bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ru nanoparticles stabilized by ionic liquids supported onto silica: highly active catalysts for low-temperature CO2methanation
Authors: Guo Xinpeng , Peng Zhijian , Traitangwong Atsadang , Wang Gang , Xu Haiyang , Meeyoo Vissanu , Li Chunshan , Zhang Suojiang
Published: September 2018

Schematic representation of CO2methanation by Ru/IL/SiO2catalysts.
Zinc finger domains as therapeutic targets for metal-based compounds – an update
Authors: Abbehausen C.
Published: September 2018

The design of novel metal-based compounds and the elucidation of the mechanisms of zinc substitution have renewed the possibilities of selective zinc-finger inhibition.
In vivo fate of free and encapsulated iron oxide nanoparticles after injection of labelled stem cells
Authors: Ashraf Sumaira , Taylor Arthur , Sharkey Jack , Barrow Michael , Murray Patricia , Wilm Bettina , Poptani Harish , Rosseinsky Matthew J. , Adams Dave J. , Lévy Raphaël
Published: September 2018

Free and encapsulated iron oxide nanoparticles after intracardiac injection of labelled stem cells have similar in vivo fate.
The solution characteristics of nitrated bacterial cellulose in acetone
Authors: Luo Qingping , Zhu Juan , Li Zhaoqian , Duan Xiaohui , Pei Chonghua , Mao Changyong
Published: September 2018

The intrinsic viscosities of a new potential nitrocellulose substitute, nitrated bacterial cellulose (NBC) with different nitrogen content, were investigated by the solution viscometry measurements.
Activation of the catalytic function of formaldehyde dehydrogenase for formate reduction by single-electron reduced methylviologen
Authors: Ishibashi T. , Ikeyama S. , Amao Y.
Published: September 2018

The kinetic properties of formate reduction to formaldehyde with formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FldDH) using single-electron reduced methylviologen (MV˙) as a co-enzyme were clarified.
Constructing a self-assembling C3-symmetric covalently linked (fused) donor–acceptor-type molecule containing a hexaazatriphenylene core
Authors: Bhanvadia Viraj J. , Patel Arun L. , Zade Sanjio S.
Published: September 2018

A C3-symmetric fused donor–acceptor-type molecule containing a hexaazatriphenylene core, with a tendency to form π-stacked aggregates, has been synthesized and studied.
Facile synthesis of novel 3,4,5-trisubstituted-1,2,4-triazin-6(1H)-onesviaa sequential Ugi–Smiles type/nucleophilic substitution/cyclization reaction
Authors: Ramezanpour Sorour , Rezaei Mohammad Nasim , Vaezghaemi Aref , Rominger Frank
Published: September 2018

An innovative strategy for synthesis of a library of complex multi-substituted 1,2,4-triazine-6-ones. These structures are analogues of pyrimidine bases with possible enhanced biological activities.
An edible film of sodium alginate/pullulan incorporated with capsaicin
Authors: Zhang Shen , Wei Feng , Han Xiaojun
Published: September 2018

Capsaicin, an active ingredient in red pepper, shows great antibacterial activity.
Rapid synthesis of 3-amino isocoumarin derivatives from ynamides
Authors: Habert Loïc , Retailleau Pascal , Gillaizeau Isabelle
Published: September 2018

A novel and efficient fast synthesis of 3-amino isocoumarins in good to excellent yields is reported.
A metal-free biaryl coupling reaction activated by a sulfonium salt
Authors: Higuchi Kazuhiro , Tago Takuhiro , Kokubo Yusuke , Ito Motoki , Tayu Masanori , Sugiyama Shigeo , Kawasaki Tomomi
Published: September 2018

A metal-free biaryl coupling reaction of phenol or aryl ethers mediated by a sulfonium salt formed from diphenyl sulfoxide and trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride has been developed. The method is a rapid, one-pot reaction, leaving no traces of the sulfonium moiety in the product.
Indocyanine green conjugated lipid microbubbles as an ultrasound-responsive drug delivery system for dual-imaging guided tumor-targeted therapy
Authors: Li Yan , Huang Wenqi , Li Chunyan , Huang Xiaoteng
Published: September 2018

Schematic representation of the synthesis of RILMBs–FA and application in tumor therapy.
Polyelectrolyte layer-by-layer deposition on nanoporous supports for ion selective membranes
Authors: Percival Stephen J. , Small Leo J. , Spoerke Erik D. , Rempe Susan B.
Published: September 2018

This work demonstrates that the ionic selectivity and ionic conductivity of nanoporous membranes can be controlled independently via layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition of polyelectrolytes and subsequent selective cross-linking of these polymer layers.
Precipitated silica agglomerates reinforced with cellulose nanofibrils as adsorbents for heavy metals
Authors: Agaba Aphra , Cheng Huan , Zhao Jiangbin , Zhang Congcong , Tebyetekerwa Mike , Rong Liduo , Sui Xiaofeng , Wang Bijia
Published: September 2018

PSA was inexpensively ameliorated by cellulose nanofibrils reinforcement. The resultant sponge with mechanically strong skeleton was evaluated as an excellent adsorbent for heavy metals.
Synthesis and characterization of a novel antibacterial material containing poly(sulfobetaine) using reverse atom transfer radical polymerization
Authors: Chu Xiaohong , Zhang Ming , Zhou Ninglin , Wu Fan , Sun Baohong , Shen Jian
Published: September 2018

