl carbonate as a green extraction solvent for chlorophenol determination with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction
Authors: Tobiszewski Marek , Zabrocka Weronika , Bystrzanowska Marta
Published: January 2019

The principles of green analytical chemistry indicate that the search for greener organic solvents for extraction applications is crucial.
Smartphone-based image analysis and chemometric pattern recognition of the thin-layer chromatographic fingerprints of herbal materials
Authors: Sibug-Torres Sarah May , Padolina Isagani D. , Cruz Philip , Garcia Felan Carlo , Garrovillas Mark Joseph , Yabillo Maria Regina , Enriquez Erwin P.
Published: January 2019

A Pharmacopeia-based TLC method was coupled with a smartphone app for the in-field screening of herbal materials.
Laccase from Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05 as a biological component in electrochemical biosensing devices
Authors: Moraes Jaqueline T. , Salamanca-Neto Carlos A. R. , Ĺubomír Švorc Ĺubomír Švorc , Schirmann Jéseka G. , Barbosa-Dekker Aneli M. , Dekker Robert F. H. , Sartori Elen R.
Published: January 2019

A crude laccase preparation from Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05 was employed to construct an electrochemical biosensor using nanostructured carbon black to epinephrine determination.
Increasing the anti-Stokes shift in TTA upconversion with photosensitizers showing red-shifted spin-allowed charge transfer absorption but a non-compromised triplet state energy level
Authors: Wang Zhijia , Zhao Jianzhang , Di Donato Mariangela , Mazzone Gloria
Published: January 2019

Excitation into the 1CT absorption band of a spin–orbit charge transfer ISC triplet photosensitizer increases the anti-Stokes shift in TTA upconversion.
Solar-driven capacity enhancement of aqueous redox batteries with a vertically oriented tin disulfide array as both the photo-cathode and battery-anode
Authors: Tian Zhengnan , Li Chao , Cai Jingsheng , Zhang Li , Lu Chen , Song Yingze , Jiang Tao , Sun Jingyu , Dou Shixue
Published: January 2019

A dual-electrode, photo-enhanced aqueous redox battery synergizing photo-cathode and battery-anode is constructed via directly growing vertically oriented SnS2 on Ti mesh.
Control of helical chirality in supramolecular chromophore–DNA architectures
Authors: Hofsäβ Robert , Ensslen Philipp , Wagenknecht Hans-Achim
Published: January 2019

Four different d- and l-configured chromophore–2′-deoxyuridine conjugates were applied to elucidate the helical chirality of their non-covalent assemblies along the d- and l-configured DNA templates by optical spectroscopy.
Electrostatic-attraction-induced high internal phase emulsion for large-scale synthesis of amphiphilic Janus nanosheets
Authors: Luo Dan , Zhang Fanghao , Zheng Haotian , Ren Zhensong , Jiang Lili , Ren Zhifeng
Published: January 2019

A facile and scalable method to produce amphiphilic Janus nanosheets in large quantities was reported by interfacial reaction via generating a high internal phase emulsion.
Anti-glioma trichobamide A with an unprecedented tetrahydro-5H-furo[2,3-b]pyrrol-5-one functionality from ascidian-derived fungus Trichobotrys effuse 4729
Authors: Chen Senhua , Shen Hongjie , Zhang Panpan , Cheng Hongwei , Dai Xingliang , Liu Lan
Published: January 2019

Trichobamide A (1), a novel pyrrocidine alkaloid with an unprecedented tetrahydro-5H-furo[2,3-b]pyrrol-5-one moiety, was isolated from the ascidian-derived fungus Trichobotrys effuse 4729.
Magneto-structural correlations in Ni(ii) [2 × 2] metallogrids featuring a variable number of μ-aquo or μ-hydroxo extra bridges
Authors: Marino Nadia , Bruno Rosaria , Bentama Abdeslem , Pascual-Álvarez Alejandro , Lloret Francesc , Julve Miguel , De Munno Giovanni
Published: January 2019

Cationic [2 × 2]-grids of nickel(ii) and dppn exhibit strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions due to complementary effects between pyridazine and aquo/hydroxo bridges.
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy for multiple-site equilibrium binding: a case of doxorubicin–DNA interaction
Authors: Zhang Xuzhu , Poniewierski Andrzej , Sozański Krzysztof , Zhou Ying , Brzozowska-Elliott Anna , Holyst Robert
Published: January 2019

Quantification of multiple equilibrium binding on the example of doxorubicin–DNA interaction using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy.
An excess electron at polyethylene/vacuum interfaces using a reaction-field technique
Authors: Wang Yang , Wu Kai , Cubero David
Published: January 2019

