Loss Peak Research Articles

Experimental Study of the Burning Characteristics of Wood Grilles with Different Porosities

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the effect of porosity on the burning and flame spread characteristics of the wood grille. Five pore side lengths (1–9 cm, 5 porosities φ, 38.25%−85%) of the grilles are studied and compared, which are widely used in Chinese historical buildings. The results show that both peak mass loss rate and peak heat release rate decrease with increasing porosity, while the grille with 65% porosity is the first to experience significant mass loss. The flame height and pyrolysis height have a clear power-law relationship. When the side length is less than 5 cm (φ ≤75.5%), the flames are merged and this relationship is similar to continuous fuels. While for the side length higher than 5 cm (φ > 75.5%), the main part of the flame mostly stays on the vertical strips in a discrete state, rather than continuous fuels. This phenomenon can be explained that the flow rate of the gas flowing through the pores increases with the increase of the porosity, which effectively enhances convective heat transfer. As the porosity increases further, the effective heating length on the wood samples is reduced, resulting in a smaller total heat input and a slower burning process.

A high magnetic field sensitivity PCF‐SPR sensor working in the near‐infrared wavelength band

AbstractA novel form of photonic crystal fiber (PCF) magnetic field sensor, utilizing surface plasmon resonance, has been developed and investigated. By depositing a layer of gold onto the interior surface of the left‐sided air hole and introducing magnetic fluid into the aperture to detect magnetic field changes, the plasma resonance effect was ingeniously combined with a dual‐core PCF to achieve magnetic field measurement. The displacement of the loss peak in the output spectrum was observed to gain insights into the magnetic field changes. By means of modulations in the thickness of the gold film, and the spacing and size of the air holes, the optimal parameters for the sensor were obtained. The optimized sensor exhibited a maximum magnetic field sensitivity of up to 6.23 nm/Oe, and the magnetic field detection resolution was approximately 10 μT, enabling precise detection of weak magnetic fields. This fiber sensor boasts a simple structure, ease of production, high sensitivity, and robust environmental adaptability, making it an attractive option for implementation.

The two-body collision controlled by the magnetic field and laser field near magnetic Feshbach resonance

It is crucial to control the collision between ultracold atoms by applying external fields. We developed a theoretical model for investigating the s-wave scattering of ultracold atoms controlled by the magnetic field and laser field. The calculation is performed by using the close-coupling method and mapped Fourier grid method. Due to the interference between the photoassociation and bound-to-bound transitions, the bound state in the continuum, which is a resonance with a vanishing width, occurs at the magnetic field position near the magnetic Feshbach resonance. The widths of resonances in the neighborhood of the bound state in the continuum are narrow. Changing the laser intensity can shift the magnetic field position where the bound state in the continuum occurs through modifying the ground molecular state to induce wide resonances at desired magnetic field positions. By increasing the resonance width, the tunability of the real part of the scattering length at resonances can be significantly improved. Changing the laser intensity can also adjust the coupling between the ground and excited molecular states. When the coupling between the ground and excited molecular states approaches zero, a resonance is induced, and the photoassociation and bound-to-bound transitions are both significantly suppressed at this resonance. Therefore, the atomic loss peak due to spontaneous emission does not appear at this resonance. The magnetic field position of this resonance is stable against the change in laser frequency.

The Effect of Conductive Polyaniline on the Anti-Fouling and Electromagnetic Properties of Polydimethylsiloxane Coatings.

