bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Multipass Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Technique for Aerospace Grade 18% Ni-Co-Mo Based Maraging Steel to Improve the Metallurgical and Mechanical Properties by Reducing Austenite Pools
Authors: Arunprakash R , Manikandan M , Meshram Suresh D.
Published: June 2022

The maraging steel is an impeccable choice for aerospace applications due to its high strength and excellent toughness. Welding is importantly involved in fabricating various structures out of maraging steel. Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) is the most commonly adopted technique for joining maraging steel. However, the major concern regarding the welding of maraging steel is the formation of the reverted austenite phase in the fusion zone and the heat affected zone. This reverted austenite deteriorates the mechanical property performance of welded joints. The present study focuses on GTAW of 12 mm thick MDN 250 maraging steel. An attempt was made to suppress the reverted austenite by employing suitable post-weld heat treatments. Three different types of post-weld heat treatments were adopted, i.e, (i) direct aging (W-DA), (ii) solutionizing + aging (W-SA), and (iii) homogenizing + solutionizing + aging (W-HSA). The micrograph and XRD analysis of the fusion zone with W-DA and W-SA conditions reveal the presence of reverted austenite. The SEM/EDAX examination of the fusion zone of as-welded, W-DA, and W-SA conditions revealed micro-segregation of Ni, Mo, and Ti elements from the matrix to the grain boundaries. On the other hand, the W-HSA condition was free from micro-segregation and austenite reversion. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis was used to estimate the percentage of reverted austenite in the fusion zone. The tensile test shows the highest strength of 1721 MPa (UTS) in W-HSA conditions. Similarly, the microhardness of the W-HSA conditions depicts a higher hardness with an even distribution in the microhardness values across the weldment. Hence, considering both metallurgical and mechanical examination of the weldment, the W-HSA heat treatments give superior properties in the case of GTA welded MDN 250 grade maraging steel.
A Computational Study of Design Team Robustness Through the Lens of Cognitive Style
Authors: Radwan Noriana , McComb Christopher
Published: June 2022

High-performing design teams are characterized by their ability to maintain performance across a variety of problem types. This is often referred to as robustness, and is usually achieved through careful management of team processes. However, there exists an opportunity to design teams that are likely to be inherently robust by addressing and embracing the individual variability of team members. Cognitive style provides an avenue by which we can compose robust teams based on the problem-solving approach of the individual. In this work, we used the KAI agent-based organizational optimization model (KABOOM) to evaluate the effects of team composition and team structure on the robustness of overall team performance. Teams of homogeneous and heterogeneous KAI styles were tasked to solve a variety of different abstract design problems and evaluated based on their performance with and without sub-teams. Results indicate that there is a significant difference in the distribution of aggregate scores for homogeneous and heterogeneous teams without sub-teams, and heterogeneous teams may be more robust. Sub-teams were found to significantly increase the overall median score and robustness for some teams.
Comparing the Impacts on Team Behaviors Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Process Management in Interdisciplinary Design Teams
Authors: Gyory Joshua T. , Kotovsky Kenneth , McComb Christopher , Cagan Jonathan
Published: June 2022

This brief extends prior research by the authors on studying the impacts of interventions provided by either a human or an artificial intelligence (AI) process manager on team behaviors. Our earlier research found that a created AI process manager matched the capabilities of human process management. Here, these data are studied further to identify the impact of different types of interventions on team behaviors and outcomes. This deeper dive is done via two unique perspectives: comparing teams’ problem-solving processes before and after interventions are provided, and through a regression analysis between intervention counts and performance. Results show overall mixed adherence to the provided interventions, and that this adherence also depends on the intervention type. The most significant impact on the team process arises from the communication frequency interventions. Furthermore, a regression analysis identifies the interventions with the greatest correlation with team performance, indicating a better selection of interventions from the AI process manager. Paired together, the results show the feasibility of automated process management via AI and shed light on the effective implementation of intervention strategies for future development and deployment.
Numerical investigation of rod–airfoil interaction noise reduction using cylindrical collars
Authors: Yang Chenghao , Feng Heying , Peng Yehui , Tong Fan , Bao Nvzi
Published: June 2022

Noise reduction by collars applied to rod–airfoil was studied numerically. The flow field and acoustic far-field are predicted using a large eddy simulation and the Ffowcs Williams and Hawking acoustic analogy. The present numerical method is first validated by existing experimental and numerical results for the baseline case. Then, to reduce interaction noise, a rod with collars is designed (denoted as the Col case). The main noise reduction mechanisms of the collars are investigated in detail. The numerical results show that the collars reduce the noise in the low- and medium-frequency bands of the rod, for which the tonal noise is reduced by 24.83 dB. The airfoil noise throughout the frequency band is thereby reduced as the main sound source. The upstream wake is regularized, and vortex shedding is suppressed. The surface pressure fluctuations along the rod, leading edge, and trailing edge of airfoil exhibit an obvious attenuation in the Col case compared with the baseline, which leads to a decrease in the sound source strength. It is also found that there exist spanwise decorrelation and decoherence effects along the rod with collars, which means the evolution of the turbulent vortices is regularized and the physical size of eddies is minified.
Diffuse ultrasound computed tomography
Authors: Ulrich Ines Elisa , Boehm Christian , Zunino Andrea , Bösch Cyrill , Fichtner Andreas
Published: June 2022

