bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Input-Independent Energy Harvesting in Bistable Lattices from Transition Waves
Authors: Hwang Myungwon , Arrieta Andres F.
Published: February 2018

We demonstrate the utilisation of transition waves for realising input-invariant, frequency-independent energy harvesting in 1D lattices of bistable elements. We propose a metamaterial-inspired design with an integrated electromechanical transduction mechanism to the unit cell, rendering the power conversion capability an intrinsic property of the lattice. Moreover, focusing of transmitted energy to desired locations is demonstrated numerically and experimentally by introducing engineered defects in the form of perturbation in mass or inter-element forcing. We achieve further localisation of energy and numerically observe a breather-like mode for the first time in this type of lattice, improving the harvesting performance by an order of magnitude. Our approach considers generic bistable unit cells and thus provides a universal mechanism to harvest energy and realise metamaterials effectively behaving as a capacitor and power delivery system.
Rapid oxygen diffusion during high temperature alteration of zircon
Authors: Roberts Nick M. W. , Yang Qiong-Yan , Santosh M.
Published: February 2018

The mineral zircon through its isotopic and elemental signatures comprises the greatest archive recording the evolution of Earth’s continental crust. Recognising primary from secondary zircon compositional signatures is thus important for the accurate interpretation of this archive. We report two examples of metasedimentary rocks from high-grade shear zones within the Southern Granulite Belt of India, where anomalously high and homogeneous oxygen isotope signatures indicate disturbance of this isotopic system. Utilising the combined U-Pb-Hf-O and trace element signatures from these zircon grains, we postulate that fluid-assisted alteration has led to complete resetting of the oxygen isotope signatures. This case study presents a rarely observed natural example of potentially fast diffusion of oxygen under hydrous conditions. Given the pervasive nature of fluid interaction within high-grade and highly deformed rocks, we expect that such isotopic disturbance might be more common to nature than is currently reported. A lack of correlation between isotopic disturbance with cathodoluminescence or Th/U values, suggests that these altered zircon grains would not clearly be classified as metamorphic, in which case they would be expected to yield primary compositions. Caution is therefore advised when using detrital δ18O zircon compilations without a high level of scrutiny for primary versus secondary compositions.
Virtual Touch IQ elastography reduces unnecessary breast biopsies by applying quantitative “rule-in” and “rule-out” threshold values
Authors: Kapetas Panagiotis , Clauser Paola , Woitek Ramona , Pinker Katja , Bernathova Maria , Helbich Thomas H. , Baltzer Pascal A.
Published: February 2018

Our purpose was to evaluate Virtual Touch IQ (VTIQ) elastography and identify quantitative “rule-in” and “rule-out” thresholds for the probability of malignancy, which can help avoid unnecessary breast biopsies. 189 patients with 196 sonographically evident lesions were included in this retrospective, IRB-approved study. Quantitative VTIQ images of each lesion measuring the respective maximum Shear Wave Velocity (SWV) were obtained. Paired and unpaired, non-parametric statistics were applied for comparisons as appropriate. ROC-curve analysis was used to analyse the diagnostic performance of VTIQ and to specify “rule-in” and “rule-out” thresholds for the probability of malignancy. The standard of reference was either histopathology or follow-up stability for >24 months. 84 lesions were malignant and 112 benign. Median SWV of benign lesions was significantly lower than that of malignant lesions (p < 0.001). The application of a “rule-out” threshold of 1.9 m/s lead to a sensitivity of >98% with a concomitant significant (p = 0.032) reduction in false positive cases of almost 15%, whereas a “rule-in” threshold of 6.5 m/s suggested a probability of malignancy of >95%. In conclusion, VTIQ elastography accurately differentiates malignant from benign breast lesions. The application of quantitative “rule-in” and “rule-out” thresholds is feasible and allows reduction of unnecessary benign breast biopsies by almost 15%.
Localization of lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia Coli into human atherosclerotic plaque
Authors: Carnevale Roberto , Nocella Cristina , Petrozza Vincenzo , Cammisotto Vittoria , Pacini Luca , Sorrentino Veronica , Martinelli Ombretta , Irace Luigi , Sciarretta Sebastiano , Frati Giacomo , Pastori Daniele , Violi Francesco
Published: February 2018

Experimental studies showed that gut-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is pro-atherogenic, however, its relationship with human atherosclerosis is still to be defined. We investigate if gut-derived LPS from Escherichia Coli localizes in human carotid plaque and its potential role as pro-inflammatory molecule in the atherosclerotic lesion. LPS from Escherichia Coli and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were studied in specimens from carotid and thyroid arteries of 10 patients undergoing endarterectomy and 15 controls matched for demographic and clinical characteristics. Blood LPS were significantly higher in patients compared to controls. Immunochemistry analysis revealed positivity for antibodies against LPS and TLR4 coincidentally with positivity for CD68 only in the atherosclerotic plaque of carotid arteries but not in thyroid arteries; the positivity for LPS and TLR4 was greater in the area with activated macrophages. LPS concentration similar to that detected in atherosclerotic plaque resulted in a dose-dependent TLR4-mediated Nox2 up-regulation by human monocytes. These data provide the first evidence that LPS from Escherichia Coli localizes in human plaque and may contribute to atherosclerotic damage via TLR4-mediated oxidative stress.
Quantitative Assessment of Liver Steatosis and Affected Pathways with Molecular Imaging and Proteomic Profiling
Authors: Urasaki Yasuyo , Zhang Chi , Cheng Ji-Xin , Le Thuc T.
Published: February 2018

