bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Submillimetre water masers at 437, 439, 471, and 474 GHz towards evolved stars
Authors: Bergman P. , Humphreys E. M. L.
Published: April 2020

Aims. Here we aim to characterise submillimetre water masers at 437, 439, 471, and 474 GHz towards a sample of evolved stars.

Methods. We used the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX1) to observe submillimetre water transitions and the CO (4–3) line towards 11 evolved stars. The sample included semi-regular and Mira variables, plus a red supergiant star. We performed radiative transfer modelling for the water masers. We also used the CO observations to determine mass loss rates for the stars.

Results. From the sample of 11 evolved stars, 7 display one or more of the masers at 437, 439, 471, and 474 GHz. We therefore find that these masers are common in evolved star circumstellar envelopes. The fact that the maser lines are detected near the stellar velocity indicates that they are likely to originate from the inner circumstellar envelopes of our targets. We tentatively link the presence of masers to the degree of variability of the target star, that is, masers are more likely to be present in Mira variables than in semi-regular variables. We suggest that this indicates the importance of strong shocks in creating the necessary conditions for the masers. Typically, the 437 GHz line is the strongest maser line observed among those studied here. We cannot reproduce the above finding in our radiative transfer models. In general, we find that maser emission is very sensitive to dust temperature in the lines studied here. To produce strong maser emission, the dust temperature must be significantly lower than the gas kinetic temperature. In addition to running grids of models in order to determine the optimum physical conditions for strong masers in these lines, we performed smooth wind modelling for which we cannot reproduce the observed line shapes. This also suggests that the masers must originate predominantly from the inner envelopes.
Discovery of a 30-degree-long ultraviolet arc in Ursa Major
Authors: Bracco A. , Benjamin R. A. , Alves M. I. R. , Lehmann A. , Boulanger F. , Montier L. , Mittelman D. , di Cicco D. , Walker S.
Published: April 2020

Our view of the interstellar medium of the Milky Way and the universe beyond is affected by the structure of the local environment in the solar neighborhood. We present the discovery of a 30-degree-long arc of ultraviolet emission with a thickness of only a few arcminutes: the Ursa Major arc. This consists of several arclets seen in the near- and far-ultraviolet bands of the GALEX satellite. A two degree section of the arc was first detected in the Hα optical spectral line in 1997; additional sections were seen in the optical by the team of amateur astronomers included in this work. This direction of the sky is known for very low hydrogen column density and dust extinction; many deep fields for extragalactic and cosmological investigations lie in this direction. Diffuse ultraviolet and optical interstellar emission are often attributed to scattering of light by interstellar dust. The lack of correlation between the Ursa Major arc and thermal dust emission observed with the Planck satellite, however, suggests that other emission mechanisms must be at play. We discuss the origin of the Ursa Major arc as the result of an interstellar shock in the solar neighborhood.
Neogene polyphase deformation related to the Alboran Basin evolution: new insights for the Beni Bousera massif (Internal Rif, Morocco)
Authors: El Bakili Asmae , Corsini Michel , Chalouan Ahmed , Münch Philippe , Romagny Adrien , Lardeaux Jean Marc , Azdimousa Ali
Published: April 2020

Located in the Internal domain of the Rif belt, the Beni Bousera massif is characterized by a stack of peridotites and crustal metamorphic units. The massif is intruded by granitic dykes and affected by several normal ductile shear zones. Structural, petrological and 40Ar–39Ar dating analyses performed on these two elements highlight that (1) the granitic dykes are emplaced within major N70° to N140° trending normal faults and shear zones, resulted from an NNE-SSW extension (2) the Aaraben fault in its NE part is characterized by N70° to N150° trending ductile normal shear zones, resulted from a nearly N-S extension and (3) the age of this extensional event is comprised between 22 and 20 Ma. Available paleomagnetic data allow a restoration of the initial orientation of extension, which was nearly E-W contemporary with the Alboran Basin opening in back-arc context, during the Early Miocene. At the onset of the extension, the peridotites were somehow lying upon a partially melted continental crust, and exhumed during this event by the Aaraben Normal Shear Zone. Afterward, the Alboran Domain suffered several compressional events.
The Revolving Door Flap: Revisiting an Elegant but Forgotten Flap for Ear Defect Reconstruction
Authors: Golash Anupam , Bera Sudipta , Kanoi Aditya V. , Golash Abhijit
Published: April 2020

Background The revolving door flap, although well described in the literature, is not widely used in general plastic surgery practice. The flap has been used for anterior auricular and conchal defects and is considered elegant for its unique flap design and peculiarity of flap harvest. However, due to its use for a very specific purpose and unique flap harvest technique that may be difficult to grasp, the flap is not very popular in reconstructive practice.

Objectives This study aims to evaluate the understanding and learning curve of the revolving door flap, assess surgical outcome, and reemphasize its utility and elegance in reconstruction of ear defects.

Methodology This is a case series of nine surgeries performed between January 2014 and 2018. Three cases were performed by the senior author and six cases by two junior authors. Patients were observed for complications and aesthetic outcomes.

