bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single-element based ultra-wideband antenna array concepts for wireless high-precision 2-D local positioning
Authors: Gardill M. , Fischer G. , Weigel R. , Koelpin A.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. We generally categorize the approaches for ultra-wideband antenna array design, and consequently propose simplified concepts for antenna arrays for a high-precision, ultra-wideband FMCW radar 2-D local positioning system to obtain robustness against multi path interference, perform angle of arrival analysis, as well as instantaneous heading estimation. We focus on low-cost and mechanical robust, industrial-application ready antennas. The antenna arrays are optimized for operation in the 5 GHz to 8 GHz frequency range and are designed towards supporting full omnidirectional 360° as well as partial half-plane direction of arrival estimation. Two different concepts for vehicle- as well as wall-mounted antenna array systems are proposed and discussed. We propose a wideband unidirectional bow-tie antenna array element having 97% impedance and 37% pattern bandwidth and a robust vehicle mounted omnidirectional antenna element having more than 85% impedance and pattern bandwidth.
Terdiurnal signatures in sporadic E layers at midlatitudes
Authors: Fytterer T. , Arras C. , Jacobi C.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. Global Positioning System radio occultation measurements by the FORMOsa SATellite mission-3/Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate satellites were used to analyse the behaviour of the signature of the terdiurnal tide in sporadic E (ES) layers at midlatitudes (43–63° N). According to theory, the occurrence of ES is expected when the vertical zonal wind shear, which is mainly owing to solar tides, is negative. 4 yr means, based on 3-monthly running mean zonal means from December 2006–November 2010, were constructed for the terdiurnal oscillation in the occurrence frequency of ES. Comparison of the results with VHF meteor radar observations of the terdiurnal tide and the 8 h oscillation in the vertical zonal wind shear at Collm, Germany (51.3° N, 13° E) shows a clear correspondence between the 8 h in ES and in wind shear signature.
Application of postured human model for SAR measurements
Authors: Vuchkovikj M. , Munteanu I. , Weiland T.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. In the last two decades, the increasing number of electronic devices used in day-to-day life led to a growing interest in the study of the electromagnetic field interaction with biological tissues. The design of medical devices and wireless communication devices such as mobile phones benefits a lot from the bio-electromagnetic simulations in which digital human models are used. The digital human models currently available have an upright position which limits the research activities in realistic scenarios, where postured human bodies must be considered. For this reason, a software application called "BodyFlex for CST STUDIO SUITE" was developed. In its current version, this application can deform the voxel-based human model named HUGO (Dipp GmbH, 2010) to allow the generation of common postures that people use in normal life, ensuring the continuity of tissues and conserving the mass to an acceptable level. This paper describes the enhancement of the "BodyFlex" application, which is related to the movements of the forearm and the wrist of a digital human model. One of the electromagnetic applications in which the forearm and the wrist movement of a voxel based human model has a significant meaning is the measurement of the specific absorption rate (SAR) when a model is exposed to a radio frequency electromagnetic field produced by a mobile phone. Current SAR measurements of the exposure from mobile phones are performed with the SAM (Specific Anthropomorphic Mannequin) phantom which is filled with a dispersive but homogeneous material. We are interested what happens with the SAR values if a realistic inhomogeneous human model is used. To this aim, two human models, a homogeneous and an inhomogeneous one, in two simulation scenarios are used, in order to examine and observe the differences in the results for the SAR values.
Traceable calibration of a horizontally polarised reference antenna with omnidirectional pattern at VHF frequencies for ILS field strength validation
Authors: Schrader T. , Kleine-Ostmann T. , Bredemeyer J.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. We present a traceable calibration of a specially designed horizontally polarised reference antenna with an omnidirectional pattern in the E-plane for the frequency range between 105 MHz and 120 MHz. This antenna is used as a validation tool for absolute field strength measurements at the localizer transmitter of an instrument landing system (ILS) at airports and is carried by a helicopter. We investigate whether we can treat it as a dipole-like antenna in the calibration setup despite its disk-shape body. We also investigate the suitability of an anechoic chamber for antenna calibration though it was not designed for that purpose. The measurements are based on scattering parameters (S-parameters) which we apply in the 3-antenna-method (TAM or 3-AM) to obtain the antenna gain and the antenna factor, respectively. An uncertainty budget for the antenna gain calibration is derived. We also report on the first practical application of the calibrated reference antenna.
Tidal and seasonal carbon and nutrient dynamics of the Guadalquivir estuary and the Bay of Cádiz (SW Iberian Peninsula)
Authors: Ribas-Ribas M. , Anfuso E. , Gómez-Parra A. , Forja J. M.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. To study the effects of the physical environment on carbon and nutrient cycle dynamics on the north-eastern shelf of the Gulf of Cádiz, changes in currents, tides, salinity, temperature, carbon system parameters (fugacity of CO2 (fCO2), dissolved organic carbon, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and pH) and other related parameters(dissolved oxygen, total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), nutrients and suspended particulate matter) were measured in transects across the Guadalquivir estuary and Bay of Cádiz mouths. The main objective of this study is to investigate the influence of these inner ecosystems on the carbon and nutrient distributions on the adjacent continental shelf. Three cruises were undertaken in June 2006, November 2006 and February 2007. During the whole study period, Guadalquivir estuary exported components at a rate of 3 Gmol of SiO2, 4 Gmol of DIN, 3 Gmol of TDN, 31 Gmol of DOC and 604 Gmol of DIC per year. On the other hand, Bay of Cádiz imported 3 Gmol of SiO2, 1 Gmol of DIN, 2 Gmol of TDN, 33 Gmol of DOC and 562 Gmol of DIC per year. Diurnal variability of fCO2 could have a potentially important implication on the estimate of air–sea CO2 fluxes. Tides influence velocity and transport of carbon and nutrients: we found statistically significant differences (p < 0.0001, n = 220) between the flood tide (the mean velocity was 4.85 cm s–1) and the ebb tide (the mean velocity was −5.67 cm s–1). Biological activity and diurnal changes have also an important role on the carbon and nutrient dynamics. Seasonal carbon and nutrient variations were found. During June, both systems were exporting components to the adjacent continental shelf of the Gulf of Cádiz, whereas in February both systems were importing. Monthly studies should be undertaken to completely understand this dynamic system.
Modelling soil organic carbon stocks in global change scenarios: a CarboSOIL application
Authors: Muñoz-Rojas M. , Jordán A. , Zavala L. M. , González-Peñaloza F. A. , De la Rosa D. , Anaya-Romero M.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. Global climate change, as a consequence of the increasing levels of atmospheric CO2 concentration, may significantly affect both soil organic C storage and soil capacity for C sequestration. In this research we develop a methodology to predict soil organic C (SOC) contents and changes under global change scenarios. CarboSOIL model is a new component of the land evaluation decision support system MicroLEIS, which was designed to assist decision makers to face specific agro-ecological problems. CarboSOIL, developed as a GIS tool to predict SOC contents at different depths, was previously trained and tested in two Mediterranean areas: Andalusia (SW Spain) and Valencia (E Spain). The model was applied under different IPPC scenarios (A1B, A2 and B1) according to different global climate models (BCCR-BCM2, CNRMCM3 and ECHAM5) and output data were linked to spatial datasets (soil and land use) to quantify SOC stocks. CarboSOIL model has proved its ability to predict the short-, medium- and long-term trends (2040s, 2070s and 2100s) of SOC dynamics and sequestration under projected future scenarios of climate change. Results showed an overall trend towards decreasing of SOC stocks in the upper soil sections (0–25 cm and 25–50 cm) for most soil types and land uses, but predicted SOC stocks tend to increase in the deeper soil section (50–75 cm). Soil types as Arenosols, Planosols and Solonchaks and land uses as "permanent crops" and "open spaces with little or no vegetation" would be severely affected by climate change with large decreases of SOC stocks, in particular under the medium-high emission scenario A2 by 2100. The information developed in this study might support decision-making in land management and climate adaptation strategies in Mediterranean regions and the methodology could be applied to other Mediterranean areas with available soil, land use and climate data.