An alternative approach to acquire transmission travel time data is proposed, exploiting the geometry of devices commonly used in ultrasound computed tomography for medical imaging or non-destructive testing with ultrasonic waves. The intent is to (i) shorten acquisition time for devices with a large number of emitters, (ii) to eliminate the calibration step, and (iii) to suppress instrument noise. Inspired by seismic ambient field interferometry, the method rests on the active excitation of diffuse ultrasonic wavefields and the extraction of deterministic travel time information by inter-station correlation. To reduce stochastic errors and accelerate convergence, ensemble interferograms are obtained by phase-weighted stacking of observed and computed correlograms, generated with identical realizations of random sources. Mimicking an imaging setup, the accuracy of the travel time measurements as a function of the number of emitters and random realizations can be assessed both analytically and with spectral-element simulations for phantoms mimicking the model parameter distribution. The results warrant tomographic reconstructions with straight- or bent-ray approaches, where the effect of inherent stochastic fluctuations can be made significantly smaller than the effect of subjective choices on regularisation. This work constitutes a first conceptual study and a necessary prelude to future implementations.
Temperature-controlled spatiotemporally modulated phononic crystal for achieving nonreciprocal acoustic wave propagation
Authors: Palacios Justin , Calderin Lazaro , Chon Allan , Frankel Ian , Alqasimi Jihad , Allein Florian , Gorelik Rachel , Lata Trevor , Curradi Richard , Lambert-Milak Gabrielle , Oke Anuja , Smith Neale , Abi Ghanem Maroun , Lucas Pierre , Boechler Nicholas , Deymier Pierre
Published: June 2022

We computationally investigate a method for spatiotemporally modulating a material's elastic properties, leveraging thermal dependence of elastic moduli, with the goal of inducing nonreciprocal propagation of acoustic waves. Acoustic wave propagation in an aluminum thin film subjected to spatiotemporal boundary heating from one side and constant cooling from the other side was simulated via the finite element method. Material property modulation patterns induced by the asymmetric boundary heating are found to be non-homogenous with depth. Despite these inhomogeneities, it will be shown that such thermoelasticity can still be used to achieve nonreciprocal acoustic wave propagation.
Green's functions for a layered high-contrast acoustic media
Authors: Özdemir Özgür , Yücel Hazel , Uçar Yaǧmur Ece , Erbaş Bariş , Ege Nihal
Published: June 2022

A parametric approach based on parametric analysis of the acoustical properties of a layered media is proposed to derive a reduced layered Green's function. The approach relies on the smallness of one of the problem parameters and allows a simpler form of Green's function by disregarding the smaller parametric terms. Several illustrative examples comparing the amplitudes of exact and reduced Green's function for small parameter of density ratio in various source and observation location setups are presented. It is demonstrated that the CPU times calculated at different points decrease considerably for the reduced Green's function, further justifying the presented method.
The Transition of an Applied Sport Psychology Training Program at a U.S. University From a Face-to-Face to a Virtual Mode: An Autoethnographic Case Study
Authors: Gretton Thomas W. , Caviedes Gabriela I. , Buning Megan , Webster Kristin , Eccles David W.
Published: June 2022

We studied the transition of an applied sport psychology training program at a public U.S. university from a face-to-face mode to a virtual mode in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to identify challenges of this transition for supervisors and student consultants and best practices for virtual consultancy. This autoethnographic case study involved interviews with three program supervisors, ten student consultants, and one college coach. We also examined researcher observations and lived experiences during the transition. A blended ethnographic and codebook thematic analysis was undertaken. We identified two superordinate challenges: (a) program challenges and (b) consulting challenges. We also identified three superordinate best practices: (a) supervisor best practices, (b) student consultant best practices, and (c) best practices in sport psychology delivery. These findings can usefully inform efforts by individual consultants and applied programs at universities to adopt virtual modes of consultancy.
A Systematic Review of the Prevalence of Mental Health Symptoms and Disorders in Rugby Players
Authors: Oftadeh-Moghadam Shakiba , Gorczynski Paul
Published: June 2022