A novel antibacterial agent was synthesized using 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DM) and sodium 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropane sulfonate (CHPS).
The effect of solvent on Al-doped ZnO thin films depositedviaaerosol assisted CVD
Authors: Potter Dominic B. , Parkin Ivan P. , Carmalt Claire J.
Published: September 2018

Aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films were depositedviaaerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD) from zinc acetylacetonate at 450 °C.
Synthesis, structure, and luminescence characteristics of far-red emitting Mn4+-activated LaScO3perovskite phosphors for plant growth
Authors: Sun Liangling , Devakumar Balaji , Guo Heng , Liang Jia , Li Bin , Wang Shaoying , Sun Qi , Huang Xiaoyong
Published: September 2018

Far-red emitting Mn4+-activated LaScO3perovskite phosphors were investigated for indoor plant growth lighting.
Self-standing cellulose nanofiber/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate)/ionic liquid actuators with superior performance
Authors: Terasawa Naohiro , Asaka Kinji
Published: September 2018

This paper describes new actuators with cellulose nanofiber/PEDOT:PSS/ionic liquid (CNF/PEDOT:PSS/IL) structures. These devices show superior performance with respect to strain and maximum generated stress compared to those containing PEDOT:PSS/IL.
Two-compartment kinetic Monte Carlo modelling of electrochemically mediated ATRP
Authors: D'hooge Dagmar R. , Fantin Marco , Magenau Andrew J. D. , Konkolewicz Dominik , Matyjaszewski Krzysztof
Published: September 2018

Novel eATRP mechanistic insights are formulated, considering a two-compartment kinetic Monte Carlo model with catalyst concentration gradients accounted for.
Fluorescent probes guided by a new practical performance regulation strategy to monitor glutathione in living systems
Authors: She Mengyao , Wang Zhaohui , Luo Tianyou , Yin Bing , Liu Ping , Liu Jing , Chen Fulin , Zhang Shengyong , Li Jianli
Published: September 2018

A practical regulation strategy for the design of glutathione specific probes and their application in living systems.
Colloidal electro-phoresis in the presence of symmetric and asymmetric electro-osmotic flow
Authors: Botin Denis , Wenzl Jennifer , Niu Ran , Palberg Thomas
Published: September 2018

We conduct simultaneous measurements of the electro-phoretic and electro-osmotic velocities in case of symmetric and asymmetric solvent flows.
Facile preparation of ultrafine Ti4O7 nanoparticle-embedded porous carbon for high areal capacity lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Chen Ao , Liu Weifang , Hu Hang , Chen Tao , Ling Baolong , Liu Kaiyu
Published: September 2018

Ultrafine Ti4O7 nanoparticle-embedded porous carbon for ultrahigh areal capacity and high performance lithium–sulfur batteries.
A low temperature self-reducible copper hydroxide amino–alcohol complex catalyzed by formic acid for conductive copper films
Authors: Qi Tianke , Zhang Zhaoqiang , Li Yan , Wang Jianzhong , Xiao Fei
Published: September 2018

Conductive copper film was firstly fabricated from copper hydroxide via a self-reduction of a Cu(OH)2–DMAPD complex catalyzed by formic acid.
Direct photopolymerization and lithography of multilayer conjugated polymer nanofilms for high performance memristors
Authors: Yin Yuhang , Liu Zhengdong , Song Mengya , Ju Shang , Wang Xiangjing , Zhou Zhe , Mao Huiwu , Ding Yamei , Liu Juqing , Huang Wei
Published: September 2018

Multilayer conjugated polymer nanofilms with desirable patterns and thicknesses were prepared by combining direct photopolymerization and in situ growth. Their optimized devices exhibited high performance nonvolatile memory effect.
Enhanced dielectric property and energy density in poly(vinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene) nanocomposite incorporated with graphene functionalized with hyperbranched polyethylene-graft-poly(trifluoroethyl methacrylate) copolymer
Authors: Ye Huijian , Zhang Xuanhe , Xu Chunfeng , Han Bo , Xu Lixin
Published: September 2018

High energy density is obtained in few-layer graphene/P(VDF-CTFE) nanocomposite for polymer film capacitor.
Physiological and pathological functions of LRRK2: implications from substrate proteins
Authors: Araki Miho , Ito Genta , Tomita Taisuke
Published: September 2018

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) encodes a 2527-amino acid (aa) protein composed of multiple functional domains, including a Ras of complex proteins (ROC)-type GTP-binding domain, a carboxyl terminal of ROC (COR) domain, a serine/threonine protein kinase domain, and several repeat domains. LRRK2 is genetically involved in the pathogenesis of both sporadic and familial Parkinson’s disease (FPD). Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, manifesting progressive motor dysfunction. PD is pathologically characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, and the presence of intracellular inclusion bodies called Lewy bodies (LB) in the remaining neurons. As the most frequent PD-causing mutation in LRRK2, G2019S, increases the kinase activity of LRRK2, an abnormal increase in LRRK2 kinase activity is believed to contribute to PD pathology; however, the precise biological functions of LRRK2 involved in PD pathogenesis remain unknown. Although biochemical studies have discovered several substrate proteins of LRRK2 including Rab GTPases and tau, little is known about whether excess phosphorylation of these substrates is the cause of the neurodegeneration in PD. In this review, we summarize latest findings regarding the physiological and pathological functions of LRRK2, and discuss the possible molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration caused by LRRK2 and its substrates.
A novel solar energy predictor for communicating sensors
Authors: Bouguera Taoufik , Diouris Jean‐François , Andrieux Guillaume , Chaillout Jean‐Jacques , Jaouadi Randa
Published: September 2018

