bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alternativas para o aumento da eficácia do processo de capacitação de novos funcionários de uma instituição bancária
Authors: Pravitz Francine Barbosa , Milan Gabriel Sperandio , Borchardt Miriam , Silva Macáliston Gonçalves da
Published: January 2025

A intensa concorrência e a diversidade das instituições financeiras impulsionam uma busca incessante por eficiência operacional, evidenciando a necessidade de qualificação e aprimoramento contínuos dos funcionários. Sendo assim, o objetivo geral da pesquisa foi o de propor alternativas para potencializar o aumento da eficácia do processo de capacitação de novos funcionários da Instituição bancária em estudo. Com base nisso, foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa de caráter exploratório, operacionalizada por meio de entrevistas individuais em profundidade com uma abordagem semiestruturada, com profissionais da área de gestão, funcionários da área operacional e do Setor de Recursos Humanos da Instituição. Ao todo, foram entrevistados treze profissionais. A análise de dados foi realizada a partir da análise de conteúdo. A pesquisa revela que a eficácia de um programa de capacitação está diretamente relacionada ao perfil de aprendizado de cada novo funcionário. Além disso, destaca-se a necessidade de revisões contínuas no programa para alcançar os resultados esperados. Por fim, o estudo aponta que a falta de clareza e a ausência de padronização nas atividades podem comprometer o sucesso dos programas de capacitação.
Ranqueamento de combustíveis renováveis para fogões de tecnologia aprimorada: aplicação do método Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)
Authors: Machado Gilmara de Oliveira , Almeida Milena Maria Van Der Neut de , Fernandes Amanda Augusta
Published: January 2025

A seleção de espécies de eucaliptos para lenha em fogões de tecnologia aprimorados foi analisada usando o método Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), destacando a relevância de abordagens multicritério na gestão energética. Este estudo visou identificar o combustível mais adequado considerando a eficiência energética, o consumo de lenha e a potência gerada. A aplicação do AHP permitiu equilibrar esses fatores, fornecendo um modelo robusto de decisão. Os resultados indicaram que Eucalyptus pellita apresentou o melhor desempenho, com eficiência energética de 15,01% e consumo reduzido de madeira (0,79 kg/h), sendo ideal para fogões avançados. Eucalyptus camaldulensis e Eucalyptus propinqua ocuparam o segundo e terceiro lugares, respectivamente, exibindo boa eficiência (14,35% e 13,85%) e consumo moderado de lenha, constituindo alternativas viáveis onde E. pellita for menos acessível. Em contrapartida, Corymbia citriodora demonstrou a menor eficiência energética (9,39%) e o maior consumo de lenha (1,23 kg/h), sendo menos recomendada. O método AHP priorizou a eficiência energética (54%), seguida pelo consumo de lenha (30%) e potência gerada (16%), enfatizando a utilização sustentável da biomassa. O modelo exibiu alta consistência de julgamento (CR = 0,007939), assegurando confiabilidade nos resultados. Concluiu-se que o AHP é uma ferramenta eficaz para ranquear a seleção de biomassa, promovendo a gestão sustentável dos recursos florestais e a transição energética. Estudos futuros podem incluir aspectos como disponibilidade de espécies e emissões de poluentes.
Ranking of eucalyptus fuels from improved technology cookstoves using ordinal methods from operations research: borda, copeland and condorcet
Authors: Machado Gilmara de Oliveira , Almeida Milena Maria Van Der Neut de , Fernandes Amanda Augusta , Pawlicka Agnieszka
Published: January 2025

The search for sustainable energy solutions is essential for communities that still rely on wood-burning stoves, a common practice in many regions of Brazil. The efficient choice of stoves and fuels is challenging because of the environmental impact of wood consumption and associated emissions. Despite studies on the efficiency of wood-burning stoves, there is a gap in the robust and automated multi-criteria methodologies application to comprehensively compare the efficiency of cookstoves and fuels as well as wood consumption and heat output. This study carried out the ordering and ranking of nine eucalyptus fuels, based on criteria such as efficiency, calorific power, and wood consumption of the improved technology stove. The selected eucalyptus species were Eucalyptus saligna Sm., Corymbia citriodora (Hook.) K.D. Hill & L.A.S. Johnson, Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake, Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden, Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden x Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake, Eucalyptus propínqua H. Deane & Maiden, Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., and Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. Three ordinal multi-criteria decision methods (Borda, Copeland, and Condorcet) were applied, with automated implementation via scripts in the R software, enabling graphical analysis and detailed comparisons. The results showed that Eucalyptus pellita firewood was the most efficient and sustainable option. Moreover, it was concluded that the proper selection of fuels can significantly reduce wood consumption, mitigate environmental impact, and offer more sustainable alternatives for cookstoves.
Educação financeira: um estudo no contingente de cabos e soldados da base de administração e apoio do Comando Militar do Oeste
Authors: Monteiro Rudson André Costa , Aranha José Aparecido Moura
Published: January 2025