In this paper, four conductive polyaniline powders doped in hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and sulfonic acid were selected and blended with polydimethylsiloxane to prepare coatings with an electromagnetic absorption effect and fouling desorption effect, respectively. A UV spectrophotometer was used to evaluate the settling rate of the powders. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, laser confocal microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used to observe the morphology and structure of the powder and the coating. The interface properties of the coatings were characterized using a contact angle measurement, the mechanical properties of the coatings using a tensile test, and the electromagnetic properties of the powders and microwave absorption properties of the coatings using vector network analyzers. Meanwhile, the antifouling performance of the coatings was evaluated via the marine bacteria adhesion test and benthic diatom adhesion test, and the effect of conductive polyaniline on the antifouling performance of the coating was analyzed. The results show that adding polyaniline reduced the surface energy of the coating and increased the roughness, mechanical properties and anti-fouling properties of the coating. Moreover, adding appropriate polyaniline powder can enhance the electromagnetic wave loss of the coating. The followings values were recorded for a hydrochloric-acid-doped polyaniline coating: lowest surface energy of 17.17 mJ/m2, maximum fracture strength of 0.95 MPa, maximum elongation of 155%, maximum bandwidth of 3.81 GHz, and peak of reflection loss of -23.15 dB. The bacterial detachment rate of the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) samples was only 30.37%. The bacterial adhesion rates of the composite coating containing hydrochloric-acid-doped polyaniline were 4.95% and 2.72% after rinsing and washing, respectively, and the desorption rate was 45.35%. The chlorophyll concentration values were 0.0057 mg/L and 0.0028 mg/L, respectively, and the desorption rate was 54.62%.

Au-TiO2 Coated Photonic Crystal Fiber Based SPR Refractometric Sensor for Detection of Cancerous Cells.

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) refractometric sensor based on gold (Au) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) coated Photonic Crystal Fiber (PCF) is presented for the quick detection of various types of cancerous cells. The cancerous cells and their corresponding normal cells are both considered to be liquid cells each with their unique refractive index (RI). Normally these cells are found in liquid form in the suitable media (food) required to live the cancerous/normal cell lines. Also in our detection case, liquid samples are easy to pump into the sensing channel of the proposed PCF by employing either pressure or capillary forces.The proposed PCF sensor works on the SPR principle, with the Au coating serving as the plasmonic material. This sensor is investigated using the COMSOL Multiphysics software computational tool that is based on the full-vector finite element method (FEM). A TiO2 coating has been applied to enhance adhesion between the Au layer and the PCF surface. Above the Au coating, cancerous cells samples are filled into the PCF. When the core mode of the PCF is coupled with the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) mode under the specific resonance circumstances, SPR will occur on the interface of the gold-sample cell, and in the core mode, the loss peak is observed at the resonance wavelength. Cancerous cells samples have a distinct loss peak than normal cells samples therefore the cancerous cells can be diagnosed by measuring the shift in resonance wavelength corresponding to the loss peak of cancerous and their normal cells samples. The proposed sensor may identify various cancerous cells such as MDAMB-231, MCF-7, PC12, HeLa, and Jurkat for the diagnosis of breast cancer type-1, breast cancer type-2, adrenal glands, cervical, and blood cancer respectively. The computed wavelengths sensitivities of the proposed PCF are 9428.57nm/RIU, 10714.28nm/RIU, 7571.43nm/RIU, 5500nm/RIU, and 6000nm/RIU for the MDAMB-231, MCF-7, PC12, HeLa, and Jurkat cancerous cells, respectively. However, for various cancerous cells, the maximum amplitude sensitivity varies from -1387 RIU-1 to -1599 RIU-1. Moreover, the sensor resolution ranges between 0.93 ×10-5 RIU and 1.82 ×10-5 RIU with a 0.024 maximum detection limit. Because of its improved sensing capability, the presented SPR refractometric sensor is appropriate for the early detection of cancerous cells.