Solar energy harvesting constitutes an attractive solution to provide energy for communicating objects. The advantage of this energy over other forms of renewable energy is that the available solar power can be predicted with reasonable accuracy, which allows the implementation of efficient power management techniques. Nevertheless, harvested solar energy comes from a non‐controllable source. Therefore, the prediction of the solar radiation and energy availability is a critical issue, as the amount of the harvested energy may vary over time. In this study, a novel solar radiation and energy predictor (Solar Energy Predictor for Communicating Sensors: SEPCS) is proposed. This prediction model uses past energy observations to forecast future energy availability in short term. To assess the performance of the proposed algorithm, authors used database providing the solar radiation evolution for one year. Then, a comparative performance evaluation shows that the SEPCS predictor significantly outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art energy predictors, by decreasing the average prediction error from 28 to 6.5%.
Simulating deployment of connectivity and automation on the Antwerp ring road
Authors: Mattas Konstantinos , Makridis Michalis , Hallac Pauliana , Raposo María Alonso , Thiel Christian , Toledo Tomer , Ciuffo Biagio
Published: September 2018

As connectivity and automation make their way in to transportation systems, they are expected to have a forceful impact, drastically changing road transportation. The introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) is expected to advance safety and comfort. But, they can also affect characteristics of road networks, such as capacities, delays and efficiency. To foresee important challenges, reinforce potential benefits and reduce potential disadvantages of this new disruptive technology, its impacts should be well studied and understood before their anticipated introduction. In this paper, a microscopic simulation framework to estimate these impacts is developed. Simulation experiments are conducted for various traffic mixtures of manually driven vehicles, AVs and CAVs, different desired time headways settings and traffic demand levels, to evaluate the sensitivity of the network performance to these factors. The ring road of Antwerp is used for the case study. Thus, the results and conclusions refer to a large real‐world network. The consequences of the introduction of AVS and CAVs on traffic flow and pollutant emissions are evaluated. The results show that depending on the demand, AVs introduction can have negative effects on traffic flow, while CAVs may benefit the network performance, depending on their market penetration.
Driver's dashboard – using social media data as additional information for motorway operators
Authors: Neuhold Robert , Gursch Heimo , Kern Roman , Cik Michael
Published: September 2018

Data collection on motorways for traffic management operations is traditionally based on local measurement points and camera monitoring systems. This work looks into social media as an additional data source for the Austrian motorway operator ASFINAG. A system called Driver's Dashboard was developed collecting incident descriptions from Facebook and RSS feeds, filtering relevant messages, and fusing them with traffic data. All collected texts were analysed for concepts describing road situations linking the texts from the web and social media with traffic messages and traffic data. Driver's Dashboard was designed to examine the potential of social media for traffic monitoring with respect to Austrian characteristics in social media use and road transportation with only very few messages available compared with other studies. Of 3586 messages collected within a five‐week period, only 7.1% were automatically annotated as traffic relevant. Furthermore, the traffic relevant messages for the motorway operator were analysed more in detail to identify correlations between message text and traffic data characteristics. A correlation between message text and traffic data was found in nine of 11 messages by comparing the speed profiles and traffic state data with the message text.
Milky Way metallicity gradient from Gaia DR2 F/1O double-mode Cepheids
Authors: Lemasle B. , Hajdu G. , Kovtyukh V. , Inno L. , Grebel E. K. , Catelan M. , Bono G. , François P. , Kniazev A. , da Silva R. , Storm J.
Published: September 2018

Context. The ratio of the first overtone (1O)/fundamental (F) periods of mixed-mode Cepheids that pulsate simultaneously in these two modes (F/1O) is metallicity-dependent. It can therefore be used to characterize the systems that host such variable stars.

Aims. We want to take advantage of the F/1O double-mode Cepheids listed in the Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2) catalog to derive the metallicity gradient in the Milky Way disk.

Methods. The metallicity is derived from the ratio of the first overtone and fundamental periods provided by Gaia DR2 while the Gaia DR2 parallaxes are used to determine the Galactocentric distances of the stars.

Results. From a visual inspection of the light curves, it turns out that a large fraction (77%) of the Galactic F/1O double-mode Cepheids in Gaia DR2 are spurious detections. Gaia DR2 provides three new bona fide F/1O Cepheids. Combining them with the currently known F/1O Cepheids and using the Gaia DR2 parallaxes for the entire sample, we can derive the metallicity gradient in the Milky Way disk. We find a slope of –0.045 ± 0.007 dex kpc−1 using a bootstrap method, and of –0.040 ± 0.002 dex kpc−1 using a total least squares method. These results are in good agreement with previous determinations of the [Fe/H] gradient in the disk based on canonical Cepheids.

