bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rethinking the intercultural communicative competence evaluation in higher education
Authors: Yefremtseva Tatyana Nikolaevna , Musagulova Ryskul Ekinovna , Takanova Olga Vladimirovna , Zaitsev Aleksei Analolievich , Sergeeva Natalya Anatolievna
Published: December 2021

The information and digitalization age, the current phase of globalization are changing the way we think about cultures and communities and, as language teachers and cultural trainers, potentially about what and how we teach. Intercultural communicative competence is as needed as ever in today’s world of geo-economic changes, migration, and rising ethnic and national tensions. To prepare future professionals, there have been different efforts in education including the intercultural and communicative components. The essential contradictions in the language and professional training of students, associated with insufficient attention to the issues of interaction of cultures in the content of university curricula, are highlighted. The Map of Intercultural Communicative Competence Formation in Higher Education is developed considering the contents of bachelor and master programmes for Russian and foreign students. The main emphasis is paid to the separate subjects in intercultural communication study. New approaches to the evaluation of the intercultural communicative competence of students in a multicultural environment are proposed, among which a special focus is placed on the need to organize international projects and conduct events in narrow professional fields. Some examples of tasks to assess the competence in cross-cultural communication show practical application and significance of those disciplines for university students in their future career.
Globalization in regions and program design to multicultural competence development
Authors: Zhukova Tatiana Anatolyevna , Selimov Timur Segeevich , Bogoslovskiy Vladimir Igorevich , Yankevich Olga Aleksandrovna , Startseva Natalia Valeryevna
Published: December 2021

In this paper, the matter of how the process of globalization in regions influences the process of development of program design aimed at forming and improving multicultural competence is brought up. One way to comply with the demands is to define and develop new strategies that can make a teacher’s evaluation a successful process of improvement of multicultural competence. Better learning and teaching outcomes are to be reached – since the programs designed within the above-mentioned framework would correlate with the need of students and demands of modern education in a region, which basis lies in the matter of globalization. A literature analysis of available research was conducted. As a plan program design is not a linear process, it may be necessary to alter the content or sequencing to offer a possible mechanism to optimize the process of cooperation between the regions, to identify new factors and search for new practices to improve readiness to change (as a significant component of multicultural competence) and to offer case-study as one of the possible methods to better the process of multicultural competence development. We consider the proposed strategies as the main results of the research.
Peculiarities of developing intercultural professional competence during distance learning
Authors: Makhmutova Galina Nikolaevna , Mursalimova Liliia Finadovna , Sergeeva Ludmila Aleksandrovna , Chicherina Ludmila Konstantinovna
Published: December 2021

The acceleration of global changes taking place in various spheres of life of our society, changes in the structure of the labor market and qualification requirements of various professions suggest new approaches and assessment of the level of intercultural professional competence. A deductive method based on empirical generalizations was used for the study. The purpose of this research is to identify the place and role of intercultural competences, intercultural communication in general in the formation of professional competencies in the context of digital learning technologies use. The problem of relationship between applied teaching methods and sociocultural, as well as psycho-emotional factors is investigated. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods for assessing company personnel: a personal questionnaire and a behavioral interview. The survey was used in groups of students of economic specialties studying German as a second foreign language. The theoretical and practical parts of the study showed that changes in the nature of human communication in modern conditions are irreversible and rapid, exerting a global impact on the culture and education of a person. Researchers are actively exploring dynamics and transformations of professional competencies, as well as methods for determining the levels of various types of competencies. The novelty of this study lies in raising the question of developing a methodology for testing the level of intercultural professional competence, taking into account factors of the impact of a digital environment on its formation.
Luftverschmutzung und Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen
Authors: Lelieveld Jos , Hahad Omar , Daiber Andreas , Münzel Thomas
Published: December 2021

Die chronische Belastung durch Luftschadstoffe, insbesondere Feinstaub, ist ein primärer Risikofaktor für die öffentliche Gesundheit. Während sich die Luftqualität in Deutschland in den letzten 3 Jahrzehnten erheblich verbessert hat und die Standards der Europäischen Union die meiste Zeit eingehalten werden, werden die strengeren Richtlinien der Weltgesundheitsorganisation immer noch überschritten. Feinstaub verursacht chronischen oxidativen Stress in den Atemwegen, in der Lunge und den Gefäßen, der bereits bei relativ geringen Konzentrationen Entzündungsreaktionen unter anderem in der Lunge hervorruft. Dies führt zu einer Übersterblichkeit durch Atemwegs- und Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen. In Deutschland sind etwa 42000 frühzeitige Todesfälle pro Jahr durch Luftverschmutzung auf ischämische Herzerkrankungen und etwa 6700 Todesfälle pro Jahr auf Schlaganfälle zurückzuführen. Daher könnte die Reduzierung der Luftverschmutzung dazu beitragen, Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen ebenso
wirksam zu verhindern wie das Begrenzen des Tabakrauchens.
Herzgesunde Städte – die Gene laden das Gewehr, die Umwelt zieht den Abzug
Authors: Münzel Thomas , Hahad Omar , Daiber Andreas
Published: December 2021

