bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of a Potent and Broad-Spectrum Hepatitis C Virus Fusion Inhibitory Peptide from the E2 Stem Domain
Authors: Chi Xiaojing , Niu Yuqiang , Cheng Min , Liu Xiuying , Feng Yetong , Zheng Fuxiang , Fan Jingjing , Li Xiang , Jin Qi , Zhong Jin , Li Yi-Ping , Yang Wei
Published: April 2016

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope proteins E1 and E2 play an essential role in virus entry. However, the fusion mechanisms of HCV remain largely unclear, hampering the development of efficient fusion inhibitors. Here, we developed two cell-based membrane fusion models that allow for screening a peptide library covering the full-length E1 and E2 amino acid sequences. A peptide from the E2 stem domain, named E27, was found to possess the ability to block E1E2-mediated cell-cell fusion and inhibit cell entry of HCV pseudoparticles and infection of cell culture-derived HCV at nanomolar concentrations. E27 demonstrated broad-spectrum inhibition of the major genotypes 1 to 6. A time-of-addition experiment revealed that E27 predominantly functions in the late steps during HCV entry, without influencing the expression and localization of HCV co-receptors. Moreover, we demonstrated that E27 interfered with hetero-dimerization of ectopically expressed E1E2 in cells and mutational analysis suggested that E27 might target a conserved region in E1. Taken together, our findings provide a novel candidate as well as a strategy for developing potent and broad-spectrum HCV fusion inhibitors, which may complement the current direct-acting antiviral medications for chronic hepatitis C and shed light on the mechanism of HCV membrane fusion.
High-sensitivity intravascular photoacoustic imaging of lipid–laden plaque with a collinear catheter design
Authors: Cao Yingchun , Hui Jie , Kole Ayeeshik , Wang Pu , Yu Qianhuan , Chen Weibiao , Sturek Michael , Cheng Ji-Xin
Published: April 2016

A highly sensitive catheter probe is critical to catheter-based intravascular photoacoustic imaging. Here, we present a photoacoustic catheter probe design on the basis of collinear alignment of the incident optical wave and the photoacoustically generated sound wave within a miniature catheter housing for the first time. Such collinear catheter design with an outer diameter of 1.6 mm provided highly efficient overlap between optical and acoustic waves over an imaging depth of >6 mm in D2O medium. Intravascular photoacoustic imaging of lipid-laden atherosclerotic plaque and perivascular fat was demonstrated, where a lab-built 500 Hz optical parametric oscillator outputting nanosecond optical pulses at a wavelength of 1.7 μm was used for overtone excitation of C-H bonds. In addition to intravascular imaging, the presented catheter design will benefit other photoacoustic applications such as needle-based intramuscular imaging.
Revealing heterogeneous nucleation of primary Si and eutectic Si by AlP in hypereutectic Al-Si alloys
Authors: Li Jiehua , Hage Fredrik S. , Liu Xiangfa , Ramasse Quentin , Schumacher Peter
Published: April 2016

The heterogeneous nucleation of primary Si and eutectic Si can be attributed to the presence of AlP. Although P, in the form of AlP particles, is usually observed in the centre of primary Si, there is still a lack of detailed investigations on the distribution of P within primary Si and eutectic Si in hypereutectic Al-Si alloys at the atomic scale. Here, we report an atomic-scale experimental investigation on the distribution of P in hypereutectic Al-Si alloys. P, in the form of AlP particles, was observed in the centre of primary Si. However, no significant amount of P was detected within primary Si, eutectic Si and the Al matrix. Instead, P was observed at the interface between the Al matrix and eutectic Si, strongly indicating that P, in the form of AlP particles (or AlP ‘patch’ dependent on the P concentration), may have nucleated on the surface of the Al matrix and thereby enhanced the heterogeneous nucleation of eutectic Si. The present investigation reveals some novel insights into heterogeneous nucleation of primary Si and eutectic Si by AlP in hypereutectic Al-Si alloys and can be used to further develop heterogeneous nucleation mechanisms based on adsorption.
Up-regulation of FGFBP1 signaling contributes to miR-146a-induced angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells
Authors: Zhu Hua-yu , Bai Wen-dong , Liu Jia-qi , Zheng Zhao , Guan Hao , Zhou Qin , Su Lin-lin , Xie Song-tao , Wang Yun-chuan , Li Jun , Li Na , Zhang Yi-jie , Wang Hong-tao , Hu Da-hai
Published: April 2016

Recent microRNA expression profiling studies have documented an up-regulation of miR-146a in several angiogenesis models. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of miR-146a in the angiogenic activity of endothelial cells has not been clearly elucidated. The present study was aimed to evaluate whether miR-146a promotes angiogenesis in HUVECs by increasing FGFBP1 expression via directly targeting CREB3L1. miR-146a was over expressed in HUVECs via lentiviral-miR-146a. Expression profiling analysis found miR-146a over expression resulted in up-regulation of angiogenesis and cytokine activity associated genes including FGF2. Further a combination of bioinformatics and experimental analyses demonstrated the CREB3L1 as a bona fide functional target of miR-146a during angiogenesis. Moreover, CREB3L1 inhibited luciferase expression from FGFBP1 promoter containing only CRE elements. Furthermore, CREB3L1 inhibited FGFBP1 expression by binding to two CRE-like sites located at approximately −1780–1777 and −868–865 bp relative to the FGFBP1 transcription start site. Additionally, ectopic expression of CREB3L1 decreased miR-146a-induced FGF2 secretion. These findings indicate that the miR-146a-CREB3L1-FGFBP1 signaling axis plays an important role in the regulation of angiogenesis in HUVECs and provides a potential therapeutic target for anti-angiogenic therapeutics.
Improvement in treatment of soak liquor by combining electro-oxidation and biodegradation
Authors: Rajeswari S. , Vidhya S. , Sundarapandiyan S. , Saravanan P. , Ponmariappan S. , Vidya K.
Published: April 2016

