bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A self-driven approach for local ion intercalation in vdW crystals
Authors: Lai Haojie , He Ruihui , Xu Xin , Shi Tingting , Wan Xi , Meng Hui , Chen Ke , Zhou Yang , Chen Qiulan , Liu Pengyi , Chen Jian , Xu Jianbin , Xie Weiguang
Published: November 2019

Self-driven local ion intercalation with patterning ability was demonstrated in vdW crystals. Dual ions intercalation was found to significantly improve the ability of broadband photoresponse.
One-step assembly of alkoxypyrroloindolines via iodine-catalyzed alkoxycyclization of indole derivatives
Authors: Li Yan , Guo Juan , Lu Xunbo , Zhong Fangrui
Published: November 2019

Herein we report an iodine-catalyzed alkoxycyclization of tryptamine derivatives under mild reaction conditions.
Diastereoselective construction of 3-aryl-substituted indolines via annulation of in situ generated p-quinone methides
Authors: Wang Junwei , Pan Xiang , Zhao Lei , Zhao Lin , Liu Jian , Zhi Ying , Wang Ai , Zhao Kun , Hu Lihong
Published: November 2019

A highly diastereoselective [4 + 1] annulation reaction of in situ generated p-quinone methides for the synthesis of 3-aryl-substituted indolines has been developed.
Removal of chromium(vi) from polluted wastewater by chemical modification of silica gel with 4-acetyl-3-hydroxyaniline
Authors: Bilgiç Ali , Çimen Aysel
Published: November 2019

Use of a newly synthesized Si-CPTS-AHAP adsorbent in the removal of Cr(vi) ions in wastewater treatment systems may potentially lead to low cost and highly efficient heavy metal removal.
Co3O4/NiO@GQD@SO3H nanocomposite as a superior catalyst for the synthesis of chromenpyrimidines
Authors: Safaei-Ghomi Javad , Omidshafiei Zahra
Published: November 2019

A flexible and highly efficient protocol for the synthesis of chromenpyrimidines using the Co3O4/NiO@GQD@SO3H nanocomposite has been developed.
The physical basis of fabrication of amyloid-based hydrogels by lysozyme
Authors: Kumari Anumita , Ahmad Basir
Published: November 2019

Schematic of heating- and cooling-induced transitions between HEWL states, and the subsequent formation of the hydrogel.
Study of the modification mechanism of heavy metal ions adsorbed by biomass-activated carbon doped with a solid nitrogen source
Authors: Zheng Wanlan , Chen Shuang , Liu Huie , Ma Yudi , Xu Wenlong
Published: November 2019

In this study, the N-doping of biomass-activated carbon with dicyandiamide was performed via an ultrasonic method and a redox method.
Microfluidic surface-enhanced infrared spectroscopy with semiconductor plasmonics for the fingerprint region
Authors: Bomers Mario , Charlot Benoît , Barho Franziska , Chanuel Antoine , Mezy Aude , Cerutti Laurent , Gonzalez-Posada Fernando , Taliercio Thierry
Published: November 2019

III–V semiconductor plasmonics enables to perform microfluidic surface-enhanced mid-IR spectroscopy and to access the so-called molecular fingerprint region from 6.7 μm to 20 μm (1500–500 cm−1).
A streamlined synthesis of the neurosteroid 3β-methoxypregnenolone assisted by a statistical experimental design and automation
Authors: Mancino Valentina , Croci Federico , Lozza Anna Maria , Cerra Bruno , Gioiello Antimo
Published: November 2019

The potential of integrating flow synthesizers, statistical design of experiments and automation has been exemplified to realize the streamlined etherification of pregnenolone to the neurosteroid 3β-methoxypregnenolone (MAP4343).
Construction of a hierarchical carbon coated Fe3O4 nanorod anode for 2.6 V aqueous asymmetric supercapacitors with ultrahigh energy density
Authors: Peng Zhongyou , Huang Jun , Wang Ying , Yuan Kai , Tan Licheng , Chen Yiwang
Published: November 2019

An assembled 2.6 V aqueous CC/CW/Fe3O4@C//CC/CW/MnO2 ASC exhibits ultrahigh energy density and remarkable cycle performance, surpassing most of the reported ASCs.
Interface engineering: few-layer MoS2 coupled to a NiCo-sulfide nanosheet heterostructure as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting
Authors: Qin Congli , Fan Aixin , Zhang Xin , Wang Shiqing , Yuan Xiaolin , Dai Xiaoping
Published: November 2019

Free-standing MoS2/NiCoS heterostructure nanosheets act as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting in 1.0 M KOH.
Effects of hydroxyapatite surface nano/micro-structure on osteoclast formation and activity
Authors: Chen Fuying , Wang Menglu , Wang Jing , Chen Xuening , Li Xiangfeng , Xiao Yumei , Zhang Xingdong
Published: November 2019

Nanostructured calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics could impair osteoclastic differentiation and function. A deep understanding of surface structure-modulated osteoclastogenesis may help us disclose mechanism of CaP-involved osteoinduction.
Theoretical perspective for luminescent mechanism of thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitter with excited-state intramolecular proton transfer
Authors: Jiang Guanyu , Li Feiyan , Fan Jianzhong , Song Yuzhi , Wang Chuan-Kui , Lin Lili
Published: November 2019

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) mechanisms in solid phase is revealed theoretically.
Cajanonic acid A regulates the ratio of Th17/Treg via inhibition of expression of IL-6 and TGF-β in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells
Authors: Gong Yanfeng , Liu Huanbing , Tao Liming
Published: November 2019

Background: The objectives of the present study are to investigate whether cajanonic acid A (CAA) can reduce insulin resistance (IR) in HepG2 cells and to gain a preliminary understanding of the mechanisms underlying this effect.

