bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Machine learning prediction of sleep stages in dairy cows from heart rate and muscle activity measures
Authors: Hunter Laura B. , Baten Abdul , Haskell Marie J. , Langford Fritha M. , O’Connor Cheryl , Webster James R. , Stafford Kevin
Published: May 2021

Sleep is important for cow health and shows promise as a tool for assessing welfare, but methods to accurately distinguish between important sleep stages are difficult and impractical to use with cattle in typical farm environments. The objective of this study was to determine if data from more easily applied non-invasive devices assessing neck muscle activity and heart rate (HR) alone could be used to differentiate between sleep stages. We developed, trained, and compared two machine learning models using neural networks and random forest algorithms to predict sleep stages from 15 variables (features) of the muscle activity and HR data collected from 12 cows in two environments. Using k-fold cross validation we compared the success of the models to the gold standard, Polysomnography (PSG). Overall, both models learned from the data and were able to accurately predict sleep stages from HR and muscle activity alone with classification accuracy in the range of similar human models. Further research is required to validate the models with a larger sample size, but the proposed methodology appears to give an accurate representation of sleep stages in cattle and could consequentially enable future sleep research into conditions affecting cow sleep and welfare.
Trapped radical behavior of electron beam irradiated polytetrafluoroethylene fine powder at various temperatures
Authors: Oshima Akihiro , Horiuchi Hiroto , Nakamura Atsushi , Kobayashi Shun , Terui Ayana , Mino Ayano , Shimura Ryoya , Washio Masakazu
Published: May 2021

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fine powder with 93% crystallinity was irradiated by an electron beam (EB) at various temperatures under a nitrogen atmosphere. Trapped free radicals in PTFE were studied using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The observed spectra of the samples exposed to air after irradiation at various temperatures showed asymmetrical signals, which are middle-chain type peroxide macroradicals derived from fluoroalkyl radicals. The radical yields at each irradiation temperature increased with increasing absorbed dose, and eventually saturated. The higher irradiation temperature resulted in higher radical yields when compared at the same exposed dose. Furthermore, the G-value of the radicals (G(R·)) increases with increasing irradiation temperatures corresponding to each relaxation and transition temperature. It is concluded that the chain reaction by the fluorine extraction from the main chain due to the end-chain radical generated via β-scission after dissociative electron attachment (DEA) is enhanced by the synergistic effect of heat and radiation.
Benchmark solution for the stability of plane Couette flow with net throughflow
Authors: Shankar B. M. , Shivakumara I. S.
Published: May 2021

This paper investigates the stability of an incompressible viscous fluid flow between relatively moving horizontal parallel plates in the presence of a uniform vertical throughflow. A linear stability analysis has been performed by employing the method of normal modes and the resulting stability equation is solved numerically using the Chebyshev collocation method. Contrary to the stability of plane Couette flow (PCF) to small disturbances for all values of the Reynolds number in the absence of vertical throughflow, it is found that PCF becomes unstable owing to the change in the sign of growth rate depending on the magnitude of throughflow. The critical Reynolds number triggering the instability is computed for different values of throughflow dependent Reynolds number and it is shown that throughflow instills both stabilizing and destabilizing effect on the base flow. It is seen that the direction of throughflow has no influence on the stability of fluid flow. A comparative study between plane Poiseuille flow and PCF has also been carried out and the similarities and differences are highlighted.
The Crohn’s disease-related bacterial strain LF82 assembles biofilm-like communities to protect itself from phagolysosomal attack
Authors: Prudent Victoria , Demarre Gaëlle , Vazeille Emilie , Wery Maxime , Quenech’Du Nicole , Ravet Antinéa , Dauverd - Girault Julie , van Dijk Erwin , Bringer Marie-Agnès , Descrimes Marc , Barnich Nicolas , Rimsky Sylvie , Morillon Antonin , Espéli Olivier
Published: May 2021

Patients with Crohn’s disease exhibit abnormal colonization of the intestine by adherent invasive E. coli (AIEC). They adhere to epithelial cells, colonize them and survive inside macrophages. It appeared recently that AIEC LF82 adaptation to phagolysosomal stress involves a long lag phase in which many LF82 cells become antibiotic tolerant. Later during infection, they proliferate in vacuoles and form colonies harboring dozens of LF82 bacteria. In the present work, we investigated the mechanism sustaining this phase of growth. We found that intracellular LF82 produced an extrabacterial matrix that acts as a biofilm and controls the formation of LF82 intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) for several days post infection. We revealed the crucial role played by the pathogenicity island encoding the yersiniabactin iron capture system to form IBCs and for optimal LF82 survival. These results illustrate that AIECs use original strategies to establish their replicative niche within macrophages.
Electrical characterisation of higher order spin wave modes in vortex-based magnetic tunnel junctions
Authors: Jenkins Alex. S. , Alvarez Lara San Emeterio , Memshawy Samh , Bortolotti Paolo , Cros Vincent , Freitas Paulo P. , Ferreira Ricardo
Published: May 2021