A combined process involving electro-oxidation and biodegradation by halophilic bacteria was applied to treat wastewater effectively for discharge.
A novel electrochemical sensor based on carbon nanoparticle composite films for the determination of nitrite and hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Li Shufang , Qu Jianying , Wang Yong , Qu Jianhang , Wang Huijuan
Published: April 2016

Carbon nanoparticles (CNs) were successfully synthesized at room temperature, which were used to construct a novel electrochemical sensor combined with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and chitosan.
A highly automated method for simultaneous determination of sterols, erythrodiol and uvaol in olive oils
Authors: Gu Qiang , Yi Xiaojuan , Shen Jinling , Shi Jing , Liu Yijun , Shao Jingdong
Published: April 2016

In this work, we presented a highly automated method for the simultaneous analysis of sterols, erythrodiol and uvaol in olive oils with the use of gel permeation chromatography (GPC), an automatic solvent evaporator and LC-MS.
Immobilization of ionic liquids to covalent organic frameworks for catalyzing the formylation of amines with CO2 and phenylsilane
Authors: Dong Bin , Wang Liangying , Zhao Shang , Ge Rile , Song Xuedan , Wang Yu , Gao Yanan
Published: April 2016

We presented the immobilization of ionic liquids on the channel walls of COFs using a post-synthetic strategy.
Kinetics of the ClO + CH3O2 reaction over the temperature range T = 250–298 K
Authors: Ward Michael K. M. , Rowley David M.
Published: April 2016

Temporal traces showing the effect of increasing added methanol (red → orange) to a Cl/Cl2O photolysis system, showing the progressive reduction of [ClO]0 with increased [CH3OH] but an increased rate of ClO loss at lower [ClO]0, indicative of the ClO + HO2 reaction.
Coupling carbon dioxide reduction with water oxidation in nanoscale photocatalytic assemblies
Authors: Kim Wooyul , McClure Beth Anne , Edri Eran , Frei Heinz
Published: April 2016

Closing the photosynthetic cycle on the nanometer scale under membrane separation of the half reactions for developing scalable artificial photosystems.
Catalyst design based on agostic interactions: synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activity of bis(pyrazolyl)borate copper complexes
Authors: Cao Hou-Ji , Zhao Qianyi , Zhang Qian-Fan , Li Jiaxuan , Hamilton Ewan J. M. , Zhang Jie , Wang Lai-Sheng , Chen Xuenian
Published: April 2016

The first example of designed catalysts based on the agostic-like weak interaction acts as a “switch” which will be turned “on” and “off” during the catalytic process.
Studies on the structures, cytotoxicity and apoptosis mechanism of 8-hydroxylquinoline rhodium(iii) complexes in T-24 cells
Authors: Zhang Hai-Rong , Liu Yan-Cheng , Chen Zhen-Feng , Meng Ting , Zou Bi-Qun , Liu You-Nian , Liang Hong
Published: April 2016

Two rhodium(iii) complexes showed good cytotoxicity. The underlying investigation of the apoptosis mechanism suggested that the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway was involved.
A novel cage-like CdTe film with enhanced photoelectrochemical performance
Authors: Wang Jun , Lv Pin , Mu Yannan , Ding Dong , Liu Li , A Runa , Feng Fei , Feng Shuang , Fu Wuyou , Yang Haibin
Published: April 2016

A novel cage-like CdTe film with even porosity size and good connectivity among particles is successfully prepared by a simple technique for the first time.
Titanium nanotubes induce osteogenic differentiation through the FAK/RhoA/YAP cascade
Authors: Zhang He , Cooper Lyndon F. , Zhang Xiaonan , Zhang Yi , Deng Feng , Song Jinlin , Yang Sheng
Published: April 2016

TNT topography restricts cell spreading, impairs the FAK recruitment in FAs, and thereby attenuates RhoA activity as well as cytoskeleton formation, which in turn expels YAP from that cell nucleus to the cytoplasm and initiates osteodifferentiation.
A highly efficient heterogeneous copper-catalyzed Chan–Lam coupling reaction of sulfonyl azides with arylboronic acids leading to N-arylsulfonamides
Authors: You Chongren , Yao Fang , Yan Tao , Cai Mingzhong
Published: April 2016

A highly efficient and practical method for the synthesis ofN-arylsulfonamides has been developed by a heterogeneous copper-catalyzed Chan–Lam coupling between sulfonyl azides and boronic acids.
Identification of extended defect and interface related luminescence lines in polycrystalline ZnO thin films grown by sol–gel process
Authors: Guillemin Sophie , Consonni Vincent , Rapenne Laetitia , Sarigiannidou Eirini , Donatini Fabrice , Bremond Georges
Published: April 2016