Results The mean dimension of the flaps was 27.22 mm × 22.78 mm. The mean operative time was 56.56 minutes (standard deviation 22.50, standard error of the mean 7.5). Flap congestion was noted in three cases postoperatively which resolved completely by the second week. Major “pinning” of the ear was noted in four cases.

Conclusion Though infrequently performed, the revolving door flap has an easy learning curve once the proper harvest technique and flap movement has been grasped. The flap harvest is convenient, safe, and yields predictable results. Not only is total or partial flap loss extremely rare, the flap is sensate, color match is good, auricular contour is maintained, and the donor site can be closed primarily and remains well hidden.
Demonstration and aging test of a radiation resistant strontium-90 betavoltaic mechanism
Authors: Lei Yisong , Yang Yuqing , Li Gang , Liu Yebing , Xu Jian , Xiong Xiaoling , Luo Shunzhong , Peng Taiping
Published: April 2020

In this work, a betavoltaic combined with photovoltaic mechanism using strontium-90 as a radioactive source was built up. A transparent yttrium aluminum garnet ceramic doped with a cerium ion is used as an intermediate conversion layer to avoid direct irradiation to a semiconductor conversion device and translates most of the high energy beta particles into photons. The traditional crystalline silicon conversion device with an N+PP+ junction structure functions as a betavoltaic and photovoltaic conversion device simultaneously. Radiation resistance is demonstrated by a 0.9 MeV electron beam irradiation aging experiment. In the optimized betavoltaic setup with a 0.5 mm transparent yttrium aluminum garnet ceramic, the crystalline silicon conversion device can bear 5 × 1015 e/cm2 by degrading output power less than 15%. Loaded with 1.3 mCi strontium-90, this betavoltaic setup produces a short circuit current of 282 nA, an open circuit voltage of 0.168 V, a fill factor of 0.58, and a total conversion efficiency of 0.32%.
Screening of multiple hemoprotein-specific aptamers and their applications for the binding, quantification, and extraction of hemoproteins in a microfluidic system
Authors: Wang Chih-Hung , Lee Gwo-Bin
Published: April 2020

The blood hemoproteins, albumin, γ-globulin, and fibrinogen, serve as biomarkers for a variety of human diseases, including kidney and hepatorenal syndromes. Therefore, there is a need to quickly and accurately measure their concentrations in blood. Herein, nucleic acid aptamers demonstrating high affinity and specificity toward these hemoproteins were selected via systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment, and their ability to capture their protein targets was assessed with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by a tetramethyl benzidine assay. The limits of detection for the hemoproteins were all around 10−3μM, and dissociation constant values of 131, 639, and 29nM were obtained; capture rates were measured to be 66%, 71%, and 61%, which is likely to be suitable for clinical diagnostics. Furthermore, a multi-layer microfluidic disk system featuring hemoprotein-specific aptamers for depleting hemoproteins was demonstrated. It could be a promising approach to use aptamers to replace conventional antibodies.
Nonlinear dynamics of energetic-particle driven geodesic acoustic modes in ASDEX Upgrade
Authors: Novikau I. , Biancalani A. , Bottino A. , Lauber Ph. , Poli E. , Manz P. , Conway G. D. , Di Siena A. , Ohana N. , Lanti E. , Villard L. ,   ASDEX Upgrade Team
Published: April 2020

Turbulence in tokamaks generates radially sheared zonal flows. Their oscillatory counterparts, geodesic acoustic modes (GAMs), appear due to the action of the magnetic field curvature. The GAMs can be driven unstable by an anisotropic energetic particle (EP) population leading to the formation of global radial structures, called energetic-particle-driven geodesic acoustic modes (EGAMs). The EGAMs can redistribute EP energy to the bulk plasma through collisionless wave-particle interaction. In such a way, the EGAMs might contribute to the plasma heating. Thus, investigation of EGAM properties, especially in the velocity space, is necessary for precise understanding of the transport phenomena in tokamak plasmas. In this work, the nonlinear dynamics of EGAMs without considering the mode interaction with the turbulence is investigated with the help of a Mode-Particle-Resonance (MPR) diagnostic implemented in the global gyrokinetic particle-in-cell code ORB5. An ASDEX Upgrade discharge is chosen as a reference case for this investigation due to its rich EP nonlinear dynamics. An experimentally relevant magnetic field configuration, thermal species profiles, and an EP density profile are taken for EGAM chirping modeling and its comparison with available empirical data. The same magnetic configuration is used to explore energy transfer by the mode from the energetic particles to the thermal plasma including kinetic electron effects. For a given EGAM level, the plasma heating by the mode can be significantly enhanced by varying the EP parameters. Electron dynamics decreases the EGAM saturation amplitude and consequently reduces the plasma heating, even though the mode transfers its energy to thermal ions much more than to electrons.
Analysis of shock wave induced by underwater pulsed discharge using discharge current interception
Authors: Liu Si-Wei , Liu Yi , Ren Yi-Jia , Lin Fu-Chang , Li Hua , Zhao Yong
Published: April 2020

