bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Some Thiocyanate Containing Heterocyclic Compounds: Synthesis, Bioactivity and Molecular Docking Study
Authors: Israfilova Zubeyda , Taslimi Parham , Gülçin İlhami , Abdullayev Yusif , Farzaliyev Vagif , Karaman Muhammet , Sujayev Afsun , Alwasel Saleh H.
Published: January 2023

This study focuses on the synthesis of some thiocyanate containing heterocyclic compounds. Theoretical calculations are conducted to genergate a mechanism for substituting chloride with thiocyanate in 2‐(chloromethyl)aziridine derivatives, which result in formation of thiocyanate‐based aziridine derivatives. Computations reveal that the two similar reactions have a different reaction profile, namely E1 formation is endergonic (+32.8 kcal/mol) while the E2 formation is exergonic (−62.8 kcal/mol). All heterocyclic molecules were determined for human carbonic anhydrase I, II (hCAs I and II), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and α‐glycosidase inhibitory abilities. Results indicated that all the synthetic compounds exhibited potent inhibitory abilities against all targets as compared to the standard inhibitors, revealed by IC50 values. Ki values of novel group E1–E3 for hCA I, hCA II, AChE, and α‐glycosidase enzymes were obtained in the ranges 4.08‐15.04, 12.51–24.37, 52.07–81.21 and 1076.38–1287.55 μM, respectively. Molecular modeling results have shown that the most active molecules have binding affinity with −6.204, −4.423, −6.298, and −6.623 kcal/mol against hCA II, hCA I, α‐glycosidase, and AChE enzymes, respectively. Thiocyanate moiety specifically inhibited hCA I and hCA II enzymes. CA inhibitors have the ability to dilate retinal capillaries and suppress capillary blockage.
Synthesis, Docking Study, and Biological Evaluation of 2‐Phenylchroman‐4‐one Derivatives as Murine Double Minute 2 (MDM2) Inhibitors
Authors: Talebi Meysam , Boumi Shahin , Nezamtaheri Maryam Sadat , Sarmad Yeganeh , Hosseini Faezeh Sadat , Delphi Ladan , Goliaei Bahram , Amini Mohsen , Amanlou Massoud
Published: January 2023

Inhibiting the interaction between the p53 tumor suppressor and its negative regulator murine double minute 2 (MDM2) is a promising therapeutic opportunity in cancer drug research. Herein, we describe the design, synthesis, and in vitro screening of phenyl chroman‐based derivatives 7 a–l as MDM2 inhibitors. Among target compounds, 7 e, 7 h, and 7 j had considerable cytotoxicity activity at concentrations of 50 μM and 100 μM against MCF7 and HCT‐116 cell lines. Designed compounds that demonstrated good toxicity, were selected for enzyme inhibition assay. The most potent MDM2 inhibitor in this series is compound 7 h, which showed a Ki value of 13.66 μM. Moreover, compound 7 h with acceptable safety profiles in normal cells was found the least effective compound against human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition, cell cycle analysis was also investigated for representative compound 7 h. Also, the docking study was done to predict the possible interaction between the synthesized compound and both MDM2 and murine double minute x (MDMX) proteins. Interestingly, the docking results were in good agreement with the experimental assay.
A One‐Step Synthesis of Dispersed Bismuth Orthogermanate Powder and its Performance for Alpha‐ and Gamma‐Radiation Detection
Authors: Veselova Varvara O. , Gajtko Olga M. , Volodin Vsevolod D. , Shafranov Mark A. , Egorysheva Anna V.
Published: January 2023

Bismuth orthogermanate Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) powder with morphology suitable for production of cheap new generation detectors was obtained in a one‐step room temperature co‐precipitation process. The influence of synthesis parameters on the phase composition and morphology of the product was systematically studied via powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy methods. The obtained BGO powder was shown to have ∼50 % decreased flash time compared to a single crystal in the case of both α‐ and γ‐produced scintillation. For α‐produced scintillation share of the slow luminescent component decreased from 35 to 10 %, too. Such improved spectral‐kinetic characteristics provide better time and space detectors resolution and allows one to reduce radiation exposure for tomography patients.
Oxide–Metal–Oxide Based Transparent Electrodes and Their Potential Application in Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells‐Optical Modeling Studies
Authors: Rani Sonia , Kumar Arun , Ghosh Dhriti Sundar
Published: January 2023

Oxide–metal–oxide (OMO)‐based stacks are highly attractive by virtue of their favorable properties for being used as a top transparent electrode (TE) in semitransparent solar cells. Herein, getting the best trade‐off between performance and transparency is focused on by optimizing the OMO electrode and the device layers with the help of optical simulation. NiO/Ag/SnO2as the OMO electrode integrated into a device having SnO2, Spiro‐OMeTAD, and MAPbI3as the electron transport layer, hole transport layer, and photoactive layer, respectively, inn–i–pgeometry is investigated. It is shown that an optimized OMO electrode in terms of average visible transparency (AVT) does not translate to the best device performance. It is found that for the overcoat to undercoat oxide layer ratio of 1.17, a maximum short‐circuit current density (JSC) of 4.34 mA cm−2is achieved while a maximum AVT of 21.55% is obtained for a ratio of 0.78. On further optimization of the MAPbI3thickness, for an oxide ratio of 1, a modeled device with 4.58 mA cm−2with AVT of 31.55% is demonstrated. In addition, it is also found that by integrating an optical spacer layer after the OMO electrode, theJSCof the device shows a jump of >115% to 9.86 mA cm−2.
Unveiling the Role of H2Plasma for Efficient InP Solar Cells
Authors: Gupta Bikesh , Shehata Mohamed M. , Lee Yonghwan , Black Lachlan E. , Ma Fajun , Hoex Bram , Jagadish Chennupati , Tan Hark Hoe , Karuturi Siva
Published: January 2023