Die Weltgesundheitsorganisation gibt an, dass die Stadtplanung mittlerweile als kritischer Bestandteil einer umfassenden Lösung zur Bekämpfung umweltbedingter Gesundheitsschäden gesehen wird. Die vorliegende Übersicht befasst sich mit nicht übertragbaren Krankheiten mit dem Schwerpunkt auf Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen und dem Urbanisierungsprozess in Bezug auf Umweltrisiken wie Lärm, Luftverschmutzung, Temperatur und Licht im Freien. Es wird dargelegt, warum sich Wärmeinseln in städtischen Gebieten entwickeln können und wie die Begrünung von Städten die öffentliche Gesundheit verbessern und Klimaprobleme, Nachhaltigkeit und Lebensfähigkeit adressieren kann. Darüber hinaus thematisieren wir Stadtplanung, Verkehrsinterventionen und neuartige Technologien zur Bewertung externer Umweltexpositionen, z. B. Einsatz digitaler Technologien, um zukünftig herzgesunde Städte zu fördern. Zuletzt heben wir neue Paradigmen des integrativen Denkens hervor, wie das Exposom und die planetare
Gesundheit, indem wir den Zusammenhang zwischen Exposition und Gesundheitsauswirkungen kritisch evaluieren und unser Verständnis der Gesamtheit der Expositionen gegenüber der Umwelt des Menschen erweitern.
Comparison of Beinaglutide Versus Metformin for Weight Loss in
Overweight and Obese Non-diabetic Patients
Authors: Gao Lijun , Huang Hong , Zhang Lu , Zhang Ningjing , Fu Yuzhe , Zhu Dalong , Bi Yan , Feng Wenhuan
Published: December 2021

Purpose We compared the efficacy and safety of beinaglutide, a
glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue with metformin in lowering the
bodyweight of patients who were overweight/obese and non-diabetic.

Patients and Methods Seventy-eight non-diabetic patients were randomly
selected and beinaglutide or metformin was administered for 12 weeks. The
primary endpoints were changes in body weight and the proportions of patients
who lost≥5 and≥10% of their baseline body weights.

Results A total of 64 patients completed the study; patients in the
beinaglutide group exhibited more bodyweight loss than those in the metformin
group [(9.5±0.8%; 9.1±0.9 kg) and
(5.1±0.9%; 4.5±0.8 kg), respectively,
corresponding to a difference of approximately 4.5 kg (95%
confidence interval, 2.2–6.9 kg; P<0.01)]. In the
beinaglutide group, 90.6 and 40.6% of the patients lost≥5
and≥10% of their body weight, respectively, whereas, in the
metformin group, these rates were 46.9 and 12.5%, respectively
(P<0.01 and P<0.05). Weight loss following
beinaglutide treatment mainly resulted from the loss of fat mass. Compared to
metformin, beinaglutide induced a greater decrease in the body mass index,
weight circumference, percent body fat, and body fat mass (total, trunk, limb,
android, and gynoid). Additionally, beinaglutide decreased serum insulin levels
and ameliorated insulin resistance.

Conclusions Beinaglutide is more efficient than metformin at reducing
weight and fat mass in patients who are overweight/obese and
non-diabetic. Beinaglutide may be a useful therapeutic option for
overweight/obesity control in the Chinese population.
Hybrid Repair with Reversed Sequence Supra-aortic Debranching in Ruptured Arch Aneurysm
Authors: Marumoto Akira , Yoneda Kazuhiro , Tanaka Kenji , Kitabayashi Katsukiyo
Published: December 2021

Aortic arch pathology in a high-risk patient in whom the resternotomy approach is unfeasible due to treated mediastinitis after ascending aortic replacement presents a unique challenge for hybrid arch repair (HAR) because of the need for supra-aortic debranching from unusual inflow sites other than the ascending aorta. This report describes a “reversed sequence” extra-anatomical supra-aortic debranching procedure as a salvage technique performed to enable HAR. An 83-year-old woman with a history of ascending aortic replacement for type A aortic dissection, mediastinitis complicated by sternal osteomyelitis, and a chest wall reconstructed with a rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap presented with chest pain because of a contained dissecting arch aneurysm rupture. The patient underwent supra-aortic debranching from the bilateral common femoral arteries and thoracic endovascular aortic repair to the ascending aorta under cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitoring. Completion imaging by angiography demonstrated successful exclusion of the ruptured aneurysm. The regional cerebral oxygen saturation level, monitored by NIRS, did not change markedly during surgery. The patient was neurologically intact with adequate cerebral blood flow assessed postoperatively by 123I-IMP single photon emission computed tomography. Total debranching of the supra-aortic vessels from the common femoral artery for inflow is feasible and provides adequate cerebral perfusion. This procedure may offer an alternative treatment option in patients with complex conditions involving aortic arch pathology.
Statins for Patients Undergoing Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Repair Surgery: What to Do?
Authors: Klein Katherine M. , Jovin Ion S.
Published: December 2021

Statins may be associated with improved outcomes in patient with thoracic aortic aneurysms but there is little data on the role of statins in patients who have undergone thoracic aortic aneurysm repair.
One-Stop Surgery: An Innovation to Limit Hospital Visits in Children
Authors: Dreuning Kelly M.A. , Derikx Joep P.M. , Ouali Ayoub , Janssen Liedewij M.J. , Tulder Maurits W. van , Twisk Jos W.R. , Haverman Lotte , van Heurn L.W. Ernest
Published: December 2021

Introduction One-stop surgery (OSS) allows for same-day outpatient clinic visit, preoperative assessment, and surgical repair. This study aims to determine the efficiency, (cost-)effectiveness, and family satisfaction of one-stop inguinal hernia surgery compared with usual care.