Methods: Following induction of IR in HepG2 cells, we tested the regulatory effect of CAA on glucose consumption and evaluated hepatocyte production of IL-6, TGF-β, and key molecules in the insulin transduction pathway. A transwell co-culturing system was used to assess the effect of CAA on IR in HepG2 cells during the differentiation of CD4+ T cells by calculating the ratio of (Th17)/regulatory T cell (Treg). We evaluated the effect of CAA on the expression of IL-17RC cells and HepG2 cell apoptosis by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry assay.

Results: CAA improved dexamethasone-induced reduction in glucose consumption in HepG2 cells, inhibited hepatocyte production of IL-6 and TGF-β, increased the expression of IL-17RC cell, and increased cellular apoptosis in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. When co-cultured with CD4+ T cells, insulin-resistant HepG2 cells induced a decrease in the ratio of Th17/Treg, but CAA dampened the effect. Application of IL-6 and TGF-β, together with CAA, reversed the effect of CAA on insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. Overexpression of IL17R, however, counteracted the effect of IL-6 neutralizing antibody within the culture system.

Conclusion: CAA can regulate the ratio of Th17/Treg by mediating the expression of IL-6 and TGF-β in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells.
Analysis of electrical behaviour of PV arrays covered with non‐uniform snow
Authors: Hosseini S. , Taheri S. , Pouresmaeil E. , Taheri H.
Published: November 2019

Snowfall during cold months impacts the performance of photovoltaic (PV) installations. In real field operations, different ambient conditions often cause non‐uniform snow accretion on PV panels. This can have a considerable effect on PV power production depending on array configuration, the pattern of snow coverage, and bypass diodes included in a PV system. The electrical behaviour of snow‐covered PV cells is experimentally characterised. Then, the true impact of non‐uniform snow accretion on PV system performance is investigated. Effect of employing bypass diodes on a PV string power generation is also verified. Different PV array layouts are studied to improve the PV harvest efficiency in cold climate regions. This research may be regarded as a practical tool for the design and selection of PV modules subjected to snowfall.
User grouping and scheduling for dual‐layer beamforming downlink FD‐MIMO systems
Authors: Liu Zeyu , Ni Yiyang , Li Xiao , Jin Shi
Published: November 2019

This Letter investigates the transmission method for downlink full‐dimension multiple‐input multiple‐output systems. To balance the performance and the amount of channel information acquired at base station, a dual‐layer beamforming method is proposed, which exploits the statistical as well as effective channel state information (CSI) of a small fraction of users. User scheduling and grouping algorithms utilising only statistical CSI are also proposed. Simulations verify that the proposed transmission method can achieve high throughput with much less CSI, and can flexibly balance the requirement of CSI and performance.
Assessment of flexibility index integration into the expansion planning of clean power resources and energy storage systems in modern distribution network using benders decomposition
Authors: Ghaemi Sina , Salehi Javad
Published: November 2019

High penetration of renewable resources on modern distribution networks increases the net load variability in due to the uncertain nature of these resources. Hence, the system may suffer from high ramping problem, the ignorance of which leads to the power interruption. Controlling the net load variability to provide adequate ramping also increases the operation costs significantly. Therefore, a new solution should be implemented to handle this problem. The aim of this study is to incorporate the flexibility indices into the expansion planning of distributed energy resources in modern distribution networks in order to demonstrate how optimal arrangement of flexible resources results in reducing the operation cost while controlling the net load variability. To this end, the benders decomposition approach was applied to the proposed expansion planning to reduce the complexity of the problem to a level which can be solved. The uncertainty of clean resources, load consumption and electricity market price was considered in the proposed problem along with the limitations of the investment budget and carbon emission permits. The simulation process was carried out on the IEEE 69‐bus test system. The results indicate that optimal placement of the flexible resources considering the flexibility constraints is profitable from both technical and economic perspectives.
About the existence of warm H-rich pulsating white dwarfs
Authors: Althaus Leandro G. , Córsico Alejandro H. , Uzundag Murat , Vučković Maja , Baran Andrzej S. , Bell Keaton J. , Camisassa María E. , Calcaferro Leila M. , De Gerónimo Francisco C. , Kepler Souza Oliveira , Silvotti Roberto
Published: November 2019

Context.The possible existence of warm (Teff ∼ 19 000 K) pulsating DA white dwarf (WD) stars, hotter than ZZ Ceti stars, was predicted in theoretical studies more than 30 yr ago. These studies reported the occurrence ofg-mode pulsational instabilities due to theκmechanism acting in the partial ionization zone of He below the H envelope in models of DA WDs with very thin H envelopes (MH/M⋆ ≲ 10−10). However, to date, no pulsating warm DA WD has been discovered, despite the varied theoretical and observational evidence suggesting that a fraction of WDs should be formed with a range of very low H content.

Aims.We re-examine the pulsational predictions for such WDs on the basis of new full evolutionary sequences. We analyze all the warm DAs observed by the TESS satellite up to Sector 9 in order to search for the possible pulsational signal.

