bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bio-inspired artificial ion channels: from physical to chemical gating
Authors: Zhao Chen , Wang Huanting , Zhang Huacheng
Published: March 2021

This review focuses on the biomimetic, improved, and intelligent gating behaviours of artificial ion channels based on physical and chemical stimuli.
Copper-catalyzed enantioselective arylboronation of activated alkenes leading to chiral 3,3′-disubstituted oxindoles
Authors: Chen Jiangfei , Li Jin-Heng , Zhu Yan-Ping , Wang Qiu-An
Published: March 2021

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric arylboronation of activated alkenes for producing highly enantioenriched 3-boroalkyl oxindoles and incorporating pharmacophores is depicted.
Peptide-based inhibitors of protein–protein interactions: biophysical, structural and cellular consequences of introducing a constraint
Authors: Wang Hongshuang , Dawber Robert S. , Zhang Peiyu , Walko Martin , Wilson Andrew J. , Wang Xiaohui
Published: March 2021

This review summarizes the influence of inserting constraints on biophysical, conformational, structural and cellular behaviour for peptides targeting α-helix mediated protein–protein interactions.
Linearversusbranched: flow of a wormlike micellar fluid past a falling sphere
Authors: Wu Shijian , Mohammadigoushki Hadi
Published: March 2021

Branched micelles show stronger birefringence than linear micelles in flow.
Applications of nanoscale metal–organic frameworks as imaging agents in biology and medicine
Authors: Demir Duman Fatma , Forgan Ross S.
Published: March 2021

This review introduces the application of metal–organic frameworks in biological imaging, covering the incorporation of imaging functionality, the range of imaging techniques accessible, and their integration with other therapeutic capabilities.
In situ synthesis of blue-emitting bromide-based perovskite nanoplatelets towards unity quantum efficiency and ultrahigh stability
Authors: Huang Hao , Zhao Weiren , Yang Huanxin , Zhang Xiaoli , Su Jinnan , Hu Kaige , Nie Zhaogang , Li Yang , Zhong Jiyou
Published: March 2021

In situ cross-linking passivation strategy for high-quality perovskite nanoplatelets with unity photoluminescence quantum yield.
Joint uplink and downlink resource allocation for device to device communications
Authors: Selmi Sawsan , Bouallègue Ridha
Published: March 2021

With the ever‐increasing number of intelligent devices, extensive research efforts have been spent towards developing efficient resource allocation in underlying device to device communications. Centralised and distributed approaches have been proposed to improve the network performances through uplink and downlink schemes. However, the full‐duplex resource allocation remains challenging. Here, a joint uplink–downlink resource block assignment for device to device communications is proposed. The device's geometric distribution via the Poisson point process is formulated and the optimization problem as a mixed strategy non‐cooperative game is modelled. The proposed resource allocation scheme allows many device to device communication pairs to share the same cellular resource block but does not restrict their number in advance; it is determined dynamically according to the channel's capacity and interference condition. Inversely, a device to device communication transmitter can simultaneously be allocated many resource blocks according to its bandwidth requirement and the number of its antennas. Furthermore, the optimal amount of data and power transmitted by each device is calculated. The efficiency of this algorithm is evaluated through computer simulations, and the results demonstrate good performances in the spectral and energy efficiency with relatively low complexity and convergence time.
Analytic assessment of the power system frequency security
Authors: Ju Ping , Zheng Yi , Jin Yuqing , Qin Chuan , Jiang Yefeng , Cao Lu
Published: March 2021

Recently, with the increased intermittent renewable energy penetration, many power grids have been incorporated into a large‐scale long‐distance UHV AC–DC hybrid system. In the actual grid, power disturbances, such as DC blocking faults and trip‐off of wind turbines, often occur, resulting in power shortages and large frequency fluctuations. However, the existing approaches to assess the system frequency security are not reliable. This paper proposes an analytic formula for the system frequency response based on a generic system frequency‐response (SFR) model, which can be applied to modern large‐scale power systems. First, a generic SFR model with a reasonable structure is designed according to the parameter determination strategy. Second, according to the transfer function in the model, the time‐domain analytic formula of the frequency response is obtained by realizing the inverse Laplace transform. Moreover, four main indexes are established to represent the characteristics of the frequency dynamic process in different periods, and these indexes are qualitatively and quantitatively analysed. Finally, the New England 10‐unit 39‐bus power system and East China Power Grid are considered to demonstrate the key features of the proposed method. The results show that the proposed analytic assessment method can be effectively adopted in several applications.
A motion parameters estimating method based on deep learning for visual blurred object tracking
Authors: Iraei Iman , Faez Karim
Published: March 2021

Tracking the specific object in the blurred scenes is one of the challenging problems in computer vision and image processing. The accuracy and performance of trackers within the blur frames usually demonstrate a severe decrease. Accordingly, this problem needs to be corrected for better tracking results. Thus, this study seeks to present the best solution. To this end, a novel deep learning approach is proposed for object tracking in the presence of motion blur and fast motion. The hidden information in the blurring kernel is useful for tracking a specific blurred object through a series of consecutive frames. In this study, this matter is evaluated from a new perspective to solve the problems of blurred object tracking and objects with highly fast motions using a convolutional neural network (CNN) and a particle filter. Therefore, the proposed framework has two phases. First, the kernel leading to blurring is estimated by CNN, and then by a particle filter and the probability distribution of motion information that has been achieved by the kernel estimation the object is tracked. The results demonstrate that the suggested method can enhance the accuracy of tracking compared with the state‐of‐the‐art, especially when the amount of blur is high.
Trade‐off between threshold gain and directionality of emission for modes of two‐dimensional eccentric microring lasers analysed using lasing eigenvalue problem
Authors: Repina Anna I. , Oktyabrskaya Alina O. , Spiridonov Alexander O. , Ketov Ilya V. , Karchevskii Evgenii M.
Published: March 2021