NiFe-based vortex spin-torque nano-oscillators (STNO) have been shown to be rich dynamic systems which can operate as efficient frequency generators and detectors, but with a limitation in frequency determined by the gyrotropic frequency, typically sub-GHz. In this report, we present a detailed analysis of the nature of the higher order spin wave modes which exist in the Super High Frequency range (3–30 GHz). This is achieved via micromagnetic simulations and electrical characterisation in magnetic tunnel junctions, both directly via the spin-diode effect and indirectly via the measurement of the coupling with the gyrotropic critical current. The excitation mechanism and spatial profile of the modes are shown to have a complex dependence on the vortex core position. Additionally, the inter-mode coupling between the fundamental gyrotropic mode and the higher order modes is shown to reduce or enhance the effective damping depending upon the sense of propagation of the confined spin wave.
Towards correlating dimensionality and topology in luminescent MOFs based on terephthalato and bispyridyl-like ligands
Authors: Cepeda Javier , Pérez-Yáñez Sonia , García Jose Ángel , Rojas Sara , Rodríguez-Diéguez Antonio
Published: May 2021

Structural and luminescence characterization of two MOFs containing Zn or Cd ions, benzene-1,4-dicarboxylato and 3,6-bis(4-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine is reported and compared with related materials of distinct dimensionality or interpenetration.
Nickel-iron layered double hydroxides for an improved Ni/Fe hybrid battery-electrolyser
Authors: Iranzo A. , Mulder F. M.
Published: May 2021

The substitution of iron by nickel in Ni0.8Fe0.2-layered double hydroxides improves battery storage charteristics as well as oxygen evolution efficiency for electrolysis.
Hydrothermally activated TiO2 nanoparticles with a C-dot/g-C3N4 heterostructure for photocatalytic enhancement
Authors: Chen Zhong-yi , Ji Tian-hao , Xu Zhe-mi , Guan Peiyuan , Jv Da-jian
Published: May 2021

A ternary catalyst TiO2/C-dots/g-C3N4 with excellent photocatalytic activities was obtained via a simple “one-pot” hydrothermal process, and the photocatalytic mechanism was investigated in detail.
Structure and dynamics of ions in dipolar solvents: a coarse-grained simulation study
Authors: Liang Jicai , Wei Hao , Yu Kaifeng , Lin Chengjiang , Li Hongfei , Ding Mingming , Duan Xiaozheng
Published: May 2021

We employ the coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation to investigate the fundamental structural and dynamic properties of the ionic solution with and without the application of an external electric field.
Generation of two‐dimensional electron gas to normally depleted AlGaN/GaN hetero‐interface by SiO2 deposition and subsequent high‐temperature annealing
Authors: Nanjo T. , Koyama H. , Imazawa T. , Kiyoi A. , Imai A. , Hayashida T. , Watahiki T. , Yamamoto Y. , Miura N.
Published: May 2021

SiO2 film deposition and subsequent high‐temperature annealing resulted in the generation of a two‐dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at Al(Ga)N/GaN hetero‐interfaces, of which the 2DEG was originally fully depleted. The obtained mobilities and sheet carrier concentrations were over 1100 cm2/Vs and 3.0 × 1012 cm–2, respectively. Surface energy lowering, which is proof of the generated 2DEG, was observed by electron state analysis using hard X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This damage‐less method that selectively generates a 2DEG can contribute not only toward improving some characteristics in existing devices but also toward creating entirely novel devices.
Combinatorial therapeutic drug delivery of riboflavin and dexamethasone for the treatment of keratoconus affected corneas of mice: Ex vivo permeation and hemolytic toxicity
Authors: Wo Na , Zhai Jiabin
Published: May 2021

The aim of this study was to formulate the thermoreversible gel containing riboflavin and dexamethasone to treat keratoconus. Gel was prepared by the cold method by mixing the poloxamer 407 as a thermosensitive polymer and HPMC as viscosity enhancing agent. The formulation was evaluated for pH, clarity, isotonicity, visual appearance. Also, gelation temperature, drug content, ex vivo permeation study, bioadhesive strength, hemolytic toxicity, rheological properties have also been evaluated. All results for this formulation were found to be in an acceptable range. Bioadhesive strength increased with HPMC concentration. The pH of the formulation was found to be 6.1 to 6.51. The gelation temperature was found to be in the range 30–38°C. F5 formulation showed maximum drug release of 99.77% and 98.8% for riboflavin and dexamethasone, respectively, within 8 h. Hemolytic study revealed no change in the shape or surface of blood cells. In vitro keratoconus model was developed in mice using keratoconus and corneal fibroblast cells. The results revealed the that increased thickness of cell lines. The formulated gel played important role in the increasing thickness of cells. Further, the overall study demonstrates the safe and effective use of riboflavin and dexamethasone in the treatment of keratoconus.
A modular and cost‐effective high‐temperature superconducting generator for large direct‐drive wind turbines
Authors: Kails Kevin , Li Quan , Mueller Markus
Published: May 2021

