bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing Variability of Infiltration Characteristics and Reliability of Infiltration Models in a Tropical Sub-humid Region of India
Authors: Mahapatra Smaranika , Jha Madan K. , Biswal Sabinaya , Senapati Debasis
Published: January 2020

Infiltration process, which plays a paramount role in irrigation and drainage systems design, groundwater recharge and contamination evaluation, flood and drought management etc. is often controlled by several factors, among which land use/land cover (LULC) and soil physical properties are the prime factors. These factors lead to significant spatial variability of infiltration process, which poses a serious challenge for hydrologists and water managers. However, studies analyzing spatial variability and influence of both LULC and soil physical properties are scarce. To this end, grid-based infiltration experiments were carried out in a tropical sub-humid region of India to investigate spatial variability of infiltration characteristics, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) as well as to evaluate reliability of seven infiltration models in predicting infiltration behaviour and estimating Ksat. Additionally, uncertainty analysis was performed to quantify uncertainties associated with estimated Ksat for different LULC and soils. Results indicated that quasi-steady infiltration rate over the study area vary considerably with a majority of the area falling under ‘low’ and ‘medium’ infiltration categories. The infiltration process is greatly influenced by macro-pores and relatively low-permeable layers present at varying depths, typical features of lateritic vadose zones in tropical sub-humid regions, rather than its sole dependence on texture and LULC. Further, the Brutsaert model estimates Ksat with the highest accuracy and least uncertainty followed by Swartzendruber and Horton models. Except the Brutsaert model, other models are sensitive to a particular LULC. Overall, it is inferred that the Brutsaert and Swartzendruber models are robust and more reliable in predicting infiltration behavior and Ksat for the area. Findings of this study including quantification of spatial variability of important soil properties are useful for understanding detailed hydrological processes in the region and thereby, ensuring better planning and management of recurring floods and drought problems of the region.
Retinal Capillary Plexus Pattern and Density from Fovea to Periphery Measured in Healthy Eyes with Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Authors: Lavia Carlo , Mecê Pedro , Nassisi Marco , Bonnin Sophie , Marie-Louise Jennifer , Couturier Aude , Erginay Ali , Tadayoni Ramin , Gaudric Alain
Published: January 2020

Optical coherence tomography angiography is evolving towards wider fields of view. As single widefield acquisitions have a lower resolution, preventing an accurate segmentation of vascular plexuses in the periphery, we examined the retinal vascularisation from the macula to the periphery in all retinal quadrants, using 3 × 3-mm volume scans, to obtain montages with sufficient image resolution up to 11 mm from the foveal centre. Images were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed, using C- and B-scan approaches to calculate the capillary density (CD) and the interplexus distance (IPD). Three vascular plexuses (i.e., superficial vascular plexus: SVP, intermediate capillary plexus: ICP, and deep capillary plexus: DCP) were observed up to the mid-periphery in all sectors. The CD of the SVP decreased from about 5 mm of eccentricity, along with ganglion cell density decrease. The CD of the ICP progressively decreased from the fovea towards the periphery, along with the retinal thinning and then vanished from 8 to 9 mm of eccentricity, becoming undetectable beyond. This ICP disappearance resulted in an increased IPD between the SVP and the DCP in an area known to be frequently affected by capillary drop-out in diabetic retinopathy. The DCP only showed a slightly decreased CD towards the retinal periphery.
Reversed Doppler effect based on hybridized acoustic Mie resonances
Authors: Liu Chen , Long Houyou , Zhou Chen , Cheng Ying , Liu Xiaojun
Published: January 2020

The realization of reversed Doppler effects in double-negative acoustic metamaterials remains challenging. This paper demonstrates the reversed Doppler effect associated with sound wave propagation in negative group velocity in hybridized metamaterial (HM) system using a simple Mie-resonator configuration. Double-negative acoustic parameters act simultaneously on the effective dynamic bulk modulus and mass density within overlapped frequency region of multiple Mie resonances. Notably, while ordinary media exhibits higher received frequency during the approach and lower during the recession, we observe that in HM the detected signals show redshift compared to the emitted frequency when approaching to the source while depict blue shift when receding from the source. On this basis, the HM exhibits negative phase velocity with reversed wavefronts and negative refraction effect for certain frequency range. Focusing of sound waves emitted from a point source is further realized with a flat lens composed by such a HM slab.
Associations between adipose tissue volume and small molecules in plasma and urine among asymptomatic subjects from the general population
Authors: Otto Lerina , Budde Kathrin , Kastenmüller Gabi , Kaul Anne , Völker Uwe , Völzke Henry , Adamski Jerzy , Kühn Jens P. , Krumsiek Jan , Artati Anna , Nauck Matthias , Friedrich Nele , Pietzner Maik
Published: January 2020