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the prevalence of mental health symptoms and disorders in rugby players. Six electronic databases were searched in December 2020. Studies were included if they provided quantitative data on mental health symptoms and disorders and consisted of adult rugby players. Eight studies were included, covering symptoms of anxiety, depression, alcohol use/misuse, distress, sleeping/sleep disturbance, and eating disorders/adverse nutrition behaviors. Prevalence of mental health symptoms ranged from 6% (depression) to 68.8% (alcohol use/misuse). Most rates were similar to the general population, while symptoms of sleeping/sleep disturbance were lower, and symptoms of eating disorders/adverse nutrition behaviors and alcohol use/misuse were higher than the general population. One study included female rugby players. Epidemiological evidence comprising of rigorous diagnostic data and inclusive of gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, and other protected characteristics is needed to inform future mental health support in this population.
Glyphosate impairs collective thermoregulation in bumblebees
Authors: Weidenmüller Anja , Meltzer Andrea , Neupert Stefanie , Schwarz Alica , Kleineidam Christoph
Published: June 2022

Insects are facing a multitude of anthropogenic stressors, and the recent decline in their biodiversity is threatening ecosystems and economies across the globe. We investigated the impact of glyphosate, the most commonly used herbicide worldwide, on bumblebees. Bumblebee colonies maintain their brood at high temperatures via active thermogenesis, a prerequisite for colony growth and reproduction. Using a within-colony comparative approach to examine the effects of long-term glyphosate exposure on both individual and collective thermoregulation, we found that whereas effects are weak at the level of the individual, the collective ability to maintain the necessary high brood temperatures is decreased by more than 25% during periods of resource limitation. For pollinators in our heavily stressed ecosystems, glyphosate exposure carries hidden costs that have so far been largely overlooked.
Memristive technologies for data storage, computation, encryption, and radio-frequency communication
Authors: Lanza Mario , Sebastian Abu , Lu Wei D. , Le Gallo Manuel , Chang Meng-Fan , Akinwande Deji , Puglisi Francesco M. , Alshareef Husam N. , Liu Ming , Roldan Juan B.
Published: June 2022

Memristive devices, which combine a resistor with memory functions such that voltage pulses can change their resistance (and hence their memory state) in a nonvolatile manner, are beginning to be implemented in integrated circuits for memory applications. However, memristive devices could have applications in many other technologies, such as non–von Neumann in-memory computing in crossbar arrays, random number generation for data security, and radio-frequency switches for mobile communications. Progress toward the integration of memristive devices in commercial solid-state electronic circuits and other potential applications will depend on performance and reliability challenges that still need to be addressed, as described here.
Parthenogenesis without costs in a grasshopper with hybrid origins
Authors: Kearney Michael R. , Jasper Moshe E. , White Vanessa L. , Aitkenhead Ian J. , Blacket Mark J. , Kong Jacinta D. , Chown Steven L. , Hoffmann Ary A.
Published: June 2022

The rarity of parthenogenetic species is typically attributed to the reduced genetic variability that accompanies the absence of sex, yet natural parthenogens can be surprisingly successful. Ecological success is often proposed to derive from hybridization through enhanced genetic diversity from repetitive origins or enhanced phenotypic breadth from heterosis. Here, we tested and rejected both hypotheses in a classic parthenogen, the diploid grasshopper
Warramaba virgo
. Genetic data revealed a single hybrid mating origin at least 0.25 million years ago, and comparative analyses of 14 physiological and life history traits showed no evidence for altered fitness relative to its sexual progenitors. Our findings imply that the rarity of parthenogenesis is due to constraints on origin rather than to rapid extinction.
Contrastive machine learning reveals the structure of neuroanatomical variation within autism
Authors: Aglinskas Aidas , Hartshorne Joshua K. , Anzellotti Stefano
Published: June 2022

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is highly heterogeneous. Identifying systematic individual differences in neuroanatomy could inform diagnosis and personalized interventions. The challenge is that these differences are entangled with variation because of other causes: individual differences unrelated to ASD and measurement artifacts. We used contrastive deep learning to disentangle ASD-specific neuroanatomical variation from variation shared with typical control participants. ASD-specific variation correlated with individual differences in symptoms. The structure of this ASD-specific variation also addresses a long-standing debate about the nature of ASD: At least in terms of neuroanatomy, individuals do not cluster into distinct subtypes; instead, they are organized along continuous dimensions that affect distinct sets of regions.
From white to green: Snow cover loss and increased vegetation productivity in the European Alps
Authors: Rumpf Sabine B. , Gravey Mathieu , Brönnimann Olivier , Luoto Miska , Cianfrani Carmen , Mariethoz Gregoire , Guisan Antoine
Published: June 2022

Mountains are hotspots of biodiversity and ecosystem services, but they are warming about twice as fast as the global average. Climate change may reduce alpine snow cover and increase vegetation productivity, as in the Arctic. Here, we demonstrate that 77% of the European Alps above the tree line experienced greening (productivity gain) and <1% browning (productivity loss) over the past four decades. Snow cover declined significantly during this time, but in <10% of the area. These trends were only weakly correlated: Greening predominated in warmer areas, driven by climatic changes during summer, while snow cover recession peaked at colder temperatures, driven by precipitation changes. Greening could increase carbon sequestration, but this is unlikely to outweigh negative implications, including reduced albedo and water availability, thawing permafrost, and habitat loss.
In Other Journals
Authors: Yiu Yuen , Alderton Gemma , Ray L. Bryan , Kelly Priscilla N. , Suleymanov Yury , Ash Caroline , Wible Brad
Published: June 2022