High temperature superconductors (HTS) enable very compact electric machines with high power density. The aim of this paper is to study and improve an HTS power generator based on the authors' previous 10 MW double claw pole design. An additional stator was added to the machine, increasing the copper volume in the generator, resulting in a large increase in power density. Furthermore, with the additional inner stator, the overall current density in the individual stators can be reduced, leading to an increase in efficiency. The modularity of the generator is further improved through the addition of the third stator, further increasing its fault tolerance. The efficiency of the machine can be increased from 94.5% to 95% at a power output of 11.5 MW or through a further reduction of the current density in the stators, an efficiency of 95.6% can be reached while maintaining a power output of 10 MW. Hence, the newly proposed design offers a potential increase in power density, efficiency and modularity while maintaining the same machine diameter and low HTS tape requirements, making the design a very cost‐effective option to enable 10 MW direct‐drive wind turbines.
A systematic study of silicate absorption features in heavily obscured AGNs observed by Spitzer/IRS
Authors: Tsuchikawa T. , Kaneda H. , Oyabu S. , Kokusho T. , Kobayashi H. , Yamagishi M. , Toba Y.
Published: May 2021

Context. Heavily obscured active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are known to show deep silicate absorption features in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) wavelength range of 10–20 μm. The detailed profiles of the features reflect the properties of silicate dust, which are likely to include information on AGN activities obscured by large amounts of dust.

Aims. We reveal AGN activities obscured by large amounts of dust through the silicate dust properties obtained from the mid-IR spectral bands.

Methods. We selected 115 mid-IR spectra of heavily obscured AGNs observed by Spitzer/IRS and systematically analyzed the composition of silicate dust by spectral fitting using the 10 μm amorphous and 23 μm crystalline bands.

Results. We find that the main component of the silicate dust obscuring AGNs is amorphous olivine, the median mass column density of which is one order of magnitude higher than those of the minor components of amorphous pyroxene and crystalline forsterite. The median mass fraction of the amorphous pyroxene, ∼2%, is significantly lower than that of the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM) dust in our Galaxy, while the median mass fraction of the crystalline forsterite, ∼6%, is higher than that of the diffuse ISM dust. We also find that the mass fractions of the amorphous pyroxene and the crystalline forsterite positively correlate with each other.

Conclusions. The low mass fraction of the amorphous pyroxene suggests that the obscuring silicate dust is newly formed, originating from starburst activities. The relatively high mass fraction of crystalline forsterite implies that the silicate dust is processed in the high temperature environment close to the nucleus and transported to outer cooler regions by molecular outflows. The positive correlation between the mass fractions can be naturally explained considering that amorphous pyroxene is transformed from crystalline forsterite by ion bombardments. We also find that spectra with high ratios of the H2O ice absorption to silicate mass column density tend to indicate low mass fractions of amorphous pyroxene and crystalline forsterite, which is consistent with the scenario of the thermal dust processing close to the nucleus.
Transorbital Penetrating Brain Injury from Pressure Cooker Blast: An Unusual Case Report
Authors: Gupta Pankaj , Vaish Rajeev , Vishwakarma Bindu , Tiwari Sanjay
Published: May 2021

The incidence of a penetrating brain injury due to a pressure cooker blast is quite rare. We are presenting this case of a 24-year-old female who sustained anterior skull base injury, with the nozzle of the pressure cooker penetrating through left orbit on account of the blast. A combined multidisciplinary approach was utilized and the patient recovered uneventfully.
Protocol Adherence in the Intensive Care Unit for the Management of Adult Patients Admitted with Acute Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Taylor Lily , Lane Andrew S.
Published: May 2021

Background There are recognized protocols that exist for management with minimal data regarding protocol adherence. We conducted a retrospective analysis of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) to determine whether the level of protocol adherence varied based on patient demographics or specific aspects of management.

Materials and Methods All cases of aSAH admitted to a tertiary-level intensive care unit (ICU) from 2014 to 2016 were identified from the Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Core Database as well as the clinical records system. ICU demographic and descriptive data for protocol adherence, were collected from admission to discharge up to 22 days, or until death whichever was earlier.

Results A total of 58 cases of aSAH were registered; mean age was 56.7 years, 70.7% of patients were female, and mean length of stay was 12.6 days. World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) scale was documented more than Fisher grading. Of the 58 cases, 63.7% (37) underwent surgical clipping, with 83.7% (30) patients having this surgery within 48 hours. SBP/MAP were the most consistently recorded observations within protocol ranges, with adherence of 82.4% and 82.1%, respectively. Thirty-two percent of temperature measurements were outside of the normothermic range of 36.5 to 37.5°C with a mean adherence of 47.5% (standard deviation = ±0.24, median = 40). There was no correlation between adherence and patient, disease, or admission factors.

Conclusion This study demonstrated that there was no association between variation in protocol adherence based on age, admission dates, or disease factors including WFNS grade and Fisher scale. Best protocol adherence protocol for the management of aSAH within the ICU was blood pressure control. Areas for improvement were documentation of the WFNS and Fisher grading, and temperature measurement and management.
Calcaneal Plate for Medial Femoral Condyle Fractures—Is This It? A Clinical Case
Authors: Silva Rómulo , Moreira Elsa , Branco Ricardo , Ferreira Filomena , Areias Margarida , Oliveira Carolina , Alpoim Bruno
Published: May 2021

Management of unicondylar femoral fractures is mainly done by open reduction and internal fixation. Anatomic reduction in the articular surface is paramount in this type of lesion. Medial condyle fractures lack specific osteosynthesis material for fixation.

