ALBERT

Description: Impacts of spectral nudging on simulations of Arctic climate in coupled simulations have been investigated in a set of simulations with a regional climate model (RCM). The dominantly circumpolar circulation in the Arctic lead to weak constraints on the lateral boundary conditions (LBCs) for the RCM, which causes large internal variability with strong deviations from the driving model. When coupled to an ocean and sea ice model, this results in sea ice concentrations that deviate from the observed spatial distribution. Here, a method of spectral nudging is applied to the atmospheric model RCA4 in order to assess the potentials for improving results for the sea ice concentrations when coupled to the RCO ocean-sea ice model. The spectral nudging applied to reanalysis driven simulations significantly improves the generated sea ice regarding its temporal evolution, extent and inter-annual trends, compared to simulations with standard LBC nesting. The method is furthermore evaluated with driving data from two CMIP5 GCM simulations for current and future conditions. The GCM biases are similar to the RCA4 biases with ERA-Interim, however, the spectral nudging still improves the surface winds enough to show improvements in the simulated sea ice. For both GCM downscalings, the spectrally nudged version retains a larger sea ice extent in September further into the future. Depending on the sea ice formulation in the GCM, the temporal evolution of the regional sea ice model can deviate strongly.

Description: The increased rate of Tropical Indian Ocean (TIO) surface warming has gained a lot of attention in the recent years mainly due to its regional climatic impacts. The processes associated with this increased surface warming is highly complex and none of the mechanisms in the past studies could comprehend the important features associated with this warming such as the negative trends in surface net heat fluxes and the decreasing temperature trends at thermocline level. In this work we studied a previously unexplored aspect, the changes in large scale surface circulation pattern modulating the surface warming pattern over TIO. We use ocean reanalysis datasets and a suit of Ocean General Circulation Model (OGCM) experiments to address this problem. Both reanalysis and OGCM reveal strengthening large scale surface circulation pattern in the recent years. The most striking feature is the intensification of cyclonic gyre circulation around the thermocline ridge in the southwestern TIO. The surface circulation change in TIO is mainly associated with the surface wind changes and the geostrophic response to sea surface height decrease in the western/southwestern TIO. The surface wind trends closely correspond to SST warming pattern. The strengthening mean westerlies over the equatorial region are conducive to convergence in the central and divergence in the western equatorial Indian Ocean (IO) resulting central warming and western cooling. The resulting east west SST gradient further enhances the equatorial westerlies. This positive feedback mechanism supports strengthening of the observed SST trends in the equatorial Indian Ocean. The cooling induced by the enhanced upwelling in the west is compensated to a large extent by warming due to reduction in mixed layer depth, thereby keeping the surface temperature trends in the west to weak positive values. The OGCM experiments showed that the wind induced circulation changes redistribute the excess heat received in the western TIO to central and east thereby enhancing warming in the central equatorial IO. The increased surface warming in central TIO increases the latent heat loss, and keeps the net heat flux trends negative. Model sensitivity experiments reveal that the subsurface cooling at thermocline level in TIO is contributed by variability in Pacific via Indonesian Through Flow whereas the surface warming trend is mainly induced by the changes in the local forcing. The long term changes in IO Rossby waves are not induced by local atmospheric forcing but are forced by Pacific. The thermocline shoaling in the west is therefore amplified by the remote influence of Pacific via wave transmission through Indonesian archipelago.

Description: Two classes of GRBs have been identified thus far without doubt and are prescribed to different physical scenarios—NS-NS or NS-BH mergers, and collapse of massive stars, for short and long GRBs, respectively. The existence of two distinct populations was inferred through a bimodal distribution of the observed durations \(T_{90}\) , and the commonly applied \(2~\mbox{s}\) limit between short and long GRBs was obtained by fitting a parabola between the two peaks in binned data from BATSE 1B. Herein, by means of a maximum likelihood (ML) method a mixture of two Gaussians is fitted to the datasets from BATSE, Swift , BeppoSAX , and Fermi in search for a local minimum that might serve as a new, more proper, limit for the two GRB classes. It is found that Swift and BeppoSAX distributions are unimodal, hence no local minimum is present, Fermi is consistent with the conventional limit, whereas BATSE gives the limit significantly longer (equal to \(3.38\pm 0.27~\mbox{s}\) ) than \(2~\mbox{s}\) . These new values change the fractions of short and long GRBs in the samples examined, and imply that the observed \(T_{90}\) durations are detector dependent, hence no universal limiting value may be applied to all satellites due to their different instrument specifications. Because of this, and due to the strong overlap of the two-Gaussian components, the straightforward association of short GRBs to mergers and long ones to collapsars is ambiguous.

Description: When luminosity of black hole accretion disks is greater than 0.06 Eddington luminosity ( \(L \geq0.06 L_{E} \) ), according to standard disk model, the inner region of these disks is radiation-pressure dominated (RPD) and unstable in thermal and viscous modes. Whereas this object conflicts with the observations, if \(0.01 L_{E}\leq L \leq0.5 L_{E}\) . Thus, the change of viscosity or considering relativistic corrections that are essential in realistic black hole accretion disks may solve this problem between theory and observation. An explanation by taking into account the effect of black hole spin with the presence of different viscosities on the secular and thermal instabilities in geometrically thin optically thick accretion disks is presented. In order to consider the effects of spin and general relativity, kerr space-time is used. A diffusive form of viscous stress tensor, a new form of fully relativistic shear stress tensor that is not used so far, power law, and parametric viscosity are considered. Investigations have been done in some parameters of viscosity and some values of spin. We conclude that the type of viscosity is effective in stabilization of the disk, whereas spin has no effect. Increasing stability or instability in the disk can be caused by spin, which this behavior is related to the type of viscous parameter. Thereby, spin can be effective on the temperature, accretion rate, and in the luminosity of the system.

Description: We describe a new type of NADH sensor based on a screen-printed electrode (SPE) modified with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH). A mixture of graphene oxide (GO) and PAH was deposited on the surface of a carbon working electrode, and RGO was prepared in-situ by electrochemical reduction of GO. The oxidation peak of NADH was recorded at +450 mV (vs . silver pseudo-reference). Under optimized conditions, the electrode exhibits high electrocatalytic activity toward NADH oxidation, expressed by a high rate constant and a stable response up to 0.8 mM concentrations. The sensitivity is 108.6 μA·mM −1 ·cm −2 , the response time is 20 s (for 95 % of the steady state current), and the detection limit is 6.6 μM (at an S/N ratio of 3). A peak separation of about 300 mV was achieved in differential pulse voltammetric determination of NADH in the presence of ascorbic acid. This makes the new sensor a useful tool with potential analytical application in different dehydrogenase based systems. Graphical abstract ᅟ

Description: We describe an electrochemical immunosensor for the simultaneous determination of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) via a modified glassy carbon electrode. Silica nanoparticles (200–300 nm i.d.) with good monodispersity and uniform shape were synthesized, and the following species were then consecutively immobilized on their surface: gold nanoparticles (AuNPs; 5–15 nm i.d.), secondary antibody (Ab 2 ) and the redox-probes Azure A or ferrocenecarboxy acid (Fc). In parallel, two types of primary antibodies (Ab 1 ) were co-immobilized on the surface of the dissolved reduced graphene oxide sheets (rGO) that were also decorated with AuNPs. In the presence of antigens (AFP or PSA), the Ab 2 /Si@AuNPs carrying Azure A and Fc are attached to the AuNP/rGO conjugate via a sandwich type immunoreaction. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was employed to measure the resulting changes in the signal of Fc or Azure A. Two well-resolved oxidation peaks, one at −0.48 V (corresponding to Azure A) and other at + 0.12 V (corresponding to Fc; both vs. SCE) can be observed in the DPV curves. Under optimal conditions, AFP and PSA can be simultaneously determined in the range from 0.01 to 25 ng mL‾ 1 for AFP, and from 0.012 to 25 ng mL‾ 1 for PSA. The detection limits are 3.3 pg mL‾ 1 for AFP and 4.0 pg mL‾ 1 for PSA (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3). The method was applied to (spiked) real sample analysis, and the recoveries are within 96.0 and 107.2 % for PSA, and within 100.9 and 105.8 % for AFP, indicating that this dual immunosensor matches the requirements of clinical analysis. Graphical abstract (A) Two types of signal labels preparation process. (B) The immunosensor preparation and detection process.

Description: A nanocomposite consisting of coral-like gold nanostructures on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) was synthesized with the assistance of dimethylbiguanide (DMBG). It was then fabricated on a glassy carbon electrode, coating with cysteamine in order to enable the immobilization of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as a model enzyme whose activity of hydrolyzing the substrate of acetylthiocholine is inhibited by the pesticide triazophos. The biosensor has response to acetylthiocholine in the 0.3 ~ 300 μM concentration range at 0.65 V (vs. SCE). The inhibition of the enzyme by triazophos can be determined in concentrations of up to 210 ppb, with a detection limit of 0.35 ppb of triazophos ( S / N  = 3). The biosensor is highly reproducible and acceptably stable. Graphical Abstract Coral-like gold nanostructures supported on reduced graphene oxide were synthesized with the assistance of dimethylbiguanide to fabricate an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) biosensor, which exhibited high reproducibility and good stability, providing a good platform for the detection of organophosphorus pesticides.

Description: We consider the effect of a partial coverage of quasar broad-line regions (QSO BLRs) by intervening \(\mbox{H}_{2}\) -bearing clouds when a part of quasar (QSO) radiation passes by a cloud not taking part in absorption-line system formation of the QSO spectrum. That leads to modification of observable absorption line profiles and consequently to a bias in physical parameters derived from standard absorption line analysis. In application to the \(\mbox{H}_{2}\) absorption systems the effect has been revealed in the analysis of \(\mbox{H}_{2}\) absorption system in the spectrum of Q 1232+082 (see Ivanchik et al. in Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 404:1583, 2010 , Balashev et al. in Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 418:357, 2011 ). We estimate a probability of the effect to be detected in QSO spectra. To do this we derive distribution of BLR sizes of high-z QSOs from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 9 (DR9) catalogue and assume different distributions of cloud sizes. We conclude that the low limit of the probability is about 11 %. The latest researches shows that about a fifth of observed \(\mbox{H}_{2}\) absorption systems can be partially covered. Accounting of the effect may allow to revise significantly physical parameters of interstellar clouds obtained by the spectral analysis.

