Chromosome structure inside the nucleus

Recent in situ three-dimensional structural studies have provided a new model for the 30 nm chromatin fiber. In addition, research during the past year has revealed some of the molecular complexity of non-histone chromosomal proteins. Still to come is the unification of molecular insights with chromosomal architecture.     

Automated microscopy for electron tomography.

Instrumentation and methodology for the automatic collection of tomographic tilt series data for the three-dimensional reconstruction of single particles is described. The system consists of a Philips EM 430 TEM, with a Gatan 673 cooled slow-scan CCD camera and a Philips C400 microscope computer control unit attached. The procedure for data collection includes direct digital recording of the images on the CCD camera and the automatic measurement and correction of (a) image shifts resulting from tilting the specimen, (b) variation of defocus and (c) the eucentric height position of the specimen. Experiments are described illustrating the possibilities and limitations of automatic data collection. Data collection at a magnification of 30k shows that the exposure time of the specimen to the beam is reduced by a factor of 10-100 compared to manual operation of the TEM.     

Highly Efficient 2D/3D Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells via Low‐Pressure Vapor‐Assisted Solution Process

The fabrication of multidimensional organometallic halide perovskite via a low‐pressure vapor‐assisted solution process is demonstrated for the first time. Phenyl ethyl‐ammonium iodide (PEAI)‐doped lead iodide (PbI₂) is first spin‐coated onto the substrate and subsequently reacts with methyl‐ammonium iodide (MAI) vapor in a low‐pressure heating oven. The doping ratio of PEAI in MAI‐vapor‐treated perovskite has significant impact on the crystalline structure, surface morphology, grain size, UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence spectra, and the resultant device performance. Multiple photoluminescence spectra are observed in the perovskite film starting with high PEAI/PbI₂ ratio, which suggests the coexistence of low‐dimensional perovskite (PEA₂MA_n?1Pb_nI_3n+1) with various values of n after vapor reaction. The dimensionality of the as‐fabricated perovskite film reveals an evolution from 2D, hybrid 2D/3D to 3D structure when the doping level of PEAI/PbI₂ ratio varies from 2 to 0. Scanning electron microscopy images and Kelvin probe force microscopy mapping show that the PEAI‐containing perovskite grain is presumably formed around the MAPbI₃ perovskite grain to benefit MAPbI₃ grain growth. The device employing perovskite with PEAI/PbI₂ = 0.05 achieves a champion power conversion efficiency of 19.10% with an open‐circuit voltage of 1.08 V, a current density of 21.91 mA cm^?2, and a remarkable fill factor of 80.36%.     

Damage advancement behavior in braided composite structures for mini aerial vehicles

This work provides a systematic approach to accurately predict damage progression in a composite structure subjected to bending load. Landing gear structures for unmanned aerial vehicles were fabricated from braided textile preforms and assessed for flexural behavior. A multiscale finite element analysis model was developed for analyzing the progressive damage of these structures under bending loads. Microscale and mesoscale analyses were carried out first. Subsequently, the results of microscale and mesoscale analyses were used as inputs in macroscale analyses that predicted the progressive damages in the entire landing gear structure. The numerical results were validated by experimental studies.     

Motion Blur Rendering: State of the Art

Motion blur is a fundamental cue in the perception of objects in motion. This phenomenon manifests as a visible trail along the trajectory of the object and is the result of the combination of relative motion and light integration taking place in film and electronic cameras. In this work, we analyse the mechanisms that produce motion blur in recording devices and the methods that can simulate it in computer generated images. Light integration over time is one of the most expensive processes to simulate in high‐quality renders, as such, we make an in‐depth review of the existing algorithms and we categorize them in the context of a formal model that highlights their differences, strengths and limitations. We finalize this report proposing a number of alternative classifications that will help the reader identify the best technique for a particular scenario.     

Conducting guided inquiry in science classes using authentic, archived, web-based data