We report a case resolved with the sparsely documented technique using calcaneal plate fixation.
Notched and Nonnotched Stimuli Are Equally Effective at the Mixing-Point Level in Sound Therapy for Tinnitus Relief
Authors: Jin In-Ki , Choi Soon-Je , Ku Minseung
Published: May 2021

Abstract Background Broadband noise (nonnotched) and notched noise are common sound sources in sound therapy for tinnitus relief. Studies on sound therapy using nonnotched or notched stimuli have reported large and small tinnitus improvements depending on the
participant. However, the more effective sound source remains unclear given the among-study methodology differences. Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the tinnitus relief effects of sound therapy using stimuli with different spectral characteristics. Research Design This
was a prospective study involving within-subject (baseline vs. 12-month follow-up) measurements for two groups (notched noise group vs. broadband noise group). Study Sample We enrolled 30 adults with subjective and tonal tinnitus (notched noise group: 16, broadband noise group:
14). Intervention The participants underwent 3-hour daily sound therapy using either notched noise or broadband noise for 12 months. The stimulus level for sound therapy was set to each participant's mixing point. Data Collection and Analysis Tinnitus loudness
and the Korean version of the Tinnitus Primary Function Questionnaire score were measured at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up time point. Results Both groups showed a significant improvement in tinnitus loudness and the Korean version of the Tinnitus Primary Function
Questionnaire score. Conclusion Notched and nonnotched stimuli are equally effective at the mixing point in sound therapy for tinnitus relief. Individuals with difficulties in tinnitus frequency measurement could easily undergo sound therapy using nonnotched stimuli.
Clinical Radiology Case Presentation: Do’s and Don’ts
Authors: Punnen Geethu E. , Keshava Shyamkumar N. , Gibikote Sridhar
Published: May 2021

Clinical case presentation is part of daily routine for doctors to communicate with each other to facilitate learning, and ultimately patient management. Hence, the art of good clinical case presentation is a skill that needs to be mastered. Case presentations are a part of most undergraduate and postgraduate training programs aimed at nurturing oratory and presentation design skills. This article is an attempt at providing a trainee in radiology a guideline to good case presentation skills.
Bedeutung und Ist-Situation: Stammdatenqualität in der Klinik
Authors: Ehrenburg Marcus , Krojer Stefan
Published: May 2021

Die Bedeutung der Stammdaten für einen erfolgreichen Einkauf ist seit über einem Jahrzehnt anerkannt. Doch wie sieht es aktuell mit der Stammdatenqualität in Kliniken aus? Eine Umfrage, durchgeführt vom Netzwerk Zukunft Krankenhaus-Einkauf (ZUKE) und der Supedio GmbH, liefert eine Bestandsaufnahme.
Dog ownership, dog walking, and social capital
Authors: Koohsari Mohammad Javad , Yasunaga Akitomo , Shibata Ai , Ishii Kaori , Miyawaki Rina , Araki Kuniko , Nakaya Tomoki , Hanibuchi Tomoya , McCormack Gavin R. , Oka Koichiro
Published: May 2021

Evidence for social pathways to health benefits for dog owners appears positive but less well-developed. Our study aimed to estimate the differences in social capital by dog ownership and dog walking status among young-to-middle-aged adults and older adults in Japan. Data from 3606 residents living in Japan were used. Data on social capital, dog ownership, and dog walking were collected by questionnaires. Age-stratified multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate differences in social capital scores by dog ownership and dog walking status. Among young-to-middle-aged adults, the mean of the activities with neighbours score, adjusted for covariates, was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for the dog owner walkers group compared to the non-dog owners group. Among older adults, no significant differences in the marginal means of social capital scores were observed between the three groups of non-dog owners, dog owner non-walkers, and dog owner walkers. While the benefits of social capital for a healthy lifestyle have been well-documented, few means have been identified to intervene in social capital. Building on and expanding the known health benefits of dog ownership and dog walking, this study revealed modest support for the link between dog walking and activities with neighbours among young-to-middle-aged adults, but no meaningful associations were found for older adults. Additionally, no significant link was observed between dog walking and social cohesion among either age group. Future research can further improve the use of dog-based behavioural health interventions for fostering social capital.
Magnetotransport properties of CrO2 powder composites (Review article)
Authors: Beliayev E. Yu. , Horielyi V. A. , Kolesnichenko Yu. A.
Published: May 2021

The most significant experimental results and theoretical concepts related to chromium dioxide-based composites, according to their influence on the evolution of modern understanding of electron transport phenomena in disordered magnetic systems, are presented. It is shown that the variety of physical processes taking place in powder materials does not allow the development of a holistic theoretical approach to describing the properties of the obtained compacted materials. The properties of composite materials depend on the anisotropy of the shape and magnetic properties of particles of which they are composed. The influence of percolation effects leads to a change in the current-carrying channels morphology with the temperature variation in an external magnetic field. This affects both the shape of the magnetoresistance hysteresis loops and the magnetic field magnitudes corresponding to the magnetoresistance maxima. A wide range of magnetotransport phenomena observed in half-metal composite materials contributes to the development of modern concepts of the conductivity features near the metal-insulator threshold and the influence of the metal-insulator interfaces on tunneling conductivity.
Utilizing spin currents from the dual surfaces of a heavy metal Pt layer for simultaneous spin-torque switching in FeTb/Pt/FeTb trilayers
Authors: Dong Yiqing , Cai Li , Xu Teng , Zhou Heng-An , Jiang Wanjun
Published: May 2021

