bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supramolecular solvent-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of copper from water and hair samples
Authors: Aydin Funda , Yilmaz Erkan , Soylak Mustafa
Published: April 2015

A supramolecular solvent based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (SM-DLLME) procedure has been established for the separation and preconcentration of Cu(ii) before its determination by microsampling flame atomic absorption spectrometry.
Analysis of the effects of dietary fat on body and skin lipids of hamsters by Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Meksiarun Phiranuphon , Maeda Yui , Hiroi Tatsuya , Andriana Bibin B. , Sato Hidetoshi
Published: April 2015

A ball lens installed hollow optical fiber Raman probe (BHRP) was applied for the noninvasive analysis of skinlipids in hamsters.
Surface roughness-induced speed increase for active Janus micromotors
Authors: Choudhury Udit , Soler Lluís , Gibbs John G. , Sanchez Samuel , Fischer Peer
Published: April 2015

Fabrication protocol and surface morphology.
Self-assembly of triangular polyoxometalate–organic hybrid macroions in mixed solvents
Authors: Zhang Baofang , Pradeep Chullikkattil P. , Cronin Leroy , Liu Tianbo
Published: April 2015

A cartoon illustrates the self-assembly process of the “triangular” shaped hybrids with TBA as countercations in acetone–water mixed solvents.
Three sra topological lanthanide–organic frameworks built from 2,2′-dimethoxy-4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid
Authors: Wang Xin , Zhao Jie , Zhao Yan , Xu Heng , Shen Xuan , Zhu Dun-Ru , Jing Su
Published: April 2015

The first neutral 3D sra-LOF built from a 1D inorganic rod-shaped chain [Ln(CO2)2(HCO2)]n (Ln = Eu, Gd, Dy) was synthesized.
Two novel POM-based inorganic–organic hybrid compounds: synthesis, structures, magnetic properties, photodegradation and selective absorption of organic dyes
Authors: Dui Xue-Jing , Yang Wen-Bin , Wu Xiao-Yuan , Kuang Xiaofei , Liao Jian-Zhen , Yu Rongmin , Lu Can-Zhong
Published: April 2015

Two novel 2D hybrid materials, based on related polyoxometalate units, exhibit selective absorption of organic dyes and interesting magnetic properties.
A multicomponent pathway-inspired regioselective synthesis of 2,3,4-trisubstituted 1H-pyrroles via [3+2] cycloaddition reaction
Authors: Kalmode Hanuman P. , Vadagaonkar Kamlesh S. , Murugan Kaliyappan , Chaskar Atul C.
Published: April 2015

An operationally simple, functional group tolerant and highly efficient domino protocol for the synthesis of pyrroles has been developed.
Selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with H2O2 in water on epichlorohydrin-modified Fe3O4 microspheres
Authors: Xiao Shiwei , Zhang Chuntao , Chen Rong , Chen Fengxi
Published: April 2015

The enhancing effect of modification by epichlorohydrin on the catalytic activity of Fe3O4 microspheres in the title reaction was theoretically and experimentally confirmed.
The relationship between the growth rate and the lifetime in carbon nanotube synthesis
Authors: Chen Guohai , Davis Robert C. , Kimura Hiroe , Sakurai Shunsuke , Yumura Motoo , Futaba Don N. , Hata Kenji
Published: April 2015

We report an inverse relationship between the carbon nanotube (CNT) growth rate and the catalyst lifetime by investigating the dependence of growth kinetics for ∼330 CNT forests on the carbon feedstock, carbon concentration, and growth temperature.
A challenging Heck reaction of maleimides
Authors: Lim Li Hui , Zhou Jianrong (Steve)
Published: April 2015

A difficult Heck reaction of base-sensitive maleimides is realized by using a weak base in a carbonate solvent.
Fabrication of Mn2O3 nanorods: an efficient catalyst for selective transformation of alcohols to aldehydes
Authors: Rahaman Hasimur , Laha Radha M. , Maiti Dilip K. , Ghosh Sujit Kumar
Published: April 2015

Self-assembled high surface area Mn2O3 nanorods have been fabricated through an effective polymer–surfactant interaction and their outstanding catalytic property for the selective transformation of alcohols to aldehydes has been discovered.
Controlling electrodeposited conducting polymer nanostructures with the number and the length of fluorinated chains for adjusting superhydrophobic properties and adhesion
Authors: El-Maiss Janwa , Darmanin Thierry , Guittard Frédéric
Published: April 2015

Controlling the formation of surface nanostructures is highly important for various applications, and in particular for superhydrophobic properties.
Aerobic photooxidative direct asymmetric aldol reactions of benzyl alcohols using water as the solvent
Authors: Fujiya A. , Nobuta T. , Yamaguchi E. , Tada N. , Miura T. , Itoh A.
Published: April 2015

We report an aerobic photooxidative direct asymmetric aldol reaction using water as the solvent.
Polymer organogelation with chitin and chitin nanocrystals
Authors: Nikiforidis Constantinos V. , Scholten Elke
Published: April 2015

