bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CD5 dynamically calibrates basal NF-κB signaling in T cells during thymic development and peripheral activation
Authors: Matson Courtney A. , Choi Seeyoung , Livak Ferenc , Zhao Bin , Mitra Apratim , Love Paul E. , Singh Nevil J.
Published: June 2020

Immature T cells undergo a process of positive selection in the thymus when their new T cell receptor (TCR) engages and signals in response to self-peptides. As the T cell matures, a slew of negative regulatory molecules, including the inhibitory surface glycoprotein CD5, are up-regulated in proportion to the strength of the self-peptide signal. Together these regulators dampen TCR-proximal signaling and help avoid any subsequent peripheral activation of T cells by self-peptides. Paradoxically, antigen-specific T cells initially expressing more CD5 (CD5hi) have been found to better persist as effector/memory cells after a peripheral challenge. The molecular mechanisms underlying such a duality in CD5 function is not clear. We found that CD5 alters the basal activity of the NF-κB signaling in resting peripheral T cells. When CD5 was conditionally ablated, T cells were unable to maintain higher expression of the cytoplasmic NF-κB inhibitor IκBα. Consistent with this, resting CD5hiT cells expressed more of the NF-κB p65 protein than CD5locells, without significant increases in transcript levels, in the absence of TCR signals. This posttranslationally stabilized cellular NF-κB depot potentially confers a survival advantage to CD5hiT cells over CD5loones. Taken together, these data suggest a two-step model whereby the strength of self-peptide–induced TCR signal lead to the up-regulation of CD5, which subsequently maintains a proportional reserve of NF-κB in peripheral T cells poised for responding to agonistic antigen-driven T cell activation.
Direct imaging of rapid tethering of synaptic vesicles accompanying exocytosis at a fast central synapse
Authors: Miki Takafumi , Midorikawa Mitsuharu , Sakaba Takeshi
Published: June 2020

Significance

At mammalian synapses, synaptic vesicles need to be rapidly reloaded to the limited membrane of transmitter release sites during repetitive firing, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we directly visualized individual synaptic vesicle dynamics near presynaptic membrane of the cerebellar mossy fiber terminal using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. Synaptic vesicles became tethered to the presynaptic membrane with unexpectedly rapid time course, almost as fast as synaptic vesicle release. Such newcomers cannot be fusion competent immediately, and additional priming time of 300 ms to 400 ms was required. We propose a mechanistic model which explains how efficient coupling of tethering, vesicle priming, and exocytosis within the limited space of presynaptic active zone can maintain kilohertz synaptic transmission.
A hypoxia-induced Rab pathway regulates embryo implantation by controlled trafficking of secretory granules
Authors: Bhurke Arpita , Kannan Athilakshmi , Neff Alison , Ma Qiuyan , Laws Mary J. , Taylor Robert N. , Bagchi Milan K. , Bagchi Indrani C.
Published: June 2020

Implantation is initiated when an embryo attaches to the uterine luminal epithelium and subsequently penetrates into the underlying stroma to firmly embed in the endometrium. These events are followed by the formation of an extensive vascular network in the stroma that supports embryonic growth and ensures successful implantation. Interestingly, in many mammalian species, these processes of early pregnancy occur in a hypoxic environment. However, the mechanisms underlying maternal adaptation to hypoxia during early pregnancy remain unclear. In this study, using a knockout mouse model, we show that the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha (Hif2α), which is induced in subluminal stromal cells at the time of implantation, plays a crucial role during early pregnancy. Indeed, when preimplantation endometrial stromal cells are exposed to hypoxic conditions in vitro, we observed a striking enhancement in HIF2α expression. Further studies revealed that HIF2α regulates the expression of several metabolic and protein trafficking factors, including RAB27B, at the onset of implantation. RAB27B is a member of the Rab family of GTPases that allows controlled release of secretory granules. These granules are involved in trafficking MMP-9 from the stroma to the epithelium to promote luminal epithelial remodeling during embryo invasion. As pregnancy progresses, the HIF2α-RAB27B pathway additionally mediates crosstalk between stromal and endothelial cells via VEGF granules, developing the vascular network critical for establishing pregnancy. Collectively, our study provides insights into the intercellular communication mechanisms that operate during adaptation to hypoxia, which is essential for embryo implantation and establishment of pregnancy.
Repurposing erectile dysfunction drugs tadalafil and vardenafil to increase bone mass
Authors: Kim Se-Min , Taneja Charit , Perez-Pena Helena , Ryu Vitaly , Gumerova Anisa , Li Wenliang , Ahmad Naseer , Zhu Ling-Ling , Liu Peng , Mathew Mehr , Korkmaz Funda , Gera Sakshi , Sant Damini , Hadelia Elina , Ievleva Kseniia , Kuo Tan-Chun , Miyashita Hirotaka , Liu Li , Tourkova Irina , Stanley Sarah , Lizneva Daria , Iqbal Jameel , Sun Li , Tamler Ronald , Blair Harry C. , New Maria I. , Haider Shozeb , Yuen Tony , Zaidi Mone
Published: June 2020