An excess electron in amorphous and crystalline polyethylene-vacuum interfaces. A precise reaction-field method is used to compute the surface states.
Carbon-nitride 2D nanostructures: thermal conductivity and interfacial thermal conductance with the silica substrate
Authors: Rajabpour Ali , Bazrafshan Saeed , Volz Sebastian
Published: January 2019

The rate of heat dissipation from a carbon-nitride 2D nanostructure depends on the interfacial thermal conductance with its substrate. It was found that a structure with higher thermal conductivity, has a lower value of interfacial thermal conductance with the silica substrate.
Charge percolation in redox-active thin membrane hybrids of mesoporous silica and poly(viologens)
Authors: Saint-André Simón , Albanese Federico , Soler-Illia Galo J. A. A. , Tagliazucchi Mario
Published: January 2019

Charge transport via the electron-hopping mechanism was studied in redox-active films of mesoporous silica infiltrated by oligomeric and molecular viologens.
Emerging platinum(iv) prodrugs to combat cisplatin resistance: from isolated cancer cells to tumor microenvironment
Authors: Wang Zhigang , Deng Zhiqin , Zhu Guangyu
Published: January 2019

In this Perspective, we discuss various types of novel cisplatin-based Pt(iv) complexes including those targeting the tumor microenvironment.
Thein silicoandin vivoevaluation of puerarin against Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Liu Song , Cao Xiao-Lu , Liu Guang-Qi , Zhou Tong , Yang Xi-Liang , Ma Bing-Xin
Published: January 2019

In silicomethods were used to screen the anti-AD effect of puerarin, further mutually verified by anin vivostudy.
Radiogenic and stable Ce isotope measurements by thermal ionisation mass spectrometry
Authors: Bonnand P. , Israel C. , Boyet M. , Doucelance R. , Auclair D.
Published: January 2019

Techniques for the separation of Cerium (Ce) from silicate matrices and for the analysis of radiogenic (ε138Ce) and mass dependent (δ142Ce) Ce isotope variations by Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (TIMS) are presented in this study.
Methoxy substituted 2-benzylidene-1-indanone derivatives as A1 and/or A2A AR antagonists for the potential treatment of neurological conditions
Authors: Janse van Rensburg Helena D. , Legoabe Lesetja J. , Terre'Blanche Gisella , Van der Walt Mietha M.
Published: January 2019

Methoxy substituted 2-benzylidene-1-indanones possess improved adenosine A1 and A2A receptor affinity in the nanomolar range.
Cisplatin reacts with histone H1 and the adduct forms a ternary complex with DNA
Authors: Cheng Lanjun , Li Chan , Xi Zhaoyong , Wei Kaiju , Yuan Siming , Arnesano Fabio , Natile Giovanni , Liu Yangzhong
Published: January 2019

Cisplatin is an anticancer drug widely used in clinics; it induces the apoptosis of cancer cells by targeting DNA. However, its interaction with proteins has been found to be crucial in modulating the pre and post-target activity. Nuclear DNA is tightly assembled with histone proteins to form nucleosomes in chromatin; this can impede the drug to access DNA. On the other hand, the linker histone H1 is considered ‘the gate to nucleosomal DNA’ due to its exposed location and dynamic conformation; therefore, this protein can influence the platination of DNA. In this study, we performed a reaction of cisplatin with histone H1 and investigated the interaction of the H1/cisplatin adduct with DNA. The reactions were conducted on the N-terminal domains of H1.4 (sequence 1–90, H1N90) and H1.0 (sequence 1–7, H1N7). The results show that H1 readily reacts with cisplatin and generates bidentate and tridentate adducts, with methionine and glutamate residues as the preferential binding sites. Chromatographic and NMR analyses show that the platination rate of H1 is slightly higher than that of DNA and the platinated H1 can form H1–cisplatin–DNA ternary complexes. Interestingly, cisplatin is more prone to form H1–Pt–DNA ternary complexes than trans-oriented platinum agents. The formation of H1–cisplatin–DNA ternary complexes and their preference for cis- over trans-oriented platinum agents suggest an important role of histone H1 in the mechanism of action of cisplatin.
Efficient synthesis of novel RGD based peptides and the conjugation of the pyrazine moiety to their N-terminus
Authors: Hamdan Fatima , Bigdeli Zahra , Balalaie Saeed , Sewald Norbert , Michalek Carmela
Published: January 2019

Novel RGD based peptides (RGDFAKLF and RGDNGRG) were designed and synthesized and were later coupled to the pyrazine moiety at the N-terminus. The IC50values from thein vitrostudy of the target peptides using a cell adhesion assay indicated the essential impact of the existence of the pyrazine moiety. Meanwhile, peptide4exhibited the best IC50value.
Heterologous expression of bacterial natural product biosynthetic pathways
Authors: Huo Liujie , Hug Joachim J. , Fu Chengzhang , Bian Xiaoying , Zhang Youming , Müller Rolf
Published: January 2019