The luminescence lines related to extended defects and interfaces in polycrystalline ZnO thin films grown by sol–gel process are investigated by combining photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence imaging with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.
Fluorescent, online monitoring of PLGA degradation for regenerative medicine applications
Authors: Bardsley K. , Wimpenny I. , Yang Y. , El Haj A. J.
Published: April 2016

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic)acid was chemically modified by covalently binding an isothiocyanate fluorophore to the polymer, allowing for accurate prediction of degradation.
Novel porphyrin–Schiff base conjugates: synthesis, characterization and in vitro photodynamic activities
Authors: Yao Ya-Hong , Li Jun , Yuan Long-Fei , Zhang Zeng-Qi , Zhang Feng-Xing
Published: April 2016

Three novel porphyrin–Schiff base conjugates were synthesized and characterized. Their phototoxic activities were improved after irradiation and increased significantly with the increase of doses against A431 cells.
Research on the self-assembly of exfoliated perovskite nanosheets (LaNb2O7−) and cobalt porphyrin utilized for the electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid
Authors: Pan Binbin , Zhao Wenlei , Zhang Xiaobo , Li Jinpeng , Xu Jiasheng , Ma Juanjuan , Liu Lin , Zhang Dongen , Tong Zhiwei
Published: April 2016

A sandwich-structured nanocomposite of LaNb2O7/CoTMPyP was fabricated via electrostatic interactions between LaNb2O7− nanosheets and cobalt porphyrin cations, and the obtained hybrid film exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activities toward AA.
Removal of phosphate and chromium(vi) from liquids by an amine-crosslinked nano-Fe3O4 biosorbent derived from corn straw
Authors: Wang Hantao , Xu Xing , Ren Zhongfei , Gao Baoyu
Published: April 2016

A magnetic biocomposite based bio-sorbent (corn straw) was prepared after in situ co-precipitation with Fe2+ and Fe3+ solutions and amine functionalization.
Carbon rings: a DFT study on geometry, aromaticity, intermolecular carbon–carbon interactions and stability
Authors: Remya Karunakaran , Suresh Cherumuttathu H.
Published: April 2016

Strong complimentary electrostatic interactions lead to large number of C⋯C interactions in doubly antiaromatic C4Ndimers while the delocalized system of π electrons in doubly aromatic C4N+2dimers suggest very few intermolecular C⋯C interactions.
Treelike polymeric phosphate esters grafted onto graphene oxide and its tribological properties in polyalkylene glycol for steel/steel contact at elevated temperature
Authors: Wu Xinhu , Zhao Gaiqing , Wang Xiaobo , Liu Weimin , Liu Weisheng
Published: April 2016

We report the first synthesis of a high-performance lubricant additive by grafting treelike polymeric phosphate esters (PPEs) onto graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets.
H2 activation using the first 1 : 1 : 1 hetero-tri(aryl)borane
Authors: Blagg Robin J. , Wildgoose Gregory G.
Published: April 2016

The first 1 : 1 : 1 hetero-tri(aryl)borane cleaves H2 with various Lewis bases, and its electrochemistry is studied.
Convenient architectures of Cu2O/SnO2 type II p–n heterojunctions and their application in visible light catalytic degradation of rhodamine B
Authors: Joshi Shravanti , Ippolito Samuel J. , Sunkara Manorama V.
Published: April 2016

Enhanced photocatalytic performance of a coupled p-type Cu2O/n-type SnO2 nanocomposite primarily attributed to the hierarchical architecture and heterojunction formation.
Thermoresponsive dynamic covalent dendronized polymers
Authors: Zhang Xiacong , Yan Jiatao , Li Wen , Zhang Afang
Published: April 2016

Dendronization of polyacylhydrazones with oligoethylene glycol-based dendrons affords polymers with tunable thermoresponsiveness and switchable shielding from affinity to Cu2+.
Interfacial processes that modulate the kinetics of lipase-mediated catalysis using porous silica host particles
Authors: Joyce Paul , Whitby Catherine P. , Prestidge Clive A.
Published: April 2016

Surface immobilised lipases are important bioactive materials that have a wide range of applications in the biotechnology, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
Biodiesel production waste as promising biomass precursor of reusable activated carbons for caffeine removal
Authors: Batista Mary K. S. , Mestre Ana S. , Matos Inês , Fonseca Isabel M. , Carvalho Ana P.
Published: April 2016

Turning waste into valuable products: K2CO3activation of rapeseed residues from biodiesel industry for the production of new and reusable activated carbons for caffeine removal from water.
Thermally stable, solvent resistant and flexible graphene oxide paper
Authors: Maggio Mario , Mauro Marco , Acocella Maria Rosaria , Guerra Gaetano
Published: April 2016

The ability of graphene oxide (GO) aqueous suspensions to form robust GO paper is largely improved by basification of the suspension before processing.
Recent advances in the application of 2-dimensional gas chromatography with soft and hard ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry in environmental analysis
Authors: Alam Mohammed S. , Harrison Roy M.
Published: April 2016