Significance

Tadalafil and vardenafil are among the most widely used drugs for erectile dysfunction, which affects nearly 19% of men over 20 y of age. Older men also suffer from age-related bone loss resulting in crippling fractures. We show that in mice, both agents act on bone cells, resulting in the formation of new bone and reduced removal of old bone. Because of this net gain in bone mass, we posit that tadalafil and vardenafil could be used for cotreating erectile dysfunction and osteoporosis in men of advancing age, as well as for treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. We recommend future clinical studies to establish the capability of these drugs to increase bone density and reduce fracture risk in humans.
GPCR-dependent biasing of GIRK channel signaling dynamics by RGS6 in mouse sinoatrial nodal cells
Authors: Anderson Allison , Masuho Ikuo , Marron Fernandez de Velasco Ezequiel , Nakano Atsushi , Birnbaumer Lutz , Martemyanov Kirill A. , Wickman Kevin
Published: June 2020

Significance

Mechanisms promoting the compartmentalization of G-protein signaling are poorly understood in native cells. This study examined muscarinic (M
2
R) and adenosine (A
1
R) receptor signaling to a common effector—the G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K
+
(GIRK) channel—in mouse sino-atrial nodal (SAN) cells. Regulator of G protein Signaling 6 (RGS6) exerts a GPCR-dependent influence on the efficacy, kinetics, and sensitivity of GIRK-dependent signaling in SAN cells, suppressing M
2
R-GIRK signaling kinetics and sensitivity and A
1
R-GIRK signaling amplitude. The distinctions can be explained by the differential utilization of G protein isoforms by M
2
R and A
1
R and a Gα
o
substrate preference of RGS6. Thus, GPCR-G protein signaling and RGS-G protein substrate biases shape GIRK-dependent signaling dynamics in the mouse heart.
Establishing rod shape from spherical, peptidoglycan-deficient bacterial spores
Authors: Zhang Huan , Mulholland Garrett A. , Seef Sofiene , Zhu Shiwei , Liu Jun , Mignot Tâm , Nan Beiyan
Published: June 2020

Chemical-induced spores of the Gram-negative bacterium
Myxococcus xanthus
are peptidoglycan (PG)-deficient. It is unclear how these spherical spores germinate into rod-shaped, walled cells without preexisting PG templates. We found that germinating spores first synthesize PG randomly on spherical surfaces. MglB, a GTPase-activating protein, forms a cluster that responds to the status of PG growth and stabilizes at one future cell pole. Following MglB, the Ras family GTPase MglA localizes to the second pole. MglA directs molecular motors to transport the bacterial actin homolog MreB and the Rod PG synthesis complexes away from poles. The Rod system establishes rod shape de novo by elongating PG at nonpolar regions. Thus, similar to eukaryotic cells, the interactions between GTPase, cytoskeletons, and molecular motors initiate spontaneous polarization in bacteria.
Structural basis for plant lutein biosynthesis from α-carotene
Authors: Niu Guoqi , Guo Qi , Wang Jia , Zhao Shun , He Yikun , Liu Lin
Published: June 2020

Two cytochrome P450 enzymes, CYP97A3 and CYP97C1, catalyze hydroxylations of the β- and ε-rings of α-carotene to produce lutein. Chirality is introduced at the C-3 atom of both rings, and the reactions are both pro-3
R
–stereospecific. We determined the crystal structures of CYP97A3 in substrate-free and complex forms with a nonnatural substrate and the structure of CYP97C1 in a detergent-bound form. The structures of CYP97A3 in different states show the substrate channel and the structure of CYP97C1 bound with octylthioglucoside confirms the binding site for the carotenoid substrate. Biochemical assays confirm that the ferredoxin-NADP
+
reductase (FNR)–ferredoxin pair is used as the redox partner. Details of the pro-3
R
stereospecificity are revealed in the retinal-bound CYP97A3 structure. Further analysis indicates that the CYP97B clan bears similarity to the β-ring–specific CYP97A clan. Overall, our research describes the molecular basis for the last steps of lutein biosynthesis.
Revealing the three-dimensional structure of liquids using four-point correlation functions
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Kob Walter
Published: June 2020

Disordered systems like liquids, gels, glasses, or granular materials are not only ubiquitous in daily life and in industrial applications, but they are also crucial for the mechanical stability of cells or the transport of chemical and biological agents in living organisms. Despite the importance of these systems, their microscopic structure is understood only on a rudimentary level, thus in stark contrast to the case of gases and crystals. Since scattering experiments and analytical calculations usually give only structural information that is spherically averaged, the three-dimensional (3D) structure of disordered systems is basically unknown. Here, we introduce a simple method that allows probing of the 3D structure of such systems. Using computer simulations, we find that hard sphere-like liquids have on intermediate and large scales a simple structural order given by alternating layers with icosahedral and dodecahedral symmetries, while open network liquids like silica have a structural order with tetrahedral symmetry. These results show that liquids have a highly nontrivial 3D structure and that this structural information is encoded in nonstandard correlation functions.
Familiar phrases in language competence
Authors: Van Lancker Sidtis Diana
Published: June 2020