In this paper, we show that biodegradable and biocompatible organogels can be formed with chitin as the filler material and triglycerides as the continuous hydrophobic phase.
Taming C60fullerene: tuning intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer process with subphthalocyanines
Authors: Rudolf Marc , Trukhina Olga , Perles Josefina , Feng Lai , Akasaka Takeshi , Torres Tomas , Guldi Dirk M.
Published: April 2015

Two subphthalocyanine–C60fullerene electron donor–acceptor conjugates have been prepared from electron deficient subphthalocyanines and C60, with evidence of an ultrafast oxidative electron transfer from C60to the subphthalocyanines.
Small bioactive molecules as dual functional co-dopants for conducting polymers
Authors: Goding J. A. , Gilmour A. D. , Martens P. J. , Poole-Warren L. A. , Green R. A.
Published: April 2015

Scanning electron microscope image of surface morphology of conducting polymer PEDOT doped with bioactive molecules.
Gold–graphene nanocomposites for sensing and biomedical applications
Authors: Turcheniuk Kostiantyn , Boukherroub Rabah , Szunerits Sabine
Published: April 2015

Recent developments in materials science and nanotechnology have propelled the development of a plethora of materials with unique chemical and physical properties for biomedical applications.
Textile‐to‐rigid microstrip transition using permanent magnets
Authors: Fonseca D.S. , Seager R.D. , Flint J.A.
Published: April 2015

A novel transition between a rigid‐substrate and a flexible‐substrate microstrip for use in wearable devices is described. The contact force between the conductors of the two microstrips is supplied by a pair of rectangular magnets. A simulation and measurement study carried out on a test jig comprising a back‐to‐back pair of such transitions demonstrated an insertion loss of better than 0.5 dB/transition can be achieved in the range of 0–3 GHz.
Wideband harmonic‐tuned CMOS power amplifier with 19.5 dBm output power and 22.6% PAE over entire X‐band
Authors: Park Seungwon , Jeon Sanggeun
Published: April 2015

A wideband power amplifier (PA) with high output power and efficiency over the entire X‐band is implemented in a 0.11 μm CMOS technology. To achieve high efficiency in the wideband, a new harmonic‐tuned technique is proposed for the output matching network of the PA, while no radio frequency (RF) choke is used for DC bias. Measurement results show that the output power and power‐added efficiency (PAE) are no less than 19.5 dBm and 22.6%, respectively, over the entire X‐band. The peak PAE is 28.9% with an output power of 20.3 dBm at 9 GHz.
3D‐printed spherical dipole antenna integrated on small RF node
Authors: Adams J.J. , Slimmer S.C. , Lewis J.A. , Bernhard J.T.
Published: April 2015

New three‐dimensional (3D) printing techniques enable the integration of an antenna directly onto the package of a small wireless sensor node. This volume‐filling approach ensures near‐optimal bandwidth performance of the small antenna, increasing a system's battery life, data rate or range. Simulated results show that the fabricated spherical antenna's bandwidth‐efficiency product is more than half of the fundamental limit and radiation pattern measurements exhibit a dipole pattern with −0.7 dBi gain.
Statistical characteristics of queue with fractional Brownian motion input
Authors: Chen J. , Bhatia H.S. , Addie R.G. , Zukerman M.
Published: April 2015

The factional Brownian motion has attracted significant attention because it accurately represents Internet traffic characteristics and is amenable to analysis. A link between the probability density function of the steady‐state queue size of a queue with a fractional Brownian input and the generalised Gamma distribution is discovered, and the mean, variance, third central moment and skewness are provided. New simulation results that validate the accuracy of these queueing statistics are also provided.
Sliding discrete Fourier transform‐based mono‐component amplitude modulation–frequency modulation signal decomposition
Authors: Sumathi Parasuraman , Singh Ksh Milan
Published: April 2015

The sliding discrete Fourier transform‐based phase locking scheme (SDFT‐PLL) has been adapted for the extraction of message signals from mono‐component amplitude modulation–frequency modulation (AM–FM) signals. In the proposed scheme, the SDFT‐PLL is designed to track a carrier signal, which has been modulated by sinusoidal message signals both in amplitude and frequency. The sliding DFT filter is prone to windowing effect if input signal frequency drifts from centre carrier frequency. The amplitude and phase errors caused by this effect have been utilised to achieve locking condition by adaptive sampling frequency control. The SDFT‐PLL is modified in such a way that the numerically controlled oscillator produces sampling pulses suitable for SDFTbin‐1 and SDFT bin‐0 for the retrieval of frequency and amplitude modulation signals, respectively. Hence, the frequency and amplitude variation of monocomponent AM–FM could be retrieved simultaneously. Furthermore, Bessel function‐based analysis provides an insight to the removal of unwanted spectral components present in error signal. Simulation results prove the capability of PLL in message signal retrieval for large variation in frequency and amplitude. The proposed scheme is implemented in field programmable gate array to validate the performance of SDFT‐PLL in decomposition of the mono‐component AM–FM signal.
Solid‐state control for reactive power compensation and power quality improvement of wound field synchronous generator‐based diesel generator sets
Authors: Niwas Ram , Singh Bhim
Published: April 2015

