bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heterodimers made of metal–organic frameworks and upconversion nanoparticles for bioimaging and pH-responsive dual-drug delivery
Authors: Ling Danping , Li Haihong , Xi Wensong , Wang Zhuo , Bednarkiewicz Artur , Dibaba Solomon T. , Shi Liyi , Sun Lining
Published: January 2020

An ingenious method was developed to grow metal–organic frameworks on the surface of UCNPs, resulting in the UCMOFs@D@5 nanosystem for bioimaging and pH-responsive dual-drug delivery.
Fast synthesis of Dy3+ and Tm3+ co-doped double perovskite NaLaMgWO6: a thermally stable single-phase white-emitting phosphor for WLEDs
Authors: Liu Quan , Guo Jia , Fan Minghan , Zhang Qian , Liu Shuo , Wong Ka-Leung , Liu Zhenyu , Wei Bo
Published: January 2020

Single-phase double perovskite phosphor NaLaMgWO6 was successfully synthesized via a rapid microwave irradiation method.
Enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption performance of silane coupling agent KH550@Fe3O4 hollow nanospheres/graphene composites
Authors: Shu Xiangfeng , Ren Hengdong , Jiang Yu , Zhou Jun , Wang Yueqin , Wang Yanfen , Liu Yin , Oh Won-Chun
Published: January 2020

KH550@Fe3O4/rGO composites have improved hydrophobicity for wide use in humid environments, demonstrating their ultra-thin and high-intensity EMW absorption capability owing to their special structure.
Kagome-like group-VA monolayers with indirect–direct band gap transition and anisotropic mobility
Authors: Zhu Jiajun , He Chao , Zhao Yong-Hong , Fu Botao
Published: January 2020

In this article we report the strain-induced indirect–direct band gap transitions in kagome-P, As and Sb.
The optical properties of Bi3+and Sb3+in YNbTiO6analysed by means of DOS and semi-empirical calculations
Authors: Boutinaud Philippe , Brik Mikhail G.
Published: January 2020

The optical properties of Bi3+and Sb3+-doped YNbTiO6are successfully reproduced by DOS and empirical calculations. Emission origin is predicted.
Achieving multiple emission states and controllable response behaviour in thermochromic luminescent materials for security applications
Authors: Liu Suyi , Ma Yun , Liu Shujuan , Chen Kexin , Huang Wei , Zhao Qiang
Published: January 2020

In this work, thermochromic luminescent materials with three emission states and controllable thermochromic transition temperatures were developed for multilevel anti-counterfeiting and high-security level information storage.
Live-cell monitoring of protein localization to membrane rafts using protein-fragment complementation
Authors: Merezhko Maria , Pakarinen Emmi , Uronen Riikka-Liisa , Huttunen Henri J.
Published: January 2020

The plasma membrane consists of a variety of discrete domains differing from the surrounding membrane in composition and properties. Selective partitioning of protein to these microdomains is essential for membrane functioning and integrity. Studying the nanoscale size and dynamic nature of the membrane microdomains requires advanced imaging approaches with a high spatiotemporal resolution and, consequently, expensive and specialized equipment, unavailable for most researchers and unsuited for large-scale studies. Thus, understanding of protein partitioning to the membrane microdomains in health and disease is still hampered by the lack of inexpensive live-cell approaches with an appropriate spatial resolution. Here, we have developed a novel approach based on Gaussia princeps luciferase protein-fragment complementation assay to quantitively investigate protein partitioning to cholesterol and sphingomyelin-rich domains, sometimes called ‘lipid rafts’, in intact living cells with a high-spatial resolution. In the assay, the reporter construct, carrying one half of the luciferase protein, is targeted to lipid microdomains through the fused acetylation motif from Src-family kinase Fyn. A protein of interest carries the second half of the luciferase protein. Together, this serves as a reversible real-time sensor of raft recruitment for the studied protein. We demonstrated that the assay can efficiently detect the dynamic alterations in raft localization of two disease-associated proteins: Akt and APP. Importantly, this method can be used in high-throughput screenings and other large-scale studies in living cells. This inexpensive, and easy to implement raft localization assay will benefit all researchers interested in protein partitioning in rafts.
Fully distributed sleeping compressive data gathering in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Mehrjoo Saeed , Khunjush Farshad , Ghaedi Amir
Published: January 2020

One of the most essential challenges of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is the limited energy of their nodes. Compressive data gathering (CDG) and sleep scheduling are two practical solutions to extend the lifetime of such networks. However, applying these techniques incorrectly may lead to having significant reconstruction errors. This study proposes a fully distributed method to combine these two techniques in WSNs. An essential condition for CDG is the participation of all nodes in each round. The simulations along with the mathematical proof demonstrate that sleep scheduling can only be used during CDG when this condition holds. The proposed method considers this condition and therefore leads to an acceptable reconstruction error. Moreover, the proposed method is fully distributed in which message passing among the nodes for sleep scheduling is not required. The simulation results show that the proposed method improves the lifetime of the WSNs up to 2.2 times compared to non‐sleeping CDG with an equivalent reconstruction error.
Resonant controller of single‐stage off‐board EV charger in G2V and V2G modes
Authors: Seth Aakash Kumar , Singh Mukhtiar
Published: January 2020

