bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
miR‐206 enhances nasopharyngeal carcinoma radiosensitivity by targeting IGF1
Authors: Wang Tian , Dong Xin‐Min , Zhang Fu‐Lin , Zhang Ji‐Ren
Published: July 2017

Radioresistance remains a major problem in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of NPC radioresistance remain poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate the potential role and mechanism of miR‐206 in NPC radioresistance. We observed that miR‐206 was down‐regulated in radioresistant NPC cells. Furthermore, restoration of miR‐206 in CNE2‐IR cells suppressed enhanced radiosensitivity of NPC cells. In contrast, inhibition of miR‐206 in CNE2 cells reduced the radiosensitivity. We also found that miR‐206 directly targeted IGF1 and inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway. Our data demonstrate that miR‐206 sensitizes NPC cell to irradiation by targeting IGF1, highlighting the therapeutic potential of miR‐206 in NPC radiosensitization.
Effectiveness of a national ‘Minnesota Model’ based residential treatment programme for alcohol dependence in Ireland: outcomes and predictors of outcome
Authors: Gallagher C. , Radmall Z. , O’Gara C. , Burke T.
Published: July 2017

Objectives

The aims of this study were (a) to examine the effectiveness of an inpatient treatment programme for alcohol dependence based on the ‘Minnesota Model’ and (b) to examine potential predictors of outcomes from such treatment.

Methods

Demographics and data relating to psychosocial functioning of a group of individuals who commenced treatment for alcohol dependence were gathered at the point of treatment entry. These individuals were then followed up 6 months after they were to complete their inpatient treatment to establish their alcohol-related outcomes. Outcomes from treatment were identified as an index of treatment effectiveness and the outcome data were analysed to determine whether any of the baseline variables could be used to predict outcomes from treatment.

Results

Of those who were contacted at 6-month follow-up, 81.5% had a ‘good outcome’. This represented 66.7% of the total group who participated in the study. The only variable that was found to predict outcomes at 6-month follow-up was severity of alcohol dependence at treatment entry, with more severe alcohol problems associated with poorer outcomes.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence of the potential for a Minnesota-based treatment programme to be effective in helping people with alcohol dependence to reduce the amount of alcohol they consume and sustain this reduction beyond the treatment period.
Determinants and patterns of habitat use by the brown bearUrsus arctosin the French Pyrenees revealed by occupancy modelling
Authors: Piédallu Blaise , Quenette Pierre-Yves , Bombillon Nicolas , Gastineau Adrienne , Miquel Christian , Gimenez Olivier
Published: July 2017

The Pyrenean brown bearUrsus arctospopulation in the mountains between France and Spain is one of the smallest and most threatened populations of large carnivores in Europe. We assessed trends in brown bear habitat use in the Pyrenees and investigated the underlying environmental and anthropogenic drivers. Using detection/non-detection data collected during 2008–2014 through non-invasive methods, we developed dynamic occupancy models, accounting for local colonization and extinction processes. We found two non-connected core areas of occupancy, one in the west and the other in the centre of the Pyrenees, with a significant decrease in habitat use overall during 2008–2014. We also found a negative correlation between human density and bear occupancy, in agreement with previous studies on brown bear habitat suitability. Our results confirm the Critically Endangered status of the Pyrenean population of brown bears.
‘Humanity Doesn’t Exist Yet’: Democracy as a Kind of Prophecy
Authors: Cixous Hélène
Published: July 2017

This roundtable discussion with Hélène Cixous took place at St John's College, Cambridge, on 20 September 2014 as part of the Cambridge ‘Conference for a Poetics of Critical Political Theatre in Europe’. It was subsequently transcribed and prepared for publication by Joseph Long and Eva Urban to pay homage to the acclaimed critical theorist, novelist, and dramatist Hélène Cixous on her eightieth birthday on 5 June 2017, and to celebrate her important contribution in particular to political European theatre. The conversation centres on the recurring themes of her major plays, many of which were written in creative collaboration with Ariane Mnouchkine and the Théâtre du Soleil, where they were performed. Her epic modern tragedies are deeply concerned with ethics, politics, social criticism, and ideas of utopian social projects and their tragic failures. Here Cixous, with Maria Shevtsova, Joseph Long, Eric Prenowitz, Marta Segarra, and Eva Urban highlight both the passionate political commitment of her plays and their innovative textual and poetic forms within the wider context of Cixous's writings for the theatre.1 The conversation followed a keynote address by NTQ co-editor Maria Shevtsova, attended by Hélène Cixous, prior to the roundtable discussion, and published as ‘Political Theatre in Europe: East to West, 2007–2014’, in New Theatre Quarterly, XXXII, No. 2 (May 2016).
Pam Gems, Jane Lapotaire, and a Phenomenon Named Piaf
Authors: Lapotaire Jane
Published: July 2017

In this interview, award-winning actress Jane Lapotaire talks about the process of devel - op ing the central role in Pam Gems's Piaf, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in 1981. She further describes how Gems gave her the chance to play a protagonist for the first time in her career in the British male-dominated theatre of the late 1970s. Gems established herself as a major feminist playwright in the British theatre in 1976 with the production of Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi, although it was Piaf that brought her international attention and acclaim. Lapotaire discusses the significance of the female mission to create protagonist roles for women in the theatre who did not previously have the opportunity to drive a play's narrative. Esmaeil Najar is a translator, director, and theatre historian. He is currently writing his doctoral dissertation at the Ohio State University on Pam Gems's life and impact on British theatre.
Greek Tragedy as a Window on the Dispossessed
Authors: Wilmer Steve
Published: July 2017