Under the umbrella term of “familiar phrases,” this paper presents an overview of current understanding of formulaic language, categorizing the phenomena, for heuristic reasons, as formulaic expressions (idioms, proverbs, conversational speech formulas, expletives), lexical bundles (sentence stems, conventional expressions, discourse organizers), and collocations (a range of other unitary, multiword expressions). These exemplars share the features of cohesion and familiarity: they are known and recognized by speakers of a language, and stored in mental representation with their concomitant features of structure, phonetic and prosodic shape, meaning, and use. This tripartite grouping of expressions can be differentiated in terms of nuance, role of frequency, and degree of cohesion. These characteristics lead to new conceptions of memory capacity. Examples from everyday observations and from the media, revealing cohesion and knowledge of typical expressions and their characteristics, are included along with linguistic and psychological studies to support various views of the similarities and differences between these classes of familiar phrases. Revised views of the processes involved in acquisition of FPs are also considered. Performance by persons with neurological disorders reveals specific effects on production of formulaic expressions and lexical bundles, suggesting not only that novel and familiar language are modulated by different brain structures, but that subclasses of FPs may be differently represented. Linguistic, psychological, and neurolinguistic evidence converge to a dual-process model of language, whereby grammatical, newly created and unitary, familiar phrases are acquired and processed according to different cerebral mechanisms.
Dual process frameworks on reasoning and linguistic discourse
Authors: Heine Bernd , Kuteva Tania , Long Haiping
Published: June 2020

The objective of the present paper is to compare two kinds of research traditions that developed in the course of the last decades to understand mental and linguistic processing. One tradition relies on the perspective and methodology commonly used in social psychology, cognitive psychology and related fields, while the other is rooted in some form or other in linguistics, drawing mainly or exclusively on language data. In both research traditions it has been argued that certain parts of human behavior exhibit a dualistic organization which can be described in terms of dual process frameworks of analysis. The paper argues that findings made in psychological and linguistic work exhibit a number of commonalities which are in need of explanation.
Language activity in the light of cerebral hemisphere differences
Authors: Guryev Alexander , Delafontaine François
Published: June 2020

This chapter explores in a theoretical manner the potential correlations, previously suggested by Heine et al. (2015), between hemispheric specialization in neurolinguistics and a dual organization of discourse. The dual processing of language is represented here by the pragma-syntax, the level at which grammatical units manifest shared mental representations in discursive memory and generate inferences. While it is widely accepted that the left hemisphere of the brain is of utmost importance for morphosyntactic structuring of discourse, we will argue that the right hemisphere is crucial in processing operations at the pragma-syntactic level. Following a review of the questions surrounding hemispheric specialization, and of the language phenomena it can affect, we will present the pragma-syntactic model of human grammar. This paper will then suggest how it can effectively describe the phenomena whose comprehension has been previously reported in a number of studies as being dependent on the intact activity of the right brain, notably: irony, indirect speech acts and connectives.
Dual processing in a functional-cognitive theory of grammar and its neurocognitive basis
Authors: Boye Kasper , Harder Peter
Published: June 2020

Functional-cognitive linguists are typically more interested in what is shared between grammar and other aspects of language than in what is special about grammar. Construction grammar as the currently most prominent functional-cognitive theory of grammar explicitly downplays the grammar-lexicon distinction and suggests a model based on the notion of ‘constructicon’ as a unified inventory of linguistic expressions. In a neurocognitive perspective, this goes naturally with the idea of a single processing mechanism. Neurolinguistic evidence does not support this extreme position, however, but rather suggests a significant difference between lexical and grammatical processing. There is thus a need for a more well-developed functional-cognitive theory of the neurocognitive underpinning of the grammar-lexicon distinction. In this chapter we present a theory of the specific nature of grammar, which integrates three recent theories: a usage-based linguistic theory of the grammar-lexicon distinction (Boye & Harder 2012), a theory of the distinction between declarative and procedural memory (Ullman 2001, 2004), and a theory of brain organization (Mogensen 2011).
Dichotomous or continuous?
Authors: Izutsu Katsunobu , Izutsu Mitsuko Narita
Published: June 2020

This article demonstrates that final particles (more broadly markers) in four East Asian languages (Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Mongolian) and three West European languages (English, Spanish, and German) follow a similar semantic/discourse-functional ordering principle when they occur in sequence: more intersubjective particles follow more subjective or less intersubjective particles. These particles can be largely classified into two types: sentence-final and utterance-final types. A detailed description of both types in languages like Japanese reveals that the sentence-final type has some properties of both domains postulated in a dualistic conception of grammar (thetical grammar and sentence grammar, inter alia, in Kaltenböck et al. (2011) and Heine et al. (2013); macrogrammar and microgrammar in Haselow (2016a) among others). Japanese sentence-final particles, par excellence, are microgrammartical and sentence-grammatical elements on formal grounds but macrogrammatical and thetical-grammatical elements in functional terms. This fact requires us to recognize that the two domains do not comprise a dichotomy but form a continuum to a greater degree than assumed thus far.
Formulaic language and Discourse Grammar
Authors: Kaltenböck Gunther
Published: June 2020

This chapter proposes a dualistic classification of formulaic sequences based on the assumptions of Discourse Grammar, which distinguishes two components of language organisation and processing, viz. Sentence grammar and Thetical grammar. Accordingly, we can distinguish between Sentence grammar formulaic sequences (SG-FS) and Thetical grammar formulaic sequences (TG-FS). This classification is in line with some of the main taxonomies of formulaic language in the literature and corresponds with hemispheric differences identified for brain function. The proposed classification is tested in an empirical study of speech data from speakers with either left-hemisphere disorder (Broca’s aphasia) or right-hemisphere disorder. The results show that the two types of speech disorder differ significantly with regard to the frequencies of each formulaic type, thus providing evidence for the classification proposed.
Agreement Groups and dualistic syntactic processing
Authors: Drienkó László
Published: June 2020

