bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Donor–Acceptor Cyanocarbazole‐Based Supramolecular Photocatalysts for Visible‐Light‐Driven H2 Production
Authors: Zhang Guoqiang , Yang Xun , Li Yongliang , Zhang Peixin , Mi Hongwei 
Published: November 2019

AbstractHighly efficient, stable, and metal‐free supramolecular photocatalysts for H2 production are uncommon and of significant interest. In this study, a donor–acceptor (D–A) cyanocarbazole‐based supramolecule (2CzPN) is assembled by intermolecular C≡N⋅⋅⋅H−Ar H‐bonding interactions to form an efficient, stable, and metal‐free photocatalyst for H2 evolution. The catalyst affords an H2 production rate of 91.8 μmol h−1 (20 mg of samples, λ>420 nm) and a corresponding apparent quantum efficiency of 7.5 % at 420 nm. The photon‐generated carrier separation of the 2CzPN supramolecule, which is higher than that of the analogous polymer, can be attributed to the strong D–A characteristics and high crystallinity. This study offers the first experimental evidence of visible‐light H2 evolution among D–A cyanocarbazole‐based supramolecules and it enriches the variety of supramolecular photocatalysts. This stable and effective metal‐free 2CzPN supramolecular photocatalyst has obvious advantages among very few supramolecular photocatalysts for H2 production.
Modular‐structured resonant converter for multilevel converters in micro grids
Authors: Reddy P. Vijaya Vardhan , Suryawanshi H. M. , Nachankar Pratik P , Talapur Girish G. , Ballal Makarand Sudhakar 
Published: November 2019

SummaryIn this work, an isolated modular resonant circuit with effective voltage regulation is presented as front‐end for multilevel inverter system to interface renewable sources of energy with micro grid. Inputs of each module of the converter are connected to low‐voltage DC sources. Modular‐structured module outputs may be linked in sequence or parallel to attain the desired DC link capacitor voltage for multilevel inverter. The proposed converter overcomes imbalance in the capacitor voltage of diode‐clamped inverter structure. Interleaved phase shift of 90° is supplied among the gate pulses of all four modules that minimizes the input‐side current ripples. An effective zero voltage switching (ZVS) is achieved over wide load range using duty cycle and frequency‐duty cycle double control method to improve system performance at light load condition. Adopting powder core magnetics and low forward voltage insulated‐gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) reduces magnetic and conduction loss. A 12‐kW prototype of the designed modular resonant converter was verified by experimentation with a different‐level diode‐clamped inverter structures.
Phenotypic variation of life‐history traits in native, invasive, and landrace populations of Brassica tournefortii
Authors: Alfaro Brian , Marshall Diane L. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractVarying environments can result in different patterns of adaptive phenotypes. By performing a common greenhouse experiment, we identified phenotypic differentiation on phenology, leaf morphology, branch architecture, size, and reproduction, among native, invasive, and landrace ranges of Brassica tournefortii. We first compared trait means and fitness functions among ranges, then we analyzed how trait means and selection strength of populations respond to varying aridity. Most traits varied such that landrace > invasive > native. Excluding reproduction, which was positively selected, most trait PCs experienced nonlinear selection in the native range but frequently shifted to directional selection in invasive and/or landrace ranges. The absence of strong clines for trait means in landrace and invasive populations suggest that agricultural practices and novel environments in source locations affected adaptive potential. Selection strength on faster reproductive phenology (negative directional) and leaf margin trait (disruptive) PCs coincided with increasing moisture. In native populations, higher aridity was associated with more days to reproduction, but landrace and invasive populations show stable mean time to reproduction with increasing moisture. A stable adaptive trait can increase range expansion in the invasive range, but stability can be beneficial for future harvest of B. tournefortii seed crops in the face of climate change.
Thermal plasticity is independent of environmental history in an intertidal seaweed
Authors: McCoy Sophie J. , Widdicombe Stephen 
Published: November 2019