In this article Steve Wilmer discusses adaptations of Greek tragedy that highlight the plight of the displaced and the dispossessed, including Janusz Glowacki's Antigone in New York, Marina Carr's Hecuba, and Elfriede Jelinek's Die Schutzbefohlenen, which is notably emblematic among appropriations of ancient Greek plays in referencing the problems facing refugees in Europe. He considers how this latter play has been directed in a variety of ways in Germany and Austria since 2013, and how in turn it has been reappropriated for new dramatic performances to further investigate the conditions of refugees. Some of these productions have caused political controversy and one of them has even been physically attacked by a right-wing group. Steve Wilmer is Professor Emeritus of Drama at Trinity College Dublin. He is the co-editor of ‘Theatre and Statelessness in Europe’ for Critical Stages (2016), Resisting Biopolitics: Philosophical, Political, and Performative Strategies (Routledge, 2016), and Deleuze and Beckett (Palgrave Macmillan, 2015). He also edited a special issue of Nordic Theatre Studies in 2015 titled ‘Theatre and the Nomadic Subject’.
Strip-intercropping canola with annual alfalfa improves biological control of Plutella xylostella (L.) and crop yield
Authors: Tajmiri Pejman , Fathi Seyed Ali Asghar , Golizadeh Ali , Nouri-Ganbalani Gadir
Published: July 2017

The population density of the diamondback moth (DBM),Plutella xylostella(L.), the species diversity of its predators, parasitism on eggs, larvae and pupae, and associated yield of canola were evaluated in experimental plots where spring canola was grown either as a monoculture or strip-intercropped with annual alfalfa in the ratio of 3C:3A, 6C:3A and 9C:3A over a 2-year period. The egg density was significantly higher in monoculture than in intercrops. The highest and lowest densities of larvae and pupae of DBM were recorded in monoculture (2.9–3.2 larvae per plant and 1.14–1.20 pupae per plant) and intercrop 3C:3A (0.7–0.6 larvae per plant and 0.34–0.29 pupae per plant), respectively. Shannon diversity index (H') for species composition of the predators of DBM immature stages was lower in monoculture than in intercrops, and was similar amongst the three intercrops. Moreover, the percent parasitism for eggs, larvae and pupae was higher in intercrops than in monoculture. The dry seed weight loss was higher in monocrop (37.6–40.1%) compared to 3C:3A (7.9–8.6%), 6C:3A (19.5–21.4%) and 9C:3A (21.6–25.4%). Our results indicate that intercropping canola with annual alfalfa, especially in the ratio 3C:3A, can increase the species diversity, parasitism rates of DBM immature stages, and enhance the yield of canola. The implications of these findings, in relation to integrated pest management (IPM) in canola cropping systems, are discussed.
Modifying Dendritic Cell Activation with Plasmonic Nano Vectors
Authors: Vang Kieng Bao , Safina Ingrid , Darrigues Emilie , Nedosekin Dmitry , Nima Zeid A. , Majeed Waqar , Watanabe Fumiya , Kannarpady Ganesh , Kore Rajshekhar A. , Casciano Daniel , Zharov Vladimir P. , Griffin Robert J. , Dings Ruud P. M. , Biris Alexandru S.
Published: July 2017

Dendritic cells (DCs) can acquire, process, and present antigens to T-cells to induce an immune response. For this reason, targeting cancer antigens to DCs in order to cause an immune response against cancer is an emerging area of nanomedicine that has the potential to redefine the way certain cancers are treated. The use of plasmonically active silver-coated gold nanorods (henceforth referred to as plasmonic nano vectors (PNVs)) as potential carriers for DC tumor vaccines has not been presented before. Effective carriers must be able to be phagocytized by DCs, present low toxicity, and induce the maturation of DCs—an early indication of an immune response. When we treated DCs with the PNVs, we found that the cell viability of DCs was unaffected, up to 200 μg/ml. Additionally, the PNVs associated with the DCs as they were phagocytized and they were found to reside within intracellular compartments such as endosomes. More importantly, the PNVs were able to induce expression of surface markers indicative of DC activation and maturation, i.e. CD40, CD86, and MHC class II. These results provide the first evidence that PNVs are promising carriers for DC-based vaccines and warrant further investigating for clinical use.
Comprehensive circular RNA profiling reveals the regulatory role of the circRNA-100338/miR-141-3p pathway in hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Huang Xiu-Yan , Huang Zi-Li , Xu Yong-Hua , Zheng Qi , Chen Zi , Song Wei , Zhou Jian , Tang Zhao-You , Huang Xin-Yu
Published: July 2017

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a class of endogenous noncoding RNAs that have recently been recognized as important regulators of gene expression and pathological networks. However, their transcriptional activities and functional mechanisms in cancer remain largely unknown. Here, we present results from a global circRNA expression and functional analysis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Using a circRNA microarray, we identified 226 differentially expressed circRNAs, of which 189 were significantly upregulated and 37 were downregulated. High expression of circRNA_100338, one of the upregulated circRNAs in HCC, is closely correlated with a low cumulative survival rate and metastatic progression in HCC patients with hepatitis B. Furthermore, our in silico and experimental analyses identified miR-141-3p as a direct target of circRNA_100338. Thus, circRNA_100338 functions as an endogenous sponge for miR-141-3p in HCC. In addition, we identified the crucial antagonistic roles of circRNA_100338 and miR-141-3p in the regulation of invasive potential in liver cancer cells. Overall, the differential expression of multiple circRNAs in HCC tissues and their clinical significance in hepatitis B-related HCC patients as revealed by our study suggests that circRNA_100338 is a potentially valuable biomarker for HCC diagnosis and target for HCC therapeutics.
The use of a hybrid Sequential Biofiltration System for the improvement of nutrient removal and PCB control in municipal wastewater
Authors: Kiedrzyńska Edyta , Urbaniak Magdalena , Kiedrzyński Marcin , Jóźwik Adam , Bednarek Agnieszka , Gągała Ilona , Zalewski Maciej
Published: July 2017