This paper presents the use of pulse‐width modulated voltage source converter (PWM‐VSC) for power quality improvement of a wound field synchronous generator‐based diesel generator (DG) set realising standalone supply system. The system consists of a diesel engine driven wound field synchronous generator, a three‐leg PWM‐VSC with a capacitor on the DC link and linear/non‐linear loads. The PWM‐VSC supplies the leading kilo volt‐amphere reactive (kVAR) to the loads and maintains the unity power factor of the DG set. In addition, it eliminates the harmonics from the source currents and provides load balancing. The terminal voltage is controlled by field excitation control of the generator and the supply frequency is controlled by the speed regulating system of the diesel engine. A variable step size filter‐x least mean square‐based control algorithm is used for estimation of reference currents for control of VSC.
Parameter estimation of squirrel‐cage motors with parasitic torques in the torque–slip curve
Authors: Monjo Lluis , Córcoles Felipe , Pedra Joaquin
Published: April 2015

This paper studies parasitic torques in steady‐state torque–slip curves of squirrel‐cage induction motors. The curves of nine motors (small, medium and large size units), three of which were measured in the range s = 2 to 0, are analysed. The torque–slip curves of eight of these nine motors differ significantly from the smooth curves predicted by the classical single‐ and double‐cage models: a torque dip at large slips in the motoring regime and a notable torque increase in the braking regime occur. As parasitic torques have been traditionally associated with space harmonics, two single‐cage chain models (which consider the space harmonics) are tested to fit the measured torque and current of the three measured motors: one neglects the skin effect, leading to the wrong torque prediction, whereas the other (the chain model proposed in the early 60s in the literature) considers the skin effect, leading to an accurate torque prediction.
Distribution networks planning using decomposition optimisation technique
Authors: Dias Fernando Maurício , Canizes Bruno , Khodr Hussein , Cordeiro Manuel
Published: April 2015

This study proposes an efficient planning method for distribution networks in order to minimise power loss and maximise reliability taking into account the distributed generation, transformers load tap changer and capacitors location and size. This multi‐criteria model is subjected to several technical constraints and full AC‐optimal power flow (OPF). The planning process is running by means of a multi‐criteria analysis in which three objectives are considered: the minimisation of the system's power loss; the minimisation of capacitor placement and size cost; and the minimisation of energy not supplied cost, maximising reliability. For solving this problem, decomposition techniques were chosen. This way, the problem was divided into two parts – one called the master sub‐problem and another called slave sub‐problem. The master sub‐problem (decision sub‐problem) determines the radial topology of the distribution network and was formulated as a mixed‐integer quadratic constraint problem. The slave sub‐problem is used to define the feasibility of the decision sub‐problem solution by solving an OPF, giving information required to formulate the linear cuts and formulated as a non‐linear programming problem. These cuts link the master and the slave sub‐problems. The methodology is programmed in the software General Algebraic Modelling System and it is applied to a 70‐bus distribution network.
Distribution network protection considering grid code requirements for distributed generation
Authors: Margossian Harag , Deconinck Geert , Sachau Juergen
Published: April 2015

The amount of inverter‐based distributed generation connected to the low and medium voltage levels is increasing rapidly. Their growing impact on the power system has already driven some distribution network operators to start imposing requirements on their operation similar to those described in transmission grid codes. This study studies how different grid code requirements can affect the fault current levels in the distribution network and explores the possibility of using the grid code requirements to ensure the reliability and selectivity of the protection of distribution feeders.
Optimisation and implementation for a non‐focal Rotman lens design
Authors: Rajabalian Mojtaba , Zakeri Bijan
Published: April 2015

Rotman lens is widely used to feed a phased array antenna to implement a beam forming network. In designing Rotman lens, one of the most important challenges is the phase error. In recent years, Rotman lens has been designed by using a non‐focal idea whereas the position of ports are only optimised to reduce the phase error. Because of the unsuitable location of the ports, which causes mismatching and coupling, the previous non‐focal method cannot be constructed easily. To implement the lens, a new scheme, converting three‐focal Rotman lens to non‐focal, is presented. By using a simple procedure, the phase error is properly reduced. To evaluate the proposed method, the non‐focal Rotman lens has been implemented at 10 GHz. The simulation and measurement results illustrate that the method is implementable. Furthermore, the average improvement of the maximum phase error in the proposed lens, with five beam ports and five array ports with overall lens size of 15 × 15 cm2, is 36% better than the previous reported work.
Development of a hybrid genetic algorithm/perturb and observe algorithm for maximum power point tracking in photovoltaic systems under non‐uniform insolation
Authors: Sundareswaran Kinattingal , Vigneshkumar Vethanayagam , Palani Sankaran
Published: April 2015

The power‐voltage characteristic curve of photovoltaic systems under partially shaded conditions exhibits multiple peaks and renders conventional maximum power point tracking techniques ineffective. This study proposes a hybrid optimisation algorithm incorporating genetic algorithm (GA) in the initial stages of tracking followed by traditional perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm. Although GA and P&O methods do not guarantee convergence to global maximum power point when employed separately, the fusion of the two methods leads to confirmed global convergences with least time. The excellent performance of the combined method is illustrated through extensive simulation and experimental results.
Anomalous eddy viscosity for two-dimensional turbulence
Authors: Iwayama T. , Murakami S. , Watanabe T.
Published: April 2015

