bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of surface carbonates on the cyclability of LiNbO3-coated NCM622 in all-solid-state batteries with lithium thiophosphate electrolytes
Authors: Kim A-Young , Strauss Florian , Bartsch Timo , Teo Jun Hao , Janek Jürgen , Brezesinski Torsten 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWhile still premature as an energy storage technology, bulk solid-state batteries are attracting much attention in the academic and industrial communities lately. In particular, layered lithium metal oxides and lithium thiophosphates hold promise as cathode materials and superionic solid electrolytes, respectively. However, interfacial side reactions between the individual components during battery operation usually result in accelerated performance degradation. Hence, effective surface coatings are required to mitigate or ideally prevent detrimental reactions from occurring and having an impact on the cyclability. In the present work, we examine how surface carbonates incorporated into the sol–gel-derived LiNbO3 protective coating on NCM622 [Li1+x(Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2)1–xO2] cathode material affect the efficiency and rate capability of pellet-stack solid-state battery cells with β-Li3PS4 or argyrodite Li6PS5Cl solid electrolyte and a Li4Ti5O12 anode. Our research data indicate that a hybrid coating may in fact be beneficial to the kinetics and the cycling performance strongly depends on the solid electrolyte used.
Evaluation of the quality of lentic ecosystems in Romania by a GIS based WRASTIC model
Authors: Niculae Mihaita-Iulian , Avram Sorin , Corpade Ana-Maria , Dedu Silvia , Gheorghe Carmen Adriana , Pascu Ionut Silviu , Ontel Irina , Rodino Steliana 
Published: March 2021

AbstractGlobally, ecosystems are constantly degrading as a result of pressures derived from human activities and climate change. For working towards the restoration of the natural balance, it is necessary to evaluate the deviations induced in the ecosystems, to identify where the changes took place, to know what is their amplitude and to decide where it is possible to get involved. Many aquatic ecosystems are depreciated and their restoration is often difficult. Development of appropriate assessment methodologies will improve the decision-making process in public policies for environmental protection and conservation of biodiversity. This study presents an assessment of the degradation level of lentic ecosystems in Romania, performed through a multi-criteria analysis. An extension of the WRASTIC index (Wastewater-Recreational-Agricultural-Size-Transportations-Indutrial-Cover) was generated, namely WRASTIC-HI. The new index was obtained by including values derived from the Potential Pollutant Load index. The analysis showed that 13% of the evaluated lakes are natural, 56.5% are semi-degraded and 30.5% are degraded. The proposed methodology allows to determine the spatial distribution of the degradation sources and to calculate the corresponding indicators. The results obtained provide a useful tool for diagnostic step that can be used as a cornerstone to further identification of environmental conflicts and proposals for improvement of the ecological status of the lentic ecosystems.
Central rib and the nutritive value of leaves in forage grasses
Authors: Garcia Larissa Fernanda , Silva Guilherme Portes , Geremia Eliana Vera , Goulart Laura Beatriz Lima , Dias Carlos Tadeu dos Santos , da Silva Sila Carneiro 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn grasses, leaf expansion and central rib growth occur in a non-proportional manner, with potential implications to the nutritive value of leaves. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship among blade length, percentage of central rib, anatomical characteristics and the nutritive value along the length of leaf blades of different sizes and hierarchical order of insertion on the tiller axis of Napier elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Napier). Two experiments were carried out with isolated growing plants during the summer of 2017 (January to March). Central rib mass increased linearly with the increase in leaf blade mass and its percentage relative to blade mass decreased from the base to the tip of the leaf. There were no significant variations in anatomical characteristics along the length of leaf blades when central rib was not taken into account. The central rib showed negative relationship with nutritive value. The apical portions of long leaves showed similar digestibility to short leaves. The multivariate analysis of Cluster and Principal Components grouped the response variables according to leaf hierarchical order, final blade length and percentage of structural tissues, highlighting the relationship between leaf size, structural tissues and nutritive value.