Two-dimensional gas chromatography has huge power for separating complex mixtures.
Superior anion induced shuttling behaviour exhibited by a halogen bonding two station rotaxane
Authors: Barendt Timothy A. , Robinson Sean W. , Beer Paul D.
Published: April 2016

Two bistable halogen and hydrogen bonding-naphthalene diimide [2]rotaxanes have been prepared and the system incorporating a halogen bond donor anion recognition site is demonstrated to exhibit superior anion induced translational motion of the macrocyclic wheel component relative to the hydrogen bonding analogue.
Electrosynthesis of acetate from CO2by a highly structured biofilm assembled with reduced graphene oxide–tetraethylene pentamine
Authors: Chen Leifeng , Tremblay Pier-Luc , Mohanty Soumyaranjan , Xu Kai , Zhang Tian
Published: April 2016

A highly structured biofilm assembled with reduced graphene oxide–tetraethylene pentamine and the bacteriumSporomusa ovataperformed high-rate microbial electrosynthesis.
Inhibitory effect of STAT3 gene combined with CDDP on growth of human Wilms tumour SK-NEP-1 cells
Authors: Wang Junrong , Zhang Nina , Qu Haijiang , You Guangxian , Yuan Junhui , Chen Caie , Li Wenyi , Pan Feng
Published: April 2016

To investigate the effects of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) combined with cisplatin (CDDP) on the growth of human Wilms tumour (WT) SK-NEP-1 cell subcutaneous xenografts in nude mice and the possible mechanisms. Human WT SK-NEP-1 cells were subcutaneously transplanted to establish the BALB/c nude mice xenograft model. Mice were randomly divided into five groups: blank control group, adenovirus control group (NC group), STAT3 group, CDDP group and STAT3 plus CDDP group (combination group). Tumour volume and tumour weight were observed during the therapeutic process. The expression levels of STAT3, glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78) and BCL2-associated X protein (BAX) were evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis. Compared with the STAT3 group or CDDP group, the tumour weight and volume was significantly reduced in the combination group (P<0.05). No statistical significance was found in NC group compared with the blank control group (P > 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that STAT3, GRP78 and BAX protein levels in the combination group were significantly higher than those in STAT3 group and CDDP group (P<0.05). Exogenous STAT3 and CDDP may synergistically inhibit the xenograft tumour growth through up-regulation of BAX protein via GRP78.
Envelope and phase statistics of Cauchy quadratures
Authors: Li Yawei , Li Xiaofeng , Beaulieu Norman C. , Fu Zhizhong
Published: April 2016

Non‐Gaussian quadratures, especially Cauchy quadratures, are widely used to model impulsive noise environments. The envelope and phase statistics of Cauchy quadratures are investigated. The probability density functions and cumulative distribution functions of the envelope and phase of Cauchy quadratures are given in closed‐form expression. The characteristics of the derived distributions are also discussed.
Feeder reconfiguration and capacitor allocation in the presence of non‐linear loads using new P‐PSO algorithm
Authors: Sayadi Fahimeh , Esmaeili Saeid , Keynia Farshid
Published: April 2016

This study proposes a new particle swarm optimisation algorithm for combined problem of capacitor placement and network reconfiguration simultaneously in the presence of non‐linear loads. Here, the minimising cost of real power losses and capacitor installation and also improving the power quality criteria have been pursued as the goals of an optimisation problem. In the proposed method, to achieve better control on the algorithm's exploration and exploitation capabilities, particles velocity will be dependent upon both particle's fitness and time. Perturbation module is adopted to perform perturbation on some particles and provide extra diversity to jump out from local optima and avoid premature convergence. The proposed model is implemented on two typical networks including 33‐bus IEEE standard well‐known test system and a 77‐bus radial distribution network of Sirjan, Iran. Through showing numerical results, the performance of the presented method will be discussed in comparison to previously proposed ones. The numeric comparison also indicates that simultaneously capacitor placement and network reconfiguration lead to far better results than they are considered non‐simultaneously. Furthermore, in regard to harmonic distortion, as a term of a multi‐objective function, it also improves the power quality of the network during the reconfiguration and capacitor placement procedures.
Real power performance index and line stability index‐based management of contingency using firefly algorithm
Authors: Mishra Akanksha , Gundavarapu Venkata Nagesh Kumar , Bathina Venkateswara Rao , Duvvada Deepak Chowdary
Published: April 2016

Provision of secured and uninterrupted supply of power is an essential pre‐requisite for the electrical industry. Hence, FACTS devices need to be employed efficiently to ensure the security of the power system. This study proposes, a repetition of severity‐based strategy of placement of interline power flow controller (IPFC) using composite severity index (CSI) for contingency management. The formulated CSI is a combination of real power performance index) and line stability index Lmn. Thus, the CSI is expected to provide an exact measure of stress on the lines in terms of MW overloading and voltage instability. The IPFC is further tuned for a multi‐objective function using firefly algorithm. To verify the proposed methodology, it has been tested and implemented on IEEE 30 and Indian utility 62 bus system. The system has been further tested under highly stressful condition by increasing the load on the maximum loaded bus up to the critical value. The results have been presented and analysed to determine the effectiveness of IPFC for contingency management.
Parameter design and operating zone of hybrid cascaded multilevel converter under asymmetrical square‐wave modulation method of the director switch
Authors: Xiang Wang , Lin Weixing , Yao Liangzhong , Wen Jinyu , Wang Zhibing
Published: April 2016

