Electronic structure,elastic and magnetic properties of the binary intermetallics RFe2 (R = Eu,Gd and Tb)

Journal of Computational Electronics - Laves-phase (C15) binary intermetallics RFe2 (R?=?Eu, Gd and Tb) are studied using various potentials in the domain of density functional theory...     

Emerging Solutions in Big Data and Cloud Technologies for Mobile Networks

Mobile Networks and Applications -     

Reach a nonlinear consensus for MAS via doubly stochastic quadratic operators

This technical note addresses the new nonlinear protocol class of doubly stochastic quadratic operators (DSQOs) for coordination of consensus problem in multi-agent systems (MAS). We derive the conditions for ensuring that every agent reaches consensus on a desired rate of the group's decision where the group decision value in its agent's initial statuses varies. Besides that, we investigate a nonlinear protocol sub-class of extreme DSQO (EDSQO) to reach a consensus for MAS to a common value with nonlinear low-complexity rules and fast time convergence if the interactions for each agent are not selfish. In addition, to extend the results to reach a consensus and to avoid the selfish case we specify a general class of DSQO for reaching a consensus under any given case of initial states. The case that MAS reach a consensus by DSQO is if each member of the agent group has positive interactions of DSQO (PDSQO) with the others. The convergence of both EDSQO and PDSQO classes is found to be directed towards the centre point. Finally, experimental simulations are given to support the analysis from theoretical aspect.     

Hydrogen Gas Sensing Based on SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Nanostructure Prepared by Sol–Gel Spin Coating Method

A novel H₂ gas sensor based on a SnO₂ nanostructure was operated at room temperature (RT) (25°C). The SnO₂ nanostructure was grown on Al₂O₃ substrates by a sol–gel spin coating method. The structural characteristics, surface morphology, and gas sensing properties of the SnO₂ nanostructure were investigated. Thin film annealing at 500°C produced a high-quality SnO₂ nanostructure with a crystallite size of 33.98 nm. A metal–semiconductor–metal gas sensor was fabricated using the SnO₂ nanostructure and palladium metal. The gas sensor exhibited a sensitivity of 2570% to 1000 ppm H₂ gas at RT. The sensing measurements for H₂ gas at different temperatures (RT to 125°C) were repeatable?for 50 min. Sensor sensitivity was tested under different H₂ concentrations (150 ppm, 250 ppm, 375 ppm, 500 ppm, and 1000 ppm) at different operating temperatures. Adding glycerin to the sol solution increased the porosity of the SnO₂ nanostructure surface, which increased the adsorption/desorption of gas molecules which leads to the high sensitivity of the sensor. Therefore, this H₂ gas sensor is a suitable?portable?RT gas sensor.     

Polymorphic occurrence and crystallization rates of tristearin/tripalmitin mixtures under non‐isothermal conditions

The effect of composition and cooling rate on polymorphic occurrence and crystallization rates in binary mixtures of tripalmitoylglycerol (PPP) and tristearoylglycerol (SSS) has been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), light microscopy and X‐ray diffraction under constant cooling rates. In general, β and β' polymorphs were observed at cooling rates of 0.5 K/min and less, and the α form at higher cooling rates. Double peaks were observed in the DSC exotherms of mixtures containing more than 30% SSS. The X‐ray data showed that, when cooling at 0.5 K/min, the double peaks correspond to the crystallization of the α and β' forms. However, when cooling at 1 K/min and higher, the double peaks appear to arise from the crystallization of two α phases – one PPP rich and the other SSS rich. Light microscopy experiments also show two distinct morphologies, which corroborates this view. The apparent SSS‐rich phase crystallizes as irregular spherulites whereas the apparent PPP‐rich phase forms a fine crystal mass. Analyses of thermograms relating to the α form show that the amount of supercooling at the onset of crystallization is virtually independent of composition. However, peak width information shows that, once started, pure‐component samples crystallize faster than mixtures.     

Mechanical properties with respect to water content of gelatin films in glassy state

Changes on the structural and molecular level of gelatin films induced by hydration below 25±3% water content (glass–rubbery transition at ambient temperature) were identified with DSC and FTIR spectroscopy. Three main stages of hydration were distinguished: (I) water bound by high-energy sorption centres; (II) structural water; (III) polymolecular layer water. The mechanical behaviour of gelatin films at each stage of hydration was characterized. Relaxation of the films during hydration was taken into account in the analysis of results. Hydrated gelatin films were characterized as brittle below the glass–rubbery transition at ambient temperature, however some improvement of mechanical properties related to a higher renaturation level was showed between 7 and 14% of water content in stage II (structural water).     

