bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Met-Flow, a strategy for single-cell metabolic analysis highlights dynamic changes in immune subpopulations
Authors: Ahl Patricia J. , Hopkins Richard A. , Xiang Wen Wei , Au Bijin , Kaliaperumal Nivashini , Fairhurst Anna-Marie , Connolly John E.
Published: June 2020

A complex interaction of anabolic and catabolic metabolism underpins the ability of leukocytes to mount an immune response. Their capacity to respond to changing environments by metabolic reprogramming is crucial to effector function. However, current methods lack the ability to interrogate this network of metabolic pathways at single-cell level within a heterogeneous population. We present Met-Flow, a flow cytometry-based method capturing the metabolic state of immune cells by targeting key proteins and rate-limiting enzymes across multiple pathways. We demonstrate the ability to simultaneously measure divergent metabolic profiles and dynamic remodeling in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Using Met-Flow, we discovered that glucose restriction and metabolic remodeling drive the expansion of an inflammatory central memory T cell subset. This method captures the complex metabolic state of any cell as it relates to phenotype and function, leading to a greater understanding of the role of metabolic heterogeneity in immune responses.
High-resolution mapping of injury-site dependent functional recovery in a single axon in zebrafish
Authors: Hecker Alexander , Anger Pamela , Braaker Philipp N. , Schulze Wolfram , Schuster Stefan
Published: June 2020

In non-mammalian vertebrates, some neurons can regenerate after spinal cord injury. One of these, the giant Mauthner (M-) neuron shows a uniquely direct link to a robust survival-critical escape behavior but appears to regenerate poorly. Here we use two-photon microscopy in parallel with behavioral assays in zebrafish to show that the M-axon can regenerate very rapidly and that the recovery of functionality lags by just days. However, we also find that the site of the injury is critical: While regeneration is poor both close and far from the soma, rapid regeneration and recovery of function occurs for injuries between 10% and 50% of total axon length. Our findings show that rapid regeneration and the recovery of function can be studied at remarkable temporal resolution after targeted injury of one single M-axon and that the decision between poor and rapid regeneration can be studied in this one axon.
Membrane protein mediated bilayer communication in networks of droplet interface bilayers
Authors: Haylock Stuart , Friddin Mark S. , Hindley James W. , Rodriguez Enrique , Charalambous Kalypso , Booth Paula J. , Barter Laura M. C. , Ces Oscar
Published: June 2020

Droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) are model membranes formed between lipid monolayer-encased water droplets in oil. Compared to conventional methods, one of the most unique properties of DIBs is that they can be connected together to generate multi-layered ‘tissue-like’ networks, however introducing communication pathways between these compartments typically relies on water-soluble pores that are unable to gate. Here, we show that network connectivity can instead be achieved using a water-insoluble membrane protein by successfully reconstituting a chemically activatable mutant of the mechanosensitive channel MscL into a network of DIBs. Moreover, we also show how the small molecule activator can diffuse through an open channel and across the neighbouring droplet to activate MscL present in an adjacent bilayer. This demonstration of membrane protein mediated bilayer communication could prove key toward developing the next generation of responsive bilayer networks capable of defining information flow inside a minimal tissue.
Analogue of electromagnetically induced absorption in the microwave domain using stimulated Brillouin scattering
Authors: A. Siva Shakthi , Yelikar Anjali B. , Pant Ravi
Published: June 2020

Electromagnetically induced transparency/absorption (EIT/EIA) tailor the amplitude and phase response of an absorption resonance to create large dispersion, which has been exploited for applications in slow- and fast-light, and quantum information science. Since EIA enhances (induces) absorption of an already existing absorption (transmission) profile, it leads to a significant reduction in output signal power. Induction of a narrow absorption feature within a gain resonance can compensate for the signal loss while creating large dispersion at the EIA feature frequency. However, the demonstration of an analogue of EIA exploiting gain resonances has remained elusive. Here, we exploit coherent interaction between the Brillouin gain resonances in orthogonal polarization states to demonstrate controlled excitation of an analogue of EIA over microwave frequency range of 2.5–43 GHz. We induce a narrow absorption feature (~6 MHz), with controllable depth and frequency, within Brillouin gain resonance, demonstrating a novel technique for microwave photonic processing.
Classification and biological identity of complex nano shapes
Authors: Boselli Luca , Lopez Hender , Zhang Wei , Cai Qi , Giannone Valeria A. , Li Jingji , Moura Alirio , de Araujo João M. , Cookman Jennifer , Castagnola Valentina , Yan Yan , Dawson Kenneth A.
Published: June 2020

Everywhere in our surroundings we increasingly come in contact with nanostructures that have distinctive complex shape features on a scale comparable to the particle itself. Such shape ensembles can be made by modern nano-synthetic methods and many industrial processes. With the ever growing universe of nanoscale shapes, names such as “nanoflowers” and “nanostars” no longer precisely describe or characterise the distinct nature of the particles. Here we capture and digitise particle shape information on the relevant size scale and create a condensed representation in which the essential shape features can be captured, recognized and correlated. We find the natural emergence of intrinsic shape groups as well-defined ensemble distributions and show how these may be analyzed and interpreted to reveal novel aspects of our nanoscale shape environment. We show how these ideas may be applied to the interaction between the nanoscale-shape and the living universe and provide a conceptual framework for the study of nanoscale shape biological recognition and identity.
Construction of multiple bonds via a domino reaction of trifluoroacetimidoyl nitriles with in situ generated bis-nucleophiles
Authors: Li Deng-Yuan , Chen Jia-Yan , Feng Da-Fu , Chen Shuang , Xu Xian-Kuan , Dang Li , Liu Pei-Nian
Published: June 2020