Hybrid cascaded multilevel converter (HCMC) is a newly developed modular multilevel converter (MMC) with DC fault isolation capability. It is consisted of wave‐shaping circuit (WSC) and direct switch (DS). This study studies the parameter design and operating zone of HCMC employing asymmetrical square‐wave modulation at the DS. Analytical method of determining the asymmetrical component is derived through the energy balancing between AC side and DC side. Method of determining the required additional full‐bridge cells is then deduced. By analysing the energy fluctuation flowing through the WSC, method of dimensioning the cell capacitors is proposed. Size of cell capacitance and insulated gate bipolar transistor current ratings for HCMC and traditional half‐bridge MMC are compared. Feasible operating zone of the HCMC is studied and the overall design process of HCMC is summarised. Semiconductor cost, cell capacitance and arm inductance of HCMC and other DC fault tolerant MMC topologies are compared. It is shown that HCMC is able to isolate DC fault current with significantly lower cell capacitance, lower number of power semiconductors and no arm inductance compared with other MMC topologies. Detailed simulations on PSCAD/EMTDC confirmed the theoretical studies.
Robust optimisation scheduling of CCHP systems with multi‐energy based on minimax regret criterion
Authors: Wang Luhao , Li Qiqiang , Sun Mingshun , Wang Guirong
Published: April 2016

The intermittency of renewable energy and load uncertainty in the combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system operation is considered in this study. The authors propose a robust optimisation scheduling method to attenuate the disturbance of uncertainty, and derive the day‐ahead scheduling decision under two strategies including electrical load tracking and thermal load tracking. Also, the budget of uncertainty is introduced to alleviate the conservatism of robust optimisation. Moreover, a minimax regret non‐linear formulation is constructed to describe the performance of the system and different realisations of uncertainty. To solve the problem, the authors develop a hybrid solution method, which is composed of a two‐stage Lagrangian relaxation iterative algorithm and an improved cross entropy algorithm. Simulation results demonstrate that the minimum of the maximum regret can be obtained, and the conservatism of robust optimisation is significantly reduced by properly setting the level of budget of uncertainty. As a result, the validity and effectiveness of the proposed robust optimisation model and algorithm are confirmed.
Power transformer protection using chirplet transform
Authors: Kumar Murugan Senthil , Simon Sishaj Pulikottil , Nayak Panugothu Srinivasa Rao , Sundareswaran Kinattingal , Padhy Narayana Prasad
Published: April 2016

This study presents a novel differential protection algorithm (DPA) for power transformer using chirplet transform (ChT). The proposed method combines the features of biased restraint characteristic (BRC) of the conventional differential relay and out‐turn of ChT in a two‐stage algorithm. In the first stage, the BRC plane is divided into three zones: namely, high‐set (HS), non‐trip and vulnerable zones. The tripping decisions are carried out in the first two zones based on differential and biased current. However, if the operating condition of the power transformer falls in the vulnerable zone, then there is an ambiguity in discriminating internal fault, inrush current and current transformer saturation cases. Therefore, in the second stage, ChT is applied to differential current signal to obtain an energy distribution on the time‐frequency plane with respect to time, frequency and chirp rate. Then, using the mean and standard deviation of the normalised energy, power transformer operating conditions are classified. Also, most of the DPAs available in the literature are system dependent. However, the proposed novel DPA can be effectively used for any system. The proposed scheme is validated for two power transformer systems using PSCAD to simulate various operating conditions and MATLAB to implement the algorithm.
Enhanced fault location algorithm for smart grid containing wind farm using wireless communication facilities
Authors: Aly Mohamed M.A. Mahfouz , El‐Sayed Mohamed A.H.
Published: April 2016

Modern smart grid (SG) should efficiently accommodate the renewable resources such as wind energy under different operation conditions. High level of wind energy penetration into SG results in operation constraints to avoid any tripping out of wind generators from the grid during fault conditions. Therefore, following the fault occurrence, the utility has to restore power as quickly as possible. This requires accurate and efficient fault location algorithms to have appropriate action for rapid service restoration. This study presents two fault location algorithms taking into account the dynamic behaviour of wind farm generation. In the first conventional algorithm, fault location is estimated using the recorded voltage and current signals at one end of the line. While second algorithm is two‐end fault location based on the synchronised voltage and current signals from the line ends. Calculations are carried out in time domain within half cycle using movable windows for recorded signals. The obtained results of two‐end algorithm are superior and more accurate compared with the conventional one‐end fault location algorithm. This is attributed to SG facilities with modern communication links and data synchronisation technology. The proposed algorithms are tested through grid and wind farm simulations to justify their effectiveness.
Base on the ultra‐short term power prediction and feed‐forward control of energy management for microgrid system applied in industrial park
Authors: Tian Jun , Liu Zhengyu , Shu Jun , Liu Jingbo , Tang Jian
Published: April 2016