This article aims to evaluate the efficiency of an innovative hybrid Sequential Biofiltration System (SBS) for removing phosphorus and nitrogen and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from original municipal wastewater produced by a Wastewater Treatment Plant under authentic operating conditions. The hybrid SBS was constructed with two barriers, a geochemical (filtration beds with limestone, coal and sawdust) and a biological barrier (wetlands with Glyceria, Acorus, Typha, Phragmites), operating in parallel. Significant differences were found between inflow and outflow from the SBS with regard to wastewater contaminant concentrations, the efficiency of removal being 16% (max. 93%) for Total Phosphorus (TP), 25% (max. 93%) for Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP), 15% (max. 97%) for Total Nitrogen (TN), 17% (max. 98%) for NO3–N, and 21% for PCB equivalency (PCB EQ). In the case of PCB EQ concentration, the highest efficiency of 43% was obtained using beds with macrophytes. The SBS removed a significant load of TP (0.415 kg), TN (3.136 kg), and PCB EQ (0.223 g) per square meter per year. The use of low-cost hybrid SBSs as a post-treatment step for wastewater treatment was found to be an effective ecohydrological biotechnology that may be used for reducing point source pollution and improving water quality.
Combining molecular typing and spatial pattern analysis to identify areas of high tuberculosis transmission in a moderate-incidence county in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Yih-Yuan , Chang Jia-Ru , Wu Chih-Da , Yeh Yen-Po , Yang Shiu-Ju , Hsu Chih-Hao , Lin Ming-Ching , Tsai Ching-Fang , Lin Ming-Shian , Su Ih-Jen , Dou Horng-Yunn
Published: July 2017

In total, 303 randomly selected clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates from 303 patients (collected January to December 2012) in central Taiwan were examined. The major lineages found were Beijing (N = 114, 37.62%), Haarlem (N = 76, 25.08%) and East African–Indian (EAI) (N = 42, 13.86%). Notably, younger persons (≤30 years old) were 6.58 times more likely to be infected with a Beijing genotype compared to older persons (>70 years) (p < 0.05). Combining molecular typing methods and geographical information system (GIS) analysis, we uncovered a twofold higher incidence of Beijing strains in a hotspot area (33%) compared to non-hotspot areas (17%). By 24 MIRU-VNTR typing, persons in clustered groups were 1.96 times more likely to be infected with a Beijing strain compared with non-clustered persons, suggesting recent spread and emergence of MTB. Finally, we observed a trend in which TB incidence increased as the density/concentration of analyzed environmental factors increased, suggesting that environmental factors are associated with TB transmission; however, only population density was found to be significantly associated with increased risk of TB (p < 0.05). Molecular typing methods combined with spatial analysis suggest possible TB transmission. Early intervention to interrupt transmission may be most effective if targeted to hot zones of TB.
Assuring quality in microplastic monitoring: About the value of clean-air devices as essentials for verified data
Authors: Wesch Charlotte , Elert Anna Maria , Wörner Manuel , Braun Ulrike , Klein Roland , Paulus Martin
Published: July 2017

Avoiding aerial microfibre contamination of environmental samples is essential for reliable analyses when it comes to the detection of ubiquitous microplastics. Almost all laboratories have contamination problems which are largely unavoidable without investments in clean-air devices. Therefore, our study supplies an approach to assess background microfibre contamination of samples in the laboratory under particle-free air conditions. We tested aerial contamination of samples indoor, in a mobile laboratory, within a laboratory fume hood and on a clean bench with particles filtration during the examining process of a fish. The used clean bench reduced aerial microfibre contamination in our laboratory by 96.5%. This highlights the value of suitable clean-air devices for valid microplastic pollution data. Our results indicate, that pollution levels by microfibres have been overestimated and actual pollution levels may be many times lower. Accordingly, such clean-air devices are recommended for microplastic laboratory applications in future research work to significantly lower error rates.
PageRank versatility analysis of multilayer modality-based network for exploring the evolution of oil-water slug flow
Authors: Gao Zhong-Ke , Dang Wei-Dong , Li Shan , Yang Yu-Xuan , Wang Hong-Tao , Sheng Jing-Ran , Wang Xiao-Fan
Published: July 2017

Numerous irregular flow structures exist in the complicated multiphase flow and result in lots of disparate spatial dynamical flow behaviors. The vertical oil-water slug flow continually attracts plenty of research interests on account of its significant importance. Based on the spatial transient flow information acquired through our designed double-layer distributed-sector conductance sensor, we construct multilayer modality-based network to encode the intricate spatial flow behavior. Particularly, we calculate the PageRank versatility and multilayer weighted clustering coefficient to quantitatively explore the inferred multilayer modality-based networks. Our analysis allows characterizing the complicated evolution of oil-water slug flow, from the opening formation of oil slugs, to the succedent inter-collision and coalescence among oil slugs, and then to the dispersed oil bubbles. These properties render our developed method particularly powerful for mining the essential flow features from the multilayer sensor measurements.
Simulation of Long-term Yield and Soil Water Consumption in Apple Orchards on the Loess Plateau, China, in Response to Fertilization
Authors: Peng Xingxing , Guo Zheng , Zhang Yujiao , Li Jun
Published: July 2017