MRC5 cells engineered to express ACE2 serve as a model system for the discovery of antivirals targeting SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Uemura Kentaro , Sasaki Michihito , Sanaki Takao , Toba Shinsuke , Takahashi Yoshimasa , Orba Yasuko , Hall William W. , Maenaka Katsumi , Sawa Hirofumi , Sato Akihiko 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAlthough the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in a worldwide pandemic, there are currently no virus-specific drugs that are fully effective against SARS-CoV-2. Only a limited number of human-derived cells are capable of supporting SARS-CoV-2 replication and the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in these cells remains poor. In contrast, monkey-derived Vero cells are highly susceptibility to infection with SARS-CoV-2, although they are not suitable for the study of antiviral effects by small molecules due to their limited capacity to metabolize drugs compared to human-derived cells. In this study, our goal was to generate a virus-susceptible human cell line that would be useful for the identification and testing of candidate drugs. Towards this end, we stably transfected human lung-derived MRC5 cells with a lentiviral vector encoding angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the cellular receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Our results revealed that SARS-CoV-2 replicates efficiently in MRC5/ACE2 cells. Furthermore, viral RNA replication and progeny virus production were significantly reduced in response to administration of the replication inhibitor, remdesivir, in MRC5/ACE2 cells compared with Vero cells. We conclude that the MRC5/ACE2 cells will be important in developing specific anti-viral therapeutics and will assist in vaccine development to combat SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Composition equivalents of stainless steels understood via gamma stabilizing efficiency
Authors: Zhang Shuqi , Wang Qing , Yang Rui , Dong Chuang 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe phase-type of a stainless steel is generally predicted by equivalent equations in terms of a major austenitic (γ) or ferritic (α) stabilizer Ni or Cr. The present paper attempts to understand the equivalent methods in stainless steels via the slopes of the phase boundary lines separating γ and γ + α phase zones. The prevailing equivalent coefficients are well interpreted using the slope ratios of the alloying elements divided by that of Ni or Cr, after analyzing over one hundred common stainless steels. Different from traditional composition equivalents which evaluate γ stabilizers and α stabilizers separately; the new equivalent scheme provides a unified phase stabilizing parameter for all alloying elements in stainless steels. This parameter is defined as γ stabilizing efficiency. Its negative or positive sign indicates γ stabilizer or α stabilizer, and its value represents the stabilizing efficiency.
Programmable half-life and anti-tumour effects of bispecific T-cell engager-albumin fusions with tuned FcRn affinity
Authors: Mandrup Ole A. , Ong Sui Ching , Lykkemark Simon , Dinesen Anders , Rudnik-Jansen Imke , Dagnæs-Hansen Niels Frederik , Andersen Jan Terje , Alvarez-Vallina Luis , Howard Kenneth A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractFc-less bispecific T-cell engagers have reached the immuno-oncology market but necessitate continual infusion due to rapid clearance from the circulation. This work introduces a programmable serum half-life extension platform based on fusion of human albumin sequences engineered with either null (NB), wild type (WT) or high binding (HB) FcRn affinity combined with a bispecific T-cell engager. We demonstrate in a humanised FcRn/albumin double transgenic mouse model (AlbuMus) the ability to tune half-life based on the albumin sequence fused with a BiTE-like bispecific (anti-EGFR nanobody x anti-CD3 scFv) light T-cell engager (LiTE) construct [(t½ 0.6 h (Fc-less LiTE), t½ 19 hours (Albu-LiTE-NB), t½ 26 hours (Albu-LiTE-WT), t½ 37 hours (Albu-LiTE-HB)]. We show in vitro cognate target engagement, T-cell activation and discrimination in cellular cytotoxicity dependent on EGFR expression levels. Furthermore, greater growth inhibition of EGFR-positive BRAF mutated tumours was measured following a single dose of Albu-LiTE-HB construct compared to the Fc-less LiTE format and a full-length anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody in a new AlbuMus RAG1 knockout model introduced in this work. Programmable half-life extension facilitated by this albumin platform potentially offers long-lasting effects, better patient compliance and a method to tailor pharmacokinetics to maximise therapeutic efficacy and safety of immuno-oncology targeted biologics.