Evaluation of dust and trace metal estimates from the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model version 5.0
Authors: Appel K. W. , Pouliot G. A. , Simon H. , Sarwar G. , Pye H. O. T. , Napelenok S. L. , Akhtar F. , Roselle S. J.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model is a state-of-the-science air quality model that simulates the emission, transformation, transport, and fate of the many different air pollutant species that comprise particulate matter (PM), including dust (or soil). The CMAQ model version 5.0 (CMAQv5.0) has several enhancements over the previous version of the model for estimating the emission and transport of dust, including the ability to track the specific elemental constituents of dust and have the model-derived concentrations of those elements participate in chemistry. The latest version of the model also includes a parameterization to estimate emissions of dust due to wind action. The CMAQv5.0 modeling system was used to simulate the entire year 2006 for the continental United States, and the model estimates were evaluated against daily surface-based measurements from several air quality networks. The CMAQ modeling system overall did well replicating the observed soil concentrations in the western United States (mean bias generally around ±0.5 μg m−3); however, the model consistently overestimated the observed soil concentrations in the eastern United States (mean bias generally between 0.5–1.5 μg m−3), regardless of season. The performance of the individual trace metals was highly dependent on the network, species, and season, with relatively small biases for Fe, Al, Si, and Ti throughout the year at the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) sites, while Ca, K, and Mn were overestimated and Mg underestimated. For the urban Chemical Speciation Network (CSN) sites, Fe, Mg, and Mn, while overestimated, had comparatively better performance throughout the year than the other trace metals, which were consistently overestimated, including very large overestimations of Al (380%), Ti (370%) and Si (470%) in the fall. An underestimation of nighttime mixing in the urban areas appears to contribute to the overestimation of trace metals. Removing the anthropogenic fugitive dust (AFD) emissions and the effects of wind-blown dust (WBD) lowered the model soil concentrations. However, even with both AFD emissions and WBD effects removed, soil concentrations were still often overestimated, suggesting that there are other sources of errors in the modeling system that contribute to the overestimation of soil components. Efforts are underway to improve both the nighttime mixing in urban areas and the spatial and temporal distribution of dust-related emission sources in the emissions inventory.
Rainfall statistics changes in Sicily
Authors: Arnone E. , Pumo D. , Viola F. , Noto L. V. , La Loggia G.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. Changes in rainfall characteristics are one of the most relevant signs of current climate alterations. Many studies have demonstrated an increase in rainfall intensity and a reduction of frequency in several areas of the world, including Mediterranean areas. Rainfall characteristics may be crucial for vegetation patterns formation and evolution in Mediterranean ecosystems, with important implications, for example, in vegetation water stress or coexistence and competition dynamics. At the same time, characteristics of extreme rainfall events are fundamental for the estimation of flood peaks and quantiles that can be used in many hydrological applications, such as design of the most common hydraulic structures, or planning and management of flood-prone areas. In the past, Sicily has been screened for several signals of possible climate change. Annual, seasonal and monthly rainfall data in the entire Sicilian region have been analyzed, showing a global reduction of total annual rainfall. Moreover, annual maximum rainfall series for different durations have been rarely analyzed in order to detect the presence of trends. Results indicated that for short durations, historical series generally exhibit increasing trends, while for longer durations the trends are mainly negative. Starting from these premises, the aim of this study is to investigate and quantify changes in rainfall statistics in Sicily, during the second half of the last century. Time series of about 60 stations over the region have been processed and screened by using the nonparametric Mann–Kendall test. In particular, extreme events have been analyzed using annual maximum rainfall series at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h duration, while daily rainfall properties have been analyzed in terms of frequency and intensity, also characterizing seasonal rainfall features. Results of extreme events analysis confirmed an increasing trend for rainfall of short durations, especially for 1 h rainfall duration. Conversely, precipitation events of long durations have exhibited a decreased trend. Increase in short-duration precipitation has been observed especially in stations located along the coastline; however, no clear and well-defined spatial pattern has been outlined by the results. Outcomes of analysis for daily rainfall properties have showed that heavy–torrential precipitation events tend to be more frequent at regional scale, while light rainfall events exhibited a negative trend at some sites. Values of total annual precipitation events confirmed a significant negative trend, mainly due to the reduction during the winter season.
Svante Arrhenius, cosmical physicist and auroral theorist
Authors: Kragh H.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. Many scientists in the fin de siècle era saw a need to coordinate and unify the increasing amount of data relating the physical conditions of the Earth and the Sun; or more generally to establish a synthetic perspective that covered the earth sciences in relation to the new astrophysical sciences. Promoted under the label "cosmical physics'', the unifying solar–terrestrial perspective was in vogue for a decade or two. Perhaps more than any other scientist in the period, the versatile Swedish chemist and physicist Svante Arrhenius represented the aims of cosmical physics. A central problem in the new and ambitious research programme was to understand the origin and nature of the aurora, and to relate it to other celestial phenomena such as the solar corona and the tails of comets. In 1900 Arrhenius proposed a unified explanation of these and other phenomena based on the Sun's radiation pressure. The theory was widely discussed, praised as well as criticized. Arrhenius was not only a key scientist in the short-lived tradition of cosmical physics, but also influential as a popular writer and powerful member of the Nobel Committee for Physics. His work illustrates an approach to the earth and space sciences characteristic of the fin de siècle period.
Sea ice thickness, freeboard, and snow depth products from Operation IceBridge airborne data
Authors: Kurtz N. T. , Farrell S. L. , Studinger M. , Galin N. , Harbeck J. P. , Lindsay R. , Onana V. D. , Panzer B. , Sonntag J. G.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. The study of sea ice using airborne remote sensing platforms provides unique capabilities to measure a wide variety of sea ice properties. These measurements are useful for a variety of topics including model evaluation and improvement, assessment of satellite retrievals, and incorporation into climate data records for analysis of interannual variability and long-term trends in sea ice properties. In this paper we describe methods for the retrieval of sea ice thickness, freeboard, and snow depth using data from a multi-sensor suite of instruments on NASA's Operation IceBridge airborne campaign. We assess the consistency of the results through comparison with independent data sets that demonstrate that the IceBridge products are capable of providing a reliable record of snow depth and sea ice thickness. We explore the impact of inter-campaign instrument changes and associated algorithm adaptations as well as the applicability of the adapted algorithms to the ongoing IceBridge mission. The uncertainties associated with the retrieval methods are determined and placed in the context of their impact on the retrieved sea ice thickness. Lastly, we present results for the 2009 and 2010 IceBridge campaigns, which are currently available in product form via the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Uptake and transport of iron ions (Fe+2, Fe+3) supplied to roots or leaves in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) plants growing under different light conditions
Authors: Borowski Edward
Published: July 2013