Obesity is one of the major risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. A disproportional accumulation of fat at visceral (VAT) compared to subcutaneous sites (SAT) has been suspected as a key detrimental event. We used non-targeted metabolomics profiling to reveal metabolic pathways associated with higher VAT or SAT amount among subjects free of metabolic diseases to identify possible contributing metabolic pathways. The study population comprised 491 subjects [mean (standard deviation): age 44.6 yrs (13.0), body mass index 25.4 kg/m² (3.6), 60.1% females] without diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, the metabolic syndrome or impaired renal function. We associated MRI-derived fat amounts with mass spectrometry-derived metabolites in plasma and urine using linear regression models adjusting for major confounders. We tested for sex-specific effects using interactions terms and performed sensitivity analyses for the influence of insulin resistance on the results. VAT and SAT were significantly associated with 155 (101 urine) and 49 (29 urine) metabolites, respectively, of which 45 (27 urine) were common to both. Major metabolic pathways were branched-chain amino acid metabolism (partially independent of insulin resistance), surrogate markers of oxidative stress and gut microbial diversity, and cortisol metabolism. We observed a novel positive association between VAT and plasma levels of the potential pharmacological agent piperine. Sex-specific effects were only a few, e.g. the female-specific association between VAT and O-methylascorbate. In brief, higher VAT was associated with an unfavorable metabolite profile in a sample of healthy, mostly non-obese individuals from the general population and only few sex-specific associations became apparent.
Raman Spectroscopy Study on Chemical Transformations of Propane at High Temperatures and High Pressures
Authors: Kudryavtsev Daniil A. , Fedotenko Timofey М. , Koemets Egor G. , Khandarkhaeva Saiana E. , Kutcherov Vladimir G. , Dubrovinsky Leonid S.
Published: January 2020

This study is devoted to the detailed in situ Raman spectroscopy investigation of propane C3H8 in laser-heated diamond anvil cells in the range of pressures from 3 to 22 GPa and temperatures from 900 to 3000 K. We show that propane, while being exposed to particular thermobaric conditions, could react, leading to the formation of hydrocarbons, both saturated and unsaturated as well as soot. Our results suggest that propane could be a precursor of heavy hydrocarbons and will produce more than just sooty material when subjected to extreme conditions. These results could clarify the issue of the presence of heavy hydrocarbons in the Earth’s upper mantle.
Spatial induction of genes encoding secreted proteins in micro-colonies of Aspergillus niger
Authors: Tegelaar Martin , Aerts David , Teertstra Wieke R. , Wösten Han A. B.
Published: January 2020

Aspergillus niger is used by the industry to produce enzymes and metabolites such as citric acid. In liquid cultures, it can grow as a dispersed mycelium or as micro-colonies with a width in the micrometer to millimeter range. Here, it was assessed whether expression of genes encoding secreted enzymes depends on mycelium morphology. To this end, expression of the reporter gene gfp from the promoters of the glucoamylase gene glaA, the feruloyl esterase gene faeA and the α-glucuronidase gene aguA was causally related to micro-colony size within a liquid shaken culture. Data could be fitted by hyperbolic functions, implying that the genes encoding these secreted proteins are expressed in a shell at the periphery of the micro-colony. The presence of such a shell was confirmed by confocal microscopy. Modelling predicted that the width of these zones was 13 to 156 µm depending on growth medium and micro-colony diameter. Together, data indicate that the highest productive micro-colonies are those colonies that have a radius ≤ the width of the peripheral expression zone.
Association of the genetic ancestry with resistant hypertension in the ReHOT (Resistant Hypertension Optimal Treatment) randomized study
Authors: Bueno Carolina Tosin , Pereira Alexandre Costa , Santos Hadassa Campos , Gómez Luz Marina Gómez , Horimoto Andrea Roseli Vançan Russo , Krieger Eduardo Moacyr , Krieger Jose Eduardo , Santos Paulo Caleb Junior Lima
Published: January 2020

Resistant hypertension (RH) is defined as uncontrolled blood pressure despite treatment with three or more antihypertensive medications, including, if tolerated, a diuretic in adequate doses. It has been widely known that race is associated with blood pressure control. However, intense debate persists as to whether this is solely explained by unadjusted socioeconomical variables or genetic variation. In this scenario, the main aim was to evaluate the association between genetic ancestry and resistant hypertension in a large sample from a multicenter trial of stage II hypertension, the ReHOT study. Samples from 1,358 patients were analyzed, of which 167 were defined as resistant hypertensive. Genetic ancestry was defined using a panel of 192 polymorphic markers. The genetic ancestry was similar in resistant (52.0% European, 36.7% African and 11.3% Amerindian) and nonresistant hypertensive patients (54.0% European, 34.4% African and 11.6% Amerindian) (p > 0.05). However, we observed a statistically suggestive association of African ancestry with resistant hypertension in brown patient group. In conclusion, increased African genetic ancestry was not associated with RH in Brazilian patients from a prospective randomized hypertension clinical trial.
Publisher Correction: Antimicrobial Resistance Prediction for Gram-Negative Bacteria via Game Theory-Based Feature Evaluation
Authors: Chowdhury Abu Sayed , Call Douglas R. , Broschat Shira L.
Published: January 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Individual-patient prediction of meningioma malignancy and survival using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database
Authors: Moreau Jeremy T. , Hankinson Todd C. , Baillet Sylvain , Dudley Roy W. R.
Published: January 2020