Editors’ selections from the current scientific literature
Zeroing out on zero-COVID
Authors: Kirby William C.
Published: June 2022

There is no such thing as “zero-COVID.” As the Omicron variant spreads to China’s capital city, Beijing, the question is not if, but when and how, China will begin to “live with COVID-19” rather than continue to impose endless lockdowns. The problem is that under China’s stifling political climate, this notion cannot be uttered, let alone debated. How did a country with a history of deep respect for science and a laser focus on becoming a global powerhouse in technology and innovation fall into such isolation from the rest of the world?
Upheaval in Norwegian science funding threatens grants
Authors: O’Grady Cathleen
Published: June 2022

Firing of funding agency board alarms research sector
Punicalagin, an Inhibitor of Sortase A, Is a Promising Therapeutic Drug to Combat Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections
Authors: Song Wu , Wang Li , Jin Mengli , Guo Xuerui , Wang Xingye , Guan Jiyu , Zhao Yicheng
Published: June 2022

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major threat to human health globally.
Staphylococcus aureus
is recognized as a cause of disease worldwide, especially methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
(MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant
S. aureus
(VRSA). The enzyme sortase A (SrtA), present on the cell surface of
S. aureus
, plays a key role in bacterial virulence without affecting the bacterial viability, and SrtA-deficient
S. aureus
strains do not affect the growth of bacteria.
Draft Genome Sequence of Tenacibaculum ovolyticum To-7Br, Recovered from a Farmed Atlantic Salmon (
Salmo salar
)
Authors: Avendaño-Herrera Ruben , Saldarriaga-Córdoba Mónica , Irgang Rute
Published: June 2022

We present the draft genome sequence of
Tenacibaculum ovolyticum
isolate To-7Br, recovered from a gill of a farmed specimen of Atlantic salmon (
Salmo salar
) showing signs of tenacibaculosis. This study provides the first detailed insights into the genomic characteristics of
T. ovolyticum
isolated for the first time from fish farmed in Chile.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Polyhydroxyalkanoate-Producing Bacillus cereus Strain Isolated from Nuevo Leon State, Mexico
Authors: Alemán-Huerta Maria Elizabeth , Martínez-Herrera Raul E. , Elufisan Temidayo Oluyomi , Gandarilla-Pacheco Fátima Lizeth , Quintero-Zapata Isela , Reyez-López Miguel Ángel , de Luna-Santillana Erick de Jesús
Published: June 2022

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are microbially produced biopolymers which are biodegradable and biocompatible. These compounds produced by microorganisms have been described as a potent alternative to synthetic plastics, which are often recalcitrant. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a PHA-producing
Bacillus cereus
isolated in our laboratory.
Restriction Checkpoint Controls Bradyzoite Development in Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Naumov Anatoli V. , Wang Chengqi , Chaput Dale , Ting Li-Min , Alvarez Carmelo A. , Keller Thomas , Ramadan Ahmed , White Michael W. , Kim Kami , Suvorova Elena S.
Published: June 2022

Toxoplasma gondiiis a virulent and abundant human pathogen that puts millions of silently infected people at risk of reactivation of the chronic disease. Encysted bradyzoites formed during the chronic stage are resistant to current therapies.
Intakes of PUFA are low in preschool-aged children in the Guelph Family Health Study pilot cohort
Authors: Burns Jessie L. , Mirotta Julia A. , Duncan Alison M. , Darlington Gerarda , Haines Jess , Shivappa Nitin , Hébert James R. , Ma David W.L. , The Guelph Family Health Study
Published: June 2022

This study investigated intakes of total, n-3, and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in 109 preschool-aged children who participated in the Guelph Family Health Study pilot. Intakes of total, n-3, and n-6 PUFA did not meet recommendations. This study highlights the need for additional monitoring and potential interventions to improve PUFA intake in preschool-aged children. Clinical Trial #NCT02223234.

Novelty:

Canadian preschool-aged children are not consuming enough n-3 and n-6 PUFA.
Environmental drivers of beluga whale distribution in a changing climate: a case study of summering aggregations in the Mackenzie Estuary and Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area
Authors: Noel Aurélie , Iacozza John , Devred Emmanuel , Marcoux Marianne , Hornby Claire , Loseto Lisa L.
Published: June 2022