Cryo-EM structure of a functional monomeric Photosystem I from Thermosynechococcus elongatus reveals red chlorophyll cluster
Authors: Çoruh Orkun , Frank Anna , Tanaka Hideaki , Kawamoto Akihiro , El-Mohsnawy Eithar , Kato Takayuki , Namba Keiichi , Gerle Christoph , Nowaczyk Marc M. , Kurisu Genji 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA high-resolution structure of trimeric cyanobacterial Photosystem I (PSI) from Thermosynechococcus elongatus was reported as the first atomic model of PSI almost 20 years ago. However, the monomeric PSI structure has not yet been reported despite long-standing interest in its structure and extensive spectroscopic characterization of the loss of red chlorophylls upon monomerization. Here, we describe the structure of monomeric PSI from Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1. Comparison with the trimer structure gave detailed insights into monomerization-induced changes in both the central trimerization domain and the peripheral regions of the complex. Monomerization-induced loss of red chlorophylls is assigned to a cluster of chlorophylls adjacent to PsaX. Based on our findings, we propose a role of PsaX in the stabilization of red chlorophylls and that lipids of the surrounding membrane present a major source of thermal energy for uphill excitation energy transfer from red chlorophylls to P700.
A solvent-free solid catalyst for the selective and color-indicating ambient-air removal of sulfur mustard
Authors: Collins-Wildman Daniel L. , Sullivan Kevin P. , Geletii Yurii V. , Snider Victoria G. , Gordon Wesley O. , Balboa Alex , Tian Yiyao , Slaugenhaupt Rachel M. , Kaledin Alexey L. , Karwacki Christopher J. , Frenkel Anatoly I. , Musaev Djamaladdin G. , Hill Craig L. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide or sulfur mustard (HD) is one of the highest-tonnage chemical warfare agents and one that is highly persistent in the environment. For decontamination, selective oxidation of HD to the substantially less toxic sulfoxide is crucial. We report here a solvent-free, solid, robust catalyst comprising hydrophobic salts of tribromide and nitrate, copper(II) nitrate hydrate, and a solid acid (NafionTM) for selective sulfoxidation using only ambient air at room temperature. This system rapidly removes HD as a neat liquid or a vapor. The mechanisms of these aerobic decontamination reactions are complex, and studies confirm reversible formation of a key intermediate, the bromosulfonium ion, and the role of Cu(II). The latter increases the rate four-fold by increasing the equilibrium concentration of bromosulfonium during turnover. Cu(II) also provides a colorimetric detection capability. Without HD, the solid is green, and with HD, it is brown. Bromine K-edge XANES and EXAFS studies confirm regeneration of tribromide under catalytic conditions. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy shows absorption of HD vapor and selective conversion to the desired sulfoxide, HDO, at the gas–solid interface.
Searching for the 1 mHz variability in the flickering of V4743 Sgr: A cataclysmic variable accreting at a high rate
Authors: Dobrotka A. , Orio M. , Benka D. , Vanderburg A. 
Published: March 2021

Aims. A few well studied cataclysmic variables (CVs) have shown discrete characteristic frequencies of fast variability; the most prominent ones are around log(f/Hz) ≃ −3. Because we still have only small number statistics, we obtained a new observation to test whether this is a general characteristic of CVs, especially if mass transfer occurs at a high rate typical for dwarf nova in outbursts, in the so called high state.
Methods. We analysed optical Kepler data of the quiescent nova and intermediate polar V4743 Sgr. This system hosts a white dwarf accreting through a disc in the high state. We calculated the power density spectra and searched for break or characteristic frequencies. Our goal is to assess whether the milihertz frequency of the flickering is a general characteristic.
Results. V4743 Sgr has a clear break frequency at log(f/Hz) ≃ −3. This detection increases the probability that the megahertz characteristic frequency is a general feature of CVs in the high state, from 69% to 91%. Furthermore, we propose the possibility that the variability is generated by a similar mechanism as in the nova-like system MV Lyr, which would make V4743 Sgr unique.
