bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radar and communication integration based on complete complementary codes
Authors: Qi Linlin , Yao Yuan , Wu Guangxin
Published: October 2019

In modern electronic warfare, integration of radar and communication plays an important role in maximising resource utilisation and reducing electromagnetic interference, especially for the integrated waveform design technology based on signal sharing. Here, the authors introduce polyphase complete complementary codes (CCC) into the integration of spread spectrum radar and communication. According to the correlation property of CCC, they deduce the analytical expression of the ambiguity function of CCC and introduce the integration system based on CCC. Simulation results show the superiority of CCC in correlation, which means that it can be used as a spread spectrum sequence in the radar and communication integration field.
Design and implementation of LFMCW radar system based on ZYNQ
Authors: Yuan Ye , Xu Qiu , Liu Xingyu , Li Heng‐Chao
Published: October 2019

Linear frequency modulated continuous wave (LFMCW) radar has been applied to the field about short‐range target detection. In this article, in order to achieve the low cost and general short‐range target detection, a semi‐physical LFMCW radar system is designed to estimate the distance and speed of the moving target in real scenarios. Meanwhile, the received echo signal is processed by using sparse Fourier transform and fast Fourier transform so as to further improve computational efficiency. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the designed semi‐physical LFMCW radar system. More importantly, the designed system also lays the foundation for the future engineering application for the LFMCW radar.
Multi‐frame track‐before‐detect algorithm for disambiguation
Authors: Wen Ming , Yi Wei , Li Wujun
Published: October 2019

In practice, medium pulse repetition frequency (PRF) radar system is widely used as it takes both the advantages of low and high PRF radars. However, range and Doppler ambiguities appear in such a complicated system. Traditional target tracking algorithms first threshold raw measurements and obtain points from different PRF, then perform ambiguity resolutions over them to obtain the unambiguous measurements. It leads to a rather poor performance when target signal‐to‐noise ratio is low. While multi‐frame track‐before‐detect (MF‐TBD) is an advantageous method to track weak targets, but it fails to be applied in multiple PRF radar system directly. In this study, two algorithms based on MF‐TBD are proposed. Classical ambiguity resolution (CAR) TBD first resolves ambiguities by means of a robust Chinese Remainder Theorem, where the first detection threshold is below the normal threshold, and then MF‐TBD is applied for further tracking. The simulation shows that the proposed method significantly outperforms the CAR detect‐before‐track algorithm.
Improved moving target detector using sequential combination of DPCA and ATI
Authors: Lee Myung‐Jun , Kang Min‐Seok , Ryu Bo‐Hyun , Lee Seung‐Jae , Lim Byung‐Gyun , Oh Tae‐Bong , Kim Kyung‐Tae
Published: October 2019

The detection of moving targets on synthetic‐aperture radar images is one of the most popular approaches to monitor ground vehicles and ships on an ocean. Although the well‐known displaced phase centre antenna (DPCA) or along track interferometry (ATI) has good detection performance, they often produce high false alarm rates. A new scheme, i.e. a moving target indicator (MTI) using the sequential combinations of DPCA and ATI to reduce the number of false alarms is suggested. The simulation results show that the proposed MTI scheme can provide a low false alarm rate, while maintaining good detection performance.
Sodium alginate assisted construction of ZnSnO3 microspheres enhanced HCHO sensing performance under UV illumination at room temperature
Authors: Chen Jie , Ying Zhihua , Zheng Peng , Gao Rongfa , Mei Jinbang
Published: October 2019

The ZnSnO3 microspheres were fabricated with water‐soluble biopolymer sodium alginate (SA) as a crystal growth modifier under hydrothermal conditions. The gas‐sensing properties of ZnSnO3@SA were tested under the illumination of UV light at room temperature. The results showed that the ZnSnO3@SA sensor exhibited better HCHO gas response than pristine ZnSnO3 sensor, which was ascribed to the introduction of SA that changed the size distribution of the microspheres. Test results of HCHO gas with different concentrations indicated that the ZnSnO3@SA sensor had a good linearity. This approach would provide a potential route for the HCHO sensor to work at room temperature. In addition, the sensing mechanism was also discussed.
Solvothermal preparation and tribological performance of g‐C3N4/TiO2 hybrids as oil‐based lubricant additives
Authors: Zhang Feixia , Tang Guogang , Xu Jin , Li Changsheng
Published: October 2019

TiO2 nanospheres wrapped by graphene‐like g‐C3N4 nanosheets were fabricated through the one‐pot solvothermal process and applied as lubricant additives in paraffin base oil to characterise the tribology performances. Moreover, g‐C3N4/TiO2 composites were investigated by different characterisation methods such as X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, indicating the formation of g‐C3N4/TiO2 composites. Subsequently, the friction experiment of the resulting samples using g‐C3N4/TiO2 hybrids as additives in base oil were tested by a multispecimen friction and wear tester (UMT‐2), which indicate g‐C3N4/TiO2 composites possessed excellent tribological property including significantly reduced frictional coefficient and wear rate as an oil additive, owing to the presence of a thin physical lubricating film on the surface of the matrix.
The effect of the recombination mechanisms location on the temperature sensitivity of thin-film photovoltaic cells
Authors: Kata N. , Diouf D. , Darga A. , Seidou Maiga A.
Published: October 2019

Thin film solar cells temperature sensitivity and impact of the main recombination mechanism location are investigated in this paper. The main mechanisms in bulk and at the heterojunction interface are discriminated. Using a 1D simulation software, “Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator” (SCAPS), we observed a higher temperature coefficient of open circuit voltage (Voc) for cells with main recombination centers at the interface than the one with main recombination centers in volume. Furthermore, an LTSpice module model is used to visualize the effects of the recombination centers' location on the performance ratios of the modules. The results show more degradation for the ratios performance of cells with the main recombination mechanisms at the interface than those in volume.
Update Riesenzellarteriitis
Authors: Dechant Claudia , Schulze-Koops Hendrik
Published: October 2019

Was ist neu?