Description: The spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type-V universe filled with interacting Dark matter and Holographic dark energy has been studied. The exact solutions of Einstein’s field equations are obtained by (i) applying the special law of variation of Hubble parameter that yields constant values of the deceleration parameter and (ii) using a special form of deceleration parameter. It has been observed that for suitable choice of interaction between dark matter and holographic dark energy there is no coincidence problem (unlike \(\varLambda\) CDM). Also, in all the resulting models the anisotropy of expansion dies out very quickly and attains isotropy after some finite time. The physical and geometrical aspects of the models are also discussed.

Description: The properties of nonlinear dust-acoustic rogue waves in an unmagnetized, collisionless, four-component dusty plasma system consisting of electrons, nonthermal ions, hot and cold dust species have been investigated. The basic set of fluid equations is reduced to a nonlinear Schrodinger equation. The dependence of the rogue wave properties on the ion energetic population parameter is discussed. The results of the present investigation could be applicable in Saturn F-ring.

Description: In this paper, we study the reconstruction scenario of a dark energy model in the framework of modified Horava-Lifshitz \(F(R)\) gravity or \(F(\tilde{R})\) gravity. We assume generalized ghost pilgrim dark energy model in flat universe. We consider three well-known scale factors to analyze the behavior of reconstructed \(F(\tilde{R})\) model. These scale factors include bouncing and intermediate scale factors as well as scale factor representing the unification of matter and accelerated phases. The graphical representation is adopted to analyze the behavior of reconstructed model and equation of state parameter for different values of model parameter. The reconstructed model represents increasing and decreasing behavior with respect to time in all cases. The equation of state parameter represents phantom-like universe after transition for intermediate scale factor while quintessence behavior for bouncing and unified scale factors. We also found that the squared speed of sound exhibits the stability of all reconstructed models.

Description: We have performed a study on the performance of two microbial glucose sensors based on immobilized Gluconobacter oxydans ( G. oxydans ). The first one was prepared by modifying a glassy carbon paste electrode (GCPE) containing the microbial cells with graphene oxide (GO), the other one by modifying it with graphene-platinum hybrid nanoparticles (graphene-Pt NPs). The electrode was characterized by following the voltammetric signals of the oxidation of hexacyanoferrate(II) to hexacyanoferrate(III) via the oxidative enzymes contained in G. oxydans which convert glucose to gluconic acid. Optimizations were conducted with a conventional GCPE containing G. oxydans . After material optimization, the biosensors were applied to the determination of glucose. The linear and analytical ranges for GO based biosensor range from 1 to 75 μM (linear) and 1 to 100 μM (analytical), respectively, with a limit of detection (LOD) of (3 s/m) 1.06 μM (at an S/m of 3). On the other hand, the graphene-Pt hybrid nanoparticle based biosensor showed two linear ranges (from 0.3 to 1 µM and from 1 to 10 μM), a full analytical range from 1 to 50 μM, and an LOD of 0.015 μM. The graphene-Pt hybrid NP based sensors performs better and was applied to the determination of glucose in synthetically prepared plasma samples where it gave recoveries as 101.8 and 104.37 % for two different concentrations. Selectivity studies concerning fructose, galactose, L-ascorbic acid and dopamine were also conducted. Graphical Abstract The electrochemical performances of graphene oxide and graphene-platinum hybrid nanoparticle modified G. oxydans biosensors were compared.

Description: Copper nanoclusters (Cu-NCs) were fabricated by chemical reduction of Cu(II) ions using formaldehyde as the reductant and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) as the protecting agent. The resulting Cu-NCs were characterized by TEM, FT-IR, UV–vis and XPS and fluorescence spectroscopy. The Cu-NCs display a luminescence quantum yield of about 13 %, and the emission peaks shift from 398 to 457 nm on increasing the excitation wavelength from 310 to 390 nm. The Cu-NCs possess a storage stability of at least 2 months and are stable in the presence of high concentrations of salt. Their fluorescence is strongly quenched by hypochlorite, while other common cations, anions and hydrogen peroxide have minor (or no) effects on fluorescence. On this basis, a fluorometric hypochlorite assay was developed that has a 0.1 μM detection limit and a linear range that extends from 1 to 30 μM. The method was successfully used to the determination of hypochlorite in local tap water samples, and the results agreed well with those obtained by a colorimetric method. Graphical Abstract Hypochlorite ion is found to quench the fluorescence copper nanoclusters synthesized by reduction of Cu(II) ion by formaldehyde in the presence of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) serving as protecting agent. This finding resulted in a new fluorescence assay for hypochlorite.

Description: A nanoporous carbon derived from an aluminum-based metal-organic framework was deposited on stainless steel wires in a sol–gel matrix. The resulting fibers were applied to the solid-phase microextraction of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene and anthracene from water and soil samples. The fiber was then directly inserted into the GC injector and the PAHs were quantified by GC-MS. The effects of salt addition, extraction temperature, extraction time, sample volume and desorption conditions on the extraction efficiency were optimized. A linear response to the analytes was observed in the 0.1 to 12 μg∙L −1 range for water samples, and in the 0.6 to 30 μg∙kg −1 for soil samples, with the correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9934 to 0.9985. The limits of detection ranged from 5.0 to 20 ng∙L −1 for water samples, and from 30 to 90 ng∙kg −1 for soil samples. The recoveries of spiked samples were between 72.4 and 108.0 %, and the precision, expressed as the relative standard deviations, is 〈12.8 %. Graphical Abstract A MOF derived nanoporous carbon coated fiber for use in solid-phase microextraction was prepared via sol–gel technology. The coated fiber has a porous, rough and wrinkled structure, and shows a high thermal stability, good extraction repeatability and long lifetime. The established HS-SPME-GC-MS method is suitable for the determination of the PAHs from water and soil samples.

Description: We describe uniform and high-temperature-stable mesoporous TiO 2 beads functionalized with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs-TiO 2 ) for use in conductometric sensing of gases and organic vapors. The size of the interconnected main mesopores of the TiO 2 beads ranges from 8 to 15 nm, and the AuNPs have diameters between 8 and 10 nm. The mesoporous TiO 2 beads are formed during calcination while the structure-directing template agent is removed. Monodispersed AuNPs are formed by reduction in-situ and are placed inside the mesoporous TiO 2 framework. This prevents aggregation of the AuNPs even at 500 °C. The materials were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, and X-ray diffraction. Comb-type gold electrodes were then fabricated on an alumina substrate and are shown to display excellent properties in terms of sensing ammonia, ethanol, methanol or acetone. The sensitivity (defined as the ratio of resistivities under vapor and air) of a typical AuNPs(0.5 %)-TiO 2 gas sensor for ethanol reached up to 5.65 at above 600 ppm at 75 °C. Response time and recovery times (t 90  ≤ 20 s) are faster than (or comparable to) other metal-doped TiO 2 sensors, and working temperatures are much lower. An interesting observation was made in that the changes in the conductivity of the sensor change with temperature. The sensor prepared with AuNPs(0.5 %)-TiO 2 is of the p-type (in its response to ammonia gas) at 45 °C, but becomes n-type at 20 °C. Obviously, rather slight changes in temperature lead to a complete change in the direction of the conductometric signal change. This may provide a new aspect in terms of selective and highly sensitive detection of ammonia at ambient and slightly elevated temperatures. Graphical abstract We describe uniform and high-temperature-stable mesoporous TiO 2 beads functionalized with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs-TiO 2 ) for use in conductometric sensing of gases and organic vapors. Interestingly, the changes in the conductivity of typical sensors were opposite with the increasing of temperature.

Description: Humidity and temperature sensors were fabricated from a nanocomposite consisting of CeO 2 -Co 3 O 4 hybrid nanoparticle-silicone adhesive and CeO 2 -Co 3 O 4 hybrid nanoparticle-polymer adhesive, respectively, to fix the material on a glass supported copper electrode. The impedance of the sensor decreases by a factor of 960 at a working frequency of 100 Hz, and by a factor of 800 at 1 kHz, on increasing relative humidity (RH) from 30 to 90 %. In parallel, the capacitances increase by factors of 567 and 355, respectively, under the same experimental conditions. The effect of temperature in the range from 25 to 70 °C on impedance (again at 100 Hz and 1 kHz) was also studied and found to decrease with increasing temperature. On going from 25 to 70 °C, the impedance measured at 100 Hz and 1 kHz decreases 2.22 and 1.58 times, respectively, in surface type sensors, while in sandwich type sensors this decrease is 3.0 and 2.08 times. The calculated average sensitivity to temperature is −1.02 and −0.8 % °C −1 for the surface type and −1.5 and −1.2 % °C −1 for the sandwich type sensors at frequencies of 100 Hz and 1 kHz, respectively. Graphical abstract A highly sensitive sensor with dual functionality for humidity and temperature has been fabricated by using CeO 2 -codoped Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles with silicone and polymer adhesive.