We study eddy viscosity for generalized two-dimensional (2D) fluids. The governing equation for generalized 2D fluids is the advection equation of an active scalar q by an incompressible velocity. The relation between q and the stream function ψ is given by q = − (−∇2)α/2ψ. Here, α is a real number. When the evolution equation for the generalized enstrophy spectrum Qα(k) is truncated at a wavenumber kc, the effect of the truncation of modes with larger wavenumbers than kc on the dynamics of the generalized enstrophy spectrum with smaller wavenumbers than kc is investigated. Here, we refer to the effect of the truncation on the dynamics of Qα(k) with k < kc as eddy viscosity. Our motivation is to examine whether the eddy viscosity can be represented by normal diffusion. Using an asymptotic analysis of an eddy-damped quasi-normal Markovian (EDQNM) closure approximation equation for the enstrophy spectrum, we show that even if the wavenumbers of interest k are sufficiently smaller than kc, the eddy viscosity is not asymptotically proportional to k2Qα(k), i.e., a normal diffusion, but to k4−αQα(k) for α > 0 and k4Qα(k) for α < 0, i.e., an anomalous diffusion. This indicates that the eddy viscosity as normal diffusion is asymptotically realized only for α = 2 (Navier–Stokes system). The proportionality constant, the eddy viscosity coefficient, is asymptotically negative. These results are confirmed by numerical calculations of the EDQNM closure approximation equation and direct numerical simulations of the governing equation for forced and dissipative generalized 2D fluids. The negative eddy viscosity coefficient is explained using Fjørtoft’s theorem and a spreading hypothesis for the spectrum.
Temperature evolution of electromotive force from Pt on yttrium-iron-garnet under ferromagnetic resonance
Authors: Ohshima Ryo , Emoto Hiroyuki , Shinjo Teruya , Ando Yuichiro , Shiraishi Masashi
Published: April 2015

Temperature evolution of electromotive force from Pt due to the inverse spin Hall effect is studied. Pure spin current is injected from yttrium-iron-garnet by using spin pumping technique. The electromotive force from the Pt monotonically decreases with decreasing temperature, and it is showed that there is a deviation between the measured and the calculated electromotive forces.
Essential roles of protein-solvent many-body correlation in solvent-entropy effect on protein folding and denaturation: Comparison between hard-sphere solvent and water
Authors: Oshima Hiraku , Kinoshita Masahiro
Published: April 2015

In earlier works, we showed that the entropic effect originating from the translational displacement of water molecules plays the pivotal role in protein folding and denaturation. The two different solvent models, hard-sphere solvent and model water, were employed in theoretical methods wherein the entropic effect was treated as an essential factor. However, there were similarities and differences in the results obtained from the two solvent models. In the present work, to unveil the physical origins of the similarities and differences, we simultaneously consider structural transition, cold denaturation, and pressure denaturation for the same protein by employing the two solvent models and considering three different thermodynamic states for each solvent model. The solvent-entropy change upon protein folding/unfolding is decomposed into the protein-solvent pair (PA) and many-body (MB) correlation components using the integral equation theories. Each component is further decomposed into the excluded-volume (EV) and solvent-accessible surface (SAS) terms by applying the morphometric approach. The four physically insightful constituents, (PA, EV), (PA, SAS), (MB, EV), and (MB, SAS), are thus obtained. Moreover, (MB, SAS) is discussed by dividing it into two factors. This all-inclusive investigation leads to the following results: (1) the protein-water many-body correlation always plays critical roles in a variety of folding/unfolding processes; (2) the hard-sphere solvent model fails when it does not correctly reproduce the protein-water many-body correlation; (3) the hard-sphere solvent model becomes problematic when the dependence of the many-body correlation on the solvent number density and temperature is essential: it is not quite suited to studies on cold and pressure denaturating of a protein; (4) when the temperature and solvent number density are limited to the ambient values, the hard-sphere solvent model is usually successful; and (5) even at the ambient values, however, the many-body correlation plays significant roles in the β-sheet formation and argument of relative stabilities of very similar structures of a protein. These results are argued in detail with respect to the four physically insightful constituents and the two factors mentioned above. The relevance to the absence or presence of hydrogen-bonding properties in the solvent is also discussed in detail.
Functional brain measurements within the prefrontal area on pseudo-“blindsight” induced by extremely low frequency electromagnetic stimulations
Authors: Nakagawa Hidenori , Ueno Shoogo
Published: April 2015