Aprender sobre Educação Financeira é adquirir conhecimento sobre um conjunto de informações capaz de ampliar as habilidades acerca do uso do dinheiro, bem como melhorar a percepção sobre o consumo. Este artigo objetiva analisar os resultados da pesquisa relativos ao nível de educação financeira dos Cabos e Soldados da Base de Administração e Apoio do Comando Militar do Oeste, tendo em vista que problemas financeiros podem ocasionar interferências na vida social e familiar do militar, bem como refletir no desempenho das suas funções militares, o que demonstra a importância do tema. O Estudo baseou-se no método indutivo, utilizando-se de pesquisa descritiva e abordagem quantitativa. Foi aplicado procedimento técnico de pesquisa Survey, com uma amostra de 331 Cabos e Soldados, dos anos de 2014 a 2022. Utilizou-se para coleta de dados o Google Forms com questionário fechado. De acordo com os resultados da pesquisa: 45,62% dos respondentes não possuíam nenhum conhecimento sobre educação financeira antes da incorporação no Exército e, após seu ingresso, 59,81% informaram que não tiveram, no aquartelamento, nenhuma instrução sobre a temática. Em torno de 60% dos respondentes não realizam investimentos, porém, cerca de 36% se utilizam dos produtos fornecidos por instituições bancárias. Aproximadamente 25% não realizam pesquisa de preços, além de realizarem compras só pelo fato de estar em promoção e, em torno de  20% realizaram compras desnecessárias. Por fim, o estudo evidenciou que o nível de educação financeira entre os pesquisados pode ser ampliado com mais orientações acerca das finanças pessoais
A Comparative Study of Service Mesh Implementations in Kubernetes for Multi-cluster Management
Authors: Palavesam Kuppusamy Vellamadam , Krishnamoorthy Mahesh Vaijainthymala , S M Aiswarya
Published: January 2025

In modern cloud-native applications, managing communication across multiple Kubernetes clusters can be complex. Service meshes, such as Istio, Linkerd, Kuma, and Consul, help address challenges like service discovery, traffic routing, security, and observability in multi-cluster environments. This study compares these leading service meshes based on scalability, security, ease of use, performance, and operational complexity. Istio excels in scalability and advanced traffic management, making it ideal for large-scale, complex applications. Linkerd, with its simplicity and high performance, is well-suited for smaller, less complex setups. Kuma stands out for its flexibility, supporting both Kubernetes and non-Kubernetes environments, and offers built-in multi-cluster capabilities. Consul, known for its strong service discovery features, is particularly effective in hybrid cloud environments, efficiently managing multi-cluster communication. The findings provide actionable insights for organizations seeking to optimize performance, security, and operational efficiency across distributed systems, helping them select the most appropriate service mesh for their specific multi-cluster Kubernetes deployment.
Burden of Burnout Syndrome among Emergency Physicians in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Alshaikhi Omar A , Alzubaidi Hassan A , Alfalahi Ali M , Khamisah Moayed S , AlshahranI Ali M , Alshehri Mughram A , Alqahtani Abdullah A , Aldarami Musaad O
Published: January 2025

Burnout syndrome among healthcare professionals, particularly emergency physicians, is a significant global concern. In Saudi Arabia, high healthcare demands exacerbate this issue, leading to reduced care quality, lower patient satisfaction, and increased medical errors. This meta-analysis assessed the prevalence of burnout components, including high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment, among emergency physicians in Saudi Arabia. A systematic search of databases identified six cross-sectional studies, with pooled estimates calculated using random-effects models. The findings revealed that 57.6% of emergency physicians experienced high emotional exhaustion, 42.8% reported high depersonalization, and 55.0% had low personal accomplishment, with overall burnout prevalence at 38.1%. The results highlight the urgent need for interventions focusing on workload management and supportive environments to improve physician well-being and healthcare quality.
Effect of Product Packaging on Consumer Buying Behavior: An Econometric Case Study of Jambo Drinking Water, Nyegezi Ward, Mwanza City, Tanzania
Authors: Masesa Beatrice , Mrisho David Haruna , Masui Laurent
Published: January 2025

This study explores the impact of product packaging on consumer buying behavior, focusing specifically on Jambo Drinking Water in Nyegezi Ward, Mwanza City, Tanzania. The research investigates two key aspects of packaging: design and convenience, using the AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action) model as a framework to understand how packaging influences consumer decision-making. A quantitative research approach was employed, with a population of 28,454 and a sample size of 379 respondents, determined using the Krejcie and Morgan table. Random sampling was used to ensure an equal chance of selection for all participants. Data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using multiple regression analysis with SPSS version 20.0. The results revealed that packaging design significantly influences consumer choices, with a coefficient of 0.322, while convenience emerged as the most influential factor, positively affecting buying behavior. The study found that packaging plays a crucial role in capturing consumer attention and stimulating interest and desire, ultimately driving action. The findings suggest that Jambo Group of Companies should focus on improving packaging design and enhancing convenience to better align with consumer preferences. Limitations of the study included challenges in respondent engagement and time constraints. Based on these findings, recommendations include ongoing improvements in packaging strategies and greater collaboration across departments within Jambo Group of Companies to enhance product appeal and customer satisfaction.
Biosynthesis of Gold Nanoparticles using Amomum subulatum and Their Catalytic Properties
Authors: Baghel Sonam , Khurana Monika
Published: January 2025