Pyrolysis mechanism of β-d-glucopyranose as a model compound of cellulose: A joint experimental and theoretical investigation

This study aims to reveal the pyrolysis reaction mechanism and product formation pathway of cellulose by combining experimental and theoretical calculation results. First, pyrolysis experiments of glucose, cellobiose, and cellulose were conducted by combined thermogravimetry-Fourier infrared spectroscopy-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TG-FTIR-GC-MS). The results show that glucose and cellobiose have two obvious mass loss peaks in their pyrolysis processes and cellulose has only a distinct mass loss peak. In the severe weight loss stage, cellulose forms more H2O, CO2, alkanes, and carbonyl compounds than glucose and cellobiose. Then, β-d-glucopyranose was selected as a model compound of cellulose to carry out density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The formation mechanism of furan derivatives and carbohydrate derivatives was systematically studied. And their competitive relationship was revealed. A reaction network from β-d-glucopyranose to main products was constructed. Based on the concerted reaction mechanism, β-d-glucopyranose is easier to generate furfural, followed by furan, 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-α-d-glucopyranose, and levoglucosenone, and finally 2(5H)-furanone. Based on the H radical attack mechanism, β-d-glucopyranose is easier to form 1-(2-furanyl)-ethanone, followed by 5-methyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde, and finally 2-methyl-furan. Finally, the relationship between the functional groups and the pyrolysis behavior of β-d-glucopyranose was clarified by combining the product distribution detected in experiments and DFT calculations.

Oxidative pyrolysis of plywood waste: Effect of oxygen concentration and other parameters on product yield and composition

Introducing a small amount of oxygen into the inert carrier gas will not only cause partial oxidation reaction, but also significantly change the composition and distribution of biomass pyrolysis products. The oxygen concentration greatly affects the balance between oxidation reaction and pyrolysis reaction. Therefore, it is very important to clarify the influence of oxygen concentration and other reaction conditions on oxidative pyrolysis. The results showed that the pyrolysis products yields remain constant when the oxygen concentration in the carrier gas ranges from 0 to 3 vol%; however, between 3 to 10 vol%, oxygen reacts with biochar to generate non-condensable gas and release heat, and the mass yield of bio-oil slightly declines. Compared with N2 atmosphere, the temperature corresponding to the maximum weight loss peak of pyrolysis under 10 vol% oxygen concentration shifts from 352.5 °C to 292.1 °C. With 10 vol% oxygen in the carrier gas, most of the oxygen transfers to non-condensable gas (6.8 vol%) and water (3.2 vol%). The proportion of 0–140 Da (acids, ketones, furans, BTX) in bio-oil decreases significantly. The biochar more porous structure and oxygen-containing functional groups. The study revealed the complex interactions among various parameters in oxidative pyrolysis.

Hydroxyl ion absorption in on-chip high-Q resonators.

Thermal silica is a common dielectric used in all-silicon photonic circuits. Additionally, bound hydroxyl ions (Si-OH) can provide a significant component of optical loss in this material on account of the wet nature of the thermal oxidation process. A convenient way to quantify this loss relative to other mechanisms is through OH absorption at 1380 nm. Here, using ultra-high-quality factor(Q-factor) thermal-silica wedge microresonators, the OH absorption loss peak is measured and distinguished from the scattering loss baseline over a wavelength range from 680 nm to 1550 nm. Record-high on-chip resonator Q-factors are observed for near-visible and visible wavelengths, and the absorption limited Q-factor is as high as 8 billion in the telecom band. Hydroxyl ion content level around 2.4 ppm (weight) is inferred from both Q measurements and by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) depth profiling.

A strong, hydrostable lignocellulose-based film based on dual cross-linking networks

