bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional classification of protein structures by local structure matching in graph representation
Authors: Mills Caitlyn L. , Garg Rohan , Lee Joslynn S. , Tian Liang , Suciu Alexandru , Cooperman Gene D. , Beuning Penny J. , Ondrechen Mary Jo
Published: March 2018

As a result of high‐throughput protein structure initiatives, over 14,400 protein structures have been solved by Structural Genomics (SG) centers and participating research groups. While the totality of SG data represents a tremendous contribution to genomics and structural biology, reliable functional information for these proteins is generally lacking. Better functional predictions for SG proteins will add substantial value to the structural information already obtained. Our method described herein, Graph Representation of Active Sites for Prediction of Function (GRASP‐Func), predicts quickly and accurately the biochemical function of proteins by representing residues at the predicted local active site as graphs rather than in Cartesian coordinates. We compare the GRASP‐Func method to our previously reported method, Structurally Aligned Local Sites of Activity (SALSA), using the Ribulose Phosphate Binding Barrel (RPBB), 6‐Hairpin Glycosidase (6‐HG), and Concanavalin A‐like Lectins/Glucanase (CAL/G) superfamilies as test cases. In each of the superfamilies, SALSA and the much faster method GRASP‐Func yield similar correct classification of previously characterized proteins, providing a validated benchmark for the new method. In addition, we analyzed SG proteins using our SALSA and GRASP‐Func methods to predict function. Forty‐one SG proteins in the RPBB superfamily, nine SG proteins in the 6‐HG superfamily, and one SG protein in the CAL/G superfamily were successfully classified into one of the functional families in their respective superfamily by both methods. This improved, faster, validated computational method can yield more reliable predictions of function that can be used for a wide variety of applications by the community.
Better decision making in drug development through adoption of formal prior elicitation
Authors: Dallow Nigel , Best Nicky , Montague Timothy H
Published: March 2018

With the continued increase in the use of Bayesian methods in drug development, there is a need for statisticians to have tools to develop robust and defensible informative prior distributions. Whilst relevant empirical data should, where possible, provide the basis for such priors, it is often the case that limitations in data and/or our understanding may preclude direct construction of a data‐based prior. Formal expert elicitation methods are a key technique that can be used to determine priors in these situations. Within GlaxoSmithKline, we have adopted a structured approach to prior elicitation on the basis of the SHELF elicitation framework and routinely use this in conjunction with calculation of probability of success (assurance) of the next study(s) to inform internal decision making at key project milestones. The aim of this paper is to share our experiences of embedding the use of prior elicitation within a large pharmaceutical company, highlighting both the benefits and challenges of prior elicitation through a series of case studies. We have found that putting team beliefs into the shape of a quantitative probability distribution provides a firm anchor for all internal decision making, enabling teams to provide investment boards with formally appropriate estimates of the probability of trial success as well as robust plans for interim decision rules where appropriate. As an added benefit, the elicitation process provides transparency about the beliefs and risks of the potential medicine, ultimately enabling better portfolio and company‐wide decision making.
Assessment of algorithms for computing moist available potential energy
Authors: Harris Bethan L. , Tailleux Rémi
Published: March 2018

Atmospheric moist available potential energy (MAPE) has traditionally been defined as the potential energy of a moist atmosphere relative to that of the adiabatically sorted reference state defining a global potential energy minimum. Although the Munkres algorithm can in principle find such a reference state exactly, its computational cost has prompted much interest in developing heuristic methods for computing MAPE in practice. Comparisons of the accuracy of such approximate algorithms have so far been limited to a small number of test cases; this work provides an assessment of the performance of the algorithms across a wide range of atmospheric soundings, in two different locations. We determine that the divide‐and‐conquer algorithm is the best suited to practical application, but suffers from the previously unexplored shortcoming that it can produce a reference state with higher potential energy than the actual state, resulting in a negative value of MAPE. Additionally, we show that it is possible to construct an algorithm exploiting a previously derived theoretical expression linking MAPE to Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE). This approach has a similar accuracy to existing approximate sorting algorithms, whilst providing greater insight into the physical source of MAPE. In light of these results, we discuss possible ways to improve on the construction of Available Potential Energy (APE) theory for a moist atmosphere.
Influence of the quality of intraoperative fluoroscopic images on the spatial positioning accuracy of a CAOS system
Authors: Wang Junqiang , Wang Yu , Zhu Gang , Chen Xiangqian , Zhao Xiangrui , Qiao Huiting , Fan Yubo
Published: March 2018

Background

Spatial positioning accuracy is a key issue in a computer‐assisted orthopaedic surgery (CAOS) system. Since intraoperative fluoroscopic images are one of the most important input data to the CAOS system, the quality of these images should have a significant influence on the accuracy of the CAOS system. But the regularities and mechanism of the influence of the quality of intraoperative images on the accuracy of a CAOS system have yet to be studied.