Methods.We computed WD evolutionary sequences of masses 0.58 and 0.80M⊙with H content in the range −14.5 ≲ log(MH/M⋆)≲ − 10, appropriate for the study of pulsational instability of warm DA WDs. Initial models were extracted from progenitors that were evolved through very late thermal pulses on the early cooling branch. We useLPCODEstellar code into which we have incorporated a new full-implicit treatment of time-dependent element diffusion to precisely model the H–He transition zone in evolving WD models with very low H content. The nonadiabatic pulsations of our warm DA WD models were computed in the effective temperature range of 30 000 − 10 000 K, focusing on ℓ = 1gmodes with periods in the range 50 − 1500 s.

Results.We find that traces of H surviving the very late thermal pulse float to the surface, eventually forming thin, growing pure H envelopes and rather extended H–He transition zones. We find that such extended transition zones inhibit the excitation ofgmodes due to partial ionization of He below the H envelope. Only in the cases where the H–He transition is assumed much more abrupt than predicted by diffusion do models exhibit pulsational instability. In this case, instabilities are found only in WD models with H envelopes in the range of −14.5 ≲ log(MH/M⋆)≲ − 10 and at effective temperatures higher than those typical for ZZ Ceti stars, in agreement with previous studies. None of the 36 warm DAs observed so far by TESS satellite are found to pulsate.

Conclusions.Our study suggests that the nondetection of pulsating warm DAs, if WDs with very thin H envelopes do exist, could be attributed to the presence of a smooth and extended H–He transition zone. This could be considered as indirect proof that element diffusion indeed operates in the interior of WDs.
Sound Absorption Performance of Sugar Palm Trunk Fibers
Authors: Endar Prabowo Anditya , Diharjo Kuncoro , Ubaidillah  , Prasetiyo Iwan
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of bulk density, thickness, and air gap to sound absorption performance on absorber based sugar palm trunk fibers. The fibers were obtained from solid waste on Small-Medium Enterprises of sago flour processing in Klaten, Central Java, Indonesia. The absorber specimens were formed from the fibers using a simple press molding in an oven at 150 °C. According to ISO 10534-2, the absorber samples were tested using two microphones impedance tube with random noise source to get the curve of the sound absorption coefficient. The result shows that the absorption performance can be improved by increasing bulk density and increasing of sample thickness. Especially at low frequencies, improvement of the sound absorption coefficient can be achieved (NAC > 0.8) by applying the air gap behind the sample. The best performance of absorber based sugar palm trunk fiber can be achieved for (1 000 to 6 000) Hz range frequency.
The Effect of Biodiesel Blends Made from Carica papaya L. Seeds on the Performance of Diesel Engine
Authors: Suprianto Fandi Dwiputra , Anggono Willyanto , Sutrisno Teng , Gunawan Daniel William , Gotama Gabriel Jeremy
Published: November 2019

Fuel oil is one of the important parts to support daily activities. The demand for fuel oil is increasing every year. Therefore, the search for the latest energy source is continuously conducted. Carica papaya L. seed oil is investigated as a renewable energy source replacement part of petroleum diesel fuel. C. papaya seed oil obtained through the extraction process using soxhlet method with n-hexane solvent. Then produce methylester by means of transesterification using 1 % NaOH catalyst and 20 % methanol of the weight of the oil and stirred at 400 rpm for 1 h. A mixture consisting of 10 % C. papaya seed biodiesel and 90 % petroleum diesel fuel, called CPSB-10, produces fuel properties that meet the specified standards by the Indonesian Directorate General of Oil and Gas. From the result of the performance test in a diesel test engine, the maximum brake power and brake thermal are consecutively 30.6 kW and 140.23 N m, the lowest sfc is 268 g kW–1 h–1, and the highest brake thermal efficiency is 32 %.
Increasing Port Performance through Port Navigation Safety Assessment using the Formal Safety Assessment Method (Case Study Port of Tanjung Priok - Indonesia)
Authors: Ridwan Sahlan , Sunaryo
Published: November 2019

The study is aimed to assess the navigation safety in the port surrounding the area as part of the Indonesian Government�s efforts to increase the port performance and minimize the cost of maritime logistics. The port navigation system and infrastructure such as vessels traffic management system, navigation lanes, port basin, quay, etc. play an important role in determining the productivity and efficiency of the port, especially in the busy port such as Tanjung Priok, Indonesia. Any accident would interrupt port activities and creates unnecessary costs. Formal Safety Assessment method, as introduced by the International Maritime Organization was implemented in the study. The assessment was carried out using qualitative and quantitative risks analyses, based on the available data and information gathered from various sources. It was identified that accidents occurred in the port waterfront were mainly due to the ships, environment, human factors, and management. Results of the assessment were then used as the basis for proposing an improvement strategy.
Breed-and-burn fuel cycle in molten salt reactors
Authors: Hombourger Boris , Křepel Jiři , Pautz Andreas
Published: November 2019

The operation of a reactor on an open but self-sustainable cycle without actinide separation is known as breed-and-burn. It has mostly been envisioned for use in solid-fueled fast-spectrum reactors such as sodium-cooled fast reactors. In this paper the applicability of breed-and-burn to molten salt reactors is investigated first on a cell level using a modified neutron excess method. Several candidate fuel salts are selected and their performance in a conceptual three-dimensional reactor is investigated. Chloride-fueled single-fluid breed-and-burn molten salt reactors using enriched chlorine are shown to be feasible from a neutronics and fuel cycle point of view at the cost of large fuel inventories.
Simplified 0-D semi-analytical model for fuel draining in molten salt reactors
Authors: Di Lecce Francesco , Cammi Antonio , Dulla Sandra , Lorenzi Stefano , Ravetto Piero
Published: November 2019