Electrohydraulic shock wave (EHSW) is seemingly one of the simplest and most common products of microsecond pulsed discharge (μsPD) in water; however, its generation process remains far less clear. To study the influence of current waveforms on the generation of an EHSW, we conducted discharge current interception experiments using a bypass branch in the circuit. The current interception time Δt is properly controlled so that the discharge current through the water gap can be terminated at a chosen time. Results show that the peak pressure Pm is first linearly increasing with Δt, and then Pm reaches a stable value. The expansion of the spark channel with increasing velocities will enhance the peak pressure. This phase can be regarded as the accelerated expansion phase (AEP) of the piston theory. The transition area of the Pm–Δt relationship of this experimental setup shows that the AEP lasts for about tm = 5 μs. After the AEP, the deposited energy will help to maintain a higher pressure in the falling edge of the pressure waves. The full width at half maximum of the waveforms finally approaches 12.5 μs in our tests. The experimental results provide evidence of the piston theory in interpreting the generation of EHSW induced by μsPD.
Engineering cross resonance interaction in multi-modal quantum circuits
Authors: Hazra Sumeru , Salunkhe Kishor V. , Bhattacharjee Anirban , Bothara Gaurav , Kundu Suman , Roy Tanay , Patankar Meghan P. , Vijay R.
Published: April 2020

The existing scalable superconducting quantum processors have only nearest-neighbor coupling. This leads to a reduced circuit depth, requiring a large series of gates to perform an arbitrary unitary operation in such systems. Recently, multi-modal devices have been demonstrated as a promising candidate for small quantum processor units. Always on longitudinal coupling in such circuits leads to implementation of native high fidelity multi-qubit gates. We propose an architecture using such devices as building blocks for a highly connected larger quantum circuit. To demonstrate a quantum operation between such blocks, a standard transmon is coupled to the multi-modal circuit using a 3D bus cavity giving rise to small exchange interaction between the transmon and one of the modes. We study the cross-resonance interaction in such systems and characterize the entangling operation and the unitary imperfections and crosstalk as a function of device parameters. Finally, we tune up the cross-resonance drive to implement multi-qubit gates in this architecture.
Hydro-scaling of direct-drive cylindrical implosions at the OMEGA and the National Ignition Facility
Authors: Palaniyappan S. , Sauppe J. P. , Tobias B. J. , Kawaguchi C. F. , Flippo K. A. , Zylstra A. B. , Landen O. L. , Shvarts D. , Malka E. , Batha S. H. , Bradley P. A. , Loomis E. N. , Vazirani N. N. , Kot L. , Schmidt D. W. , Day T. H. , Gonzales R. , Kline J. L.
Published: April 2020

Deceleration-phase Rayleigh–Taylor instability (RTI) growth during inertial confinement fusion capsule implosions significantly affects the performance as it mixes cold ablator material into the fuel. Precise measurements of such instability growth are essential for both validating the existing simulation codes and improving our predictive capability. RTI measurements on the inner surface of a spherical shell are limited and are often inferred indirectly at limited convergence. In contrast, cylindrical implosions allow for direct diagnostic access to the converging interface by imaging down the cylinder axis while retaining the effects of convergence. We have performed direct-drive cylindrical implosion experiments at both the OMEGA and the NIF laser facilities using scaled targets. RTI growth is demonstrated to be scale-invariant between the cylindrical targets at OMEGA and similar targets at the NIF, which are scaled up by a factor of three in the radial dimension. Single-mode (m = 20) instability growth factors of ∼14 are measured at a convergence ratio (CR) ∼ 2.5 with nearly identical mode growth at both scales. The measurements are in agreement with xRAGE radiation-hydrodynamics simulations. In addition, we have developed the Bayesian-inference-engine method to account for the variations in the target alignment, magnification, and the parallax effect in the measurement, allowing a more precise comparison between the experimental data and the simulations.
Charge scattering mechanisms in shallow InAs quantum wells
Authors: Cimpoiasu E. , Fox M. J. , Dunphy B. R. , Mack S. , Christodoulides J. A. , Bennett B. R.
Published: April 2020

We studied the charge scattering mechanisms present in In0.2Al0.8Sb/InAs/Al0.8Ga0.2Sb wells placed in close proximity to the surface of the heterostructures, at depths from 7 nm to 15 nm. The heterostructures were either unintentionally doped, doped from below the channel, or from above the channel. Measurements of sheet and Hall resistances were performed at T = 2 K in a variable magnetic field and under illumination with wavelengths of 400 nm up to 1300 nm. The charge density dependencies of the Hall mobility and quantum scattering time were used to infer the dominant scattering mechanisms. We found that the surface proximity induces significant band bending and an asymmetric placement of the charge distribution in the well. The result is an increase in interface roughness scattering, which reduces the mobility and the quantum scattering time values. In addition, the quantum scattering time is sensitive to scattering off charged impurities, remote or close to the well. Top doping restores the band profile symmetry and improves the transport. A symmetric profile, however, lowers the expectations for a strong spin–orbit coupling and spintronic applications.
Strain-free ultrathin AlN epilayers grown directly on sapphire by high-temperature molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Laleyan David Arto , Fernández-Delgado Natalia , Reid Eric T. , Wang Ping , Pandey Ayush , Botton Gianluigi A. , Mi Zetian
Published: April 2020