Methods

Two typical spatial positioning methods – a C‐arm calibration‐based method and a bi‐planar positioning method – are used to study the influence of different image quality parameters, such as resolution, distortion, contrast and signal‐to‐noise ratio, on positioning accuracy. The error propagation rules of image error in different spatial positioning methods are analyzed by the Monte Carlo method.

Results

Correlation analysis showed that resolution and distortion had a significant influence on spatial positioning accuracy. In addition the C‐arm calibration‐based method was more sensitive to image distortion, while the bi‐planar positioning method was more susceptible to image resolution. The image contrast and signal‐to‐noise ratio have no significant influence on the spatial positioning accuracy. The result of Monte Carlo analysis proved that generally the bi‐planar positioning method was more sensitive to image quality than the C‐arm calibration‐based method.

Conclusions

The quality of intraoperative fluoroscopic images is a key issue in the spatial positioning accuracy of a CAOS system. Although the 2 typical positioning methods have very similar mathematical principles, they showed different sensitivities to different image quality parameters. The result of this research may help to create a realistic standard for intraoperative fluoroscopic images for CAOS systems.
Invited Essay: Preparing for Anomalies, Revealing the Invisible: Public Organizational Puzzles
Authors: La Porte Todd R.
Published: March 2018

To what degree do the conceptions and ways of knowing available to us provide a confident basis for engaging the organizational world we confront? If there are shortfalls, in what aspects of these phenomena, how serious are they, and to what policy consequence? This essay addresses why anomalies and surprises might be expected—both due to the conditions facing contemporary public organizations and our modes of considering them. The final part offers injunctions that could inform initial exploration.
An adaptive critic approach to event‐triggered robust control of nonlinear systems with unmatched uncertainties
Authors: Yang Xiong , He Haibo , Wei Qinglai
Published: March 2018

In this paper, we develop a novel event‐triggered robust control strategy for continuous‐time nonlinear systems with unmatched uncertainties. First, we build a relationship to show that the event‐triggered robust control can be obtained by solving an event‐triggered nonlinear optimal control problem of the auxiliary system. Then, within the framework of reinforcement learning, we propose an adaptive critic approach to solve the event‐triggered nonlinear optimal control problem. Unlike typical actor‐critic dual approximators used in reinforcement learning, we employ a unique critic approximator to derive the solution of the event‐triggered Hamilton‐Jacobi‐Bellman equation arising in the nonlinear optimal control problem. The critic approximator is updated via the gradient descent method, and the persistence of excitation condition is necessary. Meanwhile, under a newly proposed event‐triggering condition, we prove that the developed critic approximator update rule guarantees all signals in the auxiliary closed‐loop system to be uniformly ultimately bounded. Moreover, we demonstrate that the obtained event‐triggered optimal control can ensure the original system to be stable in the sense of uniform ultimate boundedness. Finally, a F‐16 aircraft plant and a nonlinear system are provided to validate the present event‐triggered robust control scheme.
A Landsat composite covering all Amazonia for applications in ecology and conservation
Authors: Van doninck Jasper , Tuomisto Hanna
Published: March 2018

Studies at small spatial extents have shown that local floristic and edaphic patterns within the hyper‐diverse Amazonian forests can be identified at a high thematic resolution using Landsat imagery. This suggests that Landsat images have the potential to indicate ecologically relevant environmental and biotic variation in the forests also at the extent of the entire basin. However, the full potential of Landsat data for these purposes has not yet been exploited in ecological and biodiversity research or in conservation applications. This is largely because the artifactual noise that is introduced by atmospheric and directional effects into multi‐scene composite images can swamp the subtle spectral differences between different types of primary forest. Here, we present a new Landsat TM/ETM+ image composite for the entire Amazon biome that largely overcomes these problems. It is based on more than 16 000 individual image acquisitions from the 10‐year period 2000–2009. The images were individually processed to directionally and topographically normalized surface reflectance and combined into 2.5 degree tiles using the medoid compositing criterion. Visual inspection showed that the resulting image composite is radiometrically clearly more consistent than other currently available Landsat composites. We tested the ecological relevance of the new Landsat composite by comparing its reflectance values with edaphic properties measured in more than 300 field sampling localities spread across 2000 km of Amazonia. We found a strong correlation between observed and predicted concentration of exchangeable base cations in the surface soil, which indicates that the compositing approach has succeeded in removing most of the artifactual noise. The Landsat composite image should be of great value for a multitude of applications in ecology, biodiversity research and conservation planning that require environmental data layers combining detailed spatial resolution, basin‐wide coverage and high radiometric accuracy.
A New Predictive Model for Strip Crown in Hot Rolling by Using the Hybrid AMPSO‐SVR‐Based Approach
Authors: Wang Zhen‐Hua , Liu Yuan‐Ming , Gong Dian‐Yao , Zhang Dian‐Hua
Published: March 2018