Meningiomas are known to have relatively lower aggressiveness and better outcomes than other central nervous system (CNS) tumors. However, there is considerable overlap between clinical and radiological features characterizing benign, atypical, and malignant tumors. In this study, we developed methods and a practical app designed to assist with the diagnosis and prognosis of meningiomas. Statistical learning models were trained and validated on 62,844 patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. We used balanced logistic regression-random forest ensemble classifiers and proportional hazards models to learn multivariate patterns of association between malignancy, survival, and a series of basic clinical variables—such as tumor size, location, and surgical procedure. We demonstrate that our models are capable of predicting meaningful individual-specific clinical outcome variables and show good generalizability across 16 SEER registries. A free smartphone and web application is provided for readers to access and test the predictive models (www.meningioma.app). Future model improvements and prospective replication will be necessary to demonstrate true clinical utility. Rather than being used in isolation, we expect that the proposed models will be integrated into larger and more comprehensive models that integrate imaging and molecular biomarkers. Whether for meningiomas or other tumors of the CNS, the power of these methods to make individual-patient predictions could lead to improved diagnosis, patient counseling, and outcomes.
Systemic loss of Sarm1 protects Schwann cells from chemotoxicity by delaying axon degeneration
Authors: Tian Weili , Czopka Tim , López-Schier Hernán
Published: January 2020

Protecting the nervous system from chronic effects of physical and chemical stress is a pressing clinical challenge. The obligate pro-degenerative protein Sarm1 is essential for Wallerian axon degeneration. Thus, blocking Sarm1 function is emerging as a promising neuroprotective strategy with therapeutic relevance. Yet, the conditions that will most benefit from inhibiting Sarm1 remain undefined. Here we combine genome engineering, pharmacology and high-resolution intravital videmicroscopy in zebrafish to show that genetic elimination of Sarm1 increases Schwann-cell resistance to toxicity by diverse chemotherapeutic agents after axonal injury. Synthetic degradation of Sarm1-deficient axons reversed this effect, suggesting that glioprotection is a non-autonomous effect of delayed axon degeneration. Moreover, loss of Sarm1 does not affect macrophage recruitment to nerve-wound microenvironment, injury resolution, or neural-circuit repair. These findings anticipate that interventions aimed at inhibiting Sarm1 can counter heightened glial vulnerability to chemical stressors and may be an effective strategy to reduce chronic consequences of neurotrauma.
Multivariate MOFs for laser writing of alloy nanoparticle patterns
Authors: Ma Ruiqian , Jiang Haoqing , Wang Chao , Zhao Chengbin , Deng Hexiang
Published: January 2020

We report three methods for the synthesis of alloy nanoparticles by a laser in air, where three types of MOF precursors are used.
A molecular recognition-activatable DNA nanofirecracker enables signal-enhanced imaging in living cells
Authors: Xing Xiaojing , Li Jin , Qiu Liping , Tan Weihong
Published: January 2020

An aptamer-tethered DNA nanofirecracker probe that realizes molecular recognition-activatable disassembly of the DNA nanostructure for signal-enhanced bioimaging in living cells.
Chirality on dendrimers: “roll booster” of the molecule-level self-sorting assembly in two-component supramolecular gel system
Authors: He Huiwen , Zheng Hao , Ma Meng , Shi Yanqing , Gao Zengliang , Chen Si , Wang Xu
Published: January 2020

Chirality-induced recognition-promoted thermodynamic phase separation and different rate-kinetically controlled assembly helps molecule-level self-sorting emerge in a dendritic multicomponent gel.
van der Waals force layered multiferroic hybrid perovskite (CH3NH3)2CuCl4 single crystals
Authors: Hu Zhao , Zhao Hongyang , Cheng Zhenxiang , Ding Jianxu , Gao Han , Han Yibo , Wang Shengao , Xu Zhiwen , Zhou Yucheng , Jia Tingting , Kimura Hideo , Osada Minoru
Published: January 2020

In inorganic–organic perovskites, the three-dimensional arrangement of the organic group results in more subtle balance of charge, spin and space, thereby providing an attractive route toward new multiferroics.
Mechanistic in situ investigation of heterogeneous hydrogenation over Rh/TiO2 catalysts: selectivity, pairwise route and catalyst nature
Authors: Pokochueva Ekaterina V. , Burueva Dudari B. , Kovtunova Larisa M. , Bukhtiyarov Andrey V. , Gladky Alexei Yu. , Kovtunov Kirill V. , Koptyug Igor V. , Bukhtiyarov Valerii I.
Published: January 2020

We report a catalyst with the highest selectivity toward pairwise hydrogen addition of 7% among supported metal catalysts, found as a result of variation of Rh/TiO2 catalyst preparation procedures.
An effective photothermal dual-responsive Pd1Cu4/CexOy catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions under mild conditions
Authors: Liu Bo , Xu Tong , Li Chunping , Bai Jie
Published: January 2020

A Pd1Cu4/CexOy catalyst can efficiently catalyze Suzuki reactions under both heating and visible light irradiation conditions.
Synergistic effects of the processing solvent and additive on the production of efficient all-polymer solar cells
Authors: Liu Xiaohui , Li Xiaodong , Wang Lei , Fang Junfeng , Yang Chuluo
Published: January 2020

Ideal morphological features are of particular importance to produce high performance all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs), in which active blends generally involve unfavorable phase separation due to complicated intermixing.
Chemical stability of Ca3Co4−xO9+δ/CaMnO3−δ p–n junction for oxide-based thermoelectric generators
Authors: Gunnæs Anette Eleonora , Tofan Raluca , Berland Kristian , Gorantla Sandeep , Storaas Thomas , Desissa Temesgen Debelo , Schrade Matthias , Persson Clas , Einarsrud Mari-Ann , Wiik Kjell , Norby Truls , Kanas Nikola
Published: January 2020