III–V semiconductors are among the highest performing materials for solar energy conversion devices. Exposing III–V semiconductors to a hydrogen plasma can improve optoelectronic properties and is a critical step in fabricating efficient InP solar cells. However, there is a limited understanding of the changes induced by hydrogen plasma exposure to the surface and in the bulk of III–V semiconductors. Herein, it is demonstrated that a 19.3% efficient p‐InP solar cell with a TiO2electron selective contact layer can be achieved by exposing the InP substrate to hydrogen plasma. Detailed investigations employing ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and capacitance–voltage measurement unveil that the hydrogen plasma exposure on p‐InP leads to charge carrier polarity inversion in the near‐surface region (charge inversion layer) while simultaneously reducing the carrier concentration (charge‐depleted layer) in the bulk. The study provides important insights into the impact of hydrogen plasma exposures on InP which may lead to more efficient optoelectronic devices such as solar cells, photodetectors, light‐emitting diodes, and photoelectrochemical cells.
Inkjet‐Printed Flexible Semitransparent Solar Cells with Perovskite and Polymeric Pillars
Authors: Pendyala Naresh Kumar , Magdassi Shlomo , Etgar Lioz
Published: January 2023

Semitransparent perovskite solar cells are important for building‐integrated photovoltaics. Most research is focused on glass substrates, which can be utilized as glass windows during the construction of the buildings. Herein, the fabrication of flexible and semitransparent perovskite‐based solar cells is presented, which can be used for existing windows as retrofitting process. The transparency of the cells is obtained through printing transparent and noncolored “optical holes” at micrometric dimensions. The fabrication approach is based on inkjet printing pillars composed of polymerized N‐vinylcaprolactam, followed by inkjet printing of a perovskite layer, to attain a digitally tuned semitransparency, all performed in open air. The printing compositions are tailored, including the solvents with a controlled volatility, and adding a surfactant to fit both the inkjet printing process and the vacuum‐assisted perovskite crystallization. The flexible semitransparent solar cells achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.14%, with an average transmittance of 29.3%. Beyond transparency, the pillars also contributed to the mechanical properties: bending measurements reveal that the device without the pillars retains 71.4% of the PCE after 300 cycles compared to the pillared device which retains 90% of its initial PCE after 500 bendings.
Efficient Ammonia Synthesis from Nitrate Catalyzed by Au/Cu with Enhanced Adsorption Ability
Authors: Bi Bo , Dong An-Qi , Shi Miao-Miao , Sun Xue-Feng , Li Hong-Rui , Kang Xia , Gao Rui , Meng Zhe , Chen Ze-Yu , Xu Tong-Wen , Yan Jun-Min , Jiang Qing
Published: January 2023

The traditional method for synthesizing NH3 is the Haber–Bosch process which results in high‐fuel consumption and environmental pollution. Therefore, ecofriendly electrochemical synthesis of NH3 through nitrate (NO3−) reduction is a good choice. Herein, an integral Au/Cu electrode to catalyze NO3− reduction to NH3 is introduced. The catalyst exhibits not only the highest NH3 yield rate (73.4 mg h−1 cm−2) up to now but also a very high Faradaic efficiency of 98.02% at −0.7 V at room temperature. It is commonly believed that the transformation of NO3− to nitrite (NO2−) is an obstacle to the NH3 generation from NO3− reduction. Surprisingly, unlike most of the other catalysts, Au/Cu exhibits better activity for NO3− reduction than that for NO2− reduction. Based on the detailed experimental and density functional theory calculations, the excellent performance of Au/Cu for selective NO3− reduction lies in the enhanced adsorption capabilities of Au/Cu to NO3− in the alkaline environment and the lower energy barriers of the electrochemical reduction reaction.
3D Printing Functionally Graded Porous Materials for Simultaneous Fabrication of Dense and Porous Structures in Membrane‐Integrated Fluidic Devices
Authors: Balakrishnan Hari Kalathil , Dumée Ludovic F. , Merenda Andrea , Aubry Cyril , Yuan Dan , Doeven Egan H. , Guijt Rosanne M.
Published: January 2023

3D printing provides access to complex multilevel architectures, though the capability to routinely print and integrate structures of controlled porosity is limited. Herein, grayscale digital light projection 3D printing of a polymerization‐induced phase separation ink is introduced to directly 3D print functionally graded porous within a single layer from the same ink formulation. The structural properties of materials printed from a single ink are tuned from an effectively dense to a porous material with interconnected pores up to 250 nm. Heterostructures with the physically dense structure of porosity 0.8% and porous structures with up to 23% can be concurrently formed within a layer, with high spatial resolution inherent of this 3D printing technique. Materials with densities from 1.01 to 1.21 g cm−3 are 3D printed in a wicking device and show wicking rates (H2O) from complete diffusion blockage up to 4.5 mm h−1. Furthermore, a proof‐of‐concept membrane‐integrated fluidic device is used for the elemental metal sensing of iron in soil. The presented single‐step fabrication of functionally graded materials with pixel‐based control within a single layer holds potential for manufacturing and integrating membranes or sorbents for environmental, biotechnology, and healthcare applications.
Immobilization of Platinum Nanoparticles on Covalent Organic Framework‐Derived Carbon for Oxygen Reduction Catalysis
Authors: Li Xuewen , Yang Shuai , Liu Minghao , Liu Sijia , Miao Qiyang , Duan Zhiliang , Qiao Panzhe , Lin Jinyou , Sun Fanfei , Xu Qing , Jiang Zheng
Published: January 2023