As microgrid system is still in the stage of demonstration application, microgrid system has to satisfy more stringent requirements for grid connection: 1. In order to ensure the security of grid, the output power of microgrid system is less than the factory load, not sending power to the grid. 2. The power fluctuations of microgrid system must meet the demands of National Standard. In order to improve the output characteristics of microgrid system applied in industrial park to meet the requirement of grid connection, an energy management strategy based on the ultra short term power prediction and feed‐forward control is proposed. Through the ultra short term power prediction, the output power of microgrid system is effective controlled to track the factory load, not sending power to the grid. Through feed‐forward control of battery energy storage systems (BESS), the power fluctuations of microgrid system are smoothed to meet the demands of National Standard. On the basis of real time digital simulator (RTDS) and energy management controller, the hardware in the loop (HIL) experimental platform is built to verify the effectiveness of algorithm. The security and stability operation of MW microgrid demonstration project verified the validity of the energy management strategy.
Numerical dosimetry of CDMA/GSM, DCS/PCS and 3G signal jammers
Authors: Yahya Salah I. , Whittow Will G. , Khaleel Yazen A.
Published: April 2016

In this study, numerical dosimetry of a code division multiple access (CDMA)/global system of mobile, digital cellular service (DCS)/personal communications service (PCS) and third generation signal jammer working with three antennas is presented. Three anatomical full human body models of different ages and gender exposed to the signal jammer electromagnetic (EM) waves at 900, 1800 and 2100 MHz, simultaneously, are numerically modelled using a high‐resolution finite‐difference time‐domain gridding; solved by a full‐wave three‐dimensional EM simulation software on a high‐performance workstation machine. The average specific absorption rate (SAR) in the whole human body and the peak spatial SAR averaged over 1 g induced in the head and torso biological tissues were evaluated at different distances from the signal jammer above a ground consisting of concrete and soil layers. The maximum radiated power by the signal jammer at different distances against the human body was calculated for the safe exposure in compliance with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)/American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standard limits.
ISAR imaging of targets with rotating parts based on robust principal component analysis
Authors: Zhou Wei , Yeh Chun‐mao , Jin Rui‐jin , Li Zeng‐hui , Song Sheng‐li , Yang Jian
Published: April 2016

In inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging, the radar echoes from the rotating parts on a target may contaminate the ISAR image of the main body. The performance of the autofocus algorithms may also be degraded when the interference is too strong, for the commonly used rigid‐body motion assumption is not satisfied. In this study, a novel method based on the robust principal component analysis is proposed for ISAR imaging of targets with rotating parts. The low rank property of the main body returns and the sparse property of the rotating components in a certain range cell are utilised to separate them from each other. The separated echoes are then refocused to produce a high‐resolution target image and estimate the rotating parameters. Experimental results with both simulated and measured data have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Spin-orbit coupling, electron transport and pairing instabilities in two-dimensional square structures
Authors: Kocharian Armen N. , Fernando Gayanath W. , Fang Kun , Palandage Kalum , Balatsky Alexander V.
Published: April 2016

Rashba spin-orbit effects and electron correlations in the two-dimensional cylindrical lattices of square geometries are assessed using mesoscopic two-, three- and four-leg ladder structures. Here the electron transport properties are systematically calculated by including the spin-orbit coupling in tight binding and Hubbard models threaded by a magnetic flux. These results highlight important aspects of possible symmetry breaking mechanisms in square ladder geometries driven by the combined effect of a magnetic gauge field spin-orbit interaction and temperature. The observed persistent current, spin and charge polarizations in the presence of spin-orbit coupling are driven by separation of electron and hole charges and opposite spins in real-space. The modeled spin-flip processes on the pairing mechanism induced by the spin-orbit coupling in assembled nanostructures (as arrays of clusters) engineered in various two-dimensional multi-leg structures provide an ideal playground for understanding spatial charge and spin density inhomogeneities leading to electron pairing and spontaneous phase separation instabilities in unconventional superconductors. Such studies also fall under the scope of current challenging problems in superconductivity and magnetism, topological insulators and spin dependent transport associated with numerous interfaces and heterostructures.
Superlattice gain in positive differential conductivity region
Authors: Winge David O. , Franckié Martin , Wacker Andreas
Published: April 2016

We analyze theoretically a superlattice structure proposed by A. Andronov et al. [JETP Lett. 102, 207 (2015)] to give Terahertz gain for an operation point with positive differential conductivity. Here we confirm the existence of gain and show that an optimized structure displays gain above 20 cm−1 at low temperatures, so that lasing may be observable. Comparing a variety of simulations, this gain is found to be strongly affected by elastic scattering. It is shown that the dephasing modifies the nature of the relevant states, so that the common analysis based on Wannier-Stark states is not reliable for a quantitative description of the gain in structures with extremely diagonal transitions.
Engineering analysis of the high-density heterotrophic cultivation of mung bean sprouts
Authors: Tamate Haruka , Nakai Ran , Nakamori Yasuyuki , Esashi Masahiro , Iwamoto Yasushi , Tsukada Yoshihiro , Saito Mika , Ishikawa Daitaro , Fujii Tomoyuki
Published: April 2016