Conclusions. The period ratio of F/1O Cepheids allows for a reliable determination of the metallicity gradient in the Milky Way, and in turn, in other systems that would be difficult to reach via classical spectroscopic methods.
Effect of Static Stretching with Superficial Cooling on Muscle Stiffness
Authors: Nakamura Masatoshi , Hirabayashi Ryo , Ohya Shuhei , Aoki Takafumi , Suzuki Daichi , Shimamoto Mitsuki , Kikumoto Takanori , Ito Wataru , Nakamura Emi , Takabayashi Tomoya , Edama Mtsuaki
Published: September 2018

This study aimed to clarify the acute effect of static stretching (SS) with superficial cooling on dorsiflexion range of motion (DF ROM) and muscle stiffness. Sixteen healthy males participated in the cooling condition and a control condition in a random order. The DF ROM and the shear elastic modulus of medial gastrocnemius (MG) in the dominant leg were measured during passive dorsiflexion. All measurements were performed prior to (PRE) and immediately after 20 min of cooling or rested for 20 min (POST), followed by 2 min SS (POST SS). In cooling condition, DF ROM at POST and POST SS were significantly higher than that at PRE and DF ROM at POST SS was significantly higher than that at POST. In addition, the shear elastic modulus at POST was significantly higher than that at PRE and the shear elastic modulus at POST SS was significantly lower than those at PRE and POST. However, there were no significant differences in the percentage changes between PRE and POST SS between the cooling and control conditions. Our results showed that effects of SS with superficial cooling on increases in ROM and decrease in muscle stiffness were no more beneficial than those of SS alone.
Gross Total Resection of a Jugular Foramen Thyroid Medullary Metastasis via a Transjugular Transsigmoid Approach
Authors: Aydin Ilhan , Sayyahmelli Sima , Pyle Mark , Baskaya Mustafa
Published: September 2018

Surgical resection of jugular foramen tumors poses a significant challenge to skull base surgeons with the selection of an appropriate surgical approach, a matter of some debate. Jugular foramen metastatic tumors may mimic paragangliomas, and in some selected cases surgical resection is needed. In this video, we demonstrate the microsurgical gross total resection of a jugular foramen tumor via a postauricular trans-jugular trans-sigmoid approach. The patient is a 61-year-old man with a 7-year history of medullary thyroid cancer, who underwent three neck operations and radiation to the neck. He developed lower cranial nerve palsies (IX, X, and XI) with preoperative aspiration deficits, dysphonia, status post phonosurgery for vocal cord paralysis, profound sensorineural hearing loss, and muscle atrophy of the left shoulder. He initially received stereotactic radiation of the jugular foramen tumor at an outside hospital without histopathological diagnosis. Follow-up magnetic resonance images (MRIs) showed progressive enlargement of the tumor over the postradiation year. The decision was made to resect this tumor to enable histopathological diagnosis, and to provide local tumor control, since his primary disease has been stable. He underwent microsurgical gross total resection via a transjugular transsigmoid approach. After skeletonizing the sigmoid sinus and jugular bulb, the sigmoid sinus was ligated and rolled toward the jugular bulb, where the major part of the tumor was. Then, using the transjugular route, the tumor was removed en bloc. The surgery and postoperative course were uneventful. The histopathology was a thyroid medullary cancer metastasis. He was followed with serial MRIs, and there was no recurrent tumor at 2 years follow-up. In this video, microsurgical techniques and important steps for the resection of a jugular foramen metastatic tumor are demonstrated.

The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/oXC6fX2CC84.
Microsurgical Gross Total Resection of a Large Residual/Recurrent Vestibular Schwannoma via Translabyrinthine Approach
Authors: Sayyahmelli Sima , Roche Joseph , Baskaya Mustafa
Published: September 2018

Although, gross total resection in large vestibular schwannomas is an ideal goal, subtotal resection is frequently performed due to lack of expertise, concerns for facial palsy, or overuse of stereotactic radiation. In this video, we present a 31-year-old man with a 7-year history of tinnitus, dizziness, and hearing loss. The patient had a subtotal resection of a 2.5 cm right-sided vestibular schwannoma via retrosigmoid craniotomy at an outside hospital. He was referred for further surgical resection due to the increased size of the tumor on surveillance magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs) and worsening symptoms. MRI showed a residual/recurrent large schwannoma with extension to the full length of the internal acoustic canal and brain stem compression. He underwent microsurgical gross total resection via a translabyrinthine approach. The facial nerve was preserved and stimulated with 0.15 mA at the brainstem entry zone. He awoke with House–Brackmann grade III facial function, with an otherwise uneventful postoperative course. In this video, microsurgical techniques and important resection steps for this residual/recurrent vestibular schwannoma are demonstrated, and nuances for microsurgical technique are discussed.

The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/a0ZxE41Tqzw.
Extended Retrosigmoid Approach for the Resection of a Pontomedullary Junction Cavernous Malformation
Authors: Basma Jaafar , Nguyen Vincent , Sorenson Jeffrey , Michael L.
Published: September 2018

Objectives To describe an extended retrosigmoid approach for the resection of a cavernoma involving the ponto-medullary junction, with emphasis on the microsurgical anatomy and technique.