Platinum (Pt)‐based catalysts are considered as the most active catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, their applications have remained limited because of the high cost of Pt, and developing catalysts with low Pt contents is a challenge. Herein, a highly active catalyst (Pt–COF800) is constructed for the ORR by immobilizing hierarchical Pt subnano‐ and nanoparticles on covalent organic framework (COF)‐derived carbon. The catalyst shows excellent activity in alkaline conditions. The physical characterization demonstrates low nuclear Pt atoms and nanoparticles and confirms the role of heterogeneous active sites. This work paves the way for the construction of functional porous carbon materials with dual‐scale Pt clusters and may be applied to industrial catalytic reactions.
Obsessive‐compulsive disorder and men's health. Part 1: Recognition and diagnosis
Authors: Conti Dario , Pellegrini Luca , Riaz Maham , Mpavaenda David , Sim Alex , Fineberg Naomi
Published: January 2023

Obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) commonly affects males and can manifest with a range of urological symptoms directly linked to the content of the OCD, including urinary urgency, urinary frequency, urinary retention and sexual dysfunction. Accurate recognition of OCD in such cases is fundamental to avoid misdiagnosis, risks to patients associated with untreated OCD (including suicidal behaviour), unnecessary physical health investigations and delayed treatment. In Part 1 here, the authors discuss the recognition and diagnosis of OCD. Part 2 will consider its treatment.
Word Embeddings for Fake Malware Generation
Authors: Tran Quang Duy , Di Troia Fabio
Published: January 2023

Signature and anomaly-based techniques are the fundamental methods to detect malware. However, in recent years this type of threat has advanced to become more complex and sophisticated, making these techniques less effective. For this reason, researchers have resorted to state-of-the-art machine learning techniques to combat the threat of information security. Nevertheless, despite the integration of the machine learning models, there is still a shortage of data in training that prevents these models from performing at their peak. In the past, generative models have been found to be highly effective at generating image-like data that are similar to the actual data distribution. In this paper, we leverage the knowledge of generative modeling on opcode sequences and aim to generate malware samples by taking advantage of the contextualized embeddings from BERT. We obtained promising results when differentiating between real and generated samples. We observe that generated malware has such similar characteristics to actual malware that the classifiers are having difficulty in distinguishing between the two, in which the classifiers falsely identify the generated malware as actual malware almost $$90\%$$ of the time.
A Blockchain-Based Tamper-Resistant Logging Framework
Authors: Austin Thomas H. , Di Troia Fabio
Published: January 2023

Since its introduction in Bitcoin, the blockchain has proven to be a versatile data structure. In its role as an immutable ledger, it has grown beyond its initial use in financial transactions to be used in recording a wide variety of other useful information.

In this paper, we explore the application of the blockchain outside of its traditional decentralized, financial domain. We show how, even with only a single “mining” node, a proof-of-work blockchain can be the cornerstone of a tamper resistant logging framework. By attaching a proof-of-work to blocks of logging messages, we make it increasingly difficult for an attacker to modify those logs even after totally compromising the system. Furthermore, we discuss various strategies an attacker might take to modify the logs without detection and show how effective those evasion techniques are against statistical analysis.
Precise predictions for V + 2 jet backgrounds in searches for invisible Higgs decays
Authors: Lindert J. M. , Pozzorini S. , Schönherr M.
Published: January 2023

Abstract

We present next-to-leading order QCD and electroweak (EW) theory predictions for V + 2 jet production, with V = Z, W±, considering both the QCD and EW production modes and their interference. We focus on phase-space regions where V + 2 jet production is dominated by vector-boson fusion, and where these processes yield the dominant irreducible backgrounds in searches for invisible Higgs boson decays. Predictions at parton level are provided together with detailed prescriptions for their implementation in experimental analyses based on the reweighting of Monte Carlo samples. The key idea is that, exploiting accurate data for W + 2 jet production in combination with a theory-driven extrapolation to the Z + 2 jet process can lead to a determination of the irreducible background at the few-percent level. Particular attention is devoted to the estimate of the residual theoretical uncertainties due to unknown higher-order QCD and EW effects and their correlation between the different V + 2 jet processes, which is key to improve the sensitivity to invisible Higgs decays.
The Coburn Lemma and the Hartman–Wintner–Simonenko Theorem for Toeplitz Operators on Abstract Hardy Spaces
Authors: Karlovych Oleksiy , Shargorodsky Eugene
Published: January 2023

Let X be a Banach function space on the unit circle $${\mathbb {T}}$$
T
, let $$X'$$