In experiments carried out in a phytotron using aqueous cultures, there was investigated the effect of root or foliar application of different types of iron salts on spinach plant productivity, leaf and root iron content as well as the rate of transport of iron from the roots to the leaves. Plants were grown in Hoagland's solution with a single concentration at two fluorescent light intensities: 290 and 95 µmol × m-2 × s-1 PAR. To fertilize the plants, iron was supplied at a dose of 25 mg Fe in the nutrient solution or as foliar sprays using the following salts: 1 – Fe 0; 2 – FeCl2 × 4H2O; 3 – FeCl3 × 4H2O; 4 – FeSO4 × 7H2O; 5 – Fe2(SO4)3 × nH2O; 6 – Fe-Cit.

The obtained results showed that the productivity of spinach plants treated with FeCl2 and FeSO4 using foliar sprays and of those fed with Fe-citrate (Fe-Cit) through the roots was significantly higher than in the case of the other salts used. Root application of the salts used had a significant effect on root iron content, whereas their foliar application significantly affected leaf iron content. In this respect, ferrous salts were generally the most beneficial, while ferric salts were the least beneficial. The rate of transport of iron to the leaves, irrespective of the method of its application, was clearly higher for ferrous salts and Fe-Cit than for ferric salts. The free proline content in the leaves of plants not fertilized with Fe was 2–4 times lower than in plants supplied with this nutrient. An irradiance of 290 µmol × m-2 × s-1 had a positive effect on plant productivity and root Fe content.
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Spanish in Chicago: Writing an Online Placement Exam for Spanish Heritage Speakers
Authors: Burgo Clara
Published: July 2013