This article discusses how a trade‐off between the high directionality of emissions and low threshold gain can be achieved in active eccentric microring cavities. Our findings are based on the lasing eigenvalue problem formalism, considered using the method of analytical regularisation, and an extremely fast and accurate dedicated Galerkin method, applied to a set of associated Muller boundary integral equations. This method allows us to investigate symmetric and antisymmetric modes separately, on the threshold of nonattenuation in time emission. Numerical results show that the directivities of emission of working modes in a given frequency range, together with their threshold values of gain, are controlled by the size and location of the air hole in the cavity. The high efficiency of the developed code allows us to make an elementary optimisation of the considered cavity; this code is a promising engineering tool in the design of microring lasers.
Optimised green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles and their antifungal activity
Authors: Huang Weidong , Fang Hao , Zhang Shuya , Yu Haibing
Published: March 2021

Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were synthesised from Ginkgo biloba L. leaf extract and several parameters that affected their formation were adjusted. The optimal synthesis system was ascertained as 10 ml leaf filtrate, 1 mM copper sulfate, and 80°C. The scanning electron microscope image showed that the synthesised CuO nanoparticles were shaped like a short rod. The antifungal effect of CuO nanoparticles against Bipolaris maydis was operated through agar well diffusion, mycelial growth, spore germination, and detached inoculation. At the concentration of 200 µg/ml, the suppression rate was up to 62.78%, and the spore germination was totally inhibited irrespective of suspension in a liquid or on detached maize leaf. The results are of great significance for comprehensive control of plant diseases, and it also provides a novel antimicrobial to assist or substitute chemical pesticides.
A correlation-locking adaptive filtering technique for minimum variance integral control in adaptive optics
Authors: Deo V. , Gendron É. , Vidal F. , Rozel M. , Sevin A. , Ferreira F. , Gratadour D. , Galland N. , Rousset G.
Published: March 2021

We propose the correlation-locking optimization scheme (CLOSE), a real-time adaptive filtering technique for adaptive optics (AO) systems controlled with integrators. CLOSE leverages the temporal autocorrelation of modal signals in the controller telemetry and drives the gains of the integral command law in a closed servo-loop. This supervisory loop is configured using only a few scalar parameters and automatically controls the modal gains to closely match transfer functions achieving minimum variance control. This optimization is proven to work throughout the range of noise and seeing conditions relevant to the AO system. This technique was designed while preparing the high-order AO systems for extremely large telescopes, in particular to tackle the optical gain (OG) phenomenon. This is a sensitivity reduction induced by on-sky residuals and is a prominent issue with pyramid wavefront sensors (PWFS). CLOSE follows upon the linear modal compensation approach to OG that was previously demonstrated to substantially improve AO correction with high-order PWFS systems. Operating on modal gains through multiplicative increments, CLOSE naturally compensates for the recurring issue of unaccounted sensitivity factors throughout the AO loop. We present end-to-end simulations of the MICADO instrument single-conjugate AO to demonstrate the performances and capabilities of CLOSE. We demonstrate that a single configuration provides an efficient and versatile optimization of the modal integrator while accounting for OG compensation and while providing significant robustness to transient effects impacting the PWFS sensitivity.
Quiet-time low energy ion spectra observed on Solar Orbiter during solar minimum
Authors: Mason G. M. , Ho G. C. , Allen R. C. , Xu Z. G. , Janitzek N. P. , Freiherr von Forstner J. L. , Kohllhoff A. , Pacheco D. , Rodríguez-Pacheco J. , Wimmer-Schweingruber R. F. , Bruce Andrews G. , Schlemm C. E. , Seifert H. , Tyagi K. , Lees W. J. , Hayes J. , Gómez-Herrero R. , Prieto M. , Sánchez-Prieto S. , Espinosa Lara F. , Cernuda I. , Parra Espada P. , Rodríguez Polo O. , Martínez Hellín A. , Martin C. , Böttcher S. , Berger L. , Terasa J. C. , Boden S. , Kulkarni S. R. , Ravanbakhsh A. , Yedla M. , Eldrum S. , Elftmann R. , Kühl P.
Published: March 2021

Context. The Solar Orbiter spacecraft cruised in the inner heliosphere during Feb. 2020 – Jan. 2021, moving between ∼0.5–1.0 au radial distance. The Energetic Particle Detector suite operated continuously during this period.

Aims. The Suprathermal Ion Spectrograph and High Energy Telescope observations made during intervals in between transient intensity increases were used to determine the low energy ion spectra and composition during quiet times.

Methods. Energetic particle spectra and major ion components, including 3He, were measured over the range ∼0.1–100 MeV nucleon−1. The radial dependence of 4.4 MeV nucleon−1 4He and O was measured. A short interval of extremely low intensities (“super-quiet”) was also studied.