During summer, the Eastern Beaufort Sea beluga whale ( Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas, 1776)) population aggregates in the waters of the Mackenzie Estuary and Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area (TNMPA). Guided by local communities’ priorities, this study aimed to better understand beluga summer habitat selection and to examine whether shifts in beluga distribution are expected under a changing climate. We used a resource selection function (RSF) based on aerial survey data and satellite remote sensing images to estimate the likelihood of beluga presence as a function of environmental conditions. The RSF revealed that belugas selected warm and turbid waters, with suspended particulate matter concentrations and sea surface temperatures ranging above average estuarine values. These specific conditions support hypotheses on the ecological roles of estuaries for belugas such as providing a thermal advantage for their calves or for beluga epidermal moulting. Using a diachronic analysis, we found a distribution shift towards coastal and inshore waters, areas already experiencing effects of climate change. Thus, the current distribution may reflect beluga responses to a changing climate, selecting warmer and more turbid areas. Our finding provides insight into current and evolving beluga habitat and habitat selection under a changing climate, which may help inform beluga management in the TNMPA.
A High-Frequency Multi-Mode Universal Filter for GHz Applications in CNFET Technology
Authors: Parvizi Mostafa , Haratian Rana
Published: June 2022

This paper presents a new circuit structure of a multi-mode active filter, using only 16 transistors and 2 grounded capacitors in carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNFET) technology which is biased at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]V supply. The proposed multi-input, single-output (MISO) filter has the capability of working as low-pass, band-pass, high-pass, band-stop and all-pass filters in all the operating modes (voltage, current, transconductance and transresistance). In addition, the quality factor ([Formula: see text]) parameter can be tuned electronically independent of the center frequency ([Formula: see text]). The HSPICE simulation results show that the proposed filter consumes only 971[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]W at 1[Formula: see text]GHz center frequency, assuming [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]pF and the nanotube pitch parameter of ([Formula: see text] nm) and the chiral vector of (22,0), while the number of nanotubes is considered as [Formula: see text] for all the transistors. Moreover, the main circuit performances such as the center frequency and the power consumption of the circuit vary by 5.4% and 11.6%, respectively, for the standard temperature variation.
Asymptotic expansion of the generalized hypergeometric function pFq(z) as z →∞ for p < q
Authors: Volkmer Hans
Published: June 2022

The asymptotic expansion of the generalized hypergeometric function [Formula: see text] as [Formula: see text] involves a coefficient sequence [Formula: see text]. Explicit formulas are given for this sequence when [Formula: see text]. The result is based on an integral representation of the generalized hypergeometric function that allows application of Watson’s lemma.
Social Relationship Analysis Using State-of-the-art Embeddings
Authors: Anwar Sibgha , Beg Mirza Omer , Saleem Kiran , Ahmed Zeeshan , Javed Abdul Rehman , Tariq Usman
Published: June 2022

Detection of human relationships from their interactions on social media is a challenging problem with a wide range of applications in different areas, like targeted marketing, cyber-crime, fraud, defense, planning, and human resource, to name a few. All previous work in this area has only dealt with the most basic types of relationships. The proposed approach goes beyond the previous work to efficiently handle the hierarchy of social relationships. This article introduces a novel technique named Quantifiable Social Relationship (QSR) analysis for quantifying social relationships to analyze relationships between agents from their textual conversations. QSR uses cross-disciplinary techniques from computational linguistics and cognitive psychology to identify relationships. QSR utilizes sentiment and behavioral styles displayed in the conversations for mapping them onto level II relationship categories. Then, for identifying the level III relationship categories, QSR uses level II relationships, sentiments, interactions, and word embeddings as key features. QSR employs natural language processing techniques for feature engineering and state-of-the-art embeddings generated by word2vec, global vectors (glove), and bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (bert). QSR combines the intrinsic conversational features with word embeddings for classifying relationships. QSR achieves an accuracy of up to 89% for classifying relationship subtypes. The evaluation shows that QSR can accurately identify the hierarchical relationships between agents by extracting intrinsic and extrinsic features from textual conversations between agents.
Technical Perspective
Authors: Yannakakis Mihalis
Published: June 2022

The paper Structure and Complexity of Bag Consistency by Albert Atserias and Phokion Kolaitis [1] studies fundamental structural and algorithmic questions on the global consistency of databases in the context of bag semantics. A collection D of relations is called globally consistent if there is a (so-called "universal") relation over all the attributes that appear in all the relations of D whose projections yield the relations in D. The basic algorithmic problem for consistency is: given a database D, determine whether D is globally consistent. An obvious necessary condition for global consistency is local (or pairwise) consistency: every pair of relations in D must be consistent. This condition is not sufficient however: It is possible that every pair is consistent, but there is no single global relation over all the attributes whose projections yield the relations in D. A natural structural question is: Which database schemas have the property that every locally consistent database over the schema is also globally consistent?
Early Childhood Development, Human Capital, and Poverty
Authors: Attanasio Orazio , Cattan Sarah , Meghir Costas
Published: June 2022