Green and sustainable biomass materials based on wood processing residues show considerable application potential as substitutes to petroleum-based plastics. However, due to the chemical and structural characteristics of cellulose fibers resulting in their natural hydrophilicity, it is difficult for a single cross-linking network to impart multiple excellent properties to bio-based materials. Here, with wood lignification enhancement inspiration, a high-performance bio-based plastics based on 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy-oxidized lignocellulose (TOLC) is successfully fabricated by a dual-crosslinking strategy of sodium lignosulfonate (LS) and epichlorohydrin (ECH) modification, and their characterizations were done in terms of SEM, FTIR, XPS, XRD, TG, contact angle and tensile properties. The physical sacrificial bonding between TOLC and LS, in conjunction with the covalent cross-linking network among the TOLC-LS matrix and ECH, contributed to the exceptional tensile strength (383.43 ± 1.57 MPa) and elastic modulus (15.20 ± 0.66 GPa) of the prepared TOLC-LS/ECH film. Furthermore, the maximum weight loss peak of TOLC-LS/ECH III film is observed at 348 °C, higher than TOLC film, which shows exceptional thermal stability. After immersing in water for 24 h, the water absorption rate of TOLC-LS/ECH III film is only 59.72 % of TOLC film, exhibiting increased water resistance. Remarkably, the resulted bio-mass plastics show superior biodegradability with a weight loss of 33.67 % after 30 days in outdoor conditions, while the tensile strength remained 81 % of the original after 6 months in appropriate indoor environments, showing excellent mechanical stability. Compared with most sustainable bio-based plastics, the obtained film shows combination of low production cost, high mechanical properties, and glorious thermal stability, which can effectively expand its application potential in mulch, daily packaging, and so on. This strategy will pave the way for developing sustainable bio-based plastics with low cost, high-performance, and outstanding processing.

Investigation of exacerbating factors for postpartum hair loss: a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study.

Although postpartum hair loss is believed to be common, there is little reliable information. We sought to examine the factors that were associated with postpartum hair loss and to elucidate factors correlated with its pathogenesis. We carried out a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. The study participants were women who delivered at 2 facilities and filled the questionnaire 10-18 months after delivery. The survey questionnaire included baseline characteristics, pregnancy details, delivery, childcare, and extent of postpartum hair loss. We divided participants into 2 groups according to the absence or presence of postpartum hair loss and performed logistic regression analyses. A total of 331 (21.0%) responses were analyzed; among these 304 (91.8%) women had postpartum hair loss. The average time for the start, peak, and end of hair loss was 2.9, 5.1, and 8.1 months, respectively. Women with hair loss had an earlier time of delivery, a lower birth weight, a higher preterm labor rate, and longer-term breastfeeding. Logistical regression analyses revealed that longer-term breastfeeding and preterm labor were independent predictors of postpartum hair loss. The adjusted odds ratio for postpartum hair loss in women who ended breastfeeding 6-12 months postpartum versus those who ended it after 12 months or more was 5.96 (95% confidence interval [CI] [1.68, 21.09]) and 6.37 (95% CI [1.95, 20.76]) compared with those who stopped breastfeeding within 6 months postpartum. Finer details such as pregnancy complications and delivery information may not be accurate since all results are based on questionnaire responses. There may be a sampling bias because women who suffer from postpartum hair loss may tend to participate more frequently. Over 90% of women experienced postpartum hair loss. Our data show that long-term breastfeeding and preterm labor correlate with postpartum hair loss.

Effect of Ball-Milling Process on Microwave Absorption Behaviors of Flaky Carbonyl Iron Powders.

Electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption performance is greatly affected by the microscopic morphology of the absorbing material particles. In this study, a facile and efficient ball-milling method was applied to increase the aspect ratio of particles and prepare flaky carbonyl iron powders (F-CIPs), one of the most readily commercially available absorbing materials. The effect of ball-milling time and rotation speed on the absorption behaviors of the F-CIPs was investigated. The microstructures and compositions of the F-CIPs were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The EM parameters were measured using a vector network analyzer (VNA) in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz. The results indicated that the ball-milled flaky CIPs exhibited a better absorption ability than the raw spherical CIPs. Among all the samples, the sample milled at 200 r/min for 12 h and the sample milled at 300 r/min for 8 h showed remarkable EM parameters. The ball-milling sample with 50 wt.% F-CIPs had a minimum reflection loss peak of -14.04 dB at a thickness of 2 mm and a maximum bandwidth (RL < -7 dB) of 8.43 GHz at a thickness of 2.5 mm, a result that conformed with the transmission line theory. Hence, the ball-milled flaky CIPs were considered to be beneficial for microwave absorption.