The spin–orbit torques (SOTs) induced by spin currents in the heavy metal/ferromagnet (HM/FM) bilayer are of great importance for enabling nonvolatile, low power consumption spintronics. In the standard HM/FM bilayers, only the spin current at the interface is employed for implementing SOTs. Another part of the spin current with the opposite spin polarization, which is generated at the opposite side of the HM layer, is supposably not put into action. Here, we will show the experimental feasibility of utilizing spin currents from the dual surfaces of the HM Pt layer. In particular, through synthesizing perpendicularly magnetized Fe1−x1Tbx1/Pt/Fe1−x2Tbx2 trilayers, we demonstrate that spin currents at the dual surfaces of the Pt layer can be simultaneously used to deterministically switch the perpendicular magnetization vectors of the neighboring Fe1-xTbx layers, through the current-induced SOTs. Based on the second harmonic measurement, we further quantify the enhanced efficiency of the current-induced SOTs. A three-dimensional spintronic device that can host an exponentially increased magnetization states is also demonstrated. Our results could be important for enabling more energy efficient spin-orbitronics that could be used in multistate memory and spin logic devices.
The impact of bacteria exposure on the plasmonic response of silver nanostructured surfaces
Authors: Paternò Giuseppe M. , Ross Aaron M. , Pietralunga Silvia M. , Normani Simone , Dalla Vedova Nicholas , Limwongyut Jakkarin , Bondelli Gaia , Moscardi Liliana , Bazan Guillermo C. , Scotognella Francesco , Lanzani Guglielmo
Published: May 2021

Silver, in the form of nanostructures, is widely employed as an antimicrobial agent. The origin of the biocidal mechanism has been elucidated in the last decades, originating from silver cation release due to oxidative dissolution followed by cellular uptake of silver ions, a process that causes a severe disruption of bacterial metabolism, leading to eradication. Despite the large body of work addressing the effects of nanosilver shape/size on the antibacterial mechanism and on the (bio)physical chemistry pathways that drive bacterial eradication, little effort has been devoted to the investigation of nanostructured silver plasmon response upon interaction with bacteria. We investigate the bacteria-induced changes of the plasmonic response of silver nanoplates after exposure to the bacterial model Escherichia coli. Ultrafast pump-probe measurements indicate that the dramatic changes on particle size/shape and crystallinity, which likely stem from a bacteria-induced oxidative dissolution process, translate into a clear modification of the plasmonic response. Specifically, exposure to bacteria causes a decrease in the electron–phonon coupling time and an increase in lattice-environment coupling time, effects explained by an increase in the free electron density and amorphization of the silver particles. Coherent oscillations that are observed in pristine silver are completely damped in contaminated samples, which can be attributed again to amorphization of the nanoplates at the surface and an increase in polydispersivity of particle geometries. This study opens innovative avenues in the biophysics of bio-responsive materials, with the aim of providing reliable biophysical signatures of the interaction of plasmonic materials with complex biological environments.
Robust analysis of space-, time-, and energy-resolved soft x-ray measurements of magnetically confined fusion plasmas (invited)
Authors: VanMeter P. D. , Delgado-Aparicio L. F. , Reusch L. M. , Den Hartog D. J.
Published: May 2021

A novel compact multi-energy soft x-ray (ME-SXR) diagnostic based on the PILATUS3 100K x-ray detector has been developed in collaboration between the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and the University of Wisconsin-Madison and tested on the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) reversed-field pinch. This solid-state photon-counting detector consists of a two-dimensional array of ∼100 000 pixels for which the lower photon absorption cutoff energy can be independently set, allowing it to be configured for a unique combination of simultaneous spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution of ∼1 cm, 100 eV, and 500 Hz, respectively. The diagnostic is highly versatile and can be readily adapted to diverse plasma operating conditions and scientific needs without any required downtime. New results from improved-confinement and quasi-single helicity plasmas in the MST demonstrate how the detector can be applied to study multiple aspects of the evolution of magnetically confined fusion-grade plasmas. These include observing the evolution of thermal emissivity, characterizing the energy of mid-Z excitation lines, extracting the Te profile, and observing the evolution of non-thermal populations. A technique for integrating the ME-SXR diagnostic into an integrated data analysis framework based on Bayesian inference is also presented. This allows ME-SXR measurements to be combined with data for complementary diagnostics in order to simultaneously infer Te and nZ from all available information.
Lateral depletion effect on two-dimensional ordering of bacteriorhodopsins in a lipid bilayer: A theoretical study based on a binary hard-disk model
Authors: Suda Keiju , Suematsu Ayumi , Akiyama Ryo
Published: May 2021