Results. Spectra measured during the quiet period showed transitions, including galactic cosmic rays (> 50 MeV nucleon−1), anomalous cosmic rays (a few to ∼50 MeV nucleon−1), and a steeply rising “turn-up” spectrum below a few MeV nucleon−1 whose composition resembled impulsive, 3He-rich solar energetic particle events. The radial dependence had large uncertainties but was consistent with a small gradient. During the super-quiet interval, the higher energy components remained similar to the quiet period, while the approximately flat low energy 4He spectrum extended downward, reaching ∼300 keV nucleon−1 before transitioning to a steeply rising spectrum.
Fall für Vier – Stationsäquivalente psychiatrische Behandlung
Authors: Quadflieg Catharina , Richter Janina , Vonderschmitt Julia , Seiler Jürgen , Götz Valerie
Published: March 2021

Trotz einer akuten Psychose wollte Clara M. nicht im Krankenhaus bleiben. Stattdessen nahm sie die Stationsäquivalente pschiatrische Behandlung in Anspruch, die bei ihr zu Hause stattfand. Während dieser Zeit wurde sie täglich von einer Psychotherapeutin, einer Fachärztin, einem Fachkrankenpfleger oder einer Ergotherapeutin aufgesucht.
Synthesis of Dibenzyls by Nickel-Catalyzed Homocoupling of Benzyl Alcohols
Authors: Shu Xing-Zhong , Pan Feng-Feng , Guo Peng , Huang Xiaochuang
Published: March 2021

Dibenzyls are essential building blocks that are widely used in organic synthesis, and they are typically prepared by the homocoupling of halides, organometallics, and ethers. Herein, we report an approach to this class of compounds using alcohols, which are more stable and readily available. The reaction proceeds via nickel-catalyzed and dimethyl oxalate assisted dynamic kinetic homocoupling of benzyl alcohols. Both primary and secondary alcohols are tolerated.
Laparoscopic Intracapsular Myomectomy in Women 40 Years Old and Over with Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids. A Pilot Study
Authors: Tinelli Andrea , Kosmas Ioannis P. , Catherino William H. , Carugno Jose , Mynbaev Ospan A. , Sparic Radmila , Trojano Giuseppe , Malvasi Antonio
Published: March 2021

Authors evaluated the impact of laparoscopic intracapsular myomectomy (LIM) in women 40 years of age and over with desire of future fertility compared with medical management of symptomatic fibroids, by a prospective cohort study in University affiliated Hospitals. This study includes a cohort of women 40 years of age and older with symptomatic intramural fibroids with desire of future fertility. Women with symptomatic fibroid uterus were offered to undergo LIM or medical management. They were encouraged to attempt conception either spontaneously or by assisted reproductive technology (ART) according to their individual preference. All women were followed for 2 years. Fibroid characteristics, pre- and post-surgical variables, including surgical complications, days of hospitalization, pregnancy rate, and obstetrical outcomes were collected. A total of 100 patient were included in the analysis. Fifty patients were assigned to the LIM group and 50 to the medical treatment group (MT). Groups were similar regarding age (43.5 ± 2.4 and 43.5 ± 2.4, p = 0.99), body mass index (23.8 ± 3.1 and 24.2 ± 3.1, p = 0.54), parity (0.46 ± 0.09 and 0.58 ± 0.09, p = 0.37), fibroid number (1.38 ± 0.6 and 1.46 ± 0.6, p = 0.53), and fibroid size (5.92 ± 1.62 cm vs. 5.94 ± 1.49 cm, p = 0.949). Of the patients who underwent LIM, 62% conceived within the study period compared with 56% in the control group (p = 0.54). Pregnancy was achieved by ART in 44% of the patients of the LIM group and 30% in control group. There was no significant difference in pregnancy rates among the two groups regarding spontaneous pregnancy rate (p = 0.332), nor in pregnancies obtained by ART with own eggs (p = 0.146) and oocyte or embryo donation (p = 0.821). The take home baby rate was 65% (20/31) in the LIM group and 61% (17/28) in the control group (p = 0.7851). Both groups had similar rate of miscarriage (p = 0.748).

Patients 40 years old and over with symptomatic fibroid uterus who undergo LIM have similar subsequent fertility and obstetrical outcomes than women treated with medical management. LIM has no detrimental impact on future fertility in women 40 years old and over.
Comparative Effectiveness of the Homeopathic Preparation Traumeel S in Third Molar Extraction Surgery: A Preliminary Triple-Blind Clinical Trial
Authors: Souza Glaciele Maria de , Fernandes Ighor Andrade , Pinheiro Marcos Luciano Pimenta , Falci Saulo Gabriel Moreira
Published: March 2021

Background and Aim This preliminary study aimed to evaluate whether a homeopathic preparation (Traumeel S) might be a good option to control post-operative outcomes (pain, edema and trismus) associated with surgical removal of mandibular third molar teeth. The null hypothesis was that Traumeel S is not different from dexamethasone (gold standard) in controlling these post-operative inflammatory complications.