Recent studies reveal that gold nanoparticles possess unique and promising applications, such as targeted drug delivery, cancer therapy, and environmental uses like water purification and pollutant detection. Thus, developing AuNPs through simple, eco-friendly, and cost-effective methods is crucial compared to traditional chemical synthesis. In this study, we employed a one-step method to prepare gold nanoparticles using seed extract from black cardamom. The nanoparticles were synthesized by mixing the seed extract and gold(III) chloride trihydrate in an aqueous solution on a magnetic stirrer at room temperature, with the seed extract acting as both a reducing and capping agent. The resulting wine-red colloidal AuNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, showing a surface plasmon resonance band at 530.5 nm, indicating successful formation and stability of the nanoparticles over 2 months. the AuNPs had sizes ranging from 20 to 60 nm as revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies and were predominantly spherical in shape with few being triangular. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) detected the presence of functional groups on the biosynthesized AuNPs before and after reduction. A time-dependent comparative analysis of their catalytic activity demonstrated their effectiveness in degrading 4-nitro phenol and organic dyes like methylene blue, and methyl orange, achieving a degradation efficiency of 91%. Kinetic studies indicated that the reaction followed pseudo first-order kinetics. Copyright © 2025 by Authors, Published by BCREC Publishing Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Improving Net Energy of Cumene Hydroperoxide Production using Cumene Oxidation Process Through Removing Cooler on the Recycle System to Achieve Energy Efficiency and Reduce Production Cost
Authors: Marpaung Benaya Matius , Setyanto Henricus Jovan , Aliyah St Nur , Haryono Lim Christoval Evandy
Published: January 2025

This study investigates a modification to the cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) production process by removing the cooler between the reactor and separator, aiming to improve energy efficiency. The simulation results show that the modified process requires 245,259,223.09 kJ/h, compared to 265,992,099.05 kJ/h for the basic process, representing a significant energy reduction of 20,732,875.95 kJ/h. The removal of the cooler also leads to lower capital and operating costs, with annual savings of $111,900 in operating costs and $103,580 in utilities. This modification enhances the overall energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the CHP production process while maintaining product selectivity and operational performance. Copyright © 2024 by Authors, Published by Universitas Diponegoro and BCREC Publishing Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Dosimetric evaluation of irradiation geometry and potential air gaps in an acrylic miniphantom used for external audit of absolute dose calibration for a hybrid 1.5 T MR‐linac system
Authors: Tyagi Neelam , Subashi Ergys , Michael Lovelock Dale , Kry Stephen , Alvarez Paola Elisa , Hunt Margie A , Lim Seng Boh
Published: December 2021

Introduction

To investigate the impact of partial lateral scatter (LS), backscatter (BS) and presence of air gaps on optically stimulated luminescence dosimeter (OSLD) measurements in an acrylic miniphantom used for dosimetry audit on the 1.5 T magnetic resonance‐linear accelerator (MR‐linac) system.

Methods

The following irradiation geometries were investigated using OSLDs, A26 MR/A12 MR ion chamber (IC), and Monaco Monte Carlo system: (a) IC/OSLD in an acrylic miniphantom (partial LS, partial BS), (b) IC/OSLD in a miniphantom placed on a solid water (SW) stack at a depth of 1.5 cm (partial LS, full BS), (c) IC/OSLD placed at a depth of 1.5 cm inside a 3 cm slab of SW/buildup (full LS, partial BS), and (d) IC/OSLD centered inside a 3 cm slab of SW/buildup at a depth of 1.5 cm placed on top of a SW stack (full LS, full BS). Average of two irradiated OSLDs with and without water was used at each setup. An air gap of 1 and 2 mm, mimicking presence of potential air gap around the OSLDs in the miniphantom geometry was also simulated. The calibration condition of the machine was 1 cGy/MU at SAD = 143.5 cm, d = 5 cm, G90, and 10 × 10 cm2.

Results

The Monaco calculation (0.5% uncertainty and 1.0 mm voxel size) for the four setups at the measurement point were 108.2, 108.1, 109.4, and 110.0 cGy. The corresponding IC measurements were 109.0 ± 0.03, 109.5 ± 0.06, 110.2 ± 0.02, and 109.8 ± 0.03 cGy. Without water, OSLDs measurements were ∼10% higher than the expected. With added water to minimize air gaps, the measurements were significantly improved to within 2.2%. The dosimetric impacts of 1 and 2 mm air gaps were also verified with Monaco to be 13.3% and 27.9% higher, respectively, due to the electron return effect.