This study investigated the heterotrophic growth behavior of mung beans cultivated in an individual bed under water supply. The fresh weight of mung beans in the bed was estimated, and changes in temperature, and oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations were recorded during the cultivation period. The specific growth rate, oxygen uptake rate, and carbon dioxide evolution rate, based on the fresh weight in the bed, were calculated. Growth under heterotrophic cultivation can be classified into the following three stages. Reductions in specific oxygen uptake rate, specific carbon dioxide evolution rate, and specific energy production rate corresponded to that of specific growth rate. Indicators of biological activity related to oxygen and carbon dioxide were evaluated quantitatively for beds under high-density heterotrophic cultivation. Moreover, the results obtained from this study successfully demonstrate that there is a relationship between the growth of mung beans and indicators of biological activity.
Purification and characterization of 4-N-trimethylamino-1-butanol dehydrogenase from Fusarium merismoides var. acetilereum
Authors: Fujimitsu Hiroshi , Taniyama Yuko , Tajima Sae , Mohamed Ahmed Isam A , Arima Jiro , Mori Nobuhiro
Published: April 2016

From investigation of 60 filamentous fungi, we identified Fusarium merismoides var. acetilereum, which uses 4-N-trimethylamino-1-butanol (TMA-butanol) as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. The fungus produced NAD+-dependent TMA-butanol dehydrogenase (DH) when it was cultivated in medium containing TMA-butanol. The enzyme showed molecular mass of 40 kDa by SDS–PAGE and 160 kDa by gel filtration, suggesting that it is a homotetramer. TMA-butanol DH is stable at pH 7.5–9.0. It exhibits moderate stability with respect to temperature (up to 30 °C). Additionally, it has optimum activity at 45 °C and at pH 9.5. The enzyme has broad specificity to various alkyl alcohols and amino alkyl alcohols, and the carbon chains of which are longer than butanol. Moreover, the activity is strongly inhibited by oxidizing agents, carbonyl and thiol modulators, and chelating agents. This report is the first study examining TMA-butanol DH from eukaryotic microbes.
Stable and unstable Einstein warped products
Authors: Kröncke Klaus
Published: April 2016

In this article, we systematically investigate the stability properties of certain warped product Einstein manifolds. We characterize stability of these metrics in terms of an eigenvalue condition of the Einstein operator on the base manifold. In particular, we prove that all complete manifolds carrying imaginary Killing spinors are strictly stable. Moreover, we show that Ricci-flat and hyperbolic cones over Kähler-Einstein Fano manifolds and over nonnegatively curved Einstein manifolds are stable if the cone has dimension

n
≥
10

n\geq 10

.
QuiescentSaccharomyces cerevisiaeforms telomere hyperclusters at the nuclear membrane vicinity through a multifaceted mechanism involving Esc1, the Sir complex, and chromatin condensation
Authors: Laporte Damien , Courtout Fabien , Tollis Sylvain , Sagot Isabelle
Published: April 2016

Like other eukaryotes, Saccharomyces cerevisiae spatially organizes its chromosomes within the nucleus. In G1phase, the yeast’s 32 telomeres are clustered into 6–10 foci that dynamically interact with the nuclear membrane. Here we show that, when cells leave the division cycle and enter quiescence, telomeres gather into two to three hyperclusters at the nuclear membrane vicinity. This localization depends on Esc1 but not on the Ku proteins. Telomere hypercluster formation requires the Sir complex but is independent of the nuclear microtubule bundle that specifically assembles in quiescent cells. Importantly, mutants deleted for the linker histone H1 Hho1 or defective in condensin activity or affected for histone H4 Lys-16 deacetylation are impaired, at least in part, for telomere hypercluster formation in quiescence, suggesting that this process involves chromosome condensation. Finally, we establish that telomere hypercluster formation is not necessary for quiescence establishment, maintenance, and exit, raising the question of the physiological raison d’être of this nuclear reorganization.
Development and implementation of a multitiered health informatics curriculum in a college of pharmacy
Authors: Breeden Elizabeth A , Clauson Kevin A
Published: April 2016

Standards requiring education in informatics in pharmacy curricula were introduced in the last 10 years by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Mirroring difficulties faced by other health professions educators, implementation of these requirements remains fragmented and somewhat limited across colleges of pharmacy in the US. Clinical practice and workforce metrics underline a pronounced need for clinicians with varying competencies in health informatics. In response to these challenges, a multitiered health informatics curriculum was developed and implemented at a college of pharmacy in the Southeast. The multitiered approach is structured to ensure that graduating pharmacists possess core competencies in health informatics, while providing specialized and advanced training opportunities for pharmacy students, health professions students, and working professionals interested in a career path in informatics. The approach described herein offers institutions, administrators, faculty, residents, and students an adaptable model for selected or comprehensive adoption and integration of a multitiered health informatics curriculum.
The History of Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Murray T. Jock
Published: April 2016

This chapter provides an introduction to the history of MS. It explores the observations of multiple sclerosis that were made even before the disease was more formally framed and named by Charcot in 1868. It reviews how description of the disease advanced through the 20th century, and how classification of clinical disease types, development of various tests, and the advent of magnetic resonance imaging improved diagnosis. Early attempts at therapy are discussed and contrasted with the modern disease modifying agents that were introduced in 1993.
Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Wingerchuk Dean M.
Published: April 2016