EULAR-Empfehlungen zur Anwendung von Bildgebung Sofern mit hoher Expertise und rasch verfügbar, wird in erster Linie eine frühzeitige Bildgebung zur Ergänzung der klinischen Kriterien für die Diagnose der RZA empfohlen.

Aktualisierte EULAR-Empfehlungen zum Management Für Patienten mit RZA-Verdacht wird eine Überweisung an ein spezialisiertes Team/Zentrum empfohlen; die RZA-Verdachtsdiagnose sollte dann weiter mittels Bildgebung oder Temporalarterienbiopsie bestätigt werden. Glukokortikoide (GC) sind weiterhin Medikamente der ersten Wahl. Für ausgewählte Patienten wird eine additive Therapie mit Tocilizumab empfohlen; alternativ zu Tocilizumab kann Methotrexat eingesetzt werden. Zum routinemäßigen Einsatz von Thrombozytenaggregationshemmern oder Antikoagulanzien wird nicht mehr geraten.

Update Tocilizumab bei Riesenzellarteriitis Der Interleukin-6-Rezeptor-Antagonist kann in initialer Kombination mit GC effektiv eine anhaltende Remission bei der RZA induzieren. Bei Absetzen einer Tocilizumab-Therapie nach einem Behandlungszeitraum von 1 Jahr besteht bei ca. der Hälfte der Patienten die Remission fort.
Neues zur Therapie von neuroendokrinen Tumoren des gastroenteropankreatischen Systems
Authors: Auernhammer Christoph Josef , Spitzweg Christine , Böck Stefan , Knösel Thomas , Bartenstein Peter
Published: October 2019

Was ist neu?

Pathologische Klassifikation und Genetik Neu in der Klassifikation der neuroendokrinen Tumoren des GEP-Systems ist seit 2017 die seltene Entität des NET G3 in Abgrenzung vom NEC. Darüber hinaus wurde der Begriff des „mixed-neuroendocrine-nonneuroendocrine neoplasms“ (MINEN) eingeführt.

Therapie Über die leitlinienbasierte Therapie von NEN des GEP-Systems hinaus besteht ein „medical need“ für neue systemische Therapieansätze. Genetik, Biomarker, neue Multi-Tyrosinkinase-Inhibitoren und Chemotherapie-Protokolle sowie kombinierte multimodale Therapieansätze wie die Peptid-Receptor-ChemoRadio-Therapie (PRCRT) sind vielversprechende neue Optionen.

Neue zukünftige Therapiekonzepte und Perspektiven Die Immuntherapie bei NET des GEP-Systems zeigt bisher in der Monotherapie eine nur geringe Effektivität und sollte deshalb vorzugsweise in Kombinationstherapien in klinischen Studien weiter evaluiert werden.
Neue Therapieoptionen für die hereditäre Transthyretin-Amyloidose
Authors: Zibert Andree , Hüsing-Kabar Anna , Schmidt Hartmut
Published: October 2019

Therapiekonzepte Ersetzen, Stabilisieren und Reduzieren markieren die 3 aktuellen Säulen der Therapie:

Invasive versus nichtinvasive Therapie Die Lebertransplantation (LTx) ist ein etabliertes Verfahren bei ATTR-Patienten. Eine LTx verlängert, insbesondere bei Patienten im frühen Stadium (< 50 Jahre) mit ATTRV30 M, signifikant das Überleben. Einige Nicht-ATTRV30M-Varianten weisen dagegen eine höhere Letalität nach LTx im Langzeitverlauf auf. Das Fortschreiten der Krankheit kann verlangsamt, aber nicht verhindert werden. Nichtinvasive Therapie:

Therapiealgorithmen werden aktuell durch Erfahrungen aus der gerade beginnenden Ära der TTR-Gene-Silencer aktualisiert.
Dual-Pathway-Inhibition bei Atherosklerose – wer profitiert?
Authors: Hardung David , Behne Andrea , Langhoff Ralf
Published: October 2019

Was ist neu?

Dual-Pathway-Inhibition Die duale antithrombotische Therapie (DAT) mit Rivaroxaban in niedriger Dosis in Kombination mit Acetylsalicylsäure (ASS) steht für Patienten mit stabiler Atherosklerose als neue therapeutische Option zur Verfügung 1.

Die Ergebnisse der COMPASS-Studie zeigen unter der niedrig dosierten DAT eine deutliche relative Risikoreduktion der kardiovaskulären Endpunkte um 24 % bei Patienten mit stabiler peripherer arterieller Verschlusskrankheit (PAVK) oder koronarer Herzerkrankung (KHK) 2.

Trotz einer leitliniengerechten medikamentösen Sekundärprophylaxe liegt die kardiovaskuläre Ereignisrate unter ASS während der mittleren Studiendauer von fast 2 Jahren bei 5,4 %. Die absolute Reduktion der Ereignisrate durch die niedrig dosierte DAT ist mit 1,3 % gering. Umso wichtiger ist es, anhand von Hochrisikomerkmalen Patientengruppen mit einer schlechteren kardiovaskulären Prognose und höherer Ereignisrate zu identifizieren, die sich für diesen Therapieansatz besonders qualifizieren 3.

