bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tailoring phonon modes of few-layered MoS2 by in-plane electric field
Authors: Mitra Sreemanta , Srivastava Divya , Singha Shib Shankar , Dutta Saurav , Satpati Biswarup , Karppinen Maarit , Ghosh Arindam , Singha Achintya 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWe discuss the effect of the in-plane electric field on the Raman spectroscopy for few-layered MoS2. The characteristic Raman modes of MoS2 show gradual red shift, while the intensity increases by 45–50% as the electric field is increased, showing a large electro-optical effect. Structural analysis suggests that our few-layered MoS2 belongs to P6/m2 space group with broken inversion symmetry. We attribute this gradual red shift to this broken symmetry-driven piezoelectricity in MoS2, which generates tensile strain along the perpendicular direction when the electric field is applied. The enhancement of the effect upon reversing the electric field direction adds credence to our interpretation. Our first principal density-functional theory calculation further substantiates the claim. This optical probing of the electromechanical coupling may lead to applications as a nonextensive technique for electric field/strain sensors in the nanoelectronics devices.
Sweat monitoring beneath garments using passive, wireless resonant sensors interfaced with laser-ablated microfluidics
Authors: Carr Adam R. , Patel Yash H. , Neff Charles R. , Charkhabi Sadaf , Kallmyer Nathaniel E. , Angus Hector F. , Reuel Nigel F. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSweat loss can help determine hydration status of individuals working in harsh conditions, which is especially relevant to those who wear thick personal protective equipment (PPE) such as firefighters. A wireless, passive, conformable sweat sensor sticker is described here that can be worn under and interrogated through thick clothing to simultaneously measure sweat loss volume and conductivity. The sticker consists of a laser-ablated, microfluidic channel and a resonant sensor transducer. The resonant sensor is wirelessly read with a handheld vector network analyzer coupled to two, co-planar, interrogation antennas that measure the transmission loss. A sweat proxy is used to fill the channels and it is determined that the sensor can orthogonally determine the sweat conductivity and volume filled in the channel via peak transmission loss magnitude and frequency respectively. A four-person study is then used to determine level of sensor variance caused by local tissue dielectric heterogeneity and sensor-reader orientation.
NMR analysis of nucleotide π-stacking in prebiotically relevant crowded environment
Authors: Bapat Niraja V. , Paithankar Harshad , Chugh Jeetender , Rajamani Sudha 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe prebiotic soup of a putative ‘RNA World’ would have been replete with a plethora of molecules resulting from complex chemical syntheses and exogeneous delivery. The presence of background molecules could lead to molecular crowding, potentially affecting the course of the reactions facilitated therein. Using NMR spectroscopy, we have analyzed the effect of crowding on the stacking ability of RNA monomers. Our findings corroborate that the purines stack more efficiently than the pyrimidine ribonucleotides. This competence is further enhanced in the presence of a crowding agent. This enhanced stacking could result in greater sequestration of the purine monomers, putting their ready availability for relevant nonenzymatic reactions into question. Thus, this study demonstrates the need for systematic characterization of molecular crowding in the context of prebiotically pertinent processes. Unraveling such phenomena is essential for our understanding of the transition from abiotic to biotic, during the origin of life.
Light soaking in metal halide perovskites studied via steady-state microwave conductivity
Authors: Watts C Lowell , Aspitarte Lee , Lin Yen-Hung , Li Wen , Elzein Radwan , Addou Rafik , Hong Min Ji , Herman Gregory S. , Snaith Henry J. , Labram John G. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe light-soaking effect is the observation that under constant illumination the measured power conversion efficiency of certain solar cells changes as a function of time. The theory of the light-soaking in metal halide perovskites is at present incomplete. In this report, we employ steady-state microwave conductivity, a contactless probe of electronic properties of semiconductors, to study the light-soaking effect in metal halide perovskites. By illuminating isolated thin films of two mixed-cation perovskites with AM1.5 solar illumination, we observe a continual increase in photoconductance over a period of many (>12) hours. We can fit the experimentally observed changes in photoconductance to a stretched exponential function, in an analogous manner to bias-stressed thin-film transistors. The information provided in this report should help the community better understand one of the most perplexing open problems in the field of perovskite solar cells and, ultimately, lead to more robust and predictable devices.
Postprandial increase in glucagon-like peptide-1 is blunted in severe heart failure
Authors: Arruda-Junior Daniel F. , Martins Flavia L. , Salles Thiago Almeida , Jensen Leonardo , Dariolli Rafael , Antonio Ednei L. , dos Santos Leonardo , Crajoinas Renato O. , Tucci Paulo J.F. , Gowdak Luís Henrique W. , Krieger José Eduardo , Pereira Alexandre C. , Girardi Adriana C. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The relationship between disturbances in glucose homeostasis and heart failure (HF) progression is bidirectional. However, the mechanisms by which HF intrinsically impairs glucose homeostasis remain unknown. The present study tested the hypothesis that the bioavailability of intact glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is affected in HF, possibly contributing to disturbed glucose homeostasis. Serum concentrations of total and intact GLP-1 and insulin were measured after an overnight fast and 15 min after the ingestion of a mixed breakfast meal in 49 non-diabetic patients with severe HF and 40 healthy control subjects. Similarly, fasting and postprandial serum concentrations of these hormones were determined in sham-operated rats, and rats with HF treated with an inhibitor of the GLP-1-degrading enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4), vildagliptin, or vehicle for 4 weeks. We found that HF patients displayed a much lower increase in postprandial intact and total GLP-1 levels than controls. The increase in postprandial intact GLP-1 in HF patients correlated negatively with serum brain natriuretic peptide levels and DPP4 activity and positively with the glomerular filtration rate. Likewise, the postprandial increases in both intact and total GLP-1 were blunted in HF rats and were restored by DPP4 inhibition. Additionally, vehicle-treated HF rats displayed glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinemia, whereas normal glucose homeostasis was observed in vildagliptin-treated HF rats. We conclude that the postprandial increase in GLP-1 is blunted in non-diabetic HF. Impaired GLP-1 bioavailability after meal intake correlates with poor prognostic factors and may contribute to the establishment of a vicious cycle between glucose disturbance and HF development and progression.
Double‐Layer electron transporting layer for efficient lead sulfide quantum dots solar cells
Authors: Tavakoli M.M. , Dastjerdi M.H.T. 
Published: April 2020