Design A retrosigmoid craniotomy is performed in the lateral decubitus position and the sigmoid sinus exposed. After opening the dura, sutures are placed medial to the sinus to allow its gentle mobilization. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is drained from the cisterna magna, and cerebellopontine cistern, and dynamic retraction is used over the cerebellum. Subarachnoid dissection of the cerebellopontine angle gives access to cranial nerves IX/X, VII/VIII, and VI. Inspection of the pontomedullary junction medial to the facial nerve reveals hemosiderin staining in that region. A small pial opening is made, exposing the hemorrhagic cavity. The cavernous malformation is then identified, dissected circumferentially, and resected. Photographs of the region are borrowed from Dr Rhoton's laboratory to illustrate the microsurgical anatomy.

Participants The senior author performed the surgery. The video was edited by Drs. J.B. and V.N.

Outcome Measures Outcome was assessed with extent of resection and postoperative neurological function.

Results A gross total resection of the lesion was achieved. The patient did not develop any postoperative deficits.

Conclusion Understanding the microsurgical anatomy of the cerebellopontine angle and meticulous microneurosurgical technique are necessary to achieve a complete resection of a brainstem cavernoma. The extended retrosigmoid approach provides an adequate corridor to the pontomedullary junction.

The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/FIKixWJT75w.
Evaluation of Voiding Dysfunction in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Kumar Amit , Vaddi Suryaprakash , Gouru Vijayabhaskar , Agrawal Amit
Published: September 2018

Introduction Voiding dysfunction after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs secondary to impaired cognitive or behavioral functioning, brain damage, associated injury to the spinal cord, and direct bladder trauma. In this study, the authors collected data on TBI patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunctions to understand the spectrum of voiding dysfunctions and to investigate the relationships of the severity of TBI with the presentation of urinary tract dysfunctions.

Materials and Methods All consecutive patients with isolated TBI of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) (9–15) in the postacute period and at 3 months were included in the study. In patients with previous stroke or any other neurologic disorder or associated spine injury and with urologic conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the urethral stricture is excluded. After a successful voiding trial, uroflowmetry to see the flow pattern and ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis for post-void residual urine is done. A urodynamic study is done in patients with poor urinary flow (< 15 mL/s), high post-void residual urine (> 100 mL), and/or lower urinary tract symptoms.

Results During the study period, a total of 55 patients were enrolled in the study: 43 were males and 12 were females. Out of 55 patients, 47 were treated conservatively and 8 were operated upon for TBI. Out of 55 patients, 26 had a poor stream on uroflowmetry and 19 underwent urodynamic study either due to urinary symptoms or poor stream. Out of the 19 patients, 9 had a urodynamic abnormality. Of the 19 patients who underwent urodynamic study, there was no significant correlation (p = 0.23) between the TBI pathology and urodynamic abnormality. There was also no significant correlation seen between site of lesion and urodynamic abnormality.

Conclusion The prevalence of urinary symptoms in mild and moderate TBIs is low (7.3); 47.7% of patients had poor urinary flow. None of the patients had an abnormality in filling phase. Nine patients had an abnormality in voiding phase and were treated with an α-blocker.

Duration During 2012 to 2015.
The unconditioned in philosophy of religion
Authors: Shakespeare Steven
Published: September 2018

This article argues that philosophy of religion should focus on the notion of the unconditioned, rather than God. Such a shift of focus would have a number of advantages. It would loosen the grip of the default theistic framework often used in the field. In turn, this would encourage fresh reflection upon the nature of the unconditioned and its relationship to conditioned entities. In the process, it would facilitate critical conversation about fundamental metaphysical issues across the divide between analytic and continental philosophers. As an initial step, this article offers a working definition of the unconditioned and explores significant developments of the idea through Kant and the early work of Schelling. It argues that light can be cast on the notion of the unconditioned by contemporary analytic debates about essence and grounding, and vice versa. In order to suggest the fruitfulness of this approach, a recent essay in philosophy of religion by Daniel Barber is examined, in which the unconditioned is presented as a differential field immanent to what it conditions; and in which conditioned entities are understood through the notion of modal essence. The article ends with a summary of the advantages of refocusing philosophy of religion on the unconditioned, not least in enabling the discipline to take seriously non-theistic and non-transcendent approaches to ultimate reality.
A new method of out-of-focus millimeter wave imaging in fusion plasma diagnostics using Bessel beams
Authors: Li J. X. , Zhu Y. L. , Chen M. , Cao J. H. , Dannenberg J. , Domier C. , Luhmann N. C.
Published: September 2018

Electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) and microwave imaging reflectometry diagnostics have been employed on a number of magnetic fusion plasma confinement devices. The common approach is based on a Gaussian beam assumption, which generates good spatial resolution (centimeter level). However, the radial focal depth is limited by the poloidal resolution, which is comparable with the Rayleigh length (∼150 mm). By contrast, a new Bessel beam approach has been developed and demonstrated to generate much longer focal depth with the property of propagation stability. To test the new approach, the DIII-D tokamak LCP ECEI optics have been re-designed to support a Bessel beam approach based on an axicon lens. The achievable radial coverage can exceed that of the current Gaussian approach by 3×. The imaging result is discussed in this paper based on the simulation analysis and laboratory testing result.
Analysis and control of the intermediate memory states of RRAM devices by means of admittance parameters
Authors: Castán H. , Dueñas S. , García H. , Ossorio O. G. , Domínguez L. A. , Sahelices B. , Miranda E. , González M. B. , Campabadal F.
Published: September 2018