United States is the third country in the world with the largest Hispanic population (over 45 million of Spanish speaking people). As Fairclough (2003) claims, the national, ethnic and socioeconomic differences of Hispanic immigrants provide a heterogeneous community whose unifying element is the Spanish language. Chicago is third largest city in the country with a significant Hispanic population. In the latest years, Spanish for Heritage speakers’ programs in higher education have developed and effective placement tests are needed.
Immunotherapy for Advanced Skin Cancer in Kidney Transplant Recipients—The High-Risk Balancing Act
Authors: Stump Madeliene , Arron Sarah , Proby Charlotte
Published: July 2024

This Viewpoint compares 2 clinical trials involving immune checkpoint inhibitors in kidney transplant recipients.
Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Inhibition and Development of Acne and Rosacea
Authors: Thang Christopher J. , Lai Jenny , Garate David , Golovko George , Wilkerson Michael G. , Loder Elizabeth W. , Barbieri John S.
Published: July 2024

This cohort study investigates whether calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibition is associated with reduced rates of developing acne or rosacea in patients who experience migraines.
Digital Divide, Global
Authors: Kuo‐Hsun Ma Josef
Published: July 2024

Digital inequality has been evolving over time. Using a global perspective, the entry focuses on the digital divide between the global south and the global north. Recent studies have suggested that the global digital divide between poor and developing countries (located mainly in the global south) and developed countries (mainly in the global north) is on the rise. Using the concept of adverse digital incorporation, the entry explains why digital inequality remains severe in the global south, even if nowadays fewer and fewer people are digitally excluded. Meanwhile, digital inequality in the global north has not disappeared but has persisted. There are newly emerging forms of the digital divide due to inequalities in access to and use of 5G and 6G, fixed broadband services, online clouds, and access to the latest digital devices and peripherals. These have resulted in differential digital/online experiences between the socioeconomically privileged and the less privileged, and shaped different digital opportunities between the global south and the global north.
Life Expectancy
Authors: Visanich Valerie , Bruckner Tim A.
Published: July 2024

Life expectancy, the key metric for assessing current population health, measures the mean age of death for a specified population. Scientists use this summary measure to test hypotheses regarding causes of population health and to compare the mortality experience across regions, defined subgroups, and time. Demographers operationalize life expectancy in two ways: by period and by cohort. This entry explores the difference between period life expectancy (measured as the mean age of death of a hypothetical cohort whose members are born in a reference period) and cohort life expectancy (measured as the mean age at death for a true cohort born in a reference period and followed over the entire life span of its members until none remains alive). The entry also sheds light on making sense of behavioral and societal causes of life expectancy variations, particularly across different countries.
Social Media
Authors: Barrett Taylor
Published: July 2024

This entry explores the ways in which social media influences social life, including its impact on individual identity, culture, the economy, and politics, and examines systematic methods for studying social media.
Race/Ethnicity and Wealth in the USA
Authors: Bayou Aziza , Brown Joey
Published: July 2024

This entry focuses on the relationship between race/ethnicity and wealth accumulation within the USA. First, it introduces and operationalizes the topics of race, ethnicity, and wealth, conceptualizing their intersection as grounded in social inequity. Next, it describes the USA's demographic characteristics and stratified distribution of wealth. It then discusses economic and sociological explanations for the racial wealth gap and considers factors that contribute to current patterns of wealth accumulation. A political economy perspective is used to examine inequity in home‐ownership. Immigrants' wealth is briefly discussed. Finally, some consequences and currently proposed remedies to redress racial wealth inequality in the USA are presented.
Criminal Justice System
Authors: Pearce Estrella
Published: July 2024

The criminal justice system consists of loosely interdependent government and private institutions intended to maintain social order and public safety, respond to crime, and manage offenders. The system deals with the criminal branch of the law, and typically has three components: (1) the investigative (police, prosecution authorities, and other specialist agencies); (2) the adjudicative (the criminal courts); and (3) the correctional (prisons, community corrections, and probation and parole services). The system relies on the use of discretion at every level of the criminal justice process to efficiently, effectively, and as fairly as possible navigate the pathway through which an offender may pass from detection to investigation, to arrest, to trial, conviction, sentencing, and possible incarceration, and eventually to release.
Cultural Feminism
Authors: Wolff Kristina , Gaytán Marie Sarita
Published: July 2024