Current assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with histology is time-consuming, insensitive to early-stage detection, qualitative, and lacks information on etiology. This study explored alternative methods for fast and quantitative assessment of NAFLD with hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy and nanofluidic proteomics. Hyperspectral SRS microscopy quantitatively measured liver composition of protein, DNA, and lipid without labeling and sensitively detected early-stage steatosis in a few minutes. On the other hand, nanofluidic proteomics quantitatively measured perturbations to the post-translational modification (PTM) profiles of selective liver proteins to identify affected cellular signaling and metabolic pathways in a few hours. Perturbations to the PTM profiles of Akt, 4EBP1, BID, HMGCS2, FABP1, and FABP5 indicated abnormalities in multiple cellular processes including cell cycle regulation, PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling cascade, autophagy, ketogenesis, and fatty acid transport. The integrative deployment of hyperspectral SRS microscopy and nanofluidic proteomics provided fast, sensitive, and quantitative assessment of liver steatosis and affected pathways that overcame the limitations of histology.
A dataset mapping the potential biophysical effects of vegetation cover change
Authors: Duveiller Gregory , Hooker Josh , Cescatti Alessandro
Published: February 2018

Changing the vegetation cover of the Earth has impacts on the biophysical properties of the surface and ultimately on the local climate. Depending on the specific type of vegetation change and on the background climate, the resulting competing biophysical processes can have a net warming or cooling effect, which can further vary both spatially and seasonally. Due to uncertain climate impacts and the lack of robust observations, biophysical effects are not yet considered in land-based climate policies. Here we present a dataset based on satellite remote sensing observations that provides the potential changes i) of the full surface energy balance, ii) at global scale, and iii) for multiple vegetation transitions, as would now be required for the comprehensive evaluation of land based mitigation plans. We anticipate that this dataset will provide valuable information to benchmark Earth system models, to assess future scenarios of land cover change and to develop the monitoring, reporting and verification guidelines required for the implementation of mitigation plans that account for biophysical land processes.
Inter-comparison of multiple statistically downscaled climate datasets for the Pacific Northwest, USA
Authors: Jiang Yueyang , Kim John B. , Still Christopher J. , Kerns Becky K. , Kline Jeffrey D. , Cunningham Patrick G.
Published: February 2018

Statistically downscaled climate data have been widely used to explore possible impacts of climate change in various fields of study. Although many studies have focused on characterizing differences in the downscaling methods, few studies have evaluated actual downscaled datasets being distributed publicly. Spatially focusing on the Pacific Northwest, we compare five statistically downscaled climate datasets distributed publicly in the US: ClimateNA, NASA NEX-DCP30, MACAv2-METDATA, MACAv2-LIVNEH and WorldClim. We compare the downscaled projections of climate change, and the associated observational data used as training data for downscaling. We map and quantify the variability among the datasets and characterize the spatio-temporal patterns of agreement and disagreement among the datasets. Pair-wise comparisons of datasets identify the coast and high-elevation areas as areas of disagreement for temperature. For precipitation, high-elevation areas, rainshadows and the dry, eastern portion of the study area have high dissimilarity among the datasets. By spatially aggregating the variability measures into watersheds, we develop guidance for selecting datasets within the Pacific Northwest climate change impact studies.
Arthropods dataset from different genetically modified maize events and associated controls
Authors: Pálinkás Zoltán , Zalai Mihály , Szénási Ágnes , Dorner Zita , Kiss József , North Samuel , Woodward Guy , Balog Adalbert
Published: February 2018

Arthropods from four genetically modified (GM) maize hybrids (coleopteran resistant, coleopteran and lepidopteran resistant, lepidopteran resistant+herbicide tolerant and coleopteran resistant and herbicide tolerant) and non-GM varieties were sampled during a two-year field assessment. A total number of 363 555 arthropod individuals were collected. This represents the most comprehensive arthropod dataset from GM maize, and together with weed data, is reasonable to determine functional groups of arthropods and interactions between species. Trophic groups identified from both phytophagous and predatory arthropods were previously considered non-target organisms on which possible detrimental effects of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins may have been directly (phytophagous species) or indirectly (predators) detected. The high number of individuals and species and their dynamics through the maize growing season can predict that interactions are highly correlational, and can thus be considered a useful tool to assess potential deleterious effects of Bt toxins on non-target organisms, serving to develop biosafety risk hypotheses for invertebrates exposed to GM maize plants.
A novel reduced graphene oxide/molybdenum disulfide/polyaniline nanocomposite-based electrochemical aptasensor for detection of aflatoxin B1
Authors: Geleta Girma Selale , Zhao Zhen , Wang Zhenxin
Published: February 2018

A label-free electrochemical aptasensor based on graphene nanocomposite was successfully fabricated for Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) detection.
Investigation of hydrophobic substrates for solution residue analysis utilizing an ambient desorption liquid sampling-atmospheric pressure glow discharge microplasma
Authors: Paing Htoo W. , Marcus R. Kenneth
Published: February 2018

Improved sample preparation method for ambient desorption of residues for liquid sampling-atmospheric pressure glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy analysis.
The UV-visible action-absorption spectrum of all-trans and 11-cis protonated Schiff base retinal in the gas phase
Authors: Knudsen Jeppe Langeland , Kluge Anika , Bochenkova Anastasia V. , Kiefer Hjalte V. , Andersen Lars H.
Published: February 2018