A key feature of molten salt reactors is the possibility to reconfigure the fuel geometry (actively or passively driven by gravitational forces) in case of accidents. In this regard, the design of reference molten salt reactor of Generation IV International Forum, the MSFR, foresees the Emergency core Draining System (EDS). Therefore, the research and development of MSFRs move in the direction to study and investigate the dynamics of the fuel salt when it is drained in case of accidental situations. In case of emergency, the salt could be drained out from the core, actively or passively triggered by melting of salt plugs, and stored into a draining tank underneath the core. During the draining transient, it is relevant from a safety point of view that thermal and mechanical damages to core internal surfaces and to EDS structure – caused by the temperature increase due to the decay heat – are avoided. In addition, the subcriticality of the fuel salt should be granted during all the draining transients. A simplified zero-dimensional semi-analytical model is developed in this paper to capture the multiphysics interactions, to separate and analyse the different physical phenomena involved and to focus on time evolutions of temperature and system reactivity. Results demonstrate that the fuel draining occurs in safe conditions, both from the thermal (temperature-related internal surface damages) and neutronic (sub-critical states dominate the transient) view points and show which are the main characteristics of the fuel salt draining transient.
Total Hip Arthroplasty in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Jandl Nico Maximilian , Schmidt Tobias , Niemeier Andreas
Published: November 2019

Systemic neurological disease represents a risk factor for complications after total hip arthroplasty (THA), especially for dislocation, infections, gait disorders and fall-related periprosthetic fractures. There is little specific literature on total hip arthroplasty in patients with multiple sclerosis. However, increased revision rates have been reported, which are in part due to dislocations. Implants with increased dislocation safety, e.g. tripolar acetabular systems, can represent a reasonable alternative. Due to gait disorders and a higher prevalence of osteoporosis, specific osteological evaluation and treatment should be considered to prevent periprosthetic fractures. This short review summarizes the current literature on total hip arthroplasty in patients with multiple sclerosis.
The Effect of Wang’s Neck-shoulder Point Technique on Frozen
Shoulder Compared to Massage
Authors: Wang Feng
Published: November 2019

Background The traditional exercise technique of traditional Chinese
medicine has a good effect on frozen shoulder, but it is more complicated and
labor-intensive. The author has discovered a special technique in long-term
clinical practice, which has a good effect on the disease and is more simple and
practical.

Objective To observe the curative effect of Wang’s technique of
the Neck shoulder point in treating primary frozen shoulder, and compare it with
routine massage.

Methodology 80 patients with frozen shoulder were randomly divided into
treatment and control groups. The control group was given a routine massage,
with the treatment group using Wang’s technique on the Neck shoulder
point. Each group received 1 course (10 times) of treatment to observe the
curative effect employing a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and University of
California shoulder joint score (UCLA).

Results Comparison of clinical efficacy between 2 groups of patients,
there was no statistical difference between the 2 groups (p>0.05) on the
total effectiveness rate. After the comparison of two groups pre and post
treatment, VAS scores were significantly reduced(p<0.05), and the scores
of treatment group decreased more significantly than that of the control
group(p<0.05), the UCLA scores of both groups were significantly
improved after treatment compared with before treatment(p<0.05), There
was no significant difference in UCLA score between 2 group(p>0.05).

Conclusion The curative effect of new technique is satisfactory and can
improve the primary frozen shoulder and the technique can take less time and
physical strength, and it also has a greater analgesic effect compared with a
routine massage.
Ganglioglioma of Conus Medullaris—A Rare Case
Authors: Kumar Sushil , Misra Rajneesh , Kumar Kundan , Sharma Sandeep
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Gangliogliomas favor the temporal lobe. They are rarely reported in the spinal cord. Ganglioglioma of the conus medullaris is very rare. An 11-year-old boy presented with progressive weakness of bilateral lower limbs. Clinical examination and radiologic investigations revealed a lesion in the conus medullaris with an exophytic component involving the cauda equina roots. The lesion was excised near totally. Its histopathologic examination revealed it to be a ganglioglioma. Gangliogliomas of the conus medullaris are rare lesions. Subtotal or near-total excision with preservation of the function should be the aim of the surgical intervention. Because preoperative function largely dictates the postoperative course, it is advisable to intervene early at the first hint of neurologic compromise.
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps and Liver Disease
Authors: Hilscher Moira B. , Shah Vijay H.
Published: November 2019

Neutrophil extracellular traps, or NETs, are heterogenous, filamentous structures which consist of extracellular DNA, granular proteins, and histones. NETs are extruded by a neutrophil in response to various stimuli. Although NETs were initially implicated in immune defense, subsequent studies have implicated NETs in a spectrum of disease processes, including autoimmune disease, thrombosis, and cancer. NETs also contribute to the pathogenesis of several common liver diseases, including alcohol-associated liver disease and portal hypertension. Although there is much interest in the therapeutic potential of NET inhibition, future clinical applications must be balanced against potential increased risk of infection.
Hydrocephalus Following Giant Transosseous Vertex Meningioma Resection
Authors: Schmidt Bradley T. , Cikla Ulas , Kozan Abdulbaki , Dempsey Robert J. , Baskaya Mustafa K.
Published: November 2019

Introduction Meningiomas are among the most common primary intracranial tumors. While well-described, there is limited information on the outcomes and consequences following treatment of giant-sized vertex-based meningiomas. These meningiomas have specific risks and potential complications due to their size, location, and involvement with extracalvarial soft tissue and dural sinuses. Herein, we present four giant-sized vertex transosseous meningioma cases with involvement and occlusion of the sagittal sinus, that postoperatively developed external hydrocephalus and ultimately required shunting.