The review highlights the 2013–2018 literature on the heterologous expression of bacterial natural product biosynthetic pathways and emphasises new techniques, heterologous hosts, and novel chemistry.
Fibrinogen–erythrocyte binding and hemorheology measurements in the assessment of essential arterial hypertension patients
Authors: Guedes Ana Filipa , Moreira Carlos , Nogueira José B. , Santos Nuno C. , Carvalho Filomena A.
Published: January 2019

The stronger fibrinogen binding to erythrocytes from EAH patients may lead to erythrocyte aggregation, representing an important cardiovascular risk factor.
Raman tweezers microspectroscopy of circa 100 nm extracellular vesicles
Authors: Kruglik Sergei G. , Royo Félix , Guigner Jean-Michel , Palomo Laura , Seksek Olivier , Turpin Pierre-Yves , Tatischeff Irène , Falcón-Pérez Juan M.
Published: January 2019

Characterization of nanoscale extracellular vesicles by Raman tweezers microspectroscopy is described in detail. Intra-sample biomolecular heterogeneity is revealed for individual exosomes from human urine and rat hepatocytes.
Nickel cobaltite@poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole) and carbon nanofiber interlayer based flexible supercapacitors
Authors: Deshagani Sathish , Liu Xinhua , Wu Billy , Deepa Melepurath
Published: January 2019

Binder free flexible symmetric supercapacitors are developed with nickel cobaltite micro-flower coated poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole) (NiCo2O4@PEDOP) hybrid electrodes.
Two-dimensional growth of dendritic islands of NTCDA on Cu(001) studied in real time
Authors: Felter Janina , Franke Markus , Wolters Jana , Henneke Caroline , Kumpf Christian
Published: January 2019

Based on bright- and dark-field LEEM, LEED and STM, we present evidence for dendritic, fractal growth for NTCDA submonolayers on Cu(001). This unexpected growth mode is explained by a model based on energetic considerations and NIXSW and ARPES results.
A dynamic DNA nanostructure with switchable and size-selective molecular recognition properties
Authors: Kim Chan-Jin , Jeong Eun Hye , Lee Hyukjin , Park So-Jung
Published: January 2019

Binary self-assembly of DNA block copolymers and thermo-responsive block copolymers generated dynamic DNA nanostructures with unique capabilities to selectively block or unblock interactions with proteins and cells.
Towards multiplexed near-infrared cellular imaging using gold nanostar arrays with tunable fluorescence enhancement
Authors: Theodorou Ioannis G. , Ruenraroengsak Pakatip , Gonzalez-Carter Daniel A. , Jiang Qianfan , Yagüe Ernesto , Aboagye Eric O. , Coombes R. Charles , Porter Alexandra E. , Ryan Mary P. , Xie Fang
Published: January 2019

Gold nanostars increase the brightness of weakly-emitting dyes in the near-infrared biological window for cellular imaging with tunable enhancement factors.
Membrane potential drives direct translocation of cell-penetrating peptides
Authors: Gao Xinli , Hong Song , Liu Zhiping , Yue Tongtao , Dobnikar Jure , Zhang Xianren
Published: January 2019

We report the molecular dynamics evidence for the direct translocation of CPPs across the membrane driven by the membrane electrostatic potential.
Pilot-scale production of a highly thermostable α-amylase enzyme fromThermotoga petrophilacloned intoE. coliand its application as a desizer in textile industry
Authors: Zafar Asma , Aftab Muhammad Nauman , Iqbal Irfana , Din Zia ud , Saleem Mushtaq Ahmad
Published: January 2019

Thermostable recombinant α-amylase was produced in a large scale for the desizing of cotton cloth in the textile industry.
Controllable conversion of Prussian blue@yeast bio-template into 3D cage-like magnetic Fe3O4@N-doped carbon absorbent and its cohesive regeneration by persulfate activation
Authors: Chen Si , Bai Bo , He Yunhua , Hu Na , Wang Honglun , Suo Yourui
Published: January 2019

Fe/N co-doped carbon adsorbents have been explored to cope with ever-growing organic pollution.
Orientation effects on the nanoscale adsorption behavior of bone morphogenetic protein-2 on hydrophilic silicon dioxide
Authors: Marquetti Izabele , Desai Salil
Published: January 2019

Preferential binding of charged residues with hydrophilic silicon dioxide substrate during adsorption of BMP-2 in end-on B configuration.
Thermal decomposition behavior and kinetics of nanocomposites at low-modified ZnO content
Authors: Wang Rui , Xie Congzhen , Zeng Leilei , Xu Huasong
Published: January 2019