This chapter discusses the dualistic characteristics of the Agreement Groups (AG) model of linguistic processing and language acquisition, a usage-based distributional approach building on cognitive mechanisms for storing groups of similar utterances in memory, and mechanisms for mapping utterances onto such groups. AGs, i.e. groups of minimally differing utterances, provide a means for processing novel sequences. Furthermore, AGs may facilitate categorisation (lexical/syntactic, semantic), and might serve as the foundations for ‘real’ agreement relations. Longer sequences involve a ‘coverage’ mechanism that processes utterance fragments. I point out three inherently dualistic components of AG processing – familiar/novel utterances, groups/group-combinations, and continuous/discontinuous fragments – that may be relevant for linguistic modelling, and indicate convergences with other fields of research.
‘I understand’-initiated formulations of the other
Authors: Keevallik Leelo , Weatherall Ann
Published: June 2020

Some language patterns appear fixed at a certain time, enabling their
description as grammatical structures. Semi-fixed patterns that routinely
accomplish specific social actions constitute more of an analytical
challenge. This chapter targets the phrase ma saan aru ‘I
understand’ in Estonian together with the ensuing other-attentive
formulation ‘2nd person expression + a cognitive concept’ and argues that it
is a semi-fixed expression, a “claim to the intersubjective”, that manages a
misalignment between participants. While claiming to have successfully
accessed the other’s motives or feelings, the speaker regularly advances her
own agenda through the formulation of the other. This suggests a systematic
relationship between cognitive lexicon, grammatical structure, and
interactional function, and calls for a language theory that incorporates
semi-fixedness.
Exploration into a new understanding of ‘zero anaphora’ in Japanese
everyday talk
Authors: Ono Tsuyoshi , Suzuki Ryoko
Published: June 2020

This chapter examines the phenomenon called ‘zero anaphora’ in Japanese where
syntactic arguments, thought to be projected by the predicates, are assumed
to be deleted yet their referents are still tracked. A close inspection of
representative narrative and interactive segments reveals that everyday
talk, the primordial form of language, is carried out largely through more
or less fixed expressions which are better analyzed as not projecting
syntactic arguments. This suggests that deletion of arguments and tracking
of referents might not be relevant to the grammar of Japanese everyday talk.
We demonstrate this by discussing several facts including: (1) inserting
what might be thought of as ‘deleted’ arguments in relevant examples makes
them consistently more marked, awkward, or even unacceptable and (2)
‘deleted’ arguments are often associated with multiple equally possible
referents, or no referents. The predominance of fixed expressions in our
data suggests that they constitute the basic type of language in Japanese
everyday talk. It is hoped that the current study is a contribution to
building a model of grammar which captures this very characteristic of
everyday talk where (semi-) fixed structure continuously emerges.
Self-addressed questions as fixed expressions for epistemic stance
marking in Japanese conversation
Authors: Endo Tomoko , Yokomori Daisuke
Published: June 2020

Speakers in conversation do not always produce utterances smoothly. Among the
various ways of deferring utterance production, this chapter focuses on
three kinds of self-addressed questions (SAQs) in Japanese conversation:
nan-daroo ‘what would it be,’
nan-te-yuu-no ‘what do you call it,’ and
nan-da-kke ‘what was it again.’ Through quantitative
analyses, we argue that the SAQs should be treated as fixed expressions for
marking the epistemic stance of the speaker. We then qualitatively examine
how these SAQs are used in conversation and discuss that the use of the
different types of SAQs, each of which indicates a specific type of trouble,
contributes to the management of progressivity of the interaction and
intersubjectivity between participants.
Taxonomic description of six species of pelagic, freshwater ciliates from the Order Choreotrichida collected from Lake Ontario, Canada
Authors: Humby P.L. , Lynn D.H.
Published: June 2020

Aloricate ciliates are essential members of the pelagic microbial foodweb and are easy to identify in samples, yet the taxonomic database is insufficient and many species have yet to be described. Individuals from the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901, Order Choreotrichida Small and Lynn, 1985 were collected from the epilimnion (upper 20m) of Lake Ontario in the spring, summer and autumn of 1990 and 1991. They were fixed and silver-stained. Here we describe the morphospecies of five species from the genus Rimostrombidium Jankowski, 1978: Rimostrombidium kyoskota n.sp., Rimostrombidium pentagrammum n.sp., Rimostrombidium trioeumekes n.sp., Rimostrombidium paravelox Kahl, 1932 n.comb., Rimostrombidium brachykinetum Krainer, 1995 and one from the genus Pelagostrobilidium Petz et al., 1995: Pelagostrobilidium limnospirale n.sp. Increasing the taxonomic database allows for a more detailed monitoring of the biodiversity and energy transfer within a system, which in turn can better inform ecosystem management decisions.
Predation on planktonic ciliates in Kenyan soda lakes
Authors: Yasindi Andrew W. , Taylor William D.
Published: June 2020