The heat treatment beneficially affects the performance of an all-oxide thermoelectric generator through phase and element distribution within this p–n junction.
Enhancement of the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries by SiO2@poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) nanosphere addition into a polypropylene membrane
Authors: Yang Guoping , Cai Haopeng , Li Xiangyu , Wu Mengjun , Yin Xue , Zhang Haining , Tang Haolin
Published: January 2020

The surface of SiO2 nanospheres was coated with poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) bearing strong electron withdrawing sulfonic and amide groups, enhancing the dissociation ability of the lithium salt of the liquid electrolyte and absorbing anions via H-bonds.
Antimicrobial activity of multifaceted lactoferrin or graphene oxide functionalized silver nanocomposites biosynthesized using mushroom waste and chitosan
Authors: Suleman Ismail Abdalla Sundos , Katas Haliza , Chan Jie Yee , Ganasan Pavitra , Azmi Fazren , Fauzi Mh Busra Mohd
Published: January 2020

Biosynthesis of multifaceted silver nanoparticles using waste mushroom and chitosan.
Photocatalytic production of dihydroxyacetone from glycerol on TiO2in acetonitrile
Authors: Imbault Alexander Luis , Gong Jianyu , Farnood Ramin
Published: January 2020

Photocatalytic conversion of glycerol and selectivity for dihydroxyacetone production was increased by using acetonitrile as the reaction medium.
Efficient deoxygenation of waste cooking oil over Co3O4–La2O3-doped activated carbon for the production of diesel-like fuel
Authors: Abdulkareem-Alsultan G. , Asikin-Mijan N. , Mustafa-Alsultan G. , Lee H. V. , Wilson Karen , Taufiq-Yap Y. H.
Published: January 2020

Untreated waste cooking oil (WCO) with significant levels of water and fatty acids (FFAs) was deoxygenated over Co3O4–La2O3/ACnano catalysts under an inert flow of N2 in a micro-batch closed system for the production of green diesel.
The morphology of poly(terminal vinyl dimethicone-co-methyl methacrylate-co-n-butyl acrylate)/pigment composite film and its application in pigment printing of polyester fabric
Authors: Chen Zhijie , Hu Xudong , Wang Xianghong , Xiang Zhong
Published: January 2020

Poly(terminal vinyl dimethicone-co-methyl methacrylate-co-n-butyl acrylate)/pigment composite latexes were prepared by miniemulsion polymerization and the morphology of the composite film on the surface of polyester fabric and substrate was studied.
Enhancing the transition? – effects of a tertiary bridging course in chemistry
Authors: Eitemüller Carolin , Habig Sebastian
Published: January 2020

Preparatory or bridging courses are widespread and have a long tradition at universities. They are designed to increase students’ academic success – in particular of students with low prior knowledge – and to reduce dropout rates. However, critics of these short and compact bridging courses complain that preparatory courses are not able to fill in content gaps sufficiently in a few weeks. Despite the high prevalence of university bridging courses, little is currently known about the sustainable learning efficacy of these courses. The aim of this study was to examine the short- and long-term effects of a traditional chemistry bridging course on students’ success in the end of the semester examination of first-year chemistry students. For this purpose, students’ learning outcomes were analyzed at the end of the two-week bridging course of students with different prior knowledge. Furthermore, it was investigated in an intervention-reference-group design whether students’ exam results at the end of the first semester differ from participants of the bridging course and students who did not participate in the course. The results of the study reveal that students with low prior knowledge manage to close their content gaps in just a few weeks and to adjust differences in prior knowledge before starting their studies. At the end of the first semester, bridging course participants achieve significantly better exam results than their fellow students who did not enroll in the bridging course. However, mainly students with high prior knowledge seem to benefit from participating in the longer term. In the case of students with low prior knowledge, participation do not lead to better exam results compared to students without participation. Findings of the study can provide a basis for university teachers as well as university development experts to establish university bridging courses as well as to optimize existing offers.
Design and engineering of layered double hydroxide based catalysts for water depollution by advanced oxidation processes: a review
Authors: Yang Zhong-zhu , Zhang Chang , Zeng Guang-ming , Tan Xiao-fei , Wang Hou , Huang Dan-lian , Yang Kai-hua , Wei Jing-jing , Ma Chi , Nie Kai
Published: January 2020

Various strategies to design LDH catalysts for advanced oxidation processes.
Polysulfide entrapment and retardation in gel electrolyte Li–S batteries: experiments and modeling
Authors: Shebert George L. , Zamani Somayeh , Yi Caspar , Joo Yong Lak
Published: January 2020

To investigate polysulfide retardation in gel electrolyte Li–S batteries, discharge was paused near its end and then restarted. Polysulfide transport limitations were found to be responsible for reduced capacity compared to liquid systems.
Efficient manufacturing of tissue engineered cartilagein vitroby a multiplexed 3D cultured method
Authors: Chen Yafang , Ma Mengcheng , Teng Yingying , Cao Hongfu , Yang Yuedi , Wang Yuxiang , Li Xing , Sun Yong , Liang Jie , Fan Yujiang , Zhang Xingdong
Published: January 2020