Leaf Bacteriome in Sugar Beet Shows Differential Response against Beet curly top virus during Resistant and Susceptible Interactions

Beet curly top virus (BCTV) significantly reduces sugar beet yield in semi-arid production areas. Genetic resistance to BCTV is limited; therefore, identification of additional resistance-associated factors is highly desired. Using 16S rRNA sequencing and BCTV resistant (R) genotypes (KDH13, KDH4-9) along with a susceptible (S) genotype (KDH19-17), we investigated leaf bacteriome changes during BCTV post inoculation (pi). At day 6 (~6-week-old plants), Cyanobacteria were predominant (~90%); whereas, at week 4 (~10-week-old plants) Firmicutes (11–66%), Bacteroidetes (17–26%), and Verrucomicrobia (12–29%) were predominant phyla and genotype dependent. Both Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia, increased post infection only in the R lines. The bacterial genera Brevibacillus increased at 6 dpi, and Akkermansia and Bacteroides at 4 wkpi in the R lines. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) identified potential biomarkers in the R vs. S lines. Functional profiling revealed bacterial enrichment associated with the TCA cycle, polyisoprenoid, and L-methionine biosynthesis pathways only in KDH4-9 at 6 dpi. At 4 wkpi, bacteria associated with tryptophan and palmitate biosynthesis in the R lines, and uridine monophosphate, phosphatidyl glycerol, and phospholipid biosynthesis in the S line, were enriched. Future characterization of bacterial genera with antiviral properties will help establish their use as biocontrol agents/biomarkers against BCTV.     

Clostridioides difficile Flagellin Activates the Intracellular NLRC4 Inflammasome

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile), is a major cause of nosocomial diarrhea and colitis. C. difficile flagellin FliC contributes toxins to gut inflammation by interacting with the immune Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) to activate nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Flagella of intracellular pathogens can activate the NLR family CARD domain-containing protein 4 (NLRC4) inflammasome pathway. In this study, we assessed whether flagellin of the extracellular bacterium C. difficile internalizes into epithelial cells and activates the NLRC4 inflammasome. Confocal microscopy showed internalization of recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFP)-FliC into intestinal Caco-2/TC7 cell line. Full-length GFP-FliC activates NLRC4 in Caco-2/TC7 cells in contrast to truncated GFP-FliC lacking the C-terminal region recognized by the inflammasome. FliC induced cleavage of pro-caspase-1 into two subunits, p20 and p10 as well as gasdermin D (GSDMD), suggesting the caspase-1 and NLRC4 inflammasome activation. In addition, colocalization of GFP-FliC and pro-caspase-1 was observed, indicating the FliC-dependent NLRC4 inflammasome activation. Overexpression of the inflammasome-related interleukin (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, and IL-33) encoding genes as well as increasing of the IL-18 synthesis was detected after cell stimulation. Inhibition of I-kappa-B kinase alpha (IKK-α) decreased the FliC-dependent inflammasome interleukin gene expression suggesting a role of the NF-κB pathway in regulating inflammasome. Altogether, these results suggest that FliC internalizes into the Caco-2/TC7 cells and activates the intracellular NLRC4 inflammasome thus contributing to the inflammatory process of C. difficile infection.     

On experimental investigation of failure process of woven-fabric composites

In this paper an experimental investigation is performed to describe the fracture behavior and failure mechanisms of woven fabrics composites, under static loading, using a compact tension test (CT). We studied the development of the different damage phases using the digital image correlation and the compliance method. The crack length was estimated at in the front of the notch tip. The approach of the effective crack length via the compliance procedure was compared to the measures of the damage in the epoxy/glass fiber composite obtained by the digital image correlation (DIC).     

Theoretical analysis of a MAP based blind frame synchronizer

We have recently proposed in [1] a blind frame synchronization method based on a Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) approach. In this letter, we study the properties of this method and show that this synchronization technique is well suitable for codes having a sparse parity check matrix, such as Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes. We also find the probability distributions involved in our synchronization criterion and expand the analytical expression of the probability of false synchronization. Through computer simulations we validate our theoretical results and show that this synchronization technique has excellent performance when applied to LDPC codes. We also show that this method outperforms another approach of blind frame synchronization that computes hard values of the syndrome instead of its Log-Likelihood Ratios (LLR).