The I1 intrinsic stacking fault energy (I1 SFE) serves as an alloy design parameter for ductilizing Mg alloys. In view of this effect we have conducted quantum–mechanical calculations for Mg15X ...solid-solution crystals (X=Dy, Er, Gd, Ho, Lu, Sc, Tb, Tm, Nd, Pr, Be, Ti, Zr, Zn, Tc, Re, Co, Ru, Os, Tl). We find that Y, Sc and all studied lanthanides reduce the I1 SFE and render hexagonal closed-packed (hcp) and double hcp phases thermodynamically, structurally and elastically similar. Synthesis, experimental testing and characterization of some of the predicted key alloys (Mg–3Ho, Mg–3Er, Mg–3Tb, Mg–3Dy) indeed confirm reduced I1 SFEs and significantly improved room-temperature ductility by up to 4–5 times relative to pure Mg, a finding that is attributed to the higher activity of non-basal dislocation slip.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Motor impairment after stroke has been related to infarct size, infarct location, and integrity of motor tracts. To determine the value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) as a predictor of motor ...outcome and its role as a structural surrogate marker of impairment in chronic stroke, we tested correlations between motor impairment and DTI-derived measures of motor tract integrity.
Thirty-five chronic stroke patients with varying degrees of recovery underwent DTI and motor impairment assessments. Fibers originating from the precentral gyrus were traced and separated into pyramidal tract (PT) and alternate motor fibers (aMF). Asymmetry indices of fiber number and regional fractional anisotropy (FA) values comparing lesional with nonlesional hemispheres were correlated with motor impairment scores and compared to an age-matched control group.
Fiber number and regional FA value asymmetry significantly differed between the groups with lower values in the patients' lesional hemispheres. Both measures significantly predicted motor impairment with stronger predictions when all motor tracts were combined as compared to predictions using only the PT. The pattern of motor tract damage (PT only vs PT and aMF) led to a classification of mild, moderate, or severe impairment with significant between-group differences in motor impairment scores.
Diffusion tensor imaging-derived measures are valid structural markers of motor impairment. The integrity of all descending motor tracts, not merely the pyramidal tract, appears to account for stroke recovery. A 3-tier, hierarchical classification of impairment categories based on the pattern of motor tract damage is proposed that might be helpful in predicting recovery potential.
The underlying mechanisms that are responsible for the improved room-temperature ductility in Mg–Y alloys compared to pure Mg are investigated by transmission electron microscopy and density ...functional theory. Both methods show a significant decrease in the intrinsic stacking fault I1 energy (I1 SFE) with the addition of Y. The influence of the SFE on the relative activation of different competing deformation mechanisms (basal, prismatic, pyramidal slip) is discussed. From this analysis we suggest a key mechanism which explains the transition from primary basal slip in hexagonal close-packed Mg to basal plus pyramidal slip in solid solution Mg–Y alloys. This mechanism is characterized by enhanced nucleation of 〈c+a〉 dislocations where the intrinsic stacking fault I1 (ISF1) acts as heterogeneous source for 〈c+a〉 dislocations. Possible electronic and geometric reasons for the modification of the SFE by substitutional Y atoms are identified and discussed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Microalgae as a renewable and alternative energy feedstock have come under increased research interest, in response to the energy crisis, global warming and climate changes. Microalgal growth needs ...large amounts of chemical or organic fertilizers, causing substantial costs and risking the environment due to nutrient release. Using nutrient-rich wastewaters to cultivate microalgae appears a promising choice for the removal of nutrients and production of biofuels. Meanwhile, livestock production is rapidly increasing, especially in developing countries, because of increased consumption demands for meat. As a result, large quantities of animal wastes are left over, threatening environmental hygiene and becoming a barrier for development if not disposed of appropriately. Hence, the efforts to seek for an effective way to manage livestock wastes are also extremely important. This paper evaluates the feasibility of microalgal cultivation with livestock waste compost for continuous production of multiple bioproducts such as high values, biodiesel and biogas. A feasibility framework is proposed to fulfill this target. System integration and engineering is highlighted and main challenges are also discussed. Through careful microalgal biorefinery, the improvement of the economics of microalgal biofuels can be potentially achieved. Applying livestock waste compost to cultivate microalgae appears as a sustainable solution to realize both livestock waste management and bioproducts recovery, thus driving the industry towards sustainable growth.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
A soft-commutating method and control scheme for an isolated boost full bridge converter is proposed in this paper to implement dual operation of the well-known soft-switching full bridge dc/dc buck ...converter for bidirectional high power applications. It provides a unique commutation logic to minimize a mismatch between current in the current-fed inductor and current in the leakage inductance of the transformer when commutation takes place, significantly reducing the power rating for a voltage clamping snubber and enabling use of a simple passive clamped snubber. To minimize the mismatch, the method and control scheme utilizes the resonant tank and freewheeling path in the existing full bridge inverter at the voltage-fed side to preset the current in the leakage inductance of the transformer in a resonant manner. Zero-voltage-switching is also achieved for all the switches at the voltage-fed side inverter in boost mode operation. The proposed soft-commutating method is verified through boost mode operation of a 3-kW bidirectional isolated full bridge dc/dc converter developed for fuel cell electric vehicle applications. The tested result verified the isolated boost converter can operate at an input voltage of 8.5-15V and an output voltage of 250-420V with a peak efficiency of 93% and an average efficiency of 88% at 55-kHz switching frequency with 72 ^circ C automotive coolant.