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory demyelinating central nervous system disease. It has been classically defined as a monophasic, isolated co-occurrence of optic neuritis and transverse myelitis with uncertain relationship to multiple sclerosis. In the past decade, however, NMO has emerged as a distinct disorder associated with serum antibodies that target the astrocyte water channel aquaporin-4, distinguishing it from multiple sclerosis. The specificity of aquaporin-4 antibodies has led to appreciation of a wider spectrum of clinical and neuroimaging features, termed NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD), than was encompassed by the classic NMO definition. Moreover, immunopathological studies have demonstrated that aquaporin-4 antibodies have pathogenic potential and that the disorder is a primary astrocytopathy with secondary demyelination. This chapter discusses the clinical definition and diagnosis of NMOSD and approaches to management, many informed by rapid advances in the understanding of NMO pathobiology.
Rapid response teams for the critically ill
Authors: Hillman Ken , Chen Jack
Published: April 2016

There is a high incidence of potentially preventable deaths and serious adverse events in acute hospitals. Most of these events occur on the general wards of the hospital. The concept of rapid response systems was developed as a way of identifying seriously-ill and at-risk patients in acute hospitals at an early stage in order to improve outcomes. The system has two major components—criteria to define the deteriorating patient linked to a rapid response. The criteria are based on a combination of abnormal vital signs and observations, and the response is based on matching the patient with staff with the appropriate skills. Implementing and evaluating hospital-wide systems present new challenges that are different to our approach to a new drug or procedure. As well as agreeing to the appropriate criteria and response, the system needs leadership and support across the whole hospital, including education programmes and, monitoring with appropriate quality assurance activities. Increasingly, the specialty of intensive care is designed around the needs of the seriously ill, rather than being geographically confined within the four walls of an intensive care unit. The concept of rapid response systems is part of that process.
Regional critical care delivery systems
Authors: Iwashyna Theodore J. , Cooke Colin R.
Published: April 2016

A regional system of critical care is one in which hospitals are acknowledged to vary in their care of critically-ill patients, and procedures exist to systematically refer patients to a subset of those hospitals. Given scarcity in health care systems, regional systems of care are an attempt to rationalize differentiation among hospitals. There are several examples that suggest regionalization of care can result in cost-effective improvements in patient outcomes. Yet there are also numerous examples of regional systems of care that offer few benefits to patients, or that fail to actually concentrate patients despite the grand plans of their designers. This chapter suggests several key design decisions that can be used to help improve the effectiveness of regional system of care. Addressing all these issues may offer dramatic benefits for patients.
Research ethics in the ICU
Authors: Dickert Neal W. , Halpern Scott D.
Published: April 2016

In no context is rigorous clinical research more important than in ICU care. However, clinical research in the ICU poses numerous ethical challenges, some of which are unique or particularly problematic in the ICU setting. Significant barriers exist to informed consent, and existing approaches to consent challenges are limited and lack evidence. Moreover, some studies can only be done in the absence of consent. Additionally, high levels of acuity and variable levels of evidence for both current and innovative treatments often make assessments of equipoise and control group selection particularly difficult. Finally, studies evaluating systems-based approaches to ICU care are integral to advancing the field. However, these studies can be difficult to distinguish from quality improvement activities and require careful consideration given their potential impact on major patient outcomes and the impracticability of informed consent in this context. This chapter discusses these prominent ethical issues in ICU research, and argues that there is a need for further research on ethical dimensions of clinical research in the ICU as well as a need for innovative, context-sensitive solutions.
Patient rights in the ICU
Authors: Pope Thaddeus M. , White Douglas B.
Published: April 2016

To say that a patient has a ‘right’ is to say both that the patient has a ‘claim’ against the clinician for X and that the clinician owes a correlative ‘duty’ to X to the patient. Patient rights are only prima facie valid claims that must sometimes yield to other sufficiently compelling claims. Overriding a right can be either justified (an ‘infringement’) or unjustified (a ‘violation’). This chapter explains the nature and source of patient rights; analyses the scope of patient rights; describes five specific patient rights that are particularly relevant to critical care; discusses three key ways in which patient rights might be illegitimately violated; discusses how patient rights might be justifiably infringed by distributive justice concerns; discusses how patient rights might be justifiably infringed by clinicians’ assertion of their own rights, either on the basis of professional integrity or on the basis of personal conscience-based objections; and concludes by describing four leading mechanisms by which patient rights are balanced against clinician rights. Patient–clinician conflicts usually can be prevented or mediated. When conflict is intractable, it should be resolved through appeal to socially-accepted rules or managed through a fair process of dispute resolution.
Genetic and molecular expression patterns in critical illness
Authors: Suffredini Anthony F. , Cobb J. Perren
Published: April 2016

Investigators who study RNA, proteins, or metabolites use analytic platforms that simultaneously measure changes in the relative abundance of thousands of molecules in a single biological sample. Over the last decade, the application of these high-throughput, genome-wide platforms to study critical illness and injury has generated huge quantities of data that require specialized computational skills for analysis. These investigations hold promise for improving our understanding of the host response, thereby transforming the practice of intensive care. This chapter summarizes recent technological and computational approaches used in genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. While major advances have been made with these approaches when applied to chronic diseases, the acute nature of critical illness and injury has unique challenges. The rapidity of initiating events, the trajectory of inflammation that follows injury or infection and the interplay of host responses to a replicating infection, all have major effects on changes in gene and molecular expression. This complexity is further accentuated by measurement that may vary with the timing and type of tissue sampled after the critical event. In addition, the hunt for novel molecular markers holds promise for identifying patients at risk for severe illness and for enabling more individualized therapy.