For evaluating the effects of phosphene as pseudo-blindsight closely, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy to investigate whether or not the phosphene appearance itself substantially affects the hemodynamic responses of the prefrontal area. Seven healthy volunteers ranging in age from 22 to 72 participated in the visual stimulation experiments. First, we examined the influences of electromagnetic stimulations at around the threshold (10 mT) for a blindsight-like phosphene on the responses. According to the results of the aged volunteers, we found the possibility that the delay in the phosphene perception might be caused by aging beyond a certain age. In the results of our measurements using the stimulation of 50 mT, no significant difference in the perception delay for all the volunteers could be detected. When the field strength was decreased from 50 mT to the threshold in steps of 10 mT, the results obtained at the threshold are equivalent to that obtained at 50 mT. Our data strongly support the hypothesis that pseudo-blindsight induced by electromagnetic stimulation of above 50 mT is able to excite all the volunteers' retinal photoreceptor cells provisionally. Hence the continuous stimulations for a long period of time might gradually activate synaptic plasticity on the neural network of the retina.
Magnetocrystalline anisotropy of 4d/5d transition metals on a Co(0001) surface: A first-principles study
Authors: Taivansaikhan P. , Odkhuu D. , Rhim S. H. , Hong S. C.
Published: April 2015

Magnetism and magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) of 4d and 5d transition metal monolayers have been investigated in the presence of a Co(0001) substrate using first-principles electronic structure calculations. Magnetization of Co-group elements undergoes a transition from an in-plane to perpendicular MCA on Co(0001), whose energies (EMCA) are +0.75 meV/cell and +3.67 meV/cell for Rh/Co(0001) and Ir/Co(0001), respectively. On the other hand, the Fe-group Ru/Co(0001) and Os/Co(0001) exhibit the in-plane MCA with antiparallel spin moments to that of the Co substrate. From band analysis, enhancement of MCA in the Ir/Co(0001) is mainly due to the Ir atom by ⟨m=0|lx|m=±1⟩ matrix in the ↑↓-channel, where negative MCA found in Os/Co(0001) is due to Co with dominant contribution from ⟨m=0|lx|m=±1⟩ and ⟨m=±2|lx|m=±1⟩ matrices in the ↓↓- and ↑↓-channel, respectively. The significant enhancement of EMCA in Rh/ and Ir/ Co(0001) is ascribed to larger spin-orbit coupling of 4d and 5d orbitals, mainly by coupling between m = 0 and m = ±1 states.
Turbulent states in plane Couette flow with rotation
Authors: Salewski Matthew , Eckhardt Bruno
Published: April 2015

Shearing and rotational forces in fluids can significantly alter the transport of momentum. A numerical investigation was undertaken to study the role of these forces using plane Couette flow subject to rotation about an axis perpendicular to both wall-normal and streamwise directions. Using a set of progressively higher Reynolds numbers up to Re = 5200, we find that the momentum flux, measured by the wall shear stress, for a given Re is a non-monotonic function of rotation number, Ro. For low-to-moderate Reynolds numbers, we find a maximum that is associated with flow fields that are dominated by downstream vortices and calculations of 2D vortices capture the maximum also quantitatively. For higher Reynolds numbers, a second stronger maximum emerges at smaller rotation numbers, closer to non-rotating plane Couette flow. It is carried by flows with a markedly 3D structure and cannot be captured by 2D vortex studies. As the Reynolds number increases, this maximum becomes stronger and eventually overtakes the one associated with the 2D flow state.
Simulation of the main physical processes in remote laser penetration with large laser spot size
Authors: Khairallah S. A. , Anderson A. , Rubenchik A. M. , Florando J. , Wu S. , Lowdermilk H.
Published: April 2015

A 3D model is developed to simulate remote laser penetration of a 1mm Aluminum metal sheet with large laser spot size (∼ 3x3cm2), using the ALE3D multi-physics code. The model deals with the laser-induced melting of the plate and the mechanical interaction between the solid and the melted part through plate elastic-plastic response. The effect of plate oscillations and other forces on plate rupture, the droplet formation mechanism and the influence of gravity and high laser power in further breaking the single melt droplet into many more fragments are analyzed. In the limit of low laser power, the numerical results match the available experiments. The numerical approach couples mechanical and thermal diffusion to hydrodynamics melt flow and accounts for temperature dependent material properties, surface tension, gravity and vapor recoil pressure.
A novel stand-alone mobile photovoltaic/wind turbine/ultracapacitor/battery bank hybrid power system
Authors: Espinosa-Trujillo M. J. , Flota-Bañuelos M. , Pacheco-Catalán D. , Smit M. A. , Verde-Gómez Y.
Published: April 2015

This paper presents a new mobile hybrid system using a photovoltaic array, a wind turbine, an ultracapacitor, and a battery bank for grid-independent applications in the city of Cancun, Mexico. A main controller is proposed to manage these different power sources. This controller permits autonomous operation and control over power generation and loading. This proposal used high power and high energy density storage devices, including short- and long-term storage strategies for energy management. An independent load management subsystem was added, given that the mobile application requires the management of critical loads. This subsystem included an ON/OFF pattern for the connection and disconnection of DC and AC power outlets installed inside and outside the mobile unit. In order to verify system performance, each component of the system was modeled and simulated under realistic operating scenarios with a practical load using MATLAB, Simulink, and SimPowerSystems. The results obtained for this simulation showed that, by means of power balancing, this management scheme coordinated the power flow among the different sources and the load. The manager behavior shows that the difference between the power generated and the power demand was 2.08 kW h/day and 4.01 kW h/day in winter and summer, respectively.
PrCo5 nanoflakes prepared by surfactant-assisted ball milling at low temperature
Authors: Wang Fang , Wei Hao , Liu Lidong , Yang Haitao , Zhang Jian , Du Juan , Xia Weixing , Yan Aru , Liu J. Ping
Published: April 2015