Strip crown prediction model based on support vector machines (SVMs) is proposed, and the improved adaptive mutation particle swarm optimization (AMPSO) algorithm is used to optimize the model parameters in this paper. A set of online inspection data from the steel plant is adopted to train and test model. The overall performance of the model is evaluated by the decision coefficient (), mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and root mean square error (RMSE). Comparing the results calculated by other relevant models and the present model with same experimental data, the accuracy of the model presented in this paper is verified. The AMPSO‐SVR model can be successfully applied to the prediction of strip crown in hot rolling. Both prediction accuracy and generalization ability of the new model have achieved good results. The proposed model provides a new method and idea for shape control and optimization research in hot strip rolling process.
Preparation and Properties of Granular Cold‐Water‐Soluble Maize Starch by Ultrasonic‐Assisted Alcoholic‐Alkaline Treatment
Authors: Yu Yali , Wang Yao , Wang Ying , Lin Dingbo , Li Xinxin , Liu Jingbo
Published: March 2018

Starch solubility is of great significance in the food industry. Here the authors present a new method for preparation of granular cold water soluble maize starch by the ultrasonic‐assisted alcoholic‐alkaline treatment. Independent factors including ethanol concentration (70–90%), sodium hydroxide concentration (3–5 mol L−1), ultrasonic power (250–350 W), ultrasonic time (15–25 min) are optimized to determine the optimal conditions by response surface methodology (RSM) and Box–Behnken design (BBD). An ethanol concentration of 80.4%, sodium hydroxide concentration of 3.98 mol L−1, ultrasonic power of 303.73 W, and ultrasonic time of 25 min are found to be the optimum conditions to obtain a higher solubility of maize starches (reaching to 75.17%). The modified maize starches are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffractometry (XRD), and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Data indicate that the ultrasonic‐assisted alcoholic‐alkaline treatment causes changes in morphological and rheological properties of maize starch, and in turn can improve the cold‐water solubility of maize starch effectively.
Concise Review: Crosstalk of Mesenchymal Stroma/Stem-Like Cells with Cancer Cells Provides Therapeutic Potential
Authors: Melzer Catharina , von der Ohe Juliane , Hass Ralf
Published: March 2018

Various direct and indirect cellular interactions between multi-functional mesenchymal stroma/stem-like cells (MSCs) and cancer cells contribute to increasing plasticity within the tumor tissue and its microenvironment. Direct and tight communication between MSC and cancer cells is based on membrane protein interactions and the exchange of large plasma membrane fragments also known as trogocytosis. An ultimate but rare direct interaction resumes in fusion of these two cellular partners resulting in the formation of new cancer hybrid cell populations. Alternatively, indirect interactions are displayed by the release of membranous vesicle-encapsulated microRNAs and proteins or soluble components such as molecular growth factors, hormones, chemo-/cytokines, and metabolites. Released single molecules as well as multivesicular bodies including exosomes and microvesicles can form local concentration gradients within the tumor microenvironment and are incorporated not only by adjacent neighboring cells but also affect distant target cells. The present Review will focus on vesicle-mediated indirect communication and on cancer cell fusion with direct contact between MSC and cancer cells. These different types of interaction are accompanied by functional interference and mutual acquisition of new cellular properties. Consequently, alterations in cancer cell functionalities paralleled by the capability to reorganize the tumor stroma can trigger changes in metastatic behavior and promote retrodifferentiation to develop new cancer stem-like cells. However, exosomes and microvesicles acting over long distances may also provide a tool with therapeutic potential when loaded with anti-tumor cargo.
The imperative to move toward a dimension of care in engineering education
Authors: Gunckel Kristin L. , Tolbert Sara
Published: March 2018

The push for STEM has raised the visibility of engineering as a discipline that all students should learn. With the release of the Framework for K‐12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), engineering now has an official place in the science curriculum. In both the Framework and the NGSS, engineering is framed as a way to solve the world's greatest problems. Despite this potential, there are troubling aspects in the way that the Framework and NGSS present engineering and how engineering is taken up in the curriculum. In this article, we use critiques of technocracy, utilitarianism, and neoliberalism to analyze the portrayal of engineering in the Framework and NGSS. We claim that the Framework and NGSS promote a technocratic perspective that engineered solutions can all problems, ignoring the socio‐political foundations of many of the world's most pressing problems. Furthermore, both standards documents reflect a utilitarian ethic that promotes all progress as good and ignores issues of justice. Lastly, the Framework and NGSS betray neoliberal foundations that undermine education and engineering as public goods. To address some of these issues, others have argued for a greater emphasis on ethics. In response, we raise cautions because ethical framings present further intractable dilemmas. Instead, we draw on feminist theory to argue for reframing engineering education around an ethos of empathy and care. We call for a dimension of care that situates design problems in the full socio‐political context and centralizes issues of justice. We provide an illustration of how an NGSS example activity for designing solar cookers could incorporate a dimension of care that addresses issues of harm, power and inequality, and ecological (in)stability to provide students with opportunities to weigh and take responsibility for the real costs and benefits of their designs.
Linear regression index‐based method for fault detection and classification in power transmission line
Authors: Musa Mohammed H. H. , He Zhengyou , Fu Ling , Deng Yujia
Published: March 2018