Herein, for the first time, the role of double‐layer electron transporting layer (ETL), i.e. ZnO/SnO2 on the efficiency of lead sulfide quantum dots solar cells is demonstrated. Using this approach, a device with power conversion efficiency of 10.6% is achieved mainly due to the enhancement of open circuit voltage (VOC). The authors reduce the loss‐in‐potential by 80 mV using ZnO/SnO2 double‐layer ETL.
Strategic planning of continuous stakeholder involvement in the design of industrial product‐service systems
Authors: Haussmann Yvonne , Christian Wuttke Claas 
Published: April 2020

Industrial product‐service systems (IPS2) are an increasingly important and profitable offering of manufacturing companies. Alongside specific design processes, the suitable integration of the customer and all other stakeholders is essential for the market success of IPS2. In this context, a multitude of methods and processes have been published to date. The novel approach of this contribution consists in the consideration of the individuality of the design object and of the corresponding design process. Presented results are (i) a workshop‐based procedure to analyse the design object including the goals and risks as well as the basic conditions of the stakeholder integration, (ii) a procedure to plan an individualised stakeholder integration process based on the analysis results and a collection and systematisation of 35 methods for customer integration, and finally, (iii) a condensed version of the approach which allows to apply the procedure on short notice. This work is based on a comprehensive literature research as well as on the results of three case studies.
SF6 passive resonance DC circuit breaker combined with a superconducting fault current limiter
Authors: Xiang Bin , Cheng Nuo , Yang Kun , Liu Zhiyuan , Geng Yingsan , Wang Jianhua , Yanabu Satoru 
Published: April 2020