Methods A randomized, “split-mouth”, triple-blind clinical trial was conducted. Seventeen healthy patients with a mean age of 20.94 ( ± 5.83) years had their lower asymptomatic bilateral third molars removed. Patients were randomized to receive Traumeel S or dexamethasone pre-operatively by injection into the masseter muscle; each patient acted as his/her own control. At 24, 48, 72 hours and 7 days after the surgery, the pain was evaluated according to a visual analog scale, edema through linear measurements of the face, and trismus through the maximum buccal opening. Wilcoxon statistics or paired t-test were used, and a significance level of 95% was adopted.

Results For pain, the results for Traumeel S were not different (p > 0.05) from those of dexamethasone after 24 hours, 72 hours, and 7 days. For edema, the results for Traumeel S were not different (p > 0.05) from those of dexamethasone at all post-operative evaluations. For mouth opening, the results for Traumeel S were not different (p > 0.05) from those of dexamethasone at 72 hours and 7 days after third molar extraction.

Conclusion With the exception of some early post-operative findings, the null hypothesis is not rejected. Traumeel S might be a good alternative approach to dexamethasone for controlling pain, edema and trismus after third molar removal.
Effect of Ni ions on the DNA spectral properties and photostability
Authors: Gryn Dmytro , Yashchuk Valeriy , Sereda Elvira
Published: March 2021

The optical absorption, fluorescence, phosphorescence in UV and visible spectral range, and effect of light irradiation on spectral properties of DNA with the presence of nickel ions are studied. The quantity of nickel ions varies from 1 ion per 500 base pairs of DNA to 2 ions per base pair. Three important features fixed: the shape of fluorescence and phosphorescence spectra of the DNA do not change in presence of Ni, but their intensity depends on the number of nickel ions in solution; phosphorescence intensity decreases more rapidly than fluorescence; the small decrease of DNA photodegradation rate in presence of Ni is observed. The average of triplet exciton path length evaluated from the dependence of phosphorescence/fluorescence intensity ratio on the relative concentration of nickel ions is 30–20 DNA pair sequence length. It was proposed that nickel ions interact in the outer side of DNA with the phosphate groups and do not penetrate intra macromolecular space.
A simple process for generating a greener fertilizer
Authors: Bandari Anashe
Published: March 2021

Generating plasma-activated water is an alternative way to supply nitrogen for fertilization in agricultural applications.
H-diamond MOS interface properties and FET characteristics with high-temperature ALD-grown HfO2 dielectric
Authors: Ren Zeyang , Xing Yufei , Lv Dandan , Xu Jiamin , Zhang Jinfeng , Zhang Jincheng , Su Kai , Zhang Chunfu , Zhang Hong , He Qi , Hao Yue
Published: March 2021

The performance of hydrogen-terminated diamond MOSFETs with a large gate–drain interspace (LGD) was analyzed on a polycrystalline diamond sample. A 300 °C atomic layer deposition grown (ALD-grown) HfO2 dielectric (28 nm) was used the gate dielectric and device passivation layer. The HfO2/H-diamond interfacial valence band offset of 1.98 eV was determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, indicating that the high temperature grown HfO2 dielectric has great potential for accommodating a high density of holes on the H-diamond surface, and the high dielectric constant of HfO2 is also useful for improving the control capability of the gate on the device channel. A breakdown voltage of 657 V was achieved on the device. Baliga’s figure of merit of the device was calculated to be ∼2.0 MW/cm2, which is comparable to that of the H-diamond FETs with Al2O3 dielectrics that are more than 200 nm thick. The HfO2 dielectric shows great potential for use in H-diamond power devices.
South Australian Medicines Evaluation Panel in review: providing evidence-based guidance on the use of high-cost medicines in the South Australian public health system
Authors: Lambert Robyn , Burgess Naomi , Hillock Nadine , Gailer Joy , Hissaria Pravin , Merlin Tracy , Pearson Chris , Reddi Benjamin , Ward Michael , Hill Catherine
Published: March 2021

Objective The South Australian Medicines Evaluation Panel (SAMEP) was established in 2011 to make evidence-based recommendations on the funding of high-cost medicines in South Australian public hospitals via a high-cost medicines formulary. SAMEP represents one component of South Australia’s process for state-based health technology assessment (HTA). The aim of this study was to describe the experience of SAMEP in the context of Australia’s complex governance model for hospital-based care. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of the SAMEP process and outcomes of medicine evaluations. Decision summaries and meeting minutes were reviewed and reflected upon by the authors to explore the views of the SAMEP membership regarding the function of the committee and state-based HTA more broadly. Results SAMEP has reviewed 29 applications, with 14 (48%) listed on the high-cost medicines formulary. Three applications have been the subject of outcome review and confirm expectations of patient benefit. Conclusion Retrospective review of the committee experience suggests that state-based HTA as operationalised by SAMEP is feasible, provides greater equity of access to high-cost medicines in the South Australian public hospital system and allows for access with evidence development. What is known about the topic? State-based hospital funders often need to make decisions on the provision of high-cost medicines for which there is no national guidance or subsidy. Little published information exists about state-based approaches to medicines evaluation and reimbursement within public hospitals in Australia. What does this paper add? The South Australian experience demonstrates a method for states and territories to tackle the challenges of providing evidence-based access to high-cost medicines in Australian public hospitals. What are the implications for practitioners? This paper provides information for other jurisdictions considering state-based approaches to medicines evaluation and contributes to the broader literature about state-based HTA in Australia.
Corrigendum to: A handbook for the standardised sampling of plant functional traits in disturbance-prone ecosystems, with a focus on open ecosystems
Authors: Wigley B. J. , Charles-Dominique T. , Hempson G. P. , Stevens N. , te Beest M. , Archibald S. , Bond W. J. , Bunney K. , Coetsee C. , Donaldson J. , Fidelis A. , Gao X. , Gignoux J. , Lehmann C. , Massad T. J. , Midgley J. J. , Millan M. , Schwilk D. , Siebert F. , Solofondranohatra C. , Staver A. C. , Zhou Y. , Kruger L. M.
Published: March 2021