High-quality AlN ultrathin films on sapphire substrate were grown by molecular beam epitaxy using an in situ high-temperature annealing approach. From transmission electron microscopy studies, it was found that the AlN epilayers are strain relaxed within the first nm, thus growing nearly strain free. Many of the dislocations generated at the AlN/sapphire interface are reduced within the first 50 nm of growth. Epitaxial films grown directly on sapphire, which are ∼100 nm thick, show X-ray diffraction (002) and (102) rocking curve peaks with full widths at half maximum of less than 150 and 1400 arc sec, respectively, which are the narrowest linewidths reported for AlN of this thickness. Detailed photoluminescence studies further showed that such AlN epilayers exhibit relatively high luminescence efficiency and strong near-band edge emission without defect-related transitions.
Active control of near-field radiative heat transfer through nonreciprocal graphene surface plasmons
Authors: Zhang Yong , Zhou Cheng-Long , Qu Lei , Yi Hong-Liang
Published: April 2020

In this Letter, we investigate near-field radiative heat transfer (NFRHT) dominated by nonreciprocal surface plasmons polaritons (NSPPs). By applying an adjustable drift current on a graphene sheet, the circular dispersion of graphene plasmons is dragged toward the direction of drift charges, resulting in the asymmetric photonic transmission model. We predict the existence of the dependence of the NFRHT on the drift-current velocity and the vacuum gap. It is found that the coupling of NSPPs at smaller and larger gap sizes exhibits different nonreciprocities. The findings may open promising pathways for highly efficient thermal management, energy harvesting, and subwavelength thermal imaging.
Multi-modal quantum circuits for greater inter-qubit connectivity
Authors: Kim Meeri
Published: April 2020

A new study demonstrates an alternative architecture that uses multi-modal devices as the building blocks for a larger superconducting quantum processor
Fast-gated detectors afford more secure communication
Authors: Patrick Chris
Published: April 2020

First-time measurement of the backflash rate in fast-gated avalanche photodiodes reveals that faster gating leaks a negligible amount of information for quantum key distribution systems.
Piezostrain control of anomalous Hall resistivity of [Co/Pt]3–Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3 heterostructure
Authors: Liu Fufu , Wang Yangping , Cao Cuimei , Wang Wenqiang , Zhou Cai , Jiang Changjun
Published: April 2020

The anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in [Co/Pt]3 thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy grown on Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–Pb0.7Ti0.3O3 substrates is investigated under application of different electric fields at various temperatures. As the sweeping mode of application of the electric field changes from symmetric bipolar to asymmetric bipolar, the butterfly-like behavior of the resistivity vs electric field curves is converted into loop-like behavior, which is attributed to the piezostrain effect. The anomalous Hall conductivity σAH vs longitudinal conductivity σxx characteristics at the corresponding temperatures indicate two AHE mechanisms, which include the side jump and/or intrinsic mechanisms. In addition, the σAH–σxx curve shows obvious changes under different electric fields, which means that the AHE can be mediated. These results are highly important for further understanding of the mechanism by which the electric field can control the AHE.
Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian formulation of lattice Boltzmann model for compressible flows on unstructured moving meshes
Authors: Saadat M. H. , Karlin I. V.
Published: April 2020

We propose the application of the arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) technique to a compressible lattice Boltzmann model for the simulation of moving boundary problems on unstructured meshes. To that end, the kinetic equations are mapped from a moving physical domain into a fixed computational domain. The resulting equations in the computational domain are then numerically solved using the second-order accurate finite element reconstruction on an unstructured mesh. It is shown that the problem regarding the geometric conservation law (GCL), which needs a special treatment in the ALE Navier–Stokes solvers, does not appear here and the model satisfies the GCL exactly. The model is validated with a set of simulations including uniform flow preservation and compressible flow past an airfoil in plunging and pitching motion at different Mach numbers. It is demonstrated that the results are in good agreement with the experimental and other available numerical results in the literature. Finally, in order to show the capability of the proposed solver in simulating high-speed flows, transonic flow over pitching airfoil is investigated. It is shown that the proposed model is able to capture the complex characteristics of this flow, which involves multiple weak shock waves interacting with the boundary and shear layers.
Intensification of microwave radiation by hybridized plasmon effect
Authors: Li Bowen , Nie Qiuyue , Wang Xiaogang , Lin Shu , Chen Peiqi , Qu Binnan
Published: April 2020

In recent years, an innovative technology based on modulation and enhancement effects of subwavelength plasma on RF electromagnetic radiation has been proposed, in which the microwave radiation from an electrically small antenna can be significantly enhanced when the antenna is tightly enclosed by a subwavelength overdense plasma shell. But the exact mechanism is still not entirely clear. In this paper, we first use the theory of hybridized Local Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) for visible light in nanometal to explain this cross-domain work of microwave radiation enhancement modulated by a subwavelength overdense plasma layer, and the results show that the LSPR frequency is in good accordance with the frequency of enhanced radiation signals. Furthermore, the relationship between LSPR and antenna impedance as well as their effects on the impedance matching condition between antenna and power supply are investigated. It is indicated that LSPR on the plasma layer changes the impedance of the antenna, which produces circuit resonance (differing from plasmon resonance) between the antenna and power supply, and thus more power is radiated from the power supply to free space.
Phase control of coherent acoustic phonons in gold bipyramids for optical memory and manipulating plasmon–exciton coupling
Authors: Kirschner Matthew S. , Lin Xiao-Min , Chen Lin X. , Schaller Richard D.
Published: April 2020