Radial velocity map of solar wind transients in the field of view of STEREO/HI1 on 3 and 4 April 2010
Authors: Li Xiaolei , Wang Yuming , Guo Jingnan , Liu Rui , Zhuang Bin 
Published: March 2021

Context. The solar wind transients propagating out in the inner heliosphere can be observed in white-light images from Heliospheric Imager-1 (HI1), an instrument of the Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation on board the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO), from two perspectives. The spatial velocity distribution inside solar wind transients is key to understanding their dynamic evolution processes.
Aims. We generated a velocity map of transients in 3D space based on 2D white-light images and used it to estimate the expansion rate as well as some kinematic properties of solar wind transients.
Methods. Based on the recently developed correlation-aided reconstruction method in our previous work, which can recognize and locate 3D solar wind transients from STEREO/HI1 image data, we further developped a new technique for deriving the spatial distribution of the radial velocities of the most pronounced features inside solar wind transients.
Results. The technique was applied to events including a coronal mass ejection (CME) and three small-scale transients, so-called blobs, observed by HI1 on 3–4 April 2010 to reconstruct their radial velocity maps. The results match the forward-modeling results, simulations, and in situ observations at 1 AU fairly well. According to the obtained spatial distributions of height and radial velocity of the CME, we analyzed the self-similarity of the radial expansion of the CME ejecta. The dimensionless radial expansion rate of the northern and middle parts of the CME ejecta varies in the range of 0.7−1.0 at heliocentric distance between 25 R⊙ and 55 R⊙ and the rate of the southern part in the range of 0.3−0.5, suggesting that the CME structure was distorted and shaped by the ambient solar wind. The technique we developed is expected to be applied to more events.
Analysis of apsidal motion in eclipsing binaries using TESS data
Authors: Baroch D. , Giménez A. , Ribas I. , Morales J. C. , Anglada-Escudé G. , Claret A. 
Published: March 2021

Context.The change in the argument of periastron of eclipsing binaries, that is, the apsidal motion caused by classical and relativistic effects, can be measured from variations in the difference between the time of minimum light of the primary and secondary eclipses. Poor apsidal motion rate determinations and large uncertainties in the classical term have hampered previous attempts to determine the general relativistic term with sufficient precision to test general relativity predictions.Aims.As a product of the TESS mission, thousands of high-precision light curves from eclipsing binaries are now available. Using a selection of suitable well-studied eccentric eclipsing binary systems, we aim to determine their apsidal motion rates and place constraints on key gravitational parameters.Methods.We compute the time of minimum light from the TESS light curves of 15 eclipsing binaries with precise absolute parameters and with an expected general relativistic contribution to the total apsidal motion rate of greater than 60%. We use the changing primary and secondary eclipse timing differences over time to compute the apsidal motion rate, when possible, or the difference between the linear periods as computed from primary and secondary eclipses. For a greater time baseline we carefully combine the high-precision TESS timings with archival reliable timings.Results.We determine the apsidal motion rate of 9 eclipsing binaries, 5 of which are reported for the first time. From these, we are able to measure the general relativistic apsidal motion rate of 6 systems with sufficient precision to test general relativity for the first time using this method. This test explores a regime of gravitational forces and potentials that had not been probed before. We find perfect agreement with theoretical predictions, and we are able to set stringent constraints on two parameters of the parametrised post-Newtonian formalism.
Self-scattering on large, porous grains in protoplanetary disks with dust settling
Authors: Brunngräber R. , Wolf S. 
Published: March 2021

Context. Observations of protoplanetary disks in the sub-millimetre wavelength range suggest that polarisation is caused by scattering of thermal re-emission radiation. Most of the dust models that are used to explain these observations have major drawbacks: they either use much smaller grain sizes than expected from dust evolution models, or result in polarisation degrees that are lower than observed.