Polyvaskuläre Atherosklerose Die quo ad vitam reduzierte Prognose der Patienten mit einer polyvaskulären Atherosklerose spricht für ein polyvaskuläres Screening, auch bei vermeintlich stabilen KHK- und PAVK-Patienten. Das individuelle ischämische Risikoprofil kann durch das Vorhandensein einer polyvaskulären Atherosklerose, von Begleiterkrankungen und bereits stattgehabten ischämischen Ereignissen näher bestimmt werden.

Einschränkungen der Anwendung Die niedrig dosierte Gabe von Rivaroxaban zusätzlich zur ASS-Therapie ersetzt keine therapeutische Antikoagulation. Ebenfalls liegen für die stabile Atherosklerose bisher keine Daten zu einer niedrig dosierten Rivaroxaban-Therapie und einer begleitenden dualen Thrombozytenaggregationshemmung (DAPT) vor. Aus diesem Grund kann eine Therapie nach dem „COMPASS-Schema“ nach einer endovaskulären Therapie in der klinischen Praxis frühestens nach dem Ende der DAPT begonnen werden.

Beurteilung des Blutungsrisikos Eine Intensivierung der antithrombotischen Therapie ist naturgemäß mit einer Erhöhung des Blutungsrisikos verknüpft. Daher ist die Reduktion des ischämischen Risikos individuell gegenüber dem Risiko einer Blutung abzuwägen. Eine niedrig dosierte DAT kommt besonders für Patienten mit hohem Ischämie-Risiko und niedrigem Blutungsrisiko infrage.
Ambulant erworbene Pneumonie
Authors: Rohde Gernot
Published: October 2019

Was ist neu?

Pathogene Die Bedeutung von Atemwegsviren bei der CAP wird zunehmend beschrieben. Influenza und Rhinoviren stehen aktuell im Fokus, aber auch andere Atemwegsviren werden genannt.

Risikostratifizierung: Zusätzlich zu den etablierten Parametern stellt der Blutglukosespiegel bei Aufnahme einen zusätzlichen Risikofaktor dar.

Antibiotika Der Stellenwert der zusätzlichen Makrolid-Gabe im Rahmen einer Kombination mit einem Betalaktam-Antibiotikum wird zunehmend differenziert. Patienten mit Bakteriämie und/oder ausgeprägter Entzündungsreaktion profitieren besonders. Bei Patienten mit schwerer Pneumonie sollte immer eine Kombinationstherapie durchgeführt werden. Omadacycline und Solithromycin stellen neue interessante Antibiotika mit erweitertem Spektrum dar.
Das Lemierre-Syndrom – eine häufig übersehene Infektionserkrankung
Authors: Joost Alexander , Loose Stefan , Kramme Evelyn , Derad Inge
Published: October 2019

Anamnese und klinischer Befund Ein 30-jähriger Lastwagenfahrer stellte sich mit Fieber und Erschöpfung vor, seit 1 Woche traten zunehmender Husten und Halsschmerzen auf. Laborchemisch waren Nierenretentionswerte und Entzündungsparameter erhöht und es zeigte sich eine ausgeprägte Thrombozytopenie. Die klinische Untersuchung ergab einen druckschmerzhaften Hals, ein Sklerenikterus, eine gerötete Rachenhinterwand und gerötete Tonsillen.

Untersuchungen Sonografisch zeigte sich eine Jugularvenenthrombose mit unscharf abgrenzbarer echoreicher Umgebungsreaktion und Lufteinschlüssen. In der Blutkultur wurde Fusobacterium necrophorum nachgewiesen.

Diagnose Lemierre-Syndrom mit eitriger abszedierender Thrombophlebitis der Vena jugularis externa rechts.

Therapie und Verlauf Unter dem klinischen Aspekt einer Sepsis mit Lungenbeteiligung, Nierenversagen, Thrombopenie, Hämolyse und Leberschädigung wurde nach Abnahme von Blutkulturen eine Antibiotikatherapie mit Ceftazidim plus Levofloxacin begonnen. Das Befinden des Patienten verschlechterte sich erneut, nachdem die Eingangsantibiotikatherapie auf Ampicillin und Clindamycin gewechselt wurde. Unter einer gezielten Antibiotikatherapie mit Meropenem und Clindamycin besserten sich die Entzündungsparameter, Nierenretentionswerte, Transaminasen und Bilirubinwerte, sodass der Patient nach insgesamt 19 Tagen in deutlich gebessertem Zustand entlassen werden konnte.

Folgerung Das Lemierre-Syndrom ist eine seltene und häufig übersehene septische Erkrankung nach Entzündung im pharyngealen Bereich, die sich typischerweise entlang der kleinen Venen mit Ausbildung einer eitrigen Thrombophlebitis nach kaudal ausbreitet, bei entsprechender Antibiogramm-gerechter antibiotischer Therapie jedoch gut beherrschbar ist.
Refluxdiagnostik – Pro MUS
Authors: Waginger Matthias , Mentzel Hans-Joachim
Published: October 2019