Recent efforts have targeted manipulation of nanomaterial vibrational modes in applications such as chemical/mass sensing, optical switching, and phonon-driven photochemistry. While impulsive photoexcitation can generate coherent phonons, multiple excitation pulses offer the prospect of control and manipulation of coherent phonon modes for functions of optical memory and logic. Here, we use such an approach to inject an arbitrary coherent phonon phase into a colloidal ensemble of highly monodisperse gold bipyramids. We then demonstrate that this technique can be applied to a system that exhibits plasmon–exciton coupling to further manipulate the hybridization of the system. This ability to manipulate acoustic phonons and hybridization can enable optical logic applications of acoustic phonons in addition to optical memory.
The Molpro quantum chemistry package
Authors: Werner Hans-Joachim , Knowles Peter J. , Manby Frederick R. , Black Joshua A. , Doll Klaus , Heßelmann Andreas , Kats Daniel , Köhn Andreas , Korona Tatiana , Kreplin David A. , Ma Qianli , Miller Thomas F. , Mitrushchenkov Alexander , Peterson Kirk A. , Polyak Iakov , Rauhut Guntram , Sibaev Marat
Published: April 2020

Molpro is a general purpose quantum chemistry software package with a long development history. It was originally focused on accurate wavefunction calculations for small molecules but now has many additional distinctive capabilities that include, inter alia, local correlation approximations combined with explicit correlation, highly efficient implementations of single-reference correlation methods, robust and efficient multireference methods for large molecules, projection embedding, and anharmonic vibrational spectra. In addition to conventional input-file specification of calculations, Molpro calculations can now be specified and analyzed via a new graphical user interface and through a Python framework.
15.9% organic tandem solar cell with extended near-infrared absorption
Authors: Huang Xinjing , Sun Bangjin , Li Yongxi , Jiang Chao , Fan Dejiu , Fan Jian , Forrest Stephen R.
Published: April 2020

Stacking single-junction organic solar cells is effective in increasing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) by reducing the thermalization loss and increasing the open circuit voltage. Recent developments of non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) offer a range of materials whose energy gaps are suited for absorbing relatively narrow slices of the solar spectrum, thus easing requirements for current balance between sub-elements in multijunction stacks. Here, we demonstrate a solution-processed tandem organic solar cell comprising a binary, visible-absorbing sub-cell and a ternary near-infrared (NIR) absorbing sub-cell. The ternary NIR sub-cell utilizes a narrow energy gap NFA that enables a broadened and increased absorption compared to a binary NIR sub-cell. An isopropanol surface treatment is developed to connect the hydrophilic–hydrophobic surfaces in the charge recombination zone (CRZ) located between the sub-cells. The nearly optically and electrically lossless CRZ combined with an anti-reflection coating results in tandem organic photovoltaics with PCE = 15.9% ± 0.2% under AM 1.5G simulated illumination.
Surface potential of liquid microjet investigated using extreme ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy
Authors: Nishitani Junichi , Karashima Shutaro , West Christopher W. , Suzuki Toshinori
Published: April 2020

Photoelectron spectroscopy of a liquid microjet requires careful energy calibration against electrokinetic charging of the microjet. For minimizing the error from this calibration procedure, Kurahashi et al. previously suggested optimization of an electrolyte concentration in aqueous solutions [Kurahashi et al., J. Chem. Phys. 140, 174506 (2014)]. More recently, Olivieri et al. proposed an alternative method of applying a variable external voltage on the liquid microjet [Olivieri et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 18, 29506 (2016)]. In this study, we examined these two methods of calibration using extreme ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy with a magnetic bottle time-of-flight photoelectron spectrometer. We confirmed that the latter method flattens the vacuum level potential around the microjet, similar to the former method, while we found that the applied voltage energy-shifts the entire spectrum. Thus, careful energy recalibration is indispensable after the application of an external voltage for accurate measurements. It is also pointed out that electric conductivity of liquid on the order of 1 mS/cm is required for stable application of an external voltage. Therefore, both methods need a similar concentration of an electrolyte. Using the calibration method proposed by Olivieri et al., Perry et al. have recently revised the vertical ionization energy of liquid water to be 11.67(15) eV [Perry et al., J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 11, 1789 (2020)], which is 0.4 eV higher than the previously estimated value. While the source of this discrepancy is still unclear, we estimate that their calibration method possibly leaves uncertainty on the order of 0.1 eV.
Focus-tunable fiber-laser ultrasound sensor for high-resolution linear-scanning photoacoustic computed tomography
Authors: Bai Xue , Ma Jun , Li Xu , Jin Long , Guan Bai-Ou
Published: April 2020