The 2D ordering of bacteriorhodopsins in a lipid bilayer was studied using a binary hard-disk model. The phase diagrams were calculated taking into account the lateral depletion effects. The critical concentrations of the protein ordering for monomers and trimers were obtained from the phase diagrams. The critical concentration ratio agreed well with the experiment when the repulsive core interaction between the depletants, namely, lipids, was taken into account. The results suggest that the depletion effect plays an important role in the association behaviors of transmembrane proteins.
Effects of ion polarization and finite-β on heat transport in slab electron-temperature-gradient driven turbulence
Authors: Maeyama S. , Kusaka S. , Watanabe T.-H.
Published: May 2021

Effects of kinetic ions and electromagnetic fluctuations on slab electron-temperature-gradient (ETG) driven turbulence are investigated by means of gyrokinetic simulations covering scales from electron gyroradius to ion gyroradius and electron skin depth. Linear growth rates of electrostatic ETG modes are enhanced by the ion polarization at ion gyroradius scale. Nonlinear simulations show that this low-poloidal-wavenumber instability induces ion-scale eddies which cause heat transport higher than that in the adiabatic ion model. In finite-β plasma, electromagnetic fluctuations stabilize the low-wavenumber modes, and suppress the turbulent heat transport. Additionally, electromagnetic effects also weaken zonal flow generation, which slightly enhances turbulent transport than that in the electrostatic adiabatic ion model.
Hydration of a small protein under carbon nanotube confinement: Adsorbed substates induce selective separation of the dynamical response
Authors: Roy Priti , Sengupta Neelanjana
Published: May 2021

The co-involvement of biological molecules and nanomaterials has increasingly come to the fore in modern-day applications. While the “bio–nano” (BN) interface presents physico-chemical characteristics that are manifestly different from those observed in isotropic bulk conditions, the underlying molecular reasons remain little understood; this is especially true of anomalies in interfacial hydration. In this paper, we leverage atomistic simulations to study differential adsorption characteristics of a small protein on the inner (concave) surface of a single-walled carbon nanotube whose diameter exceeds dimensions conducive to single-file water movement. Our findings indicate that the extent of adsorption is decided by the degree of foldedness of the protein conformational substate. Importantly, we find that partially folded substates, but not the natively folded one, induce reorganization of the protein hydration layer into an inner layer water closer to the nanotube axis and an outer layer water in the interstitial space near the nanotube walls. Further analyses reveal sharp dynamical differences between water molecules in the two layers as observed in the onset of increased heterogeneity in rotational relaxation and the enhanced deviation from Fickian behavior. The vibrational density of states reveals that the dynamical distinctions are correlated with differences in crucial bands in the power spectra. The current results set the stage for further systematic studies of various BN interfaces vis-à-vis control of hydration properties.
Gas–liquid phase transition in a binary mixture with an interaction that creates constant density profiles
Authors: Ditz Nikolas , Roth Roland
Published: May 2021

If, in a hard sphere fluid, a single (test) particle is fixed, the other particles display a density profile that possesses long-ranged oscillations. Surprisingly, one can show via classical density functional theory that it takes a simple, purely repulsive (external) potential with a finite range in addition to the fixed hard sphere that forces these oscillations to vanish completely. This can give rise to interesting phenomena; however, it gained little attention in the past. In this work, we use the potential in question as an inter-component interaction in a binary hard-sphere mixture, where it is shown that the effective interaction induced by one component resembles qualitatively the well-known Asakura–Oosawa–Vrij potential and can lead to a liquid–gas phase transition in the other component.
3D field confinement in the near-field interaction between graphene and Si/SiGe axially heterostructured NWs
Authors: Pura Jose Luis , Balci Osman , Baron Thierry , Jiménez Juan
Published: May 2021

Interest in the integration of graphene and semiconductor nanowires (NWs) increased dramatically during the last two decades along with the overwhelming development of graphene technology. The possibility of combining the countless properties of graphene with the singular optical behavior of semiconductor NWs leads the way to the design of unique photonic nanodevices. In this work, the optical response of Si/SiGe axially heterostructured NWs deposited over a graphene monolayer is investigated. The results demonstrate the enhancement of the graphene Raman signal under the influence of the NW. Moreover, the presence of an axial heterojunction in the NW is shown to locally hinder this enhancement through the full confinement of the incident electromagnetic field inside the NW body around the heterojunction. This complex interaction could be the basis for near-field probes for molecules or 2D materials, and optoelectronic devices including graphene/NW interfaces.
Improved delayed detached eddy simulation of a porous wavy trailing edge
Authors: Shi Yuejun , Kollmann Wolfgang
Published: May 2021

This paper proposes a novel trailing-edge treatment to reduce trailing-edge noise. Prior studies showed that both porous materials and wavy trailing edges have decent trailing-edge noise reduction. Therefore, a combination of porosity and waviness, or a porous wavy trailing edge, could possibly result in greater noise reduction. Improved delayed detached eddy simulations are performed to compare the aeroacoustic performance of a porous wavy trailing edge to those of clean airfoil, porous trailing edge, and wavy trailing edge. It is revealed that a porous wavy trailing edge reduces the overall sound pressure level by 8.1 dB without compromising the aerodynamic efficiency. The detailed flow physics of noise reduction with a porous wavy trailing edge is also investigated. Overall, the current research provides a low-noise solution for wind turbines and the future's ultra-quiet aircraft.
Depth distributions of signaling molecules in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms mapped by confocal Raman microscopy
Authors: Cao Tianyuan , Weaver Abigail A. , Baek Seol , Jia Jin , Shrout Joshua D. , Bohn Paul W.
Published: May 2021