This study presents the control design and implementation of a three‐phase single‐stage off‐board electric vehicle (EV) charger. The charger is controlled to perform four quadrants operation in active–reactive (P–Q) power plane. Generally, the control of the EV charger consists of two control loops, i.e. exterior (slow) loop and fast‐acting interior loop. Since the signals to be regulated in outer loop are DC in nature, they can be easily handled by regular proportional plus integral regulators. The inner loop control may also be performed in the DC domain, but inaccuracy involved in determining the parameter‐dependent decoupling terms and difficulty in setting the gain for fast‐acting inner loops make it unfavourable. Therefore, the inner control is performed in AC domain, where the signals are periodic. The proportional plus resonant controller is found to be very useful in tracking such type of periodic signals of fixed frequency, and accordingly, it has been designed and successfully implemented for the proposed work. The proposed methodology has been tested for eight different modes in the P–Q‐plane. The system is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink environment and implemented in real time with a scaled‐down hardware prototype.
Necessary conditions of Pontraygin’s type for general controlled stochastic Volterra integral equations
Authors: Wang Tianxiao
Published: January 2020

This article is addressed to giving a solution to a unsolved problem, i.e., to establish the necessary optimality conditions of Pontraygin’s type for controlled stochastic Volterra integral equations (SVIEs) when the control region is non-convex and the control variable enters into the diffusion. This problem has been open since [J. Yong, Stochastic Process Appl. 116 (2006) 779–795] obtained the analogue result for the case of convex control region. The key is to introduce a pair of suitable second-order adjoint processes (SOAPs). It is found that the usual way of using only one SOAP in the maximum condition for the classical setting of controlled stochastic differential equations does not work here.
Effect of electric and magnetic fields on operation of insulin pumps under 400 kV power lines
Authors: Korpinen L. , Pääkkönen R. , Penttilä M.
Published: January 2020

The aim was to study the operation of insulin pumps under a 400 kV transmission line (two test places) and possible disturbances that the lines could have caused. Three different insulin pumps were attached one at a time to the subject’s clothes. The diabetes nurse started the pumps before the tests to ensure the correct settings were being utilized. After walking under the power lines when meters were running, she tested if the meters had operated properly. At the first test site (A), the electric field was 5.0–5.1 kV/m and the magnetic field 8.6–10.9 μT, and in the second test place (B), the fields were 7.7–8.5 kV/m and 5.7–9.2 μT. The pumps worked perfectly: no disruption was detected in the flow, display or menu movement, and the events were registered correctly. Only the remote control, which worked well before and after the test, could not reliably receive additional doses. However, the functions of the insulin pump are not dependent on the functionality of the remote control device, so the study suggests that insulin pump users can move safely under the power lines.
Eine runde Sache! – Lernrad
Authors: Huber Martin
Published: January 2020

Motorisches Lernen ist ein zentraler Bestandteil der Neuroreha. Doch was bedeutet das konkret für die Therapie? Bislang fehlen kompakte Bezugsrahmenmodelle, die Praktikern eine Orientierung bieten. Aus diesem Grund entwickelten Martin Huber, Gail Cox Steck und Florian Erzer Lüscher das Lernrad. Es enthält alle relevanten Aspekte des Motorischen Lernens und dient als Farbpalette, mit der Therapeuten Motorisches Lernen individuell gestalten können.
Sich als Therapeut auch mal zurücknehmen – Empowerment in der psychiatrischen Tagesklinik
Authors: Behringer Andreas
Published: January 2020

Während seiner Arbeit in einer psychiatrischen Tagesklinik bemerkte Ergotherapeut Andreas Behringer, dass seine Klienten oft nicht wussten, worin ihre Stärken bestanden. Daher entwickelte er ein Gruppenangebot, das die Grundsätze des Empowerment-Ansatzes berücksichtigt und Klienten zu mehr Verantwortung für ihren Therapieverlauf verhilft.
Self-Assembling l-d-l-Tripeptides Dance the Twist
Authors: Cringoli Maria C. , Bellotto Ottavia , De Zorzi Rita , Vargiu Attilio V. , Marchesan Silvia
Published: January 2020

Minimalistic peptides composed of d- and l-amino acids are attractive building blocks for functional supramolecular materials, including catalysts. d-Amino acids have long been known to promote turn conformations in peptides, yet unexpected twists continue to emerge on their effects on self-assembly. The combination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction and full-atom molecular dynamics have finally unraveled fine details of how l-d-l-tripeptides visit different conformations in solution and establish key interactions in supramolecular structures.
γ-Selective Vinylogous Aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman Reaction with N-Carbamoylimines
Authors: Kawabata Takeo , Gondo Naruhiro , Tanigaki Yusuke , Ueda Yoshihiro
Published: January 2020