Conclusions

A minimal amount of air around or within the OSLDs can cause measurement discrepancies of 10% or higher when placed in a high b‐field MR‐linac system. Care must be taken to eliminate the air from within and around the OSLD.
SAMHSA, CDC and ONDCP hold first federal harm‐reduction summit
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: December 2021

Last week, the federal government held a landmark “summit” on harm reduction. By invitation only, the meeting was sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Rahul Gupta, M.D., director of the ONDCP, led the meeting, according to sources familiar with it, some of whom attended, who related the information they gleaned to ADAW. (SAMHSA declined to give any information about the summit, which we learned about from other sources, and was not publicized.)
Syringe services programs: White House releases model law
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: December 2021

For syringe services programs (SSPs), which are legal under federal law, to operate, there must be state laws allowing them. This month, the federal Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released a model law for states to use to ensure that such programs are accessible, safe and effective, and save money.
Optical Harmonic Generation in 2D Materials
Authors: Khan Ahmed Raza , Zhang Linglong , Ishfaq Kashif , Ikram Adeel , Yildrim Tanju , Liu Boqing , Rahman Sharidya , Lu Yuerui
Published: December 2021

2D materials are emerging as ideal candidates for fundamental investigations and new technologies due to their unique optoelectronic properties. Giant nonlinear susceptibility and perfect phase matching in 2D materials lead to extraordinary nonlinear light matter interactions, thus enabling several potential applications and fundamental scientific discoveries in nonlinear optics. For instance, second harmonic generation in 2D materials play an important role in optical devices such as, lasers, tunable waveguides, electro‐optic modulators, and switches. This review will discuss optical harmonic generation (OHG) processes, various characterization modes, and tuning techniques in 2D materials. The future prospectives for OHG in 2D materials is discussed. The extremely promising attributes of combining nonlinear optics and 2D materials is becoming a highly important multidisciplinary field.
Resolving the Spatial Variation and Correlation of Hyperfine Spin Properties in Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Pappas William J. , Geng Rugang , Mena Adrian , Baldacchino Alexander J. , Asadpoordarvish Amir , McCamey Dane R.
Published: December 2021

Devices that exploit the quantum properties of materials are widespread, with quantum information processors and quantum sensors showing significant progress. Organic materials offer interesting opportunities for quantum technologies owing to their engineerable spin properties, with spintronic operation and spin resonance magnetic‐field sensing demonstrated in research grade devices, as well as proven compatibility with large‐scale fabrication techniques. Yet several important challenges remain as moving toward scaling these proof‐of‐principle quantum devices to larger integrated logic systems or spatially smaller sensing elements, particularly those associated with the variation of quantum properties both within and between devices. Here, spatially resolved magnetoluminescence is used to provide the first 2D map of a hyperfine spin property—the Overhauser field—in traditional organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). Intra‐device variabilities are found to exceed ≈30% while spatially correlated behavior is exhibited on lengths beyond 7 µm, similar in size to pixels in state‐of‐the‐art active‐matrix OLED arrays, which has implications for the reproducibility and integration of organic quantum devices.
Single‐, Dual‐, Triple, and Quadruple‐Wavelength Surface‐Emitting Lasing in Blue‐Phase Liquid Crystal
Authors: Liu Jie , Chen Yujie , Jin Feng , Wang Jingxia , Ikeda Tomiki , Jiang Lei
Published: December 2021

Soft organic lasers with multiwavelength output and high spectral purity are of crucial importance for versatile photonic devices, owing to their monochromaticity, coherence, and high intensity. However, there remain challenges for the achievement of surface‐emitting multiwavelength lasing in soft photonic crystals, and the relative mechanisms need to be investigated. Herein, single‐, dual‐, triple‐, and quadruple‐wavelength lasers are successfully achieved in dye‐doped blue‐phase liquid crystal (BPLC) film. The number and wavelength of the lasing peaks can be manipulated by tuning the center of the bandgap, the order parameter of the laser dye, the quality of the resonance cavity, and even the pump energy. For single‐wavelength lasing,  a lasing peak with an ultranarrow linewidth of 0.04 nm (Q‐factor of 13 454) is achieved. Multiwavelength lasing is attained based on the following aspects: i) the narrow bandgaps of the BPLCs with full width at half maximum of 14–20 nm; ii) a laser dye with high gain over a wide wavelength band, having a low‐order parameter in the liquid crystal matrix; iii) appropriate relative positions between the reflection and fluorescence peaks; and iv) the highly ordered crystal lattice of BPLC film. The proposed single‐to‐quadruple‐wavelength surface‐emitting lasers can be employed as coherent light sources for next‐generation optical devices.
MOF‐Derived MnV2O4/C Microparticles with Graphene Coating Anchored on Graphite Sheets: Oxygen Defect Engaged High Performance Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Battery
Authors: Leng Wancong , Cui Leilei , Liu Yang , Gong Yun
Published: December 2021