Superconducting current limiters (SFCLs) can limit short‐circuit fault current and provide sufficient time for DC circuit breakers (DCCBs) to isolate faults. An SF6 passive resonance DCCB combined with a superconducting current‐limiting module and a DC interruption module is proposed due to the high current interruption properties and the low on‐state loss. However, experimental investigations of SF6 passive resonance DCCBs combined with SFCLs using DC source are currently lacking. The objective of this paper is to obtain the interruption characteristics and modeling design methods of the proposed SF6 passive resonance DCCB. This paper designs a 10 kV SF6 passive resonance DCCB and tests the DCCB in a 10 kV/10 kA circuit. Quenching resistance and arc models are established based on experimental results. Experimental results show that the superconducting current‐limiting module responds fast at 0.3 ms and limits the DC fault current of 10 kA to a peak of 816 A. Then the DC interruption module interrupts the limited current successfully. Besides, there is no overvoltage afterward in all the tests because the superconducting current‐limiting module absorbs much of the energy during the interruption. The proposed DCCB would be an effective method for interrupting short‐circuit faults in high voltage DC systems.
A 3D view of the Taurus star-forming region by Gaia and Herschel
Authors: Roccatagliata V. , Franciosini E. , Sacco G. G. , Randich S. , Sicilia-Aguilar A. 
Published: April 2020

Context. Taurus represents an ideal region to study the three-dimensional distribution of the young stellar population and relate it to the associated molecular cloud.
Aims. The second Gaia data release (DR2) enables us to investigate the Taurus complex in three dimensions, starting from a previously defined robust membership. The molecular cloud structured in filaments can be traced in emission using the public far-infrared maps from Herschel.
Methods. From a compiled catalog of spectroscopically confirmed members, we analyze the 283 sources with reliable parallax and proper motions in the Gaia DR2 archive. We fit the distribution of parallaxes and proper motions with multiple populations described by multivariate Gaussians. We compute the cartesian Galactic coordinates (X,Y,Z) and, for the populations associated with the main cloud, also the galactic space velocity (U,V,W). We discuss the spatial distribution of the populations in relation to the structure of the filamentary molecular cloud traced by Herschel.
Results. We discover the presence of six populations which are all well defined in parallax and proper motions, with the only exception being Taurus D. The derived distances range between ~130 and ~160 pc. We do not find a unique relation between stellar population and the associated molecular cloud: while the stellar population seems to be on the cloud surface, both lying at similar distances, this is not the case when the molecular cloud is structured in filaments. Taurus B is probably moving in the direction of Taurus A, while Taurus E appears to be moving towards them.
Conclusions. The Taurus region is the result of a complex star formation history which most probably occurred in clumpy and filamentary structures that are evolving independently.
Mechanical feedback effects on primordial black hole accretion
Authors: Bosch-Ramon V. , Bellomo N. 
Published: April 2020

Context. Dark matter may consist, at least partially, of primordial black holes formed during the radiation-dominated era. The radiation produced by accretion onto primordial black holes leaves characteristic signatures on the properties of the medium at high redshift, before and after hydrogen recombination. Therefore, reliable modeling of accretion onto these objects is required to obtain robust constraints on their abundance.
Aims. We investigate the effect of mechanical feedback, that is, the impact of outflows (winds and– or –jets) on the medium, on primordial black hole accretion, and thereby on the associated radiation.
Methods. Using analytical and numerical calculations, we studied for the first time the possibility that outflows can reduce the accretion rate of primordial black holes with masses similar to those detected by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration.
Results. Despite the complexity of the accretion rate evolution, mechanical feedback is useful in to significantly reducing the primordial black hole accretion rate, at least by one order of magnitude, when outflows are aligned with the motion of the compact object. If the outflow is perpendicular to the direction of motion, the effect is less important, but it is still non-negligible.
Conclusions. Outflows from primordial black holes, even rather weak ones, can significantly decrease the accretion rate, effectively weakening abundance constraints on these objects. Our results motivate further numerical simulations with a more realistic setup, which would yield more precise quantitative predictions.
Mineral snowflakes on exoplanets and brown dwarfs
Authors: Samra D. , Helling Ch. , Min M. 
Published: April 2020