In this study, a titanate coupling agent (TCA) was used to modify the surface of nano ZnO.
Probing the properties of size dependence and correlation for tantalum clusters: geometry, stability, vibrational spectra, magnetism, and electronic structure
Authors: Li Xibo , Chen Yuqi , Basnet Pradip , Luo Jiangshan , Wang Hongyan
Published: January 2019

A comprehensive investigation on the equilibrium geometry, relative stability, vibrational spectra, and magnetic and electronic properties of neutral tantalum clusters (Tan, n = 2–17) was performed using density functional theory (DFT).
Low overpotential water oxidation at neutral pH catalyzed by a copper(ii) porphyrin
Authors: Liu Yanju , Han Yongzhen , Zhang Zongyao , Zhang Wei , Lai Wenzhen , Wang Yong , Cao Rui
Published: January 2019

Low-overpotential water oxidation catalyzed by copper(ii) porphyrin to produce O2 in neutral aqueous solution and H2O2 in acidic solution.
Spherical-cap droplets of a photo-responsive bent liquid crystal dimer
Authors: Yoshioka Jun , Salamon Péter , Paterson Daniel A. , Storey John M. D. , Imrie Corrie T. , Jákli Antal , Araoka Fumito , Buka Agnes
Published: January 2019

Using a photo-responsive dimer exhibiting the transition between nematic (N) and twist-bend nematic (NTB) phases, we prepared spherical cap-shaped droplets on solid substrates exposed to air.
Double stimuli-responsive polysaccharide block copolymers as green macrosurfactants for near-infrared photodynamic therapy
Authors: Breitenbach Benjamin B. , Steiert Elena , Konhäuser Matthias , Vogt Lea-Marie , Wang Yujen , Parekh Sapun H. , Wich Peter R.
Published: January 2019

The NIR absorbing photosensitizer phthalocyanine zinc (PC(Zn)) was stabilized in aqueous media as water-dispersible nanoparticles with a reduction- and pH-responsive full polysaccharide block copolymer.
Liquid crystal hydroglass formed via phase separation of nanocellulose colloidal rods
Authors: Xu Yuan , Atrens Aleks D. , Stokes Jason R.
Published: January 2019

Liquid crystal hydroglass: under a specific solution environment, aqueous suspensions of cellulose colloidal rods phase separate into a colloid-rich attractive glass matrix and a coexisting liquid crystal phase. This structure allows control over reversibly orientating the colloidal rods through shear forces, which achieves a persistent flow-programmable directional order to the liquid crystal phase.
Distribution of toxicity values across different species and modes of action of pesticides from PESTIMEP and PPDB databases
Authors: Madariaga-Mazón Abraham , Osnaya-Hernández Adriana , Chávez-Gómez Arni , García-Ramos Juan Carlos , Cortés-Guzmán Fernando , Castillo-Pazos Durbis Javier , Martínez-Mayorga Karina
Published: January 2019

Pesticides classified by mode of action as a source of predictive models of toxicity.
Energy‐efficient hierarchical cooperative caching optimisation for 5G networks
Authors: Xie Renchao , Tang Qinqin , Huang Tao
Published: January 2019

The caching in fifth generation (5G) networks has been considered as a promising technique to reduce the duplicate traffic transmission and improve the users' quality of experience (QoE). Although many works have been done for caching in 5G networks, most of them focus on the content caching policy design to optimise the users' QoE, the issue to realise the energy efficiency of the whole network is not fully considered. Therefore, in this study, by introducing the hierarchical cooperative caching property, i.e. the core gateway and the base stations can cooperative cache the content, the authors study the problem of the hierarchical cooperative caching policy to realise the energy efficiency. They then formulate the hierarchical cooperative content placement problem as an integer programming problem to minimise the total energy consumption. Also, to reduce the computation complexity, the optimisation algorithm based on the idea of quantum‐inspired evolutionary is proposed, which has the fast convergence and approximate to the optimal solution. Finally, extensive simulation results are illustrated to demonstrate the performance of the proposed scheme.
Suboptimal training sequence design for synchronisation of burst‐mode CPM
Authors: Wang Le , Qi Jianzhong , Song Peng
Published: January 2019