Methods A retrospective chart review identified patients with large vertex meningiomas that were: (1) large (>6 cm) with hemispheric (no skull base) location, (2) involvement of the superior sagittal sinus resulting in complete sinus occlusion, (3) involvement of dura resulting in a large duraplasty area, (4) transosseous involvement requiring a 5 cm or larger craniectomy for resection of invaded calvarial bone.

Results Tumors were resected in all four cases, with all patients subsequently developing external hydrocephalus which required shunting within 2 weeks to 6 months postsurgery.

Conclusion We believe this may be the first report of the development of hydrocephalus following surgical resection of these large lesions. Based on our observations, we propose that a combination of superior sagittal sinus occlusion and changes in brain elasticity and compliance affect the brain's CSF absorptive capacity, which ultimately lead to hydrocephalus development. We suggest that neurosurgeons be aware that postoperative hydrocephalus can quickly develop following treatment of giant-sized vertex-based meningiomas, and that correction of hydrocephalus with shunting can readily be achieved.
Coaxial multistage depressed collector design for high power gyrotrons based on E×B concept
Authors: Ell Benjamin , Pagonakis Ioannis Gr. , Wu Chuanren , Thumm Manfred , Jelonnek John
Published: November 2019

The gyrotron operational efficiency is considered as a very important factor of future fusion power plants. The development of an efficient multistage depressed collector (MDC) for the annular spent electron beam is the key for a significant increase in the operational efficiency. To achieve this target, a systematic investigation of all kinds of possible design approaches was conducted during the last decade at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. A promising approach using a cylindrical hollow collector design was found. In this work, another generic design approach based on the E × B drift concept for the spent electron beam is presented which uses a coaxial collector design. This new generic approach offers a significant improvement in the collector efficiency. Even more, it opens the path for the design of a large variety of new MDC collectors with different characteristics, e.g., the number of stages and the wall geometry.
Tunable infrared asymmetric light transmission and absorption via graphene-hBN metamaterials
Authors: Hajian Hodjat , Ghobadi Amir , Serebryannikov Andriy E. , Butun Bayram , Vandenbosch Guy A. E. , Ozbay Ekmel
Published: November 2019

We theoretically prove in this paper that using planar multilayer graphene-hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) metamaterials (GhMMs) can yield ultrabroadband and high-contrast asymmetric transmission (AT) and asymmetric absorption (AA) of light. The AA and AT features are obtained in the far-infrared (FIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) regions for normally incident light with transverse magnetic polarization. Here, the GhMMs are integrated with two asymmetric gratings of Ge and are composed of alternating multilayers of graphene (11 multilayers) and hBN layers (10 layers). Moreover, the total subwavelength thickness of the hybrid structures is about 3 μm, being less than half of the free-space wavelength up to nearly 50 THz. This approach—which is similar to the one introduced by Xu and Lezec [Nat. Commun. 5, 4141 (2014)] for a passive hyperbolic metamaterial operating in the visible range—is based on the excitation of high-β modes of the GhMM with different transmission characteristics. In addition to being ultrabroadband and high-contrast, AT and AA features of the proposed GhMMs can be actively tuned by varying the chemical potential of graphene. Furthermore, it is shown that an on-off switching of AT factor at FIR and selective tunability at MIR frequencies can be obtained via varying μ. Due to its subwavelength and planar configuration and active operation, these multilayer graphene-hBN metamaterials with AT and AA characteristics hold promise for integration with compact optical systems operating in the MIR and FIR ranges and are suitable for applications such as optical diodes, sensors, and thermal emitters.
Biofunctionalized silk fibroin nanofibers for directional and long neurite outgrowth
Authors: Li Xiufang , Zhang Qiang , Luo Zuwei , Yan Shuqin , You Renchuan
Published: November 2019

Engineered scaffolds simultaneously exhibiting multiple cues are highly desirable for neural tissue regeneration. Silk fibroin is a promising natural protein material for nerve repair. However, the lack of specific bioactive cues significantly hinders its application. In this study, the electrospun silk fibroin nanofibers with both biochemical and topographical cues were prepared. The alignment of electrospun nanofibers was optimized by controlling the surface linear velocity of a rotating drum. The silk fibroin nanofibers were further functionalized with laminin through covalent binding, confirmed by immunostaining observation. Cell proliferation and neurite outgrowth assays confirmed that the functionalized aligned nanofibers significantly enhanced directional axonal extensions, providing physical and bioactive cues for neurite outgrowth. Furthermore, the tubular scaffolds with longitudinally aligned microchannels were designed by rolling the functionalized silk fibroin nanofibers. The neurite extension across the lumen of the conduit along the direction of the aligned fibers is apparent. These results highlight the ability of laminin-immobilized silk fibroin nanofibers to enhance neurite outgrowth and to control directional neurite extension, providing a useful approach to construct a regenerative microenvironment for nerve repair materials.
Onset of transition in the flow of polymer solutions through deformable tubes
Authors: Chandra Bidhan , Shankar V. , Das Debopam
Published: November 2019