A transition-metal-free double addition/double rearrangement domino reaction affording CF3-substituted pyrimidines was developed, which enables the one-pot construction of five new bonds, namely three C–C bonds and two C–N bonds.
Efficient near-infrared luminescence from bis-cyclometalated iridium(iii) complexes with rigid quinoline-derived ancillary ligands
Authors: Lai Po-Ni , Yoon Sungwon , Teets Thomas S.
Published: June 2020

Rigid bis-cyclometalated iridium complexes with quinoline-based chelating ancillary ligands phosphoresce in the near-infrared region with high efficiency.
A transition metal–gallium cluster formedviainsertion of “GaI”
Authors: Blundell Toby J. , Taylor Laurence J. , Valentine Andrew J. , Lewis William , Blake Alexander J. , McMaster Jonathan , Kays Deborah L.
Published: June 2020

Synthesis of a new transition metal-group 13 cluster from a low-coordinate diaryl and “GaI”, demonstrates entry into new cluster compounds.
XAS investigation of silica aerogel supported cobalt rhenium catalysts for ammonia decomposition
Authors: Kirste Karsten G. , Laassiri Said , Hu Zhigang , Stoian Dragos , Torrente-Murciano Laura , Hargreaves Justin S. J. , Mathisen Karina
Published: June 2020

In situ XAS applied to a silica supported CoRe catalyst for ammonia decomposition shows the importance of the reduced bimetallic phase.
Two dimensional ruthenium carbide: structural and electronic features
Authors: Gorkan T. , Demirci S. , Jahangirov S. , Gökoğlu G. , Aktürk E.
Published: June 2020

Honeycomb monolayer structure of RuC and its structural analogues with Li coverage display peculiar electronic properties which promise wide range of applications.
The teetotum cluster Li2FeB14and its possible use for constructing boron nanowires
Authors: Shakerzadeh Ehsan , Duong Long Van , Pham-Ho My Phuong , Tahmasebi Elham , Nguyen Minh Tho
Published: June 2020

Systematic density functional theory (DFT) calculations using the TPSSh functional and the def2-TZVP basis set were carried out to identify the global energy minimum structure of the Li2FeB14cluster.
On the formation of spherical aromatic endohedral buckminsterfullerene. Evaluation of M@C60(M = Cr, Mo, W) from relativistic DFT calculations
Authors: Rodríguez-Kessler Peter L. , Charistos Nickolas D. , King R. Bruce , Muñoz-Castro Alvaro
Published: June 2020

The resulting M@C60endohedral fullerenes are 66-π electron neutral species exhibiting bonding properties and electronic structure mimicking the aromaticity and diamagnetic insulator behavior of alkali-C606−phases.
Iron catalysts with N-ligands for carbene transfer of diazo reagents
Authors: Damiano Caterina , Sonzini Paolo , Gallo Emma
Published: June 2020

This review provides an overview of the catalytic activity of iron complexes of nitrogen ligands in driving carbene transfers towards CC, C–H and X–H bonds. The reactivity of diazo reagents is discussed as well as the proposed reaction mechanisms.
Balancing the pre-aggregation and crystallization kinetics enables high efficiency slot-die coated organic solar cells with reduced non-radiative recombination losses
Authors: Lin Baojun , Zhou Xiaobo , Zhao Heng , Yuan Jian , Zhou Ke , Chen Kai , Wu Hongbo , Guo Renjun , Scheel Manuel A. , Chumakov Andrei , Roth Stephan V. , Mao Yimin , Wang Laili , Tang Zheng , Müller-Buschbaum Peter , Ma Wei
Published: June 2020

Highly efficient slot-die coated organic solar cells are fabricated by balancing the pre-aggregation and crystallization kinetics.
Insights into one-body density matrices using deep learning
Authors: Wetherell Jack , Costamagna Andrea , Gatti Matteo , Reining Lucia
Published: June 2020

Deep-learning constraints of the one-body reduced density matrix from its compressibility to enable efficient determination of key observables.
Optofluidic gradient refractive index resonators using liquid diffusion for tunable unidirectional emission
Authors: Liu H. L. , Zuo Y. F. , Zhu X. Q. , Yang Y.
Published: June 2020

Optofluidic gradient refractive index resonators based on liquid diffusion were demonstrated for tunable unidirectional emission.
G-Protein biased opioid agonists: 3-hydroxy-N-phenethyl-5-phenylmorphans with three-carbon chain substituents at C9
Authors: Gutman Eugene S. , Bow Eric , Li Fuying , Sulima Agnieszka , Kaska Sophia , Crowley Rachel , Prisinzano Thomas E. , Lee Yong-Sok , Hassan Sergio A. , Imler Gregory H. , Deschamps Jeffrey R. , Jacobson Arthur E. , Rice Kenner C.
Published: June 2020

Three C9 substituted N-phenethyl-5-phenylmorphans were found to be extremely G-protein biased potent mu opioid receptor partial agonists that did not recruit beta-arrestin at all in both the PathHunter assay and in the Tango assay.
A high-performance and flexible thermoelectric generator based on the solution-processed composites of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets and bismuth telluride nanoplates
Authors: Ding Defang , Sun Fengming , Xia Fan , Tang Zhiyong
Published: June 2020