AbstractOrganisms inhabiting the intertidal zone have been used to study natural ecophysiological responses and adaptations to thermal stress because these organisms are routinely exposed to high‐temperature conditions for hours at a time. While intertidal organisms may be inherently better at withstanding temperature stress due to regular exposure and acclimation, they could be more vulnerable to temperature stress, already living near the edge of their thermal limits. Strong gradients in thermal stress across the intertidal zone present an opportunity to test whether thermal tolerance is a plastic or canalized trait in intertidal organisms. Here, we studied the intertidal pool‐dwelling calcified alga, Ellisolandia elongata, under near‐future temperature regimes, and the dependence of its thermal acclimatization response on environmental history. Two timescales of environmental history were tested during this experiment. The intertidal pool of origin was representative of long‐term environmental history over the alga's life (including settlement and development), while the pool it was transplanted into accounted for recent environmental history (acclimation over many months). Unexpectedly, neither long‐term nor short‐term environmental history, nor ambient conditions, affected photosynthetic rates in E. elongata. Individuals were plastic in their photosynthetic response to laboratory temperature treatments (mean 13.2°C, 15.7°C, and 17.7°C). Further, replicate ramets from the same individual were not always consistent in their photosynthetic performance from one experimental time point to another or between treatments and exhibited no clear trend in variability over experimental time. High variability in climate change responses between individuals may indicate the potential for resilience to future conditions and, thus, may play a compensatory role at the population or species level over time.
Identification of winter moth (Operophtera brumata) refugia in North Africa and the Italian Peninsula during the last glacial maximum
Authors: Andersen Jeremy C. , Havill Nathan P. , Mannai Yaussra , Ezzine Olfa , Dhahri Samir , Ben Jamâa Mohamed Lahbib , Caccone Adalgisa , Elkinton Joseph S. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractNumerous studies have shown that the genetic diversity of species inhabiting temperate regions has been shaped by changes in their distributions during the Quaternary climatic oscillations. For some species, the genetic distinctness of isolated populations is maintained during secondary contact, while for others, admixture is frequently observed. For the winter moth (Operophtera brumata), an important defoliator of oak forests across Europe and northern Africa, we previously determined that contemporary populations correspond to genetic diversity obtained during the last glacial maximum (LGM) through the use of refugia in the Iberian and Aegean peninsulas, and to a lesser extent the Caucasus region. Missing from this sampling were populations from the Italian peninsula and from North Africa, both regions known to have played important roles as glacial refugia for other species. Therefore, we genotyped field‐collected winter moth individuals from southern Italy and northwestern Tunisia—the latter a region where severe oak forest defoliation by winter moth has recently been reported—using polymorphic microsatellite. We reconstructed the genetic relationships of these populations in comparison to moths previously sampled from the Iberian and Aegean peninsulas, the Caucasus region, and western Europe using genetic distance, Bayesian clustering, and approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) methods. Our results indicate that both the southern Italian and the Tunisian populations are genetically distinct from other sampled populations, and likely originated in their respective refugium during the LGM after diverging from a population that eventually settled in the Iberian refugium. These suggest that winter moth populations persisted in at least five Mediterranean LGM refugia. Finally, we comment that outbreaks by winter moth in northwestern Tunisia are not the result of a recent introduction of a nonnative species, but rather are most likely due to land use or environmental changes.
Development of decision support system for product selection based on AHP, using the decision rule of rough set for qualitative evaluation
Authors: Yumoto Masaki 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is an effective method for product selection support because it evaluates alternatives based on the total weight, which is a quantitative value. The total weight is obtained by multiplying the ratio of each evaluation criterion for the target user and the weights of alternatives in each evaluation criterion. The determination of weights in the qualitative evaluation criterion is difficult because of the necessity to compare the questionnaire results of all alternatives. This article proposes Decision Support System for Product Selection based on AHP, using the decision rule of Rough Set for Qualitative Evaluation. The proposed system makes decision rules based on the target user's judgment of “Good” or “Bad” on several samples in the qualitative evaluation criterion. Decision rules have a qualitative and quantitative evaluation value for each attribute, and the system calculates the weight of the AHP through normalization of these evaluation values. The user can know the results easily because the evaluation method of alternative samples in the proposed system is the same as that of correspondence with the shop assistant in an actual store. Based on two experiments, we confirm that the setup of attributes for decision rules of rough sets is one of the most important elements of the proposed system.
Deformation characteristics and mechanism of deep subsize coal pillar of the tilted stratum
Authors: Wu Hai , Wang Xiaokang , Wang Weijun , Peng Gang , Zhang Zizheng 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBased on the analysis of the monitoring data of surface displacement and internal multipoint displacement of coal pillars near three inclined strata roadways, which have similar burial depth and different surrounding rock conditions in a coal mine in the east China, the coal pillars’ stress change was combined with discontinuous numerical simulation software to simulate the deformation process of one of the roadways. Field monitoring data and numerical simulation results show that when this working face roadway is dug, the coal pillar enters plastic state after being affected by multiple mining influence, but it can still maintain the basic stability of the roadway and control coal pillar deformation under the current widely used supporting method. With the shortening of the distance between the monitoring area and the working face, the vertical and horizontal stress in the coal pillar increase gradually, but the maximum value of the vertical stress decreases by 1.4 MPa, and deformation amount and velocity of the coal pillar show the characteristics of nonlinear rapid increase. The shape of the vertical stress core area in the coal pillar changed from oval to rectangle, and the width of the core area increased, and it moved 1 m to the goaf side. In the process of coal pillar deformation, there is no zero displacement surface within the monitoring range of 6 m.
Wind energy assessment for NEOM city, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alfawzan Fawzan , Alleman James E. , Rehmann Chris R. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis paper provides an analytical assessment of the feasibility of wind energy for Saudi Arabia's envisioned NEOM city, which plans to use only renewable energy. A probability density function was fit to winds simulated for the NEOM region during 2014‐2018. Using this distribution, the optimal wind turbine was selected as the one with the largest capacity factor and smallest levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Financial, environmental, and risk analysis of a wind farm consisting of 100 of these units was also performed. A Weibull distribution determined by changing the shape and scale parameters to minimize the mean squared error offered the best fit to the measured wind speeds at this location. The estimated power density showed that the NEOM site warrants a Class 3 classification, which means wind energy systems would be suitable for commercial operation. A 3.2‐MW wind turbine, which is optimal for this location, has a capacity factor varying from 31.9% to 41.4% and LCOE that ranges from 6.99¢ to 8.32¢ per kWh. The 320‐MW wind farm has a positive net present value, a simple payback period of 13.8 years, and a LCOE of 6.6¢ per kWh. By installing this farm, potential annual savings of CO2 are around 106 metric tons.
Reconstruction of Grenfell Tower fire. Part 2: A numerical investigation of the fire propagation and behaviour from the initial apartment to the façade
Authors: Guillaume Eric , Dréan Virginie , Girardin Bertrand , Koohkan Maxime , Fateh Talal 
Published: November 2019