Vinylogous aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman (aza-MBH) reactions of a vinylcyclopentenone with N-Boc imines provide the corresponding γ-adducts in high regioselectivity (10 examples). While the corresponding reactions with N-Ts imines give the α-adducts and γ-adducts depending on the catalyst, those with N-Boc imines proceed in a γ-selective manner, irrespective of the promoter. The nature of the protecting groups on the nitrogen of the aldimines is found to play a key role in the regiochemical course of vinylogous aza-MBH reactions.
Nanostrain sensitivity in a wire torsion experiment
Authors: Ali W. , Liu D. , Li J. , Pery A. D. , Herrada N. , Mills D. , Owen R. A. , Burton P. A. , Dong D. , Gannaway G. , Bushby A. J. , Dunstan D. J.
Published: January 2020

The feasibility of a thin-wire torsion stress-strain experiment with nanostrain sensitivity is demonstrated. A gauge length of 50 m was made possible by using The Monument, London, thereby restoring it to its original purpose as a scientific instrument. A wire of 150 μm diameter was studied using the load-unload method, and data were recorded in the elastic regime and through the elastic-plastic transition. Analysis of this preliminary experiment suggested some necessary improvements to the equipment and methods. Progress towards definitive experiments is described together with difficulties still to be overcome.
Tailoring magnetic order via atomically stacking 3d/5d electrons to achieve high-performance spintronic devices
Authors: Huang Ke , Wu Liang , Wang Maoyu , Swain Nyayabanta , Motapothula M. , Luo Yongzheng , Han Kun , Chen Mingfeng , Ye Chen , Yang Allen Jian , Xu Huan , Qi Dong-chen , N'Diaye Alpha T. , Panagopoulos Christos , Primetzhofer Daniel , Shen Lei , Sengupta Pinaki , Ma Jing , Feng Zhenxing , Nan Ce-Wen , Renshaw Wang X.
Published: January 2020

The ability to tune magnetic orders, such as magnetic anisotropy and topological spin texture, is desired to achieve high-performance spintronic devices. A recent strategy has been to employ interfacial engineering techniques, such as the introduction of spin-correlated interfacial coupling, to tailor magnetic orders and achieve novel magnetic properties. We chose a unique polar–nonpolar LaMnO3/SrIrO3 superlattice because Mn (3d)/Ir (5d) oxides exhibit rich magnetic behaviors and strong spin–orbit coupling through the entanglement of their 3d and 5d electrons. Through magnetization and magnetotransport measurements, we found that the magnetic order is interface-dominated as the superlattice period is decreased. We were able to then effectively modify the magnetization, tilt of the ferromagnetic easy axis, and symmetry transition of the anisotropic magnetoresistance of the LaMnO3/SrIrO3 superlattice by introducing additional Mn (3d) and Ir (5d) interfaces. Further investigations using in-depth first-principles calculations and numerical simulations revealed that these magnetic behaviors could be understood by the 3d/5d electron correlation and Rashba spin–orbit coupling. The results reported here demonstrate a new route to synchronously engineer magnetic properties through the atomic stacking of different electrons, which would contribute to future applications in high-capacity storage devices and advanced computing.
Effect of Mo-Cu cathode composition on process stability, macroparticle formation, plasma generation, and thin-film deposition in DC arc synthesis
Authors: Zhirkov Igor , Polcik Peter , Petruhins Andrejs , Kolozsvári Szilard , Rosen Johanna
Published: January 2020

In this work, we present the correlation between cathode composition and features of the arcing process for Mo1 − xCux [x = 0.0, 0.07 (0.05), 0.14 (0.10), 0.21 (0.15), 0.40 (0.3), 0.73 (0.63), 0.97 (0.95), and 1.00, atomic fraction (weight fraction)] cathodes used in a DC vacuum-arc deposition system. It is found that the stability of the arcing process crucially depends on the cathode composition. The most stable arc spot and the lowest cathode potential (∼19 V) are detected for the Mo0.27Cu0.73 cathode, while the Mo0.93Cu0.07 cathode shows the most unstable arcing process with the highest cathode potential (∼28 V). The properties of the generated plasma are also strongly dependent on the relative ratio of the cathode elements. The metal ions from the Mo and Cu cathodes have peak kinetic energies around 136 and 62 eV, respectively, while for a Mo0.79Cu0.21 cathode, the corresponding energies are only 45 and 28 eV. The average charge states decreased from 2.1 to 1.6 for Mo ions and from 2 to 1.2 for Cu ions. The intensity of macroparticle generation and the size of the droplets correlate with the relative fraction of Cu. However, it is shown that, typically for the cathodes with a low amount of Cu, an increased abundance of visually observed macroparticles leads to droplet-free films. The film thicknesses and their compositions also demonstrate dependencies on the elemental composition of the cathode. These results are discussed in the light of no solubility between Mo and Cu and the high temperature of the cathode surface during the arcing process.
Formation of high-intensity axially symmetric and ribbon beams of low-energy metal ions
Authors: Ryabchikov Alexander I. , Sivin Denis O. , Shevelev Alexey E. , Modebadze Georgy S.
Published: January 2020