A thorough study of the admittance of TiN/Ti/HfO2/W bipolar resistive memories [resistance random access memory (RRAM)] was carried out under different bias conditions and in a wide range of ac signal frequencies. We demonstrate that a continuum of intermediate states can be obtained by applying appropriate dc bias waveforms. Cumulative writing and erasing admittance cycles were performed by applying triangular voltage waveform of increasing amplitude. The influence of the initial conditions on the variation of the real (conductance) and imaginary (susceptance) components of the admittance is described. An accurate control of the memory state is achieved both in terms of the conductance and the susceptance by means of an adequate selection of the voltage values previously applied. A method to obtain three-dimensional voltage-conductance-susceptance state-plots is described in detail. Memory maps of admittance parameters as a function of the programming voltage are made by sensing the memory state at 0 V, without static power consumption. The multilevel nature of RRAM devices and their suitability for neuromorphic computation are demonstrated.
Non-equilibrium molecular-dynamics study of electromagnetic-field-induced propane-hydrate dissociation
Authors: Ghaani Mohammad Reza , English Niall J.
Published: September 2018

Non-equilibrium molecular-dynamics simulations have been performed for dissolution of planar propane-hydrate/water interfaces in externally-applied electromagnetic (e/m) fields in the microwave to far infrared range (∼2.45-200 GHz) at electric-field intensities up to 2.0 V/nm and at roughly 20 K over/under temperatures vis-à-vis the zero-field propane-hydrate melting point. Upon e/m-field application, there is a field-frequency threshold above which the dissociation rate drops significantly, with a plateau therein for larger-frequencies. It was found that higher intensity and lower frequency facilitates dissociation. Except in the presence of a thermal driving-force, the 10 GHz frequency shows more substantial rate-enhancement effect vis-à-vis static electric fields or, indeed, lower-frequency e/m fields.
Numerical simulation study of steel plate anti-penetrating features
Authors: Qiang Hongfu , Sun Xinya , Zhu Zhaojun , Quanzhang Huang , Hehao Shang
Published: September 2018

With the high strength and high impact resistance, the steel structure has been widely applied in the military field of protective armor, weapon shelter and other military fields, and the impact resistance of steel structure has become the focus and hotspot of research. The smoothed particle hydrodynamics method was used to simulate the process of the hemispherical head impact on the multi-layer steel plate. Compared with the experiment, the failure mode of the steel plate after the impact of the hemispherical head was analyzed, and the plate uplift at the impact point was obtained, and the process of butterfly failure, the Von Mises stress distribution of the steel plate and the remaining velocity of the hemispherical head shot were obtained, which verified the effectiveness of the SPH method in simulating the steel plate's penetration deformation problem. Through numerical simulations, the effects of steel body layers and the thickness of the steel body on the anti-penetration properties was studied. The results show that the single-layer steel plate is more resistant than the multi-layer steel plate at 3 mm, and the multi-layer steel plate is more than single-layer steel plate at 9 mm. 12mm multi-layer steel plate and single-layer steel plate protection is same.
Learning mechanisms in memristor networks based on GaN nanomembranes
Authors: Dragoman Mircea , Tiginyanu Ion , Dragoman Daniela , Dinescu Adrian , Braniste Tudor , Ciobanu Vladimir
Published: September 2018

We demonstrate experimentally that single crystalline GaN nanomembranes arranged in simple networks exhibit learning mechanisms such as habituation and dishabituation followed by storage of the response to a certain electrical stimulus. These artificial learning mechanisms are analogous to non-associative learning processes which are identical in simple animals and human beings. We found that the learning time depends on the number of GaN membranes in parallel, and this parameter decreases by 30% when three memristors are connected in parallel compared to the learning time of a single memristor. Moreover, an increased number of parallel memristors reduces the eventual asymmetry in the temporal response of the circuit at positive and negative step voltages.
Design of an absorption–transmission-integrated frequency selective surface using a waveguide array
Authors: Li Quan , Pang Yongqiang , Li Yang , Shen Lihao , Yan Mingbao , Wang Jiafu , Xu Zhuo , Qu Shaobo
Published: September 2018

A hybrid frequency selective surface (FSS) with low-frequency absorption and high-frequency transmission is designed and demonstrated experimentally. The waveguide array with the spatial filtering characteristics of low-frequency reflection and high-frequency transmission is firstly proposed and the resistor-loaded loop array is then introduced on the top layer. Since the metal-like behavior of the waveguide array at low frequencies, the hybrid FSS can achieve strong absorption, while the transmission at high frequencies can be kept all the same. Simulated results show that the proposed hybrid structure can achieve broadband absorption with the efficiency more than 90% in the frequency range of 7.7-12.4 GHz and effective transmittance more than 80% from 16.5 to 18.0 GHz. The maximum transmittance of 89% can be gained at 17.4 GHz. Finally, the experimental measurement has also been performed to provide a good demonstration.
Self-powered electrochromic window using green electrolyte
Authors: Nanda O. , Gupta N. , Grover R. , Saxena K.
Published: September 2018