Ciliated protozoa are important components of the plankton of aquatic systems with ability to recycle nutrients and to link microbial food webs to metazoans. This is because they are numerous and have higher growth rates compared to other unicellular eukaryotes of similar size. Predation and competition are some of the factors that negatively affect their abundance and growth. Studies documenting the impact of predation by zooplankton on ciliates have been conducted in marine and freshwaters waters but are lacking in tropical waters especially soda lakes in Kenya. In this study, growth rates of planktonic ciliates were estimated in four soda lakes, Lakes Bogoria, Elmenteita, Simbi and Sonachi, using predator exclusion experiments. In the experiments, ciliate populations increased faster in incubations of lake water with the >40 µm fraction removed than in untreated controls. The difference in these rates was taken as an estimate of predation by zooplankton >40 µm (Mz), and ranged from 0.091 to 3.171 d−1. Our best estimates of growth rates for particular ciliates abundant enough to derive estimates for ranged from 0.18 to 4.78 d−1. When removing the >40 µm fraction did not result in increased numbers of ciliates relative to controls, we hypothesized that this was due to predators within the <40 µm fraction (Mc) and their release from zooplankton predators. We assessed and supported this hypothesis by looking at the production of ciliates in different feeding guilds. The significance of predation on ciliates to the food webs of soda lakes is discussed.
Molecular phylogeny, taxonomic relationships and North American distribution of Conchophthirus (Conchophthiridae, Scuticociliatia)
Authors: Antipa Gregory A. , Strüder-Kypke Michaela C. , Lynn Denis H.
Published: June 2020

Conchophthirus curtus is a scuticociliate found in the mantle cavity of unionid bivalve mussels; it is considered by most to be an endocommensal. It was previously redescribed and its morphogenesis has been carefully defined and evaluated. Conchophthirus stomatogenesis along with its enigmatic deep kinetosomal unit as compared with other scuticociliates, peniculines, and peritrichs suggested possible homologies and affinities. Thus, a comparison of Conchophthirus with common molecular markers to all other ciliates was a goal of this study. We collected Conchophthirus spp. in California from two unionid bivalve hosts: Anodonta californiensis in the Pit River and Lake Merced, and Margaritifera falcata from the Trinity River. The ciliates analyzed were predominantly C. curtus although other conchophthirids were present. The small subunit rRNA and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 genes were sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses of these data were analyzed and maximum likelihood for the small submit rRNA dataset and neighbor-joining for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 dataset. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 sequences obtained from M. falcata populations were virtually identical. The analysis placed these sequences with 96% bootstrap support as sister to Dexiotricha sp. The small submit rRNA sequences obtained from populations from both hosts were almost identical, and they showed them to be sister, with 99% support to two unpublished sequences from Chinese populations of Conchophthirus cucumis and C. lamellidens, and sister to a Dexiotricha sp. These data and their analyses confirm Conchophthirus to be a scuticociliate, but not closely related to either philasterine or pleuronematine scuticociliates nor the peniculines or peritrichs. Further analysis awaits additional data. The North American distribution of Conchophthirus, niche analyses, and potential homologous structures are discussed as well as the use of these endocommensals as indicators of water quality and pollution.
The classical double slit experiment–a study of the distribution of interference fringes formed on distant screens of varied shapes
Authors: Thomas Joseph Ivin
Published: June 2020

The double slit experiment was the first demonstrative proof of the wave nature of light. It was expounded by the English physician-physicist Thomas Young in 1801 and it soon helped lay to rest the then raging Newton–Huygens debate on whether light consisted of a fast-moving stream of particles or a train of progressive waves in the ether medium. In the experiment, light is made to pass through two very narrow slits spaced closely apart. A screen placed on the other side captures a pattern of alternating bright and dark bands called fringes which are formed as a result of the phenomenon of interference. In prior work by the same author, it was shown that the conventional analysis of Young’s experiment that is used in many introductory physics textbooks, suffers from a number of limitations in regards to its ability to accurately predict the positions of these fringes on the distant screen. This was owing to the adoption of some needless and paradoxical assumptions to help simplify the geometry of the slit barrier-screen arrangement. In the new analysis however, all such approximations were discarded and a hyperbola theorem was forwarded which was then suitably applied to determine the exact fringe positions on screens of varied shapes (linear, semi-circular, semi-elliptical). This paper further builds on that work by laying down the mathematical framework necessary for counting fringes and then comparing their distributions on differently shaped screens, using MATLAB software package for numerical–graphical simulation. In addition, a pair of equivalent laws of proportionality are predicted that govern the distribution of fringes independent of the shape of the detection screen employed.
Uncertainty of three-nucleon continuum observables arising from uncertainties of two-nucleon potential parameters
Authors: Volkotrub Yu , Golak J , Skibiński R , Topolnicki K , Witała H , Epelbaum E , Krebs H , Reinert P
Published: June 2020