Low-energy metal ion beams are of considerable interest in developing a high-intensity implantation method that modifies the elemental composition, microstructure, and properties of various materials at depths many times exceeding the projective range of ions. This study presents the results of experiments on plasma-immersion formation followed by spherical and cylindrical ballistic focusing of aluminum and titanium ion beams. The features of the formation, transport, and ballistic focusing of an ion beam are discussed based on the parameters of the vacuum-arc plasma, conditions of its preliminary injection into the drift space and beam focusing, amplitude, duration, and frequency of the bias potential pulses. The optimal conditions to form high-intensity beams of metal ions purified from the macroparticle debris of a vacuum-arc with a current of higher than 1 A and a current density of up to 0.5 A/cm2 are determined.
Clustering-induced velocity-reversals of active colloids mixed with passive particles
Authors: Hauke Frederik , Löwen Hartmut , Liebchen Benno
Published: January 2020

Recent experiments have shown that colloidal suspensions can spontaneously self-assemble into dense clusters of various internal structures, sizes, and dynamical properties when doped with active Janus particles. Characteristically, these clusters move ballistically during their formation but dynamically revert their velocity and temporarily move opposite to the self-propulsion direction of the Janus particles they contain. Here, we explore a simple effective model of colloidal mixtures that allows reproducing most aspects seen in experiments, including the morphology and the velocity-reversal of the clusters. We attribute the latter to the nonreciprocal phoretic attractions of the passive particles to the active colloids’ caps, taking place even at close contact and pushing the active particles backwards. When the phoretic interactions are repulsive, in turn, they cause dynamical aggregation of passive colloids in the chemical density minima produced by the active particles, as recently seen in experiments; in other parameter regimes, they induce traveling fronts of active particles pursued by passive ones coexisting with an active gas.
Ultrafast photoinduced dynamics of single atoms solvated inside helium nanodroplets
Authors: Thaler Bernhard , Heim Pascal , Treiber Leonhard , Koch Markus
Published: January 2020

Helium nanodroplets can serve as reaction containers for photoinduced time-resolved studies of cold, isolated molecular systems that are otherwise inaccessible. Recently, three different dynamical processes, triggered by photoexcitation of a single atom inside a droplet, were observed in their natural time scale: Expansion of the He solvation shell (He bubble) within 600 fs initiates a collective bubble oscillation with a ∼30 ps oscillation period, followed by dopant ejection after ∼60 ps. Here, we present a systematic investigation of these processes by combining time-resolved photoelectron and photoion spectroscopy with time-dependent He density functional theory simulations. By variation of the photoexcitation energy, we find that the full excess excitation energy, represented by the blue-shifted in-droplet excitation band, is completely transferred to the He environment during the bubble expansion. Surprisingly, we find that variation of the droplet size has only a minor influence on the ejection time, providing insight into the spatial distribution of the ground-state atoms before photoexcitation. Simulated particle trajectories after photoexcitation are in agreement with experimental observations and suggest that the majority of ground-state atoms are located at around 16 Å below the droplet surface. Bubble expansion and oscillation are purely local effects, depending only on the ultimate dopant environment. These solvation-induced dynamics will be superimposed on intramolecular dynamics of molecular systems, and a mechanistic description is fundamental for the interpretation of future experiments.
High-resolution infrared spectroscopy of HCF in the CH stretch region
Authors: Doney Kirstin D. , Kortyna Andrew , Nesbitt David J.
Published: January 2020

We present the results from a high-resolution infrared study of jet-cooled singlet monofluorocarbene (HCF) in the CH stretch region near 2600 cm−1. Absorption signals are recorded using near quantum shot noise limited laser absorption methods. The fully resolved absorption spectra of the CH stretch (ν1) fundamental band and a partial progression of transitions of the HCF bend plus CF stretch (ν2 + ν3) combination band are observed and show clear evidence of a strong rovibrational coupling between the ν1 Ka′ = 2 and ν2 + ν3 Ka′ = 3 manifolds, including the observation of “dark state” transitions. A detailed perturbation analysis of a c-type Coriolis interaction is carried out for these two coupled vibrational states, providing experimental determination of precise rovibrational constants. A combined ground state combination difference fit of the transitions to the ν1 and ν2 + ν3 vibrational states in this study with previously reported LIF Ã(0,0,0) ← X̃(0,0,0) data has been done to increase the accuracy of the ground state rotational constants [M. Kakimoto et al., J. Mol. Spec. 88, 300–310 (1981)]. Moreover, we report, for the first time, hot band (ν1 + ν3 ← ν3) transitions due to vibrationally excited HCF in the CF stretch mode, ν3. The high-resolution results for all vibrational frequencies and rotational constants are in good agreement with and significantly extend the analysis of the rovibrational manifold of HCF. The present ground state and ν3 spectroscopic parameters now permit improved predictions for pure rotational and ν3 fundamental transitions to aid spectral searches for HCF in the laboratory and the interstellar medium.
Efficient microextraction process exploiting spontaneous interfacial convection driven by Marangoni and electric field induced instability: A computational fluid dynamics study
Authors: Mitra Shirsendu , Singh Sunil Kumar , Shevchenko Ekaterina , Sachan Mohit , Ghosh Abir , Basak Mitali , Gooh Pattader Partho Sarathi
Published: January 2020