In this paper, a new algorithm is proposed for faults detection and classification in the power transmission line. The key of the proposed algorithm depends on the computing of the linear regression coefficient indices (LRCIs) of the three‐phase current signals. The proposed algorithm has constructed a rule as follows: when the system is running under the health condition, the LRCIs will be equal to zero; when the system is subjected to the fault condition, the LRCIs of faulted phases will be greater than zero. Different faults circumstances, such as different inception time, different fault resistances, and different locations, have been verified. Additional scenarios such as far‐end fault with high resistance, fault occurred near the terminal, fault considering variable loading angle, and fault at the presence of noise are also discussed. For each possible scenario of faults, the proposed algorithm required only the three‐phase current measurement of the local measurement. The proposed algorithm has demonstrated a reasonable time response, where the fault condition could be detected within a few milliseconds after the fault inception. Therefore, the proposed algorithm is quite suitable for faults detection and classification in power transmission lines. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Control and power sharing among parallel three‐phase three‐wire and three‐phase four‐wire inverters in the presence of unbalanced and harmonic loads
Authors: Hosseinpour Majid , Dejamkhooy Abdolmajid
Published: March 2018

In this paper, the parallel operation of a three‐phase three‐wire inverter and a three‐phase four‐wire inverter in the presence of unbalanced and nonlinear loads is investigated. The proposed control method has two current internal and voltage external control loops. The current internal loop has a proportional‐resonant controller. The voltage external loop has two parts, including voltage controller and load current sharing. In the current sharing part, first, the output of the voltage controller is broken to a harmonic and is shared then between the inverters through the new strategy: (i) supply of harmonic components of load current by four‐leg inverter and sharing fundamental component of load current evenly between the inverters and (ii) supply of zero‐sequence load current by four‐leg inverter and sharing of the rest of components evenly between two inverters. The proposed system is capable of feeding balanced, unbalanced and nonlinear loads and provides the proper sinusoidal voltage at both ends of the loads by exact sharing of power between parallel inverters. The simulation results show the proper functioning of the proposed system. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Search point ranking‐based adaptive cuckoo search
Authors: Miyake Yuki , Kumagai Wataru , Tamura Kenichi , Yasuda Keiichiro
Published: March 2018

In this letter, an adaptive Cuckoo Search with a parameter adjustment mechanism of each search point by using parameters of the search points variously and ranking of search points is proposed. The neighborhood area of the search point of the proposed method differs depending on its ranking. The search performance of the proposed method is verified through numerical simulations for typical benchmark problems. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Nonlinear soil‐pile interaction for offshore wind turbines
Authors: Markou Athanasios A. , Kaynia Amir M.
Published: March 2018

The current work presents a parametric study, which involves different generalized nonlinear mechanical formulations with different damping characteristics to account for the interaction between a monopile‐supported offshore wind turbine and the surrounding soil. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that recently developed nonlinear mechanical models used so far for the simulation of high‐damping rubber isolators are introduced to describe the nonlinear hysteretic soil behavior. More specifically, the first generalized mechanical model consists of a combination of elastoplastic and trilinear elastic elements (labeled as model 3), while the second model consists of trilinear hysteretic models connected in parallel with trilinear elastic springs and hysteretic dampers used to ensure that the unloading stiffness will be as close as possible to the initial stiffness of the system (labeled as model 4). These newly developed models are compared with well‐known models within the industry, namely, a model that comprises elastoplastic elements (labeled as model 1) and a model that comprises trilinear elastic springs (labeled as model 2). All these models provide exactly the same effective stiffness, but on the other hand different levels of damping are involved in each one of them. The goal of the present work is 3‐fold, introducing novel mechanical models for the simulation of soil behavior, to investigate the effect of different soil damping levels in the response of offshore wind turbines and to highlight the limitations of the commonly used models within the industry. To this end, the differences between the response due to different levels of damping characteristics and modeling approaches are shown, highlighting the importance of soil damping in the overall response of the system.
Deep learning for sentiment analysis: A survey
Authors: Zhang Lei , Wang Shuai , Liu Bing
Published: March 2018

Deep learning has emerged as a powerful machine learning technique that learns multiple layers of representations or features of the data and produces state‐of‐the‐art prediction results. Along with the success of deep learning in many application domains, deep learning is also used in sentiment analysis in recent years. This paper gives an overview of deep learning and then provides a comprehensive survey of its current applications in sentiment analysis.