The UV-visible absorption of retinal in its protonated Schiff-base form is studied in the gas-phase.
Kinetics of the reaction of CO3˙−(H2O)n, n = 0, 1, 2, with nitric acid, a key reaction in tropospheric negative ion chemistry
Authors: van der Linde Christian , Tang Wai Kit , Siu Chi-Kit , Beyer Martin K.
Published: February 2018

One water molecule accelerates the reaction of CO3˙− with HNO3, while two water molecules quench the reactivity.
Sulfur dioxide-tolerant strontium chromate for the catalytic oxidation of diesel particulate matter
Authors: Khobragade Rohini , Einaga Hisahiro , Jain Suman , Saravanan Govindachetty , Labhsetwar Nitin
Published: February 2018

A mixed oxide of strontium and chromium shows enhanced, multi-cycle catalytic oxidation performance for diesel particulate matter with sulfur dioxide tolerance.
Greener synthesis of Cu-MOF-74 and its catalytic use for the generation of vanillin
Authors: Flores J. Gabriel , Sánchez-González Elí , Gutiérrez-Alejandre Aída , Aguilar-Pliego Julia , Martínez Ana , Jurado-Vázquez Tamara , Lima Enrique , González-Zamora Eduardo , Díaz-García Manuel , Sánchez-Sánchez Manuel , Ibarra Ilich A.
Published: February 2018

Nanocrystalline Cu-MOF-74 was synthesised in methanol at room temperature, and it was used in the catalytic synthesis of vanillin showing its reaction mechanism.
Tuning mobility and stability of lithium ion conductors based on lattice dynamics
Authors: Muy Sokseiha , Bachman John C. , Giordano Livia , Chang Hao-Hsun , Abernathy Douglas L. , Bansal Dipanshu , Delaire Olivier , Hori Satoshi , Kanno Ryoji , Maglia Filippo , Lupart Saskia , Lamp Peter , Shao-Horn Yang
Published: February 2018

Ionic conductivity and stability of Li-ion conductors are rationalized on the same footing using lattice-dynamics descriptors.
Retracted Article: ZnO nanoparticles affect intestinal function in anin vitromodel
Authors: Moreno-Olivas Fabiola , Tako Elad , Mahler Gretchen J.
Published: February 2018

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) may be present in food packaging, which would put consumers at risk of NP ingestion.
Flow-induced dissolution of femtoliter surface droplet arrays
Authors: Bao Lei , Spandan Vamsi , Yang Yantao , Dyett Brendan , Verzicco Roberto , Lohse Detlef , Zhang Xuehua
Published: February 2018

The dissolution of femtoliter droplet arrays on the wall of microfluidic channels is determined by coupled effects from the collective interaction of droplets and external flow conditions. Controlled droplet dissolution enables a novel approach for the fabrication of a multifocal lens array.
Colloidal lithography-based fabrication of highly-ordered nanofluidic channels with an ultra-high surface-to-volume ratio
Authors: Wang Shuli , Liu Yongshun , Ge Peng , Kan Qiqi , Yu Nianzuo , Wang Jing , Nan Jingjie , Ye Shunsheng , Zhang Junhu , Xu Weiqing , Yang Bai
Published: February 2018

This article shows a new strategy for the fabrication of nanofluidic channels based on nanoscale gaps in nanopillar arrays.
Neuronal adhesion and growth on nanopatterned EA5-POPC synthetic membranes
Authors: Ghosh Moulick Ranjita , Panaitov Gregor , Du Liping , Mayer Dirk , Offenhäusser Andreas
Published: February 2018

Here we have fractionated synthetic membranes using metal nano-grid structures where EphrinA5 (EA5), a neuronal adhesion promoter, was anchored via its Fc domain.
An all-optical single-step process for production of nanometric-sized fluorescent diamonds
Authors: Basso L. , Gorrini F. , Cazzanelli M. , Bazzanella N. , Bifone A. , Miotello A.
Published: February 2018

Nanodiamonds (NDs) containing negatively charged Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers are promising materials for applications in photonics, quantum computing, and sensing of environmental parameters like temperature, strain and magnetic fields.
64Cu-Labeled multifunctional dendrimers for targeted tumor PET imaging
Authors: Ma Wenhui , Fu Fanfan , Zhu Jingyi , Huang Rui , Zhu Yizhou , Liu Zhenwei , Wang Jing , Conti Peter S. , Shi Xiangyang , Chen Kai
Published: February 2018

Multifunctional folic acid-modified G5 PAMAM dendrimers can be radiolabeled with 64Cu for PET imaging of folate receptor-expressing tumors.
RAFT polymerization of a RGD peptide-based methacrylamide monomer for cell adhesion
Authors: Chen Chao , Thang San H.
Published: February 2018

The present study provides a robust method for the preparation of RGD peptide-based polymers that has important implications in the synthesized biomaterials that support cell adhesion.
Tandem Prins-type cyclization for the stereoselective construction of fused polycyclic ring systems
Authors: Someswarao B. , P. Rasvan Khan , Reddy B. Jagan Mohan , B. Sridhar , B. V. Subba Reddy
Published: February 2018