In seeking to understand women's social location in society, cultural feminism relies on critiquing essentialist understandings of men and women as the foundation of women's subordination. While there is great variety within this branch of feminism, the main areas of scholarship focus on (1) the redefinition of femininity and masculinity; (2) the development of women's culture; and (3) the examination of sexuality.
Environmental Change
Authors: Mook Anne , Swanson Emily
Published: July 2024

We live in the Anthropocene, a geological epoch where humans are the dominant influence on climate and the environment. The past century has witnessed rapid environmental changes including climate change, depletion of resources, land use change, deforestation, overfishing, and pollution. Even naturally occurring environmental disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, flooding, wildfires, and droughts are increasing in intensity and frequency as a result of human activity. Despite scientific consensus on the root causes, environmental change remains a politically tense debate in which certain groups are unwilling to accept human responsibility or to sacrifice short‐term economic benefits over long‐term sustainability. Environmental sociology seeks to understand human impact on the environment and how environmental change affects human populations.
Race and Crime
Authors: Hansen Laura Pinto
Published: July 2024

A number of researchers and theorists have argued that race is one of the main predictors of criminal offending. However, the relationship between race and crime is more complex, nuanced, and nonlinear than portrayed by research or the media. This entry discusses variables and their relationship with race, including unemployment, poverty, disorganized neighborhoods, and street gangs. It also considers the mass incarceration of people of color and multicultural populations in the USA and the push for criminal justice reform to address the issue of systemic racism.
Coordination Number Regulation of Iron Single‐Atom Nanozyme for Enhancing H2O2 Activation and Selectively Eliminating Cephalosporin Antibiotics
Authors: Wang Jie , Zhang Jijie , Guo Kangying , Yue Qinyan , Yin Kexin , Xu Xing , Li Yanwei , Gao Yue , Gao Baoyu
Published: July 2024

Nanozymes present promising alternatives to natural enzymes, but controlling nanozymes' performance and employing them for selectively removing antibiotics are extremely challenging. Employing theoretical calculations to design the coordination environments of mental and coordination atoms for directing single‐atom nanozymes synthesis emerges as a promising strategy to enhance their efficiency and selectivity in antibiotic elimination. In this study, the peroxidase‐like specificity of iron single‐atom nanozymes (FeSA‐Nx, x = 2,3, and 4) with specific Fe–N coordination numbers is demonstrated based on theoretical calculations. These calculations guide the synthesis of corresponding ultra‐thin FeSA‐Nx, achieving a high degree of consistency between theoretical predictions and experimental results. FeSA‐N3 with a Fe─N3 coordination number proves to be the most effective. The efficient electron transfer from Fe─N3 site to H2O2 reduces the free energy required for •OH generation. Quantitative structure‐activity relationship (QSAR) analysis reveals a strong positive correlation between degradation efficiency of cephalosporins and their electron‐donating capabilities (R2 = 0.820–0.929), realizing selectively eliminating cephalosporins. Integration FeSA‐N3 into ceramic membrane (FeSA‐N3/CM) improves hydrophilicity, achieving continuous and stable removal of cephalosporin. This study provides valuable insights into coordination number regulating nanozyme properties for selective antibiotics removal and offers novel perspectives for FeSA‐N3 application in integrated systems.
Sequential Ion Induced Multilength‐Scale Structurally Fibers with Strain‐Stiffening, High Damping, and Shape‐Memory Features
Authors: Zhang Wenjie , Wang Penghui , Hu Yi , Chen Qiang , Chi Bo
Published: July 2024

Natural materials possess inherent multilength‐scale structures, showcasing outstanding mechanical properties such as strain‐stiffening, high damping, and shape‐memory features under ambient conditions. Such integrated properties are highly desirable for advanced materials in biomedical devices and soft robots but remain challenging in synthetic materials. Herein, a novel strategy of sequential ion treatment is employed to introduce micro/nanoscale‐ordered structures and molecular‐scale stimulus responses into hydrogel‐derived self‐assembly fibers under ambient conditions. The treated fibers exhibit strain‐stiffening properties with a high toughness of 257 MJ m−3 and 73% damping capacity comparable to spider silk. Owing to their cross‐linking network and reversible secondary structure, those fibers exhibit outstanding water‐stability, wet stretchability, and hydration‐responsive shape‐memory performance, with ultimate elongation of 407%, shape‐fixity ratio of 94%, and shape‐recovery rate of 97%. This work furthers the green fabrication of smart materials with multifunction and presents promising applications in diverse fields, including biomimetics and biomedicine.
A Multi‐Active Site Subnano Heterostructures Catalyst Grown In situ POM and Fe0.2Ni0.8Co2O4 onto Nickel Foam Toward Efficient Electrocatalytic Overall Water Splitting
Authors: Cui Li‐ping , Wang Yu‐wen , Yu Kai , Ma Ya‐jie , Zhou Bai‐bin
Published: July 2024

