bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The counting approach to multidimensional poverty. The case of four African countries
Authors: Berenger Valérie
Published: May 2019

This paper investigates the levels and evolution of poverty in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe using the decomposability properties of poverty measures based on a counting approach. We compare poverty measures such as the Alkire and Foster index with alternative poverty indices that are sensitive to inequality. Poverty is estimated using Demographic and Health Surveys for different years for Malawi (2004, 2010 and 2015), for Mozambique (2003 and 2011), Tanzania (2004, 2010 and 2015) and for Zimbabwe (2005, 2010 and 2015). Our findings show that one obtains insightful information when looking at the breadth and inequality components of multidimensional poverty.
Dating Gondwanan continental crust at the Rio Grande Rise, South Atlantic
Authors: Santos Roberto Ventura , Ganade Carlos Eduardo , Lacasse Christian M. , Costa Iago S. L. , Pessanha Ivo , Frazão Eugenio P. , Dantas Elton L. , Cavalcante José A.
Published: May 2019

Crystalline continental rocks and associated crust‐contaminated basaltic rocks were unexpectedly dredged on the crest and at seamounts of the Rio Grande Rise, South Atlantic. Zircon U–Pb ages of one gabbro (ca. 2,200 Ma) and four granitoids (between ca. 1,430–480 Ma) indicate that the breakup of SW Gondwana left behind continental fragments of dominantly African age. These rocks may have been incorporated into the oceanic lithosphere by complex processes including rifting and interaction of the Tristan‐Gough mantle plume with hyperextended continental margins. Until ca. 80–70 Ma, the Rio Grande Rise and an old portion of the Walvis Ridge formed a conjugate pair of aseismic ridges, and the Tristan‐Gough plume was positioned at the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge. The finding of continental rock fragments in one of these conjugate pairs opens new perspectives on the mechanisms of continental break‐up, the nature of this conjugate pair, and the geodynamic evolution of rifted Gondwana margins in the South Atlantic.
Renal ultrasonographic abnormalities are associated with low glomerular filtration rate calculated by scintigraphy in dogs
Authors: Mattei Chiara , Pelander Lena , Hansson Kerstin , Uhlhorn Margareta , Olsson Ulf , Häggström Jens , Ljungvall Ingrid , Ley Charles J.
Published: May 2019

Ultrasound provides information on kidney morphology, but studies relating structural and functional abnormalities in chronic kidney disease (CKD) are lacking. The aim of this descriptive cross‐sectional study was to compare individual kidney (IK) B‐mode ultrasound abnormalities to IK glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated by scintigraphy normalized to plasma volume (PV) in dogs, to evaluate if ultrasonographic findings were associated with low IKGFR/PV. Eighty privately owned dogs with and without clinical suspicion of CKD were prospectively enrolled, and kidney ultrasound and IKGFR/PV were evaluated independently. Ultrasound images were assessed retrospectively for subjective abnormalities (shape, cortical, and medullary hyperechogenicity), and kidney size was measured. The normal IKGFR/PV cutoff was derived from dogs in the study group with no history and clinical signs of kidney disease and normal blood and urine results (n = 28) and was 16.84 mL/min/L. Kidneys were categorized into normal, mild, moderate, and severe ultrasound changes according to subjective ultrasound grades. Associations were found between low IKGFR/PV and abnormal kidney shape (P = .0004), cortical hyperechogenicity (P = .0008), medullary hyperechogenicity (P < .0001), and low kidney volume (P = .0092). Apart from the moderate and severe category comparison, IKGFR/PV value significantly decreased with increasing severity of category. The combination of ultrasonographic subjective abnormalities had a high sensitivity (93.8%) and moderate specificity (65.7%) for detecting low IKGFR/PV. Kidneys with normal IKGFR/PV had a low frequency of mild ultrasound changes. Findings indicate kidneys with increasing number and grade of subjective ultrasound abnormalities are more likely to have a lower IKGFR/PV.
Formality of -objects
Authors: Hochenegger Andreas , Krug Andreas
Published: May 2019

We show that a$\mathbb{P}$-object and simple configurations of$\mathbb{P}$-objects have a formal derived endomorphism algebra. Hence the triangulated category (classically) generated by such objects is independent of the ambient triangulated category. We also observe that the category generated by the structure sheaf of a smooth projective variety over the complex numbers only depends on its graded cohomology algebra.
Stall Inception in a Boundary Layer Ingesting Fan
Authors: Perovic D. , Hall C. A. , Gunn E. J.
Published: May 2019

Jet engines with boundary layer ingestion (BLI) could offer significant reductions in aircraft fuel burn compared with podded turbofans. However, the engine fans must run continuously with severe inlet distortion, which is known to reduce stability. In this paper, an experimental study has been completed on a low-speed rig fan operating with a BLI-type inlet distortion. Unsteady casing static pressure measurements have been made at multiple locations during stall events. Steady-state, full-annulus area traverses have also been performed at rotor inlet and exit at a near-stall operating point. The reduction in stability caused by BLI is found to be small. It is found that with BLI the fan can operate stably despite the presence of localized regions where the rotor operating point lies beyond the stability boundary measured in clean flow. With the BLI-type distortion applied, the measured rotor incidence varies around the annulus due to nonuniform upstream velocity and swirl. The measured amplitude of unsteady casing pressure fluctuations just prior to stall is found to correlate with the circumferential variation of rotor incidence, suggesting that rotor incidence is a key variable affecting the creation and growth of flow disturbances. In regions of high incidence, disturbances resembling local flow separations are initiated. However, in regions of low or negative incidence, any disturbances decay rapidly. Full rotating stall with BLI occurs when high incidence regions are widespread enough to sustain disturbances which can propagate around the entire annulus.
A Compositional Thermal Multiphase Wellbore Model for Use in Non-Isothermal Gas Lifting
Authors: Sadri Mahdi , Mahdiyar Hojjat , Mohsenipour Ali
Published: May 2019