In der Diagnostik des vesikoureterorenalen Refluxes existieren verschiedene diagnostische Modalitäten. Im Kindesalter ist es wichtig, möglichst schonende bildgebende Verfahren einzusetzen. Mit der Miktionsurosonografie (MUS) existiert ein bildgebendes Verfahren ohne ionisierende Strahlung, das sich durch hohe Sensitivität und diagnostische Sicherheit auszeichnet. Im Beitrag wird das Vorgehen bei der Untersuchung dargestellt und die Vorteile aufgezeigt.
Establishing Reliability Criteria for Liver ElastPQ Shear Wave Elastography (ElastPQ-SWE): Comparison Between 10, 5 and 3 Measurements
Authors: Roccarina Davide , Iogna Prat Laura , Buzzetti Elena , Guerrero Misas Marta , Aricó Francesco Marcello , Saffioti Francesca , Rosselli Matteo , Pinzani Massimo , Marshall Aileen , Thorburn Douglas , Tsochatzis Emmanuel
Published: October 2019

Purpose ElastPQ is a new elastography technique for non-invasive liver fibrosis staging. However, it does not have validated reliability criteria. We tested the reliability of a different number of measurements in patients with chronic liver disease and explored whether the application of quality criteria improves the diagnostic performance.

Materials and Methods All patients underwent liver stiffness assessment (LSM) with ElastPQ and Fibroscan (F-TE). The mean, median, standard deviation (SD) and interquartile range (IQR) of 10, 5 and 3 measurements were retrospectively collected for each patient and compared to each other. Liver histology was available in a subset of patients.

Results Overall, 400 patients met the inclusion criteria. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was the most represented etiology (75 %), followed by primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The correlation of medians was significantly better between 10 and 5 measurements than between 10 and 3. The difference of medians was significant only in the comparison between 10 and 3 measurements. The correlation between ElastPQ and F-TE was equally good for 10 and 5 measurements and significantly improved after an IQR/median ≤ 30 % was applied. The diagnostic performance of ElastPQ was better with the median value of 10 and 5 measurements and improved if LSM values were obtained with IQR/M ≤ 30 %.

Conclusion The median value of 5 valid LSMs suffices for the reliable estimation of liver stiffness using ElastPQ. The quality criterion of IQR/M ≤ 30 % should also be followed when using this technique.
Fetishizing Captain America’s sidearm: iconography, exceptionality, and the politics of representing guns
Authors: Posada Tim
Published: October 2019

In 2007, Captain America, or Cap to his peers, died outside the courthouse where he would answer for leading a band of superheroes against the government’s Superhuman Registration Act in a plot line Fox and Friends took issue with, condemning Marvel Comics for killing Cap “while we’re at war,” referring to President George W. Bush’s war on terror. In 2008, former sidekick Bucky took up the Cap banner. Legacy characters are common in comics, but fans noted an unexpected addition to the costume: a handgun. Cap’s shield, a symbol of defense, now had an offensive accent. News media outlets lauded the new gun as a “sign of the times,” as Rolling Stone said, considering it a critique on the post-9/11 cultural landscape, but fan communities felt uneasy about the decision. The gun’s presence on Bucky Cap’s belt marks a continuous period of exceptionality, the kind Giorgio Agamben warns against in State of Exception. When Bucky’s predecessor would return to the role of Captain America, the sidearm would no longer remain, but the character would confront issues related to guns, and media and fans would once again respond. Even though Cap only encounters guns a few times during the 2010s, reception to these moments is more significant than that of characters who regularly use lethal weapons. Fetishistic emphasis on Captain America’s gun exposes the state of exception inherent in all superhero media, prompting a digital discourse across professional and amateur platforms on gun-related subjects. This project analyzes how superhero media portray gun use and the subsequent reception from both news media and digital fandom. A sampling of comics, television series, and films are textually analyzed, along with digital news media and online fan forums pertaining to those examples.
Investigation on micro-structural, structural, electrical and thermal properties of La3+, Sm3+ & Gd3+ triple-doped ceria as solid-electrolyte for intermediate temperature-solid oxide fuel cell applications
Authors: Venkataramana Kasarapu , Madhuri Chittimadula , Madhusudan Ch. , Suresh Reddy Y. , Vishnuvardhan Reddy C.
Published: October 2019

La3+, Sm3+, and Gd3+ triple-doped ceria Ce1−x(La1/3Sm1/3Gd1/3)xO2−δ (x = 0.06, 0.12, 0.18, 0.24, and 0.30) materials were synthesized by the sol-gel autocombustion method. The selections of dopants were made by an optimized-average atomic number in accordance with the criteria for optimal-doping in ceria. The higher values of relative-density were achieved above 95% by sintering the samples at 1300 °C. The single-phase cubic-fluorite structures, high-density surface-microstructure with uniformly distributed grains, elemental confirmations, and concentration of oxygen vacancies were confirmed using powder x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy, and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Electrical analysis was carried out by impedance spectroscopy, which confirmed the highest value of total-ionic-conductivity, i.e., 0.0381 S/cm at 600 °C with a minimum activation-energy for the Ce0.82La0.06Sm0.06Gd0.06O2−δ (LSG6) composition. Thermal-expansion analyses confirmed the moderate coefficient of thermal-expansion values for all the compositions and were found to be in good agreement with the recently developed materials. The enhanced total-ionic-conductivity and the moderate coefficient of thermal expansion of LSG6 make it as a potential solid-electrolyte for intermediate temperature-solid oxide fuel cell applications.
Multimetallic metal-organic frameworks derived transition metal doped iron selenide arrays for efficient oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Wei Xin , Xie Yabo , Liu Mingcheng , Zhou Jian , Zhou Awu , He Pengchen , Dou Yibo , Li Jian-Rong
Published: October 2019