X
′

be its associate space, and let H[X] and $$H[X']$$

H
[

X
′

]

be the abstract Hardy spaces built upon X and $$X'$$

X
′

, respectively. Suppose that the Riesz projection P is bounded on X and $$a\in L^\infty {\setminus }\{0\}$$

a
∈

L
∞

\

{
0
}

. We show that P is bounded on $$X'$$

X
′

. So, we can consider the Toeplitz operators $$T(a)f=P(af)$$

T
(
a
)
f
=
P
(
a
f
)

and $$T({\overline{a}})g=P({\overline{a}}g)$$

T

(

a
¯

)

g
=
P

(

a
¯

g
)

on H[X] and $$H[X']$$

H
[

X
′

]

, respectively. In our previous paper, we have shown that if X is not separable, then one cannot rephrase Coburn’s lemma as in the case of classical Hardy spaces $$H^p$$

H
p

, $$1<p<\infty $$

1
<
p
<
∞

, and guarantee that T(a) has a trivial kernel or a dense range on H[X]. The first main result of the present paper is the following extension of Coburn’s lemma: the kernel of T(a) or the kernel of $$T({\overline{a}})$$

T
(

a
¯

)

is trivial. The second main result is a generalisation of the Hartman–Wintner–Simonenko theorem saying that if T(a) is normally solvable on the space H[X], then $$1/a\in L^\infty $$

1
/
a
∈

L
∞

.
Radiative effects of observationally constrained tropical upper-level clouds in a radiative-convective equilibrium model
Authors: Kang Hyoji , Choi Yong-Sang
Published: January 2023

Tropical upper-level clouds (TUCs) control the radiation budget in a climate system and strongly influence surface temperatures. This study examines global mean surface temperature changes due to the percent change in TUC cover, which is referred to as the tropical upper-level cloud radiative effect (TUCRE, in units of Kelvin per %). We use a radiative-convective equilibrium model that can control both upper- and lower-level cloud layers separately in three idealized regions (extratropics, tropical moist, and tropical dry regions) and two sub-regions (clear-moist and cloudy-moist regions) within the tropical moist regions. In the simulation, tropical reflectivity based on the TUC fraction assumes a primary role in determining the TUCRE. Accurate estimate of the TUCRE requires careful prescriptions according to actual satellite observations. We use the extent of TUC fraction and reflectivity obtained from 18 years (2003–2020) of satellite data on daily MODIS cloud properties. Our results show that the estimated net TUCRE ranges from 0.19 to 0.33 K/%, with a higher TUC fraction leading to higher temperatures (a warming effect) in the climate system. This means that a longwave TUCRE dominates over a shortwave TUCRE. When upper- and lower-level clouds interplay in the model, the range of the TUCRE was greater with a combination of two cloud layers, although all values were positive. The TUCRE is greater by 0.22 to 0.40 K/% when upper- and lower-level clouds are negatively coupled, because the Earth warms due to a decline in the reflectance of solar radiation. When upper- and lower-level clouds are positively coupled, the TUCRE is lower by 0.14 to 0.30 K/%, as less radiation reaches the Earth through combined cloud layers. Finally, we test the sensitivity of the TUCRE with five TUC fractions and 15 combinations of tropical reflectivity. Comparing our results with the TUCREs estimated from climate models will help us understand how TUC cover affects climate, and should greatly reduce uncertainty associated with cloud feedback.
Recommended rates of azoxystrobin and tebuconazole seem to be environmentally safe but ineffective against target fungi
Authors: Queirós Libânia , Aguiar Nuno , Pereira Patrícia , Gonçalves Fernando J. M. , Alves Artur , Pereira Joana Luísa
Published: January 2023

The use of fungicides in agriculture has been playing a role in the enhancement of agricultural yields through the control of pathogens causing serious diseases in crops. Still, adverse environmental and human health effects resulting from its application have been reported. In this study, the possibility of readjusting the formulation of a commercial product combining azoxystrobin and tebuconazole (active ingredients – AIs; Custodia®) towards environmentally safer alternative(s) was investigated. Specifically, the sensitivity of non-target aquatic communities to each AI was first evaluated by applying the Species Sensitivity Distributions (SSDs) approach. Then, mixtures of these AIs were tested in a non-target organism (Raphidocelis subcapitata) denoting sensitivity to both AIs as assessed from SSDs. The resulting data supported the design of the last stage of this study, where mixtures of those AIs at equivalent vs. alternative ratios and rates as in the commercial formulation were tested against two target fungal species: Pyrenophora teres CBS 123929 and Rhynchosporium secalis CBS 110524. The comparison between the sensitivity of non-target aquatic species and the corresponding efficacy towards target fungi revealed that currently applied mixture and rates of these AIs are generally environmentally safe (antagonistic interaction; concentrations below the EC1 for R. subcapitata and generally below the HC5 for aquatic non-target communities), but ineffective against target organisms (maximum levels of inhibition of 70 and 50% in P. teres CBS 123929 and R. secalis CBS 110524, respectively). Results additionally suggest a potentiation of the effects of the AIs by the other formulants added to the commercial product at tested rates. Overall, this study corroborates that commercial products can be optimized during design stages based on a systematic ecotoxicological testing for ingredient interactions and actual efficacy against targets. This could be a valuable pathway to reduce environmental contamination during transition to a more sustainable agricultural production.
Can Primary Care Drive Tuberculosis Elimination? Increasing Latent Tuberculosis Infection Testing and Treatment Initiation at a Community Health Center with a Large Non-U.S.-born Population
Authors: Tang Amy S. , Mochizuki Tessa , Dong Zinnia , Flood Jennifer , Katrak Shereen S.
Published: January 2023