In this paper, a new compositional mechanistic wellbore model, including gas lifting parameters, is presented. In the governing equations of this model, new terms for mass transfer between phases and the enthalpy of phase change, which are important in non-isothermal gas lift systems, have been considered. These terms have been ignored in some recent research studies and subsequent results show that by ignoring them, serious errors may arise. In the current research study, using a mechanistic drift-flux approach, the pressure distribution in a wellbore was modeled. To verify the new simulator, the results were compared with those of commercial simulators. They were also verified against the phase behavior analysis of the fluid flowing in the wellbore. In addition, in order to show the novel aspects of the new simulator, the results of the presented simulator were compared with the results of a recently proposed model found in the literature. It was concluded that neglecting phase change effects may cause significant errors in calculating pressure and temperature values along wellbores. This error could be significant, up to 24% depending on conditions when flowing fluid pressure is close to its saturation point or in the case of simulating gas lift operation.
Modeling, Simulation, and Performance Evaluation Analysis of a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector Power Plant Coupled to an Organic Rankine Cycle Engine in North Eastern Greece Using trnsys
Authors: Botsaris Pantelis N. , Pechtelidis Alexandros G. , Lymperopoulos Konstantinos A.
Published: May 2019

The present work is focused on the development of a simulation model for an existing cogeneration power plant, which utilizes a solar thermal field with parabolic trough solar collectors coupled to an Organic Rankine Cycle engine. The power plant is modeled in the trnsys v.17 software package and its performance has been validated with real operating conditions. The simulated system (concentrated solar power (CSP) field and ORC engine) is the main part of a hybrid power plant located near “Ziloti” village of the Municipality of Xanthi, in northeastern Greece. The construction of the hybrid power plant was funded by the Strategic Co-Funded Project of the European Territorial Cooperation Program Greece–Bulgaria 2007–2013 with the acronym ENERGEIA. The power plant simulated in this paper includes a 234 kWth solar parabolic trough collector (PTC) field, a 5 m3 thermal energy storage tank, and a 5 kWe ORC engine for the production of thermal and electrical energies. The results of the simulations present small deviation in contrast to the real operating data of the CSP power plant coupled with the ORC engine, therefore the simulation model is considered as reliable.
Image-Based Closed-Loop Control of Aerosol Jet Printing Using Classical Control Methods
Authors: Lombardi Jack P. , Salary Roozbeh (Ross) , Weerawarne Darshana L. , Rao Prahalada K. , Poliks Mark D.
Published: May 2019

Aerosol jet printing (AJP) is a complex process for additive electronics that is often unstable. To overcome this instability, observation while printing and control of the printing process using image-based monitoring is demonstrated. This monitoring is validated against images taken after the print and shown highly correlated and useful for the determination of printed linewidth. These images and the observed linewidth are used as input for closed-loop control of the printing process, with print speed changed in response to changes in the observed linewidth. Regression is used to relate these quantities and forms the basis of proportional and proportional integral control. Electrical test structures were printed with controlled and uncontrolled printing, and it was found that the control influenced their linewidth and electrical properties, giving improved uniformity in both size and electrical performance.
Delineating Loss Sources Within a Linear Cascade With Upstream Cavity and Purge Flow
Authors: Fiore Maxime , Gourdain Nicolas , Boussuge Jean-François , Lippinois Eric
Published: May 2019

Purge air is injected in cavities at the hub of axial turbines to prevent hot mainstream gas ingestion into interstage gaps. This process induces additional losses for the turbine due to an interaction between the purge and mainstream flow. This paper investigates the flow in a low-speed linear cascade rig with upstream hub cavity at a Reynolds number commonly observed in modern low-pressure turbine stages by the use of numerical simulation. Numerical predictions are validated by comparing against experimental data available. Three different purge mass flow rates are tested using three different rim seal geometries. Numerical simulations are performed using a large-eddy simulation (LES) solver on structured grids. An investigation of the different mechanisms associated with the turbine flow including cavity and purge air is intended through this simplified configuration. The underlying mechanisms of loss are tracked using an entropy formulation. Once described for a baseline case, the influence of purge flow and rim seal geometry on flow mechanisms and loss generation is described with the emphasis to obtain design parameters for losses reduction. The study quantifies loss generation due to the boundary layer on wetted surfaces and secondary vortices developing in the passage. The analysis shows different paths by which the purge flow and rim seal geometry can change loss generation including a modification of the shear layer between purge and mainstream, interaction with secondary vortices, and a modification of the flow behavior close to hub compared with a smooth configuration. The study shows the influence of purge flow rate and swirl on the strengthening of secondary vortices in the passage and the ability of axial overlapping rim seal to delay the development of secondary vortices compared with simple axial gaps.
Toxicity and photosensitizing assessment of gelatin methacryloyl-based hydrogels photoinitiated with lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate in human primary renal proximal tubule epithelial cells
Authors: Nguyen Alexander K. , Goering Peter L. , Reipa Vytas , Narayan Roger J.
Published: May 2019

Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP) photoinitiator are commonly used in combination to produce a photosensitive polymer but there are concerns that must be addressed: the presence of unreacted monomer is well known to be cytotoxic, and lithium salts are known to cause acute kidney injury. In this study, acellular 10% GelMA hydrogels cross-linked with different LAP concentrations and cross-linking illumination times were evaluated for their cytotoxicity, photosensitizing potential, and elastic moduli. Alamar Blue and CyQuant Direct Cell viability assays were performed on human primary renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (hRPTECs) exposed to extracts of each formulation. UV exposure during cross-linking was not found to affect extract cytotoxicity in either assay. LAP concentration did not affect extract cytotoxicity as determined by the Alamar Blue assay but reduced hRPTEC viability in the CyQuant Direct cell assay. Photocatalytic activity of formulation extracts toward NADH oxidation was used as a screening method for photosensitizing potential; longer UV exposure durations yielded extracts with less photocatalytic activity. Finally, elastic moduli determined using nanoindentation was found to plateau to approximately 20–25 kPa after exposure to 342 mJ/cm2 at 2.87 mW of UV-A exposure regardless of LAP concentration. LAP at concentrations commonly used in bioprinting (<0.5% w/w) was not found to be cytotoxic although the differences in cytotoxicity evaluation determined from the two viability assays imply cell membrane damage and should be investigated further. Complete cross-linking of all formulations decreased photocatalytic activity while maintaining predictable final elastic moduli.
Single-atom nanozymes
Authors: Huang Liang , Chen Jinxing , Gan Linfeng , Wang Jin , Dong Shaojun
Published: May 2019

Atomically mimicking the enzyme-like active sites based on nanomaterials would develop unexpected single-atom nanozymes.
Electrospray sample injection for single-particle imaging with x-ray lasers
Authors: Bielecki Johan , Hantke Max F. , Daurer Benedikt J. , Reddy Hemanth K. N. , Hasse Dirk , Larsson Daniel S. D. , Gunn Laura H. , Svenda Martin , Munke Anna , Sellberg Jonas A. , Flueckiger Leonie , Pietrini Alberto , Nettelblad Carl , Lundholm Ida , Carlsson Gunilla , Okamoto Kenta , Timneanu Nicusor , Westphal Daniel , Kulyk Olena , Higashiura Akifumi , van der Schot Gijs , Loh Ne-Te Duane , Wysong Taylor E. , Bostedt Christoph , Gorkhover Tais , Iwan Bianca , Seibert M. Marvin , Osipov Timur , Walter Peter , Hart Philip , Bucher Maximilian , Ulmer Anatoli , Ray Dipanwita , Carini Gabriella , Ferguson Ken R. , Andersson Inger , Andreasson Jakob , Hajdu Janos , Maia Filipe R. N. C.
Published: May 2019

Electrospray contaminant-free delivery of proteins to x-ray laser heralds the start of single-protein x-ray diffractive imaging.
The sequence of events during folding of a DNA origami
Authors: Schneider Fabian , Möritz Natalie , Dietz Hendrik
Published: May 2019

The folding pathway of a DNA origami unveiled in real time, strand by strand, and terminus by terminus.
Stromal cells maintain immune cell homeostasis in adipose tissue via production of interleukin-33
Authors: Mahlakõiv T. , Flamar A.-L. , Johnston L. K. , Moriyama S. , Putzel G. G. , Bryce P. J. , Artis D.
Published: May 2019

Tissue-resident stromal cells control innate lymphoid cell–dependent immune homeostasis in adipose tissue.
Y’all comeback now
Authors: Cohen Jarish N. , Rosenblum Michael D.
Published: May 2019

Keratinocytes regulate circulating CD8
+
T cell memory after cutaneous infection.
Trends in and Predictors of Carbapenem Consumption across North American Hospitals: Results from a Multicenter Survey by the MAD-ID Research Network
Authors: Rhodes Nathaniel J. , Wagner Jamie L. , Davis Susan L. , Bosso John A. , Goff Debra A. , Rybak Michael J. , Scheetz Marc H. ,   on behalf of the MAD-ID Research Network, Zimmer Drew , Edwards Jonathan , Barnes Vicki , Rooks Christy , Womack Tanea , Chastain Daniel , Jacob Jesse , Wong Jordan , Kandiah Sheetal , Kenney Rachel , Wardlow Lynn , Patel Sonal , Sorenson Carrie , Galbraith Joan , Monteforte Melinda , Annette Brady , Debra Boswell , Chapple Kevin , Cubick Edward , Morita Kazumi , Mohamed Yasser , Kisgen Jamie
Published: May 2019

We sought to define trends in and predictors of carbapenem consumption across community, teaching, and university-affiliated hospitals in the United States and Canada. We conducted a retrospective multicenter survey of carbapenem and broad-spectrum noncarbapenem beta-lactam consumption between January 2011 and December 2013.
Interleukin 1 Receptor-Like 1 (IL1RL1) Promotes Airway Bacterial and Viral Infection and Inflammation
Authors: Schaunaman Niccolette , Sanchez Amelia , Dimasuay Kris Genelyn , Pavelka Nicole , Numata Mari , Alam Rafeul , Martin Richard J. , Chu Hong Wei
Published: May 2019