The formation and development process of tissue engineered cartilage with a multiplexed 3D culture method.
Facilitating Myers–Saito cyclization through acid-triggered tautomerization for the development of maleimide-based antitumor agents
Authors: Lu Haotian , Ma Hailong , Li Baojun , Zhang Mengsi , Chen Huimin , Wang Yue , Li Xinxin , Ding Yun , Hu Aiguo
Published: January 2020

Enyne-allene compounds undergo Myers–Saito cyclization at physiological temperature to generate diradical intermediates that are capable of inducing DNA damage and cell death.
A smart triboelectric nanogenerator with tunable rheological and electrical performance for self-powered multi-sensors
Authors: Wang Sheng , Yuan Fang , Liu Shuai , Zhou Jianyu , Xuan Shouhu , Wang Yu , Gong Xinglong
Published: January 2020

A smart triboelectric nanogenerator with controllable mechanical and energy-harvesting properties has been developed, and the self-powered sensing performance for multiple fields was demonstrated.
Built-in voltage enhanced by in situ electrochemical polymerized undoped conjugated hole-transporting modifiers in organic solar cells
Authors: Li Yanxun , Sun Xianglang , Zhang Xuning , Zhang Dongyang , Xia Haoran , Zhou Jiyu , Ahmad Nafees , Leng Xuanye , Yang Shuo , Zhang Yuan , Li Zhong'an , Zhou Huiqiong
Published: January 2020

Herein, a new electropolymerized (EP) film has been in situ synthesized by electrochemical cyclic voltammetry method and applied to tune the work-function of the PEDOT:PSS hole-transporting layer in organic solar cells.
A hyper-branched polymer tunes the size and enhances the fluorescent properties of aggregation-induced emission nanoparticles
Authors: Tavakoli Javad , Joseph Nikita , Raston Colin L. , Tang Youhong
Published: January 2020

The host–guest interaction approach, specifically via the formation of hydrogen bonds, is an effective strategy for preparing luminescent hyper-branched polymers.
Design and tests of a super real‐time simulation‐based power system real‐time decision‐making emergency control system
Authors: Xiao Tannan , Zou Yu , Xia Yanhui , Tong Weilin , Gao Yifan , Wang Jianquan
Published: January 2020

In many China's enterprise‐owned power grids (EPGs), the frequently changing operation state and the poor reliability of some outdated facilities may lead to inaccuracy or even malfunctions of the traditional pre‐decision‐making emergency control systems, which have already caused several blackouts in EPGs. To solve this problem, a real‐time decision‐making emergency control system based on the detailed time‐domain transient stability simulation is designed. Based on the trajectory characteristics of the stability restoration process of EPGs, the stability restoration criteria are proposed to significantly shorten the simulation time needed to judge the elimination of a certain stability problem. Fast decision‐making algorithms for frequency instability, rotor angle instability and branch overload with relatively low computational cost are introduced. Control strategies can be determined within a specific time after faults are detected. The corresponding countermeasures are directly executed when the strategy is obtained. The system configuration is designed to be capable of dealing with complicated and unanticipated faults, such as cascading outages and unexpected grid splitting. The test results of a 31‐node practical EPG show that the proposed algorithms and the system configuration are practical and efficient. This work is a meaningful exploration of the real‐time decision‐making emergency control system.
Efficiency of different optimisation approaches for optimal parameters of the CSM for investigating the onset field due to corona point
Authors: Talaat M. , Tayseer M. , El‐Zein A.
Published: January 2020

Corona discharges require high and non‐uniform field to take place. In this research, the difficulty of suggesting the required arrangement of optimum fictitious charges, their positions and values inside the conductor in charge simulation method (CSM) is solved using genetic algorithm, satin bowerbird optimisation and whale optimisation algorithm. A hybrid model based on combining CSM with proposed optimisation techniques is provided to simulate and calculate the non‐uniform electric field that is created by a hyperbolic needle‐to‐plane configuration expressed in a dielectric medium. The accuracy of electric‐field simulation results is investigated by estimating per cent potential error and the maximum deviation angle of the normal field vector at the conductor surface for each proposed optimisation algorithm, taking into account the assessment of the efficiency of all proposed optimisation algorithms. To investigate the validity and accuracy of the proposed model, a comparison is held with available previous simulation and experimental data.
Investigating the effects of demand flexibility on electricity retailers’ business through a tri‐level optimisation model
Authors: Qiu Dawei , Papadaskalopoulos Dimitrios , Ye Yujian , Strbac Goran
Published: January 2020

The investigation of the effects of demand flexibility on the pricing strategies and the profits of electricity retailers has recently emerged as a highly interesting research area. However, the state‐of‐the‐art, bi‐level optimisation modelling approach makes the unrealistic assumption that retailers treat wholesale market prices as exogenous, fixed parameters. This study proposes a tri‐level optimisation model, which drops this assumption and represents the wholesale market clearing process endogenously, thus capturing the realistic implications of a retailer's pricing strategies and the resulting demand response on the wholesale market prices. The scope of the examined case studies is three‐fold. First of all, they demonstrate the interactions between the retailer, the flexible consumers and the wholesale market and analyse the fundamental effects of the consumers’ time‐shifting flexibility on the retailer's revenue from the consumers, its cost in the wholesale market and its overall profit. Furthermore, they analyse how these effects of demand flexibility depend on the retailer's relative size in the market and the strictness of the regulatory framework. Finally, they highlight the added value of the proposed tri‐level model by comparing its outcomes against the state‐of‐the‐art bi‐level modelling approach.
Generalised deep learning framework for HEp‐2 cell recognition using local binary pattern maps
Authors: Bajić Buda , Majtner Tomáš , Lindblad Joakim , Sladoje Nataša
Published: January 2020