Description: Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and graphene have been tested as carbon allotropes for the modification of carbon screen-printed electrodes (CSPEs) to simultaneously determine melatonin (MT) and serotonin (5-HT). Two groups of CSPEs, both 4 mm in diameter, were explored: The first includes commercial SWCNT, MWCNT and graphene, the second includes SWCNT, MWCNT, graphene oxide nanoribbons and reduced nanoribbons that were drop casted on the electrodes. The carbon nanomaterials enhanced the electroactive area in the following order: CSPE 〈MWCNTs 〈SWCNTs 〈graphene. This allowed the simultaneous determination of 5-HT and MT at the working potentials of +50 mV and +390 mV (vs. Ag), respectively. The use of carbon nanomaterials, in particular of graphene oxide nanoribbons on CSPEs, represents an excellent and disposable tool for sensing the two target molecules in even small sample volumes. Figures of merit for MT and 5-HT include (a) detection limit of 1.1 and 0.4 μM for MT and 5-HT, respectively; (b) an inter-electrode reproducibility with RSD ≤ 8 %; (c) 120 s response time, and (d) recoveries (in case of spiked samples) ranging from 94 to 103 % (with an RSD 〈 1 %). Graphical Abstract Carbon nanomaterials on screen-printed electrodes: smart electrochemistry for fast, simultaneous and reliable detection of serotonin the molecule of happiness and melatonin the molecule of darkness.

Description: We describe a sensitive photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor for the determination of the herbicide clethodim. The PEC sensor was constructed by using amino-MIL-125/TiO 2 (MIL stands for Materials from Institute Lavoisier), an amino-functionalized metal-organic framework (MOF) modified with TiO 2 . The amino-MIL-125/TiO 2 was synthesized by a simple one-step solvothermal method and placed on a glassy carbon electrode where it displays photoelectrocatalytic activity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) were used to characterize the amino-MIL-125/TiO 2 . In the sensing process, amino-MIL-125/TiO 2 is illuminated by visible light to produce electrons. These excited electrons are delivered to the glassy carbon electrode, leaving positively charged holes (h + ) on the surface of the amino-MIL-125/TiO 2 . The holes react with H 2 O to generate hydroxy radicals (•OH). Clethodim rapidly attacks the hydroxy radicals and improves the efficiency of charge separation, this leading to an enhanced photocurrent. Under the optimal experimental conditions, this photoelectrochemical method enables clethodim to be quantified in the concentration range from 0.2 to 25 μmol L −1 , with a detection limit (3 S/N) of 10 nmol L −1 . The assay was applied to the determination of clethodim in soil samples, and results were in acceptable agreement with data obtained by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Graphical Abstract An amino-functionalized metal-organic framework (MOF) modified with titanium dioxide was synthesized and used as a new platform for photoelectrochemical sensing of the herbicide clethodim.

Description: An on-line, ensemble-based data assimilation (DA) method is performed to reconstruct the climate for 1750–1850 AD, and the performance is evaluated on large and small spatial scales. We use a low-resolution version of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology MPI-ESM model and assimilate the PAGES 2K continental mean temperature reconstructions for the Northern Hemisphere (NH). The ensembles are generated sequentially for sub-periods based on the analysis of previous sub-periods. The assimilation has good skill for large-scale temperatures, but there is no agreement between the DA analysis and proxy-based reconstructions for small-scale temperature patterns within Europe or with reconstructions for the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index. To explain the lack of added value in small spatial scales, a maximum covariance analysis (MCA) of links between NH temperature and sea level pressure is performed based on a control simulation with MPI-ESM. For annual values, winter and spring the Northern Annular Mode (NAM) is the pattern that is most closely linked to the NH continental temperatures, while for summer and autumn it is a wave-like pattern. This link is reproduced in the DA for winter, spring and annual means, providing potential for constraining the NAM/NAO phase and in turn regional temperature variability. It is shown that the lack of actual small-scale skill is likely due to the fact that the link might be too weak, as the NH continental mean temperatures are not the best predictors for large-scale circulation anomalies, or that the PAGES 2K temperatures include noise. Both factors can lead to circulation anomalies in the DA analysis that are substantially different from reality, leading to unrealistic representation of small-scale temperature variability. Moreover, we show that even if the true amplitudes of the leading MCA circulation patterns were known, there is still a large amount of unexplained local temperature variance. Based on these results, we argue that assimilating temperature reconstructions with a higher spatial resolution might improve the DA performance.

Description: We analyse the impact of migration and strength of Southern Hemisphere westerly winds on the ocean carbon cycle in a systematic sensitivity study with the University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model. We find that changes in the biological pump are mainly driven by changes in ocean residence times while changes in export production are negligible. Changes in the biological and physical pumps are always of opposite sign; with the physical pump being dominant for southward shifts and the biological pump being dominant for northward shifts. Furthermore, changes in the Pacific Ocean carbon budget dictate the overall changes in global marine and atmospheric carbon. Overall, atmospheric \(\hbox {CO}_2\) increases (and \(\Delta ^{14}\hbox {C}\) decreases) for northward shifts or a strengthening in wind forcing. The opposite is true for a southward shift or a weakening in wind forcing. Combining forcings (shift and intensity change) results in a combination of their impacts with the direction of the shift being the first order forcing. The terrestrial carbon reservoir absorbs (releases) 50–70 % of the net oceanic carbon loss (increase), counterbalancing the effect on atmospheric \(\hbox {CO}_2\) .

Description: Effects of wind and fresh water on the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) are investigated using a fully coupled climate model. The AMOC can change significantly when perturbed by either wind stress or freshwater flux in the North Atlantic. This study focuses on wind stress effect. Our model results show that the wind forcing is crucial in maintaining the AMOC. Reducing wind forcing over the ocean can cause immediately weakening of the vertical salinity diffusion and convection in the mid-high latitudes Atlantic, resulting in an enhancement of vertical salinity stratification that restrains the deep water formation there, triggering a slowdown of the thermohaline circulation. As the thermohaline circulation weakens, the sea ice expands southward and melts, providing the upper ocean with fresh water that weakens the thermohaline circulation further. The wind perturbation experiments suggest a positive feedback between sea-ice and thermohaline circulation strength, which can eventually result in a complete shutdown of the AMOC. This study also suggests that sea-ice variability may be also important to the natural AMOC variability on decadal and longer timescales.

Description: In this paper, we investigate the role of electromagnetic field on the stability regions of charged self-gravitating compact objects by using the concept of cracking. For this purpose, we have applied local density perturbation scheme to the hydrostatic equilibrium equation as well as on physical parameters involved in the model. In particular, we have examined the cracking of charged compact objects like PSR J1614-2230, PSR J1903+327, Vela X-1, SMC X-1 and Cen X-3 with different values of charge. We conclude that these objects exhibit cracking and stability regions decreases with the increase of charge.

Description: In this paper we have studied the behavior of static spherically symmetric relativistic objects with locally anisotropic matter distribution considering the Tolman VII form for the gravitational potential \(g_{rr}\) in curvature coordinates together with the linear relation between the energy density and the radial pressure. The interior spacetime has been matched continuously to the exterior Schwarzschild geometry. We have investigated and analyzed different physical properties of the stellar model and presented graphically.

Description: The relationship between the large-scale circulation dynamics and regional precipitation regime in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) has so far not been well understood. In this study, we classify the circulation types using the self-organizing maps based on the daily field of 500 hPa geopotential height and link them to the precipitation climatology in the eastern and central TP. By virtue of an objective determining method, 18 circulation types are quantified. The results show that the large amount of precipitation in summer is closely related to the circulation types in which the enhanced and northward shifted subtropical high (SH) over the northwest Pacific and the obvious cyclconic circulation anomaly over the Bay of Bengal are helpful for the Indian summer monsoon and East Asian summer monsoon to take abundant low-latitude moisture to the eastern and southern TP. On the contrary, the dry winter in the central and eastern Tibet corresponds to the circulation types with divergence over the central and eastern TP and the water vapor transportations of East Asian winter monsoon and mid-latitude westerly are very weak. Some circulation types are associated with some well-known circulation patterns/monsoons influencing the TP (e.g. East Atlantic Pattern, El Niño Southern Oscillation, Indian Summer Monsoon and the mid-latitude westerly), and exhibit an overall good potential for explaining the variability of regional seasonal precipitation. Moreover, the climate shift signals in the late 1970s over the eastern Pacific/North Pacific Oceans could also be reflected by both the variability of some circulation types and their correspondingly composite precipitations. This study extends our understandings for the large-scale atmospheric dynamics and their linkages with regional precipitation and is beneficial for the climate change projection and related adaptation activities in the highest and largest plateau in the world.

Description: We report on a new amplification strategy for use in an immunoassay for influenza virus subtype H7N9. Graphene sheets were first placed on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and gold nanoparticles were then electrodeposited as a support for a layer of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in a sol–gel containing thiol groups. Protein A was used to properly orientate immobilized antibody against H7N9 on the sol–gel, and this is shown to result in strongly improved specificity of the antigen-antibody binding. Thus, a sensitive and specific immunosensor was obtained in which a quadruple signal amplification strategy is employed, viz. (a) via the use of graphene sheets, (b) via a hybridization chain reaction, (c) the use of hemin/G-quadruplex DNAzyme concatamers, and (d) the use of ADH. The hemin/G-quadruplex is a typical DNAzyme, which simultaneously acts as NADH oxidase and HRP-mimicking DNAzyme. The hybridization chain reaction-based DNAzyme concatamers assembled on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and the ADH represent a triple electrocatalytic enzyme cascade system. Sandwich immunoreactions occurred between the capture antibody on the electrode and the secondary antibody labeled with MWCNTs. Positively charged Methylene Blue (MB) was then used as an intercalator to detect the DNAzyme concatamer formed. The differential pulse voltammetric signals for MB are related to the concentration of H7N9 in the range from 8 to 60 pg · mL −1 , and the detection limit is 0.81 pg · mL −1 (at an S/N ratio of 3). This immunoassay is very sensitive, specific and robust. Graphical Abstract An electrochemical sandwich immunosensor has been developed for sensitive and specific detection of influenza virus subtype H7N9. Protein A was used to properly orientate antibody. The hybridization chain reaction based DNAzyme concatamers assembled on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and the ADH represent a triple electrocatalytic enzyme cascade system.