In this study, they authors introduce a suboptimal training sequence for burst‐mode continuous phase modulation. The optimum training sequence has been prove to be optimal for the estimates of carrier frequency offset, carrier phase error and timing error. However, the optimum sequence brings high side‐lobe of the log‐likelihood function (LLF), that is not benefit for detecting the start of the sequence (SOS). Thus, the suboptimal sequence is designed to improve the SOS performance through decreasing the side‐log effect of the LLF. Meanwhile, the proposed sequence can minimise the Cramer‐Rao bound for the joint estimation of carrier frequency offset, carrier phase error and symbol timing error. The data‐aided maximum likelihood algorithms for timing error and phase error estimation are derived for evaluating the performance of the proposed sequence. The simulation results demonstrate that the new sequence provides better performance on start detection of the sequence than the optimal one. The performance of timing and carrier phase recovery is also close to the ideal synchronisation performance.
Performance of quickest spectrum sensing for EVM‐based change detection
Authors: Nepal Narayan , Martin Philippa A. , Taylor Desmond P. , Coulson Alan J.
Published: January 2019

In cognitive radio (CR) systems, secondary users (SUs) equipped with a single transceiver are unable to sense and transmit simultaneously. Due to this limitation, most of the models intended to describe spectrum sensing focus on pre‐transmission sensing and consider that primary users (PUs) only change their activity state in the beginning of each SU's operation cycle. This study characterises the more practical scenario which considers the reappearing PU during ongoing SU communication. The authors study a quickest detection scheme that uses an error vector magnitude (EVM) of the received signal. They consider two models of PUs namely an unknown deterministic signal and a Gaussian random signal with additive white Gaussian noise. The probability density function of the EVM test statistic is derived for both cases. The authors develop an exact quickest detection scheme by using a traditional cumulative sum (CUSUM) test. They show that CUSUM EVM outperforms CUSUM ED using theoretical analysis and numerical simulations.
Dynamic surface based tracking control of uncertain quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles with multiple state variable constraints
Authors: Hua Changchun , Chen Jiannan , Guan Xinping
Published: January 2019

This study considers the tracking control problem of an uncertain quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle with model uncertainties and wind gust disturbances, and a novel robust dynamic surface control based multiple state variables constrained control scheme is proposed. Under the presented control framework, the overall quadrotor system is decoupled into a translational subsystem and a rotational subsystem. These two subsystems are connected to each other through common attitude extraction algorithms. For the translational subsystem, the novel robust multiple state variables constrained control inputs are designed to ensure the state variables within the prescribed constraints. For the rotational subsystem, the dynamic surface control based tracking controllers are proposed to track the desired attitudes. In the end, the resulting closed‐loop system is proved to be stable in the sense of uniform ultimate boundness, and numerical simulations and experiments are conducted to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the designed control scheme.
Sub‐optimal switching in anti‐lock brake systems using approximate dynamic programming
Authors: Sardarmehni Tohid , Heydari Ali
Published: January 2019

Optimal scheduling in an anti‐lock brake system of ground vehicles is performed through approximate dynamic programming for reducing the stopping distance in severe braking. The proposed optimal scheduler explicitly incorporates the hybrid nature of the anti‐lock brake system and provides a feedback solution with a negligible computational burden in control calculation. To this goal, an iterative scheme, called the value iteration algorithm, is used to derive the infinite horizon solution to the underlying Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation. Performance of the proposed method in control of the brake system is illustrated using both linear‐in‐parameter neural networks and multi‐layer perceptrons. Simulation results demonstrate potentials of the method.
Distributed fault tolerant tracking control for large‐scale multi‐motor web‐winding systems
Authors: Chu Xiaoyan , Nian Xiaohong , Wang Haibo , Xiong Hongyun
Published: January 2019

This study is concerned with the distributed fault tolerant tracking control for large‐scale multi‐motor web‐winding systems. Firstly, the web‐winding system is considered a synthetic system with several dynamic subsystems subject to multiple disturbances and actuator faults. Then, a disturbance compensation‐based distributed fault diagnosis scheme is developed to estimate the system actuator faults. By setting the reference outputs, a method of obtaining equilibrium control inputs and equilibrium states is formulated to achieve the distributed variation dynamic model at equilibrium points by Taylor expansion. Based on the estimated actuator faults, an effective distributed fault tolerant control strategy is proposed by the techniques of interval matrix and disturbance local compensation. Sufficient conditions of asymptotic stability of the estimation error systems and the closed‐loop systems are derived based on the Lyapunov theory. A fault diagnosis observer and a fault tolerant controller gain matrices are obtained by solving the linear matrix inequalities. Finally, simulations and analysis are performed on the three‐motor web‐winding system to verify the effectiveness of the proposed distributed fault tolerant control strategy.
Decentralised robust T‐S fuzzy controller for a parallel islanded AC microgrid
Authors: Hosseinalizadeh Teimour , Kebriaei Hamed , Salmasi Farzad Rajaei
Published: January 2019