Material and Methods Children (≥ 3 months) with inguinal hernia and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grades I–II, scheduled for OSS (intervention) or regular treatment (control) between March 1, 2017, and December 1, 2018, were eligible for inclusion. Exclusion criteria consisted of age less than 3 months and ASA grades III–IV. The primary outcome measure was treatment efficiency (i.e., total number of hospital visits and waiting time [days] between referral and surgery). Secondary outcome measures were the effectiveness in terms of complication and recurrence rate, and parent-reported satisfaction and cost-effectiveness using the Dutch Pediatric Quality of Life Healthcare Satisfaction and Institute for Medical Technology Assessment Productivity Cost Questionnaire.

Results Ninety-one (intervention: 54; control: 37) patients (56% boys) were included. Median (interquartile range) number of hospital visits was lower in the intervention group (1 vs 3; p < 0.001). All but one of the OSS patients (98%) were discharged home on the day of surgery. Postoperative complication (1.9% vs 2.7%; p = 0.787) and recurrence rates (0% vs 2.7%; p = 0.407) did not differ between the intervention and control patients. “General satisfaction,” “satisfaction with communication,” and “inclusion of family” were higher after OSS, while satisfaction about “information,” “technical skills,” and “emotional needs” were similar. Median (range) follow-up was 28 (15–36) months.

Conclusions Pediatric one-stop inguinal hernia repair seems to be an effective treatment strategy that limits the number of hospital visits and provides enhanced family satisfaction without compromising the quality of care.
The Influence of Diabetes on Labor Induction with Dinoprostone Vaginal Inserts
Authors: Duffy Jennifer Y. , Chau Cindy , Raymond Kyle , Rugarn Olof , Wing Deborah A.
Published: December 2021

Objective The aim of this study was to compare duration of labor induction between diabetic and nondiabetic women receiving dinoprostone vaginal insert (10 mg).

Study Design This is a secondary analysis of two large randomized controlled trials using dinoprostone vaginal inserts for labor induction. We compare time to active labor, overall delivery, and vaginal delivery between diabetic and nondiabetic women undergoing induction of labor with a 10-mg dinoprostone vaginal insert.

Results Diabetic women receiving dinoprostone vaginal insert had a longer time to onset of active labor, overall delivery, and vaginal delivery than their nondiabetic counterparts. There was no difference in abnormal labor affecting fetal heart rate pattern in diabetic women compared with nondiabetic women. The rates of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia were higher in diabetic women.

Conclusion Diabetes may represent an independent factor associated with prolonged induction among women undergoing induction of labor with dinoprostone. Dinoprostone is well tolerated in both diabetic and nondiabetic women.

Key Points
Glycemic Control and Aspirin Resistance in Patients Taking Low-Dose Aspirin for Pre-eclampsia Prevention
Authors: Gee Stephen E. , Ma'ayeh Marwan , Kniss Douglas , Landon Mark B. , Gabbe Steven G. , Rood Kara M.
Published: December 2021

Objectives To assess the association between aspirin and glycemic control in diabetic, pregnant patients, and the risk for aspirin resistance in those with poor glycemic control across gestation taking low-dose aspirin (LDA) for pre-eclampsia (PEC) prevention.

Study Design We performed a secondary analysis of samples collected during the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units trial of LDA for PEC prevention. A subset of insulin-controlled diabetic patient samples on placebo or 60 mg aspirin daily were evaluated. Glycosylated hemoglobin was measured at randomization, mid-second trimester, and third trimester time points. Thromboxane B2 (TXB2) measurements were previously assessed as part of the original study. Primary outcome was the effect of LDA on glycosylated hemoglobin levels compared with placebo across gestation.

Results Levels of glycosylated hemoglobin increased across gestation in the placebo group (2,067.7 [interquartile range, IQR: 1,624.6–2,713.5 µg/mL] vs. 2,461.9 [1,767.0–3,209.9 µg/mL] vs. 3,244.3 [2,691.5–4,187.0 µg/mL]; p < 0.01) compared with no difference in levels of glycosylated hemoglobin across gestation in the LDA group (2,186.4 [IQR: 1,462.3–3,097.7 µg/mL] vs. 2,337.1 [1,327.7–5,932.6 µg/mL] vs. 2,532.9 [1,804.9–5,511.8 µg/mL]; p = 0.78). Higher levels of glycosylated hemoglobin were associated with increased TXB2 levels prior to randomization (r = 0.67, p < 0.05). Incomplete TXB2 was higher in pregnancies with increasing levels of glycosylated hemoglobin compared with those with decreasing levels of glycosylated hemoglobin across gestation (69.2 vs. 18.1%, p = 0.02).