Community health centers (CHC) play a key role in latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) testing and treatment. We performed a retrospective analysis of LTBI testing and treatment among pediatric and adult patients at a CHC with a large non-U.S.-born (USB) population during a series of quality improvement (QI) interventions from 2010 to 2019. Among 124,695 patients with primary care visits, 40% of patients were tested for tuberculosis (TB) infection and among those tested, 20% tested positive, including 39% of adults aged 50–79 years. Compared to adults aged 18–49 years, children aged 6–17 had increased odds of LTBI testing and treatment initiation [odds ratio and 95% confidence interval 3.23 (3.10, 3.36) and 1.41 (1.12, 1.79), respectively], while age ≥ 65 was associated with lower odds of both testing and treatment initiation. Over the analysis period, coinciding with unfunded QI interventions intended to reduce barriers to LTBI care, there was a significant increase in the proportion of patients receiving LTBI testing for both adults (6% to 47%, p < 0.001) and children (23% to 80%, p < 0.001). During the analysis period, there was also a significant increase in the proportion of patients receiving prescriptions for LTBI treatment, as well as provider use of evidence-based strategies including rifamycin-based treatment. Our study suggests that primary care interventions can reduce barriers to LTBI treatment and drive TB elimination.
Can a police-delivered intervention improve children’ online safety? A cluster randomised controlled trial on the effect of the “ThinkUKnow” programme in primary and secondary Australian schools
Authors: Alderman Tony , Ariel Barak , Harinam Vincent
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Online abuse of and by children is a global concern. Methods to prevent this phenomenon are diverse; however, less is known about police-led initiatives and their effectiveness in reducing the likelihood of becoming a victim or a perpetrator of cyber abuse among children. Specifically, there are no rigorous tests of the ThinkUKnow programme, to which hundreds of thousands of young people were exposed since 2006.

Methods

We present results from a cluster randomised control trial conducted to evaluate the Australian version of theThinkUKnowprogramme, delivered to students in primary and secondary schools. The programme consists of one face-to-face classroom-based training session delivered by at least one uniformed member of the Australian Federal Police. Post-test surveys among (n = 1954) students were used to estimate the treatment effect.

Results

Exposure to the programme significantly improves knowledge about cyber abuse but marginally impacted risk perceptions, engagement with risky behaviours, or willingness to report cyber abuse to adults or others. Treatment participants are more likely to report cyber abuse to the police than control participants. The legitimacy of the police also improves following the intervention among younger but not older students.

Conclusion

ThinkUKnowleads to desirable consequences in some but not all indictors of potentially minimising the risk of cyber abuse to and by children. Replications, preferably with diverse populations and measures of long-term effects of behavioural modifications, are needed.
A comprehensive review of demand side management in distributed grids based on real estate perspectives
Authors: Dahiru Ahmed Tijjani , Daud Dzurllkanian , Tan Chee Wei , Jagun Zainab Toyin , Samsudin Salfarina , Dobi Abdulhakeem Mohammed
Published: January 2023

A major challenge in renewable energy planning and integration with existing systems is the management of intermittence of the resources and customer demand uncertainties that are attributed to climates. In emerging distributed grids, state-of-the-art optimization techniques were used for cost and reliability objectives. In the existing literature, power dispatch and demand side management schemes were implemented for various techno-economic objectives. In renewable energy-based distributed grids, power dispatch is strategic to system operations. However, demand side management is preferred, as it allows more options for customer participation and active management of energy in buildings. Moreover, the demand side management can simply follow supplies. This paper investigates the implications of demand side management as it affects planning and operations in renewable energy-based distributed grids. Integration of demand side management in customer-oriented plans such as the time-of-use and real-time-pricing on residential and commercial demands is conceptualised to ensure effective customer participation which maintains the valued comforts. Moreover, the optimised tariff integrated demand side management implementations based on the utility-initiated demand response programmes are envisaged to offset conflicting objectives of the economy and customer comforts within residential and commercial demands and are also viewed as a step towards efficient management of energy in buildings.
Chatbots im Coaching. Potenziale und Einsatzmöglichkeiten von digitalen Coaching-Begleitern und Assistenten
Authors: Mai Vanessa , Rutschmann Rebecca
Published: January 2023

Chatbots gelten als eine maßgebliche technologische Innovation der letzten Jahre, die als digitales Selbst-Coachingtool zunehmend den Coachingbereich erfasst. Der Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über aktuelle Entwicklungslinien von digitalen Coaching-Begleitern und Assistenten. Es werden Einsatzfelder in Unternehmen, Organisationen und Hochschulen skizziert sowie Potenziale und Herausforderungen von Coaching-Chatbots benannt. Die Konzeption und Entwicklung von Chatbots werden als interdisziplinärer, co-kreativer und iterativer Prozess vorgestellt. Der Beitrag schließt mit einem Ausblick auf die Zukunft von Chatbots im Coaching.
Microstructure-Sensitive Crystal Plasticity Modeling for Austenitic Steel and Nickel-Based Superalloy Under Isothermal Fatigue Loading
Authors: Shahmardani M. , Hartmaier A.
Published: January 2023