By annealing [Mn(phen)H2O][V2O6] (phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline) in the presence of graphite template, MnV2O4 /C microparticles are obtained, in which MnV2O4 particles with one‐layer or few‐layer coating of graphene are anchored on the graphite sheets. The optimal sample, MnV2O4(p)/C‐700 with a high carbon content (35.3 at. %) can deliver a large specific capacity of 410 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 with a high capacity retention of 94.3% over 1000 discharge/charge cycles at 20 A g−1 as cathode in zinc‐ion battery. Ex situ X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectra, as well as elemental mappings and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy of MnV2O4(p)/C‐700 discern the partial phase transformation mechanism of MnV2O4→Zn3(OH)2V2O7(H2O)2 during discharge/charge process. It is because the rich oxygen defects of MnV2O4 can improve electrical conductivity, favor the electron transfer from V→Mn/O, thus facilitate the binding of Zn2+, and the captured Zn2+ cannot be extracted, as evidenced by density functional theory calculations. Furthermore, it is found that O‐deficiency can capture the water shell from the hydrated Zn2+, then the dehydrated Zn2+ is easy to insert into MnV2O4 with lower migration barrier of Zn2+ (0.84 eV), leading to the structural reversibility of MnV2O4 in cycling test.
A Simple Strategy for Constructing Hierarchical Composite Electrodes of PPy‐Posttreated 3D‐Printed Carbon Aerogel with Ultrahigh Areal Capacitance over 8000 mF cm–2
Authors: Yang Jianming , Cui Ningxin , Han Dongxiao , Shen Jun , Wu Guangming , Zhang Zhihua , Qin Lili , Zhou Bin , Du Ai
Published: December 2021

A well‐designed pore structure and optimized interface will improve specific capacitances of carbon‐based supercapacitor electrodes significantly. Herein, a simple strategy is used to prepare the hierarchically porous 3D‐printed carbon aerogel (CA) electrodes via combining direct ink writing, freezing drying, carbonization, and polypyrrole (PPy) posttreatment. The 3D‐printed CA electrodes without PPy present a quasi‐proportional increase in areal capacitance as thickness, achieving an extremely high areal capacitance of 6875 mF cm–2 under a thickness of 2.2 mm. Additionally, PPy posttreated 3D‐printed CA (PPy@CA) electrode has improved wettability and contact conductivity, which shows a further significant increase of areal capacitance to 8126 mF cm–2. After 10 000 continuous cycles, the PPy@CA electrode exhibits an excellent cyclic stability similar to that of 3D‐printed CA electrode by maintaining 91% of its original capacitance. This simple strategy may provide a novel insight to dramatically boost the energy storage properties of supercapacitor electrodes and their functionalization.
Electronic Structure of (Organic‐)Inorganic Metal Halide Perovskites: The Dilemma of Choosing the Right Functional
Authors: Vona Cecilia , Nabok Dmitrii , Draxl Claudia
Published: December 2021

Organic–inorganic metal halide perovskites (HaPs) are intensively studied for their light‐harvesting properties. Owing to the interplay between strong electron–electron interaction and spin‐orbit coupling (SOC), their quantitative theoretical description is still a challenge as evidenced by the wide variety of results available in literature. Here, various methodologies for computing their electronic structure are evaluated, also accounting for SOC. More specific, the approach as well as variants of the hybrid functionals PBE0 and HSE are at the center of the investigations. For both functionals, methods to determine the mixing parameter α are explored, and for HSE, the impact of the screening‐parameter ω is investigated. An extensive investigation of PbI2, a precursor of many HaPs, leads to the conclusion that hybrid functionals with α tuned by the density‐based mixing method are most suitable for obtaining band gaps comparable to results. Moreover, this methodology is transferable to CsPbI3, and the same behavior is expected for the entire family of lead–iodine perovskites.
Tuning Organic Semiconducting Binary Heterostructures Inherited by Template Nanostructures for Achieving High‐Performance Organic Transistors
Authors: Oh Seungtaek , Choi Giheon , Seo Jungyoon , Li Shuangying , Hwang Taehoon , Park Eunyoung , Lee Hwa Sung
Published: December 2021

The charge transport in organic semiconductors is unavoidably affected by morphological or crystalline structure resulting from the self‐organized polycrystalline characteristics. To obtain the desired molecular arrangement in the heterostructured active layer, where nanostructures are gradually formed by piecing individual parts together into the final structures, it is necessary to formulate a precise strategy for anisotropic formation via weak epitaxy growth (WEG) of the layer structures. This strategy includes the nanostructural control of the bottom‐templating layer through the inert character optimization of the supporting substrate surfaces. For these purposes, a copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) film grown on p‐sexiphenyl (p‐6P) as a bottom‐templating layer is prepared to induce WEG between them, and supporting substrates are controlled using various inert self‐assembled interlayers. The grain structures of the bottom‐templating p‐6P layer are dependent on the polar term of the surface energy in the variously modified supporting substrate, thereby inducing the activated WEG effect between the p‐6P and CuPc semicrystalline structures. This strategy significantly improved the device performances of CuPc transistors (by a factor of up to 14). This result has important implications for optimizing a heterostructured active layer induced by the WEG mechanism and provides a solution for improving the device performance of organic electronics.
Age‐related patterns of cytomegalovirus antibodies accompanying Epstein‐Barr virus co‐infection
Authors: Barrett Tyler M. , Liebert Melissa A. , Eick Geeta N. , Ridgeway‐Diaz Julia G. , Madimenos Felicia C. , Blackwell Aaron D. , Urlacher Samuel S. , Sugiyama Lawrence S. , Snodgrass J. Josh
Published: December 2021

Objective

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with age‐related chronic disease, and co‐infection with Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) may compound disease risk. We aimed to assess the frequency of CMV infection and its relationship with age among EBV seropositive individuals in an Indigenous Amazonian population.