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen implicated in both acute and chronic diseases, which resists antibiotic treatment, in part by forming physical and chemical barriers such as biofilms. Here, we explore the use of confocal Raman imaging to characterize the three-dimensional (3D) spatial distribution of alkyl quinolones (AQs) in P. aeruginosa biofilms by reconstructing depth profiles from hyperspectral Raman data. AQs are important to quorum sensing (QS), virulence, and other actions of P. aeruginosa. Three-dimensional distributions of three different AQs (PQS, HQNO, and HHQ) were observed to have a significant depth, suggesting 3D anisotropic shapes—sheet-like rectangular solids for HQNO and extended cylinders for PQS. Similar to observations from 2D imaging studies, spectral features characteristic of AQs (HQNO or PQS) and the amide I vibration from peptide-containing species were found to correlate with the PQS cylinders typically located at the tips of the HQNO rectangular solids. In the QS-deficient mutant lasIrhlI, a small globular component was observed, whose highly localized nature and similarity in size to a P. aeruginosa cell suggest that the feature arises from HHQ localized in the vicinity of the cell from which it was secreted. The difference in the shapes and sizes of the aggregates of the three AQs in wild-type and mutant P. aeruginosa is likely related to the difference in the cellular response to growth conditions, environmental stress, metabolic levels, or other structural and biochemical variations inside biofilms. This study provides a new route to characterizing the 3D structure of biofilms and shows the potential of confocal Raman imaging to elucidate the nature of heterogeneous biofilms in all three spatial dimensions. These capabilities should be applicable as a tool in studies of infectious diseases.
Retrograde sulfur flow from glucosinolates to cysteine in
Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Sugiyama Ryosuke , Li Rui , Kuwahara Ayuko , Nakabayashi Ryo , Sotta Naoyuki , Mori Tetsuya , Ito Takehiro , Ohkama-Ohtsu Naoko , Fujiwara Toru , Saito Kazuki , Nakano Ryohei Thomas , Bednarek Paweł , Hirai Masami Yokota
Published: May 2021

Specialized (secondary) metabolic pathways in plants have long been considered one-way routes of leading primary metabolite precursors to bioactive end products. Conversely, endogenous degradation of such “end” products in plant tissues has been observed following environmental stimuli, including nutrition stress. Therefore, it is of general interest whether specialized metabolites can be reintegrated into primary metabolism to recover the invested resources, especially in the case of nitrogen- or sulfur-rich compounds. Here, we demonstrate that endogenous glucosinolates (GLs), a class of sulfur-rich plant metabolites, are exploited as a sulfur source by the reallocation of sulfur atoms to primary metabolites such as cysteine in
Arabidopsis thaliana
. Tracer experiments using
34
S- or deuterium-labeled GLs depicted the catabolic processing of GL breakdown products in which sulfur is mobilized from the thioglucoside group in GL molecules, potentially accompanied by the release of the sulfate group. Moreover, we reveal that beta-glucosidases BGLU28 and BGLU30 are the major myrosinases that initiate sulfur reallocation by hydrolyzing particular GL species, conferring sulfur deficiency tolerance in
A. thaliana
, especially during early development. The results delineate the physiological function of GL as a sulfur reservoir, in addition to their well-known functions as defense chemicals. Overall, our findings demonstrate the bidirectional interaction between primary and specialized metabolism, which enhances our understanding of the underlying metabolic mechanisms via which plants adapt to their environments.
Prespacers formed during primed adaptation associate with the Cas1–Cas2 adaptation complex and the Cas3 interference nuclease–helicase
Authors: Musharova Olga , Medvedeva Sofia , Klimuk Evgeny , Guzman Noemi Marco , Titova Daria , Zgoda Victor , Shiriaeva Anna , Semenova Ekaterina , Severinov Konstantin , Savitskaya Ekaterina
Published: May 2021

Significance

Primed adaptation allows rapid acquisition of protective spacers derived from foreign mobile genetic elements into CRISPR arrays of the host. Primed adaptation requires ongoing CRISPR interference that destroys foreign genetic elements, but the nature of this requirement is unknown. Using the
Escherichia coli
I-E CRISPR-Cas as a model, we show that prespacers, short fragments of foreign DNA on their way to become incorporated into CRISPR arrays as spacers, are associated with both the adaptation integrase Cas1 and the interference nuclease Cas3, implying physical association of the interference and adaptation machineries during priming.
Colony expansions underlie the evolution of army ant mass raiding
Authors: Chandra Vikram , Gal Asaf , Kronauer Daniel J. C.
Published: May 2021

Significance

Army ants form some of the largest insect societies on the planet and famously forage in mass raids, in which many thousands of ants stream out of the nest in search of live prey. Here we show that this complex collective behavior has evolved from group raiding, which is practiced by relatives of army ants with smaller colonies. Through laboratory experiments, we discovered that group raids and mass raids follow similar organizational principles and that mass raids emerge from group raids when colony size is artificially increased. This suggests that ancient expansions in colony size, rather than changes in individual behavioral rules, led to the evolution of mass raids in the first army ants.
Complement C1s cleaves PfEMP1 at interdomain conserved sites inhibiting
Plasmodium falciparum
cytoadherence
Authors: Azasi Yvonne , Low Leanne M. , Just Ashley N. , Raghavan Sai S. R. , Wang Christian W. , Valenzuela-Leon Paola , Rowe J. Alexandra , Smith Joseph D. , Lavstsen Thomas , Turner Louise , Calvo Eric , Miller Louis H.
Published: May 2021