The Loess Plateau, China, is the world’s largest apple-producing region, and over 80% of the orchards are in rainfed (dryland) areas. Desiccation of the deep soil layer under dryland apple orchards is the main stressor of apple production in this region. Fertilization is a factor that causes soil desiccation in dryland apple orchards. Given its applicability and precision validations, the Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model was used to simulate the dynamics of fruit yield and deep soil desiccation in apple orchards under six fertilization treatments. During the 45 years of study, the annual fruit yield under the fertilization treatments initially increased and then decreased in a fluctuating manner, and the average fruit yields were 24.42, 27.27, 28.69, 29.63, 30.49 and 29.43 t/ha in these respective fertilization treatments. As fertilization increased, yield of the apple orchards increased first and then declined,desiccation of the soil layers occurred earlier and extended deeper, and the average annual water consumption, over-consumption and water use efficiency increased as fertilization increased. In terms of apple yields, sustainable soil water use, and economic benefits, the most appropriate fertilization rate for drylands in Luochuan is 360–480 kg/ha N and 180–240 kg/ha P.
Near-infrared induced phase-shifted ICG/Fe3O4 loaded PLGA nanoparticles for photothermal tumor ablation
Authors: Niu Chengcheng , Xu Yan , An Senbo , Zhang Ming , Hu Yihe , Wang Long , Peng Qinghai
Published: July 2017

Near-infrared (NIR) laser-induced photothermal therapy (PTT) uses a photothermal agent to convert optical energy into thermal energy and has great potential as an effective local, minimally invasive treatment modality for killing cancer cells. To improve the efficacy of PTT, we developed poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulating superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4), indocyanine green (ICG), and perfluoropentane (PFP) as synergistic agents for NIR laser-induced PTT. We fabricated a novel type of phase-shifting fluorescent magnetic NPs, Fe3O4/ICG@PLGA/PFP NPs, that effectively produce heat in response to NIR laser irradiation for an enhanced thermal ablation effect and a phase-shift thermoelastic expansion effect, and thus, can be used as a photothermal agent. After in vitro treatment of MCF-7 breast cancer cells with Fe3O4/ICG@PLGA/PFP NPs and NIR laser irradiation, histology and electron microscopy confirmed severe damage to the cells and the formation of many microbubbles with iron particles at the edge or outside of the microbubbles. In vivo experiments in mice with MCF-7 tumors demonstrated that Fe3O4/ICG@PLGA/PFP NPs could achieve tumor ablation upon NIR laser irradiation with minimal toxicity to non-irradiated tissues. Together, our results indicate that Fe3O4/ICG@PLGA/PFP NPs can be used as effective nanotheranostic agents for tumor ablation.
Comment on “Proton transport in barium stannate: classical, semi-classical and quantum regimes” by G. Geneste, A. Ottochian, J. Hermet and G. Dezanneau, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015,17, 19104
Authors: Samgin Alexander L. , Ezin Alexander N.
Published: July 2017

In a recent paper in this journal, proton transport in oxides was considered in terms of density functional theory and the non-adiabatic Flynn–Stoneham approach of small polaron type proposed much earlier for metals.
An imidazolium based ionic liquid supported on Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for N-formylation of amines
Authors: Garkoti Charu , Shabir Javaid , Mozumdar Subho
Published: July 2017

An ionic liquid supported on silica-coated ferrite nanoparticles as an efficient and reusable catalyst for N-formylation of amines.
3D free-standing hierarchical CuCo2O4 nanowire cathodes for rechargeable lithium–oxygen batteries
Authors: Sun Wang , Wang Yan , Wu Haitao , Wang Zhenhua , Rooney David , Sun Kening
Published: July 2017

Novel 3D free-standing carbon- and binder-free cathodes were prepared and efficiently improved the electrochemical performance of Li–O2 batteries.
Electrochemical potassium-ion intercalation in NaxCoO2: a novel cathode material for potassium-ion batteries
Authors: Sada Krishnakanth , Senthilkumar Baskar , Barpanda Prabeer
Published: July 2017

Potassium-ion intercalation in P2-type hexagonal Na0.84CoO2 platelets delivered a high reversible capacity of 82 mA h g−1 with a 0.26 V higher average voltage relative to a Na-ion cell.
Collaborative enhancement from Pb2+ and F− in Pb2(NO3)2(H2O)F2 generates the largest second harmonic generation effect among nitrates
Authors: Peng Guang , Yang Yi , Tang Yu-Huan , Luo Min , Yan Tao , Zhou Yuqiao , Lin Chensheng , Lin Zheshuai , Ye Ning
Published: July 2017

The first metal nitrate fluoride nonlinear optical material, Pb2(NO3)2(H2O)F2, was synthesized with a super strong second harmonic generation effect.
Advances in spectroscopy and dynamics of small and medium sized molecules and clusters
Authors: Hochlaf Majdi
Published: July 2017

Investigations of the spectroscopy and dynamics of small- and medium-sized molecules and clusters represent a hot topic in atmospheric chemistry, biology, physics, atto- and femto-chemistry and astrophysics.
Liquid–solid phase transition of physical hydrogels subject to an externally applied electro-chemo-mechanical coupled field with mobile ionic species
Authors: Wu Tao , Li Hua
Published: July 2017