A novel strategy has been developed for the synthesis of fused tetrahydrofuro[3,2-c]pyrano[2,3-b]chromene derivatives through the condensation of 2-hydroxybenzaldehydes with 2-(3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-5-yl)ethan-1-ol in the presence of 20 mol% TMSOTf.
Sweeping-micelle to solvent stacking for the on-line preconcentration and determination of organic acids in Angelica sinensis by capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Yang Xiumin , Hao Lin , Zhang Shuaihua , Wang Chun , Wang Zhi
Published: February 2018

A two-step on-line preconcentration technique has been applied to the analysis of organic acids in Angelica sinensis.
Adventures in radiosynthesis of clinical grade [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9
Authors: Käkelä Meeri , Luoto Pauliina , Viljanen Tapio , Virtanen Helena , Liljenbäck Heidi , Jalkanen Sirpa , Knuuti Juhani , Roivainen Anne , Li Xiang-Guo
Published: February 2018

[68Ga]Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9 is the first vascular adhesion protein-1 targeting radiopharmaceutical for positron emission tomography imaging of inflammation, and here we present its long-awaited clinical grade radiosynthesis.
N-Acetyl-l-leucine-polyethylenimine-mediated miR-34a delivery improves osteogenesis and bone formationin vitroandin vivo
Authors: Shen Yuqin , Liu Yin , Gao Han , Fei Hongbo , Yu Wenwen , Hu Tianqi , Zheng Yi , Bi Xueting , Lin Chongtao
Published: February 2018

We employN-acetyl-l-leucine-modified polyethylenimine as an miR-34a carrier and evaluate its delivery ability, transfection efficiency, cytotoxicity and whether it enhances osteogenic differentiation and bone formationin vitroandin vivo.
MiR-29c inhibits HCV replicationviaactivation of type I IFN response by targeting STAT3 in JFH-1-infected Huh7 cells
Authors: Wang Yanjing , Li Yuanyuan
Published: February 2018

MiR-29c, a member of the miR-29 family, has been recognized to play an important role in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
Novel morphologies of poly(allyamine hydrochloride)–methotrexate nanoassemblies for methotrexate delivery
Authors: Wang Wei-Yuan , Ju Xiao-Han , Zhao Xiu-Fen , Li Xiao-Dong , Li Shu-Ping , Song Fu-Gui
Published: February 2018

Nanospheres exhibited the best controlled drug release and nanostrips displayed the most obvious suppression of A549 cells.
Effect of Re promoter on the structure and catalytic performance of Ni–Re/Al2O3 catalysts for the reductive amination of monoethanolamine
Authors: Ma Lei , Yan Li , Lu An-Hui , Ding Yunjie
Published: February 2018

Re promoters improve the catalyst performance and stability of Ni–Re/Al2O3 catalysts for the reductive amination of monoethanolamine.
The development and application of in silico models for drug induced liver injury
Authors: Li Xiao , Chen Yaojie , Song Xinrui , Zhang Yuan , Li Huanhuan , Zhao Yong
Published: February 2018

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI), caused by drugs, herbal agents or nutritional supplements, is a major issue for patients and the pharmaceutical industry.
Preparation of ZnO@TiO2nanotubes heterostructured film by thermal decomposition and their photocatalytic performances
Authors: Liao Yulong , Zhang Kaibin , Wang Xiaoyi , Zhang Dainan , Li Yuanxun , Su Hua , Zhang Huaiwu , Zhong Zhiyong
Published: February 2018

Efficient and low-cost preparation method of ZnO nanoparticles@TiO2NT heterojunction films, has a positive effect on water pollution control.
Nanosized tetragonal β-FeSe phase obtained by mechanical alloying: structural, microstructural, magnetic and electrical characterization
Authors: Ulbrich K. F. , Campos C. E. M.
Published: February 2018

We describe obtaining about 30% of tetragonal FeSe phase prepared by mechanically-alloying Fe and Se powders for 3 h, size–strain analysis as well as electrical and magnetic characterization.
Rapid removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solution by phosphate-modified baker's yeast
Authors: Liu Shuli , Duan Zhengyang , He Changhua , Xu Xiaojun , Li Tianguo , Li Yuhuan , Li Xuan , Wang Yao , Xu Longqian
Published: February 2018

Phosphate-modified baker's yeast (PMBY) was used as a novel bio-sorbent for the adsorption of Pb2+ from aqueous solution.
Self-assembly of a short-chain ionic liquid within deep eutectic solvents
Authors: Banjare Manoj Kumar , Behera Kamalakanta , Satnami Manmohan L. , Pandey Siddharth , Ghosh Kallol K.
Published: February 2018

Self-assembly of short-chain imidazolium-based ILs within DESs have been investigated by fluorescence, UV-Vis, DLS and FT-IR spectroscopy. Further, these micellar systems [Bmim][OS]-DESs are utilized to study the IL-drug binding of an antidepressant drug (PH).
High sensitivity glucose detection at extremely low concentrations using a MoS2-based field-effect transistor
Authors: Shan Junjie , Li Jinhua , Chu Xueying , Xu Mingze , Jin Fangjun , Wang Xiaojun , Ma Li , Fang Xuan , Wei Zhipeng , Wang Xiaohua
Published: February 2018

The high sensitivity (260.75 mA mM−1) detection of an extremely low concentration (300 nM) glucose solution is demonstrated by the bilayer MoS2 FET based biosensor.
Second-generation CK2α inhibitors targeting the αD pocket
Authors: Iegre Jessica , Brear Paul , De Fusco Claudia , Yoshida Masao , Mitchell Sophie L. , Rossmann Maxim , Carro Laura , Sore Hannah F. , Hyvönen Marko , Spring David R.
Published: February 2018