The present study focuses on the component transfer from one liquid phase to another liquid phase, commonly known as the extraction process, performed in a microchannel in the presence of spontaneous interfacial convection, driven by either an interfacial tension gradient or an applied external electric field. Marangoni instability occurs as a result of a lateral gradient of interfacial tension existing along the interface of the two fluids. Nonequilibrium phenomena associated with factors such as temperature imbalance, a nonuniform distribution of surface-active components at the interface, evaporation, etc. can lead to the interfacial Marangoni instability. In the present study, first, we have explored temperature gradient driven Marangoni instability, which deforms the interface with significant acceleration and induces local convective mass transfer along with the conventional diffusion mode. Next, we have explored the same phenomenon in the presence of an external electric field, which can also deform the liquid-liquid interface almost instantaneously to a considerable extent. The relative strength of the mass transfer rate for different cases, such as temperature driven instability, in the presence of uniform and nonuniform electric fields has been reported in detail. It has also been observed that, due to the larger mass transfer area, the annular flow offers an enhanced rate of mass transfer compared to the stratified flow. Additionally, this article reports that the nonuniform electric field could influence the process of interfacial instability more strongly compared to the uniform electric field. The effect of the nonuniform electric field with different spatial periodicity on the extraction process has been studied in detail.
Going video: Understanding interpreter-mediated clinical
communication through the video lens
Authors: Krystallidou Demi
Published: January 2020

Most of the research on dialogue interpreting has been conducted
by taking only verbal interaction into account. Although the existing
research has managed to shed some light on the complexity of
interpreter-mediated interaction, there is still a lot to be unravelled by
adopting a multimodal stance and including non-verbal cues in the analysis
of verbal interaction. This study builds on the findings of recent research
by Davitti (2013); Davitti & Pasquandrea (2017);
Krystallidou (2013, 2014, 2016); Pasquandrea (2011, 2012). In this study, I draw on data taken from a corpus of
authentic video-recorded interpreter-mediated consultations at a large urban
hospital in Belgium. By applying multimodal analysis to data and comparing
it to analysis based on transcripts alone, I highlight a set of
interactional dynamics that touch upon new aspects of the complexity of
interpreter-mediated interaction and which a transcript-based analysis alone
would have failed to capture. It will be shown that participants’ gaze,
gestures and body orientation, along with verbal interaction, are used by
the interpreter as semiotic resources that do affect the doctor’s and the
patient’s participation in interaction. However, the weight the interpreter
seems to attach to the primary participants’ semiotic resources seems to be
subject to the participation status of each participant.
I ~ You > I ~ Me
Authors: Lantolf James P.
Published: January 2020

An often-unquestioned
assumption regarding psychological and linguistic
development is that the interesting and relevant
processes occur inside the head of the individual.
It is a position that “fetishizes” the fact that
development necessarily entails social relations
as a component. Vygotsky, on the other hand,
proposes that uniquely human forms of mental
behavior, including language development, arise as
a result of social relations: “I relate to myself
as others relate to me” (1997). In other words, “I ~
You” interactions become, over time, “I ~ Me”
interactions in which the voices of others are
appropriated and transformed into my voice. This
paper fleshes out the theoretical argument
underlying the hidden or “fetishized” social other
and considers the implications of this stance for
second language development.
Examining the role of instructor first
language in classroom-based oral input
Authors: Long Avizia Y. , Geeslin Kimberly L.
Published: January 2020

In instructed second
language (L2) settings, instructor-provided input
is essential for learners’ interlanguage
development. While some input is consciously
modified by instructors to assist learners, much
of instructors’ speech contains inherent
linguistic variability mediated by linguistic,
social, and situational factors. Variable,
learner-directed input may also be influenced by
instructors’ individual characteristics (e.g.,
Gurzynski-Weiss, Geeslin, Long, & Daidone,
2017; Gurzynski-Weiss et al., 2018). The present
study extends this work by examining instructor
first language (L1) in relation to patterns of
variable subject expression in Spanish in
learner-directed classroom speech. Twelve
instructors of second year, university-level L2
Spanish – half with L1 Spanish and half with L1
English – were recorded teaching one
vocabulary-focused lesson. Analyses of subject
forms produced in finite clauses in relation to
independent variables known to constrain subject
expression in Spanish revealed that some constraints on
subject form use in instructor speech were
influenced by the instructors’ L1.
Compressed ghost imaging based on differential speckle patterns*
Authors: Wang Le , Zhao Shengmei
Published: January 2020

We propose a compressed ghost imaging scheme based on differential speckle patterns, named CGI-DSP. In the scheme, a series of bucket detector signals are acquired when a series of random speckle patterns are employed to illuminate an unknown object. Then the differential speckle patterns (differential bucket detector signals) are obtained by taking the difference between present random speckle patterns (present bucket detector signals) and previous random speckle patterns (previous bucket detector signals). Finally, the image of object can be obtained directly by performing the compressed sensing algorithm on the differential speckle patterns and differential bucket detector signals. The experimental and simulated results reveal that CGI-DSP can improve the imaging quality and reduce the number of measurements comparing with the traditional compressed ghost imaging schemes because our scheme can remove the environmental illuminations efficiently.
Dynamic evolution of vortex structures induced by tri-electrode plasma actuator*
Authors: Zheng Bo-Rui , Xue Ming , Ge Chang
Published: January 2020