N-doped magnetic carbon nanosheets for broad, strong, stable and thin microwave absorption properties

The novel magnetic carbon nanocomposite, in which N-doped onion-like carbon encapsulated FeNi nanoparticles are embedded into N-doped carbon nanosheets, are prepared for realizing “broad, strong, stable and thin” microwave absorption behaviors. Good impedance match between magnetic FeNi nanoparticles and dielectric carbon and the large attenuation capability accompanied with strong dielectric loss ability induced by interfacial polarization loss, defect dipole polarization loss, Debye relaxation loss, conductive loss and magnetic loss originating from natural/exchange resonance and eddy current loss ensure the good microwave absorption ability. This nanocomposite exhibits the minimal reflection loss value of –27.62 dB at 4.72 GHz and the effective absorbing bandwidth of 5.76 GHz (covering 12.24–––18 GHz) at 1.9 mm and the peak of reflection loss basically locates at −21.62 dB- −27.62 dB from 1.7 mm to 5.0 mm.

Tailored Dynamic Viscoelasticity of Polyurethanes Based on Different Diols.

The development of damping and tire materials has led to a growing need to customize the dynamic viscoelasticity of polymers. In the case of polyurethane (PU), which possesses a designable molecular structure, the desired dynamic viscoelasticity can be achieved by carefully selecting flexible soft segments and employing chain extenders with diverse chemical structures. This process involves fine-tuning the molecular structure and optimizing the degree of micro-phase separation. It is worth noting that the temperature at which the loss peak occurs increases as the soft segment structure becomes more rigid. By incorporating soft segments with varying degrees of flexibility, the loss peak temperature can be adjusted within a broad range, from -50 °C to 14 °C. Furthermore, when the molecular structure of the chain extender becomes more regular, it enhances interaction between the soft and hard segments, leading to a higher degree of micro-phase separation. This phenomenon is evident from the increased percentage of hydrogen-bonding carbonyl, a lower loss peak temperature, and a higher modulus. By modifying the molecular weight of the chain extender, we can achieve precise control over the loss peak temperature, allowing us to regulate it within the range of -1 °C and 13 °C. To summarize, our research presents a novel approach for tailoring the dynamic viscoelasticity of PU materials and thus offers a new avenue for further exploration in this field.

Multi-Level Synthesis Gate Voltage Active Control Technology for Optimizing IGBT Switching Characteristics

Compared with the conducting and blocking steady-state processes, the voltage and current stress of IGBT become very higher in the turning-on and turning-off transient processes, and the instantaneous power loss increases significantly. The switching transient conditions greatly affect the reliability and stability of IGBT device and power converter. During the IGBT turning on process, the reverse recovery of the symmetrical bridge arm anti paralleled diode can cause additional turn-on loss and current peak overshoot. The gate voltage active control technology can effectively suppress current spike and reduce turn-on loss in the period from the initial opening time to Miller platform. The multilevel synthesis technology can adjust the gate voltage waveform and produce depression or bulge in the normal driving voltage waveform for a certain time. In this paper, the sensitive parameters of gate voltage active control, which affect the current overshoot, and turn-on loss of IGBT are studied based on the theoretical calculation and mathematical model. A multi-level synthesis gate voltage active control technology is proposed according to the principle of gate voltage active control. The relationship among the acting voltage amplitude, execution time, current peak and switching loss is studied. Considering the actual application conditions, the optimized active control scheme of gate voltage is designed. Finally, the switching characteristics test is carried out, the results verify that the proposed control technology can effectively reduce the current overshoot and turn-on loss in comparison with the conventional schemes.