Experiments are performed to investigate laminar-turbulent transition in the flow of Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids in soft-walled microtubes of diameter ∼400 μm by using the micro-particle image velocimetry technique. The Newtonian fluids used are water and water-glycerine mixtures, while the polymer solutions used are prepared by dissolving polyacrylamide in water. Using different tube diameters, elastic moduli of the tube wall, and polymer concentrations, we probe a wide range of dimensionless wall elasticity parameter Σ and dimensionless fluid elasticity number E. Here, Σ = (ρGR2)/η2, where ρ is the fluid density, G is the shear modulus of the soft wall, R is the radius of the tube, and η is the solution viscosity. The elasticity of the polymer solution is characterized by E = (λη0)/R2ρ, where λ is the zero-shear relaxation time, η0 is the zero-shear viscosity, ρ is the solution density, and R is the tube radius. The onset of transition is detected by a shift in the ratio of centerline peak to average velocity. A jump in the normalized centerline velocity fluctuations and the flattening of the velocity profile are also used to corroborate the onset of instability. Transition for the flow of Newtonian fluid through deformable tubes (of shear modulus ∼50 kPa) is observed at a transition Reynolds number of Ret ∼ 700, which is much lower than Ret ∼ 2000 for a rigid tube. For tubes of lowest shear modulus ∼30 kPa, Ret for Newtonian fluid is as low as 250. For the flow of polymer solutions in a deformable tube (of shear modulus ∼50 kPa), Ret ∼ 100, which is much lower than that for Newtonian flow in a deformable tube with the same shear modulus, indicating a destabilizing effect of polymer elasticity on the transition already present for Newtonian fluids. Conversely, we also find instances where flow of a polymer solution in a rigid tube is stable, but wall elasticity destabilizes the flow in a deformable tube. The jump in normalized velocity fluctuations for the flow of both Newtonian and polymer solutions in soft-walled tubes is much gentler compared to that for Newtonian transition in rigid tubes. Hence, the mechanism underlying the soft-wall transition for the flow of both Newtonian fluids and polymer solutions could be very different as compared to the transition of Newtonian flows in rigid pipes. When Ret is plotted with the wall elasticity parameter Σ for different moduli of the tube wall, by taking Newtonian fluids of different viscosities and polymer solutions of different concentrations, we observed a data collapse, with Ret following a scaling relation of Ret ∼ Σ0.7. Thus, both fluid elasticity and wall elasticity combine to trigger a transition at Re as low as 100 in the flow of polymer solutions through deformable tubes.
New insights into anhydrobiosis using cellular dielectrophoresis-based characterization
Authors: Rashed Mohamed Z. , Belott Clinton J. , Janis Brett R. , Menze Michael A. , Williams Stuart J.
Published: November 2019

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are found in desiccation-tolerant species from all domains of life. Despite several decades of investigation, the molecular mechanisms by which LEA proteins confer desiccation tolerance are still unclear. In this study, dielectrophoresis (DEP) was used to determine the electrical properties of Drosophila melanogaster (Kc167) cells ectopically expressing LEA proteins from the anhydrobiotic brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana. Dielectrophoresis-based characterization data demonstrate that the expression of two different LEA proteins, AfrLEA3m and AfrLEA6, increases cytoplasmic conductivity of Kc167 cells to a similar extent above control values. The impact on cytoplasmic conductivity was surprising, given that the concentration of cytoplasmic ions is much higher than the concentrations of ectopically expressed proteins. The DEP data also supported previously reported data suggesting that AfrLEA3m can interact directly with membranes during water stress. This hypothesis was strengthened using scanning electron microscopy, where cells expressing AfrLEA3m were found to retain more circular morphology during desiccation, while control cells exhibited a larger variety of shapes in the desiccated state. These data demonstrate that DEP can be a powerful tool to investigate the role of LEA proteins in desiccation tolerance and may allow to characterize protein-membrane interactions in vivo, when direct observations are challenging.
Positron-electron annihilation momentum transfer to trapped deuterons
Authors: Weed Ryan , Sblendorio Dante , Machacek Joshua , Ramamurthy Bala , Laguisma Gabrielle
Published: November 2019

The probability of positron annihilation momentum transfer to a trapped deuteron is calculated based on neutron measurements from 2H(d,n)3He reactions in deuterated palladium thin films. Deuterium gas loading in Pd thin films creates a high D/Pd fraction at point defects in the metal lattice. Unmoderated positrons from a Na-22 source thermalize and are trapped in the same point defects as deuterium in the Pd thin films. Similar to the Mössbauer effect, an interaction with the surrounding crystal lattice allows for conservation of momentum during electron-positron annihilation energy transfer to the trapped deuteron.
Hierarchical quantum master equation approach to vibronic reaction dynamics at metal surfaces
Authors: Erpenbeck A. , Thoss M.
Published: November 2019