The 1% rGO/Bi2Te3 composite-based flexible six-element planar thermoelectric generator devices possess both high power output and significant flexibility, which will greatly promote the application of functional inorganic materials into flexible electronics.
Biomass-derived Cu/porous carbon for the electrocatalytic synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2and diols under mild conditions
Authors: Zhang Jing-Jie , Li Shi-Ming , Shi Yi , Hu Qiao-Li , Wang Huan , Lu Jia-Xing
Published: June 2020

A biomass-derived Cu/porous carbon (Cu/PC) cathode material was prepared and used for the electrocatalytic synthesis of cyclic carbonates from diols and CO2with moderate yield at room temperature and normal pressure.
Sustainability from intercalation compounds
Authors: Leroux Fabrice , Pastore Heloise de Oliveira , Constantino Vera Regina L.
Published: June 2020

Fabrice Leroux, Heloise de Oliveira Pastore and Vera Regina L. Constantino introduce this New Journal of Chemistry themed issue entitled “Sustainability from intercalation compounds”.
Z-scheme CdS/Co9S8-RGO for photocatalytic hydrogen production
Authors: Kai Shuangshuang , Xi Baojuan , Li Haibo , Xiong Shenglin
Published: June 2020

All-solid-state Z-scheme CdS/Co9S8-RGO heterostructures are synthesized by a facile one-pot hydrothermal method followed by annealing, which exhibit a H2 evolution rate up to 4.82 mmol h−1 g−1 and a remarkable stability due to an efficient charge transfer and separation.
Zinc(ii) triazole meso-arylsubstituted porphyrins for UV-visible chloride and bromide detection. Adsorption and catalytic degradation of malachite green dye
Authors: Guergueb Mouhieddinne , Brahmi Jihed , Nasri Soumaya , Loiseau Frédérique , Aouadi Kaïss , Guerineau Vincent , Najmudin Shabir , Nasri Habib
Published: June 2020

Three triazole porphyrins and there corresponding zinc complexes are described as well as their spectroscopic and electrochemical data. The chloride and bromide sensing efficiency and the degradation of the malachite green dye are also reported.
Highly porous, soft, and flexible vapor-phase polymerized polypyrrole–styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene hybrid scaffold as ammonia and strain sensor
Authors: Fernandez Frances Danielle M. , Khadka Roshan , Yim Jin-Heong
Published: June 2020

Fabrication of a hybrid scaffold from an oxidant-impregnated styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene (SEBS) matrix comprising a three-dimensional sugar particle assembly by vapor phase polymerization (VPP).
Parallel motif triplex formation via a new, bi-directional hydrogen bonding pattern incorporating a synthetic cyanuryl nucleoside into the sense chain
Authors: Hatano Akihiko , Shimazaki Kei , Otsu Maina , Kawai Gota
Published: June 2020

The triplex formation ability of a sense chain containing a cyanuryl nucleoside was evaluated and the tertiary structure of the triplex was calculated using the NOE in 1H NMR by incorporating a 15N into the base moiety.
Spectral imaging using compressive sensing‐based single‐pixel modality
Authors: Majumder S. , Gupta S. , Dubey S.
Published: June 2020

Spectral imaging technique plays a very vital role in the field of chemical detection and identification. Conventional spectroscopic imaging techniques suffer from massive acquisition time. This limitation sometimes restricts it from many practical applications. The acquisition of a full spectral image requires huge acquisition time. In this Letter, a compressive sensing‐based single‐pixel camera architecture has been realised to acquire spectral images that can be used for non‐destructive testing and classification of explosive materials. The compressive measurements for all the spectral images are done simultaneously thus reducing the acquisition time significantly. The spectro‐spatial images were reconstructed using the basis pursuit algorithm and compared with least square solutions, which resulted in fast acquisition and improved image quality. The maximum compression rate achieved was 95.84%.
Crosstalk reduction between RF input channels of coherent‐driver‐modulator package by introducing enhanced ground lead structure
Authors: Ozaki J. , Tanobe H. , Ishikawa M.
Published: June 2020

This Letter presents a novel RF ground lead structure for surface‐mount‐type optical modules that enables RF crosstalk reduction and bandwidth enhancements. Conventional RF lead‐pins of a surface‐mount‐type optical module have a bent shape that affects on RF ground stability and RF crosstalk between channels. The authors introduced an enhanced ground lead with an optimised shape for RF ground scheme enhancement. They prepared two types of high‐bandwidth coherent driver modulator packages for demonstrating RF performance difference, one with the conventional bent ground lead and the other with the optimum‐shaped ground lead. The measured results of the package with the enhanced ground lead successfully exhibited adjacent far‐end crosstalk reduction of about 5 dB at 50 GHz, and the crosstalk of −30 dB or less up to 58 GHz was confirmed. Moreover, they obtained the improvement in the insertion loss of 1 dB at 54 GHz and the 3‐dB electrical bandwidth enhancement of 2 GHz. These RF performances are sufficient for a high‐bandwidth coherent driver modulator package that allows 96‐GBd class operations.
Efficient calculation of interior scattering from cavities with partial IBC wall
Authors: Chen Xinlei , Liu Xiuqiang , Li Zhuo , Gu Changqing
Published: June 2020