Plant functional traits provide a valuable tool to improve our understanding of ecological processes at a range of scales. Previous handbooks on plant functional traits have highlighted the importance of standardising measurements of traits to improve our understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes. In open ecosystems (i.e. grasslands, savannas, open woodlands and shrublands), traits related to disturbance (e.g. herbivory, drought, and fire) play a central role in explaining species performance and distributions and are the focus of this handbook. We provide brief descriptions of 34 traits and list important environmental filters and their relevance, provide detailed sampling methodologies and outline potential pitfalls for each trait. We have grouped traits according to plant functional type (grasses, forbs and woody plants) and, because demographic stages may experience different selective pressures, we have separated traits according to the different plant life stages (seedlings saplings and adults). We have attempted to not include traits that have been covered in previous handbooks except for where updates or additional information was considered beneficial.
Corrigendum to: A threatened ecological community: research advances and priorities for Banksia woodlands
Authors: Ritchie Alison L. , Svejcar Lauren N. , Ayre Bronwyn M. , Bolleter Julian , Brace Aaron , Craig Michael D. , Davis Belinda , Davis Robert A. , van Etten Eddie J. B. , Fontaine Joseph B. , Fowler William M. , Froend Ray H. , Groom Christine , Hardy Giles E. S. J. , Hooper Paula , Hopkins Anna J. M. , Hughes Michael , Krauss Siegfried L. , Leopold Matthias , Miller Ben P. , Miller Russell G. , Ramalho Cristina E. , Ruthrof Katinka X. , Shaw Christopher , Stevens Jason C. , Tangney Ryan , Valentine Leonie E. , Veneklaas Erik J. , Hobbs Richard J.
Published: March 2021

The rapid expansion of urban areas worldwide is leading to native habitat loss and ecosystem fragmentation and degradation. Although the study of urbanisation's impact on biodiversity is gaining increasing interest globally, there is still a disconnect between research recommendations and urbanisation strategies. Expansion of the Perth metropolitan area on the Swan Coastal Plain in south-western Australia, one of the world's thirty-six biodiversity hotspots, continues to affect the Banksia Woodlands (BWs) ecosystem, a federally listed Threatened Ecological Community (TEC). Here, we utilise the framework of a 1989 review of the state of knowledge of BWs ecology and conservation to examine scientific advances made in understanding the composition, processes and functions of BWs and BWs' species over the last 30 years. We highlight key advances in our understanding of the ecological function and role of mechanisms in BWs that are critical to the management of this ecosystem. The most encouraging change since 1989 is the integration of research between historically disparate ecological disciplines. We outline remaining ecological knowledge gaps and identify key research priorities to improve conservation efforts for this TEC. We promote a holistic consideration of BWs with our review providing a comprehensive document that researchers, planners and managers may reference. To effectively conserve ecosystems threatened by urban expansion, a range of stakeholders must be involved in the development and implementation of best practices to conserve and maintain both biodiversity and human wellbeing.
Generation of SARS-CoV-2 reporter replicon for high-throughput antiviral screening and testing
Authors: He Xi , Quan Shuo , Xu Min , Rodriguez Silveria , Goh Shih Lin , Wei Jiajie , Fridman Arthur , Koeplinger Kenneth A. , Carroll Steve S. , Grobler Jay A. , Espeseth Amy S. , Olsen David B. , Hazuda Daria J. , Wang Dai
Published: March 2021

Significance

The urgency of curbing the COVID-19 pandemic has motivated many investigators to pivot their research to understand the basic biology of SARS-CoV-2 and to search for new pharmaceutical compounds for potential COVID-19 treatment. However, most SARS-CoV-2 studies require biosafety level 3 facilities, which are in high demand, costly, and difficult to access. To overcome these limitations, we engineered a SARS-CoV-2 replicon, which is a modified virus subgenome capable of self-replicating without producing infectious virus, allowing the viral replication to be studied in a conventional biomedical laboratory setting. The replicon system also provides a valuable tool to screen and test antiviral compounds in biologically relevant cells. Successful implementation of the technology will accelerate the development of effective treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Delimiting durative events with manner
Authors: Huang Chu-Ren , Chung Siaw-Fong
Published: March 2021