Intermittent mechanical loads combined with high temperatures appear during the operation of turbines in jet engines or in power plants, which can lead to high-temperature fatigue or to thermomechanical fatigue. Since the assessment of fatigue properties is a complex and time-consuming process, it is essential to develop validated material models that are capable of predicting fatigue behavior, thus allowing the extrapolation of experimental results into a broader range of thermomechanical conditions. To accomplish this, two representative volume elements (RVEs), mimicking the typical microstructure of single crystal Ni-based superalloys and polycrystalline austenitic steels, respectively, are introduced. With the help of these RVEs, the temperature and deformation-dependent internal stresses in the microstructure can be taken into account. In the next step, phenomenological crystal plasticity models are implemented and parameterized for cyclic deformation of these two materials. The RVE, constitutive model, and the material parameters for the Ni-based superalloy are taken from a former study. For the austenitic steel, however, an inverse procedure has been used to identify its material parameters based on several isothermal fatigue tests in a wide temperature range. With the identified material parameters, a valid description of the isothermal fatigue behavior at different temperatures is possible. The most important conclusion from the comparison of the isothermal fatigue behavior of the two different materials is that the kinematic hardening, which is responsible for the shape of the hysteresis loops, is entirely described by the internal stresses within the typical microstructure of the Ni-based superalloy, which is modeled in a scale-bridging approach. Hence, no additional terms for kinematic hardening need to be introduced to describe the cyclic plasticity in the superalloy. For the austenitic steel, in contrast, the Ohno–Wang model for kinematic hardening needs to be considered additionally to the internal stresses in the polycrystalline microstructure to obtain a correct description of its cyclic plasticity.
Influence of unsupported sleepers on the dynamic stability of ballasted bed based on wheelset impact tests
Authors: Liu Juzhen , Du Shuai , Liu Ganzhong , Wang Ping , Chen Rong , Wei Xiankui , Liu Hao
Published: January 2023

The unsupported sleeper can change the load characteristics of ballast particles and thus affect the dynamic stability of a ballasted bed. In this work, a laboratory test was constructed on a ballasted track containing unsupported sleepers. The ballasted track was excited by a wheelset, and the influence of unsupported sleepers on the dynamic stability of a ballasted bed was studied. The results show that the main frequency of the sleeper vibration appeared at 670 Hz, and the first-order rigid vibration mode at the frequency of 101 Hz had a significant effect on the condition without the unsupported sleeper. When the sleepers were continuously unsupported, the vibration damping effect of ballasted bed within the frequency range of 0–450 Hz was better than that at higher frequencies. Within the frequency range of 70–250 Hz, the vibration damping effect of the ballasted bed with unsupported sleepers was better than that without the unsupported sleeper. Owing to the excitation from the wheelset impact, the lateral resistance of the ballasted bed with unsupported sleepers whose hanging heights were 30, 60, and 90 mm increased by 37.43%, 12.25%, and 18.23%, respectively, while the lateral resistance of the ballasted bed without the unsupported sleeper remained basically unchanged. The unsupported sleeper could increase the difference in the quality of the ballasted bed between two adjacent sleepers. In addition, test results show that the hanging height of the unsupported sleeper had little effect on the lateral resistance of a ballasted bed without external excitation, but had an obvious effect on the rate of change of the lateral resistance of a ballasted bed and the acceleration amplitude of the sleeper vibration under the wheelset impact.
Circularly Polarized Light-Enabled Chiral Nanomaterials: From Fabrication to Application
Authors: Hao Changlong , Wang Gaoyang , Chen Chen , Xu Jun , Xu Chuanlai , Kuang Hua , Xu Liguang
Published: January 2023

For decades, chiral nanomaterials have been extensively studied because of their extraordinary properties. Chiral nanostructures have attracted a lot of interest because of their potential applications including biosensing, asymmetric catalysis, optical devices, and negative index materials. Circularly polarized light (CPL) is the most attractive source for chirality owing to its high availability, and now it has been used as a chiral source for the preparation of chiral matter. In this review, the recent progress in the field of CPL-enabled chiral nanomaterials is summarized. Firstly, the recent advancements in the fabrication of chiral materials using circularly polarized light are described, focusing on the unique strategies. Secondly, an overview of the potential applications of chiral nanomaterials driven by CPL is provided, with a particular emphasis on biosensing, catalysis, and phototherapy. Finally, a perspective on the challenges in the field of CPL-enabled chiral nanomaterials is given.
Detection and diabetic retinopathy grading using digital retinal images
Authors: Malhi Avleen , Grewal Reaya , Pannu Husanbir Singh
Published: January 2023