The authors propose a novel HEp‐2 cell image classifier to improve the automation process of patients' serum evaluation. The authors' solution builds on the recent progress in deep learning based image classification. They propose an ensemble approach using multiple state‐of‐the‐art architectures. They incorporate additional texture information extracted by an improved version of local binary patterns maps, LBP‐maps, which enables to create a very effective cell image classifier. This innovative combination is trained on three publicly available datasets and its general applicability is demonstrated through the evaluation on three independent test sets. The presented results show that their approach leads to a general improvement of performance on average on the three public datasets.
Single image rain removal with reusing original input squeeze‐and‐excitation network
Authors: Wang Meihua , Chen Lunbao , Liang Yun , Hao Yuexing , He Haijun , Li Chao
Published: January 2020

In this study, the authors propose a novel network architecture to address the problem of removing rain streaks from single images. To strengthen the representational power of the network, they adopt the squeeze‐and‐excitation block in the network. Furthermore, they propose a new network connection called reusing original input (ROI). The ROI connection reuses the original input of the network and can provide more texture details of the background. These details can be useful for the restoration of the image after removing the rain streaks. Batch normalisation is applied to further improve the rain removal performance of the network. Despite the fact that the network is trained on synthetic data, experimental results show that the proposed network has a comparable performance on both synthetic images and real‐world images to the state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Collaborative model tracking with robust occlusion handling
Authors: Kong Jun , Ding Yitao , Jiang Min , Li Sha
Published: January 2020

Currently, the discriminative correlation filter‐based trackers have achieved higher tracking accuracy. However, visual tracking still faces challenges in terms of heavy occlusion, scale variation and so on. In this study, the authors intend to solve heavy occlusion by introducing collaborative model into classifier‐box. Firstly, they introduce complex colour features into correlation filter tracker to improve the effect of the tracker. Secondly, they introduce a multi‐scale method into their tracker to ease the scale problem. Thirdly, in order to solve the heavy occlusion in the tracking process, they adopt the locally weighted distance and classifier‐box. Their algorithm achieves distance precision rates of 81.7 and 77.4% on OTB2013 dataset and OTB2015 dataset, respectively. Their contribution focuses on solving heavy occlusion by using colour features, locally weighted distance and classifier‐box. The experimental results on OTB2013 and OTB2015 datasets demonstrate their algorithm to perform better than state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Survey on visual sentiment analysis
Authors: Ortis Alessandro , Farinella Giovanni Maria , Battiato Sebastiano
Published: January 2020

Visual Sentiment Analysis aims to understand how images affect people, in terms of evoked emotions. Although this field is rather new, a broad range of techniques have been developed for various data sources and problems, resulting in a large body of research. This paper reviews pertinent publications and tries to present an exhaustive overview of the field. After a description of the task and the related applications, the subject is tackled under different main headings. The paper also describes principles of design of general Visual Sentiment Analysis systems from three main points of view: emotional models, dataset definition, feature design. A formalization of the problem is discussed, considering different levels of granularity, as well as the components that can affect the sentiment toward an image in different ways. To this aim, this paper considers a structured formalization of the problem which is usually used for the analysis of text, and discusses it's suitability in the context of Visual Sentiment Analysis. The paper also includes a description of new challenges, the evaluation from the viewpoint of progress toward more sophisticated systems and related practical applications, as well as a summary of the insights resulting from this study.
Robust digital predistorter for RF power amplifier linearisation
Authors: Manai Manel , Chenini Hanen , Harguem Afef , Boulejfen Noureddine , Ghannouchi Fadhel M.
Published: January 2020

In this study, the authors propose a new numerically stable digital predistorter for the linearisation of RF Power amplifiers. The proposed predistorter is based on the parameterised Gegenbauer polynomials that can be optimised for maximum predistorter efficiency and stability under different input signal distributions. The robustness and the efficiency of the proposed predistorter are experimentally demonstrated and compared to the ones of previously published polynomial model‐based predistorters. The obtained results revealed exceptional numerical stability regardless of the input signal statistics, making the proposed predistorter suitable for the linearisation of multimode and broadband non‐linear wireless transmitters.
Mutual coupling reduction using near‐zero ε and μ metamaterial‐based superstrate for an MIMO application
Authors: Mark Robert , Singh Harsh Verdhan , Mandal Kaushik , Das Soma
Published: January 2020

Here, a near‐zero permittivity (ε) and permeability (μ) metamaterial superstrate is presented as a decoupling structure for a multiple‐input–multiple‐output (MIMO) antenna. The proposed design offers peak isolation of 41 dB with reduced edge separation of 0.042λo at the resonating frequency. To verify the simulation results, the prototype of the proposed superstrate and antenna is fabricated and tested. The two‐element MIMO antenna has −10 dB impedance band of 5.5–5.92 GHz with a peak measured gain of 7.41 dBi and efficiency above 78%. The measurement results ensure an isolation enhancement of 30 dB with a correlation coefficient of <0.26 within the operating band. The proposed method offers a good design technique for high gain and a closely packed MIMO antenna system for WLAN applications.
GaN phosphors converted white light‐emitting diodes for high luminous efficacy and improved thermal stability
Authors: Kumar Mirgender , Sunny  , Kumar Anuj , Seong Kwang-Su , Park Si-Hyun
Published: January 2020