Methods

We report concentrations of CMV and EBV antibodies in dried blood spot samples collected from 157 EBV positive Shuar participants aged 15–86 years (60.5% female) to assess CMV infection rate. We used logistic and linear regression models to examine associations among CMV, EBV, and age, adjusting for sex, geographic region, and body mass index.

Results

Nearly two‐thirds (63.1%) of EBV seropositive participants were also CMV seropositive. A 1‐year increase in age was associated with 3.4% higher odds of CMV infection (OR [95% CI]: 1.034 [1.009–1.064], p = .012), but CMV antibody concentration was not significantly associated with age or EBV antibody concentration among co‐infected individuals.

Conclusions

Herpesvirus‐related immunosenescence may be important to understanding chronic disease risk among Shuar. Future studies should further explore the role of co‐infection in shaping age‐related changes in immune function.
Tunable Continuous‐Variable Tripartite Entanglement via Cascaded Third‐Order Nonlinear Processes in a Ring Cavity
Authors: Wen Feng , Hui Sijia , Zhang Shaowei , Wu Zhenkun , Liu Zongchen , Zhu Tianfei , Lin Fang , Wang Wei , Zhang Yanpeng , Wang Hongxing
Published: December 2021

In this study, a tunable continuous‐variable (CV) triple‐mode entanglement scheme generated by cascading a spontaneous parametric four‐wave and a sum‐frequency four‐wave mixing process is proposed. The entanglement feature of the triple‐mode is demonstrated by using a sufficient inseparability criterion. It is confirmed that the triple‐mode CV entanglement property, including the degree of violation of the sufficient inseparability criterion and the entanglement range in the frequency domain, can be modulated dynamically by modifying the nonlinear susceptibility and optical parameters. In particular, the intensity of the pumping field affects the modulation of the degree of entanglement, and the splitting of the entanglement spectrum comes from electromagnetically induced transparency. Although changing the relative detuning between the Stokes and anti‐Stokes fields can increase the entanglement degree of the triple‐mode, it results in the expansion of the entanglement range in frequency as well. Furthermore, although nonlinear susceptibility directly improves the degree of triple‐mode CV entanglement, optical detuning related nonlinear dispersion has an indirect effect as well. Such an optical triple‐mode CV entanglement with tunable properties can find applications in all‐optical quantum communication and pave the way for the generation and manipulation of multichannel quantum networks.
Understand the best practices for enduring a Clery Act compliance review
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: December 2021

Violating, or not following, the Clery Act can be a costly, and dangerous, position for a campus safety department. In a session at the recent Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference, hosted by the University of Vermont, Leslie M. Gomez, Vice Chair, Institutional Response Group at Cozen O'Connor, and Steven J. Healy, Chief Executive Officer of Margolis Healy, offered suggestions for how to anticipate and navigate a Clery Compliance audit for your institution.
Students report safety concerns, low usage of campus safety resources
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: December 2021

More than 80% of college students are concerned about their personal safety while on campus. That finding comes from a recent survey conducted jointly by ADT, a security company, and the Clery Center, a national nonprofit organization focused on promoting campus safety. The survey, which was conducted in September 2021, recorded responses from more than 1,000 students nationwide.
Osteomyelitis infection disguised as Reiter's syndrome in a child: A case report
Authors: Opara Nnennaya U.
Published: December 2021

Reiter's syndrome (reactive arthritis) should always prompt a thorough clinical investigation of a potentially more serious disease condition in every pediatric patient and adults. It should always be regarded as a warning sign and not a disease. This is a case of a 16‐year‐old African boy with osteomyelitis presenting with symptoms of reactive arthritis (Reiter's syndrome).
Detection of atrial fibrillation using variable length genetic algorithm and convolutional neural network
Authors: Al Qaraghuli Hawraa , Sheibani Reza , Tabatabaee Hamid
Published: December 2021

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia and it is considered as one of the most important risk factor for death, stroke, hospitalization, and heart failure. It is possible to detect AF by analyzing electrocardiogram (ECG) of patients. To work on clean signals and reduce errors resulted from noise, we have used Butterworth filter. The short‐term Fourier transform was used to analyze ECG segments to obtain ECG spectrogram images. Convolutional neural network (CNN) models have been proposed for improving automatic detection of AF. The number of convolutional layers varies in different CNN models, and as the model become deeper, more hyper parameters are added. So in this article, variable length genetic algorithm was used in order to optimize hyper parameters of CNN. The results of experiments that performed on the MIT‐BIH AF database showed that the proposed method achieved 100%, 98.90%, and 99.95% for the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, respectively, so the proposed method outperforms the deep CNNs. Hence, the proposed method is an accurate and efficient method for detection of AF.
Arthropod dark taxa provide new insights into diversity responses to bark beetle infestations
Authors: Kortmann Mareike , Roth Nicolas , Buse Jörn , Hilszczański Jacek , Jaworski Tomasz , Morinière Jérôme , Seidl Rupert , Thorn Simon , Müller Jörg C.
Published: December 2021