Description: This paper explores structure scalars of cylindrically symmetric spacetime in Brans-Dicke gravity. We construct twelve scalar factors using orthogonal splitting of the Reimann tensor and study their distinct dynamical interpretations. These structure scalars are used to derive a set of governing equations of the evolving system. It is concluded that cylindrical systems are necessarily inhomogeneous. Finally, we show that all possible static inhomogeneous cylindrical solutions can be obtained through structure scalars.

Description: In this Letter, based on Bianchi-I type cosmological model, we have studied the evolution of universe in terms of a vector field coupled to the scalar field. The symmetries of the system are calculated in the Noether approach, the scalar potential and the gauge kinetic function are also obtained following these symmetries. The dynamical equations are integrated numerically and the behaviors of cosmological evolution are presented certainly. Furthermore, the early-time and late-time scenarios are also reached asymptotically, that is, the universe is during the period of decelerating expansion in the early time while during the period of accelerating expansion in the late time. Moreover, we have also studied the expansion isotropization of the universe during evolution. There is no Kasner solution in the present case, while the universe would approach an isotropic Robertson-Walker one, concretely, a de Sitter type one in the late time.

Description: We describe a turn-off fluorescence-based strategy for the detection of ATP by making use of aptamer-triggered dsDNA concatamers. This sensitive and easily controlled method is based on consecutive hybridization induced by ATP aptamers and their sectional complementary DNAs to form dsDNA concatamers. The intercalator SYBR Green I (SGI) was employed as a fluorescent probe. In the absence of ATP, the probe produces a strong signal. However, on addition of ATP, the binding of aptamer and ATP cause the concatamers to collapse and to release SGI whose fluorescence then is quenched. The effect was exploited to design a selective ATP assay by relating the decrease in fluorescence to the ATP concentration. A lower detection limit of 6.1 μM and a linear response in the 0 to 5000 μM concentration range was accomplished. The strategy was applied to cellular ATP assays, and the results obtained by this strategy and by the gold standard method are in good agreement. The method is sensitive, simple and cost efficient, and hence is promising in terms of future applications to determine ATP in cellular and other systems. Graphical Abstract A turn-off fluorescence-based strategy for the selective detection of ATP by using aptamer-triggered dsDNA concatamers.

Description: Based on the historical and RCP8.5 experiments from 25 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) models, the impacts of sea surface temperature (SST) warming in the tropical Indian Ocean (IO) on the projected change in summer rainfall over Central Asia (CA) are investigated. The analysis is designed to answer three questions: (1) Can CMIP5 models reproduce the observed influence of the IO sea surface temperatures (SSTs) on the CA rainfall variations and the associated dynamical processes? (2) How well do the models agree on their projected rainfall changes over CA under warmed climate? (3) How much of the uncertainty in such rainfall projections is due to different impacts of IO SSTs in these models? The historical experiments show that in most models summer rainfall over CA are positively correlated to the SSTs in the IO. Furthermore, for models with higher rainfall-SSTs correlations, the dynamical processes accountable for such impacts are much closer to what have been revealed in observational data: warmer SSTs tend to favor the development of anti-cyclonic circulation patterns at low troposphere over north and northwest of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. These anomalous circulation patterns correspond to significantly enhanced southerly flow which carries warm and moisture air mass from the IO region up to the northeast. At the same time, there is a cyclonic flow over the central and eastern part of the CA which further brings the tropical moisture into the CA and provides essential moist conditions for its rainfall generation. In the second half of twenty-first century, although all the 25 models simulate warmed SSTs, significant uncertainty exists in their projected rainfall changes over CA: half of them suggest summer rainfall increases, but the other half project rainfall decreases. However, when we select seven models out of the 25 based on their skills in capturing the dynamical processes as observed, then the model projected changes are much closer. Five out of the seven models predicted more rainfall over CA. Such a result is helpful for allowing us to attribute part of the observed upward rainfall trend in the CA region in the last several decades to the IO SST warming.

Description: In this paper, based on the BSBM theory, we investigate the dynamics of a homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type-V (BV) cosmological model subject to variation of the fine structure constant. By performing stability analysis, the anisotropic cosmic attractors are obtained and the anisotropic parameters are studied. The outcome confirms that universe underwent both anisotropy and variation of fine structure constant in the past for an accelerating expansion. However, the result also shows that both anisotropy and fundamental constant variation exist at the present epoch and even become greater in the future. This is in contradiction with the current observational data and therefore the model is not satisfactory.

Description: Our aim is to prove that long time series of solar observations measured with Metsähovi Radio Observatory’s 1.8-meter solar radio telescope, RT-1.8, at 11.2 GHz are reliable, and that the data can be used for solar cyclicity studies. We give a detailed description of RT-1.8 and its calibration. We compare 14 years of Metsähovi Radio Observatory’s solar data from solar cycles 23 and 24 to both Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO 2015 ), Penticton, Canada 2.8 GHz and Nobeyama Solar Radio Observatory (NSRO 2015 ), Nobeyama, Japan 9.4 and 17.0 GHz data. Our results show high correlation between all data sets.

Description: A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was prepared by self-polymerization of dopamine in the presence of bovine hemoglobin (BHb) and then deposited on the surface of an electrode modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry were employed to characterize the modified electrode using the hexacyanoferrate redox system as an electroactive probe. The effects of BHb concentration, dopamine concentration, and polymerization time were optimized. Under optimized conditions, the modified electrode selectively recognizes BHb even in the presence of other proteins. The peak current for hexacyanoferrate, typically measured at + 0.17 V (vs. SCE), depends on the concentration of BHb in the 1.0 × 10 −11 to 1.0 × 10 −2  mg mL −1 range. Due to the ease of preparation and tight adherence of polydopamine to various support materials, the present strategy conceivably also provides a platform for the recognition and detection of other proteins. Graphical Abstract Gold nanoparticles and molecularly imprinted self-polymerization dopamine were modified on gold electrode surface to recognize and determine bovine hemoglobin. Under the optimized conditions, the modified electrode showed specific adsorption, selective recognition, and sensitive detection of bovine hemoglobin.

Description: We report on an electrochemical method for the determination of the activity of trypsin. A multi-functional substrate peptide (HHHAKSSATGGC-HS) is designed and immobilized on a gold electrode. The three His residues in the N-terminal are able to recruit thionine-loaded graphene oxide (GO/thionine), a nanocover adopted for signal amplification. Once the peptide is cleaved under enzymatic catalysis by trypsin (cleavage site: Lys residue), the His residues leave the electrode, and the GO/thionine cannot cover the peptide-modified electrode anymore. Thus, the changes of the electrochemical signal of thionine, typically acquired at a voltage of -0.35 V, can be used to determine the activity of trypsin. A detection range of 1 × 10 −4 to 1 U, with a detection limit of 3.3 × 10 −5  U, can be achieved, which is better than some currently available methods. In addition, the method is highly specific, facile, and has the potential for the detection of trypsin-like proteases. Graphical abstract Graphene oxide was adopted as a nanocover for the development of a sensitive electrochemical method to detect the activity of trypsin.

Description: Cyclonic windstorms are one of the most important natural hazards for Europe, but robust climate projections of the position and the strength of the North Atlantic storm track are not yet possible, bearing significant risks to European societies and the (re)insurance industry. Previous studies addressing the problem of climate model uncertainty through statistical comparisons of simulations of the current climate with (re-)analysis data show large disagreement between different climate models, different ensemble members of the same model and observed climatologies of intense cyclones. One weakness of such evaluations lies in the difficulty to separate influences of the climate model’s basic state from the influence of fast processes on the development of the most intense storms, which could create compensating effects and therefore suggest higher reliability than there really is. This work aims to shed new light into this problem through a cost-effective “seamless” approach of hindcasting 20 historical severe storms with the two global climate models, ECHAM6 and GA4 configuration of the Met Office Unified Model, run in a numerical weather prediction mode using different lead times, and horizontal and vertical resolutions. These runs are then compared to re-analysis data. The main conclusions from this work are: (a) objectively identified cyclone tracks are represented satisfactorily by most hindcasts; (b) sensitivity to vertical resolution is low; (c) cyclone depth is systematically under-predicted for a coarse resolution of T63 by both climate models; (d) no systematic bias is found for the higher resolution of T127 out to about three days, demonstrating that climate models are in fact able to represent the complex dynamics of explosively deepening cyclones well, if given the correct initial conditions; (e) an analysis using a recently developed diagnostic tool based on the surface pressure tendency equation points to too weak diabatic processes, mainly latent heating, as the main source for the under-prediction in the coarse-resolution runs. Finally, an interesting implication of these results is that the too low number of deep cyclones in many free-running climate simulations may therefore be related to an insufficient number of storm-prone initial conditions. This question will be addressed in future work.

Description: We report on the microwave-assisted synthesis of ultrasmall Ce 3+ and Tb 3+ -doped SrF 2 nanocrystals (NCs) capped with glutathione (GSH). The NCs have an average size of about 5 nm and show bright green fluorescence upon photoexcitation at 290 nm. Fluorescence is strongly quenched by Hg(II) and Pb(II). This finding was applied to design a method for the fairly selective determination of these ions. The detection limits (for the 3σ/slope criterion) are 20 μM and 30 μM for Hg(II) and Pb(II) ions, respectively. The intensity of the luminescence can be restored by the addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and this suggests that these NCs can be used as reusable fluorescent probes. Graphical Abstract Scheme illustrating the metal induced change in the binding modality of GSH ligand upon addition of metal (M) ions and EDTA solution through metal-ligand interaction.