Using naked iron oxide (Fe
3
O
4
) and yttrium iron oxide (Y
3
Fe
5
O
12
) nanoparticles as flocculants, the harvesting efficiency of Chlorella vulgaris biomass was investigated. The harvesting ...process includes two steps, which are the separation of microalgae from the culture solution with the magnetic nanoparticles and then the separation of the algae from the magnetic nanoparticles. The optimal dosages and pH values for the magnetic harvesting of microalgal biomass were determined. Results showed that Y
3
Fe
5
O
12
nanoparticles were more efficient in microalgal biomass harvesting than Fe
3
O
4
nanoparticles. In an effort to achieve more than 90% of harvesting efficiency, optimal dosages for Fe
3
O
4
and Y
3
Fe
5
O
12
to harvest microalgal biomass were 10 and 2.5 g/L, while the appropriate pH values were 6.2 and 7.3, respectively. The harvesting efficiency of Fe
3
O
4
and Y
3
Fe
5
O
12
nanoparticles increased as the pH value decreased. The experimental results also showed that under a higher pH value Fe
3
O
4
nanoparticles were much easier to be separated from the flocs than Y
3
Fe
5
O
12
. 62.9% of Fe
3
O
4
nanoparticles could be de-attached from the aggregates, when the floc pH value reached 12.3.
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BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, KISLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
Motor recovery after stroke depends on the integrity of ipsilesional motor circuits and interactions between the ipsilesional and contralesional hemispheres. In this sham-controlled randomized trial, ...we investigated whether noninvasive modulation of regional excitability of bilateral motor cortices in combination with physical and occupational therapy improves motor outcome after stroke.
Twenty chronic stroke patients were randomly assigned to receive 5 consecutive sessions of either 1) bihemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) (anodal tDCS to upregulate excitability of ipsilesional motor cortex and cathodal tDCS to downregulate excitability of contralesional motor cortex) with simultaneous physical/occupational therapy or 2) sham stimulation with simultaneous physical/occupational therapy. Changes in motor impairment (Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer) and motor activity (Wolf Motor Function Test) assessments were outcome measures while functional imaging parameters were used to identify neural correlates of motor improvement.
The improvement of motor function was significantly greater in the real stimulation group (20.7% in Fugl-Meyer and 19.1% in Wolf Motor Function Test scores) when compared to the sham group (3.2% in Fugl-Meyer and 6.0% in Wolf Motor Function Test scores). The effects outlasted the stimulation by at least 1 week. In the real-stimulation group, stronger activation of intact ipsilesional motor regions during paced movements of the affected limb were found postintervention whereas no significant activation changes were seen in the control group.
The combination of bihemispheric tDCS and peripheral sensorimotor activities improved motor functions in chronic stroke patients that outlasted the intervention period. This novel approach may potentiate cerebral adaptive processes that facilitate motor recovery after stroke.
This study provides Class I evidence that for adult patients with ischemic stroke treated at least 5 months after their first and only stroke, bihemispheric tDCS and simultaneous physical/occupational therapy given over 5 consecutive sessions significantly improves motor function as measured by the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer assessment (raw change treated 6.1 ± 3.4, sham 1.2 ± 1.0).
Abstract
Noting the weakest modulation and relatively high metal abundance of the ab-type RR Lyrae star V838 Cyg, we collected the photometric data of this star from several sky surveys to carry out ...an in-depth analysis. The
O
−
C
diagram shows that the pulsation period of V838 Cyg increases linearly over a long timescale. In a reanalysis of the high-precision Kepler data, we confirmed the modulation with a period of 59.45 ± 0.07 days found by Benkő et al., and also found an additional weak modulation with a longer period (840 ± 21 days). After a series of analyses, we incline to the view that the mechanisms causing the two modulations are different: the former is more similar to the typical Blazhko effect, while the mechanism leading to the latter may be an extrinsic factor. We also collected and compared the modulation and physical parameters of other Blazhko RR Lyrae stars from several works in the literature, and find that there is a potential negative correlation between the modulation amplitude (or upper limit of amplitude) and the metal abundance. We infer that the relatively high metal abundance will promote convection in the outer stellar atmosphere, and then inhibit those factors (turbulence, shock wave, etc.) that may cause Blazhko modulation. Future observations and research work can be carried out with reference to this viewpoint. We also introduce the moiré effects that appear in the Kepler long-cadence light curves and their possible interference in the previous analyses.
Topological Dirac and Weyl semimetals not only host quasiparticles analogous to the elementary fermionic particles in high-energy physics, but also have a non-trivial band topology manifested by ...gapless surface states, which induce exotic surface Fermi arcs1,2. Recent advances suggest new types of topological semimetal, in which spatial symmetries protect gapless electronic excitations without high-energy analogues3–11. Here, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we observe triply degenerate nodal points near the Fermi level of tungsten carbide with space group \P\bar{6}m2\ (no. 187), in which the low-energy quasiparticles are described as three-component fermions distinct from Dirac and Weyl fermions. We further observe topological surface states, whose constant-energy contours constitute pairs of ‘Fermi arcs’ connecting to the surface projections of the triply degenerate nodal points, proving the non-trivial topology of the newly identified semimetal state.
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IJS, NUK, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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