Children's experiences during early childhood are critical for their cognitive and socioemotional development, two key dimensions of human capital. However, children from low-income backgrounds often grow up lacking stimulation and basic investments, which leads to developmental deficits that are difficult, if not impossible, to reverse later in life without intervention. The existence of these deficits is a key driver of inequality and contributes to the intergenerational transmission of poverty. In this article, we discuss the framework used in economics to model parental investments and early childhood development and use it as an organizing tool to review some of the empirical evidence on early childhood research. We then present results from various important early childhood interventions, with an emphasis on developing countries. Bringing these elements together, we draw conclusions on what we have learned and provide some directions for future research.
Wrapped Up: The Motility of Polarly Flagellated Bacteria
Authors: Thormann Kai M. , Beta Carsten , Kühn Marco J.
Published: June 2022

A huge number of bacterial species are motile by flagella, which allow them to actively move toward favorable environments and away from hazardous areas and to conquer new habitats. The general perception of flagellum-mediated movement and chemotaxis is dominated by the Escherichia coli paradigm, with its peritrichous flagellation and its famous run-and-tumble navigation pattern, which has shaped the view on how bacteria swim and navigate in chemical gradients. However, a significant amount—more likely the majority—of bacterial species exhibit a (bi)polar flagellar localization pattern instead of lateral flagella. Accordingly, these species have evolved very different mechanisms for navigation and chemotaxis. Here, we review the earlier and recent findings on the various modes of motility mediated by polar flagella.
Calcium Channels in Retinal Function and Disease
Authors: Williams Brittany , Maddox J. Wesley , Lee Amy
Published: June 2022

Voltage-gated Ca2+ (Cav) channels play pivotal roles in regulating gene transcription, neuronal excitability, and neurotransmitter release. To meet the spatial and temporal demands of visual signaling, Cav channels exhibit unusual properties in the retina compared to their counterparts in other areas of the nervous system. In this article, we review current concepts regarding the specific subtypes of Cav channels expressed in the retina, their intrinsic properties and forms of modulation, and how their dysregulation could lead to retinal disease.
Identification of fluid overload in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease using bioimpedance techniques
Authors: Hussein Usama , Cimini Monica , Handelman Garry J. , Raimann Jochen G. , Liu Li , Abbas Samer R. , Kotanko Peter , Levin Nathan W. , Finkelstein Fredric O. , Zhu Fansan
Published: June 2022

We found that fluid overload (FO) in patients with nondialysis CKD was largely underestimated by clinical assessment compared with bioimpedance methods, which was majorly due to lack of appropriate techniques to assess FO. In addition, although degree of FO by bioimpedance markers positively correlated with the age in healthy subjects (HSs), no difference was observed in the three hydration markers between groups of 50 ≤ age <70 yr and age ≥70 yr in the patients with CKD.
A New Mechanism of Silicone Oil-Induced Glaucoma and Its Management
Authors: Kumar Harsh , Talwar Dinesh , Thulasidas Mithun , Taneja Surbi
Published: June 2022

Purpose. To describe a case of secondary acute angle closure glaucoma due to silicone oil migration into the posterior chamber causing entrapment of aqueous and its successful management. Case Presentation. A 69-year-old female presented with decreased vision and pain in the left eye (LE) for one month. She had a history of complicated phacoemulsification with nucleus drop and retinal detachment in LE, for which vitreoretinal surgery with silicone oil endotamponade was done. She was also a known case of primary open angle glaucoma on medications. The corrected distance visual acuity was 20/20 and 20/125 in the right eye (RE) and LE, respectively. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was 18 mmHg in RE and 45 mmHg in LE. Anterior segment examination of LE revealed 270° of iridocorneal apposition in the periphery of the anterior chamber. Fundus examination of LE showed silicone oil filled vitreous cavity with attached retina. Given the recent history of silicone oil injection and elevated IOP despite maximum antiglaucoma medications, we decided to perform laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) in the area of iridocorneal apposition. Following LPI, the IOP in LE came down to 17 mmHg and remained stable within the normal range for one month, after which the patient was taken up for silicone oil removal. Conclusion. This case report highlights a new mechanism of silicone oil-induced glaucoma and the technique of performing LPI in the area of iridocorneal apposition, for the first time in the literature. Silicone oil migration into the posterior chamber from the vitreous cavity in the presence of zonular dehiscence can push the iris forward and lead to iridocorneal apposition, resulting in an acute rise in IOP. Performing LPI within the area of iridocorneal apposition can help the aqueous seep into the anterior chamber and release the silicone oil globule trapped behind the iris to enter the anterior chamber, thus relieving the iridocorneal adhesions and lowering the IOP.
Real-Time Simulation Method of Flame Animation Based on the Deep Stripping Algorithm and Texture Mapping
Authors: Fei Jingjing
Published: June 2022