We describe the development of a CAM4712, a novel CK2α inhibitor which does not interact with the ATP binding site and shows improved properties over the first-generation inhibitor CAM4066.
Reversible light-mediated compositional and structural transitions between CsPbBr3 and CsPb2Br5 nanosheets
Authors: Shen Wei , Ruan Longfei , Shen Zhitao , Deng Zhengtao
Published: February 2018

We demonstrate the reversible light-induced composition and structural transitions from polyvinylpyrrolidone-capped orthorhombic CsPbBr3 to tetragonal CsPb2Br5 nanosheets or vice versa.
Enantioselective synthesis of chiral oxazolines from unactivated ketones and isocyanoacetate esters by synergistic silver/organocatalysis
Authors: Martínez-Pardo Pablo , Blay Gonzalo , Muñoz M. Carmen , Pedro José R. , Sanz-Marco Amparo , Vila Carlos
Published: February 2018

Synergistic catalysis by Ag+ and bifunctional squaramide allows the highly diastereo- and enantioselective reaction of isocyanoacetate esters and ketones to give chiral oxazolines bearing a quaternary stereocenter.
Lignin nano- and microparticles as template for nanostructured materials: formation of hollow metal-phenolic capsules
Authors: Tardy Blaise L. , Richardson Joseph J. , Guo Junling , Lehtonen Janika , Ago Mariko , Rojas Orlando J.
Published: February 2018

Lignin colloids are used as biomass-sourced sacrificial templates, enabling the versatile formation of hollow tannins-based capsules with promise in applications ranging from water remediation to drug delivery.
Classification of spatially resolved molecular fingerprints for machine learning applications and development of a codebase for their implementation
Authors: Reveil Mardochee , Clancy Paulette
Published: February 2018

Direct mapping between material structures and properties for various classes of materials is often the ultimate goal of materials researchers.
The role of Cr, Mo and W in the electronic delocalization and the metal–ring interaction in metallocene complexes
Authors: Arias-Olivares David , Páez-Hernández Dayán , Islas Rafael
Published: February 2018

Metal influence over triple-decker, sandwich-like and pyramidal structured benzenes was studied by means of energy decomposition analysis (Morokuma–Ziegler), combined with extended transition state natural orbitals for chemical valence, and Nucleus Independent Chemical Shift descriptors.
A C20 fullerene-based sheet with ultrahigh thermal conductivity
Authors: Shen Yupeng , Wang Fancy Qian , Liu Jie , Guo Yaguang , Li Xiaoyin , Qin Guangzhao , Hu Ming , Wang Qian
Published: February 2018

A new two-dimensional (2D) carbon allotrope with ultrahigh thermal conductivity, Hexa-C20, composed of C20 fullerene is proposed.
Nanomaterials and continuous wave laser-based efficient desorption for atmospheric pressure mass spectrometric imaging of live hippocampal tissue slices
Authors: Kim Jae Young , Seo Eun Seok , Lim Hee Jin , Kim Hyunmin , Park Ji-Won , Shin Hyeon Ho , Lim Dong-Kwon , Moon Dae Won
Published: February 2018

Micrometer-resolution mass spectrometric imaging of live hippocampal tissue is achieved with a highly efficient desorption of biomolecules using a 532 nm continuous wave laser and gold nanoparticles or graphene oxide as an energy transporter.
Resistive non-volatile memories fabricated with poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(thiophene) blend nanosheets
Authors: Zhu Huie , Yamamoto Shunsuke , Matsui Jun , Miyashita Tokuji , Mitsuishi Masaya
Published: February 2018

Ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride)/semiconductive polythiophene blend nanosheets show good resistive non-volatile memory performance with a fresh high ON/OFF ratio and long endurance to 30 days.
Spironaphthoxazine switchable dyes for biological imaging
Authors: Xiong Yaoyao , Vargas Jentzsch Andreas , Osterrieth Johannes W. M. , Sezgin Erdinc , Sazanovich Igor V. , Reglinski Katharina , Galiani Silvia , Parker Anthony W. , Eggeling Christian , Anderson Harry L.
Published: February 2018

We demonstrate that a photochromic spironaphthoxazine switch operates with excellent fatigue resistance and high conversion when irradiated at 405/561 nm in a range of media including living cells.
Stable emulsions of droplets in a solid edible organogel matrix
Authors: Matheson Andrew , Dalkas Georgios , Mears Rudi , Euston Stephen R. , Clegg Paul S.
Published: February 2018

Sitosterol–oryzanol organogels are unstable near water, but are shown to be stable in the presence of glycerol.
Multiplexed fluorescence lifetime imaging by concentration-dependent quenching
Authors: Luo Teng , Zhou Ting , Zhao Yihua , Liu Liwei , Qu Junle
Published: February 2018

Working directly on an average fluorescence lifetime (τm) histogram for lifetime-based separation easily achieved multiplexed imaging of H&E stained sections.
The role of adherens junction proteins in the regulation of insulin secretion
Authors: Dissanayake Waruni C. , Sorrenson Brie , Shepherd Peter R.
Published: February 2018