In this study, a model was multiphysically developed for the simulation of the phase transition of physical hydrogels between liquid solution and solid gel states, subject to an electro-chemo-mechanically coupled field, with the effect of the mobile ionic species in the solution.
Selective molecular annealing: in situ small angle X-ray scattering study of microwave-assisted annealing of block copolymers
Authors: Toolan Daniel T. W. , Adlington Kevin , Isakova Anna , Kalamiotis Alexis , Mokarian-Tabari Parvaneh , Dimitrakis Georgios , Dodds Christopher , Arnold Thomas , Terrill Nick J. , Bras Wim , Hermida Merino Daniel , Topham Paul D. , Irvine Derek J. , Howse Jonathan R.
Published: July 2017

A new experimental set-up facilitating in situ SAXS during microwave annealing of polymers.
The properties of residual water molecules in ionic liquids: a comparison between direct and inverse Kirkwood–Buff approaches
Authors: Kobayashi Takeshi , Reid Joshua E. S. J. , Shimizu Seishi , Fyta Maria , Smiatek Jens
Published: July 2017

Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of aqueous ionic liquid mixtures were performed in order to compare the resulting Kirkwood–Buff integrals with experimental data and the corresponding integrals derived by an inverse Kirkwood–Buff approach.
Recent progress on fluorination in aqueous media
Authors: Yang Lian , Dong Tao , Revankar Hrishikesh M. , Zhang Cheng-Pan
Published: July 2017

Advances of fluorination in aqueous media during the last few decades are summarized in this review.
Energy transfer dynamics and time resolved photoluminescence in BaWO4:Eu3+nanophosphors synthesized by mechanical activation
Authors: Jena Paramananda , Gupta Santosh K. , Verma Narendra Kumar , Singh Akhilesh Kumar , Kadam R. M.
Published: July 2017

Red purity and high quantum efficiency of BaWO4:Eu3+projects it as a new red phosphor for application in white LEDs.
Palladium nanoparticles anchored on polymer vesicles as Pickering interfacial catalysts for hydrolytic oxidation of organosilanes
Authors: Shankar Ravi , Jangir Bhawana , Sharma Asmita
Published: July 2017

The self-assembly of functional polymer vesicles embedded with PdNPs at water–chloroform interfaces provides a novel catalytic route for the synthesis of poly(hydrosiloxane)s, H2RSi[OSiRH]nOSiRH2.
Microwave-assisted synthesis of a graphene–Bi8La10O27 nanocomposite as an efficient catalytic counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Areerob Yonrapach , Cho Kwang-Youn , Oh Won-Chun
Published: July 2017

A graphene–Bi8La10O27 nanocomposite (GBL) was successfully synthesized by a facile microwave-assisted method, and applied as a counter electrode for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells.
Miniaturised highly selective wide‐band bandpass filter using dual‐mode resonators and inter digital capacitors
Authors: Killamsetty V.K. , Mukherjee B.
Published: July 2017

A wide‐band bandpass filter with high selectivity, compact size and wide stopband is presented in this Letter. This proposed filter uses dual‐mode resonators (DMRs) as its basic tool. Stepped impedance technique is adopted in designing the DMRs for miniaturising its size. In the construction of filter design, three types of inter digital capacitors (IDCs) are employed; one is used for coupling between DMRs and other two are used at feed lines. The IDCs and open stub resonators are infused in the filter for curbing the harmonics and providing wide stopband. Input–output cross coupling is introduced by making use of hook‐shaped feed lines for achieving good selectivity. A miniaturised size of 0.089λg × 0.10λg (29.2 × 33 mm2) with wide stopband up to 10.1f0 (f0 is the operating frequency of filter) with 21.5 dB harmonic suppression level is achieved with this design.
Compact power divider for wideband in‐phase and out‐of‐phase performances using parallel coupled lines
Authors: Ahmed U. , Abbosh A.
Published: July 2017

A novel structure that can operate as an in‐phase and out‐of‐phase power divider across 100% fractional bandwidth is presented. The proposed structure adopts two pairs of parallel‐coupled lines to enable changing the operation from in‐phase to out‐of‐phase while improving the return loss and isolation of a traditional Wilkinson power divider. Moreover, the device includes a stepped impedance T‐junction for input port impedance matching. Changing the status of two terminals of one pair of coupled lines from open‐ended to short‐ended allows achieving changing the operation from in‐phase to out‐of‐phase performance. Using a chip capacitor between the coupled lines enables realising the needed tight coupling without the need to have narrow gaps. A prototype is fabricated and measured. Simulated and measured results show more than 10 dB of return loss and more than 15 dB of isolation across the investigated band 1–3 GHz. In addition, the device provides <1° phase imbalance and 0.2 dB amplitude imbalance in the in‐phase and out‐of‐phase states across the whole frequency band.
A new low‐complexity patch‐based image super‐resolution
Authors: Rasti Pejman , Nasrollahi Kamal , Orlova Olga , Tamberg Gert , Ozcinar Cagri , Moeslund Thomas B. , Anbarjafari Gholamreza
Published: July 2017