Plasma flow control is a new type of active flow control approach based on plasma pneumatic actuation. Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) actuators have become a focus of international aerodynamic research. However, the practical applications of typical DBDs are largely restricted due to their limited discharge area and low relative-induced velocity. The further improvement of performance will be beneficial for engineering applications. In this paper, high-speed schlieren and high-speed particle image velocimetry (PIV) are employed to study the flow field induced by three kinds of plasma actuations in a static atmosphere, and the differences in induced flow field structure among typical DBD, extended DBD (EX-DBD), and tri-electrode sliding discharge (TED) are compared. The analyzing of the dynamic evolution of the maximum horizontal velocity over time, the velocity profile at a fixed horizontal position, and the momentum and body force in a control volume reveals that the induced velocity peak value and profile velocity height of EX-DBD are higher than those of the other two types of actuation, suggesting that EX-DBD actuation has the strongest temporal aerodynamic effect among the three types of actuations. The TED actuation not only can enlarge the plasma extension but also has the longest duration in the entire pulsed period and the greatest influence on the height and width of the airflow near the wall surface. Thus, the TED actuation has the ability to continuously influencing a larger three-dimensional space above the surface of the plasma actuator.
Single-step, acid-based fabrication of homogeneous gelatin-polycaprolactone fibrillar scaffolds intended for skin tissue engineering
Authors: Prado-Prone Gina , Bazzar Masoomeh , Letizia Focarete Maria , García-Macedo Jorge A , Perez-Orive Javier , Ibarra Clemente , Velasquillo Cristina , Silva-Bermudez Phaedra
Published: January 2020

Blends of natural and synthetic polymers have recently attracted great attention as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications due to their favorable biological and mechanical properties. Nevertheless, phase-separation of blend components is an important challenge facing the development of electrospun homogeneous fibrillar natural-synthetic polymers scaffolds; phase-separation can produce significant detrimental effects for scaffolds fabricated by electrospinning. In the present study, blends of gelatin (Gel; natural polymer) and polycaprolactone (PCL; synthetic polymer), containing 30 and 45 wt% Gel, were prepared using acetic acid as a ‘green’ sole solvent to straightforwardly produce appropriate single-step Gel-PCL solutions for electrospinning. Miscibility of Gel and PCL in the scaffolds was assessed and the morphology, chemical composition and structural and solid-state properties of the scaffolds were thoroughly investigated. Results showed that the two polymers proved miscible under the single-step solution process used and that the electrospun scaffolds presented suitable properties for potential skin tissue engineering applications. Viability, metabolic activity and protein expression of human fibroblasts cultured on the Gel-PCL scaffolds were evaluated using LIVE/DEAD (calcein/ethidium homodimer), MTT-Formazan and immunocytochemistry assays, respectively. In vitro results showed that the electrospun Gel-PCL scaffolds enhanced cell viability and proliferation in comparison to PCL scaffolds. Furthermore, scaffolds allowed fibroblasts expression of extracellular matrix proteins, tropoelastin and collagen Type I, in a similar way to positive controls. Results indicated the feasibility of the single-step solution process used herein to obtain homogeneous electrospun Gel-PCL scaffolds with Gel content ≥30 wt% and potential properties to be used as scaffolds for skin tissue engineering applications for wound healing.
Wastewater management strategies for sustained shale gas production
Authors: Menefee Anne H , Ellis Brian R
Published: January 2020

Recent advances in shale gas development have largely outpaced efforts to manage associated waste streams that pose significant environmental risks. Wastewater management presents significant challenges in the Marcellus shale, where increasing fluid volumes concomitant with expanding development will threaten to overwhelm existing infrastructure over the next decade. In this work, we forecast growth in drilling, flowback, and produced fluid volumes through 2025 based on historic data and consider conventional and alternative disposal options to meet future demands. The results indicate that nearly 12 million m3 (74 MMbbl) of wastewater will be generated annually by 2025. Even assuming wastewater recycling rates in the region rebound, meeting increased demands for wastewater that cannot be reused due to poor quality or logistics would require significant capital investment to expand existing disposal pathways, namely treatment and discharge at centralized facilities or dedicated brine injection in Ohio. Here, we demonstrate the logistical and environmental advantages of an alternative strategy: repurposing depleted oil and gas wells for dedicated injection of wastewater that cannot otherwise be reused or recycled. Hubs of depleted wells could accommodate projected increases in wastewater volumes more efficiently than existing disposal options, primarily because the proximity of depleted wells to active production sites would substantially reduce wastewater transport distances and associated costs. This study highlights the need to reevaluate regional-scale shale wastewater management practices in the context of evolving wastewater qualities and quantities, as strategic planning will result in more socially and economically favorable options while avoiding adverse environmental impacts that have overshadowed the environmental benefits of natural gas expansion in the energy sector.
Noncrop Habitat Use by Wild Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) in a Mixed-Use Agricultural Landscape
Authors: Du Clos Brianne , Drummond Francis A , Loftin Cynthia S
Published: January 2020