Context. Exoplanet atmosphere characterisation has become an important tool in understanding exoplanet formation, evolution, and it also is a window into potential habitability. However, clouds remain a key challenge for characterisation: upcoming space telescopes (e.g. the James Webb Space Telescope, JWST, and the Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey) and ground-based high-resolution spectrographs (e.g. the next-generation CRyogenic high-resolution InfraRed Echelle Spectrograph) will produce data requiring detailed understanding of cloud formation and cloud effects for a variety of exoplanets and brown dwarfs.
Aims. We aim to understand how the micro-porosity of cloud particles affects the cloud structure, particle size, and material composition on exoplanets and brown dwarfs. We further examine the spectroscopic effects of micro-porous particles, the particle size distribution, and non-spherical cloud particles.
Methods. We expanded our kinetic non-equilibrium cloud formation model to study the effect of micro-porosity on the cloud structure using prescribed 1D (Tgas–pgas) profiles from the DRIFT-PHOENIX model atmosphere grid. We applied the effective medium theory and the Mie theory to model the spectroscopic properties of cloud particles with micro-porosity and a derived particle size distribution. In addition, we used a statistical distribution of hollow spheres to represent the effects of non-spherical cloud particles.
Results. Highly micro-porous cloud particles (90% vacuum) have a larger surface area, enabling efficient bulk growth higher in the atmosphere than for compact particles. Increases in single scattering albedo and cross-sectional area for these mineral snowflakes cause the cloud deck to become optically thin only at a wavelength of ~100 μm instead of at the ~20 μm for compact cloud particles. A significant enhancement in albedo is also seen when cloud particles occur with a locally changing Gaussian size distribution. Non-spherical particles increase the opacity of silicate spectral features, which further increases the wavelength at which the clouds become optically thin.
Conclusions. Retrievals of cloud properties, particularly particle size and mass of clouds, are biased by the assumption of compact spherical particles. The JWST mid-infrared instrument will be sensitive to signatures of micro-porous and non-spherical cloud particles based on the wavelength at which clouds are optically thin. Details of spectral features are also dependent on particle shape, and greater care must be taken in modelling clouds as observational data improves.
La perception des avantages et des contraintes de l’écimage du cotonnier par les producteurs du Mali
Authors: Diarra Mama , Havard Michel , Soumaré Mamy 
Published: April 2020

Au Mali, l’efficacité de la lutte chimique systématique (traitements calendaires) contre les ravageurs du cotonnier est régulièrement remise en cause. Des alternatives à cette lutte, comme la lutte étagée ciblée, l’intervention sur seuil et la culture biologique, visant toutes à réduire les quantités de pesticides utilisées, sont diffusées ; d’autres sont testées chez les producteurs, comme l’écimage du cotonnier. Cette étude analyse la perception de la technique de l’écimage du cotonnier par des producteurs. Elle a été conduite dans quatre villages de la zone cotonnière, à l’aide de focus groups d’hommes et de femmes et d’entretiens avec 40 producteurs ayant pratiqué ou non l’écimage. Les avantages de l’écimage identifiés par la majorité des producteurs interrogés sont : (i) une technique manuelle facile à mettre en œuvre, (ii) la diminution des risques de chute d’organes fructifères, (iii) la réduction de la hauteur des plants, s’étalant davantage (iv) une amélioration du rendement et (v) la réduction de la population des ravageurs et donc de l’utilisation des pesticides, ayant des effets positifs sur la santé humaine et l’environnement, et diminuant les coûts de production. Ses principales contraintes sont le besoin supplémentaire de main-d’œuvre et son coût par rapport à la culture de coton non écimé. Des partenariats avec les sociétés cotonnières et les organisations paysannes et la formation de leurs agents à l’écimage sont indispensables pour une adoption de cette technique à une plus large échelle.
A clioquinol-containing Pluronic® F127 polymeric micelle system is effective in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in a murine model
Authors: Tavares Grasiele S.V. , Mendonça Débora V.C. , Pereira Isabela A.G. , Oliveira-da-Silva João A. , Ramos Fernanda F. , Lage Daniela P. , Machado Amanda S. , Carvalho Lívia M. , Reis Thiago A.R. , Perin Luísa , Carvalho Ana Maria R.S. , Ottoni Flaviano M. , Ludolf Fernanda , Freitas Camila S. , Bandeira Raquel S. , Silva Alessandra M. , Chávez-Fumagalli Miguel A. , Duarte Mariana C. , Menezes-Souza Daniel , Alves Ricardo J. , Roatt Bruno M. , Coelho Eduardo A.F. 
Published: April 2020