Interleukin 1 receptor-like 1 (IL1RL1), also known as suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2), is the receptor for interleukin 33 (IL-33) and has been increasingly studied in type 2 inflammation. An increase in airway IL-33/ST2 signaling in asthma has been associated with eosinophilic inflammation, but little is known about the role of ST2 in neutrophilic inflammation.
Unsafe abortion and abortion-related death among 1.8 million women in India
Authors: Yokoe Ryo , Rowe Rachel , Choudhury Saswati Sanyal , Rani Anjali , Zahir Farzana , Nair Manisha
Published: May 2019

Introduction

Unsafe abortion is a preventable cause of maternal mortality. While studies report high number of abortions in India, the population-level rates of unsafe abortion and their risk factors are not well understood. Our objective was to analyse the rates of and risk factors for unsafe abortion and abortion-related maternal death in India.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of data from 1 876 462 pregnant women aged 15–58 years from nine states in the Indian Annual Health Survey (2010–2013). We calculated the rate of unsafe abortion and abortion-related mortality with 95% CI. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the associations of sociodemographic characteristics, health seeking behaviours and family planning with unsafe abortion and abortion-related mortality.

Results

There were 89 447 abortions among 1 876 462 pregnant women in 2007–2011 (4.8%; 95% CI 4.8 to 4.9). Of these, 58 266 were classified as unsafe (67.1%; 95% CI 66.7 to 67.5). There were 253 abortion-related maternal deaths (0.3%; 95% CI 0.2 to 0.3). Factors associated with unsafe abortion: maternal age 20–24 years (adjusted OR (aOR): 1.13; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.18), illiteracy (aOR: 1.48; 95% CI 1.39 to 1.59), rural residence (aOR: 1.26; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.32), Muslim religion (aOR: 1.16; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.22), Schedule caste social group (aOR: 1.08; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.12), poorest asset quintile (aOR: 1.45; 95% CI 1.38 to 1.53), antenatal care (aOR: 0.69; 95% CI 0.67 to 0.72), no surviving children (aOR: 1.30; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.46), all surviving children being female (aOR: 1.12; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.17), use of family planning methods (aOR: 0.69; 95% CI 0.66 to 0.71). Factors associated with abortion-related deaths: maternal age 15–19 (aOR: 7.79; 95% CI 2.73 to 22.23), rural residence (aOR: 3.28; 95% CI 1.76 to 6.11), Schedule tribe social group (aOR: 4.06; 95% CI 1.39 to 11.87).

Conclusion

Despite abortion being legal, the high estimated prevalence of unsafe abortion demonstrates a major public health problem in India. Socioeconomic vulnerability and inadequate access to healthcare services combine to leave large numbers of women at risk of unsafe abortion and abortion-related death.
Optimising IBD patient selection for de-escalation of anti-TNF therapy to immunomodulator maintenance
Authors: Swann Rachael , Boal Alan , Squires Seth Ian , Lamb Carly , Clark Laura Louise , Lamont Selina , Naismith Graham
Published: May 2019

Objective

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasingly managed with the use of biologic therapies. National guidelines (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)) suggest considering cessation after 1 year of therapy but lack detailed criteria for this. We aimed to describe clinical outcomes from the introduction of a biologic review panel (BRP) to implement modified criteria for cessation of antitumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy and step down to single-agent immunomodulator.

Design

Retrospective review of patient outcomes following BRP implementation.

Patients

All patients on biologic therapy discussed in the BRP within a 5-year period.

Setting

Single IBD network covering three hospital sites.

Interventions

Modified criteria for biologic cessation were based on published evidence; they excluded individuals with no suitable maintenance immunomodulator, previous surgery or evidence of active disease, additional indications for anti-TNF therapy and previous relapse on biologic cessation. All patients with IBD on a biologic were discussed at the BRP.

Main outcome measures

Relapse following IBD cessation and relative cost of BRP.

Results

136 patients with IBD were reviewed, with 45 patients meeting the NICE guideline criteria for cessation. The BRP and modified criteria affected decision to withdraw therapy in 38% of these. Therapy was withdrawn in 27 patients, with a 20% 24-month relapse rate. Younger age at cessation was significantly associated with relapse (p=0.01).

Conclusion

The BRP approach has proved a safe and effective means of decision making in stopping biologic therapy. Future work to inform exclusion criteria is required.
Low levels of inbreeding depression and enhanced fitness in cleistogamous progeny in the annual plantTriodanis perfoliata
Authors: Ansaldi Beth H. , Weber Jennifer J. , Goodwillie Carol , Franks Steven J.
Published: May 2019