The magnetic field integral equation based method of moments (MoM) with the Kirchhoff approximation can predict the interior scattering from cavities with impedance boundary condition (IBC) walls. However, if the IBC wall is a small part of the whole wall and is modified multiple times, the conventional MoM may be time‐consuming due to the repeated and expensive lower–upper (LU) decompositions of impedance matrices. In this Letter, the Sherman–Morrison–Woodbury (SMW) formula is used to mitigate the problem. The authors only require to perform the LU decomposition of the cavity without IBC walls, and to efficiently obtain the solutions of the cavity with different IBC walls by reusing the LU decomposition and the SMW formula.
Optimal frequency reuse scheme based on cuckoo search algorithm in Li‐Fi fifth‐generation bidirectional communication
Authors: Murugaveni S. , Mahalakshmi K.
Published: June 2020

Huge demand for bandwidth and capacity is exhibited by various wireless users and applications, for that purpose now the light‐fidelity (Li‐Fi)‐based technologies are developing. In visible light communication, the hybrid networks based on Wi‐Fi and Li‐Fi has emerged recently. It is based on the concept of integrating small cell Li‐Fi networks with large coverage radio frequency (RF) communication systems. For bidirectional data communication, the access links use shared bandwidth since the link of wireless backhaul invokes in the visible light spectrum. Due to the RF spectrum shortage, the bandwidth of Wi‐Fi access point (AP) and the coverage of Li‐Fi AP are limited in the outdoor environment. To tackle this issue, the authors propose a swarm intelligence‐based improved cuckoo search into the frequency reuse of a hybrid Wi‐Fi–Li‐Fi network in the outdoor environment. The proposed approach employed bidirectional visible light propagation with non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) which is an effective approach towards fifth‐generation wireless networks. The NOMA can help various users at the same time with the same frequency and multiple power levels. The system throughput and spectral efficiency are improved with dynamic frequency reuse scheme. The simulation results are compared with conventional techniques to show its effectiveness.
E‐CRUSE: energy‐based throughput analysis for cluster‐based RF shallow underwater communication
Authors: PSS Pavan Ganesh , Venkataraman Hrishikesh
Published: June 2020

In today's time, there is a need to continually monitor the ocean shore in real time for different applications such as coastal monitoring, disaster prevention, assisted navigation etc. This requires a high data rate (order of Mbps) communication for transfer of data from an underwater environment to surface. This cannot be achieved using the traditional acoustic networks as the data rate offered by acoustic networks is in the order of kbps. Notably, for the shallow underwater environment, radio frequency (RF) based communication provides a better data rate than acoustic techniques. However, propagation loss using RF can be higher as compared to acoustic and suffers from less communication range. As RF nodes in water are battery operated, high energy‐efficiency is extremely significant. Further, there is no analysis of throughput using realistic energy model for RF shallow underwater. Hence, a realistic energy model, RSU‐Energy, a cluster‐based communication architecture in shallow water (CRUSE) and, a mechanism for RSU‐Energy based throughput analysis (E‐CRUSE) were proposed in this work. The performance in terms of duration after which the first node dies and network life is then verified using RSU‐energy. Moreover, the throughput of the network using RSU‐energy was also analysed for CRUSE.
Stochastic subspace identification based data‐driven approach for monitoring electromechanical dynamics from phasor measurement units
Authors: Jiang Tao , Yuan Haoyu , Zhao Junbo , Wu Tianying , Li Fangxing , Jia Hongjie
Published: June 2020

This study proposes to extend the numerical algorithm for subspace state space system identification (N4SID) for power grid electromechanical dynamics monitoring using the multi‐channel noisy synchrophasor measurements. The oscillation modes, mode shapes, participation factors and coherent groups are estimated in a comprehensive manner. It consists of five key steps: (i) estimation of power system state subspace model via N4SID; (ii) electromechanical modes discrimination from the trivial modes by developing the generalised inverse and mode assurance criterion; (iii) calculations of the mode shapes using the estimated states and output subspace matrices; (iv) estimation of participation factors estimated by the calculated mode shapes and (v) the generator coherency identification by developing the direction cosine denoted coherency inductor. Test results on the IEEE 16‐machine 68‐bus test system and the practical China Southern power Grid using field synchrophasor measurements are performed. Comparison results with other existing methods show that the proposed method achieves better accuracy and efficiency for power system electromechanical dynamics monitoring in the presence of measurement noise.
Uncertainty and disturbance estimator with improved steady‐state performance for grid‐connected power converters
Authors: Vule Yan , Elkayam Moria , Kuperman Alon
Published: June 2020

The study suggests a method aimed to improve the performance of practical grid‐connected converters connected to distorted mains, utilising total uncertainty and disturbance estimator (TUDE) based control structures with time‐delay filter. Such a TUDE filter enhances disturbance rejection performance by possessing near‐unity magnitude and near‐zero phase at integer multiples of the base frequency, imposing repetitive‐control‐alike behaviour. However, it is well‐known that in repetitive control, disturbance rejection at mid‐frequencies, were non‐periodic disturbances and noise may exist, is deteriorated. This study presents an enhancement, allowing to retain good disturbance rejection at mid‐frequencies within the low‐frequency portion of control bandwidth (relevant in practical systems) while trading‐off the performance in the high‐frequency control bandwidth part. The proposed methodology is verified by application to output current control of LCL‐filter based inverter feeding distorted AC mains. The validity and performance of the proposed methodology are well‐supported by simulations and experiments.
Small‐signal stability and fault performance of mixed grid forming and grid following offshore wind power plants connected to a HVDC‐diode rectifier
Authors: Martínez‐Turégano Jaime , Añó‐Villalba Salvador , Bernal‐Perez Soledad , Peña Ruben , Blasco‐Gimenez Ramon
Published: June 2020