A clioquinol (ICHQ)-containing Pluronic® F127 polymeric micelle system (ICHQ/Mic) was recently shown to be effective against Leishmania amazonensis infection in a murine model. In the present study, ICHQ/Mic was tested against L. infantum infection. BALB/c mice (n = 12 per group) were infected with L. infantum stationary promastigotes through subcutaneous injection and, 45 days after challenge, received saline or were treated via the subcutaneous route with empty micelles, ICHQ or ICHQ/Mic. In addition, animals were treated with miltefosine by the oral route, as a drug control. Half of the animals were euthanized 1 and 15 days after treatment, aiming to evaluate two endpoints after therapy, when parasitological and immunological parameters were investigated. Results showed that the treatment using miltefosine, ICHQ or ICHQ/Mic induced significantly higher anti-parasite IFN-γ, IL-12, GM-CSF, nitrite and IgG2a isotype antibody levels, which were associated with low IL-4 and IL-10 production. In addition, a higher frequency of IFN-γ and TNF-α-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells was found in these animals. The parasite load was evaluated in distinct organs, and results showed that the treatment using miltefosine, ICHQ or ICHQ/Mic induced significant reductions in organic parasitism in the treated and infected mice. A comparison between the treatments suggested that ICHQ/Mic was the most effective in inducing a highly polarized Th1-type response, as well as reducing the parasite load in significant levels in the treated and infected animals. Data obtained 15 days after treatment suggested maintenance of the immunological and parasitological responses. In conclusion, ICHQ/Mic could be considered in future studies for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.
VO2 Steady State at and Just Above Maximum Lactate Steady State
Intensity
Authors: Bräuer Elisabeth K. , Smekal Gerhard 
Published: April 2020

AbstractOver recent decades the association between metabolic and gas exchange parameters
during exercise has become evident. Different “thresholds” (such
as lactate thresholds, critical power, EMG thresholds) and intensity domains
appear to be linked to an upper limit of oxygen uptake steady state
(V̇O2SS). The aim of this study was to investigate
whether MLSS is associated with the upper limit for a V̇O2SS.
Forty-five subjects underwent one incremental test and 4–6 30-minute
MLSS tests on a cycle ergometer. A three-component model was used to describe
V̇O2 response at PMLSS and just above
PMLSS+1. To evaluate the results, breath-by-breath
V̇O2 and lactate (LA) values were analyzed using the
intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), increasing (k-) values and the
Wilcoxon test. According to the calculated k-values of LA and VO2 at
PMLSS and PMLSS+1, no significant increase of
VO2 occurred during both intensities (PMLSS and
PMLSS+1) from minute 10 to minute 30, confirming the
existence of a V̇O2SS. Additionally, the ICC of 0.94
confirmed high accordance of the VO2 kinetics at both intensities
(PMLSS and PMLSS+1). This study shows that
power output at MLSS workload does not represent an accurate cut for an upper
limit of V̇O2SS.
Regulation of Circulatory Muscle-specific MicroRNA during 8 km
Run
Authors: Yin Xin , Cui Shufang , Li Xin , Li Wei , Lu Qiu ju , Jiang Xiao hong , Wang Hui , Chen Xi , Ma Ji zheng 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAcute prolonged endurance running has been shown to alter muscle-specific
circulating microRNA (miRNA) levels. Here, eighteen participants completed an 8
km run. We assessed the levels of hsa-miR-1–3p, -133a-3p, -133b, and
-206 and their correlation with conventional biomarkers following exercise.
Compared to before exercise (Pre), 8 km run significantly increased the
lactate level immediately after exercise (0 h). Myoglobin (Mb) level increased
at 0 h while creatine kinase (CK) level increased 24 h after exercise (24 h).
The levels of creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI)
were all elevated at 24 h and within the normal physiological range; The levels
of hsa-miR-1–3p, -133a-3p, -133b significantly increased at 0 h but only
hsa-miR-133a-3p still elevated at 24 h. Only hsa-miR-206 level decreased at 24
h; Additionally, the changes of hsa-miR-1–3p and hsa-miR-133a-3p were
correlated with Mb at 24 h. These findings suggest that muscle-specific miRNA
elevation in plasma is likely physiological and that these miRNA may be used as
potential biomarkers for load monitoring in individuals.