This study proposes a decentralised robust fuzzy control strategy for islanded operation of an AC microgrid with voltage source inverters. The objective is to design a robust controller for regulating the load voltage and sharing power among distributed generators (DGs) in the presence of uncertainties in the system and non‐linear loads. The AC microgrid consists of parallel DGs connected to a main AC bus. A Takagi‐Sugeno fuzzy approach is developed in this article to achieve stability and desired performance in dealing with non‐linearities in the islanded microgrid and H ∞ criterion is used to obtain a robust control strategy in presence of uncertainties raised by unmodelled and high frequency dynamics. Therefore, a non‐convex condition in H ∞ optimisation problem is converted to a convex linear matrix inequality (LMI) condition and is solved by MATLAB LMI toolbox. In order to develop a decentralized system, P–f and Q–V droop controllers are used to specify set‐points for local inverter controllers in each DG. The effectiveness of the proposed control strategy in presence of constant power load and DG accidental outage is validated by the simulation of a microgrid test system in MATLAB SimPowerSystems toolbox. Comparison with cascaded proportional integral controller shows advantages of robust T‐S controller.
Congestion management of power system with uncertain renewable resources and plug‐in electrical vehicle
Authors: Prajapati Vijaykumar K. , Mahajan Vasundhara
Published: January 2019

The study describes the quantifying impact of plug‐in electrical vehicles (PEVs) and renewable energy sources (RES) for congestion management of power system. The proposed congestion management problem is formulated considering uncertainties of wind, solar, number of PEVs and load condition over a day. The uncertainty modelling of solar, wind and PEVs is presented using beta, Rayleigh and normal distribution functions, respectively. The PEVs uncertainty is dependent on its number and increases with escalation in number. The degree of uncertainties of RES is dependent on corresponding variable (wind and solar). These uncertainties result in large number of scenarios which increases the computational burden. The k‐means clustering algorithm is applied to reduce the number of scenarios. The objective function is formulated to minimise generation cost, rescheduling cost and PEV cost for congestion management. This system is analysed by using Monte Carlo simulation. The proposed methodology relieves the congestion and reduces the generation cost, total power generation, total loss with increasing number of PEVs. The test result indicates that PEVs not only act as small storage unit but it also provides power during peak hours. The proposed approach is modelled in GAMS environment and implemented on modified IEEE 39‐bus system.
Tools for handling steady‐state under‐frequency regulation in isolated microgrids
Authors: La Gatta Paula Oliveira , Passos Filho João Alberto , Pereira José Luiz Rezende
Published: January 2019

This study presents two approaches to handling under‐frequency regulation in isolated microgrids. The first one is a governor power flow (PF) model in which the generators steady‐state governor equations are modeled into a full Newton PF formulation resulting in an augmented sparse linearised system of equations to be solved at each iteration. As a result, it is possible to evaluate the under frequency problem in the case of microgrid islanding as well as to set the reference bus angle to evaluate the possibility of reconnection to the main grid. The second approach presents an optimal PF (OPF) formulation in which the generators governor equations are considered as additional equality constraints to determine the minimum amount of load shedding to keep the system frequency between specified limits. In both methods, it is also used an equation that provides voltage regulation in a droop‐based control. The reactive power generation limits in the OPF approach are bounded by a proposed complementarity constraint‐based method adapted for the generators' droop‐controlled terminal voltage. The proposed approaches are evaluated and validated through the study of the EHV1 Network, a 61‐bus 33/11‐kV radial distribution system, and the New England test system.
Application of UPFC in Fujian 500 kV power grid
Authors: Li Meng , Lin Zhangsui , Wu Wei , Lin Yi , Jiang Pengbo , Hu Zhenda , Ye Rong , Du Yi
Published: January 2019

In order to release the capability restriction of the North–South transmission channels in the 500 kV power grid of Fujian Province, this article studies the application of unified power flow controller (UPFC) to improve the transmission capability under steady‐state security restriction with N −1 principle. On the basis of analysis of principle and structure of UPFC, a simplified equivalent model of UPFC is constructed and used in BPA simulation software. The optimal installation scheme and the minimal capacity required of UPFC are determined by comparing the results of power flow calculation in various schemes. The research result shows that the application of UPFC can effectively reduce the N −1 overload problem of the North–South transmission channels, and has a great economic advantage over the traditional solution. Finally, based on the technical and economic analysis, this study puts forward suggestions on the construction of UPFC in the Fujian 500 kV power grid.
Analysis on structural parameters and electrical performance of dc deep well grounding electrode
Authors: Teng Yun , Wen Xishan , Cai Hansheng , Jia Lei , Liu Gang , Hu Shangmao , Lu Hailiang
Published: January 2019