Conclusion LDA exposure may be beneficial to glycemic control in this patient population. Additionally, poor glycemic control is associated with a higher level of TXB2 in diabetic pregnant patients on LDA. Higher doses of aspirin may be required in these patients to prevent development of PEC.

Key Points
The Use of Color Duplex Ultrasound for Local Perforator Flaps in the Extremity
Authors: Hong Joon Pio , Hur Joon , Kim Hyung Bae , Park Changsik John , Suh Hyunsuk Peter
Published: December 2021

Background The local flaps, especially perforator and keystone flaps, are used as first-line treatment option in reconstruction of small tomoderate-sized defect of the extremity. However, the high complication rate associated with these flaps may hinder this usage.

Methods This article reviews the technical and clinical aspect of using color duplex ultrasound )CDU) in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative period for propeller and keystone flaps.

Results CDU allows the surgeon to understand the anatomical aspect of the perforator such as the location, point of penetration on the deep fascia, subcutaneous pathway )axiality) and physiological aspect such as velocity and flow volume. Understanding and utilizing this information will allow accurate preoperative design, intraoperative decision making, and postoperative monitoring, leading to better outcome.

Conclusion Carefully designed local perforator flaps based on anatomy and physiology using CDU will be a powerful armamentarium for reconstruction of the lower extremity.
The multiplicity of solutions for the critical Schrödinger–Poisson system with competing potentials
Authors: Chen Yongpeng , Niu Miaomiao
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we deal with a kind of critical Schrödinger–Poisson system with competing potentials. By using variational methods, we study the existence of multiple solutions and their concentration behavior.
Plasma plume evolution of a capillary discharge based pulsed plasma thruster: An optical diagnosis study
Authors: Wang Yanan , Ren Linyuan , Ding Weidong , Sun Anbang
Published: December 2021

This paper studied the plasma plume evolution process of a capillary discharge based pulsed plasma thruster. Time-resolved imaging and optical emission spectroscopy were applied to investigate the plume morphology and plasma species characteristics. It showed that ionized particles (mainly C II and F II) were accelerated early in the pulse and neutral particles (mainly C I and F I) later. An optical time-of-flight (OTOF) method was developed using a photodiode array combined with narrow bandpass filters. The equivalent streaming velocity of the plasma plume was evaluated with the OTOF technique. Measurements of individual species showed that both the ionized and the neutral species could be effectively accelerated by gasdynamic forces, and the ionized particles could reach a higher velocity. A Doppler shift measurement of the plasma plume was also performed to compare it with the findings from the OTOF method. The plasma plume streaming velocity of a thruster with a discharge energy of 5 J was measured and found to be (25.34 ± 0.17) km/s (OTOF) and (22.36 ± 4.02) km/s (Doppler shift). In addition, differences between the operation processes of the capillary discharge based pulsed plasma thruster and the electromagnetic pulsed plasma thruster were analyzed.
A topological lattice of plasmonic merons
Authors: Ghosh Atreyie , Yang Sena , Dai Yanan , Zhou Zhikang , Wang Tianyi , Huang Chen-Bin , Petek Hrvoje
Published: December 2021

Topology is an intrinsic property of the orbital symmetry and elemental spin–orbit interaction, but also, intriguingly, designed vectorial optical fields can break existing symmetries, to impose (dress) topology through coherent interactions with trivial materials. Through photonic spin–orbit interaction, light can transiently turn on topological interactions, such as chiral chemistry, or induce non-Abelian physics in matter. Employing electromagnetic simulations and ultrafast, time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy, we describe the geometric transformation of a normally incident plane wave circularly polarized light carrying a defined spin into surface plasmon polariton field carrying orbital angular momentum which converges into an array of plasmonic vortices with defined spin textures. Numerical simulations show how within each vortex domain, the photonic spin–orbit interaction molds the plasmonic orbital angular momentum into quantum chiral spin angular momentum textures resembling those of a magnetic meron quasiparticles. We experimentally examine the dynamics of such meron plasmonic spin texture lattice by recording the ultrafast nanofemto plasmonic field evolution with deep subwavelength resolution and sub-optical cycle time accuracy from which we extract the linear polarization, L-line singularity distribution, that defines the periodic lattice boundaries. Our results reveal how vectorial optical fields can impress their topologically nontrivial spin textures by coherent dressing or chiral excitations of matter.
Prediction of the molecular-level critical shear rates for the liquid exfoliation of graphene layers
Authors: Kim Jongmyung , Lee Tae-Rin
Published: December 2021

Liquid exfoliation is essential for enhancing the production of graphene with outstanding properties, and it is achieved by applying relevant shear force to graphene layers. This study predicted the critical shear rates required for the liquid exfoliation of different sizes of graphene with various layer numbers using molecular dynamics simulation. The simulations for the shear flow conditions were performed using the TIP4P water model, and the results were constrained using the SHAKE algorithm. In addition, the graphene layers and their van der Waals forces were modeled using Morse potentials. This enabled the accurate capturing of the differences between the shear rates in graphene layers and those in water molecules by simulation. Furthermore, the peeling and sliding exfoliation modes of graphene with varying layer numbers were extensively discussed.
Gamma-ray transition edge sensor with a thick SiO2/SixNy/SiO2 membrane
Authors: Kikuchi T. , Fujii G. , Hayakawa R. , Smith R. , Hirayama F. , Sato Y. , Kohjiro S. , Ukibe M. , Ohno M. , Sato A. , Yamamori H.
Published: December 2021