This article is categorized under:

Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Data Concepts

Algorithmic Development > Text Mining
Antenatal non-medical risk assessment and care pathways to improve pregnancy outcomes: a cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Lagendijk Jacqueline , Vos Amber A. , Bertens Loes C. M. , Denktas Semiha , Bonsel Gouke J. , Steyerberg Ewout W. , Been Jasper V. , Steegers Eric A. P.
Published: March 2018

Social deprivation negatively affects health outcomes but receives little attention in obstetric risk selection. We investigated whether a combination of (1) risk assessment focused on non-medical risk factors, lifestyle factors, and medical risk factors, with (2) subsequent institution of risk-specific care pathways, and (3) multidisciplinary consultation between care providers from the curative and the public health sector reduced adverse pregnancy outcomes among women in selected urban areas in the Netherlands. We conducted a cluster randomised controlled trial in 14 urban municipalities across the Netherlands. Prior to the randomisation, municipalities were ranked and paired according to their expected proportion of pregnant women at risk for adverse outcomes at birth. The primary outcome was delivery of a preterm and/or small for gestational age (SGA) baby, analysed with multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analysis adjusting for clustering and individual baseline characteristics. A total of 33 community midwife practices and nine hospitals participated throughout the study. Data from 4302 participants was included in the Intention To Treat (ITT) analysis. The intervention had no demonstrable impact on the primary outcome: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.17 (95% CI 0.84–1.63). Among the secondary outcomes, the intervention improved the detection of threatening preterm delivery and fetal growth restriction during pregnancy [aOR 1.27 (95% CI 1.01–1.61)]. Implementation of additional non-medical risk assessment and preventive strategies into general practices is feasible but did not decrease the incidence of preterm and/or SGA birth in the index pregnancy in deprived urban areas.

Trial registration Netherlands National Trial Register (NTR-3367).
Not intended, still embarrassed: Social anxiety is related to increased levels of embarrassment in response to unintentional social norm violations
Authors: Bas-Hoogendam Janna Marie , van Steenbergen Henk , van der Wee Nic J.A. , Westenberg P. Michiel
Published: March 2018

Background:

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is associated with altered social norm (SN) processing: SAD-patients rate stories on SN violations as more inappropriate and more embarrassing than healthy participants, with the most prominent effect for stories on unintentional SN violations (i.e. committing a blunder). Until now it’s unknown how levels of social anxiety (SA) are related to ratings of SN violations in the general population, in which SA-symptoms are present at a continuum. More insight in this relationship could improve our understanding of the symptom profile of SAD. Therefore, we investigated the relation between ratings of SN violations and SA-levels in the general population.

Methods:

Adults and adolescents (n = 87) performed the revised Social Norm Processing Task (SNPT-R) and completed self-report questionnaires on social anxiety. Repeated-measures ANCOVAs were used to investigate the effect of SA on the ratings of inappropriateness and embarrassment.

Results:

As hypothesized, participants with higher SA-levels rated SN violations as more inappropriate and more embarrassing. Whereas participants with low-to-intermediate SA-levels rated unintentional SN violations as less embarrassing than intentional SN violations, participants with high SA-levels (z-score SA ≥ 1.6) rated unintentional SN violations as equally embarrassing as intentional SN violations.

Conclusion:

These findings indicate that increased embarrassment for unintentional SN violations is an important characteristic of social anxiety. These high levels of embarrassment are likely related to the debilitating concern of socially-anxious people that their skills and behavior do not meet expectations of others, and to their fear of blundering. This concern might be an important target for future therapeutic interventions.
Five Weird Archives That Scientists Use to Study Past Climates
Authors: Wendel JoAnna , Kumar Mohi
Published: March 2018

When tree rings, ice cores, and cave formations can’t cut it, try your luck with whale earwax or bat poop.
Are We Prepared for the Next Mega Eruption?
Authors: Florindo Fabio
Published: March 2018

The frequency of eruptions with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 7 is only one or two per thousand years but we cannot afford to be complacent.
Virtual Mentoring Rewards Scientists at All Career Stages
Authors: Schupp Kaylin , Irwin Maggie , Marasco Leslie , Asher Pranoti
Published: March 2018

Five geoscience organizations recently established an online global mentoring service for their disciplines.
Rapid and label-free identification of single leukemia cells from blood in a high-density microfluidic trapping array by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy
Authors: Lee Do-Hyun , Li Xuan , Ma Ning , Digman Michelle A. , Lee Abraham P.
Published: March 2018

Rapid and label-free single-leukemia-cell identification through fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) in the high-density microfluidic trapping array.
F-Doped carbon nano-onion films as scaffold for highly efficient and stable Li metal anodes: a novel laser direct-write process
Authors: Puthusseri Dhanya , Wahid Malik , Basu Aniruddha , Babar Rohit , Kabir Mukul , Ogale Satishchandra
Published: March 2018

Direct writing of a fluorine-doped curved carbon nano-onion film on a Cu foil renders the Li metal anode with long cycle life, high Li-plating capacity, low-voltage hysteresis, and improved high current performance.
Atomic-level design of CoOH+–hydroxyapatite@C catalysts for superfast degradation of organics via peroxymonosulfate activation
Authors: Song Feng , Zhang Huayang , Wang Shaobin , Liu Lihong , Tan Xiaoyao , Liu Shaomin
Published: March 2018

In situ formation of CoOH+–hydroxyapatite@C via ion exchange between Ca and Co realises the simultaneous adsorption of Co2+ and catalytic peroxymonosulfate oxidation for superfast oxidative degradation of organic contaminants.
Isolated Fe and Co dual active sites on nitrogen-doped carbon for a highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Zhang Diyang , Chen Wenxing , Li Zhi , Chen Yuanjun , Zheng Lirong , Gong Yue , Li Qiheng , Shen Rongan , Han Yunhu , Cheong Weng-Chon , Gu Lin , Li Yadong
Published: March 2018