The maintenance of outcrossing in cleistogamous plants that produce both open, facultatively outcrossing chasmogamous (CH), and closed, obligate selfing cleistogamous (CL) flowers is puzzling because CL reproduction is thought to be more reliable and less costly. A possible explanation for the maintenance of CH flowers is the avoidance of inbreeding depression. However, inbreeding depression for cleistogamous species has rarely been quantified. In this study, we estimate levels of inbreeding depression in plants from three populations of Triodanis perfoliata (L.) Nieuwl., a dimorphic cleistogamous annual, under greenhouse conditions. Estimates of inbreeding depression at multiple life stages in all three populations were low and often not different from zero. Inbreeding depression at specific life stages varied, with two populations showing later-acting inbreeding depression, which is also found in other selfing species. In two of the study populations, selfed CL progeny outperformed selfed CH progeny, indicating a flower-type effect. The low levels of inbreeding depression and the superior fitness of CL compared with selfed CH flowers that we observed make the maintenance of CH flowers in this system surprising, and suggest that other advantages of outcrossing CH flowers are likely responsible for maintaining mixed mating in this species.
Low Pass Filter PUF: Authentication of Printed Circuit Boards Based on Resistor and Capacitor Variations
Authors: Quadir Shahed Enamul , Chandy John A.
Published: May 2019

Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) are probabilistic circuit primitives that extract randomness from the physical characteristics of a device. PUFs are easy and simple to implement and its random nature makes its behavior hard to predict and model. Most existing PUF designs are based on variation at the chip level and can not be implemented in a printed circuit board (PCB). Therefore, these PUFs can not be used to protect against counterfeit PCBs in a distributed supply chain. In this work, we propose a novel PUF design based on resistor and capacitor variations for low pass filters (LoPUF). We demonstrate the setup in a protoboard for different resistor-capacitor pairs (RC pairs) for reliable low pass filter PUF. Because of process variations, the voltage will be different at the same cut-off frequency for our proposed PUF. Finally, the output of the filter is connected to an inverter to measure the pulse width and best suitable pulses are used for ID generation based on our algorithm.
Optical Biopsy for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Authors: Wu Binlin , Gao Xin , Smith Jason
Published: May 2019

Native fluorescence spectra are acquired from fresh normal and cancerous human prostate tissues. The fluorescence data are analyzed using an unsupervised machine learning algorithm such as non-negative matrix factorization. The nonnegative spectral components are retrieved and attributed to the native fluorophores such as collagen, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) in tissue. The retrieved scores of the components are used to estimate the relative concentrations of the native fluorophores such as NADH and FAD and the redox ratio. A supervised machine learning algorithm such as support vector machine (SVM) is used to classify normal and cancerous tissue samples based on either the relative concentrations of NADH and FAD or the redox ratio alone. Various statistical measures such as sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, along with the area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve are used to show the classification performance. A cross validation method such as leave-one-out is used to further evaluate the predictive performance of the SVM classifier to avoid bias due to overfitting, and the accuracy was found to be 93.3%.
Threading Dislocations in Metamorphic Semiconductor Buffer Layers Containing Chirped Superlattices
Authors: Islam Md Tanvirul , Chen Xinkang , Kujofsa Tedi , Ayers John E.
Published: May 2019

Metamorphic realization of semiconductor devices has become increasingly important due to the great freedom it affords in layer compositions and thicknesses. However, metamorphic growth is often accompanied by the introduction of high densities of threading dislocation defects. This behavior may be understood by using an annihilation and coalescence model for the threading dislocation behavior which is based on the dislocation interaction length Lint. For its application we considered only glide of dislocations, so the interaction length was assumed to be equal to the length of misfit dislocation segments LMD. The length of misfit segments was determined approximately by the Matthews, Mader, and Light model [J. Appl. Phys., 41, 3800 (1970)] for lattice relaxation, and was assumed to be independent of the distance from the interface. Within this framework we have applied the annihilation and coalescence model to chirped semiconductor superlattices to evaluate these superlattices as strainrelaxed buffers for metamorphic devices. In this work we have studied two basic types of InGaAs/GaAs chirped superlattice buffers: type I superlattices are compositionally modulated while type II superlattices are thickness modulated.
Multiscale weighted Rényi entropy causality plane for financial time series
Authors: Gao Jing , Shang Pengjian
Published: May 2019

The permutation entropy (PE) is a statistical measure which can describe complexity of time series. In recent years, the research on PE is increasing gradually. As part of its application, the complexity–entropy causality plane (CECP) and weighted CECP (WCECP) have been recently used to distinguish the stage of stock market development. In this paper, we focus on weighted Rényi entropy causality plane (WRECP), and then extend WCECP and WRECP into multiscale WCECP (MWCECP) and multiscale WRECP (MWRECP) by introducing a new parameter scale. By data simulating and analyzing, we show the power of WRECP. Besides, we discuss the MWCECP and the MWRECP of adjacent scales. It reveals a gradual relationship between adjacent weighted scale entropies.
Numerical simulation of motion characteristics of flexible fresh tea leaf in Poiseuille shear flow via combined immersed boundary–lattice Boltzmann method
Authors: Wang Rongyang , Wei Yikun , Wu Chuanyu , Sun Liang , Zheng Wenguang
Published: May 2019