Homogeneous, agriculturally intense landscapes have abundant records of pollinator community research, though similar studies in the forest-dominated, heterogeneous mixed-use landscape that dominates the northeastern United States are sparse. Trends of landscape effects on wild bees are consistent across homogeneous agricultural landscapes, whereas reported studies in the northeastern United States have not found this consistency. Additionally, the role of noncrop habitat in mixed-use landscapes is understudied. We assessed wild bee communities in the mixed-use lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) production landscape of Maine, United States at 56 sites in eight land cover types across two regional landscapes and analyzed effects of floral resources, landscape pattern, and spatial scale on bee abundance and species richness. Within survey sites, cover types with abundant floral resources, including lowbush blueberry fields and urban areas, promoted wild bee abundance and diversity. Cover types with few floral resources such as coniferous and deciduous/mixed forest reduced bee abundance and species richness. In the surrounding landscape, lowbush blueberry promoted bee abundance and diversity, while emergent wetland and forested land cover strongly decreased these measures. Our analysis of landscape configuration revealed that patch mixing can promote wild bee abundance and diversity; however, this was influenced by strong variation across our study landscape. More surveys at intra-regional scales may lead to better understanding of the influence of mixed-use landscapes on bee communities.
Photoperiod Effect on Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) Female Regarding Diapause Status of Progeny: The Importance of Data Scrutiny
Authors: Pitts-Singer Theresa L
Published: January 2020

Megachile rotundata F. populations are managed to pollinate alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. (Fabaceae), for seed production in western North America. Some progeny produced in summer by overwintered M. rotundata females enter diapause as prepupae to overwinter and become adults the following year. Other offspring avert diapause to undergo adult emergence in summer. The regulatory mechanism(s) of diapause induction or aversion is unknown; the process apparently involves multiple and integrated factors. This 4-yr study sought to determine effects of the exposure of mother bees to short, long, very long, and natural photoperiods on their production of non-diapausing and diapausing progeny. Just-emerged adult bees from both Utah and Canada sources were exposed to different photoperiods for 3 d in incubators and then released into field enclosures placed over blooming alfalfa. Control bees were those exposed to only outdoor conditions. Reproduction was monitored for each female bee, and offspring diapause outcome was recorded. Progeny outcome data were informative for only two of the four study years. Generally, progeny of Utah mothers exposed to long and very long photoperiods were more likely to be non-diapausers compared to progeny of mothers exposed to short and control photoperiods. Short and long (but not very long) photoperiod maternal exposures increased the likelihood of diapause aversion in Canada progeny. Performing multiyear field studies on geographically distinct populations is imperative for revealing environmental challenges and inconsistent bee performance that can impair analyses and interpretation. Future similar studies are needed to more fully evaluate photoperiod effects on diapause.
Aortic valve repair with a newly approved geometric annuloplasty ring in patients undergoing proximal aortic repair: early results from a single-centre experience
Authors: Jawitz Oliver K , Raman Vignesh , Anand Jatin , Bishawi Muath , Voigt Soraya L , Doberne Julie , Vekstein Andrew M , Weissler E Hope , Turek Joseph W , Hughes G Chad
Published: January 2020

OBJECTIVES

Aortic insufficiency (AI) is common in patients with proximal aortic disease, but limited options exist to facilitate aortic valve repair (AVr) in this population. This study reports ‘real-world’ early results of AVr using newly FDA-approved trileaflet and bicuspid geometric annuloplasty rings for patients with AI undergoing proximal aortic repair (PAR) in a single referral centre.

METHODS

All patients undergoing AVr with a rigid internal geometric annuloplasty ring (n = 47) in conjunction with PAR (ascending +/− root +/− arch) were included. Thirty-six patients underwent AVr with a trileaflet ring, and 11 patients underwent AVr with a bicuspid ring. The rings were implanted in the subannular position, and concomitant leaflet repair was performed if required for cusp prolapse identified after ring placement.

RESULTS

The median age was 58 years [interquartile range (IQR) 46–70]. PAR included supracoronary ascending replacement in 26 (55%) patients and remodelling valve-sparing root replacement with selective sinus replacement in 20 (42%) patients. Arch replacement was performed in 38 (81%) patients, including hemi-arch in 34 patients and total arch in 4 patients. There was no 30-day/in-hospital mortality. Preoperative AI was 3–4+ in 37 (79%) patients. Forty-one (87%) patients had zero–trace AI on post-repair transoesophageal echocardiography, and 6 patients had 1+ AI. The median early post-repair mean gradient was 13 mmHg (IQR 5–20). Follow-up imaging was available in 32 (68%) patients at a median of 11 months (IQR 10–13) postsurgery. AI was ≤1+ in 97% of patients with 2+ AI in 1 patient. All patients were alive and free from aortic valve reintervention at last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Early results with geometric rigid internal ring annuloplasty for AVr in patients undergoing PAR appear promising and allow a standardized approach to repair with annular diameter reduction and cusp plication when needed. Longer-term follow-up will be required to ensure the durability of the procedure.
Radiomics-based prediction for tumour spread through air spaces in stage I lung adenocarcinoma using machine learning
Authors: Chen Donglai , She Yunlang , Wang Tingting , Xie Huikang , Li Jian , Jiang Gening , Chen Yongbing , Zhang Lei , Xie Dong , Chen Chang
Published: January 2020