A novel adsorption–calcination strategy was developed to synthesize highly efficient Fe and Co dual metal single site ORR catalysts.
A novel carbazole derivative containing fluorobenzene unit: aggregation-induced fluorescence emission, polymorphism, mechanochromism and non-reversible thermo-stimulus fluorescence
Authors: Zhu Huichao , Weng Shiyin , Zhang Hong , Yu Haizhu , Kong Lin , Zhong Yulin , Tian Yupeng , Yang Jiaxiang
Published: March 2018

Different conformations and packing modes induce the compound with unique stimuli-responsive properties.
A composite thin film of simultaneously formed carbon and SnO2QDs for supercapacitor application
Authors: Gaikwad Aarti P. , Patil Sagar H. , Patil Kashinath R. , Sathaye Shivaram D. , Rode Chandrashekhar V.
Published: March 2018

A simple, one-step, low-cost combustion method for the simultaneous formation of two/more component QD thin films
Simple synthesis and surface facet-tuning of ultrathin alloy-shells of Au@AuPd nanoparticles via silver-assisted co-reduction onto facet-controlled Au nanoparticles
Authors: Bi Cuixia , Song Yahui , He Hongpeng , Wu Chenshuo , Du Wei , Huang Lihui , Moehwald Helmuth , Xia Haibing
Published: March 2018

The presence of silver on the surfaces of preformed Au nanoparticles is the key for the formation of ultrathin AuPd alloy-shells.
An upconverting nanotheranostic agent activated by hypoxia combined with NIR irradiation for selective hypoxia imaging and tumour therapy
Authors: Li Hongliang , Lei Weiyan , Wu Jianong , Li Shenghui , Zhou Guoqiang , Liu Dandan , Yang Xinjian , Wang Shuxiang , Li Zhenhua , Zhang Jinchao
Published: March 2018

An upconverting nanotheranostic agent UCNP-CAE-FDU/NO2 activated by hypoxia combined with NIR irradiation for monitoring hypoxia and FDU released, and inhibition of tumour growth.
Development of 2D LOD‐FDTD method with low numerical dispersion in lossy media
Authors: Ding Jinchao , Yang Yue
Published: March 2018

An efficient 2D locally one‐dimensional finite‐difference time‐domain (LOD‐FDTD) method in lossy material is presented in this Letter. The weighted factor and scaling factors of the isotropic dispersion FDTD method are reformed for the LOD‐FDTD method in lossy media. Compared with the conventional LOD‐FDTD method, the relative attenuation and phase errors of the proposed method are significantly reduced. The numerical anisotropy is also greatly improved by using the proposed method.
Analysis of capacity in vehicular device‐to‐device relay networks with multi‐user case
Authors: Wu Guilu , Xu Pingping
Published: March 2018

The transmission capacity of a vehicular network is still an interesting and challenging problem as capacity is impacted by transmission distance between both vehicles, density of vehicles, relay among vehicles, noise and interference. This study analyses the transmission capacity of vehicular device‐to‐device relay networks with multi‐users (service vehicle (SV) and helper vehicle (HV)) in the overlay mode. SVs coexisting with HVs share the spectrum resources. Utilising stochastic geometry theory, SVs and HVs are modelled as the Poisson point process in vehicular networks, respectively. Subsequently, the HVs existence probability and the expectation distance with HV link are derived to calculate the successful transmission probabilities for SV to SV communication. With this characteristic HV relay transmission signals exceed transmission distance, the authors further calculate the transmission capacities with SV to SV communication assisted by HVs and reveal the influence of vehicles' density and transmission power. Besides, the relationship between transmission capacities, the variable direct link distance of SV to SV communication is also analysed. Simulation results indicate that transmission capacity can be improved by an assisted HV and influenced by a few system parameters, including the direct link distance between source SV and destination SV, SVs density and HVs density.
Multi‐objective optimisation design of two‐phase excitation switched reluctance motor for electric vehicles
Authors: Zhu Yueying , Wei Weiyan , Yang Chuantian , Zhang Yan
Published: March 2018

Compared with the single‐phase excitation mode of the switched reluctance motor (SRM), the statictorque curves of the SRM with two‐phase excitation mode are more flexuous andwide flat regions are absent from the curves. To improve the static torqueperformance of the SRM with two‐phase mode, geometrical multi‐objectiveoptimisation strategy is developed in this paper. Considering the requirementsof the electric vehicles, four indicators are presented and defined to evaluatethe development of the SRM. Six main independent variables are determined and anovel multi‐objective optimisation function was proposed to simultaneouslyimprove static performance of the SRM. Furthermore, to simplify theoptimisation, a sensitivity index that reflects the relative importance of eachvariable is developed to eliminate insignificant variables. The four‐phase 8/6SRM with two‐phase mode is optimised by means of the proposed multi‐objectiveoptimisation method based on effects and sensitivity analysis of the designvariables on indicators. The static and dynamic torque performance of theoptimised SRM is evaluated and compared with those of the initial motor. Thecomparison results show that the multi‐objective simultaneous optimisationstrategy can improve the static average torque, static average torque per mass,and global index by 18.09, 12.08, and 6.57%,respectively.
Double‐layer ultra‐thin artificial magnetic conductor structure for wideband radar cross‐section reduction
Authors: Zaker Reza , Sadeghzadeh Arezoo
Published: March 2018