A feasible and general strategy based multimetallic metal-organic frameworks template is developed to fabricate hierarchical structured multimetallic selenide. The obtained series of transition metal doped iron selenide exhibit high performance for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Especially, the Cu-doped FeSe2 electrocatalyst shows the lowest overpotential of 193 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 which outperforms previously reported selenide-based electrocatalysts. The experimental results and theoretical simulations demonstrate that the doping of substitutional Cu in the host lattice of FeSe2 optimizes the electronic structure, being favorable for accelerating the electron transfer and boosting reaction kinetic. Meanwhile, the special structure design enables the electrocatalyst with hierarchical structures, affording rich exposed active sites for efficient OER. Therefore, this work provides a feasible strategy for fabricating hierarchical structured metal selenides for potential electrochemical energy storage and conversion.
Electron emission from metal emitters subject to a high intensity laser in the presence of DC electric fields
Authors: Guo D. , Sami S. N. , Joshi R. P.
Published: October 2019

Electron emission driven by both a strong DC applied bias and a superimposed laser field is examined through numerical simulations. Heating at the electrode surface that creates a dynamic, nonequilibrium electron distribution is included based on appropriate rate-equation analyses for energy balance. Much higher emission currents are predicted that follow the AC oscillations over the femtosecond range. The hot carrier population are predicted to persist much longer to yield a more gradual decay in the emission current beyond laser termination. The numerical results are also extended to an emitter array, given the interest in such configurations for obtaining high output coherent currents. The capability can subsequently be extended to assess the coherence and emittance of the electron source based on Monte Carlo transport techniques.
Magnetic reconnection phenomena described with just two terms
Authors: Bandari Anashe
Published: October 2019

New model characterizes magnetic reconnection phenomena in plasma by using just two terms – the convective term and a new term dubbed the electron canonical battery term.
Association among pasture-level variables and dairy cow responses to supplements
Authors: Poole C. , Donaghy D. J. , White R. R. , Roche J. R.
Published: October 2019

In grazing systems, the marginal milk-production response to additional feed (i.e. supplement) is dependent on the relative feed deficit of the cow. We hypothesised that the relative feed deficit could be defined by post-grazing residual (PGR), with a greater PGR indicating a smaller relative feed deficit. The objective of our study, therefore, was to determine the relationship between post-grazing residual and the marginal milk-production response to supplements. We undertook a computerised literature search utilising keywords associated with grazing systems and supplementary feed. We collated data from 26 experiments and 90 treatments, wherein pasture-level, supplementary-feed, and milk-production variables were reported. A meta-analysis was undertaken using random coefficient regression fitted as a mixed model to determine the marginal milk-production response to supplements. On average, pasture DM intake declined (P < 0.001; –0.28 kg/kg supplement DM) and milk, fat and protein yields increased (P < 0.001; 0.64 kg, 20 g and 30 g/kg supplement DM respectively) with an increased supplement use. For every kilogram of DM supplement consumed, PGR pasture height and mass increased by 1.4 mm and 42 kg DM/ha. Associated with every 10-mm increase in post-grazing pasture height in the control treatment, marginal milk response declined (P < 0.05) by 9%. These results will enable farmers to use the change in PGR when feeding supplements, to estimate likely marginal milk-production response to supplementary feeds.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study of the Peptide FRANCESSEPAROVIC
Authors: Karas John A. , Keizer David W. , Sani Marc-Antoine
Published: October 2019

As an eminent ambassador of STEM and renowned NMR spectroscopist, Frances Separovic is an internationally famous name, but could it also be a valuable membrane-active peptide sequence? Her name has been used as an amino acid sequence (FS), successfully synthesised, oxidised, and put into contact with membrane models to investigate any serendipitous activity. The 3D structure of the cyclic FS was determined in dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) micelles by solution NMR spectroscopy. FS displayed a twisted bend separating a helical stretch and an unstructured segment. Using solid-state NMR spectroscopy, the effect of FS on 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine (DMPS) lipid bilayers was studied. FS did not strongly disturb the neutral membrane surface but likely inserted into their hydrophobic core without a strong effect on the lipid dynamics, while perturbation of the negatively charged membranes remained at the headgroup interface with a strong effect on the lipid dynamics. This study demonstrated that FS is a candidate for discovering potential future therapeutic activities.
Spatial distribution of mean fire size and occurrence in eastern Canada: influence of climate, physical environment and lightning strike density
Authors: Portier Jeanne , Gauthier Sylvie , Bergeron Yves
Published: October 2019

In Canada, recent catastrophic wildfire events raised concern from governments and communities. As climate change is expected to increase fire activity in boreal forests, the need for a better understanding of fire regimes is becoming urgent. This study addresses the 1972–2015 spatial distributions of fire cycles, mean fire size (FireSz) and mean fire occurrence (mean annual number of fires per 100000ha, FireOcc) in eastern Canada. The objectives were to determine (1) the spatial variability of fire-regime attributes, (2) the capacity of FireSz and FireOcc to distinguish homogeneous fire zones and (3) the environmental factors driving FireSz and FireOcc, with some emphasis on lightning strikes. Fire cycles, FireSz and FireOcc greatly varied throughout the study area. Even within homogeneous fire zones, FireSz and FireOcc were highly variable. FireSz was controlled by moisture content in deep layers of the soil and by surficial deposits, whereas FireOcc was controlled by moisture content in top layers of the soil and by relief. The lack of a relationship between FireOcc and lightning-strike density suggested that the limiting effect of lightning-strike density on FireOcc could be operating only under certain circumstances, when interacting with other environmental factors.
Individualization of practice distribution in second language grammar learning
Authors: Suzuki Yuichi
Published: October 2019