Thick membranes of the gamma-ray transition-edge sensor (γ-TES) generally exhibit great mechanical strength and can support a bulk metal absorber typical for γ-TES. However, for conventional silicon-nitride (SixNy) membranes, thermal conductance (G) is proportional to the thickness, indicating that thicker membranes provide larger thermal-fluctuation noise in TESs. We propose a thick-trilayer membrane consisting of the silicon oxide (SiO2), SixNy, and SiO2 layers. The SixNy layer accounts for 5.8 μm of the total 6.9 μm, and thus, it is expected to be hard compared with conventional SixNy membranes with a typical thickness below 1 μm. G of the trilayer membrane is characterized as a function of heat-transport distance (L), and the G-L relation follows that of the intermediate model between ballistic and diffusive transports. Resulting G of the thick-trilayer membrane is 1.1–1.7 nW/K, which is not far from the one reported by conventional SixNy membranes. Gamma-ray spectroscopy around 93 keV is carried out based on series biased 5-pixels TES. The best full-width-half-maximum energy resolution among all pixels under characterization is 43.1 ± 1.6 eV for 93-keV, which is close to the median value of a state-of-the-art 236-pixels γ-TES in the literature. The measured low-frequency noise can be represented by theoretical phonon noise and its excess component with the same order as conventional ones. The thick-trilayer membrane is demonstrated to be able to work without any problems in a γ-TES regime.
Operation of a continuous flow liquid helium magnetic microscopy cryostat as a closed cycle system
Authors: Barr K. , Cookson T. , Lagoudakis K. G.
Published: December 2021

We demonstrate successful operation of a continuous flow liquid helium magnetic cryostat (Oxford Instruments, Microstat MO) in closed cycle operation using a modular cryocooling system (ColdEdge Technologies, Stinger). For the system operation, we have developed a custom gas handling manifold and we show that despite the lower cooling power of the cryocooler with respect to the nominal cryostat cooling power requirements, the magnetic cryostat can be operated in a stable manner. We provide the design of the gas handling manifold and a detailed analysis of the system performance in terms of cooling times, magnetic field ramping rates, and vibrations at the sample. Base temperatures can be reached within 10 h while the superconducting magnet can be energized at a ramping rate of 0.5 T/min. Vibrations are measured interferometrically and show amplitudes with a root mean square on the order of 5 nm, permitting the use of the system for sensitive magnetic microscopy experiments.
Identification of an initial non-linear transition in reciprocating finite-length pipe flow
Authors: Tothova D. , Manasseh R. , Sannasiraj S. A.
Published: December 2021

We present an experimental study of reciprocating pipe flow with free-end effects, specifically, oscillations of a column of water trapped inside an open vertical cylinder under the action of regular linear waves. The aims were to identify parameters where an initial transition to non-linearity in reciprocating flow might occur and to quantify energy losses in the non-linear regime. Reciprocating flows are a subclass of oscillatory flows that are characterized by a zero-mean flux. The investigation may provide a deeper fundamental understanding of the characteristics of reciprocating flows, which differ significantly from the properties of well-studied unidirectional flows. From measured amplitudes of the incoming and excited oscillations inside the column, we draw the dependence of the amount of the absorbed kinetic power on the amplitude and frequency of the incident waves. Quantifications were made of the balance between the energy absorbed by the column and dissipated due to the radiation of waves and wall friction, which are usually considered linear, as well as non-linear losses of energy due to flow separation at the walls and vortex shedding and turbulence at the bottom free end of the cylinder. It is found that the non-linear effects become significant at incident wave amplitudes much smaller than expected, thus affecting the energy balance. We suggest that the initial transition from linear to non-linear behavior in reciprocating finite pipe flow has been identified and the critical oscillatory Reynolds number at which it occurs has been estimated as Reos=4400±1250.
A simple green route to blue thermoelectric PEDOT: PSS
Authors: Lu Yannan , Li Weili , Sun Zhengyi , Wang Xizu , Hang Xiao-Chun , Young David James
Published: December 2021

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is a promising thermoelectric material with (bi)polaron-type transport properties. Dedoping PEDOT:PSS by simply controlling film thickness and the annealing temperature under high relative humidity led to partial reduction and a conformational change in the polymer that improved both the electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient. When the film was hydrothermally annealed at 170 °C, its Seebeck coefficient was enhanced from 13.8 to 42.3 μV K−1. Water was the reducing agent and at an optimum annealing temperature of 130 °C facilitated separation of reduced PEDOT and protonated PSS chain, resulting in an improved power factor (PF) of 16.9 μW m−1 K−2 and a color change in the annealed PEDOT:PSS films from light to dark blue. The acid-treated PEDOT:PSS film followed by hydrothermal annealing exhibited a conductivity of 1241 ± 272 S cm−1 and 28.7 ± 2.1 μV K−1, and the corresponding PF was 103.9 μW m−1 K−2. These results show the possibility of tuning the thermoelectric properties of PEDOT:PSS films for biomedical applications without the need of toxic or expensive additives.
Methodology and meaning of computing heat flux via atomic stress in systems with constraint dynamics
Authors: Surblys Donatas , Matsubara Hiroki , Kikugawa Gota , Ohara Taku
Published: December 2021