This study aims at validating the simultaneous operation of grid following and grid forming wind power plants when connected to a common diode rectifier‐based HVDC link. The controllers for both grid forming and grid following wind turbines include fault‐ride‐through capability with soft restoration of the off‐shore AC‐grid. Current and voltage controllers are developed in the stationary reference frame. The presented control and soft restoration strategies are based on local measurements only and do not require communication between wind turbine generators. The small‐signal stability analysis of the mixed system in multiple d–q axis using detailed string models is carried out in order to show the sensitivity to grid following phase‐locked‐loop gains and to grid forming droop gains. Interoperability between grid forming and grid following wind turbines during transients is shown by means of detailed simulation during symmetric faults in different locations of the off‐shore grid.
Dynamic battery loss evaluation and its application for optimal online wind‐storage integrated scheduling
Authors: Zhou Yun , Su Hao , Gui Qiang , Gan Lei , Feng Donghan , Yan Zheng , Fan Yue
Published: June 2020

The life loss of batteries caused by the daily operation implies a reduction in capital value, which is essential for the economic performance of storage‐containing systems. Most of current studies rarely considered it or simplified it to be proportional of throughput electricity, due to its multi‐factor dependence and complexity to be incorporated into dispatch models. This study presents a dynamic loss evaluation model for batteries that considers the cumulative effect of state of charge (SOC) changes. First, based on the results of battery aging test, the loss coefficient subject to SOC is derived. The general formulation of analytical battery life loss is further presented by integrating the damage effect during the change in SOC. Finally, by means of self‐optimal piecewise linearisation, the resultant life loss term is embedded in the online wind‐storage integrated scheduling. Case studies demonstrate the desirable computational complexity of the proposed evaluation method and the adaptability in general economic dispatch.
Microfluidic devices for the generation of centimetre‐long motor nerve organoids derived from iPSCs
Authors: Kaneda Shohei , Kurihara Kohei , Suzuki Kenji , Takanobu Hideaki , Ohka Seii
Published: June 2020

Although a microfluidic neuronal culture technique that utilised a microchannel structure to generate a motor nerve organoid consisted of neurospheres and fascicles of motor neuronal axons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) was reported recently, the lengths of the axonal fascicles were limited to less than 1 cm, which corresponded to the microchannel length. In this study, the authors fabricated microfluidic devices composed of a polydimethylsiloxane chip with a glass substrate and 20‐mm‐long and 150‐μm‐wide microchannels to obtain centimetre‐long axonal fascicles. They investigated the effects of microchannel height on fascicle length by using three different microchannel heights (120, 150, and 220 μm), neurospheres containing 80,000 motor neuronal cells derived from a human iPSCs cell line (409B2), and N2B27 medium. Maximum and average fascicle lengths of 2 and 1.25 cm, respectively, were successfully achieved with 150‐μm‐high microchannels. The fascicles grew in length, with an increase in the number of days spent in the culture (ranging from 0.44 to 0.60 mm per day), growing to over 1 cm around the 23rd day of culture. The difference in fascicle length obtained with 120‐μm and 150‐μm‐high microchannels suggests that height significantly affects the length of the axonal fascicle of the nerve organoid.
Realisation of CdS/Mn3O4 nanocomposites for potential photocatalytic applications
Authors: Xue Lei , Rathnakumar Peters James Caleb Peters , Dhanabalan Sathish Chander , Madhaiyan Jayasakthi , Manavalan Rajesh Kumar , Ponraj Joice Sophia
Published: June 2020

The present work reports the realisation of high‐quality crystalline CdS/Mn3O4 (CM) nanocomposites by a simple cost‐effective chemical method in air atmosphere. The authors have performed theoretical calculations and experimental analysis in order to understand the synthesised nanocomposites. X‐ray diffraction results showed that the CM nanocomposites were cubic and orthorhombic mixed structure which is in good agreement with the theoretical studies. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images of CM confirmed the formation of well distributed nanocomposites. The outcomes of DFT calculations provide results for the bandgap calculation of pure CdS, Mn3O4 and the CM nanocomposites. Photoluminescence studies with interesting visible light absorption demonstrated the great potentiality of the as‐synthesised nanocomposites towards photocatalytic applications that could be a detailed research scope for the authors’ future studies.
Planetary mass–radius relations across the galaxy
Authors: Michel A. , Haldemann J. , Mordasini C. , Alibert Y.
Published: June 2020

Context. Planet formation theory suggests that planet bulk compositions are likely to reflect the chemical abundance ratios of their host star’s photosphere. Variations in the abundance of particular chemical species in stellar photospheres between different galactic stellar populations demonstrate that there are differences among the expected solid planet bulk compositions.

Aims. We aim to present planetary mass-radius relations of solid planets for kinematically differentiated stellar populations, namely, the thin disc, thick disc, and halo.

Methods. Using two separate internal structure models, we generated synthetic planets using bulk composition inputs derived from stellar abundances. We explored two scenarios, specifically iron-silicate planets at 0.1 AU and silicate-iron-water planets at 4 AU.

Results. We show that there is a persistent statistical difference in the expected mass-radius relations of solid planets among the different galactic stellar populations. At 0.1 AU for silicate-iron planets, there is a 1.51–2.04% mean planetary radius difference between the thick and thin disc stellar populations, whilst for silicate-iron-water planets past the ice line at 4 AU, we calculate a 2.93–3.26% difference depending on the models. Between the halo and thick disc, we retrieve at 0.1 AU a 0.53–0.69% mean planetary radius difference, and at 4 AU we find a 1.24–1.49% difference depending on the model.