We investigate the impact of statistical uncertainties in the two-nucleon potentials on the neutron–deuteron elastic scattering and the deuteron breakup reaction observables at incoming nucleon kinetic energy up to 200 MeV. To that end we use the semi-phenomenological one-pion-exchange- Gaussian two-nucleon potential developed by the Granada group and the recent semi-local momentum-space regularized chiral nucleon–nucleon interaction at various orders, neglecting the three-nucleon force present in the three-nucleon system. The magnitudes of statistical uncertainties for these two potentials are found to be rather similar. For the chiral potential, we also show truncation errors estimated, among others, using the Bayesian method and discuss the residual cutoff dependence. The statistical uncertainty is generally found to be smaller than the truncation errors except for certain observables calculated at high chiral orders at nucleon energies up to 65 MeV. In general, magnitudes of the theoretical uncertainties are small and amount up to 0.5%–4%, depending on the observable and energy.
Morphology control of single-crystal InSb nanostructures by tuning the growth parameters
Authors: Verma Isha , Zannier Valentina , Rossi Francesca , Ercolani Daniele , Beltram Fabio , Sorba Lucia
Published: June 2020

Research interest in indium antimonide (InSb) has increased significantly in recent years owing to its intrinsic properties and the consequent opportunities to implement next-generation quantum devices. Hence, the precise, reproducible control over morphology and crystalline quality becomes of paramount importance for a practical quantum-device technology. Here, we investigate the growth of InSb nanostructures with different morphologies on InAs stems without pre-growth efforts (patterning). InSb nanostructures such as nanowires (1D), nanoflags (2D) and nanocubes (3D) have been realized by means of Au-assisted chemical beam epitaxy by tailoring the growth parameters like growth temperature, precursor fluxes, sample rotation and substrate orientation. Through morphological and crystallographic characterization, all the as-grown InSb 2D nanostructures are found to be single-crystalline with zinc blende structure, free from any defects such as stacking faults and twin planes. The existence of two families of 2D nanostructures, characterised by an aperture angle at the base of 145° and 160°, is observed and modelled. This study provides useful guidelines for the controlled growth of high-quality InSb nanostructures with different shape.
A dissipative time crystal with or without Z2 symmetry breaking
Authors: Lledó Cristóbal , Szymańska Marzena H
Published: June 2020

We study an emergent semiclassical time crystal composed of two interacting driven-dissipative bosonic modes. The system has a discrete

Z

2

spatial symmetry which, depending on the strength of the drive, can be broken in the time-crystalline phase or it cannot. An exact semiclassical mean-field analysis, numerical simulations in the quantum regime, and the spectral analysis of the Liouvillian are combined to show the emergence of the time crystal and to prove the robustness of the oscillation period against quantum fluctuations.
Light higgsino-dominated NLSPs in semi-constrained NMSSM *
Authors: Wang Kun , Zhu Jingya
Published: June 2020

In the semi-constrained next-to minimal supersymmetric standard model (scNMSSM, or NMSSM with non-universal Higgs mass) under current constraints, we consider a scenario where

is the SM-like Higgs,

is a singlino-dominated LSP;

and

are mass-degenerated, light, and higgsino-dominated next-to-lightest supersymmetric particles (NLSPs). We investigate the constraints of these NLSPs by searching for supersymmetry particles at the LHC Run-I and Run-II and discuss the possibility of discovering these NLSPs in the future. We arrive at the following conclusions: (i) With all data of Run I and up to

data of Run II at the LHC, the search results by ATLAS and CMS still cannot exclude the higgsino-dominated NLSPs of

. (ii) When the mass difference with

is smaller than

,

and

have opposite preferences with regard to decaying to

or

. (iii) When the mass difference between NLSP and LSP is larger than

, most samples can be verified at the

level with future

data at the LHC. Meanwhile, with

data at high-luminosity LHC (HL-LHC), almost all of the samples can be verified at the

level, even if the mass difference is insufficient. (iv) The

funnel and the

funnel mechanisms for the singlino-dominated LSP annihilation cannot be distinguished by searching for NLSPs.
Hadronic spectra from deformed AdS backgrounds *
Authors: Capossoli Eduardo Folco , Martín Contreras Miguel Angel , Li Danning , Vega Alfredo , Boschi-Filho Henrique
Published: June 2020

Because of the presence of modified warp factors in metric tensors, we use deformed AdS
5 spaces to apply the AdS/CFT correspondence to calculate the spectra for even and odd glueballs, scalar and vector mesons, and baryons with different spins. For the glueball cases, we derive their Regge trajectories and compare them with those related to the pomeron and the odderon. For the scalar and vector mesons, as well as baryons, the determined masses are compatible with the PDG. In particular, for these hadrons we found Regge trajectories compatible with another holographic approach as well as with the hadronic spectroscopy, which present an universal Regge slope of approximately 1.1 GeV2.
Study of the Irradiation Effect by α-Particles on Optical Properties of ZnO:6%In Thin Films
Authors: Aldhuhaibat Mohammed J. R. , Hussein M. L. , Hyder M. T. , Amana Maitham S.
Published: June 2020