Description: We describe a novel magnetic nanosorbent that consists of nanowires consisting of a core of metallic iron and an iron (III) oxide shell. These nanowires were then deposited on graphene oxide to form a composite of the type Fe@Fe 2 O 3 /GO. Specifically, the magnetic composite is formed via electrostatic interaction between negatively charged GO nanosheets and positively charged Fe@Fe 2 O 3 nanowires in aqueous solution. The material was successfully applied to the extraction of the endocrine-disrupting phenols bisphenol A, triclosan and 2,4-dichlorophenol from water samples. Compared to neat graphene oxide, the composite material exhibits improved properties in terms of microextraction where both the hydrophilic graphene oxide and the Fe@Fe 2 O 3 nanowires participate in the adsorption of the hydrophilic analytes. The amount of adsorbent, pH of water sample, extraction time and desorption time, type and volume of desorption solution were optimized. Following extraction for the absorbent, the phenols were quantified by HPLC. The three phenols can be determined in 0.5 to 100 ng∙mL −1 concentration range, with limits of detection (at an S/N ratio of 3) ranging from 0.08 to 0.10 ng∙mL −1 . The repeatability was investigated by evaluating the intra- and inter-day precisions with relative standard deviations of lower than 7.5 % ( n  = 5). The recoveries from spiked real water samples were in the range from 84.8 to 92.0 %. The results indicate that the novel material can be successfully applied to the extraction and analysis of phenols from water samples. Graphical Abstract Scheme 1 procedure for the synthesis of Fe@Fe 2 0 3 /G0

Description: Immobilization of proteins on a solid support is critical with respect to the fabrication and performance of biosensors and biochips. Protein attachment with a preferable orientation can effectively avoid its denaturation and keeps its active sites fully exposed to solution, thus maximally preserving the bioaffinity or bioactivity. This review (with 140 refs.) summarises the recent advances in oriented immobilization of proteins with a particular focus on antibodies and enzymes. Following an introduction that describes reasons for oriented immobilization on (nano)surfaces, we summarize (a) methods for (bio)chemical affinity-mediated oriented immobilization (with sections on immunoglobulin G (IgG)-binding protein as the capture ligand, DNA-directed immobilization, aptamer- and peptide-mediated immobilization, affinity ligand and fusion tag-mediated immobilization, material-binding peptide-assisted immobilization); (b) methods for covalent oriented immobilization (with sections on immobilization via cysteine residues or cysteine tags, via carbohydrate moieties; via enzyme fusion or enzymatic catalysis, and via nucleotide binding sites of antibodies); (c) methods based on molecular imprinting techniques; (d) methods for characterization of oriented immobilized proteins; and then make conclusions and give perspectives. Graphical Abstract This review summarises recent advances in oriented immobilization of proteins based on strategies via bio−/chemical affinity, covalent bonding, and molecular imprinting techniques. Advantages and disadvantages of each approach are discussed.

Description: Magnetic oleate-coated Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were applied to the extraction of PCBs from fruit juices that were quantified by gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Two methods were evaluated: The first method involves a two-step procedure that combines dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with dispersive micro-solid phase extraction, and the second one involves magnetic solid-phase extraction (mSPE) carried out in a single step. The mSPE procedure is shown to be more sensitive, and therefore, it was optimized and applied to the analysis of PCBs in juices. The detection limits for all target PCBs are below 6 ng∙L −1 for apple juice, and 3 ng∙L −1 for grape juice. The enrichment factor is 125. Analysis of spiked fruit juice samples gave relative recoveries higher than 70 % for all PCBs except for PCB28 and PCB52. Graphical Abstract Diagram of the extractive methods using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs): A ) two-step method combining dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) with dispersive micro solid-phase extraction (D-μ-SPE) and B ) one-step magnetic solid-phase extraction (mSPE) procedure

Description: Thin-layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) was intercalated, via ultrasonic exfoliation, into self-doped polyaniline (SPAN). This material, when placed on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), exhibits excellent electrical conductivity and synergistic catalytic activity with respect to the detection of bisphenol A (BPA). The electrochemical response of the modified GCE to BPA was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Under optimal conditions, the oxidation peak current (measured best at 446 mV vs. SCE) is related to the concentration of BPA in the range from 1.0 nM to 1.0 μM, and the detection limit is 0.6 nM. Graphical Abstract Thin-layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) was intercalated into self-doped polyaniline (SPAN) via ultrasonic exfoliation. The special conjugated structure and functional groups of MoS 2 -SPAN composite help to adsorb BPA easily. MoS 2 -SPAN has a synergistic effect for catalyzing the oxidation of BPA. The BPA electrochemical sensor based on MoS 2 -SPAN has a high sensitivity and low detection limit.

Description: We have synthesized nitrogen-doped graphene nanoribbons (N-GrNRs) by unzipping multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under strongly oxidizing conditions and subsequent doping with nitrogen by a low-temperature hydrothermal method. The N-GNRs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, and assembled on a disposable screen-printed carbon electrode to give a sensor for H 2 O 2 that was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, chronocoulometry and chronoamperometry. The nano-modified electrode displays enhanced electron transfer ability, and has a large active surface and a large number of catalytically active sites that originate from the presence of nitrogen atoms. This results in a catalytic activity towards H 2 O 2 reduction at near-neutral pH values that is distinctly improved compared to electrodes modified with CNTs or unzipped (non-doped) CNTs only. At a working potential of −0.4 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), the amperometric responses to H 2 O 2 cover the 5 to 2785 μM concentration range, with a limit of detection as low as 1.72 μM. This enzyme-free electrochemical sensor exhibits outstanding selectivity and long-term stability for H 2 O 2 detection. Graphical Abstract Nitrogen-doped graphene nanoribbons (N-GrNRs) were expediently synthesized for highly sensitive and selective detection of H 2 O 2 .

Description: We have investigated the possibility of sampling ammonium ion using the diffusive-gradients-in-thin-films technique (DGT) by introducing a novel binding agent that is based on micro-sized zeolite. The performance of zeolite-DGT was characterized by measurement of the following parameters: (1) the diffusion coefficient of ammonium ion in hydrogel; (2) the adsorption rate of ammonium ion by the zeolite binding gel; (3) the elution efficiency, and (4) the effects of pH, ionic strength and interfering ions on DGT. The method was validated by studying the uptake of ammonium ion from in freshwaters by zeolite gels which was found to be fast enough to meet the requirements of DGT. The concentrations determined via DGT agreed well with the concentrations determined in bulk solutions. Sampling of ammonium ion using zeolite-DGT was consistent over the pH 3 to 8 range and the 0.001 to 10 mM ionic strength range. The method also performs predictably in natural waters containing various metal ions. The technique is considered to be a viable passive tool for sampling ammonium from aqueous solutions. Graphical Abstract Schematic representation of the principle of DGT and the determination of mass accumulated on the binding gel.

Description: We report on a method for the determination of magnetic bead-labeled C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of cardiovascular diseases and inflammations. It is using a flexible giant magnetoimpedance (GMI)-based platform. Micro-patterned GMI sensing elements were prepared from a cobalt-based commercial amorphous ribbon (Metglas® 2714A) using micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) technology. A gold film was then deposited on the GMI sensing element to act as a support for the immuno platform. Sandwich assays are performed using antibody-antigen combinations and biotin-streptavidin interactions on the gold film substrate surface via self-assembled layers. The GMI ratios of the sensors with different concentrations of antigen against CRP were investigated. The results show that the presence of CRP antigens on the biosensor improves the GMI effect owing to the induced magnetic dipole of superparamagnetic beads, and that the GMI ratios show distinct changes at high frequency. This bioassay for CRP has a linear detection range between 1 to 10 ng·mL −1 . This new method in our perception provides a widely applicable basis for rapid diagnostic testing and will pave the way for future development of electrochemical point-of-care diagnostic devices for cardiac diseases. Graphical Abstract (a) Graphical illustration of CRP test setup. (b) Magnetic field arrangement of the beads under an applied magnetic field. (c) GMI changes in relation to the concentration of the CRP

Description: Extreme precipitation and flood episodes in the Himalayas are oftentimes traced to synoptic situations involving connections between equatorward advancing upper level extratropical circulations and moisture-laden tropical monsoon circulation. While previous studies have documented precipitation characteristics in the Himalayan region during severe storm cases, a comprehensive understanding of circulation dynamics of extreme precipitation mechanisms is still warranted. In this study, a detailed analysis is performed using rainfall observations and reanalysis circulation products to understand the evolution of monsoon-extratropical circulation features and their interactions based on 34 extreme precipitation events which occurred in the Western Himalayas (WEH) during the period 1979–2013. Our results provide evidence for a common large-scale circulation pattern connecting the extratropics and the South Asian monsoon region, which is favorable for extreme precipitation occurrences in the WEH region. This background upper level large-scale circulation pattern consists of a deep southward penetrating midlatitude westerly trough, a blocking high over western Eurasia and an intensifying Tibetan anticyclone. It is further seen from our analysis that the key elements of monsoon-midlatitude interactions, responsible for extreme precipitation events over the WEH region, are: (1) midlatitude Rossby wave breaking, (2) west-northwest propagation of monsoon low-pressure system from the Bay of Bengal across the Indian subcontinent, (3) eddy shedding of the Tibetan anticyclone, (4) ageostrophic motions and transverse circulation across the Himalayas, and (5) strong moist convection over the Himalayan foothills. Furthermore, high-resolution numerical simulations indicate that diabatic heating and mesoscale ageostrophic effects can additionally amplify the convective motions and precipitation in the WEH region.

Description: This paper examines the difference in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) mean state between free and assimilative simulations of a common ocean model using a common interannual atmospheric forcing. In the assimilative simulation, the reproduction of cold cores in the Nordic Seas, which is absent in the free simulation, enhances the overflow to the North Atlantic and improves AMOC with enhanced transport of the deeper part of the southward return flow. This improvement also induces an enhanced supply of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) and causes better representation of the Atlantic deep layer despite the fact that correction by the data assimilation is applied only to temperature and salinity above a depth of 1750 m. It also affects Circumpolar Deep Water in the Southern Ocean. Although the earliest influence of the improvement propagated by coastal waves reaches the Southern Ocean in 10–15 years, substantial influence associated with the arrival of the renewed NADW propagates across the Atlantic Basin in several decades. Although the result demonstrates that data assimilation is able to improve the deep ocean state even if there is no data there, it also indicates that long-term integration is required to reproduce variability in the deep ocean originating from variations in the upper ocean. This study thus provides insights on the reliability of AMOC and the ocean state in the Atlantic deep layer reproduced by data assimilation systems.