Conclusions. Future telescopes (such as PLATO) will be able to precisely characterize solid exoplanets and demonstrate the possible existence of planetary mass-radius relationship variability between galactic stellar populations.
A qualitative classification of extraterrestrial civilizations
Authors: Ivanov Valentin D. , Beamín Juan Carlos , Cáceres Claudio , Minniti Dante
Published: June 2020

Context.Interest in searches for extraterrestrial civilizations (ETCs) has been boosted in recent decades by the discovery of thousands of exoplanets.

Aims.We turn to the classification of ETCs for new considerations that may help to design better strategies for searching for ETCs.

Methods.This study is based on analogies with our own biological, historical, technological, and scientific development. We took a basic taxonomic approach to ETCs and investigated the implications of the new classification on ETC evolution and observational patterns. Finally, we used the quantitative scheme of Kardashev and considered its implications on the searches for ETCs as a counter example to our qualitative classification.

Results.We propose a classification based on the abilities of ETCs to modify and integrate with their environments: Class 0 uses the environment as it is, Class 1 modifies the environment to fit its needs, Class 2 modifies itself to fit the environment, and a Class 3 ETC is fully integrated with the environment. Combined with the classical Kardashev scale, our scheme forms a two-dimensional method for interpreting ETC properties.

Conclusions.The new framework makes it obvious that the available energy is not a unique measure of ETC progress: it may not even correlate with how well that energy is used. The possibility for progress without increased energy consumption implies a lower detectability, so in principle the existence of a Kardashev Type III ETC in the Milky Way cannot be ruled out. This reasoning weakens the Fermi paradox, allowing for the existence of advanced, yet not energy hungry, low-detectability ETCs. The integration of ETCs with the environment will make it impossible to tell technosignatures and natural phenomena apart. Therefore, the most likely opportunity for SETI searches to find advanced ETCs is to look for beacons, specifically set up by them for young civilizations like ours (if they would want to do that remains a matter of speculation). The other SETI window of opportunity is to search for ETCs at technological level similar to ours. To rephrase the famous saying of Arthur Clarke, sufficiently advanced civilizations are indistinguishable from nature.
An optical spectroscopic and polarimetric study of the microquasar binary system SS 433
Authors: Picchi Paolo , Shore Steven N. , Harvey Eamonn J. , Berdyugin Andrei
Published: June 2020

Aims. Our aim is to study the mass transfer, accretion environment, and wind outflows in the SS 433 system, concentrating on the so-called stationary lines.

Methods. We used archival high-resolution (X-shooter) and low-resolution (EMMI) optical spectra, new optical multi-filter polarimetry, and low-resolution optical spectra (Liverpool Telescope), spanning an interval of a decade and a broad range of precessional and orbital phases, to derive the dynamical properties of the system.

Results. Using optical interstellar absorption lines and H I 21 cm profiles, we derive E(B − V) = 0.86 ± 0.10, with an upper limit of E(B − V) = 1.8 ± 0.1 based on optical Diffuse Interstellar Bands. We obtain revised values for the ultraviolet and U band polarizations and polarization angles (PA), based on a new calibrator star at nearly the same distance as SS 433 that corrects the published measurement and yields the same PA as the optical. The polarization wavelength dependence is consistent with optical-dominating electron scattering with a Rayleigh component in U and the UV filters. No significant phase modulation was found for PA while there is significant variability in the polarization level. We fortuitously caught a flare event; no polarization changes were observed but we confirm the previously reported associated emission line variations. Studying profile modulation of multiple lines of H I, He I, O I, Na I, Si II, Ca II, Fe II with precessional and orbital phase, we derive properties for the accretion disk and present evidence for a strong disk wind, extending published results. Using transition-dependent systemic velocities, we probe the velocity gradient of the wind, and demonstrate that it is also variable on timescales unrelated to the orbit. Using the rotational velocity, around 140 ± 20 km s−1, a redetermined mass ratio q = 0.37 ± 0.04, and masses MX = 4.2 ± 0.4 M⊙, MA = 11.3 ± 0.6 M⊙, the radius of the A star fills – or slightly overfills – its Roche surface. We devote particular attention to the O I 7772 Å and 8446 Å lines, finding that they show different but related orbital and precessional modulation and there is no evidence for a circumbinary component. The spectral line profile variability can, in general, be understood with an ionization stratified outflow predicted by thermal wind modeling, modulated by different lines of sight through the disk produced by its precession. The wind can also account for an extended equatorial structure detected at long wavelength.
Implications of different stellar spectra for the climate of tidally locked Earth-like exoplanets
Authors: Eager-Nash Jake K. , Reichelt David J. , Mayne Nathan J. , Hugo Lambert F. , Sergeev Denis E. , Ridgway Robert J. , Manners James , Boutle Ian A. , Lenton Timothy M. , Kohary Krisztian
Published: June 2020