Reliably obtaining thermal properties of complex systems, which often involves computing heat flux to obtain thermal conductivity via either Fourier’s law or the Green–Kubo relation, is an important task in modern molecular dynamics simulations. In our previous work [Surblys et al., Phys. Rev. E 99, 051301(R) (2019)], we have demonstrated that atomic stress could be used to efficiently compute heat flux for molecules with angle, dihedral, or improper many-body interactions, provided a newly derived “centroid” form was used. This was later successfully implemented in the LAMMPS simulation package. On the other hand, small rigid molecules, like water and partial constraints in semi-flexible molecules, are often implemented via constraint force algorithms. There has been a lack of clarification if the constraint forces that maintain geometric constraints and can also be considered as many-body forces contribute to the overall heat flux and how to compute them correctly and efficiently. To address this, we investigate how to apply the centroid atomic stress form to reliably compute heat flux for systems with constraint or rigid body dynamics. We successfully apply the centroid atomic stress form to flexible, semi-flexible, and rigid water models; decompose the computed thermal conductivity into separate components; and demonstrate that the contribution from constraint forces to the overall heat flux and thermal conductivity is small but non-negligible. We also show that while the centroid formulation produces correct heat flux values, the original “group” formulation produces incorrect and sometimes unphysical results. Finally, we provide insight into the meaning of constraint force contribution.
Electrokinetic flow of fluids with pressure-dependent viscosity in a nanotube
Authors: Chen Xingyu , Jian Yongjun , Xie Zhiyong
Published: December 2021

The electrokinetic flow of fluids with pressure-dependent viscosity is investigated through a nanotube. Based on a linear dependent relationship between viscosity and pressure, the axial and radial velocities, pressure, streaming potential, and electrokinetic energy conversion efficiency are obtained by using the perturbation method. The results show the pressure-dependent viscosity effect can enhance the magnitude of streaming potential. In addition, the pressure distribution exhibits obvious nonlinearity for larger pressure-viscosity coefficient. Finally, large pressure-viscosity coefficient results in low energy conversion efficiency. The present asymptotic analytical solutions can be viewed as an effective method for checking the numerical schemes that are developed for flows in more complex situations.
Simultaneous enhancements of thermopower and electrical conductivity in quasi-one-dimensional
α
-YbAlB4 single crystal
Authors: Kuga Kentaro , Matsunami Masaharu , Singh Saurabh , Nakatsuji Satoru , Takeuchi Tsunehiro
Published: December 2021

We report the thermoelectric properties of valence fluctuating material α-YbAlB4 along a-, b-, and c-axes. The temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient for all axes shows negative peaks at around 250 K, which is close to the Kondo scale. Interestingly, the absolute value of the Seebeck coefficient along c-axis (−75 μV K−1 at 250 K) is larger than those along a- and b-axes (−50 μV K−1 at 250 K) although the electrical resistivity along c-axis is about four times lower than those along a- and b-axes. As a result, a very large thermoelectric power factor of ∼14.5 mW m−1 K−2 is realized along c-axis at 200 K, which is ten times larger than those along a- and b-axes. The anisotropies in electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient, respectively, have different origins of Fermi surface and the c-f hybridization, realizing the simultaneous enhancements of thermopower and electrical conductivity.
Linear isotherm regularities of liquid gallium under pressure
Authors: Li Huaming , Ding Hao , Tian Yanting , Sun Yongli , Li Mo
Published: December 2021

Several new regularities in liquid gallium have been obtained from both the available experimental data and calculated thermodynamic properties along the isothermal lines with the equation of state (EoS) of a power law form. The quantity Z−1V3 is linearly proportional to V3 for all isotherms at high temperatures. Both the calculated reduced isothermal bulk modulus B*=BTVRT and the parameter Zint=PintVRT derived from the available experimental data and EoS of a power law form are observed to be linear with respect to V−3 with the temperature T and gas constant R, which is verified by the derived analytical expression from the derived linear isothermal regularity (LIR) EoS. By using the analytical expression from the LIR EoS, the calculated isobaric thermal expansion coefficient, isochoric heat capacity, isobaric heat capacity, Grüneisen parameter, and Anderson–Grüneisen parameter show quite different behavior with pressure at a constant temperature compared with those values from EoS of a power law form. In addition, analytical expressions of thermodynamic properties of liquid gallium are derived from the LIR EoS, such as adiabatic bulk modulus, sound velocity, entropy, internal energy, enthalpy, Helmholtz free energy, and Gibbs free energy, which have the same tendency with pressure at a constant temperature as the numerically integrated values from EoS of a power law form.
On the initial conditions for the problem of flow rising in front of an obstacle
Authors: Semenko Evgeny V.
Published: December 2021