A novel quantum dynamical method to simulate vibronic reaction dynamics in molecules at metal surfaces is proposed. The method is based on the hierarchical quantum master equation approach and uses a discrete variable representation of the nuclear degrees of freedom in combination with complex absorbing potentials and an auxiliary source term. It provides numerically exact results for a range of models. By taking the coupling to the continuum of electronic states of the surface properly into account, nonadiabatic processes can be described and the effect of electronic friction is included in a nonperturbative and non-Markovian way. Illustrative applications to models for desorption of a molecule at a surface and the current-induced bond rupture in single-molecule junctions demonstrate the performance and versatility of the method.
Laminin-immobilized nanofibers offer a solution to nerve graft challenges
Authors: Mandel Savannah
Published: November 2019

New method of immobilizing silk fibroin nanofibers with laminin may help damaged nerves heal faster.
Development of batch processing to obtain bioactive materials from pork byproducts
Authors: Lee Seung Yun , Yoon Sung Yeoul , Lee Da Young , Kim On You , Kim Hyeong Sang , Jung Eun Young , Koh Kyung Chul , Hur Sun Jin
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this study was to develop batch-processing methods for the extraction of collagen, peptides and heparin, and synthesis of conjugated linoleic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid from pork byproducts. The first steps in utilisation of byproducts involved washing, followed by grinding and mixing, then separation into protein and lipids. The 6% yield of collagen and 4% yield of peptides were extracted from the protein. The lipids were separated into saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, and then the 20% yield by synthesis of conjugated linoleic acid from crude lipids and the 2.5% yield of ursodeoxycholic acid from a gallbladder extract were obtained (with extraction of heparin from ground byproducts). Whole blood was used instead of water for grinding byproducts to increase blood utilisation. Moreover, waste from extraction, filtering, and centrifugation was reused several times. These results suggest that the batch processing developed for extraction and synthesis of bioactive materials can utilise >80% (dry base) of pork byproducts. This could not only reduce waste disposal and cost but also improve the efficiency of byproduct utilisation.
Octahedral spinel electrocatalysts for alkaline fuel cells
Authors: Yang Yao , Xiong Yin , Holtz Megan E. , Feng Xinran , Zeng Rui , Chen Gary , DiSalvo Francis J. , Muller David A. , Abruña Héctor D.
Published: November 2019

Significance

We present a systematic study of a family of 15 types of octahedral spinel electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline fuel cells. Three specific candidates, MnCo
2
O
4
/C, CoMn
2
O
4
/C, and CoFe
2
O
4
/C, exhibited very promising ORR activity. In particular, CoMn
2
O
4
/C could rival the ORR activity and selectivity of Pt/C. Such performance was ascribed to a partial charge transfer between Co and Mn. The most active, MnCo
2
O
4
/C, exhibited a unique Co–Mn core–shell structure with heterogeneous valence states, which were probed at the single-nanoparticle level using scanning transmission and high-energy-resolution electron-loss near-edge structure. We believe that our approach, of combining advanced electron microscopy and spectroscopy, will enable the design of highly active nanocatalysts with unprecedented atomic-scale precision.
Mining emigrant correspondence for linguistic insights
Authors: Hickey Raymond
Published: November 2019

The examination of emigrant letters shows that a judicious exploitation of this material can yield a variety of insights regarding
the linguistic structure of varieties at the time of letter writing, despite a number of caveats which must be borne in mind. The diagnostic
value of vernacular correspondence would appear to be considerable in that it assists scholars in completing a picture of variety development
over the past few centuries. A wide spectrum of letters helps to establish the profile of vernacular English as it was transported to different
overseas locations in the later colonial period.
‘I hope you will excuse my bad writing’
Authors: Dollinger Stefan
Published: November 2019

This chapter introduces a new resource, the Petworth Emigration to Canada Corpus (PECC), which consists of some 90,000 words of
letters from Southern English emigrants to Canada in the 1830s. Empirically, the chapter addresses the change from first person
shall to will in a multi-variety comparison with logistic regression modelling that. Results suggest linguistic “drift” antedates mass literacy which is therefore more unlikely to be responsible for the change (as suggested in McCafferty and Amador-Moreno 2014) than hitherto assumed. It also addresses the degree of orality of the
Petworth letters and suggests a conceptual distinction between and differential treatment of short-distance and long-distance letter data.
Finally, CanE is accessed as more innovative in the use of first person will than has traditionally been assumed.
‘[S]eas may divide and oceans roll between but Friends is Friends whatever intervene’
Authors: Bonness Dania Jovanna
Published: November 2019

Present-day New Zealand English is a relatively homogenous, uniform variety with little regional variation (Gordon and Trudgill 2004: 448), but just over 150 years ago, various different English dialects could be heard in
Aotearoa – the land of the long white cloud. One of them was Irish English. The present chapter follows three Irish
emigrants on their journey to New Zealand and looks at how their language changed over the span of several decades by looking at the letters
they wrote to keep in touch with their families. Some of these letters show Māori loan words, or Australian/New Zealand colloquialisms, while
other letters also indicate some morphosyntactic variation over the years. This small-scale study therefore contributes to investigations
looking at individuals’ language change in the rise of colonial varieties of English, and it can provide evidence for theoretical frameworks
of new-dialect formation (e.g. Trudgill 2004; Schneider
2003, 2007).
Memoirs from Central America
Authors: Hackert Stephanie
Published: November 2019