In this study, the deformations and trajectories of elastic fresh tea leaf in a simple straight channel model are investigated using the combined immersed boundary–lattice Boltzmann method (IB–LBM). The objective is to qualitatively analyze the effects of gravity, diameter and the Reynolds number (Re) on the physical characteristics of flexible fresh tea leaf, which is driven by Poiseuille airflow in a channel model. The LBM is used to simulate the fluid domain with regular Eulerian grid, while the IB method is employed to model the fluid–membrane interaction, with a set of Lagrangian moving grids being adopted for the fresh tea leaf. Our results mainly reveal that a tea leaf undergoes deformation due to the shearing effect of the Poiseuille flow, resulting in lifting of the leaf toward the channel center. Under the influence of gravity, the leaf performs a tumbling motion with clockwise rotation and preserves an oscillating stable state. Furthermore, the diameter has a far greater influence on the dimensionless shape parameters than Re. For a leaf of a certain size and position, a series of relations between [Formula: see text] and Re are established at various ratios of fresh leaves by least square method. Based on the above findings, such studies provide useful data and insights to obtain high-quality green tea by selecting mechanical-plucked fresh tea leaves according to shape consistency.
Relativistic quantum motion of the scalar bosons in the background space–time around a chiral cosmic string
Authors: Hun M. A. , Candemir N.
Published: May 2019

In this paper, a relativistic behavior of spin-zero bosons is studied in a chiral cosmic string space–time. The Duffin–Kemmer–Petiau (DKP) equation and DKP oscillator are written in this curved space–time and are solved by using an appropriate ansatz and the Nikiforov–Uvarov method, respectively. The influences of the topology of this space–time on the DKP spinor and energy levels and current density are also discussed in detail.
Characterization of the superconducting phase in tellurium hydride at high pressure
Authors: Zemła Tomasz P. , Szczȩśniak Klaudia M. , Kaczmarek Adam Z. , Turchuk Svitlana V.
Published: May 2019

At present, hydrogen-based compounds constitute one of the most promising classes of materials for applications as phonon-mediated high-temperature superconductors. Herein, the behavior of the superconducting phase in tellurium hydride (HTe) at high pressure (p = 300 GPa) is analyzed in detail, by using the isotropic Migdal–Eliashberg equations. The chosen pressure conditions are considered here as a case study which corresponds to the highest critical temperature value [Formula: see text] in the analyzed material, as determined within recent density functional theory simulations. It is found that the Migdal–Eliashberg formalism, which constitutes a strong-coupling generalization of the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) theory, predicts that the critical temperature value ([Formula: see text] K) is higher than previous estimates of the McMillan formula. Further investigations show that the characteristic dimensionless ratios for the thermodynamic critical field, the specific heat for the superconducting state, and the superconducting band gap exceed the limits of the BCS theory. In this context, also the effective electron mass is not equal to the bare electron mass as provided by the BCS theory. On the basis of these findings it is predicted that the strong-coupling and retardation effects play pivotal role in the superconducting phase of HTe at 300 GPa, in agreement with similar theoretical estimates for the sibling hydrogen and hydrogen-based compounds. Hence, it is suggested that the superconducting state in HTe cannot be properly described within the mean-field picture of the BCS theory.
Quantitative analysis of low frequency acoustic characteristics for reverse horn by bottleneck effect analogy method
Authors: Liang Xiao , Wu Jiu Hui , Zhou Zhuo , Chen Zhe
Published: May 2019

Reverse horn as one of the Acoustic Black Hole (ABH) structures can be used to effectively reduce low frequency acoustic waves by focusing the sound energy. The sound waves in relatively low frequency range are focused on the tip of reverse horn, and most sound energy cannot flow out from the reverse horn’s tip. In this paper, we propose a quantitative analysis method by the bottleneck effect analogy to research the low frequency acoustic characteristics of reverse horn. Our theoretical results show that the low frequency sound wave can be focused on the tip of reverse horn, and the transmission coefficient of low frequency is proportional to the 3 power law of the reverse horn tip’s diameter. The experimental results verified our theoretical results. And the sound insulation property is studied by experiments. It is noteworthy that the insulation coefficient of two levels reverse horn whose second level tip’s diameter [Formula: see text] mm, is more than 0.92, and can increase further with the decrease of the second level horn tip’s diameter. It provides an effective and simple method for quantitatively analyzing the low frequency acoustic characteristics of the reverse horn. The proposed reverse horn has great potential applications for low frequency sound insulation control.
Thermodynamic properties of coherent photons in self-focusing nonlinear waveguides
Authors: Cheng Ze
Published: May 2019

We study the thermodynamic properties of coherent photons in self-focusing nonlinear waveguides. The equation of the superfluid state of photons has been derived. There is a transition temperature [Formula: see text], above which the photon gas is in the coherent state, but below which the photon gas is in the superfluid state. At [Formula: see text], the photon system undergoes a first-order phase transition from the coherent to the superfluid state. To determine the fugacity [Formula: see text] and the transition temperature [Formula: see text] of the photon gas, we numerically solve the equation of the superfluid state of photons. The fugacity [Formula: see text] is a monotonically decreasing function of temperature [Formula: see text] and light intensity [Formula: see text]. The transition temperature [Formula: see text] is a monotonically decreasing function of light intensity [Formula: see text].
Continuous-time quantum search and time-dependent two-level quantum systems
Authors: Cafaro Carlo , Alsing Paul M.
Published: May 2019