Converting and valorizing heavy metal-laden post-harvest hyperaccumulator (Pteris vittate L.) into biofuel via acid-pretreated pyrolysis and gasification

Not only should post-harvest hyperaccumulators rich in heavy metals (HMs) be properly disposed to avoid secondary HMs pollution, but also they should be valorized to enhance circular economy. This study aimed to characterize how As-hyperaccumulator (Pteris vittate L.) (PV) pretreated with HCl or H3PO4 affected its physicochemical, HMs, decomposition, and volatile characteristics. The HCl-pretreated PV retained its original main components, physical properties, and chemical structures but introduced Cl to carbon chain, induced O loss, increased C content, and removed most minerals, in particular, alkali/alkaline earth metals. The favorable pyrolysis and gasification behaviors of PV were maintained via the HCl-pretreated PV, with the raised and narrowed temperature range of mass loss but with the increased energy demand for the decomposition. Compared with PV (276.74 kJ/mol), 5% HCl-pretreated PV reduced activation energy of its pyrolysis (260.62 kJ/mol). The H3PO4 pretreatment destroyed carbon chain, loaded phosphorus oxygen group, and removed more organics and minerals in PV than did the HCl-pretreated PV. This in turn allowed for an earlier start and finish of devolatilization stage, an easier breaking of potential energy barrier, and improvement of reaction favorability. Unlike the two atmospheres, the acid pretreatments changed the temperature dependency of volatile products during the main reaction-temperature range. The volatile products which released from the pyrolysis and gasification at the temperature of maximum mass loss peak or 350 °C were collected. HCl-pretreated PV reduced the formation of ring-opening products, while H3PO4-pretreated PV emitted more aromatic compounds and selectively generated ketone, such as levoglucanone. More HMs were dissolved with the increased acid concentration, with HMs in HCl-pretreated PV being at a higher leaching concentration than those in the other treatments. H3PO4-pretreated PV retained As, Cd, and Pb at a low leachable rate. The best joint optimization was achieved with the combined settings of 5% HCl-pretreated PV or 10% H3PO4-pretreated PV at 10 °C/min in the N2 atmosphere. Overall, findings provide new insights into how to best manage and valorize post-harvest and HM-laden hyperaccumulators.

Ag-Ion Dynamics in the Low-Temperature Form of Ag2S as Studied by Impedance Spectroscopy

In this study, Ag2S samples are characterized using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and impedance spectroscopy. At 447 K, an AC conductivity jump of about two orders of magnitude is observed, and an endothermic peak is measured by differential scanning calorimetry, apparently resulting from the β-to-α phase transition, i.e., the order–disorder transition. A silver vacancy proportion of 2.2% is obtained by refinement of the X-ray diffraction profile. The dielectric loss peaks and analysis of the observed complex impedance peaks indicate four different relaxation processes, namely, P1, P2, P3, and P4, from low to high temperature. P1 and P2 are obviously the migration of silver ions from two types of lattice sites to their nonequivalent nearest-neighbor vacancies. P3 involves the migration of interstitial silver ions to adjacent interstitial sites. An Arrhenius-to-VFTH crossover of the P4 relaxation time is inferred to the hopping of the individual silver ion and then the cooperative jumps of several ions in the disordered region of the silver sublattice upon heating.

A study of low frequency sound insulation mechanism of a perforated plate-type acoustic metamaterial

This paper presents a new design of a perforated plate-type acoustic metamaterial (PAM) to evade the influence of membrane pre-tension on the acoustic performance of metamaterials and to enable air ventilation while achieving the designated sound insulation. The study embarks on the analysis of sound insulation mechanism of a typical perforated membrane-type acoustic metamaterial (MAM) from the acoustic context, and discloses that sound transmission loss (STL) peaks of a perforated MAM are due to the strong wave interference between sound sources transmitted through the orifice(s) and the membrane(s). The sound insulation mechanism is explored further in the study by an acoustic impedance analysis of a perforated metamaterial using an electro-acoustic analogy in the latter part of the paper, and the result confirms that the STL peaks of a perforated PAM (or MAM) are indeed the outcome of a strong sound interference. The study also compares an experiment test and a finite element simulation on the sound transmission of a perforated PAM based on the new design. The result confirms that the new perforated PAM can yield a good broadband STL at relatively low frequencies. A practical application using the perforated PAM design is applied to reduce the noise propagation from the compressor compartment of a commercial refrigerator. The test result verifies the effectiveness of the design in terms of both sound reduction and air ventilation.