Electrochromic windows are considered as future smart windows for conditioning day light inside the room. Most of the electrochromic windows are fabricated using synthetic electrolytes which require an external power source and are also not always environmental friendly. Therefore there is a need for the utilization of naturally occurring electrolytes and also low power consumption devices. We report a self-powered electrochromic window based on naturally occurring gel electrolyte extracted from aloe vera. Prussian blue and aluminum electrode based electrochromic window was fabricated to test the aloe vera gel as electrolyte. A voltage of 0.8 V appeared across the two conducting electrodes of the electrochromic device and light transmittance was found to change from dark to transparent state on self-biasing. The recovery of the device from transparent to dark state with different external voltages was studied. Aloe vera gel was found to be useful as an electrolyte in smart windows, due to its advantages such as low cost, ease of availability and non–toxicity.
Modulating thermal conduction via phonon spectral coupling
Authors: Malhotra Abhinav , Kothari Kartik , Maldovan Martin
Published: September 2018

We report an approach to modulate thermal conduction that utilizes phonon coupling in layered nanostructures. While phonon coupling has been used previously to enhance thermal transport of an embedded layer in a tri-layer structure, the impact of coupling on cladding layers has remained unclear. Here, we develop a methodology to quantitatively evaluate the impact of phonon coupling on each layer in a tri-layer structure. We uncover that the underlying phonon-injection mechanism behind thermal conductivity enhancement can also be leveraged to reduce the thermal conductivity of an embedded silicon thin-film below its free-standing value. We evaluate the dependence of resultant thermal conductivity modulations on structural parameters and find that they are critically dependent on layer spacings and interface properties. We also extend the tri-layer transport analysis to bi-layer structures and report how phonon coupling leads to analogous thermal conductivity modulations. The results of this work open new avenues within the rational thermal design by elucidating a new method that can be used to both increase and reduce thermal conductivities and advance the basic understanding of nanoscale thermal transport by incorporating the role of phonon spectral coupling. The prospects of being able to modulate the thermal conductivity can radically change how we control heat flow in electronic, optoelectronic, and thermoelectric materials.
Development of a high-speed full digital processing phase detector for interferometry
Authors: Minami Takashi , Ohtani Yoshiaki , Ohshima Shinsuke , Nagasaki Kazunobu , Ito Yasuhiko , Nakanishi Hideya , Yasuhara Ryo , Funaba Hisayoshi , Yamada Ichihiro , Akiyama Tsuyoshi
Published: September 2018

This study describes the development of a fully digital-type phase detector for plasma interferometry. This detector functions even in situations in which the phase changes rapidly or the input signal is too small to derive the correct phase shift from the intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The detector directly converts the IF signal waveform of the interferometer to the phase shift signal by means of data processing in a logic circuit. Thus, the phase is derived from the whole waveform of the IF signal. The IF signal of the interferometer is converted to in-phase and quadrature-phase signals by Hilbert transformation, processed by a digital low-pass filter, and converted to polar coordinates by a coordinate rotation digital computer algorithm to obtain the phase shift. A simulation of the high-speed full digital processing phase detector shows that a fringe jump does not occur unless the phase change rate exceeds 0.8 × 106 rad/s. This value is sufficiently large compared to the phase change velocity in rapid density increase resulting from a pellet injection. The phase conversion is simulated using a real IF signal from an interferometer measured with a Heliotron J device. The results show that the phase signal is correctly calculated by the full digital processing method from the IF signal, the phase derivation of which is typically difficult to obtain when using a conventional analog phase detector.
EPR and ENDOR in manganese doped SrTiO3: Electric quadrupole interaction and local disorder
Authors: Azamat D. V. , Badalyan A. G. , Baranov P. G. , Trepakov V. A. , Hrabovsky M. , Jastrabik L. , Dejneka A.
Published: September 2018

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) studies were performed on heavily manganese doped SrTiO3 crystals. At low temperatures (T≈6K), the ENDOR measurements on MnTi4+ show the presence of electric field gradient associated with the electrical polarization. The observation of EPR signals of rhombic Mn2+ complexes remotely compensated in the SrTiO3 lattice is discussed in connection with local disorder in which Mn2+ appears due to the reduction process.
The influence of the rotation angle of the static magnetic field on the ICRF antenna coupling
Authors: Zhang Jiahui , Zhang Xinjun
Published: September 2018

The rotation angle of the static magnetic field compared with the toroidal direction should not be ignored for many ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) antenna designs. The antenna coupling code based on the variational theory is employed to analyze the influence of the rotation angle of the static magnetic field on the ICRF antenna coupling on EAST theoretically. A comprehensive analysis of the variation of the coupling resistance dependent on the rotation angle is under taken. The shift of the power spectra as a function of parallel and perpendicular wave numbers is analyzed. The variation of the current distributions also supports the conclusions associated with the ICRF wave coupling. The results and conclusions in this paper will benefit the ICRF antenna design and the experiments relevant to the ICRF wave coupling.
Optical fiber-driven low energy electron gun for ultrafast streak diffraction
Authors: Lee Chiwon , Kassier Günther , Miller R. J. Dwayne
Published: September 2018