The majority of detected potentially habitable exoplanets orbit stars cooler than the Sun and are therefore irradiated by a stellar spectrum that peaks at longer wavelengths than the spectrum incident on Earth. Here, we present results from a set of simulations of tidally locked terrestrial planets orbiting three different host stars to isolate the effect of the stellar spectra on the simulated climate. Specifically, we perform simulations based on TRAPPIST-1e, adopting an Earth-like atmosphere and using the UK Met Office Unified Model in an idealised ‘aqua-planet’ configuration. Whilst holding the planetary parameters constant, including the total stellar flux (900 W m−2) and orbital period (6.10 Earth days), we compare results between simulations where the stellar spectrum is that of a quiescent TRAPPIST-1, Proxima Centauri, and the Sun. In simulations with cooler host stars, an increased proportion of incident stellar radiation was absorbed directly by the troposphere compared to the surface. This in turn led to an increase in the stability against convection, that is, a reduction in overall cloud coverage on the dayside (reducing scattering), leading to warmer surface temperatures. The increased direct heating of the troposphere also led to more efficient heat transport from the dayside to the nightside and therefore to a reduced day-night temperature contrast. We inferred that planets with an Earth-like atmosphere orbiting cooler stars had lower dayside cloud coverage, potentially allowing habitable conditions at increased orbital radii, compared to similar planets orbiting hotter stars for a given planetary rotation rate.
First record of Pampus minor (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Stromateidae) from the coastal waters of Wenzhou, China
Authors: Liu Cheng , Yang Zhijin , Liu Pan , Ye Shen , Siyal Fozia Khan , Zhu Guoping , Lin Longshan , Li Yuan
Published: June 2020

Pampus fishes (Perciformes: Stromateidae) are important commercial species and include six valid species in China. The southern lesser pomfret (Pampus minor Liu and Li, 1998) is a species of Pampus for which knowledge is incomplete. This report confirms the occurrence of P. minor in the coastal waters of Wenzhou, China, by analyzing five specimens of P. minor obtained in Wenzhou in March 2019. Morphometric measurements and meristic counts were performed. The diagnostic morphological features of these species were consistent with those of the neotype specimen of P. minor and sufficient for separating the examined specimens from other Pampus species. This study was based on the Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit 1 (CO1) gene, which was sequenced for the purpose of identification. The genetic distances between P. minor and other Pampus species ranged from 13.4% to 15.5%, and the mean genetic distance within the P. minor group was 0.2%. Given that P. minor has not been reported in this region, our findings represent the first record from the coastal waters of Wenzhou and extend the distribution range of this species to the central and northern East China Sea. The reason for the observed northward migration of some P. minor individuals from their northernmost recorded habitat (Taiwan Strait) might be global warming. The collection of additional specimens is needed to further study the geographic limits of P. minor and its presumed northern expansion.
A simplified derivation technique of topological derivatives for quasi-linear transmission problems
Authors: Gangl Peter , Sturm Kevin
Published: June 2020

In this paper we perform the rigorous derivation of the topological derivative for optimization problems constrained by a class of quasi-linear elliptic transmission problems. In the case of quasi-linear constraints, techniques using fundamental solutions of the differential operators cannot be applied to show convergence of the variation of the states. Some authors succeeded showing this convergence with the help of technical computations under additional requirements on the problem. Our main objective is to simplify and extend these previous results by using a Lagrangian framework and a projection trick. Besides these generalisations the purpose of this manuscript is to present a systematic derivation approach for topological derivatives.
Negative group delay experimentation with tee connector and cable structures
Authors: Wan Fayu , Huangi Xiaoyu , Thakur Preeti , Thakur Atul , Lalléchère Sébastien , Ravelo Blaise
Published: June 2020

The unfamiliar negative group-delay (NGD) phenomenon is experimented with structure constituted by tee-connectors and coaxial cables. The topology of the NGD generator is described. It consists of two parallel 50-Ω characteristic impedance cables. The S-parameter model in function of the cable physical lengths is established. The existence condition enabling to understand the NGD phenomenon is defined. A proof of concept simply is constituted by two three-port SMA connectors, three SMA transitions and 13-cm length cables. The NGD experimentation is performed from 1.5 GHz to 3.5 GHz. Tri-band NGD aspects in good agreement with the theory and simulation is observed experimentally. Particularly, high figure-of-merit NGD circuit with −3 ns NGD level, less than 2 dB insertion loss and 12 dB return loss around 3 GHz centre frequency is measured.
Épidémies: Leçons d’Histoire
Authors: Debré Patrice
Published: June 2020

Jusqu’au milieu du XVIIIe siècle, l’espérance de vie était de 25 ans dans les pays d’Europe, proche alors de celle de la préhistoire. À cette époque, nos ancêtres succombaient, pour la plupart, à une infection bactérienne ou virale, quand la mort n’était pas le résultat d’un épisode critique, comme la guerre ou la famine. Un seul microbe suffisait à terrasser de nombreuses victimes. L’épidémie de SARS-CoV-2 est là pour nous rappeler que ce risque est désormais à nouveau d’actualité. Si son origine zoonotique par la chauve-souris est probable, la contamination interhumaine montre son adaptation rapide à l’homme et permet d’évoquer ainsi la transmission des épidémies, qu’elle soit ou non liée à des vecteurs, ces derniers pouvant représenter dans d’autres occasions un des maillons de la chaîne.
Glomus tumors of the nail bed: topographic anatomy and an algorithmic approach based on the topography
Authors: Civan Osman , Güntürk Özgün Barış , Özaksar Kemal , Cavit Ali , Özcanli Haluk
Published: June 2020

Purpose Glomus tumors are rare vascular pathologies characterized by a triad of symptoms: tenderness, pain and cold intolerance. In the hand they are highly concentrated under the nail bed. In this retrospective study, we aimed to present a topographic map of the location of glomus tumors in the nail bed and a map-based surgical approach algorithm to the subungual glomus tumors.