Immunoregulatory Roles of TGF-β and IL-4 during Mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Abstract Severe COVID-19 is due to a dysregulated immune response; however, the mechanisms preventing recovery of airway function are unclear. Cytokines regulate the quality of inflammation, and drive both anti-viral and disease tolerance mechanisms. There was a mostly monocytic infiltration in the lungs with alveolar thickening and consolidation 3 days post-infection with mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 (CMA3p20) at the peak of weight loss. Based on the cytokine profiles observed in human and animal studies, we targeted IL-4 and TGF-β as potentially regulatory cytokines, and quantified changes using flow cytometry. Neutralizing TGF-β, which regulates inflammatory cytokine production, significantly increased cellular infiltration of the lung. Neutralization of TGF-β particularly affected inflammatory monocyte (Ly6C+) recruitment, with a slight decrease in alveolar macrophages (CD11c-int). Neutralizing IL-4 prolonged weight loss to 4 dpi but visibly improved resolution of alveolar thickening on 7 dpi, suggesting that IL-4 is protecting from prolonged peak pathology, but delaying resolution. Neutralizing IL-4 also increased the fraction of polymorphonuclear cells and Tregs, as well as improving the ratio of type II to type I alveolar epithelial cells in the lungs compared to the isotype group. To begin to understand mechanisms connecting IL-4 to epithelial repair, we are studying the quality of the monocyte response and found alternatively activated macrophages with Ym1 staining in activated macrophages in the alveoli of infected mice in an IL-4 dependent manner. In order to improve therapeutics for severe COVID-19, it will be important to determine the cellular mechanisms linking regulatory cytokines to epithelial repair. R01AI135061 (RS, LPC), R01AI166668 (RR, MGO), R01AI131634 (MCS, HGF)

Numerical evaluation of an external environment effectiveness to the surface plasmon mode in Au slot waveguide for design the sensor simulation

The effective permittivity of gold thin films with an external thin dielectric layer on the top and core of the slot waveguide was evaluated as an effective compound semi-metal layer of the surface plasmonic polariton slot waveguide that will vary due to some environmental factors. By uses simple parallel and series permittivity of compound material, this value need for the computation of the effective propagating vector βsp. This takes for a sensor model designing which the external environment effectiveness was changed by the surface plasmonic mode in its slot waveguide. So the resonance length and grating period are evaluated for the sensor model in the first. Further, the propagation of the SPP surface wave mode along the interface between the compound cladding and Si dielectric waveguide is computed, while the effective refractive index of the compound cladding of the slot waveguide is increased from 1 − 1.50. The computation results showed that the TM0 mode power transfer and propagation length seem to vary with this effective refractive index of the compound cladding on the surface plasmonic polariton waveguide. The 140 nm gap width and 3.70 mm long waveguide is also simulated by the finite different time domain method in the optiwave program, where the TM0 mode transition output is corrected, while the refractive index of the environment layer is changed. The results of the simulation showed good agreement with the computation in that the TM0 mode depends on the external refractive of index and input wavelength. This result shows that loss peak ships vary with the external refractive index thin film layer and input wavelength. Thus, they seem to be useful for sensor applications such as the solution concentration analytic.

Determination of self and cross contributions to the dipole–dipole correlations function from analysis of dielectric measurements

The nonexponential nature of the structural relaxation is one of the most characteristic features of the molecular dynamics in glass-forming liquids. Various experimental techniques can be employed to probe this process; however, broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) is the most frequently used. Based on MD simulations, we provide strong evidence of bi-modal nature of the dielectric loss peak of primary relaxation. Further, we point out that the primary dielectric relaxation process measured at constant displacement D is dominated by the self-correlation term in the dipole–dipole correlation function. In practice, it means that the dielectric spectra should be presented in the dielectric modulus representations to disclose the spectral features of the self mode.