Designing efficient, durable, and cheap bifunctional electrocatalysts is a challenging goal in water splitting. Herein, trivanadium‐substituted Keggin‐type polyoxometalate H6PV3Mo9O40 (POM) and Fe0.2Ni0.8Co2O4 (FNCO) are in situ grown onto nickel foam (NF) yielding a self‐supporting nanoflower‐like heterojunction via convenient hydrothermal reaction. The POM‐Fe0.2Ni0.8Co2O4/NF as HER and OER electrocatalyst, displays low overpotential (89 and 259 mV) and high electrode stability at 10 mA cm−2. POM‐FNCO/NF as the cathode and anode requires a lower voltage (1.58 V) to provide 10 mA cm−2 for overall water splitting (OWS), which is better than that of commercial catalysts. The electronic sponge characteristics of POM provide more active sites and fast reaction kinetics for HER and OER. The synergy of POM and FNCO optimizes the electron distribution at the interface and enhances the intrinsic activity of HER/OER. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations show that water molecules preferentially bind to Co sites on POM‐FNCO. Additionally, POM has proton‐coupled electron transfer properties and its modified FNCO exhibits thermodynamic advantages. The synergistic effect of these two factors enables the efficient overall water splitting of POM‐FNCO. This study offers a novel pathway for the construction of self‐supporting efficient catalysts by in situ growth of POM nanoclusters and spinel oxide sub‐nanometer heterojunctions on NF.
π‐d Conjugated Copper Chloranilate with Distorted Cu‐O4 Site for Efficient Electrocatalytic Ammonia Production
Authors: Xing Chengyong , Ren Jiali , Fan Longlong , Zhang Jincheng , Ma Min , Wu Shaowen , Liu Zhanning , Tian Jian
Published: July 2024

Understanding the relationship between electrocatalytic performance and local structure at the molecular level is of great significance. Herein, a bifunctional electrocatalyst CuCA (CA = chloranilate) is constructed for both nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) and nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR). Combined structural analyses using Rietveld refinement, extended X‐ray adsorption fine structure (EXAFS), and pair distribution function (PDF) revealed a significant distortion of the Cu‐O4 structure. Benefitting from the unique local structure, Cu‐CA shows an impressive NH3 yield rate of 286.00 ug h−1 mg−1 (FE = 18.25%, ‐0.85 V vs RHE), 3180.00 ug h−1 mg−1 (FE = 90.3%, ‐0.9 V vs RHE) for NRR and NO3RR, respectively. In contrast, the pyrazine (Pyz) decorated compound Cu‐CA‐Pyz with a less distorted Cu‐O4 structure and fewer active sites show much lower activity. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations shed light on that the distorted nature can effectively regulate the electron density distribution, which can lower the energy barrier of adsorption and activation of the intermediate species, leading to the enhanced activity. These findings may give new insight into the structural‐property relationship and open up opportunities for the exploration of efficient electrocatalysts.
Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF) Materials Based on Earth‐Abundant Transition Metal Complexes: Synthesis, Design and Applications
Authors: Ferraro Valentina , Bizzarri Claudia , Bräse Stefan
Published: July 2024

Materials exhibiting thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) based on transition metal complexes are currently gathering significant attention due to their technological potential. Their application extends beyond optoelectronics, in particular organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) and light‐emitting electrochemical cells (LECs), and include also photocatalysis, sensing, and X‐ray scintillators. From the perspective of sustainability, earth‐abundant metal centers are preferred to rarer second‐ and third‐transition series elements, thus determining a reduction in costs and toxicity but without compromising the overall performances. This review offers an overview of earth‐abundant transition metal complexes exhibiting TADF and their application as photoconversion materials. Particular attention is devoted to the types of ligands employed, helping in the design of novel systems with enhanced TADF properties.
V–Catalyzed Direct Ortho‐Aminomethylation of Phenols
Authors: Yang Pei , Fan Weiwei , Pan Chenlu , Huang Huimin , Zhang Huaxin , Li Liwei
Published: July 2024

A strategy for cross‐dehydrogenative C(sp2)‐C(sp3) coupling was developed by direct and highly selective V‐catalyzed ortho‐aminomethylation of phenol with aniline derivatives. A series of aminomethylphenol compounds were obtained in moderate to good yields under mild reaction conditions and with a broad substrate scope. A possible radical mechanism was proposed, and it was found that the coordination of phenolic hydroxyl groups with V5+ was crucial for the effective activation of the ortho position.
Pseudopus pannonicus (Squamata), the largest known anguid lizard—Redescription of the type material and new specimens from the Neogene and Quaternary of Hungary and Poland
Authors: Loréal Erwan , Georgalis Georgios L. , Čerňanský Andrej
Published: July 2024