Durative events by default are atelic. However, temporal targets are typically required for durative verbs with a rushing manner, such as ‘We are catching the 3:30 flight’ and ‘The farmer rushed to harvest before the storm’. Why and how does manner introduce delimiting temporal concepts to durative verbs? This puzzle is addressed by our current study of two near-synonymous Mandarin durative verbs describing events carried out in a rushing manner:赶gǎnand抢qiǎng. Our event-based account will examine both their compositional meanings and their constructional patterns. We will show that赶gǎnand抢qiǎngnot only coerce eventive readings from their nominal objects, but also require certain delineating temporal targets. The verb赶gǎnrequires an understood deadline, while the verb抢qiǎngrequires the presupposition of the limited availability of the object. As neither temporal targets mark the time of the actual activities, these are exceptional cases of aktionsart. We will show that the different ways to delineate event meanings of the constructions [gǎn/qiǎng+ noun] can be predicted from the lexical meaning of the two verbs and can in turn predict the event types represented by the object with the MARVS theory. Based on this lexical semantic representation, we further show that the Generative Lexicon theory predicts the coercions of the rushing meaning from the original activity verb senses, and that the Construction Grammar theory accounts for their sharing of the same syntactic configuration.
Making meaning with metaphor in grief therapy
Authors: Tay Dennis , Neimeyer Robert A.
Published: March 2021

Metaphors play an important role in contemporary approaches to grief therapy by helping clients (re)construe their
continuing relationship with the deceased. Relevant studies have illustrated the substantive elements of metaphors (i.e. sources, targets,
and mappings) in this regard, often focusing on localized bursts of intense metaphoric activity. This paper highlights the extended nature
of metaphoric conceptualizations and their relationship with key meaning-making processes, following the principle of ‘correspondent
analysis’ as a collaborative move between language analysts and therapy practitioners. Three specific phenomena are detailed through a mixed
methods analysis of 18 motivated segments in a single session of grief therapy: (i) sporadic sources, (ii) persistent sources, and (iii)
metaphor ‘chaining’ across embodied and verbal activity. Their respective links to treatment objectives and processes demonstrate how
metaphor theoretic constructs dovetail with therapeutic work, and suggest future avenues for modeling unfolding metaphoric activity as a
time series.
Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (leaf curl).
Authors: Czosnek Henryk
Published: March 2021

The wide global distribution of tomato crops and the dramatic outbreaks of the populations of the TYLCV vector, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, led to a pandemic of this devastating disease. The virus probably arose in the Middle East between the 1930s and 1950s. Its global invasion began in the 1980s after the emergence of two strains: TYLCV-IL and TYLCV-Mld. The long-distance transportation of viruliferous whiteflies contaminating commercial shipments of tomato seedlings and ornamentals is probably the major reason for the virus pandemic (Caciagli, 2007). Sequence analyses allowed Lefeuvre et al. (2010) to trace the history of TYLCV spread. For instance, TYLCV-IL has invaded the Americas at least twice, once from the Mediterranean basin in 1992-1994 and once from Asia (a descendant of imported Middle Eastern TYLCV) in 1999-2003. As a result the estimated losses caused by TYLCV reached about 20% of tomato production in the USA, and 30-100% in the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Central America and Venezuela. Therefore several countries (Australia, EU) have established severe quarantine measures to control the whitefly vector.
Quantum Algorithm for Approximating Maximum Independent Sets
Authors: Yu Hongye , Wilczek Frank , Wu Biao
Published: March 2021

We present a quantum algorithm for approximating maximum independent sets of a graph based on quantum non-Abelian adiabatic mixing in the sub-Hilbert space of degenerate ground states, which generates quantum annealing in a secondary Hamiltonian. For both sparse and dense random graphs G, numerical simulation suggests that our algorithm on average finds an independent set of size close to the maximum size α(G) in low polynomial time. The best classical algorithms, by contrast, produce independent sets of size about half of α(G) in polynomial time.
Exotic Dielectric Behaviors Induced by Pseudo-Spin Texture in Magnetic Twisted Bilayer
Authors: Shen Yu-Hao , Tong Wen-Yi , Hu He , Zheng Jun-Ding , Duan Chun-Gang
Published: March 2021

Twisted van der Waals bilayers provide an ideal platform to study the electron correlation in solids. Of particular interest is the 30° twisted bilayer honeycomb lattice system, which possesses an incommensurate moiré pattern, and uncommon electronic behaviors may appear due to the absence of phase coherence. Such a system is extremely sensitive to further twist and many intriguing phenomena will occur. Based on first-principles calculations we show that, for further twist near 30°, there could induce dramatically different dielectric behaviors of electron between left and right-twisted cases. Specifically, it is found that the left and right twists show suppressed and amplified dielectric response under vertical electric field, respectively. Further analysis demonstrate that such an exotic dielectric property can be attributed to the stacking dependent charge redistribution due to twist, which forms twist-dependent pseudospin textures. We will show that such pseudospin textures are robust under small electric field. As a result, for the right-twisted case, there is almost no electric dipole formation exceeding the monolayer thickness when the electric field is applied. Whereas for the left case, the system could even demonstrate negative susceptibility, i.e., the induced polarization is opposite to the applied field, which is very rare in the nature. Such findings not only enrich our understanding on moiré systems but also open an appealing route toward functional 2D materials design for electronic, optical and even energy storage devices.
Au Films Composed of Nanoparticles Fabricated on Liquid Surfaces for SERS
Authors: Ye Xunheng , Shen Jiawei , Tao Xiangming , Ye Gaoxiang , Yang Bo
Published: March 2021