SummaryThe dramatic event of the Grenfell Tower in 2017 reminds the importance of addressing fire issues as a whole and clearly highlighted one of the major roles played by the façade as fire propagation vector. To understand and analyse this disaster, numerical simulation allows particular phenomena to be evaluated more easily. The numerical model addressed for the fire behaviour of the façade system was developed using a multiscale approach and validated at different scales. In this paper, the fire behaviour of the façade and of its window frames is addressed. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is used to investigate the fire spread from the initial apartment to the overall façade with different scenarios for the fire source and ventilation. Fire propagation through windows to the façade and to upper apartments is addressed. General curves representing the re‐entry of flames into upper apartment are extracted from simulations. The numerical results are validated by comparison with observations from videos and pictures of the real fire. Numerical results show that whatever the initial fire location and ventilation conditions, even if the fire source is of hundreds kilowatts, it is enough to ignite the adjacent element early and to the appearance of external flames shortly after.
Test methods for characterizing concrete properties at elevated temperature
Authors: Kodur Venkatesh K.R. , Banerji Srishti , Solhmirzaei Roya 
Published: November 2019

SummaryFire resistance of structural members is dependent on the thermal and mechanical properties of constituent materials and these properties vary as a function of temperature. Currently, there are limited standardized test procedures for evaluating thermal and mechanical properties of construction materials at elevated temperatures. This paper provides a review and assessment of test methods and procedures for evaluating high temperature thermal and mechanical properties of concrete. The drawbacks and variations in currently available test procedures and methods in standards are discussed. Recommendations on the most suitable methods and procedures for measuring thermal and mechanical properties at elevated temperature is presented. In addition, applicability of the proposed high temperature test methods and procedures is illustrated through a case study on conventional concrete specimens. Further, the need for developing standards by organizations such as American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), with standardized specifications and test procedures for measuring high temperature properties of construction materials, is laid out.
Factor structure of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in Parkinson disease
Authors: Smith Callum R. , Cavanagh Jonathan , Sheridan Matthew , Grosset Katherine A. , Cullen Breda , Grosset Donald G. 
Published: November 2019