Aims. We investigate the effect of dust grain porosity on the observable polarisation due to scattering at sub-millimetre wavelengths arising from grain size distributions up to millimetre sizes, as they are expected to be present close to the midplane of protoplanetary disks.
Methods. Using the effective medium theory, we calculated the optical properties of porous dust and used them to predict the behaviour of the observable polarisation degree due to scattering. Subsequently, Monte Carlo radiative transfer simulations for protoplanetary disks with porous dust grains were performed to analyse the additional effect of the optical depth structure, and thus the effect of multiple scattering events and inhomogeneous temperature distributions on the net observable polarisation degree.
Results. We find that porous dust grains with moderate filling factors of about 10% increase the degree of polarisation compared to compact grains. For higher grain porosities, that is, grains with a filling factor of 1% or lower, the extinction opacity decreases, as does the optical depth of a disk with constant mass. Consequently, the unpolarised direct radiation dominates the scattered flux, and the degree of polarisation drops rapidly. Even though the simulated polarisation degree is higher than in the case of compact grains, it is still below the typical observed values for face-on disks. However, the polarisation degree can be increased when crucial model assumptions derived from disk and dust evolution theories, for instance, dust settling and millimetre-sized dust grains, are dropped. In the case of inclined disks, however, our reference model is able to achieve polarisation degrees of about 1%, and using higher disk masses, even higher than this.
Procédé technologique LUMELEC : au carrefour de l’optique et de l’électronique
Authors: Arguel P. , Grisolia J. , Launay J. , Tap H. , Capello C. , Rouabhi C. , Guerin F. , Gessinn F. 
Published: March 2021

Chaque année, les installations de l’AIME (Atelier Interuniversitaire de Micro-nano-Electronique) de Toulouse sont utilisées par une quarantaine de filières d’enseignement qui y trouvent tous les moyens techniques pour concevoir, réaliser et caractériser un ensemble de dispositifs électroniques ou des microsystèmes électromécaniques. S’inscrivant dans une volonté d’élargissement de l’offre de formation de cette structure inter-établissement, et afin de répondre à une demande croissante de ses utilisateurs, un nouveau procédé technologique visant la conception, la réalisation et la caractérisation de dispositifs optoélectroniques a été mis en place en 2012 et est suivi aujourd’hui par environ 250 étudiants par an, en provenance de diverses formations universitaires ou écoles d’ingénieurs.
Ce procédé, baptisé LUMELEC, a pour objectif de fabriquer, sur un même substrat de silicium, divers photodétecteurs destinés à être caractérisés et dont les performances font l’objet d’une étude comparative en fonction de l’application visée. En rupture avec les approches conventionnelles, nous proposons ici la mise en oeuvre d’une réelle microfabrication par les étudiants, succédant à une phase de modélisation et aboutissant à une caractérisation quasi exhaustive du système réalisé. Ainsi, les contraintes liées à des applications dans des domaines aussi variés que la conversion photovoltaïque, la domotique, la biologie, l’environnement,… sont analysées afin de déterminer les caractéristiques du dispositif le mieux adapté à sa fonction. Aujourd’hui, bénéficiant d’un retour d’expérience sur plusieurs années, nous décrivons dans cet article les principales options retenues pour permettre une mise en oeuvre aisée et « modulaire » de ce projet, et faire en sorte qu’il réponde aux demandes de formations diverses.
Contamination of argon x-ray spectra by tungsten and other elements commonly found in tokamaks
Authors: Rice J E , Gu M , Cao N M , Hughes J W , Reinke M L , Sertoli M , Vezinet D 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Emission lines which appear in the spectral ranges of ground state transitions from n = 2 levels in He- and H-like argon ions are discussed. X-ray transitions from elements commonly found in tokamaks (tungsten, molybdenum, iron and sulphur) which radiate in the wavelength range from 3700–4000 mÅ are identified by comparison with atomic structure calculations. Individual lines from tungsten charge states in the vicinity of Zn-like W44+ are documented, along with B-like Mo37+. The behaviour of line ratios as a function of electron temperature is examined, in support of the identifications.