The aim of the present study was establishing to what extent individual differences in cognitive aptitudes were
associated with second language (L2) morphological acquisition under different practice distribution. Sixty participants studied
morphological rules of a novel miniature-language system in order to use them for oral production. They engaged in four training
sessions in either shorter-spaced learning (twice a week) or longer-spaced learning conditions (once a week). Their oral
production performance both during and after the training was related to their metalinguistic rule rehearsal ability (MRRA) and
working memory capacity (WMC). Multiple regression analyses revealed that MRRA predicted learners’ training and posttest
performance mainly under the longer-spaced condition, while WMC played a limited role at best under both learning conditions.
These results suggest that practice distribution may be individualized based on learners’ aptitude strengths to optimize L2
morphological learning.
Phonological short-term memory capacity and L2 oral performance
Authors: Granena Gisela , Yilmaz Yucel
Published: October 2019

Phonological short-term memory (PSTM) capacity is the ability to retain verbal information briefly (Archibald & Gathercole, 2006). Since PSTM facilitates the storage of verbal material, one expects a positive relationship between PSTM and several aspects of second language (L2) learning. Some studies have found a relationship between PSTM and oral production skills, such as fluency (e.g.,O’Brien et al., 2006). This paper reports on the results of a study that looked at the inter-relations between complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF), and between these dimensions and PSTM. One hundred and thirty-five L2 learners of Spanish participated in the study. Results showed that performance in one L2 speech dimension did not have a negative impact on performance in another dimension, but that as complexity increased or decreased, there was a better chance of fluency than accuracy also increasing or decreasing. PSTM capacity was related to complexity and fluency, but not to accuracy. These results were interpreted as lending some support to Skehan’s Trade-off Hypothesis (Skehan, 2009).
Inducing opto-electronic and spintronic trends in bilayer h-BN through TMO3 clusters incorporation: Ab-initio study*
Authors: Ahmed Irfan , Rafique Muhammad , Mahar Mukhtiar Ahmed , Larik Abdul Sattar , Tunio Mohsin Ali , Shuai Yong
Published: October 2019

The band structure, magnetism, charge distribution, and optics parameters of TMO3–h-BN hybrid systems are investigated by adopting first-principles study (FPS) calculations. It is observed that the TMO3 clusters add finite magnetic moments to bilayer h-BN (BL/h-BN), thereby making it a magnetic two-dimensional (2D) material. Spin-polarized band structures for various TMO3–BL/h-BN hybrid models are calculated. After the incorporation of TMO3, BL/h-BN is converted into semimetal or conducting material in spin up/down bands, depending on the type of impurity cluster present in BL/h-BN lattice. Optics parameters are also investigated for the TMO3–BL/h-BN complex systems. The incorporation of TMO3 clusters modifies the absorption and extinction coefficient in visible range, while static reflectivity and refraction parameter increase. It can be surmised that the TMO3 substitution in BL/h-BN is a suitable technique to modify its physical parameters thus making it functional for nano/opto-electronic applications, and an experimental approach can be adapted to reinforce the outcomes of this study.
First-principles studies on carbon diffusion in tungsten*
Authors: Song Chi , Kong Xiang-Shan , Liu C S
Published: October 2019

The carbon diffusivity in tungsten is one fundamental and essential factor in the application of tungsten as plasma-facing materials for fusion reactors and substrates for diamond growth. However, data on this are quite scarce and largely scattered. We perform a series of first-principles calculations to predict the diffusion parameters of carbon in tungsten, and evaluate the effect of temperature on them by introducing lattice expansion and phonon vibration. The carbon atom prefers to occupy octahedral interstitial site rather than tetrahedral interstitial site, and the minimum energy path for its diffusion goes through a tetrahedral site. The temperature has little effect on the pre-exponential factor but a marked effect on the activation energy, which linearly increases with the temperature. Our predicted results are well consistent with the experimental data obtained at high temperature (>1800 K) but significantly larger than the experimental results at low temperature (<1800 K).
IR and Raman markers of Fe(II) spin state in the spin-crossover complex of iron(II) nitrate with tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane
Authors: Gerasimova T P , Vandyukov A E , Katsyuba S A , Lavrenova L G , Shekurov R P , Khrizanforov M N
Published: October 2019

The spin-scrossover transition of [Fe(HC(3,5-Me2pz)3)2](NO3)2 complex has been studied by means of vibrational spectroscopy. Analysis of experimental and quantum-chemically computed IR and Raman spectra allows to find vibrational markers of LS and HS states of the complex under study. It was shown that in a whole being once found the IR-markers can be used for related compounds with substituted ligands if the substitution do not involve the groups responsible for the markers. The bands of such groups can be used as internal standart due to their insensitivity to metal spin state.
Global unsustainable virtual water flows in agricultural trade
Authors: Rosa Lorenzo , Chiarelli Davide Danilo , Tu Chengyi , Rulli Maria Cristina , D’Odorico Paolo
Published: October 2019