With the gradual integration of computers into people’s work and life, it is no longer an unattainable goal to use the power of science and technology to simulate various states of matter. In the future, virtual simulation modeling technology will become more and more high-end with the improvement of the needs of the times. However, nowadays, there are many problems in generating real-time image animation. For traditional simulation methods, huge computation and realistic rendering have become technical bottlenecks. This topic takes the generation of flame animation as an example to illustrate. On the basis of the depth stripping algorithm and texture mapping method, not only particle system modeling is introduced, but also a new N-S equation is improved for research. The research results show the following. (1) The model constructed by this method has superior performance and has been greatly improved; after iteration, the error value is as low as 0.03 and the accuracy value is as high as 98%. (2) After 500 simulations, there are 399 kinds of static and 698 kinds of dynamic flames, respectively; it takes 24.01 s and 98.21 s to generate 500 incomplete animations. (3) Compared with the particle system and deep learning model for flame animation recognition and detection, the highest false alarm rate of this model is 4.6%, and the lowest is 0.9%, and the experimental effect is stable; the highest recognition of flame animation can reach 99.2%, and the lowest is 98.5%. (4) Generally speaking, experts and ordinary people have a high evaluation on the effect of this model; except for the first group, the scores are all over 80%, and the highest score can reach 85.936%. Finally, the experimental results are good, which proves the effectiveness and feasibility of this method, which has certain research contribution value. However, for the follow-up work, the algorithm and model have room for further improvement.
Probabilistic Quantification of Distribution System Resilience for an Extreme Event
Authors: Ghosh Puspendu , De Mala
Published: June 2022

The occurrence of natural disasters such as cyclones, earthquakes, and floods has increased worldwide, and their effect is most intense in localized regions. These events expose weaknesses in the power system infrastructures and show how well-prepared the system is to operate its services in a resilient way. During and after an extreme event, the outage and service disruption happens due to the inability of the affected part of the grid to cope with disruptions, which leads to insufficient resilience of the system. It is becoming more critical to enhance the resilience of electrical networks to extreme weather occurrences through suitable hardening processes and smart operational techniques. A reliable prevention approach necessitates a quantitative resilience metric that can estimate the effects of the future extreme events on distribution systems and assess the possible benefits of various planning strategies. This study aims to address the issue of lack of resilience metrics and proposes probabilistic metrics for evaluating the performance of distribution systems resilience in case of extreme weather events. Specifically, this study introduces active and passive resilience concepts to provide insights into system response. The proposed resilience metrics for various weather scenarios are quantified for the IEEE 33-bus system. The simulation framework also analyzes the effects of different operational and structural resilience improvement approaches on the proposed resilience metrics.
Optimum Design of Multi-Section Asymmetrical Transdirectional Couplers with Port Impedance Matching up to S Band Frequency
Authors: Oraizi Homayoon , Siahkari Mohammad Javad
Published: June 2022

The method of least squares is developed for the optimum design of multi-section asymmetrical transdirectional (ATRD) couplers with arbitrary port impedance matching. Firstly, transmission matrix of a section of coupler is obtained, then the transmission matrix of whole multi-section coupler is determined, from which the scattering matrix of device is obtained. An error function is then constructed by scattering parameters. According to design specifications, error function depends on physical parameters of coupler (such as widths, spacings and lengths of transmission line sections and capacitor values), of which minimum point gives optimum values of it’s dimensions and capacitors. Optimum design is carried out for a specified frequency response and bandwidth. Error minimization is implemented by the combination of genetic algorithm (GA) and conjugate gradient method (CGM). The design is verified by full-wave simulation software, fabrication and measurement. Several 3 dB, 6 dB and 10 dB couplers are designed with different bandwidths and port impedances. Compared to the proposed design method, design of asymmetrical multi-section couplers by full-wave simulation softwares is by trial and error and at best random and almost impossible because of extremely high CPU time due to the large number of parameters of coupler geometrical structure.
Wearable Mixed Energy Management System Based on Power Trajectory Tracking
Authors: Shen Shijun , Wang Chaofan , Lu Chuan , Zheng Wei , Gong Dawei
Published: June 2022

With more and more extensive research and application of wearable devices, their continuous working time has become a prominent problem which is increasingly concerned. Within the limitations of existing battery technology, environmental energy harvesting can be used to enhance the continuous working time of wearable devices. To solve this problem, this paper designs a collection system for heat energy and radiofrequency (RF) energy in the environment. This system designs a thermoelectric collector based on thermoelectric generation, an RF energy collector based on a rectifier antenna, and a mixed energy collection controller based on power trajectory tracking. This system can generate power according to the temperature difference between environment and human body and RF energy in the environment. This system uses the heart rate sampling algorithm to accurately collect the required voltage and current information while saving system energy consumption. The maximum power output algorithm based on power trajectory tracking keeps the maximum power output of the energy collection system at all times. In this paper, two kinds of environmental energy models and a mixed energy acquisition system model are established by MATLAB. After setting reasonable environmental conditions, we get the results to verify the rationality and effectiveness of this environment energy collection system.
Fibromodulin Gene Variants (FMOD) as Potential Biomarkers for Prostate Cancer and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Authors: Silva Tamara , Gomes Caroliny Pinto , Voigt Danielle Dutra , de Souza Ritiele Bastos , Medeiros Karoline , Cosentino Nicole Lima , Fonseca Ana Carolina Proença , Tilli Tatiana Martins , Loayza Enrique Antonio Covarrubias , Ramos Vivianne Galante , Acero Pedro Hernán Cabello
Published: June 2022