Significance

Mature asexual stages of
Plasmodium falciparum
-infected erythrocytes (IEs) bind to endothelium to avoid splenic clearance. The PfEMP1 family is the major cytoadhesion ligand at the IE surface and is essential for parasite sequestration. In this study, we show that complement component 1s (C1s), found in serum, cleaves PfEMP1 on the IEs to prevent binding to endothelial cells. We find that the C1s cleavage sites are maintained at semiconserved arginine motifs located at interdomain regions between PfEMP1 receptor-binding domains and upstream of the transmembrane region. This suggests that parasites have taken advantage of a human serum protease, either to escape antibody recognition of sequestered parasites or to dampen sequestration and pathogenesis from uncontrolled inflammatory responses threatening host survival.
Students’ errors in L1 Spanish grammar from the perspective of formal linguistics
Authors: Bravo Ana
Published: May 2021

This paper studies the role that knowledge about formal linguistics can play in teacher education. In order to do so, this contribution focuses on specific secondary students’ errors and misconceptions when confronted with L1 explicit grammar instruction. Errors are measured with respect to a formal theory of grammar. The rationale for developing this research is that certain aspects of formal theories, such as constituency, recursion, dependency and compositionality function not only are the building blocks of the utterances, but are also needed for speech processing. If this is the case, acquiring them correctly might be helpful for enhancing literacy, since the very same notions are at the core of both the construction and the understanding of any text. As a second issue, the present paper addresses the question of how the absence of such knowledge models the perspective from which students’ errors are evaluated by the teachers. Errors are described following the theories for analyzing errors in mathematics. A side effect of this approach is that the parallelism between errors made in learning mathematics and in learning the grammatical concepts just mentioned allows broadening the perspective from which the latter is approached.
Echinochloa crus-galli (barnyard grass).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa , Acevedo-Rodríguez Pedro
Published: May 2021

E. crus-galli is a grass species included in the Global Compendium of Weeds (Randall, 2012) and which is considered one of the world's worst weeds. This species has the capability to reduce crop yields and cause forage crops to fail by removing up to 80% of the available soil nitrogen. E. crus-galli is considered the world's worst weed in rice paddies and has been also listed as a weed in at least other 36 crops throughout tropical and temperate regions of the world (Holm et al., 1991). The high levels of nitrates it accumulates can poison livestock. It also acts as a host for several mosaic virus diseases. E. crus-galli is also considered an environmental weed that has become invasive in natural grasslands, coastal forests and disturbed sites in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe and America (FAO, 2014; USDA-ARS, 2014).
Incompatibility in quantum parameter estimation
Authors: Belliardo Federico , Giovannetti Vittorio
Published: May 2021

In this paper we introduce a measure of genuine quantum incompatibility in the estimation task of multiple parameters, that has a geometric character and is backed by a clear operational interpretation. This measure is then applied to some simple systems in order to track the effect of a local depolarizing noise on the incompatibility of the estimation task. A semidefinite program is described and used to numerically compute the figure of merit when the analytical tools are not sufficient, among these we include an upper bound computable from the symmetric logarithmic derivatives only. Finally we discuss how to obtain compatible models for a general unitary encoding on a finite-dimensional probe.
Mitigating wall plasma expansion and enhancing x-ray emission by using multilayer gold films as hohlraum material
Authors: Zheng Jinhua , Kuang Longyu , Jiang Shaoen , Zhang Lu , Li Hang , Wang Feng
Published: May 2021

Multilayer film structure is designed for hohlraum used in inertial confinement fusion. It is similar to low density foam material but easier to be fabricated and more flexible to change its equivalent density. Simulations and experiment of laser ablated planar targets reveal that, compared with solid gold, plasma expansion of multilayer gold films is mitigated and the x-ray flux is increased. The laser spot moves inwards and its speed can be controlled by adjusting the gaps between films.
Nonlinearity accelerates the thermalization of the quartic FPUT model with stochastic baths
Authors: Schmid Harald , Succi Sauro , Ruffo Stefano
Published: May 2021

We investigate the equilibration process of the strongly coupled quartic Fermi–Pasta–Ulam–Tsingou model by adding Langevin baths to the ends of the chain. The time evolution of the system is investigated by means of extensive numerical simulations and shown to match the results expected from equilibrium statistical mechanics in the time-asymptotic limit. Upon increasing the nonlinear coupling, the thermalization of the energy spectrum displays an increasing asymmetry in favor of small-scale, high-frequency modes, which relax significantly faster than the large-scale, low-frequency ones. The global equilibration time is found to scale linearly with system size and shown to exhibit a power-law decay with the strength of the nonlinearity and temperature. Nonlinear interaction adds to energy distribution among modes, thus speeding up the thermalization process.