Recent studies have highlighted the reliance of global food production on unsustainable irrigation practices, which deplete freshwater stocks and environmental flows, and consequently impair aquatic ecosystems. Unsustainable irrigation is driven by domestic and international demand for agricultural products. Research on the environmental consequences of trade has often concentrated on the global displacement of pollution and land use, while the effect of trade on water sustainability and the drying of over-depleted watercourses has seldom been recognized and quantified. Here we evaluate unsustainable irrigation water consumption (UWC) associated with global crop production and determine the share of UWC embedded in international trade. We find that, while about 52% of global irrigation is unsustainable, 15% of it is virtually exported, with an average 18% increase between year 2000 and 2015. About 60% of global virtual transfers of UWC are driven by exports of cotton, sugar cane, fruits, and vegetables. One third of UWC in Mexico, Spain, Turkmenistan, South Africa, Morocco, and Australia is associated with demand from the export markets. The globalization of water through trade contributes to running rivers dry, an environmental externality commonly overlooked by trade policies. By identifying the producing and consuming countries that are responsible for unsustainable irrigation embedded in virtual water trade, this study highlights trade links in which policies are needed to achieve sustainable water and food security goals in the coming decades.
Hierarchical Urchin-like Spinel CuxCo3-xO4 Particles as Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalysts in Alkaline Medium
Authors: Acedera R A E , Balela M D L
Published: October 2019

In this work, spinel CuxCo3-xO4 (x = 0.00, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50) was synthesized through a typical ethanol-assisted hydrothermal route. The effect of the incorporation of copper on the resulting morphology, structure, and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity of the spinel Co oxides was investigated. In general, Cu-doped samples exhibited improved OER activity associated to the reduction of electrical resistivity of the spinel due to the presence of Cu2+ into the lattice. Further, the ionic bonding of OH− with Cu2+ is weaker relative to the Co3+ ions at the octahedral sites, which could have facilitated OER better. Among the Cu concentration experimented, Cu0.5Co2.5O4 exhibited the best OER catalytic with an onset overpotential and Tafel slope of about 271 mV and 100.4 mV·dec−1, respectively. This is attributed to its better conductivity due to the absence of a resistive secondary CuO phase.
Thermal Degradation of Polysiloxanes Containing Chloropropyl Groups
Authors: Dong Fuying , Li Shuaijie , Wang Chenxing , Zhang Meng , Xie Guoqiang
Published: October 2019

We synthesized a series of polysiloxanes containing chloropropyl groups, and studied its thermal stability and degradation mechanism through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in nitrogen atmosphere. The effect of the introduced chloropropyl units on the thermal degradation behavior of polysiloxanes was discussed. The depolymerization of the main chain of polysiloxane was accelerated by increasing the molar content of chloropropyl groups. The introduction of chloropropyl groups can cause the formation of a cross-linking network in the residue of polysiloxanes at 800 °C and restrain the formation of volatile components.
MOCVD growth GaN on sapphire
Authors: Abdullaev O , Mezhenny M , Chelny A , Savchuk A , Ahmerov Yu , Rabinovich O , Murashev V , Didenko S , Osipov Yu , Sizov S , Orlova M , Aluyev A
Published: October 2019

The n-type and p-type a-GaN films were successfully grown on a r-sapphire substrate, according to X-ray diffractometer and SEM results parameters measurement. The growth rate versus the growth temperature was investigated. The holes concentration (8x1017 cm−3) was achieved by the Cp2Mg flow optimization and the parameters of thermal annealing in nitrogen. The GaN film growth rate dependence versus temperature at a constant hydrogen flow through a TEG source was investigated. The results indicate that defects density is reduced upto 104 cm−2, the surface morphology uniformity was improved. During growth the influence from V/III flows ratio was detected.
Effect of sintering parameters on the densification and hardness of NiAl-CNTs composite
Authors: Awotunde M A , Ayodele O O , Adegbenjo A O , Okoro A M , Shongwe M B , Olubambi P A
Published: October 2019

Nickel aluminides have attracted considerable interest in the past few decades owing to its unique properties. In this work, nickel aluminide (NiAl) was formed in-situ during spark plasma sintering of admixed powders of nickel, aluminium and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) after ball milling. 1 wt % CNTs was incorporated into the intermetallic matrix and the effect of varying sintering parameters investigated, particularly the sintering temperature and pressure. Results showed that a combination of higher sintering temperature with lower pressure yielded better results than lower sintering temperature and higher pressure. Thus the former parameters yielded better densification and subsequently higher micro hardness values of the NiAl-CNTs composites as compared to the latter.
Tensile properties of the reclaimed steel rail flash butt joint
Authors: Pawan Anuar , Salleh Zuraidah , Zulkefli Akid H , Taib Ya’kub Md , Alisibramulisi Anizahyati , Masdek Nik Roslin
Published: October 2019

The development of the public transportation vehicles such as railway train had an incredible impact on the expansion of human mobility. In constructing the railways, quality assurance must be considered as it is very important to the project. The Malaysian Public Works Department (PWD) has undertaken the East Coast Line Track Rehabilitation Project between Gemas to Mentakab, which is estimated to cost RM220mil, these 123 km-long railway rehabilitation projects would use the reclaimed rails rather than the new rails. The reclaimed rail was manufactured according to the European standard EN 13674-1 and previously installed on site were examined and tested before could safely use in this track rehabilitation project. The reclaimed rails are analysed using ultrasonic inspection, hardness test, tensile test and micro examination to ascertain the safety values of mechanical properties such as tensile properties, hardness properties and microscopic morphology which regards to the composition of the welding joint and rail. Thus, to determine the reclaimed rails able to withstand forces applied on it without causing failure.
Analysis of deformation characteristics of high-strength reinforced concrete beams under explosion load
Authors: Liao Z , Tang D G , Shao L Z , Li Z Z , Yang D P
Published: October 2019