A series of Au films with different nominal deposition thickness d were fabricated on ionic liquid surfaces by thermal evaporation at room temperature, taken as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. Au atoms deposited on the liquid surfaces can diffuse and aggregate randomly and eventually form films with ramified structure, which consist of nanoparticles (NPs). There are amounts of ultrasmall (∼ 1 nm or smaller) nanogaps among the Au NPs, which can dramatically enhance Raman signal. Raman spectra of R6G were investigated with the assistance of the Au films. The results indicate that the Au films with higher thickness possess better SERS performance when 5.0 ≤ d ≤ 30.0 nm. A random distribution model of Au NPs was used in the finite-difference time-domain method and the simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental findings.
Rolling friction in a 3D printed stringless pendulum
Authors: Hanisch C , Ziese M
Published: March 2021

The motion of a billiard ball rolling on a 3D printed stringless pendulum was studied by video analysis. This allows for the measurement of the eigenfrequency as well as the coefficients of viscous drag and rolling friction. The stringless pendulum consisted of two circle sectors with variable distance, such that friction coefficients could be determined as a function of rolling radius. Rolling resistance decreases with increasing rolling radius, but does not follow a simple power law; instead the data suggest an exponential dependence.
Control of electron velocity distributions at the wafer by tailored voltage waveforms in capacitively coupled plasmas to compensate surface charging in high-aspect ratio etch features
Authors: Hartmann P , Wang L , Nösges K , Berger B , Wilczek S , Brinkmann R P , Mussenbrock T , Juhasz Z , Donkó Z , Derzsi A , Lee Eunwoo , Schulze J
Published: March 2021

Low pressure single- or dual-frequency capacitively coupled radio frequency (RF) plasmas are frequently used for high-aspect ratio (HAR) dielectric etching due to their capability to generate vertical ion bombardment of the wafer at high energies. Electrons typically reach the wafer at low energies and with a wide angular distribution during the local sheath collapse. Thus, in contrast to positive ions, electrons cannot propagate deeply into HAR etch features and the bottom as well as the sidewalls of such trenches can charge up positively, while the mask charges negatively. This causes etch stops and distortion of profile shapes. Here, we investigate low pressure, high voltage capacitively coupled RF argon gas discharges by Particle-In-Cell/Monte Carlo collisions simulations and demonstrate that this problem can be solved by Voltage Waveform Tailoring, i.e. the velocity and angular distribution of electrons impacting on the electrodes can be tuned towards high velocities and small angles to the surface-normal, while keeping the energies of the impacting ions high. The applied voltage waveforms consist of a base frequency of 400 kHz with 10 kV amplitude and a series of higher harmonics. A high frequency component at 40 or 60 MHz is used additionally. Square voltage waveforms with different rise-times are examined as well. We show that high fluxes of electrons towards the wafer at normal velocities of up to 2.2 × 107 m s−1 (corresponding to 1.4 keV energy) can be realized.
Emission from silicon as a real-time figure of merit for laser-induced periodic surface structure formation
Authors: Dmytruk Andriy , Dmitruk Igor , Berezovska Nataliya , Karlash Anna , Kadan Viktor , Blonskyi Ivan
Published: March 2021

In this work femtosecond laser treatment of crystalline silicon was performed with the aim of producing laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs), and emission from the processing area was measured. Broad photoluminescence (PL) of the oxidized silicon, second-harmonic generation (SHG) of the laser radiation on the structured surface and sharp emission lines (ELs) of the ablated silicon atoms were detected. The ratio of intensities of SHG to PL (or SHG to EL) is suggested as a real-time figure of merit for LIPSS formation. Diffraction patterns of white light on the produced LIPSS confirm this suggestion.
Comparing equilibration schemes of high-molecular-weight polymer melts with topological indicators
Authors: Tubiana Luca , Kobayashi Hideki , Potestio Raffaello , Dünweg Burkhard , Kremer Kurt , Virnau Peter , Daoulas Kostas
Published: March 2021

Recent theoretical studies have demonstrated that the behaviour of molecular knots is a sensitive indicator of polymer structure. Here, we use knots to verify the ability of two state-of-the-art algorithms—configuration assembly and hierarchical backmapping—to equilibrate high-molecular-weight (MW) polymer melts. Specifically, we consider melts with MWs equivalent to several tens of entanglement lengths and various chain flexibilities, generated with both strategies. We compare their unknotting probability, unknotting length, knot spectra, and knot length distributions. The excellent agreement between the two independent methods with respect to knotting properties provides an additional strong validation of their ability to equilibrate dense high-MW polymeric liquids. By demonstrating this consistency of knotting behaviour, our study opens the way for studying topological properties of polymer melts beyond time and length scales accessible to brute-force molecular dynamics simulations.
Renewable UV-curable polyester methacrylate/cellulose nanocrystals composite resin for wood waterproof coating
Authors: Tian Yuan , Gao Ya , Pan Xueyi , Liu Qiaochu , Wang Jiao , Jin Ming , Li Jianbo
Published: March 2021