In this study, a novel single image super‐resolution (SR) method, which uses a generated dictionary from pairs of high‐resolution (HR) images and their corresponding low‐resolution (LR) representations, is proposed. First, HR and LR dictionaries are created by dividing HR and LR images into patches Afterwards, when performing SR, the distance between every patch of the input LR image and those of available LR patches in the LR dictionary are calculated. The minimum distance between the input LR patch and those in the LR dictionary is taken, and its counterpart from the HR dictionary will be passed through an illumination enhancement process resulting in consistency of illumination between neighbour patches. This process is applied to all patches of the LR image. Finally, in order to remove the blocking effect caused by merging the patches, an average of the obtained HR image and the interpolated image is calculated. Furthermore, it is shown that the stabe of dictionaries is reducible to a great degree. The speed of the system is improved by 62.5%. The quantitative and qualitative analyses of the experimental results show the superiority of the proposed technique over the conventional and state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Design and implementation of low‐cost universal smart energy meter with demand side load management
Authors: Labib Labib , Billah Masum , Sultan Mahmud Rana G.M. , Sadat Md. Nazmus , Kibria Md. Golam , Islam Md. Rafiqul
Published: July 2017

The authors propose, design, and implement a low‐cost universal smart energy meter (USEM) with demand‐side load management. The meter can be used in the postpaid and prepaid modes with flexible tariff plans such as time of use, block rate tariff, and their combination. The smart meter comprises of a potential transformer, current transformer, and microcontroller unit with an embedded communication module. The connectivity among the utility authority, the smart meter, and consumer is established by authority identification number, meter identification number, and user identification number using the cellular network. The load management option of the meter controls electrical loads and provides emergency power during the power shortage. The USEM can be configured and reconfigured remotely simply by short message service without changing hardware. Besides, energy consumption status, meter tampering, and fault at the distribution end can be monitored with the proposed metering system. Here, a prototype of the smart meter is presented, and its effectiveness, flexibility, and versatility are experimentally demonstrated.
Electric vehicle battery parameter identification and SOC observability analysis: NiMH and Li‐S case studies
Authors: Fotouhi Abbas , Auger Daniel J. , Propp Karsten , Longo Stefano
Published: July 2017

In this study, battery model identification is performed to be applied in electric vehicle battery management systems. Two case studies are investigated: nickel‐metal hydride (NiMH), which is a mature battery technology, and lithium‐sulfur (Li‐S), a promising next‐generation technology. Equivalent circuit battery model parameterization is performed in both cases using the Prediction‐Error Minimization algorithm applied to experimental data. Performance of the Li‐S cell is also tested based on urban dynamometer driving schedule (UDDS). The identification results are then validated against the exact values of the battery parameters. The use of identified parameters for battery state‐of‐charge (SOC) estimation is also discussed. It is demonstrated that the set of parameters changes with a different battery chemistry. In the case of NiMH, the battery open circuit voltage (OCV) is adequate for SOC estimation whereas Li‐S battery SOC estimation is more challenging due to its unique features such as flat OCV‐SOC curve. An observability analysis shows that Li‐S battery SOC is not fully observable and the existing methods might not be applicable for it. Finally, the effect of temperature on the identification results and the observability are discussed by repeating the UDDS test at 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 degree Celsius
HCC‐based interleaved boost converter with optimal switching frequency control of wind energy conversion system for DC microgrid application
Authors: Karthikeyan V. , Rajasekar S. , Chitti Babu B. , Yadav Praveen , Karuppanan P. , Almurib Haider A.F. , Tamilselvi S.
Published: July 2017

This study exploited the hysteresis current control (HCC) with optimal switching frequency for interleaved boost converter to improve the power factor of wind energy conversion system (WECS) exclusively for DC microgrid applications. By fact that output power from WECS is variable due to unpredictable wind speed, where the HCC suffers with range of switching frequency, high switching loss, large input current ripple and poor power factor. To overcome the aforementioned problem, an automatic tuning procedure has been developed for proportional–integral–derivative (PID) voltage regulator to achieve optimal feedback gain of filter inductor current and thereby optimal switching frequency is maintained with good power factor, low harmonic distortion and improved efficiency. Additionally, the robust PID voltage regulator guarantees the stability and investigated through bode plots. Hardware prototype model is implemented in the laboratory standards with Spartan 3AN field programmable gate array control board. The experimental results obtained are confirming the theoretical background aspects of the operating regimes.
Origin of OER catalytic activity difference of oxygen-deficient perovskites A2Mn2O5 (A = Ca, Sr): A theoretical study
Authors: Yao Xiaolong , Liu Jieyu , Wang Weihua , Lu Feng , Wang Weichao
Published: July 2017

Mn-based oxygen-deficient perovskite catalysts A2Mn2O5 (A = Ca, Sr) have been experimentally proved high oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activities for replacing Pt in oxygen electrocatalysis. Nevertheless, the correlation between the fundamental electronic structure at room temperature and the corresponding electrocatalysis is not fully accessible. In this paper, we combine the ground state density functional theory (DFT) method and dynamic mean-field theory (DFT+DMFT) at room temperature to investigate the origin of the OER difference for electrocatalysts A2Mn2O5 (A = Ca, Sr). We find that at room temperature the highest occupied Mn dz2 orbital in the square pyramidal crystal field of oxygen-deficient perovskites A2Mn2O5 with insulating properties can provide a moderate bonding strength with intermediate hydroxyl OH*, leading to a high OER catalytic activity. According to the electronic structure analysis, we observe that replacing the A-site element Ca by Sr with the larger ionic radii would result in a higher OER activity due to the weakened hybridization between the Mn dz2 orbital and the O pσ orbital of OH*. This insight could provide hints for the screening metal oxide electrocatalysts in the applications of the energy storage and conversion.
Anomalous Hall effect in two-dimensional non-collinear antiferromagnetic semiconductor Cr0.68Se
Authors: Yan J. , Luo X. , Chen F. C. , Pei Q. L. , Lin G. T. , Han Y. Y. , Hu L. , Tong P. , Song W. H. , Zhu X. B. , Sun Y. P.
Published: July 2017