Description: We describe the fairly easy preparation of thiol stabilized water soluble cadmium sulfide quantum dots and the modification of their surface with the human transferrin protein siderophiline. The particles are shown to enable targeted imaging of human breast adenocarcinoma cell (type MCF7). The fluorescence quantum yield of the modified QDs is ~0.74. The particles have an average diameter of 8.1 ± 0.1 nm as determined in solution by dynamic light scattering. The cancer cells were imaged by fluorescence microscopy of the QDs which display strong green fluorescenece under 350 nm excitation. A cytotoxicity assay showed 66 and 78 % cell viabilities, respectively, after 24 h of incubation with the QDs and modified QDs. Graphical Abstract Water-soluble cadmium sulfide QDs were modified with siderophiline (transferrin) and applied to fluorescent and targeted imaging of breast cancer cells. Left: control (human breast cancer cells (type MCF-7) were treated with QDs without siderophiline); right: human breast cancer cells (type MCF-7) treated with siderophiline modified QDs

Description: We describe the preparation of carbon dots (CDs) from glucose that possess high stability, a quantum yield of 0.32, and low toxicity (according to an MTT assay). They were used, in combination with the fluorogenic zinc(II) probe quercetin to establish a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) system for the determination of Zn(II). The CDs are acting as the donor, and the quercetin-Zn(II) complex as the acceptor. This is possible because of the strong overlap between the fluorescence spectrum of CDs and the absorption spectrum of the complex. The method enables Zn(II) to be determined in the 2 to 100 μM concentration range, with a 2 μM detection limit. The method was applied to image the distribution of Zn(II) ions in HeLa cells. Graphical Abstract Based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between carbon dots and quercetin (QCT)-Zn 2+ , the fluorescence indicator was established, which displays high sensitivity and selectivity in the detection of Zn 2+ . The method was also applied to image the distribution of Zn(II) ions in HeLa cells.

Description: The southeast region of Brazil experienced in austral summer 2014 a major drought event leading to a number of impacts in water availability for human consumption, agricultural irrigation and hydropower production. This study aims to perform a diagnostic analysis of the observed climate conditions during this event, including an inspection of the occurred precipitation anomalies in the context of previous years, and an investigation of possible relationships with sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation patterns. The sea surface temperature analysis revealed that the southwestern South Atlantic Ocean region near the coast of southeast Brazil showed strong negative association with precipitation over southeast Brazil, indicating that increased sea temperatures in this ocean region are consistent with reduced precipitation as observed in summer 2014. The circulation analysis revealed prevailing anti-cyclonic anomalies at lower levels (850 hPa) with northerly anomalies to the west of southeast Brazil, channeling moisture from the Amazon towards Paraguay, northern Argentina and southern Brazil, and drier than normal air from the South Atlantic Ocean towards the southeast region of Brazil. This circulation pattern was found to be part of a large-scale teleconnection wave train linked with the subsidence branch of the Walker circulation in the tropical east Pacific, which in turn was generated by an anomalous tropical heat source in north/northeastern Australia. A regional Hadley circulation with an ascending branch to the south of the subsidence branch of the Walker circulation in the tropical east Pacific was identified as an important component connecting the tropical and extratropical circulation. The ascending branch of this Hadley circulation in the south Pacific coincided with an identified Rossby wave source region, which contributed to establishing the extratropical component of the large-scale wave train connecting the south Pacific and the Atlantic region surrounding southeast Brazil. This connection between the Pacific and the Atlantic was confirmed with Rossby ray tracing analyses. The local circulation response was associated to downward air motion (subsidence) over Southeast Brazil, contributing to the expressive negative precipitation anomalies observed during summer 2014, and leading to a major drought event in the historical context. The analysis of atmospheric and oceanic patterns of this event helped defining a schematic framework leading to the observed drought conditions in southeast Brazil, including the involved teleconnections, blocking high pressure, radiative and humidity transport effects.

Description: Sensitive detection of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) in air and in liquid samples is an important task and still a major challenge in analytical chemistry. Recent work demonstrated that it can be performed using surface plasmon microscopy (SPM) where binding of single NPs to a surface leads to the formation of characteristic patterns in differential SPM images. However, these patterns have to be discriminated from a noisy background. Computer-assisted recognition of nanoparticles offers a solution but requires the development of respective tools for data analysis. Hereby a numerical method for automated detection and characterization of images of single adsorbing NPs in SPM image sequences is presented. The detection accuracy of the method was validated using computer generated images and manual counting. The method was applied for detecting and imaging of gold and silver NPs adsorbing from aqueous dispersions and for soot and NaCl NPs adsorbing from aerosols. The determined adsorption rate was in range 0.1–40 NPs per (s mm 2 ) and linearly dependent on the concentration of nanoparticles. Depending on the type of NPs and signal to noise ratio, a probability of recognition of 90–95 % can be achieved. Graphical Abstract A computer-assisted method is presented for the detection and characterization of images of single adsorbing nanoparticles in surface plasmon microscopy images. The method was validated and can be applied to detecting and imaging of nanoparticles absorbed from aqueous dispersions and aerosols.

Description: This work investigates the theoretical and numerical studies on nonlinear propagation of ion acoustic solitary waves (IASWs) in an unmagnetized plasma consisting of nonextensive electrons, Boltzmann positrons and relativistic thermal ions. The Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation is derived by using the well known reductive perturbation method. This equation admits the soliton like solitary wave solution. The effects of phase velocity, amplitude of soliton, width of soliton and electrostatic nonlinear propagation of weakly relativistic ion-acoustic solitary waves have been discussed with graphical representation found in the variation of the plasma parameters. The obtained results can be helpful in understanding the features of small but finite amplitude localized relativistic ion-acoustic waves for an unmagnetized three component plasma system in astrophysical compact objects.

Description: This article describes a new procedure for multi-element preconcentration of heavy metal ions, specifically of Cr(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) ions. The method is based on dispersive micro solid-phase extraction (DMSPE) of the metal complexes of 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol (5-Br-PADAP) by graphene oxide nanoparticles prior to energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometric (EDXRF) determination. The effects of pH, amount of graphene oxide, concentration of complexing reagent, sample volume and sorption time were optimized. The influence of commonly encountered other ions was also investigated. Under optimal conditions, the calibration plots cover the 2 to 150 ng mL −1 range for each element. The precision (at a 20 ng mL −1 level for n  = 10) is lower than 4.8 %, and the detection limits range is from 0.07 to 0.25 ng mL −1 . The DMSPE-EDXRF procedure was successfully applied to the determination of heavy metal ions in water and spiked water samples with recoveries between 94.4 and 103.5 %. Graphical Abstract Schematic of the dispersive solid-phase microextraction of metal complexes of 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol (5-Br-PADAP) using graphene oxide nanoparticles, followed by their energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometric determination.

Description: The existence of cut-off lows (COLs) over South Pacific and South America is often associated with adverse weather events such as intense precipitation over the central region of South America, frost episodes in southern Brazil and the development of Andes lee cyclones and intense cyclones over the southern coast of Brazil. Despite this importance, the formation and maintenance mechanisms of the COLs are not well understood. To detail the significant variability in terms of the eddy kinetic energy equation for fifty cases of COLs that formed over the southeastern Pacific Ocean is the aim of this study. Only the cases of COLs that formed over the ocean and remained there during most of their life were chosen. The main terms of the equation [ageostrophic flux convergence (AFC), baroclinic conversion (BRC) and barotropic conversion (BRT)] were calculated using the 6-hourly gridded data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/Department of Energy reanalysis. The formation mechanism of the COLs was associated with BRC and AFC. During the midlife period, the BRC term converted eddy kinetic energy to eddy potential energy and the AFC had a positive contribution until 6 h after the midlife point. In the dissipation phase, the BRC term remained positive and AFC became negative. The BRT extracted kinetic energy from the COL during the entire life cycle. The AFC term was the most important in all phases of the cut-off lifetime, and it was the responsible for extending the cut-off lifetime while the others terms were negatives.

Description: The present study examines the ability of high resolution (T382) National Centers for Environmental Prediction coupled atmosphere–ocean climate forecast system version 2 (CFS T382) in simulating the salient spatio-temporal characteristics of the boreal summertime mean climate and the intraseasonal variability. The shortcomings of the model are identified based on the observation and compared with earlier reported biases of the coarser resolution of CFS (CFS T126). It is found that the CFS T382 reasonably mimics the observed features of basic state climate during boreal summer. But some prominent biases are noted in simulating the precipitation, tropospheric temperature (TT) and sea surface temperature (SST) over the global tropics. Although CFS T382 primarily reproduces the observed distribution of the intraseasonal variability over the Indian summer monsoon region, some difficulty remains in simulating the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) characteristics. The simulated eastward propagation of BSISO decays rapidly across the Maritime Continent, while the northward propagation appears to be slightly slower than observation. However, the northward propagating BSISO convection propagates smoothly from the equatorial region to the northern latitudes with observed magnitude. Moreover, the observed northwest-southeast tilted rain band is not well reproduced in CFS T382. The warm mean SST bias and inadequate simulation of high frequency modes appear to be responsible for the weak simulation of eastward propagating BSISO. Unlike CFS T126, the simulated mean SST and TT exhibit warm biases, although the mean precipitation and simulated BSISO characteristics are largely similar in both the resolutions of CFS. Further analysis of the convectively coupled equatorial waves (CCEWs) indicates that model overestimates the gravest equatorial Rossby waves and underestimates the Kelvin and mixed Rossby-gravity waves. Based on analysis of CCEWs, the study further explains the possible reasons behind the realistic simulation of northward propagating BSISO in CFS T382, even though the model shows substantial biases in simulating mean state and other BSISO modes.