Herein, we revise the material of the extinct taxon Pseudopus pannonicus from Central Europe, the largest known anguid lizard and iconic member of herpetofaunas from the Upper Cenozoic of Europe. The geographical position of Polgárdi 2, the type locality of P. pannonicus, as well as several other closely located important localities make Central Europe a valuable area of high interest for studies regarding European Cenozoic palaeoherpetological assemblages. We clarified the nature of the type material of Pseudopus pannonicus, showing that it consisted not only of the five specimens originally figured. Instead, the syntype series also includes a considerable number of specimens from Polgárdi 2 that were only described or figured 12 years after the original description of P. pannonicus. Detailed osteological descriptions are provided for specimens from the type series and Polish specimens, with the aid of high‐resolution imaging (SEM and μCT scanning), and intraspecific variability is discussed. The articular surface with the lappet of the parietal overlapping the frontal is discussed as a character potentially relevant for the diagnosis of P. pannonicus. We updated the identification of several specimens of P. pannonicus and discussed the biogeographic implications of such revisions. In Poland, P. pannonicus is an abundant component of Neogene and early Quaternary herpetofaunas, known with certainty from the Middle Miocene of Przeworno (the oldest known occurrence of the species globally), the Early–Late Pliocene of Węże I, the Late Pliocene of Rębielice Królewskie I, the Late Pliocene of Węże II, and the Early Pleistocene of Kadzielnia (one of the youngest occurrences documented globally). An indeterminate anguine with Anguis affinities is newly reported from Rębielice Królewskie II. The taxonomic status of other large anguids from the Neogene of Europe is discussed and we conclude that most are junior synonyms of P. pannonicus. We also show that another purported synonym, that is, Ophisaurus intermedius from the Early Pleistocene of Romania, is instead a nomen nudum. We conducted phylogenetic analyses (18 taxa, 65 characters) to understand the relationship of P. pannonicus relative to other anguid representatives and anguid‐related group (i.e., glyptosaurids). A single most parsimonious tree (length: 134 steps) was recovered. The clade Pseudopus is stable, comprising the two distinct sister subclades [Pseudopus laurillardi + Pseudopus ahnikoviensis] and [Pseudopus pannonicus + Pseudopus apodus]. These phylogenetic results are in accordance with previously published works.
The current landscape of coumarin hybrids with antibreast cancer therapeutic applications: An updated review
Authors: Wang Ruo , Chen Zilong , Huang Yiheng , Zhang Qianru , Chen Min , Huang Xufeng
Published: July 2024

Globally, breast cancer (BC) has the highest prevalence among malignant diseases. BC is also the primary cause of death among women. Notably, BC morbidity has been increasing continuously at an approximate growth rate of 2.2% per year. Persistent BC is a major public health issue worldwide. Consequently, novel chemotherapeutic agents to combat this lethal disease should be developed urgently. Coumarins with interesting structural and mechanistic variations exhibit promising activity in several forms of BC, including BCs with multidrug resistance. In particular, coumarin hybrids composed of coumarin and one or more anti‐BC pharmacophores can target different biological components in BC cells simultaneously. Thus, coumarin hybrids are useful scaffolds that can help improve the anti‐BC efficacy of coumarins, reduce side effects, improve pharmacokinetics, minimize drug–drug interactions, and circumvent drug resistance. This review, in which articles published from 2020 to the present day have been evaluated, highlights the landscape of coumarin hybrids that exhibit therapeutic effects against breast cancer. These findings can aid further investigations on novel antibreast‐cancer therapeutics.
Current scenario of indole hybrids with antibacterial potential against Acinetobacter baumannii pathogens: A mini‐review
Authors: Chen Yi‐Wen
Published: July 2024

Acinetobacter baumannii with the capability to “escape” almost all currently available antibacterials is eroding the safety of basic medical interventions and is an increasing cause of mortality globally, prompting a substantial requirement for new classes of antibacterial agents. Indoles participate in the regulation of persistent bacterial formation, biofilm formation, plasmid stability, and drug resistance. In particular, indole hybrids demonstrated promising antibacterial activity against both drug‐sensitive and drug‐resistant A. baumannii pathogens, representing a fertile source for the discovery of novel therapeutic agents for clinical deployment in controlling A. baumannii infections. This mini‐review outlines the current innovations of indole hybrids with antibacterial activity against A. baumannii pathogens, covering articles published from 2020 to the present, to open new avenues for exploring novel anti‐A. baumannii candidates.
Air Pollution, Genetic Susceptibility, and Risk of Incident Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Xing Meiqi , Ma Yudiyang , Cui Feipeng , Li Dankang , Wang Jianing , Tang Linxi , Zheng Lei , Yang Jian , Tian Yaohua
Published: July 2024

Objective

There are few existing studies that investigate the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with long‐term exposure to air pollutants. This study aimed to explore associations between long‐term exposure to air pollutants and incident SLE and further evaluate interactions and joint effects of genetic risk and air pollutants.

Methods

A total of 459,815 participants were included from UK Biobank. The concentrations of air pollutants (fine particulate matter with diameter ≤2.5 μm [PM2.5], particulate matter diameter ≤10 μm [PM10], nitrogen dioxide [NO2], and nitrogen oxides [NOx]) were estimated by land‐use regression model. We applied Cox proportional hazards model to explore linkages of air pollutants and incident SLE. The polygenic risk score (PRS) was used for further assessing the interactions and joint effects of genetic risk and air pollutants.