This study analysed GaN nanophosphors based white light‐emitting diodes (WLEDs) with ultraviolet (UV) excitation. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) used as a charge transfer medium to enhance the performance in terms of luminous efficacy and colour quality. The improvement in colour rendering and colour temperature has been observed with the increase in injection current. The luminous efficacy of radiation also gets improved with injection current and maximises up to 255 lm/W at 260 mA along with 90 colour rendering index and 7100 K correlated colour temperature. Mapping of higher surface temperature for GQD‐based devices shows a better thermal stability, indicating the good heat dissipation capability of GQDs because of excellent thermal conductivity. Therefore, proposed WLEDs were found more competent with improved thermal quenching of phosphors for rare‐earth‐free solid‐state lighting as compared to the blue chip‐excited yellow phosphors.
Droop‐free hierarchical control strategy for inverter‐based AC microgrids
Authors: Rey Juan M. , Vergara Pedro P. , Castilla Miguel , Camacho Antonio , Velasco Manel , Martí Pau
Published: January 2020

Hierarchical schemes are widely used for the designing of the inverter‐based AC microgrids control strategies. To ensure reliable operation, hierarchical control must consider together all the functionalities that allow the regulation of key variables and guarantee a safe transition between operation modes. Conventionally, in the literature are proposed three‐layer schemes which present relevant drawbacks: they include limited functionalities and they use droop method for the primary layer which, despite its decentralised nature, suffers from issues that have motivated the development of alternative strategies. Considering this, the contribution of this study is two‐fold. First, a droop‐free hierarchical control strategy that satisfies a proper operation of AC microgrids is proposed. Control objectives such as power‐sharing, frequency regulation, optimal power dispatch and voltage regulation are considered. Second, a closed‐loop small‐signal model, which facilitates the control parameters design and fills a gap in the literature is presented. Differences between the proposal and previous controls are discussed. Selected tests are carried out in a laboratory microgrid under different conditions, including normal operation and the response to failures in the central controller and to communication impairments. The experimental results show a good performance of the proposal even in adverse conditions.
Harmonic mitigation technique using active three‐phase converters utilised in commercial or industrial distribution networks
Authors: Alduraibi Abdulrahman , Yaghoobi Jalil , Solatialkaran Davood , Zare Firuz , Sharma Rahul
Published: January 2020

Current harmonics generated by adjustable‐speed drives (ASDs) are one of the main power quality concerns in commercial and industrial distribution networks due to a high number of ASDs. These harmonics affect the grid power quality, instability, resonances, and power losses. Therefore, different harmonic mitigation strategies using active front end have been proposed to tackle this issue. However, due to the cost‐effectiveness, conventional front end such as diode rectifier is still recommended in industries for a broad range of three‐phase power electronics systems. Thus, in this study, a new DC modulation method is proposed using three‐phase diode rectifier with controlled DC‐link current (boost converter) for grid harmonic elimination approach. Simulations and experiments have been carried out to validate the proposed concept that a selective harmonic can be eliminated from the grid using the developed strategy.
Assessment of power quality in the utility grid integrated with wind energy generation
Authors: Mahela Om Prakash , Khan Baseem , Haes Alhelou Hassan , Tanwar Sudeep
Published: January 2020

The ever increasing wind energy penetration into the utility grid causes challenges in the power quality (PQ) of the electrical supply. Therefore, this work proposed PQ assessment in the utility grid which is interfaced with the wind energy generation using Stockwell's transform (ST) under various operating events. The experimental set‐up for assessing the PQ included an emulated wind generator synchronised with the utility grid at the point of common coupling. The current and voltage measurements are carried out using PQ analyser associated with WTViewer application software. The recorded signals of the voltage waveforms are assessed using ST to detect the various PQ issues related to the grid integration and wind generator's outage. To investigate the effects of various types of loads on the PQ, the same events are carried out. Various PQ disturbances are successfully detected using the proposed algorithm. Performance of the proposed algorithm is also tested on the grid integrated solar photovoltaic (PV) system to investigate and compare the PQ disturbances associated with the grid integrated solar PV system.
Post-formation in alpha emission from nuclei
Authors: Tanaka Junki , Bertulani Carlos , Typel Stefan
Published: January 2020

We propose a novel mechanism to explain nuclear decay by emission of an alpha particle. We show that the famous Geiger-Nuttall law can be explained by post-forming an alpha particle outside the range of the nuclear interaction with the daughter nucleus. This contrasts with the commonly ac- cepted mechanism of first alpha particle pre-formation followed by emission through barrier penetration. We predict that the post-formation mechanism is more likely to occur for a-particles with higher energy.
Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars and presolar grains
Authors: Busso Maurizio , Palmerini Sara , Vescovi Diego
Published: January 2020