This study investigates the effect of radiation doses of 4.78MeV energy of alpha particles emitted from radium radioactive source (Ra226), which gives an equivalent dose rate of (5mrem/h) with an activity of (60KBq ), on the optical properties of 350nm thickness of the ZnO thin films doped 6% rate of indium (In) that prepared by spray pyrolysis technique. The study of the optical properties included energy gap, reflectivity, absorption coefficient, refractive index, extinction coefficient, real and imaginary insulation constant by recording the transmission and absorption spectra of photons have wavelength range of 300-1000nm before and after exposing the thin film to α-particles to radiation doses of 125, 250 and 500mSv by exposing them to different time periods. When ZnO:6%In thin films exposed to radiation dose, the results generally showed decreasing of the energy gap value, a slight variation in the values of reflectivity, absorption coefficient, refractive index, extinction coefficient, real and imaginary insulation constant at the low dose (125mSv), and a significant variation in the values of these properties at higher doses (250, 500mSv) with a variation in behavior of the curves with the increasing of doses values.
Surrounding refractive index and liquid based sensors using fibre bragg grating
Authors: Shuhada Tan Halid Nurul , Daud Suzairi , Nur Aizatti Rohizad Siti , Multar Esmafatinsyafiqa , Rahim Mohd Yusoff Abdull
Published: June 2020

Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) becomes one of the favourable sensing elements in current technology. In this study, FBG was chosen as the temperature sensor to validate the performance in different liquid samples and surrounding refractive index (SRI). FBG was chosen for the purpose due to its super sensitive sensor, low in cost, minimal of data loss, and other outstanding advantages. The experiment was done in difference sample of liquids, SRI, and condition. The sensitivity of FBG in air, water, and stingless bee honey were recorded at 10.6892 nm/°C, 10.6247 nm/°C, and 13.3985 nm/°C respectively.It shows that FBG is suit as a temperature sensor in different medium and SRI.
Comparison of Fiber Bragg Grating based on SMF and MMF over Temperature Sensitivity
Authors: Osman S.S. , Salim M.A.M. , Sahidan N.S. , Bakhtiar H. , Krishnan G. , Othman M.H.D. , Rahman M.A. , Ismail A.F. , Yahya N.
Published: June 2020

We have successfully fabricated and demonstrated a simple, cost-effective and easy to use of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) based on single mode, and multimode fiber which have been employed for temperature monitoring. The study purposely compared the performance of two types of FBGs; single mode FBG (SM-FBG) and multimode FBG (MM-FBG). The FBGs sensor is fabricated by phase mask technique which being exposed to ArF excimer laser with 20 mm uniform grating length and 99% reflectivity. The proposed FBG is studied for temperature monitoring starting at room temperature until 120 °C, and the configurations with SM-FBG and MM-FBG achieved a sensitivity of 10.9 pm/°C and 13.23 pm/°C, respectively whereas linear response correlation coefficient of 0.98229 and 0.99929. These show the MM-FBG has better sensitivity to be used in sensor applications.
Development and characterization sensitivity of optical fibre pH sensor for industrial application
Authors: Hameed Kareem Zaman
Published: June 2020

Optical fibre sensor (optrode) depending on a transmittance was presented as a valuable sensitive sensor for several applications. Thus, the development of a wide-area detection system for continuously monitoring structural changes, together with a capability for non-destructive evaluation and early warning, is an important task the sensitive fibre was preparing by removing the cladding from several places and modified by different chemical solutions. The transmittance spectrum used to measure the pH of distilled water that contains HCL and NaOH in a range between 2 to 12. The special design of this sensor made it a perfect for laboratory and industrial usage, only 25 cm of modified fibre was enough to measure the pH in real time with a sensitivity 0.015-0.2 1/pH. The results showed this sensor can work in different solutions and it gives accurate results at any conditions.
Investigating the longitudinal development of EAS with ultra high energies
Authors: Rahi Raham Abbas , Al-Rubaiee A. A. , Al-Kubaisy Majida H.
Published: June 2020

The simulation of the extensive air showers was performed by investigating the longitudinal development parameters (N and Xmax) by using AIRES system version 19.04.0. The simulation was performed at the energy range (1018-1020 eV) for different primary particles (such as primary proton and iron nuclei) and different zenith angles. The longitudinal development curves of EAS are fitted using Gaussian function that gave a new parameters for different primary particles and different zenith angles at the energy range (1018-1020 eV). The comparison between the obtained results, the parameterized longitudinal development using Gaussian function that gave a new parameters for different primary particles with the experimental measurements (AUGER experiment) that gave a good agreement for primary proton and iron nuclei at the energy 1019 eV for θ = 0˚.
Generation of Ultrafast Erbium-Doped Fiber Laser (EDFL) utilizing Graphene Thin Film
Authors: Aizi Mat Salim Muhammad , Afiq Ismail Mohd , Ab. Razak Mohd. Zulhakimi , Razalli Azzuhri Saaidal
Published: June 2020

We have demonstrated an ultrafast mode-locked pulses generation by sandwiching graphene thin film between fiber ferrules in a simple erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) ring cavity setup. The incorporation of graphene thin film acted as a saturable absorber (SA) and had generated a stable mode locked pulse with repetition rate of 8.3 MHz, narrowest pulse duration of 1.38 picoseconds and 1558.8 nm wavelength.
Effect of sample temperature on spectroscopic investigation of laser-induced aluminum and copper plasma
Authors: Mazalan E , Haider Z , Chaudhary K , Duralim M , Ismail F D , Roslan M S , Wathiqah S N , Ali J
Published: June 2020