Flowing water encounters a fixed obstacle, which causes a subsequent unsteady process whereby the water level rises. This process is modeled by the Euler equations with natural initial conditions and boundary conditions. If the impermeability boundary conditions of the obstacle do not match the initial data, a curious and unexpected phenomenon occurs: the velocity and pressure almost instantly depart from the initial values, and their new values should be considered as the “forced” initial conditions. The forced initial conditions depend on the real conditions but differ from them in the case of the mismatch mentioned above. The problem analysis assumes a smooth and local deformation of the boundary conditions from the given initial values at the initial time to the real (impermeability) values after the short transition period (and in the limit as the transition period approaches zero). A similar phenomenon may occur for hyperbolic systems of equations in general.
Experimental investigation on the laser backscattering characteristics of complicated targets
Authors: Cui Wenda , Song Changqing , Shi Dongfeng , Huang Jian , Chen Yafeng , Yang Yi , Du Shaojun , Xu Xiaojun , Han Kai
Published: December 2021

For active optical imaging applications where targets are irradiated by a laser beam, the backscattering characteristic influences the image quality. An outfield experimental investigation of kilometer scale was conducted in this study. Unmanned aerial vehicles with complex shapes and various surface materials were used as targets. Backscattered signals were obtained, while the targets were located at different attitudes and distances. Furthermore, the relationship between the amplitude of the backscattered signal and the target distance was deduced and summarized at close and far distances. The experimental results can be helpful in detecting complicated targets with laser illumination.
Sustainable Nature-Inspired Architecture
Authors: Estévez Alberto T.
Published: December 2021

It is of the utmost importance, as well as being crucial and urgent, that we achieve planetary sustainability before it is too late. This is already commonly agreed. Therefore, everyone, within their own field of action and life, must strive to achieve it. All of our individual acts make a difference, whether to facilitate sustainability or hinder it. In today's world, with its growing population, and with the same limited number of resources as from its origins, only the sum of all the members of society can somehow solve this immense problem. This problem has now grown to be our biggest obstacle and it will sweep away and block out our near future. Thus, and particularly for us as architects, it is our responsibility to resolve the sustainability within this area to which we have been entrusted, architecture. Thus, offering a search field for a solution to everyone, how do we propose a sustainable architectural design? Well, let us look around us, at nature, an infinite quarry of lessons in sustainability and efficacy, an eternal mirror of inspiration for architecture, and not just inspiration, but above all, to learn, which is what we really need. However, if each of us does not apply the same solution or method within their field and their lifestyle, it will be completely useless to propose sustainable architectural solutions. The current situation is unprecedented, as the whole of humanity has never had to face something of this magnitude. It is as if the last intelligence test is being presented to humanity, are you intelligent enough to solve this problem? Well, if not, you no longer deserve to live on this Earth, which is actually a gift with the potential to be paradise, if we work out how to solve the problem. This is, in summary, the ideas to which the following pages refer. Furthermore, to help understand these questions, the text will follow a path through topics such as Gaudí's ideas and works, bio-learning, and the efficiency and self-sufficiency of nature, and other specific lessons that can be extracted from nature in order to be applied to architecture and to human life itself.
Analysis of Ecodiesel Characteristics with a Vegetable-Based Oil Ester for the Transportation Sector
Authors: Balo Figen , Sua Lutfu S.
Published: December 2021

The use of fuel in the transport sector is increasing day-to-day owing to the increase in vehicle population. Owing to the economic and environmental benefits, biofuel has received significant attention in recent years as a potential substitute for fossil-based fuels. Diverse resources for making biofuel from renewable oils are utilized across the whole world owing to their availability and range from plant-based oils to animal fats. As a renewable fuel, biofuel is generated from these biomass sources to make gaseous fuels, such as methane and hydrogen, and liquid fuels, such as biodiesel, ethanol, and methanol. This chapter compares the different forms of the alternatives to fuel present in the transport sector from vegetable-source oil esters, such as cottonseed, rapeseed, safflower, soybean, sunflower, tallow, palm, and so forth, with regard to the indispensable parameters demonstrated in the content of this paper. The quantitative assessment modeling utilized in this chapter provides decision-makers with equipment that can be utilized in important planned decision-making stages on fuel strategy topics in the next few years. The implemented modeling provides quantitative results that can aid decision-making exercises. Based on the computational analysis, palm is reported to be the optimal energy source that meets all the criteria determined within the context of this research. On the other hand, rapeseed is ranked worst among the other alternatives investigated.
Toward Hydrogen Economy—The Energy Transition of Cyprus
Authors: Poullikkas Andreas
Published: December 2021