Diabetic Retinopathy is an eye disorder that affects people suffering from diabetes. Higher sugar levels in blood leads to damage of blood vessels in eyes and may even cause blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is identified by red spots known as microanuerysms and bright yellow lesions called exudates. It has been observed that early detection of exudates and microaneurysms may save the patient’s vision and this paper proposes a simple and effective technique for diabetic retinopathy. Both publicly available and real time datasets of colored images captured by fundus camera have been used for the empirical analysis. In the proposed work, grading has been done to know the severity of diabetic retinopathy i.e. whether it is mild, moderate or severe using exudates and micro aneurysms in the fundus images. An automated approach that uses image processing, features extraction and machine learning models to predict accurately the presence of the exudates and micro aneurysms which can be used for grading has been proposed. The research is carried out in two segments; one for exudates and another for micro aneurysms. The grading via exudates is done based upon their distance from macula whereas grading via micro aneurysms is done by calculating their count. For grading using exudates, support vector machine and K-Nearest neighbor show the highest accuracy of 92.1% and for grading using micro aneurysms, decision tree shows the highest accuracy of 99.9% in prediction of severity levels of the disease.
Validation of CORE-MD PMS Support Tool: A Novel Strategy for Aggregating Information from Notices of Failures to Support Medical Devices’ Post-Market Surveillance
Authors: Ren Yijun , Bertoldi Michele , Fraser Alan G. , Caiani Enrico Gianluca
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The EU Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 defines new rules for the certification and post-market surveillance of medical devices (MD), including an additional review by Expert Panels of clinical evaluation data for high-risk MD if reports and alerts suggest possibly associated increased risks. Within the EU-funded CORE-MD project, our aim was to develop a tool to support such process in which web-accessible safety notices (SN) are automatically retrieved and aggregated based on their specific MD categories and the European Medical Device Nomenclature (EMDN) classification by applying an Entity Resolution (ER) approach to enrich data integrating different sources. The performance of such approach was tested through a pilot study on the Italian data.

Methods

Information relevant to 7622 SN from 2009 to 2021 was retrieved from the Italian Ministry of Health website by Web scraping. For incomplete EMDN data (68%), the MD best match was searched within a list of about 1.5 M MD on the Italian market, using Natural Language Processing techniques and pairwise ER. The performance of this approach was tested on the 2440 SN (32%) already provided with the EMDN code as reference standard.

Results

The implemented ER method was able to correctly assign the correct manufacturer to the MD in each SN in 99% of the cases. Moreover, the correct EMDN code at level 1 was assigned in 2382 SN (97.62%), at level 2 in 2366 SN (96.97%) and at level 3 in 2329 SN (95.45%).

Conclusion

The proposed approach was able to cope with the incompleteness of the publicly available data in the SN. In this way, grouping of SN relevant to a specific MD category/group/type could be used as possible sentinel for increased rates in reported serious incidents in high-risk MD.
Novel multiphase loop reactor with improved aeration prevents excessive foaming in Rhamnolipid production by Pseudomonas putida
Authors: von Campenhausen Maximilian , Demling Philipp , Bongartz Patrick , Scheele Alexander , Tiso Till , Wessling Matthias , Blank Lars M. , Jupke Andreas
Published: January 2023

Rhamnolipids are biosurfactants that tend to cause strong foaming, making microbial production in an aerated stirred tank fermenter challenging. The continuous removal of rhamnolipids from the cultivation broth via in situ liquid-liquid extraction can remedy this foam challenge, and thereby supports long-term cultivation and production. However, for efficient processing and stable phase separation, a specialized apparatus is required. In this study, the novel multiphase loop reactor, which is a modified airlift reactor with an internal loop enabling continuous in situ liquid-liquid extraction, was designed and adapted to produce rhamnolipids with a recombinant bacterium, Pseudomonas putida KT2440. The initially designed multiphase loop reactor showed a low oxygen transfer rate, unable to meet the oxygen demand of the whole-cell biocatalyst, resulting in inefficient growth and production. A re-design of the sparger via 3D printing enabled a high oxygen supply allowing rhamnolipid production at key performance indicators that matched stirred-tank reactor cultivations. Advantageously, the multiphase loop reactor allowed stable and constant phase separation and solvent removal enabling continuous cultivation in the future. Concluding, the successful use of the multiphase loop reactor for rhamnolipid synthesis is presented, highlighting its potential to become a new platform technology for intensified bioprocessing.
Spectacularly Large Expansion Coefficients in Müntz’s Theorem
Authors: Trefethen Lloyd N.
Published: January 2023

Müntz’s theorem asserts, for example, that the linear span of the even powers$$1, x^2, x^4,\dots $$1,x2,x4,⋯is dense in$$C([0,1])$$C([0,1]). We show that the associated expansions are so inefficient as to have no conceivable relevance to any actual computation. For example, approximating$$f(x)=x$$f(x)=xto accuracy$$\varepsilon = 10^{-6}$$ε=10-6in this basis requires powers larger than$$x^{280{,}000}$$x280,000and coefficients larger than$$10^{107{,}000}$$10107,000. We present a theorem establishing exponential growth of coefficients with respect to$$1/\varepsilon $$1/ε.
A History of Western Philosophy of Music
Authors: Young James O.
Published: January 2023

This book presents a comprehensive, accessible survey of Western philosophy of music from Pythagoras to the present. Its narrative traces themes and schools through history, in a sequence of five chapters that survey the ancient, medieval, early modern, modern and contemporary periods. Its wide-ranging coverage includes medieval Islamic thinkers, Continental and analytic thinkers, and neglected female thinkers such as Vernon Lee (Violet Paget). All aspects of the philosophy of music are discussed, including music and the cosmos, music's value, music's relation to the other arts, the problem of opera, the origins of musical genius, music's emotional impact, the moral effects of music, the ontology of musical works, and the relevance of music's historical context. The volume will be valuable for students and scholars in philosophy and musicology, and all who are interested in the ways in which philosophers throughout history have thought about music.
Cultivating their Own
Authors: Saeteurn Muey
Published: January 2023

Traces the consequences of agricultural development in western Kenya in the 1950s and 1960s.
Ductus arteriosus morphology in duct-dependent pulmonary circulation: CT classification and pattern in different ventricular morphology
Authors: Abdul Latiff Haifa , Gopal Anu Ratha , Hidayat Zul Febrianti , Haranal Maruti , Borhanuddin Boekren K. , Alwi Mazeni , Samion Hasri
Published: January 2023

Background:

The objective was to study the ductus arteriosus morphology in duct-dependent pulmonary circulation and its pattern in different ventricle morphology using CT angiography.