In this work, the influence of samples temperature and laser energy on the optical emission spectra and plasma parameters of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for aluminum and copper metallic target is investigated. The samples are uniformly cooled down to −70 °C and heated up to 200 °C by an external liquid nitrogen and ceramic heater, respectively. The plasma formed is generated by ablating the surface targets using Nd:YAG laser with laser energies of 100 mJ, 200 mJ and 300 mJ. The emission spectra at ambient atmospheric pressure are recorded using HR4000 spectrometer. From these spectra, plasma temperatures and electron densities are determined by using Boltzmann plot and Stark broadening methods, respectively. A significant increase in the peak intensity of spectral lines is observed with increase in the laser energy as well as sample temperature for both elements. Both of these parameters have shown a clear influence on dynamics of laser-induced plasma for each species. In brief, both laser energy and sample temperature affect the emission intensity, temperature and density of the laser-induced plasma generated from aluminum and copper samples.
Influence of compaction times and pressures on rheological properties of kaolin and sawdust powder mixtures
Authors: Kurovics Emese , Ibrahim Jamal-Eldin F M , Gömze László A
Published: June 2020

In this research, the compacting process and rheological properties of kaolin and bio-original additive (sawdust) mixtures were investigated based on compaction pressures and times. Relative compaction curves as a function of forming pressure and time were determined, the authors enabled to precisely specify the changes of the rheological models and rheological characteristics of these powder mixtures which have variable particle compactions and size distributions. varying the compression pressure and changing the composition ratio of the kaolin and sawdust powder mixtures leads to considerable changes in the rheological properties of the prepared mixture.
Fresh state properties of lime mortars with foam glass dust
Authors: Vyšvařil M , Krebs M
Published: June 2020

Fine glass waste has been found to be a suitable addition to lime mortars because of the high amorphous content. The behavior of fresh air lime mortars and natural hydraulic lime mortars modified by foam glass dust is assessed with the purpose of exploring a new application of this waste dust as lime mortar admixture. The rheological parameters were correlated with relative density measurements, water retention abilities of mortars and air content in mortars. The effect of foam glass dust was found to be dosage-dependent. The fresh mortars behave generally as Hershel–Bulkley fluids with an evolution of the rheological parameters with admixture content. The replacement of lime by foam glass dust caused a reduction in mixing water reducing the yield stress simultaneously; however, the viscosity of the resulting mortars slightly increased. A change in behavior of mortars from shear-thickening to shear-thinning was observed. The natural hydraulic lime based mortars showed a gradual change from thixotropic to rheopectic behavior with increasing glass dust addition. The foam glass dust appears to be well suited to air lime plaster mixtures used in machine thin-layer rendering due to its plasticizing properties, and ability to increase water retention and reduce air content in the mortars.
Application of the Ramberg-Osgood model in asphalt technology
Authors: Cho Seoyoung , Tóth Csaba , Primusz Péter
Published: June 2020

The “Time-Temperature Superposition” known from rheology has long been a useful tool for studying the behaviour of asphalt mixture. Dynamic modulus values are measured at different temperatures and frequencies can be thoroughly studied using the master curves defined by using this principle. The master curves are usually constructed using the sigmoid functions. However, other types of functions could be used for this purpose as well. One such option is the Ramberg-Osgood material model designed to model the cyclic behaviour of soils. The present article seeks to find out how accurately the use of the Ramberg-Osgood material model can describe the material behaviour of asphalt mixtures, and if there are any new highlights compared to the commonly used master curve determination techniques.
Preparation and Investigation of Alumina-Zeolite Composite Materials
Authors: Ibrahim J F M , Kurovics E , Tihtih M , Somdee P , Gerezgiher A G , Nuilek K , Khine E E , Sassi M
Published: June 2020

In this research, alumina-zeolite composite materials were synthesised by mechanical activation and oxidation sintering technique. A comprehensive examination of the microstructure of the starting raw materials and the sintered ceramic specimens have been studied via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, several properties were investigated such as volume shrinkage, density, porosity, weight loss and water absorption based on the compositions of the composite specimens, sintering temperature, and microstructure. The authors have found that the raw material compositions and the sintering temperature have great influence in the microstructure and the characteristic of the final prepared ceramic specimens.
Evaluating the properties and mineral phases of the expanded clay aggregates with the bentonite additive material
Authors: Abdelfattah M , Kocserha I , Géber R , Tihtih M , Móricz F
Published: June 2020

Additive materials are the perfect solutions to improve the physical, mechanical and expansion properties of lightweight expanded clay aggregates (LECA). This work focused on studying the effect of bentonite materials on physical, mechanical, expansion properties and mineral phases of expanded clay aggregates. Samples were collected from Mályi quarry Miskolc, Hungary. These samples were studied by XRF, XRD, SEM and heating microscope. In addition, the physical and mechanical properties of specimens were measured according to relating standards. Results showed that, addition of bentonite material to the clay samples has great effect on bulk density, sintering and melting point and compressive strength of the aggregates. By using the three different amounts (5 %, 10 % and 20 %) of bentonite with the LECA, compressive strength of the aggregates was enhanced by 48 % to 112 % compared to aggregates without bentonite. 10 % of bentonite with aggregates was enhanced the height expansion of the aggregates by 50–68 %. In addition, 10 % of bentonite with LECA was most crucial, which decreased bulk density of aggregates by 5 % to 20 % compared with other added amounts of bentonite. According to XRD analysis, hercynite was one of the phases, which can control compressive strength of aggregates.