Deep well‐grounding electrodes (DWGE) have advantage of smaller occupied area, and the number of sub‐ground electrodes is less than that of the vertical grounding electrodes, thus has a good development prospects. Here, the simulation model of the electrical parameters of the DWGEs is established, and the electrical performance of the same length DWGE and the horizontal grounding electrodes is compared. The influence of length and the cross‐sectional diameter on the electrical performance of electrodes is studied. The simulation results and analysis show that compared with the shallow buried horizontal grounding electrodes, the DWGEs have the performance of smaller ground resistance and lower maximum step voltage. By increasing the length of grounding electrodes, the ground resistance, the maximum dissipation current density, and step voltage decrease, the surface potential of the nearby area decreases. Increasing the cross‐sectional diameter to improve the electrical performance of electrodes is not obvious, except for the dissipation current density. It is suggested that the length of the DWGEs in the project should not exceed 1500 m and the diameter of the coke is less than 0.4 m.
Current‐sensorless online ESR monitoring of capacitors in boost converter
Authors: Tang Shengxue , Dong Shasha , Liu Yajing , Zhang Qiran
Published: January 2019

boost circuit has been widely used in photovoltaic generation system and electrolytic capacitor is one of the most vulnerable components in the circuit. Equivalent series resistance (ESR) is an important index to reflect the reliability of capacitor. Real‐time online monitoring and evaluation of ESR parameter has great significance to improve the reliability of boost circuit. In this study, a non‐invasive online method to monitor and evaluate output capacitor's ESR in boost converter in continuous conduction mode is proposed. The ESR is calculated by sampling two specific periods of output voltage in a switching cycle. The calculation method is verified with the boost circuit model. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of this method.
Hydrothermal synthesis of novel Ni microflowers with enhanced ferromagnetic properties
Authors: Han Xinghua , Xu Chunju , Chen Huiyu
Published: January 2019

Novel nickel microflowers assembled with many thin nanoplates were synthesised through a simple hydrothermal method using sodium hypophosphite as a green reducing reagent. Sodium tartrate served as a complexing reagent and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as a surfactant. It was found that the amount of sodium hydroxide played a key role in determining both the shape and to further the self‐assembly process of nickel flowers. Such a flower‐like nickel microstructure shows a great enhancement of the ferromagnetic properties with a coercivity of 308.7 Oe, which may be ascribed to the distinctive two‐dimensional (2D) anisotropic structure of the nanoplates and the final hierarchically flower‐like shape. This work presents a preferred approach to fabricate high‐quality magnetic nickel microflowers which have potential applications in electrochemical devices, magnetic sensors, and catalytic agents.
First stellar spectroscopy in Leo P
Authors: Evans C. J. , Castro N. , Gonzalez O. A. , Garcia M. , Bastian N. , Cioni M.-R. L. , Clark J. S. , Davies B. , Ferguson A. M. N. , Kamann S. , Lennon D. J. , Patrick L. R. , Vink J. S. , Weisz D. R.
Published: January 2019

We present the first stellar spectroscopy in the low-luminosity (MV ∼ −9.3 mag), dwarf galaxy Leo P. Its significantly low oxygen abundance (3% solar) and relative proximity (∼1.6 Mpc) make it a unique galaxy in which to investigate the properties of massive stars with near-primordial compositions akin to those in the early Universe. From our VLT-MUSE spectroscopy we find the first direct evidence for an O-type star in the prominent H II region, providing an important test case to investigate the potential environmental dependence of the upper end of the initial mass function in the dwarf galaxy regime. We classify 14 further sources as massive stars (and 17 more as candidate massive stars), most likely B-type objects. From comparisons with published evolutionary models we argue that the absolute visual magnitudes of massive stars in very metal-poor systems such as Leo P and I Zw 18 may be fainter by ∼0.5 mag compared to Galactic stars. We also present spectroscopy of two carbon stars identified previously as candidate asymptotic-giant-branch stars. Two of three further candidate asymptotic-giant-branch stars display Ca II absorption, confirming them as cool, evolved stars; we also recover Ca II absorption in the stacked data of the next brightest 16 stars in the upper red giant branch. These discoveries will provide targets for future observations to investigate the physical properties of these objects and to calibrate evolutionary models of luminous stars at such low metallicity. The MUSE data also reveal two 100 pc-scale ring structures in Hα emission, with the H II region located on the northern edge of the southern ring. Lastly, we report serendipitous observations of 20 galaxies, with redshifts ranging from z = 0.39, to a close pair of star-forming galaxies at z = 2.5.
The impact of oil price changes on efficiency of banks: An application in the Middle East oil exporting countries using SORM-DEA
Authors: Kaffash Sepideh , Aktas Emel , Tajik Mohammad
Published: January 2019