The present chapter aims to record the main actions that Cyprus needs to carry out in order to draw up a comprehensive long-term sustainable energy strategy for its transition from carbon economy to hydrogen economy. It provides a brief description of the European sustainable energy strategy up to 2050, with reference to the basic principles for the trading of greenhouse gas emissions. It also offers a discussion on the cost of renewable energy sources, with regards to the energy transition and ways to reduce this cost. Furthermore, it describes the transition of Cyprus to a hydrogen economy by 2050, focusing on the importance of electricity interconnections and the crucial role of Cyprus with respect to the transition of Southeastern Mediterranean countries to a hydrogen economy and how they could become energy exporters to Europe. Last, but not least, this chapter presents the framework for drafting a long-term energy strategy for Cyprus, followed by a report on how this strategy could constitute an agreement between all political groups in Cyprus. In doing so, it pinpoints the year 2050 as a target for the energy transition of Cyprus to a hydrogen economy.
Emergency Vehicle Routing Problem for Post-Disaster Management
Authors: Mahmat Zeliha , Sua Lutfu S. , Balo Figen
Published: December 2021

Owing to the unpredictable nature of disasters, it is of great importance to determine the work that needs to be done in case of a disaster. The most vital component of such studies is the development and examination of post-disaster search and rescue activities and treatment facilities. One of the most important issues to be considered while performing these operations is reaching the disaster victims in the minimum time, and planning disaster logistics in the most efficient manner possible. In this chapter, the problem of planning debris scanning activities with unmanned aerial vehicles after an earthquake and transporting the injured people to hospital using ambulances in the minimum time is discussed and mathematical models are developed to solve the problem. The ambulance routing problem and the mathematical model to be used as a solution to the problem are discussed for the first time in the literature. The developed model was tested on the problem sets created by considering the data of the province under investigation. Analysis results showed that the developed model can reach optimal solutions in small and medium sized problems, and as the size of the problem increases, it does not reach the optimal solution in a short time, but it can produce appropriate solutions.
Nash, Bargaining and Evolution
Authors: Bruner Justin P.
Published: December 2021

Evolutionary accounts of morality consider behavior in rather simple scenarios. Evolutionary work on fairness focuses on the division of a windfall and, importantly, assumes that the positions of those involved are entirely symmetric. I consider more complicated strategic settings and find that there is a strong tendency for evolution to produce divisions consistent with the so-called Nash bargaining solution. I also uncover the evolutionary importance of comprehensiveness, an often-overlooked feature of division problems.
Qualitative properties of Hénon type equations with exponential nonlinearity
Authors: Guo Zongming , Huang Xia , Ye Dong , Zhou Feng
Published: December 2021

We are interested in the qualitative properties of solutions of the Hénon type equations with exponential nonlinearity. First, we classify the stable at infinity solutions of Δu + |x|
α

e

u
= 0 in

R

N

, which gives a complete answer to the problem considered in Wang and Ye (2012 J. Funct. Anal.
262 1705–1727). Secondly, existence and precise asymptotic behaviours of entire radial solutions to Δ2
u = |x|
α

e

u
are obtained. Then we classify the stable and stable at infinity radial solutions to Δ2
u = |x|
α

e

u
in any dimension.
Experimental and modeling investigations on the quasi-static compression properties of isotropic silicone rubber-based magnetorheological elastomers under the magnetic fields ranging from zero to saturation field
Authors: Qiao Yanliang , Zhang Jiangtao , Zhang Mei , Zhai Pengcheng , Guo Xiang
Published: December 2021

The isotropic magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) containing three different contents of carbonyl iron particles (CIPs) based on silicone rubber were prepared, and their quasi-static compression properties under various magnetic fields were characterized by a material testing machine with specialized electromagnet. The magneto-induced actuation stress at zero strain condition as well as the deformation stress during compression process of MREs were tested. According to the magnetization model and demagnetizing energy theory, a magneto-induced actuation model of isotropic MREs was proposed. Meanwhile, a magneto-hyperelastic model was established for calculating the magnetic field- and strain-dependent deformation stress of MREs via combining the Neo–Hookean model, the magnetization model, and the magnetic dipole theory. Therefore, a new constitutive model was established to describe compression properties of isotropic MREs by considering the magneto-induced actuation and the magneto-hyperelastic behaviors. Finally, the effect of CIP content and model applicability were analyzed. It is verified that the developed compression model was able to exactly predict the compression properties of isotropic MREs with various CIP contents over the magnetic field range varying from zero field to saturation field by adopting a set of unified model parameters.
Planar Inverted F Antenna, PIFA Array in 5G applications
Authors: Kundu Krishanu , Dubey Avneesh , Dhama Ankur , Pathak Narendra Nath
Published: December 2021

Planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) is mainly fit for mobile devices. PIFA is mostly designed for dual band frequencies as it is capable of covering wide range of wireless services. This in turn helps in making it acceptable for designing mobile devices. Sizes of ground plane as well as PIFA’s position with respect to ground plane actually effect the performance of PIFA. For example, placement of PIFA at corner of ground plane shows good radiation pattern. Major prerequisite of 5G is nothing but the capability to enhance data volume to every single user, while supporting majority of mobile users as well as new maneuvers. The best part is advanced antenna array technologies are able to meet such requirements. Although PIFA antenna has gained popularity in designing mobile handsets, because of light weight, lower cost as well as higher directivity, PIFA antenna Arrays have been proved to be strong foundation for future 5G Mobile Communication Systems as PIFA Arrays provide better gain than single PIFA antenna in same frequency band. Current work presents a comprehensive study on so far impact of PIFA as well as PIFA Array in providing infrastructure for future mobile innovations suitable for 5G communication.