By the year 2050, the world’s elderly population may increase exponentially, raising the rate of disease characteristic of this group, such as prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Prostate disorders have a multifactorial etiology, especially age and genetic factors. Currently, PCa is the second most frequent neoplasm in the male population worldwide. The fibromodulin gene encodes a small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) which acts in the collagen fibrillogenesis pathway, cell adhesion, and modulation of TGF-β signaling pathways, which has been recently associated with PCa. The present study sequenced the coding region of the FMOD in a sample of 44 PCa, 90 BPH, and 82 controls from a Brazilian population, and the results identified 6 variants: 2 missenses (p.(Tyr42Ser) and p.(Pro24Ala)); 3 synonymous (p.(His253=), p.(Asn353=), and p.(Glu79=)); and 1 intronic (c.980-114A>G). Of these, p.(Tyr42Ser), p.(Pro24Ala), and p.(Asn353=) are rare variants, and p.(Tyr42Ser) was predicted as potential pathogenic by the algorithms used here, in addition to not being observed in controls, suggesting that may be a potential biomarker for development of PCa and BPH. In conclusion, we identified for the first time, in Brazilian individuals with PCa and BPH, a potentially pathogenic variant in the analysis of FMOD gene. Further studies are needed to investigate the deleterious effect of this variant on the structure and/or function of the FMOD protein.
Overexpression of Activating Transcription Factor-2 (ATF-2) Activates Wnt/Ca2+ Signaling Pathways and Promotes Proliferation and Invasion in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Zhang Li , Zeng Shanggan , Yu Zhanzheng , Zhang Guangxing , Xiong Zhenfang , Xie Fuyuan , You Zhenyu
Published: June 2022

Previous studies have suggested an association of the expression of activating transcription factor-2 (ATF-2) with the survival time and the activity of the Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the exact role of ATF-2 in tumorigenesis and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we study whether ATF-2 regulates the growth and reproduction of NSCLC cells through the Wnt/Ca2+ pathway. The expression of ATF-2 and pathway-related genes in non-small-cell lung cancer was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to knock out the ATF-2 gene, and pathway inhibitors and agonists were added to induce cultured cells. The expression of pathway genes and the proliferation and invasion ability of A549 lung cancer cells were analyzed. ATF-2 and pathway-related genes were upregulated in NSCLC. The proliferation and invasion ability of A549 lung cancer cells was decreased after only adding pathway inhibitors. The expression of Wnt/Ca2+ pathway protein was decreased when the ATF-2 gene was knocked out, but the expression of Wnt/Ca2+ pathway protein was reversed after the addition of a pathway agonist. These results suggest that ATF-2 acts as an agonist in the Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway, promoting the expression of Wnt5a, Wnt11, CaMK II, and NLK in the Wnt/Ca2+ pathway, thereby regulating the proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells.
Diagnostic Value of the Blood Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Tibia Fracture-Related Infection
Authors: Chen Peisheng , Liu Yinhuan , Lin Xiaofeng , Tang Susu , Wang Tongtong , Zheng Ke , Lin Dongze , Lin Chaohui , Yu Bin , Chen Bin , Lin Fengfei
Published: June 2022

Objective. The diagnostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in predicting fracture-related infection (FRI) in tibia fracture patients remains to be explored. Methods. A retrospective controlled study was carried out with 170 tibia FRI patients and 162 control subjects. The following information was evaluated at admission: age, gender, clinical features, number of white blood cells (WBCs), neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, red blood cells (RBCs), platelets, level of hemoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), as well as NLR, MLR, and PLR. Results. The number of lymphocytes, RBCs, and platelets in the FRI group was higher than those in the control group, while the number of neutrophils and ESR level was lower (

P
<
0.05

). The level of NLR and MLR was significantly lower in patients with tibia FRI than in control subjects (

P
<
0.05

). Both indicators were positively correlated with WBCs, CRP level, and ESR level (

P
<
0.001

). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that five variables including NLR, MLR, platelets, fracture pattern (closed or open fracture), and site pattern (single or multiple site) were used to construct the FRI risk predictor. The ROC curve analysis result showed that FRI risk predictor yielded the highest AUC, with a sensitivity of 91.2% and a specificity of 90.1%, and made the distinction efficiently between tibia FRI patients and non-FRI patients. Conclusion. NLR and MLR were decreased in tibia FRI patients compared to non-FRI patients. Both indicators had a positive correlation with WBCs, CRP level, and ESR level. FRI risk predictor constructed based on five variables including NLR and MLR had a high diagnostic value for tibia FRI.