Here, we present an optical fiber-based electron gun designed for the ultrafast streaking of low-energy electron bunches. The temporal profile of the few tens of the picosecond long electron bunch composed of 200 electrons is well characterized using a customized streak camera. Detailed analysis reveals that the stretched optical trigger pulse owing to the dispersion effects inside the waveguide dominantly determines the temporal length of the low density electron bunch. This result illustrates the capability to control the observable time-window in the streak diffraction experiment by tailoring geometrical parameters of the fiber source and its coupling condition. With the electrostatic Einzel lens system integrated on the fiber-based cathode, we also demonstrate spatial focusing of the electron beam with the RMS spot size of 98 μm and imaging of the static low-energy electron diffraction pattern of monolayer graphene in the electron kinetic energy range of 1.0–2.0 keV.
Optimized symmetry functions for machine-learning interatomic potentials of multicomponent systems
Authors: Rostami Samare , Amsler Maximilian , Ghasemi S. Alireza
Published: September 2018

Current machine-learning methods to reproduce ab initio potential energy landscapes suffer from an unfavorable computational scaling with respect to the number of chemical species. In this work, we propose a new approach by using optimized symmetry functions to explore similarities of structures in multicomponent systems in order to yield linear complexity. We combine these symmetry functions with the charge equilibration via neural network technique, a reliable artificial neural network potential for ionic materials, and apply this method to study alkali-halide materials MX with 6 chemical species (M = {Li, Na, K} and X = {F, Cl, Br}). Our results show that our approach provides good agreement both with experimental and DFT reference data of many physical and structural properties for any chemical combination.
Electric and magnetic transitions with 90° turning of polarizations
in a layered perovskite of
[NH4Cl]2[Ni(HCOO)2(NH3)2]
Authors: Chen Sa , Shang Ran , Wang Bing-Wu , Wang Zhe-Ming , Gao Song
Published: September 2018

A hybrid layered perovskite compound of [NH4Cl]2[Ni(HCOO)2(NH3)2] consists of alternatively stacked perovskite layers of [Ni(HCOO)2(NH3)2] and CsCl-type slabs of [(NH3)2(NH4Cl)2]. The material undergoes a ferro- to ferro-electric transition around 110 K, from a high temperature, high polarized phase to a low temperature, low polarized one via an intermediate incommensurate phase and then a para- to antiferro-magnetic transition at 25 K. It displays significant anisotropic dielectric and magnetic responses, and both electric and magnetic polarizations turn from the direction perpendicular to the layers to the direction parallel to the layers during the transitions.
Two-fluid solutions for Langmuir probes in collisionless and isothermal plasma, over all space and bias potential
Authors: Guittienne Ph. , Howling A. A. , Furno I.
Published: September 2018

This paper presents solutions for the classical one-dimensional (1D radial and Cartesian) problem of Langmuir probes in a collisionless, isothermal plasma. The method is based on two-fluid equations derived from the first two moments of Vlasov's equation. In contrast to commonly used approximations, electron inertia and ion temperature are not neglected so that the fluid equations are symmetric in terms of electrons and ions. The fluid equations are reduced analytically so that the electric potential is the only remaining spatial function, which is numerically determined using Poisson's equation. The single radial solution applies continuously over the whole region from the probe up to the unperturbed plasma, in contrast to theories which separate the probe boundary region into a charged sheath and a quasi-neutral pre-sheath, and is valid for all values of probe bias potential. Current-voltage characteristics are computed for cylindrical and spherical probes, which exhibit non-saturation of the ion and electron currents. The 1D Cartesian case is also analysed, and the Bohm criterion is recovered only in the limit of large radius probes.
Perspective on training fully connected networks with resistive
memories: Device requirements for multiple conductances of varying
significance
Authors: Cristiano Giorgio , Giordano Massimo , Ambrogio Stefano , Romero Louis P. , Cheng Christina , Narayanan Pritish , Tsai Hsinyu , Shelby Robert M. , Burr Geoffrey W.
Published: September 2018

Novel Deep Neural Network (DNN) accelerators based on crossbar arrays of non-volatile memories (NVMs)—such as Phase-Change Memory or Resistive Memory—can implement multiply-accumulate operations in a highly parallelized fashion. In such systems, computation occurs in the analog domain at the location of weight data encoded into the conductances of the NVM devices. This allows DNN training of fully-connected layers to be performed faster and with less energy. Using a mixed-hardware-software experiment, we recently showed that by encoding each weight into four distinct physical devices—a “Most Significant Conductance” pair (MSP) and a “Least Significant Conductance” pair (LSP)—we can train DNNs to software-equivalent accuracy despite the imperfections of real analog memory devices. We surmised that, by dividing the task of updating and maintaining weight values between the two conductance pairs, this approach should significantly relax the otherwise quite stringent device requirements. In this paper, we quantify these relaxed requirements for analog memory devices exhibiting a saturating conductance response, assuming either an immediate or a delayed steep initial slope in conductance change. We discuss requirements on the LSP imposed by the “Open Loop Tuning” performed after each training example and on the MSP due to the “Closed Loop Tuning” performed periodically for weight transfer between the conductance pairs. Using simulations to evaluate the final generalization accuracy of a trained four-neuron-layer fully-connected network, we quantify the required dynamic range (as controlled by the size of the steep initial jump), the tolerable device-to-device variability in both maximum conductance and maximum conductance change, the tolerable pulse-to-pulse variability in conductance change, and the tolerable device yield, for both the LSP and MSP devices. We also investigate various Closed Loop Tuning strategies and describe the impact of the MSP/LSP approach on device endurance.