In healthy individuals, any rise in blood glucose levels is rapidly countered by the release of insulin from the β-cells of the pancreas which in turn promotes the uptake and storage of the glucose in peripheral tissues. The β-cells possess exquisite mechanisms regulating the secretion of insulin to ensure that the correct amount of insulin is released. These mechanisms involve tight control of the movement of insulin containing secretory vesicles within the β-cells, initially preventing most vesicles being able to move to the plasma membrane. Elevated glucose levels trigger an influx of Ca2+ that allows fusion of the small number of insulin containing vesicles that are pre-docked at the plasma membrane but glucose also stimulates processes that allow other insulin containing vesicles located further in the cell to move to and fuse with the plasma membrane. The mechanisms controlling these processes are complex and not fully understood but it is clear that the interaction of the β-cells with other β-cells in the islets is very important for their ability to develop the appropriate machinery for proper regulation of insulin secretion. Emerging evidence indicates one factor that is key for this is the formation of homotypic cadherin mediated adherens junctions between β-cells. Here, we review the evidence for this and discuss the mechanisms by which these adherens junctions might regulate insulin vesicle trafficking as well as the implications this has for understanding the dysregulation of insulin secretion seen in pathogenic states.
Are ultra‐short heart rate variability features good surrogates of short‐term ones? State‐of‐the‐art review and recommendations
Authors: Pecchia Leandro , Castaldo Rossana , Montesinos Luis , Melillo Paolo
Published: February 2018

Ultra‐short heart rate variability (HRV) analysis refers to the study of HRV features in excerpts of length <5 min. Ultra‐short HRV is widely growing in many healthcare applications for monitoring individual's health and well‐being status, especially in combination with wearable sensors, mobile phones, and smart‐watches. Long‐term (nominally 24 h) and short‐term (nominally 5 min) HRV features have been widely investigated, physiologically justified and clear guidelines for analysing HRV in 5 min or 24 h are available. Conversely, the reliability of ultra‐short HRV features remains unclear and many investigations have adopted ultra‐short HRV analysis without questioning its validity. This is partially due to the lack of accepted algorithms guiding investigators to systematically assess ultra‐short HRV reliability. This Letter critically reviewed the existing literature, aiming to identify the most suitable algorithms, and harmonise them to suggest a standard protocol that scholars may use as a reference in future studies. The results of the literature review were surprising, because, among the 29 reviewed papers, only one paper used a rigorous method, whereas the others employed methods that were partially or completely unreliable due to the incorrect use of statistical tests. This Letter provides recommendations on how to assess ultra‐short HRV features reliably and proposes an inclusive algorithm that summarises the state‐of‐the‐art knowledge in this area.
Strategic behaviour for spectrum access in hybrid overlay/underlay cognitive radio networks
Authors: Safwat Mahammad A. , Elbadawy Hesham
Published: February 2018

A hybrid overlay/underlay cognitive radio network (CRN) is demonstrated to provide high spectrum efficiency and channel capacity. Decision‐making in joining CRNs is one of the major issues of secondary users (SUs). Each SU has the option of joining the spectrum or balking according to the trade‐off between the service profit and the delay cost. In this study, the decision‐making problem in accessing the hybrid overlay/underlay CRN is addressed using queuing models and game theory. An almost unobservable queuing server is used to model hybrid overlay/underlay CRN. The interaction between the cognitive users is treated as a non‐cooperative game. A closed‐form expression for the average number of cognitive users as well as associated expected waiting time in both overlay and underlay CRNs is derived. The strategic behaviour for spectrum access of cognitive users in hybrid overlay/underlay CRN is investigated and the existence of symmetric Nash equilibrium is proved as well. Finally, we provide extensive validation results using a wide range of realistic simulation scenarios. The proposed model gives detailed guidance to the decision makers to deploy the suitable strategy according to the available channel situation.
Combining techniques of weak signals in the bistable parallel array system
Authors: Liang Linlin , Huang Haiyan , Zhang Nina , Wang Danyang , Liu Jin , Li Zan
Published: February 2018

Bistable parallel array system can efficiently improve the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) gain and further significantly lower bit‐error‐rate (BER) when the SNR is low. The bistable parallel array system is widely studied due to its outstanding advantages. This study presents a new method that applies combining techniques including maximum ratio combining (MRC), equal gain combining (EGC), and selection combining (SC) to the bistable parallel array system, and derives the formulas of the SNR gain, energy efficiency, and numerically calculates the BER. Through comparative analysis of these three combining techniques, it demonstrates the BER performance of the EGC technique in bistable parallel array system slightly inferiors to MRC, and the worst is SC. While the performance of all these three kinds of combining techniques is better than that of the single branch case. Importantly, higher SNR gain, higher EE and lower BER can be obtained in non‐Gaussian noise cases than that in Gaussian noise cases.
Simple overlap angle control strategy for commutation torque ripple minimisation in BLDC motor drive
Authors: Lad Chetan K. , Chudamani Rajagopalan
Published: February 2018

In this paper, a novel overlap angle controlled Direct Torque Control (DTC) scheme is proposed which strikes the balance between commutation torque ripple and losses. The commutation torque ripple in a Brushless DC (BLDC) motor is mainly due to the effect of commutation on non‐commutating phase current and it will be more severe in high power applications. DCT techniques are used to reduce the torque ripple. In comparison to the conventional two‐phase conduction Six‐Step DTC (SSDTC), the commutation torque ripple is considerably reduced by Twelve‐Step DTC (TSDTC) but at the cost of increased inverter and winding losses. The proposed method offers commutation torque ripple minimisation and loss optimization simultaneously by controlling the motor operation in hybrid two‐ and three‐phase conduction. The proposed method basically leads to motor operation in three phase conduction during overlap region and in two phase conduction during non‐overlap region. The overlap and non‐overlap regions are identified by calculating the commutation interval and suitably scaling it by a factor . The proposed method is validated through experimental results and the effect on commutation torque ripple and drive efficiency are compared with SSDTC and TSDTC experimentally.
Reduction of torque ripple in a wound‐rotor brushless doubly‐fed machine by using the tooth notching
Authors: Ou Lezhi , Wang Xuefan , Xiong Fei , Ye Caiyong
Published: February 2018