Cr0.68Se single crystals with two-dimensional (2D) character have been grown, and the detailed magnetization M(T), electrical transport properties (including longitudinal resistivity ρxx and Hall resistivity ρxy), and thermal transport properties [including heat capacity Cp(T) and thermoelectric power S(T)] have been measured. There are some interesting phenomena: (i) Cr0.68Se presents a non-collinear antiferromagnetic (AFM) semiconducting behavior at the Néel temperature of TN = 42 K and with the activated energy of Eg = 3.9 meV; (ii) it exhibits the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) below TN and large negative magnetoresistance about 83.7% (2 K, 8.5 T). The AHE coefficient RS is 0.385 cm−3/C at T = 2 K, and the AHE conductivity σH is about 1 Ω−1 cm−1 at T = 40 K; (iii) the scaling behavior between the anomalous Hall resistivity ρxyA and the longitudinal resistivity ρxx is linear, and further analysis implies that the origin of the AHE in Cr0.68Se is dominated by the skew-scattering mechanism. Our results may be helpful for exploring the potential application of these kinds of 2D AFM semiconductors.
Lie superbialgebra structures on the Lie superalgebra C3+A and deformation of related integrable Hamiltonian systems
Authors: Eghbali A. , Rezaei-Aghdam A.
Published: July 2017

Admissible structure constants related to the dual Lie superalgebras of particular Lie superalgebra (C3+A) are found by straightforward calculations from the matrix form of super Jacobi and mixed super Jacobi identities which are obtained from adjoint representation. Then, by making use of the automorphism supergroup of the Lie superalgebra (C3+A), the Lie superbialgebra structures on the Lie superalgebra (C3+A) are obtained and classified into inequivalent 31 families. We also determine all corresponding coboundary and bi-r-matrix Lie superbialgebras. The quantum deformations associated with some Lie superbialgebras (C3+A) are obtained, together with the corresponding deformed Casimir elements. As an application of these quantum deformations, we construct a deformed integrable Hamiltonian system from the representation of the Hopf superalgebra Uλ(Cp=12,𝜖⊕A1,1)(C3+A).
Distinguishing dynamical features of water inside protein hydration layer: Distribution reveals what is hidden behind the average
Authors: Mukherjee Saumyak , Mondal Sayantan , Bagchi Biman
Published: July 2017

Since the pioneering works of Pethig, Grant, and Wüthrich on a protein hydration layer, many studies have been devoted to find out if there are any “general and universal” characteristic features that can distinguish water molecules inside the protein hydration layer from bulk. Given that the surface itself varies from protein to protein, and that each surface facing the water is heterogeneous, search for universal features has been elusive. Here, we perform an atomistic molecular dynamics simulation in order to propose and demonstrate that such defining characteristics can emerge if we look not at average properties but the distribution of relaxation times. We present results of calculations of distributions of residence times and rotational relaxation times for four different protein-water systems and compare them with the same quantities in the bulk. The distributions in the hydration layer are unusually broad and log-normal in nature due to the simultaneous presence of peptide backbones that form weak hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic amino acid side chains that form no hydrogen bond, and charged polar groups that form a strong hydrogen bond with the surrounding water molecules. The broad distribution is responsible for the non-exponential dielectric response and also agrees with large specific heat of the hydration water. Our calculations reveal that while the average time constant is just about 2-3 times larger than that of bulk water, it provides a poor representation of the real behaviour. In particular, the average leads to the erroneous conclusion that water in the hydration layer is bulk-like. However, the observed and calculated lower value of static dielectric constant of hydration layer remained difficult to reconcile with the broad distribution observed in dynamical properties. We offer a plausible explanation of these unique properties.
Transition from symmetric discharge to asymmetric discharge in a short gap helium dielectric barrier discharge
Authors: Ning Wenjun , Dai Dong , Zhang YuHui , Hao Yanpeng , Li Licheng
Published: July 2017

The discharge dynamics of a 2.08 mm gap helium dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) are studied with a one-dimensional fluid model. By increasing the amplitude of a sinusoidal voltage source, it is observed that the discharge is symmetric at first and abruptly turns into an asymmetric state after passing a certain critical value. Compared with former publications dealing with relatively larger gap-distance DBD, our simulation results indicate some new discoveries. First, in both the symmetric and asymmetric states, every discharge event is fully developed from Townsend discharge to glow discharge, and the discharge current appears as a steep narrow pulse. Second, the residual positive column is always completely dissipated before the next break down; therefore, its influence on the symmetric-to-asymmetric transition can be eliminated. It is further revealed that the symmetric-to-asymmetric transition in the short-gap DBD is more delicate. A subtle phase shift is observed before the transition process. When the phase shift is further promoted with voltage rising, a discordance of the evolution paces between electron and ions occurs, which consequently leads to the formation of discharge asymmetry.
Polarized Raman scattering of epitaxial vanadium dioxide films with low-temperature monoclinic phase
Authors: Shibuya Keisuke , Sawa Akihito
Published: July 2017