Starting from the recognition that radioactive isotopes were present alive in the Early Solar System, inducing composition anomalies from their decay, and through the discovery that other important anomalies affected also stable species, we shall discuss how the carriers of these abundance peculiarities were identified in very refractory pre-solar dust grains, formed in circumstellar environments. We shall outline how groups of such grains and subsequently in-dividual single crystals of C-rich or O-rich materials (like, e.g., SiC and Al2O3) could be analyzed, providing a new tool to verify the composition of stellar winds. This is so especially for AGB stars, which are the primary factories of dust in the Galaxy. For this reason, pristine meteorites open a crucial window on the details of nucleosynthesis processes occurring in such evolved red giants, for both intermediate-mass elements and rare heavy nuclei affected by slow neutron captures (the s-process).
Star Formation Under Cosmological Conditions
Authors: El Eid Mounib F. , Saad Cynthia
Published: January 2020

The first stars have transformed the universe from the infrared background to the light. Thereby, this so called “dark age” ended by re-ionization through the ultraviolet light of the first stars. A short overview is given about the cosmological connection of the formation of the first stars in the universe. The physical background underlaying the process of their formation is outlined and their basic properties are described. Preliminary results of computational simulations are presented.
Capture reaction cross-section measurements relevant to p process: the case of (α , γ) reactions on 63Cu, 72Ge,118Sn and the 107Ag(ρ, γ)108Cd reaction
Authors: Harissopulos Sotirios , Vagena Eleni , Axiotis Michail , Spyrou Artemis , Provatas Georgios , Lagoyannis Anastasios , Dimitriou Paraskevi , Becker Hans Werner
Published: January 2020

The cross sections of the 72Ge( α , γ)76Se and 1°7Ag(ρ, γ)1°8Cd reactions were measured at energies relevant to p-process nucleosynthesis. The new data, together with cross section results from our previous ( α , γ) measure-ments on 65Cu and 118Sn and other ( α , γ) cross-section data reported in lit-erature are compared with statistical model calculations performed using the latest version (1.9) of the statistical model code TALYS. In addition, the effect on these calculations of different combinations of the optical model potentials (OMPs), nuclear level densities (NLDs) and γ-ray strength functions (γSFs) entering the calculations was investigated.
Nuclear astrophysics studies at NIPNE
Authors: Trache Livius
Published: January 2020

I will present results of doing nuclear astrophysics research at the National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Bucharest-Magurele in the last 2-3 years.

Own Nuclear Astrophysics Group (NAG) is focused on the basic types of experiments:

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Direct measurements at low and very low energies with ion or alpha beams from the local 3 MV tandetron accelerator. We concentrate on activation measurements. The use of the ultra-low background laboratory in a salt mine at Slanic-Prahova, about 120 km away and of a beta-gamma coincidence unit at home is providing competitive sensitivity.

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Indirect measurements done with beams at international facilities with radioactive beams: TAMU and RIBF RIKEN.

With help from colleagues, I will mention some theory advances, too.
Characterisation of a new generation of VUV low-light sensors
Authors: Gallina G. , Retière F
Published: January 2020

Silicon Photo-Multipliers (SiPMs) have emerged as a compelling photo-sensor solution over the course of the last decade. In contrast to the widely used Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs), SiPMs are low-voltage powered, optimal for operation at cryogenic temperatures, and have low radioactivity lev- els with high gain stability over the time in operational conditions. For these reasons, large-scale low-background cryogenic experiments, such as the next- generation Enriched Xenon Observatory experiment (nEXO), are migrating to a SiPM-based light detection system. In this paper we report on the charac- terization of the Hamamatsu VUV4 (S/N: S13370-6152) Vacuum Ultra-Violet (VUV) sensitive Multi-Pixel Photon Counters (MPPC)s as part of the develop- ment of a solution for the detection of liquid xenon scintillation light for the nEXO experiment.
Elastic Scattering and Reaction Cross-section of 8Li on 209Bi
Authors: Sengupta C. , Cook K.J. , Simpson E.C. , Dasgupta M. , Hinde D.J. , Banerjee K. , Bezzina L.T. , Stoyer M.A.
Published: January 2020

Nuclear physics in the 21st century is driven by a quest to understand the properties of ever more exotic nuclear systems. Unusual structural phenom- ena are observed to arise in light weakly bound nuclei such as 8Li. 8Li has a cluster structure core of 7Li surrounded by a loosely bound neutron which is observed to influence reaction mechanisms near the fusion barrier. Elastic scat- tering provides a vital step towards understanding more complicated reaction mechanisms. In this work, elastic scattering was measured for 8Li + 2°9Bi at energies 2% to 34% above the barrier, allowing extraction of reaction cross- sections. The systematics of the reaction cross-sections of 8Li compared to neighbouring nuclei 6,7,9,11Li are discussed.
Study of14N(ρ,γ)15O resonance reaction at Eplab= 278 keV
Authors: Sharma Sathi , Gupta A. , Das S. , Roy Chowdhury M. , Mandal A. , Bisoi A. , Nanal V , Tribedi L.C. , Sarkar S. , Saha Sarkar M.
Published: January 2020

An implanted target (14N on Ta) is prepared and characterized via surface and bulk characterization processes. The depth profile of the implanted ions is obtained experimentally by populating a narrow resonance state of15O through14N(ρ,γ) reaction induced with a laboratory proton energy of 278 keV. The experimental profile is then compared with devoted simulations to under- stand the locations of the implantated ions in the lattice structure. Later, the lifetimes of a few excited states of15O, relevant for applications in astrophys- ical scenario, have been determined using Doppler Shift Attenuation Method(DSAM).