Natural disturbances are increasing around the globe, also impacting protected areas. Although previous studies have indicated that natural disturbances result in mainly positive effects on biodiversity, these analyses mostly focused on a few well established taxonomic groups, and thus uncertainty remains regarding the comprehensive impact of natural disturbances on biodiversity. Using Malaise traps and meta‐barcoding, we studied a broad range of arthropod taxa, including dark and cryptic taxa, along a gradient of bark beetle disturbance severities in five European national parks. We identified order‐level community thresholds of disturbance severity and classified barcode index numbers (BINs; a cluster system for DNA sequences, where each cluster corresponds to a species) as negative or positive disturbance indicators. Negative indicator BINs decreased above thresholds of low to medium disturbance severity (20%–30% of trees killed), whereas positive indicator BINs benefited from high disturbance severity (76%–98%). BINs allocated to a species name contained nearly as many positive as negative disturbance indicators, but dark and cryptic taxa, particularly Diptera and Hymenoptera in our data, contained higher numbers of negative disturbance indicator BINs. Analyses of changes in the richness of BINs showed variable responses of arthropods to disturbance severity at lower taxonomic levels, whereas no significant signal was detected at the order level due to the compensatory responses of the underlying taxa. We conclude that the analyses of dark taxa can offer new insights into biodiversity responses to disturbances. Our results suggest considerable potential for forest management to foster arthropod diversity, for example by maintaining both closed‐canopy forests (>70% cover) and open forests (<30% cover) on the landscape.
An at‐home laboratory in plant biology designed to engage students in the process of science
Authors: Schnell Laura J. , Simpson Gavin L. , Suchan Danae M. , Quere William , Weger Harold G. , Davis Maria C.
Published: December 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic prompted a transition to remote delivery of courses that lack immersive hands‐on research experiences for undergraduate science students, resulting in a scientific research skills gap. In this report, we present an option for an inclusive and authentic, hands‐on research experience that all students can perform off‐campus. Biology students in a semester‐long (13 weeks) sophomore plant physiology course participated in an at‐home laboratory designed to study the impacts of nitrogen addition on growth rates and root nodulation by wild nitrogen‐fixing Rhizobia in Pisum sativum (Pea) plants. This undergraduate research experience, piloted in the fall semester of 2020 in a class with 90 students, was created to help participants learn and practice scientific research skills during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Specifically, the learning outcomes associated with this at‐home research experience were: (1) generate a testable hypothesis, (2) design an experiment to test the hypothesis, (3) explain the importance of biological replication, (4) perform meaningful statistical analyses using R, and (5) compose a research paper to effectively communicate findings to a general biology audience. Students were provided with an at‐home laboratory kit containing the required materials and reagents, which were chosen to be accessible and affordable in case students were unable to access our laboratory kit. Students were guided through all aspects of research, including hypothesis generation, data collection, and data analysis, with video tutorials and live virtual sessions. This at‐home laboratory provided students an opportunity to practice hands‐on research with the flexibility to collect and analyze their own data in a remote setting during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This, or similar laboratories, could also be used as part of distance learning biology courses.
Sex‐specific bimodal clustering of left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with acute heart failure
Authors: Henneges Carsten , Morbach Caroline , Sahiti Floran , Scholz Nina , Frantz Stefan , Ertl Georg , Angermann Christiane E. , Störk Stefan
Published: December 2021

Aims

There is an ongoing discussion whether the categorization of patients with heart failure according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is scientifically justified and clinically relevant. Major efforts are directed towards the identification of appropriate cut‐off values to correctly allocate heart failure‐specific pharmacotherapy. Alternatively, an LVEF continuum without definite subgroups is discussed. This study aimed to evaluate the natural distribution of LVEF in patients presenting with acutely decompensated heart failure and to identify potential subgroups of LVEF in male and female patients.

Methods and results

We identified 470 patients (mean age 75 ± 11 years, n = 137 female) hospitalized for acute heart failure in whom LVEF could be quantified by Simpson's method in an in‐hospital echocardiogram. Non‐parametric modelling revealed a bimodal shape of the LVEF distribution. Parametric modelling identified two clusters suggesting two LVEF peaks with mean (variance) of 61% (9%) and 31% (10%), respectively. Sub‐differentiation by sex revealed a sex‐specific bimodal clustering of LVEF. The respective threshold differentiating between ‘high’ and ‘low’ LVEF was 45% in men and 52% in women.

Conclusions

In patients presenting with acute heart failure, LVEF clustered in two subgroups and exhibited profound sex‐specific distributional differences. These findings might enrich the scientific process to identify distinct subgroups of heart failure patients, which might each benefit from respectively tailored (pharmaco)therapies.
Orient international students for a successful experience
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: December 2021

When international students arrive on campus, they encounter an educational system that might be very different than what they are used to. And some struggle to navigate cultural differences in the United States. Just because they have made the decision to study abroad doesn't mean they have a strong skill set to do that, said Karen Tarnoff, Associate Dean of Assessment and International Programs in the College of Business and Technology at East Tennessee State University. Tarnoff explained the International Student Seminar her college created at a session at the Assessment Institute. If you're looking for ways to support your institution's international students, read on for tips on how to plan and host a successful seminar.
Manage the legal risks of diversity efforts
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: December 2021