A novel double‐layer chessboard‐like configuration is proposed to reduce radar cross‐section (RCS) in microwave and mm‐Wave bands. This structure is composed of two artificial magnetic conductor cells. One of these cells consists of four square patches on substrate and the other one is formed only by substrate without any copper on it. Despite the simple design of this structure, it has a big influence on significantly expanding the bandwidth of RCS reduction (RCSR). In comparison with the other works, the measured bandwidth of 10 dB RCSR is broadened to 113.33% (16.43–59.4 GHz). This wideband behaviour is achieved by effectively controlling the ratio between two dielectric constants and the ratio between their thicknesses and so the effective dielectric constant which adjusts the positions of all resonances. Although this structure contains two layers, its overall thickness is 1.4 mm, which is less than the ones that the recent works have. Measurements and simulations are performed for both monostatic and bistatic RCSs with the best number of the unit cells in the chessboard‐like structure. The design, simulations, semi‐analytical expressions and fabrication are presented and the measurements show an excellent agreement with the simulations.
Formation of in situ VGCFs on carbon fibre felt by chemical vapour infiltration
Authors: Yan Mingyang , Yang Min , Ren Musu , Li Hong , Yu Mingming , Zhang Jiabao , Sun Jinliang
Published: March 2018

In situ vapour grown carbon fibres (VGCFs) were fabricated on carbon felt by chemical vapour infiltration. In this work, the different conditions of the preparation process were determined to obtain VGCFs in large quantities, namely pressure in the reactor and concentration of the aqueous catalyst precursor solution. Observations regarding the growth process of the VGCFs reveal that the catalyst particles with a round shape and diameters of 1 μm or above are most likely to produce VGCFs. The final results indicate that the diameters of VGCFs range from 80 to 150 nm and that their lengths range from 5 to 30 μm. Furthermore, the lengthening and thickening processes of VGCFs were proved to occur simultaneously in the experiment.
Spectroscopic‐ellipsometry measurement of the optical properties of zinc oxide thin films prepared by sol–gel method: coating speed effect
Authors: Aghgonbad Maryam Motallebi , Sedghi Hassan
Published: March 2018

In this work, thin films of zinc oxide were prepared by sol–gel spin coating method with different coating speeds of 3600, 4800 and 6000 rpm. Spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis was used to extract the optical constants such as refractive index n, and extinction coefficient k, in the wavelength range of 300–800 nm. The knowledge of both n and k allows the calculation of the important properties such as real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function, the absorption coefficient and the optical bandgap energy. Ellipsometric measurements were collected at an incidence angle of 70°. Also, a computer programming of Kramers–Kronig (KK) relations was used to calculate the optical properties. The ellipsometric results were compared with the parameters obtained by the KK method. It was found that the coating speed in sol–gel method, noticeably affect optical properties of the films. The films were found to exhibit high transmittance and low absorbance in the visible region. The direct optical bandgap of the films was obtained in the range of 3.4–3.7 eV using the ellipsometric method. A decrease in the void fraction of layers with an increment in the coating speed had been seen.
Preparation of anti‐corrosive high‐conductivity copper–graphene composite film
Authors: Liu Pengzhong , Chen Xiaohong , Liu Ping
Published: March 2018

Copper matrix/graphene composite films were prepared using copper foil as a growth matrix and ethylene as a carbon source. Research results showed that when the concentration of carbon decreased, nucleation density was low and the graphene grains were larger with better boundaries to other grains. A moderate amount of hydrogen assisted decomposition of the hydrocarbons, but also etched some nucleation sites, favourable for the growth of high‐quality graphene. The H2, Ar and carbon source gas (0.931 vol% C2H4–Ar mixture) with the flow rates of 70, 4000 and 5 sccm and the growth time of 10 s were the parameters chosen to obtain the copper matrix bilayer graphene composite films. The resulted composite film demonstrated electrical conductivity better than copper. Addition of graphene can greatly improve the corrosion resistance of matrix material. This is true whether in the electrochemical corrosion or immersion corrosion in the oxidation and alkaline environments.
Quasi-periodicities of BL Lacertae objects
Authors: Sandrinelli A. , Covino S. , Treves A. , Holgado A. M. , Sesana A. , Lindfors E. , Ramazani V. F.
Published: March 2018