Rare-earth permanent magnetic nanoflakes and nanoparticles have drawn great attention due to their potential applications in fabricating permanent magnets with high performance. In this work, the anisotropic PrCo5 nanoflakes were fabricated via surfactant-assisted ball milling at low temperature and room temperature, and the morphology, microstructure, and magnetic properties were investigated systematically. It is found that, compared with the sample milled at room temperature, the PrCo5 nanoflakes prepared at low temperature have a better crystallinity, stronger [001] out-of-plane texture, more regular shape with smaller thickness, and excellent magnetic properties, especially a higher degree of grain alignment and larger remanence ratio (Mr/Ms).
Influence of interface potential on the effective mass in Ge nanostructures
Authors: Barbagiovanni E. G. , Cosentino S. , Lockwood D. J. , Costa Filho R. N. , Terrasi A. , Mirabella S.
Published: April 2015

The role of the interface potential on the effective mass of charge carriers is elucidated in this work. We develop a new theoretical formalism using a spatially dependent effective mass that is related to the magnitude of the interface potential. Using this formalism, we studied Ge quantum dots (QDs) formed by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) and co-sputtering (sputter). These samples allowed us to isolate important consequences arising from differences in the interface potential. We found that for a higher interface potential, as in the case of PECVD QDs, there is a larger reduction in the effective mass, which increases the confinement energy with respect to the sputter sample. We further understood the action of O interface states by comparing our results with Ge QDs grown by molecular beam epitaxy. It is found that the O states can suppress the influence of the interface potential. From our theoretical formalism, we determine the length scale over which the interface potential influences the effective mass.
Electrosprayed heterojunction WO3/BiVO4 films with nanotextured pillar structure for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting
Authors: Mali Mukund G. , Yoon Hyun , Kim Min-woo , Swihart Mark T. , Al-Deyab Salem S. , Yoon Sam S.
Published: April 2015

We demonstrate that the addition of a tungsten oxide (WO3) layer beneath a bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) photocatalyst layer with a nanotextured pillar morphology significantly increases the photocurrent density in photoelectrochemical water splitting. The WO3-BiVO4 bilayer films produced a photocurrent of up to 3.3 mA/cm2 under illumination at 100 mW/cm2 (AM1.5 spectrum). The bilayer film was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and photoelectrochemical methods, which confirmed the superiority of the bilayer film in terms of its morphology and charge separation and transport ability. Both WO3 and BiVO4 were deposited by electrostatic spraying under open-air conditions, which resulted in nanotextured pillars of BiVO4 atop a smooth WO3 film. The optimal coating conditions are also reported.
Phytoextraction of nickel and rhizosphere microbial communities under mono- or multispecies hyperaccumulator plant cover in a serpentine soil
Authors: Rue Marie , Vallance Jessica , Echevarria Guillaume , Rey Patrice , Benizri Emile
Published: April 2015

The efficiency of nickel (Ni) phytoextraction by hyperaccumulating Brassicaceae was compared in two types of covers, namely, monoculture or mixed culture. The selected species were from the Pindus Mountains (Greece), including Alyssum murale, Noccaea tymphaea, Leptoplax emarginata and Bornmuellera tymphaea. After 4 months of culture in mesocosms using ultramafic soil (Ni = 1480 mg kg–1), plant biomass yield and Ni concentrations in shoots and roots were recorded for each of six treatments (mixed-culture cover, four monoculture covers and unplanted soil). Microbial biomass carbon, the size of the cultivable rhizosphere bacterial community and its phenotypic structure (Biolog EcoPlates™), bacterial and fungal genetic structure (SSCP), as well as the potential production of auxin compounds, were also evaluated. Moreover, measurements of various microbial enzymes were performed. The biomass and shoot Ni concentration (albeit not significant) of B. tymphaea increased in co-cropping system. A slight acidification of the soil occurred and a strong correlation between pH and the size of the bacterial community was also observed. No significant change in enzyme activity was observed among the cover types, except in the case of arylsulfatase. The phenotypic structure of the bacterial communities and the bacterial and fungal genetic structures appeared to be specific to the type of cover, although the size of the culturable bacterial community did not show variation among treatments. Therefore, on the basis of the bioaccumulation coefficient and the translocation factor, our results showed that B. tympheae, and to a lesser extent N. tympheae, were the two species with the greatest Ni phytoextraction potential in co-culture systems.
Expression of leukaemia inhibitory factor at the conceptus–maternal interface during preimplantation development and in the endometrium during the oestrous cycle in the mare
Authors: de Ruijter-Villani M. , Deelen C. , Stout T. A. E.
Published: April 2015