In this study, we presented a high-resolution linear-scanning photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) system with a focus-tunable fiber-laser ultrasound sensor. By bending the fiber laser into a curvature radius of 25 mm, an 85 μm × 150 μm in-plane resolution and a 300 μm elevational resolution were achieved. The elevational resolution was ∼3 times better than the previously reported value. Hair phantoms at multiple depths from 2 cm to 6 cm were clearly observed by tuning the bending curvature. Additionally, the fiber-laser-based PACT system showed its capability for high-resolution imaging of small animals based on the images of abdominal subcutaneous vasculatures from a rat. With the excitation light delivered by a fiber bundle and the ultrasound detected by a fiber laser, this all-fiber linear-scanning PACT system holds great potential for photoacoustic imaging in preclinical and clinical applications.
A ring-shaped, linear piezoelectric ultrasonic motor operating in E01 mode
Authors: Xin Xudong , Gao Xiangyu , Wu Jingen , Li Zhanmiao , Chu Zhaoqiang , Dong Shuxiang
Published: April 2020

Linear piezoelectric ultrasonic motors based on multimodal coupling are widely used for generating precision actuations; however, multimodal decoupling often occurs when environment temperature changes, which may result in actuation failure. In this work, a miniature, ring-shaped, linear piezoelectric ultrasonic motor operating in a single, in-plane E01 mode (zero node line along the circumference and one node line along the diameter direction) is proposed. Experimental results show that it can produce a maximum driving force of 2.7 N, a no-load moving speed of ∼56 mm/s, and a high positioning resolution of 0.1 μm in open-loop control. Advantages of simple structure, controllable micrometer-scale displacement, and large bidirectional working stroke indicate that the proposed linear motor has great potential for industrial applications, especially for precise actuations.
Nanodot array deposition via single shot laser interference pattern using laser-induced forward transfer
Authors: Nakata Yoshiki , Hayashi Eiki , Tsubakimoto Koji , Miyanaga Noriaki , Narazaki Aiko , Shoji Tatsuya , Tsuboi Yasuyuki
Published: April 2020

Laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) is a direct-writing technique capable of depositing a single dot smaller than the laser wavelength at small shot energy through the laser-induced dot transfer (LIDT) technique. To deposit a single nanodot in a single shot of laser irradiation, a liquid nanodrop is transferred from donor to receiver and finally solidified via a solid–liquid–solid (SLS) process. In conventional LIDT experiments, multi-shots with step scanning have been used to form array structures. However, interference laser processing can achieve an arrayed process and generate a periodic structure in a single shot. In this study, a femtosecond laser interference pattern was first applied to LIDT, and an array of nanodots was successfully deposited in a single shot, producing the following unit structures: a single dot, adjoining dots, and stacking dots. The diameter of the smallest nanodot was 355 nm, and the narrowest gap between two adjoining nanodots was 17.2 nm. The LIDT technique produces high-purity, catalyst-free that do not require post-cleaning or alignment processes. Given these significant advantages, LIDT can expand the usability of nanodots in a wide range of fields.
Evidence of burnout in critical care pharmacists
Authors: Ball Amanda M , Schultheis Jennifer , Lee Hui-Jie , Bush Paul W
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Studies of critical care physicians and nursing personnel indicate a potentially high rate of burnout. To date there is a paucity of data in critical care pharmacists assessing burnout in this group. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of risk of burnout in critical care pharmacists.

Methods

Critical care pharmacists were solicited via email to complete an anonymous, electronic questionnaire regarding burnout. Subject demographic and employment characteristics were collected along with the validated, 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory Health Services Survey in the study cohort. Burnout was assessed from 3 aspects, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment. High degree of burnout was defined as a score >27 in emotional exhaustion, or score >10 in depersonalization, or score <33 in personal achievement. Risk factors of burnout were evaluated using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Results

Out of 3,140 critical care pharmacists, 193 (6.1%) completed surveys. The mean scores were 25.3, 7.5, and 36.7 for emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal achievement, respectively. Overall, 123 pharmacists (64%) reported at least one syndrome of burnout, and 28 pharmacists (14.5%) reported burnout in all 3 scales. No single risk factor was identified to be associated with the risk of burnout.

Conclusion

Risk of burnout is high in critical care pharmacists, at 64%, and is comparable to the risk in other critical care practitioner groups. This emphasizes the importance of continuing to evaluate risk factors for burnout and providing resources for burnout prevention to high-risk practitioners.
Accurate multistage prediction of protein crystallization propensity using deep-cascade forest with sequence-based features
Authors: Zhu Yi-Heng , Hu Jun , Ge Fang , Li Fuyi , Song Jiangning , Zhang Yang , Yu Dong-Jun
Published: April 2020