Low-viscosity UV-curable resins are widely used in industry as they allow for UV curing materials with reduced amounts of reactive diluents to adjust the viscosity. But their mechanical properties and waterproof performance after curing as UV coatings still need to be improved. Here, a series of low-viscosity bio-based UV-curable polyester methacrylates were synthesized through L-lactide (LA) and ε-caprolactone (CL) monomers. The results show that the introduction of star-shaped structure and random copolymerization of LA and CL can effectively reduce the viscosity of the resin to 313 mPa · s and at the same time increase the double bond conversion rate and maintain good mechanical properties. The composite resin was prepared by blending the star-shaped low-viscosity polyester methacrylate resin with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), and the microstructure was characterized by XRD and TEM. The curing kinetics, mechanical properties, thermal properties and waterproof properties of the composite resin were further tested. When the mass fraction of CNCs is 2.5 wt%, the water absorption rate of the pine samples coated with UV-cured composite resin is reduced to 17%, which is 65% lower than that of the uncoated samples and 20% lower than that of the samples coated with resin without CNC. This article provides a feasible and effective method for improving the mechanical properties and waterproof performance of low-viscosity UV-curing resins.
Thermally-assisted milling and hydrogenolysis for synthesizing ultrafine MgH2 with destabilized thermodynamics
Authors: Huang L J , Shi S T , Cui J , Liu J W , Ouyang L Z , Wang H
Published: March 2021

A novel process has been developed to synthesize MgH2 nanoparticles by combining ball milling and thermal hydrogenolysis of di-n-butylmagnesium (C4H9)2Mg, denoted as MgBu2. With the aid of mechanical impact, the hydrogenolysis temperature of MgBu2 in heptane and cyclohexane solution was considerably lowered down to 100 °C, and the MgH2 nanoparticles with an average particle size of ca. 8.9 nm were obtained without scaffolds. The nano-size effect of the MgH2 nanoparticles causes a notable decrease in the onset dehydrogenation temperature of 225 °C and enthalpy of 69.78 kJ mol−1 · H2. This thermally-assisted milling and hydrogenolysis process may also be extended for synthesizing other nanomaterials.
Excitation and manipulation of guided shear-horizontal plane wave using elastic metasurfaces
Authors: Cao Xi , Jia Chunlin , Miao Hongchen , Kang Guozheng , Zhang Chuanzeng
Published: March 2021

The lowest order shear horizontal wave (SH0 wave) is of great importance in structural health monitoring (SHM) and nondestructive testing (NDT), since it is the only non-dispersive guided wave mode in elastic plates. However, SH0 wave is less used than Lamb waves in the past decades, which is mainly attributed to the fact that controllable excitation of pure mode SH0 wave and manipulation of its propagation are more difficult than Lamb waves. In this work, inspired by the unique feature of SH0 wave that it can propagate around curved surfaces with negligible reflection, metasurfaces based on multiple arch-shaped strips are proposed for generating plane SH0 wave from a cylindrical wave source and realizing anomalous refraction of SH0 wave. Firstly, after analyzing the wave modes in finite-width arch-shaped strips, the strips’ capability of covering full 2π phase shift with high transmittances is demonstrated. Then three types of metasurfaces, i.e. the device for converting cylindrical SH0 wave to plane wave, the metasurface for directional refraction and the one for delivering the wave energy along a circular path are designed and validated by simulations. After that, experiments are conducted to investigate the designed metasurfaces’ performances and the obtained results are in good agreement with the design expectations. The proposed metasurfaces provide a cheap way to generate plane SH0 wave and manipulate its propagation, which will have great potential applications in NDT and SHM.
Production and reconstruction of short-lived resonances in heavy-ion collisions at NICA energies using the MPD detector
Authors: Riabov Victor
Published: March 2021

The short-lived resonances have been used to study properties of the heavy-ion collisions at SPS, RHIC and the LHC. The resonance yields measured in the hadronic decay channels are affected by the rescattering and regeneration effects in the late hadronic phase. The mesonic and baryonic resonances with different strangeness content are used to study the strangeness enhancement phenomenon predicted as one of the signatures for the QCD phase transition. Having different masses and baryonic numbers, the resonances contribute to the study of hadronization mechanisms at low and intermediate transverse momenta. The extensive resonance measurements are not experimentally available in heavy-ion collisions at NICA energies. In this contribution, we study the resonance properties and their sensitivity to different stages of Au+Au collisions at

s

N
N

= 4–11 GeV. Results of feasibility studies for reconstruction of ρ(770)0, K*(892), ϕ(1020), Λ(1520), Σ(1385)± and Ξ(1530)0 resonances in the MPD detector at NICA are presented and discussed.
A comparison of trapping the rubidium atoms in optical and magnetic lattices
Authors: Karimi Parvin , Ghanbari Saeed , Rezaei Fatemeh
Published: March 2021

In this paper, the critical parameters of quantum phase transition from the superfluid to the Mott insulator phase are studied for three-dimensional traps in 2D optical lattices and permanent magnetic lattices for trapping the 87Rb atoms. Using the harmonic oscillator wave function approximation, the on-site interaction U, the hopping matrix element J and the ratio J/U are calculated to determine the quantum phase transition point analytically. In a magnetic lattice two components of the external magnetic field B
1x
and B
1y
had been considered for studying quantum phase transition. Here, B
1z
as the z- direction component of the bias magnetic field is also considered for further control of the magnetic lattice parameters. In addition, an optical lattice constructed from the interference of two pairs of orthogonal counter-propagating laser beams is investigated. In both optical and magnetic lattices, the ratio J/U and the critical point of the quantum phase transition can be calculated by variation of the potential barrier height between traps. Comparison of optical lattices with permanent magnetic lattices shows that in the critical point of quantum phase transition the potential barrier height of the magnetic potential is higher than that of the optical trap which suggests that the magnetic microtraps are deeper and more stable than the optical traps in similar structures.