The torque ripple is a main source of the noise and vibration which has a considerable effect on the performance of the machine. A design technique, tooth notching, which was extensively used in permanent magnet machines, has been innovatively applied to a wound‐rotor brushless doubly‐fed machine (BDFM) to reduce the torque ripple. First of all, the winding structure, the winding space harmonics and magnetic fields of the stator and the rotor were studied. Then, general analytical expressions of the electromagnetic torque (EMT) for the BDFM were deduced. Finally, prediction of the results was verified by several models which were calculated by the finite‐element analysis method, meanwhile, the influences of different tooth‐notching structures and the notch depth on the EMT were investigated. It is shown that the torque ripple can be reduced by the suggested design with small increment of the magnetic field saturation and the currents of the control winding and the rotor winding.
Modelling and experimental research of fault‐tolerant dual‐channel brushless DC motor
Authors: Korkosz Mariusz , Bogusz Piotr , Prokop Jan
Published: February 2018

The brushless permanent magnet direct current (DC) machine with dual three‐phase windings is proposed for critical drive systems. It is proposed to call such a solution with a dual stator winding as a dual‐channel brushless permanent magnet DC motor (DCBLDC). The stator windings are supplied by two independent power converters under dual‐channel operation (DCO) mode. After a fault of one channel, a further operation of the machine can be continued in the so‐called single‐channel operation mode (SCO). In this study, a mathematical model of DCBLDC machine which takes into account non‐linearity of a magnetic circuit and all couplings between phases within a given channel as well as between channels is proposed. The results of experimental tests in static and dynamic states for SCO and DCO modes were presented.
Dynamic stability enhancement of TCSC‐based tidal power generation using quasi‐oppositional harmony search algorithm
Authors: Kumar Akshay , Shankar Gauri
Published: February 2018

This study presents the dynamic and steady state stability improvement of a tidal power generation system (TPGS) assisted power system model (i.e. single machine infinite bus (SMIB) system) using a thyristor controlled series capacitor (TCSC). To achieve this objective, the TCSC used in the studied model is optimally designed using quasi‐oppositional harmony search algorithm (QOHSA). The complete dynamic equation of the studied power system is realised based on d–q ‐axis decomposition. Eigenvalue analysis is performed using the frequency‐domain approach to study the steady‐state stability while the time‐domain‐based simulation is carried out to determine the dynamic stability of the studied system. To corroborate the effectiveness of QOHSA, results yielded by this algorithm are compared with those obtained using particle swarm optimisation technique. It may be inferred from the results obtained in this study that the QOHSA tuned TCSC outperforms the other in improving the overall stability of the TPGS‐based SMIB system following disturbance. Furthermore, a similar analysis is extended to the TPGS‐based multi‐machine power system model to validate the efficiency of QOHSA in optimal designing of TCSC for dynamic stability improvement.
Hierarchical parallel dynamic estimator of states for interconnected power system
Authors: Jayakumar Geetha Sreenath , Chakrabarti Saikat , Rajawat Ketan
Published: February 2018

Real‐time visualisation of large power systems, by tracking the system states, is a challenging task as it involves processing a large measurement set to obtain the system states. This study proposes a hierarchical parallel dynamic estimation algorithm to estimate the states of a large‐scale interconnected power system. The power system is decomposed into smaller subsystems, which is processed in parallel to obtain a reduced order state estimate. This information is then transmitted to the central processor, which collates the individual reduced order estimates to obtain the global estimates. Each processor uses state matrix of smaller dimension, thereby reducing the computational burden. The low‐level processors utilise only a fraction of the global measurements in the proposed approach, and there is no need for any information exchange from the central processor to the low level processors, which helps in reducing the communication requirements. Moreover, detection of anomalies can also be carried out at the local processors without the need for any separate bad data detection at the central processor. IEEE 30‐ and 118‐bus systems are used as test beds to study the proposed approach.
Algorithm for islanding detection in photovoltaic generator network connected to low‐voltage grid
Authors: Gupta Nikita , Garg Rachana
Published: February 2018

A new islanding detection method has been developed based on the analysis of negative sequence components of the voltage at the point of common coupling, using wavelet packet transform. The binary tree classifier is used for decision‐making mechanism. The proposed algorithm is able to reduce the non‐detection zone to zero and is able to detect islanding within 5 ms. The developed algorithm can also discriminate between the islanding and other events in the system. The simulation results carried out by MATLAB along with Simulink toolbox are used to test the performance of the proposed algorithm in a photovoltaic generator network connected to the low‐voltage grid.
Design and application of an LED using a liquid conductor for dissipating heat and conducting electricity
Authors: Chung Yung‐Chiang , Zheng Guang‐Jun , Xu Yao‐De , Lin Cheng‐Feng
Published: February 2018