We review the reports of possible year-long quasi-periodicities of BL Lac objects in the γ-ray and optical bands, and present a homogeneous time analysis of the light curves of PKS2155−304, PG1553+113, and BL Lac. Based on results from a survey covering the entire Fermi γ-ray sky we have estimated the fraction of possible quasi-periodic BL Lac objects. We compared the cyclical behaviour in BL Lac objects with that derived from the search of possible optical periodicities in quasars, and find that at z ≲ 1 the cosmic density of quasi-periodic BL Lac objects is larger than that of quasi-periodic quasars. If the BL Lac quasi-periodicities were due to a supermassive binary black hole (SBBH) scenario, there could be a tension with the upper limits on the gravitational wave background measured by the pulsar timing array. The argument clearly indicates the difficulties of generally associating quasi-periodicities of BL Lac objects with SBBHs.
Development of institutional funding model of deep discount bond and land lease on a toll road project
Authors: Dwirahman Randika , Latief Yusuf , Dita Rarasati Ayomi
Published: March 2018

Toll road is one of the most important parts of connectivity infrastructure. However, the current length of the existing toll roads is still not sufficient compared to the increasing number of vehicles in Indonesia. Nevertheless, the needs for infrastructure funding including for toll roads are not comparable to the availability of state budget. Innovations in funding schemes were required to meet such needs such as Deep Discount Bond (DDB) and Land Lease (LL). To ensure these schemes are running appropriately, an institutional funding model is needed to organize the stakeholders involved. Therefore, five institutional funding models were developed based on the conditions of the DDB issuer (project or corporate finance), LL executor [State Assets Management Institutions (LMAN) or Special Purpose Company (SPC)], and the number of SPC in the models. In addition, ten institutional success factors were identified. Data was collected using in-depth interviews consisting of three parts and analyzed using the Relative Importance Index to rank the institutional success factors found and using the Multi Criteria Analysis to choose the most effective institutional funding model. The institutional success factors that were found to have great values were those related to Government. At the same time, the most effective funding model is a corporate finance scheme, where LL is executed by LMAN, and a single SPC is used.
Determining Factors for Implementing Green Supply Chain Management in the Construction Industry: A Literature Review
Authors: Wibowo Mochammad Agung , Handayani Naniek Utami , Mustikasari Anita , Nurdiana Asri , Soleh M. Nur
Published: March 2018

The construction industry plays a significant role in improving the quality of the built environment, but its activities also impact the wider environment. Supply chain management (SCM) aims to increase the efficiency of the construction process through improvements in the quality, cost, and time frame of projects. Green SCM has as its purpose reducing environmental impact by opting for eco-friendly materials starting from the design phase in the choice and procurement of materials to be used in construction projects. This study aims to adopt GSCM concepts of the manufacturing industry for application in the construction industry. A literature review was conducted to learn from previous research about the implementation of GSCM in manufacturing to serve as a basis for adopting of this concept for the purposes of building criteria for the implementation of GSCM in the construction industry.
Sustainable Community Based Water Supply at Salatiga by Use of Rapfish Method
Authors: Suharyanto  , Deasy K Angelica , Sudarno
Published: March 2018

Sustainable water supply has been the United Nation’s goal as stipulated in Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). In 2030, all people must have acess to safe and affordable drinking water. In Salatiga Indonesia, the water supply company (PDAM) can now only serves 65.64% of the city’s population. There are about 11.14% of the population served by community based water supply (CBWS). In line with the SDG’s, The Government of Indonesia’s program to have 100% coverage of water supply. The limitation on PDAM coverage has led the increase number of CBWS. This tendency has raised the question on the sustainability of CBWS. This paper presents the sustainability evaluations of some CBWS in Salatiga using Rapfish method. In the method, sustainability is evaluated using multi-dimensional scalling based on aspects of ecological, technological, social, institutional, and economical. The strategy to improve sustainability is identified using SWOT analysis. The study performed at 4 (four) CBWS at Kecamatan Sidorejo, Salatiga. It represents the CBWS using deep water sources and spring water sources. It shows that all CBWS analysed are barely sustainable on the dimension of ecological, technological, and social. The dimension on institutional and economical are in the status of no sustainability. Therefore, the CBWS need some improvement and reinforcement especially on institutional and economical.
Leaves Composting Process and the Influence of Rumen Content and Bran Addition
Authors: Arief Budihardjo Mochamad , Sutrisno Endro , Purwono  , Fatimah Maulia
Published: March 2018

Leaves on the Diponegoro University campus were sent to the university’s solid waste facility for composting. A modification of the normal composting process was implemented to speed up the process. In this study, the content of cattle rumens and rice bran were added to accelerate the composting process. Three samples with different composition were prepared (sample code: L, L-R, and L-B). Sample L contained leaves only, sample L-R comprised of leaves with rumen content added and sample L-B consisted of leaves with the addition of rice bran. The results indicated that a maximum temperature of 60.2°C was reached in the L-B sample, while the temperature of compost and L-R was about 30°C. The lowest pH was 6.76 found on the L sample, with sample L-B and L-R having pH of 6.7 and 6.9, respectively. The quality of the mature compost of all variation was about the same, but the compost in sample L-B produced the highest C/N ratio of the three composts, about 20% higher.