On most college campuses, officials are focused on initiatives to increase diversity within the student body, the faculty, and elsewhere. But if you're involved in diversity efforts, it's important to be aware of the legal risks and the laws that might apply. Joshua W. B. Richards, a Partner at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP, and Tamla J. Lewis, Associate General Counsel at The Pennsylvania State University, explained how you can remain in compliance with Title VI and Title IX while pursuing diversity efforts at a session at the University of Vermont's Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference, including how those laws apply to affirmative action in admissions, scholarships, funding, and programming.
Developmental and Hepatic Gene Expression Changes in Chicken Embryos Exposed to p-Tert-Butylphenyl Diphenyl Phosphate and Isopropylphenyl Phosphate via Egg Injection
Authors: Nguyen Phuoc Tyler T.-T. , Pagé-Larivière Florence , Williams Kim , O'Brien Jason , Crump Doug
Published: December 2021

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are used in a variety of products such as clear coats, resins, and plastics; however, research into their toxicological effects is limited. p-Tert-butylphenyl diphenyl phosphate (BPDP) and isopropylphenyl phosphate (IPPP) are two OPFRs that were prioritized for whole-animal toxicological studies based on observed effects in cultured avian hepatocytes in a previous study. The present study investigates the toxicity of BPDP and IPPP in chicken embryos at different developmental stages by evaluating morphological and gene expression endpoints. Chicken eggs were exposed via air cell injection to 0–250 μg/g (nominal) of either compound and then artificially incubated. At day 11 (midincubation), liver samples were collected for mRNA expression analysis; and at day 20 (1 day prehatch), morphological measurements and liver samples for transcriptomic evaluation were collected. At 250 μg/g, gallbladder size was significantly reduced for both compounds, head/bill length and tarsus length were significantly decreased, and liver somatic index was significantly increased following IPPP exposure only. No effects on mortality were observed up to the highest administered concentration for either chemical. Using a ToxChip polymerase chain reaction array, we report significant differences in hepatic gene expression for both compounds and time points; the most pronounced transcriptomic effects occurred at midincubation. Genes related to xenobiotic metabolism, bile acid/cholesterol regulation, and oxidative stress were significantly dysregulated. Given these changes observed throughout avian embryonic development, further research into the long-term effects of BPDP and IPPP are warranted, especially as they pertain to liver cholestasis. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:739–747. © 2021 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry © 2021 SETAC. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Electrochemically induced surface reconstruction of Ni‐Co oxide nanosheet arrays for hybrid supercapacitors
Authors: Wang Teng , Wang You , Lei Jiaqi , Chen Kai‐Jie , Wang Hongxia
Published: December 2021

Transition metal oxides (TMOs) are promising materials for supercapacitors (SCs) because of their high theoretical capacity. However, their finite active sites and poor electrical conductivity lead to reluctant electrochemical performance. Herein, we report a facile electrochemical activation (ECA) method to boost the electrochemical activity of Ni‐Co oxide nanosheet arrays (NiCoO NSA) for SCs. Specifically, honeycomb‐like NiCoO NSA that was made through a solvothermal method followed by air annealing was activated by simply exerting certain cyclic voltammetry scans (the activated sample is named ac‐NiCoO NSA). We have found this treatment results in dramatic surface structure change, forming numerous sub‐nanostructures (nanoparticles and nano‐leaves) on the NiCoO nanosheets. Rich antisite defects and oxygen vacancies in the NiCoO spinel phase were also created by the ECA treatment. Consequently, the ac‐NiCoO NSA delivered a maximum capacity of 206.5 mAh g−1 (0.5 A g−1), which is about three times of the NiCoO NSA without treatment. A hybrid SC based on the ac‐NiCoO NSA demonstrated excellent energy storage capacity (power density of 17.3 kW kg−1 and energy density of 45.4 Wh kg−1) and outstanding cyclability (>20,000 cycles, 77.4% retention rate). Our method provides a simple strategy for fabricating high performance TMOs for electrical energy storage devices like SCs.
The Dasgupta Review: resetting the stage for a new paradigm
Authors: Priyadarshini Priya , Dubey Pradeep Kumar , Singh Ajeet , Chaurasia Rajan , Abhilash Purushothaman Chirakkuzhyil
Published: December 2021

Assessing the impacts of unprecedented biodiversity loss on planetary resilience, The Economics of Biodiversity: the Dasgupta Review (“Dasgupta Review”) asserts that sustainable engagement with nature is crucial for sustaining the livelihoods of present and future generations. It further urges the integration of biodiversity into national accounting and science‐based decision‐making processes in order to advance the well‐being of both people and the planet. Here, we present the salient features of the Dasgupta Review along with several recommendations for strengthening global biodiversity and ecosystem conservation efforts. Although institutional transformations at regional and national scales are essential to facilitate the recognition of economies’ dependence on nature, behavioral changes at the level of the individual are also needed to better understand, value, manage, and utilize biodiversity. Formulation of inclusive policies prioritizing biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource consumption is also essential for averting future public health risks associated with ecosystem degradation and species loss.