OBJECTIVES

As evidence has proven that sublobar resection is oncologically contraindicated by tumour spread through air spaces (STAS), its preoperative recognition is vital in customizing surgical strategies. We aimed to assess the value of radiomics in predicting STAS in stage I lung adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the patients with stage I lung adenocarcinoma, who accepted curative resection in our institution between January 2011 and December 2013. Using ‘PyRadiomics’ package, 88 radiomics features were extracted from computed tomography (CT) images and a prediction model was consequently constructed using Naïve Bayes machine-learning approach. The accuracy of the model was assessed through receiver operating curve analysis, and the performance of the model was validated both internally and externally.

RESULTS

A total of 233 patients were included as the training cohort with 69 (29.6%) patients being STAS (+). Patients with STAS had worse recurrence-free survival and overall survival (P < 0.001). After feature extraction, 5 most contributing radiomics features were selected out to develop a Naïve Bayes model. In the internal validation, the model exhibited good performance with an area under the curve value of 0.63 (0.55–0.71). External validation was conducted on a test cohort with 112 patients and produced an area under the curve value of 0.69.

CONCLUSIONS

CT-based radiomics is valuable in preoperatively predicting STAS in stage I lung adenocarcinoma, which may aid surgeons in determining the optimal surgical approach.
Atrial fibrosis as a dominant factor for the development of atrial fibrillation: facts and gaps
Authors: Xintarakou Anastasia , Tzeis Stylianos , Psarras Stelios , Asvestas Dimitrios , Vardas Panos
Published: January 2020

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most commonly diagnosed arrhythmia, affects a notable percentage of the population and constitutes a major risk factor for thromboembolic events and other heart-related conditions. Fibrosis plays an important role in the onset and perpetuation of AF through structural and electrical remodelling processes. Multiple molecular pathways are involved in atrial substrate modification and the subsequent maintenance of AF. In this review, we aim to recapitulate underlying molecular pathways leading to atrial fibrosis and to indicate existing gaps in the complex interplay of atrial fibrosis and AF.
A genome alignment of 120 mammals highlights ultraconserved element variability and placenta-associated enhancers
Authors: Hecker Nikolai , Hiller Michael
Published: January 2020

Background

Multiple alignments of mammalian genomes have been the basis of many comparative genomic studies aiming at annotating genes, detecting regions under evolutionary constraint, and studying genome evolution. A key factor that affects the power of comparative analyses is the number of species included in a genome alignment.

Results

To utilize the increased number of sequenced genomes and to provide an accessible resource for genomic studies, we generated a mammalian genome alignment comprising 120 species. We used this alignment and the CESAR method to provide protein-coding gene annotations for 119 non-human mammals. Furthermore, we illustrate the utility of this alignment by 2 exemplary analyses. First, we quantified how variable ultraconserved elements (UCEs) are among placental mammals. Leveraging the high taxonomic coverage in our alignment, we estimate that UCEs contain on average 4.7%–15.6% variable alignment columns. Furthermore, we show that the center regions of UCEs are generally most constrained. Second, we identified enhancer sequences that are only conserved in placental mammals. We found that these enhancers are significantly associated with placenta-related genes, suggesting that some of these enhancers may be involved in the evolution of placental mammal-specific aspects of the placenta.

Conclusion

The 120-mammal alignment and all other data are available for analysis and visualization in a genome browser at https://genome-public.pks.mpg.de/and for download at https://bds.mpi-cbg.de/hillerlab/120MammalAlignment/.
Long-term temporal stability of Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua) otolith morphology
Authors: Denechaud Côme , Smoliński Szymon , Geffen Audrey J , Godiksen Jane A
Published: January 2020

Otolith shape analysis provides a robust tool for the discrimination of many fish stocks in the context of fisheries management. However, there has been little research to examine within-stock temporal stability of otolith morphology in relation to changes in the environment and stock conditions. This study investigated the variability of Northeast Arctic (NEA) cod (Gadus morhua) otolith shape between 1933 and 2015, using elliptical Fourier descriptors extracted from archived material of 2968 mature fish. Series of hierarchical multivariate models were developed to relate shape to the identified optimal windows of some environmental drivers. Differences between years accounted for <3% of the observed variation and no significant differences were found between the average cohort shapes. The models not only confirmed that fish growth was the strongest driver of shape differences, but also highlighted effects of temperature and biomass-related variables at different life stages. Extrinsic factors described only a small fraction of the observed variance, which indicates that environmental changes over time likely account for less than the natural inter-individual variability in otolith shape. These results suggest that overall shape remains relatively stable through time within NEA cod, which further contributes towards a consensus on the biological interpretation of shape differences.
Rational Picard Group of Moduli of Pointed Hyperelliptic Curves
Authors: Scavia Federico
Published: January 2020

We determine the rational divisor class group of the moduli spaces of smooth pointed hyperelliptic curves and of their Deligne–Mumford compactification, over the field of complex numbers.