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) plays a critical role in blastocyst development and implantation in several species. The present study investigated mRNA and protein expression for LIF, as well as the low-affinity LIF receptor (LIFR) and interleukin-6 signal transducer (IL6ST), in equine endometrium, trophoblast and histotroph during early pregnancy and in the endometrium during the oestrous cycle. Endometrial LIF mRNA expression was upregulated after Day 21 of pregnancy, whereas LIF immunoreactivity increased in the endometrium on Day 28. Expression of LIF mRNA in the yolk sac membrane increased from Day 21 of pregnancy, whereas LIF immunoreactivity increased from Day 28 in the trophoblast. LIFR and IL6ST mRNA was expressed in the endometrium during both the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy and, although LIFR and IL6ST protein were localised to the glandular epithelium during the cycle and first 14 days of pregnancy, from Day 21 they were located in the luminal epithelium. Trophoblast expression of LIFR and IL6ST increased as pregnancy proceeded. In conclusion, LIF expression increased at the conceptus–maternal interface during capsule attenuation. Because contemporaneous upregulation of both LIFR and IL6ST was also observed in the trophoblast, we propose that LIF plays an important role in the development of endometrial receptivity for trophoblast growth, apposition and adhesion in mares.
Historical Truth and the Miraculous Past: The Use of Oral Evidence in Twelfth-Century Latin Historical Writing on the First Crusade
Authors: John Simon
Published: April 2015

This article uses a number of twelfth-century Latin chronicles of the First Crusade (1096–99) as a point of entry into a wider discussion of medieval attitudes toward historical truth. It analyses how chroniclers used and interpreted spoken evidence in the composition of their accounts of the crusade. It is asserted that, if modern scholars are properly to understand those chroniclers’ methods, it must be recognised that twelfth-century conceptions of historical truth were vastly different from their modern equivalents. In that period authors could discern the truth of an oral report in a number of ways. While medieval chroniclers in general often emphasised the identity and status of the witnesses who had provided the reports in order to authenticate them, it is shown here that chroniclers of the First Crusade discussed the identity of their informants in only a small number of instances. However, of the crusade may have approached spoken material concerning the expedition according to a methodology which was more often exercised in this era in the writing of hagiography. According to that methodology, the historical truth of an oral report relating to the crusade could be discerned from the expedition’s place within sacred history, that is, those events during which God had intervened directly in the world by means of miracles. This essay concludes by setting out its implications for modern approaches towards twelfth-century writing about the past.
Interobserver Agreement on Endoscopic Classification of Oesophageal Varices in Children
Authors: D'Antiga Lorenzo , Betalli Pietro , De Angelis Paola , Davenport Mark , Di Giorgio Angelo , McKiernan Patrick J. , McLin Valerie , Ravelli Paolo , Durmaz Ozlem , Talbotec Cecile , Sturm Ekkehard , Woynarowski Marek , Burroughs Andrew K.
Published: April 2015

Objectives:

Data regarding agreement on endoscopic features of oesophageal varices in children with portal hypertension (PH) are scant. The aim of this study was to evaluate endoscopic visualisation and classification of oesophageal varices in children by several European clinicians, to build a rational basis for future multicentre trials.

Methods:

Endoscopic pictures of the distal oesophagus of 100 children with a clinical diagnosis of PH were distributed to 10 endoscopists. Observers were requested to classify variceal size according to a 3‐degree scale (small, medium, and large, class A), a 2‐degree scale (small and large, class B), and to recognise red wales (presence or absence, class Red). Overall agreement was considered fair if Fleiss and Cohen κ test was ≥0.30, good if ≥0.40, excellent if ≥0.60, and perfect if ≥0.80.

Results:

Agreement between observers was fair with class A (κ = 0.34) and class B (κ = 0.38), and good with class Red (κ = 0.49). The agreement was good on presence versus absence of varices (class A = 0.53, class B = 0.48). The agreement among the observers was good in class A when endoscopic features of severe PH (medium and large sizes, red marks) were grouped and compared with mild features (absent and small varices) (κ = 0.58).

Conclusions:

Experts working in different centres show a fairly good agreement on endoscopic features of PH in children, although a better training of paediatric endoscopists may improve the agreement in grading severity of varices in this setting.
A Statistical Framework to Predict Functional Non-Coding Regions in the Human Genome Through Integrated Analysis of Annotation Data
Authors: Lu Qiongshi , Hu Yiming , Sun Jiehuan , Cheng Yuwei , Cheung Kei-Hoi , Zhao Hongyu
Published: April 2015

Identifying functional regions in the human genome is a major goal in human genetics. Great efforts have been made to functionally annotate the human genome either through computational predictions, such as genomic conservation, or high-throughput experiments, such as the ENCODE project. These efforts have resulted in a rich collection of functional annotation data of diverse types that need to be jointly analyzed for integrated interpretation and annotation. Here we present GenoCanyon, a whole-genome annotation method that performs unsupervised statistical learning using 22 computational and experimental annotations thereby inferring the functional potential of each position in the human genome. With GenoCanyon, we are able to predict many of the known functional regions. The ability of predicting functional regions as well as its generalizable statistical framework makes GenoCanyon a unique and powerful tool for whole-genome annotation. The GenoCanyon web server is available at http://genocanyon.med.yale.edu
Simultaneous nanocalorimetry and fast XRD measurements to study the silicide formation in Pd/a-Si bilayers
Authors: Molina-Ruiz Manel , Ferrando-Villalba Pablo , Rodríguez-Tinoco Cristian , Garcia Gemma , Rodríguez-Viejo Javier , Peral Inma , Lopeandía Aitor F.
Published: April 2015