A polarized Raman scattering study was carried out on epitaxial VO2 thin films on MgF2(001) and (110) substrates to investigate the Raman symmetry and tensor elements of the phonon modes of the films in a low-temperature monoclinic phase. From the polarization angular dependence of the Raman intensity, we assigned the phonon modes at 137, 194, 310, 340, 499, 612, and 663 cm−1 to Ag symmetry and the phonon modes at 143, 262, 442, 480, 582, and 820 cm−1 to Bg symmetry. The angular-dependence measurements also revealed that two phonon modes with Ag and Bg symmetries are present at about 224 and 393 cm−1, although only a single peak was observed in the Raman spectra at around these wavenumbers. On the basis of the experimental results, we evaluated the Raman tensors of the identified phonon modes. From the Raman tensors, we found that the atomic displacements of the 194 and 340 cm−1 phonon modes are approximately perpendicular and parallel, respectively, to the V–V dimer direction. This is consistent with a previous theoretical prediction, i.e., these modes are attributable to the tilting motion and the stretching vibration of the V–V dimers, respectively.
Spin-electromagnetic waves in planar multiferroic multilayers
Authors: Nikitin Andrey A. , Ustinov Alexey B. , Vitko Vitalii V. , Nikitin Alexey A. , Kondrahov Alexandr V. , Pirro P. , Lähderanta E. , Kalinikos Boris A. , Hillebrands B.
Published: July 2017

A general electrodynamic theory is developed for dispersion characteristics of spin-electromagnetic waves (SEWs) propagating in multiferroic multilayers. The derivation is based on the full set of Maxwell's equations taking into account retardation effects. The multilayers are considered to be composed of an infinite number of ferrite and ferroelectric layers having arbitrary thicknesses, as well as arbitrary magnetic and electric parameters. As an example, spectra of SEWs are calculated and analyzed for a heterostructure containing two thin ferrite films separated by a thin ferroelectric film. An electric field tunability of the SEW dispersion characteristics at gigahertz frequencies is shown, providing an efficient control of SEW wave-numbers important for applications.
Design and characterization of free-running InGaAsP single-photon detector with active-quenching technique
Authors: Liu Junliang , Zhang Tingfa , Li Yongfu , Ding Lei , Tao Junchao , Wang Ying , Wang Qingpu , Fang Jiaxiong
Published: July 2017

A free-running single-photon detector for 1.06 μm wavelength based on an InGaAsP/InP single-photon avalanche diode is presented. The detector incorporates an ultra-fast active-quenching technique to greatly lessen the afterpulsing effects. An improved method for avalanche characterization using electroluminescence is proposed, and the performance of the detector is evaluated. The number of avalanche carriers is as low as 1.68×106, resulting in a low total afterpulse probability of 4% at 233 K, 10% detection efficiency, and 1 μs hold-off time.
Development of in situ two-coil mutual inductance technique in a multifunctional scanning tunneling microscope
Authors: Duan Ming-Chao , Liu Zhi-Long , Ge Jian-Feng , Tang Zhi-Jun , Wang Guan-Yong , Wang Zi-Xin , Guan Dandan , Li Yao-Yi , Qian Dong , Liu Canhua , Jia Jin-Feng
Published: July 2017

Superconducting thin films have been a focal point for intensive research efforts since their reduced dimension allows for a wide variety of quantum phenomena. Many of these films, fabricated in UHV chambers, are highly vulnerable to air exposure, making it difficult to measure intrinsic superconducting properties such as zero resistance and perfect diamagnetism with ex situ experimental techniques. Previously, we developed a multifunctional scanning tunneling microscope (MSTM) containing in situ four-point probe (4PP) electrical transport measurement capability in addition to the usual STM capabilities [Ge et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 86, 053903 (2015)]. Here we improve this MSTM via development of both transmission and reflection two-coil mutual inductance techniques for in situ measurement of the diamagnetic response of a superconductor. This addition does not alter the original STM and 4PP functions of the MSTM. We demonstrate the performance of the two-coil mutual inductance setup on a 10-nm-thick NbN thin film grown on a Nb-doped SrTiO3(111) substrate.
Dark current and photoresponse characteristics of extended wavelength infrared photodetectors
Authors: Chauhan D. , Perera A. G. U. , Li L. H. , Chen L. , Linfield E. H.
Published: July 2017

The dark current and spectral photoresponse thresholds of a semiconductor photodetector are normally determined by the minimum energy gap (Δ) of the material, or the interfacial energy gap of the heterostructure. In this manuscript, we discuss the performance of an asymmetric p-GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs heterostructure-based infrared photodetector, which shows an extended wavelength threshold beyond the limit set by Δ. The measured dark current was found to agree well with fits obtained from a 3D carrier drift model using the designed value of Δ ∼ 0.40 eV (∼3.1 μm). In contrast, the spectral photoresponse showed extended wavelength thresholds of ∼68 μm, ∼45 μm, and ∼60 μm at positive, zero, and negative biases, respectively, at 5.3 K. For a reference (symmetric) photodetector, the dark current was fitted with the designed value of Δ ∼0.30 eV, and excellent agreement was obtained for both the measured dark current and spectral response. This underlies the advantage of using asymmetric infrared photo-detector designs, in which an extension to the detected wavelengths can be obtained with little compromise to the dark current characteristics.
Rectangular photonic crystal nanobeam cavities in bulk diamond
Authors: Mouradian Sara , Wan Noel H. , Schröder Tim , Englund Dirk
Published: July 2017

We demonstrate the fabrication of photonic crystal nanobeam cavities with rectangular cross section into bulk diamond. In simulation, these cavities have an unloaded quality (Q) factor of over 1 × 106. Measured cavity resonances show fundamental modes with spectrometer-limited Q factors ≥14×103 within 1 nm of the nitrogen vacancy centers zero phonon line at 637 nm. We find high cavity yield across the full diamond chip with deterministic resonance trends across the fabricated parameter sweeps.