Methods We prepared a nail bed map with 6 zones and named these zones as ulnar distal, ulnar proximal, central distal, central proximal, radial distal and radial proximal. With respect to the tumor location and the used surgical approach we retrospectively evaluated the intraoperative photos and the hospital records of patients who were operated between 2008–2019 and had the pathological diagnosis of glomus tumor. The examination records of the postoperative first year were evaluated for each patient retrospectively. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed. In addition we analyzed the described surgical approaches to excise a glomus tumor in the nail bed. The described approaches and the approaches used by us were matched with the localisation of the tumors in this study developing an algorithm for the surgical approach depending on the localisation of the nail bed glomus tumor.

Results Finally 44 patients had inclusion criteria. The distribution of the glomus tumor was as follows: 2 were on ulnar distal (4.5 %), 9 on ulnar proximal (20.5 %), 1 on central distal (2.3 %), 18 on central proximal (40.9 %), 4 on radial distal (9.1 %) and 10 were on the radial proximal zones (22.7 %). 4 lateral approaches, 1 nail sparing and 39 transungual approaches were performed. We had one recurrence in a male patient operated by transungual approach.

Conclusion Glomus tumors are mostly located on the central proximal part of the nail bed. Our glomus map and the algorithm we described might be helpful for the selection of the surgical approach for the glomus tumor.
Sekundäre Beugesehnenplastiken – Wie gut sind sie?
Authors: Moeller Richard-Tobias , Mentzel Martin , Vergote Daniel , Jermendy Philipp Tibor , Bauknecht Simon
Published: June 2020

Hintergrund Sekundäre Beugesehnenrekonstruktionen sind durch die Erfolge der primären Beugesehnennähte in der heutigen Zeit selten indiziert und einem speziellen Patientenkollektiv vorbehalten. Die Ergebnisse sekundärer Beugesehnenplastiken einer überregionalen, spezialisierten handchirurgischen Einrichtung werden präsentiert und im historischen wie aktuellen Kontext betrachtet.

Patienten und Methoden In einem Zeitraum von 11 Jahren wurden bei insgesamt 644 Beugesehnenversorgungen 52 sekundäre Beugesehnenplastiken durchgeführt: 7 einzeitige Beugesehnentransplantationen, 16 Beugesehnentranspositionen und 29 zweizeitige Beugesehnentransplantationen. Insgesamt konnten von 39 Patienten die Behandlungsergebnisse nach dem Buck-Gramcko-Schema retrospektiv ausgewertet werden.

Ergebnisse In 60 % der einzeitigen Beugesehnentransplantationen konnten sehr gute bis gute Ergebnisse erzielt werden. Funktionelle, d. h. sehr gute bis gute Ergebnisse fanden sich in 75 % der Beugesehnentranspositionen. Bei den zweizeitigen Transplantationen konnte in 50 % der Fälle ein funktionelles Ergebnis festgestellt werden. In der Summe konnten nach sekundären Beugesehnenrekonstruktionen in 58,5 % funktionelle Ergebnisse nach dem Bewertungsschema nach Buck-Gramcko erzielt werden.

Schlussfolgerungen Sekundäre Beugesehnenplastiken haben einen Anteil von 7,5 % am Gesamtgut der verletzen Beugesehnen. Die funktionellen Ergebnisse der sekundären Beugesehnenplastiken sind über Jahrzehnte nahezu unverändert und scheinen sich nicht relevant verbessern zu lassen. Im Vergleich zu einer primären Beugesehnennaht sind die Ergebnisse weiterhin unbefriedigend. Ziel sollte es sein, die primäre Versorgung der Beugesehnen weiter zu optimieren und somit die Notwendigkeit einer sekundären Beugesehnenplastik zu reduzieren.
Diagnosing Muscular Dystrophies: Comparison of Techniques and Their Cost Effectiveness: A Multi-institutional Study
Authors: Srivastava Pallavi , Malhotra Kiran Preet , Husain Nuzhat , Malhotra Hardeep Singh , Kulshreshtha Dinkar , Anand Akanksha
Published: June 2020

Background The diagnosis of muscular dystrophies involves clinical discretion substantiated by dystrophic changes on muscle biopsy. The different subtypes of muscular dystrophy can be diagnosed using techniques to identify the loss of protein or molecular alterations.

Materials and Methods Clinically suspicious cases confirmed to have muscular dystrophy on muscle biopsy seen at two tertiary care centers in North India were enrolled for the study. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for dystrophin, merosin, sarcoglycan, emerin, and dysferlin proteins was performed. The spectrum of muscular dystrophies diagnosed was analyzed. Cost of diagnosing the cases using IHC was estimated and compared with that of standard molecular tests available for the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies.

Statistics Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Mean and standard deviations were used for continuous variables, whereas categorical variables were analyzed using frequency percentage.

Results A total of 47 cases of muscular dystrophies were studied. This included nine cases of Duchenne, three cases of Becker’s dystrophy, and one dystrophinopathy carrier. One case of α, seven cases of β, and two cases of δ sarcoglycanopathy, along with two cases of facioscapulohumeral dystrophy and a single case of dysferlinopathy were detected. Genetic studies were required for a subset of 16 cases. The cost of using muscle biopsy and IHC was substantially lower than that of molecular methods for the identification of muscular dystrophy subtypes.

Conclusion We detailed an algorithmic approach for diagnosing muscular dystrophies using muscle biopsy. The prevalence of biopsy proven muscular dystrophies from two tertiary care centers in North India is compared with that from other centers. Genetic studies are currently of limited availability in India and are more expensive as compared with biopsy and IHC. Using these methodologies sequentially with a “biopsy first approach” may be the prudent approach for low-income countries.