This chapter introduces and linguistically evaluates a hitherto unexplored source of earlier Caribbean vernacular English. It
comprises more than one hundred letters written in 1963 by former Panama Canal workers as part of a competition commemorating the 50th
anniversary of the opening of the Canal. I first provide an overview of some of the non-standard features evident in the letters and then zoom
in on a single variable, i.e., past inflection. Applying the principles of comparative sociolinguistics (cf. Tagliamonte 2013), I demonstrate that the abstract patterning of variation observed for this variable greatly
resembles that found in previous studies of Caribbean English-lexifier creoles and related varieties, such as African American Vernacular
English. All in all, the pilot study presented here provides impressive evidence of the value of the “Panama letters” as a window on
vernacular usage in the late nineteenth-century Anglophone Caribbean.
Data reduction and calibration of the FMG onboard ASO-S
Authors: Su Jiang-Tao , Bai Xian-Yong , Chen Jie , Guo Jing-Jing , Liu Suo , Wang Xiao-Fan , Xu Hai-Qing , Yang Xiao , Song Yong-Liang , Deng Yuan-Yong , Ji Kai-Fan , Deng Lei , Huang Yu , Li Hui , Gan Wei-Qun
Published: November 2019

The Full-disk vectorMagnetoGraph (FMG) instrument will carry out polarization observations at one wavelength position of the Fe I 5324.179 °A spectral line. This paper describes how to choose this single wavelength position, the relevant data-processing and the magnetic field calibrations based on the measured polarization signals at one single wavelength position. It is found that solar radial Doppler velocity, which can cause the spectral line to shift, is a disadvantageous factor for the linear calibration at one wavelength position. Observations at two symmetric wavelength positionsmay significantly reduce the wavelength shift effect (∼ 75%), but simulations show that such polarization signals located at the solar limbs (e.g., beyond the longitude range of ±30°) are not free from the effect completely. In future work, we plan to apply machine learning techniques to calibrate vector magnetic fields, or employ full Stokes parameter profile inversion techniques to obtain accurate vector magnetic fields, in order to complement the linear calibration at the single wavelength position.
The Lyman-alpha Solar Telescope (LST) for the ASO-S mission – III. data and potential diagnostics
Authors: Feng Li , Li Hui , Chen Bo , Li Ying , Susino Roberto , Huang Yu , Lu Lei , Ying Bei-Li , Li Jing-Wei , Xue Jian-Chao , Yang Yu-Tong , Hong Jie , Li Jian-Ping , Zhao Jie , Gan Wei-Qun , Zhang Yan
Published: November 2019

The Lyman-alpha Solar Telescope (LST) is one of the three payloads onboard the Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S) mission. It aims at imaging the Sun from the disk center up to 2.5 R⊙ targeting solar eruptions, particularly coronal mass ejections (CMEs), solar flares, prominences/filaments and related phenomena, as well as the fast and slow solar wind. The most prominent speciality of LST is the simultaneous observation of the solar atmosphere in both Lyα and white light (WL) with high temporospatial resolution both on the solar disk and the inner corona. New observations in the Lyα line together with traditionalWL observations will provide us with many new insights into solar eruptions and solar wind. LST consists of a Solar Corona Imager (SCI) with a field of view (FOV) of 1.1 – 2.5R⊙, a Solar Disk Imager (SDI) and a full-disk White-light Solar Telescope (WST) with an identical FOV up to 1.2R⊙. SCI has a dual waveband in Lyα (121.6 ± 10 nm) and in WL (700 ± 40 nm), while SDI works in the Lyα waveband of 121.6 ± 7.5 nm and WST works in the violet narrow-band continuum of 360 ± 2.0 nm. To produce high quality science data, careful ground and in-flight calibrations are required. We present our methods for different calibrations including dark field correction, flat field correction, radiometry, instrumental polarization and optical geometry. Based on the data calibration, definitions of the data levels and processing procedures for the defined levels from raw data are described. Plasma physical diagnostics offer key ingredients to understand ejecta and plasma flows in the inner corona, as well as different features on the solar disk including flares, filaments, etc. Therefore, we are making efforts to develop various tools to detect the different features observed by LST, and then to derive their physical parameters, for example, the electron density and temperature of CMEs, the outflow velocity of the solar wind, and the hydrogen density and mass flows of prominences. Coordinated observations and data analyses with the coronagraphs onboard Solar Orbiter, PROBA-3, and Aditya are also briefly discussed.
Simulations and software development for the Hard X-ray Imager onboard ASO-S
Authors: Su Yang , Liu Wei , Li You-Ping , Zhang Zhe , Hurford Gordon J. , Chen Wei , Huang Yu , Li Zhen-Tong , Jiang Xian-Kai , Wang Hao-Xiang , Xia Fan-Xiao-Yu , Chen Chang-Xue , Yu Wen-Hui , Yu Fu , Wu Jian , Gan Wei-Qun
Published: November 2019

China’s first solar mission, the Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S), is now changing from Phase B to Phase C. Its main scientific objectives are summarized as ‘1M2B’, namely magnetic field and two types of bursts (solar flares and coronal mass ejections). Among the three scientific payloads, Hard X-ray Imager (HXI) observes images and spectra of X-ray bursts in solar flares. In this paper, we briefly report on the progresses made by the HXI science team (data and software team) during the design phase (till May 2019). These include simulations of HXI imaging, optimization of HXI grids, development of imaging algorithms, estimation of orbital background, as well as in-orbit calibration plan. These efforts provided guidance for the engineering, improved HXI’s imaging capability and reduced the cost of the instrument.