Students are often unable to collect the real-time data necessary for conducting inquiry in science classrooms. Web-based, real-time data could, therefore, offer a promising tool for conducting scientific inquiries within classroom environments. This study used a quasi-experimental research design to investigate the effects of inquiry-based instruction coupled with archived online data. Ninety-six preservice teachers in a four-year elementary science teacher-training program participated in this study. The students were enrolled in three sections of the methods course, and these existing groups were randomly assigned to the treatment groups: traditional instruction, traditional instruction supported with a simulation, and inquiry-based instruction with archived online data. Data were collected with structured interviews and analyzed with the constant comparative method and one-way ANOVA. Before the instructional interventions, none of the participants had a scientific understanding of tides, and 15% of the participants had no conceptual understanding of tides at all. After instruction, 72% of the participants who received inquiry-based instruction with archived online data were categorized as having scientific conceptual understandings; 46% of participants who received traditional instruction supported with a simulation were categorized as having scientific conceptual understandings; and 43% of participants who received traditional instruction were categorized as having scientific conceptual understandings. Statistical analyses showed that the group receiving inquiry-based instruction with archived online data performed significantly better than the other two instructional groups. Inquiry-based instruction with archived online data can be used to effectively perform inquiry activities within science classes; it might be used at different grade levels to teach a variety of scientific content.     

On the design of a novel two-objective harmony search approach for distance- and connectivity-based localization in wireless sensor networks

In several wireless sensor network applications the availability of accurate nodes' location information is essential to make collected data meaningful. In this context, estimating the positions of all unknown-located nodes of the network based on noisy distance-related measurements (usually referred to as localization) generally embodies a non-convex optimization problem, which is further exacerbated by the fact that the network may not be uniquely localizable, especially when its connectivity degree is not sufficiently high. In order to efficiently tackle this problem, we propose a novel two-objective localization approach based on the combination of the harmony search (HS) algorithm and a local search procedure. Moreover, some connectivity-based geometrical constraints are defined and exploited to limit the areas in which sensor nodes can be located. The proposed method is tested with different network configurations and compared, in terms of normalized localization error and three multi-objective quality indicators, with a state-of-the-art metaheuristic localization scheme based on the Pareto archived evolution strategy (PAES). The results show that the proposed approach achieves considerable accuracies and, in the majority of the scenarios, outperforms PAES.     

Effects of flexible plate attached to the rear of the cylinder on flow structure

In this experimental study, the flow structure in the wake flow region was investigated with the Particle image velocimetry technique (PIV) by attaching elastic plates at different lengths behind the cylinder. The flow structure occurred at the wake flow region altered depending on the length of the flexible matter. In this experiment, the strips with the lengths of 75, 90, 120, 135 and 180 mm were used to control instabilities. Diameter of the cylinder (D) is 60 mm and the water height (h _w ) is 600 mm. Reynolds number was kept constant as 5000 based on cylinder diameter. The images were captured at mid-height of the cylinder (h _m ) which is 250 mm. As a result of experimental studies, attached flexible strip suppressed vortex shedding occurred in the behind of the cylinder and it is observed that effect of the length flexible of the strip is pretty much. Maximum level of flow characteristics such as Reynolds stress, fluctuation velocities and turbulent kinetic energy were decreased with flexible splitter plate and shifted through the downstream region.     

Phononic and magnonic dispersions of surface waves on a permalloy/BARC nanostructured array

Phononic and magnonic dispersions of a linear array of periodic alternating Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ and bottom anti-reflective coating nanostripes on a Si substrate have been measured using Brillouin light scattering. The observed phononic gaps are considerably larger than those of laterally patterned multi-component crystals previously reported, mainly a consequence of the high elastic and density contrasts between the stripe materials. Additionally, the phonon hybridization bandgap has an unusual origin in the hybridization and avoided crossing of the zone-folded Rayleigh and pseudo-Sezawa waves. The magnonic band structure features near-dispersionless branches, with unusual vortex-like dynamic magnetization profiles, some of which lie below the highly-dispersive fundamental mode branch. Finite element calculations of the phononic and magnonic dispersions of the magphonic crystal accord well with experimental data.     

Effects of electrospraying parameters on deposition of La0.3Sr0.7Fe0.7Cr0.3O3−δ cathode layer on GDC

High performance in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells requires improvements especially in the microstructure of the cathode layer. New cobalt-free cathode materials are used because cobalt-containing cathodes have higher thermal expansion coefficients, poor long-term chemical stability, and lower mechanical stability. Recently cobalt-free cathodes have been proposed to solve these issues by using deposition methods other than electrospray deposition (ESD). In this study, ESD method is used to develop a cobalt-free cathode layer. The electrolyte layer is gadolinium-doped ceria that is deposited with La_0.3Sr_0.7Fe_0.7 Cr_0.3O_3−δ (LSFCr) prepared by 2-butoxyethanol and ethylene glycol solvents as opposed to conventional solvents. Experimental ESD parameters are tested at different levels and combinations by applying statistical experimental design methods to optimize the microstructure. Coating deposited as such demonstrated higher electrochemical performance than similar electrodes fabricated by other methods.