Description: Systematic relationships of the subclass-averaged rise, decay times and durations of flare events as a function of the logarithmic peak flux ( \(\operatorname{ln}f\) ) are investigated, employing the soft X-ray flares observed by GOES during the period from September 1975 to October 2014. Different behaviors are found before and after 1997. Since 1997 they all vary linearly with \(\operatorname{ln}f\) , obeying the RV model. However, prior to 1997 they vary quadratically with \(\operatorname{ln}f\) , implying a different energy storage/release process of flaring. The discrepancy may be related to the variation in the turbulence in the corona caused by the weakening magnetic field strength in the recent two decades. This motivates us to propose a Stochastic-Diffusive model for explaining the above result, by assuming that the temporal rate of flare energy resulted by external forces is proportional to the total energy already stored in the flare system and inversely proportional to the size scale of diffusion.

Description: Intermediate inflation is considered in a non-canonical scalar field model, in which the kinetic term of scalar field is taken as a power-law function. The free parameters of the model are constrained by using the most recent observational data related to scalar spectra index, tensor-to-scalar ratio, and scalar perturbation amplitude. The results are used to depict the potential behavior of the model and estimate the initial and final time of inflation.

Description: In light of the recent interest in dynamical dark energy models based on a cosmology with varying gravitational and cosmological parameters \(G\) and \(\varLambda\) , we present here a model of inertia in a type of Friedmann universe with \(G = G_{0}(A/A_{0})^{\sigma}\) ; \(A\) being the dimensionless scale factor, that was recently studied by Singh et al. (Astrophys. Space Sci. 345:213, 2013 ). The proposed Machian model of inertia utilizes the curved space generalization of Sciama’s law of inertial induction, which is based on the analogy between the retarded far fields of electrodynamics and those of gravitation, and expresses the total inertial force \(F= -ma\) on an accelerating mass \(m\) in terms of contributions from all matter in the observable Universe. We show that for a varying Friedmann model with \(\sigma=-3/2\) , inertial induction alone can account for the total inertial force on the accelerating mass. We then compare this cosmological model with current observational constraints for the variation of \(G\) .

Description: Elemental abundance provides an effective vehicle to understand lunar petrologic characteristics and evolutional history. The APXS mounted on the Yutu rover provides a valuable opportunity to determine the major elemental abundances in lunar soil within a short distance. In this study, we processed the APXS spectra including energy calibration, dead time correction and nonlinear least-squares fitting, and determined the abundances of the lunar major elements using the fundamental parameter method. In the calculation of X-ray fluorescence yield, a finite element method (FEM) was employed to improve the accuracy. The major elemental abundances derived from Chang’E-3 (CE-3) APXS possess a good consistency with the result of LP-GRS (Lunar Prospector gamma-ray spectrometer) data in the landing region. Compared with the chemical composition of the returned lunar rock samples, we draw the conclusion that the lunar soils in CE-3 landing site are fragments of mare basalts. Our conclusion is supported by the geological map of Mare Imbrium.

Description: Mathematica program for various general observer quantities in the general theory of relativity has been developed which uses coordinate system, metric tensor and unit timelike velocity vector as input.

Description: We consider the cosmological system with two interacting fluids: dark energy and dark matter, in a homogeneous and isotropic universe with dissipation. The modified gravitational equation for dark matter is solved. The analytic representations for the Little Rip, the Pseudo Rip, and the bounce cosmology models with dissipation are obtained in terms of the thermodynamic parameters in the equation of state. We analyze the corrections in the energy density for dark matter, in view of the dissipative processes and the coupling with dark energy.

Description: In this paper, we have investigated Kantowski-Sachs space-time in the presence of anisotropic fluid with variable equation of state (EoS) parameter and constant deceleration parameter in the scale covariant theory of gravitation proposed by Canuto et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 39:429, 1977 ). We have found a determinate solution of the field equations of the theory using variation law for Hubble’s parameter given by Bermann (Nuvo Cimento 74:182, 1983 ). Our solution represents Kantowski-Sachs dark energy model in this theory. The physical and kinematical properties of the model are also discussed.

Description: Spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Kantowski-Sachs space-time is considered in the scale covariant theory of gravitation proposed by Canuto et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 39:429, 1977 ) in the presence of bulk viscous fluid containing one dimensional cosmic strings. A determinate solution of the field equations of this theory is presented using the special law of variation proposed by Bermann (Nuovo Cimento B74:183, 1983 ). We have also used the proportionality of shear scalar to the scalar expansion of the space time. The solution obtained represents a bulk viscous string cosmological model in this theory. Some physical and kinematical properties of the model are also discussed.

Description: We follow the development of nonaxisymmetric instabilities of self-gravitating disks from the linear regime to the nonlinear regime. Particular attention is paid to comparison of nonlinear simulation results with previous linear and quasi-linear modeling results to study the mass and angular momentum transport driven by nonaxisymmetric disk instabilities. Systems with star-to-disk mass ratios of \(M_{*}/M_{d} = 0.1\) and 5 and inner-to-outer disk radius ratios of \(r_{-}/r_{+} = 0.47\) to 0.66 are investigated. In disks where self-gravity is important, systems with small \(M_{*}/M_{d}\) and large \(r_{-}/r_{+}\) , Jeans-like J modes are dominant and the gravitational stress drives angular momentum transport. In disks where self-gravity is weak, systems with large \(M_{*}/M_{d}\) and large \(r_{-}/r_{+}\) , shear-driven P modes dominate and the Reynolds stress drives angular momentum transport. In disks where self-gravity is intermediate in strength between disks where P modes dominate and disks where J modes dominate, I modes control the evolution of the system and the Reynolds and gravitational stresses both play important roles in the angular momentum transport. In all cases, redistribution of angular momentum takes place on the characteristic disk timescale defined as the orbital period at the location of maximum density in the disk midplane. The disk susceptible to one-armed modes behaves differently than disks dominated by multi-armed spirals. Coupling between the star and the disk driven by one-armed modes leads to angular momentum transfer between the star and disk even when instability is in the linear regime. All modes drive spreading of the disk material and eventually accretion onto the star. The disks dominated by an I mode and one-armed mode do not lead to prompt fission or fragmentation. The J mode dominated disk fragments after instability develops.

Description: Amplitude modulation of a positron acoustic wave is considered in a four-component electron–positron plasma in the quantum magnetohydrodynamic regime. The important ingredients of this study are the inclusion of the particle exchange-correlation potential, quantum diffraction effects via the Bohm potential, and dissipative effect due to viscosity in the momentum balance equation of the charged carriers. A modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation is derived for the evolution of the slowly varying amplitude of the quantum positron acoustic wave by employing the standard reductive perturbation technique. Detailed analysis of the linear and nonlinear dispersions of the quantum positron acoustic wave is presented. For a typical parameter range, relevant to some dense astrophysical objects, it is found that the quantum positron acoustic wave is modulationally unstable above a certain critical wavenumber. Effects of the exchange-correlation potential and the Bohm potential in the wave dynamics are also studied. It is found that the quantum effect due to the particle exchange-correlation potential is significant in comparison to the effect due to the Bohm potential for smaller values of the carrier wavenumber. However, for comparatively larger values of the carrier wavenumber, the Bohm potential effect overtakes the effect of the exchange-correlation potential. It is found that the critical wavenumber for the modulation instability depends on the ratio of the equilibrium hot electron number density and the cold positron number density and on the ratio of the equilibrium hot positron number density and the cold positron number density. A numerical result on the growth rate of the modulation instability is also presented.

Description: We study a more complex case of Hohmann orbital transfer of a satellite by considering non-coplanar and elliptical orbits, instead of planar and circular orbits. We use as parameter the angle between the initial and transference planes that minimizes the energy, and therefore the fuel of a satellite, through the application of two non-tangential impulses for all possible cases. We found an analytical expression that minimizes the energy for each configuration. Some reasonable physical constraints are used: we apply impulses at perigee or apogee of the orbit, we consider the duration of the impulse to be short compared to the duration of the trip, we take the nodal line of three orbits to be coincident and the three semimajor axes to lie in the same plane. We study the only four possible cases but assuming non-coplanar elliptic orbits. In addition, we validate our method through a numerical solution obtained by using some of the actual orbital elements of Sputnik I and Vanguard I satellites. For these orbits, we found that the most fuel-efficient transfer is obtained by applying the initial impulse at apocenter and keeping the transfer orbit aligned with the initial orbit.

Description: In this paper, we have studied the Einstein-Rosen space time in \(f(R,T)\) gravity by considering the second model of Harko et al. (Phys. Rev. D 84:024020, 2011 ), \(f(R,T) = f_{1}(R)+f_{2}(T)\) , where \(f_{1}(R)=\lambda R\) ; \(f_{2}(T)=\lambda T\) and \(f_{1}(R)=\lambda R\) ; \(f_{2}(T)=\lambda T^{2}\) . The matter field is considered in the form of perfect fluid. It is observed that, the perfect fluid represent the Zel’dovich universe in both the forms.

Description: Ionospheric scintillation is a significant component of space-weather studies and serves as an estimate for the level of perturbation in the satellite radio wave signal caused due to small-scale ionospheric irregularities. B-spline functions are used on the GPS ground based data collected during the year 2007–2012 for modeling high- and mid-latitude ionospheric scintillation. Proposed model is for Hornsund, Svalbard and Warsaw, Poland. The input data used in this model were recorded by GSV 4004b receivers. For validation, results of this model are compared with the observation and other existing models. Physical behavior of the ionospheric scintillation during different seasons and geomagnetic conditions are discussed well. Model is found in good coherence with the ionospheric scintillation theory as well as to the accepted scintillation mechanism for high- and mid-latitude.