X-ray crystallography is the major approach for determining atomic-level protein structures. Because not all proteins can be easily crystallized, accurate prediction of protein crystallization propensity provides critical help in guiding experimental design and improving the success rate of X-ray crystallography experiments. This study has developed a new machine-learning-based pipeline that uses a newly developed deep-cascade forest (DCF) model with multiple types of sequence-based features to predict protein crystallization propensity. Based on the developed pipeline, two new protein crystallization propensity predictors, denoted as DCFCrystal and MDCFCrystal, have been implemented. DCFCrystal is a multistage predictor that can estimate the success propensities of the three individual steps (production of protein material, purification and production of crystals) in the protein crystallization process. MDCFCrystal is a single-stage predictor that aims to estimate the probability that a protein will pass through the entire crystallization process. Moreover, DCFCrystal is designed for general proteins, whereas MDCFCrystal is specially designed for membrane proteins, which are notoriously difficult to crystalize. DCFCrystal and MDCFCrystal were separately tested on two benchmark datasets consisting of 12 289 and 950 proteins, respectively, with known crystallization results from various experimental records. The experimental results demonstrated that DCFCrystal and MDCFCrystal increased the value of Matthew’s correlation coefficient by 199.7% and 77.8%, respectively, compared to the best of other state-of-the-art protein crystallization propensity predictors. Detailed analyses show that the major advantages of DCFCrystal and MDCFCrystal lie in the efficiency of the DCF model and the sensitivity of the sequence-based features used, especially the newly designed pseudo-predicted hybrid solvent accessibility (PsePHSA) feature, which improves crystallization recognition by incorporating sequence-order information with solvent accessibility of residues. Meanwhile, the new crystal-dataset constructions help to train the models with more comprehensive crystallization knowledge.
From quail to earthquakes and human conflict: a historical perspective of rhabdomyolysis
Authors: Aleckovic-Halilovic Mirna , Pjanic Mirha , Mesic Enisa , Storrar Joshua , Woywodt Alexander
Published: April 2020

Rhabdomyolysis is a common cause of acute kidney injury, featuring muscle pain, weakness and dark urine and concurrent laboratory evidence of elevated muscle enzymes and myoglobinuria. Rhabdomyolysis is often seen in elderly and frail patients following prolonged immobilization, for example after a fall, but a variety of other causes are also well-described. What is unknown to most physicians dealing with such patients is the fascinating history of rhabdomyolysis. Cases of probable rhabdomyolysis have been reported since biblical times and during antiquity, often in the context of poisoning. Equally interesting is the link between rhabdomyolysis and armed conflict during the 20th century. Salient discoveries regarding the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment were made during the two world wars and in their aftermath. ‘Haff disease’, a form of rhabdomyolysis first described in 1920, has fascinated scientists and physicians alike, but the marine toxin causing it remains enigmatic even today. As a specialty, we have also learned a lot about the disease from 20th-century earthquakes, and networks of international help and cooperation have emerged. Finally, rhabdomyolysis has been described as a sequel to torture and similar forms of violence. Clinicians should be aware that rhabdomyolysis and the development of renal medicine are deeply intertwined with human history.
Trends and Characteristics of Clinical Trials Participation for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the United States: A Report From IBD Partners
Authors: Johnson Cole , Barnes Edward L , Zhang Xian , Long Millie D
Published: April 2020

Background and Aims

There are currently several recruitment challenges in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which prolong the drug approval process and affect the generalizability of study results. The purpose of this study is to characterize individuals who participate in IBD RCTs and identify factors that could influence future recruitment strategies.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study within the IBD Partners cohort comparing patients with current or prior participation in an RCT of medical therapy for IBD to those without any RCT participation. Bivariate statistics were used to compare RCT participation by IBD subtype and by other demographic and disease characteristics, and predictive modeling was used to identify factors predictive of RCT participation. We calculated the percent of the cohort that participated in an RCT during each calendar year from 2011 to 2018 and accessed Clinicaltrials.gov to determine the number of active RCTs for IBD therapies per year during that same period.

Results

A total of 14,747 patients with IBD were included in the analysis and 1116 (7.6%) reported RCT participation at any time. Demographic factors predictive of RCT participation included following at an academic institution [odds ratio (OR) = 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.51–2.04) and age 36–75 (OR = 1.7; 95% CI 1.46–1.92). Patients with Crohn’s disease were more likely to participate than those with ulcerative colitis (OR = 1.5; 95% CI 1.35–1.77). Patients with more severe disease were more likely to participate, including those with prior IBD-related hospitalization (OR = 2.6; 95% CI 2.19–2.99), IBD-related surgery (OR = 2.5; 95% CI 2.24–2.87), biologic exposure (OR = 3.2; 95% CI 2.76–3.65), and “Poor” or worse quality of life (OR = 1.7; 95% CI 1.45–1.93). Steroid-free remission was associated with a lower likelihood of RCT participation (OR = 0.6; 95% CI 0.53–0.70). Although the number of active RCTs for IBD more than doubled between 2011 and 2018, RCT participation rates during that same time period decreased from 1.1% to 0.7% of the cohort.