Recently, the study of power consumption and heat dissipation has attracted considerable research interest due to the development of various electric products. In this research, the authors replaced the solid conducting wire with a microfluidic channel and an electrolyte to conduct electricity and dissipate heat in a light‐emitting diode (LED). The optical power and temperature of the LED using three electrolytes including salt (NaCl), sodium bicarbonate, and citric acid were measured. The measured optical power was the highest when NaCl was used as the electrolyte. The temperatures of the LED and at the bottom of the microfluidic channel were much lower when a liquid conductor was used as compared to when a solid conducting wire was used. The optical power of the LED obtained using a solid conducting wire was higher than that obtained using a liquid conductor. The temperature decreased and optical power increased with increasing flow rate. They hypothesised that a liquid conductor with a lower electric resistance would improve the optical power of the LED.
Electrolytic deposition of TiC nanoparticles/Ag composite films and their optical properties
Authors: Yuan Li , Zeng Chunyan , Qian Xuzheng , Gao Chen , Lu Yue , Chen Fuyi
Published: February 2018

TiC nanoparticles/Ag composite films were successfully prepared on an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate through co‐electrodeposition, using the Ag plating solutions with minor addition of TiC nanoparticles, followed by heat treatment in vacuum. The X‐ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope and UV–Vis spectrophotometer were used to characterise phase composition, morphologies and optical properties of as‐fabricated films, respectively. Experimental results show that only TiC and Ag phases are identified for the TiC nanoparticles/Ag composite films and TiC nanoparticles are incorporated tightly and uniformly on the surface of the composite films, without obvious clustering. The results of optical property test reveal that the TiC nanoparticles/Ag composite films have similar optical properties as thick silver films perforated with nanohole arrays, which will pave the way towards numerous potential applications of Ag nanohole arrays.
Quantifying systematics from the shear inversion on weak-lensing peak counts
Authors: Lin Chieh-An , Kilbinger Martin
Published: February 2018

Weak-lensing peak counts provide a straightforward way to constrain cosmology by linking local maxima of the lensing signal to the mass function. Recent applications to data have already been numerous and fruitful. However, the importance of understanding and dealing with systematics increases as data quality reaches an unprecedented level. One of the sources of systematics is the convergence-shear inversion. This effect, inevitable when carrying out a convergence field from observations, is usually neglected by theoretical peak models. Thus, it could have an impact on cosmological results. In this paper, we study the bias from neglecting (mis-modeling) the inversion. Our tests show a small but non-negligible bias. The cosmological dependence of this bias seems to be related to the parameter Σ8 ≡ (Ωm∕(1 − α))1 − α(σ8∕α)α, where α = 2∕3. When this bias propagates to the parameter estimation, we discovered that constraint contours involving the dark energy equation of state can differ by 2σ. Such an effect can be even larger for future high-precision surveys and we argue that the inversion should be properly modeled for theoretical peak models.
The cosmological analysis of X-ray cluster surveys
Authors: Valotti A. , Pierre M. , Farahi A. , Evrard A. , Faccioli L. , Sauvageot J.-L. , Clerc N. , Pacaud F.
Published: February 2018

Context. This paper is the fourth of a series evaluating the ASpiX cosmological method, based on X-ray diagrams, which are constructed from simple cluster observable quantities, namely: count rate (CR), hardness ratio (HR), core radius (rc), and redshift. Aims. Following extensive tests on analytical toy catalogues (Paper III), we present the results of a more realistic study over a 711 deg2 template-based maps derived from a cosmological simulation.

Methods. Dark matter haloes from the Aardvark simulation have been ascribed luminosities, temperatures, and core radii, using local scaling relations and assuming self-similar evolution. The predicted X-ray sky-maps were converted into XMM event lists, using a detailed instrumental simulator. The XXL pipeline runs on the resulting sky images, produces an observed cluster catalogue over which the tests have been performed. This allowed us to investigate the relative power of various combinations of the CR, HR, rc, and redshift information. Two fitting methods were used: a traditional Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach and a simple minimisation procedure (Amoeba) whose mean uncertainties are a posteriori evaluated by means of synthetic catalogues. The results were analysed and compared to the predictions from the Fisher analysis (FA).

Results. For this particular catalogue realisation, assuming that the scaling relations are perfectly known, the CR-HR combination gives σ8 and Ωm at the 10% level, while CR-HR-rc-z improves this to ≤3%. Adding a second HR improves the results from the CR-HR1-rc combination, but to a lesser extent than when adding the redshift information. When all coefficients of the mass-temperature relation (M-T, including scatter) are also fitted, the cosmological parameters are constrained to within 5–10% and larger for the M-T coefficients (up to a factor of two for the scatter). The errors returned by the MCMC, those by Amoeba and the FA predictions are in most cases in excellent agreement and always within a factor of two. We also study the impact of the scatter of the mass-size relation (M-Rc) on the number of detected clusters: for the cluster typical sizes usually assumed, the larger the scatter, the lower the number of detected objects.

Conclusions. The present study confirms and extends the trends outlined in our previous analyses, namely the power of X-ray observable diagrams to successfully and easily fit at the same time, the cosmological parameters, cluster physics, and the survey selection, by involving all detected clusters. The accuracy levels quoted should not be considered as definitive. A number of simplifying hypotheses were made for the testing purpose, but this should affect any method in the same way. The next publication will consider in greater detail the impact of cluster shapes (selection and measurements) and of cluster physics on the final error budget by means of hydrodynamical simulations.