Description: Alloy nanoparticles of the type Pt x Fe (where x is 1, 2 or 3) were synthesized by coreduction with sodium borohydride in the presence of carbon acting as a chemical support. The resulting nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The nanocomposite was placed on a glassy carbon electrode, and electrochemical measurements indicated an excellent catalytic activity for the oxidation of glucose even a near-neutral pH values and at a working voltage as low as 50 mV (vs. SCE). Under optimized conditions, the sensor responds to glucose in the 10.0 μM to 18.9 mM concentration range and with a 3.0 μM detection limit (at an S/N ratio of 3). Interferences by ascorbic acid, uric acid, fructose, acetamidophenol and chloride ions are negligible. Graphical Abstract Nonenzymatic sensing of glucose is demonstrated at neutral pH values and low working potential using a glassy carbon electrode modified with platinum-iron alloy nanoparticles on a carbon support.

Description: The TAO/TRITON array is the cornerstone of the tropical Pacific and ENSO observing system. Motivated by the recent rapid decline of the TAO/TRITON array, the potential utility of TAO/TRITON was assessed for ENSO monitoring and prediction. The analysis focused on the period when observations from Argo floats were also available. We coordinated observing system experiments (OSEs) using the global ocean data assimilation system (GODAS) from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and the ensemble coupled data assimilation (ECDA) from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory for the period 2004–2011. Four OSE simulations were conducted with inclusion of different subsets of in situ profiles: all profiles (XBT, moorings, Argo), all except the moorings, all except the Argo and no profiles. For evaluation of the OSE simulations, we examined the mean bias, standard deviation difference, root-mean-square difference (RMSD) and anomaly correlation against observations and objective analyses. Without assimilation of in situ observations, both GODAS and ECDA had large mean biases and RMSD in all variables. Assimilation of all in situ data significantly reduced mean biases and RMSD in all variables except zonal current at the equator. For GODAS, the mooring data is critical in constraining temperature in the eastern and northwestern tropical Pacific, while for ECDA both the mooring and Argo data is needed in constraining temperature in the western tropical Pacific. The Argo data is critical in constraining temperature in off-equatorial regions for both GODAS and ECDA. For constraining salinity, sea surface height and surface current analysis, the influence of Argo data was more pronounced. In addition, the salinity data from the TRITON buoys played an important role in constraining salinity in the western Pacific. GODAS was more sensitive to withholding Argo data in off-equatorial regions than ECDA because it relied on local observations to correct model biases and there were few XBT profiles in those regions. The results suggest that multiple ocean data assimilation systems should be used to assess sensitivity of ocean analyses to changes in the distribution of ocean observations to get more robust results that can guide the design of future tropical Pacific observing systems.

Description: In the Earth-Moon-spacecraft circular restricted three-body problem (CRTBP), the evaluation of the orbits near the Moon can distinctly reflect the complexity of the dynamical system. In this paper, the long-term behavior of the spatial orbit near the Moon is investigated in the CRTBP. The Poincare section, where the section points are defined as the lunar apsides, is an effective tool. The distribution of the long-term capture solutions and the orbital elements of the section points display the long-term behavior of the spatial lunar orbits from the qualitative and quantitative angles, respectively. As two kinds of important long-term lunar orbits, the quasi-periodic and periodic orbits are also investigated. Using the continuation scheme, we obtain the spatial lunar periodic orbit families. The characters of the periodic orbit families are discussed in detail. In addition, some applications of the spatial lunar periodic orbits are given. The method to investigate the long-term behavior of the spatial lunar orbits we present is simple and direct. We can easily locate the lunar quasi-periodic orbit and obtain the spatial periodic orbit family.

Description: Compact stars serve as a logical regimen for the implementation of theoretical models that are difficult to understand from an experimental setup. In our present work, we discuss the stability of self-gravitating compact objects by using the concept of cracking in the linear regime. We investigate the effect of density perturbation and local anisotropy on the stability regions of the following compact objects, neutron star PSR J1614-2230, the millisecond pulsar PSR J1903+327 and X-ray pulsars Vela X-1, SMC X-1, Cen X-3. We find that SMC X-1 is the stable compact object and all other exhibit cracking.

Description: In this paper, non-diagonal Bianchi type-IV space-time is investigated in Einstein general theory of relativity. The matter field is considered in the form of perfect dark energy fluid. It is interesting to observe that in this case, Bianchi type IV perfect dark energy fluid cosmological model does not exist. The space-time reduces to Minkowskian geometry.

Description: A single glass conical nanopore functionalized with 6-carboxymethyl-chitosan (CMC) was applied to study the binding of bovine serum albumin (BSA) because of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions. The interactions between the CMC-modified nanopore and BSA within the confined space were studied via the ionic current passing the nanopore by measuring the current–voltage (I–V) curves in 10 mM KCl solution. The hydrophilicity of CMC was varied by adjusting the pH values. Significant changes in the ionic current were observed following attachment of BSA. The relative contributions of hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions depend on whether solutions are acidic or basic. A linear relationship exists between the concentration of BSA (up to 500 nM) and the ionic current at pH 12. This suggests a potential application of the method for sensing proteins via sweep voltammetry on a nanoscale. The nanodevice described here can be made reversible by ultrasonication to remove the attached BSA molecules. Graphical Abstract A single glass conical nanopore functionalized with 6-carboxymethyl-chitosan (CMC) was used to study the hydrophobic/hydrophilic association with BSA molecules both in acid and basic conditions by using sweep voltammetry. A linear relationship between the concentration of additional BSA and the ionic current of the nanopore at pH 12 was achieved, which suggests a promising application in biosensing of proteins.

Description: We propose a new model of modified \(F(R)\) gravity theory with the function \(F(R) = (1/\beta) \arcsin(\beta R)\) . Constant curvature solutions corresponding to the flat and de Sitter spacetime are obtained. The Jordan and Einstein frames are considered; the potential and the mass of the scalar degree of freedom are found. We show that the flat spacetime is stable and the de Sitter spacetime is unstable. The slow-roll parameters \(\epsilon\) , \(\eta\) , and the \(e\) -fold number of the model are evaluated in the Einstein frame. The index of the scalar spectrum power-law \(n_{s}\) and the tensor-to-scalar ratio \(r\) are calculated. Critical points of autonomous equations for the de Sitter phase and the matter dominated epoch are found and studied. We obtain the approximate solution of equations of motion which is the deviation from the de Sitter phase in the Jordan frame. It is demonstrated that the model passes the matter stability test.

Description: Recent numerical studies in stratospheric dynamics and its variability as well as climate, have highlighted the need of more observational analyses to improve simulation of the West African monsoon (WAM). In this paper, activity and spectral characteristics of short-scale vertical waves (wavelengths 〈4 km) are analysed in equatorial coastal and tropical lower stratosphere during the WAM. A first detailed description of such waves over West Africa is derived from high-resolution vertical profiles of temperature and horizontal wind obtained during Intensive Observation Period of the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses (AMMA) Campaign 2006. Monthly variation of wave energy density is revealed to trace the progression of the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) over West Africa. Mesoscale inertia gravity-waves structures with vertical and horizontal wavelengths of 1.5–2.5 and 400–1100 km respectively and intrinsic frequencies of 1.1–2.2 f or periods 〈2 days are observed in the tropical LS with intense activity during July and August when the WAM is installed over the tropical West Africa. Over equatorial region, gravity waves with intrinsic frequencies of 1.4–4 f or periods 〈5.2 days, vertical wavelength of 2.1 km and long horizontal wavelengths of 1300 km are intense during the WAM coastal phase. From July to October, gravity waves with intrinsic frequencies of 1.2–3.8 f or periods 〈6 days, vertical wavelength of 2.1 km and horizontal wavelengths of 1650 km are less intense during the WAM Sahelian phase of the WAM, March–June. Unlike potential energy density, kinetic energy density is observed to be a good proxy for the activity of short-scale vertical waves during the WAM because quasi-inertial waves are dominant. Long-term wave activity variation from January 2001 to December 2009, highlights strong year-to-year variation superimposed on convective activity and quasi-biennial oscillation-like variations especially above tropical stations.

Description: Co@Pt core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) were synthetized by a two-step reductive method using carbon (Vulcan XC-72) as a solid support. The NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission gun scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Their electrochemical performance was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry, and these showed that the Co@Pt NPs display an electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of glucose that is much better than that of plain Pt NPs. Under optimized conditions and at pH 7.0, the oxidation current of glucose at a working potential of −50 mV (vs. SCE) is linearly related to its concentration in the 1.0 to 30 mM range, and the detection limit is 0.3 mM (S/N = 3). It therefore covers the clinical range. The sensor also exhibits excellent stability and repeatability. Graphical abstract Co@Pt core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) display an electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of glucose that is much better than that of plain Pt NPs. The oxidation current for glucose is linearly related to its concentration in the 1.0 to 30 mM range, and the detection limit is 0.3 mM (S/N =3).

Description: We report on a simple, sensitive and regenerable fluorescent nanoprobe for Zn(II) ion. It is based on the use of glutathione capped CdTe quantum dots (GSH-CdTe Q-dots). The bright fluorescence of these Q-dots is quenched on addition of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) due to the binding of DTPA to GSH. If, however, Zn(II) is added, it will bind DTPA and detach it from the surface of the Q-dots, this resulting in the fluorescence recovery. Under optimum conditions, the intensity of the restored fluorescence is proportional to the concentration of Zn(II) in the 0.48 to 90 μmol · L −1 range, with a limit of detection of 0.14 μmol · L −1 . The nanoprobe was applied to the determination of Zn(II) in spiked tap water and river water and gave satisfactory results. The findings were also applied to design a molecular logic gate where DTPA acts as the first input to the system by quenching the fluorescence of the GSH-CdTe Q-dots. Zn(II) acts as the second input and causes the detachment of DTPA from the Q-dots and a restoration of fluorescence. This system therefore represents a new IMP (IMPLICATION) logic gate. Graphical Abstract We describe a fluorescent nanoprobe for Zn(II) based on quantum dots, and its use in an IMP molecular logic gate. The nanoprobe was successfully applied to the determination of Zn(II) in spiked tap water and river water.