The dynamic response and failure characteristics of reinforced concrete beams under explosion loads are affected by various factors. To study the effect of reinforcement strength on the deformation properties of RC beams and to analyze the deformation differences of high-strength RC beams under different explosion loads, comparative explosion tests on two kinds of simply supported RC beams with longitudinal reinforcement yield strength of 400 MPa and 700 MPa were carried out respectively in this paper. The test results show that the deformation of the mid-span section concrete of the high-strength RC beam is basically the same as that of the ordinary RC beam when the peak overpressure value is small, and the strength advantage of the high-strength reinforcement has not been fully exerted. With the increase of explosion load, the maximum tensile strain and compressive strain of concrete at the mid-span section of high-strength RC beams are 46.6% and 43.5% of ordinary RC beams respectively. Under the action of high overpressure explosion load, the deformation of RC beams can be significantly reduced by high-strength reinforcement, which limits the development of cracks.
Modelling and analysis on the mechanism of electromagnetic driven weft insertion
Authors: Zhou Z P , Zhang C , Zhang C J , Cui X Z
Published: October 2019

In view of the difficulty in improving the weaving efficiency of the projectile weaving machine based on the traditional technology principle, This research presents the electromagnetic-drive gripper weft insertion mechanism, change the existing mechanical pick principle of weft insertion, its goal is to achieve “zero transmission” friction-free high-speed weft insertion, omit complex mechanical transmission mechanism in picking shaft, and breakthrough the bottleneck of the weft insertion rate, wide fabric problem in principle. Based on the theoretical study of electromagnetic projection and electromagnetic levitation, the structural model and motion model of electromagnetic pick and electromagnetic weft are established by comparing the electromagnetic and permanent magnetic model schemes. In order to meet the requirement of electromagnetic levitation, the linear hall sensor is selected and its driving circuit is designed to obtain the real-time height value of the chip shuttle. Through the analysis of the coil response, the advantages and disadvantages of DC-DC regulation and PWM wave regulation are compared, and the high response hardware circuit of DC-DC regulation is designed. MATLAB simulation ensures the feasibility of PID regulation. The feasibility of the scheme was verified by Maxwell electromagnetic picking simulation and electromagnetic filling insertion simulation. The first phase of picking experiment and static filling insertion experiment were carried out. In order to ensure the stability, the double-row soft iron chip shuttle was used, and good experimental results were obtained, which proved the feasibility of electromagnetic suspension weft insertion scheme.
Modification of the surface layer of magnesium with 1050A aluminum alloy using electrospark deposition
Authors: Spadlo S , Depczyński W , Mlynarczyk P
Published: October 2019

This paper discusses the results of the preliminary investigations into the use of electrospark deposition (ESD) for the surface enrichment of magnesium with 1050A aluminum alloy. The experiments focused on the effects of the capacitor’s value on the surface layer microstructure. Four capacitances were considered. The modified material was analyzed at the macro and micro scales, using optical and electron scanning microscopy. The microhardness of the modified layer was also determined.
Effect of the length-diameter ratio on the initial fragment velocity of cylindrical casing
Authors: Gao Y G , Feng S S , Zhang B , Zhou T
Published: October 2019

The initial velocity of fragment from cylindrical casing, which detonates at one end along the central of the casing, is the key issue in the field of explosion technology and its protecting. Most of the formula available can predict the initial velocity or the velocity of fragments at middle part of the cylindrical casing with greater length-dimeter ratio (L/d>2). However, when the length-diameter ratio is less than two, the initial velocity of the cylindrical casing filled with explosives will have a big difference. In the present work, a numerical simulation model acknowledged by X-ray radiography experiments was used to determine the influence of the length-diameter ratio. The formula was built on top of the Gurney formula and made use of a correctional function to account for the effect of the length-dimeter ratio. The formula was further acknowledged with the established numerical simulation model. The results indicate that the calculation formula can accurately predict the initial fragment velocity with different length-diameter ratio (L/d⩽ 2).
Study on the protective properties of polyurethane foam for water-entry projectile
Authors: Ye Y Q , Shao Z Y , Wu S Y
Published: October 2019

When the projectile enters into the water at high velocity, the impact force will be huge, therefore, it is necessary to protect the projectile. In this paper, polyurethane foam is selected to study its protective properties for water-entry projectile. The water-entry test was designed to compare the numerical simulation results, in order to verify the feasibility and the validity of the model. In particular, the numerical simulation method was used to compare the motion and response characteristics of unprotected and protected projectile. The results demonstrated that the polyurethane foam has good protective properties and comparing the protective effect of different density polyurethane foam by numerical simulation methods, it can be seen that the better protection is achieved at a density of 0.17 g/cm3 and 0.40 g/cm3.
Preparation and characterization of catechol-functionalized chitosan thermosensitive hydrogels
Authors: Zhang D Y , Hu Z , Lu S T , Li S D , Yang Z M , Li P W
Published: October 2019

Catechol functionalization of chitosan was modified by EDC coupling reaction and then catechol-functionalized chitosan thermosensitive hydrogels were prepared by catechol-functionalization of chitosan with β-glycerophosphate disodium as a thermosensitizer. The hydrogels were then characterized by FTIR, 1H-NMR, SEM and rheology analysis. The results demonstrated that the thermosensitive hydrogels were prepared at 37°C within several minutes by mixing 2% catechol-functionalized chitosan with 30% β-glycerophosphate disodium at a ratio of 8:2, and these thermosensitive hydrogels with porous network structure were expected to be developed as biomedical materials with wide applications.