ObjectivesThe Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a common tool for screening mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Studies in multiple clinical groups provide evidence for various factor structures mapping to different cognitive domains. We tested the factor structure of the MoCA in a large cohort of early Parkinson disease (PD).Materials and MethodsComplete MoCA data were available from an observational cohort study for 1738 patients with recent‐onset PD (64.6% male, mean age 67.6, SD 9.2). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to test previously defined two‐factor, six‐factor, and three‐factor models in the full sample and in a subgroup with possible cognitive impairment (MoCA < 26). Secondary analysis used exploratory factor analysis (EFA; principal factors with oblique rotation).ResultsThe mean MoCA score was 25.3 (SD 3.4, range 10‐30). Fit statistics in the six‐factor model (χ2/df 17.77, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] 0.10, comparative fit index [CFI] 0.74, Tucker‐Lewis index [TLI] 0.69, standardised root mean square residual [SRMR] 0.07) indicated poorer fit than did previous studies. Findings were similar in the two‐factor and three‐factor models. EFA suggested an alternative six‐factor solution (short‐term recall, visuospatial‐executive, attention/working memory, verbal‐executive, orientation, and expressive language), although CFA did not support the validity of the new model.ConclusionsThe factor structure of the MoCA in early PD was not consistent with that of previous research. This may reflect higher cognitive performance and differing demographics in our sample. The results do not support a clear, clinically relevant factor structure in an early PD group, suggesting that the MoCA should be followed with detailed assessment to obtain domain‐specific cognitive profiles.
Abnormal distraction and load‐specific connectivity during working memory in cognitively normal Parkinson's disease
Authors: Harrington Deborah L. , Shen Qian , Vincent Filoteo Julian , Litvan Irene , Huang Mingxiong , Castillo Gabriel N. , Lee Roland R. , Bayram Ece 
Published: November 2019

AbstractVisuospatial working memory impairments are common in Parkinson's disease (PD), yet the underlying neural mechanisms are poorly understood. The present study investigated abnormalities in context‐dependent functional connectivity of working memory hubs in PD. Cognitively normal PD and control participants underwent fMRI while performing a visuospatial working memory task. To identify sources of dysfunction, distraction, and load‐modulated connectivity were disentangled for encoding and retrieval phases of the task. Despite normal working memory performance in PD, two features of abnormal connectivity were observed, one due to a loss in normal context‐related connectivity and another related to upregulated connectivity of hubs for which the controls did not exhibit context‐dependent connectivity. During encoding, striatal‐prefrontal coupling was lost in PD, both during distraction and high memory loads. However, long‐range connectivity of prefrontal, medial temporal and occipital hubs was upregulated in a context‐specific manner. Memory retrieval was characterized by different aberrant connectivity patterns, wherein precuneus connectivity was upregulated during distraction, whereas prefrontal couplings were lost as memory load approached capacity limits. Features of abnormal functional connectivity in PD had pathological and compensatory influences as they correlated with poorer working memory or better visuospatial skills. The results offer new insights into working memory‐related signatures of aberrant cortico–cortical and corticostriatal functional connections, which may portend future declines in different facets of working memory.
Expression signature of miRNAs and the potential role of miR‐195‐5p in high‐glucose–treated rat cardiomyocytes
Authors: Shi Yuanqi , Yan Caichuan , Li Yang , Zhang Yuhao , Zhang Guocui , Li Mingzhu , Li Baoxin , Zhao Xin 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMicroRNAs are endogenous small noncoding RNAs that posttranscriptionally regulate the expression of target genes and play crucial roles in diverse physiopathologic processes. In the current study, we examined the microRNA (miRNA) expression profile of high‐glucose–treated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and the potential mechanisms. Differentially expressed miRNAs were analyzed by a miRNA microarray and validated by a quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction in high‐glucose–treated rat cardiomyocytes. Based on the results of our previous study and the bioinformatics prediction, we identified miR‐195‐5p/SGK1/Nedd4‐2/hERG as the top‐ranked signal pathway in diabetes cell model in vitro. In summary, our present study provides novel insights into the regulatory mechanism of miR‐195‐5p/SGK1/Nedd4‐2/hERG in rat cardiomyocytes under high‐glucose stress, which may provide a novel idea for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for diabetic cardiomyopathy in the future.
Investigation of enterprise value using information transparency: The case of optoelectronic industry
Authors: Yang Tzu‐Yi , Chou Chin‐Mei , Yang Yu‐Tai 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe corporate information given to the investors is insufficient if it is only financial information, and thus, it should include other nonfinancial information, such as relations with the investors, to let the general public accurately understand the situation of how the enterprise creates its value, the process of corporate transparency. Therefore, this research discusses the relationship between information transparency and enterprise value (EV) in stock‐listed companies in the optoelectronic industry that is one of the key industries in Taiwan, and using unbalanced panel random‐effects regression investigates 72 listed firms in the optoelectronic industry. Determining information transparency has a significant influence on EV.