This paper presents a novel application of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to analyze the impact of oil price changes on the efficiency of banks. Factors that affect the efficiency of banks have been of interest to researchers in various geographical regions. With a special focus on oil price changes, we investigate the determinants of bank efficiency in the Middle Eastern Oil-Exporting (MEOE) countries where macro-financial conditions are substantially affected by swings in oil prices. Our analysis consists of two stages: (i) measuring the efficiency scores of banks using the Semi-Oriented Radial Measure (SORM) DEA model, (ii) investigating the impact of alternative indicators of oil prices on the estimated efficiency scores after controlling for key bank-specific and country-specific variables. The analysis is based on an un-balanced panel data of banks operating in the Middle Eastern Oil-Exporting countries over the period of 2001–2011. Our findings reveal that oil price changes affect the efficiency of banks in the MEOE countries through both direct and indirect channels. In addition, we find that Islamic banks in the region are less responsive to oil price changes than commercial and investment banks.
Exact renormalization group and effective action: A Batalin–Vilkovisky algebraic formulation
Authors: Zucchini Roberto
Published: January 2019

In this article, taking inspiration from Costello’s work on renormalization in Batalin–Vilkovisky (BV) theory (K. J. Costello, e-print arXiv:0706.1533 [math.QA]), we present an abstract formulation of exact renormalization group (RG) in the framework of BV algebra theory. In the first part, we work out a general algebraic and geometrical theory of BV algebras, canonical maps, flows, and flow stabilizers. In the second part, relying on this formalism, we build a BV algebraic theory of the RG. In line with the graded geometric outlook of our approach, we adjoin the RG scale with an odd parameter and analyze in depth the implications of the resulting RG supersymmetry and find that the RG equation takes Polchinski’s form [J. Polchinski, Nucl. Phys. B 231, 269 (1984)]. Finally, we study abstract purely algebraic odd symplectic free models of RG flow and effective action and the perturbation theory thereof to illustrate and exemplify the general theory.
Detailed characterization of waste from date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) branches for energy production: Comparative evaluation of heavy metals concentration
Authors: Akhtar Ali , Ivanova Tatiana , Jiříček Ivo , Krepl Vladimir
Published: January 2019

Date palm biomass generates a huge amount of waste throughout the world which can be utilized to produce energy through thermochemical or biochemical conversion technologies. The objective of this study is to present a detailed characterization of parts of date palm branches (twig) and analyse the trace elements including heavy metals for environmental safety and potential slagging and fouling in a reactor. The biomass was divided into four parts: L (leaf ribs), SB (small part of the branch attached to the ribs), MB (middle part of the branch), and LB (large part of the branch attached to the trunk). Different characterization techniques applied were X-ray diffraction, Thermogravimetric analysis, FT-IR, Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, X-Ray Fluorescence, Higher heating values, and ultimate (CHNSO) analysis. High crystallinity was observed in LB with all the heavy metals present in permissible limits. However, it showed a considerably high moisture holding capability. Conversely, SB was found to have low moisture holding capability, moderate higher heating values, and one heavy metal (As) higher than the permissible limit defined by the European Union standards. It can be concluded that LB can be used directly for energy generation after sun drying. The other parts are required to be treated for heavy metal reduction before being used for energy production, keeping in mind the environmental safety.
Collective Thomson scattering diagnostic at Wendelstein 7-X
Authors: Moseev D. , Stejner M. , Stange T. , Abramovic I. , Laqua H. P. , Marsen S. , Schneider N. , Braune H. , Hoefel U. , Kasparek W. , Korsholm S. B. , Lechte C. , Leipold F. , Nielsen S. K. , Salewski M. , Rasmussen J. , Weißgerber M. , Wolf R. C.
Published: January 2019

A Collective Thomson Scattering (CTS) diagnostic is installed at Wendelstein 7-X for ion temperature measurements in the plasma core. The diagnostic utilizes 140 GHz gyrotrons usually used for electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) as a source of probing radiation. The CTS diagnostic uses a quasi-optical transmission line covering a distance of over 40 m. The transmission line is shared between the ECRH system and the CTS diagnostic. Here we elaborate on the design, installation, and alignment of the CTS diagnostic and present the first measurements at Wendelstein 7-X.
Crack initiation in an indented metallic glass with embedded nanoparticle
Authors: Lee Kuo-Hao , Yang Yongjian , Mauro John C.
Published: January 2019

Nanoindentation was performed on a metallic glass with an embedded glassy nanoparticle using molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effect of the second phase on shear band formation and crack initiation. It was found that the addition of a nanoparticle having a lower elastic modulus compared to that of matrix centralizes the region of shear strain below the indenter, which facilitates crack initiation. In contrast, the addition of a nanoparticle with a higher elastic modulus has the effect of branching the shear band, which confines the shear bands within the hydrostatic zone and suppresses crack initiation.