Method:

From January 2013 to December 2015, patients aged 6 months and below with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation underwent CT angiography to delineate the ductus arteriosus origin, tortuosity, site of insertion, and pulmonary artery anatomy. The ductus arteriosus were classified into type I, IIa, IIb, and III based on its site of origin, either from descending aorta, distal arch, proximal arch, or subclavian artery, respectively.

Results:

A total of 114 patients and 116 ductus arteriosus (two had bilateral ductus arteriosus) were analysed. Type I, IIa, IIb, and III ductus arteriosus were seen in 13 (11.2 %), 71 (61.2%), 21 (18.1%), and 11 (9.5%), respectively. Tortuous ductus arteriosus was found in 38 (32.7%), which was commonly seen in single ventricular lesions. Ipsilateral and bilateral branch pulmonary artery stenosis was seen in 68 (59.6%) and 6 (5.3%) patients, respectively. The majority of patients with pulmonary atresia intact ventricular septum had type I (54.4%) and non-tortuous ductus arteriosus, while those with single and biventricular lesions had type II ductus arteriosus (84.9% and 89.7%, respectively). Type III ductus arteriosus was more common in biventricular lesions (77.8%).

Conclusions:

Ductus arteriosus in duct-dependent pulmonary circulation has a diverse morphology with a distinct origin and tortuosity pattern in different types of ventricular morphology. CT may serve as an important tool in case selection and pre-procedural planning for ductal stenting.
Political Culture and Participation in the Chinese
Countryside: Some Empirical Evidence
Authors: Zhong Yang
Published: January 2023

Democracy in rural China has attracted much attention in recent
years. During President Bill Clinton's visit to China in 1998, he
made a public stop at a village outside Xian to chat with a few
Chinese villagers about village elections in China. In fact, village
democracy has become one of the rare subject matters that the
Chinese government is eager to publicize and the Western academia
and media are interested to investigate. The Chinese government,
often through the Ministry of Civil Affairs, has organized and
allowed foreign journalists, social scientists, dignitaries,
diplomats, and political, academic, and social organizations (such
as the U.S. International Republican Institute, the Ford Foundation,
the Carter Center, and the National Committee on U.S.-China
Relations) to go to Chinese rural areas to observe village
selfgovernment and elections. There is no doubt that the Chinese
government intends to showcase its village selfgovernment to the
outside world, hoping to improve its tarnished image from the
Tiananmen crackdown in 1989. Western media and governments are
interested in this new development in China in the hope that this
will be the beginning of the long-delayed democratic transition in
the most populous country in the world.
Small Spaces for Different Faces: Political Science
Scholarship on Asian Pacific Americans
Authors: Aoki Andrew L. , Takeda Okiyoshi
Published: January 2023

Asian Americans have received relatively little attention from
political scientists. Although a rapidly growing segment of the
population, their political behaviors, impacts on political
institutions, and the policies affecting them have been rarely
studied in our discipline.
Avery Leiserson
Authors: Graham George J.
Published: January 2023

Avery Leiserson died February 14, 2004, at the age of 90. He is
survived by his wife, Roxy, of Nashville, Tennessee; three sons,
Michael of Spokane, Washington, John of Winchester, Massachusetts,
and Alan of Nashville; and a daughter, Nancy Welles of New York.
Civil Liberties in Eritrea: Promoting the ‘Rights of the
People’ in Cooperation with the U.S. Department of
State
Authors: Randazzo Kirk A.
Published: January 2023

In March, 2004, I received a U.S. Speaker and Specialist grant from
the Department of State to travel to Africa and present several
lectures on civil liberties and the rule of law. During my two weeks
in Eritrea, I visited with undergraduate and law students at the
University of Asmara. The impetus for the visit was the result of a
new initiative by the Department of State entitled “Rights of the
People”; the following essay highlights aspects of this initiative
and also explains my experiences teaching civil liberties in
Africa.
Jobs and the Job of President: A Forecast for 2004
Authors: Lewis-Beck Michael S. , Tien Charles
Published: January 2023

During spring 2000, we released to the press a preliminary forecast of a Gore victory. Indeed, one of us, in a widely-read quotation, declared, “It's not even going to be close” (Washington Post, May 26, 2000, p. 1). We were wrong, as were all of our fellow modelers. Indeed, among “five of the best forecasters” identified by Robert Kaiser (Washington Post, May 26, 2000, p. 1), the Gore projection ranged from 53% to 60% of the two-party popular vote, pointing to a Democratic landslide. Such gross error raises the question: Should the models be junked? Some journalists, pundits, and scholars have suggested the answer is “yes.” We disagree. Remember that forecasters of all stripes—modelers, pollsters, marketers, campaign experts—failed to call 2000. (See the review of 49 forecasts, from multiple and international sources, in Lafay and Lewis-Beck 2000). The virtually total inability to predict the Bush-Gore result also reminds us that no model will ever be perfect, that electoral behavior can never be fully determined. Still, while falling short of perfection, we believe that modeling can be improved.