The use of a membrane-based chip nanocalorimeter in a powder diffraction beamline is described. Simultaneous wide-angle X-ray scattering and scanning nanocalorimetric measurements are performed on a thin-film stack of palladium/amorphous silicon (Pd/a-Si) at heating rates from 0.1 to 10 K s−1. The nanocalorimeter works under a power-compensation scheme previously developed by the authors. Kinetic and structural information of the consumed and created phases can be obtained from the combined techniques. The formation of Pd2Si produces a broad calorimetric peak that contains overlapping individual processes. It is shown that Pd consumption precedes the formation of the crystalline Pd2Si phase and that the crystallite size depends on the heating rate of the experiment.
Do carboximide–carboxylic acid combinations form co-crystals? The role of hydroxyl substitution on the formation of co-crystals and eutectics
Authors: Kaur Ramanpreet , Gautam Raj , Cherukuvada Suryanarayan , Guru Row Tayur N.
Published: April 2015

Carboxylic acids, amides and imides are key organic systems which provide understanding of molecular recognition and binding phenomena important in biological and pharmaceutical settings. In this context, studies of their mutual interactions and compatibility through co-crystallization may pave the way for greater understanding and new applications of their combinations. Extensive co-crystallization studies are available for carboxylic acid/amide combinations, but only a few examples of carboxylic acid/imide co-crystals are currently observed in the literature. The non-formation of co-crystals for carboxylic acid/imide combinations has previously been rationalized, based on steric and computed stability factors. In the light of the growing awareness of eutectic mixtures as an alternative outcome in co-crystallization experiments, the nature of various benzoic acid/cyclic imide combinations is established in this paper. Since an additional functional group can provide sites for new intermolecular interactions and, potentially, promote supramolecular growth into a co-crystal, benzoic acids decorated with one or more hydroxyl groups have been systematically screened for co-crystallization with one unsaturated and two saturated cyclic imides. The facile formation of an abundant number of hydroxybenzoic acid/cyclic carboximide co-crystals is reported, including polymorphic and variable stoichiometry co-crystals. In the cases where co-crystals did not form, the combinations are shown invariably to result in eutectics. The presence or absence and geometric disposition of hydroxyl functionality on benzoic acid is thus found to drive the formation of co-crystals or eutectics for the studied carboxylic acid/imide combinations.
Likelihood of atom–atom contacts in crystal structures of halogenated organic compounds
Authors: Jelsch Christian , Soudani Sarra , Ben Nasr Cherif
Published: April 2015

The likelihood of occurrence of intermolecular contacts in crystals of halogenated organic compounds has been analysed statistically using tools based on the Hirshfeld surface. Several families of small halogenated molecules (containing organic F, Cl, Br or I atoms) were analysed, based on chemical composition and aromatic or aliphatic character. The behaviour of crystal contacts was also probed for molecules containing O or N. So-called halogen bonding (a halogen making short interactions with O or N, or a π interaction with C) is generally disfavoured, except when H is scarce on the molecular surface. Similarly, halogen...halogen contacts are more rare than expected, except for molecules that are poor in H. In general, the H atom is found to be the preferred partner of organic halogen atoms in crystal structures. On the other hand, C...C interactions in parallel π-stacking have a high propensity to occur in halogenated aromatic molecules. The behaviour of the four different halogen species (F, Cl, Br, I) is compared in several chemical composition contexts. The analysis tool can be refined by distinguishing several types for a given chemical species, such as H atoms bound to O or C. Such distinction shows, for instance, that C—H...Cl and O—H...O are the preferred interactions in compounds containing both O and Cl.
Societal values and individual values in reward allocation preferences
Authors: Olsen Jesse E.
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– Prior research suggests that cultural values affect individuals’ preferences in whether work rewards (i.e. pay and benefits) are allocated according to rules based on equity, equality, or need. However, this research has focussed primarily on societal-level values or individual-level operationalizations of values originally conceptualized at the societal level. Drawing on equity and social exchange theories, the purpose of this paper is to present a theoretical model and nine propositions that incorporate both individual and societal values as determinants of these reward allocation rule preferences.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author briefly reviews of the relevant literature on values and reward allocation preferences and present arguments supported by prior research, leading to a model and nine propositions.

Findings

– The author proposes that societal values and individual values have main and interactive effects on reward allocation preferences and that the effects of societal values are partially mediated by individual values.

Research limitations/implications

– The model and propositions present relationships that could be tested in future multi-level studies. Future conceptual/theoretical work may also build on the model presented in this paper.

Practical implications

– The proposed relationships, if supported, would have important implications for organizational reward systems and staffing.

Originality/value

– Prior research on reward allocation preferences focusses mostly on the effects of societal or individual values. This theoretical paper attempts to clarify and distinguish values at these two levels and to better understand their main and interactive effects on individual reward allocation rule preferences.