It was recently emphasized by Byrnes, Forster and Tessler [Phys. Rev. Lett. 120 (2018) 060501] that the continuous-time formulation of Grover’s quantum search algorithm can be intuitively understood in terms of Rabi oscillations between the source and the target subspaces. In this work, motivated by this insightful remark and starting from the consideration of a time-independent generalized quantum search Hamiltonian as originally introduced by Bae and Kwon [Phys. Rev. A 66 (2002) 012314], we present a detailed investigation concerning the physical connection between quantum search Hamiltonians and exactly solvable time-dependent two-level quantum systems. Specifically, we compute in an exact analytical manner the transition probabilities from a source state to a target state in a number of physical scenarios specified by a spin-[Formula: see text] particle immersed in an external time-dependent magnetic field. In particular, we analyze both the periodic oscillatory as well as the monotonic temporal behaviors of such transition probabilities and, moreover, explore their analogy with characteristic features of Grover-like and fixed-point quantum search algorithms, respectively. Finally, we discuss from a physics standpoint the connection between the schedule of a search algorithm, in both adiabatic and nonadiabatic quantum mechanical evolutions, and the control fields in a time-dependent driving Hamiltonian.
Quaternionic representation of electromagnetism for material media
Authors: Kansu Mustafa Emre
Published: May 2019

In this study, the electromagnetic fields are developed in the presence of both the electric and magnetic induction fields by quaternion algebra. In this sense, the polarization and magnetization effects, which are valid in the material media, gain much importance. Quaternions are one of the most convenient tools for representing electromagnetism with regard to having non-commutative but associative algebraic division ring. By defining the quaternion induction field, the quaternion source term has been obtained in basic and elegant notation for the first time. In addition, one type of Poynting theorem, named as the Minkowski form, has been presented including the permittivity and permeability constants by quaternions.
A nanocomposite constructed by intercalating iron porphyrin into layered tantalotungstate with exfoliation/self-assembly method utilized for electrocatalytic oxidation of nitrite
Authors: Wang Mengjun , Li Jinpeng , Fan Zichun , Wu Shining , Ma Juanjuan , Zhang Xiaobo , Liu Lin , Tong Zhiwei
Published: May 2019

Exfoliation/restacking route was utilized to investigate layer-by-layer self-assembly of FeTMPyP/TaWO6[5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (N-methylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrinato iron (III)] nanocomposite in this paper. The colloidal suspension of [Formula: see text] nanosheet was tested by Zeta potential and proved to be in a well-dispersed statement. Analysis technologies such as X-ray diffraction Scanning electron microscope (SEM) infrared UV-Vis were used to characterize the final product. The results showed that FeTMPyP molecules were introduced into the lamellar space of host material successfully. The electrochemical behaviors of FeTMPyP-TaWO6nanocomposite were tested by cyclic voltammetry method, and the nanocomposite showed excellent electrocatalytic properties to the oxidation of nitrite with the anodic peak shifts from 0.122 to 0.860[Formula: see text]V. Besides, the detection limit of nitrite can be calculated to be [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M with the concentration of nitrite ranging from 0.1 to 3.61[Formula: see text]mM by different pulse voltammetry (DPV) analyzation.
Phase diagram determination of large piezoelectric response in BHT-BCT ceramics
Authors: Dai Zhonghua , Li Dingyan , Xie Jinglong , Liu Weiguo , Ge Shaobo , Zhang Jin , Liu Lu , Zhu Yuanchao , Zhao Xin , Ying Guobing
Published: May 2019

High-performance lead-free piezoelectric materials are environmentally friendly and in great demand for electronic devices. In this study, the phase diagram and properties of Hf, Ca co-doped BaTiO3 (BHT-BCT) were investigated. A triple-point morphotropic phase boundary separating the rhombohedral, tetragonal and cubic phases for the (1-[Formula: see text])Ba(Ti0.85Hf0.15)O3-[Formula: see text](Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 system exited at [Formula: see text] High piezoelectric properties with piezoelectric coefficients [Formula: see text] (572pC/N) and Curie temperature [Formula: see text] (90∘C) of 0.55Ba(Ti0.85Hf0.15)O3-0.45(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 are achieved in the BaTiO3-based ceramics.
A feasibility study for detection thresholds of CO
2
at shallow depths at the CaMI Field Research Station, Newell County, Alberta, Canada
Authors: Macquet Marie , Lawton Donald C. , Saeedfar Amin , Osadetz Kirk G.
Published: May 2019

We present the results of a feasibility study for seismic monitoring using conventional surface seismic experiments at the CaMI Field Research Station, Alberta, Canada, where a small volume of gas-phase CO
2
is being injected into a sandstone reservoir at a depth of 300 m. We first apply a careful fluid substitution procedure to the results of reservoir gas saturation and pressure responses obtained from fluid flow simulations. We test different methods to compute the bulk modulus of the fluid for different fluid saturation models. Assuming a semi-patchy model and considering only the replacement of brine with a maximum saturation of 50% CO
2
, we estimate the reduction in P-wave velocity to be 20%. Adding an increase in pore pressure of 2.7 MPa increases the P-wave velocity reduction to 32%. After including a field-based signal-to-noise ratio of 5% to the synthetic seismic data, the time-lapse seismic anomaly should be detectable after one year of injection (266 tonnes of CO
2
).
In Praise of Small Data
Authors: Kientz Julie A.
Published: May 2019

The era of big data is well upon us, and understandably, there is much excitement over what we can learn from so much data and new big data analyses. However, big data often comes with big challenges, such as issues around data privacy and retention and resource constraints like battery life and storage. Moreover, big data may often not actually be able to tell us what we want to know. Many of the analyses based on big data may tell us only correlations, not causes. Or, they may only tell us about how a large group of people behaves, not necessarily an individual. In this article, I'll describe some reasons why you might want to take a small data approach, sometimes called Single Case designs or N-of-1 studies, how you might do it, and provide an example of a mobile app we built that applied these designs for self-experimentation with gastrointestinal health.
Towards Approximate Mobile Computing
Authors: Pejović Veljko
Published: May 2019