Conclusions

RCT participation declined within this cohort. Groups underrepresented in RCTs for IBD included younger patients, patients followed in community settings, and patients with more mild disease. The non-RCT group had mean disease activity scores that did not meet remission thresholds, demonstrating populations in need of alternate therapies for whom clinical trials could be an option. Given anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) exposure rates in this national cohort, studies should focus on anti-TNF failure populations. Investigators should make every effort to offer RCTs to all patients and network with community providers to increase awareness of RCTs.
Single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals profound changes in circulating immune cells in patients with heart failure
Authors: Abplanalp Wesley T , John David , Cremer Sebastian , Assmus Birgit , Dorsheimer Lena , Hoffmann Jedrzej , Becker-Pergola Graziella , Rieger Michael A , Zeiher Andreas M , Vasa-Nicotera Mariuca , Dimmeler Stefanie
Published: April 2020

Aims

Identification of signatures of immune cells at single-cell level may provide novel insights into changes of immune-related disorders. Therefore, we used single-cell RNA-sequencing to determine the impact of heart failure on circulating immune cells.

Methods and results

We demonstrate a significant change in monocyte to T-cell ratio in patients with heart failure, compared to healthy subjects, which were validated by flow cytometry analysis. Subclustering of monocytes and stratification of the clusters according to relative CD14 and FCGR3A (CD16) expression allowed annotation of classical, intermediate, and non-classical monocytes. Heart failure had a specific impact on the gene expression patterns in these subpopulations. Metabolically active genes such as FABP5 were highly enriched in classical monocytes of heart failure patients, whereas β-catenin expression was significantly higher in intermediate monocytes. The selective regulation of signatures in the monocyte subpopulations was validated by classical and multifactor dimensionality reduction flow cytometry analyses.

Conclusion

Together this study shows that circulating cells derived from patients with heart failure have altered phenotypes. These data provide a rich source for identification of signatures of immune cells in heart failure compared to healthy subjects. The observed increase in FABP5 and signatures of Wnt signalling may contribute to enhanced monocyte activation.
The unknown Baranov. Forty years of polemics over the formal theory of the life of fishes
Authors: Sharov Alexei
Published: April 2020

The year 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of the publication of paper “On the question of the biological basis of fisheries” by F.I. Baranov considered a cornerstone paper of modern fishery science. Baranov formalized population dynamics by describing changes in population abundance using differential equations, introducing the concept of instantaneous fishing and natural mortality rates, and developing his catch equation, which is the foundation of most modern age-structured stock assessment models. Baranov was the first to show the effect of fishing on population structure based on theoretical grounds. At the time of its publication, Baranov’s paper did not receive much attention in Russia and was completely unknown to scientists in the West. The second publication (On the question of the dynamics of the fishing industry, 1925) received substantial criticism from many and sparked a furious debate between Baranov and his opponents that lasted for several decades. The history and content of those debates, expressed in multiple papers by Baranov, is still largely unknown. I describe the essence of arguments by Baranov and his opponents. The story of these scientific debates reveals how different philosophical concepts and dominant points of view evolved through time.
The Cruel Optimism of Militarism: Feminist Curiosity, Affect, and Global Security
Authors: Chisholm Amanda , Ketola Hanna
Published: April 2020

This article asks: why do communities located at the periphery of the global security market continue to participate, even when they gain the least economically and politically? To answer this, we explore how militarism—an affectively felt logic that understands military service as desirable and/or inevitable—manifests through both affective relations and colonial structures. We focus on Gurkha communities in Nepal with a colonial military heritage of two hundred years with the British. Feminist and postcolonial research on militaries has demonstrated how war and global insecurity is framed through gendered colonial economies and discursive logics, shaping military systems and subjects. Yet what remains underexplored is the affective dimension of how militarism operates within, and in relation to, militarized communities outside the “West” whose identities and material conditions are structured through colonial histories. To address this gap, we operationalize Lauren Berlant's (2011) concept of cruel optimism to capture why these communities stay attached to militarism when the costs abound. We argue that militarism within the Gurkha context is both affectively felt and structurally experienced in such a way that it renders a military pathway to a good life as natural and desirable, despite evidence of the fragility and impossibility of pursuing this path.
Maternal arginine supplementation enhances thermogenesis in the newborn lamb
Authors: McKnight Sorin M , Simmons Rebecca M , Wu Guoyao , Satterfield M Carey
Published: April 2020

Body temperature maintenance is one of the most important physiological processes initiated after birth. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is an essential mediator of thermogenesis in many species and is responsible for 50% of the heat generated in the newborn lamb. To determine if maternal arginine supplementation could enhance thermogenesis in the neonate, we randomly assigned 31 multiparous Suffolk ewes, gestating singletons or twins, to receive intravenous injections of either l-arginine (27 mg/kg body weight; n = 17) or sterile saline (n = 14) three times daily from day 75 to 125 of gestation (term = 147). Following parturition, lambs were removed from their mothers and subjected to 0 °C cold challenges at 4 and 22 h of age. Rectal temperatures were higher for the duration of the cold challenges in lambs from arginine-treated ewes compared with lambs from saline-treated ewes (P < 0.05). Elevated rectal temperatures were associated with increased (P < 0.05) circulating glycine and serine concentrations in lambs. The mRNA expression of genes related to BAT function changed over time, but not between lambs from arginine-treated vs. saline-treated ewes. Results indicate that maternal arginine treatment increases neonatal thermogenesis after birth. Although the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated, these data are a first step in improving neonatal survival in response to cold.