Results

A total of 399 patients with SLE were identified during a median follow‐up of 11.77 years. There were positive associations between air pollutant exposure and incident SLE, as the adjusted hazard ratios were 1.18 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.06–1.32), 1.23 (1.10–1.39), 1.27 (1.14–1.41), and 1.13 (1.03–1.23) for each interquartile range increase in PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOx, respectively. Moreover, participants with high genetic risk and high air pollution exposure had the highest risk of incident SLE compared with those with low genetic risk and low air pollution exposure (adjusted hazard ratio: PM2.5, 4.16 [95% CI 2.67–6.49]; PM10, 5.31 [95% CI 3.30,–8.55]; NO2, 5.61 [95% CI 3.45–9.13]; and NOx, 4.80 [95% CI 3.00–7.66]). There was a significant multiplicative interaction between NO2 and PRS.

Conclusion

Long‐term exposure to air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOx) may increase the risk of developing SLE.
Predicting performance in a doctor of physical therapy gross anatomy course based on an exploratory factor analysis of the anatomical self‐efficacy instrument
Authors: Reynolds Kelly , Mueller Shani , Horn Maggie
Published: July 2024

Measuring self‐efficacy can be a valuable means for instructors to predict student performance. However, it is crucial to measure self‐efficacy within specific contexts to effectively gauge students’ perceptions of their capabilities. This study evaluated the factors comprising the Anatomical Self‐Efficacy Instrument (ASEI) and determined whether these factors could predict performance in gross anatomy. Three cohorts of Doctor Physical Therapy (DPT) students completed the ASEI at the start of gross anatomy. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) analyzed the ASEI's dimensionality, and Cronbach's alpha evaluated the internal consistency of the extracted factors. Linear regression was used to determine whether ASEI's total or subdomain scores predicted final anatomy course performance scores. In total, 142 of 287 (49.5%) DPT students completed the ASEI. EFA revealed three distinct factors, including “cognitive,” “psychomotor,” and “clinical anatomy self‐efficacy”, and explained 44.9%, 13.7%, and 5.2% of the total variance, respectively. Only cognitive self‐efficacy predicted final gross anatomy course performance (β = 0.34; R2 = 0.071; F(3,138) = 3.51; p < 0.05). Overall, the ASEI's 3‐factor solution implies its multidimensionality, a finding that could inform the development of more comprehensive self‐efficacy measures. Notably, “cognitive self‐efficacy” was the only subdomain that predicted DPT student performance in anatomy, suggesting its potential as a tool for identifying students in need of additional learning support. The ASEI's practical usability should be further explored through additional psychometric testing.
Master–slaves synchronization of teleoperation systems with the Try‐Once‐Discard protocol under event‐triggered communication
Authors: Li Yuling , Li Chenxi , Dong Jie , Wang Haijuan
Published: July 2024

In this paper, a class of single‐master‐multiple‐slaves (SMMS) bilateral teleoperation systems with the limitation of communication bandwidth is investigated. The signals are exchanged between the master and the slaves through delayed communication. Besides, to avoid data collisions, the Try‐Once‐Discard (TOD) scheduling protocol is utilized to decide which slave gets the network access at each triggered instant. A control algorithm with the event‐triggered mechanism is proposed to ensure the master–slaves synchronization. Furthermore, the closed‐loop system's stability criterion associated with the controller gains, the varying time delays' bounds, and the maximum transmission interval is established on the basis of the Lyapunov–Krasovskii analysis. Finally, the presented algorithm's performance is demonstrated by the simulation and experiment results.
Linear convergence of event‐triggered distributed optimization with metric subregularity condition
Authors: Yu Xin , Cheng Songsong , Qiu Jianbin , Fan Yuan
Published: July 2024

This paper designs a continuous‐time algorithm with event‐triggered communication (ETC) for solving a class of distributed convex optimization problems with a metric subregularity condition. First, we develop an event‐triggered continuous‐time optimization algorithm to overcome the bandwidth limitation of multi‐agent systems. Besides, with the aid of Lyapunov theory, we prove that the distributed event‐triggered algorithm converges to the optimum set with an exact linear convergence rate, without the strongly convex condition. Moreover, we provide the discrete version of the continuous‐time algorithm and show its exact linear convergence rate. Finally, we give a comparison example to validate the effectiveness of the designed algorithm in communication resource saving.
When Half Is at Least 50%: Effect of “Framing” and Probability Level on Frequency Estimates
Authors: Mandel David R. , Kelly Megan
Published: July 2024

Expert judgment often involves estimating magnitudes, such as the frequency of deaths due to a pandemic. Three experiments (Ns = 902, 431, and 755, respectively) were conducted to examine the effect of outcome framing (e.g., half of a threatened group expected to survive vs. die), probability level (low vs. high), and probability format (verbal, numeric, or combined) on the estimated frequency of survivals/deaths. Each experiment found an interactive effect of frame and probability level, which supported the hypothesis that forecasted outcomes received by participants were implicitly quantified as lower bounds (i.e., “at least half”). Responding in a manner consistent with a lower‐bound “at least” interpretation was unrelated to incoherence (Experiments 1 and 2) and positively related to numeracy (Experiments 1 and 3), verbal reasoning (Experiment 3), and actively open‐minded thinking (Experiments 2 and 3). The correlational results indicate that implicit lower bounding is an aspect of linguistic inference and not a cognitive error. Implications for research on framing effects are discussed.