When Dennard scaling, a law describing the area-proportional growth of integrated circuit power use, broke down sometime in the last decade, we faced a situation where further transistor minimization suddenly required additional energy for operation and cooling. CPU manufacturers responded with multicore processors, as an alternative means to increase the floating-point operations per second (FLOPS) count. However, this too increases the energy consumption and, in addition, requires a larger silicon area. The most threatened by the stalled growth of per-Watt computing performance are pervasive mobile computers, nowadays present in anything from wearables to smartphones. Not only do these devices' small form factor prevent further component packing, but the need for mobility also precludes bundling devices with large batteries.
Energy Harvesting is Charging Up
Authors: Gummeson Jeremy
Published: May 2019

There have been a number of energy harvesting systems proposed over the years and they have seen varying degrees of adoption. The motivation for energy harvesting varies according to the class of application: 1) In green energy applications, solar harvesting has seen widespread adoption to offset rising energy costs and to reduce CO2 emissions, 2) In infrastructure monitoring applications, low power sensors have made use of solar and thermal harvesting to avoid restrictive battery maintenance when deploying sensors at scale, and 3) in mobile applications, harvesting has been used to extend device battery lifetime and the charging burden imposed on the end user. In short, mobile computing systems focus on energy harvesting as a technique to relax or eliminate dependencies on batteries.
Mobile Imaging Using Acoustic Signals
Authors: Mao Wenguang , Wang Mei , Qiu Lili
Published: May 2019

The ability to image an object has profound applications for society. With the unprecedented growth of smartphone popularity, smartphone-based imaging is very appealing. While smartphone cameras are getting increasingly powerful, they are still lacking in many scenarios, such as imaging in darkness or under obstruction. RF based imaging is an interesting alternative. Recently, [2,3,4] pioneering RF imaging approaches were developed based on mobile devices, such as drones, RFID arrays, and millimeter-wave transceivers. However, it still requires special hardware and significant effort to set up for applying these approaches.
Exercise training restores the myogenic response in skeletal muscle resistance arteries and corrects peripheral edema in rats with heart failure
Authors: Paula Suliana M. , Couto Gisele K. , Fontes Milene T. , Costa Soraia K. , Negrão Carlos E. , Mill José G. , Rossoni Luciana V.
Published: May 2019

Impairment of the myogenic response can affect capillary hydrostatic pressure and contribute to peripheral edema and exercise intolerance, which are markers of heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to assess the effects of exercise training (ET) on myogenic response in skeletal muscle resistance arteries and peripheral edema in HF rats, focusing on the potential signaling pathways involved in these adjustments. Male Wistar rats were submitted to either coronary artery occlusion or a sham-operated surgery. After 4 wk, an exercise test was performed, and the rats were divided into the following groups: untrained normal control (UNC) and untrained HF (UHF) and exercise- trained (on treadmill, 50–60% of maximal capacity) NC (TNC) and exercise-trained HF (THF). Caudal tibial artery (CTA) myogenic response was impaired in UHF compared with UNC, and ET restored this response in THF to NC levels and increased it in TNC. Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor abolished CTA myogenic response in the untrained and blunted it in exercise-trained groups. CTA-stored calcium (Ca2+) mobilization was higher in exercise-trained rats compared with untrained rats. The paw volume was higher in UHF rats, and ET decreased this response compared with UNC. Myogenic constriction was positively correlated with maximal running distance and negatively correlated with paw volume. The results demonstrate, for the first time, that HF impairs the myogenic response in skeletal muscle arteries, which contributes to peripheral edema in this syndrome. ET restores the myogenic response in skeletal muscle arteries improving Ca2+ sensitization and handling. Additionally, this paradigm also improves peripheral edema and exercise intolerance.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The novel and main finding of the present study is that moderate intensity exercise training restores the impaired myogenic response of skeletal muscle resistance arteries, exercise intolerance and peripheral edema in rats with heart failure. These results also show for the first time to our knowledge that exercise training improving calcium sensitization through the ROCK pathway and enhancing intracellular calcium handling could contribute to restoration of flow autoregulation to skeletal muscle in heart failure.
Adaptive immune cells in calcific aortic valve disease
Authors: Raddatz Michael A. , Madhur Meena S. , Merryman W. David
Published: May 2019

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is highly prevalent and has no pharmaceutical treatment. Surgical replacement of the aortic valve has proved effective in advanced disease but is costly, time limited, and in many cases not optimal for elderly patients. This has driven an increasing interest in noninvasive therapies for patients with CAVD. Adaptive immune cell signaling in the aortic valve has shown potential as a target for such a therapy. Up to 15% of cells in the healthy aortic valve are hematopoietic in origin, and these cells, which include macrophages, T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes, are increased further in calcified specimens. Additionally, cytokine signaling has been shown to play a causative role in aortic valve calcification both in vitro and in vivo. This review summarizes the physiological presence of hematopoietic cells in the valve, innate and adaptive immune cell infiltration in disease states, and the cytokine signaling pathways that play a significant role in CAVD pathophysiology and may prove to be pharmaceutical targets for this disease in the near future.